Proud to be CHOSEN for October 2000 by the Claddagh Fanfiction Archives.

RATING: �PG for language
DISCLAIMER: �I don't own any of the characters from ANGEL or BTVS. �They're owned by Joss Whedon (who ought to treat them nicer), MutantEnemy, Kuzui, Sandollar, the WB, Fox, etc.
SPOILERS: Season 1 of ANGEL, up through "The Prodigal" - through Season 3 of BUFFY, with very general references to Season 4. �There is no mention of Riley, the Initiative, or Faith, �cause I just don't want to have to deal with all that mess.
SUMMARY: Cordelia confronts Kate about her treatment of Angel. �Kate then makes a trip to Sunnydale to learn about him, and finds out more than she bargained for.
NOTES: I got really irate when Kate told Angel he didn't know about being human in "The Prodigal." This is my response to that stupid remark. �And, yes, I've taken liberties with the BUFFY canon.
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����� Kate squatted over the pile of dust that moments before had been a vampire. �The fight was over, and the - things - responsible for killing her father were dead, yet she felt no jubilation or triumph. �All she could feel was an aching and immense weariness. �She heard Angel come up behind her. �"Kate, I know that what happened with your father - "

����� How dared he? �She interrupted. �"My father was human." �Kate stood up and faced Angel, uncaring of the tear tracks on her face. �"And you don't know anything about that." �She stalked off, leaving Angel silently looking after her.

����� "Detective Lockley."

����� Kate looked up from the folder in her hand to see a very attractive young woman standing beside her. �"Cordelia," she said with surprise, shutting the file drawer. �"What's up? �Why so formal?" �She suddenly glanced around the room, her eyes guarded. �"Is Angel - ?"

����� She hadn't seen him in almost a week, not since the fight in the garage. �Her father's funeral two days ago had been hard enough; she didn't think she could handle seeing the person - no, he wasn't a person - the being who'd failed to save him - even though rationally she knew he'd done everything he could. Refusing to take leave, she'd returned to work immediately and buried herself in case files, looking with new eyes for possible vampire kills. �What she found stunned her.

����� "No, I'm here by myself," Cordelia told her. �"Is there some place we can talk?" �She eyed their surroundings with distaste, wrinkling her nose. �"Somewhere quieter?"

����� After a slight pause Kate said, "Sure." �She rose and led the way to an empty office. �Cordelia followed her inside, closing the door behind her. �Kate turned. �"What's this all ab - "

����� Cordelia cut in. �"Just where do you get off talking to Angel like that?"

����� "What?" �Kate looked at her blankly.

����� "I was there the other night, at the garage, when you two killed those demons. �I followed Angel there after he came back to the office all Grim Face and loaded himself up with weapons. �I heard you. �'My father was human,' " Cordelia mimicked. �"What the hell do you think Angel is - was? �A pod person?"

����� Kate's eyes flashed. �"I think he's a vampire, Cordelia."

����� Cordelia rolled her eyes. �"Well, duh! �Of course he is. �That's not the point."

����� "Really. �Then what is the point?" Kate demanded coolly.

����� Cordelia came closer. �Her face was stern. �"The point is that you were way out of line, lady." �Kate started to speak but Cordelia stopped her with a gesture. �"The point is that you know nothing about Angel. �Nada."

����� "Born in Ireland about two hundred seventy years ago. �Named Angelus after he became a vampire. �The scourge of the British Isles and Europe for over a hundred years," Kate recited glibly. �"Known for his angelic face and his evil deeds."

����� Cordelia shook her head impatiently. �"That was then. �I'm talking about our Angel, the one that's here and now. �He's gone through a hell you can't even begin to imagine. �In fact, he's been to hell - and I mean that very literally, Kate. �He spent years in the dimension we call hell. �He gave up the person he loves most in the world because he couldn't be sure that he wouldn't go all evil again and hurt her."

����� She took another step toward the frowning detective. �"The point, Kate, is that Angel has never been anything but helpful and friendly to you - and you've been treating him like dog meat ever since you found out he was one of the Undead. �Wasn't he the one who warned you in the first place that your dad was in danger? �Wasn't it Angel who tried to save him?"

����� "Did he send you here?" �Kate leaned against the wall and crossed her arms, regarding Cordelia.

