Holy crap guys! So many good reviews, follows and faves! After just one chapter?! HUGS! I am so excited to write this, and I am excited for this Thursday's episode! Happy dance! lol ok, as usual, please review, this is a loooong one! Just for you dearest readers!

Gabriella woke early the next morning, burying her head under her pillow as her alarm shrieked. "Fuck you too" she mumbled. She had gotten to bed around 1am after helping Michael, and it was now 5am. It was going to be a long, long day.

Dragging her tired body out of bed, she trudged into the bathroom and climbed in before the water was even hot, shuddering as the cold water made her skin break out in goosebumps. She washed quickly, and was out just as the water was heating up. She smirked, at least she hadn't used her hot water allotment for the day…probably for the whole week even.

She dressed quickly in her standard dark brown linen pants, colored cotton tank and a linen elbow length button down. Being around patients meant limiting exposure to blood and other fluids. She had long ago foregone scrubs for the less sterile street clothing. It meant scrubbing blood and other bodily fluids out of her clothing, but it was worth it to see the trust in her patient's eyes when they saw that she was just like them.

Gathering up her lunch and snacks into her bag, she quickly braided her still wet hair and glanced around, making sure she had everything. Nodding she locked her door behind her and began her walk to the hospital. She was lucky to only live five blocks from work, so it was a short walk, but an enjoyable on, as the sky was just starting to be colored by the sun.

She moved through the halls, and came to her office, unlocked the wooden, shoving on it-damn thing always sticks- she thought, and settled in behind her desk a moment later. She munched on an apple as she looked over her files and laid out her plans for her day, making a schedule in her appointment book. She was rarely able to stick to it, but it helped her to have a place to write down what she wanted to get done, organize patients by critical need, etc.

Her first patient would be the little girl from heart surgery, see if she had woken up. Then two other surgery patients would need to be checked on, and after that she was sure there would be patients in the clinic, and then it would be time to go to Michael's quarters and change Alex's bandages. Gabriella sighed and laid her face in her hands, she was so tired and it was only, she peeked between her fingers, fuuuuck, 6am. She took a moment to quiet her mind, did deep breaths, and after a few moments felt better prepared for the day.

Hours Later

Gabriella was sitting with an old man finishing up tending to his leg laceration when a nurse tapped her on the shoulder, "Dr. Hasan. There's a call for you. It's…Michael."

Gabriella's head snapped up from the old man's leg and first looked at the time, 10:30?! "Shit!" she swore softly. She looked up the young nurse, "Carly right? Can you please finish up here?" Carly nodded and smiled at her.

Gabriella said a quick goodbye to the old man, who really was quite sweet and ran to her office, ducking other doctors and patients and picked up the phone, "Michael, I am so sorry! I got wrapped up in patients! I'll be right over!" she exclaimed, feeling like she was trying to explain herself to a disappointed parent.

She was surprised when she heard a soft laugh, "It's all right Doctor Hasan, Alex woke shortly earlier this morning but went back to sleep. His head feels cool, and his breathing seems regular." Gabriella raised an eyebrow at his cool assessment of his friend- was Alex a friend?- she wondered to herself.

"Ok, well I'll still be right over. I'll bring some antibiotics just in case. Bye." She hung up quickly and gathered her things up before heading out into the hall looking for her boss, Thomas Kelly. She spotted him further down the hall talking to a nurse. She waved to him and pointed to the clock, "I'm taking my break, I'm late for it, so I'll take lunch too if that's ok. I was in by 5:30 this morning."

Tom nodded to her and waved her away. She was one of his best doctors and he allowed her the most leeway. She moved across Vega quickly and was ushered into the elevator in Michaels tower. She once again inspected herself and was once again disappointed. At 28 years old she looked tired and worn down. At 5 foot 8, she was taller than most women in Vega, and her heavy work schedule kept her at a steady 150 pounds.

She rarely had time to work out, but when she did, she practiced the self defense that her father had taught her, sparring with the soldiers. She had surprised more than one soldier, kicking the shit out of them. She smirked into the mirrored walls of the elevator just as the doors opened and Michael stood before her. He raised a brow, "Something funny Dr. Hasan?"

Her smile faltered, "I-uh…no." She ran a hand nervously over her braid and brushed off her shirt.

