Title: One Step Closer

Author: Dragonmaster

Rating: R - eventually.

Genre: Action/Adventure - Drama

Category: Angel/Buffy the Vampire Slayer X-over.

Pairings: None now, will be Angel/Buffy, Gunn/Fred, and Spike/Xander.

Warnings: SLASH. Kinda dark. Torture. Spoilers up to and including "Damage," then it goes AU.

Disclaimer: Joss owns all. I just like to torment them.

Summary: Spike decides to stay with AI squad at Wolfram & Hart and is recovering from his torment at the hands of Dana, when powerful renegade from the Watcher's Council decides that LA looks a lot better than England.

One Step Closer

By: Dragonmaster

Spike was looking far too cheerful for Angel's liking. The blonde menace had all but skipped into his office, and was now perched on top of a conference table happily demonstrating the uses of his newly-healed hands.

"No scarring too. It's brilliant!" the younger vampire enthused.

Angel scowled at his grandchilde as he was flipped off for the eighth time. "Wonderful, Spike. Can't you go show someone else? Like a hungry Vahrall demon?"

"Don't get you knickers in a twist, Peaches," Spike sneered, hopping off the table. "I've got lunch with Fred today. She'll be happy for me." With a swirl of his trademark duster, the Brit left.

With a sigh, Angel put down the papers he had been going over when Spike had interrupted him. Having the blonde around was wearing down his patience. He was happy that Spike and Fred had formed an unexpected bond, though; it kept the younger vampire out of his hair most of the time.

A knock at the door brought the Eire back to reality. Wesley poked his head around the door. "Do you have a few minutes free?" he asked.

"Yeah, Wes, come in," Angel said, putting the paperwork to one side. "What is it?" he asked as his friend took a seat.

"I just received a fax from my contact in the Watcher's Council," Wesley said, still speaking quietly.

"About Dana?"

Wes shook his head. "No, he didn't even mention her. It was a warning, actually."

Angel frowned. "A warning?" He snorted derisively. "Let me guess, they don't want us working on what they deem as "Council business" and if we go near another Slayer again, they'll wipe us out?" Angel was still hurt by Andrew's message before he and the other Slayers took the crazed Slayer, Dana, into custody. Buffy saw him and his team as the enemy because they now ran Wolfram & Hart.

"Surprisingly, no," Wesley said dryly. "They want our help. Seems one of the Council's Special Operatives escaped, killing four men in the process. He's said to be violent, unpredictable, and mentally unstable. My contact reports that he's been seen in the Los Angeles area."
"Why can't the Council catch him?"

"That's the catch," Wes smirked grimly. "He can kill by using only his mind. He's telepathic."

Angel sat back and rubbed his temples. "Just what we need right now," he muttered. "Did your contact give us his name? A description?"

Wesley flipped through some papers before selecting a document. "No name was given, my contact had only seen him. He's about six feet tall, large build, shoulder-length dark hair. Only distinguishing features are a missing left eye and three faint scars on his left cheek." The Brit handed Angel the file.

"At least they were kind enough to give us details. A name would have been nice though," Angel mused as he absently flipped through the file.

"He probably changes it fairly frequently," commented Wesley. "Do you want me to get Security on the case?"

The vampire shook his head. "No," he said, "give them his description and tell them to notify either you, Gunn, or me if he's spotted. Make sure it's clear that they're not to approach him. The last thing we need is a rogue telepath at our throats."

"Anything else?"

Angel closed the file and handed it back to Wesley. "Get Harmony to make copies of this for the rest of the crew. Give copies to Knox, Dan, and Spike as well."

Wesley looked up, surprised. "Spike I can understand, but Knox and Dan?"

"Fred and Lorne trust them," Angel pointed out.

"Yes, but-"

"But what?" Angel snapped, his patience slowly running out.

"Can we trust them? The message was addressed to Angel Investigations, not Wolfram & Hart," Wesley said patiently. "Whoever gave this to my contact must not want anyone outside our squad to know about it."

Angel thought about that. It did make sense, he had to admit. "Do you think Buffy could've sent it?" he asked casually, trying to hide the hope in his voice.

The ex-Watcher gave the vampire a faint smile. "Judging by our last encounter with the Council? No, I highly doubt it. She sees us as the enemy now, as does Rupert Giles. Xander Harris wouldn't send the message either; he's always hated us."

"So whom does that leave us with?" Angel mused. "Willow?"

"Or Faith," Wes agreed. "My contact isn't with the Council, and the message was sent through a secure channel. I can't trace it."

Angel frowned. "Why didn't you route it though Intelligence? They'd be able to trace it."

"We're keeping this quiet, remember?" Wes reminded the Eire. "Though I suppose I could get Fred on it."

The Irish vampire nodded and got to his feet. "Do that, and make those copies. Tell everyone to meet here in an hour."

Wesley nodded. "Right, boss," he said with a small grin, then turned and left.

With a sigh, Angel ran a hand through his overly gelled hair. He already had enough to deal with; now he had the issue of the berserk Council Operative as well.

He glanced up at the clock and cursed softly as he realised what time it was. He had completely forgotten about his meeting with Gunn and the Krish-na demon tribe. The vampire quickly grabbed his files and rushed out of his office.

"Harmony!"

"Yeah, boss?" The blonde vampiress looked up eagerly.

"Tell Wesley to move our meeting to two hours from now," said Angel. "He'll know what I'm talking about."

Harmony nodded. "You got it, boss," she said with a smile.

That settled, Angel rushed toward the conference room, hoping that Gunn was able to come up with a good excuse for his tardiness. Krish-na demons were rather finicky when it came to punctuality...

Author's Note: First attempt at writing an Angel fic, though I have been writing for Buffy for a while now. Hope you guys like it! There will be slash later on, so all you anti-slash people, beware!