Part Five

Angel Investigations
Always looking for a few good demon hunters.
Hopeless and Helpless need not apply, we've met our quota.

Wesley stood back in the doorway of Angel's bedroom, watching the vampire pack a small, black duffle. "Are you sure this is the best idea?" he asked for the ump-teenth time.

Angel didn't even look at him. He just regarded an odd looking axe for a moment in silence before putting it aside as too big to fit in the duffle. Besides, he wasn't planning on fighting. This...was a truth-seeking trip.

"I mean, I'm sure Mr. Giles has everything well in hand," Wesley tried.

Angel nodded. "I'm sure he does. But if someone suspicious *doesn't* want me to go, then I think I should be there."

"You are a contrary vampire aren't you?" the Brit sighed.

Angel smiled. "It's my nature," he said as he stuffed another shirt in the bag. "Call me paranoid and suspicious if you like."

Wesley ignored the comment and looked a bit flustered. "Yes, well...if you're certain this is the correct course of action..." he said. "That is, I trust your judgment, Angel. I'm just worried it may be clouded where...Sunnydale is concerned."

"I'm not going because of Buffy," Angel said smoothly.

"Now, I didn't say that," Wesley replied defensively.

Angel looked slightly amused. "No, but it's what you meant," he pointed out. "Look, I'm going to Sunnydale because there's something going on that I need to figure out, alright? You didn't see this...goddess...that made both Cordelia and I uncomfortable."

"Sorry I missed her," Wesley muttered.

He didn't mean for Angel to hear, but his supernatural hearing picked it up anyway. "You can come along if you want," Angel said after a moment.

Wesley tried not to look *too* eager at the opportunity. In truth, he had been dying to see how things were in the Hellmouth, as well as get his hands on some of Giles' books. "I think that's a good idea," he said as calmly as possible. "Give me an hour to pack and we can be on our way."

Angel tried not to chuckle as Wesley rushed out of the basement apartment without even waiting for his response. He knew the "rogue demon hunter" would be back in half an hour, tops. He didn't mind the company. Wesley was an asset, had a tremendous amount of knowledge, and could drive in the daytime. Angel would wait for him.

He continued to pack, not in any great hurry. Things didn't seem too dire at the moment, and he had to wait for Wesley. Of course, things could change to dire very quickly both in L.A. and in Sunnydale. He only hoped he'd get there before that happened.

Someone cleared their throat in Angel's doorway, and he glanced up. Cordelia was looking at him and his half packed belongings. "Wesley's coming?" she asked briefly.

"Yes."

"You're not leaving without me, then," Cordelia stated firmly, before leaving the room as well.

*Probably to start packing,* Angel thought with a bit of a sigh, knowing just how long it could take Cordelia to pack. It would probably be midday, then, before they were all ready to leave. Longer than Angel would have liked.

He just hoped that for *once* things on the Hellmouth wouldn't get out of control before he arrived.

The Bronze
Good music, good drinks, good times
The most normal place in town

NutMeg grinned as Willow, Buffy, and Anya escorted her and Cynamin into what turned out to be an exciting looking dance club. The sign outside had read "The Bronze." NutMeg's first thought was of scantily clad Greek and Roman warriors

Not that she expected to find them inside this place. Still, it looked like a lively party. It certainly brought smiles to the faces of the girls they were staying with simply to walk in the door. NutMeg was quickly grinning from ear to ear as well.

Cynamin, on the other hand, looked positively...well, NutMeg didn't know what her sister was thinking, but she had a scowl plastered on her face. Her hands were in her pockets and she wasn't saying a word. Actually, she hadn't said much since her outburst that morning.

NutMeg elbowed her suddenly and Cynamin let out an undignified squeak. The three girls turned around in surprise, and NutMeg began to chuckle.

"What was that for?" Cynamin demanded.

"You're reverting to your too serious ways," NutMeg mock scolded. "You need to loosen up. And *this* is the perfect place for that!"

Cynamin didn't look completely convinced, but she managed a weakly amused smile. "Whatever you say," she replied with only mild sarcasm.

NutMeg gave up on her stick-in-the-mud sibling and stepped up to walk next to Willow and Buffy. "This place is great. We don't have anything like this at home."

"Goddesses don't party?" Willow looked a little startled at the concept. Obviously she'd never really thought about the after-work habits of deities.

The blonde goddess laughed. "Well of course we do. Most of us anyway. But usually we don't have...well...*this,*" she motioned around her. "A lot of the Elders think physical forms of entertainment are too infantile."

"Infantile?" Buffy queried.

"Speaking in terms of the age of the universe anyway," NutMeg replied. "Like millennia. The younger species and worlds as opposed to the older ones."

"You mentioned...Elders," Buffy said slowly. "What...that is, how old are you...in comparison?"

"Old enough," NutMeg said, very sure of herself.

That only made Buffy look more suspicious.

"It's a sensitive subject," Cynamin explained finally. "We're considered to be essentially teenagers in our own way, but after a couple of millennia being treated like you're twelve wears thin."

