Gabriel

Gabriel

"Come on Tegan," Sara shook Tegan's arm lightly, "You're tired. Let's go to bed."

Tegan jerked her head up and looked around, "Did you say something?"

"You need to get some sleep." Sara smiled at her and stood up from the couch. Amanda was on the couch as well, but per Tegan's request was keeping her distance. The TV was on and a show Tegan didn't recognize was playing.

"Yeah," She nodded in agreement, "Are you coming to bed too?" She gave Sara tired puppy dog eyes.

"Of course!" Sara smiled and grabbed her by the hand, helping to hoist her off the couch.

"Good," Tegan grinned sleepily, "I don't want to sleep alone."

"Nobody does." Sara began to lead her to the bedroom.

"Goodnight guys." Amanda called out to them as Sara turned the handle.

"Goodnight Amanda." Sara called back before the two of them disappeared into the room.

Tegan sighed and walked toward the bed, just wanting to get back to sleep. She saw movement out of the corner of her eye and froze in panic.

"Tegan what's wrong?" Sara spoke softly, strangely, as if she were far away.

"He's here." Tegan panicked as Gabriel stepped out of the shadows, "You said he hung himself. You lied to me!"

"Why would I have hung myself?" He gave Tegan a wicked grin as he spoke in a too sweet tone, "I have too much potential for that. For instance." He pushed Tegan hard and she hit the corner of the bedpost. The pain felt blurry and surreal.

"Sara!" Tegan called out but Sara must have left the room to call the police.

"She's gone Tegan," Gabriel stood menacingly as he undid his belt, sliding it through the loops and wielding it like a whip, "Your little girlfriend abandoned you. Just like your mum."

She heard the belt crack and the buckle crashed into the bedpost, narrowly missing her shoulder.

"I'm out of practice." He had a sound of disappointment that a sport star or hunter has on the first day of the season.

"Please don't!" Tegan cried out to him, tears running down her cheeks, "Just leave me alone."

"You know you can't function without me in your life," Gabriel's voice turned sour, "I won't let you forget me."

"Please." Tegan's voice was muffled in the crook of her arm and masked by sobs.

"Since you asked so nicely." Tegan opened her eyes and looked at him. He put his belt down and she sighed in relief. Next thing she knew there was a stinging sensation on her cheek.

"Fuck!" She screamed in shock at the sudden impact.

"You believed me?" He laughed. She hated that laugh, it was too gentle for him. Gabriel calmed down to a chuckle and spoke again, "This is why I'm still here Tegan. To teach you that people aren't trustworthy!" He spoke with emphasis as he spat in her face and kicked at her unprotected shins.

"Stop hitting her!" Sara had come to her rescue.

Gabriel stood up straight. At over six feet tall he towered over the small form of Sara.

"What?" His grin mocked her defiance.

"Stop hitting her." Sara spoke emphatically, as if he would be intimidated by her.

"As you wish." He gave her a short, mock, bow. And then Tegan leapt out of her curled up straight as he struck Sara hard in the face. Before she could do anything to prevent him hurting her further he gave her a backhand that sent her straight to the ground.

"I said to stop." Sara stood up slowly, defiance etched on her face. Tegan cried out soundlessly as she choked on her tears. She didn't want to see Sara go through the same pain her mother did.

Gabriel stared Sara down and grabbed her shoulders, slowly lifting her off the ground in a display of strength. Sara took advantage of the position and kicked him hard in the stomach. But instead of doubling over he boiled over. Tegan could have sworn steam came out of his ears as his face went red with anger.

Sara had no time to react. Before she or Tegan could even speak Gabriel through Sara at the wall.

Why did she have to be so light? Why couldn't he have just thrown her to the ground? Tegan's mind whirred as she looked at her girlfriend, crumpled motionless on the floor, a dent in the wall above her marking the force of the throw.

"You're a monster!" Tegan spat at him as she fought against the bile that was rising to the back of her throat.

"No," Gabriel shook his head slowly, "I'm just putting useless women in their place. It's always been my job Tegan." He picked the belt back up and flicked it at her back, causing sharp pain to erupt over her body.

He sent a well-aimed kick her way, the tip of his work boot finding her jaw. Tegan knew it had to have shattered. But numbness had taken over. Resognation.

"You're so much like your mother," Gabriel paced around her for a few seconds, "You never do anything right and you're too much of a pussy to stand up to anything."

