Kate awoke feeling unrested, and depressed. She worked out nothing in her dreams. Groggily checking her message machine, she found a note from Quentin letting her know that one Rupert Giles was arriving this afternoon.

Still wrought with inner doubt, she quickly showered and dressed. She met with Travers briefly, then made her way to the meeting room where this Mr. Giles was waiting.

Entering quietly, she observed him sitting in one of the chairs facing away from the door. Not wanting to startle him, she cleared her throat. He quickly jumped up, and she offered a smile.

"Kate Lockley," she said in greeting, studying him over.

He was just as the profile described him, down to the way he pushed his glasses higher on his nose nervously. She'd been told that he was currently leading a rag-tag group against the vampire influx that developed when the Master entered Sunnydale.

She wondered briefly where his helpers were. She'd have liked to meet them.

"Ahh, yes. Um, Giles," he said, nodding at her.

She moved in closer, and took the seat opposite him. "Traver….Sir Travers knows that I am wanting to get into the field of magicks. He said that you were the best expert on the subject," Kate said, hoping to put the man at ease. She watched in slight amusement as he blushed over the compliment.

"Oh, I'm not an expert per se, but I do have quite extensive knowledge," he admitted, giving her a small smile.

Ahhh. Progress. Before she could stop herself, she found herself speaking. "Mr…Giles, can I ask you a question?" He gave her a small nod.

"Of course," he replied, and she took a deep breath. "Do you know anything about this vampire we're holding?" she asked quietly, and noticed his slight hesitation.

It only increased her suspicion, but she knew he wasn't under any obligation to answer her.

"He said something to me that I found to be intriguing. I'd just like to know what you're willing to share," Kate explained. Giles sighed, and took his glasses off. Massaging his brow anxiously, he didn't speak for a long while. Kate had just about given up, when he replied.

"Angelus is…a rather unique vampire. He doesn't have the same, shall we say, sensibilities as the others," he said, giving her a searching look.

"How is that possible?" Kate asked, and he shook his head.

"We never were really sure. I…" he began, but stopped. Kate sat straighter.

"Please. There's something about him that gets to me. A connection. Don't ask me what it is, I don't know. I don't like it either," she admitted, looking down.

Then she glanced back up. "But I want to know what's going on," she finished.

Giles put his glasses back on. "I heard about him some years ago," he explained, and Kate settled in to listen. "Heard about him through one of my old contacts. I wanted to meet him. The Council has wanted to capture and test him for decades, but he always managed to stay one step ahead of them. When I asked if I might be allowed to question him, they refused to allow me to even attempt to find him," he said, annoyance lacing his words.

"Why?" Kate asked, though she already knew the answer.

Giles confirmed it. "The Council is set in their ways. They believe that all vampires are evil, and as such, must be destroyed. Since their records indicated that no vampires could possibly have the same…inner feelings as Angel, they refused to consider the possibility that he could be an asset to the organization, instead of a liability."

Kate sighed. "So they'll kill him after this," she said wearily, and Giles nodded.

"Why do you care?" he asked suddenly, and Kate shook her head.

"I don't know," she replied softly, and he let it go.

"Kate, I've been asked to help you find the location of the Master's hiding place. Will you explain what you've learned so far?"

Kate grimaced and shrugged. "Not much," she began, then filled him in on what she knew.