---

At Caritas, Angel is expressing his regret to someone for treating them badly, taking what he wanted and casting them aside. He realizes that was wrong.

We now see it's Merl he's talking to, and he isn't buying it. He can't help but notice Angel is reading his apology off of note cards.

Lorne, Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn are also in the bar.

Angel doesn't think it's a big deal that he made some notes, he tells Wes he knew this was going to be a waste of time.

Merl points out that friends don't need notes.

Angel responds that they aren't exactly friends, they barely know each other.

Merl thinks Angel could have made more of an effort in that regard. He heads out the door but is stopped by Cordelia who reminds him he promised to hear Angel out.

Wes reminds Angel that he agreed to do this.

Merl wonders if Cordy caught the lack of sincerity in Angel's pre-written 'apology'.

Cordelia doesn't think the writing is the problem.

Angel tells Wes he doesn't know what Merl wants from him.

Merl hears that and responds that he'd like to get the time back he spent in therapy after being hung by his feet and dunked in a sewer ("Redefinition").

Cordelia suggests Angel finish reading the cards.

Angel declines. He acknowledges Merl is right. Whenever he asked Merl for information, he got it. He offers Merl a free shot. He can go ahead and hit him, he won't hit back.

Nobody thinks this is the way to deal with this.

Angel continues goading Merl until he finally picks up a bottle from the bar and attempts to hit Angel with it.

Merl's attempt is halted by a mystical barrier that throws him backward. He figures Angel did that on purpose.

Angel's expression says that's probably true.

Lorne offers that Angel probably just "forgot" that no demon violence is possible in the bar.

Angel agrees that yes, he forgot.

Merl has had enough. He doesn't want to hear anything else Angel has to say and has nothing to say to the others either. He starts out the door, stops and asks who's going to give him a ride home.

---

Gunn pulls his truck to a stop, Merl gets out. He starts to thank Gunn for the ride, hoping it wasn't an inconvenience.

Gunn speeds off without saying anything.

Merl enters his apartment, picks up the mail, looks up and sees something that frightens him. He raises his hands in the air, moves backward until he's against the wall and is attacked.

The walls are splashed with Merl's blood.

---

Gunn is dreaming of his last encounter with his sister, dusting her. He bolts upright in bed, wide awake. The pager on the night table goes off.

---

Gunn arrives at Merl's apartment, Wes and Angel are already there. Gunn notices the green slime on the wall and asks what it is.

Angel answers, it's Merl.

Gunn wonders where the rest of him is.

Angel points to green slime covering the bare light bulb overhead and more of it on the floor.

Gunn asks what happened.

Angel doesn't know. He came by to try 'sincere' one more time and found things at the apartment as they are now. They don't figure it was a suicide.

Wes comes in and notes he's found some of Merl's personal papers, including an address book. He notices Gunn has arrived. He asks if he noticed anything when he dropped Merl off.

Gunn says he didn't.

Wes collects the papers and suggests they go through them back at the hotel.

Gunn asks what they're doing, what their interest in this is.

Wes says someone killed Merl.

Gunn gets that, he didn't have any personal problems with Merl but he doesn't think this is the kind of thing they should be spending their time on, after all, "he was what he was."

Angel wants to know what he means by that exactly.

Gunn just means that someone killed a demon. He doesn't see the big deal in that, they do the same thing.

Wesley reminds him that Merl was harmless.

Angel asks if he's upset because they interrupted something he'd rather be doing.

Gunn says that's not the case.

Angel points out that he usually responds to his pages a bit more quickly. It took him two hours this time.

Gunn and Angel are both irritated with each other at this point.

Gunn wonders if Angel was put in charge again because if that's the case, nobody told him.

Wes steps between them.

Angel continues searching the apartment.

Wes tells Gunn he understands if he doesn't want to help in this particular case. He suggests he go home.

Gunn thinks that's a good idea. He leaves.

