2 The Captain

Gabriel had spent 4 hours researching everything he could on 'The Valiard' to no avail. No mention of him on any databases, books, or films. Whoever or whatever this thing was...Gabriel had no way of preparing for it. He sighed leaning back in the chair he was sitting in, the only light in the room was coming from his computer and that didn't do much in terms of light. Standing up the angel switched off

the computer and walked into his bedroom, turning on the light as he walked through the door. He willed to be wearing something more comfortable then a shirt and suit trousers, and his clothes turned into jogging bottoms and a t-shirt.

Sitting down on the bed Gabriel decided he should at least investigate the City of Gold the prophet mentioned. He sat down cross-legged on his bed, he hands folded in one another, eyes closed. He reached out to his brothers back home, hoping that one of them could do some research. However, no one reached back out to him, he heard silence. Normally, this would be cause for alarm, but Heaven was at war with Hell. A war waging for centuries in which Lucifer, embodiment of pride, and Gabriel's brother, was trying to tear down the gates of Heaven in an effort to kill their father. This war had caused thousands of angels to bear arms and join the fight against the demonic armies. This meant that there wasn't always someone to take a call from the angels stationed on Earth, so Gabriel opened his eyes and sat on the edge of his bed.

He reflected on what happened earlier that night, how the prophet spoke of a second city of God, how he warned that the Valiard was coming, how he died. It wasn't a naturally death, the coroner was baffled, how a man so healthy could simply die. After the scene which unfolded at the warehouse, Jane had called in a forensic unit to search the place, Gabriel had asked them to keep an eye out for anything strange and call him if they found something. That was over 6 hours ago and still no call, the angel was beginning to feel worried. If they hadn't found something then he may not get any answers, and if they did and it hurt them...then it would be his fault. Just then he hear a knock on his front door, he looked up with a frown, he checked his phone: 01:02 am. He wondered who would be knocking when he willed himself to be at the front door. He unlocked it and opened it up a crack. On the other side stood a woman with cherry coke hair, and beautiful auburn eyes. She had a small smile on her face as the angel opened the door.

"Jane, what a lovely surprise," he beamed, a gentle smile on his face now too, opening the door further. She walked in slowly looking around, as she did the angel closed the door making sure to lock it. "I have something you may like to see...here," She proclaimed bringing a small book out of her handbag. The angel reached out and took it, pointing with his other hand to the living room as he did. Slowly, while looking at the cover of the book he followed Jane to the couch she had sat down on. The book itself was black, torn in some places, clearly very old. It had no writing on the front or back, just an eye. With an infinity symbol within it. Gabriel let out a small chuckle as he looked up at Jane, who seemed amused. Sitting down next to her he slowly opened the book, as he did Jane moved a bit closer to him to see for herself what was in it.

The first couple of pages were full of unintelligible nonsense, but about 4 pages in there seemed to be something readable. "We have foreseen something big coming, we cannot say for sure what, so we are sacrificing our life essence so the Harbinger can find out. We can only hope we can warn the angel in time." read Gabriel, getting more confused as he went on. Could the prophets be talking of him? He had been in the city for a long time and they had never made themselves known to him. Could they be talking about another angel? If so who? It seemed that the book gave him more questions then answers. He sighed, realizing the rest of the pages consisted of rituals and such. He placed it down next to him and looked at the ground.

"I'm sorry I couldn't be more help Gabe, I honestly thought this would-" she was cut off when Gabriel turned to face her, his face inches away from hers. "It is okay, i appreciate you going out your way to bring this to me," Gabriel uttered. Jane swallowed, she turned to look at her front, crossing her legs the other way. Turning back to Gabriel she smiled nervously, "Yeah, no-no problem. I-I wish there was mo-more I could do," She stuttered, looking into Gabe's eyes and bringing her hand to a necklace she was wearing. Gabriel thought that the Captain was acting strangely, he had never seen her like this. She was fidgety, stuttering, almost like she was nervous. Gabriel placed his hand on her arm, "Is everything all right Jane?" he said concerned, Jane swallowed one more time closing her eyes. She nodded slowly, "Just uh...hoping something was going to happen today, something good. It didn't work out that way," she verified finally, smiling and looking away. Gabriel moved his arms around her, bringing her in for a hug which she returned instantly. "It is going to be okay partner," He said softly, the angel wasn't sure how long to hold the hug but knew it made the humans feel better.

They stayed embraced for about a minute more before Jane let go, the angel let go too and they looked at each other. "Thank you, I should get going I need to get back home oh and just my luck it's raining," She sighed as she looked out the window, neither of them heard it begin whilst they were hugging and now it was pouring down. Gabriel thought for a second before suggesting that the Captain stay at his apartment, he had 2 extra rooms after all. At first Jane seemed hesitant, saying that she has a house of her own and it's only a 20 minute drive, however Gabriel insisted and she ended up agreeing. He showed her to the 2nd room in his apartment, giving her a towel, bathrobe, and other bathroom utilities. "Now, sleep well, I'll be downstairs if you need me," Gabriel said as he gave the Captain a toothbrush. She smiled softly nodding, the angel walked to the door of the room, closing it on his way out.

