*Author's Note: I've been getting a few e-mails as to the term MoG. This is a term given to the guys at Angel Investigations by the Strega who recaps the Angel episodes at Television Without Pity. The FAQ for MoG is: It's short for "Ministers of Grace," and is a collective term for Angel's sidekicks, which [Strega] came up with when [she] got tired of typing out everyone's name. It comes from Hamlet, I, iv, 20: "Angels and ministers of grace defend us!" You can find additional information about Angel and Buffy terms and comments at and

Chapter Five

Spike's head popped up as he heard footsteps descending the basement stairs. "Buffy?" He breathed.

"No." Angel said, appearing at the bottom of the stairs.

"Bloody hell." Spike mumbled as his grandsire entered the basement.

"Good to see you too Spike." Angel said, stopping to pull away an ax that was imbedded in the training dummy. "You're work?" He asked, nodding to the ax.

"One of the little bits was down here training before." Spike said.

Angel nodded and moved into the room. "So." He said.

"So." Spike replied.

"A soul?" Angel nodded to Spike. "How's that working out for you."

"Better than it did for you." Spike said.

"I agree." Angel said, as he sat next to Spike on the bed.

"You smell." Spike said. "Human?"

"Human." Angel nodded. "It's a thing."

"A thing?" Spike asked.

"Big prophecy." Angel sighed. "Stopped a few apocalypses, killed a few big bad demons, took down an evil law firm - sort of." He paused. "Killed a friend."

"How's that working for you?" Spike asked gently.

"I'm dealing." Angel answered.

"I know the feeling." Spike mumbled.

"I remember." Angel agreed. "The first few years with the soul is the hardest. Dealing with everything that was done. Everything I did."

"Everyone I killed." Spiked added with grief.

"The smell of every man, woman and child." Angel said.

"The scent of their blood as it hit my mouth." Spike added.

"The taste." Angel said.

"The screaming." Spike said. "I used to love the screaming."

"The begging and crying." Angel said. "The chase."

"How I felt when it was over." Spike sighed.

"Like you wanted it to go on forever." Angel offered.

"Yea." Spike nodded.

"What you do now is all that matters." Angel said firmly. "Buffy said you're helping with this whole First thing."

"Trying." Spike replied.

"Then why the chains?" Angel said, nodding to the metal brackets holding Spike to the wall.

"The First put the wammy on me." Spike said. "Turned me into it's slobbering butt monkey."

"Sucks." Angel said.

"If I'm not near Buf - I mean someone who can stop me, I think it's safer to stay chained up." Spike said softly.

"Probably a good thing." Angel said. "But what kind of man are you to sit on the outside all the time?"

"You did it." Spike said. "I remember."

"And Buffy was the one who brought me out." Angel said.

"But she never loved me." Spike said sadly.

"But she must have cared." Angel replied. "At lease on some level."

"I was just your replacement." Spike scoffed. "Took me a long time to figure it out. But she couldn't have a human man, work to dangerous and all, and she couldn't have you, you'd lose your soul."

"I don't think th-." Angel started.

"Don't humor me mate." Spike said. "I know it."

"I'm sorry." Angel said.

"Sorry?" Spike chuckled. "We're a fine pair, aren't we?"

"Vampire with a soul." Angel said, motioning to Spike.

"Ex-Vampire with a soul, newly human." Spike said, slapping Angel on the back.

"And after the same girl." Angel laughed.

"If only Dru could see us now." Spike laughed.

Angel joined him in a hardy laugh.

"So, what brings the great Angel to town?" Spike asked.

"You really want to know?" Angel sighed. "All the demons. And I do mean all of them, are coming here. To the Hellmouth."

"What?" Spike jumped.

"Seems the First is recruiting." Angel said. "L.A. is completely devoid of demons. Well, except a few."

"All of them?" Spike asked in horror.

"All the evil ones." Angel said. "There are a few still in L.A."

"And you're sure they're coming here?" Spike asked.

"Looks like." Angel said. "So now, it's up to you. You gonna be a man and get up and help, or are you gonna be a monster?"