Chapter 22 This Sucks

A/N: So the last chapter I killed Kate and well I told you she was gone like way back in the early chapters. I was going to do it before Isabella got older but I thought well how about we have AI going strong and they take a blow which we introduce the real concept of death to Isabella. She's seen it of course but the things that die are evil not the good. Basically Isabella is growing up and understanding just what kind of world this is.

A/N: I'm bringing in some not so fun people in this chapter and you'll see who. Also from here on out Buffy will make some type of guest appearance. Enjoy.

Tara was flipping through some papers when the front doors of the hotel opened and the team came in dirty with what looked like green slime.

"Ok I understand people who put a little note on the car saying that the parking meter is broken when it's not," Cordelia explained as she, Gunn, Wes, Willow, Spike, Levy, Evan, Connor and Xander walked into the hotel lobby. "I don't understand people who worship demons."

"So how did it go?" Tara asked and they all sighed which explained everything.

"Well not much is going on." Giles stated as he walked into the lobby while Cordelia sat down sighing again.

"Something wrong?" Wes asked.

"Yeah we should go out and have fun." She answered.

"Well the last time that happen we got drugged." Spike stated. "Which was actually fun, loosen up the great poof."

"Speaking of Angel when are those two coming back?" Gunn asked.

"Once Isabella understands death." Cordelia added and everyone looked at her. "I don't know after they catch their breath well Angel doesn't breathe,"

"So soon." Connor stated well he hoped it was soon.

"Well Kate's death was something we never expected and," Giles was cut off.

"Angel had to put her down like a rabid dog in front of Izzy." Cordelia added.

"She always could cram complex issues into simple phrases." Xander said.

"Not my choices of words but yes and Izzy needs sometime to step away from it." Giles finished while looking back to his book as he headed to the counter.

"It's sad though," Willow started. "I mean here's Kate who's been in love with Angel for," She had to think about it. "Ok a really long time and she confesses and he says no but she's still willing to help and then dies."

"Strange world we live in." Xander added.

"Izzy just doesn't know how to cope with loss yet. We've all lost a person close to us and well she really hasn't." Wes explained.

"Well when will papa vampire and baby vampire come back?" Anya asked and everyone shrugged.

"Where did they go?" Gunn asked.

"Where else Ireland I bet the day Angel becomes human they'll retire out there." Cordelia said, lately she's been a bit more like her high school self, self center and annoying.

"Out in a cottage in the middle of nowhere, there's a party. He should have gone to Vegas and got hammered." Gunn said as he wiped his sword clean.

"What about Izzy?" Willow asked.

"She could have gone too sure there's plenty to do." Gunn answered.

"Well Angel doesn't need a lap dance and they both needed a place that's calm and quiet." Wes explained.

Ireland.

Angel stared down his enemy as it was quiet and he thought of his next move and what he had left. Isabella was next to him waiting as well. Angel had to make a move now. He laid down his cards, a royal flush. Isabella smiled as people in the tavern clapped and the other men at the table sighed. Angel reached and grabbed his winnings and father and daughter left the table to find booth. The tavern was busy and loud and Isabella smiled as they sat.

"Can you teach me cards?" Isabella asked and Angel nodded as a waitress came over.

"Guinness please." Angel said and the nodded and looked to Isabella.

"Oh uh Irish Rose." Isabella asked, it was fruity mixed drink.

"Virgin." Angel added and the waitress smiled and left as Isabella picked up a menu. The two had been in Ireland for almost two weeks now and it was nice. There were no vampires, demons nothing like that it was peaceful and she was just with her dad. She had his full attention and didn't have to share with anyone. The music and the atmosphere was perfect and Isabella had an idea where she wanted to live after high school. In fact she had plans to check the colleges here. The worst would be she would attend Notre Dame in the states.

"Hungry?" Angel asked and she nodded looking at the menu and he picked up one too to look. "Oh boxty you like that." He said and she nodded looking. Angel had his normal pig's blood before they came so he wasn't hungry but Isabella had a bottomless pit for a stomach and could eat. The people clapped as the band sung. She knew this little mini vacation was going to end soon and she didn't want it to. Angel wanted to stay too. He missed home and how care free it was. He could picture just them living in the little cottage off the cliff and hanging out in town and just being…normal.

