Gabriel (Rewritten Version) - LGBT, manXman

23

(Ten Years Later)

"Is that Jordan Tanner?" The voice on the other end of the line asked.

Jordan scowled.

"If you're a cold caller, I'm hanging up," he snapped.

"No, please don't..." The voice sighed. "It's Bailey... Bailey McIntyre."

Jordan frowned, about to tell the person he didn't know anyone of that name and hang up, when he recalled the name from years ago.

His already bad mood turned decidedly thunderous.

"What do you want?" He growled.

"I'm ringing about Gabriel. I... have you got a few minutes?"

Jordan sighed, before flopping down on the sofa and telling Bailey to go ahead. He hadn't let himself think about Gabe for many years.

"Well... I think I've found him," Bailey said. "After all this time, I think he's back."

Jordan sat up straight, suddenly listening intently.

"Have you spoken to him? What did he say? What happened?"

"I didn't speak to him, no. I don't think he even saw me. I recently got engaged, and on my stag night, my friends insisted on dragging me to a strip club. I'm sure Gabe was there, working behind the bar."

"So, how come you didn't talk to him?"

Bailey was silent.

"Look," he said finally. "Gabe disappeared ten years ago. I've moved on with my life. Like I said, I'm recently engaged, and I love Shane. I wouldn't have called at all, except that Gabe looked so... miserable. Jordan, please. You're the thirteenth Jordan Tanner I've called in the past three hours. Gabriel needs you. You left him, ten years ago, so go back to him now."

"Alright," Jordan whispered. "I'll drive down tonight and look for him."

"Thank you."

Jordan could hear the relief in Bailey's voice.

"I'd look for him myself, but... well, I have Shane to think about. I don't think he'd be too impressed if I went roaming the streets for my ex." Bailey sighed. "Will you let me know? If you find him. At least let me know he's alright."

"I will. What's your number?" Jordan jotted down the number Bailey rattled off, and hung up.

"Who was that?" His girlfriend of almost a year, Ellen, came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel.

"It was... an old friend," Jordan said quietly.

"Oh?"

"I have to go. There's something... I have to go." Jordan put the phone back on the cradle, and started to pull on his shoes.

"But-?"

"No, Ellen. I have to do this."

"But we're going away this weekend," she said, pouting. "It's been booked for weeks."

"Well, I can't go now. Take Emily, or Helen, or Sarah with you instead."

"What's going on, Jordan?" Ellen demanded.

"It's my brother. He needs my help."

"You don't have a brother."

"Yes, actually I do. Two of them. And two sisters as well. We haven't spoken for years, but now he needs me."

Going into the bedroom, he pulled out a small suitcase and packed enough clothes to last for several days.

"I don't know how long I'll be," he said. "I'll call you when I get there, as often as I can."