"Cordelia!" Angel's voice was hoarse as he shook his lover's shoulders. She
was sprawled across the lobby floor, Starr beside her, passed out in the
same position.
He gripped her hand tightly. Cordelia's eyelids flickered.
"Angel? Still sleepy, go fetch coffeeee..?" she mumbled. He smiled with relief, and helped her to sit up.
"What happened to you?" he asked quietly, as she put her hand to her temples, hissing in a breath.
"I don't.remember," she replied, her brows furrowing, as she tried to recall what had happened. Her eyes widened as she caught the end of the vision, and she swallowed visibly.
"I do." Starr pushed back her black curls with her hands, a grim look on her face. "I just don't know why."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Mr Holden? Mr Holden?" Dimly, he recalled the name he was using in the building was Holden, and pulled himself up on the corner of the table. He raised a hand over the side of the cubicle.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he muttered. He sucked in a breath as he felt a sore spot on his head, where he'd hit it on the side of the desk. The slim woman, clad in a brown suit, appeared around the side of the three walled space.
"Mr Holden, Mr Jacobs will see you now."
*Mr Holden* followed her, obediently, the residue of the vision still pounding in his brain. He had to get to Starr.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Okay, what in Britney Spears' comeback tour is going on?" the green skinned demon demanded. "For some reason, I'm blocked from ya, doll. And a word to the wise, sugar lump? Your voice suits the stellar style of Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, anythin' but Gloria Gaynor." Starr nodded dumbly.
"Britney Spears' comeback tour?" Jess repeated, her arms folded, with a questioning look. He gave a quick, wicked grin.
" It would be hell," he supplied. Faye gave a tiny snort of laughter, which she quickly repressed when Jess glared at her.
"Thanks..I think. Britney aside, and whoever the hell Joni Mitchell-"
"Blasphemy!" Lorne exclaimed, flapping a hand at her. "Bite your tongue!" Starr looked up at him pleadingly.
"Okay, okay. Song people aside, am I to understand that I sang for no reason whatsoever, but to make the great thumping migraine worse?" Lorne shot her a pitying look.
"'Fraid so, sweetheart. There's a whoopdidoo of blockage on ya, and that's the kind of whammy I can't break through."
"Uh, people? I hate to break up the lovely discussion of readings, blood, and my ever-present favorite, how much gore was in my last vision, but someone has to go pick Jane up from school. And the Potentials, they need..stuff," Cordy gestured vaguely.
"Right. It's three thirty.we should go. Uh, Fred? If you go get Jane, and Gunn, you and Wes take Potentials, they were gonna go to the mall, I'm going to research this. Cordy, do you want to head upstairs?" The tired Seer nodded.
"I'm gonna go up, too," Starr put in softly. Angel whipped around.
"Oh. Uh, yeah. Good." Uneasily, he looked from female to female, then strode quickly into the office.
* ~ * ` * ~ * ~ * ~
"What do you mean, worthless? That *can't* be worthless." The slim young woman balled her hands into fists. "I went into a lot of trouble for that thing, AND I. WANT. MY. MONEY!"
"I'm deeply apologetic, Ms.. .What did you say your name was? Never-mind," he waved it aside. "As I said, we're apologetic, but the merchandise requested has not arrived in order. Therefore, no payment."
She sounded more desperate. "There has *got* to be a mistake. I put my life on the line for that thing. Do it every night. And I always deliver. Always get paid."
"Well, there's always a first time," he smiled insincerely. He pressed a button on the intercom. "Ms Westley? Ask the guards to escort Ms.the lady out."
She leaned forward.
"It's Gwen." She yanked off a glove, and touched the tip of her finger to his cheek. A live electric charge ran through him, as she coolly watched.
"Yes, there is a first time for everything," she whispered. "But it pisses me off."
She sashayed past the guards, swinging her hips as she walked, tossing her head at their dumbfounded looks, as she tugged the long, black silk glove back on. They didn't notice the opened package in her hand, as they scrambled toward the desk, and Mr Jacobs.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"So..." Wesley's face was set determinedly. "The biggest challenge we have yet to face."