She looked so carefree right now like a normal teenage girl should. This was the life she deserved not the one back in LA fighting a war with hell and it's minions. The waitress came back with their drinks and Isabella ordered her food. Also Angel couldn't help smile in the way she was dressed. It was a green and white traditional Irish dress and her hair was curled to a low side ponytail with a huge yellow flower in her hair. There was a festival in Galway going on and they went. Isabella got to dress up for a picture and the lady said she looked so beautiful she let her keep the dress. The picture turned out perfect and when he gets home it's going on the wall, his little Irish half vampire girl.

"So do you know the words to the songs?" She asked as she sipped her red drink and Angel shrugged.

"Some of them." He answered smiling. "Allot of them are new." And then the band started up playing a tune. Leave it to the Irish to play music and have people who don't know one another and party like they're good friends.

"Can you dance to this song?" And he smiled and got up holding out his hand and she smiled and took his hand. He then led her to the dance floor and twirled her out and brought her back. Her father was a classic dancer not a club dancer which was awesome. Tonight he wasn't even dressed in his normal attire he was dressed in jeans, a black t-shirt and nice pair of black shoes. She rarely saw him in clothes like these which made him look normal.

"Follow my lead alright Inion." Angel said and Isabella nodded and started. This wasn't like the club music back home this was so much better she thought and she was dancing with her dad which made all the more perfect. Angel knew how to dance to this very well and missed it. She looked down as he moved his feet which was more than just a one two step. Isabella tried to mimic and Angel smiled as she followed him on the dance floor. Angel spun her out and she smiled. A few women sitting in a booth close to them saw the sweet moment, a father and daughter dancing was so beautiful but all four women saw a wedding ban on Angel's left hand and on his right a claddagh ring with the heart pointing towards him so they could only gaze at him sighing wondering who the lucky woman was.

Once the tune ended Angel and Isabella sat back in the booth and her boxty pancakes with cabbage. This was one of her favorite meals that Angel makes for her and while the pub's was good her father's home cooking was still the best.

"Is this horse radish?" She asked and Angel looked at it and nodded.

"It looks hotter than I make it so beware." He warned while sipping his beer and Isabella tasted it. "Hot?" She nodded giving that look that it was spicy and he smiled. Isabella started to put the sour cream on the potatoes and the horse radish on the cabbage. She was hoping this tasted as good as what her father makes at home. He had great taste for someone who was on a liquid diet. She was really looking at the bottle of beer he had. Angel casually pushed it to her and she took it. Isabella and Angel looked around quickly and she took a sip. It was stout beer so it could be strong if you weren't expecting it. She gave a not a disgusting look but that look that she wasn't ready for beer yet. Angel smiled and took the bottle away and took a sip.

"Don't like it?" He asked and she shrugged. "It's an acquired taste grá." He assured her because he knew she wanted to like anything that was Irish but she was young no need to like Guinness and Jameson just yet. She was Irish and a half vampire she still wanted to be like her dad. When she was little she called Evan and Levy white and she was the only Irish person except her father. Mr. Gordo the pig was Irish and a vampire too. She was still proud of her heritage today. When she turns eighteen and they come here then he'll introduce her to Irish's fine choice in hops and alcohol and go to Dublin where they have lots of brewers. Here in Ireland the drinking age was eighteen so that would be his gift to her bar hopping. Of course if Buffy was here and found out he took her bar hopping at eighteen he would be a dead vampire.

"So which is the best Irish beer?" She asked as she ate enjoying the meal.

"That's a hard answer depends what you're in the mood for." Angel answered and she nodded. But then he leaned in and so did she. "When you turn eighteen I'll teach you all you need to know." And she smiled. "Don't tell the others back in LA." Isabella nodded knowing everyone back home wouldn't know a thing. Angel held up his bottle and Isabella grabbed her glass and they touched drinking glasses and took a sipped, it was a good day.

Isabella walked down the stairs to the den as the fire was burning and Angel sat on the couch reading a book. She got on the couch and rested her head on his shoulder. She then sat up a little to see what he was reading.

"Utopia." She said Angel stopped reading and looked at her smiling.

