A/N: Thanks to M, my beta for this story. This story is complete,
and I've decided it's good enough for public view. Since it's complete,
I'll be putting parts up fairly often. It's not that long, so it shouldn't
be a huge thing. I haven't forgotten about The Link and the Barrier, my
other story. It's just that my beta for that story disappeared off the
face of the planet, and I haven't been able to get another one. I'm
writing away at it though, so there will be more soon. This story takes
place during the midseason breaks of Buffy, Season 6 and Angel, Season 3.
It's meant to act as a filler...everything that happened in eps 1-10 of
both seasons happened in this story. Everything that happened in eps 11-22
of both seasons will not be affected by this story. :)
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Buffy lay in her bed, trying to ignore the smell of garlic. She had placed several strands of the smelly herb around her room. She would probably carry the odor of it for weeks. Buffy sighed. She had put up the strands knowing it would keep Spike out. What she hadn't counted on was how much she wanted him there. With her. In her bed. Stop that! She mentally berated herself. You don't need Spike, her brain reminded her. It failed. She was going crazy, trying to stay away from him. Disgruntled, Buffy sat up in her bed. She was startled when the phone began to ring. After it was apparent no one else in the house was going to answer, Buffy picked up the phone in her room.
"Hello?" Buffy answered.
"Buffy...It's me." Angel replied.
"Angel." Buffy said. She was immediately flooded with guilt.
"Listen. I need your help. How soon can you be in LA?" He asked, getting straight to the point of his call. He wanted to get back to his son.
"Look, Angel....Now is not really a good time. Willow and Dawn are having problems, and Dawn can't miss anymore school. Xander can't miss work, and Anya can't leave the store now that Giles isn't here." Buffy protested.
"I wouldn't..."Angel began, then stopped. "Where did Giles go?" He asked instead.
"He left." Buffy said, her teeth clenched. Judging from her tone, Angel felt it was best to change the subject.
"I wouldn't call if it wasn't important." He picked up his earlier sentence, trying to convince her.
"What's so important I have to go all the way to LA ?" Buffy questioned.
"It's kinda one of those things you have to see to believe." Angel answered. Buffy shrugged, then realized that Angel couldn't see the shrug through the phone line. She sighed.
"All right. I'll come. I'll see if Willow can come with me." Buffy gave in.
"Good. I'll see you as soon as you get here." Angel said, and hung up. Buffy glanced at the phone in her hand and sighed again.
"No rest for the weary." She remarked to the empty room. Grabbing her overnight bag, she began tossing things into it.
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After packing, she went into Willow's room, hoping her friend was still awake.
"Will?" Buffy whispered.
"I'm awake Buffy." Willow answered, speaking in a normal tone.
"Angel called." Buffy said, perching on the bed next to Willow. Willow's eyebrows raised in response, but she didn't say anything. "He wants....needs me to go to LA I'm going to leave Dawn at Xander and Anya's. I was hoping you would go with me." She finished.
"I dunno, Buffy." Willow replied.
"Please Will? It'll be a good change of pace." Buffy pleaded. Plus it will give us a chance to reconnect, she thought to herself. Willow nodded, finally giving in.
"But we should bring Spike along with us." Willow mandated. Buffy was about to protest when Willow continued. "I don't want to be a burden, Buffy. I can't use magic. We should bring him along in case we run into any nasties. Besides, we can take his car." Willow finished. Buffy finally agreed. Willow got out of bed slowly, feeling exhausted. "You go get Spike. I'm going to pack and call Xander. We can drop Dawn off at his place before we leave town." Willow said.
"Right. Get Spike." Buffy replied. It was the last thing she wanted to do. And the only thing she wanted to do. She was this close to ripping out her hair.
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Angel and Cordelia struggled to open the doors to Angel Investigations. Cordy was holding Connor, and several shopping bags. Angel was carring a playpen and some more shopping bags. They both were laughing at their efforts. Finally, Angel yanked the door open.
Fred was behind the counter, and walked around when Cordy and Angel were all the way inside the spacious lobby. Immediately, she took Conner from Cordy, and started talking to him. Cordelia took her bags and headed for the kitchen. Alerted by the noise coming from the lobby, Wesley and Gunn came out of Wesley's office to see what was going on. Big mistake. Angel set them to the task of taking the playpen out and setting it up. Both made attempts to complain, but were silenced with a look. Lorne came downstairs, dressed in one of his brightly colored suits. Taking in the suit, Cordy blinked.
"New suit?" She asked. Lorne nodded.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"Well, I think that if all of LA lost power, you'd still be able to stop traffic." She answered, a smile on her face.
"That was the point, princess." Lorne replied.
"But it looks good." She continued, not wanting to hurt his feelings. She gave him a sheepish grin. He smiled back, and headed into the lobby.
