Perfect

Perfect

~ Chapter 19 ~

Flashback Gabriel's POV

Bastien and I established pattern over the next few months. We ate lunch together everyday, after class we either played video games or sat outside, me sketching, while he wrote. I never read any of his stuff but he seemed to pore his whole heart into what he was writing.

We became allies also, standing together against James and his buddies. We tried our best never to get into any fights. It worked most of the time.

I didn't really know much about Bastien, though we'd spent most of our free time together. I guess I figure if he wanted to tell me more about his past he would. I respected his silence, just like he respected mine.

It was Friday afternoon and I was waiting for Elaine's usual call at 4 o'clock.

When the phone rang and I picked up Elaine said "Hello," in a voice happier than I'd heard in months.

"Hey, what's up?"

She laughed gaily. "The judge threw out the case."

"Really?"

"Yep, we're feel and clear of them."

Happiness filled. "That's great, Elaine."

"Derek's mad with excitement, he's taking Tommy and I out to dinner to celebrate." She paused. "It won't be the same without you though."

"So when are you going to get married?" I asked, dodging her melancholy question.

"As soon as I'm legally emancipated. Our lawyer said it shouldn't be much of a problem." She announced. "Your going to be my maid of honor, aren't you?"

I could almost picture the evil smile on her face. "That's man of honor, brat."

She giggled. "Oops, I forget."

I shook my head. Some time I wonder why I love her. "No you didn't."

"You are coming right? I'm going to need you there."

I smiled. "Nothing could stop me from finally seeing you in a dress."

"Gabriel, stop flirting with my woman, we have a reservation to make." Derek yelled in the background.

Elaine sighed dramatically. "I have to go, the master calls."

"Ha! You drag him around by his...nose."

She laughed. "Shh, don't let him hear you. He hasn't realized that yet."

I rolled my eyes. "Bye Brat, kiss the boys for me."

"I will, later honey."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Present Day -Connor's POV

Hunter strode into the waiting room with a false smile plastered onto his face. I shot him a look of concern but the he gave a sharp shake of his head signaling he didn't want to discuss it, which only made me even more nervous. Generally when Hunter had a problem no matter how small he was on the phone with me or at my house yelling and ranting. I'd give him advice, he'd pretend to listen, then ignore me and do what he wants. It was the cycle was use to. Either something was really wrong or he didn't want to bug me with his problems when my life was in crisis.

"I brought Chinese." He said brightly, and then turned to Gabriel. "I wasn't sure what you liked, so I got you the same as Connor, sweet & sour Chicken with rice and veggies. I hope that's okay."

"It's fine." Gabriel said almost absently, he wasn't looking at Hunter however; he was staring over his shoulder.

I sat up and met the eyes of Detective Haynes who'd slipped in unnoticed when Hunter had arrived.

My stomach clenched at the sight of him. It wasn't that I didn't like the man himself, it was just, every time I saw him he seemed to deliver bad news. Also now that I'd calmed down, I was feeling ashamed of my behavior earlier. He was just a person trying to do his job, trapped in this situation that wasn't of his making. He didn't deserve my anger.

"Did something new happen?" Gabriel asked quickly.

The detective shook his head wearily. "No. I've just returned from your father's house."

"Did you find anything?"

"Not yet, but I have my C.S.I team going over the scene if there is any evidence to be found they'll find it but it doesn't look very good. Any fingerprints would have been burnt away in the fire. I'm hoping your father starched him and has some of his DNA under his finger nails."

"DNA?" I asked feeling a little confused.

"The firefighter that found your father said from the look of the room, their seemed have been a struggle."

"He fought him?"

"It looks like it and if he did he might have helped catch his attacker."

Attacker. I hated the sound of that word. It's meaning was something I never in a million years thought I would experience. Now that I had, it almost seemed too light for the criminal that was doing this to me. Monster. Cold-blooded killer. Animal. Those names fit.

"We can't let him get away with this," I choked out. "I want the bastard to pay."

Detective Haynes straightened his shoulders and met my eyes. I felt the full the force of his stare. I saw determination there, sympathy for the innocent people senselessly caught up in this tragedy, and some thing else... It was then I realized he cared about what happened to my family and me. Not just as cop looking out for the citizens, but as a man who was looking out for me, Connor.

"I'm doing everything in my power to see that he does."

I noted the lines of exhaustion written on his face, the heavy dark bags under his eyes. "I know that you are and I thank you for that." I scrubbed my hand over my face. "I'm sorry about earlier, I didn't mean to take..."

