After Adam's defeat, the spoils of the 314 project are up for grabs. Spike & Willow find themselves at the centre of a web of intrigue.

Disclaimer: Any characters and locations from Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Angel the Series are the property of Mutant Enemy.

Chapter 9: Spike is caught doing a spot of window shopping.

That Saturday night Spike was at the Bronze, along with a few handpicked assistants. More were scattered around Sunnydale's less salubrious areas - the docks, the bus station - where waifs and strays could be easily acquired. But these places would not be enough to satisfy his orders so they needed to hit the more sensitive areas as well if they were going to meet the quota and keep the snatches scattered around the town. Places like the Bronze were packed with healthy young bodies, but although it was easy enough to pick off the odd unwary teenager with a bit of sweet-talking during the slow numbers, they weren't safe for bulk purchase. Discretion was essential - that was why Spike and his most trusted boys were there rather than some of the more excitable types. He'd also chosen the better looking, ones for obvious reasons, plus most of the females from the base. Nat unfortunately hung on to the prejudices of one sired in the eighteenth century when it came to hiring staff which meant that nice pieces of tail were hard to come by - not a bad thing when it came to keeping order, but a distinct disadvantage on this occasion.

Other groups were out and about in the graveyards. Their function was to keep the Slayer otherwise occupied and Spike had taken the opportunity to weed the ranks by assigning the least able and the most annoying to this detail. A few dustings would keep her happy - and he wanted her happy, for the time being at least.

As he stared down at the mass of gyrating bodies from his vantage point on the balcony he reflected that it had been a productive few days, even if you discounted the fact that he'd arranged this little press gang at minimal notice. He'd met with Willow again and, not only had she been able to break into the Reculance ITC system using the new info, but he'd also been able to get through the entire encounter without laying his hands (or any other part of his anatomy) on her. He hadn't told her about tonight's operation, but judging by her enthusiasm, he was confident that her new discoveries would be sufficiently engrossing as to keep her off of the streets.

He'd also had a brief visit from the Suit, who seemed pleased with his progress - though it was difficult to tell what that one, his little game of the other night notwithstanding. He'd agreed that once decryption was underway Willow would transfer the information she retrieved direct to the Suit's company but, of course, as soon as they hit paydirt he'd be looking to squirrel away enough data that the Suit couldn't just off the pair of them once they were finished.

Yeah, everything was going as well as it could. Now all he had to do was to get through tonight without fucking things up, which was easier said than done. He'd done his best on short notice, but the requirements were demanding and the boys had no personal loyalty either to him or to Nat. Nevertheless, they were moving into action here - he'd seen at least three couples headed for the alley behind the nightclub, where the victims would have an experience they quite different from the one that they had been expecting.

Finishing his beer Spike decided to check up on the other groups, content that things were well in hand at this location at any rate. As he crossed the floor he spotted a couple of familiar faces in the crowd - Xander and girlfriend. Willow would make sure that he'd be in a world of pain if those two got scooped up. He thought about putting out the word to leave them alone, but he didn't want anyone to wonder why he was so interested in them. Still, they were in limited danger if they stayed together and Anya had some common sense even if Xander didn't. Leaving the pair's fate to whichever God they might believe in, Spike strode out into the night.

He decided to do a circuit of the different snatch zones around the town and, if his path took him past the Rosenburg house, well, that was just a wise precaution. He had no intention of talking to Willow, of course, but it seemed that all of the Gods were engaged in looking after Xander and Anya, for as he rounded the corner he saw her sitting alone on the veranda looking for all the world as if she had a "come and get me" sign hanging around her neck. This was not good...not good at all. Not with all the vampires on the prowl tonight. Caught by sudden indecision Spike remained motionless. Did he go and tell her to get inside, thus having to explain himself and risking someone seeing them together to boot, or did he walk on and taking the chance that she might be abducted by one of the roaming gangs? As he stood there, Willow looked up and straight in the direction of the corner where he stood, though it was impossible that she should actually be able to see him with the human eyesight. It seemed then that his body was going to make his mind up for him as, almost involuntarily, he gathered himself to move towards her even if it meant complications he didn't need.

Just as he went to take his first step, however, a hand landed heavily on his shoulder. The hand belonged to Nat and Spike cursed himself for becoming so intent upon Willow that he had not heard its owner coming up behind him. This could mean really deep shit. However Nat's comment, when it came, was amused rather than accusing.

"Planning on doing a bit of abducting for yourself tonight?"

Spike continued to watch Willow for a while and then said, "You wouldn't deprive a fellow of a spot of window shopping, would you mate?"

Nat moved alongside him, likewise focusing his gaze on the blithely unsuspecting redhead. "Well, she's a pretty piece, but not worth wasting as a test subject."

Spike struggled to retain his composure and remarked in what he hoped was the most casual of voices, "You know her?"

Removing his gaze from Willow, Nat turned to Spike saying, "Yeah, she's one of ours, one of the students working on the data side. Her supervisor says she might have a bright future with the Company if only she'd stop pretending she knows less than she does."

Crap. He should have known that Willow wasn't actress enough to pull off the ingénue as far as computers were concerned. He'd have thought the charade through a bit better, but he'd been pushed for time and now all he could do was play along.

"Why would she want to do that?"

"Oh you know these computer types. They can't resist poking and prying around. She probably thought she'd better keep her petty law-breaking side to herself if she was going to keep the job." Turning his head, he smirked at Spike, "little does she know, eh?"

It seemed like everyone had the future planned for Willow, himself included.

The grin on his face was not entirely false as he said, "I'll spread the word to leave her alone, then."

Nat nodded. "Yeah, do that."

At that Spike decided to take advantage of the opportunity to beat a hasty retreat before he had any more chances to give himself away.

"I'd best get going."

Nat however had other things in mind. "No hurry" he said, "No-one's stupid enough to try anything with her while we're here. I'm interested to hear how things are going."

Spike replied a little testily, "they're going well and will stand a chance of continuing to do so if I can keep an eye on things. If you're interested, come along."