"Aaaangeelll!"
Angel sat up in his bed and looked around the room for danger. "What? What is it, Cordelia?"
"You don't have to breath, right?" Cordelia rolled over in her bed and looked across the two foot space separating her from Angel. "Right?"
"You woke me up to ask me *that*?"
"Well?"
He lay back down and rubbed his temples. "No, I don't have to breath."
"Then is there some reason you have to snore?"
"I don't snore."
"Yes, you do. And it's driving me nuts! You sound like that asthmatic water buffalo that used to be at the Sunnydale zoo when I was…"
"Cordelia!" He interrupted her before she went any further. "You've gotten to sleep in the last 48 hours, I haven't. Now, if you don't want me falling asleep tonight while we're supposed to be looking for the bad guys… PLEASE SHUT UP!"
"Fine, Mr. Grumpy Pants…. I just asked a simple question, no need to bite my head off about it. Oh… I didn't mean literally, of course… maybe if you turned on your side.. or…"
"Cordelia, please..." Vampires weren’t supposed to beg… he knew that, but at this point, he be willing to do just about anything in order to get some sleep.
It's not like he'd been unreasonable about this whole thing. He'd given in to her when she'd wanted to stay in the best hotel in town. Although it wasn't a luxury hotel by any means, the room was still twice as large as the motel room they'd had before. The min-bar was well stocked, there was 24 hour room service, several cable channels and pay-per-view. A nice place to stay. At least that's what Cordelia told him as he would have no use for any of those things. He just wanted to use the bed and the shower.
And he'd given in to her when she'd insisted she had to use the bathroom to steam the wrinkles out of her clothes before *he* could use the shower. Of course steaming her clothes meant that the water was less than hot for his shower and the room was so thick with steam he could have just as easily forgone the shower and pretended he was in a sauna.
He'd even given in to her when she said they *had* to have breakfast and be seen in the hotel restaurant before she could sleep. Getting dressed again after his less than hot shower and then sitting through her mind numbing chatter and perky greetings to every person that passed by made him wonder if it would be a set back to his redemption if he gagged her, threw her over his shoulder and locked her in the trunk of the car.
But this was starting to get ridiculous. They'd checked in at four in the morning, it was now almost eight and they were just *now* getting to sleep. Enough was enough. "I will try not to breath, okay? If it bothers you too much, turn on the radio or the television. But don't wake me up again unless it's important!"
"Well, geez, fine! It's not like I don't need *my* sleep. I mean you're already dead, so what does it matter if you *look* like you are? And it's not like you wouldn't be just as comfortable sleeping in, say, the bathtub…."
With a groan, Angel turned over, presenting his back to the still chattering woman. "Cordelia!"
"Fine, fine… I'm shutting up."
He heard her covers rustling as she settled in again. Finally, peace and quiet. Angel let his mind wander over the past few days as he drifted back to sleep. Inevitably, his thoughts focused on Buffy. Was she really safe? Could she really trust that boy she was seeing? Was she, right now, being held by the same people that had hurt Spike and kidnapped Willow? What if Giles had been taken or injured and he couldn't call?
"Stop it! Buffy is fine, Willow is fine and that psycho kid of yours is fine, too. Now stop worrying and go to sleep."
Angel smiled, despite himself. "How do you do that, Cordy?"
"I know the signs, even when your back is turned."
"You know me too well. Goodnight, Cordelia." Angel closed his eyes and this time, fell asleep almost instantly.
*************
"Why did we have to get here so early?"
"I told you already, Anya, construction starts pretty early. The foreman should be here and he's the one I want to talk to without a bunch of people knowing." Xander released his girlfriends hand and knocked on the door to the foreman's trailer. "Now, just leave the talking to me, okay?"
"Like I'd have anything to say to some big sweaty guy."
Once they'd been told to enter, Xander pulled open the door and dragged Anya in behind him. "Hey Mr. Thompson. How's it going?"
"Xander, what brings you here? Decide to take me up on my offer to take you on full-time?" The foreman came around his desk and shook hands with Xander then leaned back against the edge of the desk.
"No, not really. I uh…have to do a report for … um, school and I needed some info. I was hoping you could help me out."
"School? So you finally wised up and enrolled in college? Good for you!"
