Hey. I'm updating again. Just one chapter this time. More to come.
Rated: M
Disclaimer: I don't own them, I just like writing about them
Feedback: Very much appreciated
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Chapter Six
"Daddy!"
Just as always that shriek pierced his heart with terror. Jason took the back stairs from the kitchen two at a time. His booted steps thumped across the carpet and down the narrow hall to his daughter's bedroom each step a inner curse that his child had to endure these visions.
Cordelia was right, his little girl's only concern should be dolls and her friends. Even giggling at boys and he would give anything for her to have that simple life but that was a game of what if's he had long ago set aside. What might have beens were useless in the face of reality. Shouldering the door open, he ignored the way it slammed into the wall, felt his throat dry as his daughter hovered over her bed bathed in a soft white light.
Spinelli gawked from his spot beside her bed, his mouth moving soundlessly, as he looked from him back to Kady. No, this wasn't Kady's usual behavior when she had a vision. Jason crossed the room, carefully pulling her into his arms and felt her wrap around his body and cling tightly. The wash of light began to slip around them both and while he couldn't see her vision, he felt the connection between Kady, Sam and Cordelia.
"Daddy," her arms squeezed his neck as a violent tremor raced through her slim body.
"It's okay, I've got you."
"Lulu," she panted, winded and then leaned back to look at him, gradually that glow faded away leaving her eyes bright with fear. "It's Lulu."
"What's wrong with Lulu," Spinelli breathed in shallow, quick gasps, his face practically begging for him to deny it.
Jason glared at the kid, then went back to Kady, "Tell me what you saw."
"Five demons, um Therians. I think they're bears." Her eyes widened bright blue with terror. "They're going to take her from the docks," Kady blinked several times, "She's going back to the Q's. She was visiting Lucky and they got into a fight and she's mad and not paying attention." She drew in a few heaving breaths, "It's like the girl you told me about. DeAnne. They want to use Lulu as a sacrifice for the demon that's coming through the door tomorrow night."
"Okay, now, Kady, I want you to stay here. I'll help Lulu and get her back to the Quartermaines."
"Bring her back here Dad," she countered, "I think maybe Lulu is supposed to be here too."
Jason stalked down the hall with Spinelli right on his heels. He knew the kid was worried about Lulu but he knew the routine and not to interrupt. "You stay here with Kady, make sure she's safe. If there's a problem, you get her out of here and over to Sonny's, understand."
"Yes, yes, sir," the boy stammered but Jason knew he was clear on his instructions. Spinelli would never do anything that might put Kady in danger. "Um, what about the others?"
Good question.
As he entered the kitchen to the raised voices, he briefly wondered why he hadn't just left out the front door instead. Guess this is what being a team player involved. He watched the flash of anger on Cordelia's face as she fussed at Dean and Jason understood why he worked best alone. "I'm headed out."
"We're coming too," Cordelia demanded, eyes haunted from the residuals of the vision and looking as if she wanted him to argue with her too.
"It's just five Therians, it doesn't take all of us to deal with it," he explained, ready to make a compromise but she must have misunderstood him.
"Fine, you stay here with your daughter and we'll take care of it," she waved a hand to include all of her friends.
"Not that I can't appreciate that, but again this is my city. If we were in LA I'd be happy to let you take the lead," not exactly true but she didn't need to know that. "Any demon problems, I deal with. I send you off alone, by the time you figure out where you're going, Lulu will be dead. Now we can cooperate or you can have another tantrum here by yourself and I'll go alone."
"Before this deterioates," Sam spoke up, with a hand raised in truce, "How about Jason drives, since this is his city, we'll get there quicker. Miranda would you mind staying here with Kady, that is if it's okay with you Jason?"
"It's fine, Kady likes Miranda. She could use the company," he nodded in agreement.
"I'll stay here then," Dean drawled but Jason knew he didn't exactly like it. A Hunter always wanted to be in on the action and Dean was a Hunter to the core. Staying behind providing protection to the women and children just wasn't the same. But his obvious feelings for Miranda would never allow him to leave her alone in a strange environment. "Sammy goes with you."
"Spike and I will stay here as well," Fred volunteered, "We can start working with your guy Spinelli. That is if you don't mind us being here, while you're not."
