Michele slipped out of the castle. He still wasn't used to the way it looked like just another condo outside. It was disorienting. This whole place was that way. He just had to get out by himself. There were too many happy people. Every smile, every laugh, every expression of affection made him feel more alone.

He had no idea where he was going. Just walking alone was enough. The streets were unfamiliar. He knew the general direction of the river, so he went that way. All the people he saw were smiling. There was a happy noise coming from the children at the day care. He stopped for a moment, tempted to go that direction and just look for a while.

His eyes were moist when he turned to walk again. Eventually he found himself at the top of a hill overlooking the ocean. He stood and just stared at it for a while. It was calling to him. Soon he was down on the beach, just out of reach of the water.

He sat on a large rock and just watched the waves, remembering his last act before finding himself here. The waves seem to be summoning him, almost irresistibly. Then without thinking, he got up and started walking towards the water.

He remembered the caress of the water when he died before. It had been a comforting, final sort of feeling. It had the promise of never being lonely anymore. The water was cold, but that didn't matter. He walked slowly, fighting the waves.

He was about waist deep when the sweet sound of a woman's voice floated across the water, catching his attention. He paused, confused as to why he was there, when he suddenly realized he wasn't alone. He could feel someone looking at him.

When he turned, he nearly jumped! There was someone standing in the water next to him. Nobody was anywhere near a second ago! He rubbed his eyes, hoping this was some sort of hallucination. No. He was still there. "Qui êtes-vous? {Who are you?}" Michele was starting to shiver from the cold water.

"I'm Andrew," he said softly as he reached out to steady Michele. The cold water did not seem to bother him in the least. "Why are you here, Michele? You know this is not the answer."

Michele felt as though he could talk to this person. "Je suis fatigué. Il n'y a rien pour moi. Je veux juste qu'il tout soit terminé {I'm tired. There's nothing for me. I just want it all to be over.}" He looked longingly at the waves. "Queest-ce que cela chante? {What is that singing?} I've never heard anything like that before."

Andrew smiled mysteriously. "It is lovely, isn't it? In some small way, almost angelic. Follow the music, Michele. Perhaps you will find the answers you seek at it's source."

Michele looked at Andrew frowning. "Qui êtes-vous? Pourquoi vous inquiétez-vous? {Who are you? Why do you care?}"

"A friend," he said, again with that mysterious smile. "And I'll go with you no matter what direction you choose to go."

Michele looked at the waves again and sighed. Might as well see what this was about. The ocean would still be here when he needed it. "So, mon ami, who is singing? What is this about?"

"Just follow the sound. That is the path to life. You've been given a second chance, Michele. Don't waste it," Andrew said softly to him as the CLim looked at the shore now. When he turned to say something to his companion he found he was once again alone.

Michele frowned. He had never had any experience like that before. The singing caught his attention again. It was beautiful. If someone asked him how an angel should sound, that would be it. "Voie d'accès à la vie? {Path to life?}" He asked of the air. He was curious now. The singing seemed to be calling him, as well as the waves. The longer he stood in the cold water, the louder the call of the music seemed to be. He shivered as he emerged from the water. With the sun shining, he didn't seem to stay wet for long.

He didn't know where he was going. His feet seemed to know the way. They kept going, at least. Eventually he was led to a cozy looking place with the fragrance of coffee and fresh pastry wafting through the door and the name "The Captain's Lady" over the door. Hesitantly, he opened the door and looked around. The place was empty except for another young man who looked like him. He was dressed in a kilt and washing some tables.

The other person was the source of the music. She was an incredible tiny woman, with golden blonde hair that almost glowed in the late afternoon sun that streamed through the window.

They both looked at him. He felt as if he should say something. "I heard the singing. Son beau. {Its beautiful.}" That was all that came out of his mouth.

She was up on the stage, singing softly now. Katherine finished the song and looked up at him with a soft smile. Gracefully she got up and left the stage, pausing only to whisper, "Go get Father Alec, Jeremy."

