Crys And Gabe Read online

  He'd stopped running when his car broke down in Eugene and he'd ended up staying.

  Benny had explained that his latest blood test had come back with issues and he wouldn't be able to ink until the issue was resolved, and would Gabe consider coming home to help out. The fact that his dad asked him, instead of demanding, had shocked him almost as much as the thought of his big, strong dad having something wrong with him.

  Gabe had agreed. Not only to help out, not just since he'd already decided that Eugene wasn't for him. But because his heart was calling him back to be with Crys.

  That heart-call had started at Randy Ericson's wedding about six months before his dad's call to come home.

  Funny how things can come right out of the blue, and hit you.

  Hit you hard, so hard your goddamn knees loosen.

  It had hit Gabe. Hit him hard. Realizing he wanted what Randy had; Randy's connection with Jenn, a connection so strong that they wanted to make it legal.

  He'd had that connection with someone, with Crys, a long time ago. And, in his heart of hearts, he knew she was what he wanted, who he wanted to be with now. Wanted to spend the rest of his life with, wanted to be legally joined to, wanted to be with forever.

  He was lonely. Lonely for her, even though it'd been years since they had even been around each other. But he couldn't deny that when he thought of the future, Crys was always a part of it.

  So, Gabe had begun to plot his campaign to win Crys back. He wasn't exactly sure how he was going to do it, but he was determined she would be his. By hook or by crook, Crys was going to be with him.

  Benny must not have told anyone he was coming back, though, if the look on Crys's face was any indication that first morning he'd followed his dad into the shop. Although Gabe had sent her an email at the HH address telling her he was coming.

  Hadn't she believed him?

  "Goddamn, Crys!" his dad had bellowed. "Turn the fucking music down. I could hear it all the way out in the parking lot."

  She looked beautiful to him as he saw her shake her head before reaching below the counter and the hard driving rock she'd chosen was reduced to a level more conducive to talking.

  "Hey, Kitten," Gabe had said stopping by the desk and looking her over. She was still a platinum blonde only the cut was very short and had pink tips.

  "Hey, Gabe. I didn't know you were back in town," she'd said, smiling a bit but only glancing his way as she continued to dust the reception desk.

  Didn't she read his email?

  Was she discarding them like unwanted junk mail?

  "Drove in yesterday," he explained, his eyes still roving. She looked so good in her low-rise baggy jeans and black t-shirt that exposed the sleeves of her tattoos.

  "Yeah?" she said. She picked up the glass cleaner and roll of paper towels as she moved to the front of the counter to polish the glass display. The display holding her selection of body jewelry.

  Gabe had to side-step to get out of her way.

  "Want to go grab a beer later?" he'd asked, trying to be just as casual as she was acting.

  "Got shit to do," she said, not even looking at him as she cleaned the glass. "Maybe another time."

  Dex had come in and Gabe's conversation with her, the longest conversation that they'd had in the couple of weeks he'd been back, was over. Not only was it the longest talk he'd had with her, it was the only alone time he'd had with her, period.

  So, at the moment, he was of a mind that if the only way he got to be one-on-one with her was when she was in the hospital and unconscious, he'd take it. Which felt weird to even think.

  He wasn't happy that she was hurt. But he wasn't unhappy to finally get to spend time with her outside of the shop or surrounded by other people.

  His earliest memory was of Crys. She had always been there for the important stuff going on in his life. She'd brought him home numerous times when he felt the need to run, to get away from whatever was going bad at the time.

  He had been gone for a long time, only coming back to spend holidays with his dad or when Crys needed him, like when her dad died.

  But he couldn't stay away.

  Not after figuring out what he wanted. And Gabe wanted Crys. Full stop.

  He'd been patient, watching for his 'in' with her. He didn't want to go away again, and he wasn't taking no for a fucking answer from her like he did after her dad's funeral.

  She was his and it was about fucking time they got the fuck on with their lives.

  If he could only find a way to convince her of that.

  Now she was hurt and in the hospital and he couldn't move fast enough to get to her. Even though hospitals scared the shit out of him.

