Chapter 38
Buffy stood in the bathroom getting ready to go out. She had been in Italy for more than three days now staying with Faith and, just for the moment, Andrew. "Yo B, phone for ya." Faith called.
Buffy poked her head out of the bathroom. "Who is it?"
"It's not Angel."
"For once."
"It's Gunn. He says it's urgent."
Buffy took the phone. "What's wrong? Is Dawn ok?"
"She's fine, but you won't be." Gunn said.
"What's wrong?"
"Angel's on his way there. Spike's with him."
"Oh no. Why is he...."
"Two reasons. One: He knows you're going out with the Immortal and he's not too happy and two: He has to get the body of Capo di Famiglia of the Goran demon clan and get it back to the States or it's war here."
"Gunn, I'm not dating the Immortal. He's just a friend of Faith's that's been really sweet to me."
"Apparently, the Immortal, Spike, and Angel go way back. And it's not a good back."
"If Angel doesn't like it, too bad. He's not my boss."
"Buffy.... Don't be too harsh on him if you see him. He misses you. A lot."
"Really?"
"All he does is sit in his office and call Faith's casa since he found out that's where you're staying."
"I noticed that."
"When he's not calling, he's brooding and barking at everyone that disturbs him."
Buffy felt awful that she was doing this to her husband, her Angel, but she really needed a break from everything.... Including him. "I miss him too, Gunn."
"Then come home with him."
"Only if he apologizes for being a royal dick and promises that Wolfram and Hart will always take a backseat to us from here on out."
"You'll have to tell him that. I've stalled him as best I could, but this thing couldn't be avoided. He'll be there in less than an hour."
"Well, I won't be. Faith and I're going out tonight."
"You know Angel's been having you followed."
"I know. I saw the guy."
"So I heard. You put him in the hospital."
"Well, I don't like being followed."
"Listen, I gotta run. I'll talk to you later."
"Ok. Bye Gunn." Buffy hung up.
Faith looked up from lacing her boots. "So what's up?"
"Angel's on his way here."
"I'm surprised he hasn't shown up before this."
"Me too. Part of it's got to do with Gunn doing his best to keep Angel there."
"And the other part?"
"I think he's scared."
"Hell, I would be too. Pissed off Slayer as powerful as you are mad at him? I wouldn't mess with ya till ya cooled down."
"Good to know I still strike fear in the hearts of demons. Even if it is Angel."
"You've been out of the game a while. No big there."
"It is big. I'm really sorry for what I put you guys through. I hate losing your guys' trust."
"Eh, I always figured you knew what you were getting yourself into. You always do."
"I didn't this time. Wolfram and Hart.... It's the wrong side of the tracks. I thought that I could do good through the big bad beastie law firm, but it seems like all it does is bad things. Even Dawn's changed." Buffy snorted and headed back to the bathroom. "It's ruined mine and Angel's perfect relationship."
"A Vampire Slayer and a vampire? It was never perfect." Faith stood and followed Buffy. "Besides, who wants a perfect relationship when you can have a gut wrenching, soul tearing, heart churning, over the top, passionate love affair that just happens to last forever." Faith smacked her lips together to fix her lip gloss and then looked at Buffy through the mirror. "B, you guys have made it through thick and thin. This is just a little bit of the thick to add to the Buffy/Angel saga we all know and pray for."
"I hope this thick isn't too impenetrable. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Angel."
"You just go back in time and save him."
"Illyria can't do that anymore. We stripped her powers. I told you that."
"I know. But you'd still find a way."
"Excuse me ladies." Andrew said, squeezing into the bathroom and setting up for a shower. "Don't mean to interrupt."
"No problem. We're leaving now anyway."
"Have fun on your date, Andrew." Buffy said. The little twerp wasn't as annoying as she remembered. He had actually grown up and was, surprise, a Watcher in training.
"You too." Andrew called. "You look great."
"Thanks."
"Come on, B. Let's get going." Faith handed Buffy her coat and held open the door.
