Hal just sighed and shook his head.

"I was merely saying that going alone was dangerous." he said.

"I honestly cannot think of anyone else that would be qualified to go." he told her.

"Gabriel is in no condition to, Uriel has his hands tied keeping Gabriel in check, Zeke is probably no match for the Fallen, and I'm not entirely confident in Azazel's prowess against them, either." he admitted.

"He stands no chance." Ash stated.

"His status as one of Liz's assistants means NOTHING to them, and he's a mid-tier demon at best." he explained.

Hal had not been the one in Anya's line of sight, but he felt it. And it unnerved him to his core, causing him to shudder a little. Ash maintained his composure, but the two of them saw a sweat drop trickle down the side of his head.

"Indeed." he said.

"And how much time do I have?" he asked her.

"I don't intend to rush it, but I don't want to risk a long goodbye messing things up." he reasoned.

Hal then looked a little closer, and saw Ash was shaking. EVER-so-slightly.

Hal just shook his head.

"The Fallen attacked Erica, their goal to kidnap her." he told her.

"Gabriel fought back, but at the end... they managed to corrupt his halo." he then lamented.

"So... Gabriel is now with Aimee and Uriel, the latter ready to kill him when and if he succumbs to the chaotic will of the Fallen." he explained further.

Ash sighed quietly.

"The Fallen are ruining all they touch." he said.

"Yes Ma'am." Ash replied.

They then sorted out where they were meeting, and Ash left.

"..." Hal was silent, before looking at Anya.

"You really put the fear in him." he told her. "Don't think there's very many people he refers to as 'Ma'am'..." he muttered.

"Can see why as well." he continued.

"That was... unnerving, to understate it."

Hal shook his head slightly.

"Ahhh, so that was intentional." he said.

"...I see." he mumbled.

"Well... here's hoping this can be dealt with... promptly. And safely." he then said.

"I'd rather not lose you as a friend, Anya." he admitted.

"You're a good woman."

"I understand." Hal responded.

"...I wish you the best of luck in this." he then said.

"This... needs to be quelled. And quickly." he muttered.

"But none of us can." he lamented.

"Except you two. Well... and Kelly." he added.

"That's why they took her. It seems Excalibur is the key to solving this."

"Well, have a chat with Azazel." Hal said. "Maybe HE can offer some sort of advice or something." he said further.

"Or help calm Erica down." he then offered. "She is stressed." he finished.

Overall, Ash didn't take very long. An hour, and he was where they had designated to meet; in the receptionist's area by Hal's office. He sat down and set a text to the woman.

I'm back. it read.

Just waiting on you. he told her in the next one.

He then just sighed and shook his head, waiting.

"Yeah." Ash replied.

"I have, as you said, gotten my affairs in order." he told her.

"I have nobody left to say goodbye to, and now I wish to save my daughter." he said further.

"...and probably my sister-in-law, seeing as she went silent a while ago." he then muttered.

"Regardless, I AM motivated."

Ash looked at the coordinates, and nodded.

"Got it." he said.

"I'll land us close, but not right in the heart of it." he told her.

With that, she stepped up close to him, and they disappeared in a burst of black fire, appearing in a place surrounded by lush trees.

"All right, we're close." he said to her.

"We just need to get to where they are."

Ash looked at her concernedly.

"Is there anything I can do to help drown out the noise?" he asked.

"Anything at ALL?" he asked further.

"Or is this just a case of 'get it done ASAP'?" he inquired.

"If it is... then let's move. NOW."