The eyes have it (Tully, Sam)

[Lovely]

Name: Tullia Phillips Alias: Tully, Tull Likeness: Jessica Biel Played by: Lovely

---------------

Name: Samuel Winchester Alias: Sam, Sammy Likeness: Jared Padelecki Played By: Tripp

[Lovely]

May 17, 2009
1:23am
Railyard//Warehouse

Cordelia Chase crept through the dirty abandoned railyard in her ever so stylish pumps, and classically attractive outfit which she wore with a certain confidence despite it seeming out of place with where she was and what she was doing. Well, she hadn't had time to change when Wesley rushed them off in a frazzle. The only real problem she had was trying to figure out which demon to protect and which to attack. She was pretty sure at the moment she was protecting the right one from the other less respectable one.

Cordy sighed as they snuck around, looking for Wesley, she heard a noise as of someone sneaking, it wasn't a heavy enough movement to be the other demon and so she expected to find Wesley as she came around the corner. Instead she came face to face.. well crossbow to face with 'Mr. 'tude' in leather' as she'd dubbed him within the few startled moments which followed. She didn't know what to do for half a second but didn't lower her guard or the bow, looking him over as he stood there a few feet away from her. "It's a nice jacket.. I'll be careful not to put a hole in it." She quipped, wondering what this guy was doing here, he did look as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

"Thanks... Are you going to put that down? Cuz it could get a little crazy," he smiled, hands out, looking helpless. He was just here in the warehouse.. on business.. and minding his own business... until he heard something on this side only to come around the corner at the wrong time. Who was nuts enough to be out here... in heels? Oh geezus, probably just a lame hooker.. with really nice legs he noted, on the way up in the once-over. Though.. hookers usually didn't carry crossbows. He shrugged and thought the next best thing... gotta be a demon... yup.

"I think it already is a little crazy.. you should go home.. or back to whatever tour bus you fell off of.." Her eyes rolled over him and she bit her lip, daaaaamn! She kept a firm grip on the bow and her eyes on him, the demon.. what was it called again? Something only Wesley could pronounce properly, moved behind her and she shifted to stay between it and this man, at least she hoped he was a man. "Stay back." She warned the demon, her eyes on Dean. "Stay behind me and everything will be fine.."

"Stay back? I didn't move." Hopefully she wasn't trigger happy, too. Sure, everything will be fine. Yeah, she had the crossbow... "You need that to be convincing? What's fine about carrying something like that in a place like this? I'm not convinced 'fine' is the word you're looking for lady."

She growled softly and sighed, rolling her eyes a little. "Not you.. the de.. the person I am protecting from.. the bad guys.." Damn it that just sounded stupid! "Oh whatever! I don't care if I upset your delicate senses of the unknown or if you think I'm a fruit! I am protecting a 'good' demon right now.. and you're in the way of me getting him.. her.. it.. I don't know what gender it is.. getting it out of here safely. Okay? Ok.. You need to be elsewhere." She gestured at Dean this time indicating she was meaning he needed to go. Behind her the demon shuffled out of the shadows and into a better view.

"You're kidding me," he perked up, ready to laugh and be that much more worried. Great, just what they needed... an underground rail runner for demons? "Yeah, well look, I don't buy it," he started, then the creature came into better view. Whoa. He glanced around a little.. no Sam. "Cuz I'm here after something that actually looks and acts like a demon. Not that you don't," he explained to the creature, hands up still, playing stupid. "Just, I had something a little more bad-ass in mind, so if you'll just excuse me..." He could try and get past them and hope Sam would help corral them both.

"Uh uh.. go the other way. I'm not stupid enough to let you get behind me. You're probably the other demon I'm protecting this one from.. knowing my luck you're vile and evil in a fine package." She motioned with the crossbow that he needed to back up. "This isn't the dark demon overlord of all things chaotic, bloody and gross that you're looking for... now move." She gave him a small 'do it now' kind of smile.

Well she did have it half-right. Dean smiled back, taking the compliment, but leaving the rest that he still wasn't buying and deciding to go back the direction she wanted him to anyway. That was the same direction she was trying to go and he had to admit as far as bait... wow. "Yeah right, sister. And Howard the Duck was a blockbuster hit."

She felt the small chuckle come out before she could stop it and she stepped slowly towards him, 'guiding' him to keep going with the threat of a good aim and sharp arrows. "Well at least you have wit on your side.. move it along.." She glanced back toward the demon as it followed them, but quickly brought her gaze back to the man in front of them, feeling the need to keep her sights on him and not just because he was nicer to look at.

"That's not my good side, though...," he chuckled, stopping to create a distraction with ... something.... ".. Shit," he muttered, patting his pockets.. empty. Nothing he had to throw or stall them with at the moment save for something up his sleeve. No time like now to get a little help. "SAM!!!!" God he better be in short range or this wasn't going to last very long. If she wasn't a demon, he kinda wanted to take his time with her.

Her finger hit the trigger and her aim was right on, if he hadn't moved just the right way, her arrow hit about an inch in front of his face as he turned. "Who's Sam?" Cordy took a step closer, pulling her cell out of her pocket to "Oh crap!"..she dropped it and chuckled nervously. "Well then.. I guess.. WESLEY!" She screamed for him, hoping he'd get his butt there quick before whoever Sam was showed up to kick her ass. She waited a moment and didn't hear anything from Wes. "No one is coming.. figures. Men are never around when you really need them!"

Dean stopped dead, looking at the bolt in the wall. Okay, she wants to play it that way? He pulled it out as a temporary protective weapon and hit the release, dropping the concealed blade in his sleeve to his hand. "Who's Wesley?" He replied with a snarky grin, diving at her to throw her off track and dodge around her.

"Hey!" He wasn't supposed to do that. She grunted as he threw himself into her, the bow went flying with a clatter to the ground where she couldn't reach it right now.The glint of metal caught her eye and she grabbed at his wrist to hold his hand away, her other elbow heading for the side of his face.

"Dean?" Sam came around the side of the abandoned rail car and saw the scuffle his brother was having with a.. rather pretty girl who wasn't swooning over him. "I don't think she's the demon!"

Caught, his hand dropped the bolt, but the other flashed back with the not-so-hidden blade. "Tell that to her! See, that's the thing about sidekicks... they gotta be dependable." He grinned again and tried to twist her around to hold her still. "You really don't want to damage this face."

"Oh I really do!" She was breathing heavy as he caught her and pulled her around, attempting to hit him with anything she can before he can get ahold of her fully.

Sam didn't feel as though he should jump in just yet and was content, alright very amused to watch them. He sort of smirked watching them, but also glancing around for the 'real' demon which was nowhere in sight as it had skittered off while his brother and this girl were struggling.

"Just take it easy, alright? You're not the demon and neither are we. Sammy, did you find anything?" Tries to keep tabs on both of her hands to hold her back, but not hurt her, yet.

"Of course I'm not the demon! Do I look like I'm the king of slimey slug demon things??" Cordy slammed the heel of her shoe into the top of his foot.

"If I had found it yet, would I be standing here.. being very entertained." Sam smiled a little and looked over the fiesty girl. "You have such a way with the ladies Dean, what you're usual charms didn't work?"

He grimaced only slightly at the pain that bolted up his leg... like a muthe-... "She's charmed enough, Sammy. Looks like we're babysitting for a bit while shirley temple here finishes her little song and dance. Let's go. That thing's in here someone. Wouldn't want anyone to get hurt."

Did he just say babysitting?? Her eyes narrowed and she brought her head up in a sudden a sharp movement -meaning to slam into his face. "Shirley Temple?? Oh god.. my hair is.. I knew I shouldn't have trusted that hairdresser!"

Her head clocked his jaw slightly and he shoved, trying to keep hold and keep from getting his nose broken. "Got more things to worry about than your hair. I'm assuming your sidekick is around close? When was the last time you saw him? If you're after the same thing we are, I don't think it's a good idea to leave him alone, do you?"

She huffed and grew still, then gave her winning yet sarcastic smile. "I'm sure if Wesley were in trouble, we'd all hear him screaming like a frightened school girl." She tried to yank away from him again. "Besides.. we're not after the same demon."

"How can you be so sure?" Sam was still trying not to laugh as he watched Dean have his hands full of the girl.

A loud clatter of a load being released from its crane thundered a row or two over, echoing off the hollow metal shells all around them. Running footsteps and a whistle followed.

"Couldn't be the same one, you're right," Dean agreed, giving Sam a glance as the sounds were heard. "She couldn't handle what we're after." He was getting a pretty good idea how much of a lie that was and hoped he didn't regret priming her reaction.

She laughed, sarcastic sounding and let it fall flat. Watching as Sam gave a slight nod to Dean and moved off to check on the sounds they had heard. "Right.. cause whatever you're after is worse than what little ole me has seen." With that she planted her foot, brought her elbow back and went down and forward in a move she hoped would throw him or at least dislodge her enough that she could get away from him. "Aww looks like your side kick left you all alone." Her eyes caught sight of where her bag had been dropped when she'd heard him coming and had tried to hide.

He doubled from the impact, but had been mostly ready for it, except that being winded part. In the moment it was knocked from him with her elbow, he let her go and took off after his brother. If she was serious, she'd follow or if she was smarter, she'd get the hell out.

"Hey.. where are you going?" She stood there a moment, offended that he didn't think she was the better thing to pay attention to. "Like I said.. men.." She gathered up her bow and her bag, slinging the strap over her shoulder as she headed around the rail car from the other side. She decided the crossbow was not efficent here and rummaged to find a couple knives that were easier to keep handy and pull to hand if she needed them quickly.

*******************
2:37am
A closed bar

The railyard ended up being a bust of sorts.. Cordelia was aggrivated by it, but there was nothing they could do but track and investigate and hope to find out what was going on with this bar they'd been hired to "despook", the first leads with the two demons at the railyard had not ended with the finality they had hoped for. Case was not closed even if the one demon had been destroyed. As they slipped into the bar from the front, she could hear movement and someone coming in through the side window. She got ready to defend or attack or scream if needed and watched until something started climbing in.

Once Sam's knife cleared the latch and he pulled open the window, a beam of filtered light swabbed the floor, Dean climbing in behind it, gun propped above the flashlight and stepping carefully with Sam right behind him. "Shhh shhh...," he stopped suddenly, waving Sam to stop as well, letting him sweep the doorway across from them with the light when he thought he saw something there in the shadows.

Sam was right on Dean's heels so to speak as they climbed through the window into the old pub, he came to a stop at his brother's signal and let his light sweep the shadows where Dean gestured. To his surprise he saw the pretty girl who'd given Dean a fight at the railyard standing there. "Uh.. Dean..?" He nodded, sure Dean would see what he did.

Cordy was able to see Dean from where she stood before he saw her, but that didn't help her when Sam shone his flashlight on her face. She squinted and kept her bow low, she'd be able to shoot but looked more defensive in her stance then aggressive. "You.." She almost pouted as she looked directly at the older brother.

Dean wasn't sure whether to be surprised or p-o-'ed. He looked up at Sam and back at her... he didn't believe it either way. "You...??"

"Cordy you know these guys?" Fred's Texas twang came from behind the bar where she'd been hiding as she peeked up over the edge.

"What are you doing here? Didn't you mess up our investigation enough back there?" Cordy whispered to the boys, mostly Dean as she lowered the cross bow so it wasn't pointed at them at all. "Yes me.. here.. you shouldn't be!" She waved at Fred as if to say I'll tell you later.

"Investigation? Dean?" Sam looked at his brother again, with a frown wondering what he knew about all this.

Dean shrugged, giving him a 'da hell should I know?' look, pulling his expression into a half frown. He wasn't exactly disappointed they were here, but they could get in the way. "Amateurs," he mumbled about the girls and their 'official' investigation.

"Soo you know her... she knows you... hugs all around!" The voice was booming, electric and friendly, coming from the side doorway.

"Lorne!!" Both girls said in unison, wide eyes and smiles, and giggles. "Oh my gosh.. Lorne! What are you doing here?" Cordy set her bow down and was heading to give him a big hug.

Fred was bouncing with her special kind of excitement as she hurried around the bar to also come and give their green friend a hug. "Lorne.. wow.."

Sam was dumbfounded and his mouth opened, but he didn't have words as he first took in the man with horns -obviously a demon! and then the girls adoring reactions to him. "Dean.. " He just gestured at the display, he no explaination.

"Who the hell are you?" Fine, he said it for the both of them. Dean's gun was still aimed with the light, wondering if either one was going to be very effective on this green thing with the horns.

He put his arm up to keep from being blinded and grimaced. "Girls, please, tell him to put that away. It won't do him any good here - you know the rules. No violence," he said as if shaking a finger at the young... poorly dressed.. man that was threatening him and the girls at the moment. He gladly returned the hug... both girls equally adored in return. "Or does he know he's threatening the "queen"?"

"The queen?" Fred asked after giving Lorne a kiss on the cheek, delighted to see him again. "I missed you so much, I'm awful glad you're here.. what are you doing here?"

Sam cocked his head to the side, watching the girls and the green man and then his brother. "Rules?" He was confused. "Who are you?" He repeated Dean's question but in a more curious way.

Cordy gave Lorne a kiss to his other cheek and whispered. "So the anti violence spell is in place already.. good." She pulled away with a smile and turned toward the brothers. "This is Lorne. The rules are there is no violence permitted in his place.. demon.. or human.." She gave a small laugh and flashed her smile at Lorne as if to say sorry, cause that's our fault.

Dean raised both eyebrows that immediately knotted back up again. Great, they were hosed if this thing decided to try to slaughter them all right now. He wondered if 'dinner time' meant the same thing as violence in this guy's estimation. The girls liked him and he'd only met the one that he already knew his face didn't like. In the dim light, the gray and purple ring in the shape of Cordelia's head wasn't visible at least. "Okay, so he's Lorne and you asked him a question. What... is he doing -here-?"

"Probably getting everything ready to open for business." Cordy answered in her simple matter of fact way. "Lorne owned a bar.. and it got a little bit destroyed a few times. Looks to me like he relocated.. I'm not singing." The last was said with a half turn and a smile at their friend.

