Potential

By Kellie Mulder

email: iamkelliemulder@hotmail.com

Summary: After the final battle with the First, the Scoobies are on a bus
heading someplace safe and far from Sunnydale while in L.A., Angel and the
gang meet a newly awoken Potential. Plus the return of Spike!

Disclaimer- I don't own this. All credit goes to Joss, Mutant Enemy, Fox,
UPN and all the others who work on the shows.

Rate R for language and sexual situations.

Notes- I don't know much about the Angel finale so some parts might be mixed
up or off completely. This is a B/S ship but it will be some time before
they actually meet so bear with me okay? Also this is a couple of weeks
after the huge battle.

Feedback- Sure. Why not? I like fan inputs.

Distribution- Go right ahead but be sure to tell me where so I can give
updates.

++++++++++++++++++

Chapter One

The Sunnydale school bus pulled to a stop in front of a lonely gas station
in the desert highway. The potentials and the Scoobies stepped off, battle
weary and tired from their long trip. They have no idea where to go and they
don't care.

"Man, it great to get off that bus." commented Vi. She stretched and headed
for the station as Wood pulled the gas nozzle off its stand and puts it in
the gas tank the bus to fill it up. After all, they still have miles to go.

"Yeah. A girl needs some space to move around not to mentions some food to
work up some energy for later." Faith commented. She shot Wood a hot look
before she headed inside the store.

"Do you think they have any cheese chips?" Allie asked Rhonda as they walked
by.

"I don't know. I'm just hungry!" Rhonda commented.

"Hey!" Andrew yelled. He ran to catch up with them. "Wait for me!"

Kennedy and Willow shrugged and followed suit.

Xander stepped off and leaned against the bus near Wood. "You ever get the
feeling that we're going to be stuck with him for the rest of our lives." he
asked as he watched Andrew finally catch up with the girls.

"I don't know. Maybe he might just decide that he had enough and leave."
Wood said as he returned the nozzle. "You know live a normal life."

"Yeah. Just like someone else I know." Xander said looking back inside the
bus where Buffy, Dawn and Giles sat, talking quietly amongst themselves.
They're talking about what to do next, seeing how Buffy and Faith aren't the
only Slayers in the world.

Wood nodded in agreement. Suddenly the door flew open and Andrew ran out.
"Um, guys! The girls won't let me use the bathroom and I really have to go!"
he squirmed in uneasiness. "Plus, they are grabbing a bunch of chips and
sodas and candy.... Who is paying for this by the way?

Wood sighed and dug in his pocket for his wallet. "I guess I am."

"Cool." Andrew said before heading back inside the store. "Hey! I need to go
next...!"

Xander and Wood followed after him.

"So there are a lot of girls out there who need someone to guide them, to
tell them about their new powers and their mission." Giles explained to
Buffy.

"Giles..." Buffy sighed, as she rubbed her head. "I know...but I need some
time off. I need a break."

"Yeah. Buffy and the rest of us need a small vacation before we start up on
the whole fighting evil thing. I mean we just defeated the First." she
glanced over at Buffy a hopeful look in her eyes. "I mean the baddies should
simmer down some right?"

"I don't know Dawnie." Buffy said quietly. She brushed her sister hair back.
"I really don't know."

She smiled softly. "Maybe you should go get something to eat. I hear that
Wood is paying for it."

Dawn smiled and rushed off the bus.

Giles sighed and moved in the seat in front of Buffy. He looked at her,
seeing how tired she is but willing to keep a straight face to continue on.
"Buffy...how are you feeling?"

"I'm fine. Just...fine." she finished after not being able to think of a
witty comment.

Giles didn't comment. Buffy has seemed to be a bit rusty on her comebacks.
She's been like that ever since the battle with the First and Caleb, since
the closing of the Hellmouth and the loss of some of the potentials and
Spike. He knew it shouldn't but it pained him to think of Spike's sacrifice
for the world. Spike the vampire, once the Big Bad of Sunnydale proved to be
a champion and closed the Hellmouth.

"Buffy... if you ever want to talk or-or anything..."

"I'm fine. Just a bit tired. I think I'll rest for a while." Buffy
interrupted.

"Yes. Of course." Giles said, standing up. He headed off the bus, leaving
Buffy to her thoughts. Buffy grabbed her coat and Dawn's using them as a
pillow and a blanket she used to cover her head and drown out the light so
no one could see her tears.

+++++++++++++++

Meanwhile is L.A. the Angel crew are packing to move to their new offices at
Wolfram and Hart, the law firm that had been a pain in their side since the
beginning but are now allies of sorts with Angel. As of now, the crew
consists of Angel, Wesley, Gunn, Fred and Lorne. Cordy is in the hospital in
a deep coma from the attack she launched on the Angel crew due to being
controlled. The doctors don't have any idea when she'll wake up but they
have little hope that she will anytime soon.

"It's strange that I won't see this place anymore." Fred said as she lifted
a box.

"Why is that?" Gunn asked, taking the box for her.

"It's just...this place..." Fred looked around before sighing and looking up
at Gunn. "This was home for me. And I haven't had a place to call home for a
long time. You know the whole falling into another dimension and being a cow
for a couple of years."

"Yes, well I suppose we just have to have a new home...with Wolfram and
Hart." Wesley said as he walked up with another box. "That sounded awfully
strange didn't it?"

"Very." Gunn agreed.

