A/N: The reviews I've been getting are wonderful and more often than not, very amusing. Thank you all for your comments and interest in the story.
********
Gabriel looked up from his spot on the floor when the door to Talismaniac opened.
"I'm sorry but we're closed today." he said to a blonde man in a long coat.
"Are you the owner of this shop?" the man asked.
"Yes." Gabriel tilted his head slightly as his ears began to hum, "How did you get in? I thought the door was locked."
"Mr. Bowman, correct?"
Gabriel nodded, already piecing together that this man wasn't interested in anything that his shop held, "Yes, sir, and you are?"
"Mr. Knowl." he offered his hand but Gabriel didn't take it.
"What is it you came for?" Gabriel stood as Sly appeared from the back room with his arms full of boxes.
"Have you ever heard of the Witchblade, Mr. Bowman?" Mr. Knowl asked watching Gabriel closely.
Gabriel took a moment to pretend to think about the question and then asked in a would-be-casual interest, "Joan of Arc's gontlet, right?"
"The one and only." Mr. Knowl nodded, his eyes dark and cold.
"Yeah, I've read about it before. What dealer in oddities hasn't?" Gabriel directed Sly to set the boxes down as he pretended to have some interest in one of his many shelves.
"I see." Mr Knowl turned to keep Gabriel in view, "Have you ever seen it?"
"Of course." Gabriel could feel the man's eyes on his back and he had to fight the urge to turn around, "They had it on display at the mueseum not too long ago. I went to see the morning before the explosion."
"Are you friends with Sara Pezzini?"
Gabriel's heart nearly betrayed him as it began to pound, making him want to yell at this man to stay away from 'his' Sara, "Yeah, you could say that." he managed to get out instead, "Why do you ask?"
"I met her this morning." Mr. Knowl was smirking as though he knew what Gabriel was dying to say.
"Oh." was all Gabriel could think of to say that wouldn't give away his concern.
"She seems a bit hostile." Mr Knowl said with a sigh, "It's not always smart to act so around one so above you."
"Above?" Sly asked before Gabriel could, "She's a cop." he looked at his friend with a disbelieving smirk then turned to face Mr. Knowl, "If it's any one is above some one else then she is above you, my good man."
"Sara is quite the friend." Gabriel smiled, "She would do anything for the ones she loves and that also includes hunting done those who threaten her and her own."
Mr. Knowl paled slightly as he cleared his throat, "Yes, well, that is quite understandable." he adjusted his coat and turned to leave, "Good day to you, boys. I'm sure I will see you again."
*********
Jason Knowl loosened the colar of his shirt as he made his way out of the building where Talismaniac was located. Not only was he unsure wether or not Sara had the Blade, but he quite sure that they would have a hard time getting to her Guide. That is if they ever found the person in the first place.
Personaly, Sara had made him very nervous. What if a woman as strong willed and defensive as she, was the Wielder? They would have a problem on their hands, now wouldn't they?
Joan had been voulnerable in battle, her mind unreachable as the Blade took control. Elizabeth had yet to find her Guide when she was killed by outside forces. They had had nothing to do with her death. The 'Pack' as they had always been known, were still unsure as to what happened to Elizabeth's body. It had never been found.
The 'Pack', or as they often called themselves, the Shadow Pack lived from one life to another searching for the Weilder and trying to kill her Guide. A strong Weilder with a clear mind and her Guide to stand beside her is untouchable. They couldn't let such a thing come to pass. It had happened before, yes, but only once. The Pack had nearly been destroyed by the power of the Blade and they weren't in a hurry to have it happen again.
The Blade.
A distant memory floated to mind and Jason Knowl paused in mid-stride to watch as Cleopatra held her hand aloft and was bathed in a red fog. That day, one so long ago had been the end to nearly half of the Pack. The Blade had accepted Cleopatra and her Guide and the Bladeitself had become something more, something physically capable of moving while seperated from the Weilder.
Shivering, Jason continued on his way.
********
"Gabriel!" Sara called out as she entered the shop, "Are you in here?"
"Yeah, we're in the back." Gabriel replied and within seconds he came into the front part of the shop.
"Did a Mr. Knowl come to visit you today?" Sara asked as Gabriel hugged her tightly.
"Yeah, but he didn't seem in any hurry to stay." Gabriel smiled into her hair and pulled back to kiss her, "How was work?" he asked once they pulled apart.
"Horrible. Absolute torture because I knew he would come here. I was so worried. If he had done anything I think I would have killed him first and asked questions later." Sara ran a cold finger down the side of Gabriel's face as he grinned.
"I'm fine. We both are. Sly's still here and he couldn't get over that Mr. Knowl. I don't think he liked him much."
"I don't think anyone could like a man like that." Sara had yet to let Gabriel go, her arms were draped around his sholders, one hand playing with his dark curls, "How's your hand?"
