Disclaimer: I own nothing of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, nor Hellsing.

Chapter 35: Getting their act together…

"So Alucard, where is she?" Integra questioned with a keen look on her face.

"In a building Master, located a few blocks away from the main office of Wolfram and Hart…" The ancient vampire replied, eyes closed; he could feel the link between himself and the witch, and it was strong.

"Of course, close enough to reach, but far enough out of our range, and sight." Giles mused, thinking it made sense. He turned, pinning his people with a stern stare. "How soon can we be mobile?"

"Less then an hour…" Buffy confirmed. "Most of the Junior Slayers are back at the Compound, plus the Hellsing squads are downstairs, waiting…" The Head Slayer glanced over to Faith and Xander, and the young watcher gave her a thumb up to confirm what she said.

"It's still daylight." Angel remarked, glancing down at his wristwatch. "Spike and I can take the sewers… we'll meet up with you all outside the building."

"Okay Angel, now Xander?" Giles spoke. "You are to lead the girls…Have Lisa…"

"No."

All eyes in the room turned and stared at Alucard. His eyes opened, and narrowed slightly. "Willow arranged to have the wolves of London fight for our cause. Marcus and his pack will be at the Slayer Compound by nightfall." He explained, staring at the humans. "Young Xander will represent the Council. He was told to expect them."

Xander eyed the ancient vampire, a thoughtful look on his face as he recalled the conversation he had the night before. "Ah, so that's what Wills was taking about. She knew…" a slow grin spread over his face.

Alucard smirked back, amused. "The witch is not all knowing pup…Red is just very cautious in her dealings. A trait I greatly admire…" He turned serious, the muscles in his face hardening. "To avoid Blood Hunt, the wolf Alpha has agreed to help us. Marcus will be bringing his available wolves. Until the threat of the Millennium Group is no more, the Wolves are at our disposal."

"Always with the backup plan…go Wills!" Buffy exclaimed happily, nudging Xander in the shoulder.

"That's our girl." The young watcher said with a goofy smile.

Faith pushed herself away from the wall, reaching back into her pocket, and retrieving her trusty stake. She began to twirl the piece of wood in the palm of her hand, pacing back and forth before the desk. The others watched…

"Let's break down the big plan then…" the dark haired slayer began. "Slay gals will sneak attack through the back of the building, the Hell troops through the sides…right?" At the agreeing nod from her Head Watcher, she continued, waving her free hand back and forth, as she moved across the room. "Angel and Peroxide here, will met up with us, as will boy-toy with our new puppy friends…So, assuming the vamps and puppies storm the building from the front, us gals will catch the fall out?"

"Sound simple. That's the plan, watcher mine?" Buffy asked, looking expectantly at Giles.

"…Unless Sir Integra has no objections?" The Head Watcher questioned, looking over at the Leader of the Hellsing Organization.

"None at this time Mr. Giles." Integra remarked as she sat back down. "Major Seras is with me, and Captain Pip and his men will assist the Slayers." Her gaze slide over to the red clad vampire. "I wish Alucard to lead the assault, assisted by Mr. Angel and Mr. Spike…agreed?"

Giles thought it over, sharing a look with his people. Everyone gave a nod, and he turned back. "Agreed Sir Integra. Xander, you should go now, and take Alucard with you, if Sir Integra allows… Marcus knows him."

"Splendid idea." The blond replied, hiding her smirk when the young watcher's face darkened. It was time Xander and her vampire learned to get along. "Alucard, you will go with Mr. Harris…and not taunting, understand?"

"Of course Master…" Alucard remarked with an innocent look on his face, before moving towards the door, with a grumbling Xander following.

"Xander, stay in contact." Giles ordered, eyes narrowed as he watched the two leave. He had a bad feeling about this, even if it was his idea…

"Yeah G-man, will do." He called over his shoulder before the two disappeared down the hall.

"How many times…" Giles snapped under his breath.

"Forget it G." Faith said with a laugh as she patted him consolingly on the shoulder. The Head Watcher turned on her, eyes glaring. She just laughed once more. "He'll never stop, and neither will I, so give it up." The others held back, watching with amusement at the scene.

Giles rolled his eyes, before glancing over at the desk. "We should depart Sir Integra."

Integra stood. "Alright Mr. Giles." She replied. Soon after, all groups were on the destined path, with the demonic vampires heading towards the basement, to the sewer access, and the others to the vans parked outside. Within minutes, they were on their way across town…

&

A sigh escaped Willow's lips as her eyes opened to the world of the living. She could still feel the link to Alucard, and their connection gave her peace. She bit back a gasp of surprise when she saw the three people standing outside the glass of her cell. What the hell…? She concentrated, and her magical barrier dissolved. What were they doing here? Hadn't Walter warned them away?

Her eyes narrowed on the trio. The boy, Schrödinger, she knew, but the two others…were unknown to her, but their aura was familiar. One of the men was tall, over six feet, and he was wearing an elegant, grey colored hat with a wide brim, and a raincoat to match. His face was long and slim, and he had a thin mustache. His skin was dusky brown, though her senses screamed out that he was a vampire. He was leaning back against one of the table stationed in the middle of the room, as he stared back at her. She glanced down at his hands; they were busy shuffling a deck of cards, expertly she might add.

He was the one from the underground garage, she realized, when she and Alucard had been fighting the wolf Michael. He could power the cards…interesting gift…too bad it was useless against her.

