Title: To the Moon and Back
Series: Angel and Spike: The Reunion Tour
Author: CindyCindy
Feedback: Adored. If you haven't noticed, I am serious about those thank-you notes.
Rating: PG-13
Summary: Spike returns to Vegas with Angel in tow. When he arrives, he has company, who help solve the mystery of where Drusilla will strike next.
Disclaimer: When I awoke this morning, after a very unusual dream, I was convinced they were all mine. Then reality set in. Property of Joss Whedon.
Author's Notes: Just a two more chapters to go. Thanks again to my husband for the beta.
Red sky at night. I could smell the under-sea. He tasted like the brine Mum used to jar the cucumbers.
Spike and Angel stood out side the door of Spike's Vegas flat. Someone was in there.
"It could be more of Wolfram and Harts' flunkies," Angel said so quietly Spike was barley able to hear him.
Spike nodded in agreement. "No heartbeat," he added just as softly.
"Shall we?" Angel asked as he inclined his head towards the door.
Spike started to fish around in his pockets for his keys but didn't have time to find them. Angel kicked the door clean off the hinges. Spike just stood there while Angel burst through the door in full 'action' mode. When he saw Illyria standing behind the couch, he sighed.
If their dramatic entrance startled Illyria, it did not show. "Angel," she said, "it is not unpleasant to see you again."
Angel stood there mouth agape, feeling a little foolish.
Spike responded for him, "Hey Blue. Angel had some anger issues with the front door and needs time to work them out." He walked over to Angel and dangled his keys in front of his face. "Could you have waited two fucking seconds?" he asked. Turning back to Illyria he added, "Good to see you. What brings you to Sin City?"
"I have decided to explore human vice. At the time of our last parting, you mentioned you might choose to reside in this area. You were not difficult to find. You owe many creatures in the area compensation for gambling debts." Illyria inclined her head in that peculiar, bird-like way of hers. "Does laying your life on the line nightly not offer enough stimulation for you?"
Spike grinned. "Not nearly enough."
Illyria seemed please to hear that.
Angel recovered his ability to speak. "Willow!" he exclaimed.
"A bit off subject, but what of her?"
"She's standing right behind you?" Willow chirped. "Hi!" when she had the attention of Illyria and Spike in addition to Angel's.
"Power radiates from her." Illyria pronounced.
Willow looked at Angel and raised her eyebrows a bit. "Who's your friend?" she asked lightly.
Angel looked at Illyria, who had already begun her diatribe.
"I have no need for friends, that title is the providence of lower beings. There are beings I tolerate, and those whom I do not. You are Willow Rosenburg. Winifred Burkle found you amicable; so I will tolerate you, for now," Illyria finished.
"Thank you, I think." Willow replied. "So you're Illyria then, I thought you looked familiar," she said with a sad note.
"You speak of my resemblance to the host." Everyone in the room cringed when Illyria referred to Fred as the host. Illyria continued. "I assure you any similarities are superficial."
Angel spoke up. "Don't worry, everyone here is completely aware of that."
A voice rang through the hall. "Willow? Are you sure this is the right building?" Kennedy appeared where the door used to be a moment later. "I guess so," she added.
Willow made the introductions. Kennedy made her way over to Spike's stereo and started rifling through the c.d.'s on the floor. "Nice place you have Spike. Not as nice as our villa, of course."
Spike narrowed his eyes a bit. "Glad you approve. I need to get a shower." He was wearing the same clothes he had on when he crashed the truck into the lake. Spike headed towards his bedroom.
"How was your trip back?" Willow asked Angel. "I see you managed to get some of your things." Angel was dressed in his usual black on black ensemble.
"It was as pleasant as twenty four hours straight in a car with the bleached moron could be," he said. "Did you know he sings when he drives? If you could call it that?"
"Driving or singing?" Willow asked with a smile. She settled down on the couch she had slept on during her previous visit to Spike's place.
