Mac and Judson had followed the plan they had worked out to the dot. Still, both of them couldn't help but be surprised when they got inside the Patterson guest house without anyone noticing. With the luck they had lately both had expected at least some kind of unexpected trouble to show up. Giving Mac a silent nod, Judson pointed his flashlight toward the blue print of the house Jonas had given them.

"Gabe's room is down the hall on the right!" he whispered.

Together they made their way in the direction of the room, while anxiety started to mount in them. This was the moment they had almost thought would never come. Mac put her hand on the door knob, for just a moment hesitant to turn it. How would Gabe react? Would he be disappointed that it took them so long or would he just be happy to see them? It was Judson's hand on her shoulder that gave her the strength to turn the knob all the way and open it. Expecting to find her friend in bed on the opposite site of the wall, she pointed her flashlight in that direction as she started to walk over there.

She stopped dead in her tracks when she found the covers pulled back and the bed empty. As she turned around Judson could feel the disappointment radiating from her. This was impossible, Jonas had told them Gabe would be here, what had happened? The fear that once again their friend had been moved out of their reach almost overwhelmed both of them.

"Maybe they just moved him into another room!" Mac suggested; the hope clearly audible in her voice.

"Let's check!"

Judson was determined not to leave until he either found Gabe or was sure he wasn't in the house. Turning back towards the door he abruptly stopped.

"Did you hear that?"

"What?"

"I'm sure I heard something!"

For a moment both stood silent, listening into the intense darkness of the room. Yet there was nothing but stillness that resonated in their ears. Disappointed Mac once again turned to leave the room when an almost inaudible moaning stopped her.

"It came from the opposite side of the room!" she called out, already on her way.

Forgetting all caution Judson reached for the switch and turned the light on.

For a split second they were blinded by the sudden brightness. As their eyes got used to the light, they suddenly found themselves wishing for the security blanket of the dark to return. Although neither one would have ever admitted it, each had their own anxieties about the reunion with their youngest team member. Unconsciously there were a lot of guilt feelings on their shoulders and the scenarios which had played out in their minds went from total excitement to absolute rejection on Gabe's part. Yet none had been even close to the scene that unfolded in front of their eyes now.

Gabe was sitting on the floor his upper body heavily leaning against a dresser. His head had sunk to the left, his eyes starring at the floor without seeing. Tracks of long dried tears were still visible on his cheeks. His left arm was hanging down, his hand resting palm up on his thigh. Dark red blood was flowing from an cut on his wrist. It was obvious that the bleeding had been going on for some time because the legs of his pajama pants were soaked and the red liquid was pooling in between and on both sides of his legs.

It was Mac's sudden gasp that brought Judson out of his trance and made him rush to his youngest friend's side. Kneeling beside him his hands started to shake as he reached out to check his neck for a pulse, afraid of what he might find. Yet before he even touched the area Gabe's head slightly turned and their eyes met. Letting out a breath of relief, Judson continued to look into his friend's eyes. He could see recognition in them but also disbelief.

"It's okay Gabe; you are safe now, we are getting you out of here!" Judson tried to assure his friend.

There was no response from Gabe but his eyes showed that he still didn't believe in the presence of his friends.

Judson waived at Mac who had remained standing in the same spot as before, "Take over, I need to find something to bandage his wrist!"

While he went into the bathroom, Mac sat down on the floor, gently pulling Gabe into her embrace. She could feel the tenseness of his body and read the questions in his eyes. As she reassuringly stroked his dark curls, she tried to comfort him but suddenly found herself overwhelmed by the sadness and loss looking at her from his hazel eyes.

"Oh my God, Gabe, I am so sorry that we didn't find you sooner!" her words more sobbed than spoken as tears ran down her cheeks, several of them dripping onto Gabe's face.

"Mac?" the word was spoken in an almost inaudible whisper.

Slowly he reached up to touch her moist cheeks like he needed to feel for himself that she was real. A shadow of a smile crossed his face, then Mac felt his body relax and his eyes close. Instinctively she felt for his pulse but found it strong although somewhat too rapid. Judson who had just returned with the first aid kit threw her a worried look.

"He is okay, just passed out!" she assured him, watching as he put a pressure dressing over the incision on Gabe's wrist.

Satisfied that at least for the moment there was no further bleeding from the area, he said, "Let's get out of here!".

Not bothering with the wheel chair, Mac helped to lay a still unconscious Gabe over Judson's shoulder. Leading the way, she drew her weapon, determined that no one and nothing would stop them from taking their friend out of his prison.

++++++

It was almost 30 minutes later when they arrived back at Mary Sue's house. For a moment Judson had considered taking Gabe to the hospital but then had decided against it. Senator Patterson would have his son back in his power before morning. This was the last thing they wanted to happen. Mary Sue would have to check him out and if she thought he needed a hospital, they would have to risk taking him to one somewhere out of town.

Once again Mary Sue proved her worth. As Mac and Judson carried Gabe into the house, they found her in conversation with a grey haired man in his early sixties. Without delay she jumped up and hurried to open the door to the bedroom she had prepared for Gabe.

"What happened?"

Judson gave her a short version of the events, keeping an eye on the other man that had listened and now started to open a bag he had held in his hands. Mary Sue saw the alarm going off in his eyes and put her hand reassuring onto his arm.

"It's okay, this is Dr. Willis, he is an old friend of the family and absolutely trustworthy. I expected that there might be some trouble, although I didn't expect this!" She paused for a moment, watching as the doctor started to check Gabe.

"Why don't we leave the doctor to his patient? I am sure you both could use a cup of coffee!"

Gently she pushed them out of the room, closing the door behind herself.

"Sit down, I just get some cups for you!" she said before she disappeared into the kitchen.

Judson sat down on the couch and was not surprised when Mac deposited herself beside him. He could feel the slight trembling of her body as she leaned against her. Now that they finally had brought Gabe back, the reality just started to dawn on them. It was Mac that finally said out loud what they both were thinking,

"Oh my God, Judson, he tried to kill himself!"

Tears were running down her face as she looked at him. Gently he took her in his arms, too shook up himself to come up with any comforting words. The thoughts in his head just continued to spin, coming back to only the one thing – if they would have come any later, it would have been too late! And suddenly it hit him, they hadn't been too late. Whatever Guardian Angel had led them, had made sure that they had been right on time. A smile crossed his face as he put his finger underneath Mac's chin and lifted it so she would have to look into his eyes.

"I know what he tried to do but together we will make sure that he never has another reason to try it ever again!"

This was kinda short, sorry but I hope you still enjoy it! Let me know what you think, I will try to update soon!