Chapter One
No matter how many times I've begged and/or threatened, I do not own the characters from Buffy, Angel the Series and The Southern Vampire Mysteries. One day...I give you my word, one day...*shakes her fist at Joss Whedon and Charlene Harris.*
Distress of Being the Damsel
Chapter 1
Part 1
Hell's Alley
Winifred Burkle stood on the sidewalk, gazed into the spooky dark alley and talked to herself like a crazy person as she debated the fastest way to get back to the lab. She couldn't figure out why the little space was so intimidating. It was only an alley, for crying out loud! Just your average dark, spooky, stinky alley wedged between two very intimidating brick buildings. It was nothing new-just one of the thousands of alleys found in the Los Angeles area. And it was the quickest way back to Wolfram and Hart considering she was already 15 minutes late from the much needed coffee run.
Fred glared at the three cardboard cup holders filled with cups of piping hot coffee stacked in her small hands and wondered what in her right mind made her volunteer to go in the first place. She must have channeled the temporary insanity she'd managed to keep locked away.
"Oh no, let me get the coffee for ya'll. Stupid, stupid, stupid!" She babbled to herself, because she found it kept her calm and relaxed. "Everybody back at the lab is probably doing nothing but just hanging around and waiting for good ol' Fred to come back with the coffee. Well, everybody except for Knox, and for his sake, I hope he at least fixed that weapon of his while I've been gone. Otherwise Spike's gonna make him very dead, which would be bad. Well, not bad for Spike, 'because he'd feel much better, but then 'cause of his soul he'd be all broody like Angel and two broody vampires are not good at all…"
One of Knox's weapons had managed to fail once again, which resulted in a very pissed off bleach blond British Vampire who, unfortunately for Knox, was no longer incorporeal-or chipped for that matter. The only thing that saved Knox's ass was the said vampire had a soul. However that didn't keep Spike from punching the lab employee square in the nose. From her office, Fred heard the commotion; the grunt of a fist hitting flesh, followed by the clatter of expensive lab equipment and a yelp of a body as it bounced off the floor.
She managed to rush down the metal stairs from her upper office without killing herself to find Knox face up on the floor, his hand being used to stop a bloody nose. Spike stood over him, a very pissed off look on his sharp features and his fists clenched at his sides. He was covered head to toe in stinky, and possibly radioactive orange goo, as he yelled British obscenities, creative death threats, and just how hard it was to find a bloody good dry cleaner.
"Oh….damn it to hell!" Fred cursed as the memory faded and she actually stamped her small foot in frustration. Well, so much for being calm and relaxed. Thankfully no one was around to hear her outburst. Fred's mother would have had a heart attack if she heard such nonsense flow out of her daughter's mouth.
She slowly began to make her way into the alley and screwed her face in disgust as the offensive smell invaded her senses. Even in the coolness of the shadows, the California heat intensified the stench of weeks old rotten meat, vegetables, and other garbage that mingled with the unmistakable odor of human urine. It was almost enough to make her heave. And after some of the nasty smells she and the Fang Gang encountered on a daily basis that was really saying something.
She put the coffee closer to her face so she could inhale in the bitter rich aroma. Her wide brown eyes darted back and forth as she took in every aspect of the alley from hell. Smelly debris littered the alley floor much of it close to the tall, old red brick walls which enclosed her. The concrete ground was cracked and even stained some places from where the garbage sat for so long. Flies and bees buzzed everywhere and the occasional stray cat could be seen "dumpster diving" into large piles of trash looking for a something to eat. Nothing was out of the ordinary.
Fred mentally scolded herself for being so afraid. She'd survived a demon dimension; she helped Angel Investigations rid the city of the nasty things that went bump in the night; and now she was head scientist at Wolfram and Hart, an evil law firm. Surely, Winifred Burkle would walk through the Alley from Hell and live to tell to tell about it.
All of her confidence fled, however, after she heard a faint rustling noise creep up behind her. The hair on Fred's neck stood straight up as she whirled around and nearly dropped the hot coffee on her feet. She peered in the direction of the noise and only found a couple of fast food wrappers being tossed about and abused by the wind.
"It's nothing," she told herself as she willed her heart to stay in her chest. "I am being ridiculous. It's nothing." She turned and picked up her pace. She did not want to be in the alley any longer than was necessary.
"I am the only one here," she whispered to herself when she heard another sound coming from the same direction as before. "I am the only one here, and I am fine. I am just fine. In fact, I am righter than rain could ever hope to be."
A loud scraping noise echoed off the walls. "Or, I was. I'm not so sure now."
Once again, she turned around and her wide eyes darted frantically from side to side. She did not see anyone, or anything, but a sick feeling gnawed in the pit of her stomach.
Then, in a flash, he was there. He was handsome- tall and lean dressed in a pair of beat up blue jeans, a short sleeved green tee shirt, and white sneakers. His white hair was styled longer in front to hang into his eyes and it moved in the breeze as he slowly stalked toward her with the grace of a predator. He strolled through the muck that was on the side of the alley floor as if he were in his own backyard.
She watched as he stretched out a muscular arm, curved his fingers, and scraped his nails-no not nails, claws-against the mortar of the brick wall. The sound sent her into a panic. An insane laugh flowed from his mouth, bounced off the narrow alley, causing a creepy echo that vibrated down her spine. A man's southern sing song voice called up to her.
"Aw, 'lil Bo Peep lost her sheep. She ain't ever gonna find 'em! Filled with blood, they went down so good, and soon, she's gonna join 'em!"
He sounded like The Joker as he laughed again and his full lips twisted into a smile. "It's time for you to run, 'lil Bo Peep!"
Her brain screamed at her in terror as she turned back around, threw off her heels, dropped the coffee ignoring the burns and took off down the alley. She didn't care if her bare feet pounded painfully on the filthy alley floor, cut by the glass and other debris; all she cared about was getting back to the safety of Wolfram and Hart and her boys; to Spike.
