Present Day

When Judson returned to Gabe's room he found Dr. Willis checking out his patient. He had allowed Mac to remain in the room, feeling it would be comforting to Gabe.

 Now he just nodded at Judson and pointed at a chair at the window, "Why don't you sit down, I am almost finished!"

He continued his examination. After he had finished he gave Gabe an encouraging smile, "Well young man, looks like you could use a few pounds on your ribs but otherwise I think you are going to be just fine!"

Gabe, who didn't say anything throughout the whole exam, once again just gave him a sad look.

 Instead Mac answered with a smile on her face, "Well, I think we can help that, you never seen this boy chow down my gourmet cooking!"

Knowing that this usually would have brought out a loud protest from her younger friend, she was disappointed that he didn't even smile at her comment. His whole behavior was so unlike him that it almost seemed like he wasn't even the same person. The worried look she exchanged with Judson was not lost on Dr. Willis.

"Why don't you join me for some of the breakfast that Mary Sue invited me to? She told me you just swallowed a few bites this morning.  I think our young friend here will be okay for a little while!"

Mac looked questioning at Judson, who nodded, "We will be right with you doc! Why don't you go ahead? I just need to talk to Gabe for a moment!"

After the doctor had left Judson turned to Gabe, "I handled your father, he won't be coming for you!" Seeing disbelieve in the younger man's eyes, he continued, "I know it is hard to believe but I promise you it is true!"

"Thanks!" was the only word coming out of Gabe's mouth before he closed his eyes and turned to his side. Not until he heard his friends quietly leave the room did he open them again. Could it really be true? Could Judson have gotten the upper hand over the Senator? So many questions swirled around in his head. He really wanted to believe but he also knew his father, he would never allow anyone to keep him from his property. And this was what he felt reduced to – Senator Patterson's personal property.  Closing his eyes once again, he allowed himself to slip into the darkness of a restless sleep.

++++++

Closing the door behind her, Mac turned around and leaned against it, "How in the world did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Get the Senator off our backs? Or was that just a put on for Gabe's sake?"

Judson smiled slightly, "No it wasn't; I called him and told him that we knew enough about Gabe's adoption that we could make things very uncomfortable for him!"

"And that was enough? It sure doesn't sound like Senator Patterson to me; he never backed down that easy in the past!"

"Well, I also told him that I found Gabe's real family!"

"I'm just glad it worked! I really feel like going over there and punch him once for every day he held Gabe a prisoner!"

Mac's anger was so obvious that Judson laid his hand calmingly on her shoulder. He knew her well enough to know she would not hesitate to put her threat into action.

"I know how you feel but it really wouldn't do us any good having you end up in jail for assault!"

For a minute or so he could see the anger work in Mac before she finally took a deep breath and relaxed a little, "You are right, like usual but it sure would feel good!"

Slowly she turned and headed for the kitchen, "Let's go and have some breakfast, I want to hear what Dr. Willis has to say!"

++++++

Dr. Willis was in conversation with Mary Sue when they sat down at the table. Ignoring the plate with delicious looking blueberry pancakes Mary Sue handed him, Judson looked at the doctor.

"So what didn't you want to tell us in front of Gabe?"

Flushing his last bite of pancake down with a sip from his coffee, the doctor' face turned serious, "As I told your friend, physically he should be okay, but I am really worried about his mental wellbeing. He is in a state of deep depression. That is fairly normal for what he has been through but I am worried that he might not be able to work his way out of it without help!"

"Is that all you are worried about?" Judson's face showed signs of relief, "I promise you, we will do everything in our power to help him through this!"

"I'm sure you will but I am afraid this might not be enough! I think he will need professional help! I know a Psychologist….!"

"No!" Judson interrupted him, "I know Gabe and I think this would make it worse for him. He has been through so much lately; he pretty much lost his identity in the process. Having to talk to a stranger about it would be too difficult!

Dr. Willis gave him a doubting glance and looked at Mary Sue for help.

"I'm sorry George" she said with a slight shake of her head, "but I have to agree with Judson, at least for the time being. Why don't you give him some time, maybe a week or so and then we talk about it again?"

"Well, I don't like it but maybe you are right! I will check on him daily and we talk about his progress or lack thereof in one week. Until then, give him all the encouragement he needs but don't excite him. He needs to deal with what happened in the last few days first before he will be ready to take on anything new!"

"Don't worry doc we take care of him, we always have!" Mac threw in with a smile on her face.

Thank you for being so patient and waiting for the next chapter for so long! I know it isn't very long but I had a very serious case of  writers block and real life! Thanks for all the reviews. Please continue to give feedback, it is what makes me come back to the story and continue to write!