“Teeter-totter, dirty water, ate your daughter.”

The singing came from above him, somewhere outside of the haze. Opening
his eyes, he felt drawn to it, drawn to the woman who had secretly sired
him. Yes, it was Angelus he had always called his sire, but she was his
real sire, the one who he had a blood connection to. Focusing, he looked
up at her and smiled. Their connection deepened, but there was
something, a tugging, that was revolting him at the same time. Pushing
it back, he smiled up at her. “Drusilla, what have you done to me?”

“My baby boy, we brought you home.”

Closing his eyes, he tried to shake away the dizziness that was taking
over him, a side effect from the spell. Opening them back up to her, he
said as he smiled, “You took away my soul.”

“Does this anger my William?”

“The name is Spike.”

Drusilla smiled down at him. Leaning, she slowly brought her lips to
his, licking them. William opened his mouth, inviting her in.
Passionately, he drew her onto him. It had been over a hundred years
since he had been able to hold his own dark goddess. She was everything
he remembered. Dru moaned and tilted her head back, baring her neck as
he rained kisses down her throat. Going down to where a pulse point used
to pulsate, he bit into her. Pushing his face into her neck even more,
Drusilla commented as she ran her fingers through his hair, “Drink, my
love. Grow strong.”

>From the door, Darla clapped. “I take it that we were successful.”

Still playing with his brown hair as he still fed upon her, growling
softly, Drusilla smiled. “My new Spikey is hungry. The spell has
weakened him, and he needs his strength. I see two slayers descending
upon us. Buffy is a dark spot - out damn spot, out - but the other, she
can grow. A darkness stirs within her soul, wanting to be released at
times.”

Lindsey, eyeing William as he licked at Dru’s neck, looked over at Darla.
“I’ll alert the guards they are on their way.”

Laying a hand on his arm, Darla shook her head, “Lindsey, have you no
sense of fun. Let the two come on up. This Spike, unlike ours, hasn’t
added slayers to his list.”

Lifting William’s face, Dru gazed in his eyes for a second and then
licked her own blood from his mouth. “Mmmm. Hear that Spikey?
Grandmum’s going to let us have fun with slayers.”

William smiled, his golden eyes shining. “I always wanted to take down a
slayer.”

Darla grunted, “Yes, our Spike was obsessed with killing slayers.”

Dru nodded, pride showing in her eyes, “My Spike took down two.”

“Then I guess I have my work cut out for me.”

Darla nodded, “Time to prove yourself, William.”
 

Part 12

Willow looked over at Lindsey, “I thought that changing clothes before we
left was a good idea, but this, this is just ickier than what Cordelia
smelled like.”

“You’re never happy, are you Willow? First it’s because I smell like
sewer, and then its all about spiders,” Cordelia remarked as she brushed
a cobweb out of her way.

“Don’t say that word. I don’t like it.”

“What word? Spider? Spider, spider, spider...”

Covering her ears, Willow remarked, “I prefer the term, arachnid. It
just doesn’t have the same ring.”

Trying not to laugh as she joked around with her friend, Cordelia stated,
“Fine, I’ll try to be more politically correct when it comes to spiders.”

In front of them, Lindsey added, “Or is the politically correct term
eight legged creature?”

They stopped by a door and Cordelia pointed to it as Lindsey wiped away
some of the spider webs, “And this door is going to get us into the
place?”

Willow looked around her at the dark corridors they had been walking
around in. “If you ask me, this place is kinda creepy. Why don’t you
use it anymore?”

Lindsey answered both of their questions, “When they first built this
building, they placed these corridors underneath so they could have an
underground entrance for their more questionable clients. Through the
years, the corridors became out of date, so instead of working on them,
they shut them down and built ones with easier access.”

“And they just have happened to use this as an entrance to the lower
prison levels?” Willow asked as she placed her ear up to the door.

“Yep. Much easier to move secret prisoners without anyone knowing.”

Willow nodded as she listened at the door. Looking at her watch, she
remarked, “Wonder what is taking them so long?”

***

Buffy looked over at Faith as they approached the door to Wolfram and
Hart. Patting her hair, she asked, “How does my hair look? Do you think
I’ll pass as a lawyer?”
Faith shook her head. “Nope. A little young. Maybe they’ll think we’re
secretaries or something.”

