Chapter 9 – Help Under Their Nose

The demon bar was surprisingly sparse, only a couple demons nursing drinks. Guess some demons have started to leave town to save their skin from this apocalypse. Buffy thought as she and Spike marched up to the bar.

"Hey Willy, what kinda blood you got?"

"No human in stock today Spike, I did get ahold of some otter, very tasty I'm told." With a shrug from Spike Willy served him up the drink. "I didn't think I'd be seeing you two around since Anya and the nerd were poking around the last few days."

"Oh what can we say Willy, we missed you." Buffy enlightened "So when'd the joint stop jumpin?"

"When the hellmouth got all rumbly." Willy supplied "The whole 'from beneath you it devours' business, scared a lot of my clientele outta town. So what can I do for ya Slayer?"

"Lookin for an amulet actually, might help us avert this apocalypse and save your fine establishment." Spike answered "Big diamond lookin thing, on a black gold chain, gaudy Liz Taylor type piece. Didn't get a name, but seems ta make vampires go poof when it's awake."

"Ya know, I think I know what rock your talkin bout."

"So, who do we gotta bloody kill to get it?"

"Ya see, thing is last I heard a nasty lawfirm in LA swooped it up from a tome right here in Sunnydale."

"Really?" Buffy smiled, and glanced at Spike "But why a lawfirm?" she asked as she looked back to Willy.

"Ever heard of Wolfram & Hart? Big into the evil clientele, human & demon alike. Big into the more powerful magics too, which is probably why they snatched up the amulet you're lookin for."

"This trinket got a name?"

"Yeah some ancient type name, something like 'leppered solstice, lapedium solis, lapidem saratis' can't remember just what."

"Solis, that sun in latin ain't it?" Spike asked, Buffy seemed shocked by the vampire's random knowledge, but also rather impressed.

"Maybe, I don't know never got too good with those dead languages."

"We can check with Red, but if sunshine is in it's name would give credit to what it does. I think lapis is rock or something, but not too sure on that one."

"Okay Willy, where's the tomb the lawfirm took the amulet from?"

"Not sure about that one. But definitely one of the more ancient one."

"That's helpful," Spike responded sarcastically rolling his eyes.

"Sorry, that's all I got."

"Oh I hope not Willy," Buffy implied "One more bonus question."

"Okay. Shoot." Getting a little nervous he was gonna get beat up if he didn't know the answer.

"How the bleeding hell am I supposed to get the amulet from a big wig law firm that does way more than push papers?" getting a little frustrated as she asked, Spike had to try very hard to suppress a laugh Did the slayer just say 'bleeding hell'? Maybe she has been hanging around me too much? He thought as he laughed in his head.

"I've never dealt with them myself livin here in Sunnydale. But I heard some interesting news about your old buddy Angel."

Oh shit Spike thought as is inner laughter suddenly stopped Please tell me we don't have to go through that wanker to save the world.

"What about Angel Willy?" Buffy prodded a bit nervous about how her ex was about to be involved.

"I just heard a certain ensouled vampire just got the keys to the joint."

"Why would Angel be running an evil lawfirm?"

"Ya got me, just telling ya what I heard Slayer."

Content with what they got outta their source, Buffy nodded to Spike, who then finished his drink and laid down some cash. Then Buffy said quite sincerely "Well, thanks Willy, your always watchin out for us." Buffy winked at the bartender then walked out as Spike followed.

Shit, please tell me I didn't blow my cover by being too helpful this time? Willy thought as he grabbed the bloody cup off the counter. But with my scary clientele hightailing it outta town, they're gonna need all the help they can get. He set the cup in a bin and grabbed the cash off the counter. Naaa, no way, I'm still good. He smiled at the oddly generous tip from Spike. They don't even know what a Guardian is…

After getting back to main street Spike finally spoke up "Ya wanna swing through the cemeteries before headin back, pet?"

Brain full of trying to figure out ways to avoid drama with her ex she didn't quite hear what the vampire said. Finally realizing Spike was staring right at her she shook herself back to reality, and stared back at her companion. "What? Did you just say something?"