"Not bad. I hit it once and wasn't too proud but it didn't hurt for long." Gabriel pulled Sara to the back room where Sly sat on the floor with a clip broad in his lap and a pen in his mouth as he searched the bottom shelf of the storage rack.
"You do know that you have a book down here that's not on the sheet, right?" Sly asked he looked up at the two.
"Hm, I wonder how that happened?" Gabriel let go of Sara and bent down next to his friend with a small frown, "Well, I'll just check the records and see when it came in."
Then next two hours was spent with the three of them sitting in the small sorage room with the record books and looking for the arrival date of the Celtic Story book that had been written in the 1300's.
"It's a copy, of course." Gabriel said absently as he took a seat on the floor next to Sara, "The original would never have lasted this long. In fact, it was probably burned in the wars."
Sara tried but had a hard time keeping her mind on the the thick book in her lap. She was worried about Knowl and what his appearance may mean for the man sitting next to her. If anything were to happen to him.....she wouldn't be surprised if she 'lost it' like Joan had done.
Gabriel seemed calm, she could feel it. Sly was getting bored, his energy kept wondering between mild interest and sleepiness.
"Well, I don't think it's here." Gabriel finaly admitted with a defeated sigh.
"Does that mean, I can go?" Sly asked with a yawn.
"Yeah, man." Gabriel smiled, "Thanks for all the help toady."
"Anytime." Sly stood and stretched, "It gives me a chance to get away from my life and all the people wanting a piece of it."
"Then, stop by anytime you feel like it." Gabriel shook his friends hand as Sly bid Sara farewell.
"Thanks for staying with him." Sara took Gabriel's hand in her own as they walked Sly to the door, "It helped alot knowing that he wasn't here by himself right after getting injured."
"My pleasure." Sly smiled and left.
"Were you really that worried today?" Gabriel asked as he sat on the couch, his bandaged hand placed gently on the arm rest.
"You have no idea." Sara sat next to him and turned, placing one of her legs across his lap as she sat on the other, "But things seem to have gone in our favor."
"That's good to know." Gabriel smiled, leaning into Sara as she kissed his neck.
"But for how long is what bothers me." Sara sighed.
"We've already had this descussion." Gabriel placed his good hand on Sara's arm, "Or one close to it."
"I know, only last time it was you who was worrying, not me."
"We'll be fine, Sara. We always are."
**********
A/N: I hope you liked it! Sorry it's not as long as some of the others. I won't be able to update for a while and if I do it will short chapters only. My sister's getting married and we have a house full of people. I typed this while most of them were gone shopping. I didn't have to time to go through and edit everything so I apologize for the mistakes. ^_^ As always, please review.
********
Gabriel looked up from his spot on the floor when the door to Talismaniac opened.
"I'm sorry but we're closed today." he said to a blonde man in a long coat.
"Are you the owner of this shop?" the man asked.
"Yes." Gabriel tilted his head slightly as his ears began to hum, "How did you get in? I thought the door was locked."
"Mr. Bowman, correct?"
Gabriel nodded, already piecing together that this man wasn't interested in anything that his shop held, "Yes, sir, and you are?"
"Mr. Knowl." he offered his hand but Gabriel didn't take it.
"What is it you came for?" Gabriel stood as Sly appeared from the back room with his arms full of boxes.
"Have you ever heard of the Witchblade, Mr. Bowman?" Mr. Knowl asked watching Gabriel closely.
Gabriel took a moment to pretend to think about the question and then asked in a would-be-casual interest, "Joan of Arc's gontlet, right?"
"The one and only." Mr. Knowl nodded, his eyes dark and cold.
"Yeah, I've read about it before. What dealer in oddities hasn't?" Gabriel directed Sly to set the boxes down as he pretended to have some interest in one of his many shelves.
"I see." Mr Knowl turned to keep Gabriel in view, "Have you ever seen it?"
"Of course." Gabriel could feel the man's eyes on his back and he had to fight the urge to turn around, "They had it on display at the mueseum not too long ago. I went to see the morning before the explosion."
"Are you friends with Sara Pezzini?"
Gabriel's heart nearly betrayed him as it began to pound, making him want to yell at this man to stay away from 'his' Sara, "Yeah, you could say that." he managed to get out instead, "Why do you ask?"
"I met her this morning." Mr. Knowl was smirking as though he knew what Gabriel was dying to say.
"Oh." was all Gabriel could think of to say that wouldn't give away his concern.
"She seems a bit hostile." Mr Knowl said with a sigh, "It's not always smart to act so around one so above you."
"Above?" Sly asked before Gabriel could, "She's a cop." he looked at his friend with a disbelieving smirk then turned to face Mr. Knowl, "If it's any one is above some one else then she is above you, my good man."
"Sara is quite the friend." Gabriel smiled, "She would do anything for the ones she loves and that also includes hunting done those who threaten her and her own."
Mr. Knowl paled slightly as he cleared his throat, "Yes, well, that is quite understandable." he adjusted his coat and turned to leave, "Good day to you, boys. I'm sure I will see you again."
