Chapter 10 Odd Things

A/N: Here we go people this is when things start to stop looking like season four. You excited? You ready for a ride? It's all down hill from here so enjoy it.

Nighttime was here and a young man was out of breath as he looked around. He was running from not one person but seven people at least he thought they were people but they weren't. The guy then heard something and looked behind him and saw the vampires as their faces morphed. He took off running as fast as he could and his heart was racing. He jumped over some hedges and then tripped and started to crawl away. But then stopped as a pair of black shoes were before him. The guy looked up seeing a man all in black with a black coat holding a huge crossbow.

"Keep running." The man said and the guy running nodded and looked behind him as the seven vampires started to line up. The guy got up and started to run away as Angel stood his ground. The vampires hissed at him as he didn't move but lit up a cigarette.

"Slayer!" One yelled and Angel started to calculate his next moves. Once he got a clear idea what he wanted to do he tossed his cigarette. Then one charged and Angel held up the crossbow and fired and that vampire was dust. The others charged at him and Angel reloaded his crossbow and fired again and took out his stake and staked another. He used his crossbow as a sword and hit one vampire across the face and then pointed it at another one and fired.

Angel caught another vampire by its neck and threw him to the ground and with his foot held it down and threw his stake and it killed another one. One of the last vampires came charging and Angel fired again and he was dust. The last vampire under Angel's foot hissed and at point blank range fired and that was the last of them. Angel looked around and then turned in for the night.

At the mansion things were getting strange well stranger. Buffy had a map out the entire town on the table as the A-Team gathered around. Oz was still missing though from the group so they were one man down. Angel walked into the mansion with his cross bow still in hand and the look on his face meant something wasn't good.

"How many?" Giles asked.

"Total of fifteen tonight." Angel answered setting his crossbow on the table and taking is coat off.

"Which combine all together is twenty seven." Buffy finished looking around. "And all are being found here," She pointed to a spot on the map.

"That's a huge build up over the last month." Giles sighed knowing if vampires are gathering then something was going to happen and usually it meant something bad. Since last week when Angel and Buffy noticed the dwindle in vampire numbers they've told Giles. He suggested either they really are disappearing or they are hiding. The answer was the latter of the two suggestions. The vampires were starting to concentrate in two cemeteries but why?

"How bad is this?" Xander asked as they all stood around the table.

"Vampires do hunt in groups but not like this," Buffy explained which it was always nice to have her on their side. She gave good insight on how vampires work. "They're not spreading out anymore."

"So they are gathering." Willow stated. "But what for?"

"When the Master rose the vampires came out in huge numbers." Giles reminded them and that was true.

"Same with Acathla," Xander added so was something else rising again?

"It's manageable right now but unless we find a way to get or at least stay ahead of this they may come in force." Buffy looking at the map. The vampires were disappearing but at the same time gathering.

"We need to start to research see what could be on the rise, if there is something mystical going on." Giles sat down at the table.

"Well, either they are building up for something," Angel started.

"Or they're running," Buffy jumped in and everyone looked to her. "What?"

"No, no you might be right," Giles agreed with her. "Vampires aren't on the top when it comes to the underworld, something could be hunting them and this is they're way of staying safe." Giles finished.

"Well, maybe they're afraid of Angel and they're just trying to get numbers." Doyle added and that was a thought.

"I've been here for almost four years now, why all of sudden be afraid?" Angel asked so now they were back to square one. Giles sighed taking his glasses off and slightly throwing them on the table. This worried him he has never seen vampires gather like this. The way they were gathering wasn't a strategic gathering either it was something else.

"Hate to say but we might have to wait and see." Doyle spoke up and it was true. Hopefully it won't take long and they can stop it.

Willow walked into Oz's apartment and he was here not that long ago, she could feel it. She looked around the empty room missing him and sat on the unmade bed. Oz said he needed to stay away from her until he understood the wolf inside of him. Willow was ready to forgive him and take him back. It was much like Angel and Buffy. Buffy's demon came out but it wasn't Buffy who did all those horrible things. Granted Angel and Buffy's relationship was on a whole other level of complicated but the principle was still there.

Willow picked up a discarded t-shirt and held it close. She would wait here for him. He might come back and she hoped he did. They needed to talk. She'll get glimpses of him around campus but that was it.

Angel grabbed a bottle of water walking through the student union. There was always something going on at the student union. The crunch time of the semester was coming too. He couldn't believe he was almost done with his first semester of college and for what has happened thus far he's done pretty well. Angel then saw Riley across the way helping people. Angel stood there as Riley helped put a banner up and then saw Angel and he came over.

"So, excited for the holidays?" Riley asked Angel and the slayer shrugged. "You really are a man of a few words." That was and wasn't true. To have Angel carry on a full conversion with you, you need to be in his inner circle. Riley was not in his inner circle he was more like Pluto.

"Lesbian Pride?" Angel asked and looked to Riley. "At least you're accepting yourself."

"Oh, no not like that just helping them set up, got time on my hands." Riley chuckled and Angel nodded. "So, you going away for the holidays or staying here?"

