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Alluvion

Teaser

Story by Gelfling21 and Robert Kidman Written by Gelfling21 (with additional writing by Robert Kidman and Dan Joslyn) Produced and Directed by CN Winters and Susan Carr Edited by CN Winters and Susan Carr Sounds by CSR Art Direction by Robert Kidman Artists – Robert Kidman, CN Winters, Zahir al Daoud, Isis, Mattxxx, and Humaira

Fade In: Ext. Cleveland – Highway Intersection – Late Night

Flashes of lightning rippled through the heavy black clouds that hung in the night sky. The rumble of distant thunder sliced the deathly silence.

Closer to the ground, gliding across the empty asphalt plane, a convoy of three vehicles – a truck flanked from in front and behind by two heavy-duty blacked out jeeps – continued toward their clandestine destination aided by the high intensity beams that cut through the swarming darkness.

The driver of the truck leaned forward in his seat and peered up to the sky, the wispy cotton-like clouds illuminated by another burst of lightning.

"God damn storm," he breathed, returning his stare to the back of the jeep in front of him.

The clouds rumbled with thunder once again, the sound more deafening than before.

The driver took his right hand off the wheel and switched on the radio but was greeted by more white noise than music.

"'C'mon…" he cast a glance to the radio and started to press the buttons. Each station he tuned to was rife with distorted audio and speckled white noise. An intense white light exploded in front of the convoy. The driver shot a squinted glance up moments before his eyes went wide at the sight of the jeep in front reversing.

"Jesus!" he gripped the wheel and slammed his foot of brake.

The convoy came crashing to a halt as the jeep in front slammed into the truck's cab and the jeep behind drove into the back of the now static truck.

In the truck cab, through grit teeth, the driver held the back of his neck. His eyes now open, he unclipped his seat belt, pushed opened the door, and jumped down to the ground.

"Is everything okay? What the hell happened?" he shouted as he walked to the driver's side door of the jeep in front. A man got out dressed in black military garb and shaken and out of breath. "Are you okay?"

"…uh…yeah…" the man pointed to a small smoldering hole mere meters ahead in the middle of the road. "Bolt of lightning struck dead in front of us."

"Damn; all I saw was the flash," the driver said, more pre-occupied by where the lightning struck. "We good to go?"

The man nodded. "Yeah we're…" the steady hum of the engines cut out, along with the head lights, "…good? Foster, what happened?" he called into his jeep.

"Power's out, sir. Must be the battery," Foster said getting out the passenger door, moving to the hood of the jeep.

"In all three vehicles?"

Foster frowned when he saw the battery. "Sir, the battery's fine. I don't understand?"

"Call it in to HQ," the man said, pulling his shoulder-mounted radio to his mouth. "Teams get out of the jeeps and set up a perimeter…" A sudden look of perplexity washed over his face that was reflected in his tone, "…the radio's dead."

"The lightning?" the truck driver asked.

"No. Me," a female voice said behind the two men. As they turned the woman roundhouse kicked the man in black and thrust her palm into the truck drivers' face, decking both of them.

Hearing the attack, Foster ran around the truck with his gun raised and opened fire. The woman twirled out of the line of fire to Foster's side and grabbed his wrist. "Please, who carries a gun anymore?" Gwen Raiden said and then snapped his wrist. She grabbed the gun as it fell and pistol-whipped him over the head. "Out of the jeeps…NOW!" the man in black belted out as he got to his feet with the help of the truck. On his command, the teams piled out the jeep behind the truck.

Gwen glanced over her shoulder to see the teams running toward her. Most of them were woman in their early twenties; some younger; guns holstered on their waist and knifes strapped to their legs. The others were men wearing heavy armor and carrying submachine guns.

"I guess they do," Gwen muttered and then shot a look to the man now standing and coming toward her with his dukes up. "If only you knew what was best, you wouldn't have gotten up," She told him. The man charged her but she brought up her boot up between his legs, knocking the wind right out of him. His face turned a deep shade of red and his eyes grew watery.

Gwen looked at the man, now on his knees, almost annoyed "Seriously, what did I say?" she asked him as he toppled over clutching his groin.

Gun fire broke out and Gwen raced around the other side of the jeep and launched into a cartwheel that spun towards the guards. As she landed back on her feet she raised her fists and threw out a punch which landed square in the male guard's face. A female guard to her left grabbed her arm and effortlessly threw Gwen back with tremendous strength.

"Slayers…" Gwen breathed as they advanced on her, "…crap."

Pouncing back onto her feet, Gwen took a fighting stance and tried her best to counter the slayer who had thrown her back. The slayer kicked out and Gwen grabbed her boot and pushed her to the ground hard on her back, and then twisted her boot, snapping her ankle. The slayer howled out in pain which seemed to invigorate the others.

Gwen swiped the downed slayer's knife and threw it at another slayer who grabbed it between her palms.

She turned back to the jeep and ran toward it. She vaulted into the air, pushed off the jeep and spun into a kick that connected with the closest slayer, causing her to knock down the others behind her.

Gwen looked to the truck and then to the side to see guards taking aim with their guns. She reached to her belt and threw her magnetic grappling hook at the cab of the truck. She pressed a button and flew up into the air as the shots were fired. They tried their best to keep their guns trained on her as they arched their weapons 180 degrees, following her flight.

Gwen landed on the hood of the truck and frantically clambered up onto the cab under fire, and then onto the top of the truck. She ran to the other end but a slayer landed in front of her. The slayer reached behind and produced a metal pole and managed a sadistic smile.

The slayer ran at Gwen and flung the pole at her, but Gwen turned out of it's solid path. Gwen continued to counter the slayer's attacks and then at the opportune moment she grabbed the pole with both of her hands and tried to pry it from the slayer. Gwen broke out into a sweat; the slayer pressed down harder. Pain and struggling was evident on Gwen's small, porcelain face, veins starting to pop up from under the skin on her forehead. She slammed her heel into the slayer's stomach, tore the pole from her grasp and wrapped it around her head.

Discarding the pole, Gwen panted and headed for the back of the truck. She jumped down onto the hood of the jeep, slipped off her glove, and placed her palm on the lock on the truck door. A small spark of electricity flashed and Gwen pulled open the door and stepped inside.

Held in place by chains, and bolted to the floor, was a non-descript metal crate with a numeric keypad.

A small smile crept over her face and, as Gwen climbed in, a powerful kick connected with her back sending her crashing face down onto the floor of the truck.

Recovering, Gwen sprung back to her feet and drove her bare palm into the slayers face. A thunderous clap filled the air and the slayer was ejected from the truck and crashed into the windshield of the jeep.

Gwen ran over to the crate and placed her hand on the keypad. It exploded in a rain of sparks laced with blue arcs of electricity. She lifted the top of the crate. Inside was the dull bronze sphere nestled between two thick blocks of foam padding.

Hearing a sound from behind, Gwen pivoted and received a powerful smash to her face. Reeling back, she lost her footing and fell back. As she did her bare hand lightly brushed – not even grazed – the face of the sphere.

She looked up with pure bile in her eyes at the slayer that had knocked her down. A small crackling sound began to echo through the truck. The sound grew and caught both the slayers' and Gwen's attention.

It was then Gwen realized that she had touched the sphere. She turned her head to the crate and the once dull face of the sphere started to glow. It's bronze exterior began to turn a shinning, rich gold. Grooves and indentations began to carve themselves into the sphere – each glowing a fiery orange hue – as the crackling sound reached a deafening pitch.

Gwen's eyes filled with utter dread.

"Oh shi –"

Fade Out.

End of Teaser

Act One

Starring: Lacey Chabert as Skye Talisker, Gale Harold as Jim Pollan, Caroline Dhavernas as Grace Hatherley, Elijah Wood as Jeffrey Lindquist, Laura Pyper as Casey, Rachel Hurt-Wood as Lorinda, Steffani Brass as Shannon Matthewson, Helen Shaver as Becca Giles, and Sarah Michelle Gellar as Buffy Summers

Guest Starring: Gary Oldman as Mr. Jason Felix, Robin Sachs as Ethan Rayne, Alexa Davalos as Gwen Raiden, Tracy-Ann Oberman as Cameron Kreswell, and Kyle Gallner as Camden Kreswell

Fade In: Int. B9 – Jason Felix's Office – Early Morning

"You – you wanted to see me, Jason?"

Jason Felix looked up from his stack of paperwork to see Camden Kreswell standing half-inside his door. He set his fountain pen down atop a stack of official looking papers and sat back in his chair.

"Ah, Cam, yes! Please come in," he smiled at the boy.

Cam gave a short and breathy snort – a little, nervous laugh – and nodded, entering the room and shutting the door behind him. "Cam, sit down," Felix motioned to an upholstered French provincial chair in front of his large desk. Cam awkwardly took a seat and blushed.

Felix chuckled at him. "You seem a bit flummoxed," he said gently. "Care for some tea?" He lifted a fine porcelain tea kettle and held it aloft.

Cam shook his head no.

Felix poured himself another cup of Roibos tea, adding two cubes of sugar with miniature sterling silver tongs.

Cam fidgeted in his seat. "J-Jason – I – I hope I haven't messed something up…"

Felix looked up quickly, but kindly. "Don't be silly, Cam. I asked you here because I'd like to speak with you, one on – man to man."

Cam bit his lower lip then set himself. "If it's about me being down in the tunnels the night that Ethan was attacked by that Raiden beast, I can assure you, it was not to disobey you, Jason, but to help Ethan because I – I just knew he might be in trouble…"

"Yes, yes, that's fine, Cam," Felix smiled at him. "You did well, to help Ethan out. In fact, that's the reason I've called you here, in a sense." Seeing Cam's confused look, Felix continued. "Your mother, she's always been an indispensable member of B9, you know. Loyal to a fault, thorough – perfectionist, even – and completely without motive other than providing full and forthright service to the organization and its philosophies. She's not someone I ever thought I could replace once she retires."

Camden nodded. "I – I guess I'm pretty proud of her…" he stammered, genuinely pleased. "I don't suppose you ever will find another like her."

"Ah. Yes, well, that's where we're both wrong. You see, Cam, I've had my eye on you ever since you graduated high school. Well, honestly, long before then. I've been noting how hard you try and how much you put yourself into a task, how much you persevere – until you've got it just right or taken it farther than anyone would have expected. You're very like your mother, that way. And by god, you're a bright boy for your age. It's a shame you chose not to pursue university."

"My grades were never that good."

"Neither were many powerful and influential people, when they were your age," Felix laughed. "The point is, Cam, that you can still pursue your education whenever you like. When you're ready to do so, you will."

Cam huffed at him. "Not without a job," he said frankly. "Mother doesn't make enough to send me to market, let alone school," he groused. "Oh! I – I – mother makes fine money, no offense!" "None taken."

"What I meant is that I – I'd need to pay my own way and – well, I – I don't make that much money myself, working as a research assistant."

"Exactly."

Cam looked blankly at Felix.

"What I'm saying, son, is this: I'd like you to work full time for B9. Starting right now."

Cam looked away.

"Why do you hesitate?"

"J-Jason I – it's not that I don't want full time work, but…research is so very – it's rather tedious. It – it's all very – that is it doesn't excite – I mean it's – to do it longer hours is –"

"Now what on earth would make you think I want you to research all day long? I've got professional researchers to do that. But isn't it interesting? All this time – two years – I've paid you to do research part time for B9. And for two years, your work has been utterly excellent, putting some of my full-timers to shame. You're always thorough and accurate. Your findings are complete and tersely presented. Never any fat and never too lean. And to see you at work, one would never know that you find it tedious. In fact, I'm a bit surprised to hear you say it now. And also quite pleased."

Cam looked up completely lost.

"I'm pleased to know that pulling you off research may agree with you. Cam – I want you to work for B9 full time but in a very special capacity. There will be some research, to be sure, but I think I can assure you that your work will be rather varied and infinitely more interesting than anything you've done to date. With me so far?"

Cam nodded as Felix took a sip of tea.

"I'd like to offer you the job of full time assistant…"

Cam blinked at him.

"…to Ethan Rayne."

There was silence in the office as Cam sat, lips slightly parted and breathing shallowly.

"You would be paid a full assistant's salary including benefits – at the third level. You've worked here for two years and I don't see the need to start you at rock bottom. I am giving you a challenge with a third level position, but I think you can handle it. Do you?" Felix smiled at Cam, his eyes twinkling at the boy's shocked look.

"But…but that would mean I'd be earning more than mother does at her –"

"Your mother is a wonderful employee, Cam. But she's a secretary. She's not got your creative mind. That you inherited from your father. But…if you think it'll be a problem for you to earn more than your mother, I can always lower your pay and raise hers…"

Cam blinked at Felix, who stood smiling playfully at him. Cam thought for a moment and answered, "Well, maybe you could pay me as a third level assistant…and raise mother's wages…"

Felix laughed heartily. "And so I may! Then you'll take the job?"

"Y-yes! I – I – thank you – I –"

"You're quite welcome, Cam, but honestly, you've earned it. As for your mother, she's earned a bit more in her pocketbook as well."

"You'd really do that?"

"Is there any reason I shouldn't?"

Cam just shook his head, grinning broadly.

Felix grinned back. "So, it's settled. But please listen – you will be Ethan's assistant, but you'll also be a liaison between him and me. Do you understand? You will let me know how things are progressing with his work and your work for him and you will be a – a bridge between us. So you'll be kept quite busy going back and forth as well as doing whatever Ethan needs you to do. Is that agreeable?"

"Yes! Yes, that's – that's great!"

"Good. Shall we 'seal the deal'?" He held his hand out to Camden. The boy looked at him blankly, then suddenly smiled and shook Felix's hand.

"Now then, go off to Mrs. Saunders. She's got some paperwork for you to fill out. You can take the afternoon off to sort things out and prepare for the first of many busy and productive days." "Jason…I – thank you. I – I –"

"Please, Cam, don't be so serious. You're a bright, young man with a very promising future. I want to see that future fully realized. Anything I can do to help you achieve it – I'm more than happy to do." Then with a softer tone Felix added, "You're like a second son to me, Cam. That's no small thing."

Cam blinked and blushed. Felix smiled easily at him. "I'd best be going," Cam said. "Shall I report to Ethan tomorrow morning?"

"No. Come here first. I'll have some information for you to deliver to him. And come to me at the end of the day. That's how it will be for awhile – reporting to me at the start and end of each day and anytime I call in between. All other times, you will be in the service and presence of Ethan Rayne. Alright?"

