Where do we go from here: BEING INVOLVED

Angel looked at Lindsey for a moment, trying to figure out whether this eyes were playing tricks on him or not. The last time he'd seen Lindesy had been two years ago. He'd left in his truck with his new hand in order to find redemption, trace back his steps and find a new life. Now look at him. He hadn't changed a bit really. He looked refreshed but then again, Angel was more concerned with the glowing hand.

He walked up the Lindsey and slammed him in the face, sending the man sprawling. "I thought I told you never to come back." He bent down to hit Angel again but Lindsey lifted up his hand and half way down to hit him, Angel's fist met a barrier. He pounded again and again but couldn't touch the man. Lindsey's eyes just stared at him calmly. "What is this?"

Lindsey let go of the protection field. "This…an added extension to my hand. I didn't come here to fight Angel. I came here to help you. I'm on your side."

Angel extended his hand and Lindsey took it. He brought him back over. "I'm sure you remember most of us. Gunn, Wesley…Faith."

Faith nodded her head. "Hey. I remember you." Lindsey simply nodded.

"And this is…"

"Spike. I may have been out of action for a while, Angel, but I remember the records at Wolfram and Hart. This is your childe."

"Circumstances have changed around here a lot since you left." Angel looked down at Lindsey's hand. "I see they have for you as well."

Lindsey simply nodded, his face remaining expressionless. He looked around at them. "Got space for another comrade? I don't know very much."

"The gesture's appreciated," Fred replied, smiling faintly. "What do you know?"

"Some big and bad is going to be doing it's thing here in LA. Apocalypse is coming, vampires are approaching and something nasty is doing the word. I'm here to help. I have power that can help you." He looked back. "I'm just amazed Wolfram and Hart didn't attempt anything either during this."

Wesley narrowed his eyes. "There is no Wolfram and Hart," he muttered silently opening the car door. "It and all its people were wiped out." He got into the car silently and everyone else followed, leaving a stunned Lindsey behind.

*  *  *  *  *

The next morning had given everyone a better idea of things, especially Lindsey who was very much confused. Angelus had come back, Faith had been broken out of jail to help and then Willow came to re-ensoul Angel. They had continued to stay in order to help a big bad that was coming—presumably the Beast's Master—who after destroying Wolfram and Hart is once again attracting all the vampires into LA, according to the vision now passed from Cordelia to Justine. Spike was…from what Lindsey could gather, Spike was here for the fun of it. Then there was Angel's son…that really shocked him.

Lindsey could see the changes in people. Gunn had aged. He looked mature and stronger. He had yet to see Cordelia. Wesley looked very much different. The stubble and dishevelled look made him older and wiser as well. If possible, he seemed desolate and tormented in attitude. The new girl, Fred, he had no idea about but she seemed charming enough. Willow and Faith and Spike…well he wasn't very good in that department but Faith seemed less…psychotic?

"That's the story, what's yours?"

Lindsey looked down. "She's dead," he said with no emotion at all. He took a deep breath and focused on the ground. "It's just…hard to imagine. Wolfram and Hart doesn't exist and Lilah's…dead."

"We've passed that now, can we move on?"

Lindsey looked at Wesley who was staring icily at him. "What's your problem?"

"All this sudden care for Lilah? Did you redemption finally reveal your emotions because you never used to care about her before."

Lindsey stood up and walked towards him. "And what's it to you anyway? What did you ever know about Lilah? You haven't been with her long enough to ever know anyway. You…" Lindsey paused and looked at Wesley who seemed unaffected by the former lawyer's words.

"I knew her better than you ever will."

"You bastard," Lindsey cried and lifted his left hand. Wesley easily blocked that one but then Lindsey's right fist collided with his chest and he flew backwards, landing on the floor desperate for air, spluttering as if was suffocating.

"Wesley," Fred said uncertainly and all eyes turned to Lindsey. He was looking in worry at the ex watcher. But soon enough, Wesley began to get to his feet breathing heavily. Lindsey's hand was glowing again.

Lindsey had calmed down. "I'm sorry," he said to Wes. "I just…a lot to take in." He sat back down on the banquet.

"What…happened to you?" Gunn asked.

Lindsey looked at them. "It happened a year ago by accident. Someone gave me this power when I was dying. It was the only way to save me but it meant that I have this power with me and I can do anything. It's one of the first form of powers that existed in this dimension and it can do all sorts of damage, protection, healing, you name it."

