He looked up and saw Aurora, wringing her injured wrists as she looked around, her gaze soon fell on him and a small smile came across the blonde's face.
"Hey Aura, I thought you were getting some sleep." Said Connor as he approached the younger girl.
"I was, but my bandages were itching…" said Aurora scratching her bandages as If to back up her excuse.
"Let's go clean them up then. Dad can you and Wesley keep researching let me know if you find anything." Said Connor as he put his arm around Aurora's waist.
Angel nodded as Wesley picked up another book and began to flick through the pages.
"Come on Aura, let's go take a look at those cuts." Said Connor leading her up the stairs.
When they reached the second floor, Connor sat Aurora on the couch and got some water and cotton buds before sitting beside her.
He took off the bandages and saw the cuts were scabbed over and beginning to turn into scars, maybe the slayer healing had taken over.
"Whoa, that was fast." Whispered Aurora watching Connor look the cuts over.
"Aura, I have to tell you something." Said Connor taking her hands in his avoiding the cuts around her wrists that were slowly turning into scars, though it still caused a hiss to escape from the girl's lips.
"What is it Connor? Is something wrong?" asked Aurora biting her lip as though she was scared of what he was going to say next.
"Aura, I need to take you to Cleveland, my dad has a friend he wants you to meet there." Said Connor though inside he was flinching about the lie he had just told her.
He watched her bit her lip, the fright of a small child appearing in her eyes as though not sure whether or not to believe him. Not that he could really blame her.
"Aura, you don't have to come If you don't want to…I can get my dad to call his friend back…" began Connor when he saw the smile on her face.
"No, Its OK Connor, I trust you." Smiled Aurora, her hand stroking his cheek lightly.
"So you feel like going as soon as possible?" asked Connor with a smile.
"Um if you mean now…. not really…. if you mean tomorrow…yeah…. I suppose." Smiled Aurora.
"Ok tomorrow it is…I'll start packing now. You want me to pack your stuff?" asked Connor kissing her cheek as he got up and went into his bedroom.
"Please." Said Aurora wringing her wrists, flinching as the scratches began to sink into scars.
Connor soon appeared to see Aurora biting her lip, her gaze on her wrists.
"Aura are you ok?" asked Connor when he noticed the cuts had faded into scars that surrounded her wrists.
"Hey aura, its ok…. They're just turning into scars." assured Connor as he sat down beside her and took her hands in his.
He could see the fear in the younger girl's blue eyes and gently kissed the back of each hand, a wistful smile appearing on Aurora's face.
"I'm ok now Connor. I was just a little freaked out." Assured Aurora.
"I think we should start to Cleveland today…we'll just take it slowly ok? We're in no rush." Assured Connor at the worried look on her face.
"I suppose. I'll go get changed, you'll no doubt be needing this outfit," Said Aurora getting up.
"No you keep it. It looks better on you anyway." Assured Connor.
"Thanks…I'll just go have a shower." Said Aurora with a smile.
"I'll go let dad know we're going to go…I'll be back soon." Assured Connor, watching the blonde disappear into the bathroom before he walked down to the lobby.
Cordelia was sat in Angel's lap helping him find a demon she'd seen in a recent vision in the demon encyclopedia, Fred and Gunn were using the computer while Wesley was heard murmuring in his office.
"Um Dad, Aurora and me are going to start the trip to Cleveland…can I borrow your car?" asked Connor.
"Sorry no can do…Wes might give you his bike though…. go and ask him." Said Angel.
Connor shrugged and knocked on the door to Wesley's office hearing a distracted voice calling 'come in.'
"Hey Wes, can Aura and me borrow your bike to go to Cleveland?" asked Connor leaning against the doorway.
"Sure. But I'll want it back in one piece." Sighed Wesley throwing the youth the keys.
Connor nodded silently and went back into the lobby.
He was about to go up the stairs when he heard two objects being thrown in his directions. Only with the reflexes of a vampire he managed to catch the two, looking at them questioningly before moving his gaze to his father.
The two objects Angel had given him were a credit card and a cell phone, which surprised the youth; the vampire had always been stingy with money, not even giving Cordelia a decent amount to buy a pair of designer shoes.
"Well I can't have you living out on the streets between Arizona and Ohio now can I? Make sure you keep the cell phone on at all times in case we need to call you and make sure you inform us if Aura tries to chop off her hands again. OK?" asked Angel watching his son put both objects along with Wesley's keys into the pocket of his jeans.
"OK…can I go now? If we want to make phoenix by sundown we need to get a move on." Said Connor edging toward the stairs.
"Sure…just go." Sighed Angel.
Connor ran up the stairs to his 'apartment' and saw aurora sat by her packed bag dressed in a simple pair of baggy jeans, a gray woolen top that slid off her left shoulder showing him she was still wearing his singlet. Her hair was up in a bun and stray pieces of hair fell like little ringlets either side of her face, making her look angelic and yet determined at the same time.
"Ready to go Aura?" asked Connor.
Aurora smiled and picked up her backpack that she slipped on as she turned around to face him