Episode 6.4
This Is What it Is
by Maddy

Angel had been sleeping, or at least trying to, although they had found a place to stay and beds to sleep in, the beds weren't comfortable enough for him. His standards had risen since being housed by an evil – but very rich – law firm.

But now was not the time for a rare moment of selfishness. Angel, Gunn, Spike and Faith had a seemingly impossible task of reclaiming a city from the clutches of thousands of demons…or they could give up and leave. The second option was, to Angel, unacceptable.

"Angel! Angel!" Gunn came running into the room where two beds had been set up, the other two beds were in the next room.

Angel sat up. "What's wrong?"

"There's some people here wanting to talk to you."

"Me?"

"Well," said Faith, also coming into the small room. She seemed better, the scene at the alleyway shook her up. "They wanna talk to all of us. But since you're our courageous leader, Gunn said we had to wake you."

"I wasn't asleep." He left the bed, straightened out his clothes, "So, who wants to talk?"

"Some Council guys," explained Faith, "they keep saying that Giles and B sent them, but-"

"It's best to be cautious. Where's Spike?"

Faith grinned, "Out there giving them a hard time. It's rather entertaining, but they're the good guys."

"The Council hasn't always been on our side. Their ways are…"

"Primitive," Gunn offered with a shrug.

"No. It's just…they don't like me and the definitely won't like Spike."

"Then let's go save him." Faith walked from the room first, followed by Gunn.

"Do we have to?" asked Angel bringing up the rear.

"Hello, Mister Angel."

Two men dressed to the nine stood a few feet from Spike. They were a pair of stereotypical middle-age British men. Tweed and more tweed, one wore glasses.

"Just Angel."

"Okay, Angel. I'm Jonathan Jones." The one with glasses reached out for his hand, Angel appreciated the gesture. Men who are brought up to hate and fight vampire, this must be a surreal experience. Angel and Jonathan Jones shook hands. "And this is Ryan Kellerman."

"Hello," said Kellerman.

"Hello." Angel noticed the lack of hand-shaking, but didn't push the subject.

"We should get right into business. You know who we represent?"

"Not exactly, I know Buffy and Giles-"

"Miss Summers and Mister Giles sent us here," explained Jones as he started pacing. "We have in our charge two young Slayers-"

"So, you're Watchers."

"Yes, Briana Collins is very young, only fifteen years old. But she's been in training for the past year. Briana is my Slayer-"

"Jones, why are you telling us this?" asked Faith.

"My Slayer's name is Sarah Roberts," spoke up Kellerman, ignoring Faith's question. "She's eighteen. Both are very good at what they do, Miss Summers trained them personally-"

"That's great, are you proud?" smirked Spike, taking a cigarette from a packet.

"Where did you get that?" asked Angel.

"Stole it from the supermarket when you stole the food."

"Can we continue?" Kellerman looked annoyed.

"Continue what?"

"Our Slayers are being handed over to you-"

"Wait, you can't-"

"Us?"

"You're kidding!"

"Wow, that's…"

"You can of course decline our offer," said Jones graciously. "But both Miss Summers and Mister Giles has asked that if you don't take them up on their offer-"

"We'd get a hell of a phone call." Spike took a long draw of the cigarette.

"Simply, yes."

"They wish to meet you," said Kellerman.

"They're here!" cried Faith. Spike looked sharply at her, "You brought them here?"

"They've been here, along with us, for six days now," Jones, who Angel liked more than the other one, went on. "They know what they have gotten themselves into. They are trained warriors, if it hadn't been for Miss Summers and her friends, we wouldn't have the resources to contain this war within the city limits."

"You also wouldn't have twenty-three occupied coffins," jumped in Faith.

"Slayer, it's okay," said Spike.

"No, it's not. I was there, so where you. We did it gladly, we didn't think."

"We did what we had to. Buff's plan was brilliant, she doesn't have to do it alone anymore. Neither do you."

"You're one of the team now," Gunn smiled, Faith smiled back. She hoped that this new life, and her newly formed persona, would work out for her.

"Are you quite finished?" Kellerman yelled. "We are at war here-"

"The war has been fought for thousands of years," said Angel. "It'll continue long after we're dead."

"I, for one, would like to delay our deaths for as long as possible. The girls are outside this…building waiting to meet you. They've heard much and I think it would help if you play up to their high image of you all." Jones turned his back and walked out of the 'building'.

"I like this," said Gunn.

"You do?" Faith looked horrified. "How can you-"

"We need all the help we can get."

"But they're little girls. One is only fifteen, she shouldn't have to die."

Angel stepped towards the distressed brunette. "No one has to die. But it's what we do, we die. But the important thing is that we get to choose how-"

"Not everyone gets that choice."

"But they did."

Faith fell into silence, Angel worried that it would swallow her. Faith has never been one to share her feelings or thoughts, he knew she wanted to change, become a better person but it was going to be hard and it would take time.

"Angel and friends," Jones came into the room with two women. "This is Briana Collins and Sarah Roberts."

