- - -

"Wha…? Three months?" Angel nodded. Spike sat down in a chair and Angel began to tell him what had happened over the past three months.

"Buffy and her friends came to LA after the fight. They stayed at the Hyperion for maybe about a week, and then left to rebuild the Council. They found an old deserted boarding school in Pine Grove and decided to use that. They cleaned it up and remodeled it and now it's the new Council and school for all the new Slayers."

Spike was trying to process this information along with the fact that he had been gone for over three months. "And what about you? What is this place?"

"This is Wolfram & Hart," Harm supplied and Spike rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, I noticed. What I mean is; why are you here? Thought this was a law firm."

"It is, among other things." Fred told him

"Also heard they represent the worst evil in the universe," Spike added.

"It did, among other things. But now I'm in charge." Angel stated.

"Are you now?" Spike asked. Angel and Spike glared at each other for a moment until Fred, noticing the tension, spoke up.

"Well, why don't I take Spike to my lab so we can run some tests and find out what happened?" Angel agreed and Spike and Fred went to the lab.

- - -

After completing a simple blood test, Fred determined that Spike was, in fact, 100% human. Spike was shocked, to say the least. The thought had obviously occurred to him before the test, but he didn't let himself believe it, just in case it wasn't true.

"You're sure about this, pet?" he questioned Fred again.

"Yes Spike. I am absolutely positive." She smiled at him. Just then Angel walked in.

"Hey, peaches, good news!" Spike started to brag. "I'm cured! You were right, I'm human." Angel's face fell.

"That's great Spike," he said sarcastically.

"It's amazing, really," Fred commented. "I've never heard of a vampire becoming human before. I wonder what caused it."

"Shanshu," Wesley said simply, walking up behind Angel. He turned and glared.

"No, that's not it."

"Angel…" Wes trailed off.

"What's going on? What's a 'shanshu'?" Spike looked back and forth between Angel and Wes.

"It's a Proto-Bantu word meaning life and death," Wes explained. "Essentially it is a prophecy stating that the vampire with a soul - once he fulfills his destiny - will become human."

"But that prophecy is not meant for him," Angel stated, growing increasingly angry.

"We don't know that," Fred said lightly. "The prophecy doesn't specify which vampire with a soul."

"Yeah, how do you know it's not me it's talking about?" Spike questioned.

"Because, I do," he replied. Spike raised an eyebrow at him.

"Well obviously you're wrong. I mean look at me. I saved the bloody world, fulfilled my destiny, and I died! And now, three months later I'm human. Something brought me back."

"Well, it's something else."

"Can't accept it, can you? Sad, really. All these years believing you're the signified monkey, only to find out you're just a big hunk of nobody cares."

"I'm beginning to wish you'd stayed dead."

"But I didn't, did I? Burned up saving the world, and now I'm back for real. Wonder why that is? Oh, wait. 'Cause I'm the one, you git!"

"Look, we don't even know if the prophecy only means one of you," Fred interrupted. "You could both shanshu." They both looked at her doubtfully.

"Whatever it is, it's for good, right?" Spike asked and Fred nodded. "Well, that's all I need to know. Now if you'll excuse me." Spike started for the door but was blocked by Angel. Spike rolled his eyes.

"Don't you think we should run more tests?" Angel asked Fred. "Or Wes, maybe you could do some research and find out what really caused this."

Wes told Angel again that he believed shanshu was the cause, and the two began arguing. Spike used that as his opportunity to slip out unnoticed.

Back in the lobby of Wolfram & Hart, Spike approached Angel's office. He figured that an important job like CEO of Hell, Inc. came with perks, such as cars, so he looked around his desk for a set of keys. Sure enough, one of the drawers contained a couple key rings. He grabbed one and headed for the garage.

Once he got down there he pushed a key on the remote starter and nearby an engine roared to life. He grinned and climbed into the Viper.

- - -

A/N: Thanks for the great reviews so far! I will try to update as often as possible, but with school and everything I might be a little slow. I know its not really a BTVS season 8 yet, but it will get there! Keep reviewing so I know I should write more!