"Mom's place." Angel answered and started to walk away and Riley followed.

"Oh that's nice," Riley kept going but Angel was getting annoyed. He just wanted to find a quiet spot to get some work done before leaving. "So where do you live?" Angel wanted to tell him to go elsewhere but Buffy has told him he needed "normal" friends too.

"Mansion off Crawford street, don't live at home." Angel answered and Riley smiled nodding.

"That's impressive," Riley went on.

"It's Buffy's place." Angel stated.

"She's rich?" Riley asked sounding confused. "Father use to own a huge company?"

"Something like that." Angel answered. "Look, it was nice talking to you but I got to go need to study." Angel said and Riley nodded.

"Well, before everyone goes away for the holidays you, me and Buffy should hang out." Riley offered and Angel didn't say anything.

"Maybe," Which meant no in Angel speak and he walked away. There something off about Angel and Riley wanted to figure it out. Plus he just wanted to spend time with Buffy but in order to do that he had to live bicoursiously through Angel.

Spike has been awake but starving for days now. He has been trapped and has no idea what was done to him. He was alive though; he honestly thought he was going to die. But where was he and how was he going to get out? One thing did stick out though; these people call him Hostile 17. Ever since waking up he has been forming a plan to get out and show them just how hostile he really is. Spike crawled on the floor, sprawled out and closed his eyes and waited.

He didn't have to wait long as he heard the door open. He felt something hover over him and then Spike with his quick reflexes grabbed the man and morphed. Spike shoved the man out of the cell and was going to use him as a hostage. The alarms sound and Spike had to make quick decision to get out.

Angel and Buffy did a sweep of one cemetery and no vampires. This cemetery was empty right now and that made them very uneasy. Why was it empty? Because there wasn't anything here they would leave and go to a cemetery that had vampires. But there seemed to be no rush as Buffy had her arm wrapped around Angel's and they walked as if they were more or less on a date, a strange date but a date nonetheless.

"Maybe he likes you," Buffy continued on. Angel was telling her how frustrated he was getting with Riley and how he was starting follow him. "Like you know…"

"Or he actually has no friends." Angel added and Buffy shrugged to that thought.

"And maybe he needs one." Buffy suggested.

"Uh, no," Angel protested. "I don't know, I don't, there's something about him that's just off." He explained and Buffy agreed.

Spike was alone and on the run. He was still locked away in the building whatever building this is. He had a strange feeling he was underground though. The alarms were still going off alerting everyone that something was free. Spike had to get out now or he could be killed this time.

Riley raced to an open area with other men as they were suited up. Maggie Walsh was waiting for everyone to gather. Riley took front and center and waited for orders. That last few stragglers came in and now it was time to start.

"As you know one of our vampires has escaped," Walsh began talking to them. "Hostile 17 escaped at approximately seventeen thirty one and has been lose within the facility since. We find him and then he manages to escape. From what our team has said he has not ingested any food so we will need to use force to take him down." Walsh paced as she spoke. "Hostile 17 is your main priority at the moment. It is threatening the very existence of our operations."

"What about the chip?" Riley spoke up.

"The chip is brand new and it has not been tested in the field only by computer simulation." Walsh was explaining. "Theoretically the chip will cause intense neurologic pain when attempt to hurt something innocent. This will cause the thing that has the chip to potentially never hurt a person." Walsh finish and the men nodded. "But as I said it has only been tested with computer models."

"If Hostile 17 does get free and the chip works?" Forrest asked. That was a good question, would Spike be allowed to roam free and be ok.

"Until we know it works and until I say deem it safe Hostile 17 is to never leave. That vampire was the beta tester and if the chip worked he would be used for further testing. If the tests succeeded then we would advance and that vampire would be the test subject until it died." Walsh answered. Summed up it meant Spike would die down here in the name of strange science. But what were these people doing down here? Where they trying to make demons and vampires safe for the public?

Just then a man in a white lab coat came walking over and went up to Walsh and started to talk. Walsh flagged Riley to come over to join in on the conversion and the three stood far enough away from the other men.

"A new demon has appeared on our scopes, Kungai." The scientist stated and Walsh smiled a little.

"Excellent," Walsh was pleased. "I want it captured and brought here now." The scientist nodded and Riley nodded. "Riley, you find the new demon and take half the squad. Forrest will find Hostile 17. If you do find Hostile 17 first and he is no longer in the lab kill it."

"Yes ma'am," Riley accepted his orders and it was time to leave. Riley then walked over to the group of soldiers to deliver the orders as Walsh was heading back to her office. "Here's the mission objectives, Forrest you will take squad one and your objective is to capture Hostile 17, alive." Forrest nodded and started to lead squad one off to find Spike or as they call him Hostel 17. "Squad two, we're going above ground, we have a demon that needs to be brought here." They all nodded and Riley filed them out.

