Page 12 of Witch's Promise

"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?"

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