Michele smiled uncertainly. He didn't know what to say. He remembered being able to speak to people easier. He wanted to talk to her, but instead just stood looking down at the floor. He looked up when her small delicate hand took hold of his. "Trust me, Michele, I understand." She said earnestly. "I've been where you are right now myself." She led him to a table and sat down with him, and as her blue eyes gazed at him he felt a wave of acceptance and encouragement wash over him.

His eyes were misty as they met hers. "Vous? Comment savez-vous? {You? How do you know?}" He felt relieved and yet a little uneasy at the same time. Was this what Andrew wanted him to find?

"There was a time in my life that I just wanted it to be over. But at the time, the only way it could be was if someone took my head. So each time I healed and came back, only to have to relive the horrors and living nightmare the next day."

He studied her face. He believed her. "You are an Immortal? I have met some here. Vous ne pouvez pas mourir? {You can't die?}" He seemed lost in thought. Something about that frightened him.

"Aye," she said softly, not wanting to cloud the issue with the fact she had been turned mortal for a year. "And it 'tis a hard thing to know that the only way you can find complete rest is to kneel before some one and let them remove your head from your shoulders. But despite the pain, I have always chosen life my friend. And I hope you do the same." Her hand gently stroked his face as the tears started to flow.

Jeremy slipped out the back to get to the rectory. He knew Kat wouldn't have sent him unless it was important. A few people stared, seeing him racing along the street in his kilt. He reached the rectory in record time and kept his fingers crossed as he knocked. Father Alec answered the door himself. Jeremy sighed with relief. "You have to come right now. Michele is at the coffee shop and Katherine sent me for you." He was still breathing hard.

"Stay here and catch your breath," Father Alec said as he grabbed a coat to put over his short sleeve shirt. He then took off at a brisk walk towards The Captain's Lady. The priest knew Michele was a very troubled young man and he trusted Katherine's instincts about him being needed. It only took a few minutes to reach the cafe and he entered it, flipping the closed sign behind him as he did so.

Michele looked up as Father Alec came in. The other night, he had been a little upset with Ev, trying to throw them together that way. Now he was glad to see the priest who looked like him.

Father Alec crossed the room to were Kat was seated by Michele. He sat down beside him and put his arm around the now sobbing young man, hushing him and telling him it was going to be ok. He could see the faint crust of the dried sea salt on Michele's clothes and he guessed that he had came very close to committing suicide a second time. Michele couldn't stop himself, all the anguish he had been keeping in for such a long time seemed to be trying to come out all at once. He leaned against the priest, feeling for the first time in a very long time that someone cared. He knew Ev had been trying, but somehow she hadn't reached him. He felt helpless.

Father Alec didn't try to speak, just held him close, letting the grief flow out. Beside them, Katherine was softly singing a sweet lullaby that very gradually seemed to bring a little peace into his tortured soul. Once when he looked up, he thought he could see the man who called himself Andrew standing off to the side, smiling softly at him in encouragement. So as all the pent up sorrow drained out, he felt himself being emptied and then filled with the support of those around him.

It seemed like a long time, but finally the tears stopped. Michele felt as though he would wilt from exhaustion, but he did feel a little better. He blinked the last of the moisture from his eyes. "Merci." Was all he could manage.

"This is just the beginning of a new life for you, my son," the priest said gently. "It's not going to be easy, but there are those of us here in this city who will be with you every step of the way. I'm going to have Katherine call someone now to meet us over at the clinic. He will help us to get you well started on the path of healing and life."

Katherine got up and brought Michele some French Roast Coffee and the priest his tea, as well as some delicious looking scones. Then with a nod of Father Alec's head, she went into her office and placed a call to Sean Burns, asking for his assistance.

Michele gratefully took a sip of the coffee. It was wonderful. Suddenly, something occurred to him. "Voie d'accès à la vie. {The path to life.}That's what he said." He saw the priest giving him a questioning look. "He said his name was Andrew."

The name of the death angel caused Father Alec to smile and he sent a silent prayer of thanksgiving up to his heavenly father for watching out for the lost ones and sending help when they needed it most.