"I just hope you didn't blow it, mate." Spike said to Angel. They were on the company jet flying to Rome for two reasons. One was to get Buffy back and the other seemed more of a backseat kinda deal.
"I think I did, Spike." Angel said through his hands. He had his face buried in them and every now and then he would rub his face and push his fingers through his already disheveled hair before bringing his hands to rest there again.
"Nah. What are we thinking? It's Buffy. She loves your wank self and no one can touch that. Not even that ponce the Immortal."
"What is SHE thinking?" This time Angel came out of his hands and looked over at Spike. "I mean, come on, the Immortal!? Him over me?"
"Darla did the same thing."
"So did Drusilla."
"Hey. Leave her alone. She was easily confused."
"And Faith's that way too?" Angel blinked. "Wait, it is Darla and Dru all over again."
"I highly doubt Buffy's cheating on you. She's not the type." Angel stared at Spike. "What? She is the type?" Angel just looked away. "When!?"
"When she was with Riley.... I went to visit her just after she called and told me her mother was sick. We wound up in bed, but nothing else happened. We stopped ourselves before...."
"Well that's irrelevant."
"Why?"
"Riley was rebound guy for her. She didn't love him. And he was one poor substitute for you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. And if you tell anyone I said that.... I'll nail you to a roof and take back that ring." Spike sighed. "No one's ever swept her off her feet like you have. I was there when you weren't and I saw what she went through over you. Not one bloody person has ever come close to you. Not even me."
"Well, of course not even you."
"You know.... Don't make me take back all that stuff before."
After a long pause, Angel looked at the blonde haired vampire. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"You sure she's not sleeping with the Immortal?"
"You know what? The Immortal's probably put some nasty spell on her. And, hey, how did you know she was in trouble?"
"I got word."
"From who?"
"A source."
"You've been spying on her?!"
"I just wanted to make sure she was all right."
"Well, it's your fault she's gone."
"I know."
Spike looked over at him. "And sending your lackeys to do your stalking for you? That is really pathetic."
"All right, fine. I'm not proud of it, but it's.... it's Buffy."
"How many you got on her?"
"Uh, just the one. But he got spotted. Called me from the hospital after he regained consciousness."
"You should've had more of your people watching her."
"Yeah. We'll be landing soon. Remember the last time we were in Italy?"
"Like it was yesterday." Spike drifted off into memories as he retold Angel about Italy.
"Wait a minute. I wasn't in Italy in the fifties."
"Oh, right. Guess you weren't. Really missed out."
"Guess so. Sounds a lot better than when I remember it.... Before mine and Buffy's honeymoon."
"1894?"
"The room of pain." Angel sighed.
"Let me handle this." Angel said to Spike, standing in front of Faith's door.
"You should let me. She hangs up when it's you!"
"But what about Faith?"
"She knows I'm back."
"You talked to her?"
"Yeah."
"When?"
"A while back. Buffy told her cause I wouldn't."
When the door opened, Andrew was the one who answered it. He was wearing a robe over a t-shirt and his hair was disheveled. "Spike! O mio dio!" He hugged Spike tightly. "E come un sogno incantevole. What are you doing here?"
"About to ask you the same question, Andrew." Angel said.
"Faith's letting me crash. My casa was incinerated when that thing happened."
"What thing?" Spike asked.
"Cultural misunderstanding. Let us speak of more pleasant times. Entrate pure. I part my threshold. I mean, my apartment. Obviously." Angel and Spike entered the apartment at the same time, getting stuck in the doorway. Angel wriggled free and entered first. "So, um, I had plans later this evening, but I can change them if you guys wanna hang. Uh, I could show you Rome at night, a city of contrasts. Anywhere you want to go, anything you want to see."
"Buffy." Angel said.
"Right, because you...." Andrew nodded and crossed his arms. "Yeah. She's not here."
"Where'd she go?"
"She told me not to tell you."
"She knows I'm here?!"
