Disclaimer: Nope, just checked, and I still don't own them!

Just a note: I know that when Lorne shot Lindsey, we were made to believe that he did it on Angel's orders, but that just doesn't feel right to me. He would have known he needed every person he could for the fight, so I'm just going on my gut feeling that there was something more to that story that Joss didn't tell us. This is just my own version of what could have happened, so I apologize if I offend anyone.

"Eve?" Angel stepped through the ruined doorway of his old office at Wolfram and Hart. "I know you're here." He looked around, searching the shadows for her.

"Angel."

He turned around and saw her, looking almost exactly like she had the last time he had seen her, 3 days ago. "Eve. I got your message."

She kept her distance from him. "Where's Lindsey?"

"I don't know."

"Liar!" Her voice rose, and she lunged at him. "What did you do?!"

Angel grabbed her as she reached him. "Eve, I didn't do anything, I swear!" She ignored his words, trying to tear herself from his grasp. "He didn't make it to the alley, that's all I know!"

She stopped struggling, and he released her. She stepped back and shook her head. "I knew he shouldn't have gone." "He didn't trust you."

"I didn't trust him, either. All I know is, he completed his mission, but he didn't show up in the alley." He shook his head. "He was with Lorne."

She looked at him hopefully. "Does Lorne know what happened?"

"Lorne left. He said that he wasn't coming back after the mission." Angel sighed. "Look, Eve. You just need to accept it. Lindsey's dead, and he's not coming for you."

She turned away, but not before he saw the tears shining in her eyes. He felt sorry for her, despite everything that she and Lindsey had done to him. "I'm sorry, Eve."

"I gave up immortality for him, and this is what I get." She turned back to face Angel. "I should have known."

"Look, why don't you come back to the hotel. It's got to be better than staying here."

"You don't care about me! You just want me to tell you what I know."

Angel walked over to her. "Believe it or not, Eve, I do care." He gently took her arm, and this time she didn't pull away. "Come on. Let's go."

BBBBBBBB

Buffy knocked on Willow's door. "Willow?"

Willow opened the door, a book in her hand. "Hey, Buffy. Come on in." Willow moved aside, and Buffy walked in, closing the door behind her. She looked around the room, noting the numerous books open on the bed and table, and turned to Willow. "What's all this?"

"Well, I told you. I'm still looking for a way to bind Angel's soul to him permanantly." She smiled at Buffy's surprised look. "I told you I would."

"Well, yeah, Will, but..." She stopped, and smiled at her. "Thanks, Will."

"No problem." She walked over to the bed, and picked up one of the books lying there. "I've also been researching the Mohra demon, and I think I've got a lead! It says here that..."

"Willow, that's great, but I kinda need you to help me with something else."

"But Buffy, I thought you wanted Angel human!"

"I do, Will, but I think I've already found the answer. But I need your help."

"Well, sure, Buffy. Anything for you." She walked over and sat at the table, motioning for Buffy to sit as well. "And I want to help Angel."

Buffy sat down. "I really, really appreciate what you're doing, Willow. You know that, right?" Willow nodded, and she continued. "I need you to help me contact the Powers That Be."

"What? Buffy,...why?" Willow shook her head.

Buffy told her everything she had learned about the prophecy. Willow listened incredulously. "You mean that Angel's supposed to be rewarded? Become human?' Buffy nodded. "I don't...well, what if it already happened?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, I mean before. When you came to LA, and the demon made him human. Maybe...maybe that was his reward, but he gave it up."

Buffy shook her head. "The Oracles told him that it was a fluke. That the Powers That Be hadn't intended for it to happen, so that couldn't have been it." She took a deep breath, and looked back at Willow. "So, will you help me?"

"You know I will, Buffy, but...I'm not sure I can. The Powers That Be, well, I've never heard of them talking to mortals before."

Buffy looked at her, determination in her eyes. "They'll talk to me Will. I'll make sure of it."

BBBBBBBB

"Faith?" Spike walked out into the courtyard. The sun had gone down a few hours ago, and a cool breeze was blowing, sending the scent of jasmine in the air.

Faith sat in the shadows, thinking. She had walked around downtown all afternoon, not encountering anything more evil than a boy throwing stones at a stray cat. While that was good for the city itself, it still left her without an outlet for her feelings. Now Spike had found her, and she really wasn't sure what to do. She sighed. "What do you want, Spike?"

"I just wanted to, uh..apologize. For this afternoon."

She turned to him. "Well, you should." She folded her hands across her chest. "Like I said, I don't want to be your 'Buffy replacement'."

"What?" Spike shook his head. "Is that what you think?" She started to answer, but he interrupted. "Anyway, I wasn't apologizing for kissing you, luv."

"No? Then what exactly were you apologizing for?"

"For what I said about you. And for saying that I was through helping. I was just...angry." He sat down beside her. "You were right about one thing, luv. There is a battle ahead, and we are going to need the slayers." He turned to her. "And I want to help."

"Good." Faith stood up, walking over to the edge of the courtyard. His nearness flustered her. "So, anyway. Where's you pal Ilyria?"

"The last I knew, she was with the slayers. It's a good thing she likes to fight. She's going to be a big help with training."

"What's her story, anyway?"

"She used to be some ancient god. She was summoned here, and took over Fred's body."

Faith heard his voice crack as he spoke Fred's name. "I'm sorry about Fred. I liked her."

"Everybody liked her. She was...like sunshine. And since that's something I'm not able to enjoy, well..." His voice trailed off.

"I'm sorry."

Spike shook it off. "Yeah, well, anyway. Ilyria used to be almost invicible, then she lost most of her powers. She's still pretty strong, though."

Faith walked back over to him. "It's a good thing she's on our side."

"Yeah. Now, about that kiss..."

She turned around and walked away. "Let it go, Spike. Just let it go."

He watched her walk away. He wasn't sure he could let it go. That kiss had affected him, and he had no idea why. Kissing Faith wasn't like anything he'd ever felt before. Not with Dru, and not with Buffy either. He shook his head. He couldn't have just died, like a real hero. Appparently hell wasn't good enough for him. No, someone had to bring him back, force him to join forces with Angel, of all people, and then, as if that wasn't enough, he had to watch the woman he thought he loved get together with his sworn enemy! And now this! 'Somebody really must hate me!'

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