Chapter Two:
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L.A.
Angel Investigations
Friday night
"He's a _what_???" Angel yelled.
Cordelia winced, still recovering from the second headache in less
than 30 minutes, and said, "I think that Buffy's dating a vampire.
She doesn't know it, though. That's why she can't see it coming, and
why Spike can get the better of her."
"That's impossible, though, Cordelia," Angel said stubbornly.
"Slayers, all slayers, and Buffy more than most, they can
sense demons. How could she date one, and not realize it???"
"I don't explain 'em, Boss, I just keel over from them," Cordelia
replied. At the pained look on his face, she put a comforting hand
on his arm, "I'm sorry Angel, I hate having to tell you this. I don't
know why Buffy doesn't know. I can only tell you that she doesn't."
"Faith?" Angel turned to the ex-slayer questioningly.
"Why's everyone looking at me???" Faith said defensively. "Sorry, A,
I haven't got a clue who the Buffster's doing," she shrugged.
Angel just continued to look at Faith, his expression suspicious.
"Would you stop that? I'm telling you, I don't know anything about
Buffy's social life," Faith insisted. "Look, I'm doing you a favor by
coming here. I've told you what I know. Don't I get any brownie
points for my good deed?"
"I would've thrown you out ten minutes ago, if Cordelia's visions
hadn't backed up your story. Did you happen to hear when Spike was
planning to go after Buffy?"
"Not until Saturday night," Faith answered.
Angel sighed in relief, "Okay. So we have until tomorrow. Cordy and
Wes, I'm going to Sunnydale. You two can take care of things here--"
"Oh, no you don't, Mister!" Cordelia said. "If you think you're
going back there alone, you can just forget it! I'm going too..." she
nudged Wesley with her elbow, "...and so is Wesley. Right Wesley?"
she looked/glared at Wesley, and he knew better than to contradict.
"Cordelia's right. We should all go. If Spike is gathering the demon
forces of Sunnydale, every able body should be there," Wesley said.
"I don't know, I would feel better if you two stayed here. It's not
safe--"
"Safe??? Oh, excuse _me_, but _WHO_ has been down in those icky
sewers more than once in the past month? YOU kill the monster-things,
but then I guess it's _safe_ for Doy--I mean Wesley and me to clean
up the mess?" Cordelia said. "Try again," She crossed her arms in
front of her, and gave him her best "don't mess with me" look.
"Okay, okay," Angel chuckled. He held up his hand, signifying
surrender. "We'll all go." He looked at Faith, and she shrugged.
"Sure, sounds like fun," she said with a grin.
"Alright. We'll leave first thing in the morning. Faith can say
with..." Angel looked at Cordelia pleadingly.
"No way!" Cordelia answered.
"Cordy--"
"NO! I don't like her," she turned to Faith and repeated "I don't like
you." She turned back to Angel, "..and I don't trust her, and no way
would I get any sleep, because I'd wonder if I wouldn't wake up
dead...well, I guess you don't _wake up_ dead, unless you're you,
and...just no, and that's that!" she finished as she stood, stamping
her high-heeled foot for good measure.
Angel sighed in irritation, and turned to Faith, who was grinning at the
war of wills going on in front of her. "Stay here, on the couch," he
pointed to the couch. "I'll be downstairs." Throwing
Cordelia a look, he stalked to the elevator silently and
descends to his apartment.
"Sulk much?" Cordelia threw at the descending elevator car.
"Well, I guess that's that," Wesley said unnecessarily.
"What is it with moody men and me? Always with the moody, brooding,
stubborn, have-to-have-their-own-way..." the sound of Cordelia's
voice trailed off as she stomped out of the apartment.
"Um, well...Faith, if you need anything, I--I guess--" Wesley
stuttered, obviously at a loss for words after Angel and Cordelia's
disappearing acts.
"Chill, Wes. It's all good. The couch and I will get acquainted, and
I'll see you in the morning," Faith said with an innocent smile.
"Okay, well, good night," Wesley said and headed out.
"Yeah, it will be," Faith said after Wesley left. She giggled
and walked over to the elevator. She listened for a moment, and when
she didn't hear anything, pulled her cellphone out of her jacket
pocket.