He held up his hand to stay my speech. "There's no need to apologize. This is an impossible situation that no one should have to live through. I just wish we had more to go on." He ran his hand through his hair in frustration. "How is your father?"

I laid my head on Gabriel shoulder. "We don't know. The nurses won't tell us anything."

The room was silent for a moment, "If...When your father pulls through, I want you to know I'm posting around the clock surveillance for his room. No one will enter his room without authorization."

I could only stare at him as a new terror seeped into me. "You think he'd come here to finish what he started?"

"I'm not taking any chances." He stated, firmly.

I opened my mouth to say something, but whatever it was faded from my mind when the trauma surgeon, followed by a woman in dark pink scrubs whom I recognized as the head nurse I'd talked to just before my father had been taken away.

I stood slowly, nodding a greeting at the nurse and clasped my hand with Gabriel's to keep it from shaking. Hunter and Gabriel stood as well.

The doctor, in green scrubs, booties, and OR cap, looked to be East Indian, with think salt and pepper hair and mustache, and kind, dark eyes. "I am Dr. Hassan. We have just taken Mr. McNeil into the recovery room, and he's doing as well as expected."

Bless the man for getting right to the point.

As a wave of relief washed over me, I wavered a little. Gabriel's arms came around me, steadying me.

"I'm Connor, Mr. Neil's son." I shook hands with the surgeon. "Is he going to be alright?"

"It is rather early to say." Dr. Hassan had a melodic voice, and slightly rolled his r's, speaking with a measured precision. "He was in excellent physical health for a man of his age, which will help him during recovery. Of course, he lost a great deal of blood and there is significant muscle and tendon damage in addition to arterial trauma, which we repaired with a graft. It would appear that the sciatic nerve may be compromised to some degree, but what is of most concern to us was his punctured lung, which we've done our best to repair."

My mouth went dry, and I swallowed several times before asking, "But he'll survive right?"

"There are no guarantees of that. He is still vulnerable to complications of hemorrhage or infection. The next few hours will be key to his recovery."

Oh God.

Dr. Hassan must've seen the dread in my eyes, because he smiled reassuringly. "He is most fortunate to be alive. We've done what can; the rest is up to him. And he seems to be a man very determined to stay alive."

Considering the personal demons he'd fought in the past, I prayed he still had the strength to keeping fighting to come back.

"When can I see him?" I asked.

"In a short while. Betty will let you know when they have Mr. McNeil settled in. The anesthesia will not wear off for some time yet, and he will be groggy when it does. And the painkillers will also keep him out of full awareness or asleep for awhile."

Gabriel nodded. "Thank you, Dr. Hassan."

"Yes," I said quietly. "Thank you for saving his life."

He smiled very gently at me and turned to leave.

"Wait Doctor, I have a few things to discuss with you." Detective Haynes announced and the walked out of the room but not before saying. "I'll be in touch very soon." When he'd began to speak he'd been looking at me, but as he finished his gaze was directed at Hunter.

There was something very heated in his expression before he'd left. It was a look a lover would give. I studied Hunter who had become fascinated with dishing out our dinners. He was definitely disconcerted. Could it be? "Hunter what's..."

"Would you like some of my bourbon chicken Gabriel?" He asked hurriedly.

Gabriel shot me a puzzled look, obviously seeing the tension in him. "Sure."

"Hunter..." I tried again.

"Good because honey I have a lot of food here and I wasn't sure if anyone would want any of it. Lord knows my Mama is always saying never to waste food because there aren't people as fortunate as us, and I would hate to disappoint the old tyrant." He said, purposefully paying no attention to me.

I scowled in frustration. "Fine Ignore me. But you know I'll find out eventually so there's no use hiding whatever it is from me."

"Leave it alone Connor." He said, while dishing out some chicken onto Gabriel's plate.

"Not until you tell me what's going on." I replied stubbornly.

"It's nothing." He lied, and then he must have recognized I would never buy that because he added. "The detective and I don't like each other. That's all. I'm staying away from him, and he's returning the favor."

"Bullshit!" I stated. "I saw the looks Hunter."

He met my gaze with a look of wide-eyed false innocence. "Babe, I have no idea what you're talking about. Your imagination must be running away with you. The only thing between Detective Haynes and I is hate and distaste. Macho doesn't do it for me, sorry."