He moved aside, holding out his arm, ushering her forward. She nodded her head and moved swiftly through the room, stopping short when she saw that Alex was awake and sitting up. She smiled at him and sat down on the bed next to him, dropping her bag on the floor. She held out her hand, "Hi Alex, my name is Dr. Hasan and I treated you last night. Do you remember anything about that?"

He shook her hand as he shook his head no. "Sorry ma'am, but no, is that bad?"

Gabriella laughed, "You can skip the ma'am and call me Gabriella or Dr. Hasan, whichever you prefer. And no, it's not bad; you experienced an 8 ball attack, the trauma of which rendered you unconscious. How are you feeling today?"

She waited for his response as she began to take his pulse, "I'm ok. A little sore, but other than that good, I guess."

She nodded, and after a moment spoke, "Ok. Your pulse is good, so let's go ahead and change your bandages. Can you stand for me please?" She stood and offered him her hand which he took, standing slowly, wincing as his wounds tugged. As he stood steady, Gabriella released his hand and began unwinding the bandage. Leaning in to inspect the wound she was pleased to see there was little redness.

She glanced first to Alex and then to Michael, "It looks really good, no sign of infection. It seems like the antibiotics did their job." She pointed to her bag, "Can you hand me that please?" she asked Michael. He moved swiftly, with all the grace of well, an angel, she thought-duh, you dumbass-she rolled her eyes at her own silliness. Michael handed her the bag, and she rooted through it until she found the iodine, antibiotic cream and more bandages. She cleaned the wound again, rubbed some cream on it, and rewrapped his wounds.

When she was done she looked to Michael, "May I use your bathroom to wash my hands?" he nodded and pointed to the left, "It's just through there." She gave him a brief smile of thanks and walked quickly into the bathroom, leaving the door cracked while she washed her hands.

She overheard Michael and Alex speaking, "Do you trust her Michael?" she heard Alex ask.

Intrigued, she left the water running and moved closer to the door, "I do Alex. She is one of the finest humans I have ever met. She brings honor to humanity." Stunned, Gabriella moved back to the sink and shut off the water. She looked at the woman in the mirror and wondered if what Michael said was true. Did she bring honor to humanity? Was she that good of a person? She only ever tried to make her parents proud.

Swallowing around a lump in her throat at the thought of them, she wiped away the dampness from her eyes and checked her face, making sure she didn't appear like she had been upset. Running the water for a brief second she wiped her face off and toweled it dry. She never wore makeup anymore, her long hours and frequent surgeries made it impractical and unnecessary.

She exited the bathroom and found Michael and Alex discussing when they could get back to training.

She listened for a moment and then interrupted them, "Ok, I'm not going to give my ok for you to be doing anything other than light running. Those wounds need to stay clean. You need to leave the bandages on for at least another day, I would prefer two more days. After that, I will take a look and asses where we are and let you know if you can get back to training. Now Michael, would you like to explain to me what his training would consist of?"

She turned to face Michael, and raised a brow at him, her displeasure at the situation apparent.

Michael took a steadying breath. Humans didn't usually challenge his authority. And no one challenged him over Alex. Yet here was Gabriella firmly stating that they wouldn't be allowed to go back to training for at least three days, probably a week from her attitude. And though it irked him, he knew instinctively she was right.

Though he had eons of knowledge, he didn't know how to do surgery like she did. He didn't know how to heal Alex like she did. He knew basics. He was more trained in warcraft, thanks to his Father and brother, Gabriel.

Sighing, he remained impassive as he spoke, "Very well Gabriella. Your word is my command. His training consists of sparring with me, weapons training, decoding the tattoos, tactics and strategy, and learning how to kill angels." He saw her dark blue eyes widen at his last words and saw her throat muscles tighten.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and then opened them, holding his gaze, "At least a week before he can go back to weapons training. Probably a week and a half till he can do sparring."

Michael was annoyed but gritted out, "Fine."

From over Gabriella's shoulder Alex spoke, "Hey, don't I get a say in this!?"

They spoke at the same time, "No" and grinned at each other before Michael reigned himself in and glanced away.

Gabriella gathered up her things and turned to go before hesitating, "If you need assistance with training, I can help you. My father was Special Ops Marines before all of this. He trained me in hand to hand combat, and my mother was Israeli; she taught me krav maga. I also have weapons knowledge."

Alex stared at her and then laughed, "A little thing like you? Yea right!" She smiled at him and before he knew what had happened, a scalpel was lodged in the wall behind his head. Her smile faded away as she glanced to Michael, "Like I said, if you want help."

