samch2

"One burger with everything, and two beers, Jack." Gabe handed the order for Jack to give to the cook. "I'm so tired, I don't think I'll last another hour." She plopped down on a bar stool to cool off for a second, picked up a cube of ice and rubbed it over her face, droplets of water sliding down her neck into the hollow between her breasts. Gabe closed her eyes, reveling in the sensation.

Sam was headed back to the bar just as Gabe sat down, and couldn't keep from staring as the ice melted over her skin. Suddenly, she opened her eyes and saw Sam looking at her through the mirror over the bar. Their eyes locked, held together with something more than just interest. Sam walked over and sat on the bar stool next to her.

"Are you okay, Gabriel?" Sam asked, not wanting to take his eyes from hers. "You look kinda tired."

"I am tired...frustrated...overworked and underpaid," she laughed as she grabbed the order Jack just placed on the bar. "Be right back, this is the last order of the night."

Sam watched her take the order, noticing how she had put her hair in a ponytail that bounced when she walked.

Jack noticed Sam watching. "She's one of the finest young ladies I know, so you better not have anything other than honorable intentions floatin' around in that head of yours."

Sam glanced back over his shoulder at Jack. "Why would you think that? I just think she's pretty, that's all. Kinda hard not to notice her."

"Just sayin'. She's had a rough time lately with her ex-boyfriend. He won't leave her alone. To tell the truth, I'm kinda worried about her." Jack placed the last call, and started wiping down the glasses and stacking them.

"What happened?" Sam suddenly wanted to know all he could about the "ex-boyfriend."

"Let's just say that Gabe found out about his two-timing before she let herself go too far and broke it off. Needless to say, old Tony didn't like the idea of seeing his meal ticket leave. And that's all she was to the asshole, he didn't even know what a diamond he had." Jack looked Sam straight in the eye. "I don't know what she ever saw in the son-of-a-bitch, anyway."

Gabriel returned to the bar. "Hey guys, would you mind if I go ahead and leave? I'm not feeling well."

"What's wrong?" asked Jack, concern showing in his eyes. He was like a grandfather to Gabriel, had known her since she was a baby and had worked for her family for twenty years.

"I'm fine, just really tired, Jack." I'll be okay, really, just gonna go home and crash. I'll be here tomorrow." Turning to Sam, she said, "You don't mind finishing the tables, do you Sam? I'll do yours tomorrow night."

Sam held her eyes with his. "No, I don't mind, and no, you won't finish mine up tomorrow night. Now, get going, go get some rest."

Gabriel gratefully took her purse and left.

Five minutes later, she came running back in, her face white with fear, anger coming off her in waves. "That asshole knifed my tires! I've got four flat tires, brand new tires that I just had put on the other day! I cannot believe he would do this!"

Jack and Sam both ran out the door to the car. Sure enough, all four tires were flat.

"Are you sure it was him?" Jack asked, knowing the answer already.

"Who else could it be? Who else hates me enough to do this?" She sighed, tears finally rolling down her cheeks. "Now what am I going to do?"

Sam didn't hesitate. "I'll take you home, Gabriel. I drove tonight because I need to stop at the store on the way home. Just let me get my stuff."

Jack stayed with her till Sam came back. They got in Sam's 68' Camaro, and waved goodbye to Jack as Sam pulled out on the road.

"You'll have to give me directions, I don't know where you live." Sam adjusted the mirror and looked sideways at Gabriel. He couldn't help noticing the soft skin of her thighs between her knees and skirt.

"Thanks for doing this, Sam. I really appreciate it. Looks like I'm gonna have to get a restraining order on Tony. I just don't understand him, he didn't want me when he had me, and when I broke up with him, he went ballistic. Thinks I have money or something. Well, I guess I have some money, but not near as much as he thinks I have. Turn left on Rt 1740, it's the next exit." She leaned back in the seat, looking out the window. No clouds were showing, just stars and moon...it was a beautiful night.

Sam glanced sideways again. "So, where'd you get a name like Gabriel? I mean, what made your parents decide on your name?"

Gabriel looked at Sam for a minute, like she was trying to decide something. Then she spoke. "My parents didn't think they could have children, and they desperately wanted a family. Mom prayed and prayed about it and one night she woke up and saw an angel standing by her bed. My mom claims that the angel Gabriel told her she was going to have me, and she was so happy that she named me after him." She watched Sam for his reaction...but Sam didn't give one.

"Your mom chose the right name. It suits you," was all he said.

Impressed because he hadn't made a big deal out of it, she touched his arm and said, "You need to turn right up ahead, and just follow the road. My house is at the end of it."

Sam's arm tingled at her touch, but he saw the turnoff she indicated, put the blinker on and smoothly turned onto the narrow blacktop road. "Do you live with your parents?" Sam wanted to know all he could about Gabriel, he was more than interested. He felt something for her, something he couldn't explain.

"Both my parents are dead. I live with my great aunt, Helen." She was looking out the window.

"I'm sorry, I didn't know." Sam felt awful, bringing up such a sad subject. He knew all about losing people you loved.

Gabriel smiled at him, her blue eyes twinkling in the dark. "It's okay, Sam. It happened a long time ago, I was only 13. They were killed in a car crash."

Silence hung between them for what seemed like an eternity. Finally, Gabriel whispered, "What about you, Sam? Where is your family?"

It was an honest question, and Sam felt he could trust her enough to tell the truth. Well, almost the truth. "My mom died in a fire when I was a baby. My dad saved me and my older brother, Dean, but he couldn't save her. Dad died about five years ago, and I've lived with Dean since then, we had a business together."

Sam pulled up and stopped in front of one of the nicest Victorian houses he'd ever seen. It was white with gable turrets, gingerbread scaffolding, and a huge wrap-around porch that boasted a gazebo on one end, complete with a swing in the middle. He got out and ran around to open the door for Gabriel, which she had already started to open.

"Gee, Sam, I don't know any gentlemen. I could get used to this," she grinned. "Come in and meet my aunt, please?" She looked at him, reaching out her hand toward his, hoping the things she was feeling about him inside did not show on her face. Ever since she'd met Sam at the bar, and touched him, she knew they were connected somehow. She also knew there were secrets both of them would have to let go of. Sam had been hurt, she sensed that.

Sam took her hand and followed her up the steps into the house.

"Aunt Helen? Where are you," Gabriel called out as she closed the door.

"I'm up here, dear. Just getting ready for bed. Who's that with you?" Aunt Helen spoke before she appeared at the top of the stairs and started down.

"This is my friend, and our new worker at the bar," Gabriel explained. "His name is Sam Winchester. Sam, this is my aunt, Helen Adams."

"I thought you drove today, dear. Where's your car?"

Gabriel's face darkened and she said, "Tony slashed all four tires on it and Sam was kind enough to bring me home."

"I told you that boy was bad news the minute I laid eyes on him." Aunt Helen's eyes flashed with anger. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, only thing hurt is my pride."

Aunt Helen took Sam's hand, said she was glad to meet him and that she appreciated him helping Gabriel out.

"It was my pleasure, Mrs. Adams." Sam shook her hand and noticed she looked at him a bit strangely.

"Oh, call me Helen, please. I haven't been Mrs. Adams for 20 years now, Fen has been gone a long time." She was still looking oddly at Sam, but still smiling. "Where are you from, Sam Winchester?"

"Originally from Lawrence, Kansas. But my brother and I traveled often with our job." We ran an investigative service." Sam winced inwardly at the thought of exactly what kind of investigative service.