Angel paced nervously around his hotel room, waiting for Connor to finish eating. It was already eight o'clock and Angle was desperate to get to Catherine. He was worried about how she was handling the sudden surprise of a prophecy about herself. These things never go well, he thought. The minute the sun went down, Angel was ready to bolt to Catherine's club, but Connor had wanted to get a little more rest and something to eat, 'Just in case' he said. Now Angel hurriedly made his way through the hotel lobby with Connor and Illyria not far behind him. They made their way to the parking structure where they were greeted by several vampires and a very pleased looking demon.

"You're the mighty Angel. Champion to all. I thought you were a bad-ass and a little bit taller," Malcolm joked, grinning evilly from ear to ear.

"Malcolm right? Or should I call you lefty?" Angel asked snidely. Malcolm's grin dropped from his face at Angel's comment. "You should just go home and tell Quinn that I won't let him have Catherine.

"I'm here to kill you Champion. Quinn doesn't like the idea of you near Catherine. He wants her to be ready when it's time for her death. He loves to play with his victims and he had such fun with that bitch before that he can't wait for it again. I bet that whore can't wait either."

Angel growled low in his throat at Malcolm's words and the ideas Quinn had for Catherine. The rumble that came from the Champion was so menacing, a few vamps stepped back hoping to avoid his anger. Angel felt Connor and Illyria ready themselves for a fight behind and shifted into game face.

"You want to know if I'm still a bad-ass, Malcolm. Then let's find out," Angel roared as he leapt at Malcolm and landed several punches to the demons face. A vamp came from behind at punched him in the back causing Angel to focus his attentions away from Malcolm, who was struggling to remain standing. Not from this Connor took on three vamps advancing on him, thinking the boy was easy prey. Connor swiftly landed punches and kicks to the three and brought his stake out from behind his back, sinking the wood into the chest of the nearest vamp, and then turned to the next. Illyria merely stood dodging the blows the vamps threw at her. She grabbed by the neck and lifted him to meet her gaze.

"Foolish lower being," she said as she cleanly removed his head from his body. The vampire's remains turned to dust and settled at her feet. Illyria quickly brought her foot up and kicked a vampire backwards to the ground. She walked over to where he was lying and put her fist into his chest and crushed the undead heart inside, pulling it free form the ribs. As the dust from the vamp dispersed, Illyria looked over to where two more vamps stood. They looked at her and quickly fled form the area. Angel having killed the distracting vamp had turned his attention back to Malcolm who was wildly throwing punches. Angel dodged them all and landed a blow to Malcolm's abdomen, sending him into a concrete pillar. Angle strode over and put his foot on Malcolm's throat, slowly pressing down.

"I'm not going to kill you because I want you to deliver a message. Tell Quinn, I know of the prophecy and that if he hurts Catherine in any way, I'll torture him for the next thousand years. And since he knows who I am, he knows how good at torture I can be," Angel angrily said. He removed his foot and watched Malcolm scramble out of the parking structure. Angel proceeded to walk to his car calmly while Connor and Illyria followed. What did Quinn to do Caty? Angel thought. His heart sinking at the images that came to mind. He slammed the door to the car as he thought of Malcolm's words once more. I'll kill you before you can touch her, Angel swore silently. Quietly he turned the car onto the street and headed for the club and Catherine.

Dawn ran over to Connor the minute she saw him step off the elevator. Connor hugged her tightly and whispered to her about how much he missed her. Angel slowly exited the elevator and greeted Catherine with a small smile. The smile Catherine had faded when she saw him.

"What happened?" she asked.

"Nothing really. Malcolm just decided to throw us a little welcoming party," Angel answered calmly. Catherine's eyes lost a little sparkle as he saw guilt creep in. Catherine hadn't wanted them to get involved. She didn't want them to be in danger. Angel slowly reached for her hand and squeezed it lightly. She smiled at him for his gesture but suddenly tensed and removed her hand from his grasp.

"I so didn't want you guys to come under fire. A hotel is not exactly the safest place to stay and I totally understand if you guy need to bail. You've already helped out more than you needed to," Catherine yammered.

"We're not going anywhere Caty. This is our fight too, not just yours. I'll be damned if those demons are going to hurt someone I know," Angel said firmly. Dawn and CJ couldn't help but a smile a little at the vampire's feelings for Catherine. "We just need to re-locate is all."