"It's fine," Jason told Spike more than Fred. Between Dean and Spike that would be two fighters for protection. Fred might be able to handle herself and maybe Miranda. "Kady can take care of herself. You should know that just in case something happens. It probably goes against everything you would expect, but if something comes here to the house, you should listen to her. She knows where the weapons are, how to escape undetected and where to go to hide."
"So I guess that leaves the four of us," Faith smiled. A Slayer, a Hunter and two Seers. Jason only hoped he didn't come to regret it. "I call shot gun."
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The jerk drove like a maniac.
No that's not true, even maniacs had sense enough to stop at red lights. No, no, Jason Morgan just floored the gas and shot through traffic as if this were a racecar he was driving and not an SUV. She tried not to respond to the man, and Cordelia Chase was woman enough to admit that she started most of the arguements between them.
What bugged her was how he never reacted. Other than telling her to shut up that is. The only emotion he'd shown was anger when he realized who Spike was. Boy she hadn't been expecting that, and certainly not the pointed defense on her part. It just touched on a sore spot. Angel had always been so broody about Angelus' past and making amends for it was the reason for his mission. An outsider could never understand that.
Except, he didn't fight her on it, he barely even acknowledged her words truth be told. So of course that didn't sit well because for some strange reason she wanted him to push, she wanted to fight with him. Instead, he seemed to come to his own conclusions about Spike and of course now the two were bonded. Stupid male rituals. It seemed even vampires with souls weren't immune to the posturing and chest beating.
Although neither one had done that. Just looked at each other. Gave silent nods of respect. Mental chest beating then, she amended.
And as for the vision, he didn't blink an eye, just prepared to go out and fight. If they weren't here, the big jerk probably would have gone off by himself. Didn't he know that he couldn't risk his life that way? He had a daughter at home to be resposible for.
"So those guns," Faith spoke from the front seat and Cordelia watched Sam scoot forward to listen interested as well. She looked out of the window instead. "What kind of rounds do you use?"
"Depends," Jason said shortly. And that was another thing. The man barely said two words at a time. You had to drag it out of him. "Left hand gun typically uses hallow point exploding rounds of concentrated UV liquid. Right hand uses a regular round, UV liquid, but more of a slow acting poision, seeps slowly into the vamps bloodstream. I usually save those if I need to ask questions."
"And you use them as regular bullets as well?" Sam asked.
"Yeah, besides most demons have some aversion to sunlight. Although tonight, dealing with Therians I switched to liquid silver rounds intead." Jason nodded, "A bullet is a bullet put in the right spot."
"And just how did you learn that," Cordelia couldn't help asking.
"Former line of work."
But that was all the answer she received and Cordelia had the feeling she would get nothing more. So what was he? A cop. In the military? Jason Morgan didn't look like a man who liked to take orders and he certainly didn't look like a man who cared about following rules. So who was this guy in his previous life?
"Sam, you have any?"
"No, just regular."
Sam took out his gun and Jason gave it a quick eye. "I can get you some rounds for that if you want, it'll take a couple of days though." He reached inside his jacket and removed one of his own guns from it's holster and passed it to him handle first. "Till then, use this. Five Therians are relatively simple to handle if they're in human form. It's when they start changing when it get's complicated. Those are exploding rounds, aim for the head and don't let them start changing."
"Well, I just keep my axe," Faith held up the gleaming weapon she bought in New York, "Aways gets the job done, just fine."
That brought a small smile to Jason's lips. A smile. Faith bonding with the new guy over weaponry? What was it about men and Slayers? So why did she get a smile? Maybe because she isn't acting like harpy bitch like you are, an inner voice muttered. Cordelia looked over at Sam and rolled her eyes, great, even he was inamoured of Faith. Maybe she should have just stayed back at the house and let Spike come.
Jealous much.
Sneering, she checked her grip on the sword she brought. It reminded her of the katana Angel used to train her with. She looked up, to see Jason looking through his rear mirror at her and quickly turned back to the night rushing pass. What was it with this guy that rubbed her the wrong way?
'Okay, truth time, her inner Cordy raised her tactless head. He's goregous. No matter how much you want to deny it, you can't. Those blue eyes, that body you would love nothing more than to cover with chocolate syrup and lick off. Large hands, and you know what they say about a man's hands. Judging from the way the front of those pants hang, that rumor just might apply in Jason Morgan's case.
