A/N- Umm… I don't really have much to say at the moment. Read and *review*. You know the drill.

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Okay. Can I just say that I'm still looking forwards to a good night's sleep *without* the bad-guys in my bedroom? I guess it's never gonna happen. Not like that's the biggest of my worries right now, anyway. See, at the moment I'm struggling to keep focussed on staying alive here (yet again!). I'm still not really in on the idea that my death is a good thing.

"Okay Dru…" I manage to murmur from underneath her hand. "I won't scream." Even though my words are incoherent, I know she understands me. In her own little way, she heard me clearly.

'Maybe the stars told her.' A small voice in my head hisses snidely, sarcastically adding 'Like talking to her is going to help anyone.'

God…Here I was thinking that *Drusilla* was crazy. Correct me if I'm wrong, but *I'm* actually *listening* to a *voice* in *my head*.

Hello asylums and mental institutions! When can I sign myself in? Straightjackets, anyone?

I try desperately to ignore what I can only refer to as my 'voice of doubt and reasoning' and focus on getting the vampiress's hand away from my mouth so I can breath properly. "Drusilla…please…" Sounds as if I've thrown numerous sounds together and said 'ushilla eeesh' to me, but I continue all the same, "I won't scream…a-and I won't run. J-just…" I have to stop and take in another tiny amount of air. "…Let…let go…of me."

Her grip slackens slightly as she considers it. "Miss Edith thinks you will run away." She states finally. "She says you're trying to trick me." A pause. I hold my breath. From what I've learnt of this vampire she's insane and prone to getting bored with her captives and then killing them in an instant. Sooo *not* what I'm looking for at the moment. "I don't like naughty li'l girls that don't belong and try to trick me."

Yeah…I kinda got that part. "Now…you see, I… I don't want to trick you." (I just want to stay alive and breathing for a little…okay…a *lot* longer.) "I won't run away. I promise."

At that she loosens her grip on my face even more. "Just like my Spike promised to kill the slayer?" She hisses. I don't move to answer; instead I choose to let her rant insanely while I formulate an escape plan. Surprisingly enough, she lets go of me entirely. I almost choose to run out the door, but something inside my head, other than fear, makes me stay.

I watch as Drusilla practically glides around behind me and drops down onto the bed. There is a *huge* amount of sorrow in those insane eyes as she stares up at me. "My Spike said he'd kill the slayer for me…" She says. Her gaze grows distant and her voice becomes saddened as she reminisces about her childe and lover. "I felt him leaving me more and more when 'e thought of her."

"But you left him for a chaos demon." I find myself reasoning with her. And that's really smart, isn't it? Arguing with an *insane* and *unpredictable* vampire. "It broke his un-beating heart. You could have at least *tried* talking to him." I sit down next to her, forgetting that she could kill me in an instant.

She looks over at me. Its almost as if she becomes sane for a second because she shakes her head and laughs sadly. "No. My pretty Spike never listened to anybody. He wanted the slayer *before* I went away."

"But he *loved* you. He wanted to give you the world. Wanted to *kill* the slay…I mean, Buffy for you. You *knew* that. And had you not been obsessed with Angelus when he made you leave Sunnydale-"

"Ooh…" She drawls in her usual singsong manner, cutting me off. "The stars are singin' a song." She stands up and dances to the music that only she can hear. Swishing her hips from side to side, Drusilla starts to hum a familiar tune. I can't place it though; no matter how hard I try. She sings the last few words."…Will you, won't you, will you, won't you, will you join the dance?" I still can't place the song, but I know that I've heard it *somewhere* before. She looks at me end extends her hand, gesturing for me to join her on her imaginary dance floor, repeating the end of the song. "Will you, Won't you, Will you, Won't you, Will you join the dance?"

I decline as politely as possible. I still don't really want to become insane vampire food. "Umm…So Drusilla…" I begin, hoping to trick her into leaving or at least telling me why she's here. "What brings you to LA?"

