DISCLAIMER
I do not own the characters of Witchblade. They are the sole properties of their creators and distributors.
This story first formed after watching the episode with Bola. The look Gabriel gave the young girl as Sara was leaving to go to the store just struck me. I wondered, how would Gabriel Bowman react to suddenly being responsible for a child.
DIANNA THE HUNTRESS APPEARS
Gabriel Bowman sat silently on the park bench just watching the world go by. He was tired and wanted nothing more than to sit and not think for just a short period of time. He wanted nothing to invade his mind but the calmness of nothingness.
For a while it worked. For a while his mind was blank, his thoughts gone. It didn't last however. From the corner of his eye he spied several women jogging. He turned his head slightly and watched them come closer, wondering how Sara would look in one of the more revealing jogging outfits. As quickly as that thought entered, it was replaced by the words of Ian Nottingham. Something about unrequited love. He shook his head as the words invaded and echoed through his mind.
"Stop it Bowman." He growled to himself and smiled politely to the women as they passed him by. "You'll only get pissed off." Suddenly he saw a squirrel scurrying here and there as thought it was looking, trying to remember where it had hidden it's prizes. He found himself smiling at its antics, thoughts of Sara and Nottingham completely gone. He could imagine there was a Mrs. Squirrel somewhere waiting for dinner to be brought home and that this Mr. Squirrel wasn't about to go back empty handed.
Abruptly sounds of movement behind him in the brushes caught his attention. He remained still but concentrated on the rustling. His skin began to prickle, as he was sure he was being watched. Sudden visions of the dark assassin filled his mind, thoughts of being attacked and killed by the one that he was sure was jealous of his relationship with the homicide detective.
As he slowly stood and turned, ready to face whatever horrors would possibly be awaiting him at the hands of Nottingham, a small sneeze came out of the bushes.
"Bless you." He said quietly without thinking.
"Thank you." The voice belonged to a small child, not the phantom he had expected.
"Its not spying if I know you there now." He grinned at the thought of some child playing a trick on him. "You can come out now."
"Can't. Mommy says I can't talk to strangers." The voice almost whispered and then sneezed again. "Dang it."
"Bless you again." Gabriel peered through the leaves and brush but still did not see anyone. "How bout you just let me see you. That way I know your not a monster ready to eat me up."
"I'm not a monster silly." Suddenly a small dirty face looked over the bushes. "Monsters aren't real. Mommy told me that too."
"You're Mommy's a smart woman." Gabriel grinned and tried to guess if he was talking to a small girl or boy. "So if your Mommy said not to talk to stranger, then we have a problem."
"Wrong again. There ain't no such thing as problems." Finally the child took a step forward and Gabriel could see he was talking to a little girl of about six or seven. "Problems are too hard to solve. Situations just need a bit of thought."
"Okay." Gabriel thought as he wondered where this mysterious Mommy was and why this little girl was out on her own. "How bout I start by introducing myself. Then we won't be strangers anymore." He waited and when he saw a slight nod from the girl, he continued. "My name is Gabriel." He crouched to her level but didn't make any moves toward her. 'What's your name?"
"Dianna." She smiled and put her hands on her small hips. "Just like the huntress."
"Well, Dianna the huntress. It is a pleasure to meet you." He winked softly in her direction. Suddenly his smile disappeared as the child began coughing hard. "Whoa now, are you all right honey?"
"Just a cold. I'll be okay." She took a deep, shuddering breath, suddenly looking fragile and pale.
"Well just in case, why don't you take me to your Mommy so she knows your okay. I'm sure she's worried about you." He watched as the tiny brave huntress' eyes began to fill with tears and her lip quivered. "What's the matter honey?" He asked suddenly feeling concern for the small girl. "Where's your Mommy Dianna?"
"I think something's really wrong with Mommy." Suddenly she rushed to him and flung her tiny arms around his neck, threatening to knock him off balance. "I'm scared Mr. Gabriel. I think something is bad wrong with Mommy, she won't wake up."
"Its all right honey." Awkwardly Gabriel returned the hug and tried to stand with the girl in his arms. "I'll go with you and we can check on your Mommy. Okay?"
"I'm scared she won't wake up ever again." Dianna had begun to cry so hard she was coughing deeply. "I don't want to be alone."
