Part 1

Willow looked away from the computer she was setting up when the phone on
Cordelia’s desk rang. Placing the receiver on her shoulder, she went
back to typing at the keyboard. “Angel Investigators’s, we help the
hopeless. How may I direct your call?” she asked.
“Willow?” the voice asked, even though it sounded more like a statement.
She smiled at the steely voice, even though she could tell by the tone
that something was up.
“Hey Spike. I’ve really missed you, but it has been so crazy around here
this weekend. I’m so sorry I haven’t called or anything. Are you mad at
me?” She was so happy that she decided to look past his tone and
couldn’t stop talking.
“Willow,” he stated again, catching her attention.
“Yes. What is it?”
“I need you to ask Angel if I can stay at his place tonight.”
Willow smiled. “Why? Do you miss me that much?”
“Willow, something came for you in the pen box, and I think you might
want it as soon as possible.”
Spike listened as the typing stopped. For a few seconds there was just
Willow’s breathing and then she asked, “What is it?”
“Just a letter. I thought you might want it now instead of at the end of
next week.”
“Okay. I’ll talk to Angel when he gets in, but I’m sure that it’ll be
okay, so come on down.”
Spike laughed at the way Willow decided for Angel. “Then tell Peaches
I’m leaving as soon as the sun sets.”
“Sure. I’ll wait here for you.”
“Is that safe, luv.”
“Yes, dear. Gunn and his guys will be here with Angel. Don’t worry. No
stray vampires are going to make me dinner.”
“All right. I’ll see you later tonight. Bye.”
“Bye, Spike.”
“Oh, and Willow. I love you.”
Willow smiled. “I love you, too.”
She hung up the phone and smiled to herself as Angel’s voice broke her
concentration. Jumping at his voice, Willow asked, “Oh, what was that
Angel?”
“What did Spike want?” he asked, disdain in his eyes. Even though
everyone in Sunnydale had gotten used to the fact Willow was with Spike,
Angel was still getting used to it. Spike was his childe, his very
unruly childe. He represented a part of Angel’s life that Angel hated.
Every time he was with this childe, memories of the awful life of Angelus
haunted him, causing his soul to scream in pain at his past atrocities.
Spike was a reflection of what he was and what he could be.
Willow looked up, her eyes pleading, and Angel knew he was caught. There
was no way he could say no to Willow when she looked at him that way. In
a quiet voice, she asked, “Spike needs to bring me something. Can he
stay here with you? Please?”
“As long as he doesn’t expect the Hilton,” Angel answered, frowning.
“Did he say what was so important?”
“Just a letter he got from the pen box.”
“The what box?” asked a cheerful voice from the door.
Wesley took off his jacket and hung it by the doorway as he remarked,
“The pen box, Cordelia.”
Placing a cup holder containing four coffee cups inside, Cordelia stated
wryly, “Once again, I ask, the ‘what’ box?”
Willow grabbed her café mocha from the holder as she answered, “A pen
box. It is a device used to communicate over distances.”
“Grabbing her own drink, an iced version of Willow’s, she asked, “And why
do you have one and who is it communicating with?”
Willow sighed as she took the lid off her drink and then started to
slowly blow over it. Angel had not been lying when he told her that
Cordelia had changed, while still keeping her old qualities. She was
still sarcastic, keeping that edge, but now she seemed more interested in
what she was doing. The now changed secretary was curious with events
and objects related to her job and people she knew. Also, with the
visions, her heart went out more to the unfortunate. She could feel
their pain while she witnessed it, and that caused her to understand
more. Cordelia was now more compassionate, a word Willow never thought
she would use to describe Cordelia. What had happened to the sole reason
the ‘I Hate Cordelia Chase’ group was created?
After taking a sip, Willow explained, “Remember when I was forced into
that alternate reality?”
“Yeah,” answered Cordelia as she sat down across from Willow, crossing
her legs in one of her ever prim and proper poses.
“Well, when Giles and the gang sent Spike to me, the had him take one of
Tara’s pen boxes with him while they kept its twin. That way they could
communicate by placing a letter in the pen box so it would be transported
to the other one over realities.”
Cordelia took a sip of her drink and then nodded. “So you are basically
using it as a trans-dimensional post office box?”
Wesley looked at the two remaining drinks, studying them closely, and
then picked up his own as he commented towards Willow, “When she says it
that way, it doesn’t sound as impressive, does it?”
Willow shook her head. “Well, if that doesn’t impress her enough, maybe
