The New York Job

[Gabriel Baal]

“Hey Livy,” Eden says with a bright smile as she drops her purse down onto a chair in Gabriel's common room. The younger woman's dark blonde head rises a little in acknowledgment before dropping back onto the arm of the couch, her eyes glued to the television before her. Eden looks back to her shadow, Caleb following behind her.

“I think I'll be okay in Gabriel's apartment. Stay here. Talk to Liv,” she says, trailing her fingers over his arm as she looks back to the other woman. “Where is Gabriel? He said he was here--”

Olivia points off down the hall.

“In the office, 'im and Saul been locked up for ages,” she says.

“Thanks,” Eden moves off down the hallway.

“Oi! Don't think 'e wants to be disturbed,” Olivia shouts loudly enough to wake the dead.

Eden rolls her eyes.

“When has that stopped me before?” she murmurs, carrying on and pushing right into the office. Her sudden entrance causes a domino effect to the two men standing before the desk, looking down at something.

“What-- haven't you ever heard of knocking?!” Gabriel asks in exasperation, recovering from his startle, Solomon frowning as he pulls his hand from inside his jacket and the gun she knew was holstered there. Eden arches an eyebrow and bends, picking up the papers that had scattered to the floor, Gabriel bending at the same time and snatching at them before she can see them.

“Well I figured Liv's shouting was knock enough, what are you two so into that you didn't hear that-- Gabriel stop it, let me see,” she says, pulling one of the larger papers away and moving quickly away from him when he tries to snatch it back.

“Eden! That's not for you to worry about--” Gabriel begins, throwing his hands up when she ignores him and continues to look it over with a frown.

“Why do you have the layouts of some building?” she asks, Gabriel rounding the desk and reaching for the papers only to have her pull them behind her back. She gives him a serious look.

“Tell me, or I swear they'll go in the paper shredder,” she threatens, backing to where she knew his was located.

Gabriel raises an eyebrow.

“As if I couldn't take those off you before you made a move in that direction, love.”

He seems to realize the mistake immediately, recognizing the challenge he'd just issued. Eden wasn't known to back down from challenges, and for a moment, he feared she might take him up on it...

“Tell. Me.” She says instead, but her tone implied her next step would be to take the challenge he'd set forth.

Gabriel sighs, looking to Solomon. His longtime friend and head of security shrugs.

“She could be useful,” he says simply.

“Fucking hell. Alright, fine,” he says, raking a hand through his hair and making it stand up wildly. “It's come to my attention that Uriel has been... effected... mentally by his time at Demonsacre,” Gabriel smirks as he says this, clearly relishing the idea of his brother's killer experiencing mental anguish. “He's been going to therapy sessions here,” he touches fingers to what was obviously a surveillance photograph of a building.

Eden picks up the photo, studying the building.

“Okay, so what does that mean?”

Gabriel looks to Solomon, Solomon shrugging once more, Gabriel making a face as if to say “you're not help at all”.

“Gabriel--” Eden begins, Gabriel holding a hand up to forestall her.

“I don't believe that building is at all what it seems. Suffice to say, it's Order related,” he says meaningfully.

Eden stills, her eyes narrowing.

“And you weren't going to tell me.” It wasn't a question, it was a statement, said levelly and with a layer of threat to it.

“I didn't want-- look, Solomon and I have been going over everything we've been able to acquire on that building. We need to get access to it, and for that, we need an iron-clad reason to be there and likely a distraction or two. The devil's in the details,” he says, mussing his hair even more.

Eden smiles. He looked tired, the stubble on his jaw longer than usual, his normally pristine attire a little rumpled, his tie loose. An idea occurs to her and her smile grows as she approaches him, Gabriel watching her warily as she slides the knot of his tie up, smoothing it and then tidying his hair.

“You know, what with Prison Break coming up and all, I've been thinking that maybe there are ways we could grow as partners, that we really need to know each other far better than we already do. What better way to do that than through couples' therapy?” she asks, giving him a look of wide-eyed innocence.

Gabriel blinks at her.

“Couples... Eden you can't be... hold on, are you actually serious? I'm not taking therapy--” he stops when Eden places a hand over his mouth to stop his speech. He could have pulled away at anytime, but instead he watched the look she exchanged with Solomon, Saul already grinning with anticipation.

“Told you she could be useful, Gabriel. I think she'd just given us an in,” he says.

“Two birds, one stone. You get your 'in' to the building... and we become the ultimate partnership. We're already formidable, but imagine what we might be,” she says, removing her hand from Gabriel's mouth and smoothing imaginary and real wrinkles from the black suit jacket he wears.

Gabriel sighs and closes his eyes.

“You're not going to let this go, are you?” he asks, already knowing the answer.

“Nope,” she says cheerfully.

“It's as good a plan as any,” Solomon ventures.

“It's damned foolhardy, is what it is. Fucking hell,” Gabriel utters, Eden smiling. She knew she'd won.

“Now we just need to--” Solomon begins, cutting off as the door opens once more, admitting Caleb.

Gabriel fumes, finally seeing an outlet upon which he could vent his intense agitation.

“Why does no one fucking knock?! Caleb, get the fuck out, you're not needed,” he begins, Eden slapping his arm.

“Stop it. Be nice--”

“I will not be fucking 'nice', he's an employee, he's not a fucking friend, you're far too lenient--” Gabriel starts to work himself into a fine rage, Caleb clearing his throat.

“So, is this a good time to tell you that I couldn't help but overhear and I'm offering my services?” he looks to Solomon who narrows his eyes and considers. “We've worked together several times in the past, Saul, and with something like this, you'll need another at your side. Two work more quickly and efficiently.”

“Yes, and two also increase the chances of getting caught, particularly if one is inept,” Gabriel bites out.

Caleb looks directly at him.

“Would I really be Eden's security if I were... inept?”

Gabriel's jaw clenches, but he says nothing.

“And to that end,” Caleb continues, “you're involving her, which you know places her in danger. I would be a poor guard if I allowed that while I sat back.”

Gabriel looks as though he wants to refute the logic, but is unable. In frustration, he looks to Solomon, Solomon giving a sharp nod.

“He's right, Gabe,” Solomon says simply, leaving Gabriel with the look that he'd swallowed something not to his liking.

“We may as well invite the whole fucking apartment full, Jenny and Olivia too,” Gabriel grumbles, jumping when Eden pokes him in the ribs.

