So how about those finals? I'm just happy I survived. I'm so sorry about the wait, everybody, but I'm out of school now and writing should get back on track again.

Consider it a hiatus, because I've been looking forward to this chapter. And really, all of the following chapters. Things are going to speed up from now until... the ending pretty much and that's still a little ways away.

Their previous encounter had made Balthazar hyper aware of the real situation. They were a couple of humans hunting down angels, and that notion in itself was laughable. So while it may not have shocked her, it certainly seemed to surprise Catherine when she found him scribbling anti-detection sigils over his stomach the next morning. Would have surprised her more if he didn't find that pen and went with his idea of using a knife instead.

The knife would have been a much better option, all things considered, but he hoped that this would only be a temporary issue. If it continued to be a problem, perhaps a tattoo would help them or something. He should have had Gabriel handle this for the both of them before they left.

Either way, Catherine was quite the skeptic of the doodles on her upper arms at first, until that evening when Balthazar found a place that seemed quite common with angel activity. A big building – looked like an old mansion perhaps – that seemed more run down than anything else. It was her idea to park the car and walk there.

She was currently going through the trunk, keeping in mind that these angels were weak while they didn't exactly know how many were in there. "You ever been on a raid before?"

"Not particularly, no," Balthazar answered from her side, leaning against the back wheel as he peaked into the trunk, too, "Most of the fighting I've done has been infantry work, but I'm quiet enough to be a decent thief, I suppose."

"Then we'll have to rely on that," she sighed... before looking up to him curiously. "... What did you steal?"

He shrugged, scratching his neck and looking over their perimeter. "The weapons of Heaven. When I left, I sold them on the market. The Staff of Moses. Lot's Salt..." After a moment, he looked back at her to find that she was staring at him.

Cat quickly shook her head and went back to her weapons. "Never mind. I don't want to know."

He nearly chuckled, but decided to put the subject of conversation back on track. "We plan to kill them all then?"

She looked over to him, holstering her gun. "Unless you don't want to." If it were up to her, yes, she would go in like a traditional raid, but this wasn't monsters. This was his family and a lot of them had already died.

Bal could tell easily enough that she was sincere, but going in with kid gloves was suicide. So, he shook his head. "They've chosen their side. You haven't met any normal angels. Most of them are robotic automatons just waiting for orders. That's the kind Raphael has."

Only, they didn't know if this was Raphael or not, but the risk needed to be taken. "Okay," she said with a heavy sigh and closed the trunk.

It was easy enough to sneak their way to the building again. Despite the possibility of an archangel being near, there weren't very many angels on any sort of security detail. It was entirely possible that Raphael wasn't there and this was just some sort of faction grouped together, as they both continued to remind themselves. Going in with just the two of them was probably foolish...

Once unlocking the basement window, Catherine dropped down first into the old room. She was already inching to the staircase when Balthazar dropped down behind her. There were definitely people on the above floor and they seemed to feel safe enough as they weren't trying very hard to keep quiet. After moving halfway up the stairs, Cat even noticed that there were at least two of them outside of the door, talking to one another.

She looked back to Bal, who had stopped behind her upon hearing the voices, too. He glanced back at her and then loudly knocked the hilt of his blade against the wall.

The voices stopped for a moment and Catherine stepped forward, moving into a more relaxed position. Someone had to. She could feel how tense her partner was and he probably didn't like being the one in the back, but it didn't matter now. The door was opening.

The angel had enough time to fully open the door and let the light spill in on the two trespassers before Cat rushed him with a blade to his chest. Balthazar darted out behind her, moving quickly to another angel before they could call for help. Cat pulled the blade out of the dead angel's chest to parry another that nearly struck her, not surprised that there were more than two in this room. This last angel was quick, but she pulled out the archangel blade from her jacket in time to slice its neck.

She closed her eyes from the light before the body fell to her feet. Glancing around only showed the three dead bodies, Bal still kneeling over the one he killed. She looked around again to make sure their scuffle was unheard before walking silently over to him and placing a hand to his shoulder. He spared a glance to her hand but stood again and continued on to the hallway.

