A/N: I do not own The Fantastic Four or any of it's characters. Though I wouldn't mind own Reed--or Ioan for that matter! Who agrees with me? (silence) Okay...anyway, all I own is Gabrielle.

Chapter 12: The Lending Hand

"Okay, what are we doing here again?" Johnny asked as they looked around the cliffs, police and medical crew long gone. In the distance, they could see the lights of the cars on the bridge. They also saw Warren flying towards them. Johnny clenched his fists, covering them in flames, and Sue did the same with a load of energy. Warren ignored them though, flying over their heads and landing behind them. "All right, angels are taking over the city. The eleventh plague?"

"I'm very thankful that the rest of you are smarter than him." Warren commented, earning even higher flames from Johnny's clenched fists and a rumbling laugh from Ben. "And you're here because I can help you."

"I'm assuming you're the one that called. Who are you? How did you end up like...like Gabrielle?" Reed asked, pointing to his wings.

"I'm Archangel." He said easily, cringing inwardly at the name, his personal call sign, and Johnny scoffed. "I'm willing to help Gabrielle."

"You mean help us stop her." Reed prompted.

"No, I mean help her." He retorted, crossing his arms defensively for both himself and Gabrielle. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, she had made an impression on him. A lasting impression.

"Okay, I'm confused again." Johnny stated, looking between Reed and Warren for an explanation.

"Why would you want to help her? She's hurting people! Us! She tried to kill Reed, and she's dead set on killing Sue here!" Ben shouted angrily, really wanting to pummel the newest angel into the ground, gesturing from person to person angrily.

"She's already killed, or don't you watch the news?" Warren told them mockingly, walking around them to the edge of the cliff.

"What do you mean?" Sue asked him warily and confusing, watching him carefully as he inspected the rocky edge.

"While you four were fighting her, two bodies were found at the bottom of these cliffs. Did you not notice the police tape?" The foursome looked behind them to see the yellow police tape that they had ripped down, then looked back to him. Warren watched, who was laughing inside, as they all looked between one another, sheepishly.

"What's your point?" Johnny asked, crossing his arm and changing the subject quickly to save himself and the others for feeling like idiots.

"My point is that I can help her. Some friends of mine in Westchester are coming to help. With the four of you, me and them? Matriarch will be stopped."

"What then? After we stop her, I mean? We're not gonna kill her, are we?" Warren shook his head at Sue, who sighed silently in relief. That was the first bit of good news she'd heard in awhile.

"No, just weaken her enough to let my friends do what they need. They'll take her back to their facility and rehabilitate her."

"I want another chance at talking to her."

"Sue--" Reed turned to her, reasonably, but she cut him off.

"No! I want to do this. I have to do this." She stated, staring at him confidantly. He hadn't seen her like this since she'd fought Victor in his office.

"If you talk to her, fight her, you'll give the rest of us the time we need." Warren said absentmindedly, nodding and liking the idea.

"He's right." Johnny and Ben turned to gawk at Reed in disbelief. "I don't like the idea of you facing her alone, Sue, but it may be the only way to stop her." She smiled at him and nodded, assuring him she'd be fine. "One condition: Ben goes with you. Back up."

"Fine by me. Ben?" She turned to the giant orange rock, eyes widened with hope.

"I'm there for 'ya, Susie, you know that. But, how are we gonna find her? She could be anywhere by now." Silence filled the cliffs, everyone trying to think of something. Then it happened. Sue looked up from the ground with a look of awe plastered on her face.

"I think I know..." The others looked to her, waiting for her to tell them, and she slowly smiled.