Angel Season 6

Episode Two: Adjusting

Summary: How does everyone cope after the battle? Faith and Willow have joined Angel, but will things work out?

WARNING: LOW LEVEL COARSE LANGUAGE – just to be sure.

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Hyperion Hotel, early morning, two days later

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Willow and Faith were still asleep, and Angel and Spike sat downstairs in the lobby. Illyria stood at the double-doors, staring out into the world-that-was.

Xander had rung from the hospital the day before to say that he was leaving with Buffy and the Slayers, and that Gunn was safe in the B ward. Angel desperately wanted to visit him, but his own wounds hadn't healed yet.

He only now noticed how badly he was injured. He was bruised and bleeding from multiple wounds, which thankfully had begun to close up now. His chest ached, and he feared that he had broken some ribs. He had a deep gash in his right upper-arm that made it ache terribly every time he moved it. His clothing proved just how damaged he really was. Faith and Willow had kindly brought him and Spike some new clothes, as his shirt was just a mess of torn and tattered, burnt and shredded black material. His pants were no better off. Most of his jacket had been torn during the battle, so it wasn't in much of a condition at all.

Angel looked across the lobby at Spike, who sat on the circular-shaped pouf. He didn't look to be in much better shape than Angel. He too was wearing the new clothes Faith and Willow had bought, his own almost torn entirely to pieces and lying beside him. He had cuts and scratches all over his visible skin, mostly on his face, and Angel thought that yesterday he had seen a bone in Spike's arm sticking out. He had noticed earlier that Spike was limping, his left leg obviously injured badly. While changing into his new shirt, Angel saw cuts, bruises and gashes all over Spike's back and stomach, which he thought must hurt like hell.

"Spike." Angel said loud enough for Spike to hear him across the lobby. He looked up.

"Yeah?"

"You hurt badly?"

"Enough to be a pain in the ass, but I think I'll live." Angel smirked at Spike's comment. "What about you?"

Angel winced as he moved. "I think I may have broken a rib." He stood up and winced again before adding, "Or several."

"You in a lot of pain?" Spike became concerned for his grand-sire; something he never thought would ever happen.

"As you said, enough to be a pain in the ass." Angel repeated Spike's quote. Spike stood up and moved towards Angel. Even thought it had been two days since the battle ended, the two vampires were struggling to move around freely. Even for a vampire, it would take a while for their wounds to heal. Spike saw that Angel was having difficulty moving because of his ribs, and without a word took his arm and wrapped it around his own shoulder. Angel just looked at Spike, not saying a word, and accepted the help. Spike helped him up the stairs and Angel directed him to the room that was once his.

312. Angel pushed open the door and Spike eased the two of them through the doorway. He took Angel over to a chair, where he allowed the vampire to sit down on his own. Angel groaned in pain then relaxed, ignoring the pain that came with it.

Spike stepped back. "Do you want me to stay?" he asked.

"Only if you want. Faith and Willow will be awake soon. They're probably tired after the past couple of days." Angel answered.

Spike wandered into the kitchen of Angel's room and opened the fridge. Willow had bought some blood from the butchers in for them and had put it into Angel's fridge. Spike pulled out a bag and ripped off the corner. He searched for a mug, and finally found one that was clean. Pouring it he blood into the mug, he placed it in the microwave and pressed START twice. He leant back against the counter and stared across at Angel.

He stared back. There was silence. Angel was trying to figure out why Spike wanted to stay. Had they become closer, closer than he'd realised? Did Spike actually like him instead of hate him? The microwave beeped, Spike removed the mug and wandered over to Angel. He held out the mug to Angel, and without saying a word waited for him to take it.

Angel looked up at him. Why are you doing this? He wanted to ask. What's going on? But instead he just said, "thank you."

Spike smiled and returned to the fridge for another bag of blood, which he poured into another mug and placed in the microwave. He hit START again twice and returned to his position against the counter watching Angel.

He sat there, with the mug still in his hands. He watched Spike, perplexed as to why the younger vampire was caring for him.

