Witch’s Promise (Shadowguards #3.5)

3. Gabe

Chapter 3

Gabe

G abe's eyes cracked open, immediately assaulted by the harsh fluorescent lights of the Shadowguards' sleeping pod. His body felt like it had been run over by a truck, then backed up on for good measure. Fuck, he was getting too old for these all-nighters.

He groaned, pushing himself up into a sitting position. The pod's mattress, while technically ergonomic or some shit, felt about as comfortable as a slab of concrete after a full night of tossing and turning. But hey, at least he'd finished that goddamn report.

Gabe rubbed his eyes, trying to will some life back into his exhausted brain. He couldn't remember the last time he'd actually made it home to his own bed. It seemed like there was always one more crisis, one more report, one more life-or-death situation that needed his attention.

"You're doing important work," he muttered to himself, a mantra he'd repeated so many times it had lost all meaning. "Saving lives, protecting the city. It's worth it."

But as he swung his legs over the side of the pod, wincing at the protest of his stiff muscles, Gabe couldn't help but wonder: at what cost? When was the last time he'd had a full night's sleep? Eaten a meal that didn't come from the Shadowguards' cafeteria or a takeout container? Had a conversation that didn't revolve around supernatural threats or mission reports?

Shaking off the melancholy thoughts, Gabe forced himself to stand. No time for a pity party. The world wasn't going to save itself, after all.

He shuffled over to the locker assigned to him, grateful not for the first time that the Shadowguards kept spare clothes on hand. The thought of putting on yesterday's sweat-and-coffee-stained shirt made his skin crawl.

The shower called to him like a siren song. Gabe cranked the heat up as high as it would go, letting out a small groan of relief as the hot water pounded against his aching muscles. Steam filled the small cubicle, and for a moment, Gabe allowed himself to pretend he was somewhere else. Somewhere without the weight of the world on his shoulders, without the constant fear of failure that gnawed at his gut.

But reality had a way of intruding, even in his brief moments of peace. As he lathered up, his fingers brushed against the scar on his side – a souvenir from a mission gone sideways last year.

Gabe squeezed his eyes shut, forcing the images away. He couldn't afford to dwell on past failures. Not when there were always new threats looming on the horizon.

Stepping out of the shower, Gabe dried off and dressed quickly. The clean clothes felt like armor, preparing him for whatever battles the day might bring. He ran a hand through his damp hair, not bothering with anything more than a cursory styling. It wasn't like he had anyone to impress, anyway.

His Shadow Holographic Device (SHD) sat on the small desk in the sleeping pod, its sleek surface gleaming in the artificial light. Gabe activated it with a touch, bracing himself for the inevitable flood of notifications, alerts, and reminders that seemed to multiply every time he closed his eyes.

The holographic display sprang to life, bathing the small room in a soft blue glow. Gabe's eyes scanned the incoming messages, his heart sinking with each new item added to his already overwhelming to-do list.

And then he saw it: a reminder for the interrogation scheduled for today. Shit. How could he have forgotten?

Gabe glanced at the clock display on his SHD, swearing under his breath. If he didn't move his ass, he was going to be late. And if there was one thing Alex hated more than incomplete reports, it was tardiness.

Grabbing his badge and holstering his standard-issue weapon, Gabe took one last look around the sleeping pod. The rumpled sheets, the damp towel tossed haphazardly over a chair – it was a far cry from the orderly, put-together image he tried to project to the rest of the team.

But that was the thing about being a Shadowguard, wasn't it? You learned to live two lives. The public face, always ready with a plan, always in control. And then there was... this. The messy reality behind the scenes, the constant struggle to keep your head above water while the tide of supernatural threats threatened to drag you under.

Gabe pushed through the heavy doors of the interrogation wing, the familiar smell of antiseptic and stale coffee hitting him like a slap to the face. The fluorescent lights buzzed overhead, casting a harsh glow that did nothing to improve his already pounding headache.