"Well, it's just a few classes. One of them is a.. uh.. writing class… the one I need some stuff for. See, I have to write this story for class and make it as … uh… accurate as possible. I started it and then realized I didn't know everything I needed. I looked stuff up at the library but I can't find what I need."
"A writing class, huh?" Mr. Thompson looked a little skeptical but just shrugged his shoulders and picked up his coffee cup. "Well, what can I help you with? Something about construction?"
Xander nodded his head and smiled. "Yeah, kinda. I knew you were the best person I could ask about that kinda thing. I need to know how construction for the government works. I mean, does the government put an add in the newspaper saying they have something that needs built and then people call them up and ask for the job, or what?"
"Something like that, yeah. But it depends on what they want built. I mean, if it's a public building, companies bid for the right to get the contract. The little men in suits look over the cost proposals from the different companies and then usually choose the lowest bid."
"And what if it's *not* a public building? I mean is it different if it's for the military or something?"
"Again, it depends. If it's super-duper, top secret, then, most of the time, they just use their own people. If they can't use their own people for some reason, they hire outside help, but it's supervised by someone from the military and everybody has to sign one of those papers that say they won't ever talk about it."
Xander felt his hopes plummet. "So the companies probably wouldn't have kept the building plans and stuff, once the job was over, right?"
"No, probably not. Some snotty Lieutenant took ours when we were done with the last job we did. I'm assuming it would be the same with other places."
"You had a government contract? I thought you only did stuff here in town?"
"It was here in… Hold up, I'm not supposed to say anything about it, remember?"
"Oh, yeah, right.. uh.. so, anyway, they take all the stuff about the job when it's over? That doesn't seem fair. I mean, what if you wanted to use it as an example of your work to get another job?"
"Oh, well, they took the 'official' blueprints and such, but I still have my notes and drawings from when we had to make changes. Nothing indicates what we were building or where, so… " The foreman winked at Xander, as if sharing a private joke. "Did that answer all your questions? For your story, I mean?"
"Um.. yeah.. thanks. Ya know, it would be really neat if I could use some of your plans to, um, illustrate my story and all. To bad that you don't have them somewhere I could take a look at them."
"Yeah, that is a shame." The foreman fell silent and studied Xander long enough that the younger man started to squirm. "Well, I have to get to work. You could take a look at some of the other stuff I've got laying around here, if you want. Just don't get the key out of my desk and look in the top drawer of the filing cabinet."
"Huh?" Xander looked at the foreman like he was speaking another language. Anya elbowed him in the ribs and gave him a dirty look. "Oh.. okay.. thanks." He still didn't know what the man was talking about but Anya nodded her head, so he must have done something right.
Mr. Thompson gathered up a few things and left the young couple alone in his trailer.
"Xander!" Anya smacked him on the shoulder and went around the foreman's desk. "You almost…"
"What!?"
"For some reason the large, sweaty man is being nice and letting you have the plans to the military thingy that they built and you are acting like an idiot!" She rummaged in the drawer until she found the key and then quickly went over to the filing cabinet. "Well? Aren't you going to help me look for them?"
Xander blinked a few times and then finally understood what had just happened. He joined Anya at the filing cabinet and pulled out a few folders. "I don't know how we're going to figure out which one of these things is the right one."
"It probably won't have a name or location on it, right?"
"Good thinking, Anya." He quickly replaced all the folders that were labeled with an address or building name. That left them with three folders with no label. "I hope it's one of these."
"Why do you think the big, sweaty man did that?" Anya shut the cabinet and relocked it, returning the key to the desk. "Do you think he knows something?"
"I.. I don't know. He was very understanding about that whole incident at Sunnydale U. And come to think of it, he didn't even question my explanation of why I couldn't come to work the next day. I suppose if you live in Sunnydale long enough, you're bound to notice some strange stuff."
"Well, that'd be a first."
"What?"
"Someone actually noticing something is odd around here. Whatever the reason, I think we should go before he comes back and changes his mind."
"Yeah… "
Xander bent the folders in half and shoved them into his pants at the small of his back. He hoped the shirt would cover the lump and no one would want to stop and chat with him on the way. "Let's get these to Giles."