she will be a little more impressed when she learns that her computer
will be ready to go by the end of the night.”
Cordelia squealed and clapped her hands. Smiling brightly at her friend,
she remarked, “Has anyone ever told you you’re a computer goddess?
Wesley tried to set the computers up all last week and couldn’t get
anything straight.”
Wesley grunted, “At least I could set them up independently. It was just
the whole setting them up as one system that got me.”
Willow laughed. “No problem. I did the computers in the library for
Giles when I was a junior, and it took me no time.” After taking another
drink she added, “Why did you decide to do this anyway?”
“With at least four different computers set about in the building, it
would be nice if we all could get to the same files,” answered Angel.
Cordelia smiled, “That way the boss won’t go ‘Poof!” when he uses my
computer during the day.”
“At least when the curtains aren’t drawn,” added Angel.
Willow laughed and then shook her head. “This seems so strange to me.”
“What?” asked Cordelia.
“All of you, of course, and this place. I mean, the other office blows
up and a little over half a year later, you’ve bought a place in a bad
part of town, fixed it all up as a home and office, furnished it, and are
now setting up four computers - and I must say sweet computers -
throughout the building.”
“We are a misfit type of group, aren’t we.” Wesley rocked on his heels
and stuck his hands in his pant’s pockets. “If you asked me a little
over a year ago if I would be working with these two, I would definitely
think you were crazy.”
Cordelia pointed at him. “Hey, that goes both ways, mister, at least the
part about working with you.”
Angel leaned against the wall and crossed his feet and arms.
“Personally, I think we are a great team. I wouldn’t want to be working
with anyone else.”
Pointing her finger in the air and smiling widely, she remarked, “And as
for the new place, compliments of David Nabbit, our local
multi-millionaire.”
“So, he likes to just hand out his money without a blink?” asked Willow.
“No, it isn’t that exactly. Angel does odd jobs for him so that he
doesn’t feel bad taking the money,” answered Cordelia.
“Of course, Cordelia sees no shame in taking money from him,” added
Wesley.
Cordelia grunted and waved him off. “Oh, please, to him it is just
pocket change. Nickels and pennies - you know.”
Willow laughed. “Now that is the Cordelia I know.”
Angel nodded, grabbed up his coffee, and started to leave the room. As
he set out down the hall, he spun back and stuck his head out of the
corridor into the front office. “Oh, and Willow, you need to talk to
Gunn so he knows Spike is coming. I would hate for there to be some kind
of staking accident. Plus, tell him he can stay downstairs with me. The
guys upstairs like to keep the windows open.”
“Spike, as in William the Bloody, is spending the night?” asked Cordelia.
Willow smiled at her. “Yes, and I need to stay till he gets here. Do
you mind staying late tonight?”
Cordelia eyed her and then finally gave in. “Sure, but just remember,
only for you. I don’t want Mr. I Want To Suck Your Ever Living Life Out
Of You to think this has anything to do with him, because for all I care,
he can take a walk in the sun.”
At this moment, Gunn hopped down the stairs that led from the second
story of the building. “Whose that?” he asked, cradling a coke in one
hand and a stake in the other.
“My boyfriend,” answered Willow, face glowing. “Oh, and what ever you
do, don’t kill him.”
Gunn shrugged. “Whatever your wicked beliefs are, I do not go around
killing people.”
Cordelia laughed. “No, silly, her boyfriend is a vampire.”
Gunn’s mouth dropped open as he looked at the small red head. “What is
it about you people and vampires?”
Willow finished off her coffee and smiled. “He can’t bite, so he isn’t a
threat. I just want to make sure none of your guys will stake him when
he pulls into the neighborhood.”
Gunn took a drink of his coke. “Sure. What does he look like?”
Willow looked off into the distance as she described him. “He is taller
than me, bleach blond hair, blue eyes, wears lots of black, and has a
scar on one of his eyebrows.” Actually looking at Gunn, she added, “Plus
he drives a beat up black car.”
“Sounds like it won’t be much of a problem to me. I’ll tell the gang.”
With that, he walked out of the office and started down the lane to where
his group worked on their slaying abilities.
Wesley shook his head. “Great. William the Bloody. I think I will work
on the library and then head home where it is safer.”
As the watcher walked out of the room, Cordelia leaned across the desk, a
wicked grin on her face, and remarked to Willow, “So, tell me what it is
like dating Spike.”
 

