Down With the Sickness

Chapter 4: What's Going on?

By: Rogue-Slayer13

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters of Btvs or Ats, they belong to their respective creators.

Summary: Spike saves Fred from Illyria and gets infected with the god king. Angel and the others have to work to fight the Senior Partners.

Note: Whole sentences in italics are thoughts, and single words are emphasis.

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Spike opened his eyes and groaned at the harshness of the white light that flooded his surroundings. He got to his feet and looked around the completely white room that he was standing in, or at least he thought it was a room, everything was so bright he couldn't really tell.

"Bout time you woke up." Spike spun around to find Anya standing before. "What, no yell or gasp of surprise?" Anya sounded disappointed.

"Sorry, but after what I've been through these last couple of months, not a lot surprises me anymore," Spike replied.

"It's not your fault; it's just, what's the point of being a ghost if you can't scare anyone?"

"Is that what you are then? A ghost?"

"I think the technical term for it is a spiritual guide or something like that," Anya said with a dismissive wave of her hand.

"How'd you manage a trip to–" Spike looked around at his surroundings. "What is this place anyway?"

"A void," Anya answered simply.

"Right. Well, how'd you managed a trip to this . . . void?"

"Apparently dying in an effort to save a nerd is a sure fire way to get to go to Heaven, or well this place at least," Anya said. "How is the little creep anyway?"

"Andrew? He's okay, I guess," Spike replied. "He's trying to become a watcher, but all I think he's achieved is a new level of insanity." Anya smiled at that.

"And how is everyone else?"

"Andrew says they're okay. I don't know for sure though seeing as how they don't trust Angel and his crew, and they don't know that I'm back yet."

"Don't you want Buffy to know?" Anya asked as she looked at Spike curiously.

"I don't know what I want." Spike sighed and ran his hands through his hair. "I mean, things seemed so final back at Sunnyhell. How can I top an exit like that?"

The two stood in silence for a moment until Spike spoke again.

"So," Spike began. "If we both died fighting the First, how come you landed the nice nine to five gig and I got stuck with Angel?"

"It's called destiny."

The two turned to see that another person had joined them.

"You're looking good these days, Cheerleader," Spike greeted.

"Call me Cordy," Cordelia said as she looked at the vampire. "And thank you."

"So, what's this about destiny?" Anya asked.

"The Powers That Be had a plan for you, but seeing as how there's a demon walking around in your body, I think the plan will have to change a bit," Cordelia informed as she came to stand next to the two.

"How do we find out for sure?" Spike asked.

"We've got to go see some people about a prophecy," Cordelia replied.

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Gunn walked into the conference room a few minutes before the group's emergency meeting started and was surprised to find Fred standing looking out the large windows. Ever since Illyria came into the picture Fred had been keeping herself busy trying to find out everything she could about the demon that had infected Spike. She was determined to find a way to bring Spike back and she rarely left the lab unless it was to get something to eat or to go home so she could sleep.

"What are you doing here?" Gunn asked as he came and stood next to Fred.

"Angel asked me to come down today," Fred replied.

Just then Angel and the others came into the room and Fred and Gunn took their seats at the table.

"Fred, I'm glad you could make it," Angel said as he took his seat.

"So Big guy, what's with the emergency meeting?" Lorne asked.

"As you all know, Fred's been working around the clock to find a way to bring Spike back," Angel stated. The other's voiced their understanding and Angel continued. "But, I'm going to ask her to stop."

"What?" Fred asked in shock. "Angel, I'm really close to finding a way. You've just got to give me more time–"

"I think that Illyria could prove to be a useful member of the team."

"You'd rather have that thing than Spike?" Gunn asked, confusion evident in his voice. "I know he could be annoying and all, but Spike was a member of the team. We can't just give up on him."

"We're not giving up on him. We just need to put things on a hiatus for a while," Angel explained.

"What aren't you telling us, Angel?" Wesley asked.

"I'm telling you everything you need to know right now," Angel said as he got to his feet. "Now if you excuse me, I have a meeting with Hamilton in a few minutes." Angel turned and walked out of the conference room leaving the others speechless.

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To Be Continued . . .

Sorry for the short chapter!

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