"It means paradise." He stated and she looked up at him. "It talks about how we could live in a place of perfectness and it might be just slightly above you." She gave him that look 'bring it.' He smiled and put one arm around her bringing her closer.

"When you're done," She started and he nodded and she rested her head on his chest and sat there very content. Angel went back to reading the book as Isabella was just quiet. They had talked about what she had felt about Kate's death and that conversion went into Buffy's death along with Doyle's. Both were not easy for Angel to open up and talk about. Isabella wished she knew Doyle he seemed like a fun person too. What they discussion was is how you deal and cope with loss. It's not something you'll ever master. You can never become fully ok with death of someone you knew and just brush it off. Maybe in front of others you can but in the shadows it can take you. To accept someone's death is something that takes time. Time can heal it but it leaves a scar. Angel while over the last fourteen years has been able to heal from Buffy's loss there's a huge scar in his heart that threatens to reopen. He has and had long ago accepted her death but that doesn't make any less easier to think about.

'You'll always have a scar from it something that won't truly heal. The best you can do is make peace with the past. There are days where I feel like I can't move because it feels like it should be her here and not me and I lose it. But then other days well I can manage and not think of her because the call of duty and you have a more urgency than my heart. The one thing you can do is accept. Accept it and the healing begins.'

Those were Angel's words to Isabella about death. That she understood, she understood death will happen to everything in the end that all things die. Angel one day would die and that nothing is truly for an eternity and nothing is forever. With her new found acceptance that even those who seem invincible can perish she could move on. Angel read his book but Isabella getting heavy meaning she was falling asleep. He remembered when she was so small that she fit perfectly on his chest and she would sleep there. She always slept more soundly when Angel was near. That's why at the hotel her room was close to Angel's. At one point it was so he could reach her faster but then it was because she knew and could sense his presents was close. It was the bond they had and she had security in that and took refuge within the bond. For almost three or four months Isabella never slept in her room she would be with her father even for naps. Angel would just watch her sleep guarding her being that true guardian angel. And it when she did sleep in her room and got big enough to jail break out of her crib Angel would wake up to find her asleep at his side. The night didn't scare her but he was her security a sense of safety and belonging.

Angel set down his book and cradle his daughter and carried her upstairs to her little room and tucked her. The whole time she didn't stir. He shut the door quietly behind him and headed back downstairs and outside to the cliff and stood there. He could hear the waves crashing up against the walls down below and the night sky reflected off the ocean. It was peaceful and calm. He could smell the fresh air and took it in knowing they would be back in LA. This place was the dream world he wanted to live in. He wanted to live here with Buffy and Isabella away from the pain of the world. This place was away from the fear, the darkness, the monsters it was heaven maybe the only heaven he would reach next to Buffy's embrace and his daughter's silly giggle she had. Angel took in the beautiful and cool night and looked up to the stars. Buffy was among those stars somewhere and he knew it. You could see the stars so clearly here and it always surprised and never ceased to amaze him. Angel looked back to the sea and for a moment felt a warm feeling one he hadn't felt in a long time and smiled a little.

Isabella heard something off in the distance and rolled over and slowly got out of bed and headed to her window and opened it. Voices or at least it sounded like voices singing in the night. She looked out to see if she could find them. It was a legend these voices they are said to be guides for spirits to find their way beyond this world. Then she heard here door open and Angel poked his head in.

"You hear them?" He asked and she nodded. "Follow me." And Isabella left her little room and followed her father downstairs and to the front door. Angel opened the door slowly and looked out. He took Isabella's hand and led her out quietly. The night was cold and the wind felt good. Angel led her to the edge of the woods and then had her crouch down a little and she smiled seeing them. They were a small group of people. They looked beautiful, tall and elegant and they dressed in white and silver robes that seemed to have a glow to attract lost souls. They sung as well to draw out the souls and have them follow. Angel looked to Isabella and she looked up.

"They're singing." Isabella stated and Angel nodded smiling. "It's pretty what are they saying?" She asked.

"It's very old language a mix of Greek, Latin and Aramaic," Angel explained quietly so they wouldn't be seen or frighten them. Humans well anything that is not a spirit never see them and they don't see anything that's not a spirit and are easily frighten off from mortals and probably vampires. They were not humans or anything like that. They were pure beings to take souls home. They can be slain and if you do slay one then your soul is ripped from you over and over and you become tortured for all eternity lost in disappear and in a place of darkness. You never slay something so pure without a horrible consequence. They are part of the earth and are not to be disturbed for any reason.

