A/N Thanks for the reviews all! Wrote this chapter while on my holiday,
hope you like it more than I liked my holiday lol.
Chapter 6
Fred travelled in the elevator towards Wesley's office. After the previous scene in her Lab, she wouldn't have cared if another portal had opened up and swallowed her whole. She glanced at Spike, who on the other hand was looking very pleased with himself. He reached out to touch her hair, still a little on the wild side from their passion. She frowned at him and tried to slap his hand away. As usual, it passed through thin air. Spike's smile faded.
"What's eating you love?" he asked.
"Spike!"
Spike's words, innocent or otherwise, summoned up a very erotic word picture in her mind. Fred couldn't understand what was wrong with her, these days; she'd never allowed herself to be so distracted in the past. But then, those were the days before she had been pursued by a horny blonde devil.
"Okay, okay, maybe that was a bad choice of words, but you got my meaning," he replied.
"Oh, I understand your meaning all too well, as does Gunn, Wesley and Lorne right now too," groaned Fred in mortification.
The elevator doors opened with a ping, announcing their arrival. Fred stepped out, closely followed by Spike.
"May as well face the executioner," she sighed.
"I would have thought that, what you choose to do, or not to do in your own office, would be your business, Angel's not gonna fire you," said Spike airily.
"Yes, but the senior partners just might," Fred replied.
"Rough gig," said Spike.
"Try living in Pylea," she said dryly.
"What?" asked Spike.
"Never mind, we're here now," said Fred.
She raised her hand and knocked on Wesley's door. Fred turned the handle and entered the office, her cheeks flaming at the sudden silence in the room, confirming her suspicions that she had been the topic of their conversation. Wesley looked up at her from the position behind his desk, not quite able to meet her eyes.
Not that Lorne felt any better, he still had to report back to Angel about who'd been fornicating in office hours, as well as deliver up the persons involved for a little chat with the boss man himself. The day was not getting any easier as it wore on.
"Take a seat Fred, no one is on trial here," Said Wesley.
"No? It sure feels like it," returned Fred, as she sat in a seat, farthest away from them all.
Wesley noticed Spike's presence for the first time, he frowned at him in distaste.
"Spike! Always showing up, where you're not needed," said Wesley.
"I wanted him here," said Fred defensively.
Gunn grinned and raised an eyebrow at Fred.
"To lend a little oral support, oh I mean moral support?" asked Gunn mockingly.
Fred looked daggers at the bland expression on Gunn's face. Lorne glanced at his watch, wishing himself anywhere, but here right now, the emotional undercurrents in the room, were more than a little suffocating for him.
"Can we get on with this, Angel is expecting me to pay him a visit, and there are other things I need to be doing," said Lorne.
"Let me guess, the washroom attendants are scheduled to perform songs from 'Annie' for you later this afternoon?" asked Spike sarcastically
"How did you know? Let me guess, Harmony," said Lorne.
Spike grinned.
"I never reveal my sources," he replied.
"That wasn't all I had planned, there's something I need to speak to you about afterwards Princess," Said Lorne, addressing Fred.
Fred nodded her agreement, considering the size of the Wolfram and Hart offices, she wondered how the four walls surrounding her, had begun to feel so small.
Wesley cleared his throat.
"I have been hitting the research books, as you all know, in an attempt to help with Spike's little problem, and to also find a way to free him form the power of the amulet," announced Wesley.
Spike looked at him, watcher types always got his back up.
"Someone's been a busy boy then, but tell me is it for my benefit or your own?" asked Spike mockingly.
"Would have thought you'd have been glad to see the back of Angel," said Gunn.
"I'm always glad to see the back of that poof," snarked Spike.
"I was saying!" emphasised Wesley "Earlier, I was looking through, Ancient prophecies and archaic curses, the watcher's edition, when I stumbled across a very interesting passage,"
"Sounds as dull as you," said Spike.
"Never was much for reading, even more so with the extra brain power, everything I need to know W&H already put there," said Gunn.
