Chapter 17 Proposal

Gabriel burst into the waiting room of the hospital and saw Mike sitting in a chair, and he ran over to him. "What happened?" "I don't know for sure all I know is that he crashed and he wasn't wearing a helmet." "How bad is it?" "Pretty bad. He's in surgery right now, I just gave three bags of blood but they need more." "I'll do it." Gabriel went and gives blood for Alex and came back into the waiting room. "I call the guys, they are in Montego Bay but they will be here as soon As they can," Mike said as Gabriel sat down. "I was afraid something like this would happen. I told him to take care of himself, what the hell was he thinking? Was there alcohol in his system?" Gabriel asks. "I don't know."

"This was supposed to be a great day. I was going to spend it with Diane and I was also planning on proposing to her tonight; how could everything go so wrong?" Gabriel asks running his fingers through his hair. "Hey come on now, everything will be okay. It will all work out. Where's is she now?" "I left her at my house from this morning. God, she must hate me right now. I was only supposed to go to the plaza; check on a few things and went back home. I tried calling her but she isn't answering her phone. I left a message telling her I was coming here, I pray to God she is okay." "Of course she's okay. You have a state-of-the-art security system. Don't worry, she's fine. Maybe a little angry but she's safe."

"I told her to call me, why hasn't she called me yet. She can't be that upset with me, could she?" At that moment the doctor came into the room. 'Who is here for Alex Anderson?" he asks. "We are." They said standing up. 'I'm Gabriel Maxwell, this is my friend Mike Miller." "Well, guys your friend suffered severe brain damage. The operation to relieve the swelling in his brain went well. He also has a ruptured spleen. Both his legs are broken. He has six broken ribs a broken arm and a fractured spine. To tell you the truth it would be a miracle if he survived the night." "Can I see him?" Gabriel asks.

"I wouldn't suggest it; he's still in a very critical condition." "I need to leave and come back. Please I need to see him before I go." Gabriel pleads. "Okay but just for a few minutes." "I will wait here," Mike said sitting back down. Gabriel follows the doctor to the room Alex was in. Stepping into the room he couldn't believe his eyes. His friend was hooked up to so many wires and tubes that Gabriel could hardly recognize him. He had cuts and gashes everywhere. With tears in his eyes, he walks over to his friend.

"Alex." He said softly. He holds his friend's hand, it was cold. "Alex I'm here for you, no matter what, I love you brother, what have you done to yourself. I told you to take care of yourself." Still holding his friend's hand Gabriel closes his eyes and prayed. "Please heavenly father please don't let him die. Please I can't lose him this way. I can't. God please if it's your will let him survive. If he dies now his soul would be lost. I trust in you, I have faith in you Lord, and may your will be done."

"You have to go now." The doctor informed him as two other doctors entered the room. "Is there anything I can do for him, anything?" "You could donate blood." "I have already done that." "Then the only other thing you can do right now is keep praying for him." Gabriel walks n shaky legs back to the waiting room. "I...I.... need to go home and check on Diane." He said with tears in his eyes. "You go, I'll stay here, I'll call you if anything changes." Thanks, man I appreciate that." Gabriel said and left the hospital. On his way home he checks his watch it was 7.30 pm. God he had lost his parents; his brother and now his best friend may die, "Why God, why?" He moaned to himself with tears running down his cheeks.

Forty minutes later Gabriel pulls into his garage; he opens the door to the house. Why was the place this dark and where was Diane? "Diane!" He called "Diane where are you?" He ran through the house checking everywhere. She wasn't there. Diane baby; where are you? He said to himself. He went into the bedroom where she usually sleeps, she wasn't there but her bag was; he walks over and pick it up and saw her phone beside it on the bed. Fear grips him sending shivers down his spine. Why would she leave her bag and her phone no wonder she wasn't answering it. But where was she?

"God please, please let her be safe, he couldn't lose her too. Why was he losing everyone he cared about? Gabriel felt like he couldn't breathe his chest hurts and he felt sick. He had to find her now. Grabbing her bag and her phone he ran back to his car, he would check her house first and if she wasn't there he would check her sisters.