"You have to drink, get your strength up mate." Spike said to him from across the room as he took the other mug from the microwave. Angel looked down at the mug in his hands and slowly took a sip, followed closely by another. He could feel a cut on his top lip burning as the warm liquid touched the wound. He ignored it, just thankful to be able to have a drink and sit back and relax. After everything that had happened, it was all he wanted to do.

It wasn't that he didn't want Spike to be there; it was just that he wanted to be alone. But he felt as if he liked having Spike's company. As long as Spike was quiet, he'd be allowed to stay.

Almost as if Spike could read Angel's mind, he spoke. "Do you want me to go now?" Angel looked up at him and rested the mug on his knee.

"'Spike, I don't know what I want right now. I just feel so confused. I want to sit alone, but I'm enjoying your company. I want to relax, but I can't because I'm in pain. I want to forget everything, but I can't because it's just not that simple."

"Life's not simple mate. Things are never simple. And don't worry; I know exactly what you mean. I'm hurting all-over and I'm not sure what I want, but what I'm doing right now feels right."

Angel smiled. He had to ask. 'Why are you doing this?'

'Doing what?'

'Caring for me?' Angel asked.

'I…' Spike paused, thinking. 'I don't really know. I've told you before that I don't really like you, but after saying that I stayed and nearly died for you. So I'm not gonna say it now. Instead, I'm gonna say that I don't think I hate you as much as I've always led myself to believe.'

"Are you saying that you actually like me?" Angel asked.

"I don't know. All I know is that I don't hate you. Not after everything the two of us have been through. And I think that if we're gonna be living here together, then we have to put everything behind us, don't you think."

"Agreed." Angel replied.

"Alright then." Spike sat up on the counter-top and took a few sips from his mug. Angel brought his own mug up to his lips and took a sip, before resting it back on his knee. The two vampires sat in silence, watching each other closely. They had no idea why, and they didn't care. They could finally just sit and not have to worry about anything.

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Hyperion Hotel, same day, mid morning, Faith's room

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Faith's POV

I opened my eyes to find myself lying in an extremely uncomfortable and lumpy bed. Oh right, I chose this room. I thought to myself.

I sat up, stretching my arms above my head and yawning. Jeans and a t-shirt are surprisingly comfortable to sleep in.

I pulled back the covers and got out of bed. I walked over to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. My hair was crazy! I shook my head a few times and suddenly felt dizzy. I undressed, and turned on the shower. As I walked past the mirror, I saw the cuts and bruises on my body. Man, that fight finally caught up with me. I didn't feel like getting out of bed a few moments ago, but the sun was out and starting to shine through my window so I had to get up.

I stepped into the shower and let the hot water run down my back. I sighed freely, so glad to have a shower after that horrible night. I've been asleep for two days, except for when I got up for dinner last night. Red got some take-away from down the road. It felt good to eat.

Food. My brain kept repeating the same word. Food. Food. I stepped out of the shower and quickly towel-dried my hair. I put on some fresh clothes and walked back out into my room. I dropped the towel on my bed and opened the door. Combing my hair with my fingers, I walked down the hall and to the stairs.

"Yo, morning!" I called when I reached the top of the stairs. There was no one there. "Hello?"

I heard footsteps behind me. It was Willow. "Morning Faith." She said as she walked past me and down the stairs.

"How long you been up?" I asked her.

"Not long. I just had a shower.' She answered. "I've come down to see if there's anything to eat."

"Yeah, I just had a shower too. Feels good to wash away everything. There might be some leftovers from last night's dinner." I suggested.

"I'll see." Willow walked down the stairs from the landing near the door and headed off into a room off the side. I followed her, wondering where Angel and Spike were.

I stopped when I saw a familiar woman standing near the door, looking out. It's the same place where she stood yesterday. I doubt if she's even moved.

"Whatcha looking at?" I asked her. She turned to look at me.

"The world." She replied. "It has been partially destroyed by the battle that took place."

"Yeah, that's what comes with war." I answered.

"You care not for the safety of yourself. I saw you fighting, and you only wanted to protect those around you. Why?"

"I don't know, I guess it's in my nature as a Slayer."

"Slayer.' The woman tilted her head to the left. 'Protector of the humans, destroyer of the demons."

