~*The Sunnydale Revamped Series*~

A/N: Sorry it took so long to update. There wasn't a lot of reviews and I was going to suspend it. We'll see what happens. Please Review. Thanks!!

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The moment Izzie had crawled out of bed this morning; she’d decided that today would be a good day. It sounds simple, maybe a little overly optimistic, but with all the shitty days she’d had recently, she needed just one good day.

So, with that plan firmly in mind, she dressed the part. After the longest shower ever, she traded in her generic jeans and tees for a plaid skirt (in creams, tans and browns) and a black spaghetti strapped top. It was casual, cute.... and most importantly, different. That was the look that Angel saw when she showed up at Wolfram and Hart for a training session.

It had taken a lot to get her to come, because after Lyla and Connor’s kidnapping, she’d sort of let everything that had happened to them, sink in and that lead to a huge depression. Izzie wouldn’t leave the hotel, and since the gang spent most of their time at Wolfram and Hart, Angel worried about her being alone.

“You look good,” Angel remarked as she walked in.

Izzie smiled, delighted at the compliment. She took a quick look around the sun filled lobby, then to Angel in confusion. “So has there been something new developing while I’ve been gone? Vampires don’t burst into their trademark flames when sun hits?”

“Special glass. It prevents the “trademark” flames.”

“Uh huh,” Izzie said, nodding slowly. “Big evil law firm and all...”she added under her breath.

Angel let that one alone and led her towards his office. “It’s a much more.... sterile atmosphere than the hotel, isn’t it?” Izzie asked.

“Pretty much the trademark for...what was it? ‘Big evil law firms’.” Izzie grinned sheepishly. “Feel free to come hang out here Izzie. Lyla and Elle are here all the time.” Angel said.

Izzie just nodded. He didn’t need to point out that fact. A couple of months ago when she’d gone on her depression binge, she’d pushed her friends away and now they we’re always gone. Ellie had wanted to be called Elle now, because it sounded “grown up”

Izzie admitted to herself that she missed her friends but it still didn’t make her go out and find them and try to talk to them. Nope. She took the mature route and refused to make any effort. Still, she couldn’t feel bad about it even now. She wanted to be alone and now she was.

Angel led her through his office through a secret sliding door.


Izzie looked around the large training room with a look of awe on her face. Most girls, she knew, might not be so impressed with what was usually called *boys toys*, but it appealed to the slayer side of her. Although the room looked pretty sterile, there was every kind of training equipment and weapons you could imagine. It must have cost Wolfram and Hart a lot of money to equip Angel with these. Izzie still wasn’t too crazy about the idea of working in a law firm that was Angel’s biggest enemy for years at one time, but it wasn’t as though she was going anywhere.

They’d been in LA for about two months now, and although Angel encouraged her to join them at Wolfram and Hart, Angel and Izzie had only trained in the hotel when he had free time, and when she pulled herself out of her mope. Angel said she was ready to go up a level now, and this is where she needed to train. Izzie thought she was a great fighter, but supposedly Angel saw flaws. Another reminder of the Sunnydale she came from, where she was not the best Slayer.... to sum up---she wasn’t Buffy.

“I’m not exactly dressed for a training session there chief (a nickname she’d gotten used to calling him). If I’d known I would have gone with something a little less...girlie.” Izzie laughed at the last part, when she’d caught Angel staring at her. After the incident with Lyla a couple months back, each girl had begun to deal with the past in her own ways. Izzie, for one, had thought herself fine, but after the thing with Lyla she realized just how real it all was and sort of pulled herself into a shell. She rarely left her room except to help out with odd jobs or train with Angel. She seemed to spend days crying until there was nothing left, and she hated that weak side of herself.

“That’s ok, we have an outfit here for you,” Angel said, handing her a pile of clothes that he’d got from the closet. “It’s your size.” He said, as she took it in hand.

“You got training clothes in my size and yet there is no dressing room?” She teased.

Angel looked a little sheepish at that and turned when she gestured to him to do so. Izzie changed quickly and folded up her clothes on a nearby table. She smiled as she looked at the wall of mirrors on the opposite wall. “My size huh?” she asked.

Angel turned to look at her. “Maybe a little smaller.”

Izzie smiled. “Maybe just a little.”

“Well,” Angel said, walking to the opposite wall,” let’s train.”