Michael watched as Gabriella left the room and heard her hit the button for the elevator. He motioned for Alex to stay, "I'll be back." He followed Gabriella out to the lobby and spoke softly, his voice low. "Gabriella, I would appreciate your help with training. It is obvious you are skilled in both healing and warcraft. I thank you for the offer." He extended his hand and waited to see if she would take it.

She glanced down to his hand and then up to his face, her blue eyes captivating. She grabbed his hand and shook it, both of them jumping slightly as they both felt the slight sting at the contact between their skins.

Michael murmured, "Good afternoon" to her as the doors opened and she entered the elevator, rubbing her hand. The last he saw of her was her large blue eyes connecting with his, deep and fathomless like the sea.

That Evening

Gabriella lay in her tub, soaking in a hot bath. Even though the day had been wickedly hot, she still needed to ease her muscles, and this was the best way to do it. Besides, with concrete walls, her house stayed relatively cool.

The soft scent of lavender and vanilla surrounded her, her phone playing music softly. She listened to music from before the world went to shit, and marveled at how simple it all must have been. She knew from what her parents had told her that wasn't true, but it sometimes seemed like it.

She thought back to the moment at the elevator with Michael, when she had shook his hand and had once again felt the sting on her skin. She had seen the look of surprise on his face at feeling it; making her glad she wasn't the only one who could feel it. But then in the same moment she was wondering why could they feel this?

Frustrated, she slapped the water and picked up some bubbles blowing them out of her hand, watching as they landed on her knee. She tried to relax for a little while longer but was too keyed up. Sighing, she stood and unplugged the drain. After toweling off she pulled on underwear, light cotton shorts and a tank top. She undid her braid and grabbed a bottle of beer before moving to sit outside on her miniscule back patio.

She watched as the stars came out, and slowly relaxed. This was the only life she had ever known, and yet she had always yearned for something else. She sat for a long time, just thinking, until she realized she had drunk her beer and groaned, she didn't want to get up.

Suddenly there was a woosh of air and then Michael was standing in front of her. She stared at him for a moment before sighing, "Knock much?"

He cocked his head, "I'm sorry?"

Gabriella laughed at him; he looked so much like a puppy it was hilarious. The giggle captured her and she had to get up and walk away. Still laughing, she called over her shoulder, "You want a beer?"

Michael hesitated, he often made poor decisions when drinking alcohol, but one would surely be fine. "Yes, thank you" he called back. He stood, shifting uncomfortably until she came back and handed him a cold beer, the sides sweating. She clinked her bottle against his, "Cheers" and sat down.

Taking a long swig she looked up to him and grinned, "You going to stand there all night, fly boy?"

He cocked his head again, "Fly boy?"

She smiled at him, and motioned to the chair beside her, "Sit down and I'll tell you. You're making me nervous just standing over there." Michael moved to the chair and sat down, stretching out his long legs. "There, that's better huh?" she asked him.

"I suppose. I don't tire as easily as humans so it wouldn't bother me to stand all night as you suggested." He looked over at her snort of laughter. "What?"

She shook her head, taking another drink of beer, "It wasn't a suggestion, I was being sarcastic. You know, I've heard you be sarcastic before, I thought you would have gotten that one."

Michael thought for a moment, "I suppose it was the inflection…and you are exceptionally hard to read for a human." She stared at him for a moment and then shrugged, "Ok." His lips barely curved into a smile as he took a long pull at his beer.

Sighing as he rested the beer on the table, "So, tell me, what is a fly boy?"

Gabriella laughed, "Ok, so it's a term used to describe men in the Air Force, or what used to be the Air Force I guess. And since you're God's Air Force…Fly Boy."

Michael thought about it for a moment and then smiled, "I like it." He raised his bottle and waited, she raised hers quickly and he clinked his against hers, "To flying." She nodded and drank.

They sat in silence until she glanced over to him, "Soooo, why are you here Michael?"

He shrugged, an elegant movement. "To get to know you better, I suppose."

Gabriella nodded, "Ok, what would you like to know?"

Michael thought a moment, "Why Vega? Why not go to Helena with your talents?"

She smiled at him, "That's an easy one, I like men. While I'm a feminist and think they've got the right idea, I wouldn't be able to live without men." She laughed when she saw his face, still slightly impassive, but a hint of a smile on his lips. "Oh don't look like that flyboy, I've heard the rumors about you and Councilwoman Thorn. You two are the worst kept secret in Vega."

