He was on top of her, shaking her.  He had a death grip on her shoulders and shook her so hard she almost lost consciousness.  She screamed and screamed and screamed. . . on the inside.

On the outside she wasn’t revealing anything.  She was still reeling from the evening’s events.  She couldn’t believe him, couldn’t believe he’d changed.  He was a demon. Now this demon she’d once called friend, almost called lover, was striking her across the face.  Hard.  This demon she came to trust, confide in. . .stole kisses from in empty hallways.  She couldn’t believe it.

She smelled them before she saw them.  That smell.  Two vampires came up and held her by the arms and two others took her legs and pinned them down.  She struggled but knew it was no use.  It was one against five and she had the short end of the stick.

She heard the sound.  Flesh being split.  She heard it before she felt it. . .she wasn’t sure she was able to feel anything.  They were feeding off of her, trying to keep her weak.  She struggled even harder and began to scream.  She actually thought sound had come out of her throat. . .she hoped.

“Will!”

Her eyes opened wide.  She was breathing heavily and felt the sweat drip down her forehead.  She knew where she was and fought to catch her breath.  “I’m okay.  Give me a second.”

Cordelia got up and came back with a wet washcloth.  She slowly placed it on Willow’s head so as not to startle her.

She closed her eyes with some relief.  “Thanks.”

Carefully, she smoothed the hair away from her face.  Whatever this was, it was something big.  After growing up on the Hellmouth, not even Cordelia could remember having nightmares like this.  “You okay?”

“Fine.”  She sat up and gave a weak smile.  “Sorry you had to see that.”

”It looked bad.  Worse than the other one.”

Willow nodded her head.  “It gets worse every time. . .”  She rubbed her temples.  “So do the headaches.  Can you get me the bottle of pills out of my bag?”

Cordelia nodded and walked over to the bag.  After rifling through a bit she found it.  “Xanax?”  She looked over and Willow nodded.  “Nerve calmer of choice to the stars.”  She handed her the bottle.

“What?”  She took two of them and tossed them back.

“No water?”  She shook her head.  “Xanax. . .a lot of people I’ve auditioned with take it before they read for a director.  They said it calms their nerves.”

”It does.  Believe me.”  She smiled and laid back against the pillows.  “I’m sorry, Cordy, you shouldn’t have to. . .”

”I don’t have to.  Get it?”  She smiled down at her.

Willow looked up, thankful.  “Yes, ma’am.”

“Hungry?  I’ve got Krispy Kreme’s. . .”  She said in a sing-song voice.  She headed out the door to the kitchen.

”You didn’t.  How did you get out and back without Xander spotting you?  He’s there every Sunday like clockwork right when they come out of the oven.”  She brought over a plate and Willow took one.  They were still warm.  “You are so the goddess!  He didn’t see you, did he?”

“No.  I used the back door.  I dated the front counter guy in high school.  Only back then he was Sunnydale’s front runner for All-American third year in a row.  Go figure.  The places we find ourselves.”  She sat down on the bed again.  “Are you sure you’re okay?”

She nodded.  “Fine.  I have an appointment with a therapist next week. . .big fun.”  She rolled her eyes.

“So you’re here to get your head shrunk, not just to relax.”  Cordelia was beginning to put the pieces together.

“In a way I am relaxing.  I think I’m one of the only people I know of that finds research relaxing.”  She smiled and was almost feeling better.

“I’d have to agree.  Only you could find comfort in the demon section of the library.”  Cordelia smiled, but noticed that Willow had a stricken look on her face.  “Did I say something wrong?”

She shook her head.  “No.  Where’s Angel?”

<Change of subject.  Okay.>  “He went out late last night to investigate some stuff.  I guess he left early this morning too.  I didn’t see him when I got up.  With the office being open during the day, he kind of keeps human hours now.”  She reached down and pushed a hair away from her forehead.  “Penny for your thoughts?”

“Un uh.  Bad dream thoughts.  You don’t wanna buy those.  You wouldn’t get your money’s worth.”