Izzie rolled her head from side to side, and stretched her arms as she followed him. “So,”Izzie began, as she bent at the waist and stretched down to her toes, “let’s talk.”

“About what?” Angel asked, as he surveyed his weapons.

“Oh I don’t know,” Izzie said, now stretching her arms above her head. “Maybe Buffy.”

He didn’t have to be facing her, for her to notice that he visibly tensed up at that suggestion. Angel turned then to face her. “Why?” Clearly that name hit a nerve with him, though it wasn’t clear why. Izzie knew the gist of their relationship, but couldn’t help her curiosity on the matter. It also wasn’t in her nature to just keep quiet when something was bothering her. She had spent too much time in the dark recently with Giles and everything. Besides, although they spent time together in training sessions, they only talked about fighting tactics and her feelings. Whenever the conversation turned towards him and his past, he would quickly brush it off. Like now.

“Let’s work on sword fighting,” Angel said, pulling the swords off the wall.

“But I...”Izzie was interrupted when Angel tossed her, quite forcibly, a sword. Izzie didn’t have time to say much more as Angel was in fighting stance with his sword drawn. Izzie frowned, and they began to spare. Izzie was angry, she’d had enough of being ignored and pushed away as though her question didn’t matter. She’d spent too much time thinking about why she wasn’t told anything. Their swords came together in a loud clash, their faces only inches apart with their swords between them. “I’m I anything like her?” Izzie asked.

“Who?”

“Who do you think?” Izzie snapped.

Angel pushed back on the swords sending them apart-Izzie reeled backwards, caught off balance. And this just made her angrier. Izzie turned as she brought the sword down at him, but Angel blocked her easily, trapping her sword beneath his. Izzie brought up her free hand and punched him in the face, sending him to the ground. Angel stared up at her somewhat confused. Izzie lowered her sword. “So is this how it’s going to be. You baby-sit us, but we don’t actually get to know anything. We’re just supposed to keep quiet, and never talk?!”

Izzie took a breath and said calmly. “I am just tired Angel. I’m tired of being kept in the dark. I’m tired of you not trusting me. Buffy was a slayer, and so am I. I was never told anything about them; I don’t even know if I have what it takes...so why shouldn’t I want to know what she was like. What you had with her? It’s a fair question isn’t it? We’re far from home, and what I need is a friend, but you just push me away all the time.”

Angel didn’t say anything. Izzie let her sword fall from her hand and it hit the ground sending an echo through the room. “Training session is over.” She said without emotion. Turning on her heel she got her clothes.

“You talk about trust,” Angel called,” But you’re the one who leaves the hotel at night to hunt vampires without telling anyone.”

Izzie turned. True, she did go out at night, when no one was awake, but she was venting. “I’m a slayer Angel, unless I really don’t know anything about being a slayer, I thought that was what we did. I’m not a child Angel, don’t treat me like one.”

Izzie started walking towards the door, but the feeling of being confined in this world, began to sneak up on her again. “I’m leaving.”

“I’ll get someone to drive you back to the hotel.” he said.

Again with the trust. “No. I’m not going back to the hotel, and I’m not staying here.” She turned to look at him. “I need to be away for awhile. I need to sort some things out. I can’t do that here.”

“What about Lyla and Elle?”

“They’re settled here,” Izzie said. “They don’t need me anymore.” She thought about the friends she isolated and in that moment felt more alone than she ever had. She turned and walked from the room, unable to say anything more.

______________________________________________________________________

“Owwwwwww....”Lyla said slowly, but pointedly.

Fred frowned as she pulled back the small needle that she’d just injected into Lyla. “Sorry,” Fred said, half-heartedly as she brushed away her brown bangs with the back of her hand. Fred placed the needle on the metal tray beside her and reached for something else.

Lila sifted in the metal chair and she rubbed her arm gingerly. “Why do I have to be tested?”

“Because you asked to be,” Fred pointed out. Earlier Lyla had mentioned that she wanted to know if her powers would come back to her and stay instead of fizzling on and off.

Lyla pouted. “Well I didn’t know it would involve pointy sharp objects.” She muttered.

Fred turned her head to hide the smile. Lyla was still trying to act tough, but Fred knew, as well as everyone else, that Lyla had changed. Not a complete 180, but she was a little more subdued. Fred knew they had Connor to thank for that, though he wouldn’t know it.

