Prologue

"You never said that she was this bad Willow."

"Cordy, I said she was nearly beaten to death,"

"I understand that, but the rope burns, her face. Not to mention her foot."

"It's some kind of branding, once it heals more we'll be able to make out it's shape."

"She's going to live right? I mean I'm sure that Dennis wouldn't mind the company, but two nonpaying roommates is too much...What?"

The voices began to fade along with the pain, the welcoming blackness engulfed her.

They all sat around the diningroom table staring at the newspapers spread out in front of them. " This is way out of control, and our league." The
ex-watcher exhaled. We're trapped he thought, and no matter what direction we go there was no way to escape the nightmare.

"She's barely moved in two weeks." Cordelia stared into her tea not able to meet any of the others eyes. " The rope burns aren't healing right, and I
think her foot is getting infected." Tears of frustration slipped from her eyes. " She needs medical attention."

Spike pushed himself from the wall and started to pace. " What are we supposed to do? Oops look what we have, that girl that's been missing from
Denver for a few weeks. Gee, we're sorry, thought she wanted to go on a road trip? Not to mention that Red here was caught on the security tape."

Wiping the tears from her eyes, Willow gulped back the sobs that threatened to take over her body. " Its time we stop fooling ourselves. She needs to go to the hospital now. I'll just turn myself in."

"No!" The group said in unison.

"I know that I just met you, but I need to be blunt," Gunn paused searching for the right words. Knowing that the redhead was near her breaking
point, "The charges that you could get nailed with are too many to count. Not only are you the one to find her, and her dead roommate, but then you were caught taking her from the ICU in the middle of the night. I don't know the law all that well, but I'm sure that we're looking at a lot of shit here."

"What we need is a slimy lawyer with a silver tongue........" Cordelia paused and looked up at Wes and Gunn.

"Cordelia I don't like the direction your thoughts are going." Wes cleared his throat, shocked that just hearing the words almost sounded good.

"At least she has a plan." Gunn shot back.

"Hate to interrupt, and even more to say it...but what about the great big poof. If there was ever a time we needed the big white knight to save the day it's now." Spike could sodding care less what happened to the rest, but Red had grown on him and he wasn't willing to let her take the fall
for this.

"I've called him five times, I get the feeling that he's not on his way anytime soon." The tears that Cordelia had been holding back started to fall
from her eyes.

"Fine then, what's the Prom Queen's plan?" Spike knew time wasn't on their side. He could hear the weakening of the girl's heartbeat. By this time
tomorrow they'd have a corpse to deal with.

"We know a lawyer who probably could help us......" Cordy tried to spit out.

"And you bring it up now? I say pick up the phone and give this person a call." Spike sat next to the pretty brunette.

"He's not someone we're all that *chummy* with." Gunn stared Spike in the eye, refusing to back down.

"We'll who is the Bloke?" Spike gritted out, trying to keep from leaping over the table and attacking the street kid. Out of all the people in the room he assumed Cordelia would've been the one to have pushed his limited patience to it's limits. But after meeting Gunn he'd met someone who could
annoy him more than Xander.

"Lindsey McDonald......." Wes whispered.

"Delia NO!" Willow cried. She knew all the pain that man had caused her friend.

Sniffing back the tears Cordelia gave Willow a weak smile. " He's one of the best, what he can't argue his way out of, he can buy the way out. Willow this is something we're doing as a group. I'm not the only one here he has hurt. And it's not like he can get to Angel through us anymore....."
Taking a deep breath and deciding that she wasn't going to take no for an answer from the witch. " Douglass needs us when she wakes up. And none of us are going to be there for her any other way." Looking at the group off people she had never felt more closer to went on. " We'll vote, now. Willow was right, she needs help....all in favor?"

"Aye....."

"All opposed?"

Silence filled the room.
 
 

Chapter One

"Lindsey McDonald please........no you can't take a message, I need to talk to him now..........I'm sure he's busy, tell him it's Cordelia Chase, he'll probably give you a raise."

" Mr. McDonald?"Glaring at his speaker phone, Lindsey wished for the hundredth time that Darla hadn't eaten his last secretary.

" Ms. Peters didn't I say not to disturb me this afternoon?"

" Ah sir, it's a Ms. Cordelia Chase..."

Lindsey paused not sure had heard her right. Why would Angel's ex secretary be calling here? Last he heard Angel had fired his staff. All because the Vamp that could do no wrong locked a room of lawyers up with his sire and childe. Lindsey chuckled at the irony of it all. They got fired for disapproving of the way Angel took out a few of their enemies. He needed a game plan. What approach should he take? It most likely was some new scheme they had, but the fact that there could be some slim chance it wasn't pulled at Lindsey. What better way to get at Angel than through his ex seer.

" Should I put her through sir?" Ms Peter's held her breath hoping she wouldn't get fired.

" Oh most defiantly, this isn't a call I'd ever refuse."

Cordelia tapped her foot nervously, wondering what was taking so long. "Ms. Chase? How can I help you?" Cordelia's stomach twisted at the sound of his voice. Mildly shocked that she couldn't detect his usual condescending drawl.

Taking a deep breath Cordelia could hardly whisper out, " We need your help."

Lindsey could her the defeat in her voice and sat silently gloating, this was too much for him to handle. Trying his hardest to keep his tone neutral he continued on, "I do hope this is about a legal matter."

" Ah...yes."

" Good, why don't I get you back with my secretary to make an appointment."

"No! I can't make an appointment, we don't have that much time." Cordelia knew he held the cards, but they were on a time table.

Hearing the urgency in her voice Lindsey paused. " I have a meeting I can't miss in half an hour, anytime after that I can see you here."

" We can't do that either. Lindsey it's a matter of life and death..."

" Ah, Ms. Chase you did say this was a legal matter. Why don't you tell me what it is you're asking of me?"

There was a long pause, " Not over the phone. Lindsey let's cut to the chase. We don't trust you, you don't trust us. I also can safely assume that hatred goes both ways here. But we are need your legal assistance. Are you in or are you out." It was Lindsey's turn to pause and digest this. She had said we, there was more than her. His smile widened. This just kept getting better.

" I can be there in two hours."

" I'm sure you don't need directions to my place." At that the other end went dead.

Well that was certainly interesting. Lindsey thought. But how do I use this to my best advantage.

After he and Lilah were give the position of Special Projects, it was a battle to stay ahead. She had a ruthlessness equal to, if not preceding Holland's. Lilah had always been an vindictive bitch, so the evilness of the position was right up her alley. He knew he had the brains, and the
power to manipulate others. Sooner or latter one was going to out do the other, letting the senior partners come to a decision of who to get rid of.

Not to mention two dangerously evil vampiress he needed to keep tabs on. After the famous lawyer feast a few weeks ago, the attraction to the deadly blonde seemed to vanish. Evil human Darla was a turn on. Blood guzzling, flesh tearing Darla was a little more than he could stomach. He knew he was alive due to his connections to Wolfram & Hart.

Looking at the clock on his desk he realized if he didn't leave know he was going to miss his meeting.
 
 

Chapter Two

Watching Cordelia set the phone back on it's cradle, Wes couldn't contain the anger that was over coming him, " I'm going for a walk. I'll be back before the devil shows his face." Grabbing his jacket he slammed the door on his way out.

"Well, I guess all that's left to do is wait." Cordelia tucked the stray bit of hair behind her ear. " He said he'd be here in two hours. We'll give him three hours Willow. If he's not here by then, we'll take her straight to the hospital."

Willow felt chills go up her spine. Douglass had to live. Not only for the generic reasons such as being too young, and having her whole life in front of her. But her death could create a creature of evil, that could cause horrible damage. Fighting back the nausea, she decided to check on her friend.

Gunn and Spike were doing tequila shots at the dining room table. Reflecting back over the last two weeks. Trying to figure out different scenarios, but it didn't matter much.

They were all coping in their own way, no one talking. Thoughts of their futures. Things that they had lived through, things they wished they could change. But for each of them it came down to just one thing, they were in it together.

Darkness. Where were the voices? Until now the voices were all around her, but she was able to block them out whenever she wanted to slip into oblivion. There was no pain in oblivion, but there was a sense of hope when there were voices...Where were the voices?

"Angel!" Wes shouted as he shoved the hotel doors open. Stopping in the middle of the lobby, the fuming Englishman shouted again, " Angel you selfish bastard where the hell are you?" heading towards the elevator to see if his former employer was in his quarters.

"Wes, leave something behind?" Angel asked from the stairs, bringing the Wes to a halt.

