She ran harder than she had ever run in her life. Her lungs were bursting and her legs ached. Still, she couldn't stop. By the grace of God she had come this far, and God alone knew how close they were to her. She couldn't face what would happen if they caught her. Her death would be horribly painful and humiliating. Better to die of thirst, or exposure, or an animal attack. Somehow she kept going.

As she ran into the road, an old pickup truck swerved to keep from hitting her. Yet, try as the driver could to avoid her, he still dealt her a glancing blow. She collapsed at the side of the road. He pulled over, got out, and ran to where she was lying. My God, it couldn't be! "Darla?" He said, incredulously. Yet he knew it couldn't be Darla. The desert sun was beating down on both of them. Darla would be a pile of ash now. Kneeling, he rolled her gently onto her back.

Her eyes fluttered open. "Help me, please."

"I'll call for help."

"NO! They can't find me. Please. Take me out of here." Her eyes closed.

Although he knew it wasn't the right thing to do in most accident cases, he picked her up and carried her into the cab of his truck. He tried to make her as comfortable as he could. Then he took a bottle of water, moistened his handkerchief, and gently patted her face. He'd better get her out of here quickly. Vaulting into the driver's seat, he took off.

Soon he found a small town with a motel. He quickly rented a room, pulled his truck around the back, and carried her inside. Laying her on the bed, he was again struck by the amazing resemblance to Darla. She had no purse or wallet on her. Who was this woman, and, more important, who was after her? He examined her for injuries as best he could but could find no wounds or broken bones. She was exhausted, dehydrated, and suffering from heat exhaustion, though. In the pocket of her slacks he found something very interesting. It was a wallet with FBI identification in the name of Kathleen Topolsky. Curiouser and curiouser, as Alice would say.

Lindsey pulled down the blinds and turned the air conditioning in the room to maximum. Then he settled down with his guitar and, as quietly as he could, strummed some soft, comforting tunes while he waited for her to regain consciousness.

Several hours later, after he had returned the guitar to its case and turned on the television in search of news, she came to. Panicky, she sat up on the bed. "Who are you? And where am I?"

"I'm Lindsey McDonald. I'm a lawyer on my way to Oklahoma. You ran out into the road in front of my truck. I tried to avoid you, but I couldn't. You may have some bruises, but that seems to be all."

Suddenly she grabbed his face between her two hands and stared into his eyes. "No, you're not one of them. At least I don't think so. If you are, please kill me quickly. Don't turn me over to the others. Please, in mercy's name."

"I don't know who you're talking about. If you mean Wolfram & Hart, I left them for good. And you can interpret that either one of two ways."

"You were with Wolfram & Hart?" She breathed a sigh of relief. "I thought you might be Special Unit."

"Of the FBI?"

Panic was written all over her face. "You are one of them." She pushed him back and tried to get up. He held her arms firmly.

"Whoever they are, I'm not one of them. I just found your badge. If you're FBI, why are your own people after you?"

"You wouldn't believe me."

"You'd be amazed at what I'd believe. There are more things in heaven and earth. . ."

"It's not the ghost of Hamlet's father, that's for sure." She relaxed almost imperceptively. "Who is Darla? I think that's what you called me."

"It would be very hard to explain Darla to you. You look exactly like her, though."

"Then maybe you should tell her to be on the lookout. If they see her and think that she's me, they'll take her and do horrible things to her."

Lindsey laughed wryly. "To Darla? You don't know what she can do. Don't worry about her." He suddenly remembered that she had been running through the desert sun. "Let me get you something to drink. You need water."

Taking the bottle that he handed her, she examined it to see that it was unopened. Then she unscrewed the lid and drank deeply. "Thanks."

"Tell me what's going on so I can help you. I want to help you."

"No one can help me. I know too much. You need to help them, but they won't listen."

"Help whom?"

"Max, Isabelle, and Michael. Maybe Liz, Maria, and Alex. Even Sheriff Valenti."

"What?" But her eyes were closed. She had fallen back to sleep. Lindsey moved her gently to the side of the bed and lay down beside her. Then he fell deeply asleep.

Several hours later, he awoke. She still slept. He couldn't take his eyes off her. She was the picture of Darla, but it was the living Darla he saw when he looked at her. The vampire Darla never showed this vulnerability, even after she had been set afire by Angel. Lindsey had watched over her, gently tending her burns and bringing her blood, but any weakness was a pretense, as he soon found out. This woman was terrified.

She stirred. "Lindsey? What time is it?"

"Five a.m. We'd better get moving. Where should I take you?"