"Yes sir."

"Good," Felix said, pleased. "Well…off with you…"

Cam got up awkwardly, nearly tipping the chair over, blushed again and nodded, then quickly left the office.

Felix chuckled as he sat back down to work.

Cut to: Int. B9 – Kreswell Apartment – A few minutes later

Ethan Rayne sat nursing a hangover in the living room of the Kreswell apartment. He squinted his eyes shut as Cameron Kreswell approached with a glass of water and two aspirin.

"If I thought you were going to take up drinking in place of doing magic, I'd have –" Cameron stopped in mid-sentence, her mouth twisted in a half-frown.

Ethan opened one eye a crack and looked at her. She was beautiful in her yellow silk bathrobe, her hair tumbling in a tangled mess about her shoulders and her mouth in that twisted frown he found so amusing. He grinned at her, though it looked more like a grimace through the pain of a throbbing headache.

"You'd have what?" he prompted, hoarsely.

Her expression softened suddenly and she smiled. "I'd have still asked you to give up magic." Ethan crinkled his nose in pain as she handed him the aspirin and the water glass. He downed the two pills and made a face at the bland taste of the water.

The door to the apartment swung open and thumped against the wall. "Ethan! Mother! Ethan! Ethan!" Camden rushed excitedly into the room.

Ethan groaned at the boisterous entrance.

"Cam!" his mother admonished. "Ethan has a bad headache."

"Headache?" Cam asked with a grin. "Here, let me make you more comfortable!" He quickly reached down and in one smooth move had reached behind Ethan's ankles, pulling the mage's legs up and with his own right foot, pushed the hassock underneath Ethan's feet. He lowered them onto the tufted surface.

"Anything else I can do for you, boss?" he asked, grinning even more widely than before.

"What in bloody blazes has gotten into you?" Ethan croaked out.

"Not what's gotten in me, but what I've been put into!" Cam replied happily.

"Camden!" Cameron Kreswell half-laughed at her son. "Please tell us what you're going on about."

Camden took a breath and opened his mouth. His mother folded her arms in front of her. "The point, Cam," she said.

Camden held for moment then hugged her, kissed her cheek, and held her at arms length. "Thanks, Mum. Thanks for – for everything!" He turned quickly to a pained and perplexed Ethan. "I wouldn't have stood a chance if it weren't for her, you know. She's made it all possible. And just by being –"

"Cam! Out with it. What's going on!" Cameron demanded.

"Well, Mother…Ethan…you are now both looking at the newest full-time employee of B9!"

"Full-time? You're working full-time now? Well, Cam that's wonder –"

"Not just full time. Full time and…a full assistant."

"What?" Cameron said softly, a smile spreading across her face.

"At the third level."

Cameron's mouth dropped open and she let out a delighted gasp. "And full benefits," Cam finished, beaming.

"Mmmmm…well-well," Ethan said. "Well done. Congratulations. Whose the lucky person gleaning the fruits of your labor?"

Cam turned back around, slowly, his smile and expression turning slightly serious. "You."

Ethan stared back at the boy and then shot a quick glance at Cameron.

"Oh Ethan, why do you always look at Mother whenever I say something you don't know how to react to? And why don't you know how to react?" Cam said, petulantly. "One would think you'd be – at least a little pleased."

"Camden," his mother called quietly.

"I am pleased," Ethan said, smiling. "In fact, I couldn't be more pleased. I've been in need of someone to fully assist me and I've been asking for someone for a number of weeks. I have to say, it's more than worth the wait."

Camden frowned dubiously at Ethan. "Then why do you look like it hurts?"

Ethan rolled his eyes.

"Cam, I told you Ethan isn't feeling well. He's got a bad headache."

"Well…here then, maybe this will help." Camden sat down on the couch beside Ethan, reached around and began to knead the tops of his shoulders.

"Y-yes, well…" Ethan said, moving as quickly as the headache pain would allow him. He stood, stiffly, his hand to his forehead. "I think I'll just go and take a nice hot shower and put on some clean clothes."

Cam looked stricken, but said nothing. He watched as Ethan nodded at Cameron. "Missus," Ethan acknowledged her before he walked out of the living room and into the bathroom.

Camden sat, crestfallen, on the couch. Cameron sat down beside him. "Cam," she began gently. "You – I know you think you're doing something nice for Ethan when you – do that sort of thing. But…a thing that isn't wanted by the other person –" "Mother," Camden cut her off. "It's wonderful news, isn't it?" His tone seemed happy, but his face was angry. "The new position I've earned…" he said, immediately smiling at her. "Isn't it wonderful?" he prodded.

Cameron Kreswell caught her breath at her son's ability to change his expression so suddenly. But she could still see the anger in his eyes.

"Yes, Camden. It's…"

"I'm to be the liaison between Jason and Ethan…"

Cut to: Int. Kreswell Apartment – Bathroom – Same time

Ethan stopped just as he touched the faucet to run the bath. He squinted on the word 'liaison' and listened more intently to Camden's conversation with Cameron in the living room. As the boy went on, Ethan walked to the bathroom door and opened it slightly. Camden's voice carried more strongly as he told his mother the particulars of his new role.

Ethan listened until he had heard enough, then shut the door quietly. His headache all but forgotten, he closed his mouth tightly and squinted at nothing as he considered Camden's new assignment. "Bloody hell…" he breathed softly.

Ethan's cell phone began to vibrate on the nightstand in the guestroom. Then its ring tone started to chirp sharply, drowning out the conversation in the living room.

With a grudging sigh, Ethan came out of the bathroom, undressed and shivering slightly. He picked up the cell phone, his annoyance vanishing when he saw the number on the display.

"Gwen," he said quietly.

"Ethan, I…"Gwen answered anxiously.

"…what, what is it? Are you alright? What happened?"

"No Ethan, I'm not alright."

"…ar-are you hurt? Where are you?"

Cut to: Int. Warehouse – Same Time Gwen leaned back against the brick wall, looking up at the cobweb-riddled ceiling. She took a deep breath before speaking again.. "No I'm not hurt. Nothing broken– couple of cuts, mostly bruises. I'm in some crusty old warehouse down on the docks."

"Gwen, what happened?"

"Slayers are what happened."

Cut to: Int. Kreswell Apartment – Bedroom – Same Time

"Slayers? They weren't on the security detail manifest."

"Well they manifested themselves outta the jeeps."

"That can only mean…"

"Yeah…"

Cut to: Int. Warehouse – Same Time

"…that Felix really is a cautious man. Granted I'm not a slayer, but I gave as good as I got. Liked to think I gave a little more, but my Rudolph-esque nose says otherwise."

"But I don't understand. If there had been an amendment to the manifest, then it would have been on the server; and I checked, there wasn't."

"Not looking to place blame, Ethan; we've got bigger things to worry about than that."

"What do you mean? Don't tell me Jason's 'err on the side of caution' extended to the convoy being a decoy."

Gwen sighed, "The convoy was transporting the sphere. I saw it, but…"

"Gwen?"

"I got hit. I fell and I…my hand was uncovered 'cus I had to fry the locks…"

Cut to: Int. Kreswell Apartment – Bedroom – Same Time

"…I accidentally touched it." Ethan closed his eyes, his headache getting worse again.

"Touch isn't even the right word," Gwen continued. "It was more like a brush…a-a…I don't know."

Cut to: Int. Warehouse – Same Time

"It started to change."

"Change how?"

"The sphere started to glow and the bronze started to turn gold. And there were these markings that started to appear on the sphere's face. I couldn't make out what they were. Then there was this really loud crackling sound."

Cut to: Int. Kreswell Apartment – Bedroom – Same Time

"Have you got it with you?"

There was a momentary silence.

"No. I went to grab it but those bitches started to shoot at me again. I only just managed to escape by melting the truck's side door. Then I just started running…" her voice trailed off.

"The main thing is that you're safe."

"No Ethan, the main thing is that I royally screwed up."

"It was an accident."

"I should have grabbed it."

"Marvelous idea, and gotten shot in the process. What good would that have done?" he snapped back. "I'm sorry; I shouldn't have raised my voice."

"You really are a sweet man." Ethan grinned, but it turned into a grimace from the stabbing headache. "I'll try and find out where they're keeping the sphere," he told her. "I'll try and nab it."

"No you won't. This is my mess, and I'm going to make things right. I'm big enough to know when to admit I need help."

"Then let me help by trying to get the sphere."

"Bureau Nine's security is going to be heightened more than ever now, and we can't risk them getting suspicious of you. I've got an idea. I'll get back to you."

"Gw-"

Cut to: Int. Warehouse – Same Time

"-en. Stay safe."

She smiled. "You too," she ended the call.

Cut to: Int. Kreswell Apartment – Bedroom Same Time

Ethan shut his cell phone and placed it back down on the bedside table, then sulked back into the bathroom.

Fade Out

Fade In: Int. Mr. Felix's Office – A little while later

"So I take it everything went to plan?" Dianna asked, looking across the glass-topped desk as she put her cup of tea down on it.

Jason Felix sat back in his chair, his hands clasped as though in prayer, fingertips resting under his nose. "No not exactly," he replied "There was one fatality; massive electrical trauma; she was dead the moment Miss. Raiden laid a hand on her."

"And what of Miss. Raiden?"

"She escaped. Melted a hole through the truck and ran." "Well that's a shame. I would have very much liked to have talked to her again."

"Me too."

"I must say I'm surprised by what you told me of Ethan's new allegiance. Granted we're not chaos worshipping – or indeed working towards chaos – but perhaps he's had a change of heart about the outcome of Project Roland," she arched a brow and sighed.

"Perhaps; and though I'm not in the game of exploiting people as a means to an end, under the circumstances and considering how near we are to our goal, I believe that in this case exploitation might prove useful if not essential."

"I'm right with you there. So we continue the charade and make him believe everything's cushty."

"Cushty?" Felix asked with a smirk.

"Means alright in Cockney," she replied with a giggle.

"Yes," he continued, "of course we keep tabs and limit his access without him becoming suspicious."

"I don't think that'll be a problem. I've known Ethan a long while and he's a shadow of the man I once knew. Again, advantage to us."

"Indeed."

"Anyway, we got want we wanted then?" Dianna said, picking up her cup and taking a sip.

Mr. Felix slowly nodded. "Yes, I suppose."

Cut to: Int. Bureau Nine Hallway – Continuous

Ethan walked up the stairs into the corridor heading for the employee lounge. He stopped and turned his head towards Mr. Felix's office. He could see Felix speaking with another person through the wrap-around glass wall. The faintest sound of the conversation floated out to him from the room. Quietly, he crept towards the door and stood just alongside it, listening intently.

Cut to: Int. Mr. Felix's Office – Continuous Dianna looked at Felix endearingly and put her cup down. "Jason, we knew that there would be casualties. It's gravely unfortunate, but the point of fact is that a goal – our goal – cannot be reached without sacrifices. The slayer knew that her life would be on the line, and fought valiantly. She did her best. No one can ever ask more than that."

Ethan frowned on the word 'slayer,' the only word he could be sure he heard. He inclined his head closer to the edge of the doorway.

"Her name was Sophie," Felix said, glancing up with a bleak smile at Dianna. He sat forward. "And you're right, she did her best. She was a wonderful person, and I'm fortunate to have known her. Her sacrifice was not in vain. Because of her, a split second window of opportunity arose, and it enabled Louise to get the better of Miss Raiden, and caused the sphere to be activated."

"Yes. I haven't had a chance to see the sphere yet."

Outside the office door, Ethan stiffened as he heard what he thought sounded like Gwen's last name.

"You'll have all the time in the world," Felix told her. Dianna frowned. "I'm assigning you to investigate the activated sphere."

"Thank you," she said sincerely.

"I trust you implicitly, and besides, you're the best Watcher for the job…"

Cut to: Int. Bureau Nine Hallway – Continuous

Ethan blinked on the word 'watcher.' He held still and raised his hand as though about to cast a charm. But he frowned and lowered it again.

Cut to: Int. Mr. Felix's Office – Continuous

"…the sphere is a map, that much we know, but as to where it leads?" he trailed off and raised his hands in the air.

"Don't worry, I'll find out where it leads too. From what research I have done already, the map is encoded with no recognizable cipher."

"I agree. There are marking on its face, and its chemical property has changed from bronze to gold." "Some sort of alchemical reaction? Umm…I'll look into it, but I can't think of any reason why its color change would be significant in deciphering the map. Though, perhaps there's some unique property in the gold indigenous to a particular region?"

A smiled widened on Felix's face. "That's why I chose you."

"Not like you need another pretty face around here," Dianna chuckled. "Let me get another cup of tea and I'll get onto it."

"Thank you. I'll have Mr. Murray bring the sphere up to your office along with the Codex. I know I don't have to tell you Dianna, but you've got free reign over this. Anything you need; some obscure text from the end of the Earth; you've got it and you don't need my permission, you just run with it."

She smiled again. "Thank you."

"We're nearly there. Everything is coming to a head and down to the wire. One battle at a time as you say," Felix grinned.

Cut to: Int. Bureau Nine Hallway – Continuous

Ethan realized, almost too late, that the conversation in Felix's office was ending. He quickly stepped away from the door and moved swiftly down the corridor. He ducked into a cut-out doorway leading to the small employee lounge. No one was in the lounge and as he heard Felix open the office door, he quickly ducked inside and scooted into an open, U-shaped pantry space.

"Yes," Felix's voice sounded as he and Dianna approached the lounge. "Please let me know of your progress as soon as you've got it. Oh and do let me know how the opera is. I'd love to take you up on your invitation, but – this man's work is never quite done…"

"No, and this woman's work is only just beginning," Dianna and Felix's laughter carried into the lounge.

Ethan held his breath. Felix was standing right in the lounge entrance. He heard Felix bid Dianna goodbye and then Felix entered the lounge. Ethan watched from where he stood, sideways, in the pantry as Felix, porcelain tea kettle in hand, began to make himself a fresh brew. Felix hummed as he filled the porcelain kettle and set it on the stove, opened an overhead cabinet and rummaged for a tea that suited him, and then switched to a tuneless whistle while he waited for the water to boil. He moved to the table and leafed through a day-old newspaper laying across it, walked to the window and peered out at the bright mid- morning, and, still whistling, turned in Ethan's direction.

