*~*~*~*~*

Let me tell you how exciting the parts in the show that you don't see are. They aren't. Cordelia spends more time reading fashion magazines then I thought possible. I finally convinced Wesley to dump that chick taking him to all the Hollywood glitz and glamour. Bad move. Now he insists on talking about demons and such non-stop. I figured out "when" I was as well. Just before Angel would find out about Darla's terminal problem. And what of Angel? Well, you thought he brooded a lot on the show. You should check out this guy for real here.

I slipped into his office before sunset to find him once again brooding. I have to admit though. He pulls it off perfectly. And he so damn sexy. I mean let me tell you. Prrrrrrr.

"Why thank you." He turned from his chair to look at me with a smile.

I blushed. Internal monologue, Meg. "Uh, hi Angel." I sat in a chair across from his desk. "More brood time?"

His smile slowly faded. "Thinking more than brooding today."

"About Darla?"

"How do you know about her?"

"I know about you as well. I know about when she turned you in the ally, I know that she brought you the gypsy girl whose family gave you your soul, I know how she tried to get you to turn her back and you won't."

He stopped to find some words. "How can you know all that?"

I shrugged. "Women's intuition?"

He stood but I remained sitting, waiting to see if I had chosen the right words. He walked around and sat on the edge desk in front of me, crossing his arms and ankles. "What else do you know?"

I laced my fingers together. "Cordelia used to be this rich snob with absolutely no care in the world except for herself. She never got along with the Scooby gang then even ended up dating Xander.

"Wesley was sent to Sunnydale as Giles' replacement which didn't bode well with either Slayer. And since he could not control either, and the fact that Faith went bad, the Watcher's council dismissed him and he came to LA as a rogue demon hunter until he crossed your path.

"Gunn..." I trailed off for a moment. "Gunn had to stake his own sister and is still having a hard time trusting people." I stopped to judge his reaction. At least I didn't mention Buffy's name this time.

It took him a moment before he even moved a muscle. He opened his mouth to speak, but must have thought better of his words and closed it again. The tension in the room was as thick as... Okay, so I don't know how thick it was. All I know is that it was there.

"Are you psychic?" Words. Thank you God.

"No." One word answers. Very bad.

"Then how do you know all this?"

Think, Meg. "When I arrived here I knew all of this." Yes, that answer will work.

He nodded. "I see. And you're here to help?"

"Yes. Which I'd like to do. Soon. By going to Lindsey and trying to stop him from making a fatal mistake." I stood. "Please, you have to trust me. If I were here to harm you, I would have done it by now. I wouldn't have..."

"What mistake is he going to make?"

Damn. I so did not want to go there. "It has to do with Darla. I can't tell you anything else." I hung my head and waited for his outburst.

There wasn't one.

When I raised my eyes to his again, he was staring at me with a blank face. Unreadable. Beautiful. Handsome. Sexy...

I couldn't help it. I closed the gap between us quickly and gently pressed my lips to his. I don't know what I thought would happen. All I knew is that he tasted so good. My hands went to the back of his head and I felt his arms around my waist. Almost pleading, my tongue lingered on his lips until his came out to dance with mine.

Let me tell you now, 247 years is great kissing practice. I mean <i> day-yam! </i>

I whimpered softly against his mouth and pressed myself closer to him, wanting more. But he broke the kiss, his eyes staying with mine as we watched each other silently, our bodies still pressed against each other. I had to take a few shaky breaths. "Wow," I breathed.

He grinned a little. "Thanks." He rubbed my back and stood, still keeping me in his arms. "I'll make you a deal."

I nodded numbly.

"You can go to Wolfram and Hart if you take Gunn and Wesley with you." He still had his hands on me. Oh thank you Lord his hands are on me.

"Uh, okay. Deal."

He chuckled and let me go slowly. "Don't be gone too long though and at the first sign of trouble I want you to get out of there."

I nodded. "Definitely. My number one rule is 'don't get dead.'"

*~*~*~*~*

The Wolfram and Hart offices are a little more intimidating in real life. Cordelia had purchased me a dress suit so that I would look a bit more professional than jeans and a tight top. Well, at least the right type of profession. The cold interior of the law offices held several of the world's most despicable vile and disgusting people on the Earth. Not to mention some of the demons they represented.

I walked up calmly to the receptionist's desk and smiled. "I'm here to see Lindsey McDonald."

The receptionist looked me over. "Do you have an appointment?"

