*****************

Part 1

"Angel?"

"What?"

"How long are we going to wait?"

"We've only been here twenty minutes."

"Maybe he went in another way."

"Spike, we looked around the building. There's only one way into that
apartment unless he can walk through walls. It's a small place and there
aren't any lights on. He's not there yet so we have to wait."

Spike fell silent and went back to staring out the tinted windows at the
still dark apartment across the street. Everything had been annoyingly
quiet since they'd parked. Only a few people out and about and none of them
even vaguely resembling this Harrigan fellow they were watching for. ((This
is about as exiting as watching grass grow.))

Spike played with the seam in his pants, the buttons on his shirt, the door
handle, and the window crank, then rifled through the contents of the glove
box. He'd tried to turn on the radio a few times but a definite growl came
from the driver's side of the car any time his hand got close to the dial.
When all his attempts to entertain himself for more than a few minutes at a
time failed, he turned his body on the seat and decided to watch Angel
brood.

((Better than watching grass grow, but not much. Does he really think I'm
going to let him get away with ignoring me? He's had thirty minutes, that's
enough escapism for one night.))

"Angel?"

Angel sighed and turned his head to frown at Spike. "What now?"

((Annoyed. Good. Better than silent, still and broody.)) "Do you do this
waiting around thing often?"

"Yes, Spike, it's part of the job"

"Pretty boring, wouldn't you say?"

"No. It's quiet. I like it."

"You would. I really don't see what you like about this job. There's
waiting, watching, waiting, interviewing insipid housewives, waiting,
charming old ladies… okay, there was killing that one demon but there
wasn't any time to enjoy it. Isn't there anything more? Some torture, a
good chase, maybe even some mayhem?" "You're joking, right? You don't
expect me to do 'paperwork', do you? I'll be nice to Cordelia… I'll even be
nice to Wesley… just don't… " Spike eyed Angel's too straight face and
almost sighed in relief. "You * are * joking. Don't scare me like that."

"So 'the Big Bad' is afraid of a little paperwork? I'll have to remember
that. But seriously, this has been a slow week for me. It will change and
when it does you'll be wishing for paperwork."

"I wouldn't wish that on anyone… Angel?"

"That's my name." ((Now what? And why does he have to keep saying my name
like that?))

"This guy we're supposed to watching for… he's a big fellow with dark hair,
usually worn in a braid, about six feet tall, looks like ex-boxer?"

"Yes." Angel turned to look out his own window where Spike was looking. "Do
you see him?"

"I think he's been standing over there for a while watching us." Spike
nodded towards the entrance to an alley near where they were parked. They
had been watching the wrong direction.

"He can't see inside, the windows are too dark. Why do you think he's been
there for a while?"

"Look at all the cigarette butts on the ground in front of him. I know he
can't see inside but he's interested in this car anyway. I think I just
figured out what a 'resale specialist' is."

"Come on; let's go talk to him. And remember, we want to *talk* to him, not
kill him."

"Not like I can do much damage, anyway." Spike grumbled but got out of the
car after Angel. He walked around the front of the car and stayed slightly
behind Angel, trying to look as friendly as possible.

Angel approached the large man carefully, a half smile on his face. "Excuse
me, are you Walter Harrigan?"

The man threw his latest cigarette to the ground and shook his head. "Never
heard of him."

"That's too bad. I was hoping you were him. We've been waiting to speak
with him about some business."

"What kind of business.. not that I know him, of course." The man pushed
himself away from the wall and moved closer to Angel and Spike, trying to
intimidate.

"It wouldn't be ethical to discuss Mr. Harrigan's business with anyone but
Mr. Harrigan. But I'm sure he'd be interested" Casually pulling his hand
from his pocket, Angel let Harrigan see he was holding money. "But since
you are not him and you don't know him, we'll be going." Angel turned and
motioned to Spike with his head to do the same.

They two vampires went only a few steps before the man called them back.
"Wait. I'm Harrigan, what business do you have with me? I don't know either
of you."

Angel flashed a quick smile a Spike, who answered with one of his own,
before turning back "I need some information about a friend of mine and I
was hoping you could help me."

*************

"Do you believe him?" Spike scrunched himself down in the seat again, put
his feet up on the dashboard and looked out the window at the passing
non-scenic scenery.

"I don't think he was lying but I don't think he told us everything he
knows, either. He was afraid of something and never did tell me why he
waited nearly three months to cash that check. But that's not important
right now, look through those papers of Wesley's and see if you find any
mention of books, forged or otherwise."

