HOW LIKE A FALLEN ANGEL – CHAPTER 7

Faith had gotten Grace dressed and ready while I was talking to Dawn. "Are you ready to go" I asked.

She nodded and I pushed a bit of my essence into her. Her eyes rolled back in her head and she collapsed. Faith caught her; slayer reflexes, and gave me an angry glare, "What the hell, Ian?"

"She couldn't handle the idea that we are in Spain right now or that we can travel from Spain to New York in under ten minutes. When we arrive, we'll wake her up and take her home."

I could tell that Faith didn't like the idea of causing further trauma, but she didn't continue to complain either. Personally, I was worried about official involvement from the Police and the FBI. We really didn't need them looking into the whole slayer thing, let alone having to deal with something like me.

I grabbed hold of both of them and we were on our way back to New York.

We came to ourselves in a backyard in a fairly upper-class suburb. Faith and I checked out the area, and it looked as though no-one had seen us arrive. Looking around the front, I saw several official type cars down the street; I assumed that they were near Grace's house. Faith and I made sure we had our proper ID, and moved Grace out to the front walk. I told Faith that she would have to make up a story to explain how we got there.

"Why not you?"

"Because as much as I would like to at times, I can't lie; and not to sound too corny, but she can't handle the truth."

Faith just nodded, and then; gently, more gently than I would have believed, Faith brought Grace around. "Hey kid, sleepy times over".

Grace looked around, confused "how did we get here?"

"You're kidding, right. You don't remember the hospital, the taxi ride, wanting to get out a little early so you could think about how to make your parents believe you really don't remember what exactly happened."

Grace just looked flummoxed, but went along with Faith's implied story.

Slowly we walked down the street towards her house. "How am I gonna get 'em to believe all of that?"

"Just leave that to Ian" Faith said "he's way convincing."

Grace looked at me, a bit surprised. I just nodded and gave a little grin. Faith had done a brilliant job of defining our roles without saying anything specific. She was the caregiver and I was the bureaucrat.

Suddenly a shout of "FREEZE" rang out. Grace looked scared as Faith and I moved to protect her. I was hoping that these officers were not that trigger happy.

A young man came up and identified himself as Agent Morris of the FBI. "We've got a few questions for you."

"Take a look at this" I said as I passed him our IDs "I don't believe we'll be answering anything or going anywhere with you"

The two ID's gave only our first names and identified us a Vatican special envoy's a level of diplomat that cannot ever be questioned or detained.

"I'll have to check this out" he said.

"Please feel free, but we are going to return this girl to her family while you check us out."

With that less than pleasant exchange, we just walked up and knocked on the door.

A woman, about forty with strawberry blond hair, nearly tore the door apart getting it open. She and her husband surrounded Grace and were making it clear that they loved her. Faith and I just stood there, agent Morris behind us, none of us wanted to intrude, but we were not finished yet. Finally the father looked up at us and said "please come in."

We did and introduced ourselves as Vatican employees. This surprised them a bit, and I could see the questions beginning to form. I asked Grace to introduce Faith to Creosote in the back yard.

When they were gone, I turned to the parents; well aware that agent Morris was taking notes. "Your daughter was kidnapped by a group of Satanists living in the Rome area. We do not believe that there were any mitigating circumstances for them taking her; she was simply a target of opportunity. They were performing a ceremony involving multiple rapes and eventually in her death when my partner and I arrived. We stopped it and took your daughter to a safe location. Right now she doesn't remember exactly what happened, but she will in time. I could suggest a good therapist in the area, but I think it would be best if you go see Father McLaren at St. Thomas'. He is a Jesuit Father and was a psychiatrist before he joined the church. I have spoken to him; he knows Grace's circumstances and has had experience with this kind of thing before. He will not be surprised by your call. I know that you aren't Catholic, but it will not make a difference to him, and he won't try to convert her or anything. If you take her to someone else, please have them call the Father, so he can fill in the story that she doesn't yet remember."

It was a heck of a lot to drop on them at once. Truth be told, they handled it well. It took a minute or two, but eventually the questions started flying.

"Is there any chance she's pregnant?"

"None"

"The men responsible?"

"Dead, although we only told Grace that they had been punished."

This stopped them for a second; "you mean you killed them all?"

"My partner and I, yes."

"You realize that you've just confessed to murder" agent Morris asked.

"Fifteen counts actually" giving agent Morris confirmation of my involvement; "if I was a US citizen I guess I'd worry, but I'm with the Vatican, diplomatic immunity, etc. Besides, they shot first."

