Whelp, it's been a while, but I got this one out relatively quickly. Just a quick reminder to everyone to stay safe out there!

Chapter 6

What is this, the Inquisition?

Amenadiel sighed, looking from his coffee to Linda and back. Just how did trying to protect Gabriel become so hard? He'd thought that Gabriel would have been happy to go back home, and yet every time Amenadiel suggested it, the younger angel got angry and yelled at him. It was almost like talking to Lucifer, except worse, because Gabriel never acted like that before. He'd be willing to believe that Gabriel was from another world, except that he seemed to be the same in every other way. It was like Gabriel developed a completely new personality instead of being the same person that he knew his brother had been.

Linda nudged him, raising an eyebrow as she sipped her own coffee. "I take it Gabriel's not the same as you remember?"

"He's like a completely different angel." Amenadiel sighed. "It's almost like he is from another world, but he looks exactly the same. He even has the same abilities he had before." He studied his coffee. "It'd be easier to believe that he wasn't my brother if he wasn't exactly like him in every way but personality."

"Maybe he's telling the truth?" At Amenadiel's incredulous expression, Linda rose up a hand. "Look, I had a talk with him, and while I don't know your brother, it honestly seems like he truly believes he's not your Gabriel. I don't know about you, but no one can pull that kind of conviction off unless they're absolutely certain they're right."

Amenadiel sighed again, running his hands over his face before looking back toward Linda. "If you're right, then what kind of siblings does he have? He doesn't trust Heaven, he says that his brothers attacked him. Just what kind of world is he from?"

That was likely the biggest question that the eldest angel had. Never before had he encountered a sibling so adamant about not following their Father's plans, Lucifer aside. For crying out loud, he didn't even exist in this other world that Gabriel claimed to be from. How was he going to help when he didn't even know what was going on?

Linda must have sensed his worry, as she reached over and grasped his hand. "Amenadiel, listen, I've only talked to Gabriel a couple of times, and honestly? There's a lot of things going on with him, but I also think that whatever it is that has him so guarded isn't just going to go away just because you want it to. He has a lot of trust issues regarding family, and that's something he's going to have to work through. Just be patient and supportive."

"But his life could be in danger." Amenadiel shook his head. "I had to bury Gabriel once. I don't want to do that again."

Linda breathed in deep, looking thoughtful for a moment before squeezing his hand. "I think I know where this is coming from."

Startled, Amenadiel frowned. "Where what is coming from?"

Linda gave him a sad smile. "You feel guilty. You weren't able to protect your brother before he died, and now you're projecting that guilt onto Gabriel. Amenadiel, what happened wasn't your fault."

"I don't understand."

The doctor squeezed his hand again. "You're experiencing what a lot of humans experience every day. Feelings of helplessness and guilt over something outside of their control. It's perfectly normal, but it's not your fault."

Amenadiel was confused. "But if it's not my fault, then what can I do? I want to be able to protect Gabriel, but I don't know how when he won't listen."

Linda sighed. "I don't know how you can make him listen. That's his choice. But, you can't beat yourself up. It won't do either of you any good."

The two of them sat quietly for a moment as Amenadiel thought. If what Linda was saying was true, then… "What if there were a way I could get him to listen? It's not safe for him, for any of us, to be on Earth right now. If I were to show him how dangerous it is, then maybe he might listen."

Linda blinked. "Amenadiel, I don't think that would work. If it were that easy, then he would have already left with you."

Amenadiel stood, shaking his head. "I just haven't been convincing enough. I know I can do it."

Giving Linda a kiss on the forehead, he turned to leave. He completely missed the expression on Linda's face as she sighed and rubbed her own forehead. "I swear, you are more like your brothers than you want to admit."

Dan glared at the reports on his desk. He was in the middle of some kind of supernatural event, with the Devil walking the Earth and angels willingly working with him. His ex-wife was infatuated with Satan. He'd even helped Lucifer before.

He squeezed his hand gripper, clenching his jaw as he thought. Maybe he could find a way to convince Chloe to turn away and get her away from Lucifer. From all of this. He might have made a mess of his own marriage, but he wasn't about to let Lucifer ruin Chloe's life. He was fairly certain that Lucifer had something to do with Charlotte's own death, and maybe even Pierce's. If he could prove it…

"Wow, you look tense." Ella's voice cut through his thoughts and he looked over to her. She had an armful of files but set them down as she looked him over. "You okay?"

"You're religious, right?" Dan placed the gripper down, making a face before he looked back to Ella.

"I mean, yeah. Have a couple of questions for the big guy, but I see myself that way." Ella frowned. "What, you thinking that you might want to talk to Him too?"

Dan shook his head. "No, it's…" He glanced over to Chloe's desk. She was out, likely trying to follow leads on Jibra'il's death. An angel's death. How the hell could he ever have thought to try and be nice to Lucifer when that had happened? "Okay, what would you do if you found out that it was real, all of it?"

