When Buffy walked into Giles' the next day, with the rest of the Scoobies following behind her, she looked well-rested and overall much better than the day before. Giles was happy to see that. He was so worried while she was stuck with Angelus, and his imagination ran wild with the horrible things they could have been doing to his Slayer. He didn't get to see Buffy throughout the day at school, she missed a lot of days so she had to catch up. They made a plan to meet back at Giles' apartment since they learned from their mistake about staying in school at night the last time Angelus was around.

'She's so strong, I don't know what happened in that mansion but whatever went on, she's obviously strong enough to get past it and focus on what's important. I'm so proud of her.' Giles thought.

Just then, Spike walked in from the kitchen grumbling to himself and looking really grumpy. He was rudely woken up this afternoon by an alarm going off in his ear. It scared the shit out of him because he's never used one before. When he finally figured out how to turn it off, by throwing it across the room and smashing it into little pieces, he saw a note from Giles that said 'Meeting after school, here, be ready.'

"This is a bloody criminal time for a vampire to be awake Rupert. Your heart attack machine is now in a thousand bits and pieces by the way." He grumbled, taking a sip of his pig swill and grimacing.

"My heart attack machine? What? Oh, Christ, you git, it's an alarm clock, I use that to wake up every morning."

"Well, not anymore mate. I'm a vampire for crying out loud. I've never used or needed anything like that before. How'd you expect me to react?"

"Pillock. Though you're right, I probably should have thought better than that. It's fine, I have a spare anyway." Giles shrugs. "At least it got you up. I tried waking you before I left to let you out of the chains but you were dead to the world."

"Vampire," Spike says with a shrug like it explains everything.

This whole time the Scoobies are looking back and forth between the two like it's a tennis match. To say they're majorly of the wigged would be an understatement. Are they talking like they're friends? No, that can't be right but they're definitely not acting how the teenagers of the group think the two of them should be acting.

Once Spike chugs the rest of his blood he looks around because he's finally awake enough to pay attention. When he sees Buffy he feels something that he doesn't remember feeling since shortly after he was turned. Is it... empathy?

'Christ poor little lamb is barely holding it together. She's putting on a decent enough show for her friends but she needs more time to get her head on straight. She's a strong one but even the strong need help sometimes. Angelus will do that to you.' Spike thought, unbeknownst to him, thinking almost the exact opposite of Giles.

"Right, well, what's so bloody important that you had to ruin my beauty rest?"

"No one forced you to be here dead boy, you're not wanted either. Why don't you just leave so we can go back to figuring out how to save the day from your family." Xander felt safe saying this to Spike because Buffy was there and she'd stop Spike from killing him. What he didn't expect was all the annoyed looks thrown his way, and the yellow eyes of a vampire staring at him with anger, it made him shiver.

"Oh goddess Xan, not again. We're not going to keep having this fight, are we? Buffy said Spike can help us, he's helped us before even if we didn't know it at the time. He's not here to hurt us. Why are you fighting this so hard?" Willow asked angrily.

"I don't trust vampires!"

"Listen mate, I get it, you don't have a good history with my kind. That's fine, I don't particularly like them all that much either. I've only met a handful in my century plus that I could stand. I'm not tryin' to take your spot in your little white hats club, and I'm not here to hurt any of your friends. 'M just here to help The Slayer take Angelus down."

"Whatever," Xander says with a huff.

"Anyway," Buffy interrupts with her Slayer voice when it was clear that Xander wanted to say more. "Wills, any luck with the spell?"

"I'm working on it, Buffy, most things are easy to get. We kept the translation of the spell and we have most of what we need. It's the Orb of Thesulah that's the problem, I'm looking for one but I don't know how long it will take to find one."

"Wouldn't put it past the berk to try to snatch them all up himself." Spike said.

"What are you talking about, Spike?" Giles asked.

"When I was still in the wheelchair, I heard him and Dru talkin' once. He knows it's needed to get the soul back and he wants nothing to do with the soul. He's got money and minions. They're probably looking for them too, trying to keep you from getting one." Spike explained.

