Spike and Nina:

Tales of the Puppet

Part Two: The Morning

By Marie Nomad

Nina got out of the cage and put on her clothes. She tried the first move and Angel turned her down. He locked her in her cage as usual and left her in a hurry. Did she scare him that much?

Maybe she was not Angel's type after all. She has to repair damages so he won't send her to another place. She needs him.

She passed Angel's friends who were chuckling to themselves. They were all hiding smiles and then became quiet when they saw her. That was when she knew, they were talking about her. It would be humorous, a lovestruck werewolf who was nothing more than a charity case to them. She wasn't that surprised.

"Er… Nina." Fred looked at her and smiled hesitantly. "Angel can't see you because well…" She chuckled "he can't see you."

"Oh. I understand." Nina lied. She has to see him no matter what. He must have been angry with her for even thinking that anything is going on between them. She waited until the others went their separate ways until she opened the door. "Angel?"

XXX

"Another day, another car." Spike said as he walked through the hallway soaked from head to toe. Fred was in her lab working with Knox. "Hiya, Fred!"

The girl jumped as she spun around. "Spike! What are you doing here?"

"Just stopping by to say hi. You okay?" He couldn't help but hear Fred's pulse racing.

"Fine, just fine. Very fine. Never been better. Have you seen Angel yet?"

"No, should I?" Spike's eyes twinkled.

"NO! Don't! He's… he's not feeling like himself right now. Right now, it would be very-" Fred paused as she snicker. "Sorry. Just go. Please." She pushed Spike out of the door.

The vampire saw the door slam in his face and he frowned. "Well, this is an interesting development." Fred told him that Angel can't see him so he's going to see him. Spike walked through the hallway to see Nina walking out. She was obviously upset.

"You okay?" He asked trying to be polite.

"He was hiding under his desk." Nina whispered. "I did what you told me and he just ignored me and put me in the cage. Then, when I wanted to talk to him, he actually hid under his desk and wouldn't come out for me. Has he ever done that before?"

"No. Not unless you counted the time he would hide to stalk his victims. Back when he was evil of course. I don't see Angel doing that. I never know him to be that immature." Spike grinned widely. "Something happened to him. Just wait over there and I'll talk to him."

Nina walked to the corner and stayed there as Spike put his ear to the door. The vampire focused and then opened the door. "Hello, big guy! Need another car. Afraid this last one ended up in the drink..." Nina listened carefully with her werewolf hearing.

"Spike…" Angel sounded very mad.

"Look at you." Spike was grinning and very happy. Whatever happened to Angel must not have been serious.

"Just turn around and walk away."

"You're a-"

"Spike!"

"You're a bloody puppet!"

Nina's eyes shot open as she backed away. A puppet? What did he mean? Was that why Angel couldn't face her? All of a sudden, Spike flew through the air with a doll on top of him. Nina watched in awe and humor as the doll and Spike struggled. It was hilarious to watch the puppet knock the stuffing out of the laughing vampire. Spike stopped laughing after a couple of punches.

Nina was divided between feeling sorry for Angel and laughing at him for his comedic behavior. Spike decided to keep on making fun of him and Angel plummet him again in the elevator. Finally, after Angel talking down the gawking employees, he sulked off to his ruined office. Spike walked towards Nina and said, "Well, he's one sensitive bloke."

"Are… you okay?" Nina laughed as she watched Spike rubbed his face.

"I've been through worse. Stupid puppet." He muttered, "I'm not used to fighting anything smaller than me. It's like fighting a bloody dwarf."

"What is going on?" Wesley asked as he marched up and saw the wreckage.

"Oh nothing, just me and his royal feltness had a smack me down."

"Angel beat him." Harmony pointed out.

"Hey! He took me by surprise! It's not every day you see Angel as a muppet!"

"Oh dear." Wesley rubbed his head. "I was hoping that this would remain a secret." He glanced at Nina and his jaw dropped. "N-Nina. You saw Angel didn't you?"

"Yes, but… I don't think he saw me. What happened to him? I never heard of vampires being turned into puppets."

"I don't know. We are going to take some tests. Can you not tell Angel about what you saw? He is… he is a little taken by your proposition and he is embarrassed about his condition. He's very sensitive right now." Wesley said as seriously as he could.

"I won't way a word." Nina promised. "Just help him get back to normal."

"We are going to put all of our resources at work." Wesley glanced at Spike who was snickering. "This is a serious matter."

"Oh sure, an epidemic of puppets. Does Harmony and I have to get shots for what the Poof is having?"

"The ones responsible for this are putting innocent children into comas."

Spike stopped his snickering and asked, "How can I help?"

"Just do what you are doing and make sure none of our clients know about this. I must go to the lab." Wesley walked away.

"We better go." Spike said and Nina stood there in deep thought. "Come on, wolfy, if Angel sees you-."

"I was just thinking. What do puppet vampires eat?" Nina wondered.

To Be Continued...