Once Castiel returned to Dante, they set off again to return to the nearest dimensional door into Hell where they would press on, no doubt. Their work on Earth was done for the time being...leaving the mess behind them.

Dante was right to some degree. They were being watched. But the stranger took no hesitation in following their footsteps. Literally. She was right there under the same exact tree that the fallen were beneath and a few steps forward lit her face from the moonlight.

Her hair was a dark brown with a slight bronze tint and her eyes were a sharp green. She wore a black romper made of some satiny material with a long v neck. Her sleeves were high, revealing a name written in black and green cursive. "Carmen" on her shoulder. Her shorts were going barely past an appropriate length to accent her smooth long legs leading all the way to silver buckled black boots. On her back, a silver sword was tied, gleaming with red symbols along the blade. She reached into her pocket and drew out a pack of cigarettes, lighting one at the end and sticking it in her mouth. One look at the area and she knew she had come to the right place.

Just before she took one step onto a mostly empty street, her boot found some resistance at the bottom. She cleared her foot off the silver ring and lifted it off the ground.

Castiel. Sam. Merrick.

Names embedded on the inside.

This might be useful. Carmen slid it on one finger and kept walking. The only car on this street was a black jeep. The doctor hadn't left the office. Perfect.

When the woman entered, even the receptionist had gone home but Doctor Walker's office light remained on. What was he doing inside so late? Was this usual or did no one simply care enough to notice? Didn't he have a family to home to? This confirmed her suspicions.

Late night work, huh?

Interesting. What could call for such diligence? She stubbed out her cigarette under her boot after taking a long drag and blowing out a cloud of smoke. Her fingers felt behind her and came to a grip on the hilt of her sword where it disappeared with a shimmer of red and gold. She was no longer burdened with the weight.

Carmen appeared, at most, like a normal teenager.

Well, a normal teenager coming to a psychiatrists office after hours dressed...kind of like a skank. Okay, so no one was perfect.

She walked in like she owned the place. Who could blame her, when she was dressed like that? She owned the ground she walked on. Walker looked up from his desk in some surprise when he spotted her, eyebrows disappearing into his hairline.

He got up almost immediately. "I'm sorry. My office is closed for the day."

Carmen ignored him, plopped herself down on the seat across from his desk and raised both legs up on the corner of his table, crossing them and crossing her arms.

"Oh, I think you'll make an exception," She said with her eyes twinkling in a threatening sort of way.

"Really, you shouldn't be here," Walker insisted in a sharp tone. "I'm serious. I'll call the authorities."

"You should know better than to try to instill fear into someone like me," She answered, placing her hands behind her neck. "It never works."

Walker stared at her in puzzlement...then his eyes widened like he realized something drastic...She looked like another no-good teenager during some rebellious phase. A runaway, maybe with garments like that. It basically told that she had been away from home for a long time...doing who knows what.

But Walker was no fool.

His eyes flickered to hers and understanding seemed to fully dawn upon him. It felt like the rooms temperature was over a hundred degrees. Something about her rubbed him the wrong way and now he knew why. He was used to handling all sort of troubled cases just by looking at them, yet she was different. She was disturbed.

And he usually didn't attach that word to anyone. Even those that actually were. It wasn't professional.

"Can I help you?" He questioned uncertainly. A fine sheet of sweat began to form upon his brow.

"Yes, actually. I was in the area, and I wandered into your territory...I do wonder if this is a bad thing, just wandering aimlessly into a relatively small town...Checking the scenery, you know? Can you guess why though? Why I might have stumbled upon this particular town?" Carmen asked conversationally.

"No, I can't," Walker replied shortly.

"The crime rate in this state is at an all time low compare to other major cities...It's a good place to settle down...In my opinion," She answered casually, looking at nothing in particular while talking. The roof, the desk, the plant on his desk that had black stems with red leaves. "What do you think, Doctor? What do you say to me being one of your new patients? I daresay that a simple city girl walking into your office is good reason as any to take on a new client."

