Meanwhile, Lorne was up and ready for the day. He was never usually up this early, but Angel had left earlier so he thought he should go check on Connor. That was when he heard the familiar sound of the rocking chair creaking in Connors room.

What he found, more like who, surprised him greatly. Katie Summers sat in the chair rocking baby Connor. She held him with a gentleness that belied her strength and talked to him like she had only last talked to him a few hours ago when in reality it had been much longer.

Lorne stood in the shadows of the room and listened to her intently.

**************

Katie looked down at Connors serene face and began her story.

"I'm gonna tell you this story Connor because youre Daddy may never tell you. So I'm going to make this long story short, okay. Lets get started:" She smiled. "It all started about six years ago in an alley. It's no ordinary alley, though. You see this is where two destined souls met. These two souls, when together create a light so bright and so beautiful its blinding. Their names are no matter, but I'll tell you anyway. Its youre Daddy and my sister. They loved so fully, Connor." He began to slowly fall back to sleep. "But unfortunately, something bad happened. See, youre Daddy loved Buffy so much that in the end he *had* to leave her and she was never the same again. Ahh, Connor I want you to remember that no matter what happens, youre Daddy loves you very much and he will always love you. Dont ever forget that, okay."

Unknowingly to Katie or Connor, Lorne smiled at the sight that was in front of him. He realized that this girl truly was more that just unusually strong.

Katie sighed. He was asleep. She placed him in his crib and breathed a kiss atop his head.

"Sleep tight. Dont let the bed bugs bite..."

As she turned around she saw Lorne stepping out of the shadows. "Lorne!" she rasped.
"What are you doing?!"

Lorne chuckled. "Katie...does Angel-cakes know you're here?"

"No ..." she sighed. "I was just leaving." She looked at Lorne suspiciously and left the room.

****************

Buffy could not believe it! She had skipped town and school again! Not only that she had gone to L.A! Buffy was just glad Spike was nosy and followed her to the bus station.

So here she was sitting in the back seat of Xanders car with Willow and Dawn and Xander and Anya in the front.

"When I get my hands on her, her ass is grass!" Buffy growled.

Xander glanced at her through his rearview mirror. " Buff...dont you think youre overreacting, a little?" Silence.

"Hmmm" Anya breathed. "I wonder how that person can see to drive?"

Buffy whirled around in her seat to see a black car with dark tinted almost painted windows. She slowly turned back around in her seat and heaved a heavy sigh.

"Its Spike! Dammit! Cant I get a freakin break around here!"

Dawn smirked. "This should be fun."

"I wouldnt count on it..." Xander muttered.

Part 3

He climbed the stairs in no particular hurry. Wesley was oddly drinking coffee. Connor was more than likely asleep. Gunn and Fred were at their routine breakfast and Cordy and Gru were chatting away about something unimportant. And... Cordy and Gru were chatting! Angel whipped his head around to glare at them.

~I give them money to go away and somehow they end up here! I should take the money back and go on my own vacation.~

Angel resumed his climbing, when he reached the main hallway he saw Lorne and Katie walking out of Connors room.

~What the Hell?!~

The oldest of Buffys siblings was walking out of his son's room. "What the hell are you doing here?!" Angel demanded.

Katie looked up and about jumped out of her skin. "Uh Oh..."

Angel grew furious and charged at her. He pushed her against the railing and grabbed her throat. "Uh Oh my ass! What were you doing in my son's room?"

"Angel--" she choked out, while grabbing frantically at his hand.

He growled at the silent answer and applied more pressure to her throat. Before he had the chance to question her further, she pried his hand lose and hurled herself over the railing. Every set of eyes watched in shock as the young girl fell from the second floor railing and miraculously landed on her feet.

She looked around madly for some use of a weapon. When she spotted the weapons cabinet, she ran to it and grabbed two broadswords.

~If were gonna fight, were gonna fight fair.~

With a vicious growl Angel ran down the stairs and was surprisingly produced with a sword.
Silence.

Without warning swords clanged together and the hotel lobby was filled with the reverberating sound.

"I should help!" stated Gru.

Although Cordys eyes were fixed upon the fight she proceeded to put a hand upon his arm to stop him. "No, no. Just ... wait."

Katie blocked his blow and brought her knee up into his groin. Angel dropped his sword and doubled over in pain.

As she dropped her sword Katie helped him over to the couch.

"Why'd you have to go and do that for?" Angel groaned.

"What were you thinking, that I would actually hurt him? A child? A baby?" She sighed and leaned back on the couch. "Have you gone completely mad!"

"Is she here?"

"Who?" Katie asked.

"Dont give me that shit, Katie! Where is Buffy?" Angel snarled.

"Present."

Cordy snapped here head around only to lay eyes on Buffy and Co. "Has anybody else noticed where one goes they all go?"

Gru turned to her and commented: "Like sheep"

**************

Angel was beside himself. Not only had she brought the whole damn town of Sunnyhell with her she brought Spike as well!

~This just wont do...~

Katie pulled Buffy away from the group to the other side of the room. "Buffy!" She gasped

"Katie!"

Katie rolled her eyes in exasperation. "Buffy, what the fuck is Spike doing here?! I realize that your recent sexcapades with him has consumed much of your time, but you shouldn't have brought him!"

"I didnt bring him, okay! He came on his own. And we aren't even going to get into the whole sex thing." Buffy explained. "You're not going to breathe a word of this. Are we clear?"

"Crystal..." Katie sneered and started to walk off.

Buffy grasped her arm and pulled her back. "Where do you think you're going? I came here to bring you back home and that's it."

"Im not going anywhere, but to the other side of the room." She did just that and pulled Buffy with her.

Bickering was all that was heard. Each person was arguing about anything and everything under the moon.

"Everybody! Shut up!" Katie yelled.

"Now that I've gotten you all here and I've gotten you're attention, I'd like to make an announcement..." She smirked.

Part 4

Lillah Morgan had just entered her office of Wolfram and Hart when her annoying secretary walked in.

"Ms. Morgan," her voice was an irritating squeak, "He has brought news."

Lillah nodded for her to continue. "The Slayer and The Gift have arrived in town and are with Angel."

A troubled look passed Lillahs face as she began to chuckle. "Thank You, Suzie. Leave!"

The pathetic girl stumbled out, Lillah sighed heavily. "Ah. Perfect..." she said in a sarcastic tone. "This day could not possibly get worse."

Just then her office telephone rang and she hesitantly picked it up. "Hello," she greeted. "Uh huh. Yes, sir. Of course." Lillah slammed the phone down, stood up and smoothed down her skirt. "I was wrong..."

************

She couldnt believe it. This wasn't happening. This wasn't possible. But here was her proof. "Hes so beautiful..."

Angel looked from his sons face. His SON! To Buffys and couldn't believe how much had changed. He faintly heard Buffy give a compliment. "Thank you."

"I don't understand how this is possible, Angel" Buffy stated.

"You'd be surprised."

Buffy tore her eyes away from Connor and turned them on her long time love. She regarded him with serious eyes. "Try me."

Angel ran a hand through his dark, spiky hair. "Well," he sighed. "Its a long story. It all started with these dreams..."

*************

She descended the stairs and the first thing that came to mind was deafening. That was the only word that could describe the noise that echoed through the lobby. As soon as each person saw her the room became deathly quiet.

Katie thumbed through her back pocket and pulled out ten dollars. "Dawn," she called and Dawn glided over from her spot near Spike. "If you get hungry theres a little place right down the street." Dawn nodded and returned to her previous spot.

When Xander realized who was missing from their happy family he untangled himself from Anya and exploded: "You left them up there! Together! Are you crazy?!"

Katie rolled her eyes and giggled. "Xander, shut up." She brushed passed him and smirked, he stood speechless.

Score:
Katie - 1
Xander - 0

"Wes," Willow whined. "Explain how this is all possible. Because right now a human baby being conceived by two vampires, let alone surviving in a dead body, makes the sense, that doesnt."

Wesley picked up his stack of papers with a groan and began his explanation, wondering what to leave out. "Connor," his voice seemed tired and stressed. "is prophesized in the Niazian Scrolls."

"Another prophecy!" Spike complained. "What, do they pull these bloody things out of their asses!"

With a sigh Wes continued. "He apparently plays a very important role. And thats not all..."

***************

"Wow..." She breathed. "I can't believe you *tried* to lose your soul," Buffy nodded to herself. "I cant believe you actually slept with Darla! It wasnt good, right?" Angel raised a brow at her in suspicion. "Youre right...dont answer that."

"So anyway, after that I kicked her to the curb." Buffy grinned. "The next time I saw her she was pregnant ... with Connor."

"Connor..." Buffy mused. "Its a nice name. I like it."

Angel smiled and then just as soon grew serious. "Why are you here Buffy?"

She took a deep breath and looked anywhere, but his eyes. "I knew you were gonna ask that."

"Well?"

"Katie?" She asked

Angel shook his head. "Try again."

Part 5

"I told you no one was safe with him and did anybody listen to me, nope!" Xander commented. Anya feverishly nodded her head in agreement.

Cordy rolled her eyes. "So, Wes you've known about all this and you never thought to tell anyone? Were you trying to keep a secret therein gaining yourself a life?!"

"Cordelia!" Katie yelped and furrowed her brows.

Cordy snapped her head around to look at Katie. "What?!"

Willow sighed and shook her head. "So what do we do now? I mean, were all here, there has to be something we can do, right?"

Wesley took in her demeanor, she had gotten skinnier over the years, older. Her eyes showed it as well as every other person in this room. Even the youngest Summers girl, Dawn. Hers showed a loss of innocence, a roughness someone her age should not have the displeasure of knowing.

Wesley pulled himself out of his reverie to answer Willows question. "I'm not sure. Something, maybe."