Angel sat in the recliner. "I couldn't tell you which was worse," he replied. "What was good was watching Spike convince the guy at the rental car place that the car's windows were spray painted black when we picked it up," he said smiling. "He can be charming when it suits him," Angel added.
Willow nodded in agreement. She was looking at Kennedy who was still sitting on the floor sifting through Spike's c.ds.
"Spike has pretty good taste in music," Kennedy noted when she felt Willow looking at her. Kennedy looked around the room. "Where's the blue girl?" she asked.
Willow and Angel both looked around and saw that Illyria wasn't in the room.
"Where did she go?" Angel asked. There was a loud yelp from the next room.
"Bloody hell woman! That is not how you handle a man's pride and joy!" Spike shouted from his bedroom.
Everyone in the room sat listening. Kennedy was smirking. "I think we have our answer," she stated.
Spike came hopping in from his bedroom pulling on a pair of jeans not caring who got an eyeful. His three houseguests sat and stared.
Illyria followed him in. "I was simply examining you to determine if you would be adequate."
"Adequate for what?" Spike demanded.
"Sexual congress," she replied. "The last male I attempted to have intercourse with was willing but suffered a shattered pelvis merely seconds in to the act itself. You appear to be substantial and I believe you would survive with no grievous harm."
"Jesus." Kennedy said.
"And you've decided Spike would be the ideal partner for the second try?" Angel asked slowly.
"Yes." Illyria titled her head and considered Angel for a moment. "Are you offended?"
"No," Angel said quickly. "I'm just surprised."
Spike turned back towards the bedroom. "Come on then, Blue. You can all see yourselves out."
"Maybe any activity which contains the possibility of you not being able to walk should wait till after you've finished the mission at hand," Willow suggested to Spike.
"What is the mission the witch speaks of?" Illyria asked Angel.
"Tracking a vampire who could be anywhere from here to the moon." Willow answered for him.
"I find that scenario unlikely." Illyria stated.
My family has been growing, but there are no children here. How I miss the sound of a child's laughter.
"I would like to join your quest to do violence." Illyria announced when she had been filled in on the details. Looking at Spike she added, "Providing you survive, we will commence our experiment after the battle."
Spike sat next to Willow having his first drink of the day. "Fine by me, ducks."
Willow rolled her eyes at the two of them. "The more the merrier. Kennedy has also volunteered to go along."
Kennedy smiled and nodded. Angel looked unsure. Spike looked a little pained. The news did not affect Illyria in the least.
"Once you know where you are going." She added. "Kennedy, I forgot my bag in the car. Will you get it?" Willow fluttered her eyelashes a bit.
"Slave driver," Kennedy replied with a smile. Willow reddened a bit as Kennedy left through the hole where Spike's front door used to be.
"Would you like to have a seat?" Willow asked Illyria motioning to the spot next to her on the couch.
"It is not my habit to sit." Illyria said.
"Since you seem to be trying new things," Angel said, "why don't you give this a shot."
Illyria considered. "That is logical," she and took the seat on the couch.
"What's the plan Willow?" Angel asked.
"It's really pretty simple. I have been working over time locating the new slayers. Everyone has been doing there part to get the girls back to England, where Giles appoints them a Watcher. Right now we have fifteen girls that we have not been able to bring in yet, for lots of reasons."
"What kind of reasons?" Spike asked.
"Mainly time and a lack of Watchers. Buffy and Giles are being very selective on who they bring in. Buffy says the purpose of this council is to serve the slayers, not the other way around. "
"As it should be," Spike said.
Kennedy appeared holding two bags. She handed the smaller of the two to Willow.
"Thanks honey," Willow said as she began taking objects from her bag.
Kennedy placed a kiss on the back of her head. "Where should I put my stuff?" she asked Spike.
Spike choked the bourbon he was drinking. "You're staying here?" he sputtered.
Angel and Willow exchanged a look.