  In his experience, people went into the hospital and didn't come out.

  Chapter Three

  Gabe let her sleep, protected her sleep, until Dex and his dad came in.

  "They said she was going to be out for a while," his dad, Benny, said with a hand to Gabe's shoulder. "Why don't we grab a bite and come back tomorrow?"

  Gabe looked back just once before he left her room.

  Although, he knew he'd be back later tonight even if he had to pull the 'Mr. Armstrong' card to stay with her.

  Yep, time to get the fuck on with their lives.

  He wondered how soon it would be before she'd let him kiss her again.

  The sound of squeaking footsteps, pounding their way was the first indication he'd better move out of the middle of their little group in the hallway and make way for whatever was coming towards him. As he stepped to the side, he saw a bevy of scrub suits split wending their way around Dex, pushing Benny to the side as they moved, picking up their pace and running down the hall away from them.

  Gabe couldn't help but watch their progress and stopped cold when they burst through a doorway.

  The door to Crys's room.

  Fuck.

  He turned and moved fast to go back, to get to her.

  Words were shouted but he didn't understand what they meant as he hit the doorway to discover the chaos that surrounded her in her bed.

  Her body was sharply bowed, stiff but shaking, her teeth bared and mouth drooling.

  The only word his mind heard, which his heart reacted to was, 'seizure'.

  "Step back, Mr. Armstrong," he heard Betty yell and realized from her tone that this was not the first time she told him. One of her hands was on his chest pushing and the other was trying to disengage his grip on the raised rail of Crys's hospital bed.

  He felt other hands, stronger arms cross over his chest and heard his dad's voice say next to his ear, "Let go, Gabe," as he was pulled back, dragged out into the corridor, the door to her room remaining wide open.

  He was pushed up against the wall, his dad behind, Dex in front pinioning him in the hallway.

  "They've got a job to do, Gabe," Dex said, his fingers gripping his jaw, forcing his face to look into Dex's green eyes. "Let 'em work, son."

  "Crys" he hissed, unable to think, to blink, to fucking move. Something was wrong, horribly wrong with his girl and he didn't know what to do or how to help her.

  "They've got her, Gabe," he heard his dad say behind him.

  It took a few moments until he realized that his dad's arms were still around his chest and Dex had an arm braced cross-wise to hold him back against Benny as Dex's hand still held his face.

  "Okay," he breathed, trying to shrug off their grip.

  Neither one let go.

  "I'm okay," he said louder and pushed forward against Dex, his hands coming to his dad's grip on his chest.

  "You sure?" Dex asked, his eyes roaming over Gabe's face in assessment.

  They heard more feet moving fast down the hall and Gabe's body automatically tensed. The restraints tightened as their three heads swiveled to watch as more medical personnel piled into the room, in to the group around the bed that held Crys.

  His Crys.

  "Fuck, no," he moaned. Dex released his grip and pressed his forehead to Gab
e's as his arm encircled Gabe's shoulders. Benny's arms loosened and he stepped sideways, allowing Gabe's body to press against the wall.

  Dex held him tightly until Gabe got the strength back in his legs to support himself. As Dex disengaged, Gabe wiped his face, surprised at the wetness there.

  "I'm okay," he again whispered shakily, feeling his dad on one side and Dex on the other. While they weren't physically holding him, they were blocking him in, keeping him in place against the wall.

  He watched as they wheeled Crys out of the room and down the hall as one nurse hung back and finally made their way to him.

  "Mr. Armstrong? I'm Nurse Wheeler. Your wife suffered a pretty severe seizure and we're moving her up to ICU where we can keep a better eye on her. Give them about an hour to get her set up and for her doctor to evaluate before going up to the fourth floor, okay?"

  "Thank you," Gabe mumbled, his mind numb.

  His eyes followed the nurse as she moved away.

  "You okay, Buddy?" his dad asked, gripping his shoulder.

  Gabe nodded, lying without using his mouth.

  "What's next?" Dex said, his eyes on Benny, before shooting to Gabe.