Spike came down hallway but it was a dead end. The only way to get out of here was to know key codes for the doors. Spike stood there nearly naked in the surgical gown and looked around. He didn't want to go back and he needed to feed. Just then he felt something and looked up seeing a vent. Spike jumped and punched the vent out and climbed into the air vent and started to crawl. As he crawled he looked through a vent and saw a huge lab. It made him feel nauseas for a moment and he kept crawling.

Willow was that extra wheel tonight as Xander and Anya were at the Bronze together and she joined them. She wanted to get out of the dorms but she was clearly down.

"Angel and Buffy should have come," Xander pointed out as he sipped his coke. "Could have been a party."

"Well, they're probably at the mansion having loud sex because Giles and Doyle are gone." Anya was very blunt about that and she looked to Xander and Willow. "You know they are."

"Yeah, I think I'm going back to the dorm." Willow started to gather her stuff.

"But, but we just got here." Xander didn't want Willow to leave.

"I'm tired." Was Willow's excuse as she grabbed her purse and started to leave. "So see you guys later and have fun." And she left for the night. Willow knows she needs to get out of her rut but she didn't feel strong enough to do it. As she walked she heard something in the bushes and decided to look in. It was Harmony piling something together.

"Willow?" Harmony asked and Willow stayed still for a moment and then came further in waving.

"Harmony…what…what are you doing?" Willow asked ready to run since the vampire almost bit her not that long ago.

"Oh getting rid of this." Harmony answered as she took out a box of matches. "Spike's stuff, he comes back all like I'll be with you but something is weird plus he's obsessed with killing Angel and Buffy." Willow needed to warn Angel and Buffy Spike was back…again. "Men, why are they even here," Harmony went on and Willow slowly crept away. "They don't even listen." Harmony lit the match and tossed it on Spike's things smiling.

Willow raced back to the dorms as they were closer than going to the mansion plus if what Anya said was true then she didn't want to walk in on Angel. She made it to her dorms and sat on the bed. At that moment she felt like crying for some reason but held it back. Willow reached for the phone and dialed the mansion number.

At the mansion Anya was right because everyone was gone Angel and Buffy had the place to themselves and they were working on round…a round beyond the number five right now. The music was going, the candles were lit, the room smelt like roses and thank god for stamina. They won't have much sleep, which for Angel it was a price he was willing to pay in the morning. Just as they were about to start again the phone rang.

"What the hell?" Angel muttered and he looked over to the phone. Very few people had this number so it could mean trouble. Buffy however was lost in the moment and kept kissing Angel. She was devouring his neck hoping that would distract him enough.

"No, ignore it," She begged but he couldn't because the fact few people had the mansion number. He knew it wasn't his mother because it was too late at night. "No," Buffy protested but he had to so he rolled over and reached for the phone knocking it and it fell on the floor.

"Damnit," Angel grunted and got to the edge of the bed and reached for it. This better be the phone call telling him the world was going to end right now. He picked it up as Buffy was still in the mood so she got on top of him and kept kissing him. "What?" Angel greeted the caller. This was going to be an awkward conversion.

"Uh, Angel it's me," Willow answered and she noticed the slight heavy breathing and how the phone seemed to get knocked around. "Did I disrupt something?"

"No," Angel lied but if Willow was calling it could be urgent. Buffy didn't seem to care as she moved down from his neck to his chest and Angel was losing focus on Willow.

"Not sure how many more times this is going to happen but Spike is back. Harmony is burning his stuff and says he's looking for you can Buffy." Angel was already upset at the fact that someone called while he and Buffy were in their alone time when they were actually alone in the mansion. Now to hear the cause of the interruption them was Spike, Angel wanted to kill the vampire.

"I'll find him." Angel answered and while he wanted to wait Spike was out there and had to be put down especially for ruining Angel's personal night with Buffy. He set the phone down and looked to Buffy. "Spike's back,"

"I'm going to kill him." Buffy sat up. That name killed any mood they were in. Angel turned on the lamp while Buffy shut the music off and they got out of bed to get dress and kill Spike.

Squad one concluded that Hostile 17 was no longer in the lab so they went above ground to look. Riley's squad was searching the campus for the escaped vampire and would fan out as they went along. Spike was on the college campus and yes he vowed to find Angel and Buffy but first he wanted to send them a message. The campus was open to all so there was no need for an invitation as he walked into Stevenson Hall.

Willow sat there listening to depressing music that only made her depression increase. She knows Angel and Buffy will take care of Spike so she was just going to listen to break up songs and cry herself to sleep until she heard a knock. Willow sighed and sat up not feeling the urge to answer it but it would be rude.

"Come in," Willow offered and when the person walked in she got up quickly. "Spike, get out, you're not welcomed." She stuttered as he shut the door. He was no longer in the surgical gown as he stopped by Harmony's place and grabbed some new clothes.

"You already invited me in." Spike smiled, he was so hungry and killing one Angel's top group members will make the fight real good. Willow then made a sprint to the door and he grabbed her throwing her back. "You've got two choices you witch." Spike smiled as Willow fell to the floor and slowly started to pick herself up. "I'm going to kill you, you have no choice in that, need something to make the slayer angry." Spike got closer to her smiling. "I can let you stay dead or bring you back." Spike morphed ready for the feeding.

