31

Shutting the Barn Door

As Angelus stepped out of the office, Harmony piped up, "Training with Spikey, boss?"

"As usual," he agreed evenly. He considered the possibilities presented by Harmony. She was pretty, and it had been a long time. He reluctantly dismissed her. Too easy. Half the fun was in the pursuit. He had almost passed out of earshot when he remembered something. "Harmony, call Cariadoc Stenslow at Havoc & Associates and make an appointment for me."

"Any particular time?" Harmony asked, while she started looking up the number.

"At his earliest convenience," Angelus answered, and continued towards ops.

&&&&&&&

Wesley went to check on what progress, if any, Rose had made. He found her, eyes riveted to the computer screen, face ashen and with an expression of sickened horror.

"Rose?" At first, she didn't hear him, so Wesley gently swiveled her chair around so that she was no longer facing the terminal. "What in God's name were you reading, Rose?"

"Angelus," she forced out, barely above a whisper. "I know he didn't have a soul, but how could anyone do the things he did?"

"You're supposed to be finding a way to keep his soul where it belongs," Wes chided softly. "Not reading up on what he did without a soul. You're going to give yourself nightmares."

She nodded. "I think so," she conceded. "But once I started reading, there just seemed to be a certain amount of morbid fascination..,"

"I understand," he replied sympathetically. "Now, do you think you could stick to the business at hand, or do you want to scare yourself some more?"

"I'll be good," Rose promised.

&&&&&

"This is the same stuff we did yesterday," Alaric protested.

"Not all of it," Oz replied. "Besides, not everyone is as smart as you are. They need some repetition to help them remember things."

"Math is boring," Ariel stated. "Why do we have to learn it anyway?"

Oz was beginning to see that he was going to have to, no pun intended, re-vamp all the lesson plans. If he didn't, the entire experience was going to be like the Chinese water torture. For the kids, and for him.

&&&&&&

"What's with you today?" Spike demanded the moment Angelus set foot in his domain.

"What are you talking about?" Had Spike figured it out? He didn't think so. If Spike had noticed a change, he would have said something at the staff meeting.

"I mean you checking out Rose's ass when she left the meeting." Spike swung his staff in a wide arc, and as Angelus moved to block it, he abruptly changed directions and caught him from the other side. "That's my ass."

"Since you've never gotten around to marrying her," Angelus couldn't resist taunting. "Then I'd say that ass is up for grabs." He attempted to sweep Spike's feet out from under him, and failed.

"If you grab her ass," Spike growled. "It's the last thing you'll do with those hands. Why are you on about us getting married all of a sudden?"

Angelus paused, trying to come up with something Angel might say. "She's a pretty girl," he said slowly. "A lot of guys are bound to look. And there will be some of them that want to do more than look."

Spike sighed. "Look, you dumb ponce, I said I'd talk it over with her. But I haven't bloody well had a chance yet. So back off, will ya?"

Angelus raised his hands in mock surrender, and Spike slammed his staff into his gut.

&&&&&&&

"Please, have a seat.., Angelus." Stenslow hadn't risen from his own chair. He just sat there, fondling a multi-colored crystalline cube.

Angelus surveyed him carefully, much more thoroughly than Angel had been able to with the chauffeur's cap pulled down over his eyes. Narrow, close-set greedy eyes, set in a piggy little face. But there was intelligence there. And not one trace of anything even remotely resembling scruples.

"You're taking a big chance, Mr. Stenslow," Angelus said. "Inviting me to meet with you when you know who and what I am."

"I consider the risk to be minimal," Stenslow replied with a shrug. "After all, I'm the one who did you the favor of having your soul removed. And I don't think you'd have asked for the meeting if you hadn't figured out that I was the one responsible. Just for the record, how did you make the connection?"

"There's a Q'xlzr demon that Angel uses as an informant," Angelus answered. He didn't mind answering a few questions. He didn't intend to leave Stenslow alive. "It had given the word that you were beating the bushes for someone who could cast a spell that had something to do with a soul. It didn't take too much effort for me to figure out who I had to thank."

"You're more than welcome," Stenslow said modestly. "Having Angel as CEO of Wolfram and Hart was seriously cutting into our profits. I'm hoping that our relationship will be a bit more profitable."

"What makes you think that we're going to have any kind of relationship, profitable or otherwise?" Angelus asked. "In case you didn't know, I'm not known for my people skills."

"That's where I come in," Stenslow remarked. "You and I could make one hell of a team. I have the know-how, and you have the charisma. We could wield quite a bit of power between us. What do you say?"