"Come on, don't cry Dianna. You'll get sicker." Isn't that what his own mother had always told him? Gabriel held the child tighter until the sobs softened. "Show me where your Mommy is and I'll try to help her."
Dianna's mother had been named Lilith. The second he had seen the woman, he had pulled Dianna closer too himself and called the one person he could think of, Sara Pezzini. Now, he stood holding the small girl as the activities around her mother's body increased. Several other homeless women approached him to make sure Dianna was all right and that she was in safe hands. Gabriel spoke softly with each one, reassuring them that he was not going to hurt the child. Satisfied, they would walk away mumbling something about the "other man" that would so often visit the now deceased.
"How ya doing kiddo." Gabriel whispered to the child in his arms, looking into the tear streaked dirty face.
"I'm scared Gabriel." She shuddered in his arms. "Can I go home with you till Aunt Lydia and Uncle Rafe comes and gets me?"
"I don't know Princess." He suddenly wanted nothing more than to take this small bundle to his home and make sure nothing else horrible ever happened to her. "We'll see what we can do about that. Maybe my friend can help us out here."
"That pretty lady with the bracelet?" She pulled back and looked into his brow eyes. "I like her. She is like the Lady of Justice."
"Lady of Justice?" Gabriel smiled at the words. "Yeah, I guess in a way she is that."
"Gabriel." As if on cue, Sara moved gracefully to them, a frown on her face. "Gabriel, we need to talk."
"Okay." Feeling a sense of foreboding, Gabriel stared at Sara hard and put Dianna down. "Honey, why don't you get some of your things together while Sara and I talk a few minutes."
"Sure." The little girl took a deep breath and sighed. "They won't let you keep me, you know. They just won't." Both adults watched the little girl slowly move away to the clutter of boxes and bags a few feet away dejectedly.
"What is it Sara." Gabriel crossed his arms and waited for the words he didn't want to hear.
"She's right. There's a Social Worker over there that has come to take Dianna to a temporary foster home, just until her Aunt and Uncle can be found." Sara sounded sad and angry. "I tried to get her to let you take care of her since you already have the girls trust, but they won't hear of it."
"Okay." Gabriel fought the rage in his voice. "So I am just supposed to hand her over to a stranger and hope she is safe?"
"Gabriel, you're a stranger." Sara soothed. "Sweetie, they don't understand why a single man of your age would want to take on a child."
"Yeah well," Gabriel could imagine their thoughts and imaginations. "I guess I can understand but damn it Sara, she trusts me. She needs someone she can trust right now."
"I know." Sara looked suspiciously at the woman nearing them. "I'm going to do everything I can to get Dianna back to you if it looks like it will take a while to find her family." Gabriel simply rolled his eyes in irritation. "Gabriel that is a promise."
"You'll do what you can Sara, but I don't know if it will be enough. I have a very bad feeling about this whole situation." Gabriel stood taller as the woman finally arrived.
"Mr. Bowman." The small Hispanic woman extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Gabriel shook her hand softly. "I think what you did was commendable, but…"
"I know Ms…"
"Lopez." She smiled brightly as she looked toward Dianna who was carefully packing her things.
"Ms Lopez, is this really necessary? Dianna has just lost her mother. Is there any way you can get her into my custody until her family arrives? She seems to trust me and…"
"Mr. Bowman. I can understand your concern but you must realize my department's concern is what is best for the child. We just don't feel that she would be…"
"Safe with me?" Gabriel could feel the rage beginning to surface and fought it down. "Was she safe out here? Ms Lopes, I live in a very safe loft. It's warm, I can make sure she has enough to eat and I can take care of that cold she has."
"But you are a single man. What would people think?" She shook her head. 'No Mr. Bowman, we can't have Dianna staying with you. It just wouldn't be right."
"Ms Lopez." Sara touched Gabriel's arm softly and felt the coiled anger in his muscles. "I can vouch for Gabriel. I have known him for a very long time and I am sure…"
"Detective, it's not going to happen." Ms Lopez stared hard. "Now, just say your goodbyes to the child so I can get her to a warm safe place." She crossed her arms, signaling the conversation was at an end.
"Dianna." Gabriel fought to keep his voice even. "Come here Princess." He crouched low as the child neared. "Dianna, you have to go with Ms Lopez here. I'm sorry." He straightened the small shabby coat the child wore. "Do me a favor and be brave. I'm sure it won't be long before your Aunt Lydia will be here to get you." He wiped a tear from the cool cheek. "You think you can do that?"