"Yeah, that's me. Buffy's a Slayer too. Do you remember her? Yay high, wavy blond hair, blue eyes, she left two days ago." I gestured Buffy's height with my hand, on the word 'yay'.

"I have not yet learnt to keep record of time the way you do. But yes, I do remember her. She left the vampires here with you and the redhead, and went off to fight another battle. The battle is all that matters, not the petty feelings of those around you."

"Right well I'm going to get something to eat. You all right here?" I asked, wanting to get away from the freakish blue-haired chick. She stared back at me. I rolled my eyes and walked away, following Willow into a room underneath the balcony.

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Hyperion Hotel, same day, later that afternoon

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Normal POV

Angel, Spike, Faith, Willow and Illyria came together to organise their lives now, and what they'd do to survive at the Hyperion Hotel.

"Are you two coping?" Willow asked, directing the question to Angel and Spike.

"Better than I thought actually." Spike replied.

"Yeah, and how are you two? You aren't too hurt from the fight are you?" Angel added.

"I'm a bit sore, got a few scratches and bruises but other than that, five by five." Faith replied.

Angel smiled, remembering her key phrase. "So what are we all going to do here?" He began. "There is no way that I'm going back to Wolfram and Hart, and with you two girls here we have to work out something to do if the Senior Partners decide to throw a counter-attack at us."

"I think the first thing we need to do, before working out a strategy, is decide what we're actually going to do here?" Willow replied. "I mean, what did you all do at Wolfram and Hart? Surely we can come up with something to keep us going here. A business of some sort or something?"

"Before we were working at Wolfram and Hart we were running a business called Angel Investigations."

"What did you guys do?" Willow asked. "Detective work?"

"You were Private Investigators?" Spike cried in disbelief. "Wow Angel, that's a new one." Angel looked at Spike, puzzled. Earlier, he was being so caring and considerate of how Angel felt. Now, he was back to the same old I'm a jerk attitude.

'Yes, Spike, we were P.I.'s. In some form."

"What do you mean in some form?" Willow asked.

"Well, we took care of the more… supernatural cases. You know, demon-related cases." Angel explained.

"So basically, you took the stuff that the other big guys couldn't handle?" Faith summed up.

"Well, basically…" Angel hesitated. "…Yeah."

"Could we do that again, couldn't we?" Willow asked. "It sounds like a good idea to me.'

"Well, when Gunn comes back, we'll have somebody trained with knowledge of the law so things may even work out better than before." Angel told them.

"Sounds like a plan." Spike said. Illyria, who had actually joined in a human conversation, stared at Angel from the chair she was sitting in.

"Did you have something to add Illyria?" Angel offered.

"No. I do not care what you decide to do now. Your choices do not matter much to me, and you all wish that I were not here anyway."

"Now that's not true Blue…" Spike began.

"You all still see me as Winifred Burkle, but you must move past what you can see with your eyes. What you cannot see is the power I still possess. I can be valuable to you, as there is nothing left in this world for me to do now. I can fight, stronger than any of you. I have knowledge of things from times unknown to you, and of beings and places you could not comprehend. If you allow me to meld into your lives, maybe I can be of use as this shell, in this world."

Everyone stared at her, almost in shock for a moment. Angel spoke. "Illyria, you can be a part of this. If you want to make a place for yourself in our world, then you will need to be a part of this group and get used to how we do things." Angel explained.

"Then I shall." Illyria stated in response.

"Alright then." Spike said. "So what are we gonna do as a plan for if the Senior Partners strike back?"

"Well, I think we should start a new stockpile of weapons. I don't think there'd be much left in the weapons cabinet we kept, people have probably robbed this place since we left."

"Angel, don't worry about it. If something comes up with the Senior Partners, I'm sure we'll be able to handle it. And there's always Buffy and the Slayers to fall back on."

"No. I don't want to have to rely on the Slayers to cover my back. Any of our backs. We're here to support each other, not to hang around and try and survive then when we can't call on somebody else to save us. We're here to keep this city safe, and that's it."

"And keep us safe too." Willow added.

"Yes. And to start, I think we need to do a sweep of the streets. Come nightfall, Spike and I will do some reconnaissance work around the city, checking out some vampire nests I know of to see if anything is stirring. We'll also see if anything else has taken up living here." Angel proposed.