It wasn't like the raid was particularly easy going, but they continued to be lucky enough to get the drop on nearly every group of angels spaced out between every room. However, a glance to her own angel showed that he shared the same discomfort as she did. Something wasn't quite right. If this was Raphael, there should have been more of them. If this wasn't, they should have been more organized and militant. Not simply awaiting a slaughter.

They were both trying to catch their breath after a group of particularly skilled ones that almost got the better of them. In the quiet, nothing else could really be heard and Bal risked talking. "Where haven't we been yet? We've swept the whole place."

After a couple of calming breaths and rethinking that perhaps keeping one or two of them alive would have done better for information, Catherine looked around. "There was more building to the west from the outside," she said, thinking back, "There must be a door we missed."

"If they're hiding something-" She nodded before he could finish. Bal glanced away again, looking down to the body of one of the angels. They were all wearing suits, all in groups of three to four. They had a hard time being organized in an impromptu fight, like they couldn't really think for themselves.

"What do you think?" her voice asked him quietly and he took a moment to look around at the building they were in. Quite old, but still nice enough. Reminded him of the saying old money.

"I think he's here." They both stood in silence for a tense moment until Balthazar called out, "Raphael." They waited. Nothing answered.

Finally, Catherine moved to touch his elbow before walking pass him. If the archangel knew they were there, he was waiting. Couldn't be anything other than a trap, but they had no other choice in the matter.

Balthazar stayed close as they made their way back to the west side of the building again to double check what had already been looked over. The bodies of the angels and the scorch marks of their wings covered most of the floor and walls, but it went unnoticed to them. They kept moving on as if a path were already laid out for them and eventually they had come back to the first hallway that had been cleared.

Catherine checked all of the doors over again, fully realizing that while it may have been a sloppy raid on their part, they did work well enough together for their first time at this. However, some of the rooms seemed to have been skipped over if an angel wasn't obviously present. Still, it shocked her a bit when she tried the handle on an ornate pair of double doors only to find it locked.

Bal immediately noticed and moved over to her just as she was about to catch his attention. He looked down to her, but she just nodded and held the archangel blade in front of her... He mildly thought about taking the thing from her but ultimately rejected the thought. Raphael wouldn't see it coming this way, whether Balthazar approved of not. Steeling himself a little more, he stepped back and kicked the door in.

The doors swung open hard revealing the lavish room on the other side, including their target. Still, Catherine furrowed her brow in confusion. Instead of a man, it was a dark skinned woman sitting in a leather chair at the head of the dining table. Her only signs of acknowledgment to them was the folding of her hands over her lap. "Finally," she spoke in a raspy voice, tilting her head back to look down her nose at them, "I was wondering when you would show. I could hear you tramping through my house since you broke in."

"Raphael." Balthazar let out a low growl, but he at least managed to confirm his partner's suspicions. He slowly began to walk forward, so she followed right beside him, only parting to go around the other side of the table. "If you heard us, you certainly didn't tell anyone about it, sweetheart. Or did you expect those tin soldiers to stop us?"

"I was hoping they might," Raphael admitted, sparring a glance to Catherine, "but then again, I figured if they couldn't stop two humans, they weren't worth keeping around to begin with."

Bal frowned heavily to her, a small twitch along his mouth betraying his rage. "Of course not," he growled again.

She looked Catherine over closely, eyes landing on her own blade in the hunter's hand and the archangel nearly snorted. "Well, Balthazar," she spoke again, glancing back over to him, "You were always one to be fashionably late, as you called it, but for once you've arrived right on time."

The doors closed again behind them, locking from the outside as if they had never been broken down. The two hunters both glanced behind them, but Balthazar was the one to look to Raphael again first. His frown vanished at the same time Catherine returned her attention.

"Hello again, Catherine," Michael nodded to her before glancing to his younger brother. "Balthazar."

There was a tense silence in which Bal didn't return the sentiment and only stared back to his eldest brother in shock. Raphael spoke up instead. "I don't know how," she said to Michael, looking back to the human woman again, "but she has my blade."

