Wine Archangels and Song (2/4)
"Get the suite with the good bed," Gabriel commented before grinning, "or don't; it'll be that anyway."
Dean paused, looking over his shoulder at Gabriel and slowly smiled. "Don't forget we have a job to do too."
"Would I ever lead you into temptation? That's the other brother."
"You're a whole 'nother kind of temptation," Dean muttered as he went inside, plastering on a smile for the bored teenage girl flipping through a magazine behind the counter.
"Hi there, my friend and I need a room for a few nights."
"How many?" she asked, snapping her bubblegum before she looked up at him, and suddenly Dean had her full attention.
"Let's say for a week; my plans are flexible." He gave her another smile.
"I am too," she hinted broadly, leaning over the counter to flash the opening of her blouse.
"Now you're just trying to get me in trouble," Dean said with a slight chuckle, letting a hand rest on hers on the counter. "You make it very tempting, but I really do have work to do. Maybe another time."
She turned her hand under his and tickled his palm with her fingertips as she shook her long blonde hair back from her face. "Maybe. My name's Terri, and I'm off on Wednesday and Friday if you have some free time then."
"You'll be the first one to know if I do," Dean promised. "But right now, it's been a long drive, and I really need some shut-eye," he hinted broadly.
"All right." She reluctantly drew her hand back, fished a key from the pegboard behind the desk and handed it over. "Hope you sleep well."
"With you to dream of, I'm sure I will." Dean flashed her another smile before disappearing through the door. He slid into the car and drove around the back of the motel to pull up outside of room six. "Home sweet home, such as it is."
"So," Gabriel asked, getting out of the car and leaning his arms on the roof, "what was her name? My vote is for something that ends with an 'I'."
Dean chuckled. "It's Terri, and I'd guess you're right about the spelling. Does that mean I should call you Gabbi?"
"Do it and you're going to find yourself unable to talk for a month."
"Geez, angels really have no sense of humor." Dean opened the door and walked in, leaving it open for Gabriel to follow him.
"We do when there's a joke involved," Gabriel called after him, shutting the car door and following Dean into the room, the dead duck décor changing to a simple rustic interior as he entered.
Dean looked around and grinned. "Where have you been all my life? You could have saved me from a lot of bleeding eyeballs."
"So glad I have a use." Gabriel chuckled as he pulled a beer from the mini-fridge in the corner, handing it to Dean before taking one for himself.
"Oh, I can think of one or two more," Dean assured him, raising the bottle in a toast before taking a drink.
"That few?"
"You haven't shown me everything you can do yet."
Gabriel's smile changed to a leer, and he drained his beer. "For me to do that, we wouldn't leave this room for, oh, at least a few decades."
"That sounds... interesting." Dean grinned. "But one of us is human, so that might be problematic."
"You don't trust me to keep you healthy?"
The beer bottle stopped halfway to Dean's mouth, and he stared at the archangel. "Are you saying you can make me immortal?"
"Why would you want me to do that?" Gabriel laughed.
"Well, I wouldn't, but I hope you're not telling me you have a thing for senior citizens."
"You do realize how old I am, don't you?"
"You do realize that humans get grey, wrinkly, and creaky when they get older, don't you?"
"And you would know, wouldn't you? Don't worry, with me around, you wouldn't need any little blue pill."
"I have no idea whether to be grateful or horrified," Dean laughed, "but I hope you can do something about the weird stomach crap. I like my burgers."
Gabriel glanced at his once again full beer bottle again and took a drink, dropping back into a recliner that appeared behind him and kicking his feet up. "What part of keep you healthy don't you understand? Is dementia setting in already, or have you been hit in the head one too many times?"
Dean eyed him. "You're a jackass, but I kinda like you despite that."
"Aww, and you're too cute for words."
"Save that thought. We have work to do, or at least I do, and since you're here, you can help."
"Work. Ugh." Gabriel made a disgusted face. "Fine, just what is it you need me to do?"
"I won't know that till I find out what we're dealing with here. But for now, how do you feel about impersonating an FBI agent?"
"Mulder or Scully?"
"We're both way too tall to be Scully, and neither of us has the legs for it. You can be Krycek."
"Mmm, even more kinky--you can even bring out the cuffs so long as you don't try to cut off my arm." Gabriel slowly climbed to his feet, suddenly dressed in a pristine navy suit, brilliantly white shirt and sedate navy and yellow striped tie though still wearing his white tennis shoes.
"You clean up pretty good," Dean observed. "Just don't forget to change your shoes before we meet anyone. Oh, and don't worry about the arm; I like what you do with both hands much too much." He gave Gabriel a quick grin while stripping down to his boxers so he could change into a dress shirt and suit.
