Brannock, Back in the Saddle?

Part 4

Both he and Thistle had wondered if he could find Rachel again, and now he had.  He knew better than to ask her "How did you know?".

"So, what's on your mind, chief?  Actually, update me on what's been going on with you.  But don't take all night.  These cars wait for no one," Rachel chuckled.  "I think I like this better than working at the diner.  At least I get some fresh air.  Irate customers either way though, whether bad food or people mad at getting a ticket."  She motioned towards the van.  "You want to sit while we talk?  I have been on my feet for hours."  Brannock nodded, unlocking the passenger side door and holding it while Rachel entered.

After getting himself comfortable in the driver's side seat, Brannock first talked about his experience with the 117, the attack on Thistle, his injuries, and the time that the two of them had spent together while he was in rehab.  Periodically, Rachel would stop him to ask a question, or to murmer an affirmation like "Oh, sure" or "Makes sense." 

At one point, Brannock stopped mid-sentence, offering "Wait a minute.  Don't you already know all of this?  I mean, you knew I was going to be looking for you?"  Rachel laughed, a most pleasant laugh.  "Well, yeah.  I just like hearing you tell it.  We see everything, whether you are naughty or nice, you know, all of that.  I already know how your story ends too, silly.  And no, I am not going to tell you.  Gotta say though, seems like you and Thistle have gotten pretty tight.  That's cool.  I approve."  She prodded him in the arm for effect.  I guess that all should have been obvious to me, he thought.

Feeling a bit silly, he continued.  Eventually, Rachel was up to date and Brannock laid out his dilemma for her.  "See, we just don't know where to look.  It is only one agent, but, I really have a bad feeling about this one.  It is bad enough we've probably lost another operative, but the thought of then having to turn around and even fight him in some other incarnation?  No thank you."

Rachel sat back, playing with her name tag while she thought.  "Humm.  Yeah, it is in all everyone's interest to have do-gooders alive and bad guys dead, isn't it?" she asked rhetorically.  She seemed to be thinking up a plan or deciding what she could and could not tell him.  Suddenly, she turned to him.  "I bet you wanna know why I helped you, huh?  You know, what am I and all that?  I don't mind talking about it, and I figured since you are all into magic and other crapola you'd want to know."

Brannock had wondered but figured he'd never find out, and he said as much.  "I mean, yeah.  I assumed if I did ever see you again, that would not be what we talked about.  This isn't one of those 'I could tell you but then I'd have to kill you things is it'?"  She laughed again.  "Naw, I wouldn't set you up that way.  But there isn't much to it, just figured you'd want to know."  She seemed to gather her thoughts for a moment, then began.  "Don't interrupt me, just let me tell it.  You'll have more fun that way and I won't get pissed off".  Winking, she continued.  "Well, like I said, there isn't much to it.  I was very sick, and after I passed, I really felt like I had not fulfilled my purpose here, you know?  So, I was allowed to come back." 

"That's it?"  Brannock asked.  "So you're a ghost?" 

Totally disgusted, Rachel punched Brannock in the arm.  "Can a ghost do that?"  "Oww, I suppose not.  But, if not that. . ."  Rachel chuckled a bit.  "It really isn't confusing.  How'd you end up with a girl like Thistle if you are, you know, dumb?"

Rubbing his arm, Brannock mused, suppressing a laugh of his own, "I often ask myself that same question.  So, what.  You're an angel?"

Rachel feigned annoyance.  "Duh.  Isn't that obvious?"  Brannock frowned.  "Well, not exactly.  But I suppose it makes sense.  So angels come back if they led a life that was unfulfilled?"  Again, Rachel seemed to think for a moment before answering.  "Yeah, that is pretty much it.  After we die, our consciousness and our memories don't go away.  They fade into the back of our minds a little but don't ever disappear. And so even though we're in paradise, some are restless.  Only He knows why, and He doesn't feel the need to tell us."