Smiling to himself he walked back to the living room only to find someone in there. A man with pure black hair, styled to the side, and piercing blue eyes was looking at the prophets book. He wore a long white robe that covered his whole body. He was slightly tanned and when Gabriel walked in, the man looked up at him. "Hello, how do you do?" The man said, his voice was deep and filled the room with ease, he stood up walking to Gabriel and extending his arm. The angel looked him over, he looked like an angel and yet he had never seen an angel quite like him. With his hands not moving from his side, "Who are you? What are you doing in my home?" The angel asked simply, narrowing his eyes at the man. "Home? No, Heaven is your home brother, we have not met. I am Eremiel, i have a message for you." Eremiel said this and a note appeared in his hand, which offered to the fellow angel.

"A message from who?" Gabriel queried accepting the note and opening it. As he opened it he heard a flutter of wings and when he looked up Eremiel was gone. The angel looked back down at the note which only had a few words written on it in neat handwriting. 'The Prophets words do not speak truth, drop the matter brother.' Followed by a short dash and a name, 'Michael'. Gabriel frowned, he had only met Michael once and only in the passing. He was an Archangel after all, the most trusted one at that. What was he doing sending messages to Gabriel?, granted he was the Chief of Watchers but it was still unusual. Placing down the note the angel sat down on the couch and decided to see if he could decipher any more of the book.

A few hours passed and Gabriel had still not been able to work any more words out. Just then a scream filled the apartment. It was coming from the bedroom that Jane was in. The angel sprung into action, willing himself at the door, he summoned his angel blade and threw open the door. At the end of the bed stood a figure made of shadows. It was hard to tell whether it was a man or a woman, Jane was on her bed with a gun pointing at it. As Gabriel walked in Jane gave him a look as to say 'I swear to God, do something'. The angel walked with his angel blade at the ready, "Identify yourself!" Boomed the angel, his voice stern, filling the whole room. The shadow turned it's head towards the angel, it tilted it's head. Not saying a word. Gabriel was angry. It dare come into his home. Threaten his friend, his partner. Then it dared to not answer him? Without another word Gabriel launched the blade at the shadow. As soon as it came in contact with it the shadow dissipated into the air.

Gabriel turned to Jane who had the gun down now. "Are you alright? Did it say anything?" He began bombarding Jane with questions. The Captain was shaking her head, she had her head in her arms and just...cried. Gabriel stopped with his questions. He sat down onto the bed next to her, his angel blade gone. Once again he put his arm around his partner and embraced her. This simple action seemed to calm her down, the crying became almost silent. "I'm sc-scared Gabe," she cried, looking up at Gabe, her eyes red and watery. Her hair was a mess and she looked pale. The angel nodded, not saying anything just holding her. When she stopped crying he stood to leave, "Stay please, I feel safer with you," Jane said as he stood up, the angel turned and nodded, he lay down beside the Captain with his arm around her.

With Gabe next to her, his arm around her, Jane was about to relax. She was turned away from Gabe and had her eyes open, she thought about what she saw. She had seen weird things ever since she met the angel but they never felt this personal. With thoughts of monsters and shadow demons leaving her mind, Jane fell asleep. She dreamed of waking up in the morning, Gabriel by her side, asleep as well. She turned around to face him, her face very close to his. She touched his arm to wake him up. "Wake up sleepy head, it's morning" she said nudging him on the arm. Gabe stirred opening his eyes, he smiled at Jane, "Hey, are you okay?" he said pushing himself up. Jane smiled too, she knew what she had to do. "Yeah, just one thing that I meant to do yesterday," She said pushing herself up, she slowly leaned in towards Gabriel's face. Closing her eyes, getting closer, inches away now.

Jane woke up suddenly from the sound of knocking. She turned to her side to find Gabe not there. She was confused, she swore she woke up earlier and he was there. Then she woke him up and. 'Oh god', she thought, she realized it was a dream and remembered what happened. The Captain shook her head, snap out of it Jane. "Captain! Would you mind coming to the door!" Gabriel's voice shouted out threw the hallways. Jane got up and dragged herself to put on the jeans and t-shirt she had in her bag. Once dressed she walked out of the room yawning and got to the door. There stood Gabriel and behind him in the hallway stood...

"Dad? What are you doing here?" Jane said walking towards the door, her Dad smiled and gave her a hug. "I went to your house but you weren't there, so i dropped by the precinct and they gave me your partners address." Mr Cooper said, gesturing to Gabriel "So you two together?" He teased, giving Jane a nudge. "What no Dad, we work together. I came by yesterday and then it was raining so I stayed in his spare room," Jane corrected crossing her arms. Her Dad smiled, "I'm just teasing kid, anyway i'm here because your mother thinks our house is haunted or something. Said she wants you to 'check it out'" He said clearly indicating he thought it was rubbish. Gabriel smiled, "I don't see why you can't take a 1 day leave," the angel said looking over at Jane with a raised eyebrow. Her Dad smiled and patted him on the shoulder, looking expectedly at his daughter. Jane sighed, "Fine, but she's making her pot roast!" Jane decided, throwing her hands up in the air to signify defeat.

Gabriel chuckled as Jane left to go get her stuff, he turned to Jane's Dad, "Well it's been a pleasure Mr.Cooper-" Gabriel began only to be waved off by him, "Nonsense! You're coming too, if my daughter is to be a ghost hunter she needs a partner, and i will not take no as an answer young man!" Mr Cooper chimed in as Gabriel was about to argue the decision. "Call me David son, any friend of my daughters has first name privileges in my book" David beamed. At that moment Jane walked round the corner and looked at both of them, "I assume by now he's invited you Gabe? come on you two" She said walking straight out. Gabriel gave a chuckle and followed her and her father out of his apartment. Locking it.