"Oh shut up you...you...sarcastic piece of ... of" Wes took a vase from a near by table and threw it against a near by wall. Angel stood there in pure shock, never seeing this side of the man.

"Trapping a room full of lawyers is one thing. But this is too much."

"I'm not going through- ."

"Oh do shut up you freaking idiot. You knew the mess we were in, Cordelia has called you several times. How many times have we all been there for you when you needed it? Cordelia, Gunn and myself may be one thing, since we onceworked for you. But Willow, sweet kind Willow. She gave you back your worthless soul. Helped you escape Hell. Excepted you back to the group no questions asked, no apologies for your evil crimes you had committed against innocent people. Did this all out of  love for you!" Wes felt tears falling from his eyes. If he was going to sell his soul in the next hour or so he was going to get this off his chest.

"Wes I doubt that Willow is in love with me..." Angel tried to smirk at Wes, but it turned out more of a wince, and a lot less sarcastic then he wanted.

Wes snorted, " I said *loves* you, you stupid wanker. Not in love with you. Never could you earn the love of such purity." Finally feeling drained from most of his anger Wes turned to leave.

"Wes?"

"What?"

"Just how bad is it?"

"Cordelia hasn't bathed in five days, you figure it out." With that Wes let the doors swing shut behind him.

For the first time in two weeks concern for his friends surfaced. Just hearing the name Willow snapped him out of some sort of fog. He had heard the phone ringing, he just ignored it, not wanting to know who was calling or why.

Something inside him was different, off somehow. That night at Holland's house he never intended to lock those people in the room, just make them sweat a little. Something snapped in him, he had even enjoyed the sound of the lock sealing their fate. The screams of terror that followed. Something was wrong.

Lindsey couldn't hide his shock when Cordelia opened her door, only to have it slam back in his face. He heard her gasp and a yell at someone named Dennis. Opening the door again she let him in without looking his way. Looking around the front room of her apartment, he noticed that the uptight Englishman and another occupant were also there, Lindsey recognized the third person as Gunn, a new and now former employee of Angel's, from pictures that were on file back at Wolfram&Hart.

"Who's Dennis?" Lindsey took a head count again. Still believing this could all be some scheme to take him down he wanted to stay on his toes.

"He's my roommate," Cordelia still refused to look at him when she spoke, " He's passed on."

"You mean you live with a ghost?" At the word ghost objects on the coffee table started shaking

" He doesn't like being called that," Wesley cleared his throat and put a hand to his temple, where only weeks before he had sported a nice dark bump from using the same word.

Lindsey looked around the apartment. It was much smaller than his, and her's had a comfortable lived in look, a look that Lindsey doubted his own place would ever have. A person had to actually be able to sometime live at their residence to get that feel.

He was still standing feet from the closed door where he could see much of the apartment. He observed the living room, dining area, and entrance to the kitchen. There was a hallway to his left, where he assumed the bedroom and bathroom could be found.

Though he could tell the furniture was second hand, it was still nice. There were feminine nick nacks cluttering table tops and shelves. A picture on an end table caught his attention, it was a group of teens all decked out in their graduation gear. It would have looked like any other graduation picture but the look on their faces looked distant, not the happy smiles that one would expect to see. Picking it up he recognized Cordelia right away, but the others he had never seen. There were two other females, a blonde and a red head, plus a young dark haired man in the picture, nearby an older man was watching the group with what could be described as concern.

" I thought graduations were a good thing, you all look like your going to your deaths." Lindsey looked over at Cordelia who paled slightly as he looked at the picture. Does he know he was holding a picture of the slayer, a witch, and one of the slayer's best male friends in his hand, not to mention a watcher standing in the background...watching? Cordelia thought.

" Yeah, guess they usually are, if you're *not* from Sunnydale, and you *don't* have some huge snake that wants you as an after speech snack ." Taking the picture from Lindsey she placed it face down on the table.

Lindsey looked at her in confusion but didn't dare ask. "So what is it you need?" Taking a seat across from the three sitting on the couch, he waited for them to answer. It seemed like forever until finally Wesley spoke up.

" I think we should set some ground rules first, seeing that this... situation is somewhat unique." Lindsey nodded for him to go on. " We understand that there are going to be strings attached here, we're not stupid. Our situation is to be taken care of first. Your attention is to be getting this case taken care of before you start scheming your little revenge. We have no use of your *help* if that one term isn't met."

" Sounds fair so far."

" Two, if your *talents* can't get us all out of this mess we don't need your help. We can just turn ourselves in, no need to be at your disposal for only half success." Wesley held his breath knowing this was a lot to ask, praying that the young lawyer would go for it. Lindsey sat back in his chair to mull this over. It was all or nothing, and he had no idea what exactly it was they were asking from him. " Fine. I have a condition of my own. I want your honesty here on this matter, no secrets. No keeping the little things out. It's usually the little things that complicate the matter."

Silence. It was to be expected. He had just asked these people, who had been at war for almost a year with him, not to mention the law firm he worked for, to be honest with him. Not something that was going to be easy. In the end the three nodded.

Opening his briefcase that he had sat next to his chair, Lindsey took out a tape recorder and turned it on. " So let's start at the beginning-." Before he could go on there was a loud pounding at the door, catching them all by surprise.

"Willow! Are you in there?" It was Angel, and a pissed off one at that.

Willow and Spike had been sitting in the guest room, with an unconscious Douglass, listening to the exchange from the living room. It had been decided that the witch and vampire were to stay out of sight until, the devil in Armani, agreed to their conditions, and knew of the situation. So far Lindsey had agreed to their terms, when the loud knocking came from the front door.

" Oh, now he shows his pretty face,." Spike grumbled.

" Willow I know you're in there, I can smell you." Willow held her breath trying to come up with a plan. Under no circumstances could Angel come in till she could see into his eyes, she had to know for sure it was him and that the struggle with his inner demon wasn't more than he usually had to deal with. After hearing about the lawyer blood bath Willow had revoked his invitation into Cordelia's apartment without telling the others.

The sound of splintering wood snapped Willow from her thoughts. Throwing the bedroom door open she ran out before Spike could stop her.

`She's in there, I can smell her.' Angel knew her scent as he did the others he considered his friends in Sunnydale. Those teens and watcher were the first humans he allowed himself around in over eighty years, not even when he was alive did he have friendships like he experienced in that small town. He had fought with them, and beside them. They had laughed and cried together. Pounding on the door again, he finally gave into the urge to kick in the door.

"Don't invite him in!" Willow came charging out of the hallway, sliding to a halt.

Seeing Willow, and that she wasn't harmed calmed Angel a little. Seeing Lindsey staring at him from Cordelia's side chair made him growl in anger. " What are you doing here, Lindsey? If you're smart you'll leave NOW!" Taking a step forward into the apartment he was shocked to run into a barrier, making it impossible for him to enter.

Lindsey sat in shock, not sure what to make of the situation. At first, when he heard Angel's thundering voice he was furious that he fell for some kind of trick. Then he was confused at who Angel was calling to, who in the hell was Willow? When the door came smashing in and a redhead came flying into the room he didn't know what to think, but to see that the Vampire couldn't get in almost made him laugh.

" Willow. Let. Me. In." The growling coming from Angel grew louder.

" Not by the hair on our chiny chin chins." Spike mocked from hallway entrance. It was turning out to be a great show, seeing his grandsire losing control, and not being able to do a damn thing about it, was just plain fun.

" Spike, what are you doing here?" Angel tried to take a step in again, only to walk into the invisible wall.

" Well Grandsire, Red and I eloped and thought LA would be a grand ole place for a Honeymoon." Spike smirked at Angel. " Didn't we Red?" Spike looked over at the witch to see her eyes pleading him to stop.

"Spike, if you wish to live to see another night I suggest you bring Willow out here to me." Angel said this staring straight at Willow, seeing her flinch at the edge to his voice.

Lindsey knew he needed to take control of the situation, if he wanted Angel's friends in his debt it was now or never. " Angel, it seems at this time it's *you* that's not *invited* here. I was asked to come over, they called of their own free will. No manipulation, no threats. Ask them, they'll tell you this." Lindsey waved his hand to the room of people, all holding their breath, not knowing how Angel would take this betrayal.

Willow walked up as close as she could to the door without Angel being able to drag her through the threshold. " Angel, I need to see your eyes, please. I need to see." Tears were falling from her eyes as she begged one of her closest friends to look at her. Finally he took his eyes off Lindsey's to stare into her emerald green orbs.

It was there, so close to the surface, the demon she had seen several times. Once when he grabbed her in the school hallway, and several other times after, when he mocked and terrorized the group of teens. Angel was there as well, fighting like a drowning man. Willow felt like screaming in frustration. This was her fault...

