#I feel ok disclosing this aspect of her character because it does not get brought up in the comic lol

[telebeast]

[ID: a sketch of two children, Murphy and Simon, at an old mac computer. Murphy has short hair and round sunglasses and is labeled as being 12 years old. Simon has shorter hair and square glasses and is labeled as 8 years old. Murphy says, "Delete the pool ladder." End ID.] The best part about Evidence of the Unknown being released is now I can share all the silly doodles about these characters. Anyway. Fun fact, Murphy is the cousin of my other OC Simon. Here they are playing the Sims in a normal way.

[ezilyamuzed]

Heartbreaker

Summary: Jensen and you had long ago been a couple after mutually agreeing that there was something more out there for the both of you. He found what he was looking for while you still searched for yours. Upon accepting a new role in his show Supernatural, you may even find what you were looking for all along, in a familiar face. 

Warnings: Language. Fluff. 

A/N: So honestly I was listening to songs from my teenage years when this popped into my head while trying to write another part to an ongoing series. Listening to Mariah Carey’s Heartbreaker, I could see Jensen being silly with an ex and rapping Jay Z’s lyrics, because come on...that man is multi-talented. I might have an idea for what will happen if this continues but I really want to have a feel from others about their opinions. Some aspects of this have been done a lot by others, but hopefully I can add my own little touch to it to make it unique.

Thank you for taking the time to read whatever the heck this is. Any and all mistakes are my own. Please leave me feedback about what you think!

Opening scene :Mariah Carey’s Heartbreaker featuring Jay Z playing 

The cords of the familiar song began to play as you stood up on stage in front of the crowd, you smiled to your accompaniment. His emerald green eyes shinned to you as recited the words scrolling in front of him before you closed your eyes, allowing the lyrics to flow from your memory.

“Give me your love. Give me your love. Give me your love….” You repeated while he followed along in the duet.

“Ooh your love's so good I don't wanna let go And although I should I can't leave you alone 'Cause you're so disarming I'm caught up in the midst Of you and I can not resist at all

Boy if I do The things you want me to The way I used to do Would you love me baby Or leave me feelin' blue Would you go and break my heart?

Heartbreaker you've got the best of me But I just keep on coming back incessantly Oh why did you have to run your game on me? I should have known right from the start You'd go and break my heart” you sang with a sway in your hips while continuing to the repeat the chorus “Give me your love. Give me your love…”

The smile on your face grew wider as he winked at you while you continued reciting the lines from your past. In your best Mariah Carey impression you continued on with the words, feeling all the emotion that resided in you in them.

“It's a shame to be So euphoric and weak When you smile at me And you tell me the things That you know are stated To relinquish my love to you But I can not resist at all

Boy if I do The things you want me to The way I used to do Would you love me baby Or leave me feelin' blue Would you go and break my heart?

Heartbreaker you've got the best of me But I just keep on coming back incessently Oh why did you have to run your game on me? I should have known right from the start You'd go and break my heart”

He stepped up closer to you while you sang in preparation to his part coming, making you laugh as he put his whole body into it while flawlessly rapping the lines. You watched him lovingly move his arms around to the beat, while you waited for your cue.”

“OK. Cool. Aight. Yo. She wanna shop wit Jay Play box wit Jay She wanna pillowfight in the middle of the night She wanna drive my Benz with five of her friends She wanna creep past the block, spyin' again She wanna roll wit Jay, chase skeeos away She wanna fight wit lame chicks, blow my day She wanna respect the rest, kick me to the curb If she find one strand a hair longer than hers She want Make love in the Jacuzzi Rub up in the movies Access to the old crib, Keys to da newbie She wanna Answer the phone Tattoo her arm Last one I got her Sent it back to her mom She call me heartbreaker When we apart it makes her Wanna piece of paper, Scribble down 'I hate ya' But she know she love Jay because She love everything Jay say, Jay does, and a...”

