Part 31

Logan’s House

Washington, DC

Sunday, July 12^th, 1998

Ian knew, that as a master vampire, Fritz would not have any trouble entering Nicole’s house uninvited, but only a handful of his vampire followers would be able to follow – even a master vampire had limits. The rest would still be prevented from entering without an invitation. Even so, it was likely that Fritz would send in his human, and most dispensable, followers first. A lack of invitation was no barrier for them, and they could soften up his target first.

So when Ian arrived and found a number of Fritz’s followers outside the house, he had to fight his way past them to get into the house. He made it to the front door just in time to see Fritz’s head and body hit the floor separately and then Nicole crumple to the floor.

Ian knelt next to the blonde, careful of her wings, full of concern for his friend. “Nicole? Nicole!” He pulled out his phone. “Where the hell are you?!... I’m here and she’s not in good shape... No, no, she did it. She killed him, but it looks like he almost took her with him... Okay, see you when you get here.”

After hanging up his phone, Ian slipped off his duster, folding it and putting under the blonde’s head. He then pulled his t-shirt off over his head and used it to press against the wound in her side in an effort to staunch the bleeding.

“Come on, luv, hang in there.” He looked around while holding the material in place. “Red!... Dana! Are you here?”

Ian was concerned because he knew Dana had been with Nicole when he called – he’d called the redhead’s phone, after all. But he didn’t feel he could leave the blonde’s side, afraid that she might bleed to death if he did. His head popped up when he heard someone’s footsteps on the porch after a couple of minutes.

“Red? Is that you?”

“No.”

He was surprised to see Lance tentatively stick his head in the front door. “What are you doing here?”

“I was... worried.” The elf came in and looked around nervously.

“Don’t worry, they’re all dead or gone.” He paused. “What were you worried about?”

Lance’s eyes locked on the blonde. “Her... Is she going to be okay?”

“I hope so. If she comes to she should be able to heal herself.”

“And if she doesn’t wake up?”

“Then hopefully Thea can do something for her. She should be here any minute.”

“Who’s Thea?” the elf asked.

“I am.”

Both men whipped their heads around and saw the brunette enter through the front door.

“Thank god you’re here. She’s been unconscious since I got here,” said Ian.

Thea knelt next to her friend, careful to avoid her wings. She moved aside Ian’s hand and looked under the blood-soaked, makeshift bandage. “Dammit!”

“Do what you do; help her,” Ian said.

“I can’t.”

“Why not? You’re a witch, aren’t you?”

“A witch?” Lance exclaimed, backing away from her nervously.

“I can’t help her because she’s a Malakim.” She looked at Lance. “Don’t worry, you’re safe, elf... unless you had something to do with this.”

“Me?! No, no!”

“He’s a good bloke, Thea. Lance is the one who warned me Fritz was going to come after Nicole.”

Thea looked at the elf again. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied.

“So why can’t you help her?” Ian asked.

“Malakims are immune to magic. It’s one of the ways they’re protected.” She looked around. “Where’s Dana?”

“I don’t know.”

“D... Dana...”

Witch, elf, and vampire all looked down to see the blonde’s eyes were open, though dulled by pain as she struggled to stay conscious. She retracted her wings.

“Dana...”

“Where is she, Nicole?” Thea asked.

“Safe... room...”

“I’ll get her.” She stood. “Continue to keep pressure on the wound,” she instructed before quickly heading to the kitchen and then down to the basement.

As soon as Thea opened the door Dana burst out of the room and raced up the stairs. “Nicole!” She dropped next to the blonde, appalled at the injuries she could see... and terrified of the ones she couldn’t. “Call an ambulance!” she ordered.

“No...” Nicole said softly.

“You’re hurt; you need to go to the hospital,” Dana argued.

“I’ll be okay... just need some time...”

It was clear that she wanted to argue the point, but Thea stepped in. “She’ll be okay, Dana,” she said, though she didn’t sound as convincing as the redhead would have liked.

Dana slipped into doctor mode in an effort to deal with her overwhelming fear. “She’s lost too much blood; she’ll go into hypovolemic shock.”

“We can get blood.” Thea looked at Ian. “Ian?”

“Right.”

“Let’s get her settled before you go.”

Ian very gently slipped his arms under the blonde and picked her up.

Dana felt confused and out of her element as she followed Ian to Nicole’s bedroom. He carefully laid the injured woman on the bed and then moved aside to allow the redhead to check Nicole out. He excused himself when Dana started to carefully remove the blonde’s bloodied clothes.

“I won’t be long.”

Dana gasped when she saw the wound in her lover’s side. And the dark bruises that littered Nicole’s body could mean some broken bones. “Nicole, this is bad; I have to call an ambulance.”

“No. It’s not necessary. I just need some time,” she asserted weakly.