Fred pushed her glasses up on her nose. Just then she spotted Sam, the mail guy on her floor. He was a really sweet guy and they’d got to talk a couple of times. Fred had to admit that she looked forward to their early morning visits.

“Hiya Sam,” Fred said in the overly cheery voice that made Lyla wince. Sam didn’t say anything, as if he didn’t recognize his own name. Fred lowered her head, feeling embarrassed at the fact everyone was now looking at her.

“Very smooth, “ Lyla said, a half smile on her face.

Fred frowned. “That’s strange,” she said, more to herself than to Lyla. Just then, Sam looked up and fixed his eyes on Lyla. Lyla sifted under the weight of his stare. Sam walking slowly towards her, his eyes sliding up and down her body slowly. The kind of look that makes you suddenly disgusted with yourself.

“Hey, ‘bout time we got some fine looking women in this place,” he said. Then he paused to look at Fred. “No offense baby.”

Lyla actually felt that one. Fred took a step back; her face expression pained, like she’d just found out that her crush liked her best friend. Lyla cocked her head at Sam. “Too bad the men don’t get any better looking,” she said coldly. That one was for Fred.

Suddenly Sam’s demeanor completely stripped away, his eyes were wide, his jaw clenched in anger. “You Bitch!” he yelled, lunging at her with his arms raised.

Fred screamed, as she was thrown to the ground when Sam pushed her out of the way. Lyla tried to dodge him, but he backhanded her across the face. A red-hot bolt of pain seemed to burst up her cheek and left eye and she lost her balance.

Lyla’s vision was blurred, but she could make out Sam standing over her. Lyla’s head lulled to the side as her cheek throbbed. What was that guy’s hand made of? Steel?

Sam grabbed a knife from the metal tray and leaned over her. “Now this will only hurt for a minute.”

Lyla screamed as she covered her head with her hands and tried to roll away. The next thing she knew there was a crash, and strong arms were pulling her to her feet. She screamed again, striking out with her nails. “Lyla! It’s me!” Lyla opened her eyes to find herself in Connor’s arms, his cheek now freshly cut with four perfect lines.

“Oh my god, your face. I’m sorry, I thought....”

“It’s fine.” He let her go, and turned back to Sam. “Go get Angel.” He said to Fred. Sam was laying very still, his body shaking in spasms. The anger was gone now, and there was only panic.

“It’ll come for all of you,” Sam cried.” It tortures you inside your own body. It’ll never leave...never...not till....”he trailed off as he began to weep.

Lyla was shaking now too. Shock, maybe, she couldn’t tell. “You ok Lyla?”Fred asked, reaching out to steady her. Lyla shook her off. She hated this place. “I’m just peachy,” she said, turning on her heel for the door. “Just peachy fuckin’ keen.”


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They all met back at Angel’s office. Angel had come down to the lab and ordered that Sam be taken into the holding room where Fred’s best crew was working on him. Sam Waters was a very quiet, shy, sweet man and so his behavior had been warranted as a possession. Once they found out what possessed him, the gang would be notified.

Everyone was looking a little somber, Lyla noticed as she walked in. Then she saw Izzie sitting in a chair, on the outskirts of the office, looking very.... well, good actually. Lyla had grown accustomed to seeing Izzie in sweats and baggy shirts that she’d wondered if Izzie even knew she was female anymore.

Only Izzie didn’t look back to normal, she looked just as distant as ever. “Hey Izzie,” Lyla said cheerfully, “How’s life?”

“Just peachy,”Izzie muttered. Angel frowned at her. Lyla caught the look and was puzzled. A couple of months ago, Lyla would have thought they wanted to get in each other’s pant and now Izzie looked at him with such anger it was almost comical.

Elle arrived with Wesley, chatting about something they’d read about in some mystical book, about some mystical tribe. Lyla frowned. Elle had promised she’d try to find out about her origin.... that was months ago. Elle caught the look and felt a pang of guilt. She’d become so wrapped up in what Wesley was doing she hadn’t had much time. “Nothing yet,” Elle said softly.

As if she’d looked, Lyla thought bitterly. Lyla sunk down into the couch and Connor sat next to her on the arm of the couch.