"I could imagine!" Willow replied, wide eyed.

Cynamin smiled slightly. "Plus, poor NutMeg here is the baby of the family."

"Hey!"

"Which only makes it worse."

"I am *not* the youngest!" NutMeg glared at her sibling. "There are thousands of goddesses younger than I am! It's not *my* fault that I have two nincompoop sisters who act twelve! It's because of you two that everyone *assumes* I'm just as immature! Like you...DROOLING over every cute media star in the known universe! And Kirshana, always causing trouble. It's not fair!"

"I do not DROOL!!" Cynamin yelled back, annoyed. "And I do not act twelve! And Kirshana is Dad's favorite, so you can't blame it on her either!"

"Oh, you do so!" NutMeg spat. "There was Chris O'Donnell for a while, then Stan Kirsch, Antonio Banderez, and don't me STARTED on David Boreanaz!"

"Who?" Buffy looked confused at the last one. The sisters ignored her.

"Don't even go there!" Cynamin yelled back. "Or need I remind you that you once upon a time liked Jonathan Taylor Thomas!" This was obviously an old argument. "And you were right there with me for Chris O'Donnel and Stan Kirsch. And *you're* the one who drools over Antonio Banderez doing bare-chested pushups!"

NutMeg was grinning at her. She loved getting her sister riled up like this. "And...David...?"

Cynamin gaped like a fish for a moment, trying to come up with a good come back. Finally she sighed in defeat. "Can I help it if he looks good in leather pants?"

NutMeg seriously failed to hold back the snort of laughter that followed. "No, I think I'll have to forgive you there."

That was when the two sisters realized they were surrounded by confused, and amused, mortals. This sent them into another fit of giggles.

"Umm...not to interrupt the very odd sibling bonding you've got going here," Buffy said once they had stopped laughing to catch their breath, "but...what are you talking about?"

"Drool-worthy men," NutMeg piped up, causing her sister to fight back more laughter.

"Oooh, like Xander," Anya said dreamily. "Especially when he gets all sweaty and..." She trailed off when she noticed the whole group staring at her. "What?"

A loud ringing caused the entire group to jump instead of replying to Anya's questioning look. Willow reached into her brightly colored motley cloth purse and pulled out a cellular phone.

"Where did *that* come from?" Buffy asked.

Willow smiled. "Giles got tired of never being able to find any of us, so he bought it."

"Why did he give it to *you*?" the Slayer continued.

"Because I'm *the most responsible, and least violent,*" she chuckled at her own imitation of Giles' voice. She picked up the phone. "Hello, Giles? Mmmhmmm. Okay. Yep. Bye." She hung up with a beep and put the phone away. "Giles wants us back at his place."

Buffy rolled her eyes dramatically. "But we just got here!" she said, even as she led the group of them back out of the club they had just barely entered.

Everyone else followed her calmly, knowing there wasn't much else they could do. Giles wouldn't have called if it wasn't important. Probably just the end of the world again. Cynamin and NutMeg stayed at the back of the group, wondering just what they were getting into this time.

They were just out the door when Buffy stopped abruptly. The rest of the group bnarely avoided running into her. There was no one in sight except...

"Hey!" an unfortunately familiar male voice called.

"Riley," Buffy replied, sounding none too happy.

The two sisters cringed.

"Buffy," he nodded a greeting. "I was on my way to get you."

"Well, we're on our way to Giles'," the Slayer began to move past him. "He needs us right away. What do you want?"

"I...I just..."

Buffy sighed. "Riley, it's really important that we go now," she said, trying to move on.

"Well, you said I should come..." he began, then stopped when he saw Cynamin and NutMeg. "You!" he said angrily.

Both goddesses looked bewildered. "Uhh...us!" NutMeg replied.

"What do you think you're doing here?" Riley turned to confront them, actually rather imposing up close with his angriest face on.

NutMeg smiled innocently. "We're here to save the world of course. Just like every other girl here." She stepped up closer to him, allowing Riley a moment to take note of what she had implied. Just like she had hoped, he lost it.

"Like I'm supposed to believe that," he snarled. "I don't know what you've done to the others, but you can't fool *me.* I know you're here on some evil whim, planning to throw the world into chaos again or whatever. So why don't you go away and leave us alone!"

"Riley Finn!"

NutMeg grinned broadly into the irate TA's face as he turned to face his now even more irate girlfriend's face. His face went from bright red to bleached white. Quite a trick.

"How *dare* you attempt to speak for me or anyone else here!" the Slayer slammed her fist into Riley's chest, knocking him back a good two feet. "Not to mention assume that we're so adle-brained that we've been brainwashed instead of making an informed decision! Obviously you haven't a clue as to what you're talking about, and I think you need to reconsider your sources of information. I can't believe you're so ignorant. Now get the *hell* out of my sight!" She stopped, panting, only then realizing that she had been moving forward the whole time, and Riley was now backed up into the wall of the building.

Willow's and Anya's eyes were as big around as walnuts. Cynamin looked confounded and a little annoyed with her sibling. NutMeg was grinning broadly

Riley edged around the corner of the building and ran. He had to get away from them! Not only were they brainwashed, they were demon possessed!