"Doesn't matter anyway. I want you to keep looking Willow, but I've decided we're not waiting on that. If we find it, fine. But we're going to focus on taking them down. We already know they're planning something big and we can't wait around hoping to find what we need to get his soul back. Does anyone have any ideas on how to figure out what they're planning?" Spike and Giles looked at each other and nodded, last night they were thinking they'd have to convince Buffy to go after Angelus, it seems she came to the same conclusion all on her own.

"We have no idea yet but Spike came up with a way that might get us some information," Giles said and everyone looked at Spike. Spike doesn't like being the center of attention unless he puts it on himself so he did what he always does when he's in these types of situations. He sat back and stretched out in a pose that clearly said 'I don't give a fuck' and laid out his plan with attitude.

"Not that hard a plan to come up with, is it?. I'm jus' gonna go out tonight and make some minions tell me what's what. Angelus got a big mouth so all his people probably already know what's gonna go down. Plus he doesn't make a habit of being nice to his underlings so they're probably looking for a better opportunity to come along." Spike could see that Xander wanted to start verbally attacking him again so he flashed his golden eyes at the whelp again, and he closed his mouth.

Buffy saw his eyes flash and it made her stake hand twitchy but she ignored the impulse. She already knows what Spike is, he's never pretended to be anything otherwise. Plus she trusts him not to go back on his word and the truce, and hurting Xander would definitely do that. Then she'd have to dust him, and for some reason, a big part of her doesn't want to do that. Who knows, maybe it will actually work to make Xander stop bringing up the fact that Spike is here and he's staying for now.

"Okay, yeah, that idea is of the good. Then you meet up with me out on patrol after. I'm mostly better but…" She trailed off because she hates admitting her own weaknesses and her leg and ribs are still pretty sore. Broken bones take a while to heal. She's able to use them again but they hurt if she uses them too long or does something too strenuous.

"Buffy, maybe you should wait for him to come back before you go out, or we can go with you. What if you run into Angelus again?" Willow suggests.

"No, you guys should definitely not be out there at night. Everyone has to be indoors once the sun goes down. Mom is going to be back in town in the morning and I'll have to let her know of the danger too. I'm not losing anyone this time."

"Then you should wait too, he's already got you once. We can't lose you either. I don't doubt you can take him when you're at your best, but I saw you today. I saw how sore you were in gym class and when you had to sit still too long." Willow looked at Buffy pleadingly, she was clearly worried about her friend.

"Alright Willow, I'll wait until Spike gets back. But tomorrow I'll be fine. Slayer healing really does come in handy." Buffy said and Willow smiled. She just wanted her friend to stay safe. Just then, there was a knock on the door.

"Who is it?" Giles asked as he got up from his seat.

"Wesley," they heard through the door, and they all let out a collective annoyed sigh.

"This will be fun, as in, of the not variety," Buffy said.

"This the new watcher bloke Rupert was warning me about?" Spike asked.

"Yeah, unfortunately," Willow answered. Giles opened the door and let Wesley in. Wesley looked around the room and looked at Spike for a few seconds but didn't make a comment about him.

"Right, what did I miss? Buffy, I'm glad to see you are well by the way, I was worried." Wesley said.

'Yeah right, he doesn't look relieved or like he was worrying at all, he's just happy they don't have to take the time to find the next 'tool' for their battle,' Buffy thought, feeling annoyed, and had to put a lot of effort into not rolling her eyes.

"Nothing much, we just made a plan to figure out what Angelus, Faith, and Drusilla are working on."

"'Drusilla the Mad' is in town now too? That means her Paramour cannot be far behind; William the Bloody must already be on his way. This is not good Buffy, if the Scourge is getting back together, it won't be easy to stop them." Wesley said, cleaning his glasses, clearly worried. Everyone looked at Spike a little amusedly and he just quirked a brow.

"Wow mate, you're really out of the loop, he got here days ago. Scary bloke if I do say so myself."

"You saw him? Wait, who even are you? Buffy I told you, this is a secret calling, you're not supposed to bring the public into this, especially the riff-raff. You're supposed to walk this road alone, you alone can fight the forces of darkness."

