A/N: okay, sweet angel-pies... just remember that I love you

There is a content warning at the bottom of the chapter if you feel the need

The morning was a strange repeat of the day before. Gabriel opened his eyes sluggishly, his limbs feeling heavy. It crossed his mind he probably didn't actually need two of the pills. Maybe Sawyer's recommendation came of what he needed, and he was much bigger than Gabriel with a lot of dense muscles. He reached for his phone, biting his lip when he realized he'd slept for twelve hours again.

He shifted listlessly onto his other side, letting out a yelp when he saw Henry still in bed beside him. Henry never slept so late, so maybe he was here on purpose, so they could talk, and sort all these misunderstandings out...

Gabriel peered closer. Henry hadn't woken when he'd made a noise, and he was really the lightest sleeper. He looked peacefully asleep, eyes closed, hair fluffed against the pillow. Except...except, when Gabriel forced his still sleepy eyes to focus, there was nothing. No sound of the huff of sleeping breath. No movement under eyelids or t-shirt.

The adrenaline hit him with force, allowing him to scrabble up onto his knees, leaning over Henry. He was seeking those things harder now. Surely he was mistaken – it was just the grogginess of the pills tricking his senses. But even the bright sparks in his mind now weren't allowing him to conjure up things that simply weren't there. Henry wasn't breathing. He wasn't asleep.

He barely heard the 911 operator, questions coming through a fog of uncontrolled emotion. He managed to drizzle out the address, and Henry's name and his own. He sat on his knees, drowning but unmoving for an unknown length of time, staring at what used to be the man he loved. He knew he was gone. Henry had never accepted silly, childish posturing so there was no point in hiding behind fantasy now.

When he heard banging on the door, Gabriel moved in a daze, opening it without a single thought to safety, wordlessly pointing the jumpsuited techs towards the bedroom. They were shouting staccato instructions at each other, but Gabriel stood in the living room – facing the bedroom but not seeing anything but vague blurs moving past, pushing things into the room and out again.

He came to only when someone stood right in front of him, a firm hand on his biceps.

"Hey, sweetie, can I call someone for you?"

"Where are you taking him?"

"He didn't make it," she said with a little surprise in her voice – as if she thought Gabriel had expected he'd miraculously come back to life between his call and now.

"I know. I- I suppose I'll have to organize some things."

"Are you his next of kin?"

"I think I'm on all his details. He does- didn't speak to anyone from his family."

"Okay, here." She held a clipboard, waiting for him to numbly sign his name before handing him a business card, and he had to suck in a sharp breath to stop the mildly hysterical giggle that threatened him out of nowhere. A business card. As if this were some kind of transaction. She might ask him for a Yelp review next. But he took it without looking at the thick black writing, and she smiled weakly before disappearing out of the door.

So much for her checking he was okay and had someone with him. But she was busy. It wasn't her job – not like Henry had made it his job to take care of Gabriel. To make sure the darker side of life didn't touch him.

There was only one person Gabriel knew who seemed willing to take on that role now, and he'd unlocked his phone and dialed Sawyer before he had chance to think too hard.

"Sawyer." His voice ended on a whimper before he'd even fully completed the single word.

"Gabriel? What's the matter darling?"

"It's- he's gone. I don't know what to do."

"Oh, who's gone?"

"Henry." Who else would it be? Henry was the only person Gabriel had. The only constant in his life.

Sawyer was silent for a long time.

"How did it happen? How did he die?"

"I don't know. I don't know! Please. I'm on my own and I don't know what to do."

"I'll be there, darling. Just wait for me."

Gabriel felt an overwhelming thankfulness. He looked around the apartment, still spotless from the day before. But then he looked down at himself in horror – still in his scruffy pajamas, unwashed. He couldn't greet Sawyer this way, not when he'd arrive perfectly groomed.