Wesley raised his eyebrows. "Extraordinary. Does it have a name?"

"Calatine."

If possible, Wesley looked shocked. Spike noticed and looked over from him to Lindsey. "You know what it is?"

Wesley noticed and leaned against the counter. "Originated in Africa, and used by the First Watchers to protect the first Slayer. The powers were descended down from Watcher to Watcher but a long time ago, the Watchers lost the power and it has been…well literally floating around ever since, passing from ordinary person to person. The Ancient Watchers Council in England spent time and effort trying to find it again but failed. If it ever went into the hands of an evil force…well, we wouldn't survive."

"It's that powerful?" Gunn said, interested.

"It's not just power," Wesley continued. "It's a force."

Willow smiled slightly. "So…this kind of power can kill anything, right?" Lindsey nodded. "That's brilliant. And Lindsey's on our side. We can defeat the Beast's Master and the First back in Sunnydale. Can it locate?"

Lindsey shook his head. "It's not magic. It's much more powerful that magic and it takes a lot of learning. I've spent the last year learning how to use it, control it, do what I want it to. Unfortunately, emotions get in the way as well. So, sorry, Wesley."

The door opened and Lorne entered. He frowned at the new guest. "I'll ask later," he replied as he came down the stairs. "Angel, I thought you might want to know…the underground magical wireless is humming a pretty high tune this morning. And it's the type which mentions opening or portals…other dimensions."

Angel looked up. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, that something came through the sewers from a different dimension Angle cakes and it's not an alligator. You might want to go down there and check it out."

"If it had anything to do with the apocalypse, the Powers would have given Justine a vision."

"They did," Lorne replied, heading towards the couch and sitting down, crossing over his leg. "Only little miss high and mighty up there doesn't like her so high and might pain to show so she's in hiding. Be glad that there are other sources out there." Angel nodded. "Oh, and Angel. It's dangerous. Don't underestimate what came down there. You're going to need more than strength."

Angel smiled and looked around. "Spike, come on."

The younger vampire jumped up. "I love a challenge."

"Lindsey, you can have another trial one. Let's see what damage your power can really do."

*  *  *  *  *

Wesley stood outside Faith's door and took a deep breath. He hadn't suffered from nerves in a long time. In fact, he threw precaution out of the window and took to the skies with daring and instinct. It got him far in his sex life and attitude. But when it came to Faith, things were different. So he took a deep breath and knocked.

"Come in," Faith said. She was on the bed, reading a magazine. She looked over at him and smiled. "You know, I thought with your new 'tude, there was no politeness. I expected you to just barge."

Wesley closed the door and smiled slightly. "I'm still British. You're still a woman and despite my attitude, I have some dignity and politeness left."

Faith put her magazine and sat up on the bed. "Dignity, huh? Did you care about that when you were fucking that evil lawyer, bitch?"

Wesley was quite taken aback by her words. She almost sounded hurt by it and she didn't quite look into his eyes. Instead, she stared to the side, at the cabinet as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. "Is this a sign of jealousy?" he asked innocently, a hint of his old voice reappearing.

"Jealousy?" Faith said. "Lilah's got nothing on me."

"And yet you seem to care a lot that I was once—engaged—with her."

Faith shrugged. "Well, yeah. It's you, Wes. You pick the bad girls but they never worked for you. What was so special about Lilah."

Wesley shrugged and came forward to sit on the bed next to Wesley. "I suppose, not until I found my own darkness in myself, I didn't know what was like to be one. Once you can relate to someone, a relationship is much easier."

Faith raised her eyebrows incredulously. "Relationship?"

"It was at the time." Wes looked at her. She was so close to him and strangely enough, he wasn't nervous anymore. "Does it bother you?"

Faith shrugged. "You're being vague."

"Well, that's me. Never one for emotion or getting too involved—unless it's slayer a vampire 'cause I could be involved forever—"

Wes put a finger up to her lips. "Shh," he said and leaning forward, he kissed her lightly on the mouth.

"Huhh…you like the bad girls, Wes," Faith whispered wickedly.

"You're not bad anymore."

