A/N – Hi everyone. I am so sorry for the delay in this chapter, my life was taken over by GISHWHES.

For all of my fellow GISHERS, I hope you had fun and have now caught up on sleep…it took me 2 days to feel normal again! For all of you that have never heard of GISHWHES…I would strongly recommend looking it up on google and taking part next year. Though a word to the wise…take holiday and don't plan anything else for that week. You will need every second!

Now, back to the story, due to not having a chapter out for a while this one is slightly longer. We will finally see Sierra and Michael interact with characters other than each other…which is an improvement I know!

Anyway, apologies to all those that have been logging on and not finding an update (I'm talking to you guest who has read the first two chapters 5 times), I hope this is worth the wait. I'm warning you now, this relationship isn't going to be an easy one, I just hope you like the ride I'm planning on taking you all on.

As usual for all of you that have followed, favourited and reviewed thank you…a huge huge thank you to every one of you! You guys are awesome.

Chapter Three

"So this Jeep guy. He was the reason you chose to fall?" Sierra had sat for some time and listened to Michael tell the story of Gabriel's first strike against humanity; of how the supposed Saviour came into this world.

"Not Jeep exactly, but all those like him, he was one of many that existed at that time. Good people, people with honest hearts, minds and souls." Michael had found her undivided attention unsettling, she had not asked any questions until Michael had finished; which had been unexpected and her facial features had seemed schooled to show no reaction.

So many people assumed they knew the story of how the Angel Wars began, but they always assumed it was on the night the angels fell. No one had ever truly understood that it had gone wrong from the moment Gabriel had gone after Charlie, Alex's mother. They happily ignored the small insignificant battle at an isolated truck stop to focus on the larger global conflict. They waved off the importance of that moment as if it had held no say in the survival of their species. Michael closed his eyes briefly, remembering the humans that had fallen that night. His heart ached at the loss of Audrey, Kyle, Percy & Bob…four humans who had not asked for the hand fate had dealt them, but had fought bravely by his side to protect the child anyway. He had felt Audrey's fear as she screamed at Jeep to throw the brakes. Felt her anger and her elation as she died, knowing she had presented them with valuable time. Such bravery in so young a child had only strengthened Michael's resolve to give this floundering species another chance.

But deep down, he would always wonder what he could have done if he had gotten to Charlie and Jeep earlier. Could there have been a world where Audrey and the others were still alive? Would she have grown up into a woman like her mother or would she have found her bravery anyway and become as strong as this young woman in front of him. Having his thoughts turn back to his young companion, Michael realised he had been lost in his own thoughts and therefore silent for some time.

"You are talking of Audrey and the others too?" Sierra stated, as if reading his mind. "They sound like brave souls. I am not sure how I would have coped with such a blunt realisation of the existence of angels, let alone angels that were trying to wipe us out."

"I am sure you would have been just as strong. I am positive you would have fought just as hard." Michael responded gravely.

"I don't think any of them would have blamed you Archangel" came Sierra's soft reply, again she replied to his thoughts rather than his words, as if his very being was laid open to her. "You did not create the events that transpired to have them all there during such a horrific attack."

"True though that is, if I had gotten there earlier, some of them could have been spared."

"Maybe…" Sierra replied "…or maybe the battle would have ended with the loss of the child. Maybe those that were there needed to be to there for that particular outcome to succeed." Sierra shrugged "I have only ever really known a life with fallen angels. I can't assume to predict what I would have done or how I would have reacted" she smiled at Michael then. "But I know; if I had acted half as bravely as Audrey I would have been content. As I am sure she was."

Michael could only close his eyes at his companion's compassion. Her genuine kindness held him silent.

"So Jeep was just because he was fated to protect Charlie and her child?" Sierra returned to her initial query. Her interest had grown as the story had progressed. Her ability to listen without judgement was astonishing, but it was her questions that had surprised Michael. She did not ask about the battle, about Gabriel, she had asked about him, about his feelings, his emotions. She had asked about the lost souls who had fought by his side. She had asked about the motives, the sacrifices, rather than the combat and the outcome. Michael, not from lack of trying, could not understand this young woman at all.