"Uh.... Yeah."
"How'd she find out?"
"A friend."
Angel glared at Spike. "Don't look at me!" Spike said.
"I can't tell you because she promised to rip out my tongue if I did."
"Andrew," Angel stepped closer. "What do you think I'm gonna do to you?"
"She went out to meet the Immortal."
"When did she leave?"
"Just missed her."
"Then we're not too late." Spike said.
"Of course, it could be worse." Angel said.
"You're telling me. The last few nights they never leave the house, just curl up on the couch and snuggle."
Angel's eyes widened. "There's snuggling?"
"For starters. But he'd Faith's boyfriend. The Immortal has just been comforting Buffy while she cries."
"Buffy's been crying?"
Andrew looked around as if he was making sure the place didn't have wire taps and then settled on Angel. "She misses you something terrible. Every night she's been here, she's cried herself to sleep. She tries to play it off, but everyone can see right through it. You hurt her pretty bad Angel."
While Angel sat down, looking like he was going into major brood mode, Spike turned on Andrew. "Faith's dating the Immortal?"
"Yeah. Has been for a while."
"It's worse."
Buffy looked around the club at all the laughing, smiling people. It seemed like there were a lot of couples there that night. She was sitting at the bar staring at the drink she had before her. She didn't know what she had ordered. It was colorful, though. Ever since they had got to the club, Buffy had been sitting at the bar thinking about where Angel was at the moment.
"B, this moping thing...." Faith said behind her. "It's tired."
Buffy looked at Faith. "I'm sorry I'm being such a party poop."
"You wanna go home?"
"Nah. I'll be fine."
"Come dance with us."
"You guys are having fun. I don't want to intrude."
"You're not. He wants you to come have fun." Faith pointed to where the Immortal was waving them over. "See?"
Buffy sighed. "Yeah. I guess I could for a little bit."
"Angel can wait. You need to have fun."
"It's over. Just like that." Spike said miserably. "Not that I thought I had a chance anyway."
"It's not the end of the world." Angel said to Spike.
"Still. The Immortal?! I mean, come on! She's smarter than that. She'd never fall for a centuries-old guy with a dark past who may or may not be evil. She's under some kind of spell."
"I was just thinking that."
"We're gonna pick up the Capo's body...."
"Find the Immortal, and break his whammy."
A female demon walked into the room carrying a bowling ball bag. "Grazie, Signor Angelo. We are in your debt for attending to a delicate matter. Grazie, grazie."
"Um, this is the, uh, Capo di Famiglia of the Goran demon clan?" Angel asked.
"Si, si. The Capo di Famiglia."
"Must've been a wee fella." Spike said.
Angel looked in the bag. "This is just his head."
"Si, si. The Capo di Famiglia." The maid said.
"What happened to the rest of him?" Spike asked.
"When a Goran demon becomes heavy with the age, his head-a sag and drop off like a ripe-a fig. Heh."
"So his new body just hatches out of it?" Angel asked.
"If the rituals are performed by the family in time. You must-a get the head of the Capo to Los Angeles subito. Eh? Si?"
"Si. Subito." Angel grabbed the bag in a hurry, and he and Spike rushed out.
They ended up at Faith's place again where Andrew answered the door holding the cordless phone to his shoulder and wearing a pore-cleansing strip on his nose. "Is Buffy home yet?"
"You guys, it's only 8:30." Andrew said.
"Right."
"Yeah." Spike said.
"Do you know where they went?"
"She's gonna rip out my tongue!"
"Andrew...."
At the night club where Andrew said Buffy had gone, dance music played loudly as Spike and Angel made their way through the crowd toward the bar. "Dancing. Why'd it have to be dancing?" Angel asked.
Spike looked at the bartender. "You speak English, luv?"
"Si, si. I love the English." The bartender said.
"We'll get along fine, then."
"We're looking for a couple of girls." Angel said. "Both American. One with blond hair and blue eyes. The other one with dark hair and brown eyes."