Part 2

Willow sat up from where she had been laying down on the library’s couch,
reading one of Angel’s magic books, as a voice called out from the front
room. “Honey, I’m home!”
Running into the into the front room, she squealed as she saw Spike
standing in the doorway with a bag flung over her shoulder. She ran to
him and jumped up. Spike picked her up with one arm, kissed her and spun
in circles.

As he placed her back on the floor, Willow heard from the stair well,
“Wow, I only thought that happened in the movies.”

Spike looked up and waved. “Hey Cordelia.”

Cordelia grabbed Gunn’s hand and commented, “Come on Gunn, time to meet
one of Angel’s scary children.”

Spike watched as Cordelia brought down a man that he presumed was Gunn.
The man looked at Spike, studying the vampire on the way down. A quick
thought of how fun it would be to suddenly go vampire on the guy entered
his mind but then quickly vanished as he saw the stake in Gunn’s pocket.
Gunn walked up to Spike and held out his hand, “Spike, I presume.”

Spike nodded and shook Gunn’s hand as Cordelia explained, “Spike used to
be one of the most feared vampire’s around.”

“Really? What happened?” asked Gunn as he looked jokingly at the bleach
blond vampire.

Cordelia smiled, knowing that she was aggravating the vampire. “He got a
chip placed in his head that keeps him from harming humans in any way.”

Before Spike could say anything, Willow looked up at him and asked, “What
was it you wanted to give me?”

Looking down at her, he asked, “Are you sure you want it right now?”

“I’ve been worried all day, so better to get it over with.”

Digging in one of his duster’s pockets, he drew out a letter and handed
it to her. Willow eyed the front of the envelope, where her name was
neatly written. Opening the envelope, she sat it on Cordelia’s desk,
where the secretary immediately fetched it. The message was short, but
Willow read it over three times, trying to understand parts of it.

“Well?” asked Spike.

Willow looked over at him, her expression showing confusion. “It says
‘They may be dead. Need your help. Be there soon.’”

Spike shook his head, “Who is dead, and what kind of help?”

Cordelia handed the envelope to Willow and remarked, “Whoever is gone in
that universe, it isn’t me. That is my handwriting.”

Willow shook her head. “Something is really wrong here. I wish I had
the pen box.”

Spike wrapped his arm around her and leaned against Cordelia’s desk. “No
problem. I brought it with me.”

Willow forced a smile through her worried expression. “Good. I’ll send
something over tomorrow morning.”

Looking off to the side, he asked, “Should we alert Buffy and company?”
disdain evident in his voice.

Cordelia shook her head. “Buffy and Riley were going to stop by tomorrow
afternoon, so there is no need to alert them now.”

Spike snorted. “And does good old dad knows this?” he asked, feeling his
sire’s presence and wanting to piss him off.

“Knows what?” asked Angel as he walked out of the hallway, apparently not
in a good mood.

Cordelia looked over at him with her ‘I messed up but you still love me’
look. “That Buffy and Riley are stopping by tomorrow afternoon to see
the new office.”

Angel ran his hand through his hair. “Thanks for warning me. I’ll know
not to be present.”

As Spike started to chuckle at his sire’s discomfort, Willow shook her
head at Angel. “Why Angel, I thought you would be bigger than that.”

“Willow, I have met the guy and I hate him,” stated Angel.”

Willow placed her hands on her hips. “You two just met at a bad time,
and Xander kind of led Riley down the wrong path when it came to you.
Trust me, if you both give each other a chance, I think you might get
along.”

“Willow, he tried to beat the crap out of me.”

“Yes, and I heard that went both ways mister.”

Spike was near a fit of laughter by now. Angel eyed his childe and
asked, his voice tinged with anger, “And what is your problem?”

“Nothing, Peaches. I just know that there is no way to win when it comes
to Willow. Plus, I share your views on commando boy.”

Willow crossed her arms and shook her head. “That is only because he is
part of the group that put that chip in your head.”

“True, luv. And your point is?”

“My point is that you wouldn’t be so hateful towards him if you never got
the chip.
Instead, you would have just killed him and finished it there.”

Spike nodded his head, smiling at the thought of killing Riley. “You
have a point there.”

Raising one eyebrow, Willow then responded, “And without the chip, you
would have never calmed down enough to win my heart.” Turning to
Cordelia, she asked, “Are you ready to go?” Not even waiting, she walked
out of the office, leaving Spike standing there with his mouth wide open.

