Chapter 8- The Encounter

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(Wolfram & Hart- afternoon)

As Spike walked through the long corridor towards what he assumed was this Angel bloke's office, his mind was racing with a million thoughts.

The first was his girl. Perhaps she wasn't his exactly, but something told him that the girl in his dreams belonged to him in some basic, elemental way. She was special. She would not be discussed. No matter what this 'Angel' person had to say, she was his, and something told him to keep the specifics about his dreams to himself. Maybe she didn't even exist, this girl of his- with her long golden waves, flowing about her like a Venus. Still-just to be safe, she'd be his secret for now.

Another prospect that had his mind working overload, was the fact that this Angel fellow might actually know who he was, although from his little Wesley experience he didn't think the information was going to come easy.

There was another thing too. He was hungry like hell. He still had a couple of sandwiches in his bag but thought he should save them in case of an emergency. Never know what these lawyer types were up to.

He tried to stay focused, thinking of what questions he should ask, how to approach certain subject matters, and wondering what in the world this guy wanted with him. Still, his mind was turning to these things and making it hard for him to remain clear headed. He was anxious about this meeting, and this place. He didn't like it, not one bit.

He turned a corner and walked past a smiley faced secretary before walking through the doors to the office.

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Buffy was walking over to grab a bus when a flyer hanging in front of the office building bulletin board caught her attention. She ripped it off, glancing at it quickly before stuffing it in her back pocket.

She got back to her hotel room as quickly as possible and dialed the phone right away.

"Please Giles, you have to find her for me. I have a feeling that she's the only one who can help." She stretched the phone cord out, trying to reach the closet while speaking to Giles. Finally giving up she picked the phone off of the night stand and put it on the floor pulling it as close to her destination as possible while Giles was speaking fervently to her ear. She rolled her eyes in frustration before cutting him short, as she looked through the bag on the floor of the closet that she hadn't fully unpacked.

"Yes…I know that you're trying…and no…I don't want to talk to you about it just yet…it's just…I'm not sure what it is yet and if something is wiggy, or if Angelus is back…she's really the only one who can help me, I'm sorry Giles- I don't want to leave you out of this I just don't want to jump the gun until I know what I'm dealing with."

She shuffled through her items, finally finding what she was searching for. And pulling the black slinky dress from it's place in her bag. "Always pack a black dress' she thought to herself, smiling that she took the advice that her mother had given her so many years ago.

"I know I've been here longer than I said, it just didn't pan out the way I thought…please, just watch over Dawn for me. I need to do this."

"Tonight? Looks light I might have a party to go to." She said, pulling the flyer out of her pocket, she was distracted for a moment when she looked at the words printed in bold black lettering.

"Thanks…just keep trying." She hung up the phone and looked back at the flyer in her hands….

Wolfram & Hart's first ever- soon to be annual-employee cocktail party!

Come to mix with your fellow co-workers and mingle with your new senior management staff.

Dress to Impress, black tie optional.

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(Angel's office)

"Hello Spike," Angel said, without turning to look at him. He was sitting in his chair looking out of his very special window. He really enjoyed that window, facing into the sunlight without the risk of burning into a pile of dust, enjoying the warmth.

He was reveling in this moment. He'd figure out what spike was up to and…

"Yeah…Hi…Angel is it?" Spike asked, not waiting for an invite before walking into the office and throwing his bag on the floor. He eyed his seating options and decided on the long leather couch- looked comfy enough, he hadn't been on anything so cushy looking since…well he didn't remember ever being on anything so plush.

He through himself down on the sofa, a silent sigh escaping his throat from the sheer comfort. Legs spread apart, and elbows on his knees Spike got nice and settled before speaking again.

"Look, not that I'm not grateful for your hospitality, sending a car to get me and all that- it's just…I know you called me here for a reason, so lets get past the bleeding bullshit that Wesley here has been feeding me for the last few hours- no offense Wes- and get to the truth, who am I and what the hell do you want with me?," He shot an appreciative glance down to the object of his comfort, surprised that any piece of furniture could feel so good- After sleeping on rocks for so damn long this was heaven, "Posh office by the way."

At that Angel turned and looked at him for the first time, noting a difference in his appearance, other than just the dark hair. That he'd seen before, Spike hadn't started bleaching his hair until the late 1900's, no something else was wrong. He shot a look up to Wesley, "What? Don't tell me he doesn't remember!"

"It would appear so, Angel."

He looked again towards Spike, "How do I know this isn't one of your games Spike, that you aren't trying to trick me? How'd you come back?"

"What the hell is he talking about?" Spike asked, looking towards Wesley for an answer.

Wesley stumbled with his words for a moment. "I should have called you Angel. I didn't know how to explain though…it seems that Spike here…he doesn't know who he was or how he got to Sunnydale."

The grimace on Angel's face was growing wider. "No…I know Spike. He's up to no good, I can sense it…"

"There's something else Angel," Wesley interrupted. "It seems…well it appears that…he's alive you see."

Spike jumped from his seat out of frustration, "Of course I'm alive you stupid ponce…I'm standin' right here! What in the bleeding hell is going on!"

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TBC

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