Part Eight-
Location- Unknown Date: November 21st, 2006
-Transmission Status: Signal Connected-
Name-:Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Have you found the girl?
*
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -Negative. We have word she is somewhere in the Los Angeles area.
*
Name-: Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Find her, General. She is important to my plans and yours. You know the consequences if you don't.
*
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -Affirmative. We will capture her and you will give me what I want.
*
Name-: Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Only if you bring her.
-Transmission Status: Signal Cut-
***
Location- Angel Investigations
Date: November 22nd, 2006
I awoke screaming, my head pounding and my sheets drenched in cold sweat. I can remember snippets of what went on while I was asleep. I had been falling. Falling, falling endlessly. Bright white filling my vision, invisible claws ripping me apart. I waited to slam into the unforgiving ground, but I never did. I just kept falling and it drove me crazy In my dream, I could see my blood streaming out of me and everywhere. Above me, below me, on me. I just screamed at the pain and gruesome horror of it all. But, when I woke up, my screams were drowned out by the wails of a child in the downstairs lobby.
Wait a moment, a child? What in the devil was a child doing here? I got up and threw on a sweatshirt, pounding down the stairs. The screaming got louder and I watched from the landing as a little brown haired boy ran around, screaming his little head off.
"What the hell?" I muttered as I walked down, staring wearily at the boy.
Children scare me.
"Anne, glad to see you up on this fine morning." Anya boomed, making everyone look up at me.
I nodded slowly, still glancing at the sticky little boy.
"Why is there a little boy, running around the room, screaming?" I asked calmly, gripping the railing.
"Oh, he's Angel's kid. Connor. Real hyperactive little squirt." Xander answered, smirking at my uneasiness, "Welcome to our world."
I walked down the rest of the stairs and avoided the grape smelling boy. He had jelly all over him. Ew. I sighed softly as I made my way to the kitchen where Angel sat talking to a blonde. They didn't seem to notice me and I couldn't help but listen to them talk.
"Dammit Angel! Connor needs to live with both his mother and father!" The women yelled.
She looked strikingly familiar, but I couldn't place her.
"Darla." He sighed, "We tried it before. It didn't work. It won't work."
"Darling, we can try harder. We were together for years. We can do it again." She purred, rubbing her hand on his arm, "For Connor."
I was sickened. For reasons I don't care to find out, but I was. I turned to leave and got away from the door before I froze. I was going to have one of the flashes again. Cold shivers flew up my spine. My vision grew dark and I saw a hazy figure which appeared to be a girl dressed in a school uniform. She had a hideous blonde mop of a head and there was something wrong with her face. Vampire.
"Let's start with the kneecaps, no fun dancing without those."
I could hear the ringing sound of gunshots. I had never heard gunshots before. A shot of terror pumped through me and all I could see was a blinking strobe light, someone shouting something. And then I was back into reality. Everyone looking at me strangely and I chuckled slightly, slumping into the red couch. I waited until the aftereffect of the flash had worn off. They were getting stronger and stronger. I was able to make out pictures and feel emotions.
What was happening to me?
*
I had gone back up to my room and taken a shower, carefully avoiding the loofah sponge. I stepped put and toweled my hair dry, shrugging on a shirt and sliding on my jeans. I wandered into my kitchen and grabbed an apple I had taken from the main kitchen. I let out a small shriek when I saw a tiny bundle curled up in my blankets in my bed. I stalked toward it and uncovered the tiny bundle. There lay the tiny little boy that had been shouting all over the lobby this morning. I thought how cute he looked. He was still sticky and had gotten grape jelly all over my bed. I smiled softly looked out the window into the busy city. I sighed softly, not knowing what to do.
A little voice tugged me out of my thought, "Mama?"
I looked over at the little boy, smiling and crouching down next to him, "No, buddy. My name's Anne." I whispered.
He held out his small arms and said, "Up?"
I had no choice but to lift him up. He buried his head in my damp hair and I think he fell back asleep.