"Don't worry, dollface, I'll do the singing tonight. My cousin.. a simple little ifrite with too many properties he acquired in ... well let's just say he put a new meaning in 'fire sale'... had this one sitting here waiting for me." He giggled a little at his joke whether the others got it or not. "So, we're not open yet, but come up and have a drink on the house. Don't mind me, I'm just getting things ready. Help yourselves."

"Dollface? Psh... yeah, she's an absolute angel," Dean scoffed. This guy seemed a little light in the ... hooves.. as if the demon part wasn't disconcerting enough.

She laughed at his joke, her hand coming up to cover her mouth as she giggled ."Oh goody!" Fred bounced and twirled away from Lorne, skipping off to introduce herself to the boys. "Hi y'all." She gave a wave even though she stood right in front of them. "I'm Winifred Burkle.. you can call me Fred though.. It's nice to meet you. So you all are friends with our Cordy, huh?"

Cordy just gave Dean a cool look and moved toward the bar, at least she could get a water or something for herself. As she moved she caught the shadow of the bruise on his face, it made her chuckle a little as she forgot about the water and sat down on a stool at the bar. "Do you need any help Lorne?"

Sam looked to Dean and to Lorne, then to Cordy and finally to the bubbly girl who bounced in front of them. "Hey.. nice to meet you." He was really thinking maybe he'd just lost his mind.. this was.. he'd seen alot of things in his life and this was weird even to him!

"Friends? Um.. nah, we just came for the triscuits. Dean.. this is Sam," he smiled, finding it strange that he gave their real names without a second thought... now why did he do that? He gave Sam another look and nodded toward the bar. "We're gonna need this."

"Of course they're friends, Fred. We're all friends here, aren't we? Listen, sugarplum," Lorne slid up by the leather-clad doubting-thomas and tried to set the record straight in the way only Lorne could, sliding his arm around the boy in a most friendly manner. He smiled through the blood-red slice of mouth. "In my place, you enjoy yourselves. So please... enjoy." It wasn't just a fact but also a bit of a warning not to cause trouble, especially when he hadn't even opened for paying customers yet. "Thanks for the offer sweetcakes, but don't worry your pretty head, I've got everything taken care of. Just sit down and relax yourselves."

Fred giggled at what Dean said, shaking her head a bit. "Aww you're funny. He's funny." She pointed that out to Sam with a smile as she twisted and squirmed in her cute 'can't stay still' way before she bounced off to check out what Lorne had done in the place so far.

Cordy watch as Fred giggled and flirted and Lorne got friendly with Dean, now if only Wes was there to enjoy it all. "I don't know Lorne, sit down, relax.. that's a pretty tall order. I don't know if I can do that.." She was half joking at least but she'd been wound up pretty tight with everything that went down recently.

Cordy sort of snickered as she saw that Lorne and Sam were sitting down to talk philosophy and law... while Dean 'sucked it up' with his beer, nursing his shiner from the back of Cordy's head. She looked at Dean again and sighed, getting up and moving around the back of the bar. "You want me to find and ice pack for your face?" She found one and set it down on the bar so he could take it if he wanted.

"Before or after kissing it better?" He winked at her. "No hard feelings right?"

"I can give you a matching set.." She winked back.

He quietly seethed, interested but backed off. "Oooooo see.. that's not nice."

"Now why would you ever think a girl with a crossbow is nice? .. silly boy."

"My kinda date..."

"It's not a date until the guy spends money."

"How much does another ice pack cost?"

"Probably more than you have." She gingerly took off her button down shirt, trying to see the bruise she had on her shoulder from wrestling around with him.

"You take plastic?"

"all forms."

"sweet... how about another round, huh?"

Cordy dropped her shirt over the bar, shifting the strap of her tank off a tender spot. and went to get him another ice pack and another beer. As she comes back around she sets them in front of him "You better be a good tipper." She teased, reaching up to let her hair down and repin it up.

"Oh, I'm a good tipper," he agreed, watching her hair twist in her fingers. "Sam, give me some change."

The clip secured in place and she just gave him a look about the change comment that said he'd eat the change if he thought that was all she was worth.

"Dean.." Sam gives him a look and waves him off, going back to the more interesting and intelligent conversation with the green, horned man.

She picks his beer and his ice pack up off the bar with a smirk and claims them as her own as she sits down on the stool.

He taps the bar with the card that says Simon Jones on it. "Hey... a paying customer here." He sighs and pulls up a chair next to her.

She holds the beer out of reach with a teasing smile. "See if this -was- a date I wouldn't be waiting on you.. you'd buy me drinks.. and I don't work here anyway."

"Shit... Well who does work here, anybody?" Hops over the counter and starts helping himself like she did.

He got her to laugh, which she hadn't really done since the last big battle. She missed Angel.. "I don't think they're actually open yet.." She turned to watch him, what a view.. She remembered the ice pack and brought it up to press against her shoulder, wincing a little.

"Customers are customers," he rattled, wiping out a glass with his sleeve and trying the draft to see if it was tapped yet. "Yeah baby, that's what it's all about," he smiled, happy as a clam that he was getting a cold one. Not as cold as the girl at the table, but he'd get over it. "Sorry about your arm. How's it doing?"

She gave him a winning Cordelia smile.. the one that lit up a room and made her eyes dance. "I think I'm going to live.. I've had worse, it's alright.. I'm.. sorry.. about your face."

"Had worse," he nodded back with a shrug. Sure it hurt, but it wasn't likely to leave a scar. Then he'd be upset. "The bolt missed, nobody got really banged up this time, it's all good. Nothing like a good brawl to get to know one another, right?"

Her chuckle was soft and she was nodding, thinking about too many things at once. "Right.. you know I know lots of stuff about you now.. like what you think of my hair.." She teased him about the comment he'd made earlier, calling her shirley temple.

"I didn't mean it like it was a bad thing," he frowned. "It might get in your way in a real demon fight is all. They like to set things on fire you know." It was only a half-hearted warning Dean sipped his beer and leaned back with an arm over the chair, checking the place out.

"Mmm thats why I wear it up.. but you know the length of your hair doesn't matter when they try to hack you into little pieces or blow the place up."

"Very true. I take it you get that a lot," he smirked over his drink. "We try not to be that conspicuous... usually. Shut up Sammy."

"Remind me not to come to California again unless I'm locked and loaded. I like the midwest, personally. At least out there we can tell the difference between a band of demons and Friday night party at the Viper room."

"You're like a cross between dirty harry and clark kent.. I'm not sure whether I should feel lucky or look for a phone booth and a damsel in distress." She grinned at him, she liked that he was straight forward and didn't seem to pull punches... he kind of reminded her of someone with his sarcasm and comments but she wasn't sure who.

"Phone booths aren't so bad," he teased. "Nice and cozy with the right company. Ain't that right, Sammy? Sam? *fwwweeet* Sam. C'mon over here and be social. It's impolite to turn your back on a lady."

"Dean you're not a lady.. even if the pretty girl lets you borrow her shoes.. I'm talking to Lorne. You're a big boy.. I'm sure you can handle the little lady.." He smiled at Cordelia, wondering why he felt almost akin to her even though he didn't know her. "Go easy on him will you? He's very sensitive.. I hate when he cries."

Cordy laughed again and finally picked up the beer to take a drink of it, only a sip though.

"b*tch," he muttered under his breath into the remaining foam on his glass. He was still in good spirits at least. "Guess that means you're stuck with me. They got any food around here?"

"Jerk." Sam mumbled out of the side of his mouth, turning back to his own conversation again.

"I don't know.. we may have to forage elsewhere to find something we'd eat." She looked at her beer and set the bottle down, she just couldn't stomach it at the moment. "You're not going to try to hack me into little pieces or blow me up are you?"

"Not today. So let me understand this. This is demon beer, but they don't eat real food? Heh, at least they got it half right. Where'd you have in mind to forage? I'm not the berries and seeds kinda guy."

"Demon beer? No that's regular beer.. and they do eat regular food.. some of them anyway.. but since Lorne isn't fully open yet.. I figure we could probably find a burrito stand or a place that has nice thick juicy burgers..?"

"You're singing my song, sister. Um, what did you say your name was, by the way? I don't think we've really been introduced. Nice crossbow, by the way."

"Cordelia... Chase." She smiled and offered him her hand in a much nicer greeting than she'd given him at first. She reached with her other hand to grab her shirt and the crossbow. "Thanks.. it was a gift from ... an old friend."

"An old friend? You say that like it was either a very long time ago or .. he..? ... was a dirty old miser that parted with a few nice things. More than a few. Dean... that's Sam. Winchester.. "

"He... Angel, wasn't a dirty old miser.." Her fingers stroked over the bow as she picked it up and then tucked her shirt over her other arm. "So Dean.. you hungry or what?"

[Lovely]

May 29, 2009
mid-morning
Bon Temps Hotel

The crew was all together again and though not a typical family -they were chatting and teasing each other like only family can as they all set in to work on getting the hotel cleaned up. Fred and Cordy had both noticed the ratio of men to women and this had gotten the subject off on a rail and around to the girls having a lack of boyfriends.

Fred ended up leaving to go get them some breakfast and so she missed it when someone made a comment about "..the boys are just being themselves... wishywashy, non commital, self depricating slimes.. egotistical, but otherwise wishywashy.."

It made them laugh and Cordy brought up another point. "this true, but some of the girls just want a boyfriend.. like normal girls and abnormal girls get to have.." She pouted a little, they just didn't seem to get it.

Gunn was just chuckling. "But none o'y'all are anything normal any way you look at it."
"Not... that that's bad..." He stopped laughing and started cleaning.

"We still deserve boyfriends.. we may be freaks in our own ways.. but we're not hideous awful people.. we're human.. or mostly human.. and we need that connection just like the people we save."

"Whoa, who said anything about anybody ... "connecting" with anybody? I was just saying..that that... that you ladies are all pretty, um... exceptional and that these guys, they ain't worth your time, that's all."

"Speak for yourself, hotshot. If I wasn't worth the time, I wouldn't still be hunted after two hundred years. Some of the ones after me were even almost normal themselves," Angel nodded.

"The definition of almost in your book must be as fast and loose as someone's version of normal," Wesley quipped from behind the newspaper ads. "Are we looking for work or writing a soap opera? Anyone find anything worth following yet?"

"Thanks for caring about my pain Wes. When I don't show up for work one day, don't bother checking my room for the body." She sighed leaning on the counter, with her head on her hand. "I've been alone for four years.. the last real boyfriend I had was Xander. It's.. just getting very lonely."

"Then this must be the place. Someone hire a carpenter? Have hammer will tr-... holey... maybe I should have brought two," Xander said, hearing the echo of Cordelia's familiar voice in the lobby as he entered, Anya somewhere close behind. He looked around and wondered if he could un-enter... would any of them notice. "You said work, not overhaul."

"Xander!" Her smile was bright as she pushed off the counter and turned to him. "Ohh my god! It's great to see you... wow.. I actually mean that.." She shook her head, smiling as she approached him offering a genuine hug. "Overhaul is work, is it not?"

"We're not staying here.. are we.. Xander?" She stumbled in behind him, looking around with a frown. "Oh.. it's.. Angel.. and Wesley..and Cordelia.. and I don't know you." She pointed to Gunn.

"Don't start," Xander warned Anyanka through the small smile. How many miles had the discussion lasted already? "Work is... it's good to see you, Cordy," he said, returning the hug and not finishing his comment about feeling keelhauled into helping out on a lost cause. "Should he... you know... is everything okay.. .here... with you all... um, together like this?" He pointed out Wesley and Angel, wondering what the rest of the story was and why everyone seemed to be getting along.

"Who's starting, I'm not starting.. I'm stating.. saying.. hello. So hello.. gang." Anya waved and gave a totally forced smile.

Cordy laughed a little and turned into the room motioning towards the others. "Of course.. fine as it can be.. we're.. oh here.. card." She pulled the cinged card from her pocket and handed it to Xander. "Angel investigations.. that's us.. we're a team.. this is Gunn. He's part of our team.. and Fred is.. getting us breakfast.. she'll be back soon. You'll like her." She leaned in closer and gave him a questioning look. "Anya?" She whispered, not knowing why they were together.

"She'll be thrilled you remembered," Xander nodded, maybe answering more than he wanted to admit at the moment.

"Um.. right.. anyway.." She looked at him, not really understanding what or why he said what he did and didn't seem to hear anything else she'd said.

"Anya, you remember Cordy? That's Gunn and I guess we'll meet Fred soon," he said, trying to bring her in nicely and meet the others. He was ready to sit in a nice quiet corner for a few minutes and let the overwhelmedness sink in a little. "Oh, Cordy, you asked about Buffy and Willow... they um, wanted to take separate cars or the bus or something. Did they get here already? We um... had a couple detours on the way."

"Buffy and Willow are coming?... Super.. isn't that super? Wes.. Angel.. won't that be great?" She turned with her eyes a little wide and stepped back towards the desk, but then turned again and smiled at Anya. "Hi.. been awhile.. how are you?"

Anya hopped a little as she walked into the lobby more. "Oh good.. Xander and I are very happy.. I never had a chance to thank you. Without you .. I never would have been able to have so much sex with him."

"Um... soo.. hahah... um, great way to break the ice. Let's just um... yeah ice... actually... how about water, something... please? Long drive," Xander said, trying not to make anyone uncomfortable, especially himself now that it felt twenty degrees warmer in the sparse lobby.

Gunn chuckled. "Nice girl... poor guy," he muttered to Angel. "I got the drinks... water, water and water... on the house. Anything else while I'm up?"

"A stake.. if you could just stake me.. that would be great." She laughed as she turned around, nearly glaring at Wesley and Angel. She walked behind the counter where they were sitting and leaned to whisper to Angel. "You see that.. this is all your fault! Xander is having sex.. and I can't even get a date.. I'm blaming this on you! ..and maaybe Doyle but he's not here to take it out on.. so you better find a way to fix it!" She huffed and straightened up, turning to smile as Anya and Xander wandered closer. "So.. ahh.. how long have you two.. been.. um.."