Faith simply smiled at him. "I could be." Wesley simply raised his eyebrows in surprise

*  *  *  *  *

Conner put a t-shirt on and headed outside of his room. As he walked towards the landing he bumped into someone and jumped back. Expecting it to be his father or some other part of the crew, he just glared but then he noticed who was standing in front of him. "Justine," he said, slightly shocked. "I…I thought you were…"

"Don't say dead, that would be so cliché," Justine murmured tiredly as she headed down the stairs. Conner noticed how she looked like more of a mess than last time. Her hair was slightly ragged and she appeared to have aged. Her clothes were torn and she looked as though she'd been living in them for a while.

"Where've you been?" he asked, following her. The hotel lobby was empty. His senses told him that Faith and Wesley were still upstairs. Gunn, Fred and Willow appeared to be in the office. "I haven't seen you since that night…"

Justine turned round to look at him and smirk when he stopped. "Still can't get over his death?" she remarked as she sat down. "Well do. I got over it pretty quickly."

"That's rich. I thought you loved him."

"And I thought he loved me, turns out we were both wrong," Justine replied. "He didn't care about me. He cared about the mission. His whole life revolved around hurting Angel, taking you and just pain. As long as he was hurting Angel, it didn't matter what he did. Right up until the end."

Conner frowned. "What, Angel, my father? I've seen what my father is."

Justine tipped her head back. "Angel's just like any other vampire on the street but no he's special. He has a soul. I bet he craves the human blood he can't get but if he does, his redemption would all be ruined. Look how you turned out, Conner. Call this a family? A bunch of demon hunters who can barely save the world and where do you fit in…" she laughed again. "Oh yeah, you're shaking it up with Angel's previous love. I have to admit, you have Holtz's talents."

Conner turned around. "It's nothing like that. What Cordelia and I have is special. What would you know about that? You've never had anything special."

Justine jumped up and looked at him. "Look at yourself, you little brat. You're supposed to be special, the son of two vampires and yet you don't strike me as some godly thing. They don't like you and they don't like me. But unlike you, I had something special until she was murdered by your father's kind."

"Why do you stay?" Conner demanded, turning round. "Why don't you just leave with your visions?"

"Because if this is what I have to do to find peace I'd do it," Justine spat out at him. "If it shows me and prevents any vampire living for any longer then I'd stay and let you lot kill it. Whether I like it or not, I'm involved now. I hold the visions and that's all. I don't want to be here under this roof with all you band of brave warriors."

Conner motioned to the door. "Then go. You can keep in contact."

Justine held up her hands. "I don't own a cell phone."

*  *  *  *  *

Spike kept to the back whilst walking down the sewers. Being around Angel wasn't his idea of a picnic anyway. They'd never gotten along—whether he was Angel or Angelus. Besides, he didn't know who this Lindsey character was. One minute he's an evil ass lawyer with a grudge against Angel, then he's off on his own and he returns with a hand possessing mysterious power in his hand that seems capable of wiping out the whole of mankind.

No, Spike was quite happy taking the end of the group, leaving his trail of cigarette smoke behind. "How far away is it?"

"Not long," Lindsey replied. "Literally a few corners. I can sense it already."

And he was right. Not far away was a demon, much larger than they had encountered so far. It was so big that it had to crouch in the small sewer tunnel space it had. The portal was seen just behind it. Angel moved forward with his sword. "So you're the ugly ass demon that's been causing havoc in the sewers. Well, I think we could put an end to that."

He lifted his sword but just then, the demon held out its clawed, bird-like hands in a protective gesture. "Hey, stop stop!" he cried, speaking English. "What's this? A welcoming party? I had a much less threatening one in another dimension I went to."

Angel lifted his sword. "We welcome different here." He swung his sword, trying to embed it into the demon but it's outer shell seemed to be made of pure solid rock and it practically broke his sword.

"I'm not as easy as I look," the demon said. "Living in a hell dimension, I think a little more outer protection would be needed."

Angel sighed. "What would I give for slayer power now. Buffy would be useful right now."

Spike's face whipped round to look at him. "Well, she's not here. She's not coming back after you. She has her own problems to deal with than check up on you all the time. I don't know how you can call what you have love. It all got puffed up in smoke."

"Hey, vampires," Lindsey commented, gesturing to the demon.

Angel whirled round to look at his childe. "What is your problem, Spike?" he demanded. "I've let you come into my home and work with my friends so we can fight this evil but you're still being a selfish. How about for once, you do as you're told and help me fight this demon. And why so protective about Buffy anyway."

"Maybe I cared more about her than you did." Spike stared stonily at him.

