Chapter 14

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

As Kaia followed Fred inside the lab, she began to feel oddly nervous. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe the dreams were just dreams or maybe they were trying to tell her something else...but what. Fred pointed at a chair and Kaia stared at it for a moment before gingerly taking a seat. She leaned her head back on the headrest of the chair as she quietly surveyed the room. The lab looked somewhat like the lab at the military compound she was held prisoner at, but with more up to date equipment. She watched as Fred walked over to a row of white cabinets and took out a tray containing vials of blood. She surmised that it must be some sort of refrigerated containment area, because that was what would have been needed to keep the blood in a form that could be usable.

Fred washed her hands quickly with the antibacterial soap she always kept near the sink. She then dried her hands carefully, before pulling on a pair of latex gloves. She picked up the syringe and grabbed another glove to tie Kaia's arm with. She patted Kaia's knee in hopes to reassure her upon seeing the way she stared at the needle. Kaia was practically shaking.

"Kaia, it's okay," Fred said in what she hoped was a soothing tone. "It will just be a little prick and then it's over…I promise." Kaia nodded but her eyes never left the needle. She closed her eyes as she felt Fred tying the glove around her arm. She took a deep shuddering breath as she tried to push away the awful memories that were crawling back. She had did her best to suppress them…to lock them in a corner of her mind where they couldn't hurt her, but now they were forcing their way back into her conscious mind. Just the sight of that needle made her stomach clench as she remembered the various tests that had been performed on her.

Suddenly she felt a sharp prick in her arm and when she opened her eyes she realized the needle was in. Kaia watched as the syringe filled with her blood, causing her stomach to clench even further. She immediately shut her eyes to remove it from her vision. And then it was over. She felt the needle pull out and the tightness was relieved from her arm as the glove was removed. She heard Fred walk over to the other side of the room, but still her eyes remained closed as she tried desperately to push the hysteria away.

Fred removed the needle from the vial, stopping to retrieve Angel's vial of blood first from the tray on the counter, and placed both vials in the machine. It was one of the perks of working at Wolfram & Hart…access to huge amounts of cutting edge technology like this…a machine that could give information about the physiological makeup of a human or demon in mere minutes. Soon she would know if Angel had another child…if Kaia was indeed his daughter. Fred found herself praying that it was true.

She pressed a number of buttons, her eyes widening as she saw the data appearing on the screen. She didn't have time to go through each piece of information, but later for sure she would. At this point there was only one thing she wanted to know right now…and there was her answer. Oh my God! Fred turned shocked eyes to Kaia. She couldn't believe it. Yes she had been praying that it would be true because Angel barely had time to be a father to Connor before his world was ripped apart, but still she hadn't expected this.

Kaia was still sitting with her eyes closed; her hands gripping the armrests of the chair tightly. She was taking deep breaths and Fred could hear the sound of the air releasing from her lungs as she exhaled loudly. What was wrong with her? Fred wondered what could possibly make her so freaked, until she remembered how she was shaking when she caught sight of the needle. Maybe it was some sort of phobia. Fred crossed the room slowly, her face etched in concern at the distress she saw across the other girl's features. She reached down to touch Kaia gently on the arm, but was stopped from doing so as one of Kaia's hands reached up and grabbed her wrist forcefully. Kaia's eyes flew open and her eyes had turned yellow in her fear of danger coming towards her. She sighed in relief when she saw it was only Fred, her eyes immediately returning back to their normal brown color.

Kaia noticed Fred's eyes were opened wide in fear and she glanced down at the wrist she was holding tightly. She instantly dropped it and apologized. "It's just…I thought you were…I didn't mean to," Kaia said haltingly, as she tried to explain. The words however seemed to be failing her. Fred rubbed her wrist for a moment, before giving her a shaky smile. "It's okay," she said simply. "I know you weren't trying to hurt me. Everyone has phobias or fears. It's quite normal." Fred knew intuitively that this was no normal phobia. She had a gut feeling that Kaia's irrational fear of needles was somehow related to these men who were after her. "Kaia, what happened to cause this fear," Fred asked carefully. "Did someone hurt you? Was it those men? What did they do to you?"

Kaia didn't answer for a moment. "They…those men…the people who they work for…experimented on me...in a lab...on a secret military base," she said her voice wobbling, her eyes taking on a far away look as if she was somewhere else. "Every time they came with a syringe, I cringed because I knew soon there would be pain…pain so unbearable. It was all I could do to fight---." She stopped and took a moment to control herself. "It was just a horrible time…and I hate reliving it." Then she closed her eyes and when she reopened them her mask was back in place…the barrier that would protect her from the memories…from the pain.

