There was an unusual chill in the night air as Connor made his way down the fire escape of yet another daycare center and headed towards the ally way behind the building, intending to cut through and head out onto one of the main streets to continue his patrol. He was hunting with extra fervor tonight, as his argument with Dawn still remained fresh within his memory and the need to work out his tensions and frustrations became more and more persistent with every passing moment.

So far the night had been quiet, with no sign of danger from the Brillcrall demon or otherwise. Connor was becoming slightly edgy due to the deceptive peace of the usually dangerous LA streets.

Connor headed towards a graveyard in the distance from where he was, hoping to at least find some vampires to fight to relieve some of his tensions.

He wanted to find Dawn and apologize to her, but the fact that he didn't think he had been wrong in what he said prevented it. Still, she had been the only person he had met so far in this cruel world who even attempted to understand him. He felt slightly guilty for attacking her sister the way he had. There was an obvious bond and loyalty between them and thus a loyalty towards his father as well since her sister apparently loved him.

How did Angel manage to inspire such loyalty and love? This was something Connor could not manage to comprehend. Holtz had told him what his father had done, told him that his father was a demon and Connor had seen enough demons within Quartoth to know that they were evil, pure and simple. How could he believe what Dawn said about Angel being different now? Were all of them blinded by Angel but him?

More than anything, Connor missed having someone to talk to. He missed having a companion. In Quartoth, he had never been alone. Holtz had been with him every waking moment, teaching him, fighting beside him, training him. He had not only been Connor's father, but his friend, mentor and protector as well. He had taught him about goodness and loyalty. How could he go against his teachings and ally himself with Angel, even if Angel was seemingly fighting for the same thing he was? And why was Angel fighting against his own kind? Could Holtz have been wrong?

No, he couldn't have! Connor kicked a nearby wall in frustration. If Holtz were only here now, he could possibly answer these questions for him...explain to him the intricacies of this frightening world. As it was now, the only people he knew in this place allied themselves with the only man Holtz had ever taught him it was OK to hate.

And then there was Dawn. Ever since he had met her, he had desired more than ever to get to know her better. He wanted to talk to her, find out why she did what she did. He wanted to be near her, to talk to her. He wanted to show her what he could do. He wanted to prove to her that he was on the side of good, that he could fight just a well as his father and protect her. He wanted her to look at him and regard him with the same blind loyalty that she showed her sister and to Angel. He wanted her to defend him the way she defended them.

He wanted to kiss her. It frightened him how badly he wanted to kiss her. He had never felt something like this for a girl before, mainly because of his lack of exposure to them for the bulk of his life. Even though he had saved many since he had been on Earth fighting vampires, he had never wanted to be this close to someone the way he wanted to be with Dawn. He wondered if it were possible to get past his feelings for his father for her sake.

His thoughts were brutally interrupted by the sound of rustling in the nearby bushes just before the ally way that led towards the cemetery. Someone, or something was hiding there, waiting for him.

His body tensed, eager for action that had been denied to him all evening. He clutched the stake he carried in his pocket and approached the ally. Always get the jump on your enemy, his thoughts told him, reminding him of the very first lesson Holtz ever taught him, attack them before they attack you, that way you will always have the upper hand.

With this thought in mind, he leapt at the figure in the bushes, stake brandished, and tackled the creature to the ground. Heaving his stake in the air, he prepared to strike it into the creature's heart, when a hand reached out and prevented his arm from making the killer blow. Looking up, he found himself face to face with Buffy Summers' hard angry eyes. It was then he realized that the "demon" he had just attacked had been Dawn and it was only through Buffy's quick thinking that he hadn't managed to kill her.

Springing upwards in absolute shock and self loathing, he dropped the stake and covered his face with his hands, unable to look at either Buffy or Dawn.

"Little lesson I learned from a friend of mine Connor," Buffy said harshly, "look before you stab OK?"

"I didn't...I mean, I thought...he always told me attack first...I didn't know..."

"Connor," Dawn attempted to say, as she stood up, the initial shock of the attack having faded, "it's OK, I understand!"

"I wasn't trying to hurt you." Connor insisted, growing more coherent, and yet showing no signs of hearing Dawn's words at all. "You were in the bushes and I thought...I'm so sorry." He backed away, afraid that any minute time would reverse itself and Buffy's arm would not appear to stop him.

"Connor, don't worry, it's OK!" Dawn insisted. She advanced closer towards him and touched his trembling arm, touched that he seemed to care so much for her safety. "I forgive you."

"Dawn I..."

"Look we don't have time for this!" Buffy interrupted impatiently. Dawn could see she was anxious to get to Angel's hotel and lead the capture party to the Brillcrall's lair. "Connor we need you to come with us to the hotel. We have information as to the demon's whereabouts. We need to get Angel and Gunn and go capture this thing as soon as possible."

"Capture it?" Connor echoed, finally managing to shake off the internal fear that had stayed with him even after Dawn was out of danger. "Why not kill it?"

"Angel thinks it may have information we need about who hired it." Dawn replied. "He will kill it, just not until we know what it knows."

"Is that what he said?" Connor wondered, the automatic distrust welling up within him. Dawn looked at him sternly and Connor immediately felt guilty. He had almost killed her through his own stupidity and here he was making statements two seconds after guaranteed to anger her.

"Connor I know we argued before. I know you don't trust him, but can you at least trust me when I say that we're all on the same side right now?" She touched his arm yet again and pulled him closer to her, making direct eye contact in the hopes that he would see her sincerity. "Please Connor, he needs your help. We need your help. Will you do this right now without question?"

"I believe you Dawn." He finally said after moments of thought. "That's where I put my trust. Not in him. I'll come with you to the hotel."

"Thank you Connor," Dawn said with a genuine sigh of relief. The confliction in his eyes was enough for Dawn to forgive his words about Buffy earlier, even though she had intended to stay mad at him. She turned away and began to head in the direction of Angel's hotel. Buffy hung back.

Connor began to follow Dawn, but was stopped by Buffy's gentle touch to his shoulder, and the anger and mistrust within her eyes as she spoke to him.

"I don't know what your angle is Connor," she began, making sure Dawn couldn't hear them. "And bringing you on this mission was not my idea, I want that made perfectly clear. Angel seems to think that you are loyal and trustworthy to our side. Me? I think you are a loose cannon and if you ever endanger Dawn that way again, I'll do more than just stay your hand, do you understand me?"

"I would never hurt Dawn on purpose." Connor replied darkly. "But I will show no mercy to anyone who goes against me. Now leave me alone."