> Michael smiled and pointed to the painting by way of greeting "Oh I don't
> doubt it, Doctor Rayne and Julia will undoubtedly make this place more
> secure than.. what is it, 'Fort Knox'? This artist got the eye color all
> wrong but other than that it looks like me, but darned if I remember
posing
> for it."
>
> He bent his knees a little and read the name to himself and shrugged,
still
> unable to place it in terms of having posed for the artwork before looking
> back at Rayne and straightening "Not to worry though, I've been here,
> watching over those that Julia was to guard while she rested. Now that
> she's up and running I can give her back her charges and step back until
> needed again."
>
> Michael looked at the other man, thoughtful as he commented "She's
> something... unique even in our realm. I swear you're the only one I've
> seen yet that's met her level of..... shall we say persistence?"
>
> He turned back to the window he had been looking out of when Kat and Julia
> had been playing "Such an old spirit and yet... still maintains the youth
> and even, in a way, an innocence about her even after everything she's
> experienced and seen in both realms."
>
> He looked back at Derek and flashed a quit but solemn smile "I envy you as
a
> mortal in a way. And yet you confused me too."
>
> He turned to regard the man standing beside the bookcase for a long
moment,
> leaning his back against the window frame and arms crossed casually "Did
> you know that mortals are the only ones allowed to lay eyes on the Grace
of
> God? Have the most opportunities to accept Gifts he offers...... and yet
> for some strange alien reason turn Him down, only to regret what could
have
> been after it has been withdrawn. Mourn it even, and then feel burdened,
> saddened."
>
> "We have to approach Him with our eyes covered, to look upon Him would
Blind
> us and more. Don't get me wrong," Michael pointed out with a smile that
> showed how much he felt for the One he served "It's an honor to serve Him
> and I wouldn't trade it for anything anyone had to offer. And looking at
> those like Julia..... well it makes the rewards of having to fight evil
all
> the more greater - clich� not intended."
>
> He paused for a moment, looking at Derek for an answer "Why do mortals do
> that? Turn away gifts offered them?"
>
Derek:
Derek regarded the man at first with suspicion, then curiosity, followed by
an increasingly uneasy feeling. He happen to agree with Michael about
Julia, she was an exceptional woman, always had been.
Michael's change of subject regarding the Gift of God was what brought Derek
the most discomfort and an immense amount of confusion. Why was he asking
this if him? He'd never professed to being an authority on the human
condition. And why this particular question of all the things in the world
to ask? His expression remained the same, but the dismay he felt flickered
ever so slightly in his dark eyes. He felt compelled to issue some kind of
a response, but what did you say in such circumstances. "Perhaps, they do
not realize what they were presented with," he said logically. It was the
best he could come up with, but he couldn't help feeling unnerved by all of
this. Was Michael implying something? He tried to brush the thought away,
but it sure as hell sounded like he was and whatever that might be it caused
him a great deal of discomfort, delving into parts of his soul that he kept
closed off, from everyone.
Derek