“If you're going to give in, at least do it with grace,” she teases.

“What, like you do?” he retorts, earning a glower from her.

“Yeah. You two are going to need all the help you can get. I feel sorry for the therapist,” Solomon jokes. “Now. We have plans to solidify,” he says, everyone turning their attention to the once again orderly paperwork laid out on the desk.

“One moment.”

Gabriel walks away from them, aware of the three sets of eyes watching him curiously.

He locks the door.

Next...

[Gabriel Baal]

9:00am

"Let me start out by saying that I don’t need therapy. " Gabriel said with a smile – his eyes were focused on something just above and to the left of Doctor Harrison’s right shoulder. "So, there’s every chance this is an absolute waste of time. That’s why I’m grinning"

He flashed a sarcastic smile at the psychiatrist, who’s mouth turned up at the corners.

"I wonder, Gabriel, how many people have said likewise to you over the years?" Said Maxwell, his one leg crossed over the other – a tactic employed by almost every Psychiatrist and Psychologist in history in order to have a place upon which to lean when writing notes.

Gabriel’s sarcastic smile waivered – fucking shrinks, he heard himself think ironically. He didn’t answer the question, just tried to turn the conversation around.

"So how long have you been practicing?" Gabriel asked.

"Long enough to know when a patient is trying to turn the conversation around." Dr. Harrison smiled. "But I’ll indulge your interest. I’ve been practicing for twenty four years."

"Long time." Gabriel said, leaning back and rubbing his stubbled jaw. "You must be good."

"It’s been said." Came the reply. "I hear you’ve had a difficult month."

Gabriel’s jaw twitched at the question. He’d known this was going to come, probing, pushing, working into the gaps that are created by conversation. It’s what he would have done. He closed his eyes and thought about Eden – it was important to her. She wanted them to be a stronger unit, and given the connection that Ichabod had left behind…

"Yes." Said Gabriel, allowing his head to be overruled. "It’s been trying."

"Three deaths. One after the other. Do the police believe there were any connections?" The Doctor asked.

"No." Said Gabriel, trying not to let his mind linger on any of the faces that haunted his sleep every night. "A, um… A mistake with a dose of medicine, a car accident and an escaped patient from my facility."

"That must have been difficult to accept? Three unconnected accidents, one after the other." Maxwell pushed. "I assume you haven’t taken the police’s view at face value?"

"My own team investigated the incidents. There were no mistakes." Gabriel said, pushing the image of Nate’s smiling face from the back of his mind.

"The pharmacy has records to show that they got the dosage wrong. That facility is now closed." Gabriel added as he remembered Samuel Morgan’s laughing face, when talking to Killian at some event Gabriel had stalked from a distance another life time ago.

"Samual Morgan was killed when the brakes failed on his car. He’d had a flat tyre, and in the dark he mustn’t have noticed that the break-line had broken " Gabriel continued, reciting the same conversation he’d had with every single person who had asked. He did so, even as Quentin’s face hovered over him like a shadow. He felt the sting of tears in the corner of his eyes.

"And my brother – tragically murdered by an escaped patient during a break-out." Gabriel added. The doctor tilted his head.

"That sounds like something the police would be interested in." He said with a look of concern, but Gabriel smiled.

"We’re dealing with it." He said, pulling back from the tears that threatened to burst from him at any time.

"Are you?" The doctor asked, his question pointed. "Dealing with it, I mean? I understand if you’re not. We doctors are often the best to give advice, but the worst at taking it."

Gabriel fixed his face with a bored look again – he didn’t want to open up to this man. He didn’t know him… He didn’t know who he knew.

"Yes, yes – we’re stubborn and think we know best." He said waving his hand. "In this case, I’m right. There’s nothing for me to deal with."

"You’ve dealt with the death of your brother. In a month. While your friends symbiotically deal with their own grief?" Maxwell asked sceptically. "Forgive me, Gabriel, but either you’re lying or you didn’t care about your brother at all."

"Don’t you fucking dare." Spat Gabriel as he surged forward. And then he’d realised the trap he’d fallen into. Maxwell was smiling now, and offered a seat. Gabriel obliged.

"Perhaps I am harbouring a little latent hostility." Gabriel said, looking down at his nails. "But I can process that in my own way."

"I have no doubt that you can." Maxwell said with a respectful nod. "But that doesn’t mean you should. What works for your patients doesn’t necessarily work for you. And given that you’ve already lied to me more than once, I suspect your attempts to deal with it are less than effective."

"I’ve not lied to…" Gabriel began, but the doctor rolled his eyes. "What the fuck are you rolling your eyes at?"

"You and I both know, you suspect foul play. Three murders. It doesn’t take a team of investigators to see that these were connected incidents. You know it, and I know it. The police believe it because you told them that’s what they should believe, but that’s not how this works. You don’t lie to me, Gabriel – it just wastes our time." Maxwell replied.

Gabriel blinked in a kind of shock – how could he possibly know.

"Eden explained to me how you blame yourself for what happened. You wouldn’t blame yourself for accidents, Gabriel. Which means you believe you somehow caused it. Unless you’re a pharmacist or a mechanic, I’m not entirely sure how you could blame yourself for accidents." Maxwell added. Eden had a big mouth.

"Fine. Perhaps I suspect that something untoward has taken place – and yes, that has lead me to consider that my friends are in danger." Gabriel added lazily. "But I’m not entirely sure what that has to do with this session."

"You isolate yourself from them – close off your feelings and hide your grief and your doubt so that they can grieve in peace. I can understand that, but in doing so you build a dam that’s meant to hold back the tide of emotion that comes with dealing with your problems. The problem is, Gabriel, the tide doesn’t go away. In fact, all that happens is that the pressure builds and builds until the dam breaks. And everything in it’s path will be destroyed. Friendships, relationships, careers… Everything will be cast aside because of the strength of the current." Maxwell added.

"You’re quite good at this…" Gabriel said with a half smile.

"I try." Maxwell replied, taking a sip of water. "Let’s start again… How are you feeling."

Gabriel considered the question, his tongue moving over his teeth trying to decide how he should answer the question.

"Broken." He said quietly.

The next twenty minutes moved like lightning, and Gabriel hardly stopped speaking. He talked about Quentin… And Olivia… And Eden… And Jet… And guilt… And pain. Once that dam broke, he couldn’t stop the flow. He took a deep breath as he reached for a tissue and dried his eyes.