Ethan sidled away and backed up against the shelves in the little alcove as much as he could, holding his breath. He began to raise his hand, ready to throw a glamour over himself – then stopped. Felix moved forward, passing by the pantry, neither seeing nor sensing Ethan. He continued to whistle, and as he reached the stove, the kettle joined him with it's own shrill, steam-powered whistle.

Felix lifted the kettle and the tea he'd selected, then quickly exited the lounge and walked back to his office. Ethan heard his footfalls fade; heard the office door open, and then close. He let his breath out.

Then he lowered his hand.

Fade Out

Fade In: Int. B9 Headquarters – Kreswell Apartment – A short time later

Cameron Kreswell was busily typing a report on her laptop computer when Ethan entered the apartment. The welcoming smell of apples and cinnamon hit him head on as soon as he had opened the door and the warmth of the apartment, aglow with curtain-filtered sunlight, made his muscles immediately relax. He stood quietly for a long moment, drinking in the warmth, the smell and the staccato sound of Cameron's efficient typing.

"Are you going to stand there until lunch then?" she asked, her eyes fixed on her work, her fingers not missing a keystroke.

Ethan closed the door behind him and frowned as he made his way to the dining table. He took a seat along the right side of it, and stared seriously at Cameron as she continued to type.

"Even when you work at home," he said quietly, "you're dressed for success."

Cameron suddenly stopped typing, sat back and put her hand to her neatly pinned hair. She looked down at her outfit – the business-blue skirt and pinstriped blazer and a plain, button down blouse with a simple lace collar clasped with a cameo broach. She smiled a bit and so did Ethan as he leaned over to his left to look down at her legs and her shoes.

"Stockings and pumps," he noted. Her smiled widened and she began to chuckle. "Well," she said, "it's what the well- dressed mother of the newly promoted prodigy wears these days."

"Ah yes…the boy wonder. Where is Cam anyway? I thought he was supposed to be working for me."

"He's gone to Personnel to take care of some paperwork."

Ethan raised an eyebrow. "I see…And he'll be gone how long…?"

Cameron turned her head aside, and smiled knowingly at him. "Not long enough," she cautioned him.

"Blast."

"Quite."

They sat for a moment, each lost in thought and enjoying a quiet moment together. Ethan's smile faded slowly. "C.K…"

"Hmm?"

"How well do you know Jason Felix?"

"How well? I suppose I know him about as well as I know anyone."

"How do you mean?"

Cameron shrugged. "Ethan, the man saved me and Cam from complete and utter financial ruin. You see, when Robert died – especially the way he died – B9 was very reluctant to have anything more to do with me and Cam. Oh, no one said as much. Everyone was quite nice and sympathetic and – even supportive on the surface. But due to Robert's fast play with magic or sorcerers or…well, we never did find out who or what ultimately caused his death…Cam and I found ourselves suddenly apart from the B9 family."

"The B9 family…"

"Ethan, you've seen how everyone here works together and – and supports one another. Like a family. Why do you think so many of us have families and live here with them? Our children attend the same classes and functions. Our friends are our co-workers. You've been here quite long enough to know that everyone cares about and helps everyone else regardless of whether there's work issues or life iss –"

"And that doesn't bother you?"

"Why would it bother me?" "Sounds a bit like a cult," Ethan replied.

"Ethan," she sighed. "B9 is all that Cam and I have known since – Actually, Cam's known it all his life. And I was introduced to it when I first met Robert. And that was… twenty-fi – no…no…must be twenty…eight…years ago. The point is, that Cam and I nearly lost our 'family' when Robert had his 'indiscretion.' "

"You can't be serious."

"I am! You'd have thought that they'd have realized Cam and I weren't involved –"

"Bloody hell! You're calling what he did an 'indiscretion?' That's sort of like calling a pregnant woman fat."

"Ethan, Robert was a foolish man. He never took to Cam and that has caused both Cam and I more grief than you can imagine. And he experimented with magic to such a degree that it – or someone who wielded it – killed him. But it also nearly killed Cam's and my relation with B9. If Jason Felix had not stepped up and spoken for us, we'd have been out the door and in the streets."

"I see. A humanitarian organization. But I seriously doubt you'd have been street urchins, Cee. Your secretarial skills are legend –"

"I had none when Robert died. I was rather unskilled. My resume was…lacking, shall we say."

"So Jason Felix spoke up for you – stood up for you – and got the B9 family to rally round you, eh?"

"No. Not at first. At first, everyone except Jason was scared. Scared that whatever Robert was involved in, I was also involved in. Cam was just a little boy, but even he came under scrutiny. Finally, Jason suggested that he be allowed to take me into his employ and that if anything happened, he would bear the full responsibility for it. It was not an easy thing to convince the others. But he did. He began showing me how to do the simplest of tasks. And patiently, too. When the months went by and nothing unseemly happened, Jason eventually was able to advocate for my being sent to a proper secretarial school through B9's worker development program. It took a little doing, but he got them to agree. They paid my way and I went for one and a half years, received a certificate and learned –"

"How to type and talk at the same time."

"What cheek," Cameron smiled. "So, Jason Felix saved your life," Ethan said, dourly.

Cameron laughed. "You're jealous."

"I'm worried. Cee…just what do you know about B9's interests?"

"Probably less than you do, Ethan. You see, one of the terms of B9's agreeing to let Jason hire me was that he tell me only as much as I needed to know in order to complete my tasks. Jason lived by that decision. And I never put him in any position to defy it. I suppose no one would give it a second thought today, if he suddenly told me all of B9's deepest secrets and plans. But we're both comfortable, he and I, with my knowing only what I need know. It's become habit. And it makes for a professional work relationship. You probably do know much more than I do. And Cam certainly does."

"But you must know what their overall plans are or what they –"

"Ethan…I don't know what it is you're fishing for, but I can tell you that, with the exception of being a bit more than leery of all things magical, B9's interests and activities have always been above board. And no one – not one single person I have known here in twenty-eight years – is as fine a person as Jason."

"Well, now I am jealous. And insulted."

Cameron smiled at him. "Now it's my turn. Why are you asking me all this?"

Ethan stared at her hard for a long moment. Finally he sighed. "No…I don't want to burst your happy little bubble."

"Ethan?" Cameron said, worriedly. "Ethan what's wrong?"

Cut to: Int. Infirmary – Watchers Council – Same time

Lorinda was lying in bed in the infirmary, idly flipping through the pages of a paperback book with a yellow cover. The title was emblazoned on the front in bold, cartoonish letters: The Supernatural for Dummies.

She glanced up when Shannon rapped her knuckles on the wall next to the door. She was carrying a bulging blue plastic bag. "Hey!" Shannon said brightly.

Lorinda forced a smile. "Hey."

"How ya feeling?" Shannon asked, as she sat down in a chair next to Lorinda's bed.

"Bored out of my mind," Lorinda groused. "I tried to tell them I was fine, slayer healing, y'know, but they're keeping me here for 'observation.'" She made an air quote with her left hand on the final word. "All I have is this crappy reference book Jeff left me…you don't think he's trying to tell me something, do you?"

"Well, maybe I can help," Shannon said. She rummaged through her plastic bag and pulled out more books. "I, um, I didn't know what you liked, so I pretty much brought a bunch of different stuff."

She handed the stack to Lorinda. There was a "Choose Your Own Adventure" book, a Nancy Drew mystery, a vaguely trashy looking romance novel, and several others.

Lorinda looked from the books back to her visitor. "Shannon…why are you doing this?"

Shannon hesitated, then shrugged. "Dunno. Just trying to be nice I guess."

Lorinda picked up one of the books and looked at it. She looked away from Shannon at the fluorescent lights in the ceiling, trying to put something into words. "But…but…I've never been nice to you. I've made fun of you, beaten you up…I don't even know why I did it, y'know? I just…never did anything else."

Shannon didn't say anything for a few seconds. She sat back in her chair and crossed her legs.

"Do you feel bad about it? I mean…all the stuff you did?"

"I never did before…" Lorinda trailed off, then turned to look at Shannon. "But I think maybe I do now. It doesn't make sense."

You could almost see the lightbulb go off over Shannon's head. She sat forward eagerly, her elbows resting on her knees. "What if…what if it's like, getting shot, right, it gave you this whole new, like, perspective on stuff. Like you needed to almost die to figure out how to get your life straight?"

Lorinda thought about this. "Maybe."

"Well," Shannon said, "if you feel bad about it, maybe I should just forgive you, and then it can be like we're starting over, like, from the beginning." Lorinda nodded brightly. "Okay." She looked down at the books spread out on the blanket and picked up the Nancy Drew. "I like mysteries. I'm pretty good at figuring them out, too."

Shannon smiled. "Mysteries. I'll remember."

Cut to: Int. B9 Headquarters – Kreswell Apartment – Same time

"Ethan, I – I don't know what to say."

"Oh, well…that's helpful."

"Well what do you expect me to say? I told you I've never known Jason to do anything untoward or – Ethan what do you expect from me?"

"I – I don't expect anything. I just thought – I don't know…C.K., what would you do? If you were me? What would you do with – with what you now know?"

Cameron Kreswell sighed heavily and looked toward the curtained windows. The small apartment suddenly seemed stuffy and close. "I can't say what I'd do if I were you, Ethan. Only you can determine that. But I might try thinking about it hard for a while, before I did anything at all."

Ethan gave Cameron a long look, then silently rose and walked off into the hallway and to the guest bedroom, silently shutting the door behind him.

Fade Out

Fade In: Int. The Watchers Council Headquarters – Next Morning

The day began bitterly cold in Cleveland. The morning sun hung, a pale-yellow in the gray-white sky.

A taxi pulled up in front of the Cleveland Watchers Council and a man paid the driver and got out. The hem of his long overcoat moved in graceful counterpoint to his steady strides as neared the main entrance. He entered the building, glancing up at the place where he knew the security camera would be, and smirked.

The day receptionist set her coffee mug down beside her half-eaten blueberry muffin and looked hard at Ethan as he entered the building. She recognized his face from the dossier of photos she had had to commit to memory. "Good morning, Mr. Rayne." Ethan stopped in front of her.

"How can I help you today?" she smiled, as she touched a green button just below her desk.

"You can start by calling Ms. Rowena Allister or Ms. Willow Rosenberg to the front – if you haven't already," he answered, mirroring her smile.

"And this is regarding…"

"I really don't know," he told her.

Something in his look caused her smile to fade. "Yes, sir," she said as an internal phone line buzzed. She picked up the receiver. "Yes, Ms. Allister. It's Ethan Rayne to see you and Ms. Rosenberg...No, ma'am...Okay, I'll tell him." She hung up and motioned toward the waiting area. "Please have a seat, Mr. Rayne. Can I get you something to drink? Coffee, tea? Mineral water?"

He waved her off and took a seat in the waiting area, crossing his legs and frowning doubtfully.

"Oh my god," Casey said to another slayer cutting through the main lobby on their way to class. "Do you know who that is?"

"No," the girl answered. "Who –"

"C'mon!" Casey broke into a gleeful trot.

"Case! Wait up! Where are you going?"

"Hurry up, will ya? I gotta tell Shannon," Casey grinned wickedly. "This is gonna be good!"

Fade Out.

End of Act One

Act Two Fade In: Int. Watchers Council – Waiting Area – Late Morning

"Ethan Rayne."

Ethan turned his head minutely at the sound of his name spoken quietly from behind him.

"Well, well. The Little Blue Slay –"

"Why are you here?" The voice was clearly that of young Shannon Matthewson, but it seemed coldly adult to him as it cut him off – even more quietly than before.

Ethan slowly smirked, his senses on alert, as he waited for the slayer to move against him. "I have a message for Rowena and Willow," he answered casually.

There was no sound for a few seconds and then he heard Shannon walk slowly and softly from behind. He saw her rounding him out of the corner of his right eye. She turned and faced him. He crossed his legs and leaned back against the cushioned seat, then took an expensive, matching filigreed cigarette case and lighter from his inner coat pocket. He brought a cigarette to his lips, still smirking, as Shannon stared back, her face virtually unreadable.

Shannon watched Ethan smoothly put the cigarette to his lips, bring the lighter up and flick the top open. The flame rose high, then lowered, blue-white and causing the high- polished platinum to shimmer. He was just about to touch the flame to the cigarette.

"There's no smoking in here," her voice was calm, without anger. From somewhere not far away, the sound of girlish twittering reached them both. Neither of them looked in the direction of the sound.

Ethan chuckled quietly and closed the lighter. He removed the cigarette from his lips and began to put it back into the case. "If one didn't know better," he baited, "one would never know how angry you are with me."

Shannon stared back, still calm.

"You hide it quite well – for anyone, actually, not just a slayer. But it's still merely hidden isn't it? Underneath that quiet, calm and collected exterior, you're really seething inside, aren't you? Wondering whether or not you should take this golden opportunity life has handed you and pummel me with complete abandon." He punctuated his comment with a tight-mouthed smile.

"You're scared of me."

Ethan's smile froze and he blinked. Only once; but Shannon saw it and the flicker of surprise in his eyes. Again, there was the sound of girls giggling and Shannon quickly glanced past Ethan. Several slayers, tipped off by Casey, had gathered, half-hidden from view, to witness this confrontation between her and Ethan.

Shannon suddenly relaxed and allowed her own face to show some emotion. Her brows knit angrily and her mouth turned down in a pouting frown.

"Why did you do it?" she asked. "Everyone told me – they warned me – not to get friendly with you. They said you can't be trusted. I told them later it was only because of the dog. And they never said anything else about it again."

She stopped and turned away, blinking rapidly.

"But it was more than just Old Dog Rupert, wasn't it?" Ethan asked, his voice suddenly gentle. Shannon turned her head sharply toward him. The smirk was gone and the mocking look in his eyes was now replaced by something old and knowing and almost kind. "You needed a friend – a friend who was not your age, not a slayer, and not a watcher or a guardian."

"I had plenty of friends. And I still do. And a lot of them are just regular people."

"Like the slayer's son, yes. But you needed someone who wielded a bit of power as well, because you had none of your own. And your slayer strength couldn't help. You needed someone with –"

"I know witches and sorcerers –"

"– powers of a more intangible sort. Adult powers, powers to scoff at the other adults and to put the other children in their proper places. You needed –" he grinned amusedly, "your mother."

"Go ahead," she told him, the coldness creeping back into her voice. "Make fun of me."