"Fine by me." Spike agreed with Angel's proposal, confusing him again. Angel couldn't figure out if Spike was being nice or if he was just being Spike. He thought back to their bonding session earlier that day. He had strangely enjoyed that time.

"What about us two?" Faith asked, gesturing to Willow beside her on the lounge. "I wanna get out and kick some ass too."

"How good are you at fighting Will?" Angel asked.

"I'm not the best. Definitely not at the standard you guys are." She replied.

"Then you and Faith can train. Downstairs in the basement there is enough room for some rough-and-tumble work, when you're up to it. It's where I trained Cordelia." Angel looked down at the floor, remembering his lost love. It also brought back memories of Connor. Connor. The name ran through Angel's mind. He had to find Connor and make sure that he was safe after everything that went down.

''I'm sorry Angel." Willow sympathised. "I know that Cordelia was working for you and that you two were close."

"No, it's alright." Angel jumped in quickly. Connor. The name flashed in his mind again. "I… I have to go." He got to his feet, ignoring a stab of pain in his ribs.

"Angel, it's the middle of the afternoon. You can't go out." Faith pointed out.

"Faith, I have to. There's something I have to do. There's someone I have to find." Angel disappeared into the basement, leaving everyone still sitting in the lobby.

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Los Angeles streets, outside of a bar, same day, later that afternoon

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Angel climbed out of a manhole in an alley somewhere in Los Angeles. The alley was fully cast in shadows, and as Angel looked around he saw at least 3 different demon clans grouped together in separate corners of the alley.

Man, things are really tough out here now. Angel thought. Demons won't even attack each other. He wandered up to a bar's side door and headed inside.

It smelt horrible. There was an overpowering stench of beer and an assortment of other alcoholic fumes. Smoke wisps floated around the bar, and as Angel breezed through they parted for him. He stepped up to the bar and sat down on one of the bar stools. The bartender, a demon, came over.

"What can I get ya?'" The demon asked in a raspy voice. He was short with murky-green scaly skin and short sharp-looking horns of a similar colour.

"I'm looking for somebody." Angel began.

"Lot's of things come in here boy, you might wanna be a bit more specific." The demon answered.

"Okay, well he's a demon, for starters." Angel started to describe the friend he once knew. "He's green, with little red horns on his forehead. He may have some information that could be of use to me… have you seen him?'

"Doesn't ring a bell, sorry mate."

"He sings."

"Oh wait, hang on." The demon was remembering. "Yeah, a guy came in here yesterday… fitted your description."

"Do you know where he went? Where he's staying? If he'll be back any time soon?" Angel asked.

"Nope, sorry can't help you there. But if I see him, I can send him to you, if you want." The demon suggested.

"Uh… thanks. Tell him Angel is looking for him, and to find him at the hotel. He'll know what that means." Angel turned and left, not even waiting for the demon to respond.

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Hyperion Hotel, same day, night

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Angel returned to the hotel to find the lobby empty, except for Spike, who was sitting on the countertop.

"I wondered when you'd be back." He called, sliding off. "I thought we had some work to do?"

"We do…" Angel replied. "I just… I had some stuff I had to do. We can go now." Spike looked at Angel, almost as if he was concerned for the older vampire.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"No, nothing's wrong. I just… I have somebody to find." Angel answered.

"Anybody I can help locate? I haven't tracked anything for a while."

"Spike, I don't even know where to begin looking. I've started with an old friend; hopefully he'll come and be of some use. Now, do you wanna go or not?' Angel stared at Spike, waiting for his response. Spike rolled his eyes and the two vampires left.

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Los Angeles, same day, later at night

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Angel and Spike prowled the streets for hours, finding nothing. No vampire nests, no demons out for a nightly hunt. Nothing.

"Did every demon in this city go on vacation after the fight went down?" Spike asked Angel sarcastically.

"Come on." Angel led Spike to the bar he was in earlier that night, finding the same demon behind the bar.

"Ah, so you're back." He greeted.

"Yeah. Have you got anything for me?" Angel asked.

