*\*\*\*\*\*\*\*
Part 1

"I'm not quite sure I completely understand you, Mr Tomlinson." The
Dean of Sunnydale University sat back in his chair and gazed across
his desk at the spectacled young man seated before him.

"Then allow me to clarify the situation for you, Dean. once again."
Rufus Tomlinson adjusted his glasses and leant forward. "This
institution will be given the sum of one million dollars when the
following conditions are met; One: Rupert Giles is to be hired as the
curator of the new collection recently donated by my client to the
university. Two: He is allowed to select his own assistant. Finally
and more importantly, my last condition."

"Yes."

"No-one is permitted to see the collection unless they have been
given written authorisation by Mr Giles. This edict is to be given to
all members of the this teaching faculty as well as any external
requests." He sent a sharp glance towards the woman standing behind
the Dean's chair. "Which means in particular, and I must emphasise
this, Professor Walsh, your. shall we call them. `Student
assistants'. My clients are aware of your real interests."

The Dean held up his hand to stop the furious woman from
replying. "Your conditions are completely acceptable to this
University administration and I will ensure that all members of my
staff will comply as well."

"Then I will ensure that my client is immediately informed." The
young lawyer rose and shook the Dean's hand. "Please also tell Mr.
Giles that a company called Night Systems will provide any computer
equipment that he may require. My clients have also paid for this."
He took a card out of his pocket and handed it to him.

"I shall do so at once. Thank you for your time, Mr Tomlinson."

"Not all. It was a pleasure doing business with you. Dean, Professor
Walsh."

He walked swiftly out of the Dean's office, ignoring the sudden
raised voice behind him. Once in the sunlight, he took a deep breath,
loosened his tie and undid his top button, then drew a cell phone
from his inner pocket. He touched four buttons and put it to his
ear. "It's done."

"Thanks Tommy. I'll take it from here." A female voice replied.

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Part 2

Kat Knight pushed open the heavy doors of the new Sunnydale
University occult library and glanced round.  A quick grin crossed
her face as she took in the familiar sight of the dark wood of the
shelves and furniture. Even the lamps brought to mind a picture of an
old-fashioned English library.

On one side of the room, a petite redhead was organising a set of
books near an empty computer table. Hearing the doors open, she spun
round, a welcoming smile lighting up her green eyes. "Hi, welcome to
the new library, can I help you?"

"You must be Willow Rosenberg." Kat moved further into the
library. "I'm Kat Knight from Night Systems. I believe you're
expecting me. I have the computer equipment you wanted."

"Salvation!" Willow exclaimed, grinning broadly. "Giles was going to
insist that I log all this by hand, I'm sure of it."

Curiosity rife in her dark eyes, the older girl moved even further
into the room. "Surely you'll be doing that anyway, even with the
keyboard."

"Not if you've got that scanner I wanted." Willow jumped up onto the
table. "I've got a program that should do the job for me."

"Sounds interesting to the max." Kat found herself responding to the
friendly aura projected by the other girl. Something that was very
unusual for her as she was normally not so quick to trust. "Mind if I
look it over. I've been known to design a few programs myself."

Willow's eyes widened. "You're that Kat Knight. I've been using your
recent program lately, but I have to tell you something, I had to
adjust several parameters slightly though to get it to work the way I
wanted."

"Blast! I always suspected there was glitch of some kind I missed."
Kat hit her leg, then threw off her jacket. "Okay, Willow Rosenberg,
let's get to work. You and I have obviously got a lot in common."

"And more than just computers." Willow murmured as she caught sight
of a silver Wiccan symbol embroidered into the other girl's black
top. "Are you Wicca?"

"How very American!" Kat burst into laughter. "I should have listened
to Raven for once, and for you to recognise this symbol means only
one thing."

"Yep, I'm Wicca too." The redhead nodded blushing slightly. "But
still learning."