"I don't...think that would be a good idea,"

Carmen's eyes gleamed in his direction. "Why is that, Doctor? Freedom is a relative term that applies to this situation, don't you think? I have this freedom to come where I may...to live where I choose. And I chose this place...and I chose you."

"Freedom is a relative term reserved for..humans," The last word was said uncertainly. Walker had stood now, circled around his desk in a cautious matter that screamed deliberation. Yet she didn't seem to show any signs of alarm. No, instead she leaned further back in her chair and her expression could be nothing short of relaxed.

"Freedom is a relative term for anyone living..." Carmen answered cheerfully. "I believe freedom is relative to anyone who truly believes it. Why you, for example. You are bound by your morals and your understanding of the law and rules that bind you to this planet...Me, I walk on a much easier path, free of any moral dilemmas. It's probably not in your textbooks...Oh, I'm sure you have all sorts of definition for people who pretend to not care for the feelings and laws that others are bound to...but have you ever truly met someone who truly lived by it? Not so fast, Doctor."

This time her voice came out sharp and stopped him mid-stride. His eyes raked over her and felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment. Walker had gone past her line of sight. She snapped right on him before he could make another move. He had stopped near a bookcase and leaned quietly against a shelf which pressed into a wall. The click of the button was subtle and almost soundless to his ears.

To his surprise, she just leaned back in the chair and continued babbling.

"As I was saying...," said Carmen casually. " Moral coding is such a deabilitating aspect of being human...I really should be more crass with you. But as it is...you should be more considerate of my needs.. See Doc...I'm having some problems of my own...I've been hearing a voice in my head. It's been telling me to do a few things that are a little questionable, you know what I mean? Would you consider that normal by your standards?"

"I'm afraid I can't help you," said Walker, almost coldly. "I'm sorry. But you'll have to leave."

"And miss this magnificent opportunity to finally talk to you?" She smiled.

"I don't know what you're talking about," said Walker hastily.

"You can calm down, doctor. I can hear that erratic heartbeat from over a hundred miles away. I just want to ask you a few questions. If you answer me honestly...Then you won't have a problem. However, I do declare you have the shrewdest mind I've come in contact with in an age. I can already tell this is going to be difficult."

"Please leave. Or I'm going to call the cops,"

"A cage can't hold me," Carmen narrowed her eyes.

"Depends on the substance of the cage," said Walker icily. He was referring of course to an iron cage. Iron was a common weakness for demons. Imperial or otherwise.

Carmen ignored his comment for the most part. "Aren't you currently treating a patient with a voice in his head? Hm...Didn't he just leave?"

"No,"

It was clear that every word spewed was a lie. Of course it was. Yet she was short on time if she wanted answers.

"Do you know who I am, Doctor?"

"I can't say that I do,"

"Oh, I think you know a lot more than you're letting on," She said it in a sing song voice. "Why so tense? Sit down...Make yourself at home..or office, whatever you prefer. I don't mean you any harm as long as you cooperate with me, of course."

"I don't treat patients that are...subhuman."

" What...'subhuman?'" Carmen repeated as though it was a curse word. "Sub? What, you think you're better than me? What makes you better than me? You know what I am?"

"No,"

She let her legs drop and faced him forward in the chair, her entire body angled towards him. "Sit down, Doctor Walker."

"I'll stand,"

"You'll sit," Carmen commanded. "We're going to do this my way...or I'm going to kill you. It's as simple as that. Do you fear death, Doctor Walker?"

"I don't-"

"Sit down. I have a few questions for you."

Her voice brokered no argument this time, and there seemed to be power in her gaze. Walker could swear he saw her bright green eyes rim with scarlet.

He sat without question. He felt resigned...but yet somehow relieved.

And that confused her.

Carmen placed an elbow on the table and curled her two fingers into what looked like a claw. Effortlessly, or so it seemed, she pulled his mind towards hers.

Her voice was sharp as daggers, probing. "What's your full name?"

"Francis Walker," His voice was complete monotone.

Hearing that made Carmen's serious expression fall in amusement. "Your first name is Francis?"

"Yes,"

"What is your profession?"

