The next week turned out to be tougher than either Mac or Judson could have imagined it. Life just seemed to drift by Gabe without him actually taking part in it. He ate very little of what he was served. Nobody was able to convince him that he needed more nourishment. On most occasions they saw it as a success if he even picked up the fork to take one bite. Mary Sue finally took over and started to feed him. Initially reluctant she finally saw no other way and found to her own surprise that Gabe didn't protest. He also didn't seem to enjoy it but at least this way she was able to get some food in him.  In the same way he didn't seem to take part in any conversation. He did answer direct questions though, usually with as few words as possible before returning back to his almost catatonic state. While Mac continued to try everything in her power to get him out of his depression, Judson started to sit back, anxiously watching. He was beginning to believe that maybe they weren't doing the right thing by following Dr. Willis' suggestions.

++++++

It was towards the end of the first week. Judson had spent the morning going over some papers. Earlier he had watched Mac had taking Gabe out on the patio to spend some time in the sun. Like usually, Gabe hadn't protested, he hardly ever did. He just let things happen to himself devoid of any will of his own. Now Judson decided to join his friends. As he headed outside, he stopped at the French doors, listening for a moment to the story Mac was telling Gabe about the first camping trip she went on with her father. The tale was quite funny, especially when she confessed having set up the tent right beside an ant hill. Very animatedly she showed the reaction her father had when the ants crawled into his pants. Judson couldn't help but giggle but his face turned serious again when he realized that Gabe didn't even seem to listen. His eyes were far of in the distance and it wasn't until Mac touched him that he turned his attention back to her.

"Are you okay?" she asked with some anxiety in her voice.

"Yeah, just fine!" the smile on his face looked forced and didn't reach his eyes, something that was an everyday occurrence these days.

It was at that time that something snapped in Judson's mind. This couldn't go on like this. He just wasn't willing to let his friend suffer any longer while standing by helplessly. There was determination in his steps as he walked towards Gabe. Reaching him he stood silently but for a split second, trying to make his mind up how to start.

"Gabe, I need to talk to you!" waiting for a reaction before he went on, he realized his friend hardly had lifted his head up. Slowly he pulled up a chair and set down so that he would be at eyelevel with the younger man.

Mac threw him a warning look, suddenly understanding what he was about to do.

"It's okay Mac, I know what I'm doing! Gabe, look at me!" he started again, this time at least finding hazel eyes gazing at him as a result, "What I am going to tell you now is something I should have told you a week ago but Dr. Willis thought you might not be able to take it!"

He paused for a second, "Well I feel differently, so here it is. Senator Patterson hasn't told you the full truth about your injury. Your spinal cord wasn't severed; it was pinched by some fractured vertebrae. During your surgery the doctors stabilized the vertebrae somewhat but due to tissue injuries and swelling they weren't able to remove all of the bone fragments and take the pressure of the cord. This would have been done in a second surgery several weeks later. Only this never happened because the Senator made you disappear!"

Stopping once again to let the news sink in, he felt slightly disappointed when there was no response from his friend. Doubt started to creep up in him, maybe he had been wrong. Then suddenly he saw tears roll down Gabe's face. Without thinking he pulled him into his embrace, holding him tightly against his chest. He could feel the sobs rippling through the younger man's body, first silently until they finally came out of his throat like a desperate scream. Judson continued to hold him tight, rocking him back and forth until the sobbing finally seized. He suddenly felt like a father holding his young son, an experience he never had.

Only after Gabe had settled down did he realize that he himself had tears running down his face. Letting go of his friend, he wiped his face with his sleeve. A quick look at Mac showed him that she too had been crying.

"Gabe, we are going to fix this! I promise you will walk again!"

Gabe could clearly hear the determination in Judson's voice. For the first time he felt like the darkness started to lift and there was something like a ray of sunlight breaking through the clouds that had laid on him for so long. His voice was still filled with doubt but Judson could see a glimpse of the old Gabe in his eyes when he spoke, "What do I need to do?"

"We need to get Dr. Lowry back here; he will know what needs to be done next!"

"No!" Gabe's voice was filled with anxiety.

Judson put his hand on his friends shoulder, "Gabe, he did your first surgery, he will know best how to fix your injury!"

"That's not it Judson, I just don't want to go back to the hospital here in Boston, please!" Gabe's eyes were pleading with him.

Judson exchanged an understanding look with Mac. It was clear that Gabe was afraid of going back to the same hospital from which the Senator had taken him the last time. Yet for the moment the didn't seem to have an option.

"I'm sure Dr. Lowry will see you at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota!" the statement came from Mary Sue, who had approached them without being noticed.

There was a sigh of relief not only from Gabe but also from Mac and Judson. Mary Sue seemed to have the ability to always come to the rescue.

"I will call Dr. Willis; he can make all the arrangements! In the meantime, why don't you come inside and have some of the lunch that's starting to get cold!"

Only now they could see the traces of tears on her face, making it obvious that she had been standing there for some time. Now she turned and led the way into the house, closely followed by Mac who pushed Gabe's wheel chair. Judson stood there for another moment, thanking what ever God was out there that Gabe was starting to come back to them.

++++++

It turned out that Dr. Lowry didn't have an opening to see Gabe for another two weeks. In the meantime he did order another MRI. Although very reluctant in the beginning, Gabe finally agreed to have it done at Boston Memorial rather than waiting until they would get to the Mayo Clinic. This way the images could be sent to Dr. Lowry and he would already have seen them at the time of the appointment.

While he was waiting for the appointment day to approach, Gabe started to get back to some of the strengthening exercises that he had learned at the Rehab Center. Mac and Judson assisted and supported him were ever they could. Both of them realized very fast that their youngest team member was far from being back to his old self. Even though he participated in conversations and even laughed at their jokes, he never took the initiative by himself and only on rare occasions would his smile actually reach his eyes. His spirit had been broken and it would take a long time for it to mend.

