Oh wow I apologise for being a total douchewad and not updating this for ages, but like, I just wrote over half of this chapter this afternoon, and I hope it's up to my usual standard because I feel like I've taken my characters off on a random tangent that shouldn't have happened, but they wanted to go there, and who am I to deny them.
When Cas had arrived at the bar, the first thing Sam did was put down the dishcloth he was using to wipe down the counter, and pour the other man a shot of whiskey. He slid it over without a word, though he couldn't stop a faint smile gracing his lips.
"What's the occasion?" Cas asked, raising the glass to his lips. Sam shrugged in the pretence of being nonchalant.
"For being a good friend," he replied. Cas smirked knowingly over the rim of the glass. "I mean, who else could I have turned to in my moment of complete panic? At least I know that I can trust you to keep my confidences to yourself."
"I couldn't possibly know what you are talking about," Cas chuckled. "Though if it has anything to do with the fact that I saw Gabriel sneaking glances at you from the wings last night, and the fact that I saw the two of you talking in the parking lot the other night before driving off together, I can take a pretty good guess." Sam blushed slightly, looking away from Cas's gaze.
"I don't know what you're talking about," he mumbled, the tips of his ears turning red. "Gabriel and I.." Here, he trailed off, knowing that he owed Cas the truth, and also knowing that without him, there probably would be no 'him and Gabriel'.
"You and Gabriel?" Cas prompted gently, sinking the rest of the liquid in his glass before placing it back on the counter of the bar.
"We're trying it out. Being a me and him," Sam replied, blushing a little more. Cas grinned at Sam and clapped him on the shoulder.
"Well, good for you guys, man," he chimed. "I hope it works out for you both." Sam smiled before replying.
"We hope so too."
The pre show rituals for the front of house staff were pretty easy. Sam and Cas had to make sure that all the coolers were well well stocked, and that the spirits bottles were full enough, or that there was a new one on standby for the emptier ones. The kegs were checked to see if they were connected properly, and the bar was then wiped ready for the earliest of the clientele to arrive. Sam was aware that there were a few whispers going around the club, and he was also aware that some of the dancers were watching him from the wings of the stage as he set up tables and chairs. Conversations were sometimes stopped as he ventured near, though it was nothing that he wasn't already half used to. He wasn't dumb, and he knew there was a very good possibility that they were talking about him, but he tried to just forget about that. He knew that Gabriel was probably going to be getting a rougher time of it backstage, considering that in the dressing rooms there was such a tight knit camaraderie. A lot of the time, Sam was sure that the backstage area was like 'Fight Club', in the sense that what happened there stayed there. But Sam knew that Gabriel would be able to put it all behind him, so he knew that he would have to do that as well. Gabriel's visit to him at the bar earlier probably didn't help the situation, but that couldn't be helped, and Sam wasn't complaining.
When the time for curtain up came around, Sam found that he was kept busy, both with serving a group of giggling women on a hen night, and engaging in friendly banter with Cas. He chatted to the women as he poured, though it was Cas who was doing the outrageous flirting. From time to time, Cas would pull out his charm, much to Sam's delight because it made all the ladies in the near vicinity swoon so much that Sam swore one of them fell off her bar stool in an attempt to get closer to him. Stealing a quick glance at the stage, Sam thought that he could see Gabriel waiting in the wings, though he wasn't sure if it was him or not. Turning his attention back to the task in hand, he knew that he had all the time in the world to see Gabriel both during and after the show. Catching a glance of his partner before his part of the show began was just a bonus for Sam.
Gabriel's first number wasn't until the fourth song of the night, and he found himself enjoying alternating between watching the routines and watching Sam behind the bar. It was during the second song that Gabriel heard his name being called from behind him, and he turned to see Dean beckoning him over.
"So I've heard a rumour," Dean said, looking down at the clipboard in his hand and tapping his pen on it as he spoke.
