Disclaimer: View previous chapters. I have nothing funny to say
Distribution: Go ahead, ask first
Spoilers: light spoilers for last seasons Angel episodes. not sure which, but if you didn't see the episodes after Cordelia came back you are warned that there are some spoilers
A/N: now to explain the spoilers. Yes I'm bringing everyone back. It should be good to see how it plays out. I realized that there just weren't enough characters so I'm bringing the Angel team over to Sunnydale. I like Angel and I like Spike and Angel friendships so I don't care what anyone says about my choice to do this. I think it'll be interesting to have them there. Besides I really didn't like how season four of Angel went so now I'm changing that as well.
Chapter 12:
"So what are we going to do? What's the next course of action?" Xander asked. Anya had called him saying that there was official Scooby business going on at Buffy's house. Giles had come back with the witch and she had sensed that Buffy and Spike were in danger. They had left only to get back with Buffy and Spike. They seemed like no one was harmed, but Buffy explained that the witch had done a healing spell on them.
Spike was knocked out and hovering in mid air. Buffy and the new honorary member of the Scoobies took him to Buffy's room then came downstairs to explain what happened. Xander wanted to scream when heard the things that Willow said and did to Buffy and Spike. That was not his Willow. Something evil had taken over and was driving. After the story was over everyone turned to Buffy for the 'what to do next'.
"I'm not sure Xander. We don't even know what that prophecy is talking about. We have to just resort to research with no slacking off." Buffy said to everyone. This was serious now. If Willow tried to kill her and Spike and knew about the prophecy she would surely try to kill the rest of the group.
"Well I think it's safe to say that they have retreated for the time being. I can't sense the evil anywhere near here. I'm guessing that they have some bigger plan. The prophecy pertains to the champions. She might go after the other one." Maddy said.
"So what information did you get from the coven?" Dawn asked.
"Not much other then the fact that the savior is one of the most important tools in this battle." Giles said.
"Then wouldn't the savior be Buffy?" Anya said.
"No she was told to protect the savior. The day of light and dark is easy to figure out. It's an eclipse. We just need to know who the savior is." Maddy said.
"There are a lot of things that we need to know. Like whom the wind is. I'm guessing the tree is Willow. You know Willow is a type of tree. There are just holes everywhere." Xander said.
Maddy stood up and paced the room. What should she tell them? How much should she tell them? They were in this thing deep just like she was. It was personal. She too was hoping to safe someone if not at least set them free.
"The wind is Brian." Maddy said.
"Who's Brian?" was the question asked by the three people that weren't at the battle.
"Wait the guy who tried to kill Spike?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, see he's in a plot to try and take over. He let's Willow get to the top and then he takes over. 'The tree will sway in the breeze' and 'keep the wind away from the savior' they both refer to the same person. Brian. He's going to try and take over and he will defeat Willow making it easy for her to be over powered." Maddy finished.
"How do you know Brian?" Buffy asked.
"His mother and my mother were friends that belonged to the same coven. I grew up with Brian. While he started to learn more about magic and used it for evil instead of good." Maddy said. She knew that she wouldn't have to reveal too much too soon.
"So what happens now?" Xander asked.
"We research and we call this champion. Do you know who it is?" Buffy asked Maddy.
"Yeah and so do you. Angel's the other champion." Giles said.
"Well then it shouldn't be too hard to get him down here. I think that we should start looking at the vengeance demon reports now. We don't know how long we have left. Did you check our e-mails Dawn?"
"Yes and no response from Sam yet. Hopefully she hurries up and responds. After tonight we don't need him going into more shock."
"Yeah I agree. So let's get started."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Dark Mistress I'm sorry that I failed you." Brian said with as much truth as he could muster.
"It's okay. You couldn't predict that the watcher was going to come with a very powerful witch. Although I sensed that there was something off about her."
"Yes I know, Mad, she is very powerful. Also half demon."
"She's half-demon. That's very interesting. Anyway have you conjured up the beast?"
"Yes and he would like to know what or who his primary target is."
"Tell him to go to LA. I want him to kill a special vampire for me. This one also has a soul. His name is Angel and I believe that he lives in the Hyperion and runs a business called Angel Investigations. Send him there."
"Yes Dark Mistress."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless." Cordelia answered the phone. She was just getting back into the swing of things after being a Higher Being. She was sent down her for some reason she just couldn't figure it out yet. She had hated it that angel had lied to her about being a vampire at first, but then she got over it. There had been a lot more supernatural occurrences lately and Lorne said that was because something was starting.
Great another apocalypse should be just what the doctor ordered. She watched as Angel and the rest of the gang started to get ready to go out for patrol. Connor was there. He was around more often nowadays. After the whole underwater adventure that Angel and he had been through things were starting to get better. Things between Wes and Angel were getting better as well. There was still tension between them, but for the most part things were light and breezy.
"Uh-huh." Cordelia said into the receiver.
She was jotting down a few things about this client. She hadn't tried to use her powers lately. She was just trying to ease into things. It was getting boring going back to the role of being the good little secretary and not being able to kick some serious ass. She was eased by the fact that Lorne and Fred usually stayed in during the patrol as well.
Fred was researching something on this new bad and Lorne was being Lorne. So she wouldn't be too lonely tonight. Things with Angel hadn't gone exactly the way she had planned. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, but was called away to be a Higher Being. After that when she hadn't told him, she had amnesia and a point in time, but even after that things had been strained.
"Okay well we'll have to get back to you on that. We are just so busy and poltergeists are kind of at the bottom of the list. We will call you when we have a definite. Thank you for calling Angel Investigations." Cordelia said as she flippantly hung up the phone.
"God what is with this town? Something has to be going on. All the things that go bump in the night are coming out." Cordelia said.
