A/N: So after some serious soul searching (about half an hour) I've decided to include the angel. Now I'm not the biggest Gabriel fan or anything, but if I only wrote about the characters I loved then the whole story would be about Ian and Sara and a queen sized bed…
BTW: I made a little change in Chapter 5. Originally I couldn't remember which episode it was when Sara found out that Ian was Irons son. But it's all come back to me now thanks to Captain High liner (they say fish is good brain food you know) and so I took out the part about her being shocked. You don't have to go back and re-read it or anything I just wanted to let you know.
Disclaimer: The witchblade etc.. belongs to TopCow etc…
Chapter 7: Angel tears
Gabriel sat quietly at the bar nursing his beer. He looked around the rather empty establishment and sighed. 'He'd really half to start making some changes in his life,' he thought, 'that was if he ever planned on getting laid again.'
"Hey Gabe," came a voice from behind him. His friend Walter sat in the empty seat next to him.
"Heya Wally?"
"What did I tell you about calling me that?" said Walter rather anxiously.
"Right right… Walter" Gabe apologized.
"Exactly Gabri-ella, it's either Walter or-!"
"I know I know… "The Wall."
"That's right," he said, motioning for the bartender.
"It's certainly something…" Gabriel mumbled.
"Don't even sweat it Gabe, I'm not even gonna let your persistent cloud of gloom, ruin this pretty close to perfect day."
Gabriel unwrapped his lips from around his beer bottle. "Why what happened?"
The bartender came over and flashed them a smile. "So what can I get you tonight Walter?"
"Macy, I'm gonna need you to run on down to the basement and dust off one of those bottles of champagne you got hiding down there for special occasions." He pulled out his wallet and dropped a couple of hundred dollar bills on the counter."
"Sure thing sweets" Macy drawled, sweeping up the money as she left.
"Hey hey big spender what's the occasion?"
"Gabriel my man, I just made the sale of a life time."
'She was aware of him' he thought, 'he had erred.' He moved slowly across the attic floor. 'A temporary moment of weakness and she had exploited it well.' This was the weakness of the flesh, the allowing for distraction. He looked out across the city drenched in rainfall. It is said, that it once rained for 40 days and nights. That God, having looked upon the earth he bore his very soul in creating, wept openly for the affliction of man. 'She would come for him tonight' he concluded, 'vigilant and unafraid.' And though this meeting was earlier then he had planned she would find more then she had bargained for.' He looked down at the green gem he held in his hand. "There are not enough tears in heaven to mourn what is coming."
Irons typed quickly on the lab keyboard, the terminal operator having been banished to the corner for his "Slowness" and "Ineptitude." "Ah" exclaimed Kenneth, "there it is." He pulled up a file that created a three dimensional diagram of the witchblade. Motioning the operator back to the computer Irons pointed to the screen. "I need you to run a complete and thorough scan of the jewel inside this bracelet."
"Yes sir Mr. Irons..right away."
"When you have finished contact me immediately I will be in my office."
The operator nodded. "Is there anything I am supposed to be looking for… I mean specifically." His voice faltered under Kenneth's icy stare.
"Trust me good man, you'll know it when you find it."
"Yes sir." He turned back to the terminal and Iron's pulled out his cell phone.
"Ian" he said when the call had gone through "I need you to bring something to me."
Sara lay restlessly in the dark, she wasn't sure if Jake had gotten her message, and she wasn't sure how she was going to explain her "hunch" to him if he did. Her thoughts returned to the man in her vision, he had sensed her or the witchblade anyway and he'd been able to effectively end transmission. She'd been trying to use the blade to probe him again for the last couple of hours but it had been fruitless, whoever this guy was he was able to hide himself from her completely. She knew this should worry her, but she couldn't help feel a sense of anticipation. There was some pent up frustration she was just spoiling to unleash in the form of a big metal fist. The witchblade swirled in agreement. She heard the door open behind her and quickly sat up.