She closes her eyes and continues to sway to the music in her head. "Miss Edith got bored in Vienna, and in Paris, and in Budapest and in…Well, Miss Edith got very bored. So we wanted to come back and find our family." She opens her eyes and they get that distant look again. "But it seems our family is no more." Suddenly she narrows her eyes and it looks like she's remembered her original plan (whatever that was). "My pretty Spike is in love with the slayer…Grandmummy is dust and my beautiful Angelus *still* has a yucky soul… and now he has a li'l boy. The stars say he was Grandmummy's too." She scowls. "Grandmummy never liked *Angel*…" She practically spits his name, wincing as if it were the vilest, most despicable word in existence. "…and yet the little boy is *his* and hers…Very strange…"

A feeling of dread comes over me. "Y-you don't want the little boy, do you?" I ask her gently, hoping against hope she doesn't sense my fear.

"I don't want to hurt the baby." She tells me and a vacant smile becomes plastered onto her face. "After all, he *is* Grandmummy's."

"Then," I find myself asking, "Why *are* you here? In Angel's hotel? Where its obvious you're not really that welcome?"

"Oh…" Drusilla replies. "The pixies in my head told me to come here."

And *that* clears it all up. (Once again, there is sarcasm.) "Okay…" I really don't know how to handle this situation. "Ah…did the pixies tell you *why* you should come?" I swear it's like talking to a 3 year-old. Except I've never been afraid that a 3 year-old might go rabid and eat me.

She laughs again and sings. "Will you, Won't you, Will you, Won't you, Will you Join the dance?"

I close my eyes and shake my head in frustration. When I reopen my eyes a couple of seconds later, she's gone. I should have seen it coming. I mean, how obvious was it? Seriously. It's the type of thing that *always* happens on TV or in the movies. You turn your back for a split second and *POOF*! Bad-guy disappears to wreak havoc somewhere else.

I decide it's time to go into panic mode.

Running to the door and yanking it open, I throw myself into the hallway and scream the first word that enters my head.

"ANGEL!"

I speed over to his room and knock… okay… *pound* my fists against the door. "ANGEL!"

I look down at my watch, which has now been set to LA time. It reads 9pm. There's no way Angel's asleep. But, maybe Cordy had a vision and he's off killing something. Which would usually be a good thing, if it weren't so badly timed.

I give up on the door and run into the nursery next. I don't know why, considering the fact that Angel moved Connor's crib into his room last night. I'm starting to try and think rationally, now. Panicking won't solve a thing.

But it still feels better than not knowing what the hell to do.

I jog out of the nursery and down the hall, past the elevator and pretty much fly down the stairs. I reach the landing and spy someone in Wesley's office. If it's one of the AI gang I'm set. I can get help and we can take Dru down together. If not, and its someone evil…I'll kick it's butt for information. Or I'll just kill it. Hell, I'll decide when I get there.

I burst into the room, already in a fighting stance. Gunn jumps half a mile into the air. "Damn girl, Chill. What's with you and sneaky entrances, anyhow?"

I raise my eyebrows at him, still not readjusting into a less threatening pose. "What?" I ask confused.

"Angel told us about your teleporting or whatever you call it. Pretty damn funny if you ask me."

I feel my cheeks redden. "Uh huh. Well… I didn't ask you."

He raises his hands in a playful defeat. "I was just sayin'."

I smile at him and drop my arms to my sides. "I can't believe he told you. It's sooo embarrassing." I chuckle as I think back on the 'orbing incidents'. "But I *can* see the funniness."

"So…Why *are* you bursting in here all 'Jackie Chan' anyway?" He questions. "Or did you get bored with catching Angel off guard and decided to move onto scaring the crap outta me?"

"Oh…" I'm suddenly all panicky again. "I thought you might be an insane and *really* evil vampire, 'cos we have definitely got one of them running around here and-"

"Evil vamp, huh?" He says, cutting me off. "Actually *in* the hotel, did you say?" I nod and he ponders for a second, then flicks an accusing gaze towards me. "How is it that y'all know that we *definitely* got a really evil vamp in the hotel?" His eyes widen before I can speak and he jumps to a disturbing conclusion. "Did you go and make Angel all happy?"