For Sierra however, she had found herself transported to that truck stop, she had felt like she had actually witnessed the small, seemingly inconsequential battle that had turned the tide to favour the humans. Michael, it would seem, was a damn good story teller.

"Yes. But he was also much more than that." Michael with a motion of his hand asked if he could come closer. With her interest peaked, Sierra didn't even notice when she nodded. Moving swiftly, so as to not give her time to change her mind, Michael was sitting by her side in an instant. "After I died, Jeep held the markings on his body until the time came to pass them on to the child. He was as important as Charlie and her child. Without him none of this would have been possible."

"So the love of an innocent man is what saved us?" Sierra asked.

"You would be surprised at what pure love can accomplish Little Ghost" looking at the young woman, Michael once again felt a tug. "There is no stronger motivator, I assure you."

"Is that what the Saviour will use to save us again?" Sierra queried

"Now who is full of questions" Michael replied quietly "Why do you assume the saviour is here?"

"You talk about Jeep and Charlie in the past tense, as if they are no longer with us. I can only assume they are both dead. If that is the case, then these markings that Jeep held for the child must have transferred to him."

Michael noted her use of the male pronoun, but chose to ignore it for the time being. Instead he merely gave Sierra a blank look. She laughed quietly. "You can give me that face all day Archangel. I know I am right." She looked around as if debating whether or not to continue with her conclusions. Turning back to him, he could see she had decided to go ahead, to damn the consequences. "You mentioned this was before the Angel's fell. So it is over 24 years ago. Which means the child must be at least 24 / 25 by now.

You talk about Jeep protecting him. If Jeep is indeed gone, then the protection must fall to you, which means the child; who will be a child no longer is either in Vega or somewhere close." She looked directly at Michael. "How did I do?"

"You have a sharp mind" Michael answered hesitantly "a very sharp mind. Perhaps I was wrong to tell you the beginning, but I trust that you will keep your assumptions to yourself."

The resulting snort made Michael smile once again. "You don't even know me. To trust me with something like this is idiotic at best, humanity destroying at worst." She shook her head at him. "How can you trust someone you have just met? Someone who won't even tell you their name?"

"I do not question it." Michael replied lightly. "I know I can trust you, so I do."

"It is that simple?" Sierra asked in astonishment.

"It is that simple." Michael repeated, his conviction coming through strong and resolute.

"Well I think you're mad!" Sierra replied, pinching her nose. "I think you are absolutely stark raving mad."

Michael just smiled. "I think I can live with that. Perhaps next time you can tell me how you came to be in Vega? There are no forests here, so you must have journeyed here from somewhere else."

"Next time?" Sierra asked surprised. "I doubt we will run into each other again Archangel. Vega, for a last chance saloon, is relatively large. There are a lot of tunnels to get lost in" she deflected his question easily, her walls starting to go back up. "Talking of which, I need to go find those aforementioned acquaintances of mine, before they starting thinking I've turned rat."

Michael was up immediately, offering her his hand. Sierra looked at him questioningly. When he gestured for her to take his proffered hand she sighed in obvious exasperation. "Fine." she said as she grabbed it and allowed him to aid her in rising from the cold stone. "Man my butt hurts!" With a sudden flood of realisation, Sierra felt her cheeks flame at what she had just said out loud, not just in front of an angel, but in front of an archangel of all things.

"Perhaps next time I will bring cushions to sit on." He said it as a statement, rather than a question.

"Like I said, I doubt we'll run into each other again." Sierra paused as she came to the grate opening. "It's been…different." She said tentatively "thank you for an…interesting…evening."

"I would not be so sure our paths will not cross again Little Ghost" Michael responded, watching her intently "but thank you for staying. Our talk has once again strengthened my conviction."

"Conviction?" Sierra asked in puzzlement.

"I begin to doubt my past actions from time to time. Meeting humans such as you helps to remind me why I did what I did. For that I thank you."

"Oh, that…sure, okay" Sierra stumbled out "so nothing major then; just keeping the big honking archangel weapon on the side of humanity." She smiled up at him, realising only now how much taller he was. "It was nothing; don't sweat it, all in a day's work!" and with that she was gone.