"Come off it, English! They're teenage girls!" Gunn protested laughingly. Wesley turned to face him, folding his arms against his crisp red shirt front.
"Have you ever been around teenage girls on an excursion away from the Council?"
"Well, no," the black man admitted.
"Then you have no idea what you are dealing with," the Englishman stated grimly.
"Gabby! Gabby!" pounding feet sounded, racing down the stairs.
"Oh God," Wesley muttered. Three girls assembled in front of him. Gunn nudged him in the ribs.
"Look, Wes, they're only little," he whispered. A small smirk appearing on Jess's lips went unnoticed, as the ex-Watcher replied,
"At an age where they can do the most damage."
Gunn rolled his eyes at the girls, and gestured at Wesley. They giggled.
"All right. Let the terror begin," Wesley muttered miserably.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
To the casual observer, they looked like they'd been hit by a bomb. It was the only explanation for the shell shocked expression on their faces.
"It's your turn," Gunn managed to say numbly. Wesley shook his head, a glazed look in his eyes.
"No. It's not. It's another shop. And it's Gabby. You took Gabby, remember? After the ice cream shop, you said, 'I'm not taking Jess'. You took her. Now do your duty, like a true Watcher," Wesley ordered indistinctly. A small smile quirked Gunn's lips.
"Correction, English. I'm not the Watcher. You are. They're Potentials. Your job."
"Damn," the Englishman muttered, as he strode into the store.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"I'm sorry, mister, there were three girls in here, but they've gone," the harassed clerk told him, a worried look crossing her face. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and a tag on her pink uniform said, 'Hi, I'm Sandy. How can I help?'
Wesley groaned.
"Did you see where they went?" he asked politely, whipping off his glasses, and polishing them at hyperspeed.
"Oh yeah. Across the mall. Other side. See, Victoria's?" His stomach dropped, as she pointed. Oh no. This was far, far worse than anything he'd even begun to think about.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"What about this one?" Jess held up the lilac bra. Gabby considered, her head on one side.
"I think I liked the yellow," she offered. Jess rolled her eyes.
"C'mon Gabby, it's not about favourite colours," she sighed. She gave a complacent smirk to the mirror. "It's about which one looks hot."
Faye hid a yawn. "Black's the common one then."
Both of the others turned to look at her. She shrugged.
"Hey, didn't say anything. Just, black is generally considered to be the colour of sexy underwear."
Jess glanced back at the mirror, and pushed her auburn hair behind her shoulders. She flicked through the rack before them. With a naughty grin, she held up a lacy, black bra. "We have lift off."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Two men raced into the Victoria's Secret shop, scattering women.
"The important thing to do is just.not look," Wesley suggested, as they came to a screeching halt in front of a display. Gunn grinned.
"And miss the show?" he asked, impishly. Wesley glared.
"Hey, look over there, English!"
"I'm trying not to, thank you!"
Gunn rolled his eyes good naturedly.
"No. I'm talkin' about the three girls, one a redhead, who just walked into the dressing room. And damn they have a lot of underwear with them!" his eyes widened. "They're not intending to.buy it, are they?"
Wesley, with shut eyes frowned with frustration. "Council. Girls. Free. Of course they'll buy it if they can!"
Gunn raised an eyebrow. "We'd better get over there."
Wesley, his arms outstretched to feel his way there, crashed into a display labelled, 'naughty Secrets to make your partner go wild!' Gunn hooted with laughter, as the dismayed, and flustered ex-Watcher hurried to scoop up the dropped underwear, his face turning a dull, deep red.
"I think we find them, now," Wesley stated, his voice icy.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Jessamy! Gabriella! Faye! Where are you?"
"Sir, you can't go in there, sir!" the flustered attendant tried to hold the furious Watcher back, as he shoved past her, and into pastel central, the dressing rooms.
Jess peeked around the corner of the pale pink curtain, to see Wes storming up the central aisle. She smirked, a wicked look in her blue eyes.
"Pay back," she whispered. Trying her hardest to throw her voice, she called,
"Wesley? We're all done. We're in the dressing room on your left, no, up a bit, that's it. Hang on, Gabby just needs to." Gabby blushed hotly, but kept quiet.