"You can't be that new to the craft, my girl. Not if you recognise
this." Kat ran her fingers over the symbol, feeling the magic it
contained. "Do you have a mentor in the arts if you don't mind me
asking."

"Only what Giles has taught me and. and my friend, Angel." Willow
stuttered slightly, the blush in her cheeks deepening. "He sends me
what he can get hold of."

Kat placed a finger under her chin and raised emerald eyes to her
own. Looking deep within as she had been taught, she recognised a
deeply ingrained natural talent for magic; a gift given only to one
born of true blood. <Then again, with hair and eyes like this, what
else could it be; This child is so obviously one of the Old Folks. >

Releasing her, the English girl stepped back. "Then will you accept
my offer as a mentor in the Wiccan crafts, Willow."

The redhead was completely taken aback by the unexpected offer and
showed it on her expressive face. "Do you mind if I talk this over
with my friends first."

"Not at all. I would expect nothing else of a girl brought up on a
Hellmouth." Kat grinned. "So shall we get down to this computer of
yours."

"The quicker we get it running, the quicker I can annoy Giles with
the information I can obtain." There was a decidedly impish glint to
Willow's green eyes.

<Now this I have really got to see. > Kat thought to herself as she
opened the doors to allow her technicians to bring the computer
equipment in. <Ripper Giles pushed around by a five foot nothing
where computers are concerned. Raven is never going to believe it. He
is just going to crack a rib in laughter. >

*/*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Part 3

"Hey Giles." Willow let herself into the former Watcher's
apartment. "Everything is set up and ready to go. I can start
cataloguing tomorrow if you want."

"The offer's appreciated, Willow but it can wait until Monday. I'm
not that mush of a slave driver." He came out of his kitchen grinning
and carrying cups of tea for himself and the redhead. "I still
believe this whole business could have waited until then. You could
have gone to LA with the others."

Willow actually shuddered in mock disgust. "Please, Giles, four days
in Hank Summers' company is not my idea of fun." She sat down in his
armchair, curling her legs underneath her. "Xander and Anya will
manage to lose themselves, but Buff would have expected me to spend
all my time with her and her dad. Complete shuddersville!"

"Surely you could have spent some time with Cordelia, Wesley and
Angel."

"Giles, you know the real reason why I stayed in Sunnydale." Willow
sipped her tea, grimacing. "Angel doesn't want me anywhere near LA at
the moment."

"Yes, I do recall him saying something of that nature. Something to
do with a witch-hunter and that firm of lawyers he has trouble with."
Giles also sat down. "So tell me, who did bring your blasted machine."

"Would you believe Kat Knight herself." Willow set her cup down, her
whole face growing animated. "Giles, you have so got to meet her.
Apart from the fact she's English of course, she helped me with that
research problem we were having."

Giles had a very strange look on his face. "Willow, do me a favour,
and yes, I know this is going to sound extremely strange but I need
you to describe this Kat Knight for me."

"Okay. Well, for a start, she's taller than I am, around five seven.
Chestnut hair that reaches half way down her back and hazel eyes.
Slender built but strong with it. Oh, and she's a witch, a pretty
powerful one as well. I like her, Giles."

Giles closed his eyes, almost as if he was in pain of some
kind. "Good God, it is her! Willow, please tell me you have her
number."

"Well, sure. Of course I have." Willow reached into her pocket and
pulled out a black business card with silver writing engraved on its
surface. "Giles, I know England is a pretty small place, but you
can't be saying that you know her. It would be way too much of a
coincidence."

"Willow, this is the Hellmouth. Fortunately or unfortunately,
anything is possible." The former Watcher replied as he took the card
from her. He picked up the phone and immediately dialled the number
on the card. "I would of thought that you in particular of all people
would have realised that by now."

The redhead merely stuck her tongue out at him and rose, heading for
the kitchen. "I'm always surprised, Giles. It keeps me on my toes."

He was about to reply but was thwarted by the phone being picked up
on the other end. He was even more surprised by the unexpected
greeting.

