Chapter 4

Revelations

Summary: After their first assignment, Our trio decides to celebrate at a near by bar but things get complicated when everyone has a little too much to drink…

After bringing down Patrick Marlow and the blaze in the kitchen that he had left in his wake, Mohinder got on his cell phone and started checking in with the cleaning crew. They were on their way; Gabriel busied himself wrapping up the Patrick Marlow's wound and making sure he didn't bleed to death while Claire got on her cell to check her messages. He watched as she listened to a voice mail, her face darkening and her expression pained.

Gabriel looked up at Mohinder as Claire checked the number again and listened to the message once more. She caught Gabriel's watchful eye and held up a finger, indicating she would be a minute as she moved down a long hallway towards the back of the house.

Gabriel knew something was not right and he knew it was wrong to listen in on what was surely a private conversation, but he gave into temptation, worried that he might have done something wrong and now Claire was getting an earful for it.

"Hey Claire, its Peter…listen, I heard from Bennett about your new partner and uh, how's Mohinder? I tried calling him but…anyway, yeah just wanted to check in and um, I just want to make sure he's okay with everything– just, yeah Claire do me a favor and have him call me."

As Claire shut the phone with a sigh and came back into the living room, Gabriel pretended not to notice the exasperated look on her face, and busied himself cleaning up bandages.

Mohinder was finishing up his conversation when Claire came up beside him and made a motion with her hand, indicating that she wanted him to wrap up the call.

"Give me a second?" Mohinder said into the phone and then turned to Claire.

"What is it?"

"Call Peter, would you?" she said, her voice a low, heated whisper.

Mohinder looked over to Gabriel, who quickly looked away and then back to Claire.

He sighed as if it was the last thing he felt like doing.

"Alright," he said, and Claire nodded and went over to Gabriel to help.

It took the clean-up crew a couple of hours to come and get Patrick Marlow.

In the meanwhile, Gabriel watched as Mohinder called this Peter person back and spent a good hour or so in a back bedroom having a strained and heated conversation with him. Claire kept sneaking glances at Gabriel no doubt wondering if Gabriel was listening in.

But as curious as he was, Gabriel didn't. It just seemed wrong to intrude on Mohinder like that and he didn't want the man to have anymore of a reason to dislike him. He wanted to ask Claire who Peter was, but didn't dare. He was just grateful when the clean-up crew showed and they were able to give them their statements and leave. Gabriel figured that he, along with Mohinder and Claire, would be heading back to headquarters as well, but apparently Bennett had another assignment in the works; they were given debriefing folders and told to expect a call sometime in the next two days.

Mohinder shrugged weary shoulders and turned to Claire. "I guess we better find someplace to sleep," he told her.

She nodded and took Gabriel's arm, "Sounds good," she replied as they started off in search of a nearby motel.

It was an obvious hole in the wall but cheap enough for them to all have adjacent rooms.

Claire had made them stop for some pizza (her treat) and invited them into her room to eat with her. Gabriel had gone back to his room first to shower, seeing how he was covered in soot, but since his room was next door to Claire's he could hear her talking to Mohinder through the bathroom wall.

"What did Peter want?" Claire asked him.

"He was just checking in," Mohinder answered reluctantly.

"Do you miss him?"

Mohinder must have moved away from her because of what Claire said next, "Hey, don't leave Mohinder, I just…he's been a mess since you left," she continued.

"That was years and years ago, Claire…it just didn't work."

"He still cares," Claire said, "so do you."

"I am not having this discussion with you, Claire so just drop it."

Claire let it go but Gabriel just stood there, feeling more than a little jealous of this Peter person, who was obviously Mohinder's ex-lover and a friend of Claire's. Whoever Peter was, Gabriel was kind of secretly pleased that he and Mohinder were no longer together. Not that it left him in any position to entertain the sure crush he was starting to develop, considering that Mohinder hated him and all but it was a start.

It had been Claire's suggestion that they get out for awhile as sitting around waiting for a phone call that didn't appear to be forthcoming was awkwardto say the least. Claire had proposed the idea of going out for drinks and Gabriel hadn't wanted to go, seeing as he had way too much on his mind at present, but Claire had a way of getting people to do what she wanted. She was persuasive,say the least.

So here they were at some dive bar, one within walking distance of the sleazy motel. Gabriel sat at the bar while Claire whooped and hollered on the dance floor, three tequilas under her belt and feeling pretty good as she danced from one cowboy to the other. Mohinder seemed equally uneasy as he sat down next to Gabriel and together they drank in uncomfortable silence.

The air between them filled with almost unbearable tension that no amount of alcohol could help ease. The alcohol was, however, making Gabriel slightly woozy. He couldn't remember the last time he had drunk anything of the kind, having lived on an almost steady diet of coffee for years now. He leaned forward on the bar and rested his chin in his hands, sneaking a quick look at Mohinder's profile. The other man was clearly doing his best to ignore him.