Angel, Wesley, and Gunn would always fight for her, but it was Spike who took on the role as her friend, protector and eventually more. He spent every day with her in the lab, ghost or no ghost, and kept her grounded when she felt so lost in her new environment and her new life. So it only made since that it was Spike's name she screamed as she ran through the empty alley.
Suddenly, a large man dropped out of nowhere and landed gracefully on his feet in front of Fred like a cat. He stood to face her as a feral grin split his dark handsome features.
His unruly black hair was long enough to reach his shoulders and it framed his face in a way that gave him the appearance of something more feral than human. Then again, perhaps it was the way his deep blue eyes glowed as they followed her every move; or the way his teeth grew longer as his grin grew wider.
Fred automatically felt herself back peddle, only to be reminded of the danger behind her. She heard a sickening sound, like flesh being ripped open followed by a low growl. She moved so she could keep her eyes on both the men only to find a large white wolf snarling behind her.
The familiar feeling of predator vs. prey came flooding back to her as she shrank against the wall, trying to blend in with her surroundings. Her wide eyes darted between the man and the wolf as they advanced on her. No! Not like this! She was not going to die like this! Not after everything…
She glanced around the alley and looked for something-anything-that could be used as a weapon as she prepared to fight her way out. Luckily, she found a long shard of broken and a fairly large, broken brick by her feet.
Weapons of champions, she told herself as she darted down to snatch them up. She held the heavy brick up like a baseball as she aimed it at the forehead of the dark haired man. His eyes sparkled as he laughed at her, as if he welcomed a challenge.
The wolf just growled and it appeared as if trying to figure out what she would taste like. Fred squeezed the glass shard until her she felt it cut into her palm.
"SPIKE!" She screamed as threw the brick as hard as she could at the dark haired man, hitting him smack in the middle of the forehead. His head snapped back with the force of the throw and when he looked at her again his eyes no longer sparkled but instead burned with anger. He let out a stream of curses in French as he moved to capture her. Fred held the shard of glass in her small hand like a knife as the white wolf opened its huge jaws.
Part 2
Taken
The heat that plagued the city that day disappeared with the setting sun and the night brought her kiss of cool air. Spike strode through the halls of Wolfram and Hart with a fierce smile on his face after a healthy tussle with a local vamp nest.
It seemed the vampires assumed the streets of L.A. were up for grabs once again with Angel as CEO of Evil Incorporated. What they didn't count on, however, was a certain blond vampire that took Angel's place; a vampire that did his part to help the hopeless souls of Los Angeles while helping himself to a bit of dosh while he was at it. Being a hero didn't exactly pay the bills and Angel wasn't about to share his wealth, so a vamp had to do what a vamp had to do.
It was far better that than to stand by and watch as Angel slowly and blindly sold his soul to the evil law firm he'd been fighting against for so long. Spike assumed Angel was bought with the large penthouse office complete with an attached apartment that had a magnificent view of the city below.
Not to mention the expensive, colorful artwork that adorned the walls of both spaces; and his private collection of spectacular cars in his personal garage. Oh and don't forget the ability to boss about the little man, a talent which Captain Forehead definitely had already grown accustomed to. Did Spike covet tall, dark, and broody? Hell yeah he did. Went to hell and back to get is soul for the woman he "loved", died saving the world, came back all ghosted and toasted, made corporeal, only to be thrown in a dingy little basement apartment and become errand boy for Peaches. So yeah, he bloody well coveted.
Yes, Spike could understand Angel's perspective-that he fought the evil from within. Still, the younger vampire warned his Sire about "being digested deep in the belly of the beast", but Angel had scoffed at Spike's words and assumed his childe was merely jealous, which was completely beside the point. The git was obviously blind to the severity of his situation.
However, whether Angel understood his predicament or not, Spike didn't really care. He had better things to do than to ponder about the poof's intensions. It was time for him to go pay a visit to his girl.
He hadn't seen her all day; however, he heard she was sent on a mission for the lab's coffee run. How that even came to pass he didn't know, but he figured she should have returned by now. He admitted he was more than a little worried; he knew it wasn't safe for a woman alone on the streets of LA. It didn't matter what time of day it was.
"Oh, bloody hell!" Spike swore as he shook his head to clear his thoughts, "She's a big girl; she can take care of herself. I just hope she was smart enough to take someone along with her."
Spike turned down the hallway which headed in the direction of Wolfram and Hart's Science Dept. First on his agenda was to make sure his Fred was alright. Next was to pay that stupid wanker Knox a visit about his bloody non-functioning gadgets.
He had a dry cleaning bill for the little bastard. It took Spike forever to find someone who didn't ask any questions as they cleaned the orange shit off his favorite trench coat. Well, alright, his only trench coat.
He lips curled into a smirk as he thought about the previous conversation his fist had with Knox's nose. Taught the little bugger a lesson, he did. It felt good too. Spike couldn't put his finger on it, but something was off about Knox, he could sense it.
The bloke was like the weasel in the henhouse; up to no damn good. He obviously couldn't be trusted, but what really irked Spike was the boyish charm Knox was aiming at Fred, making himself seem so bloody innocent. Not to mention, Fred was his girl, and Spike wasn't known for sharing what was his.
For all Spike knew, the little blighter could be hiding in a dark corner somewhere, sacrificing an innocent life to appease some ancient hell god. He just hoped Fred was smart enough to see the danger signs and not fall into some twisted, crazy trap.
"Wait a minute." Spike mumbled as he came to an abrupt stop in the hallway.
A petite lawyer that had been walking too close behind him had no choice but to smack into his back as she let out a small gasp. The collision caused not only her armful of papers to fly about everywhere, but also quite a stream of obscenities which flowed from her tiny mouth.
"Excuse you!" she exclaimed as she tried to gain her composure. She gracefully knelt down on one knee to retrieve her report. She looked up to see Spike walk away from the catastrophe he caused.
