No time to register the words you say,
As I am stepping over you,
And it's a sad state of affairs
Don't even pretend we're not aware, and turned cold...
Walk Away
Untouched
I can't relate to anyone
I try to be, a humble man, a better son, a better friend
But life gets in the way
No time to register, the shame I feel
As I try not to notice you
And it's a sad state of affairs,
To ignore this wrongness everywhere
Turned cold...
Walk Away
Untouched
I can't relate to anyone
I try to be a humble man, a better son, a better friend
But life gets in the way
It's the way, we silence our senses
A way, to smother the impulses
Suffocate the senses
Suffocate the impulse
We bury pain and tramp the dirt down
Walk Away
Untouched
I can't relate to anyone
I try to be a humble man, a better son, a better friend
But life gets in the way
I try to be a humble man, a better son, a better friend,
But life gets in the way...the way...

"Walk Away"
Epidemic

Chapter 6
Walk Away

"So…"

"It starts tomorrow, doesn't it?"

"Yep – no more peace and quiet; no more time for us to relax."

"No more time to read."

Spike perked a scared eyebrow at Angel. "Who gives a piss about readin', mate?" The two of them were seated at the small kitchen table in the early evening. Spike was dressed in a skin tight maroon t-shirt with long sleeves and loose fitting blue jeans. Angel was also wearing loose jeans, but had donned a forest green button up shirt. He looked up slowly from the book in front of him and stared at Spike.

"Care to rephrase that?" he asked. Spike shrugged.

"Not actually," he said, grinning. Angel shook his head slightly and returned to his reading. Spike watched him tentatively for a few moments before breaking the silence between them. "Oh, come on then Angel! I'm bored, an' this is our last night of freedom! Last night to do whatever the hell we want! It's almost like… almost like we're gettin' married tomorrow!"

"What?" Angel asked suddenly, looking up again. He gave Spike an inquisitorial stare. "What are you talking about?"

"Tomorrow!" Spike said, waving a hand about. "Grand opening!" Angel still stared. "The Slayer Academy!" Spike continued, almost angry.

"What about it?" Angel asked. Spike's hand dropped to his side and he regarded his grandsire with annoyance.

"We're going to be training the girls," Spike reminded him.

"I'm well aware of that, Spike," Angel said dismissively as he turned his face back to his book. Spike slapped a hand down on the page.

"So I don't much feel like sittin' around watchin' you read all bloody night," he growled. Angel closed his eyes and waited. Spike didn't move.

"So go out and find something to do, Spike," Angel told him calmly, opening his eyes again and gazing into Spike's blue orbs – they had taken a slightly gray tint, as though the very sky had formed within them and was threatening rain. Or in Spike's case, a major thunderstorm that was likely to knock out power for several days.

"Angel…" Spike whined. The older vampire threw his head back, sighing in exasperation.

"Fine," he conceded. "Where do you want to go?" Spike beamed at him, the storm clearing instantly.

"That's a bit more like it."

"Why are we here, Spike?"

"Because we're goin' to enjoy our last night as free men," Spike told him before throwing his head back and swallowing a double shot of whiskey. Angel frowned at his own shot glass.

"What if I just wanted to read at home?" he asked.

"You don't know what the real meanin' of fun is, do you?" Spike asked, knocking back another double shot. Angel glared at him.

"I had more fun in my nearly twenty-six years as a mortal man than you've had in your entire unlife," he said, quickly downing his shot and setting the glass down on the counter. Spike's eyes lit up.

"Care to show me what kind of fun you 'ad?" he asked. Angel snorted.

"I'd need a woman and you'd need at least four notebooks." Spike frowned a bit.

"What would I need notebooks for?" he asked, taking another shot. Angel grinned and took another drink.

"Because I'd show you more than you could ever have hoped to learn by now," Angel told him. Spike chuckled.

"Is that so?" he asked as Angel had another drink. Angel nodded. A fast paced tune started up, followed quickly by a horrible singer. Spike and Angel glanced from their spots at the bar to the stage.