I looked back to Wesley and Gunn who were standing back about twenty feet. They watched carefully. My smile widened as I looked back to the desk. "Tell him Darla is here to see him."

She nodded and called up to Lindsey's office. His response was very brief, whatever it was and soon I was greeted by the pounding footsteps as I saw Lindsey running towards me. He screeched to a halt at the desk, his breathing rapid. "Where?"

The receptionist motioned to me. "Right here."

I smiled as he looked me over and scowled. "That's not Darla."

I extended my hand. "Hello, Lindsey. I'm Meg."

He shook my hand and gave a lopsided grin. "Pleasure. Now why are you here? And how do you know Darla?"

My voice took on a very professional tone. "I believe this is a conversation I would rather have in private." I turned. "With my associates."

Lindsey's eyes landed on Gunn and Wesley who shifted uncomfortably. "So you work for Angel?"

I shook my head. "They are just for my protection. Now do you wish to speak with me? Or make the biggest mistake of your life and destroy Darla in the process?"

He took another moment to look me over. "Fine. This way."

I motioned for Gunn and Wesley to follow. We were lead to Lindsey's office. I strode over to the window and looked out. It was still light out and the city looked very much alive. So many people who had no idea what went on here. So many people in danger.

"So speak."

I whipped around to face Lindsey who had gone to the mini bar to pour a drink. Wesley and Gunn stood waiting by the door.

"I want you to think about things before you go any farther. Darla should be allowed to die in peace. With her soul intact. I know what you're planning and I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to stop it from happening."

He sipped his drink. "And just what do you think I'm planning?"

"To have Drusilla sire her."

Lindsey dropped his drink. Wesley gasped. Gunn merely looked confused.

So I continued. "Have you really thought this through? Have you not heard what a combination Drusilla and Darla make? Don't you realize how many lives will be lost if they are brought here together?"

He took a few steps up to me. "Who told you?"

"No one. I simply know."

Another step. "Have you told anyone?"

"Those you see here are those who know."

Another step. "So if you're dead..."

He was close enough. Before my boys could react my hand shot out and grabbed right around Lindsey's jugular. My nails kept my hold tight. "If you try to remove my arm my nails can rip out your fucking throat."

He looked wide-eyed into my eyes and saw I wasn't bluffing.

"Meg!" Wesley was by my side in an instant. "How..?"

"Did I mention that I was a good fighter with a medical background? I know how to defend myself." My eyes glared at Lindsey. "Don't you even think about trying to kill any of us. Just remember that this is what it's like to be close to death and that I will not hesitate to bring you here again if it will save hundreds of lives." I released him and stared at my hand. Being in this building was not good.

Lindsey took in the well-needed air and glared back at me. "Get out." Three security guards appeared.

I shook my head. "Please, Lindsey. Don't make this mistake."

He straightened his tie. "Escort these people out of the building."

Head bowed, I let the guards lead us out without incident.

*~*~*~*~*

On the drive home I made Gunn and Wesley promise not to tell Angel about the Drusilla and Darla thing that I mentioned. Gunn said that was fine with him. Wesley on the other hand...

"What? But this needs to be stopped!"

"Yeah, but there's no way he can do it alone. And this is already tearing him apart. Or haven't you noticed?"

"Of course I've noticed but we need to stop this."

"Then 'we' will. Not Angel. He can't know about any of this."

"And why not?"

I hesitated. "Because I've seen a glimpse of the future and if he finds out then there's no way to know...." I stopped. "Just trust me here."

*~*~*~*~*

I could still see the light. The sun was shining, though it was beginning to near the horizon and it gave everything a light orange glow. I had changed back into my jeans and midriff top and was staring out the door of the Hyperion. Thinking. Was I here for good? What made me think that I could stop Dru from siring Darla? What the hell got into me and made me almost kill Lindsey? Too many questions. And I hadn't even tried to visit the option of calling Sunnydale and getting Buffy's help. That would throw everything out of whack. She had her own problems to deal with and you can be sure as shit that I wasn't strong enough to face Dru alone.

My eyes widened as I thought of one person I had neglected. I quickly ran back to the front desk and snatched Angel's car keys.

"Just where do you think you're going?" Wesley.

"A drive." I walked to the door then paused. Like I knew which way was which? "How do I get to the prison?"

He blinked. "Why?"

"I need to talk to Faith."