"Oi, don't call me Riff-raff… on second thought, I actually don't hate it," Spike said with a shrug, clearly enjoying himself which annoyed a few people because this is serious. Giles let out a long-suffering sigh and stood up.

"Wesley, this is Spike. He's worked with Buffy to take down Angelus before, and he's going to help again. If it wasn't for him, Buffy would still be held captive at the mansion, he freed her and got her to me. In doing this, he let Angelus and Drusilla know that he went against the family, so now he's their enemy too. We are working together on this, and that's final."

Wesley shuddered for a few seconds, clearly taken aback, and then fear entered his eyes because he realized how close he was to one of the world's most dangerous vampires. Spike always loved the smell of fear so he couldn't help but smile a little when the poncey watcher started reeking of it. He's still evil, after all. Wesley pulled a cross out of his breast pocket and put it between him and Spike.

"Stay b-back, you, you BEAST! Buffy, I command you to slay him."

"Command? As if." Buffy scoffs.

"Wesley, stop being a prat and put your cross away. Spike has been here for two days and hasn't hurt anyone. We have a truce and he'll keep his word."

"How can you all just stand here with him like he's not planning how to kill you all? Are you all that daft? I know you have strange ways that you used to teach her Rupert, but this is just insane. She's my charge now, so she has to listen to me, and I say he has to go."

"Hey, don't look at me, I agree with you." Xander chimed in with a smile, happy someone is finally talking sense. Buffy rolled her eyes at Xander's comment and walked over to Wesley to take the cross away from him. She threw it across the room so he couldn't get to it again.

"Wesley, I know you're the person the Watcher's Council sent to watch me now, but that means nothing to me. They've never helped me, only told me my life was over and I was going to die at 16 because of a prophecy. When that didn't happen they tried to kill me themselves and called it a 'test'. So if you're not going to sit down, shut up, and listen to the plan we've made so far, you might as well leave. Because as far as I'm concerned, I quit the Council the day they fired Giles."

'God she's so bloody hot when she takes charge like that… No Spike, those thoughts are too perverse, even for you. That's the Slayer, you're supposed to kill her, not want to shag her.' Spike shook his head to change his line of thought but still had to adjust his jeans to make himself more comfortable after the show.

"You're not able to quit the Watcher's Council. You're our tool against the evil in the night." Wesley scoffed and Spike let out a bark of laughter at the audacity of this bloke. He's excited to see how the Slayer shuts it down.

Buffy's face grew red with anger and it was starting to cloud her judgment. She knows she's not allowed to hurt him because he's human, but she really wants to. On top of that, to work in an organization that thinks it's okay to own someone and control what they do seems pretty evil to her. Especially one that thinks it's okay to kill their 'tool' when it doesn't listen how they want her to. The more she thinks about this the more angry she gets. At this point, it's white-hot rage.

"The more I think about it, the more evil the Watcher's Council seems. They don't want to help the slayers, they want to control them to do their bidding. I don't think you're evil Wesley, I just think you're in way over your head. I'm giving you a chance to be a part of something real, a way to actually save the world. I'm not going to live by the Council's rules anymore. They're nothing to me except the people who failed to kill me. Are you with us, the people who actually work every day to make this world safer, or them, the people who think they can strong-arm young girls into doing whatever they're told?"

"T-this is quite unorthodox B-buffy" Wesley stuttered. Buffy crossed her arms and started tapping her foot.

"I'm waiting."

"What would be expected of me, were I to turn my back on everything I was taught, were I to go against my family?"

"You would have to stop telling the Council everything that happens here, I don't trust them. We'd need your help with research, magic, and sometimes backup. You'd have to realize that I'm the boss here, you don't get to tell me what to do. You can offer suggestions but if I decide not to take them, then too bad. Can you do that?"

"Buffy, I think you're wrong about the Council, I wish you'd reconsider."

"No, I'm done with them, there's no changing my mind about that. Am I done with you too?"

"I'm sorry, I really want to help you but I cannot turn my back on my family and all that I was taught."

"I understand. You can go now, you're no longer welcome here."

"Buffy, I'm not just going to leave. Whether you want to admit it or not, I'm still your watcher."