And don't even think about the mouth.
Besides, he knows about the visions, so there are no secrets to keep like you have to do with those other substitutions for Angel that you used to date. He's a fighter, loves his kid which you can't help but see in those tummy clenching eyes. In five simple words: you are attracted to him.'
Well she'd have to be dead six months not to notice how hot the guy was, and even then, that ass would probably inspire a twitch or two, but silently admitting that she found the guy good to look at didn't mean anything. Besides, she already did the whole Champion with a kid thing and look how horrendous that turned out.
Her alone and broken hearted.
Uh, not in a rush to get trampled on again.
Besides, Jason Morgan didn't even have the superpower thing going. No super strength, or speed. No accelerated healing abilities when a sword did more than knick the skin. He was just an ordinary guy. And ordinary guys tended to get hurt in their line of work. He was just death waiting to happen.
So yes he was nice to look at, and now that she admitted that, it would be easier to ignore. She would stop making comments about his parenting skills, no matter how scared she remembered being about Connor. Kady was Jason's responsiblity. They would do this and she would return to LA with her family and move on with her life. Maybe she'd take a weekend and go to a spa. Get laid. It certainly couldn't hurt after nine months of celibacy.
Which was probably the only reason she found Jason attractive in the first place. What woman wouldn't react to muscles, a tight ass and a great face. Given that he was a jerk, not even the pretty package made up for that.
"Where are we going?"
Sam's question brought her back and she glanced around. The SUV was slowing down, pulling into the parking lot front of a large building. "This is one of the coffee warehouses I own with my partner. It's a straight shot to the docks from here, that's where Kady said the Therians try to take Lulu."
"I still can't believe the kid knows what a Therian is," she heard Faith zip the front of her jacket, pulling her long pony tail from the neck. "Hell I didn't know until I had to fight one a couple of years ago."
"Demonology 101."
"Was that actually a joke," Faith smirked, she leaned over on the arm rest and stared at Jason until he smiled again. Would it be wrong to hit one of her closest friends over the head? "Shit, wait until I tell that Spinelli kid, he's probably been waiting forever for you to crack one of those, Stone Cold."
"Don't encourage him." Jason groaned a bit, "Besides, I was telling the truth. Vampires, Therianthropes and werewolves, ghosts, ghouls and gobblins are the easy ones. Kady learned that stuff at seven."
"Jeez, you're worse than Wesley. She's a Seer not a Slayer. I bet you even have her training, don't you?"
Before Cordelia could say something, Jason shut off the engine and looked down at Faith. Jaw clenched, those icy blue eyes filled with a determination that dried up any rebuke she could think of. "She's my daughter and she's living in a world that she didn't ask for. Hell if I had known what the Powers intended, I would have told them to kill me and be done with it. Only its too late for regrets now. As her father, it's my responsibility to prepare her so that she can survive."
"What do you mean, kill you and be done with it?" The words escaped and he turned back to stare wordlessly at her.
"You have your demons and I have mine," he finally said, stunning her with his cool appraisal. "I'm not quite ready to cut open a vein and bleed for you. Besides, we're here and I have some Therians to kill."
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Miranda sat on the edge of Kady's bed, tucking the blanket closer around her and trying not to let the sorrow of that innocent gesture turn her into a mess. How many times had she taken Gabriel up to bed and tucked him in with a bed time story and not really given the simple routine much thought? So much she had taken for granted but now she knew different. If, no when, she mentally promised, when Gabriel came home she would cherish each and every moment.
Dean sat on the edge of Kady's desk watching them. She could almost feel the frown of concentration on his face. How had she come to care for this man so much, so fast? Even marriage to Darnell hadn't inspired these kinds of feelings. All Dean had to do was touch her and her emotions sparked haywire. Things she had long pushed aside, yearning and desire, they would simmer hot through her body. If he wrapped her in his arms, she felt safe, protected. Though she worried for Gabriel, it didn't stop the growing feelings for Dean.
She didn't know what would happen between them when this was all over. For her, this was an anomaly. Demons and Hunters, this was Dean's life and she didn't expect that to change just because he liked her. Even now, she could tell he wanted to be out there with Sam and the others but instead he stayed behind with her. To keep her safe. She knew that was the reason, he didn't have to explain it to her. Since Gabriel was taken, Dean's own inner guilt rode him hard and he would allow nothing to hurt her if he could stop it.