"Guys, you ready to head out." Angel asked quietly as he headed out in the
night. He's been like that for some time now. The crew has no idea why and
when they ask, he just says that he's upset about Cordy but they sense that
he isn't telling the whole truth. "Lilah wants us settled by tomorrow night
so we better get a move on."

"Sure." Gunn said as he headed out.

"Where is Lorne?" Fred asked as she walked out the door.

"I hear he went ahead. He wanted to look the place over to see if he can get
his decorator in before tomorrow." Wesley explained as he followed her. He
closed the door behind him for the final time.

++++++++++++++++++++++++

Out in the streets a young girl walks alone and near the shadows of the
night. She looks to be eighteen, dressed in a black tank and tight red jeans
with boots; her hair is braided down to mid back. She has light brown skin
with blue eyes thanks to contacts and she's whistling a hauntingly sweet
tune as she walks. As she passes a dark alley, a vampire steps out and
follows a meter behind her. The girl seems to not notice.

The vampire grinned hungrily pleased that its meal doesn't know that it's on
the menu and sped up its walking so that it was right behind her. He snarled
and whipped her around, showing his sharp teeth, waiting to hear the sharp
scream before biting down. So when all he heard was a chuckle, he pulled
away and growled.

"What are you laughing at little bitch?" he growled, his yellow eyes
flashing angrily.

"I'm sorry." the girl said, biting her lip to keep from laughing. "Okay try
again."

The vampire leaned forward menacingly. Another chuckle broken his
concentration. "What now?"

"It's just..." the girl said, wiping he eyes. "I can't seem to get the fear
factor here. You don't have it. It's harsh but true. Bob Barker is scarier
than you are and he's old!"

"I'm a vampire!" he roared and backhanded her.

She stepped back and grinned like the Chester cat. She punched him in the
nose and kicked him in the building. Spotting a bar nearby she grabbed it,
tearing it out of the wall and stabbed him through so that he was stuck to
the wall. He screamed in pain and only stopped cause she stuck a piece of
wood in his mouth to shut him up.

"Yeah I heard it before...undead bloodsucker, walking the world causing
death and mayhem to the hapless humans..." the girl said, bored. She reached
for something in her tank. "But..." she pulled out a stake and twirled it
for good measure. "I can't let that happen. And you're just boring shit."

She stabbed him in the chest and he fell to dust.

She waved a hand in her face to warn away the dust. "Dust in the wind." she
commented. She turned around and let out a small eep! at the woman standing
in front of her. "God Damn, don't do that! You scared me half to death!"

The woman with short brown hair and a pressed suit smiled at her. "I'm
surprised that someone like you can be scared that easily when I clearly saw
you stake that vampire so easily."

"Yeah well..." the girl said sheepishly. "So what is a suit like you doing
out on the street like this?"

"Looking for you."

"Really?" the girl quirked a pierced eyebrow skeptically.

"Yes. I heard rumors that there was someone with powers that surpass normal
humans who fights against the evils of the streets. I wanted to see if it
was true."

"I'm known? Hell yeah!" the girl smirked. She held open her arms. "Like what
you see?"

"Very much." the woman said. She held out a hand. "I'm Lilah Morgan. I work
for Wolfram and Hart, its a law firm in upper Los Angeles."

"I'm Ceres Vergere." the girl said, slapping Lilah's hand in a way of
greeting. "

"Would you let to go someplace to talk?" Lilah asked, motioning to the limo
that is waiting in the middle of the street.

"You buying?" Ceres asked as she opened the door and climbed in.

Chapter Two

Ceres walked in her dark studio apartment and let out a sigh of relief as
she closed the door and leaned against it. What a night! She staked ten
vampires, killed some kind of reptilian monster that was eating people's
pets as they walked them and now she has a meeting tomorrow night at some
law firm in upper class L.A. with some kind of 'special interest' people.

She pushed off the door and pulled out all the stakes hidden on her body,
five to count, a sharp knife from her thigh and a cutting wire hidden as a
necklace, putting them on the table. She headed for the bathroom to wash off
the dust she had collected with tonight's patrol. As she started the shower
she thought back tonight's meeting.

Lilah turned out to be a lawyer for a huge law firm that take cases from the
upper class citizens and it seemed that they have taken a special keen to
her. Lilah said that she wants her to meet someone important and would pay
for her time.

Ceres didn't know why they have a special keen to her but she needed the
money. She showered and dressed in her nightwear, a tank and biker shorts
with her wet hair twisted in a bun so it's out of her way. She headed for
her bed when the door opened and a man stumbled in.

"Randal!" Ceres shrieked before she walked over and picked him off the
ground. "What the hell did you do this time?" She asked as she led him to
the bed.

"Nuthin'. At least I thought nuthin' but it seems that someone thought I did
sumthin' and decide to beat me to a bloody pulp." Randal said. He hissed
when she dropped him on the bed before pulling him to a sitting position
where she check on his face, frowning at the bruises that were already
forming on his sharp cheekbones and pale skin. She brushed his light brown,
lightly curled hair out of the way to look at the cut on his eyebrow. It
looked like it might scar.

"Well it looks like they did a pretty good job at it." she commented. She
stood up and headed to the refrigerator and grabbed the ice packs she kept
for the situations like this. She also grabbed the first aid kit.

"These are merely flesh wounds." he said proudly. "You should see the
others."

"What ever happened to the quiet man I found on the streets?" Ceres sighed
woefully before smiling as she kneeled in front of him to patch up that cut
on the eyebrow. She had found Randal half dead on the streets one night when
she was walking home. This was right after she discovered that she changed
for the better.