Both archangels turned their attention towards her and Catherine stayed still, frozen in shock and fear. Michael was the real target, but he was not supposed to be here. They were no where near prepared to handle him and she wasn't even sure what could best him yet. She didn't know what to do except grip the blade tighter. The action did not go unnoticed by Michael and he looked at her closely from where he stood.

"I'm not worried," he finally said, locking eyes with the hunter and ignoring Balthazar's rising temper. "Besides, you won't need it."

Bal growled, finally gaining their attention, "This is your fault. You're the reason there weren't many angels here."

Michael just shrugged in turn. "I left the weaker ones for you to play with. The ones that were hurt in the fall."

"You left me a choice!" Balthazar yelled back, "You said you didn't want more to die! Which is it, Michael?"

"They were going to die anyway," the archangel answered with mild concern etching his features. "They refused to give me their grace, which meant that Lucifer was going to take it. He doesn't leave witnesses, Balthazar. Either I save them or he kills them, there is no other option now." The youngest brother clenched his teeth, but the archangel scoffed. "I wasn't the one who actually killed these, if you haven't noticed. Humanity did that."

Catherine spared a glance to Balthazar as he angrily stepped forward and Raphael stood to place herself between him and Michael. Cat hesitated a mere second on what to do. Stay in place or follow through with the attack that her partner's rage was driving? However, he had hardly taken two steps forward when Michael waved his hand and threw Balthazar hard into the wall.

He was brought to his knees when Michael spoke. "I don't think you're aware of my power, brother." Bal tried to stand, but the archangel moved his hand and threw the youngest angel into the wall harder before he finally fell unconscious.

"No!" Cat hardly managed to make a move before Michael threw her into the wall opposite.

The archangel sighed, walking forward and picking up the blade that she had dropped in the rush. "Catherine..." When he looked up again, she was already running forward, so Michael threw the blade and sunk it into her shoulder. Catherine fell back into the wall again and cried out. "This is disappointing," he said again, slowly approaching her. Cat looked up to him, one hand to the blade embedded into her shoulder, and was again frozen in fear. "You corrupt," he told her slowly, "just like the rest of your kind. I was hoping to avoid this, but I have enough trouble to worry about." Her breathing stopped and she watched as Michael leaned closer. "I'm sorry for not killing you before."

Suddenly, his eyes flicked away from her face and Raphael was next to them both in a second. He looked away from her to see the new presence in the room.

"Wooow." Lucifer whistled, hands resting on his hips and using his foot to flip Balthazar on to his back, making the other moan. "You knocked him into the next century," he commented before looking up to the others. "A little barbaric for you. Actually getting your hands dirty with the riff-raff for once."

Michael fully turned to face him. "You don't belong here, Lucifer."

The one in question stepped forward, raising his hands. "Why not?" he asked with mock curiosity, "Aren't I family?"

Catherine just stayed in place and tried very hard to become invisible. The pain in her shoulder reminded her that this was all very much real, but thankfully Balthazar was still alive. Surely, she had to do something. Her eyes kept glancing from him to Lucifer... It wouldn't help anyone if they killed her.

Raphael frowned to his fallen brother. "Hardly," she muttered before speaking up. "I've made my choice. You will never see my grace."

"Never say never...," Lucifer looked the other up and down, "sister."

She pointed angrily down to Balthazar. "You can thank that one for destroying my real vessel."

Michael raised his hand and all arguments ceased. Catherine could hear her own breathing as if it was roaring inside of her own head, but she didn't expect for the eldest archangel to turn back and face her again. "We'll just be a moment," he said before harshly pulling the blade her shoulder. Cat fell to the ground, but the others paid no mind.

He turned back to face his brother again, stepping forward in front of Raphael with the bloody blade in his hand. "I'm not going to fight you, Lucifer. Not yet," Michael said with finality, "You shouldn't be here."

"This is war, brother," Lucifer answered, finally frowning deeply, "I'll do what I must to fix things... I don't even want to fight in the first place."

"We have to fight," the eldest told him, "This was your doing. Not mine or Father's. This was you."

Lucifer didn't answer. Just took a deep breath and continued to frown to his brother, but despite all of the words that could have been spoken, he still didn't say anything.