"And where is Olivia now?" Maxwell asked.

"She’s staying with me – in New York. She’d taken a break from wrestling to train more – Quentin’s advice. Since he died she’s not really had the heart for it. He was more than a brother… He was a mentor." Gabriel said, staring off again.

"I’m not sure we’re still just talking about Olivia, here." Maxwell said. Gabriel let out a minute burst of laughter. He knew Maxwell was right again.

"I never spoke at his funeral. I let everyone else do that… I loved my brother, and I wanted to honour him but there were better men… Stronger people… I never spoke at his funeral." Gabriel repeated again.

"That’s Okay, you know…" Said Maxwell. "There is no fixed recipe for how to deal with grief. Some laugh, some cry. Some make jokes, some sit alone eating pints of ice cream. Whilst shutting yourself off from the world isn’t healthy, dealing with grief in your own way is. So long as you deal with it. There’s no reason to feel guilty for not speaking at his funeral."

Gabriel nodded, and dried his eyes once more. He felt… Better. He took a deep breath and nodded more heartily.

"Yes… Yes, thank you doctor." He said nodding.

"I think it’s time I had a little chat with Eden, don’t you?" Asked Maxwell. Gabriel glanced down at his phone and saw a message that said “You’re up.” And he nodded once more.

"Yes. Thank you, again…" He said.

"It’s my pleasure. Go take a walk, compose yourself… I’ll speak to Eden for about thirty minutes and then it will be the two of you together – okay?" Maxwell said, guiding Gabriel to the door. He pulled it open and Eden stood up slowly.

Her smile faltered as she reached Gabriel and placed her hand on his arm.

"Hey, are you Okay?" She asked, squeezing gently.

"Yes…" He said with a smile of his own. "I think I am."

She nodded and walked into the office behind him, and the door closed.

Next...

[Gabriel Baal]

9:30am

Gabriel opened his phone and checked the app that they’d all installed – it showed Caleb and Solomon on the forth floor, the level where the record office was. Gabriel began to walk through the halls of the offices and nodded to nurses and admin staff alike. As he reached the end of the hall he turned a corner and saw a small corner office.

"Bingo." He said to himself.

He walked towards it, pulling his ID out of his pocket and looking over it. He stepped inside the admin office and looked at the different desks. Two women and a man – Gabriel smiled as he walked over to the desk of the man.

"Morning." Gabriel said with a smile. "I was wondering if you could help me?"

The man at the desk, shot a bored look up at Gabriel, but his second look was more intrigued.

"Of course, I’ll do my best. My name is Scott… What can I do for you Mr…" He began.

"Doctor…. Baal. Gabriel Baal." Gabriel stumbled on purpose, nervously before dropping his ID. He leaned down to pick up and banged his head on the desk.

"Oh my! Are you alright?" Scott asked, getting up from his desk. Gabriel rubbed the top of his head and sat back on one of the chairs at Scott’s desk.

"Ugh… I’ll be fine." He said, groggily. "I’m having the worst day."

Scott flashed a look over at the two women who were looking over with interest.

"It’s, uh.. It’s my break. Do you want to grab a coffee?" Scott asked. Gabriel smiled.

"That would be amazing – you know, the people in here are so friendly. It’s a shame I’m such a clutz." He said as Scott helped him to his feet. They entered the lift and quickly found themselves with a latte each, sat at a table in the coffee shop.

"So I wake up this morning and rush out of my apartment forgetting my briefcase. I miss my Subway, so I had to wait and then run here so I wasn’t late. I left a patients notes on one of the record trolleys, so it’s been taken back to records and what’s worse? I’ve left my passkey in my briefcase at home so I can’t even head down to records to get it."

"You’re having no luck today. Are you new?" Scott asked.

"I’m a locum." Gabriel said, not registering the blank look Scott gave him at first. "Oh. Agency."

"Ohhhhh, alright well… That makes sense. Wait, I deal with the temporary doctors and I don’t remember your details passing through the office." Scott said, confused.

"Really?" Gabriel said. "That’s strange. "
He pulled out his phone and moved to his emails to find an email from the admin department booking him in for a slot.

"Huh..." Scott said, looking at the email "Seems legit – I just don’t remember sending it."

Gabriel’s pulse quickened – he remembered the impeccably clean desk, and considered whether a man with this attention to detail would possibly forget when he’d booked a doctor. Gabriel threw caution to the wind and reached out and placed his hand on top of Scott’s.

"Are you sure you didn’t just… Skip over me without thinking. It’s the story of my life." Gabriel said.

Scott’s eyes twinkled.

"I’d never have missed you – I’d have seen British and immediately swooned… But Rachel…" His lip curled into a hateful snarl. "That little slut might have put you through hoping she’d get to you before I did. Oh… My… God… She’s such a whore. She’s had more cock than a flash sale on a chicken farm."

Gabriel chuckled and Scott’s eyes widened.

"Oh my god, I’m so sorry… That was totally unprofessional." He said, quickly.

"It’s fine! Don’t worry about it." Gabriel said, smiling. "But alas, I’ll have to cut our coffee short – I’m going to have to run home to pick up my briefcase. I need that passkey."

Scott looked around and bit his lip.

"God… I really shouldn’t be doing this." He said, checking that no-one was looking. He began to scribble on a piece of paper he pulled out of his pocket. "Here… That’s my username and passkey. Just… Make sure you don’t do anything that might get me fired."

Gabriel smiled, and looked down at the piece of paper. Username, Password and a string of numbers.

"What’s this? I’ve not seen this before." Gabriel said, feigning confusion.

"That’s… My phone number." Scott said, his cheeks reddening slightly. Gabriel placed his hand back on Scott’s again and squeezed.

"Thank you – I really appreciate this." He said, and traced his thumb over the number. "All of it."

Scott cleared his throat and made an excuse about his break coming to an end. Gabriel finished the remainder of his coffee and quickly typed the log in details into a message. He pressed send, and the message was delivered to Eden, Solomon and Caleb.

A few seconds later came Cal’s reply. “About fucking time, mate. We’ve been like sitting ducks. If you’re going to make us do this shit, at least pull your fucking weight.”