"I'm a doctor,"

"Of what?"

"Psychology,"

"Children's Psychology?"

"No,"

"What's your degree?"

"Psychology,"

"When did you graduate?"

"In 1988,"

"Do you enjoy your profession?"

"Yes,"

"Why do you enjoy it?"

"It's interesting,"

"That's a vague answer. Why do you enjoy your line of work specifically?"

"I like helping people,"

"How noble," said Carmen grimly, as though she didn't believe him. "Do you have any children?"

"No,"

"Why not?"

"I don't know,"

"Do you want children?"

"No,"

"Are you married?"

"No,"

"Family?"

"Mother. Father. Brother. Six cousins. Aunt. Uncle-"

"Okay, enough. I really don't need your whole family, Francis,"said Carmen, waving a hand impatiently. But now she really needed to crack down on him. Personal questions were coming too directly and nothing she needed to know was coming through. Leaning in, she pressed just a little harder on the walls of his mind and saw him begin to sweat in turn.

It was necessary to do this. Dangerous though, considering the long term effects this could have on him. But Carmen was almost positive that this man was more than he appeared. He had called her subhuman after all. She hadn't spent the last month watching him for no reason.

And she wouldn't come tonight, of all nights if she absolutely didn't need to. It was dangerous for her kind to be out at night. It was dangerous for her kind to be out at all these days.

"Is this a private practice?"

"Yes,"

"Who do you work for?"

"I graduated from-"

"I didn't ask where you went to school. I asked who you work for,"

"My Employer,"

"Who's your Employer?"

"I don't know,"

She cocked an eyebrow. "You don't know or you don't want to tell me?"

"He has no name,"

"You're sure he's a he?"

"Yes,"

"What has your employer ordered you to do?"

"He has not ordered me,"

"You're here of your own free will?"

"I...Yes,"

The answer came with a struggle. He was clearly fighting her hold on his mind and answering with a lie. Of course.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes,"

"You don't need to lie to me, Francis. I will find out the truth. One way or another,"

It wasn't a question. He didn't answer.

"Why are you treating Sam Costigan?"

"I was told to,"

"By whom?"

"His parents,"

"Who are his parents?"

"Estelle and Mark Costigan,"

"What are they like?"

"Fine. Simple. Religious,"

"Are they his real parents?"

"No,"

"How do you know?"

"They don't look like him,"

"What does that matter?"

"He doesn't have any true lineage,"

A frown creased Carmen's features. "Why do you say that?"

"Because he is not of this world,"

Well, that was direct. But then again, he would never give this information out freely. She was pressing Will upon his brain with unbreakable force but she had to be careful otherwise she could crush the fragile walls of his mind with too much ease.

"Why do you say he is not of this world? What makes you so sure?"

The question was too complicated. Either it was too much to answer, and he's got many theories on the subject or he honestly cannot answer through some other means. Experience told her to assume the worst. She could only assume that this information was forbidden for him to speak of.

She'd have to tread carefully otherwise, he'll go braindead. What a tragedy.

"Let's try something else," Carmen suggested, speaking to herself.

He blinked as though gaining some clarity, shaking his head. One look at her, and recognition crossed his features. He grabbed the vase off the end of his table and lunged forward to strike her. She caught his wrist but the vase shook in his grip and black liquid poured down her wrist and arm.

Unlike water, this seemed to seep into her flesh and disappear altogether. She threw the vase of red flowers away from her and watched it smash against the wall.

She felt a searing sensation where the black water had vanished, trailing all the way down her shoulder and straight up her neck where it seemed to slither into her eyes. She didn't know what she looked like on the outside until she got an idea by looking at her hand. A fine trail of veins burned red up to her knuckles.

"What did you put in me?" Carmen nearly growled, her free hand caught his throat in an iron grip, choking him.

"St...Sti..."

She loosened her hold just an inch.

"Stig...matus...Inf...,"

"Stigma," She uttered it like a curse word and dropped him to his seat where he started to choke and rub his throat. But she could only imagine she was going to be feeling much worse than him pretty soon. There was no known cure for contracting Stigmatus Inferno. It was the disease that destroyed demons from the inside out. It started through the nerves then traveled all the way to heart where the organ eventually either failed or exploded, depending on how much Stigma was put into the system.