“Ok, we’re looking into Sam, until then we have to just sit tight.” Angel said, perched on the edge of his desk. The master dishing out his orders, Izzie thought angrily.

“Secondly,” Angel began, looking to Izzie as though he could her thoughts. “Izzie has got an announcement to make.”

Izzie’s head snapped up. He was so accusing, as though she had done something wrong. And now everyone was staring at her. Waiting. Izzie opened her mouth, but nothing came out.

Elle was looking at her with a crinkled brow. “Izzie?” she said softly, a hint of worry in her voice. Izzie tried to give her a reassuring smile, but it died before finding her lips. Although Izzie had grown distant, Elle was still as intuitive to her feelings, as ever. Something was happening with her best friend, something she wasn’t a part of.

The silence was excruciating to Izzie. It was her they were waiting for, but with each second that passed it was only more awkward.

“Listen guys, “Izzie began, knowing she had to say something. “I’m going to be leaving for a short time.”

“Leaving?” Elle said in disbelief. “When? Where?”

“Two excellent questions,”Izzie said, laughing nervously. “I don’t know.”

“So why?” Elle asked. Izzie shrugged, unable to give her those kinds of answers.

“Looks like pulling yourself into a shell wasn’t enough,” Lyla snapped. She didn’t even look at Izzie.

Izzie looked down at her hands, as though there was some answers hidden there somewhere. Why did Angel have to say anything? Why couldn’t she just leave?

“Thanks for bringing everyone together Angel, “Izzie said, getting to her feet. “I’m feeling the love...really.”

“You weren’t going to say anything?” Elle said, now on her feet too.

“Would you really have cared?” Izzie snapped back. The hurt in Elle’s face made her regret it instantly. Lyla jumped to her feet, nearly knocking Connor to the ground. “Don’t yell at Elle! We’re all sick of your moping around but we all put up with it. The least you owe us is to have told us.”

“I’m telling you now aren’t I. And I owe you nothing Lyla! I’ve saved your neck a dozen times.”

“Oh, from the fake vampires in fake Sunnydale!”

The subject was still a sore point for Izzie and Lyla knew that. Dozens of nights she’d lain awake wondering if she even had what it took to survive in the real world. Izzie looked at Elle for some kind of support, but knew she wouldn’t get it. Not now.

“All I have ever wanted is you to be honest with me, “Elle said, her voice thick with emotion.

“Honesty,” Izzie said, “Fine, honesty. Ok. At the young age of 16 I find out I’m a slayer. My parents are gone; my first vamp was my previous boyfriend that I loved. Then I find out my whole world isn’t what I thought it was. So now I question my role as the slayer. Some people tend to point out how I’m lacking,” she locked eyes with Angel, her own voice giving away her hurt, “I thought I was good, but how can you judge when you were never destined to lose. I let down myself, my friends and everyone who wanted me to be someone I wasn’t.” Izzie paused, her gaze going from Angel to Elle. “When Lyla was taken I wasn’t there to help. My first instinct was to run. I was scared and lost and if it weren’t for your guys, Lyla would be dead. I.... I just can’t do this. I have to be on my own for awhile where I don’t have to protect anyone.”

Elle looked at the ground, the tears now running down her face. “You’re leaving me Izzie and you would have gone without saying goodbye. I thought you were my friend.”

“We are,”Izzie said firmly, though whether she believed her own words or not, she didn’t know.

“No,” Elle said shaking her head. “Friends would try to find help, ask...whatever. Friends don’t leave. We all had to deal with this, and we did it without crawling into a shell and pushing everyone away. You pushed Lyla and I away, and we needed help too. You’re not even the Izzie I knew. You’re incredibly selfish.”

Izzie paled. “Why are you making this so hard Ellie?”

At the sound of her previous name, Elle closed her eyes. “You left along time ago Izzie, so this is nothing really.”

Izzie prayed that Elle was just trying to be brave. She couldn’t mean it, could she? “To think,” Izzie said, shaking her head in disbelief, “When I told Angel I was leaving, I said it in anger, but now that sounds like a good idea.”

No one was speaking now. Wesley was holding a weeping Elle. Lyla was perched on the couch next to Connor, trying to hold herself together. Izzie walked by Angel and handed him back a necklace that he had given her after the Lyla and Connor battle. “Time for a fresh start.” she whispered when he didn’t take it.

