Disclaimers: Mutant Enemy and Joss Whedon own it all. I'm just doing this for fun, and hopefully entertainment
Reviews: Welcomed and appreciated
What if the Initiative came to Sunnydale a few years earlier than we thought? And what if Angel got chipped instead of Spike? Just an idea…
Buffy and Angel kept low in the back of Oz's van, covered with as old army blanket behind boxes and musical instruments.
Buffy shifted as she felt Angel's hand began to wander. "Angel!" She hissed. "This is not the time, really. Please!" She felt him chuckle deep within his chest.
"Just trying to relieve some of the tension." He laughed softly.
"Whatever. Just not now. Behave, okay?" She whispered. "This is totally serious. My mom could be in danger."
"Even if they have her, and I'm sure Giles got to her in time, they won't harm her Buff. They want you. Us. We have to play this smart. And I'm sure Giles will agree. Please be patient and let us figure this one out. Okay?" He spoke in hushed tones into her ear, making her shiver.
"We'll see."
"We're here you guys." Willow glanced worriedly at Oz. They had decided to go to Willow's house first and then Oz would go to the library to get Giles and hopefully Buffy's mom. "Just pull into the garage." She used the remote to open the door. "God, I hope this doesn't look suspicious. I mean, how many times does one's boyfriend park in the garage." Looking nervously over at Oz. "I mean, not that you're my boyfriend, I wasn't implying, I…"
"Willow. Calm down. It's all fine." Buffy called out from behind the passenger seat. "Let's get out of here, 'kay?"
"Oh, gosh! Yeah, of course. Yes." She hit the remote a second time and closed the door as Oz leaned over to whisper in her ear.
"I like the implication, Will." He gave her a light kiss before he got out of the van to let his two hidden passengers depart.
Buffy hadn't stopped pacing since they entered the Rosenberg's living room. Willow had entered first and closed all the curtains before turning on a few lights. She had turned to Oz, "Guess you should get going, huh?"
"Yeah" he nodded to the other two and left. That was half an hour ago.
"I should've gone with him. School isn't that far away, he should've been back by now." Buffy glared at Angel.
"Hey. Don't look at me like that little girl. Oz has only been gone about 20 minutes. They'll be here soon." He rolled his eyes at Willow, who shrugged in response.
"I have some blood. Do you want some blood?" Willow always felt food should be offered to guest in her house, a rule she picked up from her mother.
"Um, yeah. Thanks Willow." Angel smiled at her. "Actually, do you mind if I take a quick shower? We left so quickly I didn't have any time to shower tonight, don't want to offend any demons we might run into." He was still feeling a bit over-stimulated since he and Buffy didn't have a chance to finish what they had begun earlier and a cold shower was just what he needed.
Confused by his request, Willow shrugged. "Sure. Come on, I'll get a clean towel for you."
Angel followed Willow upstairs while Buffy continued her worrisome walking. Her head perked up as she heard the garage door open. Running to the kitchen door, she was greeted by Giles, Oz, Xander and Cordelia. Jenny Calendar was also with the group. Looking behind them, Buffy realized her mother wasn't with them.
"God! This is all my fault. Again." She stood in front of Giles. "They have her, don't they? What am I going to do? What are they going to do to her?" She was almost in tears. Willow who had just come downstairs in time to hear Buffy's tirade, put her arm around her shoulder, while Xander and Cordelia gravitated towards the kitchen.
"We'll figure something out." Looking towards the assembled group. "Won't we?"
Giles took a deep breath. "Indeed. We have a schematic of the Initiative headquarters. Seems the council is occasionally good for something. We need to find a safe way in and a safe way out." He opened the diagram and laid it out on the coffee table. Buffy eyed it and recognized several openings.
"I know where these places are. We could get in through the sewers," she pointed to a point on the map, "here."
"Yes, I suppose. We have to make sure it isn't guarded." Giles turned around. "Where's Angel?"
"He needed a shower." Willow gave a weak smile.
"I can't wait Giles. We have no idea what they're doing to my mother. We had a visit from one of the members, one who by the way impregnated Drucilla and is in love with her." She shook her head in agreement as Giles eyes widened. "I know. Anyway, he told us just how crazy this Professor Walsh really is and all the insane experiments she's conducting. I wouldn't put anything past her. I have to get mom out of there. Now."
"As soon as Angel comes down we'll figure this out." He turned toward Willow. "Dear? Does your father have any spirits?"
She squinted in confusion. "Ghosts?"
"No my dear. Liquor." He smiled patiently at the young girl.
She giggled. "Oh yeah. His cabinet is over here."
Buffy took one last look at the map of the Initiative before grabbing her sweat shirt and slipping out the front door. Angel couldn't be of any help down there, they were all human. And she wouldn't risk any of her friends. Besides, she was the slayer. She was confident she could handle a few marines and one crazy bitch scientist.
'You have to keep some sort of control over yourself Angelus. We aren't an animal, you know.' Angel smirked at his counter-part.
Angelus turned and saw Angel in the full length mirror leaning against the basin.
"Speak for yourself because our little Buff can be quite the little hell cat and she most certainly bring out the animal in me. Did you see the scratches on my back? Still healing." He chuckled at the memory.
'She was scratching my back, remember that Angelus.' Angel's voice was low.
"Just go! I'm sick of listening to you!" He threw a towel on the hook effectively covering the souled reflection.
With a harsh laugh, Angel reappeared in the vanity mirror. 'Not that simple to get rid of me. I'm getting stronger. You feel it, I know you do.'
"I feel nothing! Except constant revulsion at your suck-tit ways. Always coddling her, always worried about her feelings. She likes it rough but you always have to be the soft fucking touch." In a mocking tone, "Oh baby, did I hurt you? Was it as good for you? Can I please fuck you again?" He rolled his eyes. "You make me sick!"
'The pull is strong Angelus. She keeps me here, she's bringing me back time and again. Soon it'll be for good. And you won't be able to stop us. She's my soul-mate, which is why you can never keep her.'
"Yeah, like I want to keep her. It's this damn chip that keeps me with her." He turned the hot water up, steam fogging the mirrors.
'You won't be able to get rid of me so easily. Whether you see me in the glass or not, I'm with you, with her. I know you can feel my strength.'
"You're so full of shit. I'm in charge little brother and that's the way it'll stay." There was more than a hint of fear in his voice and Angel reveled in it. He was winning.
'We'll see. We'll see. The curse demon, I've broken it. Those damn gypsies didn't take into consideration the fact that Buffy and I were destined to be together. Now more than ever.'
"Yeah, right. You were always such an anguished dreamer, which is why I am sure Buff's having such a terrible time with me. She's barely mentioned her friends and family in the couple of days we've been together. And as for that curse, well I'm sure that gypsy Jenny Calendar will have a thing or two to say about that." Angelus raised an eyebrow at his reflection.
'She's a kalderash? Does Giles know?' Angel was almost speaking to himself.
"Hello. I'm still here. And I doubt it very much. The watcher's as weak and stupid in love as you are." Angelus turned towards the tub, but was unable to touch the faucet. "What the fuck?" The look of horror on his face almost made Angel feel sorry, almost he thought as he smiled.
Angel flexed the palm of his hand and laughed out loud. "Love doesn't make one weak and stupid Angelus. It makes one very strong and determined." He looked at the shocked face in the mirror. "Now go!"