“Heartbreaker you've got the best of me But I just keep on coming back incessently Oh why did you have to run your game on me? I should have known right from the start You'd go and break my heart

Heartbreaker you've got the best of me But I just keep on coming back incessantly Oh why did you have to run your game on me? I should have known right from the start You'd go and break my heart.

Give me your love. Give me your love. Give me your love.”

The smile on your face was wide as your threw your arms around his neck while the on looking crowd roared in praise to your performance. He gave you a little kiss on the cheek before placing his hand on the small of your back to lead you off the stage and back to your other companions. 

“Amazing job as always Y/N,” Jared smiled while wrapping his long arms around you in an embrace. “You weren’t too bad there either Jay.”

You looked to your side where he stood, reaching for his beer on the table with a smirk on both of your faces. You had laughed at him when he suggested that you sang “your song”, knowing very well that the past that you two had shared was nothing but a distant memory that you once shared, that seemed like another lifetime ago. In reality though, it was only 19 years since you had met Jensen on set of ‘Days of Our Lives’. Both of your fresh faced and thrown into the crazy world of daytime television found comfort in each other. You started out at friends but slowly became more until you mutually realized that there was more waiting for you both out there. Your friendship never faltered through the years though. Whenever possible, the two of you still found time to catch up with each other’s busy lives, almost always feeling so natural like you had just seen him yesterday. 

As Jared dropped his arms off of you to give Jensen a hug you sat down at the crowded table amongst the people you have come to welcome into your life as extended family members. This was always the highlight of your year, when you could just be your silly self with them, because they themselves were an odd bunch.

“You know Y/N, if I didn’t love you so much I would think that you were flirting with my husband up there,” Danneel laughed while pulling Jensen down to sit next to her. 

You rolled your eyes while letting out a full body laugh. “No Danneel, he is definitely all yours!”

He shot you a look with a fake scowl like he was hurt by your words. “What’s wrong with flirting with me?”

���Besides the headaches…”

“The drama,” Gen chimed in.

“And the childlike behavior,” Danneel added.

“Nothing,” you smiled while gesturing your beer to him in a toast.

“Don’t try and change their minds Ackles,” Jared snorted. ���These girls know us better than we do ourselves.”

“Damn straight we do,” Gen exclaimed while pulling Jared down to meet his lips with hers. 

You watched them all in admiration. They were all really the perfect couples that they portrayed to the media. Secretly you were jealous of them all, knowing that it’s a rare find to come across someone that compliments you in every way possible. Sure you had relationships, but they were mostly publicity stunts arranged by your manager and theirs. Behind closed doors more often than not, you two were strangers which left your feeling perpetually alone in the world.  

“So Y/N, what was the news that brought you down to our neck of the woods from L.A.?” Jensen inquired while wrapping his arm around Danneel.

“What I can’t just come and see my favorite person?” you laughed innocently.

“Well I am flattered but…” he started to reply but you cut him off short.

“Who said I was talking about you? I’m here to see Padalecki over here,” you said while nudging Jared’s arm. “He has to explain how the hell he has been able to work with you for so many years, since, well… a role has recently come up that I may or may not have been offered.”

Everyone’s mouths dropped but quickly formed into large grins as they processed what you had said.

“Are you serious?” Jared and Jenson blurted in unison.

“Apparently the producers thought the Winchester’s needed another wayward girl coming into their lives,” you smiled while taking a sip of your beer.

They all started flooding you with questions like who was the character? What was her story? How would she fit in to the Winchester brothers lives? You could only shrug in response, because the details had yet to be disclosed to you. The audition had fallen into your lap after recently finishing your last project. Seeing who it was from you jumped at the chance. Not only did it mean that you could work alongside of one of your best friends, but you got to be a part of the story that you had fallen in love with for the last 13 years.

“Honestly, even if they kill me 10 minutes in I will be the happiest fan girl alive,” you smiled before adding, “As long as it’s a Winchester that kills me.”

“OOO, maybe they are bringing in a love interest for one of the boys?” Gen squealed in excitement.

“Well then I am definitely dead after one episode,” you snorted.

