Chapter 2 Trail Run?
It was a race against the clock. It wasn't like it was a life or death situation, but Gabriel was still on edge. Eyes determined, heart hammering in his chest, sweat dripping down his body and a thrumming pain in his arms that he knew he would feel for days. But he couldn't stop, not now, not when he was so close…
"Beat you again!" Simon yelled and threw his arms up in victory. Gabriel slumped in his wheelchair, glowering at the young boy with the broken leg.
"You cheated!" He argued almost immediately. The boy just turned his head and looked over to Balthazar, who was rolling his eyes in disgust at his friends loss.
"You set the rules, Gabriel. No use of support from your feet or the walls, no one is allowed to assist you and you can't touch your opponents chair. Another point to Simon." He replied and swiftly handed Gabriel's twenty bucks to the boy, ignoring Gabriel's yells of protest and demands for a rematch.
"Thank you. If you need me, I'll be at the vending machine." He turned his chair and calmly wheeled away, leaving Gabriel to bask in shame.
"How many times are you going to challenge that kid to a race before you let it go?" Balthazar chuckled before taking hold of Gabriel's chair and wheeling him back to his room. He could hear the wheezing in his friend's chest and knew he had, once again, over done it. But when Gabriel got determined about something, there was no letting it go.
"He's the undefeated champion. I will not stand for it!" Gabriel threw his arms up to make a point, already thinking of ways to try and beat Simon in the next race.
"You always were a sore looser." Balthazar joked, as they finally reached Gabriel's room.
"So tell me, what was the outcome of the whole disaster?" Gabriel asked, as he climbed onto the bed and got comfortable.
"Well, she's certain the child isn't mine, but still wants a DNA test to-"
"I meant with the restaurant, you idiot!" Gabriel laughed, which sent him into an immediate coughing fit. A nurse rushed in and manoeuvred a breathing mask over his mouth. Gabriel clutched his chest and tried to take deep breaths of air. The ache in his chest wasn't as bad as when he had first come into the hospital. But it still hurt like hell.
"How many times, Gabriel? I've told you to take it easy!" She snapped at him, but he could hear the playful manner in her tone. Unable to speak, Gabriel merely pointed at Balthazar with an accusing 'it's his fault' expression. "Visiting hours are over in ten minutes. I don't expect to see you when I return."
"Yes Ma'am." Balthazar saluted, trying to look as innocent as possible and then waited for Gabriel's breathing to calm down. "So, Naomi said it will be at least six months before the place is ready to reopen. They need a new kitchen installed, police still want to find out what caused the fire, so they aren't allowed to start repairs until the place has been checked out. Also a new paint job and the bar area restored. The fire hit the alcohol and…Boom!" Balthazar explained. Gabriel didn't remember the explosion, as he had already been loaded into an ambulance and had passed out a while before it happened.
He groaned loudly and slumped back against the bed. Balthazar patted his shoulder in a comforting manner. But they both knew, they were up shit creak without a paddle.
"Let me try and sort something out. I'll call back and see you tomorrow." He said softly and stood to leave.
"With any luck, I'm getting discharged tomorrow." Gabriel informed him with a grimace at the pain in his chest. "Doctor's said its mostly recovery now and there isn't much they can do here apart from pain relief. But I can take that home with me."
"I'll pick you up tomorrow then." Balthazar smiled and quickly fled the room when the stern nurse returned and glared daggers at him.
?/?/?/?/?/?
Castiel Milton wasn't exactly what you would call a people person…actually he wasn't a people anything. He was socially awkward, became embarrassed easily and had a tendency to make a fool out of himself with just a few simple words. So it came as a shock, to everyone who knew him, when he decided to open his own café. No one outright complained. But his family and friends were certain that his business wouldn't last a month. It came as a great surprise when, not only was it still going strong three years later, but it was probably one of the most popular cafés in the city. The public seemed to adore his bashful attitude and his food was stuff of legends. If he could just learn to talk to people…
"Hello my darling cousin." Castiel's head shot up at the sound of a familiar voice. He had just closed for the evening and was surprised to see someone standing by the counter.
"Balthazar." He addressed him shortly and continued cleaning the last of the glasses. "What can I do for you? I don't have any 'freebies' as you so fondly call them."
"Not here in search of a freebie, Cas. I actually have an offer for you." Balthazar smiled and leaned over the counter.
"Is it all right that I am dreading the next words to come out of your mouth?" Castiel asked. Though his voice held no sarcasm. Just the general deadpan reply that Balthazar still found hard to become accustomed to.
"Oh don't be like that." He waved at Castiel almost dismissively. "I take it you heard about Naomi's?"
"Ah yes, I was glad to hear there was no injuries." Castiel responded.