"Time for early check out Pezzini" whispered Jake.
"Geez McCarty you took long enough, I thought for sure you must be illiterate or something," she said scrambling off the bed.
"Excuse me? You're the one who spelt escape with two p's" he accused, handing her a bag of clothes.
"I did not."
"Hey, the evidence is on the precinct fridge, we can check it out later."
"You didn't?"
Jake tossed her a holster and a very large grin. "You'll just have to wait and see" he said handing her a gun.
"Ya maybe if I passed this sleep exam" she pointed out rather grimly.
"Already taken care of" Jake said as they exited the room. He waved over at the guy monitoring Sara's signals and was greeted with a thumbs up. "As long as your back by seven no one will even know you were gone." Sara was impressed. "And" Jake continued, "my new buddy Josh over there promised to dub an old tape for you so you're sure to pass with flying colours"
"What'd that cost you?" Sara asked as she slipped out the emergency exit.
"50 bucks" he said following her out.
"That's it?"
"Uh huh, Oh ya and by the way what are you doing next Friday night?"
There was a short list of things that could instantly brighten Gabriel's mood and 'Champagne' he decided with a smile 'had just moved to the top of it'. He took another mouthful of the bubbly elixir and swallowed. The previously reigning champ on that list had interestingly enough been the cause for his foul mood. Detective Pezzini had been having it rough as of late and he wasn't sure there was anything he could do to help her. The media had been having a field day with the accident. And while they weren't exactly crucifying her or showing shots of burning effigies, they were enjoying raking the NYPD over the coals; pointing out the high stress environment these departments were creating for it's employees. Some women's groups had even gotten involved railing on the hardships of being a female detective in an "oppressive male industry". He imagined Sara's comment on that subject and smiled. Still, none of this was worse than what Sara had been doing to herself. He'd visited her in the hospital, and she hadn't exactly been at her best. If stress was the number one unseen killer, guilt had to be number two.
"Watcha thinking about there Gabe?" Walter asked, noting he'd sorta zoned out there for a minute.
"Nothin" said Gabriel watching with some amusement as a much older lady danced alone to the house band. "Remind me again why we keep coming here?"
"Patronage man," Walter laughed, "this is the only place in the city that would serve us beer back when we weren't exactly legal remember."
"Oh ya that's right. Gabriel nodded, "So tell me about this deal of lifetime. Wally..ter."
Walter put down his glass and just beamed. "Do you remember that silver chain I bought off ebay a few years back? The Cerberus chain?"
Gabriel laughed, "How could I forget?" he ribbed. "I mean the supposed fabled chain that held the great Cerberus to his post in hell, thought to be unbreakable by mortal hands." Walter rolled his eyes. "Forged through a forgotten method from a never before seen and mind you never seen again alloy. Available through ebay for the unbeatable price of $500 dollars."
"Okay okay, so it was pretty unlikely."
"Ya I'll say."
"And yes it did spend the last couple of years sitting in a box in my mom's garage, thus ending my career in Antiquities and leading me to my true calling."
"Big surprise there" said Gabriel pouring himself another glass of champagne. "Didn't it turn out to be only a couple of links of chain?"
"Ya, it was a bust all around" agreed Walter "That is up until two weeks ago."
"What do you mean?"
"I sold it Gabe, I just finished the transaction today."
"You're kidding me"
"Nope."
"You didn't tell them it was.."
"I actually told the truth, and he wanted it anyway. I mean he contacted me I'd almost forgot I even had it."
Gabriel shook his head. "I can't believe it."
"What you won't believe is how much I sold it for," said Walter lowering his voice.
"How much?"
"5 grand."
Gabriel suddenly felt his heart began to race and tiny beads of perspiration appeared on his forehead, it of course had less to do with price Walter had gotten for the chain and a lot more to do with large black clothed man walking towards him, and the gleam of open hostility in his eyes.
"Mr. Bowman" Ian interrupted, "My master has need of you."