Ella looked surprised. "I, uh, I dunno. I kinda don't really look for proof of it all. I prefer to go off of faith. You know, kind of a trust thing?"

"Even if you might be doing something that could make things worse?" Dan's lips pressed into a tight line. "I just…"

Ella frowned. "You just…?"

"Lucifer's the devil!" He blinked at himself, surprised that he had said that so forcefully. But honestly, it kind of felt good to actually say that out loud. "He's corrupting Chloe. I know he is."

Ella blinked, mouthing 'woah' before shaking her head. "Okay, I know you have problems with Luce, but I didn't think that you'd take his method acting thing seriously."

"It's not method acting." Dan shook his head. "He's really it. He didn't even deny it, and his brother? Gabriel? He's an angel, the real Gabriel."

The Latina woman bit her lip before shaking her head. "I mean, he does tell that to everyone, and Gabriel did say their dad was really religious. I think you're reading into this too much."

Dan tightened his lips before he pushed the files containing the report from the hospital regarding Gabriel's injuries forward. "You're the forensic specialist. Can you explain this?"

"Um…" Ella looked confused before she picked up the file. Glancing through it, she looked like she was thoughtful. "This says that he was treated for a stab wound that apparently happened around a week or so ago."

"Except it didn't happen a week ago." Dan leaned forward, glancing around a bit before he locked eyes with Ella. "He and Lucifer said that it happened a couple of days ago. How could it have healed so fast if he wasn't an angel?"

Ella sighed and put the file down. "I see what's going on."

Dan blinked. "You do?" He'd thought that Ella would have needed more convincing.

"Yup." Ella walked around and gave him a hug. "You're grieving. It's okay. We all miss Charlotte, and I know you and her were really close."

Dan groaned. "Ella, that's not-"

Ella stepped back and pointed a finger at him. "I know what could help. The priest at my church is really good at listening. What you need is someone to talk to about it. Get whatever is bothering you off your chest."

"I saw Gabriel's wings."

Ella froze, blinking. "What?"

"His wings, I saw them. Not just me, but Chloe too." Dan took a deep breath. "They didn't deny it. Chloe knows about it, and knows that Lucifer's the devil. How-"

"Yo!" Both Dan and Ella glanced up to see Gabriel striding over, one hand in his pocket while the other holding a bag. "Hope I'm not interrupting anything."

"Nope!" Ella backed away from the desk, glancing from Dan to Gabriel and back. "He asked me a question and I was just giving my expert advice. Nothing shady going on."

Gabriel looked between the two of them, confused. "Nothing shady, got it." Shaking his head, he held up the bag toward Ella. "Anywho, I was stopping by because me and Maze came across a car with something weird in it. We figured it could have something to do with the whole case."

"The case?" Dan blinked before he remembered that Gabriel had been hanging around lately. "You're helping with the case with Jibra'il?"

"Helping Maze, yep." He handed the bag off to Ella. "Chloe mentioned the bullets being made of something weird to Maze, and we found this in an abandoned car not too far from the murders. Figured you could test it or something."

Dan looked between the two. "Bullets made of something weird?" Gabriel gave him a look, but Dan continued. "Wait, there's something that can kill angels?"

Ella waved in his direction. "Um, just ignore him. He's having a rough go of it." Ella shot Dan a look that suggested that she'd talk to him later. "Yeah, I can check it. What's in here, anyway?"

"A knife." Gabriel stared in Dan's direction, and Dan got the impression that the angel was somehow making a threat. "We couldn't figure out what it was made of, so we thought you'd want to test it."

"Well, I'll take a sample and send for it to be tested, then." Ella patted Gabriel on the chest, causing the angel to wince slightly. "Oh, sorry, I forgot you were still hurt."

"It's getting better." Gabriel rubbed at the spot on his chest that Dan knew hid the stab wound. "Muchas gracias, señorita."

"De nada." Ella picked up the files she put down and hurried away, leaving Dan and the angel alone.

"Is this the part where you threaten me?" Dan crossed his arms at Gabriel, glaring. "I haven't done anything."

"Nope, Danny boy. No need." Gabriel flopped in the chair near him, crossing his own arms. "You see, I could, but I'm trying to be a good little angel right now. Especially since you've got something running around killing people and angels."

"So that body really was an angel?" Dan was confused. Weren't angels immortal?

Gabriel held up his arms. "Look, if it's some big nasty that can do that, then think for a minute. It wouldn't be too hard to imagine it killing humans, right?"

Dan hated to admit it, but Gabriel was right. "So you know how to deal with it?"

"I don't even know what it is." Gabriel snorted. "Whatever it is, it's got Amenadiel spooked and Lucifer pissed. I'd hate to be in the way when they finally find it."