"Well something is definitely amiss." Wes said. Even though he had changed an awful lot since he had first come to America from England he still clung to his proper ways.
"The phone's been ringing off the hook all day." Fred noted.
"Well that's what the patrol is for. We are going out to see if there is any demon lurking around." Angel said. He stuck a stake up his jacket sleeve and held his broad sword in hand.
"Just be careful. I have a feeling that this is something really Big, Angelcakes." Lorne said.
"Well be fine. We can handle anything." Gunn said.
"Yeah." Was Connor's reply. He had become a regular monotonic man. Cordelia thought that he sounded just like Oz.
"You guys be careful tonight. We don't need you guys getting hurt. There could be a big evil a brewing and we need all the help we can get." Cordy said.
"We'll be very careful. Things will be good. Let's go out and fight the good fight." Angel said as he and his troops filed out of the hotel.
"Let's hope that they'll be okay." Cordy said.
"They'll be fine, Cordy, they're big boys that can handle themselves." Fred said.
"Yeah Angelcakes will get the job done. If there's trouble a brewing then they'll be able to stop it." Lorne said.
"Let's just hope so." Cordy said as she went back to her menial work.
Two hours later
"Damn I thought I said to be careful." Cordy said as she tended to Angel's wounds. They had come back terribly wounded. There was blood all over their clothes and they had broken weapons in hand.
"We were and then all of a sudden this big rock like demon comes out of nowhere and attacks us." Angel said. Cordy finished up with Angel's wounds and walked over to Connor. He was badly beaten just like Angel. He had lots of cuts and scratches all over his face.
"This is bad. Any demon that can take down you guys has to be big trouble." Fred said as she put a bandage on another one of Gunn's wounds.
"We hit the books and do some big research." Angel said.
"We might need some more strength on this one." Wes said.
"Like who?" Angel said.
"I was thinking that we should break Faith out of jail. Being in there isn't helping any and if a big evil is coming we will need her help." Wes said. He had been contemplating whether they should get Faith out of jail for a while now. Ever since they had first found out about something big coming.
"Yeah I think that you're right Wes. We could also ask Buffy to come down." Angel said.
"No she probably has her own problems to deal with." Wes said.
"So how do you break a prisoner out of jail without getting caught?" Gunn said. He was in on whatever would help them to safe the world.
"Well Faith is strong so it shouldn't be too hard. Police will be looking for her, but I'm pretty sure that there is just too much to think about right now what with all the deaths." Wes said.
"So what's the plan?" Connor asked. He was trying to play the part and he was getting quite good at it.
"I go and talk to her and convince her to come out. Then we drive off. Relatively simple plan. I will just need someone to come with me and drive the car." Wes said.
"That'll be me." Gunn said.
"So when does this all go down?" Angel said.
"Tomorrow. The sooner the better." Wes said.
"Right so we break a psycho out of jail. That should be fun." Cordy said.
"We need her strength. It's the only way we're going to beat this thing." Angel said.
"Well if she goes all psycho serial killer on us I'm so bringing her down." Cordy said.
"Well yeah of course."
-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wes stepped inside the County Woman's Correctional Facility. It seemed wrong that the slayer was within those walls. Sure Faith was a killer, but things could have been worse. Okay so it didn't get much worse then killing a person, but the dark side seduced her. Wes was ushered to the visitor's area. He sat in a chair looking at the other side of the glass. It looked easy enough to break. Faith came walking over to her chair and looked at Wes. He picked up the telephone and she did the same.
"Hey Wes nice to see you. Good to see that I wasn't totally forgotten. So what's the up?"
"We need your help Faith. A big evil is coming and it kicked our asses. We need some more fire power."
"That right. Well what do you except me to do behind bars? Gotta tell you Wes that there isn't much I can do."
"We were thinking that we would break you out. Angel really needs your help Faith. This new demon is out to kill Angel and possibly all of us. We need you in this one."
Faith stood up and picked up her chair. The guard didn't have time to react before Faith threw the chair threw the glass. She jumped out and Wes and her hurried out of the jail.
"Where's you car?" Faith asked a little frantically. She had just broken out of jail and that's bound to shake up even the most stable woman.
"Gunn should be here right now." As if by magic Gunn came whirling around the corner and stopped abruptly.
"Come on get in!" Gunn yelled. Wes and Faith did as they were told and Gunn raced back to the hotel. The three people walked inside the hotel and came face to face with the whole group.
"What's going on Angel?" Faith asked.
"We're heading back to Sunnydale." Was his only answer as he continued searching for stuff and packing.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Um. Spike wake up." Buffy whispered into Spike's ear. She had just finished her call to Angel and he was coming with everyone. She really had to tell him before they showed up. Spike stirred but didn't totally wake up.
"Come on baby it's time to get up." Buffy cooed to him.
"Hum, wha?"
"You have to get up now."
"Hum why?" Spike said.
"Because it's good for you to get up and walk around. You were asleep for a while and now you need to get your strength back. Besides I have to tell you something."
"Okay, jus' give me a second." Spike said falling asleep all over again.
"You're just going to go back to sleep aren't you."
"Hum."
"Oh Spiky you're impossible you know that. You really should get up. Drink some blood maybe."
"Too tired. Why don't you jus' join me?" Spike said wrapping his arm around Buffy's waist.
"Spike I have to get to work and I have to tell you something."
"Okay 'm sittin' up." Spike said as he pushed himself into the sitting position.
"Okay tell me whas' on your mind luv."
Buffy looked at him. His hair was all mussed and his eyes were still filled with sleep. He looked so damn sexy like that. Truth be told he always looked sexy to Buffy.
One kiss couldn't hurt.
Buffy thought as she leaned closer to Spike and captured his lips with hers. She could never get enough of his kisses. They were so perfect. Their tongues equally matched in that old dance they knew so well.