"Many blond and dark American coeducationals. Spring break? The girls, they go wild." The bartender said.
"No, no. We-we're looking for friends of ours."
"She's in trouble. This ponce called The Immortal is...." Spike said.
"Ah, si. Si. The Immortal's new ragazza. They come, while ago." The bartender gestured at the crowd. "There." Angel and Spike turned to look at Buffy and Faith dancing in the middle of the crowd. "Your friends maybe go a little wild, too, si?"
"Right. Hold down the fort. I'll be right back." Spike started to head off.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, here it comes. The part where you run off alone and play the big hero so Faith'll take you back. Well, newsflash, blondie bear: Never gonna happen."
"Look! I know I don't have a shot with her, all right? Probably never did, but I still care about her, and I'm not gonna let her end up with a jerk like the Immortal."
"Spike."
"What?"
"The head."
"I thought you had it." They looked back at the bar to see the butler from the house where they picked up the head carrying the bag away. "Hey!" They chased the butler and Spike put his hand on the butler's shoulder. "Where you think you're going with our head, Jeeves?"
"Anywhere he wants." A voice said behind the vampires. Angel and Spike turned to see several large, bulky muscle-men standing behind them.
"Don't suppose we can talk about this over a nice amaretto?" Angel asked.
One of the men punched Angel. Another man punched Angel, and he staggered back. Spike jumped the man, knocking him down. Angel engaged another man, punching him, while Spike kicked the man he tackled before. They continued to fight, exchanging punches. Angel grabbed the man he was fighting and threw him headfirst into the wall. Spike punched his man in the face, shattering a display at the bar. Angel walked toward Spike, but Spike punched him in the face. When Spike stood and looked at whom he punched, he realized it was Angel. Angel looked at Spike, rubbing his jaw, then got an angry look on his face before returning Spike's punch. Spike looked angrily at Angel, and they both reared back to swing, punching each other in the face.
"What the hell are you doing?" Angel asked.
"I was confused, ya git! It's very loud in here." Spike yelled back.
"Where'd the little guy go?" Angel and Spike looked around and found a very angry looking Buffy standing there, arms crossed and staring angrily at both of them. "Buffy...."
"What the hell is going on here?" Buffy asked.
Spike saw the butler walking out the door with their head. The butler saw them and gestured with his fingertips off of his chin before exiting the club. "Angel...." Spike pointed.
"He's getting away!" Angel said. "Buffy.... Please.... Don't leave." Spike and Angel rushed after him.
Buffy stared after them and then threw her hands up. "I'm gonna regret this." She followed the men out. When she got outside, they were riding off on a motor scooter. Instead of grabbing one herself, Buffy threw some money at a guy and took his motorcycle. Crotch rocket. She thought that's what they called these kinds of motorcycles. She revved the engine and took off, thanking Pike for showing her how to drive one of these things. Following the sounds of the motor scooter and Spike and Angel's complaining, Buffy raced after them. She found them standing in the middle of the street, their motor scooter wrecked. With a screech, she pulled to a stop next to them.
"Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Nice!" Spike said. "Where'd you get this?"
"I stole it." Buffy said. "What the hell is going on?"
"Where'd you learn to ride one?" Angel asked.
"Pike." Buffy closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. With a sigh, she opened them back up and stared at Angel. "I'm going to ask this one more time and if I don't get a straight answer, I'm getting back on that thing and leaving. What is going on here?"
"We only have 12 hours to get that head back before Los Angeles becomes a demon war zone." Spike said. "Should we argue some more, or should we get on with it?"
"Ah, all right." Angel said. He looked at Buffy. "No more screwing around. We find that guy, we get the head back, and then we get the hell outta here.... All three of us." He sighed. "If we had our resources, if we had our team, if we had our helicopters or...."
"Wolfram & Hart has an office here in Rome." Buffy piped up. Angel and Spike looked at her.