Thirty minutes later he pulls up at her gate, got out, and almost ran right into Dana who was also on her way inside the house. "Gabriel? What are you doing here? Where is Diane?" "I'm not sure, I left her at my house and when I came back she was gone, so I thought I would check here before checking with you guys," he said softly. " Well I don't think she's here, there are no lights inside," Dana said opening the door. God, she wasn't here, where is she God, where is she? She had to be alright she just had to. He screams in his thoughts. Dana switch on the lights and they both saw her lying across the bed.

Gabriel let out a long sigh of relief as he ran over to her. "Diane, Diane; baby girl." He shakes her gently. "Baby wake up." Diane's eyes flew open and she jerks away from him. "It's okay baby girl it's me. Why are you here? Why did you leave the house?" He asks confused. "What are you doing here?" "Looking for you." "Why?" There was anger in her voice. "Okay I know that you're angry at me for leaving you so long but please let me explain." He moves towards her and she backs away from him. "I don't want your explanation just leave; I'm no longer your plaything." She said furiously.

"Wait, my what? What are you talking about?" "How could I have been so wrong about you?" "Wrong about me in what way? Diane, what is going on?" He moves closer to her and she backs away even more. "Please baby; don't be so angry please I can explain." He walks right up to her and holds her shoulders. "Don't touch me! Get your hands off me and just get out." She said as fresh tears ran down her cheeks. At that moment Dana ran over to her. "Diane what wrong? Why are you so angry at him? What did he do to you tell me."

"Diane, baby I don't understand, what's wrong? Why are you acting like this?" "You have got some nerve, you want to know what he did to me?" she asks Dana who was hugging her trembling shoulders. "Why am I acting like this, as if he didn't already know that his best friend came by after he left? He said that you told him I would be there and that I was his for the day. He was supposed to use me and toss me out like trash when he was done. I thought I could trust you. But you left me in your house and then send your best friend to rape me."

He went as pale as death as Diane pushed past him and went over to the chair, grabbing the blouse she flings it at him. "Yes, your beloved Alex tried to rape me today." Gabriel looked at the blouse in shock then look back at Diane, she was shaking and crying and Dana was trying desperately to console her. Gabriel felt even more nauseated. His feet felt weak his head was spinning and pounding; he sat on the red love seat with the blouse in his hands and Shakes his head in disbelief.

Alex couldn't have done something like this, he just couldn't. But the evidence was right there in his hands and Diane has never been this angry with him before. Tears fell hard down his face. Gabriel felt like he was about to explode with anger, his body was practically shaking with rage. "Did he….?" He couldn't finish the sentence. "Oh, you wish. I got away before he could, you did this, you send him there, now get out, I never want to see you again, get out!" She screams and breaks down crying.

"Diane please calm down, I really don't think Gabriel would do something like that," Dana said softly. "Stop taking up for him, he did this to me," she cried. "He has hurt you and now he will pay with his life," Gabriel said in a trembling voice. "What are you going to do, kill him? When you were the one who sends him there, just get out." "I did not send Alex to my house and God has already taken care of him. Pastor always says that God will fight your battles for you and now I believe he has."

"You can't be serious right now. Are you really trying to talk your way out of this?" She sneers coldly. "Diane, how could you believe I would ever do something like that to you?" "Alex is your best friend Gabriel why would he say that you send him if you didn't?" "I thought you trusted me?" "I did! Big mistake on my part. Now leave before I call the police."

Gabriel sucks in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "You don't have to believe me Diane but I didn't send my friend to attack you and that's the God honest truth. I haven't spoken to Alex in two days. I love and respect you and I would rather die than let another man touch you." He said before turning and walking out the door. "Diane, what are you doing? I think he's telling the truth, you can't just let him walk out of your life." Dana said comforting her sister while watching Gabriel walking slowly to his car. "Diane I think there is a lot more going on here than you know and I think you should make sure you have the full story before you let this man walk out of your life." Her sister said before running after Gabriel.

"Hey hot stuff, wait." She calls as he starts his engine. He winds down his window and rests his head on his seat. "Dana I swear on my life I didn't send him there. I don't know why Alex did this but he's now in the hospital fighting for his life."

