Date: Tue, 06 Apr 2004 03:45:16 +0000
From: Jason Parker <archangelmatthew72@hotmail.com>
Subject: The Angel: Part 12

Authors Note: You lucky people you! I spent all day writing
this, cause I felt so bad about not updating for so long. I
blame you all for my massive guilt trip. I know I said I'd try
and get Matt and Jason back together, but these things take
time, and I felt the story would benefit from firstly, a few
more characters, and secondly, a bit more of the bad. The big
bad that is.

Disclaimer: You can't read this. Yeah, that's right, you. I
know who you are, you shouldn't be here. Go away. Nah, just
kidding. Go ahead. I mean, even if you're not of legal age,
it's not like I could stop you anyway. So yeah, why not. Go on
and read it.

* * *
Car Troubles


	"You what?" Jason shouted. "I can't believe you would do
something like that!" he leapt up from the couch. "I can't
believe you Sara, that's sad even for you!" He stalked off to
his own bedroom and slammed the door. Sara heard the lock
slide shut from across the suite.
	"Jason please, you don't know how I was feeling!"
	Silence reigned in the suite and Sara strained her ears
for any noise. Eventually, when she held her breath she heard
a few soft sobs from Jason's room before he fell silent. A few
minutes later and the shower started up.
	"Why can't you just stay away from this family Matt?"
she asked the air plaintively.

* * *

	Jason managed to finally control his emotions and
stripped off his clothes before jumping in the shower. He
relaxed into the sensation of the warm water coursing down his
skin. He leaned back against the wall and closed his eyes. He
breathed in the steam, enjoying the tightness it produced in
his chest. A distraction from the dull ache in his chest. A
soft giggle drifted through the foggy air.
	Jason opened his eyes and looked about him. 'Must have
been the drain.' He told himself and then laughed, 'I'm
getting paranoid.' He closed his eyes again.
	After a few minutes he grabbed one of the small bottles
of shampoo and washed his hair. He lathered his body up,
admiring his own physique. He'd been blessed with a gorgeous,
but low-maintenance body, he had a lot to show considering how
little time he was able to spend working out. He rinsed off
and opened the foggy glass door a crack to reach for a towel.
He cursed the cold air when he realized the towels were across
the room by the door. He opened the door wider and then
grabbed at the towel he found being suddenly thrust at him.
	He took it from a soft, delicate hand and then did a
double take. He almost dropped the towel but managed to cover
himself up instead.
	"Who's there?" he asked. "Sara, that's not funny! Get
out." There was only a faint giggle. 'Shit!' he thought. 'I
knew I heard someone before. Oh Christ, they've been here a
while... Watching ME!'
	He began to grow angry, then afraid. He was in a
completely defenseless position. He was naked, unprepared and
didn't know who was there with him. The mystery someone on the
other hand, had been waiting for him and was probably prepared
to deal with him in any number of ways.
	"Wh-Who's there?" he asked again.
	There was no answer and he poked his head around the
foggy glass door and wrapped the towel around his waist.
	A young woman, she couldn't be more than seventeen, was
perched, cross-legged on the marble counter by the sink. She
had soft pale skin, rich, full lips and luxurious, long blond
curls. She was wearing a white silk slip and Jason found
himself admiring her slight figure. He was having trouble not
to stare.
	"Who are you?" he asked anxiously. She seemed unarmed,
and hardly dangerous, but he was sure she hadn't been in the
room when he first entered. He glanced at the door. It was
still locked, but that meant nothing. She could have locked it
again after gaining entrance.
	The girl, for her part, raked her eyes slowly over his
body and smiled slightly.
	"Um, can I help you?" Jason insisted again. The girl
slipped off the counter lightly and approached him. She
extended her hand as if to touch his bare chest. He drew a
sharp breath and her hand stopped, barely an inch from his
skin.
	She dropped her hand and turned away from him, heading
towards the door. Rather than open it, she simply slipped
through it into the next room. Jason dashed to the door and
flung it open, but the girl was gone.
	He sighed heavily and leaned back against the wall. "What
I wouldn't give for a normal life again!"