"I'll scream," Willow threatened the vampire.

"I like it when they do." He smiled and Willow did scream and Spike put his hand over her mouth and turned the radio back on. He then grabbed Willow and threw her to bed. It's been a very, very long time since he's had a real vicious kill. Willow started to fight him off as Spike got on top of her smiling. He was back and it was time to show Angel just how strong he was. He wanted to rip Willow apart just to show Angel what will happen to the rest of his crew.

Willow swatted at him fighting to get away. The music was up so if she screamed it would drown her out and because she was on the college campus people wouldn't even think twice of the loud music. Spike grabbed both her wrist slamming them down and Willow screamed.

"No! Oz! Help!" She screamed with tears, which only made Spike smile. Spike then lunged forward to finally feed on real human blood. Willow screamed as he went to bite her neck. Ever since Oz left Willow felt like dying but now she didn't want to die. But then she realized she wasn't the one screaming anymore and Spike let her go as he held his head in pain. Willow sat up and then Spike looked to her and went after her again but as soon as he was about to feed the pain came back.

"What the bloody hell!" Spike yelled and then sat on the bed and not only was it confusing to him but to Willow as well. "This has never happened." He sounded lost and Willow sat there as still as she could.

"Maybe, maybe you're nervous?" Willow asked.

"I felt ok walking in here when we started." Spike started to think this through. "Let's try again," He then lunged to her but screamed in pain and back away. Willow sat there not understanding what was going on and Spike lunged again and the same thing happened. "Damnit!" Spike got up and kicked the trashcan. Willow slowly sat up as Spike paced up and down the room.

"Maybe, maybe you're trying to hard." Willow suggested and Spike looked to her. "Maybe?" Spike scoffed and continued to pace.

"I was fine before I came back, thought you'd be a prime kill," Spike then came back to bed and sat down. Willow kept her distance slightly not knowing if this was a trick. Lately though men have been avoiding her and now maybe she wasn't even good enough for a vampire.

"I know I'm not the kind of girl vamps like to sink their teeth into. It's always like, "ooh, you're like a sister to me," or, "oh, you're such a good friend." She started letting some of her feelings out. Spike then looked up to her.

"Don't be ridiculous. I'd bite you in a heartbeat." Spike assured her and Willow had no idea why that just made her happy.

"Really?" She asked and Spike nodded.

"Thought about it," He answered and Willow smiled a little.

"When?" She asked.

"Remember last year, you had on that…fuzzy pink number with the lilac underneath?" Spike asked and she nodded with her smile growing.

"I would have never have guessed. You played the blood-lust kinda cool." Willow felt a little touched now.

"I hate being obvious. All fang-y and "grrr". Takes the mystery out." Spike explained.

"But if you could?" Willow asked and Spike nodded.

"If I could, yeah." He answered. Why being bit by a vampire made Willow smile was strange but it had to because of her feelings at this point and it looks like she'll take what she can get.

"You know, this doesn't make you any less terrifying." Willow assured him and he scoffed.

"Don't patronize me." Spike stood up and paced. "They did something to me." And that caught Willow's attention.

"Who?" She asked.

"I don't know, but I can't bite and I'm starving." He answered and Willow got up.

"This might sound crazy but I know someone who could help." She suggested. Just then Spike stood up looking nervous. "Spike?"

"They're here," He said and he looked terrified. "I can't go back." Willow could feel that he was nervous.

"Listen, I can help," She assured him and Spike didn't have much of a choice.

The lights of Stevens Hall went dark and everyone started to panic. Riley and his men had on their masks as they ran down the hall and faced Willow's door. Riley ran into it and the room was empty.

"Shit!" Riley yelled meaning Spike got away.

Angel and Buffy headed into the mansion as their hunt for Spike was done for the night. They headed to the garden and Willow came out.

"Uh, guys, listen just take it easy," She stammered meaning something was wrong as he led them into the living room as there stood Spike. "We have problems," But before Willow could explain Angel and Buffy ran to the vampire.

"Willow! You promised!" Spike yelled and Willow jumped into the help Spike.

"He can't hurt anything!" Willow yelled as Angel punched Spike and Willow got in front of him. "He can't hurt anything, he tried but he can't." Angel and Buffy looked upset and confused.

"I haven't eaten in days, they did something to me those military men." Spike stood there and the words military men stuck out. "They took me somewhere and now I can't bite anything without my head screaming in pain."

"What?" Buffy asked.

"I'm saying Spike had a little trip to the vet and now I can't chase the other puppies." He explained and then fell to the ground as Giles bashed a baseball bat across his head.

Spike was still out as Angel, Giles and Doyle finished tying Spike up in the bathtub with chains. They backed away looking at the vampire as he was out cold.

"The military men took him but why?" Giles asked.

"When he wakes up, we'll talk, going to bed." Angel then started to leave. He was in a foul mood since Willow phoned him about Spike. Now the vampire was in the mansion. But if he had information about these commandos then he couldn't kill him well not yet.

