Angel looked at Fred's friend he thinks his name was Clark. Cordy was sitting him down as she went to the desk and pulled out a notepad. Angel smelled it and one thing quickly becomes apparent, this man and he'll use that term loosely isn't anything close to human. Angel sat down next to Cordy in case he tries anything but he did save Fred and joined in during the melee at Caritas.

Cordelia looked at him. "OK buddy, so what can we do for you?"

Clark looked at the two. "I don't know how to start this without sounding completely insane."

"It's OK we deal with crazy on a daily basis... and a fair fee." Cordelia assured him.

Clark looked at the two. "I think I'm being haunted."

Cordelia looked at him ghosts are a pain… except for Dennis. "By who?"

"I don't know." Clark answered. "I thought it was the ghost of a girl I loved but now I'm not so sure."

Angel looked at him. "Well how can you be so sure?"

Clark looked at him. "I kissed her… and it wasn't like any time I ever kissed her before." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a little piece of cloth he gave to Cordelia. "Also I took this from her scarf."

Angel grabbed it and smelled it he knows what this is. He's not sure how it got in a human but he knows what it is. "We'll take the case. Do you have a picture of the girl?"

"Yeah" Clark went into his wallet and pulled out a picture from a set he picked up after he killed Tim.

Cordy looked at the picture. "That's a fancy dress for prom."

Angel looked at it. "That's a wedding dress."

Cordy laughed but then realized he's telling the truth. "Oh… I'm sorry I didn't know and you said girlfriend and…"

"It's OK" Clark cut her off. "We were just screwing around nothing legal happened. Well not OK but…"

"I got it." Cordelia finished putting the conversation to rest. The marriage was either annulled voided, or it was just them screwing around.

Angel looked at the two well there's an idea. "Hey Cordy, why don't you take him to lunch get a more detailed briefing about everything." He handed her some money and whispered. "Maybe something with a view."

Cordelia looked at him Angel chipping in for a meal she had a feeling that was related to the case. "OK then let's go get some food while the boss is offering to pay." She and Clark get to their feet as they walk out. "Speaking of paying, how are you going to pay for this?"

"Is cash OK?" Clark asked.

Cordy smiled. "Oh we're going to get along just fine."


Wesley Wyndham Pryce and Charles Gunn stood side by side looking at the layout of the restaurant Cordy and their new client were eating at. Gunn looked around they're trying to find a petite blond in LA... the land of wanna be actresses.

Gunn looked and saw another five and of course not her. "Wes does the words impossible mean anything to you? This isn't finding a needle in haystack this is finding a needle in the southern states."

Wes shrugged. "Angel is convinced she'll show up if Clark is having a good time."

Gunn looked over and there she was texting. "There's our girl."

Wes nodded and he and Gunn walked over trying not to make a scene.


Clark sat down talking to Cordelia she seemed nice enough. The woman had an opinion on everything though.

Cordelia looked at him. "So someone is playing a cruel trick on you."

Clark nodded that's the best thing he can figure out. "Yeah I did some bad things... at first I just thought it was my mind playing tricks on me."

Clark looked up seeing an elderly man and looked back down gluing his eyes to the menu. Cordy looked at him confused but the elderly man started to walk over looks like Clark is going to have that one on one whether he likes it or not.

"I don't know how Ms. Morgan weaseled your way out of jail Mr. Kent but I will have justice for what you did to my grandson."

Clark looked at the floor. "I'm serving my sentence as we speak Mr. Westcott. I was exiled from Smallville and I'm constantly monitored." Clark lifted his jeans up showing the new monitor for emphasis."

Cordy's eyes widened she didn't expect this when she was trying to set him up with Fred. "Wait you're a criminal… it's always the nice ones."

William looked at him. "Oh so you don't tell people how you murdered my grandson."

Clark looked at him. "I am sorry for what I did to your grandson, I am, I regret killing him. I would have rather seen him in a cage for what he did."

"Oh right, the alleged crimes your bitch of an ex-girlfriend did that you're trying to blame him for." William said mocking Alicia.

