From the End to a New Beginning                                             Chapter 7

As Xander's camera went off the rest of the group weren't sure just how to react.

One the one hand, Xander had done something incredibly funny; hopping right into the spirit of the prank & actually completing it as Spike and Gunn had originally planned on doing; but on the other hand, Xander had also done something incredibly stupid.

Angel was practically used to the childish pranks dished out by Gunn and Spike; and they knew just what they were setting themselves up for, but Xander had no idea of just how much more pissed off he was making Angel.

Spike knew what he had to do.

He stepped in front of Xander and turned him around pushing him through the door.

As Xander began to protest, he cut him off by saying,

"Listen to me as you've never bothered to listen to me before: Run you silly git.  He's gonna be out for blood in a moment, just as soon as I release him, and 'cause the Slayer's fond of ya, I'd rather yours not be splattered over everything."

With that he shut the door in Xander's face and turned to face the very brassed off master vampire.

As he walked towards the cage with a determined look upon his face he told the rest of them, "If I were you guys, I'd run.  He's not gonna be…shall we say…talk-able for a while…more of the caveman-like mentality…crush, hit, and fight now – that sort of thing…kinda like a Fyral demon."

Most of them took the hint and bolted out of the room without a backward, but Buffy, Gunn, Wesley and Fred stayed.

Spike looked around the room, nodding that the coast was clear, before pulling on the rope, lifting the dome like cage off of Angel.

As soon as the dome lifted enough to let Angel out, they saw the vampire escape and then all they saw was a blur as fury and vamp speed combined to give Angel an extra boost.

Seconds later, Spike was thumped against the wall and a very feathery Angel was holding him up by the throat.

"Give me one good reason while I shouldn't snap your neck like a twig."

"It would mess up my outfit?"

Angel shook him like a rag doll before thumping him hard against the wall once again.

Spike just chuckled.

"Spike… stop teasing him, Angel…let him down please."

Angel acted like he hadn't heard her.

"I said give me one good reason," Angel growled.

"Because you love me," Spike said, batting his eyes.

Angel spun and tossed him across the room; a few loose feathers drifted to the floor.

Spike hit the floor and tucked into a roll, which helped him bounce up easily and avoid the punch Angel sent his way.

Spike sent a spinning kick at the back of Angel's head, sending him flying across the room until he hit the pillar, across the room.

"Uh uh uh… that's not fair; there are rules to punch 'n tag ya know."

Angel said nothing; his only goal was to hurt Spike as quickly as possible.

He stopped short as Buffy stopped his progress, by planting herself in the way, with her arms stretched and pressing against his chest.

Buffy gave him a look he knew well. 

Angel suddenly found his feather covered pants and shoes very interesting.

Buffy then dropped her hands and turned to Spike and gave him the same brassed off look.

Spike dropped his head sheepishly.

"You know, I'm really tempted to let you two beat each other to death."

They both looked up at her.

"However…that wouldn't benefit anything..."

Both of them looked down.

"And without either one of you..."

Buffy shivered at the prospect and then shook it off.

She contemplated the two individuals before her, with her arms crossed.

Angel stood there; trying hard to pretend he didn't look absolutely ridiculous, covered in sticky flour & feathers & he was shooting glares Spike's way.

Spike wasn't gloating… at least not so she could see, but his whole attitude was of subtle pride in what he had done to Angel…if she could see his aura, it would probably be shining brightly with it.

Spike caught her glance & swallowed the evil smirk he was going to send Angel's way.

Buffy caught the gesture & shook her head.

"What am I going to do with you?  You're both like children when you get together… and I'm constantly feeling like a mom loosing the battle when you two get going."

"He started…" Angel started, but was silenced by Buffy's be-quiet gesture & glance.

Angel sighed & tried to evoke her sympathy by giving her a pleading look and glancing down at his feather clad body.

Spike chuckled silently at Angel, making a face similar to the one he had made years ago at him behind Joyce's back when Spike had come back in an attempt to win Dru back; but this time, it was done behind Buffy's back.

He almost waited to hear one of Spike's snarky comments that went with the mocking.

Buffy turned her head and saw the expression Spike was giving Angel & threw her hands up in the air.

"Spike!"

"Wha?" he asked, realizing he had been caught, but trying to appear somewhat innocent.

"Why do I put up with you?" She asked him, very irritated at the moment.

Spike stepped up to her because, even in one of her most dangerous moods, he'd never been afraid of her.

"Cause you think I'm cute."

Buffy burst out laughing.

She stepped up and rested her forehead against Spike's, still laughing.

"Go…be… somewhere else while I talk to Angel, okay?"

Spike attempted a growl.

"And that is so less threatening than it used to be."

Spike wrinkled his nose at her and she chuckled before caressing his face with her hand.

"Please?"

Spike stared into her hazel eyes and sighed deeply, nodding.

