A Promise Not Broken (one x one)

[Hayleigh]

Myra took in all of the information Gabriel was giving her. It seemed like a random attack. Of course, it had to be someone who knew something about the company or just Gabriel himself. "Well, as soon as you figure out anything from the blood sample, I want you to send it straight back to us," she said to Japeth. "I want to be able to know the meaning behind the attack as soon as possible. Even if it isn't important. We don't want it happening again."

Myra turned right back to Gabriel. "As for you, Angel. Within the next two weeks you need to figure a way to find a new place. Taking her back to her home is probably not a good idea. Since they used her as part of the attack last night, there is no say whether they might use her again. Also, maybe helping her be able to defend herself could be of some use. If we find out that this attack is something important to us, you will have a new mission on your hands."

[Elli]

Japeth nodded, "Ah, the lab should have the results completed by tonight. But ah, it may do no good. There may be a chance that the, ah, donor is not registered anywhere."

Gabriel nodded calmly listening to each and every detail. He was already creating a list of characteristics the new home will need to be. "Will I be on company budget or my own budget for the new living space?"

Already Gabriel had created his own mission for this one. Even if he was not officially 'assigned' to one, he would still behave as if he was on one.

"Also, I was wondering if I could be commissioned a person that will not only help train her, but also protect her some while I am out gathering information."

It wasn't that he did not think Arabella could not take care of herself... it was that he did not want anything to happen to her while she was alone. The less time she spent alone, the safer she would become. Gabriel was not going to be able to be around her 24/7 but he was going to make sure that she was as safe as she could be with him gone.

[Hayleigh]

Myra nodded at Japeth. "Anything that would be of use, though. Please let me know about it right away."

Myra could tell that Gabriel was already making a list in his head on what needed to be done. That's why he was the top assassin in the company and also her favorite. He got the job done on time and not very many messes to clean up. "It will be on the company budget since they did more damage than you did. And I will have a list of people ready to take care of the girl. I will let you choose which one you think will be able to get the job done. I will have the list sent to you by tomorrow. Any other questions?"

-------

Arabella couldn't believe what this week had brought to her. Along with the the random ambush last night and now finding out about Gabe's job, it just seemed like a dream to her. Now she was going to be learning how to defend herself and having more people watch her. It was all happening so fast. At the age of 21, Arabella's life was changing. She definitely needed a drink.

[Elli]

Gabriel shook his head, he really had nothing else to add... The ache of his body reminded him that he was not done. "Also Boss. Can I also have a guard for the rest of today and tomorrow. I need to rest before I can even think of searching for a safer location."

[Hayleigh]

Myra rolled her eyes. "You are so picky." She giggled and nodded, confirming that it was alright. "I will call one right before I leave." Again, she turned to Japeth and said, "There is another assassin that needs your help. Once you get done here, please get there as soon as possible. Call the office and Charlotte should give you your info on what happened."

Myra turned to leave and whipped out her cell phone to call up a guard for Angel.

--------------

Arabella watched as the woman left. She took care of everything so fast. She must have been doing it for years. Even though she just met the woman, Arabella kind of admired her.

[Elli]

Gabriel nodded goodbye to his boss, all of a sudden feeling exhausted from the whole endeavor. Slowly, Gabriel leaned back and let out a sigh. His eyes were closed when Japeth stood up to take his leave. Opening one eye he forced a smile. "So someone else got into a bind huh?"

Japeth nodded, there was always someone else. Someone injured from a mission, or just a sighting.

"Go work your magic Doc." Japeth smiled at Gabriel's words.

"Ah, yes. Make sure you, ah, at least get a full day of rest. Which ah, means no work. I will call to ah, check up on you... make sure you aren't getting into any ah, mischief."

Gabriel smiled and nodded as Japeth walked out the door.
((Ack, redundant kinda... bah! lol sorry about the post.))

[Hayleigh]

Arabella waved goodbye to Gabriels boss and the doctor. Finally, she looked back at Gabriel. There were bruises and cuts around his body for the fight the night before. "So this has been going on for a long time, huh?"

Looking at him, she kind of felt bad. He must be going through a lot for his job. Doc said he needed to rest for the day. She was going to care for him for the day then and not let him do much, but they did need to talk about everything that she just found out.

[Elli]

Gabriel shook his head, "I've been doing this job ever since I remember. Though It's been a while since this has happened to me. I've learned to be more careful." He stopped and glanced at her, wondering what she was thinking. His observation, which normally revealed all, gathered nothing from her tired and weary face.

Looking around, Gabriel pushed himself up, trying to ignore the pain. "You look beat... get some more rest. I'll be fine until the guard arrives. Until then, I'm on guard." He began to walk towards a chair in the corner, trying to find his gun. Already the throbbing in his head was nearing the unbearable mark. But he would bear it, if only for Arabella's sake.

