Nex stood on the porch of Katherine's house, checking the street for the fifth time while she finished getting ready and welcoming in Jeremiah.

Logically, he understood that they weren't in any more danger outside of the house than they were in it, but that didn't stop him from feeling anxious about leaving.

Kat stepped outside just as she was finishing putting on her gloves and smiled up at him. "Ready?" She asked.

He gave her his best smile and nodded, wrapping his arm around her waist and holding her close as they walked to the garage. Kat knew she'd never get to the point where driving a car was possible if she couldn't even stand to ride in anything other than the bus and so Nex offered to drive them to the elementary school that was in a not quite as nice part of town. It was a poorer school, hence the reason Katherine's church was donating supplies and bringing in lunches to try to help the students and teachers both.

Nex was certain something terrible would happen in the car as they drove. Lilith had a dark sense of humor and she would tamper with the car and kill Katherine in a car accident after she already survived one. Nex held onto Kat's hand tightly, watching the road carefully, examining each car and each stop until they safely arrived at the school parking lot.

He breathed a sigh of relief when he had the car parked. They got out of the car and he was at her side in an instant. Kat stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek. "It's okay."

"I should be the one saying that to you," he said, shaking his head and dropping the keys in her purse. It might've been the first time he was more tense in a vehicle than she was.

Kat greeted her church friends that were outside with vans loaded with supplies. "Kat, I wasn't sure you'd make it with how sick you've been," a woman said, approaching Katherine and pulling her into a hug.

"I know but I'm doing better," Kat assured her. She hated lying but she couldn't very well say she'd gone missing because she was hiding from angels and demons. "This is Nex. Nex this is Myra, she's married to Allen," Kat introduced.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you," Myra smiled, pulling Nex into a hug that Nex was not ready for. "I hear about you all the time," she said, her eyes widening at something behind Nex.

Nex tensed and looked back, finding a child getting into the food sacks. "Hope, don't get into that," Myra scolded. "Remember what we said?" she said, shaking her head and walking past Kat and Nex. "Sorry, I'll catch up with you in a little bit," she said, offering both a smile before she chased after her daughter.

"I wasn't sure you two would be here," Bernice said, walking over and hugging Kat. "How are you feeling?" She asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I'm good," Kat smiled. "I'm much better."

"Uh huh," Bernice nodded, dropping her voice to a whisper. "It's not a... Stomach bug, is it?" She asked, patting Kat's stomach.

Nex's eyes widened and Kat blushed, hiding her face. "No, Bernice, oh my God," she muttered, shaking her head.

"Just checking," Bernice shrugged, moving away from Kat and pulling Nex into a hug. "You better marry her before you get her pregnant or we'll have a problem," Bernice whispered, patting his back.

Nex somehow choked on nothing and Bernice smiled lightly before walking away.

"What did she say to you?" Kat asked, looking at Nex curiously.

"Nothing," Nex said, grabbing her hand. "Let's get this over with," he sighed. "What are we supposed to be doing?"

Kat frowned but let it go and led them over to where Allen was assigning tasks. Nex did his best to remain polite as he stayed by Kat's side, grabbing the bags Katherine told him too and heading into the school, walking close to her as they started dropping off bags in each classroom. The school had been notified and so they came during an assembly, so they wouldn't be disturbing the teaching time.

A few teachers hung back to let them into the classrooms to drop off supplies, locking them up after they were done. They managed to get to most the classrooms before it was time to take the lunches into the cafeteria that was connected to the gym.

Nex and Kat took the last set of lunches inside before heading to the gymnasium where they were having their assembly. Kat and Nex waited near the doors leading to the cafeteria as the teachers finished up. Kat couldn't help but smile at the kids that looked so excited and could barely sit still in their seats.

The heaters were running to keep everyone warm but with all the added people coming in, it was warming up a little too much. Kat removed her scarf and turned to Nex, tossing it around his neck. "Will you hold this for me?" She asked, resting her chin against his chest and looking up at him with a smile they both full well knew he couldn't resist.

"Don't pretend like you don't already know the answer to that," Nex said, narrowing his eyes.

Kat smiled and wrapped her arms around him, resting her cheek against his chest and watching as they tied up the assembly and announced a special lunch in the cafeteria. The kids cheered and jumped up from their seats, their smiles even bigger as they bounced up and down while the teachers reminded them to wait in their seats until it was their turn to line up.

The teachers started leading the kids out the doors, walking them past the church volunteers so they could thank them as they made their way into cafeteria. There were only a couple classrooms worth of kids left when there was a loud, unexpected sound.

TRIGGER WARNING: This contains mention of a school shooting that may be triggering. If this is too much for you, please skip it and go to the author's note at the end where I will provide a summary for you ❤

A shot rang through the hallway opposite of where people were headed and everyone screamed and ducked down. Everyone froze for a moment and another shot went off.

"Get those doors locked," Allen said, rushing past the kids for the hallway doors where the sound was coming from. "Get the kids out of here, get them in the cafeteria and lock the doors. Someone call the police!" He said, running towards the doors with the principal and several others. They barricaded the door while everyone ran to the cafeteria, barricading those doors and windows as much as they could.