Angel is looking through Merl's rolodex. He notes that Merl was right, he didn't take the time to get to know him. He figures he'll do it now.

---

Gunn pulls up outside the abandoned building used by his old gang.

He steps inside and is attacked by one of the guys. Gunn puts him down on the floor only to find himself faced with another, Gio, who is pointing a crossbow in his face. Gunn recognizes the crossbow.

Rondell enters with others and tells Gio that Gunn was the one who made it. He directs Gio to put the weapon down.

Rondell and Gunn exchange greetings. Rondell boasts the crew is more efficient than ever was, even back in Gunn's day.

Gio knows now who Gunn is. He says Gunn is the reason he came out to LA.

Rondell mentions that Gio is from Miami.

Gio wonders why vampires are fond of sunny climates like LA and Miami. He figures they could get an answer to that by asking Gunn's "boss."

Rondell wants Gio to back off but Gio isn't listening. He figures it must be a case of "if you can't beat 'em", joining them.

Gunn assures him it's not like that.

Gio isn't convinced. He's heard Gunn was a big time vampire hunter and now he's working with one. He gets into Gunn's face and asks what that's about.

Rondell wants to know who's supposed to be guarding the back.

Gio acknowledges that's his job.

Rondell suggests he do it then.

Gio laughs and agrees.

As he departs, he suggests that Rondell might want to have his meeting with Gunn out in the sun, just to be sure.

---

Back at the hotel, Cordelia is working on the computer. Angel is sitting on the desk, his back to her. Cordy thinks some people just need some time alone.

Angel looks at Fred in the courtyard and reminds Cordy that she had five years alone. He thinks that's the problem. She's been back three months and still hasn't gotten out.

Cordy suggests considering what happened the last time Fred got out into the world, her reluctance is understandable.

Angel gets that, which is why he'd like Cordelia to talk to her.

Cordy isn't sure that's a good idea.

Angel wonders if she doesn't like Fred.

Cordelia assures him that's not it, she thinks Fred is sweet as she notices Fred seems to be talking with the shrub in the courtyard. Cordy says she just doesn't get Fred.

Angel isn't expecting Cordelia to "get" Fred, he'd just like her to talk to her.

Cordelia agrees.

Angel thanks her. He picks up some papers from the desk and asks what they are.

Cordelia answers that it's a list of Merl's enemies as she heads back into Wesley's office where Wes is working at the desk.

Angel follows her into the office, asking why his name is at the top of the list.

Cordelia points out it starts with "A".

Angel informs her they weren't enemies, he's the one that found the body.

Cordy thinks that could be construed as suspicious considering Merl ended up dead the one time Angel decided to pay a social call.

Wesley recognizes many of the names on the enemies list.

Cordy doesn't think that's surprising considering they weren't Merl's enemies until Angel got him to snitch on them.

Angel sarcastically admits that yes, he went "dark" and killed Merl.

Wes suggests they run the list backwards, end with the A's. He wonders if Angel is okay with that as he walks out of the office.

---

Gunn and Rondell are walking together outside. Gunn wonders if the word on him now is that he's a traitor.

Rondell tells him not to listen to Gio, he doesn't know Gunn.

Gunn wants to know what Rondell thinks.

Rondell doesn't know. He hasn't seen Gunn in months, not since they cremated George. He's not sure what's going on with him anymore.

Gunn says he didn't intend to disappear, it's just that after George died --

Rondell points out that Gunn was gone long before George got killed ("Belonging"). Things weren't the same after Gunn's sister died.

Gunn acknowledges that's part of it. He didn't feel he could protect them when he couldn't even protect his own sister.

Rondell thinks Gunn had a lot to offer. After all, people are alive because of what he put together.

Gunn reminds him they did it together.

---

Angel and Wes are walking down the hall of an apartment building. Angel asks who they're looking for.

Wes answers it's a bookie, Merl owed him a lot of money.

Angel asks if the bookie is human or demon.