"Oh?" Gabriel questioned, watching the pen in Dean's fingers with intense scrutiny. He didn't want to give anything away with his words, because he hadn't had the chance to discuss with Sam about who they wanted to tell, but he was also surprised that the news had reached Dean so quickly. So, Gabriel just tried to play the whole situation down. Dean had a way of making things seem worse than they were anyway.
"Yeah, I've heard that you've been missing cues in practice." Dean was still studying the set list in front of him, and was yet to meet Gabriel's eyes. "Which is so unlike you. Either you're coming down with something, in which case I want you rested up until you're better, or you got something on your mind. Anything you'd like to share?" Raising his eyes to finally meet Gabriel, he saw the dancer practically breathe a sigh of relief. Dean was known for being fair, though, which made him one of the more relatable members of the staff.
"I'm perfectly well in my health," Gabriel began slowly, choosing how he was going to phrase his words carefully. "I have got something on my mind, but I'm afraid that it concerns more people than just me, and I don't know whether the other person would want me to say what was going on." As he was talking Gabriel inadvertently glanced towards the bar area, and he could see from the look on Dean's face that the stage manager had seen the glance.
"That's fine by me, Gabriel," Dean said. Adding in an undertone, he said "I wish you and Sam all the best, just don't let it affect my show. Messing up in practice is one thing, but you're a performer. People come here to see you. Don't let yourself down." By the time Gabriel had processed what Dean had said, he was gone. But a grin spread across his features, and when he stepped back up to the wings ready to take his cue, he felt optimistic about the rest of the night.
Gabriel's performances were spot on. He knew it from the moment he stepped onto the stage that his happiness was going to spur on his routines, and seeing Sam watching him only made him try even more. His confidence levels were so high, and he felt on top of the world as he span, twisted and gyrated on the stage. The audiences reactions to the routines made his smile break out into a grin, and he felt that he'd never enjoyed himself more in an evenings work. And the knowledge of the fact that he had every excuse in the world to see Sam afterwards made it even better. Normally he would have to convince himself that he had a proper reason for staying behind, but now there was no need. He couldn't wait to see Sam. And he hoped that Sam was feeling the same way. As he finished his last number, and was leaving the stage, he caught a glimpse of Sam watching him, and he gave a half wave in his direction. He saw the bartender raise the glass he was holding in acknowledgement as he exited the wings.
Gabriel removed his makeup meticulously, watching his appearance change with each pass of the wipe. He never usually took the care that he was taking now, but he didn't want Sam to get uncomfortable as he had been the first time they went out together. In fact, it crossed Gabriel's mind that he would do literally anything to keep Sam happy. He couldn't believe how head over heels he had fallen now that he had given in to his desires, and that Sam was allowing him to as well. He was so involved in the task at hand, that he didn't see Sam approaching him with an almost empty tray of glasses, until the bartender was standing directly behind him. Then the grin that broke out on his face was spectacular.
"Can I get you anything?" Sam asked, coming to a stop and resting his hand on the back of Gabriel's chair, almost possessively. Their eyes connected through the mirror, and Sam's smile matched Gabriel's own.
"I guess that depends on what you're offering," Gabriel said, tilting his head back to look at Sam standing above him. Sam bent forward to place the tray on Gabriel's dresser, before leaning down and whispering in his ear, pulling the hair back with one finger.
"You know what I'm offering," he breathed, and Gabriel could feel the tickle of Sam's lips as he spoke the words. He suppressed a very loud and sexual moan, making a noise that sounded more strangled than anything else.
"Sammy please, you're supposed to be working," Gabriel struggled to keep his tone even, and Sam chuckled, pressing a quick kiss below Gabriel's ear, before replying.
"I am working, Gabe. Working on us." Sam shot him a wink before turning and walking away, and Gabriel stared at his own reflection in shock. When had Sam gotten so confident?