"Wow," Isabella said as she watched them walking through the woods.

"It's good luck to see them." Angel reminded her. They're found all over the world but very few humans ever see them.

"No one back home will believe me when I tell them." Isabella said smiling looking back to Angel and he smiled back. He would tell her stories about them and all the urban legends which a number held true like this one. Father and daughter watched them travel and singing as they disappeared into the woods. This was a good trip Isabella thought to herself

Three Days Later.

The hotel was running on the slow side today mostly because the kids were not back from school and night time wasn't here. Cordelia walked into the lobby as everyone lounged around holding some rat traps.

"Ok so who's turn is it to set the traps?" She asked and no one looked up.

"His." All the guys said at the same time pointing to one another. The girls giggled a little.

"You guys amaze me," Cordelia started. "You'll fight hell beast but you're scared of rats."

"Nasty buggers." Spike commented as he looked through pages of a book. He was more interested in the graphic pictures not so much what the book was about.

"Man I hate rats with their little beady eyes." Gunn added.

"And their beady teeth." Wes tossed in.

"And then their tales that are all swish, swish." Xander acted out the part of swishing a tale if he had one. Giles shook his head with a grin. Cordelia sighed and begun to walk away heading to the basement to do the chore.

"Well aren't you guys just the biggest scaries that I ever did see." She finished and opened the basement door and screamed dropping the traps. Isabella walked in smiling followed by Angel and Cordelia smiled. The two smiled back at her and she reached out and hugged Isabella and then Angel. "You two are back." She was happy to see them. "Hey everyone their back!" Cordelia took both their hands and led them to the main lobby as everyone got up to the greet them.

"Oh we missed you." Willow said hugging Isabella and she smiled. Isabella set down her new bag she had and sighed in delight to be home.

"So I hope you two had a good mini vacation all rested up." Cordelia said and was sincere about it. Angel smiled and turned to Isabella and the group knew something happened.

"Tell them what you saw." Angel said to his daughter.

"I saw Poika Feas." She said and the Watchers looked shock.

"Really?" Wes asked smiling and sat down still smiling and Isabella nodded.

"What's a poka flee?" Cordelia asked.

"Poika Feas," Giles corrected her. "Pure beings that help lost souls. Very few humans ever see them that's," Giles smiled. "That's really nice." He meant it was great for Isabella to see something pure and innocent then well there's still hope and love in this world and because she was still young it could help her through anything. To see something like that then it might give her the thing she needs to fight and understand why she fights.

"Well dad and I saw a group." She stated and everyone smiled, she looked much better. When she left she was pale, sad anything that could describe depression she looked like it and now she looked like her normal self happy, bright, cheerier and smiling. Angel put his arm around her shoulder but it only last a moment because her name was being called by her friends and she ran off to them.

"She looks much better." Giles said to Angel standing next to him watching as the four friends hugged each other quickly exchanging what they've been up too. Angel nodded and watched his daughter as she did look much better.

Later that evening Isabella was in her room quietly studying when Angel knocked and she looked up to him. He was back in his normal attire, black pants, dark shirt and his black coat.

"You finish?" he asked and she nodded indicating it was time to patrol. Isabella closed her books and followed him downstairs. Cordelia had no visions at least now so the two well Gunn, Spike, Willow, Xander, Anya, Levy, Evan and Connor would go too. The group would head out to the local cemetery for the hunt. It's been a little over two weeks since Isabella patrolled so it would be nice to kill something even if it's just a new risen vampire that she could take on with her eyes closed these days. But Angel had a different plan for the hunt. There was a vampire club, nest on the other side of town and it should be shut down.

"So no easy night?" Xander asked and Angel shook his head as they left.

"We haven't killed anything in like two weeks and dad has allot of pinned up energy." Isabella explained. "And so do I."

"So we're gonna crash a club?" Evan asked.

"Yup." Angel answered as he got into the Plymouth followed by Isabella and took off as everyone got into other cars.

Once they got on the other side of down they parked in an alley way and met up. Isabella, Angel and Spike heard the faint sound of music.