When Riley was gone, Buffy exhaled, breathing deeply to calm herself down. "I can't believe him! The nerve!"

Willow stepped up and put her hand on Buffy's shoulder. "We need to go."

The Slayer nodded and led them once again off across town.

Cynamin moved to the back and immediately accosted her sister. "What did you think you were doing?!" she whispered angrily. "He was ready to physically attack you!"

NutMeg grinned. "Exactly what I wanted him to do. He lost his temper. He sounded like a completely self-righteous idiot. In front of Buffy, who now doesn't walk to even *see* him."

Cynamin stopped her scolding and a look of realization came over her face. "Oh," she whispered. Then, brighter and grinning, "Oh!" She smiled in delight. "You...I...yes!"

The group turned around and looked at her in surprise. "Sorry," Cynamin muttered sheepishly before turning to her sister once again. "Thank you," she whispered earnestly. "He was *so* getting on my nerves."

"I noticed," NutMeg whispered back, looking amused.

Cynamin grinned. "Congratulations, you solved problem number one. How to get rid of fish boy." Her smile faded then. "Only, like, 2 million problems left to go."

"2 million?"

"Starting with How to get our couple of choice in the same town as one another," Cynamin muttered. "They're being extremely uncooperative about that."

I-10 East
The fastest way to nowhere
California Traffic at it's finest

"Pass another chip," Wesley sighed from the driver’s seat of Angel's car.

"I don't see why we have to live in the city with the worst traffic in the country!" Cordelia wailed from the seat next to him.

"Just lucky I guess," Angel replied with a straight face as he handed Wesley a Pringle. He was in the back and the top was up. The sun was almost down, but the smog on the highway was bad enough that the top was needed to keep out the carbon monoxide. The air conditioner was on full force and recirculating the internal air.

Angel was laying down in the back, a blanket over him to keep out the last of the days sunlight. It was a good thing he didn't really feel the temperature, or even with the air conditioner on he would have been miserable. He was starting to wonder if this little expedition was doomed...if the traffic was trying to tell him something...

"Angel."

"Hmmm?" Angel blinked, then again. Then, he woke up completely. It was dark. Completely. And the car wasn't moving. Out the window he could see only the tops of trees. "Are we there?" he asked, eager to be out of the back, where his long frame was now feeling very cramped.

"No," Cordelia sighed dramatically from where she stood, looking in the back window. "We're not fortunate enough to be back in Sunnyhell."

"Then where are we?" the vampire asked. "And where's Wesley?"

"Here," the Brit replied, coming into view. There was a black smudge across his face that smelled like it might be gasoline.

"Okay, *what* is going on?" Angel asked his two friends and employees once again.

Wesley sighed. "We appear to be out of gas."

Part Six

Giles' Residence
Home of one of the many who doesn't seem to need work
Vampires please go away

"Where have you girls been!?" Giles demanded as soon as he opened the door.

"Good to see you too, Giles," Buffy said pointedly, sidling her way past him, closely followed by her friends and the two goddesses.

Giles would have none of it. "It just so happens we are in the middle of an emergency," he said pointedly. "This is no time for you to be doing who knows what who knows where!"

Buffy fought back a grin. "Chill, okay? We were just trying to show our visitors a good time. We were at The Bronze. Now what's the big emergency?"

"The Initiative," he said without preamble. "Their meddling has caused us to have a serious problem."

"When doesn't it?" Anya snorted derisively.

Giles shot her a glare. "They somehow managed to knock out all of the electricity on the University campus while chasing Adam. Now all the electric security locks on campus -and all the lights- are out, and Adam is running rampant."

Buffy sighed. "And still Riley had the time to come and threaten us," she muttered.

NutMeg giggled

Willow looked at her. "I don't suppose you two could..." She waved her hands about for a second, "make it *poof* all better?"

Cynamin shook her head. "Our powers are...restricted outside our own domain. And if Kirshana's involved in this...which wouldn't surprise me...we wouldn't be able to anyway."

"Alright Giles," Buffy said, sounding none too thrilled. "Break out the good weapons. It looks like we're going hunting."

U.C. Sunnydale
Institution of Higher Learning and Lower Scum
Don't trust the Frat Boys

Campus...was dark. And not just night dark, but lights-out-and-the-clouds-are-covering-the-stars-and-moon dark. It was strangely quiet too. As if all the students were hiding. Of course, it *was* one in the morning. And they probably *were* hiding. Occasionally a grunt or other demonic sound would carry across the silent lawns, unearthly and creepy.

Willow shivered. "I don't like this," she whispered. She was holding a good sized club with a hook on the end so hard her knuckles were white. "I really don't like this."

Buffy turned to look at her, barely able to see her in the dark. "If it makes you feel any better, I don't like it either," she whispered.

"Oh yeah, that makes us feel a whole lot better," Xander replied sarcastically, having arrived on the scene only shortly after the rest of them had.

"We'll cover more ground if we split up," Buffy suggested.

