Title: New Friends, Old Places

Disclaimer: See prologue.

Rating: PG-13

Author: Supergurl15

Author's Note: The first chapter! Should I continue? Tell me what you think.

Thoughts are in italics.

Chapter 1

Chloe Sullivan tapped away animatedly at the computer keys. She had been on the phone with a client for hours. It would have been so much easier if they could have just met face to face, but for some reason they didn't want to. Probably one of the more tall, dark and scaly clients.

"Ah... huh... okay... that's fine." Chloe paused to pick up a wayward pen and pencil, "And your name was? Okay, we'll call you as soon as we can. All right... and you sir, goodbye."

Chloe brushed fallen tendrils of light blond hair in place behind her ear as she place the phone on the base. She yawned and stretched warily. It had been the longest week of her life. Not that she didn't love her current job, working for Angel was a blast. Really it was. She meant that from the depths of her heart, no sarcasm there. It was just that for some reason or another the phone was ringing off the hook this week. Cordelia was taking a much-needed break at the moment, Wesley was stuck researching, and Angel, well, Angel hadn't exactly been himself lately. So Chloe being the kind natured person that she was, for went the overrated college scene just so her friends could get as much needed help as possible.

Ultimately her free time and sleep was cut in more than half, but it was a small price to pay for the work to get done. And it was summer vacation so she didn't mind too much.

Some small price. Chloe pinched the bridge of her nose. She had thought that being in her last year college would be the "best year of her life". Not that it wasn't, it was just a lot more hectic than she imagined it to be. Ever since she had met Angel and started working for Angel Investigation a year ago, everything had been a little more than 'weird'.

She was doing the one thing, or more like two things that she knew best and loved with a passion. And if you could find a job that involved investigating, helping the helpless, and your out of the ordinary wall of weird material, why shouldn't you take it?

In just the year that Chloe had been working here she had seen and fought enough demons and other supernaturals to write a book, not that she wasn't use to this type of thing. But if you had asked her if she believed in vampires any other time up until the last two years she knew that she probably would have laughed and asked if you were sane.

Smallville had mutants, meteor freaks, and the occasional psychotic doctor, or scientist but it was almost like the eye of the storm compared to L.A.

Chloe stirred the coffee stirrer in the Columbian blend as her eyes darted across the online article, soaking in its contents.

'Mass Murders continue in Kansas'... (That's odd...) body of a young girl found in Crater lake... victim is said to be missing eyes, teeth, and nails... She cringed inwardly as she continued to read. Small puncture wounds on the neck... pieces of the flesh ripped away... unexplained murder adding to the 16 victims that have been found with similar descriptions in Crater Lake...

Frowning Chloe swished the coffee around in the blue ceramic mug; she hoped that her dad was okay. She made a mental note to give him a call later. Trying to focus on something other than the descriptions of the mangled and mauled bodies she tried remembering the first time she had met the 'fang gang'. Or more like the first time she had met Angel.

Walking home from her friend's apartment, attacked by a vampire; it was the usual for the 'city of Angels'. It was the first time she had actually seen one of the creatures of darkness, and was shocked beyond belief. The vampire would have killed her if her knight in shining black leather hadn't shown up at that precise moment.

He had vanquished her attacker, took her back to the converted Hyperion hotel so her various injuries could be patched up, and waited until she had regained consciousness (like a day later). Really chivalrous. She spent most of the day talking with him and his comrades, and was more than intrigued when she "accidentally" walked in on them discussing some ancient prophecy. Being the very observant reporter that she was, Chloe had put two and two together and figured out that Angel was a vampire. That, and the whole 'no reflection, no footsteps thing', that took a little getting used to...

Anyway, they were a little surprised when she didn't faint, scream, or accuse. Years of living in Smallville, it worked wonders. They had actually become pretty good acquaintances and once her crappy job at the local java house fired her she got a job here. The rest was well, history. She just wished that all of the blood suckers had souls. It would make their job a lot less stressful, but then again, it probably wouldn't be all that great for the animal population and then there's the whole bored factor.

Chloe downed her coffee in one big gulp, making a face. "Oh wow... that's ummm interesting." She said to no one in particular.

She was halfway across the room to the 'kitchen' and the trashcan when the loud sputtering of coffee caught her attention.

Her head whipped around, her eyes displaying a veil of uncertainty. A small smile spread across her face.

"Well, guess sleeping beauty decided to join us in the land of the living. Sleep well?"

"Very funny." Angel glared at the smiling blond before staring at the contents of the ceramic mug, "You didn't make the coffee did you?"

Chloe shook her head vibrantly, "Nope, I don't make the coffee. I just drink it."

Hearing the loud automated 'bleeeeep' of the microwave, Chloe spun around and viciously opened the microwave. Failing to notice Angel as he dumped the remaining unholy dark brew down the sink, and started to make a fresh pot of coffee.

"But some of us actually have a choice in the matter, not that there's actually anything pretty yummy about blood. No offense." She said as she set the steaming hot mug on a coaster on the oak table.

"You'd be surprised, I get that a lot." A puzzled expression swept across his face as he stared at the mug.

