AN: This chapter is a bit longer than the last two...keep the feedback coming, I really appreciate it!

Warning: Mentions of torture

Chapter 9

Giles and Willow sat at the round table.

"I'm sorry I can't be more specific, Giles." Willow said as her eyes reflected her sadness. "The spell revealed that he was in LA; but it seemed so fuzzy. Almost like I couldn't get past something."

Giles sat silently as he pondered the situation. "Why would he be in Los Angeles?" He muttered aloud. "Whatever the reason, I fear that he may be in grave danger." He removed his glasses. "Oh course!" He said suddenly as he looked at the young Witch. "Before I departed for England, Spike informed me that Drusilla had visited him."

"Drusilla?" Willow asked with fear in her voice.

"Yes, he told me that she recently had been in LA..." Giles looked up as he attempted to recall the details. "Darla was there as well and Angel was involved somehow."

"Eek. Darla too? I'm not sure I understand." Her eyes reflected her confusion.

"It is a long story. I will fill you in later." Giles stood to pace. "If Spike is now in Los Angeles, this cannot be a mere coincidence. Somehow, this is all connected." The Ex-Watcher walked over to the counter and opened a drawer. He retrieved a pen and a pad of paper. He wrote something quickly and taped the piece of paper to the register.

"You're going to LA?" Willow asked as she walked to the counter.

"Yes. I believe I need to have a talk with Angel. I can search for Spike once I arrive." He smiled to reassure Willow. "Would you like to accompany me?"

"Yeah." She answered. "Can you drive me to my dorm so I can grab some clothes and call Tara?"

"Of course." He said as the two left the Magic Box.

-

"Wesley!" Cordelia yelled from her spot on the counter.

"Cordelia, please refrain from shouting when you know very well that I was in my office." The Ex-Watcher emerged from behind the sliding doors with a scowl on his face. He huffed as he walked over to her. "Did you need something?" He asked with his arms crossed.

"Jeez, Wesley. Angry much?" The Seer flipped her hair. "You're getting to be as moody as Mr. Broody Pants."

"Cordelia." Wesley drew out her name slowly as he attempted to contain his annoyance. "Did you have a point?"

"Oh, yeah! Did Mrs. Taylor pay you and Gunn for the protection you provided her against that vamp? And since you dusted it, I hope you charged her extra."

"Yes, Cordy. Here is the check." He reached into his wallet and retrieved the check and handed it over.

"Yes!" Cordelia exclaimed. "Mama needs some new shoes!" She said excitedly as she kissed the check and placed it in the Accounts Receivable box. Her smile faded as she watched Angel descend the grand staircase. He looked pensive. As he passed by the two on the way to the kitchen, he did not even seem to notice them.

Wesley looked at Cordelia. "He appears to be rather moody the last few weeks. I had hoped after the fiasco with his Sire and Childe, his disposition would gradually return to normal." He thought for a moment while Cordelia nodded in agreement. "Why don't you talk to him?" He asked her.

"What, me? Why not you? You're the boss!"

"I agree. And as the Boss, I think he might share his feelings better with a female co-worker. Good luck." He smiled as he patted her hand and returned to his office.

"Stupid Wesley." Cordelia muttered as she slowly made her way to the kitchen. She noticed Angel sitting at the table staring at his mug full of blood. "Hey." She said quietly.

Angel looked up and half smiled at his friend. "Hi."

"So." She said as she fiddled with her fingers searching for the right way to begin the conversation. She settled on the direct approach. "What's got you all broody now, Angel?"

"What?" The dark vampire countered.

"Look, some thing's going on. You been all bad moody for a few weeks now. You're upstairs a lot and really quiet. " Cordelia looked at him with wide eyes. "Oh, God! You're not having freaky-ass sex dreams about Darla again? Are you?"

"W-What? No! No, Cordy." He shook his head. "I don't know. Do you ever get a bad feeling?"

"Yeah, when I get a vision." She tried to make light of the situation.

"No. I mean, a sense of dread. Like, it's a warning that there is something coming."