“Oh come on, they don’t kill off all of them that soon.” Jensen huffed in defense.

“So which boy would it be?” Danneel leaned in closer with her eyes widening in suspense. “Brooding Dean or Sympathetic Sammy?”

“How could a girl choose between those two?” you laughed again while glancing between Jared and Jensen’s smiles. “They are both almost the perfect package, but if you throw them together then you have the best of both worlds. The Winchester package.”

The five of you laughed while talking about everything and anything all into the late night until it was finally last call. Closing time, where you had to say your goodbyes once again while smiling to yourself knowing that you would see them all again soon.

“I’m getting a ride back with Jared and Gen,” Danneel spoke up as she scrolled through her phone. “The babysitter is going into overtime so I have to get the kids. Jensen you take Y/N back to her hotel okay?”

“Alright,” he said while giving her a quick kiss on the lips. “See ya soon sweetie.”

The two of you walked over to the black SUV that was definitely all Danneel’s. Hair ties on the gear shift, various toys from the mini Ackles Clan thrown all around, and the distinct smell of her designer perfume that lingered on the seats. You sat your head back on the seat as he started up the engine, thinking about how once upon a time this life could have been yours.

“What you thinking about there kid?” Jensen asked while pulling out of the parking spot.

“How I’m going to protect myself from Jared and yours pranks on set,” you smirked.

“You have nothing to worry about from me, I know you can kick my ass,” he sniggered. “Jared though might need reminding of that though.”

“I’m ready for it,” you responded confidently.

“So honestly here, what made you decide to come on to the show? I’ve been asking you longer than I had Danneel, and she just finally gave in last season.”

“I’m not busy with anything at the moment,” you shrugged. “It’s not like I have an incredible pilot falling into my lap right now, plus after the last stint with that Aussie actor, I could use a break from L.A. and join my best friend in Vancouver.”

“He’s a good actor, but man was he a douchebag.”

“I think that is the nicest thing you have ever said about one of my ex boyfriends there Ackles,” you skeptically commented.

“Well I do have to make sure my Y/N is in good hands.”

“And whose hands would that be?” you inquired while raising your eyebrow.

“No one I’ve ever met,” he answered with seriousness in his voice while concentrating on the road.

“The perfect guy for me is probably just a fictional character that someone plays on TV, movies or something. Most likely one who is broken beyond repair that needs saved,” you laughed

“Like Dean?” he asked while wagging his eyebrows to you.

“If Dean Winchester was ever real, then yes he would be the perfect guy. But come on Jay, this is the real world. No one is that perfectly broken for me.”

Dean Winchester, the concept of a man that you had admired as Jensen brought his words and actions to life all these years. Although it was definitely Jensen’s face on the screen, which honestly you would never complain about after all of these years, Dean was from another world that he selflessly protected with his life. If only fictional characters were real, than you could have the best of both worlds. Dean Winchester, the perfect man.

Okay ya’ll give me all the criticism you got!

Tag: @curly-haired-disaster @snffbeebee @dean-winchesters-bacon @julesthequirky @waywardbaby @waywardnerd67 @bobasheebaby @ain-t-bovvered @imafictosexual @imma-winchester-addict @itsstillnotwhatyouthink @theworldiscolorful @bobasheebaby @anotherwaywardsister @midnightsilver @time-travel-bouqet @ladywinchester1967 @missjenniferb @myinconnelly1

[strainingfororiginality]

Chapter 15

Note from Author:  I had a very good question from a reader about the last part and I’ll like to address it on a public forum, in case other people had the same question.

Why lie about the dreams?

I struggled with this before I wrote it.  I honestly think it is IC for her character, personality and experience.  Basically, embarrassment coupled with denial.

Embarrassment because she is a very private person and she is not confident when it comes to situations like that.  She knows in the dreams that she did not hold anything back.  She put herself out there without fear of being hurt and now the possibly of that hurt is actually real ... again.  Last time she put herself out there, he hurt her.