Clark shot to his feet. "Is there a reason in particular you're here?"

William smiled and handed him an envelope. "You've been served Mr. Kent."

Clark opened the envelope and read it over. "Civil suit… what are you going to sue me for? That $200 every two week paycheck?"

"No Mr. Kent the truth. That Alicia was a disturbed little girl. She tried to kill Ms. Lang and Mr. Teague and when she failed she hung herself." William replied.

Cordelia heard the unmistakable sound of glass breaking and soda running down Clark's hand. It seems like whatever patience Clark had has just run out.

Clark glared at the man. He's starting to see where Tim got it. "You're treading on thin ice. At that trial the truth is going to come out about what your son did. How his fingerprints were all over Alicia's scarf… And how he hung her up to make sure I'd find her. Your grandson wasn't the devil but you better stop acting like he was an innocent little boy."

William looked at him coldly. "I'll see you in court Mr. Kent."

Cordy looked at Clark's hand and saw nothing not one drop of blood the only person she's ever seen capable of that was Buffy. "Well that was exciting… is it true what he said… that you murdered his grandson?"

Clark weakly nodded. "It's true… his grandson tried to kill two people that I considered friends before he actually succeeded in killing Alicia. I found her outside of her house hung up by her neck… I cut her down but she was already long gone. He left her there so that I'd be the one to find her."

Cordy listened partially disgusted this sounded like something Angelus would do. And this guy Clark killed sounded like he had a soul just like everyone else.

"Afterwards a friend told me where Tim was and I lost control… he tried to smother me and I pushed him I meant to choke him I was so angry that he took her away from me like that… When I pushed him he landed square against a corner and I broke his back... I got reckless and he paid for it."

Cordy listened and it sounded like something Angel would say, and Clark made no excuses, he knew he did wrong and he flat out admitted it. "Well you're trying to figure it out and you're full of guilt. Besides just with that bracing meeting I'm starting to think the grandson was a little piece of crap raised by a big piece of crap." Cordelia looked at him. "We'll still take the case."

Clark nodded gratefully and said. "Thank you"


Lilah walked into the place it's like house of wax only somehow even more morbid. She sees dead bodies of people her own age and she knows now that she's in a showroom. She looks over and sees what to most people would be a kind old man walks in. She knows better. "Mr. Hainslay"

"Ms. Morgan what can I do for you today?" Hainslay announced with a smile.

Lilah looked at him hard to believe a necromancer is so cheerful. "I was wondering if you had anybody interested in teenage blonds."

Hainslay looked at the charming lawyer. "Everyone wants to be young and beautiful Ms. Morgan I'm afraid you'll have to be more specific."

Lilah nodded having a feeling she would be as she took out a picture of Alicia. "Did anyone have a demon put in this body?"

Hainslay nodded. "A couple weeks ago."

Lilah frowned she knew it. "Let me guess an oil tycoon?"


William Westcott walked into his hotel somberly Clark Kent is going to pay for what he's done. What's the point of an empire if there's no one to take over it? He turns on the lights and sees Alicia Baker glaring at him. "Who are you? How did you get in here?"

"You know who I am." Alicia assured him. "And you know it was your grandson that killed me."

William shook his head. "No, Clark Kent did it."

"No, from what I've been told if Clark Kent killed me I'd be in pieces right now." Alicia replied and smiled as she disappeared in a green haze now behind William with a knife at his throat. "Since Clark took care of that little bastard of yours my employer told me to go right for you."

William Westcott could only widen his eyes as Alicia cut his throat ear to ear and watched his body fall to the floor.


Hainslay shakes his head. "No, I'm afraid not anyone nearly that rich."

Lilah looked at him confused she thought for sure it was Westcott. "If you weren't hired by William Westcott then who the hell hired you? You're not exactly cheap."


Wes and Gunn break the door down hearing the girl laugh on the other side.

Gunn looked at her they only lost track of her for a second. "The doors are locked and the windows are shut how did she get in?"

