AUTHOR'S NOTE: Like I said in my last note, this chappy wouldn't't be easy to write, since I didn't't really know what it should be about. This fic may turn up longer than I originally thought, depends on whether or not the jumbled ideas in my head turn out (any suggestions are greatly appreciated). I'd love to get some feedback on the two previous chapter (as well as this one, of course).

CHAPTER 10 -FRUSTRATIONS-

Lilah read the brief file she had discovered from Files and Records. Linwood walked into her office, followed by a smugly smiling Gavin.

"I heard you're doing some random research," Linwood said

"It's not random. I found out the identity of a kid I saw at Angel's."

"So, you delivered the information? Good. But I doubt that the identity of Angel's visitor is of any interest to us. Or did you find something significant?" Linwood snatched the file from Lilah's grasp.

"Actually, there's not much in there. The kid's called Mabon son of Modron, a quadruple elemental." Lilah stood up. "Born sometime during the third century in Britain, worked for king Arthur and then travelled around the world apparently. He's been ostracized from the elemental community and was last spotted in England in the early part of the eighteenth century."

Linwood scoffed and passed the file to Gavin. "Elementals are out of bounds, you should be aware of that."

"Even when their helping out our enemy?"

"We'll just have to work around him. The firm can't afford to upset the elementals, everyone up to the senior partners agrees with that."

"But the files say the kid's been banished, I don't think the elemental community cares about him one way or the other."

"Maybe, but I'd rather be safe than sorry on this matter. We work around him, period."

As Linwood left, Lilah sat back in her chair. When Gavin did not exit along with their boss Lilah glared at him. "You got something to say?"

"Not really." Gavin shrugged. "Just thought you'd like to know that I was already aware of Mabon's identity, but since I'm having a good day I decided to let you inform Linwood."

"How generous of you," Lilah said behind gritted teeth. "Why is it that you know of this stuff before anyone else?"

"I'm resourceful." Gavin left, leaving Lilah fuming with frustration.

Just how did Linwood suppose they were going to "work around" an elemental? Lilah had never had dealings with elementals, as far as she was aware of things, but she knew they were not the kind of entities one could easily sidestep.

- - - - - - - -

Cordelia and Gunn ran out of the fire door, heading straight for Cordelia's car.

"That went well." Cordelia clutched the statue safely against her chest.

"Would've thought that breaking into a sweet apartment like that would be harder," Gunn commented.

They both came to a sudden halt when seven dark figures appeared before them, glad head to toe in dark brown.

The figure in the middle stepped forward. "Hand over the statue."

"I knew it bound to turn harder," Cordelia sighed.

"Hey, I'm in the need for a workout." Gunn charged at the seven, who were blocking their planned escape route.

Cordelia was soon confronted by two of the figures, who she figured were members of the Casotrosian Brotherhood. She dodged the blows coming from the duo and managed to take one of them down with a quick sweep of her feet.

As Cordelia moved to topple the other Casotrosian a voice called out, "give us the statue or your friend will die."

Cordelia looked ahead to find that Gunn had been overpowered by his five opponents. The apparent leader was holding a dagger to his throat as two others held Gunn still.

"We have no reason to harm you two, we just want the statue."

"Don't give it to them, Cordy!"

"If you won't give us the statue, we will have no problem killing both of you. Give it up and you can go."

"And have you guys raise your army? I don't think so," Gunnspat out.

"Do you think either of you will get away from us alive?"

Cordelia considered her choices. Either she and Gunn could try to fight back, in which case Gunn would most likely die and she would be left with having to deal with more attackers than she could handle. Or she could blindly trust the crazy cult and end up battling with their ancient army later. Neither choice was appealing, but finally Cordelia held out the statue to the waiting hands of the leader.

"Wise decision."

The leader took the statue and the Casotrosians holding Gunn pushed him forward onto Cordelia. The attackers disappeared in a cloud of smoke before either Cordelia or Gunn could react.

"Damn it!" Gunn slammed his fists to the ground.

"My thoughts exactly."

"The guys aren't going to like this."

"That's for sure."

"You get to tell them."

"What?" Cordelia whirled around to face Gunn.

"You gave the statue to them, you tell the others the bad news."

Cordelia rolled her eyes and dug out her cell phone. "Fine."

- - - - - - - -

Wesley walked up to Fred's room, carrying a glass of water and some painkillers. If what Angel had told him was correct, Fred was going to need the pills.

In the room Wesley found Fred snuggled comfortably in her bed. Mabon was floating cross-legged three feet above a chair next to the bed. The elemental appeared to be asleep, his face covered by a mass of green hair. Wesley tilted his head. Green?

Wesley set the glass and the painkillers down on Fred's bedside table and walked to where Mabon was levitating.

"Excuse me."

Mabon opened his eyes and his hair turned back to red, he glanced down and floated down onto the chair.

"I wasn't aware that you could levitate," Wesley said.

"It comes with the power to control air. Sorry, if I scared you."

"I was more surprised than anything. What's with the hair?"

"My hair? It changed colour?" Mabon looked wide-eyed. "Boy, I knew I was sleeping well, but I didn't expect to feel that good."

"I take it that your hair changes colour on a regular basis."

"Not really. It's not normal or anything, but it's a good thing."

"Oh." Wesley was interrupted by the vibrator of his cell phone going off. "Hello?"

"It's me," Cordelia's voice spoke from the other end.

"Did you two get the statue?"

Cordelia hesitated. "Well, yes and no. We HAD the statue, but sort of got jumped by the Casotrosians. They threatened to kill Gunn and... um... I gave them the statue."

Wesley rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Great."

"Sorry about that," Cordelia laughed nervously.

"It's okay. Main thing is that you two are fine. At least we now know that the Brotherhood has the statue. See you back here."

"Yeah. See you."

Wesley closed the phone and turned to see Mabon looking at him. "You heard that?"

"Yes." Mabon looked down. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to eavesdrop on your call."

"Don't worry about it. Angel does that all the time, I'm quite used to it. Look, I have to head downstairs. If Fred wakes up has a headache, tell her to take some of those painkillers." Wesley nudged his head at the bedside table.

"I will do that."

"Thanks."