And this wasn't a lot. But that didn't mean she wasn't infected.

This certainly didn't bode well.

Carmen scratched her shoulder distractedly.

"It's over for you now, subhuman," said Walker unexpectedly when he could talk and Carmen's eyes snapped on him with venom. "They're coming for you."

"Aww, he hash a back up pwan?" Carmen retorted in a baby voice. "That's so cute. That's fucking adorable."

But he brought up a valid point. If people were coming, she was screwed. Well, not if she got out in time. But this idiot. She had to kill him. No question about that.

But who said anything about doing it now?

"Ever traveled with a demon?" Carmen asked. "Rhetorical. Come on."

She took him by the scruff of his shirt and lifted him with surprising strength off his chair and proceeded to drag him towards the door. He wasn't under her spell any longer so her fought. Violently. Before Carmen passed the desk, she found a large stack of papers with Sam's name written in the corner and a large textbook underneath it. She picked it all up. Whoever was coming, hopefully didn't know of Walker's interest in Sam and they didn't need to know either. She tucked it underneath her arm uncomfortably.

Walker was struggling, nails digging into her arms, especially when she took his files. Sensitive.

But he showed no further resistance when he slammed him against the side of the door, no doubt giving him a severe concussion. Hopefully that wouldn't matter when she got him out of here.

She was just outside when a white van pulled up and Carmen released the doctor and shoved him aside. Reaching behind her, she found a firm grip on the hilt of her sword which made the undecipherable symbols turn red from the touch on the blade.

The passenger window rolled down and she found herself looking at a figure in shadow. A familiar male voice spoke out. "My. Not very subtle are you?"

Carmen released her grip on her weapon but her gaze grew cold. "What do you want? I told you I could handle this on my own."

"Taking an unconscious prisoner was not my idea of a job well done...Carmen,"

"Oh hush it, Gabriel. You want to help, why don't you help me load him in?" said Carmen irritably, already walking around to the two doors, dragging Walker along.

The Archangel exited the car. The last years hadn't changed Gabriel too much. He still had shoulder length brown hair and the immortality was certainly a perk in showing he hadn't aged. At least Carmen looked semi different with maturity. Gabriel's choice of clothing had changed somewhat. He had always looked young. He looked like he could fit as a college graduate at most. It was only his nature that made him seem more adult. So him wearing a simple cotton white t-shirt and blue jeans was odd.

Well, he was trying to blend in and to someone who didn't know him, maybe he did. To Carmen, it was kind of funny seeing him out of layers of denim like a teacher.

He helped Carmen load Walker into the back and let the man lay unconscious on his side while they closed the doors at the same time. It was pretty spacious back there...and clearly this wasn't the first time Carmen had done this.

"Tell me something. In what universe is kidnapping the doctor the good plan? Didn't think this through did you, Carmen? You're too much like your father," said Gabriel exasperatedly.

Carmen rolled her eyes as she climbed into the passenger seat. "How is that a bad thing?"

"Because he was reckless," said Gabriel as he slammed his door closed and climbed in as well, throwing her a slightly disapproving look. " He didn't exactly abide by rules either. And look where that got him."

Was that last statement necessary? Carmen's eyes narrowed. "I brought him because he's bringing backup. We don't have a lot of time. Park the car around the building...I bugged his office. If there's anything we can learn from them, it's probably when they walk in."

Rather than complimenting her foresight, Gabriel sighed in a long, exaggerated way and swirled the van around to blend into the shadows. Truly, they were lucky it was late and that this building was closed off at night with minimal security. The clock ticked eleven. Whatever guard was watching the building must have been asleep. He(if he was there at all) didn't even pay mind to the noise that Carmen had made with Walker earlier. So much for doing your job right.

"We should be leaving," said Gabriel insistently. "Why did you bring him along? I told you to investigate. Not capture."