"Messing with people's minds never ends well, trust me," said Spike
Wesley picked up the book he'd been studying earlier and slammed it down on his desk with a resounding bang. Lorne had covered his ears in anticipation.
"Good I have everyone's attention now," said Wesley.
"You might want to take it down a notch or two sweet cakes, I need these ears for my job," said Lorne.
Wesley ignored Lorne's comments and continued.
"According to this passage, Spike is incorporeal, because he wants to be," said Wesley.
Spike looked at Wesley as if he'd just sprouted two heads, which wouldn't have surprised him in the least.
"Are you totally off your rocker, mate?" asked Spike.
"Not at all," said Wesley.
"You'd better explain yourself," said Fred, as she looked from Wesley to Spike.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Angel sat alone in his office, he was in-between appointments, and glad of it. Dealing with the scum that made up nearly ninety percent of Wolfram and Hart's clients, was starting to erode at his soul. When he'd first taken up the reins at W&H, his first instinct had been to kill most of them, until Eve had reminded him that no clients, meant no income, which also meant no jobs. He had his friends to think of as well as the other less evil members of his workforce.
Angel opened his desk drawer and pressed a secret button underneath it, the base slid back to reveal a small photo album. This was all he had left of Connor, this and memories, except for the brief time, he'd had his son as a baby, thoughts of Connor hardly induced the warm fuzzies. He flipped through the pages, lost in his thoughts. Towards the back of the album were a couple of new snap shots, which hadn't been there last time he'd looked. He frowned; it was just Wolfram and Hart's way of reminding him how much he owed them. The intercom on his desk buzzed loudly, he hastily shoved the book back into his desk draw.
Harmony's familiar whine came on the speaker.
"Boss, it seems there is a bit of an incident on the tenth floor," said Harmony nervously.
That was the floor Wesley's office was situated on, thought Angel.
"Are you sure, any details?" asked Angel.
"Just repeating what security said, when they phoned about ten minutes ago," said Harmony.
Angel slammed his fist on the desk in frustration.
"Harmony, in future, any messages that sound even slightly urgent, run them by me immediately," growled Angel.
Angel got up out of his very comfortable leather chair, making his way over to his private elevator. The intercom on his desk buzzed again.
"Mr Angel, Antonio just phoned, he can fit you in for a hair appointment this evening at nine, that sounds kinda urgent," said Harmony uncertainly.
Angel walked back to his desk.
"Harmony?"
"Yes?"
"I think maybe we should extend your trial period," said Angel, before walking off towards the elevator.
Wesley may have plucked Harmony from the typing pool, but Angel was seriously starting to doubt his friend's judgement.
"Sorry, did I do something wrong?" echoed Harmony's voice in the empty office.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As Angel stepped out of his elevator, angry raised voices could be heard as he hurried down the corridor. Angel thrust open both doors of Wesley's office. Lorne looked at Angel's arrival with an intense look of relief.
"Angel, what a sweet sight to behold," said Lorne.
"What exactly is going on here?" demanded Angel.
Spike turned to face Angel, his hands planted firmly on his hips.
"This wanker just accused me of being all ghostly because I want to be," said Spike, motioning towards Wesley.
"Is this true Wesley?" asked Angel.
"If he'd let me finish, I would have added, that he wasn't doing it at his own conscious will, rather his subconscious will," said Wesley.
Spike backed down.
"Good, because I thought you were actually accusing me of wanting to spend time with you bunch of losers," said Spike.
Spike groaned inwardly, as soon as the words left his lips, a quick glance at the hurt expression on Fred's face, confirmed his mark had hit home at the one person he didn't want to hurt.
He looked at her apologetically "I didn't mean you love," he said.
Fred didn't respond and turned her head away, presenting him with her proud profile, Spike walked over to her side, squatting down, by her chair.
"Look at me, please?" he asked.
She hesitated momentarily, and then turned her head to look at him. He smiled his sexy little smile at her, her insides melted to mush, but she gave nothing away in her expression.
"I'm listening," she said tonelessly.
"Look, I never was good with the tact, I wasn't talking about you, when I said losers," explained Spike.