Buffy stood in the bathroom getting ready to go out. She had been in Italy for more than three days now staying with Faith and, just for the moment, Andrew. "Yo B, phone for ya." Faith called.
Buffy poked her head out of the bathroom. "Who is it?"
"It's not Angel."
"For once."
"It's Gunn. He says it's urgent."
Buffy took the phone. "What's wrong? Is Dawn ok?"
"She's fine, but you won't be." Gunn said.
"What's wrong?"
"Angel's on his way there. Spike's with him."
"Oh no. Why is he...."
"Two reasons. One: He knows you're going out with the Immortal and he's not too happy and two: He has to get the body of Capo di Famiglia of the Goran demon clan and get it back to the States or it's war here."
"Gunn, I'm not dating the Immortal. He's just a friend of Faith's that's been really sweet to me."
"Apparently, the Immortal, Spike, and Angel go way back. And it's not a good back."
"If Angel doesn't like it, too bad. He's not my boss."
"Buffy.... Don't be too harsh on him if you see him. He misses you. A lot."
"Really?"
"All he does is sit in his office and call Faith's casa since he found out that's where you're staying."
"I noticed that."
"When he's not calling, he's brooding and barking at everyone that disturbs him."
Buffy felt awful that she was doing this to her husband, her Angel, but she really needed a break from everything.... Including him. "I miss him too, Gunn."
"Then come home with him."
"Only if he apologizes for being a royal dick and promises that Wolfram and Hart will always take a backseat to us from here on out."
"You'll have to tell him that. I've stalled him as best I could, but this thing couldn't be avoided. He'll be there in less than an hour."
"Well, I won't be. Faith and I're going out tonight."
"You know Angel's been having you followed."
"I know. I saw the guy."
"So I heard. You put him in the hospital."
"Well, I don't like being followed."
"Listen, I gotta run. I'll talk to you later."
"Ok. Bye Gunn." Buffy hung up.
Faith looked up from lacing her boots. "So what's up?"
"Angel's on his way here."
"I'm surprised he hasn't shown up before this."
"Me too. Part of it's got to do with Gunn doing his best to keep Angel there."
"And the other part?"
"I think he's scared."
"Hell, I would be too. Pissed off Slayer as powerful as you are mad at him? I wouldn't mess with ya till ya cooled down."
"Good to know I still strike fear in the hearts of demons. Even if it is Angel."
"You've been out of the game a while. No big there."
"It is big. I'm really sorry for what I put you guys through. I hate losing your guys' trust."
"Eh, I always figured you knew what you were getting yourself into. You always do."
"I didn't this time. Wolfram and Hart.... It's the wrong side of the tracks. I thought that I could do good through the big bad beastie law firm, but it seems like all it does is bad things. Even Dawn's changed." Buffy snorted and headed back to the bathroom. "It's ruined mine and Angel's perfect relationship."
"A Vampire Slayer and a vampire? It was never perfect." Faith stood and followed Buffy. "Besides, who wants a perfect relationship when you can have a gut wrenching, soul tearing, heart churning, over the top, passionate love affair that just happens to last forever." Faith smacked her lips together to fix her lip gloss and then looked at Buffy through the mirror. "B, you guys have made it through thick and thin. This is just a little bit of the thick to add to the Buffy/Angel saga we all know and pray for."
"I hope this thick isn't too impenetrable. I don't know what I'd do if I lost Angel."
"You just go back in time and save him."
"Illyria can't do that anymore. We stripped her powers. I told you that."
"I know. But you'd still find a way."
"Excuse me ladies." Andrew said, squeezing into the bathroom and setting up for a shower. "Don't mean to interrupt."
"No problem. We're leaving now anyway."
"Have fun on your date, Andrew." Buffy said. The little twerp wasn't as annoying as she remembered. He had actually grown up and was, surprise, a Watcher in training.
"You too." Andrew called. "You look great."
"Thanks."
"Come on, B. Let's get going." Faith handed Buffy her coat and held open the door.
