Resting her head on the back of the airplane seat, Gabby looked over at Justin.
He was already staring at her with longing in his eyes. It was becoming more
and more difficult each second that he didn’t tell her how he felt. She smiled
gently and then spoke softly, choosing her words carefully, “I.. I just want to
thank you for everything youve done for me. I... I don’t know if I could have told
them if you weren’t there with me, Justin.”
Raising his hand from the arm of the uncomfortable airplane seat, he
gently touched her cheek. Justin softly ran his thumb over her lips, sending chills
throughout her. He was about to say something when Lani turned around and
began speaking, “Now Justin, you do realize...” Then he caught sight of Justin
and the tender moment that he and Gabby were sharing, and he poked House.
House turned around and asked, “What’s the...” Then a huge grin spread
across his face. “Our little boy is growing up, Lani!” He said in a motherly tone.
Lani answered him with a smack on the back of his head, “Now, you leave
those two alone. This has been a long time comin’.”
As if coming to some silent agreement, Gabby’s head fell to Justin’s
shoulder, and he held tightly to her hand. They were going to have a lot of
thinking and conversing to do over the next few days.
Singing one of the songs that she had penned, Gabby’s mind
continuouosly strayed to Justin. Never before in her life had she wanted to be
with someone as much as she did with Justin. When she was in his presence,
she wanted to smile, wanted to laugh. Now, she just had to try and tell him.
That part was going to be a challenge. How could she explain to Justin how she
was feeling when she had never felt it before?
The producer interrupted her thoughts, “Gabrielle? Gabrielle???”
Gazing throught the darkened window, she came face to face with johnny
and the producer staring at her. She said, “Sorry about that, Johnny. I’m just
not feeling that great today.”
Of course, Johnny rushed into the room. “What’s wrong? Why don’t you
feel well?”
Shrugging, Gabby answered, “It’s probably nothing.”
Feeling her forehead, Johnny said, “I have no clue why you just didn’t call
me girl. You had this time alloted for your trip to California anyway. You’re
feelin’ warm. I”ll give you a ride home...”
Shaking her head, Gabby protested, “But I have to work Johnny. I’ll be
fine.”
Johnny took her by the hand, and in a fatherly tone announced, “No. You
won’t do us any good. You’ll turn green, spuke, and it’ll be a mess in here.
Then we’ll all be sick. That’s no good.”
A knock sounded on Gabrielle’s door at five that night. Throwing the
blanket off of her, she got up off of the couch, feeling much worse then she did
beforehand. She thought twice before opening the door, but lost track of her
thought when the person knocked again. A chill overcame her when she opened
the door, and Justin instantly rushed in and ordered her back to the couch.
No debating, Gabby sunk to the couch, feeling a bit dizzy. The room was
spinning, and she tried to focus in on Justin. His face was a blur, however, and
her world become black.
Scared for her health, Justin scooped her into his arms, and ran to his
Mercedes. The hospital was calling her name, and he knew it.
Gabrielle woke on the way to the hospital, and all she could recall after
the ride was Justin saying, “It’s okay, baby. You barf in the Mercedes if you
need to.” She smiled sweetly as her eyelids became heavy, overcome with
fatigue. Justin had called her ‘baby’.