Alicia smiled looking at them William's body locked in the closet. "You two are new… who are you?"

Gunn looked at her. "Busboys what the hell are you?"

Alicia looked at them Gunn with an axe and Wes with a sword. "A couple weeks a go I was a demon. Now thanks to a necromancer I'm a mutant. And you're in my way." She teleported in a haze right behind Wes and punched him in the back of the head while unseen to her Gunn rushed over and hit her in the side with an axe as she let out a scream and glowing green blood left her side.

Alicia pulled the hubcap axe out and watched as her skin closed up healing the wound. She let out a laugh and chuckled. She had one weakness and thanks to this body she doesn't anymore. "Swing and a miss."

She elbows Wes in the face before connecting on Gunn with a spin kick knocking them both down as they groan in pain. She was hoping for more of a fight. She sees Gunn get up and teleports around him punching him in several vulnerable areas before he finally stumbles down. They're not even worth killing. "Better luck next time boys." Gunn and Wes watch as she disappeared in a green haze.


Cordy sat down getting the full details not believing how much crap the rich can get away with. Then again she was one of the rich. She sees Clark looking at the door and explained. "We're just waiting for my… holy crap!"

Cordy sees Gunn and Wes coming through the door and over to them. Clark puts Gunn the worse of the two over his shoulder as he puts him down Wes doesn't have a scratch on him.

Wes and Clark put Gunn in a seat and Cordy asked what's been on her mind. "What the hell happened to you?"

"That was one scary little white girl." Gunn declared not believing him and Wes were beaten senseless by that.

Clark looked at them. "Alicia did this?"

"Yes, she's quite violent for a teenager." Wes replied studying the man's reaction which mostly seems to be concern for Gunn.

Clark looked over Gunn in X-ray nothing broken just plenty of bruising. "So she is real?"

Wes nodded giving him the confirmation he needed. "But she's not Alicia anymore; it's only a demon walking around in her body."

Clark looked at Wes funny thing is he got paroled to LA so that he wouldn't be around to deal with the insanity of Smallville. Ends up the city of angels has it just as bad and maybe even a little worse without anyone to keep the insanity in check. "So what you're saying is she's not possessed. Her body is possessed."

Wes nodded in confirmation. "I'm sorry but that's not her."

Clark weakly nodded. "I wasn't expecting it to be. I wish you had told me you were going after her though I could have helped. So you guys did your job and I'm grateful so how much?"

Cordy looked at him. "You can't just send us away she could still come after you."

"And I know what I'm up against you guys did your job and I'm thankful." Clark replied in honest because he was. But he doesn't want to bring down any more trouble on these people. One of them already got hurt because of him.

Wes looked at him his mind is made up and according to Angel he's not exactly human himself. "One hundred and forty dollars"

Clark put out a line of twenties until there were seven. "Thanks again, for everything."

Cordy watched him go. "Wes you're just sending him on his way."

Wes looked at her as Clark left. "It's his decision Cordelia."

Cordy shook her head. "He hired us to get to the bottom of this. We still don't know who made her or what's even in her."

Wes nodded. "Precisely which is why I'm going home to research demons with glowing blood."

Cordy nodded at least they're doing something. "Good, you watch out for the demon and I'll look out for him. He's still a client."

Cordy turned the corner to track Clark down. Ended up not being that hard he was at the corner talking to a vendor.

"So you don't have anything made out of lead?" Clark asked.

The vendor just pointed down. "What I have is what I have."

Clark nodded there's only one place he knows of that will have what he needs and that's the hospital.


Lilah waited patiently in the building it's one bright side to Wolfram and Hart. They've paid her enough so this will never be a reality for her. She can get the charges dropped or they'll just kill her long before she reaches the asylum.

Lilah waited as the door opened and in came a man with something like a clean Rob Zombie beard transferred from Belle Reeve in Smallville Kansas shortly after arrival. "William McBride"

"Dr. William McBride" The man corrected her. "Is this about my appeal?"