"I just hope you didn't blow it, mate." Spike said to Angel. They were on the company jet flying to Rome for two reasons. One was to get Buffy back and the other seemed more of a backseat kinda deal.
"I think I did, Spike." Angel said through his hands. He had his face buried in them and every now and then he would rub his face and push his fingers through his already disheveled hair before bringing his hands to rest there again.
"Nah. What are we thinking? It's Buffy. She loves your wank self and no one can touch that. Not even that ponce the Immortal."
"What is SHE thinking?" This time Angel came out of his hands and looked over at Spike. "I mean, come on, the Immortal!? Him over me?"
"Darla did the same thing."
"So did Drusilla."
"Hey. Leave her alone. She was easily confused."
"And Faith's that way too?" Angel blinked. "Wait, it is Darla and Dru all over again."
"I highly doubt Buffy's cheating on you. She's not the type." Angel stared at Spike. "What? She is the type?" Angel just looked away. "When!?"
"When she was with Riley.... I went to visit her just after she called and told me her mother was sick. We wound up in bed, but nothing else happened. We stopped ourselves before...."
"Well that's irrelevant."
"Why?"
"Riley was rebound guy for her. She didn't love him. And he was one poor substitute for you."
"Really?"
"Yeah. And if you tell anyone I said that.... I'll nail you to a roof and take back that ring." Spike sighed. "No one's ever swept her off her feet like you have. I was there when you weren't and I saw what she went through over you. Not one bloody person has ever come close to you. Not even me."
"Well, of course not even you."
"You know.... Don't make me take back all that stuff before."
After a long pause, Angel looked at the blonde haired vampire. "Spike?"
"Yeah?"
"You sure she's not sleeping with the Immortal?"
"You know what? The Immortal's probably put some nasty spell on her. And, hey, how did you know she was in trouble?"
"I got word."
"From who?"
"A source."
"You've been spying on her?!"
"I just wanted to make sure she was all right."
"Well, it's your fault she's gone."
"I know."
Spike looked over at him. "And sending your lackeys to do your stalking for you? That is really pathetic."
"All right, fine. I'm not proud of it, but it's.... it's Buffy."
"How many you got on her?"
"Uh, just the one. But he got spotted. Called me from the hospital after he regained consciousness."
"You should've had more of your people watching her."
"Yeah. We'll be landing soon. Remember the last time we were in Italy?"
"Like it was yesterday." Spike drifted off into memories as he retold Angel about Italy.
"Wait a minute. I wasn't in Italy in the fifties."
"Oh, right. Guess you weren't. Really missed out."
"Guess so. Sounds a lot better than when I remember it.... Before mine and Buffy's honeymoon."
"1894?"
"The room of pain." Angel sighed.
"Let me handle this." Angel said to Spike, standing in front of Faith's door.
"You should let me. She hangs up when it's you!"
"But what about Faith?"
"She knows I'm back."
"You talked to her?"
"Yeah."
"When?"
"A while back. Buffy told her cause I wouldn't."
When the door opened, Andrew was the one who answered it. He was wearing a robe over a t-shirt and his hair was disheveled. "Spike! O mio dio!" He hugged Spike tightly. "E come un sogno incantevole. What are you doing here?"
"About to ask you the same question, Andrew." Angel said.
"Faith's letting me crash. My casa was incinerated when that thing happened."
"What thing?" Spike asked.
"Cultural misunderstanding. Let us speak of more pleasant times. Entrate pure. I part my threshold. I mean, my apartment. Obviously." Angel and Spike entered the apartment at the same time, getting stuck in the doorway. Angel wriggled free and entered first. "So, um, I had plans later this evening, but I can change them if you guys wanna hang. Uh, I could show you Rome at night, a city of contrasts. Anywhere you want to go, anything you want to see."
"Buffy." Angel said.
"Right, because you...." Andrew nodded and crossed his arms. "Yeah. She's not here."
"Where'd she go?"
"She told me not to tell you."
"She knows I'm here?!"