***********

"Well, my life sucks, Angel." Angel raised his brows in confusion. "I have been sleeping with Spike." Buffy decided she get it out there, better now than never. Although she wasn't expecting Angel to explode so...

Angel sat stunned for a moment. Spike. Spike and Buffy. Angel growled. "You slept with SPIKE!" Angel stood and began to pace. "Spike..." he muttered. "Guess you dont stray to far from form."

Buffys eyes practically bulged out of  her head. "Hey! You asshole! I can't believe you just said that!"

Angel stopped mid-pace and stood stock still. He sighed, frustrated. "I'm sorry Buffy. I- I  didn't mean that."

"You must have, you said it!"

"Buffy, I'm sorry...I have something else to drop on you though." Buffy nodded. "I kissed Cordelia, a lot."

************

"WHAT?!!!"

Katie looked over at Cordelia. "I think he told her."

"Ya think?" Cordy threw back.

***********

"This isn't right." Holtz commented.

Justine looked over at him. "What do you mean? Whats not right?"
'
Holtz waved his hand in front of the edifice like hotel. "There's to much power coming from this place. There are others here."
"Right. So what do you wanna do?" Justine asked.

"Send someone in or bring one of them out."

Part 6

A couple of hours had passed since Buffy and the gang had dropped in. Buffy and Angel were still upstairs, presumably with Connor. Cordy and Gru were sitting on the circular couch chatting up about something. Lorne and Dawn had gone to get something to eat for everyone.

They had all voted Spike to go up stairs and see what was going on with the star crossed lovers and supposedly it was Buffy who threw him over the railing. Having him land on the lobby floor, face down, was highly entertaining.

Fred and Gunn had staggered in, literally, not long after. Confessing that they had gotten attacked...by humans.

Katie shook her head, frustrated. "Are you positive they were human? They didn't want anything?"

"It was whack. They surrounded us and it looked like they thought we were someone else. Then they just went ahead and all out attacked us." Gunn described.

"I think what they were looking for was someone else." Fred stated.

Wesley was deep in thought when Katie slapped his shoulder. She must've asked him something. "What?"

"Cor was talking to you." Katie explained.

Wesley looked her way. "What do ya think?" Cordy asked again.

Wesley sighed. "Maybe what they were looking for...was to give us a message"

"A message? Beating up our friends is a message?" Cordelia asked.

Katie scrunched her brows in thought. "More like Hey! Look at us! We have something you want. kinda message."

"Question is...what do they have that we would want?" Spike commented.

"You guys?" Willow called. "How long have Dawn and Lorne been gone?"

Katie quickly looked at her watch. "Too long." She jumped down from her spot on the counter top and began to throw out orders. "And someone go get Angel and Buffy!"

Everyone stopped in their mad movements and looked at her like she was crazy. Katie turned and looked at their faces. "Fine." she said exasperated. "Ill go."

***********
Buffy and Angel had been sitting in his room for quite some time. Not a word had passed between them since Buffy had thrown Spike out.

Angel looked up at her. She had grown, not only in body but in her eyes as well. Dying will do that to you.

"I missed you." Angel breathed.

Buffy looked up into his eyes. "I - I missed you, too."

Angel smiled. "I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt you. Ever."

"I know. I'm sorry, too." She confessed.

Angel stood and moved from his spot across from her and sat next to her on the bed. Buffy moved her hand and entangled it with his.

Buffy sighed. She dreaded her next question. "Why did you attack her? You can't possibly still be angry with her, can you?"

Angel groaned. "I don't know. She walked out of his room and I felt this irrational fear just run through me."

"Angel, I understand, but what happened to her, happened three years ago. Alex died saving her. He loved her and she loved him. He knew everything about her. He was it for her and then he was taken away from her. She acted rash, its true. But she never wanted to hurt anyone. You were going to leave and she felt like her whole world was falling apart." Buffy explained.

"And that gives her the right to lose her mind! To take her anger and her pain out on other people. I'm the one who had to stop her. I'm the one she yelled and screamed at to make it stop."

"Angel--"

"No, Buffy! She hit you. Numerous times!" Angel reasoned.

"And she regrets every second of it. You haven't forgiven her yet and if it were anyone else you would have already." Buffy told him.

Angel was about to answer when there was a loud knock on the door. Katie rushed in: "We have a problem. I think Dawn and Lorne have been taken. There's more but we need to get moving."

Buffy and Angel stood up and followed Katie out of the room. Angel pulled Buffy to the side of the hallway and whispered: "Well finish this later."

Buffy smirked. "Whatever you say."

*************
Dawn groaned in pain as she slowly woke up. The last thing she remembered was Lorne telling her not to forget the napkins because the hotel was deprived of all normal uses. Then she felt a sharp pain at the back of her neck and it all went black.

As she came back to consciousness she felt very cold. Shed been in this situation before. She looked around and it was nothing she recognized. She was in a small chamber-like room chained to the far wall. The room was poorly illuminated, she could only see Lorne chained up next to her. He was coming back to reality as well.

Just then the door opened and revealed a man in his 40s with dark hair and dark eyes. He looked very mysterious and dangerous. His voice more than proved that. Dawn was ready for Buffy and Katie to come and rescue her and Lorne.

"It's come to my attention that you are the youngest with the exception of the child. It's interesting to me that you and both your sisters hang around with demons," the man slapped Lorne across the face. "and not only that they have both been romantically involved with demons." He walked over to a desk and picked up a knife. "Tell me Dawn,--"

"How do you know my name?!" She yelped.

"I know lots of things. Now tell me Dawn, what do you think of all of it?"

The man cut Lorne across the face. Dawn winced. "Who are you? What do you want with us?!" Dawn shrieked.

"I'm Holtz and I don't want you, I want Angelus."

Part 7

"This is a bright laugh!" Spike sneered. "Lets split up she says." Spike imitated. "Ya know, Peaches, If I didn't know better I'd say this was your idea. Given how celibate you've been lately."

Angel whipped around and grabbed Spike by his jacket lapels. "Spike, shut the hell up!" he growled. "I've had enough out of you."

Gunn quickly put himself between the two vampires. "Okay guys, y'all know Im always up for a brawl, but nows not the time. We ain't here for that. We rescue Lorne and the girl and get out. That's the plan. What'd y'all say we stick to it?"

Angel slowly let go of Spike and started his way towards the house they had gotten word Holtz was at. Angel was all to sure Holtz was the one who had taken them.

Spike smoothed down his jacket and followed after Angel, followed by a snickering Gunn. "Like two little old men."

*************

"Lorne!" Dawn whispered

"What?"

"Did you hear that?" Dawn asked.

"Hear what?" Lorne rasped. He began to frantically look around. Afraid that whatever IT was, they wouldn't have much of a chance chained up.

"It sounds like something is trying to get in." Dawn looked up at the sky light and couldn't see the night sky anymore. "Thats probably not good." she whimpered.

When Lorne looked up, the sky light shattered and two dark figures jumped down from it; landing in the middle of the chamber room. As the glass and dust settled the figures became easier to see.

"Buffy, Katie!!" Dawn screeched.

Katie turned to look at her. "Shhhh! Well get you out of here. Just be quiet."

As Buffy finished breaking Lornes chains she moved to Dawns. "That's weird."

"What?" Katie asked.

"Holtz brings them here, chains them up with non-magical chains and isn't even around to make sure we don't get in here. I mean a sky light, Katie? What's wrong with this picture?"
Katie looked around the room and unconsciously gripped Dawns hand tighter. "Everything..."

"Umm...Girls I'm loving this foreboding-sister-link-thing going on here, but I'm afraid we need to get out of here. While we still can."

"Where are the guys?" Buffy inquired, slightly nervous.

Suddenly the door to the room busted open and the guys in question busted through. Literally.

"Nice entrance, boys." Katie complimented sarcastically. "Okay, Im with Lorne. I say we book and in hurry."

"I second that. Let's go guys."

Angel, Gunn, and Spike all looked on in confusion, but reluctantly followed. "What! Not even a little scuffle! Thats whack!"

Walking out with Dawn in between herself and Katie, Buffy had a very bad feeling that something terrible was awaiting them back at the hotel. "There is something very wrong with this picture."

****************

"Sorry we didn't get the food, although I seem to have lost my appetite. Heh." Lorne joked. Not one laugh. "Jeez, tough crowd." Lorne sighed. "Where's Wesley? Did he have something more important to do than help rescue me and the kid?"

"Apparently, he said he was going to check some things out. Must've been damn important to not come help not rescue you." Spike snipped, but then fell back into his low conversation with Katie.

They were almost back to the hotel and the girls were up ahead hanging on to Dawn for dear life. Well, with the exception of Katie. She was hanging back with Spike. It was weird to Lorne, it seemed to him that she hated Spike, yet she would rather hang back with him instead of hang on to her recently kidnapped sister. Weird.

Angel had not said one thing since they had left that room. He was believed to be brooding, although to Gunn and Lorne that was most unusual. Walking through the front gates to the lobby doors everything seemed to be quiet to Angel. Too quiet, in fact.

While they all walked into the lobby Angel and Spike walked in ahead of everyone and scanned the room. "Peaches?" Spike called.

Angel looked around and settled his senses on the upstairs room. "Nothing..."  He flew upstairs followed by Buffy. When he reached Connors room he grappled at his crib and found the it empty.

"Oh no..." Buffy breathed. Buffy grasped Angels hand, but he wriggled out of it and ran down the hallway. Again, followed by Bufy.  Xander and Fred were supposed to watch him. They had to be here somewhere. "CONNOR!" he bellowed.

Angel turned into his room and found Fred and Xander unconscious. Connor wasn't there. Angel began to frantically search every room in the hotel. Bufy stayed behind and tried to awaken Fred and Xander. She sighed: "Its no use. You guys are out."

************

Katie and Spike checked out Connors room. "Theres no blood here, Kit Kat. I say they took him." Spike observed.

