Holding Up Who: Gabe and Madock When: Late afternoon Where: Phonelines
After leaving Jessalyn's Madock headed into Chilli's to talk to his boss about getting a little time off. That was easy enough considering the circumstances. He was thankful his boss hadn't asked any questions about the bruising that continued to darken on his cheek and jaw. Explaining his fight with his father had been hard enough to do with his girlfriend, the last thing he wanted was his boss to know.
Leaving the restaurant, he headed in the direction of a hotel, but had a change of plans about halfway there. He knew he should check in with Gabe and had been partially avoiding it because he really just didn't know what to say, but he couldn't do it any longer. He wanted to make sure the guy was okay. Pulling over into a shopping center parking lot, he grabbed his cellphone and dialed Gabe's number and waited for his friend to pick up.
'Okay' didn't really describe Gabe at the moment. Restless, frustrated, upset, worried, or scared would have done a much better job. The first place he'd gone upon leaving his house was back to the site where they'd been attacked. Try as he might, he couldn't track the scent from there, losing Claire the moment she must have been pulled into a car. There were tire tracks, sure, but those went in almost every direction, especially after the coming and going of police cars and ambulances. There was nothing there for him to find or track, so eventually he headed back to Scarlet Oak. From there, he drove around slowly, windows down, trying to catch hold of anything that might lead him to her. He'd only been a werewolf a month, though, and wasn't even sure he could separate the scents if he found them. With the car parked along the side of the road, Gabe rested his head on the steering wheel. He was trying to banish the tears from his eyes when the phone rang. Taking a deep breath, Gabe answered. "Hey," he said. "Any word?"
The sound of Gabe's voice definitely didn't help the hope that he was alright. He didn't sound alright at all and Madock hated that he couldn't make that hurt that seemed to fill the few words he spoke go away. "No." he said, shaking his head and frowning at the thought. "Mom hasn't called me about anything and I just... I wanted to check on you." he admitted. "I know if I'm feeling the way I am about everything, you're probably feeling a lot more shitty."
He'd had a tiny hope that maybe Madock knew something he didn't, but that wasn't the case. Gabe sat up and wrapped one arm over his chest, as if that would help his aching heart. "I went back to where we were attacked, but I can't get a hold on anything. I don't even know... I've got nothing to go off of." They might not be in Scarlet Oak. He might be driving around the wrong town. "Who else is missing?" he asked. All he really knew was Claire was gone. That was all he'd established before getting knocked out and hadn't really asked questions since waking.
"I know what you mean." he sighed. "It's like... no one knows a damn thing. I want to help. I want to find her so bad I can't stand myself but it's like I'm helpless." Madock muttered. "I don't even know where to start and it's like bad just keeps getting worse." He tried to think of who all was missing and he went over the list in his head again. "Claire, obviously, Freddie, Katie, Lily, Tilly, Rhys and Myra." he said. "That many people gone and no one knows jack."
"Lily," Gabe said softly. He felt awful that he hadn't known till now, but he would've recognized her scent if he'd caught it. While they were all friends, those two girls stood out to him. "I can't even picture their faces-- the guys who took 'em," Gabe said, the frustration evident in his voice. "I should know more than this. A license plate at least. Something..." But there was nothing. Just a fuzzy jumble of the moment before it all went black. "Do they know why they were taken? Has there been a ransom or anything?"
"None of us know anymore than you do." Madock sighed. "I don't remember what they looked like. I don't remember anything. I just... The only thing I can remember is the look on her face." he muttered, leaning forward against his steering wheel. "I don't think there was a ransom, but once I got back from the hospital, I spent the morning fighting with my dad and after our blow out he kicked me out and I went to see Jessalyn. I haven't really had time to hear much about anything. I don't think there is though. At least there wasn't last time I heard anything about the attack."
"He kicked you out?" Gabe said, brows drawing together. He'd heard a lot about Claire and Madock's father over the years, enough to draw conclusions about the part that hadn't been said. What he'd never heard was anything much in the way of him lashing out at Madock, so this seemed to stand out. Gabe knew their dad was a prick, but this seemed particularly low, considering the timing. "If you need a place to crash, we've got a guest room. I'm sure mom won't mind, long as you clean up after yourself."
