CHAPTER 5: OLD ACQUAINTANCE


Just over two hours later the L.A. gang, Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn arrived in Sunnydale, crammed together in Gunn's truck.

Angelus managed to sit relaxed in his chair even though he was tightly restrained to it – there was just something about him that made him adjust easily to whatever situation he was put in.

Angel paced impatiently around the shop, shooting his evil alter ego angry glares now and then. Angelus had nothing to worry about at the moment – since no one, with the obvious exception for Xander of course, was prepared to loose the precious Angel; he wasn't in the danger area of being staked at random. It didn't seem like there was any immediate risk of being put back together with the soul either.

Judging by the number of times Giles had cleaned his glasses and Buffy's strained look, they hadn't found anything that could rejoin him and Angel yet. Of course he had a plan brewing that would take him out of the chair and into action for real, but there was no point in being tense around Angel. He would only sense it and refuse to let his evil counterpart out of sight.

"Breeze of LA, brushing in your door," Cordelia announced as she, Wesley and Gunn stepped inside the Magic Box.

"This is Gunn," she introduced. "Recently added member to our company, kinda. Don't make fun of his name, 'cause it's got two N's, don't make fun of his axe, cause his demon fighting gang made if for him, and don't expect him to be anything less than brusque and macholike. That about cover it?" The man smiled a little.

"And this is Wesley – well, I guess you know him already, if you can recognize him without the two pounds of hair gel on his head."

"I'll say," Xander said. "Look at him – all suitless!"

The others all agreed – even if they didn't verbally comment on it. Giles was glad he had asked them to come over. He had only expected Wesley to be of any significant help when it came to research, but if he had changed as much on the inside as on the outside, perhaps he would be a useful fighter as well.

"Mm, you know, he actually does a few things besides than scream like a woman these days," Cordelia said. "He even owns a motorcycle."

"A – motorcycle?" Xander tried to see the stiff, stuffy Wesley from a year and a half ago on a motorcycle. The picture in his mind nearly made him laugh out loud – but then he remembered why Cordelia and Wesley were in town. To help them pick up the pieces of another one of their bosses messes. "'Kay, I'm over it now," he assured.

"So, everyone has their limbs attached as far as I can see." Cordelia commented. She took a startled step back when she saw the pacing, very Angelus looking Angel.

"What the hell happened here?" She snapped her head to the side to glare at Buffy. "What did you do to him? You two didn't get groiny again, did you Buffy? Cause I'll tell you, I've already had my Angelus-experience for this year, thank you very much, and it wasn't at all nicer than I remembered."

"Slow down Cordelia. That's not Angelus." Buffy answered but Cordelia interrupted her.

"Good! So what is it, you're just in need of some demon killing help? And Angel is all freaked out about it. Makes sense. We figured that was it when Angel dashed over here earlier… Well, we help the helpless, and judging by that outfit you're really one of them…"

"Cordelia! That's not Angelus. That is."

Buffy pointed towards Angelus and Cordelia looked in that direction for the first time. Not too surprisingly, he smirked. If he could have, he would have paced around the room, making sure everyone was as uncomfortable as possible. But, since he was banished to the chair, the least he could do was leer at them, a gesture he knew would cast chills down both Cordelia and Wesley's spines, reminding them of his last brief visit.

"Two of them? Someone wanna tell me how this happened? And why that one," Cordelia pointed at Angelus, "has gotten kicked out of the Broody Boy-team?"

Angel was the one to answer her.

"I was attacked by some kind of demon when I was chasing the Bucah you saw in your vision. It shot me; it had some kind of device. As you can see, it split me and" – he looked at his smirking, evil version – "him into two separate entities."

Gunn moved closer to Angelus, not taking his eyes off him.

"So what's the problem? I say it's a golden opportunity, we stake his evil ass. Those two told me about your evil self," Gunn said, nodding at Wesley and Cordelia. "Don't see why he should get to live. I mean, you already took out Bonnie yourself, didn't you?" Angel frowned.

"Bonnie…?"

"Bonnie and Clyde," Cordelia said, quirking a brow. "We compared you and Darla to Bonnie and Clyde to give Gunn an idea how pleasant you were. Bonnie and Clyde, you know, if they had fangs and super strength and a hundred and fifty years to get it right… Are you telling me you don't know who Bonnie and Clyde were? How can you not know that? What rock have you been living under?"

"I think generally they call it rock bottom," Angelus smirked.

"Oh shut up," Cordelia retorted cockily. "If he doesn't know, you don't know – cause you're the same man. Vampire. Manpire. So don't get all smartass with me."

"I know who Bonnie and Clyde were!" Angel interrupted. I just…" he fell silent, remembering the time when he had actually met Bonnie and Clyde, and the rest of the Barrow Gang. That spring night in Louisiana 1934... Well, there was no time to think about that now. "...never mind," he muttered. "Anyway, Gunn, if it was that simple it would be over and done with. If he dies, I die. We're still the same being, just… well, not at the moment."

Giles addressed Wesley. "We were hoping for your assistance. I could use your expertise in researching the demon and I think it would be for the best to remove Angelus from the premises for the time being. It will be morning soon. Some volunteers could take him to the mansion and guard him there."

Wesley nodded.

"Of course. Angel, who do you think should…"

"Gunn, do you feel up to it?" Angel asked.

"You mean guarding the bad ass you with the possibility to kick his ass if need be? I'm all for it."

