10 minutes later, Buffy was strolling down the boardwalk, with Angel and Spike on either side of her. Buffy had chosen a slinky black dress made of leather and black silk. Her dress was composed of two layers. The first the black silk-see through which was like a thin over coat with large sleeves and a stand-up neck. The skirt had no sides, it just had the front and back, like a loincloth. The second layer, or top layer, was black leather. It fitted like a long leather dress, with huge slits in the sides like the bottom layer. It had a stand-up neck, and the front buttoned up in Chinese style clips. Buffy wore knee-high black boots, and a black-jeweled choker. Buffy's black hair was styled down and wavy, as well as black tech sunglasses.
Every once and while, Angel and Spike would take turns glancing at Buffy. She never looked back at them, just kept looking forward. Each of the guys was wondering where they were going and what was up with Buffy. Finally Angel took a chance.
"So, Buffy?"
"Angel."
"What's going on?"
"What do you mean?"
"Where are we going?"
"Yeah, pet. It seems kind of far for your type of dress." Spike smirked.
"What is my type of dress?" Buffy still kept her gaze forward.
"Evil dominatrix. And don't get me wrong, I like the look." Spike was still smiling.
"Spike."
"Yeah?"
"Shut up!" Angel suppressed a laugh.
"You too, poof." Now it was Spike's turn to laugh.
"Buffy! What are you not telling us?" Angel looked serious.
"Nothing."
"Come on Pet, where're we going?" Spike looked over at Buffy.
"Here." Buffy made an abrupt stop in front of a large metal door. The two vamps looked around. They were in the old part of town, surround by tons of old abandoned warehouses.
"Huh?"
Buffy didn't answer, she just took out her cell, and dialed a number fast. She didn't put it to her ear, but just as it reached the second ring, she clicked it off. Suddenly a tiny flap in the door, slid open and a pair of dark eyes appeared and looked at the vamps. When the eyes reached Buffy, they lit up.
"Buffy. Who do you love?" Buffy smiled in turn.
"Only you Raldo." The eyes disappeared and the little door slid closed. Suddenly The vamps heard heavy bolts being pushed back, and the door was heaved open. A muscly, olive skin man stood in the doorway.
"Cara Bella." The man, named Raldo, opened his arms and Buffy walked into them. They embraced tightly, Angel and Spike watching on.
"Raldo. It's been to long."
"That it has." The two broke apart. Raldo held Buffy's hand and she moved out to give him a look. "God, Bella! Time only makes you more beauteous, if possible."
"I like to think so." Buffy kept smiling.
"So." Raldo turned his vision to the others. "Who are your friends?"
Buffy turned her gaze to Angel and Spike, uttering one word they knew well, even in a different language. "Taliontia." *Vampires* Raldo looked at Buffy, with raised eyebrows.
"Donavan will not like this."
"Donavan doesn't like anything."
"He likes you."
"But he doesn't like that he can't have me."
"True."
"So, are you going to let us in or not?"
Raldo sighed. "Anything for you Bella." He moved to let the three in. Buffy left her friend behind and lead Angel and Spike through a black door. Each was assaulted by the loud music that blasted in the large room before them.
Housed in the large warehouse, was a dark and smoky club. Filled with gyrating bodies and pulsing music, Angel and Spike couldn't tear their eyes away from the club. Along the walls, was a large bar, corridors that led to who knows where, couches and many, many people. If one was to look up, they would see an up level balcony, cluttered with people on chairs and couches. This was a different world, a world of evil, drugs, sex and fun. Spike and Angel had no idea how Buffy had become involved in it. But at that moment, it didn't matter. Buffy turned and eyed the guys seductively.
"Welcome, to 'Sanctuary'."
* * * *
"Buffy...what is this place." Angel looked around in wonder at the club.
"This, is where everyone can party as one. No one cares about race, gender, background, or age. In here it's all the same."
Spike suddenly snapped out of his daze. "What about your friend at the door saying some guy wouldn't like us being in here?"
"Oh, Donavan. He does hate Vampires, but if you're with me, you'll be fine." Buffy smiled again and started to lead the two up a winding stairs to a large balcony out-looking the huge warehouse, hidden from the sides by great black velvet curtains, guarded by two large men.
Buffy sauntered up to the two men, placing her hands on one of the men's arms. "Hey, Boys! Miss me?" Buffy ran her tongue over her bottom lip. The two giants looked over at each other, grinned, then each grabbed Buffy picked her up and swung her around.