It was finally coming clear to Angel and he wanted to kick himself for not
putting it together before now. Harrigan's saying that Michael Phillips had
purchased a forged first edition book from him had made it all click.
Phillips worked for one of the few paper manufacturing plants that produced
high quality artificially aged paper normally used in art restorations and
by companies who sold reproductions of valuable books and maps. Not just
anyone could order this paper for obvious reasons, but Phillips had
evidently become suspicious of a purchaser and had found more than he
bargained for.

Harrigan's 'resale specialist' title had led Phillips to him and a carton
full of supposed first edition books destined for New York that had somehow
'fallen off the trunk' en route. The foolish Phillips had evidently tried
to confront the reclusive forger with proof of his discovery and had been
on the run ever since.

And Wesley had gone to see a reclusive book collector.

Harrigan provided a name from the shipping order on the side of the box and
a quick call to a near frantic Cordelia had provided an address in the
hills outside of L.A. that was their current destination. Not the area
where all the movie stars lived but huge estates nestled in the trees with
enough security to fend off a small army. Finding Phillips could wait,
finding Wesley couldn't.

Spike shuffled through the papers again and shook his head. "Nope, nothing
about books. There's a purchase order from the paper place, a few pages of
Wesley's scribbling, copies of some of your notes and a copy of the missing
persons report on Phillips. Nothing about books as far as I can tell. He
probably would have taken those with him when he went on his visit."

"If he's not already dead, I'm going to kill him."

Ignoring Angel's clipped pronouncement, Spike tried to read Wesley's
scribbling more carefully. It wasn't an easy task even with his vampire
vision. The streetlights were strobing through the windows and Wesley's
handwriting was even worse than his own, making it next to impossible to do
more than puzzle out one word at a time. "Do you know anything about this
book collector… uh…"

"Reginald Nicholas Worthington."

"He put his entire name on a shipping order? Isn't that just like a toff…
but yeah, do you know anything about him?"

"No, never heard of him but if Phillips is hiding at night and moving
around during the day, we have to assume that he is something not human… or
at least his muscle isn't." Angel took the exit off the freeway doing about
eighty and honked at the slow moving truck in front of him.

"Angel! Slow down… having an accident is not going to help your little
friend. We'll get there just as quickly if you just wait and go around the
truck."

"What are you, my mother? I know what I'm doing. Start looking for the turn
off. It should be coming up soon…. after that I have no idea how far up in
these hills the house will be but we should be able to see the lights from
the road."

"Is that the turn you were looking for?" Spike pointed to the road
branching off to the right. "So we're finally going to get to do some
sneaky vampire stuff?"

Angel took the turn quickly, skidding around the bend onto side road that
snaked through the hills. "Yes, we get to do 'sneaky vampire stuff', but we
are going to do it * my * way. No rushing in and killing everything in
sight, understand me?"

"Hey, as long as I get to kill *something*, I'll be happy."

"Spike, I mean it. We don't know what we're up against. They may all be
human, the guy who shipped the books may not be the one Wesley went to see
or Wesley might not even need our help. We do this slow and careful or not
at all, agreed?"

Spike left off searching the surrounding hills for lights and turned to
look at Angel. "I got it the first time, Angel, I'm not retarded."

"No, but I never know if you're just humoring me or not. Give me your word
and I'll drop it."

Spike rolled his eyes but complied. "I give you my word that I will do it
your way… no matter how stupid. Satisfied?"

"For now. Keep looking, it can't be too much farther."

"There's a bloody big gate up ahead, you see it?"

Angel nodded and pulled the car over to the side of the road, edging it as
far into the trees as he could manage without scraping anything. "Let's go
take a little peek at the gatekeepers and see what we're up against."

Spike opened his door and climbed out of the car, stretching like someone
who had been confined for far too long. Inhaling deeply, Spike took in the
earthy scent that surrounded him and smiled. ((I need to get out of the
city more. I wonder if Angel ever….)) He turned and found himself being
studied by a pair of intense golden eyes. His own features shifted in
response as he made his way around the hood of the car towards his goal.

Angel waited until Spike was a few feet away and then, with an almost
silent chuckle, whirled around and jogged into the woods.

************

Part 2

A century fell away and the two vampires to moved silently through the
woods in perfect tandem. Not once was there a need by either one of them to
question the other as to the plan or destination. They moved easily through
the trees going deeper into the woods and making a semi-circle around the
guardhouse just in case there were sensors directly opposite the estate.
When they emerged from the woods, Spike and Angel were about fifty yards
past the gate.