Dana didn’t know what to think. The wounds were not minor, but Nicole was... Well, what the hell is she? She mentally sighed. What the hell do you think?! Humans just don’t sprout wings, glow, and fight 1200-year-old vampires.

“Hey...”

She looked into those dark green eyes that made her heart flip-flop.

“I’m still me, Dana. I’m as human as you are.”

Somehow I find that a little hard to believe. She swallowed. “I need to get you cleaned up,” was all she said.

Dana left the bedroom to obtain and a large bowl of warm, soapy water and a clean washcloth. She found Thea and the young man she didn’t know straightening up.

“Do you need any help with Nicole, Dana?” Thea asked.

“Yeah, that would be good.”

“Just continue to clean up, Lance. I’ll take care of the blood stains later.”

“Okay.”

Dana returned, set the bowl on the nightstand, and sat on the side of the bed next to Nicole. Thea sat on the other side and helped Dana to gently clean the blood from her lover’s battered body. The cuts on the blonde’s legs and arms weren’t overly deep, but they had bled a lot and marred her flawless skin. Nicole sucked in a painful gasp when Dana carefully cleaned the blood from the wound in her side.

Dana stood and went into the master bathroom, rifled through the medicine cabinet, and returned. “Here, take these, Nicole,” she said while holding out two strong pain pills – leftovers from the prescription Nicole got following her injury and surgery on her pectoral muscle.

The blonde hesitated, knowing her mind would have to be clear for her to heal, but she decided some pain relief would offset the delay. She took them.

“How do you feel?” Thea asked as she and Dana resumed their task.

“Like the tomato in a Ginsu commercial.”

Looking at the wounds made by the sharp edge of Fritz’s sword the comparison seemed more than apt.

Dana’s heart ached at the painful damage done to her lover’s body. Reluctant to make eye contact, she focused on the cut on Nicole’s forehead and spoke softly. “So what’s the penalty for trying to kill an angel?”

“Fingernails on a chalkboard... neverending...”

Dana couldn’t suppress a small smile at the lighthearted answer.

Nicole exchanged a look with Thea, who nodded in understanding.

“I’m going to go check on Lance.” The brunette left the two women alone.

Nicole winced as the redhead continued to clean her wounds. She looked up into Dana’s crystal blue eyes. “And I’m... not an angel...”

With the pain medication kicking in, the blonde’s eyes closed and she drifted asleep. Dana finished cleaning Nicole’s wounds, bandaging the wound in her side, and then pulled the covers up over her. Taking the bowl of water with her, she left the bedroom. She found Thea and Lance in the kitchen. The brunette was fixing some tea.

“How is she doing?” Thea asked when she turned and saw Dana.

Dana emptied the bowl and washed it and her hands. “She’s sleeping.” She sat down with a sigh.

“Don’t worry, Dana, Nicole will be fine,” she replied, trying to convince herself as much as the redhead. She took in Dana’s expression as she gazed off into nothing. “Are you okay, Dana?”

“I’m just...” She struggled to find the words to accurately capture what she was feeling. “Nothing makes a whole lot of sense right now. I mean... that man was... he was...”

“A vampire – a master vampire to be more accurate.”

The redhead closed her eyes and shook her head. “How am I supposed to react to that?” She took a couple of slow breaths. “Or to what Nicole is?” She opened her eyes and looked at Thea. “What is Nicole?”

It was the brunette’s turn to sigh. “I think that’s something you need to discuss with her. It’s not my place.”

They all heard Ian return. He entered the kitchen and held out a pint of blood, some saline, and an IV kit to Dana. “Here. This is for Nicole.”

“How do you know it’s her blood type?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Thea said.

Dana whipped her head around. “It does matter. She’s not AB-positive.”

“I know. Her blood types as O-negative, but she can receive blood of any type. It’s... an advantage she has.” She saw the redhead’s skepticism. “Trust me. I’ve known Nicole most of my life and I would never do anything to jeopardize her. Our families have been close for generations.”

Given what she’d seen already that night, Dana was almost glad that someone else seemed to know more than she did about everything. She and the brunette went into the bedroom. She inserted the IV needle and opened the valve to let the blood flow. Tears filled her eyes as she again took in the blonde’s injuries. Thea sensed Dana could use a few moments alone, so with a reassuring pat on the redhead’s shoulder, she left the bedroom.

When Dana returned to the kitchen, the other three were sitting at the kitchen table sipping some tea. She poured herself a cup and then sat down.

“Don’t worry, Red, she’ll be right as rain,” Ian said. “Nicole’s a lot tougher than she looks.”

She looked at him. “What the hell is going on? And why were you at The Mission with Nicole?”

“Lance tipped me off that Fritz was in town. I told Nicole and she decided to go after him,” he answered calmly.

“Why?”

“Because it’s what she does. It’s who she is.”

“And who exactly are you?” she demanded, looking each of the three in the eyes.