Anya made an odd sound at that. "I don't think it's a good idea to be without supernatural powers right now. If I was still a demon, I'd say 'cool, let's split up' but as it is...I'm sticking with the Slayer."

"You have more supernatural powers in this group than that you know."

Anya glanced back at NutMeg, who had spoken, and Cynamin. "Oh, yeah."

"Good then," Buffy nodded. "Anya and Xander go with Cynamin. NutMeg come with Willow and I. We'll cover the dorm side. You three start at the other end," she motioned at Xander's group.

Cynamin looked a bit grumpily at the group she'd been given. "Come on then," she said, managing to sound annoyed even when whispering, and lead the two to the other end of the campus.

"Nice to know we're wanted," Xander muttered as they walked away.

"Shhhh!"

NutMeg just grinned as her sister headed off.

"Let's go," Buffy motioned with one arm, and the Slayer, the witch, and the goddess headed for the dorms.

Angel's car
A true classic
Stylish by night, essential by day

"There it is!" Cordelia shouted happily, jumping up and down and waving at the approaching lights.

"Finally," Angel sighed.

"Aren't you glad I brought the cell phone?" she said smugly.

"Thrilled," Wesley's reply was only *slightly* sarcastic.

"You know, if you'd checked the gas gage before we left we wouldn't be in this mess," Cordelia pointed out.

"Yes, well, if you had filled up the car the last time you 'borrowed' it I wouldn't have had to," Wesley retorted.

Angel sighed. *Am I the boss or the baby-sitter?* he thought briefly. "Let's not place blame here," Angel said. "Let's just get some gas, and get on the road again. Alright?"

"Okay," Cordelia agreed just to be agreeable.

The tow truck hooked up the car and the three of them crammed into the tiny cab with the cute but very un-rich tow truck driver, George. It was a twenty minute drive to the nearest gas station, and Angel thought he might scream if he had to listen to Cordelia and George flirt for another moment. As they got down out of the cab he was just happy to be able to stretch.

George winked at Cordelia one last time and then nodded at Wesley and Angel. "Hey, this one's on me."

"Thanks," Cordelia smiled as he drove away. Then she turned to Angel. "I just saved you fifty bucks. I think *someone* deserves a thank you."

Angel looked at Wesley. "Wesley, thank you."

Wesley grinned back. "You're most welcome."

Cordelia didn't have time to ask what they were referring to before she was unceremoniously dumped through the back window of the car.

"Hey!" she cried when she found herself sitting in the back.

Chuckling Angel went around to the driver's seat. Wesley sat next to him, and then they were off once again. With any luck, they might make it to Sunnydale before sunrise...

U.C. Sunnydale Library
Full of New ideas and Old tomes
Don't let the dust get you

Cynamin stalked quietly through the old building, warily keeping an eye -and a minor magic spell- out for Adam. She was going to throttle her sister if she ever figured out how she managed to get to go with Buffy, while *she* was stuck with Xander and Anya!

Okay, so Anya wasn't really that bad. I mean, they'd been friends once. of course, at the time Anya had been a vengeance demon and Cynamin had just gotten off this really bad relationship...so they kind of had common ground. This new, powerless Anya was *very* strange. And she thought most mortals were weird!

She heard something. None of her magical alarms went off, so it wasn't Adam, but there was someone else here. With a shushing motion towards her charges, Cynamin crept forward to the source of that strange whisper.

She peered around the corner and stopped dead. It wasn't the *last* thing she expected to see, but it was close. This was the perfect opportunity to find out what was going on. Motioning Xander and Anya to be quiet, she gave Xander the hand signal to turn on the hand-held tape recorder he had brought. She was glad now that he had thought to bring it in the first place. *We've got you now, Kirshana.*

The pitiful vampire was cowering in front of the angry goddess, her black clothing blending into the shadows around her. He would not look her in the eye.

"Please," he begged. "To go up against the Slayer like that...it's suicide!"

Kirshana looked at him with angry fire in her gaze. "Of course it is!" she whispered harshly back. "This isn't about you. This is about darkness. This is about showing my sisters once and for all what the stronger force in the universe is. You will do as you're told," she ordered. "You will fight, and you will die. Meanwhile, the real plan will go into effect. You are the distraction only - be a good one."

The vampire quivered and bowed, then turned and ran.

Kirshana was grinning viciously. "This is working out better than I thought. The mortals on this world are even stupider than the last one I was on! Perhaps I should follow my siblings more often. This is *so* amusing." With a chuckle, she vanished.

Cynamin turned to Xander. "Did you get that?"

The dark-haired guy grinned. "Every word."

"We've got to get back to the others."

The trio quickly exited the building. Unaware of the eyes on them from above.

Kirshana smiled to herself and went off to find her next target.

The Quad
Center of dorm life on campus
Anybody up for Frizbee?

Buffy crept silently through the bushes outside one of the girls dorms. NutMeg and Willow had made a quick detour to Stevenson to pick up a book of spells Willow thought might be useful. Buffy continued to scout. She hadn't seen anything yet. Not even a camouflaged member of the goon squad. The bushes rustled behind her and she spun, stake drawn.

