7/24/09: Edited for original upload errors caused by text editor.

Touched By An Angel was about angels helping people.

Forever Knight was about a vampire family--one of whom sought redemption.

I wrote the crossover, but don't own either property.

Chapter 22: Ponderings

Back at The Raven, Andrew was one depressed vampire/Angel of Death. He had lost track of his assignment's whereabouts; and now with the onset of dawn, he and everyone else were stuck where they were. Meaning, of course, that he was trapped with ten of the Community who felt uneasy with the relative stranger in their midst after just having had their securest sanctuary violated. At least the very youngest had all departed for other sleeping locales before the Enforcer 'police' had arrived-thus sparing them the trauma of seeing their local leaders in disarray.

After Kurkan and the Enforcers had left with their prisoner, it had been Andrew's duty as 'senior vampire' to oversee the club and the remaining Night People until Lacroix and Janette were quite literally back up to speed. The first had not been hard seeing as The Raven was always closed for the day anyway, and Miklos had already taken over cleaning up the broken glass and furniture from Lacroix's--as the Irish vampire put it"Bit o' the bull in the china shop bash." Of course, he tactfully refrained from mentioning that half of the green shards had been created when Miklos had dropped the case of bloodwine he'd been helping Janette with when the Enforcers had barged in on them.

Andrew insisted on getting a second mop and broom to help out; however, Feliks had taken it from him before he'd barely started, the florist casting his eyes suggestively at the way to the upper rooms.

Great…Wouldn't that be fun?

Mopping up glass and blood was not Andrew's idea of entertainment, but he'd rather do that then face the General right now. The Roman had been mad enough to chew Alumna Wood tm when Merlin and Aristotle had carried him to his bed, (Alma and Bridgette had performed the same duty for Janette), so the angel was certain that the master vampire would happily settle for chewing on 'Andrew kindling' as a substitute. Sighing, Andrew trudged up the stairs in no real hurry to reach his destination.

Aristotle was waiting for him in the hallway.

"Sir" the vampire 'archive depository' smiled at Andrew as he nervously cleaned his superfluous pair of glasses. "I know what you are. And I am fascinated by the implications of what that means. But I must admit to some puzzlement." Affixing the spectacle's frame back on his nose and ears, he asked earnestly"You hold so much power within you-it was incredible-like the sun itself, fiery and engulfing, but not consuming. Frankly, I'm still surprised to have survived it. And yet when the Enforcers came"

Andrew saw the rest of the question coming from a mile away. Be they mortal or immortal it was always the same question of 'why?'

"Why did I do nothing to stop them?"

"Exactly, sir," Aristotle beamed, "exactly. Surely you will explain? It does seem rather a contradictory action based on your early assertions that you were here to help young Nicholas. You have the ability of a god."

Andrew stopped to lean against one side of the hallway, a frown of discomfort on the lower half of his face. "What you saw was not my power, Aristotle. I'm only an angel. Think of me as more of the moon to the sun. The moon has no glory of its own."

"Ahhh..." the philosopher looked thoughtful. "Then you claim the power was merely a mirrored reflection of the true source… but what is the source then? I could not seem to make it out from your mind."

"Aristotle, I am but a servant of the One Creator God--one of many such servants" Andrew explained. "Everything is either a reflection of God's or Satan's work. Some reflect more, others less. Please understand that it is the Father, Aristotle, who created everything: both you and I."

The Greek snickered, but it was colored with nervousness. "In that case I must be one of the 'lesser' reflections. Brushed iron to your polished silver? Or am I with this Satan's league? Am I a 'Monster of the Night' and Scourge of the Saints deemed indeed as salvageable and fit only for the fiery pit then?"

He wants to know if I've come to condemn him, Andrew inwardly mourned at so many beings living in fear of being judged and being destroyed. "If you can ask that question, then you are a child of the Father. Satan's own never question where they belong. He doesn't allow them to."