Willow gulped for air and tried to control her emotions that were threatening to consume her. " I'm so sorry Angel, you can't come in." Turning to the shocked group she continued. "I've been keeping something from you all, but I have no time to explain now." Turning back to Angel, she wished she could touch him, to let him know that she'd fix everything. Make everything go back to normal. " Please leave Angel, do this for us."

Angel felt the fog come over him again, turning from his friends he left. Without any concern to their fate.
 
 

Chapter Three

"He just left, no more fight, nothing." Cordelia spoke first. "Oh this is just *not* good."

"He's not going to kill us, is he?" Gunn had watched the interaction in wonder. Sure he had seen Angel mad, scream, shout, break things. But it always ended in the same result. Angel always won. But him turning and leaving without a care sent chills down his spine.

" Of course not," Wesley told Gunn. " If that were Angelus we wouldn't be living." Walking over to the left, he poured himself a tequila & took a shot.

" What do you mean we wouldn't be alive? At one time or other, these two girls were around Angelus. They're not dead." Grabbing the bottle from Wes, he took a shot for himself.

" The girls had protection from the slayer and..." Wes stopped with shock, forgetting Lindsey was still in the room. " And well um...I really don't think that this has anything to do with ... um." Taking another shot, Wes left the subject go.

" I thought you said LEGAL problem." Lindsey accused Cordelia.

" Douglass." Willow whispered. They had forgotten the reason for all this, " Delia, you call 911, Spike, you check on Douglass." Turning to Lindsey she gathered her slipping courage together. " Mr. McDonald, I'm Willow Rosenberg. I wish we could explain everything to you, but we're running out of time. We understand if all this is to weird for you, you can walk away . If you want to help us that's fine as well, I'll explain things on the way to the hospital." With that Willow went to check on Douglass.

For the first time in two weeks Cordelia smiled. " Now that's the Willow I know and love."

" I always saw here as shy and quiet." Wes muttered

"No, that was her resolve face." Cordelia turned to Lindsey, watching him as he considered what to do.

" Maybe you should see Douglass first before you make up your mind." Cordelia told him.

" Who's he?"

" She. Douglass is a she. And part of our long story." Motioning him to follow she led him to Douglass. Lindsey didn't know if he should follow the Seer or grab his stuff and haul ass. It was one thing to piss Angel off, but he didn't want anything to do with Angelus. His curiosity getting the best
of him he followed.

Stepping into the dimly lit room he gasped in shock.

"Is she alive?" Lindsey walked closer to the girl.

" Yes, but not for long." Spike commented from the shadows in the corner of the room.

" How do you know?" Lindsey didn't tear his eyes from the girl. He had been staring at the fading bruises and healing cuts on her face, but turned his attention to watch the raising and fall from her chest. Lindsey went to feel the pulse on her jugular when he noticed the gauze wrapped around her neck, her arms were out of the covers and laying at her sides. They were also covered in fading bruises, and there was gauze at her wrists and he was sure that if he were to pull down the covers he'd find the rest of her body cut and beaten.

" When did this happen?" Lindsey asked the room, not really caring who answered.

" About two weeks ago." Willow had whispered.

" Seems a lot happened two weeks ago," Lindsey snorted, pulling his gaze from the unmoving form in the bed to look at the young redhead. She's one of the kids from the picture in the living room. Lindsey was annoyed with himself that it had taken him that long to realize it.

" Lindsey you have no idea who this girl is do you?" Wes stunned.

Lindsey took another look at the girl, but he didn't recognize her. " No, should I?"

" Well yes," Wes stammered, " you do read the paper, perhaps watch television, listen to the radio?"

" I've been busy with other...projects." Lindsey shrugged.

Wesley left the room only to have him return moments later, newspapers in hand giving them to Lindsey to read. Looking at the first one it took him a moment to find what he should be looking for. There was a picture of a young beautiful women, next the caption `Metro resident missing from  ICU'. Skimming through the article it went on to say how a Douglass Maureen MacArthur was missing from Swedish Medical Center, taken in the middle of the night. She had been found by a Willow Anne Rosenberg. MacArthur's roommate, had been murdered, looking at the next paper, he saw
a picture of the redhead. It seemed that they had caught her on the security surveillance on the night Douglass came up missing, the rest of the papers went on to say pretty much the same thing.

" This is pretty bad, not only were you the one to find the crime scene, you were pretty much caught taking her from ICU." Lindsey watched the expressions wash over the young woman's features. " What made you take her from medical help? By the looks of her, it looks like she really needed it."

Hearing the faint sound of sirens he stopped his questioning. " Okay, this is what we're going to do. Willow and I are going *now*, so she can fill me in. No one is to answer *any* questions from the police officers without telling them you want your lawyer present." Looking to Willow to follow him, he turned to leave.

Walking to the door Willow turned to Spike. " You need to stay by her side Spike. Tell them you're her husband, fiancé anything. Just protect her please." Everyone saw the look pass between the witch and the vampire and were shocked to see him engulf her into a tight hug, kissing her on her head.

" No worries witch. I've got it covered." Turning her towards the door he gave her a little shove.

Taking Willow by the elbow, Lindsey hurried her out of the apartment before anyone could see them leave. He needed time to figure out a game plan, walking her towards his silver Mercedes, he opened the passenger door and nearly shoved the young woman inside. He barely got inside
before the police car and ambulance stopped in front of the apartment building, they both sat watching the uniformed officers and emergency personal run up the steps.

" From the beginning Ms. Rosenberg," Lindsey pulled from his parking spot and turned towards the direction of the nearest hospital. " and I'm expecting you to stick with the one guideline I asked the others to agree to. Honesty. I need to know it all and I don't want any surprises."

He could see her biting her lip from the corner of his eye. " I really have no idea where to begin." Stalling for time Willow tried to pull her thoughts together. She wasn't lying when she said she had no idea where to start. It was all so complicated, like having three different stories that had little to do with one another and fit them all together, plus filter through what she really needed to keep from Lindsey. Legal help was one thing, just handing over information that needn't be was something all too dangerous.

Since she was having a hard time getting the words out, he changed his tactic. "What is Douglass to you, friend, relative, coworker?"

" Friend. We met on the Internet when I was back in high school. She and I share the same interests,"

" Why were you in Denver?"

" To go and visit her."

" Did you go alone?"

" No Spike and I went. We rented a van, and drove."

" Who's Spike? Your boyfriend ?"

" GODDESS no. He's a friend. I didn't want to go alone, everyone else had plans." Liar, Willow thought. The others hadn't a clue.

" He said something to Angel about being a Grandsire. Did I hear him right?"

".... Yes..." Willow looked out the window.

" What's his real name?"

" William-." Lindsey's head swung towards her in disbelief.

" Are you saying that I was in the same room as William the Bloody. Do you make it a habit to befriend all vampires?"

" I could ask you the same," Willow shot back.

" Okay so you and Spike go on this road trip."

" We got to Denver at about four in the morning, and headed straight to Doug's and Tori's apartment, because of the sunrise, when we got there no one answered the door."

" It was four am..." Lindsey started a tart reply, and had to remind himself to keep his thoughts at bay. This would never work if he let his feelings get in the way.

" Spike could smell the blood coming from inside..." Willow had paled, and started to shake, tears were threatening to fall, taking another breath she continued. " After pounding on the door, he just kicked it in. There was so much blood, and...and it was everywhere." Images that she had kept locked away started to rush to the surface. Holding them back, and locking them away again Willow went on, she didn't need to go into detail now. Just outline the basics. "They lived in a loft apartment. Douglass was at the bottom of the stairs. She had a rope tied around her neck and wrists, she was covered in blood. I couldn't find Tori right away, until I tripped over something near the couch... This is too much. I can't go into anymore detail." Willow put her head in her hands, and started to cry again.

" How old are you?" Lindsey turned the questions to a less gruesome nature

"Twenty."

" How old is Douglass?"

" Twenty-three."

" What made you take her away from medical attention?"

" I didn't know what was after her or who was responsible. But Spike was attacked outside the hospital when he went to have a cigarette and usually that's a big clue that something is amiss."

" What aren't you telling me?"

" Huh?"

" I'm not stupid, there's something you're leaving out. I've seen the people you're associated with in action. Protecting one person in serious need of medical attention is a walk in the park. So what is it? What are you leaving out?"
 
 

Chapter Four

"Here they come." Gunn was watching out the living room window seeing the police and medics rushing up the steps. "There they go." Watching as a sleek Mercedes rolled away from the curb and down the street.