Lilah looked at him. "I honestly doubt you're going anywhere after what you did. Also I'm pretty sure they throw the doctor deal away when you shoot one of your patients."

McBride looked at the woman with resounding calm. "Alicia was a troubled girl. And I believe Mr. Kent has shown his true colors recently."

"And you're just as troubled." Lilah replied. "So why are you sending Alicia after Clark."

"I have no idea what you're talking about." McBride assured her.

Lilah nodded in understanding before going into her purse. "I see." McBride rolled her eyes unimpressed until she brought out a shiny six round revolver as McBride's eyes widen in fear.

"What is that?" McBride asked and looked around as he now clearly sees no guards or cameras.

"This would be the security guard's gun." Lilah replied as she shot him in the arm.

McBride squirmed but saw a dart like thing more then anything and he pulled it out of his arm. "What… what is this?"

Lilah let out a smile. "The bullet was designed by R&D honestly it's amazing what those people could think of. But what went into you were melted glands of a demon that makes you do whatever we want to do. You see Wolfram and Hart got tired of our clients lying to us about what really happened or throwing away our cases by looking guilty so this just makes it easier to defend them. So tell me why are you after Clark Kent?"

"To make him pay for what he's done." McBride finished. "I warned Alicia time and time again to stay away from him. Now she's paid the price."

"So, you hired an assassin to kill him." Lilah finished.

McBride nodded. "Even paid a little extra to have her put in Alicia's body. Clark and the Westcott's deserve to be punished for what they did."

Lilah waited for a moment for the bullet to wear off and McBride to regain his footing.

"You think that changes anything?" McBride asked.

Lilah nodded. "I think this will." Lilah wasted no time and shot the perverted doctor right in the leg as he screamed holding his wounded leg. "Now that wasn't truth serum."

McBride looked at her and shouted. "They're going to lock you in here with me! You lunatic!"

Lilah shook her head no showing the gun. "This is the gun guard Ramirez used to shoot you for trying to escape." She bent down and grabbed his wounded leg for emphasis. "Now… do your time and leave Clark Kent alone… or I'll show you that you're not the only one that can reach through walls… understand? I can't afford to be looking nice or like I'm looking after a crazy person."

McBride nodded in deep understanding. "I understand just don't come near me again."


Cordelia followed Clark to the hospital as the teenage kryptonian took another wide turn. Trying to lose the girl. Stupid city is so packed during the day he can't get a moment alone to superspeed. He waited in the corner now there's no doing subtle anymore he guesses.

Cordelia walks in front and sees nothing but a group of nurses. She lets out a quiet whimper when someone grabs her from behind.

"What are you doing here?" Clark asked.

Cordelia broke free how did he sneak up on her. "You paid us for a job. The job's not done until the demon's stopped."

Clark looked at her. "I got this alright, I paid you guys to tell me what Alicia was now I know." He walked over to the fire station and took a lead apron.

Cordy watched and saw Clark had drawn someone's attention so she turned him around and kissed him while pushing the apron into his red jacket.

The nurse looked at the two and broke them up as Clark and Cordy left the hospital having what Clark needed.


Angel looked at Gunn as Fred was taping up his ribs. The vampire with a soul is impatiently waiting for Sundown. "And Cordy's still out there why didn't you guys bring her back with you?"

"Have you ever… gotten the girl to not do something that she wanted to do?" Gunn asked he's probably still alive thanks to that stubborn streak.

Angel shrugged seeing his point before taking a sword from the weapons cabinet. "I'm going after her."


Cordelia looked around the place she's in now is nicer then her own place. Apparently Clark needed one last thing before he set his trap from his room. "So do you own this place?"

"No, a friend of my mom does she's letting me stay out here with her." Clark replied.

"Why?" Cordy asked.

"Because if she didn't I'd be staying in jail." Clark answered honestly as he did everything he could not to shout or grunt in pain.

Cordy watched as the door opened and Clark looked like he ran a mile from the sweat on his face. "What happened to you?"