"No waiting," the angry man ordered. He yanked back the curtain, revealing an old lady, struggling with the clasp of a bra. Both pairs of eyes widened in horror.
"You nasty, NASTY man!" the woman shrieked, flapping her hands at him, striking his front. Wesley, now white, was backing out of the room, his eyes shut. He fell hard against the facing dressing room, and pulled down the curtain on a woman in her early thirties. She screamed, and pulled the curtain around her, jabbing at the call button for the attendant with a finger.
Stifling laughter, the three girls ran out of the dressing rooms, to the counter, to pay for their items.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Wesley, his face still scarlet, stormed up to the three girls, happily swinging bags, and eating ice cream, seated in a booth with Gunn. The black man couldn't hide his mirth at the sight of the 'rogue demon hunter'.
"Jessamy Kendall. You will train with Angel this evening," he ordered stiffly. "Now get back to the car."
Still shaking his head snickering, particularly as he noticed the large bruise purpling on the side of Wesley's cheek, Gunn led the way towards Angel's car.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Hit, block, hit," he instructed. The Potential's eyes blazed with determination, and she shifted her hands wider apart on the quarterstaff. Sweeping strokes upwards, and,
"Hit, block, hit," he repeated. " No, Jess. Again." In frustration, she threw the staff down, where it clattered against the cool stone of the basement.
"I did it okay. I do not need to do these stupid little drills!" she tossed her head in defiance. "I'm a Potential. Either the slayer dies, and I become the Chosen One, or she doesn't, and I don't."
He regarded her with no expression.
"Again."
"No!" she yelled.
Angel turned towards the staircase.
"Fine," he said quietly. "Then you won't fight. No training for three days."
The redhead was left in the centre of the dark room, struggling to swallow the bitter retort on her lips.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Cordy? Are you going to be okay?" the little girl flung herself at the brunette, her thin arms encircling the woman's neck, the heart shaped face buried in her neck. Cordelia chuckled, hugging the child tightly.
"Yeah. I'm gonna be fine." She stroked the shiny hair, combed into two neat bunches, and held Jane close.
"What happened, Cordy?" Jane whispered, looking into Cordelia's hazel eyes. The woman considered a moment.
"Well, you know I have those visions?" the little girl nodded her head. "I got a bad one. And it made my head ache, so I didn't feel so good. So I had a rest, and now I'm good to go," she finished, with a tight smile.
In answer, the child burrowed back into her arms. "I don't want you to go away, like Mommy," she muttered, clinging to Cordelia.
Cordelia looked down.
"Honey, I'm not going anywhere," she told her gently. "I'm staying right here."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
The lobby's glass doors swung open.
"Come in, it's fine. We're still working at eight o'clock at night," Angel called dryly. Most of AI's customers called during the standard work times. However, there were a few who saw the Hyperion as a drop in centre. He fastened the top button of his dark blue shirt.
"Good to know I haven't disturbed anyone," the woman replied, in a husky tone, a hint of a grin in her voice.
"Gwen?"
She cocked her head on one side.
"The one and only," she confirmed. Clad in black leather pants, and a tight red halter top and long black gloves, she was unmistakably the same woman.
"Ooh, have we added whores to the repertoire of misfits in this place?" a girl queried, a snide tone in her voice, as she walked out of the office, a younger blonde following her.
Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Nice munchkin, Angel. What, the wizard of Oz had layoffs?" She glanced at Jess. "Let me guess, your blood opens the gate to a portal, or something fantastic. Don't tell me you're this annoying without a purpose."
Jess smirked sarcastically. "Nice. What breed of freak are you?"
"Repeat that." The electrically charged woman's tone was icy.
"Okay. What kind of a freak are-" Gwen pulled off a glove.
"The kind that can make you sizzle like you just touched bare wires. Get back under your rock, brat, or I'll make your curls stand on end." She smiled slowly at Angel, and shrugged loosely.
"I don't like kids."
"I get that," he answered. He glanced at Jess, whose chin was raised belligerently. "Jess. Go back in the kitchen."