“I’m Ian McGregor. I was born 117 years ago in Glasgow, Scotland.” He held her gaze. “And I’m a vampire.” He allowed his eyes to change and his fangs to lengthen. At the look in her eyes, he changed back and continued. “I do not feed on humans and despite the fact that Nicole and I are natural born enemies, we’re friends now. With her help I’ve... redeemed myself. I told you before – Nicole stood by me when no one else would. I know that if I ever need anything, all I have to do is ask and she’ll be there. And there’s nothing I wouldn’t do for her.”

Before she could even process what Ian had said, Thea spoke up.

“I’m Althea Wickersham and I’m a witch.” She shot Ian a look of ominous warning, preventing him making any comment about her first name. “My clan has served Nicole’s clan for countless generations. My duty is to assist Nicole in whatever way I can.” She smirked and added, “When she lets me.”

“I thought you were a hacker and owned a software company.”

“I am and I do. Nicole’s tendency to work alone has left me with plenty of time to turn my hacking skills into a profitable software company. It was my company’s jet that flew you down to Great Thatch Island.”

Dana slowly rubbed her face with one of her hands before she pinned the other person at the table with a look.

Lance almost winced at the hard look in the redhead’s eyes. “I only met her a few days ago.”

“Lance is the one who warned me Fritz was going to come after Nicole,” Ian explained.

“And how did you know?” Dana demanded.

He shrugged. “I’m an elf; I hear things.”

“An elf?” Blue eyes widened.

He reached up with both hands, brushing the hair back on the sides of his head and tucking it behind his pointed ears. “Yeah. People don’t take elves seriously, so they don’t always notice we’re around.” He shrugged.

Dana had had enough; she needed to think. The redhead stood and walked out of the kitchen and into the living room. She stood in the middle of the room with her eyes closed, trying to order her thoughts.

After several moments, Thea followed.

“Are you okay, Dana?”

“How am I supposed to believe all of this? I’m supposed to believe that Ian’s a vampire, Lance is an elf, you’re a witch, and Nicole is–” She couldn’t finish that sentence. “She has wings!”

“I know it’s a lot to take in. But Nicole has told me about the kinds of cases you work. Surely you’ve encountered things that seemed just as incredible during your investigations.”

“I’m a scientist, I need...”

“Proof?”

The redhead turned to look at Thea who was sporting an amused smirk. The brunette gently grabbed Dana’s arm and coaxed her to move aside a couple of steps. She then recited something in what sounded like Latin but wasn’t. The redhead couldn’t believe her eyes as the blood stain from where Nicole had lain bleeding from her wounds disappeared. Dana shot the brunette a look of incredulity.

Thea smiled benevolently. “Go sit with Nicole; I’ll take care of fixing things,” she said with a wave at the coffee table, broken windows, and the splintered front doorjamb. “Then I’ll chase the other two out of here before leaving as well.” She put her hand on Dana’s arm, giving it a reassuring squeeze. “As far as Nicole goes... just talk to her, Dana. She’s the same person you’ve known all along.”

The redhead sighed but nodded. She met Ian in the hallway on the way to the bedroom. He gently caught her arm, and looked into her eyes.

“Red...” He wanted to find the right words to make things okay for his friend. “She would have told you if she knew how. She’s never stuck around long enough to have to explain.” He held her eyes to convey the import of his words. “Nicole chose to stay here... for you. She loves you.” After a moment he let go of her arm. “I’m going to go, but if you need anything call me – I left you my number on the counter in the kitchen.”