Gabriel’s jaw twitched as he climbed to his feet – he left the cup on the plate and tore up the small sheet of paper into tiny strips, dropping them into the dregs of his coffee, causing the ink to run.

He entered the lift and waited as it carried him back to the floor where Eden was speaking with Maxwell Harrison. He stepped out of the doors and was about to sit down when the door to the office opened, and Doctor Harrison looked out.

"Alright, it’s time for the couple’s session." He said, stepping back, his arm outstretched. He stepped inside and looked down to Eden, concerned that he’d find her mascara had run.

She smiled up at him, sat perfectly straight, one leg over the other. Gabriel turned around and sat down next to her. Maxwell took his seat opposite the two of them.

"Alright…" He said with the flash of a smile. "Where do we begin?"

Next...

[Gabriel Baal]

The Killing Joke – the beautiful Lucy Wylde and her faith followers… What? That only applies to Eden? I don’t think so – I understand their need to follow Lucy’s lead, after all I’d follow that woman anywhere… I mean, I usually do. But what I don’t understand is why it is that Jet and I apparently follow our cocks whilst Jason Ingalls and Rogan Morgan are part of this wonderful band of unhinged freaks because they’re like-minded. Let’s be clear here – whether they believe it or not, this is a group. They’re not a disconnected group of individuals who come together when it suits… Trios. Lucy and Rogan. No Holds Barred. Rogan and Jase. They’re a group.

A group made on two men wanting to fuck their fellow psycho.

Tell me I’m wrong all you like – but this is how life is in UGWC. Everyone wants to assume the girl and the boy are fucking – for me it was Lucy… And then Eden… I am, apparently, a great womanizer. Luckily ninety percent of our female roster are lesbians or I may have found myself knee deep in clunge. I’m the Richard Burton of UGWC. And of course Eden is Joan Collins… A black widow… dangerous to men.

It’s all bull shit. Do you want to know the truth?

Eden and I work because we spent months and years studying one another as enemies. We saw one another’s threat and we worked to cancel it out. That mean that when we stood side by side, we knew where each needed to pick up the slack for the other. It gives us synergy. It gives us connectivity that has nothing to do with our genitals. It gives us a way of working that is seamless and without thought.

Can you say the same thing, gentlemen?

You see, I knew Rogan MacLean when he chose Jason Ingalls as his Sponsee. I knew the mockery that was in that choice – I know that Rogan chose Jason to thumb his nose at the entire wager. The wager, Jason, was a joke. We chose the least worthy in an attempt to make them something better. You weren’t special. You weren’t destined for greatness. You were Rogan’s own personal joke. I felt he chose poorly. I never felt you were the joke he made you out to be. You were no B-Pac. You were no Austin Alexander. You were Jason Fucking Ingalls…

You were more than Rogan’s mockery allowed you.

Yet here we stand – he’s the man you have to rely on. A man who mocked you, who saw you as less than worthy. Who saw you as a joke and a footnote. A man who, when you pointed your gun at his face, laughed… And told you that you weren’t man enough to pull the trigger. Then again, seeing as he’s stood by your side, perhaps you’re right. Did it irk you when Chad shook Rogan’s hand? Did it bother you when Rogan and Chaos showed one another respect? I’m sure you’ll claim not – you’re not the kind for caring.

But ask yourself this – what means more to Rogan? The respect of Chaos? Or your companionship?

And then there’s Rogan – trusting implicitly the man who once said that he wanted to end his career. I know, I know – Eden and I have done similar – but here’s the thing. Since she and I became friends, I’ve not publicly acknowledged a man who tortured her systematically as an equal and showed him my respect. Was that the agreement? Chaos would bury his issues with you in exchange for you sinking your dagger between Jason’s shoulder blades? Perhaps you’re just naïve enough to believe there will be no repercussions.

Naivety is your strong suit after all.

While I appreciate that neither of you held any particular love for Ichabod, he saw you two as his replacement. I know, there’s a belief he bestowed that upon me, but I was merely the vessel chosen to end his suffering. No, in the two of you he found those who would truly follow his path. In the two of you he found those who continue his reign of Chaos! In you he found… Arguably the worst possible choices outside of B-Pac and Austin Alexander. I have to question Ichabod’s choice when he rewarded the two of you for your service. Because he chose men who would destroy his legacy…

Rather than raise it to a new plateau like me.

So here we are, dancing this merry dance all over again – Gabriel Baal facing the Agents of Chaos… The Engine and The Acolyte… Gabriel Baal, the Mechanism of Order with his Ice Queen at his side. You face a foe that you have no way, nor idea of how to defeat. You face a foe too strong even for the two of you. Congratulations, gentlemen – you’ve reached your glass fucking ceiling. And now we’re going to break that glass in your face and watch the shards nail you to the fucking ground. I’m sure you don’t need to know who we are, but just in case?

Please allow me to introduce myself.

Next...

[Gabriel Baal]

10.00am

"You’re the doc, doc… Well, you’re both doc’s I guess, but in this case, you’re THE doc, and Gabriel is A Doc. Wait, I don’t mean A, doc like you’re not as good as he is, I’m just talking about in this particular context… The doctor that’s important is him. Not that you’re not important, I just mean…" Eden said. Her speech was quick and babbled. She was nervous.

"Relax love… I get it." Gabriel said smiling.

"Sorry." She said, smiling nervously.

"It’s fine. Why don’t you start with explaining your relationship?" Doctor Maxwell said.

"Well…" Said Gabriel,

"Um…" Said Eden.

"It’s… I guess…" Gabriel added.

"Kinda… Funny if you think…" Eden continued.

"Where to… Start…" Gabriel said.

"I mean… It’s such a… Long…" Eden fidgeted in her seat.

Maxwell looked from one to the other, his eyes doing their absolute damnedest not to roll back into his own skull.

"Alright… So… Let’s ask an easier question. Look at each other, and tell me how you feel." Maxwell asked.

Gabriel and Eden turned to look at one another, they both let out a burst of nervous laighter.

"You first." Gabriel said.

"Nuh, uh…" Eden said. "No way you’re pushing me down that rabbit hole on my own."

"Alright fine." Gabriel said. He stopped to take her in, and he smiled with the corner of his mouth. "She is my best friend. And given our history, the fact that I’m able to say that about her fills me with more joy than anything else in the world. Being her partner is an honour and a privilege. And if it lasted forever, it wouldn’t be long enough."