"Well, we always look forward to an apocalypse." She noticed Angel smirk at her. "Come on, Angel. We only have to wait for my next vision to know that there is badness around the corner." She patted his hand. "So, let's deal with it when it comes, right? We can't worry about things that haven't happened yet."

The dark vampire smiled at her. "You're right. I'm probably overreacting." he chuckled. "When did you get so wise?"

"Hello? I'm Queen C." She smiled widely. "Come on." She stood and grabbed Angel by the hand. "Why don't you help me file." Before Angel had a chance to protest, she dragged him out of the kitchen. They were laughing as they burst through the door. Their laughter immediately dissipated as they found Giles and Willow standing in the lobby with small suitcases.

"Willow?" Angel said as the red-headed witch came to embrace him. "How are you?"

"Okay." She said quietly. "Hi, Cordy." She waved.

"Wow, Willow. It's been a while. How are you?"

"Good. You?"

"Peachy. Hi Giles."

"Hello, Cordelia. Angel."

"Rupert." Angel nodded at the Ex-Watcher. Angel led them to the sofas and motioned for them to sit down. "What brings you to LA?" Somehow in the pit of his stomach, he was sure this was not a social call.

"W-Well." Rupert hesitated because he was not sure how Angel would react. "We are sorry to descend upon your place of business unannounced, b..."

Suddenly Wesley came out of his office searching for Cordelia. "Oh, my! Mr. Giles. Miss Rosenberg. What brings you to Angel Investigations?"

"Wesley. Wow, you look different." Willow responded.

"Wesley." Giles nodded politely. He looked at Willow and smiled and then turned his attention back to Angel. "May I speak to you in private, Angel?"

"Sure." The dark vampire stood. "Cordelia, can you show Willow to a room?" He stopped for a moment. "We have plenty of rooms. I assume you do not have a place to stay?" The two Sunnydale travelers nodded. "This way, Rupert." He walked the two towards the kitchen, since Angel technically did not have an office anymore. Not that he was bitter that Wesley now occupied his big leather comfy chair.

The two sat down and initially shared an uncomfortable silence. Angel stood abruptly. "Tea?"

"Please." The Ex-Watcher nodded gratefully. After a few minutes, Angel placed a teacup with a bag of Earl Gray and a small container of milk in front of the Giles.

"Thank you." Giles cleared his throat. "W-Well," he started nervously, "the reason for our visit." He sipped his tea and began. "Spike."

At the mention of his wayward Childe's name, Angel's head shot up. He said nothing for the time being.

"Much has happened to Spike over the last few years." Giles began to inform Angel of the Initiative, Spike's tenuous pact with the Scoobies, and subsequent close friendship formed between the Ex-Watcher and the blond vampire. Angel was silent while Giles relayed the story. He did notice Angel's eyes flirting with yellow as he discussed Spike's time at the Initiative.

Angel's anger grew as he listened to Giles' story. He was shocked at what his Childe endured, guilty for not being there for him, and felt regret that their relationship was in shambles. 'We're enemies...he is soulless...why should I care?' Conflicting thoughts raged through the mind of the dark vampire.

"I last saw Spike approximately one month ago, prior to my trip to London. He came to my flat with some bruises. He had been in a fight with a few demons that were angry with him for being a traitor." Angel's eyebrow raised. "For helping the Slayer."

"I see." Angel sat stone-faced while listening to Giles. This lack of reaction was starting to annoy the Ex-Watcher but he continued talking.

"He also said that a few of his bruises were from Drusilla."

Angel's head shot up. "Drusilla? She was in Sunnydale?"

"Indeed. She told Spike she had a run-in with you in LA and had sired Darla. She was there to get Spike back. Spike did not share in her wishes and they fought and then she departed."

Angel stomach started to twist. His mouth was dry as he asked, "Where is Spike now?"

"I arrived back in Sunnydale earlier this morning. The children informed me that Spike has not been seen since I left for England. Buffy and Xander were quite pleased with his absence as you could imagine. Willow and Tara..." He paused as he saw Angel's eyebrows raise. "Tara is Willow's girlfriend."