"So thas' what you woke me up for?" Spike asked after Buffy stopped their kiss breathing heavily.
"What you didn't like it?" Buffy said as her lips formed into a pout.
"Mmm I love those lips." Spike said as he went back to kissing her. Buffy willingly let him explore her mouth again. It always felt nice when they kissed.
"So luv that answer your question?"
"Um-hum. Anyway that wasn't what I was going to tell you."
"Really so what are you gonna tell me." Spike said absentmindedly pulled her onto his lap and caressing her arms while letting his head rest in the crook of her neck.
"You keep doing that and I'm not going to remember."
"Well you'll jus' havta deal wif it."
"Okay well there's no easy way to say this, but Angel is coming and should be here tonight."
Spike was quite for a moment and Buffy could see that muscle in his jaw ticking.
"Are you okay baby?"
"Yeah I knew that the poof would be comin' sooner or later." Spike said with a little too much venom.
"Well don't worry about him. He's just going to be here to help. That's all."
"Yeah well 's gonna be a crowded house if Finn shows up wif his wannabe demon fighters."
"Riley's married."
"That still leaves Peaches."
"What do you think is going to happen? I'm going to see him and say 'hey why don't I forget the sexy vampire that went through a whole ordeal to get his soul for me and trade him for the vampire that's always so broody and is cursed with a soul.'"
"I don't know." Spike said rubbing his head with his hands. "Jus' a lil' insecure is all."
"Spike insecure. Two words I never thought that I'd hear in the same sentence ever."
"Can you blame a bloke? Christ look at you Summers. You're so bloody beautiful. You can do much better then a guy who slaughtered hundreds of people." Spike said lowering his head.
"Look at me. Honey look at me." Spike lifted his head and looked into her green eyes. "You're a good man, William. You've proven yourself to me on more then one occasion. I don't want anybody else."
Spike closed his eyes for a second. "I guess that 'm jus' 'fraid you'll realize that you can do better and leave me. I love you so much that I can't think of what it would be like if I had you and you left me." Spike said in a whisper.
"I'm scared too. Every guy I've ever been with left me and you just don't get over that. I care about you so much that I don't want you to leave me either. It's so hard for me to admit my feelings to you and be open. I don't want you to go either. I don't want this all to be a dream. I know that I couldn't leave you know even if I tried really hard." Buffy said.
"I couldn't leave you either, sweetheart. Can't go anywhere without my heart." Buffy lay in Spike's arm and just enjoyed the feel of Spike behind her, his arms protectively wrapped around her.
"Um I really hate to leave, but I have to go to work."
"Mmm, I'll miss you."
"Yeah I'll miss you too."
"I'll be thinkin' 'bout you all day."
"I don't even want to know what those thoughts will be about." Buffy said teasingly.
"You know you don't have to wonder." Spike said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Buffy's eyes widened comically.
"Whas' the matter luv?"
"Nothing I just haven't heard you talk like that since you got your soul."
"Well sometimes Spike comes out and sometimes William comes out."
"Mmm comes huh?" Now it was Spike's turn to have his eyes widen comically.
"What you think you're the only one with a dirty mind?"
"Better go luv before I decide to make it more then thoughts."
"Okay I'll see you later baby." Buffy said kissing Spike on the cheek. "See you later kitten."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -- -
It was four in the afternoon. Things had been relatively slow. Research had been boring and tedious. Dawn had come home and went straight to her room and turned on the boy bands. Spike had to get away from Buffy's room. It was too close to the N'SYNC fest going on in Dawn's room. She had probably had a bad day at school.
Spike had tried to help with the research, but it just gave him a headache and the group had insisted he sit on the couch and rest. So here he was. Buffy didn't get off until five and that was at least an hour away. He was watching some mindless TV show when Maddy entered the room. She plopped down on the couch and let out a stressed sigh.
"Whas' wrong?" Spike asked.
"I can not stand being in the same room with N'SYNC posters and music. If I hear Justin Timberlake's new song one more time I swear I'll blow something up."
"Not s'actly your thing, doll."
"I'm starting to regret my choice not to bring my Walkman and CD's." Spike looked at the girl. She was wearing black Dickies pants, a black Addicts T- shirt, and Converse shoes. Her hair was disheveled and she was wearing black bracelets and a chain necklace.
"The Addicts huh?"
"Yeah they're okay. Really wish I had my The Used CD though. Or maybe my Foo Fighters. Anything but having to listen to that shit. Seem like the punk rock type yourself."
"Yeah I guess so. 'Aven't listened to music in a while. Usually like the Sex Pistols."
"Yeah they're pretty good. So why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Get the soul."
"For a woman."
"I'm guessing it's that slayer that likes you so much."
"Yeah."
"Oh isn't that sweet you love her."
"How can you tell?"
"I can see it radiating off of you in waves. Special abilities of the wicca life and all that."
"Yeah I love her."
"Don't let her go." Spike gave Maddy a quizzical look.
"Just when you find love that you can't live without always fight for it. It's always worth it. Even if you loose yourself."
"Sounds like you know from experience, doll."
"Yeah I've loved and lost."
"Already?"
"Yeah I am eighteen."
"Okay so whas' you sad story."
"I don't know if I should tell you."
"Come on. 'M bored out of my mind and besides I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."
"Fine well I was dating this guy the one that tried to kill you."
"That Brian bloke."
"Yeah well he's part demon hunter and well if you promise not to tell anyone."
"Cross my heart."
"I'm part demon."
"Hey join the demon club."
"Thanks, but that didn't sit well with him. It caused a riff between us. Then he started to use his powers for evil and not good. I just let him go without trying to help him shy away from the dark side. It was coven rules and I just followed them. Now he's gone and the only way to let him rest in piece would be to abstract his powers and let him move on."