Katie ran her fingers along Connors crib. "So they kidnap Dawn and Lorne. When we get there no ones there. The chains are regular, non-magical chains and we walk out unharmed and not one fight under our belts. All to get the hotel alone so they can take the kid, without hassle." Katie sighed heavily. It was bound to be along night. "It doesn't make sense. Why go to all this trouble?"

"No ducks. It makes all the sense in the world. This is Holtz were talking about. Do you know what Angelus did to him?" Spike stated.

Katie shook her head. "Explain away."

"Angelus killed every last one of Holtzs kids. He killed them brutally." Spike smiled. "The psychos been waiting more than a hundred years to get revenge on Angelus. He is going to go to any length to get his revenge. This is just the beginning."

Katie looked up from Connors crib into Spikes cold eyes. "Are you game? I promise big buckets of fun."

Spike snaked an arm around Katies shoulder, but she dramatically shrugged it off. "Kit Kat as long as I get to kick some ass. I'm all for it."

"Good, now tell me everything you know about Holtz. Everything." Katie demanded.

"They got a training room around here?"

*************

Buffy walked down the dark hallway. She had been looking for Angel for 15 minutes. She had yet to find him. She had checked every room and then she had decided to look back in Connors room. What she saw broke her heart into a million different pieces. Angel was slouched down next to Connors crib with one of his stuffed animals in his hand. Tears streaked down his cheeks and Buffy crawled up next to him.

Angel looked up into her moss green eyes. His salvation once. "It's my fault. I should have known. Its my fault, Buffy!" he sobbed. Buffy gathered him up into her arms and began to rock him. She had never seen him cry so hard. She began to whisper sweet nothings into his ear. Anything to quiet him. To ease his pain.

"Its gonna be okay. I promise. Well get him back." she assured him.

"Buffy." he whimpered. "Where's my son?!!!"

"Shhh, my sweet angel, shhh. Its gonna be okay. Its gonna okay. My sweet, sweet angel. shhh."

Part: 8

It had been about an hour since Gunn, Anya and Willow had gotten Fred
and Xander to wake up. They had been a little out of it at first, but
with ice packs and some cool drinks they had begun to remember what
had happened.

?Where is everyone?? Xander groaned.

?Well, Dawn is safe and asleep upstairs. Lorne and Wesley are in
Wesley?s office researching. Katie and Spike are in the basement
training. I think she?s  supposed to be getting info out of him.?
Willow explained.

?Training? What about his chip?? Xander asked.

?I don?t know. I guess they?re just training not sparing. Anyways,
Cordy and Gru are out, I think. And Buffy and Angel are upstairs. Last
time I checked they were in Connor?s room.?

?Oh.?

?All right. Ya got the low down on everybody; lets get with the
telling of what happened.? Gunn rushed.

**********
?So you?re saying this guy came across time just to get his revenge on
Angelus.? Katie summed up.

Spike stopped hitting the punching bag and looked over at her. She was
tumbling with a mixture of Tai Chi. ?That?s what I?m saying, ducks.?
Spike unraveled the tape on his fists and leaned against the cement
wall. ?Say, uh, where?d you learn that kind of mix??

Katie landed her back tuck somewhat unsteady. She looked down at her
hands, surprised at his question. ?Umm... Alex taught me, actually.?

Spike nodded. ?Yeah...?

Katie sobered up and lifted her gaze to him. ?So why take the kid??

?My guess,? Spike started. He moved towards her and began to circle
her. ?To make Angelus understand what he felt. To...lure him. Or he
knows something that we don?t. Something that involves the kid.?

Katie quickly fell into fighting stance and circled with him. ?Well,
he is prophesized. Still...it doesn?t make sense. Connor?s gotta be
something damn special to go to all that trouble just to kidnap him.?

?I don?t know, kid. I think Holtz took him for some other reason. I
think someone we know knows something and is hiding it and I think
Holtz knows what it is. And it?s something damn important.?

?Maybe.?

Spike?s fist flew first but Katie blocked it and they began to circle
again. ?So what are you sayin? then??

?I?m sayin?,? Katie snapped a quick kick to his gut and he stumbled
back. Spike came back with a snap kick to her head that she blocked,
but he then caught her in the stomach with his fist. ?that there is
something wrong with this plan. That something else is going on.
Something bad.?

?Aw bloody hell girl! Something bad is always going on.? Spike landed
his kick and she tumbled back but quickly recovered.

?No need to jump down my throat about it. I just mean that it seems
like something weirder than usual is going on here. I can feel it,
Spike.? Katie stood and began to unravel the tape on her fists as
well. She looked at Spike with serious eyes. ?Don?t you??

Spike groaned and grumbled about something incoherently. ?Yeah. I feel
it. And I think we have more than one bloody psycho working against
us.?

?I agree. Question is who else is in on it??

?Wolfram and Hart for one. More specific: Lilah.? Cordy interrupted.
?What are you guys doing in here anyway??

?What are we doing in here! What the hell are doing spying on us??
Spike stepped up closer to Cordy.

?Please! I could kill you and you couldn?t do a thing about it.? Cordy
grinned.

Katie stepped between them and cleared her throat. ?It?s funny, Cor
because there was a time I?d have let you get away with that, but
things change.? Cordy raised her brows. ?Back off! Now is so not the
time to cop a pseudo-slayer attitude. Besides hun, you aren?t fully
human anymore and Spike would kick your lame ass right back to
Sunnyhell.? Katie smirked and walked off. Leaving an opened mouthed
Cordelia to follow after.

?Stupid friggin bent!? Spike yelled to the empty room. ?Not human.? he
mused. ?Oh hell yeah!?

***********
?Okay. So the only thing we have is that some girl, who could be
working for anyone, knocked you two unconscious. And that there is no
blood on Connor?s crib.? Willow stated.

Xander and Fred had told their story rather slowly if you asked Anya.
Especially Fred.

?Well, actually, I think that this girl has to be working with Holtz.
She has to be, for this whole plan to work.? Fred informed.

*************
Angel had finally fallen asleep about an hour or so ago. So Buffy
practically drug him from Connor?s room to his. She knew that
something bad was gonna happen, she knew it. The first thing she had
to do was find Connor. Then she had to keep him safe. She had only
known him for a few hours and she already felt this strange
protectiveness of him.

Buffy looked down at Angel and almost burst into tears herself. Angel
was beating himself up over this. She wished she could ease his pain
just like she used to. But she knew that things had changed. They
barely knew each other anymore. They were practically strangers.
But...

?Even strangers can get to know each other again. To love again. Can?t
they?? Buffy asked the silent room. She stood from her seat across
from Angel?s bed. The chair he had recently sat in. When his son was
just a few rooms down and not God knows where. Buffy sat next to him
on the bed and smoothed back his dark hair. She lay down next to him
and placed her head on his still chest. ?I wish I could make it go
away. I wish you could make mine go away. I wish it could be like
before, but it?s not. I?m sorry. But don?t you worry because I will
get him back, I promise.? Buffy swore. ?God I?m tired.? she yawned and
finally let sleep take her.

************
When Angel slowly awoke he felt a warm body lay next to him. As he
gradually opened his eyes he saw a blond head lay on his chest. That
unmistakable scent that was only one person assured him that he was
lying in bed with Buffy.

The memories of the last few hours came rushing back to him and he
felt a stinging tear run down his cheek. He looked down at Buffy again
seeing that she had not wakened yet he decided to go and check out how
the research was going.
He groaned as he pulled himself out of bed careful not to wake his
companion. Angel looked back at her and knew that they still had so
much to work through. He couldn?t believe he had thought he was
falling for Cordelia. Cordelia! He turned and started to walk out of
the room.

?Where do you think you?re going, buster?? Buffy moaned from the bed.

Angel turned back to her and smiled. ?I thought I?d go and check on
some things, that?s all.?

Buffy shook her head. ?Nuh uh. You get back over here mister. You only
slept a couple of hours. Besides it?ll be daylight in like an hour and
if you want to help me save your son you?ll wait till dark. No get
back over here.?

Angel thought about it a moment but decided it was for the best. The
gang would tell them if anything were up. So he crawled back over to
her and lay down. ?I?m just antsy is all. I want my son back, Buffy. I
miss my son.?

Buffy snuggled closer to him and sighed. ?I know. But ya know a little
birdie told me that you haven?t been sleeping lately.?

Angel raised his brows. ?Oh yeah. Well, a little birdie told me you
haven?t either.?

Buffy smiled. ?You want to know what I think.?

?What do you think?? Angel questioned with a slight smile. It amazed
him that even after all this time she could still make him laugh in
his lowest, darkest moods.

?I think there are far too many birdies flying around here. You should
have that checked out.? Buffy giggled.

?I?ll let my secretary know.?

Buffy gasped. ?Was that a ... joke? Oh my! Angel made with the funny.
Someone call the newspapers!? They laughed together and snuggled
closer. At that moment Buffy truly did believe that there was still a
little bit of hope left and that was enough for her.

A silence fell between them.

?Angel??

?Hmm...?

?Can we talk?? Buffy questioned quietly.

?About what??

?About us.? Buffy answered.

?Sure.? Angel agreed.

Buffy sighed, frustrated. ?Do you--do you still love me??

Angel flinched at the question. He wasn?t expecting that one so soon.
?I--? Angel began to run his fingers through her short blond hair.
?Have I told you how much I like your hair??

?Don?t change the subject Angel. Just answer the question. Be honest,
please.? Buffy chided.

Angel took a deep, unneeded breath. ?Buffy, I have loved you from the
first moment I laid eyes on you. You were walking down the steps of
your old school and I knew right then that my life was about to
change.? Angel looked down at her and smiled. ?Sometimes at night I go
back to that school and sit down on the steps that you had sat on and
I would sit there for hours on end, thinking about you. I have missed
you so much. And I know I?ve made mistakes. I know things have
changed, but I have never stopped loving you. I never will. We just
have so much to work through before...?

