Chapter Four
Spike struggled in his chains as the quiet werewolf stood watch over him. "Listen Oz, I know you want to help Willow and I know you want to prove yourself to her. The best way to do this is to let me loose when the sun sets." Spike had been plotting his escape since his arrival at Giles' home. He had not had any success thus far but decided to try his hand with Oz. He knew that if he played his cards right, the quiet man would relent.
"I'm just following orders," Oz replied with no emotional indication that Spike's plan was working on his face.
"Willow will go through hell and high water to rescue Buffy," Spike snarled in frustration. "This hell and high water could get her killed. We are dealing with the United States government and the sooner you lot of sorry excuses for fighters learns this, the faster we can get to work!" Spike snapped impatiently with anger showing on his face.
Oz showed no emotion still but Spike's words resounded in his brain. He feared they were up against more than they could handle and knew the lengths Willow would go to for Buffy. "I'll think about it," he replied and walked out of the bathroom.
Spike stretched his body languidly against the restraints of the chains. He had a smug look on his face believing that he had hit the right nerve with Oz. "I'm coming Buffy, hold on."
- - - - - - -
Irina lay on the bed next to Willow who had fallen off to sleep after their second passionate encounter. She knew her objective was to save her daughter from whatever the underground operation had in store for her. She had always managed to block feelings other than those of work, coldness, and rage out of her mind. For some reason, she was finding it hard to do this with this young girl. Willow was so vibrant, pretty and trustful that Irina couldn't help but feel a fondness for her. She carried herself confidently yet had an innocent mystique to her, one that was drawing the hardened ex KGB agent closer to the redhead.
She gently rubbed her thumb across Willows cheek and placed a kiss on her soft lips. "Willow," was the first word that willow heard as she awoke. "We've got work to do sweetie." She then flashed Willow a smile and got up from the bed. "I'll go freshen up," she leant down and kissed the redhead again. "Marshall will be returning soon and we need to decode the disk."
Willow stretched lazily then rolled onto Irina's now vacated pillow. The woman had such a lovely scent; one that Willow was sure would be etched in her mind forever. She knew it was too late for her feelings to abandon Irina; she had fallen hard and fast. With a steadily growing fear of what was to come regarding the initiative, Willow got up from the bed. She wasn't sure of anything anymore but the fact that Irina held her fragile state together with ease. She comforted her and seemed to have her best interest in mind as well.
Irina stepped out of the bathroom as Willow stood waiting her turn. "You could have come in," Irina said, as she placed gentle kisses on Willow's soft lips. "I believe Marshall is here," she gave Willow another kiss before she headed towards the front door.
"I was beginning to worry you were otherwise occupied," Marshall said with a wink, as he rushed inside the house. "We need that disk decoded pronto. One of my buddies tells me that Syd is going on vacation for a couple of days to visit Maggie Walsh. She leaves tomorrow evening."
"I've got to put a stop to this," Irina said with a frustrated look on her face. "I will blow my cover if necessary."
"Well I've got an idea," Marshall said with a grin. "Maybe if you contacted Jack and told him of the information on this disk, he would get her to back off if he is even involved. If he isn't, you can bargain with him for a pardon of your past crimes in return for your help in stopping this program. You can do the same with the Russian's."
Irina thought Marshall's suggestion over as Willow entered the room refreshed. She was certain that she could get a pardon for information this important. She then could take down Alexander and the communist backers with the current Russian government with the same information. Sydney would be saved and she would be clear to pursue her own personal interests. Though she was willing to bargain with Jack, she was not yet willing to go so far with her government. She had her own agenda where they were concerned and was hopeful that she would find another solution to that end of the problem. "Decode the disk quickly," she looked at Marshall and Willow with an icier look then she had intended to give the redhead. "Time is of the essence now."
As Irina left the room in haste, Marshall gave Willow an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for my behavior earlier. It's just that we can't be too careful and now I will apologize on behalf of Ira." He gave the redhead a thin worried smile and began to work on the disk. "Her daughter may be involved and she's a little bent out of shape. I'll run the variables while you work the decoding."
- - - - - - -- -
As Irina spoke to Alexander about the chips in Spike and Buffy, a loud banging on the door interrupted her. "I will get you the chip and you will not make a move with it until you are told." She reiterated with anger and answered the door. She had decided that she could turn some information over to her organization without risking Sydney's life and keep relations on the up and up.
She looked at the vampire with a pleasant smile. This was all going way too easy for her liking. "Listen, I think I can help you, if you help me in return." Spike spat out in a huff.
"I may need a little muscle but if you cross me," Irina withdrew a stake looking mechanism from her pocket. "This will end your sorry excuse of a life from quite some distance."
A loud beeping sound alerted the two something was going on in the other room as they were discussing how Spike could be an asset to Irina. "Ira come quick!" Marshall's shouts rushed Irina into moving more quickly.
Before the small group, on the screen, was an outline of Buffy and Spike's chip as well as the date that Sydney would be programmed. The author of the writing had believed the mistakes made in the test victim, Spike, were corrected as the chip inserted into Buffy had worked as planned thus far. "They were planning to put me in their army or whatever the bloody hell they're concocting!" Spike bellowed in anger.
The disk went on to detail Maggie's experiment with Adam. The plan was to take the salvageable body parts of an otherwise terminally ill human being and intertwine them with those of a demon as well as elaborate computer circuitry to build super soldiers. "I am going to conclude after these plans take form, they plan to overthrow the United States government then the world." Marshall said, as he pointed to another file.