Gabriel took another swig of his beer, finishing it and ordering another one.

He was glad things went fairly smooth today, glad he was able to distract Marlow long enough for Mohinder to get a shot in, but something was troubling him, something gnawing him ever so slightly.

Something about Mohinder and himself…something he is on the verge of grasping but couldn't. The answer just ever so slightly out of reach.

Gabriel's drink arrived and he wasted no time in nearly draining it. He figured if he kept drinking, he might just have the courage to say what he wanted to say to Mohinder. He shook his head, trying to clear it when he felt someone clap him on the back. He looked up and it was only Mohinder.

"I am going for a walk," he said and Gabriel felt a bit hurt that he hadn't asked him to join him. He nodded, feeling quite drunk by now and, puts his head back on the bar as Mohinder leaves. He laid there for a while, pausing only long enough to swig his beer bottle to his lips. Empty now, he slammed it down on the counter.

"And how are you feeling tonight?"

Gabriel turned his head and took in a slim-hipped blonde guy with a bright smile, drunken eyes, and too-tight blue jeans.

The guy plopped down in Mohinder's empty seat.

"Buy you a drink?" The guy asked and Gabriel shrugged. The guy ordered them each another beer and turned to Gabriel with a wide grin.

"I go by Jimmy, you?"

"I'm Gabriel," he slurred as he clicked bottles with the guy and took a long gulp of his drink.

"So you look like the kind of man drinking to forget something, someone…"

Gabriel stiffened at those words, "Maybe I'm drinking to remember," he mumbled into the neck of the bottle.

The guy hadn't heard him; he was pretty far gone too as he leaned over and draped himself across Gabriel's back, whispering into his ear.

"You trying to forget a woman?" he asked and Gabriel shook his head. He took a whiff of the guy's cologne and something stirred inside him, he was picking up serious vibes from the guy. Gabriel turned in his seat so they could make eye contact and an intense stare down ensused between them as implications were made perfectly clear.

He must be drunk; if Gabriel was sober he'd never have had the courage to act upon anything of this sort.

"No, not a woman," Gabriel answered carefully and Jimmy smiled, nodding knowingly.

You're really drunk, aren't you…what the hell are you doing Gabriel? Are- are you flirting?

"I haven't got much use for women myself," Jimmy replied.

"Yeah, me too," he said, realizing that he was almost uncomfortably horny. Hell, he didn't even remember the last time he's had sex or truth be told, even if he ever had – but he ached for something, someone and he was pretty drunk, and he had been thinking about Mohinder all day long.

Who the hell is Peter? Was Mohinder in love with him? It's obvious he's in love with Mohinder…but who wouldn't be? Who wouldn't gladly fall….

"You want to take a walk?" Well at least someone asked me, Gabriel thought bitterly before finishing his drink with one hard swallow, "Yeah, sure do," he said, getting off the stool. The room was spinning a bit and he was decidedly drunk; it was a sensation he rather enjoyed.

When he caught Claire's eye, she and some young guy were dancing cheek to cheek to something decidedly sappy and country. She shot him a, 'Are you okay?' look to which he nodded as that guy Jimmy steadied him by his waist, a touch that sent a jab straight through Gabriel.

They got outside and the cold air was a bit of a shock. Gabriel stumbled but didn't fall as the guy continued to hold him upright while they made their way across the parking lot.

"Is the backseat alright?" Jimmy asked, breathing the question against Gabriel's ear.

He almost laughed out loud at this guy's obvious eagerness but didn't.

Instead, Gabriel bit back a giggle as Jimmy leaned him up against some shitty Buick parked out in the back of the lot and started fiddling with the lock, sneaking looks at him to make sure he wasn't going to fall over. Jimmy opened the door and pushed him inside.

Gabriel slid in, long legs splayed out, and Jimmy climbed in after him, closing the door behind them. Gabriel went to speak but Jimmy only smiled and grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him roughly to him.

Then before Gabriel could catch his breath, he was being kissed and hard.

Jimmy was half straddling him as Gabriel was pressed firmly into the back of the seats.

He was drunk but feeling pretty good as he responded to the other guy's advances, returning each kiss with one of his own.

Gabriel reached up to touch his face, carefully. It was slightly awkward as he tried to return each hard kiss with his own tentative mouth, trying to get a feel for it.

This Jimmy person was kind of aggressive but Gabriel found he really didn't mind all that much. He settled back into the seat and pulled Jimmy closer to his own body.

Wow, it was a good thing he hadn't remembered how good kissing was or he would have gone crazy over the last few years. He was too far gone to care that he was in the backseat of some stranger's car, with the other guy slipping his hand down his pants. He wants this, needs it - connections, a touch - affection at whatever cost.

I never want to stop kissing you

It was a single thought but it popped into Gabriel's head before he could stop it. He put his hands up and pushed Jimmy off him.

