Disclaimer: I don't own Angel

Chapter 4: Family History

"We're heading out," Buffy ordered, entering into the main room of the warehouse. All of the new Slayers froze on the spot. Taking a signal from Faith, the Slayers formed four different task forces. Faith led force A, Buffy led force B, Conner led force C, and Angel led force D.

"Here," Angel said, as he offered a key to Dawn, "you can stay at my place while we're out on patrol."

"No," Buffy interrupted. "Dawn, you stay with Spike at his apartment. Eliza, you go with her to keep her… company." Buffy added the last word in such a way that there was no mistake she meant "safe."

The look on Eliza's face would have made a seven foot tall, hairy, biker cower in fear. Buffy, however, continued to look her in the eye.

"Alright," Eliza conceded, giving Spike a long, cold stare. "I'll be sure to keep them safe. I mean company." With that settled, Eliza turned on her heal and headed out the door. She knew Dawn and Spike would follow and felt no need to turn around.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Willow whispered to Buffy once the trio had left the building.

"They need to clear the air if this group is to work together," Buffy stated, "either they'll stand each other or kill each other by the end of the night."

Eliza walked straight to Spike's door, without even asking for directions. Spike couldn't believe she knew where he was living. The whole thing was a little creepy.

"I'm going to take a shower. There isn't any food in the fridge, so you can order dinner. The tv is there. Make yourself at home." Spike walked into the bathroom, a little nervous about leaving Dawn in the same room as Eliza, but he figured she would be fine. He seemed to be the only one that Eliza really wanted to brutally torture and destroy.

Once the Vampire had left the room, the two girls sat quietly on his couch. They looked at each other for a few moments. Then Eliza, suddenly overcome with emotion, leapt off the couch, and started pacing around the room.

"I can't believe that Buffy is protecting that monster!" Eliza ranted, waving her hands widely above her head, and casting evil looks at the bathroom door.

"Don't be so tough on him. He's not that bad of a guy," Dawn argued, "He saved my life several times, not to mention keeping my secret from Glory. He's like a big brother to me. A big, dead, scary brother."

"What? Did he tortured you to death, and stabbed you through the stomach with a railroad spike, because that's what he did to his real little sister."

Dawn sat there shocked for a moment. She had known that Spike had done some very bad things, but she couldn't believe that he could do something like that.

"What're you talking about?" Spike asked, entering into the room. He had just finished having a shower, and was toweling off his hair.

"The fact that you brutally tortured and murdered your little sister," Eliza stated coldly. Spike froze, and if there had been blood in his face, it would have all drained out.

How did you know about that?" Spike stuttered. "It's not exactly widely publicized."

"I did a lot of research on you," Eliza threatened. "I wanted to know everything before I killed you." Eliza's face was four inches from Spike's face when she finished. She looked more angry than she'd ever been. "The pizza's here." Eliza suddenly stated. She got up and went to the door, leaving Dawn gaping at Spike.

"Did you really? Did you do that?" Dawn asked, wide-eyed.

"Yes," Spike admitted. "It was my initiation into Angel's Vampire gang. It was the worst thing I've ever done."

"Wow." Dawn was speechless. She'd known that Spike had done some awful, awful things. She wasn't naïve. This was way more than what she had ever expected.

Later that night, as Dawn lay sleeping on the couch, while Spike and Eliza sat at the kitchen table. Spike sat back in his chair, deceptively relaxed. Eliza, however, sat forward in her chair, both elbows on the table. She looked as if she was ready to pounce at any moment.

"So what are we going to do about this?" Spike asked, breaking the silence. "Do you want to cut off my hands are something? That's popular these days."

"No, I want to destroy you. Instead, however, I'll put up with you. I will allow you to live until this hellmouth situation is resolved. Don't, however, make the mistake of thinking I forgive you. I could never forgive you for what you've put me through. I will have revenge, but I can wait."

"So a truce until you kill me then?" Spike asked, putting forward a hand for her to shake, or cut off.

"Fine," Eliza agreed, putting her hand in hers. The hand shake lasted a few moments, as each participant tried to crush the bones of the other, but eventually, with tears in their eyes, they let go.

There was a long awkward pause.

"Want a beer?"