“Izzie you can’t just go!” Elle yelled, making everyone jump.

“Ellie...I...”

“You don’t think Lyla and I have gone through enough already, and now you’re leaving.”

“I’m sick and tired of this Elle, I don’t fit in here.”

“You didn’t even try!”

“I did too!”

“You call hiding in your bedroom trying?!”

“Where do you get off even trying to understand what I’ve been going through!!”

“Enough!!!!!!!!!!!!” Everyone paused as they turned to Lyla in surprise. “Frankly...shut up! Just shut up!” She took a breath and then looked at Angel. “Could you please just explain what’s going on with nutcase downstairs?”

Angel looked relieved for a change of subject. “From what Sam has said in the lab, we think there is a demon, a body snatcher, something we’ve seen before, in the building. It possess someone in order to...”

“Woah!”Lyla exclaimed, getting to her feet. “Possession?!?! Been there. Done that. Ain’t doin’ it again.” she said frankly. “I’m all for helping out with the weirdness that goes on here, but this I cannot do. I’ll be back at the hotel if you need me.”Lyla walked straight for the door. “Though I most likely won’t be answering the phone.”

Everyone was silent. What was there to say? Ellie and Izzie just stared at each other awkwardly. “Well that’s perfect. Just wonderful.” That was Lyla. They could hear her loud voice coming from the hallway.

“What the...????” Izzie began as she started for the door. Before she could get any further, Lyla stormed back into the room. “Well looks like I’m stuck here with you freaks.”Lyla smiled at Connor. “Except for you doll.”

“Gee thanks,” Fred muttered.

“Why are you stuck here?” Angel said, cutting to the important part.

“The doors are locked!”Lyla said. Shouldn’t he know that? Wasn’t it his building?

“Locked? From the inside?” Angel asked slowly, as if she didn’t know how to operate a door handle.

”Am I speaking English?”Lyla asked looking around at everyone. She turned back to Angel. “Yes. No one can leave.”

Suddenly the lights went off. Izzie sighed. “Well, this can’t be good.”


______________________________________________________________________

Turns out that Sam wasn’t where they’d left him.

“He’s probably the one that hit the lights,” Angel said.

“And locked the doors,”Lyla added.

“Well, we have to find him. You in?” Angel said to Izzie, who until up to a few minutes ago was ready to leave.

“I have nowhere else to go, “Izzie said half heartily. Secretly she was happy to get her mind on something else.

Everyone split into teams. Angel and Izzie, Connor and Lyla, Wes and Elle, Fred and Gunn. They grabbed enough weapons and separated.

Izzie and Angel took the basement first. “You were really going to just walk out weren’t you?”

Izzie rolled her eyes. “Could we not please? I’ve had enough drama for one day.”

Angel was silent. But not for long. “Look I didn’t realize how you felt about everything, or at least not that much. “ He turned to face her. “I thought you were being....”

“Nosy?” Izzie suggested. “If you’d have been a little more trusting you might not have jumped to conclusions.”

“If it’s not too late, you can ask me what you wanted to.”

“Oh...”Izzie couldn’t see him very well, but the small amount of light made his features look softer. “It is too late Angel,” she said softly, pushing past him. In that room, Izzie had decided to leave and for the first time in awhile, she’d made a decision and was scared but a little glad about that fear, that thrill of going out on her own...for once. For the first time.


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Wes and Elle headed straight for his office, looking for some kind of info on possessions and if Wolfram and Hart had any past history with it.

Normally Elle loved researching with Wes. He was the only one who got her interest in finding out about...well, anything. Elle loved to read about historic events and about all the magical folklore and myths. Being alone with Wes was just an added bonus.

When Izzie had locked herself in her room, Wes had been there for her. And now Izzie wanted to leave. Leave her. She wasn’t sure anyone could help her get over that one. After all they’d been through, Izzie had been the strong one, the rock, and now she was falling apart. Izzie wasn’t as strong as Elle had though, so what did that mean for her?

Wes had already grabbed a book and was looking at Wolfram and Hart’s history. Elle tried to look somewhat helpful but her heart wasn’t in it. After the quick and sudden attack, and Izzie’s announcement, she’d seen the things they were dealing with now. Izzie couldn’t leave her alone in this.

“Elle, I got something,” Wes said, sinking down in his seat.