"I'll try Gabriel, but it won't be easy." She looked first at Gabriel with tears flooding her eyes, then at Ms Lopez with suspicion. "I'm supposed to stay with you." She said with assurance. "I don't know why She didn't let anyone else know."
"Who baby?" Gabriel put a hat on her head and buttoned the coat. "Who told you that you were supposed to stay with me?"
"Doesn't matter now." She turned and reluctantly held Ms Lopez's hand. "Come on. I don't want to make Gabriel cry." They had only walked a few feet when Dianna suddenly broke away from the woman and ran toward a large pile of trash.
"Dianna! What are you doing?" Gabriel felt concern as he saw her scurry under some boxes and breathed a deep sigh of relief as she suddenly reappeared with something in her hands.
"I forgot something Ms Lopez." She called to the stunned Social Worker. "Just a minute. Let me give this to Gabriel." She ran to him and waited till he was bent over again. "Here." She pushed a thick black leather book toward him. "This was Mommy's. You have to keep it safe and don't let anyone else read it. Just you. Promise Gabriel." She waited for Gabriel to nod. He reached out and hugged her tightly. 'Don't cry Gabriel. I'll be just fine. Just don't let anything happen to Mommy's book."
"I won't Princess. I'll keep it safe until I see you again." He felt Sara's arm around his shoulder as he watched in growing sadness, the little girl being led away. "I will see you again Dianna." Turning he looked deep into Sara's eyes, then allowed her to hold him as he cried softly as he felt his heart shatter into thousands of pieces.
He hadn't meant to kill the woman. He only wanted to scare her into submission, to allow him to have the girl. Now, watching the extreme activity all he could do was think if he had left anything behind that might lead to him.
His anger played just under the surface of his gray eyes as he watched the small girl began to be led away by the woman, but grew intensely as he saw the girl break away and the book being taken from it's hiding place and given to the man. He should not only have possession of the child, but of the book.
Swearing under his breath, he memorized the face of the man, then pulling his dark coat tighter, began to disappear into the crowd and away from the area.
I do not own the characters of Witchblade. They are the sole properties of their creators and distributors.
This story first formed after watching the episode with Bola. The look Gabriel gave the young girl as Sara was leaving to go to the store just struck me. I wondered, how would Gabriel Bowman react to suddenly being responsible for a child.
DIANNA THE HUNTRESS APPEARS
Gabriel Bowman sat silently on the park bench just watching the world go by. He was tired and wanted nothing more than to sit and not think for just a short period of time. He wanted nothing to invade his mind but the calmness of nothingness.
For a while it worked. For a while his mind was blank, his thoughts gone. It didn't last however. From the corner of his eye he spied several women jogging. He turned his head slightly and watched them come closer, wondering how Sara would look in one of the more revealing jogging outfits. As quickly as that thought entered, it was replaced by the words of Ian Nottingham. Something about unrequited love. He shook his head as the words invaded and echoed through his mind.
"Stop it Bowman." He growled to himself and smiled politely to the women as they passed him by. "You'll only get pissed off." Suddenly he saw a squirrel scurrying here and there as thought it was looking, trying to remember where it had hidden it's prizes. He found himself smiling at its antics, thoughts of Sara and Nottingham completely gone. He could imagine there was a Mrs. Squirrel somewhere waiting for dinner to be brought home and that this Mr. Squirrel wasn't about to go back empty handed.
Abruptly sounds of movement behind him in the brushes caught his attention. He remained still but concentrated on the rustling. His skin began to prickle, as he was sure he was being watched. Sudden visions of the dark assassin filled his mind, thoughts of being attacked and killed by the one that he was sure was jealous of his relationship with the homicide detective.
As he slowly stood and turned, ready to face whatever horrors would possibly be awaiting him at the hands of Nottingham, a small sneeze came out of the bushes.
"Bless you." He said quietly without thinking.
"Thank you." The voice belonged to a small child, not the phantom he had expected.
"Its not spying if I know you there now." He grinned at the thought of some child playing a trick on him. "You can come out now."
"Can't. Mommy says I can't talk to strangers." The voice almost whispered and then sneezed again. "Dang it."