"I can't be an eccentric FBI agent?" Gabriel asked, making a lightning quick move forward so that he could grope Dean's ass when the other man bent over to step into his pants.
"Behave!" Dean tried to glare over his shoulder, but the tent in his boxers made it less than daunting. "And I'm pretty sure the FBI has a dress code that doesn't include athletic shoes. If we ever need to impersonate a Time Lord, you can wear them them."
Gabriel snorted out a laugh at that and gave Dean's ass a final pat before stepping back away from him, still plainly ogling him. "So who are we going to talk to, Agent Hot-ass?"
"We'll see if we can get in to see the women, and then we'll go on to the guys who survived date night."
"If?" Gabriel asked, his eyebrows arcing upward.
"So that falls into things you can do? That'll make it easier."
"And you know I'm all for the easy."
"I'm not sure, but I think maybe I should be insulted." Dean tucked the white shirt into his black suit trousers and then slid the tie on, glancing at Gabriel in the mirror as he knotted it.
"If you want, I'll be the easy one when you decide we can take a break from working," Gabriel offered.
"Oh hell, you're making me want to skip the work entirely!" Dean half groaned, stepping back to prevent himself from reaching for Gabriel.
"Not that I wouldn't mind, but if another date gets snacked on, you're going to feel guilty."
"Which is why we're going to go figure this out, and then once we're done, we can celebrate."
"I'll bring the streamers and champagne," Gabriel promised as they headed out of the room and climbed into the Impala, "and the lube."
"Definitely useful," Dean said with a soft chuckle. "So just how long are you planning on sticking around, anyhow?"
Gabriel shrugged in answer to the question. "Dunno."
"I guess I'd better not get boring then."
"Dean, I really don't think that you could ever get boring."
"Aw shucks, you're going to make me blush."
"Don't bullshit a bullshitter, Winchester," Gabriel snorted, making Dean laugh.
"What, you don't think I'm a shy and blushing sweet young thing?"
Gabriel collapsed into the corner of the seat and the door, laughing hysterically, opening one eye to look at Dean, who was suddenly dressed in a blue and white Alice in Wonderland style dress.
"Gabe!" Dean roared, the car swerving slightly as he jumped.
"That's not shy and innocent for you?" Gabriel snickered. "I don't know, you do have the legs for a dress..."
"No, I do not, and if I spend too much time like this, I might start to act virginal!" Dean threatened.
"Mmm, deflowering virgins is one of my favorite things--as you well know," Gabriel leered before sighing and waving away the dress when Dean glowered at him.
"How the hell are you an angel?" Dean asked in honest bemusement. "If there are others like you, man, did organized religion get it wrong!"
"You have met other angels, right?" Gabriel asked.
"Yeah, and except for you and Cas, they all had sticks up their asses. And even Cas is nothing like you. Did they break the mold when they made you?" Dean asked, sounding amused.
"I've been down here a long time," Gabriel reminded him with a wry look. "In the beginning I was mostly like the others. Once I left, I made myself change--adapt or die, right?"
"You adapted pretty well. Despite everything, you're mostly okay, Gabe."
"Appreciate that." Gabriel glanced around at the buildings they were driving past and nodded as they pulled up in front of the sheriff's office.
"Try to be nice," Dean cautioned. "We need information from the local cops, and I'd rather not get arrested again."
"Yes, dear," Gabriel said as they headed toward the door and inside to be faced with a florid-faced, buzz-cut, beefy deputy who looked at them narrowly.
"Can I help you gentlemen?"
"Agents Elliott and Allen, FBI," Dean said, flipping open his ID briefly while Gabriel did the same beside him. Fortunately, Gabriel had spent a lot of time on Earth, so unlike Castiel, he didn't fumble the badge or show it upside down. "We're here about the recent date attacks."
"We'd like to speak to the sheriff, then see the attackers," Gabriel added smoothly.
"Sheriff's out right now. You all are welcome to wait."
"In that case, we'll start by questioning the attackers while we wait for the sheriff to get back," Dean replied pleasantly, leaving no room for argument.
"You want 'em one at a time, or are you splittin' up?"
"We'll split up," Dean replied.
***
"The two I talked to didn't remember anything about the attacks," Dean reported to Gabriel once they were back in the Impala and on their way to the hospital to speak to the survivors, the sheriff still not having returned to the station. "The last thing either of them claimed to remember was having dinner, and I think they were telling the truth."
