Viridian: "The vampire worked out a way to save Rose. And at some risk to himself."

Citrine: "He has his own corporeality back and is well able to indulge himself in sensual pleasures, and yet he remains by Rose's side."

Cerulean: "Both he and Angel seem most protective of her, still."

Sienna: "And has she not proven that she still needs protection?"

Violet: "She tried to make William leave her behind, lest he be captured as well. Then he gave himself up to the bounty hunter just to be with her."

Citrine: "Shall we make our decision, then? We seem to have enough information to do so."

Viridian: "Perhaps we should let the current situation play itself out, first. To be precipitate might prove a distraction and effect the outcome."

Sienna: "We must needs also discuss the particulars. Come up with workable solutions to our own problems."

Cerulean: "Then, we will wait a while longer."

Violet: "They have waited this long, they can be patient a little longer."

&&&&&&&&

Spike lay there in bed, enjoying the sight of Rose laying beside him. "I can't believe how much I missed you, babe," he murmured. "Last night felt like it was half of forever."

"It did, didn't it?" Rose replied, smiling at him. "That was very poetic, love."

Spike grimaced. "Guess you bring it out in me, pet." He snuggled even closer, almost, but not quite touching. If she'd been human, he'd have felt the heat from her body. Despite his best resolutions, a heartfelt sigh escaped him.

Rose knew what the sigh meant, how could she not? "I know, Spike," she said softly. "I'd give the earth just to feel your arms around me again."

"I wish..," he started, and cut himself short. Best be careful with the 'w' word.

"I do too," she whispered. "Sleep well, love."

&&&&&&&

Angel was pacing in his office. He'd really like to check on the progress of the robot, but Fred, ignoring his lofty status had out and out banned his presence in the lab, and he had to make do with her daily progress reports, which he found to be largely incomprehensible. He supposed that he had been making a pest of himself, but he wanted this over and done with. That phone call yesterday was really nagging at him. What in the hell was the bounty hunter up to? He had even gone as far as to check and see if someone had exceeded their authority by ordering surveillance on Daria after he'd cancelled it, but no one had. And they still seemed no closer to finding out who Daria's contact inside the firm was. A puzzled frown crossed his face, and he picked up the phone. "Harmony? I want you to check the employment records and see if anyone quit, disappeared, or whatever within a day or two after Daria McBride came here. Yes, Harmony, I want it as soon as possible. Thank you."

&&&&&&&&

"Rose?" Wesley turned and looked at her when he didn't get an immediate response. She sat there, staring off into space with a sad expression on her face. "Rose?" He waved his hand in front of her face.

"What?" She jumped, startled. "I'm sorry, Wesley. I guess I was woolgathering."

"And from the look of it, taking no joy in the occupation either," he remarked. "Listen, Rose, if there's something else you'd rather be doing, feel free to go. I never intended you to put in full time hours."

"I'm fine," she assured him. "I guess the fact that we haven't been able to drop a net on Daria McBride yet is starting to get me a little down."

"I understand," he replied. "But my offer still stands. Even though we're paying you, the employment is on a voluntary basis. If you feel you need some time away, just say so."

"Wouldn't that make it difficult to keep track of how much you're going to pay me?" Rose asked.

Wesley grinned. "That's why I put you on a modest salary, but a salaried position nonetheless. That way I don't have to keep track of the hours you work. Your current title, by the way is special research consultant."

"Well, la de da," she remarked. "That sounds impressive. But I would still like to go on record as saying that I don't need a title or a paycheck, or..," She gave him a sly little look. "An office."

Wesley blinked. "Did you want your own office, Rose? You can certainly have one if you'd like."

"I'm just teasing, Wesley," she said with a smile. "I'm a ghost. What would I do with an office? Unless, of course, you're tired of having me hang around. Or maybe I just distract you from your work?"

"The only distraction you provide is how pretty you are," he teased back. "Seriously though, Rose, if you feel the need for a breather, so to speak don't hesitate to take one." The grin came back. "I'll muddle along without you, somehow."

"Thank you, Wes," she said. "You know, I believe that I could use a little thinking time."

"Then I'll see you later," the Watcher responded, and turned away from her before she could change her mind.

&&&&&&&&

Spike was at his desk, dutifully slogging away like a good little boy. He thought he could just about stand it if only it would provide the occasional little adrenalin rush. The time spent at Daria McBride's hadn't been a walk in the park by a long chalk, but it hadn't been boring. It might just be worth it though, if he were doing it for something, or rather someone other than himself. Like having a living, breathing woman to support. The thought hadn't occurred to him before, but now that it had, it kind of appealed to him. He gave himself a little shake. If he went much further, he'd be having visions of a house in the suburbs with a white picket fence.