"Nowhere is safe. I can't stay with you or I'll get both of us killed."

"Darla. I'm sorry, I mean Miss Topolsky. I want to help you. Is there anywhere you can go, anyone who could help?"

"If I went back to Roswell, I'd just get them all killed. There's one friend I have who could perhaps help me, but I don't know how to get in touch with him. He comes and goes."

"He comes and goes. Did you ever read Agatha Christie's Harley Quin stories?"

A rare and beautiful smile crossed her face. "I did. I loved those stories." Then her smile vanished. "I'd like to try to contact him, but I don't know how long it would take him to get here. Maybe he could even bring Director Skinner with him. If so, he alone could keep me safe."

"We're not far from the California border. I think I can get you some more protection. Let me make a call."

As he took out his cell phone, she put her hand on top of his. "Are you sure you can trust this person?"

"He and I are not friends, and we never will be, but, if I needed to, I'd trust him with my life. And he's not exactly a man."

"What is he, then?"

"You've heard of Wolfram & Hart. Do you believe what you've heard about them?"

"Supernatural creatures, werewolves, vampires, demons? I've heard that they're clients of Wolfram & Hart's. I'm not sure I believe."

"Let me guess. You mentioned Roswell. Extraterrestrials?" She stared at him and then slowly nodded. "I don't believe in them either, much as I'd like to."

"Believe. It's true. And your contact?"

"A vampire, but one with a soul. And a fine crew of helpers. They help the helpless, except maybe for a certain formerly evil lawyer."

"Go ahead and call."

He dialed the Hyperion. "Hello, Cordelia? This is Lindsey. I really must speak to Angel. It's urgent. A woman's life may depend on it."

"Angel, it's that evil lawyer." She held out the phone.

"What do you want, Lindsey?"

"I need your help. A woman is in grave danger, and I know I'm not enough protection for her."

"This is some kind of a trick, isn't it? While we're off on your wild goose chase, your firm would attack the Hyperion. I should have known you weren't sincere."

"Then you come alone. Leave everyone else behind to guard it. Or send Wes & Gunn & you stay behind. I don't care. She really needs help. She's got a Black Ops team after her."

"Black Ops? Who? CIA?"

"FBI. She's an agent who knows too much. I really need one or two of you."

"All right. Where are you?"

"We'll head west and meet you halfway. There's a diner called Crossroads." Lindsey gave directions. Then he turned the phone off. "Let's go. We'll grab a bite and get going. They'll be meeting us. You can try to call your friend or, if you can't get him, then call the other person you mentioned."

"Skinner? All right." She climbed into the cab of the truck, took the phone, and began to punch in numbers. But she soon shook her head. "I can't reach Fox Mulder, and I got Skinner's machine. I don't dare leave my name."

"We'll try again later."

"Wes, you're with me. Cordelia, you, Lorne, and Gunn stay here."

"May I come, too? I'd like to do something. I need to feel useful."

He nodded at the other person in the lobby. "Come on, then. I can use your help." The three of them headed for the car. Angel lay in the back, covered with a blanket, while Wes drove.

Lindsey drove as fast as he dared. He didn't want to risk being stopped by a state trooper. The one experience he had had with them thanks to Angel's prank of the COPS SUCK sign on the back was enough. He pulled into a McDonald's drive through and ordered Egg McMuffins, one for him and two for Topolsky. He also ordered her double hash browns and coffee. As an afterthought, he added to their supply of bottled water. It would be a while before they stopped again.

"Lindsey, you don't have to do this for me."

"Yes, I do. I've done so much evil in my life that I need to help as many people as I can to make up for it. And it sounds as if you're in grave danger."

She nodded. "So are others."

"You mentioned names. Tell me about them. Max, Maria, Isabelle, Sheriff Valenti?"

"Max, his twin sister Isabelle, and Michael are aliens, raised from childhood on earth. The others, Liz, Maria, and Alex, are their friends and may be in love with them. Sheriff Valenti is a good man who, I believe, wants to help them if they'd let him. The bureau sent me to West Roswell High School to substantiate rumors they heard."

"But the Roswell landing was so long ago. They'd be grown by now."

"Evidently they were in life pods and, for some reason, emerged about 13 years ago as very young children. They had hidden well until Liz was shot in an abortive robbery attempt of the diner where she worked. Max somehow healed her and left his handprint on her abdomen. That drew the attention. Along the way Max and Liz, then Michael & Maria fell in love."

"Alex and Isabelle?"