Day one with Spike has begun and the questioning started. Spike gave his testimony but why couldn't Angel and Buffy not believe him? Maybe because vampires don't tell the truth often. Angel and Buffy were in the bathroom drilling Spike but the conversion wasn't going anywhere.

"So," Angel began he was annoyed at the moment. "You said you saw their faces but can't describe them…" Angel sat on the edge of the bathtub.

"Well," Spike began. "They were human had two eyes each kind of in the middle." He said and Buffy glared at him.

"Uh huh and," She wanted more. "The lab?"

"Underground, I don't know where. I came out from an air vent." Spike said and this was going nowhere. "I'm done turn the telly on." He said and then Giles walked in with a mug and a straw. "It's about time hope you got it warm enough." Spike said smelling the blood, it wasn't human blood but it was blood nonetheless. Giles scoffed as he handed the mug to Angel.

Angel looked into the mug and did a funny look and then scooted closer to Spike to feed him. Spike took hold of the straw and began to drink. Angel thought for some reason this was gross as he watched him. Spike could see his reaction as he sipped his meal. Angel then turned away as he drank but then he stopped.

"I don't know why you're so dainty all of a sudden." He took another sip and then stopped. "You've done this for Buffy you must have." He said and Buffy glared at him. "Oh what she doesn't feed you chocolate covered strawberries while you feed her blood in bed?" He asked. 'Ok now he's getting annoying.' Angel thought although that didn't sound like a bad idea, he did get hungry after sex. Angel then pulled the mug away Spike kept the straw.

"Ok that's it." Angel said getting up and put the cup on the bathroom countertop.

"Hey give it!" Spike demanded with the straw still in his mouth. But then he realized he still had some blood in the straw and finished what was inside of it.

"Ok the kitchen is closed until you can give us something more useful." Buffy said while crossing her arms and Spike spat the straw out looking at the small group in the bathroom.

"I'm trying to remember it was dark and very traumatic." Spike said and Buffy sighed.

"How long are you going to pull this crap?" She asked in frustration. Giles took off his glasses and getting annoyed himself.

"How long am I going to live once I tell you?" Spike asked but before Buffy or Angel could answer the question Giles interrupted.

"Spike we have no intention of killing you," Giles answered.

"What?" Angel and Buffy asked looking at the Watcher. Really Giles was just going to let him leave.

"We won't kill a harmless creature. But we have to know what's been done to you and we can't let you go until we know you are impudent," Giles explained but the last part didn't sit well with Spike.

"Hey!" Spike protested and Angel couldn't help but smile a little.

"Sorry poor choice of words." Giles admitted. "Well until we know that you are,"

"Flaccid?" Buffy asked and the Spike's eyes widen.

"You are one step away missy, Angel control your woman." Spike demanded.

"Oh my, Angel, Giles help he's going to scold me." Buffy said in a sweet but yet sarcastic voice. Giles sighed; this was going nowhere it felt like children fighting. Angel didn't say anything he just rubbed his face and was tired of this charade. Spike reached up to grab Buffy and Angel but the way he was chained he wasn't going anywhere. Buffy stood there somewhat mocking him. Spike let up and sat back down.

"You know what?" Buffy asked as she then got closer to Spike and knelt down right beside him. "I don't think you want us to let you go." Buffy looked at the vampire and Angel stood there wondering what Buffy was trying to do so he decided to take a seat on the side of the bathtub. "Maybe we've made it a little too comfy for ya."

"Comfy?" Spike asked looking at her. "I'm chained in a bath tub drinking pig's blood from a novelty Disney mug. Doesn't rate huge in the Zagat's guide."

"You want something nicer?" She asked and then sat behind Angel and got close to his neck. "Look at his poor neck," She said running her finger up and down it. Angel had that look begging for someone to just shoot him now. Giles then sighed and thought 'really'. "All bare and tender and exposed. Slayer's blood too," Spike was trying to get back up; yes Angel would be a good meal. But the look Angel had, he didn't want to live on this planet anymore. "All that blood just pumping away." Buffy was close to Angel's neck like she was ready to feed. Spike was trying to get at him but he couldn't.

"Oh please," Giles said while leaving, he didn't want to baby sit anymore. Angel wanted to leave to, this was stupid. He should just stake Spike and move on.

"Giles," Spike begged. "Make them stop." As Giles left the bathroom.

"If those three don't kill each other," Giles said as he entered the living room while cleaning his glasses. "I might lend a hand." And then he put his glasses back on and Angel walked passed him to take a seat, he was done with Spike. Buffy would give up with Spike and make her way back out soon.

"So what did we get?" Doyle asked.

"Well," Buffy cleared her voice thinking about what Spike had said. "They are human with eyes in the middle…" She said and everyone knew that time with Spike was a waste.

"What about a truth spell?" Willow asked and Giles thought about it. "It may not work on a vampire but it's worth a try."

"Ok we'll see what we can do." Giles said and Willow got up.

"Alright I'll get the supplies, see you guys later." She seemed a little better as she grabbed her things and Buffy headed back into the bathroom followed by Giles. Angel was feeding the vampire and thought how much worse can this day get?