"Missed you? You dropped off the face of the earth, little one." Said Giant #1.
"Thought you'd never show up." Said Giant #2.
"I got busy."
"Sure, you did!" Giant #1 smiled.
"Boss will be ecstatic." Giant #2 laughed.
"So you're gonna let me in?"
"Yeah, but not them." Giant #2 pointed at Angel and Spike.
"Why not?"
"They're Taliontia."
"True." Buffy turned to look at the guys. "Marco and Brutus will keep you guys company." And with that, Buffy disappeared behind the curtains.
* * * *
As Buffy pushed past the curtains, a very handsome Italian man looked up from the middle of a group of women and smiled. He pushed away all the women and beckoned to Buffy, who came his way. As she leaned forward, he reached out, grabbed a handful of hair and her neck and pulled her downwards, capturing her mouth in a kiss. He pulled the rest of Buffy's body down on top of him, and she complied. When he finally let her come up for air, she sat back on his lap, smiling at him.
"Long time, no see, Donavan."
"I was told you were dead."
"Nah, just working."
"When are you going to stop playing with those government tight-asses and join the real power?"
"When you stop wanting me!"
"Never gonna happen."
"So I guess I'm still with the government."
Donavan gestured for all the other men and women who had been sitting around talking to leave. They all got up and left through the curtain, leaving Buffy and him alone. Donavan grasped Buffy's hips and pushed her off him. He got up and walked over to the mini bar.
"Now down to business. What's with the vamps?"
"What vamps?"
"Don't be coy. The two vamps outside that you came in with."
"Oh, them." Buffy twirled her hair on her finger, playing with him. "They're my toys."
"Buffy!" Donavan looked annoyed with her.
"Ok, ok!" Buffy huffed, got up, and flounced down onto a chair. She swung her legs over the chair sideways. "Their names are Angel and Spike. Old friends, allies. One's an old boyfriend, the other, an old sex toy. They both have souls."
Donavan looked very interested. "Souls? They would go fast on the black market."
"They're not for sale."
"Why?"
"Look." Buffy sighed. "I'm not here to sell you anything. I'm here to buy."
"Still listening."
"I need two quarts of silvering."
"Why? I thought the CIA supplied you guys."
"They do, and I always have five needles in my bag when I leave. But the other day, when I went out I cut it a little close and when I went to inject myself, the bag was empty."
"What?" Donavan looked curious.
"I don't know what happened. I know I put five in my bag."
"What did you do that day?"
"I met Angel's son Connor. Don't ask!" Buffy held up her hand as Donavan opened his mouth to ask about Connor. "I took him with me when I went to kill Anthony Veronsiky..."
"Wait. What did this Connor kid do, while you killed Veronsiky?"
"Waited behind the scenes, held my bag..."
"What? You let him hold your stuff?"
"Well, yeah. De, he's a kid."
"A kid of a vampire. Buffy, after all you've seen and heard, can you honestly trust anyone but your team?"
"I trust you!"
"That's different. Buffy think about it. He had access to your personal stuff for over 20 minutes."
Buffy didn't say anything, but just stared ahead. Finally, Buffy got up, kissed Donavan goodbye, and walked out of the room. She didn't respond as Spike and Angel called after her. She just kept walking, and didn't stop till she was outside. When Angel and Spike caught up with her, she twirled around, grabbed Angel by the throat, pushing him up against the wall. She looked through narrowed eyes, her voice low.
"Why the hell did you guys come to see me this morning?"
"Pet, what..."
"Spike, shut up. Answer me Angel."
"Buffy...I..."
"You sent Connor with me that day didn't you. You told him to snoop in my bag. You got the Silvering needles from him, didn't you?"
"Yes!" Angel spluttered. Buffy dropped him and walked away. She ran her hands through her hair and rubbed her temples. Angel got up and walked towards her. "Buffy, I..." He stopped as she turned around, Her silver eyes were alight with anger.
"Don't! Stay the hell away from me! You betrayed me, Angel! You didn't trust me, and I gave you all the proof you needed to do so."
"Buffy, you disappeared for three months. You come back as a spy for the CIA, a killer and associated with deadly people."
"Don't you dare, Angel." Buffy glared at him. "If you come near me while I'm in LA, I swear I will dump you ashes in the fire myself. With that, Buffy turned on her heel, and walked away, leaving Angel and Spike to stare after her.