As he approached the observation room, Gabe's mind raced through what he knew about their suspect. Grant Hall. The name conjured images of the chaos they'd encountered yesterday - buildings ablaze, civilians screaming, raw magical energy crackling through the air. It had been a hell of a fight, but they'd managed to bring Hall in without any casualties. Small victories, right?

Gabe paused outside the door, taking a deep breath to center himself. He could do this. He was a professional, dammit, even if he felt like warmed-over shit.

He pushed open the door, stepping into the dimly lit observation room. Alex and Lily were already there, their faces illuminated by the soft glow of the monitors. Through the two-way mirror, Gabe could see Emma, her hands moving in intricate patterns as she wove her magic around their suspect.

"Nice of you to join us, sleeping beauty," Alex said, his tone dry but not unkind. "Rough night?"

Gabe managed a wry smile. "You could say that. Turns out writing reports isn't quite as exciting as chasing down magical arsonists. Who knew?"

Lily snorted, not looking up from her tablet. "Speak for yourself. Some of us find paperwork thrilling."

"And some of us worry about you, Lily," Gabe retorted, earning a playful glare from her.

Alex cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to the matter at hand. "Good work yesterday, Gabe. Leading the team, bringing Hall in without any civilian casualties. I’m proud of you."

Gabe blinked, caught off guard by the unexpected praise. A warm feeling blossomed in his chest, momentarily pushing back the ever-present cloud of self-doubt. "I... thanks, boss. Just doing my job."

Alex nodded, his expression softening for a moment before snapping back to its usual stern professionalism. "Well, keep it up. We've got a situation here that's going to need all hands on deck."

Gabe stepped closer to the mirror, studying their suspect. Grant Hall looked young. Younger than Gabe had expected, given the amount of destruction he'd caused. He couldn't have been more than twenty-five, with a mop of unruly brown hair and dark circles under his eyes that rivaled Gabe's own.

"What's the story?" Gabe asked, his brow furrowing. "This connected to the Order somehow?"

Alex shook his head. "No, thankfully. This is something else entirely."

"Turns out our firebug here had no idea he even had magic until yesterday," Lily chimed in, her fingers dancing across her tablet as she pulled up Hall's file. "According to his statement, he woke up feeling 'weird,' went to work like normal, and then boom - literally. Nearly burned down half of Fifth Avenue before he realized what was happening."

Gabe felt a pang of sympathy for the young man. He remembered all too well the fear and confusion of his own powers manifesting. At least he'd had his family to help him through it. According to the file Lily was displaying, Hall was...

"Foster kid," Gabe murmured, the pieces clicking into place. "No family listed. Shit."

"Exactly," Alex said grimly. "No support system, no one to turn to when his world suddenly turned upside down. It's a miracle he didn't do more damage, honestly."

Gabe watched as Emma continued her work on the other side of the glass. Her magic shimmered in the air around Hall, a soothing blue glow that seemed to be calming the young man. His shoulders, which had been hunched up around his ears, slowly began to relax.

"So what's the plan?" Gabe asked, already running through possibilities in his mind. "We can't exactly throw him in a normal jail, not with untrained magic like that. It'd be a disaster waiting to happen."

Alex's expression turned thoughtful. "You're right. We've been discussing options, and we think the best course of action is to bring him in."

Gabe raised an eyebrow, a sense of trepidation creeping up his spine. "Bring him in? You mean..."

"We want to help him," Lily explained. "Train him, teach him to control his newfound abilities. It's not just for his sake, but for the safety of everyone around him."

For a moment, Gabe was sure he'd misheard. Take in an untrained magic user? The risks were enormous. But as he looked at Grant Hall through the glass, saw the fear and confusion etched into every line of the young man's face, Gabe felt something shift inside him.

He remembered what it was like to be scared of your own power, to feel like a danger to everyone around you.

"What about the people he hurt?" Gabe asked, grasping at straws. "The property damage alone must be-"

"Already taken care of," Lily interjected. "We've spoken to everyone affected by the incident. Once they understood the situation, they agreed not to press charges. Turns out people can be pretty understanding when you explain that the kid who torched their shop was actually a scared, newly-awakened magic user with no control over his powers."