Not knowing what to say, she simply nodded and headed into the bedroom. In the bedroom, Dana checked on her lover, making sure her breathing was regular and her pulse was strong. She then sat in the chair... and watched Nicole sleep while trying to sort through her thoughts and feelings.

~~~

Sunday, July 12^th, 1998

When Nicole woke up it was still dark out. She slowly turned her head to look at the clock radio on the nightstand.

“It’s just after 3:00 am.”

Dana’s voice almost startled her. She looked at the redhead, seated in the chair across from her bed. “You’re angry,” she sighed.

“I’m not sure what I am.” She took a slow breath. “You lied to me.”

“No, I didn’t. I just didn’t tell you everything.”

“You said your abilities were a result of you being able to use the unused part of the brain, but that’s not it, is it?”

The blonde closed her eyes and let out a slow breath. “It’s part of it.” She opened her eyes. Her fear for her relationship with Dana was almost too much to bear. Tears began to fill her eyes as she stared at the ceiling. Part of her really didn’t want to do this now, but Dana deserved answers. “I’m sorry, Dana. I’m sorry. I really believed that I couldn’t tell you. I tried to tell you... in small doses.”

“You still haven’t really told me.”

“What would you have had me do? ‘Hi, I’m Agent Logan your new partner, and by the way, I’m a Malakim. In fact I come from a long line of Malakims – like my grandmother.’”

“Malakim? But that’s an ang–”

“That is a commonly held misconception. Malakims are not angels. We’re human, completely human. We just... we’ve just been given certain... gifts... like enhanced senses, augment­ed strength and recuperative abilities, and the gift of tongues – the ability to speak and understand any language.”

“The gift of tongues? Then why do you have translation texts?”

“Writing and reading are different from speaking and understanding. Or at least it is for me.”

There were a few more minutes of silence, which Dana finally broke. “Is there anything else I should know?”

Nicole let out a heavy sigh. “Probably...” Nicole turned her head to look at Dana. “But can we, please, not do this right now?... I don’t have the strength for anymore right now.”

Dana looked at Nicole and saw the truth of her words in her eyes. After a couple of seconds she moved to sit on the side of the bed and grasped the blonde’s hand, squeezing it. No matter what, she loved Nicole and nothing had changed that. And... Nicole was right. What did she expect Nicole to do differently? If the blonde told her before the night’s events that she was a... a Malakim, Dana would have thought her crazy. And in analysis, Nicole did tell her the truth – she told Dana about her knack for languages, and demonstrated them; and almost from the first Nicole had said she was a fast healer and she was stronger than she looked; and she had told Dana about her enhanced senses. She brought Nicole’s hand to her lips and kissed the back of it.

“I am upset – more with the situation than with you. And I do have questions, but they can wait for now. I love you, Nicole, and I don’t want to lose you.”

The tears in Nicole’s eyes rolled down her face. “I don’t want to lose you either, Dana.”

Dana squeezed her hand and brought it to her lips once again. “You’re not going to.” She took in the lines pain had etched in her lover’s features. “Do you want some more pain medication?”

“No. I need to be clearheaded to heal.” She felt Dana squeeze her hand. “I really do heal quickly... even more so now... that I don’t have to hide it.” She gave Dana a small smile before closing her eyes.

As the blonde’s heart rate and respirations slowed, Dana stood and just looked down at her lover. The beating Nicole had taken was brutal, and the sight of her battered face and body tore at Dana’s heart. Tears began to roll down her cheeks. She wiped them away with a sniff and grabbed a robe. She escaped to the bathroom. She let out her sobs once under the running water of the shower. She jumped when she stepped out of the shower and saw Nicole leaning heavily against the doorjamb, still clearly in a lot of pain. Dana reached for a towel and wrapped it around herself as she moved towards the blonde.

“Are you alright? Do you need anything?” she asked full of concern.

“Are you alright?”

“Me? I’m fine.”

“You were crying.”

Dana’s first instinct was to deny it, but then she realized it would be of no use. “Just... everything catching up with me,” she said softly, looking at the floor.

Nicole held her arms out. “Come here.”

Dana almost hesitated, but she needed Nicole’s arms around her. She moved into her lover’s arms and they closed around her. She put her arms around Nicole’s waist, careful of her damaged ribs and the bandaged wound on her side.

Nicole held Dana’s still wet, towel-clad body to her. “I’m so sorry, Dana. I never meant to hurt you. I’m sorry. I understand if... if it’s too much–”

She pulled back. “Don’t. Don’t even finish that thought,” Dana warned.

The blonde took a deep breath and let it out. “Sorry. Guess things are catching up with me as well.” She pulled the redhead back close to her. “Just know one thing – I love you.”

“I love you, too.” Suddenly Dana felt Nicole slump a little. “Are you okay?”

She nodded weakly. “I need to lie down.”

“Let me help you.” With her arm around the blonde’s waist she helped her lover back to the bedroom and to lie down again. “Is there anything you need? You took your IV out – I should hook that back up.”

“No need to do that. I just need some time.” Her eyes closed and she centered herself, once again lowering her heart rate and respiration.

Dana slipped on the oversized, men’s shirt and retrieved her laptop. She settled in the chair in the bedroom and kept watch over her lover as the blonde slept, researching, trying to learn as much she could about Malakims. Everything she found said Malakims were angels, heaven’s soldiers and champions, single-minded in their love of battle and defeating the forces of hell. They were also known as the Virtues, and were sometimes called ‘the shining ones.’ They provided courage, grace, and valor.

Courage, grace, and valor... that’s a perfect description of Nicole, Dana thought to herself.

However, nothing she could find told her how to deal with having a Malakim as a lover. She closed her laptop and her eyes. What now? Where do we go from here? I love her, but...

No. No buts. For the first time in my life I know I’m in love, and Nicole makes me feel loved. I’ve just found her and I’m not going to lose her.

As the sun began to rise she turned off the light, set her laptop aside, and slipped into the other side of the bed. Despite her exhaustion, sleep did not come easily.

~~~

Part 32

Logan’s House

Washington, DC

Sunday, July 12^th, 1998

It was Sunday afternoon when Nicole woke up. She was infinitely grateful to find Dana sharing her bed instead of sitting in the chair across the room. She lay there simply watching her lover sleep for several minutes. She sent up a prayer of thanks that the events of the previous night did not cost her Dana and her love. Her heart felt it was about to burst with the love she felt for the redhead. She rolled onto her side and with a smile started to carefully unbutton the oversized cotton shirt.

