Chapter 7

TWO WEEKS LATER

Drusilla, dressed in a pinstripe pants suit and Wesley, in a shirt and jeans, slowly crept through an alley in the heart of L.A. It was ten in the morning.

Drusilla looked behind her at Wesley, who was clutching a stake.

'You know, Angel really shouldn't have sent you with me. I'm sure I'll be able to find him by myself.' she said.

Wesley shook his head, his eyes were darting around for danger.

'No, Drusilla. Now this is to be the first test of your training. The hairshop must be around here somewhere.'

Drusilla had had a premonition of a hairdresser/vampire, draining her victims in an alley by her hair shop. The establishment was only open in the evenings. It made Dru wonder how people could've fallen for such a thing, a beauty salon only open at night and in the wee hours of the morning. But Wesley, who liked to refer to himself as her 'earthly Whitelighter'(whatever the hell that was! Dru suspected he just liked bossing her around!) informed her that the hours were very convenient for professional women, who could not get their hair styled during the day.

'It's here, I know it.' Dru murmured, keeping her eyes peeled. Wesley cleared his throat.

'So, things must be stressful at Haliwell Manor?' he asked casually.

Dru did not look at him, but kept creeping down the alley.

'Uh, no. I work with Piper and Paige while Phoebe is at work. It works best that way.'

Wesley clutched the stake.

'Actually, I was referring to what has been going on in your relatives lives. Paige told me about Piper's club.'

Wesley was referring to the burning down of P3. It had happened the same afternoon of Phoebe and Dru's fight. The authorities were convinced it was arson, and were investigating Piper and Leo. It wasn't looking good.

'Yes,' Drusilla answered absently, 'that police officer, Darryl, has tried to help them, but I guess the girls names have turned up in so many investigation reports, that people are suspicious.'

'That anonymous tip to Phoebe's newspaper didn't help either. You know, that person that told reporters about the girls being witnesses to so many crimes? Paige says that Phoebe will probably have to resign.'

'I haven't seen Phoebe.' was all Dru said, her eyes now darting around as well. She then saw saw an odd sight. Two huge trash bins stacked one on top of the other, as if to hide something. She began moving towards them.

Wesley meanwhile, was a bit disappointed in Dru's lack of response. He couldn't fathom whether it was because the lives of the Charmed Ones did not interest her, or because she knew what he was hinting at, and didn't want to discuss it. If it was the latter, then maybe it was better that she did not know what was about to happen today.

Paige, who he was falling more and more in love with, told him that she, Piper and Phoebe, were once again, going to try and vanquish Cole/Belthazor, this afternoon. They believed that he was responsible for burning down P3 and making that anonymous phone call to Phoebe's paper.

Wesley and Angel agreed. The timing was just too coincidental. Because of the fire, Piper never got around to summoning her grandmother, Penny Haliwell, nor did anyone have the time to research Dru's family tree.

Angel's concern for Phoebe took up much of his time, as he tried to investigate the fire and the phone call. But Cole had seemingly covered his tracks beautifully...at least with Drusilla. When Angel asked her about Cole's whereabouts, Drusilla had scoffed at the accusation. She claimed that when she orbed back to Cole's apartment that day, he had been already waiting there with her box of dolls and other knick knacks from her crypt. Dru didn't feel he had time to start a fire in that little amount of time.

Angel didn't press the issue, since he was convinced that nothing he could say to her anyway, would convince Dru that Cole/Belthazor was a bad guy anyway. And yes, Angel reasoned, with his shimmering ability, it would've taken no time at all for Belthazor to throw a fireball into the P3, then shimmer over to the crypt, grab up Dru's things and shimmer back to the apartment again.

And needless to say, Angel was furious at what Phoebe was going through. Wesley had seen him scowling over an editorial in the paper Phoebe worked for, that hinted that Phoebe should come clean to the authorities, if she knew for a fact that Piper started that fire for the insurance money.

Drusilla, of course, knew nothing of the planned vanquishing of Cole today. And while Dru seemed to get on moderately well with Piper and Paige, Wesley knew Phoebe could care less how this was going to affect Dru.

Drusilla looked back at Wesley suddenly.

'I think these trash bins are hiding the entrance of the hairshop.'

Wesley looked confused.

'I don't understand why there isn't a front entrance to this establishment?'

Dru pointed back down the alley, behind Wesley.

'Look at where a front would be positioned with the sun. The hairdresser would get absolutely toasted during the day.'

'Yes, Drusilla, but what would that matter if hair is only styled at night?'

Drusilla shrugged.

'I don't know. And she could put up some thick curtains. Look, let me just orb inside and...'

Suddenly, a vampire, came seemingly out of nowhere! He was under a blanket as he rushed towards them!

'Wesley, look out!' Drusilla screamed. Wesley was back handed and thrown into a brick wall! He sank down to the ground, leaving a blood splatter on the wall. The stake was still in his hand.

Drusilla punched the demon, and got back handed herself for her trouble, falling back so hard that she ended up doing two backward rolls! She then managed to get up and watch as the vampire turned back towards Wesley and began to move in on him.

