Chapter 6 Back off

"How long has it been?" Mike asks looking at his watch for the hundredth time. "A little over three hours." Justin mumbles. "And he hasn't moved an inch? Damn this is bad, very bad." Mike said in a worried tone. "I'm going to check on him," Mike said walking from the kitchen. "I'll come with you." Mr. Smith who was the counselor said following him. They enter the room and saw Diane sitting on the bed with tears in her eyes as she watches her husband lying on the floor with tears running down his face.

Mike went over and kneels beside him; while Mr. Smith stayed by the door. "Hey man, come now, I know it's hard but we are all here for you. Please talk to us; we want to help you." He said in a calm tone rubbing his friend's shoulder but Gabriel gave no response he just laid there groaning with the photograph press to his chest as silent tears ran down his face.

A few minutes later Marlon and Justin enters the room, went over to their friend, and say everything they could to bring him out of his grief but it was no use. Even Mr. Smith tried but still no response; he didn't even open his eyes. They eventually end up sitting in various parts of the room unsure of what to do next.

"It's two-thirty; he's going to miss his meeting," Diane said in a shaky voice. "I'll stand in for him," Mike said getting up and sighing in defeat. "So what's next Mr. Smith?" Justin asks as they head back downstairs. "He has to open up to me, that's the only way this can work. He has to be willing to express what he's feeling. If he keeps everything bottled up then no one will be able to get through to him and this problem will not be solved.' Mr. Smith said running his hands over his face.

"What I now realize is that with him it's more than just grief." Mr. Smith explains. "He blames himself for what happened to his family. He's angry because he survived and they didn't, and he's also angry at the universe for taking them from him. Not dealing with it or thinking about it is the only way he knows how to go on living but it's also not helping him. He needs to face it head-on if he is ever going to live a normal life and not to mention that the fact that his best friend betrays him only makes things worst. That I think has cut him a lot deeper than any one of us will ever know. Alex was the one that helped him, he was the one that Gabriel turns to for well practically everything and now it's all gone; they are all gone, and even though he knows he has you guys and you, Diane. He still feels like he's alone in this world and he is going to have to find another way to deal with this. Until then…" He trails off with a deep sigh.

A few minutes later she returns to their bedroom and tears form in her eyes as she saw her husband asleep on the floor still crushing the photograph to his chest. She tiptoes to the other photos that were still laying on the floor and began picking them up but her hands pause in mid-air when she turns her head and look at him and found herself the main focus of the coldest and deadliest stare she has ever seen on anyone and certainly never from the man she loves.

She remembers him telling her more than once that before he got saved he used to use his eyes to communicate with women, he didn't need to use any words, his eyes said it all and now they were telling her in all caps to BACK OFF. So without saying anything she slowly got up and walk back to the bed and when she looked back towards him his eyes were once again closed. Why did he look at me like that? Did he hate me? What was he thinking right now? And most importantly did she make a mistake? She wonders as she lay back against the pillow.

Her eyes flew open and she bolts upright in bed and grabs her cell phone; it was nine am. Her eyes dart over to where she last saw her husband but he wasn't there and neither were any of the photos that were on the floor; they were all gone and someone had also cleaned up everything that he had swept off the dresser. She bolts off the bed and ran downstairs to the kitchen where she saw Justin eating cereal. "Where is he?" She demands breathlessly. "He went out and before you start freaking out he's not alone, Marlon is with him. "Is he alright?" She asks worriedly. "Not really, he didn't speak or anything, he just glances my way as he head in the other direction, Christ I've never seen him so broken. Diane what if we have made a mistake? Justin asks in a worried tone. "I was wondering the same thing but I guess we'll just have to wait and see." She said with a sigh. "Diana called, she said she's going to drop jasmine at school and she will see you after." He said. "Thanks, Justin. I'm going to take a bath." She said in a defeated tone as she walks slowly from the kitchen.

Her sisters arrived at her house at about ten am. They spend the day with her as she anxiously waits for Gabriel to return home; Justin left around noon and Diana left around two to pick Jasmine up from school and then they both left at seven that evening and still no sign of her husband. Where was he? What was he doing? Was Marlon still with him? She couldn't take the suspense any longer so she grabs her phone and calls him, he answers it but said nothing but she could hear him breathing.

"Babe boy, where are you? Are you okay? She asks in a worried tone. "I'm fine." Was his cold response. "Are you coming home?" She asks In a sad tone. He snorts before saying, "Yes." Again in a cold tone. "Okay, I love you." She said as tears form in her eyes, he then ends the call without saying anything else and a sob escapes her lips as she places her phone back on the night table and went to check on Jasmine.