Buffy looked up at him with her moss green eyes and smiled a sad
smile. ?I know this. I do. But I feel so empty without you.? Tears
began to spill down her cheeks. ?I--I thought that maybe if I moved on
I could forget--no not forget--that it would make the pain stop. But
that didn?t work, it just made me feel worse.? She took a deep breath
and started again. ?I know that we have changed. I know, but I am so
tired of being lonely. I?m tired of wishing that I could go back to
where I was. But when I?m with you I feel...good. I feel like I could
make it. I need you in my life. You said once that more than anything
you know how much I want a normal life and you were right and you left
me because of that. But what you failed to see was that I only wanted
that life if you were with me. And that it wouldn?t mean anything if
you weren?t.?

Angel looked down at her with sad eyes. ?Sleep, mo Alainn gra.? Buffy
laid her head back down on his chest and after a moment she burst into
tears.

************   
Part: 9

Katie climbed the stairs to check on her sisters. When she walked into
her room Dawn was still sleeping on the bed. It must have been the
sleeping pills Cordelia gave her. Katie slowly crept out of the room
and closed the door behind her. She walked down the hallway and
stopped at Angel?s door. She placed her ear against the door and
listened intently.
Katie raised her fist and was about to knock on the door when it swung
open and Angel appeared in the doorway with rumpled hair and wrinkled
clothing.

She raised her brows at him in suspicion and squeaked: ?Hi!?

Angel closed the door behind him and began to walk down the hallway.
?My sister wouldn?t happen to be in there, would she??

Angel turned around and cleared his throat. ?Yeah. She?s sleeping.?

Katie stood there in the wake of his cryptic answer. ?Do you hate me??
she called.

Angel tensed in surprise of her question. ?What?? Katie shook her head
and stepped closer to him ?Do you hate me? I mean, is it--is it what
happened that night why you hate me?? she mumbled.

Angel furrowed his brows. ?What are saying, Katie??

She sighed heavily. ?God! Just answer the question. Do you hate me?
Cause there was a time when you and me were like siblings. We had
conversations that lasted hours and you were overprotective when it
came to Alex. I just--what happened??

Angel leaned against the railing and rubbed his eyes with his fists.
?Katie...I don?t hate you. I?ve never hated you. I?m sorry about what
happened earlier. I acted incredibly rash and it shouldn?t have
happened. But...?

Katie leaned in. ?But what??

?I?m angry with you. You did a lot of things you should have never
done, but I can?t blame you for them because you?re growing up and
I?ve made some of those mistakes too.?

?Oh. Oh....? she realized. ?This is about what I did that first summer
after you left.?

Angel nodded. ?Not only that. What you did that night as well, but
I?ve given you the benefit of the doubt.?

?Listen Angel; you don?t know how sorry I am. I mean what I did was
unforgivable. And it?ll stay with me.? she breathed. ?Tell me what I
have to do to make you forgive me.?

?First of all, Katie. Watching people die while they?re fighting their
lives is beyond unforgivable. It?s your job to help people...?

**************
?Are you kidding?!?

Katie and Angel snapped their heads around and laid eyes on Xander.
?What the hell do you want, Xander?? Angel sneered.

?You?re--? he shook his head. ?You...are judging her! I seem to have
it on pretty good record dead boy, that you took a step out on the
deep end, too. That you *let* some people die.?

Katie looked back at Angel and breathed in deep. ?Is that true??

Angel turned his gaze back towards Katie. ?I--It?s not what it sounds
like. L--Let me explain.?

Katie gasped. ?Explain, por favor.?

?Yeah! Let?s hear it.?

?I-um-I--?

Suddenly, an ear-shattering scream was heard from down the hall and
the three of them took off.

*********
~She was dreaming. She had to be. There was no way this place could be
real. It was so dark. Pitch black. It stank like bad eggs and
limestone and that formaldehyde stuff.
She walked down several stone hallways. She was currently walking down
one long winding hallway. Each stone wall had a different picture.
They were decorated with strange markings and when you took in the
entire picture it created something demonic.
She ran down the hall. She began to frantically look around for some
kind of door or a way out. The air started to get thick. Her breathing
became rapid and she was beginning to have a bad feeling about this
place.
Finally she came to an opening that ended with four different doors.
Each one had a symbol on it. The first door had drawings of flames.
Fire. The next had a tall building being blown over. Wind. The third
door had numerous drawings of rivers and oceans. Others looked like
rain falling from the sky. Water. The last door showed a picture of
the earth.
As she looked over each door?s drawings again, she realized that they
looked more like children?s drawings than any masterpiece or work of
art.
?Now or never...? she said as her voice echoed.
She reached for the second door.~

*********
Spike?s head snapped up and he ran out of the basement and into the
lobby. Everyone was looking upstairs with worried faces. It didn?t
surprise Spike when Willow jumped up from her seat and scrambled
upstairs, followed shortly after by Dawn. The remaining Scoobies and
Fang Gang stared after them.

Spike shrugged his shoulders and walked into the kitchen. He opened
the fridge, bent down to look in and pulled out the last of the blood.
?Hey!? Spike called. ?Sheep boy, you mind going to get more vamp eats.
This junk isn't enough for me.?

Cordy glared at Spike. ?Go get it yourself jerk off!?

?Aww...Wish I could Barbie! Unfortunately the sun is up so I can?t get
out of this hellhole without turning to toast.?

?That?s a bad thing?? Cordy sneered.

?Go get kidnapped, Bent!?

?You---?

?Excuse me.? A little voice called from the lobby doors. ?Is this...?
She looked down at the card in her hand. ?Angel Investigations??

*************
~She walked through the door and into a field. A field full of wild
flowers. The sky was a gorgeous, dazzling blue and not one cloud in
sight. The wind came in steady gusts causing the wild flowers to
dance.
Out of nowhere a man of about sixty grabbed her arm and pulled her
towards him. ?You were meant to pick this place...?
Buffy scrunched her brows. ?What??
The man looked around at their surroundings and sighed a deep sigh.
?It all changes...with your emotions.?
?Huh?? She sounded perplexed, even to her own ears.
She began to walk away from the man and ended up in a different place,
a different scene. It was like those movie sets she and Katie used to
sneak onto when they lived in L.A. This place was darker, dank. It was
colder and the wind blew harder causing her hair to blow wildly in the
rough winds. Somewhere in the distance she could hear someone crying.
Like a baby.
She walked down the desolate road and still the crying did not cease.
In the distance she could see a battle progressing. It looked like two
men. She started to run towards them and could see that one of them
was Angel and the other...seemed...frightfully familiar. As the battle
carried on she could only stand and watch in fascination.
Each landed kick, each punch was carefully thought out. She had never
seen Angel fight so...gracefully. The other man looked to be about
Katie?s age. He landed each kick in divine synchronization with Angel.
Just as quickly as she spotted the fight it stopped. They backed away
from one another and looked straight at her. Angel began to walk to
her and just like always her knees turned to Jell-O. He smiled and
then chuckled. ?It?s all just a game, his game. You have to know how
to see.? She turned a confused look his way. ?You have to play the
game. You have to know the rules.?
?I don?t understand.?
He sighed and shook his head. ?She knows more than she thinks she
does. You have to save him. The two of you are the only ones who can.?
She was so confused and so lost in his eyes that she didn?t see the
other man come up behind Angel and stab him in the back. Literally.
She watched in utter shock as her Angel turned to dust. ?Angel...? She
whimpered.~

?Angel!!? Buffy screamed. She sat up in bed, gasping for air. She had
broken out in a cold sweat. ?Angel.? she called when she realized he
was no longer in the room with her. She started to breath harder,
panic overtaking her, when Angel ran through the door followed by both
her sisters and her two best friends.

Angel gathered her up in his arms and she grabbed on for all she was
worth. ?Buffy?? Angel mumbled. ?What?s wrong? What happened?? Her eyes
were wide with tears, brimming on the surface. She shook her head. ?I
don?t know. I don?t know.? She kept repeating.

At this point Dawn, Willow, Katie and Xander slowly crept out seeing
that they weren?t really needed at this juncture.

Angel smoothed back the hair from her face. ?You have to tell me what
happened. Did you have a dream??

Buffy nodded. ?Oh God. Yeah. It was freaky.? Buffy jumped on the train
of telling him exactly what happened. She told him about the four
doors and the old man. But when she got to the ending she began to
fidget.

?What? Who did you see?? Angel queried.
?Some guy who looked a lot like you. Then you stopped fighting and you
started to walk towards me and then you said all this weird stuff and
he came up behind you and staked you.? Buffy couldn?t hold back the
tears. ?He staked you right in front of me. This is the second dream
I?ve had where you get staked right in front of me and I can?t do a
thing about it. Angel this is wiggin? me out!?

Angel gathered her up tighter into his embrace and began to rock her
back and forth. ?It?s okay, mo Sabia.? He started to breathe sweet
nothings of Gaelic into her ear. ?I?m not going to let anything happen
to you. We?re gonna rescue Connor, get rid of whoever is behind all
this and then you and I are going to run away together.?

Buffy looked up, sniffling. ?I can bring Mr. Gordo, right??

Angel chuckled letting his own tears fall. ?Oh yes, my love, my
beautiful love, you can bring Mr. Gordo.?

Buffy smiled a weak smile and slowly began to kiss away his tears. She
kissed his high cheekbones, the bridge of his nose, his forehead, his
ears, his eyes, his chin and finally his lips. Softly at first but, as
their passion and hunger grew so did their kisses.

Angel suddenly broke away. ?Buffy, maybe we shouldn?t.?

Buffy looked at him in surprise. ?What? What do you mean??

?I just don?t think now is the time. I think we should wait, that?s
all.? explained Angel.