"Karaoke," Angel murmured. He laughed to himself. "It had to be karaoke night."

"What's wrong with karaoke?" Spike asked as they turned back to the bar, where their next round of drinks were ready for them. Angel shook his head.

"Lorne," he said, picking up the small glass and looking at it. "I met him at a karaoke bar. His karaoke bar, actually."

"Really?" Spike asked. "Interesting."

"It's how we became friends," Angel said. "I needed help, I sang for him, he gave me advice. And then I sorta helped destroy his bar and he came to live with me."

"And I'm going to guess that the first thing you ever sang for him was by Barry Manilow," Spike said, swallowing his drink. Angel licked his lips.

"Mandy," he nodded. Spike rolled his eyes. "What?" Angel asked. Spike crinkled his nose. "It's a good song!"

"No," Spike told him slowly, "Come Together is a good song."

"The Beatles?" Angel asked. Spike nodded. "But I don't know the words…"

"You're pathetic," Spike laughed. "I bet you never sang a song you didn't know!"

"Like you could," Angel muttered, staring at the bar's surface. Spike gave a half shrug.

"I will if you want me to," he said. Angel's brow furrowed, and he looked at Spike out of the corner of his eye.

"You'll what?"

"I'll sing if ya want – any song you pick. Except…" Spike thought for a moment. "OK, it has to be something rock 'n' roll – no Britney… Aguilera or Jessica whats-her-name…"

"Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and Jessica Simpson," Angel told him. Spike covered his mouth as he laughed. Angel closed his eyes. "That's Buffy's fault," he said through gritted teeth as Spike continued laughing at him. "She listened to them."

"Yeah, and I'm sure you really objected, mate," Spike snickered. Angel glared at him.

"If you don't stop laughing you'll find holy water in your blood tonight," he menaced. Spike shoved his shoulder.

"You wouldn't dare, and you know it," Spike said. "Now pick somethin', quick."

Angel thought for a moment, then smiled. "OK, Spike – I know just the song."

"Are you talking to me yet?" Angel looked across the table at Spike, who sat quietly sipping his mug of coffee and looking anywhere other than at Angel. Angel smiled. "Guess not." Still, Spike was silent. "It's not like it was that bad though, Spike."

Spike looked down at his white tank top, noticing a small coffee stain on it. He sighed irritably and stood up. Angel watched him walk to the kitchen sink and take his top off, rinsing it a bit under the water to see if it would come out. He realized he was staring rather dreamily at Spike's back and quickly looked away, hoping that Spike hadn't noticed.

"Bugger," Spike muttered under his breath, scratching at the stain. Frustrated, he turned the water off and strode out of the room.

"It was only Michael Bolton!" Angel called after him, smiling triumphantly. He heard the door to the basement slam in return. He chuckled to himself as he stood up, grabbing his bath towel off a neighboring chair and heading into the bathroom for a shower.

After he had finished, he opened the door to find Spike standing in front of him. "Can I do something for you, Spike?" Angel asked sweetly. Spike said nothing and pushed past him into the bathroom, shoving him out of the way as he slammed the door. The shower started up, and Angel shrugged as he headed into the basement.

He dressed in dark jeans and a plain white t-shirt. He toweled his hair one last time and tossed it into the small hamper he and Spike shared just as the blonde made his way down the steps. Angel caught himself staring again as a few small drops of water rolled casually down Spike's well defined stomach. He turned abruptly, trying to find a pair of socks and his shoes. As he grabbed a pair or white socks with thin blue stripes in them, he heard Spike let out a frustrated sigh.

"What's wrong?" he asked, turning around. Spike had put on a pair of black jeans, but was still shirtless. The blonde vampire had turned his head to glare at Angel, but still said nothing as he continued rummaging through his clothes. Angel frowned, but returned to his socks. He slipped them on, grabbing a pair of plain white walking shoes and shoving them on his feet. He turned and walked across the room, past Spike and to a door that had been a recent addition in the basement. It led into the underground tunnel that connected the Slayer's school with the basement and condo that Faith and Wood owned. His hand had just touched the knob when –

"You're a fucker." Angel turned and glowered at Spike, who's scowl was set just as hard.