"Sorry, your friend hasn't been in tonight. But wait a little while and he might show. He's a late-night drinker."

Angel's memory of Lorne wasn't hazy at all, and he never remembered Lorne as somebody who was up all night drinking. He liked his sleep, and was angry on many occasions when it was interrupted. Lorne couldn't actually want to stay out this late drinking.

"Okay, thanks." Angel managed to reply amongst his deep thoughts and memories of Lorne. He turned away from the bar and led Spike to a table against the far wall, where there was a clear view of the door.

"So what, are we just gonna wait for your friend?" Spike sneered.

"My friend is Lorne, Spike. I went looking for him earlier, but he wasn't here." Angel explained.

"I see." Spike replied. He hesitated before adding, "And so we wait." Angel puffed up his lip as if to say 'yes' and the two vampires sat watching the door for several minutes in silence. Spike broke the silence with a scuffle of his feet on the stone floor. "I gotta get me some beer. I'll be back in a minute."

"I'll keep watch." Angel answered as he watched the younger vampire walk over to the bar. He strangely was beginning to enjoy his bonding sessions with Spike. It was weird; he'd never done this before. It kind of bugged him that he was suddenly able to sit and just be with Spike without any sort of opposition at all.

At the bar, Spike ordered himself a bottle of whisky. "Just one mate." He answered the demon's question of quantity. He passed a bottle over the counter, which Spike eagerly took and paid the demon his charge. He returned to Angel, seeing a familiar face walk through the door. Angel must have caught sight of him too, because when Spike looked over he was gone from his seat.

"Lorne." Angel said, suddenly appearing in front of Lorne at the door. Lorne looked up, a shocked and bewildered expression on his face.

"Angel?" He froze. "Is it really you?"

"Yeah. How have you been?"

"I'd be lying if I said I've been good." Lorne replied. "God, I'm just glad you survived. What happened?"

"Long story. Involves Slayers." Angel paused. "No, actually that's about it." He smiled, and Lorne returned it with a toothy grin of his own.

"So where have you been since we started this thing?" Lorne asked, being careful not to say that it was actually all Angel's doing setting everything up. "It's been days, and I haven't seen you anywhere. Heck, I didn't even know if there was going to be a you to see anywhere."

"I'm sorry Lorne." Angel began. "I've been kind of busy back at the hotel. Things have been quite hectic since the battle."

"And what a battle it was, I heard from a source who watched from the roof above. He said the fight was huge and lasted for hours. He also said that there were armies fighting on both sides of several hundred. What's the go with that?"

"Slayers." Angel replied. "They came to help, then left. But Willow and Faith stayed back with us. We're going to start up Angel investigations again."

"Good for you, you gotta get yourself back into the 'helping people' routine again." Lorne said. "You left that behind when we joined Wolfram and Hart."

"I know, and I regret that. But things are going to be different now. There is no way I'm ever going back there. We're going to be operating out of the Hyperion, and things are going to be better."

Spike joined the two demons at the door. "Nice to see you Lorne." Spike greeted.

"You too. So how many of us survived the battle?" Lorne asked, regretting the question instantly.

"You're looking at two of them, and Gun and Illyria are still here too." Angel informed Lorne.

"Gunn made it? Good for him. And also for Illyria… I mean, she's been helpful, right?"

"Yeah. She's offered to stay and help us. She's trying to be human, but I don't think its working."

"And what about Wes?" Lorne asked almost too cheerfully.

"Um… Lorne, Wes didn't make it to the fight. Illyria came and told us in the alley that he was dead and that's all we heard." Angel explained.

"Oh." Lorne was quiet for a moment. "I see, well, at least you guys are all here. And you say that Faith and Willow are back?" Angel nodded in response. "Great!" It was clear that Lorne was trying to cover up his feelings.

"Do you want to come back to the hotel with us? It would be great to have you back, but only if you want to."

"You know what, I've been doing sweet bugger-all ever since the fight. I think it would do me good to get back into the Angel Investigations thing. So yes, Angel, I'll come back." Angel nodded thankfully.

"Let's get out of here, this place stinks."

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Hyperion Hotel, same day, close to midnight

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Angel, Spike and Lorne strolled casually through the courtyard, heading into the hotel.