"He's grown up and found bigger, badder pastures to roam." Randal said
before Ceres slapped the ice on his left cheek. "OW! That hurt!"

"Tough love baby." she said, holding the ice in place.

Randal is different than other guys she's known...of course she hasn't
picked up guys crying in the streets and takes them home with her. She
helped the best she could...the best she knew how, feeding him when he
couldn't feed himself; giving him clothes when she found out that the black
clothes he was wearing were all he owned. Holding him at night when he had
nightmares she didn't understand or when he cried for a lost love that he
didn't know of anymore.

At times, he never makes a sound, holding himself aloof to the world while
at others he doesn't seem to shut up or stay out of trouble. Two sides of
the same coin...

"So you want to share what happened?" she asked after awhile.

"Not at this moment when you're brutalizing me!"

"Wuss." she growled playfully. "Fine. I'll tell you mine. I staked ten vamps
and killed a pet-eating demon."

"Had to save the puppies and kittens huh?"

"Your point being?" Ceres quirked her eyebrow.

"Anything else happen?"

"I met this lawyer woman. Apparently she's heard of me on the streets. You
know of me fightin' against the big evils." Ceres said. "She wants me to
meet her 'special interest group' " she put air quotes in the air with her
fingers. "Whatever that is tomorrow night."

"Tell me you're not thinking about going." When Ceres didn't answer Randal
took off the ice pack. "What have I told you about the evils of lawyers?
Don't you listen woman?"

"Like you who know! You don't even know your own name or your past...!" she
stopped when she saw the hurt in his eyes and knew she put her foot in her
mouth. He turned away from her and stood up.

"Right then. No need to listen to me." he stated, his voice quivering.
"After all, I'm just a pity case right? Just some man from the streets you
picked up." He walked over to the window and looked out.

"That's not it and you know it!" Ceres spoke up irritated. She huffed,
giving a five-minute time out for the both of them. Gods, he is such
melodramatic! She wondered where he picked it up from before she walked over
and wrapped her arms around his tightly muscled waist. "Randal...listen you
are more than that. You are my friend, my protector, teacher...someone who I
have grown attached to over the last couple of weeks."

"I don't know your past and I don't care. I don't know your future and I can
care less." Randal sighed heavily before turning around to hug his friend.
"Listen. If you don't want me to go then I won't. But this Liliah is paying
me to meet 'em and maybe to talk with 'em... And you know we need the money.
All the booze and cigarettes don't appear out of thin air you know."

"I don't like people who manipulate others is all." he said.

"You can come with and find out for yourself."

"I just might."

They smiled at the silliness of the situation and went to bed, Randal
sleeping on the pull out couch and Ceres sleeping on the bed, not knowing
that tomorrow will change everything they have ever known.



TBC

_________________________________________________________________

Konichiwa.
Here is a new chapter for the fic Potential. I would've sent it in earlier
but I wanted to make sure that it was okay. Also I'll send in the next
chapter sometime this week cuz I'm almost done with it.
Until next time!
Kellie Mulder

Author Notes: Here you go peeps. A brand spanking new chapter. Thanks for
waiting and I hope you peeps will like it. Send more feedback...I've grown
to like them.

Chapter Three

It's a dream.
That's the only thing Ceres can think of as she watches the gang of
vampires surround her, their feral yellow eyes and sharp canines shine in
the dimly lit street and their knotted skulls shadowing their faces. There
are eight of them, all male and looking at her hungrily as food and
sexually. One with a ponytail steps forward, an air of confidence and
danger hanging around him.
"It's late for such a tasty girl," he licking his lips as the others grin
and snicker. Ah, he must be the leader of this group. "Like you to be
walking around at this time of night."
'Thanks for the warning mate." she says, annoyed. But why does it
sound.... off. It's her voice and her mouth is moving but its different.
"I'll keep it in mind next time."
"There won't be a next time." The lead vamp growls. He motioned for two
vampires to approach her with a jerk of his head. "It's dinnertime."
They attack. And she dusts them easily.
Dusting herself off, she taunts them as she pulls out another stake. "That
the best you can do? This is a sodding waste of my time."
The leader growls and yelled at the others. "Get that smart mouth bitch!"
"Actually I prefer smart-ass." she quips as she kicks a vampire in the
groin and another in the jaw. "Come on mates; give me some bloody
competition!"
The fight seemed surreal. She had these moves that she didn't know she had
and the techquie is picture perfect...years after years of perfection. It's
almost like a dance. She hasn't seen a dance quite like this. She dusted
five of them within a couple of minutes without breaking a sweat.
But this dance has a broken rythm, she notices. She missed a step and the
vampire leader manages to hit her squarely in the jaw and she flies back and
hits the wall, hard. She lays there for a bit as the vampires get closer,
thinking that he won. She looked up, her jaw throbbing. He stood in front
of her, a gloating smile on his face.
"Lookie here. I think little Miss Muffin bit off more than she can chew."
he sneers.
Ceres vision ran red. She's not a girly girl! She jumped up and grabs the
vampire by the neck, holding him off the ground by two inches. "Who the
bloody hell are you calling a muffin!?" she yells before breaking his neck.
It didn't kill him, only paralyzed him.
With renewed energy, she finished off the other vampires quickly before she
stood over the vampire she crippled as he stared up at her fearfully.
"W-who are y-you?" he asks.
She looks up at the rapidly lighting sky as the sun starts rise over the
city before smiling like the Chester cat. "I'm the Slayer." she says as if
it were a huge secret. The vampire screamed in painful horror as the sun
touches him, igniting him. His screams drowned out the rest of what she was
saying.