"Because he's got a hard mental block up and I can't break through it. I hit him hard. He should be out for a few hours...which gives us some time to interrogate some more later...Maybe he'll be warmer on you than he was on me...He managed to say a few things though that caught my attention though...Otherwise I wouldn't have even bothered. Very...interesting things," said Carmen sharply, throwing the files she stole onto the dashboard where they slid all the way to the interior windshield with a loud thud from the book underneath.

Gabriel's eyes turned to the files. "Oh yeah? What was that? And what are those?"

"Guess we'll find out. Read the side," said Carmen simply, pointing out the written "Sam Costigan" letters penned on the divider. "I was getting to that. Looks like the good doctor knows Sam isn't human."

"Sam is human," Gabriel answered, eyes on the road as he parked in the furthest corner. Carmen was surprised they weren't out of range for the bug she planted to actually work.

"He said differently,"

Gabriel frowned. "He's wrong. His power was taken when Lucifer came back to life. He's more human than either of us, that's for sure. There's absolutely no reason for them to believe otherwise"

Carmen looked over her shoulder where a small metal grate was displaying the unconscious doctor. "That's not what he said. He specifically said that Sam was not of this world."

"Who cares what he said?"Gabriel snapped, cutting off the engine. "He's wrong."

"You know he seems to know a lot. I've had this office bugged for nearly a year now...You should hear some of the things I hear,"

"That's illegal," said Gabriel, his eyebrows furrowing. "But what have you heard?"

"I'm above the law," said Carmen easily. "But just a lot of things...I'd hardly consider Sam human when I just saw two angels watching him before I arrived."

"What?" Gabriel was alert. "Where? When? Why?"

"Slow down," said Carmen, shrugging. "They were just there. Watching. Then one went into his house."

"Did you hear what they were talking about?" Gabriel asked desperately. "Could you identify either of them? What did they say? Why didn't you tell me this at the beginning? Why didn't you pursue?"

"Angels. Demon. I know when I'm outnumbered. Besides, it was Castiel...He's harmless," Carmen answered lightly.

"You chose to follow Walker instead of them. Castiel went inside? What did he do?"

"You know, I honestly don't know. This guy's bigger fish. The whole purpose was to lure them out, right? I was sticking to the plan," Carmen explained. "You wanted me to get what we could out of this guy...well I think we'll do a fine job with him in the back."

"I'm not used to taking prisoners," Gabriel muttered.

"Get used to it, then. You're working with a demon. I take it that means desperation," A beguiling smile spread across her face while Gabriel glowered daggers at her.

Kidding aside, Carmen was actually starting to feel the effects of the Stigma now. She began to scratch her arm, her shoulders. The irritating feeling was spreading and it felt so ingrained in her skin that it was impossible to simply scratch it away with nails. Usually Stigma was more direct. It just killed you.

Within minutes.

"Ah,"Carmen murmured after a moment, rubbing her forehead. Slow but building, a throbbing sensation was starting around her temples. It was hard to ignore. Her heart beat pounded in her ears and blood pumped at a rapid rate. Demons already had high heat signatures...but this was ridiculously painful, even for her.

"What's wrong with you?" Gabriel's voice seemed to come from far away.

Adrenaline staved off most of these side effects. Now she was paying the price for being reckless. If he knew, he'd laugh out loud.

"Stress," Carmen lied. If it was only stress.

"Huh. I didn't think demons felt stress," Gabriel mused. "You going to interrogate the prisoner? That might make you feel better."

"He's not waking up for a while. I hit him hard, I told you," said Carmen, scratching at her shoulder. "It feels like my blood is boiling."

Gabriel turned to her, scrutinized her real hard. "You were infected." His tone had no inflection, no emphasis. Even his eyes were as empty as his words.

"Yeah," No point in lying when she couldn't ignore it.

"How do you feel?"And he reached over to touch her forehead which she dodged with ease. Gabriel scowled. "If you're in pain, I can hold it off for you. But I am surprised. Stigma usually kills its victims instantly."

"I'm so glad to be an exception," Carmen growled, scratching her wrist with hard nails. "God...what is wrong with me? It wasn't hurting just a moment ago."