"So what's been going on these past few days? How is the place?" Lorne asked, and Angel smiled.

"Oh, not much. Just adjusting really. You know, getting used to being here again." He explained.

"And not to mention healing." Spike added.

"Yeah, that more than anything." Angel continued. As Angel opened the door and let Lorne, Spike and himself in he found Faith and Willow were sitting waiting for them to return, and Illyria stood silently by a window peering out.

"Guys, it's so great to see you!" Lorne cried gleefully, as a smiling Willow and Faith got to their feet to say hi to their old green friend.

"Lorne, how you doing man?" Faith patted him on the back.

"I'm doing okay."

"Hi Lorne." Willow smiled awkwardly and hugged him, then took a step back. She glanced at Faith.

"Is something wrong?" Angel inquired. "You girls are up pretty late."

"Well, Illyria said something to us… about Wes." Faith explained. "She wants us to give him a funeral." Angel paused.

"Oh. Uh, of course. I don't… really know where he is…"

"I do. I remember exactly where he was when I left his side." Illyria walked over briskly to join the circle. "He should have a proper funerary service. Show some respect to the dead."

Angel nodded. "Okay, Illyria. Show us where he is and we'll give him a funeral first thing tomorrow morning. He deserves that from us, if nothing else."

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Vail's Chambers, same day, close to midnight

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Illyria stalked through the halls, knowing the exact way to return to where she had left Wesley's body. She turned corners and didn't bother to make sure the others were following her, she just kept moving.

Finally she reached Vail's Chambers, and as soon as she took one step inside the doorway she froze. Angel, Spike, Faith, Willow and Lorne stopped behind her, realising that Wesley's body was lying right in front of them. They waited for her to make the first move.

"Is everything alright, Illyria?" Angel asked.

"Wesley." She stated, approaching slowly. She knelt down beside him, and everyone else gathered around.

"Do you need a minute?" Willow offered.

"No. I feel human emotions, but they can wait." Illyria answered Willow with a somewhat harsh response. Angel and Spike stepped forward, each taking one of Wesley's arms and putting it around their shoulder. They took a leg each and carried their friend out, returning to the hotel and placing his body upstairs in Wesley's old room on his old bed.

"Could I spend the night by his side?" Illyria asked Angel as he and Spike left the room. Angel stared at her.

"Yes. Go ahead Illyria. We'll come back in the morning." Angel smiled and touched her arm briefly. She looked down at his hand as it brushed off her, then looked into Angel's eyes. She forced a tiny smile and closed the door behind her.

Angel saw Lorne walking down the hallway. "Lorne!" He called. "Do you want to stay the night?"

"Uh… sure, why not." Lorne replied, turning around. "Is there still a vacant room for me?" Angel smiled.

"Yeah, come on." Angel waited for Lorne then led him down the hall, passing Spike who followed behind them to his room down the hall from Angel's. Angel took Lorne to a room across from Spike's, and the three demons went to bed for the night.
Spike collapsed onto his bed, lying there for a while before actually falling asleep. Lorne tenderly prepared his bed and made himself comfortable for a good night's sleep, something he'd been deprived of for a while. Just knowing he was back with the people he trusted the most was enough to make him sleep easier. And Angel, in the safety of his own hotel and his own room, was finally able to let rest all the worries he had about Connor and Lorne. In the morning, he'd speak to Lorne about finding Connor, and somehow that made him feel as thought everything was going to be alright.

Author's Note: Some people may criticize how easily Lorne slipped back into the group. You may say that he would hold a grudge against Angel for making him kill Lindsay, which is probably true. But I don't want any of that in this story, not yet anyway. The topic should come up eventually, but it can wait until another chapter. For now the story is just developing and I want to organise the group and get everything up and running. Also, I didn't want to have Lorne being left out, because he had to be in the story. Getting him back into the group draws everyone back together and will eventually lead to the raising off issues such as Lindsay's death. It will be addressed.

By the way, thanks to the people who reviewed.

NEXT ON ANGEL, what do you do when you find yourself in a time and space you've already experienced once before? You find out how the heck you can get back!