Eden beamed up at him and leaned towards him, nudging him with her shoulder.

"Yeah, I mean… He’s alright." She said, holding back a giggle. Maxwell smiled.

"So, if you’re such good friends, why are you here?" He asked.

"We have history…" Eden said. "And sometimes it makes me feel like Gabriel is still trying to make up for mistakes of the past when I’ve told him that he should just accept that I’ve forgiven him and that I trust him with my life."

Gabriel rolled his eyes, there was no holding it back.

"Whereas I feel that Eden’s complete and total faith of me is foolish and misguided given our history, and despite my happiness that we have managed to create a bond and friendship that supersedes all of that, I feel it leaves her vulnerable. I feel like I’ve made her believe that monsters can be trusted." Gabriel said. This time it was Eden rolling her eyes.

"Gabriel, how many times? You’re not a monster. Jesus, I’m more of a monster than you’ve ever been." She said, her eyes falling back on Maxwell. "As you can tell, this is an ongoing discussion."

"Yes. It is interesting, how you both see yourselves as monsters, but not one another. It’s almost as if you both want to take all the blame for everything that’s ever happened… Because if you take a second to share the blame, you may well find it hard to maintain the relationship you have."

Gabriel and Eden share a look of contemplation.

"So when was the first time the two of you had sex?" Maxwell asked.

The look of contemplation disappeared.

"What?" Asked Gabriel. "No! It’s not like that, Eden and I are just friends… Why does everyone think that… Why does everyone assume that?"

"Because we’re a guy and a girl, and we’re friends and apparently I’m a cock-hungry whore." Eden said smiling. "One plus one equals twelve and all that."

Gabriel blinked in her direction.

"To answer your question, when I was in the hospital… That’ll be in my file by the way… Gabriel used to visit me when I was restrained. I used to think he drugged me and had sex with me…" Eden began, but Gabriel cut her off.

"Eden!" He said, staring a hole into her. "Ixnay ethay ugsdray."

"You realise everyone can speak pig-latin nowadays, right?" Eden said, as Gabriel flashed a smile at Maxwell.

"Fine." Gabriel said. "And for the record, that didn’t happen."

"Which part?" Asked Eden, seeming to enjoy Gabriel squirming. "The part where you drugged me or the part where you fu…"

"Alright, I think we can move on." Said Maxwell, watching Gabriel growing even more uncomfortable. Eden chuckled, knowing how uncomfortable she was making Gabriel.

"How about we talk about your involvement in the burning down of Gabriel’s first facility?" Maxwell said. Eden’s smile faded.

"That was… I mean… We’re passed that now… It’s in the…" She started, but Maxwell cut her off.

"Fire seems to have played a big part in your life the last few years… Mr. Colin Zale’s gymnasium… Your own apartment… Gabriel’s first facility and now…" Maxwell said, but this time it was he who was cut off.

"If you dare mention Casa Vain in the same breath as those others, I swear to god I will raise all kinds of hell." Eden said, her eyes flashing with warning.

"She’s not lying…" Gabriel said, recognising the look.

"What happened at Casa Vain was an accident." She said.

"But you understand why people think differently?" The doctor asked.

"Not really." She said with a hint of deboyfriend. "I own the things that I do. I very rarely lie about my actions. If I’d have intended to burn down Alan’s fucking house, I’d have told him before hand. This… Was… An… Accident."

Maxwell made notes, turning his head to a somewhat triumphant looking Gabriel.

"And you, Dr. Baal?" Maxwell asked.

"Not so much a fan of fire, given the aforementioned destruction of my life’s work and having a brother whose wife and adopted sister were both burned to death in his bar." Gabriel said. "I tend to stick with radiators these days."

"I’m thinking more about your history of stalking…" Maxwell replied.

"Woooooooould we call stalking?" Gabriel asked, his head tilted and his voice unnaturally high.

"Yes, Gabriel." Eden said, nodding her head vigorously. "Yes we would."

"I prefer… Intense interest. Or… Pre-friendship research." Gabriel said.

"You drugged me and fucked with my head." Eden said, a hint of annoyance on her face.

"And look how this turned out!" He exclaimed, his arms wide.

They both looked down at the same time as their phones both buzzed. Eden, having access to her purse, turned the phone over inside.

"I can’t… Just… Hearing you be so blasé about all of this? Doctor Harrison, can I just take a moment…" She asked, pulling out a handkerchief and dabbing at the dry corners of her eyes.

"Of course, Eden. Take as much time as you need." Maxwell added.

"Thank you." She stood up and shot Gabriel a meaningful look. He quickly looked at his phone as the Doctor couldn’t help but watch Eden leave. The message read “We have a problem. Need assistance.”.

"So… " Said Gabriel, trying to regain the doctor’s attention. "While I’ve got you alone… I have some latent hostility towards my father?"

Maxwell Harrison felt a swell of regret that he’d pushed Gabriel Baal to open the floodgates.

Around ten minutes later, Eden returned to the room. She’d pulled back her hair, as if she’d had need to wash her face. But her make-up was still perfect. Gabriel wondered if Maxwell would notice… But right now, he wasn’t watching her face.

"Alright…" He said. "What’s next."

Next...

[Gabriel Baal]

10.20am

Gabriel slips out of the office and into the hall. He picks up his phone and dials Solomon’s number.

"What is it? We’re supposed to have an alibi and we’re in and out of the office like we’re on a secret mission to steal files from a doctor’s office. Oh… Wait…" Gabriel said with a hint of sarcasm,

"Shut up, dick head. We have a problem." Solomon said.

"What? What could possibly make you this concerned…" Gabriel said, about to start on a long rant.

"Jenny." Said Solomon. Gabriel’s blood ran cold.

"What the fuck do you mean, Jenny? What has she got to do with anything?" Gabriel bit back at his friend and bodyguard.

Solomon was sient on the other end of the phone for what felt like an age… He then cleared his throat.

"I… May… Have forgotten… To… Turn off… Find my friends." Said Solomon.

Gabriel’s jaw began to clench. Through closed teeth he spoke again.

"You’re on a mission… And you’re being… tracked." Gabriel said… "By your girlfriend?"

"When you say it like that…" Solomon said. Gabriel could hear Caleb laughing in the background and the sound of Solomon slapping at him to shut him up. "Look, you need to go and cut her off. Do something. If she comes in here she’s gonna start asking for me."