"Having sex regularly? Almost four years now.. since the fall after Buffy blew up the high school." Anya offered with her usual peppiness and a smile. "I love Xander... and you can't have him back .. so if that is why you called him here. You can forget it. I may not have my powers anymore, but I will still fight you for him."

"Girls, that's great. Really nice of you, but heheeeey... look, we're all a team here, right? Aren't we? So... where do you want me to start hammering? I mean... you know... nails... fixing things, like doors. Got an extra stake? I'm not serious, don't take me seriously," he paused, a hand out toward the first of them that moved, not sure what they would do. This was just too weird to handle right now. "No fighting...Anya... don't you worry about that." He found the nearest empty seat, hoping it would sprout a hinged jaw and swallow him whole.

"Four years... ?" Angel nodded gently, thinking back on recent times with a faded smile. He wasn't sure that was entirely good news for the boy, knowing Anya's history. "Well..." What else was there to say to that?

"No nuts! Four... with him? Dude, right on," Dean piped up, hopping down and over the railing of the stairs at the last to join the crew. "Sorry, couldn't help overhearing. Niiiice to meet you," he offered Anya, with a smile he gave most new girls. "Strawberry blonde... very nice."

"Xander no offence but I'm not desperate enough to fight an .. Anya for you.. I'm very glad you two are happy.." Of course she wanted to crawl under the desk and never come back out again. Then watching Dean flash that smile at Anya, she did turn around pretending to shuffle through the papers for something so she didn't have to keep watching.

"You are very pretty, but I don't want to have sex with you." She smiled at Dean and patted him on the arm, pulling her hands back to fold behind her back as she sort of bounced on her toes again. "..It's good I'm no longer in the vengence business I'm sure I would have been called for you sooner or later." Seeing where Xander sat she moved over to curl in his lap, smiling adoringly at him.

"Pretty? Ouch... she's sharp. Nice to meet you anyway... I'm Dean. You'll meet Sam around here someplace, probably behind a computer or something knowing him. Going out to pick up some beer. Anyone want anything?"

Xander was done with arguments and slumped, leaving a lap for Anya to slide into though he didn't really mind now. "You just met him. Let him live. I'm sure he's good for something," he managed to sigh, hoping that she wasn't seriously going to try breaking anyone when they just arrived.

"A piano to drop on me from out of nowhere.." She sighed and pushed her chair back. "I think I need some air.. I'll be back in a minute." Cordy stood up, rubbing her temples as she headed for the door to step outside for a few minutes. Air would do her good and a minute to absorb it all.. and not have to scream.

"Cordelia, didn't you say you had a few things to pick up?" Wesley chimed in to Dean's offer, trying to get her out of her own slump and out of the awkward situation with Xander... the road to hell, paved with good intentions, but it was worth a try. "Dean, why not take her with you?"

"Wes... um, probably not a really very good idea," Angel muttered, waiting for something to scream, explode, catch fire or ....

"I definately need asprin.. " She stopped and turned back to them. "Sorry I just have this terrible pain.. and it's making me cranky and out of sorts.. a little asprin will fix me right up."

The temple rubbing and pain commentary was noticed from no less than two directions familiar with the signs. Dean stopped and came back a few steps, obviously more concerned about her than beer.

Angel stood and moved closer. "Just aspirin? Are you okay?" He watched, near enough to catch her if he needed. "Where's Gunn with that water? Did he get lost in the basement or something?"

"I'm fiiiiiine!" Her back arched and she jerked violently as if grabbed or thrown by something. Her hands clawed into her hair as she cried out. losing her balance as a harsh vision racked through her.

"Oh sh----...." Dean jumped back toward Cordelia, hoping to get her before she hit the floor or anything else. "Chase! damnit... Cordy, ... hey, it's okay..."

Angel was faster and closer, finding himself behind her and trying to keep her flailing gently controlled. "Wesley - get Gunn up here, now! Sorry folks, this'll take just a minute. Everythings... just ffiiiine," he said, clenching his jaw against the strength in the woman while trying to find the fine line to keep her from injury.

"What happened? What's going on?" Xander Harris, for one, was upset more than the others who seemed to know what was going on but not telling him.

Anya watched, nearly amused at the entertainment, seeing Cordy flail suddenly. She didn't laugh but watched with rapt interest wondering if something would burst out of her middle.

Cordy screamed and kicked, one hand clawing into Angel's arm and the other flinging out, if she could catch any part of Dean she'd also latch onto him. Her back arched in a manner that showed her body was lithe and flexible but that her vision wasn't a simple 'little' thing. It continued for a few more moments before she went slack and limp, if Angel wasn't holding her she'd be on the floor. She gasped, opening her eyes and trying to catch her breath so she could tell them what she'd seen.

Dean's arm was in reach enough to get tugged at but he pulled back. "Heeey now, I may need that. Does she do this often?" He looked at Angel and to Wes who seemed to know enough about it to stay back. "Too freakin' much like my brother. What did you see? Chase... you alright?"

Angel raised an eyebrow as the boy pulled away. What was it with him? "Often enough," he nodded, a half shrug about being used to it, but worried just the same. They appeared to be getting worse. "I gotcha Cordy," he said quietly, hoping she didn't have any aftershock that might make her forget who he was and try to smack the daylights out of him.

"Sensory input entirely like being electrocuted, or so I've been told from a reliable source. Too often, yes, and never pleasant. She's lucky we were here this time," Wes managed to explain albeit vaguely, pushing Dean aside to check her.

"Water, water and ww-what the hell just happened up here?" Gunn saw the gathering and Cordy in Angel's lap with Anya in Xander's looking like she was enjoying the show. "Should I have gotten some popcorn for y'all too? Is she alright?"

"Ooo.. do you have popcorn? Will she do it again? Perhaps we should have some in case?" Anya was still thoroughly transfixed with watching and how everyone reacted to it.

Cordy groaned a little, curling her arm over her abdomen where it stung as if her skin had been sliced open by the claws of the beast she'd seen, which in fact it had. "I'm... fine.. told you.. I'm fine.." She gasped out, trying to move and hide her pain and injury from the others. "You.. you have to go.. sewers.. near the park.."

"Sewers? OKaaaay, maybe I was a little hasty on the whole job thing, you know... that thought of maybe getting paid as a carpenter someday... could have been too big a dream. We really don't need to be in a town that has sewers... again," Xander said, wincing against the inevitable involuntary volunteering that was about to happen. He'd just spent how many hours in a small space with Anya as it was... with no sex to make up for the arguing and... "Popcorn's good. I could hold out for popcorn. You guys go, we'll just get settled in, how's that?"

Fred came in juggling sacks of food and drinks she and Cordy had pitched in to get everyone as a surprise. She left and probably over bought the assortment -not knowing what the brothers might want and since she'd left before the rest of the crew was on to them -they'd wanted it to be a nice treat. "Woah.." She exclaimed over her bags as she caught view of the group. "Uh oh.. I don't think I brought enough donuts to fix that.." She meant to make Cordy feel better, her visions were so hard on her.

"Donuts? You brought donuts?" Dean's eyes lit up momentarily at the thought of snacks but the commentary had him looking around the room. "Wait... where's Sam. I wonder if he knows anything about this. Sammy?!" He stepped out of Wesley's way to try and get at least a piece of donut while they were fresh. "You mind?"

"Gunn, give her one of those. Come on, let's get you in a chair. We've got to go. Sewers near the park. You take care of her, I've got the car," Angel said, looking outside. "On second though, Gunn, get the car." It was still somewhat too light out. He'd go underground and meet them.

"Hey!" Fred slapped at Dean's hands, setting the bags and cartons on the counters to free her hands up and giving Dean a stern look. "Those are Cordy's favorite.." She explained why he couldn't have that donut, but he could take another. "Oh.." She dug in a bag and pulled out a sandwich for him. "Cordy seemed to think you'd like this.. and here o.j... she said you needed something besides beer to nurish you."

"Wait.. hello.. anyone want to know what their going into the sewer for?" She chuckled and winced still trying to keep her tummy turned so they wouldn't see. Her hand was damp with blood and she knew she wasn't hiding it for long.

Sam rolled on the dusty floor and got to his knees, he'd never had a vision quite like that. Talk about intense and vivid -not like his others which were more like a dream, he'd really felt that one. "Wow.." He shook his head and slowly pushed himself upright, getting to his feet, he pushed his hair out of his face and took a deep breath. His steps were stumbling as he made his way to the stairs and started down, he was sore? This was.. he didn't know what to think of it, all he knew was they had to go help. "Dean?" He called, gripping the rail, he'd heard his brother call him.

"Xander don't be a sissy.. we're here now.. I like it.. they are all so.." She sighed, her eyes sparkling with interest and delight as she watched the others. "I mean even Wesley.. he's so.. did he get taller?"

"Down here, Sammy!" Dean hollered, holding up the bounty of sandwich and juice. He wasn't going to argue about the beer. Food was food! "Thank you sooooo very much," he smiled for Fred and tottered off with it. "Keys, let's go. But, I'm guessing... you knew that. Whadda we got... ghosts? Demons? Crazy aunt Millie with a sawed-off shot gun, what?"

"Taller? Um, I wouldn't know. I'm used to seeing him cowering around the corner I'm not cowering behind," Xander admitted, though he was getting the feeling that he'd enjoy himself once he got his feet wet again, even if that meant soggy shoes full of sewer muck. She was right - they were here and for all the strangeness of it, it all seemed warm and fuzzy like normal... like home. "I need sleep," he admitted quietly, shaking his head at his thought that this was, in any sense, normal.

Angel's eyes flared and he caught the edge of the chair Cordelia folded into. He looked down at her hand and reached to move it. He could sense it, smell it.. "Gunn! Towel and first aid kit. Jesus, Cordy... what happened?"

"Yes, I think we should know what we're up against," Wesley noted, already reaching for something to stop the bleeding while Gunn ran off for the kit in the office. "Manifestation from the visions? This isn't good."

"Not good? You're not kidding. I feel like I've been hit by a truck." Sam admitted coming down the stairs, the bruise on his cheek visible as he stepped out of the shadow. "It threw me across the room.. that's definately new." He looked at Dean, worried as they started fussing more over Cordy. He stole Dean's juice as an excuse to lean closer. "Is she okay? I mean this thing ..hurt and you know.. I'm not entirely normal.."

Anya felt like she was tingling. "Xander.. isn't this so exciting?" She shifted in the chair, she was less a part of this group than she had been of the scoobies.. but she had a strange feeling she might be more accepted here.

Cordy tried to smile her usual bright smile for Angel. looking up at him. "Thanks Wes.." She felt him more than saw him trying to get to her wounds. "It's like.. a giant.. demonic bear.. really.. big.. sharp.. claws.. sharper than a regular bear, longer.. it's teeth too.." Cordy rested her head back against the chair and laced her hand into Angel's, squeezing against the pain in her middle.

Fred's eyes widened and she grabbed the only thing she had close while Gunn went for the first aide kit -the napkins from their food. "Charles hurry!" She knelt down next to Wesley, offering him the pitiful paper napkins to start with. "Sorry.. we're not exactly stocked up yet.."

"Hotel without towels? What's up with that!? Okay, this'll have to do, sorry but it's kinda short order," Gunn said, leaping back out like he was cutting across the court for a dunk, landing next to Fred and Wes with a roll of TP and some sponges from the cabinet that were still wrapped. "Just don't ask and don't look, Cordelia. We'll get you good as new. Whatcha'lll standing around for? Lady said get to the park!" He was looking up from the make-do first aid gear at Sam, Dean and Xander.

"Too many hands spoil the sutures, I think. Winifred, I think she's in good hands with you two. I'll go with the others. I think I know what we're looking for. Boys... I'm coming with you!" Wesley excused himself from the close quarters with Fred and Gunn.

"You? You mean me and...?" Xander looked at the guys he'd just met... Dean and the tall guy he figured must be Sam since the name was shouted out and no one else was here. They didn't look like typical slayers, not even close. "What do they do? They look like roadies more than slayers or hunters. You want me to go with them?"

"You're going with them, Wes is coming with me," Angel said, slipping reluctantly from Cordy's grasp and letting Fred and Gunn work. He needed to get away from the blood. "Take care of her. Wes... crossbow. I'll take these," he said, getting a blade and some ancient other-worldly looking rifle. "Let's go hunt some bear. We'll meet you there."

"Xander is going? but.. but.. he doesn't have Buffy to protect him.. he can't go.. he could get hurt or killed.. and then who would I have sex with? Or snuggle with.. and who would chase those horrid bunnies out of the yard?" Anya stood up in a panic, it was her unique way of saying she cared, even if sounded all kinds of wrong.

"Oh speaking of hotel... I found a room I want while I was up there doing my sweep. You'll know which one by the face mark in the wall that resembles me." Sam laughed, pulling the keys out to toss them to Dean as he continued to drink the juice, eyeing Cordy again. He had alot more questions for her -later. "Yeah.. Angel.. careful with the weapons.. it's going after kids. They'll wander off from a picnic. This thing has disgusting yellow eyes.. do not look it in the eye."

"Right.. it's slow moving though and can't see well, that will be your advantage.. but it relies on smell and petrifying it's prey. You should bring the axes.. and do we have a chain saw?" Cordy winced again as Fred pressed on her abdomen and it made her sit up straighter. "Anya.. Xander will be fine.. he's been doing this awhile.. and he's braver than he lets on."

Dean shrugged, amused and accommodating. "Ax and chainsaw. We stocked up a bit since the last time," he said, not sure Sam knew he'd 'found' one and added it to the assorted goodies at their disposal. "We'll bring him back in one piece, I promise," he said to Anya, ready to escort Xander away as he palmed the keys and waited for Sam to be ready. "Room? Who said we're staying?"

"She's lying. I'm not braver, I'm really not. I like this shirt," he said, knowing that just the promise of coming back in one piece was likely to be broken now that someone said it out loud. He looked down at the shirt, the last time he figured he'd see it unstained, untorn and still covering his currently uninjured self. "Guess I'm going."

Angel took note of the comments and started off for the back hallway, checking the rounds and bolts he had available.