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On the road, Buffy was silent. Spike was breaking every traffic law there could possibly be, but she wasn't paying attention. She was in the back, after convincing Willow to take the front. Her reasoning was that the seat reclined, and Willow could get some sleep while they traveled. Spike had yet to speak to her since Willow had dozed off. Buffy sank further into theseat. She didn't want to be there. She wanted to be at home. In her bed. With Spike. At that thought, she sat up ramrod straight. What was wrong with her?
Spike smothered another chuckle. He was getting to her. His main reason for not speaking to Buffy was so that their arguing wouldn't wake Red. He knew if he opened his mouth, they'd have a fight. So once Red had fallen asleep, he'd kept his mouth shut. She would have to speak to him first.
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"I should have never come down." Lorne said. Wes and Gunn were trying to rope him into helping with the playpen. Thankfully, he excused himself, reasoning that he had to visit a client. The duo was left staring quizically at the box. Angel came out of the kitchen and went over to where Fred was standing with Conner.
"Help me change his diaper?" Angel asked. Fred nodded. She quickly grabbed a diaper, and wipes from one of the shopping bags still in the lobby. A shout from the lobby startled the pair.
"We've done it!" Gunn crowed.
"That's great you guys." Cordy said, coming in from the kitchen.
"We've opened the box!" Wesley replied, excited. Cordelia rolled her eyes as she watched the two men try to figure out how get the play pen to unfold. Fred and Angel came back into the room, just as Cordelia had had enough. Exasperated, she stepped between the two males, and after just a minute had the playpen unfolded. Angel carried Conner over, and laid him inside. Both Fred and Angel were trying to smother their laughter. Cordelia pushed the playpen into Wesley's office, where it would be close by, but out of the way. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
Buffy stared at the gigantic building with dread in her stomach. She didn't want to go in.
"You ok, Slayer?" Spike asked, finally breaking the silence. He glanced in the car. Willow was still asleep. He wasn't sure how he'd managed to get himself into this, but ever since the other night, he figured Buffy could ask him to do the impossible, and he would do it just for her.
"I'm fine." Buffy replied.
"Well, you don't look fine." He said sharply. Then, sympathetic, he continued. "We don't have to do this." He wasn't looking forward to seeing the poof either.
"Yes we do." Before she could change her mind, she pulled the front door to the hotel open, and walked in. It was like time just stopped. Everyone in the lobby froze, staring at her. Cordelia broke the silence.
"Oh my god! Buffy!" She exclaimed, rushing to give the girl an awkward hug. "It's good to see you." she finished. Stepping back, Cordelia took in the girl standing before her. Before she could comment, her attention was drawn by the door of the hotel opening a second time. Spike entered first, carrying three bags in one hand. His other was supporting Willow,who looked so fragile it was as if she would topple over at any second. Buffy took in Spike's unspoken cue, and went to Willow's other side. Together, they helped the redhead to the couch. The dark circles under Willow's eyes were evident to all in the room. What wasn't exactly clear was why Spike was even there to begin with. "Can I just say...huh?" Cordelia spoke up.
"Spike, why don't you go get the rest of our things, while I get Willow settled?" Buffy suggested. They had both noticed the tension in the room since he had walked in.
"Buffy? Stake? Vampire? Hello? Why isn't he dead yet?" Cordelia asked.
"Becuase he can't hurt anyone. A government group that was in Sunnydale captured him, and installed a chip in his head. Anytime he hurts a human, he gets searing a pain in his skull." Buffy explained. Less of course that human is me, she finished in her head. If she was even still human.
"We still do stake vampires around here, don't we? Because I'm beginning to wonder." Gunn commented. Spike picked this moment to come back inside, carrying two more bags. He set them near the first three. One was Spike', but the other four belonged to Willow and Buffy. The Slayer and friends never traveled with all the ameneties, and a large selection of weapons.
Buffy, Willow, Spike, this is Gunn. And this is Fred. You all remember Wesley, right?" Cordelia began the introductions. Buffy nodded at Wesley, and smiled at the brunette Cordy had called Fred. And people thought she had weird name.
Buffy, I could use some sleep." Willow whispered, her eyes barely staying open.
On it, Will." She anwered, turning to the one person who hadn't said a word since she'd walked in. Their conversation in the fall had cleared up somethings between them, but it was still awkward to see him standing there.
"Angel?" She asked.
"I'll show you where your rooms are." Cordelia offerred. Angel looked grateful. Buffy nodded, put one arm under Willow, and helped the girl stand. They started up the stairs, following Cordy, when Buffy stopped and spoke to Spike over her shoulder.
"Spike, could you get our bags and carry them up?" She asked. He glared at her, but didn't say anything until she was out of sight.