"You told me to – "

"But you knew!" Spike shouted. Angel was taken aback. "You knew! All along!"

"What?" Angel asked. "Spike, it was just Michael Bolton…"

"I'm not angry about that!" Spike roared. He slipped into his vamp face. "I'm angry because you know – you know how I feel! And still you made me sing that damned song!"

"Spike, what are you talking about?"

"The other day," Spike said, pacing now. "When I was all sixes and sevens after that medication took effect. I told you I… I love…"

"Oh," Angel said quietly. "Yeah, you, uh… you never said who but I guessed."

"And you couldn't at least tell me you knew?" Spike asked. He shifted back to his human visage, clutching tightly to a black t-shirt. "You couldn't at least tell me you figured out…"

"Spike, it's not a big deal – "

"It is!" he yelled. "It is, Angel!"

"So you have a thing for Faith!" Angel shouted back. This time it was Spike who looked taken aback. "So what? She's with Wood, and as long as you understand that, you'll be fine!" Spike pursed his lips.

"You… you think… Faith?" Spike asked. Angel nodded.

"It fits your whole Slayer obsession," Angel told him, waving his hands emphatically. Spike nodded.

"So you've, told her… I guess?"

"Yeah," Angel told him. "She thought I was crazy." Spike nodded again, sinking onto his bed as his gaze hit the floor.

"Well… good. I mean, it's not like… well, you know… she's with Wood… and…" Spike inhaled to calm himself and smiled, looking back up at Angel. "Well. I feel better then."

"So you'll talk to me and act like we're friends?" Angel asked, smirking. Spike shrugged.

"I guess," he said, pulling his shirt over his head. "Sorry – about earlier. Ya know, slammin' doors and what not." Angel nodded.

"We should get over there – Faith said we had some set up to do before the girls got here later." Spike smiled.

"Think we're really ready for this?" he asked. "Trainin' girls to fight an' kill our kind?" Angel shrugged.

"You've done more of that than I have. But yeah, I think we are."

"God, I hope you're right."

Once Spike ha finished dressing, the two made their way through the tunnel and up a small set of stairs. They paused just before the door.

"Here goes nothing," Spike muttered under his breath. Angel nodded and turned the doorknob, pushing it open.

"'Bout damn time!"

Faith stood in front of the door with a large plastic bin full of all sorts of weapons – most of them wooden stakes. Spike looked at them with raised eyebrows.

"Not exactly the welcome we were hopin' for, pet," he told her, looking back up at her. She smiled.

"Then maybe you should have been here earlier," she told him sweetly before shoving the box into his hands. "The small weapons go over by that set of windows – don't worry, their safe." Spike and Angel peered over at the windows in question. The sunlight was streaming in brightly, the blinds rolled up so that there was no shade. The two vampires looked back at the Slayer before them.

"Did we piss you off?" Angel asked. She chuckled and began to walk away. Spike shook his head.

"You could at least put the blinds down for us, ya crazy bint!" he called after her. She waved back to him to let him know she had heard, but continued on her path.

"Well…" Angel started. Spike shrugged.

"Guess we better start thinkin' of a plan to get these things over there," he said. Angel nodded.

"Yeah… I could run like hell," he suggested.

"Normally this is the part where I'd argue and say I'm better at that than you are," Spike said, looking back down at the weapons, "but in this case I'll let you have your way." Suddenly he shoved the box into Angel's arms and stalked off after Faith. Angel stared after him, slightly angry.

"Come back!" he called after Spike. "Argue with me, just this once!"

"Faith, we have got to work on communication."

"Angel, you eventually figured out that the windows are necro-tempered. What's the problem?"