Her gaze focused on the other, standing against the wall. Now…he was a little different. He wore a uniform, a greatcoat, with the collar turned up, with an officer's cap on top of his head, with the symbol of Totenkopf sewed into the material. Totenkopf was the German word for 'Death's head', and it usually was associated with Nazis…a little ironic. The shadows created from the cap hid his face in darkness, except for the glow of his eyes. His presence was like that of a werewolf, but more…

Her eyes narrowed in speculation as she looked at him. He wasn't just a mere werewolf…he was a wolf... in human form. Willow remembered reading about his kind…but she, as did the others at the Slayer Council, thought his kind were extinct. This man could assume the form of a wolf at anytime, and he did not need the phases of the moon to do so. Very dangerous…

Willow tried to stay calm, watching as he stared intently at her from under the rim of his hat, the glow to his eyes brightening. It was slightly unnerving, that look of his. It reminder her of what Oz was like, when the young musician was in his wolf form; very animistic. Her thoughts cleared, and she knew instinctively how to deal with him. He was a predator…and she refused to be the prey. She straightened, and stared directly into his eyes in challenge. She was not backing off.

"What can I do for you gentlemen?" She asked, looking back at them through her lashes, a small grin pulling at her lips.

"That is what we would like to ask you Bella." The man with the cards replied, his gaze coming up. There was a flirting smile on his face, but his eyes were cold.

"How about letting me go…" she said with a shrug of her shoulders.

A snort of amusement escaped the wolf-man, and Schrödinger giggled at the rare sound.

Willow cocked her head to the side, letting loose a wary sigh. "I guess that wasn't going to happen…so, what do I call you?"

"I am Tubalcain Alhambra", the man with the cards replied with a bow. He straightened and waved a hand towards his partner. "This is the Captain. He does not speak. You've had the pleasure of Schrödinger's company, I am sure."

She nodded, flashing the boy a grin. "I'm Willow." She leaned her head back against the wall, her eyes full of curiosity. "Why are you guys here?"

"To recruit you of course, Miss Hellsing." Schrödinger replied, his cat ears wiggling as he stared at the red head with eager filled eyes.

Her brow rose at that. Well, she thought, that's direct. "If you guys did your homework, then you'd known you are wasting your time…Unless, you're fishing for information." She remarked with a sly glance at the three.

"We have heard the most delicious rumors…" Tubalcain commented as he tossed one of his cards into the air, using his thumb and forefinger, before catching it, his eyes never moving from Willow.

Schrödinger started to hop on the spot, his hands twitching at his sides. "Is it true, Miss Hellsing? Did you try to destroy the world?" He asked her with childish delight brightening his features.

A wicket smile blossomed on the red head's face. "What do you think kid?" She questioned him, her hair darkening as she channeled a bit of Dark Willow. Her aura swelled, power sparkling along the lines of her body, her eyes glowing silver and red.

The Captain tensed, the muscles of his body ready to spring against the threat locked up in the cell, but before he could act, the door to the lab burst open.

"Out! Out!" Doc ordered as he confidently strode into the room. The light in the room reflected off the discs of his glasses. He gave a stern look at the three males as he waved the small group towards the door. "You are too presumptuous. Go! I have work to do."

"Doc…" whined Schrödinger, glancing back at Willow with disappointment gleaming in his eyes before heading for the door, "you're no fun at all."

"We will see you again Bella." Tubalcain called as he left with a grunting Captain following. Willow watched, pondering, before turning her gaze to the Doctor.

He tapped his pen on the clipboard he held in his hands, the look on his face full of speculation as he stared intently at the red head behind the clear glass cell. "You are a puzzle Miss Rosenberg." He remarked stonily. "You have redefined all my scientific results."

"That's a shame…my apologies Doc." She replied softly, her tone of voice laced with humor.

He held up a hand, shaking a finger at her. "On the contraire, I could not be more pleased Miss Rosenberg. You were a most fruitful experiment."

Her eyes narrowed at the implication of his words. There was no way in hell that Willow was going to let this rag tag group create another like her…she turned away, and opened her mind, reaching out…

"Alucard? You awake?" She spoke mentally.

"Little tree…"

"You okay Al? No negative effects?"

"Top form princess…" the ancient vampire replied, laughter in his mental voice, their connection clear as a bell. "My Master is most displeased…Everyone is worried for you Red."

Willow hid a smile at that. She could just imagine Integra's reaction, and those of her friends. She wondered how her vamp friends were doing…did they know about her and Alucard, about their mating bond? Probably…she realized with a heavy heart. They would be able to sense it. She could only hope Angel and Spike could control themselves until she saw them, and had the chance to explain.

Willow kept a close eye on the Doctor as he worked on his computer, catching a pit of the information displayed on the monitor, leaving the thoughts of her friends alone for now. Blood properties…effects of…she would have to remember to have a closer look at the Doc's files later. The information stored there could be useful.

"So Mister Vamp, how soon till you guys get here?" she asked.

"Two hours…no longer." Alucard replied, and then he quickly gave her the run down on the rescue plan.

"Hum…I can work with that." She decided. "Give me a signal Al, when you arrive." A dark chuckle echoed within her mind, and Willow had the sudden vision of the building torn apart, brick by brick. "Blowing the place up won't do Mister Vamp," she warned, holding back a grin. "A small mental nudge will do the trick."

"Where is the fun in that?" Alucard questioned, a playful whine sounding in her head.

"You'll have fun Al, I promise." Her gaze sharpened on the Doc as he made his way towards her cell with needle in hand. A thought later, and the Doc's hand was engulfed in flames. She watched as the insane man danced around the room, trying to put out the fire, screaming at the top of his lungs.

"There is some rodents here that needs to be exterminated." She said to her mate, her mental voice filled with promise. "You up for that, Mister Vamp?"

Alucard's face twisted darkly with a smile of anticipation as he followed the young watcher across the street. He stared up at the clouds covering the sky, sensing how the sun would set soon. By the end of the coming night, Willow would be back where she belonged, with him. "Always princess…always."

Hope you like,

Magik