* * *

	Matt had been attempting to meditate again. Since he'd
left Jason, it hadn't worked once. Every time he closed his
eyes, his memories flickered before his eyes and then were
replaced by images of Jason, dead or dying. He felt like he
was running on empty and his exhaustion was beginning to show.
	The wall split open across the room and a girl dashed
inside. She caught sight of Matt and ran to him.
	"Ash?" he asked as he caught sight of her face through
bleary eyes.
	"Hurry!" She said breathlessly. "Miriam is on her way. If
she sees you here, she'll have you banished."
	She helped him to his feet and he staggered around one of
the marble columns onto an open balcony. He paused for a
moment and light swelled and flowed down his back followed by
plumes of white feathers. She heard him mutter something
wistfully. It sounded like, "He said I was beautiful... no
matter what form..." before he flung himself over the balcony
and spread his wings, catching an updraft. He spiraled away
and then darted into one of the pristine white clouds.
	And not a moment too soon. She heard the wall behind her
open up and white light flooded the room. She turned in time
to see Miriam stride through the newly formed door. Her
ceremonial robes had been replaced by cold, steel armor.
	"What do you think you were doing?" She snapped as she
entered the room. Ashley stared, incomprehensively at her.
"Don't play dumb with me. Ophiel saw you. What were you doing
there? He's not your ward."
	"So you have Ophiel, the all seeing, kowtowing to you
now?" Ashley asked coldly. "So what if I was there. I'm
allowed to go where I please on earth."
	"The point is, the boy is not your concern."
	"He's hardly a boy! And I think he is my concern. With
Matt forced into hiding because of your lies and conceit
someone has to watch Jason. Or else They would get him. Or is
that what you want Miriam?"
	Miriam clenched her fist threateningly around the hilt of
her curved blade. "Be very careful what you say, child.
Blasphemy is a high crime."
	"Good thing I wasn't blaspheming then, or is that what
you think of yourself? Do you suppose you're better than the
ancients?"
	With a flash of movement Ashley found the tip of Miriam's
sword pricking the delicate skin of her neck. Miriam looked
about to say something, when her nostrils quivered. She
sniffed the air hesitantly. "I can smell him, child. Where is
he? Where is Matt?"
	Ashley narrowed her eyes and looked daggers at the elder
angel. "I don't know."
	Miriam pressed the blade deeper and drew it slowly along
her neck and across her collarbone. Ashley gasped slightly as
she felt the blade bite and slice her pale skin. "I'm telling
the truth. I don't know where he is."
	"Bah!" Miriam spat. "Your weakness disgusts me." She
sheathed her sword with a snap, turned briskly and walked out.
	Once the wall had closed behind her, Ashley sank to the
soft, fur rug. Matt landed swiftly on the balcony and was at
her side in a matter of seconds. He laid his hand on her neck
and a soft glow spread out from it, healing her wound. She
shuddered and wept softly, her tears mingling with the few
drops of her blood that had reached the carpet.
	"Why does she do this to us Matt? Why can't she just
leave us alone?"
	Matt held her close to his chest. "I guess it's just part
of the family curse."

* * *

	Jason had gone to bed exhausted, but resolved to confront
his sister in the morning. However, when he woke up and made
his way into the central part of the suite, he found a note
for him sitting on the kitchen table.

"Emergency at the agency, had to go immediately. Be in the
lobby at 10:30. Scott will meet you. Sorry."

	It was signed by Sara. He glanced at his watch. It was
just nearing 9:30. He settled himself down on the couch for a
wait, and some Saturday morning cartoons.

