“So what are you suggesting?”
Michael turned to face them now. “You’ve proven yourselves today. There aren’t many who could do what you’ve done. Yet you prevailed. We prevailed.”
Batty instinctively touched the medallion hanging from his neck. He’d forgotten he’d put it on.
“I think it’s time we transform ourselves,” Michael said. “Broaden the view, so to speak. Become the eyes and ears of humankind and do what we can to help God’s new angel watch over the world.”
What he said made sense to Batty, and for the first time since Rebecca died, he almost felt whole again.
“But that’s an enormous undertaking,” Callahan said. “And there aren’t enough of us to go around.”
“Yet look what we’ve managed to do. Three solitary beings who came together to make something happen. Never underestimate the power of determination.”
“Or desperation,” Batty said.
They all laughed, but there was very little humor in it.
“We aren’t alone in this,” Michael told them. “There are others out there who remain unseen-human and angel alike.”
Batty thought of the anonymous D.C. connection and glanced at Callahan, wondering if she was sharing his thought.
“We can build a network of guardians,” Michael continued, “and work together to keep all of our travelers safe.”
They looked at one another, nodding in agreement, then Michael offered them his hand, palm up, and said, “Defende eos.”
Protect them.
Batty and Callahan exchanged another glance, then clasped his outstretched hand and said it again. In unison.
And as they watched Michael slice a hole in the atmosphere to lead them back home, Callahan turned to Batty.
“What do you think, Professor? A drink to celebrate?”
“Only if it’s orange juice,” he said.
She grinned. “It may take me a while to sort all this out, but there’s one thing I know for sure.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ll be sleeping like a baby tonight.”