"Who are you trying to convince?" I asked smartly.

He glared at me, grabbed his plate and began to eat his take-out, blocking me out completely.

I mentally fumed for a second. He was such an ass sometimes and it drove me nuts. But like I said before, Hunter couldn't keep a secret to save his life. Once in the ninth grade I had told him that I had a crush on Bobby Morgan, the captain of the track team. Two days later his mother and sisters knew about it. They had thought it was their duty to tease me mercilessly for weeks on end. So it was only a matter of time before he spilled his guts to me. All I had to do was wait.

I picked up my own plate before taking my seat beside Gabriel. I smiled wryly at him, shrugged and began eating.

Gabriel raised a curious eyebrow but said nothing.

I hadn't recognized how hungry I had been until I put the food into my mouth. The sweet sauces, and spicy rice covered my taste buds and left me wanting more. In no time the food was finished.

I got up to put the plastic plate in the trash when I caught a flash of pink in the corner of my eye. I unconsciously held my breathe as I watched the head nurse, Betty, walk behind the desk pick up a chart, and then said something to the other nurse on duty. She must have felt me watching her because she looked up, eyes searching, and when she noticed me, smiled tiredly. She put down the chart, and started towards me. I met her half way. Anxious for more news.

"He's back in his room now. He's still sleeping, but you can see him if you would like."

"Thank You." I said.

She reached over and patted me on the shoulder. "I take it you'll be staying for the rest of the night."

"Yes." I said immediately, hoping that it wouldn't be a problem.

"I'll have a nurse bring you an extra blanket or a cot."

I sighed, "I'd appreciate that."

I turned back to tell Hunter and Gabriel but found them already behind me. They must have come up when I was talking.

Gabriel crossed the short distance between us and took my hand. "Go be with him."

On impulse I stood up on my tiptoes to kiss him on the side of the mouth. This was a pretty busy hospital, so lots of people caught the exchange. If the nurse's had any doubt about the relationship between us, they now knew for certain.

Hunter cleared his throat, and shot me a cheeky grin for my uncharacteristic behavior. It wasn't that I minded PDA's, I just wasn't the kind of person to initiate it. It's odd how much people change in such a short amount of time.

"If you don't need me here anymore, I think I'll get going. I'm gonna grab a shower, and maybe some sleep. I'll be back in a few hours."

I leaned over and gave him a one armed hug. "All right. Thanks for coming man, you have no idea how much it meant to me."

"Like I would be anywhere else." He cupped my face in hands. "Everything's going to fine. Believe that, okay?"

"I'll try."

He turned to Gabriel. "Take care of him."

"I always will." He promised.

I watched him leave, his stride as always, provocative. He waved to me before he went into the elevator, and I did the same.

"Want me to come with you?" Gabriel asked.

I shook my head.

He kissed my forehead and motioned me forward. I headed toward the room almost absently. Hunter's odd behavior had momentarily taken my mind away from the emergency that I was facing but now as I stood in front of the door to Dad's room the queasy feeling tearing at my stomach returned.

I recognized the officer at the door as one that had been assigned to watching the house during the past weeks. I nodded to him in acknowledgement, before opening the door and stepping in.

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Hunter's POV

The hot morning sun flashed in my eyes as soon as I walked out of the hospital. Immediately I shut my eyes against the blinding burn. I reached for the top of my head absently, but my sunglasses, which I usually had with me were missing. I must have left them at home.

It's a funny thing, stress. And fear.

You're never absolutely prepared for it and when it strikes you're left feeling helpless against the tornado of chaos it creates.

I used my hand to protect my eyes, cursing silently, as I walked.

I hadn't wanted to leave Connor but being there, watching them together only made me feel more isolated. They were a family now, and I was the third wheel. I had done what I could to help Connor but what he needed now was the support of his partner.

Though I loved his father, I didn't feel it was my place to be there for this emergency. So I decided to be there as much as I could, get food, sit with Mr. McNeil to give Connor a break from the hospital room. But I wouldn't crowd him. He didn't need to deal with my shit now as well as his own.

The drive home was twisting and high speed. I wasn't in the mood for traffic and was afraid I would let out a huge amount of road rage, but luckily traffic was light, and my trip was fast.

As I approached my building, I let out a sigh of relief. I wanted nothing more than to just lay in bed for a very long time. My legs felt like they were filled with lead as I walked. When I reached the building, the doorman smiled and greeted me as usual. "Good Morning Mr. Donovan. You're up early."