Fred could only stare in amazement as she studied the way Kaia withdrew within herself right before her eyes. Now she was talking again, her voice sounding so different…so calm and detached. "So what did you find out…is he my father or not?" Fred could only nod. She couldn't come up with anything else to say. It was as if Kaia had two personalities…and the one she was seeing now…well she didn't know how to relate to her. But she couldn't fault her for being this way. God knows what exactly those assholes had done to her. They were the reason why she was like this. Fred knew she was only acting this way to protect herself. She just has to make it clear to her that she was not the enemy here.

Fred saw Kaia's eyes crinkle slightly at the corners in happiness at the news, but then in the blink of an eye the mask was back in place. Fred struggled for a way to pull her out of this…whatever it was she was doing to herself. She decided the direct approach may be the best. "Kaia I know what you're doing," Fred began. "I know how you feel."

"You know nothing about how I feel," said Kaia, her tone suddenly defensive, her eyes turning even colder. Fred nodded. She was right. She didn't know what she was going through. At least she had gotten her to show some kind of emotion instead of that cold expression she had been wearing before. Just like her father…hiding their emotions behind a facade. "No Kaia, I don't know how you feel, but I'm trying to understand," said Fred gently. "I want to help you…in anyway I can, but you have to let me in. Don't shut me out. You know that I won't hurt you...don't you?" Kaia nodded and the coldness left her eyes, but she didn't say anything further. Fred held a hand out to her. "Now come on…I think it's time to go back downstairs," said Fred softly. "The guys are probably wondering why we're taking so long. Are you going to tell---."

"No," Kaia cut in. "I can't…you can't! Not yet. I don't know if I'm ready to talk to him about this…not yet."

"Okay…no problem," Fred replied. "But you have to tell him soon. He'll know something his wrong instantly when he sees you…when he sees how you're acting. What are you going to tell him?"

"I…I don't know," Kaia said, as she swept her long bangs behind her ear. "I'll think of something when we get down there. Let's just go." She held out her hand to Fred and was pulled gently to her feet. Fred gave her hand a comforting squeeze and they disappeared.


Angel was starting to worry. He knew he was being stupid…maybe overreacting, but he couldn't help it. They had been up there too long. How long could it take to just change some clothes? Angel sighed. Because they were women. Fred was probably torturing the poor girl by making her try on various outfits. Kaia acted annoyed at Fred's antics, but he sensed that she secretly like it. Being on the run for so long had made her a loner. Having someone of her sex trying to befriend her must be wonderful and scary at the same time. It's probably been a long time since she's had one of those…a friend.

His attention strayed to Wesley and his mouth twitched as he fought a smile. No one could annoy a person better than Spike, and apparently Wesley was his new target for today. Angel could clearly see what Spike could…that Wesley was attracted to Kaia…probably more attracted to her than he wanted to admit. Interesting how they had just met her yesterday, but she had seemed to touch them all in one way or another. But why did he feel so close to her personally? He had never felt such protective instincts for someone…well besides…with his son.

At that thought, a wave of sadness hit him and he let out another sigh…this one deeper and louder. Connor…he missed him so much. It had only been a week since he had last seen him, but it felt like forever. It hurt…to know you had a son out there who was calling someone else 'Dad', while you were his real father and couldn't even walk up to him and talk to him. You're a stranger to him now. Come to think of it, you were always sort of a stranger to him. You could have had a second chance to build a real relationship with him but you knew you couldn't be that selfish. This is how you wanted it. You wanted to keep him safe…to keep his life normal. If keeping him away from all the craziness of fighting demons and vampires meant never talking to his son again…well he would just have to pay that price. It was worth it. It was worth Connor's happiness.

Upon hearing Angel sigh, Wesley glanced up from his computer screen and gazed at him curiously. Something was wrong. Angel was a natural brooder, but Wesley sensed something was troubling him. "Angel is something the matter," Wesley questioned. Angel looked at him and shrugged. He didn't respond…only picking up his mug to take a sip of his second cup of coffee. Wesley noted Angel's silence as admittance of a problem, and forged ahead. "So something is definitely wrong," he continued. "What is it?"

Angel ran his finger idly around the ring of his cup. "I was just thinking about Connor," he said, struggling to keep his tone even.

Wesley closed the lab top to give Angel his full attention. "When was the last time you saw him," he asked quietly.

"A week ago," Angel answered. "I don't know what made me think of him just now. I mean I always think about him and miss him…but just now…never mind." It was time to change the subject. "Where are the girls," Angel continued. "They've been upstairs for a while now."

Wesley realized Angel was trying to change the subject, but he decided not to push the issue. Angel didn't mean to be withdrawn with his feelings. It was just his way sometimes. He was right though. The girls had been upstairs an awful long time. What could they be doing up there? That thought made his mind stray to Kaia again…the way she had looked today…so much like a woman…a gorgeous one at that. Whatever Fred did…well she had made Kaia look wonderful…and that right there was his problem. From the moment he had met this girl, she had incited something within him.