"Calm down," a voice said, coming from what had just been in front of her. Buffy spun back around to come face to face with a woman in black. The outfit was clearly goddess. Buffy recognized it because it was similar to an outfit NutMeg had shown them from her home...dimension. "My my aren't we jumpy?" the woman smiled. It wasn't a pleasant smile.

"What do you want?" Buffy glared at the woman.

"To warn you," she replied calmly. "My sisters are here for Angel."

Buffy's heart clenched. "What do you mean?"

Kirshana laughed. "Isn't it obvious? My sister Cynamin is absolutely obsessed with your vampire. She'd do anything to ensure his happiness. Even take him for herself."

Buffy looked stricken. "You can't...She wouldn't!"

Kirshana just smiled in a knowing way. "If you insist," she said lightly. "Of course, you could always wait until he arrives to find out for yourself."

"He's coming here?" Buffy said in a strangled voice.

"He should be...over half way here by now," Kirshana clarified.

Buffy wasn't sure what to think. Anya and Willow trusted the other two. And this one was supposed to be the sister causing trouble. But, why would she lie? "I don't believe you," she replied. "Angel has no reason to come to Sunnydale."

"You're presuming he comes of his own free will," the goddess smiled. "Compulsion is a very simple spell to master."

Buffy was completely floored by the suggestion. "Angel...he's very strong willed! They couldn't...she wouldn't..."

But Kirshana could see the doubts brewing in Buffy's mind. "Perhaps," she said in a tone suggested that she thought Buffy completely wrong. "We shall see soon enough, won't we?" With that, she disappeared as quickly as she had appeared in the first place.

Buffy was still staring at the empty space where the dark goddess had just been standing when she heard her name called from behind. It was Willow and NutMeg.

"What were you staring at?" Willow asked as they approached.

"Oh, nothing," Buffy replied. She didn't want to say anything to make the goddess standing next to her best friend suspicious. "Thought I heard something. Turned out to be a squirrel."

"Out this late?" Willow asked. "That's unusual."

Buffy just shrugged, preoccupied. "Yeah, I guess..."

"Oh!" Willow said suddenly. 'Maybe it was a were-squirrel! Or a vampire squirrel!"

That made Buffy grin slightly, and she tried to shake off the horrible feeling she gotten since Kirshana had spoken to her. It didn't work too well, though, when she was standing right next to another goddess. A goddess whose purpose was now more in question than ever. *Maybe Riley was right.*

NutMeg watched Buffy carefully as they continued scouting, and noticed that the Slayer was eyeing her warily, though she knew the Slayer couldn't tell she was being watched herself. Something had happened while she and Willow were gone, and she would bet Kirshana was at the bottom of it. As they neared the center of campus, she stepped behind the other two and searched outward with her mind for her sister.

She found her not far away. *Cyn...*

Cynamin's mental reply was bubbling over with excitement. *I just ran into Kirashana! Not run into...she was talking to this vampire. They were planning something...I got it on tape!*

NutMeg had trouble getting her own thoughts heard. *That's great. Have you been taking lessons in babbling from Willow?*

A mental chuckle. *No.*

*Well...we've got a problem here.*

Cynamin was instantly serious. *What sort of problem?*

*I don't know. Buffy's acting strange. Like maybe she doesn't quite trust me.*

*But why wouldn't she? She seemed to earlier.*

*You think maybe Kirshana got to her?*

*Why would Buffy trust her?* Cynamin asked, worried.

*Kirshana's got the strongest skill in compulsion out of all of us.*

*That could be how she convinced Riley we were bad news,* the older sibling replied.

*But what could she have said about us that Buffy would easily believe, or that might leave her vulnerable to suggestion? A Slayer's mind has always been strong against that kind of thing.*

Cynamin gave a mental sigh. *She's human; she has weaknesses. Friends, family... Fears we don't know about. We'll just have to wait and see which one is bothering her.*

NutMeg's mental nod was answer enough. *Though you know this will come back and haunt us later.*

*I know,* Cynamin agreed reluctantly. *Right now, I don't see that we have any other choice.* A pause. *We're heading back over to where you are. Just...keep your eyes open, okay?*

*Eyes, ears, and empathic sensors wide open, sister dearest," NutMeg replied lightly, even though the undertones confirmed that she was dead serious.

Part Seven

The road into Sunnydale
The perfect vacation spot...
...if your lifestyle choices are demonic

"I *never* thought I'd be glad to see that sign again," Cordelia said with a sigh as they passed the "Welcome to Sunnydale" sign.

"I honestly never thought I'd see it again," Wesley replied.

Angel didn't say anything.

"Angel?" Cordelia prompted, eager to hear his own thoughts on the subject.

He didn't say anything for another long moment. "What am I doing here?" he asked finally. He looked, and sounded, very nervous.

"You're leading this little expedition," Cordelia pointed out. "So keep driving, brood boy!"

