A/N: Thank you to Revello1620, Michael J, and Angellover for reviewing so far. ^_^
Chapter Four: Surprise, Surprise
"Did you find what you needed to know?" Wesley asked as Angel descended down the stairs.
"Where'd everyone go?"
Gunn had still not come back and Cordelia was no where to be seen.
"Gunn's still out patrolling and I gave Cordelia the night off."
"In the midst of an impending apocalypse? You're slipping, Wes." He grabbed a packet of blood from the fridge and began to drink.
"According to The Host, we still have few years before this apocalypse comes, and Cordelia doesn't exactly enjoy researching when the threat is quite far off. Although, based on what I've gathered from Katherine's tale, I imagine I can narrow the search down considerably." Wesley went back into his office and settled himself once more behind his books. "I've encountered only one prophecy about Buffy, though it already came to pass about four years ago. And the only prophecy I've come across on you, Angel, is the Shanshu."
"So...you know, then?"
"She looks like you," was his reply. A shadow of a smile passed across Angel's face. He opened the book nearest to him and began to pour through it.
"Why are we researching the prophecy again? I mean, not to question your judgement, but we already know what it's on."
"Oh." Wesley appeared startled. "I'm not researching the prophecy. Good heavens, I gave up on that about an hour ago. I realized my energies would be better suited for another predicament."
Angel raised his eyebrows. "Care to share?"
"From what Katherine has said, I wondered why she wasn't exhibiting stronger healing capabilities. After all, she comes from a very priviledged gene pool. When she spoke about her sister and the prophecy foretelling only one child, I wondered if her lack of power was due to the mangling of the prophecy. That is, she and her sister shared the power that was meant for only one of them."
"She told me exactly how she wound up unconscious in the bushes." Angel repeated the story.
"Yes, yes. I figured that jumping through the portal may have played a part in it. From what you just told me, she was injured before. The energies from the portal may have drawn strength from her blood, leaving her weakened."
"Is it temporary?" That was the only thing Angel was concerned with at the moment.
"I imagine that must be bothering Katherine quite a bit. ...I'm not particularly knowledgable in portals and the more scientific aspects of it all, but I imagine she should return to normal, given time. However," Wesley continued solemnly, "you may want to prepare her for the possibility that she might not regain her abilities."
"I... I don't know how," he replied truthfully. "I've never had to deal with anything like that before."
"No, perhaps not," Wesley agreed. "But I can think of someone who has."
Angel was silent. "You want me to...?"
"It is entirely your call, Angel. I'm merely suggesting that if Katherine has trouble coping, she might require guidance from a familiar person."
Angel made a non-committal sound and picked up his book again, suddenly very interested in demon tribes from the northeast.
Pick up the phone! ...Just pick it up. This isn't for you. So stop being an ass and pick up the damn phone.
"It won't bite, you know," Katherine grinned, seeing Angel reach for his cell phone several times, then recoil. Her grin faded as she considered what she said. "On the other hand, with the things you guys deal with..."
Initial nervousness gone, Angel picked up the phone. "Nope. It's of the non-biting variety," he assured her before dialing the phone number he'd long-since memorized. On the third ring, a male voice answered.
"Hello?" Angel, surprised, was silent. "Hello? Anyone there?"
Then he recognized the voice. "Xander?"
"Deadboy?"
Angel rolled his eyes. "For the love of- how many times do I have to-? Never mind. Is Buffy there?"
"Yeah."
"Well, can I talk to her, then?"
"I don't know. Can you?"
Angel sighed, exasperated. "May I?"
"May you what?"
"May I talk to Buffy?" He replied through gritted teeth.
"No, sorry. She isn't home right now."
Angel threw his hands up. "But you told me she was-?"
"Xander, give me the phone. ...Xander, give it. ...Hello?"
"Uh...Buffy?"
"Angel?"
"Hi."
"Hi. What's...? Uh, is everything all right? I mean, no big bad evil a-brewin'?"
"We have evil lawyers," he offered.
