They rode silently in Gabe’s car.

Gabe glanced over at William, snuggled up in a blanket and shaking violently. He licked his lips. They were both still shaken, especially William.

"I l-l-liked Tr-Travis," William choked out between scared sobs. "H-he was nnnn-ice to me. I d-d-on't get it..."

"It's okay, it's okay," Gabe reassured his friend. "I'll just take you back to my place, okay? We can figure things out there, okay? Okay?"

William nodded, and stared out the car window. He watched the various New York City scenes whip past him at an amazing speed; Gabe was obviously trying to get as far away from Travis as possible without being pulled over.

William shifted and choked up some sticky phlegm. Gabe looked over at him, nervous, and handed him a tissue from the tissue box on the dashboard. An obnoxious Justin Timberlake ringtone started to play, which made poor William jump. Gabe grunted and flipped it open, not even bothering to glance at the caller ID.

"Gabe? Are you coming home? It's a little past ten," Bianca's worried voice filled the car; the cell phone was on speaker-phone.

"Yeah, yeah baby, I'll be home soon. Something came up, okay? And uh...is it okay if I bring William home too? He's sort of...injured..."

"Beckett? William Beckett?"

"Yeah," Gabe quickly swerved back onto the correct lane mumbling something about being distracted.

"Oh, okay...Yeah, that's fine...What's wrong with him? Is he hurt badly?"

"No uh, well, can we talk later? I'm driving..." Gabe glanced over at William. A yellow bruise was developing on his cheek. He clutched his side as blood seeped through the thin fabric of his shirt.

"Okay...Love you."

"Love you too." Gabe shut the cell phone and tossed it up on the dashboard.