����� "No," Cordelia said tightly. �"Angel did not send me. �Angel hasn't even mentioned your name since that night. �Angel might just fire me if he finds out I've come here. �But you know what? �I don't care; it'd be worth it. �Because I have had it with you, Ms. Nose-In-The-Air-Just-Because-I'm-Human. �Take a look in your police records, Detective. �Since when is being human anything to brag about?"

����� She dug in her shoulder bag, finally producing a scrap of paper which she banged down on the table. �"Here. �If you ever really want to find out about Angel, call that number. �Better yet, go to that address in Sunnydale. �Talk to Giles; he's Mr. Vampire Expert Guy."

����� Cordelia turned to leave, but paused with her hand on the doorknob. �She looked back at Kate. �"Ask him to tell you about Buffy. �I don't know if he will, but ask anyway."

����� "Who's Buffy?" Kate asked automatically.

����� "She's the Slayer." �With that Cordelia opened the door and stalked out of the room. �Kate stared after her for a second, then transferred her gaze to the paper on the table. �She picked it up, reading the name written across the top: Rupert Giles, followed by an address and phone number.

����� "Would you care for lemon or milk?" Giles called out from the kitchen.

����� "Uh, lemon, please." �Sitting on the couch, Kate looked around her. �Her first impression was that the apartment was made of books. �Every wall contained at least two bookcase, �three if there was room. The coffee table in front of her held several tattered, leather-bound volumes stacked one on the other. Gingerly picking up the top volume she read the title. �Demon Lore Throughout The Ages: A Scholarly Examination. ��She opened it and glanced at the copyright date -1822.

����� "Here we are." �Giles set down an enameled tray bearing two mugs of freshly brewed tea, a tiny pitcher of milk, several lemon slices in a dish, and a small bowl of sugar cubes. �He seated himself in an armchair next to the couch where Kate was sitting.

����� "Thanks." �Replacing the book, Kate helped herself to lemon and one sugar cube. �While stirring to dissolve the sugar she cast around for a way to start the conversation. �"So, you're from England, Mr. Giles."

����� Giles settled back in his chair and glanced at her, stirring his milky tea gently. �Pale wisps of steam drifted upward and vanished into the air. �"Yes, I am. �Is that what brought you all the way from Los Angeles, Detective Lockley? �You wanted to talk about my being British? �I assure you my papers are all in order."

����� She smiled faintly. �"No. �I, uh - I came to ask you to tell me about Angel."

����� Giles' cup stopped in midair. �"About Angel," he repeated. �Kate thought his voice sounded wary. �He took a gingerly sip of his tea. �"Why?"

����� "Why do I want to know about Angel or why did I come to you?"

����� "Both, actually." �He took another sip then set the mug down on a cork coaster. �"First of all, I would like to know how you got my name."

����� "Cordelia Chase gave it to me." �Kate watched as Giles absorbed that information. �"She said you were - how did she put it? �Mr. Vampire Expert, or something like that."

����� Giles gave a little laugh. �"That sounds like Cordelia. �So you know that Angel is a vampire." �He regarded Kate for a moment; she could read nothing in his eyes. �"Just what is your association with Angel? �Why is the LAPD interested in him?" �He picked up his mug again and resumed drinking.

����� "The LAPD isn't," Kate said evenly. �"I want to know more about him."

����� "Why?"

����� Kate rolled her eyes in exasperation. �"Why are you so protective of a vampire?"

����� "Because he's a friend," was Giles' surprising reply. �"Because I care about him. �You've told me this isn't an official investigation, Detective Lockley, so now you're going to have to explain to me why I should go behind Angel's back and tell you his life's story. �If this is so important to you, why didn't you ask Angel?"

����� Kate shrugged. �"Habit, I guess." �She gave him a cynical look. �"I'm a cop, Mr. Giles. �People rarely tell cops the truth about themselves."

����� Giles pursed his lips wryly. �"Well, I suppose that's true enough."

����� Kate set her mug down and leaned toward him. �"Please. �I need to know why a bloodsucking demon renowned for his evil deeds for almost a hundred and fifty years is suddenly one of the good guys. �I want to know why a vampire has human friends who care so much about him. �What makes Angel different from all the rest?"

����� Giles stared at her in silence, obviously thinking hard. �After a moment he said, "I'll tell you about Angel on one condition: that he gives me permission to do so."

