Hey readers, this is what you've been waiting for. A bit of Riley/Angel confontation. Sparks Fly! Limbs are severed! -No scratch that last part, but there are definite sparks. Also i wanted to say a big thankyou to Nabikineum. Your last review encouraged me to keep writing what i want to write, so thanks.

Enjoy, Telescapist

"Hi" Angel squirmed under Buffy's astonished glare. Riley moved in front of her in a ready fighting stance.

"Hi?" Buffy's glare lost its astonishment. "God Angel, déjà-vu much? I can't believe you were all 'lurking in the shadows' guy again. What are you doing here? Especially after last time"

"Er..."

"Let me guess. Cordelia had a vision and you decided –again- that it would be better if we just didn't see each other at all. You are so one sided sometimes, you know, did you ever think that maybe I don't need you to come protect me? That you could have just told me about the stupid vision over the phone? Aren't you even going to say anything?

"Err...Sorry?"

"Sorry! Is that all you have to say after-"

"Buffy I'm sorry I didn't tell you I was here but I only just got to town and Giles said you'd be in the park so I came to find you and I was about to, but then Spike came and well... I didn't really wanna have to deal with him and...I kinda just did it out of habit" he finished, quickly looking up at her then down again. "Sorry I didn't mean to weird you out" he glared at Riley. "You on the other hand..."

"I thought you weren't gonna be coming around here again" said Riley through gritted teeth. "It's quite obvious Buffy doesn't want you here so why dont-"

"Ah Riley" Buffy interrupted softly "Despite the annoyance" she glared at Angel who gave her a 'who me?' look and continued "we should at least find out what was in the vision; it may give us a clue about the order."

"The order?" Angel frowned.

"Well apparently your friend had the 'vision'" said Riley crossing his arms, "why don't you tell us?"

"That not how it works 'Major'" Angel smiled, copying Riley's tone "Perhaps you should leave the fighting evil talk to the grownups."

"I'd say you're more than grownup" Riley stepped forward "Maybe you should leave the fighting evil talk to Buffy and I, old man."

"Enough" Buffy growled, "Cut it out both of you. If we wanna know what's going on we have to compare notes and we can't, well I can't do that with you two constantly bickering."

"I didn't say anything" Angel protested whilst looking sheepish. Riley's arms remained crossed but his posture relaxed as he turned to face Buffy.

"So we compare notes?" he prompted. Buffy smiled and turned to Angel.

"So what do you know?"



"Cordelia saw some demons about yay high" he gestured with his hand "brown and scaly, with a couple of tusks and pretty angry."

"That would be our resident Knarick demon" Buffy confirmed "Did she see anything specific? Any clue to what they want?"

"They were preparing for some kind of ritual" he frowned "but I don't have any specifics. Something to do with a portal and blood and earth, I'm not sure, she couldn't identify anything."

"Well that leaves us exactly back to where we were" Riley sighed "You've really cracked the case wide open, thanks."Angel deliberately took a deep breath and kept his face blank.

"The visions are clues that lead me to someone in trouble; they don't say exactly who the evil is or what it wants" he said slowly as if talking to a kid.

"Well at least we know that it's some kind of ritual now" said Buffy, keeping wary eyes on both guys. "Maybe the others have found something that matches up."

"Let's hope so" Riley smirked. Angel gave up and stepped forward.

"I'm sorry do you have a problem?"

"As a matter of fact I do, yeah. This has got to be the flimsiest excuse to see your ex I've ever heard. You describe an average demon and then say it's cookin' up some ritual that "maybe" involves blood. Do you really think you're fooling anybody?" Riley stepped forward as well.

"Gee you read me like a book" Angel raised his eyebrow "Very perceptive. Now tell me, what am I going to do next?" He punched Riley in the jaw. Riley pulled back his arm to reciprocate when Buffy stepped in between them and shoved them both back several metres. Angel smirked and dusted off his coat "Sorry, reflex."Riley walked up slowly and stood beside Buffy.

"The next reflex you'll be feeling will be 'ow my leg, my leg' as in I'll kick you if you do that again, okay?" Angel stopped smiling.

"Right"

"I think we should all head back to Giles's place and see what the gang has come up with."She took Riley's hand and started toward the entrance to the park. Angel followed.

"Just a sec" Riley paused and turned around "I think I forgot something." He right-hooked Angel's jaw and turned back to Buffy. "I found it."

Buffy sighed and kept walking, Riley by her side. Angel stalked behind them, rubbing his jaw.