"Thank you, Lord Andrew" Aristotle bowed after a moment's pause. "You have given me many new things to think about---a gift that I prize more and more as the centuries pass. And yet you still have not explained why Nicholas is not here with his family? Does not your God care for him? I would surely think so seeing as how much Nicholas cares about removing his sins and avoiding Dante's Inferno."

"Absolutely, he cares. But..." the Angel of Death stuck his hands in his pockets and sighed deeply, deciding to be frank. "Honestly, Aristotle, I have no idea why He has allowed this other than it is in His plan. Like I said before, I'm only an angel… like unto a foot solder for my own General as the others here follow their Elder." He looked at the door to the master suite. "Speaking of whom.."

Aristotle chuckled in dark humor. "My General is still somewhat incapacitated by the curare Kurkan used---which is not something that has put Lucien in a good mood. I've told him to relax, that raising his temper will not raise the rate at which the drug is expelled, but he will not do so until his son is recovered." The Greek shrugged as if that was no big surprise. "Right now he has Merlin scouring the internet trying to find some clue as to where Kurkan's lair is, so Merlin is tracking any current purchases and transfers of large quantities of blood stock; however, that is a large task for a city of this size and Merlin needs to sleep as well if he is to be of any help tonight."

"Tonight..." Andrew scratched the back of his neck. He also needed to get some sleep before evening. "What is Lacroix planning to do about tonight?"

Aristotle sighed. "On that, Kurkan orchestrated his little kidnapping quite well, unfortunately. We will all go as directed to keep Nicholas from being harmed; by putting the appointment at dusk, Kurkan has seemingly not given us any viable way to 'lay in wait' for him: He knows that all his 'guests' are old enough to stand the fading light after sundown, but not the full force of Helios. Leastwise, not for more than a minute or two at most before we burst into flame. Additionally, when the Enforcers pulled the phone lines, he cut off that means of alerting others in the Community or seeking help from other Communities." The vampire winked from behind his spectacles. "However... Kurkan never seems to have bothered much with more recent technology-or given consideration to the depths that some will go for our own."

The angel ran his hand through his hair. Aristotle was hinting rather heavily that Kurkan had left a few fence gates unlocked. Then it hit him. "Merlin's computer… but if the lines are damaged..."

"It's linked directly to his personal satellite" the other grinned. "Merlin was always paranoid about such things as power outages. I, myself, prefer the less expensive alternative of plenty of back-up equipment; but then, I am not usually in the business of performing house calls like he is."

Laying a hand on Andrew's shoulder, he walked them slowly to Lacroix's door as he continued to muse out loud:

"Have you seen those interesting devices called 'pagers' and cell phones? Did you know that it is possible to leave coded messages on them as well as telephone numbers? I suspect the airwaves are rather busy tonight. And then there is the sewer network under the city itself. One can travel quite a distance underground even during the daylight. Kurkan really should do more research on his target's environments---not to mention on his targets. If push comes to shove, some of us are willing to risk the daylight. All that is needed is adequate amounts of thick, dark fabric for protection; though it is a hard thing to do to suppress the desire to hide from the day and only a few are so willing. Thus did Kurkan overlook the possibility. Never had a good background in strategic warfare that one." He smiled softly. "I do hope the flights from Montreal are not delayed by bad weather."

Andrew could not help but snicker at the look of slyness that had crossed the other vampire's usually unassuming countenance during his recital.

"And all of this means" he asked as they entered the suite.

"It means, my nosey friend" Lacroix growled from where he had propped himself up on his divan while watching Merlin's fingers flying over a laptop "that there will be considerably more at this party of his than Kurkan and his Enforcers will be expecting."

Hands held clasped together at his waist, Andrew gave the Ancient a respectful half bow. "Well! You seem to have things as well in hand as could be expected. But I wonder, Lacroix, are you underestimating your enemy as well?"

"What do you mean?" the General asked looking expectantly at his unwanted guest.

"I'm referring to the fact that neither Kurkan nor the Enforcers are the true enemy here," Andrew pointed out.