"Uh.... Yeah."
"How'd she find out?"
"A friend."
Angel glared at Spike. "Don't look at me!" Spike said.
"I can't tell you because she promised to rip out my tongue if I did."
"Andrew," Angel stepped closer. "What do you think I'm gonna do to you?"
"She went out to meet the Immortal."
"When did she leave?"
"Just missed her."
"Then we're not too late." Spike said.
"Of course, it could be worse." Angel said.
"You're telling me. The last few nights they never leave the house, just curl up on the couch and snuggle."
Angel's eyes widened. "There's snuggling?"
"For starters. But he'd Faith's boyfriend. The Immortal has just been comforting Buffy while she cries."
"Buffy's been crying?"
Andrew looked around as if he was making sure the place didn't have wire taps and then settled on Angel. "She misses you something terrible. Every night she's been here, she's cried herself to sleep. She tries to play it off, but everyone can see right through it. You hurt her pretty bad Angel."
While Angel sat down, looking like he was going into major brood mode, Spike turned on Andrew. "Faith's dating the Immortal?"
"Yeah. Has been for a while."
"It's worse."
Buffy looked around the club at all the laughing, smiling people. It seemed like there were a lot of couples there that night. She was sitting at the bar staring at the drink she had before her. She didn't know what she had ordered. It was colorful, though. Ever since they had got to the club, Buffy had been sitting at the bar thinking about where Angel was at the moment.
"B, this moping thing...." Faith said behind her. "It's tired."
Buffy looked at Faith. "I'm sorry I'm being such a party poop."
"You wanna go home?"
"Nah. I'll be fine."
"Come dance with us."
"You guys are having fun. I don't want to intrude."
"You're not. He wants you to come have fun." Faith pointed to where the Immortal was waving them over. "See?"
Buffy sighed. "Yeah. I guess I could for a little bit."
"Angel can wait. You need to have fun."
"It's over. Just like that." Spike said miserably. "Not that I thought I had a chance anyway."
"It's not the end of the world." Angel said to Spike.
"Still. The Immortal?! I mean, come on! She's smarter than that. She'd never fall for a centuries-old guy with a dark past who may or may not be evil. She's under some kind of spell."
"I was just thinking that."
"We're gonna pick up the Capo's body...."
"Find the Immortal, and break his whammy."
A female demon walked into the room carrying a bowling ball bag. "Grazie, Signor Angelo. We are in your debt for attending to a delicate matter. Grazie, grazie."
"Um, this is the, uh, Capo di Famiglia of the Goran demon clan?" Angel asked.
"Si, si. The Capo di Famiglia."
"Must've been a wee fella." Spike said.
Angel looked in the bag. "This is just his head."
"Si, si. The Capo di Famiglia." The maid said.
"What happened to the rest of him?" Spike asked.
"When a Goran demon becomes heavy with the age, his head-a sag and drop off like a ripe-a fig. Heh."
"So his new body just hatches out of it?" Angel asked.
"If the rituals are performed by the family in time. You must-a get the head of the Capo to Los Angeles subito. Eh? Si?"
"Si. Subito." Angel grabbed the bag in a hurry, and he and Spike rushed out.
They ended up at Faith's place again where Andrew answered the door holding the cordless phone to his shoulder and wearing a pore-cleansing strip on his nose. "Is Buffy home yet?"
"You guys, it's only 8:30." Andrew said.
"Right."
"Yeah." Spike said.
"Do you know where they went?"
"She's gonna rip out my tongue!"
"Andrew...."
At the night club where Andrew said Buffy had gone, dance music played loudly as Spike and Angel made their way through the crowd toward the bar. "Dancing. Why'd it have to be dancing?" Angel asked.
Spike looked at the bartender. "You speak English, luv?"
"Si, si. I love the English." The bartender said.
"We'll get along fine, then."
"We're looking for a couple of girls." Angel said. "Both American. One with blond hair and blue eyes. The other one with dark hair and brown eyes."