Wesley paused. "School children? It's like a circus in reverse," he said, nauseated at the thought of the innocent victims being lured by the 'center' attraction that would appear like a lumbering teddybear, until baring its fangs and claws... like what had cut Cordelia. "Let's hope it's slow enough not to get any more. Back soon...," he said, wondering if anyone really cared much if he came back sometimes. He followed Angel to the back to get to the sewer entrance in the alley.

"Now that's the Xander I used to hide in closets with!" Cordy teased him with a small smile, still trying to be braver than the pain wanted to let her be. "Hey Wes.. you.. umm.. better take good care of that crossbow.." Her eyes lifted to meet his if he turned. "I'm pretty fond of it, I'd like it back in one piece." She didn't mean the bow, and her message also held an underlying meaning for the person.. well vampire who'd given it to her. She turned back towards Sam and Dean and gave them a bit of a smile. "Be careful.. I'd really prefer you all come back in one piece."

Fred looked up as Cordy was talking to Dean and Sam. "Be careful Wesley.. " She called, not knowing if he heard her. "I guess.. we'll save all this food for later.. " She looked at the counter and then at Cordy's middle. "Charles.. this isn't going to work.. try to find something else. Please?"

Anya folded her arms and nearly glared at Sam and Dean. "You better.. if you do not.. I will be very vengeful!." She pouted and looked at Xander, dropping her head a little. "All the way from Sunnydale.. and.. well you better come back. okay."

Sam sighed and stepped beside his brother, giving him a look. "I just said I liked a room.. when did we get a chainsaw?" His eyebrow arched, challanging him back a little. "Cordelia.. stop bleeding and we'll be back soon, Fred the food smells great.. don't eat it all.. I think we'll have some hungry boys when we get back." He turned to head for the door.

"I got a chainsaw..," he repeated like it was no big deal, pilfering it from an open garage down the street. "I got the chainsaw, you can use the ax. You did great with it the last time," Dean added, patting his brother's arm and stepping ahead of him to get the door. "Xander... come on, man. Ain't got all day, let's go!"

"What's not working? Just need to get the stitches in and she'll be fine. You okay with layin' down, Cordelia? Anya... it's Anya, right? Clear off that space up there and help us get her up there flat."

Xander watched Gunn and Fred try to manage with suddenly too few hands but he was going to be left behind if he didn't hurry. Decisions, decisions... "I... um... wait, hold on! Anya, I gotta go, okay?" He settled for a kiss to her bowed forehead, taking Cordelia's comments from earlier to heart enough not to make her more uncomfortable. Anya on the other hand....

"Okay." Anya held his sleeve for a moment but let go as Xander walked away, she always worried about him but never felt enough a part of the old gang to truly help them -they all hated her. She turned and looked at Gunn with surprise and questioning. "You.. you want me to help?" She smiled and nodded. "Yes.. of course I will help you with Cordelia." She seemed eager and excited to be asked to help and hurried to clear the food and other items off the counter. "I 'll get her feet.. if you can get her shoulders." She offered coming back and kneeling near Cordy's feet.

"Okay.. Charles.. you got her? I'll keep the pressure here, she's bleeding pretty bad. Like razor cuts or something.. This is from a vision?"

Cordy sighed, it seemed they were moving her whether she wanted to or not. "Guys.. I'm going to be alright.. I .. really.. fine.. I'll just lay on the counter while you all play doctor."

"We got her. Okay. Alright is when your insides stay inside. Now hush and let the lady do her work," Gunn winked. Cordy knew better, tough girl or not, they took care of each other. "Whatcha need? More of those, more light, one of those bottles of sumpin-sumpin we can't pronounce that only Wesley knows what does or what?"

Xander's step was quicker and seemingly eager as he followed Dean and Sam out the door, realizing the souped-up junker was theirs. "You... you really drive that?" He chuckled. He couldn't complain, looking at the very similar beat-up four-door that was about the same age. He held up a finger and dodged to get something out of the back. "Just a sec... might need these," he said, prying open the squeaky door to grab a back pack full of stakes and a few miscellaneous and strangely familiar items. "Never leave home without it, I guess."

"Yeah yeah.. My insides are still mostly inside.. I actually..it's strange.. it's starting to hurt less." Cordy explained, letting them move her, that did hurt but in general where the slashes had happened seemed less painful.

Dean was speechless. What did he mean by 'that' and pointing to their best girl, the queen of the highway? He gave Xander a look and just walked off to console the ego of the black beauty Impala... maybe a little of his own ego. He'd been slapped already a few times and they hadn't even met up with the otherworld beast yet.

Fred nodded and waited to check Cordy's middle until they had her resting flat. What she saw made her gasp. "Charles.. you better look at this." The bleeding had stopped and it looked like the wounds were slowly knitting themselves shut.

Sam tucked his head down and tried to hide the chuckle at Xander's comment about the car and Dean's reaction to it. "It was our dad's car.. he gave it or sold it to Dean.. anyway.. I'm Sam." He put his hand out to Xander.

"Xander... Alexander Harris," he replied, looking at the hand like it was a tentacle at first. Realizing it wasn't, he shouldered his pack and grasped firmly in return. "Let's go get this thing. She brought fresh donuts."

"Don't ever say that again," Dean turned, muttering at the two of them. "She's sensitive. But, she's got speed which we need if we can avoid the one way streets. How do we get there?" He looked pointedly at Xander for his comments, but let them pass and then to Sam, waiting for his co-pilot to plot out the best course.

"Whatcha got Fred?" Gunn was digging around for more things to sop up the excess so they could see to sew up the cuts. Fred told him to look and he did, dropping another sponge on the counter and watching. "Is one o'y'all doing that? What did you give her?"

Sam tapped Xander's arm lightly in a friendly way. "Come on.." He turned to Dean with a slight teasing grin. "Well that depends.. do you want to get there before Angel does?" He'd noticed a bit of competition brewing between them, each seeming to want to be the heroic one and impress.. well a certain girl neither of them seemed to be making a sure play for.

"He's on foot. How fast can he be?" Dean's confidence in their wheeled wonder was as apparent as his lack of knowledge on the tall dark brooding man the headed off before them. "We'll get there first. Now, which way?"

"I'm not doing anything.. I have lost all my powers and have not had any time to try to do any sort of spell." Anya answered in her simple honest way as she peeked over Fred's shoulder ar Cordy.

Fred shook her head and looked at Gunn, her face puzzled at both this healing and at Anya's comments. "You know I can't do anything like this.. I had toilet paper, it wasn't magic tp was it?"

Cordy lifted her head, looking at them all with wide eyes. "Didn't do what? What happened? Do I have something gross? Is there worms or something crawling out of me.. it's hideous isn't it? I'm going to be horribly scarred aren't I?"

****************LATER****************

The time passed quickly or maybe they really weren't gone that long, either way Cordelia was 'fixed' up when the boys returned from their outing. She was wearing one of Xander's shirt's, well buttoning one up as she came out of the bathroom seeing the boys coming back into the lobby. She gave a small smile to Xander first as he was closest.

Xander looked at Anya and back and Cor "... um... do I want to know?"

"Xander.. her shirt was torn and all bloody. You did tell me to be nice.. did you not?"

"Sure.. nice. Are you still bleeding... Cordy?" He had taken two steps in and stopped, looking around at the lack of concern they'd left earlier. He turned back to be sure he hadn't stepped through some weirdness portal. "Y-you were injured, right?"

"HEeeeeey you're up! Good, good... um... where's the donuts? Any left?" Dean's eyes lit up with more relief than he let on as he came in behind Xander, his own shirt marked with the spray of something that decided not to 'dust' out when they finally cornered it. He was glad to see Cordelia up and around, but the shirt made him wonder. "You go shopping while we were gone?" He asked, noting just how nice the 'boyfriend' shirt look looked on her as he went to find the grub.

"Xander if you don't want me to borrow the shirt, just say so. I'll take it off." She muttered, thinking he was miffed that Anya had let her use it, but she and Anya weren't the same size up top and she wouldn't fit in Anya's shirt. Her fingers started undoing the buttons she hadn't finished doing up. "I'm up.. I'm fine.. told you all I was fine.. Plenty of food left.. we haven't even dug into it yet.. sort of distracted.. you wash your hands before you touch my donuts! I do not want demon slime or ooze in my mouth." She scolded at Dean, starting for the counter to intercept him before he put his hands in the food.

"Oh it was very neat.. she just.. sealed right up before we even got to operate on her. I was really hoping to watch them sew her up." Anya tried to explain, excited still and stepping closer to Xander. "I'm so glad you made me come here.. I like it so much better than Sunnydale."

"I... I um..." Xander was about to stop Cordy from unbuttoning then pausing to question the healing and again to defend the decision about making a former vengeance demon do anything she didn't well please herself in doing. His mouth closed and he curled inward, defeated. "It's fine. You can wear it. I'll just go.. um wash up, okay?"

"What, holy water isn't good enough for your donuts?" Dean teased, backing off from the bags with his hands up at a most inappropriate height as Cordy slapped after him. He lowered his hands.. and his eyes briefly. More than just his hands needed to be cleaned up at the moment.

The conversations through the back hallway sounded more one sided than usual. "... I mean, c'mon Wesley. It only gored with one of its fangs. You got it before you lost any vital organs. What's not to love about that?"

There was little response from the pale man who held his arm tightly bound in a tourniquet cloth. Whatever had happened, he could walk, but he didn't appear to be feeling well enough to do much else beyond make his way back to his desk.

"Thank you Xander!" She called after him as he went for the bathroom and she fended Dean off the donuts. She noticed the eye drop and decided to be slightly evil, fluffing the shirt out a little before starting to rebutton it, giving a quick glimpse at just why she couldn't wear Anya's shirt instead. "I'm eating all the creme filli.." She stopped mid thought and turned as Wes and Angel came back.

"Wes?" She was after their first aide kit and moving toward his desk while giving a look to Angel to give her details. "Fred and Gunn went after some more supplies.. I think they may be searching the basement to see what's stored down there.. Wesley, let me take a look at that."

"Basements.. fabulous," he said, looking washed out and distracted, possibly a little in shock. "I ... don't remember. Was it poisonous?" Wesley spoke quietly, feeling that Cordelia would tell him just how mortally wounded he was. He moved his arm forward but didn't release the pressure from the cloth yet.

"What? Oh... he got bit, but only one fang," Angel said, apparently amused by the bear creature they fought. He sounded invigorated... as much as an undead broody hulk could manage. He made 'fang' fingers on one hand and wiggled one. "Not really that impressive. You weren't kidding that thing moved slow. Wes just got in the way."

Dean followed Cordelia to take a look, again at the fashion show, but more to take a look at the wound. "Hm. Nice. Don't think he wants to hear this but... I think he'll live," he snipped.

Cordy left her buttons unfinished again, more concerned with the fact that Wesley was bleeding and more concerned than any of the others seemed to be about him. "It wasn't poisonous.. thank goodness." She reassured him. "How deep did it go in?" She turned her head to give both Dean and Angel a warning glare. "I don't really see either of you bleeding.. or clothes torn.. so did Wesley get in the way of you two playing? Why didn't one of you get him out of the way?" She took ahold of Wesley's arm and sat down on the desk, leaning to take a better look and lift the bandage to replace it with a fresh one. "Could one of you at least get me the antiseptic and gauze?"

Angel grinned a little and cast a look at Dean... playing? Right. "Actually, he was trying to get the bolt back that misfired and was on the wrong side from either of us. It was great timing though. The thing got hold of his arm, Dean got one side, I got the other... wham bam... no more bear. Had to shake him loose of Wes though. Not sure which screamed louder him or... um... yeah, gauze. I'll see what we have."

"Should be pretty clean... holy water and all," Dean shrugged. "Kinda deep but it wasn't ragged. He's had pressure on it the whole way back."

"We're gettin' mouse traps, that's all I'm sayin'," Gunn said, seeming to be in a hurry to get back to the others. He was carrying a box of miscellaneous supplies, but the choices were still dismal. "Looks like somebody cleaned up pretty good in the stock room, not a lot left behind, except mice. Waaaay too many mice."

"Or we could let Dean shoot them, like target practice." She glanced up to Gunn with the box and nodded in thanks for what little he had found and then winked at Dean. "So you cleaned his wound with holy water? Okay.. Just find me some gauze and we'll have him all patched up. Anyone else have any injuries I need to take a look at?"

Sam came in with a small bag that held a change of clothes for him and Dean if he chose to get out of his grubby stuff. He heard Cordy's comments about the rats and chuckled, shaking his head, girl was probably the only one he knew who could keep up with Dean's wise cracks and toss the comments out like that. He wasn't sure if his brother appreciated it, the way he should. "I'm going to get cleaned up.. Cordelia.. you look alot better.." His head cocked to the side as he regarded her, she seemed just fine now.

"Sure, if you want," Dean shrugged, frowning at the poor waste of ammo but if that's what it took... "Good way to kill the time since it looks like we're staying a while." He hadn't really discussed it with Sam since he'd mentioned the room earlier, but he was considering landing in one place for a little while wasn't necessarily bad. Maybe make it a sort of HQ of their own.

Xander returned, looking around at the odd exchange of glances and trying to duck all of them if possible. "Did you say mice? And staying? So ... we're all staying, here?"

"Yeah, pretty much," Gunn mumbled, digging through the box and reading labels on a few bottles that made him wince either being too hard to read or unable to read. "One big happy... is this stuff still good?" He held out one of the bottles for Cordelia or Angel to look at. Some was rubbing alcohol, some ammonia, a bottle or two of cleansers and a few that it was hard to say what they'd been in a former life before the dank and forgotten basement.

Wesley couldn't take the empty stare off the wound as Cordy waited to redress it. It stung from the Holy Water and despite the depth it didn't seem to hurt nearly as it should. It was cold, perhaps from the blessing effect against the demon's ... fluids... Wesley's face turned more green as he thought through the incident. "I'm not well."

"I was kidding Dean.. but you can help kill them if you want.. really.. I wouldn't mind at all, you take my place in the mice.. eegh, anyway.." She flashed a smile after shuddering the heebies about mice away. She turned back to Wesley and saw how his color looked, if he threw up.. "Okay.. just .. someone help me get him in one of the rooms. He needs to lie down or something while we find some better bandages." She slid off the desk and leaned down to put her arm around him.

