****
Gwen: "Demon, OK? The whole nine - cloven feet and horns and teeth - he wasn't wearing lame though."
Lorne: "Yeah, the evil ones can't pull it off. It gets camp."

- AtS 4.09 "Long Day's Journey"

When Gwen comes to Wolfram and Hart, she is not looking for Denzel. She's not even looking for Angel. And she's certainly not looking for Twiggy. No, when Gwen comes to Wolfram and Hart, she's looking for Lorne.

Gunn told her all about him. About how you just have to sing for him, and he'd read you, give you advice. Kind of like a cross between mystical therapy and karaoke. She figures she has nothing to lose, and besides - she could use a little advice.

She probably wouldn't have been let in if it wasn't for the fact that Angel had been in the lobby.

"Gwen? What are you doing here?" She saw his eyes scan her body. "You're wearing jeans. And a t-shirt."

Gwen fidgeted slightly. Even after Gunn, she couldn't help the sudden bloodrush she got when she saw Angel. Especially when he was obviously checking her out. "Yeah. Look. I need to see Lorne. He's in Entertainment, right?" Gwen did her homework before she came. She knew exactly what department all of the Angel Investigations team were in.

Angel looked confused, but said, "Yeah. Yeah, sure. I'll take you to him if you - "

"Thanks. That'd be nice," Gwen said quickly. She so didn't come to play the unresolved sexual tension game with Angel.

Angel led her to Lorne's office, and Gwen found the green demon talking on his cell phone. Gwen took a look around his office. Lush digs, she thought, a small smile on her face. He's got taste. I bet he's gay. While Gwen was standing there, she made up a little story in her head where the demon confessed his love to Angel, Angel at first surprised, but quickly embracing Lorne in a passionate embrace, his cold but experienced hands slinking down Lorne's back as the demon moaned into his mouth and -

"Hey, cherry pie. You look absolutely smashing if you don't mind me saying so. I thought you more of the leather type, but I must say the denim look really brings out those gorgeous eyes of yours," Lorne said, interrupting her story right as it was getting good. "So what brings you here today, sweetness?"

"Angel!" Gwen said quickly. "Oh, you mean - Yeah. Well I was wondering if you'd want to read me?"

"Sure thing, babydoll. Just belt out a little tune."

"Anything I want?"

"Anything you want," Lorne said with an encouraging smile.

Gwen swallowed hard and licked her lips. A deep breath and then, "Come here, pretty please. Can you tell me where I am? You - won't you say something? I need to get my bearings. I'm lost and the shadows keep on changing. And I'm haunted by the lies that I have loved and actions I have hated. Oh haunted. By the lies that wove a web inside my haunted head."

There was a moment of silence, as Lorne seemed to be sorting out what he read in her. Gwen waitsed patiently, allowing her mind to drift off to Angel and Lorne and some mega butt-grabbage.

Lorne interrupted her once again, and Gwen didn't know green demons could blush. "Sugar biscuit, I don't know what kind of impression you got but Angelcakes and I are just friends."

Gwen's mouth opened, and then closed again on its own. Finally, she was able to say, "I didn't think - I didn't think you'd be able to . . ."

Lorne cleared his throat and smiled. "Don't worry about it, sweetie. Now, what was troubling you today?"

"Didn't you - didn't you see?"

"I saw a lot," Lorne said softly, his face suddenly serious. Such a serious look on a demon like Lorne was a little bit amusing.

"Well, then what did you see?"

Lorne looked everywhere but in her eyes. "Gwen, honey, I'm sorry. I'm not really able to tell you anything."

"What? Why? No, see, Gunn said that you read people and - "

"I do read people, cupcake. The only problem is, I can't interfere with your future decisions, I can only give you a feel for the future. However, you're about to make a very important decision that will change your life. I can't tell you the outcome. I'm sorry."

Gwen leaned back into her chair, thinking of a way to get whatever information the demon saw out of him. She was good at this kind of thing. Or, rather, was good, back when she could use her electric touch as a bargaining tool. Damn. "You can't tell me anything beyond that?" she asked.

He shook his head, an apologetic look on his face. He glanced at his watch. "Lunch time. Have you eaten anything?"

Gwen was confused for a moment, and then realized he was inviting her to lunch. "Oh. No."

"Well, why don't you join me? The cuisine here is superb. I hired the chef myself." He leaned in close to her and whispered, "Wolfgang Legassi."

Gwen was impressed.

*****

At lunch, Lorne dazzled her with all his contacts. He was a little bit of a name-dropper, but hey. So was she.

"Yeah, well, Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck hired me," she said with a wry grin. "Wanna talk juicy commision? Two of my favorite clients. Wanted some device that was supposed to slow down aging or something like that. Sounds like a load of crap to me, but I figure if LISA's the real deal, this thing might be, right? But you wouldn't believe how much they were willing to pay me to get it for them."

"Bagging for Bennifer?" Lorne said, genuinely appraising it. "Very impressive."

"Thanks," Gwen said with a grin, popping a piece of her biscuit into her mouth. "And this one time? Stan Lee wanted - "

But she was cut off by Twiggy as she approached their table. "Lor - Oh. Gwen. What are you doing here?"

Lorne opened his mouth to answer but Gwen quickly said, "Nothing," before he could get anything out.

"Oh - kay," Fred said softly, eyeing her before turning back to Lorne. "Lorne - Angel wanted to see you in his office. Something about budget. I already got a stern talking-to, so - it's not so bad, though, 'cause I still get to do my stuff. But he has to talk to us all or something."

"Sure thing, princess," Lorne said, getting up. "Gwen, great having lunch with you."

"Yeah," Gwen said as he rushed off, and then to his back, "let's do this again sometime."

*****

Gwen sighed as she got into her car. She wished she could make any sense what little Lorne had told her. She'd have to make a decision? What the hell did that mean?

Gwen looked both ways as she pulled up to the parking lot exit. She didn't see anything either way. That was strange. She shrugged and was about to turn right when she remembered that she had to meet a client downtown. Gwen turned left.

Gwen didn't know what was happening until there was the horrible sound of metal scraping and crunching along with glass breaking and tires squealing. Gwen didn't hear, feel, or see anything by the time the car started spinning in the middle of the street.

End.