"Fucking hell Solomon – this isn’t what we need." Gabriel said, shaking his head and walking back to the lift from earlier.

"I get that, but we can’t change it… Just… Try and fix it!" Solomon said. Gabriel hung up the phone and thrust it into his jacket. He stepped out of the lift and looked towards the lobby where Jenny was striding across the marbled floor with Olivia in tow.

"Fucking hell." Gabriel said under his breath. "Jenny. Jenny!"

His aunt turned her head to face him, and her look of anger turned to confusion.

"Gabriel. What’s going on? Where’s Solomon?" She asked.

"Alright, G." Said Liv with a smile. "You doin’ ‘ere?"

"I could ask the two of you the same thing." Gabriel said with a smile. "Solomon and I are here conducting business – we’ll be back at the apartment in due course…"

"What KIND of business?!" Jenny said, her voice loud and somewhat shrill.

Gabriel grabbed Jenny by the wrist, which drew some looks – and Olivia stepping closer to him.

"Oi. Let her go." Liv said with a sneer. "You don’t fuckin’ grab her like that."

"I need her to be quiet… To calm down… To stop making a scene and to leave." Gabriel said as Jenny snatched her arm out of Gabriel’s hand and advanced on him.

"Listen to me you little shit – you may well be used to telling everyone in your life what to do, including my fiancé – but you do not… tell me… what… to do…" She said. She punctuated every space with a talloned finger into his shoulder. Gabriel backed up with every poke until he was leaning against the reception desk. He looked to the receptionist and smiled, before turning back to Jenny.

"Aunt Jenny, if it’s not too much bother, would you mind taking Liv back to the apartment. As soon as we’re done with this little piece of business, we’ll come straight back and explain?" He said.

Liv smiled as Jenny looked over he shoulder towards the nineteen year old.

"Olivia – it would appear our presence isn’t wanted. Shall we go for cocktails?" Janny asked.

"Sweet!" Liv said with a smile. "Catcha lata, bro!"

Gabriel watches as Jenny and Liv leave the building. He finally breathes once they’re out of the way. Gabriel turns and walks back into the building and towards the lift.

"Gabe? Everthin’ alright?" Solomon asked.

"I had her arrested." Gabriel said.

"You did fuckin’ what?" Solomon said.

"I’m kidding, Saul. She’s gone…" Gabriel said. "She made a scene."

"Are we blown?" Solomon asked.

"I don’t think so – only a receptionist, and to be fair she looked mental." Gabriel said.

"Oi. That’s my girlfriend…" Solomon said.

"Oh I’m well aware…. Good luck with that." Gabriel said as he pressed the red button to disconnect the call.

Gabriel pushed open the door to the office and smiled.

"Sorry about that… Where were we?" He said.

Next...

[Gabriel Baal]

Do you know what makes Eden Morgan and Gabriel Baal so devastating as a team? We have no fear of letting one another down. We have sunk to the deepest pits of hell together and walked out side by side. When you’ve been to rock bottom, you know that nothing else will ever phase you. Win, lose or draw, Eden Morgan and Gabriel Baal will walk out side by side week in , week out until the end of time. Why? Because we’ve done everything we could possibly have done to one another…

And we came out the other side.

Two of the most decorated stars in the world of professional wrestling, dangerous on our own, deadly together. The Black Widow and The Serpent, side by side… Fighting towards the same goal. Fighting towards the same end, both focused on the same thing. Honestly, I never imagined this day would ever come… That given everything I did to Eden Morgan, that she would look upon me with a kind of trust bestowed to only a handful of people in any one lifetime.

I trust that woman with my life.

A funny thing to say about a friend, I know – hard to believe as it is that she and I could be anything but what you expect. But that’s the point – that’s the point of she and I. We always give you everything but what you expect. No-one expected her to win her first World Championship in just four months. No-one expected me to become a winner of the Grand Slam in just eighteen short months. No-one would have considered that Gabriel Baal would join The Court and never did anyone believe that Zane Scott would drop the Co-Operative championships with Donovan Hastings in his pocket.

No-one ever expected us to work side by side.

Yet here we aere, yet again confounding expectations, turning heads and changing the game like only Eden Morgan and Gabriel Baal can do. Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is match will be the defining moment of our partnership. Not because we’re finally facing more than a dull lifeless object with bricks for brains… And a cardboard cut-out. No, it’s because this is the moment that we’re given the opportunity to prove everyone wrong. We will be Co-Operative Champions for as long as we deem it to be appropriate.

And there’s not a damn thing anyone can do about it.

This Monday, when Gabriel Baal and Eden Morgan sweep into Detroit, we will leave the world of UGWC and the Co-Operative division in no doubt that she and I will remain united for the rest of time. Vain and JEM, Rogan and Jase… Vaughn and Cox… Can any of those teams say the same? This time next month, not a single one of these teams will be stood side by side… And she and I will have a new challenge in the form of another team destined to fall apart at our feet. Who are we? I’m glad you should ask… Please allow me to introduce ourselves…

Now it’s time to Face the Court.

Next...

[/font]

[Gabriel Baal]

10.40am

Gabriel turned a pen over in his fingers as he finishes off the answers to the small survey that Doctor Harrison had created. He’d answered honestly, but had a feeling Eden had been more… Playful.

"So, this is a game I invented which looks at how well you know each other…" Maxwell said, smiling.

"If I may interject – you didn’t invent this." Gabriel said.

"Sorry?" Maxwell said.

"You didn’t invent this – it’s based on a game show called Mr. and Mrs. It was invented in Canada… And was made famous in the UK." Gabriel said. "You’re essentially stealing an international format and making it your own."

Maxwell’s eyes shifted uncomfortably before he cleared his throat.

"Shall we… Get on?" He said quickly.

"Eden – first question. How old was Gabriel when he first had sex?" He asked, holding up Gabriel’s answer.

"You mean with me? Or in general?" She said, her lip curled into a grin accentuating her hand movements to prove sarcasm. "Sixteen. And he cried afterwards…

"Fucking hell, Eden." Gabriel said, lowering his head. "I’m never drinking with you again."

"Correct." Said Maxwell, ignoring their playfulness. "Alright, next one. Gabriel – What does Eden hate most about herself?"

Gabriel looked over her for a second, and didn’t consider making a joke.