Patting the stake in her pockets, she asked, “Are you ready?”

“Couldn’t be more ready.”

Together, two slayers walked straight into the lion’s den through the
front door. Walking into the middle of the room, they stopped and looked
around the lobby. It was a large open area, natural light illuminating
it through large windows. Green plants decorated the corner areas,
giving the place a natural look. Lawyers walked about, oblivious to the
fact they had two enemies among them. Buffy tapped Faith and motioned
with her head to six elevators, waiting to be used.

Lifting an eyebrow and smiling, they both headed to the elevators.
Pushing a button, they waited till doors opened. It wasn’t until they
were inside the elevators that they heard a shrill voice. A guard was
running up to the elevator, yelling, “You can’t go down there! Get off
those elevators! Your not employed here!”

Buffy’s foot kicked out and hit him in the chest, sending him flying into
the corridor. As the doors closed, Buffy commented to the guard, “Oops,
sorry.”

Faith looked over at Buffy and smiled, “Do you think they’ve turned on
the alarm?”

Watching the numbers light up as the elevator descended, Buffy remarked,
“I’m not for sure, but I bet we’re about to find out.”

Faith nodded and opened the briefcase she was carrying with her.
Removing a crossbow, she checked to see if it was set up and then nodded
towards Buffy. “Let’s get this show on the road.”

The elevator doors opened to the quiet atmosphere of one the sub-levels.
A large desk sat in front of the elevator. In quick strides, Buffy
walked up to the desk. “Excuse me, could you tell me where Mr. MacDonald
is holding the vampires, William in particular?”

The receptionist’s hand started to wander to a button under the desk when
Buffy reached out and grabbed her, dragging her almost over the desk.
“Oh, I’m sure they know I’m here. Oh, wait, how rude of me. I never
introduced myself. I’m Buffy, one of the slayers, and even though you
aren’t a demon, I have no problem with beating the ever living crap out
of you.”

“You... You wouldn’t.”

“Oh, wouldn’t I?” Turning her head, Buffy asked, “What do you think,
Faith? Would I?”

“If you don’t, I might. My finger twitches quite a bit when I operate
these things. I would hate to stake her accidently.”

The receptionist’s eyes got big. “Faith, as in the dark slayer, the one
that went crazy and is suppose to be in prison?”

Faith shook her head. “Why is it that everyone knows me?” Acting the
part, she added, “Can’t people just let a girl work out her personal
problems? Is that to much to ask?” Yelling, she got closer, shaking
with rage, making sure the receptionist could see her twitching finger.

“Corner room, room 17,” the receptionist whimpered out.

Buffy let her go and started to walk down the hall with Faith, as the
receptionist pressed the button. The alarms went off and it was then
that hell broke loose in Wolfram and Hart.

***

The alarms rang in Willow’s ear through the door. Looking over at
Lindsey, she remarked, “Party time.”

Lindsey worked at the door as Willow looked on. Smiling, she pushed him
away and laid her hand flat on the floor. Smiling, she said,
“Patefacio.”

Turning the handle he had been battling, the door opened with a whine.
“Thanks.”

“No problem. Just a little something that I learned a while back.”

Cordelia shook her head as she pushed past the two. They followed her
and looked around them. They were once again in dark hallways, but these
hallways were much cleaner. Looking over at Lindsey, she remarked, “Time
to show off for us, Lawyer man.”

Rolling his eyes, he ignored her and remarked as he motioned down the
hall, “Come on, this way.” The three followed him, from one hallway to
the next, the whining of the alarm starting to fade as their ears got
used to it. Suddenly, Lindsey stopped and then forced them back some.
“There is a guard around the corner.”

“Well, you do work here. Now go work some magic,” replied Cordelia.

“Which hand?”

“I think it was the right one Angel chopped off.”

Willow voiced Lindsey’s thoughts as she asked, “You think?”

“No. I’m pretty sure. It was the right. Yes, definitely the right.”

“Great,” Lindsey muttered to himself. Placing his right hand in his
pocket, he started down the hallway to where the guard stood. “I’m here
to see the half demon.”

Looking Lindsey up and down, the guard muttered, “You know that cell 5 is
on security clearance. Where is your ID?”