"And my wounded feelings are all better now honey," said Lorne dramatically.
Spike looked around the room, at several pairs of hostile eyes.
"Oh, I'm feeling the love in this room," said Spike.
"You are quite the performer Spike, I thought I was watching an episode of my favourite daytime soap," said Lorne.
Spike glanced at Lorne in irritation. Why was it when he was trying to be his most sincere, did people always accuse him of dishing up the bull?
"Oh come on Fred, wake up and smell the coffee, the minute Spike is released from the amulet, he'll be off on the first plane to Europe, I'm just trying to save you from, future hurt here," said Wesley.
"Well, I'd rather you didn't, do you have any idea how patronising you sound right now?" asked Fred angrily.
She was sick of them always looking out for her as if she were some feeble minded female, now if she went around screwing up things like Harmony, she'd understand, although if she were harmony, she'd be too dumb to realise what was going on anyway," she reasoned to herself.
"Well, there's only one way to find out, isn't there? Wesley, what you're saying is the amulet holds him prisoner, due to some psychological hold it has over him?" asked Fred.
"Yes that's right, it feeds on Spike's insecurities," nodded Wesley.
Gunn gave Spike an assessing look.
"Never had you down as insecurity guy, Spike, but I guess you never can judge a book by its cover," shrugged Gunn.
"Oh the guy has issues, I should know, I had to spend enough time with him," said Angel
Spike wrapped his leather duster around himself, like a security blanket. The familiar action was not lost on Fred.
"Hey stop talking about me as if I'm not even here," protested Spike.
Spike stood, motionless, he looked at Fred, a look of terror on his face.
"Spike! What is it?" asked Fred, in concern.
Spike started fading out, he faded back in briefly, before disappearing altogether.
"Why does that get better, every time he does that?" asked Angel
Fred walked around the room testing the air like a blind man.
"Spike?" she called out.
Fred glanced at Angel.
"Try showing some compassion, God knows what could be happening to him right now," said Fred, the panic starting to rise in her voice as he still failed to put in an appearance.
Spike popped back into existence in front of Angel, he looked around the room, the relief evident on his face.
"That was a close one," gasped Spike.
"You okay?" asked Fred.
"Okay as anyone would be after nearly getting their nuts roasted over the fires of hell, but I'll survive," said Spike.
He smiled at her; it was still all a bit new to him, anyone actually giving a damn about him. He shuddered as he recalled the events of the last few moments that he'd been gone. Fred saw his expression and guessed the reason for it. She turned to look at Wesley in earnest.
"Wesley, I'm asking as a friend here, if there is anything at all we can do to save Spike, just do it, ok?" she asked.
"Even if it means he may leave you, the first chance he gets?" asked Wesley.
"It's a chance I'm willing to take," she replied.
Wesley sighed to himself, wondering if she and Spike were the only two people in this room ignorant to the fact that she was head over heel in love with the guy. He smiled at her, unable to refuse her cry for help.
"It's like I said earlier, it's his own insecurities and Angel issues that are keeping him bound to the amulet," said Wesley.
"So how do we fix it, destroy the amulet?" asked Gunn.
"No, no as you know, that would be a big mistake, it requires something with a little more finesse," Wesley replied.
"And that is?" asked Angel.
Spike had been regarding Fred, throughout their entire conversation, most of the others words washing over his head, he had read the emotions flitting across her expressive face, she looked scared, even a little vulnerable. Wesley was right about one thing, if he'd been freed from the amulet a few weeks ago, maybe even days, then the first thing he would have done was go in search of Buffy, but with the passing of time, he'd been dwelling more on the future that sat beside him, curled up in a chair. She was so afraid that he'd love her and leave her, that she was just some temporary distraction, until he could get what he really wanted. This was his chance to prove her wrong, to prove them all wrong, and show Fred that he was worthy of the trust she had placed in him.
"I'll do whatever it takes," said Spike.
"Good," said Wesley.
"How are we supposed to access, the workings of Spike's mind? Assuming he has one of course," said Angel sarcastically.