Wes isn't sure.

They stop outside of an apartment. Angel kicks the door in and enters.

Wes now knows the bookie is a demon. As he follows Angel inside, he sees what Angel sees, the apartment is trashed, green slime everywhere.

Angel thinks they'll need Gunn when they find whatever is doing the killing.

Wes agrees, believing whatever they're going to be fighting is large and powerful.

---

A large, slow moving demon is shuffling through the sewer tunnel, sipping on a soda. He turns as a flashlight is shined in his direction. He meekly asks who's there. He's rushed by an armed gang.

The demon tries to get away, but runs into a dead end.

The gang attacks. Gio finishes him off with the crossbow.

---

At the bookie's apartment, Wes pulls an arrowhead out of the wall and puts it into a small plastic bag.

Gunn arrives in response to Wesley's earlier page. He asks where Angel is.

Wes answers that Angel is looking into something else. He tells Gunn the victim's name, he and Angel found him the night before.

Gunn enters the apartment and notices the green slime. He knows the victim was a demon. He wants to know what they're doing, if The Powers sent a vision directing them there.

Wes acknowledges there was no message from The Powers but explains that things aren't always simple, sometimes they have to deal in shades of gray.

Gunn gets that but he doesn't understand why they're suddenly playing clean up for a "bunch of lowlife demons." He wonders if they find the killer, are they supposed to stop it or thank it.

Wes doesn't have an answer.

Gunn doesn't find Wesley's lack of an answer particularly comforting.

Wesley explains that the current victim seemed to have been assimilated into society, not violent, not a threat to anyone. Of the previous six victims, two were "irredeemably evil".

Gunn wonders what the point is.

Wes answers that whatever is responsible for the killings isn't making a distinction between peaceful and dangerous demons. It's killing randomly.

Angel arrives and confirms that's true. There was another killing the night before. A Yarbnie demon was eviscerated in the sewer tunnel.

Gunn notices the arrowhead Wes had placed in the bag earlier, laying on the table. He picks it up and covertly slides it into his pocket then asks about the Yarbnie.

Wes explains it's a balancing demon, nonviolent.

Gunn suggests he hit the streets and see if he can come up with any information.

Wes agrees.

Angel glances after Gunn as he leaves the apartment, his expression says he suspects something more is going on with Charles Gunn.

---

Gunn arrives at the hangout of his old crew. He shows Rondell the arrowhead and tells him where he picked it up. He recognizes it as coming from his old crossbow. He wants Rondell to know that he thinks Gio is a rogue who's been killing anything that moves. He wants Rondell to talk to him about what's going on, this isn't the way they do business.

Rondell confirms the location of the apartment where the arrowhead was found. He informs Gunn that Gio found the place, but they were all there.

Gunn didn't expect to hear that.

Rondell reminds him that the apartment's occupant wasn't human.

Gunn asks if it had hurt anyone.

Rondell assures him they didn't give it the chance.

One of the guys tells Rondell everyone is present as another hands out automatic weapons.

Rondell asks Gunn if he wants to join them, Gio told him he found "a nest or something."

Gunn declines.

The others depart.

Gunn starts to leave but is intercepted by Gio. He knows Rondell still believes Gunn is a hero but Gio knows better. He laughs as he joins the others, sliding the door shut behind him.

---

Back at the hotel, Wes, Cordy and Angel continue researching. Wes hasn't been able to come up with a lead, he feels something is missing.

Angel thinks maybe it's something new, something for which no record exists.

Cordelia hopes that doesn't mean another portal has opened. They have enough to deal with.

Wes repeats that something is missing as he begins counting the plastic bags of evidence he had retrieved from the bookie's apartment.

Fred comes downstairs and heads for the courtyard.

Angel gives Cordelia a nudge, hinting she should go talk to her. She follows Fred out.

Wesley comes up with a count of 11 and realizes that he had 12 to start with. He tries to remember what's missing.