"Well, Gabriel got a little banged up but he's on the mend." Balthazar explained. "The reason I'm here is because I heard business was booming, but you were completely against hiring."
"I don't see any reason to bring in some students who will probably spend more time on Twotter than doing their jobs." Castiel sighed. It had only ever been students and teens looking for work. He had a hard enough time talking to people his own age. He could fathom making conversation with people half his age.
"That's Twitter, Cas." Balthazar replied with a look of disbelief. "And, I was wondering how you would feel hiring family?" Castiel turned to look at him for a moment. "It could just be temporary, if you wanted. Gabriel and I really need the work and it sounds like you could use the help."
"I do not need help…who said I needed help?" Castiel asked defensively. Sure he was tired a lot of the time. Sure he spent more time in work than out of it. Yes he hadn't done anything beside work, eat and sleep in the last three years. That didn't mean he needed help right? Right!
"You're darling sister thinks otherwise. She can't keep helping you. She has a kid on the way." Balthazar didn't mean to sound so snappy. But Anna was already exhausted with the pregnancy. But her heart of gold meant she would help Castiel, even if it meant more back pain for her.
"I never asked for her help." Castiel mumbled with a guilty expression.
"You never ask for anyone's help." Balthazar added.
"I'll hire you but…not Gabriel." Balthazar looked like Castiel had slapped him in the face. "He's a little too reckless. The last time I saw him, he was dancing half naked on top of a bar."
"Oh yes, good times." Balthazar laughed. "That was my birthday party. Gabriel lost a bet. It was either dance half naked or make out with Benny. Gabriel didn't really have a hard time choosing." He then turned his expression serious. "Gabriel might be a bit of a madman at times. But he would never act out of character at work. He can be teasing and sarcastic, but most of the time its in good humor and people warm to him quickly."
"Can you…will you make sure he behaves?" Balthazar crossed his fingers over his chest with a large grin on his face. "A trial run. We'll just…see how it goes."
"You wont regret this, Cas. I promise." He hugged Castiel tightly and then headed for the door.
"Somehow I don't believe you." Castiel sighed, though Balthazar didn't hear him.
?/?/?/?/?/?
Gabriel had just finished packing the last of his stuff when a nurse entered the room with Balthazar in tow. He looked between the two of them and then downwards.
"No!" He replied to an unasked question and slipped his bag over his shoulder.
"Gabriel it's not a request." The nurse insisted, pointing to the chair.
"Why do I need it? As soon as you get me out the door you'll just take it away again. Honestly that just seems like a lot of work for you." He pointed out with his usual cheeky grin.
"It's so you don't over do it. Get in the chair, or I'll force you into it." She threatened playfully. Gabriel glared at her. But with the pains in his chest he knew he was loosing this argument. He was loosing a lot of things lately. It was a pain in the ass!
"Fine." He groaned and sat down in the chair, allowing Balthazar to take his bag.
The nurse wheeled him towards the exit and over to Balthazar's car. Explaining about his medication, breathing exercises and insisting he rested as much as possible. All things that the doctor had already gone over. But he decided to sit silently and listen. He wouldn't admit it, but he kinda of liked the nurses. They took no crap but still had a good sense of humor.
"All right." She said as he climbed into the passenger seat. "As much fun as you were, I don't want to see you back here."
"I'll try my best." He smirked and gave her a quick hug, which she gladly returned.
Balthazar hoped into the driver's seat and soon they were heading to Gabriel's home.
"You said you had a plan." Gabriel reminded him as they pulled up to his house.
"Ah, yes, I got us a job." Gabriel blinked in surprise and smiled, feeling at least some tension leaving his body. "Glad you look so happy about it. It's not a big place. But it's popular, a lot of regulars and a nice atmosphere."
"Sounds to good to be true." Gabriel grinned. "What's the catch?"
"There's no catch. It's just the perfect job." Balthazar replied though Gabriel knew him all too well. Strained smile, shifting nervously, no eye contact.
"Balthazar." He said in a warning, hushed tone.
"Well, its only a trial run. To see how we fit in and everything." He replied, rubbing the back of his neck.
"And?" Gabriel pushed.
"It'satCastiel'splace!" Balthazar was out the door and into his car before Gabriel could properly put the words together. When he did…
"I AM NOT WORKING FOR YOUR STICK UP THE ASS COUSIN! The screech of tires told Gabriel he wasn't getting a say in the matter. So he slumped against the door and tried to get the coughing under control.
It wasn't that he didnt like Castiel. But it was just that he seemed to have no sense of humor and couldn't even hold a conversation with most. Gabriel had gotten to the point of just ignoring him. How the hell was he suddenly supposed to take orders from the guy?