"It's underground." Isabella stated and Angel nodded.

"Wait for my signal." Angel said and everyone nodded and headed to what looked like an abounded building.

Inside the building underground a human was led here by a pretty vampire thinking he got invited to the hottest hot spot in town. He was dancing with the vampires not realizing that they were vampires. The lights flashed and on the two screens came the word blood across them. The guy noticed the people held up their hands and the sprinklers went off but it wasn't water that came down from them. The guy smelt it as the people danced wildly and enjoyed it. He licked the red liquid and the taste confirmed it, blood. He looked around the faces of the people changed their eyes changed to yellow, they showed their fangs and hissed. The man panicked and started to run but bumped into these strange people and then slipped on the floor that was covered in blood. He screamed in terror and begun to crawl away as he was being kicked and stomped on. But as he crawled away the kicking stopped and he saw a pair of black shoes before him. He looked up seeing a tall man standing there and the music stopped and the vampires all looked to the man standing there.

"Angelus!" One vampire yelled. "It's Angelus!" The vampires somewhat backed off as Angel walked into the place and they hissed.

"Let's go Angelus!" One vampire yelled and came charging thinking he could take on an almost three hundred year old vampire. Angel took out his axe and swung it cutting the head off. The vampires scrambled to get out as Angel took some more out. Then as a group went to run Spike walked in with a crossbow. The exits were being blocked by the AI group and the vampires were being trapped. Then there was one exits left and a few ran to it but a young girl stood there.

"It's her," One said. "It's the Day Walker." And Isabella walked in further and took out her sword and sliced one of its head off and the others ran. As the vampires that were brave enough to take on the group fought the others ran in terror, no vampire is stupid enough to take on Angelus and the Day Walker unless you wanted to die. The room started to clear when men in suits came in. Wolfram and Hart's people well expendable men came in. Angel and Isabella met somewhere in the middle of the club seeing the men.

"Ok Angelus and Day Walker let's go." One cocky man said. Angel smiled twirling his axe and Isabella held out her sword. The men attacked and father and daughter fought alongside one another in sync. They led the group of men in a smaller room and Isabella jumped on the thin ledge taking out a new weapon AI came across a few weeks ago. It was a boomerang blade, very sharp and deadly. Isabella threw it and Angel ducked. The blade cut the heads off of four of the men with ease.

"This thing is awesome." Isabella said as she caught it. Three more men came in and Angel jumped into the air and swung his axe cutting off their heads. Isabella jumped down from the ledge and one lonely vampire came running towards her and she took out a stake and threw it and the vampire was dust. Out in the main room the group killed the last of the vampires as Spike held down one of the men in suits. Angel walked over to the man and grabbed him by the throat holding him up.

"You know I'm getting tired of killing you guys." He then threw him to the wall and walked over to the man taking Gunn's crossbow. The man stood up and Angel fired at him having the arrows hit him in the hands pinning him up. He handed the crossbow back to Gunn as he walked to the man. "Also tired of stringing up people up around town. I mean it use to do something for me now not so much. So I want to leave a message to your boss Lindsey." Angel took out a cigarette and tossed the pack to Spike and he took one out too. Angel lit up his and Spike took out his own lighter. "I want him if he's got the balls to come after me," Angel took his burning cigarette and tossed it on the man and he lit up. The man wouldn't die right now, these men weren't humans. He would be found in time by more of Wolfram and Hart's people but would die later on most likely.

Later on more of Hart's people showed up and two men walked in Lindsey and another man that went by the name Marcus Hamilton. Marcus was a man on earth but he was something more than that. He was not human, nor vampire or demon. He was something else and he Lindsey were working together now to take down Angel and his daughter. Those two are all that stands in their way from ruling the world. The two saw their burning soldier knowing who was responsible.

A Week Later

Giles hung up the phone and sighed and headed into the training room where Isabella and Angel were sparing.

"Come on stop trying to hit me and hit me." Angel said and Isabella charged and he grabbed her and body slammed her to the ground, the match at one point was serious but now it just got silly as Angel pinned her and she roared with laughed as Angel tickled her. She tried to break away but was at his mercy. She had the cutest laugh that sounded like Buffy's. Angel tried to keep her pinned because surprising Angel was very ticklish and Buffy discovered that secret a long time ago.