"You know that's redundant."
He smiled. "How about you? ...Are you doing better? How's Dawn?"
"We're good, the both of us. It's...it's hard, but we're coping. I guess that's all you can do, right?"
"Buffy, the hurting will stop. It will."
"No," she replied softly, "it never does." For a moment, Angel wondered if she was referring to her mother or to him. "Um, not that I don't like hearing from you, but I did just see you last week and...is something wrong?"
"Now that you mention it...a...client of mine, she's, well...remember when you turned eighteen?"
"Mmmm, the beginnings of Buffy's Birthday Curse. What about it?"
"Well, this...client...she's had something similar happen to her."
"She's a Slayer?" Buffy asked, incredulous. "But how-? Did Faith-?"
"No, she's not a Slayer." Not exactly. "But she has been stripped of her abilities indefinitely."
"And you'd like me to impart a few words of wisdom?" Buffy guessed.
"Would you mind?"
"If you've got an idea on how to stop a crazy hellgod who wants to use my sister to open the gates of Hell and damn us all, I'll call it even."
"Uh...does she have a germ phobia?"
Buffy chuckled. "Using battle plans from two years ago? That's cheating."
"Well, that takes care of my next idea."
"Which was?"
"You attack her with hummus."
"Somehow, I don't think that would work," she replied wryly.
"You know, Buffy, if you need help..."
"The cavalry will come? Thanks, but I can handle this," she assured him. "I'm the Slayer, remember? So, where's this client of yours?"
"Hold on a sec." Angel put a hand over the mouth of the phone and motioned for Katherine to come over. Walking slowly, she made her way over, eyebrows raised.
"What's up?"
"A friend of mine had something similar happen to her a couple years ago. The power-loss thing. Maybe she can help you out there."
"O...kay." It was clear that she wasn't thrilled about the idea. She took the cell from him. "Um, hello?" Her eyes widened. "Yeah, yeah, I've heard of you -um, I mean, I've heard of the Slayer." She looked at Angel and gave him her best 'What the hell?' look. His expectant smile faded as she slunk into a chair and responded to Buffy with low mumbles and nods. The hotel phone rang and he went to answer it, keeping an eye on Katherine.
"Angel Investigations. We help the helpless," he said dejectedly into the phone. "What? Your son? Well, we normally specialize in cases like that. I mean, I thik that's something the police should- oh. ...Well, yeah, that does make a difference, actually." Angel scribbled down the necessary information. "...Oh, please, don't cry. We'll find him, I promise." The same time he hung up, Katherine finished talking to Buffy. She handed him the cell and proceeded to look over the notes he'd just made with particular interest.
"I'm thinking I didn't make much of an impression," Buffy apologized.
"It's alright," he assured her.
"I gave her the whole nine yards, but she said she'd heard it before."
"Don't worry about it, Buffy. I think I need to have a talk with her, myself."
"Well, she's in your hands, so I'm sure she's safe." He could almost hear Buffy smile. "Hey, I gotta go patrol. Um, it was really nice to hear from you."
"Same."
"I hope everything works out with that client of yours."
"Buffy, my offer still stands. If you need my help-"
"I won't," she replied. Then she paused before adding, "But if I do, I'll give you a call, I promise. ...Bye."
"Bye," he murmured, hanging up.
"You have nice writing," Katherine called out appreciatively.
"What?"
"You have nice writing," she repeated. "That's so sad, about the lady's son."
"Yeah, it is. But how 'bout we talk about your less-than-stellar manners? I know your mother didn't raise you that way."
Katherine managed a half-smile. "I'm sorry. But a word of advice? When your mother's died a couple weeks ago, you generally don't like being surprised like that. I appreciate the gesture, but...well, it freaked me out."
"Sorry. I just figured that you would have liked to hear her voice. And she's dealt with this kind of stuff before. The kind of stuff that you're going through."