"Mine said the same, and they were telling the truth, so yours probably were as well," Gabriel nodded. "There was nothing supernatural about them at the moment that I could detect; that doesn't mean there wasn't anything before though. If I could see one right after an attack, I'd know."
Dean groaned. "You had to say it, didn't you? You've practically guaranteed that at least one of us is going to be attacked while we're here."
"Like that wasn't going to happen anyway, and are you saying that you want me to throw myself heroically between you and any marauding female?"
"If she's trying to rend me limb from limb, yes!"
"Got it," Gabriel replied, giving a snappy salute, "I'll heroically prevent any rending, but not any other marauding."
"Hey, threesomes are fun," Dean informed him with a smirk.
"Not as much fun as orgies."
"I've never been to one of those that wasn't heading in a very bad direction."
"I'll see if I can rustle us one up some time if you want," Gabriel offered easily.
"Maybe some other time. I'm finding an angel challenging enough on his own."
"Some other time then; I'll keep you busy until then--promise."
Dean couldn't hold back a chuckle at the very earnest vow... accompanied by a very salacious grin. "I never doubted it for a second. Are you sure you were never a god of debauchery?"
"That was more of a hobby; all that candy I was eating gave me a lot of energy to wear off."
After a moment spent gawking at Gabriel--on a fortunately straight and empty stretch of road--Dean burst into laughter. "So you're telling I should keep you supplied with candy?"
"I can make my own, but feel free to feed it to me," Gabriel chuckled.
Dean's sidelong glance was heated. "When this is over," he promised.
"So, hospital now, eh? Think we'll see Dr. McSexy anywhere there?"
"I'd better not, or I'll be looking for the holy oil!" Dean growled.
"Spoilsport."
"Why am I always the one who gets shot or killed in your little games?" Dean grumbled.
"Because it wouldn't do anything to me?" Gabriel offered. "But then again you didn't stay dead in any of my 'games' either."
"I suppose I should be grateful I didn't get slammed in the balls."
Gabriel snickered. "Exactly."
"Has anyone ever told you that you've got a really strange sense of humor?"
"So many times I've lost count."
"So obviously it's not going to change any time soon."
"Nope," Gabriel said genially, "you should be used to it though; you're just the same."
Dean chuckled. "Okay, yeah, you're going to be a lot more fun to drive around with."
"Cuter too," Gabriel dead-panned.
"Such humility," Dean marveled.
"You have to be human to have humility," Gabriel grinned.
"Aren't angels supposed to be paragons of all the virtues?"
Gabriel stared at him for a long moment before bursting into laughter.
"Or not," Dean said with a chuckle. "Especially if you're an example."
"You've met other angels; what do you think?" Gabriel asked as they pulled up to the hospital.
"I think even among angels you're the odd one out. Which isn't a bad thing," Dean added. "At least you're interesting. You and Cas are the only ones I actually like."
"Guess I'm in good company then."
"The two of you're like the cartoon angel and devil on a guy's shoulders. And the cartoon devil's temptations always sound a lot more interesting."
"Hey," Gabriel sounded wounded--at least until you noticed the twinkle in his eyes, "I'm not my brother; don't give me horns."
"I did say cartoon devil," Dean pointed out. "The other kind isn't cute or tempting at all. And you're not horned, just horny."
"Damn right," Gabriel snickered before cartoon horns topped with a crooked halo appeared on his head. "And I dare you to say that that's a bad thing to be."
Chuckling, Dean inspected the new additions. "They suit you."
"I'll wear them tonight--and you'll appreciate the wings and the tail," Gabriel smirked as they pulled into the hospital parking lot.
"I'm not sure whether to be turned on or terrified by that," Dean said, unable to stop wondering what Gabriel would do with a tail.
"Let me know when you figure it out," Gabriel smirked as he climbed out of the car, heading for the hospital doors.
"Whoever said 'be careful what you wish for' knew what he was talking about," Dean muttered, but he was smiling until he forcibly sobered his expression before going inside.
***
"So we have men who were all attacked while having a private meal with their significant other--who doesn't remember a thing about it. Ideas?" Gabriel asked before reaching over and snatching a fry from the platter in front of Dean.
"Maybe they all stole food from their significant others," Dean suggested with a narrow-eyed glare which only caused Gabriel to grin as he ate the fry and stole another.
"Well, if you try to chomp on me, I'll let you know when it stops feeling good."
"You're so weird. Okay, so it can't be a rugaru unless there's a whole freakin' herd of them, and we already took care of Famine," he mused, running through the possibilities. He munched on a fry as he ruminated, unconsciously moving the plate to a spot where Gabriel could reach it easily as well.