"Espinoza!" Dan looked up as Lt. Thomas walked up. "You got anything on the Winchester case yet?"

Gabriel seemed to sigh heavily while Dan nodded. "Yeah, Lopez is following up on something right now."

"Good, just don't sit around chatting with possible suspects."

The lieutenant gave Gabriel a look, while Gabriel's eyebrows shot up. "Excuse me? Suspect, me?"

Thomas eyed Gabriel. "It wouldn't be the first time a family squabble turned deadly."

"Really." Dan blinked. Okay, if Gabriel looked threatening before, he was sure that the lieutenant was going to be smote. "Do all relatives of the deceased become suspects?"

"Right now, we're treating all of you like potential suspects." Thomas looked toward Dan. "Get back to work, Espinoza."

The lieutenant walked away, and Gabriel watched him go. Dan, on the other hand, decided it was better to pull forward a file on his desk. He had only just opened it up when he heard Gabriel mutter, "Dick."

"Did you just call the lieutenant a dick?" Dan was shocked as he stared at the angel. Since when were angels allowed to do that? Amenadiel certainly didn't do that, and suddenly Dan was reminded that the man was also likely an angel too.

Gabriel huffed and rolled his eyes. "Hey, I call 'em like I see 'em. Ain't my fault that he's got a stick shoved up his ass."

"You really don't act like an angel, you know."

"Used to impersonate a god for a while, so not a big shock." Gabriel shrugged, pulling out a candy bar and opening it up to snack on. Pausing, the angel reached back into his jacket to pull out another, offering it to Dan.

Dan just blinked for a moment before he shook his head. He was losing it. That had to be the only explanation. Otherwise he'd just been offered a candy bar by an angel who didn't really act like an angel. Maybe he should talk to Ella's priest. It'd certainly be better than trying to explain all of this.

Lucifer sighed as he got home, glad that the day was over. Between the questioning of relatives and the search for the missing fiancée, he and the detective hadn't really had a chance to sit down much, and hearing that the APB was likely to take a while, they'd decided to call it a night. Pulling off his jacket, he hung it off before he turned on the lights. He was certainly ready to grab a drink and wait to hear all the details of whatever Maze and Gabriel managed to find in their search.

He'd just settled into pouring himself a measure of rum when he heard it. The distinct click of a hammer being cocked had Lucifer looking up to see a woman resembling the description of Melissa Haden pointing a pistol at him. He froze briefly, narrowing his eyes at the scene before he capped his decanter and picked up the drink. "You know, it's polite to knock before invading someone's home. Can't go barging into any old place you'd like, after all."

The woman cocked her head, keeping the gun trained on Lucifer. He got the sense that there was something off about her, but what, he couldn't place. "Not even the ruler of Hell's place? I mean, you're not even pretending to blend in."

"And where'd you get that information?" Lucifer stepped from behind the bar, taking a sip as he kept his eyes on the girl. "I mean, of course my name's Lucifer, but I got the distinct impression that hardly anyone believes me when I say I'm the Devil."

"It's either that or you're a really pathetic impersonator, and I don't like people impersonating my lord." The woman narrowed her eyes. "Now, say bye bye, poser."

"Now hold on a moment." Lucifer eyed the woman as he stepped forward. The woman rose the gun higher, causing the Devil to pause. "I'm sure we can come to some sort of arrangement. You're Melissa Haden, correct?"

The woman laughed. "You mean the girl? She might be. Not that it matters."

Lucifer frowned. He'd never heard someone refer to themselves in the third person before. "Oh, but it does. Right now the police are looking for you. We found Javier and are currently trying to find his killer."

She grinned, and Lucifer's frown deepened. "Trying to find his killer? Now I know you're not Lucifer. He doesn't care about humans one bit."

"Contrary to popular belief, I am not humanity's greatest enemy." Lucifer tried thinking where exactly all of this was coming from. Besides the fact that the girl was holding a gun aimed straight at him, what she was talking about made no sense. "Besides, who are you to claim to know who I am?"

"Oh trust me, I'm one of his most loyal followers."

Lucifer barely had time to react before the bullet hit, and Lucifer felt the tumbler fall from his fingers as he glanced down. Red was already spilling from the wound, and he stared in shock at the woman before she jerked her head to the side. The crack that followed coincided with him sliding to his knees, and as he fell over, what looked like a cloud of smoke poured out of her mouth. The only thing he could think to do was send out a quick prayer before his eyes slid shut.

Gabriel had left the precinct around an hour ago, and had decided to take a small flight around before he figured he should find somewhere to go for the night. He'd only alighted on the nearest building before he felt the sharp pierce of pain run through his head along with a short message. He fell forward, wincing while he listened.

I've just been shot.