“I left it upstairs. Now, you know me. This is my project. Let me by
or I will tell the partners and you will be without a job within the
minute.”

“Sorry, sir. You know the rules.”

In a split second, Lindsey removed his hand from his pocket and stuck the
guard. The guard, caught by surprise as he was seeing a hand that
shouldn’t be there, didn’t put up much of a fight. The fist connected
with his face. His head rocked back, hitting the wall and knocking him
out. Shaking his hand and rubbing his knuckles, Lindsey called out to
Willow and Cordelia.

Cordelia looked down at the body on the floor and then back up at
Lindsey. “I see you worked your magic with your fist.”

“He wasn’t being cooperative.”

Willow looked at the two as she tore the key to the cell block from the
guard’s neck. Unlocking the door, she remarked, “What now?”

“Cell 5. The guard at least slipped in that matter.”

Stepping in front of them, Cordelia ran to cell five and then snapped
over at Willow, “Get a key over here.”

Willow threw keys to Cordelia down the hall and then slowly joined her at
the door. Grabbing the keys from her, Cordelia unlocked the door and
then swung it open. Her breath caught in her throat as her eyes met
familiar blues. It had been one thing to see Doyle as an oracle, but to
see a live Doyle in front of her, Cordelia felt her knees go weak.
Looking up from where he was sitting against the wall, Doyle asked,
“Delia?”

Lindsey caught Cordelia as she went weak kneed. Looking across the cell,
he remarked, “Hurry, Doyle. We got to get you out of here.”

Willow ran to him and helped him up. “Your Delia is waiting. We must
hurry before we get caught.”

Doyle nodded, understanding. “What about William?”

Willow paused, not really knowing what to say. Finding words as she
pulled him to the door, she remarked, “William is someone else’s project
right now.”

***

The door swung open in front of them. Looking over at Faith, Buffy asked
by arching her eyebrow, “Shall we?”

Faith shrugged. “Never cared for open invitations, but is it worth it to
turn back now?”

Buffy shook her head. “I’m the slayer. Nothing is going to stand in my
way.”

Together, they stepped into the room. It was cast with many shadows.
Out of one of the shadows, a figure emerged. Smiling at the two, Darla
commented, “Oh, goody, today we get to play with two slayers. How much
luckier could we be?”

“I don’t know. Having this stake pierced through your heart sounds lucky
to me - maybe not for you but lucky,” remarked Buffy as she pulled a
stake from her pocket.

Shaking her head and waving her finger, Darla remarked, “Ah, Buffy, you
really shouldn’t try to be smart with me, especially when I’m not the
only one you have to worry about.” Looking off to the side, she added,
“I must say that you and your friend are going to be so fun.”

Faith raised her crossbow as she saw two figures emerge from shadows on
the other side of the room. The first figure was a woman, who had looked
vaguely familiar, like someone she had seen in one of Giles’s books. Her
breath caught when she saw the other figure, his arm snaking around the
female’s waist. He peered at her from the woman’s shoulder, and Faith
felt herself growing cold. Her lips silently remarked, “William.”
Smiling at her and winking, he shook his head no.

Buffy looked over to see who Darla was talking about. Drusilla was
there, but it was the figure behind her who took her breath away. It was
Spike, but it wasn’t. The same ice blue eyes stared out at her, except
these eyes held something Buffy couldn’t place. Even the face was the
same, the only difference being a missing scar from his eyebrow.
However, there were two striking differences. The usually bleached blond
hair was brown, his original color, and the clothes that he wore were a
different style. There was something about this William that captivated
her. Maybe it was the fact that even though she was seeing Spike, she
was also seeing someone completely different. What ever it was, it
slightly disturbed her.

Behind Drusilla, Spike remarked, “Slayers! I always wanted to take down
a slayer.”
Taking a deep breath, Faith remarked from behind her crossbow, “Well, I
guess you’re going to have your chance.”

Buffy looked over again as Faith spoke. There was something in her
voice, almost a tone of fear.

Drusilla hissed and then looked up at William, “Clouds are coming and a
storm is creeping close. Strike her down, my lovely, like a lightening
bolt.”