A small hand slipped into hers and Miranda looked down at Kady with a smile. So much on this small child's shoulders, she thought with a sigh. Why wasn't her mother here to tuck her in at night, to comfort her after a vision? She understood why Jason left tonight, saving an innocent girl, especially one he and Kady obviously knew was important. It had to rip his heart apart every time he walked out the house, leaving his daughter.
"Comfortable?"
Kady nodded and settled deeper into her pillow. It was obvious that she was loved and that she adored her father. The vision tired her, given the haunted look in her striking blue eyes, but Kady seemed confident in her father's abilites. "Yes, thank you."
Miranda brushed a thick band of hair back from her face, "Are you sure you don't need anything else? I can get you another cup of cocoa if you want?"
"No I'm fine," then her lips curved up in a wry grin, "Or I will be when Dad gets home. He'll check back in to let me know everything went okay. Is Spinelli downstairs with the others?"
"Yes, your Dad has him working with Spike and Fred to find out more about what's going to happen tomorrow night."
"You mean with the demon and the door opening," she nodded once, "You don't have to try to hide it from me, I know what's going on. I really do. And don't worry, Gabriel will be fine."
It was the prayer she said every night but somehow hearing Kady say it made the words more of reality than a desperate dream of a grieving mother. The hand in her squeezed briefly, "When I sleep I dream of him, you know?"
"Really?" The very thought made her heart skip a beat, that Kady could see Gabriel when she would have given anything for one glimpse of her child.
"Yeah, but he can't see me. He has dark blonde hair, it's long now. Like mine. Sometimes he's afraid, mostly because of where they are but he knows he's safe with the other one." She frowned, wrinkling her nose, "For some reason, I can see the other one, but I don't know his name. I know he's tall like Mr. Winchester there, and he has dark hair and dark brown eyes but I don't know his name."
Kady's frustration was palpable, "Don't push it," Miranda suggested, "Maybe you aren't supposed to know his name."
"But it's important," Kady blurted out, a trace of panic threading through her voice. "I know it's important but they won't let me see it."
"Then we'll just have to wait until tomorrow night when we meet him then," she suggested but could see that Kady didn't like it at all. "Now why don't you get some rest."
"Okay," Kady murmured in agreement. "Thank you for sitting with me, Ms. Sullivan and you too Mr. Winchester," she included Dean who flinched when she quickly glanced over at him catching him off guard. "I know you would have liked to be with Dad out there tonight."
"No," he denied with a careless lift of his shoulder. "No, I'm good kid, and you can just call me Dean."
"Okay," she smiled as if he'd given her a treat, "I know the truth but it was nice of you to try to save my feelings."
They both watched him squirm a bit at that and didn't suppress a ripple of laughter between them. Dean lifted a brow, glaring as he folded his arms over his chest and that just seemed to turn their amusmenet up a notch. "I like you Ms. Sullivan," Kady said after her giggles trailed off, "You're like Sam."
"Dean's brother?"
"No," then her face lost a trace of that happiness as if she remembered something sad. "No, Dad's Sam. She was a lot of fun. She could always make Dad laugh. Only she didn't understand about Dad's hunting, it wasn't really real to her. I guess because Dad kept her away from it as much as he could. But you're different. You understand. You know because of what happened to Gabriel." Her eyes grew moist as she determinedly blinked away tears before they could fall. "Sam died a while ago."
"I'm so sorry," Miranda frowned, glancing back at Dean who also looked on in concern.
"It's okay. It's just that you reminded me of her for a second. I guess it's right that you and Dean are in love with each other. The two of you remind me of Dad and Sam a lot."
"What?"
Both of their spurts of protest were loud and awkward, as they glanced at each other only to jerk away and look everywhere but at each other. Should she be offended at Dean's reaction, or pleased because he sounded just as confused and torn as she did.
"Look kid-"
"No, Kady, I think you misunderstood-"
Kady's infectious giggle rang out again, "I'm sorry. I couldn't help but see it. I mean you two are sending out the major vibes. I'm the Seer here, can't help but see."
"Yeah, well, kid, go to bed." Dean stood from the desk and held out a hand to her to help her stand. She slipped hers inside his grip, going to his side and not even realizing how comfortable the gesture might look to Kady. How Dean tucked her neatly to his side, placed a careful arm around her waist. How she leaned trustingly into him.
