Chapter Twelve: Intimidation

Peter opened the door to the little bookstore, hoping that Gabriel was right and the place was secure. A small bell at the top of the door jangled, announcing his presence to anyone in the store. He was inexplicably relieved when he saw Gabriel talking to an old woman who looked as though she'd never smiled in her life. The tall man turned and tried to smile at his friend.

"Hi Peter," he said. The two embraced each other with an intimacy that suggested a deeply fraternal friendship. Years spent alone with each other in Gabriel's head had managed to burn away the hatred Peter had felt, replacing it with a truly unique relationship.

Gabriel finally pulled away, fixing a convincing smile on his face. "Let's browse the shelves and you can catch me up on your life." They moved among the books, aware that even if the shop wasn't bugged, they needed to appear more or less normal.

"So what's happening?" Peter asked, picking up random books and examining them. Gabriel gave him the rundown, summarizing where he could without leaving out any pertinent details. Peter was silent as he took in the information. It was really a shame Molly Walker wasn't still alive—she'd been shot in a drive-by over two years ago. With her ability, finding Noah would have been child's play.

When Gabriel had finished his explanation, Peter looked at him calmly, saying only, "What can I do to help?"

It wasn't always like Peter, Gabriel reflected, to ignore the injustice of a situation and focus only on solving the problem, regardless of the fact that if everything was fair, he wouldn't have to solve anything. Peter had changed since Gabriel had first met him—from a hopeless dreamer into someone a little more grown up. Someone who was willing to help without getting indignant about the wrongness of their current circumstance. Of course, once Noah was safe and it was time for retribution, Gabriel knew that he could count on Peter for that too.

"How's Claire doing?" Peter asked casually. Gabriel knew the question was bullshit—Peter kept in touch with her to the same extent he did her ex-husband—but it was Peter's way of trying to discern how the kidnapping had affected their relationship.

"She's coping with her son's disappearance, and apparently her latest boyfriend broke up with her," Gabriel answered. He paused for a moment before adding, "I've moved back in with her. Just until things get back to normal."

Peter's eyebrows went up, but he nodded. He had been close to them since the beginning and had seen all their best and worst moments. He'd been at their wedding (Gabriel's best man), he'd come to the hospital when Noah was born, and he'd witnessed the long divorce proceedings and the toll it had taken on both of them. He knew, probably better than anyone, that despite their disagreements they were an undeniably powerful couple.

"Someone is coming," Myrna grumbled from the sales counter, not raising her head from the book in front of her. Peter stepped back into a corner and disappeared.

Two men in dark suits and sunglasses walked into the store. Everything about them, from the earpieces down to the well-shined shoes, reminded Gabriel of the movie Men in Black. The thought made him chuckle, in spite of everything that was going on.

"Sir, in light of your past actions and your current predicament with the United States government, your prolonged presence here is classified as suspicious behavior. Would you mind explaining yourself?" Gabriel smirked; this man was obviously not up to speed on exactly who and what he was dealing with, and his by-the-book attitude was laughable.

"It's a bookstore," he said with scorn, gesturing with one hand. "The point is to come in and shop, or maybe sit and read if you have the time." When the man's expression didn't change, Gabriel leaned in a little and stage-whispered, "I know that people of your…caliber…may not have the time or inclination to read, but some of us are not so unburdened."

Myrna snorted from her seat by the register, but didn't look up. It did not amuse the men in black.

"You were seen entering this establishment with another man. Where is he?"

"Peter's in the bathroom," Gabriel said, jerking a thumb toward the back. "His birthday was recently, so we're spending some time together. Sometimes he has to get away from the old lady, if you know what I mean."

"We're watching you, Mr. Gray. You've only got, what, three days before you can see your son?" The second man lifted his sunglasses and winked at him. "Don't screw that up."

"We're just hanging out," Gabriel said calmly. "There's no need to get upset." He stood his ground, watching as they turned and left the store.

"They seem a little paranoid," Peter commented as he came back into view.

Gabriel's mouth twisted into a bitter smile. "If you got on my bad side, you'd be paranoid too."

"Maybe I would," Peter laughed. They returned to the shelves, continuing their façade of book-buying. "I was worried for a minute there."

"They'd have to be unforgivably stupid to do anything here," Gabriel said, brushing off Peter's concern. "Myrna would never allow it."

"She a special?" Peter looked over at the woman, who acted as though government agents hadn't been in here minutes before.

"Not in the way you mean, no. But I'd like to meet the man who could defy her and not end up crippled for life."

"Well, look. I can talk to Matt, see if he can do anything. Maybe I can find a way to locate Noah or at least narrow down the possibilities, since you'll be busy playing the good little agent. I'll call you as soon as I can, let you know."

Gabriel nodded, hugging him. "Just remember that everything's being watched."

"Will do, man." And with that, Peter left, waving to the car that had been parked across the street the whole time they were talking.

"Try not to start anything in my shop," Myrna said darkly. "I will throw heaviest book I can find at you."

He laughed out loud at that, though she probably wasn't kidding. Sometimes it was hard to tell with Myrna.

"Here," she said, pulling a beaten-up paperback from under the counter. "Read about someone more screwed up than you." Gabriel looked down at it. The Silence of the Lambs.

"Thanks," he said, coughing back a snort of laughter. "How much?"

"Three-eleven."

He handed the woman her change, tucking the book under his arm. "Remember Dr. Chilton," she said to him before the door closed.

Gabriel took off into the air, holding tight to his purchase. His cell phone rang, and he paused mid-flight to answer it.

"How's Peter?" Claire asked. "And Myrna?"

"I've already left. Peter's fine," he answered, thinking that being so high in the air should automatically grant him the ability to be able to speak plainly, instead of having to act like everything was fine. "He's very busy, but he's doing well. Emma sends her love."

"That's great. Find anything good?"

"Thomas Harris. If you haven't read him, you should. He's very good."

"Okay, well, I was thinking that we should either go out to eat tonight or do something really simple for dinner. I don't feel like cooking."

"It's a little early to be worrying about that, isn't it?" he asked, only half-listening.

"I didn't think you were going to be done so early," she said, not really answering him. She sounded distracted, though that could have been stress. Neither of them had been sleeping very well.

"Some guys came in and wanted to know why we were buying books. Peter got worried and left," Gabriel said, for the benefit of whoever else was listening. Claire knew better than to think that her uncle would run away from trouble. "I think I might just chill for a while before I come home. Give us both a chance to be alone," he continued.

Claire hung up the phone, rubbing her temples. She didn't trust herself to see Peter and not burst out crying, so she had decided it was better if they didn't meet up at all. But she missed him, missed the days when she could hug him and have him tell her that everything would be okay. She missed the days when she believed that everything could be set to rights with enough time and work.

Those days were a long time ago.

Now she blinked hard and uncurled her body, getting off the bed and heading for the kitchen. Her mother had always found domestic work good for soothing bad feelings. Claire only wished she had more house to clean.

Gabriel was probably right, she reflected. As long as he was alone and not doing anything to get himself in trouble, it wouldn't kill them to make personal time for themselves. But even as she told herself that, she felt tears coming on, knowing that she was all alone in the home that once held three.


A/N: Here's an update for the soul. We love you all. Please review! It keeps us motivated. :)

-Mel and Chuck