'During the night after Buffy lost her mother she and Angel laid together. He didn't turn because well her heart was broken and he ached for her. But perfect happiness that's not easy to achieve all the time. The first time he achieved it because he had Buffy, he was her first, innocent and she gave herself to him and it was perfect. But now to achieve it again to recreate that moment wasn't easy. He had many things happening to be happy for so to reach the level of perfect happiness actually gets harder kind of like a drug. It doesn't take much the first time to feel the effects but after a while you need more to get that effect.

Buffy was sitting up slightly tracing random patterns on his chest as Angel laid there quietly with one arm slung over his face. The night was ending and he was getting tired because it was his bed time soon. Buffy looked down at him and he looked peaceful. He took some of the pain away for now but she wasn't just sure yet if this meant they were back together or was this a 'I need you for comfort or guilt sex.' But she had a plan to get him to smile because when he did the pain went away completely plus it would catch him off guard. Her hand slid down to his side and she pinched him. Angel opened his eyes and looked up at her.

"What are you doing?" He asked with a little bit of a tired voice. Buffy smiled that smile knowing she struck gold.

"It's called tickling," She explained and pinched his side again and he flinched. It felt funny and he couldn't fight the urge to smile and laugh as she continued. "And in one second I'll have you begging for mercy." He laughed a little more trying to get the offending hand away.

"I don't think I like this." He said still smiling and she smiled too.

"You're not supposed to that's the whole point." She kept going as he laughed and managed to grab her hand away and pulled her in for a kiss as a diversion to start tickling her. "No Angel," She laughed and he managed to pin her down to the bed and stopped to gaze at her as her laughing subsided. That moment took some of the pain away. He leaned in for a kiss and she held him.'

Who would have known that the little girl that was laughing before him was conceived on that very night? Isabella managed to get him back until Giles cleared his voice and the two stopped and she shoved him away and he smiled.

"Yes Giles." Angel said trying to get serious again.

"We have a slight problem." The Watcher informed them.

Everyone in the hotel was gathered in the lobby waiting for Giles to speak.

"Well I got an interesting phone call from the Watchers Council." Giles stated and that made Wes sit up more. The former Scoobies looked around at one another while Fred, Gunn, Lorne and Tara looked confused. Angel just sat there knowing right away they were interested in Isabella and he crossed his arms sitting back in his chair looking at Giles.

"What do those pouncy buggers want?" Spike asked.

"Watchers Council?" Gunn asked.

"Yes they're the council of Watchers and they run the show and the slayer." Wes explained. "Giles and I were one of them years ago."

"Yup they fired the G man." Xander added.

"Why?" Fred asked.

"He helped Buffy out when he wasn't supposed too." Willow finished.

"They almost killed Buffy." Angel added, he wasn't happy with the Council and he was close that night to killing Traverns. Was that old man still alive?

"So are they good or bad?" Tara asked.

"Yeah they're scary and horrible people." Willow added remembering what they did years ago. Isabella just sat there she knew about the Council and she knew how Giles, Wes and her father did not like them.

"They can appear hard nose but essentially their agenda is the same," Giles was explaining. "They want to save the world, kill demons." But that last part made Anya and Lorne perk up.

"Kill demons?" Anya asked.

"You mean the ugly nasty kind right?" Lorne asked.

"And the current demons." Anya added.

"Giles they aren't coming." Angel stated and Giles had the look like he didn't want them too. "I don't want them in my hotel or anywhere near my daughter."

"I can't they're on their way." Giles informed the vampire. "They say they have information that could be helpful to us about Wolfram and Hart. There's something else there other than Lindsey."

"They try anything that hurts Izzy," Angel started.

"I know I agree but let's see what they want." Giles finished.

The Next Day

Giles walked into the lobby with a book and found a group of older gentlemen in suits and knew who they were.

"Giles this demon might be," Wes stopped and looked up as well. Among the men and one woman was their old boss Traverns.

"Quentin," Giles said.

"Rupert, Wesley." The old man said and there was an awkward feeling and tension.

"Welcome to Angel Investigations." Giles said as the men looking around. However Quentin looked not impressed. "Uh back there is the training room, the offices with our books and then upstairs are the rooms." Quentin nodded as the two former Watchers just stood there.

