Kennedy sat up in bed and looked at the clock.

"Damn," she whispered under her breath. She got up and grabbed clothes so she could get in the shower. Today, she had to be up because she had another meeting with Gutierrez.

On there last 'visit', Kennedy had gone down to the station and talked with the man and a social worker. Gutierrez first talked about how Kennedy and Willow knew the murdered couple. She dogged the question with Slayer grace and he moved on.

They talked about what might have killed them. They were sure that it had just been some serial killers. When Kennedy asked why a one time murder would lead to the conclusion of serial killer, he told her about some other evidence in the case. He told her about three of Robert's top nurses being killed in the same way, along with his assistant.

This was the part Kennedy was intrigued by. She wanted to get an idea of who she was up against. The arrogant side of her shown through and she was absolutely positive she could handle it.

Her conversations with the social worker were about Artemis and Willow and Kennedy's life style. He asked how long she and Willow had been together, financial questions, and background information. Then, he handed her some papers.

"What are these?" Kennedy asked.

"They're adoption papers."

Every other person in the world would have been ecstatic to receive the opportunity to take in such a beautiful little baby, but for Kennedy those papers were scary. When she got home she didn't show them to Willow; she put them in one of the kitchen drawers and didn't look at them again.

Now out of the shower, Kennedy came out and checked on Willow and Artie. She looked into the baby's basinet and smiled. That baby hadn't gone to sleep all night, but some how when she and Willow were up with the baby, she felt happy, not annoyed. She loved taking care of the child and it made her feel wanted and needed.

On the Willow front, things had been better. They were still keeping there doubts about things secret, but they had managed to get in a few more love sessions in the last month. Kennedy missed the way things used to be with the redhead. She wanted to be able to come home at two in the morning and do her until the point of exhaustion. She missed that passion in their relationship.

She pecked the sleeping redhead's bare shoulder and the baby's head, then left for the station.

At the station, she went up to Gutierrez's desk. He looked up from his paper work.

"Kennedy, hello. How are you?"

"Good, thank you. And you?"

"Not bad, not bad at all. Please, sit." He gestured for her to sit in the chair next to his desk. "I'm sorry to bring you out here so early this morning. This was unfortunately the only time I could have this meeting."

"No, it's fine. But I am quite curious as to why you called."

"Yes, yes, of course. Well, actually I asked you here because the other week, this is going to be very forthright, you seemed to know more than you were letting on. I just wondered if maybe you'd care to share any of it."

"Mr. Gutierrez, I have to say I don't know what your talking about."

He lowered his voice and leaned closer to Kennedy. "I know you know something more. There's something weird about this case. There are just far to many cases like this one. I've seen the type of men who do these kinds of things. Disfigured men with incredible strength. I'm begging you to help me figure it out."

"Why do you think I can even help you?"

"Because I saw what you did. The other night with that wooden stake. You killed one of the disfigured men."

Kennedy looked completely and utterly shocked. "How- how did you-"

"I was following you."

"Wow."

"I didn't have a choice. I knew there was something you weren't telling me. It was the only way. Once I saw it, I looked into other cases and found the same types of neck contusion victims all over the world. What's strange though is that most, if not all, of the perpetrators just vanish. Look, I'm not out to get you, but if you don't help me I will. I just want to know what's going on."

Kennedy looked at the man, conflicted. She knew if she told him that there was a chance he would lock her up in an insane asylum and dissect her or something, but then there was this side of Kennedy that trusted him, a side that wanted to tell him. She also didn't want anything to happen to Willow or Artemis. They were her family and she had to protect them. That meant not spilling the magic beans.

"Kennedy?"

"I'm sorry. I can't help you." She got up and started to head out, but was stopped by Gutierrez grabbing her arm.

"Please, you are not the only one who has lost a friend. My sister was killed by those kinds of men. I want to get them. I need to get them." His tone was practically pleading with Kennedy, as if he really didn't have any other options.

