Sorry it's been sooo long! I just didn't know exactly where to take it.

Thanks for so much positive feedback-it means so much!

Enjoy the story! (and no, I don't own N2N)

Natalie woke up bright and early that Saturday and practically dragged her father out of bed and into the car. She would be visiting Gabe's grave no matter what. If she didn't, she was sure he would do something horrible to Henry, something worse than what was already happening.

"Natalie, why are we doing this again?" Dan asked as they drove.

"I told you yesterday," she said. "He's not part of the family, not the way he should be. I think if we visit his grave, he'll...be properly...represented as a Goodman."

"That doesn't make any sense."

"I never said it would."

"Tell me the truth, Natalie," Dan said very seriously. "Did your mother tell you to do this?"

"No," she protested. "I want to do this. I have to do this."

"But why?"

She took a deep breath. Maybe if she told her father everything, he would understand and help her. If her Dad knew Henry's life was in Gabe's hands, he'd have to do something to make his son feel at home. Natalie felt so stupid, so crazy, for even thinking these things, but all she cared about was Henry.

"Remember that day in the hospital when I saw Gabe?" she asked. Dan nodded. "Well, he kind of told me that he would make Henry better if I brought him into the family again. I agreed, just because, you know, Henry wasn't awake or anythin and I was scared. But once Henry was fine, I dismissed it as a stupid mind trick or something. Something brought on by the medicine. But then yesterday at the hospital, the doctor told me Henry's getting worse. He's bleeding again and might have some internal damage. That's when I realized that Gabe really must have come to me. I mean, Mom saw him all the time. And didn't you? Once, after mom left?"

"I was in hysterics then, Natalie," Dan said, sliding into his usual state of denial. "Seeing Gabe was a way for me to forget about your mother."

"But you saw him. That's what matters. And I know that Henry won't get better unless I do what Gabe says."

They got to the graveyard. Natalie felt really sad just walking through the section for babies. The tiny headstones, all of the teddy bears and rattles sitting there. Gabe's grave remained undecorated.

Gabriel Goodman

Beloved Son

October 3, 1992 - June 11, 1993

"So what now?" Dan asked.

"Shouldn't we, like, pray or something?" Natalie asked him.

"Alright." He took a deep breath. "Dear God, bless our boy. Help us to keep him in our hearts. Amen." To Natalie, "Can we leave?"

"Dan, come on, he's your son."

"I know that, but you know how much I hate cemeteries."

"Go to the car. I'll be one second," she told him. She watched as her dad practically ran back to the Honda. She knelt down in front of the grave. "Okay, Gabe," she said. "You heard Dad. We're going to try to keep you in our hearts. We'll visit the grave more often. Hey, maybe next time I'll bring flowers or something. We don't mean to neglect you or anything. You just need to realize that you're not alive anymore. And it isn't nice to mess with people who are. So I'm going to ask you to please let Henry be. Just make him better again, and I promise you can be Superboy, but in a good way. I won't resent you. I'll be forever greatful." She kissed her fingers, then rubbed them over his name. "I may not have known you, but you are my brother. And I'm sure I would have loved you."

She started to stand up, really satisfied with her little speech. Suddenly, there Gabe stood, right on his grave. "I told you to bring me into the family again," he said. "Alive. Not worship the dead Gabe. Visiting my grave won't do shit." Natalie smiled a little. He was definitely her brother.

"What else do you want me to do?" she asked. "I told Mom to-"

"This isn't about Mom. This is about everyone. You and Dad...It looks like I'm just going to have to give you step by step instructions." His image started to fade.

"What about Henry?" she asked quickly.

"I'll take care of him." With a laugh, he disappeared. Natalie rushed back to the car, still shakened.

"Can you drive me to the hospital?" she asked her dad. He agreed and dropped her off. She hurried to Henry's room to check on him. He was surrounded by doctors and his parents. "Is everything okay?" she asked immediately.

"Yes," the doctor said. "Everything's perfect. It's like a miracle. I came down here this morning to check on the staples and it's like the wound has just disappeared, staples and all. No sign of abrasion anywhere." The doctors checked him once more and came to the conclusion that he was completely healed and could return home the next day.

Wow, Natalie thought, Gabe really did take care of him. But what I am going to have to do in return?

That night she and her dad were making dinner together. Her father told her to set the table. As she was putting down the plates, Gabe appeared. She was so startled she dropped all the untensils.

"Are you okay?" Dan asked.

"Um, yeah," she lied. "I'm fine, I just thought I saw...a bee."

"In the house? In October?"

"Crazy, right?" Her father laughed and went back to his cooking.

"Set a place for me," Gabe whispered in her ear, his image suddenly right behind her.

"No way," she said.

"What was that?" Dan asked.

"I just got a text message that's all."

"From who?"

"Um...Tess," she said, using the first name that popped into her head.

"Who's Tess?"

"Just a person." That satisfied her dad enough. Once again, he went back to dinner.

"Do it," Gabe said. She shook her head no. "Do it now." Another head shake. "Natalie, I swear to God, I can kill your boyfriend right now. Get another plate and set me a place." Natalie swallowed hard, but did as she was told. For Henry. She had to do it for Henry. Her father noticed her grabbing a third set of everything.

"What are you doing?" he asked her.

"Setting another place," she said quickly.

"Why? Is that Tess person coming over or something?"

"No."

"Your mother?" he tried.

"No."

"Then why are you doing that? There's only two of us."

She looked quickly to Gabe, who was watching her like a hawk. "Tell him," he said. "Now. Tell him."

"Gabe needs a place!" she blurted.

"What?" her father asked.

"The third place. I set it for Gabe." Tears started streaming down her face. Her father turned off the stove and walked over to her, giving her a hug.

"Honey," he said, "I don't know what's going on, but whatever it is can be fixed. I'll make an appointment with your mom's old doctor."

"No," she protested. "I'm not crazy!"

"I'm not saying you are. Sweetie, I just want you to be okay again. Obviously the accident was very traumatic for you. Dr. Madden can help you. He'll just be there as someone to talk to."

"Say you'd love to go," Gabe told her, suddenly appearing behind her father. "Tell him you can't wait to go because you are flat. Fucking. Crazy."

"No," she whispered sobbing.

"It's okay, honey," Dan said, rubbing her back.

"Do it," Gabe said. "Do it for Henry."

"I'd love to go," she said quickly. "I can't wait. Because I'm crazy."

"Flat fucking crazy," Gabe corrected.

"Flat fucking crazy," she repeated.

Gabe is evil, I know! haha

But yayy for Dr. Madden! Stay tuned for the next update. I'll try to be faster this time.

Reviews?