He embraced the idea of having something to do, even as he felt heart-aching guilt at rushing around trying to make himself look nice for someone who wasn't Henry. Guilt when he remembered he'd never need to do that for Henry again. But he still showered, and brushed his teeth, and combed his hair. He didn't have the energy to attempt to dress appropriately to a level he knew Sawyer would expect under any other circumstance. That hysterical bubble of laughter came back again when he considered he probably got a free pass considering what had happened.

He still pulled on dark jeans and a pastel-blue Henley and tried not to think about how Henry had said it complemented his skin tone.

It was only when there was a knock on the door frame and Sawyer walked right in that Gabriel realized he'd never even shut the door after the medics had left – taking Henry's body with them.

He didn't fight Sawyer pulling him into a hug, stroking his hand down Gabriel's back and soothing him with soft words. It even took him a long moment to comprehend that those strange warbling noises were coming from his own throat as he sobbed into Sawyer's hard chest.

He didn't know how long, but it was a while before the sobs died down and he sheepishly lifted his face. He didn't want to look at Sawyer – embarrassed at the man seeing him this way – but he gently pulled Gabriel's chin up so he was forced to look into ice-blue eyes.

"Hey, it's okay."

"I'm s-sorry."

"Why?"

"For doing this to you. For putting you on the spot like this."

"Oh darling...you have no idea how honored I am that you chose me to call."

Sawyer stood, leaving Gabriel on the couch, and he had to hold down the responsive mewl of distress the sudden distance caused in him. That would be too selfish of a move. Sawyer might feel like he couldn't say no to Gabriel's demands.

"You need to pack a bag, Gabriel."

"What? Why?"

"You won't be able to stay here tonight. You need somewhere else to stay, and I'm offering up my penthouse."

"I couldn't possibly..." he said, even as his mind was chanting appreciative agreement.

"Of course you can. You can't possibly suggest that you plan on sleeping in the bed where Henry died?"

Even the words made Gabriel blanche. Sawyer wasn't wrong. There was no way he'd be able to sleep there, even only on his own side of the bed, so he just nodded wordlessly, and let Sawyer guide him into the bedroom to pack a bag.

When he had a hasty bag sorted, he followed Sawyer out of the apartment, waiting dully as he locked up on his behalf. While they were waiting for Sawyer's car, he turned Gabriel so they were facing each other on the quiet sidewalk.

"You're so brave, Gabriel. But you don't have to be brave anymore. You can let me deal with everything for you."

As he heard the words, Gabriel wanted that more than anything. He nodded, letting Sawyer take his heavy bag from his hand as the car drew up at the curb. He clambered in, and when Sawyer joined him, and pulled Gabriel close so they could recreate the same position from the couch, he went, content to be held and kept safe.

When they arrived at Sawyer's penthouse, Gabriel looked around with a little awe. Sawyer had a view out over the city, through huge ceiling height windows. His kitchen was massive and glossy, and the television was at least four times the size of the one in Gabriel's own apartment. Sawyer showed him to a bedroom that had a bed like something from a hotel in a movie – with white sheets and at least six huge, fat pillows propped against the headboard.

"You can put your clothes in the walk-in robe, and here's your en-suite."

Gabriel gulped. Everything single item here, in this guest room, was probably more expensive than all the things Gabriel owned put together. But Sawyer was being so welcoming... there was no way Gabriel was any position to reject his generosity, and he didn't even want to, despite the guilt.

A/N: content warning for death, not Gabe (obvs, I mean...)

And if you read through the chapter, I will say, yes, you did spot those things you thought you spotted and, no, Gabe didn't spot them. He's kinda shell-shocked right now. 

If you want to shout at me about this, or chat about anything at all, come join the Literary Lounge Discord server. 

If you're over 18 you can ask for the 18+ role, which will allow you to come chat in my corner (though, believe me, there's plenty to talk about with the other great authors and readers even if you don't want to get all up in the NSFW chats). And, if you do, please don't be daunted. It's a decent size and can look a little intimidating at first, but I promise it isn't. https://discord.gg/UD7t7pN