"Buffy, I..."
"Talk!" She demanded, advancing on Connor, a murderous look in her eye. "Who are you? What do you want?"
"Buffy, wait!" Dawn protested. Her earlier suspicions about Connor being Angel's son were now confirmed. The look alone on Angel's face whenever he stared at Connor was proof enough. She didn't want this turning into really bad blood between Buffy and Angel's son....or Buffy and Angel for that matter.
"Out of my way Dawn, this guy can't be trusted." Buffy's voice was hard and brooked no argument. Angel stepped in front of Connor however, determined to protect his son.
"It's not Connor's fault Buffy, I told him to follow you."
"I told you I didn't do it for you!" Connor snapped.
"You know this would be a really good time to listen to me for once and keep quiet," Angel muttered so that only his son could hear him.
"Who is he Angel? One of your little crime fighting team? You sent him to spy on me? Didn't we have this conversation before? I don't need your help!"
"Will you slow down a minute?" Angel exclaimed, growing angry himself. "I was perfectly happy to let you hunt your demon, but Willow insisted I keep an eye out. She was worried Buffy and so am I."
"Willow has a right to worry Angel. You don't. Not anymore." Buffy knew she was being deliberately cruel, but at this point she no longer cared.
"Fine, whatever!" Angel said furiously, "I thought we could be adult about this, but apparently that's not possible."
"Don't you dare call me a child!" Buffy seethed, "you have no idea what I've had to deal with since you left."
"Is that what this is about?" Angel exclaimed. "I thought we had put that behind us! I can't believe you're..."
"No, it isn't." She snapped, cutting him off. "This is about respect and trust. I thought I could trust you. Instead, here you are, running around trying to protect me...trying to keep me from doing my job. I can handle this demon Angel, I don't need a shadow and I don't appreciate being followed without my knowledge."
"Buffy, I'm sure Angel didn't mean..."
"Back off Dawn this doesn't concern you!"
"I think everyone is over-reacting here!" Dawn exclaimed, "Buffy if you would just let Angel explain who Connor is..."
"Isn't it obvious? He works for Angel..."
"I would never work for him." Connor spat. "I can't even live with him."
"Connor is not part of Angel Investigations Buffy." Angel said quietly, his shoulders sagging and his voice sounding too weary to fight anymore. "He is my son."