"Alex was Liz' best friend since childhood. He loves Isabelle, and I think she cares for him. They are good kids, but, once they found out who I was, they wouldn't trust me. I think Michael believed that I had evidence, but the others were afraid. Then, after I got away the first time and risked my life, I was recaptured. Somehow I managed to escape."

"Maybe they expected you to lead them back to the extraterrestrials." He pulled over to the side of the road. "Strip. Take off everything. Put these on. Sorry about the boxers, and I have no bras, obviously."

"You think there might be a tracking device?"

"It's possible. I promise I won't look." Lindsey got out of the cab and walked off a short distance.

"Come back now." She handed him her clothes, and he threw them away.

"We'll make a quick stop and pick up something when we get a chance. I'd better get back on the move."

After three hours, Lindsey allowed Kathleen to take over the driving. He got his guitar out of the back and played some soft music while they traveled. "You're very good. I thought I heard you the other night while we were in the motel."

"I didn't mean to disturb you."

"You didn't. It was very nice. Comforting." Her smile was really lovely. Darla had never smiled like that. She was too sad when she was human. When she was a vampire, her smile was smug, arrogant, and evil.

They stopped briefly in a small town. Lindsey went into the store and bought some clothes and shoes for Kathleen in the sizes she gave him. At McDonald's they stopped so she could use the ladies' room and change, but they took their food with them and ate in the truck.

Eventually they arrived at the agreed-upon Crossroads Diner. Angel hadn't yet arrived. Lindsey and Kathleen went inside and chose an inside booth away from the windows. "We should eat some good food. Maybe some pasta or a salad." Lindsey ordered milk for both of them as well.

About halfway through their meal, Angel's car pulled up. The sun had gone down, so he was sitting in the back. "There's McDonald's truck. They must be inside."

Wes was the first one in. When he saw Lindsey's companion, he was stunned. "My God, Darla!"

"No, it's not Darla. The resemblance is amazing, but she's human." Angel sat next to her in the booth. "I can't believe it. You're the picture of her."

Lindsey rose when he saw the third person enter. "Detective Lockley. What a surprise! I guess you've come for me, right?"

She grimaced. "First of all, I'm not Detective Lockley any more. I'm off the force. And even if I were, I have nothing that I could arrest you for. At least nothing I know of."

"You're off the force? I can't believe it. You were the best. Why?"

"It's a long and complicated story that I can't go into now." She looked at Topolsky. "I see why you wanted to help her."

"Not because she looks like Darla, Miss Lockley. Because she's on the run from people who want to kill her."

"Tell me your story, Miss?"

"Kathleen Topolsky. Agent Kathleen Topolsky. I assume you're Angel, the vampire with a soul. And you with the English accent must be Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, the Watcher for Faith, the renegade vampire slayer. And Miss Lockley, may I ask your first name?"

"It's the same as yours. Kathleen. But they call me Kate."

"Bonny Kate, and sometimes Kate the curst, But Kate, the fairest Kate in Christendom." Lindsey grinned his smug grin as he quoted The Taming of the Shrew.

"Enough. Who are these Black Ops people Lindsey was talking about?"

"A special FBI force assigned to track extraterrestrial activity. They are trying to find out more about the Roswell aliens so they can kill them and dismember them, after first debriefing them. But they're just teenagers. I know what they did to me, so I shudder to think what would happen to them. They'll kill me when they get me because I tried to warn the kids."

"What are we supposed to do?" Wesley's face betrayed deep thought. "How can we help you?"

"I've been trying to contact friends at the Bureau who have the power to protect me, but I need to be free until I can rendezvous with them. That's all I need for now."

"Did you reach your friend Mulder yet?"

"No, Lindsey, but I did reach his partner, Scully. I trust her. She's trying to get in touch with Fox or, failing that, to get Skinner."

"Perhaps we should leave now," Wes said. "I think we need to be moving. We can all ride in the car now. They may know Lindsey's truck."

Lindsey dropped some money on the table. "Do you want to get something to go? You must be hungry and thirsty. Sorry, Angel, nothing for you here."

"We don't have time. Let's move." Lindsey stopped at his truck and took all the water he could carry. He looked sadly at his guitar but left it behind. That way they might figure he'd be back. He handed Kate a bottle of water which she accepted gratefully.

"Should we go back to the Hyperion?" Wes asked, sliding into the driver's seat.