---

Fred is reading a book in the courtyard.

Cordelia enters and greets her, startling her.

Fred offers to get out of the way as she starts to head back inside the hotel.

Cordy assures her she wants Fred to stay. She thought they could talk.

Fred agrees to that and returns to the courtyard, taking a seat beside Cordelia. There's a long, uncomfortable silence as Cordelia clears her throat and tries to find something to say. Fred wonders if she meant she wanted to talk now.

Cordelia admits to feeling a bit awkward. She tells Fred Angel wants her to "get out."

Fred is a bit rattled by that but she agrees. It won't take her long to pack, she doesn't have much. She heads for the door.

Cordelia clarifies that Angel wants her to get out into the world, not move out.

Fred isn't too comfortable with that thought.

Cordelia offers that Fred won't be alone, they can go out together.

Fred tries to convince herself that's not a bad idea. She figures she'd be safe with Cordelia.

Cordy assures her she will be.

Fred thinks it will be okay, if she's with Cordelia, nobody will notice her.

Cordy tells her she'll be noticed because she's going to be in the spotlight, on-stage.

Fred isn't thrilled with the sound of that.

---

Gunn is sitting in his truck, staring at the arrowhead. He puts it down and pulls the truck out.

---

Gunn arrives at the hotel, Angel comes out to the desk from the back office. Gunn asks if they've made any progress on the case.

Angel tells him Wes thinks the killings are random but Angel isn't so sure. He's reminded of things he's seen before.

Gunn asks how so.

Angel explains it's the pattern, the seeming random chaos of it, there's a greater purpose behind it all.

Gunn wonders what that purpose is. A

ngel thinks it's "to have fun." He notes Gunn's reaction to that and asks what's up.

Gunn wants to speak to Wesley. He asks Angel where he is.

---

Fred is on-stage at Caritas singing "Crazy". Wes and Cordelia are seated at a table. Lorne looks on from the bar.

Cordelia notes the irony of Fred's choice of material.

Gunn enters, looks at Fred singing a moment, smiles. He turns toward the bar, leaning against it. Lorne stands next to him, staring. Gunn knows he's being read and doesn't like it. He tells Lorne to stop doing it, repeatedly.

Lorne explains he's not doing it intentionally, sometimes things are so obvious, he can't help himself.

Gunn looks toward the table where Cordy and Wes are sitting.

Lorne offers that Wes came in earlier seeking some answers. He figures Gunn has what Wes is looking for. He wonders if Gunn wants to talk about it.

Gunn asks if he has to sing.

A demon crossing in front of Fred is shot dead. Fred is splashed with the demon's blood as she falls backward off of the barstool she'd been singing from.

Rondell and the gang rush into the bar, guns blazing.

Gunn rushes Lorne behind the bar as his old gang shoots the place up, killing several of the patrons.

Wes flips the table on its side and pulls Cordelia down behind it, using it for cover as the gang continues their shooting spree.

Wes notices Fred has stood up on-stage, confused. He rushes to the stage amidst the flying bullets, picks her up and carries her to cover behind the overturned table.

Cordelia asks what's going on. She thought demons couldn't do violence in Caritas.

Wes points out they aren't demons.

Another victim of the shooting spree falls dead in front of them.

Rondell orders the gang to head out.

Gio stops him, he doesn't think they should be in such a hurry. He calls out to Gunn to show himself. He figures he's there somewhere.

Gunn stands up from his crouching position behind the bar.

Rondell wants to know why Gunn is there.

Gio suggests Gunn tell him how he's been hanging out at the demon bar for the past several months, sharing drinks with his demon friends.

Rondell doesn't want to believe it.

Gio doesn't know why Rondell would have a hard time believing it, considering Gunn's "best friend" is a vampire.

Lorne peeks cautiously over the top of the bar. |

Gunn tells Rondell to go as he steps out from behind the bar.

Rondell isn't planning on going anywhere until he gets some answers.

