The three of them actually made it out to Daria's place in time to see the buyer arrive to pick up his purchases. The Umorik demon was corpulent, with greasy looking violet-red skin, ears with long, sagging lobes that hung down to his shoulders, and arms that dangled to where his knees would be if he had knees. In short, to human eyes, he was pretty revolting looking. He was followed by a couple of flunkies carrying cases which in all probability carried Daria's payment. A short while later the three of them came out minus the cases, but with Spike trussed up in chains, and Rose.., Evidently the wards around her had been set on her personally, rather than the location she had been bound to. Her still immobile form was on a small, wheeled cart, pushed along by one of the menials.

"Why can't we just take them on now?" Gunn asked.

"Watch," Wesley murmured in reply. Scarcely had the words left his lips than a shimmering, iridescent vortex opened in front of the bizarre quintet, and they disappeared through it.

"Is the tracker working?" Angel inquired. They were well and truly screwed if it wasn't.

"It seems to be," Wesley muttered, peering through the darkness at the dim illumination of the control box he held. "No definite reading as yet, though. They're probably still in transit."

Angel was about to make a comment when the box gave a muted but insistent beep. "There they are," Wesley said in triumph. "It looks like they went straight to the warehouse."

"Then that's where we're headed," Angel said, rising up out of his cover.

"What about Daria McBride?" Wesley queried. "Shouldn't we be doing something about her?"

"All in good time," Angel replied. "First let's get Spike and Rose back. Then, we'll settle up with Ms. McBride."

&&&&&&&

Spike and Rose had been set in a dim corner of the warehouse and left to their own devices while the Umorik and his hirelings went about getting everything in readiness for the sale. Spike was calm, and seemed as comfortable as anyone could be while being bound from the neck down in heavy chains. But Rose was a picture of apprehension.

"What do you think they're going to do with us, Spike?" If she were able to move and had fingernails, she'd be biting them. Up to the shoulder.

Spike tried to shrug but was hampered by the chains. Bit of overkill there, really. Hadn't he gotten it through to them that he wasn't going anywhere without Rose? "Unless we get rescued, and that, by the way, is still on the books, pet, then that day-glo grease ball will sell us off to the highest bidder. At which point we would probably end up in someone's drawing room as a conversation piece."

"Still on the books?" Rose repeated the phrase. "When were you planning on telling me, love?"

"I'm telling you now," Spike replied. "I didn't want to take the chance at the bounty hunter's place in case she had it wired for sound. I have a very tiny, but powerful tracking device planted under some very sensitive skin." Rose's mind ran riot at the euphemistic phrase, and despite her best efforts, she broke out in a grin. "Not there." Spike tried to sound stern, but the effect was marred by the fact that the grin was infectious. "My, my, developed quite a dirty mind, haven't we?"

"I seem to have fallen into bad company," Rose remarked. "At least, that's what I've been told."

Spike had a thought. "Rose, my love, can you still do that appearance change thing while you're warded like that?"

"I don't know," she admitted. "I haven't tried it."

"Try now," he urged. "But keep it small and simple for now. I just want to see if it works."

Rose concentrated a moment, and suddenly, her pullover top had buttons up the front. "I guess it does work," she said. "But what good is that going to do us?"

"Because if I know my nancy-boy grandsire, and who better?" Spike explained. "Then he's going to show up with little or no backup. When I give you the nod, I want you to change into something.., distracting."

"How distracting?" Rose asked.

"Don't suppose I could talk you into some sexy lingerie, could I?" Spike didn't even wait for an answer. The look on her face was all the reply he needed. Oh well, there really were some sights he'd rather reserve exclusively to himself. "That little ensemble in black you had on when we went out the other night springs to mind."

Rose's eyes grew distant for a moment, remembering that night. "I can't believe that it was only about a week ago," she remarked. "It seems like forever."

"I know what you mean," Spike agreed. "Tell you what, precious. When we get shed of this, we'll go out, wherever you want to go, whatever you want to do."

"Maybe another concert?" Rose suggested hopefully. The way Spike spoke, like their rescue was almost as good as done was cheering her up. And Spike did look so incredibly handsome in formal dress.

"I said whatever you want, luv," he repeated, trying to look put upon. In truth, it hadn't been all that bad, he'd even actually liked it. It was just the thought of what it would do to his reputation. The Big Bad listening to classical music. Perish the thought. Besides, half of the fun had been seeing how much Rose had enjoyed it.