Michael seemed satisfied enough with the lack of response. "Until then, little brother." He quickly turned and stabbed Raphael through the torso. When she opened her mouth in shock, Michael opened his and her grace began to pour forth in white wisps. After tilting her head back, Raphael's grace poured away in a blinding light as Michael took it all before she finally died. For a moment, he stood there still with the body, allowing the surge of power to settle before taking the blade back and letting the body fall.

He stood there, taking a few deep breaths, but it was Lucifer who spoke after a silence. "I did not expect that."

Michael slowly turned his head again to his brother and waited a moment before speaking in a hushed voice. "This is war, right?" They watched each other intensely for a moment, until the archangel disappeared with the sound of large wings.

Lucifer huffed. "Jackass." After a sigh, his eyes slowly looked over to see Catherine still on the floor, obviously frightened. "I guess there is a silver lining," he spoke to himself, tilting his head to find Balthazar still unconscious near his feet.

Catherine quickly stood on unsteady legs, gaining the devil's attention just as fast. He nearly smiled to her efforts, but raised his hands to her instead. "Please. What are you going to do?" She at least managed to give off a determined air, which just made him approach her instead.

Cat tried to move away, but only found the wall to her back so she stayed her ground instead. Fear stirred in her again, but so long as he was coming to her, he wasn't going to Balthazar... To be honest, the thought didn't really help. Why have one when he could have both? However, he stopped at a safe enough distance away which quite surprised her.

"We finally have time to talk," he told her, moving an arm across his chest and one hand to his chin. "I've been lagging behind you two for a while now. I gotta say, it's been really annoying, but at least you met a little friend along the way, right?"

Her brow furrowed in confusion of why he was making small talk and who he could be talking about. Gabriel or-? Her eyes widened. "Sachiel?"

Lucifer waved his hand. "Don't worry. Miss Cupid won't be striking any more hearts."

Had it really been Michael's men that had come for her? Had Lucifer been further behind than that? "You know about-"

"I know... a lot," he interrupted, tilting his head and leaning to the side. After a moment, he slowly began moving forward again and didn't stop this time until he was right in front of her. "I know more than you." He watched her closely, but when she made no movements, he continued. "Raphael wasn't your target, was he? Not your real one." Something flashed over her eyes and a shadow of a smile played across his face. "Your target is Michael, because he has something Sleeping Beauty over there needs, right?"

She still didn't speak, not really knowing what to say in this situation. Lucifer's lips twitched at the corner and he began slowly pacing to her side. "Catherine... Catherine. You're smart," he said, moving around behind her. She didn't move to watch him and just looked to Balthazar instead. "You're a knowledgeable enough hunter. You must have read some of my Dad's work... Or his prophet's work, more like it." He had made the circuit and was facing her again. "You know about us. About what happened between me and Michael... And you know that I never lie to anyone."

Catherine was frowning to him now, more out of anger and determination than fear. "That doesn't mean you're always right."

He lightly scoffed. "I'm always right. Especially now." Lucifer glanced back to Balthazar before looking to her again. "You know it. I know it. We all know it... That sort of thing is forbidden. Angels and humans. Sort of messes things up." She tried to speak up in protest, but he slowly raised his hand to quiet her. "... You can try to deny this all you want, but he's in love with you – a weak, little human."

She bit her tongue and stayed quiet. It wasn't like she could take Satan's word on it, but she couldn't really deny that things have been growing between her and Balthazar since before that cupid muddled with things. She cared for him, but he was still so high above her that there couldn't be much more than a fondness there. Then again, Catherine didn't know if that's what she believed or what she liked to tell herself.

Lucifer, on the other hand, was smiling again. "Now, with this knowledge and acceptance of the situation, and let's go ahead and assume that you manage to get his grace back, what really makes you believe that he'll take it?"