"I'm not making fun," he said, quietly. "In the infirmary. We were both recovering. You spoke to me. You made a conscious choice then. And the choice was not for mummy, nor even daddy. You chose me." Ethan watched her face cloud in confusion as she considered his words. "And I, for one, was glad that you did," he said truthfully.

"I'll bet you were!" she shot back. "You got away clean with – my grandfather left that card to me! He left it to me because he wanted me to have something worth a lot. Because he wanted me to have something that I could use for – for like college tuition and stuff! Because he wanted me to have a good life and –"

Ethan rolled his eyes. "Oh come now, do you think your grandfather really knew the actual value of that card? Do you think if he'd had any idea at all what it might be worth, he'd have kept it in a – a – what was it then…a cigar box? Cheap cigars, I'll wager…"

"My grandfather knew everything! My grandfather –"

"Your grandfather was a dirt-farmer's son who went off to war, saw the world and decided he'd be better off as a backwoods dirt-farmer! Maybe he did know the card was worth something. But I can't believe he actually made it his business to find out how much. Nor that he even had any interest in finding out. I think it was just a beloved trinket to him, or he would have had a crate full of baseball cards or some other legitimate collectible that would have afforded him the chance to improve his own lot as well as that of his children and grandchildren. Your grandfather was a fool or an idiot. Most likely both."

Shannon glared at Ethan. "Take it back!" she hissed. "Take it back or I'll –"

A couple of the girls in the small group of slayers began to move into the open, ready to take the sorcerer on to protect Shannon.

"It's tragic that you lost the financial gain that card would have brought you," Ethan cut Shannon off. "But the real worth of that card was not monetary. Your grandfather left you that card probably without knowing its market value, but knowing the full value it would carry in your heart…"

Shannon blinked and breathed hard, looking as if she was deciding whether or not to lunge at Ethan.

"…because it came from him. He was the one person in your family you felt truly loved you, unconditionally. And I suppose that's because it was quite true. Now let's say, for a moment, that I did the job. The card would have remained with me. It was payment, after all. I never take payment for a job I don't –"

Shannon growled at him and balled her hands into fists. Ethan raised his hands up in a calm-down gesture.

"I never take payment for an unfinished job. But I never refuse or give payment back for work I have done. So don't go thinking I'd have been soft and gooey and given you your card back. I'd have exchanged it for a lovely sum right away. But I didn't do the job. And so I did return your card. I left that, and a note, with your Watcher, Dawn Summers. Somehow, you got the message, but not the one I intended because the one thing critical to understanding that message went missing."

"Dawn would never steal –"

"I'm not saying she did! Good lord, do you slayers learn English in school? Of course she didn't steal it. But something happened to it between my handing the envelope to Dawn and you receiving it. And it happened without Dawn's knowledge. She would have told you right off if something happened to the card. Call it that damn upstanding trait of Summers women."

Shannon looked at him scornfully. "You're just trying to throw me off the trail."

"I'm trying to tell you the truth," Ethan said quietly.

Rowena came around the corner and the slayers that had gathered there began to disperse slowly as she stood listening to Ethan and Shannon's exchange.

"I didn't take your card, Shannon." Ethan looked deeply into her blue eyes and smiled faintly. "I – I wish I had, honestly. Because if I had, I could retrieve it, if not by magic then by coercion – or even just by buying it back, I suppose – and then exact payment some other way."

Shannon stared open-mouthed at him for a long moment. Suddenly, she huffed at him and smirked. "You're real good," she said, sarcastically. "You almost had me for a minute." She watched as Ethan's smile faded. His face looked instantly sad and old.

"You're –" Shannon stood defiantly, searching Ethan's face, holding his stare with an unblinking and unwavering one of her own. Slowly, her own face began to soften and she seemed less certain of herself. "You're…you're really telling the truth…" she said, not willing to believe her own words.

Ethan held his hands apart. "You have no reason to believe me, and every reason not to," he said. "So I guess you're once more faced with a choice about me. And about what you'll do to me if you choose to believe that I'm lying."

Shannon looked hard at him. "I – maybe I do believe you," she said finally, surprised at herself.

"Oh blessed day. No beating."

"I wouldn't beat you," she told him, sourly. "Even if it turns out you are lying." "Oh? Well, now I guess it's my turn to believe you. Odd though, a slayer who won't resort to a good thrashing to drive her point home," he said a slight smile playing on his lips.

Shannon looked earnestly at him. He was smiling at her, amused by her discomfort and chagrin. She thought to give him a sharp reply, then suddenly, relaxed and let her expression soften.

"So…tell me, what has inspired you not to resort to your natural slayer instincts to fisticuffs?"

Shannon was thoughtful for a moment before answering. "Something a vampire told me," she said simply.

"Ethan Rayne," Rowena's voice carried to them. She stepped up to Ethan and Shannon. "You're here to see me."

"Yes," Ethan said rising. "You and the Little Red Witch."

Rowena stared hard at him for a moment. "Alright. This way, please." She motioned him down the corridor. He cast a quick look at Shannon, who stared balefully at him. Then he smiled slightly and began to walk in the direction indicated.

Rowena turned and smiled at Shannon. "I'm very proud of you," she said. "The way you just acted. But don't give him so much credit."

Shannon looked up at Rowena and smiled faintly. "I'll come with you, just in case he –"

"No," Rowena shook her off. "I'll be fine. Go on, your friends are worried about you…"

Shannon nodded and took off at a quick trot to catch up to the small group of slayers who still hovered nearby. Rowena stepped out quickly to catch up to the smirking mage.

Fade Out

Fade In: Int. B9 Headquarters – Jason Felix's Office – Same Time

"Ah, Cam, come in," Jason Felix smiled warmly. "How are you liking your new post?" he asked.

"I like it fine…" Cam smiled back good-naturedly. "Although I've only been on the job a couple of hours."

"And you're doing splendidly," Felix joked. "Ready for your first liaison?" Cameron nodded and Felix walked behind the desk, sat and pulled together several documents of varying lengths. Cam could see that they were peppered with notes in Felix's angular handwriting, all in red ink. Felix put the papers into an envelope, sealed it with tape and turned it over. The words "Eyes Only" were stamped across the envelope in ominous block letters. Felix wrote Ethan's name above them.

"Here you are," he told Cam, holding the folder out to him. Camden took it from him. "Ask Ethan to read those immediately and give me his opinion. I'd rather he write down what his thoughts are, so that I can refer to them at will."

"I'll tell him," Cam said. "But he's out at the moment and I'm not sure just when he'll be back."

"Oh? Out where?" Felix's good mood seemed to fade.

"Oh, he often goes for walks," Cam told him.

"I see. And…you don't know where these walks take him, by any chance? Do you?"

Cam blinked, suddenly unsure of what to say as he stood looking at Felix.

"Well, that is to say, if you know where he's gone that will give me some idea of when to expect his reply. Wouldn't it?"

Cam let his breath out. "Y-yes. Yes. It would. Well…I don't know specifically where he's gone but he often goes to the park by himself. He walks around a lot," Cam smiled, "with his hands in his coat pockets and frowns down at the walk or at the children playing. Sometimes he leans over the railing and stares down at the water, as though no one else in the world existed but hi –" Cam cut himself off as he noticed Felix's curious look. "I – uh…I've had to go and collect him sometimes," he explained. "For dinner. You know how mother is about being on time for dinner. I – I wasn't following him."

Felix's mouth twitched and he turned and looked out the window. "Of course not," he said jovially. "Ethan is a strange sort, isn't he…?"

"Ethan's not strange at all!" Cam said, too quickly. "I mean…he…uh, well…I don't think he's understood, is all I mean to say. Some people do things that are a bit off the mark on the face of it, but when you understand what they're about, they don't seem so strange at all."

"A bit 'off the mark'…?" Felix turned, smiling. "I don't understand. Ethan is a very sensible person. What has he done that is 'off the mark?' "

"I – uh…" Felix's intercom buzzed and a visitor to his office was announced. He didn't respond, but continued to smile at the stuttering boy. The intercom buzzed again.

"Well, we'll finish our chat some other time," he told Cam. "Take those and have Ethan look at them as soon as possible and bring them right back to me when he's done with them, no matter the hour. You can come to my apartment if it's that late. Just call ahead."

"Yes sir." Camden turned to leave.

"And Cam…"

The boy turned back around.

"Don't leave that envelope lying about. I don't want those papers to ever leave your sight. You're to stay with Ethan until he's done with them and then take them from him directly."

"I understand," Cam said.

"At this rate, you'll have a promotion by noon," Felix grinned. Cam grinned back at him, then turned and exited Felix's office, closing the door quietly behind him.

The intercom buzzed once more and Felix reached over and hit the button. "Yes, yes, send her up." He released the button and looked at the spot where Cam had stood.

Cut to: Int. Council Conference Room – Continuous

"You haven't told us anything," Willow said angrily. "And you have a hell of a nerve coming here and asking to speak to any of us anyway, especially me and Ro. I have the power to turn you into the rat you are Ethan. You do realize that, right? You do know know how much restraint I'm using at the moment."

"How was I to know Tyrell was working against you?!" Ethan countered. "He hired me to protect his boy and I did. I'm a mage my dear, not psychic."

"And had you known, would you still have taken the job?" Buffy asked.

"Well, I am a business man," Ethan conceded. "Or at least I was."

"You're really not helping your case here, Ethan," Willow replied.

"But I'm being truthful. Listen, I'm telling you all I know as accurately as I can. And you've a bit of cheek yourself for someone who's gone and tried to destroy the entire world! And it isn't my fault about your girlfriend and ex-girlfriend's near-demise. As I told you, I didn't have any idea that Rowena and that beastly slayer were running headlong into harm's way in Siber –"

"Enough!" Rowena said. "Look, maybe you are telling the truth –"

"Ha!" Buffy snorted.

"– but probably not," Rowena continued. "And so what? Even if you were telling the truth, you haven't really told us anything. 'Something's going to happen'…?" Rowena laughed and shook her head. "You give us a warning about nothing and expect us to jump up and run around preparing for – what?"

"You're not listening," Ethan hissed. "I'm telling you I don't know what. All I know is that B9 is up to something likely having serious ramifications for the entire –"

"Yeah, yeah, we get it, Grandpa," Faith said. "Apocalypse, death, destruction…and maybe a little chaos a la Ethan Rayne?" she said accusingly.

"It's nothing to do with me!" Ethan half-shouted.

"Oh yeah, like Ro and Ken being shot had nothing to do with you, either!" Willow spat.

"Will you please put your mind to the problem at hand!" Ethan snapped back at her. "The only organization capable of countering a group like B9 is the Council! The only organization capable of understanding what B9 does, or is about to do, is the Council!"

"And the only organization," Buffy interrupted, "keeping me from ripping you a new one is –"

"Oh! Oh! I know!" Faith bubbled. "The Council?"

Buffy flashed her a grin.

"Will everyone please shut up!" Rowena said sharply. "What's in this for you, Ethan? Playing the ends against the middle is a typical shill game for you. The stakes must be high and you must be raising them somehow."

"Bloody hell," Ethan said, resignedly. "I'll tell you once more and then I'm done!"

"You were done before you walked in here, but go ahead," Rowena replied.

"I work for B9 now. As a consultant."

"You said that already. We believe that part. It's the idea that a do-gooder organization like B9 would actually hire someone like you that's so incredible. Poor deluded souls." "And I'm privy to some highly confidential information," he continued, trying to ignore Rowena's comments. "But…"

"You overheard a conversation, blah-blah-blah…" Willow said. "But you can't tell us what they're supposedly planning or why it could be in any way harmful. In fact, you can't even tell us who was having the conversation with Jason Felix! All you know is you think something bad is going to happen. And you want to warn us. Why? What's in it for you, Ethan?"

"Survival, for one thing!"

Buffy laughed and Faith rolled her eyes. Even Willow smirked and shook her head. Rowena sat back and looked skeptically at Ethan.

Buffy spoke up, quietly. "Faith called it right," she said, smugly. "Grandpa. You are getting old. You're loosing your touch, Ethan. We're seeing right through you – not that we didn't always. But you're really not fooling anyone this time."

Willow frowned in thought. "Well… we could call Giles in, I suppose, and see what he thinks."

Ethan huffed out a rueful laugh. "What – as a litmus test? The human lie detector? I think not."

"So you admit you're lying," Rowena said, seriously.

"I'm not lying! I'm telling you the truth!"

"Then why are you afraid of Giles's presence?" Rowena asked.

Ethan looked at her sternly. "I'm not. Call the git if you like." He stood up abruptly, his chair scraping backwards. The entire group sat up, startled. "I'm not afraid of his presence nor anyone else's. Set up a meeting time with him if you like. But now, I'm quite finished," he said. He turned and strode to the door. He stopped, his hand poised to open it.

"Here it comes," Willow muttered to the group. "The dramatic exit line."

Ethan, back to the room, winced at the words. "Just make sure – before anything does happen – that you're all safe. I won't be able to help anyone once whatever it is occurs. And I don't doubt that you'll wish I could." Buffy looked at Willow. "You were right," she told the witch brightly.

"Nice call, Red," Faith grinned.

Ethan straightened stiffly, opened the door, and left the room.

Fade Out

Fade In: Int. Watchers Council – Skye's Room – Noon

Shannon and Skye were sitting on Skye's bed, cards in their hands and three piles of gourmet jelly-beans between them.

"And I told her what Ethan said about the card," Shannon was saying. "So she thought about it and said she was sure that she hadn't looked inside the envelope before she gave it to me because it was my personal business. But she didn't remember the envelope being sealed either. She thought maybe the card could've fallen out without her noticing. Then she said..."

Fade to Flashback:

"Shannon…" Dawn said. "I have an idea…why don't we go down to the dining hall and retrace my steps? Maybe…maybe we can figure out what might have happened. Or maybe I'll remember something. It may not bring your card back, but maybe it'll help us make more sense of the whole thing."

"Works for me," Shannon shrugged.

Cut to: Int. Flashback of Dawn and Shannon entering the dining hall

Shannon in voiceover:

"So we went down to re-trace Dawn's steps. Even though it isn't the same dining hall, we thought it was worth a shot. So we go down there and Dawn sits down at a table about the same place as when she was in the old dining hall. And she shows me where Ethan sat next to her and how he put the envelope on the table and told me exactly what he said and how, when he left, she was feeling really sick.