[Hayleigh]

Arabella nodded as Gabriel answered her question. Surprisingly, she felt like she should have expected as much. Throughout the years, he seemed to disappear for a while and when he came back he had new scars or bruises. They never really seemed to make a difference until now, because she knew the reason.

The only thing that really bugged her was that he thought she need rest. "I need rest? You're the one in pain!" Arabella stood up from the couch and grabbed onto Gabriels shoulder, trying to be gentle. "Gabe," she said knowing that the nickname bugged him, "why don't you rest?"

[Elli]

Gabriel winced as Arabella grabbed his arm, it felt like hot daggers were being pushed into his body. "It's just until the guard gets here. There is a chance that one of them will come back here again. I can't take that chance."

He tried to smile at her through the pain. He didn't want her to worry... he had gone through worse before and still had to function.

[Hayleigh]

Arabella let go immediately, knowing she had hurt him. But she didn't want to sleep when he was in soo much pain. "I think I will wait with you. We can rest together." After she said it, she realized how it sounded and hoped that he wouldn't take it too far into thought.

"I have some questions anyway."

[Elli]

Gabriel smiled at her, not having to supress the urge to laugh that hard... it hurt too much for that. Slowly he sat down in a chair already placed in his corner, the one that showed him everything. Placing his gun in his lap, Gabriel looked at Arabella.

"Ask away. I'll answer them... to the best of my abilities."

[Hayleigh]

Arabella sat back down on the couch and faced Gabriel. All she really wanted to know was about her brother. It was a touchy subject, but now that she knew why he died, she wanted answers. She paused before she actually asked her question. "Umm, how long did Carter know about all of this?"

[Elli]

Gabriel leaned back in the chair to think. "How long? I'm really not sure. He figured it out on his own... then confronted me. I guess I know for a fact maybe a year before..." He stopped, the words crashing over him. It had only taken a year for whoever was targeting him to find Carter and kill... and it was probably less than that. How long could he protect Arabella from that force?

[Hayleigh]

A year? Arabella couldn't believe that Carter had only known for a year. How had he figured it out? Well, he did see Gabe more than she did. She only saw him when he came over to hang and even then she hadn't really known much about him.

"Umm, how exactly did...Carter," she had to finish the last of the question, but her voice was choking up. "......die."

[Elli]

Gabriel sat still for a moment. Images of that night flashed into his mind like a bad nightmare. "How he died?" A swallow revealed a lump forming in his throat, but his mind made his face neutral. How did he word it? He was too slow? He made it in time to see them finally slash Carter's throat? Worse, how could he tell her that before Carter died, he was tortured, not for information, but for the fact of doing it?

He couldn't do that to her, at least not the fact that he was tortured for the sport of it. "His throat was cut..." Gabriel paused, knowing that the next part had to be said. "Right in front of my eyes."

[Hayleigh]

"Right in front of my eyes."

Arabella didn't know how to respond. In her mind, she was wondering why Gabriel hadn't saved him. He was stading right there. But her heart told her that Gabriel was trying the best he could. He wouldn't just let his best friend die.

A single tear fell down her face, but she really couldn't cry anymore. Staring Gabriel right in the eyes, she got up and walked toward him until she was right next to him, her face only inches from his. "I know you didn't mean for it to happen." Looking him in the eyes, she slowly reached her lips to his forehead, planting a little kiss. She didn't know what else to do.

[Elli]

Gabriel sat still for a moment, trying to comprehend what had just happened. His mind slowed down and he watched Arabella. She had taken the news pretty well, although he wondered if there was more thought process than what he first perceived.

He tried to smile, but it just wouldn't come to his face. He knew there was still hope, and Gabriel was not going to let down Arabella's or even Carter's trust in him. He would die before something happened to Arabella.

[Hayleigh]

Arabella yawned, breaking the awkward silence. She was exhausted. You would have thought after being out since yesterday that she would have gotten enough sleep, but she had tossed and turned in the middle of the night. It had kept her partially up, but she had never opened her eyes because she thought that the whole night was just a nightmare and she didn't want to wake up to find that she only had a few more hours before she had to get up. She would have been wrong anyway.

The only thing she didn't have to worry about was going to back to college. They gave her some time off due to her brothers death. Though, what was nagging at her brain now really bugged her. With all of this going on, what was going to happen while she was at college?

[Elli]

Gabriel smiled at Arabella as she yawned. "Get some rest. Really, I'm fine. We can talk later when you've had some rest to get everything straight." He didn't mention the unknown future. That would be something that would be discussed later. He just hoped that this would not last that long... that it was done quickly.