Angel and Cordelia were snuggled together as they watched an old black and white movie. His arms were around her as they were wrapped in a blanket. He kissed the top of her head before she spoke. "Angel?"

"Yeah?"

"Gunn said Connor stopped by. What did he want?" Cordelia asked as she turned her head to look at him. Angel looked uncomfortable. He shifted.

"He wanted to know about the family that disappeared two years ago. He also wanted to talk to me."

"About what?"

"About," before he could finish, he heard the door slam open. A voice yelled out.

"Angel, I need your help!"

Angel and Cordelia exchanged glimpses and said at the same time, "Connor."

The scrambled off the couch and ran into the lobby of the hotel. They came to a stop and saw Connor. He was full of soot and in his arms was a person. It was difficult to tell who or rather what it was. Angel was the first to get to him. He quickly went to him and asked, "What happened?"

"She ran back into a fire, for something. She passed out after I got her out." Connor said. Quickly Angel grabbed the side of his arm. And looked at his son.

"Are you all right?"

"Fine. It's her you should be concerned about." Connor said with a tiny hit of disgust. Before Angel could answer, Cordelia came up to Connor and took the girl out of his arms.

"I will clean her up guys. I doubt she'd want either one of you to do that for her."

Angel and Connor exchanged looks before watching Cordelia walk off carrying a girl in her arms. Connor spoke up first, "Never thought you would see her do that."

"True, true." They both stood there, with their hands in their pockets looking in the direction, which Cordelia walked off.

(A few hours later, trying to surface into conciseness...)

She only heard blips of conversations. She was in limbo somewhere. Somewhere warm. She felt something foreign tugging her out of sleep. Her eyes slowly opened and tried to focus on something. She smelled little smoke on herself. That surprised her because she was in a fire that day. Or was that yesterday? Shaking her head, she turned over and found herself sleeping on a bed. Where, she had no idea. The young man from the pervious day was no where to be seen. She slowly sat up and kept the blanket around her. Bringing her blanket with her, she got up and wandered around the room. Opening the door, she slipped through and closed it quietly behind her.

Quietly she maneuvered through the maze like halls until she came across steps. It looked like an old hotel from the inside. Wandering down the steps, she came across a middle-aged woman with long brown hair looking at a computer screen. Nimbly she turned around and started to go for the door when she heard the woman almost squeak.

"You are awake. I mean, are you all right?"

Turning around she began to step backwards for the door. Suddenly a hand clamped down on her shoulder. Screaming she whipped around and moved backwards from the person who touched her. It was another middle-aged woman. This woman was really concerned about her looks. The woman moved forward and Nick moved backwards. Suddenly running into another person. Before she could spin around, she was enclosed in two arms. She heard his voice speaking.

"Shhhhh, do not worry. These people won't hurt you. They are my friends. You can trust them."

Before he could do or say anything else, she began to chat. She repeated the spell she knew by heart. Suddenly everyone was thrown backwards as a bright blue light exploded from within her. She watched as the three people struggled off the ground and looked at her with astonishment mixed with terror. The wave of exhaustion hit before she could do anything. Her legs gave away and she crumpled, her legs were beneath her when she hit the ground. She saw faces of those three people before the darkness swamped over her.

(As she was out cold...)

He was still aching from the discharge of whatever it was. He was picking her off the floor when Angel walked in. He looked at the people crowding around the girl and asked, "What the hell happened?"

"She said some sort of spell," Cordelia put in.

"She was protecting herself," Connor put in. Looking at the person he held in his arms he added, "We scared her. She must have been disoriented when she woke up. Realizing she was in a different place, she must have panicked. I don't believe she meant to hurt us. It had to have been an automatic response."

"One hell of a response." Cordelia muttered as she held out her hand to Angel. Angel too it and helped her up.

Glancing at Angel, Connor coughed. "I think I will go and put her back in bed."

"Yes please. And do keep an eye on her." Suggested Angel. Connor gave him a toothy smile before heading back up the stairs. When he got to the room, he closed the door behind him. Leaving a small light on, he crossed over to the bed. Gently, she shifted her across the bed. Pulling the blanket over her, he glanced at her face. There were marks of fear and tension still lodged. Her features were still hard, even in sleep.

Frowning he leaned over and cautiously extended his hand. His hand carefully traced her face, from her forehead to the underneath of her chin. She shifted in her sleep and curled her body so she was facing him. He thought he saw her muscles relax a bit. He had no idea how long he watched her sleep. His thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice. "She packed one hell of a punch."

"What did you expect?" Connor scuffed at his father. "She was terrified. Too many people, she didn't know who to trust."

"She better learn to trust us quickly if you expect us to help her."

"Do you trust easily?"

"Um," Angel started and just stopped and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"That's what I thought." Turning to face him, "Leave her to me. I'll take care of her."

"That's what I am afraid of." Angel muttered as he wandered out of the room leaving Connor watching over the sleeping girl. Connor turned his attention on his problem. She had to learn to trust him soon. If what Lorne had seen was correct, her death would turn the tables on a specific breed of vampires. If she lived, the tables would turn in their direction. He wished for the second. Sliding onto the other side of the bed, he stretched out and then closed his eyes to sleep.

