"Carl?"

Gabriel stuck his head around the door of the friar's lab, expecting to see the little man stooped over some dangerous chemicals, or hidden behind some book. But the lab was empty, and Gabriel noticed that without Carl's presence, the lab did not seem as warm or bright as before. It was filled with a sort of emptyness, and that emptyness seemed to fill Gabriel too.

Wondering where Carl was, Gabriel walked off, scratching his chin thoughtfully. He needed to talk to Carl. Where was he? Through the dark corridors Gabriel walked, becoming more and more upset as he went. The corridors were bustling with people and yet they seemed empty to him, the lack of Carl obvious everywhere.

Finally he reached the grand alter. Gabriel stood, staring at the large crucifix from the top of the aisle which ran up between the pews. He looked into the face of Jesus, into the face of God. He had never really noticed before, but Jesus' face seemed full of great sorrow. Gabriel's eyes travelled down, and fell upon the trembling brown heap on the alter. It took him a few minutes to realise the figure was Carl, his shoulders shaking with sorrow.

"Carl," he whispered.

His heart ached as he stared down at Carl. Had he done this to Carl, brought this down on him? He couldn't take it, he needed to hold the little man, hold him and let him know it was okay. Gabriel's legs carried him down the aisle, which seemed ten times longer than usual.

"Carl!" he called. "Carl!"

Carl turned as Gabriel reached the alter, and Gabriel stared at him. His face was pale and blotchy, his eyes red and wet. Gabriel pulled him to his feet and enveloped him in a large hug. Carl sobbed into his chest. Gabriel rested his face on Carl's head, taking in the pleasant, spicy smell of his hair.

Life was so cruel. They should both be happy, so happy. But they were both so confused and scared.

Gabriel felt his own eyes fill with tears. He turned his head so that his cheek was resting on Carl's soft hair, and closed his eyes tightly.

"I'm sorry," he whispered.

"Don't be," came the quiet, choked reply from somewhere under his ears.

"We- we need to talk," Gabriel said sadly.

Carl nodded. He pulled out of the hug and looked up at Gabriel. "We'll go to my room."

Gabriel wasn't too sure what was being implied by that suggestion, but he decided to go along with it as he trusted Carl. "Okay."