Gabe let out a long breath, running a hand through his hair. "And you're sure about this? Taking him in, training him? It's not exactly standard procedure."

Alex's expression softened slightly. "Nothing about our job is standard procedure, Gabe. We adapt, we improvise, we do what needs to be done to protect both the magical and non-magical communities. Right now, what needs to be done is giving this kid a chance to understand and control his abilities before he hurts himself or someone else."

Gabe nodded slowly, his resolve solidifying. "Alright. I get it. But it's going to take a lot of work, a lot of resources-"

"We know," Alex assured him. "This is a priority for all of us. We can't afford to have untrained magic users running around causing havoc, no matter how unintentional it might be."

As if on cue, Emma emerged from the interrogation room, looking tired but satisfied. "He's calm now," she reported. "I've placed a temporary dampening spell on him, but it won't last long. We need a more permanent solution."

Alex turned to Gabe. "Would you mind talking to him? Explain the situation, see if he's willing to work with us. You've got experience with this kind of raw, elemental magic. It might help him to hear from someone who understands what he's going through."

"Sure," Gabe heard himself say. "I'll talk to him."

Alex nodded approvingly. "Good. Take it slow, Gabe. This kid's been through hell in the last twenty-four hours. The last thing we need is to scare him off."

Gabe opened his mouth, a dozen more questions on the tip of his tongue, when his phone buzzed insistently in his pocket. The vibration felt like a small earthquake against his thigh, impossible to ignore.

"Shit, sorry," he muttered, fishing the device out. "I need to take this. Give me a sec?"

Alex waved him off, turning back to the observation window. Gabe stepped out into the hallway, his heart rate picking up as he glanced at the caller ID. Mom. Fuck.

For a split second, Gabe considered letting it go to voicemail. He was in the middle of a case, after all. But the gnawing guilt in his gut wouldn't let him. How many times had he ignored his family's calls in the name of work? How many birthdays, holidays, and simple family dinners had he missed because the fate of the world always seemed to hang in the balance?

With a resigned sigh, Gabe swiped to answer. "Hey, Mom. Everything okay?"

"Gabriel Reed, don't you 'hey Mom' me," his mother's voice crackled through the speaker, a mix of exasperation and fondness that only she could pull off. "Do you know what day it is?"

Gabe's mind raced, flipping through mental calendars. Shit. What had he forgotten this time? "Uh, Tuesday?"

His mother's sigh could have powered a small wind turbine. "Your father's birthday is coming up. Please tell me you didn't forget."

The bottom dropped out of Gabe's stomach. His dad's birthday. Of course. How the hell had that slipped his mind?

"No, no, of course not," Gabe lied, running a hand through his hair. "I've just been swamped at work, you know how it is. But I've got it marked down, don't worry."

"Mm-hmm," his mother hummed, clearly not buying it. "Well, since you're so on top of things, I'm sure you've already requested time off to come home to Salem for the party we're throwing him."

Double shit. A party? Gabe leaned against the wall, closing his eyes as a fresh wave of guilt washed over him. "Yeah, about that. I'm not sure I can get away, Mom. Things are pretty intense at work right now, and-"

"Gabriel James Reed," his mother cut him off, her voice taking on that steel edge that had struck fear into his heart since childhood. "Your father is turning sixty. Sixty, Gabe. This is important. Whatever 'security work' you're doing can wait for a couple of days."

Gabe bit back a bitter laugh. If only she knew. How could he explain that his "security work" involved keeping the supernatural world in check? That while they were planning surprise parties and blowing out candles, he was out there literally saving the world?

But he couldn't tell her that. Couldn't drag his family into the dangerous, chaotic mess that was his life. Keeping them in the dark was the only way to keep them safe.

"I know, Mom," Gabe said softly, the weight of his double life pressing down on him. "I'll try, okay? I promise I'll do everything I can to be there."

