Disclaimers in first chapter

"So how do we find this Darla?" Xander couldn't stand the silence between he and Buffy. After they had entered L.A. it was almost as if a part of her was confused. The two friends sat together now at a nearby restaurant, munching quietly.
Buffy smiled as she spoke, "Good question. I figure this place is brimming with the bad so someone will probably spill if beating is provided."
"Always one with the beating," Xander returned her smile, thankful for such a pleasant reaction to his question. 'Maybe Buffy is better off without knowing who Angel is' he thought joyfully.
"It's getting late, perhaps we should find a hotel then start searching,"Buffy suggested. Her blonde hair was pulled back sleekly and cascaded in to curls down her neck that swished as she spoke. Completing her laid back look was a pair of capri jeans and a black peasant top, loosely tied at the front. She wiggled her straw around her glass and squirmed uneasily,"I really need to change too. I feel disgusting."
"Me too. Let's go," Xander replied as he placed money down on the lace table. The two friends exited the building with linked arms and slid back into the BMW.

"ANGEL! I swear that man never answers his messages!" Cordelia complained as she slinked through the office in her paisley printed dress. She heard him coming from behind her as she fidgeted with the pile of pink messages scattered around the phone. She whirled around to face him, obviously startling the vampire.
"What is wrong with you? The Robinsons have called twice TWICE about their demon sons' kidnapping and are wondering how come the great Angel doesn't answer? I'm trying to be patient but you need to realize, soul boy, that some poor little boy, demon or not, is not where he should be. So tell me, where have you been?"
Angel stared at her with a confused look before replying,"At the Robinsons'."
Cordy let her mouth gape open as she shook her head,"What are you talking about? They just called."
"They just called five hours ago. Wes and I already took care of it." Angel leaned over to point at the time on the pink sheet. "See?"
Letting her face fester with blush Cordy smiled,"I see. Well, I'll just be quiet now." Pause. "No, wait, I won't. What happened with the little demon boy?"
A small smile graced the vampires' face as he spoke,"I did recieve your message and Wes and I went down to discuss the kidnapping with the Robinsons. Half way in the middle of our conversation, my ears picked up a muffle upstairs. Turns out jr. locked himself in the attic and no one heard his screams because the Robinsons insisted on having sound proof walls. Case was closed before it even started."
"Wow. That was...incredibly stupid,"Cordy laughed but was also relieved upon knowing the child was safe. "So what's next?"
Angel shrugged his broad shoulders that were cloaked in the typical black blazer and deep blue shirt. "You tell me. Any visions?"
Cordy allowed her grin to be broad as she gloated,"Vision free and tylenol free as a result."
Matching her grin Angel replied,"That's great. In that case, I will be in Wes' office working on some paper work and research."
"Research?" Cordy questioned.
"Yeah, rumor has it that the Necklace of Truth is missing and possibly in L.A. We need to find it, or a potential weakness, before it gets in the wrong hands."
Cordy nodded,"Good luck."
Nodding in return, Angel turned his back to his friend and exited into the neighboring office.
Cordy turned back to her desk and sat down softly. It felt so good to relax and be free from visions for a while. While she counted receits, she pondered why she didn't have a vision of this necklace, if it was as bad as it seemed to be. Before she could allow her mind to escape any further, she heard the front doors open and rushed to greet who could be there.

The hotel seemed large to Buffy's eyes as she once again linked arms with Xander to enter it. "It looks too expensive," she informed her friend as she felt a strange stirring in her stomach.
"Nothing is too expensive when Giles gave you his credit card," Xander grinned wickedly as the two entered through the double doors.

"Hi! Welcome to -Buffy? Xander? What are you doing here?" Cordelia gasped as she recognized her old classmates sauntering through the door.
Buffy smiled and greeted her in return while Xander gaped. 'Oh shit! This is bad'
"Earth to Xander! Wake up!" Cordy poked Xander in the arm which made him jump. "Whoa!"
Xander swallowed, hard, as he spoke,"Cordelia, hi, nice to see you, gotta run!"
Buffy looked at Xander oddly. "Xander? What's wrong with you?"
"Nothing I just realized I don't like...hotels, let's go." Xander tugged at Buffy's arm but, using slayer strength, denied him easily.
"Well I do and it's 5 p.m. already and we need to get checked in before dark so we have all night to patrol." She turned back to Cordy. "So..you manage a hotel now?"
Cordy stared blankly. "Hotel? Oh, no I work for Angel, remember? We moved here after the other place kinda got burned down."
"Oh, so we can't check out a room," Buffy spoke her sentence sadly.
"Don't be silly! We let people use rooms all the time. Why are you in L.A. anyway?" Cordy motioned her friends upstairs to her office and Xander, reluctantly, followed.
Buffy climbed slowly up the stairs as she spoke,"The Necklace of Truth. We hear some vamp named Darla has it so we need to find her, kill her, and make a hasty retreat with the jewelry."
Cordy froze."The Necklace of Truth? Angel was just talking about this. He and Wes are researching it in Wes' office."
"Why are they researching that?" Buffy asked angerly.
"Have you gone mental? That's what they do investigate the paranormal stuff, fight the big bad, just like you." Cordy snapped hastily.
Xander decided this would be a good time to inform Cordelia of the situation. "Cordy? Can I speak to you, privately?"
Cordy looked at him curiously,"Fine," as she led him to a seperate room.
Buffy toyed with her thoughts as she viewed the offices before her. 'Investigation? Fight like me? What's going on?' Her pondering was interrupted by a door opening. Buffy shot her eyes up and viewed a tall man, pale, muscular with jet black hair spiked and clothing to match. 'Not to mention the gorgeous factor' she added mentally.
"Hi." Buffy timidly said, hoping he heard her because repeating yourself was always embarrasing. Suddenly, she felt the swirling in her stomach again.
Angel couldn't believe his eyes as his head shot up instantly at the sweet voice he heard deep within his mind every waking minute. He felt her coming earlier but dismissed it as anxiousness about the necklace. And now she was here, so close.
"Buffy. What brings you to L.A.?" 'Very good that sounded relaxed' Angel thought to himself.


TBC