Anya flitted around the other side of the counter, watching as eagerly as before and even looking as if she wanted to be of help. She grabbed one of the bottles of water Fred had brought back, thinking Wesley should have some once they got him in a room.

Sam looked at Dean and grinned a bit at what he said about staying, maybe he wasn't completely sour on that idea. They'd have to talk about it some but he was hoping.. there was something about these people and this place. It was somewhat like the road house but to him so much warmer, better, alive and.. he could learn so much from them. Besides it looked to have quite the supply of supernatural occurance to keep them busy.

[Lovely]

June 17, 2009
early morning

It wasn't the National Guard rapping on the fogged-up windows with the flashlight, but Dean was astonished just the same that the law enforcement did actually exist in town. Of course, enforcing the little things like loitering and not worrying about hell hounds or whatever they really SHOULD have to worry about. Needless to say, commentary about 'concealed weapons' was met with as little humor asDean expected and he agreed - yessir officer a room for the night. Phoebe didn't seem to mind the suggestion. The power of suggestion was a fabulous thing.

Maybe too fabulous. Not even an hour after they'd gotten back, Dean was getting worried. Enough that he was nearly in a panic as he pounded on Sam's door, hoping to god he'd answer.

At least the sun was somewhat up when the pounding on his door began, Sam grumbled and rolled over. "Alright!.. Alright!" He called to the seeming urgent pounding. He stumbled to the door and yanked it open to find his brother standing there in what he assumed was only a sheet wrapped around his waist. Sam was a little aggrivated, wondering where the horde of demons was. "This better be good.."

Beneath the panic was the smile of a very baaaad man with a mission. He chuckled. "Oooooh... it's so much better than good, it's great, but man, I need your help. Big time. We uh... I ... um... you gotta help me out here Sammy. We're um... out."

The half sigh, half chuckle was partly disbelieving, partly annoyed and partly amused. "Oh man.. you are kidding right? You woke me up for.. Do you ever.. nevermind.." He grumbled and retreated into his room, rummaging around. Sam was not the player type and really only had that one emergency packet that guys carry in their wallet. He sighed and handed it over to Dean.

Dean's smile faded with the insult though he grabbed it out of his brother's hand, looking around the hallway. "One?!" He spat quietly, his jaw clenching. "What the hell am I supposed to do with just one? Can't you go to the store and get some for me? Like a box... a biig box, Sammy. Dude, c'mon she's a witch, a'ight? I dunno... I think she put a spell on me or something."

"What do you mean one? You want me to take it back?" He teased and reached as if to grab the precious little wrapper back from Dean. He was trying hard not to laugh at how 'wound up' Dean was, it was almost nice to see him squirm since he was always mister cool. Sam couldn't help the quiet laugh as he glanced down and shook his head. "Dean, that's not a spell. It's a hard on." His eyes flicked up as Dean's door opened and he caught sight of the 'spellcaster' herself coming out wrapped in the matching sheet to Dean's. Sam was snickering and grinned at Dean. "..and I can see why.."

Phoebe was curious, fearless, and not very shy so after waiting a few minutes for Dean to come back, she snuck out in the other sheet, to see what was going on. Her bright playful smile greeted the guy at the other door with Dean as she came up beside him. "Hey.. " Her word was breathed over Dean's shoulder as her slender fingers grasped his waist lightly.

The smile was back as he turned to kiss her. "Mm... hey yourself. This is Sam... my asshole brother," he whispered at first, keeping his hand out of Sam's reach as he turned from his sweet nothings to glare at him. "Sam...? C'mon... "

"Hi Sam!" She greeted him brightly after getting the kiss from Dean, holding him with one arm and staying close to keep her sheet from slipping she offered her hand to Sam. "Nice to meet you."

Sam shook her hand with a grin, how in the world did his brother end up bringing home such a bright and friendly girl? She was a witch, if all witches looked like that.. "Right.." Sam arched his eyebrow at Dean and chuckled. "Yeah she did something to you alright.." Sam held up his hand as he went back in his room to try to dig up something more for them. "... hold on... think I got... um.. no... where did I put... hmm.... could be, no... that's not it.... hang on..."

Phoebe was giggling lightly as she curled against Dean, kissing and nibbling on his neck, ear, shoulder and being playful still as they stood there. Who could blame her with him all there and mmm yummy..

It was clear his situation wasn't going to ease up easily at this rate. Whatever she was doing, she could do for hours to him... "Definitely a good witch," he chuckled quietly, returning a few of the nibbles. He hollared into the room, "Dude, this is an emergency. What's WRONG with you?!"

Phoebe let out a soft peel of giggles into Dean's soulder as he nibbled back and then hollared at his brother.

From in the room as he searched, Sam called over his shoulder. "I'm sorry... I just don't have a secret stash of that kind of protection.. wait.. here.. I found another one! no.. no.. oh.. here we go, there now you have two.. have fun." He came back to the door and dropped a second wrapper into Dean's hand with a wicked grin.

"Hate you," he growled as he snapped the second plastic square into his hand, though his eyes showed a deep gratitude he'd repay later. It would have to do. "He just doesn't understand my pain.. come here you," he said, returning to teases and he scooped her up, careful of the sheet, to take her back to the room with him.

Phoebe gladly let him scoop her up and take her back to the room, as she nibbled his shoulder she looked up to mouth a 'thank you' to Sam and wave before they were shut in Dean's room again. Then of course her attention was all on him again.

Sam was chuckling softly, though he returned Phoebe's wave and nodded to her thanks. "Dean, keys.." He called before the door shut, he'd rather go buy them a case than be woken up again if Dean did need more and by the looks.. he needed alot.

The door was almost shut then swung open, the keys being hurtled across the hall at Sam's feet. "And get some donuts!" The door slammed again.

"What.. oh man.. you suck." He grumbled, bending down to pull the keys up into his hand and turned back to grab his pants and a shirt.

About 45 mins later there was be a knock on the door and it creaked open far enough for two boxes to be slid inside, one with donuts one with protection, then the door would closed again. The keys were sitting on top of the two boxes.

[Lovely]

June 18, 2009
3:30 p.m.
Somewhere in Bon Temps...

Dean had been listening to some of the dirty-laundry stories Gunn had mentioned and Faith had admitted to point-blank. He didn't know Faith that well but had a pretty good idea that between her and Buffy, they apparently knew half the West coast and he knew enough of the slayers' exploits already to almost be jealous if not simply in awe. Strong women and skin were on his mind a lot lately as it was and it was disturbing to find that the girls, although enticing in their casual desires, didn't turn his head away from Phoebe... or Cordelia. He was trying to take his mind off both of the brunettes long enough to get some work done and find them a new case, but couldn't shake either one out long enough. Talking to Sam usually killed any 'mood' he had though. Sam steered them through town to find the copy shop, museum, library and a few other choice locations they'd need from time to time during their stay and Dean was also trying to distract himself from Sam's driving. "So... We've got two Slayers. Which one do you want to take off my hands? Let me make this an easy choice. Which do you think is the bigger 'ho'?"

Sam turned to look at Dean with a disbelieving expression before turning back to the road shaking his head, he was kind of disgusted at the question. "You." He stated with a sour expression.

Dean grinned. He'd hit a nerve, hadn't he? "b*tch. I was just trying to be nice and share. What, you don't think they're cute? Faith, she's definitely cute... if you get to be on her first shift anyway."

"Like you're one to talk, at least Buffy was in love with most of them or thought she was.. and Faith hasn't had any shifts in a couple of weeks. Could be she turned over a new leaf.. maybe you should follow her example." He could not believe he just said that and it pissed him off more. "You just like to try out new pillows.." He took a deep breath and glanced at Dean again. "Jerk."

Dean's mouth opened, jawing at air as he tried to protest, but realized he couldn't. Not exactly. If Sam had paid close attention, he'd notice Dean hadn't exactly changed his pillows lately, though he was still thinking he might try fluffing one or two others. Damnit, this so wasn't working to get his mind off of Cordy or Pheebs... Pheebs... he'd known her long enough and well enough already to have her nickname ingrained in the thoughts as well. He couldn't deny any of it and shouldn't even try. He nodded and shrugged, looking out the window.

"And that's why you're an idiot." Sam commented on Dean's lack of one. Taking his silence to mean he wasn't denying any of it. Phoebe seemed nice and Cordy was nice but Dean didn't seem interested in more than just bagging either one as well as some others.. What was so wrong or hard about simply being with one awesome girl?

"Hey. Pleasures of the flesh? They're worth it, Sammy. Reduces stress and brings you back to humanity... once in a while. Besides it's about as close to luuuuuve as I'll probably ever see, so shut up and drive," he defended, though he wasn't sure that was true. He was never on edge like this.

"I disagree.. you can get that from one woman you know and a hell of alot more.. you'd see that too if you weren't.. " He faltered for a minute and had no other word but the one he'd just used. "..an idiot." He finished, wondering why this was bothering him so damn much, Dean was Dean and he wasn't going to change.

"Have it your way, Sam," Dean sighed, closing his brother out as he lowered his shades from the top of his head and resting back to get a small nap in before they reported back to the crew with nada.

"No it's more like you having it your way.. it's always your way Dean.. you never learn and you never change and you're just.. just.. a jerk.." Sam was quite aggitated it seemed and could it really only be over Dean's exploits?

He grinned and folded his arms over his chest, glancing over through the dark blankness of the glasses at the annoyance he piqued further. "Oh I learn a lot of things, Sammy. You just want me to tell you so you don't embarrass yourself with a chic... that is if you ever get that stick outta your a--......"

"Shut up.. Damn it Dean why do you have to be such an ass?" His hand gripped the wheel and his foot pressed down on the gas. "This isn't about me.. this is about you and you being to stubborn or too stupid to see when something amazing is in front of you.. maybe it's both.. but stop pretending like there's something wrong with me because I don't choose to be like you and throw away the amazing for cheap thrills, big boobs, or an hour that means nothing."

"Hey, that's cold. It all means something...," he defended. He pulled his glasses down to look down his nose at Sam as he lead-footed down the block. A light back handed slap to Sammy's arm was matched with a chuckle. "Just means I'm gettin' some and you're hard up."

He would have hit Dean if he wasn't driving, he jerked away from the light handed slap, his arm coming up in the movement but he let it drop. "Did you ever consider.. maybe I don't care about getting some? I don't want something that lasts an hour with a girl who's name I'm not going to remember in a couple days.. if you even knew her name."

"I got her name and I remember it," he sneered, leaning back against his seat, insulted. "And yeah I considered more than once that with all that touchy feely crap on top of that that maybe you just might be gay."

"Really.. what was her name? Nice girl?.. not that you care." He shook his head, his gaze focused on the road ahead. "Guess that's the trouble.. you don't give a crap about nice girls, or really good people.. you're just looking for wherever you can .. try out a pillow. I'm not gay Dean.. I just want something that last more than an hour."

"Hey dude... slow down... book store," he said, looking out the window and seeming to ignore the question as he pointed out the scruddy building with blacked-out windows and silhouettes of naked women stenciled on the sides of the door.

"I have an appointment.. sorry you can come back after you drop me off.. get some more cheap thrills." He didn't slow down and turned down another block.

"An appointment? With who?! Man, just two minutes to check out the latest Hustler? C'mooon... A'right a'right... look. Think about it. A town like this with all the activity we've heard about? What better place to front out an operation than one with boarded windows and the lowest of low coming in the doors at all hours?"

"Fine we'll check it out later, I don't have two minutes right now.. I'm already late." He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Hustler will still be there.. don't worry."

"Late for... What? Who? Wait... vision? What're you seeing, Sam?" The book store and his theory about what might be running the shop was put on hold. "You okay to drive?"

"I'm seeing Cordelia kicking your ass for making me late.. " He started to chuckled and then grimaced, trying to slow the car down and pull over before -he couldn't see at all.

"You're meeting Cordy...-lia?" Dean choked only briefly, his hand bracing on the door as Sam pulled over. "Sammy? What... what is it? Stop the car."

The car pulled to a stop, with a bit of a jerk as Sam let go of the wheel to curl into the vision that seemed more painful than usual. He panted a little as it faded and he rested back against the seat, catching his breath. "Dean.. " He started and stopped, opening the door of the car to get out and get some air. "Oh god.. this is my fault.. I asked her to help.." He was muttering to himself as he leaned against the back of the car, his legs feeling weak.

Dean's door creaked open hardly fast enough for him to pour out and skim around the car to help Sam out. "Who...asked who to help about what? What did you see?"

"Cordelia.. I asked her to look into something for me.. this is.. We have to get .. Henry lane.. she's down in the basement of an abandoned wharehouse.."

"Sonuva--- You had to have her look into something in a warehouse alone? What's the matter with you?" He pushed his way around his brother to get a water bottle from the back seat. "Take this, I'll drive."

"Dean I didn't.. It wasn't.. " He stopped, no matter what he said or how she'd ended up there alone.. it was his fault she was there -she was trying to help him. "Damn it.." He took the bottle and slipped into the back seat -it was quicker than going around.

"Just get in. Henry street? Lane... lane... where the heck is the map?" He was slamming around cassettes and the stale burger wrappers on the floor for the courtesy map of the town they'd picked up at the post office.

He climbed over the seat, tossing the water bottle down and reaching to grab the map as it was uncovered. "Dean start driving.. I'll look.. " He was unfolding the map, scanning for a Henry lane. "Got it.. it's on the other side of town.. shit.. it will take a half hour to get there."

"Yeah, not with this lead foot. Hang on," Dean said, his jaw tightening and grinding as his eye searched the road for anything they might hit. He pulled out, spinning them in a squealing fishtail into the driving lane. "Helping you with what?!"

"Something.. I can't tell. You wouldn't understand.. She was just supposed to be.. I didn't know she'd go off alone to.. I asked her not to say anything but I.. Dean if .. if we don't make it there in time.. what happens to her.. it will be my fault."

"What, you two have little slumber party secrets now? Truth or dare? I think you better tell me if you think she's gonna get herself killed," he sniped, watching the road for the turns and lights. "Try me - maybe I might understand more than you think."

