Nero: Okay next chapter time!! Oh yeah!! So cool!! Uh huh!!

Recap: "He's shouting because child," Tyki put his hand on her shoulder. "We are Noah."

Oh shit. Gabriel tensed under Tyki's hand, making him chuckle. He moved his hand from her shoulder up her neck to the top of her head and pet her fondly.

"Aw, look Rhode. Our little kitten is scared."

Pico glared at the Tyki and hissed.

"Oh!! He's mad at you, Tyki!!" Rhode giggled.

"A-Allen," Gabriel whimpered out of fear, "please help me." She was on the brink of tears.

"You'll be alright, Gabriel. Just stay calm," Allen assured. The space around Allen became engulfed in white light. The intensity made Gabriel look a way, but when she returned her gaze she saw not Allen, but Allen with a kick ass cape and mask.

"Let the girl go and no one gets hurt."

Tyki and Rhode laughed. "Allen, I don't think you should be making demands," Rhode smiled a sadistic smile.

"Now, we're here to deliver something. A message if you will. So if you could take us to you superior like an obedient Noah, that would be wonderful."

"I'm no monster," Allen hissed.

"Aw, don't be like that, Allen. We forgive you for hurting our feelings," Rhode said with a sing song voice. Gabriel struggled against Tyki, but he already had a good grip on her.

"Now, if you would lead us to the Order, the little kitten won't get hurt." To get their point across, Rhode took Gabriel from Tyki and put her in a weird transparent box and threatened to stab her with a million needle sharp candles.

"You get my drift?" Rhode narrowed his eyes.

Shit this is bad was the only Allen was able to think of at the moment. Here he faced two Noah who have a hostage and he was on his stony lonesome. Bloody fantastic he thought. Allen didn't deactivate the Crown Clown, but he adjusted to a less threatening stance.

"Look Card Shark," Tyki used his nickname for Allen, "If we really wanted to end your pitiful life, we wouldn't bother with a hostage."

"Then what is it that you really want?" Allen growled.

Suddenly a gold ball flashed past Allen's head and bore its teeth at the Noah Clansmen. Timcampy had come to save the day.

"Hahaha, oh Allen," Rhode chuckled. "Your pet is so cute!! What'll it do? Bite us!?"

"No, but I can." Cross, Lavi, Kanda, and Thomas came to the rescue.

"Nice thinking, Tim!!"

"Che, you should have thought of it yourself. You're dumber than I thought if that thing could think this up and you couldn't, Moyashi."

"Shut up, BaKanda. We have bigger problems at the moment."

"As I was about to say, we only want to deliver a message."

"Then again, we could always make it more interesting." Rhode's eyes shone sadistically.

"Actually no, we don't care to play your sick games. But we would love our friend back," Lavi smiled sweetly.

"That's what I'm saying. If you put your toys away and let us pass on the message, then we'll return the kitten and leave." Tyki was at the end of his rope. He swore if the Earl had given him more leash he would have just tore through the Order already.

The deal was good, too good. The exorcists didn't know what to do. They out number the Noah, but two of their party were useless against the Noah and they had a hostage. They had little choice, but to comply with the enemies' demands.

Although no one deactivated their weapons, the went into a more casual stance.

"Good, now listen carefully to what the Earl has to say. Its a simple question really. No clue what it means, but he told us it was of the greatest importance," Rhode giggled. "Especially for you," she pointed at Cross.

"Are you all listening? Great, the question is: Is it really worth it?" Rhode had a knowing sparkle in her eye. "Well, you may not have to answer now, but we are expect to bring back an answer from you so."

With a wave of her gray skinned hand, Rhode's candles pierced Gabriel is a million and a half places. Cross was speechless as Gabriel's blood chilling cry echoed through the empty paths of the Ark. No longer was she the delicate young lady who he watched be born and raised with a rosy hand, but a mangled fountain of blood screaming like the burning souls n hell.

"Gabriel!!" Thomas screamed. No, this wasn't happening. Cross didn't move from his spot as his former apprentice, the pretty boy, and the redhead pirate rushed the Noah, but all too late. They had already faded into the little bitch's gate. Thomas held the bloody body of his sister. Shaking like a child caught in a war. Then again, that's exactly what they were. Allen, Kanda, Lavi, Thomas, and Gabriel, all of them pushed into something that they should have never experienced.

"Come on, we have to get her to the infirmary," Lavi said calmly.

xxx

Again, they all waited, except for Kanda who just trained all the time, for Gabriel to get better, working around their schedule to check on her status. Over the course of three days, the doctors and nurses operated on Cross' child. Taking shifts because there was no other choice. Thomas waited with his father, taking no time out for himself as Cross refused to leave the hospital wing as well. Allen made it a habit of taking them food with Lenalee, making sure that Gabriel's family was well enough for her return, if she ever did.

"Thanks, Lenalee. You're a really pal, you know that?" Thomas accepted a mug of coffee.

"Its nothing really. Um, any new changed?"

"No," Thomas eyed the dark brown liquid. "Do you... Do you think.." Thomas couldn't bring himself to finish his thought.

"She'll make it for sure. Isn't that right, Allen." Lenalee turned to the white haired boy collecting the dirty dishes from the last meal.

"Yeah, sure," he said unconvincingly.

The awkwardness of the moment was broken as a doctor stepped out from behind the doors, looking exhausted beyond belief. He looked at the group with sad, tired eyes then looked away.

"No," Thomas whispered. His hand began to shake again as he clenched the mug in his hands.

"She has survived the injuries till now," the doctor said in a somber voice. "But she won't last much longer. I suggest you prepare your farewells."

With that, the doctor left them in the empty hall. A heavy air settled on the group as they mulled over the new information.

"I..I better tell my brother," Lenalee said quickly.

Lenalee turned to leave when Cross beat her to the pun. "I have to do something. Take care of your sister while I'm gone."

"Yes sir."

"W-wait!! Where do you think you're going!? Gabriel doesn't have much time and you think your personal business is more important!!?" Allen shouted.

"If she really is my flesh and blood, then she can handle this no problem." Cross didn't turn around as he said this. He simply walked away.

Nero: Yup, some real development!! What will happen next?