Title: The First Seconded

Author: Falcon-Rider falcon_rider@hotmail.com

Rating: PG-13 for Angst and ect. And CD

Disclaimer: I own nothing 'cept the plot and Nich. Oh and hey, at least one of the scenes in this chappy are based on a scene from Angel 4x01 cause I thought it fit in here. Anyway, Kris and Echo are mine as well! HEHEHE! I wish I owned Spike though…

Authors note: My English teacher is insane. Anyway, Here's the next part: WARNING: I wrote this while on Code Red sugar high and couldn't think of any other way to introduce ___ so that's how come the last bit really isn't very well written. I find it funny, I mean I've actually spilled a something on someone that pissed me off before… so funny but stupid, now this is me shutting up.

OH! THANKS FOR ALL THE GREAT REVIEWS I'M GLAD THAT YOU ALL LIKE IT!!!!!!!!!

From beneath you it devours…. It is…The STORY!

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Part Twenty-one

Always a next time

42 days

Buffy clicked the off button on the phone and let her hand fall to her side as she stared thoughtfully into the dark closet. Gathering her courage she reached out and let her hand wrap around the top of the hanger that held spikes duster. Careful not to let the coat drag on the floor she walked across the room to the sofa pausing at the desk long enough to hang up the wireless phone.

As she reached the sofa she laid the coat on the end and removed the hanger from it. Her fingers trailed across the worn black leather as she picked it up and slid it over her arms. The female slayer sat back into the deep comfortable coach and curled up into her vampire lovers prized possession and wondered if she would ever see him again.

*

"Cordelia?"

Nich nodded, "I received her message, not to mention a humongous headache… granted it was worth it and all…" She glanced at Spike before returning her gaze to the couple before her. "She asked if we could repay her by coming here and helping you guys find your champion."

"You mean Angel." The woman smiled and glanced between the two. "We could use the help." She glanced at her companion before turning back to Nich and Spike. "I'm Winifred but you can call me Fred." She extended her hand and Spike shook it.

"I'm William. The annoying short one here is Nich," Spike nodded toward the teen.

"Well at least I'm not short for my gender… wish you could say the same dontcha?"

Spike glared at her out of the corner his eye as the other man spoke, "I'm Gunn. Currently the head honcho here, and yah we could use the help." The two men shook hands uncomfortably before dropping the hands to the side.

*

Connor stepped back from the railing after watching the new arrivals to Angel Investigation in the reflection of a window. They were talking about rescuing the monster that had killed his father… not to mention neither smelled or seemed… exactly human. Especially not the girl.

He decided now wouldn't be the best time to deal with it. Turning back down the hall Connor headed back to his room to think up a way to get rid of these two intruders. There was no way he was going to let them rescue the creature Angelus.

*

"As much as I'd love to stay my lunch break is over." Lilah reminded Wesley as she threw back the covers to his bed.

The ex-watcher leaned back against the pillows and watched the lawyer get dressed. "Oh yes I forgot, Wolfram and Hart does most of its business after dark."

"What can I say, What ever makes the most money." Lilah smiled as she slipped her high heel over her foot and brushed her hair out of her face. "Then you wouldn't know what with that negative income and all."

Wesley ignored the comment and reached down next to the bed to grab his pants. Lilah watched him a smile on her face.

"Say, maybe you can ask Angel for a loan when he gets back-"

"I don't know where he is." Wesley told her as he followed her to the door.

"Right. Well then, see you again, soon."

"What makes you think there will be a next time?" he asked her quietly.

She turned her head toward him her softly curled hair moved slightly. It fell partially across her face. "There's always a next time."

The door closed and Wesley stood there for a second before crossing the room to grab a fresh T-shirt. He slipped the green long sleeved article over his head and smoothed it down before grabbing his coat. After a few minutes he followed Lilah from a distance out the door.

*

Nich glanced toward the balcony where the stairs led to as she thought she saw a figure walk across it. Shaking her head she turned back to the conversation at hand, only keeping a watch out of the corner of her eye.

"-Under water?" Gunn frowned. "That would make sense except the place where we found his car wasn't near deep enough."

"What about a coffin or some sort of holding container?" Nich asked keeping her gaze up on the balcony.

Spike nodded thoughtfully. "Most likely metal. Wood wouldn't work and glass a vamp could break to easily, especially a two hundred and forty year old vampire." He glanced around. "So this is the group?"

Fred nodded. "Groo left not long before Angel and Cordy went missing and Lorne's hit it big time in Las Vegas. He has completely lost the mission."

"Uh, right." Spike nodded.

"But Connor's upstairs though."

"Who?"

*

"Hey Echo so glad you could make it," Dawn smiled glad that her friend finally reached the coffee shop.

"Yah, so am I." Echo glanced around. "You know for such a small town this place sure is big."

Dawn nodded, "I know what you mean-" Jumping she shrieked as a cold drink, namely vanilla Italian cream soda, made its way down her shirt.

The person that had dropped the drink was sprawled across the floor where he had fallen after being tripped.

Echo turned around and steered at her cousin who was openly laughing at them.

"Janice." She said simply acknowledging her cousin before stopping to see if the guy was all right.

"Echo," Janice rolled her eyes. "I see you made friends with the freak."

"Freak?" Dawn asked as she padded her shirtfront with a napkin. "I'm not the one that just tripped someone and made them spill three drinks… which I'm betting you asked him to get for you."

"What I was gonna pay him back." Janice rolled her eyes.

"You still owe Jason eight Mochas that I know of, Mark three and shall I continue?"

"Whatever. I used to think you were cool Summers. Now I can see that you're just like your sister. A trouble maker who surrounds herself with losers." As Janice turned to walk away Dawn grabbed her own drink and walked up behind Janice.

"At least I'm not the Queen of Iced mochas." Dawn said simply.

Janice frowned and turned toward her as down tipped her glass over spilling the cold substance down her hair and face. "Wha-"

Dawn smiled sweetly before turning on her heel and grabbing her purse. Echo had already helped the guy up and the three made their way out of the shop leaving a fuming teenage girl behind.

*

Lilah dropped her purse on her desk after entering her room and walked over to her closet. Glancing around she opened the wooden door to reveal a large empty room. Tied to a chair in the middle sat a red headed woman by the name of Justine.

"So," Lilah said simply as she walked toward the other woman. "Are you ready to tell me what you did with the Vampire yet?"

Justine glared at her unable to say anything due to the cloth that had been placed in her mouth to keep her quiet.

"Or are you gonna go another day without something to eat?" Lilah asked kneeling in front of her.

The lawyer reached up and slowly removed the gag letting Justine rotate her jaw.

"So, what will it be?"

Justine glanced upward then threw her head outward spitting in Lilah's face. "F*** You."

Lilah reached up and wiped the spit clean. Open her eyes she shrugged, "Oh well."

*

Wesley stood in the bushes next to Lilah's house and heard the faint screams coming from inside her house. Now all he had to do was figure out how to get the female vampire hunter out of there.

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Author Note: I am completely running on Code red caffeine and am still waiting to see Buffy 7x05… I may see it after school!

To be continued in: Life's Tough… Get Over it.

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