Make Me Moan Mr Therapist.-Chapter 70: Why are you here?

The tension in the room thickened.

"Fine," Damien snapped after a moment. "He’s going to come here, right?"

He straightened.

"Then I’ll wait."

Alex, who had remained silent the entire time, finally spoke.

"Go back to your house," he said coldly. "When Fred gets here, I’ll inform you."

Inside, Alex was seething.

You just disrupted something important, you bastard, he cursed inwardly. I was seconds away from kissing Gabe and you ruined it.

"No," Damien replied instantly, his voice firm and unyielding. "I’ll stay right here."

He glanced around the living room before locking eyes with Alex.

"Right here," he repeated. "I’ll sit in this living room and watch Fred walk in."

His gaze sharpened.

"And then I’ll ask him my questions."

Alex clenched his jaw, anger flashing in his eyes but in the end, he said nothing. With an irritated sigh, he ran a hand through his hair and dropped back into his seat.

***

"Isn’t he supposed to be here already?" Damien finally asked, breaking the heavy silence after what felt like an eternity. His foot tapped restlessly against the floor as his brows furrowed. "Does he usually take this long?"

It had been over three hours....three long, nerve-wracking hours and Fred was still nowhere to be seen.

"Maybe he got caught up with work," Gabe replied, though even to his own ears the excuse sounded weak. He released a tired sigh while pulling out his phone yet again, his thumb hovering over Fred’s contact before pressing call.

No response.

His jaw tightened. "He should at least pick up my calls... or reply my texts," Gabe muttered. "He’s never left me on read before. Not even for a minute. But now?" He scoffed softly, frustration bleeding into his voice. "Hours?"

Alex’s expression darkened immediately. He rose to his feet, unease written all over his face. "Is something wrong with him?" he asked, worry thick in his tone. Then, after a brief pause, his eyes hardened. "I wouldn’t be surprised if your husband Sabe sent men after Fred."

"Huh?" Damien shot to his feet as well, his concern mirroring Alex’s. "That doesn’t make sense. If Sabe was going after anyone, it would be you," he said, turning toward Gabe. "He knows you’re staying here. If he wanted leverage, you’d be his target."

"He could go after Fred too," Alex countered quietly, running a hand through his hair as he exhaled. "Fred is Gabe’s best friend. If Sabe hurts him, it forces Gabe to come out. And once Gabe moves, they capture him." His eyes flicked to Gabe briefly before continuing. "And it wouldn’t just lure Gabe, it would lure me too. Sabe knows I’d never let Gabe go alone."

Damien’s expression turned into rage. "That motherfucker!" he snapped. "He just got castrated. His company is collapsing, everything he worked for is going down the drain and he still wants to commit more crimes?" His hands clenched into fists. "I swear, I’ll kill him myself."

"Sabe wouldn’t do that," Gabe said firmly, lifting his gaze. His voice was calm, but there was steel beneath it. "Not now. He wouldn’t be that reckless."

Alex and Damien both turned toward him.

"He wants revenge on me and on Alex, yes," Gabe continued evenly. "But he won’t act so soon, not when the police are watching his every move." He paused briefly before adding, "He’s been arrested for attempted murder, not actual murder. That means limited jail time. Add the charge for producing fetalyn, and still it’s not enough to destroy him completely."

Damien frowned. "But fetalyn caused deaths."

"And he’s smart enough to change that," Gabe replied coldly. "He’ll claim he only produced it, not prescribed it. He’ll pin the illegal distribution on one of his workers, say they sold it behind his back, that patients abused it, that addiction led to their deaths." His lips pressed into a thin line. "He’ll sacrifice someone else to save himself. That’s who he is."

Silence settled over the room.

"So if he commits murder now," Gabe went on, "with all eyes on him, the police won’t protect him. He knows that. Which is why this isn’t Sabe."

Alex finally exhaled, some of the tension leaving his shoulders. "That... makes sense," he admitted. Then he looked up. "Should we go to Fred’s place and check on him? Just to be sure he’s okay?"

"Of course," Damien agreed immediately. "We’re not sitting here anymore."

"You both stay behind," Gabe said suddenly. "I’ll go alone."

"No!" Alex and Damien protested at the same time.

"We’re going together," Damien added sharply.