Angel gave her a withering look, but quickly averted his eyes back to the road. They didn't need to crash on top of everything else that had happened on this little adventure. He hoped Giles would have some answers by the time they arrived.

The town looked just like it had when Angel had last been there, and in his heart he still knew every corner and shrub. It was only a few minutes later when they pulled up outside the former-Watcher's home. There was a small light on in the downstairs window, telling the LA group that someone was awake, but that the whole gang was *not* inside.

Angel pulled his car into the driveway, feeling even more nervous as he went to get out. He'd almost forgotten what it was like last time he returned to Sunnydale. Like then, he was standing outside the ex-Watcher's house, knowing something was going on but not quite sure what. Unlike then, he promised himself he wasn't going to lurk like last time. Well, not *too* much... he might just stand here for a minute...make sure he was welcome...

Cordelia shot him a look and brushed past him. Before Angel could stop her, she was knocking firmly on Giles' door.

The door creaked open and a tired but dressed Giles opened the door. His eyebrows shot up when he saw who was standing at the door. "He..hello. What an...unexpected surprise. Do come in," he said, a little dazed. "I was just making myself a cup of tea. Would you like some?"

"I would please," Wesley said. The others politely declined. When they were all sitting down, Cordelia and Wesley on the couch and Angel and Giles in chairs, things became awkwardly silent.

"Surprise!" Cordelia smiled, shrugging at Giles.

"That is an understatement," the ex-librarian replied. "Would you all mind telling me what you're doing here? And at three in the morning!"

"We've been visited by a goddess," Angel said straight out. "She wears black, likes to appear when you're the least decent, and warned us *not* to come to Sunnydale. But you know that much already. We decided we'd come see what was really going on. We weren't getting anywhere in LA."

Giles leaned back in his chair for a moment in thought. "So you want to know what's going on in Sunnydale?"

"Yes," Angel replied. "I want to know why she didn't want me here."

"And you couldn't have done this over the phone?"

Angel looked a bit sheepish, and Cordelia gave him an odd smile. "He doesn't like using the phone. I think it has something to with being around before they were invented."

Angel shrugged. "Listen...I'm sorry we disturbed you so early in the morning. And I should have called. But since you're awake anyway, I assume that something *is* going on?"

"Well, yes, as usual," Giles replied, straightening his glasses and sipping his tea. "The other two goddesses are out right now with the others hunting down Adam and the Initiative." He briefly explained both of them to the others, leaving out mention of Riley. Now was not the time for that. "Anyway, the campus lights are out, everything is chaos, and I'm waiting for them to return, which should be shortly."

Angel was quiet for a moment, thinking. So much for things being quiet in Sunnydale. "Should I go help?" he wondered aloud.

"That might not be the best idea," Giles said shortly. "The Initiative is out there tonight as well. You don't want them mistaking you for..."

He left the sentence hanging, but Angel could figure out well enough what he meant. "A vampire?"

"Yes...well..."

"I can't just sit around and do nothing, Giles!"

"You can stay here and look through these books," he replied. "I'm trying to figure out what was done to create Adam. Maybe there's something we can do to stop him."

Angel looked dubious, but he agreed. "Fine, but Cordelia and Wesley are going out to find them. They can be of help."

"Ummm...is this a *big* demon?" Cordelia asked.

"No, he's itsy-bitsy," Giles said sarcastically. "Yes, he's rather large."

"Great!" she through up her hands. "Why can't we ever get a little demon?"

*You should have been here for Halloween,* Giles thought to himself. "Well, I need to get something from the magic shoppe. It's open all night now. So I'll point you in the direction of campus," he said as he escorted Wesley and Cordelia out the door.

Angel found himself left alone in the house with a pile of books. Going to the fridge he found -much to his surprise- a pint of blood. Then he remembered hearing something about Spike being more helpful of late and shrugged, poured it into a mug, and put it in the microwave. When it was done he took it out and tasted it. *Not bad.* He was just sitting down to the books when the doorbell rang. *Who could that be?* Thinking it might be Buffy and the gang made him nervous. Could he face her? But he knew he had no choice in the matter. He had to answer the door.

Still holding his mug, Angel crossed the room and turned the handle.

"Mr. Giles, I need to--" the other person stopped and stared at Angel. He was tall, blonde, and muscular. And he did *not* look happy to see Angel there instead of Giles.

"Who are you?" Angel asked. "And where's Buffy?" He couldn't imagine why this guy would be at Giles' door so early in the morning unless he had something to do with the gang.

The boy looked instantly wary. "Where's Mr. Giles?" he demanded, pushing his way into the apartment.

Angel stared at the boy intently. Vaguely, he remembered seeing him before...with Buffy. This wasn’t making him feel any better about this visit. "He had something to do...and I do believe I asked you first. Who are you and where is Buffy?" He barely managed to suppress a frustrated growl.

"I'm Riley Finn and I don't know where Buffy is," he replied shortly. 'And you are?"

"Angel."

Riley looked at him very oddly. "Just Angel?" He sounded suspicious.

"Just Angel."

"What are you doing here? And how do you know Buffy?" he asked sharply.

