A/N: See chapter one for disclaimer, rating, and notes.

A/N +1: I'm working up the nerve for a session of 'Bash Peaches', starring Spike. Just not sure when it'll making an appearance in this fic….

Title: Not sure if someone owns it, but I've heard this line before, so…. Don't own it.

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It was almost seven in the evening when they got back to the hotel room, carrying quite a few bags and three boxes. Michael let her have a free hand, and Faith spent a fair amount of money buying the clothing. Michael was just surprised that it had taken this long.

"I thought you knew what it was like shopping with a woman," Faith said, laughing, as he put the bags on the bed and walked to the couch.

"I'd heard the horror stories," he allowed, "but they pale in comparison to the actual terror."

"Quiet you," she was grinning as she dug through one of the bags. "I'm going to take a shower before we give Angel a call."

"I'll call him while you're showering," Michael said from the couch. "I know the area a little better."

"You know the number?" Faith asked, stopping by the bathroom door.

"Yes." he replied, "It was the last number dialed out today."

"Ah… redial." she said, closing the bathroom door behind her. As soon as the shower began to run, Michael picked the phone up and hit redial.

"Angel Investigations, how can we help you?" It was a young woman's voice, strong and confident.

"Yes, this is Michael. I'm returning a call from Angel."

"He's a bit busy right now, can I help you with anything?"

"Tell him it's about his dinner reservations for tonight at Jennes's over on Fourth and Harrison. Tell him that we have faith he'll be in before too long, and we'll hold his table for him."

"Okay…" she hung up abruptly, making Michael wonder if the message would get through. He was still sitting on the couch when Faith came out of the shower wearing only a towel. She walked into the bedroom and began looking through some bags.

Michael barely heard her say anything, distracted as he was by her shapely body so barely covered. The towel wasn't very long, and just barely hung past the curve of her backside. She seemed not to notice his attentions, and continued to search for the bags, bending over and giving Michael a full view of what the towel was covering. Too soon for his liking, she found what she was looking for, and walked back to the bathroom, not noticing his hungry glances.

"Fucking slayers," Michael cursed under his breath. But his words had no feeling behind them, save for the groan of a man completely aroused.

Faith leaned up against the bathroom door, her hand over her mouth to stifle the laughter that threatened to burst out of her. It was too much fun playing with him like this, and his eyes had nearly popped out of his head when she bent over. With a wide smile, she got dressed.

Michael glanced at her when she finally walked out. Her black halter top was barely enough for decency, while the jeans she wore hung low on her hips and hugged her curves tightly. He noticed the mischief in her eyes, and the sway of her hips as she walked to the couch and sat down beside him.

"I just love taking hot showers," she said huskily as she leaned her head on his shoulders. "Just the heat, and the water…"

"I prefer cold showers," Michael said, his voice rough. "But enough of that. We need to go wait for Angel."

* * * * *

Jennes's was a small Irish tavern right in the middle of a rough neighborhood. During the day, it was a pretty quiet place, and at night it was little different. The food was good, as was the beer.

Faith and Michael sat towards the back of the tavern, where they would be able to see everyone who walked in. They ordered food and waited patiently for Angel. He didn't disappoint they, arriving an hour after they sat down.

"You could have picked a place that was a little easier to find," the vampire said, his frown the only sign of his disapproval of the place.

"Nice quiet meeting place," Michael said, pushing the last of his meal off to the side. "Have a seat, look like you're relaxing."

"No thanks," he replied quickly. "I have to get back to work as soon as possible. We've been dealing with something pretty odd."

"We'll help," Faith said, already standing.

"No," Angel said. "I can handle this."

"You're turning down two extra pairs of hands?" Faith said. "You do need help, and we're offering."

"She's got a point," Michael said. "Besides, we do need to talk."

"Fine," he said. "Follow me."

* * * * *

They followed his convertible for a good half hour before he stopped in front of a high rise apartment building. They all got out and looked to the roof, some forty stories above them. Dark shapes could be made out circling the upper part of the building. Now and then, a small flash of greenish light would wink in and out.

"Faith," Michael said quietly. "Take my car, go back to the room."

"Why?" she asked quietly.

"Trust me here. I'll explain later."

She looked to him, and then to Angel. Shrugging, she walked to the Mustang, revved it, and drove away, perhaps a little too fast. When she was safely away, Michael looked to Angel.

"You know what this is?" the vampire asked him.

"A trap," Michael said as he drew his sword. "We can handle this, but a slayer's strength would be turned against her. That's why she had to leave."

"Exactly who do you work for?" Angel asked as Michael pulled a small pouch from his jacket pocket.

"Myself, mostly," he replied, still holding the bag. "I've been paid by the Council to handle things on occasion, as well as other groups here and there."

"And what the hell are you doing?" Angel asked when Michael opened the bag and shook the contents onto the ground.

"Making this a lot easier than going up there and fighting. Be ready." Michaels hands moved deftly, tracing symbols in the air and murmuring what sounded like an Egyptian incantation. After a few moments he finished and drew his sword.

Angel was about to ask him another question when he heard a low whistling sound, like something falling. He looked up just as Michael did, and saw the dark, vaguely man-like shape free falling towards them.

"Head or heart," Michael said as he took a step to the side, which Angel mirrored. "Steel hurts it, not much else save the claws or fangs of another… monster."

"Thanks," Angel said wryly. The creature landed softly in front of them. Standing almost seven feet tall, and heavily muscled, it still would have passed for a human if not for the lack of hair or eyes, and the large mouth filled with razor-sharp teeth. The thing growled in anger, it's clawed hands moving oddly, as if the fingers and arm had more joints than it should have.

Angel leapt forward, leveling a powerful blow to the creature's midsection. It bent forward slightly, and Michael's sword clove head from neck cleanly.

"I thought this was too dangerous for Faith to be here," Angel said as the strange lights atop the building ceased and returned to normal. "And just what was that?"

"It is what my father called a Spawner. It's very presence warps unborn children to create more like it. If it got near either of the Slayers, it could absorb their powers, impregnate them, and create a very powerful, very deadly monster. It's only happened once, and that creature tore through most of Roman Europe in the first century AD, before a wandering monk destroyed it."

Angel blinked once in surprise. "How common are those things?"

"Not very," Michael answered, wiping the blood from his blade. "But they are a pain in the ass if you don't get rid of them within the first few weeks. They do multiply pretty quickly."

"And what about any woman this one got near?"

"They'll be just fine," Michael said. "The creature has to be alive when the child is born for the corruption to take effect. Hence the rarity of the creature. It's strong, but dumb, and easily killed when there's only one."

Angel nodded. After a moment he walked over to his car and got behind the wheel. Michael sat in the front seat and put his sword in the back. Angel drove without a word.