"So 'He' is who, God?"  Brannock asked.  Rachel rubbed her forehead.  "Who else would it be?"  She shook her head, sighing.  "I am going to have to have a talk with Thistle, and see if I can get her to go for a smarter guy."  Brannock laughed.  "I tell her that all the time.  But this is pretty amazing information, I'm just having a hard time digesting it all."

Now it was Rachel's turn to laugh again.  "I guess it is.  I didn't even believe it at first, you know?  Going through all of that is quite an adjustment, but obviously worth it.  Only a few of us ever interact with the living, mostly just kinda do things behind the scenes.  But, I wanted to make more of a difference.  Trust me, if I could fight too I would be right there with you.  We're just not allowed that level of contact.  What's funny is, when I was sent to the diner I thought I was being punished somehow!  We aren't usually told what we're doing until it actually happens.  I was working in there for like a week before you showed up.  It sucked."

"That is kinda funny.  Like a purgatory or something."  Brannock added.  "Well, yeah.  Thanks for telling me all of that.  I was surprised that I was actually able to find you.  I didn't think it would work that way, but, I had to try".

Rachel face palmed.  "You are dense, aren't you?  It doesn't work that way.  You didn't find me.  I found you."

"It's nice to know I guess that I actually have no control over my life,"  Brannock muttered.  Rachel sighed.  "Actually, you do.  If you hadn't been looking, I wouldn't have shown up.  And sometimes you might not even know you need help, and so you never know if or when I might show up.  It isn't up to you, and not up to me.  But let's get back to the matter at hand."

Brannock looked at the clock in the mini van.  "That's odd.  Seems like we have been talking for a while, but, this still says 6:40."  He tapped on the face of the clock a few times before Rachel placed her hand on his arm. "It is 6:40.  I figured we would be chatting for a bit, and time is of the essence.  So I stopped time for us."  Brannock looked out the window.  "But people are still walking around, and moving and shit."  Rachel rolled her eyes. "I said I stopped it for us, not for them.  It is too complicated to explain, but, why mess up everyone else's night?  Besides, if I stop it for too long,  it'll basically kill you, so, let's get this show on the road."

For the next several minutes, Rachel laid out the situation in as much detail as she seemed allowed to share.  A few times she started to say something, stopped, thought, and then rephrased her sentence.  The reality was even graver than Brannock realized, and time indeed was of the essence.  Finally, Rachel stopped talking, adding "Okay scout.  That's all I got for you.  Get out there and fight evil.  Oh, and say hi to Thistle for me.  I feel like I know her already."  Grateful, Brannock hugged the angel.  "I don't know what to say, Rachel.  Thanks.  And I will.  Thistle would say the same about you.  But if you keep showing up she'll think something is going on."  Rachel let out another pleasant laugh.  "Ah, always the comedian.  You aren't my type.  You're, you know, alive."  They both laughed.  Rachel turned to face the window, apparently thinking, and then turned back to the agent.  "Oh, and Danny?  Keep an eye on Thistle, ok?  I just...think it would be a good idea."  Brannock nodded.

After Rachel hopped out of the van, waving and blowing kisses, Brannock pulled away from the curb, hurrying to the rendevous point.  This night isn't likely to end well, if even some of what Rachel said was actually happening.  Even she had noted some things were unclear at this point though.  He motioned to the agents milling around the designated corner to pile in, and all the other men loaded into the van.  If there was such a thing as mojo, Brannock would have said "It is bad, mon."  Regardless there was definitely a funk hanging over the group; never a good sign.  "Settle back gents, and relax.  We've got to swing by my place, then we've got about a 45 minute drive, out into the countryside."

Pulling up to the curb outside his apartment, Brannock trotted up the front stairway.  Unlocking the door, he was expecting to see Thistle there.  Instead he found a note that simply said "Love you-be safe and I'll see you soon."  Curious, but Brannock didn't have time to worry about it.  Grabbing a backpack, he checked the contents inside, and returned to the van.

Brannock drove as fast as he thought he could without attracting attention from law enforcement or blowing up any speed cameras.  He'd seen a lot, and been through more than any agent he knew.  This would be a first even for him, and not one he was anxious for.