Kennedy sighed and said, "I need time. There are things I need to do right now, things that will stop these men. You have to trust me. Then, if I find I can trust you, I'll tell you. Everything." She pushed him off of her. "I have to go."

His eyes followed her intently as she exited the station.

Kennedy walked into the apartment and leaned up against the back of the door. Willow came out from the kitchen, Artie in her arms.

"Ken, you're back. How did it go?" Willow asked, looking a little worried.

"It went," she said as she walked and took Artemis. "Hey, beautiful."

"So, tell me what happened."

They walked over to the sofa and sat down. "Nothing. It was nothing. We just talked about Abby and Robert. It was nothing, really."

"Kennedy..."

"It was nothing, Willow. Stop worrying. I can handle this. Don't worry." She handed Artie back to Willow after kissing her head. "I have to go to the gym. I promised the girls I'd come today so that we could train." She started for the door.

"Kennedy," Willow said, standing.

Kennedy turned around sharply and said loudly, "I told you it's under control."

Artemis, feeling the tension, began to cry. Willow snapped out of her hurt and building pain to comfort the child. Kennedy looked at the crying child and at Willow. Feeling sad and distanced, she turned and ran out of the apartment.

Willow called after her. "Kennedy!"

Kennedy didn't bother with the elevator; she went directly for the stairs. She got down one flight and then stopped. She went down to her knees and began to sob, uncontrollably. She cried for her dead friends and their dead child. She had felt so responsible for not being able to protect them better. She cried for snapping at Willow and making Artie cry.

She felt distance from everything. She realized the part of her that had wanted to tell Gutierrez about the mystical world was probably the same side that wanted and needed a break. She wanted to be the one to fall apart. She was tired of being strong and fighting. She just wanted to quit.

Her crying slowed and she sucked up all her feelings. She knew she couldn't take a break, she couldn't be weak. Willow and Artemis needed her and she had to be there. The way nobody had ever been there for her. She wiped off her cheeks and stood.

She descended down the stairs, headed for the gym.

When she got home the baby was asleep in her basinet next to Willow. Willow looked up at Kennedy with confusion and anger. She got up and walked into the bedroom. Kennedy sighed and followed.

In the room, Willow sat on the bed and when Kennedy entered she sat down too. Only she sat on the other side.

She turned to Willow and said, "I'm sorry."

Willow turned and looked at the woman. "I just don't understand what happened. You just freaked out on me. What's going on with you, Ken? You're not acting like you."

Kennedy looked down, sad. "I've just been feeling a little- Look, that's not important. What's important is the fact that it won't happen again. I'm not gonna snap again. I'm sorry I upset you and Artie."

Willow moved closer to her girlfriend and grabbed her hand. "I love you and I want to know what's wrong. I know what you're keeping from me."

Kennedy looked up at Willow, confused because unless magic was involved she couldn't have known her feelings, her doubts.

"Wh-what do you mean?"

"I found the adoption papers, Kennedy. I know you're scared about Artemis."

Kennedy sighed, a little sad by the fact Willow really hadn't figured it out. "When?"

"After you left Artie was still crying and I dropped her pacifier. I was in the kitchen looking for another one and I found them. Why didn't you tell me?"

Kennedy looked at her girlfriend. "I was worried about me messing Artie up or-or maybe her coming between us. I'm fine now though. I swear."

"So, you're good now."

She smiled. "Yeah, I'm good."

Willow smiled too and then leaned in and kissed her. It was a simple kiss, completely lacking in passion. Willow tried to deepen it, but Kennedy pulled away. "You should get some sleep," she said. "I'm gonna go get something to eat and watch some TV. I'll be in later."

Willow, not really wanting her to, "Yeah, okay."

Kennedy slightly smiled at her and kissed her forehead. "Night, Will." She got up and left, leaving Willow alone.

"Yeah, night."

AN: Okay, there's seven. Some more doubts and distance and a teeny bit of exposition. In the next chapter that is going to unfold more, I swear. Also, be looking for a Slayer dream coming up real, real soon. Did you catch that subtle hint about chapter 8?