"Unless you know someplace safe, Miss Topolsky?" As she shook her head, Angel opened the driver's door. "In case we need to get away fast, I'll drive, Wes." Wes got out and moved into the passenger seat, looking enviously at Lindsey who sat in the back between the two gorgeous blondes. Lindsey was grinning his annoying arrogant grin, but Angel could feel the tension coming from his body. They pulled out and started down the road toward L.A.

"Try Mulder again, Kathleen." Lindsey handed her his cell phone and she punched in the numbers.

This time she was rewarded by a voice. "Fox Mulder."

"Fox, it's Kathleen Topolsky. They're after me. Can you help me?"

"Where are you, Kathleen? Are you alone?"

"No, I have four people with me. They're helping me, but I don't know how long we can hold out if they catch us."

"Tell me where you are." He listened and made some mental calculations. "I'll get in touch with Skinner and, if I have time, with Scully. We'll meet you, but you'd better go to ground. These people. Do you trust them?"

"With my life. I have a former L.A. cop, a former Wolfram & Hart lawyer, a former Watcher, and Angel."

Mulder laughed. "Quite a collection. I thought there was bad blood between Lindsey McDonald & Angel."

Angel's vampire hearing picked that up. Just how much did the FBI know about them?

"We'll find a motel and I'll call you again. Keep your cell phone on, Fox. And please, for the love of God, hurry." She hit the End button and handed Lindsey's phone back to him.

"Just how much does the FBI know about us, Miss Topolsky?"

"Fox Mulder heads the X-Files. He investigates all the supernatural occurrences that most of us don't, or rather didn't, believe in. Very few in the FBI have ever heard of you, and most of the ones that have believe you're some kind of fairy tale."

"Angel, when Darla was alive, before the Master turned her, had she ever had a child?"

"When she was about 16, she had a daughter. She left her with the nuns at the convent where she gave birth. Are you thinking that Agent Topolsky is a descendant, Lindsey?"

"That would explain the resemblance, yes."

"Angel, I think maybe we're being followed." Kate had been looking behind them, which necessitated leaning up against Lindsey a little bit. She didn't smell the expensive scents that he used to wear, the coordinated cologne, shampoo, and soap smells. He smelled like soap and shampoo from the drugstore and, somehow, she liked that smell better. She also liked his leather jacket and jeans look, but, of course, she'd never tell him that. He looked younger and more innocent than he had when he had worked for Wolfram & Hart, and she found it very attractive. She tried to turn a little more to get a better look, which necessitated pressing closer to him. Unfortunately he shifted just a little to allow her more room, which brought him closer to Darla's lookalike. Damn!

The car that passed them was a family with several kids in the back who seemed to be yelling and harried looking parents obviously in a hurry to get home. Angel and everyone else relaxed slightly. They didn't see the woman pull out a cell phone. "It's Agent Peters. We just passed them. They're heading west, and there are five of them in the car, three men and two women. We'll dump these kids back at the shelter and rendezvous with you. Peters out!"

"Angel, turn the car around now!"

"Why, Wes?"

"Those kids weren't just crying from hunger or fatigue. They appeared to be terrified. I think that was someone looking for Agent Topolsky. They'll expect us to keep going this way. Turn around!"

Angel swung the car around, heading back the way they had come. A few miles down the road they came to a small town. By this time, almost everything was closed for the night. As they drove down a residential street looking for a place to hide the car and stay, they saw a woman drive up to a house. She stopped, picked up two newspapers from the driveway, took mail out of the mailbox, and, getting back into her car, drove off. "She's watching that house for a neighbor," Kate said.

"Which means nobody is home. And there's a garage." Lindsey looked around. The woman had driven out of sight. "Can anyone here pick a lock?"

"I can." Kate took a hairpin out and straightened it. "Let me take a crack at it." She ran up to the front door and began to work on the lock. In less than a minute it was open.

"Open the garage door, Kate. Let's see if we can put the car inside." The door went up. One car was inside, but the other half was empty. Angel drove in and everyone climbed out of the car. Kate lowered the garage door.

"No lights. No television. We're going to rest and let them hunt for us. This is just temporary. Try not to touch anything or mess anything up. If we're really careful, they won't know we were here." Kate felt her way up the stairs. "There are three bedrooms. We should sleep on top of the covers, but we'll take turns keeping watch."

"No, you all rest. I'll stay awake. Remember, I don't need sleep."

"Kate, Kathleen, why don't you sleep upstairs? I'll sack out on the sofa." Lindsey found a pillow for his head. Wes sat in the recliner and, using his handkerchief on the handle, found a comfortable position. Both men were quickly asleep.

"Kate, please tell me about Darla. As I look so much like her, I'd like to know what she was really like."