"That part is easy, Lorne is going to hypnotise him," announced Wesley.
TBC
Chapter 6
Fred travelled in the elevator towards Wesley's office. After the previous scene in her Lab, she wouldn't have cared if another portal had opened up and swallowed her whole. She glanced at Spike, who on the other hand was looking very pleased with himself. He reached out to touch her hair, still a little on the wild side from their passion. She frowned at him and tried to slap his hand away. As usual, it passed through thin air. Spike's smile faded.
"What's eating you love?" he asked.
"Spike!"
Spike's words, innocent or otherwise, summoned up a very erotic word picture in her mind. Fred couldn't understand what was wrong with her, these days; she'd never allowed herself to be so distracted in the past. But then, those were the days before she had been pursued by a horny blonde devil.
"Okay, okay, maybe that was a bad choice of words, but you got my meaning," he replied.
"Oh, I understand your meaning all too well, as does Gunn, Wesley and Lorne right now too," groaned Fred in mortification.
The elevator doors opened with a ping, announcing their arrival. Fred stepped out, closely followed by Spike.
"May as well face the executioner," she sighed.
"I would have thought that, what you choose to do, or not to do in your own office, would be your business, Angel's not gonna fire you," said Spike airily.
"Yes, but the senior partners just might," Fred replied.
"Rough gig," said Spike.
"Try living in Pylea," she said dryly.
"What?" asked Spike.
"Never mind, we're here now," said Fred.
She raised her hand and knocked on Wesley's door. Fred turned the handle and entered the office, her cheeks flaming at the sudden silence in the room, confirming her suspicions that she had been the topic of their conversation. Wesley looked up at her from the position behind his desk, not quite able to meet her eyes.
Not that Lorne felt any better, he still had to report back to Angel about who'd been fornicating in office hours, as well as deliver up the persons involved for a little chat with the boss man himself. The day was not getting any easier as it wore on.
"Take a seat Fred, no one is on trial here," Said Wesley.
"No? It sure feels like it," returned Fred, as she sat in a seat, farthest away from them all.
Wesley noticed Spike's presence for the first time, he frowned at him in distaste.
"Spike! Always showing up, where you're not needed," said Wesley.
"I wanted him here," said Fred defensively.
Gunn grinned and raised an eyebrow at Fred.
"To lend a little oral support, oh I mean moral support?" asked Gunn mockingly.
Fred looked daggers at the bland expression on Gunn's face. Lorne glanced at his watch, wishing himself anywhere, but here right now, the emotional undercurrents in the room, were more than a little suffocating for him.
"Can we get on with this, Angel is expecting me to pay him a visit, and there are other things I need to be doing," said Lorne.
"Let me guess, the washroom attendants are scheduled to perform songs from 'Annie' for you later this afternoon?" asked Spike sarcastically
"How did you know? Let me guess, Harmony," said Lorne.
Spike grinned.
"I never reveal my sources," he replied.
"That wasn't all I had planned, there's something I need to speak to you about afterwards Princess," Said Lorne, addressing Fred.
Fred nodded her agreement, considering the size of the Wolfram and Hart offices, she wondered how the four walls surrounding her, had begun to feel so small.
Wesley cleared his throat.
"I have been hitting the research books, as you all know, in an attempt to help with Spike's little problem, and to also find a way to free him form the power of the amulet," announced Wesley.
Spike looked at him, watcher types always got his back up.
"Someone's been a busy boy then, but tell me is it for my benefit or your own?" asked Spike mockingly.
"Would have thought you'd have been glad to see the back of Angel," said Gunn.
"I'm always glad to see the back of that poof," snarked Spike.
"I was saying!" emphasised Wesley "Earlier, I was looking through, Ancient prophecies and archaic curses, the watcher's edition, when I stumbled across a very interesting passage,"
"Sounds as dull as you," said Spike.
"Never was much for reading, even more so with the extra brain power, everything I need to know W&H already put there," said Gunn.
"Messing with people's minds never ends well, trust me," said Spike
Wesley picked up the book he'd been studying earlier and slammed it down on his desk with a resounding bang. Lorne had covered his ears in anticipation.