"Morning." I mumbled, and passed through the doors hastily, not in the mood to make conversation.

"Excuse me, sir." He called after me. "Do you know if Mr. McNeil is still living in this complex?"

I spun around, sleep forgotten. "Why do you ask that?"

"Because a gentleman has been coming here for the last few days but when he buzzes the apartment no one answers. I just want to know what to tell him if he comes back again."

Awareness pricked my senses. "A man came here looking for Connor?"

"Yes, sir."

I moved closer to him. "Think carefully, do you remember if he left his name? Or what he looked like?"

"Yes, sir. He said his name was Alan Mackintosh and he was a friend of Mr. McNeil's."

The implications of this were whirling in mind. I knew most of Connor's friends and he'd never mentioned anyone by that name. I flipped open my cell phone, wanting to talk to Connor, but then I recalled his phone wouldn't work in the hospital.

I swore. This might be important. I couldn't let it go. I knew what had to be done. I reached into my back pocket, and pulled out my wallet, then drew out his card. Every instinct was screaming at me to call him but I really, really didn't want to.

I chastised myself for being selfish. If having to talk to Tobia..NO.. Detective Haynes meant Connor was safe then I had to make that call. I punched in the number.

"Haynes." He came on the line almost instantly.

"It's Hunter. I'm talking to the doorman. He says some one's been asking about Connor."

"I'll be right there." He said, and then hung up.

I rubbed my temples, and at that moment noticed the doorman was looking at me curiously. He was young. Maybe 23 or 25, probably a student. He also seemed very worried.

"Connor's been having some trouble lately." I explained. "Some psycho has become fixated on him. He's at the hospital right now."

He shot me a startled look. "I hope he's not hurt."

"No. But unfortunately his father was." I said, my voice hardening slightly. "The police are doing what they can to catch the guy but they don't have a suspect yet."

"Is that who you called, the police?"

"Yes. The lead detective on the case."

"Oh." He said. "I'm not sure how much help I'll be but I'll do whatever I can."

"Thank you."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"What do you want Detective?" I asked coldly. I had waited for him to arrive before going upstairs to my apartment. Now after a long shower and a few aspirins, I had thought I would go straight to sleep but found that I couldn't. I was reading a paperback my sister had left over from her last visit, hoping I would knock out eventually, when the doorbell chimed. The man seemed to always disturb my much-needed sleep.

"To talk."

I eyed him apprehensively. "About the case."

"No."

"Then we have nothing to say to each other." I pushed the button to close the elevator but he shoved his foot in between the doors and pushed them open again.

He stalked past me. "What's with the attitude? I thought we were past that."

"Yeah I'm sure you did," I said flatly. "Did you find out anything new?"

He'd frowned at my comment but answered my question. "Not yet. A sketch artist is sitting with Mr. Jackson right now. Maybe we'll get a good description of this guy and someone will bring forward some information. But are you sure Connor doesn't have any friends with that name? Or a T.A. or Professor?"

"Not that I know of."

He yanked his tie loose at his throat. "I'm going to have to cancel this weekend then."

I stood perfectly still. "I hadn't expected anything else."

He dug into his shirt pocket and extracted a cigarette. He lit it with a disposable lighter and inhaled deeply. The red-orange glow of clean ash momentarily brightened his glowering face. "What's that supposed to mean?"

I set my jaw stubbornly. "Nothing."

"Hunter..."

"Don't call me that." My chin shot up, blue eyes darkened by hostility. I hated the way my body reacted to him. Hated how good my name sounded coming from his lips. He didn't have the right to address me with any familiarity. "It's Mr. Donovan to you."

His head reared back as if he'd been slapped. His temper flared, and he grabbed my arm, pulling me close to him. "I realize you've had a shock and because of that I let your earlier attitude go. But enough is enough, what the fuck is wrong with you?"

"Get your hands off of me." I snarled. I jerked my hand free. I was behaving like an emotional girl but I didn't care. I was past being rational. "I didn't understand the rules going into this but I do now. My eyes are wide open." I roughly shoved at his chest, catching him off guard. He stumbled back. "I don't need a fuck friend."

He stared at me as if I'd gone insane. "What..."

"You might think I spread my legs for anyone that moves but you're wrong. I might not be pure as snow but I'm not a slut." I hated myself for the tears that rose to my eyes and angrily dashed then away. "I thought what we did was special you bastard. I thought you were special but you were just another user looking to get laid." Taking in a breath I fixed him with a cold indifferent look. "Go find some one else to fuck on your spare time."