++++++++++++++++++++++

Ceres jumped awake and sat up, sweating glistening off her skin. She
looked around the room, trying to pinpoint a strange thumping sound that
drowned out everything else. It was loud and fast, a tempo that she heard
before but couldn't remember where. She closed her eyes and cleared her
mind, using her senses to find the sound when she realized what it was.
She put her hand over her heart and yes it was pounding away as if she ran
a 2K marathon. She concentrated on relaxing, and the sound faded from her
hearing. She knew what caused the reaction. It was the dream.
The dream was strange...stranger than the others. She isn't sure why she's
been having them. Is it part of the package of having the super strength,
the agility and ability to fight against the demons of the city at night?
But something else bothered her more.
Why did she call herself the Slayer?
What is a Slayer?
The name brought a sense of familiarity and rightness to her. A sense of
power and worth. Like she was something special.
"What a crock." she muttered. She didn't need a purpose in her life. Life
is about surviving and having fun while you do it. It didn't matter if
there was any purpose at all. She is but one girl as so many others in the
world. And she wants to stay that way.
The bathroom door opened and Randal stepped out, damp with a towel wrapped
around his slim hips. His hair were in wet ringlets piled atop his head.
"Oh. You're finally awake." he commented as he walked past her and headed
for the closet where his clothes hung. He turned back to her, holding a
blue muscle shirt and black jeans.
"What do you mean finally?" Ceres asked, as she adverted her eyes so she
wouldn't see his washboard abs. 'Stop ogling at Randal. He's like a-a
brother for crying out loud! And ew!' "It's still early."
"Yeah, if you live in China." he said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.
"It's almost noon."
"What!?" Ceres reached for her alarm clock on the ground. She must have
knocked it over while sleeping. She looked at the time. "Shit! The meeting
is at 1'o clock and all the way across town." She climbed out of the bed
and rushed to her dresser to grab her clothes and headed for the bathroom.
"Why didn't you wake me!" she yelled as she slammed the door.
"Oh gee, let me think..." Randal said, getting dressed. "Because you
threatened physical harm if I ever touched you in bed, you are a pain to
wake up and oh yeah...you didn't tell me too!" he yelled.
He finished dressing and ran his fingers through his wet hair. It curled
wildly as he looked at himself in the mirror on the dresser. "Let's take a
look at that battle wound from yesterday." he said to himself. Carefully,
he removed the bandage from over his left eyebrow. The cut is red and
scabbed over. "Yep. It's going to scar." he looked closer. "But hey, it
makes me look more dangerous."
Smirking, he grabbed some gel and ran it through his hair for a slicked
back yet slightly curled look that enhanced his already punk look. He has
thought of bleaching his hair though... Seeing Ceres black nail polish, he
grabbed it and thought for second about painting his nails before he shook
his head and put it back.
"Men don't wear nail polish." he said, looking at his reflection. "Unless
you're in a band or on television."
"Are you talking to yourself again Randal?" Ceres said as she walked out of
the bathroom, fully dressed with her hair still wet. "That's a sign of going
mental."
"Yeah you should know." Randal commented dryly.
"Hey. Having narcolepsy and going mental are two totally different
things!" Ceres grabbed her boots and sat on the bed to put them on. "It's a
brain thing and not my fault that I wake up in strange places with no idea
how I got there." she finished, glaring at him.
"Easy down Ceres." Randal said holding up his hands in surrender. He sat
next to her. "So...how bout you tell me about his lawyer woman."

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Angel and Lilah are talking about
their new business relationship. His team would have offices in the
building as well as access to many of Wolfram and Hart's many sources during
a case. When Wolfram and Hart ever needed Angel's help, he would answer
their call, for whatever reason it may be.
"So we are in agreement?" Lilah asked, her hands folded on her desk as she
watched Angel study the contract in front of him.
"Yeah we are." Angel said. He looked up from the contract. "But if I see
anything supicoius or going against my team, the deal is off."
"Of course." Lilah agreed. She held out a pen. "We wouldn't do anything to
jepordize our newfound friendship."
"I'm not your friend." Angel said as he grabbed the pen. "And I don't trust
you."
"Alliances are rarely about trust." Lilah said.
Angel didn't answer as he signed the contract. He stood up and left the
office. He headed for his office down the hall and slammed the door when he
entered the room. The sunlight shone in brightly, harmless to him because
of special windows the firm had installed for his sake.
As he stood in full sunlight, the light warming him, he sighed. He glanced
over at his answer machine, wanting to see a red light blinking but didn't.
It had been a couple of days since he has heard from Buffy.
She had called once before at the hotel, days before they left and told him
that they had defeated the First. She hadn't said much about the fight and
he didn't push. So when she said that they were coming to L.A. to rest up
and to decide on what to do next, he offered them a warm welcome to his
place when the call was disconnected for some reason.
He hasn't heard a word from her since and it troubles him.

