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…

As soon as Angel started down the stairs, he knew something was off. Her presence, he couldn't feel it. He couldn't feel her. He went into the living room, empty. On to the kitchen, Giles was holding a glass that appeared to be filled with whiskey while Willow was brewing a pot of coffee.

"Where is she?" He felt panicked and it showed on his face.

"Buffy? In the living room." Willow spoke over her shoulder.

"No. She's not in the house." His voice was low and he spoke slowly, but all eyes turned towards his tone. They all could feel his barely concealed anger.

Giles put his glass down as he headed into the living room. His papers were still there, but he noticed the grey sweat shirt was missing. "Dear god, she went on her own." He looked up at Angel. "We brought the schematic of the Initiative Headquarters, she must think she can get in there on her own."

"Damnit!" Angel took a deep, unneeded breath. "How much of a lead does she have?"

"Well, soul-boy, if you hadn't taken such a long shower she wouldn't have any lead at all." Xander had gotten to his feet.

"Xander, that is hardly constructive." Giles turned to Angel. "Not more than ten minutes, I'm sure."

"Giles. We have to find her fast. That woman is insane, there's no telling what she'll do to her." Giles could see the panic in the vampires' eyes.

"Yes, let's take a last look at these plans and see if we can't come up with something." Giles led Angel to the table.

Jenny had been studying the vampire since he had come into the kitchen and was trying to discern if a change had taken place. He seemed the same, filled with soulful concern. But still. "Angel? Are you sure you're feeling alright? I mean they did do a lot to you. Perhaps…"

He cut her off. "Are you trying to make sure it's still me, Jenny? Or would that be, oh I don't know. Could you knock off a few Romanian names for me? Ylena maybe? Dumitra?" He looked into her eyes. "Janna? How could you take a chance with her? With me? You know what could've happened? You were with us, you were a part of us. You know the good we all were trying to do. You also knew Buffy and I loved each other." He motioned to the watcher. "Rupert took you on faith. And you did nothing to stop us, to warn us."

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. "I was supposed to make sure you continued to suffer." Jenny begged Giles. "Please understand. My people, they had to make sure Angel continued to suffer for his evil."

"Am I the only one who is totally lost here? What are you talking about?" Xander turned to Giles. "Giles? Do you know?"

"Jenny? What is Angel talking about?" His voice was confused.

"The curse Giles." Angel was angry and all eyes were on him. "She knew about my curse. Only she knew more than any of us did. She knew that if, what Ms. Calendar? If I fell in love? If I made love?"

"Zoinks!" Xander looked at Angel. "You and the Buffster went vertical? Did you know Willow?"

Willow threw him an annoyed look. "Not now Xander."

Cordelia pulled him back onto the couch and gave him a pinch. "So not cool with your girlfriend sitting right here." She whispered.

"Oh, no Cordy. I didn't mean…it's just, he's so old. Seems kinda, I don't know. Shouldn't he have some sort of will power we don't?"

"He's hot, 'nuff said." She pinched him once more for good measure. "Now shush!"

As if not hearing the teenagers, Jenny explained. "If you found a moment of true happiness, true bliss. If that should happen you would lose your soul again." Her voice filled with anguish. "I'm sorry Giles. I should've told you. I just didn't know how."

Giles eyes went from puzzlement to anger in the span of a few moments. "How could you do this to Buffy? To Angel? He's spent years attempting retribution for his atrocities. How could you, in good conscience let them tempt fate? Luckily Angel is still intact…"

Angel interrupted him. "Not quite Giles." He shot daggers at Jenny. "I lost my soul. What was lucky was Angelus being taken by the Initiative. The gods only know what would've happened had this chip not been in place. I just can't go there right now."

"But how? You are Angel, aren't you?" Giles asked.

"I am. Her," he nodded towards Jenny, "damn ancestors didn't count on just how much I love Buffy or just how much she loves me. She brought me back Giles and now we have to go and bring her back."

"Alright, let's see what we can do about this." He turned to Willow. "Can you get us in?"

"I think I may be able to hack into their system, I just need a little time." Willow opened her laptop.

"I can't wait here Giles. If I let them capture me, at least I'll be with her and maybe we can find a way out together." Angel headed for the door.

"Angel, wait. You won't do her any good if your drugged and tied up. That's what they did to you last time. If they don't have you I doubt that they'll do anything to Buffy, even if they should capture her. Which may not happen anyway."

Spike saw the slayer the minute she set foot on campus. He'd been scouting around the past few days, looking for a way to get back into the laboratories where he was sure his Drucilla was still being held. If they had killed her he was sure he'd of felt it. So she was alive and she was here.

"So ducks, looking for those boys in green?" Spike leaned against a tree and lit a cigarette.

"What are you doing here?" Buffy was feeling frantic and it showed on her face.

"Maybe the same thing you are. Looking for a way down."

"I don't have time for you Spike. I need to get down there and get my mom out. If you want to help, great. If you just plan on being a pain in my ass and betraying me, I can just kill you now." She walked away from him.

"I'll help. I got a lady down there myself." He threw his cigarette to the ground and followed her. Buffy considered telling him Dru was out somewhere having a baby and falling in love with a human but she might need his help. So she kept quite about his ex's change in status.

"Well, come on then. But the minute I see you trying to turn coats…"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You'll turn me to dust. Heard it all before from the likes of some bigger and badder than you."

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Sure you have, the difference is, I'll do it." She had to get her mother and get out of this place before Angel came charging in and got himself killed.

"So pet. How long you been pregnant? Not long I'm guessing by the sound of it. And does the poof know you've been buggering someone else? Love to be a fly on the wall when you tell 'em. Can't believe Peaches hasn't figured this one out. The old bugger must be off his game." Spike snickered.

Buffy held her hand to her stomach and stared after Spike with a mix of shock and wonderment in her eyes.