Disclosure

You cant keep secrets for ever and not every one is as innocent as they'd want to be. Phade finds herself becoming some one else and she's not sure that's a bad thing. The others have a different opinion…

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Angel sat in 'his' office with me in a corner while Gunn stood sentry by the door.

'As if he could stop me.' I thought feeling a bit smug. 'He's weak. Nothing but a fly to swat away.' I turned to Angel. 'At least he's a challenge.'

Fred was upstairs with the Groo and her. I had no regrets. She deserved it and she did hit me first.

"So you're not possessed." Gunn's sarcastic voice broke in on my thoughts. I could see they were still angry.

'Oh well. They have two jobs then, being mad and getting happy again.'

"No." I sat back in the chair still keeping my hand over my hip. It ached dully now though it still throbbed, sort of like a heart beat. As far as being possessed I couldn't say so for sure but I wasn't going to admit it to them.

"It was a rune spell, meant to heal me faster." I looked at Angel. "When I thought about it I realized it wouldn't be enough so I got stronger." That was true.

"Figures." Gunn shifted slightly getting a better grip on the ax. I could see Angel shift his glance from him to me thinking. It was difficult to get a clear picture of his thoughts even though I was trying. I could vaguely see him remember the night I shoved him and then a quick glimpse of the hospital.

'So he does feel some kind of remorse over that night.'

He'd hit me and I'd thought he hadn't noticed so intent was he on murdering Wes.

"I could see everything as it happened but it wasn't me. I'm not sure I know what- how to- I don't know." I shook my head letting out a breath. I really didn't know how to explain what I saw.

"Your eyes were different." Angel stated. I had hoped he hadn't noticed but him being a vampire… yeah, guess it doesn't work that way.

"Yeah, I saw that." I shrugged not knowing what to say. He was expecting some kind of explanation; I could see that but really! What was I supposed to say?

"How did you find it? The spell." He didn't even move and it was weird how he didn't breathe.

"Just some book. I picked it up in old town by the back alleys." I grimaced at the painfully bright flash in my brain. Gunn walking through the back alleys in old town looking for some answers and me right behind 'em.

'That's right you took me there. Take some of the blame now, fucker.'

"How long?" Angel asked.

"Huh?" I blinked trying to focus on him once more. It was becoming more difficult to concentrate on the things I had to do. I found myself daydreaming and then not noticing time pass by. Once I was sitting at my desk typing and suddenly Wes touched my shoulder to get my attention. When I could understand what he was saying I noticed my screen. There was nothing there; none of the work I had done was there. At least I thought I had done some work.

"How long ago did you do that?" he repeated.

"Uuh, a month maybe, just after the- when you guys went to the ballet." I was going to say it was after I got swatted aside by the Nahdrans but why remind them of that?

"Get rid of them."

"What?" I turned to Gunn.

"Get rid of them. Undo the spell." He repeated.

I stood up not liking his tone.

"I don't take orders well so you better think about what-."

"He's right." Angel stood up and came around the desk. He stood between us looking down at me. This was one of the times I didn't like tall men. Somehow glaring up at them wasn't as effective as glaring down at them.

"Where's everyone?" we heard Lorne in the lobby.

"Here." Angel called out to him but didn't move. I sighed knowing there would be one more member of their team to gang up on me.

Yeah, I still think of myself as an individual. Who in their right mind wants to be part of this crazy unit?

Lorne came up behind Gunn and tried to get by. He cleared his throat. "How bout some walking space big guy? I'm not as slim as I used to be."

Gunn shifted slightly and Lorne squeezed past. I turned away going into my corner while Lorne tried to figure out what was going on. I kept my mouth shut and my back to them as Gunn told him what had happened. I felt their eyes on me but stubbornly kept my eyes glued to the wall in front.

'Ooh, spell books…' I almost reached for one before I remembered I wasn't alone. They hadn't packed up all of Wesley's books yet. At least not the ones they planned on using. They sure as hell wanted those.

"Phade, crumb cakes, you really didn't-." Lorne began but Gunn didn't let him finish what I'm sure was some sort of deniable question about what I did.

"She's been laying hands on us since day one!" Gunn turned to Angel. "Now she's freekin' Hulk and beating up on Cordy-."