"Everything." He said quietly. Eden didn’t look at him, she bounced the foot of her right leg crossed over the left.

"Correct." Said Maxwell, looking at Eden who avoided his gaze as well. "Eden – Gabriel’s biggest regret?"

"He doesn’t do regrets… Has no time for them. Change the bad and you might change the good, right?" She said. Her answer felt like a knife aimed in Gabriel’s direction.

"I think we’ve proved that in the past, love." Gabriel said as he focused his look on Maxwell.

"Correct." The doctor said quietly. He surveyed his notes before answering the next one. "Gabriel – what’s Eden’s favourite food?"

"Christ, have you never been on twitter." He said with a roll of his eyes. "Pancakes."

"Almost…" Said Maxwell.

"I’ve not finished…" Gabriel said. "Pancakes from Anne’s Stardust Dinner in Time Square. She wasn’t sure about them at first, but the show tunes made her day." He said. Eden tried to remain stern, but she couldn’t help but smile at the rendition of Tale as old as Time that they’d heard that very morning.

"It’s a delightful place." She said quietly.

"Correct…" Maxwell said.

"Eden – how does Gabriel take his tea?" He asked with a smile.

"Depends on the time of day – of a morning, English Breakfast, milk and one spoonful of sugar – in the afternoon he takes Earl Grey – no milk or sugar. In the evening, he has his own blend. It helps him sleep…" She turned to face him. "And me…"

"Correct." Said Maxwell, looking up from the pad on his knee. "On all counts."

Gabriel smiled at her, and she smiled back – Maxwell cleared his throat.

"What is Eden Morgan’s best career moment?" He asked. Gabriel deliberated for a moment, racking his brain of all the things she’d done.

"If I had to pick one of the many… I’d say… The World Championship. Four months into being a professional wrestler. One of the greatest achievements of all time." He said with asmile.

"Spot on again, Gabriel." Maxwell added."Alright – one more question each, and then one for both of you." He said quietly.

"Eden – what is Gabriel Baal’s first memory of Eden Morgan?" He asked. She looked across, and the smile had faded. Their past was so chequered… This was a question that could be first divisive.

"Watching me spiralling out of control, desperate and alone… Feeling like I deserved nothing and no-one. He saw me – terror hidden behind bravado. From hundreds of miles away… And he thought… I want to save her." She said. "And he did."

"Gabriel…" Said Maxwell. "What is Eden Morgan’s first memory of Gabriel Baal?"

Gabriel grit his teeth, a vein pulsing in his forehead. He looked at Eden, and she gripped his hand, as if to tell him it’s Okay.

"River Oaks – before I’d even debuted here. I was there when she arrived. I watched her struggle to fight against her demons… One of them being me. She fought them, she defeated them… Her first memory of me is having to be stronger than she’d had to be in a long, long time."

"Alright… This one is a question that I didn’t write down. This time, I want you to react instinctively, and tell me the answer together." He said, his fingers trailing over the edge of his pad. "What brought the two of you together."

Neither stopped for thought, neither exchanged a look. They answered instinctively, and honestly.

"Ichabod." They both said. Maxwell looked through his notes, finding the extensive list he’d made of dates before their session.

"That’s wrong." He said, looking over the list.

"What?" Eden said. "What the fuck are you talking about?"

"It was Ichabod. He made us see…" Gabriel began.

"What was already there…" Maxwell said, cutting him off.

Eden and Gabriel exchange a confused look.

"Look, I’ve watched the two of you all day – You’re ridiculously comfortable around each other, you’ve got inside jokes, you basically finish one another’s sentences. You don’t have issues because of your past, you don’t have issues at all. The only issue that you have is that you give all credit for your partnership to a man who did little than shine a light on what already existed." Maxwell said.

"Um… Doc? I fucking hated this guy before Ichabod made me see it differently." Eden said.

"And I still hated her a little bit afterwards…" Gabriel said.

"Feeling is feeling – connection is connection. Truth is, Gabriel – you saw Eden from a distance and were drawn to her. And Eden, you didn’t exactly ignore him and just hope he’d get bored. Even in the height of your hatred, you worked together… And well. You two have been connected since before Ichabod even knew you’d ever met. The two of you were always going to end up here, even without Ichabod. He may have given you a nudge in the right direction, but there’s a connection here that…"

"Greater than love, greater than friendship, something so terrifying that no-one could even begin to understand what it actually is." Gabriel said under his breath…

"She was drawn to Gabriel for a reason, and not only because he seemed the most likely candidate to take my place, but because of his connection with you." Eden said, mirroring.

Maxwell smiled as he climbed to his feet.

"Our session is at an end – it’s been wonderful to meet the two of you. I’m happy to say, this is the first time I’ve ever not had to recommend any follow up sessions." He says as he shakes Gabriel’s hand and then Eden’s. "God help anyone who gets in the way of the two of you."

"Wait…" Said Gabriel. "I have so much more I can talk about. My mother… My former best friend… Angelfields…"

"Come on Gabriel. Thanks doc – you were a great help."

"I drug people… Like… All the time!" Gabriel said as she pushed him out of the door. And then his head popped back around the corner. "I’ll call you!"

Maxwell closed the office door behind them. Gabriel and Eden walked side by side, neither of them speaking. They exchanged a look, and then stepped into the lift. As the door closed, they both turned around and spoke at once.

"Oh my god…" Said Gabriel.

"Really? I mean… That makes sense?" Eden said at the same time.

"Absolutely… All this time…" Gabriel spluttered.

"All this time… We thought…" Eden rambled.

"Ichabod!" They said together.

And then they were silent again, but both were smiling – it were as if a weight had been lifted off the both of them. Gabriel remembered that he’d always wanted to stand by Eden’s side… And Eden knew she’d always laughed off the idea, whilst allowing her mind to linger over what they could accomplish. And now… Now they were here. It had happened naturally… And they’d given Ichabod all of the credit.

They stepped out into the foyer of the building and began to stride towards the door. Within seconds, matching them stride by stride, were Solomon and Caleb – Solomon carrying files under his arms. He exchanged a look with Gabriel, who nodded and smiled. Eden looked to Caleb, who winked and she pushed a strand of hair behind her hair.

They’d done it…

Next...

[Gabriel Baal]

They’d arrived back at the apartment in great spirits – even the scowl on Jenny’s face didn’t dampen their spirits. The plan had gone perfectly – Gabriel and Eden had played their parts. They’d drawn the eyes of The Order upon them while Solomon and Caleb worked their way into the records room.

