"It itches."

Mitchell rolled his eyes. Unlike his twice-late cohort Garrett, he knew his place in the world. He'd been a part of a crew when he was warm, running tax-free tequila across the Mexican border in the trunk of a Thunderbird, and leaning on the odd recalcitrant mark for the bookies when they needed it. Things weren't so different now. You followed orders, stayed out of the boss's way, and always kept one eye open for the cops and guys from other crews trying to move in. Now it was Slayers instead of cops, but still, the old rules applied. Leave the ambition to the tall poppies like Finn, or "William-the-very-Bloody-now" so it'd be their heads that got chopped.

One sentiment he did share with Garrett. He hated newbies.

"Oh, fer... Oswald, did you expect to spend the rest of eternity without once having to pass?"

"Got by fine for twenty years..."

Mitchell stared at him. "Twenty..... Well, I suppose if I looked like you, I wouldn't want to show my human face either."

Oswald grinned. "Yeah, I make a pretty fine lookin' demon. That G'nayhash Succubus even told me so the other night." He paused, seeing the expression on Mitchell's face. "Um, that is what you mean, right?"

"Yeah, Oswald. That's exactly what I mean."

"Wish I knew how you guys did that."

Mitchell glanced over. "How long since you been turned, Darryl?"

Darryl grinned under his ray-bans. "Three years now. My sire's name was Candy, she said I was cute. Can you believe I spent my whole life livin' just outside Sunnydale, and never knew there really was such a thing as vampires?"

"Yeah, Darryl, I can. Now shut up. We're here."

They slipped through a side door and up the stairwell to the 3rd floor, where the ICU was located. Riley had found out earlier that Tara was in 322, a private room just off the glassed-in ward where the really critical patients were kept. Mitchell peered around the stairwell door. Room 322 was right behind the nurses' station. He pulled his head back in and forwned slightly, considering the options..

"Here's the plan. I'm going to make a distraction. When you see the nurses running the other way, you go to the witch's room. I'll meet you there."

They nodded, and Mitchell walked onto the floor and down the corridor leading away from 322. He glanced in the open doors until he found what he was looking for. A still, pale form lay obscured by tubes and wires, alone. He sauntered in.

"This looks vital. Breathing... so overrated. Don't miss it at all, and neither will you."

He put his fist through the respirator.

---------------------

The shiny Mylar balloons bumped against the sides of the elevator and clung to Dawn's long hair. She batted them out of the way.

"When do you think they'll let Tara come home?"

"I don't know. Soon. A few more days, at least."

"Ooh, we should have got her some of those chocolate-covered cherries she likes! Do you think they have them in the gift shop?"

"We can get those next time, Dawny."

The doors opened with a soft ding.

"Or maybe some Gummi Bears."

"You're the one who likes the Gummi Bears, Dawn, you and Xander."

"Everyone likes Gummi Bears! I'll get her some. And some of those little marshmallow things. And bring her some CDs."

"I'm sure she'll like that." Willow smiled indulgently.

---------------------

"What's the rush? No one's gonna come in."

Mitchell growled. "Yeah, Darryl, because you ate the nurse. What do you think Finn's gonna do to you when he finds out? He specifically told us to make this look like humans did it."

Darryl's face fell. "I was hungry..."

"Shut up and watch the door. The quicker we get this done, the quicker we can stash the nurse's body and get out of here. Oswald. Get her legs. She looks out of it, but they always start fighting once they realize what's happening, even the weak ones."

Mitchell slipped the pillow out from under Tara's head, nodded to Oswald, and brought it down over her face. She arched her back and clawed at the air, knocking over her IV stand. Mitchell leaned in, using his weight to pin her down.

Darryl licked his lips. "I love it when they fight..."

"...Buffy's CD player. She never uses.... oh my God!"

Dawn screamed, bringing her hand to her mouth and letting the balloons go. The three vampires whipped their heads around to the door. Willow pushed past Dawn, her eyes solid black. She raised her hand:

"Repelus!" The three minions flew away from the bed, smashing into the walls. "Lux dei! Incende!" A bright light filled the room, and all three vampires exploded into ashes.

---------------------

Riley hummed to himself, standing in front of a blank wall like it was a mirror, and smoothed his hair with his hands.

"The one thing I just can't get used to is the mirrors. I sliced myself up good the first time I tried to shave..." He paused, and smiled. "That was a lot of fun, actually. Dru certainly enjoyed it. Tell me, do you ever get used to the mirrors?" He turned, and chuckled. "That's right. You can't tell me anymore. Oh well, maybe Buffy and I will go ask Angel... afterwards. I bet she'd enjoy that."

He went over to a small folding table and opened the metal lockbox sitting on top. He took out a small vial of clear fluid with tiny sparks floating within.

"I know I will. A lot."

He uncapped the vial and tipped a few drops of the fluid onto his lips, rubbing them together to spread it evenly. The sparks flared brightly, then sunk into his skin. Riley tilted his head back and closed his eyes.

"Ahhhhhhh... "

He shivered, then straightened up and replaced the cap on the vial.

"That is SUCH a rush. I'm going to assume you can still hear me, a little. I intended to leave your eardrums intact. It's more fun if I tell you want I'm going to do. This, Spikey, is what they call Aphrodite Elixir. Have you heard of it? Yes? No? Maybe?"

He walked over and kicked the steel autopsy table. It rattled against the wall, but the figure still chained to it didn't make a sound.

"Hmph. Well, I'll tell you anyways. It's an aphrodisiac, it's a love potion, it's a euphoric, but it's so much more. I've heard it makes some demons insane... I'll have to try that sometime, if there's any left. Vampires, well, it just makes us very, very happy... and frisky. But humans? Give just a little to a human, and they feel that first rush of falling in love, over and over, and over again. Give it to them again, they're addicted, and hopelessly in love with you. Give it to them a third time, and they'll do anything for you. Anything. I've given to Buffy twice, tonight's the charm."

He took a bottle of wine out of an ice chest by the wall, grabbed a syringe, and carefully injected most of the remaining Elixir through the cork.

"I realized a lot of things in Bolivia. Funny how dying can make you see everything so clearly. You were right about one thing, Buffy needs a little monster in her man. And now, I can give that to her. Better than that Lord Byron wannabe in Los Angeles, and sure as hell better than you ever could. It's going to be beautiful. Flowers, candles, a picnic dinner, and the wine... and then afterwards, I'm going to fuck her senseless, drain her, and turn her... and she's going to beg me to do it. Then we'll come back here, and I'll give you to her as a wedding present... assuming you last that long, you're really not looking too good, my man. And then, then she and I will burn our way through this shitty excuse for a town."

Riley's eyes were burning with reddish-gold fire. He stared off into the distance.

"After that, maybe we'll go to Hawaii. What do you think? Think she'd like that?"