A/N: sorry, I realized the other day that I screwed this chapter up a bit. I somehow managed to delete some text. I fixed it though. Okay, well off to work on chapter 10.

Two Months Earlier

"Two days off is two days off," Mackenzie Previn said, picking up a small black backpack.

"Anytime you get away from us, huh?" Gabe asked slinging his own pack over his shoulder as they headed for the upper deck of the Vast Explorer.

"You know it." The smile planted on her lips was playful and bright. "What're you doing with your two days?"

"Just some site seeing." His eyes scanned the boat yard they were docked at. "Besides there's a few repairs that I promised Judson I'd help him with."

"Well, have fun," she said, ruffling his dark curly hair on her way to the gangway.

"See ya in couple days," he called after her, knowing that she wouldn't turn around to look behind her. Nor would she even acknowledge that he'd said anything to her; even if she were smiling to herself and thinking that she'd have plenty of fun.

"She leave?" Judson appeared beside Gabe on the deck. He nodded, tucking a short shopping list into his pocket. "And without saying goodbye." He smiled at his young friend. "Going somewhere?"

"Need to get a couple of parts to fix some of the equipment you guys broke last time we were out." He headed for the gangway. He wanted to say something to Judson or Mac but he didn't know how to. It wasn't that he was afraid, hell he'd been to plenty of places without a chaperone before. But this was different. All he really wanted to do was stay close to the ship, despite having been looking forward to seeing the city and meeting people. He'd first felt it the day that Judson'd told them about their new client and job. He'd willed it away then, but when he'd gotten up this morning there was no denying it. Butterflies were beautiful and fluttery, they weren't what he would say he had in his stomach. Rocks was more like it. The pit, the bowel, of his stomach felt as though several heavy stones had settled. His mind screamed at him that there was danger in this city.

Maybe I should tell Judson, he thought as the gangway swayed beneath his steps. What would I tell him? The I think someone's gonna get hurt? "Get a grip," he muttered as he stepped onto the solid cement of the dock. Shaking his head, Gabe headed for town. Maybe parts shopping was what he needed to get his mind off the feeling that was making him sick to his stomach.

"Thanks," Gabe said, taking the small paper bag from the counter top. That was it. Last thing on my list. He thought as he let the door to the small shop shut of its own will. Two hours away from the boat and nothing had gone wrong The sick feeling had subsided some in that time. Nerves still raw, Gabe decided to grab something from the small dinner he'd seen on his way into town before heading back to the boat. A few more minutes away wouldn't hurt, he thought as he entered the cramped restaurant. He hoped that they made the food to go.

Thanking the young woman behind the counter, Gabe took the packaged food and headed for the door. When he got into the restaurant he had changed his mind and was going to stay, but that little nagging feeling that something was wrong bit into him with a vengeance the moment that he stepped foot into the small building. The girl behind the counter had been what made him change his mind. But after what'd happened in Greece, Gabe decided that he should listen to his gut more often. Sure she was beautiful and spoke English well, but there was something about her he didn't quite trust.

"Hello there," a voice he knew said, breaking through Gabe's reverie about the girl in the café.

Without really looking at the person in front of him, Gabe weighted his options for escape. The café was only half a block away, and offered no real safety for him. The ship and Judson where about a quarter mile away and he'd never out run the car he heard running. There was nowhere to go. Swallowing his fear and anger, Gabe looked the person in the eye. If they had ever found the man's body he would've been surprised at who was standing before him, but since they never did …

"Find your diamonds?" he spat at the slender man standing before him.

"I did." He moved closer to Gabe. "How is that I keep catching you like this?"

Merrill's lack of concern about drawing onlookers sent chills through Gabe. He couldn't help but feel a bit intimidated by the man. He was more than psychotic, he was one step ahead of where everyone else thought that he was.

"What do you want from me this time?" He never took his eyes from Gavin Merrill.

"Nearly the same thing I wanted in London." He could see why Mackenzie kept the young man around, lots of foolish bravery. All the men in her life seem to suffer from it. Gavin hated to admit it but even he had been foolishly brave while he and Mackenzie were together. Now, however, he'd moved past those days. "Only the difference is that I know where the prize is."

"Isn't that nice," Gabe said taking a couple of steps away from Merrill and the black sedan he stood in front of. "Guess that I'll be going now."

"You see that's where you're wrong." Gavin's hand shot out grabbing Gabe's shoulder in a crushing grip. Just as fluidly he yanked the younger man backward, pulling Gabe into his chest. "I need the help of you friends to get the prize. And you're going to help me get them." Releasing Gabe, he said quietly, "are you coming willingly or shall we give these people more of a show?"

Gabe stared hard at Gavin's cold green eyes, weighting all his options. One by one he ran down the list. There was a slim chance that he could beat Merrill in hand to hand combat and make a run for the café. Or he could deck Merrill and make a desperate run to the boat, and hope that the car doesn't have a driver. As if Merrill could read Gabe's mind he pulled back his coat to reveal the butt of a gun. Gabe knew the threat. Merrill wouldn't shoo him. He'd shoot the people in the street and shop windows that were watching the scene with awe, as though they'd never seen such an exchange before.

Bowing his head in defeat, Gabe moved toward the open car door. Slowly he slid across the gray leather seat and leaned against the door. I'm sorry, ran through his mind as he watched Gavin climb in after him. Gabe couldn't help but notice, now of all times, that the heavy rocks that'd lined his stomach since the night before had finally gone away. This was it. The danger that he'd tried to warn himself of and ultimately ignored. Damn. Why didn't I listen?

"I want you to know something before we leave." He pulled a small, simple black box from the pocket of his coat.

"And that would be?" His hazel eyes stuck on the movement of Merrill's hands as they opened the box and removed a syringe already filled with some kind of liquid.

"I always get what I want and I want more than just the jewels this time." The seat groaned as he moved himself along the leather bench to where Gabe sat pressed against the door.

"What do you want?" He pressed himself more into the door. There was no getting away, no escaping the mad man coming at him. He was more than certain that the doors were locked. A small amount of relief washed over him when he realized that no one outside the car would know his reaction to the needle being presented to him. The windows were tinted so dark that he was sure no one could see in.

"A family." He stopped moving and stared at Gabe for a moment. Gabe would never pass for a son, not a biological one anyway. Smiling he readied himself to plunge the syringe into the clearly terrified young man before him.

"And you're choosing me?" He let go of his fear for a moment to process Gavin's intentions for him. "Thanks, but, um think that I'll pass on that."

"I have ways to change your mind," he said, grabbing hold of Gabe's arm and pulling him from the door. "Or in this case erasing it." Twisting Gabe's arm sharply, causing him to call out in pain, Gavin gently traced the cool metal of the needle against the skin of Gabe's neck. Smiling at the fight the young man was attempting give and how he was going to mold Gabe into the perfect weapon; make Gabe better than he, himself, was. Finding a vein Gavin quickly bit the needled deep into the skin and plunged the clear liquid into the body of his future relative. Letting go of Gabe, Gavin helped the young man to sit back as the drug worked through his system.

"What did you do to me?" His teeth were clenched against the hot pain traveling through his veins. He could feel his heart threatening to beat through his chest, his lungs burned with every breath he took and everything, more than just his sight, was becoming hazy. It were almost as though his mind were beginning to shut down and rewrite itself.

Smiling at the nearly unconscious young man Gavin ordered his driver to take them home.