*********
Jason Knowl loosened the colar of his shirt as he made his way out of the building where Talismaniac was located. Not only was he unsure wether or not Sara had the Blade, but he quite sure that they would have a hard time getting to her Guide. That is if they ever found the person in the first place.
Personaly, Sara had made him very nervous. What if a woman as strong willed and defensive as she, was the Wielder? They would have a problem on their hands, now wouldn't they?
Joan had been voulnerable in battle, her mind unreachable as the Blade took control. Elizabeth had yet to find her Guide when she was killed by outside forces. They had had nothing to do with her death. The 'Pack' as they had always been known, were still unsure as to what happened to Elizabeth's body. It had never been found.
The 'Pack', or as they often called themselves, the Shadow Pack lived from one life to another searching for the Weilder and trying to kill her Guide. A strong Weilder with a clear mind and her Guide to stand beside her is untouchable. They couldn't let such a thing come to pass. It had happened before, yes, but only once. The Pack had nearly been destroyed by the power of the Blade and they weren't in a hurry to have it happen again.
The Blade.
A distant memory floated to mind and Jason Knowl paused in mid-stride to watch as Cleopatra held her hand aloft and was bathed in a red fog. That day, one so long ago had been the end to nearly half of the Pack. The Blade had accepted Cleopatra and her Guide and the Bladeitself had become something more, something physically capable of moving while seperated from the Weilder.
Shivering, Jason continued on his way.
********
"Gabriel!" Sara called out as she entered the shop, "Are you in here?"
"Yeah, we're in the back." Gabriel replied and within seconds he came into the front part of the shop.
"Did a Mr. Knowl come to visit you today?" Sara asked as Gabriel hugged her tightly.
"Yeah, but he didn't seem in any hurry to stay." Gabriel smiled into her hair and pulled back to kiss her, "How was work?" he asked once they pulled apart.
"Horrible. Absolute torture because I knew he would come here. I was so worried. If he had done anything I think I would have killed him first and asked questions later." Sara ran a cold finger down the side of Gabriel's face as he grinned.
"I'm fine. We both are. Sly's still here and he couldn't get over that Mr. Knowl. I don't think he liked him much."
"I don't think anyone could like a man like that." Sara had yet to let Gabriel go, her arms were draped around his sholders, one hand playing with his dark curls, "How's your hand?"
"Not bad. I hit it once and wasn't too proud but it didn't hurt for long." Gabriel pulled Sara to the back room where Sly sat on the floor with a clip broad in his lap and a pen in his mouth as he searched the bottom shelf of the storage rack.
"You do know that you have a book down here that's not on the sheet, right?" Sly asked he looked up at the two.
"Hm, I wonder how that happened?" Gabriel let go of Sara and bent down next to his friend with a small frown, "Well, I'll just check the records and see when it came in."
Then next two hours was spent with the three of them sitting in the small sorage room with the record books and looking for the arrival date of the Celtic Story book that had been written in the 1300's.
"It's a copy, of course." Gabriel said absently as he took a seat on the floor next to Sara, "The original would never have lasted this long. In fact, it was probably burned in the wars."
Sara tried but had a hard time keeping her mind on the the thick book in her lap. She was worried about Knowl and what his appearance may mean for the man sitting next to her. If anything were to happen to him.....she wouldn't be surprised if she 'lost it' like Joan had done.
Gabriel seemed calm, she could feel it. Sly was getting bored, his energy kept wondering between mild interest and sleepiness.
"Well, I don't think it's here." Gabriel finaly admitted with a defeated sigh.
"Does that mean, I can go?" Sly asked with a yawn.
"Yeah, man." Gabriel smiled, "Thanks for all the help toady."
"Anytime." Sly stood and stretched, "It gives me a chance to get away from my life and all the people wanting a piece of it."
"Then, stop by anytime you feel like it." Gabriel shook his friends hand as Sly bid Sara farewell.
"Thanks for staying with him." Sara took Gabriel's hand in her own as they walked Sly to the door, "It helped alot knowing that he wasn't here by himself right after getting injured."
"My pleasure." Sly smiled and left.
"Were you really that worried today?" Gabriel asked as he sat on the couch, his bandaged hand placed gently on the arm rest.
"You have no idea." Sara sat next to him and turned, placing one of her legs across his lap as she sat on the other, "But things seem to have gone in our favor."
"That's good to know." Gabriel smiled, leaning into Sara as she kissed his neck.
"But for how long is what bothers me." Sara sighed.
"We've already had this descussion." Gabriel placed his good hand on Sara's arm, "Or one close to it."
"I know, only last time it was you who was worrying, not me."
"We'll be fine, Sara. We always are."
**********
A/N: I hope you liked it! Sorry it's not as long as some of the others. I won't be able to update for a while and if I do it will short chapters only. My sister's getting married and we have a house full of people. I typed this while most of them were gone shopping. I didn't have to time to go through and edit everything so I apologize for the mistakes. ^_^ As always, please review.