?Wait?? Buffy breathed and then looked up at him with a knowing look.
?It?s her isn?t it? Isn?t it!?

Buffy jumped up and ran out of the room with tears streaming down his
face. ?Buffy, wait!? Angel screamed as he ran after her.

*************
Cordy and Fred walked down the stairs and took their seats next to
their significant other. Cordy sighed as she sat down next to Gru.
?Well, they?re finally asleep. It took far too many sleeping pills to
get them that way, too.?

Before she could say anything else Buffy came soaring down the stairs
in a wild state of tears. ?You!? She pointed at Cordelia. ?Why do you
keep doing this to me?!?

Cordelia stood up with a smirk. ?Oh get over yourself!?

?Buffy,? Katie walked up to her. ?What?s wrong??

Buffy ignored her and looked furiously at Cordelia. ?Why do you always
want what I want? Huh?! Why do you always take what I want?!? screamed
Buffy.

?Buffy!? Angel yelled through her fury. Buffy suddenly looked at him,
never having him yell at her like that. ?That?s enough. It?s not her.
I promise you that. Believe me, Ionuin. It?s not her.? Angel grabbed
her by her upper arms. ?Come back up with me, all right. Lets talk
about it.?

Buffy looked back at Cordelia, breathing hard. ?I?m not done with you,
yet. You just remember that.?

Buffy turned away and began to climb the stairs. ?I?m sorry.? Angel
apologized.

?Geez, what is her damage, Angel?? asked Cordelia, spitefully.

?Apparently you.? Katie replied. ?But obviously, you?re too dumb to
notice.?

?All right!? Angel said firmly. ?I let you stay here and help me with
my son, but I don?t appreciate you...?

?Dissin'.? Gunn put in.

Angel nodded. ?My friends.?

Katie nodded. ?Of course. You?re right.? Katie walked back to her
chair, making sure to smirk at Cordelia on her way.

?No apology?? Cordelia queried.

?Not even when Hell freezes over.? she replied.

Angel chuckled. ?Any news on those two kids??

?Uh...If you are asking whether or not they have anything to do with
or know anything about Connor?s kidnap then that is unknown at the
moment. They don?t seem to want to talk to us.? Wes informed him.

?Then why the hell did they come to us??

?That little tidbit of information is also not known.?

?Right.? Angel breathed and made his way up the stairs.

************
Part: 10

?Buffy?? Angel called as he walked back in to his room. He saw her
standing there in front of the closed balcony doors. The sun was
shining in on her making her look like the goddess that she is. He
wanted to go over and tell her exactly what she means to him. How much
it means that she knows about Connor and still seems to want to be
with him. But seeing as how she was standing in the sunlight he didn?t
fancy being burnt to a crisp.

As she turned to look at him she smiled a beautiful smile. ?It?s so
beautiful here. In the early morning hours...it?s almost like heaven.?
Still she did not move from the sunlight. Hindering him from going to
her. ?When I was there, in heaven, you could walk in the sunlight with
me. You could laugh freely with me and we could have children.? She
breathed wistfully. ?Do you know what the greatest thing about heaven
was?? Angel shook his head. ?It wasn?t the sunlight or the children,
it was the fact that you still loved me and that we were together and
nothing else mattered. All of our friends and our family were fine and
happy and so were we. We were happy together.?

Tears began to fall down her face and Angel desperately wanted her to
step out of the sunlight. ?Buffy?? He beckoned to her.

?And...? She began again. ?I fear that here I won?t ever have that and
I?ll die alone again never knowing whether or not you truly still
loved me.? Buffy began to sob and stepped out of the sunlight and into
his arms.

?Buffy...? Angel breathed. Angel didn?t know quite what to say so he
did the only thing he knew. He laid her down softly on the bed and
began to kiss away her tears.

?Angel, make love to me, please?? She whimpered.

Angel sighed. ?Forever, my love, forever.?

************
The Fang Gang and The Scooby Gang waited for at least two hours for
Buffy and Angel to come downstairs. They did have work to do. Clients
to tend to.

Wes stood to pour himself a cup of tea when the two people in question
came down the stairs. ?Oh good. Now we can get started, finally.?

Buffy and Angel smiled at him and sat down. Buffy on Angel?s lap. She
smiled at Cordelia, who was no doubt wondering how exactly Angel was
here if in fact they did do the ditty. Well, what she didn?t know was
that Willow had informed her not too long ago when she was confessing
how sorry she was for hurting her and it just happened to slip out
that she and Wes had been talking and he had mentioned Angel losing
his soul from something as simple as drugs. So they got together and
found a way to anchor his soul. Once they got Connor back it was going
to be an awesome day. And when she got to tell Cordelia off.

?What?s the what, Wes?? Buffy asked.

?Well nothing at the moment, but if you would be so kind as to tell us
about this dream that you had...?

?Oh right... all right.?

************
?So you don?t know whom that other guy is?? Willow asked curiously.

Buffy had finished telling them about her dream.
Presently, their faces showed more curiosity than shock. Even Angel
still seemed to be somewhat curious. He was rubbing the small of her
back in slow, leisure circles.

?You know you talk about this ?other guy? like he was a boyfriend once
or something. He?s not.? Angel shook his head. ?He?s just a guy. One
guy who can fight. That?s all. No more.? Angel finished. Buffy smiled.

Wesley cleared his throat and ran a hand through his dark, unkempt
hair. ?Do you believe it, the dream, to be prophetic??

As everyone sucked in a hesitant breath, Buffy raised her head
confidently, knowingly. ?Yes.?

Wes sighed. ?And the...young man??

Buffy hung her head. ?I?m not sure, but he seemed so familiar.?

Before the group could fall into another uncomfortable silence Cordy
spoke up: ?What was the deal with the four doors??

?The doors.? Angel said in realization. ?Air, Fire, Water, and Earth.
The four arcane elements.?

Wesley gasped. ?Of course! Why didn?t I realize that before? Well done
Angel.?

?An Earth, Wind, and Fire reunion?? Xander scrunched his brows. ?That
seems kinda hokey.?

?Umm...the rest of us still need the 4-1-1 here.? Cordy stated.

Katie raised her hand in disagreement. ?I don?t.?

?Oh shut up! Like you know anything about this.?

?Actually, I do. Thank you very much.? Katie looked over at Wes and he
gave her the floor. ?The four arcane elements, if Angel is right,
means that somethin? huge is brewing. Apocalypse stuff.?

?Yes, and in Buffy?s dream each door had a child?s drawing of an
arcane element. Which could only mean that Buffy and three others
could bring forth those certain arcane elements.? Wes finished.

?What about the old man?? Willow asked.

?I?m not sure.?

?Why the children?s drawings? What do they indicate?? Fred asked
curiously.

?I?m not sure of that either. Although it could vaguely represent a
child?s presence...maybe.? Wes deduced.

Buffy looked up at Angel rather quickly and informed the group:
?You...not ?you? but the you in my dream said that ?she? knows more
that she thinks she does.?

?She, who?? Lorne asked bewildered.  

?I think...? Buffy pondered aloud and then looked over at Katie. ?He
meant you.?

?Me?!?

?Her?!? Dawn yelped. ?How come it?s always ?her?. Just because she?s
the ?Gift? doesn?t mean anything.?

They all fell deathly silent at Dawns comment. Except for Spike who
was literally rolling on the floor with laughter next to Katie. Dawn
looked around nervously. ?What??

?Of course...? Wes breathed.

************
Part: 11

?Ya know what, I think you?ve hit your limit on the word ?Of
course?...? Xander mentioned.

?That?s two words.? Fred corrected quietly.

?I was thinking that this dream of yours Buffy, could very well refer
to you and Katie as ?she?.?

?How can we be sure that ?she? refers to them or anyone else for that
matter.? Angel reasoned.

?Yeah!? Dawn cheered. ?What??

?We can?t.? Katie ignored Dawn?s comment and stood.

Angel raised his head and somewhat solved the problem. ?Look, we know
jack about this dream. It may be prophetic, but until we know more; I
say we stick to finding to Connor.?

Wes nodded. ?I agree.?

?About bloody time we moved on. Prick.? Spike mumbled.

Gunn stood and hooted. ?Woo! Hell yeah! So what?s the plan, boss??

Wes eyed Gunn curiously and then stood as well. ?Gunn, you and Xander
go and pay a visit to each and every ?one? of our informants. I don?t
care what you have to do, but you get a name and an address.
?Lorne and Gru, I want you to check the perimeter and then go back to
that warehouse and check it out. There?s a clue there and we?re
missing it; I want it found.
?Anya, Cordelia, and...Dawn.? Dawn smiled. ?I want you to research the
four arcane elements. Find out if they?ve been used or mentioned
before. If they have anything to do with our present problem, I want
to know about it.?

As Wes continued with his orders everyone stood watching him in a
state of shock. He had never really been so...

?Bossy.? Cordelia whispered to Willow.

?Buffy and Spike, I know this will be difficult for you but humor me.
I want you to go and talk to Cody. She came to us for help. She?s
obviously traumatized, so go and see what you can find out.

?And lastly, Angel and Katie I want you to go and talk to her brother,
Shannon. He knows something and he isn?t telling. I want it.?

Wes was about to give out one more order when he realized no one was
moving. He breathed in deep: ?This isn?t a free ride people! Get
moving. NOW!
?Fred and Willow, you?re with me.?

The lobby was bustling with seemingly young looking people; gathering
weapons and heading out the door or into another area.

Wes was retreating to his office when Angel pulled him aside: ?Wes, I
don?t think Katie and I are the right people for this job, you know
I?m right.?

?No, Angel you?re wrong. I think you and Katie are perfect for this
job. The problem is that the two of you can?t seem to get it together
and work as one again. You are going to have to work it out. You
must.? And with that Wes quietly retreated to his office.