Angel wasn't sure he liked where this track of conversation was going. "I'm here to find out what's going on. Giles went to run an errand and should be back soon. You can come in and wait if you want."

Riley was about to answer, but then he saw the mug in Angel's hand.

Angel saw Riley's gaze and silently cursed. This could *not* look good.

"I don't suppose you'd believe it was tomato soup?" Angel joked weakly.

Riley glared at him coldly. "Not a chance, vampire," he said. To Angel's surprise he pulled out a weapon and aimed it squarely at his chest. "What have you done with Mr. Giles?"

Angel sighed. *Great, he knows about vampires. Though obviously not enough to keep a stake on him.* "I told you, he's out running an errand at the magic shop." He very pointedly did *not* take a step in any direction. Instead he relaxed his muscles and stood easily. "You can put that down you know. If I *wanted* to hurt you you'd be dead already."

Riley did not lower the weapon. 'I hope you'll forgive me if I don't take your word on that," he said sarcastically. He kept his weapon aimed at Angel. "You...stay there. I'm...going to check the house for dead bodies."

"Go right ahead," Angel replied, trying not to smirk, and stepping out of his way.

Eyeing Angel all the while, Riley searched the place from top to bottom and, just as the vampire had known would happen, he found nothing. He looked at Angel. "Where'd you get the blood?"

"In the fridge," he motioned towards the kitchen and took a sip from his mug.

Riley looked disgusted. "Mr. Giles keeps blood in the fridge?"

"Sure he does," Angel smiled calmly. He still wanted to know how this guy knew Giles, and Buffy. And it was sadistically fun to keep the college boy off guard.

"You lie," Riley said. "Why would he keep blood in the fridge?"

"For visitors," Angel replied, and this time he did smirk. "You could ask him yourself when he gets back."

Riley still looked doubtful.

"Sit down," Angel encouraged. "I promise I'm not going anywhere."

"I think I'll stand," the blonde guy replied, leaning against the kitchen counter and *not* managing to look very calm. "Wanna tell me why you're really here?"

This was going to be a *long* few minutes. "I told you. I talked with Giles the other day when some weird things started to happen. So I and my crew came down to check it out."

Riley seemed to pale at that. "Your...crew?"

Angel tried not to laugh outright at the look on his face. The boy obviously thought the place was about to be invaded. Never mind that the image of Cordelia and Wesley invading anywhere was perposterous. Well, unless it was a shopping mall in Cordelia's case. He managed to keep his laughter contained, but just barely. "Yes. My friends. Perhaps Buffy's mentioned Cordelia? They went to school together." He doubted it, but it was worth a shot.

"Oh, well I've heard of her. But she's never mentioned *you,*" he said suspiciously. "Buffy doesn't talk about her past much. But she talks about her friends. What does that make you?"

Angel just smirked at him. He *really* didn't like this boy. "What do you think?" he said pointedly.

Riley paused for a moment. This vampire couldn't really mean what he was insinuating. There was no way Buffy was into that kind of thing! Not with a demon. "I don't believe you."

"I didn't say anything," Angel replied. *What a twit.* "So what's not to believe?"

Riley tried to stare him down, but Angel just returned the look, amused. *You think you're really tough, don't you?*

"You don’t... You can't expect me to believe that you and Buffy were...involved..." Riley seemed to choke on the words.

Angel sighed inwardly. He really hadn't wanted to go there, but...*You asked for it.* "You could say that. We were...for three years."

Riley's face contorted into one of pure disgust. "I won't believe that about Buffy! She's such a sweet, innocent thing! She would never have...been involved...with a monster!"

Angel growled at him, not even trying to hide it anymore. "Watch it, boy," he said angrily, emphasizing *boy.* "I may have said I don't want to hurt you, but that doesn't mean I can't." He returned Riley disgusted look with one of his own. "You kiss Buffy with that mouth?"

Riley stared back, indignant and insulted. "Better me than you, beast. At least I'm not going to suck her blood! I saw the scar on her neck. That was you wasn't it? She'd never let a Vampire close enough to do that kind of damage."

This time Angel had enough. He couldn't help stepping forward angrily. It was bad enough that he had taken Buffy's blood; he wouldn't put up with this boy condemning him for an act that had been freely given - something he hadn't wanted in the first place. "You have no idea what you're talking about," he snarled.

"Oh, don't I?" Riley snarled. "Do you really think Buffy would keep something like that from me? Or that she's weak enough to *let* you do those things to her? She's mine fang-face and I'm not letting you near her. You think I don't know what you're up to? Trying to get near the Slayer?"

"I'm not trying to get near the Slayer," Angel bit back. "Been there, done that. I'm not trying to *steal* her from you. I am here to make sure everything is all right." He gave the boy an appraising look. "Maybe you should wonder how much you really know about Buffy if she never told you about who she spent her nights with before you came along."

Angel knew it was a low blow, but this boy was *not* worthy of Buffy by any stretch of the imagination. Oh, he was normal all right! Normal as in plain. He was vanilla ice cream without toppings! Buffy wasn't a vanilla person. He knew that from personal experience.