"It was early, it wasn't even lunch time yet, but she had a real bad cold and just wanted to go to bed. But first, she got up to get some tea. And she came back and drank her tea and then took the envelope and went straight to her apartment. We even walked in the hallways the way she would have gone in the old building.

"The only thing we could think of was that the card must have fallen out of the envelope on her way to the apartment. Maybe someone found it, but I don't think anyone would have kept it. Everyone knows how much I like baseball, so they probably would have asked me about the card.

"Maybe it got trashed when the cleaning crew cleaned the halls or maybe it just fell where no one saw it and got destroyed with the old building…

"Anyway, we thought and talked about it until we were tired. So we went back to the dining hall to get something to drink and we sat down at one of the tables. Dawn said she was really sorry. She didn't know how to make it up to me, but she hoped I understood that it was an accident and I said, 'It's not your fault, Dawn. And –' "

Cut to: Flashback of Dawn and Shannon in dining hall

"I'm really okay about it," Shannon said. "I mean, I'm sorry it got lost, sure. But you got sick because you went out to find my grandfather's lucky poker chip for me in the woods. And…and that's worth more than any old baseball card. I know he gave it to me because he…he really loved me. For me. And that's worth more than having the card, too. I'm okay with it."

Cut to: Skye's Room - Present Day

"I swear, Dawn was gonna cry right then, but all of a sudden Joanne comes into the dining hall and walks right by our table. Dawn asked her if she was taking a break from studying and she gave Dawn a real smartass answer. Dawn shook her head.

"But listen! Here's the important part. Dawn was gonna say something back to Joanne but instead she just watched her sit down at another table. Then Dawn gets this weird look on her face. So I asked her..."

Cut to: Flashback scene in dining hall

"What's wrong?" Shannon asked.

"Hm? Oh…uh, nothing. Just, feel a little tired is all," Dawn replied.

Cut to: Flashback scene at Dawn's apartment doorway Shannon in voiceover:

"I asked her again when we got back to her place why she looked so weird when Joanne walked by us in the dining hall. And all she said was, "Was I weird? Sorry."

Cut to: Flashback scene at Dawn's apartment doorway

"Sorry. Sorry Shannon," Dawn apologized. "I've got a lot on my mind lately with Skye and all. And I'm sorry I – I – about the card."

"Forget it. I know that Ethan didn't steal my card. At least, I believe him when he says he didn't. And even if he did, that's all he took. I told you, I got what's really important. You, for a watcher. And I know that my grandfather cared about me more than any of the rest of his grandchildren. I'm cool. Really."

Dawn smiles at Shannon as the scene fades back into Skye and Shannon in Skye's room. They are still sitting on Skye's bed playing a poker game.

"And that's all I know," Shannon said, shrugging. She discarded a card and picked one up. "I'll raise you two mangos and one cotton candy," she said, carefully picking through her jelly beans and adding them to the 'pot.'

"And you want me to find out why Dawn suddenly got so weirded out by Joanne?"

"I don't think it had anything to do with Joanne in particular," Shannon said. "But I think that when she sat down in the cafeteria it made Dawn remember something."

Skye smiled and looked down at her own cards. "And you wouldn't mind if I pumped her for a little info, right?"

Shannon shrugged and smiled back as Skye put two cards down and picked two up. "I'll see you," the vampire said, "and raise you a cherry and a pineapple."

"That's a lemon."

"No, it's pineapple."

"Is too a lemon."

"Is not, you little brat! The lemons are pale yellow. This one's more like – " Shannon plucked the jelly bean up off the bed, popped it in her mouth and chewed it. "Oh. Yeah, you're right, it's pineapple."

Skye pulled her lips back and showed Shannon her fangs in a mock snarl.

Shannon laughed.

"So will ya? Find out, I mean."

"No sweat, Li'l Sis. Skye Talisker, Vampire Inquisitor, at your service."

Shannon looked at her wrist watch. "Lunch is almost over. I gotta get to class. I'm callin."

The vampire smiled innocently as Shannon laid her cards down – three of a kind and a pair.

Skye laid her own cards down – a full house. Shannon groaned as the vampire grinned broadly, pulling all the jellybeans toward her.

Cut to: Int. Watchers Council Conference Room – 12:30 p.m.

The four women looked for a long moment at the half-opened door. Faith finally snickered. "Well, he's lost his charm," she said.

Rowena smiled in agreement. "I think he's lost his mind."

"Don't sell him short," Buffy cautioned. "He's got something up his sleeve. He may be trying to distract us from something else."

"Then why be so obvious about it?" Faith asked.

"I think you're right," Willow cut in. "You said it before, Faith: Grandpa. He's getting old. Don't tell me no one noticed just how old he looks. He's getting old and – well, maybe he's just losing it." She tapped her head.

"I don't think so," Buffy replied. "Giles is practically as old as Ethan and he hasn't lost it yet."

"Maybe not," Willow said. "But Giles is retired. He is tired. And Ethan must be tired too, but he's not settling back, he's still working."

"So wouldn't that mean he'd keep his edge?" "Maybe – or maybe he's just worn out and losing his touch or his grip on reality and doesn't even know it himself."

"Oh god," Rowena laughed. "Ethan Rayne with Alzheimer's! Now that would be cause for alarm!"

"Look," Buffy said, "I don't trust him as far as – Rowena – can toss him. But it wouldn't hurt to stay sharp for awhile."

"You're right," Ro agreed. "It never hurts to be a little vigilant. But about what he said…"

"How can we vigilant," Willow asked, "especially when he didn't really say anything?"

Fade Out.

End of Act Two

Act Three

Fade In: Int. B9 Kreswell Apartment – Early Afternoon

"Mother, where did he go?"

"Cam, I'm certain that Ethan will be back very shortly."

"Well it's a bit of a long walk he's taken, isn't it? You don't suppose anything's –" Camden hesitated to put his fears into words.

"Don't be silly. Ethan's a grown man. Nothing's happened and –"

"Grown men can run into trouble as easy as the rest of us."

"– he would call if something happened to him." "If he was able to call. And what if he couldn't? Maybe I should –"

"I'm sure there's nothing to worry –"

"– go out and look for him…"

"– about. Go ahead and take your shower ...Cam? Cam, where are you going?"

Cam was quickly slipping his coat on, the folder from Jason Felix lying forgotten on the coffee table.

"I'm going out to look for him."

"You most certainly are not."

Cam gave his mother a haughty look. "I most certainly am."

"Cam. Take off that coat and sit down."

"I'm a bit old for you to be telling me what to do, don't you thi –"

"I think you've let your new position go to your head just a bit," Cameron said with a hint of annoyance. More softly, she added, "Ethan told me he might be gone for awhile and not to worry. I told you that less than an hour ago. Why don't you go ahead and take your shower? By the time you're done, he'll probably be back."

"And what if he's not?"

"Give him some space, Cam."

Camden bit his lower lip at the remark. "You're right," he huffed, slowly taking his coat off. "I shouldn't…I guess I am a bit of a pest."

His mother sighed heavily. "You are not a pest. A little pig-headed, perhaps. You're my son. And you are Ethan's assistant."

"You mean his 'clingy' assistant."

"Cam…please come and sit by me," his mother said, taking a seat on the couch.

Camden draped his coat over the back of the couch and came around to sit down beside her.

He bowed his head a little and looked up expectantly at her out of the tops of his eyes. Suddenly he smiled at her. "When was the last time I told you what a beautiful lady you are?" he asked. "Flatterer," she laughed at him.

He grinned broadly. "Not at all. You've always been the best looking of all the B9 mums."

She shook her head, still laughing lightly.

"Don't believe me," he said. "But everyone says so. And they're right."

"Cam…don't try to charm your way out of a talk."

"I'm not!"

Cameron Kreswell's smile faded and she looked uneasily at her son. "Camden…"

"Uh-oh. Full name…" he inhaled in anticipation. "Yes, mother, what do you want to talk to me about?"

"It isn't me, selling herself short. It's you. Cam…You really don't believe your own worth, do you?" She shook her head and stared out blankly, frowning at old memories of her husband and son together. "I wish I could have – left him. Before he had a chance to –" she turned and looked at her son, "to poison you. That's my fault…"

Camden smiled at her softly. "It's in the past, Mother. I know who I am now. I know what I am. And I – I have the world's best mum, and the world's best job and – and – something more. Something that makes all of it – even the bad times – all worth it in the end."

Cameron did not try to hide her concern. "What, Cam? What do have that makes it all worthwhile?"

Camden only smiled a little wider at his mother. "That's my secret. For now, anyway."

"Cam…You're making a mistake about Eth –" she began knowingly.

The door swung open and a draft blew into the living room. Cameron turned quickly as Ethan stepped inside.

"Ah, there you are!" Cam said, exuberantly. "Have a good walk?"

Ethan looked at Camden's grinning face, then glanced quickly at Cameron. "Ethan," she said, "Cam and I were just talking –"

"Ethan," Cam nervously cut his mother off, "I have an envelope here for you from Jason. He'd like you to read the contents right away, and jot down your thoughts. I'm to bring them right back to him, soon as you're finished…" Cam picked up the envelope from the coffee table and walked over to Ethan. Ethan was looking back at his mother. "Ethan?" Cam called.

"Hm?" Ethan said, shifting his attention to the boy. "Right," he said taking the envelope.

"Oh, sorry," Cam said. "How stupid of me. You haven't even had a minute to take off your coat. Here, let me –" Cam put his hand on Ethan's shoulder to help him take his coat off.

Ethan sidled away quickly. "Well then," he said, "best get started on this…" He slipped out of his coat and tossed it on the empty recliner as he walked around to sit beside Camden's mother on the couch. He opened the folder and put on his reading glasses.

"Would you mind putting the kettle on?" he asked her. A look passed between them.

"Of course," she said. "Cam, why don't you go and take your shower now. Ethan's back, so there's no reason not to."

Ethan gave her a puzzled look, but she merely turned and walked into the kitchen.

Camden stood not far from Ethan, gazing down at him. Ethan pushed his reading glasses up on his nose and opened the paperwork Felix had sent. Without looking up, he said, absently, "No need to stand and wait…this'll take a while…"

Camden watched him a few moments more. Finally, he smiled lightly. "Guess I'll go and take my shower now," he said. "I'll be back."

Ethan said nothing, continuing to read. Cam watched him a moment more, still smiling, then left and walked down the hall. Ethan heard the bathroom door close. When he finally heard the shower run, he exhaled.

"Ethan…" Cameron said, re-entering from the kitchen.

"Bloody hell. I wish he'd treat me more like they did at the Council. And vice versa."

"What do you mean?"

Ethan gave her an exasperated look. "Cam hangs on every word – bollocks! – every breath that comes out of my mouth! The Council, on other hand, could care less about what I say and even less about me in general. If I could only cast a spell to change that around –" "You needn't be wishing for spells now if you had spoken to him when I told you –"

"I know, I know…"

"Ethan, you need to tell him now. This new job of his – being your assistant – is making him think he's got license to –"

"I'll tell him, Missus, I promise."

"Today."

"When he comes out of the shower."

Cameron looked hard at him.

"What, you don't believe me?" He huffed. "Stand in line."

"What do you mean?" Cameron asked. He frowned and looked away. "They didn't believe you at the Council, did they?"

"They practically laughed me off the grounds, which is better than being assaulted off the property I suppose. "

"Why?" Ethan looked at her over the tops of his reading glasses. "You've always helped them!" she continued. "And what's more, you've saved some of their lives – Rupert Giles for one! And the little girl – the slayer…Shannon, isn't it? – when your resurrected dog attacked her? Not to mention –"

"It's actually not surprising," he said, taking the reading glasses off. He rubbed his eyes. "My past has overtaken me. Saving a couple of lives, regardless of whose they are, doesn't make me eligible for Council Darling, if you take my meaning."

"They're ungrateful. And they're fools! Why would you go to them with such a story? Any idiot could see that warning them held nothing in it for you. Whether what you think about B9 is true or not, Ethan – and I do hope you're wrong – the Council owes it to take you seriously. What's wrong with them? After you've proven yourself –"

"What? A scalawag?" he grinned.

"You're not! I swear, you're almost as hard on yourself as Cam, sometimes."

"Unlike the boy, I have good reason." Ethan held still, blinking in wonder at her. She suddenly realized how quiet he was and turned to look at him. She saw him slowly smile. "I love you, C.K." he said quietly.

"Say it a little louder." she half-joked. "He can't hear above the shower." Ethan only smirked.

Cut to: Int. Watchers Council Library – Evening

Willow looked very tired. She leaned on her hand, her elbow resting on one of the reading tables in the library. That table was covered with files, reports, and glossy photographs of a girl. The girl looked pretty thoroughly dead, and blood was everywhere.

"Wow, look at you," Kennedy said. "It's all CSI in here." Willow looked up to see the slayer standing across the table from her.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to find you, actually," Kennedy told her as she sat down. "We had an appointment. Magic practice."

"Oh, right," Willow sighed, running a hand through her hair. "Sorry. I was just…there was a meeting, and then we got this call from India, and then stuff kept happening."

"So I see," Kennedy said, gesturing to the papers on the table. "What's all this?" Willow picked up a particularly gruesome photograph and handed it to Kennedy, who grimaced when she examined it. "Is that her…arm?"

"She was a slayer," Willow said quietly. Kennedy glanced up, eyes wide. "Sathi Banerjee. She was…third-ranked, I think, in New Delhi. She disappeared two days ago. Late last night, or today, or however it works with the time, they found her like this."

"In New Delhi?" Kennedy asked. "Why isn't someone in Asia on this? Like Chao-Ahn. I hear she's doing great over in Hong Kong."

"She is," Willow said. "You'd really be proud of her. She's the biggest reason we've been able to get back on our feet so quickly in Hong Kong. She says she's following up on a lead, and she wants my help researching in case that doesn't pan out."

"So you're trying to figure out which beastie can…" Kennedy glanced at the photo again before tossing it back on the table. "…do that?"

'I don't know," Willow said. She rested her face in her hands. "I don't know."

"Willow, maybe you're not doing as well as you think," Kennedy said pointedly.

Willow peeked her eyes out from behind her hands. "What are you talking about?"

"You know what I mean," Kennedy said. "The terrorists." "I'm fine," Willow said quickly, and at random she picked up one of the files on the table. She opened her mouth to protest when Kennedy grabbed the file away from her, but never quite got that far.