*************************
"I see… yes… I understand… thank you…. goodbye." Giles hung up the phone and crossed the first name off his list. He'd waited till nearly 9 o'clock to start his calls and the first one had been a complete waste of time. The professor he'd hoped to talk to had died two years previously and no one had taken over his research.
"Good morning, Giles." Willow yawned and headed for the kitchen. "Any luck so far?"
"No. But I've just started. How are you feeling this morning?" Giles followed her into the kitchen and put the kettle on. Both were speaking in lowered tones to avoid waking up the vampire sleeping on the couch.
"Still a little tired, but okay other than that. Did Buffy call last night?" She poured herself a glass of juice and leaned against the counter.
"Yes, she did. She said she'd try to bring your laptop and some clothes over after classes this afternoon but that it would be best if you made a list and have someone go over when the dorm is empty or everyone is asleep."
"Why? She knows what I need."
"But it would look very suspicious if she's seen carrying boxes out of the dorm and to my house. She knows she's being watched and there's probably someone watching your dorm, as well. And even though her mother is out of town for the next few weeks, there may also be someone watching her house."
"Oh… well, as long as I get my laptop, I'll figure something else out for clothes."
"I have to assume *your* parent's house is also being watched, so don't even think about going over there." The kettle whistled and Giles quickly turned it off and removed it from the burner. "Would you like some tea or coffee?"
"Coffee. I have a feeling that it's going to be a long day."
"Hopefully Xander and Anya will be here soon and we can …"
As if his words summoned them, the pair in question came through the front door, Xander grinning like he'd just won the lottery. "Bingo!"
"Shhh! Spike's still asleep." Willow came out of the kitchen and motioned to the couch.
"So? Oh, right, we're supposed to be nice to him, I forgot." Anya shrugged, took Xander's hand and pulled him towards the smell of coffee.
Spike sat up and scowled at Anya's back before turning to meet Willow's eyes. "That's okay, pet. I'm not asleep."
Willow blinked a few times at the sight he presented. Shirtless - if the bare shoulders visible above the couch back were any indication-slightly mussed hair curling every which way, smile tugging at his lips, face open and devoid of it's usual tightness and cynicism, blue eyes shining with something she couldn't identify.
"What're you staring at, Red?" He made an attempt at smoothing his hair back into place and growled when he realized just how wild it had gotten. "Bloody Hell! I'm bleaching it back…. TODAY!" He quickly rose from the couch and practically ran for the bathroom towards the life saving hair care products.
Willow giggled and returned to the kitchen. "And he says *Angel* is obsessed with his hair."
"Yes… well…" Giles grinned and handed Willow a cup of coffee. "Instant, I'm afraid, but it's all I have."
"That's okay, thanks." She took her first sip of caffeine goodness and sighed. "So, Xander, did you find anything?"
"The big, sweaty man let us steal some of his files." Anya grabbed a piece of toast that had just popped up and started nibbling.
Xander rolled his eyes and pulled the folders out of his belt. "She means that for some reason Mr. Thompson let us have these but pretended that he didn't. I don't know what's up with him, but remind me to thank him later." He put the folders on the counter and waived at them. "I have no idea if any of them are the place we're looking for, but that's what we got."
"I see. Well, we'll have Spike and Willow look at them and see if anything seems familiar. Good job, Xander." Giles attempted to flatten them out, without much success. "Now if you will all get out of my way, I'll attempt to make some breakfast. Have you eaten Xander?"
"Um… yeah.. but I could eat again."
"Of course you can." Giles smiled. "Anya?"
"If Xander's staying, I am too."
"Fine. Why don't take these plans and start looking them over? Oh, and get Spike, too. We don't have time to repeat things." Giles shooed them out of the kitchen and into the living room.
Anya led Xander to the couch, pushed aside Spike's bedding and pulled Xander down with her. "So where's the vampire?"
"In the bathroom. I'll go see what's taking him so long." Willow moved down the hall and stopped at the bathroom door.
"Spike? Are you almost done? Xander got some stuff from the construction company that we need to look at." When there was no answer, she tried the knob and found it unlocked. "Spike?" She pushed the door open and gasped.
Spike had his entire head submerged in a sink full of water….. "SPIKE!" Willow took the two steps to the sink and yanked the vampire's head up. "What are trying to do! Drown yourself?"