"Wow lot to go through at such a young age."
"All right your turn."
"Well s'not really that bad. Jus' lost a girl. I was devoted to her and she left me. twice. I never give up on love, doll."
"Never?"
"'M love's bitch and 'm hopeless."
"That is one lucky slayer."
"No 'm the lucky one. I can't even believe she is considerin' being wif me."
"Why not? You seem like a nice enough guy."
"I guess I am. I don't know. All I see and feel is the guilt and pain of all those thins' that I did."
"Well there's an easy way to get rid of that."
"There is?"
"Yeah you get on with your life. You find what makes you happy and you never deny yourself of it. Or if it gets really bad then I can always do a spell."
"No, magic an' I don't 'ave a good history."
"Okay then no magic, but it's an open idea. So what are you watching?"
"Not quite sure. Jus' turned the TV on an' it was already on this channel. Din't bother to change it."
"Well that's."
"Unh I had the worst day ever. I hate flipping burgers and I hate the Doublemeat Palace." Buffy said throwing her coat down on the couch.
"Hey Buffy is the basement free?" Maddy asked.
"Yeah why?"
"Because I can't stand Dawn and her boy bands. Need to be far away from them. Can I live down there?"
"Yeah sure. I think there's a cot down there."
"Great I'll be off." Maddy said walking upstairs.
"You two talking?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah we happen to 'ave a lot in common."
"Oh, well that's good."
"Hey, why don't I get you upstairs and you can tell me all 'bout your horrible day."
"Upstairs?" Buffy said with a gleam in her eyes.
"To talk, pet."
"Okay let's go. I like our snuggly warm bed."
"Our bed?"
"Yeah it's our bed. You live here even without really saying you do so it's our bed."
"Alright then luv let's go to our bed."
Buffy and Spike raced upstairs to their room and jumped into their bed. Buffy sat between Spike's legs while Spike slowly massaged her shoulders.
"So what's so bad 'bout taday?"
"I hate working there. I come out smelling like meat-like products and it takes forever to get it out."
"'S not that bad." Spike said inhaling her smell deeply. Although it was a pretty bad smell he could still smell the vanilla and her own scent.
"You're only saying that because you love me."
"Won't deny the love part." Spike said resuming his massage.
"Anyway I just hate working there. There's this guy there and he makes me feel like 'm a total idiot. Him and his whole college talk thinking he's the shit. God he's so bloody annoying." Spike quirked an eyebrow.
"Startin' to talk like me now, eh luv."
"Yeah I guess things tend to rub off. You get the idea though right."
"Yeah luv I do. So anything else."
"Well I just hate that job. The slayer shouldn't have to work at a menial job." Buffy said almost forgetting all her anger as she felt Spike's fingers working out all the knots in her shoulders and back. It was like all the tension and anger was being released by his fingers.
"'Ave told you that 'fore, pet. But like you said gotta keep the job to keep social services of our backs."
"Yeah I know. I guess I just missed you a lot and that made everything seem a little more frustrating." Buffy said as she closed her eyes. His fingers were sending pleasant sensations through her whole body.
"Nice ta know that you're thinkin' 'bout me, luv. If 's any consolation I had the most boring day wifout you here."
"Mmm," was all Buffy could say. She was just too relaxed to think about anything else. Well except him. It was like they were the only two people on earth. He had a way of making her feel like a pool of Jell-O.
"You tired luv?"
"Mmm just very relaxed. Working out all those knots and twist in my back. Never noticed how good you are with your hands."
"Never took the chance to fine out. 'S okay though because now I get to show you any time I want."
"Yeah you're going to have to give me back rubs more often. Makes me feel like a pool of Jell-O. Probably do anything you want me to."
"Temptin' luv, but slow remember."
"We go any slower and I think that I'll spontaneously combust." Buffy joked.
"Yeah well."
Just then the doorbell rang. Spike was about to get up and get it when Buffy stopped him.
"Let someone else get it." Buffy said. She didn't want him to stop. It was the most intimate contact they had had in months.
"Okay, pet." Spike figured that Dawn or Maddy would get it. Giles, Anya and Xander were all at the Magic Box. It had been finished with repairs and now they were using it again. No one got the door.
"I think that the two girls that live in this house can't hear the doorbell." Buffy said.
"Teenagers." Spike said.
"You want me to get it. I wonder who it could be though." Buffy said.
"No let me get it pet. You stay here and get all comfortable."
"Okay I'll be waiting." Spike got up and walked out of their room. Buffy watched him leave and felt a little sad at his absence.
God Buffy when did everything in your life start to revolve around Spike. She thought to herself.
Spike was cursing under his breath secretly planning to kill that was at the door. That probably wasn't possible considering he had the chip in his head, but he could always dream. Whoever had ripped him away from Buffy's arms deserved to pay. They were so close to just giving in and stop playing it slow. He sauntered down the stairs and walked over to the front door. He opened and saw a pair of the coldest eyes he had ever seen.
"Peaches how are you?"
"What are you doing here Spike?" Angel said with lots of hatred. Everyone behind him seemed a little scared by Spike's presence as well.
"What do you mean?"
"Just because you're a neutered little vampire now doesn't mean I don't consider you dangerous. Get out of this house!" Angel said. Spike was a little worried at what Angel was saying. He doesn't know you have a soul. Spike thought.
"Hey calm down, Peaches." just before he could finish his sentence Angel lunged at him.
A/N: Okay I realized that I'm making the chapters have more cliffhangers then intended. It's just ending up that way. So what did everyone think of Maddy. I like her. Always remember to review. I just LOVE it when I get reviews. Good or bad.
