Colin's posts

"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.

"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."

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."

"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 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.

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 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.

Ash's expression didn't change.

"I haven't cared about death in a long while." he told her.

"I will put myself through hell and back if it means the chance to save my daughter and make sure she survives." he said further.

"And connection or not, I want the chance to get even with them." he then stated.

"They attacked my wife and kidnapped my daughter. I'll sacrifice myself if it means destroying a few, and/or increasing the chances of them failing."

"Pretty much." Ash replied, crossing his arms over his chest.

"That being said, I don't plan to just charge their stronghold." he assured her.

"I would rather this be done intelligently." he continued.

"And working together and cooperating WOULD increase the chances of success." he went on.

"So. Shall we do this dance together?" he asked.

Ash narrowed his eyes, and she saw anger in them. Not towards HER, though.

"Those bastards kidnapped my daughter." he told her.

"I'm trying VERY hard not to make this personal, but I can only hold so much in." he continued.

"I can say this is for the future all I want, but this is for ME as well." he said further. "In this case, going after the Fallen, and helping keep my family together are one in the same." he told her further.

"Ashleigh can live with me gone. Her and Kelly will have each other. But if KELLY were to be the one gone? We'd never forgive ourselves." he finished.

Ash just groaned.

"Look." he said.

"I can agree that they'd be more likely to let you in." he said.

"However, I implore you to reconsider." he told her.

"I want to try and do what I can to keep this world going." he said further. "I refuse to sit back and do nothing." he continued.

"Is there ANYTHING I can do to help this become potentially more successful?"

Hal just rolled his eyes and laughed.

"Fair enough." he said.

"He's on 'sick leave' for the next couple of days." he assured her.

"...now then." he continued, his tone shifting.

"What's this I hear about you deciding you're going to storm the Fallen's base alone?" he asked.

"That sounds INCREDIBLY dangerous and foolish."

Yep. Ash replied.

He then shook his head and made his way into the building, and then up to Sharp's office. He cleared his throat and gave a... brief... explanation as to what happened, and that they were waiting for Anya.

"I can find her is she messes off." Ash told him.

In Sharp's office. he then texted Anya.

"Just need to wait for her to return." he finished.

"I bet I will." Jake responded.

Ash periodically checked from where he was, until he noticed that the car windows were completely opaque, and the slight movements he saw had stopped. And they stopped for a bit.

He then cleared his throat and took out his phone.

"...ah, I KNEW I had her number in here from a bit ago." he said to himself.

He then sent a text. A simple one with three words;

Ya done yet?