"Nothing just not looking forward to seeing her again." Clark replied.

Cordy nodded she could understand that. If Xander had died during high school she wouldn't want to see him either as a vampire or worse. "Well then let's go put this behind you."


That night Cordy waited and was pacing up high watching Clark down below at the graveyard. She walks ahead before turning back and nearly jumping out of her skin seeing her boss suddenly appear.

"Angel, wear a bell or something when you hunt me down at night." Cordy ordered. That's a year off her life that she's not getting back.

"Sorry" Angel apologized as he looked down… just like he showed her. "Any sign yet?"

Cordy shakes her head. "Not so far."

Clark paced the cemetery the lead wrapped around his jacket as he paced back and fourth.

Alicia appeared in her usual green haze. "I'd almost think you were waiting for me."

Clark looked at the thing that is in his girlfriend's body. As Angel hangs on to Cordy to keep her from interfering. "I know you're not her."

Alicia smiled and edged closer to him pulling out a bloody knife with a sadistic smile she's had before as she approached him. "Now why would you think that?"

Angel watched as Clark opened something in his pocket.

Clark looked at her with a smile. "Because Alicia would never come this close to me while I'm wearing lead."

Angel and Cordy watch in surprise as Clark takes out the lead apron from his jacket tackles the girl to the ground and wraps the lead apron around her. Alicia tries to teleport but she mostly just fizzles and remains where she is.

Clark swallowed deep and opened a lead box that used to be a green rock two hours ago but was now a dark shade of black. He pressed it to her skin as her body glowed and Alicia was split in two one was the girl he loved and the other was a demonic green faced female samurai complete with katana laid out right next to him with a gem in her head. She quickly shot to her feet swinging at Clark as Cordy and Angel ran down ready to join the fight.

Clark watched as the sword came his way as he palmed the blade between each hand. Clark's eyes widened seeing a red trail of liquid come from the blade it's magical as he feels the cuts on his hand. Clark quickly kicked the sword out and it flew out of the demon's hands. Clark caught the blade and easily stabbed the demon as it seemingly died on the sword.

Angel ran down and picked up a big rock before turning the demon around and hitting it in the head with a rock breaking the gem as the demon screamed and truly died and disappeared in a trail of light.

Clark looked at him. "What did you do?"

"It was a Mohra demon." Angel clarified. "You had to smash the jewel on their heads it's the only way to kill them."

Clark nodded as he walked up and gently cradled Alicia's body as he picked it up bridal style. He X-rayed but no beating heart no anything.

Angel looked at him this is probably the reaction he'd have if he was left with Buffy's body. "Are you alright?"

Clark shook his head. "It's just ever since I found out she was possessed I… I just hoped freeing her from the demon would bring her back somehow you know? Sounds stupid doesn't it."

Angel shakes his head. "I lost someone recently too. I know what you mean."


Fred looked up from two pieces of wood… this will be a great thing to have when she's done with it. Fred looks up as the doors open and sees Cordelia and Angel walking in with Clark whom is carrying a body with him. Clark puts her down on the couch and called Chloe

"Hello?"

Clark smiled hearing the voice on the other end. "Hey, Chloe this might sound weird but I kind of have Alicia's body."

Chloe nodded on the other end. "You might want to keep it there."

Clark looked at the phone confused. "Why?"

Chloe was sad to have to tell him this. "Mrs. Baker is gone no one knows where to find her. Mr. Baker after being nearly killed just said whatever. They're not going to rebury her they're just going to burn her if not worse given what she can do." Chloe said about unspoken code in Smallville. "If you have any way of burying her I suggest you do that and say goodbye."

Clark weakly nodded on the other end. "Thanks Chloe, I'll do that."

Fred was watching Clark as he once again lifted up the body. "Where are you going?"

"I gotta bury her." Clark replied.

"Where?" Fred asked.

Clark tried to speak but nothing came out. "I don't know but I can't send her home at best she'll be burned to ashes and put in a shallow grave, but if what I think is going to happen happens they're going to dissect her. I don't want that for her."

