Gabriel hesitated and doubted whether he should leave Claire alone for a few days to see the specialist. But she wasn't giving in. He was fuming, and his hatred grew for his father. He listened to her explaining everything that happened to her and her family. She was surprisingly calm as she did it. He didn't know how she managed to do it. He didn't know how she could have ever worked for him at Diamond Corporate although she knew that he was Michael Moore's son. He didn't know how she could marry him after all of this. She explained it all. She explained that at first, she joined his company in the hope to gather more evidence. Then she stayed because her mum was ill and she needed to support her parents. She was trapped in the only job that paid her well enough to survive. And he knew why she married him. He already knew that she sacrificed herself to help her parents, her mum who desperately needed treatment. He hated himself even more for all that he did to her. He tried his hardest not to push her away. He hated that his father managed to get to him and he let him.
The following day he got in a car with Klaus and Claire. Claire placed her hand on his thigh but remained silent throughout the drive. She embraced him on the airfield and kissed him, running her hand through his hair. Part of him felt as if she was saying goodbye to him. A forever goodbye.
He wanted to argue and fight her but he climbed up the few steps to his private jet. It was decided that Mark was going to go with him.
When he arrived in the States, Eva waited already at the small airport, talking and smiling on the phone.
"He's here. Don't worry. I'll keep an eye on him. I'll try not to bully him too much either." Eva said into the phone. "We'll call you later. Bye." She put her phone away and run up to Gabriel. "Good to see you." She hugged him so gently, but she still pressed on his wound. Gabriel let out a grunt.
"It would be nice if I didn't get beaten up from the get-go," Gabriel uttered.
"Sorry." Eva let go of him and smiled. "Claire just called. She's horrid, honestly."
"What? Why?"
"She cares for you too much. She had to call me to double-check that I was definitely coming to pick you up." Eva said and Gabriel smiled weakly as Mark came up with his luggage. "Let's get you in bed. You look exhausted." Eva decided.
"That's just how I look, Eva."
"Well, that's shit." She grumbled.
Gabriel was truly tired. Between the overload of information, continuous stress, and tough recovery, he was exhausted.
He fell asleep in a car within minutes as Eva worked on her tablet. And once they arrived at Eva's house, which wasn't much smaller than his villa, they had their dinner and he went straight to the guest bedroom.
He called Claire. He was anxious that she hasn't answered straight away. But then she did, panting.
"Sorry, I left my phone and tablet upstairs while I was having dinner. I've just heard it ringing." She spoke quickly.
"I didn't mean to disturb your dinner. Would you like me to call back later?" Gabriel asked worriedly.
"No, not at all!" She protested quickly. "How was the flight?"
"Long," Gabriel said honestly. "Can I FaceTime you? I would like to see you."
"Of course." Claire agreed and put a camera on within seconds. Gabriel smiled at an image of her. He already missed her and it barely was a few hours.
"You look beautiful, Claire dear."
"You look rather handsome, too," Claire answered as she leaned back in the armchair, shifting to make herself comfortable.
"I don't know about that. Eva already mentioned that I look 'meh'."
"She obviously doesn't know what she talks about." Claire waved her hand dismissively. "Besides, whose opinion should matter more?"
"Yours, dear," Gabriel said with a smile. He looked at the image of Claire with admiration. Technology has come a long way but yet there was no way for him to feel her or hug her. Without much thought, he decided to take a screenshot of the video call.
Gabriel laid down on the bed, falling asleep not long after, still on call with Claire. Claire smiled at the video of him sleeping, wishing to be near him. It was somewhat heartbreaking to disconnect as if she was cutting off Gabriel completely.
The next day, Eva made sure that Gabriel made his way to the doctor's appointment on time, rushing him out of the door and complaining about how he was dragging his heels. He wasn't doing it intentionally, but somewhat subconsciously he struggled to get the energy to move and every move seemed to be a challenge. He knew what he was going to hear and he wasn't ready to hear it again. His last hope might be shattered forever.
He walked into the sterile white office which had tenths of certificates framed and hung on the wall. He didn't have to wait long before an old man called him in.
The doctor took his bandages off and looked at the very newly healing wound, checking the stitches, and ensuring that there was no issue there.
"Well, Mr Moore, the good thing is that the wound seems to be on track with the healing process. The stitches seem a little mangled but they're still holding alright. I have no concerns at the moment."
"You know why I'm here," Gabriel grumbled pointing with his left hand to his right arm.
"I understand your worry and anxiousness. It is too early to tell. Some of the nerves and muscle damage might still repair. It is important to understand that it'll take time. The nerve fibres shrink back whilst healing and they need time to 'stretch out' again. It is also important to understand that the recovery is variable and will be incomplete. It's very rare to recover to almost 100% of the pre-injury state. I recommend counselling before we start with physiotherapy and any further rehabilitation."
"Is there nothing you can do?"
"Mr Moore, you had a traumatic injury where your axillary vein ripped and cut off the oxygen supply to your arm and most of the right side of your upper body. Your nerves, and brachial plexus, were ripped away from their trunks. Your pectoral muscle was severely damaged, too." The doctor sighed. "It's too early to tell but you must understand that with the extent of damage it might not be possible."