"Aren't you even going to help me?" she yelled at his back as it disappeared around the corner. "I liked him a lot better when he was a ghost." She grumbled. She actually took the time to make an obscene gesture at the empty hallway before she turned on her heel and marched back to her office.
"Twisted, crazy trap," Spike softly mumbled to himself. There was something about those three words…hang on a tick…not three words. One word. Trap? Hmmmm, no, not trap. Trapped? Trapped! That's it! Trapped!
Spike stood still and closed his eyes. His featured shifted as he let his demon take over, his forehead becoming bumpy and his teeth elongating, sharpening. His senses enhanced as the ancient hunter in him stretched out, looking, feeling for the reason why everything suddenly seemed off. As it searched, two words popped into his mind.
"Fred trapped!"
His yellow eyes snapped open before he transformed back into his human state. "Oh my god! Fred!"
Something happened to Fred; his cold body actually felt a chill as the realization sank deep in his bones. Quickly he changed his direction and headed straight for Angel's office. Of course the door was closed and through the windows, he could see Wesley and Gunn leaning over Angel's desk, apparently in deep conversation.
"Oh, Spikey?" Harmony chirped up from behind her secretary station outside of Angel's office.
"Not now, Harm."
"Listen, it's really important, it…"
"Can bloody well wait until I'm finished talkin' to Peaches." Spike growled back.
"Fine. It's not like you ever listened to me anyway. I couldn't possibly know anything important. I'm like chopped liver over here." Harmony grumbled to herself as she watched Spike not even break his stride as he barreled into Angel's office.
"Oi, Peaches! There's an emergency. I need your fastest…."
"Yeah, I know Spike. Fred's gone missing."
"You knew? You knew and you didn't tell me?" Spike felt his fury begin to consume him. "You right bastard! Why didn't you tell me?"
Wesley looked up from the map spread across Angel's desk. "We're clearly working on the situation…."
"I wasn't talkin' to you, Percy." Spike shot a murderous glare at the former watcher. "This here's between Peaches 'n me." Angel glared at Spike for the nickname.
Gunn spoke up, "Spike, we're doin' the best we can…"
Spike cut him off with a growl that rumbled deep in his chest.
"Look," Angel said angrily as he stepped in front of Spike, "We didn't tell you because we assumed you already knew. In fact, this is the first I've even seen your annoying face all day, Blondie Bear. Don't come into my office and yell accusations about us keeping secrets from you. We are busy busting our asses to find Fred, and therefore, do not need your shit right now."
Spike raised his chin and stepped so close to his Sire they almost touched nose to nose. His blue eyes glowed with the promise of pain as he snarled in Angel's face.
"I haven't been here, you moron, because I've been out on the streets, doing your damn job of being the soddin' hero. So, stop being a self righteous son of a bitch and just tell me what you know. Or get the hell outta my way."
"Okay, here's what I know. You have once again managed to be a giant pain in my ass!"
"Yeah? Well, if you don't get to talkin' soon, Peaches, I'm gonna leave an even bigger impression on your lily white ass with my soddin' foot, you prat."
Wesley moved forward and put a hand on each man's chest as he bravely stepped between the feud.
"I think," he began as he separated the vampires, "it would be wise for Spike to track Fred's scent. It is quite obvious the two are closer than we all realized." The watcher ignored the hostel glare Angel sent Spike over his head. And the smirk Spike cast in his Sire's direction. "He can start here and go to the coffee shop. Perhaps he can find something we are most likely overlooking."
Spike backed up and nodded his thanks to the watcher.
"Meanwhile Angel, Gunn, and I will continue our efforts behind the scenes. I also suggest, Angel, you give Spike all the resources he needs. It will get him on the street and out of your office sooner rather than later." Wesley quickly added when he caught Angel's dark look.
"Fine, if it gets you out of my office," He looked at Spike and chose to ignore the smug smile creeping across the younger vampire's face. "Cash, cars, just tell Harmony to give you whatever you need. You can use all available resources. Now, get out before I change my mind."
"Gee, thanks pop." Spike exclaimed as he turned and strode out of the office. He grinned when he looked into the reflective glass around the door, caught Angel's reaction and chuckled as poor Wesley tried to calm the older vampire.
"I guess you heard all that, yeah?" Spike asked Harmony as he walked up to her desk.
"Yeah. Cash, cars, and whatever else you need." She looked down as she began to root around her desk for said items. "That's what I was trying to tell you, ya know."
"What?"
"That Fred was missing. I tried to tell you because I knew you would want to know." She raised her hurt eyes to meet Spike's surprised ones.
"Harm, I-I'm…"
"Yeah, I know." She cut Spike a fairly decent sized check and handed him a Visa card. She then held a cluster of keys up in front of him. "Take your pick. I'm not sure which one goes to which car, but they are all pretty nice."
A slow grin split his features as he spotted the perfect set. "Thanks Harm."
"Yeah, you're welcome. Oh and Spike?"
"Hmmmm?"
"Good luck."
Spike smiled at the blond as he walked to the elevator. "Thanks, pet." He didn't notice the genuine smile on Harmony's face when she realized he hadn't called her "pet" for a very long time.
"There may be hope for you yet, Blondie Bear."
After he entered Angel's huge garage, the lights automatically came on and rows upon rows of sports cars sat before him just begging to be driven. Spike pressed the "lock" button on his auto-start key ring and the red Viper lit up like a Christmas tree. A wicked grin spread across his features. What better car to take on a road trip than the Poof's favorite. He then pressed "auto start" and listened happily as the engine began to purr.
"Hello gorgeous," Spike crooned to the car as he slid an appreciative hand over her hood and slid into the driver's seat. Within minutes the Viper peeled out of the garage and into the night.
Angel looked up from the map he was studying narrowed his eyes at Wesley. "Cash, cars, and everything else he might need?" he said with a grumpy voice. "Have you lost your damn mind?"