"What? Oh, you mean did I…NO!" I shake my head vigorously. "What makes you think that I…" I stop when I realise that I'm still only half dressed in a pair of sweatpants and bra, with my hair and makeup all messy. I can see where he got that idea. "Oh…Well, you're wrong. Very, very wrong. I mean, sure he's sexy and all…but that'd be too weird. He's supposed to be with Cordy. COR-DY! Not me. He's got the hots for *her*…which is pretty obvious but…I'm rambling again aren't I?" Gunn's still not convinced, but he nods. I swallow and clear my throat. "I did not in *any* way make Angel that happy…or happy at all. Plus… It's not Angelus running around in the hotel, Gunn. It's Dru. As in Silla. As in the girl Angelus made go insane and then turned her when she was about to-"

"I know who Drusilla is." He says shortly. "How do you know she's here? You see her or something?"

"Or something." I respond, then decide to elaborate. "I *was* going to take a bath 'cos I was a mess…" I look into my reflection in the glass of the window behind him. "Oh…I still am…And I was getting undressed and she kinda ambushed me. Then I sidetracked her and got her talking and then I closed my eyes for a second and she was gone so I ran out to get Angel, *forgetting* that I'm not yet dressed…hence the way I look now." I stop to breath after speeding that out at him. "And I didn't invite her in. I guess the fact that I'm not, nor have I been declared the owner of that room and a vampire is and has been, explains how she was able to enter it." I shake my head at myself. "Sorry," I add. "I'm not really making much sense at the moment. This will have been the third night in a row that I've been attacked by a psychopath in my room and I'm a little out of it."

He nods with a smile. "No matter. I understood you. You spend a little time with Fred, you can decipher pretty much *any* sort of rambling. She used to go on about Angel like you wouldn't believe…Worse than you, even."

Hey! There was a backhanded insult in there. I think. Oh well. I just smile back at him. I don't know how to reply 'cos I'm still thinking that Wes has a *huge* thing for Fred as well, and I don't want to interfere when I know someone's bound to get hurt emotionally.

"Uh…" I manage after a few seconds. "Where *is* Angel, if you don't mind me asking? 'Cos this whole Drusilla thing has got me a little wigged and I'm needing some backup. A lot of backup actually. Angel *needs* to know that she's here. And I also need to ask Wes about her ability to see into the future through (air quote) the stars and pixies (end air quote) 'cos she kept singing this song and I've got the strangest feeling that there was a message in it…and I'm babbling again." Gunn nods in amusement and I smile. "Sorry. Where were the others again?"

Still chuckling to himself, Gunn says something about Angel and Wes meeting a client, while Cordy, Willow and Fred took the baby out late night shopping, leaving him here to handle the office and unexpected clients that often arrive seeking emergency help. I ask him how long Wes and Angel said they'd be and he tells me that no time was specified.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"So…It's just you and me, then." I say as Gunn pulls out an array of sharp, pointy things from the weapons cabinet.

"Yup." He replies. I watch as he turns and pulls out two swords. "So…" He begins. "Which one do you want? We got long, sharp and pointy," He raises one. "Or long, sharp and pointy." He raises the other. "Take your pick."

"Oh and there's sooo much to choose from." I mock playfully. "They're just sooo different." I assume what I have dubbed 'my thinking position' by placing my chin between my thumb and forefinger and narrowing my eyes as I gaze off thoughtfully. "I think," I begin after a few moments of careful consideration, "I might go with long, sharp and pointy."

Gunn smiles and passes me one of the identical swords. "Good choice." He turns back to the cabinet, squats down and begins rummaging through a chest at the bottom. Finally he pulls out a couple of stakes and sachets of holy water. He tosses them to me, stands up and pats his pockets, looking around the room as if he's forgotten something. "I'm sure there was somethin' else we might need…" He says. "I know I'm forgetting somethin' here."

"How about a couple of crosses?" I prod.

"Right! See, Now I *knew* there was somethin' missin'." He grins at me and turns back to the weapons cabinet.

I shake my head with a smile. At this rate we're never gonna get anywhere.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"What *are* you two doing?" Wesley asks, looking slightly dishevelled after Gunn and I jump out at him and Angel, crosses and stakes raised.

"Yeah…and would you mind pointing those things oh, I don't know, *somewhere else*?" Angel adds, gesturing towards the weaponry we're clutching.

