A/N1: For purposes of this story Cordelia was never a higher being. Personally I thought "higher being my ass" when that story line started – but oh well it didn't seem to have any effect on Joss. Everything else on Angel happened just imagine Cordy helping rescue him from the bottom of the ocean. And most definitely no Cordelia/Conner sex because Ewww! With more Ewww! on top.
A/N2: Oh I almost forgot – just like in the series the tomb is on unconsecrated ground. So no horrible consequences for taking a head on holy ground.
A/N3: I'm not to fond of this chapter but I hope you guys enjoy it.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN – The Poofter Arrives With Shiny Beads and Shallow Flattery (well not so much flattery)
Sunnydale Cemetery
"Argh! Why didn't he come with a warning label?" Bella said still kneeling on the floor trying to recover from the quickening.
"Still quipping even in the face of death I see," said a familiar voice from behind her.
Bella slowly drew herself up and turned around, "Angel." Her voice was flat and held no emotion.
Angel dressed all in black with coat billowing behind him walked over to her and steadied her as she swayed slightly in place. He slid his hands up into her golden hair having missed the silky feel of it between his fingers. He tried to draw her into a kiss but Bella raised her hands to his chest and pushed him away.
"What the hell are you doing?" she asked angrily. "I distinctly remember telling you the last time I saw you – no – more – smoochies!" Each word was punctuated by a jab to his chest with her finger in a manner she hoped brought the point home to him.
From the corner Duncan groaned, "Bella, you've got to learn to keep your quickening to yourself."
Bella hurried over to Duncan quickly checking him for injuries. "Oh you big baby! You just have a little bump on your head – at least you still have it. Which is more than I can say for our mystery immortal, Caleb."
Angel took a deep breath – scenting the air – and didn't like what he smelt. Who ever this man was he and Bella's scents were entwined in only the way two people who are lovers can be. He let out a low growl, "Mine!"
Bella turned a dark look on the vampire, "I haven't been yours for a very, very long time Angel. And if I've heard correctly you're seeing Cordelia. So don't go all Neanderthal on me."
At the mention of Cordelia, Angel had the grace to look sheepish. A very funny look for a master vampire over 250 years old Bella thought.
"What are you doing here?" Bella questioned as she helped Duncan to his feet.
Sunnydale Cemetery – East Side
Faith, Robin and Spike's evening had been only slightly less exciting than Bella and Duncan's. They'd slain two Polgara demons and some really strange thing with a lot of slime. Robin had been covered with slime as the demon exploded when he beheaded it. Spike had gotten a good laugh at the former principal's expense.
Hearing a loud explosion from the west side of the cemetery all three turned in the direction of the noise. The night sky was lit with bolts of blue lightening.
"What the fuck is that?" Faith asked.
Spike began to run calling out behind him, "A quickenin'! Dammit she better still have her head or I'll bloody well kill her m'self!"
Faith looked perplexed but Robin quickly realized, "Oh! Remember Bella told us it's what happens when an immortal is beheaded."
A scared looks crossed Faith's face as she grabbed Robin's hand and pulled him into a dead run following Spike as he dodged through the tombstones in his effort to get to the source of the lightening.
A few minutes later all three burst into the tomb. Spike quickly took in the scene before him – particularly the presence of his grandsire.
"Peaches! To what do we owe the honor of your visit?" Spike asked and then growled, "Poofter!" under his breath.
"Great it's going to be one giant pissing contest." Bella murmured causing Duncan to raise his eyebrow in a questioning look. "They hate each other. Well, that's probably an understatement. They loathe each other. If you want I'll tell you their whole sordid story later – much later. After I've had a couple of shots of tequila. These two together – it's enough to drive anyone to drink."
Bella stepped between the two angry vampires. "Boys, we so don't have time for this. I need to get back to Giles with the new information I have on the sword."
Spike tore his angry gaze away from Angel and his eyes immediately softened as a he looked down at Bella. "Well, luv since you and the Scot still have your heads I'm assumin' that it was someone else's quickenin' you took."