Angel swept his gaze over the lawn of the estate across the road and behind
the fence. There were no obvious signs of security but he knew they were
there somewhere. "Stay here and watch the grounds for any signs of interest
in my movements. I'm going to work my way closer to the guardhouse. I don't
think the fence is electrified but don't get too close, just in case."

Spike nodded his agreement and slipped across the street, squatting down
near the fence to watch. He knew Angel could take care of himself but he
couldn't help turning his head every so often just to check his Sire's
progress towards the gatehouse.

Angel crouched down on the back side of the guardhouse and kept his head
below the window. He could hear the two guards inside talking about some
television show that they both apparently watched. He listened a few more
minutes and had decided to work his way back to Spike when the phone rang.

"Gatehouse…. yes, sir…. yes, sir… the what where?…. Uh.. yes, sir, right
away, sir."

"What was that about, Bob?"

"That was the boss. He says… just a minute, you'll see. It's a good thing
this job pays good or I'd be gone in a second. All these weirdo people
coming and going at all hours…." Bob continued grumbling as he fought with
the window latch and pulled it open. Without getting too close to the now
open window he spoke into the darkness.

"Uh…Excuse me, Mr. Vampire, the boss says for you to get your friend and
come on up to the house. He's been expecting you and says you don't need to
keep creeping around."

Angel hesitated for a few moments before standing up, giving 'Bob' and the
unnamed guard a good scare in the process. "Expecting me? How?"

"I..I.. We… just take orders… don't know what the boss does or how he knows
anything."

Angel growled and smiled causing the two humans to give a little squeak and
back away from the window a few more inches. "You're both human." It was a
statement rather than a question. "What is your boss?"

"I don't know. I've never seen him up close… look, you better get your
friend and get on up to the house. The boss is not known for his patience."

"What is your boss' name? Why haven't you seen him up close? Why would you
not assume he was human?" Angel had motioned to Spike with his hand, unseen
by the two humans and Spike was now working his way around to the door of
the gatehouse.

"We don't have to answer…" Bob's reply was cut off by the second guards
shout of alarm as he noticed Spike leaning casually against the door frame.
The phone began to ring again but no one was reaching to answer it.

"Better get that, don't want to piss off the boss." Spike winked one golden
eye and raised a small twig to his mouth, picking his elongated teeth as if
he'd just finished a good meal. It felt good to be able to scare someone
again so he was going to milk this situation for all it was worth.

The second guard shakily reached out and picked up the phone. "Hello? Yes…
Yes, we told them…. yes, they're both here now…. no, they haven't…. yes,
sir…." The unnamed guard held out the phone receiver to Angel. "He wants to
talk to you."

Angel resisted the urge to roll his eyes at Spike's behavior knowing it
didn't really fit in with the 'scary vampire who's going to rip your throat
out if you don't tell me what I want to know' act he was putting on. He
reached for the phone, almost dropping it when the guard withdrew his hand
before Angel could get a good grip on it and put it to his ear.

"Yes? Who is this?" Angel's voice was intentionally gruff and he put a
little growl into it for good measure.

"This is Mr. Worthington. Please cease scaring the hired help and come up
to the house. I will answer all of your questions at that time. Bring your
blonde friend with you and be quick about it. I don't have all night to
dally with you two." The connection was severed before Angel could form a
response to the curt command.

Shrugging his shoulders, Angel melted back into his human guise and handed
the phone back to the guard. When the neither guard would take the phone
from him, he dropped it through the window and went around to the front of
the gatehouse to join Spike.

Spike grinned menacingly at the two guards and returned his face to his
human features. "So, Angel, no more sneaking? And just when I was beginning
to enjoy myself."

One of the guards hastily buzzed a small walk-thru gate and Angel pushed it
open and stepped through, Spike close behind.

"Do you really think we should just saunter up to the front door and go in?
What if it's a trap?"

"Well, Spike, what choice to we have? He knows we're here, he knows what we
are and it certainly makes it easier on us now that he's invited us in. I
don't know what his game is but there is only one way to find out." Angel
threw an arm casually around Spike's shoulder, mostly to show whoever was
watching that he was unconcerned with whatever was waiting for them at the
house. "Thought you wanted some adventure."

"I wanted some action, not a suicide mission." Spike grumbled but kept up
the pace towards the house.

They soon reached the large white door and Angel dropped his arm back to
his side. Before either one of them could knock the door swung open and
revealed an eight foot tall, red-skinned demon. "Come in. The Master awaits
you."

