Chapter 20
The next night, Angel and Spike headed off to one of Angel's sources to beat the demon into giving up some information.
They came back from their task, hours later, in high spirits.
"Did you find them?" Giles asked.
"Not yet, but we've narrowed the possibilities down to 5 remote locations."
Angel handed out a list of the five places.
"Okay," he then said, taking charge. "The easiest way for us to check these is for everyone, barring Spike and I, who have allergies to the sun, to go out to these places, during the day & check them out.
From the outside. I don't want any of you captured or hurt, so please be careful. If it looks like vampires are possibly living in them, please don't go inside.
I got us all cell phones," he said handing them out.
"If you find a place you think that they, or any other vampires, could be hiding out in, meaning there are 1) heavy curtains to block out the sun, 2) it's near a sewer system, which means there may be access to the underground tunnels, so daytime travel is possible, or 3) you get close to the walls and hear a lot of activity, but don't see any or many people coming and going, than give us a call on the cell phone.
I've already programmed each cell phone & all you have to do is scroll for whoever's name, you want to call, and press 'talk.'
Most of your cells are on silent ring, because I don't want you to be sneaking up on the area, and get a call, giving away your secret."
The group as a whole nodded. Xander was being a doof with his cell, calling diff. people within the group and beggin people to call him, just so he can check it out, before everyone told him to pay attention now, play with the phones later.
Angel also told them, "All the phones also have text messaging, so you can send written messages to each other. "
"Since your phones are silent, I also added vibrating batteries to each of them. That way, you don't have to keep looking down at your phone to see if someone's trying to reach you, you'll be buzzed instead."
Just as he finished talking, Spike jumped slightly, feeling the phone jump around in his duster.
He took it out and looked at it, then burst out laughing.
Willow leaned over his shoulder, cause she was closest to him to see what his message was.
She started laughing as well.
Xander stood on the other side of the room, next to Giles, pretending to be very interested in what Giles and Angel were discussing.
Xander had sent Spike the message:
How much longer is Dead Boy
going to keep us here? Is it just
me, or is his hair floppier today
than usual? I think he ran out of
hair gel.
Spike, taking a small look at Angel, wrote Xander back,
Poofter's definitely running out of
that Nancy boy hair gel. He's not so
poofy today, is he? But don't worry.
There be more hair gel tomorrow...
I bet you 10 bucks he makes us stop
on the way to look over whatever ya'll
find tomorrow so he can buy more.
His answer was:
10 bucks, you're on. But we know he's gonna
get more. The bet should be on how long,
outside, he can go without?
Spike replies:
True...okay. I've dibs on him not being able to go
an hour before stopping.
Xander: Not fair...pick a different time frame.
Spike: No. Why should I?
Xander: Cause we both know he won't be able to go
longer than an hour. If he does, I'll prance
around naked.
Spike: Not trying to see that.
Xander: Shut up.
Spike: Serious here. Pick something else you'll do.
Xander: Why don't you pick something?
Spike: Didn't say I would do something if he made
it past the hour. You did.
Xander: OK Okay...hmmm....
I know. I'll be nice to you all day long.
Spike: There's no way. You don't know how to be
nice to me.
Xander: Sure I do 'Blood Breath'.
Spike: See.
Xander: My bad. Really, if he makes it past the hour
mark. I'll be nice to you for a whole day.
Not an evil remark, I'll make.
Spike: You're on.
Xander: Okay...now pick another time.
Spike: Okay...within 15 minutes.
Xander: I think he can go 30 minutes.
Spike: It's a deal. Winner gets 10 bucks.
And if he lasts more than an hour, you
have to be nice to me for a whole day.
Xander: I shudder at the thought...and hope I win.
Spike: Now, now, that's not nice.
You must get in the practice.
You could be treating me lovely come tomorrow.
Besides, there's always hope. You might win.
Xander: Okay...do you get the feeling we're being
watched.
Spike and Xander now looked up, to find everyone else's eyes on them.
"What?"
"Why are why are you guys watching us?"
"We weren't sure if we should interrupt," Angel smirked at them. Before saying," Seeing as you too were bonding so well."
Xander and Spike groaned and each had a great inclination to punch Angel in the face. But they resisted and motioned for Angel to continue.
Angel had to stop himself from torturing them. He had only bugged them a little he knew, but he couldn't resist it. They had been sitting there, playing on those phones, both looking like two kids who had just found twin prizes in a cereal box.
