Gabriel gave him a sidelong glance and an ironic smile. "You don't believe me." Of course he didn't. The Doctor was a scientist, and even though angels were actually eminently metaphysical they were considered to be the realm of religion and belief more than something real. He shrugged. "Can't say you're the first. Luckily it's not like my existence depends on it."

Not that it mattered right now anyway either, since his Grace was gone, his wings torn out, his powers vanished. He glanced toward the sky, unaware of the momentary longing that flashed across his face. He'd managed not to think too hard about his wings. "They'll fade," he said, his tone lackluster. "Like the other one. After a few days it settled in and I could see it."