++++++++++++++++++

Downstairs in the lobby, Wesley, Gunn and Fred are heading out for lunch.
They had just spent the last hour looking over Lorne's new office. It was
vibrate with colors and weird yet tasteful decorations and Lorne absolutely
loved it.
"I think I'm color blind now." Gunn said. "It's like everything is
paler...."
"I agree." Wesley said. "I seem to see nothing but black and white
and....oh my god...."
He stopped in place as he saw a man dressed in black with curly brown hair
and sharp cheekbones in a leather trench walking aside a young girl in a
plaid miniskirt, black tank and knee high boots with a waist length leather
coat on her shoulders. She was smiling up at him as they walked by. It's
Ceres and Randal.
"Wesley?" Fred asked softly. "What is it?"
"I-I, um I thought I saw a vampire..." he stuttered. He took off his
glasses and cleaned them before putting them back on to look. Ceres and
Randal stopped at the elevator.
"A vampire? Now, in the middle of the day?" Gunn asked as he looked out
the windows to see a bright sunny day before looking back at Wesley. "I
think you're trippin'."
Wesley tore his glaze away from Ceres and Randal. "I beg your pardon?" he
asked startled.
"Never mind." Gunn said, waving his hand in the air. "What vampire?"
"Over there by the elevators." Wesley said as he pointed out Ceres and
Randal to Gunn and Fred. "That man there, I'm pretty sure, is William the
Bloody. He's also know as Spike and is part of Angel's vampire family. But
he looks...different."
"How can he be in the sun?" Fred asked as she watched the two interact.
Ceres was laughing at something Randal said before pushing him lightly.
Randal pushed back and soon there was a pushing war. It ended up with Ceres
in headlock. "And what kind of vampire plays around with a girl that young?"
"I don't know but I'm going to find out." Wesley said. He looked at Gunn.
"I'm going to follow them. You go find Angel and tell him that Spike is
here."
"Sure thing." Gunn said.
"What about me?" Fred asked. "What do I do?"
"You have any stakes or anything?"
"Oh." Fred said, looking into her bag. "I have a stake and a cross." She
pulled them out.
"Okay. You can come with me...unless you want to go with Gunn."
Fred looked between Gunn and Wesley. Part of her wants to play it safe and
go with Gunn to get Angel but another part of her, a big part, wants to get
in on the action and see if that man is Spike, the vicious vampire she has
heard so much about. She chewed her bottom lip before deciding. "I'll go
with you." she said to Wesley. Wesley nodded. He led the way and she
followed.

TBC

_________________________________________________________________

Potential
By Kellie Mulder
email: iamkelliemulder@hotmail.com <mailto:iamkelliemulder@hotmail.com>

Summary: After the final battle with the First, the Scoobies are on a bus
heading someplace safe and far from Sunnydale while in L.A., Angel and the
gang meet a newly awoken Potential. Plus the return of Spike!

Disclaimer- I don't own this. All credit goes to Joss, Mutant Enemy, Fox,
UPN and all the others who work on the shows.

Rate R for language and sexual situations.

Feedback- Sure. Why not? I like fan inputs.

Distribution- Go right ahead but be sure to tell me where so I can give
updates.

Notes- I know its been a really long time since I've updated but there is a
good explanation for that. My computer was down and I couldn't get my
chapters up. But I'll make up for it okay? Okay.

Chapter Four

In a far off place, the school bus is on the highway heading...well they don't know where to go. Buffy, Giles and the Scoobies are talking to Wood and Faith on where to go. Wood and Faith and Buffy want to head to L.A. and Giles and the Scoobies want to head somewhere else. In fact, a couple of days earlier Buffy had called Angel and told them that they were going to head to L.A.. They just haven't gone in that direction.

"But we wouldn't know what to do when we go east." Wood said over his shoulder as he drove. Behind him, the group sit so he can still be involved.

"He's right. At least if we head to L.A., Angel and the others can house us until we figure out what to do from there." Faith said, her arms crossed.

"L.A. is too dangerous." Giles said. "The girls aren't ready to face the many demons that are there."

"Yeah...what if we are attacked by an-an army of super bads." Andrew said timidly.

"Andrew shut up." Dawn said, sitting next to him. Andrew sulked.

"Giles, they have just faced the First and it's army." Buffy said quietly. She looked back at the Slayers as they talked quietly or slept. They have been on the road for weeks now and still have no idea where they are going. "We need a place to rest and recover. With Angel, we can at least have something..."

"But--" Xander spoke up. "Are you sure with Angel? Last I heard...he wasn't doing all that good."
"We're going to L.A." Buffy said. She dared anyone to challenge her with her eyes and no one said anything. "Okay then it's settled. The next place we stop, I'll call Angel and tell him we're coming...again."

They broke up the meeting and went back to their seats.

Dawn got up and headed for the back to chat with the Slayers, most whom are still healing from the battle. Andrew pulled out his video camera. He had stashed it in a duffel bag along with some of his other stuff like his flute and his Doctor Who season three DVD's and managed to keep it with him throughout the battle. With no one wanting to talk to him, he talks into the camera.

"It's been a couple of weeks since my hometown Sunnydale, was destroyed." Andrew started, holding the camera some distance away. "It's been a couple of weeks since I lived on a school bus. I wish it had a small tv, you know those ones that tours buses have, the one ones that can play dvds, cuz I haven't seen my Doctor Who season three yet and it sucks." He sighed and pointed the camera towards the rest of the bus. "Right now, I'm going to tell you what has happened to everyone since the um, defeat of the First."

"I think those two are an item now. Faith and Wood I mean." he said as he pointed the camera to them. "They are always together and they argue all the time." Faith sat behind Wood, talking quietly in his ear. "So yeah, they are a couple."

