After Hours (Shelby, Openish)

[Eddie Shriver]

(I don't know... I was in an Eddie mood, and I think he and Shelby would get along really well, and it just sounded like a good idea. RUN WITH IT).

Eddie sighed, hanging the last of the pots in its place after the dinner rush was over, and Galligan's Italiano was officially closed. Isaac stayed late to help clean up, and Eddie had to hand it to the kid- he was working his arse off for this place. He respected that.

The others had all left and gone home by now, even Leighanne having gone upstairs, he thought, and he wiped his hands on a dry towel before slinging it over his shoulder and walking out into the dining area. "Well, Shelby, everything's looking good in the kitchen. What else do you need from me?"

Not including Leighanne, who grew up with this lifestyle, Eddie was the first employee of Galligan's, and it was a title he was proud to have. The Galligan women were family to him, and he considered Shelby a dear friend, second only to Yvonne. He asked her this every night, but tonight, he decided to try something for the new kid.

"You keep having nights like this, you're going to need to hire a couple more waiters. And another chef."

[Shelby Galligan]

Shelby was beat. It had been a long, busy night, which was a good thing. She could still remember how she had struggled to make ends meet after Leighanne's father walked out, leaving the two of them alone and broke. Back then, owning her own successful restaurant had been a pipe dream. She'd started small--baking cakes and cookies for her friends and neighbor's parties, and watching other people's children. She had decided early on that she would never leave Leighanne with a stranger, but other people weren't so picky. Over time, she evolved to catering parties and other events, and then eventually to a small, takeout-only pizza joint. Somehow, it had continued to grow, and she expanded to a full gourmet restaurant. It had been a long, difficult road, but she'd never allowed herself to give up.

Almost as soon as she'd opened the doors, Eddie had been here. He was like family to her, and she would do anything for him, just as he would for her. Many nights ended just like this one--the two of them alone in the kitchen finishing up the last of the cleaning. And most nights, he asked what she needed from him. Usually she smiled and told him to go home and get some sleep. But this time, he followed up the question with a comment, and she raised an eyebrow at him as she placed the last stack of dishes on the shelf.

"Another chef? You're not thinking of leaving me, are you?" she teased.

[Eddie Shriver]

Eddie laughed once, untying his apron and slinging it over the shoulder that didn't hold the towel he'd been using to dry counter tops. "Somehow, Shelbs, I think if I left you, you'd drag me back kicking and screaming. Besides, you're stuck with me now, kiddo. Like it or not."

Eddie could think of nowhere else he'd rather be, in all truthfulness. He was very much a creature of habit and he liked flying low, under the radar, and he loved having a sense of family. And this restaurant, and everyone who was employed, was family to him.

"And far be it from me to tell you how to run the place... but you know you're on the brink of being short staffed. Which is a great thing... more customers is always a great thing. I uh.... might know a kid." He caught her eye here, knowing that Isaac had carefully not mentioned his affinity for the kitchen to Shelby when he was trying to get hired as a waiter. He was a smart kid.

[Shelby Galligan]

Shelby grinned at him. "You bet your arse I would," she teased. "I don't even want to know what I'd do without you."

But he had a point. Somehow, word had gotten out about her little restaurant, and she was doing a booming business. She was even thinking about expanding further, and if she did that, she would definitely have to hire some new people, both in and out of the kitchen. And another chef would be a good idea, too. She was too often called upon to act as hostess and manager in the front of the house, leaving Eddie to do most of the cooking. Consequently, he very rarely got a day off.

"You're probably right. I was already thinking about hiring two new sous chefs, anyway, and it would be good to have a backup chef as well. Tell me about this kid you know."

[Eddie Shriver]

Eddie shrugged. "I'd be just as lost without you, love." It was sentimental, but true. Shelby's little restaurant was his home now, and he didn't intend on leaving. Shelby was a friend now, more than a boss.

"I'll be honest, Shelbs, any help we could get back there at all would be great. Even someone to charm the dishes to wash themselves. We forget sometimes, it gets so crazy."

So she was receptive to the idea of more employees. That already made this conversation a lot easier. "You'd like him. And if you wanted him to wash dishes, he'd do that, too. In fact, I'm pretty sure he'd bust his arse doing anything you asked him to. And uh... What do you say I get him in here to make you dinner? You can decide if you like the quality, meet him after?"

The more he talked, the more he liked this idea. He was sure Isaac would jump at the chance too.

[Shelby Galligan]

Shelby was a smart woman, and she knew Eddie well enough to know when he was plotting something. It almost felt like she should already know what he was up to, but for the moment, his hints were lost on her. Where would he come up with someone who would be so loyal as to wash dishes when he was actually a chef? Why did it feel like she should know the identity of this mystery cook?

She was suspicious, but she also trusted Eddie. After all, he was practically family. "All right, you're on," she said at last.

[Eddie Shriver]

Eddie smiled, feeling like they should shake on it or something. Isaac was going to owe him one, and he hoped the kid didn't blow it. Eddie was a good guy- kind, mostly laid back. But he didn't go out on a limb for just anyone, and he was disappointed when he was let down (which, unfortunately, he found happened a lot in his life. Came with the territory of being nice, he supposed).

"Brilliant. I can get him in tomorrow. Or, you know..." he glanced at the clock on the wall. "If you were really anxious, I could probably get him in tonight. I figured you wouldn't want to test him while we were open. Little risky, that."

[Isaac Adelson]

Two days later, Galligan's was closed, and Shelby was seated in the dining room. Leighanne had been recruited by Eddie to help serve the food for the evening, though they were both under strict orders to stay out of the kitchen. The kitchen was Eddie's domain, and if he said stay out, it was wise to listen.

Three plates of each of the courses would be made- the official one for Shelby, and ones for Eddie and Leighanne as well. The three of them all had say in the business, and Isaac was smart enough to know that he needed to impress all of them.

Eddie was in the dining area, handing Shelby a quickly scrawled menu of the food she was about to sample. Scrawled across the top were the words "Italian Fusion." He wasn't trying to show off, but he figured he would be safer making items not on the menu. He wanted to impress them, to prove to them that he had his own vision, but that he was fully capable of making whatever was required of him, too.

He was nervous as all Salazar.

Eddie came back into the kitchen. Tonight, he was handing the reigns to Isaac, acting as his sous, and offering up the hands of his entire kitchen staff. "All yours, kid."

"Thank you so much for this, Eddie. I really am so appreciative."

"I know you are," Eddie replied. "Let's doing this."

Isaac fell into a quick, easy rhythm. Eddie's team was engaging and responsive, and were all working incredibly hard for him. He was quite grateful, and before long, his appetizer was ready.

The entire night ran smoothly. Eddie kept his dishes aside, waiting until they were finished to try them since he was working. First were small tomato, mozzarella, and basil kebabs, each fitting neatly on a toothpick and garnished with tangerine slices. It was a clean appetizer that wouldn't overwhelm the pallet. It was also a safe bet. After, for the main course, he'd delivered a fresh halibut and white grape entree. It was an interesting twist on a dish that Eddie was sure he would have put white wine sauce with, but it continued with the "fresh" feel of the appetizer. Lastly, for dessert, they served a lavender gelato on top of traditional Italian spiced cookies.

Eddie left the kitchen to do their own clean up, patting Isaac on the shoulder as he grabbed a tray with his three small dishes, and came out to the table where Shelby was seated.

"I haven't tried a bite yet," he prefaced. "But what do you think?"