Brows furrowing, he scanned the buildings around him. Was that… Lucifer? Spying Lux, he made to fly over, all the while sending his own prayer out and hoping that he'd figured out how to do it right.

Ames, Luci's in trouble. Heading over to Lux.

Jumping off the building, he snapped his wings out and hoped that no one was looking up. When he reached Lucifer's balcony, he landed and pulled out his angel blade. He wasn't about to barge in without having something to protect himself, especially since his powers still hadn't recovered yet.

The lights were on, and the first thing he noticed was the woman on the floor, her head at an odd angle as she stared lifeless into the distance. Seeing the gun next to her, he picked it up and released the clip. He swore as he noticed the bullets glinting with the same color as a regular angel's blade, and he shoved it back into the gun before he spotted Lucifer.

Hurrying over, he turned the Devil over, spotting the growing pool of blood. "Shit shit shit…" He pulled off his jacket and pressed it over the wound, wondering where the hell Amenadiel was. His grace still wasn't recovered, and there was no way he could heal Lucifer's wound.

He fumbled for his phone, managing to get it out and fumbled with it one-handed to scroll up Maze's number. He didn't even give her a chance to say anything when she answered, barking out a "Lucifer's been shot" before he hung up and dialed 911.

He informed the operator of what he'd walked into, trying to control the feeling of rising panic. He'd seen way too many of his siblings fighting to want to see any of them dead, and despite Lucifer not being his sibling, he certainly didn't want to see the other angel dead. He was glad that he was seeing Lucifer wince in pain, but the other angel wasn't waking up. Tossing the phone to the side, he continued pressing on the wound and hoped that someone came soon.

It felt like forever, but the minute he heard the elevator, he sighed in relief. He fell back, letting the paramedics work and wondering where the hell Amenadiel had poofed to. Sitting down heavily on the sofa, he folded his hands together and tried praying again. Damn it Amenadiel, you had better get over here right now!

It wasn't Amenadiel that showed up, though. As police came in to investigate, he spied Maze shoving her way in, looking liable to murder someone. She spotted Gabriel and made her way over, and Gabriel braced himself. As expected, she stopped right in front of Gabriel and growled, "What. Happened?"

"I don't know." Gabriel eyed the police warily, knowing they probably could hear everything he was saying. "I just got here and he was shot. Don't know what happened to the girl."

Maze whipped around and started looking around, obviously trying to see if she could track who did it. Gabriel himself was looking around the place too, now that Lucifer seemed to be getting attention, and his eyes spied something yellow as his eyes landed on the dead girl. He stood, frowning, but before he could do anything, he heard someone say, "Why am I not surprised to find you here?"

"Oh for crying out loud." He turned and glared at the lieutenant from the precinct. Thomas had his arms crossed as he returned the glare, and Gabriel felt the urge to deck the man. "Don't tell me I'm getting blamed for this."

"It's certainly suspicious that you found your way to two crime scenes involving your family." Thomas rose an eyebrow. "Care to explain what you're doing here?"

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "You have got to be kidding me. I'm Lucifer's brother, of course I'm going to visit him."

"And you just happened to find him shot." The lieutenant looked unimpressed. "You didn't see anyone else enter or leave?"

"What is this, the Inquisition? No, I didn't see anyone enter or leave." Gabriel crossed his arms, ignoring the blood that he was likely getting on his clothes. "Can't you ask the people down in the club if they'd seen anyone?"

"We're getting statements from them now." Thomas noted down a few things on a notepad before he looked back to Gabriel. "Care to come down to the station to give your account on everything?"

Gabriel could see Maze out of the corner of his eye listening in, but the archangel stood up straighter as he stared down the lieutenant. "Oh, no problem there. I'd love to tell you exactly what I saw. "

Thomas nodded. "Well then, if you'll follow me-"

"Wait." Maze stepped forward, eyeing the lieutenant. "You're not going there alone. Someone's coming with."

Gabriel huffed in exasperation. "I'll be fine. You go follow Luci. He needs it more than I do right now." He nodded toward the paramedics, who were loading Lucifer onto a stretcher for transport. He gave a quick prayer back to Amenadiel, hoping that maybe the other angel was listening, but he doubted it. He hadn't answered the messages sent his way so far.

Maze didn't look too happy, but she whipped out her cell phone. "Fine. I'm calling Amenadiel and Decker. Chloe'll meet you down there."

"I'm afraid that Detective Decker might be too close to this investigation." Thomas said, looking at Maze. "Her partner was just shot. The case is being given to another officer."

Maze snorted. "Still calling her." Maze turned around then, but not before giving one last glare toward the lieutenant. "And I'm going after the bastard that did this. Amenadiel can stick with Lucifer."

Gabriel sighed and shook his head. Looking toward Thomas, he gestured for the lieutenant to lead the way. "After you."