Title: Dear Boy

Writer: Azure K Mello

Part: (4/?)

Rest can be found here:

Thanks for all the feedback!!

Challenge/plot bunny by Angela (who I love like the moon), who wanted chipped Spike interacting with human Darla and for Angel to swoop in playing our golden boy's brooding night!

Setting: After Angel's Untouched and set during Buffy's Crush which has been moved up in the time line as Dru went straight to Sunnydale and was never in LA.

Rated R

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*Three Days Ago*

Darla ordered a drink and grimaced at the first sip. She had forgotten how much she hated liquor as a human. Waving over to the barkeep she got down to the real reason she was there. "You're Willy the Snitch?" He started shaking his head, she slapped a hundred dollar bill onto the counter, and his movement became a nod. "I'm looking for someone."

"Aren't we all?" asked the grungy little man with a leer.

"No," said Darla, "I'm looking for my grandchilde."

Willy's face was a wash on confusion. He knew she was human. He *knew* that. And he also knew that she was way to young to have grandkids. "Grandchild?"

Sighing heavily she said, "You don't remember me. I was only here a few weeks before my idiot childe killed me. I'm Angel's sire." He blinked, "Human from a curse," she explained curtly. "I heard my grandchilde is here and I want to be turned. I was also told you're the man to go to."

Looking totally befuddled Willy said slowly, "I'll give you directions to his crypt."

"His? No, no I'm looking for Drusilla. A woman."

"She's staying with him."

"Him?" she repeated slowly.

Willy was frightened by her tone. Although she might have not been a vampire it didn't mean that she wouldn't soon be one. Swallowing convulsively he spoke carefully, "Spike."

Darla was taken aback by the statement. "I thought the slayer killed his *worthless ass* dead?" Her words were cold and slow, tempered with fire.

From experience Willy knew that in situations such as this it was best to squeal like the pig he was. Thoughts and words stumbled out of his mouth as he prayed for his health. "She started the rumor to protect him. He's a marked man."

"Why would she do a thing like that? Why is he marked" her words were still slow but sounded somewhat amused. It was even more frightening.

"Government put a fucking chip in his brain. Can't hurt a fly. No living thing. So he helps the slayer and gets money for blood and smokes in return."

She laughed, he tried to too but was cut off by her sudden words. "Fool. I'll make him wish he was dead. Where is he?"

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*Tonight*

Angel sat up in bed. Cold sweat ran down his back. "Oh fuck!" Stumbling out of bed he pulled on varying shades of black, "She's been gone for four fucking days, moron! Fuck! I'm sorry, Spike. I'll be there as soon as I can. Hold on! I'm so sorry."

He ran gracelessly down the stairs bouncing off the stairwell walls. Colliding with Cordelia he said tersely, "Need to go to Sunnydale, gotta save Spike. Few days, be back." And then he was gone.

The sun had just set and Cor looked at her watch, she would generally be there for another four hours, "Does this mean I get to go home?"