"Okay," Kennedy said, "but I need to tell you something."

Willow crossed her arms, leveled her eyes at the slayer. "What? Wait, is this about your runny nose again, because that's just a normal side effect when you start…"

"I was in the room when it happened," Kennedy said, her words coming out in a rush.

Willow's face contained no hint of comprehension. "Huh?"

"Mia, Marissa, and I," Kennedy elaborated. "We were in the closet of the science lab. Hiding. We were there when you were…and I saw everything."

Willow's mouth was hanging open a little in shock. "You…you left that out of the official report."

"I know," Kennedy said. She suddenly got to her feet and started pacing. Willow's eyes followed her. "We all did. It just seemed…too personal, or something. I didn't want you to find out like that, and Marissa said something about how it didn't have tactical significance…"

Kennedy sat down just as suddenly as she had risen and put her hand over Willow's. "I wanted so badly to do something, anything, but Mia thought that if I did I would get everybody shot. In hindsight I'd have to say she was right. That probably would have happened. So...they held me down, and it was weird because when I heard you, and you were screaming, I didn't really know what I was feeling. We haven't been…" Very quickly, she pointed from herself to Willow and back to herself. "…together for years, but…I wanted to kill them."

She ran out of steam, and silence fell in the wake of her words. Kennedy looked at Willow expectantly.

"Wow," Willow finally said. "Well, I'm sorry you had to see that."

"Yeah, well, I could say the same to you," Kennedy told her. "See, the thing of it is, the point, I guess, is that you're not alone. Not then, and not now. You've got people on your side. And we can get through this, if we just, y'know, stick together and…stuff." Willow raised an eyebrow, and Kennedy sighed. "I'm not tremendous at motivational speeches."

"You did good," Willow assured her with a growing grin. "Thanks. Hey, you wanna help with the gruesome death investigation?"

Kennedy smiled. "Sounds like fun." Willow passed Kennedy a pile of papers.

Fade Out

Fade In: Int. B9 – Kreswell Apartment – Later

A man's hand was writing something very neatly in a margin on a page loaded with magic runes, mystical symbols, English and an odd, ancient language. As the hand writes, a youthful voice calls out:

"You're a quick study."

Ethan looked up from what he was writing. Cam stood grinning before him, fresh from the shower and in clean, crisp clothes more fitting for a corporation man than a twenty year-old. Even his hair was carefully combed and arranged.

"My god!" Ethan said, staring in open-mouthed shock.

Cam's grin immediately fell and looked down at himself. "What…?"

"Who are you?" Ethan demanded. "And what have you done with Cam?"

Cam immediately snickered. "What do you think?" he asked, turning so Ethan could see the three-piece suit from all angles. "Bought it yesterday with some of what was supposed to be my college savings. Damn near perfect fit, too! Just need to bulk up a bit around the pecs and –"

"I'd say you need to bulk up a bit around the pocketbook," Ethan remarked, noting the expensive cut and cloth. "That 'ensemble' must have cost you a pretty penny." Ethan cast his gaze down at Cam's stocking feet. "Did you run out of money for shoes?"

Cam looked down. "Oh…hold on, then."

He turned and went quickly down the hallway. Within a moment he was back, wearing one shoe and carrying the other in his hand.

"Brand new Oxfords. Lovely, eh?" he said as he lifted his foot and put the other shoe on.

"And why are we suddenly dressing so…" Ethan frowned, looking for the right word.

Cam's smile grew smaller, but more intense as his eyes shone back sharply at Ethan. "I did it for you. Wouldn't do to have an assistant who doesn't look smart."

"And looking smart is so much better than being smart, eh?" "Ethan! If I didn't know any better I'd swear you were trying to insult me."

Ethan's grim look finally registered on Cam. "Ethan," he said quietly walking up to him. "What is it? What's wrong?" He reached his hand out to lay it on Ethan's shoulder.

Ethan leaned away from it and put the papers from Jason Felix into the envelope. Then he laid the envelope on the coffee table.

"Cam. We need to talk. There's something very serious we need to discuss."

Cam looked down at the envelope he had been instructed to return to Felix. "Ethan, I – Jason didn't want me to be privy to those papers. I – I'd really like you to tell me what they say, but I think maybe you should check with Jason first to see if he's all right with it…"

"Cam. I'm not talking about those papers. There's something you and I need to talk about. Something we need to clear up between us. Something I should have said to you weeks ago and –"

Cam suddenly brightened. "Don't!" he said, beaming at Ethan. Then, in a hushed tone, he added, "Don't say it out loud. Just…just think it. Think it and – and let me see the look in your eyes when you do."

Ethan blinked at the boy who stood looking seductively at him. After a long moment, Cam grinned at him. "All right…now say it. But say it softly. I want the first time you say it to be –"

"Bollocks," Ethan whispered, grimacing.

"Ethan…?"

Ethan's expression turned unreadable. "Sit down, Cam," he said quietly.

Camden obeyed and sat down on the couch.

"Cam, I had hoped this would be easier than it appears it's going to be – for both of us."

Cam, barely breathing, looked at Ethan anxiously.

"And I'm sorry – sorry that I didn't make it plain long before this. But…" he looked aside and sighed heavily. When he turned back to Cam, his expression was hard, the look in his eyes stern. "Cam, I am very, very fond of you. In fact, I've no quandary about saying that I – I truly do love you. It's not an emotion I've felt often in my life."

Cam blinked and began to relax. "Oh, Ethan…my god, for a moment I thought you were going to tell me that you –"

"But it's not the kind of love you – you'd like it to be. Cam. I love you, it's true. As a weary, old man loves the exuberance of youth." Cam blinked again, a look of pain on his face. "As a mentor loves his charge," Ethan said, very gently. Cam swallowed as his eyes began to fill with tears. "As a father, his son," Ethan said kindly, smiling softly and searching the boy's eyes. Ethan sighed as the tears began to trickle down Cam's face. "But not…" he said hesitantly, holding the boy's hurt gaze steadily with his own, "not as a man loves another – man or woman. Not as lovers, Cam." His voice was barely a whisper. "That love is just not in me for you. It never will be."

Cam shook his head as the tears fell faster. He mouthed the word 'no' several times. Then sharp sobs escaped him.

"I'm sorry, Cam I –"

"Liar!" Cam cried out. "You're lying! Ethan, why are you lying? Why?"

"Cam –"

"It's mother, isn't it? It's because of her! She doesn't want me taking up with another man – especially one so much older than me! Well, sod that! I don't care! I'm old enough to make my own decisions. And I'm old enough to love anyone I choose, no matter how old! Just because she's got no one doesn't mean I have to be alone, too! And for god's sake, Ethan, why wouldn't you stand up to her for us?"

"Cam! Listen to me!" Ethan growled. "I am not in love with you! Do you understand?" He gripped Cam's shoulders hard. "I – I love-"

"No! You – you took it. You took and you kept it –"

"What…? Kept what?"

"Why would you accept it if you didn't love me?"

"Accept…what are you talking about?"

"The rose. Ethan, the Valentine's rose I sent you. The white rose! The one I sent to show you my love and to tell you I understood if you were afraid to try love with someone as young as –" "Oh, no…No, Cam. I didn't accept that bloody flower! In fact, I threw it away. That very night. I tossed it right out in the trash."

"Why are you lying to me? Ethan, why? Is it really my age? Are you really that afraid to love someone as young as me? Afraid I'll loose interest in you? Afraid to lose your heart –"

Cam heard a sharp noise and felt a sting across his left cheek. It took him a few seconds to realize that he had been slapped. He blinked as comprehension slowly overtook his grief. He raised his left hand to his cheek and turned his face to look at Ethan again.

Ethan stared shallowly at Cam through narrowed eyes. "Now listen, you spoiled little git," Ethan said, coldly unemotional. "I am not in love with you. I will never be in love with you. You are nothing more than a child to me. I would like us to be friends, Cam. I would like almost nothing better. But if you persist in this uncontrollable hysteria – this utter nonsense – you will not have even that. Do you understand?"

Cam blinked, dumbly.

Ethan felt his own gaze begin to soften at the pain and disbelief in Cam's eyes. He steeled himself against it, doing his best to put the boy's feelings down once and for all.

"I said do you understand?" The menacing quiet in Ethan's voice alarmed Cam.

"I –" Cam began, still holding his hand to his face. He continued to stare at Ethan, then slowly lowered his hand. "I better bring – bring –" he turned his head to the coffee table and slowly picked up the envelope. "Jason is waiting," he rasped out.

"Jason can wait a ruddy minute more," Ethan said. Cam stood up and began to back away from Ethan, as though facing a monster.

"Wait, Camden…"

"No…No! Shut up!" Camden said as he strolled toward the door.

"Camden…"

"No! No!"

"Cam, I'm in love with –"

Cam quickly opened the door, slipped through it and slammed it shut.

"Your mother." Ethan stood in the silent apartment. "Good show…" he said disgustedly as he sat down on the couch. He put his elbows on his knees, braided his fingers together rested his forehead on them, sighed. Cut to: Int. B9 Jason Felix's Office – A few moments later

The knock on the door brought Jason Felix's eyes up from the paperwork he was signing. "Come," he called, irritably.

Camden Kreswell opened the door and stepped just inside the office. "Here's the papers you asked me to deliver," he said in a monotone. He quietly approached the desk

Felix looked up at the sound of the uncharacteristic tone and looked into Cam's face. He rose slowly and stepped from around the desk in time to meet Cam as the boy's hand moved to lay the envelope on the desk. Instead, Felix took it from him and peered at him intently.

"If there's nothing more, I'll go now…" Cam said softly.

"Close the door," Felix told him. "And come sit down."

Cam let a breath out and did as he was told.

Felix watched the depressed boy close the door without ceremony and take a seat obediently in the French Provincial chair. "So…" Felix began, half sitting on his desk, "what has got my best newly-appointed assistant so glum? Job that bad?"

Cam turned his head away. "Doesn't matter about the job. The job is nothing."

Felix stared at the boy.

"Everything's nothing," Cam finished, his voice soft. Then he looked up at Felix. "I should have known. Should have known it would never be for me."

"My dear, dear child…" Felix said, "you're positively in despair. Why? What is it, Cam? What's not for you? The job? I can find you another position – one that suits you more. Listen, you've barely been at the job a day. Why don't you just give it a try for this week and then we'll talk about what else might be open to you."

Cam looked up at Felix as though the man had lost his mind. Then a bitter smile crossed his lips. "You've got it all wrong. It's not the job. Though I can't see how I can continue to do it." Felix stared hard Cam, surprised to see tears begin to well in the boy's eyes. "Cam…Cam, what's happened? Please tell me. Is your mother alright?"

"Mother's fine," Cam said, standing, "I did what I had to do. I delivered the papers and he –" Cam's voice broke. "He…" Suddenly he was sobbing, head down and shoulders shaking uncontrollably. "It's not fair! It shouldn't be like this! It can't be like this…" He brought his hands to his face and wept freely into them.

"Cam!" Felix grabbed his shoulders and held him steady. "Cam, I'm sorry. I should have realized the spot I was putting you in. I know you look up to Ethan Rayne. And it's fairly common knowledge that neither he nor I are exactly enamored of one another, but…I just didn't think!"

Cam lowered his hands from his face and looked confusedly at Felix.

"I understand, Cam, truly. You've torn loyalties between Ethan and me. You've probably felt like an informer. And you're right – it isn't fair. You shouldn't have to be in this position. I – I assure you, it was unintentional on my part. I was thinking only of business. Of the Bureau."

"You…" Cam said., "This is not about B9! This is about me! Me and – and Ethan…" he turned angrily from Felix and threw a punch into the back of the chair, flipping it backwards.

"Cam!" Felix caught him by one arm and pulled him around, but Cam struggled free and looked hatefully at him.

Felix stood still for a moment, then said gently, "It's alright, son. It's going to be alright…" He moved forward a step. Cam did not back away, but his breathing was heavy and his hands curled into fists.

Sudden realization crossed Jason Felix's face. "It's alright…" Felix continued to approach him, raising his arms as he did so until they were closing in loosely on Cam, about his upper arms. Then he gently pulled the boy into a firm and steady hug.

Cam's tension held for a moment and then Felix felt the boy relax just a little, then more rapidly as Cam's forehead came to rest against Felix's shoulder, where he cried quietly, his weight resting against the older man's.

"I'm sorry, Cam. He told you he wasn't interested in you or – something to that effect, didn't he?"

Cam pulled away from Felix and looked questioningly into the man's eyes.

"Your mother told me she was concerned about your true feelings toward Ethan Rayne. It was when he first arrived here. She said she thought you might have a crush on him. I told her she was imagining things; that you were merely experiencing a little hero worship or – or were just happy to have another man about to talk to. I – I'm afraid I put her off about it. She never mentioned it again."

Cam swallowed and wiped his eyes on the sleeve of his expensive new suit.

"But, I see that she and I were both wrong. You've got no crush. You're actually in love with him, aren't you?"

Cam turned away, shamefaced.

"Here, here, don't…don't be like that. Look at me."

Cam looked up into kind eyes.

"That's right," Felix said, "Hold your head high, Cam. You know who you are. And now," he smiled gently, "so do I."

"He doesn't…he doesn't…"

"He doesn't love you."

Cam shook his head no.

"He told you this?"

"Just now – before I came here."

"This is a hard knock. Cam, it may seem like the end of the world now, but first love lost usually does feel that way. Look, I want you to go wash up. Use my private bathroom," he said, indicating the doorway off to one side of his office. "And I want you to think about coming to stay with me for awhile. I've plenty of room in my apartment. I don't want Ethan Rayne off on his own so I'd prefer that your mother continue to house him as her guest. I won't ask him to leave your apartment. But I don't want you around him for the next few days at least. You need a little time to yourself. Stay with me. Think about it."

Cam nodded and went into the bathroom. Felix stood, lost in thought until he heard the water run. He rubbed his hand across his face and sighed heavily.

When Cam came out of the bathroom he found Felix leaning over a ring binder and flipping back and forth through its pages.

"Cam! I've got a brilliant idea. One I know you're going to like. Come here. These are the assignments we have outside of Cleveland. Foreign, most of them, and wildly varied. But all of them interesting and challenging for the right type of person. I had someone selected for this one, here…"

Cam looked down at the description of a job and the location.