  "I'm going upstairs," Gabe said as he moved.

  "Wait! Gabe," his dad started. "They said it'd be at least an hour…"

  "I've gotta call Elle," Dex said falling into step with Gabe. "I'll be up in a few."

  Gabe didn't hear anything else as he pushed the button to the elevator.

  He wasn't tracking well, or even paying much attention to what was going around him as he waited in the small room just off the Intensive Care Unit. He was propped in a corner of one of the furniture units, one foot propped on the scarred coffee table set in front of the lumpy couch, head in hand.

  "Anything?" Dex asked easing down beside him.

  "Not yet," Gabe mumbled not even bothering to look as he answered.

  "Elle's gonna call everyone and said she'd be up shortly," Dex said.

  Gabe nodded, only to acknowledge that Dex had spoken. His mind was with his girl, sending her his strength as he tried to keep a lid on his emotions.

  Benny came in next, although Gabe didn't know how much time had elapsed between Dex's arrival and his dad's, he was so deep in his own head.

  Next thing he knew, the small room was near to filled with the friends he'd seen coming out of her room and other people he didn't know along with a few he did know, but not well. Heads came together and broke apart, arms surrounded shoulders and rubbed, sniffles and mumbles were the only sounds that surrounded him as they waited.

  Gabe stretched and leaned forward.

  "Want Mom's ring," he announced, realizing how loud his voice was in the small space and how hoarse it was from not speaking. He cleared his throat and tried again to say what his heart was screaming. "I want Mom's rings, Dad."

  The room went utterly and completely still.

  Benny's head came up and twisted quickly towards his boy, his son.

  "What?" his dad asked, his eyebrows lifted.

  "I need Mom's rings," Gabe said, his face not giving anything away except his determination.

  "Why?" Everyone in the room went into statue mode at Benny's question.

  "I'm marrying Crys."

  "Oh shit," Dex mumbled from his place at the end of the sofa, a beautiful brunette seated on his lap.

  Benny's eyes jumped to Dex then went back to his son.

  Gabe was serious, dead serious.

  "Do what, now?" Benny asked, his face clearly showing he was not believing for a second that this was happening.

  "I'm marrying Crys and I want to do it with Mom's rings," Gabe said, his tone firm, resolute.

  "I know that's what you think…" Ben started.

  "No, Dad. That's what I know," Gabe said, cutting his dad off. "It's what I fucking know, what I've always known."

  Gabe took in a huge breath, before finishing. "It's what I want and what's gonna happen, okay?"

  Benny just stared at his son. And his son, the son he'd hoped would've been so much more than him, that he wanted nothing but the best for, held that stare.

  "Okay, then," Benny said, dropping his eyes first.

  The room was so silent you could almost hear heartbeats.

  "Mr. Armstrong?" a gray-haired man called from the doorway. Gabe figured from the lab coat and the stethoscope around his neck that he was the doctor.

  "Here," Gabe said, levering his long body up and moving to the door.

  "I'm Dr. Thames," the older man said. "We have your wife stabilized for the moment but think that she hit her head a lot harder than we thought. We'll be doing more tests to determine exactly what's going on but, for the moment, she's resting comfortably."

  "When can I see her?" Gabe asked, hearing the sharpness in his tone but not knowing how to stop it.

  "We can start in about an hour, but the rules are only ten minute visits every hour. The nurses will give you more information."

  "Uh, doc?" Gabe started, knowing he needed to let him know the truth. "I'm not her husband. In fact, she has no living family. My name is Gabe Mykalson. And I'm marrying Crys."

  "Her fiancé?" The doctor shook Gabe's outstretched hand. "No problems. I'll let the nurses know. Are you listed as her emergency contact?"

  Gabe thought over the myriad of forms he'd filled out.

  "Yes, sir," he finally said.

  "Then, no worries," the doctor began to move away. "Think good thoughts, son. She's in good hands."

  The lump in Gabe's throat grew at the man's words.

  "Thank you," he croaked out before turning and making his way back into the crowded room and easing his long body back into the corner of the worn sofa.