"Well, my suggestion got him out of your hair, didn't it?" Wesley replied without looking up. "Besides, I believe I was correct in assuming how he feels about Fred. If anyone can track her, Spike can. He seems to have a connection with her that the rest of us do not."
Gunn took his paperwork and plopped down on Angel's leather chair.
"Spike may be a cocky, insubordinate, egotistical pain in your ass. But he is also a strong fighter and a resourceful hunter. If he's loyal to anyone it's Fred, and he won't give up until he finds her." He looked up at Angel and Wesley, "He'll bring her back."
"Still," Angel huffed as he sat behind his desk, "it should be me out there. I should be the one looking for her, not Captain Peroxide."
"You made your choice, Angel," Wesley sat in the chair opposite of Angel's desk, "we all did. Brooding about who should be doing what not help us find Fred."
"Yeah, you're right." Angel stood from his desk, walked to his window, and stared at the city below.
"I made my choice and so did Spike." He turned to the other men. "You're right about Spike. If anyone can find Fred, he can. But it doesn't mean I have to like it."
At that moment, Angel's sensitive ears heard a car squeal out onto the city streets, causing the blare of many angry horns. He turned back to the window just in time to watch a very small red Viper peel down the street and disappear around the corner toward the local coffee shop.
"Son of a bitch!" Angel yelled. Both men jumped.
"What? What's wrong?" Wesley asked with alarm in his voice.
"Spike just drove off in my damn Viper!"
Fred groaned and slowly woke to find she was tied, gagged, and stuffed into a small space. She had a splitting headache, and her head felt like it had grown two sized too big did not help matters. Neither did her left shoulder which screamed in pain when she moved. Wherever she was, it was dark and it smelled funny-like carpet and motor oil.
She tried to stretch out of the small ball she was in and found her feet touched a hard, metal wall without much effort. She wiggled until she felt the same wall at the top of her head. She then noticed the entire space vibrated, and occasionally jumped, as if someone hit a bump in the road. Fred groaned when she finally realized she was stuffed inside someone trunk. She had no idea where she was or where they were taking her.
She vaguely remembered the fight in the alley, which didn't turn out to be much of a fight after all. She defended herself the best she could, and she was pretty sure she got a few good licks in with her glass shard. She remembered the wolf whimpering as she drew blood a few times; but then the large, dark haired man clocked her upside the head with his beefy fist and knocked her senseless.
Now, here she was; locked in a trunk, tied up like a Christmas Ham and to beat it all, she really had to pee. She told herself everyone at the office had to have noticed by now that she never made it back. She had to believe they have already sent someone to find her. That is, assuming they knew where to find her; or if they even know where to look.
Fred found her little self pep talk was very quickly losing all its pep. No, can't think like that. They will find her. They have to. The handsome man always saves her. Always. She sighed when she thought about Spike's handsome face and how any moment he was going to lift the hood of the trunk and smile down at her. He would find her. She knew he would. He had to.
With her new found strength, Fred began to wriggle around, as she tested her rope. She found a few weaknesses. They must have tied her up while she was passed out. She squeezed her eyes shut in concentration and refused to waste time worrying about what else they did to her while she was passed out.
She worked her arms down around her butt, and at the same time, grit her teeth against the sharp pain in her left shoulder. Slowly she wiggled her backside through her arms and paused to take a break with her wrists snug behind her knees. In that moment, she made a silent vow to herself. No matter how bad the situation, no matter even if she herself felt the dire need, she knew she would stick with her solemn vow. Never again will she go on a damn coffee run.
Part 3
The Big Deal with Bon Temps
Spike drove through the crowded streets of Los Angeles. He always amused that the city appeared like some sort of adult carnival at night. All lit up with the bright florescent signs advertising everything from beer to sex. The theme of the night-get drunk, get laid, repeat as needed. He drove through the crowded streets with Viper's windows rolled down so he could use his night vision and other senses to scan along the darker, busy sidewalks for any sign of Fred.
Young couples, a few of them quite drunk, staggered together arm in arm toward a destination unknown. Prostitutes, in their scantily clad clothing, stood provocatively on their street corners calling out their 'special' skills in hopes of finding a john to sample their wares.
Homeless men and women huddled in layers of smelly old clothes pushed old metal shopping carts full of their worldly possessions and occasionally stopped by the garbage cans to scout for something useful.
Spike pulled the Viper into a parking space outside a small yet posh coffee shop-the last place Fred was seen before her disappearance. After he cut the engine, he turned off the music, closed his eyes and tuned out the many noises of the busy street. Spike raised his head slightly, and sniffed the air, much like a wolf on the hunt.
He filtered through the various smells: coffee, pastries, sweat and perfume until he caught a whiff of something familiar. It was sweet and flowery at the same time, like warm sugar and jasmine.
It was Fred's scent, faint, but it was there. He turned his head in the direction from where it came and breathed a little deeper. It was then he noticed a new scent. It smelled of metal, gun oil, old musty, clothes and really bad body odor. Spike sighed. Bugger. He did not have bloody time for this.
He kept his eyes closed as he spoke to the young man who tried to sneak up to the driver's side window. "I know you're there, Sparky. Move along. Nothin' you want here."
"I kinda doubt that, pretty boy." The man stated before Spike heard the hammer as it was cocked back on his small handgun.
Spike opened his eyes and came face to face with a small .22. The owner of the weapon held it close to his body, hidden by the oversized jacket to keep it from being seen from passersby.
His eyes then rolled up to see a dirty young man, no older than 19, with shaggy brown hair and dark brown eyes. He looked like a younger, dirtier version of the Slayer's whelp back in SunnyD.
The carjacker narrowed his eyes and smirked at Spike, believing he actually had the upper hand; the one with the gun and all that. Usually, that would be the case. But when pointing a gun at a fella who's already dead it kinda defeats the purpose. The blond vampire met the cocky dark brown eyes with bored blue ones.