This was quite a bold one! Drusilla thought. Hunting during the day, under a steaming blanket, was taking one hell of a chance!

Dru then focused in on the blanket. She ran up behind him and snatched it off of the creature! He screamed in horror, as the sun burnt him until he was nothing but a black spot on the pavement.

Dru hurried over to a wounded Wesley, then looked up.

'Leo!' she screamed. During her recent training sessions with the Whitelighter, they discovered that while Paige and herself had the potential to heal, that power would develop over time. For now, they would just have to call him.

Leo came orbing into the alley. He quickly accessed the situation and put his hands on Wesley. Soon, Wesley was being helped up by the both of them.

'Ouch!' he complained.

'How are you feeling?' Leo asked.

'A little sore...what happened? Where did that vampire come from?' he asked.

Dru shook her head.

'It just sort of appeared...unless it was hiding under some trash or something. But we would've seen smoke from his blanket. Look, Leo, get Wesley back to the office. I'll look around inside there.'

'No, Drusilla. We'll come out later tonight. This hairdresser vampire will probably feed off of her customers then. I won't have you going in alone. Angel would kill me if anything happened to you. Why don't you orb on back ahead? I need to speak to Leo on another matter.' Wesley said primly.

Drusilla eyed both of them.

'You're going to talk about me, aren't you?' she asked.

'Just go back and give Angel a report.' Wesley said in a no nonsense tone. Drusilla orbed away, her expression one of extreme displeasure.

Once she was gone, Wesley was able to speak more freely.

'Well?' he asked Leo.

'The girls are going to try it this afternoon.' Leo answered.

'So Drusilla could conceivably go home to an empty apartment then?' Wesley asked.

Leo nodded.

'We just have to decide whether to admit it to Dru.'

Wesley raised a brow.

'What are you talking about? Of course you have to tell Drusilla the truth. Otherwise she will be forever left wondering.'

'Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing. I don't get the sense that Dru is in love with Cole or anything. If we vanquished him and just let her believe that he ran off or something, would that really be so bad?' Leo asked.

Wesley's eyes widened!

'Good God, man! You're a Whitelighter! All that's good and pure and things like that! You can't deceive Drusilla in this manner!'

'Cole will be no loss to anyone, Wesley. I'm sorry if that sounds hard hearted, but after what he's done to Piper's club...the authorities have been breathing down our necks! And what if people had been inside? Cole doesn't mean Drusilla any good anyway. We all know that.'

'Except for Drusilla.' Wesley pointed out. He then sighed.

'Well, please let us know when the deed is done. And could you orb me back to the office please?' he asked the Whitelighter.

****

Drusilla knocked on Angel's office door. She heard voices and was about to just open it, when the door opened, and Angel stuck his head out.

'Hey, Dru! How'd the hunt go?'

Drusilla eyed him.

'Uh, not well. Wesley and I got sidetracked by a vampire.'

'Oh.'

There was an awkward silence. Drusilla rubbed her face impatiently.

'Do you really want to hear this out in the hallway?'

'Uh, no. Could you come back later? I have company.'

'Oh!' Drusilla nodded, wondering if it was Phoebe. Angel was acting awfully guilty! Naughty boy!

'Okay, well I'll come back in let's say an hour?' she asked.

Angel nodded. Drusilla turned and walked off. Angel slammed the door and turned to look at Spike, who had been hiding in the shadows.

'Alright, Spike. I want to know why you're back here? And why Dru can't know?'

Spike sat down and put his feet up.

'Why wouldn't I be back, mate? I work here.'

Angel sighed.

'It's none of my business, I know. But I just assumed that Buffy and you were trying to make a go of it or something.'

'You want to ask about her so badly, don't you?' he asked slyly.

Angel didn't even pretend to deny it.

'How is she? How did she take the fact that you have been alive all of this time? Is she mad at me?'

'Is she mad at you? Of all the bloody nerve! I'm the one that had to take her abuse...for about two minutes. Then we talked.'

'Talked? I mean, that's good...your being back here means things didn't work out or what?' Angel pried.

Spike stood up and walked over to Angel's liquor cabinet. He opened it and began fixing himself a drink. He noted that the bottles never looked as if they were drank out of.

'Spike?!'

Spike filled his glass and turned around.

'Buffy is married, Angel. That commando that put that bloody chip in my head...the one that she was shagging...'

'Riley Finn?'

'Yeah, that bint! Anyway I guess his wife died in the line of duty or something and he and Buffy got back together. She's expecting a little one.'

'Buffy's pregnant?' Angel asked, blown away. He knew he should be happy for his lost love. This was what he wanted for her. For her to have some semblance of a normal life.

'Yeah and quite irritable at that. Her feet were swollen you know! Anyway, I told her about Drusilla...about what happened to her...and about my feelings for her. She told me what I already knew. I want Dru back.'

Angel just nodded.

'Spike, I know that all of that didn't take two weeks. Where the hell have you been?'

Spike took a sip of his drink.

'In the underground, looking for information on Belthazor. How could you allow Dru to move in with that git?!'

Angel ran a hand over his face.

'There was nothing I could do. She was determined to live with him. But if it makes you feel any better...'