"Many blond and dark American coeducationals. Spring break? The girls, they go wild." The bartender said.
"No, no. We-we're looking for friends of ours."
"She's in trouble. This ponce called The Immortal is...." Spike said.
"Ah, si. Si. The Immortal's new ragazza. They come, while ago." The bartender gestured at the crowd. "There." Angel and Spike turned to look at Buffy and Faith dancing in the middle of the crowd. "Your friends maybe go a little wild, too, si?"
"Right. Hold down the fort. I'll be right back." Spike started to head off.
"Huh? Oh, yeah, here it comes. The part where you run off alone and play the big hero so Faith'll take you back. Well, newsflash, blondie bear: Never gonna happen."
"Look! I know I don't have a shot with her, all right? Probably never did, but I still care about her, and I'm not gonna let her end up with a jerk like the Immortal."
"Spike."
"What?"
"The head."
"I thought you had it." They looked back at the bar to see the butler from the house where they picked up the head carrying the bag away. "Hey!" They chased the butler and Spike put his hand on the butler's shoulder. "Where you think you're going with our head, Jeeves?"
"Anywhere he wants." A voice said behind the vampires. Angel and Spike turned to see several large, bulky muscle-men standing behind them.
"Don't suppose we can talk about this over a nice amaretto?" Angel asked.
One of the men punched Angel. Another man punched Angel, and he staggered back. Spike jumped the man, knocking him down. Angel engaged another man, punching him, while Spike kicked the man he tackled before. They continued to fight, exchanging punches. Angel grabbed the man he was fighting and threw him headfirst into the wall. Spike punched his man in the face, shattering a display at the bar. Angel walked toward Spike, but Spike punched him in the face. When Spike stood and looked at whom he punched, he realized it was Angel. Angel looked at Spike, rubbing his jaw, then got an angry look on his face before returning Spike's punch. Spike looked angrily at Angel, and they both reared back to swing, punching each other in the face.
"What the hell are you doing?" Angel asked.
"I was confused, ya git! It's very loud in here." Spike yelled back.
"Where'd the little guy go?" Angel and Spike looked around and found a very angry looking Buffy standing there, arms crossed and staring angrily at both of them. "Buffy...."
"What the hell is going on here?" Buffy asked.
Spike saw the butler walking out the door with their head. The butler saw them and gestured with his fingertips off of his chin before exiting the club. "Angel...." Spike pointed.
"He's getting away!" Angel said. "Buffy.... Please.... Don't leave." Spike and Angel rushed after him.
Buffy stared after them and then threw her hands up. "I'm gonna regret this." She followed the men out. When she got outside, they were riding off on a motor scooter. Instead of grabbing one herself, Buffy threw some money at a guy and took his motorcycle. Crotch rocket. She thought that's what they called these kinds of motorcycles. She revved the engine and took off, thanking Pike for showing her how to drive one of these things. Following the sounds of the motor scooter and Spike and Angel's complaining, Buffy raced after them. She found them standing in the middle of the street, their motor scooter wrecked. With a screech, she pulled to a stop next to them.
"Buffy?" Angel asked.
"Nice!" Spike said. "Where'd you get this?"
"I stole it." Buffy said. "What the hell is going on?"
"Where'd you learn to ride one?" Angel asked.
"Pike." Buffy closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. With a sigh, she opened them back up and stared at Angel. "I'm going to ask this one more time and if I don't get a straight answer, I'm getting back on that thing and leaving. What is going on here?"
"We only have 12 hours to get that head back before Los Angeles becomes a demon war zone." Spike said. "Should we argue some more, or should we get on with it?"
"Ah, all right." Angel said. He looked at Buffy. "No more screwing around. We find that guy, we get the head back, and then we get the hell outta here.... All three of us." He sighed. "If we had our resources, if we had our team, if we had our helicopters or...."
"Wolfram & Hart has an office here in Rome." Buffy piped up. Angel and Spike looked at her.