Normally, Spike would entertain the idea of letting some schmuck drive off in one of Angel's cars just to piss the poof off. Not like Captain Forehead couldn't replace the damn thing. But the current circumstances, however, didn't warrant such an action.
"I suggest you move along, mate. I've got things to do."
"Don't think I can do that, pretty boy. See, I sure like this car of yours. So you're gonna get your ass out of it and let me…"
The young man's voice faded away as Spike morphed into his game face. With lightning speed, his hand flew out, grabbed the damn gun, and the man and effortless pulled both through the open window. After he tossed the now useless weapon into the passenger seat, he grabbed the young punk by the back of the head and with his fangs just inches from the carjacker's face, Spike growled.
The young carjacker screamed and kicked his legs, but was unable to get out of Spike's firm grip. The blond vampire grinned fiercely and looked into terrified eyes. "Let's go for a ride, shall we?"
He pushed the pedal to the floor and took off down the street. The young man cried out, trying to hang on for dear life, but trying to get away from the sharp teeth aimed at his jugular. Spike weaved the Viper in and out of traffic, causing many angry drivers to swerve out of the way and honk their horns. He narrowly missed the passing cars, barely letting them graze the dirty tennis shoes.
"You know, I've had meself a real bad day," Spike said conversationally as he gave the man a shake. "Bloody wankers have been threatenin' me with all kinds of shit today like 'We're gonna get you Spike.' And 'You're a freak of nature that needs put down.' And my personal favorite, 'Oh, look, it's mini Angel.' That alone's enough to piss me off. To make matters worse, I find out my girl's been taken."
Still holding the poof with one hand, let go of the wheel and fished around in the pocket of his duster for a picture of Fred. He managed to snatch the wheel before side swiping a truck and shoved the photo into the carjacker's line of vision. "During your damn pitiful attempts to be the big bad, have you seen this woman today?"
"N-n-no."
"You're sure?"
"Yes! Yes I'm sure!" came the loud screech.
"Alright then." The vampire shrugged, allowed his human face to show again and put the picture back into his pocket. Spike then glared down at the young man and brought the Viper to a screeching hault. Still holding the little bastard by the neck, he looked deep into the young eyes and shared a bit of his wisdom.
"Lucky for you, I've mended my ways, and people are off the soddin' menu. But if we meet like this again, I'll toss my mended ways aside and I will bloody well eat you for breakfast. Are we clear?" Spike growled.
The carjacker rapidly nodded. "Crystal clear. Sorry, very sorry. Won't happen again!" He gasped, his eyes rolled up pleading with Spike to let him go.
"Good. Now piss off!" Spike shoved the man out of the window and watched the little bastard run as fast as he could in the other direction. "Bloody wanker. Gonna get himself killed, he is. If I don't do it first."
Spike drove back to his previous destination and stomped into the bakery. He showed the picture of Fred to the employees behind the counter, as well as several customers as they waited for their beverages. One cashier confirmed she saw Fred earlier that evening, but that Fred was alone, as far as she could tell. And she was perfectly fine when she left. Only she kept babbling about having to get everyone's coffee.
No, Fred did not get into a car with anyone, but she did take a left after she walked out the door. When Spike commended the girl for having such a wonderful memory, she merely blushed and said she thought Fred was cute and enjoyed hearing the Southern accent when Fred talked.
Spike cocked his eyebrow at that, then smiled and nodded his thanks. He entertained the image of his Fred and the cute little cashier getting to know each other better back at his apartment as he walked out the door of the coffee shop, turned left, and followed the scent trail Fred left behind.
Books and maps were scattered about Angel's office. The smell of Chinese food and frustration lingered in the air as the three men continued their search for Fred behind the scenes. Angel sat at his desk and glared at map after map of the LA area as if the answer to Fred's whereabouts would just suddenly pop up and screams "HERE I AM!"
Gunn lounged in Angel's oversized leather chair one leg carelessly thrown over the thick arm and engrossed himself in some strange book about kidnappers and ransoms. Angel was pretty sure the book was titled Kidnapping Etiquette for Dummies.
"Well, we haven't received a ransom call yet, have we?" Gunn asked as he looked up at Angel and Wesley.
"No." The two answered in unison, neither looking up from what they were reading.
"Then it's probably not money they're after, which surprises me. They could ask for any amount they wanted."
"Do we even know if it's a 'they', and not a 'he' or a 'she'?" Angel asked.
"Naw, I'm just speculating."
A few more moments of silence, then Angel threw the maps off his desk and sat back with a scowl. "This is useless!" he exclaimed.
"Yes, especially since the maps are now down there." Gunn retorted as he pointed to the messy pile of maps and papers in front of Angel's desk.
"Aha!" Wesley exclaimed as he bounced up from his place on the love seat. "Here!" He held the large, leather bound book in front of him.
"You found Fred in there?" Angel asked as he pointed to the book.
"No not Fred. But I did find a locator spell." Wesley announced triumphantly. "I can get all the ingredients from the lab. I only need something of Fred's. A brush, a comb, or even a toothbrush would work."
"Fred keeps those things in her office for when she spends the night here." Gunn said as he jumped up from the leather seat.
"Good. Go grab whatever of hers you can find." Angel ordered as he stood.
"On it."
"What else you need, Wes?" Before Wesley could answer the doors to Angel's office flew open.
"Hey kids," Lorne greeted as he walked into Angel's office. "The morgues and hospitals are all Fred free, which is kind of a blessing in disguise. But still no Fredikins. How are you fellas doing?" The green demon regarded the others with worried red eyes.
"Wes found a locator spell." Angel answered as he made room on the floor for the ritual.
"Oh good." Lorne brought a green hand up to his neck, "It doesn't require the arterial blood of a demon again, does it?"
"No, not this time." Wes smiled as he remembered the green demon whining about spells using arterial demon blood instead of the more plentiful demon urine.
"Even better. So, whacha need me to do, Angel-cake?"