"Maybe...," Gabriel mused, pressing a finger to his lips.

"Maybe what? What?" Carmen persisted. " What is it?"

"Nothing. Forget it...You want my help?"

"No," Carmen snapped.

"Okay then," said Gabriel, shrugging. "Can't say I didn't offer you. And can't say I didn't warn you either. I told you it was going to be dangerous. I told you it might not be the best avenue,"

"It's our only avenue," said Carmen. "Stop focusing on me. Focus on them, will you? They should be here any moment now.'

"I wonder if you're not wholly affected by the Stigma because of your pure heart," said Gabriel. It was clear he was dying to say this. This guy had been on this planet too long. It made him old and senile. It made him talk out loud when no one else around him really cared. And he didn't care either.

"Whatever," said Carmen.

"Hold on," Gabriel suddenly sat up straight in his seat, eyes darting wildly out the windshield like he was an animal suddenly aware that someone had trod in on their territory.

He turned the key into the ignition and began to back the van up away from the tall lights shining down on them. Carmen knew instantly who or what he had sensed and she drew out a long black device that was beeping red. She pressed a button on the side and instantly heard static. Because he was moving. She was about to tell him to stop but then she heard rustling...Not from inside the car,but from the device in her hand. Yep, they were here.

The van remained silent for a long time. You could hear a pin drop. It was December too, and the wind should have been blowing at phenomenally cold speeds but the air went cold and still.

More rustling. Gabriel leaned in. A door opened from inside the office, creaking slightly along the way.

They weren't speaking and didn't for a long while. Maybe they were communicating with their eyes what happened. Really, she didn't feel like she had made a mess. But there was enough evidence to say that at least something happened. Shattered vase, perhaps the missing items off the desk was a big sign. Maybe everyone was privvy to the files she stole on Sam.

"So...this is interesting," said a gruff male voice with a heavy southern accent. "Looks like our doctor was nabbed."

"Yeah," said another male voice, more subdued. Polite if you heard him on the phone.

"Looks like the Doctor made it out of here," said the first male. They could assume he was the one walking around now, surveying the surroundings better.

"Or he was taken," said the second male. "You don't hit an alarm for nothing...That signal had a boost radius that we caught. Seems like Walker was in trouble."

"The plant's busted," said the first male. "Oh yeah...He was taken...But there's not much sign of a struggle."

There was a heavy sigh as the second male responded. "The Boss isn't going to be happy about this."

Boss. Employer. What, were these guys brainwashed or something?

"You're telling me," said the first male. "But he's been going by a little brown paper so I mean who knows what he's going to say?"

"I haven't seen him in a few weeks," the second male admitted. "Maybe he doesn't have to know."

"Are you kidding? This was a priority one. Someone has to be here as long as the kid's living in this area,"

So everyone who was anyone knew about Sam. Just who were these guys and what did they want? Humans taking action? Well, that was hardly news. Since Carmen had been travelling with Gabriel, she had learned a few things. This wasn't the first time that humans took up arms against a demon invasion and this definitely wasn't the first demon invasion in history. They had come before, more swiftly, more ruthless. This time, they came a little more subtly because not all of them were parading around the news with human heads on pikes. But wiping out a city was enough to draw the attention of mankind.

Gabriel had called them hunters. Demon Hunters to be more specific. They weren't just biased towards demons either. Anything with an irregular heartbeat, anything that remotely screamed supernatural to them was on their kill list.

But the hunters were tailing Sam. Why was that?

How could they know he was part of what happened so many years ago? Besides, like Gabriel said, he was human...but they didn't seem to think so.

No doubt, someone was feeding this band of hunters some information. Wrong information? Maybe. But they had a head honcho somewhere and Carmen wasn't going to stop tailing them until she figured out who that was. Sam may have been just a boy, but he was important to her. Important enough that he didn't need to be involved in this kind of crap anymore. Not with him dead. Not when he had nothing to do with it anymore.