����� Kate hesitated. �Did she want Angel to know she was asking about him? �That she'd gone behind his back? �Suddenly she was tired and angry. �Tired of always being a cop, of never trusting and always sneaking around, and angry at herself for doing it. ��"All right," she said abruptly. �"But don't give Cordelia away, okay? �I don't want to get her in trouble."

����� "Very well." �Giles stood up and went over to the telephone. �She noticed that he punched only one button. �So - he had Angel's number programmed into his phone. �That was interesting. �It suggested either frequent communication or an urgent need not to waste even a few seconds of time in dialing. �Kate wondered very much which it was.

����� "Wesley, it's Giles. �I need to - yes, I'm quite well, thank you. �I need - Wesley, listen to me. �I need to speak to Angel, please. �It's important." �He listened a moment. �"Then wake him up, man."

����� Of course, Kate thought. �The sun hasn't set yet; he would still be asleep. �After Cordelia's visit to her that morning she'd impulsively taken the afternoon off, first telephoning to make sure this Mr. Giles could see her right away.

����� "No, it's nothing to do with the Hellmouth. �I said it was important, not an emergency." �Again Giles paused. �"No, Buffy's fine."

����� Kate perked up her ears. �Buffy - that was the name Cordelia had mentioned, the one she was supposed to see if Mr. Giles would tell her about.

����� Giles rolled his eyes, sighing. �"Wesley! �Just get Angel. �Please." �He waited. �About a minute went by. �"Angel, hello. �I'm terribly sorry to wake you, but I - no, no, Buffy's perfectly well, that's not why I'm calling."

����� Buffy again. �Kate raised her eyebrows slightly. �Whoever this person was, she was obviously important to Angel if her welfare was his first thought. For some reason, that was a disquieting idea.

����� Giles kept on speaking. "I have a Detective Lockley here - What? �Er, well, I don't know. �We're not on a first name basis." �He glanced at her.

����� "Kate," she supplied.

����� "Yes, Kate Lockley . . . well, she's asking me about you, actually. �Yes. �She wants to know why you're one of the good guys now, though why she didn't just ask you - " He listened for long moments. "Very well, if you're sure . . . yes, all right. �Goodbye; I'm sorry I had to disturb you."

����� Giles replaced the phone in its cradle and turned. �"Angel said I should tell you anything you wanted to know that I thought was relevant." �He came back to the chair and sat down. �"He also said I shouldn't be too hard on you for not trusting him to tell you the truth; that you've only recently found out that the things that go bump in the night are real, and that you need more time to adjust."

����� Kate bit her lip. �"Yeah, I guess so. �It . . . hasn't been easy."

����� He regarded her with wry sympathy. �"No, it isn't." �Reaching into a pocket, Giles pulled out a white handkerchief and began absently cleaning his glasses. �"First of all, do you understand just what a vampire is - how they're made?"

����� "Sure," Kate shrugged. �"A vampire bites someone, then the victim drinks some of the vampire's blood. �Then after the victim dies he or she returns as a vampire."

����� Giles nodded and replaced the glasses on his face. �The handkerchief he stuffed back in his pocket. �"That's accurate as far as it goes, yes. �And, might I add, that's more than most people comprehend. �It's the exchange of blood that makes someone into a vampire, not just being bitten by one, contrary to popular belief."

����� He went on. �"The vampire demon occupies what is basically a corpse. �The vampire will have all the memories of its victim and will even retain elements of his or her personality and emotions, though with time those often fade, but it doesn't need to breathe and the heart no longer beats. �The essence of the demon, which was ingested with the blood, is all that keeps the body from decaying. �The really important thing for you to know, however, is that once the victim dies, his or her soul is no longer there. �It's left the body. �As Angel once told - someone - it's an easy way to live; there's no conscience - no guilt or remorse."

����� He paused.

����� "So why is Angel different?"

����� "Angel's soul was forcibly returned to his body by a gypsy curse after he - or Angelus, rather - killed a young girl from one of their clans."

����� "A gypsy what?" �Kate wanted to be sure she'd heard correctly.

����� "Curse," repeated Giles. �Kate looked at him, but he seemed to be absolutely serious despite the faint smile on his lips. �He added, "If you can't accept that, then there's no point in my continuing, since everything that follows hinges on it."

����� After a moment Kate took a deep breath. �"Okay, I'm trying. �So Angel's soul was restored but he was still a vampire." �Giles nodded and Kate went on. �"When did this happen?"

