The three of them were just exiting the studio the next day when a tired Cordelia stopped and put a hand to her head. Xander saw her eyes widen and she looked around, searching for something. Or someone.
"Cordy," he asked, softly. "what is it?"
"My guard's down, I'm tired. Xander, I just had a vision."
"What did you see?"
"Someone looking at Dawn and I felt, I think I felt what whoever's looking at her felt."
"You look scared, what are they feeling?"
"Gloating, awe and I'm pretty damn sure whoever it is, isn't sane. They kept whispering, soon, Illyria, soon."
"Dawn!" Xander snapped out a command. "Go back inside, to the Security Office, tell them a person of interest is watching the studio, have them check the cameras and stay with them. Don't argue! Go!" Dawn went, Sunnydale had left its mark and Don't Die! was still their motto. Xander pulled out his cell and called the General and filled him in.
"Remain there, Corporal, I'll have a team dispatched to bring you in. Does Cordelia have any idea what the person looks like?"
"Cordy, any idea what he looks like?" Xander asked. Cordelia examined her memory of the vision, it was from the point of view of the person watching Dawn. It was like she could see through his eyes and she was feeling his feelings, they were so strong they got though her tired defenses. But as she examined the memory she saw something, a reflection in a car window.
"Maybe around thirty, small build. I'll know him if I see him in person, Xander." She told him about the reflection and he relayed it to the General.
As soon as General Higgins got off the phone he called the base's resident Magic user, Samantha Grand, one of only a handful of people who knew the truth about Dawn Summers, at least as far as they knew.
"Yes, General?" She asked as she answered her extension.
"Someone may be after Dawn Summers, Cordelia Chase-Harris got a vision. She's pretty sure whoever it is, isn't sane. They kept whispering 'soon, Illyria, soon'. Any thought on who or what Illyria is?"
"Not off the top of my head, but I can research it." She assured him.
"Do that, I'm taking a team to Los Angeles. Call me when you have something."
"Yes, Sir." Samantha hung up and immediately headed for her sanctuary, the library filled with copies of her books, Rupert Giles' confiscated books and copies of everything the Watchers Council had, calling in her staff as she did so. If Illyria was real and not the product of some delusion, than hopefully the information would be in those books.
General Higgins swept through his base collecting personnel and issuing orders. By the time he left, he had people hacking into any camera around the studio looking for someone who might be watching and fit the vague description Cordelia had.
Back at the studio, Xander and Cordelia also headed to the Security Office. Cordelia might see the man on one of their cameras.
"You're sure about this?" The Officer in charge asked.
"I'm sure, I've alerted General Higgins at the base in Sunnydale. Dawn Summers is under Special Protection, my wife may be able to identify the man in question. I need you to let her examine your recordings."
"I have to get permission for that." The Chief told him.
"You'll have it, the General is calling the head of the studio." Xander assured him, which is when the phone rang. After listening, the Officer hung up and turned back to Xander.
"We're to cooperate fully." He told his men. "Set up a monitor and feed the footage from the cameras to it." His people scrambled to follow his orders, Xander noted approvingly. No questioning, but stalking was an issue with actors and that's why studios did their best to provide the best Security they could. Cordelia took a seat in front of the monitor and began examining the footage from the security cameras, while Xander wrapped an arm around Dawn.
"We'll find him, Dawn, I promise." She drew in a deep breathe and calmed herself down, Xander always tried to keep his promises.
It took time and careful examination of the footage, but Cordelia spotted someone hanging around across the street from the studio. Too far for the camera to make anything out, but the build looked right. Xander relayed that information to the General, who relayed it to his people back at base, who concentrated on any cameras they could access in that area and by the time the General and his team arrived at the studio, had a picture of a man taken by a traffic camera as someone had sped through it. They sent a picture to the General, who showed it to Cordelia.
"That's him, General!" She was certain this picture matched the reflection in her vision.
"Fan out, search the area!" General Higgins ordered. "Dawn, let's get you into our truck. Corporal Harris and Cordelia can follow us in their car. The sooner we can get you back to base, the safer you'll be."
Surrounded by military, Dawn was escorted out of the Security Office and to the General's own truck. She climbed into the back and the military personnel climbed in after her and began the trip back to the base.
Unfortunately the search of the surrounding area didn't find the man, but by the time the General with Dawn and Xander and Cordelia following them arrived, his people did have a name, Carson Knox, a scientist who worked for Wolfram and Hart. Head Scientist to be precise.
Did Wolfram and Hart have an interest in Dawn Summers? Or was it more personal?