Missed You Who: Claire and Gabe Where: The hospital When: Late afternoon
As soon as Gabe got word that the kidnapped kids had been found, he was in his car and heading to the hospital. He was frustrated to learn that they'd been there all morning, but that only family had been notified. He considered Claire to be family now and was annoyed that no one had called him specifically. That didn't necessarily matter now, as he'd found out eventually, and wasn't going to let anyone stop him from visiting. There'd been no word on the condition of the kidnapped teens, which was mildly concerning. Gabe knew he'd have to see for himself to find any sense of calm.
The parking lot was a mad house, filled with reporters hoping to gain information on the patients inside. Gabe pushed through them, hopping on an elevator without any real sense of where he was going. He could follow by scent, at least to a point, at which he had to stop and ask where Claire was located. He wasn't in a mood to play twenty questions with the nurse, and was relieved to find he'd made some kind of visitor's list. Finally given Claire's room number, it was difficult not to run. He didn't even knock. "Claire," Gabe breathed as he caught sight of her finally. She was alive. He'd known all along, but it was better to see her for himself.
Claire had been waiting to see Gabe, and her mom had promised to call and let him know Claire was there, but that had been awhile ago. Given how sleep deprived her mother had looked when she arrived at the hospital, Claire was betting that her request had gone in one ear and out the next, and Claire hadn't wanted to keep pushing her mom on it, when clearly her mom was overcome with... well, relief, Claire supposed, since she hadn't stopped weeping from the moment she walked in Claire's room. After all the chaos and poking of needles, and questions and sleep - glorious sleep - Claire was resting alone in her room now, as her parents had stepped out to find something to eat. It felt strange, and wonderful, to be in a soft bed again, and she was able to nod off without worrying about anyone coming to take her blood, or if a spider was going to crawl across her face when she shut her eyes.
She was half asleep when she heard her name from the doorway, and Claire roused herself just enough to open her eyes. When she spotted Gabe, she smiled sleepily and felt a jolt of relief and happiness inside of her. This was one of the moments she kept fantasizing about, when she had been in that douchebag's basement. Seeing Gabe again. And now he was there, in the flesh and not just one of her daydreams. "I was waiting for you," she said.
Like her mother, Gabe looked like he hadn't slept since Claire had gone missing. He'd tried, but he might as well not have, since the little sleep he got was filled with nightmares. His hair was clean, though messy, and he'd forgotten to shave, but otherwise he appeared fine. It was his expressions and his eyes that gave away his mental state, which had been crumbling till he saw her there. "I came as soon as I heard," he said, hurrying to her bedside to take her hand in his. His eyes scanned her over in concern. "Are you okay?" he asked. At least now he could help, if she needed anything. "I was so... so worried. I tried to find you, but I couldn't." Gabe swallowed back tears and squeezed her hand. She was going to be okay. He could breathe again.
"I'm okay," Claire said, lacing her fingers through his and bringing his knuckles up to her lips. She didn't care if it was cheesy or overly affectionate - she had missed him. "They gave me a blood transfusion after I was admitted... everything's sort of been a blur since then. Lots of police, and doctors." She released a slow breath and smiled again. "I'm just happy to be home... are you okay?" He didn't look okay. He looked awful, but she didn't want to come out and say that. With her free hand, she reached out to scratch the stubble on his cheek. "It's a new look for you."
"You're here now. I'll be okay." Gabe never expected to depend on someone, but he found it impossible to get by without Claire in his life. A part of him knew that had to do with her being his mate, but Gabe also thought it was more than that. She wouldn't be his mate if they didn't have that bond. "I kinda forgot," he said with a little smile. He'd been neglectful lately, but taking care of himself wasn't his priority. "Think I can climb up there with you?" he asked. He was sure the nurses would have a cow, but he really didn't care what they said.
"I like it," Claire said with a small smile, rubbing his scruff once more before she pulled her hand back. She hated that he had been so miserable. He looked like he hadn't slept in days and it was her fault. She shifted to move over in her bed, wanting to make room for him. She had thought about this moment since she had woken up in that guy's basement, and she wanted nothing more than to experience it again. "Definitely..." She didn't care if the nurses freaked out. She wanted him beside her.
"I thought girls didn't like the scruff," Gabe said as he climbed up in the bed with her. He was careful not to interfere with any of the medical equipment, while focused on being as close to her as he could. Once he was in the bed, Gabe slid his arms around her and kissed her, inhaling her scent. He'd been so scared of losing her that now he didn't want to let her go. "Think they'll let me stay overnight?" he asked with a little laugh. It might sound like teasing, but he meant it.
She rested against him, content when he kissed her. It was probably the best kiss in the history of kisses. "I like your scruff," Claire murmured. He could be Grizzly Adams and she'd still love it. "I doubt they'll let you stay overnight... doesn't mean we can't hide you in the bathroom until they leave me alone for the night." She was teasing too... sort of. Claire smiled, breathing in his scent, feeling the warmth of his body against her own. "I missed you."