"If you don't tell us what we want to know then we'll do a truth spell on you." Buffy warned Spike. Spike stopped drinking and his eyes narrowed. With his facial expressions he was bluffing but he was being honest he doesn't know who did this or what they actually did all he knows is he can't feed and attack people anymore. Angel took the empty cup away and stood up folding his arms across his chest getting frustrated with the vampire.

"What are we going to do with him?" Angel asked and both Buffy and Giles didn't have answer at the moment. Angel looked to Buffy and she had that look. "He can't stay here."

"We have to keep him until we know what happened. And I don't know maybe these guys will come looking for him again and we can confront them and then problem solved." Buffy suggested and Angel didn't look pleased.

"He stays chained up down here then." Was Angel condition.

"Good, wouldn't want to be upstairs listening to you two at night making awful sounds. Makes me cringe thinking about it." Spike spoke up and they left the bathroom shutting the door but Spike was confused. "Hey, wait, I don't want to be alone."

"Angel, I don't want him here either but these people," Buffy looked concerned. "From what Spike has told us these people aren't killing demons and vampires they're experimenting."

"So these military men are catching demons and vampires?" Angel asked sounding confused as they went to the living room. "They catch them, experiment and then what?" Angel asked and Doyle looked up at them wondering what was going on. Buffy shrugged to the question not knowing an answer.

"Bet that's why the vampires are gathering, we aren't the only ones hunting." Doyle added and that could be a problem.

"Angel, Buffy, tonight see if you can find a vampire and make them talk, see what is circling on the streets about these men." Giles stated tonight's objective. "We'll hold Spike here since they seem to be tracking him."

"Why not let him loose, live bait." Buffy suggested and Angel, Doyle and Giles thought about it for a moment.

"No, not yet let's gather some information first." Giles answered.

Morning came around and Angel and Buffy couldn't find any vampires, they were gone. They sensed them but they were not coming out to play. This was all very odd and not comforting. Giles was up early as usual making tea. Angel would be any moment for class and Doyle may wake up soon and Buffy well she'll wake up when she feels like it. As Giles was pouring his tea he heard Spike.

"It's telly time! And I'm hungry!" Giles heard the vampire yell as he was still stuck in the bathroom. Giles sighed and walked to the bathroom and opened the door. "Thanks now turn on the telly, can't reach it with these chains."

"Spike, it's early in the morning, please shut up." Giles then shut the door but the vampire wasn't going to shut up.

"Hey! I'm going to miss my show!" Spike yelled and Giles heard him rattling the chains. Just then Angel made his way downstairs. He had two classes today and then he was done. But he looked annoyed as he heard Spike rattling his chains.

"He's about five seconds away," Angel started.

"We need him for information." Giles reminded the slayer but was just as annoyed.

"Passions is on! Timmy is down a well and if you make me miss it!" Spike yelled at the former Watcher and the slayer.

"Or what!" Giles yelled. "What are you going to do lick me to death!" Then there was silence for about three seconds and Spike rattled the chains wildly and Angel had enough and walked to the bathroom seeing Spike acting like a two year old throwing a fit. Angel walked right up to him and grabbed his throat and it's just been a day or so and the slayer had enough.

"If you don't shut up I'll make you and don't think twice I won't." Angel threatened.

"Oooo, big scary slayer, psh," Spike wasn't afraid. "Buffy wants me alive so you can't touch me." Then Angel punched Spike. "What the bloody hell,"

"You want to live after this then I better not even hear you move in this tub." Angel's voice was stern. Angel and Spike glared at each other and Angel won this round. "Good vampire," Angel lightly slapped Spike's cheek and left the bathroom.

"Bloak," Spike muttered once Angel closed the bathroom door.

"I'll be back later." Angel told Giles as he left and Doyle came down the stairs looking confused and lost.

"I was dreaming about chains rattling," Doyle stated and Giles sighed, it was going to be a long day.

Angel and Willow were at lunch together and the red head was somewhat absent today. She was still stuck on Oz and when she sees him around campus it hurts. She doesn't seem much and when she does it's a small glimpse. Angel was looking through a book and looked up seeing Willow wasn't here. He was about to say something when a noise caught his attention. Angel looked over to the street and saw a black motorcycle, with a man on it all in black and a black helmet. To a normal person it wasn't odd but to a slayer it stood out.

"Willow," Angel looked to her and she sort of snapped out of whatever trance she was in. "I don't know what else to say but I know you're grades are slipping, you're moping around,"

"You did too." She cut Angel off and he stopped. "Buffy was gone and you moped," While it was true he still kept up his life. In the dark is where he cried but in the open he was Angel.

"You're right I did, I felt horrible but that situation is not what yours is. I killed my girlfriend ok. But I wasn't dragging my feet I stayed strong for you and the others." Angel explained.

"Yeah but your girlfriend came back," She added which was true.