“Mmmm...” Dana was slowly waking to the wonderful sensation of a warm, moist mouth suckling at her breast. She didn’t open her eyes, just reveled in the sensations. Oh, God, that feels so good... She felt her lover’s warm body shift and gentle fingers grazed auburn curls and then her wet and swollen lips. She moaned in pleasure. A hungry mouth captured hers and she returned the kiss. A warm, wet mouth nuzzled and worried her neck and throat as she arched up into her lover’s body. She brought her knees up, opening herself up completely and groaned as deft fingers filled her.

Nicole could feel Dana’s wet heat squeezing her fingers as she moved in and out of her. The redhead’s constant moans were music to her ears. Dana was completely unrestrained and uninhibited, totally lost in sensation. She had never allowed herself to really give up control with a lover before. Only with Nicole did she let go. Only Nicole made her feel safe to do so, made her want to.

She felt it begin deep within her belly, the warmth and tightness, growing and infusing her veins with molten heat. It spread throughout her body. Her heart was thundering beneath her breastbone, her lungs sucked in gasps of air, her muscles trembled, and bright flashes exploded behind her eyelids.

Dana came explosively, physically and vocally, and Nicole felt a sympathetic resonance sing through her own body. Her cry joined Dana’s as she also climaxed.

Nicole’s body bonelessly collapsed on top of the redhead’s. She felt Dana’s legs slowly settle onto the bed on either side of her. Dana’s arms still rested around her as Nicole’s head lay on her shoulder. Both were trying to catch their breath and slow their hearts. Soon the blonde rolled off of Dana, onto her back next to the redhead.

When Dana caught her breath she rolled over, partially onto the blonde’s body. She caressed Nicole’s cheek as she gazed at her face. She was surprised to see that the cuts, bruising, and swelling around her lover’s eye and on her lip were gone. She slowly ran her eyes, and hand, down Nicole’s torso, running over previously battered, bruised, and lacerated skin. As she did so, Nicole reached up and lethargically peeled away the bandage from her upper chest, revealing the absence of knife wounds and surgical incisions. Full of wonder, Dana removed the bandaging from the blonde’s terrible side wound. She touched every part of her lover’s body that had been injured, attempting to make the fact that Nicole was fully healed real in her mind.

“How...”

“As long as I’m not unconscious and have a clear mind, I can accelerate healing. Injuries anyway. Things like a cold, migraines, and stuff like that I have to suffer through just like anyone else.”

“Is it difficult?”

Nicole gave her a half smile. “It took me a number years to learn how to do it.”

“So that explains how you recuperated so quickly after what happened in Chattanooga.”

The blonde nodded, remembering their first case together and the beating ‘Gumby’ had given her because she’d screwed up. “Yeah. Once the drugs and concussion wore off, I was able to heal.” She saw Dana frown. “What?”

“If you have to have your mind clear, then how were you able to recuperate so quickly when Brian Monroe drugged you?”

“I took some precautions earlier that day... a kind of antitoxin to help retard the effects.”

Dana thought for a moment. “Like the tea we had before going out clubbing?”

“Yes and no. The tea is definitely beneficial in a number of ways, but it was what I added to it.”

“You mean the substance you added to my tea when I was sick?”

“Yeah.”

“How can what you used to help me also be used as an antitoxin?

“Think of the substance like stem cells. It fills whatever role is needed. It’s what settled your stomach after radiation and chemo treatments, helped me resist and overcome what Brian Monroe drugged me with, and helped prevent a hangover from the alcohol we drank when we went clubbing. It was also the main ingredient of the balm that eased your saddle soreness in Montana, and in the sunscreen that prevented you from burning. It’s really quite amazing.”

“I know I didn’t ask for a sample after I got back, but...” She paused for a few moments before continuing. “Does the offer still stand? Can I still get a sample to examine?”

Nicole gave her an affectionate smile. “Yes. I’ll give you a sample.” She sat up, carefully released her wings, and plucked a feather. “Simply break open the quill and extract the liquid.” After retracting her wings she held the feather out to the redhead, but Dana had jumped off of the bed and was staring at her, dumbfounded, from several feet away. “What’s wrong?”

“They’re r-real. You really have wings.” She shook her head. “I thought I saw them on the monitor, but I...” She again shook her head. “And you glow!”

Nicole’s brow creased. “You saw me glow?”

“Yes, all silvery like.”

“When?”

“Last night when you were fighting...”

“Fritz.”

“When you were fighting Fritz. And just now when you... when you had wings.”

“Come here, Dana,” she said gently as she held her hand out. “Please.”

She took the blonde’s hand and sat on the bed again.

“Normally, the only physical manifestation people can see are the wings and something in my eyes. It takes someone very special to see that ‘glow.’”