Kat moved to help get the kids in but Nex pulled her back against the wall. "I told you we weren't safe outside the house," he hissed. "We have to get out of here."

"I'm not leaving without helping," Kat argued, pulling away from him and running to the back of the line of kids. An alarm went off and more shots were fired. Nex muttered a curse and followed after her, deciding he was better off helping with barricading than calming children down.

He moved as fast as he could and watched Katherine help usher out the last of the kids. She looked back at him and started walking over towards him after most everyone made it to the cafeteria. Nex abandoned the barricade and strode towards her.

"Is there any other way in this building that we haven't secured?" Allen asked the principal.

"No, we should have it covered as long as the cafeteria doors are locked," the principal answered, his eyes wide and face pale as he stared at the barricaded door.

"Wait, there's the side entrance they just recently added after we got the playground set up," the janitor said, his eyes going wide as he started running towards that door.

But then the door opened.

The creak seemed much louder but not as loud as the shots that followed. "Get in the cafeteria and keep those doors locked!" Allen hissed at the Janitor, who stood closer to the cafeteria than anyone else. He nodded and ran that way, closing the doors as quietly as he could just as someone carrying a bag and an automatic rifle stepped further into the gymnasium.

Nex pulled Kat back against him and behind bleachers, switching the lights off and holding her tightly. "Don't make a sound," he whispered, crouching down and pulling her with him. The others also hid behind the bleachers on the opposite side of the gym. The only sound in the entire gymnasium was the sound of the shooter's footsteps.

He glanced around then started firing blindly. Kat jumped and Nex wrapped himself around her, hoping if any bullets made it their way they would hit him and not her. The fact it was so silent after the shots were fired made Kat hopeful no one was hit, there was no scream. They peered through the bleachers and Kat's eyes widened as he started towards the cafeteria.

It was too dark to see who, but someone came out from behind the bleachers and tried to sneak up on the shooter. The shooter turned and saw them coming, firing another round of bullets as the person scurried back behind the bleachers, thankfully unscathed.

Kat wasn't sure if anyone did call the police, if any help was on the way. Someone had to do something. The doors would only hold for so long and they would all be inside, easy targets. Someone had to...

Dread like Kat hadn't felt since she lost her parents filled her up until she wasn't sure she could move. A sense of paralysis took over, a nausea building inside her as he lifted the gun and fired at the door, earning screams from the people on the other side.

Kat closed her eyes, the action releasing tears as she realized what she had to do. There was no other choice.

When she opened her eyes she found Nex staring at her and somehow she knew he knew. He stared at her for a long time, his face crumpling as he cupped her face and kissed her. "I will find a way back to you," he murmured against her lips.

"But you won't," Kat choked, wrapping her arms around his neck. "She won't let you."

"I will find a way back to you no matter what I have to do, Katherine," he said, pressing his forehead against hers. "I know you my angel," he whispered. "I know you and I know you could never live with yourself if we do nothing, could you?"

"No," Kat said shakily, more tears spilling out of her eyes. "I'm sorry," she breathed, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm so sorry. I love you so much."

"I love you," Nex said, cradling her head and for the first time in his life that he could remember, felt a stinging in his own eyes. "I will find a way back to you," he promised. "I will."

Kat sniffled, tensing when another shot was fired at the door. She couldn't put it off any longer or someone would get hurt. She looked into his eyes and tried to memorize his features as she brought her hand up and ran her fingers over his face. Another round of shots and more tears spilled out as she took in a shaky breath before speaking.

"Kill the shooter," she whispered.

Nex nodded despite the pain that flashed over his face. He pressed a kiss to her forehead, only hesitating a moment as he left his lips against her skin, his hand in her hair and his other on her cheek. He wiped away her tears and held back his own as he stood, his ability to walk through objects returning as he passed through the bleachers and made his way to the shooter who couldn't see him coming.

Kat brought her knees to her chest and desperately tried to hold in the tears, unable to watch. Another round of shots went off but then were silenced immediately. The only sound that followed was the sound of a body collapsing. Kat held her breath, hoping maybe she would see him one last time. Maybe...

"What happened?" she heard someone whisper from behind the bleachers.

"I don't know, the shooter just collapsed. I think he's.... I think he's dead," someone else said.

Another few moments of silence passed and a light flicked on. Kat looked up and saw Allen staring at something behind her. He looked down at her, relief washing over his face. "It's okay. It's over," he said. "Are you okay? Where's Nex? Did you get separated?" He asked, crouching down next to her.

Kat released a shaky breath and turned, looking back towards where the shooter laid on the ground. No one else was there. No evidence Nex had been there except her red scarf lying on the ground next to the body of the shooter.

Summary: Kat and Nex knew the only way to keep people from getting hurt was for Kat to tell Nex to kill the shooter. Nex encourages her to do it and promises to find a way back to her. They part with I love you's and after the shooter is dead, Nex is gone.

A/N:

Heh 😅 heyyyyyy fallen angels it's me... your girl who you love and trust so much...right? This is me after posting the chapter with that cliff-hanger, running away from my readers: