Chapter 5
Renee opened her eyes to see sunlight streaming through the windows. She heard movement on the other side of the room
and turned her head to look. Gabriel was sitting on the edge of his bed buttoning a shirt.
"What are you doing?" She asked him as she sat up.
He looked over at her and smiled. "Getting dressed so we can go home."
"Did the doctor say you were okay to go home?"
"Yes, he did," he replied as he finished buttoning the shirt.
She swung her feet to the floor and walked over to him. When she reached him, she said, "You did this wrong."
"What?" He asked, confused.
"Your buttons. Now we have to undo them, then rebutton it."
He started to laugh, but stopped when the action hurt his ribs. "Renee, I don't think we should do this here."
"You want to go out there with an improperly buttoned shirt?"
She had finished unbuttoning it and leaned down to kiss him. She heard the door shut behind her and jumped. When she saw
that no one else was in the room, she turned back around and smiled at him. Then, she kissed him. "Maybe you're right.
Guess I can wait until we get home."
He smiled at her. "Your impatience is gonna get us into trouble one of these days."
Her only reply was a smile. Once the shirt was buttoned again, he got to his feet and almost fell. He leaned against her for
support and she put her arm around his shoulders and helped him to the door.
When they reached the lobby, Renee saw Sara waiting for them. She grinned as they approached her. "Thought the two of
you might have wanted some privacy."
Renee looked at the floor as the blush started to rise in her face. Gabriel just grinned. Sara shook her head and muttered
something about kids these days. They both laughed at this. They walked outside and climbed into Renee's car. They said
goodbye to Sara, then pulled away. Riding back to his apartment in silence, he kept looking over at Renee. When they
arrived, Renee helped him inside.
"Are you going to stay?" He asked.
"Of course. I'm not going to leave you now."
He smiled at her as she started to make something for them to eat. He sat down at the table and realized that he hadn't eaten
for three days. He wasn't sure, however, if his stomach would be able to handle any food.
When it was finished, she placed a bowl of oatmeal in front of him. After only a few bites, he couldn't eat any more.
"You have to eat," Renee told him.
"Maybe later. Right now I can't."
She took his bowl over to the sink and rinsed it out. When she turned around, he was standing right in front of her. His face
was pale and he looked like he was going to pass out. Renee put her arm around him and said, "You need to get some rest."
She led him over to the bed and he laid down. She started to move away, but he held onto her hand. "You're not going
anywhere," he said with a mischievous grin.
She climbed over him onto the other side of the bed. He sat up and faced her. The grin hadn't left his face. She started to
unbutton his shirt again and he set to work on hers, careful not to move in any way that would cause pain.
Once their shirts were off, he lowered himself back down on the bed and she followed. She brushed his lips with hers and
moved her hands around his back. He moved his hands through her hair and down her back, pulling her closer to him. Their
lips met in a hungry kiss.
They were both breathing heavily by this time. Every time he drew a breath, a stab of pain went through his ribs, but he
hardly noticed. He could feel the rise and fall of her chest with every breath she took. Her heart sounded like a drum as it
beat a rhythm against her ribs.
Her hands slid down his back to the top of his jeans. She got to her feet and pulled him up with her. Her hands moved
around to the front of his jeans and went to the button.
*******
"Are you sure one of them is still out there?" Jake asked.
"Gabriel was sure," Sara replied.
"Do you know what this guy's name is?"
She shook her head. "No, I don't."
"Does he know?"
She stopped her searching to think. "I don't know. I'll call him and see."
She picked up the phone and dialed Gabriel's number.
*******
The phone rang, and Renee rolled over to answer it. It might have been Gabriel's apartment, but she felt at home there.
"Hello," she said.
"Renee," Sara's voice came from the other end of the line. "Is Gabe awake?"
"Yeah. Hold on." She rolled over and handed the phone to him, smiling. He smiled at her with a content look on his face.
"Hello," he said as he took it from her.
"Gabriel, it's Sara. I need you to try to remember the other guy's name. Can you?"
Gabriel closed his eyes and recalled the events of the past few days. "The one you got called him Larry. I don't know a last
name."
"What did he look like?"
"I'm not sure. I only saw him when they were beating me. But he sure could hit."
"Anything you can remember would help."
He closed his eyes again. "He had dirty blond hair and brown eyes. I remember his eyes were very dark. There didn't seem
to be anything there."
"Thanks, Gabriel. We're a little farther ahead now."
"No problem, Pez." He turned the phone off and handed it to Renee. After hanging it up, she rolled over, and he wrapped
his arms around her. His arms fell away when a stab of pain went through his ribs.
"Oh. I forgot about your ribs."
"So did I," he said with a grin.
"Guess we shouldn't have done that."
"Don't say that, Renee. I don't regret one moment of it."
She laid her head on his chest. His hand worked its way up her back, up the back of her neck, and into her hair. She lifted
her head and looked at him. Then, he pulled her back down to him and their lips met in a kiss. When she pulled away, there
was a bright twinkle in her eyes and a smile on her lips. She kissed him again, then rolled over to the other side of the bed.
He grabbed her arm and pulled her back over to him, saying, "You're staying right here."
She laughed and kissed him again. She pulled away, and her finger gently traced the line of his jaw. His stomach let out a
low growling sound and she laughed again.
"You need to eat something," she told him. Then, she rolled over and stood up. She slipped back into her jeans and shirt,
then walked to the kitchen. He slowly pulled his jeans on while she started to boil some water.
Gabriel walked to the table and sat down. Renee set a bowl of hot soup in front of him. When he had finished it, he looked
up at her and said, "That was good. Now what do we do?"
"You are going to get some sleep. No distractions this time," she said with a grin.
He was too tired to argue. He headed to the bathroom as she took his bowl to the sink. A couple of minutes later, she
walked to the bedroom and looked in. A smile made its way across her face when she saw him sleeping peacefully. His bangs
fell across his forehead and a soft smile was on his face.
She silently pulled the door shut and walked back into the kitchen. Dishes were piled up on the counter and in the sink. She
rolled up her sleeves and turned on the water.
*******
"Ian, come in here."
Ian wasn't deceived by the pleasant tone of Irons' voice. He approached with his head down and his eyes trained on the
floor.
"You have been helping her again."
Ian remained silent, recognizing that it was a statement, not a question.
"I told you not to talk to her unless ordered so, did I not?"
"Yes, sir, you did."
"Then why did you disobey me?" He demanded.
Ian chanced a look up, then quickly averted his eyes once more. He had seen the fires of hell burning in his master's eyes.
"She needed help and I could give it."
Irons' slap snapped his head around and left a red mark on his cheek. He returned his head to its former position and glared
at him from under his brows.
"You are to stay here until I say otherwise."
Ian kept his eyes on the floor, not daring to look up again. Irons dropped his hand to his shoulder and kept it there for a
moment. "Do you understand me, Ian?"
"Yes, sir, I do," he replied, enunciating each word.
"Very good." He dismissed him with a wave of his hand.
Ian turned and stalked out of the room. He retreated to his room, then stood in the middle of the floor. He was burning with
fury and trying to decide what to do. After several minutes, he strode over to the window and climbed outside.
*******
Renee finished straightening the pillows on the couch. She didn't know why these cleaning urges came over her, but
occasionally they did; very occasionally.
Just as she was straightening up from the couch, she heard the bedroom door open. She saw Gabriel standing in the door
way, smiling at her. She walked over to him and he wrapped his arms around her. Bending his head down, he kissed the top
of hers.
His head flew up when he heard the door knob start to turn. Renee spun around, and he put his arm around her protectively
as the door began to open.
