Reunions: Part 8
by JoAnne Storm
Giles invited us all to sit down around one of the tables, but I held back. I knew that if any of the Scooby Gang took a good look at me, they'd realize who I was.

At Buffy's urging, George started explaining his relationship with Angel. "About six years ago, I was approached by the government to lead a special team of warriors designed to hunt demons. I thought the guy who approached me had gone crazy, but I agreed to let him prove to me that he wasn't. Then, I figured I'd have enough information to get the guy committed."

"The next night, he introduced me to Galway. Mr. Galway told me a very convoluted tale of demons once ruling the Earth, and how vampires still roamed. He then showed me he wasn't making any of this up. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn't explain why the thing that attacked us turned to dust."

Most of the group nodded at this. We had all tried to rationalize it. We had all failed.

"Galway had connections in Washington. Convinced them that a small, elite group of soldiers was needed to fight. The government agreed, but only after he promised to pay for all the expenses. We are that group. We're known as the Dragon Team, and even the President doesn't know of our existence. The only reason you do now is because Galway said we could trust you."

Angel funded us? I didn't know that.

"All of us have experience fighting vampires. Most of us also have fought other demons and forces of evil. Jerry over there is a powerful sorcerer, but we don't stick to the traditional. Kathryn usually just blows everything up."

Buffy grinned at that. A girl who burned down her school gym could appreciate the power of C-4.

"My second in command, the quiet guy over there, " he indicated me. "Fought vampires on his own for two years before joining us. He's also dealt with witches, the Order of Teraka, and many others."

Everyone at the table was looking at me with interest now. The Team didn't know about my past exploits, and the gang didn't realize who I was yet.

"Hey, I know you!" Mandy spoke up. "You're the one who stopped Alex from running today. I thought you were just warning me about walking alone because I was a girl. You were referring to vampires, weren't you?"

I nodded my head. The girl had taken that long to figure it out? Buffy would have remembered as soon as I walked in. The only reason she didn't realize who I was now was because she didn't expect to see me. Especially not as a member of the Team.

"So, you were put together by Angel to hunt vampires?" Buffy asked.

"Yes. He said there were other secret groups that do this, but he couldn't help them directly. So, by forming the Team, he was taking some of the pressure off these groups."

Buffy closed her eyes and whispered "Angel." I looked at the others. The Team was looking at Buffy in confusion, the gang with sympathy. Only Oz wasn't looking at her. He was staring at me. I had the feeling that he was trying to place me. The others were still too distracted to notice that I was familiar to them.

"Do you know where I can find him?" Buffy asked.

"Oh, honey, are you sure that's a good idea?" her mom said with a concerned look.

"I have to, Mom."

"I'm sorry, miss." George said. "I don't know where he is."

It struck me then. I didn't hate Angel. Not enough to watch Buffy suffer like she was. Maybe it was because I had lost Cordy, but I wanted Buffy to be happy. And, if that meant hunting Angel down and dragging him to her house, I would do that.

Buffy now had a dejected look on her face. I never could stand that look. I didn't know where exactly Angel was, but I had a good idea. I slipped up the stairs into the stacks before anyone knew I was gone.

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