The room went silent. He stood looking at me with an unreadable expression on his face. My hand itched to slap him but I contained the impulse. There was no need to make him more aware of how much his actions had affected me.

He sucked hard on his cigarette, then he asked, almost casually but laced with a thread of angry. "Are you done?"

"Yes." I lifted my chin, squared my shoulder, and tried my best to look down at him. Not an easy feat when he was almost a foot taller than me. "Get out."

"No, you've had your say. Now I'm going to have mine."

"I don't want to hear..."

"Shut up, Hunter." He said lowly. "I take it your angry I left you the other night."

"No shit." I sneered. "But I'm over it. Life is full of assholes like you."

"You haven't found my note then."

I opened my mouth to blast him because there hadn't been one but he looked so sure of himself, so reasonably, it gave me pause. "There wasn't one."

He frowned, went toward the kitchen and sure enough on the refrigerator there was a small note, added on my clustered fridge. It read. 'Got a page. Had to leave. Call you soon. Tobias.'

Fuck! I hadn't thought to check there.

Like a child knowing they were wrong but refusing to let go, I scowled and latched onto some thing to be mad about. "You didn't call."

"Well, I've been in meetings for the past couple of days, trying to solve your friends case."

Damn he had to make me feel even worst.

"I have a job to do Hunter. I keep irregular hours. I won't apologize for doing my job." He said. "I like you I really do but we have to stop snipping at each other. You have to learn to let your guard down because if you don't this thing between us is going to end before it really begins."

"I don't know if I can."

"Of course you can. Just stop being so damn in control all the time. Let me in." I didn't know what to say. He was asking a lot of me, maybe too much. If I let my guard down with him, and I got burned, it would be a harsh blow. A blow that could permanently turn me away from relationships.

"We're going to end up hurting each other," I said.

"Never. I'll never hurt you." He gazed down at me soberly. "You're inside my head. I didn't ask for it to happen. Didn't want it to happen, but it has."

I understood he was inside my head too.

Before I realized what he intended he'd put his hands on me, moving me back against the elevator doors, and proceeded to kiss me.

He was very good, I thought dazedly, trying not to react. His hands were touching me, his mouth the merest whisper against my lips, and without thinking I closed my eyes, feeling his kiss brush against my cheekbones, my eyelids, then down to my mouth again clinging slightly, then moving on, down the side of my neck.

I didn't know what to do with my hands. I ought to reach up and push him away, but I didn't really want to. The soft, feathering kisses simply made me want more.

He tasted like cigarettes and something else, something musky and erotic that made my knees go weak and my cock rock hard. His tongue slid against mine and a groan rumbled deep in his throat. The heat from his body turned the air into steam. His cotton shirt felt damp with sweat, and so did his face.

He lifted his lips from mine. "Give us a chance." He said, kissing me gently, running his tongue over my upper lip. "Let me in."

I grabbed his head, tired of his teasing and plastered my mouth against his.

A sudden vibration went off in his pants. I jumped back surprised.

He chuckled. "It's just my pager." He unclipped it from his belt and looked the number. He sighed. "It's the lab. I've got to get going. I'm still on duty."

I felt a stab of disappointment. "I understand."

He pushed the open button and stepped inside the elevator. "Are we alright?"

"Sure."

"I'll be back if I can," He said, and leaned in to kiss me goodbye.

"I don't like smokers." I said against his lips.

He chuckled. "I've been meaning to quit anyway." He said, and left.

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Connor's POV

I lost track of time as I sat with my Dad in his room, listening to the quiet, steady hiss of the respirator as he breathed, waiting for him to emerge from his deep, drug induced sleep. The nurses came in to check on him regularly. They always smiled at me and asked if I was doing okay. I wasn't, and they couldn't really do anything to help with that, but I appreciated their kindness. I just wanted for him to open his eyes. Dr. Hassan had come back some time last night and said that the faster he woke up, the more likely he would have a full recovery.

I rolled my sore neck carefully not to wake Gabriel who was sleeping on my shoulder. Around six am he had been allowed in the room. He'd brought me coffee off and on during the night, sitting next to me, holding my hand. Being my rock because he knew that's what I needed.