There was a pause on the other end of the line, and Gabe could practically see his mother's expression softening. "That's all I ask, sweetheart. We miss you, you know. Your father would never say it, but I know how much it would mean to him to have you here."

The lump in Gabe's throat threatened to choke him. "I miss you guys too," he managed. "I'll call you later this week, let you know for sure if I can make it, alright?"

After a few more minutes of catching up and promises to call more often, Gabe ended the call. He stood there for a moment, phone clutched in his hand, trying to push down the swirling mix of guilt, longing, and frustration that threatened to overwhelm him.

Taking a deep breath, Gabe straightened up and headed back into the observation room. Alex and Lily looked up as he entered, their expressions a mix of curiosity and concern.

"Everything okay?" Alex asked, his tone casual but his eyes sharp.

Gabe hesitated. He could lie, brush it off as nothing important. It's what he usually did, compartmentalizing his personal life to focus on the job at hand. But something in Alex's gaze, in the genuine concern he saw there, made Gabe's carefully constructed walls crumble just a bit.

"It was my mom," he admitted, the words feeling strange in his mouth. How long had it been since he'd talked about his family at work? "My dad's birthday is coming up. They're throwing him a party back in Salem, and well, they want me there."

Understanding dawned in Alex's eyes. "Ah. And let me guess, you're trying to figure out how to be in two places at once?"

Gabe let out a humorless chuckle. "Something like that. I mean, with everything going on here, the new case, Grant..." He gestured towards the interrogation room, where Emma was still working with their unexpected guest.

To Gabe's surprise, it was Lily who spoke up. "Gabe, when was the last time you took a day off? And I mean a real day off, not just catching a few hours of sleep between crises."

Gabe opened his mouth to answer, then closed it again. He genuinely couldn't remember.

"That's what I thought," Lily said, her tone softening. "Look, I know you feel responsible for... well, everything. But you're not Atlas, Gabe. You don't have to carry the weight of the world on your shoulders all the time."

"Lily's right," Alex chimed in, his expression unusually gentle. "Take some time off, Gabe. Go see your family. We can handle things here for a few days."

Gabe felt a surge of panic at the thought of stepping away, even for a short time. "But what about the team? And Grant? We can't just-"

"We can and we will," Alex cut him off firmly. "The team will be fine. As for Mr. Hall, we'll get him settled in and start the basics of magical containment. You can pick up with his training when you get back."

Gabe wanted to argue, to list all the reasons why he couldn't possibly leave now. But the thought of seeing his family, of being there for his dad's birthday... it tugged at something deep inside him, a longing he'd been pushing down for far too long.

"I... okay," Gabe said finally, the words feeling foreign on his tongue. "If you're sure you can manage without me."

Lily rolled her eyes, but there was fondness in the gesture. "Contrary to what you might believe, Gabe, the world won't actually stop spinning if you take a vacation."

A small smile tugged at Gabe's lips. "Alright, alright. Point taken."

Alex nodded approvingly. "Good. Now, why don't you take Mr. Hall to one of the sleeping quarters? Get him settled in, explain the basics of what's going to happen. Then take Lucas with you to help set Grant up with everything he'll need. After that, you're officially off duty. I don't want to see you back here until you’re ready.”

Gabe felt a mix of relief and anxiety swirl in his gut. He didn’t deserve his bosses. He felt so lucky that they allowed him to join the team.

"Yes, sir," Gabe said, straightening up. "I'll get Grant settled and then head out."

As he turned to leave, Lily called out, "And Gabe? Try to actually relax while you're gone, okay? The world will still be here when you get back, I promise."

Gabe managed a wry smile. "I'll do my best. No promises, though."

With that, he headed towards the interrogation room, his mind already racing with all the things he needed to do before he left. Pack a bag, book a flight to Salem, figure out what the hell to get his dad for his birthday.

As he pushed open the door to where Grant was waiting, Gabe forced himself to focus on the present. One thing at a time. Get Grant settled, then worry about everything else.

"Hey, Grant," Gabe said, keeping his voice gentle as he approached the still-shell-shocked young man. "How are you holding up?"