"....Hey, Riley Babe!...Yeah, everything's good, man. All according
to plan....He's downstairs, just lemme talk to BleachBoy for a
minute..."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Angel's Mansion
Sunnydale
Friday Night
Spike watched as the demons begin to arrive, basking in the
knowledge that he still had some power in Sunnydale. He looked over to
his left, where Riley had been hovering near him all evening. Spike sighed
in exasperation.
*Bloody hell. I just might have to stake him soon, for the sake of my
own sanity. How Slutty ever tolerated him this long, I'll never
understand. Always underfoot, always demanding your attention.*
As if on cue, Riley approached. "Uh, Faith's on the phone," he said.
"Why the hell would I want to talk to that Bitch?" Spike muttered
in response.
Riley ducked his head apologetically. "I know you don't agree with me
turning her. I was just trying to have some fun," he pouted.
Spike sighed for the second time in five minutes, and tried to be
reassuring, patting him on the arm awkwardly. "Never mind, just go
watch the door. We don't need this party crashed by any Initiative
goons or Scoobies." Riley nodded, brightening at the idea of
being needed, and went over to the door to take up post there.
"Yeah," Spike said, on the phone now.
"It worked! It worked, man this is just so cool, Spikey!"
"I swear, I'm gonna--"
"Oh, chill, man. I know, I know. You're all that and a bag of chips,
okay? I'm just kidding with ya, Spike. Anyway, Tara's spell is so
cool! I wondered at first, ya know? Because I know that Angel can
sense other demons. I thought for sure that he'd know I was a
vamp, but he's so clueless!"
"I'm hurt that you doubted me," Spike said in a bored tone. "Tara's got the
blinding spell covered. Nobody thinks that you or Riley are anything
more than just a couple of annoying mortals. So tell me that you're
doing what I sent you to L.A. for."
"Yeah, of course I am. I'll slip the tranquilizer to him and then
Tara's waiting nearby. I'll grab her, we'll do the spell thing, and
then--OW!"
"Faith?...FAITH!" He heard sounds of a fight on the other end, and
pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it in frustration.
The call went dead. Spike stared at it for another minute. Then he threw
it across the room, roaring, "BLOODY HELL!"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
L.A
Angel Investigations
Faith was on the phone, with her back to the elevator, "...we'll do
the spell thing, and then--" she was knocked across the room, and
lands against the wall with a thud, "OW!" she said and looked up at
Angel.
He slipped into game face. "Faith, Faith. We've been there and done that,
already. Why would you try such a tired game again? Really, I was
expecting _some_ sort of double-cross, but I wish you had been more
inventive than to try to remove my soul again." He shook his
head, and clucked his tongue at her.
Faith grinned and threw her phone at him, giggling.
"Okay, now I'm convinced," Angel said. "You've gone completely
batty."
"No..I just..I just know something you don't!" she replied.
"What's that," he asked.
She took the opportunity to slip into gameface.
Angel stepped back in surprise. "Wha--why didn't I--?"
"You didn't know, Angel Dear, because I've got some very powerful
magic on my side. You can probably kill me," she shrugged. "I'm not
that powerful yet, but it doesn't matter. Your precious Buffy is as
good as dead, and there's nothing you can do to save her," she taunted.
She slid up along the wall to stand facing him, and added "The
only thing that isn't for sure, is whether Spike will turn her, or
just enjoy watching her die slowly."
"Well, either way you don't get to find out," Cordy said from behind
Angel. Faith looked over to see Cordelia holding a crossbow, and she
snarled at Cordy. "Oh, yeah. _That_ was scary," Cordelia muttered
sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Dramatic much?"
Cordelia threw a stake to Angel, who said, "Thanks, Cordelia. Three
visions in one day, that had to hurt."
"Yeah, you are _so_ owing me for this one. I think this falls into
the category of 'above and beyond the call of duty'. Who would've
figured. Faith a vampire. Well, guess the plus side is we don't have
to feel bad about killing her," she said.
Faith jumped at Angel, but he swatted her down like a fly. She screamed
in anger, and lunged at him again. She didn't get close, though. With
one swift move, he staked her through the heart.
"Well, I'm beat," Cordelia said as Faith vanished in a cloud of
dust. "See you in the morning?"
"First thing," Angel answered, brushing himself off, and returning to
the non-vamp look. "Cordelia, thanks again for the call, really."
"No prob," she shrugged. "I'm just glad you actually had the cell phone
with you this time. I really didn't want to have to deal with Angelus
twice in a week, he's just no fun at all."
End Chapter Two
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
L.A.
