Winter's eyes shot open. She'd heard a noise coming from somewhere in the hotel. It sounded like it was coming from the kitchen. She sat up, draped her black robe round herself, cautiously opened her bedroom door, and tip-toed out slowly, knife in hand.

She was just turning the corner when she bumped into Wesley. They both jumped.

"I didn't see you there..." Wesley said, regaining his composure somewhat.

Winter bit her lip so she wouldn't laugh. "Well, obviously." She paused, looking at him. Then, "I really didn't see you either," she confessed. "But you look kinda freaked out. You alright?"

Wesley nodded once, and, straightening his pyjama collar, almost defiantly, he added, "Of course I am." Then, to cover his discomfort he added, "You need to be careful. You're a slayer. You can't let anyone sneak up on you."

"Especially my Watcher, oooh, scary," she added, waving her hands around like a mock-ghost of the Casper variety. Wesley just stared at her disapprovingly. "Speaking of which, you're one to talk. It's up to you to make sure my slayer senses are up to par, you know."

Wesley did not look amused.

"Alright, well," Winter continued, fidgeting, "why're you out here?" She asked bluntly.

"I thought I heard something," he said, noticing her change of the subject and following suit, though he was somewhat bemused by it.

Winter nodded, looking around. "Me too."

Wesley looked at his slippers. "Right."

Suddenly Winter spun around, and nearly staked Angel.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa," Angel said, ducking back and holding his hands out in front of him. "Careful with that!"

"Oh my God, Angel! I'm so sorry!" Winter cried.

Angel waved her off. "It's fine. I almost got dusted but... happens."

"Sorry," Winter said again, looking down and trying not to laugh.

Angel looked up and cast Wesley a suspicious glance, and then cast Winter one as well. "Why're you up, anyway?"

"Heard something," came the reply, in unison.

"Oh. Me too." Everyone stared at each other. Then Angel added, "Maybe we should... you know, check it out or something."

"Oh. Right!" Winter agreed.

"Good idea!" Wesley nodded.

Angel gave them both funny looks. "...Right."

+ + +

"You nutcase," Winter said to Angel.

"What did I do?" Angel whispered back.

Winter rolled her eyes. "If you don't know then I'm not tellin' you," she replied.

Suddenly there trio heard a scream.

"Cordelia!" Angel yelled, running towards the cry, or, more accurately, 'Batmanning'.

Wesley and Winter chased after him.

They made it to the library, where they found Cordelia standing on a chair and pointing at the floor, in hysterics.

"Cordy! What is it?" Angel asked.

"Oh, Angel, you have to help me---"

"Cordelia, what is it?"

"Angel, please!"

"Cordy--"

"Hurry!"

"What IS it?"

"It's a RAT!!"

Wesley and Winter burst out laughing while Angel like looked confused. "A rat? Cordy, I--"

"Angel! Get that rat!"

Angel sighed and bent down, picking the small hamster up. "Cordelia, it's a hamster."

"Oops." She said, shrugging. "Well, whatever. Put it back where it goes. Wait. Where does it go?"

"Who has a hamster?" Angel asked.

"Not me," Winter said. "I have a cat."

"What?" Wesley asked. "I don't have a pet. I'm a Watcher," he added, as it that meant he was far too important for such 'trivial things' as animals. Then he looked disappointed. The he shrugged, smiling. "I have a slayer," he said proudly. Then he cleared his throat. "Well, she isn't mine... er... that is to say... um..."

Cordelia looked at Angel.

"What? Don't look at me," he said, "I don't have a pet. And if I did, it wouldn't be a hamster. No offense," he added, looking at the creature in the palm of his hands.

Wesley snorted.

Angel looked at him. "I didn't know British people made that noise."

Wesley looked like he was about to retort something awful, but then the Hamster squeaked, "Hey guys? Wanna get me back to normal please?"

Everyone did a double take.

"GUNN??!?!"

The End