Angel sat in one of several small offices that bordered the main training area, a mug of blood in his hands. He frowned at Faith, who was perched on the desk in front of him. "I figured it out after an hour! Those are floor to ceiling windows! How was I supposed to know they were necro-tempered? Besides," he said, taking a sip from his cup, "where'd the council get the idea to do that?"

"Wolfram & Hart, actually," Faith told him. "heard about it, asked about it – since you're here. Told Giles you'd be helping me train the girls. Thought it would be the best idea." Angel nodded.

"Thanks… I think," he said softly. She grinned.

"No problem. So, we all ready?"

Spike poked his head in the doorway. "Uh, there's a big blue bus here – "

"That'll be them," Faith said, sounding genuinely excited. "You guys ready?" Spike smiled brightly.

"So long as I don't get staked, I'll be fine," he said.

"Let's go then," Faith said, standing. Angel followed and soon the three of them were standing in a small foyer with bright white walls and at least twenty five young girls, all of them wearing a different expression. Wood stood in front of them, checking of names as he called them.

"Well, looks like someone fancies himself the boss," Spike mused quietly. "Right back into the roll of principal, ay?"

"He's good at it," Faith whispered as the girls continued answering to their names. "Besides, we have enough to worry about – he knows who's really in charge."

"Good," Angel told her softly.

"They're ready, Faith." Wood turned to her and smiled slightly. She nodded and stepped forward.

"Hey guys, my name's Faith. Welcome to Slayer Academy. Any questions before we begin?" A girl with her blonde hair in braided pigtails near the right side of the crowd raised her hand quickly. Faith looked at her. "Yes?"

"Donna Driscoll," she introduced herself. She stepped forward – she was dressed as any typical high school girl would be – blue jeans, a light purple fitted t-shirt, and the latest sneakers. On one shoulder she had a black book bag. "I was just wondering – who are those two?" she asked, nodding at Spike and Angel. Faith smiled.

"That will be explained later," she said. "But don't worry – they don't bite." A few girls snickered and Donna stepped back into the crowd. "Any others?"

Another young girl raised her hand this time – she was directly in front. She wore a pair of platform high heels and black dress slacks, along with a black tank top. Her brown hair was pulled back into a small ponytail. Faith acknowledged her with a nod.

"Marie Tab," she said confidently. "Exactly what are we going to be doing – I mean, I understand the concept of vampires, and vampire slayers. But… when does all that happen? When do we actually go out and start fighting these things?"

"When the four of us," Faith gestured to Spike and Angel, herself, and Wood, "feel you're ready. Any others?" No one else raised their hands. "Good. Time for the tour."

Spike and Angel followed silently behind the girls as Faith and Wood led them through the building, showing them where everything was. A few girls chanced glances back at them, but said nothing. Spike sighed.

"This place is too… clean," he muttered to Angel. Angel took in the gleaming white walls and fresh carpet. He had to agree.

"Won't be for long," he whispered back. "I give it a week before there's blood on at least three of the walls in that training room." Spike nodded.

"And this brings us back into the main training area," Faith's voice floated back to them. "Now, you'll see all the tables set up – that's for homework. Every day after school, you'll come in here and start on your homework. Once it's finished, we train. No exceptions. Got it?" There was a soft humming as the girls all agreed to the terms. "Great. Get to it." The band of girls broke into small groups, each finding seats and digging through their bags. Soon, the only sound that could be heard was the scratching of pens and pencils as the girls worked. Faith and Wood walked into an office, where Spike and Angel followed.

Faith closed the door behind them quietly. "So, here's my plan," she said. "Tonight we go out for a quick patrol. Show 'em what it's like."

"But you two are going to break off from us at one point," Wood stepped in, looking at Angel and Spike as the two leaned against the desk. "You two are going to be the attackers."

"And you're sure that no one else will be out in that particular graveyard?" Angel asked.

"Every time we've ever been in that cemetery, it's been dead," Faith said.

"Well, thank you Captain Obvious," Spike told her. "I'm guessing that none of the dead tried comin' up to say hi?"

