Chapter 9

As the others left the lobby to go explore the hotel Kathy and Angel headed into the office. Kathy shut the door behind her and leaned against it as her brother took a seat. Angel slumped into a chair behind the desk and leaned back, his whole body showed how tired he was. Kathy looked at him with an expression of love and concern written across here face.

Angel opened his eyes and turned his head toward her, the sight of his beloved little sister brought a smile to his face. Regardless of how he felt about the other events in his life at the moment the fact that his sister had been returned to him brought a swell of happiness to his heart. Oh, it wasn't even close to perfect happiness so he was not worried about that but it was a ray of sunshine in his otherwise bleak existence.

Kathy returned the smile Angel had given her, "it's nice to see you do that again I didn't think I'd get to see you smile ever again especially considering the mood you've been in."

"Kathy....I just, I'm tired that's all I'll be better when I get some sleep."

"You could sleep for a month and you wouldn't be out of this slump, it's more than being sleep deprive Liam, you're just not you."

"Kathy, don't get me wrong I'm so happy you're back but it's been two hundred years I've changed and you don't know what's me any more"

"Don't I? I know you better than anyone else in this world Liam, I knew you before you became a vampire and after, I saw everything you did when I was dead because they thought I should know what was going on with you, I have seen all the atrocities Angelus committed and I know all the good that Angel has done and the one thing that was consistent in all three incarnations of you was that all were passionate about what they do. That's what scares me now, you're lost that passion, you're fighting because you should, not because you want to change anything and I'm scared that you'll go out there and not want to win a fight some night and I'll end up having one of the guys handing me a box of ashes!! I finally get you back and I'm terrified that I'm going to lose you cause you don't care enough anymore!!" Kathy's voice rose as she spoke and it was filled with worry and fear for her brother. The look on her face nearly broke Angel's heart as he realised how she had missed him as much as he had her. He stood and took her in his arms.

"It's okay, really it is, I'm not going anywhere. I promise," he whispered into her hair as he held her close, "I'm just not sure of anything anymore and things are changing so fast I can't think straight."

Kathy moved away from him slightly and looked up at him. "Has this got anything to do with Buffy?"

Angel stepped away from Kathy and ran a very tired hand over his face. Pausing for a moment he took a deep and unnecessary breath.

"What do you know about Buffy?"

"I know all the basics, Slayer, died twice, changed history by creating more slayers, oh and also the part where she's had two vampire lovers. I know what happened between you two and also between her and Spike. I also know how much she still means to you but what I don't know is why you treated her like she's just some old acquaintance and not the love of your incredibly long life."

"Things between me and Buffy are complicated, okay? There were more things keeping us apart than I thought were fair. Regardless of how I feel..felt about her it wasn't fair to stay together and nothing about that has changed, in fact now there are even more reasons. It would be better for everyone involved if Buffy and I just stayed friends and kept it professional. Look it's not that important okay, let just talk about something else."

"Liam I love you dearly but you're a terrible liar and it's even worse when you're trying to lie to your telepathic sister. You've got issues, I get that and I get that you're all stoic and brooding now which you were a little when we were kids but really how often did I ever let you get away with any of that? Whether you're Liam, Angel or Angelus I know you and I know that there is a whole rake of things bothering you and you're not dealing."

"Maybe I don't want to deal! Has anyone thought about that? I've got the weight of the world resting on my shoulders! Half the demon word wants me dead and the other half wants me evil. Every time I finally make some semblance of a life for myself it falls apart and I lose the people I love so you'll have to excuse me if I don't want to talk cause all I want to do is quit!" Angel got more and more agitated as he talked and upon finishing his rant he picked up a cup on the table and threw it against the wall.

Kathy looked at him with no expression on her face.

"Are you done?"

"For the moment."

"Good, now let me talk. I missed you. I love you. More than any of that I'm worried about you. I get that things have been a nightmare for you, especially lately but why do you think I'm here, hell why everyone is here. This thing is coming to a head Liam and you're going to need help so here it is. You're not the only champion here so you don't have to take all the pressure like you normally do. Besides all that there are people out there who care about you and who are just as concerned about you as I am. I'm not saying that you have to be all happy and cheerful, I'm just asking that you talk to someone, I'm here if you need me or you could talk to Wesley or Gunn, or Buffy."

Angel closed his eyes when Buffy's name was mentioned; he said nothing even though Kathy had finished talking. He thought over what she had said and waited a minute before responding to her.

"I missed you too, everyday. When I got my soul back I had to deal with the guilt of all the people I had killed but the one that I wanted to take back more than any other was you. I always promised that I'd protect you and I was the one who killed you. I love you and I killed you. I'm so sorry." He looked at her with tears in her eyes.

Kathy got up and walked toward him, she seated herself in his lap and wrapped her arms around him and planted a kiss on his cheek.

"I'm not going to forgive you because there's nothing to forgive. I'm happy now, here in this time. This is our destiny Angel and we wouldn't be happy if we didn't follow it."

"You called me Angel, that's the first time you've done that."