"I'm heading to Fred's office for the other supplies." Wes walked to the door. "I could use clear, white quartz if you have one."
"I believe I do. You'd be amazed at what those Hollywood starlets are into nowadays." Lorne answered as he headed for the door,
"I've got more crystals and funky rocks all over my office than Liz Taylor has diamonds. Some are for luck, some are for healing. I think I even have one that makes a woman's boobs grow bigger for a special occasion."
He noticed confused looks from Angel and Wesley. "Don't ask. Just keep it the hell away from Harmonica. God only knows what would happen if that crazy vamp got a hold of it."
Lorne grew more serious as he looked at Angel. "You know, if you do happen to need arterial blood for that spell, I would be offended if you didn't come to me. I'll even chop off a body part, if it would help find her."
"Thank you, Lorne."
The green demon nodded, then left in search of the quartz Wesley needed.
"A crystal to make a woman's…assets grow larger." Wesley murmured. "Interesting. Cordy would have liked that."
The men share a look that was part loss and part amusement.
Angel walked to the front of his desk, then crossed his arms and leaned against it. "Alright. Everyone meets back here in 10." He paused, his eyes filled with pain and frustration. "It's Fred, Wes." Angel looked at his long time friend and partner. "We have to find her."
"We will."
Fred struggled against the rope around her wrists. It was a bit easier now since she was able to work her hands around to the front. Not to mention the pain in her shoulder was not as bad.
Aha! She felt triumphant when the ropes fell off and she rubbed her sore wrists. Five years in an alternate anti-human dimension taught Fred the skills she needed to survive. She brought her knees up to her chest and quickly worked on the ropes that tied her feet together. She breathed a sigh of relief when her feet were finally freed.
With step one complete, she wasted no time to move on to step number two. Find a weapon. She knew that being in the trunk of a car meant at some point someone would have to open the lid to let her out. When that time came, she wanted to be ready.
Fred blindly ran her hands carefully yet quickly around the dark trunk. Her fingertips slid over items that felt like motor oil containers, but unfortunately they turned out to be empty. She continued to walk her fingers around the rough carpet, searching. Suddenly her index finger touched something long, cold, hard, and metal. A crowbar. Perfect!
Fred smiled as she wrapped her small hand around her newfound weapon and squeezed. Amazingly, it made her feel safe and somewhat secure. She began to search again to see what else she could find. Her hands ran along the edges of the trunk and dipped into the small crevices the trunk walls and the carpet. Then suddenly to her surprise, she found a few little glass vials.
Fred picked one up and explored it with her fingers. It had some sort of label on the front of it and a hard, plastic, screw on top. She carefully opened the vial and smelled its contents. Water. A little vial containing water. Oh please, God, let it be holy water.
After a little more searching, she found nothing else in the trunk that could be deemed useful. Now it was just a waiting game. She could use the crowbar to try to pry the trunk open, but then that would only catch the attention of her abductors.
Not to mention, she didn't know how fast the car was traveling nor where she was. She had no intention of jumping out of one fast moving vehicle onto a highway only to be run over by another fast moving vehicle.
No, she would lie silently and wait. She could use the element of surprise; and after that, she could use the element of metal and, hopefully the element pain.
So Fred situated herself so she could spring up as soon as the trunk opened. She then closed her eyes and waited.
Marilyn Manson blared from the speakers of a midnight black 1970 Cutlass Supreme. The car sped, headlights off, down Interstate 167 en route to Bon Temps, Louisiana.
A handsome Cajun man appearing in his late 20's with unruly black hair and glowing blue eyes sat at the wheel and used his perfect night vision to guide the car. His passenger, a young slender toe headed man with bright green eyes drummed his fingers against his jean clad leg.
They sat quietly and only their heads moved to the rhythm of the music while Marilyn Manson's voice purred wickedly from the car's speakers.
*Babble babble bitch bitch
Rebel rebel party party
Sex sex sex and don't forget the "violence"
Blah blah blah got your lovey-dovey sad-and-lonely
Stick your STUPID SLOGAN in:
Everybody sing along.*
"You know," the toe headed man's southern voice broke the silence as he reached forward and turned down the volume, "I've been thinkin…" green eyes peered from behind long white bangs.
" You be thinkin' too much." The dark man replied with a strong Cajun accent.
"Yeah, that's me. A fuckin' intellectual." Toe headed scoffed. "Anyway why the hell did she choose Bon Temps for us to meet? It don't make no sense. The local sheriff ain't gonna be too happy with us in his territory, ya know."
His partner regarded him with deep blue eyes. "Merde homme, I dunno. I jus' do what she tell me."
A pause.
"She seem a bit…off to you?"
"Off?" the dark one asked.
"Come on now, Claude. You know. Off. Weird, strange, off her fuckin' rocker."
"Oui, très étrange." Claude answered. "Very strange. Catin scares me."
"And yet, you call her a doll."
"Oui." Claude answered. "She my jolie catin. But she scare me. I dunno what she do next. I dunno why she have me here, doin' dis for her. But I do what she ask, no complaining. You think bout doing that too, eh?"
Claude grinned, reached over and ruffled the younger man's hair, almost like petting a dog.
"Pic kee toi." The younger man smacked Claud's hand away, growling. "I hate being treated like a pup."
"Ah. You offer, Samuel? Not sure you my type. Like my boys less wolfy." He put his hand on Samuel's knee and laughed when it was shoved away. "But I make exception for you, homme."
Samuel gave Claude a deep loud warning growl and his eyes turned from spring green to wolf amber.
"Tuat t'en grosse bueche." Samuel's voice low and in human.
Claude laughed once more before turning back to the road. "Shut my mouth, eh. Fine, homme. We be dere soon don't worry. You safe," the vampire leered at Samuel once more. "For now."
"Shut up, Claude, and just drive the fuckin' car." Samuel muttered his voice back to normal. He then turned the volume up on the radio, sank back into his seat and looked out the window into the night as they approached their destination.