He chucked for a moment "Ya feel like a bit of the rough n' tumble before headin back. Might do ya good to kill somthin."

"Oh, yeah, sure." She supposed as they veered their course to the nearest cemetery.

They walked on for a while in silence, then Spike got a big grin on his face and just had to ask. "Did you really say 'bleedin hell' to Willy?" and actually let a laugh escape that time.

Buffy laughed with him for a bit then finally got herself to say "Yeah, I don't know how that popped out, and I didn't wanna laugh cause I was trying to be serious with Willy."

"Me too pet." They shared a grin as they scanned the cemetery for 'old' tombs

"You're a bad influence Spike."

"I never claimed to be a good one." He supplied with an evil smile.

They walked through cemetery for a bit more, then Buffy had to get something off her chest while they were still alone "Spike, thank you."

Spike tried to process if he heard her right Thank you? "For what Slayer, helpin with Willy?"

"No, for earlier, I didn't get a chance to thank you for helping me through my pre-apocalyptic freak-out."

"Oh, don't worry about that Slayer, just seemed like you needed a little cold comfort from your local celler-dweller."

"Spike do you realize what you did?" He shrugged her off, thinking he hadn't done anything special or out of the ordinary. "You gave me the strength to keep fighting in this fight, I was ready to give up this morning, and look where we are now, we have the best lead we've had in weeks and maybe even a way to finish this. Just that time to step back and hear you say I gonna make it work and just feel safe in your arms, it helped me truly rest. Now I guess I don't know how you felt about that time together but…"

Spike stopped, "Terrified."

Buffy stopped beside him and asked, "Of what?"

"Earlier in your room was... god I'm such a jerk, I can't do this."

"Spike…"

"It was the best experience of my life." He finally spat out, then looked at her seriously "If you poke fun at me you bloody well better steak me cause I couldn't bear it, may not mean that much to you but…"

"I just told you it did."

"Yeah I hear you say it, I've lived for sodden ever Buffy. I've done everything, done things with you I can't spell, but I've never been close. To anyone, least of all you. Till earlier, all I did was hold you watch you sleep. And it was the best day of my life. So yeah I'm terrified."

"You don't have to be."

"Were you there with me?"

"I was"

"What's that mean?"

"I don't know, does it have to mean something?"

"No, not yet I guess." Not wanting to push his luck with that conversation. They started walking again, and after a little bit he tried another approach. "So new question, if you could swap with any of the dimensions we all saw the other day, which one would it be?"

Glad to hear the topic change, she thought for a second then replied "Definitely the one where you actually kill me on Halloween." She stopped her pace and grinned, as she turned her to face the vampire.

"Be serious luv," he said sweetly as he caressed her face.

"I don't know, the ball of sunshine seemed good, I think I saw everyone alive and well." Then she started walking again. "But why the hell were you on the other side?"

"I'm goin' with the 'I was brainwashed' theory." He surmised as he strode beside her again. "Any others contenders goldilocks?"

"You're fishing now, cause you just said pick one."

"Wanna know my choice?"

"I already do, not that hard to figure out," thinking of that gorgeous beach and the 3 kids…

"Right. So why isn't it yours? Thought you've always wanted a normal life?"

"I do, but how do I know if all my friends were still alive in that one? We just saw us."

"I'm sure your pals were fine, if not we can make them fine, and make that dimension our own."

"And how come you weren't a vampire anymore? You were all in the sun and not flamey and last I checked the undead can't have kids."

"I got myself a soul didn't I? Just gotta figure out the super-human bit."

Buffy stopped again and asked plainly. "What are you getting at Spike?"

Spike stopped beside her, then took her hands in his and stared into her eyes. "I want that to be us, I wanna meet those beautiful pups someday." Buffy looked confused, and a little scared by the bold notion. "It's possible, or else we couldn't have seen it. I know it wouldn't work if I were merely human, that's not enough for you. So I gotta find a way to keep my strength, but be able to walk in the sun with you. That'll be when you let me into your world. Am I right?"