"Bless you again." Gabriel peered through the leaves and brush but still did not see anyone. "How bout you just let me see you. That way I know your not a monster ready to eat me up."
"I'm not a monster silly." Suddenly a small dirty face looked over the bushes. "Monsters aren't real. Mommy told me that too."
"You're Mommy's a smart woman." Gabriel grinned and tried to guess if he was talking to a small girl or boy. "So if your Mommy said not to talk to stranger, then we have a problem."
"Wrong again. There ain't no such thing as problems." Finally the child took a step forward and Gabriel could see he was talking to a little girl of about six or seven. "Problems are too hard to solve. Situations just need a bit of thought."
"Okay." Gabriel thought as he wondered where this mysterious Mommy was and why this little girl was out on her own. "How bout I start by introducing myself. Then we won't be strangers anymore." He waited and when he saw a slight nod from the girl, he continued. "My name is Gabriel." He crouched to her level but didn't make any moves toward her. 'What's your name?"
"Dianna." She smiled and put her hands on her small hips. "Just like the huntress."
"Well, Dianna the huntress. It is a pleasure to meet you." He winked softly in her direction. Suddenly his smile disappeared as the child began coughing hard. "Whoa now, are you all right honey?"
"Just a cold. I'll be okay." She took a deep, shuddering breath, suddenly looking fragile and pale.
"Well just in case, why don't you take me to your Mommy so she knows your okay. I'm sure she's worried about you." He watched as the tiny brave huntress' eyes began to fill with tears and her lip quivered. "What's the matter honey?" He asked suddenly feeling concern for the small girl. "Where's your Mommy Dianna?"
"I think something's really wrong with Mommy." Suddenly she rushed to him and flung her tiny arms around his neck, threatening to knock him off balance. "I'm scared Mr. Gabriel. I think something is bad wrong with Mommy, she won't wake up."
"Its all right honey." Awkwardly Gabriel returned the hug and tried to stand with the girl in his arms. "I'll go with you and we can check on your Mommy. Okay?"
"I'm scared she won't wake up ever again." Dianna had begun to cry so hard she was coughing deeply. "I don't want to be alone."
"Come on, don't cry Dianna. You'll get sicker." Isn't that what his own mother had always told him? Gabriel held the child tighter until the sobs softened. "Show me where your Mommy is and I'll try to help her."
Dianna's mother had been named Lilith. The second he had seen the woman, he had pulled Dianna closer too himself and called the one person he could think of, Sara Pezzini. Now, he stood holding the small girl as the activities around her mother's body increased. Several other homeless women approached him to make sure Dianna was all right and that she was in safe hands. Gabriel spoke softly with each one, reassuring them that he was not going to hurt the child. Satisfied, they would walk away mumbling something about the "other man" that would so often visit the now deceased.
"How ya doing kiddo." Gabriel whispered to the child in his arms, looking into the tear streaked dirty face.
"I'm scared Gabriel." She shuddered in his arms. "Can I go home with you till Aunt Lydia and Uncle Rafe comes and gets me?"
"I don't know Princess." He suddenly wanted nothing more than to take this small bundle to his home and make sure nothing else horrible ever happened to her. "We'll see what we can do about that. Maybe my friend can help us out here."
"That pretty lady with the bracelet?" She pulled back and looked into his brow eyes. "I like her. She is like the Lady of Justice."
"Lady of Justice?" Gabriel smiled at the words. "Yeah, I guess in a way she is that."
"Gabriel." As if on cue, Sara moved gracefully to them, a frown on her face. "Gabriel, we need to talk."
"Okay." Feeling a sense of foreboding, Gabriel stared at Sara hard and put Dianna down. "Honey, why don't you get some of your things together while Sara and I talk a few minutes."
"Sure." The little girl took a deep breath and sighed. "They won't let you keep me, you know. They just won't." Both adults watched the little girl slowly move away to the clutter of boxes and bags a few feet away dejectedly.
"What is it Sara." Gabriel crossed his arms and waited for the words he didn't want to hear.
"She's right. There's a Social Worker over there that has come to take Dianna to a temporary foster home, just until her Aunt and Uncle can be found." Sara sounded sad and angry. "I tried to get her to let you take care of her since you already have the girls trust, but they won't hear of it."
"Okay." Gabriel fought the rage in his voice. "So I am just supposed to hand her over to a stranger and hope she is safe?"
