Gabriel wiped the cold cloth over her face again and groaned, staring at herself in the mirror. The rings under her eyes were especially dark and puffy. She couldn't ever remember looking so old.

Thought proved muddled, so Gabriel closed her eyes to concentrate with great difficulty. "Why is my head ringing?" She grumbled to herself. "I wonder if James is gonna bring me breakfast . . ." She managed a smile, remembering how her longtime love had carried her upstairs the night prior. At least, it had seemed that way. She shrugged and started to soak the washcloth in more cold water. God I need a cup of coffee or something!

"Gabriel! Open de dadgum door already!"

She blinked a few times before realizing what was going on. Oh. That's Steelbeak? Whoa. Gabriel shuffled over to the door, running her fingers through her bangs in a failing effort to straighten her coif. The sight of Steelbeak standing there looking amazingly irritated promptly sobered her.

"It's about time!" Steelbeak said derisively. "Glad you decided ta see me today, cause 'Igh Command wants ta see you." He paused, giving her a swift once-over. "'N' ya might wanna change."

Gabriel glanced down at her rumpled attire and cringed. "Uh, y-yeah," she managed to stammer. "Could you wait for me downstairs? I won't be long."

Steelbeak closed the door and shook his head, chuckling as he descended to the bar. "Yo, Mitch."

"She's a mess, isn't she." Mitch said flatly.

"Yeah, a little bit," answered Steelbeak.

"I thought she would be. After she downed about six vodka and orange sodas last night -- with that gal who came in with Megavolt." Mitch shook his head. "I knew she'd be in for it this morning. I'll fix some coffee for her and I don't suppose toast would be such a bad idea, either."

"Six?" Steelbeak gaped. "Yeesh! Why'd she wanna get so hammered?"

"From what I could tell, it was over some guy named James. Typical lost love story 'round these parts, that's all. I guess something happened that got her thinkin' about it. Really hit her hard, too."

"Heh, dat's too bad. I'll take an espresso if ya got it. Somehow I don't t'ink de one cup I had dis mornin' is gonna get me through today."

"Already looks like one'a those days, huh?" Mitch forced a laugh as he got to work at the coffee maker.

"Oooh yeah." He sighed. "Botched mission last night 'n' I don' t'ink 'Igh Command's gonna be de least bit pleased." He looked up at the staircase just in time to see Gabriel tottering down the stairs and over to the bar. "Aha, 'ere we are. Ready ta face de world?"

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