Spike gave a startled look at the intruder and pushed his hair out of his face. "Willow, what the hell are you doing in here?"
"You were trying to drown yourself! I saved you!"
The vampire blinked a few times and then started laughing… hard. "Pet… I'm a … vampire… I can't drown…"
"Oh… um.. yeah.. I forgot…" Willow dropped her eyes in embarrassment and realized for the first time that Spike was completely naked. Her face turned an even deeper shade of red. "Uh.. I'll.. just… go….."
Spike stopped laughing long enough to grab her arm. "You don't have to… I'll behave."
"C..could you…" She waived at his lower half and closed her eyes.
"What?" Spike frowned for a moment. "Oh, you mean cover up my naughty bits?"
Willow nodded her head violently, keeping her eyes closed…. well, mostly closed.
"Sure, pet." Spike wrapped a towel around his waist, delivered a massive amount of green hair gel to his head and began trying to tame his wet hair. "You can open your eyes now, I'm decent."
She opened her eyes slowly, not sure that her definition of decent and Spike's were the same thing. ((Nope, definitely not decent, even with a towel. What am I doing in here? I should leave, I should *not* be in a small, enclosed space with a naked Spike. It's wrong, it's bad, it's…. tempting… no! Not tempting. Dead guy, evil guy… cute evil dead guy, who's not being so evil right now, gorgeous not-so-evil, un-dead guy….No, no, no….Bad, wrong, bad Willow!))
"Are you going to just stare at me or are you going to tell me what we're supposed to be looking at and why?"
"What?" Willow blushed again and raised her eyes from Spike's chest, meeting his amused gaze. ((I really need to stop doing that or he's going to think I'm a total virgin prude!)) "Oh.. um… Xander got some stuff that might be the building plans of the Initiative but he's not sure, so we have to look at them and see if anything looks familiar. I don't know how much help it will be since I don't know how to read building plans and stuff, but since we're the only two.. well, besides Buffy and Riley, but they aren't here… anyway, since we're the only two who have been in the places, it's the best bet to figure it out and…. I'm babbling, aren't I?"
Spike shrugged and smoothed the last strands of hair into place. "Babble all you want, I understood you. So, how does my hair look?"
Willow gaped at him for a moment and choked back a giggle. It wouldn't do to make him think she was laughing at his hair. "Um.. your hair looks fine, Spike. Is hair obsession something that comes with the vampire deal?"
"I *don't* have a hair obsession! I just can't stand it sticking up every which way."
"Oh.. um.. yeah.. okay… whatever you say. Are you going to be finished in here soon? 'Cause Giles is cooking breakfast and there's a lot to do today, and…"
"Yeah, you go on, I'll be out in a minute. I still have to go upstairs to get my clothes, but I won't be long."
"Um…okay… well…"
"What?" When Willow just looked at him questioningly, Spike rolled his eyes. "It's obvious you want to ask me something, so go ahead."
"I didn't really want to ask you anything, I just wanted to… um.. say thanks, I guess."
"For what? Getting you into this mess?"
"No. *You* didn't get me into anything. From what Tara said, they would have come after me sooner or later. I meant, thanks for sticking around and helping. Thanks for calling Angel, although I know you must have hated to do it, and thanks for… um, caring enough to.. to…"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Red. I don't care about any of you. I just want this thing out of my head and those wankers are the only hope I have. Now go away." He turned away and looked at the empty mirror, using intense concentration to fuss with his hair again.
Willow blinked in confusion at his swift mood change. "Spike, I…"
"Oh, you're still here?"
"No." Willow wasn't quite sure what it was she'd said to set him off, but she knew there was no talking to him when he was like this. She left the bathroom, slamming the door behind her. ((Ooooo… sometimes he makes me soooo mad!)) She went back the living room and threw herself into a chair, glaring at the hallway leading to the bathroom.
Xander looked up from the building plans he was studying and recognized Willow's 'pissed off and ready to kill' look. "What's up, Chuck?"
"That stupid vampire! He is such a jerk. I don't know why I thought…" She clamped her lips shut and continued glaring at the hall. "It's nothing, Xander. Have you been able to figure anything out from that stuff?"
Ignoring her attempt at changing the subject, Xander removed Anya's creeping hand from his thigh and stood, fists clenched. "It didn't sound like 'nothing', Wills. What did he do to you? Want me to go beat him up for you?"