"And he actually said it with a straight face." Spike whispered into
Angel's ear. The idea of a demon playing butler was giving him Aadams
Family flashbacks in the worst way. "I wonder where he gets his clothes?
The 'Big , Ugly and Scaly' store, maybe?"

Angel ignored Spike and stepped inside, quickly scanning the marble foyer
for possible dangers. But all he saw was a beautifully made house with lots
of expensive marble. White and black veined marble floor, matching marble
pillars that rose to the second floor and delicate pink-tinged marble
walls. It was all very nice, it just didn't go together.

"Well someone has a real marble fetish." Spike craned his neck to look up
at the high ceiling and shook his head. "Someone also has way too much
money and nothing to do with it but hire really bad interior designers."

"This way, if you please." Intoned the demon/butler as he moved off to the
left and approached a huge cherry wood door. It clashed horribly with the
pink marble walls. He knocked once and opened the door, motioning the two
vampires to step inside.

Angel walked in with a polite nod to the demon but Spike hesitated, looking
around at the parts of the room he could see before moving inside. He
barely managed not to jump when the door clicked closed behind him.

"Angel, I don't like this at all. It's giving me the… the… the wiggins."

"The wiggins, Spike?" Angel had to smile at that. "We are vampires, we
don't get the wiggins…and where did you hear that word, anyway?"

"You know where. And I really think we should get out of here. Now."

Angel felt the same thing Spike was feeling but he wasn't going to leave
without finding Wesley. Assuming that they were being watched, Angel sat
down in on one of the plush sofas and crossed his legs casually at the
ankle. "Come sit down, Spike. Our host will join us when he's ready and not
before. We came here for answers and we're not leaving until we get them.
Might as well get comfortable." He patted the cushion next to him and gave
Spike a hard look.

"You should obey your…. friend." The voice came from a small man, no more
than five feet tall, who had somehow entered the room without either
vampire noticing him. His long gray hair did not match his youthful
features. "Please, take a seat….Spike. Isn't that the name you're using
now? Would either of you care for a refreshment?"

Angel, who remained seated, managed to grab the gaping Spike's hand and
pull him down on to the sofa. "I have to apologize for Spike, I never
taught him any manners. I'm Angel and I assume you are Mr. Worthington?"

The little man nodded and moved to sit in the chair opposite the couch.
"That is correct, Angelus. Oh, yes, I know who you two are. You and I met
once before, Angelus, but I doubt you remember it, you weren’t paying much
attention to anything but the delightful Darla at the time." He gave a
dismissive wave, clearly annoyed that he'd gotten himself off the subject.
"But we are not here to reminisce. I believe you are here to collect a
friend of yours? A Mr. Wyndham-Price?"

"Yes, that is correct. Is Wes.. Mr. Wyndham-Price still in good health?"
Angel had fallen into a more formal way of speaking in response to
Worthington's formality. He knew Spike was looking at him as if he'd lost
his mind, but Angel was willing to play along for now.

"Yes, he's having tea in the other room at the moment and quite involved in
translating one of my texts for me. Not that I don't already know what it
says, but it seemed to make him happy."

"And he's still here having tea and translating texts for you because….?"

"Oh, he came here this morning and we had a pleasant little chat. He was
quite interesting to talk to until he blurted out that he thought I was a
forger of first editions and he was here to prove it. Very foolish of him.
With a little…. influence.. I managed to get the entire story out of him
and when I heard who his employer was, I knew you'd be along sooner or
later."

"What do you want?" Spike blurted out, not impressed with the pretty
speeches being made.

"What Spike means to say is, what can we do to make this right?" Angel
didn't like the sound of where this was going. It was all couched in very
polite terms but this little man clearly wanted something from him in
return for Wesley's release. And Wesley *was* being held, no matter how
pleasant the prison he was being held in.

"Nothing…. right now. I will call in the favor at the appropriate time. And
you will convince Mr. Wyndham-Price and Mr. Phillips that they were
mistaken about those forged first editions, of course."

"So you *are* the one that Phillips is afraid of… do you have people after
him?"

"No, but he believes I do. He was here months ago waiving a book in my
butlers face and screaming about exposing me. The butler you met on your
entrance was not the one who was on duty that day, but when a few of my
other servants went to see what the racket was… let's just say Mr. Phillips
had quite a fright. All my attempts to find him and reassure him that he is
in no danger have failed."

"So you're not a forger?" Again Spike was becoming impatient with all the
fancy talk.