Well if that wasn't a stroke of luck. Far less expensive than a hotel room was bound to get. "Yeah. He kicked me out. I guess I kind of deserved it after I punched him in the face, but he deserved that after he hit me and... fuck, it was just a big damn mess and it all started because he thinks I should have done more to save Claire yet, when she's home, he treats her like shit." he sighed. Madock brushed a hand through his hair and shook his head. "I'd really appreciate that actually. It'd be a hell of a lot better than sticking it out at the hotel."
Gabe couldn't even believe that Madock was considering a hotel, but maybe that was because he expected more of his friends than Madock did. He would have at least called around first. "Hopefully it won't last and you'll be back home soon," Gabe said, trying to be optimistic about something. He didn't think it was a good place for Madock or Claire in the long run, but it would be easier if they were on good terms with their parents before moving out. "Listen, I've been out driving around, but you can meet me back at my place. I'm gonna head there now." He was tired and hungry and probably needed to rest for a bit himself.
"Alright." Madock said, nodding a little. "I doubt I'll be back home anytime soon if I can help it. But who knows, maybe he'll go out and get his own house or mom'll get smart and leave his stupid ass." he muttered. He doubted either would happen, but he could be hopeful too. "I'll see you in a few." he said, then flipped his phone closed and headed over to Gabe's house.
Considering their mom had held out this long, Gabe doubted she'd suddenly leave her husband. If she was going to do that, she'd have done it years ago. But it really wasn't his business to get in the middle of things, not right now at least, so Gabe kept his mouth shut. "See you," he said, hanging up the phone. He was home a few minutes later, checking with his mom and making sure it was okay if Madock stayed over. It appeared as if she'd gotten a few hours sleep while he was gone, for which Gabe was thankful.
Madock arrived not long after Gabe did and parked out by the curb. He got out of Claire's car and glanced back at it just one more time before knocking lightly on the door and waiting for Gabe to come out. He rubbed his jaw and winced a little at the shiver of pain that ran through him at the simple movement. "Bastard." he muttered under his breath about his father. The bruising seemed to be more painful now than it had been when got hit.
Gabe answered the door, feeling worse for the wear, even if he didn't look it. He wanted Claire so bad it hurt and every hour with her missing seemed to drain him further. "Hey," he said, greeting Madock before he gave a sympathetic hiss of pain. "Want some ice for that?" he asked, stepping back to let Madock follow him inside.
"Yeah." Madock said with a little nod, letting his hand drop to his side as he followed Gabe into the house. "Hurts like a bitch." he admitted. "Cheap shot though. Wasn't expecting it, obviously. Otherwise I might have gotten my big head outta the way." Or at least tried to. His father's fist was already making contact before Madock could really let his brain think enough to try and get out of the way. "How're you holding up?" he asked. "Really?"
While Gabe didn't get along with his dad, it was more due to the dismissal than anything else. They'd never come close to blows and he couldn't imagine how it must feel to have one of his parents hit him. Leading Maddock into the kitchen, he found a plastic bag in one of the drawers and began to fill it with ice from the freezer. "I dunno," he said with a little shrug, handing the ice pack to Maddock. "I know she's out there. She's alive and she needs me. Or I need her. Can't sit still. I just... I've gotta find her."
He took the ice from Gabe and pressed it against his jaw, listening closely to the boy as he spoke. He knew what Jessalyn had said about how she'd feel if it had been him that had been taken and he knew that all those things were running through Gabe right now and he wanted so badly to be able to help him, to bring back Claire, but he just couldn't think of what he could possibly do to even begin to get closer to that goal. "I know she's alive too." he nodded. Call it twin intuition or what have you, but Madock was certain that she was out there somewhere. "I don't know where to start..." he sighed. "But I can't just sit around hoping she's alright and waiting for something to happen."
"I'm gonna go out tonight," Gabe said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. "Just run and see if... if I can find any scent. Anything. I can't sit and do nothing. I just... can't." He didn't know how to put words to such a feeling, but he knew that if he tried to sit still for too long that he'd go crazy thinking about Claire missing. It just wasn't something he could handle on the long term, knowing that she wasn't safe, and that scared him as much as her missing did. "I wish they'd taken me too," he muttered. At least then they'd be together.
"Me too." Madock muttered. "I mean... not that I wish you were gone too I mean like... I wish that I was with her or you were or something." he tried to clarify. "I just... she's my sister, I should have protected her better. She shouldn't have been so worried about me." he sighed. "If she hadn't of come trying to check on me, they wouldn't have taken her." He hated that part the most. Hated that she wouldn't be gone if she wasn't so concerned with his well being. "I can go with you if you want." he offered. "I don't like just sitting around either." he admitted. "I feel like I should be doing... something."