"Doesn't mean it solved the problem. At one point," Angel paused for a moment knowing he'll feel a little guilty saying this but it was true. "When she came back it brought back everything and she was…she was a constant reminder." He finished and Willow sat there. "It's better now and it will get better for you but have to find something because it will eat you." Angel then gathered his stuff because he couldn't be around her if all she did was stare into nothing.

Night came back around and Angel and Buffy were back on patrol again. Spike was still being…Spike and they felt there wasn't much more they were going to get out of him except a headache.

"So, should we set him free?" Angel asked as they walked the night together.

"He is afraid of these people," Buffy answered and was about to continue on but Angel stopped in his tracks and that meant he was onto something. Buffy looked to the direction he was looking and saw the Sunnydale Arms. Last year he was locked in that place helpless. Then Angel walked over to the curb and saw something with a glow. "That's demon blood," Buffy stated and Angel nodded. A demon was hiding in the broken down boarding house.

"Let's go kill it." Angel stated and Buffy nodded as they headed to the place. Angel opened the door slightly holding out his crossbow, this time he was armed and had his strength. They looked around the place as it was exactly the way they left it last year. Angel headed to the stairs and they both walked up them and looked down the hall.

"I'm a vampire," Buffy stated. "I've been around for two hundred years and seen a lot of scary stuff but why does this hallway give me the creeps?" She asked and Angel shrugged. They walked down the dark hallway together and would look in the rooms but so far nothing. But Angel and Buffy turned around quickly as Angel held up his crossbow and Buffy held up a stake to someone pointing a crossbow back at them. The shadow came closer.

"Hello Angel, Buffy," Wesley greeted them and they both lowered their defenses. Angel held his crossbow at his side looking at the Watcher.

"Wesley," Buffy greeted as he still help up his little crossbow.

"I wager you two thought you'd never see me again." Wesley said and Buffy shrugged.

"Tell you the truth haven't given it much thought one way or another, why," Angel was cut off by Wesley trying to hush him.

"I ask the questions," Wesley stated and Buffy smiled a little. "I must warn you any sudden movements and I'll be force to," Buffy then swatted the small crossbow from Wesley disarming him and she continued to stand there while Angel took a cigarette out. "Right, right," Wesley backed off a little.

"Interesting look," Buffy commented to the Watcher. He was dressed in black pants, black boots, black shirt and a black leather jacket. She then looked to Angel who was dressed similar just with a the long overcoat. Angel stood there smoking waiting for Buffy to be done questioning him. "Watcher's Council going for the badass look now?"

"For your information I no longer work for the Council." Wesley stated while fixing his jacket. "With Angel quitting the Council there was no need for my services."

"You got fired." Angel stated blowing some smoke out and Wesley's eyes widen.

"I thought my time could be better served elsewhere so now I am a rough demon hunter." The former Watcher explained and Buffy had to hold in her giggles. Angel nodded slowly taking another drag on the cigarette.

"You're a demon hunter now?" Angel asked.

"Rough demon hunter." Wesley corrected him and Angel just stood there. "Been tracking a nasty demon for a few days now." He explained. "Kongai, they take human hearts." Buffy had a small smile but wanted to laugh. "I suggested you two go back to hunting vampires,"

"Easy tiger," Angel finished his cigarette and tossed it to the ground putting it out with his foot. "One, vampires are running scared and we're here to find out why. Two, got Spike, he says something was done to him and he can't feed anymore." Wesley looked confused.

"Yeah, welcome back to Sunnydale." Buffy smiled. "There's something around here capturing vampires."

"Odd," Wesley added. "Well this demon I am tracking has left a trail of corpses with their hearts missing."

"Then let's find it and kill it." Buffy stated just then something jumped through the wall and the three backed away as the demon stood up. It screamed and Wesley went to take a swing at it and it pushed him back and into Angel. The demon took off and Buffy went to help the two boys. They chased it out but then it was gone.

The demon ran as fast as it could and as it was going to cut through the cemetery and head to the sewers something stuck it down. It got up and again the demon was shocked down. Riley walked over to the demon and he was given the ok and he took out a pistol and shot it in the head. The rest of his team started to spread out as Riley didn't need to take this demon back to the lab because removing the horn is all he needed and there was no surgery involved. The horn of this demon had some regenerative powers and it would be needed as Riley began to cut the horn away. Lightening cut the sky tonight and they could feel it, it was about to down pour.

"Hurry up," Forrest demanded and Riley took the horn and another soldier came over with a medical travel cooler and Riley put it in and the others grabbed the body and bagged it.

Angel, Buffy and Wesley tracked the demon but then the tracks stopped. Plus the rain was washing it away. Now they were back at the mansion with Doyle, Giles and Xander. Willow was at the college sulking even though they could use her help. Spike was still in the bathroom tied up. With all the information they gathered now it was time to maybe put some pieces together.

"Well, if you need help I can help," Wesley added and they might need it. "To be honest I do believe Spike has told us everything."

"So, cut him loose?" Xander asked but no one knew what to do with him.

"He can stay for a little while longer," Buffy started and then the chains rattled and she closed her eyes. "You said he told us everything? Let's just kill him." Buffy had enough and Angel got up from the table and walked to the bathroom and opened the door.

