I'M BAAAAAACK! Hehehe!

Disclaimer: I don't own anything on Buffy, Angel or Highlander...including Kate Lockley (Angel, season 1, "Lonely Hearts" and most/all consecutive eps after that).

Author's Note: Gah! This story's only 40 pages long, and I've yet to get to the meat of the plot(s)! Oh, and this part's mostly talk, but it's needed to get things going.

Author's Note 2: Freaken HELL! Joss stole my storyline on Buffy! What am I going to do now for Sunnyd--... (blinks as a thought occurs to her, then a sinister grin slowly forms on her face (in a voice filled with wicked glee)) Never mind!...(frowns as another plotline is stolen)...or not.

Twilight Unicorn: The Vampiric Unicorn (who is wondering if she could go crazy yet from the amount of Muses she has (that keeps growing for some strange reason (frowns at Muses)), and how convoluted the time/storyline's keep getting?)

Part 9

LA: Hyperion Hotel, Buffy and Angel's Room, 4amish, Day 4

Angel sat on his side of the bed, head resting on his hand as he listened to Gunn talking on the phone. He looked tiredly at Buffy as she came into the bedroom from the bathroom towel-drying her hair, and smiled faintly before returning to the conversation at hand.

"You sent me on a death mission, you know that! The demons ain't migratin', they're a infestation of cockroaches... Man! I'm wondering' how the Hell they've been holdin' as long as they have!"

"Probably by sheer will and stubbornness, knowing them," Angel said absently as Buffy came up from behind and wrapped her arms around him, resting her chin on his left shoulder. "Is that everything, Gunn? 'Cause I'd like to get to bed."

"Yeah, that's all of it. Tell the Mrs. 'hi' for me."

"I will, bye Gunn."

"See ya!"

Angel hung up the phone, turned in his wife's arms, then wrapped his own arms around said wife, a groan escaping him.

"How's it going on the Hellmouth," Buffy asked as she shifted to sit on Angel's lap.

"It's in a deadlock at the moment. Hopefully with Gunn and his group there it will get better now."

"I hope so, otherwise we're going to have to call in the reserves."

Angel grimaced before saying, "Let's hope it doesn't come to that."

"Agreed."

LA: Hyperion Hotel, Buffy and Angel's Office, after 2pm, Day 4

"Guys, company!" Cordelia said, while standing in the doorway of Buffy and Angel's office. "It's Kate. She says she's got the stuff you wanted."

"Great!" Buffy said as she slipped out of Angel's lap, stood, then sat on top of the desk they were behind. "Send her on in."

Within moments, a woman with medium-length blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, wearing well-worn blue jeans, hiking boots that had seen better days, a plaid shirt and an old police academy jacket, replaced Cordelia in the doorway. With one hand on her hip and the other holding a folder, Kate Lockley said in clear amusement at the sight before her, "You can get back in Angel's lap, Buffy. You guys know that I don't mind you two being a couple while we're talking business."

Angel chuckled as Buffy quickly did what Kate had told her to do, before saying, "We know. It's just an automatic reaction for us, since most of our clients get nervous when they see us like that."

"Understood," Kate said as she took a seat in front of the couple's desk. She handed them the folder as she said, "I searched everything I could on what you wanted, but there wasn't a whole lot to be found. It was either that, or they weren't willing to talk."

Angel nodded his understanding as he quickly – yet thoroughly – looked through the folder's contents, Buffy idly chatting with Kate as he did so. Fifteen minutes later, he looked up and said, "You think that Wolfram & Hart are involved with this. What makes you say that, Kate?"

"They were looking specifically for Buffy and Dawn, Angel," the ex-cop explained. "From what I was able to get from the other three that lived from the bus shooting, the shooters went directly for the two Slayers, and would have left if it wasn't for the fact that other passengers decided to attack them before they could. It was only due to your wife and daughter reviving that the shooters were stopped."

"But not before the bus driver and a few driving cars around us had accidentally been shot," Buffy added grimly.

"That's what caused the pile-up, then," Angel asked.