It was eight-thirty pm when he walks through the door, relief ran through her as she quickly walks towards him with the intention of hugging him tightly for the rest of the night but once again she was stopped in her tracks when he once again pins her with a cold deadly glare. That again in all caps says STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM ME. "Baby please." She pleads stepping towards him but he didn't relent instead he turns away from her and began walking towards the stairs but then he stops his back rigid. "Is this the surprise you were talking about the other night?" He asks in a cold tone. "Yes." She sobs but all he did was snort and continue walking as she sank in the nearest seat to her and cried.

Her eyes flew open and she sat up in bed, rubs her eyes, and grabs her phone, it reads four thirty am. Alright, this was it, she had enough of him ignoring her, for the past three days he has been ignoring her well no more, she couldn't take this anymore. She thought as she got off the bed grabs her coat and first, she checks on Jasmine who was sleeping soundly.

She then went in search of her husband. This was it, do or die; either he talks to her or tells her to get the hell out of his house; whichever way it went then so be it because she literally couldn't do this anymore. She searches the house and found him in the gym. He was laying flat on his back, his knees bend and his feet planted firmly on the ground while he lifts the weights above his chest. Taking a deep breath she walks over to him and sat over him and held her breath waiting for his response but none came as he continues to lifts the weights totally ignoring her.

"Babe boy, I can't do this anymore. You haven't slept in our bed for three nights now. You haven't spoken to me or touch me, so alright you were right; I was wrong. I should've left it when you told me to. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to cause you all this pain. I honestly just wanted to help you but please, please talk to me. I can't go on like this baby please." She sobs and gasps as he sat up abruptly and grabs her waist.

Her eyes level to the base of his throat which was now twitching rapidly as his breathing picks up but he still didn't look at her; he then took a loud shuddering breath and began speaking. "You have successfully ripped open the seal to the most painful part of my past." He began. "A part of me that I had buried so deep; It was never supposed to be opened again, ever; but you just couldn't leave it alone, could you? I beg you to just leave it, why didn't you?" He asks his body shuddering.

"Because it wasn't helping you, babe." She mumbles still looking at his throat. "And this is?" He snaps. "No, but I really thought that it would; I wanted you to be able to talk to our children about their grandparents without having a panic attack every time." She said. "Do you have any idea how many panic attacks I have had over the last three days?" He asks coldly. "No, but I'm sorry, please forgive me. I was wrong; please don't punish me anymore." She cried.

"I miss you so much, baby." She whimpers looking up at him; she then reaches up putting her hand at the back of his neck and gripping his now damp hair and bringing his lips down towards hers she kisses him slowly at first then when she realized he wasn't pulling away from her she deepens the kiss; gripping his damp shirt, putting her hands under his shirt and massaging his chest, back and neck and moving against him in an erotic rhythm. He moans deep in his throat and getting up with her still wraps around him he walks to their bedroom and after locking the door behind him he laid her on the bed but she wanted to be on top so she forces him to lie down and began massaging his shaft.

Instantly he began moving beneath her fingers; his back slowly arch from the bed and he began moving his waist slowly while biting his lips and groaning deep in his throat. She runs her tongue down his length and heard him gasp as his body moves in an erotic rhythm; he looks like a snake uncurling from its slumber. How can one man be so sensual? She wonders as she continues to pleasure him.

She saw when his fingers curl into a fist, gripping the sheets; his usual thing when he was been pleasured but she then realizes that his grip had gotten tighter and his chest was moving more rapidly. She thought he was about to climax but when she heard him gasps loudly she backs away and came over to him and realized that he was struggling to breathe. "Babe boy; what's happening?" She asks alarm but he didn't answer because he was still fighting to breathe and to stay in control of his emotions; a losing battle from the looks of it.

"Baby boy please talk to me; what are you feeling?" She asks holding his cheeks in her hands but he turns away from her as if trying to shake off what was happening to him but it wasn't working and in a split second he was off the bed and through the bedroom door before she could even catch her breath. "Damn he's fast.' She said to herself as she grabs her coat and pulls it on over her lingerie and ran after him down the stairs and through the front door.

She saw him a few steps from the door, his face was turned up as he inhales the fresh morning air deep in his lungs, he then bends putting his hands on his knees and sobbing. She ran over to him holding him as tightly as she could. "Stop fighting it babe, just let it out. What are you feeling right now?" She asks rubbing his back as his entire body shivers. "Pain babe, gut-wrenching pain, anger, guilt, overwhelming anguish ….too much babe…It's too much. I can't do this. …..I can't do this….God help me…." He cried.

'Come on let's go sit for a while by the pool." She said leading him over to the lounge chair and sitting down she pulls him close to her and put his head on her stomach. "You can't do this baby but with the help of God…We'll do it together." She said and began humming (God's mercy kept me) as she gently massages his shoulders and necks his breathing began slowing down and he closes his eyes.