"Dennis, no funny stuff." Cordelia called out as she went to open the door and coming face to face with Kate.

"What's going on, Ms. Chase?" Cordelia stepped aside to allow Kate in and suppressing a groan. Of course Kate would come, what else did they expect. "A friend needs medical attention."

Leading the was towards the guest room Cordelia stood aside to let the medics assist Douglass. No one moved at first, Kate and the medics took in the small makeshift hospital room. There was an Iv pole next to the bed where a young woman was lying. "Is that Ms MacArthur?" Kate rushed over. "How did she get here?" The medics sprung to action. Taking the Iv out of the patients arm, they instantly took her vital signs.

"We were instructed not answer any questions until our lawyer is present. He's waiting at the hospital for us." Wesley informed the blonde detective.

"Where's Angel? I know he *has* to be behind this somehow." Kate's eyes narrowed as she tried to read the expressions of Cordelia, Wesley and Gunn.

"No you wanker, I'm not going to back away. She's my..my fiancé." Kate turned to see an argument break out between one of the officers, and some blond at the bedroom door.

"Who are you?" Kate walked over.

"Name's Spike luv, and you?" Spike pushed the officer out of the way and walked into the crowded room.

"You're this young lady is your fiancé?"

"You're being rude, I asked for your name pet." Spike watched over one of the medic's shoulders, making sure Douglass was okay.

"Kate-."

"Listen no disrespect, but why don't we bond at the hospital." Spike looked over his shoulder at the stunned blonde.

"Fine. I'll take the four of you in my car."

"No can do. Wont leave my intended's side. You can take the three of them, I'm going with Douggie ."

"Fine." Kate gritted out and accompanied the three others out to her car. Not believing she just let the blonde male have his way. But after her past experiences with Angel's friends she knew they always had a reason for what they did. But this time they wouldn't be able to weasel their way out of trouble.

"I'm not leaving anything out," Willow protested looking into a pair of disbelieving eyes. "Fine I am, but I can't tell you until I tell the others."

"No now." Lindsey took the upper hand.

"How about I tell everyone at once." Willow pleaded with him.

"Fine. But I want the truth."

Willow was relived to get out of Lindsey's car. He made her uncomfortable. Once again he grabbed her elbow he walked her to the emergency entrance. The waiting room was almost empty so the two went to sit in the chairs waiting for the others.

"What's your relationship to Angel?" Lindsey sat back and enjoyed the blush that crept up the red head's neck.

"I'm nobody to him really. We knew each other in Sunnydale."Willow licked her dry lips and looked away.

"Does he usually break down doors for the no bodies in his life?"

"We all lived through a lot together, life and death things, it brings people close."

"Is Angel acquainted with Douglass?"

Silence.

"Willow? Is he?"

"No. He's never met her. I never really mentioned her to him."

"Well here comes your friends, and lucky me, here comes Kate." Lindsey stood and walked to the group that had just entered the waiting room.

"Kate, great to see you again." Lindsey crossed over to the detective. Out of all the detectives and officers, Kate was his favorite to annoy. "Thank you so much for getting my clients here."

"This is your attorney? Is this some sort of sick joke?" Kate hated Lindsey. He had an annoying habit of taking her best cases and tearing them to pieces. Flashing her one of his famous fake smiles, Lindsey continued. "I don't think you've met Ms. Rosenberg." Gesturing the redhead to come forward he could hear Kate's sharp intake of breath. This would be a huge case to crack for the detective. Not to mention get her back into the good graces of her superiors again. But with him on the case it was over before it even started.

"Ms. Rosenberg, this is Detective Lockley."

"Now that the introductions are over, let's find an empty room to get this over shall we?" Lindsey walked over to a young nurse, and asked her a few questions. She blushed and giggled, and moments later he rejoined them, and led them to a private waiting room to talk. "I asked the young lady to let the staff know that we were in here. Someone will let us know how Douglass is after they get a look at her." Lindsey told his clients as everyone found a seat in the small room. Leaving only Kate and Lindsey standing.

"What about Spike?" Kate asked Lindsey, arms crossed across her chest.

"I'm sure you can question him later after he knows Douglass is fine." Lindsey shot back. " So why don't you start?"

"Fine." Kate gritted.

"How did she survive this long without medical supervision?"... "Don't know."..."Can you hand me the oxygen mask?"..."Her foot is infected, she's going to have one nasty scar."..."If she lives..." There they were, the voices, finally the voices. And with the voices hope
 
 

Chapter Five

For an evil guy, Lindsey sure was good at what he did. Every time Kate asked a question Lindsey batted it away, as though swatting a pesky fly. His clients sat in awe of his performance. Kate finally had enough and charged out of the room, leaving Lindsey smirking.

"That was it? It seemed a little anticlimactic." Wes had expected at least being taken to the police station.

"It's not over. She's not the type that gives up easy. But when I'm done she wont have a leg to stand on." Lindsey leaned up against the wall. "But *we're* not done yet. If I remember correctly Ms. Rosenberg, you had something you wanted to share with the group."

Willow had felt a momentary feeling of relief when she saw Kate leave the room. Thanks to Lindsey the tension returned. She shifted nervously in her chair, wishing she could disappear.

"It seems my magic has gotten me...us into trouble again. I met Douglass through the internet when I started getting interested in Wicca. It was nice to have person, outside the gang, to form a friendship with. At first I didn't tell her anything about...us. It wasn't until Angel turned into Angelus that I told her everything." She paused. "I could barely live with myself when I gave Angel his soul back too late. If I had done it correct the first time, he would never have gone to Hell with his soul intact. So Douglass and I started to look for a spell to help him escape. Douglass was the one to find it. The spell only required one person, but was a lot safer with two. So Douglass came out to Sunnydale to help. You all know the rest, Angel comes back, he's grumpy, helps fight and then leaves. Life goes on... Only, Douglass called me last month, she found a spell that could ...anchor his soul."

" Who else knows about the spell?" Gunn asked.

" No one. I didn't even tell Spike."

" You found a spell to anchor Angel's soul and you didn't tell him?" Cordelia asked, confused as to why Willow would keep something so important from Angel.

" Why would any of this anger Angel? Back at the apartment he was seething. Or is that the way he usually treats people?" Lindsey rubbed the scar tissue around his right wrist. He knew of Angel's anger, but Lindsey had been stupid. Taunting the vampire was not one of Lindsey's smartest moments. Sliding a glace at Cordelia, he saw that she was staring at her hand in gross interest.

"He...he must've found out about it somehow. The demon inside was probably furious." Willow told Lindsey, who seemed to accept the response.

Wes knew there was something more to what she was letting on. "So you think who ever attacked Douglass knew about the spell?"

"Who would want to do that?" Willow asked. "I can't imagine anyone wanting Angelus back."

Everyone turned to glare at Lindsey. "Don't look at me," throwing his hands up, "I had nothing to do with this."

Cordelia snorted, but still refused to look him in the eyes. `She's still pissed about the scroll.' he thought, `not that I blame her. I wasn't trying to kill her, hurt yes, not kill. After taunting him I was going to give him the scroll we had what we wanted. I just wanted to wipe that smug look off of Angel's face. Show him he's not better than me.'

The door to the small waiting room swung open and Spike strolled in. He had heard pretty much everything and was amazed how well the witch could lie. Spike knew everything, and was impressed at Willow's ability to fool the stupid lawyer.

"Douglass's doctor will be here in a moment." Spike went over to Willow, placing a hand under her chin and forced him to look him in the eye. " Everything is going to be fine pet. After we speak to him why don't you call home. Don't feel like having a certain slayer hunting me down,
thinking I ran off with you somewhere." Willow gave him a shaky smile, and he let go of her chin, " And let me say just how *proud* I am of you kitten, didn't know you had it in you." He saw the tug on her lips and winked at her.

"I'm not going to lie to you, it doesn't look good." The doctor looked around the crowded room. He hated this part of his job. Telling friends and family, that their loved ones might not make it. "We're still running tests...so when they're finished..." The group stopped listening, all they heard was `it doesn't look good.'

Spike snorted when the doctor left, "Stupid prig doesn't know crap." He put a reassuring hand on Willows shoulder. "Douggie's heartbeat is a hell of a lot stronger than it was this morning." A spark of hope flickered in the witch's eyes. "And now you need to call home."

Lindsey reached into his jacket pocket and gave Willow his cell phone. She dialed , and waited for the other end to pick up.

