Chapter 5
Cole shimmered back into his apartment, just as Leo and Spike arrived. Cole grinned at the scowling vampire and his former brother-in-law.
'Hey, Leo! Long time no see! And....'
Cole snapped his fingers, as if he couldn't remember Spike's name.
'Spuck, Sputnik....'
Spike favored him with a tight smile. His eyes then fell upon a photograph of Cole and Phoebe. He walked over to it and picked it up. He then spoke.
'I hear you fancy Dru now, hey? Why? Because she's human?'
Cole folded his arms.
'I could ask you the same question, Sputnik. From what I heard, you like your women cute and blonde...you know, the cheerleading type. And I've 'fancied' Dru before, back when she was a vampire. We had good times. Leo, what's going on here? I've been keeping my distance from Phoebe.'
'I think you know we're not here because of Phoebe, Cole. You went out with Drusilla the other night, didn't you? Funny how you managed to catch her alone. What, did you spy on us, then wait until we left?'
'I'm hurt. Has Drusilla complained or something? Because if she wants me to stay away, all she had to do is say so.'
'She does.' Spike said in a flat voice. Cole's eyes glittered.
'I'd actually like to hear that from her. You know, you're not still mad about that deal that fell through? How long ago was that again?'
'Thirty five bloody years ago, but I haven't been keeping count.' Spike said smoothly. 'Stay away from Dru. You're only using her.'
Cole tilted his head.
'Does Dru even know you're here? I got the strong impression that the two of you weren't an item anymore. Though I can certainly see why she wouldn't want anything to do with you.'
'Is that right, mate?' Spike asked, still holding the picture.
Cole nodded and crossed his arms.
'She's human now and a Charmed One. Vampire trash is not her style anymore. You're beneath her.'
Once upon a time, two women had said that to Spike. One was a bloody bitch. The other was Buffy. Somehow, hearing those words didn't sting so much coming from this bint! But, he was about to wound the bloody bastard, to prove a point.
Spike smashed the frame of Cole and Phoebe! Leo noticed that Cole flinched.
'I say you still love your witch here. If you don't, then I apologize. But you're keeping pictures of her around here like a love sick git! I don't believe you fancy Dru after all.' Spike said, his tone syrupy sweet.
'Put the picture down.' Cole said tersely. Leo touched Spike's shoulder.
'I think he gets the point, Spike. Let's get back to the house. Stay away from Drusilla, Cole.' Leo said warningly.
But Cole was scarcely listening, as Spike snatched the picture out of the frame, took out his lighter and set it on fire!
'Since you don't care for her anymore, there's no need for any pictures, is there?' Spike asked snidely, throwing the charred picture onto the ground. He then put away his lighter and walked over to Leo.
'Let's go!' he snapped to the Whitelighter. But Leo's eyes widened as he grabbed on to Spike.
'Hold on!' he cried, as Cole flung a fireball at them! They orbed away just in time.
Meanwhile, Cole kicked at a chair, sending it flying into a wall! How dare that vampire filth, touch his picture of Phoebe?! How dare he?! That was the only picture he had had left of his beloved ex!
He knelt down and tried to save the fragments of the picture. Cole tried to calm himself, as he realized that Spike was jealous. He had known this, but handling the ashes of the picture, brought it home to him all the more.
Now, it was going to be his extreme pleasure, to make Drusilla, the second Mrs. Cole Turner.
****
Angel watched as Phoebe put away a tube of Neosporin in a first aid kit. She had slathered in onto his forehead and now it just sat there like a glump of glue or something. Phoebe came back to the table and sat down. She then took a napkin and reached out for his forehead to wipe some of it off.
'I'm sorry about putting so much on.' she said, patting his forehead. Angel smiled softly.
'It's alright. Better to be safe than sorry, right?' he said, not really asking anything.
'Right.' Phoebe said softly, taking a deep breath. Her face grew flushed, as it did whenever she saw him. Angel's eyes widened and he started to get up.
'Are you alright? I thought you looked a bit flushed in my office the other day.'
