Vengeance

14

Who would be here to see him? Seraphim crosses his mind, but he dismisses the thought almost immediately. She wouldn't show her face here. That would raise questions neither of them want to answer.

"Who is it?" he asks.

"Alan Stark."

There's an instant flash of shock, but it fades in the next moment. Angel runs a hand through his hair, disturbing the impeccably styled strands, while a sigh passes through his lips. Of course, Alan would visit, by now Solaris's death has been reported. Angel rubs his forehead, considering his options. He could tell Alan to take a hike, but he'll just show up at his home later.

"Show him in," Angel concedes.

Molly nods and vanishes into her office. She returns a few moments later with Alan in tow. The retired doctor smiles warmly at her and thanks her. Molly nods at the two men and shuts the door.

Alan turns his sights on Angel. Angel leans back in the chair, preparing himself for the inevitable lecture. He feels like a kid again under Alan's withering gaze.

"Something you care to inform me about?" Alan inquires.

Angel looks away from his mentor. He knows what Alan is referring to.

"Is she done?" Alan's voice is hard.

"With killing?"

Alan shoots him a look.

"I think so."

Alan rubs a hand across his forehead. "You think so," he repeats, unamused.

"There are still unanswered questions, but we're going to search for answers."

Alan narrows his eyes. "We?" Alan really missed his calling in becoming a doctor. He would've made an excellent detective.

"Yes, we. I told Seraphim I would help her find the missing pieces. All of them implied that someone pulled the strings, manipulated them. That's a pretty big piece to be missing, don't you think?" Angel counters, annoyance seeping into his voice.

"This is not what we had in mind when we founded the Guardians," Alan mutters. He stares out the window, his eyes glazed over.

Angel doesn't say anything. He permits Alan a moment to grieve for what once was.

"What do you think? You can't change what happened. The two of you need to put an end to this, before it spirals even more out of control. I haven't interfered thus far, because Seraphim for all intents and purposes is my daughter and because I understand why." Alan bows his head. Once he let himself be driven by revenge. Alan looks up.

"There are limits though, Angel, to what I will look the other way for." His voice is stern. There's only so much he can ignore. When he abandoned revenge for justice he made certain oaths to himself to keep from relapsing. Turning a blind eye to Seraphim's rampage has already violated every single one of them. He won't turn her into the police. They all know this, but if he must he will put her somewhere she can't hurt anyone.

"She needs closure," Angel states.

"She needs help," Angel blurts out, his voice climbing.

"I know!" Angel shouts. He jumps out of his seat, slamming his hands against the desk. "She needs answers, Alan. The deaths haven't brought her closure. I know, that even if we find answers to all her questions it won't bring the closure she thinks it will. But she won't accept help, not until she learns this for herself." Angel sits back, the fight drained from him. "I know what I'm doing Alan, just...trust me."