"Sure," Kennedy said easily. "Until we head for parts currently unknown. Is there a problem?" she asked sweetly.
Spike sighed. "Put it in the kitchen for now."
Angel looked at the items Willow had lined up on the coffee table in front of her. There were several maps with unusual markings, a bag of sand, and some candles. "Are you going to try to locate more girls?" he asked.
"No, that's up to date. Each of those glyphs represents a girl located with in the last two weeks, which we have not managed to pick up." Willow said.
"The idea being that Drusilla is after one of these girls." Angel said.
"Exactly!" Willow said scooping up a handful of the sand in the bag. Willow then recited a short incantation and blew the sand on to the maps. Small clusters of glowing lights appeared around eight of the glyphs.
"So these lights represent the demons that are hanging about looking for a tangle with a slayer." Spike said. He had seen Willow use this type of locator spell.
"Right." she replied. She pointed to one of the glyphs on one map with little glowing embers. "This girl is located in Alaska. Vampires tend to migrate out of there this time of year. My guess is they aren't big fans of the day light fest going on. We can rule that one out." Willow motioned to the other seven glowing patches on the map.
"Wait," Spike interjected, "I thought you hadn't been able to find Dru using magic. What makes you think one of these glow-y patches is her?"
Illyria and Angel both looked at Willow waiting for an answer.
"She's traveling with an army of Vampires. Each of these patches is a cluster of twenty or more demons." Willow shook her head. "A warlock who saw her cut a swath through the Bad Lands said she had at least that many. She might be able to hide herself, but I don't think she has enough power to hide an Army. Am I wrong?" she asked, looking a little unsure.
"No, I think you are right about that." Angel said. He pointed to a glowing patch in the Sahara. '"We can rule this out too. The area isn't populated enough to support a group of vampires that large."
Spike pointed to Paris, which was marked with a glyph and the glowing lights. "This one too." he said. "I know this group of demons. They're catacomb dwellers. Strictly sub-terrestrial."
The two of them went back and forth in this manner until they had eliminated all the possibilities. Spike went in to the kitchen and fixed him self another drink while the four others continued to puzzle over the maps.
"What if she split them up?" Kennedy mused.
"Hmm?" Willow said absently as she continued to stare at the map.
Illyria looked at Kennedy. "Are you suggesting that this Drusilla creature has divided her troops?"
"Yeah, that's what I'm saying," Kennedy replied.
Angel nodded his head. "That's a possibility. Another possibility is that a few decided that to go their own way or are dust." Angel thought for a moment. "Willow, could you recast the spell, using a smaller number?" he said.
"Sure, it will just take a few seconds." Willow blew the sand of the maps and the little lights went out. She picked up another handful of sand. "Halve!" she commanded then blew the sand onto the map. This time the lights accompanied ten of the fifteen glyphs.
Spike came out of the kitchen holding a fresh drink. "Germany," he announced.
"What about Germany?" Kennedy asked.
"I saw one of those glyphs on Germany, no lights, but-"
"But now there is." Willow pointed the previously un-lit glyph in the southwestern corner of Germany.
Angel peered at the map. "The Black Forest. How did you know?" he asked Spike.
"Spent one hundred and twenty years with her didn't I? And unlike you I'm not a complete toff." Spike looked smug. "Any how Willow jogged my memory when she mentioned The Bad Lands. Drusilla always thought a vacation in the Bad Lands, and the Black Forest sounded like a good time. 'Deliciously dark' was her exact phrasing. I'm guessing Thailand held some appeal to her of late."
"Dream vacations for the Insane," Willow said.
"Exactly."
Illyria was still looking at the map. "The other glyph is located in Australia. It is unlikely that the half-breed in question is capable of traveling such a distance over the ocean with such a large following. It would not be prudent."
"I think Illyria is right. Drusilla probably isn't in Australia." Angel added, "Germany is our best bet, despite the fact that Spike thinks so too."