����� "About one hundred years ago. �Angel hasn't fed from a human being since that night." �Then Giles paused. �"Well, there was one exception to that, actually - but the circumstances were extenuating and, besides, it was offered freely."

����� Kate regarded him skeptically. �"Someone volunteered to be his dinner?"

����� "No," he said with a hint of rebuke. �"Someone offered to save his life. �He'd been poisoned and that was the only cure."

����� "Oh." �Rather chastened, Kate sat back. �"Must have been a good friend."

����� "Yes." �Giles picked up his cup. �"Would you like more tea? �Or something else, perhaps?"

����� "A shot of whiskey, maybe?" Kate suggested. �When Giles gave her a quizzical look, she smiled. �"I wasn't serious. �Tea would be good, thank you."

����� Giles rose to his feet, taking both their cups with him. �Kate followed him to the kitchen. �She leaned against the wall, watching as he refilled the mugs from some sort of tea-making machine she wasn't familiar with. �Probably British, she decided. �"So when Angel got his soul back he also regained his conscience?"

����� "Yes, that's correct." �Giles handed her cup to her. �"I imagine it was a very traumatic experience for him."

����� "Traumatic?" �Kate frowned, thinking about it. �"Oh," she said slowly. �"I think I see. �All of a sudden he felt guilt for everything he'd done - and from what I've been able to discover there was one hell of a lot to feel guilty about."

����� Giles nodded. �"Indeed. �Angelus was one of the most destructive vampires in history, taking thousands of lives before his reformation. �It's a wonder to me that the memories haven't driven Angel insane, but then he's an incredibly strong person." �He moved past her, back to his chair in the living room.

����� "That's why he's doing this superhero stint," Kate mused, following him. �"He's trying to make up for his past." �She sat down, added lemon and sugar to her tea, and stirred.

����� "To make amends, yes." �Giles poured milk into his cup. �Kate suddenly recalled her words to Angel the night her father died, and bit her lip. Giles noticed. "What is it?"

����� "I - just remembered something I said to Angel recently, that's all." Fully intending to stop there, Kate inexplicably found herself continuing. "I told him he, uh, didn't know anything about being human."

����� One eyebrow climbed high, but all he said was, "You didn't understand his situation then."

����� "No. I didn't." But, she realized, she hadn't asked, either. She'd been too shaken by her discovery of the dark forces around her even to wonder at Angel's atypical behavior. Atypical for a vampire, that is. Actually, it was pretty atypical for most human beings too. Kate grimaced ruefully, then decided to ask another question, one that she'd been wondering about ever since Cordelia's visit.

����� "Mr. Giles, who is Buffy?"

����� The blue eyes flickered. "Buffy? She's a friend; why?" He took a swallow of tea.

����� "Cordelia mentioned her name, said she was a slayer - whatever that is."

����� Giles' lips tightened. "Cordelia talks too much sometimes. Yes, Buffy is the Slayer." His voice capitalized the word. Kate also noticed the change from "a" to "the."

����� "So what is the Slayer?" she persisted.

����� Giles sighed and leaned toward her. "For as long as there have been vampires, there has also been the Slayer, one to each generation. One girl in all the world; the Chosen One. One girl born with the strength and the skill to hunt the vampires where they gather and to stop the spread of the evil and the swell of their numbers. She is the Slayer."

����� Kate blinked. "That sounded like a quote."

����� "It is, more or less, paraphrased and modernized from a book written in the sixteenth century." Giles chuckled. "It's quite dramatic-sounding, isn't it? However, it's not completely accurate. Many girls are actually born into each generation who have the requisite strength and skill, but only one is Called. She is the Slayer until her death, when the next Slayer is Called."

����� "And the current Slayer is this Buffy," said Kate. Giles agreed. Just then there came an interruption.

����� "Is that my name I hear?" asked a bright young voice. "Whatever it was, I didn't do it. I swear."

����� They whirled around. "Buffy," Giles stammered. "I didn't hear you come in." Kate stared. This petite, delicate, young blonde standing in the open doorway was a vampire killer? She didn't look strong enough to break eggs, much less kill demons.

����� "Sorry, Giles. I didn't mean to sneak up on you," the young woman said, looking at them speculatively. "Now, back to my question. Did I hear you mention my name?" She closed the door, dropping her purse on the floor next to the wall, then came closer.