As he was heading back out to the bar, Sam could not believe what he had just done. He wasn't usually confident enough in public to show his affections, but both he and Cas had been drinking in celebration, so he guessed his actions came from a cloak of Dutch courage. He had also enjoyed the idea of putting Gabriel on the back foot, because the smaller man was always so confident, and it was such an amazing feeling to see him flustered. Sam could see Cas serving the other customers as he approached, and could tell that he was maybe a little too far under the influence of the line of shots they had done in celebration. Giving himself a mental slap in the face, he squared his shoulders and headed back to his work station. But it still didn't wipe the wide smile off his face.
Sam served drink after drink, barely acknowledging the rush of customers that always came before the finale of the night. He just knew that the quicker he served, the quicker he could finish up, and clock out for the night. He could already see Gabriel mingling with the crowd, an unbuttoned white shirt hanging loosely over his black tank top. With the removal of his make-up, Sam thought he looked more innocent somehow, his hair pulled back from his face and a small smile playing on his lips. Sam's eyes tracked Gabriel's progress as he started wiping down the bar, and he felt slight alarm when he saw Gabriel stop to talk to Dean. Sam knew that Dean knew everything that went on in the club, and he imagined that Dean had cottoned on to the fact that something was going on. But when Dean grinned and clapped Gabriel on the shoulder, Sam relaxed slightly. He continued watching Gabriel pass almost unnoticed by others through the crowd; there was only the odd one or two customers that recognised him and reached out with their praise and encouragements. Sam couldn't help but feel proud, and smiled as the dancer approached the bar. Motioning that he would just be a minute, Sam finished what he was doing before heading down to speak to Gabriel.
"You're driving me crazy," Gabriel muttered, looking up at Sam through his eyelashes. Sam smirked as he picked up one of the shot glasses from the dishwasher and began to slowly dry it, keeping his eyes trained on Gabriel, who was watching his hands intently.
"Who, me?" Sam asked, rotating the cup in his hands, not once taking his eyes off Gabriel. "How could I be doing something like that?" Gabriel broke eye contact with the glass in Sam's hands in order to look up at him.
"God dammit Sammy, you know exactly what you're doing," Gabriel growled, leaning over the bar towards him. "And believe me, I'm not going to be the one to tell you to stop." Sam took another step towards Gabriel, who reached out his arms and caught hold of Sam's belt, yanking him into the bar. Sam let out a surprised yelp and stumbled slightly, though he made no attempt to shake himself free of Gabriel's controlling grip, however easy it may have been.
"Gabriel, please," Sam said, continuing to dry the glasses and stack them on the counter. "Some of us are trying to work here." He was still being held against the bar by Gabriel, who ever so gently trailed his fingers over Sam's hip bones as they stood there.
"I know, Sammy. I'm just trying to help," Gabriel responded, still not relinquishing his hold on Sam. "I figured I could lend you a couple of hands, and I sure can see where you need them." At those words, Sam did pull free of Gabriel's grip with a laugh, and watched as the shorter man hopped over the counter.
"Work first, hands later," Sam said, passing Gabriel a dish towel. "And that's a promise." He winked at Gabriel and the two of them set to on drying the remainder of the glasses, while the clients of the club file out in little groups.
When the three of them, Castiel included, had finished washing up and tidying up the bar area, they all left the club together. Cas said his goodbyes first, and headed off in the direction of his car, leaving Sam and Gabriel standing together by Gabriel's car. Sam turned to Gabriel and opened his mouth to speak, before noticing the fact that the dancer was wiggling his eyebrows suggestively.
"You mean what you said earlier, Sammy?" Gabriel chuckled. Sam grinned.
"I might have done," he replied, reaching out and pulling Gabriel flush against him by the open edges of his shirt. "My place or yours?" Sam could still feel the level of alcohol in his blood affecting him, and he hoped that Gabriel would suggest his place, because he knew he wasn't really in any condition to drive.
"Mine," Gabriel breathed, snaking his arms round Sam's waist, and tightening the hold. "But be prepared for some funny business." Any coherent thoughts abandoned Sam in that moment, and he bent his head forward and pressed a kiss onto Gabriel's pouting lips.
"I can hardly wait," he said after breaking the kiss. "Now lets drive."