Elle was snapped out of her funk and went to stand behind Wes. “Wolfram and Hart had a client about 10 years ago, that was set up to take the fall for a bigger, more important client.”

“So this client became pissed. Understandably.” Elle added.

Wes nodded. “Before he was killed he vowed he would return and take out his revenge on everyone associated with Wolfram and Hart.”

“He waited ten years?” Elle asked. “It’s not even run by the same people anymore!”

“I really don’t think he’s thinking rationally Elle.”

“So....”Elle began, “But still 10 years is a long time to wait. I wonder what he’s been up to...considering he’s dead.”

“Haunting, possession, etc..... that’s worse than dealing with someone who’s alive most of the time.”

“Maybe. I’d normally think I was crazy for suggesting this, but considering nothing makes sense anyhow...maybe he got some sorta powers or something.”

Wes stared at her. At least he wasn’t looking at her as though she were stupid...that was something. “You probably have something there,” he said, setting the book down. “There are more records back here. Wolfram and Hart’s ...ah.... mistakes and encounters they could have controlled are back there.”

Elle was impressed. He led her through ha hidden entrance. After pressing a dozen codes they were inside a large, very sterile room with, what seemed like, hundreds of rows of file cabinets and shelves of files and books. If Elle were asked to find a file, she would be here for hours. Only Wes seemed to know exactly where to go and wordlessly Elle followed him.

He pulled a book from on of the many and began to flip. If he didn’t know exactly what he was doing, he was hiding it well. Elle stood by, not quite sure where she fit in, but after spending so much time with him, she knew he went into his own little research world. She was merely the one for him to bounce his ideas off of.

“Well, seems as though he hasn’t been quiet for 10 years.” His eyes scanned the pages in a learned practice. “Seems there was a haunting, nothing too serious. They believed it was him. They got rid of him easily, because he was weaker in his form. They believe he was looking for way to get stronger.”

“Magic powers, like I said,” Elle said proudly.

“Ah, yes...”he said. Elle smiled at his down turned head. “They worried about him returning. They had incidents of possessions during the last 2 years, it getting stronger every time.”

“Wes,” Elle said, pointing to the floor. A piece of paper was laying the floor, having fallen out of the book. Elle bent over to pick it up. “It’s handwritten, looks like someone wanted to get their thoughts down in a hurry.”

Wes abandoned his book, while Elle read over the page. Halfway through she looked up at Wes, her pace pale. “The others are hunting him right now, aren’t they?”

Wes nodded. “He’s not completely harmless Wes.”

“Elle, what’s wrong?”

“We have to stop them. We can’t let them kill him.”


______________________________________________________________________



Of all the days to dress up a little bit, Lyla thought to herself as she followed behind Connor. She knew Connor was coming back today and wanted to make a little bit of effort. It wasn’t as though she saw him everyday.

Connor didn’t seem to sit still for long. Since their “kidnapping”, Connor was prone to taking off for days or weeks at a time. Where he went, she wasn’t sure, but it sucked either way.

Lyla thought they had become a little closer, but he wasn’t around anymore. He was the only one she could really talk to. She didn’t know what it was about him. He wasn’t even really her type, yet she felt these little palpitations and butterflies when he walked into the room. It wasn’t her, this was not the kind of girl she was and yet here she was acting like a lovesick teenager. LOVE? No way. That was ridiculous. Connor was an odd boy, not the type to charm his way into a girl’s hearts. Hell, he was as clueless as they come. And yet, maybe that was what made him so appealing. He wasn’t just after one thing, he cared about her.

And here they were in a dark hallway, holding some strange ass lookin’ weapons, and chasing a possessed guy who would most likely possess her if she got near him. “I have to stop,” she said, sitting down on the nearest couch.

Connor turned. “Are you ok?” He asked, squatting down to eye level. He put his hand on her face checking her bruise. Lyla nodded, turning her face into his hand. “Thanks to you I am.”

“I wouldn’t let him hurt you.” How was it possible for him to say the corniest thing ever, and it sound so sweet? After the night together, Connor felt something for her that he couldn’t describe. She was a very strong, outspoken girl, he’d quickly come to realize. But she had been vulnerable when she’d lain in his arms, and since that moment, he’d wanted to protect her so no one could hurt her. He’d never been responsible for someone like that before. It made him feel good that she wanted to be around him.