"Slumber party secrets? Dean please.. she's just.. she understands. I don't tell you everything.. there have been some.. It's Jess.. I asked her to help me find out if she's.. at rest, peace..or if her soul is.. I just need to know.. if it's really her I've been seeing."

Dean laughed off the nervous chill. Sam's visions freaked him out as it was, but that he couldn't shake Jess out of his head after all they'd been through was worse. "Seeing how? Seeing seeing or just having ... you know... dreams... nightmares and shit? Dude, we see a lot of things. What makes you think it's Jess?"

"Not dreams Dean, not unless I'm falling asleep in the middle of a conversation with you.. It's been a handful of times. I know what Jess looks like.. I know it.. I'm not crazy Dean.. but seeing her, makes me think I am. What if I'm.. if it is her.. what the hell is she doing here?"

"Hell may have something to do with it," he muttered, trying to come up with an explanation that it couldn't... shouldn't be Jessica. "Someone playing a crafty little trick on you? That ever cross that lawyer mind of yours that someone's putting the freak on you on purpose?"

He looked at Dean and nodded his head. "Yeah, as a matter of fact it did.. That's why Cordelia is trying to help me find out if Jess.. is at rest or appearing to me, or someone is doing some tricks, or if I'm just plain crazy."

"D... all of the above?" He grinned a little and tossed a look at Sam. He'd help find an answer somehow, but what kind of information did Chase uncover if it was going to kill her to know it? "So why the warehouse?"

"Where else would you have a secret meeting with.. well to be honest I'm not sure exactly what or who she was meeting with. She said sources.." He shrugged and held on as the next turn came up, "..Here.. go left."

"I don't know, Sam. Coffee shops? Phone booths? Book stores with boarded windows....," he rattled off, taking the turn sharply as Sam pointed it out, nearly slamming a milk truck that was casually parked half in the street. They dodged and swerved down the road. "Sources you don't trust show up in places like warehouses, Sammy. Please tell me she had more than that stupid crossbow with her...?"

"You know she's very fond of that cross bow.. I didn't see the cross bow in the vision.." He wasn't sure his answer was going to be very reassuring, and at the same time wondered if he was just imagining that his brother seemed more concerned than usual.

"Yeah she should be fond of a .38 at least, something faster," he muttered, wishing he'd taken a little more time to give her a piece or two to work with. He wondered if she had anything at all with her. "How about you tell me more about what you did see?"

He swallowed and looked at his brother a little nervously, he'd never quite seen anything like this. "um.. four or five.. demons.. sort of scaley lizard-man looking things, a little bulky but fast and they were attacking her.. She's alone, out numbered.. I mean she's good but against four or five that are bigger and stronger..?" He swallowed, saying things like the last wasn't going to help. "It was a trap.. they.. they set her up."

"And you didn't see that part before?" Dean challenged, shooting a look to Sam as he came to a stop at a light only long enough to make sure he wasn't going to cream some chowderhead on a bike or anything, pulling back out into a turn to dodge a block. The last thing they needed was the local badges on their tail.

"What I saw was her being grabbed from behind with a very big knife to her throat and another coming at the front." He said it quiet as if he didn't want to tell Dean that part, either.

"How much further is this place?" He growled and slammed the radio on to anything that would be louder than the scream in his head. Going around the block wasn't exactly the best shortcut but it bought them a few seconds. Strains of AC/DC squealed out of the speakers as the tires squealed around another corner.

He fumbled with the map a little as Dean tore around the corners. "About a mile.. one more right and to the end of the street." He had to raise his voice to be heard over the music that suddenly blared out of the speakers.

"Damned one-way streets. Gee do you think they saved us a parking spot? Five demons might be hard to miss, Sam. How much time do you think we have? Can we get in before... ?"

"They're not coming from above.. they are coming in from the basement.. the sewer.. We don't have alot of time.. but they believe she's alone.. they aren't expecting us." He quickly folded the map and tossed it on the dash.

He turned the music down only a little to hear himself. "I hope you're right mister I-didn't-know-it was-a-trap. Get the book. What's it say about these things?" He'd forgotten about dad's notes.

He sighed, pulling out the journal and flipping through it as quickly as he could, looking for a reference to the things he'd seen in his vision. "Oh hey here.. I think this might be them.. ohh.. yeah we should hurry."

"I got that part already. What do we need? We're a little short in the WhatWouldMacGuyverDo department, so I hope you have a plan. Looks like we're up," he nodded ahead at the end of the street they needed.

"No.. I don't think you did.. lets just hope we get there before they show up. Dad didn't have a name for them.. looks like bullets will wound them but unless we have some serious round -it's not going to take them down. We have an axe in the trunk?"

"I don't want to know what they're called, Sam. It's not like we're gonna invite them to a birthday party... well maybe yours. Of course we have an axe. How many do we need?" The car skidded slightly at the back with the weight of their gear as Dean slid into park at the side of the warehouse. "Door... which one?" He was out his door and opening the trunk before the engine fully turned off.

Sam left the journal on the seat and followed Dean to the trunk. "Two if we have them.. Dean.. there will be one with darker scales on his forehead and nose. That's the one we need to kill. We have to behead and dismember it. I'm thinking we should just get her out."

Dean paused only a moment, his hand on the fire axe. "Fine. You take this one and I'll take my chances. You get to pay for the laundry this week," he said, handing his brother the axe so he could check the cartridge in his gun.

He took the axe and gave his brother a look. "I promise we can come back, track and kill them all.. later -once we know Cordelia is out and in a safe place.. apparently these things cant get dates with their own kind. The ones Dad came across were preying on girls in their upper teens to mid twenties."

"Shifters or buttugly to start with?" He didn't look Sam in the eye. He stared at the rounds, running a thumb over the last one in the cartridge before sliding and locking it in. "Get her out first, then we'll worry about coming back. If we leave anything behind. Let's go."

"Not that they aren't ugly.. but it didn't say why, just that if the girls survived the initial attack they'd take them back to their lair and .. dump the mutilated bodies later after they were done with them." His hand tightened and he shifted the axe into a better hold.

"They're not taking anybody back to their skanky little hell holes this time, Sam. Are you ready or not?" Dean slammed the trunk closed and slipped his flashlight in one pocket, keys in another, keeping his gun in his hand and heading to one of the doors.

"I'm ready." He was feeling enormously guilty but he was ready. "Dean if anything happens to her I.." He shook his head, his lips going into their angry purse, only he was angry with himself this time. A heavy breath blew out and he followed Dean toward the side door.

"Tell me about it," he said, angry, worried, focused on finding a way in. The door they came up to was locked as it should be, leaving windows. "After you, you've got the axe," he said, pointing out the choices of busting the door or breaking glass.

"Let's just get to her." He muttered, swinging the axe and smashing out the glass in the window, they didn't have time to break down the door. Sam was quick to climb through, dropping down to the floor and ducking down as he looked around for signs and listened for sounds. Which he could hear, faintly the sound of a fight and he looked for access to the basement.

Down in the basement of the wharehouse, Cordelia stood in the semi dark waiting for the contact she was supposed to meet. She was not expecting there to be several or for them to be the lizard like demons Sam had seen in his vision. What she was supposed to be meeting was an entirely different kind of demon, one that could give her the information she needed for Sam. The source who had set up the meeting had double crossed her and sold her to the demons Sam saw in his vision instead of arranging the meeting with the real contact.

She hadn't exactly brought an arsenal with her, even leaving her crossbow behind as it wasn't something she could hide discretely. She had been wise enough to wear stylish dark blue jeans, boots -with a heel, and a grey long sleeve shirt. Cordy had a decent sized knife hidden under her pant leg, but when she saw the demons come in, she had a feeling like her 'little' knife wasn't going to be enough. She took a step back as three came in and started to fan out in front of her.

Two more had gone up around to come in behind her, but were on the ground floor when the boys busted in. They turned and one headed for the stairwell while the other came toward where Sam and Dean were coming in.

Dean pulled his sleeve around his hand to break out a fist-sized jagged tooth of glass and hang onto it, just in case, tucking it in his pocket in place of the flashlight he took out. He beamed it around in a few quick passes as he followed Sam, hoping to find an open stairwell, but expecting more doors. The hope faded as the light hit the stairwell they wanted and the movement of something on its way up. "Sam..!" He hissed and yelled.

His eyes followed the direction of Dean's flashlight and he nodded. "Well I guess that's where we're going.." He moved to find a spot where he'd be able to get the drop on the creature, though he didn't have much time or advantage -it knew they were there. The shouts of the other demons and the sounds of struggle grew louder as he got closer to the stairwell. He wasn't about to waste time and went at the demon, swinging his axe.

He didn't really have an idea of size, but understood they were fast. Hopefully not faster than bullets as far as slowing them down or distracting them went. While Sam got a swing in at the first, he was getting a better idea that just the gun wasn't going to be enough. These things had scales all over, pretty thick ones. He slithered his own way around to drop behind the one on the stairs and try to send a slug through it to slow it down for Sam.

The thing slowed but it didn't stop, the sound of the gunfire alerted the rest to their pressence if the second demon hadn't already. "Shoot it again!" Sam yelled, pulling the axe free and ducking as the demon swung at him, he pulled the axe up and swung for it's shoulder.

From below a definately non demon and female scream echoed as Codrelia fought against the others. Sharp claws had caught her arm but she'd managed to slip out of it's grasp, her knife in hand lashing out as best she could to damage them when they tried to grab her.

Another shot rang out as Sam had asked, uprooting a couple scales and hopefully wounding it enough for it to think twice before swinging at Sam again. Dean disappeared down another level as Cordelia screamed, skittering down the stairs to find her and hoping it wasn't some twisted version of MarcoPolo. He wasn't really going to wait for her to scream again. One down, how many to go, he wondered.

Sam continued to hack at the one he was fighting, noting that Dean went down the stairs after the scream was heard. The scream urged him to go more forcefully at this thing so he could get down to help Dean and Cordelia.

She wasn't going to keep four of them off of her for long, one would move and she tried to defend as another came at her from the other side. "Well at least you're not mucus demons." She muttered, attempting to find a bright side to her situation. She yelped as she felt hands or paws or whatever closing around her arm and she tried to jerk away. The grip was strong and solid and she spun with knife in hand to find out what grabbed her.

Beheading, he said? The one furthest back in the crowd got a deep slash on one side of its neck from the glass shard, enough to leave the chunk lodged where Dean couldn't pull it out for another swipe. Whatever fueled the things oozed out in creepy black-matter fashion over the glass and scales and Dean kicked the startled beast away, aiming for a shot to keep it down. Now that he had their attention... "Hey guys... how's it going?" The grin might have worked for tipsy sorority girls, but not for demons apparently. It disappeared into fancy foot work to draw their attention from Cordy enough to get her out of the corner.

Her blade stabbed into the eye of the one that grabbed her and it shrieked in pain. Of course that was a good and bad thing, she was out of the corner as it sent her flying into some wooden crates along the other wall. Her knife was knocked from her hand and went skittering across the floor.

One of the demons moved towards Dean while the other two went back for the girl who was slowly trying to get up.

"Just run! Go!" He hoped she could get up. The one on the floor met a foot against the glass, hoping that as he completed its pass through, it would send the demon into smoke and black vengeance. He looked at the severed pieces that sat there. "Crap. I need an axe," he grimaced, wiping some of the ooze off his face to see and take a shot at the new one coming at him. The gun went off and his attention turned quickly toward the crates. "Cordelia?!"

She could get up, just not quickly. Trying to shake off the stars and push the broken pieces of wood off her. Her long legs kicked the pieces away and she was on her feet, a slight staggered step as she got her bearings. "Dean?" She gasped, she hadn't had time to register he was there before the demon sent her flying after she'd stabbed it in the eye. She looked at Dean now, wondering where the heck he'd come from and thanking the powers for that stroke of good fortune. "Duck!" She yelled as the other demon swung a sharp clawed hand at his head.

He'd been well taught that if anyone yelled 'duck', don't ask. He dropped into a tumble to roll out of the path of whatever it was and look back to aim another shot from the floor. He made note of the markings, the darker scales Sam mentioned. The shot wasn't going to do it. He scrambled back to help Cordelia get her bearings and keep between her and the thing. "Get upstairs!"

She looked at him as if not knowing whether to glare at him for barking at her or kiss him for coming to her rescue. She moved and the thing shifted -following her movements. "I don't like the way.. right.. going upstairs.." She grabbed Dean's sides lightly, keeping him directly in front of her and tugging slightly to make sure he was going up with her. "C'mon.."

Upstairs Sam was hacking the demon to ensure it stayed down since it had gotten up once. He was panting a bit as his footsteps sounded at the top of the stairs, heading down to find Dean and Cordelia.

"I got it, just go," he said over his shoulder. It dodged to go after her and Dean shot, keeping the thing's attention on him. "Buuuttt ugly," he stated, not like he was trying to make a friend here. He scouted the floor for anything else to keep it from going up the stairs, opting for a piece of board from one of the broken crates that had a few unfriendly staples jabbing rawly out the end. Club in one hand, he swung and sent another shot to the creature's other arm. "Sam?!?"

She stopped backing away when she realized he wasn't coming with her. "Dean.. I can't leave you down here." This was her mess and she wasn't going to run away to leave him to face these demons on his own.

Sam heard his name called and his steps pounded down the stairs. "Dean!" He yelled as he came into view, axe in hand and seeing Cordelia behind Dean, thankfully in one piece.

The lizardy fangs and dark scales somehow looked angrier though it was hard to tell much difference as it slashed out at Dean, catching the staple in it's clawed hand and flinging the board away. "So much for that idea," he sighed, moving quickly out of reach again. Head and arms, covered in scaled armor.. just great. There had to be another axe in this place somewhere, maybe something as good as one. He hadn't seen one down here so far and launched himself up the stairs, ushering the other two with him. "This isn't going to do much. C'mon - anything up here, sharp, big, preferably close."

She spun as he suddenly started up the stairs and nearly knocked into Sam as she started to run. "Hey Sam." She pushed and turned him to get his butt up the stairs before that thing got to them.