"No, didn't you hear me? I quit the Council. I have too many big bads coming my way right now, I don't want to have to worry about the Council too. If anything, Faith is your only Slayer now. By my count, you're currently failing spectacularly at that job considering where she is right now."

"That's not fair, I cannot control what she chooses to do."

"Isn't that the whole point of a watcher from the Council's point of view? Control the tool?" She said with an eye roll. "Doesn't matter, just go Wesley."

Wesley cleared his throat and got up and left, there wasn't much he could do about it right now. He does know the Watcher's Council won't take this sitting down. He's not looking forward to this phone call he's going to have to make though. He already knows his father will make him feel small and insignificant. He'll call Wesley a failure, oh well, it won't be much different from most of their other conversations.

"I don't know if that was wise Buffy. I understand your need to do it, but they won't like this. I don't think this was the best time to start a fight with the Council, not when we have Angelus to deal with."

"I know Giles, I was just so mad I couldn't take it anymore. We'll handle it. Besides, I'm hoping this Angelus problem will be handled sooner rather than later."

"For a second I thought Wesley was going to side with us," Willow said.

"Yeah, I did too, I think his fear won out though," Giles said a little sadly.

"Yeah, the bloke was terrified. Right then, it's getting dark so I should leave soon. Slayer, can I talk to you real quick." Spike said, getting up and pointing to the kitchen making it clear he wanted to talk alone.

"Sure," Buffy said with a nod and led the way to the kitchen. "What's the what?"

"I want you to know that I'm going back to catch and release. Pig's swill just isn't doing it. It's been less than two days and I already feel my strength slipping. I know you don't like it but I'm not hurting anyone. There won't be any deaths in your town because of me. Plus, I got a part to play tonight, if the minions see me as weak, they won't bother talking to me, they won't take me seriously either." Spike said, looking Buffy in the eye, she had to know he wasn't going to back down and that this is important.

Buffy on the other hand was feeling that twitch in her stake hand again. She took a deep breath and took the time to think it through. She doesn't know why, but she trusts him, to an extent anyway. She trusts him to keep his word, she trusts him to help her take down Angelus, she trusts him to be loyal to the people he cares about, and she trusts him to have her back in a fight. She knows she needs Spike at his best, Buffy knows she can take Faith with no problem, she's stronger and has more field time and skills than Faith. She knows Spike can take Drusilla, and she knows either of them can take Angelus. The problem comes into play when they have to fight all of them at the same time. She needs Spike at the top of his game, so Buffy decided she'll trust him to do this. He has to know she's not messing around though, so she takes her ever-present Mr. Pointy out and aims it at him. She doesn't attack but the threat is there.

"Fine, but if one body shows up with your teeth on them, you'll be dust in the wind. I like you Spike but I'm still the Slayer, I can't have innocents dying because you lose control."

"I'm not a fledge Slayer, I can control myself just fine." Spike scoffs. Buffy looks at him for a few seconds, nods her head, gets out of her offensive position, and puts her stake away.

Spike takes a second to wonder where on earth she hides that thing, her clothes are so tight and her skirt is so short, he just doesn't see where it could be. She moved so fast that his eyes didn't follow her movement. He decided he was going to have to pay more attention next time, wondering where it was hidden will bother him more than he'd like to admit. He nods his head and starts walking past her to leave. She stopped him with a hand on his arm, he looked at her and quirked a brow in question.

"Be careful, Spike. It's dangerous out there and you know as well as I do that he might be setting up a trap to get you alone." She says earnestly, then clears her throat when he looks at her warmly, and adds on, "I don't want to have to waste time coming to save your ass if you get captured."

"Don't worry Buf—Slayer, I can be sneaky and patient if I need to be, I won't get caught." He said with a scoff.

Buffy scoffed right back, "Yeah, Mr. I'll kill you on Saturday but couldn't wait past Thursday is known for his patience."

Spike let out a laugh and walked to the room he was sleeping in to get the weapons he might need while out tonight.

"Hey Buff, it's getting dark out now but I have to go home, do you think I'm safe to go, or should you walk me? Oz wasn't able to make it today because he has a gig later this week so he's practicing."