"Yes, I am. But it is not hurting anyone and the people who buy my books do
so with the full knowledge that they are not real first editions. I am not
cheating anyone. When my customers buy something from me, it's usually to
impress their equally snobbish friends."

Angel made a gesture indicating the surrounding room. "You don't appear to
need money, why do you do it?"

"It amuses me and one can never have too much money when one lives forever.
But again, that is not what is important here. I believe I have been
patient with your questions, now answer mine. Will you agree to owe me a
favor in exchange for the release of your human?"

"If you know who I am, then you know there are certain things I will not
do."

"Yes, I know that. And when the time comes I don't believe either of you
will have any objection to performing this favor for me. It will not go
against your…. morals. Rather odd to be discussing morals with a vampire,
but nothing in this world really surprises me anymore. So what do you say,
Angelus? A favor you will not have an objection to performing, payable
sometime in the future, in exchange for your human."

Angel hesitated for many long minutes before saying, "May I have a few
minutes to discuss this with my… with Spike?"

"Certainly, but don't take too long, I am anxious to get off to bed. Pull
the cord over there when you are ready to give me your answer." Worthington
rose from his seat and went to the cherry wood door. "I will inform your
human that you are here and deciding his fate." With a sly smile, the
little man exited the room.

"Angel, what the bloody hell is going on here?" Spike stood and started to
pace across the expensive looking Oriental carpet in front of the sofa.

"I don't know. He smells human... but not. I don't remember meeting him but
if it was during the time I still found Darla interesting, he has to be
older than I am." Angel searched his memory once more but still couldn't
remember meeting anyone resembling Worthington. "If I say I will do this
favor for him..."

"If you say *we* will do this unnamed favor for him." Spike corrected.

"Okay, we. What do you make of all this? Do you think we should agree?"
Angel watched Spike continue to pace back and forth.

"I don't know, I guess so. It's a hell of a lot easier to get Weasel out of
here by the front door than to fight off whatever he's got working for him.
Did you see the size of that butler? Not that I don't fancy a good fight
now and again, but… there is just something very wrong here. I don't like
it. Agree to whatever he wants and let's get the hell out of here, we can
worry about the rest later."

"This is not the kind of person you make a promise to and then go back on
it. I guess my real question is: If I commit us to this 'favor', will you
be there when it is called in?"

This was something they hadn't talked about. The future. Rarely did they
make plans for longer than the next day. It had only been eight days since
Spike had appeared in Angel's living room and asked for help. Stalling for
time to think, Spike became very interested in examining a painting of a
girl and a basket of fruit that hung on the far wall.

((If Angel doesn't kill Wesley, I will. A nice bit of poison in his morning
coffee.. or better yet in his food… when Cordelia cooks. Then no one will
know it was me. Or leave the elevator door open and forget to tell him the
cable's broken. Yeah… I think there's some Mythros demons in town that used
to work for me, I could hire them to get rid of him. Except I'd have to ask
the poof for money, so that wouldn't work. Hmm.. Bloody Hell! Why am I even
worrying about this? I can just tell him yes and then do what I want
anyway. It wouldn't be like it was the first time that happened. But he'd
know I was lying, he always does somehow. And then he'd look at me with
those brown puppy-dog eyes and bear it all in silence like the martyr he
thinks he is… either that or rip me a new one…. What the hell does he want
me to say? That we'll be joined at the hip until that demented dwarf calls
in his favor? Does he think I'm going to fall to my knees and pledge my
eternal love and devotion just because he gave me a choice? I'm not the
bloody gullible Slayer. I'll be gone as soon as I get my head fixed or I
can't stand him anymore. Not that he'd want me around if I was back to
normal…))

Angel could guess what was going through Spike's mind, even after all the
years of separation and change. "Spike, I … Even if we're not….. together,
can you at least promise that you'll come here if I call you?"

Spike thought about that for a moment. Could he promise that? ((And why the
hell is he giving me an easy out? Doesn't he want me to stay? A fine thanks
that is for putting up with the music and the brooding and the clothes and
his fucking humans not to mention probably the best sex he's had since…
well, since he got his stupid soul.. wanker….)) Spike shook his head to
clear the conflicting thoughts away. Things were never easy when Angelus
was involved and apparently the same held true of Angel. He finally turned
around to face a now visibly worried Angel and held his eyes. "If you ask
me to come here because of this favor, yes, I'll come."

It was an intentionally specifically worded promise but it was a start.
"All right.. um.. good. Okay then I guess I'll tell Worthington he's got a
deal." Angel walked over the bell pull and.. pulled.