"Maybe," she mewed, actually finding herself genuinely touched by his persistence and forethought. "That would take away the lifespan fact, but still let you fight by my side." Spike tried to stop a huge smile from erupting on his face, and instead produced a smug lip curl and a head tilt. Then he brought a hand up to his lips and kissed it; then lowered her hand and kept one in his as they continued their demon-less patrol.

"Oh bollocks," Spike puffed as he and Buffy turned the corner and headed down Revello Drive.

"What?"

"We're back," he replied as he gestured to her house with his free hand.

"Oh," she looked down to her hand still intertwined with his, she didn't want to release it, but wasn't ready to explain that to her friends, or quite to herself for that matter, just yet. "We could try a few more cemeteries tonight if ya want, see if we find anything else ancient tomby?"

"No," he said begrudgingly "You were right after the last empty cemetery, with no demons makin trouble we best get the info we got outta Willy back to your mates." Then he said the one thing he'd been holding back on bringing up until the very last minute "And apparently we need to give captain forehead a call so he can save the day."

Buffy stopped in her tracks, pulling Spike to a stopped by their adjoined hands nearly throwing him to the ground in the process. Mouth partly gapped open and a 'what the hell?!' look clear on her face. "That's what you call Angel?"

"No, I got lots of names for that ponce."

"Spike?!"

"Oh, com'on Slayer, you know we hate each other, good or evil."

"Yeah, but 'captain forehead'?"

"He's got a large protruding forehead. You think he doesn't have names for me?" that look not leaving her face "Captain peroxide for one" he said as he pointed to his beyond bleached blond hair "And I'm pretty sure your boy Xander uses that one too." The piercing look still present, Spike noticed that she hadn't pulled her hand out of his yet, so he took a different approach, and took a small step toward her with each question. "You really mad at the name luv? Or are ya upset we have to get involved with your ex? Or are ya just upset we have to get back to saving the world and can't keep roaming the night?" with the last question they were practically pressed against one another "hand in hand?" then grasped her free hand with his. He could hear her heart starting to race.

I hate how insightful he can be, I can't get away with shit. "All of the above you cheater."

"And how am I a cheater?"

"Cause I don't know what you're thinking all the time." She smiled "That's where she gets it."

"Where who gets what? Ya lost me there Slayer."

"Dawn, that's how she's been getting so insightful, all the time she spent with you."

"Hm, ya know that does make sense." He said as he returned the smile "So since the little bit is gonna find out about us, I can just go ahead and brag to her right?"

"No." Buffy said firmly.

"Oh, com'on Slayer, I gotta be able to tell someone."

"No you don't." Spike pouted his lip, Buffy tried to avoid looking Oh why is he so darn cute when he does that… "Fine, I'll make you a deal, if we both make it through this apocalypse alive you can tell Dawn."

"Bollocks! If we both make it through this one I'm tellin all the scoobies." He smiled evilly.

"No, cause you have to become a boy-slayer if you want us to have a chance to continue past this apocalypse."

"Sure, just incase this apocalypse wasn't hard enough." He looked into her soft yet strong hazel eyes "Alright luv," then he released his hands and pulled her against him and held tight "When we get to walk in the sun hand in hand, then I get to brag to your mates I earned your love." Buffy smiled at the notion, then returned the embrace.

After a minute or two Buffy broke their embrace and looked up to the house, took a deep breath then looked to Spike "So why are they always my friends?" she broke the silence trying to get more lighthearted before getting back to the gang "You've been around and helping long enough, they're kinda your friends too."

"Cause the only one in the lot of um I'll freely talk to is your sis."

"You talk to Anya." She added as they started toward the house

"Oh yeah, but just cause she's a straight talker. Xander still more or less hates me, and Willow just doesn't talk to me much at all."

"Hm, I guess, but still, part of wanting to be in my life for the long haul is getting along with my friends." She smiled as she stepped up on the porch, thinking she may have figured something out before he did.

"I'll work on it luv." He said simply as he opened the door for her.