Angel shook his head and then continued.
"Okay guys, I don't want you going into the places alone. So divide among yourselves, but remember...no single action teams."
When they were done deciding, four teams emerged.
Willow and Tara had decided to stick together, because they were stronger that way & if they were separated, on team would be without a witch.
Giles and Xander naturally chose each other. Giles figured that he could put up with Xander, from many years of practice, better than Wesley or Gunn, who he didn't know. And because of Cordelia's past history & the possibility of heated arguments between the two, if memory served correctly, he figured he'd stick himself with the lesser of the two evils. Besides, although Wesley was much better now, not so much a 'Toffee nosed gait, anymore, he wasn't sure if he still had his pompous streaks & he wasn't willing to find out and be stuck with him for even a few hours.
Wesley and Cordelia chose each other, not really making much of a comment on it. They had worked this closely for about a year or so, so they didn't really need to think much about it.
Gunn just took whoever was left, cause he knew if he needed backup, he could rely on the others, as well as his boys.
Groups decided, assignments given out, the groups had trooped off to bed to wait until morning, afternoon, to start their missions.
The groups left around noon the next day.
********
Dawn sat in the corner, pouting, as the teams dispersed, going to their separate locations.
They had rented an extra car, so all the teams had transport.
Willow thanked the Goddess that Tara knew how to drive. Like Buffy, she always walked or got a ride with someone. She knew the mechanics of driving, cause she had taken the course, but driving itself. Well, she really hadn't had much time to try it out.
The groups left, taking in Dawn's expression as they went. But they couldn't help her, they felt the same way that Buffy, Spike and Angel felt. And she was only 14.
Dawn had wanted to go with one of the teams, but Spike, Buffy, and Angel had forbid it. They had all told her it was way too dangerous.
When she had looked rebellious, Spike had reminded her that he would bloody well lock her up in her room and if he caught her either trying to leave or being where she wasn't supposed to be, there'd be hell to pay.
Besides, she knew Buffy was there, watching over her, even if she wasn't in the same room.
Dawn, sullen expression locked in place, marched upstairs to her room.
I never get to do anything, she mopped & opening her diary, she pulled it out & started writing about how unfair it was to be almost 15, still treated like a baby, a mystical glowy key thing, and unable to help with the rest of the Scooby gang.
Downstairs, Angel asked Spike.
"Think she'd try to go find/take a look at the last place on her own?"
"Normally...yeah. But she won't, or can't now. She wouldn't make it out the door."
"Why not? We really can't stop her if she makes it to the doors before we do."
"Buffy's ghost is still around, like we told ya'll earlier & she's watching over her. I'll get broadcasted any thoughts about going to check out that last warehouse and I'll be by her side in seconds."
Angel nodded, satisfied.
Then he looked at Spike, questioningly.
"Think Buffy heard our discussion last night?"
"She didn't."
"How do you know?"
"She was at the bar with me before you came. She was the reason I wasn't piss drunk by the time you found me. Then when you came into the bar and over to me, she told me she was gonna give us some private talk time & went back to the hotel to watch over Dawn & the others."
Angel gave him a smirk.
"So, how's it like to be one of the 'white hats'?"
"Pay sucks and so does the food, but otherwise, it's not so bad."
Angel chuckled, then said, mocking Spike's words over a century ago,
"Now you're gettin' it."
Spike laughed. Shook his head side to side and said,
"I never thought I'd be here to hear you tell me that...about this."
Angel smiled in total understanding.
They then decided to watch a little TV, because they knew it would be hours before the teams would begin to call in.
As they strode into a room with the television, Spike was telling Angel,
"You've got to see Passions, mate. It's bloody fantastic."
Angel rolled his eyes at the thought of watching a soap...with Spike, but sat down and was soon as wrapped up in it as Spike was.
Dawn came downstairs, saw what they were doing, rolled her eyes, but sat down between them, leaning her head on Spike's shoulder. She wasn't mad anymore, and even though she didn't really want to watch Passions, soaps just weren't her thing, she didn't want to be alone in the huge hotel.
After the show went off, they watched more shows, fed Dawn and themselves, and waited to hear from the crews.
Gunn's team was the first to call in.
"This warehouse is a bust, nothing here, but we set up a nice surprise of crosses, holy water, bunch of holes in the ceiling and walls. Put up all types of vampire repellent all around, just in case some homeless vamps decided to take up residency later."