”Ha, ha.  I’m serious, Will.  These ears were made for listening.”

Trusting Cordelia.  She figured that stranger things have happened.  “I was attacked in England. . .it was really bad.  Giles and the council sent me here so I could get help.  The therapist I’m going to next week is supposed to be the best hands down.  They want me better quick so I can get on with my studies. . .and Giles just wants me better.”  She looked down at her hands.  It was a very abbreviated version of the truth, but the truth none the less.

“That’s what the nightmares are about?”  Willow nodded.  “Was it like Angelus bad or more Jack the Ripper bad?”

She thought for a moment.  “Both.  But worse.  I don’t think Angelus could ever do to me what . . .they did.”

“They?”  Again Willow nodded.  “How many?”

“Five.  Four vampires and a shape-shifting demon.  The demon, I. . .we thought he was a novice Watcher, like me, but. . .”

Cordelia realized the implications of her words.  She didn’t know what to say, they were both on the edge of tears.  God, to go through that, to go through it and remember everything and have it done to you by someone you thought you could trust no less.  She did the only thing she could think of, she leaned down to the redhead who looked so tiny under the comforter and hugged her.

Willow stiffined at first.  Hugging Cordelia was new.  Geez, everything was new in the past forty-eight hours.  Trusting Cordelia, talking to Cordelia like a friend.  She liked it.  She liked the girl in front of her, liked the way she smelled (like home somehow), the way they could talk seriously and kid around too.  She relaxed and put her arms around her more tightly.  She couldn’t remember the last time she felt this safe this. . .okay.  Feeling okay in and of itself was new for Willow too.  She’d been skittish and tense for so long.

“Am I interrupting?”  Angels voice was soft from the door.

Willow looked up.  “No.  Just some bonding.”

Cordelia let go and sat up.  Willow gave a little pout but let her go.  “Yeah, girl bonding.”  She turned to Angel.  “It’s fun. . .you should try it.”

He smiled.  “I think I’ll pass. . .for now.”  He walked into the room.  “So are you two going to stay in bed all day?  There’s work to be done.”  He looked down at them with a smirk.

“But, dad, I’m on vacation.”  Willow said in her best whinny voice.

He chuckled.  “Okay, you got me.  I have some research that needs to be done.  You’ll both be better off staying indoors anyway.  I don’t need Xander or Buffy seeing you.”  They gave him a look.  “Or me.”  He added. He looked at the nightstand.  “Although, if those are Krispy Kremes I see there then someone’s already gone out and tried to blow their cover.”  He looked accusingly at Cordelia.

“Guilty.  I couldn’t help it.  They were warm and gooey and I wasn’t caught.  I promise.”  She smiled at him.

He sighed and nodded his head.  “Okay you two.  Computer is in the den.  It’s not as good as the one Cordy has at home or in the office, but it’ll do for now.   Willow, do you think you could link up to the office in L.A.?”

”Sure, no problem.  I can do it with my eyes closed.”  She smiled at him.

He turned and started to walk away.  “I should know better.  Never doubt the redheads.”

“Buffy. . .”  Xander was knocking on her door for the third time in ten minutes.  “Come on, they’re gonna get cold.”

She imerged from her room and pushed him out of the way making a beeline for the bathroom.  After she closed the door, he rubbed his stomach.  <Slayers. . .now that’s gonna leave a mark.>  He sat down in the livingroom and turned on Sunday morning cartoons.

She came out of the bathroom and flopped down on the couch.  Without looking, he reached for a donut and handed it to her outstreched hand.  This was a familiar routine for them on Sunday’s.  Donuts, waking Buffy up, cartoons, coffee and talk.

“Xand, we gotta find you a new line of work.”

”Whada ya mean, Buff?”  He said with a mouthful of donut.

She made a face at him.  “If you could get a job that you’d get up for they way you get up for these donuts, you’d be set.  Do you realize ever since we moved in together you’ve involved me in your sugarry little ritual?  At. . “  She looked at her watch.  “9am no less!”  She took a big bite of the donut and glared at him.

