Summary: It's Balthazar's first flying lesson, and Gabriel is an unconventional teacher

3. Balthazar Finds Out the Meaning of Push Comes to Shove

"You want me to do what exactly?"

Making a show of giving an over exaggerated sigh, Gabriel rolled his eyes, "jump Einstein."

"Jump," Balthazar repeats, eyes widening as he looks at Gabriel in equal parts shock, disbelief, and wariness.

"Yes jump, how many times do I have to repeat myself? I mean you do need a 'jump start' for your first flight," Gabriel smirks at his own pun.

Peering over the edge, Balthazar shakes his head, "I don't know, it's kind of high up. Can't we start a little lower?"

"Oh come on Bal, you're not afraid of heights are you? Be pretty silly, an angel afraid of flying."

"Shaddup," Balthazar snaps turning away from the edge to glare at Gabriel. "It's not the height…it's the fall."

Face softening; Gabriel nodded taking a step closer to Balthazar. "Oh Bal, you're not going to fall," he murmured softly as he raised a hand to rest gently against Balthazar's back between his shoulder blades. "You're being pushed," he cried gleefully giving the angel a shove.

Teetering on the edge, waving his arms around wildly to counteract his balance, Balthazar gave a yelp as he fell backwards.

"Gaaaabbbrrriiieeellll!"

Bent over laughing, Gabriel stood up wiping his eyes and noticed for the first time the half dozen pairs of eyes on him. "What?"

Eyes narrowing Michael frowned, "Gabriel that is not an appropriate way to teach someone to fly."

Rolling his eyes Gabriel moved closer to the edge to catch a glimpse on Balthazar's progress. "Come on Mikey, you know sometimes you have to jump before you can fly."

Lucifer attempted to stifle a laugh, but was not quick enough and quickly found that he was being subjected to Michael's disapproving gaze.

"Besides, I'd say our boy's doing just fine," Gabriel added as he peered over the edge. "Huh."

"What do you mean 'huh' Gabriel?"

"Well I…"

"You what," Michael seethed.

"I-"

"Am being pulled," Balthazar yelled as he shot up in front of Gabriel, pulling the unsuspecting archangel forward off the platform's edge.

Flying forward, Gabriel squawked indignantly as eh tumbled over the edge. He fell a few feet before his wings unfurled and he caught himself, wings catching on the turrets of air as he surged upwards. Steadying himself, Gabriel looked over at Balthazar, smirk pulled across his face as he crossed his arms over his chest.

"Turnabout's fair play Gabe."

Laughing Gabriel nodded "you know kid, you're all right."

"Gabriel, there is no horseplaying on the platform," Michael chimed in glaring at his younger brother.

"Horseplaying? Why Michael, I never knew you were that type of angel," Gabriel gasped doing his best to look scandalized. It was worth it to see the mix of rage and exasperation that flashed across Michael's face.

"Can we go back now Gabe," Balthazar asked shifting minutely from side to side.

"Why, you got a hot date," Gabriel asked grinning.

Blushing, Balthazar stuttered out a "no" but Gabriel cut in before he could come up with a valid excuse for wanting to hightail it out of there.

"Relax kiddo, I'm just messing with you, 'sides, I know why you're itching to leave," he smirked winking at Balthazar.

Shuddering Balthazar refused to look Gabriel in the eye as he asked "well can we go then?"

"Yea, sure thing," Gabriel said raising a hand to snap his fingers. Cocking his head he smiled, "where'd you tell Cassie you'd meet him?"

Gabriel didn't wait for an answer; they always met up by the babbling brook, and snapped his fingers as Balthazar opened his mouth to protest. Oh yea, his baby bro had it bad.