"As I've heard. It's just...I'm sorry," she apologized again. "I'm going to go take a nap. Wesley said I could look through his books and I've spent all day looking for that prophecy that I told you guys about. I wanted to see what the exact wording was. Prophecies can be tricky little devils."
"Don't I know it," he murmured.
She nodded emphatically, but her gaze was fixed onto the window behind him. "Um...instead of a nap...you think I could just walk around the grounds?"
"Sure you're up to it?"
"I'm all healed...almost. My arm doesn't hurt anymore," she offered. "And Wesley said that soon, I won't need to wear the bandages anymore."
"If you're sure..."
"I can take a weapon!" She picked up a stake from the counter and stuck it in the waistband of her borrowed sweats.
"It's chilly outside. ...Well, not to me, because of the whole 'dead' thing. But you'll get sick."
"I've got a jacket in my room. ...Please?" Angel still looked unconvinced. "Well, how 'bout this? I see a vampire, I scream bloody murder and you come running out?"
"Works for me," he smiled.
"Thanks!" She strode up the stairs to her room, and when she came back, a familiar leather jacket was in her arms. He noticed that she'd taken her hair out of its ponytail. "Bye," she waved, slipping on the jacket and all but running outside. Wesley came out from the back, slipping on his jacket, as well.
"Going out?" Angel asked.
"Gunn and Cordelia called me. It seems they've run into some trouble on a case they undertook this morning."
"Need backup?"
"That won't be necessary." He looked down at the notepad near Angel.
"It would seem you have a case of your own to undertake." Angel nodded and began to follow Wesley out, before scribbling a note to Katherine on the pad. "Where's Katherine?"
"She wanted to walk around the grounds."
"I see," Wesley replied, a smile playing on his lips. He breathed in the cool Californian air, pulling the hotel doors close behind him.
"What?"
"Nothing." Wesley continued to smile, looking at something just over Angel's shoulder.
"What?"
"Nothing," Wesley insisted, and led the way to their cars. Shurgging, Angel followed.
Pulling the leather jacket on, Katherine closed the door behind her.
"Surprise, surprise," a male voice said from behind her. "Look who it is."
She smiled and began to twirl a stake between her fingers. "Hello to you, too."
"See you survived."
"Don't sound so disappointed." She turned from him and began to walk around to the back of the hotel. He caught up with her and walked alongside her.
"I'm not. I'm glad."
She walked backward, so that she was facing him. "Really? Didn't know I made an impression."
"Are you kidding? A Slayer-wannabe almost getting herself killed? Kinda sticks in your mind."
"'Slayer-wannabe'," she repeated. "Well, I can certainly see why I came rushing outside to see you." He raised an eyebrow, a grin playing on his lips. "I meant, I wanted to see if you were okay. I mean, I've still got a nice souvenir from that night."
His grin faded and he became serious. "You're not...?"
"Broken arm, broken ribs, bunch of other nasty cuts and bruises. You know, besides the-" She mimicked staking herself in the stomach.
"You clean up pretty well. There's not a scratch on you," he noted, running a finger down her cheek. His hand came to rest on her shoulder.
No. Definitely not a vampire, she mused, feeling the warmth of his hand. She looked up at him, which wasn't very far, seeing that she was within a few inches of his height. Thick, dark, hair, cut short and combed up in front; Penetrating dark eyes...the proverbial tall, dark, and handsome stranger.
"So, what's your story?" She asked lightly, starting to walk again.
"Me? How about you? You say you're not a Slayer, but then you're all better barely a week after you get gutted."
"What can I say? Good genes. ...Wait. How do you know about Slayers?"
"How do you know about Slayers?" He countered.
"Okay, let's start with something less...baggage-y. What's your name?"
"What's your name?"
She sighed. "Are you going to give me a straight answer on anything?"
"You're pretty," he offered.
"Uh..." She chuckled nervously. "I didn't ask that, but thanks?"
A smirk formed on his lips. "Grey Eros."
"Your name...it's unusual."
Grey shrugged his shoulders. "So, how 'bout you, Cryptic Girl? You got a name?"