Cordelia smiled at him and commented as she exited the building, “I’m
sure she will be fine in the morning.”

After they left, Gunn cracked up. “Well, I guess someone is in the
doghouse.”

“Would have been anyway, mate. I’m staying here with Angel.”

Gunn nodded. “Fine.” As he started up the stairs, he turned and added,
“I know they said you can’t bite, but if it isn’t true, don’t even think
of snacking on my men. They all sleep with stakes and such.” With that,
Gunn disappeared above, where some of his gang had started spending the
night.

Spike looked over at Angel. Even though he knew that Angel had a soul,
he still felt a bit of fear towards the vampire. Most of him used to be
disgusted by the vampire, but another part of him still felt as if Angel
was Angelus. He decided it all had to do with the fact that Angel was
his sire. Now, however, after not being able to bite people, he didn’t
feel quite as disgusted. At least Angel could still bite. In all, his
handicap made him less than his sire, and that scared him.

Trying to shove his thoughts back in his mind, he remarked, “So, I guess
it is just you and me tonight. What are we going to do?”

Angel shook his head. “Nothing. I usually just read and then go to
sleep in the early morning hours.”

“Don’t you have anything to do down there, other than reading?”

“There is a television and VCR. Maybe you could watch a few videos or
something.”

Spike picked up his bag and smiled sarcastically at Angel. “Well, it
sounds like we are just going to have so much fun tonight.” Angel
grunted and then led the way down to his place in the basement.
 

Part 3

alternate universe...

Cordelia turned, her hair flying through the air as it whipped around.
Dark brown eyes held so many emotions. A fire burned in them with
intensity at the moment, out shining all the other emotions of pain and
confusion. Anger had never been portrayed so much in her bearing, not
even when the first love of her life died. Narrowing her intense gaze,
she asked, “I don’t see how you can’t support me on this one! Your own
husband was taken also.”

Willow looked up from where she sat, pain etched on her own face. Dark
circles had worked their way around her eyes, accenting the already puffy
skin. Shaking her head, she commented, “We don’t know that this is what
happened.”

Faith sat with her hands in her lap. Looking over at Willow, she asked,
“But you did say that the lines of realities were messed with again?”

Willow nodded. “Yes, but I have no way of knowing if it is the same
lines. Only Amy would know, and she is on vacation right now.”

“So, what? We are suppose to sit here and do nothing until Amy gets back
from her vacation? I don’t think so.” Pointing at Willow, Cordelia
added, “You said that the lines felt familiar, and the only ones you know
are the ones that the other Willow is from. I say we hop over there, and
if it turns out we are wrong, then Amy can write us to come back.”

Faith shrugged, “It makes sense to me. I say we go ahead and make the
jump.”

Willow shook her head. “I won’t do it. What if we leave and then they
come back?”

Cordelia started to cross the room, but Angel held her back. Looking up
at him, she laughed hollowly and then stepped on his foot. Angel cried
out and let go as Cordelia went the rest of the way. Getting in Willow’s
face, she screamed, “How can you say that? They were taken, from their
own beds, and you just sit there as if they might come waltzing back in.
It doesn’t work that way. You know it. We all know it!”

Angel grabbed Cordelia from behind and forced her away, tearing her from
the sitting form of Willow. Her arms and legs flew out, reaching and
kicking for Willow as she screamed out. “They left their card behind.
We know who they are. Why can’t you see that?”

Lindsey, for the first time, spoke up. “If this Wolfram and Hart is
anything like the one I was at, this can’t be good. I actually think we
should go with Cordelia on this one.”

Cordelia stopped struggling at Lindsey’s opinion, but Angel kept a hold
of her. “And what if the card was just a decoy? It could have been left
behind to lead you down the wrong road.” Angel looked down at Cordelia’s
now upturned eyes. They held so much hurt, and he knew that part of that
was due to what he had just said. She was feeling betrayed by her very
friends.

Turning away from Angel, Cordelia sighed and let her head hang. How
could they be so nonchalant about this. Their friends, her husband, were
gone, and they just wanted to sit around and wait. Did they have no
feelings? Was something causing their hearts to stop feeling? How could
they betray their friends, or even her. Looking up, in a monotone voice,
she commented, “Fine, don’t go, but I am going to go ahead and there is
nothing you can do.”

“What if your wrong?” asked Willow.