"I’m not leaving you by yourself," Alex said, his tone serious, eyes filled with concern. "Even if we’re sure Sabe can’t touch you right now, that doesn’t mean you’re safe. You still need to be careful."

"Exactly," Damien nodded firmly.

Gabe sighed heavily, rubbing his temples. "I’ll be fine, Alex. And you too, Damien. Besides..." He hesitated briefly. "Fred doesn’t like too many people coming over. He prefers visiting others instead."

Just then....

Ding!

Gabe’s phone chimed.

His heart skipped as he unlocked it instantly. A message from Fred filled the screen.

~Please come over and bring a doctor too.

My house isn’t smelling of pheromones right now as i’ve used my suppressant hence you won’t be affected but I need a medical doctor... or even you. Just come check on me~

Gabe froze, the blood draining from his face.

A doctor? he thought sharply. Fred only needs a doctor when he’s in heat... but he says he’s not.

His fingers tightened around the phone. Then what the hell is wrong with him?

"What is it?" Damien asked quickly, noticing the sudden change in Gabe’s expression. "You look pale. Is that Fred? What did he say?"

Before Gabe could respond....

Ding!

Another message appeared.

~You can come with Alex since I know you’re at his place and he won’t allow you to come over by yourself.~

Gabe lifted his head slowly, unease settling deep in his chest.

"This looks like it just got worse. I can’t bring Alex and leave Damien behind." he murmured.

Since Alex could come, then Damien could too, Gabe reasoned inwardly, letting out a slow, weary sigh. I know Damien....there’s no way he’d agree to stay behind.

And besides, Fred is sick right now. Damien would see that the moment he laid eyes on him hence he wouldn’t start choking him with questions he intend to ask him.

So this is fine, Gabe reassured himself. Everything is under control.

"Gabe?" Alex called suddenly, his brows knitting together as he studied him closely. "What’s wrong? Is that a message from Fred?"

Gabe blinked, pulled out of his thoughts. He lowered his phone slowly and released a heavy sigh before finally speaking.

"Let’s go to Fred’s house," he said quietly. "He’s sick."

Alex stiffened instantly. "Sick?"

Gabe nodded once, then turned his gaze toward Damien. "You’re a doctor," he added. "You can check on him... right?"

"Of course," Damien replied without hesitation.

"Let’s go then."

Gabe and Alex exchanged a brief look before nodding in agreement. With no further delay, the three of them left the living room and headed toward the parking lot. Moments later, they climbed into the G-Wagon, the engine roaring to life as they drove off into the quiet streets.

****

The car soon slowed to a stop in front of a modest bungalow. Without wasting time, Gabe, Alex, and Damien stepped out and made their way inside.

Alex moved ahead instinctively, stopping in front of a door Gabe pointed out. He pushed it open.

The moment the door swung wide, both Gabe and Damien followed him in and froze.

Fred lay sprawled on a king-sized bed, completely still. He was either fast asleep... or already slipping into unconsciousness. There was no immediate way to tell.

The room was painted entirely white, the walls covered with countless portraits of Fred himself and various artistic paintings. Several canvases leaned against the walls, some finished, others abandoned halfway. Paint tubes, brushes, palettes, and a drawing board were scattered neatly to the side.

No one needed to be told who painted them. The answer was obvious.

"Fred?" Gabe called softly as he wheeled himself closer to the bed. His heart clenched as he reached out and pressed a hand against Fred’s forehead.

Hot.

"Shit..." Gabe murmured. "You’re burning up."

"Damien, check him," Alex said immediately, urgency in his tone.

But just as Damien stepped closer, Fred’s eyelids fluttered open.

"Why... are you here?" Fred whispered weakly, his voice barely audible. His unfocused gaze shifted around the room before landing on Damien. "I only told you, Gabe... and Alex... to come with a doctor. Why is he here?"

"He insisted on coming," Gabe replied calmly, though worry clouded his eyes. "What’s the problem, buddy? Why do you have such a high temperature?"

Alex frowned deeply, while Damien stiffened slightly under Fred’s glare.

"Alex and Damien should leave the room," Fred said quietly, his voice low but firm. "I only need you... and the doctor you’re going to call."

"But Damien is a doctor," Gabe protested immediately. "He came specifically to check on you. At least let him...."

"No!!!"