*********
?What are you telling us Cody??

The young girl of about twenty-three, shook her head and connected her
gaze with Buffy?s prowling one. ?My brother is different; horrible
people have been coming after him. I came here because I heard that
you help people with problems like this.?

?Well, It?s good you came to us.? Buffy told her. She had started
pacing the second they walked into the room.

Buffy glared at Spike and then looked back at Cody. ?But, how is your
brother different? Who?s after him??

Cody began to shake and pulled the blanket tighter around her
shoulders. ?He has nightmares...?

?Frequent?? Spike catechized.

Cody followed him curiously with her eyes. ?Um, very. He sees things.
They?re strange things.?

?What things?? asked Buffy.

?Your things.? She followed. ?Shannon?s always been involved in sports
and martial arts, but I know he?s stronger than any normal guy his
age. Please...? She begged. ?You have to help him. You can?t leave him
alone.?

Buffy shook her head. ?We won?t. In fact, he?s in another room with my
sister. He?ll be fine.?

?Your sister??

?She will take care of him.? Buffy explained. ?It?s all right, Cody.?
Buffy assured her while pacing madly across the room.

?Slayer, pacing isn?t helping the problem. You?re playing with us,
aren?t ya? Was he as good as me??

Buffy glared at him and then leaped forward.
***********
?What do you think?? Katie whispered to Angel. They had been talking
to Shannon and he had been fixed on giving nothing up. So they decided
to regroup on the other side of the room and think of another
strategy.

?I think his parents were bloody wasted when they named him and his
sister.?

Katie scrunched her brows. ?What??

?Nothing.? Angel growled. ?What do I think... I think we should try
something else. He?s obviously not going to tell us anything this
way.?

?So what else do we do? We?ve tried being nice, we?ve tried being
mean. We?ve threatened him. What are we supposed to do? He?s the one
who came to us, so why isn?t he telling us anything?? Katie was
totally drawing a blank on what to do with Shannon.

Angel shook his head ran his hands over his face. ?At this point I?m
starting to wonder if maybe we should just tie him up and beat it out
of him.? Katie glared at him. ?I know! All right...I?ve got an idea.
He?s got to have a weakness, right. So we just have to figure out what
it is.?

?A weakness...? Katie contemplated. Then she looked up at Angel with a
look of amazement. ?That?s it. Come on.? She grabbed his hand and
pulled him towards Shannon.

The two of them walked back over to him and Katie sat down next to him
on the bed. He was wearing somewhat baggy jeans and a gray shirt with
the words ?Banana Republic? written across it in white. He had
shrugged off his leather jacket some time ago. His hair was dirty
brown with short, spiky hair going in all directions.

Katie made an obvious sigh. ?So...Shannon, let me ask you something.
Do you love your sister??

?Don?t you fucking touch my sister!? He exploded.

Angel quickly stood and gained control of the boy. ?Calm done, buddy.
Nobody?s gonna hurt your sister.?

Katie smirked. ?I think I hit a nerve...?

?How?d you know he?d do that?? Angel asked her amazed..

?Easy. Every guy is overprotective of his sister. It doesn?t matter
how old she is or how much they argue.? She looked back at Shannon.
?Isn?t that right, Shannon??

?What do you want from us?? He asked angrily. It occurred to both
Angel and Katie that he had quite a strong Irish accent while his
sister did not. It was bothering Katie more than she liked.

?Hey...? Angel called. ?Man, your sister came to us for help. To help
you. Do you want our help or not??

Shannon stood up and began to pace the length of the room. ?No one can
help me??

Katie stood and intercepted him in the middle of the room. ?Shannon,
I?ve been involved in this stuff since I was thirteen. I know what
you?re going through.?

?The hell you do!? He rasped.

She grabbed him by the upper arms. ?The hell I do, huh? How old are
you, Shannon??

?Nineteen. I?ll be twenty in two weeks.?

She nodded. ?What do you want to be??

?I don?t know!? He confessed.

?Well, it seems like you and I got something in common after all.
Because, I have know idea what I want to be, either. But I have I job,
an obligation to help people. To save the world.?

?How old are you?? He asked her.

?I?m eighteen.? She answered.

?What are you??

?It?s a gift, Shannon. It?s true there is a name for it, but let me
tell you that every per--? Angel cleared his throat. ?Being? Katie
corrected. ?In this building has a gift in some way, shape or form.
Maybe not the same gift that you have, but we?re all here to do what
we can and fight the good fight. We *can* help.? She finished.

The young man finally broke...

***********
Part: 12

?Wesley??

Wes looked up from one of his many books to see Cordelia patiently
waiting for him to answer. It doesn?t happen often.

?Did you find something??

?You could say that.? Cordelia smiled weakly. She needed sleep. This
was like her 30th hour without sleep. ?The four arcane elements are
dated to have been last used--? Cordy sighed. ?You?re not gonna
believe this Wes, they were last used in B.C. times. Supposedly, two
men and two women were named the conspirators. They were sent away
because people blamed them for bringing forth...Armageddon. It?s
explained that each person created one of the four elements and as
long as they were alive each element became stronger, more dangerous.?

By this time Willow and Fred were staring at her in a state of shock.

?These four people,? Wes started. ?What was their social status? Were
they related in any way??

Cordy nodded her head. ?That?s the weird thing. These people were
practically heroes to the town?s people.?

?Does this town have a name?? Wes asked.

?If it does, it?s not given.?

?What about their relation?? Wes continued.

?The two women were sisters and the two men were brothers. They were
all paired up one sister with one brother and so on. And just let me
say how weird is that. I mean it?s almost incense or something.?

?Cordelia...?

?Right. So anyway one day...BAM! The four of them are like chosen and
the whole damn town goes to hell in a hand basket.?

?So that?s bad, right??

***********
?Shannon?? Katie called quietly.

Shannon stopped pacing and ran a hand through his hair and down over
his face where he found his 5 o?clock shadow. Stubble.

?Shannon, you have to give us something to work with.? Angel told him.

?What do you need??

?Who?s come after you?? Angel asked.

?Um... the majority of them are vampires and demons, but about three
days ago this guy showed up. He wasn?t aggressive; he was just
forceful, I guess. He kept pushing me for info and then this chick--?
Katie glared at him and Angel laughed. ?Girl, came up behind me and
just about beat the holy hell out of me.?

?Just about?? Katie queried. ?Did someone help you??

?Yeah. Some, lad. If he hadn?t I might dead.?

?Or worse.? Katie mumbled.

?He pulled her off of me like she was a rag doll.?

?About this guy, the one who kept pushing you for info, what did he
look like? Did you catch his name??

?Yeah, when I was gettin? the holy crap kicked out of me. That girl
asked him something and she called him...Holtz.?

Katie jumped up and looked at Angel. ?We got him.?

?You know this guy?? Shannon called to her.

?We?ve met.? Angel answered cryptically.

************
Katie jerked open the door and yelled into the room. ?Let?s go you,
two! We got him!?

Buffy turned around. ?Got who? What the hell are you yelling about,
Katie??

Katie sighed. ?Hello? Holtz. Ya know the creep who stole Connor!?

?Oh. Oh!? Buffy yelped. ?Ohhh...Uh...? Buffy looked around
frantically. ?Let?s go!? Buffy grabbed Cody and yelled at Angel to
wait up.

***********
?Yo!? Gunn pushed through the double doors followed by Xander, Gru,
and Lorne. ?Wes! We?ve got us a lead!?

Wesley walked out into the lobby just in time to see all four of them
walk in. ?Good, you?re all here. What have you found??

?Wesley!? Katie bellowed. Buffy, Angel and Cody were running down with
Katie who was dragging Shannon with her.

?Katie!? Wes yelled back. ?Why on earth are you yelling??

She came to a sudden stop at the bottom of the stairwell and Shannon
ran right into her. ?Sorry...but! Holtz has come after Shannon. He?s
involved....somehow.? She shook her head in assurance.

Shannon cleared his throat and stepped around Katie. ?Wesley?? Shannon
smiled and stuck out his hand. ?Maybe I should tell you what she?s
yelling about.?

?Yes, that would be lovely.? Wes replied.

***********
?So none of you are fully human?? Shannon asked. He still couldn?t
believe all this was real. Never mind the fact his sister was giving
Wesley that weird ?You are so hot.? look. It was creeping him out.

?Well, some of us more than others.? Angel told him.

Katie smiled. ?So Wes, what?s up with these arcane elements? Find
anything yet??

?Go ahead, Cordelia.? She jumped in and told the story all over again.
Towards the middle of the story Cody had migrated over to Wesley.

?Wes, do you think these elements have anything to do with Holtz??

?We?re walking on a fine line, Buffy.? Angel answered.

?Angel?s right. We have three sibling sisters. We have your dream, a
missing child and two newcomers who are connected to Holtz in some
way.?

?Making connections.? Said Xander, playfully.

?As of right now we can?t be sure if these elements have anything to
do with Holtz or not.? The Englishman finished.

?So what do you suggest we do?? Cordelia sneered and smiled at Gru
next to her.

Katie sighed, frustrated over Connor?s kidnapping. She stood and
grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. ?Well, I?m guessing we
should wait till sundown.?

Wes cleared his throat loudly. ?Gunn, Xander did you find anything
useful??

??Bout time. The word on the street is, Holtz is after Shannon because
he?s the last piece of the puzzle, so to say.? Gunn informed them.

Xander finished.: ?And if the ?puzzle? were to be completed he
couldn?t...do whatever is he?s here for. Revenge or something. We?re
not quite clear on that yet.?

?Looks like you?re involved now; kid? Spike nudged him with is elbow.

?What about the two of you?? Wes directed at Gru and Lorne.

?Trash and whole lot of nothing.? Lorne said. ?Except that we did find
a girl who has no doubt been dead for at least a day. She had a phrase
carved into her forehead.?