'No, I'm fine, keep your chair. I just...it's nothing, I'm fine. Just part of my powers, I guess.'
'You guess?'
Phoebe nodded. What the hell else was she going to say? That she wanted him right there and then on the kitchen floor?!
'Let's just say,' Phoebe began, 'that my sisters and I haven't been witches that long. We didn't grow up with our powers, so when we came into them, we had to sort of feel our way along. They grow, so suddenly one of us will get a new power that we didn't know was coming.'
'Oh.' Angel said. 'So Drusilla will obtain more powers as well?'
'Yeah.' was all Phoebe said and got up again. She took the napkin that she had used to wipe away the neosporin and threw it in the trash. She then looked back at Angel.
'Can I ask you something?'
Angel stood up as well and walked over to her. He shrugged.
'Sure.' was all he said.
'You're in the Book of Shadows, did you know that?'
Angel folded his arms.
'I know Angelus is in there, yes. He's not who I am...at least, he's not the real me. God, how do I explain this...'
Phoebe touched his arm. She then rubbed it.
'It's okay. I know I'm being nosy. But when I asked Leo about you, he said I should 'ask you'. To me, when someone knows information about someone, but wants you to ask that someone yourself, it's always bad news.'
Angel was more than aware of her hand rubbing on his arm. He reached for it.
'What is it you want to ask me, Phoebe?'
Phoebe's hand dropped from his arm.
'What happened to you to turn you good? I mean, from what I could tell, you stopped killing people about 80 something years ago.'
'Phoebe? Angel?' Piper called out. 'We think we found the demon in the Book!'
Angel and Phoebe had turned towards the sound of Piper's voice. Angel turned back to look at Phoebe. Her eyes met his again.
'Maybe another time.' he said, and began to turn away. But Phoebe, unable to hold back any longer, reached out and turned his face towards hers! She then pulled him into a hungry kiss.
Angel found himself responding in every way, as his arms went around her. Piper disturbed the moment.
'Hey guys I said we found the...whoa! Excuse me, Paige and I will just wait for you out in the living room.'
Phoebe licked her lips, smiling at Piper, who gave her a knowing look back. But Angel slowly let go of Phoebe.
'Paige and you? Where is Dru, Spike and Leo?'
'Uh, well, I think Dru was more than a little put off by the demon just popping in here like that. She's upstairs in her room. She said she just needed a minute.'
'And Leo and Spike?' Angel asked suspiciously.
Piper shrugged.
'They orbed somewhere...oh, I hear them out there now. They're back.' Piper said, turning and walking out into the hallway. Angel sighed. If Spike had convinced Leo to talk to Belthazor without him...
'Drusilla is going to have to get used to demons coming out of nowhere around here.' Phoebe said, her tone hard.
Angel looked at her.
'Phoebe, the reason Leo brought Spike and me...'
'Spike?' she asked.
'Oh, maybe with all of the confusion with that demon and all, you didn't notice him. He is also someone that knows Drusilla pretty well. Anyway, we're here because we're concerned about some things and we wanted to talk to you about some...solutions.'
Phoebe looked confused.
''Solutions'? What happened? Wasn't she supposed to train with you today in L.A.?'
Angel was beginning to get the feeling, that maybe now was not the time to bring up Belthazor. Phoebe appeared as if she were just waiting to jump on Dru for the slightest little thing.
'Let's just go out there and see what they've found out.' Angel said. Phoebe nodded and he followed her out of the kitchen.
****
Paige eyed Leo and Spike, as they walked into the living room.
'Where did you two go?' she asked.
'To talk with Cole.' Leo said.
Paige stood up from the couch. Spike peered at the Book of Shadows, which was open to a page that featured a picture of the exact demon that had attacked earlier.
'Oh, that's him alright! What does it say he is?' Spike asked.
Paige glanced back at him.
'A Kurn Demon. They hunt and kill vampires for their teeth.'
Spike's eyes widened!
'What the bloody hell?! I've never heard of such an animal! And no one is getting my sodding teeth!'