"Hey, I'm Briana." The younger of the two waved to the four warriors in turn. Her accent was American. Briana had short auburn hair with bright red streaks and green eyes. She was pretty, yet short and very bubbly. "But call me Bri. Briana takes too long to say."

Before they could respond, the older Slayer stepped forward to introduce herself. "Hello, I'm Sarah Roberts. I don't really have a nickname, Sarah will do just fine." Sarah was British, and you could tell. She had an air about her that reeked sophistication. Their clothes couldn't be an indication of their socio-economical background, both were wearing track-suits with stains covering them. Angel and Spike could smell the blood and guts that had been washed off, but still left a lingering scent.

"Sarah and Bri are now yours-"

"Why do I feel like a slave trader?" mumbled Angel, crossing his arms over his chest. "They are not 'ours,' if they wish to stay we can't stop them. But believe me when I say I'd feel better if I didn't have to worry about two young Slayers with little experience."

"I assure you, they are very experienced. Bri had a brown belt in Karate before the spell made her a Slayer and Sarah is naturally agile and a fast learner. Miss Summers believed them to be ready for field work, shouldn't you?"

"By default, I trust her instincts. But I still feel uncomfortable about it. They are only children-"

"I am not a child." Sarah looked outraged at such a claim. "I am eighteen and have seen enough to no longer have the eyes of a child."

Faith made a coughing noise with an odd look on her face. The others seem to share her sentiment.

"Even so, you might not be prepared for this. I don't want the responsibility of looking after two young Slayers, but…I know that Buffy and Faith both handled the daily battle fairly well for their age. I'm willing to give this a go, if we all agree."

"So, do you?" asked Kellerman.

"Let's go have a chat about this." Spike led the way into the other room.

"I think we'll need the help," Gunn leaned against the end of one of the beds. "Slayers are too valuable to pass up."

"I'm with him," said Spike. "But did anyone else get the impression that the Sarah-"

"A complete snob."

"Well, yeah," Spike said, agreeing with Faith. "The little one seems a handful, talk 'bout high on sugar. Hope she ain't like that Nancy-boy-Watcher-wannabe. We'd end up killin' her."

"She's only fifteen," Angel reminded them. Spike would be able to handle a fifteen-year-old since he had been in Sunnydale when Dawn was fifteen. "Right now I'm worried about finding a more decent place to live, we need food and weapons. But since they hold us in high esteem-"

"We could get them to do anything," smirked Spike.

"Not exactly, Spike. But they would be useful…or a hindrance. This is making my head hurt. I don't have any experience with kids, my own turned out not so good until his memories got erased and new ones out in place."

"What are you talking about!" Faith looked utterly bewildered

"Long, long…long story." Angel's face scrunched up in a mixture of emotions. "One day I'll tell it to you."

"Okay," she let the matter drop. Angel was grateful for it, now wasn't the time for a trip down memory – which would then lead to hours of brooding – lane.

"So, we're saying yes to the tweed twins?" Gunn asked, getting back to the original topic. "I say we vote."

"All, in favour: say 'aye,'" grinned Spike.

"Aye."

"Aye."

"Aye."

"And aye," said Spike, finishing up the unanimous vote of 'ayes.' "Should we go tell 'em the news, or let 'em fester a bit?"

"Spike, we don't have time to play games." Angel left the room first. Gunn followed, while Faith turned to the bleached vampire.

"Is it good news or bad news?"

"Only time will tell, love."

"Angel says that you will take the girls," Kellerman said to Faith and Spike as they entered the first room.

"Again, we are not taking them," Angel said through gritted teeth. "If they are willing to stay and help fix up this mess, then they are welcome. We'll fight for them and with them, but they are free to return to their families at any time. Question: do they have white or black cards?"

"Both sets of parents know, if that is what you're implying," answered Jones, "Sarah's mother is in fact a Watcher, but since she had never been identified as a Potential, no training was afforded to her."

"And Briana?" asked Faith. Both vampires looked at her with concern.

"Her parents were informed at the time she was. They have come to accept it-"

"Somehow, I seriously doubt that!" snapped Faith.

"They have, some people gladly and willingly wish to protect humanity. We did not thrust this world upon them, Miss Summers makes it perfectly clear to all Watchers, Slayers and the Slayers' families that doing what we do everyday is an option."

"Really? I didn't know that," she said softly.

Minutes later Angel and the other watched as the Watchers say goodbye to their Slayers. It was unlike any farewell he had ever seen, although they had trained and educated their charges for a year, no bond had been formed. This wasn't surprising with Sarah and Kellerman as they were as snobby as each other.

But Bri was a bright, friendly girl and Jones seemed warm-hearted. As Jones and Bri shook hands in a gesture of goodbye, Angel couldn't help but feel sorry for the young lady. A girl as social as she would want the friendship, and now that Bri is a Slayer, every friend was a blessing.

Sarah and Kellerman also shook hands, and the Watchers left after wishing them all good luck.

Angel watched the newest members of his crew devour two sandwiches each, it troubled him that they were so hungry, just how bad was it out there? No one had explored the surrounding areas and hadn't had any contact with people except that family, the Watchers and now these two Slayers.