  "She's stabilized and they're gonna do more tests," he conveyed to the group at large. "Says she's resting comfortably."

  "Mr. Armstrong?" his dad asked with a smirk. "Heard them call you that a couple of times now."

  "Yeah, Dad," Gabe breathed tiredly. "They thought I was her husband. Since I will be soon, I didn't think I needed to explain. Plus, Crys doesn't have anyone else."

  "I, fucking, beg your pardon," Dex chimed in. "Look around this room, Gabe. Tell me, go on and tell me, that our Crys doesn't have anyone else. That's bullshit."

  Gabe looked around the room, not yet knowing all their names, but seeing the tears, the caring and the concern in each and every one of their faces.

  He passed another hand over his face before turning to them all.

  "I apologize. I've been away a long time and don't know you," his voice broke and he stopped. "I know she'd be glad you're here, though."

  "Uh, Gabe?" he saw the tall, pretty dark-haired girl, that was standing next to Jake Stanton, speak. "My name is Caitlin and I'm a friend of Crys. But I'm afraid I've never heard her talk about you."

  Gabe's heart clenched at her words.

  Crys didn't talk about him anymore.

  That fucking hurt.

  "You're her fiancé?" the shorter, curvy blonde who was perched on the edge of a chair asked, her hand tightly holding onto Caitlin's.

  "I heard about him," the brunette sitting on Dex's lap said. "Crys told me a little about boy she grew up with and cared about. You guys have been trading emails for awhile, right?"

  Gabe grinned wryly. Okay, so he was gonna have to let it all out even before he got to explain to his girl.

  "Yeah, though Crys doesn't know we're going to get married yet," his soft, deep voice said. "I have known and loved her forever. Just took me a few years to realize it."

  "Loved her?" he heard his dad echo.

  "Yeah, Dad," he said on a firmer tone. "Love her, then and now."

  The room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

  "Okay, just so we can put this behind us," Gabe said drawing a deep breath. "My name is Gabe Mykalson. Benny is my dad. I've known Crys since we were little and we've been best friends since forever. I, uh, I mean, we … uhm."

  He stopped, not knowing how to go on.r />
  "I took off after high school, when things were not so good between me and anyone. But I'm back and I'm gonna be with Crys."

  He stood and wiped his palms down his thighs before reaching out his hand to Jake, then Caitlin. Moving his way around the room, touching each of them, getting their names, acknowledging them in Crys's life.

  A life that hadn't included him, but would going forward.

  He had just sat down, spent from trying to be the man he needed to be in this room full of Crys's friends, when he heard a commotion at the doorway.

  "What'd I miss?" he heard a masculine voice exclaim and watched as Jake's girl, the short curvy blonde named Marianne and Dex's woman, the one Dex called 'Elle' but who had said her name was Leila, moved. They grabbed onto the dapper man, and clung.

  "Oh, Frank-kay," he heard one of them sob, though he couldn't have told you which one it was.

  Their voices became a jumble as they told the man of Crys's condition and then of what had been said just moments before.

  "Gabe?" he heard the man say.

  "Yeah?" Gabe raised his head and saw the man moving towards him, his hand out.

  "Frank."

  Gabe rose to his feet and shook the man's hand, watching as the tears begin to run unheeded down the man's smooth, lineless face.

  "You're Crys's Gabe?" the man, Frank, asked again.

  "Yeah, I am," he said and watched as the man, moved into him, hugging him tightly.

  "Thank Christ," Frank breathed against Gabe's chest.

  Okay. Friend of Crys, obviously. And one of the only ones that seemed to know who he was and his connection to Crys.

  "Does she know you're back?" Frank asked pulling away and dashing the tears from his cheeks.

  "Yeah, she does," Gabe answered.

  "Good. About freaking time you two got together," Frank said before nodding to the remaining group.

  "You know about him?" Marianne asked.

  "I've been hearing about Gabe for-freaking-ever," Frank said with a smile. "The love of Crys's life. The only man she'd ever love. Enough to make a person gag with how wonderful he is."