She glared at the brunette, sneered, and walked back inside. Gabby raced to keep up with her.
"So. What are you here for?"
"There's a small problem. I need to get your input on it." She glanced around. "n private."
"This way," Angel indicated, as he closed the doors of the office.
She paced the floor, as he settled himself into the black leather chair.
"Something is wrong, Angel. I was sent on an op," she glanced at him impatiently. "Not a bad one. Just a regular metal security system, guards. I could do it in my sleep. "
"So why are you here?" he asked. She shook out her shoulders, swinging her arms to loosen the muscles.
"Because something happened. I was asked to find this, the tool of Persephone, heard of it?"
He leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desktop.
"Yeah. It's an object that-"
"Grants visions of the future in the central globe. Better than a Seer, because it's more precise," she cut in, nodding. "So you've heard of it. Good. I bought the first item with a favor. It was too heavily guarded for me to attack. "
She held out a small ball. It was a smoky, glass globe, filled with mist.
"Doesn't work until you connect the second part. Owned, previously," she allowed herself a small smile, "By the wonderful Fairman Merchandising. I got it from them Tuesday night." She pulled out a small metal clip, and tossed it to him. He caught it, surprised.
"Oh don't worry if you drop it," she shrugged. "The thing's worthless."
"The tool of Persephone? But, it-"
"Doesn't work," she filled in. She gave a bitter smile. "Yeah. I know how the deal is. Persephone's globe, used when given to her by her mother to see the world above. I do research the stuff I take, Angel. I had a large amount riding on this. Business has been slow recently. I needed this money. And Jacobs, the guy I was working for, refused to pay me. I got that to him in perfect condition Angel. And that guy needed it. He won't pay me, says it doesn't work. Something big screwing with something that powerful? This stinks of something you guys handle, so I came to you-"
The doors to the office slid open, as Jane stopped in the doorway. She stared at Gwen, her eyes wide in terror, and screamed.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N: Apologies for the super long chapter. I couldn't find a place to stop. Review, oh please!
He gripped her hand tightly. Cordelia's eyelids flickered.
"Angel? Still sleepy, go fetch coffeeee..?" she mumbled. He smiled with relief, and helped her to sit up.
"What happened to you?" he asked quietly, as she put her hand to her temples, hissing in a breath.
"I don't.remember," she replied, her brows furrowing, as she tried to recall what had happened. Her eyes widened as she caught the end of the vision, and she swallowed visibly.
"I do." Starr pushed back her black curls with her hands, a grim look on her face. "I just don't know why."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Mr Holden? Mr Holden?" Dimly, he recalled the name he was using in the building was Holden, and pulled himself up on the corner of the table. He raised a hand over the side of the cubicle.
"I'm fine, I'm fine," he muttered. He sucked in a breath as he felt a sore spot on his head, where he'd hit it on the side of the desk. The slim woman, clad in a brown suit, appeared around the side of the three walled space.
"Mr Holden, Mr Jacobs will see you now."
*Mr Holden* followed her, obediently, the residue of the vision still pounding in his brain. He had to get to Starr.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Okay, what in Britney Spears' comeback tour is going on?" the green skinned demon demanded. "For some reason, I'm blocked from ya, doll. And a word to the wise, sugar lump? Your voice suits the stellar style of Eva Cassidy, Joni Mitchell, anythin' but Gloria Gaynor." Starr nodded dumbly.
"Britney Spears' comeback tour?" Jess repeated, her arms folded, with a questioning look. He gave a quick, wicked grin.
" It would be hell," he supplied. Faye gave a tiny snort of laughter, which she quickly repressed when Jess glared at her.
"Thanks..I think. Britney aside, and whoever the hell Joni Mitchell-"
"Blasphemy!" Lorne exclaimed, flapping a hand at her. "Bite your tongue!" Starr looked up at him pleadingly.
"Okay, okay. Song people aside, am I to understand that I sang for no reason whatsoever, but to make the great thumping migraine worse?" Lorne shot her a pitying look.
"'Fraid so, sweetheart. There's a whoopdidoo of blockage on ya, and that's the kind of whammy I can't break through."