Distribution: Go ahead, ask first
Spoilers: light spoilers for last seasons Angel episodes. not sure which, but if you didn't see the episodes after Cordelia came back you are warned that there are some spoilers
A/N: now to explain the spoilers. Yes I'm bringing everyone back. It should be good to see how it plays out. I realized that there just weren't enough characters so I'm bringing the Angel team over to Sunnydale. I like Angel and I like Spike and Angel friendships so I don't care what anyone says about my choice to do this. I think it'll be interesting to have them there. Besides I really didn't like how season four of Angel went so now I'm changing that as well.
Chapter 12:
"So what are we going to do? What's the next course of action?" Xander asked. Anya had called him saying that there was official Scooby business going on at Buffy's house. Giles had come back with the witch and she had sensed that Buffy and Spike were in danger. They had left only to get back with Buffy and Spike. They seemed like no one was harmed, but Buffy explained that the witch had done a healing spell on them.
Spike was knocked out and hovering in mid air. Buffy and the new honorary member of the Scoobies took him to Buffy's room then came downstairs to explain what happened. Xander wanted to scream when heard the things that Willow said and did to Buffy and Spike. That was not his Willow. Something evil had taken over and was driving. After the story was over everyone turned to Buffy for the 'what to do next'.
"I'm not sure Xander. We don't even know what that prophecy is talking about. We have to just resort to research with no slacking off." Buffy said to everyone. This was serious now. If Willow tried to kill her and Spike and knew about the prophecy she would surely try to kill the rest of the group.
"Well I think it's safe to say that they have retreated for the time being. I can't sense the evil anywhere near here. I'm guessing that they have some bigger plan. The prophecy pertains to the champions. She might go after the other one." Maddy said.
"So what information did you get from the coven?" Dawn asked.
"Not much other then the fact that the savior is one of the most important tools in this battle." Giles said.
"Then wouldn't the savior be Buffy?" Anya said.
"No she was told to protect the savior. The day of light and dark is easy to figure out. It's an eclipse. We just need to know who the savior is." Maddy said.
"There are a lot of things that we need to know. Like whom the wind is. I'm guessing the tree is Willow. You know Willow is a type of tree. There are just holes everywhere." Xander said.
Maddy stood up and paced the room. What should she tell them? How much should she tell them? They were in this thing deep just like she was. It was personal. She too was hoping to safe someone if not at least set them free.
"The wind is Brian." Maddy said.
"Who's Brian?" was the question asked by the three people that weren't at the battle.
"Wait the guy who tried to kill Spike?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, see he's in a plot to try and take over. He let's Willow get to the top and then he takes over. 'The tree will sway in the breeze' and 'keep the wind away from the savior' they both refer to the same person. Brian. He's going to try and take over and he will defeat Willow making it easy for her to be over powered." Maddy finished.
"How do you know Brian?" Buffy asked.
"His mother and my mother were friends that belonged to the same coven. I grew up with Brian. While he started to learn more about magic and used it for evil instead of good." Maddy said. She knew that she wouldn't have to reveal too much too soon.
"So what happens now?" Xander asked.
"We research and we call this champion. Do you know who it is?" Buffy asked Maddy.
"Yeah and so do you. Angel's the other champion." Giles said.
"Well then it shouldn't be too hard to get him down here. I think that we should start looking at the vengeance demon reports now. We don't know how long we have left. Did you check our e-mails Dawn?"
"Yes and no response from Sam yet. Hopefully she hurries up and responds. After tonight we don't need him going into more shock."
"Yeah I agree. So let's get started."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Dark Mistress I'm sorry that I failed you." Brian said with as much truth as he could muster.
"It's okay. You couldn't predict that the watcher was going to come with a very powerful witch. Although I sensed that there was something off about her."
"Yes I know, Mad, she is very powerful. Also half demon."
"She's half-demon. That's very interesting. Anyway have you conjured up the beast?"
"Yes and he would like to know what or who his primary target is."
"Tell him to go to LA. I want him to kill a special vampire for me. This one also has a soul. His name is Angel and I believe that he lives in the Hyperion and runs a business called Angel Investigations. Send him there."
"Yes Dark Mistress."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Angel Investigations, we help the hopeless." Cordelia answered the phone. She was just getting back into the swing of things after being a Higher Being. She was sent down her for some reason she just couldn't figure it out yet. She had hated it that angel had lied to her about being a vampire at first, but then she got over it. There had been a lot more supernatural occurrences lately and Lorne said that was because something was starting.
Great another apocalypse should be just what the doctor ordered. She watched as Angel and the rest of the gang started to get ready to go out for patrol. Connor was there. He was around more often nowadays. After the whole underwater adventure that Angel and he had been through things were starting to get better. Things between Wes and Angel were getting better as well. There was still tension between them, but for the most part things were light and breezy.
"Uh-huh." Cordelia said into the receiver.
She was jotting down a few things about this client. She hadn't tried to use her powers lately. She was just trying to ease into things. It was getting boring going back to the role of being the good little secretary and not being able to kick some serious ass. She was eased by the fact that Lorne and Fred usually stayed in during the patrol as well.
Fred was researching something on this new bad and Lorne was being Lorne. So she wouldn't be too lonely tonight. Things with Angel hadn't gone exactly the way she had planned. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, but was called away to be a Higher Being. After that when she hadn't told him, she had amnesia and a point in time, but even after that things had been strained.
"Okay well we'll have to get back to you on that. We are just so busy and poltergeists are kind of at the bottom of the list. We will call you when we have a definite. Thank you for calling Angel Investigations." Cordelia said as she flippantly hung up the phone.
"God what is with this town? Something has to be going on. All the things that go bump in the night are coming out." Cordelia said.