"Wes knows more about it than I do. I know she was a prostitute in colonial Virginia before the Master made her a vampire. Two hundred years later she met a drunken Liam and turned him into Angelus. The two of them became the scourge of Europe, torturing and killing their way across the continent. They were joined by other vampires, first James and Elizabeth and then Drusilla and William, who is now known as Spike. When Angel tortured and killed a gypsy girl, her tribe cursed him by giving him back his soul. With it, of course, came all the guilt over the horrible things he had done. He left Darla then. They met again in China during the Boxer Rebellion and then in Sunnydale in 1996. By then Angel had fallen in love with another tiny blonde, Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer. He staked Darla to save Buffy."

"Where does Lindsey come in? Is he from Sunnydale?"

"Three years later Wolfram & Hart, the evil law firm Lindsey worked for, brought Darla back somehow. Lindsey actually finished the spell and then tried to burn the scroll so Angel couldn't get it. Angel cut off Lindsey's right hand."

"How horrible!"

"Anyway, Lindsey was taking care of Darla, who was human again, and very vulnerable, and he fell in love with her. But she was dying of the syphilitic heart condition that she had had back in Virginia. Wolfram & Hart found Drusilla, who turned Darla back into a vampire. Even though she was evil again, Lindsey still loved her. Angel locked Darla & Drusilla in a winecellar full of Wolfram & Hart lawyers, and they killed them all except for Lindsey and Lilah Morgan. Then Angel set Darla & Drusilla afire. They escaped, Lindsey found Darla, and he took care of her. But it was Angel, or, I should say, Angelus that she wanted all along. Finally she slept with him, and then he rejected her. Lindsey found out and went after Angel with his truck and a sledge hammer, but Angel was still too much for him. When he got home, Darla was gone. No one knows where she is now."

"Poor Lindsey. I'm very sorry for him. He's such a good, caring person."

"You didn't know him when he worked for the law firm from Hell. He was arrogant, proud, greedy, and downright nasty when he wanted to be. But he did help to rescue three blind children with supernatural powers."

"You said Angel cut off his hand. He's got two hands."

"Evidently the firm arranged a transplant. He discovered that they kept a facility with people who had double crossed them in one way or another and were harvesting body parts from them. He & Angel destroyed it before he left the firm."

"I wonder why someone as nice as he is joined that firm?"

Kate shook her head. Topolsky seemed to be falling for Lindsey. "I understand he was extremely poor and powerless when he was young. They offered him everything he wanted and probably did not let him know what they stood for until it was too late. Of course for the first two years he seemed to love it. Then, after he lost his hand and realized that Darla would never love him, it all went sour. He might have left the firm earlier if Angel hadn't mocked him when they rescued the children."

"Poor Lindsey." If Lindsey had seen her now, Kate was sure he'd fall in love with Topolsky. The look on her face was one that she was sure he'd wished to see on Darla.

"What about you? What's your story?"

"I used to watch all these movies and television shows about the FBI and how they were so noble. I wanted to help save the people of the USA from criminals. So they sent me to spy on teenagers who may or may not be extraterrestrials. Then, when one of them blew my cover, they debriefed me until I was almost dead. I let them think I was and one got too close. I grabbed his gun and managed to get away, but they're not far behind. You know this is just a brief respite. We'll have to move again soon until I can connect with Fox."

"We'd better rest now." Kate lay on top of the bed. Topolsky took off her shoes and joined her.

"Thank you, Kate. I'm glad you're here."

"You're welcome. Get some sleep now." Kate closed her eyes and was soon asleep, but Lindsey kept appearing in her dreams, his arms around her, his lips on hers, his. . . She found herself in a cold sweat. Damn!

Before sunrise everyone was up and ready to leave. Wes & Lindsey wiped anything they might have touched while Kate and Kathleen straightened the bed. Then they took the car out of the garage as quietly as possible and closed the door. They set off toward Los Angeles.

"Fox, where are you?"

"We're on our way, Kathleen. Let's rendezvous at Kingston. Do you know how to get there?"

"It's about an hour from here."

"We're in the copter about two hours away. Scully and Skinner are with me. Hold out as best you can if they find you."

"Angel, do we have weapons?" Lindsey was frowning. Could they hold out against a Black Ops group?

"Swords, crossbows, a pair of sais, some throwing stars, an Orb of Messala, and the Book of Calls. Oh, yes, and a flamethrower. Do you know how to use the Orb, Lindsey?"

"I think so. If I have time, and if I can get close enough,I can do an immobilization spell."