Denial because she's grown up dealing with mental illness her whole life, watching it destroy her father, knowing that it destroyed his father and his father, worrying about it eventually happening to her.  I think it cannot be an easy thing for her to just accept.  She would doubt first.

Part 3

Quinlan understood that, yes, eventually they would need to leave the tank behind.  They had argued about how far to actually take it, and though it was uncomfortable to travel in, it afforded them far greater protection and so they would take it as far as they could.

Syracuse was at least three hundred miles from their location and the Abrams had only had around half a tank of fuel left when they departed the desolate gas station somewhere between Claysburg and East Freedom, Pennsylvania.  They made it another three hours before he admitted they would need to find another transport when they hit the city of Buttonwood.

Quinlan placed his gloved hand on the metal one last time before he looked at the map in his hands and the humans all departed the vehicle and piled into the next one that Mr. Fet had found.

Hmmm.  Buttonwood.  What an odd name for a city.  He looked around and admitted that it really wasn’t much of a city though, perhaps a township then?  Perhaps a village?  It mattered not, he digressed.

“You comin’?!”  Fet shouted to him from the new “vehicle”.  The mountainous man seemed to enjoy driving vans, it seemed.  He looked back to the Abrams one last time before he turned from it forever, grumbling under his breath.  It had been quite enjoyable, all things considered.  In retrospect, it had been a little too enjoyable though.

He walked toward their new transportation with the map spread out in front of him before he looked up to see it entirely filled with humans already and there was only one spot available for him.

Hmmm.

The van was three rows.  Fet was going to drive apparently and Dutch was shotgun.  Gus and Ephraim were in the rear row, Dawn and the new Doctor were in the middle row.  He had heard some contention when reading the map and now he understood it had been over who would occupy the middle seat.  Apparently the Doctor had won?  He remembered the near argument in the convenience store and he hoped they were not fighting over who would sit next to him.

Quinlan considering going to the front and removing Dutch from the “shotgun” position, as she was so fond of calling it.  It would be best if he sat in the front and navigated, and then he considered what he might look like to any passersby.  If there were any left, that is.

Fine.

He looked at the open door and the smiling Doctor within and he shut it from the outside and walked over to the van’s other side and opened the door, waving for the Poet to scoot over.

“But …”  She stammered as she looked up at him with wide eyes, “I … I get car sick.”  Her pout was both adorable and remarkably sad as Quinlan realized whatever the argument over seating had been, she had actually won it.  Hmmm.  He cocked his head to the right as he answered, “Yet you do not get tank sick?”

She shook her head back and forth before shrugging weakly, “I guess not.”  She remained fixed in her seat and he glanced over to the spot next to the redhead, withholding a cringe that very nearly escaped.  No.  No.  He did not wish to sit next to that woman.  She was unpleasant and she smelled quite strong still.  He waved for Dawn to scoot over again.

He would much rather sit here, next to her …

“Then perhaps it does not happen any longer?”  He offered her for her excuse as the Poet pouted again to him and the woman in the middle spoke up.

“You can sit over here.”  She patted the seat next to her, “Or you can sit in the middle if you want.”  Something seemed to click in Dawn’s head and she quickly unleashed her seatbelt and scooted over, forcing the Doctor into the window seat and letting him sit next to her.

“Thank you.”  He awarded to her quietly as he nudged her shoulder with his, sliding into place before handing the map up to Dutch.

“We are heading to Syracuse.” “What’s in Syracuse?”  She called back to him.  No one else had been privy to their direction until now.

“With luck, the Master.”  He saw Dawn bite her lower lip at this.  She did not wish him to disclose anything else and he nudged her lightly again as he reassured them, “I believe there is something there which he desires.”

“Like what?”  Ephraim slurred from behind him.

“We shall see.”  Quinlan was very good at being ambiguous and he didn’t wish to explain anything more to them.

“Are we even ready for the Master?”  Dutch asked and her question was met with silence.  There was no plan but they also had nowhere to go and getting the farthest away from the military or strigoi seemed like a good idea regardless.