"What am I, her soddin' whipping boy?" He muttered, grabbing all five of the bags. He headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. The lobby was silent for a moment. Then Angel began gathering the shopping bags with Conner's things in them.
"Wes, Gunn. Help me get this stuff upstairs?" He asked. The three men began gathering the bags, leaving Fred to watch over the baby.
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Buffy lay in her bed, trying to ignore the smell of garlic. She had placed several strands of the smelly herb around her room. She would probably carry the odor of it for weeks. Buffy sighed. She had put up the strands knowing it would keep Spike out. What she hadn't counted on was how much she wanted him there. With her. In her bed. Stop that! She mentally berated herself. You don't need Spike, her brain reminded her. It failed. She was going crazy, trying to stay away from him. Disgruntled, Buffy sat up in her bed. She was startled when the phone began to ring. After it was apparent no one else in the house was going to answer, Buffy picked up the phone in her room.
"Hello?" Buffy answered.
"Buffy...It's me." Angel replied.
"Angel." Buffy said. She was immediately flooded with guilt.
"Listen. I need your help. How soon can you be in LA?" He asked, getting straight to the point of his call. He wanted to get back to his son.
"Look, Angel....Now is not really a good time. Willow and Dawn are having problems, and Dawn can't miss anymore school. Xander can't miss work, and Anya can't leave the store now that Giles isn't here." Buffy protested.
"I wouldn't..."Angel began, then stopped. "Where did Giles go?" He asked instead.
"He left." Buffy said, her teeth clenched. Judging from her tone, Angel felt it was best to change the subject.
"I wouldn't call if it wasn't important." He picked up his earlier sentence, trying to convince her.
"What's so important I have to go all the way to LA ?" Buffy questioned.
"It's kinda one of those things you have to see to believe." Angel answered. Buffy shrugged, then realized that Angel couldn't see the shrug through the phone line. She sighed.
"All right. I'll come. I'll see if Willow can come with me." Buffy gave in.
"Good. I'll see you as soon as you get here." Angel said, and hung up. Buffy glanced at the phone in her hand and sighed again.
"No rest for the weary." She remarked to the empty room. Grabbing her overnight bag, she began tossing things into it.
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After packing, she went into Willow's room, hoping her friend was still awake.
"Will?" Buffy whispered.
"I'm awake Buffy." Willow answered, speaking in a normal tone.
"Angel called." Buffy said, perching on the bed next to Willow. Willow's eyebrows raised in response, but she didn't say anything. "He wants....needs me to go to LA I'm going to leave Dawn at Xander and Anya's. I was hoping you would go with me." She finished.
"I dunno, Buffy." Willow replied.
"Please Will? It'll be a good change of pace." Buffy pleaded. Plus it will give us a chance to reconnect, she thought to herself. Willow nodded, finally giving in.
"But we should bring Spike along with us." Willow mandated. Buffy was about to protest when Willow continued. "I don't want to be a burden, Buffy. I can't use magic. We should bring him along in case we run into any nasties. Besides, we can take his car." Willow finished. Buffy finally agreed. Willow got out of bed slowly, feeling exhausted. "You go get Spike. I'm going to pack and call Xander. We can drop Dawn off at his place before we leave town." Willow said.
"Right. Get Spike." Buffy replied. It was the last thing she wanted to do. And the only thing she wanted to do. She was this close to ripping out her hair.
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Angel and Cordelia struggled to open the doors to Angel Investigations. Cordy was holding Connor, and several shopping bags. Angel was carring a playpen and some more shopping bags. They both were laughing at their efforts. Finally, Angel yanked the door open.
Fred was behind the counter, and walked around when Cordy and Angel were all the way inside the spacious lobby. Immediately, she took Conner from Cordy, and started talking to him. Cordelia took her bags and headed for the kitchen. Alerted by the noise coming from the lobby, Wesley and Gunn came out of Wesley's office to see what was going on. Big mistake. Angel set them to the task of taking the playpen out and setting it up. Both made attempts to complain, but were silenced with a look. Lorne came downstairs, dressed in one of his brightly colored suits. Taking in the suit, Cordy blinked.
"New suit?" She asked. Lorne nodded.
"What do you think?" He asked.
"Well, I think that if all of LA lost power, you'd still be able to stop traffic." She answered, a smile on her face.
"That was the point, princess." Lorne replied.
"But it looks good." She continued, not wanting to hurt his feelings. She gave him a sheepish grin. He smiled back, and headed into the lobby.
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On the road, Buffy was silent. Spike was breaking every traffic law there could possibly be, but she wasn't paying attention. She was in the back, after convincing Willow to take the front. Her reasoning was that the seat reclined, and Willow could get some sleep while they traveled. Spike had yet to speak to her since Willow had dozed off. Buffy sank further into theseat. She didn't want to be there. She wanted to be at home. In her bed. With Spike. At that thought, she sat up ramrod straight. What was wrong with her?