"You mean High Councilor Joran" Aristotle asked, taking one of the elegant chairs in the room as his seat. "The High Council members rarely leave their base in the Old World. It's highly unlikely that Joran would come here himself for a mere Interview. He will likely wait for Kurkan's report to be spoken in the comfort of Joran's home."

"He will come." Lacroix sighed in fatalistic certainty.

"I beg your pardon, sir" Aristotle gently protested "but as strong as my respect and friendship for your son is... Nicholas is hardly Councilor or Enforcer material. The results of Kurkan's Interview will show him that." He glanced between the Roman and the angel's dour expressions. "Or is this about more than showing disrespect to a Community cell and its Elder?" asked warily.

"Yes" both declared at once. The General glanced at Andrew in irritation.

"You first" Andrew smiled at Lacroix politely in return.

The Elder scowled. "Very well… I suppose that after tonight it will no longer be my secret anymore anyway." He directed Aristotle to pour them all glasses of bloodwine. Normally as the host he would do it himself, but as yet his motor skills were shaky and he hated to show any weakness before even those he trusted with his life.

Aristotle and Andrew waited patiently while the General savored the aroma from his glass before downing it in one gulp.

"I made a deal with Joran many centuries ago that in return for his silence to a transgression I had committed he could choose one of my offspring for his personal protégé: his pick; no time limit.

Aristotle nearly spewed out his mouthful of drink, while Merlin's fingers stopped their dance as he stared in shock at the Roman.

"That was..." Aristotle coughed to clear his throat "some deal. Why, by the heavens?" he asked, pouring them all more of the bottled liquid.

Lacroix sipped thoughtfully at his refill. "Why? Ignorance and a desire to continue living, Aristotle, were strong reasons not to look too minutely at the fine print. I was barely into my first century at the time. Joran convinced me that my life was forfeit if the Enforcers found out what I had done."

"You committed so great a crime that early" Merlin asked" Had you no master to give you direction?"

"It was due to my master that the crime was committed, the Ancient sneered. "You see, I 'killed' her."

"Divia" Aristotle murmured with distaste, taking a long draught from his glass as he recalled the rumors he had heard. "I think I am beginning to see. You thought she was dead, and Joran somehow learned of it. But instead of reporting you to the Enforcers, he proposed this deal. Did he say why?"

"No," came the blunt reply. "And at the time I was not in the mood to question my good fortune at being given a reprieve. I accepted his offer, and ever since then all my offspring who survive their 800th year are subject to Joran's personal Interviewer. If he likes them, Joran has up to 200 years to make up his mind before choosing. Unfortunately, he has not fancied any of the vast brood I threw his way. Now Joran wants my Nicholas.' The general growled deep in his throat.

"But..." Merlin scowled in confusion for the math was absurdly simple..."then De Brabant's Interview is not due until 2028. Why has Kurkan taken him now?"

"Because Kurkan is a bastard from generations of bastards" Aristotle growled, eyes flecked with yellow.

"No...Andrew is right," Lacroix sighed. "Kurkan is but the Councilor's lap dog. It is at Joran's order that he has jumped the timetable."

"Wouldn't that risk the agreement?" Aristotle pointed out.

The General snorted. "And if it did? Just who should I complain to--the Council or the Enforcers? No, my friends, Joran knows that he could have circumvented the rules at any time and there would have no recourse but to let him. I have no idea why he has chosen now."

Heavy silence fell over the room as each pondered the question.

Merlin coughed. "Pardon, Elder...but perhaps it was Nicholas himself who forced the early action? I mean, if he has been suicidal these past centuries what with that 'cure' business...maybe Joran decided that he could not afford to wait?

"Surely suicidal tendencies would be a reason for not being selected in the first place?" Aristotle mused. "Why waste the choice on one bent on the True Death?"

Lacroix didn't even pause to answer that. "Yes, but that neglects the fact of Nicholas's charm and Joran's arrogance about his ability to control anyone. It could well be simple impatience that was the motivating factor."