“Ok den.”  Fet shrugged, turned the engine on, and they were on their way.

It would be at least a three hour drive in ideal conditions and he hoped they would reach it before night fall.  It was no more than ten minutes before the redheaded woman spoke again.

“Oh god … what’s that smell?  Who stinks?”  Rubinstein said loudly and accusingly.

Dawn shifted slightly and smelled her armpit reluctantly, furrowing her nose at it.  Quinlan could read by the redhead’s tone that she was being antagonistic and he nudged Dawn with his shoulder again, leaning over and saying loud enough for everyone else to hear, “Do not worry.  She smells much worse than you.”

Both Dutch and Dawn chuckled lowly at his comment as Rubinstein rolled her eyes, “I do not smell bad.”

Quinlan actually didn’t think the small woman smelled bad at all, in fact.  He thought about it for a moment again as he had actually noticed her underlying floral scent, that had wafted subtly from her hair, as far back as the factory itself.  He recalled smelling it in their first ... embrace.  

And since he’d removed her Angel’s Kiss, it had only gotten stronger.  There was, indeed, a strong musk aspect to it, which is what he was sure was displeasing the Doctor now, but it was far more complex than that.  It was also a sweet, floral, and warm, with just a hint of orange.  Quinlan breathed it in sneakily but very deeply, mulling over the smell again now that it was much more potent; riding atop a 110 degree heat source for over five hours likely had that affect.

At first, he was not able to pinpoint it exactly.  It had been quite subtle, even to him.  The tank had definitely brought it out more and he recognized he had smelled this scent before.  It reminded him of a medicinal herb that was quite commonly used across Europe.  He smiled as he repeated the name in his mind.  It was Angelica.  He laughed to himself … Of course it was.  He breathed it in deeply again.

He had tasted this herb once as well.  It had been sweet yet bitter, with an undertone of … liquorice.  Bumps ran across his arm abruptly as he realized that taste.  The thing which had been off about her taste.  That subtlety that had alluded him until now.  It had been liquorice.

Oh gods.  Quinlan rattled suddenly as he breathed out.

He had disliked it the first time, but now, at the simple thought of it, he twitched violently at this recollection.  The movement caused her to turn to him and he felt himself flushed with shame as he looked away quickly and out the window.   Luckily the Doctor spoke again, finally commenting on the exchange between Quinlan and herself, and broke his state of increasing discomfort.

“Great… This is gonna be a great ride, isn’t it?”

Indeed.  Quinlan looked back and down at his companion who was now pulling the orange wrapped candy from her pocket as she opened it greedily and he thought to himself … Yes, it will be, Doctor.

Dutch’s ear perked at the noise of the wrapper as she turned around and spied the treasure, “HEY!  Where were there Reese’s!?”

The majority of the trip was in complete silence, much to everyone’s surprise.  Dawn hated sitting in the middle but she’d felt a surprising sting of jealousy as the Doctor had asked Quinlan to sit next to her.  She couldn’t read if the woman was fascinated with him for scientific curiosity or for other reasons.

Regardless, she actually rode without getting sick at all, occasionally peeking Hathų in the rearview mirror, sitting happily between Gus and Ephraim in the back.  Eventually she actually dozed off completely until a particularly violent bump on the road shook her back to consciousness.

She looked up suddenly and around in minor disorientation as she felt the cold saliva on her chin.  Everything was still the same but Dutch and Fet were having some half amused half heated conversation in the front about … politics?  She was far too groggy still to make it out clearly.

OH MY GOD, I WAS DROOLING ...

She quickly wiped it off with the back of her hand, thinking no one had noticed and she looked over at Quinlan’s shoulder and saw some moisture there.  Had she been leaning on him?!  Oh no ...

OH MY FUCKING GOD … WAS I DROOLING ON HIM!?!

“I’m sorry.”  She whispered to him and utter horror crept over her face as she reached up and wiped it off of his wool coat quickly and he turned his attention from the window to her.