I'm such a poncy git, he thought to himself.

"Yes, but you're my poncy git," Buffy told him.

Spike gave her a shocked expression.

"No… you didn't say it out loud, but I know how your mind works," she told him.

"Scary," Angel muttered sarcastically.

They both gave him twin  'be quiet' glances before turning back to each other.

"Alright…" Spike finally said.

Buffy gave him a bright smile and started to turn towards Angel, but was stopped by Spike's arm on her shoulder.

When she turned back to look at him, he said,

"I've got one request though luv?"
"What?"
"No saying hello with Peaches this time, alright?"

Buffy smiled softly.

"Well…if I must to keep the peace…then I must."

Spike narrowed his eyes at her, but Buffy just laughed, turned him around & pushed him out the door.

Next she turned to Gunn.

"Aren't ya gonna go with him?" she asked him.

"Why?" Gunn asked, "Spike's a big boy… & he can definitely take care of himself."

"Well…I just figured that since you helped…and now he's gone…and he's free…gettin' the word-picture here, as Spike is so fond of saying?"

Gunn gave Angel a side glance before nodding.

"Got it," he said as he bolted out of the room at top speed.

Buffy, Fred & Wesley laughed as they watched Gunn flee.

Wesley then pulled Buffy to the side, while Fred stepped closer to Angel to tell him that she was gonna go run him a nice warm bath.

"I know that you're anxious to have your say with Angel, but please indulge me for a moment."

At Buffy's raised eyebrow, he said, "I promise I'll be brief…I do somewhat remember your attention span when it comes to stuffy, boring, know-it-all watchers and their lectures."

Buffy had the good grace to look a little sheepish.

Wesley smiled.

"Okay… first question... well, statement.  Giles and I have decided that Spike's new circumstance is definitely unprecedented and we'd like to study him in some depth."

"So why are you questioning me?  Shouldn't you be talking to Spike?"
"Yes… and I … we will… it's just that we need a comparison to go on…"

"And you'd like the original slayer to be guinea pig to the guinea pig-in-training?"

Wesley shook his head at her phrasing but nodded, she seemed to have the gist.

"Sure… why not…I've got some time to kill…"

"Great."

Buffy nodded.

"Glad to help."

She started to walk over to Angel, when Wesley stopped her with a,

"B...Buffy. One second more please."

Buffy sighed silently, before turning to look at Wesley.

"Yeah?"

"Spike…"

"Yeah?"
"How…"

"How what Wes?"
"How do you keep him under control?"

Buffy burst out laughing and patted Wesley's shoulder before walking over to Angel still cracking up.

Wesley was about to follow her when Fred grabbed his hand and attempted to pull him out of the room.

"Fred?"

"They need to talk & Angel needs to get that stuff off of him so he won't be so irritated… must I remind you that a cranky vampire is no one's friend."

"But I was trying…"

"I know… I heard.  She laughed Wesley."

"Yes… that's why…"

"She laughed because she doesn't keep Spike under control."

"I don't' believe that… she has to have some kind of influence over his behavior… look at how quickly he acquiesced to her…"

Fred laid her finger over his lips.

The touch & the intimacy of the gesture shocked Wesley into silence.

Fred giggled at his expression before saying,

"I think he does what she says because he wants to Wesley.  He loves her."

Wesley blinked slowly, instead of saying anything… her simple touch was causing his brain to shut off.

Fred removed her finger & grabbed his hand instead, pulling them out of the room, and shutting the door behind them.

She was able to do so, easily as Wesley was still too stunned from her action to protest. 

Not mentioning that his lips, still tingling from where she had placed her fingers for a brief second, were another distraction.

After a few moments more, he was able to make his brain & body function together once again.

"Alright, I understand," he said.

Fred gave him a grin over her shoulder & then they entered Angel's room.

Wesley looked confused.

When the bloody hell had they moved from the other room, he wondered to himself.

But instead of voicing it and having her give him that, you-are-so-silly glance, he just asked,

"What are we doing in Angel's room?"

"Oh… I guess you didn't hear."

"Hear what?"
"Me and Angel's discussion?"

"Apparently not."

Fred laughed.

"We…are gonna help Angel get more comfortable.  Buffy isn't gonna risk Spike getting to antsy with her talking to Angel for too long… so I figure that they're gonna have a pretty brief conversation.  And when Angel comes down to his room… he's gonna have a nice, steamy warm bath ready to take all that mess off, so he can calm down and be his usual sweet broody self."

Wesley smiled and without saying anything, just merely shaking his head, helped her set the room up.

*****

Back in the other room, Buffy had wandered over to Angel & leaned against the wall next to him.

He gave her a soft look & she smiled in response.

"Has he been this bad all the time?" she asked with a large smile on her face?"

Angel sighed before saying, "No… just most of the time."

Buffy laughed.

Angel sent a glare her way.

"Hey… I didn't do it… don't get all growl-y with me."