"No..." Andrew spoke up, breaking their dialogue, his eyes holding a faraway look. "Not entirely. It was Legion and Divia."

The Ancient's eyes turned full amber. "How do you know about that...thing" he demanded.

"Pause and back trace a bit," Merlin held up a pleading hand. "Who or what is Legion?"

Lacroix made a 'brushing off' gesture. "A psychological ghost of my son's--nothing more."

The Angel of Death looked sternly at the Roman. How could the vampire be so flippant when he had seen a demon with his own eyes" Legion was a demon. Not a mental quirk" he corrected.

"There are no such things as demons" Lacroix hissed, his eyes tingeing scarlet with anger.

"You saw Nicholas' eyes change color and glow as Legion taunted you with taking your son away" Andrew firmly rebutted anyway, steadily holding the other's blooded gaze. "Luminous aqua is not a natural color for vampires or mortals. You must accept that demonic possession is what happened if you are to help save your son. Can you really deny what you saw?"

Lacroix was the first to look away. "I...suppose I saw something amiss" he allowed in a soft voice.

"Glowing aqua eyes." Andrew repeated.

"All right! Yes! They were not natural" the Roman snapped, throwing his crystal goblet against the far wall where it smashed in a blossom of icicles and ruby, his words bursting forth in a torrent of pain, rage and bewilderment "Some...unknown--thing--had my son desperately seeking my help! Willingly begging me for my aid! And for the first time in my life I had no idea what to do! I had promised Nicholas my eternal protection--a gift he repeatedly spurned as if it was a sack of offal--and then when he finally seeks me out of his own free will..." the rest was lost in a quickly stifled sob as the vampire used his arms to bury his face from view. "Two millennia of knowledge…experiences…as nothing…."

Silently, Andrew gestured for the others to leave the room. Merlin was a little reluctant to do so, but with Aristotle's quiet urging he closed up his laptop and left with the Greek.

"Lucius..." Andrew said in a low, soothing voice "you did not let Nicholas down."

"Do not speak the ridiculous, Ancient" the Roman growled from beneath the flesh and bone barrier he had erected. "Two mortals---a defrocked priest and a female coroner---did what I could not. And you would have me believe that I did not fail my most precious child? That I did not lose his respect that night?"

"Now who is the one speaking of the ridiculous? Andrew chided him. "Didn't he call you his 'closest friend'? There are many fathers, Lucius, who can earn their sons' respect. But there are more who would give their...their eye teeth- to have their children say that to them. Do you have any idea how much de Brabant loves you despite all your attempts to make him stay by your side merely for fear of your power? Think, Lucius! If Nicholas had really wanted to be rid of you, would he have stopped Divia before she killed you?"

At that moment, Lacroix could not decide if he was grateful or irritated for Andrew's logic. "I... I suppose not."

Taking a black handkerchief from his pocket he handed it to the Elder who accepted the gift without protest, wiping the traces of salty blood from his face, his manner already taking on again its usual patriarchal attitude.

"Now... what were you hinting at with Divia and Legion?" he commanded as if nothing at all had happened.

Andrew likewise drew himself up as if he was a junior officer giving a report. "When I tasted Nicholas blood, we discovered that Divia and Legion had taken residence within his mind, slowly driving him into madness. I believe that Joran wanted to take control of Nicholas through them: a puppet, controlled by puppets, controlled by the puppet master, if you will."

"So... Divia and Legion win after all and I lose my son just as I was about to regain him." The Elder slumped down upon the divan with a sigh of defeat.

"That's sounds rather pessimistic." Andrew folded his arms.

The General gave a mirthless laugh. "Recalling my helplessness before those two as individuals, the thought of their combined power is rather having a morbid affect on me," was his despondent reply. "My only conceivable consolation at this point is that Joran will also find them more than even he can control."

"Oh, Joran would have had no trouble controlling them I'm afraid."

"And why is that…and why the past tense" Lacroix asked, twisting a bit to look Andrew in the eye.

