Authors Note: Okay, this is probably going to be the last update until next week since I have to go back to school tomorrow. GRR....

Chapter Eight

Safe House

"You feel better now?" Connor asked me later that night. After my hour long shower we had gone out patrolling allowing me to get my frustrations out on anything with fangs.

"Who ever said that kicking ass isn't comfort food?" I quipped. I really was feeling better. Although it took me over ten vamps to do it, but they deserved to die in the first place.

Connor laughed. "Can't argue with ya' there." We walked along in silence both bone exhausted after the days events. I was so ready to just go home and crawl into my bed. As far as I was concerned, I could sleep for a week. "Something's wrong." Connor said suddenly.

"What...?" I didn't' need to finish though because I sensed it too. Giving each other a look we both ran at full speed towards the tavern. The sight that greeted us as we flung open the door was horrible.

Bodies of the young and old lay dead in every corner of the room. Whiskey had been spilt right along side of the crimson blood giving the room a sweet tangy smell to it.

"Shit." Connor spoke first. I don't think I could really get much past my lips at the moment. We didn't even see this one coming.

Snapping my head to the side I heard someone groan in the far corner causing Connor and I to run to him.

"Jack." Connor knelt down beside the once bartender. He was bloody, but not as bad as the others.

"Connor man, I don't know what happened. They just appeared out of nowhere." Connor helped him into a sitting position; besides a deep gash on his head he was fine.

"When did they come?"

"About an hour ago. They came looking like normal people, had a few drinks, laughed it up with the others and then... next thing I know I'm laying on the floor watching as the others become midnight snacks."

Connor stood up and hit the wall. "Damn it!"

"Connor man there's still a few of us left. I don't think they found the back rooms. We could rebuild."

"Where Jack? They know where we are and I guarantee you that they'll be back. It's only a matter of time."

"So we find someplace else. We're always talking about how we want to run the tavern our own way. To help people get out of this god forsaken place. Now's our chance." He busied himself with making a stiff drink out of the remaining alcohol.

"It's not that easy."

"Why not?" I said, speaking up for the first time.

"Because it took years to get this place under way!"

"So it'll take a couple years again! It's better then just giving up Connor. Look around you, look what they did. If we don't start this place back up again then more people will turn out like this." I said motioning to the dead bodies.

"Girls got a point." A man, I think his name was Hank, came out from the back room. "There's about a half a dozen women and children back there who had the brains to keep put when they heard the scuffle. They need someplace to go."

Connor rubbed his hands over his face. "Okay, but if we're doing this, we're doing it right. No prostitution and no rent to get in here. This is going to be a place providing nothing but help got it?"

The men nodded in agreement. "Alright, Jack you take the people in the back to your place, they can stay there for now. Hank, start scavenging the streets for a new headquarters. Make yourself scarce though, I don't want any suspicion arising before we even start building."

"Got it boss." Hank gave a little salute and marched out the door almost immediately.

"What are you going to do?" Jack said after a shot of tequila.

"I'm taking Buffy here and getting her someplace safe."

"Excuse me?" I said. Who did he think I was? I had just spent the past couple of months fighting by his side and suddenly he thought I needed protection?

"Buffy it's not safe here for you."

"Not safe? Connor, I'm a better fighter then you are!"

"That doesn't matter. I'm going to be living on the streets for awhile and I can't have you tagging along."

I crossed my arms protectively over my chest. The nerve of this kid. "I can protect myself."

"I know you can, which is why I need you to lay low and rest for awhile, keep your strength up until I need you."

There was no use arguing with him I knew. Connor could be a real stubborn pain in the ass when he wanted to be. Over the past couple of weeks we had become closer and I knew all he wanted to do was protect me but still, I couldn't help but feel a little hurt when he ordered me to stay away.

"Where the hell do you suggest I go then if not with you?" That should get him. There was no where else out there. This tavern was the only safe house here for miles.

A strange guarded look crossed his face, his eyes kept flickering all about the room, anywhere but directly at me.

"Oh no you don't." I said as it dawned on me. "There's no way in hell you're taking me there."

"Buffy it's the only place I know you'll be safe at."

"Connor he wants to kill me! How is that safe?" I yelled frantically.

"I'll talk to him, make him understand."

"Look, I dated your father for three years and there's one thing I've learned. Once he's made up his mind, he never goes back."

"Then I'll force him too!"

"No."

"I don't care if I have to knock you unconscious to get there, you're going." He turned to Jack. "Get the others out of here as quickly as you can." Jack just nodded as Connor practically dragged me out of the door.

"Connor...!"

"Buffy please. I know that that's the last place you probably want to be but it's the only place I know you'll be safe. Just trust me on this."

I starred at him. He really was worried. "Why are you pushing me to get away from here?" There was something he wasn't telling me.

"Angel can explain it to you. Right now you just need to get off the streets."

Half running half walking we made it to Angel's house in record time, taking so many twists and turns that it would be almost impossible for anyone to follow us. I knew that this was probably one of the worst ideas that had ever popped into Connors head but something was seriously freaking him out and I thought it best to just go with the flow. Worst comes to worst, when he leaves I could just walk out the door. It's not like Angel's going to want me there in the first place.

Arriving at an old abandoned warehouse we just walked right in. Dust swirled around the empty room making it look as if no one had been inside for years. The plaster on the walls was crumbling with decay while broken chairs and tables lay in the corner.

Walking gingerly in the mess we slowly made our way down the rotted stairs where we reached a small metal doorway that you had to squint your eyes in the dark in order to see it. Connor seemed just fine in his sight though because he just walked up and pounded on the door like it was perfectly clear to him.

A few moments later I heard a latch click and screech through the other side of the barrier as slowly it swung open to reveal Angel. My heart stopped. There he stood in just black sweats while pulling a white t-shirt over his head. It reminded me way to much of my seventeenth birthday. It must have had the same effect on him because he had to quickly cover up the pained expression that had flitted over his features.

"What do you want?" He asked his son gruffly.

"Screw this." I muttered, turning away to go find my own place to stay.

Connor grabbed me by the wrist though and swung me back around. "I need your help." He starred him down, neither one of them blinking until Angel finally stepped away from the door allowing us to come in.

This room was a lot different from the exterior. It was warm and inviting, decorated with deep reds and greens. Overstuffed chairs seemed to just call to you, inviting you to sit and relax in there soft pillows.

"She needs to stay here for awhile." Connor broke me out of my reverie.

Angel laughed at his son. "Please tell me you're joking."

"I'm not. The tavern was attacked tonight; they were most likely looking for her. I can't take her with me while I find another safe house. You're the only choice I have left."

"Why would somebody be looking for me?"

They both ignored my question and continued to pretend like I wasn't here. "Give her to them then. Once they find out that she's not the slayer they'll get off your back."

"She is the slayer."

"And I'm the pope."

"Look you don't have to believe me but right now I need you to do this. She has no where else to go and even if she really isn't the slayer do you really want her to be out there wandering the streets in plain sight of everything?"

Crossing his arms over his chest Angel glared at the two of us. I had no idea what the hell they were talking about but Connor had seemed to make a valid point.

"Fine. But if she causes me any trouble, I have no problems kicking her to the street."

Connor turned to me and put a hand on my shoulder. "Do what he says, I don't want you to leave this room for anything. You hear me? I'll come back and get you as soon as I can." I nodded my head once and watched him leave the room.

At one point in time I would have given anything to be alone in a room with Angel. But now, now I just cringed at the thought of it.

"So..." I trailed off as I saw him slip into his jacket. Without saying a single word to me he walked out the door. "Oh this is gonna be fun."