The file indicated that the United States government authorized this group to research the likelihood of demonic beings and proper ways to detain them. The group was to find out such things as their usefulness to the government and begin operations of destruction to any being that was more harmful than good. "It would appear Ms. Walsh has gone on her own mission." Irina said knowing full well the United States government had the same plans in mind that her own government had. Maggie Walshes faction, she realized, was much the same as her own faction, working for their own goals.
Irina stood in thought before she turned her gaze to Marshall. "I want you to get me Jack and Maggie's phone conversations, emails and whatever else you can dig up to indicate his standing in this entire mess. I want you to do this before morning. I also want you to check Arvin's involvement."
"Yes ma'am, I will do my best." Marshall answered with shock in his voice.
"No, you will do it!" Irina barked in anger, as she turned to Spike. "I want you to go into the college and find whatever you can on Maggie Walshes experiments. I want this done ASAP!"
"What about Adam!" Spike yelped in fear coupled with anger.
"If you want that chip removed, you will do it!" Irina shouted back and was glad to see the subordinate look on Spike's face.
Willow looked at her new lover who was showing yet another side of herself. She wondered just who this woman really was and if there really was anything in the future for the two of them. "Is there anything you would like me to do?" She asked softly, as she looked into Irina's rage-filled eyes.
Irina's gaze penetrated the redhead and her mood softened. She knew, deep down, she had strong emotions for Willow but couldn't allow that to hinder her plans. Everything had to be done carefully and in a timely manner or all could be lost. She walked over to Willow and leaned close to her. "There is a lot I would like you to do but that all will have to wait." Irina spoke softly as she brushed her lips against Willow's, effectively outing the redhead to Spike. "See if you can find out how Adam works so that he will be properly dismantled." Irina spoke again and handed the redhead a small device that was used to scan the hybrid.
"Ira, what will you be doing?" Marshall asked, as he worked diligently to gain access to Jack's personal records through Arvin Slone's server.
"I am going to get my daughter out of there. If it is at all possible," she turned to spike and handed him a tranquilizer gun. "I would like you to get Maggie Walsh and bring her here. There is a spare room equipped for such persons."
"Ira," Marshall said slowly as he didn't want to cross the volatile agent. "Maybe you and Spike could trade jobs. I think he could accomplish access to Syd without less hassle."
"No because if I get information that Jack Bristo is involved in harming Sydney, he is a dead man before I return!" Irina shouted with venom in her voice, as she walked out the door.
The three sat in silence for a few minutes. "She left her jacket." Willow offered meekly.
"Maybe Spike can drop it at the airport," Marshall stated in an unsettled tone. He knew what Irina's main objective was but wondered if she would take off with all of the information once Sydney was safe. He wouldn't put it past her to do such a thing and knew he couldn't stop her if he tried. He also knew he would be killed if she knew he was entertaining such doubts about her.
"I'll do it," Willow stood up. "Spike has to get his job done before sunrise and we have a little more time than that." Willow said looking at the clock, which read 11:55pm.
She headed out the door being glad that Irina had forgotten the jacket in her haste. She was rattled by the events of the evening and needed some reassurance that everything would be all right. She felt it selfish of her due to Sydney's situation but felt she deserved this much after putting her trust in Irina so quickly.
As she rounded the corner for the brisk walk to the airport, a car pulled up beside her. "Hello Willow." Irina said with a smile then pulled over. "Come sit for a moment."
"I guess you were coming back to get this," Willow said. She handed the leather jacket to Irina and sat down in the passenger seat.
"Yes and thank you for bringing it." Irina smiled and took Willow's hand in hers. "You look troubled Ms. Rosenberg, is there something I could help you with?"
"I'm all right," Willow said with a slight smile. "I'm just worried about everyone and still processing all of what's going on."
Irina pulled the younger woman close to her. A feeling of peace swept through her hardened walls as she held the redhead. For the first time in her life, Irina felt fear. She wasn't afraid when she had to leave Jack because she knew Sydney would be cared for, or thought so at the time. She wasn't afraid when she was imprisoned for treason because she would never allow her own people to instill such emotions within her. She wasn't afraid the countless times she had nearly lost her life in missions because she believed in destiny, to live or die, it was her destiny. She wasn't afraid when she decided to confront whomever she had to in order to save Sydney from the initiative. At this moment, she was afraid because the emotions she was feeling were foreign to her. These types of emotions could show signs of weakness and bring her walls crashing down. "Willow I will do everything in my power to keep you and your friends safe. I enjoy the time I've spent with you a great deal and I want very much to spend more time with you." Irina steeled her emotions and decided to plunge in this thing with Willow as only Irina Derevko could, with precise movements and control. If she had to deal with these emotions, she refused to give up the control that she had worked so hard to keep over her life. She also refused to believe in a future with this young woman. She was harboring secrets about her identity and knew she could not stay here if no deal with the government was struck.
Irina moved her lips gently down Willow's neck as she massaged her lower back. "Willow, there are some things I want us to discuss when I return. I am going to give you full disclosure on a few things about myself. Until then, I need for you to trust me and believe I will protect you to the best of my ability."
Irina's kisses and caressing grew more aggressive as Willow responded positively. "The plans have changed, give me the scanner used on Adam and I want you to do Marshall's job, he will assist Spike." Irina said, as she moved her mouth lower on Willow's body with each word.
Willow's head was totally gone for the secretive woman by the time they finished yet another passionate encounter. She didn't know what was to come but felt a blissful ignorance as Irina dropped her back off at the house with the new plans having been phoned in to Marshall who would briefly show Willow how to get around in the CIA servers.