The phone rang. "Hello?" He didn't need to say anything else, because the pouf went into an immediate monolog, not giving him a chance to get in a word edgewise. But it wasn't really necessary. And despite the questionable efficacy of his efforts on the whole bounty hunter deal, he was being given another chance to do some field work. He looked at the time and silently swore. It was going to be a few hours until the sun set, but then..,

&&&&&&&&

Rose flitted silently up to Angel's apartment, and it felt strange. So quiet and empty without Angel or Spike, or both of them. She went over to a window and stared down at the city, seeing the people, so far away on the sidewalk, looking like little more than ants. She could understand that viewpoint. She had often made the mistake of viewing people as lesser beings, but just because they didn't have the powers she'd had, then, didn't make them any less. She felt a stab of guilt. She'd been a part of The Powers, connected to them. Why didn't she miss them? She hadn't, not really, not since she'd first arrived. Most of the time now, she didn't even think about them. But just what did they have planned for her? If the price she was paying now lasted for all eternity though, she'd accept it. For Spike. But was it really good for Spike that they continue on this way? Despite what Angel had told her, she sometimes wondered. She knew that The Powers sometimes set tests, and maybe this was one of them. To see if she loved Spike enough to give him up. But how could she when the mere thought of it brought a terrible, searing, wrenching pain? She decided to deal with it, for the moment, by not dealing with it. After all, she couldn't very well leave him without at least having the good graces to tell him to his face, even though that would most assuredly add to the pain. Tonight would be soon enough.

&&&&&&&&

Angel walked into his apartment and saw Rose there, still looking out the window. But no sign of Spike. That was odd. He'd been a little late getting out of the office, but Spike generally made it a point to be out on the exact second. And he wasn't here. "Rose? Where's Spike?"

Rose jumped. She'd been so lost in thought she hadn't noticed the passage of time. "Spike?" she echoed dumbly. "I don't know, I didn't realize it was that late." She looked at the time and saw that Spike should have returned about half an hour past. Which, if she'd been thinking, the setting of the sun should have told her. "Shall I pop down to his office and see if he's there?"

"If you would," Angel replied. He watched as she disappeared, a look of consternation on his face. No matter what possibilities he considered, Spike not being here to spend time with Rose suggested that it wasn't good. And before he could think further, Rose was back.

"He's not there," Rose announced. "The computer's off and the lights are out." She was starting to look a little frayed around the edges.

Angel took out his cell phone and hurriedly punched in a number. "Wes? Did you send Spike on some special assignment without notifying me? I did? When?" The vampire's expression was totally mystified. "Wait there, Wes, we'll be right down." He turned to Rose. "Spike told Wesley that I called him and sent him on a field mission."

It should have been impossible for a ghost to turn pale, but Rose managed it. "And you did nothing of the kind, did you?"

Angel shook his head. "C'mon, let's go talk to Wesley."

&&&&&&&

The researcher spent his time waiting by calling the other members of his department and seeing if Spike had said anything to any of them. A futile effort, really. Spike generally kept himself to himself. He didn't much care for his co-workers and made no bones about letting anyone know it.

Angel came striding in with Rose hovering behind. "Any news?"

Wesley shook his head. "Spike doesn't usually associate with any of the rest of the department, and today was no exception. He didn't talk to any of them."

"Log in to security," Angel ordered. "I'll give you the clearance codes. All calls in and out are recorded. I want to hear that call that was supposed to be me."

In relatively short order the proper records came up. "There it is," Wesley said, pointing at the computer screen. "It was the only call to Spike's office all day." He tapped a few keys. "Do you want to hear it, or just read the transcript?"

"I want to hear it," Angel replied grimly. "Spike's known me for over a hundred years. It would have to be damn good to fool him."

And suddenly, what sounded like Angel's voice came from the speakers. "..,just a block down from the warehouse from where we rescued you. All you have to do is to escort the contact back here, but you may have to be on your guard. The contact may attract some fire. See you later, Spike." Then, the click of disconnection.

Angel looked at Rose. "So help me, Rose, I swear that wasn't me." He brought a fist down on the corner of Wesley's desk, and the corner broke off.

"They don't make them like they used to," Wesley said quietly, trying to lighten the tension a bit. "I'm not calling you a liar, Angel, but it did sound just like you."

"If I wanted Spike out and making a target for Daria McBride to shoot at, I wouldn't have him staying in my apartment," Angel argued.

"We believe you, Angel," Rose said soothingly. "I know that you wouldn't do that. And I don't understand why that never occurred to Spike."

"He was probably getting a touch of cabin fever and didn't think about it at all," Wesley observed. "Do you think it would do us any good to go to the rendezvous point?"

Angel shook his head. "He may not even have made it that far. He would have been looking for that contact he was supposed to meet, and probably not thinking that he was in any danger. For a vampire, he probably would have been pretty easy to grab."

"Then how are we going to find him?" Rose moaned. In the back of her mind was something that said that this was her fault. That if she hadn't been thinking.., what she'd been thinking, or maybe if she'd acted sooner, then Spike would be safe.

"Unless I miss my guess," Angel said with a forced calm. "We won't have to find him. We'll be told."

&&&&&&&

Spike was strutting down the sidewalk as if he didn't have a care in the world. He took a deep, unnecessary breath. It felt good just to be out and about at night. He'd been cooped up so long.., Oh balls. It suddenly came crashing home just why he had been cooped up. And why he still should be. And then, something else came crashing, against the back of Spike's skull, and all the lights went out.

&&&&&&

They'd moved their base of operations back to Angel's office, and had called in the reinforcements, for all the good it would do at this point. Therefore, they were all there when the phone rang.

Angel picked it up like it was going to bite him. "Hello? Oh, Daria, what a pleasant surprise. Nothing special, just trying to figure out how many parts I'm going to leave you in once I get my hands on you. You do say the nicest things. Now what have you done with Spike? I see. And what do you do when I tell you to go to hell? Just remember Daria, that everything you do to him, is going to come back to you." He hung up.

"So it's pretty much what we expected, isn't it?" Gunn inquired. "Daria McBride's got him."