The house was loud, rambunctious even, music blaring, girls chatting and laughing. Buffy and Spike entered the house very confused, this was a drastically different atmosphere then where they just were and a lot more party-like than it had been in quite some time. Buffy saw Willow across the living room dancing with her new girlfriend Kennedy, unlikely she would get her attention without causing a scene. Dawn was also with the group of dancing girls. Xander and Andrew were closer, playing cards with a few potentials. And Anya seemed to playing her favorite monetary game, Monopoly, with a few unsuspecting girls. Nobody had really noticed Buffy & Spike came back between the music and the commotion. Buffy looked to Spike, unsure if she should be mad and make a big scene, or maybe just slip quietly out the door and go patrol some more. But Spike as usual could pretty much tell what she was thinking and whispered into her ear. Then he stepped into the chaos and grabbed Xander from the table and headed for the kitchen. Andrew followed hoping not to get left out of anything.

Once all 4 of them were in the kitchen Buffy let her confusion out "What the bleeding hell is going on?" she covered her mouth and gave a shocked glare to Spike, who was trying to hold back a laugh. Holy crap! I did it again… maybe Xander didn't notice…?

"Did you just say 'bleeding hell'?" Xander asked dumbfounded.

"No, I said 'freaking hell'."

"No you definentally said 'bleeding'." Andrew affirmed "Otherwise why would Spike be trying not to laugh?"

Buffy smacked the vampire upside the head, and he instantly stopped, and got back to the original question "So mate, what's goin on in the slayers house while she's away trying to save you all?"

"Nothin, just the girls seemed like they could use some stress relief, and with our big breakthrough in the research we thought a party might be a fun idea." Xander explained.

"At least while you were still out doing recon." Andrew added "The research was kind of at a pause until you were able to get more info from Willy the snitch." He looked between the two hopeful "Were you able to weasel some information out of that low life?"

"Stop being so dramatic Andrew," Buffy insisted "Willy isn't a low life, he just caters to them," She glanced at Spike who raised his eyebrow in rebuttal "and to whoever comes in his fine shady establishment."

"You find out something Buff? We need to call off the party and rally the troops?"

"No, you guys are right, a party was probably due, I've been working them pretty hard between the studying and the workouts. And you guys have been hitting the books non-stop for me."

"Ehh, don't mention it, it's what we slayerettes do." Xander replied "So ya got news? Preferably of the good kind?" Buffy nodded with a small grin "Great! Andrew can you go grab Willow, Dawn, & Anya?"

"Sure thing Mr. Xander Sir!" and he bolted into the room. Buffy walked passed Spike who was leaning on the stove, then propped herself up on the counter by the sink to sit. Soon enough Andrew came back with the three ladies, plus Kennedy who was attached to Willows arm. "Your ladies in waiting madam Slayer." Buffy shot him a glare "Sorry, I'll be quiet."

"Thank you." Buffy said calmly "You all threw me off with the party, but Xander explained, we were probably past due for one."

"So is Willy a guardian?" Dawn asked excitedly "Did he tell you anything to help us save the day?"

"Don't know if he's a guardian for sure, but it still seems like it to me, cause he gave us some very helpful info just when we needed it."

"He know where you can find the amulet?" Willow asked

"Yup, LA. Even had most of a name for us. Lappeldenim solstice, or something like that." She looked to Spike for reassurance on her horrible Latin pronunciation.

"Lapedium Solis luv. Think it means rock of the sun?"

"Close, Stone of the Sun actually," Willow clarified "Which does give some credit as to what we think it can do."

"Great, so where in the big city do we have to go? Or can we call up Mr. Broody to get it for us and fed-ex it?" Xander asked, Spike couldn't help but chuckle at the nickname.

"What is it with you guys and bad nicknames for Angel?" Buffy requested exasperated.

"I don't know, he just makes it so easy, like Spike here." Xander implied, Spike stopped laughing glared at the boy for a moment then went to answer his question.

"Well it seem that some big bad evil lawfirm swooped up our amulet a few weeks ago and has it in their vaults or something."

"What does a lawfirm need with a magical amulet?" Willow questioned.

