Turning the Helical Gear

Author: Nickeltaffy

Disclaimer: These characters are Joss's. I don't own them, never did and never will. Thanks for the loan.

Everyone's surprised by Spike's latest transformation – a four year old Spike. The only one who seems to taking it well is Spike and he's up for a little fun and maybe, some payback.

Chapter 8

Angel heard the small footsteps run to the back of the penthouse, followed by the very small sound of a metal door open and close. He held his breath as he listened for the sound of adult feet in pursuit. There were none. He inwardly sighed with relief as he realized that Spike had woken up and escaped to a hiding place without the soldiers detecting it. Angel tried to think of where the sound of door had come from in the penthouse. He realized it was the door to the emergency stairwell. Spike had managed not only to open the door, but had opened it without the alarm going off. Spike was always surprising him with his sneaky little skills Angel thought and slightly shook his head.

Fred noticed the small change in Angel's expression and raised her eyebrows minutely at him in question. Angel twitched his eyebrows back at her with a small smile to let her know it was okay. Angel attuned his vampire hearing, concentrating on any sounds coming from the stairwell. He could detect the sound of small uneven footfalls on the stairs. Spike was coming down the stairs. Angel listened intently. He heard Spike reach the level of the offices. He held his breath as he waited for Spike's next move. He, then, heard the child continue down the stairs. Where was he going? If he went downstairs, he could go out the lobby out into the daylight. Was Spike aware to the danger the sun posed to him? Angel started to sweat. What if Spike continued all the way down to the lower levels? There were things down there that would love to get their hands on a small vampire. It was time to resolve this situation quickly.

He signaled to his staff to be ready and he turned to Elkhorn.

"So, you're here because of idle gossip." Angel said despairingly as he casually moved over to the side of the room and stood just before two of the guards

"I wouldn't say it was idle. When something like a Qualvolchan stone makes an appearance in our dimension, you got to believe that certain parties are going to find out." Elkhorn confidently sat back on the edge of Angel's desk.

Wes and Gunn eyed the guards standing around the group, looking for any weakness.

"Oh come on. It still sounds like just a random story making the rounds." Angel said with a small chuckle.

"So, you would think…But if it wasn't for the extreme power readings emanating from your building this morning, I would not be here now."

"Are you monitoring us?" Angel cocked his head

"Of course. It always pays to keep your eye on the active players in the game" Elkhorn said with a satisfied smile at Angel.

"So, what do you want with this stone?" Angel took a step back toward the guards.

"What does anyone want: Power. It seems to be an easy way to secure it." Elkhorn said as he lazily reached into his pocket.

"Power, huh. Not many people can actually handle it."

As he said the last word, Angel grabbed the barrel of the rifle of one guard under his arm as he elbowed the other guard in the face. Gunn grabbed the guard next to him, forcing the rifle to point up to the ceiling. As Fred hunched down, Wes tackled the last guard with a flying leap, knocking him over to the floor.

Suddenly, a beam of light came from the device in Elkhorn's hand. The light surrounded Angel, immobilizing him in a burning haze of light.

Elkhorn lowered the small device in his hand. With a small laugh, he lifted his hand to show the room what looked like a cell phone.

"It is funny what you can find on the market these days. They've discovered a way to harness solar energy for personal use." He mused. "They had hoped to use it to capture the self tanning business. It was a failure, but imagine how surprised I was to find how effective it was to bind vampires."

As Elkhorn a lowered his hand, his face became serious.

"Alright, you've made your predictable bid for freedom, now can we get down to business. I would suggest your people cease their struggle. That is if they don't want to see you deep fry before their very eyes. Right now you're experiencing the lowest setting, just enough to give you a little color." He smirked.

Angel gasped as the burning radiated around his being. The AI team stood back from the guards. The guards stood up, grabbed their weapons and resumed positions in the room. Elkhorn stood up from the desk and walked over to Angel.

"Your staff needn't worry. The effect is only temporary. You should be fine in a half hour or so. But let us understand each other, I will not be broached in this matter. Where is the stone?"

"I have it. " Fred said as she stepped forward

…...

"What are you doing here, child?" growled the beast, irritated that children had been allowed into the area he considered his sanctuary.

"Hello Chief. You mean you don't recognize me? Your old poker chum, who you owe eight kittens?"