Crawling along the tunnel at the quickest pace she could manage without making a noise, Sierra replayed the last few hours, if it was indeed hours, of her life. She had met, talked and debated with the archangel Michael. The archangel that had chosen to fall, that had chosen to fight for humanity, even when his brethren were trying to wipe them from the face of the Earth, he had chosen them. She had heard stories of Michael, stories that held him in a different light to the angel she had just met. True, his stoic facial features made it hard to read the bloody archangel for most of their conversation; bar when she had broken down. She stopped then. Mid tunnel. Mid move. She felt the earlier pain begin to rise once more; her breathing became shallow, her lungs began to ache. She touched the scar on her left shoulder, just above her heart and closed her eyes. She heard the screaming as if it was happening all over again, she smelt her mother's perfume and her father's sweaty jumper as they held her between them in the cupboard under the stairs. The barking had stopped by then, the faithful hounds had done all they could to protect the family. The only noise was Tommy's screaming and even that stopped eventually. That was when they turned their attention to the house and the rest of its occupants.

She held herself, hugging her knees to her chest. "You are stronger than this. You can overcome this pain." She felt the tears come to her eyes, pooling at the corner before running down the now dry tracks from earlier. She turned her focus inwards; seeing each breathe enter her lungs, feeling them fill to capacity, holding each one before allowing it to finally escape.

Slowly Sierra felt her breathing regulate as her heart begin to beat at a more normal pace. Taking a few more deep breaths and throwing a general thank you out to the universe, she continued her way to the rendez vous point.

She was not shocked to hear a debate raging in regards to whether or not they send a search party, but those involved surprised her greatly.

"I am telling you, we need to go back" came a deep male voice.

"And I am telling you, the Ghost can look after herself" came the antagonist, a high pitch whiny voice. "She gave us the signal for 'get the hell out of there', why would we go back?"

"Because we owe her?" a female voice cut across the other two. "She risks herself for us every day, it is only right that we give her the same consideration.

"We didn't ask her to risk herself…"

"Hayyel" came the female voice once again "we may not ask her, yet we do not turn from her aid."

"Amitiel, you can take your divine truths to someone who will hear them. I have no love for humans."

"A point you make daily brother" came the deep voice "while I understand your loyalties lie with that of our more animalistic brethren, you cannot deny that the Ghost has been unquestionable in her loyalty to us."

"Indeed, her loyalty cannot be questioned brother." Hayyel retorted angrily, "but ask yourself Abdiel, what price will she extract from us at a later date? When we have come to rely solely on her protection…what shall she demand from us then?"

"Do you have so little faith Brother? Has humanity fallen so far in your esteem that you assume they are all corrupt, even one such as her?" Abdiel stared at his brother.

"I speak as I find Abdiel."

"Then why do you not join Gabriel in his quest to wipe us from history?" Sierra walked around the corner into a small makeshift room; they were unintentionally created when Vega workers had built over or around collapsed tunnels. There were so many of these rooms dotted around the in between spaces one had to know where they were going to find them on purpose. That was not to say that soldiers did not happen upon them by accident, it was just extremely rare and those times were dealt with swiftly.

Sierra took in the few boxes this particular group were taking with them, she did not know what was in them and she did not ask. When she had told Michael that he asked too many questions, she was not lying. Asking questions got you into trouble in her job, it was best to just ignore and forget. She turned to look at a small group of higher angels clustered around; some sitting on the boxes dangling their legs, others had stretched out sitting on the floor with their backs against any surface they could find. At her entrance however all but one stood up.

"I told you she would be fine." Hayyel stated; refusing to budge from his prime location on a box situated next to a concrete wall. "It's what she does."

"And what it is you do Hayyel?" Sierra asked quietly. "Or should that be, what do you intend to do?" a deathly silence fell over the small group.

"What are you implying human?" Hayyel's voice had gone dangerously low.

"I am simply asking as to your intentions." She gestured to the corner she had just appeared around. "I overheard you condemn humanity. Why should I, a human, help an angel who has no empathy for the human race? How do I know you will not run to Gabriel the moment my back is turned, telling him of Vega defences?"

"I want no part in this war human." Hayyel's voice had begun to quiver. "I have no wish to fight on either Gabriel's or Michael's side, this is why I came to you." He sneered at Sierra "or is there now a condition you wish to add to aiding my kind?"