Mac and Judson did everything in their power to keep his spirit up. They had decided to ignore his dark moods, at least for the moment. Yet especially Mac found it hard to watch the pain and fear that sometimes showed in the expressive face. Many times the anger she felt against Senator Patterson threatened to overwhelm her. It was during one of these moments when she felt a soothing hand on her back.

"I don't know how much longer I can watch him without committing murder!" she said without turning around.

"I understand", Judson agreed with her, "but this wouldn't help Gabe either. He will have to face the Senator and deal with him by himself.  That's the only way, if he ever really wants to be free from this experience. Patterson almost destroyed him, unless Gabe can face him, he will always have power over him."

"Do you think he will be able to?" Mac questioned without trying to hide the doubt in her voice.

Judson's answer came without much delay, "Yes, I know he will! And you know how I can be so sure?"

Mac turned around, waiting for his answer.

"I am so sure because he has people around, who genuinely care about him, people like you!"

"And you!" Mac whispered as her lips gently kissed his cheek.

++++++

Finally the day of the appointment came. The team had flown to Minneapolis the day before and then driven to Rochester via a car they had rented at the airport. By the time they had arrived at the hotel Gabe had been so exhausted that neither Judson nor Mac had pressed him when he went to bed without supper. The next morning he ate at breakfast but it was clear that he was too nervous to enjoy any of the delicious pancakes Mac had ordered for him.

 Now he was sitting in front of the Neurosurgeon, Mac on Judson right beside him. Though sure of the outcome of the visit, neither one of them had been willing to abandon their friend. On the outside Gabe appeared calm, almost detached; yet inside demons of despair were fighting angels of hope, making him feel like he was being torn apart. It was to his advantage, that he didn't know how angry the Dr. Lowry had initially been after Dr. Willis had contacted him. He couldn't understand the long delay in the surgical procedure; and at first had refused to see Gabe. Only after Dr. Willis had explained the circumstances to him, had he finally agreed, although still not quite sure if he wanted to believe the whole story. It seemed far too surreal to be true. Now, that he looked in the eyes of the young man in front of him, his last doubts melted away.

"Gabriel', he started, "I have reviewed your MRI and I would like to get you into surgery as soon as possible. I made room tomorrow, if that's okay with you!"

For a moment Gabe was too stunned to respond, too many thoughts swirling around in his head. Could it really be that he would walk again? Finally he was able to put his doubts into words, "Do you think it will work?"

Dr. Lowry had been prepared for this question, "If you asked me if you will walk again, the answer is yes!" Seeing the relief in his patients face, he continued, "But I have to warn you, due to the delay in the procedure, recovery will not be as smooth as if the surgery would have been performed within a few weeks."

 Gabe took a deep breath, although a little apprehensive he didn't feel disappointed by the honest answer he had gotten.

"So, what do I have to expect?" he asked in a quiet but steady voice.

"Well, to good news is, that I expect you to regain at least some feeling in your legs almost immediately…" he paused for a moment, unsure how much he should tell the young man. A nod from Judson finally encouraged him to continue, "…but there will be some pain for sure! It could be anywhere from moderate that might disappear within weeks to severe pain that could be chronic. It really depends on how much nerve damage there is! And in the most favorable scenario, there will be a lot of physical therapy ahead of you!"

This time there was a long moment of quiet. Mac and Judson had been sure that things would go without problems and now needed time to digest the news they had just heard, both were almost afraid of Gabe's reaction.

 Gabe on the other hand felt like he had just gotten the best news of his life. After all the emotional pain he had been through in the last few months, the anticipation of physical pain didn't seem to have any power over him. Right now he had to look at his legs to even be aware that they were still there; the thought to be able to feel and use them again was so welcome that nothing could scare him at this point.

"I'm ready doctor, whatever is going to happen will be better than this!" the determination in his voice surprised Dr. Lowry. Mac and Judson only exchanged a smile, relieved by Gabe's response.

++++++

After a thorough physical and some further testing the day before, Gabe was being prepped for surgery early next morning. He hadn't slept much during the night, although Dr. Lowry had ordered a mild sedative. Every time he had fallen asleep he could hear Senator Patterson's voice telling him that everything would be in vain. He then would wake up just to find that his doubts followed him into wakefulness. He had fought all night trying to regain the confidence he had yesterday but to no avail. It seemed like he just couldn't win this battle. At some point he had even been tempted to call of the whole procedure. Only the thought of Mac and Judson had given him the strength not to.

Now his friends were by his side, waiting for him to be picked up. Initially he tried to hide his feelings but very fast he realized that neither Mac nor Judson where fooled by his calm outside. So he finally dropped the act.

"I just don't know if it is worth going through with it?"

Judson was not surprised by the confession, "Gabe, I want you to think about it this way – you have nothing to loose and everything to gain!"

He knew that this was basically what Gabe had said the day before but realizing that he hadn't been able to hold on to them, he hoped by paraphrasing them, his friend would be able to hold on to them again.

And seeing the small spark in his eyes, he knew that he was right.

"I guess you are right," he agreed, "just remind of it from time to time!" There was almost a grin on his face.

"Mr. Patterson," the voice came from the nurse that had entered the room unnoticed, "It is time to go!"

 "We see you after surgery!" Judson squeezed Gabe's hand tightly then stepped back to allow Mac access to him.

"Hey, at least you get to sleep, we have to wait until it is over!" she said, trying to lighten the mood before she bend down and pressed a kiss on his forehead.

Both stayed behind as Gabe was wheeled out of the room. They knew the next few hours would make a big difference on how their youngest team member's life would continue. An quietly they sent a prayer to heaven, asking just once for things to go right