gabriel_tam | (no subject)

It had been a relief to leave the hospital at last. Gabriel had argued bitterly with the doctors about the chair they'd insisted upon, and compromised far enough to allow himself to be wheeled as far as the door. There-- in full view of the media's uncompromising eye, the reporters watched even more carefully in turn by a grimly determined security team -- he'd pushed himself to his feet and walked the few steps to the vehicle, waving once to the cameras before settling into his seat behind the now-tinted, bulletproof windows.

No one but Regan had seen just how much strain it had put on him.

Still, it's good to be home, even if things in New Mayfair aren't exactly the same. Gabriel's study is upstairs, as are his and Regan's room and the guest chambers.

It had taken them all less than a day to realize how much of a problem this would be. As a result, Gabriel Tam has been settled temporarily in the downstairs den, which has been hastily converted into a combination sleeping room and makeshift office, appropriately fitted for a recovering patient.

He hates it. He hates all of this, but there are times when a man simply has to make do with what he's got, and this would seem to be one of them.

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"I do have a reason for asking, Captain."

There's that crooked smile again; it pulls unevenly at the wounds on his face.

"The ... person... who did this to me was an angel. Once."

Mal stops, and his mind is scrolling through the very very short list of who it could be. Not the Prior, certainly not Crowley.

"But...who do you know that'd try 'n..."

Punish.

A sharp intake of breath, and Mal's eyes open wider. "Raguel."

"I take it you're acquainted."

Gabriel's glance on him is sharp and assessing-- and there's something resigned about the utter lack of surprise in his tone.

"Through Milliways, shi a." Mal's remembering an event, and his gaze loses focus as he describes it. "I invited him over to Serenity one time, and he weren't able to take three steps inside before he started screamin' and needed to turn 'round."

"Just as I imagine Tianshi and Crowley would, coming frorm the bar to here 'stead of their future selves."

"That... explains a few things, actually."

He sighs, and it's weary.

"In any case, the creature he is now, in this time, is very unlike the one you once knew-- you know -- from there."

A beat.

"And before you ask, I don't know when exactly, or why."

"Why he's different or why he attacked you?"

Something tightens in his expression.

"I know why he attacked me."

O RLY?

"Why is that, precisely."

"An unexpected side effect of the IIGA, it appears," Gabriel says, quietly. "He said that he received a tip and when he looked into it, that it 'looked like I was planning something.' That it 'looked like justice.'"

A pause, and a careful, rasping breath. There's a slight pallor to his skin now, triggered by strain.

"Also, he's quite insane."

Mal's not terribly interested in who gave Raguel said 'tip'. More that this notion led Raguel to believe that killing Gabriel Tam was appropriate...vengence, to the IIGA.

"Didn't know angels could go insane," Mal replies blandly, his mind working elsewhere and away. "Was he...apprehended, by anyone?"

Mortal or otherwise.

"Evidently it's possible," Gabriel returns. "Although he's not an angel these days, as I understand it."

"He's Fallen."

Just like everything, nowadays.

"I am sorry. That all this happened."

Just in case he doesn't hear it directly from anyone else.

"Look at it this way, though -- if anyone didn't think you were serious 'bout keepin' this new business on the right track, keepin' on after somethin' like this should kill that notion pretty quick."

"Xièxie nĭ, Captain."

There's a quiet sort of sincerity to his tone, and he nods to Mal.

"I expect you're right about that. In any case, I certainly have no intention of giving up now."

"Good."

Beat, and it's an uncommon stutterstep in his voice when he adds, "Magine...a lot o' folk might well be disappointed, if they saw someone else backin' out on them."

He hears it, and it takes Gabriel a moment to come up with the right words.

"It would be hard, I'd think, to trust a second time."

"Hard enough the first time 'round, really."

He nods.

"I placed my trust in those who didn't deserve it, Captain, and in doing so I walked away when I shouldn't have."

A beat of silence, and when he speaks again his words carry the weight of diamond-hard determination that backed his campaign and his work thus far.

"I will never again fail those who depend on me by turning away from what I've promised to do."

A wry half-smile, and he adds lightly,

"It's even in the oath of office."

"Seems a common enough error, Senator."

There are always such a tempest of events swirling around Mal and folk close to him; nothing's ever calm. Smooth.

For a stunned second, Mal wonders if Kaylee followed in Gabriel's example, and he doesn't elaborate on his earlier statement.

"...Mal's fine."

There's a flicker of startled surprise, but then Gabriel smiles again, and there's real warmth in it.

"Mal, then. And I'll hope you'll make it Gabriel, in turn."

"...Maybe."

When he feels like it.