Spike smothered another chuckle. He was getting to her. His main reason for not speaking to Buffy was so that their arguing wouldn't wake Red. He knew if he opened his mouth, they'd have a fight. So once Red had fallen asleep, he'd kept his mouth shut. She would have to speak to him first.
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"I should have never come down." Lorne said. Wes and Gunn were trying to rope him into helping with the playpen. Thankfully, he excused himself, reasoning that he had to visit a client. The duo was left staring quizically at the box. Angel came out of the kitchen and went over to where Fred was standing with Conner.
"Help me change his diaper?" Angel asked. Fred nodded. She quickly grabbed a diaper, and wipes from one of the shopping bags still in the lobby. A shout from the lobby startled the pair.
"We've done it!" Gunn crowed.
"That's great you guys." Cordy said, coming in from the kitchen.
"We've opened the box!" Wesley replied, excited. Cordelia rolled her eyes as she watched the two men try to figure out how get the play pen to unfold. Fred and Angel came back into the room, just as Cordelia had had enough. Exasperated, she stepped between the two males, and after just a minute had the playpen unfolded. Angel carried Conner over, and laid him inside. Both Fred and Angel were trying to smother their laughter. Cordelia pushed the playpen into Wesley's office, where it would be close by, but out of the way. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------
Buffy stared at the gigantic building with dread in her stomach. She didn't want to go in.
"You ok, Slayer?" Spike asked, finally breaking the silence. He glanced in the car. Willow was still asleep. He wasn't sure how he'd managed to get himself into this, but ever since the other night, he figured Buffy could ask him to do the impossible, and he would do it just for her.
"I'm fine." Buffy replied.
"Well, you don't look fine." He said sharply. Then, sympathetic, he continued. "We don't have to do this." He wasn't looking forward to seeing the poof either.
"Yes we do." Before she could change her mind, she pulled the front door to the hotel open, and walked in. It was like time just stopped. Everyone in the lobby froze, staring at her. Cordelia broke the silence.
"Oh my god! Buffy!" She exclaimed, rushing to give the girl an awkward hug. "It's good to see you." she finished. Stepping back, Cordelia took in the girl standing before her. Before she could comment, her attention was drawn by the door of the hotel opening a second time. Spike entered first, carrying three bags in one hand. His other was supporting Willow,who looked so fragile it was as if she would topple over at any second. Buffy took in Spike's unspoken cue, and went to Willow's other side. Together, they helped the redhead to the couch. The dark circles under Willow's eyes were evident to all in the room. What wasn't exactly clear was why Spike was even there to begin with. "Can I just say...huh?" Cordelia spoke up.
"Spike, why don't you go get the rest of our things, while I get Willow settled?" Buffy suggested. They had both noticed the tension in the room since he had walked in.
"Buffy? Stake? Vampire? Hello? Why isn't he dead yet?" Cordelia asked.
"Becuase he can't hurt anyone. A government group that was in Sunnydale captured him, and installed a chip in his head. Anytime he hurts a human, he gets searing a pain in his skull." Buffy explained. Less of course that human is me, she finished in her head. If she was even still human.
"We still do stake vampires around here, don't we? Because I'm beginning to wonder." Gunn commented. Spike picked this moment to come back inside, carrying two more bags. He set them near the first three. One was Spike', but the other four belonged to Willow and Buffy. The Slayer and friends never traveled with all the ameneties, and a large selection of weapons.
Buffy, Willow, Spike, this is Gunn. And this is Fred. You all remember Wesley, right?" Cordelia began the introductions. Buffy nodded at Wesley, and smiled at the brunette Cordy had called Fred. And people thought she had weird name.
Buffy, I could use some sleep." Willow whispered, her eyes barely staying open.
On it, Will." She anwered, turning to the one person who hadn't said a word since she'd walked in. Their conversation in the fall had cleared up somethings between them, but it was still awkward to see him standing there.
"Angel?" She asked.
"I'll show you where your rooms are." Cordelia offerred. Angel looked grateful. Buffy nodded, put one arm under Willow, and helped the girl stand. They started up the stairs, following Cordy, when Buffy stopped and spoke to Spike over her shoulder.
"Spike, could you get our bags and carry them up?" She asked. He glared at her, but didn't say anything until she was out of sight.
"What am I, her soddin' whipping boy?" He muttered, grabbing all five of the bags. He headed up the stairs, taking them two at a time. The lobby was silent for a moment. Then Angel began gathering the shopping bags with Conner's things in them.
"Wes, Gunn. Help me get this stuff upstairs?" He asked. The three men began gathering the bags, leaving Fred to watch over the baby.
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