"Why not here? I don't mean here, here, but the apartments upstairs? Cat still owns one for guests and she and I have an extra room we could spare," CJ offered, "We had the Furies come down a few years ago and put an anti-violence spell on the place after the thing with Charlie-"

CJ stopped at the name when he saw Catherine lower her head. Angel noticed the sudden sadness in her and was about to ask who Charlie was when she lifted her head with a pained smile.

"I didn't even think of that. Angel, you and Connor could have the extra apartment. Dawn, you could stay with me and Illyria could stay with CJ. If that's alright?" Catherine said happily.

"I think it sounds fine. We'll go back and get our stuff later. Right now I want to know more about where this sword you might need is," Angel replied, his voice low in his throat. While Dawn explained what she had found Angel's mind wandered. He wanted to find a way to talk to Catherine about what Malcolm had said and wanted to know why Charlie practically brought her to tears. Angel decided to leave it till they were alone. For some reason, the thought of being alone with Catherine made him growl in his throat, more like a purr. Catherine heard and glanced at him quickly with a questioning look in her eyes. Angel quickly turned his gaze back to Dawn and focused on what she had to say.

"So you see, we figured it's in a desert. I emailed Will and asked for her help to get mystical co-ordinates or whatever and she did. There's supposed to be some small rock caverns just as you head into Death Valley. That's where Catherine will find the sword. She'll have to go in the middle of the day, so I don't think it'd be wise if you came Angel," Dawn said.

"Usually caves like this have traps in them and I don't like the idea of Caty going in by herself," Angel said protectively.

"We thought about that," Catherine began, "We decided that if Illyria wants, she could accompany me. CJ has access to a mobile home so he, Dawn, Connor, and you could hang out there. Sort of like a home base on wheels."

"Well sounds like a plan. I'm ready to go whenever you are," Angel said.

"Sounds like it could be fun," Connor added.

"I'd be joyful at the opportunity to engage in battle," Illyria stated.

"Good, then maybe we should just relax and enjoy ourselves tonight. WE can leave early tomorrow morning," Catherine said as she settled into the chair behind her desk. Angel walked over to Connor and handed him the keys again.

"Why don't you and Illyria go back to the hotel and get our things and come back here. I doubt there's anymore of Quinn's bad guys lurking about. And Dawn why don't' you head down with CJ and wait for them in the DJ booth. You worked hard and deserve a little break." Everyone nodded and headed for the elevator down. All of them knowing that Angel wanted to talk to Catherine alone and noticing Catherine looking nervous at the idea.

"So, you got me alone, what did you want to know?" Catherine said after a few minutes of silence. Angel walked over to a chair that sat in front of her desk and slowly sat down. He looked straight into her azure-colored eyes and saw the pain still hiding in the depths.

"What did Quinn do to you the first time he had you, Caty?" Angle asked softly still gazing into Catherine's eyes. He saw the tears begin to form and heard her pulse quicken. The smell of fear and pain began to radiate off her, causing his non-beating heart to ache for her. Catherine swallowed hard, trying to fight back the emotions that were wanting to spill over. She opened her mouth several times in an effort to answer. Finally, she breathed in deeply and began to speak.

"He uh, I mean he, what he did-" Catherine choked but was interrupted by a deep voice from the elevator doors.

"He had the best time of his life. You did put up one hell of a fight, but I know you enjoyed it the whole time," the man said. Catherine's breath caught in her throat and was held still in her chair by fear. Angel Growled loudly at the intruder as he quickly stood up. He put himself between the door and Catherine's desk. "You're being rude Catherine by not introducing me to your friend here," he said staring at the woman behind desk, "My name's…"

"I know who you are Quinn," Angel said in a harsh tone, "Why the hell did you come here?"

"To see Catherine of course. I dint' know she was entertaining company. But I believe the question in the air is what I did to her? Nothing the little slut didn't' enjoy."

Angel was in front of Quinn in a flash and punched him in the face. Quinn stumbled back into the closed doors. He brought his hand up and saw the blood on his fingers. He laughed as he regained his balance.

"She's certainly under your skin already. Kinda makes a man wonder what she did to get there."