"Good night." Kady wiggled her fingers, "And don't worry, everything is going to work out the way it's supposed to."
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"So how are we going to do this?"
Jason looked over at Faith as she and Sam made their way around to the other set of stairs leading to the landing at the docks. He could practically smell the adrenaline skipping through her body. He would have smiled if he wasn't concentrating on looking for the Therians he was out here to kill. Cordelia on the other hand was as cold as ice and just as silent. Except for the question she just asked.
They were pretending to be two couples out together, though if anyone in Port Charles recognized him they would have laughed themselves to death at the thought. Jason Morgan, former mob enforcer to Sonny Corinthos, out strolling on the docks with the brunette on his arm and another couple was as likely as him voluntarily cooperating in a police investigation.
For some reason that thought annoyed him tonight.
Faith came up with the idea, so they wouldn't look too obvious and had slinked over to Sam and curled up next to him like a contented feline sated on cream. Or maybe a panther from a fresh kill, he amended with a silent grin. Sam on the other hand looked a cross between excited and nervous. As if he wanted Faith there but now that he had her, wasn't quite sure he knew what to do next.
Cordelia looked like she would rather someone jab her in the eye with a hot poker than stand next to him, but she surprised him when she slipped her arm into his and leaned against him. Her scent flooded him, an arousing mix of vanilla, lilies and a lingering feminine musk that was all Cordelia.
"How long do we have," he looked down into Cordelia's eyes, saw the hint of awareness and irritation there in those warm hazel depths. However she felt about him, she was just as affected by his nearness as he was of hers.
"Any second now." she watched him through heavy lids, a soft sensual smile curving her full mouth as she seemed to snuggle against him. "You made good time, considering you almost killed us all getting here."
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jason turned her into him, wrapping her into his arms. A flare of annoyance flickered in those wide expressive eyes, but he placed a hand between then, adjusting her sword so that it rest trapped between their legs. She seemed to understand and the tension that had stiffened her spine began to melt away.
"It means," she lifted her freed hand and began unzipping his jacket, so that he would have easier access to his gun. Slid that arm around his waist and his body responded with a wild flare of heat. "That you drive like a maniac. You do realize that red means stop not speed up and cause traffic accidents."
"The light was yellow," he swallowed, gazing around her to their surroundings and ignoring the way her fingers of her other hand slipped behind his head, those neatly trimmed nails scratching his scalp softly.
"In what state, Florida?"
"Why do you argue just to argue?"
"Because you bug me." she smiled and this time the wicked humor there roused a smile of his own. "You're arrogant, pushy and a know it all."
For a moment there was only the two of them and he was vividly aware of the soft curves that lay against him. She was a long one, fit against his body as if she had been fashioned just for him. If he lifted a hand and cupped the back of her neck, he just knew her head would tuck perfectly against his shoulder. Then all he would have to do was tilt her head the slightest bit and he could smother her mouth with his own.
At least it would shut her up.
"Feelings mutual, lady. You're conceited, nosey, and you talk too much."
"I guess it's a good thing we know where we stand, right?" She swallowed, her lips parting and he could feel the fan of her warm breath from her accelerated breathing. He licked his lower lip, could almost taste her.
"Right."
What the hell was she doing?
Cordelia felt like she was two seconds from melting into a complete puddle. They were pretending, damn it. She should be looking for those damned demons and not gawking at Jason as if she were some teenaged, infatuated girl getting ready for her first kiss.
Okay, that made her body clench hungrily. Bad sign. Jason Morgan was a jerk, he got on her nerves and she was out of the attraction business.
It sure didn't help that he felt just as perfect as he looked. Even with the clothes and coats and weapons between them the heat from his body made her head swim. That was probably why she was looking up at him as if she were going to perform a swoon or something. Didn't help that his mouth was practically begging for her to lick him.
He'd probably taste like pure sin.
This is bad Chase, she reprimanded herself, but hey she wasn't the only one making with the inappropriate thoughts here. Look there he went again, flaring those nostrils as if he was dragging her scent into his lungs.
And those eyes. Okay she was in trouble.
"Cordelia?"
"Un, hun?"
"We've got some movement behind you to the right."