����� "Well, er, yes," admitted Giles. Buffy nodded, then looked directly at Kate, who was immediately struck by the aura of - something - in her huge eyes. "So, who's your guest, Giles? If you two are discussing me then I think I should at least know who she is." She struggled out of her coat and tossed it across the back of the couch, revealing dark jeans and a blue mock-turtleneck sweater.

����� Kate stood and held out her hand. "I'm Detective Kate Lockley, Ms. - ?" She was still trying to figure out just what it was she saw in those eyes. There was strength in them, and endurance, but that was to be expected if this lovely young woman actually did face demonic horrors on a daily basis. But it was more than that; those large hazel orbs also held vulnerability and a deep pain.

����� As they shook hands Kate noticed a pale crescent of tiny scars peeking above the top of her sweater on the right side of the girl's neck. She knew instantly what they were, and her eyes widened with shock. Giles' voice sounded in her memory: " . . . it was offered freely."

����� "Summers," Buffy said, adding, "Detective?"

����� Giles put in, "Detective Lockley is with the LAPD. She's here because - "

����� "Angel?" Buffy interrupted, with a frightened look. The blood drained from her face. "Is he all right?"

����� "Angel's fine!" The quick reassurance came from Giles. Reaching out to clasp her comfortingly by the arm, he added, "Buffy, you know Cordelia would have called us at once if, if anything were wrong."

����� A little color came back to Buffy's face. "Yes. Of course she would." She took a deep breath. "Or Wesley. Sorry. I don't know what came over me. It was just - Los Angeles, which is where Angel is, and you being police and all, I just suddenly got afraid - and I'm really babbling, aren't I? Sorry." She smiled apologetically. "You probably don't even know Angel."

����� "No, I do," Kate said quickly. "He's why I'm here. I want to find out more about him." As Buffy seemed about to speak, she added, "Angel knows about it."

����� "He does?" Buffy glanced at Giles, who nodded in confirmation. "Why didn't he tell you about himself, and save you the trip?" She came around the couch and sat down at the end nearest to Giles. This made it easy for Kate to see both of them without impersonating a spectator at a tennis match.

����� Kate made a wry face. "Because I didn't ask him." Before Buffy could ask the obvious question, she sighed and explained. "Ms. Summers, I only found out about Angel being - what he is - a few weeks ago, when one of the vampires he'd made showed up - "

����� Giles interrupted. "One of Angel's get was in Los Angeles? Which one? Not Drusilla?" His expression was intent - even, Kate noticed, slightly alarmed.

����� Kate blinked. "Uh, no. Well, not unless Drusilla was a white male also known as Penn." Giles relaxed with a sigh, echoed by Buffy.

����� "That's good," Buffy observed grimly. "If I never see that psycho Dru again it'll be too soon." Then she looked at Kate. "So what happened?"

����� Kate hesitated, wanting to find out more about this Drusilla, but decided to wait until later to inquire. "Well, to make it short, Angel saved my life, but to do so he had to reveal himself as - what he is."

����� "Vam-pire," Buffy enunciated clearly, her eyes amused. "Angel is a vampire." On those words the front door opened. As they glanced that way, two more young people trooped in. "And here's the rest of the gang. Xander, Will, this is Detective Lockley. She's with the LAPD."

����� "L.A.?" The slender redhead looked quickly at Buffy. Apparently whatever she saw in her face reassured her. She held out her hand. "Hi, I'm Willow Rosenberg. This is Xander Harris."

����� "Detective Lockley came here to learn more about Angel," Buffy contributed. "More than just that he's a vampire, I mean."

����� "Why? That pretty much sums him up, in my far from humble opinion." The young man shook Kate's hand. "So how do you know Dead Guy? In an official capacity, I hope, like maybe you had to throw him in the slammer for conduct unbecoming a nosferatu?" He beamed hopefully.

����� The redhead - Willow? - threw him a quelling look. "How long have you known Angel, Detective Lockley?" She came around the couch and perched on the arm of Giles' chair.

����� "Call me Kate, please - this isn't an official visit. I've known Angel for about six months. We met over a case that we were both investigating, and since then our paths have crossed quite a few times." Kate looked at them, one after the other, ending with Giles. "You - you all know about Angel?"

����� A stupid question, since it was obvious they did, but she hadn't been prepared for this kind of casual acceptance by so many people. Although, come to think of it, it was no different from his relationship with Cordelia and Wesley. And Doyle, before his death.