"Have I mentioned recently that I love you?" Rose beamed at him. Saw right through him, she did.

"Been a few hours," Spike observed. "I love you too, babe."

&&&&&&&

Lorne was sitting on Harmony's desk. Then up and pacing around it. Then start the cycle again. He could have posed for a picture titled, 'Demon Fidgeting'. Except for the fact that he wouldn't have been able to sit still long enough to pose for a painting. Or, even a snapshot.

"Will you calm down, Lorne?" Harmony asked. "They've only been gone a few hours."

"Harmonica, baby, I don't think I'll be able to calm down until all our little, lost lambs are safe and sound," Lorne replied, beginning to repeat the circuit. Again.

&&&&&&

Angel, Gunn and Wesley sat in the car about half a block from the warehouse. There were already beginning to be signs of activity. Evidently the buyer wasn't wasting any time holding his auction.

Gunn squinted at the entrance. "There seem to be a couple of guys checking people out," he remarked. "Might be by invitation only. It's pretty obvious they're not just letting anybody who wants to come in."

Wesley kept his eyes glued to the tracker controls. "Rose and Spike haven't been moved since they arrived."

"What floor are they on?" Angel asked.

"The ground floor," Wesley replied.

"They'd almost have to be," Gunn added. "I don't think any of the upper floors would hold up to the traffic."

Angel was starting to get fidgety. "I think I'm going to stroll by the entrance and see what the criteria are for getting in," he said casually.

"Are you sure that's wise?" Wesley inquired. "In case you haven't noticed, there aren't a lot of people just going for a stroll around here."

Angel gave him a pained look. "I do know how to keep out of sight," he pointed out. He opened the door. "Back in about fifteen minutes."

&&&&&&&

People, both human and non-human were starting to file in and mill around. Evidently the Umorik wasn't providing any little luxuries for his customers like chairs. Rose looked them over, starting to feel another attack of nerves. Spike still remained completely unruffled.

"Looks like our current owner wants a return on his investment immediately," Spike remarked. "Stop looking so worried, pet. That's all to the good. It means that we'll be rescued all the sooner."

"How can you be so optimistic?" she hissed. "Those people are here to buy us, like we'd buy a pair of jeans or something."

Spike looked her right in the eye, or tried to, she kept looking this way and that. "It's going to be all right, pet," he said firmly. "Look, if I'm wrong you have my permission to kick my ass."

Rose was looking around distractedly, and his words barely registered with her on a conscious level. Then, it finally got to her. "What? How am I supposed to..," she broke off, realizing just why he had said it. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's gotten into me. It's not like I can be physically hurt or anything."

"Knowing it in your head isn't always enough," Spike observed. "You can't help being scared, luv, I know that. But help is on the way." He cocked his head at her. "Has the pouf failed to rescue you yet?"

&&&&&&&&

Angel slid back into the car. "They've got a checklist," he said. "If you're not on the list, you don't get in."

"So how are you planning on getting past their security?" Gunn asked. "Just take them out? There's only the two of them, probably wouldn't be too hard to put their lights out."

"And what if they have duties to attend to inside, once the sale starts?" Wesley inquired. "They'd be missed, and then the first thing they'd likely do is check out all the clientele."

Angel spied three cloaked figures walking up the street, heading towards the warehouse. "There's our invitation," he said. "C'mon guys, it's show time."

As it turned out, the figures weren't wearing cloaks, but rather monk's robes. It didn't take much persuasion to get them to see how beneficial it would be for them to loan their robes to Angel and his friends, not to mention giving them their names. They were so cooperative that Angel even let them wait in the car until they could return their clothing to them.

"What kind of religious sect buys people?" Gunn asked.

"They're mystics," Wesley replied. "They probably see Spike and Rose as some sort of holy icons." A brief mental picture waltzed through his brain. "I think I have a problem with the thought of someone worshipping Spike."

Angel grunted in agreement. "Don't we all?" he remarked. They donned the robes and approached the door.

&&&&&&&

"There they are," Spike murmured. "'Bout sodding time, too."

"Which ones?" asked Rose. "I don't see them."

"Those three in the monk's robes over yonder." Spike tipped his head and pointed his chin at them. "Must be pretty little guys. The Watcher is the only one whose robe isn't too short."

"I see them now," Rose replied. "Are you sure it's them?" Before Spike could answer her, one of the 'monks' lifted his bowed head and looked right at her. Past the enveloping hood, she could clearly see Angel's face.