Angel looked at him and grabbed a coat. "OK, I know just the place."

Clark followed Angel out and each champion grabbed a shovel. Cordy looked at it and followed the two out followed by Fred, then Wes and Gunn.


Clark and Angel worked digging in the forest

Fred looked to Wes and sees the watcher's eyes. "Are you alright?"

Wes weakly nodded but it's bothering him seeing Angel has shed the coat and he's a vampire without a heartbeat and et Clark doesn't haves single drop of sweat and he's in a jacket of all things. He has a feeling he's not entirely demonic either. So what does that leave? "It can wait till later."

Angel watched as Clark gently deposited Alicia's body into the ground and taking one last look into her eyes as he covers her face one last time with a veil. He's not human but neither is he being a vampire and now is not the time soon… but not now. "We'll help you bury her."

"I got it." Clark assured him taking a moment but not hearing anything but him... Right, vampire. He's going to have to have a talk with Kate about that. Gunn and Wes just give little sorrowful nods.

"I'm sorry you have to do this again." Cordy replied gently rubbing his shoulder.

Fred looked at him she wasn't sure what to say. "I'm sorry."

Clark saw the Angel Investigation get in their cars and drive off. Once they were out of distance he laid a single handful of dirt on slowly before he moved in a blur and Alicia was once again at rest peacefully in the ground. Clark looked at it. Clark lifted his jeans up to look at the tracking monitor… even with his legs he can't get to Smallville and back in time. "You know I wish I could go to Smallville and get your tombstone… you deserve it. It's not that I miss the town. God help me I barely miss the people in it. I begged anyone to listen and just give us a chance, but they were so blinded by hate even I brought into it. I'm sorry Alicia… I'm so sorry. But this place doesn't seem so bad isolated… peaceful and from the looks of it the sun comes up here it's nice and you always wanted to go to Calfornia." Clark rolled his eyes at that now not the time. "I loved you Alicia and I'm sorry I didn't have the courage to stand with you when you needed me the most."

Clark's eyes widen hearing a resounding thud not far from here. He goes to investigate and his eyes widen in surprise. "What the…how?"

He looked at Alicia's tombstone and then touched it almost making sure it's real. He lifted up and saw a white smudge at the bottom along something too dark to be dirt. Who the hell would eat an Oreo this close to a tombstone. He X-rayed it for bugs and to his surprise looked at it and went into an extreme zoom in seeing but a couple very tiny creatures. Clark looked at it and realized there's one thing missing as he moved in a blur and when he came a gold ring was engraved into the stone. "I'll never forget you, but I have to let you go… goodbye."


Clark came in and saw Lilah awake at the couch. "I figured you'd be in bed."

"I wanted to make sure you came in alright." She looked at his clothes "And didn't get caught in a dirt bike race… what happened to you?"

Clark looked and saw little clumps of mud on him which was an improvement form earlier. "Took a fall, I'm fine. So what did you do today?"

"Nothing in particular, worked a case for an important client." Lilah answered. "Did you see Alicia again?"

Clark shook his head. "No, I haven't seen her at all." It was the truth Alicia was never there it was just some demon's sick joke.

Lilah nodded and looked at him. She got a letter of permission from McBride but when Hainslay went to break the magic he said something else already did. So he might know magic too. With the people she knows she can't take anymore risks. "Clark, I know it's hard out here and especially with your past but I'm here OK if you ever need anything. Even just someone to talk to I'm here to listen."

Clark nodded in understanding. "OK and I appreciate that."

"Good" Lilah replied. "Now get to bed tomorrow's another day and you got the GED coming up I expect you to study."'

Clark nodded and headed upstairs as she said tomorrow is another day.


Author's Notes

Thanks to everyone who leaves reviews.

Angel knows of good demons and probably wouldn't want to make a mistake as for just leaving him alone and not asking. Someone not human burying their dead blond girlfriend, ring any bells?

Up Next: Standing on my own.