At the mention of the rogue slayer he stiffened. "W-why?"

My eyes softened. "I know she hurt you, Wes, but she may the only one who can help me with this. Just take me there, please?" I held the keys out to him.

He swallowed and stared at the keys for a moment. "All right."

*~*~*~*~*

Prison is a drag. I mean at least they could color it a little. Wesley had decided to wait for me in the car. Faith sat across from the plate glass separating us and picked up the phone with a confused look. "Who are you?"

I smiled. "Name's Meg. And I need your help. The Slayer kind of help."

This got her attention, her brown eyes narrowing slightly as a smile graced her face. She flung some of her dark hair behind her. "There's a little problem there. I'm not a Slayer anymore. I'm a prisoner."

"I can fix that."

"I'm listening."

"I'm a friend of Angel's. And there's some big trouble brewing. Wolfram and Hart are plotting..."

"Is he okay?" Her smile was gone.

I nodded. "But he can't know about this. I hope you know that I intend to bring you back here when this is over. But if you don't help me, Angel might lose the redemption he values. Angelus could return."

She scowled. "What are those crack-head lawyers up to now?"

"They've brought back his sire. But she's human right now. Lindsey plans to have her turned back to a vamp to get Angel back to evil."

I could see her knuckles start to turn white as she gripped the phone. "I'll help. Just as long as you know that I ain't doing this for you. It's for him. You get that and we'll be..."

"Five by five."

She faltered. "Yeah."

I smiled. "It's okay Faith. I know all about you."

*~*~*~*~*

Okay, breaking Faith out of prison is something I didn't really plan for. I mean, I didn't plan for any of it, but definitely not this. I figured it couldn't be too much harder than breaking into a bank. And that's something I could do. Haven't done it, mind you. I just know that I could. It's a simple thing really. Just find the weakness in the security and breach it.

Under the cover of dusk I crept back to the prison. My attire was entirely black, my hair pulled back into a ponytail, a small satchel flung over my shoulder. I had packed a few tools that I found in the back of Angel's car, a flashlight and a couple of mirrors.

This was going to be fun.

I had instructed Faith to meet me near the north end of the prison that held their small demeaning library. Security wasn't as heavy there for a good reason. Ocean was the corroding wall below. It would take someone with either rock climbing gear or slayer strength to scale it.

I was dealing with both. Go me.

Although the gear I obtained was mostly homemade and very dangerous. Oh well, you only live once. I knotted the harness around my waist and looked up. Five stories to scale.

"What the hell are you doing?"

I whipped around to the harsh whispered voice. "Angel!" I hissed. "What are you doing here?"

"That's what I came to ask you about." He motioned to my attire and equipment. "What are you doing?"

I sighed. "Breaking Faith out." No use lying to him.

His jaw about hit the ground. "What? Why?"

"Because I need her help." I rechecked my knots and picked up the line. "I'll put her back when I'm done, Daddy."

He scowled and grabbed the rope. "I can't let you do this. Faith is paying for her crimes. She's working hard for this."

"She knows. She's meeting me here for this." I set up my first handhold and yanked at the rope in his hand. "Come on. Let me do this."

His eyes narrowed. "Let me spot you at least?"

I smiled and nodded. "Wish me luck." I went ahead and took a brief kiss for my own luck before starting to scale the wall. The climb itself has to be made up and to the right, until I've got nothing but ocean beneath me. Well, until I have nothing but ocean and sharp pointy rocks that are gonna kill me.

When I reached the window I was greeted by Faith's smiling face. "Took you long enough." She yanked me in and started putting on the harness I brought for her.

"Have you ever rock climbed before?" I asked her.

"Nope. But you never now what you can do till you try." She wiggled her eyebrows with a smile and was out the window.

Angel was waiting for us when we reached the bottom with a scowl on his face. "Faith, why are you doing this?"

I stopped her. "Angel, she's helping me with something then she'll go back. But I need a good slayer and I'm not going to call Buffy."

The "B" word. So not good.

Faith stayed silent. Angel yanked my arm to move away from her. "You asked me to trust you, but how can I do that, Meg, if you don't tell me everything?"

"Because it's something you feel here." I placed my hand on his chest. "You know I'm not going to do anything to hurt you or your friends."

He looked down at my hand before taking it gently in his. "Okay."

I smiled. "Okay? That's it?"

He rolled his eyes. "You want an argument?"

I raised my hands and smiled. "It's all good here!"