"Nope," Faith said. "Got these made," she changed the subject, pulling out a plastic replica of a wooden stake. "Spring loaded – won't even stab ya. No chance of an accident." Spike reached out and took the practice weapon from Faith's hands. He examined it, playing a bit, before turning to Angel and jamming the thing at his chest. Angel looked down at Spike's hand, then back up at him.

"Having fun?" he asked. Spike grinned.

"Plenty." Angel reached up and took the weapon from Spike.

"OK. So, are we thinking just after sunset? Maybe leave any real slaying for the weekend?" Wood nodded.

"Yeah – don't wanna keep them all out too late on their first night," he said. "But we need to cover basic defenses and strikes first."

"And aim," Spike put in. "I don't fancy some girly whackin' on me until she thinks she's got it right."

"Spike's got a point," Angel said. "These girls are strong enough, they could really do something if they aren't careful. And most of them have probably never seen a real vampire before. They're gonna get hysterical when they see us."

"Hence the plastic and springs," Faith said. "But you're right – they need to be able to find the heart without a big red bull's-eye. I'll call Giles tomorrow – see what we can do."

"And in the meantime," Spike said, sauntering over to the small office window and pulling back the curtain, "it's slay time."

"OK." Spike peered from behind a rather large monument at the girls that Faith had with her. She and Wood had decided it would be best to spilt the large group up, and Spike had opted to go with Faith – he had a feeling that a real wooden stake could very easily slip into Wood's group had he been the vamp to accompany them. So, Faith it was. He and Angel had decided to spilt up immediately upon entering the graveyard.

"Oh, this will be fun," he whispered as he thought back on the introductions Faith had given for him and Angel. She had conveniently left out the part where she told the girls they were vampires. She had said it would be best for them to find that out on their own.

" – So, three girls per team. Who wants to go first?" Spike watched as three girls very cautiously stepped forward. "Great – Sarah, Liz, and… Holly?" The girls nodded eagerly. Spike closed his eyes as he heard Faith giving directives on how to sweep through the cemetery. He inhaled deeply through his nose.

"They're afraid," he murmured. "I used to love it when they were afraid. Used to love it so much…"

"Alright, move out girls," Faith instructed. Spike smiled and peered back to see the three of them huddled together as they walked. Faith and the larger group of girls followed a ways behind, just keeping them in sight. Spike shifted into his game face – this was gonna be fun.

"There's three of you, one of him!" Wood shouted on the other side of the cemetery as a young Asian girl, an African-American girl, and the blonde girl who had introduced herself as Donna earlier fought against Angel. "Use your numbers to your – "

Wood jumped back as Angel sent one of the girls stumbling back into the crowd. " – advantage," Wood sighed as he helped the girl back into the fight. The girls' attacks were hard, strong, but Angel could almost scent their every thought.

"You guys – " he said, smiling, " – are making – this way too – EASY!" He grabbed one of the girls and threw her into one of her companions, then turned on the last one. "Donna, right?" he asked, his vamp face sneering. "Haven't had a Slayer in a while," he said, advancing on her. She stood rooted to the spot. "Isn't this the part where you should pull out your weapon?" The girl's eyes widened and she looked down at her sides as she frantically scrambled to retrieve her stake. Angel laughed quietly and she looked back up to see him holding her stake in his hands.

The other two girls had gotten back up, and Angel turned to them, his yellow eyes glinting slightly. "Ready for more?" he asked, making a big show of smelling the air. "Because I'm not even breathing hard yet."

"But…" He turned back to see one of the girls in the larger group behind Wood looking at him, confused. "I thought vampires didn't breathe?"

"Usually, they don't," Faith explained to her larger group as Spike battled the second group of Slayers. "But sometimes, they will, simply out of reflex or out of basic habit. When you're human, you have to breathe. Even after becoming a vampire, it's a hard habit to break at times."

"Aarrrrgh!" Spike howled, landing a punch that sent one girl sprawling onto a grave marker. She hit the slab of rock hard, coughing.

