Imzadi: Thanks for your review, I also like the idea of Linsdey (good) and Kate getting involved. I'll see what I can do.

That evening Wesley suggested that Cordelia sweep a quick patrol of the neighborhood whilst he got their office sorted into something resembling order. Reluctantly and rudely she agreed.

'Hello,' she called down a deserted alley way as she walked, swinging a stake from her hand. 'Any evil dead things looking for a snack?' Silence. 'No?' With a smirk she promptly dropped the stake with a clatter onto the floor. 'I tried Wesley.' She headed quickly in the direction of the LA strip and the nightlife.

After ordering a martini, Cordelia sat deep in thought at the bar delicately ignoring some perverts in the corner who were eyeing her up.

'How about a drink?' Came an unfamiliar, Irish voice behind her.

'Already got one thanks,' she said without bothering to look at him. Unfortunately, he decided to sit right down next to her on a stool. She looked at him in mild irritation and the corner of his mouth twitched.

'Good thing then because I wasn't going to get you one.' He let out a chuckle at the Princess's expression and her mouth hanging open.

'Ha ha,' she recovered. 'Like I would have accepted anything from you anyways, not with that fashion sense.' He raised an incredulous eyebrow; his dark hair messy, green eyes bright, and his jacket and shirt horribly garish.

'My my the Powers really know how to pick 'em.' Cordelia frowned.

'Pick what?' He stole the olive from her drink and answered while chewing.

'Y'know Slayers.' Within a second she had dragged him off the stool and into a secluded dark corner. He put his hand over his heart.

'But alas I must protest my virtue, we've just met.' He was answered by being shoved painfully against the wall his head making a weird clunking sound.

'Ow!'

'How did you know who I was?' She paused, 'And who the hell are you?'

'Name's Doyle,' he replied. She leaned forward and sniffed him. She let go and he brushed off his coat.

'You don't smell human.' It was his turn to look irritated.

'Well that's a bit rude. As it happens, I'm very much human,' he sneezed and slipped into a demon face, green covered with blue spikes before his face returned to human visage, 'On my mother's side.' She glared at him.

'Give me one good reason for not killing you.'

'I've been sent, by the Powers That Be,' he said to her surprise.

'The who?'

'Let me tell you a little bedtime story,' he said as he sat down on a nearby sofa. She gave him a disbelieving look but allowed him to continue. 'Once upon a time there was a girl. She was a happy girl, very rich and a looker, but mean. Really mean, so mean that she picked on other people and made fun of them. Frankly she was a bit of a bitch.' She shot him a glare.

'Oh, ok sleepy now.' He didn't look fazed and carried on, a gentle lilt to his voice.

'Yeah it sounds a bit dull doesn't it? But wait, then one day this uptight British man shows up and tells our little heroine that she's got a destiny, to do good, fight evil and help people. And surprise, surprise she doesn't want to know, she likes shopping and money. Then her daddy is brutally murdered by vampires.' He stood up as she shied away.

'Ok you can stop there buddy,' her voice wavered but he was going to finish his story, his eyes never leaving her face.

'So the Princess snaps, torches the vampires and gets kicked out of school, along with her Watcher who's fired from the Council and even though they can't stand each other they decide to form a paranormal detective agency.'

'Right,' she said weakly. 'You've succeeding in telling me my life story Oprah which by the way I already knew seeing as I was there. Now tell me why I'm not kicking your butt?'

'Cause now I'm going to tell you what happens next. Our heroine isn't really playing the part; she misses her life, and doesn't really understand her duty or want to accept it. So she's cutting herself off from life, slowly but surely and the people who she's trying to save.' Cordelia's eyes blazed.

'Boo freakin' hoo! I didn't ask to be a Slayer, so what I do with the rest of my now scarily short life is up to me, and I still save them so what's the big if I don't stop to chat?' He looked at her for a long time.

'Lets go for a walk.'

Outside he carried on with his story or lecture as she was beginning to call it as they walked side by side down the LA strip.

'It's not at about fighting and killing. It's about reaching out to people and showing them that there's still love and hope in this world.' A homeless woman approached hand outstretched,

'Spare change?'

'Get a job you lazy sow,' said Doyle turning back to Cordelia without missing a beat. 'You know it's about letting them into your heart. It's not just saving lives, its saving souls too. Hey even maybe your own.'

'My soul's just fine thank you very much,' she said haughtily,

'Ah now it is but for how long?' He contradicted. 'You're grieving, and the only person left in your life you can't stand. So it's only a matter of time if you keep shutting people out until you become battle-hard, weary, unfeeling.'

'Who sent you?' She demanded and to her annoyance and confusion she shrugged.

'I'm honestly not sure who sent me. You know, they don't speak to me direct. I get visions. Which is to say great splitting migraines that come with pictures. A name, a face. I don't know who sends them. I just know whoever sends them is more powerful than me or you, and they're just trying to make things right. Some other girl's got them in this city, and she's using it to help a vampire champion, I'm here to help you.'

'Why me?'

'Because Princess, you've got potential, and the balance sheet isn't exactly in your favour.' She glowered at his cryptic statement,

'Ok then why you?'

'We've all got something to atone for,' was all he replied with a faraway look on his face. He snapped out of it and shot her a wide grin. 'Now I'm going to let you do the Budda on that.'

'What? Who?'

'Lord, you really are a rich bitch Princess aren't you?' He exclaimed in disbelief, and sighed at her blank look. 'Meditate on what I've told you. I know where you and your Watcher are, let's just say I'll be seeing you around.' With a jolly wave he sauntered off until she lost sight of him in the crowd.