"Giles? Yes it's me... I'm fine...I'm in LA...no the police aren't after me anymore...no I don't need help, you all have enough with Glory on the lose..." Spike snorted and Willow glared at him, "Buffy...hi...I know you were worried about me, but I couldn't call you and get you into this...love you too...Xander?" Willow lost control. Everything she had repressed came rushing forward when she heard his childhood friend on the phone. "Xander I was so scared. It was so awful...you'd do that for me? Please, love you too." After ending the call, she made another. But hung up without talking, and handed the phone back to Lindsey.

"He's coming to LA tonight." She told her friends

Lindsey left to go home. It was late, and it had been a long, strange day. A smile crept up on his lips, thinking of ways to use his new advantage. He had a Seer, a former watcher, a tough street kid, and if Douglass lived two very strong witches in his debt. He wasn't going to count on Spike, there was no way the vampire was going to be manipulated.

Lindsey pulled out his cell phone again, and smirked as he pushed redial. "Sunnydale police department" Lindsey snapped the phone shut and growled. The witch was smart, he was going to have to keep on his toes.

Willow waited a few minutes, making sure Lindsey didn't return, and decided it was now or never. "I lied." Everyone stared at her, some in shock, others with new found respect. "I mean not about doing the spells and such, the anchoring spell is true. Spike knows *everything*. It's about the spell that Douglass and I did."

"I knew something wasn't adding up." Wes muttered.

"I just want to say that when we found the spell we were still new to the craft, and really didn't research as much as we should have. How we first understood the spell, it seemed dangerous, but doable. And it worked, we didn't really think much about it, until two months ago. There's this girl at school, in my Wicca group, Tara. She and I have been helping each other with spells, and she came across the spell in one of my books. Seems she caught something we didn't. How we thought was that the spell caster, or casters, anted their soul, or half, to give the damned a fighting chance to escape hell."

"Willow what were you thinking?" Cordelia cried out. "Do you know how dangerous that was?"

Willow shrugged, "We were always in danger, every night and day. If we fought, or if we didn't, Sunnydale was dangerous. So I really didn't think much of it like that."

"So, I take it that Angel escaped." Gunn sat in amazement, feeling proud that he was a part of this group.

"Yes," Willow looked over to Gunn, "but when he first came back I thought I had made a horrible mistake. He was more animal than Angel. It took him some time to get a grip."

"So what did Tara find that you overlooked?" Wes asked.

"Well Douglass and I just assumed that once he got out, we won, our souls on IOU came back to us. But it seems that as long as Angel is on earth our souls are still on IOU statice. So if either Douglass or I dies, half his soul is taken. If we both die... That's why anchoring Angel's soul became so important."

"Dear God Willow, how could you overlook something that important?" Wes groaned. "So Douglass's assault, and Angel's slip onto the dark side is related?"

Willow nodded, "Angel locking the lawyers in the wine cellar, and Douglass's attack were on the same night."

"So we have a *huge* problem if Douglass doesn't make it?" Cordelia got up and started to pace. "So what is he now Angel, or Angelus?

"I'm not sure, but both I think" Willow stated, " After I got here, and heard about what Angel did, I revoked his invitation just in case. When I looked into his eyes today I could see that his demon is right at the surface. The Angel we know and love is fighting for control, but is losing more ground the worse Douglass gets."

"So why don't we just do the anchoring spell on him now?" Gunn asked Willow.

"Because he doesn't have a complete soul. If we anchor him now, he might stay as is. Plus Douglass had the spell, I have no idea where it is." Wes rubbed his temples, "So who ever did this to Douglass knew about the spell?"

"I don't know, but I doubt it. No one but Spike knew of Douglass's involvement, and he's the last one who wants Angelus back. If you remember correctly Spike kinda ruined that hell on earth paradise Angelus and Dru were planning." Willow looked at Spike, "Lindsey knows who you are now." Spike shrugged

"So what do we do now?" Gunn looked at everyone. "I don't mean to sound uncaring but we need to set up shop again."

Wes's eyes shot to Cordelia, "With all that has been happening, I just realized it's been some time since your last vision."

Cordelia bit her lip and stared at the table. "Two weeks ago. I never thought I'd say this, but I miss them. They made me feel important." Wes put an arm around her shoulder.

"Angel's slipping soul must have something to do with this." Cordelia whispered.

"Yes, I think so. But everything is going to work out fine Cordelia you'll see" Wes looked at the young woman he considered family and felt sorry for her.

"Well I can't go back to Sunnydale until this is taken care of, do you all mind if I join you?" Willow asked.

"Your help is more than welcomed Willow," Wes smiled at the witch.

"Well we need to set up shop. No offense, but after all that's happened, Cordelia's apartment is the *last* place I want to be. I can get my boys to look for another office." Everyone nodded agreement.

"Spike what about you?" Willow tentatively asked her friend. "I'll stay around for you kitten, kick a some demon ass. But I'm not one of the good guys" He muttered.

Willow suppressed a smile. "Of course you're not." "We do have a problem when it comes to research," Wes stated, " Most of the books we used are Angel's. We'll need to start our own collection."

"What about the whole no vision thing?" Cordelia asked. "Cordelia wether you know it or not you're useful with or without the visions." Wes hugged the young brunette. He knew things were going to rough, but they'd get through it together.

"What about living accommodations?" Willow asked. Not wanting to hurt Cordelia's feelings, but she felt as Gunn did. The less she saw of Cordelia's apartment the better. Cordelia didn't blame the others for not wanting to stay at her place, or use it as an office until other arrangements could be made. Too many memories were there for her too. "I don't want to stay at my apartment anymore either, but I can't leave Dennis."

"Do you have anything that he's partial to?" Willow asked.

Cordelia thought for moment, and nodded. "Actually in the storage area below the apartment there was a left over box of his toys he had as a kid. He wanted me to get a toy soldier out of the box."

"We can bring him with us, if he agrees, I'll just need the toy soldier."

"So it's settled then, we're back to work." Everyone feeling a little better, having a direction to go in.

Spike grabbed his leather jacket and headed towards the door. "I'm leaving before the Brady Bunch here has a group hug, I hate group hugs." Leaving everyone else to make plans.

"Dad your hurting me" Spike heard the whimper coming from one of the rooms he was passing, and decided to take a peek.

"Do you remember the story I told you to use? I swear Aria, if you mess this up, I'm going to really make you sorry." An older man twisted the girls arm high up behind her back. Spike caught a glimpse of the girl the man had a hold of. She reminded Spike of Willow. Her hair was a little darker red than Willow's , and she was a little shorter than the little witch.

"You're doing that all wrong mate, if you don't let her go I'll have to show you how its done. On yourself of course." His head started to throb at the threat, knowing he'd never get three feet into the room before he collapsed in a heap on the floor.

The man let go of the girl and smirked over at Spike, "This is none of your business, I suggest you leave. My daughter and I are having a little chat." The girl was softly crying on the floor refusing to look at her rescuer.

A young nurse showed up before Spike could continue, and knowing it was a losing battle left. Leaving him a little confused. ` Damn Scoobies making me into one big old poof they are.'
 

Chapter Six

Xander found Willow in the private waiting room, and without a word grabbed her up in his arms. He walked over to a near by chair and sat down setting Willow in his lap. "Willow I was so scared I'd never see you again." He kissed the top of her head and rocked her back and forth.

Willow finally let go all the pent up emotions, and cried on his shoulder. The others took her breakdown as a cue for a coffee run. Leaving the
childhood friends to be alone. Willow cried until she fell asleep, Xander rubbing her back to comfort her. She didn't sleep long, and when she woke she told her friend everything. Begged him to forgive her for lying to him, and the others. Only to be embraced in his arms again.

Cordelia was the first to enter the room, " Brought coffee." Handing her friends the steamy cups. " Thanks for coming Xander." Cordelia hugged her ex-boyfriend.

"I can't stay long, in fact I have to get going soon," He apologize. " I have Dawn patrol when she gets out of school." The girls nodded, " But hey I
brought down a care package for you Wills. Clothes, mostly, but a few odd and ends Anya thought you'd like. She would have come, but has to work early tomorrow."

"Xander, so good to see you again." Wes shook the young man's hand, "This is Gunn."

"Hey man," Gunn nodded to Xander, " I've heard a lot about you."

There was a lot of small talk, and after another hour Xander got up to leave. "Wills I wish I could take you with me." Hugging her to him again. "Hey  I'll be back. No tears."

Turning to Cordelia he hugged her too, "You take care." He whispered in her ear. She nodded and wiped the tears from her eyes. "And you really need to bathe, your hygiene is having a way funky smell." She hit his chest and smiled at him as he left.

After waiting in the hospital for 24 hours, they needed to start picking up the pieces in their lives. Willow and Cordelia went back to her apartment,
only to find police tape blocking their entrance, "Is this a joke?" Cordelia groaned, "What are we supposed to do? All our stuff is in there. At least
there's a new door. Wonder where that came from?"