Now, what to do with him. What if I dropped him? What if I tripped? What if a demon came crashing into my room and I had to put him down and he got abducted, Angel would kill me! I sighed at my paranoia and walked out of my room, heading for the lobby. No doubt that Angel would be looking for his son. I walked down the stairs, my heart falling for the tiny bundle in my arms. He yawned and shifted slightly. And, I could literally feel my heart turn to mush. I shifted him in my arms and crossed the lobby, into the kitchen where I had seen Angel last. I heard him in the living room calling,
"Connor? Hide and seeks over, Daddy's getting worried." He trailed off bending over to look under the couch.
"Ahem." I said softly, trying not to stare at his butt, "Looking for this?" I asked when he faced me, motioning to the sleeping bundle in my arms.
Angel smiled softly, as if seeing something incredible, "Where was he?" He asked quietly.
"My room. Found him all curled up in my bed. Thought you'd be the worried." I said, handing him his child.
He shook his head, "The master of hide and seek once again."
I smiled and turned to leave.
"Anne?" Angel asked softly, almost pleadingly.
I looked over at him, careful to keep emotions off of my face. If what I thought was happening was, I was falling for him. I couldn't allow that. Not now. Not for him.
"Yeah?"
"Could we.talk?" He asked, fidgeting.
He seemed nervous. Why? What in the world was wrong with him?
"Sure." I said following him deeper into the living room. He lay Connor on the couch, pulling a blanket over him.
"So, uh, what's the what?" I asked him, sitting Indian style on the couch facing Angel.
"I want to get to know you." He said.
I smiled and shook my head, and he smiled too, saying, "As corny as it sounds."
"Well, what do you want to know?" I asked him, clasping my hands together.
"Your past." He said, leaning back on the other couch.
I scoffed softly, "Or lack thereof.", I shook my head and went on, "Your request is vague. What do you want to know about my past? I mean, I know my mother or father, or that I even have them. I don't have memories beyond the age of ten. The only person I feel close to is Wes, he's been there. He knows me."
"I want to know you." Angel whispered and I knew he was serious.
"How can you when I don't even know myself?" I muttered softly.
I leaned back and fixated my eyes on the slumbering Connor, "Your child is a little darling."
He nodded, his finger brushing against Connor's soft hair, "Sometimes I can't believe he's real." He murmured.
"Why?" I asked him.
He look like a deer caught in headlights, his next words were picked carefully, he said, "I was told that I couldn't have children. And, here he is."
"Who is the mother?" I asked, even though I knew, "He's not Cordelia's or Faith's.is he?" I asked, not helping the grimace on my face at the thought of Faith and Angel. I don't know where it came from.
Angel let out a bark of laughter, "Cordelia?" He laughed harder, "You think Cordelia and I.? No, no, no, no. Cordelia is like my sister. And Faith. Let's not even go there. She and Spike are in love." He said, his twinkling brown eyes staring at me.
"Then who is the mystery woman?" I asked.
Angel sighed, deep and heavy, "Her name is Darla. She." He sighed again, "We have a past. An ugly one. We've known each other for a long time. About three.four years ago, we had a one night stand. I was in a bad place for awhile and she was there. She disappeared for a few months and came back eight months later pregnant. It resulted in Connor. We tried to live together for the first years, but we just kept fighting. And, no one around here likes her so. She moved across town, took Connor and we have joint custody." Angel finished and I couldn't help but notice how relieved he looked to have let it out. I felt bad for him. To have a child with that.witch. Of course, I couldn't say anything because he'd learn I had been spying on him. He'd probably be mad and fighting would ensue.
"Well." I said, looking up at him, "Since you shared that with me, I'll share something with you. Ask away." I said.
He seemed to be thinking for a moment, "Why were you with Quentin and the other Watchers?" He asked.