"I have a gun," Kate Lockley said.

"I hate the idea of killing fellow agents," Topolsky sighed.

"After what they did to you? What choice do we have?" Lindsey reached around and put his hand on her shoulder. Kate frowned just a little.

The Black Ops unit had soon discovered that Topolsky and the others had doubled back, but they were unable to find them because they had been hidden in the house. They were headed for California and weren't too far behind.

"I need to stop, Wes. I need to get into the trunk. It's almost dawn. If Topolsky gets in with me, they might not suspect a car with three people in it."

"Is there room? And will she be able to breathe?"

"Probably no to both questions."

"We'd better do something else then." Angel pulled over and got into the trunk while Topolsky lay on the floor with the blanket over her. Kate moved up front. Wes sped off.

However, they weren't quite to Kingston when they found themselves being followed. Wes searched for someplace with heavy shade to protect Angel from the direct sun, although it was an extremely overcast day. He pulled into a deserted barn. Angel got out of the trunk.

"We can't outrun them. Let's make a stand here. Lindsey, take the orb. Start chanting when you think they're close enough. Kate, Kathleen, do you know how to use any of the weapons we have?"

"I had some martial arts training. I can use the sai, but I doubt we'll get close enough."

"I'll call Fox again. Maybe they're closer than we think." Quickly everyone took their places in a circle, Lindsey in the center with the Orb and Angel at point with the flame thrower. "They'll soon be here. If we can just hold out a few minutes. . ."

"Fox! Hurry!"

"We're flying as fast as we can, Kathleen! We'll be there!"

Several cars pulled up, spilling out people with tasers and other weapons. Angel let loose with a burst from the flamethrower. Wes threw a star and caught the first man in the shoulder.

"Your youth wasn't so misspent after all, Wes. All those dart games did some good," Angel laughed.

Wes threw another star, catching a female agent in the leg. "That's gotta hurt," Lindsey said, thinking of the time in the boardroom when he shot Allan, the security guard, in the foot. Then he moved forward to stand beside Angel and began to chant.

"Get back, you fool!"

"What! And immobilize you?" He began to chant again.

"They're not close enough, Lindsey." Wes grabbed another star and hit an agent in the eye. "Oh, dear, I didn't mean to do that."

"They're going to try to kill us, Wes." Kate fired her gun and hit one man right in the stomach. He collapsed. Lindsey moved forward a little, still chanting, as Angel let go with another burst from the flame thrower. Behind him, he heard Wes moan. Lindsey took another step forward, chanting louder. A bullet to the shoulder knocked him to his knees, but he continued to chant. One or two of the agents stopped dead in their tracks, but the rest kept coming. Then he was surrounded by blue fire and fell unconscious.

Angel let loose another blast. Kathleen ducked under the fire, ran to Lindsey, and grabbed the Orb. Turning, she threw it to Wes just before the taser blast hit her and she fell at Lindsey's side.

"I hear the chopper coming!" Angel turned the flame thrower skyward to make a signal to the helicopter and then blasted again. No one would take Kathleen or even Lindsey on his watch. Behind him Wes had taken up the chant. Kate was firing and had wounded two more people. Unfortunately one of them was already immobilized.

"Helicopter!" one of the FBI agents yelled!

"It's Skinner, damn him. Cease firing." They all turned to see the helicopter set down. Three people got out. One was an attractive red-haired woman in her mid-thirties; another was a handsome man the same age or slightly older. The third, a balding man, was obviously their leader. The younger man, Fox, it would appear, ran to Kathleen. The redhead went back to the chopper and came back with a black medical bag. Director Skinner faced the Black Ops people.

"Agent Topolsky is under my protection. What the devil did you think you were doing?"

The leader of the operatives stepped boldly up to Skinner. "Protecting our country and, for that matter, our world, from conquest and colonization by extraterrestrials. She has refused to give us any more information."

Mulder had helped Topolsky to her feet, but she was obviously shaken and dizzy. "I don't know anything more. I honestly think there's nothing to know. These kids are just that, teenagers with raging hormones."

Scully had turned Lindsey onto his back, opened his shirt, and was examining the wound. "The bullet went through. No bone damage. It'll be painful, but it should heal just fine."

She began to paint the area with antiseptics.

"Get out of here now but you, Windsor, report to my office tomorrow. I want a full report. And remember, Miss Topolsky is under my protection. She is not to be touched."

Windsor led the others back to the cars and led them off down the highway. Lindsey was sitting up as Scully bandaged his shoulder. Then they rose and joined everyone in the barn.