Paige turned back to Leo.
'Why were you at Cole's?' she asked.
Leo threw Spike a glance, as he sat down to read up more on this 'Vampire Teeth' demon! What a right bastard that demon was! To come in here and try and take is teeth...and Angel's too, of course!
'Drusilla went out on a date with him the other night.' Leo said quietly.
'What?! How do you know that?'
Spike looked up from the book.
'I saw them out. He's trouble, I'm telling you.'
Paige stared at him hard.
'I thought you lived in L.A. with Angel?'
'I do.'
'Then why were you up here?'
Spike was spared from answering that, when Piper, Phoebe and Angel came in. Spike walked over to them.
'Where did Leo and you go, Spike?' Angel asked in a knowing voice.
'You know where. And my instincts about the bastard were right.'
'Who?' Phoebe and Piper asked in unison.
'Where is Dru?' Spike asked.
'Up in her room. She isn't feeling well.'
Spike and Angel looked at one another. Meanwhile, Paige pulled Leo aside.
'I don't like him.'
'I know, I have my problems with him too, Paige...'
'No, Leo. It's more than that. I don't know what the hell is going on between Dru and that guy, but it just reeks of 'bad break-up'! I was a social worker, I know these things. Dru is never going to get anything accomplished as long as he's hanging around here. And another thing: why was he watching Dru on a date with anyone at all?'
Phoebe moved closer to them.
'Dru was on a date? When was this?'
'The other night.' Spike interrupted. 'With your ex!'
Angel groaned! He had wanted to ease into that revelation.
Phoebe looked around the room.
'Drusilla went out on a date with Cole?'
'Yeah,' Spike answered again, making things worse, 'and she wore a smashing black number...one of those halter dresses with a rose on it. Look, I think I'll go and get Dru so we can chat this out.'
Spike turned and began walking out of the room. Angel grabbed his arm.
'Spike, you are really over-stepping here!'
Spike wrenched away from Angel.
'This is why we came, isn't it? And we don't have a lot of time for Dru to get cozy with these people. That demon that attacked us was looking for vampires, not the Charmed Ones.'
Angel glanced back at the others, before giving Spike his full attention.
'Belthazor sent the demon here?'
'Who else knows that vampires are consorting with the Charmed Ones? I'm going to go and get Dru. Now is not the time for her to be ill. She just got a case of the nerves is all.' he said firmly, before walking towards the stairs. Angel joined the group in the room.
'I have a dress just like that!' Phoebe snapped. 'I know she didn't have the nerve to wear it out with Cole!'
'Phoebe, please calm down, okay? I'm sure he was wrong about what Drusilla was wearing.' Piper said soothingly.
Angel rested his hands on Phoebe's shoulders. She instantly relaxed, but was still angry. She was going to check her closet to see if that dress had been worn!
'Spike told me that the demon we saw hunts vampires. Belthazor is probably behind this.' Angel pointed out.
'So, the demon was after Spike and you?' Leo asked. Piper looked over at him.
'Check with the Elders and see what you can find out about what's been going on in the demonic underworld. Maybe they know something.'
Leo nodded and kissed Piper, before orbing away. Piper rubbed her face. Phoebe pulled away from Angel.
'I'll be back. I just want to call in to the paper. Excuse me.' she said and slipped out into the hallway. Phoebe then made sure that Angel, Paige and Phoebe's backs were turned, before she hurried up the stairs to her room. If Drusilla had been in her clothes after murdering Jason....there would be hell to pay!
****
Drusilla had her favorite soap opera, 'Passions' on, while she talked on a cell phone with Cole.
'I can't go out with you again, Cole. Angel and Spike are here and they're getting ready to tattle on me about my date with you the other night.'
'Yeah, Spike and Leo were here earlier.'
Drusilla's face fell.
'God what for? Never mind, I don't want to know.'
'Is it over between Spike and you?' Cole asked on his end. He was staring at the charred picture of Phoebe and himself, that Spike had burned earlier. It sat on his coffee table.
