Who's Seen Jezebel?

Part 4: And Hold Like The Breeze

"Thanks, come again," Jezebel said to the last couple of the dinner crowd as she wiped down their table. Carrying the plates over to the kitchen she spared a glance to the counter where the stranger still sat on his stool. He'd been there for hours ordering coffee. He probably had enough caffeine in his system to start a car. Mack had left a while ago, handing the man his paper, and whispered in Jezebel's ear something about how fate had a sense of humor. Mack often liked to speak in riddles; sometimes it really drove her mad! Just what did he mean by that? She angrily tossed her rag on her tray and picked it up, walking back into the kitchen.

"Well girly, looks like you have an admirer." Jimmy smirked at her as she brushed past him to put the dishes in the sink.

"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked. She was not in the mood for his antics. He'd been after her since she started working at the diner, and he refused to let her be.

"The guy at the counter. Every time you move he watches you. If you were to talk to him he may come in his pants." Jimmy laughed rudely. Jezebel hoped the man hadn't heard him.

"Shut up, asshole." She spat. "Just cause you aren't ever getting into my pants doesn't mean you have to shit on anyone who might." Jim stopped laughing.

"What do you mean he might?" Jezebel just smiled prettily at him and strolled away. "Jez, what do you mean by that? You aren't serious?"

Feeling a great sense of satisfaction, Jezebel slipped behind the counter and over to the man.

"Can I get you anything else, sugar?" she batted her eyelashes at him but he didn't look up from his crossword.

"More coke, please." He said, sliding his glass closer to her. Slightly defeated, she picked up the glass and walked over to the soda machine. There was something about this man. It fizzled at the back of her brain. He reminded her of someone. Someone she knew a long time ago. Was it Steve? Oh, God no. Her and her mother left that son of a bitch years ago. Maybe an old boyfriend? But whom? It was driving her crazy. She set the coke down in front of him and blatantly stared at him.

"Can I help you?" he asked without looking up.

"You ever been to Detroit?" she asked. He shook his head.

"No."

"Roswell, New Mexico?"

"No."

"Salt Lake City?"

"What's this about?" he looked up at her now.

"Seattle?"

"No, what are you doing?"

"New York City?"

He didn't answer. They stared at each other for a moment, looking intensely into each others eyes; curiosity in hers, irritation in his.

"Maybe," he said, narrowing his eyelids at her.

"Which borough?" she narrowed her eyes right back.

"Brooklyn, maybe." Why was he saying anything? Why was he still here? Why was his heart beating faster than it was 5 minutes ago?

"Where in Brooklyn?"

"What do you want from me?" he asked.

"How the fuck do I know you?"

"Are you Jezebel Jones from apartment 25b?" God, what the hell was wrong with him. He needed to shut up and leave, right now. Or he needed to kill her and watch her blood stain his shoes.

She straightened her back, her eyes wide and her jaw dropped. He hated the look in her eyes, a look he knew all too well and tried to forget. Shit, it was her.

"Gabriel," she whispered fondly like someone saying the name of a deceased spouse. He felt the room spin, he needed to leave. For the first time in a long time, he got up and ran away.

A/N: Thanks so much to BlueWhitney, Cing C0br, WickedPlumVintage, and PockyFairy for reviewing. And to those who added this story to alerts. It really is so helpful and encouraging. I know this chapter is sub-par, but like I said, it was finals week. I wanted this out of the way and everything in my head spilled out awkwardly. As I upload this, I'm scurrying off to type up a part 5. Hopefully it will suck considerably less.

Also, I wanted to add a bit of clarification, the second eclipse has not happened yet, and the Petrelli family issue annoyance is non-existant.