Sam stumbled as Cordy shoved at him but he was quick to move and looked back over his shoulder as they 'spilled' out onto the ground floor again. "Dean!" He yelled, waiting for his brother to look so he could 'toss' him the axe. The leader wasn't giving up and was coming up behind them fast!

Cordelia pushed past Sam and kept going, there had to be something they could use up here.

The demon had the girl in his sight and his quick movements were meant to get him to her and past the others that tried to keep her from him.

Dean looked up past Cordelia's distracting and quickly dodging form as Sam yelled down. He reached up for the weapon as it was half-tossed-half-dropped to his grasp. He was up another step juggling the axe, gun and running to get one safely put away and the other solidly in his grip to turn and swing. The first was a clean miss, but a warning enough. The lizard king thing swung back and Dean dodged but still caught a claw across his chest.

They might have heard the shattering glass as her elbow smashed through it and she pulled another axe free from the emergency box on the far wall. She turned in time to see that the lizard thing had heard it and his head turned, even though for just a moment -the gaze directly on her. A serious chill walked over her. "Oh... oh crap." She held the axe in her hands and started back towards the boys and the lizard, trying to look more confident than she felt at the moment.

Sam saw the moment of distraction and pulled his own gun out, taking a shot to turn it's attention to him, giving the other two a chance to go at it with their weapons.

For whatever reason he hadn't expected it, the shot from Sam made him flinch. Instead of swinging, he leveraged himself to try and kick the thing back down the steps and gain them a moment to regroup. Damn lizard had a tail and it kept him upright. The thing grabbed Dean's ankle and pulled him down.

"Hey!" She sounded pissed and if her voice wasn't enough, maybe the blow of the axe was enough to make her point. Instead of going high where the armor like scales were, she swung under and up to drive the axe low into it's belly or if she was lucky it's male parts, she was taking a chance that it would work.

Sam groaned as the spray of dark lizard demon juice splattered over him and Cordy. Whatever parts she'd hit, the axe had done some damage. The demon let out a bellow and lashed out at her. Sam let off another shot toward it's shoulder and chest. "Dean.. you alright?"

"Peachy," he hissed out in obvious pain and trying to get back the breath that had been flattened out of him. He poked his head up carefully only to see the axe he'd held had slid out of reach down the steps a few feet. The creature was distracted enough by the holes and the splatter that drenched Dean where he lay beside the thing that kept moving up the steps. He spit out whatever hit his mouth and reached back to grab the lizard's foot in turn and keep it on the stairs. "Hey! Down here - lookin' for somebody?!" He yelled and gave a swipe to pull the lizard down with him.

"Dean!?" Both Cordy and Sam spoke it at once as he pulled the lizard down the stairs with him. "Is he insane?" Cordy asked Sam as she reached to help him up and follow the fight as it went back down.

Sam gave her a half smile and his eyebrow twitched up and down. "Yeah, he is.." He nodded and moved toward the top of the stairs, jerking back as the thing clawed and lashed out.

The gun at this close of range was bound to be painful for them both, but he rolled to dislodge it as the thing landed next to him and bring it close to the thing's head, neck, shoulder - something - and fire another shot, buying a moment to crawl after the axe.

Two sets of foot steps decended the stairs after the creature and Dean. They hadn't tumbled all the way down but far enough for Sam and Cordy to chase after. Sam fired another shot at the lizard to keep it at bay as he watched Dean crawling away.

With it knocked back a moment Cordy stepped in with a powerful swing, the axe slamming into the armour that protected the lizard's upper body. Scales ripped away and the blade hit softer flesh beneath. It wasn't enough to take off it's head, but it was no longer trying to rip Dean apart. It howled again, moving more slowly but still with enough strength to swing it's tail out to knock Cordy off her feet this time.

Dean clasped the end of the axe and pulled it up into his free hand. He was running out of shots in this clip and they were only tickling the thing it seemed. He put the gun out of harm's way again and got to his feet, clasping the axe firmly and going after the creature with more strength now that he had a second wind. It swung at Cordelia with its tail and he swung at one arm...

Dismemberment and beheading? Who knew, maybe the thing had more than one brain. Where the repeated gunshots had pierced the lizard's shoulder, the axe cleaved through finally, leaving it off balance and shrieking in pain.

Sam picked up on the idea and aimed the best he could to get a shot in or close to where Cordelia had weakened it's scales on it's upper body. He had more rounds left than Dean, as he'd not used his earlier. His next shot went at the other shoulder.

Cordy winced as she tumbled and expected to be minced but was relieved when Dean cleaved the thing's arm off. She grabbed the rail and pulled herself back up, one hand reaching to pull her axe up again. She waited till Sam took his second shot and she swung at the howling creature. She caught the weaked shoulder but not at the right angle to take the other arm off.

"Got it - move!" He didn't want to hit her in the process and waited only for her to get out of the way. There was another of these things laying headless but still armored and with both arms in the corner he remembered. "Sam - corner... down there!" He nodded to the bottom of the stairs, not wanting to get jumped as he swung at the shoulder again and got the arm.

As he told Sam about the other one, she moved to hand Sam her axe, he'd need it. Cordy stepped out of the way so he could get down the stairs before the demon got up. She also moved back to stay out of Dean's way, she'd gotten more than enough lizard crud on her, the boys had their share of it as well.

Sam jogged down the stairs, cautious of the creature as he approached in case it decided to jump up. He saw it twitch and started slamming the axe into it's shoulders to hack it's arms off before it got up.

Once the second arm was hacked it was losing steam in its fight but not its anger. It turned on Dean again and snapped out with strong jaws and jagged teeth. More reflex than anything he swung again at the head, hitting scales on that side, but knocking the thing out of his way to get past.

Sam's headless demon was a little easier for him to handle as it didn't try to bite him and swung blindly a few times but he was able to avoid being hit and continued to chop until both arms were seperated from it's body. "Dean.. where are the other ones?" His voice called as he looked around, there had been at least four, but he was sure it was five.

Cordy heard the noise with only enough time to turn her head to look before the angry and rapidly moving lizard demon sprang at her. She yelped, dropped back and tried to roll out of the way.

"No!!" Dean's answer to Sam was screamed out. He was already coming back up the steps but moving that much faster now to knock the other one away from Cordelia. He had no idea how fast the leader was moving behind him but he took the chance to swing as he jumped around Cordy at the thing's closest anything.

She rolled onto her knees and would have scampered away if it hadn't grabbed for her leg, clasping her ankle until Dean jumped at it and pulled it back a little. She rolled again and kicked the thing in the face as Dean tried to tackle? it.

Sam heard Dean scream out and he was coming up the stairs at a run, the leader was trying to charge at Dean and the other. With a grunt Sam swung at it's neck the axe sunk in but didn't go through. With what sounded a bit like a battle cry he charged at it, driving the blade deeper with the pressure and force of his momentum. The beast shrieked and gurgled as the axe went through.

Dean tumbled with the one that took his axe at its shoulder in a direction away from the others and into the stacks of debris it had been hiding behind. The piles tipped and scattered around them before Dean dislodged the axe and stepped back. He couldn't get a clean shot at anything through the junk.

Cordelia reached to get to her feet again with a sigh, she looked at Dean with a frown. "It's too early in the morning for this.. I am so definately taking you guys to breakfast... after another shower." She made a face and pulled at the wet shirt which was sticking to her skin.

Sam finally finished with the other one and came up the rest of the stairs, a few harsh cuts on his arms and tears in his shirt. He looked at the pile and at Dean, he puffed out a sigh. "Ready.." He shifted a piece out of the way, ready if anything jumped up.

Dean was catching his own breath and swabbed away a bit of blood from the scratch on his chest. It was mostly dry, but it stung, hopefully not poison. He nodded. "Ready," he said, holding the axe and ready to swing.

"Guys..?" She motioned to herself and that she was totally unarmed now, giving them a look as if to say you better give me something.

Sam looked at her and moved another piece, freezing as something moved beneath the pile. "There!"

Dean kicked off another piece and swung down, hopefully out of Sam's way. He'd hit something clean through to the floor beneath and let go of the axe, staggering back onto his butt to get his own head back on straight and clear Sam's path. Cordelia was muttering... "I'm sorry, did you say something?"

She had a hand gesture for him and folded her arms to watch the boys be all macho and leave her there to.. watch. She would have helped him up, but he was a big strong guy, he could get himself up.

Sam took a swing at what he hoped was the demon's shoulder, though he wasn't sure as he hit something but didn't hear any screams. "Damn it.."

With a roll of her eyes she stepped forward. "I have an idea, since I don't have an axe.. I'll move.. you guys chop."

"What's your problem? Some gratitude," Dean huffed, insulted but getting over it damned fast as he realized Sam wasn't getting the desired results. He was back on his feet and reaching for the axe. If he had to fight her to get at it, he might not think twice about it now.

"I'm trying to help you find it so you can kill it! What's your problem?" She turned to him for half a second and then decided to keep her eyes on the pile. "I am.. I have plenty of gratitude.. I was just waiting till we got out of here alive before I gushed.. unless you'd like me to swoon and kiss you while these things rip us to shreds?" She pointed to the piece she was about to move to let him know where to look.

Sam had to swallow hard not to laugh at the way she barked back a Dean, not taking his lip for a moment. He got ready to swing again, poised for 'his turn'.

"Funny way of showing it, that's all. They're not gonna win, you can trust me on that," he snapped back, digging into an arm full of debris to shift out of the way. Something wasn't right. "Sam, how many of these things did you say there were? None of them have dusted yet," he realized, looking around at the lizard crew strewn about. "I think we missed one."

"There were four downstairs." She answered and pulled a larger piece out of the way, moving in case something was under it and they needed to swing at it. "Okay.. this is alot of fun.." She said a little dryly and stepped back to toss the piece aside.

Sam was focused on the pile at first and slowly shook his head. "There was only one down there when I went, the one on the stairs.. this one.. there is one missing." The last was said as his head lifted and Cordelia let out a small squeak as she was grabbed from behind and lifted off the floor by the larger creature behind her.

"Sam behind yo-.. he-... THERE!" He didn't see where it emerged from but it had her and he was on the wrong side of a shitload of junk to get to her easily.

"I see it! What do you want me to do hit her?" He exclaimed trying to manuver a way to hit it without getting her. "Dean.. I'm open to suggestions." He trailed off looking at the way the thing held her, it must have picked up her knife from downstairs as it held it to her throat to keep her still. "Dean.." His voice lowered. "This is.. it.."

"It? What 'it'?" His gun... he rarely missed and sure as heck hoped he wouldn't this time. He pulled it back out and aimed carefully like he was going against any random hostage taker. "What am I supposed to do, Sam? Let it take her? I don't think so."

"My vision -it!" He hissed, shaking his head. "No.. you don't let it take her.." His hands tightened on the handle of the axe and he swung it as the other lunged from the pile -just as he'd seen it, except he and Dean hadn't been here in his vision. The axe connected with the neck of the one lunging and it's head seperated, flying off like a ball that had been kicked.

The distraction worked more on him than it seemed to on the lizard thing. They'd fended off all the others, so the vision wasn't quite the same, but this is where it had ended before, not the way any of them wanted it to. "You said these things do what... use them for food or... other stuff? I mean, is it gonna kill her now or wait a while?" His questions may have sounded stupid but it was a stall only to look around the thing and make sure there wasn't another way.

The gun was held steady as he asked and he went after it, step by step carefully around the debris but watching Cordelia. He'd try to take out the arm holding the knife first but the shot would be very close.

Cordy was trying very hard not to move with the knife held so tightly against her throat, she almost didn't want to breathe. Her eyes followed Dean as he moved.

Sam paused in his answer since he knew Cordelia would hear it too. "They don't use them for food.. they use them for something else.. Dean you do not want this thing to go anywhere with her and believe me she'll be really grateful for that."

It was strange seeing the situation from the outside this time, not being the one who held her. In a way he felt sorry for the thing if she bucked her head back into its jaw like she had to him the night they all met, the difference being the knife that kept her from moving much at all. "I don't think it's gonna get very far, do you?" His eyes held steady as if telling her 'don't move'... and he let the shot ring out hoping she'd only get scratched if cut at all as the shoulder was hit.

She was looking right at Dean and she felt as though her heart was going to slam itself right out of her chest it was beating so fast and hard. Her eyes stayed on him until he let off the shot, at which time they closed and her hand went up to try to keep the blade from slicing her neck as the creature jerked. Its hold loosened enough that she fell from it's grip and kept herself on the ground so she would be out of the way as the boys went after it. Her shirt was torn again and her shoulder stung, but she didn't check yet to find out the damage.

Sam abandoned hacking up the one he'd just beheaded and turned to help Dean take the last one down. The axe flipped and swung as soon as Cordelia was out of the way, he went right for the arm Dean had damaged with his shot.

Letting Sam take his turn at the thing, Dean spun down to check on Cordelia and help her out of the way. "You're good, we gotcha," he said, trying to be convincing enough until he saw the damage for himself, hoping not to see any.

She nodded to his words, nearly curling into him as he helped her to get out of the way, her hand resting on his arm as she reminded herself to breathe evenly. "Just go kill the crap out of that thing for me, will ya?"

Dean was getting Cordy out of the way, so Sam ducked and dodged, slamming the axe into the thing's shoulder again, it wailed and he was encouraged. Again, the arm seperated this time -thank goodness. These things did not go down easy, well all that grave digging was finally paying off -he was strong enough to keep at it.

"I think he's killing pretty much everything out of that thing," he said, looking up at Sam's swinging. Geeez he scared the crap outta him sometimes, making him really glad their fights with each other stopped at an occasional slug on the jaw.

"Yeah I think he is.." She watched over his shoulder for a moment then looked away. Sam seemed to have everything under control and would soon have little kabob pieces if he kept it up. "Does that mean I have to.. show my gratitude now?" She smiled despite how much certain parts of her hurt at the moment. Her hand tightened on his arm a little and she shifted closer to him.

"C'mon, let's see that demon smoked already," he said instead of really answering her though she moved closer and he didn't fight it. He didn't really mind holding her down that first time either until she clocked him.