Drusilla stood up from the little couch she had been sitting on. She walked past the TV and began staring at her reflection in a mirror/dresser. She fiddled with her hair with one hand.
'Is it over between Spike and me? There is no Spike and me, Cole.'
'Are you sure about that, luv?'
Drusilla almost jumped, as she looked into the mirror and saw the back of her hair lift away, seemingly by itself, away from her neck. She then felt lips press down onto the back of her neck. An electric shock went through her and she cried out.
'Dru?' Cole asked, concerned by the sound she had just made.
Drusilla pulled herself together and turned around. She found herself trapped against the dresser by Spike.
'Uh, I'm fine. Spike's here, that's all. He was just leaving.'
Spike's playful look turned serious.
'We have work to do downstairs. Hang up on that bint and turn off the...'
Spike's eyes widened as he looked at the TV! He then looked back at her.
'You still watch this?' he asked, his voice a near whisper.
Drusilla glanced at the TV. She then gave him a small smile. One of the things they used to do together was watch their favorite soap opera, 'Passions'. Though the witchcraft and the demons were faker than hell, they had both enjoyed the show.
'Dru?'
Drusilla realized Cole was still on the line. 'I'm still here. Spike was leaving.'
Suddenly, the door to the room flew open! Phoebe stalked in towards them, then stopped, looking towards the bed. She stopped down and pulled her black halter dress out from under it. It was wrinkled!
Phoebe glared murderously at Drusilla.
'You kill Jason, and then you have the NERVE to wear my dress out on a date with Cole!'
'Dru?' Cole asked, 'is that Phoebe?'
'I have to go!' Dru said, hanging up. Spike looked at Dru.
'You stole her dress? My, some of the old Dru is still in you.'
'Shut up, Spike!' Drusilla snapped, focusing in on Phoebe. She tossed aside the phone, which Spike surreptitiously picked up and pocketed it, then walked up to Phoebe.
'I'm sorry about Jason. I'm sorry about wearing your dress out with Cole. I was going to put it back...'
Phoebe couldn't help herself any longer! She backhanded Dru so hard, that she went flying backwards into Spike's arms!
'Hey!' Spike almost screamed. 'She said she was sorry! She was a vampire and couldn't help herself!'
But Drusilla pulled away from Spike and glanced at him.
'Thank you, Spike, but I'll handle this.' she said in a syrupy sweet tone that Spike recognized. It meant she was going to hit Phoebe back!
Drusilla put on a proper sorrowful expression, before she made her way back to Phoebe.
'I deserved that Phoebe. I'll get the dress drycleaned or whatever you want.'
'I just want you to stay out of my clothes and to stay away from...'
Phoebe didn't get another word out, since Drusilla socked her in the jaw! She went careening back towards the door!
Angel, Phoebe and Piper appeared in the doorway, just as Phoebe threw down the dress and flung herself into Drusilla! The two went sailing back past the couch, TV and Spike and out through the glass window!
'Oh bloody hell!' Spike screeched. He then followed after a horrified Angel, Piper and Phoebe, as they hurried to see what they would find on the front lawn.
****
Cole shimmered onto the Haliwell front lawn. He hadn't liked what he had overheard in his phone call to Dru. It sounded like now was the perfect time to be at Dru's side, since it sounded like Phoebe was about to mistreat his future wife, yet again!
He heard a screech, then broken glass and he looked up. Drusilla and Phoebe were coming down towards him, fast! Drusilla orbed and disappeared, but Phoebe landed right into his arms.
'I've got you, Phoebe!' he cried out, as she landed with a soft thud against him. She then began to cry.
Piper and Paige came running out. Angel and Spike could not, because of the sunlight. But they watched from the window. Spike looked at Angel.
'Notice he didn't catch Dru.' Spike said smugly. But Angel shook his head.
'Where is Dru?' he asked, looking around. His eyes then went back to Phoebe crying in Belthazor's arms. He wanted to be the one holding her like that....if not for the sunlight, Angel thought.