"…someone else with a few more years of…life experience," Felix said. "But you've just crossed a major threshold. I'd say you're ready for a different experience. One that not only makes use of your brains but that will open up so many possibilities for you. It'll also get you away from this place for awhile. Give you time to gather your wits again. To become something far more than you have yet imagined."

"You want me to run from Ethan? I could barely leave the apartment. How am I supposed to go all the way to –"

"I'm not suggesting you run away from your problems. I'm trying to give you a fresh and worthwhile start. A way to discover your own worth, dependent on no one."

Cam looked down at the page once more.

Felix smiled softly. "Think about it."

"But what about Mother?"

"She'll remain in my employ, of course. She can't go with you…"

"I understand that. So what becomes of her then? She has no one. She's completely alone – except for me. And I hate to think of her being as alone as I am now."

"But neither of you really are alone. You both have me – your friend. And I would continue to keep watch over her – and you – as I have all these years. It was Robert's wish that I look after you both if anything happened to him."

"Somehow I doubt that," Cam replied.

"Have I ever lied to you?" Felix asked. Cam slowly shook his head. "He was concerned about your welfare should something happen. I have managed to keep up my end of the bargain. And not merely out of a sense of loyalty to your father, either. I do truly care about you both, Cam. Don't worry about your mother. I'll take good care of her."

"When would I have to leave?"

"Well, it's a closed posting, and all the plans are set. We can tell the other person that we've changed his assignment. But the flight is tomorrow morning." "Tomorrow would be – great…Yes. Yes, I'll go. Tomorrow. Please, Jason, make the arrangements. It's not forever, right? Just a few weeks, according to this…It – it's just what I want."

Felix looked squarely at Cam, sizing him up. "Very well," he said extending his hand. "Congratulations on your new assignment. I'll have the staff apprise you of everything."

"But I need a passport and maybe a visa…"

"Don't worry about any of that. We've connections. It'll be done by end of day. You may need to get a couple of shots this afternoon, however…"

"Fine, fine. But I can't stay in that apartment, Jason. Not even for a night. I can't bear the thought of being near him…I –"

"Then go and pack your things for the trip and go to my apartment and make yourself at home. I'll have my secretary call you there. Here, take this…" he walked behind his desk and took something out of a drawer.

"This is a spare key to my place," Felix said. "The guest bedroom's fully turned out and you know where to find everything. I'll see you later this afternoon. And if you like, I can tell you more about your father; some things that might surprise you. People aren't always what they seem, Cam. They don't always behave in ways that – that illuminate their true selves…"

"You've said a mouthful."

Felix grinned and laid a hand on Cam's back. "Go on, now. Go and settle in and wait for my secretary to call."

Cam nodded and walked to the door. Then he turned. "Jason…thank you. For everything. Asking you to look after Mother and me is the one thing my father did do right."

"He did other things right, too, Cam. Things you don't know about. We'll talk about all of it, I promise. Now go on, son. I'll see you later."

Cam left without another word. As the door closed, Felix's smile changed into a look of scorn. "And you, too, Ethan," he said. Cut to: Int. B9 Kreswell Apartment – A few minutes later

Camden opened the door quietly, and looked inside the apartment. Seeing no one, he entered quietly and walked softly across the living room floor and down the hallway toward his bedroom. Halfway along, his mother's voice floated to his ears.

"Ethan, we really shouldn't be doing this now."

Cut to: Int. Kreswell Apartment Bedroom – Same time

"I don't care. C.K., please." Ethan's heavy breath came in hot bursts against her shoulder. She felt his lips at her throat again, slowly making their way down.

The midday sun was shining brightly into Cameron's bedroom. Ethan felt the warmth of the rays on his neck and back and tossed the covers off completely. The rush of air along his naked frame made him shiver.

Cameron's arms closed around his shoulders.

"But I'm worried about him –"

"I'm worried, too, but he needs a little time by himself to get his bearings. Believe me, I know," Ethan told her, his hands sliding behind her butt. "We'll find him later. Just love me now. Just a little…"

"Just a little?" she asked, as he positioned her beneath him.

He looked at her steadily and buried his head in the nape of her neck.

Camden stared unblinking from where he stood, watching from the bedroom door. He had opened it just a crack and if he moved his head from side to side, he could almost see everything at once.

"Ethan…" his mother groaned.

"Cameron…" Ethan answered and rolled Cameron over to rest on top of him.

From outside the room, Cam caught a glimpse of his mother's bare back as Ethan suddenly lifted her up and onto to his lap. Her toes and knees sank down into the mattress. His eyes widened as Ethan thrust upward; Cameron's hair fell back over her shoulders as she lifted her face toward the ceiling. Suddenly Cam turned from the sight, putting his back to the wall. His mouth seemed to filled with saliva and he put his hand to his lips to keep from retching. Quickly, and as quietly as before, he continued down the hall to his room, grimacing at the sounds of lovemaking coming from his mother's bedroom.

He shut the door of his room soundlessly. Steadying himself with a hand to the wall, he forced himself to breathe until the nausea left him. He could still hear them in the other room.

He pulled open a couple of dresser drawers and took as many socks and underwear as would fit into his suitcase. He opened his closet and grabbed his two favorite shirts and three pair of jeans; one pair of comfortable shoes; an electric shaver and a comb; his wallet and his only credit card; and dropped all into the small suitcase. He quickly zipped the suitcase and closed the closet and drawers.

The loud grunts and groans were louder as soon as he opened his bedroom door again. He steeled himself to walk by his mother's room and half shut his eyes as he did so. Once past it, he stopped into the bathroom and grabbed his toothbrush, tucking it into his pants pocket. Then he headed directly through the living room and to the front door of the apartment.

He hesitated there, his hand on the door knob. "Ethan! Ethan!" He heard his mother's loud litany over Ethan's groans.

"I hate you," Cam said quietly, almost as if not even aware he was speaking until he had said it. "I hate you." Cam said again, his hand tightening on the doorknob. He heaved breaths with each cry of the two lovers who were completely unaware of anything but their own bliss. "I curse you both," he said, in counterpoint to the cries. "I curse you both. I curse you both – forever."

Camden Kreswell turned the doorknob, as the cries grew louder, and exited the apartment. The door closed quietly on the empty living room.

Fade Out.

End of Act Three

Act Four Fade In: Int. B9 Kreswell Apartment – Early Afternoon

Ethan returned from his walk, every bit the new man. There was a spring in his step that he hadn't had for years and even the cold March winds had felt good against his rosy cheeks. His eyes were bright and wide and alert and even the sterile back hallways of B9 seemed to be full of life and promise. He almost skipped up the steps – forgoing the elevator – to the Kreswell's apartment.

"Missus, I'm ba –" he began as he swung the door open. He stopped when he saw Cameron sitting and wiping tears from her face with a tissue.

"Here now, what's this?" he asked. "What's wrong?"

Cameron held up a sheet of Jason Felix's blue stationary. Ethan took the page from her and began to read the almost illegible handwriting. The writer was definitely not Felix and there were inkblots on the page where the writer was clearly having trouble using a fountain pen.

Ethan read, confused, as Cameron relayed out loud what the letter said.

"He's gone! He's gone – he's been sent to some – country! I don't even know where! I've called Jason. He says Cam's on an assignment and that I shouldn't worry and to be proud of him doing so well at such a young age! The nerve, to talk to me about my son as though…"

Ethan lowered the page looking completely lost. "But…Cam left us a message last night and said he was now working exclusively for Felix. He said he was staying with Felix. He didn't say anything about leaving or –"

"Of course he didn't! He wanted to slip away without having to face the two of us! Ethan he's left because of us! Because of you and me. You told him you and I were in love and now he's left because of it."

"No. No he hasn't. He's only left on my account."

Cameron stared at Ethan, waiting for him to continue. When he didn't, she narrowed her eyes at him. "Oh my god. You didn't tell him, did you?" "C.K., I tried. But he was so bloody well out of control as soon as I said I wasn't in love with him! He left before he would let me finish."

"Then why has he written that he doesn't want to see the two of us again?"

"I don't know."

"Well who told him about us if you didn't?"

"I – C.K., honestly I – I thought we might tell him together once he'd calmed down."

"Do you think he knew all along? Maybe knew but…wouldn't allow himself to believe it? Ethan, where are you going?"

Ethan was already at the door. "Maybe Felix won't tell you where he's gone, but he'll tell me!"

"Ethan! Ethan!" Cameron called, but Ethan was out the door and heading quickly towards Jason Felix's office.

Cut to: Int. B9 Jason Felix's Office – A Few Minutes Later

There was a very civil knock at the door before it opened. Felix turned to look over his shoulder to see who was entering without permission. "Ah, let me call you back. Something's just come up," he said into his Blue Tooth. He ended his call and smiled ingratiatingly at Ethan.

Ethan sneered at the smile. "Oh, piss off!" he said, hotly. "Where's he gone to?"

Felix continued to smile innocuously.

"Answer me!" Ethan barked, making Felix jump slightly.

Still, the smile remained as Felix sat down behind his desk. "I can't tell you that, Ethan. It's privileged information. Rest assured that no harm will come to Cam. He's on assignment and he's got the full resources of B9 behind him. Even has his own assistant! Imagine going from an assistant to someone with an assistant in less than seventy-two hours. Now that's fast-tracking. Don't worry. I'll find you another assistant. Perhaps…"

"What did he tell you?" Ethan interrupted.

"He told me he wasn't happy here and asked me to reassign him. Tell me, did you and he have some sort of falling out?" Ethan caught his breath at the unexpected question. "Look, Ethan, I know Cam's side of the story but not yours," Felix said smoothly. "I'm actually glad you're here. You can fill me in."

"What do you know?" Ethan asked.

"All I know is that Cam was given an assignment to deliver an envelope with information for your review and opinion. He was rather upset about something when he returned it to me."

Felix turned to his tea service. "Care for a drink?" he asked the mage.

Ethan stared blackly at him.

Felix poured himself a cup. "Fine...He left my office," Felix continued. "Then round about an hour or so later, he was back again. With suitcase in hand." Ethan squinted at the words as Felix dropped one sugar cube in his tea and stirred it noisily. "What could I do, Ethan? He'd made up his mind not to go back to his mother's apartment. And he was clearly upset about something. I couldn't let him go off on his own, so he stayed the night with me. But he told me he left C.K. a phone message letting her know where he was. Please tell me he did."

Ethan was blinking rapidly, lost in a flood of thoughts. "Yes…" he replied absently.

"As it happened," Felix said, stopping to sip his tea, "there's a job we needed done and Cam was actually suited to the task. It provided him a chance to put some space between himself and his troubles and to further his career all at once. But I am very concerned about whatever it is that is going on between Cam and – you…?" Felix held his hands apart, teacup in one, inviting Ethan to respond.

Ethan looked across the room, his eyes meeting Felix's. "We – we didn't know he was…"

"Didn't know he was what?"

Ethan's eyes shifted left and right quickly. "Unhappy. Didn't know he was…unhappy with the arrangement," Ethan covered quickly.

"Well, not to worry. I'll find you another assistant. One you'll have no fears over losing. In fact…the acorn never falls far from the tree…so why not use C.K.?"

Ethan turned an incredulous look on Felix.

"Oh, come now," Felix said turning to drop a second sugar cube in his tea. "Like mother, like son. Who do you think taught Cam everything he knows? Cameron would be a marvelous replacement for your lost toy – er…boy." When he got no reaction, Felix straightened and turned to look at Ethan. But Ethan was gone and the door stood wide open.

Cut to: Int. B9 Kreswell Apartment – A Few Minutes Later

Ethan entered the apartment quietly and sat down on the couch. He could hear Cameron fussing in the kitchen a little more noisily than usual. Realizing she was probably trying to distract herself, he took a deep breath.

"C.K…Cee? Come in here, would you?"

Cameron appeared in the doorway. "I've got a pot on. Would you like some tea?"

"No," Ethan said quietly. "Come and sit by me. Come on."

She went back into the kitchen and turned off the kettle, then came out and sat beside him on the couch. She leaned against him and he looked down at her. "Cee…Felix doesn't seem to know much of anything – about you and I and about Cam's feelings. But he did tell me one thing. He told me that about an hour or so after Cam left the apartment, he actually returned here. He then went back to Felix, with his bags packed and asking for reassignment."

"Well, that's not very much to go on," Cameron said.

Ethan waited. After a long moment, he felt her stiffen against him and heard her draw a sharp breath. "Oh my god. Ethan. He came back here! An hour later, he returned…" She sat up and looked deeply into his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Cameron. I – I'm so bloody sorry." Ethan bowed his head and brought one hand up to his forehead. "I'm sorry I didn't tell him about us the first time you asked me to. And I'm sorry I kept you from telling him yourself. If I had only spoken to him properly…right away…"

"Don't blame yourself," Cameron said. "He's my son. It was my responsibility."

"No. He was in love with me. It had to come from me…If I could just get hold of him, we could sort this whole thing out." Ethan thought for a moment. "Hold on!" He suddenly got up and walked briskly toward the bedrooms.

Cameron wiped her eyes and Ethan suddenly appeared with a small, desktop globe belonging to Cam. He set it on the coffee table and walked quickly back to his bedroom again. "What are you going to do?" she called irritably, "spin the globe and pick a spot to go look for him?"

He reappeared in the living room and Cameron saw, through teary eyes, that he was alert and edgy. "In a manner of speaking, yes!"

"Ethan, what…" she let her question trail off as she took stock of some other items he held in his hands: a mortar – and nestled within it a pestle and a plastic bag of some substance she didn't recognize; in the other hand, string and candles.

"You're not…Ethan you're not doing magic! Not here, not now!"

"Do you want to find him?"

"Of course I –"

"This is the way." He walked toward the coffee table.

"Don't you dare put those things down on that –"

"I'll do a locator spell. I'll find him. In minutes we'll know where he is. And I can teleport to him, bring him back!"

Cameron stood up tall and pulled her shoulders back. "You gave it up, Ethan! You've given magic up! You haven't used magic in months! Well… maybe you did, for that little electric tart you got mixed up with, but I'm still not sure about –"

"Let's not bring Gwen into this," he said, "haven't we enough to do with Cam –"

"You gave me your word, Ethan! You promised me – you pledged to me –"

"Yes, yes, a pledge is a promise, is a vow, is a –"

"That you would not do magic again! And I believed you."

"– but this is different, C.K.!"

"NO!"