"I don't know." I simply said, "I woke up one day and there I was. Everyone was there, just staring at me. Like, I was the greatest accomplishment ever. Quentin is a monster. He treated me like a lad rat. All the six years I was there, h did nothing but experiments on me. Endurance, survival, health. You name it, he probably tried it. There were only two people there for me. Wes and Ginny. Wes was always the protective one. Always looking out for me, making sure Quentin never went too far. And Ginny. Ginny was like a sister. Or the closest thing to a Mom as I was ever going to get. They were my family. See, I wasn't allowed out of the compound, my less my room. The staff got to leave on weekends and Ginny would always leave and bring me something from town. She made everything bearable. She was my anchor." I said, looking down at my pale hands. I felt hot tears burn my eyes and I swiped at them angrily, no doubt smearing my makeup.
"What happened to her?" Angel asked softly.
I shrugged, "She left after two years. I suppose she tried to get me out and Quentin 'disposed' of her."
Angel sighed, angrily, "What did they do to you?" He asked his eyes searching.
"You don't want to know. Ask Wes. He knows everything." I said getting up and leaving the tension filled room.
I couldn't talk anymore. The wall I had built around myself was about to come crashing down and then I would be venerable. I couldn't have that.
That couldn't happen.
*
I took a nap because after me 'heart-to-heart' with Angel, I felt exhausted. I wandered downstairs around six and saw that they had all ordered pizza.
"Annie, rise and shine, chick." Xander boomed when I grabbed a piece and a can of Coke. He had been getting more and more open as the days went on.
"We looked in on ya and you were sleeping like a baby." Faith cooed, pinching my cheeks.
"Stop." I whined, pulling away from her, trying to eat my food. I picked off the onions and took a bite, feeling the hot cheese burn my tongue.
"I have a question." I said.
"Shoot." Faith said through a mouthful of food.
"Can I go to school?" I asked.
Faith and Xander shared a look and started to laugh, "You actually want to go to school?"
"I'm glad you find that amusing." I said dryly, and then nodded, "Yes. I am sick of being cooped up in here all day everyday. You people are insane an are driving me mad." I said sweetly.
Faith threw her napkin at me, smirking.
"Anne, I think that's a wonderful idea." A new voice cooed.
It was Willow. Darn, she's back.
"I'm glad you think so." I said coolly.
"Whoa, is it me, or did it just get really cold in here?" Xander muttered.
Willow smiled coolly and went back to typing on the computer. I rolled my eyes and looked at Wesley who was talking to the other man, I learned his name was Rupert Giles, and I was, "Wes, what do you think?"
"I think that's a good idea, Anne" He said, smiling, and then going back to talking with Rupert.
"What's a good idea?" Angel asked, coming into the room, holding Connor.
"Anne going to school." Xander said, sharing another look with Faith.
Angel's eyes twinkled, "School? Are you sure?" His voice was dripping with amusment.
"What is so difficult to comprehend about me going to school? You think I can't do it?" I demanded, my hands on my hips.
"It's not that. It's, you actually want to go to school. With books, teachers, and the whole learning thing?" Xander asked, smiling.
I sighed exasperatedly, "It's better than being stuck here with all of you lunatics!"
Faith and Xander laughed, and I was getting miffed. Why did they keep laughing at me? Was it amusing to them? Well, I would show them! I would go to school, like it, and pass all my classes.
An hour and a big discussion about who's last name I would take later, I was enrolled into Hemery High School. By tomorrow morning, Angel's friend, Doyle whom I had yet to meet, would contact Whistler and I would get a background. My new full name was Anne Elisabeth Reynolds. Faith had let me 'borrow' her last name. Because I was sixteen, I would start as a sophomore. I couldn't wait. Angel would drop me off in the morning and Spike and Faith would pick me up. Tomorrow, I would start a new part of my life as Anne Reynolds.
*
-Transmission Status: Signal Connected-
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -I have word that she will be starting school at the high school.
*
Name-:Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Good work, General. I want you to get a job where you will be close to her. Gain her trust, do what you have to, to bring me the girl. Don't reveal yourself to whomever she is with.
*
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -Of course. I will contact you with a report soon.
*
Name-:Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -No. If you ever contact me again, I will kill you. You aren't irreplaceable. Remember that, General.
-Transmission Status: Signal Cut-
Location- Unknown Date: November 21st, 2006
-Transmission Status: Signal Connected-
Name-:Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Have you found the girl?