“Then he may return and you can write me. I found a spell that can send
me both ways. It is quite simple, really.” Her voice held conviction,
and they knew that there was no way that they could change her mind.

Faith stood up. “I’ll go with you.”

As Cordelia smiled at the news, Willow frowned. “Faith, you can’t leave.
You’re the slayer.”

Faith looked over at the red head. “Maybe, but you can take my place.
Most of the vampires fear you more than me anyway, and since you’re not
being supportive, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”

“What does that mean, exactly?” asked Willow as she stood up angrily.

Faith crossed her arms and looked over at Willow, daggers flying out of
her eyes. “Your own husband was taken, and you don’t even have a
backbone to do anything about it. At least Cordy is showing some heart
here.”

Willow’s hands balled into fists, as she spat back, “You have no idea
what you are talking about, slayer, so why don’t you just shut up!”

Faith started to take a step forward when a hand shot out and pulled her
back. Oz’s voice, quiet as it was, seemed to break the seriousness. “We
all just need to calm down. Whatever is going to happen is up to
individuals, not the group in this instance.”

Willow sat back down and snorted, “Whatever.”

Angel nodded. “No, Oz is right. Even if we don’t agree to go, Cordy
still will. There is no way around it.”

Cordelia turned and looked at him. “You will let me go?”

“I think you need to do this, Cordy, and no matter what I say, it won’t
changyour mind.” Cordelia wrapped her arms around him. “Thanks Angel.
Are you going to come?”

Angel shook his head. “No, someone needs to stay here and help Willow
with patrol.”

Faith looked around. “Well, is anyone else going to join us?”

Lindsey walked up to the group from the corner he was in. “Count me in
on this one. If the company is involved, I may be able to help.”

When no one else said anything, Faith looked over at Cordelia. “So, when
do you want to leave?”

For the first time, Cordelia smiled, “Tonight. As soon as possible.”

Faith nodded. “How about after patrol? I’ll go home, tell the watcher,
and change.”

“What if Giles says no?” asked Angel.

“Then I will just tell him to kiss my ass.” Faith smiled at everyone’s
shocked expression. To the group, Faith had always been the good little
girl. However, there was a fire within her that just wanted to be
released sometimes. The only person who ever saw it was Oz, and he tried
to hold her in place as much as possible. Especially after the other
Willow had arrived. She had mentioned the Faith in her universe, and
what she explained ate away at Faith, knowing what she could become. It
was difficult at times, but with Oz, she found his support calming and
reassuring.

Oz placed his hand on her shoulder as she started to leave the room. As
she turned to him, he stated, “Be careful. We can’t lose another.”
Faith nodded and walked out the door, Angel on her heels to help with
patrol.

Willow looked up from her seat at Cordelia. The truth was that she did
know what her friend was going through, but she was the strong one, the
pillar, and if she left, then she felt that she would be abandoning the
rest of her friends. And the truth was, part of her wondered if he might
just show back up. There was no reason for him to be taken. William was
kind, considerate and passionate. Why would someone want to take him?
She longed to have him back, and part of her wanted so much to join
Cordelia on this trek, but she felt that it wasn’t time yet. The least
she could do was help. “Cordy, are you sure that the spell will work? I
know that good cross dimensional spells aren’t the easiest to find.”

Cordelia nodded. “I’m research girl. Nothing is out of my grasp.” She
pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket and handed it to Willow. “I
copied it out of one of Angel’s new books.”

Willow looked the spell over and then shook her head. “I remember
searching for a spell a few months ago, and having to come up with it was
the most aggravating thing, and now you find something this simple in
less than a day?”

Cordelia actually smiled again. “I said, just call me research girl.”

Looking over the spell, Willow shook her head and then smiled. “It looks
fine, but do you have anything to connect you with Willow?”

Cordelia nodded and pulled out an earing. “Spike left it here on Oz’s
guest bedroom night stand. It was what he had used to connect with her.”
What she didn’t tell anyone was that after she found the earing, she had
been keeping it as a memory - a memory of someone who had looked beyond
her looks and past but yet had instantly welcomed her. It was something
that didn’t happen often, even among those that she called friends.

Willow smiled slightly and sighed as she handed everything back to
Cordelia. “Bring them back, Cordy.” Not saying anything else, she
turned and walked off towards the stairway of her, William, and Angel’s
new place.
 