"Yes! I'm not using it for me! I'm not even using it for Cam…" "Then why would you do –"

"For you! Cameron, for you. I'll find him. And I'll bring him back to you."

"Ethan, even if you could find him, you're in no…magical…shape to do a spell or a teleportation. You'd get hurt – or worse."

He ignored her, turning to set the things down on the coffee table.

"And I would leave you. Ethan, I'll leave you if you do any magic at all, regardless of the reason."

"No…" he turned back to her. "I'll be leaving you. I'll go and fetch Cam. I'll bring him back to you. And then I'll get out of both your lives. Forever." He saw her staring back at him, open-mouthed. "I won't hurt either of you any further," he finished and looked away. "It was foolish to think..."

"Two peas in a pod," she said, affection creeping into her expression. "My lover and my son. Two of a kind, both running away. Like little boys. At least Cam's excuse is that he's only twenty. What's yours?"

Ethan said nothing but shifted uneasily on his feet.

"Ethan, Cam operates in a world full of wishful thinking. You said yourself he was not just upset, he was hysterical and uncontrollable. Nothing short of witnessing us together would have driven the point home to him, Ethan."

Ethan groaned and looked aside.

"I know that about him," Cameron continued. "Cam needs so much – much more than anyone could provide. That's the mark his father left on him. His need goes so deep but he never finds what he wants because it really doesn't exist in the way he wants it to. So he winds up running away – literally and figuratively – from the very thing he so desperately needs." She stopped and waited for Ethan to look at her. He did, searching her eyes. "Just like you," she said simply.

Ethan felt himself sway under her gentle gaze and the weight of her understanding. He opened his mouth, but nothing came out. Cameron began to blur before his eyes. Breathing shallowly, and fighting tears, Ethan slowly relaxed the fingers of both hands until the mortar and pestle and candles and string slipped down and away, hitting the cushioned rug almost soundlessly at his feet.

His mouth worked again, silently forming her name. He willed his leaden feet forward and closed the distance between them, pulling her into him. They leaned into each other, and closed their eyes, and stood locked together in silence for a moment. "He'll come back when he's ready," Cameron said softly. "I know that he will. And when he does, we'll both be here to welcome him back home."

Cut to: Ext. Cleveland – Downtown – Car Park – Later that night

Willow walked off of the busy main street into the car park of a restaurant. As the fresh night's air caught up to her, she looped her long, fuzzy, multi-colored scarf around her neck; the fibers tickling her nose. In her right hand she carried a large brown paper bag containing various silver tubs.

Now beside her car, she reached into her pocket and pulled out her car keys. She pulled open the door and frowned as the light didn't come on. Willow stepped inside and rested the food on the passenger seat before slamming the door shut behind her. She flicked the light switch on; nothing. She flicked it off and then on again; nothing.

"Don't tell me it's the battery…" she grumbled with a small pout.

"It's not the battery." Willow jumped in her seat and arched round to the back seat; a ball of energy starting to swirl in her clenched hand. "Damn woman! Okay, it's not the battery! Sheesh!"

"Gwen?" Willow gasped, and with a sigh she hung her head and closed her hand; the ball of energy dissipating. She looked back up at the thief with a small relieved smile. "What are you doing here? Umm – sorry, how are you?"

Gwen shrugged her shoulders. "Meh, I'm okay. As well as could be, all things considered."

"Yeah, totally."

"And yourself? I heard about the terrorist situation at the Council. I would have come, but I –"

"Couldn't 'cus of your cover, I know."

"That and I didn't want to make things worse. I have that skill kinda down to a fine art."

"I've been thinking of you –" Gwen arched a brow, and in reply Willow blushed hotly and started to shake her head, "- no-no-no. Not like that, I-I'm engaged, and…no. I mean – thinking about if you were alright. About you're – you're… condition."

Gwen softly smiled. "Golly that's sweet. Can't say I'm well versed in having friends. Is there like a card I've got to get you or something? Flowers? Friend-stuff?"

"I don't want to get your hopes up but I've been looking into recreating your control chip. Granted I've got no schematics to go by or-or notes; cliff notes even; but back in the day I was Sunnydale's big bad computer wiz."

"Seriously, I appreciate it; and no slight Willow; but if I can't recreate the god damn chip, I can't see you doing it. I've gone down every possible avenue. Hooked myself up to a large capacitor and tried to drain the electricity outta me. Tried magic; nothing worked bar that chip. I lived long enough without it and those years of being normal were a luxury, and now they're a memory and I've gotta be grateful that I have them."

Willow sighed. "I don't know. It's just I kinda feel responsible. You put your butt on the line for us; you didn't have to but you did; and the universe pays you back like this?!"

Gwen kissed her teeth. "You got nothing to feel responsible about. Me on the other hand…"

"Huh?" she deadpanned.

"Bureau Nine has the sphere."

Fashioning a confounded look, Willow said. "Yeah, the fake sphere."

Gwen shook her head in disagreement. "Things are about to get a whole lot twisted, my friend. I don't know how, and neither does my contact, but Bureau Nine have their mitts on the real sphere."

"What," Willow, aghast, "who's your contact?"

"I'd rather not say; not for my sake, but for his."

"Can he be trusted?"

Gwen nodded. "Yeah, I trust him. He brushes shoulders with the higher-ups and works closely with Felix. His position could be key for whatever we plan to do." "I understand. Kinda. How did this happen? I mean, the sphere is in our vault and only senior personnel have access; and you saw our security measures!"

"24-esque terrorist situation last week, hello?"

"Down in the vault I mean. Why did Bureau Nine hire you to steal the sphere, if they could do it themselves?"

"I doubt they did it themselves; and again I don't know how they pulled it off, but you've gotta listen now; I've stayed longer than I should have. There are some things you need to know. My contact found out that Bureau Nine was transporting the sphere to their storage facility. He managed to get a copy of the transportation schedule and security manifest. Hear the storm early late last night?"

"That was you?"

"Cool, huh? Storms follow me, that and I can accelerate the thunder and lightning by chucking a couple of bolts up into the clouds. Bureau Nine was moving the sphere last night, and I intercepted. Things didn't go well. The plans had changed; the security was beefed up with a team of slayers."

"You're contact sold you out?"

Gwen incessantly shook her head. "No, he wouldn't do that. Jason Felix is a very cautious man, but surprisingly not to a fault. I can handle a couple of slayers, but a team of them with armed guards flanking me from all corners – yeah, not so much a walk in the park as it is a walk down some seedy back alley late at night, with people who have those adorable love and hate tattoos on their fingers – oh and the crack whore shooting up behind the garbage cans" she smirked.

"Can't forget the crack whore," Willow repeated.

Gwen's smile soon began to erode. "I got to the sphere but got blindsided and my hand brushed against it."

"So…" Willow raised a brow.

"Seems Bureau Nine didn't know when they hired me, but the sphere is inert until it's activated by an immense natural bio-electrical current."

"Oh goddess…"

"The sphere is active. I've got no idea what that means, but I'm guessing if B9 wanted it so badly, it's not a good thing. It started to glow and turned gold, and there were these carvings. I'm not sure if me attempting another stunt will be helpful, but I'm going to try and find out where the hell this now puts us in this game." "I'll get onto it as soon as I get home."

Gwen smiled. "No, you've got dinner so go enjoy that with your honey."

Willow replied the smile. "How do I contact you?"

"You don't. I'll contact you; and it'll be something like this. Can't afford blacking out the city again to come to the Council."

Gwen opened the car door and stepped outside. She walked to the driver's side window. "Take care. I'll be in touch," she gave Willow and small wave and then walked off into the darkness in the opposite direction of the main road.

Willow tried to make out where Gwen had gone, but sighed and turned back in her seat, her hands on the wheel; then suddenly the car came to life. She smiled.

Fade Out

Fade In: Int. Giles residence Bedroom – Later that night

The phone rang loudly.

"Bloody hell!" Giles hissed in the darkness. "Why does it always sound twice as loud at night!" He reached over and snatched the handset.

"This better be good!" he snapped, in a whisper, so as not to wake Becca. He glanced at her; she was sleeping peacefully.

"Giles? Giles, it's Willow."

"What a surprise," he muttered sarcastically.

"Someone's a mumbly-grumbly tonight," she chided. "Oh…I didn't wake you, did I?"

"No…no, I've been awake. In fact, we turned in a bit early. Martin's been colicky and Elizabeth has had a beastly bout of crankiness…"

"Hmm…sounds like they could use a visit from their Auntie Willow, tomorrow." Giles smiled. "That would be marvelous."

"Even more marvelous if it gets you and Becca out of the house for awhile, right?"

"Thank you, Willow. That would be lovely. Becca, especially, would appreciate the break."

"All right, then. I'll come by tomorrow. See you th – "

"Hold on! What did you call for?"

"Oh. Well…not to make you any crankier, but…Ethan stopped by the Council yesterday."

"Oh," Giles groaned. "Now what?"

"Well, I wish I could tell you. But Ethan couldn't tell us himself why he was there."

"I don't follow you…"

"He came to us, and admitted working for B9."

"Why am I not surprised?"

"But then he said that B9 was up to something. His words. He said it was something big, 'with possible worldwide implications.' "

"Yes…and…?"

"And that was it. He doesn't know – or so he says – what B9's up to. But he wanted to warn us, so we could be on the lookout for…something."

"You're telling me that Ethan came to warn the Council that his current employer is planning or doing something but he doesn't know what."

"And it's something big."

"And what's his price for the rest of the information?"

"That's the point – there was no price. And no hard info. Just a warning – a heads up."

Giles sighed and rubbed his forehead.

"He was talking all end-of-the-worldy. But – he really didn't seem to be working any angle. He was really being kinda…" "Un-Ethany," Giles supplied.

"You're speakin' my language," Willow grinned. "But what do you make of it, Giles?"

"I – I don't know, honestly."

"Well, Ro's probably told you by now that the sphere was accidentally activated by Gwen, right?"

"Yes she has."

"Well…" Willow began.

"You're wondering if it has something to do with that," Giles guessed.

"Yeah. But Buffy, Ro and Faith think Ethan's just trying to distract us from something else."

"Wouldn't be the first time."

"Giles," Willow said, as a thought occurred to her, "have you…are you still…'connected?' You and Ethan, I mean."

Giles frowned before answering. "The 'connection' we share seems to be faint to the point of – non-existence. I don't know what's happened to it. Nor do I want to know. If it's gone, so much the better."

"So…you couldn't sense whether or not he was telling us the truth or if there's something more to what he says than –"

"Look, Willow, our…'link' for lack of a better word…never quite worked that way. And nowadays it doesn't seem to be working at all. Seems to have faded down to nothing, really."

"But that's significant, isn't it?"

"Yes, significantly better! Really, Willow, it's of no consequence to anyone but Ethan and me. As for his visit to the Council and this warning he seems to have given, I don't know what he's up to. I gave up trying to figure out Ethan Rayne a long time ago. If you want to get a good night's sleep, you will, too."

"Yeah…" Willow said. "With the magical job market drying up for old pros like him, maybe he's just bored and needs to cause a little chaos for fun."

Giles yawned. "Yes, yes, that's probably it. The less attention paid to him, the better off we'll all be, I suppose…" "Thanks, Giles. See you and the little munchkins tomorrow."

"Right. Goodnight." Giles hung up the phone, casting a glance at Becca, still sleeping peacefully beside him. He laid back against the pillows and stared up at the ceiling, frowning.

Cut to: Int. B9 Headquarters Ethan's Bedroom – Continuous

Cameron turned restlessly in her sleep. Ethan stopped reading Cam's letter and watched her worriedly, but she settled and seemed peaceful again. Ethan looked once more at the blue paper scrawled with Cam's messy handwriting. Frowning, he folded the letter and placed it back in the nightstand drawer. Then he turned off the lamp, and laid back down, staring uneasily at the ceiling.

Cut to: Int. Kennedy's Apartment – Night

Kennedy squinted at the screen of her laptop. It was the only source of illumination in the room.

"No results found," said the W.I.L.L.O.W. avatar on the screen, in a particularly chipper voice. Kennedy sighed and sat back in her chair.

"I still say that computer thing is creepy as hell." Kadin was silhouetted in the doorway, leaning against the frame.

"You think that's creepy, you should see this case I'm working on," Kennedy said. "This girl in India…I can't remember, I think I might have met her once…she just got torn apart."

"Ouch," Kadin said sympathetically.

"Yeah, the thing is, it doesn't match any of the bad guys in the database."

"You should come to bed," Kadin said. "Things will look better in the morning."

"I can't remember the last time that was actually true," Kennedy replied. Kadin said nothing. When Kennedy looked over her shoulder, she had disappeared from the doorway and the lights in the other room had been turned off.

"You Have Mail," chirped W.I.L.L.O.W. Kennedy turned back to her laptop and clicked on the mail icon. She mumbled the words as she read them.

"Kennedy, it has been some time since we've seen each other. It seemed like it was time to catch up. How have you been? Well, I hope. For me it's been an interesting couple of weeks."

The sound of Kennedy's voice began to change until it was that of another woman, its precisely chosen syllables the only trace of its original accent.

"I spent some time in the Middle East. Some friends of mine asked for advice. They wanted to meet you, and of course I was eager to help."

Flash: A group of masked gunmen run down a hallway.

Flash: Kennedy, Marissa and Mia watch from the closet as Willow screams.

"I moved on to India, where I met another slayer. I tried to help her learn about herself, but she just refused to cooperate."

Flash: Willow showing Kennedy gruesome crime scene photos.

Flash: The dark-skinned girl from the photographs screams in terror.

"I think eventually she learned not to wait quite so long before beginning to cut off her own arm. It's just too bad she won't have the chance to apply it."

Kennedy's breath began to quicken, and her eyes moved swiftly across the rest of the text.

"Last night I found myself in Hong Kong. It's a beautiful city. I had to leave after I ran into a friend of yours. She proved very disappointing. What kind of slayer walks right into a simple trap, I ask you? Anyway, I figured I'd give you a heads up. Think of it as a courtesy between friends. Sincerely, HH."

Kennedy noticed an attachment at the bottom of the e-mail. Her finger trembled as it clicked the mouse button.

It was a digital photo. Chao-Ahn lay spread-eagled on cement, her head resting in a pool of dark red liquid. A large metal crossbow bolt protruded directly from the center of her forehead. Kennedy roughly slammed her laptop shut, and darkness fell.

Fade to Black

End of Alluvion

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