Dana didn’t have a clue about what to think or say. “I’m having a hard time believing my own eyes.”

“Then do more than look,” Nicole said gently. She once again released her wings.

Reflexively, Dana’s hand moved towards the snow white feathers of the wing outstretched in front of her, but she stopped herself. Her eyes cut to the blonde’s. “May I?”

Nicole nodded. “Of course. If you can’t touch them then no one can.”

Her hand continued its journey until her fingertips grazed the unbelievably soft feathers. She sucked in a surprised breath. “They’re so soft,” she said, wonder coloring her tone. She moved her hand to the top edge of the wing, running her palm along it, feeling the underlying strength and warmth of the bone and flesh beneath the feathers, her eyes wide. “How?” she whispered in awe.

“I know you have a lot of questions, and I’ll answer what I can. But I’m rather hungry since we haven’t eaten since last night. Let’s go get something to eat and we can talk. Okay?”

At the mention of food, Dana realized how hungry she was as well. She nod­ded. The two women got up. Nicole retracted her wings and slipped on her robe. Dana buttoned the oversized shirt and followed her lover into the kitchen. Working together they threw together a light meal of cut up fresh fruit. They ate rather quickly and then settled down on the couch to talk. They sat close, but facing each other. Dana stared at the feather she nervously worried between her fingers. Nicole reached out and took one of Dana’s hands in hers, watching her, waiting.

Finally Dana broke the silence. “Why?”

“Why what, Dana?”

“Why are you a... a Malakim?”

“Boy, you go right for the hard ones, don’t you?” she said with a small, rueful smile. The blonde squeezed Dana’s hand, and cut off her apology. “It’s okay.” She took a deep breath and let it out. “Malakims are... well, heaven’s soldiers, champions. Our purpose is to hunt and battle evil forces in the world. To carry out our duty we are given certain abilities... abilities angelic in nature. But Malakims are not, and never have been, angels. We’ve always been human. We’re paladins, basically.”

“Paladins? As in Charlemagne’s paladins?”

“No. No Malakim would ever fight for or against a particular religion. Charlemagne was a fanatical papist. Any religion that furthers the goodness in people is a valid path to the Creator.”

“The Creator, you mean God?”

Nicole smiled. “That is one name, but also very limiting. The Creator is so much more and has been known by countless names. The Creator has been called God, Allah, Buddha, Vishnu, Mother Earth, Tian, Yahweh, Wakantanka, Deus, or any of a thousand other names.”

“But why you?”

Nicole took a deep breath. “My family.”

Dana raised an eyebrow in question.

“One of my ancestors was chosen, thousands of years ago. Since then the duty, the privilege, has been passed down my family line ever since.”

“You said your grandmother was a Malakim?”

Nicole nodded. “Yes, but not my mother.”

“So it skips a generation?”

Nicole smiled. “It’s not that simple. Grandma’s father was also a Malakim. And remember, I could have chosen not to develop my abilities.”

“Who...” Dana hesitated asking one of the questions that scared her.

“It alright, Dana, go ahead and ask,” she said gently.

“Who do you work for?”

“The FBI.”

“That’s not what I mean.”

Nicole smiled. “I know what you mean. If you’re asking if I receive direct communication from the Creator, the answer is no. But there are others who are in the same fight.”

“Other Malakims?”

“Yes, and others. As I said, the world is full of all kinds of creatures, good and evil.”

“Do I want to know?”

Nicole shrugged. “I don’t know, but it seems to me you’ve already faced a number of the world’s evils, in their varying forms.” She gave Dana’s hand a squeeze. “And you’ve met some of the good ones – Ian, Thea, Lance, and Ariel.”

“Ian said he’s...”

“A vampire, yes. But he’s redeemed himself. He one of the good guys now.”

“And Thea is a witch.” It sounded like both a statement and a question.

“Yes. And Lance is an elf.”

Dana ran a slow hand over her face as she tried to absorb everything. “You also mentioned Ariel.”

The blonde smiled. “Ariel is an angel.”

“What?”

“Ariel is a Guardian Angel. I knew her in life. When she died she became an angel.”

“But she didn’t have any wings... or a halo...”

Nicole couldn’t keep from smiling. She closed her eyes and sent out a call for her friend. By the time she opened her eyes a few moments later, there was a form coalescing a couple of feet away. Dana’s eyes were wide with shock as she watched Ariel take form right in front of her. The blonde felt the hand she was holding in her own tremble.

Ariel smiled benevolently. “I’m glad to see that you’re alright, Nicole.”

“Thank you.”

The angel looked at Dana. “And you look quite healthy and happy... though a bit shell-shocked.”

“Uh... yeah.”

“I’ve told Dana that you’re an angel and she pointed out that you don’t have wings or a halo.”

Ariel smiled and then snapped her fingers. Suddenly she was every bit that vision of a ‘traditional’ angel – wings, halo, and flowing white robe. “Is this more what you’d expect?”