"Don't know exactly, but they do more than law stuff I guess, big into magics and such." Buffy supplied.

"This lawfirm wouldn't be Wolfram & Hart by chance would it?" Anya interjected.

"Yup that's the one." Spike confirmed.

"I get it, they've been around since the dawn of time in one form or another. They're pretty much Evil Incorporated. You want something done, and you got the money to pay them, they'll get it done, by any means necessary."

"What else Anya?" Buffy prodded "Why would they need an amulet?"

"It could be as simple as a client needed it, or they just wanted it. They like to keep powerful things at their fingertips and out of anyone else's hands who would use it against them."

"Have you heard anything about this place lately? Like in the last few weeks?" Buffy asked.

"Nope."

"Cause here's the kicker of this whole story. According to Willy, the firm seems to be under new management, Angel's in charge now." As expected confused looks of 'what', 'how', & 'why' were clear on everyone's face.

Then Willow was bold enough to ask "Is he evil again?" Buffy hadn't thought about that, but Willy never said he was evil…

"No I don't think so Wil, I don't know how or why, but Willy was sure he heard right."

"He ain't evil," Spike added noticing Buffy's self-doubt. "Angelus would never have the patience to take a bloody job, even as the boss. The ponce would think that was beneath him." Buffy couldn't even shoot him a glare for the barb, what he said did make sense, the Angelus she knew always did his own evil twisted thing.

"So, basically the plan is to call up Angel, say pretty please and he should be able to get us the amulet?" Dawn clarified.

"To put it bluntly," Buffy agreed "Yeah. Questions?" Nobody could come up with one.

"So can I pull my girl back to the party?" Kennedy blurted.

"I don't know hun, I may have to get back into research mode."

"Na, you all enjoy the party, you've all earned some unwind time. I'll give Angel a call and see what he can do."

"Alrighty then. Thanks Buff." Xander said as he hopped up and headed for the living room.

"Hm, the number's been disconnected or something." Buffy looked back and forth from the receiver to the number scribbled on her notepad "I doubt I dialed it wrong 3 times."

"Wanna try the law firm?" Spike asked, he had Dawn look up the number before returning to the party.

"Fine." She grabbed the paper from Spike and dialed it in. A recording of a young woman answered.

"Hello you have reached Wolfram & Hart attorneys at law. If you know your parties extension please dial it now? Para continuar en español, marque uno." Buffy annoyance was becoming clear on her face "To speak with an attorney press 2. To speak with a consultant press 3. To contact records press 4. To contact the Research & Development department press 5. To contact magical archives press 6. To speak with an administrative associate press 7. To schedule a sacrifice press 8. To hear the list again press 9."

"What the hell, I don't know?" she pressed 9 then placed the phone on speakerphone so Spike could help, the list replayed.

"7 would be my best guess, maybe someone there could at least send ya to the right secretary." He reasoned.

Buffy shrugged and pressed the number "Thank you, please hold as we connect you to our next available associate." Then the perfectly awful hold music echoed through the phone, she placed it on the island while they waited.

"Super." They waited for a few minutes, still nobody picked up "You suppose they're closed?" Buffy asked looking at the clock, just past 9:00.

"Maybe technically, but I don't think this firm sleeps." They waited through the music a few minutes more "So, what's the plan after this then pet? If Angel is there and can get us the trinket we gonna head down to get it?"

"Why would we both go? I can run down and get it and be back a little after dawn I'm sure."

"Cause I don't trust you alone with your ex. The last time he came to town you two got with the smoochies."

"What? When?" Buffy thought back, after her mother had died, he came after the funeral, and she was feeling pretty needy… "Ugh! Spike! There were circumstances, and he left and we didn't let anything happen anyway." She thought back on it again, I don't remember telling anyone about that part of Angel's visit. "Wait, how do you know that happened anyway?"

"I went to visit your mums grave after dark, saw you two all snuggly."

"Oh." She said kind of bashfully.

"So either I run n' fetch it and we see if Angel and I can play nice, or we both go slayer. Not too sure we could make it back before light though, so may have to lay about in LA for a day."

"You're pretty set those are our only options?"