“Its just another Xander Harris tradition.  One that I was so kind and friendly like to let you in on.”  He reached for her donut.  “Now if you’d like to be uninitiated, then. . .”  She promptly slapped his hand away and took another bite.  He smiled.  “I didn’t think so.”

When the coffee was done, Xander got up and served them.  They sat watching cartoons for a while then Buffy had an idea.  “Hey, I’ll bet Willow is in her room today.  It’s Sunday. . .she can’t be studying.  Even God took a rest.”

Xander looked over at her.  “It’s worth a try.”  He handed her the phone.  “Here.”

Buffy dialed.  And dialed, and dialed.  “These international numbers give me a headache.  Why can’t the have just eleven numbers like the rest of us?”  It rang.  “Hello?  Rupert Giles’ please.  Thanks. . . Giles?  It’s Buffy!  How are you?  What’s new. . .where’s Willow?”

“Fine, nothing and out of town.  It’s nice to hear from you too, Buffy.”

“Where’d she go?”   Buffy gave Xander a look.

“On assignment out of town.  You must realize that she is very busy.”

“Out of town like here out of town?”  She squeezed the phone.

“I’m afraid not.  She’s gone to Wales on assignment with some of the other novices.  I am sorry but you just missed her.  They left about an hour ago.”

“Oh, well.  Okay.”  Silence.

“She’s alright, Buffy.  Really.”

“I know Giles, I just miss her.”  She thought for a moment.  “And you.”

He smiled.  “I miss you too.  I hope to finish up in the next few months and fly back.  You are doing patrols, aren’t you?”

She smiled.  “Yes, Giles.  All is quiet on the home front.  Although. . .well, Riley asked for a little help and that’s what Xander and I have been up to.  Did you know they’re closing the Initiative compound on Campus?  This is what I know so far. . .”

She hadn’t planned on telling him anything yet wound up telling him everything.  He listened patiently and offered his advice here and there.  In truth, she did miss him.  More than she thought she could have, but he was her Watcher after all.  She couldn’t begrudge him the chance to make things right with the council and get his standing back.  Even if it did mean he was away for a long time.  She hung up the phone and sat in thought.

Xander looked over at her after a few minutes.  “He’ll come back, Buffy.”

She looked over at him.  “I know.  And so will our favorite hacker, but. . .”  She shrugged sadly.

“It doesn’t make us miss them any less now.”  He looked at her with knowing eyes.  “Wills has only been gone a year.  She still has three more to go. . .”

She slouched over against him.  “Why does everyone leave, Xander?  Everyone has left us. . .”

He put his arm around her.  “Hey, the Xand-man’s still here.  I’m not goin anywhere without my Buffster close behind.”  He gave a little squeeze.

“I can always count on you, Xand.”  They drank coffee and watched TV a little more.  “Hey, so what do you want to do about this whole demon hunting thing?  I told Giles everything we knew and he said he’d find out if the Council had any informaiton. . .”

”Well, I think we should just sit tight and let the Council put all the answers in our lap.  No use in going on a wild goose chase until we know what the goose looks like.”

“But still, Riley might get suspicious. . .”

”True.  So we’ll do what we do best in the face of unknown danger.”

”What’s that?”

He gave her his big lovable oaf smile.  “Fake it till we know more.”

“Hello?  Hello?”  He was holding the cell phone to his ear but it was no use.

Cordelia came up behind him and took it.  “Vampires.”  She shook her head.  She hit the answer button.  “Hello?. . .yes, hi. . .no he’s right here. . .yeah, he can read and speak twelve languages, four of them dead, but he still can’t answer a cell phone. . .”  She held the phone out to him.  “It’s Giles.”

He took the phone and glared at her.  “Hello?”

“Angel, it’s Rupert.  I didn’t reach you at home, well obviously. . .are you busy?”

“No, just working on something.  What’s up?”

“Have you ever heard of the Initiative?”

“Funny you should ask.  That’s what I’m working on now.”

”You don’t say.”

