"A what?" Gunn's voice was confused as he caught the tale end of Angel's description of the demon Buffy had been chasing to the team in the lobby of the hotel.

"Brillcrall demon," Angel supplied. He handed Gunn the book that showed a picture of the demon in question.

"Yikes, that thing is a new way of ugly!"

"It's also a new way of dangerous." Angel said grimly, taking the book out of Gunn's hands and setting it on the counter. "And it's here in L.A. So is Buffy."

"You didn't mention that part," Cordelia said, sounding a tad surprised and perhaps a bit jealous, although she tried to keep it hidden.

"That's because she doesn't know that I even know about this thing. And we aren't going to tell her."

"OK, now I'm really confused." Gunn said, shaking his head. "Why is Buffy here, and why can't we tell her we're after this demon?"

Angel sighed, his shoulders sagging slightly as he did so. He proceeded to tell them of Willow's call and the fact that Buffy didn't want their help and had no intention of requesting it.

"Well Angel if she's here to fight this thing and doesn't want you interfering...." Cordelia trailed off, hoping he would get the gist of where she was going with the sentence. Seeing that he apparently hadn't, or chose not to, she forged on. "Maybe we should just let her take care of it. She knows what she's doing. If she needed the help, I think she'd ask for it don't you?"

"The Buffy I knew four years ago would have." Angel admitted. "But a lot's happened since then. She's been through things I don't know about. I don't know if she still has it in her to ask for help. Willow doesn't seem to think so either, otherwise I don't think she would have called me."

"So...what? Your girl is not only fighting the Hellmouth demons, but the ones on our turf as well?" Gunn's tone was one of indignation and annoyance.

"This isn't anyone's 'turf' Gunn." Angel replied, "and besides, this thing came from Sunnydale. She had to follow it."

"Even better, she's sending us her baddies."

"She didn't want us dealing with it at all Gunn," Angel said, getting even more testy by the moment. "That's why she didn't tell me."

"So..." Fred was hesitant, "what are we going to do?"

"We're going to help her anyway." Angel replied in a tone that brooked no argument. Nevertheless, Cordelia persisted.

"Angel, how do you propose to do that? I mean, do you even remember what happened the last time you followed her around lurking in the shadows for her own protection?"

"I remember." Angel said softly. "I can't ever forget." His mind traveled back to the day he and Buffy had had together when she had come to L.A. to confront him about his presence in Sunnydale the night before and he had subsequently become human for the day. He had been forced to give up the only chance he had had at a normal life in order to save her from imminent death, and he alone carried the memory of it. It hurt like hell every time he thought of it and yet at the same time he wouldn't let go of that memory for the world. It was what kept him warm when the nights got too cold for even him to handle.

"There you see?" Cordelia said, oblivious to Angel's regression into his thoughts. "What's she going to think if you start lurking around her again?"

"I'm not," Angel told them. "That was never the plan. She would know I was there in a heartbeat if I followed her."

"How?" Lorne questioned.

"She can feel me," Angel responded quietly. "I can....I can sense her too. I don't know why, but..."

"So who then?" Fred interrupted. "If not you, then...us?"

"No, you guys couldn't handle this thing. It's bad."

"Hello! I've been fighting demons since I hit puberty," Gunn reminded them, pride wounded.

"And I was stuck in a demon dimension for five years. That's no walk in the park," Fred added.

"And lets not forget me Angel." Cordelia chimed in. "I'm Sunnydale gal, remember?"

"And I..." Lorne started to speak, then laughed and backed up a step. "Nevermind Angelcakes, better leave this one the pros."

"It's not that I don't think you guys have the abilities," Angel told them. "It's just...well, Buffy would recognize you Cordelia if you got anywhere within eyesight. Gunn you're not terribly subtle when it comes to stealthy and Fred...well, you work better in a brain capacity, for example possibly figuring out how to kill this thing."

"Then who's going to follow Buffy?" Fred wondered.

"Connor." Angel replied. Everyone blinked in confusion.

"Connor?" Cordelia finally echoed. "You're going to ask your son for help? After all that's happened do you honestly think he'll do anything for you at all?"

"No," Angel said firmly. "That's why he's not going to know it's for me. He's going to think it's for you Cordy."

"Oh now I know you've lost it!" She exclaimed backing away slightly.

"Look, he's not a bad kid, he just doesn't trust me right now. He's still on the side of good you guys and he's the perfect person to guard her. All you have to do Cordy, is tell him that she's a friend of yours and you're worried about her. He trusts you."

"Yea he does," Cordelia told Angel, her face deadly serious. "That's why I don't want to lie to him."

"Look I know asking you to manipulate him this way is wrong, but I need someone to watch her. Connor can do it. He may not trust me, but I trust him. Buffy's in trouble and I have to help her out. Are you with me?"

"Angel have you stopped to think clearly for a minute?" Cordelia attempted to reason. "Buffy breezes into town, doesn't even tell you and the minute Willow tells you that you have to help her, it's like she says 'jump' and you say 'how high'! I mean, if Connor does find out he's been tricked like this...are you willing to risk never reconciling with your son just so she can have a shadow for a few days dealing with a demon she can most likely defeat on her own?"

"Yes." Angel said quietly. "I'm not anybody's lapdog Cordelia, despite what you're thinking right now. When Buffy and I saw each other last year, we...we made a promise. Even though we're not together, I told her that I would always be there. That means whether she wants my help or not. She's in my town now and I'm going to protect her. If you're not going to help me then you can leave right now."

"I don't like this Angel," Cordelia stated. She sighed in resignation. "I'll help you if that's what you want. I'll talk to Connor."

"Thanks." Angel said warmly. Ever since Cordelia had told him that she loved him, but could never get passed the inner evil she had glimpsed into while on her heavenly plane, Angel had put his feelings for her on the backburner. He suddenly felt a rush of guilt as he realized that with Buffy's arrival, Cordelia was probably a little more than jealous that all his thoughts were of her all of a sudden. He loved Cordelia, he wouldn't deny that. But he was still in love with Buffy. She was his heart, and whether they were together or apart, he would always be there for her. That was a vow he could not break.

"You can count on us as well," Fred said helpfully. "If you need me to research this demon or something."

"That would be great," Angel said with a nod. "Gunn, I want you to help her."

"Anything for me to do?" Lorne wondered, half hoping Angel would say no.

"Not at the moment Lorne, but I may need you later. Cordy, I want you to talk to Connor as soon as you can. Make it sound urgent. I'm going to call Willow again and let her know that for the moment everything taken care of."