"Hey!" I turned around. "I'm not green-!"

"What's wrong with being green?" Lorne threw his hands up obviously tired with our disparaging comments. After all, he was the only green demon in the office.

"Sorry." Both Gunn and I turned to apologize at the same time before continuing to argue with each other. If I hadn't been so mad I would've probably laughed at Lorne's expression. Of everyone at the Hyperion, Lorne was the only one who made me feel welcome, even if he did scare me the first time I saw him.

"Enough." Angel's voice cut through our voices and silenced the argument. Gunn didn't look too happy and I sure wasn't but I didn't think hitting him would do me any good.

'What's with me hitting people all of a sudden? I'm getting to like throwing down.'

"She can't get rid of them." Lorne told them. Once more I had blanked out and returned half way through the conversation. I tried to pay attention as Lorne explained how the runes worked. After all he was the one who explained the process to me.

"It's kind of like a talisman only it's bonded to her. Specifically." Lorne sat down on the edge of the desk.

"Bonded how? What do you mean?" Angel paced to the door then back to the desk, this time, he wasn't brooding.

"It works as an amulet of sorts, a mix between magic and, well, faith." Lorne motioned me forward and I knew he wanted to show them the rune. I moved slowly unbuckling the cuff around my wrist. Now that they were going to see it I felt sort of… naked, I guess.

I turned my wrist over so Angel could see the rune. It glittered black under the soft skin of my fore arm.

"See all the connecting lines? There's no beginning, no end, just a continuous prayer." I followed the pattern with my eyes not paying attention to the others.

"Looks like a fancy tattoo." I said.

"I want to know more about this." Angel spoke to Lorne. Me? I was busy seeing the glittering light show on my wrist but I heard them.

"You're not-."

"We have work to do." Angel cut off Gunn's protest. I'm sure he was going to say they should get rid of me, as in send me packing.

"You're going to need help casting some spells and finding passages in books only Wesley would be able to translate for you." I pried my gaze away from my wrist and looked at Angel. His jaw clenched at the name but I didn't care.

"We can handle it." Gunn stood taller holding on to his ax. "We don't need his help for nothin'."

"You'll eat your words." I didn't look at him. I could tell Angel didn't like hearing about Wes but he wasn't saying anything.

"Mom!" out in the lobby Sebastían's voice startled me. I turned to the door but couldn't see past Gunn's big frame so I went to the window and pulled the blinds down.

"Shit!" the blinds crinkled as I clutched them tighter. It was Sebastían… and right behind him was; "My Dad."

'What the hell are they doing here?'

I glanced nervously over my shoulder and saw Lorne. "Shit!" I pushed away from the window and grabbed Lorne practically yanking him off the edge of the desk. He made a squeak sort of noise as I looked for a place to hide him.

"Seriously, she needs to stop laying hands on us." Gunn warned though he kept his distance.

'Chocolate boy is afraid of me. That's good.' I thought.

"Phade," Angel began.

"If my Dad sees you he's going to have a heart attack!" I exclaimed still clutching Lorne. "Where do I hide you?" I asked him.

"Jaden, donde estas?"

"Oh shit!" My Dad's voice was getting closer and I was ready to stuff Lorne into a filing cabinet if I had to. This wasn't- hell, I had proof but I couldn't do that to the old man. I'd kill him for sure!

"Help me!" I hissed at Angel. I felt Lorne gently place his hands on my shoulders and I turned to him.

"Let go." He said. I nodded following his nodding head and loosed my hold on his lapels. He turned me around and sent me towards the door past Gunn. "You go say hello and I'll stay right here." He said.

"Uh-huh." I nodded not sure what I was doing. Somehow seeing my Dad in the Hyperion's lobby was freaking me out. Anything could happen here and I didn't think his heart could take something like this. He was the only parent I had left even if -.

"Old people are kinda frail." I said over my shoulder to Lorne.

"Not all of them, sugar. Now go before he decides to come looking for you." He gave me one last push out the door and I heard Sebastían shout. I turned pasting a huge smile on my face.

"Jaden?" I heard Gunn ask the others.

'Crap. Why does he always use my middle name?' I groaned inwardly.

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