Angel rolled his eyes at her & she giggled.

"He got you good though."

"He usually does."

"What else has he done?"
"Too many things to count."

"Why don't you want to tell me?"
"Mostly…right now… I just wanna get clean."

Buffy gave him another once over.

"Yeah… in that situation…that would be at the front of my mind as well.  Here… I'll walk you to your room."

They walked in silence for a few seconds before Buffy asked,

"Who's the almighty Slythin?"

"Huh?"

"The Almighty Slythin… I'm sure I said it right…I memorized it and even got Giles to write it down."

Angel gave her a blank look & then as the sentence began to make a little sense, he gave a brief chuckle.

"What?"

"It's one of Spike's demon hook ups."

"Okay… now I'm really confused."

Angel nodded before saying,

"Spike, in his almighty wisdom, used a demon he & Dru used to run with, by the name of Slythin, & his resources, to track down where in Cleveland you all had gone to.  Slythin then found you & sent his emissaries to you, which got you to come here.  Got it?"
"Got it."

"But we don't call him the Almighty anything, though… where did you get that name?"
"One of the first batch."

"Huh?"

"One of his demons, from the first batch that he sent to send us the message.  I can say now, I'm a little ashamed.  We used him as a practice tool… opponents and training for the newest batch of slayers… but that's only cause instead of announcing themselves, they snuck up and attacked us from behind…how were we supposed to know they were delivering a message."

Angel smiled, showing her he understood.

Buffy nodded before continuing, "Anyway, as this weird demon….oh what was his name again…Kel…Kello…Kellogg?"

"No… that's a cereal."

Buffy gave him a look and rolled her eyes before continuing, "Whatever his name was, as he was dying he said, ' The Almighty Slythin will not take kindly to our demise, as we are but a few in his vast and strong army.  Prepare yourself for his wrath.' He went on and on until he was stopped."

Buffy started to chuckle as she remembered how one of the 'Brat Pack', as Spike had just called them, had wandered over to the dying demon and said,

"Yeah, yeah… we've heard this bit before.  'We'll soon be avenged slayers'… 'you're time is limited'… blah, blah blah…shut up and die already, the new Survivor is on the TV tonight and we want to catch the end of it."

Then she had stuck her foot on his head and pushed down, causing the already squishy & decaying head to cave in, finally putting the demon out of its misery.

Buffy still couldn't suppress the shiver that ran through her when the younger slayer had done that.

Sometimes the girl reminded her of the way Faith used to be.

The only reason Buffy had brought the girl, besides she fought well, was because Faith had practically begged her. 

Apparently, having someone around with the same kind of attitudes you once had, but had matured from, didn't help when you were already short-tempered.

The thought of the way Faith had begged her to take her before she started on killing humans again made Buffy chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Angel asked, so she told him all of it.

Angel smiled.

 "So… you and Faith are doing okay?"
"We've gotten out of the kill or hurt each other stage….there's still a way to go… but at least…I think…I believe she wants us to work out this time… and I'm willing to give her another chance."

Angel nodded as they reached his room and he pushed open the door.

"Good to hear it."

Buffy smiled at him briefly.

"Well… you should go… and get… un-feathered."

"You can come in and wait if you want."

"No…I've been away from him for too long already…I'm sure he's imagining all sorts of things."

Angel gave her a brief look before stepping inside of his room.

"So… you're done baking?"
"Angel…" she started softly.

"No… I… I understand…you said years… if ever… and..."

"I'll always love you Angel…"

"As I will you."

"But you don't love me the same way either, you know."

Angel sighed…

"Yeah… I know.  But the thought of Spike beating me out…"

Buffy wasn't sure whether to laugh or be upset.

She settled for a little of both.

She chuckled briefly and then told him,

"It's not all about you, ya know."

"A vamp can dream."

Buffy laughed.

Then she sobered.

"I heard about Cordelia…I'm sorry.  Do you think she'll ever wake up?"

"I hope so."

Buffy stepped closer…and then thought about it and stopped.

"I was gonna hug you… but two things just stopped me."

"What?"
"One…your still covered in feathers… and I don't want that one me."

"And two?"
"Spike'll know you touched me."

"He doesn't have his vampire senses anymore… he can't smell things the same."

"Maybe not… but we're still in the new stage… and when it comes to you…I'm not pushing his limit, he's twitchy enough around you as it is."

Angel nodded.

"But that doesn't mean I won't get on his case about tormenting you… we're friends right?"

Angel nodded…a wicked gleam lighting up his eyes at the thought of Spike getting in trouble for all the ways he had pranked him over the months.

Buffy saw the look and smiled, and then, with a wicked gleam of her own, she said, however… if you ever retaliated… I'm gonna have to cheer him on for getting you back.

Angel looked at her and Buffy laughed, prancing off towards the lobby to find her crew and Spike.

TBC…