Cole shimmered back into his apartment, just as Leo and Spike arrived. Cole grinned at the scowling vampire and his former brother-in-law.
'Hey, Leo! Long time no see! And....'
Cole snapped his fingers, as if he couldn't remember Spike's name.
'Spuck, Sputnik....'
Spike favored him with a tight smile. His eyes then fell upon a photograph of Cole and Phoebe. He walked over to it and picked it up. He then spoke.
'I hear you fancy Dru now, hey? Why? Because she's human?'
Cole folded his arms.
'I could ask you the same question, Sputnik. From what I heard, you like your women cute and blonde...you know, the cheerleading type. And I've 'fancied' Dru before, back when she was a vampire. We had good times. Leo, what's going on here? I've been keeping my distance from Phoebe.'
'I think you know we're not here because of Phoebe, Cole. You went out with Drusilla the other night, didn't you? Funny how you managed to catch her alone. What, did you spy on us, then wait until we left?'
'I'm hurt. Has Drusilla complained or something? Because if she wants me to stay away, all she had to do is say so.'
'She does.' Spike said in a flat voice. Cole's eyes glittered.
'I'd actually like to hear that from her. You know, you're not still mad about that deal that fell through? How long ago was that again?'
'Thirty five bloody years ago, but I haven't been keeping count.' Spike said smoothly. 'Stay away from Dru. You're only using her.'
Cole tilted his head.
'Does Dru even know you're here? I got the strong impression that the two of you weren't an item anymore. Though I can certainly see why she wouldn't want anything to do with you.'
'Is that right, mate?' Spike asked, still holding the picture.
Cole nodded and crossed his arms.
'She's human now and a Charmed One. Vampire trash is not her style anymore. You're beneath her.'
Once upon a time, two women had said that to Spike. One was a bloody bitch. The other was Buffy. Somehow, hearing those words didn't sting so much coming from this bint! But, he was about to wound the bloody bastard, to prove a point.
Spike smashed the frame of Cole and Phoebe! Leo noticed that Cole flinched.
'I say you still love your witch here. If you don't, then I apologize. But you're keeping pictures of her around here like a love sick git! I don't believe you fancy Dru after all.' Spike said, his tone syrupy sweet.
'Put the picture down.' Cole said tersely. Leo touched Spike's shoulder.
'I think he gets the point, Spike. Let's get back to the house. Stay away from Drusilla, Cole.' Leo said warningly.
But Cole was scarcely listening, as Spike snatched the picture out of the frame, took out his lighter and set it on fire!
'Since you don't care for her anymore, there's no need for any pictures, is there?' Spike asked snidely, throwing the charred picture onto the ground. He then put away his lighter and walked over to Leo.
'Let's go!' he snapped to the Whitelighter. But Leo's eyes widened as he grabbed on to Spike.
'Hold on!' he cried, as Cole flung a fireball at them! They orbed away just in time.
Meanwhile, Cole kicked at a chair, sending it flying into a wall! How dare that vampire filth, touch his picture of Phoebe?! How dare he?! That was the only picture he had had left of his beloved ex!
He knelt down and tried to save the fragments of the picture. Cole tried to calm himself, as he realized that Spike was jealous. He had known this, but handling the ashes of the picture, brought it home to him all the more.
Now, it was going to be his extreme pleasure, to make Drusilla, the second Mrs. Cole Turner.
****
Angel watched as Phoebe put away a tube of Neosporin in a first aid kit. She had slathered in onto his forehead and now it just sat there like a glump of glue or something. Phoebe came back to the table and sat down. She then took a napkin and reached out for his forehead to wipe some of it off.
'I'm sorry about putting so much on.' she said, patting his forehead. Angel smiled softly.
'It's alright. Better to be safe than sorry, right?' he said, not really asking anything.
'Right.' Phoebe said softly, taking a deep breath. Her face grew flushed, as it did whenever she saw him. Angel's eyes widened and he started to get up.
'Are you alright? I thought you looked a bit flushed in my office the other day.'