(Yet another hour passes for our main character...)

She woke up in a daze. The only thing she saw was darkness. As quickly as she had come out of it, she slipped back in. The nightmares came back. Their hands were everywhere. Their teeth were everywhere. No matter how much she begged and screamed it was never enough. Tears silently came. The hands never left her. Another scream forced its way up. Suddenly someone was shaking her. She felt the cold air hit her body. Someone kept on repeating her name. She felt arms come around her and hold her close to someone. A hand kept on running up and down her back as the person spoke. As she relaxed, the person relaxed their grip. She slumped against the person, for all her strength was gone.

She felt the softness of a blanket being pulled around her body. Shivers racked her as the cold sweat stopped. Dimly she felt something being wiped across her face. With what strength she had left, she pushed the hand away and turned away from them. When she woke up again, she was alone. Glancing at the clock, she noticed it was almost four at night. Glancing at the door, she noticed the lock. Moving quickly she turned it. Finding the bathroom, she eyed the clothes left on the toilet. Quickly she took a hot shower. Grabbing the clothes, she changed just as quickly. Whoever left the clothes, they even left a sweater. Pulling it on over the shirt, she glanced at the door. Remembering the window, she went back into where she slept. Glancing at the window, she saw bars.

Swearing in Russian, she went over and tried to pull on the bars. They did not budge. Kicking them did not help. Sighing she knew she might get out of the hotel without anyone noticing. Taking a big chance, she opened the door. Quickly and silently she ran down the halls. She got to the stairs when she heard voices. Stopping behind the wall, she took a quick glance. There were two people arguing. One of the women from the previous day, and a man. He looked familiar to her. They were almost yelling.

"How could you have let him go!" Yelled at guy at the woman.

"He needed to change and do stuff. Why does it matter? I think between the four of us, we can take care of one troubled teen." She did not seem to back down.

"That is not the point Cordy and you know it."

"Well, if Connor thinks she needs help, I am willing to help. Anyways, it could help the rift."

"No, no plotting Cordy. Promise me."

"Nope," she gave him a huge smile. "Then I would be lying." She took his arm and pulled him under the stairway.

This was her chance. Nimbly she went down the steps. Her hand almost was around the handle of the door when she was quickly flipped upside down. Swearing again, she only glanced down at the shoes of her captor. The voice, which spoke to her, was familiar.

"Can you just stop trying to escape? I did not plan to drag you back here each time." She was quickly dumped on her butt onto the round center cushion. She was face to face with the person who risked his life a few times for hers. Why? She had no clue and it bugged her. The man and the woman who were arguing before ventured out to witness this escapade. She tried to get up, only to be pushed back down. Trying again, she caught his arm and kicked him in his stomach. Taking him off guard, she snuck off the cushion. Keeping her defenses up she spoke.

"I just want to leave. I don't want to hurt anyone else. I just want to leave." Her eyes were pleading with him.

"Listen, we are here to help you, whether you like it or not." Connor said.

"I don't need your help. If you want to help, you will let me leave right now."

"You should not leave until we figure out why they want you dead." The woman with short hair said. Glancing at her, she spoke.

"I know why, but it is not your concern."

"It was made our concern when I helped you that day it was two against one."

"Seven."

"What?"

"There were seven. I would have not had a problem, but I heard you coming which distracted me. You walk too loud." The older man laughed. Connor didn't look too happy. "It's true."

"Prove it." He suggested in a shrugging motion.

"Fine, but on my conditions."

"What conditions?"

"If I do, I leave. No strings."

Glancing at the man and woman behind him, he had to hush them. Turning to face her he agreed. "Fine."

"Do you have a blindfold?"

He looked disturbed. The woman behind him pulled her black scarf off. Tossing it to her, she caught it. Quickly, she tied it around her eyes. Indulging him, she turned in twenty circles before stopping. "Just in case you think I cheated."

Connor didn't say anything. He shook his head and quietly moved around her. She stayed in one place, still. She didn't seem to register him. When he circled her twice, he moved in to take her down behind her. As his leg came out to kick her in the back, she pivoted and blocked it. Dropping to the ground she kicked his other leg out from beneath him. Getting back to her feet, she did a back flip. "Like I said, I heard you."

As her hand went for the blindfold, he attacked. She got the wind knocked out of her as she hit the ground on her back. Quickly she decided not to move. As he got closer, she pivoted her legs up and scissor cut him across his middle section. Bringing him down, she quickly shifted her weight to on top of him. Whipping the stake out of her sleeve, she held it to his heart. Breathing easy she pulled her blindfold off. Glaring at him, she got off him. Shooting him a look, she tossed the woman the scarf. Looking at the sulking guy on the floor, she took pity. Offering her hand, she felt it was the best she could do. He took it, which surprised him. Helping him up, she moved backwards.

"You are good. Do not mistake that. Just remember when we meet again, that I'm better." Turning around, she headed for the door and disappeared into the daylight.

(Yet given another famous slip out the door!)