The banter fading away between Faith, Dru and William, Buffy turned her
attention towards Darla. Twirling the stake around in her hand, she
threw it at the vampire as she fished another one from her within her
suit. Darla, moved to the side gracefully and then let her demon face
come forth. As Buffy pulled a stake out, Darla struck out and hit her
across the face. Buffy backed up a bit and then kicked out at the
vampire. Once, again, Darla avoided Buffy’s strike. “This is what they
sent me? A slayer who can’t even touch me?”

Growling herself, Buffy flung herself at Darla. Her fist connected
solidly with the vampire as Darla returned the punches. Tiring of the
experience, Darla kicked out, sending Buffy flying into a desk. Buffy’s
back screamed in pain as it hit the edge of the desk. Leaning back, she
kicked out her legs as Darla approached and sent her flying back while
she rocked back and flipped herself over the desk. Looking at Darla from
the other side of the desk, she took a deep breath, trying to collect
herself for the next onslaught.

Meanwhile, Drusilla hissed again and stepped towards Faith. Not sure
exactly what to do, Faith shot the crossbow. Drusilla moved some, but
not fast enough. The stake embedded itself into her chest, mere inches
from her heart. Looking down at it, she growled and turned to her demon
face. Lunging forward, she tried to grab at Faith, but Faith kicked out
and landed her kick on the stake, ramming it into the vampire even
farther. Stopping her advance, Drusilla screamed in pain. Faith sent
another kick out and the vampire went flying against a wall where she
slid down, unconscious.

William was furious as he saw Drusilla crumple away, not able to stand
the simple pain Faith had set upon her. Taking Dru’s place, he set
about, punching at the slayer. Faith avoided as many of the punches as
she could, landing a few of her own. Stepping slightly away, Faith set
about to do a round kick. Her first foot connected with his face, but
the second kick was caught. William clutched her foot and she fell to
the floor on her hip.

Wincing in pain, Faith looked up and what she saw scared her. William
leered above her. His foot kicked out and caught her in the side, right
above her sore hip. Screaming in pain, Faith twisted over, much to the
disagreement of her aches and pains.

Somehow, she moved out of the path of his second kick and then flipped
herself up. Angry, she went to punch him, but he caught her fist.
Grabbing onto it, he yanked her to him, turning her to where her back was
up against his chest.

While all this was happening, Buffy was too busy dealing with Darla. The
vampire had pushed the desk back, ramming it into her and smashing her
against the wall.

Reaching across the desk, Darla pulled Buffy from her slight space. The
slayer’s ankle caught on part of the desk, and Buffy groaned as she felt
it twist. As her body was pulled away, she struck out with her other leg
and kicked Darla in the head. The vampire let go long enough for Buffy
to get her footing.

Darla advanced on Buffy quickly. Buffy, still up against the desk, tried
to duck away from most of the blows, while she herself went about trying
to get her hands on Darla. She hadn’t fought anyone with this much
strength in such a long time, and Buffy felt herself slipping. This
wasn’t the time though. She wouldn’t allow herself to lose to Darla. As
she thought this, Darla grabbed at her throat and then threw her against
the wall.

Buffy reached out and Darla caught her hand. Darla stepped forward,
almost face to face with Buffy. Using her other hand, she caught Buffy’s
head and then turned it to William and Faith. Almost in a whisper, she
remarked, “Time to watch the inevitable.”

Faith looked over at Buffy as she felt William’s fangs brush her neck and
then bite down. Her eyes pleaded, but she slightly shook her head
against William. She mouthed, “Run.” Then, her eyes looked down as the
hand holding her against William sought the chain around her neck.
Pulling out the stone she wore around her neck. He covered it with his
hand, holding it against her. Removing his fangs from her neck, William
bit into his other wrist and held it over her mouth. Looking back at
Buffy, she mouthed before drinking, “William.”

Buffy watched on, only partly understanding what Faith was saying. Her
eyes watered, surprising her a little (She had only known this Faith for
a day and hated the other one), as William bit back into Faith’s neck.
It seemed to take forever, but Buffy knew that it hadn’t been that long
before Faith wavered. Her head lolled to the side and William looked up
at her, his blue eyes holding something more than just coldness.

Getting Buffy’s attention, Darla added, “Go back to our beloved Angel,
and tell him the family is growing, and we can’t wait to be reunited.”