"Hayyel, what the Ghost says is only truth." Amitiel spoke up. "Why should she aid one of us who so clearly dislikes the very thing that she is?"

"Because she promised she would." Hayyel struck back.

"You promised to be on your best behaviour brother." Another angel spoke up. "I do not see you keeping that promise, so why should she?"

"Raguel, I did not ask for your opinion…you have no jurisdiction over us anymore."

"Do you hear yourself brother?" Abdiel asked. "You are now arguing with your brethren. You have lost yourself brother. Are you too going the way of Lucifer?"

"Why brother? Will you strike me down with your flaming sword also?" Hayyel finally got off his box and stalked towards Abdiel.

"Stop this!" the final angel of the small group, who had until then been an observer only, stepped in between Abdiel and Hayyel "Our Father has left us, we have been expelled from Heaven, Michael and Gabriel are at each other's throats and now you begin to argue amongst those of us who are left. I tell you now. Stop this!"

"Zadkiel, get out of my way. My quarrel is not with you." Hayyel stated quietly.

"Your quarrel is not with Abdiel or any other being here, including the young human." He turned fully to his angered brother. "Your quarrel is with our Father Hayyel, as it should be." Taking his younger brother by his shoulders Zadkiel smiled gently. "Do not let Father's rejection tar who we are. You have spent years helping humans come to see the importance of the role their lesser brethren play in the world as a whole. Do not undo all that good because a young human child questions your integrity."

Zadkiel turned to look at Sierra then. "You can have no comprehension of the utter rejection we all felt at his leaving, the desolation of realising our Father no longer loved us. Can you even imagine what it must be like for those of us who have no option but to love him still? Knowing what it is that he has done. The horror we all hold at being exiled from the home that we have lived in since our births so many millennia ago. Can you even begin to understand what it is we suffer on a daily basis?"

Sierra could only stare back at Zadkiel, she knew the basics, she had helped enough higher level angels come and go without detection over the years, but to hear such a heartfelt plea broke her heart. She walked over to the two angels still clasped in a hold. Cupping her hand to one cheek each she paused briefly to look each one in the eye.

"Zadkiel is correct. I have no comprehension of the pain and anger you must be suffering. I can only give you my aid and compassion while you have need of it." She turned to face Hayyel, to talk to him directly. "I have never felt a Father's anger nor have I ever had to come to terms with my Father no longer loving me. He may have left me alone in this world, but he did so by dying to protect me. I could not imagine losing him any other way. I weep for the loss of your innocence in this regard. I am truly sorry."

Hayyel removed himself from Zadkiel's embrace and instead embraced Sierra. "Our Father left you too." He softly whispered. "I forget that from time to time."

"Yes he did" Sierra replied, finding strength in his grasp. "But it is not the same; we were given a choice to love him. You were given no such choice. His desertion of you is the crueller for it." Pulling him into a hug, Sierra made eye contact with each of the group members. "We will find him, we will get you home. Or I will die trying."

Hayyel chuckled then. "I would prefer you not to die little sister. You are remarkably likeable." The relief flowed through the group as a ripple of light laughter, melting the last fragment of tension away.

Michael stood staring at the grate she had disappeared through for some time. Whether it was from some unfounded hope that she would reappear or just his reluctance to allow this moment to end he could not determine. Either way, his behaviour concerned him.

She intrigued him. More so, he thought, than he intrigued her. He could not read her for one; and he could read most humans. She was not unemotional, she did not hide her feelings, but she had given him nothing about herself. Other humans and situations she had openly conversed about; though Michael acknowledged that it was only after some pressure on his part. However, whenever they had gotten close to discussing her present life she shut had down, closed up and her expressions had become unreadable.

She had not seemed scared of him either; she had happily expressed her opinions on certain matters that most would shy away from. Yes she had attempted to run after realising who he was, but Michael did not believe it was from a fear of him, more from a fear of being around him. Though, that made no sense to him either. Michael shook his head, trying to clear the jumble of confusion that meeting her had created. His focus had shifted, if only for a few hours, to something other than protecting Alex. It would not do to get distracted by a female, especially a human female who seemed to have a tendency for trouble.

