Chapter 3: Sarah

"What? What are you talking about 'I can't come'?" Sarah and Casey were speed walking towards the car but Chuck was hot on their heels.

"Chuck, I already told you, it's too dangerous." Sarah said, loading her gun and then slipping it into a holster on her hip.

"Well that's never stopped you before! What if I need to flash on someone or-"

"We already know who we're going after Bartowski. I don't know how many times we have to tell you. You're not coming." Casey said in his dark, do-what-I-say-or-I'll-kill-you tone.

"But-"

"No buts! I'm sorry Chuck, but this isn't a mission, it's just a raid. We're just taking in the Fulcrum agents for questioning and that's all!" Sarah was now in the car and Casey was turning the key and putting it into gear. "Now stay here."

"Ya, why don't you try something new and actually follow the orders given to you," Casey said, not bothering to look up. As Chuck shot him hurt looks that he took no notice of (or ignored), Casey backed out of the driveway and pulled off into the distance.

Chuck sighed. This was good, he should be happy that he had the day off. After being forced to seduce a murderess who tried to kill him, a break would be good. Today, he would actually go to work.

Casey

"Everybody freeze!"

This was normal. Casey was glad to back in the line of fire. It felt so… natural. Especially now that he didn't have that idiot screwing around and getting everyone in trouble. Well, actually Chuck mostly got him in trouble. Just thinking about Chuck made him almost wish someone would resist arrest.

Of course there was a slight difference in the weaponry this time. They were at a school of torture so that made sense. It made it more interesting, thrilling almost, but now no one was there to point it out. At last, Casey could do his job. Professionally.

Sarah

Sarah was sort of the scout. She was checking out the rooms, and sending anyone she found back to Casey and the rest of the crew. Of course most of the rooms were empty, and unlocked. Just like a school. It was lunch time.

As she made her way down the long line of doors, she noticed a large door at the end of the hall. When she tried the knob, she discovered it was locked. Strange, that had been the first one.

She kicked down the door and it swung open with a bang. The room was dark, and appeared to be empty. She pulled a flashlight from her belt and shone it around the room. It was filthy. Dirt covered the floor and a few rats scurried away when the light was shined on them. Then she heard a faint murmur and quickly swung the light around. It landed on a figure, lying on the ground.

"Oh my gosh," she breathed. She ran over and kneeled down by the body. It was covered in various cuts and bruises. She hadn't expected to find a guinea pig.

She gingerly turned him over, trying not to further injure any abrasion. He was young, around her age at least, and he was breathing. His hair was plastered to his face, telling her that he had probably been 'out' today. She checked his pulse. Slow, but steady. This meant he would live.

Gabriel

Gabriel saw nothing but blur. There were several reasons for this. It could have been because he didn't have his contacts, or because he was tired, or because he was in extreme pain, but it was probably because he hadn't eaten for five days. He did know that someone was holding him though, something hadn't felt for a long time. Actually, something he had never really felt.

Then it struck him that it was probably 'the woman' and he knew he couldn't let her kill him. He quickly snapped himself out of it and, with whatever little strength had, began trying to push himself away. She held fast, firmly, but gently.

"It's okay," she said calmly "I'm here to help you,"

Gabriel relaxed a little, but stayed on guard. He still didn't know who she was, and why would anybody want to save him? He didn't deserve to be saved and he certainly didn't make any 'friends' that would be willing to save him.

"Whoareyou?" he asked, his fevered words jumbled together.

"The one who's going to save you," Answered the angel. Gabriel smiled and closed his eyes, tilting back his head.

"Thank you," He felt himself beginning to lose consciousness.

"Hey, hey," she said, gently pushing back his hair to wake him. "You can't sleep yet, we have to get out of here"

Sarah

Soon Sarah was walking back down the hall, the man's arm swung over her shoulder. He could barely walk, but he was trying. He was strong.

"Who's he?" Casey asked, appearing on the other side of the man and taking his other arm.

"Who does he look like? I don't know his name, but I do know his role here." Sarah replied in a composed manner.

They approached their car and Casey put the man in the back and shut the door.

"We should take him to the hospital," Sarah said.

"No, it's too dangerous, he could know something. You can take care of him,"

"I don't know," Sarah said.

"Well I do. His injuries aren't too deep, their nothing you haven't dealt with before. Now there are just… more." Casey said. Sarah sighed and looked at the man in the car who was slowly falling onto his side.

"Okay, I'll take him, you deal the rest." Sarah said, nodding to the car full of delinquents.

"Fine, see you tomorrow," Casey said, turning and heading towards the car.

Sarah got into the front seat and turned around. The man was trying to push himself up in a failed attempt.

She got out of the front and helped him up, buckling his seatbelt for him, and leaning him against the door. It was hard to tell if he was awake or asleep. She got in the car and turned the ignition.

Gabriel

When Gabriel woke up, he was in a bed, in a room he had never seen before. That meant he wasn't in a hospital, he wasn't in jail, he wasn't in a lab, and he certainly wasn't in 'that place.' This was quiet an improvement. Actually it was much better than anything he could have even imagined in the past few months.

The bed was warm and soft. Was this a dream? Had last night been a dream? If not, where was the girl? Gabriel wanted to just close him eyes and go back to sleep, but he knew he couldn't do that. There were too many questions and one very important one. Did he still have his powers, or had they just been repressed while he was there? Maybe he should test it on something...

As if on cue, the door slowly opened and someone entered. Or something entered, he couldn't tell. He didn't have his glasses or his contacts, and he couldn't change his eyes now that his powers were gone.

He knew he couldn't test his powers while that person was in his room. He wanted, no, he was determined to be a better person. Even if he were to test it on something else, an object perhaps, he would probably frighten the poor thing out of it's wits.

"Good morning," The blur said. It was a woman's voice.

She hesitated at a table near the door (Gabriel figured it was probably setting something down) and his image focused a bit. He could see that she had long blonde hair, but that was about it. Now she was walking towards him again.

"Are you- I mean, were you- um, last night-" Gabriel started, not really sure how to word his sentence. The woman laughed lightly. It wasn't a crazed laugh, or a mocking one, which was a nice change, but it wasn't a true laugh either. How would he know a true laugh? Would he recognize one if he heard it? He couldn't remember if he had ever actually heard one before.

"Yes," she said. She was now sitting on his bed. "I don't blame you for not remembering, you've had a long six months,"

"How did you-"

"Let's just say I know people." The woman said. He could see the trace of a smile and he smiled back.

"Well, I wouldn't recognize you anyway, I can't really see anything. I don't have my glasses and I can't- um, get them." That was close. He had almost slipped and said, 'change my eyes,' and that would have been very bad for his situation. Luckily she didn't seem to take notice.

"Oh! I have just the thing. Stay here, and I'll be right back," she said, standing up. Her fingers lingered on the bed as she then said reassuringly, "I'll be right back,"

She turned and exited the room. When the woman returned, she was holding a box. Gabriel sat up as she placed the it in his lap. Inside were glasses. Hundreds of them. He looked up at the woman and gave a surprised laugh.

"Who are you?" He said in disbelief. She smiled and extended her hand.

"I'm Sarah,"