'No, I'm fine, keep your chair. I just...it's nothing, I'm fine. Just part of my powers, I guess.'
'You guess?'
Phoebe nodded. What the hell else was she going to say? That she wanted him right there and then on the kitchen floor?!
'Let's just say,' Phoebe began, 'that my sisters and I haven't been witches that long. We didn't grow up with our powers, so when we came into them, we had to sort of feel our way along. They grow, so suddenly one of us will get a new power that we didn't know was coming.'
'Oh.' Angel said. 'So Drusilla will obtain more powers as well?'
'Yeah.' was all Phoebe said and got up again. She took the napkin that she had used to wipe away the neosporin and threw it in the trash. She then looked back at Angel.
'Can I ask you something?'
Angel stood up as well and walked over to her. He shrugged.
'Sure.' was all he said.
'You're in the Book of Shadows, did you know that?'
Angel folded his arms.
'I know Angelus is in there, yes. He's not who I am...at least, he's not the real me. God, how do I explain this...'
Phoebe touched his arm. She then rubbed it.
'It's okay. I know I'm being nosy. But when I asked Leo about you, he said I should 'ask you'. To me, when someone knows information about someone, but wants you to ask that someone yourself, it's always bad news.'
Angel was more than aware of her hand rubbing on his arm. He reached for it.
'What is it you want to ask me, Phoebe?'
Phoebe's hand dropped from his arm.
'What happened to you to turn you good? I mean, from what I could tell, you stopped killing people about 80 something years ago.'
'Phoebe? Angel?' Piper called out. 'We think we found the demon in the Book!'
Angel and Phoebe had turned towards the sound of Piper's voice. Angel turned back to look at Phoebe. Her eyes met his again.
'Maybe another time.' he said, and began to turn away. But Phoebe, unable to hold back any longer, reached out and turned his face towards hers! She then pulled him into a hungry kiss.
Angel found himself responding in every way, as his arms went around her. Piper disturbed the moment.
'Hey guys I said we found the...whoa! Excuse me, Paige and I will just wait for you out in the living room.'
Phoebe licked her lips, smiling at Piper, who gave her a knowing look back. But Angel slowly let go of Phoebe.
'Paige and you? Where is Dru, Spike and Leo?'
'Uh, well, I think Dru was more than a little put off by the demon just popping in here like that. She's upstairs in her room. She said she just needed a minute.'
'And Leo and Spike?' Angel asked suspiciously.
Piper shrugged.
'They orbed somewhere...oh, I hear them out there now. They're back.' Piper said, turning and walking out into the hallway. Angel sighed. If Spike had convinced Leo to talk to Belthazor without him...
'Drusilla is going to have to get used to demons coming out of nowhere around here.' Phoebe said, her tone hard.
Angel looked at her.
'Phoebe, the reason Leo brought Spike and me...'
'Spike?' she asked.
'Oh, maybe with all of the confusion with that demon and all, you didn't notice him. He is also someone that knows Drusilla pretty well. Anyway, we're here because we're concerned about some things and we wanted to talk to you about some...solutions.'
Phoebe looked confused.
''Solutions'? What happened? Wasn't she supposed to train with you today in L.A.?'
Angel was beginning to get the feeling, that maybe now was not the time to bring up Belthazor. Phoebe appeared as if she were just waiting to jump on Dru for the slightest little thing.
'Let's just go out there and see what they've found out.' Angel said. Phoebe nodded and he followed her out of the kitchen.
****
Paige eyed Leo and Spike, as they walked into the living room.
'Where did you two go?' she asked.
'To talk with Cole.' Leo said.
Paige stood up from the couch. Spike peered at the Book of Shadows, which was open to a page that featured a picture of the exact demon that had attacked earlier.
'Oh, that's him alright! What does it say he is?' Spike asked.
Paige glanced back at him.
'A Kurn Demon. They hunt and kill vampires for their teeth.'
Spike's eyes widened!
'What the bloody hell?! I've never heard of such an animal! And no one is getting my sodding teeth!'