She scowled and nearly protested again, but he chuckled and began walking around her once more. "He loves you and you're pretty enough for an insect, I guess. And he has lost... so much over the years. Heaven. His family. His material objects. His weapons. His friends. His life... We've all lost so much." As he circled around again, he moved closer against her this time and lowered his voice even more. "I've known Balthazar since he was very young and for all of his talk, you and I both know that he cares. Some would argue he cares too much... Taking his grace back, means to go back to an empty Heaven where war after war is decimating what's left of his people. Not to mention, it means to lose you. Oh, he would come back from time to time, of course, but he wouldn't be with you like he is now. He wouldn't feel this as deeply and, most importantly, he would be forced to watch you die... He could have you in Heaven, but that regret would never leave. Do you really think he hasn't thought about this?"

"It's not about me." Catherine watched Balthazar on the floor, a bloody bruise forming on his temple, before glancing over to Lucifer by her shoulder. "This is bigger than me and he knows that." Unfortunately, he was lightly smiling and giving her a nod.

"Yes, it is, but what else would he take his grace for?" She began to speak, but he said it before she could. "Immortality? To live as long as he can before another one of his brothers stabs him in the back?" Her face fell and he tilted his head. "He lost so much, Catherine. Between you and me, I think he's tired. We're all getting tired... And now he's found you... Who wouldn't take that shot of happiness before letting it all go?"

Her frown deepened to him, almost into something close to disgust. "You're wrong-"

"He loves you. He wants to stay with you." She had grown quiet again and he lightly smiled. "What's so wrong with that?" Catherine had lost her fear and was now looking at Lucifer in anger. He just continued moving around her again. "But you love him, too," he said whimsically, "And you want him to be happy and alive for as long as can manage without inevitably pissing off the wrong person again." Lucifer stopped pacing in front of her for the second time. "I can help you make that happen."

"What?"

Catherine stared up at him and he nodded to her suspicion before saying,"I want to make a deal."

"No-!" She screamed, but he raised his hand to silence her once more.

"At least hear me out," Lucifer said to her, but she just fumed back to him in silence. He found it agreeable enough. "I'll give you the means to stop Michael." That got her attention and he continued. "You can't kill him – I won't let you – but I can give you a way to make all of the graces he's taken pop back out. He won't expect something like that from you." He paused. "Then I'll take those graces."

She made to speak out again, but he moved closer suddenly and placed his hand gently over her mouth. Lucifer nodded again and said exactly what she was thinking. "I'll destroy this world and all of you little filthy creatures along with it. But I'll leave him." He nodded back to her angel and she looked between them with fear. "When I'm done, I'll give him back his grace – force it down his throat if I have to – and I'll return him to Heaven. He'll mostly be alone, but there will be no one to harm him. As per our agreement, even I won't. I'll make sure he lives for a long, long time."

Catherine watched Lucifer closely and he slowly moved his hand away from her. "Those are my terms," he said to her, but after a beat- "You don't have to answer now. I want you to think about it... It is a big decision, after all." She ground her teeth, wanting to reject him right there, but something stopped her from speaking. It was the air he gave himself. That dominating sense that any move she made could mean the end of both of them. However, he seemed to know she wanted to speak, and he raised a finger to his lips to shush her. "Just call me when you're ready."

Lucifer vanished.

She stayed still for a long time, her shoulder pounding heavy and the color of the world seeping away from blood loss. After a long moment that seemed like an eternity, she finally decided that they were alone once more.

Catherine stumbled over Raphael's body to make her way across the room and landed on her knees next to her angel. "Balthazar." She shook him and tilted his head to face her. "Balthazar. Wake up. Bal-"

He woke with an alarming start and looked around before wincing from a sharp pain in his head. She moved her hands to cradle the bruise and keep him from moving too quickly. "It's okay. It's over," she said quietly.

Balthazar still looked around at the scene. The room was mostly destroyed and Michael was gone. Raphael's body was settled a few feet from them. Upon looking up at Catherine, he found the deep wound in her shoulder, the paleness of her skin, and the fear still in her eyes. "It's okay," she continued to say, "It's okay. They're gone now."

Finally! I'm sorry for the wait, everyone, but at least this one was full of plot stuff. I haven't dropped this fic. I've just been very busy. Graduating tomorrow! Anyway, look forward to the next chapter, everyone.

Thank you for sticking with this. :) I've gotten a lot of feedback while on my unannounced hiatus and that makes me very happy. Thank you, guys. Review and follow and all that. I love you.