Chapter 3

Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from the Angel series except my own.

Kaia's eyes wandered from person to person, as she continued to wonder what the hell she had gotten herself into. On one hand she did want to know who exactly these men were and what part they played or will play in her life. One the other hand, she felt she needed to walk away now before she got hurt or worse...before she got someone else hurt. I mean this could really be just one big coincidence right. Having dreams about two men who I just happened to meet doesn't mean anything. It's just one big fluke...right? Even as she tried to convince herself otherwise, she knew instinctively that this was meant to happen and that it was not a coincidence at all. She could feel it in her bones. She was supposed to be in this exact same place at this exact same time and that scared her immensely.

Wesley cleared his throat breaking her out of her thoughts. Her eyes flew to him wildly. She swallowed hard, feeling a strong magnetic pull to him. She wasn't sure if he was feeling the same thing, but there was a faint blush creeping up his neck. Of course there was. She was blatantly staring at him as if he was a piece of meat. Of course he was feeling uncomfortable. She quickly pulled her eyes away from his and stared down at the floor.

"So...um...you can heal people, heal yourself, and fight like no one I've ever seen, well except Angel. Just what exactly are you," said Gunn cautiously. He was watching Kaia curiously, which was a far cry from the glare he had been sending her earlier. She didn't exactly know how to answer his question. What was she? Who was she? Those were questions she had been grappling with all her life.

"I don't...I'm not really---." Kaia sighed audibly. "I'm just someone who saw you needed helped and gave it to you...that's all," she said finally. "I know you would love to hear some long drawn out explanation, but you're not going to get one. Look, I have to go now." She turned to look at Angel once more and stared at him for a moment before teleporting out of the room.

Oh god. I can't believe I just left like that. Why did I leave like that? She knew why. She was scared. Why did Gunn have to ask her the one question she didn't want to answer? She hated this whole situation. Why is this happening to her? Why now? How could she dream about two strangers and then all of a sudden meet them in person. But that was just it...they might not be strangers. They could be links to her past…her future...and it seems like they might become part of her present.

She couldn't do this to herself. Allowing false hope to fester inside her would bring nothing but trouble. She already had a family. She had a mother and a father who had loved her, but that part of her life was over and she couldn't go back. She refused to let herself become disillusioned that everything could finally be normal and that she could actually be happy again. Experience had taught her that happiness only stayed with her for a short time and then everything goes to hell. They can't ever know...they can't ever find out…about the dreams. She had to stay away from them...no matter what. The question was: could she really do that? Could she really stay away from the one chance she may have at having a family?

Kaia trudged to her bathroom, slowly feeling more alone and confused than ever. She stripped off her clothing and turned on both the hot and cold water. She carefully stepped into the tub, reaching blindly on the shelf for her bottle of shampoo. She began to wash her hair, scrubbing vigorously at her scalp. Then out of nowhere she felt them. Tears were streaming down her face until they blended in with the warm water running down her body.

After her shower, Kaia blow dried her hair straight and wrapped it around her head, pinning it as she went. She knew that it was probably time to a hair cut because her hair was way to long, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She tried hard not to leave the apartment if she didn't have too and that included going to a hair salon. Kaia stared at her reflection in the mirror, scrutinizing her caramel complexion…trying to figure out if she really could be related to Angel. She didn't see how that could be.

First, of all she wasn't even human and Angel appeared to be, even though he was giving off a strangely familiar odor that she knew to be associated with vampires. She was part mutant and part alien; at least that was what her file had said. If Angel was her father, did that mean he wasn't human either? The potential of Angel not being human didn't disturb her. She knew enough about Los Angeles to know that not all creatures here were evil. Sometimes evil came in forms that were much more human than demon.

Kaia felt a rumble go through her stomach, reminding her that she hadn't eaten yet for the morning. She padded barefoot to the kitchen to see if she could dig up something to eat. As she peered inside my refrigerator, she noticed that a trip to the grocery was necessary. She pushed that idea out of her head. There was no way in hell she was going back outside now. Her stomach would just have to settle for some fruit. She grabbed a banana from her fruit bowl and proceeded to head towards her bedroom. She picked up a silk scarf off her dresser and tied it on her head before flopping down unceremoniously on her bed. She stared at the ceiling counting the tiny chips of paint…anything to try to keep her mind off of the drama that was her life. It was times like this where she wished that she was just a normal girl.

Angel stood gazing out of his office window at the city below him vibrating with life. He sighed as he wondered where she was now and how she was doing. For the life of him he couldn't figure out why this girl had affected him so much. He didn't even know who she was or should he say what she was, but that didn't seem to stop him from worrying about her. She just fought some pretty tough demons and walked away without a scratch. Not to mention, she displayed some incredible power. She could teleport, she had healing abilities, and she was telekinetic. What other powers did she possess?

Angel sighed again as he placed his forehead against the glass silently thanking technology for creating the special material that blocked the sun's rays from frying him. He just had to find her or he would drive himself crazy. That girl was hiding something. He could tell by the way she was looking at him or at Wesley for that matter. If he wasn't mistaken, he had seen a flash of desire in her eyes when she glanced at Wesley. He wasn't shocked. A little surprised maybe, but not shocked. Wesley was a good looking guy and he had that quiet brooding appeal that women seemed to loved. Angel wasn't jealous either because she didn't invoke any feeling of want or attraction in him. He just felt as if somehow he knows her and by the look in her eyes…she seemed to know him too.