After a few more technical questions from agent Morris, the parents asked the big one; "will our daughter be OK?"

"She's a strong, resilient girl, Mr. and Mrs. Adams; with some help and a lot of support from both of you, she'll recover fully. If you ever need anything, Father McLaren will know how to get hold of either Faith or myself." I stood as Faith and Grace came back inside; "goodbye and good luck to you all." They saw us to the door, and we left. Needless to say, agent Morris came with us.

"OK, fifteen bodies were found in some woods outside of Rome; you're saying that you and her did all that?"

"No, Faith was not with me at that time, she's here because she was caring for Grace after she was rescued. My partner was wounded and is now recovering."

"How did they die?"

"Six from a blade and nine by gunshot, although bullets were not used; silver slugs were."

Agent Morris's eyes went wide "Shit, you really were there."

"I told you I was, now if there is nothing else."

"No, your status checked out, I can't hold you or even ask questions, so you both are free to go."

"Thank you agent" I said as we turned and began walking away.

I was looking for a place to leave from when Faith asked "did they ever thank you for saving her?"

"No, and that's not unusual."

"That would really piss me off."

"Yeah, but what can you do, withhold what they need."

"I don't know it just seems rude."

"Yeah, but the way I look at it is that they care more about their kid than our feelings, and that's how it should be."

"I suppose"

"Thank, by the way, you wee great with her."

"Hey, she's a great girl."

I had found a little service drive that was way overgrown. "Come on" I said nodding at the road "let's get home."

She just smiled and I took her hand and we went back to Spain.

When we got there, I said goodbye to Faith and went looking for someone I needed to apologize to.

I found her sitting under a tree, looking contemplative.

I cleared by throat and she looked up. "If I'm one too many, just say so."

"No" she answered "have a seat".

"I just wanted to apologize for earlier, you know, breaking the spell and all; I didn't hurt you did I?"

"No, but you gave Jenny quite a shock, she was assisting and had never seen something like that."

"Not permanently traumatized is she?"

"No, but she had me built up in her mind as this Glenda the Good, mega wicca; so it was surprising to her to see someone break a spell of mine. I guess it took me off a pedestal."

"Sorry, I just didn't want what you were doing at that time. I understand why and even appreciate the effort, but I didn't want my feelings blunted. And I'm sorry you're not on your student's pedestal any more."

"Don't be, pedestals aren't very comfortable; they hurt your feet and all."

"How's her training coming?"

"Good, she's gonna be way formidable real soon."

"But you look like you aren't thrilled about that."

"No, I'm thrilled about that, just chock full of thrillage; but, well, there's something else."

"Anything I can do, I'm a pretty good listener; I can even offer advice if you want, but mostly I just rub my chin and look smart and nod."

"Well, she came on to me."

"And this is a problem because. . . . . it disrupts the teacher student relationship?"

"No, because I wasn't interested."

"And that's a problem why; 'cause she wont take no for an answer?"

"No, not that, I mean it's been a while since Ken or anyone else, and she's cute and all, and nothing like Tara or anyone past, I feel like I should, but I didn't, and I can't figure out why I didn't because before she said anything I kinda wanted to. But then she asked and I said no."

"Maybe you're just being responsible?"

"That could be it, but I don't think so, I mean, we're pretty good about being in touch with our feelings and each other and all, so it wouldn't be that big a stretch to be having a few extra tutorials if you know what I mean, but I said no."

"Someone else?"

"I'm not sure about that either, there could be, but it's not what I expected; it's kinda doomed but that doesn't seem to matter."

I thought for a second, and then realized what was going on. "So, you're in love with Oz, but can't reconcile that with your same sex preferences."

"No, of course not; how could you even suggest that I might, I mean really; I, just. . . . . . yeah, that's pretty much it."

"Well, I gotta admit I'm surprised."

"Really"

"Yeah, I'm surprised that you would get so hung up on labels; I'm gay, I'm straight, whatever. You love who you love, that's it."

"So you think it's possible?"

"The question is do you think it's possible. Remember what a wise man once said 'love is giving everything away without any guarantee of getting anything back'. If you don't think you're ready for it, don't try; but if you think that Oz is worth that kind of risk, then what's holding you back?"

"Fear, I guess; it's risky."

"That's life"

"True enough, hey which wise man said that anyway?"

I stood and brushed my clothes off, "me" I said; and left her to her thoughts.