"Hello Rupert Giles, I've been expecting your call ever since I left
Willow."

"Katrina Knight, I presume."

"In the very flesh. Live, kicking and on your turf once again"

"Just you or are you both here."

"Are we talking Sunnydale or America `here'."

"I see you haven't lost your annoying habit of answering a question
with a question. Of course, I meant Sunnydale."

"Well, I'm here. R's in LA, doing something business-wise. Well, he
was the last time we spoke."

"Have him contact Angel Investigations. They may be of help."

"Friends of yours, Giles."

"Of a sort. Actually, they are more Willow's friends than mine.
Especially Angel."

"History?"

"Intense and way too long for the phone. We need to meet up, Kat."

"Give a time and a place. I'll be there."

"Library. One tomorrow."

"I'll be there with bells on. Blessed be, Rupert Giles."

"Walk in light, Katrina." He turned round and found Willow watching
him. "I take it you heard."

"Loud and clear." The redhead replied, pushing away from the
wall. "Our history's not the only one needing told here, Giles.
Especially as Kat's offered to teach me."

"Has she now. I'm not sure whether to be delighted with that piece of
information or severely worried at the idea of you spending time with
Kat."

"Well, while you think it over, I'm going back to the dorms."

"Be careful."

"Always."

 */*/*/*/*/*/*/*
Part 4

"Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless."

"Hi Cordy, it's me."

"Willow. You're late tonight. He's been doing the equivalent of
pacing the floor."

"Hah! I'll believe that when I see it. Put me through, I have news,
and don't listen in for a change. Angel will let you and Wes know all
the details."

"When did you get so bossy?"

"Cordelia."

"Alright, alright. I get the point. Gee, loosen up, Will."

"Cordy, will you just put me through to Angel please. After all, I
did ring to speak to him and not you."

"Well, since you ask so nicely. Hey boss man, it's your call."

There was a clicking sound and a familiar voice came across the line.

"Willow."

"For someone who's supposedly almost pacing the floor, you don't
sound too worried."

"Is that what Cordelia said." There was a rare note of laughter in
his voice.

"You could say that. So. were you."

"She was exaggerating as per normal. Want to tell me what's going on
back there to make you so late in calling."

"An old friend of Giles has turned up unexpectedly."

"Rayne?"

"No, thank goodness. Him, I can most definitely do without. Her
name's Katrina Knight and she's a witch. She owns a computer company
called Night Systems, no K."

"Both names seem familiar. Want me to look into it."

"No, don't think so. I'd have to pay you if you did."

"Very funny."

"I thought so. Giles trusts her from what I can see. Kat's even
offered to train me in the arts, Angel."

"I'll get Wesley to do it any way just to be sure."

"Angel." There was a slight note of resigned exasperation in her
voice, mixed with light laughter.

"Just to ease my mind, Will. Talking of easing my mind, have you
spoken to that errant childe of mine recently."

"Earlier this week. He's up to something, Angel, I'm sure of it. I
keep turning round expecting to find him there, and there was
something else."

"What?"

"For the first time ever, he never mentioned Dru."

"Call me the moment he turns up in Sunnydale, Will. I think it's time
Spike and I talked face to face."

"Angel, the last time you and Spike met, you destroyed my favourite
magic shop."

"Hey unfair little one. Buffy and those vampires attacking us had
just a little bit to do it with it as well. Besides both of us appear
to have changed since then."

"Well you definitely don't brood as much and you talk more. Not so
much Mr Cryptic, at least with me." Willow giggled.

"You've been talking to Spike way too much, Willow." Angel replied
dryly. "Beside, we aren't the only ones that have changed, are we?"

A knock at her door stopped her real response. "I have to go, Angel."

"You can't avoid this conversation forever, Will."

"I'm going to try. I'll call you tomorrow." Willow promptly rang off,
leaving a thwarted vampire hanging onto the other end of the phone.

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