"Nicholas defeated the aliens within him. He's free."

"Nicholas defeated my daughter---again?" The ancient let out a delighted chuckle, which erupted into a full blown laugh. "Oh, how that must have stuck in her craw" He smiled with pride, the light slowly rekindling in his eyes. "And if my son could do this---then perhaps he will defeat Joran as well?"

"Well..." Andrew coughed, reaching for his still untouched glass of bloodwine and downing it in one gulp. "When I said he defeated them..."

The Ancient scowled in displeasure at being jerked around. "You are starting to sound like a damned oracle who tells all and yet nothing in the same sentence. Get to the crux, Andrew! Is my son still in danger or not? And how do you know all of this?"

"It's complicated," the angel hedged.

"I thrive on complications."

"I'm only trying to protect you."

The Elder glared at him.

"Such charity is not appreciated," Lacroix sneered. "Any good general would rather know what he is fighting against before the battle starts."

A mild glow filled the far corner of the room, making both Andrew and Lacroix cringe as the golden light touched their pale skin.

"Oops." the heavenly glow faded to a bare glimmer. "Sorry about that. Too much, I suppose?"

Blinking rapidly to clear his tearing eyes, Lacroix made out the figure of a black man standing within the center of the toned-down light.

"Who the...blazes are you?" demanded the Roman.

"Name's Samuel, but you can call me Sam," the figure said by way of introduction. "And you are General Lucius, formerly of Pompeii. You'll pardon me if I don't offer you my hand in greeting? Undoubtedly, you'd find it unpleasant."

"Very good" Lacroix scowled at him, showing his fangs "you've done your research on the owner whose property you are trespassing on. Now if you would be so kind as to explain what you are and why are you here?"

"I am an Angel of God, Lucius, sent to deliver a message," Sam said in a serious manner. He did not particularly like this being, but that was neither here nor there. He had a mission to complete.

"To be truthfully ungracious, 'angel Samuel' or whomever you are, I'd rather you simply left instead."

Sam raised an eyebrow at that. The old vampire certainly did not scare easily to be ordering an angel around like one of his underlings.

"The message is for my friend and coworker---not you, Lucius."

"I'm afraid then that you have come to the wrong establishment. We only cater to--"

"Uh..." Andrew raised his hand with a sheepish grin, knowing his cover was about to be blown. "He means me."

"You? You're not some bipedal light bulb--you're a vampire," the ancient declared with a look that said he thought the other had gone insane… or more so than usual.

"At the moment that is the case."

The Elder narrowly eyed Andrew with renewed suspicion. "What do you mean?"

At Sam's nod of approval, Andrew sighed.

"My current assignment called for me to masquerade as one of you" Andrew humbly explained, his vampire body fading away even as he talked, replaced by one with the same muted glow as his brother's as well as a crisp, white suit. "Actually, I'm an Angel of Death."

Kurkan's Toronto Abode: Cellar/Current Time

The face smiled.

"You remembered."

"I remember," Nicholas agreed, gazing warmly into the kind eyes he had last seen in a tavern back in 1228. "You were one of the last men to show a certain chip-on-his-shoulder knight some consideration before he went and abandoned the human race. Would you think it forward of me if I asked you a personal question, Adam?"

Laying a hand on de Brabant's shoulder, Adam gave him a gentle squeeze. "Of course not," he said.

"Are you a ghost or an angel?"

The Angel of Death chuckled.

"I am an angel, Nicholas. One who has been watching over you for a long time."

"Ah. Then I take it I don't need to introduce you to..." he pointed a finger towards Monica and Tess.

An amused shake of the head was his answer.

"Small metaphysical world" the tired knight muttered, but laid his own hand on top of Adam's to show his gratitude for the angel's presence. Tess might eventually make a worthwhile friend to know, but that angel named Monica clearly wished he was elsewhere---and where that was something he could agree with her on, it was for entirely different reasons. Adam felt like an old friend from the get go; which, in a way, he was.