"Guess we have plenty of rooms to sleep in then." Quentin stated but Giles and Wes were not amused. "We'll stay until after the review."

"What review?" Giles asked. "I was not informed of a review." And the men and one woman came closer. "Yeah stand around and look somber what review?"

"You two use to respect us." Quentin said.

"Yeah and you use to pay us." Wes informed them just in case they forgot.

"Well you both were on the inside and know what kind of resources we have and we've discovered some information about this Wolfram and Hart." Quentin began. "Some of it is clearly vital and some well just disturbing and it won't be handed over until we are clearly convinced that this girl Isabella, you, Wes, this team as you call it and Angelus are prepared for it. Thus a review."

"You will not put Isabella through a test like you did her mother." Giles clearly stated.

"She's half vampire right? The Day Walker she should be just fine." Quentin said. "But this isn't a test this is merely a check of her methods she is young. We need to know this information is safe."

"You can trust her and the team." Wes said.

"Isabella is strong and she has a remarkable focus." Giles added and the group headed to the training room.

"Tell me who trains her?" Quentin asked looking around the huge room.

"Uh her father mostly in combat skills, we figure if she can take on Angelus than everything else is a cake walk." Wes explained and Quentin nodded. Then they heard footsteps as it was Isabella standing at the entrance.

"I heard something from up…stairs and now I'm just going to…go," She said and turned around.

"Isabella?" Quentin asked and turned back around. "Wow you look just like your mother. Allow me to introduce myself I'm Quentin Traverns." And the young girl nodded and walked in. "Giles and Wes have been telling us about your training regiment and perhaps you'll favor us with a demonstration."

"Now?" She asked.

"No child," Quentin smiled and was trying to act friendly. "But we've already laid out our project, mister Nigel." And another man stepped forward.

"It will be an exhaustive examination of your procedures and abilities as a…whatever it is you are." Nigel started; the last part didn't sit well with Isabella nor with Giles or Wes. "We'll observe your training talk to your friends."

"Talk to my friends?" She asked. "What play the twenty question game?" Then Giles cleared his throat and Isabella simmered down.

"We understand that this place takes civilians out on duty." Quentin added.

"Oh bite me." She said crossing her arms.

"Isabella, Bella can I call you Bella?" Quentin asked.

"No," Isabella said harshly.

"Ok well Isabella I can sense your resistance which I don't blame you I'm sure you've heard stories about us," Quentin paused. "But I don't think that your tow former Watches haven't reminded you or haven't told you even though you are not the slayer but perhaps stronger than and born of one so we will treat you as such. But we are playing a little game. The Council fights evil and the slayer is the instrument by which we fight. There is a slayer out there but you serve a higher purpose and we find you well a bit more fit for this, a better instrument so to speak. The Council remains but the slayers change although we might have a more permit slayer soon." He looked to Isabella.

"Well that's a very comforting bloodless way of putting it." Giles added quickly.

"Giles let me talk to Isabella because I think we have an understanding." Quentin interjected and looked to the young girl. "Wolfram and Hart is stronger than this Angel Investigations a more powerful instrument," Quentin explained. "We can help you we have information that can help. Pass the review and we will give it to you without reservation. Fail the review for either incompetence or by resisting our recommendations,"

"Resisting your recommendations?" Giles asked and now he sounded annoyed.

"Yeah really she fails if we don't do whatever you say." Wes added and for the most part that was true. "Just fail her now and stop wasting our time."

"How much under your thumb to you think we are?" Giles asked.

"How much do you want our help?" Quentin fired back.

"She's not yours and you have no bloody right to do any of this!" Giles yelled to his former boss.

"Oh yes we can and we will. If you fail to follow our directions we will shut this place down." Quentin informed them.

"You can't do that." Isabella said.

"We can and we have the power and we'll deport Wesley and Giles back to England." Quentin added before finishing. "Perhaps you're use to ideal threats and sloppy discipline just like your mother." He literally just insulted Buffy, her mother right in front of her. "But you're dealing with grownups now so take off the kid gloves." But before anyone continued on there was a growl and before Quentin knew it he was pinned up against the wall. A Council member went to fire an arrow but Angel caught it and snapped it. Quentin was dangling there.