"What's the matter?"

Gabriel turned his head away as Jimmy continued to trail kisses down the side of his face, his hands reaching for and unbuckling Gabriel's pants but Gabriel was distracted now and drunk and…

Who said that? Did I say that… when? To who?

He grabbed Jimmy's hand and pushed him off him, more forcefully this time.

"Cut it out, I- I can't," he stammered, as he reached for the door handle and went to open the door.

"Aw, come on man, what the hell?" Jimmy started protesting as he grasped Gabriel by the back of his shirt and tried to haul him back.

Gabriel turned and grabbed him by the throat, so suddenly that he took them both by surprise. He threw Jimmy up against the seat and in one swift move pinning him there.

"Touch me again and I'll feed you your fucking throat, understand?" he growled.

Jimmy nodded furiously; something dark and violent in Gabriel's immense eyes that made him take that threat very seriously.

Then Gabriel blinked and saw what he was doing, how he was all but strangling the guy. He let Jimmy go, shuddering as he did so – for a moment there, he hadn't even known what he was doing or why, or even if he was still in the car.

I never want to stop kissing you…

He released the man from his grip and jumped out the car, nearly running as he did so, leaving the other guy behind, glued to his seat and shaking all over.

Claire was up at the bar doing her fifth shot of the night and chasing it back with a beer when Mohinder came over, angry and grabbed her arm.

"Where is he?"

"Who?" she said, peering at him with bleary eyes, her expression making it quite clear that she was more than little inebriated.

"Who do you think?"

"Oh," she replied, smirking.

"I run back to my room for a minute and I've come back to see that you're drunk and he's run off somewhere."

"Nah, he's just getting some, he'll be back…" she said with a giggle and then she leaned over the bar, flagging down the bartender.

"Bartender, get my friend a beer, would you?"

The bartender smiled at her and slid one over to Mohinder.

"Get some what?" he grumbled as he fished out money and slammed it down on the counter.

He turned back to find her looking at him as if he had just crawled out of a hole somewhere.

"Are you always so dense?"

"Apparently when I'm trying to converse with people who are over served, Claire," he answered, sighing with annoyance.

"Okay, let me break it down for you: our reformed serial killer just got lucky – not ten minutes before, he stumbled outside, draped all over some good looking guy in the worlds tightest blue jeans…and I for one say good for him, 'cause I'm willing to bet he hasn't gotten laid in at least four really long years."

Mohinder made a face and sat his drink down on the bar, started towards the door. But before he could Claire went after him, getting in front.

"What the hell are you doing Mohinder?"

"Obviously, you're a lot more drunk then I thought, Claire because you just let him go off – with a complete stranger, while he's under the influence ."

"And… what's the problem, that'll he'll get hurt? Are we talking about the same guy here, seriously he's drunk and horny," she paused for air, "and pretty damn good looking, if you ask me, it was only a matter of time."

"You don't have to tell me how good looking he is," Mohinder muttered under his breath with a grimace as he stepped past her and outside.

Claire trailed behind as they stepped out into the cold night air. She was feeling a bit woozy and this whole strange scenario had her a little off kilter.

Mohinder was trudging through the parking lot fast, checking cars as he did, moving back towards the motel.

Claire jogged up to him, irritated.

"I don't get you Mohinder," she said, the cold sobering her up some.

Mohinder paused long enough to throw her an annoyed glance.

"You act as if you hate the guy and then next thing you know – you're chasing after him like some wronged boyfriend."

The words hit Mohinder hard.

"Just leave it alone," he told her flatly.

"No, I want to know what's up with you two…I know there is something more to it than the fact that he killed your father," she continued, and Mohinder exhaled sharply and looked away from her. He started off, leaving her behind.

"He's the reason you left Peter, isn't it he?"

Mohinder stopped and turned back, stunned. "What did you say?"

"I said, he's the reason why you and my uncle never made it work – he told me it was because you were still hung up on someone, and we both know who it was, don't we?"

"Claire, leave it alone," he all but pleaded with her, starting away from her once again.

Her words brought forth a whole slew of memories he had spent years trying to erase.

"I know what you tried to do to yourself in New York, Mohinder…"

"Stop!"

She does and looks down as she can hear him struggling for breath, tears coursing down his face and his whole body shaking as he tries to get control himself, failing.

Claire put her hand to her face and looks away for a moment and then back at him.

"I'm sorry...I didn't mean to push, it's just that..."

Mohinder just turned and rested his head against his arm, leaned against the side of the building.

She came up to him and laid a shaking hand on his back.

"I'm right, aren't I?"

Mohinder turned his head, looked at her.

He didn't answer, but every weary line in his face did, as did the sadness in his eyes.

He turned and started away from her, unable to speak; Claire found she could nothing but stare at his retreating back as he hurried away from her.

TBC