Wes emerges from behind the overturned table and says they'd all like some answers.

Cordelia reaches for him and tries to pull him back down behind the table.

Gunn tells Wesley to say out of it, this doesn't involve him.

Wes thinks everyone is involved at this point.

Lorne stands up from behind the bar. One of the gang jumps over the bar and shoves him out from behind it.

Gunn intercedes, pushing Lorne to one side and holding back the gang kid.

Rondell isn't happy with Gunn's choices as he aims his gun at Lorne.

One of the demon patrons quietly repeats, "Oh God" over and over again.

Gunn tells Rondell that Lorne is okay.

Rondell doesn't think so, he's a demon, after all.

Wesley announces his realization that it was Rondell and the gang that killed Merl and the others. He and Gunn exchange a long look. Wes realizes Gunn already knew.

Gunn tries to explain. He was going to say something about it, he just needed some time to work it out.

Lorne asks if he's figured it out now.

Gunn apologizes.

Rondell can't believe Gunn is apologizing to a demon. He raises the gun, aiming at Lorne.

Gunn steps between Rondell and Lorne, telling Rondell he won't let him do it. Gunn believes Rondell has lost sight of the mission, what he's doing is wrong. Everything he's been doing is wrong.

Rondell assures Gunn they've only been doing what they've always done, protecting their people.

Wes wonders if they were protecting their people when they broke into the homes of others.

Rondell reminds him those weren't "people." He wonders if Wes is, as he whirls to face him and aims his gun at Wesley's chest.

Cordelia stands up from her hiding place behind the table and tells them to stop.

Wes lets Rondell know he'd prefer to die cleanly since the last time he was wounded it took months to heal. He reminds Rondell that he sustained that wound helping him ("The Thin Dead Line")

Gunn says this business is between the two of them, himself and Rondell. He tells Rondell to let the others go.

Gio laughs. He thinks they can agree to that since they aren't "monsters."

Gunn throws his keys toward Wes, telling him to take the truck.

Cordy picks the keys up from the floor.

Rondell wants to know how Gunn can keep company with demons and accuse him of losing sight of the mission.

Gunn answers that it's true. They used to face death because they had no choice, now Rondell and the others pursue it for fun. That's not right.

Cordy is cautiously guiding Fred to the exit.

Rondell whirls around to face them, pointing the gun in their direction. He says only one can leave. He directs Cordy to go, the others have to stay behind.

Cordelia isn't willing to leave without Fred.

One of the gang pulls Fred away from Cordelia.

Wes pulls Fred back to his side.

Rondell tells Cordelia the others can go when she brings Angel to them.

Rondell tells Cordelia to go.

She looks at Gunn who nods to her to do it. She leaves the bar.

The demon patron continues repeating "Oh God" over and over.

The demon next to him orders him to shut up, God isn't listening.

---

At the hotel, Cordelia thinks they need a better plan considering the current plan isn't theirs. Rondell wants Angel to walk into a place he can't fight so they can kill him.

Angel assures her it will be okay.

She doesn't see how.

Angel writes down an address and tells Cordy to go there.

Cordelia wants to know why.

Angel explains she'll find the "Transuding Furies" there, three sisters Lorne pays by the month to cast the protection spell at Caritas. If they lift the spell, Angel will be able to fight back.

Cordelia still thinks it's a bad plan considering he's more than a little outnumbered.

Angel instructs her to do it.

Cordy wants to know what happens if the Furies won't lift the spell.

Angel assures her they will, she just needs to tell them it's for him.

Cordelia asks if he knows them.

Angel says he did.

Cordy wonders if he thinks they're going to remember him.

He answers, "they should."

Cordelia hopes this works, she promised Fred she'd be safe with her.

Angel understands that. He heads for Caritas.

---

At the bar, Gio is on-stage singing "Wind Beneath My Wings." Wes tells Gunn they need a plan. If Angel comes in, they'll kill him.