I must've dozed off, because one moment I'd been quietly enjoying the still profile of Gabriel's face-longing to run my finger along his full bottom lip, but afraid to disturb him-an the next a nurse was shaking me and whispering, "He's awake."

I snapped alert, murmuring an apology to Gabriel who I'd jerked awake, and met my Dad's gaze, his pupils so dilated is eyes looked black instead of brown.

As the nurse left, quietly closer the door behind her, I took his hand in mine, and leaned forward, smiling. "Hey. How long have you been awake?"

He blinked, squeezed my hand, and his eyelids closed. He was fighting to stay conscious and it was making him agitated. His breathing was coming faster, harsher. "Shh, Shh. It's all right. You're all right." I murmured softly, tears flowing down my cheeks. "Are you in any p-pain?"

Awkwardly he gave a small shake of his head.

That slight movement took up the energy he had left because he closed his eyes again and drifted off.

"That's good. Go back to sleep." I encourage soothingly. "Rest."

I continued to stare at him, unable to tear my gaze away, until Gabriel placed his hands on my shoulder.

"He woke up." I said shakily, not sure if it had been real.

"I know, baby."

"I was so scared." More tears threatened to spill over again, but I swallowed them back.

"I know." He wrapped his arm around me; I twisted toward him, tucking my head under his chin. We sat like that for a few stolen minutes of comfort and shared relief.

The swoosh of the door signaled the nurse's return. "I'm sorry, gentleman but I have to change Mr. McNeil's bandages. Could you excuse me for a second."

"No Problem." We exited the room and left her to her task.

Outside in the hallway, I leaned against the wall, so exhausted I felt as if I couldn't keep myself standing.

Vaguely I was aware of Gabriel stepping in front of me. "You think it might be a good idea to go home? Get some rest?"

"I'm not leaving. I'm not leaving Dad--"

"You need sleep." He squeezed my hand. "It's 1 o'clock. You haven't slept in almost 24 hrs. Neither of us is going to be worth a damn if we don't get some rest."

Reluctantly I saw the logic in what he said. I wouldn't last much longer without sleep. Neither would he. "What if he wakes up again? I want to be here. No. I can't leave."

"We'll keep our cell phones with us. If anything happens the nurses will call. Come on Baby, Doug wouldn't want you to run yourself into the ground watching over him."

I hesitated. "Just a few hours?"

"I promise, just enough to get a decent rest. That cot is harder than cement."

I smiled at his attempt at humor. Both of us had tried the cot the nurse had brought in and decided the chairs were definitely more comfortable than the cot.

"Fine, I'll go." I said, and after checking one more time on my Dad and making sure the nurses had our numbers, I reluctantly went home.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

I sensed his presence before I actually awoke. I heard the muted sound of his feet against the Aubusson carpet, felt the bed shift as he moved over me.

I jerked awake, terror at the back of my throat, a scream buried beneath it. The room was dark. Blindly, I flung myself across the bed.

Two strong arms gripped mine. "Whoa, Connor. Honey, it's me."

The gentle voice lapped at the fear, smoothing it down, and it drained away, like water discarded after a cleansing bath. I stopped struggling. Gabriel. Close to me, touching me. I reached for him.

"He was here." I shivered as the memory of the nightmare swooped down on me. A shadow of a man had stood by the window and smiled at me. His face unrecognizable but his teeth had flashed, razor sharp, white. A shark's smile. He'd spoken to me, but I couldn't recall the words. His presence had been powerful, oppressive and terrifying.

Gabriel stretched out on the bed beside me. "It was a nightmare. We're home. We're safe."

A thin orange ribbon of light filtered in through the window. A glance at the clock on the night table told me it was nearly 8 pm. I hadn't meant to sleep that long.

"Did the hospital call?" I asked.

"No, but I did. There's no change. He hasn't regained consciousness again."

I stretched out, bones cracking, muscles tensing. "I'm going to grab a shower then head back."

"Okay but I have to bring Keira some more clothes."

I thought about how anxious and distraught I had been yesterday. I hope I hadn't scared her. "Was she all right when you dropped her off?"

"Yeah, she's a trooper. She was a little nervous because Elaine was a stranger but Elaine has a way with kids. I talked to her last night and she's enjoying her visit. She wants to know when she coming home though."

I had considered this, and though I really didn't want to confuse Kiera, I wasn't willing to let her live with us until this situation was rectified. "She can't Gabriel. Not until this is over."

"Connor..."

"No." I said sternly. "Don't Connor me in that placating tone. I'm not budging on this. There is no way in hell I'm putting that little girl in danger."

