Chapter 4: New Friend?

Within hours, Gunn walked across the lobby hollering, "We're back!"

Connor and the girl trailed behind. Hearing the front door shut and Gunn's greeting, Lorne scurried now the stairs to meet their guests. "Hey there sugarplum. You've given everyone quite a stir looking for you. The big guy just got back from a-"

Lorne didn't get within three feet before he was shovedflat against the wall. "Whoa, hey now." He put up a hand in defense which was impatiently twisted back against the wall.

Gunn stood stunned while Connor approached them carefully warning the now panicking demon, "Don't move."

Lorne's eyes darted to Connor, "What is she doing?"

Connor watched her frown. "She can sense evil. She won't stay unless she's certain."

"That I'm evil?" Lorne croaked.

"That you're not."

When Connor reached her side, he peeled Lorne from the wall and pulled his hands behind his back making Lorne's chest puff up.

Gunn stepped forward. "Yo kid, this ain't happening."

"Don't touch her."

Connor nodded to the girl, and after a moment's hesitation, she reached out her hand.

Calming at her gentle touch on his chest, Lorne whined, "Was the violence necessary? I mean she could have just asked-even potential evil deserves some courtesy?"

Gunn nodded. "Yeah how about a show of trust?"

"This is trust." Connor kept his eyes fixed on her face. "She doesn't like this. If she believed I might betray her, she'd-"

"-Kill him?" Gunn accused.

Connor frowned. "-leave. She might hit me so I could not track her."

Gunn shook his head. "That's some relationship you got there - a lot of love."

The girl placed her other hand on Lorne's face increasing pressure on his chest. A moment passed, she opened her eyes and took a step back from Lorne.

After exchanging looks with her, Connor released the demon and stood beside her.

Breathing rapidly, Lor began straightening his clothes "Okay then."

Gunn shifted on his feet. "He pass?" When Connor nodded yes, Gunn squinted hard at him. "So if someone passes your girl's test, you believe they're not evil, just like that?"

With an unshakeable calm, Connor looked him straight in the eye. "She's not wrong."

Gunn took off running up the stairs. "ANGEL!"

Hearing the scream, Angel rushed off the phone. "If you hear of anyone matching her description, please let me know." He bumped into Gunn at the door. "What's wrong? Is it Connor?"

Panting and excited, Gunn huffed out his words, "Gotta get down there. Found Connor. Found his girl. She senses evil." He took a deep breath. "You gotta let her sense you."

Gunn turned back down the hall, and Angel frowned. "You think I'm evil?"

He shook his head. "Not even like that, but your boy has some serious doubts. He don't trust you, but her? If she says you're not evil, he'll believe it."

Eyebrows raised, Angel took off down the hall "Let's go."

Angel ran down to the lobby and reached the group. His son stood near the front desk staring at a small girl with her back to them. Neither of them were talking, but Angel could tell they were communicating somehow.

Gunn caught up with him and pushed him closer toward the pair. "Okay, stand right here, and don't move."

He watched Lorne trudge away cradling his wrist. "Not unless you want your arm twisted."

Turning back to the pair he came face to face with a ghost.

He couldn't move, couldn't question, could hardly think.

All he could do was stare as Buffy stepped closer. She glanced at Connor before reaching out her hand to Angel's chest. She looked straight into his brown eyes.

As soon as he felt her touch him, he found his voice. "Buffy?"

She didn't reply; instead she placed her other hand on the side of my face and closed her eyes.

He let his eyes close and savored her presence, her touch, her scent.

All too soon, she broke the connection and stood back.

Connor immediately stepped forward eager for her verdict. He stared wordlessly and eventually she nodded.

He leaned forward so their foreheads touched. She turned her head slightly so she could glance at Angel again. She squeezed Connor's arm and he let out a shaky breath.

Nodding, he took a small step back. His breathing was shaky.

Angel noticed his posture was less alert than it was relaxed. Without saying a word, she'd persuaded Connor to trust this place . . . to trust him.

For a moment, Angel forgot her identity and simple marveled at the connected the two seemed to share.

The moment ended, and Angel's excitement, anxiety and curiosity returned to the front of his mind.

Angel stepped forward. "Buffy, do you remember me?"

Gunn frowned. "You know her?" His eyes bulged. "Wait, this is the dead ex?"

Neither Buffy nor Connor seemed aware of the exchange around them.

"Buffy?" Angel called again.

He murmured, "Why won't she look at me?" Since touching his chest, she hadn't spared him a single glance. Even if her memory was gone, she would still look at him wouldn't she?

His thoughts were disrupted by the quick jerk of her head towards the stairs. One moment her eyes were alert; the next she'd practically scaled the walls and was climbing over the banister.

Angel had been too focused on Buffy's lack of response to notice the soft sounds coming from the second floor, but realizing what she must be thinking he rushed after her.

Gunn hollered, "Hey, chill, it's just Fred!"

Before he could reach her, Buffy found Fred.

She startled. "Hi there." Fred cluded from the new face that Connor finally found his friend. In her usual light, shy manner, she approached held out her hand.

Buffy scanned the girl from head to toe before stepping back. Her posture relaxed and with easy grace she jumped from the second floor to the first landing softly on her feet.

Angel looked at Fred. "You okay?"

Nodding she stepped to the banister and looked at the faces in the lobby. Everyone was looking at the small blonde, but she didn't seem to find them nearly as interesting.

Connor approached her side. "She needs rest."

"Yes." Angel nodded absently. "There are rooms enough for both of you."

Taking her hand, Connor led her up the stairs and down one of the hallways.

Gunn frowned. "Not much of a talker is she?"

Fred smiled shakily. "She seems nice."

Angel stood completely still as they passed him. He didn't know why but his hands felt like they were shaking.

Connor led her deep into the hotel. They climbed stairs, jumped over broken floor boards and eventually found a dark nook on the top floor. Connor broke a window to let in the night air while Buffy barricaded the doors.

They met in the middle. She started to sit down, but he grabbed her arm holding her up. For a moment, she frowned, but then slowly, Connor reached for her hand and pressed her fingers to his temple. He looked at her intently holding her hand to him.

A moment passed without either of them breathing.

Closing her eyes, she placed her other hand over his heart and waited. He closed his eyes, and they breathed together. Minutes passed and their breathing slowed, deepened, relaxed.

He felt her fingers brush the side of his face as it too came to rest over his heart. When he opened his eyes, her expression startled him. He'd never seen her smile before, and he'd never seen a prettier smile. He wanted her to stay this way.

Then, what her smile meant struck him. . . . he wasn't evil. His eyes glistened. She nodded once, and he almost fell back. Together they sat on the floor. She steadied him and he rested against her. His forehead lay on her shoulder. With on hand she held his and with the other she brushed his hair with her fingers. Many tears fell from his eyes. A single tear fell from hers.