Growling, Buffy used her free hand to plunge a stake into Darla’s
stomach. ‘It might not kill her, but it will hurt a lot,’ Buffy thought.

Laughing, Darla plucked the stake out and then pulled and struck Buffy’s
arm, causing it to fall out of socket. Not turning, she remarked,
“Lindsey, why don’t you escort our visitor out?”

Stepping away, a man at the door held his hand out to her. As Buffy
walked up to him, holding her arm in pain and wincing, Darla remarked,
“Oh, and thank Angel for the present. A slayer will add nicely to our
collection.”

Buffy ignored her, feeling broken and not wanting to discuss the subject.
The time for banter was over. It had been a long time since she had
been defeated so badly. How had she let it happen? Why hadn’t she have
been more attentive to what was happening with Faith?

Lindsey led her down the corridors, the alarms no longer blaring. He had
called security and had them shut them off. The slayer he was seeing was
different than the one he had seen just minutes ago, break into the
building. Darla had broke this one, but something told Lindsey that it
wouldn’t take her long to lick her wounds. After taking her up the
elevator and then leading her outside, he placed a small piece of paper
in her hand. “I’m always misplacing things.” Turning around, he left
her standing alone, outside of Wolfram and Hart.
 

Part 13

Spike sat, watching the contest that was going on. He knew that Angel
was going to win, but Commando Boy was holding his own against the
vampire. The staring went on. For a while, Spike wondered when either
of them would move. Finally, Riley sat forward. “Hit me.”

The dealer, Spike, threw the card he had already peeked at onto Riley’s
pile. Sitting back, Riley frowned. Tweny-four. He had gone over.
Angel smiled smugly at him. “Now, lets see, how much do I win on that
round?”

Riley grumbled, “I don’t see why we have to bet. It’s not like you will
need these.” Slowly, he started to count out M&M’s to hand over to
Angel.

Looking down his nose at Riley, he remarked, “They’re the peanut kind,
and Cordelia has a thing for peanut M&M’s.”

Spike nodded, trying to be serious as he started to crack a smile, “Yes,
Angel, tell us what Cordelia has a thing for.”

Angel was about to come up with a smart retort when Wesley and Wills
stood over the gang. “Oh, look, they’re playing. For a while I thought
they were going to rip each other’s throats out.”

Wills smiled, “Well, at first I caught them upstairs in the training
room. They said beating the crap out of each other kept the girls off
their minds.”

Smirking, Spike added, “And then she beat the crap out of Riley and
Angel.”

Pointing at him, Angel added, “Hey, you got part of that beating too.”

Riley nodded, “Yeah, I seem to remember a bit a begging.”

Mimicking Spike, Angel started, “Oh, please don’t hurt me, Wills.”

Changing the subject, Spike asked, “So, have you guys found anything?”

Wesley shook his head. “No. We haven’t been able to find hardly any
anchoring spells to pull William’s soul back in. The only one we have
for a vampire is what we used on you, Angel, and that one has the curse.”

“Cordy wrote Giles through the pen box to see if he could do some
checking. There are a few differences between our universes and the way
things are ran, maybe he can find the same spell without the curse. The
only problem is we don’t have any gypsy friends that can help like you
guys did. There is no Jenny Calendar in our world.”

Angel nodded, “And our Jenny Calendar was sent to make sure that the
curse on me wasn’t broken. If there was no curse, then you wouldn’t have
any gypsies keeping watch over you.”

Wills sat down with them and sighed. Looking at Spike, she remarked,
“You don’t have a soul, and you do fine with Willow. Do you think
William can work through this?”

Spike shrugged. “To be truthful, I don’t know. We may be the same
person, but we have backgrounds that cause us to think differently.”

Wills sighed. “That was what I was afraid of.”

Taking her hand in his, Angel remarked, “Hey, don’t worry. We will get
through this.”

>From the back, Cordy walked into the front room and joined them at the
couch. “Giles wrote back already. He said he would look into it and see
what he could find. Also, he mentioned that Angel is researching at his
place.” Looking at the clock, she asked, “How much longer do you think
it will be?”