"I prefer that one. Makes me sound like a superhero."
"You're funny. When you're not being a brat."
"Wow. Anyone ever tell you how charming you are?" She replied sarcastically.
"No. Why don't you be the first?"
She grinned. "How 'bout I not?" Katherine raked a hand through her hair. Stopping walking, she opted for sitting on the low stone wall, instead.
"You okay?"
"I think I'm coming down with something. It's cool outside, but I feel hot."
"You look hot," he replied. When she raised an eyebrow, he smirked. "Take it whatever way you want."
"Gotta love those double entendres." Taking a deep breath, she turned to Grey. "Think I'm gonna go inside." He nodded. She hopped off the wall, then paused. She reached into her pocket and pulled out one of the business cards she swiped from the front desk. "Here. You know. In case you need helping."
Grey took the card and looked at the slogan. "Do I look helpless?"
"I dunno. Put you in the right situation, I bet you'd be pretty helpless." He raised his eyebrows again. "Take it whatever way you want."
He shook his head, intrigued. "Later, Cryptic Girl," he called out.
"It's Katherine, she called back, waving bye.
"I take it you guys had a nice evening?" Katherine asked, looking up from her book and struggling not to laugh. Angel, Wesley, Gunn, and Cordelia were all covered in chunky purple and blue slime.
"Laugh it up now," Cordelia advised, clearly not amused. "Pretty soon, you'll be the one covered in Falafal and Eunich demon blood."
"Fal'krar and Yanich demon blood, actually..." Wesley trailed off under Cordelia's glare.
"I thought you were going to rescue that woman's son," Katherine asked Angel, pulling out some towels from behind the counter. "The one kidnapped by something or other. How'd you get covered in demon blood?"
"Actually, it wasn't a woman so much as it was a Yanich demon. But she was female...I think. Anyway, her son got taken by a rival demon clan."
"Ah," Katherine grinned.
"Lucky us," Cordelia muttered. "We got to be in the middle of a demon gang war. Did I mention how much I loathe this job?" She tried to wipe some of the slime out of her hair, but only succeeded in spreading it around more. "Ew!"
"So, how about you, Katherine? Did anything interesting happen while we were gone?" Wesley asked, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. She studied the ex-Watcher before replying.
"Hmmm. Demon gang war, my night. No comparison there."
"You're absolutely sure?"
"Yes," came the exasperated voice.
"We can't afford to take any chances on this," the female voice warned. "We have one shot at this opportunity."
"Ms. Morgan, trust me. It was her."
"Did you do your job?"
"Yes, Ms. Morgan." He held up the white rectangular card as proof. Lilah took it from him, twirling it between her fingers.
"She's at Angel Investigations. Figures." She looked back to the young man. "You can go," she said, dismissing him. He nodded his head and left the room. A moment later, her phone rang. "Lilah Morgan, how can I help you? ...Yes, the plan is proceeding accordingly. She's at Angel Investigations. ...No, I would highly recommend against you going there. ...We made a deal. Wolfram and Hart will see to the capture of Katherine Summers and the forfeiting of her foretold destiny."
"Fine," the girl on the other end snapped. "But if she doesn't give it up -and I doubt she will- I'm taking matters into my own hands. So you better get her. And soon."
"Of course, Ms. Summers," Lilah replied politely, before hanging up the phone. The Senior Partners would not be pleased with this development. Celia Summers was impatient and irresponsible in her actions; working with her could keep the firm from acquiring the apocalypse. Sighing, picked up her phone.
"Maria?" Lilah asked her secretary, pressing the intercom button on her phone.
"Yes, Ms. Morgan?"
"Call the clan of Eros demons. Tell the leader that I require his son's presence once more. Time we kick this plan into overdrive."
"Of course, Ms. Morgan," Maria replied. Lilah sighed again. She had to work with bitchy, power-hungry teenage girls, hormonal male teenage demons, and to top it all, she would have to go up against Angel Investigations.
"I better get a friggin' promotion out of this."
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