"Come on!" he taunted the other two, panting slightly. "That all ya got?" They circled around him and he licked his lips. "I know there's more…" He trailed off as something caught his nose – the scent of someone he knew… but he couldn't quite place it.

"Wait," he said, waving a hand at the two Slayers still standing against him. He lifted his nose higher into the air, trying to sort it out amongst every other odor in the area. He glanced at Faith, then ran to another large monument. In one leap, he was perched at the top, looking down and sniffing. Faith jogged over to him.

"What is it?" she asked quietly. Spike took one last sniff before looking down to her.

"Something's here."

"We need to regroup." Angel was back to his human look, talking with Wood. "There's something else out here." Wood nodded.

"OK. We all move as a group," he turned to the Slayers. "Do not wander off alone. We need to find Faith and her group – "

"Already here," Spike's voice interrupted as the band of girls and Faith came into view. Spike looked at Angel. "Ready?" Angel grinned.

"Always," he said. The two glanced at Faith and Wood before quickly moving off from the group.

"Is there really something else here?" Angel heard one of the girls ask.

"Guess we'll find out," was Wood's reply.

Spike and Angel quickly stalked through the cemetery, making as little noise as possible. As they came to the entrance, they noticed a car parked at the gates.

"What demon you know drives a car to the cemetery?" Spike asked.

"One from out of town," Angel answered. He pointed to a small sticker on the bumper. "Rental."

"Bloody hell," Spike shook his head. "Well, looks like we'd better get a move on. Paired or split?"

"Let's stick together," Angel said. "Better odds if there's more than one." Spike nodded, smiling inwardly. "Let's go." As the two began tracking their prey, they fell into a companionable silence. After a few minutes, Spike grabbed Angel's hand. Various sensations flitted through his mind at that touch, but he shoved them back. Now was not the time to become the sappy, love sick poet he had once been. Now was the time for his demon to show itself.

"What is it?" Angel whispered. Spike looked to the right. There was definitely something over there, crouched behind a headstone.

"I think we found it," Spike whispered back. The two silently made their way towards the beast, which remained cloaked in shadow. When they were just a few feet behind it, Spike shifted his face. As he glanced at Angel, he saw that the elder vampire had done the same. Angel held up one finger, then two. On three, they pounced.

"Raaahrrr!" Spike growled as he and Angel grabbed the intruder and yanked him into the light. "Got ya now, you…." He stopped and shifted his face as he saw what he was holding up.

"Oh…" Angel said, his face changing back. "It's…"

"Hey guys." If they hadn't quite believed it before, they did after hearing that voice. Angel turned around and walked away a few paces, looking rather annoyed as Spike forced a smile.

"Hi, Andrew."

A/N: And still, no Spangel smoochies! Ha! Have you waited long enough? Are you ready for some sloppy tongue action between these two? I know I am. So why won't my fingers type it? Oh yes, yes, drama… and issues they have to sort out… eh. It'll come soon… Promise!

So, no Andrew is going to be here. Woo hah! He's going to kinda help out somewhere… and that's all I'm sayin' on that! I always liked Andrew – he's just so… loopy. In a good way… sort of. Ya know, except when he was evil. Anyway, hope you guys are still enjoying the story. I'm having a lot of fun writing it. Stay tuned – next installment will be here soon!

PS – I am having a bit of fun writing Dense!Angel. I mean, come on, he was so completely dense about Nina – I figure, when it's Spike who's in love with him, shouldn't he be even denser? Yeah, I think he should. Don't worry – he won't be so dense for too much longer! And then, there can be Spangel smoochies! Yay! Oh, and by-the-by: it just so happens that I wrote the bit about the spring-loaded stakes today, and then I watched the last disc for Buffy Season 3 – the featurettes, to be exact. One of them was on weapons – and in there, what should I see, but SPRING-LOADED STAKES! LOL. I just thought that was rather interesting. You may now continue with your normal lives. Thank you.