����� Giles gave her a gentle smile. "Oh, yes. As I said, Angel is an old friend of ours."

����� "Speak for yourself," Xander retorted. "Soul Boy's no friend of mine. Just because he's helped Buffy fight a few hundred demons and save the world a couple of times doesn't mean I have to like him."

����� "He's also saved your life a time or two," Buffy reminded him tartly.

����� "And don't think I'm not grateful," Xander replied, looking at her with a steady gaze. "I am, but I still don't like him." He straightened from his leaning position against the wall. "I've gotta meet Anya soon and, besides, I think I'm putting a crimp on this Angel Appreciation fest. See you later, guys. Buffy, don't forget we're meeting you and Riley at Senor Taco at six." With a nod at Kate he left.

����� There was a moment of silence. "So, you only found out about the whole vampire thing a few weeks ago?" asked Buffy. "That must have been a shock." Her voice and her expression were both pleasant and friendly, but her eyes gave nothing away. Kate smiled grudgingly to herself; Angel had good friends, she had to give him that.

����� "Yeah," she admitted. "I didn't have a clue that vampires and demons really existed, much less that Angel was one of them. I mean, I knew there was something different about him - "

����� "That's for sure," Willow chuckled.

����� " - something mysterious, even," Kate continued. "But he looks so normal, like any other good-looking, sexy guy."

����� Giles' right eyebrow twitched upward. Willow cast a quick sideways glance at Buffy, who was watching the detective intently.

����� "He seemed nice and pretty decent. God, I even invited him to my father's retirement party - " She stopped as sudden pain knifed through her. Her breath caught with an audible sound.

����� "Kate?" Willow leaned forward. "Are you all right?"

����� Kate cleared her throat. "Sorry; yes, I'm fine. It was nothing." She was damned if she was going to talk about her father's death to these strangers, likeable though they seemed.

����� "So what has Giles told you?" Buffy glanced at the silent Englishman then back at Kate. "How far did he get in the saga before I interrupted?"

����� The detective gave a little shrug. "A gypsy curse gave Angel back his soul, so now he's trying to make up for his past evil by fighting on the side of Good. That's about it."

����� Buffy nodded. "In a nutshell. So, my name came up how, exactly?"

����� Kate had expected that. She didn't let her inner amusement show as she replied, "Cordelia mentioned it when she gave me Mr. Giles' phone number. She told me that you were the Slayer and that I should ask him about you." Kate paused. "She also said she didn't know whether he would tell me about you." She looked quizzically at the trio before her.

����� Buffy raised both eyebrows. "Why shouldn't he?" she said. "Especially since Cordelia already spilled the beans about the Slayer thing. Besides, what's to tell? That Angel, Willow, Xander, Cordelia, and I fought vampires and other demons together for two years? That's not exactly Top Secret stuff."

����� Her expression of polite inquiry, and the matching voice, didn't fool Kate for a second, especially not with Willow's expressive face indicating clear as a bell that there was something being left out of this scenario. Remembering Buffy's initial reaction to learning she was with the LAPD, and the scars on her neck, Kate was pretty sure she knew what that something was - or at least a part of it. Unbelievable as it seemed, this beautiful young woman loved a vampire.

����� "So you were a slaying team," she mused. "For two years, you said?"

����� "Give or take a few months," Buffy added. Kate nodded, then asked, "Then, you trust Angel?"

����� �With my life," Buffy instantly replied, then placed the ball neatly back in Kate's court. "Why, don't you?"

����� "I didn't for a while," Kate admitted, "when I first found out about him. But he's never given me a reason - other than being a vampire, I mean - to doubt that he's trustworthy." She looked straight at Buffy. "Yes, I trust him."

����� "Angel's a good person to have around," Willow agreed. "As long as he doesn't go all evil again, that is."

����� "He won't," Buffy said firmly, but with a puzzling hint of sadness. Puzzling to Kate, anyway; the others seemed to have no difficulty understanding it. In fact, Kate realized with a shock, they seemed to share Buffy's melancholy. Giles said, "Willow, you know Angel won't let that happen again. He left Sunnydale, didn't he?"

����� Willow looked at him, then Buffy with an obvious expression of guilt on her face. Before she could say anything, Kate broke in. "What are you talking about? Why should Angel turn evil again?"