I smirk sheepishly and tuck the cross safely into my back pocket. "Sorry. We're hunting vampires. Insane and very evil ones."

"I see. You know, add 'Be vewy vewy qwuiet' to the beginning of that sentence and you'll sound just like that hunter guy that's always after Bugs Bunny." Angel replies. I gotta admit that his impersonation of Elmer Fudd has got me kinda wigged at the moment. Seriously, *Angel* doing a loony tunes impersonation? Its just plain wrong. I must be looking at him strangely 'cos he tilts his head to the side and asks, "What?"

"Since when do you watch Loony Tunes cartoons?" I respond, trying to suppress my laughter. Gunn is obviously having a harder time doing so, and a snort of amusement ends up escaping from him. I end up giggling along with him.

Angel folds his arms across his chest indignantly. "Connor likes Bugs Bunny." He insists. "Do you honestly think I enjoy watching an annoying cartoon rabbit make fun of balding fat guys with speech impediments? I don't think so." I take one look at the pout on Angel's face and find that I can barely support myself; I'm laughing that much.

I take a couple of seconds to steady myself. "Sure, Angel." I manage finally. "I understand." And then I'm giggling again. The thought of this big, strong, broody man engrossed in a Bugs Bunny cartoon just cracks me up for some reason. He's a closet case dork. Gotta love that in him.

Wesley, who also looks like he's having a hard time covering his amusement, clears his throat. "You mentioned a vampire hunt of some sort?" He boosts, bringing the current life-threatening situation back into focus.

I sober up immediately. "Yep. See, I was gonna take a bath after the training session this afternoon and I was getting undressed and Drusilla ambushed me an-"

"Drusilla?" The ex-watcher gasps. "*Here*? In the hotel?"

I nod and start to rush the rest of my story out. "So anyways, she ends up letting me go and I ask her why she came and she tells me the pixies and the stars told her to and then sings this weird song that I *know* I've heard before and I'm sure there was some sort of message in it and when I blink she's gone." I take a deep breath and look at Angel. "She said that she didn't want to hurt Connor 'cos she's still all loyal to Darla, but I was still really worried 'cos she's so insane and evil and stuff and when I came looking for you, you weren't anywhere in sight, so I ran down here and explained it all to Gunn and we were just starting to look for her now when you guys came back." I take another deep breath. "There. Story told."

"I see." Wesley replies. "Do you have any thoughts as to where she went?"

I roll my eyes. "I just attacked you and Angel. What do you think?"

"Point taken."

"Guys…" Gunn says, patting me on the shoulder.

"What?" I ask him.

He points down the darkened hallway. "Do ya think that dude might have some answers?"

Why do I get the feeling that this *isn't* going to end well? I mean, pitch- black hallway and evil vampire on the loose? Once again we're talking clichés. Against all better judgement I decided to follow Gunn's finger and peer down the hall.

Standing tall and fully strengthened at the other end is one very pissed off Damien. He stretches his arms and cracks his knuckles arrogantly.

I look up at Angel and he looks down at me. We don't need to speak. We've already reached a unanimous decision. I ask him questions through simple facial expressions and he answers them in much the same way.

"Wes," Angel says after a few seconds, looking back at Damien and never letting his gaze leave him. "Go downstairs and call the girls. Tell them to go back to Cordy's and stay there until we say it's safe, okay?"

Wesley nods and disappears. Gun and I pull out our swords. I offer mine to Angel. After all, I've got a much better weapon. Magick. He takes me up on my offer, eyes still glues to the bad guy, and nods his thanks.

"You know," Damien snarls finally. "You people never learn."

Argh! Again with the clichés! Always with the clichés!

I sigh in frustration, realising that I'm never gonna get through to this guy, no matter how many times I tell him to get new material. "Angel?" I ask innocently, gazing up at the vampire like a child begging to play. "When can we kill him?"

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A/N- Yep. You have to review! I mean it, guys! I need your feedback. I'm starting to develop symptoms of writer's block, which is never good, so I need you guys to keep telling me what you think. There's this thing in my brain that makes me want to write faster with the more feedback I get so please, please, please review! If not for my sake, but for yours. Ta.