Spike slowly walked down the busy sidewalk from the coffee shop in the direction of Wolfram and Hart. He let his nose guide him as he followed Fred's scent; however, he noticed it did not grow weaker, but stronger.
"Now, this is just…weird." Spike murmured to himself.
The scent led him into an empty, dark alley. Garbage littered the alley floor and deeper inside a cat growled and hissed at a strange noise before diving off a trash heap and running out into the street. Spike filtered Fred's scent through stench of garbage and urine following the smell of warm sugar and jasmine. It seemed to be as strong but Fred was nowhere to be found.
An object caught Spike's attention, and he stopped suddenly and knelt down to pick it up. It was a woman's shoe, small, brown, and sleek, with a two inch heel. He didn't need to put the footware to his nose to know it was Fred's shoe. He gave them to Fred for her birthday after she told him she needed a new pair. Spike lovingly ran his fingers over the soft leather and remembered how he slid them onto her tiny feet like Cinderella's glass slipper.
His nose also picked up another scent, this one much more familiar and his stomach growled. It was blood, Fred's blood, but someone else's too. His eyes scanned the pavement, and sure enough, there were small smears of blood that lead to the other side of the alley. He followed the trail, which led him to small drying pool of it. Spike touched the now cool liquid and sniffed his fingers.
"Werewolf." He growled.
His well trained eyes picked up the scuffle which took place earlier that evening. Spike followed the rest of blood trail to the far sidewalk where it disappeared. They must have shoved Fred in a car and drove off. Spike pulled out his cell phone and punched the numbers to Angel's office as he ran back to the Viper.
Angel's skin tingled with the essence of magic as Wesley performed the locator spell. He, Wesley, Gunn, and Lorne huddled around a US road map while Wesley chanted the spell in Romanian.
"Arata-ne calea de prietenul nostru. Arata-ne calea de prietenul nostru. Ne dezvaluie destinaţia ei. Ne dezvaluie destinaţia ei. Arata-ne. Arată-ne. Arata-ne."
"Show us the path of our friend. Show us the path of our friend. Reveal to us her destination. Reveal to us her destination. Show us. Show us. Show us." Angel's voice called out, translating the spell to English.
Wesley dipped the clear quartz in a bowl of red liquid and placed it on the map. The small quartz shuttered for a moment and then they all jumped back when the quartz suddenly took off across the shiny paper, leaving a red trail behind it.
"Whoa!" Gunn exclaimed. "Freaky."
"Do lawyers say freaky?" Angel asked.
"They do when shit like this happens."
"There! The quartz stopped." Wesley stated as he picked up the quartz and dropped it into a small white container.
The men gazed down at two words on the map. Bon Temps.
"She's in Louisiana?" Angel asked and looked at Wesley.
"It appears so."
"What the hell is she doing there?" Angel looked at the map again. "Could that thing be wrong? Maybe we should try it again to be sure."
"There's no mistake. She's in Louisiana."
The ring of the office phone cut through the silence.
"Yeah?" Angel almost growled into the receiver.
"It's me." Spike's voice came from the other end. "I found her shoes, and some blood, but no Fred."
"That's 'cause Fred's in Bon Temps, Louisiana."
"She's in Louisiana? What the hell is she doin' there?" Spike asked.
"That's what I said." Angel was silent for a moment. "Spike, if she's in Louisiana that means they had to have flown. It's at least a 21 hour drive. And if they had to book a flight that means…."
"That this was no random kidnapping. It was all planned" Spike finished.
Angel growled. "Why? Why take Fred? What's their reason behind this?"
"That's what I plan on askin' 'em, mate. But of course, I plan on making them scream and causing lots of pain first. Maybe even get some bodily fluids out of 'em."
"Call Harm. Tell her to get the jet ready. With our jet, you can be there in about an hour."
"Got it." Spike answered as he stopped in front of the coffee shop. He arrived just in time to see the Viper speed away. A dirty hand slipped through the window and flipped him off as the Viper disappeared.
"Bugger."
"What?"
"You're gonna have to send a car for me."
"What? What happened to the Viper?"
"It appears someone wanted to go for a joyride."
Spike grinned as he held the phone away from his ear and listened to the string of obscenities that came through.
In Bon Temps, Louisiana, Merlottes Bar and Grill was packed with packed with the evening crowd. Sookie Stackhouse, one of Sam Merlott's favorite waitresses, close friend and telepath carried a tray of burgers and onion rings to a young couple that sat in the far booth. She plastered a fake grin on her face when she arrived and set the food on the table.
"Here you are," Sookie's grinned as she backed up. "Can I get ya'll anything else? More beer maybe?"
Wow, you're a pretty young thing. Sookie heard the man's thoughts as he looked up at her. I wonder if you're into girls. Maybe Carrie would be more willing to try things with you. Oh yeah. That'd be hot.
Sookie fought the urge to smack the young man across the face for the vulgar images that flashed through his mind about her and she backed up further, holding her tray so it hid her body. "So, you don't need anything else then?"
Wow. You're a strange one. The girl thought. Uh oh. Greg's got that look in his eyes again. How many times do I have to tell him that I'm not into girls, period. My mama was right. I can do better. "No, we're fine. Thanks."
"Okay then." Sookie spun around and quickly made her way back to the bar. People's thoughts began to fill her head. Voices and images flashed through her mind, causing her to reach up and touch her fingertips to her forehead.
{I can't believe Adel thinks I cheated on her. It wasn't cheating. It was just simple groping.}
{Bills, bills, bills. It seems we send out more money than we take in.}
{How can I tell my wife I got fired today?}
{I swear, if he looks at her ass one more time, I'm gonna…}
Sookie stopped, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath. She concentrated on putting her shields up until she was able to shut out everyone's mind.
"You okay, cher?" She heard a soft concerned voice beside her. She didn't need to open her eyes to know it was Sam. He was standing so close she could feel the heat from his body against her side.