"Yup. I don't want him comin' in here and refusing to leave and bullock somethin' up in the process. So if we gotta get the ponce involved, I wanna know what he's doing, and making sure it ain't you."

"Spike?!" baffled he'd come right out and say it, she took a moment to consider her next words, seeing as now he was actually getting upset. "Are you not wanting to add Angelus to our list of problems? Or are you just scared you'd lose what we have?"

"What do you think pet?" he asked sarcastically "You become sixteen every time you bloody see him." Buffy was a little hurt by the statement, but he wasn't entirely wrong. Angel was her first love, he'll always have the power to render her helpless. Then the music stopped and a real voice came to the line.

"Hello Wolfram & Hart administration assistance, thanks for holding. How can I help you?"

Buffy grabbed the phone "Um, yes I was looking to speak with Angel."

"I cannot guarantee our CEO will be available to talk with just anyone ma'am, but if you'd like I can patch you through to his secretary."

"I would appreciate that."

"Hold one moment please." Then the music started again.

"That wasn't condescending at all." Buffy blurted "Thought she was gonna hang up on me for asking something so stupid." The pair chuckled then they heard yet another female voice through the phone.

"Hello, Wolfram & Hart, Angel's office." Spike got a weird look on his face, Buffy went to take it off speakerphone but he stopped her wanting to hear.

"Hi, I was hoping to speak with Angel directly."

"He is a bit busy at the moment. I could take your name and number and see if he'll return your call. May I ask who's calling?" Spike snapped his fingers then grabbed the phone.

"Harm is that you?" he asked

"Who is this now? Cause I thought I was just speaking to a lady."

"Bloody hell, Harm it's Spike."

"Blondy Bear? Holy cow? Really? Wait why are you calling for Angel? And who was on the phone before?"

He rolled his eyes. "I'm helpin the Slayer out, now would you put us through to Angel?" he asked then added "Oh but just say it's Buffy, if you say it's me he'll just hang up."

"Okay sure, hold on just a sec." the hold music returned on the line for a brief moment before Angel's voice rang through and Spike handed the phone back to Buffy.

"Hello, Buffy?"

"Hey Angel, when did you become CEO of Evil Incorporated? And why is Harmony your secretary?"

"How? How did you know I was here? I've only been here a couple of weeks and haven't called any of you since…" his voice trailed.

"News travels fast in the demon world. Thanks for the new number by the way, glad I didn't need to get a hold of you for help with an apocalypse. Oh wait I do." Spike muffled a laugh, not wanting to add is presence to the conversation.

"Sorry Buffy, I just wasn't sure you'd approve, not even sure if I do yet."

"Not sure I do, but it seems you can help with our current apocalypse."

"Yeah you're going up against the FIRST, same evil that tried to get me to kill myself a few years back."

"And you know this how?"

"Part of the perks of being CEO of Evil Incorporated. So how can I help?"

"Seems your enterprise snatched up an amulet from Sunnydale that we could really use, called the Lapedium Solis, Stone of the Sun. We're pretty sure it's gonna help us with our ubervamp problem."

"I can get Westley right on it, he's running the magic & relics department."

"Really…? I'm sorry this is just too weird."

"Yeah, I get that. So you gonna come down to get it or should I bring it up to Sunnydale?"

"I'll come down, maybe crash the night and see if you can dig up anything else helpful for us?"

"Sure thing, let me double check we got it and give you a call right back. You at home?"

"Yup, Thanks Angel." Then she hung up the line.

"I hope you said 'I'll come down' so he wouldn't ask about 'we'll come down'?"

"Pretty much. We'll let him deal when he sees ya. You mind filling the gang in? I'm gonna go pack a bag while I wait for the call back." She strode past him toward the stairs.

"Sure thing pet." He was glad she caved so easy to let him come, but wasn't looking forward to having her go all gaga over Angel in front of him. And he definitely wasn't going to expect Buffy to come out about their maybe relationship in front of his grand-sire. Besides, if we really do have friends in this evil firm, maybe they'd have the resources to help make me a real boy…