Note: This is a story called Hellboy: Angels of Wrath that my sister and I collaborated in to write. Neither Mercedes or I own Hellboy or any of its characters. They all belong to Guillermo? del Torro and the Dark Horse Company.

It wasn't right to say that Hellboy was worried about Liz. He was devastated. They wouldn't let him into the examining room to see her. At six months of pregnancy, she had been feeling a sharp continuous stabbing sensation in her abdomen. He had woken up to her screams of pain. Now he was sitting outside and feeling like crap in this sterile, cloistering hospital hallway. When the doctor came out, he rushed him.

"How is she!" He shouted, grabbing his shoulders. The doctor backed up and tried to get some distance between them.

"I don't know. Her vitals are fine, but the sonogram isn't working. Something is blocking it. We have no idea how the babies are doing."

"Can't you fix it? Get an x-ray or something?"

"We tried. There's some unseen variable that keeps us from checking on them. I know this is hard, but she'll have to stay here indefinetly until we can figure this out. Do you have any family that you need to contact in case of emergency?" Hellboy shook his head.

"No, but I can call a buddy of mine that can help."

"Good. Call him and I'll make arrangements for your wife to stay in the recovery room." Hellboy nodded and walked off. He tried to remember where Abe went after Ireland. He had been so depressed after Nuala's death that he just disappeared. They still had the com-link belts, so that was worth a shot. He reached down and pressed the button that opened Abe's channel.

"Abe?" He called. Static answered. "Abe, I need you buddy. Wherever you are. Liz needs you." Still more static. "Come on, Blue. Answer the damn-" He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned around. Abe was standing there, dripping wet and breathing hard. He seemed much thinner, and there was a strange cut along the right side of his head and other scrapes on his appendages, but he otherwise looked healthy.

"I came as fast as I could." He gasped.

"Where have ya been, Blue!" Hellboy exclaimed. They shared a quick man-hug.

"I was in the Atlantic when I heard Liz calling for me. She felt extremely ill." They both started walking to the waiting room. People stared as the famous Hellboy and a half-naked fish man walked past them in the hallway.

"Somethings wrong with the babies, but the doctors can't see anything. Says there's something blocking the sono-thingy, the baby camera."

"The sonogram. I don't see why. The sonogram works like a mini sonar to take resolution pictures of the infants. There's got to be another reason..."

"Well, the sooner you figure it out, the better. Look, here comes the doc." And he was.

"Mr. Hellboy, your wife is settled in a private hospital room if you would like to see her before visiting hours are over."

"Great. Doc, this is Abe. He's the guy I told you about." The doctor and Abe shook hands.

"Abraham Sapian, at your service."

"Nice to meet you. I'm Dr Mahout. Now, when you see her, try not to overtax her emotionally. She needs to relax, possibly to sleep."

"Got it, doc." Hellboy said, They both followed the doctor to Liz' room.
She was lying there, white as the sheets she was laying on with her eyes closed. The blankets were tucked around her rounded belly and the bed was propped up. Slowly, Hellboy walked to her side and gently held her hand. Her eyes opened a little. "Hey, babe," He whispered. She smiled sleepily. "You feelin' OK?" he asked.

"A little. The pain's gone."

"That's great! Look who came to visit." he said, pointing to Abe. She looked and her smile widened.

"Abe, how are you?"

"I came to see if I could help." he said, moving to her other side. "If you'll let me."

"Why wouldn't I?" She asked. He nodded and placed his right hand on her stomach. Almost immediately, Abe and Liz showed twin expressions of pain. Abe jerked his hand away and sank into the nearest chair.

"I can't see anything," He gasped, beathing like he just ran a triathalon. "I could only feel pain. I-I'm sorry, Liz. I don't know what to do." It was then that a nurse came in and told them that visiting hours were over and they had to leave. Hellboy kissed Liz goodbye.

"I'll be back as soon as possible." he whispered. Then he bent down to her belly. "You kids quit giving Mom trouble, or your grounded." he said, kissing the swell of her stomach. Liz chuckled. "I'll see you soon, babe." Walking out, Hellboy sighed and glanced at Abe. "What should I do?" He asked his friend.

"Honestly? I don't know. Whatever it is has something to do with the fact that they're half-human and half, well, you." Hellboy covered his face with his left hand.

"So it's all my fault?"

"Oh, of course not! It's just... Ithink it would prove a difficult pregnancy for any woman. Genetically speaking, of course." He stared blankly at Abe.

"So...it's all my fault?"

"No. Liz loves you and she decided that she wanted your children. It was her decision, not an accident."

"Thanks Abe. I think I'll go for a walk. You'll be OK without me?"

"I have been living on my own for a solid six months."

"Yeah, in the ocean." he reached into his pocket and handed Abe a key. "This is the key to our place. Go there and relax. Take care of that cut." Abe gave him a mock salute

"Yessir." He placed an hand on his friend's shoulder. "She'll be fine, Red. She's tough." Hellboy nodded and walked away.
There was a small park near the hospital with a strolling trail that he walked down. He found a small bench and sat, contemplating. He didn't even notice there was someone sitting next to him until he heard a guitar being played. He turned to see a blind woman playing it, her case open and showing a handful of coins. Her iron grey hair was pulled up in a bun. Her oval black sunglasses covered her whole eyes. The tune she was playing was some slow lullabye that comforted him for some reason.

"Yae seem like yae got a bit of a problem." She said in a strong Scottosh accent, her fingers still moving with quick assurance over the strings. The music wrapped around Hellboys head and made his thoughts clearer.

"My girl is carrying my babies and she's having problems." He blurted. The woman tutted.

"'Tis a shame when a child in the womb is in danger of dyin'. Twice sad when the mother is, too." She played a slow, mournful song for him. It seemed like every time she talked, music was playing. The more he tried to listen to the music her words got clearer, if not understandable.

"I just don't know what to do." He admitted, holding his head in his hands.

"Most fathers woulnae know what tae do." She answered, the tune turning comforting again.

"If only I had a clue...!""

"Well maebe yae hav tae go to an old friend, one yae have nae been kaind tae, for a bit o help. Who do yae know that can help with a difficult situation?" An idea dawned on him.

"Manning! But he'd never-"

"I say ye go to him. He can help. Expect he has some shiny trinkets that could help, aye? If ye run intae trouble with your friend-" She handed him a piece of paper. This will help yae." Hellboy looked at the piece of paper and then looked at the woman; Really looked at her. She was tall and solid-looking, with lines barely gracing her face. Then he noticed for the first time that there were large black stitches sewing her mouth permanently shut. She smiled as a drop of blood ran down the left side of her face like a tear.

"Excuse me," Her music told him when she reached for a brown stained handkerchief to wipe the drop away. She dropped the handkerchief beside her and continued playing.

"Who are you?" He asked.

"The Angel of Mercy and Forgiveness." She said. "Mercy given freely and forgiveness earned thorugh trial." She gestured to the payphone at the end of the path and to her open guitar case. "Go. Call your friend." He picked up a quarter and walked over to the payphone. When he turned back, she was gone, leaving only a stained handkerchief. He diled hs home number and waited. Abe picked up the phone.

"Sherman Residence." He said.

"Abe, I need you to call teh BPRD. Tell 'em we're coming back."