"Figured you'd be up soon."

He gave her one of his trademark half smiles, if it could even be called a smile. The vampire never actually smiled except on those rare occasions, like when something was extremely hilarious. Chloe couldn't help but feel sorry for the vamp. In a way he sort of reminded her of Clark Kent, with all of his harbored secrets, brooding, and of course there was the whole guilt trip. If Clark suddenly took up a love for dark colored fabrics, leather, and had an immense fear of the sun they could be twins, somewhat.

Clark, Lana, Pete. She wasn't as close to them as she was in high school. Well, correction, she and Pete were still the best of buds; she just wasn't close to Clark or Lana.

It hurt remembering all those times when she was the last to find out anything, because they didn't trust her. It hurt when she had to find out that Clark was dating Lana. That he was even dating Lana. That she had finally gotten the nerve to tell him, tell him how she truly felt and the one and only name that he called out in his state of being delirious was Lana. That he couldn't forgive her for prying into his past when he had done the same thing to her and she forgave him again and again.

She still couldn't help but feel hurt and belittled somehow, like she was annoying little Chloe, the girl who had the knack for all things weird, who always ended up getting her friends hurt because she couldn't resist dragging them along for the ride, the girl who was always getting in everyone's way.

But being here, in L.A., she just felt like she belonged. No one here thought she was odd for being vastly interested in demons, the unexplained, or strange happenings.

"Thanks."

Chloe simply grinned back.

"Oh yeah, new client, a Josh Morgan. " She ran a hand through her hair, "He-"

The sound of raised voices alerted their attention to the other room.

"Not again..." Angel seemed to voice what she was thinking. Cordelia and Wesley couldn't go one day without trying to kill each other.

Secretly Chloe loved hearing them argue, it was kind of funny. Entertaining even. It would be a frosty day in hell before those two ever stopped fighting.

Before Chloe could even realize what had happened, Angel was gone and an "Okay, break it up kiddies." could be heard in the next room.

Even through the door she could hear Cordelia's voice, "Angel, please tell Wesley, Mr. khaki shirt with khaki pants, that wearing a khaki shirt with khaki pants is generally a no fashion rule. I mean, where's the versatility. The mix of colors the-... oh... scratch that..."

And Wesley's, "And what is wrong with it exactly?"

Chloe's smirk grew wider as she heard Cordelia's distinguished 'huff' and then, "We've been over this."

"Ummm..." Angel frowned, unsure of what would be the right answer in a situation like this, was there a right answer? And what did Cordelia mean by 'scratch that'? "What's wrong with it?" It was more of a statement than a question but it would do.

Chloe picked that particular moment to bound into the room, literally, and Angel could only guess that she was on caffeine high. He was sure that he had dumped the rest of the coffee that Cordelia had made down the drain, he just didn't understand, where was she getting it?

"The murders in Kansas," at everyone's puzzled expression Chloe added, "On the news, it isn't some kind of psychotic serial killer, or rabid animal."

Holding up the printed article and the pictures that entailed, she started to continue rambling, started to. "Unless it's a..."

"Crazed demon who enjoys torturing their victims? See..." Cordelia interrupted Chloe mid rant to throw Wesley a 'told ya so' look.

"Uhhh... that's what you two were arguing over?" Chloe raised an eyebrow in disbelief. She thought that she would have been used to this by now.

"Sorry... what?" The look of utter confusion on Angel's face was priceless.

"The murder victims in Kansas, police are still unsure as to who or what is causing the murders." Wesley glared at Cordelia, "But they do know that who or whatever it is gorges out the victim's eyes, removes the teeth and nails and then kills them."

"Ummm... that's right..." it was Chloe's turn to look baffled, "What he said."

"Why am I just hearing about this now?" Angel flopped down on the couch in the lobby.

"Sure sleep is important and everything, what better way to get rid of those horrible circles underneath your eyes, but you tend to miss a lot when you sleep for most of the day!" Cordelia retorted.

Chloe and Wesley waited for the comeback from Angel, that was sure to follow Cordelia's comment, but it never came.

They all targeted their gaze on Angel who was sitting, or more like sleeping peacefully on the couch.

"God! This is getting ridiculous!" Cordelia threw up her hand in a defeated gesture.

Chloe smirked almost involuntarily, as she lightly tapped Angel on the shoulder.

He awoke with a start, jumping from the couch wildly.

"What? What? I'm awake, definitely didn't doze off... so what about Ireland and pitchforks?"

Needless to say Wesley, Chloe, and Cordelia couldn't help but stare at him perplexingly.

After the initial confusion shrouded off, about five seconds later, Chloe couldn't help but roll her eyes, "You know, maybe it would be better if you just went back to sleep."

Cordelia walked off, muttering something along the lines of "Sleep. Sleep. Sleep. He's only been up for two hours and already wants to go back to sleep. And how do you get Ireland and pitchforks out of Kansas and serial killers?"

Wesley shook his head and went back to the books on the table in the next room.

"What?" Everyone else had left the room, leaving Angel by himself in the lobby, "What?!"

Just another typical day at Angel Investigations.