Gunn knows they won't, they want him to do it.

As Gio continues his singing, the equipment screeches with feedback. He throws the mic to the floor and blasts the speaker to bits with his gun.

Fred is shaking, she starts to cry.

Wes embraces her trying to comfort her.

Gio wonders if Angel is going to show up.

Lorne says "Miami."

Gio wants to know if he said something.

Lorne continues, wondering if 3,000 miles was enough. He knows why Gio left, why he ran. He couldn't stay, not after what he'd done.

Gio is looking more uncomfortable by the moment.

Lorne continues, telling Gio "she trusted you" up until the end. He wonders if Gio knew that.

Gio's answer is to punch Lorne in the mouth. Lorne looks back at him, eerily smiling through his bloodied lip.

One of the demon patrons makes a run for the exit. He's intercepted by one of Rondell's gang and slammed against the wall.

The "Oh God" demon continues his chant as he looks on.

As Gio's attention is directed toward the demon who attempted to escape, Gunn manages to punch him and get his gun. Gunn aims the weapon at Gio, everyone else has theirs trained on him.

Gio figures Gunn just proved what side he's on as he tells the crew that the demon Gunn is trying to save is a species that eats babies. He's seen their kind in Florida. He asks the demon if that isn't the truth.

It doesn't deny it, just tells Gio to do it, it doesn't care.

One of the others guards the demon while Gio continues his rant against Gunn.

The demon goads his guard with taunts of "coward" and "do it."

Gio points out Gunn was willing to kill him in order to protect a demon that kills babies. He figures that says all that needs to be said about Gunn.

Gunn's response is that it just means there are a lot of monsters in the room to choose from.

Gio wonders if he's one of them now, if Gunn's been turned.

Gunn suggests he come at him and find out.

Gio isn't willing to go that far. He continues his taunting, wondering if Gunn wants to be one of them but they won't accept him. He thinks maybe that makes more sense. Gunn hangs out with them, wants to be a part of that, but he's not good enough for vampires or demons.

Gunn tells him to shut up but Gio isn't listening. He wonders if Gunn told the truth about what happened to his sister. He thinks it's more likely that Gunn let his sister get turned, thinking she would do it for him.

In the background, the baby killing demon continues his goading, telling how he'll taste the children, take a piece, enjoy himself.

Gio continues with his ranting, suggesting that when Gunn's sister wouldn't give him what he wanted by turning him, he dusted her. He wonders if that's why Gunn hangs out with vampires and demons, because he still wants that.

Gunn snaps at Gio to shut up as he fires the gun toward the baby killing demon, killing it.

Angel enters complimenting the shot. He asks if the next one is for him.

Rondell pulls a stake from his pocket and hands it to Gunn, telling him this is his chance to prove he's not friends with this "thing."

Gunn takes the stake.

Wes rather urgently reminds them that Angel has a soul.

Gio isn't impressed. He wonders if Wesley thinks that makes Angel the same as them.

Wes offers that it makes Angel better than Gio. At least when Angel was doing his killing for pleasure, he was soulless. He knows Gio can't say the same.

Rondell asks Gunn what he's going to do.

Gunn looks at Angel, then looks at the stake in his hand.

Angel offers to make it easy for him as he morphs into game face. He tells Gunn this is what he is, deal with it or not, but make a choice.

---

Cordelia is in the apartment of the Furies. She says Angel mentioned they'd known each other.

Every mention of Angel's name elicits a chorus of "Mmmm, Angel" from the sisters.

Cordelia asks if they could lift the spell they have on Caritas and do it now.

The Furies ask if she wants them to lift what was agreed to by contract and mutual consent.

Cordelia tells them Angel will die if they don't.

Again, a chorus of "Mmmm, Angel."

---

Back at Caritas, Gunn drops the stake to the floor.

Gio figured this was the choice Gunn would make.

Gunn assures him he doesn't know anything. He knows Gio assumes he won't kill Angel because he's a friend, but that's not the reason.