"I'm not leaving," he said softly. "They couldn't make me if they tried." Even if they called security on him, he'd find a way back in, and he was open to hiding in the bathroom if necessary. "I missed you too," Gabe said. "I knew you were out there, but I couldn't find you. It was so frustrating and... I'm so glad you're home." He couldn't say that enough. It wasn't home without her. "Are you okay? I mean, really? I'd hunt the guy down if he wasn't already dead."
"I didn't see much but for the room I was kept in," Claire said. "When they took us out to the ambulances, it looked like a pretty remote place. Even the cops couldn't find us..." She still didn't know how those three guys had, but all that mattered was that they had. Lifting her head a bit, she looked up at him. "I'm okay, Gabe... really. Just... I never felt like I wasn't coming home. I think some of the others felt that way, but I didn't. I don't know if it was my clairvoyance, or the fact that I refused to accept it. I don't know. All I could do was think about you, and Madock and my mom. It helped get me through it."
"Who found you then?" He'd thought the police had finally come through, but then he hadn't been listening to a detailed report. All he'd really heard was that they'd been found and that was enough to send him on his way. "I wasn't sure," Gabe said, holding her a bit tighter as he looked down into her eyes. "I knew you were out there, and that as long as I could feel you there was a chance, but I didn't know where to go from there. I hated that I couldn't be with you, that I couldn't get to you." It was the first time in a long time that Gabe had truly felt helpless, and he didn't enjoy it in the least.
"I'm here now," Claire said, a small smile playing at her lips. "You don't have to worry about me being gone again." Hopefully now he could get some actual sleep. He looked like he needed it. "Three guys found us... Rhys Lockwood? His older brother, the guy who runs Nevermore. And two other men I never met before. Rhys's brother just popped open the shackles... telekinesis I think. Apparently the guy who was holding us fell down the stairs and died. And thankfully I didn't have to witness that."
If Rhys's brother had been able to find them, Gabe wanted to know how. He was guessing the means was unconventional, since the police should have tried everything else. Whatever it was, Gabe hadn't been able to do it. "He fell down the stairs?" Gabe asked in disbelief. Somehow he doubted the guy who kidnapped them just happened to fall down the stairs while they were being rescued. "Guess it doesn't matter, though I'd like to beat the sh*t out of him myself." He was guessing a lot of people felt that way, people that wanted the guy to be punished for what he'd done. Falling down the stairs didn't sound painful enough, in Gabe's opinion, but since he'd died it was hard to argue about a worse fate.
"That's what I heard," Claire said. "People were talking all around us... I just caught snippets of conversation. Rhys's brother had blood on him when he came down to help so... maybe there was more to it? Or maybe not." She sighed and closed her eyes, pressing her face against his chest. "I don't really want to talk about it anymore. I just want to forget it happened." That was ideal, actually. She wanted to get better, get out of the hospital and get home to her own bed. And then go to work, get ready for school this fall... all the normal things that she had feared for awhile she might never get to do.
Gabe couldn't just forget about it because that meant he couldn't make sure it didn't happen again. He planned to make something come of this, if possible, though right now he could just enjoy having her back. He kissed the top of her head and held her against him, listening to the steady beat of her heart. It killed him to know how close he'd been to losing her. "As soon as you're feeling up to it, I wanna look for a place to live," he said with a tiny smile. "Either that, or I'm gonna fight my mom for you to have sleepover privileges or something."
Claire chuckled and nodded. "I'm all for that. Madock's already gone and other than my mom, he's the only reason I was still living at home." She remembered Madock had told her Gabe was upset with him, but she wasn't sure now was the time to bring all that up. She just liked laying there with him without getting him riled up over her brother and possibly starting an argument. "You could always sneak into my room at night, until then."
"We'll take turns. Your place, then mine, till we get a place for us." The mention of Madock made Gabe uncomfortable, as he really didn't have a solution to that predicament. He didn't know if Claire knew what her brother had done, and he didn't want to bring it up if it would end up upsetting her. But he didn't like to hide it from her either. "Have you talked to Madock? I mean... without your parents around?" He couldn't see Madock bringing everything up with her mom and dad there, but maybe he was wrong.
She nodded, figuring he was talking about what Madock had done. "He told me," she said simply. "About what happened." And he had told her Gabe had been upset with him, which was understandable, but she certainly didn't want it destroying their friendship. The last thing Claire wanted was to have her boyfriend and twin brother at odds. "You know, he's sorry for upsetting you so much..."
"He's an idiot," Gabe said, his eyes dropping away from hers. She really didn't need to know how angry he was with Madock, and that was without really knowing anything about what had happened. Madock had skirted around really telling him anything, and they'd barely spoken since. And now Madock had moved out because he thought they needed space. Gabe thought it was a bullshit answer, just to get away from him.
"Maybe..." She watched him, despite him looking away from her. "I don't agree with what he did, but I understand a bit why he did it. His situation is different than yours, Gabe." Claire wasn't really defending her brother, but she certainly wasn't going to pretend like she didn't get some of the reason why he did what he did, as rash as it may have been. "I don't want this to be something that destroys your friendship."