"There's probably a trigger..." Gabriel mused, waiting for Dean to look down at the plate before directing a scowl toward the ceiling. "I really doubt that's the kind of munching the ladies were planning on, considering the trouble they had gone to for their dates."
Dean snickered, nearly choking on a French fry. "Sounds like your kind of date, huh, Gabe?"
"Having a hot babe make me dinner then make me do what she wants, oh yeah," Gabriel chuckled. "You saying it isn't yours? Wine you and dine you and, well, we'll let your imagination take it from there."
"Yeah, that sounds about right. Maybe we'll have to try that once we're done here. A hot guy works just as well as a hot babe."
"You going to make me dinner?"
"How do you feel about mac 'n cheese?"
"One of my favorite things."
"Okay, maybe some angels are close to perfection." Dean grinned at him.
"I'll even provide the beer."
"I think I want to marry you."
Gabriel snickered and stretched his legs out in front of him. "That's twice you've mentioned marriage, Dean; you're making me wonder."
"Geez, you're keeping count? You gotta get a life, Gabe." Dean was really glad he hadn't taken the joke further and said he wanted to have Gabriel's baby.
"Had one a lot longer than you have, thanks," Gabriel chuckled, swiping the last fry from under Dean's fingertips.
"You'd think you'd have learned how to get your own food in all that time then."
"Yours tastes better."
"Are we still talking about the fries?"
"For the moment."
Dean's eyebrows rose slightly. "Sounds like an interesting discussion to have later."
"Let me guess," Gabriel sighed without any heat, "work now, fun later."
"Oo, you can learn. I'm impressed."
Gabriel flipped him off before leaning back in his chair and crossing his arms over his chest, "So?"
"So I guess we keep interviewing and researching till we figure out what the hell's going on here."
"Ooo fun."
Dean shrugged. "You got a better idea?"
"When I do, you'll know; right now I'll just follow your lead," Gabriel said, giving a sudden, sunny smile.
"Just don't spend all your time ogling my ass, no matter how amazing it is."
"I promise I'll intersperse it with groping."
"I hate demons and all that crap even more than usual."
"I don't think whatever's happened is demonic," Gabriel commented after a moment of studying Dean carefully.
"Naw, it doesn't really fit them," Dean agreed. "But that doesn't mean I have any idea what it is. Hell, the way things have been going the last few years, it could more freaking gods."
"Or a mad scientist putting anger-inducing chemicals in the food or water."
"Very funny," Dean snorted, only to pause, frowning. "Could be something in what they ate or drank at that. Though I don't think Dr. Frankenstein has anything to do with it."
"Sounds more like Jekyll and Hyde to me than Frankenstein; I don't think any of those women are undead."
"You really could be on to something there. Come on, let's go find out what they had; maybe there'll be something common to all of them."
Gabriel stood and stretched, the wrinkles falling away from his suit as he did so. "So let me guess, we're going to check out grocery stores now?"
"Might be a good idea to find out what they had first, don't you think?" Dean pointed out.
"Gotcha, Boss." A smart salute accompanied the answer, making Dean snort.
"Smartass." After tossing some cash on the table to cover their meal, Dean got to his feet as well. "Try to be helpful."
***
"Just how many grocery stores do we have to look at?"
"As many as it takes," Dean replied bluntly. "But we can take a break from grocery stores for a liquor store since they all had wine with dinner."
"Go us--and shouldn't the FBI be able to get into financials and find out just where the women went shopping before they wanted a little long pork?"
"Of course, but in case you haven't noticed, we're not actually the FBI, and there's no Garcia to tell us everything we need to know."
Gabriel snickered at the reference. "We could have one if you wanted," he offered.
"I'm afraid to ask how you'd manage that."
"It's all a matter of skill and hey, look, a liquor store."
Dean eyed him askance. "You're sounding scarily like a pimp there, Gabe." He shook his head and made for the liquor store. If nothing else, he could get some beer.
"Can you be called a pimp when it's yourself you're selling?" Gabriel asked curiously.
"I'm so glad angels don't get STDs," Dean muttered.
"Are you calling me a slut?" Gabriel asked as they headed into the building.
"If the rubber fits..." Dean grinned over his shoulder.
"Oh, now that's disgusting!" Gabriel shuddered at Dean's comment. "Why would I need those things?"
Dean shivered slightly and sternly informed his body that this not the time for that. "Okay, yeah, we're not talking about that anymore until we can do something about it." Gabe was the only man--male--that Dean had ever been skin to skin with, and thinking about it was not a good idea before talking to people.