Paige turned back to Leo.
'Why were you at Cole's?' she asked.
Leo threw Spike a glance, as he sat down to read up more on this 'Vampire Teeth' demon! What a right bastard that demon was! To come in here and try and take is teeth...and Angel's too, of course!
'Drusilla went out on a date with him the other night.' Leo said quietly.
'What?! How do you know that?'
Spike looked up from the book.
'I saw them out. He's trouble, I'm telling you.'
Paige stared at him hard.
'I thought you lived in L.A. with Angel?'
'I do.'
'Then why were you up here?'
Spike was spared from answering that, when Piper, Phoebe and Angel came in. Spike walked over to them.
'Where did Leo and you go, Spike?' Angel asked in a knowing voice.
'You know where. And my instincts about the bastard were right.'
'Who?' Phoebe and Piper asked in unison.
'Where is Dru?' Spike asked.
'Up in her room. She isn't feeling well.'
Spike and Angel looked at one another. Meanwhile, Paige pulled Leo aside.
'I don't like him.'
'I know, I have my problems with him too, Paige...'
'No, Leo. It's more than that. I don't know what the hell is going on between Dru and that guy, but it just reeks of 'bad break-up'! I was a social worker, I know these things. Dru is never going to get anything accomplished as long as he's hanging around here. And another thing: why was he watching Dru on a date with anyone at all?'
Phoebe moved closer to them.
'Dru was on a date? When was this?'
'The other night.' Spike interrupted. 'With your ex!'
Angel groaned! He had wanted to ease into that revelation.
Phoebe looked around the room.
'Drusilla went out on a date with Cole?'
'Yeah,' Spike answered again, making things worse, 'and she wore a smashing black number...one of those halter dresses with a rose on it. Look, I think I'll go and get Dru so we can chat this out.'
Spike turned and began walking out of the room. Angel grabbed his arm.
'Spike, you are really over-stepping here!'
Spike wrenched away from Angel.
'This is why we came, isn't it? And we don't have a lot of time for Dru to get cozy with these people. That demon that attacked us was looking for vampires, not the Charmed Ones.'
Angel glanced back at the others, before giving Spike his full attention.
'Belthazor sent the demon here?'
'Who else knows that vampires are consorting with the Charmed Ones? I'm going to go and get Dru. Now is not the time for her to be ill. She just got a case of the nerves is all.' he said firmly, before walking towards the stairs. Angel joined the group in the room.
'I have a dress just like that!' Phoebe snapped. 'I know she didn't have the nerve to wear it out with Cole!'
'Phoebe, please calm down, okay? I'm sure he was wrong about what Drusilla was wearing.' Piper said soothingly.
Angel rested his hands on Phoebe's shoulders. She instantly relaxed, but was still angry. She was going to check her closet to see if that dress had been worn!
'Spike told me that the demon we saw hunts vampires. Belthazor is probably behind this.' Angel pointed out.
'So, the demon was after Spike and you?' Leo asked. Piper looked over at him.
'Check with the Elders and see what you can find out about what's been going on in the demonic underworld. Maybe they know something.'
Leo nodded and kissed Piper, before orbing away. Piper rubbed her face. Phoebe pulled away from Angel.
'I'll be back. I just want to call in to the paper. Excuse me.' she said and slipped out into the hallway. Phoebe then made sure that Angel, Paige and Phoebe's backs were turned, before she hurried up the stairs to her room. If Drusilla had been in her clothes after murdering Jason....there would be hell to pay!
****
Drusilla had her favorite soap opera, 'Passions' on, while she talked on a cell phone with Cole.
'I can't go out with you again, Cole. Angel and Spike are here and they're getting ready to tattle on me about my date with you the other night.'
'Yeah, Spike and Leo were here earlier.'
Drusilla's face fell.
'God what for? Never mind, I don't want to know.'
'Is it over between Spike and you?' Cole asked on his end. He was staring at the charred picture of Phoebe and himself, that Spike had burned earlier. It sat on his coffee table.