"He didn't tell me shit," Gabe snorted. "Wouldn't even give me a reason." He'd asked several times, but Madock had never answered him. It had only made him more frustrated and angry with him as a result. "Damn right, his situation's different. He brought it on himself. Do you know how guilty he made me feel about putting you in danger when I told him what I was?" Gabe bit the inside of his cheek, trying to force himself to drop the subject. "It's not your job to fix it. Don't worry about it."
"I'm going to worry about it," Claire said wearily. "There are three, incredibly important people in my life. You and Madock are two of them. He talked to me about it... he was dealing with things differently than you were. I'm not saying I agree with what he did, or that I'm happy about it, but I can't get angry about it." She was more disappointed, especially given that they didn't have psychic link anymore. And that she would have to worry about two werewolves now, on the night of the full moon. "We can talk about it later," she added with a small sigh. "I don't want to think about it right now."
"Who's the third?" he asked. He'd put money on it being her mom, since he couldn't think of anyone else. Gabe wondered how her mother was taking all of this, or if she even knew half of what had happened. "I wish he'd been willing to tell me what happened. I... I don't know if I can trust his judgment, I guess." If those were the kind of decisions Madock made, then Gabe wouldn't be going to him for advice, that was certain. "Sorry," Gabe sighed, then brushed his hand over her hair. "Let's talk about something happy. Um... What's the first thing you wanna do when you can get outta here?"
Claire was silent for a moment before she said, "Not everyone makes the best decisions when they're in pain. Everyone makes mistakes, big and small..." Her included. "My mom's the third and once I get out of here? I want sleep... in my own bed. Or yours." She smiled at him. "And then I want fajitas. And then maybe more sleep."
It was probably better that they moved on in their discussion, as her response only made him more frustrated. To Gabe, it felt like she was trying to prove him wrong, or force him to believe something that he couldn't just believe. Instinctively, he didn't like the idea of his mate siding with another man, even if Madock was her brother. "Sleep is good," Gabe smiled. "Even better with you. Plus, we'd be in a bed, and after we're rested..."
She laughed and lifted a hand to brush some of her hair away from her forehead. "Definitely after we're rested... and you shave," she added with a grin. "Otherwise your stubble might tickle me too much." She wasn't siding with anyone in the Madock discussion since she refused to take sides between Gabe and her brother. But she had an opinion and Claire rarely kept those to herself. She pressed a kiss against his cheek. "I missed you... "
"You mean you don't like it?" he asked with a laugh as he rubbed his cheek against hers. "Promise to shave as soon as I get a chance." He really just wanted to be close to her, to sleep next to her, but a taste of more would be even better. Sleep came first, though. Gabe never thought he'd be so exhausted to choose sleep over sex. "I missed you too," Gabe said, nuzzling back as she kissed his cheek. "I'm just so glad you're safe."
She grinned. "I like it... but it's ticklishy." Claire liked being close to him like this. She had daydreamed quite a bit over how this felt while she had been gone. Remembering how he felt, and how he smelled. It was surreal and wonderful that she had it again. She was already looking forward to getting him alone again. "I'm safe... and I'm going to be safe. I have no intentions of letting that ever happen again." It had been horrible and miserable and she just wanted to forget about it.
Gabe couldn't just forget about it because that meant he couldn't make sure it didn't happen again. He planned to make something come of this, if possible, though right now he could just enjoy having her back. He kissed the top of her head and held her against him, listening to the steady beat of her heart. It killed him to know how close he'd been to losing her. "As soon as you're feeling up to it, I wanna look for a place to live," he said with a tiny smile. "Either that, or I'm gonna fight my mom for you to have sleepover privileges or something."
Claire smiled and couldn't help but snuggle against him. "Definitely... I think it's way past time we found a place." She wasn't sure yet of Madock and Gabe could live together, but she didn't want to have to choose between them. "I'll be out of here by tomorrow I bet. Then maybe in the next couple of days we can go out and find something. Until then... you can sneak into my room or I'll stay with you." Either way, it would be nice to have him beside her when she woke up.
"Sounds good," Gabe smiled, snuggling back. The universe had felt wrong for too many days now, and he couldn't get enough of something that felt right. "I'll stay here tonight. Tomorrow we'll worry about tomorrow." He knew he wouldn't be able to sleep without her beside him, so if the nurses tried to argue, he'd put up a fight. He was staying with her, weather they liked it or not. Hopefully there wouldn't be too much of an argument. Everyone thought the kidnapped kids had suffered enough.
She nodded, thinking that was probably a good idea. Claire didn't mind Gabe staying, in fact, she preferred it. And if the nurses were upset, Claire would make sure they knew she wanted him there, so Gabe didn't get too agitated over it. Claire closed her eyes, the excitement of the day finally wearing on her. Tomorrow she could worry about everything else. Right now, she was content and finally happy again, and she wanted to revel in that for awhile.