As if answering her question, the doors to the office were flung open and
four people rushed in. Willow ran to Spike and jumped at him, throwing
her arms around him. “We did it! You should have seen Lindsey. He
actually punched a guard out.”

Her explanations were downed out though, as Cordy and Doyle’s eyes met.
Running to each other, Cordy jumped onto him and started kissing him.
After what seemed like a few minutes, Cordy pulled away. Smiling up at
her, Doyle remarked as he brushed some of her locks out of her face,
“Well, I missed you too, Delia.”

Sitting Cordy down and lightly taking her hand in his, reassuring himself
that she was indeed there, he turned around and found Wills. Pulling
Wills with him, he remarked, “They took William before you guys got
there. He wanted me to tell you that he is sorry, and that he loves
you.”

Placing her hand on his shoulder, Wills remarked, “I know, and we aren’t
leaving until we save him.”

Across the room, Angel put his arm around Cordelia’s shoulders. Looking
up at him, she remarked, “Our Doyle used to call me Delia too.”

Angel nodded and pulled her closer. Doyle was something that they didn’t
talk about often. At the time, he wouldn’t have admitted it, but Doyle
had captured not only
Cordelia’s heart, but also Angel’s deep friendship. He had relied on
Doyle so much for sanity that he hadn’t realized it. Doyle was different
– not stuffy or concerned with material objects. For Angel, he was a
different friend, a type of friend that he missed. There were still
days, even in the new place, that he would venture into the office in the
morning and expect to see Doyle and Cordelia arguing. Instead, now it
was Wesley, and Angel had to constantly stop himself from calling out
Doyle’s name instead of Wesley’s. It had slipped once, and he had never
let it happen again.

Everyone was so happy with this Doyle’s return, that they were all caught
by surprise when Buffy limped into the office. Cordelia had to hold
Angel back as Riley ran to her, catching her as she started to fall.
Helping her to a couch, Riley set about looking at her ankle. Angel
could see that Buffy was in pain, and the sight of her cuddling her arm
made him want to run to her. However, Cordelia still held him back.

Buffy tried to hold back the tears that were coming, especially when the
members of the other universe walked up. Their Willow, Wills, caught her
gaze and understood.
Placing a hand on Cordy’s shoulder, she asked what they were all
wondering, “Where is Faith?”

Trembling, Buffy bit her lower lip. How could she tell them what had
happened to their friend? Taking a deep breath, she answered, “He turned
her.”

By now, everyone was surrounding the couch. Riley, who had finished with
her ankle, had moved up and was now inspecting her arm. From the group,
someone asked as
Buffy tried not to gasp at Riley’s probing touch, “Who turned her?”

Everyone looked white, pale as can be at the thought of a vampire Faith –
a vampire with slayer abilities added to its own. Buffy was about to
answer, when Wills did instead, “William.”

Buffy nodded silently as Angel remarked from behind her, “This isn’t
good. He should have known better. Turning a slayer is dangerous.
Because of their slayer instincts, they have a hard time accepting the
demon. It usually starts a war within themselves and they go mad.”

Spike agreed, “Sometimes slowly and sometimes quickly.”

Wills shook her head. Looking down, she asked, “Did William remove the
stone around her neck?”

Buffy shook her head. “No, he took it out of her shirt, looked at it, and
covered it.”
Thinking for a second, Buffy added, “And then he made her drink, and
after he did that, she said ‘William.’”

Looking over at Cordy, Wills remarked, “There still may be hope.”

Riley, being totally lost at the moment, shut away what they were saying
and looked up at Buffy. “Do you still have a stake?”

>From above the couch, Angel handed him one before she could answer.
Taking it from him, Riley placed it in her mouth. “Bite down. This is
going to hurt like hell.”

Nodding, she bit down and then took a hand being offered by Angel.
Looking up at Angel, Riley silently nodded, and then quickly moved her
arm back into its socket. Buffy screamed out and the stick dropped.
Then, after a second, she moved her arm around a bit. Massaging it, she
looked over at Riley. “Thanks.”
 

Part 14

Faith sat up and gasped for air. Arms flailing, they tried to hold onto
something. God, she couldn’t breathe! Then, it all came to her. She
stopped as she realized she didn’t have to breathe anymore. Sitting
still as she could, she closed her eyes for a second, trying to locate
the demon within her, but she could hardly feel it. Something was
blocking it. Opening her eyes, she looked over at one of the dark
corners. “Why did you do this to me?”