"Yes," the two blonde women said simultaneously in agreement.

Angel sighed, then said wearily, "Then I guess all this hinges on Willow decrypting those files then... But I would still say to keep our ears and eyes open in case it isn't Wolfram & Hart."

"Sounds good," Kate said as she stood. "Is there anything else you want me to do while I'm here?"

"Yeah, there is," Buffy said suddenly. As Kate looked at her curiously, she explained, "Find out who those shooters were. 'Cause they weren't from the Taraka Order...I know that for sure!"

"How can you be certain, Love," Angel asked softly as he rubbed his wife's tense back.

"They were too good...and they were working together. You know the Order doesn't do that," Buffy answered.

Nodding, Angel said, "True."

"That means there's another group after you and Dawn then," Kate said quietly, clearly not liking the thought.

Angel grimaced, before saying, "Yeah," as Buffy buried her face in the crook of his neck, mumbling, "I hate this."

All three within the office sat in silent contemplation for a moment, when they were startled by the phone ringing. On the second ring, Angel answered the phone.

"Angel Investigations. How can I help you? (pause) Hi, Willow. We were just talking about you. (pause) No, nothing bad. (pause) I'm in my office. Buffy and Kate are here, too. (pause) Yes, I can do that. Just give me a sec." Angel pressed a button and placed the receiver in the cradle of the phone, before saying, "Alright, Willow, you're on the speaker."

"Thanks, Angel...and "Hi" guys."

"Hey, Willow," Buffy said. "How're things going with Gunn and his group?"

"Pretty good. It's funny watching Gunn get harassed by that rookie. I'd have thought that Cordelia would've loosened him up in the time they've been together."

"He has," Angel said. "It's just that Gunn sees himself – when he was younger – in Remo, and doesn't want the boy to fall down the same path he did before he ran into me."

"How do you know that, Honey," asked Buffy curiously.

"When Gunn called this morning, he talked about the group he took with him to Sunnydale and mentioned that."

"Speaking of them, they've been a great help so far. We've been able to take a break from patrolling and actually get to sleep. We'll start working with them tomorrow night, though. It'll be nice working with Sara and Marie again."

"Yeah, I forgot you know them," Buffy said.

"You don't associate with them that much, so that's easy to understand," Kate commented.

"True. Anyways, I might as well tell you the real reason I'm calling."

"And what's that, Willow," Angel asked.

"I've decrypted the files I downloaded from Wolfram & Hart."

There was a noticeable pause, before Buffy said proddingly, "And...?"

"It seems there's no record of the second woman who ordered the hits. She's a complete unknown. Oh, and it seems that the Taraka Order was told to make only one attack on each target...killed or not."

"So I'm off the list, then," Buffy said.

"Yep. I know that for sure, 'cause I went back in and checked."

"I hope you were careful, Willow," Angel said in concern. "They're not a group you want mad at you."

"Yeah, I know. Oh, and speaking of being careful...you might want to watch your back. Seems they're mad about a plan you stopped recently."

Kate asked dryly, "Which one?"

"Let's see... (keys clicking, pause) The one where you guys stopped the, ah, clan of earth digging demons from killing the Ohdow tribe in your area and causing an earthquake they needed for a ritual to happen."

"What's an Ohdow," Kate asked.

"Think of a Native American in miniature," Angel said. "They trap evil spirits in the earth and keep them there. If killed, the spirits they trap would be released, causing an earthquake."

"Why would they be mad about that," Buffy asked Willow.

"Apparently the ritual you stopped was pretty important, and the Senior Partners weren't too pleased when it didn't happen."

Angel shook his head and said firmly, "It doesn't matter. They're always mad about something-or-other we've done. Willow, is there anything else you can tell us?"

"Gimme a sec... (more clicking of keys, long pause) Nope, but I'll continue looking for info on that woman. It's probably in some of the harder-to-reach places."

"Alright, then," Buffy said. "Be careful and thanks Will. Give us a call when you find anything else...or if anything happens where you are."

"Will do, and I'll talk to you guys later then," Willow said, then hung up.

