For Tabitha Faith Rowe, my second biggest fan (after Mom).

*

"Hey, Peaches, your sweetheart made the nightly news. Again."

Angel called to Willow as he left the kitchen for the living-room. "Police are calling it a massacre. Nearly twenty-five employees were killed, including the store manager, some time just after the store closed. We spoke to one officer earlier who had this to say about the scene:"

"It was a massacre. Whoever did this, shot them then set wild dogs on the bodies. Others looked like they had been killed by hand."

"That was earlier this morning. Little is know abo--"

"Turn it off Spike."

Spike sneered at his sire. "Come over here and make me."

Before Angel could make good, Willow snatched the remote from Spike and turned off the television.

"C'mon Red! Can't a bloke have a bit of fun?"

Angel and Willow ignored him. "They didn't call again, did they?" Angel asked.

Willow shook her head. "What are we going to do, wait around for them to murder another store full of innocent people? I feel like this is our fault Angel."

"Don't le--"

"You're right, luv," Spike said, cutting his sire off. "It is your fault," he added cheerily. He got up from the armchair and walked into the kitchen.

He could have told them about the call he'd gotten from Oz . . .

"Whosit?"

"Spike?"

"Wolfy! How're you and Slutty getting along? Enjoying the body count?"

"Very. Are either They there?"

"Called to play mind games? Thought that was the Slayer's stock in trade."

" . . .Why are you there, Spike. Thought you didn't like . . .Them."

Spike had chuckled darkly over the phone. "Still can't bring yourself to say her name, can you? C'mon, what do you think will happen? You say her name and she pops over to wherever you and Slutty are having a shaggadelic good time and she stops your fun? It's just one little name, mate. You can say it. Just repeat after--"

"Why hasn't Angel staked you yet?"

"Guilt."

"And she would."

"What?" Spike wasn't quite sure he'd heard that last bit, vampire ears and all.

"If I spoke her name. She'd come."

"Now that's a trick I'd like to see."

There was a pause on the other line before Oz finally answered, "Not until we're ready."

. . .but then that would spoil all the fun. And Spike had the distinct impression that there was going to a lot of fun to be had. He planned to be real sober for this one.