* * *

	Scott's day was going well, he'd woken up on time, been
for his routine morning jog without incident and there was no
line at the coffee house to boot. And so it was that he
entered the lobby a few minutes early in good spirits.
	He picked Jason out immediately. He was dozing in one of
the large, leather armchairs. Dressed in pin-stripe jeans, a
tight black T-shirt with a large Playboy bunny printed across
the chest and red sports wristbands with skulls on them. Scott
almost groaned. Jason stuck out like a ten foot pole amongst
the other guests. Either Jason hadn't noticed him yet, or he
just wasn't paying any attention to him, so Scott took the
opportunity to carefully check him out. He took in Jason's
light but defined build. 'Definitely workable material,' he
decided.
	After a few more minutes of studying Jason he made his
way across the lobby towards him. Jason only looked up to see
him when Scott's shadow fell across him.
	"You really are new to this aren't you?" Scott asked him
with a raised eyebrow.
	Jason gave him a cold, hard stare. "I assume you're Scott
then. New to what?"
	Scott took a seat in the chair next to Jason. "I've been
watching you for several minutes now. I could have taken a
shot at you at any minute. You didn't even notice me till the
last moment."
	Jason smiled slightly, "Actually, I did notice you. But
you seemed to pose little threat to me. I thought I'd keep my
eye on the fellow at the bar." Jason flicked his eyes at a man
in a black coat with the collar turned up, dark spectacles and
a hat.
	Scott shifted his eyes without moving his head so that
they were both focusing on the same person. "What's so special
about him?"
	Jason continued to watch the man from under heavy eyes.
"I blinded him a few weeks ago when he attacked me. I was
wondering when he'd start tracking me again." He smiled
wickedly. "Good to know that his eyes still haven't
regenerated tough."
	Scott looked at him wearily. "You're not kidding are
you?"
	"No. His name is Damien. He's been trying to kill me for
a few weeks now... don't ask what for. I'm as clueless as you
on that."
	Scott stood and beckoned for Jason to follow. "Your
sister warned me about him. If he's already found you then we
need to be going. Now."
	Jason shrugged and cast a last glance at Damien before
grabbing his bag off the ground and following after Scott.

	Jason caught up with Scott as he was handing a set of
keys to a valet. "Um, where's my car?" he asked.
	"Sara took it. Don't worry, you can pick it up later."
	The valet pulled up in a silver Nissan Z. "Nice wheels."
Jason commented.
	Scott was watching something behind Jason. "That Damien
fellow is still watching you."
	"As long as watching is all he does. I don't want to
cause a scene here." Jason said as he tossed his bag in the
back and then clambered into the front seat.
	Scott started up the engine and looked into the rear-view
mirror before pulling out of the hotel driveway. He glanced
again in the mirror and sped up slightly. Rather than get back
onto the highway, as Jason had expected him to do, Scott
pulled onto a smaller, but empty side road. He glanced in the
mirror once more and pressed harder on the gas.
	Jason noticed his glances into the mirror and turned in
his seat to look out the back. A Dodge Viper GTS with tinted
windows was dogging their heels.
	"It's that Damien fellow," Scott explained. "His car
pulled up just as we were leaving."
	Jason turned back to face him. "Are these windows
bulletproof?"
	"Yeah, should be. Why?" Scott looked at him anxiously,
but Jason had already turned back to watch the pursuing car.
	"Speed up a bit." He said flatly.
	Scott pressed harder on the gas pedal and the speedometer
jumped forwards a bit. Several rapid gunshots rang out,
quickly followed by a series of dull metal thuds from the rear
of the car.
	"You're shitting me!" Scot snarled. "You did NOT just
mess my paint job!"
	"Can't you drive any faster?"
"I have a better idea." Scott replied as he slid back a
small panel in the side of the steering wheel with his
fingers. Jason could make out a series of buttons within.
Scott pressed the uppermost of the buttons and a whirring
sound emerged from the back of the car. Jason turned back to
see what was happening. A panel in the boot of the car split
open and a mounted machine gun slowly rose out.
"Who the hell do you work for, MI6?!" Jason asked.
Scott looked at him briefly with a gently arched eyebrow.
"They're British," was all he said. He slid his fingers down
to the bottom button and pressed, holding it down for a few
seconds. Jason cringed in his seat from the rapid firing of
such a nearby gun.
	"Jesus Christ!" he gasped.
	"You're telling me." Scott said. "That didn't even dent
his hood!" he pressed a combination of other buttons and the
shaft of the gun slid back, leaving a much larger barrel. He
pressed on the bottom button again and the discharge was even
louder this time. The car lurched forwards as a much larger
shell shot out and slammed into the pursuing car. The shell
connected with the center of the windshield at the car spun
out sideways.
	"Way to go!" Jason cheered.
	Scott was still frowning however.
	"What?" Jason queried.
	"That thing's practically a Howitzer. It can demolish an
armored tank from one hundred meters." Scott looked back into
the mirror. "It didn't even stop them."
	Jason turned and looked back too. The driver and regained
control of the car and was back in pursuit. In fact, he was
steadily gaining.
	"Screw this." Jason shouted. "Floor it!"
	Scott complied and Jason felt the force of their
acceleration as he was pressed back into the seat. Scott
looked again in the mirror.
	"Open the glove compartment," he ordered.
	Jason did so and found a number of pistols cached inside.
He looked dubiously at them.
	"Lean out the window and empty a few clips. Aim for their
tires." Scott instructed.
	Jason fidgeted. "Um, I don't know howÉ I've never fired a
gun before."
	Scott rolled his eyes. "Just point and pull the trigger."
	Jason picked up one of them and rolled down the window.
He felt the rush of wind as they tore down the road. He held
onto the door handle with one hand and leant out. He raised
the gun gingerly and then closed his eyes as he pulled the
trigger.
	He gasped as the shock traveled up his arm. He braced
himself and aimed again, this time keeping his eyes open. He
pulled the trigger once, twice, three times, and was rewarded
when one of the cars lights shattered.
	He pulled himself back inside the car. "I have a better
idea."