"Oh yeah! It seems Caleb had his very own toy surprise. He was immortal. Though why the hell none of us could feel his buzz is beyond me. Duncan, when we get back to the mansion can you call Joe and see if he's ever heard of someone being able to mask the buzz."
"Angel, I really want to know why you're here but I think we'd better save it for back at the mansion." Bella then turned leading the group out of the tomb and through the cemetery toward Crawford Street.
Crawford Street Mansion – Library
It was a weary group, minus the slime covered Robin, that entered the library to find Methos, Amanda, Giles and Anya still hard at work researching.
Bella turned her glare on Spike and Angel. "You two – opposite sides of the room – I don't want to hear a word out of you unless it pertains to the First."
Giles removed his glasses cleaning them on a handkerchief, "I say Bella what's wrong?"
"These two act like two year olds – not Master Vamps – if I have to hear another word from either of them – I'll stake them both."
The returning group all nod their heads in agreement. They'd never seen anyone act as annoying as the two vampires when they were together. With scowls on their faces Angel and Spike took up positions at opposite ends of the room glaring at each other. Bella was surprised they weren't sticking their tongues out at each other.
Bella proceeded to tell everyone the information the Guardian had given her prior to her death. She then told of her fight with Caleb and the unexpected quickening.
"Amanda, Methos – have you ever heard of anyone who could mask their quickening from other immortals?" Both immortals shook their head in the negative indicating that they'd never heard of anything like it.
"And I didn't think of it before – but he didn't have a sword. Maybe he didn't know he was an immortal. I'm not sure how important this is to anything but we probably need to see what we can find out about Caleb – see if the Joe knows anything about him."
Duncan took out his cell phone and turned to Bella. "I'll call Joe – see if he knows anything." He opened the phone and walked to the back of the library to make his call.
Then Angel opened his mouth as if to speak. "Angel, this better not be anything about Spike or so help me…" Bella said angrily.
He rushed to reassure her, "No. No. No, Spike. I think I know what the Guardian was talking about when she said you'd receive something from an enemy by the hand of a friend." He reached into his pocket and drew out a large gold amulet and handed it to Bella.
"Where did you get it?" Giles asked as Bella slowly turned the amulet over in her hand feeling an almost throbbing power coming from it.
"I got it from a lawyer at Wolfram & Hart. They're an 'evil' law firm that deals with demons. The senior partners have been trying to bring back Angelus – something about wanting his help in the End of Days Battle."
Giles spoke angrily, "And you brought something they gave you here. It's obviously a trap."
"Giles," Bella said calmly. "Weren't you listening – the guardian told me an enemy would send this to me via a friend but that when the time came I would know how to use it. Angel, did they tell you anything else about the amulet – how it was supposed to be used? Who's supposed to wear it?"
Bella had her own ideas about who's neck the amulet was supposed to go around but she wanted to know what the lawyer had told Angel.
"They said 'someone ensouled – but more than human – a champion'. I thought from that it might mean me."
Bella looked closely at Angel but her gaze kept going to Spike. "I don't think so Angel. Spike, I think this trinket belongs to you."
"Slayer – 'm no champion." Spike said with a surprised look on his face.
"Your damn right you're no champion, boy!" Angel's voice was full of anger as he turned a hard stare first on Spike and then Bella.
"Bella – how can you say he's a champion – he doesn't even have a soul."
"Spike is a champion. He has a soul. But it's not even that. Before he got his soul he helped me stop you from sucking the world into hell – then he willingly fought by my side against Glorificus to save Dawnie – but most importantly – his soul, he sought it willingly – he fought for it. He wasn't cursed with it. And setting aside all of that – the amulet is almost screaming at me that it belongs to Spike."
Bella stood and walked toward Spike and put the amulet around his neck and placed a gentle kiss on his mouth. "So, ready to help me save the world again?"