[Lovely]

August 4, 2009
3 p.m.


Sam looked at the journal, then the page that had fallen out, wondering where it had been to fall out now after all the abuse the book had been through when he wasn't even flipping pages. It was almost like the page jumped on its own. He folded the journal closed under his arm and picked up the paper, unfolding it to see it was a handwritten letter that made his expression pale. His lips moved around the words he read silently with a crooked grin. 'Dear John,' it apparently started, but that was the only similarity to anything humorous. He read on, ignoring Dean's babbling for the moment.

"... or something about symbols. You know like signs, headbangers or whatever? Sam? Yoohoo...? Come in Houston. Do we have a problem?" Dean was resorting to snaps and waves until he realized Sam wasn't even looking in the journal. He pulled the paper out of his brother's hands. "Passing notes in class, Sammy? I thought you were helping us look for a case, here." He started to look over the letter himself. He simply looked confused.

"Harbingers."

"What?"

"Harbingers, Dean. Signs and portents? Ravens, locusts, shooting stars... they're harbingers, not headbangers. Speaking of... what do you make of that? It just fell out Dad's journal - more like jumped out," Sam said, watching Dean's expression.

"Son of a b-... No. Noooo way. He did NOT do this. This is a hoax, Sammy," Dean said, pushing the paper back at his brother's chest. Harbinger, alright. He was doomed to hell and back at least twice if it was true.

Sam looked at the floor again for anything else and opened the journal again, curious what page it would show him. It was the middle where it often opened but poking out from a couple different pages were small sharp edges he tugged on revealing a couple of photographs. One was the kind done in strips from a carnival booth and the other was a wallet photo, bent and singed on the edge. There was no mistaking the smile in either picture. "A hoax? Really? These look pretty real, Dean. I think we'd know a mock up, but these are the real deal." He held the pictures up that were of Cordelia from her high school days.

Wesley's foot hit a box as he tried to remain casual behind the lobby counter. "Sorry to interrupt. Mail call," he said holding out an opened envelope. "This came addressed to you. I opened it by mistake." He couldn't look Dean in the eye at the moment.

"You opened my mail? I don't get mail. Nobody sends me anything to the real me, ever," Dean said, more than confused now and looking to Sam for help. He took the envelope and looked inside, pulling out a second page of the letter and a business card. He showed it to Sam. "Angel Investigations - we help the hopeless. Nope, no making that up. How'd that part get in the journal, Wes?" He wondered how much the man had snooped into this as he read the rest of the letter and looked at the attached form with it.

"I was dusting," Wesley replied, not wanting to incriminate himself further.

"I think it's really from her mom, Dean. She needs to see this. She'll hit the roof, but it's only fair. She needs to know," Sam said.

Since everything seemed to be happening as if on some silent timer for just the right moment, it shouldn't be surprising that the 'she' in question walked into the lobby. Cordelia was dressed in her one really nice outfit, hair and make up done, heels and all - she'd gotten a modeling job which was helping to fill in a few gaps with bills and supplies between the more important cases they found. She hadn't really told anyone about it but borrowed Angel's car to make the trip into the city and came back carrying a few heavy bags with food, first aide, and of course the clothes she'd gotten to keep. That part was way cool, but didn't excite her quite as much as it used to it, maybe she was just tired. "Wow.. what did I miss? You all look way too serious.. maybe you should try decaf?" She teased the three men as she hauled her bags up onto the counter.

Sam gave his brother the scolding, motherly look of insistence that he be the one to tell Cordelia about the letter and the rest.

"Cordelia...?" Wes had certainly noticed the outfit, but didn't want to be too obvious. Perhaps it wasn't new and he'd be foolish to point out his approval if it was 'some old thing' she had for years. "Let me help you with those," he dodged, paying attention to the bags instead to help her put things away.

"Us, serious? No, it was just a contest to see who could look more pensive. Angel still wins," Dean said, turning to silently yell at Sam whom he thought would be better at breaking the news to her.

After a few silent choice words and pantomiming, followed by the winning rock-paper-scissors throw, Sam made sure the papers and photos were all in Dean's hands despite the efforts to pawn the task off on him. The letter had been addressed to Dean, afterall.

He cleared his throat and looked at the slightly crushed collection of documents while Sam resumed his search through the journal for whatever they were looking up to start with. "Soooo...," he started, coughing a little with indecision of where to start. "Cordy, you used to live in L.A., right?"

Most of Cordy's things had been destroyed with her apartment back in L.A. so this outfit was one of only a few she had to her name, it was definitely not one she'd had for years. To be honest, the stuff she'd had in L.A wasn't old either, she'd lost pretty much everything when her father had lost everything to the IRS. "Thanks." She spoke to Wesley, giving him a smile and tapping one bag. "This all goes to the kitchen, it's not much but.." She shrugged at her meger offering, it was something at least. Cordy turned to Dean almost absently as she set the outfit aside from one of the two remaining bags, which left the first aid stuff to be added to their supplies. "Umm yeah.. L.A. for awhile and Sunnydale before that. Why?" She looked up to him and her expression shifted to questioning as she noticed how weird he was acting.

He folded the papers together carefully to try and put them back in the envelope without drawing attention to them yet. Slipping an ace in a cuff was one thing, but a copy of a birth certificate was a little more tricky. He shrugged as she looked up to see what he was doing. "You lived in Sunnydale a long time, right? Knew a lot of things about a lot of people, kinda the scoop on the whole town, that sort of thing?"

Sam glanced up from the journal. An eyebrow rose but nothing more indicated that he listened in as he began pacing as if really engrossed in the page in his hand.

Wesley took the bags earmarked for the kitchen and left them to their discussions for the moment.

At first she wasn't sure how to react to that but then chuckled and shrugged. "I guess so.. well more everyone I thought was important.. which was the popular and wealthy.. and cute rich college boys.. But if you need to know about someone from back there, I'll do my best to remember something.. I crushed plenty of geeks and nerds under my heels.."

As if specific names had been mentioned, both Dean and Sam turned toward the kitchen where Wes had vanished for the time being. Dean scowled at Sam as he realized they'd thought the same thing. Now he couldn't remember the name on the paper he'd just read and had to unfold it again. "Did you ever know a...," he said, pausing long enough to find and read the mother's name on the form out loud. "I mean, did she know your family or anything, maybe have some kind of curse or anything on one of your cousins, maybe, or did your folks ever go to her for some kind of service they never paid her for? Like, that she might be trying to cash in the karma on now?"

"What are you talking about? That -is- my mother! So, yeah.. I know her. What is this?" She reached to try to snatch the paper away from Dean, her smile half there as if she wasn't sure whether it was some sort of joke or if she should be upset. "Why do you want to know about her?"

Dean looked at Sam again for help, only to see him turn his back to begin pacing the other direction, though he only stood there like a wall now. Dean grimaced again and jumped as Cordy yanked the paper from him. "Hey! Fine, but you don't really want to look at that, trust me. I just want to know how your mom knew our dad."

Cordy gave a triumphant "haha!" as she got hold of the paper and looked at the date on it as she realized what it was, but not the names yet. "How am I supposed to know how she knew your dad, I was even..." Her words trailed off as she realized this was her birth certificate or supposed to be and her eyes moved over the names again and again trying to make them change. "This.. is not funny.." She spoke quietly, turning her glare on Dean as if he'd been trying to play a joke that went so very wrong. "Where did you get this?" She demanded, looking down at the names again, they were clearly printed, signed, and the official seal stamped into the document.. but it was lying! Thier father could not be her father.. her father was her father!

[Lovely]

Sept 10, 2009
11:30 p.m.

It wasn't a late night, but it had been a long night, especially since they hadn't slept at all the night before. Wesley was already flatlined, seeing double and speaking honest gibberish while sorting the relics he'd received from delivery that morning. Sam piled the pale man into his room, insisting he rest, mostly so he didn't have to hear the accented words making even less sense than the archaic language did to begin with. He wasn't sure Wes even made it to the bed before he closed the door and came back to the hallway. If he stayed still too long, he was likely to fall asleep, himself. "Coffee would be exc-...," he paused, realizing he was talking to himself out loud, then looking up to find he really wasn't. He shook his head, not having felt any twinge of premonition, but finding himself looking at the new girl and the cup she carried. Damn, he couldn't think! What was her name?! He grinned meekly, hoping she didn't notice. "Hey. Late night, too, huh? Is that coffee?"

She was heading to her room or at least she thought she was, Tully honestly wasn't sure she was in the right hallway. She saw the tall one and she sighed softly, her room was near his and so she must be in the right area. "Uh.. hi.. late? Oh.. right.. cause people can sleep in hotel creepy." She looked down at her hand and the warm cup she held. "Yeah, it's coffee."

Sam's smile widened. "Really? Could I ask you a big favor? Can I have it? Some... just some, I mean," he said, practically begging it off of her like it was gold. "I'll get you breakfast in the morning, but I really need the help right now. Actually... I -really- need the help right now. What are you doing tonight? Okaaaay that came out a little too, um... Can I get you to help me with something?"

Her hair was down and loose and she reached one hand up to brush it out of her face in a slightly nervous gesture, her eyebrow arched up as he rambled and dug himself deeper. "Um.. I might have given you my coffee.. but I'm not that kind of girl.. I should.. probably just go to my room.. do you know where that is?"

He was confused for a moment then panicked. "NO! I mean, that's not at all what I meant. A project... I need help with. Actually I was helping Wesley and he's...," he thumbed over his shoulder to the door he'd just closed, indicated the other man was indisposed. "Did you ever play Jenga? It's more or less like that. We have to get the relics sorted and reassembled in the right order... before the Talsarian moon ritual starts... in about ten more hours."

Tully licked at her lips, trying to hold back a laugh as he explained and confused her even more with references to things she had yet to learn about. "We're going to need alot more coffee.. what's a Talsarian?" She sounded like she was agreeing to help even though she wanted to go hide out in her room.. or did she? She felt so out of place and like such a freak, her first couple of days here had been eventful. "I'm not really sure how much help I'll be.. but I guess I'm helping.."

"The Talsar? They're like leprechauns, more or less, but with two heads and a lousy sense of humor. A lousy sense of art, too. They pretty much have one art form... eyes. You'll see what I mean."

"Ohh right.. I'm still getting used to the fact that any of these things are real and that I'm the chosen one to fight them.. one of the chosen.. I'd rather play Jenga and I never played before." She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair again, holding a handful of it back as if her fingers were the clip. "I guess I have alot to learn.. might as well start." She gave Sam a slight smile and held out her cup as a peace offering, since he'd have to put up with her if she was going to try to help him.

He graciously accepted the cup and took a sip. He should have expected it to taste different than he usually had it, but it wasn't bad and wasn't the usual convenience store variety sludge he was used to. He gave her another odd look. "Did you make this? Seriously, it's not bad. Thank you. Um, it's all in here. Don't say I didn't warn you," he said, pointing with the cup to the end of the hall.

Tully felt her cheeks warm a little and her shoulder shrugged. "Yeah, I made it.. it's just coffee.." He'd only said it wasn't bad but was still a compliment and she felt funny as he gave it. "You warned me and I'm already grimacing.. I'm sure it's gross and I won't like it at all." She gestured for him to go ahead of her down the hall, she wasn't going in first.

Sam chuckled. "It is, and I'm sorry, but after an hour or two, you get numb to it." He hoped she would last that long. He needed the company and wouldn't mind hers regardless of the project that needed to be complete in a few short hours. "Reminds me of a few college all-nighters, but a lot more gruesome of consequences than getting a 'B'."

Tully nodded as she followed behind him but after a few steps got brave enough to shift herself beside him. "What I wouldn't give to have that be the most of my worries again.. All this kind of makes me long for the mundane.. I guess you must get used to it after awhile.. I'm supposed to be like this super girl and I kind of want to go hide under the bed.. pretty pathetic."

"Not if you knew what's under the bed, too," he teased, though it probably didn't make her any less nervous. "I tried mundane for a while. It lasted three semesters then 'the calling' pulled me back, disguised as my brother. That, I may never forgive him for, but I can say it hasn't really been dull since."

"Great.. I might never sleep alone again.. know anyone who wants a bunkmate.. maybe a pillow buddy?" She didn't know what was under the bed and didn't want to think about it, but she was. Unfortunately she now knew that many of the so called stories were true and monsters were real.. and she had no choice but to face them.

"I'll get back to you on that," he grinned, taking another sip of the coffee and trying to change the subject quickly. "The Talsar stuff might put you to sleep, believe me. You'd think that having two heads would make them more intelligent and interesting? Not so much." He stopped at the door and opened it with a slow push, letting her peek inside and back out gracefully if she didn't really feel up to helping him. The room was lit only with ceremonial candles that allowed the faint markings on the piled items to be seen correctly. The pile 'looked' at them as they entered, each item resembling a life-like human eye fashioned from clay, stones and glass. "Last chance."

She peeked into the room and stepped back, turning to look at him with her eyebrow arched up. "That's not interesting? I mean.. that's not something you see everyday.. those aren't.. real.. are they? I mean.. this is going to sound so lame but.. they aren't all squishy and slimey or anything? I'll still help either way but.. so gross!"

"As long as we're done before the ritual? No. We do it right and they stay stone-like. Not any more comforting, though. They need to be grouped by... well, here's the list of them," he said, slipping in to grab the book Wesley had face-planted into. He set the coffee down and the stone eyes seemed to move and watch him as he brought her the page to look over listing nearly 100 different god types the pile of hundreds represented and the formation each type needed to be assembled into from stylized cubes to varying sizes of pyramids. "How's that coffee sounding to you, now?"

"They couldn't just sort them by eye-color?" She tried to tease but felt overwhelmed by the task he was trying to get her help with. This was nothing like the all night study groups she'd ever been a part of. "How many have you done already?" Suddenly ten hours felt like ten minutes as she looked to the pile of eyes and back to the page that she wasn't positive she even understood. Coffee wasn't going to help her and she nearly felt exhausted just considering the task, but he was the only one here and why wasn't anyone else helping? "Um.. I don't want to mess anything up.." She glanced around, looking like she was afraid to touch anything right now.