"I'm fine."
Sookie opened her eyes and looked at Sam. She could read the doubt and concern on his face.
"I said I'm fine." Sookie repeated as she smiled. "Just, lettin' the voices get into my head more than usual."
"Okay," Sam backed off, "But if you ever need anything you know to ask."
"Yes, I know. Thank you, Sam."
"Bill still bothering you?" Sam asked out of the blue.
The question startled Sookie and she almost tripped over her own two feet standing still. Bill was her ex-boyfriend, ex-lover, ex-everything. He was also a vampire. The first vampire Sookie ever met, let along got involved with.
Just the mention of his name and she thought of his soft brown eyes, his cool touch, and the way his smooth voice sounded like silk when he whispered to her. That thought alone almost made her shiver.
But Bill cheated on her with his maker. He left saying he was going somewhere out of the country, but ended up going to meet his sire in Mississippi and doing God only knows what with her. When he went missing, a frantic Sookie searched everywhere for him, only to find he'd been unfaithful to her. Even after he cheated on her, she still rescued him and staked his sire. Now, however, it was over.
"No." Sookie lied. Every night, she felt him outside her window as he stood guard over her. Whether he truly felt protective over her, or just guilty for being a bastard, Sookie didn't know, nor did she care.
"Okay," Sam could smell she was lying but said nothing. "I need you to stay and help me close tonight, okay? Arleen had to go home to her kids, her babysitter's sick."
"Sure, I'll stay." Sookie smiled at Sam as she held her tray in front of her. She turned to the door when someone called her name.
"Sookie!"
"Jason!" She walked to the front door to meet her brother. "I haven't seen you around much. How are you?"
"Good. Been busy workin'." Jason grinned as his large arms pulled her into his broad chest for a hug. "I've met someone. She's real nice and real pretty."
Sookie looked up at her brother's handsome face and put on a smile. "Oh, that's great." At almost 6 foot, Jason was as good looking as they come with his light blond hair, bright blue eyes, and fantastic body. Unfortunately she also knew of Jason's reputation. Sadly, he was a man-whore.
"What time do you get off tonight?" Jason asked as he followed to the bar and hopped up on one of the stools.
"I'm helpin' Sam close up, so probably around 2 am."
"You want me to come back tonight and follow you home?"
Sookie smiled at her brother, touched by his protectiveness. "No, I'll be fine."
"Okay then. I'll just head over to Crystal's. I can't wait for you to meet her, Sookie. She's a great girl."
"I can't wait either." Sookie lied again.
She's been doing that a lot tonight.
With a pleased look, Jason turned to Sam to order a beer. Sookie sighed and walked over to check on her tables. Hopefully tonight would be a slow night and she could just head home and go straight to bed. If there was one thing she did not need right now, it was to be sucked into another freaky vampire adventure.
A dark haired woman with an innocent heart shaped face, dressed in a long, sleeveless black dress walked gracefully through the back woods of Bon Temps. She clutched a hairless, abused china doll to her breast with one hand and half carried/half dragged a young teenage girl with the other. The girl struggled to free her wrist from the woman's steel-like grasp.
"Let me go, you crazy lady! I don't wanna go anywhere with you." She dug in her heels and scratched at the woman's porcelain like skin but could not get her wrist free.
The woman stopped and turned her huge brown eyes to the girl. They held a strange look of innocent insanity and a deep hunger.
"But I can't let you go." the woman replied with a lazy cockney accent. "Miss Edith told me I had to take you. She said you would have told everyone else what I am and that's very naughty. Miss Edith said I have to punish you for being so naughty." She spoke with a soft sweet voice which made the words even more frightening. She gave a small growl and snapped her teeth. "Bad dog."
"I won't tell anyone, I swear! Just let me go!"
"I can't," the woman repeated, "Miss Edith said my company is close. Their voices are singing to me through the stars. It tickles." The woman giggled as she moved her head back and forth like a snake and continued walking through the woods until they came upon a small wooden cottage.
"Um, that's your cell phone. It's vibrating."
"Oh." the woman stated simply. She put the doll on the ground and gingerly removed the cell phone that was tucked between her breasts. "'ello? Daddy?"
"Not quite," a man's voice drifted through the cell. "It's Samuel."
"Sammy!" the woman squealed. "Do you have my present?"
"Uh, yeah. We got her. Wasn't easy, but we managed. We are almost to Bon Temps now."
If the woman's hand were free, she would have clapped with excitement. "The King shall return to his throne. It'll be like he never became the jester!"
"Uh, right. Anyway, we'll be seeing you soon. Bye now." The man hung up.
The woman gazed down at the girl who quit struggling and started crying. "It won't be long now. I took his dolly. Now he's coming to find her. Then I'll be his dark queen once more."
"You took who's dolly?"
"Spike. I took his dolly because he was lost. He's been lost for a very long time. I'm going to help him find himself again."
"Lady, you aren't makin' a bit of sense."
"Daddy's gone. Found his soul. Grandmother's gone too. She turned to ash. Spike has been lost. I am by myself." She stood the young girl up to face her. "I've been quite lonely."
The teenager could only stare at the strange woman in disbelief.
The woman's large brown eyes peered at her victim. Her pupils dilated and her eyes seemed to grow larger. She let go of her doll once more so she could put two long fingernails under her eyes, drawing more attention to them. "Look at me. Look in my eyes. Be in me."
Drusilla began to sway like a tree blowing in the breeze as she gently held the girl's hand, their fingers laced together. The young face went blank as she fell into Dru's gaze and began to sway along with the vampire. A beautiful smile graced full lips as the heart shaped face morphed into something more demonic than the girl had ever seen. Unable to do anything but sway to the rhythm Dru gave them, the teen let out a small gasp as sharp teeth buried themselves into her soft flesh of her neck. She quietly fainted as the blood was quickly drained from her body.
Drusilla killed the girl as the stars sang above them.
Spike would be hers once again.
TBC