"She won't be, we're protected..."

"Like my Dad was?" I interrupted angrily. "The police were patrolling his house but he's still laying in a hospital room fighting for his life. Do you expect me to let that happen to Kiera? You're her brother it's your job to protect her. Don't you realize that as long as you're with me, you're putting her life as well as yours at risk?"

He regarded me steadily. "This isn't your fault Connor. You don't have control over any of this."

"It feels like it is. It feels like I'm being punished for something. Like I did something so wrong and now everyone I care about is going to be taken away from me because of it."

"Don't think like that. You did nothing to deserve this, nothing."

I hung my head. "What happens if he hurts you Gabriel? Do you think I could get over that? Don't you realize it would kill me?"

"I've told you before, I can take care of myself."

"Can you outrun a bullet?" I asked, irately. My voice shaking with the wrenching burst of angry.

Cursing under his breath, he hit me with a look that would have sent a sane person scrambling off the bed. It was a good thing that I was slowly losing my mind. "I'll let Kiera stay with Elaine for a few weeks but don't you dare try to keep me out of this."

I started to rise, but he stopped me by grabbing my wrist. When I jerked away, he quickly rolled on top of me and pinned me to the bed.

"Get off me you big oaf!" I yelled up at him.

"Not until you calm down." He stared down at me, breathing hard, emerald eyes flashing dangerously. I stared back, my heart raging.

Cupping his face with my hands, I kissed him hard. "I'm too tired to fight with you."

He kissed my jaw and nipped at my chin, trailing kisses down my neck. "Good."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Nothing happened that weekend or the week that followed, though I couldn't shake the uneasy anticipation. I was beginning to think I would feel that way until the man was caught.

I'd spent my time going between home, the hospital and Elaine's. She, Hunter and Derek had become like guardian angels taken caring of everything we didn't want to think about. Bringing food over. Taking shifts to sit with Dad. He was a stranger to Elaine and Derek, yet they volunteered. I guess what people say is true, in times of crisis you really do find out who your friends were. You were either torn apart or brought closer together. I was so happy it was the latter in my case.

Dad however had still yet to wake up, and the wait was making me even more jittery. Gabriel and I have snapped at each other a time or two. I felt like I was waiting for a hurricane to come blow me away and there wasn't a damn thing I could do to stop it from coming.

I was on edge. He was one edge. Hell! Everyone was. There was bound to be some tension. I just couldn't stand it. This defenselessness. I needed to do something to take back control of my life.

Detective Haynes was now sitting across from me looking a little worse for wear. "A few people called in about the sketch but nothing has panned out." He said. "I also checked out all of the Allan Mackintosh's in the area. There were only 5. One is deceased; one was in a retirement home, another moved away 8 years ago to Europe. The other two are under age 10."

"He used a false name.... of course he did. Stupid of me to think he'd make it easier to catch him." I muttered. "So we're back to square one."

"We'll find something. There is no such thing as the perfect criminal."

My jaw set in firm lines. "You're missing a great opportunity."

He looked suspicious. "To do what?"

"To set a trap."

"I don't like this. I don't know what you're thinking, but I don't like it."

"It's common sense. He failed to kill my father and me. He's going to try again. Maybe if I was waiting--"

"No. And before you get angry, just think about what Gabriel would say if you told him you were setting yourself up as bait. He wouldn't let you out of his sight."

That was true enough, but I saw a way around it. "Then I just won't tell him."

"There's no way to keep it from him, unless it didn't work. If it did work-I am sure as hell he wouldn't be happy when he found out."

I considered all of Gabriel's possible reactions and didn't like any of them. On the other hand, I was terrified that something might happen to him. "I'll take the chance, I'd rather him be angry than dead."

"Not with my help, you won't."

My chin lifted. "Then I'll do it without your help."

"If you get in the way of my investigation, I'll put you in jail faster than you can say Go." He threatened. "This case is hard enough, the last thing we need is you throwing yourself in unnecessary danger."

I glared at him. "Would you listen to reason for just a second. I'm the best chance of luring this guy out in the open. You don't have any suspects now. What are you going to do, wait until he attacks my family again and maybe succeeds in killing them? Is that how you want to work? Who has to die before you see reason, Gabriel? Keira...Hunter?"

He looked steadily at me, rather crossly. "That's not fair."