"Exactly what makes you think I'm about to come along willingly?" Angelus said in a dark tone that startled everyone except Angel. It was his own voice after all; he had used it many, many times to scare people. He was afraid of himself, or rather what he was capable of doing, in a way, but not like this.

"Because if you do anything, I won't hesitate a second before driving a stake into my own heart," he declared. There's nothing you can do to shake off your greatest vulnerability – me."

"Hmm. Damn self flagellator." Angelus shrugged. He felt both locked up and tied down – but he couldn't afford a violent outburst. Not here, not now. It wouldn't serve his purpose. Angel glared at him, not at all so convinced that he had given in so easily, but he couldn't do much to prove otherwise.

"So, who's with Gunn?" He asked, turning to the group.

He was interrupted when the bell jingled as the door opened and Spike entered.

"Hello, all. What's going on then?" He looked at Buffy. "Hi, Buffy." Angel frowned and narrowed his eyes, taking a step forward and glaring at the platinum blond vampire.

"Spike?"

"Oh bliss," Spike snorted at the sight of his grandsire. "The big poofter's in town. What of it now, mate? Some kitties need savin', or are you just here to sweep the Slayer of her feet and crush her under your shoe at usual? Is there lurkin' danger a foot?"

A scoffing chuckle was heard from somewhere behind Angel.

"Spike! Just the wheezy little turncoat I wanted to see. Technically we haven't really met since you whacked me over the head with an andiron, have we? What is it now, two years ago? I've just been dying to pay you back for that time."

Spike's eyes widened at the sight of his soulless grandsire.

"What the bloody hell is going on here? What is this, you working on this year's version of chained and chaired vampire?"

"To make a long story less long, Angel was shot with some device that split him and Angelus." Buffy said with a sigh. "You know, into two different bodies. And Spike, I promise you we're having enough of bickering vampire crap here already – so if you're here to fight, just get lost right away. If you don't get the picture, there are several stakehappy people here that would be more than willing to show you." Buffy made a gesture towards Angel, Xander, Cordelia and Wesley, none of them looking too pleased with Spike's presence.

"You're not of any use to us…" Buffy continued. "Unless… We need to get him," she nodded in Angelus' direction, "out of here for now. We need someone to assist Gunn in guarding him." Spike frowned. Angelus did too, as he easily ripped his chains apart and got up from his chair. Angel made a move to stop him, but Buffy held him back. Angelus was surrounded with enemies, and half of an arsenal of medieval weaponry. She couldn't picture him being stupid enough to try anything in here. She was right. He dropped the chains in front of Giles.

"Shoddy craftsmanship," he declared. Spike glared at Angelus.

"You expect me to baby sit him!" Angelus walked up to Spike.

"You expect me to let him guard me? Soulless, Buff, not brainless."

"Let's debate that second part, shall we," Spike spat.

"Sure, Willie," Angelus smirked as he towered over Spike. "We could do that. You try anything, Roller Boy, and I'll kick your effulgent ass all the way back to your wheelchair."

Fascinated, the group watched the manly dominance standoff between the two vampires.

"Great," Buffy said, shaking her head. "Now all we need to make this a complete Vampire Gladiator challenge is you two investigating which one who can pee furthest up that wall." As Spike made a move to actually unzip his pants, Buffy held up a hand.

"No. A thousand gallons of no, I wasn't serious." He shrugged.

Gunn stepped forward. "Hold on a minute. If this guy's a vamp – what stops these two from turning on me and start a nice killing spree around town? Is he a good guy like Angel?"

"I'm nothing like Angel," Spike shot back quickly.

"Thank god," Angel muttered.

"Spike is safe. He's a neutered vampire." Anya explained forwardly. Spike crossed his arms over his chest in an offended posture.

"Hey." He turned to Gunn. "More like – a dog in a muzzle. Yeah. Really dangerous dog in a muzzle."

"Spike, the pet Chihuahua with a choking collar," Angelus snorted.

Buffy spoke quickly to stop the inevitable argument about the correct phrase to use concerning Spikes "inabilities".

"Spike has a chip in his head. It's complicated, but he can't hurt humans, AND he hates Angelus, so it should work out fine. You'll be safe from him." Gunn nodded. Spike snorted.

"And what about Angelus?"

"No one's safe from him," Buffy answered truthfully and simply.

Angelus smirked at the compliment. "Really, this is what's become of the fruit of my fangs. Well, not technically my fangs but you get the idea. William the Bloody, former slayer of Slayers, now housebroken and reduced to something more pathetic than a fluffy puppy – at least they CAN bite." Both Angel and Buffy had to physically grab Spike to stop him from jumping Angelus.

"All right, I'm in. A few hours with him in the mansion and me NOT sitting in that bloody chair could be nice. Maybe we could have a second go at the andiron," he smirked. Buffy rolled her eyes. Oh, this would be fun. Of course she would make sure that no fights between the two could actually be executed. Angelus would definitely be held tightly locked up. She couldn't think of any other reason to his current inactiveness than that he was planning something. Something bad, she'd bet.

Xander closed the book he had been reading and got up from his chair.

"Count me in as well. I know I'm not the biggest muscle around here, but I figure it'd be good to bring someone who's met Angelus before and doesn't have a history of being his sidekick." Spike glared at him.

"I'll have you know, monkeyboy, I was never…"

"Good. Okay." Buffy interrupted. "Bring your cell phone Xander. Just sit tight, we'll call as soon as we find anything. Tie him up, try not to talk too much to him, and don't let him get to you. ANY of you."