Willow shrugged, "Call our lawyer I suppose. If we're leaving ourselves to his disposal when this is over, the least we can do is take advantage of it."
They headed to the nearest public phone to make their call. Lindsey was more than happy, if not a little smug, to help. In less than an hour they were able to go back to the apartment. Not wanting to know how he accomplished the task.

Finding a new office was easier said than done. They couldn't afford much, and what they could afford looked ready to fall down. After two weeks of searching and a long heated argument, it was agreed on that they'd ask David Nabbit for a small business loan. They explained some of the situation, trying hard not to lie. They explained that Angel needed to distance himself from the others for awhile.

He knew a lot about Willow, and Douglass. There had been an articles in every newspaper known, explaining the reappearance of Douglass, and her 'rescue' by Willow. Lindsey had to be behind the good publicity, but there was no real proof. In fact they hadn't seen the lawyer.

Not only did he agree, but he owned a perfect building they could lease. It had been a bank. It wasn't in the best of neighborhoods, other than that it was perfect. The first floor was a good sized lobby, where two or three desks could be put. There was two offices on the right hand wall. Straight ahead were the tellers station, that had been caged to dissuade any robberies. The vault was on the far end of the bank, behind the teller station.

An elevator and stairs were on the left, that went up to the other three floors. They had the same floor plan. Four large offices in each corner, and
a common area where the secretaries most have been stationed. The large restrooms on each floor were gutted and turned into bathrooms, bathtubs and all. The fourth office on each floor was turned into a kitchen. The common area used as living rooms. It was decided the second floor would be a training area, using the offices as storage for weapons, and one as a laundry room.  The third floor to the guys, and the fourth to the girls.

David insisted on paying for the remodeling, since he was the one leasing the building. Carpet was replaced, walls repainted. A training mat installed in the large common area. Heavy curtains hung from windows, to make it more vampire friendly. And against their wishes he had furnished the it as well. Insisting the only why they could pay him back, was by letting him visit and help out once in awhile. With his computer knowledge it was quickly agreed upon.

Douglass had been in the hospital for a month, and still hadn't opened her eyes. Though her vitals were getting stronger, the infection gone, she was still deep in slumber. The bruises were gone, as well as the small cuts. The rope burns on her neck and wrists were healed, but would leave scars that in time might fade.

They all would visit her everyday, talking to her, letting her know what was going on. They told her about the new business, and home,  as soon as she was ready there was a place there for her as well. That after a really slow start, things were picking up, and that Cordelia was even getting a few visions again.

Willow had been able to bring Dennis with them, but he pretty much stayed on the girl's floor. He was a great house keeper, and seemed to really like his new surroundings.

Each told a different version of Spike's and Cordelia's fight over who had to suffer the worst headaches. The argument lasted three days, with no real winner. Spike refusing to stay on the guy's floor, and took up residence in the basement.

Douglass had a secret visitor that started showing up at the end of the month. He came late at night, and read to her. Or sometimes he'd just sit
there staring at her, wanting to ask hundreds of questions. It was on one of these secret visits that Douglass finally joined the living again.

Angel sat watching the rise and fall of the young woman's chest. Wondering who she was exactly, that Willow would put herself in so much danger for. It'd been about a week since the fog inside of him had cleared, and guilt for his actions caught up with him.

He listened to the neglected answer machine, Cordelia weak and tearful pleas for help. Giles, Buffy, and Xander, seeing if he had heard from the redheaded witch. He read through the unread newspapers that had been lying around, and learned that Willow had found Douglass, and her dead roommate. And the next day was seen on security tapes at the time of Douglass's disappearance. Douglass was a student at CU of Denver, and was a witch. She had been tortured, and the police believed it was occult related.

With a growl he stood and walked over to the window. He had tried calling Cordelia's to get answers, only to find the number disconnected. When he went over to the apartment, he was shocked to find the apartment empty. Wes and Gunn had moved as well. He knew they were still in the city. He heard stories of a group helping those with special problems.

So caught up in his problems he didn't hear Willow enter the room, it was her gasp that made him swing around. She stood in the door blinking at him.

"Are you going to move Red? Or am I going to have to pick you up so I can come in." Spikes voice startled Willow making her move further in the room.

"Oh look at what we have here," Spike sauntered into the room, " Thought you'd be busy playing fry chef for Darla and Dru, you know, would you like any human's with your wine?" Spike mocked Angel. Loving the look of guilt passing over the other vampire's face. "They don't need you man. Get a clue. Slink back into the night." Angel let out a low growl of warning.

"Spike stop." Willow touched his arm, gaining his attention.

Angel's eyes swept over Willow in shock. He had missed the changes before, he still hadn't been thinking straight. She was no longer the awkward teen he had worked side by side with. She had cut her long hair, giving her a more grown up look. She wore tight black leather pants and an emerald green halter top that would make most females look slutty, but Willow still looked young and fresh.

"Come on pet, I thought you were starting to get a back bone." Spike groaned a sunk down into an empty chair.

"Willow we need to talk." Angel placed a hand on her shoulder, and flinched when she jumped away. " Do you think I'm going to hurt you?" She bit her lip and looked away, but not before he saw the tear fall from her eye. Placing a hand under her chin, he gently forced her to look into his eyes.

"Please Angel," She whimpered, and stepped away. " You need to leave."

"Not until you talk to me. Five minutes it's all I ask."

"Ah pet . . . " Spike started

"Not now Spike." Angel gritted out.

"Ducks I think-." Spike started again.

"Spike, just a moment." Willow pleaded.

"Hate to break up this warm fuzzy moment, but someone has decided to grace us with her presence." Spike stood up and spun Willow toward Douglass's bed.
 

Chapter seven

Lindsey ducked as the book barely grazed his head, slammed against the wall behind him, and fell to the floor. " It's the wrong book.  You pathetic fool. One book was all I asked for. Was it too hard of a job for you Lindsey? I asked for the book of Ansuz. What you gave me was some wretched rambling from a family of healers." Lindsey gritted his teeth, holding back a sharp reply to the seething bitch. Being at her beck and call was taking its toll on his nerves. Her requests were usually Angel related, her wanting her 'boy' back.

Then there was that loon Drucilla. Constantly swaying back and forth, blabbing about talking stars.  Mumbling nonsense, he could never figure out.
There were times he didn't blame Angel for not reuniting with his vampire family. Living eternity with the two would make anyone run in the opposite
direction.

" How do you know it's the wrong book?" He growled back, " You had no idea what the book was pertaining to."

" Lindsey, you are slow, aren't you?" Darla purred as she sauntered toward him. " I told you that the book was bonded to the owner." She started to
explain to him as if he were three, "Now why would anyone bother to do this?" Reaching out she ran her finger along his jaw line, "Not just to keep some cough elixir a secret from the world." Pulling back her hand she slapped him hard across the face, nearly dropping him to his feet. "Either the person you hired took the wrong book, or they have it for themselves." Turning her back on him, she strolled toward the door. " Fix it Lindsey. And soon."

Pulling himself up straight, Lindsey took several deep breaths to calm himself. Finding some book, which Darla had a fancy for, was the last thing
he wanted on his to do list. She had no idea what was in the book. She believed  that some family of witches had been passing it down for the last
hundred of  years or so. Bonding it to the oldest daughter when she reached womanhood. He truly doubted the book existed.

The leather bond book was still lying on the floor, almost taunting him at his failure. He had hired his usual contact to locate, and get the book. It
had taken a few months, but the job was done.  Lindsey had used the same contact on several occasions, always without incident.

Walking over to the offending book, Lindsey picked it up, and started leafing through it. Darla was right about the book not holding anything interesting. The pages contained herbal remedies, and a few pages of some forward thinking midwives. Snapping the book shut, he tossed on his desk, forgotten for the time being.

Instead he sat back and gazed at the files, pictures, and yearbooks spread before of him. The files consisted of five Sunnydale residents, Willow Anne Rosenberg, Buffy Anne Summers, Alexander Harris, Riley Finn, and a Rupert Giles. Three LA residents Cordelia Chase, Charles Gunn, and Wesley
Wyndham-Price. Two Vampires Angel and Spike. And a very intriguing Douglass Maureen MacArthur.

The case he agreed upon was a walk in the park. He bought a few witnesses, fed the touching tale of Willow's finding and helping her friend from danger. When Ms Rosenberg and Ms Chase couldn't get into the apartment he pulled a few strings, much to Detective Lockley's dismay. All that was needed now was for Douglass to wake up, and make a statement.