Next thing she knew someone was shaking her. She jumps a little and opens her eyes to see Jasmine standing beside her. Looking around she realizes that they were still by the pool and the sun was up and Gabriel was still asleep in her lap. 'What time is it?" She asks with a yarn. "It's Eight-thirty mummy?" Jasmine said running her little fingers through her dad's hair. "Is dad okay mummy?" She asks running her fingers over his tear-stained face. "Not really munchkin; he's having a hard time dealing with the death of his parents and brother so we are going to have to help him okay." She said pulling the child towards her.

"Okay mummy we will." She said as he moans and opens his eyes, he then sits up and looks around him and groans; she couldn't help feeling sorry for him, he was so not himself for a while now, ever since she turned his world upside down. "Don't worry about it, come let's go have breakfast." She suggests getting up and stretching. "Mummy, it's Friday and I'm already late for school, so can I stay home today?" She asks putting a spoonful of cornflakes in her mouth. "Yeah, I guess." She said with a yarn. "Feeling better daddy?" She asks as he sips his coffee slowly. "I'm getting there pumpkin." He said with a small smile.

The child then got up walks over to him and put her small arms out for a hug which he provides without hesitation. "I love you, daddy." She said kissing his cheeks. "Love you too pumpkin." He said squeezing her gently. "Okay, I'm going to finish breakfast in the theater." She said taking up her bowl. "Not so fast, first we pray," Diane said taking the Bible she keeps in the kitchen in her hands and opening it.

An hour later she enters their bedroom and saw him lying on the bed with his hands behind his head and she crawls beside him."Baby, do you want to start your grief counseling today with Mr. Smith?" She asks playing with a lock of his hair. "I don't know if I'm ready for that." He said in a low tone. "Please baby, we have to start sometime, actually the sooner we start the sooner all this will start to be a little easier for us." "This will never be easy for me Diane." He snaps getting up and walking to the window.

"Alright, alright I get it you don't want to deal with this but I promise, I 'll always be right here beside you, you can lean on me but we really need to do this now baby please for our unborn children baby, please." She begs putting her arms around his waist. He turns to her and his blue eyes search hers for a moment, he then took a deep breath, groans, and runs his fingers through his hair. 'Alright, I'll try." He said softly. "Okay I'll call Mr. Smith and let him knows we'll be coming then I'll call Diana and asks her to come watch Jasmine for me." She said kissing his lips softly before walking towards her phone.

Three hours later he steps from Mr. Smith's office and took a deep shuddering breath. "Damn that was hard." He said biting his bottom lip to suppress his tears. "I know baby but it will get easier, I promise." "I seriously doubt that but um….will you have lunch with me before we head back home?" He asks pushing his hands in his pockets. "Sure, I would love to." She said pulling one of his hands out and after locking her fingers with his they walk towards their vehicle.

Half an hour later he pulls into the parking lot of the Hotel Four Seasons and she couldn't help but smile. When was she going to get it through her thick skull that when her husband says have lunch with him he wasn't talking about having a Burger or KFC; lunch with him was always high class and very expensive; she really needs to get with the program.

"What?" He asks looking at her. "I was just thinking that you're a very interesting man." She laughs. "Indeed." He chuckles softly as a man dress in a black suit comes towards them as soon as he enters the hotel, gave him a key card, and points him in the right direction. A few minutes later they enter an elegantly decorated suite with a table elegantly set for two.

"Oh wow; baby how?..... When did you do all this?" She asks in awe. "When you went to the bathroom at Mr. Smith's office; all I did was tell them what I needed." He chuckles pulling her towards him but before he could kiss her someone knock on the door and he turns away to answer it.

"Another man also dress in a light blue suit bring in a tray and place it next to the table he was about to take the plates off but Gabriel stops him. "Leave it." He said handing the man some money. The man nods and leaves and he walks over to the table and pulls out the chair for her.

"I just want to say thank you for everything you're doing for me; I love you for your strength, your loyalty, and commitment and no you weren't wrong for making me do this; it's hard but I needed it and I'm impressed with the fact that you didn't back down even when things got very bad." He said as they had their lunch. "Thank you for sticking it out with me; it makes me feel a lot better to know that you are by my side." He smiles. "You're welcome babe; I love you and I'll do anything for you." She replies with a smile.

"So where's my dessert?" She asks after they finish lunch. He got up and pulls her to her feet and before she could say anything he kisses her passionately. "Desert will be on you today, literally." He said against her lips. "And I'm going to take great pleasure in licking it off every inch of you." He whispers seductively in her ear in his thick sexy Italian accent.

This chapter is a little long, sorry but I literally couldn't stop writing. Thanks again for reading my second book; I really appreciate all of you, lots of love to you all. Keep reading and tell me what you think.