"So you're Angel. I've heard a lot about you." Fox held out his hand.

"Funny, I've never heard about you," Angel said, but he took the proffered hand.

"I have. They call him Spooky Mulder." Wes gave his hand to Fox.

"Wesley Wyndham-Pryce. Happy to meet you. There are times when I'll want to make use of your expertise in translating, interpreting, and cross-referencing. May I get in touch with you when the situation arises? You'll be well compensated, I assure you."

Wes nodded. "If I can be of help without getting into a situation like this one."

"Some of these groups overstep their bounds, Mr. Wyndham-Pryce," Skinner said. "Scully, I see you've taken care of Mr. McDonald. Anyone else need attention?"

Everyone shook their heads. Lindsey was putting his shirt back on while Kate, Kathleen, and Dana Scully tried not to stare. What a chest! Angel shook his head.

"I guess we should get Agent Topolsky back to D.C. Mr. McDonald, Miss Lockley, should you have any thought of joining the F.B.I., please come and see me. Here is my number. I could use both of you. The pay and benefits are very good. I'll personally see to it that you get positions if you qualify physically. And I'll overlook your past few years with Wolfram & Hart, McDonald." Skinner offered cards to both of them.

"May I have a minute, please, Director?" Kathleen stepped over to Lindsey. "I'd just like to say goodbye to everyone."

"Don't be too long, Agent." Skinner, Mulder, and Scully shook hands all around and headed for the copter. Kathleen shook hands with Angel & Wes and then walked off a few steps away with Lindsey, just out of earshot for everyone except Angel who, unknown to her, had exceptional hearing, being a vampire.

"Thank you for everything, Lindsey. I'm just sorry you didn't have a chance to sleep with Darla."

"If the opportunity had arisen, Kathleen, it wouldn't have been a Darla substitute. It would have been a beautiful, brave, compassionate woman named Kathleen Topolsky in my arms. You're very special. But the timing was wrong. If I had met you while I was in college or law school, I might not have ended up in Wolfram & Hart."

"I'll miss you. I'm sure we'll never see each other again."

"Goodbye, Agent Topolsky." He took her chin in his hand and kissed her softly on the lips, a kiss that clung a little longer than necessary. Then, smiling, he stepped away. She turned and went back to the group to hug Kate.

"Go for it, Kate," she whispered in her ear. "I think he's attracted to you." Then she hugged her just a little tighter. Turning quickly so they couldn't see the tears in her eyes, she started for the copter.

Angel took a couple of steps after her. "When I look at you, I see what Darla could have been, given the opportunity. Stay well, Kathleen, and watch your back."

"Thank you. Goodbye, now." And they were off.

"So do we head back to L.A.?" Wes asked.

"Angel told me not to come back, remember?"

"What do you want to do?" Kate asked.

"Well, my truck, my clothes, and my guitar are back at the Crossroads Diner. And I don't know about you all, but I'm starving."

"We won't get there for a while. Let's stop for something to eat." Angel climbed into the trunk while Wes slid into the driver's seat. Kate followed Lindsey into the back.

"What are you going to do, Kate?"

"I'm going to leave Los Angeles, Lindsey. There are too many memories. Skinner's offer sounds like a possibility. Also my cousin Serena Southerlyn, who works with the Executive Assistant District Attorney in New York City, says that there are openings in the N.Y.P.D. She also said there's a fairly high turnover of Assistant District Attorneys, in case you might be interested. I'm going to examine my options."

"How were you planning on going across country?"

"I thought I'd buy a small car and drive. I haven't been out of California in my entire life. I'd like to see the country, but I don't have a lot of money."

"I always thought I might be leaving Wolfram & Hart, so I had made arrangements for my escape. I've got a lot of money put away to tide me over, and I saw to it that my things that really mattered to me were put in storage until I was settled again."

"Your books?" Wes and Lindsey shared a love of fantasy and science fiction.

"Also family pictures, my diplomas, my opera and ballet videotapes, my baseball trophies, that sort of thing. If I tell you where I've stored my books, you can borrow as many as you want. Just please make sure I get them back." He looked at Kate. "That's a long way to travel alone, you know. Company would be very nice. No demands but companionship and sharing the driving."

Kate took a deep breath. "No demands until both of us are ready, at least." She looked him in the eye and smiled. He smiled back.

In the trunk Angel smiled. This just might be what both of them needed. They each needed someone. He could imagine in the future Kate & Lindsey, married, with three or four little Lindseys. No, on second thought, he hoped they'd be little Kates. One Lindsey is enough, thank you!