"Good I have everyone's attention now," said Wesley.
"You might want to take it down a notch or two sweet cakes, I need these ears for my job," said Lorne.
Wesley ignored Lorne's comments and continued.
"According to this passage, Spike is incorporeal, because he wants to be," said Wesley.
Spike looked at Wesley as if he'd just sprouted two heads, which wouldn't have surprised him in the least.
"Are you totally off your rocker, mate?" asked Spike.
"Not at all," said Wesley.
"You'd better explain yourself," said Fred, as she looked from Wesley to Spike.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Angel sat alone in his office, he was in-between appointments, and glad of it. Dealing with the scum that made up nearly ninety percent of Wolfram and Hart's clients, was starting to erode at his soul. When he'd first taken up the reins at W&H, his first instinct had been to kill most of them, until Eve had reminded him that no clients, meant no income, which also meant no jobs. He had his friends to think of as well as the other less evil members of his workforce.
Angel opened his desk drawer and pressed a secret button underneath it, the base slid back to reveal a small photo album. This was all he had left of Connor, this and memories, except for the brief time, he'd had his son as a baby, thoughts of Connor hardly induced the warm fuzzies. He flipped through the pages, lost in his thoughts. Towards the back of the album were a couple of new snap shots, which hadn't been there last time he'd looked. He frowned; it was just Wolfram and Hart's way of reminding him how much he owed them. The intercom on his desk buzzed loudly, he hastily shoved the book back into his desk draw.
Harmony's familiar whine came on the speaker.
"Boss, it seems there is a bit of an incident on the tenth floor," said Harmony nervously.
That was the floor Wesley's office was situated on, thought Angel.
"Are you sure, any details?" asked Angel.
"Just repeating what security said, when they phoned about ten minutes ago," said Harmony.
Angel slammed his fist on the desk in frustration.
"Harmony, in future, any messages that sound even slightly urgent, run them by me immediately," growled Angel.
Angel got up out of his very comfortable leather chair, making his way over to his private elevator. The intercom on his desk buzzed again.
"Mr Angel, Antonio just phoned, he can fit you in for a hair appointment this evening at nine, that sounds kinda urgent," said Harmony uncertainly.
Angel walked back to his desk.
"Harmony?"
"Yes?"
"I think maybe we should extend your trial period," said Angel, before walking off towards the elevator.
Wesley may have plucked Harmony from the typing pool, but Angel was seriously starting to doubt his friend's judgement.
"Sorry, did I do something wrong?" echoed Harmony's voice in the empty office.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
As Angel stepped out of his elevator, angry raised voices could be heard as he hurried down the corridor. Angel thrust open both doors of Wesley's office. Lorne looked at Angel's arrival with an intense look of relief.
"Angel, what a sweet sight to behold," said Lorne.
"What exactly is going on here?" demanded Angel.
Spike turned to face Angel, his hands planted firmly on his hips.
"This wanker just accused me of being all ghostly because I want to be," said Spike, motioning towards Wesley.
"Is this true Wesley?" asked Angel.
"If he'd let me finish, I would have added, that he wasn't doing it at his own conscious will, rather his subconscious will," said Wesley.
Spike backed down.
"Good, because I thought you were actually accusing me of wanting to spend time with you bunch of losers," said Spike.
Spike groaned inwardly, as soon as the words left his lips, a quick glance at the hurt expression on Fred's face, confirmed his mark had hit home at the one person he didn't want to hurt.
He looked at her apologetically "I didn't mean you love," he said.
Fred didn't respond and turned her head away, presenting him with her proud profile, Spike walked over to her side, squatting down, by her chair.
"Look at me, please?" he asked.
She hesitated momentarily, and then turned her head to look at him. He smiled his sexy little smile at her, her insides melted to mush, but she gave nothing away in her expression.
"I'm listening," she said tonelessly.
"Look, I never was good with the tact, I wasn't talking about you, when I said losers," explained Spike.
"And my wounded feelings are all better now honey," said Lorne dramatically.