"You never offer to pummel people for insulting me!"
"That's because you've usually insulted them first, Anya."
"That's *not* true! Just yesterday that man…"
"Xander… Anya!" Giles came out of the kitchen and waived a spatula at them. "Please cease this at once! All of you are supposed to be going over the contents of those folders.. and just where is Spike?"
"Right here. Back in a mo." Spike walked through the living room and up the stairs without pausing. Once the guest room door clicked shut, Xander abruptly sat down.
"Please tell me he wasn't naked."
"Oh, he was naked all right. I can see why you've taken such an interest, Willow. Does he give good orgasms?"
"ANYA! I keep telling you all that it's not like that!" Willow tried to sink further into the chair, hoping to become invisible.
"Hmm.. well, maybe it should be."
"You keep out of this, Anya. Willow will *not* be having orgasms with… I don't believe I'm even discussing this! Subject closed before I hurl."
Giles shook his head and went back to the kitchen muttering something about 'teenage hormones'.
"Drop it Xander. Like I said last night, it's none of your business who I do or don't 'have orgasms' with." What was with this obsession over her sex life lately?
"Aaha! So you *are* having sex with Deadboy, Jr. I knew it!"
Willow looked over at her friend with exasperation. Why were they all so sure that she was sleeping with Spike? "Yeah, sure, Xander. We've been doing it like bunnies for years now, all day, every day, any place we can find. We even sneak into your basement when you're gone and do it on the washing machine during the spin cycle!"
There was a curious choking sound from the kitchen. One that was echoed from the direction of the stairs.
"Well, I guess we can't hide it any more, pet. The secret's out and so there's nothing to be done but announce the happy news." Spike descended the stairs, fully dressed this time, and walked smoothly over to Willow's chair. He ignored the fact that she looked just as confused as the whelp and demon girl. In one swift move, he had himself in the chair and Willow in his lap. "Now, should I tell them, or do you want to do it?"
Willow was having a very hard time breathing, let alone thinking. "You..you.. do it."
Spike's eyes twinkled with mischief and he brought one of Willow's hands to his mouth for a kiss. "Willow and I are getting married and she's pregnant with my demon child. Or at least we think it's mine, it's hard to know for sure since it was conceived while we were at that orgy. But even if it's not, I'll love it like my own."
"Orgy? What orgy? Why wasn't I invited?" Anya pretend pouted and pulled on the gaping Xander's shirtsleeve. "You never take *me* to orgies."
"Well, after Willow's great-aunt Martha died and left her that haunted house, we moved in together. There was something about an evil aura or possession or something and next thing you know… supernatural orgy. There wasn't time to send out invites, sorry. Maybe next time. Anyway, Angel wants us to name the little tyke after him, but I don't think 'The Great Poof' would be a fitting name for any child of mine."
Willow was biting her lip to keep from giggling, but the last was just too much. "No more Jerry Springer for you, Spike. Strictly nature shows from now on."
Xander came out of his near stroke and some of the color returned to his face. "You're kidding… right… right.. of course you are. Willow doesn't have a great-aunt Martha."
"Breakfast!" Giles called from the kitchen.
Xander and Anya got up from the couch and headed for the kitchen. Willow started to get off of Spike's lap, but he didn't let go of her. "Wait."
Willow turned to look at the vampire in confusion. "The joke's over, you can let me go now."
"I know, but… I wanted… I didn't really mean what I said… in the bathroom."
"Are you apologizing?"
"No.. yes… damn it! I hate this." Spike looked everywhere but at Willow. "I didn't mean to upset you, but you have to understand that I'm a demon. You are supposed to be afraid of me, I'm supposed to kill you. But this damn chip in my head has screwed all of that up and now…. Willow, I'm not Angel, I can't care about anyone but myself. I'm going to be free again one day, and then I'll be gone."
Willow made a mental note of the fact that he hadn't said he would *kill* them and then be gone. "I wasn't upset, Spike. I was angry. There's a difference." She once again tried to slide off his lap, but he only clutched her waist tighter. "Let go."
"Why were you angry?"
"Why? Because you were intentionally mean to me! I was only trying to thank you for being there and you totally turned on me. I'm wasn't trying to manipulate you and I know you aren't like Angel. I thought we understood one another a little better than that. Now let me go!"