Angel Investigations
Friday night
"He's a _what_???" Angel yelled.
Cordelia winced, still recovering from the second headache in less
than 30 minutes, and said, "I think that Buffy's dating a vampire.
She doesn't know it, though. That's why she can't see it coming, and
why Spike can get the better of her."
"That's impossible, though, Cordelia," Angel said stubbornly.
"Slayers, all slayers, and Buffy more than most, they can
sense demons. How could she date one, and not realize it???"
"I don't explain 'em, Boss, I just keel over from them," Cordelia
replied. At the pained look on his face, she put a comforting hand
on his arm, "I'm sorry Angel, I hate having to tell you this. I don't
know why Buffy doesn't know. I can only tell you that she doesn't."
"Faith?" Angel turned to the ex-slayer questioningly.
"Why's everyone looking at me???" Faith said defensively. "Sorry, A,
I haven't got a clue who the Buffster's doing," she shrugged.
Angel just continued to look at Faith, his expression suspicious.
"Would you stop that? I'm telling you, I don't know anything about
Buffy's social life," Faith insisted. "Look, I'm doing you a favor by
coming here. I've told you what I know. Don't I get any brownie
points for my good deed?"
"I would've thrown you out ten minutes ago, if Cordelia's visions
hadn't backed up your story. Did you happen to hear when Spike was
planning to go after Buffy?"
"Not until Saturday night," Faith answered.
Angel sighed in relief, "Okay. So we have until tomorrow. Cordy and
Wes, I'm going to Sunnydale. You two can take care of things here--"
"Oh, no you don't, Mister!" Cordelia said. "If you think you're
going back there alone, you can just forget it! I'm going too..." she
nudged Wesley with her elbow, "...and so is Wesley. Right Wesley?"
she looked/glared at Wesley, and he knew better than to contradict.
"Cordelia's right. We should all go. If Spike is gathering the demon
forces of Sunnydale, every able body should be there," Wesley said.
"I don't know, I would feel better if you two stayed here. It's not
safe--"
"Safe??? Oh, excuse _me_, but _WHO_ has been down in those icky
sewers more than once in the past month? YOU kill the monster-things,
but then I guess it's _safe_ for Doy--I mean Wesley and me to clean
up the mess?" Cordelia said. "Try again," She crossed her arms in
front of her, and gave him her best "don't mess with me" look.
"Okay, okay," Angel chuckled. He held up his hand, signifying
surrender. "We'll all go." He looked at Faith, and she shrugged.
"Sure, sounds like fun," she said with a grin.
"Alright. We'll leave first thing in the morning. Faith can say
with..." Angel looked at Cordelia pleadingly.
"No way!" Cordelia answered.
"Cordy--"
"NO! I don't like her," she turned to Faith and repeated "I don't like
you." She turned back to Angel, "..and I don't trust her, and no way
would I get any sleep, because I'd wonder if I wouldn't wake up
dead...well, I guess you don't _wake up_ dead, unless you're you,
and...just no, and that's that!" she finished as she stood, stamping
her high-heeled foot for good measure.
Angel sighed in irritation, and turned to Faith, who was grinning at the
war of wills going on in front of her. "Stay here, on the couch," he
pointed to the couch. "I'll be downstairs." Throwing
Cordelia a look, he stalked to the elevator silently and
descends to his apartment.
"Sulk much?" Cordelia threw at the descending elevator car.
"Well, I guess that's that," Wesley said unnecessarily.
"What is it with moody men and me? Always with the moody, brooding,
stubborn, have-to-have-their-own-way..." the sound of Cordelia's
voice trailed off as she stomped out of the apartment.
"Um, well...Faith, if you need anything, I--I guess--" Wesley
stuttered, obviously at a loss for words after Angel and Cordelia's
disappearing acts.
"Chill, Wes. It's all good. The couch and I will get acquainted, and
I'll see you in the morning," Faith said with an innocent smile.
"Okay, well, good night," Wesley said and headed out.
"Yeah, it will be," Faith said after Wesley left. She giggled
and walked over to the elevator. She listened for a moment, and when
she didn't hear anything, pulled her cellphone out of her jacket
pocket.
"....Hey, Riley Babe!...Yeah, everything's good, man. All according
to plan....He's downstairs, just lemme talk to BleachBoy for a
minute..."