Part 4

Willow sat up quickly, looking around as the lights started to flicker in
the room and the hairs on her neck started to stand on end.  “Dennis?”
she asked as she felt a hand grab her arm.  Turning, Willow found herself
looking into the eyes of Cordelia, except they weren’t right.  As she
asked, “Cordelia?” she started to notice the other two people with her
with bags slung over their shoulders.  Faith , dressed in a light purple
outfit, and Lindsey stood behind her, watching with smiles on both of
their faces.  It all came to Willow in a rush.  The letter!  Shaking her
head, she asked, “What happened?”

Before Cordelia could answer, a cranky voice entered the living room from
the hallway.  “Dennis, I swear if you don’t stop playing with the damn
lights I will...”  Cordelia stopped what she was saying as she looked up
at the group of people in the living room.  Turning to Willow, she asked,
“And why didn’t you tell me to stop before that last White Russian?”  Not
saying another word, she commented to herself as she started to walk back
to her bedroom, “I am going to have to start laying off the drinks before
bedtime.”

Jumping off the couch, Willow grabbed her shoulder to stop her.
“Cordelia, you’re not dreaming or anything.  They’re the doubles from the
other universe.”

Cordelia turned around.  Her eyes went from one and then to another,
landing last of all on Lindsey.  Dropping, they fell to his hands.
Slowly, she walked back into the living room and walked up to him.
Looking into his eyes, she said, “You have both hands.”

Lindsey’s eyes narrowed and he nodded his head, “Yes, and I don’t plan on
getting rid of any of them.  I kind of like my hands where they are,
attached.”

Willow interrupted the conversation by asking Cordy, “Why are you guys
here?  The letter was a little cryptic.”

Cordy sat down and wrung her hands as Faith came and sat beside her.
Looking up at Willow, she said with emotion hanging on her words,
“William and Doyle were taken.”

“Taken? How?”

“We don’t know.  They were there when we went to sleep and when we woke
up, they were gone.  Willow said that it felt like the strings of reality
had been tampered with.  She also said that it seemed familiar, but she
wasn’t sure.”

Willow shook her head.  “The only strings she would know about other than
her own are the strings of this universe.  If they are here, why isn’t
she?”

Faith spat bitterly, “She wouldn’t come.”  Shaking her head, she
continued, “Willow is one of my best friends, actually more like a
sister, but yet I can’t understand her when it comes to this.  She is
just sitting at home, waiting for him to show back up because she can’t
understand why he was taken.”

Nodding, Willow commented to herself, “Why yes.  I can see.  She doesn’t
understand why he was taken.  William is caring and gentle.  It isn’t
like someone could use him to their advantage.”  After talking things
through with herself, she asked, “Do you have any idea who could have
taken him?”

Cordy nodded and looked over at Lindsey.  Noticing her cue, Lindsey dug a
card out of his pocket and handed it to Willow.  Taking a deep breath in,
Willow passed the card to Cordelia.  Placing a hand over her mouth,
Cordelia looked up at everybody in fear.  Trembling, she commented to no
one in particular, “Wolfram and Hart.”  She started to fall back and a
chair was pushed by unseen hands from the wall, catching her in her
descent.  Looking no where in particular, she mumbled, “Thanks Dennis.”

Looking up at Lindsey, Faith remarked, “So I take it by that action,
Wolfram and Hart is just as bad here as it in our universe.”

Cordelia snorted.  “Bad? Yeah.  They are the very definition of evil.
Ever since Angel got here, we have been waging our own war against them.”
 Pointing at Lindsey, she commented, “Lindsey being one of our greatest
enemies in the firm.”

Willow sighed.  “It sounds like we got a bit of research ahead of us.
Maybe it would be best if we get some sleep.”

Lindsey nodded.  “I am all for that.”

“Count me in,” agreed Faith.

Cordelia got up from her seat.  “I don’t have a lot of room, so you may
have to sleep on the floor.”

Lindsey smiled, “Just give me a blanket and pillow and I’m set.”

Before Cordelia could say something, a pillow flew from the couch to
where he was standing.  Looking over at Cordelia, he remarked, “Being
that is the third strange thing I have seen tonight, I take it we have a
visitor.”

Cordelia nodded.  “Dennis.  His mother murdered him in this very
apartment and after we got her ghost to leave, he decided it was nice
here without her, so he has decided to stay behind.”

Willow added, “Dennis likes to think of himself as Cordelia’s guardian.
He is very particular when it comes to who she can invite over.”

Faith stood up.  “He left us alone.”

