The blood felt like it froze in Raphael's veins. His face contorted, and some tiny part of him was almost grateful Gabriel's gaze had never moved from the floor. He didn't want her to see his expression, the way he couldn't quite control it.

The way he couldn't quite control anything. No one could. Even her, someone who'd always been so certain, so firm-- he wouldn't let this happen to her, his mind was whirling crazily and he knew it, grabbing her shoulder tight, searching for something to hold.

"Tell me what happened. Tell me and I swear I'll take care of it."