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
Angel's Mansion
Sunnydale
Friday Night
Spike watched as the demons begin to arrive, basking in the
knowledge that he still had some power in Sunnydale. He looked over to
his left, where Riley had been hovering near him all evening. Spike sighed
in exasperation.
*Bloody hell. I just might have to stake him soon, for the sake of my
own sanity. How Slutty ever tolerated him this long, I'll never
understand. Always underfoot, always demanding your attention.*
As if on cue, Riley approached. "Uh, Faith's on the phone," he said.
"Why the hell would I want to talk to that Bitch?" Spike muttered
in response.
Riley ducked his head apologetically. "I know you don't agree with me
turning her. I was just trying to have some fun," he pouted.
Spike sighed for the second time in five minutes, and tried to be
reassuring, patting him on the arm awkwardly. "Never mind, just go
watch the door. We don't need this party crashed by any Initiative
goons or Scoobies." Riley nodded, brightening at the idea of
being needed, and went over to the door to take up post there.
"Yeah," Spike said, on the phone now.
"It worked! It worked, man this is just so cool, Spikey!"
"I swear, I'm gonna--"
"Oh, chill, man. I know, I know. You're all that and a bag of chips,
okay? I'm just kidding with ya, Spike. Anyway, Tara's spell is so
cool! I wondered at first, ya know? Because I know that Angel can
sense other demons. I thought for sure that he'd know I was a
vamp, but he's so clueless!"
"I'm hurt that you doubted me," Spike said in a bored tone. "Tara's got the
blinding spell covered. Nobody thinks that you or Riley are anything
more than just a couple of annoying mortals. So tell me that you're
doing what I sent you to L.A. for."
"Yeah, of course I am. I'll slip the tranquilizer to him and then
Tara's waiting nearby. I'll grab her, we'll do the spell thing, and
then--OW!"
"Faith?...FAITH!" He heard sounds of a fight on the other end, and
pulled the phone away from his ear and looked at it in frustration.
The call went dead. Spike stared at it for another minute. Then he threw
it across the room, roaring, "BLOODY HELL!"
&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
L.A
Angel Investigations
Faith was on the phone, with her back to the elevator, "...we'll do
the spell thing, and then--" she was knocked across the room, and
lands against the wall with a thud, "OW!" she said and looked up at
Angel.
He slipped into game face. "Faith, Faith. We've been there and done that,
already. Why would you try such a tired game again? Really, I was
expecting _some_ sort of double-cross, but I wish you had been more
inventive than to try to remove my soul again." He shook his
head, and clucked his tongue at her.
Faith grinned and threw her phone at him, giggling.
"Okay, now I'm convinced," Angel said. "You've gone completely
batty."
"No..I just..I just know something you don't!" she replied.
"What's that," he asked.
She took the opportunity to slip into gameface.
Angel stepped back in surprise. "Wha--why didn't I--?"
"You didn't know, Angel Dear, because I've got some very powerful
magic on my side. You can probably kill me," she shrugged. "I'm not
that powerful yet, but it doesn't matter. Your precious Buffy is as
good as dead, and there's nothing you can do to save her," she taunted.
She slid up along the wall to stand facing him, and added "The
only thing that isn't for sure, is whether Spike will turn her, or
just enjoy watching her die slowly."
"Well, either way you don't get to find out," Cordy said from behind
Angel. Faith looked over to see Cordelia holding a crossbow, and she
snarled at Cordy. "Oh, yeah. _That_ was scary," Cordelia muttered
sarcastically, rolling her eyes. "Dramatic much?"
Cordelia threw a stake to Angel, who said, "Thanks, Cordelia. Three
visions in one day, that had to hurt."
"Yeah, you are _so_ owing me for this one. I think this falls into
the category of 'above and beyond the call of duty'. Who would've
figured. Faith a vampire. Well, guess the plus side is we don't have
to feel bad about killing her," she said.
Faith jumped at Angel, but he swatted her down like a fly. She screamed
in anger, and lunged at him again. She didn't get close, though. With
one swift move, he staked her through the heart.
"Well, I'm beat," Cordelia said as Faith vanished in a cloud of
dust. "See you in the morning?"
"First thing," Angel answered, brushing himself off, and returning to
the non-vamp look. "Cordelia, thanks again for the call, really."
"No prob," she shrugged. "I'm just glad you actually had the cell phone
with you this time. I really didn't want to have to deal with Angelus
twice in a week, he's just no fun at all."
End Chapter Two