He looked sharply at her and then sighed, "Well, here's a secret for you, we're done." Gabriella rested her head on her fist and stared at him, noting little sadness on his face, "Why?"

He stared into the distance, "Because it was doomed from the start." Gabriella felt a shiver run through her at his words. They seemed to carry such power and foreboding.

Gabriella took a long pull on her beer, feeling the alcohol buzzing through her system. Normally it would take a lot more alcohol (so, so much more), but when she was this tired and had so little food in her system, it hit her hard. She looked over to Michael, "Will you take me flying again?" 4

Michael looked at Gabriella and could see that the alcohol was affecting her, but her eyes were sparkling, and there was a pleading note to her voice that he just couldn't resist. He was weak when it came to human women.

He stood abruptly and offered her his hand, wrapping her in his arms when she stood and took it. He took flight, holding her tight as they ascended. "Where would you like to go?" he whispered into her ear.

She thought for a moment and then pointed west, toward the walls, "The cemetery please." Not what he had expected, but he adjusted course and within a few minutes they touched down in the walls of the cemetery. She stumbled out of his arms, a little unsteady. He grabbed her elbow and kept hold as she began to walk through the rows, eventually coming to a stop in front of two headstones.

He knew who they were long before they had gotten there, but still, he felt sadness at seeing them. She knelt down in front of her mother and father's graves and wiped them off. She sat staring at the names on the stones, Andrew Tucker and Malia Hasan. Her mother hadn't taken her father's name apparently. She turned to face him and he saw that there were no tears on her cheeks, just a profound sadness in her eyes.

She smiled sadly up at him, "Mom was a WHO doctor who met my dad in Sudan. They fell in love and got married. She kept her name, but my dad never cared. He said it was only name, and as long as he had her for the rest of his life, that was all that mattered."

She sighed and turned away, her shoulders slumping, "We were 20 miles from here in this shack, four 8 balls surrounding it, trying to fight our way out and make it here. We held them off for days until my dad got a message out on a HAM radio to Vega to send help. My dad killed two before they killed him protecting mom and I. She killed another…and I…I killed the last one. Soldiers found me unconscious from my wounds and brought me back to Vega. I was barely 18. I've lived here 10 years, and I work every day to make them proud."

She stood and swayed; Michael stepped closer, bracing her. She stared up into his face, "Can you tell me they're in Heaven? Can you tell me they are with God, your Father? How do I know?" Michael could see the fear and anger in her face, and felt it in his own heart. He didn't know where his Father was. He couldn't get back into Heaven, that's something no one on Earth knew. He didn't have an answer for her.

He ducked his head for a moment and then looked into her eyes, "I can't. Heaven is closed to me. God has gone, I don't know where. I fear for the angels. I fear for myself."

Her eyes widened and he saw disappointment flash on her face before she stiffened her jaw, "Good to know." He felt a stab of disappointment at her reaction, but couldn't blame her. "Would you like to go back now?" He asked softly. At her nod he gathered her up and flew them back to her house.

She gathered up the empty beer bottles and stood in the door for a moment. She played with the label on the bottle, peeling it away, and then looked up at Michael, wishing his expressions were a little less unreadable. "Thanks for confiding in me Michael. I'm sure that wasn't easy." He was once again surprised by this woman, at her capacity for love and forgiveness.

"Thank you for hearing me." He nodded to her and spread his wings, preparing to leave, when she held out a hand stopping him, "I would like to train with you personally so I am better prepared for angel attack."

Michael gave her a nod and lifted off, "Very well Gabriella, I will see you Saturday morning at the east gate at 6am." At that he took off without looking back. Gabriella sighed, of course it was early morning Saturday training…why should she get her weekends off? But who did she have to blame but her stupid self? Mentally berating herself, she shut the patio door and headed to bed. At least tomorrow was Friday, she didn't have to be into work until 7am on Fridays! Gabriella laughed softly, slightly hysterically, into her pillow. Good god, it really was the small things wasn't it? As she drifted off to sleep, Gabriella had visions of her parents, alive and happy to see her.

Hey guys, sorry for the messy upload! I fixed the upload of this chapter so it's the appropriate length now! Thanks to guest reviewer keacdragon for pointing it out to me! Much appreciated! :)