"Satisfied now, sweetheart?" Spike inquired, having seen Angel looking at her.

Angel walked up to the Umorik. "Is it permitted for there to be a closer inspection before the sale begins?" he asked in humble tones. "My order would be most displeased if we were to pay a great sum of money for anything less than genuine."

The demon considered. "Just look," he wheezed. "No touching. And only one of you."

"My humble thanks." Angel bowed his head and shuffled over to the captives.

"Bloody well took you long enough," Spike snarled quietly as Angel approached them. "Rose has been about ready to climb the walls."

"Have faith, my son." Angel just couldn't resist. "Are you ready?"

"Been ready," Spike snapped. "Do you want to get on with it or what?"

"We're going to have to break the wards on Rose first," Angel said. "The Umorik demon definitely has a problem with clients handling the merchandise. If I tried getting you out of those chains first, he'd be all over us before we could get the spell done."

"What spell?" It was another piece of information that Spike hadn't gotten around to sharing with his beloved.

"Later, luv," Spike muttered. "When we have a bit more time." He looked at Angel. "The night ain't gettin' any younger."

"Rose, we're going to be breaking the wards on you," Angel explained. "Can you hold that position once we're done? We don't want to tip our hand until we're ready to make our exit."

Rose's eyes lit up with real hope for the first time. "It won't be a problem, Angel."

Angel, keeping an eye on the seller surreptitiously slipped something into Spike's hand, then moved around Rose so that they were on opposite sides of her. Then, both vampires began softly chanting in an obscure language, so obscure that Rose, who was pretty well up on such things, didn't recognize it. Then, without any warning, the invisible bonds dropped away. "It worked," Rose whispered excitedly.

"You're sure, pet?" Spike inquired cautiously.

Keeping an eye on all assembled, Rose twitched one hand in a familiar gesture, and Spike nearly lost it. "Guess it did work," he observed.

"You're a bad influence on her, Spike," Angel commented.

"So I've been told," Spike replied. "Heads up, mate. Seller's coming this way. I think he wants to get started. How do you plan on handling it now?"

Angel shrugged. "We'll try outbidding everybody. The monks told us how much they had available, since the seller knows it too. If that doesn't work, we'll do it the hard way." The Umorik demon shuffled up to him then, and Angel allowed himself to be led away.

Spike's chair and Rose's cart were wheeled into the exact center of the room. The Umorik walked around them giving his clientele a spiel about their rarity and value, and then started the bidding.

There had been only about three bids before the price went over the ceiling the monks had set.

"Looks like it's the hard way, then," Spike remarked softly. "You ready to provide that distraction, sweetheart?"

Since the seller was giving Spike a dirty look for talking, Rose replied by giving him a wink and a smile.

Wesley started pushing his way to the front of the crowd.

"What kind of deception is this?" he demanded angrily. "Those aren't real."

The demon bristled. "You accuse me of fraud? The items are genuine. I checked them out personally."

Angel and Gunn started edging their way forward from either side of the crowd.

"Then I suggest that your methods are faulty," Wesley accused. "That." He pointed at Rose. "Is an ordinary ghost. What are you trying to pull?"

By now, the rest of the clientele were starting to mutter. Gunn and Angel began moving faster.

"I'm thinking now would be a good time for you to shine, babe," Spike murmured. Rose took his advice and shimmered into the sexy black outfit. For good measure, she turned around to let everyone get a good look, and thereby proving that she wasn't safely warded as advertised.

"See!" Wesley shouted. "The ghost was supposed to be warded! What are you trying to put over on us?"

The crowd started getting ugly. Well, uglier, a lot of them were pretty ugly anyway. Angel and Gunn reached them. Angel stood guard while Gunn pulled out a small laser cutter, compliments of Fred, which cut through the chains like a hot knife through butter.

Spike stood abruptly, and the chains slid down to the ground with a clank that was audible over the grumbling of the crowd. The seller was going from violet-red to violent purple. The clients were starting to converge on him.

"I think now might be a good time to make a hasty retreat," Angel suggested.

They beat feet for the door, and made their exit with no problem.

Angel, Gunn and Wesley were shedding the monk's robes as they ran out to the car. The monks saw them coming and got out. They were bright enough to recognize a get-away when they saw it.

Angel driving, Gunn and Wesley in the back seat. Spike riding shotgun. Rose appeared, looking for all the world like she was sitting on his lap, head leaning against his shoulder.

Angel floored the accelerator and they took off into the night.