Drusilla stood up from the little couch she had been sitting on. She walked past the TV and began staring at her reflection in a mirror/dresser. She fiddled with her hair with one hand.
'Is it over between Spike and me? There is no Spike and me, Cole.'
'Are you sure about that, luv?'
Drusilla almost jumped, as she looked into the mirror and saw the back of her hair lift away, seemingly by itself, away from her neck. She then felt lips press down onto the back of her neck. An electric shock went through her and she cried out.
'Dru?' Cole asked, concerned by the sound she had just made.
Drusilla pulled herself together and turned around. She found herself trapped against the dresser by Spike.
'Uh, I'm fine. Spike's here, that's all. He was just leaving.'
Spike's playful look turned serious.
'We have work to do downstairs. Hang up on that bint and turn off the...'
Spike's eyes widened as he looked at the TV! He then looked back at her.
'You still watch this?' he asked, his voice a near whisper.
Drusilla glanced at the TV. She then gave him a small smile. One of the things they used to do together was watch their favorite soap opera, 'Passions'. Though the witchcraft and the demons were faker than hell, they had both enjoyed the show.
'Dru?'
Drusilla realized Cole was still on the line. 'I'm still here. Spike was leaving.'
Suddenly, the door to the room flew open! Phoebe stalked in towards them, then stopped, looking towards the bed. She stopped down and pulled her black halter dress out from under it. It was wrinkled!
Phoebe glared murderously at Drusilla.
'You kill Jason, and then you have the NERVE to wear my dress out on a date with Cole!'
'Dru?' Cole asked, 'is that Phoebe?'
'I have to go!' Dru said, hanging up. Spike looked at Dru.
'You stole her dress? My, some of the old Dru is still in you.'
'Shut up, Spike!' Drusilla snapped, focusing in on Phoebe. She tossed aside the phone, which Spike surreptitiously picked up and pocketed it, then walked up to Phoebe.
'I'm sorry about Jason. I'm sorry about wearing your dress out with Cole. I was going to put it back...'
Phoebe couldn't help herself any longer! She backhanded Dru so hard, that she went flying backwards into Spike's arms!
'Hey!' Spike almost screamed. 'She said she was sorry! She was a vampire and couldn't help herself!'
But Drusilla pulled away from Spike and glanced at him.
'Thank you, Spike, but I'll handle this.' she said in a syrupy sweet tone that Spike recognized. It meant she was going to hit Phoebe back!
Drusilla put on a proper sorrowful expression, before she made her way back to Phoebe.
'I deserved that Phoebe. I'll get the dress drycleaned or whatever you want.'
'I just want you to stay out of my clothes and to stay away from...'
Phoebe didn't get another word out, since Drusilla socked her in the jaw! She went careening back towards the door!
Angel, Phoebe and Piper appeared in the doorway, just as Phoebe threw down the dress and flung herself into Drusilla! The two went sailing back past the couch, TV and Spike and out through the glass window!
'Oh bloody hell!' Spike screeched. He then followed after a horrified Angel, Piper and Phoebe, as they hurried to see what they would find on the front lawn.
****
Cole shimmered onto the Haliwell front lawn. He hadn't liked what he had overheard in his phone call to Dru. It sounded like now was the perfect time to be at Dru's side, since it sounded like Phoebe was about to mistreat his future wife, yet again!
He heard a screech, then broken glass and he looked up. Drusilla and Phoebe were coming down towards him, fast! Drusilla orbed and disappeared, but Phoebe landed right into his arms.
'I've got you, Phoebe!' he cried out, as she landed with a soft thud against him. She then began to cry.
Piper and Paige came running out. Angel and Spike could not, because of the sunlight. But they watched from the window. Spike looked at Angel.
'Notice he didn't catch Dru.' Spike said smugly. But Angel shook his head.
'Where is Dru?' he asked, looking around. His eyes then went back to Phoebe crying in Belthazor's arms. He wanted to be the one holding her like that....if not for the sunlight, Angel thought.