"Well something is definitely amiss." Wes said. Even though he had changed an awful lot since he had first come to America from England he still clung to his proper ways.
"The phone's been ringing off the hook all day." Fred noted.
"Well that's what the patrol is for. We are going out to see if there is any demon lurking around." Angel said. He stuck a stake up his jacket sleeve and held his broad sword in hand.
"Just be careful. I have a feeling that this is something really Big, Angelcakes." Lorne said.
"Well be fine. We can handle anything." Gunn said.
"Yeah." Was Connor's reply. He had become a regular monotonic man. Cordelia thought that he sounded just like Oz.
"You guys be careful tonight. We don't need you guys getting hurt. There could be a big evil a brewing and we need all the help we can get." Cordy said.
"We'll be very careful. Things will be good. Let's go out and fight the good fight." Angel said as he and his troops filed out of the hotel.
"Let's hope that they'll be okay." Cordy said.
"They'll be fine, Cordy, they're big boys that can handle themselves." Fred said.
"Yeah Angelcakes will get the job done. If there's trouble a brewing then they'll be able to stop it." Lorne said.
"Let's just hope so." Cordy said as she went back to her menial work.
Two hours later
"Damn I thought I said to be careful." Cordy said as she tended to Angel's wounds. They had come back terribly wounded. There was blood all over their clothes and they had broken weapons in hand.
"We were and then all of a sudden this big rock like demon comes out of nowhere and attacks us." Angel said. Cordy finished up with Angel's wounds and walked over to Connor. He was badly beaten just like Angel. He had lots of cuts and scratches all over his face.
"This is bad. Any demon that can take down you guys has to be big trouble." Fred said as she put a bandage on another one of Gunn's wounds.
"We hit the books and do some big research." Angel said.
"We might need some more strength on this one." Wes said.
"Like who?" Angel said.
"I was thinking that we should break Faith out of jail. Being in there isn't helping any and if a big evil is coming we will need her help." Wes said. He had been contemplating whether they should get Faith out of jail for a while now. Ever since they had first found out about something big coming.
"Yeah I think that you're right Wes. We could also ask Buffy to come down." Angel said.
"No she probably has her own problems to deal with." Wes said.
"So how do you break a prisoner out of jail without getting caught?" Gunn said. He was in on whatever would help them to safe the world.
"Well Faith is strong so it shouldn't be too hard. Police will be looking for her, but I'm pretty sure that there is just too much to think about right now what with all the deaths." Wes said.
"So what's the plan?" Connor asked. He was trying to play the part and he was getting quite good at it.
"I go and talk to her and convince her to come out. Then we drive off. Relatively simple plan. I will just need someone to come with me and drive the car." Wes said.
"That'll be me." Gunn said.
"So when does this all go down?" Angel said.
"Tomorrow. The sooner the better." Wes said.
"Right so we break a psycho out of jail. That should be fun." Cordy said.
"We need her strength. It's the only way we're going to beat this thing." Angel said.
"Well if she goes all psycho serial killer on us I'm so bringing her down." Cordy said.
"Well yeah of course."
-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Wes stepped inside the County Woman's Correctional Facility. It seemed wrong that the slayer was within those walls. Sure Faith was a killer, but things could have been worse. Okay so it didn't get much worse then killing a person, but the dark side seduced her. Wes was ushered to the visitor's area. He sat in a chair looking at the other side of the glass. It looked easy enough to break. Faith came walking over to her chair and looked at Wes. He picked up the telephone and she did the same.
"Hey Wes nice to see you. Good to see that I wasn't totally forgotten. So what's the up?"
"We need your help Faith. A big evil is coming and it kicked our asses. We need some more fire power."
"That right. Well what do you except me to do behind bars? Gotta tell you Wes that there isn't much I can do."
"We were thinking that we would break you out. Angel really needs your help Faith. This new demon is out to kill Angel and possibly all of us. We need you in this one."
Faith stood up and picked up her chair. The guard didn't have time to react before Faith threw the chair threw the glass. She jumped out and Wes and her hurried out of the jail.
"Where's you car?" Faith asked a little frantically. She had just broken out of jail and that's bound to shake up even the most stable woman.
"Gunn should be here right now." As if by magic Gunn came whirling around the corner and stopped abruptly.
"Come on get in!" Gunn yelled. Wes and Faith did as they were told and Gunn raced back to the hotel. The three people walked inside the hotel and came face to face with the whole group.
"What's going on Angel?" Faith asked.
"We're heading back to Sunnydale." Was his only answer as he continued searching for stuff and packing.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Um. Spike wake up." Buffy whispered into Spike's ear. She had just finished her call to Angel and he was coming with everyone. She really had to tell him before they showed up. Spike stirred but didn't totally wake up.
"Come on baby it's time to get up." Buffy cooed to him.
"Hum, wha?"
"You have to get up now."
"Hum why?" Spike said.
"Because it's good for you to get up and walk around. You were asleep for a while and now you need to get your strength back. Besides I have to tell you something."
"Okay, jus' give me a second." Spike said falling asleep all over again.
"You're just going to go back to sleep aren't you."
"Hum."
"Oh Spiky you're impossible you know that. You really should get up. Drink some blood maybe."
"Too tired. Why don't you jus' join me?" Spike said wrapping his arm around Buffy's waist.
"Spike I have to get to work and I have to tell you something."
"Okay 'm sittin' up." Spike said as he pushed himself into the sitting position.
"Okay tell me whas' on your mind luv."
Buffy looked at him. His hair was all mussed and his eyes were still filled with sleep. He looked so damn sexy like that. Truth be told he always looked sexy to Buffy.
One kiss couldn't hurt.
Buffy thought as she leaned closer to Spike and captured his lips with hers. She could never get enough of his kisses. They were so perfect. Their tongues equally matched in that old dance they knew so well.