Douglass MacArthur, picking up her file, he read through it again. Douglass Maureen MacArthur, born June 21, 1977, in Glasgow Scotland. Her Mother's name was Nessa MacArthur, who died in 1995 of cancer. No record of her father. When Douglass was two, her Mother moved to the states, where they seemed to move around quite a lot until finally settling down in Littleton Colorado in 1983. Her school records showed that though she was intelligent, she had little interest in her academics. Various teacher comments basically stated the same thing. Highly intelligent, just no ambition to apply herself.  In the fall of 1994 she attended CU in Boulder Colorado, for a year. Leaving for a few years to kick back, she returned to college in 1997, but this time to Metro Community College.

Her previous medical records showed several visits to the emergency room. Broken leg from a skiing accident, numerous sprained ankles from sport
related incidents. In 1996 she in a car accident, that left her with a broken rib. Just to name a few.

Various pictures came from her high school yearbook. Lindsey still couldn't get over the fact that the girl in the pictures was the same he saw lying in Ms. Chase's guest bed. Most were the standard yearbook pictures, bunch of innocent teens smiling for the camera. There was one of her where she was covered head to toe in mud.  The caption read it was an annual mud/flag football tournament the school held in the fall. Another with her lying over a book asleep, her strawberry-blonde curls in a riot around her face.

The other pictures were from the crime scene. He hated these. He had never seen so much blood. The floor, walls, and furniture were splattered with it. Tori Anderson, Douglass's roommate,  had been slaughtered, her body parts were found scattered around the apartment. This is what Ms Rosenberg, and Spike had walked in on. She must have tripped over Tori's arm near the couch.

Evil people did this, and he was on the evil team. This picture represented him, and what he stood for. How many people had suffered similar fates
because of his clients? Feeling nauseous he put the pictures away.

'So now what?' He thought, 'I started all this to piss Angel off. To humiliate his former employees. How am I going to use this for my advantage?
It can't be anything too atrocious.  They would just rebel, choosing to face the repercussions. It has to be something to keep the wedge between them all.'

"Lindsey, I heard a certain blonde vamp is enraged at you." Lilah smirked as she walked into the office. "I'd hate for anything to happen to you."

" I've got it handled. Leave," Lindsey gritted out.

Ignoring his request, Lilah strolled over to his desk, picking up the discarded crime scene photos. "That had to hurt." She chuckled as she leafed
through them. " Have you decided what you are going to do with Angel's friends? If you haven't  I have a few ideas of my own."

Lindsey grabbed the photos back, " Lilah, don't you have some intern to sexually harass?"

"Well I can see I'm not wanted here." Lilah headed for the door, "By the way did I tell you what a smashing success the Logan Project turned out to be? Me one you zero."

Grabbing the empty glass on his desk Lindsey stalked over to the wet bar to pour himself another well-needed drink.
 

Chapter Eight

She could hear the voices again, swirling around her, never really able to understand what was being said. The last few times she had fought against the darkness toward the voices, but after a few moments of struggle, she'd give into the darkness again. This time though it was almost as though a curtain was pulled back, allowing light to pour in, blinding her for a second.

Douglass blinked a few times trying to adjust her eyes to light. Taking a look around she realized she wasn't alone. Next to her bed staring back at
her was a bleach blonde in black leather, he tried to get the attention from someone else in the room. He got up, and Douglass allowed her eyes to follow him. Willow. She was here too, with another person she couldn't place.

"Douglass!" Willow cried as she rushed toward the bed, grabbing her friends hand. Tears were falling from the redheads emerald green eyes.

"What happened?" Douglass was starting to panic at the pain she could see in her friends eyes. "Why am I in the hospital, was I in another car accident?" She closed her eyes trying to think what she had been doing last.

"You don't remember?" Willow started to shake.

Douglass shook her head, closing her eyes trying to concentrate, "You were coming to visit so we could do the spell I found. Tori and I were cleaning the apartment."

"What spell?" Douglass gazed at the dark headed stranger when he said this.

Willow squeezed her hand, at the sound of his voice. She had forgot  he was there. "Douglass, the bleach blonde is Spike, you've talked to him a few times on the phone, and this is *Angel*, I think I may have told you about him once or twice." Willow stared into her friend's eyes, trying to send her a message to play along with it.

"Angel?" Douglass stared at him, trying to figure out why he was in Denver. "I think so."

Douglass looked down at the iv in her hand, shocked to see ugly scars circling her small wrists. "Willow, what in the hell happened?"

"I think we should wait until the doctor comes." Angel stepped forward before Willow could answer the frightened females question.

Douglass nodded, "Where's Tori?"

Willow turned pale and started to look sick, "Oh my Goddess Willow, where is she? Is she okay?"

Willow didn't know what to say. How was she going to tell Douglass about Tori without telling her everything? Then there was the fact if she should  tell Douglass anything now. She just opened her eyes for the first time in a month and a half.

Angel watched as Willow fought to control her emotions, and figure out how to handle her friends questions. She looked ready to get either sick, pass out, or both. Before she could find the words, a nurse came in the room.

"Well, welcome back." Douglass stared at the older lady, looking at her badge she saw her name was Robin Young. Her stomach dropped when she read the bottom of the badge, Cedars Sinai LA California. Douglass reached out and snatched the badge off the startled women's uniform.

"California? What am I doing in California?" Her voice started getting louder, "I want to know what's going on!" Two more nurses entered the room to
see what the commotion was about. One left quickly, returning a few moments later with a doctor.

"Ms MacArthur I'm Dr. O'Brien, I'm glad to see you awake. I just want to know that you have some very concerned friends and fiancee here." Willow groaned and looked toward Spike's amused face.

"Fiancee?" Douglass blinked, " What fiancee?" She searched the faces around her for some clue as to what was going on.

"Dr. O'Brien," Willow looked at the doctor with a worried expression, "She doesn't remember what happened to her"

"It is common, most likely shock. We're going to run some tests." Turning to his young patient he added, "I know you're confused, and have a lot of
questions. But let's take one thing at a time." Douglass nodded, a tear falling down her cheek.

"Tori's dead isn't she." Closing her eyes she felt Willow try to hug her.

"Yes, I'm so sorry."
 

Chapter Nine

Douglass sat glaring at yet another nurse, who was painfully gouging her with a needle in an attempt to draw blood. Every day for the last week it was like this. First, they had to make sure she was asleep.  Then they would claim how great they were at drawing blood, years of practice. Inevitably after three of four tries they'd get it right.

'That's me,' thought Douglass, ' human pin cushion. I bet Spike could feed from me with less pain.'

"Ms MacArthur?" Douglass looked up to a stranger standing in her doorway, holding a badge in front of her, "I'm Detective Lockley. I need to ask you a few questions." The nurse, done taking the blood needed, stood and left.

"Sure." Douglass looked at the woman, and had an instant disliking toward her. The blonde's blue eyes were cold, and lacked any compassion.

Kate was observing the young woman in the hospital bed. She should've had a chance to question the young woman the moment she had woken up. Instead of a week later. This was her last chance to do anything with the case. Lindsey had efficiently destroyed any case against Willow Rosenberg. Kate needed to solve this case at all costs.

Walking toward Douglass's bed, Kate fished out photos from a file in her hand. Handing them to Douglass she asked, " Do you know who this is?"

Douglass stared at the handsome young man in the photo. His brown hair looked disheveled, as though he had a habit of running his hand through it. She couldn't tell what color his eyes were, the picture had been taken at a distance. And Douglass had to admit, though suits weren't her thing, he really looked good in one. " No, I've never seen him."

"His name is Lindsey McDonald. He's a defense lawyer that works for an unscrupulous law firm here in town. What I'd like to know is why Willow
Rosenberg and her friends needed to hire him. What is it that they're hiding that they need such a corrupt lawyer for?"

Douglass sat in shock, this was how she questioned the victim? The detective's words dripped venom. "I've never heard of Lindsey McDonald."

"Has Ms Rosenberg ever shown any signs of aggression toward you?"

Douglass's mouth dropped, "Have you met Willow? She sweet and kind and couldn't harm a living thing . . . well maybe spiders and frogs," <monsters, demons, and vampires> "other than that she's harmless."

"What about Spike, does he have a real name?"

"What about my *fiancee*?"

"Were the two of you having any problems?"

"You mean anything that would turn him to a psychopath? That would make him kill one of my best friends. Tie me up, beat me, brand my foot, and leave me to die. Hmm... He was upset that I forgot his birthday, but other than that no." Douglass paused for a moment taking a deep breath, "I'll tell you like I told the Denver police. I don't remember anything past Tori and I fighting over who had to clean the bathroom. Next thing I know, I wake up here."