*
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -Negative. We have word she is somewhere in the Los Angeles area.
*
Name-: Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Find her, General. She is important to my plans and yours. You know the consequences if you don't.
*
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -Affirmative. We will capture her and you will give me what I want.
*
Name-: Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Only if you bring her.
-Transmission Status: Signal Cut-
***
Location- Angel Investigations
Date: November 22nd, 2006
I awoke screaming, my head pounding and my sheets drenched in cold sweat. I can remember snippets of what went on while I was asleep. I had been falling. Falling, falling endlessly. Bright white filling my vision, invisible claws ripping me apart. I waited to slam into the unforgiving ground, but I never did. I just kept falling and it drove me crazy In my dream, I could see my blood streaming out of me and everywhere. Above me, below me, on me. I just screamed at the pain and gruesome horror of it all. But, when I woke up, my screams were drowned out by the wails of a child in the downstairs lobby.
Wait a moment, a child? What in the devil was a child doing here? I got up and threw on a sweatshirt, pounding down the stairs. The screaming got louder and I watched from the landing as a little brown haired boy ran around, screaming his little head off.
"What the hell?" I muttered as I walked down, staring wearily at the boy.
Children scare me.
"Anne, glad to see you up on this fine morning." Anya boomed, making everyone look up at me.
I nodded slowly, still glancing at the sticky little boy.
"Why is there a little boy, running around the room, screaming?" I asked calmly, gripping the railing.
"Oh, he's Angel's kid. Connor. Real hyperactive little squirt." Xander answered, smirking at my uneasiness, "Welcome to our world."
I walked down the rest of the stairs and avoided the grape smelling boy. He had jelly all over him. Ew. I sighed softly as I made my way to the kitchen where Angel sat talking to a blonde. They didn't seem to notice me and I couldn't help but listen to them talk.
"Dammit Angel! Connor needs to live with both his mother and father!" The women yelled.
She looked strikingly familiar, but I couldn't place her.
"Darla." He sighed, "We tried it before. It didn't work. It won't work."
"Darling, we can try harder. We were together for years. We can do it again." She purred, rubbing her hand on his arm, "For Connor."
I was sickened. For reasons I don't care to find out, but I was. I turned to leave and got away from the door before I froze. I was going to have one of the flashes again. Cold shivers flew up my spine. My vision grew dark and I saw a hazy figure which appeared to be a girl dressed in a school uniform. She had a hideous blonde mop of a head and there was something wrong with her face. Vampire.
"Let's start with the kneecaps, no fun dancing without those."
I could hear the ringing sound of gunshots. I had never heard gunshots before. A shot of terror pumped through me and all I could see was a blinking strobe light, someone shouting something. And then I was back into reality. Everyone looking at me strangely and I chuckled slightly, slumping into the red couch. I waited until the aftereffect of the flash had worn off. They were getting stronger and stronger. I was able to make out pictures and feel emotions.
What was happening to me?
*
I had gone back up to my room and taken a shower, carefully avoiding the loofah sponge. I stepped put and toweled my hair dry, shrugging on a shirt and sliding on my jeans. I wandered into my kitchen and grabbed an apple I had taken from the main kitchen. I let out a small shriek when I saw a tiny bundle curled up in my blankets in my bed. I stalked toward it and uncovered the tiny bundle. There lay the tiny little boy that had been shouting all over the lobby this morning. I thought how cute he looked. He was still sticky and had gotten grape jelly all over my bed. I smiled softly looked out the window into the busy city. I sighed softly, not knowing what to do.
A little voice tugged me out of my thought, "Mama?"
I looked over at the little boy, smiling and crouching down next to him, "No, buddy. My name's Anne." I whispered.
He held out his small arms and said, "Up?"
I had no choice but to lift him up. He buried his head in my damp hair and I think he fell back asleep.