"Oh." Angel said with some confusion. "Oh!" He said as he realized that Willow had gone through some changes since he left Sunnydale.

"We digress. As I was saying, Willow and Tara were worried and they went to his crypt a few weeks ago. It was secured with a padlock. Willow and I returned to it prior to coming here." Giles eyes looked sullen. "His home was in disarray. There appears to have been a struggle."

Angel was not sure what to think. "Why did you come to me?" He regretted the words as soon as they flowed from his mouth; especially after he saw anger upon the face of the Ex-Watcher.

"W-What? Angel, I would think that you would care that your Grandchilde was missing. I know you two have a complicated history. Spike has revealed a few things to me."

Angel hung his head in shame; then, he looked up. "What do you mean Grandchilde? William is MY CHILDE." His growled as his eyes became yellow in hue.

Giles sat stunned for a moment and then nodded. 'It all makes perfect sense now.' He thought. Spike's reaction to Angel had always perplexed the Ex-Librarian. He postulated how strong family ties were despite the fact that he was not born directly to Angelus. Now, he understood their connection clearly. And he also realized the depth of hurt Spike felt.

"Well, he informed me otherwise." Giles said curtly. He felt guilty for a moment goading Angel, but he needed to know if Angel would help them. "He refers to Drusilla as his Sire. He speaks occasionally of you with some emotion. I believe Spike has abandonment issues." Giles watched as Angel turned his head away.

The dark vampire spoke quietly. "He will never forgive me for leaving him." He looked at Giles. "Did he tell you that I went to China in 1900 to get him?" Giles simply stared back. "He had just killed his first Slayer and I went to find him after begging Darla to take me back. The look that he gave me was pure hatred. His beautiful blue eyes turned to ice as soon as he saw me. He wouldn't let me explain; Darla had told Dru and Will that I had died." Angel was wringing his hands. "I think he overheard me talking to Darla. That is how he found out that I had a soul and was wandering for two years feeding on rats, wallowing in my guilt. I made a mistake leaving him; but, it was an error I could not reverse." Giles saw tears in the eyes of the Master Vampire.

"In Sunnydale, Angel." A thought occurred to Giles. "Did you want to kill him?"

Angel shook his head. "I know I fight on the side of good, Rupert." Angel eyes burned with conviction. "But, I would not let ANYONE kill Will."

"B-But, when Angelus returned..." Giles removed his glasses.

Angel placed his hands over his eyes for a moment. "He...I was crazy. Will was so happy when he realized my soul was gone...but...I hurt him all over again."

Giles was surprised at the candor of Angel. Normally, the dark vampire did not speak with many words; he always seemed to shield his nature with secrecy.

"I came to you because I hoped that you would still care enough about him to help." He continued after Angel nodded. "Spike told me, in our last conversation, that Drusilla rambled about animals and the stars. Because Drusilla was here in Los Angeles prior to coming to Sunnydale, I presumed there could possibly be a connection."

"What kind of animals did she see in her vision?" Angel asked.

"Let me see..." Giles thought. "I believe she mentioned deer and perhaps foxes."

Angel sat silently for a moment. "Oh, God..." He said abruptly. "They wouldn't..." Angel stood and started pacing.

"W-Who, Angel?"

"Wolfram and Hart." He seethed as his face changed away from its human form to reveal the demon inside.

-

The chamber was dark and quiet. Huddled in the corner was a pale figure stripped naked and bound by chains. Spike's body was riddled with blood and bruises. He lay, nearly catatonic, on the cold concrete floor shivering; his eyes cold. He retreated inside himself to withstand the torture that was inevitable. Time meant nothing anymore. How long he had been there, he did not know. His lips were cracked and his tongue was parched as he had no water or blood in quite awhile. He was no longer sure how much longer he could last. He felt the pull of permanent catatonia calling to him with each passing moment. A lone tear traveled down his hollowed cheeks as he realized there was no hope.

TBC...