Connor pulled her to her feet, ruining the moment. “Come on,” he persisted.” We have to get going.”

Lyla sighed. Always with the running. She cursed aloud when she tripped yet again. Damn, short, confining skirt. “ You can pull me along as fast as your want Connor, but sooner or later you’re going to pull my arm out of the socket!”

Connor spun around, slashing at her skirt with his knife. Lyla barely had a second to say anything, let alone react. Connor made a prefect slash down both sides of her skirt, making it easier to walk.

“You could have hurt me you jerk!” she shouted, slapping his arm.

Connor caught her by the wrist, before she could strike again. “Now you can walk better,” he said simply.

“You are so going to buy me another skirt mister!” she muttered as he tugged her along. There was a loud crash from the basement followed by a scream. A shadow raced across the hall and if it hadn’t been for Connor, Lyla would have given them away. Anticipating her scream, Connor had spun around, his hand over her mouth and his body crushing her against the wall.

“Shh.....”he whispered, though it were sort of obvious he wanted her to be quiet.

“Duh....”she said, muffled through his hand.

Lyla nodded, as Connor slowly withdrew his hand. She opened her mouth to scream, and Connor turned to cover her mouth again, when Lyla smiled. “Just testing the reflexes.” Connor turned and headed down the hall.

Lyla shrugged. “Just trying to be the comic relief.”


______________________________________________________________________

The fight had already begun the main lobby, their original starting point. Angel and Izzie had chased Sam upstairs and would have lost him if Connor and Lyla hadn’t blocked his escape route. Just as quickly Fred and Gunn appeared at the top of the stairs, weapons ready.

“Cornered again,” Sam said, “Well it was a good fight while it lasted.”

Sam stood very still, watching his enemies close in on him, completely unafraid. Izzie inched closer, ignoring Angel’s hand holding her back. Sam watched her closely as they began to inch around each other, each daring the other to move first.

Lyla drew back against the wall. It was 6 against 1, but then maybe possession was an epidemic, not the sort of thing you only caught once. Sam lunged at Izzie, his weight knocking her backwards. She did a roundhouse and had him on the floor. He kicked her legs out from under her, but as she fell she’d already curled herself into a ball and rolled out of it. Sam turned to Lyla, and got her around the neck. Izzie lunged onto his back. Lyla started to sputter as he squeezed her tightly, closing off her air supply. Sam let go of Lyla and flung Izzie off his back. She flew clear across the room and hit the wall hard, knocking the air out of her lungs. It was the bang to the head that dropped her to the floor in a heap however.

Sam bent over her, squeezing her head between his hands. Angel grabbed her from the back, but it was as though Sam was as hard as stone, and couldn’t budge. Izzie opened her mouth and screamed until her throat felt raw. Her head felt like it was going to implode. Angel reached for the sword he’d dropped and with one clean swipe, beheaded Sam.

Izzie clutched her head with her heads, rolling into the fetal position. Angel pulled her upper body into his lap, trying to pry her heads away so he could see the damage.

The doors to the elevators opened, and Wesley and Elle ran out. “Don’t kill him!” Wesley yelled. It was then he spotted Sam’s corpse and his face paled.

“It’s too late,” Elle, whispered, clutching the papers in her hand.

“It could be in any one of you now,” Wesley said. “It’s possession, you don’t kill it!” he yelled at Angel.

Lyla jumped up on the nearest couch, as you might do it there was a mouse running around loose on the floor. Fred and Gunn backed up the stairs.

“It’s Angel,” Connor said, as he raised his weapon.

“Hey! It’s not always me you know,” Angel said defensively. “Once or twice I admit. And that was usually of my own doing.”

“It’s not Angel, Connor,”Izzie said evenly. “Not this time.” Angel looked down at her. Izzie’s hand shot up and encircled his neck. She raised herself up and threw him across the room. Everyone watched in horror as Izzie got to her feet slowly.

She rotated her shoulders, moving her head from side to side. “I’ve been wanting to do that for a long time.”

“Izzie?”Elle whispered. Not Izzie, it couldn’t be.

Izzie glared at her. “Sorry babe, Izzie’s gone.” And then she laughed as she looked at Angel with a look of contempt. “ Izzie doesn’t live here anymore.”


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