Willow laughed.  “How could he not when you just popped in.  He did warn
us though.  Did you not see the light show?”

“Number one strange occurrence,” noted Cordy.

Cordelia disappeared down the hall and then returned as she stated,
“Actually, I am surprised he hasn’t thrown much of a fit, being our
Lindsey is one of Angel’s top enemies and Faith, well the last time she
was here, she beat the crap out of Wesley and I.”

Faith shook her head.  “No need to worry about that.  This Faith has all
her marbles in check.  I will not be beating the crap out of anyone
here.”

Cordelia handed her a blanket and pillow.  “That is definitely a good
thing.”

Willow yawned, “Yes, not beating the crap out of my friends is a good
thing.”

Cordy smiled down at Willow as her friend started to lean against the arm
of the chair.  “I think Willow was right.  Let’s get some sleep and we
will discuss things in the morning.”

Willow nodded.  “Yes let’s,” she muttered as she started to fall asleep.

Cordelia handed Cordy her stuff.  “Wills had a long day.”

Cordy sat her hands on her lap and sighed.  “Yes.  Haven’t we all?”
 

Part 5

Doyle paced the cell, back and forth, hardly paying attention to his
roommate.  They had to have been there over the time period of one day.
Every once in a while, a small sliding door would open and food and blood
would be placed into the room, into the small box they lived in.  It was
evident that they were being taken care of, but Doyle wanted out.  He
couldn’t stand the small area and could only think of one thing, Delia’s
arms surrounding him.  Sighing, he stopped and looked over at his
roommate.  “How in the world can you just sit there?”

William looked up at him, his blue steel eyes boring into Doyle.  Running
his hands through his brown hair and setting his jaw, William answered,
“Until Willow, I sat still for an eternity.  Do you know what it is like
when you wake up during the day and you’re not able to go out or when no
one is there?  You learn to take the stillness, the nothing.”

Sitting beside him, Doyle wrung his hands.  “Something’s up.  I can tell.
 You have that serious look.”

Staring straight ahead, William commented, “They are here.  I can feel
them.  Their blood calls to me.”

Doyle looked at his friend like he was going crazy.  “You aren’t making
sense.”

William stiffened and started to stand.  “I will be.  They are coming,
and they aren’t alone.”

About to say something, Doyle stopped when he started to hear footfalls
coming down the hall behind their cell door.  The sounds halted and Doyle
stood up beside his friend as he heard the lock to the door click.
William took in an unneeded breath as the door opened and three
individuals walked in.  He listened for William to let out his breath,
but he didn’t until the oldest of the three stepped forward.  The older
man smiled.  “Welcome to Wolfram and Hart.”

Doyle leaned closer to William and whispered, “Why is Lindsey here?”

William looked down at him for a second and answered, “That isn’t our
Lindsey.  Look at his hand.”

Doyle looked past the older man to Lindsey.  It was then that he noticed
that this Lindsey only had one hand.  Looking back at the older man, he
asked, “Who are you guys and why are we here?”

The man smiled.   “The name is Holland, and I must say, Doyle, I never
knew you could be that straight.   Our research shows that you are more
of a loaner type.”

Narrowing his gaze, Doyle asked, “And what else has your research showed
you?”

Holland tilted his head.  “To the point.  I like that.”  Looking back at
the third individual, a woman with dark brown hair, he asked, “Lilah?”

The woman stepped forward and smiled at him, “Doyle, our informative has
been watching you since you have appeared in Sunnydale.  According to
him, you share a certain talent with this world’s Doyle.  Now he died,
passing his powers to Angel’s secretary.”

“So what does this have to do with me?”

Her smile got bigger.  “Cordelia is Angel’s link to the Powers That Be.
We want that same link.”

Doyle tried to step back, but ran into the wall.  His eyes widened as he
asked, “How is that going to work?  I’m linked to the Powers of a
different world.  Not only that, I will not give any information.”

Lilah laughed.  “Oh, that won’t be problem at all.  Lindsey here,” she
motioned towards the one handed Lindsey, who stood still with no
expression on his face, “he has found a way for us to transfer your
visions to this world.  A simple spell, really.  And then, we will remove
your eyes and hook them up to a...”

She never finished as Holland interrupted her by placing a hand on her
shoulder.  “Lilah, let’s not scare our guest right now.  It’s impolite to
do so at the first meeting.”

Doyle took in a deep breath.  “Scared?  Who’s scared?  Not me.”  Looking
up at William, he said in a voice pitched just a bit higher, “Are you?”