Jenny turned to her angel, her lips quivering with a question. "What--is the whole of Heaven involved in this?" she asked, curious as to how many other heavenly beings were going to show up. The old question of: 'How many angels can sit on the head of a pin?' popping unbidden to her mind.

Her friend passed the buck by turning likewise to the black woman. The angel, Jenny corrected herself. Funny how they didn't have wings. You'd think angels would have circular halos and big, feathery wings. Uncle Nick at least had fangs.

"You could say that child" Tess told her in answer to her question. "His eye is on the sparrow, after all. God watches and cares for all His children. Normally, everyone has an angel beside them at least some of the time. But this case is special, you see, because there is so much at risk."

The teenager emphatically shook her head 'no'. "Uh uh-I don't see. I mean, Nick's a vampire--not a real pers--"-she belatedly caught the hurt look on her pseudo-Uncle's face. "I mean... oh, heck, I'm sorry, but I thought God was only concerned with people...I mean..." She dropped her head in her hands. "Oh, I don't know what I mean." She felt Monica rub her back in a soothing manner.

Tess sighed"Well, baby, I guess it all is pretty confusing. I'll try to keep it simple. "And Fang Boy" she looked to make sure that Nicholas was paying attention, ignoring Adam's raised eyebrow at the nickname she had given the vampire..."this is something you especially need to know-the Father says that it is time that you found out since the Enemy will not hesitate to use it as a weapon against you. Forewarned is forearmed."

That got everybody's attention. Adam gave her a knowing look, having just received his own confirmation that it was time. Satisfied that they were all ears, Tess began to tell the story of the origin of vampires.

Review Answers: (if I captured the wrong reviews... mea culpa.)

From: Superfan: "How come Nick is so hesitant to believe in demons? Didn't he become a believer in ghosts after that haunted-house murder? I forget the episode's title. But, the house in question was like a Canadian version of Rose Red Manor."

Yes, I remember that episode. But to someone raised Catholic demons and ghosts are two different things. (Actually, Nick's first experience with ghosts was that of his former lover the vampiress who loved the theatre with a passion but then decided to commit suicide when she thought her inspiration for new plays had run out. The Kelva(?) House third season episode came much later. Btw, seasons one and two are now out in dvd! (Yes-mama!) Though I really wish they'd toned down the vampire stuff on the dvd box cover. Ugh. You'd think you were buying a Buffy or Dracula horror set instead of a thoughtful crime/psychological drama. Oh well. I just watched A More Permanent Hell again. After that, who really cares about the stupid cover choice? grins

Oh yeah... the second part of your question... Nick isn't so much hesitant to believe in demons as he doesn't want to believe he has to deal with them. The boyo is wanting to live in Egypt, as it were. (Oh, the Land of de Nile.) Who can blame him? It's like being told a beloved relative is dead... even if you see the corpse... part of you insists they will be walking through that door any minute now... yeah... any minute.

From: trecebo : Oh! Adam is coming to play too? Yes! Charles Rocket did a great job with the more humorous angel of death. Andrew is very compassionate and such but Adam has a (cough) wicked (cough-cough) sense of humor. And now I know more about vamps that I wanted but, hey, it makes the story move along nicely.

Afraid the only thing I know of the angels (save Andrew, Tess, and Monica) is what I've read in fanfic. Family members in control of tv sets preferred to watch other shows during its time slot. I only saw enough eps to make me fall for Andrew. What can I say?

Cohen and Parriot (and the actors) did a wonderful job creating believable vampires (eh, barring those atrocious glowing eye effects they used in the beginning of the first season). Get or rent season 2. Watch the episode More Permanent Hell where everyone believes that an asteroid is going to create a 20-year Nuclear-type winter. Lacroix's reaction is gut wrenching in its controlled shock/fear. First time I developed real sympathy for the bastard's situation. And it's the first glimpse we get of Divia's twisted evil as well as LC's love/hate relationship with his daughter. God, I love this stuff. This was also the last season with Don Schanke who I much preferred to Tracy Vetter.