Now, what to do with him. What if I dropped him? What if I tripped? What if a demon came crashing into my room and I had to put him down and he got abducted, Angel would kill me! I sighed at my paranoia and walked out of my room, heading for the lobby. No doubt that Angel would be looking for his son. I walked down the stairs, my heart falling for the tiny bundle in my arms. He yawned and shifted slightly. And, I could literally feel my heart turn to mush. I shifted him in my arms and crossed the lobby, into the kitchen where I had seen Angel last. I heard him in the living room calling,
"Connor? Hide and seeks over, Daddy's getting worried." He trailed off bending over to look under the couch.
"Ahem." I said softly, trying not to stare at his butt, "Looking for this?" I asked when he faced me, motioning to the sleeping bundle in my arms.
Angel smiled softly, as if seeing something incredible, "Where was he?" He asked quietly.
"My room. Found him all curled up in my bed. Thought you'd be the worried." I said, handing him his child.
He shook his head, "The master of hide and seek once again."
I smiled and turned to leave.
"Anne?" Angel asked softly, almost pleadingly.
I looked over at him, careful to keep emotions off of my face. If what I thought was happening was, I was falling for him. I couldn't allow that. Not now. Not for him.
"Yeah?"
"Could we.talk?" He asked, fidgeting.
He seemed nervous. Why? What in the world was wrong with him?
"Sure." I said following him deeper into the living room. He lay Connor on the couch, pulling a blanket over him.
"So, uh, what's the what?" I asked him, sitting Indian style on the couch facing Angel.
"I want to get to know you." He said.
I smiled and shook my head, and he smiled too, saying, "As corny as it sounds."
"Well, what do you want to know?" I asked him, clasping my hands together.
"Your past." He said, leaning back on the other couch.
I scoffed softly, "Or lack thereof.", I shook my head and went on, "Your request is vague. What do you want to know about my past? I mean, I know my mother or father, or that I even have them. I don't have memories beyond the age of ten. The only person I feel close to is Wes, he's been there. He knows me."
"I want to know you." Angel whispered and I knew he was serious.
"How can you when I don't even know myself?" I muttered softly.
I leaned back and fixated my eyes on the slumbering Connor, "Your child is a little darling."
He nodded, his finger brushing against Connor's soft hair, "Sometimes I can't believe he's real." He murmured.
"Why?" I asked him.
He look like a deer caught in headlights, his next words were picked carefully, he said, "I was told that I couldn't have children. And, here he is."
"Who is the mother?" I asked, even though I knew, "He's not Cordelia's or Faith's.is he?" I asked, not helping the grimace on my face at the thought of Faith and Angel. I don't know where it came from.
Angel let out a bark of laughter, "Cordelia?" He laughed harder, "You think Cordelia and I.? No, no, no, no. Cordelia is like my sister. And Faith. Let's not even go there. She and Spike are in love." He said, his twinkling brown eyes staring at me.
"Then who is the mystery woman?" I asked.
Angel sighed, deep and heavy, "Her name is Darla. She." He sighed again, "We have a past. An ugly one. We've known each other for a long time. About three.four years ago, we had a one night stand. I was in a bad place for awhile and she was there. She disappeared for a few months and came back eight months later pregnant. It resulted in Connor. We tried to live together for the first years, but we just kept fighting. And, no one around here likes her so. She moved across town, took Connor and we have joint custody." Angel finished and I couldn't help but notice how relieved he looked to have let it out. I felt bad for him. To have a child with that.witch. Of course, I couldn't say anything because he'd learn I had been spying on him. He'd probably be mad and fighting would ensue.
"Well." I said, looking up at him, "Since you shared that with me, I'll share something with you. Ask away." I said.
He seemed to be thinking for a moment, "Why were you with Quentin and the other Watchers?" He asked.