"No." He lifted one hand to her chin and turned her face to his. "You really don't have any feelings for me other than 'sorta friends'? Tell me the truth."
"No… well, a little lust thing…. but that's all. I'm not still so immature that I'd fall for a guy I can never have. I know what you are and I don't have a death wish at the moment."
One corner of Spike's mouth quirked up. "You can *have* me any time you want, pet, I'm easy."
Willow just rolled her eyes. "That's not what I mean and you know it."
"And it's just a *little* lust thing?"
"Sorry, did I trample on your ego? Seriously though, if you weren't… you know, evil and all and… well, dead… maybe things would be different. You can be an okay guy when you try real hard and I've um… enjoyed spending time with you but…"
"Can't do much about the evil and dead parts but maybe I just need the right woman to tame my wild ways."
Willow couldn't hold in the snort of disbelief. "Oh, that's a good one, Spike. That line usually work?"
"No, not usually. But you are the only one of this pack of good guys that I can stand."
"Yeah, well… whatever." Willow tried to ignore the little flutter of hopefulness in her stomach. Spike was not for her. He was not boyfriend material for *any* of the still living and breathing and wanting to stay that way. And even if he couldn't do it himself right now, she knew to be with him, she'd have to become like him. So no, Spike for Willow. "Now, let me go before Giles can't restrain Xander any more."
Spike craned his neck around and looked at the kitchen door. As Willow had said, Giles had a hold on Xander's arm and was physically restraining him from re-entering the living room. "He really doesn't like me, does he?"
"No, he doesn't. But, he still thinks I need protecting the same way I did when we were kids."
"Well, isn't that sweet?" Spike made a face and stood up, placing Willow on her feet.
"Yes, it is sweet of him. He cares about me…even if the overprotectiveness does get a little annoying at times."
"So you're not angry with me any more?"
"No."
"Good. Let's get something to eat." Spike flashed her a smile and headed for the kitchen.
By the time Willow reached the kitchen, Xander was at the counter loading up his plate with scrambled eggs, bacon and toast as if nothing had happened. When he was done, he brushed past Willow and took a seat at the dining room table, Anya not far behind.
After a very tense but silent breakfast, Giles cleared his throat and ran through the plan for the day.
"I'm going to continue my calls until Buffy arrives. The four of you will study the drawings and notes in the folders-without fighting or flirting or whatever it is that keeps getting you sidetracked-and have come to some conclusions by noon. At that time, I'll call Angel and have Cordelia come for whichever set seems most promising. Now, did I forget anything?"
"Yeah, you forgot to not sound like my father."
"I'm very sorry, Xander, but we don't have an abundance of time to waste. Now if you would all get busy…"
Giles cleared off the rest of the breakfast dishes and watched until the foursome opened the first folder and started trying to identify things. He then returned to the phone and his list.
****************
"Doctor Blake, if you would continue please?"
"Sorry." Doctor Blake started the recorder with the foot pedal and began recording his findings. "Um.. left lung 490g, right 501g. Both appear normal, cutting section for further testing."
"I want the pituitary, adrenal and thyroid glands in their entirety, not just samples. Have you heard anything from the Center for Disease Control?"
"They said they'd come and do the city-wide testing, even though they hadn't had any reports from local hospitals about an increase in tuberculosis cases. But since it's you, they'll come. They are a little leery of taking the additional blood samples and then turning them over to you, though. Heart, 390g, no gross abnormalities of mitral, tricuspid, aortic or pulmonary valves. Section cut for further testing."
"I'll call the director and have a few words with her. She owes me one. By the way, Buffy will begin training in the gym tomorrow. I want her data transferred to the computer here and not the main one. I'm going to schedule a complete physical for her some time next week. I want the results of that entered here, as well."
"Yes, ma'am. Do you want *this* subjects complete genetic breakdown or just the standard?"
"Complete. I want to know what makes this family different. After you finish the preliminary exam, I also want tissue samples of *every* organ as well as bone marrow samples. Damn! I have a class in ten minutes. Beep me when you finish with Mrs. Summers here, would you?"
"Yes ma'am. Oh, Professor Walsh, before I forget, have you decided if you are going to use the Mintson demon yet?"