That something had changed to pangs of desire running through him at the sight of her today. Just thinking about the ample cleavage that was displaced above the bodice of that…that bustier thing she was wearing under her jacket made him hard. He shifted uncomfortably in his seat and tried to will his growing erection away. This cannot happen. He can't be attracted to her. She was a client of theirs…well sort of…and getting involved with her could spell disaster. Besides, women and love just didn't seem to work out for him anyway.

Meanwhile, Gunn was quietly studying Angel. He too had heard Angel sigh and it disturbed him too, until he heard the reason. Connor. He knew it was difficult knowing you had a child out there and you couldn't be with him. Connor was now 19 and attending college. He was happy and actually had friends now…friends his own age who were just plain old average humans. Gunn wondered if maybe Angel was regretting his decision…to put that spell on Connor to make him forget his real parentage. Just then Kaia and Fred reappeared, startling him momentarily out of his thoughts.

"Woah," Gun exclaimed. "Don't you know how to use your legs? You know those things you use for walking. You can't just go around teleporting all over the place."

Spike snorted and elbowed Gunn in his side. "You're such a wanker," he said, as he stared at Kaia openly. "I for one think it's bloody awesome. I wouldn't mind her teleporting me later…to say maybe her bedroom." Spike finished with a wink. His eyes swept over Kaia, taking in her ensemble. "Nice abs there love," he commented. "You must…work out a lot…do a lot of sweating." Kaia didn't reply to his attempt to irritate her. She was acting as if she hadn't even heard him. In fact she appeared to be nervous, her eyes flitting all over the room, her fingers picking idly at her pants. No…correction…she wasn't nervous. She seemed downright terrified. Fred's expression didn't look much different. His expression turned serious. What the hell happened up there?

Angel and Wesley stood up simultaneously at the matching expressions of distress on both of the girls' faces. "Kaia, what's wrong," Angel asked as he placed his hands on her forearms gently. She didn't answer, instead choosing to pull away from his touch. She hadn't meant too. It was just all too much right now. It was one thing when she suspected it, but to find out the truth was even scarier. She finally looked into his eyes and she saw confusion, fear, and perhaps even a little hurt at her behavior, but she couldn't seem to stop herself. Here was her father…her real father…standing right in front of her. What was she supposed to say? How was she supposed to act?

Fred placed a comforting hand on her arm knowing that Kaia was just feeling overwhelmed "Kaia, it's okay," she said soothingly. "Just take a couple deep breaths honey. You're starting to scare us okay." Kaia nodded but still didn't speak.

"Fred, what the hell happened up there," Angel said, without even trying to lower his voice, his eyes never leaving Kaia's face. His concern for Kaia was overriding his usual calm demeanor at the moment. He saw Kaia flinch at his tone and he forced himself to bring it down a notch. "I'm sorry," he told her. He turned his eyes to Fred. "It's just that when you left she seemed fine and now it's like she's comatose. What happened?"

Fred looked at Kaia, silently asking her what to do, because she sure as hell didn't know. Promising not to tell Angel before Kaia was ready was easier when he wasn't standing here right in front of them. She did the only thing she could think of, which was to grab Kaia's hand, hoping to provide some sort of comfort to her. Kaia turned to her and gave her a semblance of a smile, which made Fred feel relieved. Her eyes didn't seem so dead now, her smile was actually genuine. She seemed to be coming out of that haze she was just in but…would she do it. Could she do it? Could she tell Angel the truth?

"Kaia, you have to say something," Fred pleaded. Kaia took a deep breath and released Fred's hand, using that hand to run a shaking hand through her hair.

"Angel I'm fine…I'm okay," Kaia said, in what she hoped was a voice that sounded convincing. The look on his face showed he didn't believe her. "Okay so I'm not fine, but I will be," she said honestly. "I'll be okay. It's just I found out some news that freaked me out a little." She wrapped her arms around herself. "Honestly, it makes me want to run," she continued in a small voice.

Fred's mouth gaped. "No you can't," she demanded. "You promised to stop running. The only way you can get your life back is to stop doing that."

"I don't know if I can," Kaia replied, her voice trembling. "They're going to come after me. They're going to hurt him. I can't---." She stopped as she choked on the words. "I can't let them hurt another person who's…I just can't."

Gunn walked forward, his eyes intently watching the scene unfolding before him. What the hell was going on? One minute they were all gung ho on trying on outfits and now…well now there was drama again. "Fred," Gunn called out. "What's going on? What is she talking about? I thought we already cleared this up."

Fred closed the distance between her and Gunn. "We did...it's...it's just complicated now," she responded. She placed a hand on his cheek. "I can't tell you…it has to come from her." Gunn held her hand against his face, his eyes searching hers as he tried to figure out what was happening here. Why was she being so cryptic? And her eyes…they seemed so sad now. "Fred…sweetie tell me what happened," he prodded, his voice soft but firm. "The both of you are freaking me out."