“I-I guess.” Dana couldn’t help but reach out to touch the woman.

Ariel caught her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Yes, I am real.” In the blink of an eye she changed back to her original appearance. She knelt in front of Dana, looking her in the eyes. “I know it’s a lot to take in, but trust me – everything will be fine. You have a blessed soul, Dana.” She glanced at the blonde. “You both do.” With that, she began to fade and was gone in a moment.

Dana’s hand that had been holding Ariel’s suddenly closed around nothing. She looked at the blonde in astonishment.

“She right. Everything will be okay.” Nicole leaned forward and lightly pressed her lips against the redhead’s.

Dana was silent as she tried to order her thoughts and feelings.

“What’s wrong, Dana,” Nicole asked as she observed the redhead’s expression.

“I’ve struggled so much with... the church, my faith the last couple of years.”

“Two entirely different things. The church is not your faith, Dana. And no matter what struggles you’ve faced, you haven’t let them change the good that is in you. Even when you have your greatest doubts you still have a good heart and soul. You are a good person. You are a beautiful woman, Dana, with a beautiful soul.” The blonde spoke in a heartfelt tone and meant every word.

Nicole’s words touched something deep inside Dana and she felt a lump form in her throat. She pressed her lips together and breathed in through her nose in an effort to hold back the tears that welled in her eyes. Her efforts didn’t go unnoticed by Nicole, who shifted and wrapped Dana in her strong, warm arms. They adjusted so that the redhead was sitting with her back to Nicole, and the blonde’s arms were around her. Dana turned her head and rested her forehead against Nicole’s jaw. She felt fingers trail through her hair.

After relaxing in her lover’s arms for a couple of minutes, Dana turned her face away from the blonde and Nicole felt the redhead tense up. She correctly guessed what Dana’s next question was.

“Why were you assigned to the X-Files?” Dana asked almost inaudibly. She was afraid of the answer.

The blonde took a deep breath. Finally she responded softly, but clearly, “Because of the Consortium... and because of you.”

Dana sat up, pulling away from Nicole. Her hands were shaking slightly and she closed her eyes. “So I’m still somebody’s pawn.”

“No, Dana, you’re no pawn.” She let out a sigh. “No one’s trying to use you, least of all me. I was supposed to take care of the Consortium, but the priority was to save your life. It wasn’t your time to die, Dana. And personally, I’m glad.” She sat quietly, allowing the redhead some time to process her words.

Finally, Dana spoke again. “Then why wait?”

“If you mean why wasn’t I, or someone else, sent sooner, I don’t know. And if you mean why did I wait until you were in the hospital... I did the best I could, Dana.” Tears filled her eyes. “Believe me, it killed me to almost lose you,” she barely managed to strangle out around the lump in her throat.

Dana turned and saw the stricken look on her lover’s face and the tears in her eyes. She immediately moved to take the blonde in her arms. She kissed Nicole and gently wiped the few tears that had escaped. “I’m sorry I questioned you or your motives.”

The blonde tightened her arms around her lover. “It’s okay... I understand. After everything you’ve been through... I’d do the same thing.”

They kissed and simply held each other for a couple of minutes. When they finally parted, the blonde kept her arm around Dana’s shoulders and the redhead laid her head on Nicole’s shoulder. She kissed Dana’s forehead. “Dana, I would change some things if I could, but I’m not sorry I was assigned as your partner. And I’m not sorry I was able to find a way to help you and to take out the Consortium.”

She squeezed the blonde’s hand. “I’m not either. It’s just... a lot to take in.”

“I know.”

“Why did you request a transfer when I came back?”

Nicole took a deep breath before replying. “Because I had completed my assignment – I achieved both objectives...” she paused before continuing, “... and because I’d fallen in love with you.”

“You wanted to leave because you fell in love with me?” Dana picked up her head off Nicole’s shoulder and looked at her.

“I didn’t think I stood a chance with you.”

“So why did you stay?”

“Because I’d fallen in love with you,” she said with a small smile. “And because you asked me to.”

“Where would you have gone if you’d left?”

“Back to Europe, back to the work I was doing before.”

Dana frowned. “Wait a minute, your file said you’d been on medical leave when you were assigned to the division.”

The blonde nodded and let out a sigh. “I know. That wasn’t exactly the case.”

“So the incident in Bucharest, your previous partner–”

“All true. Only the timeline was altered a little in my public file. I was already back to work, and in the middle of an assignment. I was recalled with no notice and that’s never happened before. I was back here in DC the same night as Agent Mulder’s death, and had my initial meeting with Skinner.”

“Skinner – does he know what you are?”

“Not exactly. He’s aware of a couple of things about me, but he doesn’t know everything, and he doesn’t know I’m a Malakim.”

“You’re the one who helped him, aren’t you? You said he was no longer compromised. You did something about it, didn’t you?”