"Yes sir," Gabriel responded, giving a jaunty salute as they walked up to the counter, waiting until the tall, stocky man behind it finished ringing out his customer to speak. "Evening, I was wondering if we could ask you a few questions about some people you might have sold some wine to."
"Who're you?" the man asked suspiciously.
"FBI, Agent Elliott, and this is my partner, Agent Allen," Dean said, flashing a badge briefly. "We're here about the attacks. Do you know if any of the victims or attackers bought anything here?"
The man nodded toward the old-fashioned cash register. "I can look through the credit card records, and see if any of the names come up--if you give me the names--but if they paid cash, I'm not going to be able to help you there."
Dean nodded and read off the names from a notebook he pulled out of his pocket.
"I'll have to see the receipts to know if they bought anything around that time, but I know Tom Parker comes in here a lot. He likes to impress his dates with expensive wine, but he always has to ask someone what to buy. He's more of a beer man, really."
"Both are good in their own time," Gabriel smiled. "You know, if it would make it easier, we could look through those receipts."
The man glanced around at the customers browsing through the store, knowing that they would arrive at the cash soon enough. After a moment he nodded. "I guess that would be okay."
He led them into the office and got the receipts out, placing them on the desk. "If you have any questions, I'll just be up front."
"Thanks for your help," Dean paused to read the nametag on the man's shirt, "Leo."
"Hope it helps," the other man replied before walking out to help his customers.
When Dean reached for the receipts, Gabriel smacked his hand. "Gimme," he ordered, taking the slips and rifling through them in the blink of an eye. "Tom Parker is in there a few times, but none of the others are."
"So this may or may not mean anything. Great, we're exactly where we started from." Dean eyed Gabriel. "You want to check the other liquor stores before any more grocery stores, don't you?"
"It's liquor; you mean you don't?"
"We're talking, not buying."
"Since when do I need to buy?" Gabriel pointed out as they headed out of the office, passing a petite, redheaded woman who was seriously studying the racks of Italian wine.
"You really are convenient to have around," Dean said happily. "But since you don't need to buy, what's the big attraction in liquor stores?"
"They're more interesting than grocery stores?" Gabriel offered. "Besides, if it was something in the food, wouldn't a lot more people be chowing down on their loved ones?"
Dean shrugged. "Depends what food it is. If it's canned oysters or something, not really."
Gabriel's expression twisted into one of disgust. "You'd try to impress a date with canned oysters?"
"Uh, hello, I don't have to try to impress a date," Dean pointed out. "But some guys do."
"Exactly, and those guys wouldn't be buying their dates canned oysters."
"Says you. But that was just an example, jerk. It could be anything that's not a huge seller."
"Then how about you hit the grocery stores and I hit the liquor stores," Gabriel countered.
"Naw, that's fine. We'll do the liquor stores first." Dean would never admit it, but he was enjoying having company again and didn't want to split up.
"You just don't want to be hit on by the desperate housewives."
Dean shuddered. "Cougars are frickin' scary, dude!"
"Scary? You're a wimp, Winchester."
"You've obviously never had a pack of them come at you."
Gabriel only grinned as they walked toward the Impala, and Dean eyed him.
"Okay, give. What was that look about?"
"I'm just trying to picture you turning down sex with a pack of horny, hot housewives."
Dean smirked. "I said they were scary, not that I turned them down."
"It must have been a horrible experience for you," Gabriel snickered.
"I wasn't sure I was going to survive it, and I don't think I ever want to repeat it, but..." Dean trailed off, his grin widening.
"It was oh, so worth it?"
"Yup." Dean schooled his expression to earnestness and informed Gabriel, "So you see, I don't expect you to exceed previous experiences."
Gabriel's eyebrows rose as he studied Dean over the sun-baked roof of the Impala. "Maybe you don't, but I am one to want to leave an impression."
"I'll let you know how you do tomorrow."
"And eventually I'd like to find out just how you do as well."
Dean actually closed his eyes and counted to ten to prevent himself diving over the Impala's roof to get at Gabriel. "You really have got to stop saying shit like that when we're working," he finally managed to get out in a strangled voice.
Gabriel's eyes widened, and he gave his best impression of innocence. "Why?"
"Because FBI agents don't usually fuck each other blind over the hood of their cars!"
"You know," Gabriel sighed as he climbed into the car, fixing Dean with an accusing gaze, "I like the realities I create much more than this one."
"Deal with it. First we finish the hunt, then we can play."
Gabriel glowered in response. "You know what they say about all work and no play..."
Part 3