The Factory – Same time

Angelus sauntered into the main room of the factory towards Spike and Drusilla. He casually lit a cigarette and released a long satisfied drag as he took a seat. A devilish grin of contentment spread over his lips.

Spike, having scrutinized Angelus' entrance, wheeled himself towards him, despite being in the middle of a conversation with Drusilla. Devoted as he was to his dark goddess, Angelus was a threat to their happy home and Spike knew that he had to shut him down as soon as possible.

"How was your night?" Spike asked, with insincere concern.

"Interesting."

"Angelus was busy playing hide and seek with the girl. He likes the games he plays with her," Drusilla exclaimed in a childlike singsong voice.

Angelus smirked at her lustfully. Drusilla knew him so well.

"These games he's playing are going to get us all staked," Spike said, glaring at Angelus.

"Relax Spike. I have everything under control."

"The Slayer will hunt you down and kill you. That doesn't bother me. What does is that when she finds you, she finds us."

"Spike, my love, don't worry your head," Drusilla said, comfortingly.

"Yeah, Spikey. Lighten up."

"Damn well listen to me, Angelus! Either kill the bitch or don't, but don't piss her off any more than you already have, or we're all for it."

Angelus shot out of his chair and lunged at Spike, gripping his shoulders viciously. He leaned in close and spoke in an eerie whisper, "You can't kill her. You've tried and failed embarrassingly. She's stronger than all of us. Force isn't the only way to kill her. Be patient. I've been doing this for a long time, Spike, my boy. Just sit tight."

"Just bleeding hurry up then," Spike said, always one to have the last word.

"By the way, I need to borrow some of your boys tonight for a little expedition," Angelus told Spike as he let go of him roughly.

Spike didn't respond, instead he simply rolled his eyes. He knew if Angelus wanted something, no one could stop him from getting it. And, more to the point, no one ever had. Suddenly, a piercing scream from Drusilla diverted Spike's attention.

Both Spike and Angelus spun in her direction as she collapsed to the floor moaning in pain.

"No! No…Angel," she cried out.

"What is it, pet?" Spike asked her gently.

Angelus stood over the two of them, his expression pensive.

"The teacher has something of Angel's…." Drusilla said, trailing off.

"What Dru? What does she have of mine?" Angelus asked impatiently.

Drusilla rolled to face Angelus. She looked up at him, painfully, "The key to your soul. She's going to destroy our nice family, Angel," she murmured, moaning softly like a child.

Angelus said nothing. He stood, staring at Drusilla completely lost in thought.

Sunnydale High – Computer Science Lab

Jenny Calendar sat in front of her desktop computer screen, contemplating something as she twirled a pen casually in one hand. It helped her to think. She knew she was extremely close to deciphering the text she'd been working on for the past few weeks, yet she wasn't quite there yet. She had to resolve the glitch in the program she had been using in order for the text to be revealed in its entirety.

Frustrated, she huffed and slumped back into her chair. What was wrong with the program? Why wouldn't it reveal the full text?

All of a sudden, she felt a presence in the room. She spun in her chair, terrified at the prospect of who might be standing behind her. To her relief, it was Rupert Giles. But, he wasn't looking at her. He was gaping at the computer screen in awe.

"Ritual of Restoration? Is this what I think it is, Jenny?" he asked her, still staring at the screen.

Flustered, Jenny quickly closed the program, "Uh…Rupert…well, yes it is. But, there's one more glitch I have to fix to get the entire text."

"Jenny how did you ever…. I thought these texts were lost," Giles asked incredulously.

"It's a long complicated story, Rupert. I didn't want to tell you until I was sure it would work."

"This could change everything. I must let Buffy know immediately."

"It's not for sure yet," Jenny warned him.

"But it could very well be. I have to warn Buffy before she goes after Angelus."

"She's going after him?" Jenny asked, disbelievingly.

"Yes, he's getting too brazen of late. He's been in her bedroom and she's afraid of what he might do next."

Jenny fumbled around in her desk and pulled out a leather-bound pocket-sized book, "Here" she said, handing the book to him.

Giles took the book and looked at her in question.

"It has tons of protection spells. It should have some sort of spell to reverse the invitation rite to keep Angelus out of Buffy's home for now until we can try the curse," Jenny told him.

"Thank you," Giles said, sincerely, looking at her with a deep intensity. They held each other's gaze for a few moments, not requiring speech to let each other know how they felt. Their eyes said it all.

Giles was the first to break the silence, "Oh…I…I better go and locate Buffy," he said, suddenly remembering the urgency of the situation.

"Maybe I will see you soon," Jenny said, a hint of a question in her voice.

"Yes. I'll stop by tonight. Will you be here long?"

"A few more hours. I want to see if I can figure out the last piece of this puzzle."

"Alright," Giles said with a smile.