"Uh, people? I hate to break up the lovely discussion of readings, blood, and my ever-present favorite, how much gore was in my last vision, but someone has to go pick Jane up from school. And the Potentials, they need..stuff," Cordy gestured vaguely.
"Right. It's three thirty.we should go. Uh, Fred? If you go get Jane, and Gunn, you and Wes take Potentials, they were gonna go to the mall, I'm going to research this. Cordy, do you want to head upstairs?" The tired Seer nodded.
"I'm gonna go up, too," Starr put in softly. Angel whipped around.
"Oh. Uh, yeah. Good." Uneasily, he looked from female to female, then strode quickly into the office.
* ~ * ` * ~ * ~ * ~
"What do you mean, worthless? That *can't* be worthless." The slim young woman balled her hands into fists. "I went into a lot of trouble for that thing, AND I. WANT. MY. MONEY!"
"I'm deeply apologetic, Ms.. .What did you say your name was? Never-mind," he waved it aside. "As I said, we're apologetic, but the merchandise requested has not arrived in order. Therefore, no payment."
She sounded more desperate. "There has *got* to be a mistake. I put my life on the line for that thing. Do it every night. And I always deliver. Always get paid."
"Well, there's always a first time," he smiled insincerely. He pressed a button on the intercom. "Ms Westley? Ask the guards to escort Ms.the lady out."
She leaned forward.
"It's Gwen." She yanked off a glove, and touched the tip of her finger to his cheek. A live electric charge ran through him, as she coolly watched.
"Yes, there is a first time for everything," she whispered. "But it pisses me off."
She sashayed past the guards, swinging her hips as she walked, tossing her head at their dumbfounded looks, as she tugged the long, black silk glove back on. They didn't notice the opened package in her hand, as they scrambled toward the desk, and Mr Jacobs.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"So..." Wesley's face was set determinedly. "The biggest challenge we have yet to face."
"Come off it, English! They're teenage girls!" Gunn protested laughingly. Wesley turned to face him, folding his arms against his crisp red shirt front.
"Have you ever been around teenage girls on an excursion away from the Council?"
"Well, no," the black man admitted.
"Then you have no idea what you are dealing with," the Englishman stated grimly.
"Gabby! Gabby!" pounding feet sounded, racing down the stairs.
"Oh God," Wesley muttered. Three girls assembled in front of him. Gunn nudged him in the ribs.
"Look, Wes, they're only little," he whispered. A small smirk appearing on Jess's lips went unnoticed, as the ex-Watcher replied,
"At an age where they can do the most damage."
Gunn rolled his eyes at the girls, and gestured at Wesley. They giggled.
"All right. Let the terror begin," Wesley muttered miserably.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
To the casual observer, they looked like they'd been hit by a bomb. It was the only explanation for the shell shocked expression on their faces.
"It's your turn," Gunn managed to say numbly. Wesley shook his head, a glazed look in his eyes.
"No. It's not. It's another shop. And it's Gabby. You took Gabby, remember? After the ice cream shop, you said, 'I'm not taking Jess'. You took her. Now do your duty, like a true Watcher," Wesley ordered indistinctly. A small smile quirked Gunn's lips.
"Correction, English. I'm not the Watcher. You are. They're Potentials. Your job."
"Damn," the Englishman muttered, as he strode into the store.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
"I'm sorry, mister, there were three girls in here, but they've gone," the harassed clerk told him, a worried look crossing her face. Her long blond hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and a tag on her pink uniform said, 'Hi, I'm Sandy. How can I help?'
Wesley groaned.
"Did you see where they went?" he asked politely, whipping off his glasses, and polishing them at hyperspeed.
"Oh yeah. Across the mall. Other side. See, Victoria's?" His stomach dropped, as she pointed. Oh no. This was far, far worse than anything he'd even begun to think about.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"What about this one?" Jess held up the lilac bra. Gabby considered, her head on one side.
"I think I liked the yellow," she offered. Jess rolled her eyes.
"C'mon Gabby, it's not about favourite colours," she sighed. She gave a complacent smirk to the mirror. "It's about which one looks hot."
