Chapter 5 Sam, the best hangover cure
Gabriel had suffered hangovers before. He had done the whole party scene in college, spent plenty of nights out with his work colleagues and more than a few Friday nights at clubs with Balthazar. All those hangovers could easily be fixed by some strong painkillers and lots of water. But nothing, absolutely nothing, prepared him for the mother of all hangover he was suffering on this sunny Thursday morning. He hadn't been a midweek drinker for years. But last night had called for it. One drink was for Dutch courage, two was polite, three was encouraged, four was Balthazar's fault and five, six and seven he couldn't really remember and then after that it was a blur.
He opened his eyes and groaned, as the sun pierced his vision and did all kinds of horrendous things to his head. He was on Balthazar's couch. It was lumpy and old, but damn if he didn't just want to crawl under the blanket and stay there until the powers that be felt he had suffered enough.
"Gooood Morning, Sunshine!" Gabriel managed to sling one arm out from under his cave of darkness and offered Balthazar the one finger salute as a good morning gesture. "Feeling a little rough, darling?" He heard the tease, but just rotated the finger in response. "Come on, you need healing."
Before Gabriel could protest, the blankets were ripped away from him and he quickly shielded his eyes. But Balthazar was not a completely cruel man, he had shut the curtains before his attack.
Gabriel looked down to find he was only clad in his black boxer briefs from the day before. He rolled over and offered what he hoped was an accusing look.
"Gabe, despite the fact that you have a fine body, nothing on this earth would make me strip you. All your doing." He answered the unasked question and held out a warm cup of coffee and some painkillers.
"Dare I ask what happened last night?" Gabriel said after taking the lifesaving offerings.
"How much of a sugar coating do you want?" Balthazar asked with a smirk.
"Hit me where it hurts." Gabriel replied and prepared for the worst. Though nothing could prepare him for the words that came out of Balthazar's mouth.
"You swallowed the fireman's tongue." Coffee sprayed everywhere and Gabriel looked at his best friend in pure horror. "If it helps…I don't think he minded."
"Oh god!" Gabriel groaned and threw his arms over his head. Balthazar just managed to rescue the coffee from his clutches before it went all over his couch. "I molested him?!"
"I'm not entirely sure that's what happened." Balthazar grinned.
"Are you kidding!? I know what I'm like when I'm drunk. I probably backed him into a corner or something…fuck I don't even know the kids name!" Gabriel buried his head in the pillows and willed death.
"What?!" Balthazar looked at him like he'd just won the lottery. "You don't re-remember?" He cackled. "You were practically moaning it all night." Gabriel lifted his head and looked at him.
"You know his name? Tell me!" He cried out and moved quickly into a sitting position. Despite his entire body screaming in protest.
"No way! I'm getting too much joy out of this. Oh this will be great. You trying to remember the next time he shows up and-"
"TELL. ME. NOW!" Gabriel punctuated every word by hitting Balthazar over the head with a cushion. Although his friend looked a lot chirpier than him, Gabriel knew his head would be suffering too.
"Ow! Fuck, stop that!" He yelled and dodged the next attack. "Sam! His name is Sam. Winchester." If anything, Gabriel's eyes went even wider.
"Winchester? As in…" He couldn't even finish his sentence.
"As in Dean Winchester, yes. They're brothers." Gabriel looked close to throwing up.
"Oh God, I'm a dead man. If you need me, I'll be in the far East. My new identity will be Maria!"
"Yeah, sorry, but I dont think you could pull off being a woman. Even after that whole incident with the lesbian and-"
"Shut! Up! Now!"
"Stop hitting me!" Balthazar threw the cushion across the room, breaking a vase his mother had given him and demanding that Gabriel pay for it. So all round, a typical Thursday.
?/?/?/?/?/?/?
On Saturday morning it took Balthazar, twenty minutes, sixteen death threats and the promise of a bodyguard to persuade Gabriel to go to work. He had never seen his friend more on edge. Not even that time he got caught by Matt Jacob's dad when he was climbing out of his bedroom window. He would never forget the sight of Gabriel, in a girly cheerleading outfit, running down the street towards the car. He got in and demanded Balthazar break every speed limit in the county, as Mr Jacob's came running at them, swining a baseball bat over his head.
The thing was Gabriel had prepared himself from a beating, or yelling, from Dean. What he was dreading was coming face to face with Sam again. The guy had saved his life and in one stupid drunken moment, he had screwed everything up. Part of him just hoped he'd never see him again.
They were four hours into their shift. The lunch time crowd had died down and only a few stragglers remained. But Castiel was beyond pissed. Gabriel had taken to washing dishes and helping out in the kitchen, keeping a mindful watch on the back door, should he need to use it.
