As Angel made his way into the lobby, he spotted Gunn standing there, deja vue, Gunn was dressed the same as the first time he had met him but did he have the same hostile attitude?
Quickly he took in the scene before him and unfortunately for Wesley his feet were about four inches from the floor and his hands clutched around the hand at his throat …the hand of a smirking blonde vampire. Spike was dressed in tight leather pants and wearing only a leather sleeveless vest showing off his pale skin and muscular build.
"Is there a problem here?" Angel went for nonchalant as he tried to defuse the situation.
"You the vamp that tried to muscle your way into my territory and don't tell me you're the one in charge" Gunn was smiling brightly but the smile came off deadly.
Angel growled and lowered his eyes, "call off your man, and what ever your problem is we can work it out".
"First problem that isn't my man but that would be my attack vamp. Meet Spike the terror of central LA" Gunn smirked as he walked confidently around the lobby.
With Gunn's words, Spike turned around full game face looking intimidating and evil giving Angel a slow menacing growl.
"Well if I throw it a bone will it heel" Angel taunted.
Spike took a step forward growling causing Wesley to thrash about trying to get enough air as Spike's hand tighten around his throat,
"Let him go Spike and get beside me"
Spike hesitated, Gunn quickly crossed the lobby slapped him upside of the head, heatedly added "I meant now."
Spike forcefully flung Wesley to the ground and stepping over him as he lay in an undignified sprawl on the floor. All the while, he maintained eye contact with Gunn staring fiercely.
Cordelia scrambled over helping Wesley up and as quickly as humanly possible got behind Angel.
As they stood, face-to-face Gunn wrapped his hand around the back of Spike's neck drawing their foreheads together pausing then leaned and whispered in Spike's ear.
Drawing back, Gunn looked into the face seeing the smile on the vamps face he smiled back and he tousled his hair knowing Spike understood.
Evidently having placated the vampire the two men turned as one to watch Wesley and Cordelia scurry away.
A sneer crossed both their faces at the sight the couple made.
"All right I've had enough of this" Angel stepped forward reaching out to Gunn. He heard a snarl followed by finding himself flat on his back with Spike on his chest and fangs at his throat.
Wesley stepped forward holding out a bottle "Call of your attack dog or I'll soak him in holy water."
Snickering Gunn pointed to Spike, "Go ahead Spike likes pain don't know about your vamp though."
"Do it?" Cordelia whispered as she clung to Wesley's arm.
Without pause, Wesley threw the Holy water onto Spike's back. Spike with lightening fast reflexes easily rolled out of the way. The Holy water hit Angel splashing across his chest
Angel withering on the floor as Wesley rushed to side apologizing profusely and trying to aide him.
Furious Angel practically screamed at the snickering intruders "What do you want."
"Not a thing we're a simply checking out what you're up to vampire. I mean can't blame a man asking a few questions when a skinny Barbie doll wannta be, four eyed geek and a skanky vamp start hanging around " Gunn quirking his head at Angel. " I guess me and my boys don't have to worry about you sorry bunch of…."
Cordelia "Stop right there we don't attack people we go after evil demony types. Are you and growly here evil thingies?"
'Naw man we take out vamps too keep the neighborhood clean for mom apple-pie all that." Gunn smirked
Angel grimaced but curiosity gets the better of him remembering Lorne's Spike "So how did you get a trained attack vamp"
"Indeed Vampires are not low maintenance creatures' bloodlust and all. Seems like you should be lunch" Wesley stood up to confront the intimidators.
"Long story man"
"Beer with the telling of the tale" Angel offered he had to know.
With a suspicion in his voice Gunn asked, "What were you doing in my neighborhood vampire?"
"Just following a lead on a group of vampires that had a taste for young children," Angel said as he slowly picked his self up off the floor and taking the wet towel Cordelia offer him to wipe away the holy water.
Grinning Gunn smirked "Not to worry" Patting Spike on the head "My boy here smelled them right away their just dust in the wind. They're the reason we couldn't give you a proper welcome to the neighborhood."
"Some how I don't think that's a bad thing …for us" Cordelia state as she stare angrily at them.
Wesley "indeed I find this most intriguing a man with your street knowledge hiring a vampire as muscle most intriguing.
Cordelia had quickly returned to Angel's side with several beers.
Motioning to a chair and handing Gunn a beer, Angel quickly stepped back as he watched Spike pace back and forth in the entranceway.
"Does Fido want anything" Cordelia looked uneasily at Spike, "maybe a bone to chew on."
Making a disapproving face Gunn looks directly into Angel's eyes, "Nope he prefers Jack and he tends to his own needs. That including feeding, he mostly feeds off other vamps. Occasionally if things get slow I give him a pint."
"For demon hunter that seems a bit unusual?" Wesley gives him a pensive look.
"Okay you all shut up and I'll tell you the story of Charlie and his little vampire Spike." Growl in background, "Hey you ain't no giant. Anyway my kid sister got turned and I had to dust her." Holding up his hand, "No sympathy it's the way it goes can happen to anybody. I thought I got her right away but apparently not. Seems baby boy here was bit by my sister so when he woke up he went looking for family. "Chuckling Gunn shook his head at their unknowing looks "Blood family man it's in the blood".
"He came up to me slowly sniffing I raised my stake thinking really be a service to put this dumb vampire down when he holds out my sisters necklace to me. I breakdown man it hit me hard seeing that, I start to freak I was ready to let this vamp take me out. Then I realize he was patting me on the back. Crazy vamp is feeling sorry for me."
Shaking his head Gunn looks over at Spike with a snort "When suddenly the crazy arse vamp jumps up twirls around I think I am done for now "laughing, "but I find myself covered in dust. Crazy ass vamp saved me and he's been with me every since."
"Does he talk?" Angel stares hard at Spike
"Not much when I was training him to work with me I had to come down on him pretty hard to get him to obey my every command. Sometimes I have trouble controlling my anger and took some pent up rage out on him. He just quit talking one day and started obeying orders."
"Do you treat him like family?" Angel's voice had grown soft.
Gunn looks at him in disbelief "No man he's my attack dog get it dog viscous animal that's what I treat him like. Speaking of which" he stands and bellows out in a commanding voice", Spike tears this place apart. Do not kill the humans. Hurt them don't kill'em" Gunn turns looking at Angel, "The vampire is mine!"
As Gunn, attacks with a surprising quickness as Angel fights for his life and at the same time watching Spike tear apart his hotel and throw his friends around.
Jumping up Angel screams to the heavens "Spike is more than muscle he's intelligent (I can't believe I just said that) not a snarling animal I won't let you take away his humanity. This can't be the powers that be, who every may be doing this show yourself."
Immediately Angel finds that he is standing in the middle of a dense fog. Jerking his head up at the sound of click, click he walks in that direction cautiously. After a short walk, the fog settles to his knees, he finds him self-standing in front of a wheel of fortune.
A strange man stands in front of the wheel the British voice and that predatory smile Angel feels a shiver run down his spine this does not bode well.
"You're a very hard to please Angel. I believe the wish was anyone else but you. Hmmm but work with me I am new to all this wish business and making things right. Prefer chaos myself. Contrary to popular belief, I want you to be a happy customer. My choices have not met with your approval lets leave it to chance. He reaches up grabbing the wheel giving a hard spin.
The wheel whirls around and around as it slows Angel looks closely realizing that there are pictures on the wheel. The wheel stops Angel looks at the picture oh no Spike and a watcher.