Chapter 15

Historical Note: By now, the story takes place in the end of the fifth season of Buffy, and the fourth season of Angel.

Author's Note: Ok, here's the newest chapter. Sorry it's talking so long to post. Thanks to everyone who's still here waiting! VERY much appreciated!

Author's Note/Historical Note: This part takes place three months after where the second one left off. Angel is still missing, leaving Buffy to deal with the Hyperion Hotel, and to raise Connor. Cordelia has also gone missing, and the crew is searching for her as well. Also, Joyce gets terminally ill, forcing Buffy to go back to Sunnydale and take care of things for awhile not knowing she'd end up doing it permanently.

Sure enough, as soon as the group arrived at the place Connor was staying at they knew something was wrong.

"We're too late," Angel said quickly as he jumped out of the car and headed for the building; Wesley, Buffy, and Gunn following.

"Shouldn't we go help them?" Dawn asked confused as she and Fred sat in the car.

"Buffy said we need to stay in the car," Fred said.

"But that's so…boring!" Dawn complained.

"Don't think if it as that; think of it as us being back up if they need help," Fred explained. Dawn smiled.

"I like that."

* * *

"Hey!" Angel growled as he broke down the door to Connor's place to find Wolfram & Harts men already there, attacking. Gunn, Wes, and Buffy instantly jumped into action, fighting the men off with the help of Connor and Cordelia. A few minutes later, the remaining men empty out of the room. Angel watches confused, but relieved that they're leaving.

"Must have been ordered back," Gunn said. Angel walked over to Cordelia, who looked as if she was both frightened and exhausted all at the same time.

"Are you ok?" he asked quickly. Cordelia nodded. "Cordy, why don't you come back with us?" he asked. Cordelia shook her head.

"I want to stay here with Connor. He's the only person that's been truthful with me, and I feel safe here," she said. Angel looked at her for a second before nodding. He wanted to take Cordelia back with them, but she didn't feel safe with them, and would probably end up running off again. At least here he knew she was safe and knew where she was. Angel turned around and walked towards the door. He stopped when he reached Connor.

"Keep her safe," he told him before walking out. The rest of the group slowly followed out the door. Buffy paused and looked at Connor.

"Are you ok?" she asked.

Connor looked at her and nodded. "Yeah I'm ok."

"You sure?" she asked. Connor nodded. "Ok, be careful," she said quietly then walked out the door.

* * *

Dawn was the first one to hop out of the car once they got back to the hotel. She and Fred just talked while the rest of the group went in. Now Dawn wanted to get back into the hotel and watch some TV. The rest of the crew trailing behind her, talking about their own things. Dawn stood by the front door and frowned as she heard a noise coming from the main office. Buffy walked in behind her and noticed dawn's sudden change.

"Dawn? What is it?" she asked.

"A noise. Coming from over there," she explained as she pointed in the direction. The hairs on the back of Buffy's neck stood on end as they were greeted with an eery silence. Buffy and Angel both cautiously began towards the direction of the noise, only to discover Lorne tired to a chair, a gaping hole in his forehead.

"Oh my god," Buffy said in disbelief as she walked over to him quickly, thinking he was dead. Angel looked back over towards Dawn, who was craning her neck curiously their way to see what was going on.

"Keep her away!" he instructed quickly.

"Angel? What's going on?" Dawn asked worriedly. Angel turned back around towards Buffy and Lorne as Buffy held her arm out and touched an area close to the wound on his forehead. Lorne's eyes instantly shot open. Buffy screamed and tripped, falling flat on her butt.

"He's alive," Buffy announced quickly as she got up. "Lorne, you ok?" she asked.

"I am far from ok. While you guys were out looking for Cordy, Wolfram & Hart were here; using a demon to suck my noggin of what my read was on Cordy," Lorne explained as Buffy quickly worked to untie him. "And I may wanna add; My head hurts like the dickens!"

Buffy looked up at Angel; exchanging uneasy glances as they realized Wolfram & Hart now knew everything from the reading Lorne had done on Cordelia, including knowing the future.