Going towards the back, he continued to narrate as he focuses on Willow and Kennedy, snuggling. "And you know these two have grown closer. And Willow seems finally at peace with herself. That spell she did, the one that awoke all the potentials and turned them into Slayers, made her more balanced and more powerful. Maybe some day I'll ask her to teach me."

He turns the camera towards Xander, who is sitting alone, looking out the window. "And there is Xander. As you can see, he is sitting alone and looking out the window. Sure that is pretty much all you can do but...." he zooms in on Xander's face. "You see the lines under his eye, the slightly downward curve on his lip. Xander is in mourning. Anya....Anya died in the battle." Andrew hesitanted when he said Anya's name. "She saved me and I am
eternally grateful." the camera turned back to Andrew's face. "And I mean really grateful. I didn't get a chance to tell her, but I really liked her. She was, I guess, something like a friend. I hope she thought of me something like a friend. I miss her."

The camera turned back and focused on the Slayers and Dawn. They're giggling and playing some kind of card game. "There are the Slayers. And Dawn. It looks like they're playing poker or gin rummy. Either way, if there is betting involved, you know that Dawn will win. She's pretty good at those games and always cleans me out. Luckily for me, she doesn't like my dvds or wanted my flute. But she does own my soul and I owe her a
lifetime supply of M&M's."

"The Slayers are doing okay. We lost some of them in the battle, like Amanda. I liked her, she was fun. But....They are wondering when they can go home and Buffy says as soon as they heal fully. She wants to make sure that when they do leave, they leave at full strength and ready to take on the evil of the world. Rhonda still has on her cast and Vi has a cut on her neck. It won't leave a scar so she's lucky."

"Oh and that is Mr. Giles." the camera pointed to Giles who is reading a book he had bought at the last stop they made. He had earplugs in as well to drown out the girl's complaints as Dawn won another hand in cards. "He plans on going back to England to start up the Watcher's Council again as soon at the Slayers are sent back to their homes. He has asked if the others want to go with him but right now, it's still in debate."

Andrew focused his camera at last on Buffy, who sat in the very back of the bus, curled up under her jacket. Her right hand was hidden under the jacket and Andrew knew why. It's still healing from burns she received during the final fight against the First. She hasn't told anyone when she got them nor has a explaination to why they aren't healed yet. Buffy stared out the window, her eyes looking at the scenery but not seeing it.

"There's Buffy. She stopped another apoclaspe with everyone's help...which is a good thing cuz that means that the world continues to turn and people can go on living their normal everyday lives. Right now we're headed to L.A....there's a group of people there that are on our side and help against all the forces of evil and all."

"She's sad. I mean, she tries her best to stay involved with the group and lead us but...something is bothering her. I'm not really sure if its because we lost people in the fight...like Anya, or Amanda or-or Spike...." Andrew broke off, a pang of grief going through him as he thought of his, he hoped, friend before he sighed and continued his voice getting stronger as he spoke with certaincy. "But she'll pull through. I know it. It'll just take some time...for all of us."

Andrew switched off the camera and sat back in his seat.

"That's a wrap." he said to himself.

+++++++++++++++++

The ding of the elevator signaled its arrival and Randal let go of Ceres' head from the headlock. She glared at him before she slapped him upside the head and jumped in the elevator. Randal rubbed his head and walked in before turning to Ceres, who already pressed the floor level.

"What floor are we going to anyways?" he asked.

"Um, floor twenty three." Ceres chirped as she started making obscene gestures at the security camera.

"What are you doing?" Randal asked as he watched her.

"Making their day."

"I'm sure that the guys are just waiting for some girl to come along and---" he stopped when a slim dark haired girl and a dark haired man in glasses stepped in the elevator with them.

Ceres looked them over before she shrugged and leaned against the wall besides Randal. The doors closed and they started going up. No one said a thing and the silence started to drag. Ceres poked Randal in the ribs and said something in his ear.

Wesley and Fred watched the two across of them, nervously. Wesley cleared his throat and was about to say something when Ceres started to sing, "Hey little sister what have you done? Hey little sister who's the only one? Hey little sister who's your Superman? Hey little sister one's the one you want?"

"It's a nice day for a---white wedding."

"It's a nice day to---start again---"

"Why do you always sing that idiotic song?" Randal interrupted. Ceres looked at him like he grew two heads. "What do you mean idiotic? It's White Wedding by the one and only Billy Idol, one of the greatest rock stars of all time, FYI!"

"He's a glory hound. I take the Ramones over Billy Idol any day." Randal defended his choice. Ceres grinned as she punched him in the arm."You only don't like him cause I say you look like him like all the time."

Ceres looked over at Wesley and Fred who were watching in disbelief at the two. "Hey you two think he looks somewhat like Billy Idol huh? Just some bleach and he would be a carbon copy right?"

"I do not!"

Fred looked at Randal and thought of Billy Idol. "I think he would." she said, nodding.

Wesley looked flustered when Ceres turned her attention on him. He was supposed to scucrulizing her, not the other way around. "I, um, I don't know of this Billy chap. I, uh--"

"No shit!" Ceres said. She put her hands on her hips. "I can't believe you! You're British!"

"What she means is that he's British, so you should know him since you're from the same country." Randal explained at the confused Wesley and Fred.

He held out his hand. "I'm Randal, Ran for short. This crazy girl is Ceres."