Faye hid a yawn. "Black's the common one then."
Both of the others turned to look at her. She shrugged.
"Hey, didn't say anything. Just, black is generally considered to be the colour of sexy underwear."
Jess glanced back at the mirror, and pushed her auburn hair behind her shoulders. She flicked through the rack before them. With a naughty grin, she held up a lacy, black bra. "We have lift off."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Two men raced into the Victoria's Secret shop, scattering women.
"The important thing to do is just.not look," Wesley suggested, as they came to a screeching halt in front of a display. Gunn grinned.
"And miss the show?" he asked, impishly. Wesley glared.
"Hey, look over there, English!"
"I'm trying not to, thank you!"
Gunn rolled his eyes good naturedly.
"No. I'm talkin' about the three girls, one a redhead, who just walked into the dressing room. And damn they have a lot of underwear with them!" his eyes widened. "They're not intending to.buy it, are they?"
Wesley, with shut eyes frowned with frustration. "Council. Girls. Free. Of course they'll buy it if they can!"
Gunn raised an eyebrow. "We'd better get over there."
Wesley, his arms outstretched to feel his way there, crashed into a display labelled, 'naughty Secrets to make your partner go wild!' Gunn hooted with laughter, as the dismayed, and flustered ex-Watcher hurried to scoop up the dropped underwear, his face turning a dull, deep red.
"I think we find them, now," Wesley stated, his voice icy.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
"Jessamy! Gabriella! Faye! Where are you?"
"Sir, you can't go in there, sir!" the flustered attendant tried to hold the furious Watcher back, as he shoved past her, and into pastel central, the dressing rooms.
Jess peeked around the corner of the pale pink curtain, to see Wes storming up the central aisle. She smirked, a wicked look in her blue eyes.
"Pay back," she whispered. Trying her hardest to throw her voice, she called,
"Wesley? We're all done. We're in the dressing room on your left, no, up a bit, that's it. Hang on, Gabby just needs to." Gabby blushed hotly, but kept quiet.
"No waiting," the angry man ordered. He yanked back the curtain, revealing an old lady, struggling with the clasp of a bra. Both pairs of eyes widened in horror.
"You nasty, NASTY man!" the woman shrieked, flapping her hands at him, striking his front. Wesley, now white, was backing out of the room, his eyes shut. He fell hard against the facing dressing room, and pulled down the curtain on a woman in her early thirties. She screamed, and pulled the curtain around her, jabbing at the call button for the attendant with a finger.
Stifling laughter, the three girls ran out of the dressing rooms, to the counter, to pay for their items.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
Wesley, his face still scarlet, stormed up to the three girls, happily swinging bags, and eating ice cream, seated in a booth with Gunn. The black man couldn't hide his mirth at the sight of the 'rogue demon hunter'.
"Jessamy Kendall. You will train with Angel this evening," he ordered stiffly. "Now get back to the car."
Still shaking his head snickering, particularly as he noticed the large bruise purpling on the side of Wesley's cheek, Gunn led the way towards Angel's car.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Hit, block, hit," he instructed. The Potential's eyes blazed with determination, and she shifted her hands wider apart on the quarterstaff. Sweeping strokes upwards, and,
"Hit, block, hit," he repeated. " No, Jess. Again." In frustration, she threw the staff down, where it clattered against the cool stone of the basement.
"I did it okay. I do not need to do these stupid little drills!" she tossed her head in defiance. "I'm a Potential. Either the slayer dies, and I become the Chosen One, or she doesn't, and I don't."
He regarded her with no expression.
"Again."
"No!" she yelled.
Angel turned towards the staircase.
"Fine," he said quietly. "Then you won't fight. No training for three days."
The redhead was left in the centre of the dark room, struggling to swallow the bitter retort on her lips.
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~
"Cordy? Are you going to be okay?" the little girl flung herself at the brunette, her thin arms encircling the woman's neck, the heart shaped face buried in her neck. Cordelia chuckled, hugging the child tightly.
"Yeah. I'm gonna be fine." She stroked the shiny hair, combed into two neat bunches, and held Jane close.