"So thas' what you woke me up for?" Spike asked after Buffy stopped their kiss breathing heavily.
"What you didn't like it?" Buffy said as her lips formed into a pout.
"Mmm I love those lips." Spike said as he went back to kissing her. Buffy willingly let him explore her mouth again. It always felt nice when they kissed.
"So luv that answer your question?"
"Um-hum. Anyway that wasn't what I was going to tell you."
"Really so what are you gonna tell me." Spike said absentmindedly pulled her onto his lap and caressing her arms while letting his head rest in the crook of her neck.
"You keep doing that and I'm not going to remember."
"Well you'll jus' havta deal wif it."
"Okay well there's no easy way to say this, but Angel is coming and should be here tonight."
Spike was quite for a moment and Buffy could see that muscle in his jaw ticking.
"Are you okay baby?"
"Yeah I knew that the poof would be comin' sooner or later." Spike said with a little too much venom.
"Well don't worry about him. He's just going to be here to help. That's all."
"Yeah well 's gonna be a crowded house if Finn shows up wif his wannabe demon fighters."
"Riley's married."
"That still leaves Peaches."
"What do you think is going to happen? I'm going to see him and say 'hey why don't I forget the sexy vampire that went through a whole ordeal to get his soul for me and trade him for the vampire that's always so broody and is cursed with a soul.'"
"I don't know." Spike said rubbing his head with his hands. "Jus' a lil' insecure is all."
"Spike insecure. Two words I never thought that I'd hear in the same sentence ever."
"Can you blame a bloke? Christ look at you Summers. You're so bloody beautiful. You can do much better then a guy who slaughtered hundreds of people." Spike said lowering his head.
"Look at me. Honey look at me." Spike lifted his head and looked into her green eyes. "You're a good man, William. You've proven yourself to me on more then one occasion. I don't want anybody else."
Spike closed his eyes for a second. "I guess that 'm jus' 'fraid you'll realize that you can do better and leave me. I love you so much that I can't think of what it would be like if I had you and you left me." Spike said in a whisper.
"I'm scared too. Every guy I've ever been with left me and you just don't get over that. I care about you so much that I don't want you to leave me either. It's so hard for me to admit my feelings to you and be open. I don't want you to go either. I don't want this all to be a dream. I know that I couldn't leave you know even if I tried really hard." Buffy said.
"I couldn't leave you either, sweetheart. Can't go anywhere without my heart." Buffy lay in Spike's arm and just enjoyed the feel of Spike behind her, his arms protectively wrapped around her.
"Um I really hate to leave, but I have to go to work."
"Mmm, I'll miss you."
"Yeah I'll miss you too."
"I'll be thinkin' 'bout you all day."
"I don't even want to know what those thoughts will be about." Buffy said teasingly.
"You know you don't have to wonder." Spike said wiggling his eyebrows suggestively. Buffy's eyes widened comically.
"Whas' the matter luv?"
"Nothing I just haven't heard you talk like that since you got your soul."
"Well sometimes Spike comes out and sometimes William comes out."
"Mmm comes huh?" Now it was Spike's turn to have his eyes widen comically.
"What you think you're the only one with a dirty mind?"
"Better go luv before I decide to make it more then thoughts."
"Okay I'll see you later baby." Buffy said kissing Spike on the cheek. "See you later kitten."
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - -- -
It was four in the afternoon. Things had been relatively slow. Research had been boring and tedious. Dawn had come home and went straight to her room and turned on the boy bands. Spike had to get away from Buffy's room. It was too close to the N'SYNC fest going on in Dawn's room. She had probably had a bad day at school.
Spike had tried to help with the research, but it just gave him a headache and the group had insisted he sit on the couch and rest. So here he was. Buffy didn't get off until five and that was at least an hour away. He was watching some mindless TV show when Maddy entered the room. She plopped down on the couch and let out a stressed sigh.
"Whas' wrong?" Spike asked.
"I can not stand being in the same room with N'SYNC posters and music. If I hear Justin Timberlake's new song one more time I swear I'll blow something up."
"Not s'actly your thing, doll."
"I'm starting to regret my choice not to bring my Walkman and CD's." Spike looked at the girl. She was wearing black Dickies pants, a black Addicts T- shirt, and Converse shoes. Her hair was disheveled and she was wearing black bracelets and a chain necklace.
"The Addicts huh?"
"Yeah they're okay. Really wish I had my The Used CD though. Or maybe my Foo Fighters. Anything but having to listen to that shit. Seem like the punk rock type yourself."
"Yeah I guess so. 'Aven't listened to music in a while. Usually like the Sex Pistols."
"Yeah they're pretty good. So why did you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Get the soul."
"For a woman."
"I'm guessing it's that slayer that likes you so much."
"Yeah."
"Oh isn't that sweet you love her."
"How can you tell?"
"I can see it radiating off of you in waves. Special abilities of the wicca life and all that."
"Yeah I love her."
"Don't let her go." Spike gave Maddy a quizzical look.
"Just when you find love that you can't live without always fight for it. It's always worth it. Even if you loose yourself."
"Sounds like you know from experience, doll."
"Yeah I've loved and lost."
"Already?"
"Yeah I am eighteen."
"Okay so whas' you sad story."
"I don't know if I should tell you."
"Come on. 'M bored out of my mind and besides I'll tell you mine if you tell me yours."
"Fine well I was dating this guy the one that tried to kill you."
"That Brian bloke."
"Yeah well he's part demon hunter and well if you promise not to tell anyone."
"Cross my heart."
"I'm part demon."
"Hey join the demon club."
"Thanks, but that didn't sit well with him. It caused a riff between us. Then he started to use his powers for evil and not good. I just let him go without trying to help him shy away from the dark side. It was coven rules and I just followed them. Now he's gone and the only way to let him rest in piece would be to abstract his powers and let him move on."