"I say that I haven't had a bite to eat since someone removed my soul," Angelus replied. "I'm hungry enough that you're starting to look good." He rose from his seat.

"Ah-ah," Stenslow warned, holding the cube up. "See this, Angelus? It's your soul in here. While I didn't let the mage who cast the spell live long enough to give me all the details, I'm betting that if this breaks, you get your soul back. Whether you want it or not."

Angelus sat back down. "So we cooperate out of mutual self-interest," he commented. "I like that approach. Simple, easy to understand. Nothing so tacky as altruism involved."

Stenslow laughed. "Fate forefend," he said in mock horror. "I know that you're going to need a little time to adjust to being yourself again, so why don't you come back and see me in about a week?"

Angelus nodded. "And I'll certainly give some thought to your offer, Stenslow." He looked at the cube in Stenslow's hands. "I'd consider it a personal favor if you would put that up somewhere where it couldn't get broken."

"All part of the deal," Stenslow agreed. "I'll see you next week then."

&&&&&&

Rose entered Wesley's office. "Wesley," she began. "The spells for removing someone's soul could be counted on the fingers of one hand with fingers left over. But I haven't come across anything that will protect against any of them."

"Neither have I," Wesley admitted. "We have barely started, however, Rose. If there's one out there somewhere, we'll find it."

"But will we find it in time?" Rose asked. "After reading some of the things that Angelus is capable of, I'm terrified of the thought of what he could do here and now. Especially being in such a position of power."

"You have a good point," Wes mused. "Perhaps we ought to gather up the others and come up with some sort of contingency plan. What to do if Havoc & Associates actually proves able to remove Angel's soul."

"We could all meet at our place," Rose offered. "It's easy to get to, being here in the building. But I have to figure out what to do with the children. I don't want them to be a part of this."

Wesley sighed. "Rose, when was the last time you were able to keep a secret from those two? We can carry on all the secret meetings we like, and they'll still find out every little detail."

Rose looked a little embarrassed. "I suppose you're right," she allowed grudgingly. "But you can hardly blame me from wanting to protect my children from such.., unpleasantness."

"Of course not, Rose," Wesley soothed. "But the fact of the matter is that with their mental capabilities, all your efforts go for nothing." He looked at the time. "It's getting a little late in the day to set up a meeting tonight. Tomorrow night, perhaps?"

"I don't think there'll be a problem with that," Rose answered. "Do you think we should include Oz in the meeting? After all, he is rather closely connected with us, almost family. And Angelus always did like to prey on families."

Wesley nodded. "Good idea, Rose," he approved. "I'll start spreading the word, and we'll all meet at your place immediately after work tomorrow."

&&&&&&

Angelus reclined on the easy chair, taking in the opulent surroundings. It seemed a shame to waste all this on Angel, he thought. He took another sip of his drink. Pig's blood. He made a face. But there was plenty of it, and he didn't want to tip his hand just yet, and he was feeling too lazy at the moment to go far enough afield to make sure that the kill wouldn't be connected to anyone at Wolfram and Hart. But it was awfully damned quiet. He got up and started going through the c.d.s and d.v.d.s. The collection lived down to his anticipation of what he could expect of Angel. Nothing that he'd watch with a stake to his heart. A puzzled frown crossed his face momentarily. What was that idiot doing with Disney movies? He didn't think even sentimental Angel was that far gone. Then, dredging up Angel's memories, it struck home. Kids. Spike and Rose had a couple of kids. An evil grin spread across his face. Between the four of them, there was some serious fun to be had there. He was already starting to mull over the possibilities when another of the situation's realities struck him. As long as he was keeping up the masquerade, he didn't dare go near those brats. The little freaks were mind readers, and they didn't need any cooperation on his part to make it happen. Taking the happy family apart piece by piece would have to wait until he was ready to drop the Angel facade. Damn.

&&&&&&

"The kids have been awfully grumpy of late," Spike remarked as he turned down the covers of the bed. "Are they still pouting about having their own rooms?"

"That may be part of it," Rose conceded. She was seated at her vanity, brushing out her hair. She gave a little start when the hairbrush was removed from her hand and Spike took over the job. "I do wish you'd give me some warning when you do that, darling," she scolded gently. "It's not as if I can see you in the mirror."

"Sorry, pet," he apologized. "Now, what's been on your mind? If I didn't know better, I'd say that you were trying to keep secrets from me again."

"Not from you, love," Rose replied fondly. "No more secrets. They're at least as much trouble as lies. But I was trying not to let on to the children."