Angel reached out tentatively and took Kaia's smaller hands in his own. She tensed instantly at their hands touching, but she didn't pull away. "Look…I thought we already went over this," he said trying to make his voice sound as calm as possible. "What changed? Why do you want to run again? Who's him? Who are you afraid for?"

She stared into his dark eyes. "You," she said simply. "I'm afraid for you." She waited a beat before she asked something she probably shouldn't have. "Is Connor okay…when was the last time you saw him?" Angel dropped her hands, the shock apparent on his face. "How do you know about Connor," he asked, his voice almost too soft to be heard.

"Fred told me…about him," Kaia said. "Is he okay…is he alright?"

He answered without thinking. "He's fine. I just saw him a week ago. He's doing…okay." Wait a minute why was she asking about Connor anyway? The fear and concern on her face was geniune, almost as if she was in a panic. "Why are you so concerned about my son," he asked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion. "And how did his name come up anyway? It's not exactly fashion conversation."

Kaia slid a guilty glance at Fred, who was now standing leaned against Gunn with his arms around her waist. That was an absolutely stupid thing to do…to mention Connor. It had flown out of her mouth before she could stop it. "We were talking a little about her parents…and…it-it…slipped out," Fred chimed in, eager to take the heat off of her new friend. "I'm sorry Angel. She won't tell anyone…right Kaia?" Kaia nodded eagerly…a little too eagerly.

"That still doesn't explain why she seems so concerned…you would think she knows him," Angel said, his tone suspicious. His eyes never left Kaia's face as his stare bore into her.

"I am co-co-cerned for him," Kaia replied, swallowing hard before continuing. "I just can't explain why…no-not yet." Angel took a step closer to her, his eyes turning colder. "You had better explain why…and not later…now," he demanded. "I want to know why you're so concerned about my son…someone you don't even know." Kaia could feel Angels suspicion…his anger…and it hurt. He didn't trust her. Why should he? To his knowledge he only knew about one child. He didn't know he had another one.

"Angel can we just talk about this---," and Kaia's speech halted abruptly. Her body stiffened and her eyes turned yellow. Angel felt it too…something wasn't right…and his body went on full alert. The sound of wood splintering was heard as if someone or something just crashed through the front door. And then there was silence.

Wesley was silently watching the drama unfold, but his senses too came alert as he noticed both Kaia and Angel's body language. The audible sound of the front door being demolished was a dead give away to trouble as well. He turned and gave Spike and Gunn a look. Gunn nodded and ran into the kitchen to retrieve the stash of weapons they had hidden in the kitchen cabinets.

He returned with two black bags and began pulling out the contents out of one. He called Angel's name and threw an ax at him, smiling when Angel turned around just in time to catch it. He then handed a crossbow to Fred and a gun, which she cocked and readied to be fired. Angel returned his attention back to Kaia, his expression somewhat softened. She gave him a look that she hoped was apologetic and walked around him towards Gunn. She bent down and peered into one of the bags and whistled at the array of weapons. She grabbed only a couple stakes for herself, choosing to leave behind the other weapons she saw in there.

Kaia glanced at Spike as he was now peering inside his long leather trench coat, apparently checking his pockets for something…probably weapons she thought. "I'm all set here," he called out to no one in particular.

Wesley grabbed his favorite weapons from one of the bags, and strapped it to his forearms quickly, remembering to check to see if they both had weapons inserted. He smiled grimly when he saw one contained a stake and the other a curved blade. He then bent and grabbed a gun for himself, cocking it quickly, before holding it down to his side. "I'm ready here I suppose," he announced.

Gunn grabbed a gun and strapped a belt around his waist containing two blades and two stakes. "I'm set…now let's go say hello to our new friends," he said, as he cracked his neck from side to side, readying himself for the battle to come.

Kaia walked back over to stand beside Angel gripping the two stakes firmly. He didn't look at her, but he noted her presence. "Are you ready," he asked, his voice even, hiding the conflicted emotions within him.

She faced forward, choosing not to look at him either. "Ready as I'll ever be," she replied. He nodded in answer.

"Then let's go greet our guests," Angel said sarcastically as he started walking towards the living room, with five determined individuals on his heels. Little did they know this battle would reveal something important…maybe more than they were ready to handle.

Note: It's taking long to get to the next battle scene. I know. It's just I have to be very descriptive and of course good dialogue is important too, but it also fills up my chapters so quickly. I just let my mind roam and before I know it I have over 3,000 words! Okay, I promise next chapter will be the fight scene and a visit from Lindsay, but not a visit you might think. You'll see what I mean. Aah! I have to update my other stories, but I'm stuck on this. Help! Lol...alright enough dramatics. Please review.