"Wow lot to go through at such a young age."
"All right your turn."
"Well s'not really that bad. Jus' lost a girl. I was devoted to her and she left me. twice. I never give up on love, doll."
"Never?"
"'M love's bitch and 'm hopeless."
"That is one lucky slayer."
"No 'm the lucky one. I can't even believe she is considerin' being wif me."
"Why not? You seem like a nice enough guy."
"I guess I am. I don't know. All I see and feel is the guilt and pain of all those thins' that I did."
"Well there's an easy way to get rid of that."
"There is?"
"Yeah you get on with your life. You find what makes you happy and you never deny yourself of it. Or if it gets really bad then I can always do a spell."
"No, magic an' I don't 'ave a good history."
"Okay then no magic, but it's an open idea. So what are you watching?"
"Not quite sure. Jus' turned the TV on an' it was already on this channel. Din't bother to change it."
"Well that's."
"Unh I had the worst day ever. I hate flipping burgers and I hate the Doublemeat Palace." Buffy said throwing her coat down on the couch.
"Hey Buffy is the basement free?" Maddy asked.
"Yeah why?"
"Because I can't stand Dawn and her boy bands. Need to be far away from them. Can I live down there?"
"Yeah sure. I think there's a cot down there."
"Great I'll be off." Maddy said walking upstairs.
"You two talking?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah we happen to 'ave a lot in common."
"Oh, well that's good."
"Hey, why don't I get you upstairs and you can tell me all 'bout your horrible day."
"Upstairs?" Buffy said with a gleam in her eyes.
"To talk, pet."
"Okay let's go. I like our snuggly warm bed."
"Our bed?"
"Yeah it's our bed. You live here even without really saying you do so it's our bed."
"Alright then luv let's go to our bed."
Buffy and Spike raced upstairs to their room and jumped into their bed. Buffy sat between Spike's legs while Spike slowly massaged her shoulders.
"So what's so bad 'bout taday?"
"I hate working there. I come out smelling like meat-like products and it takes forever to get it out."
"'S not that bad." Spike said inhaling her smell deeply. Although it was a pretty bad smell he could still smell the vanilla and her own scent.
"You're only saying that because you love me."
"Won't deny the love part." Spike said resuming his massage.
"Anyway I just hate working there. There's this guy there and he makes me feel like 'm a total idiot. Him and his whole college talk thinking he's the shit. God he's so bloody annoying." Spike quirked an eyebrow.
"Startin' to talk like me now, eh luv."
"Yeah I guess things tend to rub off. You get the idea though right."
"Yeah luv I do. So anything else."
"Well I just hate that job. The slayer shouldn't have to work at a menial job." Buffy said almost forgetting all her anger as she felt Spike's fingers working out all the knots in her shoulders and back. It was like all the tension and anger was being released by his fingers.
"'Ave told you that 'fore, pet. But like you said gotta keep the job to keep social services of our backs."
"Yeah I know. I guess I just missed you a lot and that made everything seem a little more frustrating." Buffy said as she closed her eyes. His fingers were sending pleasant sensations through her whole body.
"Nice ta know that you're thinkin' 'bout me, luv. If 's any consolation I had the most boring day wifout you here."
"Mmm," was all Buffy could say. She was just too relaxed to think about anything else. Well except him. It was like they were the only two people on earth. He had a way of making her feel like a pool of Jell-O.
"You tired luv?"
"Mmm just very relaxed. Working out all those knots and twist in my back. Never noticed how good you are with your hands."
"Never took the chance to fine out. 'S okay though because now I get to show you any time I want."
"Yeah you're going to have to give me back rubs more often. Makes me feel like a pool of Jell-O. Probably do anything you want me to."
"Temptin' luv, but slow remember."
"We go any slower and I think that I'll spontaneously combust." Buffy joked.
"Yeah well."
Just then the doorbell rang. Spike was about to get up and get it when Buffy stopped him.
"Let someone else get it." Buffy said. She didn't want him to stop. It was the most intimate contact they had had in months.
"Okay, pet." Spike figured that Dawn or Maddy would get it. Giles, Anya and Xander were all at the Magic Box. It had been finished with repairs and now they were using it again. No one got the door.
"I think that the two girls that live in this house can't hear the doorbell." Buffy said.
"Teenagers." Spike said.
"You want me to get it. I wonder who it could be though." Buffy said.
"No let me get it pet. You stay here and get all comfortable."
"Okay I'll be waiting." Spike got up and walked out of their room. Buffy watched him leave and felt a little sad at his absence.
God Buffy when did everything in your life start to revolve around Spike. She thought to herself.
Spike was cursing under his breath secretly planning to kill that was at the door. That probably wasn't possible considering he had the chip in his head, but he could always dream. Whoever had ripped him away from Buffy's arms deserved to pay. They were so close to just giving in and stop playing it slow. He sauntered down the stairs and walked over to the front door. He opened and saw a pair of the coldest eyes he had ever seen.
"Peaches how are you?"
"What are you doing here Spike?" Angel said with lots of hatred. Everyone behind him seemed a little scared by Spike's presence as well.
"What do you mean?"
"Just because you're a neutered little vampire now doesn't mean I don't consider you dangerous. Get out of this house!" Angel said. Spike was a little worried at what Angel was saying. He doesn't know you have a soul. Spike thought.
"Hey calm down, Peaches." just before he could finish his sentence Angel lunged at him.
A/N: Okay I realized that I'm making the chapters have more cliffhangers then intended. It's just ending up that way. So what did everyone think of Maddy. I like her. Always remember to review. I just LOVE it when I get reviews. Good or bad.