"Fat lot of good that'll do you, babe," Spike commented. He put the hairbrush down and pulled her up out of her seat. "Does it have anything to do with that private little word you had with Oz when we got home?"

Rose nodded. "We're all meeting here tomorrow after work," she explained. Seeing the storm clouds start to gather at not being consulted, she hastily added, "There wasn't any time to talk it over with you. But Wesley and I thought that maybe we all ought to get together and try to come up with what to do if Havoc & Associates does manage to take Angel's soul away."

Spike was torn between sulking and agreeing that it was a good idea. The sight of Rose in one of the clingy satin nightgowns she favored tipped the scales. Not the time to be getting out of sorts and causing a row. "It won't hurt," he conceded grudgingly. "Since you were talking to Oz, I take it he's going to be in on it?"

"Mm-hmm." Rose snuggled against Spike's bare chest. "If, heaven forbid, Angelus gets loose, he'll be at risk as much as the rest of us." She planted a kiss on his collarbone, that being where her lips were.

Spike decided that the rest of the discussions could wait until later as he swung her up into his arms and carried her to the bed.

&&&&&&

'Mummy is worried.' Ariel and Alaric generally had a private discussion of the day's events after they were tucked up in bed for the night. It was easier, no interruptions.

'She's trying to protect us again.' Alaric was a bit impatient with the whole thing. 'When is she going to quit treating us like babies?'

'I don't know,' Ariel admitted. 'But we'll find out everything tomorrow night. She let Uncle Wes talk her into letting us stay.'

'Do you think Uncle Angel really will lose his soul?' Alaric was torn between horror and curiosity.

'I hope not.' There was no ambiguity about Ariel's reply. 'Mummy was thinking about some of the things he did without a soul. He'd kill us.'

'Uncle Angel wouldn't kill us,' Alaric scoffed. But his bluster had a note of doubt about it.

'It wouldn't be Uncle Angel,' Ariel pointed out. 'It's like there's two different people. It would look like Uncle Angel, but it wouldn't be Uncle Angel.'

'I don't like that,' Alaric reflected. 'I like Uncle Angel the way he is.'

'So do I,' Ariel agreed sleepily. She let her thoughts roam to the other bedroom for a moment. 'They're doing it. Want to listen?'

'Not tonight,' Alaric replied. 'I'm too sleepy. There'll be other nights.'

And the twins snuggled down in their beds and slept the sleep of the innocent.

&&&&&&

"I know one thing, luv," Spike murmured, stroking the skin that was every bit as satiny as the long since discarded nightgown. "If Angelus does show up, the first thing I'm doing is packing you and the kids into a car and sending you out of town. I don't want him getting near any of you."

"How are you going to do that?" Rose asked, cuddling closer. "As far as the senior partners are concerned, I'm sure, he'd still be the CEO of the company. If you put us in a company car, he could just order them to turn around, or take us somewhere you couldn't find us."

"Bloody hell," Spike swore softly. He thought a moment. "I'll have Valentine take you. He'll listen to me before he does Angelus. He'll be afraid that if he doesn't, I'll kick his weenie ass. And I would, too."

"When are you going to stop tormenting him?" Rose mumbled. "He's nice enough, for a vampire without a soul. And he seems to make Harmony happy. What more do you want from him?"

"A little bit more big bad and a little less wuss," Spike replied promptly. "Especially if I'm going to have to trust him to keep the three people I care about more than anything, safe."

As was generally the case, any time Spike started talking about how much he cared about her and their children, Rose started getting that gooey feeling inside. "I love you," she murmured.

"I love you too, babe," he replied, following it up with a kiss. "Looks like a big day tomorrow, so why don't we get a little rest?"

&&&&&&

Angelus lay in bed, but his eyes were wide open, and his mind was whirling. Thinking of this plan and that, trying to decide what would be most effective. And the most fun. And how long he could keep acting like Angel without making himself sick. But, he reminded himself, it was all part of the game. The longer they believed, the sweeter it would be when he proved them for the fools they were. Then, there was the matter of Cariadoc Stenslow, and that pesky soul of his. He needed to get that soul away from Stenslow. He didn't trust it in anyone's keeping but his own. If they weren't in California, he'd dig a deep, deep hole and bury the thing. But here, if he did something like that, with his luck, a quake would come along and break the damn thing and trap him in that stinking soul again. He was ready to go to any lengths to prevent that, including playing along with Stenslow, for the time being. Until he could get that soul. This time, there wasn't going to be anyone putting it back in him. He was going to stay Angelus until the end of time. As sleep finally started to overcome him, he idly wondered if there was a convent nearby. It had been a long time since he'd had a nun.