"I'm hungry." Spike stated.

"We're busy can it wait?" Angel asked knowing they had to keep him until they knew what was going on. Before Spike could answer Angel shut the door.

"Hey! Hey I'm talking to you, you wanker! I'm hungry! I need food!" Spike kept yelling and then Angel came back in with the baseball bat and swung it. Angel left the knocked out vampire and walked back to the kitchen tossing it on the table, he was frustrated.

"I need to find these guys now." Angel stated and then Willow walked in.

"We have a problem." She said.

The rain has yet to let up as everyone at the mansion were circled around a few corpses, demon corpses and one was the Kongia Wesley had been following. The demons were mutilated too not just killed. These military people were killing them but taking body parts?

"God, it's the perfect girlfriend thing all over again." Xander commented remembering the last time someone chopped up body parts, it didn't go so well.

"Are they building something?" Willow asked looking disgusted.

"Spike said they were experimenting." Buffy added looking around the group.

"I did notice one thing coming back into town especially at the Sunnydale Arms," Wesley spoke up. "There were human bodies there, they appear to have been dead but," Wesley didn't finish meaning they needed to leave and find out what was going on at the Sunnydale Arms.

The group burned the demon corpses and headed to the Sunnydale Arms and followed Wesley and he was right there was a dead body. Everyone looked shocked but something was off. The human body wasn't just dead, it had been dead, already decomposing and now it looked like it was gnawed on.

"Something weird is going on." Angel could feel it.

"And I say when something weird stops happening then we start panicking." Willow added but this was whole other level of strange.

"They're feeding the demons?" Buffy asked as the group looked both disgusted and even more confused.

"These bodies were dug up and brought here." Wesley added and this wasn't good.

"These men are luring the demons here." Giles added. ""We need to figure out who these people are and why they want demons alive let alone taking body parts and dumping the bodies." Giles finished and they all nodded. They were up against something else they don't understand. But if humans were doing this what does that mean? Why do this?

The mansion was quiet as Angel, Buffy and Giles sat in the living room. Doyle was asleep and Wesley was staying the night. Spike was quiet for now but seeing the bodies of both human and demons like that, it scared them.

"What if they aren't people?" Buffy asked and that was a good question. They could be something else.

"Regardless, we need to find them and stop this." Giles answered and Angel nodded. But how were they going to find them. This unnerved Angel; vampires weren't doing this, not demons but people. He actually had to help the vampires and demons to a degree and then he looked to Buffy and it hit him. What if these people find out she's a vampire, what if they took her? No he had to push that away, Buffy was ok. But still the thought started to plague him. He's lost Buffy twice and he wasn't going to lose her not from these people.

Maggie Walsh read the report as Riley stood at her desk. She didn't look please at the report and she looked up at Riley setting the paper down.

"The chip works?" Walsh asked and Riley nodded but it didn't mean anything. "Hostile 17 needs to be found, alive or dead."

"At least we have the Kongai horn." Riley stated.

"That was just pure luck." Walsh reminded him. "You've been slacking Finn, why?" Walsh asked and Riley didn't answer. The answer was he was thinking about a girl, Buffy. He was afraid to run into her while on the job. "Whatever it is you're thinking it needs to stop." Riley nodded knowing he had to get back in the game. "Be back before New Years Eve, you're dismissed." Riley then left the office to pack for vacation as the semester was nearing the end. As Riley walked away he knew something was out there keeping Hostile 17 safe, it allowed it to escape. He'll find the vampire though.

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

For What it's Worth by Buffalo Springfield

Ok so that was very different. Something strange is happening alright. Do like what I'm doing and where I'm taking this? Oh we're not even halfway through this. I'm almost done with chapter 21 and whoa yeah it's good. Got a chapter in review at the forum. There's a sneak peek here and another in the forum. Also announcement and a good one. I'm only going to mention it in the forum and then here as we get closer to end. So for exclusive things so to speak head to the forum TheBuffyAngelWhedonVerse. Ready for chapter 11, I love chapter 11 and you will to. Until the next post thanks for reading, comments and reviews are welcomed.

Chapter 11 Eat Your Heart Out

"You touch me like that means there's something on your mind." Buffy added and then Angel gave her that mischievous smile.

"There is," He answered and she smiled bigger then they just looked at each other. "When you were Elizabeth," Angel started and Buffy listened. "You traveled?" She nodded.

"Being a mean vampire had its…good points. Traveled a lot, new places. If I stayed at home I would have never seen it. Even when I was given my soul I still traveled." Angel just listened to her. "Once, I was in Europe and the night sky was so clear and the moon was so full it was like the perfect picture." Buffy looked to Angel. "And once when I was driving to California, I was driving though the desert and just before dawn, you couldn't tell where heaven and the earth began." She smiled a little as he was getting an idea of her past.

"Wish I was there." Angel said and he did. He only knew the surface of her pain but maybe if he was there he could have saved her a long time ago.

"You were." Buffy smiled a little and Angel just reached out and hugged her.