����� A moment of silence ensued. "Two years ago we discovered there was a, a loophole I guess you could call it, in Angel's curse," Giles said quietly. "Most unfortunately, we discovered it too late. The curse had already been revoked. Angel lost his soul and reverted once more to Angelus. For several months he wreaked havoc in our lives, until Jenny, a - a friend of mine - discovered the original curse the Romany used to return his soul. Jenny was also of the Rom and planned to work the curse again, but she never got the chance. Angel killed her before she could do it."

����� He stopped. "I mean Angelus killed her. But Willow found Jenny's copy of the curse and was able to cast it on him. His soul returned, and with it the Angel we knew."

����� "Oh my God." Kate was horrified, on more than one level. "He killed someone, a friend of yours? How could that happen? Loophole? What kind of a loophole? How can you be sure it won't happen again?"

����� Giles shook his head. "There are no guarantees, of course, but Angel is on guard against it now. He didn't know about the loophole, either, you see, until it happened. Now that he knows it's there, well, it's extremely unlikely that it will be triggered again. If you want any more information, I'm afraid you'll have to ask Angel."

����� "I don't know that I'd recommend doing that, though," Buffy told her. "When Angel came back to us - our Angel - he was suicidal over the memories of what had happened. He tried to kill himself one morning by greeting the sunrise. We don't want that happening again."

����� Although stunned by what she'd just learned, Kate didn't miss Willow's quick glance at Buffy. She also noted the time, and rose to her feet. "Well, this has been informative, but it's getting late and I have to get back. Thank you, all of you, for sharing this with me."

����� As she spoke the detective walked around the couch and retrieved her jacket and purse from the chair they'd been placed on. Giles stood up and followed her to the door, opening it for her. "Thank you for the tea and, and everything," she told him. "Goodbye."

����� "Perhaps we'll meet again." Giles held out his hand. Kate took it, hesitated, then said, "Maybe we will. Goodbye." She turned and left. Giles watched her climb into her car before he closed the door. The noise of the engine starting up came clearly to them all. He turned and walked back to the girls, looking at Buffy.

����� "What?" Buffy looked over at Willow, who was gazing at her with the same expression of hesitant inquiry. She shrugged. "So I did a little editing. So what?"

����� "Why didn't you want her to know about you and Angel?" asked Willow.

����� "It's none of her business," Buffy said shortly. "Angel can tell her if it's important to him that she knows." She rose. "Guys, I have to split. Later?"

����� "Yeah, later," said Willow. After the door closed behind Buffy she looked at Giles. Giles sighed. "Oh dear."

����� "How was your visit?" Angel handed Kate a cup of coffee and stood looking at her, his hands in his pockets. "Did you find out whatever it was you wanted to know?"

����� "Yes, I think I did," Kate told him quietly. "And before anything else, I want to apologize for what I said to you when my father died - about not understanding what it is to be human. I was the one who didn't understand. I'm sorry."

����� Angel shook his head. "Don't worry about it, Kate."

����� "You have good friends, Angel. They seem like nice people." It was seven o'clock that same day. She'd driven directly to Angel's office from Sunnydale, hoping to find him there so she could apologize.

����� "They?"

����� "Mr. Giles and the others. There was a young man, but he left after we started talking about you." She paused, cocking an eyebrow at him.

����� Angel snorted. "That would be Xander, right? There's no love lost between us."

����� "I gathered that," Kate grinned. "There was also a young woman named Willow. And the Slayer." Without seeming to, she watched Angel closely. Something flickered in his eyes.

����� "How is - everyone?" he asked.

����� Kate was sure he'd rephrased his original question. She shrugged. "Fine, I guess. Buffy - is that her name? - looked a little thin and tired."

����� "She always does," he muttered, looking away and then taking a couple of restless steps. "Living on a Hellmouth isn't easy for anyone, but it's especially hard on a slayer. But Giles will look after her; he won't let her work herself into a breakdown." He seemed to be trying to convince himself as much as her.

����� "If she'll let him," Kate mused. "She struck me as being the kind who doesn't listen very well. Don't get me wrong. I'm sure she's dedicated to her job, but - "

����� "It isn't a job," Angel interrupted. "It's her calling. If it weren't for Buffy you wouldn't be alive today, Kate. No one would be, except demons."

����� "What do you mean?"

����� "Buffy has twice saved the world from being destroyed. Twice that I know of," he corrected himself. "I've been gone awhile; there could have been other incidents I'm not aware of."

