"Don't be so hard on yourself, pardner," Gabe said innocently, "'cos we like you anyways." He grinned at Fletcher and, although he was aware of the quiet, calm awe in Barney's soul, chose not to draw attention to the man. The Archangel had had ulterior motives other than proving to Fletcher the glory in stories told by a medium other than the television (although cinema had its own charm too, of course).

Barney Lachlan had earned some peace, some hope. And, as Skulduggery had noted inwardly, words were Gabriel's tool. If there was anyone who could make someone feel better just with them, it was him.

"I spy," the Archangel announced, "with my li'l eye, somethin' beginnin' with ..." He let his gaze travel around the car and its exterior in such a way as to not draw attention to anything. "D."

~~~

"That's right, you've met Gabe, haven'tcha?" Dad said sanguinely and with a broad smile, entirely unsurprised by Guild's assumption or his confirmation of it. "He's a good kid. Kinda lacking in the initiative sometimes, but a good kid."

His smile and tone turned proud, His eyes shining, demeanour entirely unaffected. No one looking at Him could claim His love for His son wasn't genuine. "Taught 'im everything he knows an' he took to it like a dolphin to water." Which did not, of course, answer the question except by implication. "Taught all my kids everything they know, but Gabe's the one who took to this whole thing the best."