?What?? Angel dropped a whole stack of notes. ?A phrase? W- What did
it say??

?Um...? Xander mused. ??She has been Judged? I think.? Xander looked
over to Lorne. ?That was it right?? He nodded.

Angel, Buffy, Spike, and Katie all looked at each other in disbelief.
?You?re sure?? Buffy asked them. They nodded.

?Oh bloody hell!? Spike complained. Although he had every right to
considering what they were dealing with now. ?This is just bloody
perfect. Can I get a ticket out of here??

?What? Do you know who did this?? Willow asked them.

Buffy and Angel were looking at each other and then Buffy began to
whisper something in his ear. So Katie decided to let everyone in on
the secret. ?Most of you knew Alex right? Or you know of him?? They
all nodded. ?Well, Alex wasn?t human. He was a demon which I?m sure
explains a lot. Anyway, he and Angel have known each other since Angel
regained his soul the first time. They also had a mutual friend. Who
was a vampire. His name was Kale Scott. He was Alex?s friend. Kale
Scott turned on him, on all of us during the second year that Alex and
I were together. He betrayed us all. He began to negotiate with Spike
and Drusilla. And then when Angel lost his soul, which is a whole
other story, they all sort of banned together. Of course the bad just
kept coming and Alex joined them. Something had happened to him. At
the end of that year Kale betrayed them again. Professing that he was
going solo.
?When we got to the Mansion where they were all staying Angel, Spike,
Drusilla and all their lackeys were the only ones there. So Buffy
fought Angel and I finished off the lackeys. After that we took off
from home and on our way we tracked down Kale in Los Angeles, here. We
killed him. I know we did. But we never found Alex. He only showed up
again in Sunnydale about the same time Angel did. We never really put
much more thought into than that. Only that it was weird.?

?How did we not know about Kale Scott being your friend?? Xander
asked. ?Did Giles even know about him??

Katie ran a hand through her hair. ?We didn?t tell you guys about Kale
because he wasn?t really our friend. We only knew him from Angel and
Alex. You guys first knew of him when he betrayed us. When he went to
the other side. When we had to worry about him.?

Angel stood up and explained everything. ?His original trademark was
carving phrases into his victims? foreheads. The majority of them
would say ?He/She has been Judged? but other times when maybe the
victims meant something to him he might write something different. He
never did that in Sunnydale after he betrayed us because he was
someone different. He wanted to be known for something else. Which is
why all of you knew him for carving his initials into various places
of their bodies.?

?You were friends with this guy?? Gunn replied.

?You don?t understand.? Angel explained. ?I knew him from boyhood. We
went to church and school together. And when I first regained my soul
Alex was the first person, demon, whatever to befriend me. I told him
about my life, about my childhood and he told me about his. He
mentioned a friend named Kale Scott. At first I didn?t know it was the
same guy I knew because then he was Joseph O'Brien. He changed his
name because he was someone different.? Angel sighed. ?Alex told me
about all the things he had done how he had learned of what I had
taught Penn. How he had invented a new way to mark his victims because
he wanted to top the Scourge of Europe. The next time Alex and I came
across him he was lying in an alley about to die of starvation. So we
picked him up and fed him a few rats. Because at the time there was no
way to get plastic bags or cups of pigs? blood. The three of us lived
off the blood of rats and we became friends. Alex and I never
questioned him about why he would hang around us. Then around 1901 we
split up and went our separate ways. I decided to catch a boat ride to
America. And I ended up in Manhattan in 1996 where Whistler found me.
As we made our way across the country I ran into an old friend of
mine. Alex said he was making his way to California where Whistler and
I were going. Amazingly we were all going for the same reason.? Angel
turned around to look at Katie and Buffy. ?We had both heard about the
two of you. And we were sent here to protect you or something to that
degree.? Angel sat back down. That was the most words he had said in a
whole day, he was sure of it.

**************
Katie, Buffy, and Dawn had all decided to have Shannon take them back
to the place where Holtz had first ran into him. If Shannon were
connected to Holtz then they would be able to find Connor. Hopefully.

?Okay, run us through it one more time.? Buffy told him.

Shannon took a deep breath and started. ?I was walkin? home about
three days ago when this middle-aged guy came up to me. You call him
Holtz, but he kept askin? me questions...?

?What kinda questions?? Katie asked.

?Stuff like, ?Do you know who I am?? ?Do you know who you are?? Crazy,
mind you. And then the next thing I know he nods an? this red haired
lady jumps on me and starts beatin? the holy hell outa me.?

Katie stood for a minute looking around the scene. ?Go on...?

?Next thing, some lad throws off this girl who is hittin? up on me.?

?What did this guy look like?? Katie asked.

?Which way did he come from?? Buffy interrogated.

?Was he hot?? Dawn asked.

?Dawn--? Katie and Buffy scolded.

?He had dark hair almost black; of course it was pretty dark out. He
had on real dark clothes. And he came from behind the tree over
there.? Shannon pointed to the tree about four or five feet away from
them.

Buffy sighed. ?Did he have any prominent facial features? Like a scar
or a mole or something??

Shannon thought hard about that night and began to shake his head.
?The only thing I really noticed about him was that he had this scar
right at the point where his forehead meets his scalp.?

Katie looked up in utter shock. ?No. He?s involved with Holtz. No
way!?

?Are you sure that?s what you saw?? Buffy asked him quickly.

Shannon looked a little perplexed, but he knew what he saw. ?Yeah. A
scar right here.? Shannon pointed to that place. ?I?m positive.?

?No way...? Katie breathed. ?Kale wouldn?t.?

**************
Part: 13

The four of them walked back into the hotel. They had a lead. A very
good one at that. Just one that seemed impossible.

Buffy walked over to Angel and whispered into his ear. ?What?? He
asked astonished.
?He?s sure?? Buffy nodded.

Angel walked over to the middle of the lobby. ?Okay, everybody. We
need a plan and we need one fast.?

?What?s going on?? Cody asked. She had been quiet and patient but this
was enough. She wanted to know if these people could help her brother.

?Kale Scott may be working with Holtz, which means he may know
something, we don?t. There was a reason he wanted Shannon alive and
there?s a reason he?s working with Holtz. We need to figure it out!?

************
?I advise you to not interfere again, Mr. Holtz. It would be very
unwise.? Kale Scott told him.

Holtz chuckled under his breath. ?How dare you interfere with *my*
situation. Because of you Mr. Scott I have lost my best chance at
killing Angelus.?

?If you think that killing Cody and Shannon McKelvey is going to get
you closer to obtaining your revenge, then you are a fool. When I get
my hands on them they will tear this town apart, the McKelvey?s will
rip Angelus and all his ?friends? limb from limb, and Angelus? son
will be mine to lead this war. And only then Mr. Holtz will you rue
the day you attempted to get rid of Shannon McKelvey and his only
sister.? Kale chuckled loudly.

*************
Spike and Angel had decided to scout the area. They seemed to know
where Kale would be. Which is why they headed out the door with big
swords in their hands.

?So...we?ll catch up with you guys, later!? Xander yelled after them.

?What happened to Alex?? Cody asked.

?What?? Katie was caught off guard by her question. ?He died,
protecting me.?

?So what do we do?? Willow asked.

?We catch up with ?em.? Gunn told them. ?And this time Kale Scott is
gonna die for good.?
**************

?Mr. Scott, how is it that you believe Shannon McKelvey could be a
welcome addition while I have word that he?ll ruin us all. That the
Gift will be able to keep him on her side.?

Kale smirked. ?The Gift has never had power like that. She couldn?t
even keep Alexandrus on her side; do you think either of them could
keep Shannon? Don?t worry Holtz, I know these girls inside and out. I
know what move they?re going to make before they know they?re going to
make it. The McKelvey?s will be mine and those two Summers? bitches
will be six feet under and out of my hair.?

?And Angelus?? Holtz countered.

?He?s really more your problem but I?m sure we could persuade him to
take a long look at the sunrise.?

?That?s a well devised plan Mr. Scott but, as you well know I have
some of my own and I hope you understand that if you get in my way I
will have you eliminated.?

?Finally!? Angel spoke up from the door. ?Someone who sees what a pain
in the ass he is! I?m telling ya I started to think everyone ?ad gone
mad.?

?Angelus! It?s fancy meeting you here. I imagine you?ve come for your
son. Well, I have to tell ya that I don?t have ?em. Although I think
?dis fine gentlemen knows right to where find him.? Kale told him in
his native accent.

Angel shook his head. ?I thought I told you not to come back to this
town. Afta? what the girls did to ya. I think you?ve turned right dumb
there Kale. How long ?ave we known each other, over two hundred years
and then you betrayed your bes? friend. What ?appened Kale, ya get
restless?? Angel asked in his equally Irish accent.

?We?re a long way from ?ome, Liam...?

**************
?Okay, you guys, I?m not having fun anymore.? Dawn confessed.

Katie sighed. ?Dawn I told you that you didn?t have to come.?

Buffy stopped which caused everyone else to stop. ?This is it. I can
hear them.? Katie moved up closer to Buffy to listen.

??...and Dear brother Alex isn?t here anymore. He died for his
simpering girlfriend. Although I?m sure he died a heroes death.??

Katie stepped away and looked at her sword. She had bypassed the
stakes and gone straight for the swords. Kale Scott was going to die
tonight and Holtz was going to suffer. ?Let?s do it.?

Buffy turned around and looked at their troops. Gunn and Fred brought
up the rear. Shannon and Dawn were right behind Katie and herself.
Xander, Anya, and Willow, Cordy and Gru, Wes and Cody were in the
middle. ?Okay, everybody, remember the plan. If you think you?ve
gotten yourself into trouble and you can?t handle it get out of there.
Get away as fast as you can. And Dawn you just remember everything
Katie and I taught you all right.?