"I know, I suppose I'll have to get used to it. Doesn't matter to me really, you're still my brother no matter what your name is." She looked at him with a smile on her face, "and you'll always be my champion."

He looked at the girl in his arms and smiled, despite the fact that she was older that the last time he had seen her she was still his little sister and she could still make him smile.

"You know you're a bit bigger than the last time you sat in my lap."

"Yeah well it's not like I'm going to cut off the circulation to your leg, it's already dead."

"Hey!"

Angel and Kathy emerged from the office upon hearing the sounds of the others returning to the lobby. Xander was deep in discussion with Giles and Buffy trying to figure out the needs of the girls and what exactly would have to be changed. Gunn and Wesley were listening in as well and helping to sort out the logistics. Willow, Dawn and Faith were talking to Spike and bringing him up to date on all that had been happening since they had left Sunnydale. In truth it was mostly Dawn talking with Spike listening and Willow and Faith filling in some of the blanks.

They all turned as they heard Angel and Kathy approach. Most were relieved that Angel looked calmer than he had and hoped that it would remain.

"So how went the tour?" Kathy asked, "Find any nifty souvenirs?"

"A legion of dead rats." Buffy answered.

"Lovely." Kathy said with a look of disgust on her face.

"So what's the conclusion? Can we turn this place into a functioning Slayer school?" Angel asked.

Xander turned to him, "yeah we should be able to do that without too much hassle. I figure if each girl renovated her own room then that should help. The building is structurally sound and the only major jobs would be to create a training area large enough to accommodate everyone and a few communal areas but the ballroom should do it and the other reception rooms as well. Do you want to keep the swimming pool?"

"I think we can survive without the pool" Angel replied. Dawn looked at him mouth agape in dismay. "We'll think about the pool"

"So Xander why don't you draw up some suggestions and we can see how this will work, nothing too fancy...." Kathy stopped talking and frowned. Her eyes closed and she grabbed her head as her body started to convulse. She fell to the floor but was caught by Angel before she could hit it.

The Scooby gang having not seen Cordelia's visions were worried. Giles was about to call an ambulance but was stopped by Wesley. They all looked on as Angel cradled his little sister in his arms as she witnessed the horrors they were to fight.

"Kathy, what did you see?" Angel asked as he stroked her hair.

"Vampires, a...a nest... there's about twenty of them....they have people there....they're feeding...oh god they're only children....they're so scared...we have to save them Liam." She looked as Angel with pleading eyes as the pain from the experience subsided.

"We will," he promised, "just tell me where to go."

"Sixth and Euclid, there's an abandoned building, they're in the basement. Liam, hurry we don't have much time."

"Buffy, Faith, Spike you're with me, twenty vampires won't last long against us. Buffy you'll have to drive, I won't get very far in the daylight, my car is still in the garage. Get weapons and lets go."

Angel tossed Buffy the car keys to the GTX that had stayed safely in the garage of the Hyperion during his time at Wolfram and Hart. The four fighters geared up and headed toward the car, both Angel and Spike carrying blankets to shield themselves.

Wesley and Gunn helped Kathy to the couch and handed her painkillers.

"Feeling better?" Wesley asked.

"Yeah, thanks. I just hope they get there fast enough."

"Don't worry," replied Dawn, "you've never seen Buffy drive."

"Man I had forgotten how painful those visions could be. After Cordelia became part demon it just made it so much easier. Are you sure you're okay?" Gunn said concerned.

"I'm sure, I'm getting used to the blinding pain. Just do me a favour and keep a large supply of painkillers around. I'm pretty sure I'll need them."

Two hours later Angel and the others returned. Spike had a large gash in his side while Faith was limping slightly. Buffy and Angel were both beat up but seemed unharmed although neither looked happy. Kathy ran toward them when she saw them enter.

"Did you stop them? Are the kids okay? Are you guys okay?" she asked.

Buffy looked at her and smiled. "Yeah the kids are fine, a couple of broken bones but nothing too serious, we cleaned out the nest before they could do any harm. I called

the police and gave them an anonymous tip about the kids so it's all taken care of."

Kathy sighed with relief. Dawn approached Spike and Faith and sat them down on the couch so that Giles could tend to their wounds.

Buffy turned to Angel.

"Things are obviously pretty hairy around here and I don't think it's going to get any better. I think the sooner I get the girls here the better."

"When do you want to go?" he asked her.

"I think Giles, Willow and I should leave tomorrow. It'll take a couple of weeks to sort things out but we'll do it as fast as we can. I'll leave Faith here to help you out and Xander can start getting to work on the hotel. I'd also like to let Dawn stay, to be honest I'd be quicker without her. Of course that's if it's okay with you?"

"They can stay there's no problem there, this is you're home too now, you don't have to ask. You should go get the other Slayers but take your time, you don't want to rush this."

With that Angel walked off leaving Buffy standing there. Throughout the whole conversation neither had looked the other in the eye and both had kept the pain on their faces expertly concealed.

Kathy however could feel the depth of emotions between them.

"That's the first thing that's going to get fixed." She thought.