"Please don't--" But before Niles could protest, Gabe had pulled away. He was off the desk and by the window. And it hurt. Worse than he thought possible, worse than mere words every could. Because having Gabe there in front of him was a sort of comfort. It made that disapproval so incredibly final. why couldn't Gabe just see how good Amanda could be for them? She was what they needed more than anything.

Slowly, he rose from his desk, moving over to Gabe. His hands settled on the other's shoulders, trying to get him back.

"It's not that," he tried to explain. "It's just...our plans are working better than expected. She trusts me, now." Me. Not us. "She...she opened up. More than she could with the likes of Nolan. This plan...it's just to close the deal."