"It's probably best if I walk you. Remember, that rule we came up with? The one about not being out alone after dark while Angelus is around? I think that's a great rule and we should work hard to stick to it, rules like that will keep everyone we know and love alive," Buffy babbled. She gets nervous when her friends don't think about their own safety, and when she's nervous, she babbles.

"Okay, okay, I get it, you're right, I'm ready when you are."

"Actually Buffy, there's some things I need to talk to you about. See if Spike will escort him home before he goes out." Giles said.

"I don't want captain peroxide to walk me home, I'd rather go myself."

"So you'd rather possibly die than walk ten minutes with Spike? You get that you're the only one being aggressive here right? He hasn't said anything to you and you're just being a jerk. I'll walk home with you guys too, I have a paper that's due tomorrow." Willow said, close to the end of her rope. Xander was going to complain more, but it was clear to him that everyone was mad at him, so he decided to keep his mouth shut for now.

"Fine, let's go then." He pouts, Spike chooses that time to walk back into the room.

"Spike, can you…"

"Don't worry Slayer, I already heard it, vamp hearing and all. Come on Red, Whelp, let's go. We're not walking, we're taking the DeSoto." He says as he walks to the door.

Willow jumps up and Xander reluctantly follows. Much to Xander and Spike's dismay, it just made sense to drop Willow off first, since it was on the way and Xander's house was closer to where Spike had to go tonight.

"So Spike, what made you come back to town?" Willow asks innocently as they're driving to her home.

"Dru had one of her visions that her Daddy was coming home. I was hoping to make it here before it happened so I could let Buffy know, and hopefully stop the whole thing before it started. Too bad it was too late."

"So Drusilla took you back after you left town last time?"

"S'pose you could say that. It's been different ever since we came to Sunnyhell originally though. Guess we're done for good this time." He said a little sadly, he's getting used to the fact that he and Dru won't be together again, he's still sad about it though, she'll always be his dark princess. He was surprised when he felt Willow's hand patting his shoulder consolingly.

"It'll be okay Spike, you deserve better than she treated you."

"Thanks, Red." They both heard and ignored Xander's scoff.

"Right, this is your stop, Red. Go on inside, I gotta make sure you get yourself tucked away in your beddy bye all safe like."

"Night Xan, night Spike, see you tomorrow."

"Night Wills," Xander said.

Xander then mentally prepared himself for the rest of the drive home with Dead Boy Jr. Spike was fine with not saying anything, it was only about a five-minute drive, then he could be rid of this annoying kid. Xander planned to stay quiet too, and he was doing a good job of it. When Spike pulled over in front of his house, he couldn't help but open his mouth though.

"I don't trust you Spike, and I don't like you either. I'm going to make sure that Buffy won't make the same mistake again. I won't stop until she hates you as much as I do." That's it, Spike decided. He's done with the man-child trying to take control of a situation he couldn't even begin to know how to handle. So Spike grabs Xander by the collar and shoves him against the door.

"Now you listen here doughnut boy, I'm bloody sick of your passive-aggressive threats. So can you just shut your gob about it already? It's getting really soddin' annoying and I'm not known for my patience. I have no intention of hurting any one of you Scoobies, but I will only be pushed so far. I've been giving you a pass, but that ends now. One more annoying threat, or snarky comment, and I won't be responsible for what happens, that will be on you. Do you understand?" Spike says with a vicious growl. Xander nods, obviously scared. "Good, I'm glad we're finally on the same page. I won't be a dick to you, and you won't be an annoying git to me. We'll get along just fine and won't have to deal with each other again once Angelus is gone. Go on, get inside, gotta make sure you get there safely." Spike said, patting the side of Xanders cheek condescendingly before letting him go.

Xander didn't say anything, he just got out of the car. He ran to the house and away from the scary vampire as fast as he could. The whole time wishing he would have taken his chances walking home alone. Angelus, laying in wait less than a block away, hoping to get one of Buffy's friends tonight, wished the same thing.

'Fucking Spike, always ruining my fun. It's no problem, they'll mess up eventually, and when they do, I'll be there.'

Spike sped away on his way to the part of town he knew the minions would go for a meal, and to get one himself.