Before either vampire could say more, Worthington was back in the room and
looking at Angel expectantly. "Well? Do I summon Mr. Wyndham-Price so that
he may leave or shall I have his room prepared?"

"You already knew what the answer was going to be."

"Yes, of course I did. You really must take better care of your humans,
they are your biggest vulnerability… and your enemies will know it. "
Worthington pasted a superior smile on his face and cocked his head, still
waiting to hear Angel's answer.

Spike snorted and rolled his eyes. "Just get on with it, will you?"

Angel shrugged and made a slight bow to Worthington. "I am in your debt for
the return of my.. friend. In exchange, you may call upon myself and my
childe for one favor at the time and place of your choosing."

"I accept your vow." Worthington cocked his head and smiled dreamily.
"Don't you miss the old days sometimes, Angelus? Everyone knew the rules
then… ah, well.. time moves forward, not back." Worthington bowed back and
looked beyond Angel to the door connecting to the next room.

The door opened and Wesley came through it holding a large book, reading as
he walked. "Mr. Worthington, I don't seem to understand this passage in the
context…." He looked up and saw Angel and Spike. "Angel! Spike? What are
you two doing here? How did you know I was here? Did you have business
with…"

"Shut the hell up and come on!" Regardless of the possibility of pain,
Spike wasted no time in grabbing Wesley's arm and dragging him towards the
cherry wood door leading to the hall. Wesley was so startled he didn't
resist at first, handing the book to Worthington as he passed.

"I say! Stop molesting me this instant! Spike! I said let go of me! I can't
believe that Angel would let you treat me in this…" Wesley's voice drifted
off as Spike continued dragging Wesley out of the house leaving Angel and
Worthington alone.

"You didn't tell him we were here?"

"I'm not an overly cruel man… and I did gain something from this evening
other than the company of Mr. Wyndham-Price." Worthington placed the book
that Wesley had handed him on to a small table and turned to face Angel
again. "Like I said before, those humans you seem to care for will be your
downfall yet."

"What would you have done with Wesley if I had not agreed to your deal?"

"Oh… I would probably have sent you away and then had someone drive him
home in a few hours. But do not be foolish enough to think that would have
been the end of it. Now, your… friends…are waiting for you. Run along like
a good chap and I will be in touch with you when the time is right."

Worthington, apparently dismissing Angel from his thoughts, went to the
door to that connected to the next room and disappeared through it.
Literally.

***********

Angel caught up with Spike and Wesley half-way down the long drive. Spike
had one arm around Wesley's head, covering his mouth and a firm grip on the
taller man's arm with the other. "Let him loose, Spike."

Spike hesitated and growled out, "If he says one bleedin' word, I'm going
to rip out his tongue, headache or no headache. Are you sure you want me to
let go of him?"

Angel's relief at seeing Wesley was warring with his annoyance with Wesley.
He purposefully hesitated in answering Spike, letting Wesley squirm for a
moment. When Wesley's eyes were suitably wide with surprise and maybe a
little fear, Angel nodded his head at Spike. "Let him go. We'll talk about
this *after* we get clear of this place."

Shrugging, Spike released Wesley, turned and continued on his way to the
front gate. "You listen to him yammer then, I'm leaving."

"Angel! What the devil is going on here? You can't just burst into a man's
home and drag his guest out that way! I am not a child to be collected when
you think I've stayed out too late. I was…"

"NOT now, Wesley." Angel motioned for Wesley to proceed him down the drive
and when the outraged Englishman just stood there blinking, Angel sighed
and grabbed his arm, leading him away. "You have no idea what you were
dealing with here. Let's just get to the car and away from that... man.
I'll explain then."

Wesley had never seen Angel so anxious to be away from a place before, not
even the church they'd visited to find that priest. He seemed almost...
afraid. That fact more than anything else made Wesley stop resisting. "Very
well, Angel. But you do owe me a full explanation. I won't stand for your
usual 'he doesn't need to know anything that will disturb him' approach to
revealing information."

"Fine."

They had reached the gates where Spike waited, tormenting the guards with
some gory story. "I broke a perfectly good knife on that chap! It's a real
shame when that happens, it's so hard to find..." He broke off when Angel
and Wesley approached. "Ready to go?"

"Yes." Angel nodded to the guard and was relieved when the gate was buzzed
open for them. Spike went first, then Wesley and finally Angel. He didn't
look back as he directed Wesley towards where he'd left the car.
 
 

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