The words jarred her back into the moment, and she struggled against the wave of embarrasment that wanted to heat her face. This is what they were holding each other for, not because he wanted to. Or that she even wanted him to. It was the last thing she wanted. No, not at all. The last thing she wanted was to notice how perfectly his powerful body felt against hers. Nor did she care that he would fit just right between her legs and if they had a nice wall...
Oh, boy. "Do you see your friend?" And her voice sounded airy and aroused, so of course he would notice it. If he said a word she would smack him. That's all that could be done, really. If he was insensitve enough to comment, he deserved to get popped in the head.
His arms tighted around her briefly, "Yeah, she just ran down the stairs. Just like Kady said, she's angry and not paying attention to her surroundings when she knows better. She's lived in Port Charles long enough to know to be careful on the docks at night."
"So, it's her fault that those Therians are going to attack her?"
"What?" he blinked down at her, the heat on those azure eyes fading into bewilderment. "I didn't say that."
"Might as well have," she rolled her eyes, prefering his stare drilling into her than that glimspe of hunger that she didn't know if she had the strength to defend against.
"Do you always throw stupid accusations at people or are you just saving all of them for me?"
"So, now I'm stupid?"
"I'm not touching that one," he rolled his eyes, and looked past her toward the landing below.
"I'm just saying-"
"Then maybe you should stop."
"Stop what?"
"Saying."
"Saying what?"
"Anything."
"So, you're telling me to shut up."
"No, you said it but it is good advice."
"Asshole."
"I don't insult ladies. Oh wait a minute. Bitch."
Her startled gasp was loud enough to pierce through the silence of the night like an explosion. She glared up at him, back stiffened and yanked on the sword between them only to find it stubbornly stuck between them. "Oh no you didn't."
"Shut up," he growled, those eyes hot with annoyance. "Do you want them to see us."
"You called me a bitch."
"Then stop acting like one."
She struggled briefly, the little shake nothing more than a waste of time and movement because his tight embrace refused her any leeway. "Take it back."
"What?" his accusing glare flicked back to her, then back to the landing.
"I said take it back. Take it back or I'll stomp on your foot so hard that you won't be able to walk for a week. I can do it to, these are Prada, it will hurt like a son of a bitch."
"Are you always this annoying? We're trying to save someone's life here and you're griping because I returned an insult. You started this," then he rolled his eyes, "Shit, I sound like some little kid. You started it.Even Kady isn't this bad."
"So you're saying I act like an eleven year old?"
"No I'm saying my eleven year old behaves better than you," he muttered and tried to turn his attention back to the docks. "This isn't the time or the place."
Of course she knew that, and the little nudge of guilt just made her feel worse, because hadn't she just promised herself that she wasn't going to do this. A few over active hormones and she began acting like an idiot again. "You're right, I'm sorry." A brow lifted, his disbelief so tangible it might as well have climbed between them. "Don't push your luck, I apologized."
"I'm honored," he quipped but the tension between them began to relax. "I've got all five. I don't know why they haven't moved yet."
"Maybe they can see us? Should we move to a different position?"
"No. Faith and Sam have moved further down, so we can take them from both directions. Do you have on a watch?"
"Yeah," she moved her wrist a bit, ignoring the way his hair felt on her fingers. "It's a quarter to midnight."
"They're cutting it close-" he voice broke off, as his eyes widened, "What the hell is she doing?" Before she could turn he squeezed her, "Dont turn around. Shit, she's going to blow this."
"Faith never did have much patience."
"Wait, okay, they were just moving a little, maybe she didn't-"
Then his entire body braced and she knew it was time. She'd seen Angel react like that, preparing to move in for a fight. It seemed weird that Jason would react similarly but Jason was still so completely different. Cordelia heard a soft scream, probably the Lulu girl, and then a struggle, with grunts and muttered words that she couldn't quite make out. Angel would have leapt into action by now, but Jason edged them quietly toward the commotion.
"Remember to try to keep one alive," he reminded her of the plan. They wanted to question one of the Therians to discover more information about this Master coming tomorrow night. "And don't get hurt."
"I know what I'm doing."
The whisper of irritation brought his eyes back to her, this time instead of derision there was a hint of something else in those blue depths that made her pause. Grief. "I hope you do, Cordelia. I hope you do."