Angel was still standing gazing out the window when he heard his office door open and shut softly. "What's up guys," he asked without turning to look at his visitors. "Is there something you wanted? I thought I instructed Harmony to inform everyone that I wanted some time alone."

Gunn and Spike exchanged glances before Gunn stepped forward. "Uuh…yeah she told us but we wanted to talk to you about what went down earlier in here today," said Gunn uneasily. "Look…I'm assuming you're brooding in here alone about that strange girl and we---."

"She's not strange," Angel cut in. "She's just…different. Spike and I know more than the rest of you what that's like…don't we Spike." Angel turned around and fixed Gunn and Spike with a cold glare.

"Listen mate," said Spike harshly. "I know this girl's got you all twisted up in knots, but you have to admit her beaming in here at just the right time is a little bloody convenient don't you think. She's beautiful and powerful. That's a deadly combination."

"I'm well aware of the danger here but you don't understand," said Angel, leaning his back against the glass with his arms folded across his chest. "Yes she did happen to arrive at just the right time, but there's a reason for that. My instincts are telling me that this girl…whoever or what she is… was supposed to be here at that exact moment. We were supposed to meet her and we need to find her. I have a feeling about her…in my gut."

"Are you sure you're not feeling that feeling somewhere else," said Spike with a smirk.

Gunn fixed Spike with a glare before shifting his eyes back to Angel. "What Spike is trying to say Angel is that we're just a little worried that you're not taken in by her appearance. It wouldn't be the first time we've met an evil beauty. I mean the girl can throw things with just a thought not to mention with that healing ability she's pretty indestructible."

"No one is indestructible," Spike mumbled.

"Spike is right," said Angel. "She has to have a weakness. With strength comes weakness. We just haven't seen it yet. All I'm saying is that maybe if we talk to her we could find out who she is and put all these questions to rest. She seemed a little jumpy…like she couldn't wait to get away from of us. I don't know about you guys but that sets off alarm bells in my head. Just trust me on this one…ok guys. I need you to back me up here. I'm going to need all your help to find her. So what's the deal? Are you guys going to help me or not?"

"Angel, have you been listening to a word we've said," Spike asked loudly. "This girl could be dangerous. Just leave it be. We'll be looking for trouble if we go searching for her. Please talk some sense into his bloody head Gunn!

Gunn's jaw clenched and he sighed. Angel was one of his best friends…his brother…his family. If Angel needed his help he couldn't just abandon him. Families don't leave each other hanging. They back each other up, even if you don't agree with their decisions. "Yeah man...I got your back. I'll call the file room and see if they can pick up anything related to this girl," said Gunn finally. "I think she said her name was Kaia...right?"

"Yeah," Angel replied, turning around and continued to gaze out the window. "Cross reference that with her description...African-American, about 5'7"...I'm guessing she's about 130 lbs, dark long hair, and brown eyes. Oh and her navel is pierced." Angel turned back around and caught the strange looks Gunn and Spike were giving him. "Remember I saw her stomach when I was checking her ribs...umm...her-her pants had ridden down pretty low and I saw the birthmark," Angel finished awkwardly.

"Yeah sure man...whatever," said Gunn as he chuckled softly. Angel rolled his eyes, because he knew Gunn thought he was checking Kaia out. "I was not checking her out. I just happened to notice those two things when I was checking her ribs," said Angel forcefully. "We investigate things...remember. I'm supposed to notice small details like that."

Spike burst out laughing. "Ok mate...whatever you say. We really believe you. Look I'll help in any way I can, but don't let me have to say I told you so when this blows up in your face."

"Thanks, I would really appreciate your help," said Angel softly. Spike was taken aback. Angel actually ignored his obvious attempt to rile him further. This girl really must have warped his mind. Spike rolled his eyes in annoyance at the fact that Angel didn't respond to his comment the way he wanted.

Spike cursed under his breath and shoved his hands into the pockets of his black leather coat. "I'll start checking the streets later tonight and see what I can find out," Spike said. "Maybe the underground demon world knows something about her."

"Ok...good," was all Angel said before he sat down in his chair wearily and turned back around to face the window...cutting off the conversation.

Spike glanced at Gunn and mouthed "talk to him". Gunn glared at Spike and gave him a hand motion to leave. Spike glared back at Gunn and stalked over to the door. He had to get of there before he blew a fuse. Just as he opened the door Wesley came barreling through bumping right into him.

"Blood hell," Spike cursed. "Watch where the hell you're going!" And with that he roughly pushed pass Wesley out the door. Wesley raised a brow and turned back to face Gunn and Angel. "What's his problem now," Wesley asked quietly.

Gunn sighed. "Nothing man...he's just being the jerk we all know and love. Come on in and we'll tell you all about it." Wesley nodded as he closed the door shutting the rest of Wolfram and Hart out.

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