'Nothing is going to make me 'feel better' about that arrangement!' Spike snapped, slamming down his drink.

'Don't get mad at me! And I'll give you another little piece of info: Dru is under the distinct impression that you left to be with Buffy. So whatever you think is going to happen between the two of you, just think again.'

'I'll worry about Dru and me! I've been taking care of her for over a hundred and something odd years! Now, do you want to know what I learned during my little endeavor?'

Angel motioned to him to sit back down. Spike did.

'You ever hear of a demon named Raagon?'

Angel mulled the name over in his head. It sounded vaguely familiar. Very vague.

'Uh, maybe. Who is he?'

'A former Triad Elder.' Spike answered grimly.

''Triad'? As in that group Belthazor used to belong to?' Angel asked.

Spike nodded.

'I had to put out quite a bit of money, courtesy of Wolfram&Hart of course, to find out anything at all. But the gist of it is this: Raagon is looking to become like a new Source or something. He's already got demon's lined up to work for him and killing the Charmed Ones is high on the list. Apparently it's well known there's four of them now.'

'Does this relate to Belthazor in any way?' Angel asked.

'He's been seen meeting with Raagon.' Spike informed him. Angel nodded. Finally! Finally they had something on that bastard!

'And word is that Belthazor is the one that burned down that club of the one witch...you know the one that's married to the Whitelighter?'

'Piper. Well, none of this matters anyway.'

'Of course it does! Now Dru can finally know what a sodding bastard Belthazor is!'

'Spike, the girls are planning on vanquishing him...again, today.'

Spike's eyes widened.

'Does Dru know?' he asked.

Angel shook his head.

'This is all going to be done behind her back then?'

Angel nodded.

'I don't especially like that. I mean I would've liked to have been able to go to Dru and justify this decision. I'm just afraid that it will fail again. He's become pretty invincible.' Angel noted.

'But the girls think they have finally found a way to really get rid of the bloody bastard?'

'Yep!'

Spike raised a brow.

'Well, that'll be like payback for Phoebe, won't it? Dru kills her man and she helps kill Dru's. Though I like to think of him as more her roommate...'

'Phoebe was once married to the guy. I'm sure she hates doing it.'Angel spoke up in her defense. Spike gave him a sly grin.

'So, how's that going by the way?'

'What?' Angel asked.

'The witch and you. Is she willing to be celibate?'

'Get out! Go do nothing, okay?'

'There's no need to get so pissy! I was just asking a simple question!' Spike said, raising his voice slightly. He didn't know why he needled Angel that way. It was just the sadist in him. Spike then stood up and reached behind the sofa. He brought up a box. It had a very fancy doll in it. Angel raised a brow.

'What's that?'

Spike looked at the box.

'I found it in Paris. Buffy helped me pick it out, can you believe that? Drusilla always had a thing for dolls...this one looks like that one she always used to like...Ms. Edith.'

Angel rubbed his jaw.

'Yeah well, I'm sure she'll like it. She told me she still has most of her dolls.'

Spike's eyes lit up with surprise. But he did not answer. Somehow, hearing that was like a sign to Spike. He had purchased the doll with the hope that Drusilla would be enchanted with it. Buffy had gently reminded him, that now that Dru was human, she may not be into dolls anymore. But something in him told him to get it for her anyway.

'I'll just pop into her office...does she have an office?' Spike asked.

'Uh, she shares Wesley's. She said she felt stupid having one, since she really didn't have a last name anymore.'

Hearing that, hurt Spike for some reason. He didn't know why. He looked at the doll.

'Well then, it's off to Wesley's office then.'

'Good luck.' Angel said, smiling at him. Spike smiled back and walked towards the door. As he opened it, Wesley was walking in. He stopped short.

'Spike? Welcome back. Nice...doll.'

'Thanks, mate.' he answered, giving him the smallest hint of a smile. Wesley could hear Harmony cooing over the doll as he shut the door.

'Angel, about this vanquishing thing today, I...'

'Wes, I need to talk to you about something.' Angel said grimly. Wesley could see the displeasure in Angel's eyes and wondered if this was about the report Drusilla was supposed to have given him about their outing.

'Okay, Angel. What is it?'

Angel was quiet for a moment, then he just got it all out.

'You know that Phoebe Haliwell and I have been seeing one another, right?'

'Uh, yes, Angel. Phoebe and you have been on several double dates with Paige and I.'

Angel nodded absently.

'Wesley, the other night, I had to turn Phoebe away. She wanted to make love and I had to turn her away.'

'Angel, you have no choice but to tell her...'

'No! I don't want to tell her! I don't want to long for her from afar...like I did Buffy.'

'What are you saying?' Wesley asked.

'I'm saying that with all that we have at our disposal in the way of magic around here, I don't see why I should have to live like this. I want to find a way to break this curse.'

Wesley didn't believe he'd heard his friend right!

'What? Angel we both know what happens when you lose your soul. You become Angelus.'

'No, Wesley! I'm not talking about losing my soul this time. I'm talking about not losing someone that I've grown to care for. I want Phoebe in my life. And there's got to be a way to have her and keep my soul. And I'm going to find it.' Angel said with determination.