Kate leaned closer to Douglass trying to intimidate her, " Your best friend is dead, you almost died. Don't you want the person, or people who did this pay?"

Douglass glared back, "Yes I do, but unlike you I want the responsible party to pay. Not just the most convenient suspect. I will tell you this one time, and one time only. Willow Rosenberg nor Spike were responsible for any of this. As for Lindsey McDonald, I have no idea who he his. You make me sick. And if you ever try talking to me again, I will report to whoever you report to, that you're a heartless bitch, who has no right questioning *victims*."

Kate knew the case was closed for her at those words. " I apologize, thank you for your time." Kate turned and marched toward the door only to run into a grinning Spike. He had heard everything, and the minx in the hospital bed had just won his loyalty for having stood up for Red. The girl had spunk.

"Leaving so soon," Spike smirked as Kate shoved past him. Shrugging he flopped down besides Douglass on her narrow bed. "She made us miss the first twenty minutes." Spike picked up the remote control, and turned it to his favorite channel. "So do you think Charity will ever escape hell?"

"It's been done before." Douglass winked at Spike as they settled into their daily routine. She looked down at the photo Kate left behind, and was
intrigued by the man in the picture.
 

Chapter Ten

Douglass was thrilled to be included into the group, and agreed to move to LA. She did have to make a trip back to Denver, to talk one last time with the police there, and pick up her Jeep. She had only a box of books and a few other odd and ends to bring back.  Most of her belongings had either been destroyed, stolen or weren't worth taking back with her.

She insisted on seeing the pictures from the crime scene. Hoping that the pictures would spark her memory. They didn't. It did bring up images of how her friend had met her demise. Tori had been dismembered. Pieces of her body were found all around the apartment.  Douglass prayed that her friend had already been dead when she had been torn apart.

The death of Tori still didn't seem possible. Guilt gnawed at Douglass's stomach, knowing that her friend died such a grisly death, while she had
lived. After a few days the tight feeling in her throat lessened. But the pain of losing her best friend was still there, buried a little deeper everyday, but still there.

Then there was the fact that poor Willow had found her. Though Willow had seen some truly hideous things in her life, she could still see the pain in
her friends eyes. Then the final guilt, the spell to anchor Angel's soul was gone. It had been in one of her books that came up missing. How was she going to explain this to Willow?

'Oh by the way Willow you remember that spell I found that would anchor the soul to the man your in love with. Yeah well you see its gone, funny huh?' Douglass groaned as she pulled up in front of the old bank, her new home.

She had insisted on going by herself to Denver, so she could get some closure. Everyone argued, stating that she should bring someone with her. But in the end Douglass won.

Walking into the lobby she noticed how quite it was. Which was odd, knowing that her new family was a bit boisterous. Whether teasing each other, or arguing over how to handle different situations.

Shifting the heavy box in her arms as she headed towards the elevator, pushing the button to her floor, she wondered where everyone was. She wasn't expected until later that night, but shouldn't someone be here working at least?

Stepping out of the elevator she called out to see if anyone was there, she was thrilled to hear the shout of joy coming from Willow's room. "Doug? We weren't expecting you until later!" Willow hurried out of her room to embrace her friend.

"Got up early this morning, was eager to get back." Setting the box on the floor Douglass looked around the apartment. She had only stayed here for two days before she left for Denver. At that time she really hadn't payed attention, too many things on her mind. But after taking a look around she was satisfied at the comfortable feeling that came over her. She felt safe here. Something that was very important.

"Are you thirsty?" Willow started towards the kitchen only to stop as a Diet Coke floated towards Douglass, who was still getting used to their invisible roommate.

"Ah, thanks Dennis." Turning back toward Willow, she asked. " Where is everyone else?"

"Things have been a little slow this week, so everyone is out doing their own thing. Gunn is at the teen center, volunteering. Wesley is at an occult book store, trying to find more additions to our small library. Cordelia is out shopping. And Spike went back to Sunnydale a few days ago to get the last of our stuff."

Douglass studied Willow's face, trying to figure out how she felt about leaving Sunnydale. "Are you sure you want to leave Sunnydale?"

"Yes." Willow blushed at how quickly she could answer the question. "I mean I'll be homesick and all. I lived there all my life, and its not like I wont
ever see any of them again. It's just the that I'm tired of not having any say in what's going on. Especially now, since Riley and a few of his friends
decided to stay behind. I was a part of that team before they were, but I've been feeling more and more like an outcast." Willow slumped down on the couch. "Here I feel like I'm really part of something."

"Have you seen Angel since the hospital?" Douglass asked as she sat down on the floor in front of Willow.

"No. I don't know what to do about that. We've all been arguing over *if* we should tell him, or *what* we should tell him. Wes thinks that if we tell him about another way for him to lose his soul, his inner demon may cause him to inadvertently harm us. Cordelia wants him to know, she loves him like a big brother and wants him back. Gunn doesn't really know him all that well to have any real thought to the matter. And Spike is Spike. I think he's really enjoying the fact that he's part of this group, while Angel is the outsider." She paused and stared at her hands. "And I...I'm scared that he's going to get really angry at me...the never gonna talk to you again kind of angry. We're kind of responsible for his little trip to the dark side. If we had told him before, we might have been able to stop all of this."

Douglass was speechless. She hadn't thought of it that way, and now that she had a sick feeling came over her.

"Maybe we should just go over and tell him now." Douglass was just a tad bit shocked at even her own suggestion.

"You mean right now, just go over there and tell him." Willow stood and started pacing. "I guess we can lighten the blow by telling him about the
anchoring spell."

"Ah Willow, I hate to tell you this now, but it's about the anchoring spell. It's gone. Some of my books are missing. The original that had the spell, and the book that I copied it into." Willow sat back against the couch and tried to absorb what was being said.

"Okay, so we need to start looking for another spell."

"Willow, there's one more small thing." Douglass mumbled. "None of my spells have been working. I've tried the simplest of spells and nothing happens. I'm sure it's just the shock, and everything will be fine." Willow watched her friend, an unease spread through her. "Spell binding." She whispered.

Douglass whitened at the words, "NO."Standing up she walked toward her room. " I'm going to change. We'll leave in ten minutes."

When they walked into the hotel's dim lobby, Douglass was searching her mind for reasons why they shouldn't be doing this. She had come up with several great reasons, but she knew Willow would shoot them all down.

They walked across the deserted lobby, looking around them at the elegance hidden beneath the dust. Unopened newspapers, had been tossed in the general direction of the crimson couch. Pieces of shattered glass, covered a portion of the floor.

"Willow you said he was a neat freak." Taking another look around.

"He is. Well he was." Willow bit her lip, maybe.  This was a bad idea.

"Maybe we should've called first."

"He hasn't been answering his phone, nor returning any messages."

"Which means that he doesn't want company. Willow I know I'm the one who said to come here today and tell him the truth, but it was a *bad* idea."

"He deserves to know. We should've told him when we first found out. No, he should have known when he came back from hell. It was stupid for us to keep the spell to ourselves." Douglass took a deep breath and calmed herself.

"You're right. I just wish Hallmark made a card for this kind of thing."

"So what should we say to him?" Willow asked.

Douglass shrugged. "I don't know. Never thought I'd actually meet him."

"How about the truth." A deep voice came from one of the shadows, startling the girls.

"Oh yeah this was a *bad* idea." Douglass grumbled.

Angel had heard them the moment they entered the lobby doors. He silently cursed himself for forgetting to lock the door the night prior.  He had been sitting in the dark office. Upon hearing the intruders, crept slowly toward the office door, careful to stay hidden in the shadows. He was surprised to see Willow and her friend standing there, looking around his neglected lobby. They both looked ready to bolt, and he almost let himself be known until they started talking. Holding himself back, he listened for a moment.

Their initial banter was out of nervousness. It was the rest that gave him a sinking feeling. That what they came to tell him was going to answer the questions that of late had been plaguing him. He knew his obsession of Darla  was getting out of hand, okay it was way out of hand. But it went from an obsession to help her, to an obsession to kill her. Plus his grudge against Wolfram and Hart was getting unhealthy. This wasn't the first time he got sucked in by an unhealthy obsession.  In the end he had always had control over the Demon inside. When he felt he was teetering over the edge, he'd pull himself together and pulled back. But two and a half months ago he fell, leaving a room of enemies to a gruesome death. Sure they were at war, but enjoying the cries of terror was something his soul should have found twisted.

It was time.  He needed answers. " How about the truth?"
 

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