Niles closed his eyes, trying to ignore Gabe. But it was more than just words. He couldn't pull his arm away, and it had little to do with the strap around his wrist. Those fingers around his arm were too tight for him to pull free. And those words were subtle suggestions whispering straight to his subconscious.

Part of him knew this. Knew exactly what Gabe was. But it was so hard to all himself to see it. Gabe was all he had left of Connor. Connor who had been the one to guide everything in his career. The one who led him to New York, then to Defiance.

"I'm not letting anyone control me." The first step. Slowly, he opened his eyes, letting out a slow breath, his gaze fixing on Gabe. "I've let someone else do that for long enough." Another slow breath as he shifted his head on the pillow. Making himself look as strong and defiant as possible while strapped to a hospital bed. "It's time I took control for myself." His tone at least hit the right commanding note.