"Tough." I snapped. "He's not playing fair either. Let me go back to my condo. He'd find me there. It's the best strategy."

"It's a plan that can get you killed. Did you think about that? That he could get away again but this time with you?"

The thought made me sick to my stomach and I swallowed the sudden rise of nausea. "Yes, but I'd do it anyway."

"Do what?" Gabriel asked, from behind me. He'd gone into the kitchen to make coffee when the detective had arrived.

"Nothing." I answered quickly.

"I think you need to spend more time looking out for what's yours." Tobias looked at me.

"I am."

"That's what you think but Connor just told me he'd like to play bait for his stalker."

Gabriel's head snapped around, and his brows lowered over narrowed eyes as he pinned me with a gaze blazing with fury. "I'll be damned," He said softly, and his expression turned to hard determination.

"Yeah, that's what I said. He doesn't seem to get how dangerous a situation like that can be."

"I'll make sure he does now." His eyes not wavering from me.

I drew myself up. "I won't be talked about as if I'm invisible. I'm over twenty-one and I'll do what I damn well please."

"Over my dead body." He growled.

Enraged, I snarled. "I'm trying to protect you!"

"We've been over this Connor."

"And nothing's settled." I ranted.

"Yes it has. Let the police do their job, it's safer that way."

I threw up my hands in agitation. "Just go to work and leave me alone."

"Connor..."

"What? I'm going to do what you want and sit and wait like a good little duck." I snapped. "You should be happy." With that I stomped away.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Gabriel's POV

I was about to go after him but Detective Haynes stopped me with a hand on my shoulder.

"Let him go. He needs to vent for awhile."

I scowled not liking it.

"Fine." I said irritably. "I have an important job I've been neglecting over the past weeks, I should go check on its progress anyway."

"You do that."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Fuck, Brandon, do you think you could actually get the mantelpiece level before you start pounding away at it!" I shouted at my workman.

Brandon stopped hammering and gave him a bewildered look. "It was level."

"I think, "was" is the key word," I stated angrily, placing the level up to show him. The yellow bubble in the level's cylinder floated slightly above the red center mark. Both Brandon and the other workman, Clay, leaned in to the study the tool.

"It's pretty close," he said.

"Not close enough," I sneered. "Don't you realize how important this restoration job is to the company. We are trying to expand the clientele not alienate them by doing some half-assed, crooked work." I tossed the level back into the toolbox and slammed down the lid. "Shit, if you can't do your job properly, don't bother showing up."

I remained crouched by my toolbox, my hands hanging between my knees, my head down. After a few seconds, I rose and sighed. "Listen, I'm sorry. I'm not myself today."

The two workmen remained still, only their eyes moving to exchange confused glances.

"Keeping doing what you're doing. It's fine, Brandon. I'm going to get out of your hair and head back to the office. I've got some things to get done there."

Brandon nodded, but still looked unsure.

I started to apologize again, but instead nodded, and left the old Victorian house.

Once in my truck, I laid my head against the seat, and tried to calm my nerves.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Connor's POV

The water cascaded down my body as I stood under the spray of the shower. My temper had cooled from earlier. I blew up for no reason, again. I really should stop doing that.

I grabbed the shampoo and lathered it into my hair. I moved my head and the suds dripped into my eyes, burning, forcing me to close them.

The glass shower door opened, and I breathed easier as he stepped in behind. "Hey baby, your home early." I mumbled, thrusting my face under the spray to wipe away the shampoo.

He placed his hand on my hip and just like that I knew. It wasn't Gabriel. Gabriel had hard-callused hands. The hand on my skin was covered with something smooth, and cold, like leather.

'I guess I don't have to play bait anymore.' I thought stupidly.

I stood frozen. He wasn't taller than me; he was my height maybe less. I felt his controlled breathing on my neck and it made my skin crawl.

He whispered in ear, "Did you think you could hide from me forever?"

Those spoken words snapped me into action, I drove my elbow hard into his ribs-he grunted-I heaved backward and tried to jump out of the shower, but he twisted his hand in my hair, dragged my head back and clamped his hand over my nose, my mouth- my mind became fuzzy within seconds....

His hands closed around my neck and lifted me as if I was weightless, and in that surreal moment I knew I was dead-the certainty of it settled into my darkening consciousness. I raised my gaze to his eyes and last thing I saw was leather covered head, and reptilian eyes.

To be continued....

Comments? Suggests? Please send me an email at Ladylovey4@yahoo.ca