"Oh. I'm Wesley Wyham-Pryce." Wesley shook Ran's hand and noted with surprise that it was warm. When he shook Ceres' hand, it was cool. "Your hand is cool."

"Air conditioner." Ceres shrugged before waving to Fred.

"I'm Fred." Fred said as she held out her hand which Ran instantly kissed.

"Charmer." Ceres grumbled as she leaned against the wall. "Ignore him. He's not as smooth as he seems."

"I am too!"

"Not even. You sir, are a loyal puppy looking for its owner. Since the first time we met in the alley, well not the first cause you were sorta like, out of it. But when you finally got your senses back, you haven't stopped checking out every girl who has crossed your path to see if she is "the one"," she said, making quote marks in the air.

Ran protested when the elevator stopped.

The elevator doors opened and a hand reached in and grabbed Ran roughly before pulling him out and threw him against the far wall. Before Ran could being his bearings, he was being held off the ground against the wall by a man with dark eyes and dark hair dressed in black.

Angel gave no give to him, his arm pressed tightly against his throat as Ran squirmed and tried to get some air. Panic was setting in as his vision blurred and darken. Angel felt a torrid of emotions run through him as he looked at his grandchilde. He looked the same, smelled the same but something is...off.

"Randal!" Ceres cried out, as she ran out the doors. She was grabbed by a black man with a crossbow. "Let me go, goddamn it!"

"No way." Gunn said. Fred and Wesley rushed out of the elevator. "So what's the dirt?"

"He's human." Wesley stated just as Angel understood and dropped him.



Chapter 5

"Let me go!" Ceres grabbed Gunn's arm and give a twist, making Gunn cry out. She threw him off her, sending him flying towards the wall some feet away. Ceres ran to Ran's side, skidding to a stop on her knees. She glared at Angel, who stepped back, his face a mixture of shock and anger, as he watched Ceres try to get Randal to respond.

"Ran? Randal, come on, please?" Ceres tried, slapping him lightly on the cheek. "Wake up damn it! You can't leave me...not now!" She shook him before sighing, She brought back her hand and slapped him hard across the cheek. She clutched her hand as Ran cried out.

"What the hell was that for?" he exclaimed as he held his cheek.

"To wake your lazy ass up." Ceres said as she held her hand. "Shit, you have a hard head."

"I thought you said I had a hard body?"

"Get over yourself Adonis."

"What do you mean?" Gunn said to Wesley, turning his attention away from Ran and Ceres. "I thought you said that he was a vampire."

"He is...or was..." Wesley tried to explain. "He looks like Spike..."

"Could it be that you were mistaken?" Fred asked softly. Wesley looked at her hurt. "I mean, he could look like Spike but isn't? Like a twin?"

"No." They turned to Angel, who continued to stare at Ran and Ceres as they climbed to their feet. "No. It's him. I know it. He smells the same..."

"But how?"

Angel shook his head before walking away. "Angel?"

"Hey!" he stopped at Ceres voice. "What's your deal huh? You attack unsuspecting people and walk away like it's nothing. Finish what you start bloody pounce!"

Ceres took a step towards Angel with Ran but stopped when Lilah stepped out of the elevator with some other lawyers. "Oh there you are. I was being to wonder if you would ever show." she said as she walked over.

"Yeah well, we hit a nasty snag along the way." Ceres said with a hint of anger in her voice. "Isn't that right Angel?" she asked, looking over Lilah's shoulder.

"Angel?" Lilah said in surprise before looking behind her and saw nothing.

Angel had taken off.

+++++++++++++++++

"So um, how does this work?" Xander asked as they headed up the stairs of the building of Wolfram and Hart. "Angel is head of this place?"

"That's what he told me in our last phone call." Buffy said as they entered the building. "Before we were cut off."

"He's certainly climbed up the ladder, didn't he?" Giles said as he looked at the large, open spaced enterance.

"Yeah, I would say so." Xander agreed. He and Giles stepped behind Buffy as she stopped in front of the information desk.

"Excuse me but does Angel work here?" she asked the woman behind the desk.

"No visitors unless you have an appointment." the woman said in a no nonsense voice as she continued to type on the computer in front of her.

"We have an appointment." Buffy said. The woman looked up at her with disbelief. "Look under Buffy Summers."

"Fine." she sighed before she typed Buffy Summers on her computer and with surprise found Buffy Summers in red which meant she was very important.

"Floor 28 and have a nice day." she said cheerfully, no hint of her earlier hostility.

Xander had to hide his snicker as they walked away and headed for the elevators. When they out hearing range, he said, "Score one for the Buffster!"

Buffy smiled before licking her index finger and made a mark in the air.

They entered the elevator and pressed for floor 28.

Meanwhile in Angel's office, the gang are talking about the recent reappearance of Spike. Fred and Wesley are explaining what they knew of the pair. "Apparently they met in an alley some time ago. She took care of him." Wesley said to Angel who is sitting behind his desk, his hands crossed and against his mouth. Angel hasn't spoken much since the run in except to ask what Wesley found out. "He wasn't in control of all his senses from what
she has said."

"Are they together?" Angel asked, silently dreading the answer.

Wesley paused before saying confidently. "I daresay not."

"They act more like friends than anything else." Fred added. "I didn't see anything that would hint on a physical relationship between the two."

Angel nodded, the relief leaking out of him. He would hate to explain to Buffy that Spike is alive and is with another woman or a girl for that matter who is years younger than her. He frowned as he asked Gunn, "Gunn, you were thrown off the girl right?"