Angel morphed into game face, his eyes glowing a yellow. "What do you mean," he said, coming towards his childe threatening him. "Did you do something to Buffy that I don't know ab…" He paused and looked at the self satisfaction on Spike's face. "You son of a bitch!" To Spike's surprise, Angel leapt towards him, pushing him onto the ground and punching him. "I'll kill you for this."

"Angel!" Lindsey shouted, looking towards the demon.

Spike pushed Angel off him and punched him, sending the older vampire into the wall. "Maybe she was lonely. Maybe she was fed up and confused. Maybe, the one person that she loved abandoned her to move to LA and doesn't even bother to keep in contact anymore."

"I kept in contact. I visited."

"Not recently," Spike remarked, blocking another blow.

"Angel! Spike."

Spike continued. "I mean come on, Angel. You left her. Do you really think she was going to carry on pining over you after all this time. No, she was going to move on, because she's that type of girl. And as it happens, she likes vampires. She took to me. I didn't do anything to her. It was perfectly natural, just like it was for you!"

They continued fighting but Angel had the power of anger on his side and Spike began to worry slightly. "Oh really? You loved her? You don't know what love is Spike. You never did! Dru wasn't even love it was obsession and even she dumped you!"

Lindsey looked around helplessly.

Angel paused out of breath, looking at his childe who was lying bloody on the ground beneath him. "Is that why you got the soul. You didn't just want it. You did it for her. You thought it would help you."

"Love does strange things to a person," Spike said. Angel hit him again and he hit back. The fighting continued.

"Are they always like this?" the demon asked, gesturing towards them.

"It's a stony reunion," Lindesy replied. "Most of Angel and his relatives are. Now." He lifted up his hand and clenched and suddenly the demon gasped, unable to breath, as his throat was being strangled by the force of Lindsey's hand. "I'm going to ask what you're doing here. And if you don't tell me, I'll snap your neck off."

"Okay, okay!" the demon wheezed and Lindsey let go. "I lost an evil."

Lindsey paused. "What?"

"Where I come from, this hell dimension, there are a lot of evils running around the place. There are physical evils, monsters like me etc etc, and there's spiritual evils. They're all over the place. Well, somehow one escaped and I've been travelling from dimension to dimension in order to find it."

"What dimension do you come from?"

"QuorToth."

Lindsey paused. He ran the information he'd been given this last day through his head. He tried to decipher it all. "QuorToth. As in where the Destroyer was."

The demon laughed. "Oh yeah. He's disappeared somewhere. They say he's dead but it doesn't matter. It means I'll live longer."

"What are you going to do with this evil if you catch it?"

"What I do with al the escapees. Take it back."

Lindsey smiled. "Wrong answer." He pushed his hand forward, sending the demon hurtling into the portal. It closed as soon as the demon went through it. Lindsey turned around to where Spike and Angel were still fighting. He rolled his eyes and pushed them both with his force so they landed against the wall. "You know, if you'd been listening like attentive vampires, you'd have found out a whole lot of information."

*  *  *  *  *

Wesley shook his head and shrugged. "I don't see a connection," he replied as he looked through the prophecy again. He glanced from Angel to Spike. The two vampires had come back bloody and bruised and Lindsey made them sit on opposite sides of the lobby. "It doesn't mention QuorToth or any form of evil coming from it."

Fred frowned. "I'm confused. This demon is a guardian? He catches evils that escape from QuorToth?" Lindsey nodded. "If one escaped here, the only way it would have got through is by Conner. How is that going to kill him?"

Angel sighed. "We don't know that for certain," he replied. "We don't even know where it is. But this evil, this second evil that's come, it's come from QuorToth so either it came from Conner or from Holtz but considering we have this prophecy about Conner's death as well, I'm guessing it was through him."

"What do we do?" Gunn asked.

"We find it and we destroy it," Angel continued. "Just like we always do. Finding it's going to be difficult. We don't know where it is. It could be floating somewhere, it could be in the form of a human or demon. There's no way of knowing."

"Will it kill Conner?" Fred asked.

"It might. That's why we've got to find it. 'Cause if it can kill Conner, it will kill anyone of us. And if it comes from another dimension, a hell dimension, I'm guessing it's ways of killing aren't standard and aren't that pretty either."

Thanks guys, for reviewing. I appreciate. Please continue, I really starve for it, lol

Luv Halina