'What happened?" She asks. "He crashed off my bike today. The doctor said it would be a miracle if he lives through the night." He said as Diane came and stood beside Dana. "Son-of-a-bitch, I hope he dies," Diane said in disgust. "I didn't intend to stay on the road that long but things didn't go as plan. I tried calling, I keep leaving messages because I thought you were enjoying the hot tub or off exploring somewhere but I never once thought you were in danger and Alex was the last person I would expect to attack you." "My God, you really didn't know that he was there did you?" Dana asks. "No, but I was the one who gave him access to my house, He has my access codes and I have his. That's the way it has always been. It never once crossed my mind that he would be a threat to you, I'm so sorry baby ."

"It's just that, he grabbed me by the hair, push me on the sofa and rip my blouse open I didn't know what to think I just ran." "I cannot believe I just gave three bags of blood to help save the life of the man who tried to rape my girl. The one who I trust more than anyone in this world; the one who has always been my rock attacks, my fiancée, in my home! He should be glad that God got to him before I did." He said, his body shaking with rage. "I'm sorry if I accuse you wrongly," Diane mumbles. "It's okay, you're angry and hurt, I understand; none of this is your fault; you have every right to be angry." "Where's Jasmine?" He asks wiping his now very red face. "

She's still at Diana's house." Dana said." "Are you sure you're okay?" He asks looking at her with concern. "I'm fine; did I just hear you called me your fiancée?" She asks biting her bottom lip. "Yes." He said opening his car door he got out and stood in front of her. "Three days ago I ordered something for you and got a call today saying it was ready, so I went to pick it up." "What is it?" Taking her hands in his he kneels down in front of her.

"Sweet Jesus, Gabriel what are you doing? You're in my driveway, everyone is watching." She said looking around nervously. "Diane from the moment I met you in that church there has been a very strong connection between us. You came into my life as a very good friend and you were always there for me. You never judge me not once. Well except for a moment ago when you actually thought that I would allow another man to put his hands on you. I'm not very good at this but all I know is that when I'm not around you I feel as if I can't breathe properly and when I see another man near you the hairs on the back of my neck stand up and that speaks volume because it has never happened to me before. Diane baby, I'm in love with you, for the first time in my life I'm in love, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.

Gabriel took the ring from his pocket and open the little black box. Diane Elizabeth Walker would you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?" Diane stared at the ring then back at him in shock. "Holy Christ." She breathes in awe as the huge diamond glistens under the street light. You, want to marry me? I don't believe it. I've dreamed of this moment for so long. Yes… yes. yes, I'll." She said hugging him. "I love you, Gabriel. I know it couldn't be true. I know you wouldn't hurt me like that. I love you, Gabriel Maxwell."

"Go, go, go Diane, it's your birthday and we're going to party like it's your birthday." Dana sings while dancing around them. "I'm so happy for you guys and to think, you were going to let this man walk away from you like I would ever allow that to happen," Dana said hugging them both at the same time.

"Do you know that you're the first woman well except for the women in my family I have ever said that to? Baby, I swear that as long as I live no one will ever hurt you again." He whispers against her forehead as she smiled happily and hugs him tightly. "Gabriel." She whispers softly looking at the ring on her finger. 'Yes, baby." "Could you stay with me tonight?" "Sure I can, I'm so tired I couldn't leave even if I wanted to; I just need to call Mike; he's still at the hospital." He said taking out his phone. "Hey prince," Mike said as he answers the call. 'Did you find Diane?"

"Yeah I did and she's fine." "Good there's no news yet but I will call you as soon as I hear something. Are you coming back here?" "Not tonight; you can go home I will take it from here." "Are you sure I don't mind staying?" "I'm sure, go home, I will call you tomorrow." "Okay then." "And that is my Que to leave, I'll see you guys in the morning," Dana said hugging Diane again and patting Gabriel on his shoulder. They both went back inside and Gabriel took a shower, eat some of Jasmine's cereal, and holding his wife-to-be close to him he fell into an exhausted sleep.