"Quentin I don't think you've met Angelus, Isabella's father." Giles said with a slight grin on his face. "Angel you can put him down for the moment." Angel dropped the old man still giving off low growls and walked over to his daughter and stood behind her crossing his arms. He was massive compared to the rest of these men in suits.

"Get out of my home." Angel demanded as Quentin was helped up. "Leave what you've found and get out."

"I'm afraid we can't An…Angelus," Quentin tried to sound tough but no Watcher except Giles and Wes have ever seen or met the legendary Angelus. Angel then walked away from Isabella to Quentin while one Council member held up his crossbow but Angel just knocked it right out of his hands and Wes couldn't help but smile as these men trembled before him.

"Did I stutter?" Angel asked as he began to back Quentin into the corner. "I want you and your team out," But before Angel could kill the man Giles got in between them.

"Angel its ok," Giles said. "We'll corporate and get through this." As Angel stood there staring down Travens.

"You want to be here then you should stand before my team put your head between your legs and kiss your own ass," Angel then turned away and motioned for Isabella and she followed, it was going to be a long few days.

Isabella sat at the dining room table with Giles pacing, Wes trying to get his mind off what happened by reading a demon book, Angel was sitting next to Isabella and everyone else was in the dining room too.

"It's a power play." Giles said and Wes looked up.

"Negative thinking doesn't solve problems." Wes stated and Giles flashed him a look. "Giles I'm just as frustrated as you but there's nothing we can do at the moment."

"Well it's about who has the power." Giles went on ignoring Wes, he needed to vent.

"I'm guessing they do." Isabella added. "Big power outage in Isabella County." Angel rubbed her back.

"Power outage at AI is more like it, stupid English men." Spike muttered.

"You're English." Gunn reminded him.

"I should have let Angel have more of a go at them instead of holding him back that's what I should have done." Giles admitted, seeing Angel go after Quentin was gratifying especially because he's never met Angel. It would have been quite a show letting Angel take down the Watcher's Council, he could do it and it would happen in the blink of an eye.

"Giles that Traverns guy is like sixty that would be rude." Isabella added. "Besides it would have done us no good."

"I suppose," Giles paused. "Oh hell with it I would have joined Angel."

"Me too." Wes added while still reading his book and everyone smiled a little.

"You know what I think we should." Giles stated, he was just upset he didn't really mean any of it.

"Can they really do the stuff they threaten?" Isabella asked. "Split us all up shut us down?"

"In a heartbeat." Wes stated and put his book down. "See the rough stuff they're alright at, they're a bit hammed handed but they get it done." Wes took of his glasses and rubbed his eyes.

"Now this stuff the pulling of political strings they're the best in the world." Giles finished while cleaning his glasses. "They can kill you with a strike of a pen. Pouncy," Then he broke his glasses from cleaning them too hard. He let out a frustrated sigh looking at his broken lenses. Isabella looked down at the table and sighed.

"Am I going to be able to get throw this review?" She asked her two Watchers and they both looked to her.

"They'll make it as difficult as they want." Giles stated plainly and Wes nodded. Angel sat there quietly.

"Physical stuff maybe a challenge." Wes added.

"That's not what I'm worried about." Isabella stated. "It's the other stuff, examining the choices I've made."

"Isabella its ok," Wes tried to calm her down.

"No one is going to be asked the questions that I can't answer. They're going to expect me to be like a slayer and know stuff but I'm just me and I don't know anything I'm not a slayer. Plus one said 'whatever I am' what does that mean? I'm me I'm not some freak," Angel then tucked some hair behind her ear and he was frustrated as well.

"Isabella calm down, the scandal here isn't anything you've done wrong." Giles assured her. "It's the way they're behaving, holding what they know hostage, pointing the gun to the group to split us up."

"It's humiliating." Wes added.

"Also smart, they picked the right thing." Isabella stated understanding that the Council wanted it to go their way so they had to pick out things that this group wanted to hold onto in order to carry out their plans. "I can't lose any of you guys." She looked around the table, this was her family. Angel just pulled her close to him and she sighed. "This sucks."

And the Council is here, dun, dun, dun. So what's next? I introduced Marcus and the Council has some news…hmmm. More to come, comments and reviews are welcomed thanks for reading.