"I don't invade people's personal space," Riley replied. "Buffy would tell me if she felt it were important. You must not have been worth mentioning."

Angel couldn't help a bark of laughter at that. "Oh, please. You think Buffy tells you everything? That you know everything that's important in her life? What has she told you about her past? Did she tell you about when she was called? When she got expelled from her first school for blowing up the gym? Or the second time, when she was suspected of killing her sister-Slayer? When she ran away for months? Or when it snowed on Christmas?" Angel smiled at the blank look he received. "She never told you. You don't know. I know. I was there."

Riley was speechless for a moment. Buffy had never mentioned any of those things to him. "Maybe she wanted to move on," he said at last. "To forget things like that. To move past her bad memories. Doesn't everyone want that?"

"Maybe," Angel had to agree. "But don't you think there were some good memories, too?" he pointed out. "Like the award she won at the senior prom? Or some of the funny moments, like when all the adults started acting like teenagers? Or when the kids in town, including herself, turned into their Halloween costumes? How much has she told you about the last three years?"

Riley's mouth opened and then closed again without a sound, making him look far too much like a fish. Angel found it very hard to hold in a laugh, but he managed. Then Buffy's new guy's eyes hardened. "And how do I know any of those things ever happened? How do I know you're not just trying to distract me?"

"If I was, wouldn't something I was trying to distract you from have *happened* by now?" Angel pointed out. "And there are plenty of ways to find out if I'm telling you the truth. Pictures. Photo albums. Or, here's a thought, *ask.*" He couldn't help but smile a bit mockingly at the boy. "She hasn't told you much of *anything* has she? Do you two ever *talk?*"

"Of course we talk," Riley replied. "Just...not about...those things."

"What do you do the other twenty-two hours of the day?" Angel snapped.

"Well, we..." Riley didn't finish the statement. "Hey, it's none of your damned business what we do together!" he glared at the vampire defensively.

Angel chuckled. He was enjoying this way too much. "You expect me to tell you everything, but you won't answer my questions in return? Well, so much for common courtesy."

"Fine," Riley glared at the vampire who was *way* too calm in his opinion. And too sure of himself. "We make love. Something she obviously didn't get from you!"

That was enough to make Angel positively livid. The curse was enough pain between him and Buffy, without it being thrown in his face by this...brat! "You have no idea what you're talking about," he growled.

To Angel's shock, someone else answered for him. "They bloody well did *make love,* soldier boy," came the familiar British accented voice. "Just once, though. It's got this tendency to suck the soul right out of him." Spike leaned in the open doorway, cigarette in hand, smirking at the scene playing out in front of him.

Angel and Riley stopped dead, so to speak, and stared at the blonde vampire. Both were surprised to see him, but the responses were vastly different.

"Spike," Angel simply nodded to his Child. He would deal with him later.

"Hostile 17!" Riley pulled the gun again. "Get in here with your friend. Make a move and you both die."

Spike just laughed at him. "You think you can manage that? You didn't kill me before, why should you now? Besides, I can't hurt a thing - your boys made sure of that. I'm not the dangerous one. Look at him, not me...'scourge of Europe' and all that."

"Spike," Angel said again, this time with a hint of threat in his voice. He was making things worse...and enjoying every minute of it.

"I haven't a clue what either of you are talking about," Riley said. "But I doubt you're any less dangerous than *he* is," he motioned at Angel, but was speaking to Spike. "Now move it."

"What are you going to do if I don't?" Spike quipped, not budging, and taking another drag of his cigarette.

Riley appeared to be completely at a loss. Almost as quickly as Angel noticed his indecision, though, Riley covered it up wit anger. He turned his weapon fully on Spike. "If you don't move it *now* I will send you back to the Initiative, and I doubt you'd like that. Actually, I might just send you back anyway. I doubt anyone will miss you."

Spike edged into the room and stood next to Angel...and a little behind.

"What's going on here?"

All three men turned at the sound of Xander's voice. Xander, Anya, and one of the goddesses stood in the still open doorway.

Riley turned his gun on Cynamin, only to find that the trigger was broken and he couldn't fire. Cynamin smiled at him with a knowing grin.

"You did this!" Riley yelled angrily.

Cynamin just smiled at him. "You know, you really should take cae of your weapons," she said. "Living on the Hellmouth, you never know when you'll need them.

Surrounded by a whole group of unfriendly faces, Riley was starting to get nervous. Before he could lash out again, though, Cynamin began to laugh.

"Get out of here," she said, amused.

"I don't take orders from you."

"Yeah, well, Buffy is right behind us and she might not take it kindly that you were pointing a weapon at her ex," Cynamin retorted. "You really don't want to have a repeat of earlier, do you? Because Buffy just might resort to physical violence this time."

"She has a tendency to do that when Angel's involved," Anya pointed out. "Or so I've been told. I didn't actually get to see any of the butt kicking, but that's how Faith ended up in her coma."

Riley glanced furtively around the room, then bolted for the door. They let him go.

Go to Part 8