"Spike?" Langdon said with surprise in his voice.

Langdon's appearance changed from a twelve foot menacing beast to the size of normal man, the teeth and claws receding. On the monster meter, he went from a nine down to a two in the intimidation factor.

"Your's truly. Same old Spike; but now in a more convenient travel size." as Spike held up his hands

"What happened to you?" Langdon asked as he came toward the front of his cell, looking at the child from top to bottom.

"I came out on the wrong end of a balls-up encounter with a particular stone. It's just temporary. I'll be back to full right size before ya know it." Spike shrugged

"So, what are you doing down here?" as the creature looked quizzically at the child.

"I told ya. I have a proposition for ya."

"Not interested." The demon began to turn away.

"Really, that so. Funny, I could see it wiping out ya debt to me and maybe even throwing a few more bleedin kittens your way." Spike countered, looking up at the ceiling.

"Keep talking." Langdon stopped and looked back at the small figure.

"As you can see. I am in a bit of a bind size-wise at the present. There are some over excited soldiers upstairs giving us a bit a trouble. I thought you, bein a reg'lar chum and all, might lend me some assistance with your special gifts. In return, we could negotiate an outcome ta our mutual benefit."

"You realize that I am not into violence anymore. I put that all behind me." Langdon tilted his head toward Spike.

"That's why I came to you. You know, the soul thing won't allow me to agree to having the tossers killed; but that doesn't mean that I would not object to having a bit of fun with them." Spike came closer to the cell and leaned against the corner. "I thought you might be willing to break the monotony around here. Are you game?"

"I don't know." Langdon said flatly.

"What do you mean: I don't know. This is a perfect opportunity for you to get out of here… " Spike said with a stunned expression on his face.

"I don't really want to leave. I have a pretty sweet setup here. I've been here a long time. I am not sure I want to go back to living in the outside world again. I remember before Wolfram and Hart captured me, I was living in sewers or abandoned buildings. It was dirty, dank and disgusting. I never knew where my next meal was going to come from . Now, I have this nice dry cell with three squares a day. I have my flat screen television, my big comfy recliner, the Saturday night poker games….I just ordered that bed you can jump on without spilling a glass of wine. I got a regular Thursday night thing going on with Noreen two cells down..I got a life here. Why would I want to put all that in jeopardy?"

"Hey, I didn't know things were working out for you so well down here. Nobody said you had to leave" Spike replied.

There was a pause in the discussion as the two demons looked at each other across the cell door.

"You and Noreen, huh?" mussed Spike "I would have never expected that."

"She's a truly beautiful lady."

"I am not doubting it, not at all. She seems to be real high quality. Just saying…my tastes run more to the two eyed variety."

An uncomfortable silence made the next seconds drag, then Spike spoke up again.

"Hey, the place is under new management now. If we're successful, you might wind up with a job offer from upstairs. I actually know the new boss. I wouldn't say we're friendly, but he has been acting kinda paternal lately. You wouldn't be the first demon working upstairs. I am sure a job offer could be in the making.

"Like I would want that? Getting up early every morning to hear the overly bubbly morning news team tell me about the weather I am going to miss . Wrestling into a monkey suite to work nine to five with a bunch other suckers. Handing in reports that are never read to a supervisor who barely missed being declared mentally deficient by the state. Falling asleep with your eyes open in meetings while some nimrod takes a simple two second idea and turns it into a performance of the Iliad. Being pressed by co-workers to buy over-priced chocolate bars to support their pigeon toed kids' sports team! You know the kids I am talking about-they're never going to have a career in sports. Talk about your own personal ring of hell. No thanks, I just stay down here and mind my own business."

"Blimey, it sounds like you've given this a lot of thought. Did you eat some bureaucrats before you were captured?" Spike wrinkled his brow, while looking at the demon. "Buggar it all! It doesn't mean we can't work something out. Let's say we do something a little less apparent to the populace. Nobody has to know that you're involved. How do you feel about being devious?"

"You know that's my preferred medium." Langdon smiled knowingly.

"Then it sounds like we're coming to an agreement, mate"

"Hey, Spike. You know those extra kittens you mentioned. Would you make them Siamese?"

"Huh, Why?"

"I've been craving asian all week."