The building had been a front – owned by the Order to run their shadier operation via a legitimate means. They owned real estate, and this was one of their largest buildings. It also had the added bonus of a secure records room. This had been their target, this had been the plan. Gabriel had checked and double checked – Maxwell Harrison was not a member of the Order of the Inferno – he was a good man, and a good therapist. He merely rented space from these

Their ill-gotten gains lay on the table untouched – now had been a time for celebration. Jet and Sherry had arrived not long after they’d gotten back and celebrations were in full flow. Jenny and Solomon had reconciled, given the new information. Jet and Sherry talked to Gabriel and Eden about their upcoming matches at No Holds Barred, while Caleb and Olivia shared a dark corner and many, many laughs.

Gabriel tried to watch them, but every time he caught their eye, either Liv or Caleb cranked things up. They’d pull closer, become more tactile. Both trying to get under his skin. He smiled, raised his glass and turned back to Eden. Their disappointment was almost tangible. Eden was beaming – she’d struck a blow against the men who had killed her friends and her father. She lit up the room with her joy.

Gabriel wondered if this was the first time she’d been truly happy since her father died.

He moved to the kitchen to get more drinks, and Eden slid in next to him.

"That was fun." She said, nudging his hip.

"Stressful." Gabriel corrected, looking down at her. She pouted. "But fun…"

"So when do we look at what we won?" She asked, looking at the files.

"Once the party dies down – Jet and Sherry will leave soon, as will Jenny and Solomon." Gabriel said.

"What about them?" Eden said, looking at Caleb and Liv. Gabriel couldn’t help but notice a tinge of jealousy in her voice.

"I don’t think either of them are concerned with the content of those files." Gabriel said.

"I think Caleb is interested in the contents of her…" Eden began, but Gabriel stopped her.

"Don’t… Even… Say it." He replied. Eden giggled at his discomfort. Gabriel shook his head as he picked up the tray and carried the drinks back into the lounge.

The party broke up about an hour later. Caleb suggested he get Eden home, but she shooed him away as she dropped next to Gabriel on his couch. He spread the files out on the table – he’d even managed to find an order that he wanted to look at.

The top file was the one they were all interested in – Trios Assassinations, the file said, mocking their profession and their position. Gabriel took a deep breath as Eden rested her head on his shoulder.

"Do we really want to know?" She asked. "I mean, do we really want to see how deep this went?"

"I don’t think we have much choice, love." Gabriel said, rolling his neck. "Know thine enemy."

"Maybe. But sometimes… Sometimes I think we should all just get everyone on your plane and fly far, far away." Eden said, staring over at the wall.

"Where would you like to go?" Gabriel said, playing along, knowing that she could never leave everything behind.

"The Maldives." She said with a smile. "Buy a few islands over there… All have our own. Just lie in the sun all day in paradise."

"Sounds horrible." Said Gabriel.

"In a bikini…" She added, glancing up at him.

"Oh no, love. I wouldn’t suit a bikini…" He added. She grinned as she nudged his arm with her head. And then she let out a sigh of her own.

"Alright… Let’s get this over with." She said, looking down at the file.

Gabriel flicked it open and started to read… But as he read, he began to stiffen.

"What… What is it?" Eden asked.

"No… No, it can’t be…" Gabriel said, dropping the file on the ground. He picked up a second and began flicking through it. And another. And another… With every file, he became more and more angry until he let out a scream of fury and swept the files off the table. He picked up his glass and threw it against the wall and it smashed into a thousand pieces.

Caleb and Olivia weren’t cosy in the corner now, they were stood up, stood over the pile of papers that lay strewn across the ground.
"Gabriel! Will you calm down and tell me what’s wrong?" Eden asked again.

"Look." He said, his hands on his hips. He turns around slowly to face her. "Look, Eden! At the files!"

She picked up the file about the assassinations that had fallen at her feet. She opened the file and her breath caught in her throat. She saw Gabriel’s name… She saw her own name… She saw Jet’s name… Her father, Nate and Quentin… And then… She realised what made Gabriel so angry. Every other name was blackened and hidden – the document had been redacted. Every single piece of information about the names behind the Order had been blacked out.

"They knew. They fucking knew!" Gabriel said as he paced the room. "How the fuck did they know?!"

"Gabriel… Wait… We have information… Just… Just not…"

"Names Eden! The people who are doing this. The names of the fucking cunts who killed the people we love. I want to find them and hurt them. Over and over until they think it can’t get any worse, and then what happens next will make them long for the days where they just thought it couldn’t get any worse. " Gabriel shouted, turning on the spot.

Eden’s eyes filled with tears, not because of the files, but seeing Gabriel so broken. She knew… He’d hung everything on this. The end of this entire charade. And now all they had were the details of what had happened, every last one in minute detail… But no idea who gave the orders.

Gabriel dropped to his knees amid all of the paper and his head hung low. Eden stood up and knelt by his side, she wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into an embrace. His shoulders began to rise and fall in time with his sobs. And he broke her heart, all over again.

[Roxy Cotton]

Gonna keep peeking

[cooltubesource]

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AHEM:

Gabriel Baal said:

So, I have no problem with linked RP's. They're a throwback to a time where Geocities was the fucking nuts. But for me? The consistent need to click to move on became a little annoying.

...insert massive (and patented!) eye roll...

Man, this promo was fun! Great job to Baal and Eden!

[Gabriel Baal]

When you hold onto something, you really hold onto it... 😂😂😂

Yeah, okay... Fair enough.

[Jet Somers]

Everything I said in response to Eden's applies here, but also I'm always impressed by your ability to really build into any character you get your hands on. Having you as a partner or a rival can do wonders for a character. Well done.

[Harvey the Grim]

Everything I said of Edens work applies here as well. Wow. Just...wow. In a game where every week the standard formula is to play up our characters strengths, downplay or ignore their weaknesses, sidestep their failings, you take Gabriel and you have him vulnerable, you have him opening up and dealing with his emotions and is grief. You manage to keep up a very clever well written heist adventure, and you and Eden really make some dramatic steps forward in solidifying their relationship. If ever either or the two of you put on a clinic, do let me know, I'd like to be there to pick the brains of such capable talented writers as you both are.