Page 33 of Should the Sky Fall

“Nothing, huh?” Gabe says with a healthy dose of sarcasm. “Then why did your aura just get all gloomy?”

“Aura?” Dawson and Kieran say in identical, skeptical tones.

Gabe laughs. “Kidding. I can’t actually see auras. You’re just projecting a really strong yuck emotion.”

Uh-huh. He must be pinging Gabe’s ‘superpowers’ again. Or maybe Gabe just took one look at him and deduced it from his miserable face. “Okay, Sherlock.”

Gabe doesn’t seem offended. He never does, simply brushing off any skepticism he receives.

He doesn’t let Dawson off the hook, though. “What is it?”

Dawson sighs, twirling the phone between his fingers. “That was Ellis. My brother-in-law,” he clarifies. “They’re taking Cal off sedation. He should wake up soon.”

Gabe looks at him, his eyes overflowing with empathy. “And you aren’t ready.”

“No.” The admission fills him with shame. “I know, I’m a horrible person.”

“No, you’re not,” Kieran and Gabe say in unison.

Gabe takes a chair from the free table next to them and drops into it. “It’s a fucked up situation, it makes sense that you have conflicting emotions about this.” He drums his fingers on the table. “You know, if you need to talk about it with someone…”

Dawson shakes his head. “I appreciate it, I really do, but you didn’t sign up to listen to me vent on the regular. Pretty sure they don’t pay you for that.”

Heaving a sigh, Gabe reaches across the table slowly, as if to not startle Dawson, and wraps his hand loosely around his forearm. His hand is warm and gentle, and the contact causes a strange sensation in Dawson’s body. It’s as if all the tension that’s built up over the past few days loosens its hold, some of it leaving when Dawson exhales. He can feel his shoulders relaxing and his next breath comes much easier.

Jesus. What is that? Is he so touch-starved that the simplest, most innocent touch will awaken such a reaction in him?

“First of all,” Gabe starts. “You can vent to me anytime you want. I’m happy to listen and share my wisdom.” His lips twitch, and so do Dawson’s. “Second, that’s not what I was getting at.”

“Huh?” What were they talking about again?

“I meant, you might want to talk to someone unbiased.”

“A therapist?” Dawson takes a guess.

Kieran lets out a groan that leaves no doubt about his opinion on the matter.

Gabe shoots him a glare, but mostly keeps his attention on Dawson. “You get to vent all you want without feeling guilty because you’d literally be paying someone to listen.”

“I mean, I’m notagainstthe idea.” That’s true. “I just wouldn’t know where to start looking,howto start. The last thing I need is someone watching with pity as I unload all my shit. I don’t want to hear about loving myself or dissecting my childhood, and being told how I have mommy or daddy issues.”

Gabe smiles like he knows something Dawson doesn’t. “Lucky for you, I have someone who’d be a perfect fit.” He lets go of Dawson and stands up. Even after he stops touching him, Dawson feels much better than he did before.

He watches Gabe disappear in the staff room. He comes back a minute later, holding up what looks like a business card. He hands it to Dawson.

“Ashley Cleaver,” Dawson reads out loud. “Is that your therapist?”

“That’s my cousin.” He holds up his hands. “I promise I’m not biased. Ash can be a bit unorthodox, but I guarantee there won’t be any pitying looks or hand holding.”

Someone who’d let Dawson vent while not treating him like a snowflake. Okay, that doesn’t sound too terrible.

He pockets the card. “Thank you.”

“Don’t mention it.” Gabe smiles, then makes a face when a small group of people flows into the cafe. “There we go again. Sorry, guys, I’ll catch up with you later.”

“Don’t let us keep you,” Dawson says, finally digging into the cinnamon roll while it’s still warm.

“Really?" Kieran asks incredulously when Gabe's gone.