William stepped out of the darkness. Looking down at her, coldly, he
answered, “I don’t know.”

Faith shook her head. “No, I think you do. Why didn’t you just kill me,
William?”

“I’m not William!”

Staring at him, reading into his eyes, she slowly started to shake her
head. “No, you’re not, but he is in there, isn’t he?”

Turning from her, he answered, knowing that they were safe from listening
devices – he had checked the room earlier. “He is disgusting, so weak.”

“Weak? Are you so sure? He was able to take over, wasn’t he? It was
William that saved me.”

Growling slightly, he remarked, not answering the question, “They will
kill you when they find out.”

“Why haven’t you told them about my soul?”

“Because he won’t let me, and that is the one and only luxary he is going
to have.”
Turning back to her, added, “If you want to live, you’ll play the part.”

Walking up to him, she stood on her toes and whispered, smiling slightly,
“Oh, I think I can do that.” Then, without warning, her face changed and
she latched onto his neck. After only a few seconds, she drew away. “I
think I’m hungry. Can I eat the one handed lawyer?”

William laughed, knowing the question was just part of the act. Playing
along with her, he remarked, “No, but there is one named Lilah that looks
like a tasty treat.”

Stepping back, Faith slapped him. The message got through. It was her
way of letting him know how much she hated this. Turning from him, she
remarked, “Do you even know what you ask of me?”

“Yes I do.” Turning around, watching him closely, Faith noticed
something coming over him. In a quiet voice, he added, “It is our only
way out. I can’t escape the family alone.” Then, it happened again and
the same cold blue eyes stared out at her. In a flash, he knocked over a
chair, kicking out at it.

Faith slowly walked over and picked it up. Staring up at him, she
remarked, “What ever battle you are facing, I will help.”

William sneered, “I don’t want your help.”

Turning from him, she went back to her bed and laid down. “Yes you do.
Now, please leave me. I am tired and want to rest.”

Walking to the door, he remarked before leaving, “The family will be
awaiting you.”
 