"I do want to stop in Oklahoma to look for whatever is left of my family. Is that okay with you?"

She nodded. "I'd like to meet them." He slid just a little closer to her and put his hand over hers. One step at a time. But the future looked hopeful to both of them.

The truck was there, but the people at the Crossroads had taken everything else inside for safekeeping. Lindsey and Kate decided to stop at the nearest city and get rid of it, replacing it with something new. "Definitely air conditioned!" Lindsey said.

A few days later, after a short side trip to Las Vegas and another to the Grand Canyon, they arrived in Roswell, New Mexico. They located the Sheriff's office. Sheriff Valenti, a man in his 40's with a weathered face and a slim but obviously fit body, rose as they walked into his office. "What can I do for you?"

"My name is Lindsey McDonald, and this is Kate Lockley. We're passing through on our way east, and we just stopped in to give you a message from Kathleen Topolsky."

"How is Agent Topolsky?" His gaze was direct and quite suspicious.

"Fine, now. We helped her to get away from some very evil, or at least misguided, FBI agents. The director himself is seeing to her safety. She had just mentioned that she wanted you to know she was all right. She said you were a good man and she trusted you."

He looked at his watch. "It's just about lunchtime. Come with me." He led them to a brightly lit diner called the Crashdown, which featured a huge flying saucer as part of the sign. The waitresses wore aprons that looked like the familiar alien face and "deely-boppers" on their heads. And of course the menu featured cute names for the food. "I recommend the Saturn rings!"

The food was delicious. Lindsey looked around and noticed six young people in particular. Two of the waitresses were very pretty. One had long dark hair and looked a little like Katie Holmes, the actress, while the other, a redhead, reminded him of a young Molly Ringwald. A tall, slim young man was standing in close proximity to the brunette, his hand in hers, and the redhead appeared to be quite taken with the tall young man at the grill, who smiled only at her. In a booth a beautiful blonde girl sat with a pleasant looking dark haired young man. As Lindsey watched, she poured Tabasco sauce on her chocolate cake! Obviously one of the extraterrestrials! She must be Isabelle, and the boy with her was Alex. He didn't know which of the others were which, but Kathleen Topolsky seemed to be right. Strange mixture of food aside, they appeared to be normal teen-agers.

"This is quite good," Lindsey said as the brunette refilled his coffee cup. "My compliments to the chef."

"I'll tell Michael," she replied, smiling.

The Sheriff cleared his throat. "This is a nice town, Mr. McDonald, Miss Lockley. A very nice, quiet place. A good place to grow up. I want it to stay that way. I was elected by the people to protect them, and I plan to do my job. That means protecting everyone. Do I make myself clear?"

Kate and Lindsey nodded.

"Let me treat you to lunch today. You might want to spend a few minutes at the Alien Museum, maybe buy a souvenir or two, and then you'd probably want to be on your way before it gets dark. You did say you were just passing through, I thought."

"We're on our way to Oklahoma to see my family," Lindsey said.

"I thought I detected a little trace of an accent. None for you though, Miss Lockley."

"California born & bred. I've never been this far east before."

"I don't want to keep you, then. Remember, I take care of my citizens here. Even well-meaning people sometimes can cause problems. I'm sure that doesn't apply to the two of you, of course."

"Of course. Thank you for your hospitality, Sheriff Valenti." Lindsey rose and held out his hand. Kate followed suit.

"Interesting scar you have around your wrist. I'll bet there's quite a story behind it. Too bad there's no time to hear it. Thank you for letting me know about Agent Topolsky. I'm glad she's all right."

"Goodbye, Sheriff." Kate and Lindsey left, smiling at the teens as they exited. They dropped by the museum for a few minutes. Lindsey bought a soft stuffed alien doll and some alien face earrings for Kate. Then they headed out of town.

"I've never been asked to leave so politely before. He's very protective, isn't he?"

"I'm sure he has a tough job to do if those kids really are extraterrestrials and he wants to protect them. I don't envy him."

"Well, Lindsey, I'm looking forward to meeting your family."

"I don't know if any of them are still around, Kate. I have a lot of making up with them to do. But I know this: they'll love you." He put his hand on hers. "After all, I do."

"And I love you. So, New York or D.C.?"

"I'm in no hurry. We have all the time in the world, Katy, and such a lot of world to see."

"And each other to see it with. What more could we ask?" Leaning close to him, she closed her eyes and enjoyed the moment. She had never been happier. And neither had he.