"Gabriel, you're a stranger." Sara soothed. "Sweetie, they don't understand why a single man of your age would want to take on a child."
"Yeah well," Gabriel could imagine their thoughts and imaginations. "I guess I can understand but damn it Sara, she trusts me. She needs someone she can trust right now."
"I know." Sara looked suspiciously at the woman nearing them. "I'm going to do everything I can to get Dianna back to you if it looks like it will take a while to find her family." Gabriel simply rolled his eyes in irritation. "Gabriel that is a promise."
"You'll do what you can Sara, but I don't know if it will be enough. I have a very bad feeling about this whole situation." Gabriel stood taller as the woman finally arrived.
"Mr. Bowman." The small Hispanic woman extended her hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you." Gabriel shook her hand softly. "I think what you did was commendable, but…"
"I know Ms…"
"Lopez." She smiled brightly as she looked toward Dianna who was carefully packing her things.
"Ms Lopez, is this really necessary? Dianna has just lost her mother. Is there any way you can get her into my custody until her family arrives? She seems to trust me and…"
"Mr. Bowman. I can understand your concern but you must realize my department's concern is what is best for the child. We just don't feel that she would be…"
"Safe with me?" Gabriel could feel the rage beginning to surface and fought it down. "Was she safe out here? Ms Lopes, I live in a very safe loft. It's warm, I can make sure she has enough to eat and I can take care of that cold she has."
"But you are a single man. What would people think?" She shook her head. 'No Mr. Bowman, we can't have Dianna staying with you. It just wouldn't be right."
"Ms Lopez." Sara touched Gabriel's arm softly and felt the coiled anger in his muscles. "I can vouch for Gabriel. I have known him for a very long time and I am sure…"
"Detective, it's not going to happen." Ms Lopez stared hard. "Now, just say your goodbyes to the child so I can get her to a warm safe place." She crossed her arms, signaling the conversation was at an end.
"Dianna." Gabriel fought to keep his voice even. "Come here Princess." He crouched low as the child neared. "Dianna, you have to go with Ms Lopez here. I'm sorry." He straightened the small shabby coat the child wore. "Do me a favor and be brave. I'm sure it won't be long before your Aunt Lydia will be here to get you." He wiped a tear from the cool cheek. "You think you can do that?"
"I'll try Gabriel, but it won't be easy." She looked first at Gabriel with tears flooding her eyes, then at Ms Lopez with suspicion. "I'm supposed to stay with you." She said with assurance. "I don't know why She didn't let anyone else know."
"Who baby?" Gabriel put a hat on her head and buttoned the coat. "Who told you that you were supposed to stay with me?"
"Doesn't matter now." She turned and reluctantly held Ms Lopez's hand. "Come on. I don't want to make Gabriel cry." They had only walked a few feet when Dianna suddenly broke away from the woman and ran toward a large pile of trash.
"Dianna! What are you doing?" Gabriel felt concern as he saw her scurry under some boxes and breathed a deep sigh of relief as she suddenly reappeared with something in her hands.
"I forgot something Ms Lopez." She called to the stunned Social Worker. "Just a minute. Let me give this to Gabriel." She ran to him and waited till he was bent over again. "Here." She pushed a thick black leather book toward him. "This was Mommy's. You have to keep it safe and don't let anyone else read it. Just you. Promise Gabriel." She waited for Gabriel to nod. He reached out and hugged her tightly. 'Don't cry Gabriel. I'll be just fine. Just don't let anything happen to Mommy's book."
"I won't Princess. I'll keep it safe until I see you again." He felt Sara's arm around his shoulder as he watched in growing sadness, the little girl being led away. "I will see you again Dianna." Turning he looked deep into Sara's eyes, then allowed her to hold him as he cried softly as he felt his heart shatter into thousands of pieces.
He hadn't meant to kill the woman. He only wanted to scare her into submission, to allow him to have the girl. Now, watching the extreme activity all he could do was think if he had left anything behind that might lead to him.
His anger played just under the surface of his gray eyes as he watched the small girl began to be led away by the woman, but grew intensely as he saw the girl break away and the book being taken from it's hiding place and given to the man. He should not only have possession of the child, but of the book.
Swearing under his breath, he memorized the face of the man, then pulling his dark coat tighter, began to disappear into the crowd and away from the area.