Tegan raised her broken head and saw that his back was turned. She raised herself slowly, gripping the edge of the bed and hoisting herself to a standing position. His back was still to her. He was watching Sara intently. Tegan looked around quickly and a lamp caught her eye. She reached out to her right and slowly dragged her feet over to the bedside table and grabbed hold of the lamp. Watching Gabriel carefully she unplugged the lamp and lifted it like a baseball bat. As quietly as possible she crept forward.

This was her David verse Goliath, her three hundred Spartans against his vast Persian army. She took the lampshade off and set it down quietly. This was her chance. She took her aim and swung.

Gabriel stumbled out of shock and Tegan hit him again. He turned to take a swing of his own but Tegan jabbed the lamp at him, he doubled over as the metal tip dug into his ribs. She lifted the lamp above her head and smashed it over his head. The bulb shattered and glass flew everywhere. The force of the blow bent the lamp out of shape. But Gabriel was down to one knee, both hands over his head.

"FUCK YOU GABRIEL!" Tegan shouted and slammed the lamp down one more time.

"Tegan," Sara shook Tegan's shoulder as she mumbled and whimpered in her dream, "Bella wake up. You're having a bad dream." Tegan shot up, startling the two girls on the couch.

"FUCK YOU GABRIEL!" She shouted, eyes still closed.

"Oh god!" Sara's face was covered in panic, "Not again. Tegan wake up." She redoubled her efforts. Tegan continued to squirm and murmur in her sleep. Sara wrapped her arms firmly around her and planted a kiss on her forehead.

Tegan's eyes shot open, "It was just a dream. You're still here. He didn't break your body."

"No Tegan," Sara squeezed her tighter, afraid to let go, "He can't do that, remember?"

"I beat him Sara." Tegan smiled widely at her girlfriend.

"You what?" Tegan had never smiled so easily after dreaming about him.

"He told me I never stood up to anyone," Tegan was still shaking from the dream, "So I got up and beat him. I think I might have gotten rid of him!"

Sara sobbed into Tegan's shoulder as she held her on the couch, "I'm so proud of you Tegan. You're the strongest woman I know. You keep fighting. Keep him out."

"I think I can do that." Tegan rubbed Sara's back as she continued to smile at the thought of finally controlling a nightmare, "Let's go to bed Sara. I want to sleep. I won't dream of him tonight. All I want to do is sleep and not have the threat of him there."

"Okay," Sara nodded and loosened her grip so they could stand, "Let's go to bed then."

They said good night to Amanda and walked into the bedroom. Tegan checked the dark corners. No suspicious shadows. No Gabriel.

Tegan slept peacefully knowing he wouldn't come back again. Knowing she was past the darkest point in her life.

She woke up in the morning feeling refreshed. She stretched and smiled before turning to admire her girlfriend. She took in all of the beautiful features; the arms that were intricately designed with tattoos and the soft silk like skin, her hair so perfectly messy in its state of sleep.

Sara rolled onto her back and let out a small sigh.

Tegan watched her with the same admiration from this new angle. She watched the way Sara's breast rose and fell with every breath. Butterflies found their way into her stomach as she watched Sara's nose twitch from some event in a dream. And her heart melted like wax when Sara's lips curled into a smile just seconds before her eyes opened.

"Good morning bella." Sara mumbled sleepily.

"HI angel." Tegan immediately captured her lips in a sweet good morning kiss.

"Do you want to take a shower?" Sara asked, eyes barely open, hooded with sleep.

"Of course." Tegan couldn't remember ever being this happy. True happiness was never a part of her life growing up. It was just something they pretended they had.

They walked to the bathroom together. Tegan helped Sara out of her boxers and t shirt that she had slept in, leaving her kissed on her shoulders as soon as the shirt was off.

"Please don't ever fly back to heaven," Tegan held her around the waste in the shower, "I wouldn't be able to function without my guardian angel here."

"I will never fly away Tegan," Sara leaned back to give Tegan a kiss on the cheek, "I will go with you wherever you are."

"Thank you." Tegan felt tears run down her cheek. The love that she felt was expressing itself the only way she ever knew how to express any emotion, "I love you Sara. So much."

"I love you too Tegan," Sara turned around in Tegan's arms and planted a sweet kiss on the waiting lips, "Don't ever forget that."