The Hart of L.A.

Whistler just grinned at Angel. " The girl's more hero than anyone on the planet right now. Spike and yourself are at a very distant second. Willow, Xander, and the rest of the gang bring up the rear. The potentials aren't even on the map yet, and won't be for a very long time. Also, there's another one. She's here with your group, and she's waiting to be found." Angel just looked at him like he was stupid. " What are you talking about?" Whistler smiled. " There's another girl, and it's your duty to find her. She missed her calling a few years back." It had started to dawn on him. " Oh, you mean another slayer?" Whistler rolled his eyes. " Of course I mean another slayer! God, are all you vampires this slow? This girl, she was supposed to be the next one called after Faith. She should have been called when Buffy died that second time, but for a reason even I don't know, she wasn't. Buffy and Faith are going to really need her, once she's trained up. She needs to be trained by you, Spike, Faith, and Wesley." Angel got a confused look on his face. " Why not Buffy?" Whistler hesitated. " She's not going to be here to do it." After that was said, he left. Angel was very confused. Didn't he just say that Buffy and Faith would need her? Before he could think any more on it, the doctor came in to take her tubes out.

Kennedy thought it was funny that Buffy was the one lying in a hospital bed. She didn't want her to die or anything, but it was just funny. They had all been telling her that Buffy could take her, but look at her. She accidentally let a snicker slip out. Faith walked over to where Kennedy was sitting, and took a seat next to her. " You know, I thought you were cool, cause red here likes you, but if you don't start showing some respect, I'm going to make you wish you'd stayed gone." She started to say something, when Giles spoke up. " Here, here. You really do need to learn when to shut up." Kennedy looked around and saw that everyone was looking at her. " Hey! This isn't rag on Kennedy day!" Xander spoke up then. " It's actually long past." Kennedy glared over at him. " Shut up, whipping boy, you know I could take you." When she stood up to walk away, she ran into Angel. " Leave." Kennedy got infuriated. " I don't take orders from vampires! I'm staying for Willow. When Willow stood up, they all looked at her. " I think you should go, Kennedy. You're disrespecting my best friend in front of her family and friends. Just go!" With a look of disbelieving anger, she left. Angel looked around the room. " Where's Gunn? I really need to talk to him."

Once again, they all filed out of the hospital. They couldn't come together as a group tomorrow, because Gunn, Wesley, Fred, Lorne, and himself had to go to the office now, and they'd want sleep afterward. Willow was supposed to bring Dawn back, though. He had no idea what she must be going through right now. She'd already lost her sister once, and now here they were again. What had Whistler meant? Was she going to wake up? Was she going to have a special mission or something? He'd find the girl, and then he'd train her. They all would.

Willow didn't want to argue again in front of Dawn, so she asked Xander to come back to Buffy's with her. Fortunately, Kennedy wasn't there when they got there. Dawn went straight up to her room. The girl really needed something to do. The tour she was supposed to have with Connor had been postponed to next week. Connor hadn't been to happy about that, either. He was very eager to learn about Wolfram and Hart. Willow and Xander had just settled down to breakfast, when Kennedy burst through the door. " Willow, we have to talk!" Willow quietly put her fork down and looked up at Kennedy, who was now in the kitchen doorway. " Ken, please keep your voice down." Kennedy crossed her arms, and still talking loudly said, " I'll yell if I want to yell!" Willow walked closer to her. " Do you want me to make you quiet? I do believe you know I can. Dawn is upstairs trying to sleep, so we're using our quiet voices." Kennedy opened her mouth to say something, but she looked over at Xander. " Can you excuse us, please?" Willow, shaking her head, took Kennedy's arm and took her into the living room. " He's eating, Ken, we can hash this out here." Kennedy sat down on the couch. " You're breaking up with me aren't you?"

Willow hadn't really thought abou it, but yes, she was. " Kennedy, I really think it's best. We've been butting heads way too much, lately." Kennedy looked at her with tears in her eyes. " No, Willow, you've just got other people on your brain. We'd been doing great, then your old boyfriend came along, and you've been different. You've been spending more time away from me. Why didn't you warn me, Wils?" Willow stared at her, knowing exactly what she meant. " Ken, you've got to understand. Oz was my first love. I loved him so much, and then he cheated on me, well, the wolfy Oz cheated. I was willing to work past that, but he left me. I wanted to be with him when he came back, but I was with Tara." Kennedy looked back at Willow. " Did you even love me at all, Willow?" Willow didn't know how to answer that. " I do love you, Ken, but I'm not in love with you." At this statement, Kennedy started crying. " Okay, I'll just get my stuff, then." She bent down and kissed Willow on the cheek. " It was really great knowing you." After that she left.

Gunn was getting dressed. He was shocked at what Talia had told him. It was very weird that she knew Buffy. He was taking her to Wolfram and Hart with him. She really needed to talk to Angel. He had taken her out and gotten her some new clothes. She'd argued that she could pay, but he'd insisted. He was becoming very fond of this lady. When he walked out of his bedroom, she was trying to zip the dress they'd bought, without success. He walked over to her, moved her hands out of the way, and zipped the dress with ease. She turned around to face him. " Thanks, I was having a heck of a time with that thing. Just so you know, I'm really nervous." Gunn smiled at her. " I know, but you really shouldn't be. I just really want you to meet two people."