Gabriel looked down at his hands, one of which had been a dead weight. He felt at loss. And the last shreds of hope were gone.
He left the office and he was met by Eva's expectant eyes in the waiting room. He knew that Claire was waiting for the news too, but somehow he struggled to speak. Eva must've sensed that his sombre mood was due to not the best outcome of the appointment. She didn't ask but instead got home with him in complete silence.
As they arrived home, Eva took out her phone and called Claire immediately.
"Hi, Eva," Claire answered within a split second. Gabriel imagined that she sat there and waited for the news and he hated he didn't have anything positive to share with her.
"Hey, Claire. We just got back home." Eva smiled as she looked to the side at Gabriel who sat down on the sofa with a huff. "How do you put up with my brother?" Eva asked in a disgruntled tone trying to defer the questions that they all had.
"What has he done?" Claire asked with a smile.
"He's as stubborn as a mule. He's like a grumpy teenager. It took me an hour to get him out of the door this morning!" Eva complained openly.
"Cuore mio, be nice to your sister," Claire spoke to Gabriel as Eva shoved her phone in his face.
"I am as nice as I can be, Claire dear. It's not my fault that she's irritating." Gabriel spoke more gently as he shifted and took the phone off Eva. "How have you been?"
"I think I should be asking you that," Claire mumbled. "What did the doctor say?"
"Too early to know anything yet," Gabriel said omitting the rather negative predicted outcome. Claire looked at him with her head tilted.
"I see." Claire nodded.
"Don't make that face at me," Gabriel grumbled. "We both know that you're the brave one here. I need your bravery." His eyes welled up immediately as he felt overwhelmed with the emotions over the rather gloomy predictions.
"Gabriel, you're the bravest person I know." Claire shook her head. "You're like a solutionist. This is the puzzle you need to solve. Whatever happens, you'll find a way to move forward." Claire said encouragingly. "We'll find the way. I'm here for you."
"Thanks, Claire dear," Gabriel mumbled.
"Saying that it's okay to be sad and angry. There's no point pretending that it's fine when it isn't." Claire added.
"You sound like my therapist." Gabriel chuckled.
"Well, I have some experience with therapy, you know," Claire said with a weak smile.
"What have you been up to today?"
"Not that much. I had a video call with Gordon to go over yet another policy and a few new contracts. Diamond Corporate has stabilised and it's slowly starting to climb. Not quite at the rate, I'd like it to but it's getting somewhere." Claire played with her hair as she spoke. She wore her hair down today which Gabriel was very fond of. "I met my uncle again." She said in a quieter tone.
"How did it go?"
"The hearing day has been set for this Friday." Claire shifted uncomfortably. Gabriel looked up and saw Eva's curious gaze. "We can talk about it when you get back though. Although, I may have to tell Eva about it."
"Tell me about what?" Eva showed up on the screen, pushing her face next to Gabriel's.
"I can talk to Eva about it if you're okay with that?" Gabriel suggested.
"About what?" Eva asked again.
"Well…" Claire shifted uncomfortably. "I am suing your father."
"Good for you," Eva said decisively. "He needs someone to take him down a notch."
"Eva," Gabriel said her name rather sternly. Eva looked at him curiously. "It's not quite a civil case."
"No?" Eva raised her brows.
"It is going to be escalated to a criminal case," Claire said quietly.
"What?" Eva sat down next to Gabriel. "What has he done?"
"I will talk to you later, Claire dear. I miss you and I love you." Gabriel said on the phone.
"Bye Gabriel, Eva. Miss you." Claire said quietly.
Gabriel gave the phone back to his sister who still stared at him.
"Our father did some really nasty shit, Eva."
"What did he do?" Eva asked quietly.
"He hurt a lot of people, Eva. And not only Claire. I mean a LOT of people." Gabriel said with sadness in his voice.
He carefully explained what he knew as Eva listened with dread written over her face. He didn't go into too much detail. It was safer for Eva if he didn't.
"Dad is behind your shooting?" Eva asked.
"Yes. I do not doubt it." Gabriel said with confidence.
"Jesus Christ." Eva leaned back on the sofa trying to make sense of what she heard. "If that's all true, which I don't doubt it is, then you're going to have some really tough time with the lawsuit. And Claire…" Eva hid her face in her hands. "Is she safe?"
"I hope so. I try to believe that she is but.."
"What a c*nt!" Eva couldn't contain her next stage of grief which slowly started turning into anger.
Gabriel sat with her, watching her mood swings throughout the evening. He felt bad for Claire for his own reactions as he saw Eva try to comprehend it herself. He was thankful that Eva believed him and Claire. "I will support you both. When the trial starts, I'll come over. I'll take some time off work and I'll be there for you." Eva decided.
Gabriel smiled weakly at her. "Please, don't. Not yet. Let's see how the trial unfolds. It might not be safe."
Eva protested before she agreed that she will come back after the trial starts.