Grant looked up, his eyes wide and uncertain. "I... I don't know. This is all so much to take in. You're really going to help me? Even after what I did?"

Gabe felt a pang of sympathy. He remembered all too well the fear and confusion of first discovering his own powers. At least he'd had his family to support him. Grant had no one.

"That's right," Gabe confirmed, offering what he hoped was a reassuring smile. "What happened wasn't your fault, Grant. And we're going to make sure it doesn't happen again. Come on, let's get you set up in a room. You look like you could use some rest."

As they made their way through the winding corridors of the Shadowguards headquarters, Gabe found himself explaining the basics of magical theory, answering Grant's increasingly curious questions. It felt good, he realized with some surprise. Sharing his knowledge, helping someone understand this new and terrifying world they'd been thrust into.

Maybe, Gabe thought as he watched Grant's eyes light up with understanding, this teaching thing wouldn't be so bad after all.

They reached the sleeping quarters, and Gabe helped Grant get settled in. "I've got to head out for a few days," he explained as Grant sat on the edge of the bed, looking lost in the sparse but comfortable room. "But my colleague Lucas will be here to help you get acclimated. And when I get back, we'll start working on control techniques, okay?"

Grant nodded, a mix of fear and determination in his eyes. "Okay. And... thank you, Gabe. For everything."

Gabe felt a twinge in his chest, a familiar mix of responsibility and empathy that always seemed to weigh him down. He offered Grant a small smile, trying to project a confidence he didn't entirely feel. "Come on, let's head to Lucas's office. He'll help get you set up."

As they made their way through the winding corridors of the Shadowguards' headquarters, Gabe couldn't help but notice how Grant's eyes darted around, taking in every detail with a mix of awe and trepidation. The man looked like he was waiting for the other shoe to drop, like all of this was too good to be true.

"So, Grant," Gabe said, trying to break the tension, "tell me a bit more about yourself. What were you doing before... well, before all this?"

Grant's shoulders hunched, his gaze dropping to the floor. "Not much, honestly. I was working at this crappy diner, barely making ends meet. And now..." He let out a bitter laugh. "I don't even have that anymore."

Gabe's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"

"Got fired last week," Grant mumbled. "Caught me taking some of the food they were gonna throw out anyway. Said it was stealing." He shook his head, a flicker of anger in his eyes. "Can you believe that? They'd rather toss perfectly good food in the dumpster than let their employees eat it."

Gabe felt a surge of indignation on Grant's behalf. "That's fucked up, man. I'm sorry."

Jesus. Gabe's mind raced, trying to process this new information. No wonder the man looked so shell-shocked. In the span of a few days, he'd lost his job, was facing homelessness, and then suddenly discovered he had potentially destructive magical abilities. Talk about a shit storm.

"Hey," Gabe said, stopping in the hallway and turning to face Grant. "I know everything seems completely fucked right now, but I promise you, things are going to get better. We're going to help you train your magic, get it under control. And you don't have to worry about a place to stay. You can crash in the quarters here for as long as you need."

Grant's eyes widened, a flicker of hope breaking through his defeated expression. "Really? You'd do that for me?"

"Of course," Gabe said, the words coming out more fiercely than he'd intended. "That's what we do here. We help people like you, Grant. You're not alone anymore."

The look of sheer gratitude on Grant's face made something twist in Gabe's gut. How many other people were out there, struggling alone with newly manifested abilities? How many had nowhere to turn, no one to help them understand what was happening?

Before Gabe could spiral further down that rabbit hole of responsibility, a voice behind them made them both jump.

"There you are! I've been looking all over for you two."

Gabe whirled around to see Lucas striding towards them, a grin on his face and his SHD in hand. Despite the stress of the situation, Gabe felt some of the tension leave his body at the sight of his best friend.

"Lucas, you sneaky bastard," Gabe laughed, pulling him into a quick hug. "How do you always manage to sneak up on me?"

Lucas wiggled his eyebrows. "Trade secret, my friend. Can't reveal all my mysteries."