"Yeah. She threw me off like I was nothing." Gunn said. "Why?"

"Just something seems off." Angel said quietly. The buzzer on his desk rang.

"Excuse me sir, but a Buffy Summers has arrived with some company." the voice announced.

Angel sighed pushed back from his desk.

"Oh dear." Wesley said. "If Buffy is here then that means..."

"No one tells her about Spike." Angel said. When the others looked at him surprised, he explained. "I want to be sure that it is him and not some carbon copy. If she finds out that he's alive but doesn't know who he is..."

"I understand." Fred said. "She has had it pretty rough these few weeks."

Angel nodded and looked to the others for agreement. Gunn nodded and so did Wesley. "Okay then. If you guys want you can stay here to hear from Buffy."

The doors opened and Buffy with Xander and Giles walked in.

++++++++++++

"So do we have a deal?" Lilah asked the pair in front of her. Ceres looked over the contract one more time before handing it to Ran. "I assure you that this contract will be more to your benefit than--"

"Yeah yeah." Ceres interrupted, waving her hand in the air. "That's what everyone says when they want something from someone else. Listen, I've been on my own for a couple of years and I know that I can't trust anyone but myself. This contract," she grabbed the contract for Ran's hand. "makes me your pawn to be used and discarded when I'm not needed anymore."

"That's not true." Lilah denied. "This contract gives you pay for doing what you are doing. Killing the demons that attack innocent people on the street."

"And to kill off whatever you sent her after." Ran said, breaking in the conversation. "Basically, she's an hired assassin and bodyguard."

Lilah opened her mouth to protest before she sat back. They figured it out even through the technically of the contract. Apparently they are smarter than they look. But what they said next surprised her and made her smile.

"But the pay is good and I see nothing that doesn't say that I attack humans soooo...I'm game." Ceres said.

"I am too." Ran said. "She's not going anywhere without me."

Ceres grabbed a pen and signed her name and tossed the pen on the desk. "So. What's next?"

Lilah grabbed the contract and put it in a file in her desk. She shut the drawer. "We go see the head of the company." she said. She stood up. "If you please follow me."

Ceres and Ran motioned for her to lead the way.

+++++++++++++++++

"Hello Buffy." Wesley greeted. "Mr. Giles, Xander."

"Hello Wesley." Buffy greeted softly. She looked at the others in the room before she stopped at Angel who stood up. "Angel."

"Buffy." Angel said. He cleared his throat and introduced Gunn and Fred.

"This is Fred and Gunn. They work with me. Um, guys this is Buffy, Giles and Xander."

"Hi. It's nice to meet all of you." Fred said cheerfully, offering them a small wave.

"So this is Buffy." Gunn stated, looking her over. It's hard to believe that such a small woman fights against evil. "The Slayer? Cool."

"So, you have control of this place?" Xander asked, breaking the tension that could be felt. "Pretty sweet if you ask me."

"How is everyone?" Angel asked. "Are they--?"

"They're fine. A bit tired and homesick but that can be expected from what they've been through." Buffy said. "You said over the phone that you can give us a place to stay until they heal?"

"Yeah. You can stay as long as you want." Angel said quickly which cause Fred and Gunn to smile.

Buffy smiled. "Thanks. The girls are just really tired on being on the road. This could really help. Meanwhile, Giles wants to start looking for the other Slayers, starting in L.A."

"Wait a minute." Gunn spoke up, holding up a hand. "There are other Slayers?"

"Yes. You see, during the fight against the First, Willow transferred the power of the sycthe to the potentials. They became Slayers as did every other girl who had the chance in becoming one." Giles explained.

"So there are girls out there with no idea why they have increible powers or what they are?" Wesley asked.

"Yes. That is why I want to start looking for them as soon as possible."

"Well, let's get started." Wesley said. He turned to Angel. "I'll have my department start searching." Angel nodded and Wesley left with Giles behind him.

"I'll have my people give you the keys to the apartment." Angel said. He buzzed his secrutary and she came in.

A woman with red hair walked in, wearing a silk red dress that was low cut.

"Yes Boss?"

"Ariel, this is Buffy Summers."

"Oh." Ariel turned to Buffy and smiled. "Hi. I believe that these are yours." She handed Buffy a pair of keys. "If you follow me, I'll write down the address for you and you can be on your way."

"Sure." Buffy turned to Angel. "Okay then. We'll meet later?"

"Yeah. That would be great." Angel nodded.

Buffy and Xander followed Ariel as she talked about the apartment and all the extras it had as they talked. Fred and Gunn were the other people left.

"So everything is in motion huh? Wish we could stick around but we have a lunch plan that we can't miss." Gunn said as he grabbed Fred's hand. She ducked her head shyly. "So we'll catch you later okay."

Just when Angel was about to respond, Ariel buzzed. "Angel, Lilah wants to meet with you."

"Send them in."

"That's our cue. Bye Angel." Fred said before she and Gunn walked out.

A few moments later Lilah walked in, calm and poised. She stopped in front
of his desk.

"Angel. I have two new people I would like you to meet." Lilah stepped aside and Ceres and Ran stepped up. "This is Ceres and Ran. They will be handling cases that require extra care."

Angel gaped at the two as they did the same.

"Oh hell no!" Ceres protested, pointing at Angel as she turned to Lilah.

"He is the one who attacked Ran earlier!"

"It's you." Angel said. "Lilah, what's going on?'


TBC