Angel turned off the speakerphone as Kate stood and stretched. "Looks like there's more going on than I was led to believe," the ex-cop-now-private-investigator commented.

"Yeah, our plate's pretty full at the moment," Buffy said. "And knowing us...this is only the beginning.

Kate smiled faintly in understanding, then – with a wave of her hand – left the office.

LA: Wolfram & Hart, Lindsey's Office, 3pm, Day 4

Lindsey looked up from the form he was filling out to the phone, before picking up said phone.

"Lindsey McDonald."

"Ms. Edith says Daddy's pet still lives, Plaything."

"Then you heard right, Drusilla."

"Why?"

"Apparently, she is Immortal, and her sister was there to hold back the Order while she recovered."

"Bad sister! Not letting them finish our mum!"

The pen Lindsey had been tapping on the desk stilled in his hand. Leaning forward, he grabbed a pad of paper as he said, "What do you mean by 'our mom,' Drusilla?"

The insane vampiress giggled giddily, before saying, "Sister and sister are mum and child by blood not word!"

"Are you saying that the Summer girls are actually mother and daughter...not sisters?"

Drusilla answered in a dream-like voice, "The stars sing it."

Lindsey leaned back in his chair whispering, "Incredible," before saying to Drusilla, "How is this possible?"

Her voice once again normal, she whispered, "Can't tell... It's a secret."

"How do I unlock the secret?"

"You must find the Key!" Drusilla laughed in delight, then hung up.

"That was a riddle if I ever heard one," Lindsey murmured while quickly dialing a number.

After a few moments, the Head of Special Projects said into the phone, "I just received some interesting information. Would you like to get together and discuss it, Mr. Park?"

Next Part: Sunnydale or Seacouver? You're choice for being so patient in waiting for this part!

To All My Readers: Thank you for waiting so patiently. Between the holidays, starting school, playing DnD, and my Grandmother dieing, I was beginning to wonder if I'd ever get back to (and feel like doing) this story. But I am, and hope to stay that way (even if I have to write it between (and during) my classes in college)!

Concerning My Muses: I've just added another Muse (courtesy of my father for buying the DVD Highlander: The Gathering). Guess who the new Muse is...or should I even bother saying that?

To El Chacal: A very emphatic "NO" on Veruca! I hate the bitch, and refuse to even allow her entrance into my mind. Oh, and Fred and Gunn are not an item in this story. It's Gunn/Cordy and Wes/Fred in this 'verse. My timeline veers off at the end of Angel's second season, remember?... D'hoffryn, which makes me think of... Hmm, I'll meditate on it. On a Tara/Willow/Oz thing -- I don't know, it depends on how the story progresses, and what the Muses want. All I can say is wait and see what happens.

To Angelfirenze: Thank you for the pick-me-up! Definitely gave me the determination to get past my Writer's Block (as well as the Hell that is my Real Life) and to work on it during my waking and sleeping hours (no matter how sleep-deprived I became). And -- LOL! -- loved your rant (and totally agree)! Oh, and I'd comment on your reviewer comment, but it might make others jealous.

To All Who Gave Me Encouragement To Keep Going: Thank you! You've all really made me feel appreciated. You've no idea how much I've needed that lately. Keep up the encouragement, and I'll probably be getting these out faster!

To All Readers About Darla: (think Dru) SHE'S DEAD! Beyond dusted even...sheesh! How many times do I have to keep telling you this? Quit telling me to put her in when I can't, alright! As you can tell, I'm a little tired of repeating myself about her...so please stop. I really don't want to give you guys the riot act about this.

To Any Who Want To Archive My Stories On Their Site: Go right ahead. Just let me know that you've done (or are doing) so and where, please. It's a courtesy thing, and allows me to go where you've put it and see what it looks like. I'll even link you to my website (whenever I get around to updating it!), if you want me to.

To Any Who Want Personal Update Notices: Give me an email at twilightunicorn4 yahoo. com, with the subject heading -- Emailed Updates. I'll gladly add you to my growing list.