From the London streets, the old building looked like it watched over everything, like a stern, ever-vigilant parent. Those inside did watch everything, but much more discreetly. The outside of the building was at odds with the inside. Having finally decided to come into the age of technology, the Watchers hadn't done anything halfway. The most sophisticated of surveillance and recording technology was employed to track demonic activity . . . and Immortals. Not that the Watcher's didn't still employ a more personal, one-on-one approach at times, but all this technology meant that every Watcher had access to a massive amount of information should they need it.

Buffy, Angel and Rutherford stood outside the massive building, lit up for the evening. Buffy was no eager to face this many Watchers in one place, and the slowness of her pace reflected that. She didn’t know whether she was worried for herself or for Angel. Angel had said nothing about how he felt about this mandatory visit, but he’d never been one to talk about his feelings about anything. Only Rutherford seemed eager to enter the building.

The young Watcher led the two of them into the building, where they were stopped by an even younger security guard. Much to Buffy’s surprise Rutherford pulled out an ID card and handed it to the guard. The guard nodded and handed the card back to him, but he still would not let them pass.

It seemed that, though the Watchers had come into the information age, they didn’t communicate any better with each other. The guard insisted that he could not let anyone pass who either was not a Watcher or on his official visitor list. This frustrated Rutherford, who insisted that they were expected.

After they had been arguing with each other for some time, an older, very distinguished looking gentleman came striding down the main hall. "Rutherford!" he called in greeting, then, "Oh good, you’ve arrived." This was directed to Buffy, to whom he held out his hand and said, "My name is Robert Wallace. It’s an honor to meet you, Ms. Summers. If you follow me, I’ll conduct you to the council chamber."

Buffy noticed that he did not even glance at Angel during his introduction. Looking at Angel, she saw that he had noticed as well. He shrugged, though, and followed Wallace into the headquarters. The guards made no move to stop them this time, returning to his station to allow them to pass.

Things moved quickly after that. Another man joined them halfway down the hall and spoke to Rutherford in hushed tones. The two of them parted ways with Buffy and Angel, presumably going on to their own meeting. Wallace led them at a brisk walk down a hallway that ended in large double doors. Only then did he acknowledge Angel’s presence to demand that he remain outside and warn him against wandering the headquarters. Then he opened the doors and led Buffy through, closing them heavily behind them.

After that, things became very slow. The Watchers Buffy was faced with dragged on, varying questions from the mundane to the embarrassingly personal. Buffy knew they were just trying to determine her identity with certainty, but this was getting ridiculous. Finally, they nodded to each other in silence. Then, after a dramatic pause, they explained why she had been summoned.

Buffy stared at them in shock after they stopped. "Let me get this straight," she said. "Some vampire happened to find a pre-Immortal, right? And, not knowing that he was pre-Immortal, decided to turn him into a vampire. Somehow, this Immortal’s first death was enough time for the demon to enter his body, so when he awoke he was some sort of vampire hybrid? And now he’s killing people in the daytime?"

"Yes, Ms. Summers."

"And why can’t the current Slayer take him out?"

The Watcher who’d just been speaking sighed. "Unfortunately, Synnove is an unusual Slayer. Her strengths are more of the mind than the body. Plus, Idannis is quite an accomplished swordsman. She does not have the skill to go against him." Before Buffy could ask her next question, he continued. "No Immortal has come away from a fight with him either. His supernatural strength, speed, and stamina give him an edge none of them can match.

"We need someone trained to fight both vampires and Immortals," he explained. "We need you."

So, Angel was left staring at the wood paneling of the hall. When his mind began to trace the discreet cross patterns there, though, he looked for something else to concentrate on. Finding nothing, he closed his eyes to be left alone with his thoughts.

An indeterminate amount of time later the doors which Buffy had disappeared through opened once again. Before Angel could even stand in response the small blond threw herself into his arms and caught his lips in a passionate kiss. When she pulled away again, eyes, twinkling, Angel looked at her in surprise. "What was that for?"

"‘Cause I wanted to," Buffy explained. Her mouth twitched with suppressed laughter as she added, "Plus, I wanted to see how Wallace would react. How’s he taking it?"

Angel glanced at the Watcher hovering behind her. "I think his eyes are going to fall out of his head."

Buffy chuckled. "Good." Then she kissed him again.

This time Wallace cleared his throat noisily. "If you don’t mind," he said testily, "I have been instructed to direct you to the library. One of our researchers is meeting you there to discuss Idannis."

"Idannis?" Angel queried.

"Immortal-vampire," Buffy explained. At Angel’s continued confused look she said, "Like a hybrid. He can go out in the sunlight and a stake won’t kill him. Very evil."

Wallace folded his arms impatiently. "Ms. Summers?"

Buffy sighed. "Keep your shirt on. We’re coming."

As Wallace led them through the massive headquarters building, Angel was glad that he had not wandered off on his own. As one massive corridor led to another, Angel found himself hopelessly lost. He would never have found his way around here on his own.

They stopped at another set of double doors, but this time Wallace did not enter with them. Instead he simply gestured that this was their destination and walked back the way they had come. Angel was not sorry to see him go. He took Buffy’s hand and together they walked into the cavernous library.

Suddenly, Buffy tensed beside him and halted her steps. Angel looked at her in concern.

"There’s an Immortal here," she whispered, her eyes searching the room warily. Angel released her hand, both of them instantly battle ready. Footsteps echoed in the silent library, and the two immortals awaited a third’s approach.

When the man finally stepped into sight, Buffy’s reaction was not what Angel expected. Her entire face lit up with a smile, and she caught the man in a short friendly hug. "Methos!" she cried.

The man smiled slightly in response and pulled away. "Buffy," he said, "it’s good to see you."

"What are you doing here?" Buffy sounded genuinely surprised.

"You came for information regarding Idannis," Methos said. "I’m here to give it to you."

"You’re the researcher?"

The Immortal nodded. His gaze traveled from Buffy to Angel, still lingering awkwardly just inside the doorway. He glanced at Buffy, waiting for an introduction.

Buffy got the hint. "Oh!" she said, turning around a gesturing for Angel to join her. "Methos, this is Angel. Angel, this is Methos. My teacher in the ways of Immortals."

Angel smiled slightly and reached forward to shake Methos’s hand. "Pleased to meet you."

"Likewise." Methos took a beat, then looked at Buffy questioningly. "Angel? As in . . . that Angel?" At Buffy’s pleased nod, Methos smiled. "Well, I always wondered about the vampire who could capture a Slayer’s heart."

Angel looked at Buffy briefly. They had spoken about what they’d done while apart, yes, but not about what they’d thought. Though he’d never stopped thinking about Buffy, he was still surprised that she’d spoken of him. Or had Methos found out about the two of them another way? He was one of the Watchers’ researchers, after all.

Buffy caught his gaze, but did not answer the questions in it. Instead, she turned her own questioning gaze to the eldest Immortal. "What are you doing here, really?" she said.

"There’s something you need to know about Idannis," he said finally. "He’s unlike any other vampire you’ve ever faced. Or Immortal."

"I know. He’s a hybrid of sorts," Buffy replied.

"Yes," Methos acknowledged. "The thing is, he’s always been evil. He was evil before he was ever bitten by a vampire."

Buffy nodded. "Thank you. I was wondering."

"Don’t you want to know something else?"

Buffy looked confused.

"Like where he is? Where you’re going?"

Buffy grinned. "Oh yeah. Where is he?"

Methos just smiled, and Buffy laughed. Angel looked at them both in confusion.

"Where else? Sunnydale, California."

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