Nicole nodded. “I merely offered him a second chance. It was up to him whether to take it or not. Just like you.”

They talked until late, until time to go to bed so they could get up and go to work in the morning. They retired to the bedroom. Nicole slipped off her robe and got into bed. Dana removed her shirt and also slipped under the covers. After only a moment’s hesitation the redhead wrapped her arms around her lover and held her close. They kissed tenderly.

Nicole saw something pass behind the redhead’s eyes. “What?”

“Can I ask you a question?”

“Of course you can.”

“Is... homosexuality a sin?”

The blonde reached up and tenderly caressed her lover’s cheek. “No. The sin is in not being honest with oneself, in denying who and what you are. Love – selfless, giving love – is never a sin.”

“How can you be so sure?”

“Because the Creator not only made me a Malakim, but also made me gay. Homophobia – like hate, fear, racism, the crusades, the inquisition, etc – is a construct of mankind, of the church, not a construct of the Creator.” She took one of Dana’s hands in her own and touched it to her forehead. “I know it here,” she laid Dana’s palm over her heart, “and I know it here.”

Wanting to fully believe Nicole, Dana continued with her probing. “But what about the bible? It says–”

“It says what fearful, misogynistic men decided it said.” She gave Dana a small smile. “Remember, there are over 50 versions of the bible in English alone. Which one is the right one?” she asked rhetorically. “I can tell you that in the original texts, in the original languages, there is no such condemnation. Even in the third and fourth centuries men could not agree on the interpretation of the bible.” She gave Dana a small smile. “Did you know that ‘Thou shalt not kill,’ isn’t even a commandment?”

“What do you mean?”

“In the original Hebrew, it’s ‘Thou shalt not murder.’ You’d be quite surprised how things are actually worded in the original texts.”

“So the church is wrong...”

“The church is a construct of mankind, an attempt at understanding the Creator and the Creator’s plan. But as a construct of mankind the church is fallible – most apparent in the position that their way is the one and only way to God.”

“You mean the Catholic church.”

“I mean all churches who claim that theirs is the only way, be they Christian or otherwise. There is no ‘one true way’ to know the Creator. The Creator is made known to each person in a unique and personal way. When you’re at peace, conduct yourself ethically, and strive for the betterment of yourself and others, you know you’re on the right path.”

Dana gazed in Nicole’s dark green eyes. “You seem so sure.”

“I have to be... to do what I do, I have to be.” She let out a deep breath. “But I’m just as human as the next person, and I have my doubts, and I get angry, and there are times I hate the Creator, and I...” she paused. “I have as many human failings as anyone... but I keep trying.” Nicole stopped and gazed into Dana’s eyes. “I know you were raised in the Cath­olic church and that its teachings are the foundation of your faith. Take from it what feels right to you and follow your heart. You have a good heart and soul, and as long as you listen to them, you’ll not go wrong.”

Everything Nicole said felt so right and fit so well with her own personal thoughts and feelings. She moved forward and kissed her. “Thank you.”

“For what?”

“For not dismissing my questions and discussing this so hon­estly and plainly. Faith isn’t always an easy topic of discussion.”

Nicole nodded. “I know. If I helped, I’m glad. But I don’t have all the answers. I’m not even sure of the questions a lot of the time,” she said with a small smile. “But I don’t ever want you to feel you can’t talk to me or be afraid to ask questions. I don’t want communication to ever be a problem. I love you, Dana, so very much. I’ve never felt this way about anyone.” She again caressed Dana’s cheek very tenderly. “You touch my heart and my soul.” They kissed tenderly.

They drifted to sleep in each other arms, contented smiles gracing their lips.

~~~

FBI Headquarters

Monday, July 13^th, 1998

They had to part ways in the morning since Dana had to go home to prepare for work. When she walked into their office the redhead smiled as she was handed a mug of fresh, hot tea... and received a kiss.

“Good morning,” the blonde said with a smile.

“Yes, it is,” Dana replied, also smiling.

“There was a note on my desk – Skinner wants to see us first thing.”

“Then let’s go.”

~~~

They were allowed to enter the AD’s office as soon as they arrived.

“Good morning, Agent Scully, Agent Logan.”

“Good morning, sir,” they replied in unison as they took their seats.

“I need to know if you’re up to working in the field in the field, Logan.”

“Yes, I am.”

“It’s my understanding you’d need a few weeks of light duty.”

“Not necessary. I heal fast and I’m ready to go.”

He looked at the redhead questioningly.

“As Agent Logan’s physician, I can assure you she is well enough for field duty. And as her partner, I trust her implicitly to have my back.”

After a moment he gave a curt nod. “Very well.” He slid a couple of folders across his desk to them and proceeded to tell them about their newest case.

Dana and Nicole exchanged a look, and a smile, that verified their future together was secure – professionally and personally. They were partners, in every sense of the word.