* * *

	Damien leaned forwards eagerly in the front seat. "Come
on you sorry bastard. I owe you for my eyes." He muttered,
then turned to the driver. "Drive faster you worthless piece
of shit!" he snarled. He looked at his hands, now spiked with
barbs of back metal that protruded form his skin. He flexed
his fingers and his dagger-like nails gleamed in the light.
	Their car was just beginning to gain on Jason when
suddenly his prey pulled to the side and pressed on the
brakes. The car slid past, as if moving backwards and then the
two cars leveled off side by side. The passenger window of the
other car was even with the driver's window of his own. He
peered around the man to look into the other car. Jason sat
sideways, aiming a pistol out the window.
	"Put your window up you fool!" he screeched at the
driver.
	The man reached for the button and then Jason fired.
Their car suddenly braked hard, leaving Damien to carry on
forwards, as the head of his driver seemed to explode sideways
onto Damien. The mans body lurched sideways into him, knocking
the steering wheel as he fell and the car spun sharply.

* * *

	Scott and Jason watched from where they had screeched to
a halt as the Damien's car spun sideways, still moving
forwards at the same time. The rear of the car brushed the un-
paved ground on the side of the road. The extra friction was
all it took to launch the car into the air. It flipped
sideways several times before coming to rest, upside-down on
the road with a screech of metal.
	Jason sat, still trembling from the effect of shooting
someone for the first time. He took several deep breaths. The
air was heavy with the smell if burning rubber. Petrol was
leaking onto the ground form the upturned car. He looked
across at Scott, he seemed almost as shaken up as Jason.
	"Lets not do that again." Jason whispered.
	"I think that's a good idea." Scott agreed.
	Movement near the car simultaneously caught both of their
attention. Someone was crawling clumsily out of the window on
the passenger side. Damien clawed his way out and crawled to
the center of the road. He stood stiffly and looked back at
his ruined car.
	Scott slammed his foot down on the gas and the car
screeched forwards towards Damien. He turned in the road to
face them and Jason caught the look of surprise that flashed
across his face moments before the car impacted on his body
and he was thrown up into the air. Scott didn't even wait to
see where he fell, he continued driving at a breakneck speed.
	"Your sister owes me for this. Big time." He said after a
few seconds.
	Jason couldn't have agreed more.

* * *

	Look, for once it isn't a cliffhanger! *dances* Aren't
you proud? Hehe. So, a few people were asking what happened to
Damien and why he had stopped chasing Jason. I wonder where
they got that idea. I mean, I certainly never said he was out
of the picture. Oh, and yes, that does mean we will be seeing
yet more of him. Scott's a new guy, as I'm sure you noticed.
There wasn't much room in this chapter for developing him as a
character, but don't worry, he's along for the ride. I have
special plans for him. *grins evilly*
	I'm still at ArchangelMatthew72@Hotmail.com so if you
want to ask me anything about this chapter or just the story
in general, feel free to do so. Now then, I suppose I better
get cracking on Part 13.