While Gunn was telling Angel this,
Cordelia & Wesley's team also called in to report nothing. According to Cordy, the rat-infested place was just a dump.
But they had also put up vampire repellent to ward off later occupancy.
Willow's team and Giles's team had still yet to report, but they're places were father away, so they probably were just checking them then.
Angel sent both Gunn's team and Cor and Wes's team, together, to check out the last place.
There wasn't that much daylight left, now, & Angel wanted them all back & safe at the hotel before sunset.
Giles and Xander called in, a few minutes later, to say that they had found what appeared to be a nest, but they didn't think Darla or Dru ran it, due to the type of location and it's location.
Angel just told him that he and Spike would check it out later, after sundown and then told them that they should come back to the hotel.
Willow and Tara called in to say that they were having trouble determining theirs, due to it's location, but they thought it was a possibility, because it was almost completely blocked from the sun and they knew a sewer line ran under it.
Angel thanked them and then told them to return back to the hotel as well.
Gunn finally radioed in, about twenty minutes later.
"Oh this is definitely a vamp place,' he remarked. "But there are humans coming and going. Not to mention heavy curtains in the windows and lots of sewer accesses around. I think someone's trying to hide within the community."
"Are there guards around?" Spike asked him.
"Yeah. Big gun waving friendly looking guys who seem to be trying to stay in the shadows."
"Looks like we have a high rolling vamp. Could be a winner." Spike told Angel.
Angel nodded and then told Gunn," Okay, we got it. Come on back. We'll plan more from here."
"Will do. We're coming home," Gunn replied, breaking contact.
All the members returned to the hotel about half 'n hour before the sun set.
First they ate & then they sat down discussing strategies and plans.
"Okay, Spike and I have discussed this and we're going to check all the places you think could be a possibility. We're gonna start with the next Giles and Xander found, then the place Willow and Tara looked at. Last, but not least, we'll check the last one, since it seems like that's the most guarded and we should be, more prepared."
"Shall we come with you two?" Giles asked.
"No."
"Why not? We've proved year after year that we're up for a little demon butt kicking."
"Xander, we have to check and see where they are first. Once we're sure they're there, we promise to come back & get the rest of you," Spike said.
Xander looked at him.
"Did you just say my name?"
"Haven't we already had this conversation," Spike sighed.
The others chuckled.
Xander gave him a lopsided smile, then turned to Angel.
"I want to come."
"Xander...we've already discussed this."
"I'm coming. I..."
Spike realized why Xander was so insistent.
He burst out laughing.
Then he winked at Xander to let him see he had understood his sudden inclination to be with the two vampires.
Xander wanted to make sure that Spike didn't lie about the bet they had made. Money and amusement were on the line & he knew if Spike felt like it, he could lie and said it happened, regardless of whether it did or not.
The rest of the group, not knowing what was going on, stared at the two males.
Spike calmed down and looked at Angel.
"He can come. He can be the driver once we're there. That way we don't have to worry about where to hide the car or getting back into it quickly if we get found out and have to escape quickly.
As long as he bloody well understands that he can't come inside and if something goes wrong, he gets the hell out of there. Report back here, grab the others, and flee to somewhere safe.
But no one else. So don't ask."
Before he could get protests, he knew were coming, he said,
"The reason being people, is we vamps can smell you. Remember, blood calls to us. Pumping blood usually means that something nearby is alive. This kind of usually signals a sort of dinner bell for us, if you will.
Since we're one of the 'white hats' now," he shuddered," we wanna keep our human mates alive.
Therefore none of you go anywhere near the inside of those places until we all storm in en-masse. Got it?!"
They all nodded, some more moved than others, by the thought that he didn't want anyone of them hurt or killed.
Angel smiled and then continued.
"Okay, is everyone set?"
All agreed.
"Okay, Spike and I will turn off our cells when we go inside the buildings. But you guys keep in touch with Xander. If we have time, and we get into some trouble, Xander, we'll give you a heads up call. If we tell you one word, you have to promise us to do it."
"I promise, what's the word."
"Run. If I or Spike tell you to do that, it means your life is in
danger or ours is. Don't be a
hero....just go. Be a hero for the
others. Get back to them. Understand?"
"Alright. I'll do the right thing."
Spike and Angel nodded.
"Now...you all hang out while me, the 'whelp', and the Nancy Boy do a bit of recon."
Angel and Xander groaned and Spike walked out the door with a chuckle as the others saw them off.
TBC…