"What happened, Cordy?" Jane whispered, looking into Cordelia's hazel eyes. The woman considered a moment.
"Well, you know I have those visions?" the little girl nodded her head. "I got a bad one. And it made my head ache, so I didn't feel so good. So I had a rest, and now I'm good to go," she finished, with a tight smile.
In answer, the child burrowed back into her arms. "I don't want you to go away, like Mommy," she muttered, clinging to Cordelia.
Cordelia looked down.
"Honey, I'm not going anywhere," she told her gently. "I'm staying right here."
* ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ * ~ *
The lobby's glass doors swung open.
"Come in, it's fine. We're still working at eight o'clock at night," Angel called dryly. Most of AI's customers called during the standard work times. However, there were a few who saw the Hyperion as a drop in centre. He fastened the top button of his dark blue shirt.
"Good to know I haven't disturbed anyone," the woman replied, in a husky tone, a hint of a grin in her voice.
"Gwen?"
She cocked her head on one side.
"The one and only," she confirmed. Clad in black leather pants, and a tight red halter top and long black gloves, she was unmistakably the same woman.
"Ooh, have we added whores to the repertoire of misfits in this place?" a girl queried, a snide tone in her voice, as she walked out of the office, a younger blonde following her.
Gwen raised an eyebrow.
"Nice munchkin, Angel. What, the wizard of Oz had layoffs?" She glanced at Jess. "Let me guess, your blood opens the gate to a portal, or something fantastic. Don't tell me you're this annoying without a purpose."
Jess smirked sarcastically. "Nice. What breed of freak are you?"
"Repeat that." The electrically charged woman's tone was icy.
"Okay. What kind of a freak are-" Gwen pulled off a glove.
"The kind that can make you sizzle like you just touched bare wires. Get back under your rock, brat, or I'll make your curls stand on end." She smiled slowly at Angel, and shrugged loosely.
"I don't like kids."
"I get that," he answered. He glanced at Jess, whose chin was raised belligerently. "Jess. Go back in the kitchen."
She glared at the brunette, sneered, and walked back inside. Gabby raced to keep up with her.
"So. What are you here for?"
"There's a small problem. I need to get your input on it." She glanced around. "n private."
"This way," Angel indicated, as he closed the doors of the office.
She paced the floor, as he settled himself into the black leather chair.
"Something is wrong, Angel. I was sent on an op," she glanced at him impatiently. "Not a bad one. Just a regular metal security system, guards. I could do it in my sleep. "
"So why are you here?" he asked. She shook out her shoulders, swinging her arms to loosen the muscles.
"Because something happened. I was asked to find this, the tool of Persephone, heard of it?"
He leaned forward, putting his elbows on the desktop.
"Yeah. It's an object that-"
"Grants visions of the future in the central globe. Better than a Seer, because it's more precise," she cut in, nodding. "So you've heard of it. Good. I bought the first item with a favor. It was too heavily guarded for me to attack. "
She held out a small ball. It was a smoky, glass globe, filled with mist.
"Doesn't work until you connect the second part. Owned, previously," she allowed herself a small smile, "By the wonderful Fairman Merchandising. I got it from them Tuesday night." She pulled out a small metal clip, and tossed it to him. He caught it, surprised.
"Oh don't worry if you drop it," she shrugged. "The thing's worthless."
"The tool of Persephone? But, it-"
"Doesn't work," she filled in. She gave a bitter smile. "Yeah. I know how the deal is. Persephone's globe, used when given to her by her mother to see the world above. I do research the stuff I take, Angel. I had a large amount riding on this. Business has been slow recently. I needed this money. And Jacobs, the guy I was working for, refused to pay me. I got that to him in perfect condition Angel. And that guy needed it. He won't pay me, says it doesn't work. Something big screwing with something that powerful? This stinks of something you guys handle, so I came to you-"
The doors to the office slid open, as Jane stopped in the doorway. She stared at Gwen, her eyes wide in terror, and screamed.
* ~ * ~ * ~ *
A/N: Apologies for the super long chapter. I couldn't find a place to stop. Review, oh please!