Angel morphs back into human face.

Gunn looks him in the eye and tells the others that Angel could never be his friend because of what he is. It's not Angel's fault, just the way it is.

Rondell wonders if Gunn is going to choose Angel over him, considering he [Rondell] is his friend.

Gunn confirms that's exactly what he's going to do. Angel has the mission, Rondell doesn't.

Gio thinks Gunn's siding with a "monster" makes him just as much of one. He makes an offer to the patrons of Caritas, if any of them wants to walk out of the bar, they'll have to step up and do what Gunn wouldn't, dust Angel. Otherwise, they'll die with everyone else. He asks who wants to live.

Fred stands up and quietly says she's sorry, but she doesn't want to die.

Gio hands her the crossbow.

---

Cordelia is trying to explain to the Furies that the situation is rather urgent. They need to lift the spell. She wants to know what it will cost to get them to do that.

The Furies inform her she can't pay this debt.

Cordelia assures them her credit is good.

The Furies tell her that only Angel is "equipped" to settle the debt.

Cordelia doesn't think that's likely, pointing out that for being over 200 years old, he wasn't very wise with the financial planning aspects of life. She pauses a moment and realizes the "equipped" remark wasn't in reference to money. She tells them she gets it. Her expression matches her reaction of, "Ewww."

---

At Caritas, Fred takes the crossbow from Gio and aims it at Angel. She apologizes again, she doesn't want to die there.

Angel tells her it's okay.

Gio instructs her to aim for the heart or it won't work.

Fred holds aim on Angel for a moment, then turns and aims at Gio, telling him she thought she might shoot him through the throat instead. She figures if the arrow nicks an artery, he's going to bleed a lot and if she gets his vocal cords, he won't even be able to scream which he may want to do, especially when the blood loss to his brain results in a stroke.

The others have their guns aimed at Fred.

Angel tells Fred to aim the crossbow at him, it's okay.

She can't.

He gently urges her to do it.

Gio grabs the crossbow from Fred and shoves her across the room, into Wesley.

A bright flash of light engulfs the room. Angel offers thanks to the Furies and fight ensues.

Wesley leads Fred to safety as Gunn and Angel take on the others.

Gio is ranting about wasting his time having come out to LA, he's going back to Miami.

The "Oh God" chanting demon is sitting behind Gio. His head splits open and a larger bug-like demon emerges from the shell. It bites Gio's head off in the midst of his rant.

Rondell kills it.

---

In the alley outside of the club, Wes helps Fred into a cab.

Gunn approaches saying he doesn't think Rondell and the crew will be venturing outside of their neighborhood anytime soon.

Wes understands the pull of divided loyalties is difficult. No matter what choice is made, you feel you've betrayed someone.

Gunn agrees with that.

Wes sternly informs Gunn that if he keeps anything from him again, or goes behind his back, Gunn will be fired. He won't tolerate any one member of the team compromising the safety of everyone, no matter who it is. He assures him that if this happens again, there will be no more chances, he'll be out of a job. He walks away and joins Fred in the cab.

Angel exits the bar into the alley.

Gunn figures Angel is going to rag on him for the things he said in the bar.

That wasn't Angel's intention.

Gunn wants to know that Angel understands he had to stall for time but that doesn't mean he meant what he said.

Angel understands and he also knows that Gunn meant everything he said but he's okay with that.

Gunn acknowledges it's true. It doesn't mean he doesn't want to work with Angel or that he doesn't like him, but he can't help the way he feels. Maybe some day he'll feel differently, he doesn't know.

Angel doesn't know either but says he has time then turns and walks away.

Gunn calls after him saying that no matter what else, he thinks he did prove Angel could trust him by not killing him when he had the chance.

Angel's response, "No. You'll prove I can trust you when the day comes that you have to kill me, and you do." Angel walks on out of the alley.

Gunn pauses briefly then departs in the opposite direction.