Gabe rolled his eyes, then turned to make introductions. "Lucas, this is Grant Hall. Grant, meet Lucas, our resident tech genius and all-around pain in my ass."

"Charmed, I'm sure," Lucas said, extending a hand to Grant. "Don't believe a word this guy says about me. I'm an absolute delight."

Grant shook Lucas's hand, looking a bit overwhelmed by the other man's exuberant energy. "Uh, nice to meet you."

Gabe quickly filled Lucas in on Grant's situation, watching as his friend's expression shifted from curiosity to determination.

"Say no more," Lucas said, his fingers already flying over his SHD. "I'm on it. We'll get you set up with a room, some clothes, whatever you need. Speaking of which," he looked up at Grant, "is there anything you need from your old place? We can send someone to grab it for you."

Grant hesitated, his hand moving to his neck as if reaching for something that wasn't there. "There's... there's a necklace. It was my biological mother's. I never met her, but it's all I have left of her. That's really the only thing I care about."

Lucas nodded, his usual joking demeanor softening. "Consider it done. We'll make sure you get it back, safe and sound."

As they made their way to the sleeping quarters, Gabe couldn't help but marvel at how quickly Lucas had taken charge of the situation. It was moments like these that reminded him why they made such a good team.

When they reached the room assigned to Grant, Gabe watched as the young man's eyes widened in disbelief. The space was simple but comfortable – a far cry from the cramped, rundown apartments Gabe had lived in during his early days with the Shadowguards.

"This is for me?" Grant asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Lucas clapped him on the shoulder. "All yours, buddy. Make yourself at home."

As Grant tentatively explored the room, touching the soft bedding and peering into the attached bathroom with its gleaming fixtures, Gabe felt a knot in his chest loosen slightly. They'd done good here. Maybe they couldn't fix all of Grant's problems, but they'd given him a safe place to land, a chance to figure out this new chapter of his life.

Once they'd gotten Grant settled and Lucas had promised to personally oversee the retrieval of his mother's necklace, the two friends stepped out into the hallway.

Gabe let out a long breath, leaning against the wall. "Fuck, what a day. And it's not even noon yet."

Lucas chuckled. "Welcome to the glamorous life of a Shadowguard. Speaking of which," he raised an eyebrow at Gabe, "heard you're finally taking some time off. It's about damn time."

Gabe blinked, caught off guard. "How the hell did you know about that? I just decided like an hour ago."

Lucas waved his SHD. "Alex already sent out the memo. 'Gabe Reed on leave for family emergency. Do not contact unless world is literally ending.' Direct quote."

"Jesus," Gabe muttered, running a hand through his hair. "Nothing stays secret around here, does it?"

"Nope," Lucas said cheerfully. "So, spill. What's this family emergency? Everything okay?"

Gabe sighed, the weight of his dual life settling back onto his shoulders. "It's my dad's birthday. They're throwing him a surprise party back in Salem."

Understanding dawned in Lucas's eyes. "Ah. And let me guess, you're worried the world might implode if you step away for five minutes?" Lucas finished for him, his tone gentle despite the teasing words.

Gabe managed a wry smile. "Am I that predictable?"

"Only to those of us who know you," Lucas said, bumping Gabe's shoulder with his own. "Look, man. I get it. This job, what we do here is important. But so is family. And if you don't take care of yourself, you won't be any good to anyone. Take the time off. Go see your folks. We've got things covered here."

Gabe nodded, feeling some of the tension ease from his body. "Yeah, you're right.Though, it feels weird, stepping away."

"That's because you're a self-sacrificing idiot.” Lucas said fondly.

Gabe laughed, feeling lighter than he had in weeks. "Alright, alright. I get the point. I'll go home, eat some cake, pretend to be surprised when my dad acts shocked that I showed up."

"That's the spirit," Lucas grinned. "Now get out of here before Alex changes his mind. And Gabe?"

"Yeah?"

"Try to actually relax while you're gone, okay? The world will still be here when you get back. Promise."