Gabriel was still listening while Carmen had momentarily tuned out the conversation to scratch on her lower left side. Damn that infection. How long was it going to be before it spread all over and she was a bawling mess, scratching away at flesh and muscle?

Forget about that. Don't think about the itching. Don't think about bleeding skin. Just focus.

"You know him," said the first male in a bored voice. "He's all obsessed with the scripture these days."

At this, Gabriel stiffened in the driver's seat and Carmen's attention snapped onto him momentarily.

"What?" She asked in a sharp voice. "What? What's wrong?"

He silenced her with a look and gazed back at the black device in her hand as though it were his lifeline.

"Oh yeah, I know," said the second one. "I'm not even sure what the hell a blank piece of paper can do for you...but whatever floats your boat..." A long pause. "...Well I guess we better report this back to the boss...even if he's only half-listening to these damn reports."

"I have a feeling telling him priority one has gone missing will be enough. Who knows. Maybe Doc got drunk and hit the alarm by mistake. He may call in after he crawls back to the office," said the first one coolly.

"Are you sure we're talking about the same guy?" the other guy laughed. You could hear them more at a distance now. Footsteps. They were leaving. You'd think they'd do a more thorough search of the office for any signs of Walker. But it was clear these two were just routine guys in the area.

"You're right...Better go directly. He's not gonna be happy about this one,"

No doubt about it though, they were going to be following them. If head honcho was somewhere nearby, they needed to get there. Now.

More footsteps and then the conversation between the two became muffled.

Carmen slowly turned to Gabriel. "Wanna tell me why you're sitting like someone just bit your cock?"

"We're following them," said Gabriel sharply.

"Yeah, no shit," said Carmen. "I figured we'd do that. But what the hell was that? You got all stiff when they mentioned something about a...scripture?"

"Hold on," Gabriel murmured, and he wrapped his fingers around the key and waited for a long moment until a truck came into view briefly under the lights before driving off into the neighborhood. Then Gabriel started up the car and proceeded to follow.

"Answers, please?" Carmen asked impatiently.

Gabriel sighed. "The scripture...I've heard it before...I'm not surprised they have their greedy little hands on it...well actually I am surprised...It's called the Scripture of the Messiah...If I'm correct, they're talking about the same one." A look of puzzlement touched his features. "But last I heard...it was destroyed...No, it couldn't be?"

He seemed to be talking to himself more now. Carmen had to wave him back to reality. "Um...If it was destroyed...then how do you know they're talking about the same one?"

"Because it was in human hands last time...and like before...we had to fight to get it back. It's a holy artifact. A very powerful holy artifact...If it's still in existence then we can't waste any time. We have to get it back," To emphasize his meaning, Gabriel pressed down on the gas to accelerate. "I would fly...but as it is, we must keep a low profile if we are to succeed on this mission."

"Mission? All right, Wings. Calm down. Let's just stay under the speed limit, shall we?" said Carmen sarcastically. "What's on the artifact that's so important?"

"It's...It's...hard to explain. The Messiah Scripture was created long ago...It's embedded with powerful Will Magic that existed far long before anything existed on this plane. It was said that God himself created it. It's...kind of hard to explain...but it's extremely important...In the right hands...or the wrong hands, it's an extremely powerful weapon," Gabriel looked to her, pausing for what she couldn't guess for anything else but dramatic effect. "It's said the person who holds it, holds the world in their hands."

"And you've seen it before?" Carmen prompted.

"I've known of it's location before...I've never seen it personally," said Gabriel with a frown.

"When did you hear about it's location?"

"Four years ago."

"How?"

"We all knew...We were meant to keep it safe...We were meant to keep it from falling into the wrong hands...That was one of our primary duties part of the legion was to protect the Scripture even at the cost of our lives...and then..."

Carmen could feel the story coming on and her curiosity bit. "And then?"

"I'll tell you," Gabriel promised. "I wager the humans don't have it here if they consider Sam a threat...it must be past these state lines. We have a long way to go, kid. Good time for me to make up on lost time telling you. They called protecting Sam priority one, so let me tell you that this is now our priority one. Be prepared for the worst."