Part 15

Cordelia came to a dead halt as a dart flew across the room to land right
between Lindsey’s eyes. Shaking her head at the picture Angel had tacked
to Wesley’s dart board, she sat down directly in front of Angel, blocking
his next shot. Raising one eyebrow, she asked, “You stole Wesley’s dart
board?”
“I just borrowed it - thought it might help me with my thinking.”
“So, you’re brooding?”
“I said I was just thinking.”
“Nope. Your scowl has broody lines. I know your expressions. What’s
up?”
“I want you to leave - you and everyone else.”
“Like hell.”
Cordelia, I don’t want to risk anymore lives. They killed Faith, and you
saw what they did to Buffy. They won’t be here tonight because of Faith,
but after our strike, I’m pretty sure they will hit here pretty soon -
maybe even tomorrow night.”
“Oh. So I am suppose to sit by and watch you risk becoming Angelus
again? Do you think I will be safe if his fangs find my neck?”
Leaning forward, his gaze holding hers, Angel remarked, “I want you to
leave, Cordelia - leave LA and never come back.
“I won’t leave you, Angel. What ever happens, it is going to happen with
your friends by your side.”
“Cordelia, this isn’t a discussion.”
Getting up, she remarked, “Yes it is, and all of us should be involved.”
Before Angel could even reply, Cordelia raced out of the office and
headed to the front room where everyone else was lounging.
Jumping over the desk, Angel ran after her, catching up with her as she
stopped by one of the couches Buffy, Riley and Wills were sitting on.
Across from them sat Willow, Spike, Cordy and Doyle. They all looked up
at Cordelia as Angel grabbed her arm and pleaded, “Cordelia.”
Shaking her head, she turned to everyone. “Angel wants us to leave.”
Buffy jumped up and winced in pain as she hobbled on her injured foot.
Finding her balance as she reached out and held onto Riley, Buffy
remarked, “There is no way I’m leaving.”
Riley shook his head. “Buffy, you’re too hurt to face them. Look at
you, you can’t even stand.”
Taking her hand away and standing on her own in defiance, she recited,
“As a slayer it is my sacred duty...”
Interrupting her and appalling everyone, Riley’s head shot in her
direction, bitterness in his voice, “Fuck your sacred duty.”
Shock on her face, Buffy looked up at Angel for support. Instead, he
shook his head and motioned over at Riley, “I may not like the boy, but
he is right. I am not going to risk you, especially in this condition.”
“Don’t treat me like an invalid!”
Angel’s face was set. “My mind is made up. I’m not letting any of you
risk your lives for me.”
Riley shook his head. “No, someone should be here. I’m fit. Count me
in.”
Buffy shook her head,. “There is no way. If I go, you go.”
>From the other couch, Spike remarked with a smile on his face, “Come on
Slayer, let soldier boy stay and play commando guy. If he wants to die,
let him. It’s his funeral.”
Willow looked over at him crossly. “And what if I wanted to stay?”
Squeezing her thigh, Spike remarked, “Luv, I’m shipping your sweet little
ass out with Buffy and Cordelia’s.”
“I see,” started Willow with her resolve face on. “All the big bad guys
get to stay and fight while all of us helpless girls are sent away. Too
fragile, are we?”
As Spike nodded, Buffy remarked wryly, “Sexists.”
Doyle raised his hands in innocence. “Not a sexist here Plan on me
shipping out with the girls. I’ve had enough Wolfram and Hart right
now.”
>From behind them, Wesley remarked from a table where he had been reading.
“Yes, count me out of the ritual wetting of one’s self.”
Wills, who had been quiet so far, looked over at Angel. “I’m going to
stay. Count at least one girl in.”
Angel was about to disagree when Riley remarked, “She can fight.
Remember what she did to us earlier today?”
Wills nodded at Riley’s statement and then looked back up at Angel.
“They took William. There is no way I’m letting them have a go at anyone
else.”
Cordy, squeezing Doyle’s hand, questioned Wills, “Your fighting skills
are great, but aren’t you too close to the situation? Not only that, but
you still aren’t all that knowledgeable in magic. What if you need it to
fall back on?”
“Too bad we can’t just combine her magic power with my spell knowledge,”
added Willow to the conversation.
Riley looked over at her and smiled, “But we can.”
Buffy looked over at him from where she had sat back down. “Riley Finn,
what is your mind up to now?”
“Graham Miller.”
“Wasn’t he in the Initiative with you?” asked Willow.
“Great. Let’s add another bloody GI Joe wanna be to the group,” Spike
sarcastically remarked as Willow elbowed him in the side.
“Last I heard,” started Riley, “he had been stationed pretty close to
here for a while. He has access to a lot of the government’s special
surveillance equipment.”
Lindsey, who had been going through books with Wesley, remarked, “So, we
put up surveillance equipment here, and Willow can watch what is going on
from a remote location and then patch into our Willow.”
Cordelia, still upset that she had been kicked out of the office, crossed
her arms in disgust. “Yippee," she started sarcastically, “now I can
watch Angel get his butt kicked on a monitor.”
Smiling sadly at her, Angel begged her, “If I turn to Angelus, please
promise you will leave LA.”
On the couch, Cordy commented, “You don’t have to turn over. Actually,
you don’t have to be here.”
Spike rolled his eyes. “You have heard of a vampire’s enhanced senses.
They would know he wasn’t here.”
Cordy shook her head, “No, they would sense him.”
“I don’t get what you’re saying,” remarked Angel.
“We could put an Angel here. An Angel that has a different past with Dru
and Darla and won’t be affected the same way.”
Wills smiled as she caught on. “Our Angel hated Darla. They had some
argument shortly after she sired him and she returned to the Master.”
Buffy, wearing a smug smile now that Angel was being pulled out of the
lineup, remarked, “So, now we have an Angel here who cares less about
Darla. But what about William and Faith? They will have an inside
edge.”
Looking over at Willow, Wills asked, “Faith may have not waked up by now,
but if she has, she may still be used to sleeping at this time. I know a
spell that can let me enter another person’s dreams, but I need an
anchor.”
Willow smiled. “No problem.”
Wills looked over at Buffy, mirroring Willow’s smile, “We’ll have a
answer to that question pretty soon.”

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