“You were sleeping.”  He stated as she furiously checked her hair, feeling the mess on the side of her head that had likely been caused by rubbing against his shoulder while she slept.  Pulling her ponytail free of its tie, she re-tied it back, smoothing out the bumps in growing embarrassment.

“Sorry, I don’t know how that happened.”  At least she didn’t lean over the other way, she didn’t think the Doctor would have been so understanding with her … ugh … drool.  She wanted to crawl into a hole and die right now.

“You are exhausted.  I do not mind.”

“How long was I asleep?”

“No more than thirty minutes, I would guess.”

Oh god … was she drooling on him for that long?!

Her face was immediately flush with color and he detected it instantly, causing him to lean over to her, “I do not mind.  It was a long night for everyone.  If you wish to lay down, I am sure the Doctor can move to the back.”  He glanced towards Rubinstein who made no expression of immediate concession.

“No, it’s ok.  Thanks.  I should stay awake.”

Quinlan shrugged and he flicked his head back towards the rear, “You are not the only one who is exhausted.”

Turning, she saw that both Gus and Ephraim were fast asleep as well, having made makeshift pillows out of their coats.  A moment of panicked shock struck her suddenly as she whipped around fully, scanning the van behind her and then in front of her, even looking down into the floorboard beneath her feet as the Doctor took note of her uneasy state.

“Is there a problem?”  She asked her.

Dawn blinked and shook her head, “No … actually, there’s not.”

The native woman was gone.

Oh thank god.  She had started to doubt the woman would ever leave and she breathed easily for the first time since she had demanded her presence.  The vehicle bounced back and forth while Dutch and Fet continued their debate. Quinlan stared out the window and she found herself eventually dozing again.

Back and forth, back and forth, she commanded herself to stay awake but her head swayed, rocking with an almost mesmerizing motion until her eyes closed for longer and longer periods of time.  She finally left them closed and in that state, teetering on the cusp of being awake and asleep, she felt his fingers touch her jaw as he gently pushed her head over to lean onto his shoulder again.  Her mind drifting as she thought to herself:  Wait, wasn’t he wearing gloves before?

She felt him brush the hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear and she heard one last thing before sleep took her again.  It was the woman’s voice, attempting to be loud.

“So what is it with you two anyways?  Is she like your little sister or something?”

Grrrr.

Hathų had been released.  Finally.  Once Dawn had fallen asleep, whatever hold the woman had enacted on the spirit was relinquished entirely and she felt herself whisked back to the land of the dead in the sky world.

As she entered her home, a hand immediately reached for her, spinning her around and a figure embraced her in the darkness, “Where have you been?!?”  Its tone was half terror and half agony.

“I am fine.”  She said calmly as she reached for the light on the wall and turned it on, looking up into the archangel’s eyes and finding them red and puffy.  He had been crying and quite a bit it seemed.  Her hand came up to cup his cheek as she assured him again with her softest voice possible, “I am fine.”

“But … where have you been?” He repeated in desperation as he pulled her close, nearly squeezing her breathless.  She had missed his smell so very much.  Every archangel had their own scent and his was sweet and musky, with an almost unnoticeable hint of citrus.  She breathed him in deeply as she hugged him back.

Her Thunder.  It was good to be home.

“Could you not see me?”  She questioned.

“I looked for you … everywhere.  I looked …”  His panic was slowly shedding and relief washed over his shoulders, yet he would still not release her.

“She called me to her.”  Hathų had no other way to describe it.

“How?  I looked.  I looked upon them, I did not see you.”  His voice was on the edge of cracking again as he revisited her missing time and she pulled back finally and cupped his face again.

“You should not be looking.  They will see you.  He will feel it.”

“I .. “  His pain was obvious.

“I am here now.  And I do not know how.”  He could keep asking, but there were no answers to give for this.

“He felt you shift out … He …”  She knew he spoke of his brother.  The Traveller.  He had always been sensitive to her talks with Dawn, but it was more of an itch that he could not scratch.  An itch that he could not even find.  His finger was always on the pulse of the realms and this, whatever the woman had done to her, had been a substantial wave across them.