Gabe almost said that Madock was needed there, with Jessalyn, but he didn't know if the feeling was the same. He'd never felt for a girlfriend the way his felt for Claire, his mate. He'd also never had a twin. Gabe had to remind himself this wasn't a competition for Claire's protection, and that even if it was, then they'd both failed. "She knew something bad was gonna happen. I couldn't stop her fast enough," Gabe said. "You couldn't have either. I didn't even realize what was happening till she was out of reach." If he hadn't shifted, maybe they would have taken him. Gabe didn't know. Shifting had been instinctual, so it really didn't matter. "I was gonna wander as a wolf, but thanks," Gabe said with a little smile. "Maybe you can look online, see if there's anything there. Call around. I dunno. Nothing seems to be enough."
"Oh." Madock said, feeling a little stupid. "Scenting... right. Duh. Yeah, I'll figure something out." he nodded. "They're having that vigil thing, maybe I'll go there and see if I here anyone saying anything important. You've seen all those forensic shows about people doing shit like kidnpaping and then participating in vigils and searches... maybe someone will give me a vibe or something." It was a long shot, but he had to at least try and stay hopefu
"That's a good idea," Gabe said, then recalled Madock's own abilities. Could that be of any use? Possibly, should there be anyone at the vigil worth reading. "Maybe you can brush up against people, get a look at... I dunno. You might see something of worth. And that's better than anything we've got." Hell, if it worked, Madock would be some kind of a hero. Gabe didn't let himself get his hopes up, though. There was no telling if the kidnappers would be at the vigil, and even if they were, there was no guarantee that Madock would know just by a casual brush walking by. As he'd told Gabe, he couldn't control the visions.
"Maybe." Madock shrugged. "Anything's worth a shot. It's definitely better than sitting on my ass hoping that something happens or a flash goes off and I suddenly know where she is. Sitting around isn't doing anything, that's for damn sure. Nothing but making me more anxious. I swear my brain keeps going through every possible thing that might be happening and I think that it's worse imagining what could be happening than anything else I've been doing. When we get her back, I don't even want to let her out of my sight again. Unless she's like.. with you or something, but that goes without saying really. You'll let me know if you find anything, right?" he asked. "I'll do the same." Madock was certain that Gabe would want to know immediately if he found anything worth using.
Sometimes Gabe thought Madock talked too much. He didn't want to consider what could be happening to Claire right now, or he thought his brain might explode. It physically hurt to picture her in positions of danger and coming up with more detail just wasn't good for him. Just thinking about it made him nauseous. "Of course," Gabe said. "Anything at all." He'd let everyone know, if he found anything of value. That was the hard part. "Come on," he said, rising to his feet. "I'll show you to your room. Then I need to rest a bit." Exhaustion was sneaking up on him and he wanted to be wide awake if he was going to do more searching later that night.
Madock should have known better than to say what he did, so he kept his mouth shut about Claire after that and followed Gabe to the room he'd be staying in. Rest would be good for the both of them. He felt a bit like a zombie from lack of sleep and over abundance of worry. "Thanks." he said to the boy. "I appreciate you letting me crash here."
Gabe noticed the sudden silence, only cause it didn't seem characteristic of Madock, but he didn't say anything. He really was a poor conversationalist at the moment. He just couldn't summon the energy to find anything worth talking about that didn't make things worse. "Any time," Gabe said, leading Madock to the spare room. "It's not a big deal. We're gonna move soon anyways, right?" Except Gabe didn't know what he'd do if they didn't find Claire. He wasn't going to think that far.
"Definitely." he nodded. "I'm not going back home, that's for sure, so house hunting will have to happen and Claire... well I'm not letting her go back there either." Not after the latest run in with their father. Frank could go to hell for all Madock cared. "Get some sleep before you pass out." Madock said, lightly tapping Gabe on the shoulder. "You'll feel better if you do."
Claire would be staying with him from there on out. Gabe had already decided, even if he hadn't said so to anyone. It was in his head and nobody was going to change it. If possible, he might just never leave her side. "Thanks," Gabe said, attempting to give Madock a tiny smile. "I'll be next door if you need anything." He didn't think he'd feel better though, not until Claire was back.
"Alright." Madock said, returning the smile with a tiny one of his own. "I"ll let you know if I hear anything." he assured him once more. "Get some sleep."