Before William could say anything, Holland smiled at the vampire.  “Ah,
and Spike, how are you enjoying your little stay here.”

William sneered.  “It isn’t quite four star, and the name isn’t Spike.”

“Ah, yes.  You have been going by William, haven’t you?  Changed it when
you got that pesky soul back, didn’t you?”

Narrowing his gaze at the man, he answered, “I don’t have to answer that.
 You already know.”

Holland nodded.  Looking back at Lindsey, he commented, “This one seems a
little smarter than his double.”

Lindsey shook his head.  “Not smarter, from what I’ve heard, just
different.”

Smirking, Holland asked, “So, do you have any idea why you are here?”

In a monotone voice, William answered, “Family reunion?”

Ignoring his statement, he turned to Lindsey.  “You are actually here to
help in Lindsey’s department.  He has been in charge of bringing Angel
down and really hasn’t done a good job in that area.  Luckily his prowess
in the courtroom makes up for it.”

William looked over at Lindsey.  “Why?  Are the loon and grandma not
enough?”

Laughing, Holland answered, “But you’re the final key.”

“Why not Spike?  The last I heard, he hated Angel.”

Lindsey remarked quietly, “We want someone that can bite.  Not only that,
but, we want someone a little more mellow than this Spike.  He has a
habit of letting the zeal of the moment get in the way.”

“Yes, a pity, isn’t it?” William remarked wryly.  “So, how do you know I
am going to go along with this plan?  I happen to like Angel and there is
the fact I have a soul.”

Holland nodded.   “True, and we know you can’t loose it like this world’s
Angel, but we have researched and found a way to release you of your
soul.”

“So, is that where they come in?”

“They are a part of it.”

Doyle interrupted Holland and William’s conversation by asking, “I’m not
following.  Who is the they?”

William turned to Doyle, a look of warning in his eyes.  Apparently,
William didn’t feel that Doyle needed to know this.  His wishes were not
met of course, as Holland turned to Lindsey and commented, “Why don’t you
show the two in.”

Stepping in front of Doyle, as if to shield him, William watched as two
familiar figures walked into the room.  His soul felt repulsed at the
sight of the two as his demon called out to them, one in lust and the
other in respect.  He growled and felt his demon come forth, not because
of the demon’s emotions towards the two, but because of his need to
protect the half demon behind him.

At first the two figures just stared at him, hunger in their eyes.  One
was a beautiful blond with an elegant touch.  She was so striking, but
William knew that she was also deadly.  The other was a trim woman who
looked like she would fall over if you blew on her.  She had dark brown
eyes and long brown hair.  Her eyes sparkled with madness, not that of
the demon but of the mind.  She tilted her head and eyed him as a smile
formed on her face.  No wonder she had been this Spike’s dark goddess.

The dark one separated herself from her companion and walked up to him.
Closing her eyes and humming, she reached out to him and traced the lines
of his demonic face.  The old feeling caused him to go back to his human
visage, emotions from long ago flowing through his mind.  Smiling and
opening her eyes, she said to her companion while looking up at him,
gazing deeply in his eyes.  “He looks so much like him, but his soul
sings out to me.  It hates us.  It hates me.  Oooo, it screams for the
red headed witch, such passion.”  Her smile had disappeared and her nails
started to rake their way into his skin.  Not blanching, he kept eye
contact with her.  “But he will turn, and I will be his princess and
together we will bring daddy back.  The stars sing to me of daddy’s
return.”

A hand grabbed the woman’s shoulder and pulled her away, leaving even
deeper scratch marks.  “Druscilla!” called out the woman’s small voice.
“We will have fun with this William later, when the time is right.  Not
until then.”

The woman stepped between Druscilla and William.  Smiling at him and
wiping the blood from the scratches on his cheek, she remarked, “My
grandchilde.  I always thought he would be great, but with the chip, he
is nothing.  You, however, you can be great, and maybe someday you could
replace even my favorite childe.”  Moving her hand and licking the blood
off, she asked, “Would you like that, William.”

William’s gaze hardened. “Darla, I would stake myself before anything
like that could happen.”

She laughed.  “No, I don’t think you will.”  With that, she turned around
and left, Drusicilla following her.  Lilah and Holland started to follow
also, but Lindsey stalled.  For a few fleeting seconds, he stared at the
two, a strange look on his face, and then he turned and left.

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