“Does he know that it was me?”

“No.  He … But no one knows what to think now.”

“What did you tell him?”

Michael shrugged like a little kid, “That I didn’t know.  I didn’t.  I came to find you to tell you and …”

“I was gone.”

He nodded, “I was so--”

“I am here now.”  She had never seen him in such a state of anguish before.  Her Thunder.  He had felt entirely powerless and alone for the second time in his long life.  “What has transpired?”  

Pulling herself out of his frenzied arms, she moving to the sink, grabbing a pot to heat some water for tea.  There was no need to drink, but it was nice nonetheless.  Though they did not need sustenance here, the feelings that they produced were still appreciated.  The taste and heat would be relaxing to him.

“The same.  Gabriel prepares for war.  Raphael suspects treachery within our ranks.  I … I don’t know how to fix this anymore.”

She chuckled, “I do not believe we ever knew how to fix this.”  This statement caused her to shift uncontrollably for a moment and silence fell across the room.  They both knew how it would have been fixed and neither would utter that fact now.

“We’ve let this go on for too long.”  He sat slowly, easing into the chair as failure replaced panic.  “I don’t know what to do anymore …”

“You put faith into humanity’s ability to fix this.  You put faith in his ability to fix this.  It isn’t over yet.  There is still fight.  There is still hope.”

Michael shook his head now, placing his palm over his face, “At the cost of so much … at the cost of so man--”

“For the cost of love?  I cannot say what we’ve done is right.  I cannot.  But we cannot do this alone any longer.”

“You are saying that I should listen to Gabriel and we should march on Earth?”

“No.”  Ozyrel’s threat had been very clear.  He knew of his brother’s indiscretion and he sent that message clearly, with every blow they laid on Dawn.  Hathų did not care what the cost had been to humanity, she would not lose him.  If it was known, they would take him from her and there was little doubt in either of their minds that Gabriel being in control of the armies directly would lead to eventual chaos.  “No.  We stick to the original decision.  We let him finish this.”

“Useless boy.”  Michael sneered to the floor.

“It is not just you and her that will be punished.  It will be all of them.”

She pulled the pot away from the fire and filled a cup, adding a bag of dried plant to it.  It was her favorite herb, as it smelled just like him.  The Root of the Holy Ghost, he had called it when he had given it to them.  It was the only gift that Michael had ever given man, created from his own divinity.

He needed to calm himself, to calm his fire that raged within.  Handing him the cup, she placed her hand on his and he stared down into it without words as she moved to the door, grabbing her coat along the way.  She did not really need it here, but it was nice to cover up.  It was habit.

“We are damned.”  He said as he looked down into his cup, his eyes filling with tears again.

“If that is so, then we are damned together.”  He looked up to her with a smile though the tears did not abate; they flowed freely down his cheeks.  She didn’t think this was true at though, but she would never tell him that.

Who would have damned them exactly?  The Great Spirit?  No.  She had accepted long ago that the dreams she had of him had been permission from The Great Spirit.  It had given permission for her to love him; for him to love her.  There were very few things in her life that she was completely sure of and this was one of them.

He suddenly noticed that she was moving to leave and he turned to her, “Where are you going?”  His eyes pleaded that she not leave him again and she smiled.

“As I said, we cannot do this alone.  We need help.  I will seek guidance.”

“We can’t tell--”

“Do not worry, I will keep our secret.  But we need to plan better.  You do not know your brother any longer.”

“He is fragmented.  He is not the same.”  Michael looked back down to the tea and slowly took a sip of it, letting its warmth trickle down his throat and ease the flame within.

“Yes.”  She turned back to the door and opened it.  He could not follow her outside.  Others would see them and no one could see them … not together.

He called back to her again, slightly panicked at her eminent exit, “Where are you going?!”

“Stay here and calm your fire.  I must find someone.”  She repeated.

“Who?”

“I need to speak with a certain Armenian.”