“Yeah, I got a lead from a woman. Her husband is a demon and this group, the Initiative is trying to hunt them down and kill them.  Apparently they don’t like the races mixing. . .must be stuck in the 60’s.”

He was taken back by Angel’s humor.  “I see.  Yes, I’ve been told as much. I just got off the phone with Buffy.  Apparently she and Xander. . “

”Have been rucruited to hunt the males.  I know.  I think there’s more going on.”

“How did you?  Angel, are you in Sunnydale?”

“Yes, but no one has seen me and I plan on keeping it that way.”

“And Willow?”  The concern in his voice was apparent.

“She’s fine, Giles. . .she’s”

Willow came up next to him.  “Giles?  Is that Giles?”

Giles spoke again.  “She’s there, in Sunnydale?  Have you lost your mind?”

He motioned for Willow to be quiet and spoke to Giles again.  “She’s fine.”

”If anyone see’s her. . .”

”No one will see her, Giles.  We were careful.  We’re at my apartment.”

“Angel, she’s supposed to be taking care of herself.  She’s there to recover, not work for you.”  He was getting more and more agitated.

Angel shook his head.  Willow saw the expression on his face and put her hand out for the phone.  He gave it to her thankfully.

“Giles. . “

”Willow? What on earth are you doing in Sunnydale?”

“It’s fine.  I’m helping Angel and Cordelia.  I offered and they couldn’t stop me and believe me they tried.  My first appointment is next week and I plan on keeping it as well as helping Angel, it’s good for me so don’t try to talk me out of it. Understand?  Do you know about this whole Initiative thing?”

He sighed in resignation.  “Yes, Buffy just told me everything.  You have to be careful.  There’s more going on than any of you have figured out yet.  I’ve got the Council on it now and I should have word soon.  Buffy seems to think that it’s a simple ‘rid the world of demons’ issue, but it’s much more.  If I’m correct, this is a clan of Badahu demons.  They are peaceful and blend in well with the community.  They only want to live their lives, but.”

”What Giles?”

“The males inpregnate their wives, it’s natural and normal.  The Initiative somehow found out and, well, they’re taking the wives, keeping them until they give birth and wiping out the memory of it all.  They take the infant demons and let them die alone in a room.  Without proper nourishment it can happen between two and five hours.”

”That’s horrible.  They’re killing the babies?”

“Yes.  I’m afraid the Initiative only sees it as a way to bring more demons into the world.  I’m sure they haven’t looked at it from the human side.  If given the chance to develop, the demons can learn to make the change to human form.  They are a highly educated race and very resourceful.”

”And the Initiative is trying to wipe them out.  That’s, that’s like a twisted form of gender aparthid or racial clensing. . . it’s illigal!”

“Yes, yes it is.  But the government hasn’t seen fit to accept this particular race of demons as citizens.  For years they’ve been trying but to no avail.”

”So Buffy and Xander are hunting them?”

“Yes, only the males.  There have been so many killings lately that the race is close to extinction.  She doesn’t completely trust Riley’s motives but she is helping him none the less, or, at least letting it look like she’s helping until she can find out more.”

”Good.  At least she’s being careful.”

”As well should you.  I can’t tell you what to do Willow, but if you allow her to see you.”

”I know, Giles.  I’m more and more convinced that it was the best idea to go to L.A. with Angel and Cordelia.  I feel a little better already.  Cordy’s been great.”

”I never thought I’d hear you say her name and great in the same breath.”  He laughed.

“I know.  Its weird.  Everything is fine.  You’ll call Angel when you find out more?”

“Yes.  How long do you three plan on staying there?”

“Not too long.  I think Angel’s going to lurk around some more tonight to see what he can find out.  Cordy and I have been put under house arrest.”

”Good.  Take care of yourself, would you?”

“I will.  Angel and Cordy have been doing a good job of that too.  Bye Giles!”  She shut the phone off and was running through all the information in her mind.

“So?”

She jumped.  “Angel!  God,  do I have to put bells on you?”

He smirked.  “No, sorry.  What did Giles say?”

“Come on and sit.  You two are not going to believe this.”  They all sat down on the couch.