With only a year's worth of experience behind them. He sighed in worry, they're only children. Faith was right.

Gunn returned from one of the bedrooms,

"Didn't get any sleep?" Angel asked as Gunn helped himself to a sandwich of his own.

"Got twenty minutes, but I'm so restless I woke up. figured I'd eat something."

"I'm going to head back to that family."

"Again, man. I don't think they've gone through all that food you brought them before."

Angel had returned to the family, where he discovered their names. The father's name is Bill, the mother Beth, the oldest son's name is Matthew and the younger is Charlie. Last names didn't feel important enough to know, oddly enough. He had brought with him food and would have stayed longer had Gunn not come looking for him because of Faith's collapse.

"I want to check on them. It's not safe."

"'Kay, I'll tell them where you're gone."

Angel nodded, "I want to help them, we did this and we have to fix it."

"No arguments from me. Go do your thing, we'll be here when you get back."

Angel was nearly at the front door when Bri jumped in his path. "Can I come with?"

"Next time, they're still a bit freaked out. Maybe in a few days I'll take you with me, are you good with kids?"

"Sure."

"Good, it's a family of four, a mom, a dad and two boys. The oldest is about ten and the youngest looks around six."

"No prob, I'm great with things younger than me." She flashed him a grin. She was definitely growing on him. Whereas Sarah…not a whole lot of love going around.

"Okay, I'll be back as soon as I can."

"Bye," waved Bri as he left the building that had temporarily become her and everyone else's home.

"Hello," Angel walked through the entrance to the family's…residence. It doesn't sound so homey when I think of it as a 'residence.' "Hello?"

"Mister Angel," greeted Beth with a small smile. "Sorry…Angel."

"It's okay. How is everything?"

"Better, thank you again for the food."

"It was my pleasure. Where's Bill and the boys?"

"In the other room. Do you want to see them?"

"Yeah, wouldn't mind."

Beth nodded once, turned around and walked through a doorframe and into the other room the family used.

"Beth, what's your last name?"

"Morris."

He took that in. "Hi, Bill. Matt, Charlie," he greeted the remaining of the Morris family.

"Angel, we didn't expect you back so soon." Bill got to his feet.

He shrugged, "I wanted to check on you. It's not safe." And it's because of me. I'm so sorry.

"Yes, that's for sure. But you don't have to keep coming back."

"But I will, I promise."

"Thank you," Bill smiled sadly, " We were about to have dinner, do you want to eat something?"

"No thanks, I just ate." Which was a lie, but since the Morris' were human, they ate human food. Angel wouldn't bother, it doesn't taste the same. Chocolate and peanut butter. He pushed that memory into the back of his mind.

Angel watched them eat 'dinner' which consisted of bread, cold meats and canned vegetables. The Morris' also had an air of sophistication, he didn't want to pry into their private life – their former life – but it was quite obvious they were rich. It makes the guilt that much heavier.

The Morris' were a wonderful family, caring and considerate of each other and had oddly welcomed Angel whole-heartedly. Maybe they just need a champion.

They only occupied two rooms of the old apartment building, that doesn't mean two separate apartments, but two rooms. On the ground floor; the first apartment as you walk through the burnt out doorway has been claimed by them. The cleared out debris from the living room/kitchen and one bedroom was piled out in the entrance of the building. Angel suspected they would burn it for warmth eventually.

"Are you sure you don't want to come back with me?"

"At the moment, quite sure," answered Bill with tired eyes. None of the Morris' looked as though they got more than about six hours sleep each night. Too afraid to close their eyes, Angel felt another guilty pang. "We're touched that you'd think of us, no one out there is thinking of anyone but themselves. Maybe you should do the same."

"Don't worry about me."

"Mom says that she is," Charlie bit into his sandwich, pieces of corn came falling out. Corn. "'Oh, that poor man-'"

"I have not been saying that!" screeched his mother from embarrassment, Angel chuckled. It amazed him how much better he felt after laughing. I've really needed it, to feel something other than guilt and remorse, even if it only lasts for a moment. For as quickly as the feeling came, it disappeared.

"It's no problem, Beth," assured the vampire.

Matthew and Charlie began arguing about what's best to put on sandwiches. Matthew's preference is cold baked beans, while Charlie really like his corn. Both sounded awful to Angel.

"Do you have children, Angel?" asked Beth.

He debated whether or not to mention Connor, but the 'affirmative' side won. "Yes, I have a son, his name is Connor, I haven't seen him since before…it started."

Both parents nodded in understanding. "It must be very hard for you," Beth said sincerely.

"He's with people who will take care of him." He didn't add that he could take care of himself. "I'm not too worried-"

"Not too worried?" Bill was shocked, "How can you not be worried? You've seen what's happened, what's still happening out there-"

"Yes, I have. But you don't understand, he is safe." He has to be.

"But you can't be sure," added Beth. "I want you to find him, then bring him over to meet us."

Angel smiled slightly, but remained silent.

.END.