����� Kate stared at him. "You mean that literally, don't you?"

����� "Yes. Sunnydale is on a Hellmouth, you know. Bad things happen there all the time. Buffy stops them from getting worse." Angel folded his arms and leaned against the wall. "And Buffy may be a little headstrong at times but she's also smart enough to know when to listen to advice. It's just that she has great instincts and she trusts them - "

����� "Whoa. Wait." Kate put up a hand, laughing a little. "Angel, I only meant that I didn't think she'd pay attention to anyone telling her to slow down, that's all. I wasn't trying to imply that Buffy was heedless or foolish or whatever you thought I meant."

����� "Sorry," Angel said after a moment. "I misunderstood. You're right, Buffy does push herself too hard. She always has. Did she tell you that she was only fifteen when she was Called as the Slayer?"

����� Kate blinked. "Uh, no, she didn't. She didn't talk much about herself. She's been killing vampires since she was fifteen? My God, what kind of a life is that for a young girl?"

����� "A very difficult and very dangerous one," Angel said heavily. "Almost a quarter of the slayers don't live to see their eighteenth birthday; more than half are dead by age twenty-five. Not one Slayer in history has lived beyond thirty-one."

����� Kate was speechless for a moment. "And I thought police work was risky," she finally commented. She paused. "You love her, don't you?"

����� Angel's head turned, his eyes boring into hers. "Yes, I do. Not that it's any of your business." He straightened up with a jerk and left the room. Kate heard the hum of the elevator as he descended to his living quarters.

����� "Great, now he's going to be Mr. Broody all night." It was Cordelia, standing in the doorway, glaring at her. "Way to go, Kate. Do you need help getting that foot out of your mouth?"

����� Kate was confused. "What did I say that was so wrong? That he loves her? Geeze, it's pretty obvious!"

����� Cordelia studied her. "Giles didn't tell you, did he? About the Buffy and Angel saga, I mean." At Kate's shake of the head, she sighed. "Right. Okay, tell you what. You buy me dinner somewhere that's not fast food and I'll fill you in on the whole epic."

����� Twenty minutes later they faced each other across a table at TGI-Friday's, waiting for their drinks to arrive. "Okay, Cordelia, talk," Kate demanded. "Just what is it with those two?"

����� Cordy pursed her lips. "Think Romeo and Juliet, or Leo and Kate on the Titanic - then triple the amount of tragedy and you'll have an idea of what Buffy and Angel are all about. It began when they fell in love, although the tragedy part didn't start until they made love, which was on Buffy's seventeenth birthday. . . ."

����� " . . . and that's where it stands today," she finished an hour later. "They're still living apart but now they see each other every couple of months, which has cut way back on the angst level in the office. As long as they don't get groiny, things will be fine." She stabbed at the last of her Cobb salad and brought the fork to her mouth.

����� Kate's chicken pasta lay congealing on her plate, hardly touched by her. "That's terrible. Poor Angel."

����� Cordelia gave her an amused glance. "Not �poor Buffy'?"

����� Kate shook her head. "I'm sure it hasn't been easy for her, but she's young. She'll find someone else in time. In fact, she may have already. Xander said something about meeting her and . . . Riley? . . . tonight."

����� Cordelia shook her head in turn. "Buffy might have found someone to comfort her when she's not with Angel," she said. "But you don't understand what's between them if you think she'll get over Angel this quickly. Personally, I don't think she'll ever be over him. I can just see her twenty years from now - assuming she's still alive, that is, which isn't likely since slayers don't live that long - where was I?"

����� Kate blinked, not sure herself. "Uh . . . Buffy. Twenty years from now."

����� "Oh, yeah. I can see her twenty years from now still mooning over those bite marks on her neck. I know he'll always love her because that's the kind of guy he is. Have you ever seen Angel when he's just sitting there with a book in his hand, sometimes for hours at a time? No, I guess you haven't. Well, he's not reading when he does that, Kate. He has a picture of Buffy in the book, and that's what he's looking at.

����� "At least, that's what he used to do, all the time. Like I said, things are a little better now that he can see Buffy, even if it's only a few times a year, so there's not quite so much of the tragedy queen about him."

����� Cordelia gazed steadfastly at Kate for a moment, then folded her napkin and gathered up her purse. "Thanks for dinner. See you around." She slid out of the booth and walked away, leaving Kate staring after her.