"I don't know." I simply said, "I woke up one day and there I was. Everyone was there, just staring at me. Like, I was the greatest accomplishment ever. Quentin is a monster. He treated me like a lad rat. All the six years I was there, h did nothing but experiments on me. Endurance, survival, health. You name it, he probably tried it. There were only two people there for me. Wes and Ginny. Wes was always the protective one. Always looking out for me, making sure Quentin never went too far. And Ginny. Ginny was like a sister. Or the closest thing to a Mom as I was ever going to get. They were my family. See, I wasn't allowed out of the compound, my less my room. The staff got to leave on weekends and Ginny would always leave and bring me something from town. She made everything bearable. She was my anchor." I said, looking down at my pale hands. I felt hot tears burn my eyes and I swiped at them angrily, no doubt smearing my makeup.
"What happened to her?" Angel asked softly.
I shrugged, "She left after two years. I suppose she tried to get me out and Quentin 'disposed' of her."
Angel sighed, angrily, "What did they do to you?" He asked his eyes searching.
"You don't want to know. Ask Wes. He knows everything." I said getting up and leaving the tension filled room.
I couldn't talk anymore. The wall I had built around myself was about to come crashing down and then I would be venerable. I couldn't have that.
That couldn't happen.
*
I took a nap because after me 'heart-to-heart' with Angel, I felt exhausted. I wandered downstairs around six and saw that they had all ordered pizza.
"Annie, rise and shine, chick." Xander boomed when I grabbed a piece and a can of Coke. He had been getting more and more open as the days went on.
"We looked in on ya and you were sleeping like a baby." Faith cooed, pinching my cheeks.
"Stop." I whined, pulling away from her, trying to eat my food. I picked off the onions and took a bite, feeling the hot cheese burn my tongue.
"I have a question." I said.
"Shoot." Faith said through a mouthful of food.
"Can I go to school?" I asked.
Faith and Xander shared a look and started to laugh, "You actually want to go to school?"
"I'm glad you find that amusing." I said dryly, and then nodded, "Yes. I am sick of being cooped up in here all day everyday. You people are insane an are driving me mad." I said sweetly.
Faith threw her napkin at me, smirking.
"Anne, I think that's a wonderful idea." A new voice cooed.
It was Willow. Darn, she's back.
"I'm glad you think so." I said coolly.
"Whoa, is it me, or did it just get really cold in here?" Xander muttered.
Willow smiled coolly and went back to typing on the computer. I rolled my eyes and looked at Wesley who was talking to the other man, I learned his name was Rupert Giles, and I was, "Wes, what do you think?"
"I think that's a good idea, Anne" He said, smiling, and then going back to talking with Rupert.
"What's a good idea?" Angel asked, coming into the room, holding Connor.
"Anne going to school." Xander said, sharing another look with Faith.
Angel's eyes twinkled, "School? Are you sure?" His voice was dripping with amusment.
"What is so difficult to comprehend about me going to school? You think I can't do it?" I demanded, my hands on my hips.
"It's not that. It's, you actually want to go to school. With books, teachers, and the whole learning thing?" Xander asked, smiling.
I sighed exasperatedly, "It's better than being stuck here with all of you lunatics!"
Faith and Xander laughed, and I was getting miffed. Why did they keep laughing at me? Was it amusing to them? Well, I would show them! I would go to school, like it, and pass all my classes.
An hour and a big discussion about who's last name I would take later, I was enrolled into Hemery High School. By tomorrow morning, Angel's friend, Doyle whom I had yet to meet, would contact Whistler and I would get a background. My new full name was Anne Elisabeth Reynolds. Faith had let me 'borrow' her last name. Because I was sixteen, I would start as a sophomore. I couldn't wait. Angel would drop me off in the morning and Spike and Faith would pick me up. Tomorrow, I would start a new part of my life as Anne Reynolds.
*
-Transmission Status: Signal Connected-
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -I have word that she will be starting school at the high school.
*
Name-:Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -Good work, General. I want you to get a job where you will be close to her. Gain her trust, do what you have to, to bring me the girl. Don't reveal yourself to whomever she is with.
*
Codename-:Lilac ID Number-:6-9-14-14: -Of course. I will contact you with a report soon.
*
Name-:Q. Travers ID Number-:19-12-1-25-5-18: -No. If you ever contact me again, I will kill you. You aren't irreplaceable. Remember that, General.
-Transmission Status: Signal Cut-