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A/N:  2 chapters in one night!  Wow!  Hope you enjoy.  Do you think this should be R?

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Dylan rested the back of her head against the green vinyl head rest of the taxi, mentally preparing herself for what was to come.  She was being taken to the docks to meet what would likely be her death, or at best a very unpleasant experience.

She had taken care to make it seem that she had left town – had packed some suitcases and parked her car (with the suitcases in the trunk) at the airport.  But before she did that she took one last visit to Charlie's office. 

Just stepping foot into the beautiful building made the memories swarm in her mind.  She walked slowly down the marble entrance way, the walls lined with pictures of past Angels, women who had given their all for Charlie when Dylan was just a little girl.  Kelly Island, Victoria Clay, Gina Meme, Madison Lee * Just saw her the other day – Nat's favorite Angel – wasn't she really into Astrology?*…these Angels had fought and then moved on with their lives.  Now it was her turn.  * I can't leave.  They need me! * part of her screamed.  She arrived at the inner sanctum, Charlie's office, where the girls took his call every morning.  On the mantel there was a picture of the three of them, on the beach, just ordinary 20-somethings who happened to kick villainous ass almost every day. * We looked so happy. * she thought.  * Why did you have to fucking come back, you bastard!  I don't want to lose them! * 

Dylan gently deposited a small box on the coffee table, filled with some of Nat and Alex's things she had borrowed over the years. She was especially sorry that she had to give back Alex's high heeled leather Prada boots, but it wouldn't be fair to keep them.  *Won't be needed those where I'm going* she thought sarcastically.  On the top of the box she placed a goodbye letter to her best friends:

"Dear Nat and Alex-

I never thought that I would be the first to leave the group, but I feel that my presence is simply putting you and your loved ones into very immediate danger.  Seamus will stop at nothing to get me, so I have decided to leave in the hopes that he will follow and leave you alone.  Please be careful – yeah I know you guys kick ass, but the O'Grady's are really dangerous.  I will be back in touch with you guys later this week to see how things are going with HALO.  Please don't try to follow me…I just can't be an Angel anymore.  I love you too much.  Say goodbye to Bosley for me.

-Always my love, Dylan"

She stood, and walked over to Charlie's desk.  "Thanks for everything Charlie." She said softly, and patted the top of the speaker.  With tears swimming in her eyes and threatening to spill down her pale cheeks, Dylan gave one last long look around the room, and then, with a small smile, turned and left.

It had been the hardest thing she had ever done, she decided, staring out the window of the fast-moving taxi.  *Well, the second hardest * she admitted.  "This is good.  Let me off here please." she called up to the driver.  The taxi ground to a halt at Dock 20.  Dylan ignored the driver's disapproving look about her desire to be left at the docks at 1:05 AM and paid him. 

The taxi pulled away and Dylan began walking in the direction of Dock 22.   She turned back to her previous thoughts, the ocean wind tossing her red curls around her face.  The hardest thing had definitely been when she had decided go to the police and testify against Seamus.  She had met him at a concert when she was only 18.  He was four years older and the most intense man she had ever seen.  Somehow she felt at peace with him, accepted and loved for everything that she was.  After 2 crazy years together, she still loved him with all the passion of her heart, body and soul, but she simply couldn't abide sleeping with a killer anymore.  Yeah, that was something she hadn't told Nat and Alex.  Hell, she had known in the back of her mind who Seamus O'Grady was – the Irish Mob had been just as dangerous eight years ago as it was now.  But somehow, her love for him allowed her to see beyond stories she had heard about his violence and the people he had killed.  She herself had never been good at controlling her temper and had put several people in the hospital with a few well aimed punches, so it was easy to find excuses for the stories just as she found excuses for her own behavior. 

By this time Dylan was at Dock 21, but she didn't notice because she was so engrossed in her thoughts.  * Out of sight, out of mind * she had thought about Seamus' crimes.  But that had changed the night he had shot that De Franco guy.  She and Seamus were driving the nearly empty streets of San Francisco at about 2 AM, listening to a Metallica album and giddy from their recent fuck.  He had leaned over during "Sad But True" and whispered "Helen, you're bloody fucking amazing you know?"  She had looked deep into his green eyes and whispered back "I'm yours Seamus.  Forever."  Remembering that comment made Dylan shiver.  Seamus obviously still considered her his, if not his girl, then at least his next kill.

As if it were yesterday, Dylan could still see the scene: Seamus had pulled into a side street where some guy with curly black hair was sitting outside a bar.  He had kissed her fiercely, then got out of the car.  Full of love for this crazy, sexy man she had shouted "I love you Seamus!  I would die for you!" and greedily watched his retreating ass, cupped lovingly by his tight blue jeans. *My favorites*  Then BANG!  BANG! her attention snapped up to see the guy slump against the wall, two holes in his chest.  Seamus turned to look at her with love and glee in his face, and all she could think was –

"Huh!" Dylan grunted as she ran into something hard.  She had been watching the ground as she walked, and the impact jolted her out of Memory Lane.  She looked up and her breath caught in her throat. 

"Helen.  What a surprise."  He looked her up and down, noting her automatic defense stance.  "Don't even try.  My gang has got 10 guns trained on your little body, so be a good girl, eh?"  Dylan reluctantly relaxed, she didn't want to die just yet.  * If I play along, I'll be able to find out more about HALO and build my plan to take him out *

"I've come to negotiate for my friend's lives." Seamus walked a close circle around her, and she could smell the Irish cologne *What is it called?* that he always wore that used to make her want to jump his bones and now made her tingle pleasantly. *No! Bad thoughts!*  She had gotten close to him during their fight earlier that night, but this was the first time she had actually been able to just look at him.  The streetlight played over his face, throwing his features into sharp relief.  His black hair almost looked blue, and his eyes were like hard emeralds, piercing her thoughts and soul with their gaze. *Shit.  How does he do that?*

Her only recourse was to straighten her back and stand still under his scrutiny.  Suddenly, a hand holding a wet cloth was clamped over her mouth and nose, while another arm held her still.  After a few seconds of struggle, Dylan was forced to breathe in, and she recognized the sour smell.  Chloroform.  * Stupid Dylan * was her last conscious thought.