Spike looked around the room, at several pairs of hostile eyes.
"Oh, I'm feeling the love in this room," said Spike.
"You are quite the performer Spike, I thought I was watching an episode of my favourite daytime soap," said Lorne.
Spike glanced at Lorne in irritation. Why was it when he was trying to be his most sincere, did people always accuse him of dishing up the bull?
"Oh come on Fred, wake up and smell the coffee, the minute Spike is released from the amulet, he'll be off on the first plane to Europe, I'm just trying to save you from, future hurt here," said Wesley.
"Well, I'd rather you didn't, do you have any idea how patronising you sound right now?" asked Fred angrily.
She was sick of them always looking out for her as if she were some feeble minded female, now if she went around screwing up things like Harmony, she'd understand, although if she were harmony, she'd be too dumb to realise what was going on anyway," she reasoned to herself.
"Well, there's only one way to find out, isn't there? Wesley, what you're saying is the amulet holds him prisoner, due to some psychological hold it has over him?" asked Fred.
"Yes that's right, it feeds on Spike's insecurities," nodded Wesley.
Gunn gave Spike an assessing look.
"Never had you down as insecurity guy, Spike, but I guess you never can judge a book by its cover," shrugged Gunn.
"Oh the guy has issues, I should know, I had to spend enough time with him," said Angel
Spike wrapped his leather duster around himself, like a security blanket. The familiar action was not lost on Fred.
"Hey stop talking about me as if I'm not even here," protested Spike.
Spike stood, motionless, he looked at Fred, a look of terror on his face.
"Spike! What is it?" asked Fred, in concern.
Spike started fading out, he faded back in briefly, before disappearing altogether.
"Why does that get better, every time he does that?" asked Angel
Fred walked around the room testing the air like a blind man.
"Spike?" she called out.
Fred glanced at Angel.
"Try showing some compassion, God knows what could be happening to him right now," said Fred, the panic starting to rise in her voice as he still failed to put in an appearance.
Spike popped back into existence in front of Angel, he looked around the room, the relief evident on his face.
"That was a close one," gasped Spike.
"You okay?" asked Fred.
"Okay as anyone would be after nearly getting their nuts roasted over the fires of hell, but I'll survive," said Spike.
He smiled at her; it was still all a bit new to him, anyone actually giving a damn about him. He shuddered as he recalled the events of the last few moments that he'd been gone. Fred saw his expression and guessed the reason for it. She turned to look at Wesley in earnest.
"Wesley, I'm asking as a friend here, if there is anything at all we can do to save Spike, just do it, ok?" she asked.
"Even if it means he may leave you, the first chance he gets?" asked Wesley.
"It's a chance I'm willing to take," she replied.
Wesley sighed to himself, wondering if she and Spike were the only two people in this room ignorant to the fact that she was head over heel in love with the guy. He smiled at her, unable to refuse her cry for help.
"It's like I said earlier, it's his own insecurities and Angel issues that are keeping him bound to the amulet," said Wesley.
"So how do we fix it, destroy the amulet?" asked Gunn.
"No, no as you know, that would be a big mistake, it requires something with a little more finesse," Wesley replied.
"And that is?" asked Angel.
Spike had been regarding Fred, throughout their entire conversation, most of the others words washing over his head, he had read the emotions flitting across her expressive face, she looked scared, even a little vulnerable. Wesley was right about one thing, if he'd been freed from the amulet a few weeks ago, maybe even days, then the first thing he would have done was go in search of Buffy, but with the passing of time, he'd been dwelling more on the future that sat beside him, curled up in a chair. She was so afraid that he'd love her and leave her, that she was just some temporary distraction, until he could get what he really wanted. This was his chance to prove her wrong, to prove them all wrong, and show Fred that he was worthy of the trust she had placed in him.
"I'll do whatever it takes," said Spike.
"Good," said Wesley.
"How are we supposed to access, the workings of Spike's mind? Assuming he has one of course," said Angel sarcastically.
"That part is easy, Lorne is going to hypnotise him," announced Wesley.
TBC