Buffy turned around and headed in the direction they had planned.
Katie turned around one last time. ?No one is going to die tonight.?
She assured them.

Katie followed Buffy in one direction while the rest of the troop
dispersed into different directions around the large building.

***********
Holtz back up into one of the shadows. He had almost reached the door
when a cold blade touched the side of his neck. ?I don?t think so, old
man.?

Holtz turned around and smirked at the stony face. ?William the
Bloody. I would say it?s nice to see you again, but I?m sure you know
that I would be lying.?

?All right Kale, what are you doing here?? Angel queried. ?And why the
hell are you working with Holtz??

?I?m not working with Holtz, Angelus. In fact I?m working against him.
Now I understand that he has your son, but you see I don?t have him.
It?s funny, because I never thought that The Scourge of Europe would
ever have a human son. It?s quite amazing. It?s almost like incest
isn?t? I mean when you think about. How old was mommy dearest
anyway??

Angel roared in fury and lunged at Kale.

***********

Buffy and Katie had reached the back door with only a few
complications. Their lackeys were human. They had entered through the
back door and were now making their way down stairs.

?Did you hear that?? Buffy whispered.

Katie listened hard and the sound came again. A sword clattering to
the ground. ?Lets go!? She rasped.

They ran down the corridor and reached a huge room where the two men
were in a battle.
Buffy stood stock-still. Katie turned to look at her. ?Buffy! Let?s
help them.?

Buffy started to take short breaths. ?That?s him. The guy from my
dream. I didn?t realize it till just now.?

?Buffy! Come on! All that will happen, if you don?t help him, now go!?
Katie ran in and pushed Angel aside as hard as she could which wasn?t
really that great of an idea.

Kale smirked at her. ?The prodigal sister returns. Are you sane
again??

?More sane than you?ll ever be.? She replied.

?Ah...The Gift. I imagine you have a bone to pick with me.?

?Oh...You have no idea. This bone is huge.? Katie stepped into her
fighting stance, she held up her sword.

?Katie!? Angel yelled at her. ?Get away from him.?

Katie jabbed and missed. ?No way! Go help Buffy!?

?Oh. You?re so noble, little girl.? Kale played.

?Yeah. Well, you won?t be thinking that when I get through with you.?

Angel shook his head and went over to Buffy who was knocking out
Holtz?s followers left and right. Spike still had Holtz cornered so
Angel seeing that Buffy was holding her own went to Holtz and grabbed
him by the lapels of his jacket. ?Where is my son??

Holtz chuckled. ?It feels horrible doesn?t it? Not knowing if he?s
dead or alive.?

Angel changed into vamp mode and laughed at him. ?Holtz, where the
hell is my son?! If you don?t tell me where he is I will torture you
until you are within an inch of your life and then I will begin to
give you blood transfusions to keep you alive. Where is my son!?? He
roared.

?Angelus?? Spike called. It was the first time he had called him by
his full, respectful name in a very long time. ?There could be a
better way. An easier way, mate.?

Angel looked at him doubtfully. ?What??

Spike nodded for him to come here while keeping an eye on Holtz.
?Maybe if we sit him down with Katie she might be able to get
something.?

Angel stared at him, confused. ?What do you mean??

?Oh get off it! If you don?t know by now that our little Gift can read
minds than it?s about time I ask where the hell you?ve been?!?  

Angel turned to look at Katie. ?You?re sure??

?Just give it a try, Peaches.? Spike told him.

Angel ran over to Katie and Kale who were still going at it. ?Katie!?
She looked at him and stumbled backwards as Kale caught her in the
stomach.

?Angelus? Why don?t you and I have a go??

Angel grabbed Katie and pushed her over to Spike. ?Why not??

The two of them circled one another and as Angel took the first move,
Katie and Buffy ran out through the back door. Angel rounded on Kale
and connected with a right hook. Kale stumbled back and sneered at
him. ?You?ve gotten better, old friend. Do you remember those pub
fights we had with the locals? The ones where you and I would team up
and take all their whores.? Kale laughed at Angel?s stony almost
guilty face. ?Don?t you remember? No. How about when you and Alex
ended up here in Los Angeles and the two of you fell for those two
little bitches??

Angel picked up his sword, faked left and stabbed Kale in his right
side. As Kale fell to the ground Angel rounded on him. He held his
sword in the ready position. ?Yeah I remember us as best friends in
school. I remember the three us were a team to be reckoned with. Even
Darla was afraid of us.?

?Oh good. Come on, Liam... Don?t do this to me. What would Alex want
you to do??

Angel smiled at him. ?You?re right. This is from Alex. For betraying
us!? Angel swung and took him out. All that was left behind was dust.

**************
Part: 14

?Okay, Buffy. What are we doing? This is a bad idea. We are gonna be
in so much trouble.? Katie confessed.

?We?re going to get Connor back. Don?t start wiggin? out on me now.?
Buffy slid around an old warehouse and started to climb a latter.
Katie followed up after her.

They silently ran across the roof and looked in a window. Twenty to
twenty-five people were all gathered in the room and in the middle of
it lay Connor wrapped up in a blanket, asleep.

?Are you ready?? Buffy asked her.

Kate shook her head. ?This is a really bad idea.?

Buffy grabbed Katie?s hands as they dropped through the glass.

***********

?Where are they?? He asked.

?I don?t know the kid took off and the Slayer went after her.? Spike
told him. ?I guess it worked.?

?It worked. Where the hell did they go?? Angel ran a hand through his
hair.

?I bloody well don?t know ya big poof!? Spike yelled. ?Now can I
torture this mental case or what??

Angel looked at Holtz and then back at his grandchild. ?No.? Spike
huffed and walked off leaving Holtz and Angel alone. ?You arranged all
this for revenge.?

?Yes.?

?Holtz, what I did to you can never be justified. I can?t give you
your children back. I can?t give you back your life and I?m sorry. I
wish that I could. You have every right to want revenge, but why take
my son??

?Don?t you know Angelus? The prophecy says that you?ll kill him. Which
is no surprise to me, I already knew you were just a monster.?

Angel shook his head. ?I would never hurt one hair on my son?s head.
But I don?t believe you would either. You?re not a monster. You?re
just a man whose lost his family to me, a monster.?

Holtz chuckled. ?Your friends don?t seem to think that way. They
follow you with all the trust they possess.?

?Most of my friends are blind to it. They don?t seem to want to see
what I truly am.? He told him.

?Most??

?Well, a couple of them are not. In fact I think they?ll be the only
ones ready when it happens again.?

?Ah. Your African American friend and the other one. What?s her name,
Katie?? Angel nodded and smiled. ?So why keep the child??

Angel sighed. ?I hope that maybe if I raise him right I could redeem
myself for all of the things I?ve done.? Holtz chuckled. ?What am I
supposed to do??

?Well, you can?t give me back my wife and my children. So do it,
Angelus!?

Angel shook his head and looked up at the night sky. ?Forgive me my
trespasses.? Angel backed away, grabbed Spike and left.

?No! Angelus! Get back here and do it!?

**************
?Nice entrance, Buff.?

?Thanks.? Buffy and Katie stood back to back taking in at their
surroundings. All of their opponents were human. So there would be no
killing here.

Connor was about 10 feet away from Buffy. ?Okay, we need a plan.?

?Yep. Ya got one?? Katie agreed.

?Um...How about get Connor and get the hell outa dodge??

?Sounds good to me except we have one problem.?

?What?s that?? Buffy asked knowingly.

?What do we about these guys?? Katie asked her.

?That?s a good point. What do you think we should do??

Katie looked at her and smiled. ?Let?s have some fun...?

At that the two of them ran into the fray throwing punches left and
right and on their way to Connor knocking people out.

?That was fun.? Buffy said. They were all lying on the floor groaning
in pain. Buffy ran over to Connor and gently picked him up. ?Hi little
guy, how ya doin???

?Let?s get out of here.? Katie said stepping over numerous bodies.

************
?You guys okay?? Cordelia asked. Everyone nodded in agreement.
Everybody who wasn?t Buffy, Katie, Spike or Angel was off fighting
Holtz?s lackeys. Who were all human. Which made it harder because you
couldn?t just kill them. They didn?t disappear or burst into dust.
They were all pretty ruffed up but at least they were walking. ?Good.?

They started to walk back to the hotel when Angel called after them.
?You guys all right??

?We?re fine!? Cordelia yelled back.

?You haven?t seen Buffy have you?? Angel asked apprehensively. They
shook their heads. ?Dammit! Where could they be?  Spike why didn?t you
ask them?!?

?Bloody hell, is it always my fault??

?Yes!? They all yelled.

?Angel!?

Angel turned to see Buffy and Katie quickly walking down the road.
Buffy had a bundle of blankets in her arms. Angel ran towards her.

He slowed down and saw that Connor was safely wrapped in a blanket. He
gently picked him up and hugged him. ?Connor...?

***************
?Is he asleep?? Cordelia asked.

Angel came down the stairs and sat down next to her. ?Yeah.?

?Quite a couple of days, huh?? Cordy said.

Angel sighed. ?You got that right. But I?m happy they happened. I
still have my friends and I?ve gained a few other things back.?

Cordelia eyes him. ?You mean...?

Angel smiled his trademark smile. ?Yeah. I got her back and maybe this
time things will turn out the way I want them to. The way ?we? want
them to.?

She hesitated. ?I?m happy for you, Angel. But, if she hurts you again
I?m kicking her out.?

Angel nodded and then beamed at the woman walking down the stairs.
?Angel??

?Yeah??

?You will never guess what?s going on up stairs?? Buffy laughed.

?What??

?Guess??

Cordelia looked shocked for a minute. ?No Way!?

Buffy nodded excitedly. ?Yes way! Right now.?

?What?? Angel asked between them.

They didn?t answer. The two of them ran up the stairs like they had
been friends their whole life. ?I know the strangest girls.?