Spreading his wings he flew straight up, a small smile playing on his lips as he realised that his new found friend had no idea some of these 'crossroads' were open topped. He wondered if she would stop using them if she ever found out, and knowing that if she did it would drastically decrease the chances of him running across her again, resolved there and then to never tell her.

Entering the needle Michael felt a familiar presence. "Becca, this is an unexpected surprise" his voice calm and controlled.

"I've been here for hours Michael, waiting for you. The others have left" Becca responded tightly gesturing to the double doors. The one question she wanted to ask; left unspoken.

"I apologise, I have been busy." He bowed slightly then turned as if his attention had been caught by something else.

"So I figured Michael. Doing what?" her curiosity blatant in her tone.

"Am I now answerably to you Consul?" Michael asked quietly, keeping his back turned.

"Answe…? What sort of question is that Michael?" an insult clearly taken.

Turning to Becca he acknowledged the unintended low blow he had just dealt "You are right, of course, my apologies."

"Damn it Michael" Becca ground out "I don't understand you sometimes." She turned to look out the entrance he had arrived through, hugging her arms around herself. "I thought you knew I was here" she continued, glancing in his direction briefly before turning back "You entered with a smile on your face…" her voice trailed off, leaving Michael to continue the conversation.

"I have said I apologise Becca, my evening has been…eventful, your presence here was unexpected and I spoke without thinking."

"I just don't know what will anger you and what won't anymore." Becca replied haltingly.

"I feel that way about myself more often than I would like Becca" Michael walked to her, wrapping his arms around her, resting his forehead against her hair. "I apologise for my temper" he began softly "I was scouting the area. After the 8-ball attack in the senate tonight as well as the loss of Jeep and the exposure of Alex…" Michael sighed audibly "I just needed some time to process" he pulled her closer to him, breathing in her scent, she had bathed recently and her hair still smelled of her honeysuckle shampoo "will you stay with me tonight?" his request was the same as every other night, but his tone lacked even the smallest amount of desire. It was as if he were merely following the lines of a well-worn script.

"Michael, this isn't just sex for me, I need to know you are here with me, that this means the same thing to both of us" Becca's reply was quiet, hesitant as if unsure of her lover's response. Rather than answer her question Michael turned her around and stared into her blue eyes, putting his palms either side of her face as his lips found hers. He closed his own to try to awaken the part of him that had once desired Becca Thorn, only to be greeted by a pair of gold burnished eyes that challenged him to determine why he had conjured them at all.

His eyes flew open as he took a step back, away from Becca. He felt her tense, felt her begin to scrutinise him; trying to sense what she had missed.

"Michael?" she began "…what is going on?" she stared directly into his eyes daring him to lie to her.

He looked at her then, truly looked at her. Becca had always been attractive to Michael; she was a strong, independent, beautiful woman. She had pushed her way into the male led senate and made her mark quite early on. She was a force to be reckoned with and Michael enjoyed her company. She had even indulged his more…decadent desires during their time together.

"Becca, I fear hurting you…" Michael confessed

She closed the gap once more and mimicked his early motion by cupping his face in her hands "You can tell me anything Michael, I will listen to you…"

"Sir?" came a hesitant voice

Michael looked over his shoulder as a young soldier in an archangel corps uniform entered. "What is it Ethan?"

"The…umm…the…" Ethan stuttered. He had come in expecting to find Michael alone, seeing him with Becca Thorn was, while not surprising; the rumours had been circulating for a while, still disconcerting.

"Spit it out soldier" Michael barked, turning fully in his direction, leaving Becca to stand behind him.

"The Lord of the City requests your presence Sir" Ethan managed to choke out.

"I'm assuming this is to do with today's events." Michael turned to Becca, a look of distaste on his features "like we haven't discussed them enough already." He gently touched her cheek "I would not suggest waiting this time Becca, this may go on for some time, however we will talk soon."

Without waiting on her reply, Michael left the room, leaving Ethan to stare uncomfortably at the Consul. "Ma'am…I don't think you're supposed to stay in here without the archangel present…"

Staring at the young soldier Becca began to feel her world unravel.