"Mr. Giles, I don't know why you asked to meet today, but I'm afraid I have my hands full running a reformatory for supervillains. Faith's even talked about joining my merry band of delinquents." Wesley sipped his tea and eyed the man before him. "So please get to it."

"I got the information you asked in exchange for helping Willow." Giles tossed a folder onto the table. "Cordelia got called by the powers. She's no longer on this plane."

With a skim of the file, Wesley nodded. "Willow's well. Said to say hello for her." He stood, left five dollars, and took the folder. "Good day."

Wesley returned to the building him and those in his care lived in an industrial neighborhood to keep people from prying into their business. His charges got louder than his apartment building had tolerated. Now not an exception to that rule since he could hear pain filled screaming the moment he opened the door. "Has he been like this during my entire absence?"

Willow ran a damp rag over Spike's neck as he screamed into her stomach. "No. This started five minutes ago. But it started as soon as he noticed you left. Giles is such a bastard. Why couldn't he come here?"

"Seeing you might be too painful for him." Wesley sat on the ground next to them and rubbed Spike's back.

"How would he know? He hasn't seen me since he dropped me at your door." Willow ran fingers through Spike's hair as his screams subsided into shaking tears. "Did you tell him about Spike yet?"

"I doubt that's a good idea. I told you what Spike did to Buffy. Giles would want the creature responsible destroyed." Wesley leaned against Willow when Spike pulled on his shirt.

Willow rested her head on Wesley's. "But he's got a soul now. And Angel killed Jenny and then tortured him. Giles forgave him."

"He never forgave Angel for anything, but rather tolerated his existence for Buffy's sake." Wesley sighed. "It'll be dark soon. We need to get ready. What's Connor doing?"

"He ran to get fresh blood for Spike. The last batch went bad. He should be back any minute." Willow whispered in Spike's ear. "We need to go look for Angel. Wes is back and wants you to put on your brave face for him."

Spike nodded and rolled to his feet. "Find me sire. We need to find me sire so he can tell me how." He ran to the basement.

"If Spike doesn't eat this, I'll stake him and put him out of his misery." Connor set the bag of pig's blood on the table. "He's turning into a walking skeleton."

"Connor, pull the car in, would you?" Wesley gave the keys to Connor and then asked Willow, "Have you been able to get through to him about the difference between Angel and Angelus? I want to know how to judge his continued callousness."

"Can't even say Angel's name without him getting bristly. I think getting him to help find his father at all is a miracle." Willow sighed. "I just hope that locator spell works this time. Who'd think something seemingly simple would be so difficult to master. I deratted Amy easier."

"In good news, Giles found Cordelia. She's on the same plane as the powers, so we can stop worrying about her."

"She's better off there than here. Looking for Angel for months on end in a fishing boat would kill her."

"Because she'd be worried about Angel, I know."

"She's probably still worried about him. I was talking about Cordelia being on a fishing boat. I don't care how much of humanitarian she's become, there's not a power in the multi-verse that would make her okay with fish smell."

"Ready!" Wesley and Willow turned to see Spike, naked save the swim fins. "Shotgun."

"What's taking Connor so long?" Willow asked as she wrapped a towel around Spike's waist.

"Since Spike's done this every night for three weeks, I assume he didn't want to see Spike's penis again. I think he's attracted and can't handle being attracted to a demon. He'll be here shortly." Wesley watched the garage door open. "And here he is."

"I'll get the picnic baskets." Willow went the kitchen area of the open space to get four bags of sustenance.

"No Spike! You sit in the back!" Connor's annoyance reached screeching levels.

"I have super hearing too you know. You need not hurt the ole eardrums to make a request. And I called shotgun, so there." Spike stuck his tongue out at Connor as he tossed the towel out the window.

"One of you drive." Connor growled as he got in the backseat.

"If you drive there, I'll drive back." Willow put the food in the trunk and checked to see if they had all the magic supplies they needed.

"Deal." Wesley replied.

"How's Wes?" Fred asked as Giles returned to the Hyperion.

"He appeared in good health."

"Did you ask him?"

"He didn't give me the chance, but I doubt he's in the dark." Giles rounded the counter and poured a cup of coffee.

"So he knows y'all are here?"

"It's a safe assumption." Giles turned to Dawn. "How's the research coming?"

"There's a translation for this book, so better. Buffy's at that demon hospital thing asking around. Hopefully she'll get somewhere." Dawn didn't take her eyes of her note taking.

"How's the prisoner?"

"Anya's getting close to figuring out how we're keeping her trapped. Don't you think it's kinda low to keep her captive when she worked so hard to help us against Willow?"

"I'll let her go when she let's me destroy her power center. I don't want to hurt her, but we can't have her out there hurting people." Giles pinched the bridge of his nose. "Has Xander checked in?"

"He says Sunnydale's doing fine. Willow's warpath is still keeping the demons scared and at bay."

Giles addressed Fred with the next question. "Have you and Gunn found anything?"

"An already dusted vampire and heap of nothing. Sorry no news on where Angel disappeared to. Do we know who else Wesley's overseeing? Who the supervillains are other than Willow?" Fred followed Giles into the office.

"All I know is that Faith is not among them. I think Wesley only mentioned that because he knew I was already aware." Giles looked through the desk drawers. "Are we out of aspirin?"

"I was going on a supply run. I'll put it on the list." Fred touched his shoulder. "Maybe you should try getting some sleep."

"I can't afford such a luxury. Wolfram and Hart's power increased too steeply since Cordelia and Angel's disappearances."