"I think it's safe. They're time has passed, I don't think they'll be here today." Gabriel nodded and felt the knot in his gut loosen slightly. At least he had a day before he had to risk seeing Sam, or Dean, again.
Gabriel rolled his shoulders back and sighed, as he made his way back out to the customers.
"I'm taking a break." Castiel said as soon as he appeared. He walked past him and into the backroom without a second glance. Gabriel just shrugged and did his normal circuit around the tables, checking on the regulars and lifting any stray mugs and plates. He just started to joke around and laugh along with the customers when the bell above the door jingles. He turned to smile in greeting, but it immediately got replaced with a look of pure horror.
"Hey Gabe." Dean greeted, as he, Sam and Charlie walked over to their usual table. He heard a clatter and saw Castiel reappear behind the counter. He rushed over to him on shaky legs and thrust the notepad and pen at his face.
"No!" Castiel stated firmly, but cast a nervous glance at Dean. "I've been serving all morning. It's your turn." It sounded childish and a little ridiculous. Gabriel looked through the hatch, hoping Balthazar would offer words of support, but his friend currently had a rag shoved in his mouth to keep from laughing.
"Fine." He hissed and walked over to the table. Head down, don't make eye contact. You can do this…
Nope, not convincing in the slightest.
"What can I get you?" He hated how breathless his voice sounded.
"Um, I'll have the steak, with a side of fries…and a coffee." Dean offered and then nudged Gabriel's side. He jumped slightly and looked at him. "You ok?"
"Fine, uh, good. Steak, I'll get that." He turned to walk away, only to have Dean grab the back of his apron and pull him back to the table.
"I think Sam and Charlie want food too." He grinned and Gabriel could feel his cheeks starting to burn.
Crap what is wrong with me! Stop it, you big fucking girl! He internally berated himself. Charlie took pity on him and quickly ordered.
"I'll have the grilled chicken with a salad, please." She even offered a smile of encouragement.
"I'll have the same." Sam said. Gabriel quickly wrote down the orders and practically ran away.
He was back behind the counter and looking at Castiel with pleading eyes. Eventually his boss caved with an eye roll.
"Fine. But then you have to deal with Pamela. And tell her to stop smacking my ass." He snapped and headed over with their drinks. Gabriel didn't think he could ever stop Pamela from grabbing anything that moved, but he wouldn't tell Castiel that just yet.
He began cleaning mugs and making the take out orders, anything to avoid looking over at that table. He had just managed to will his heart to stop thumping through his chest and his breathing had just about evened out when he felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned, expecting it to be another costumer. The unmanly squeak he let out caused the man in front of him to try and cover a grin.
"Gabe…look, I just wanted to say…um…about the other night…" Gabriel waited to get what he deserved. For Sam to tell him what an asshole he was. "I'm sorry."
"Huh?"Oh yes, you really are a modern day Shakespeare.
"You were a little drunk and I took advantage of that. If me coming here makes you uncomfortable then I'll just have Dean bring my food to the station from now on." Sam looked like one of those animals at a shelter, that looked so lost and needed to be loved. Had Gabriel been in his right mind he would have cooed and swooned and told Sam how hot he was. But apparently his brain had taken a walk.
"What?!" Sam winced at how loud Gabriel's voice had suddenly become. Many customers turned to stare at the maniac behind the counter. "I practically molested you…and you're sorry!?"
"I didn't exactly stop you." Sam muttered nervously. It was like God suddenly loved him and was telling him that he deserved something nice. "I just hope I haven't scarred you for life or anything." Sam offered a weak smile.
Oh no, don't go there. It's cruel!
"Well you have." Sam's head shot up so fast, Gabriel feared he may have gotten whiplash. "I don't know how I'll ever get over this." He even went as far as wiping a stray tear away from his eye.
"Gabriel, I'm so sorry. Seriously, if there's anything I can do to make it up to you." Sam offered looking pale and helpless.
"Well," sniff, "there is one thing." He beckoned Sam closer, suddenly feeling more confident than he had in years. When his mouth brushed the shell of Sam's ear he had to resist the urge to lick it. "Pick me up tonight at seven. Dont be late, I hate surprises and you better look as good as you do right now." He pulled back and walked straight into the kitchen.
He waited until the door stopped swinging, then, when only Balthazar could see him, he did a silly victory dance.
"You know he didn't say yes, right?" Balthazar smirked as he passed some food through to Castiel.
"Never give them that chance, my friend." Gabriel laughed. Suddenly not able to stop watching the clock and willing the excitement out of his body.
At least he knows his name now. What do you guys think?