"No, I don't think I will. The tissue is just too unstable. Now, I really have to go or I'm going to be late."
***************
"…and don't forget your papers are due by next Tuesday. Class dismissed."
Buffy gathered her papers, slipped out of her seat and chatted with some girl she knew only slightly until she'd made it out to the hall without being snagged by Professor Walsh. ((Now if Riley will only get his ass out…))
"Buffy… everything okay?" Riley led her several more feet down the hall and around a corner.
"Yeah, hunky dorey. Where were you last night? I waited until almost five."
"I slept downstairs since it was so late. I also didn't want Professor Walsh to think I was running back to you to report. That was okay, right?"
"Probably a good move. So what did she tell you once I left?" The kept their voices lowered although it wasn't likely that anyone would bother trying to eavesdrop on what appeared to be an ordinary conversation between boyfriend and girlfriend.
"She asked me how we were getting along and if I'd noticed you acting odd in any way lately. I told her we were getting along fine and that you seemed a little distracted yesterday but otherwise okay. I didn't want to say anything about Willow supposedly leaving town but I also didn't want her to think you didn't notice, either. Then she changed the subject to regular business. Not another word about you and she never asked about Willow."
"What regular business?"
"Oh, you know, 'not meeting our capture quota', blah, blah, blah, 'corrective action plan', blah, blah, blah, 'the mandate says sixty percent capacity to be maintained at all times', blah and double blah. I have to put a team together to help out the CDC next week and there's new recruits coming at the end of the month that have to be brought up to speed. Just the usual stuff."
"Is that normal? I mean the new people."
"Yeah, we get three or four every few months to replace the burn-outs. Turn over is very high in this kind of work, as I'm sure you can understand."
Buffy sighed and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. Sometimes I wish I could hand this job over to someone else, too." She checked her watch and let out a little squeak of dismay. "I'm running late! I need to take Willow's laptop over to Giles' and I said I'd be there by now. Walk me to the dorm?"
"Sure. And on the way, you can tell me all about that guy… um.. Angel. You know, the bloodsucker that you couldn't seem to stop looking at?"
Mentally cursing herself for forgetting, Buffy turned and started down the hall. When Riley caught up and fell into step beside her, she smiled up at him reassuringly. "Okay, well.. uh... yeah… Angel. It's kinda a long story."
"Reader's Digest version then…."
****************
Giles removed his glasses and wearily rubbed his eyes. His inquires had yielded some interesting facts about Professor Walsh's career. So far, it had been surprisingly easy to track down her former co-workers. None of the information he'd gathered was as specific as he would have liked but one thing did keep coming through loud and clear, though. The good Doctor was on the edge of losing her medical license when she was recruited by the Defense Department.
Her skill and brilliance in forming new treatments had never been in question but her ethics… Her ethics were rather loose from the beginning. Everyone he'd talked to had been hesitant to say anything really damning, but they couldn't get around the fact that she had been asked to leave at least three facilities for unauthorized experiments on patients.
Granted, most were psychological in nature and thus it was harder to prove wrongdoing. But *three* hospitals in seven years had found fault with her rather unorthodox treatment plans. The evidence was always just enough to get her sacked but not enough to lodge a complaint with the Medical Association. She'd lucked out or had been very careful.
She'd gone into research then, probably out of necessity. Six years working with psychological theories, neurological studies, drug therapies and probably many other things that her former associates were hesitant to mention to an outsider. But in 1988, her research did garner her a place at a small, privately run hospital in Moscow.
Giles hadn't yet been able to get much more than the basics about her tenure in Russia. He did know that she spent three years in Moscow, until the fall of the communist government, and that until then, the hospital was primarily used by politicians and other wealthy communists to stow disagreeable family members until an understanding was reached as to their behavior. The doctor that had been working with Walsh when the offer came described it as 'one of those places where they send their underage sons or daughters when they get caught doing something embarrassing or need to dry out'. Not really a mental hospital at all and not a job that fit in with her previous interests.
For the year after her return to the United States, there was no record. Then she turned up at a veterans hospital in upstate New York. And, once again, her unorthodox treatments caught the attention of the administration. This time, though, she wasn't as lucky or as careful. A complaint was lodged against her with the A.M.A. and she was on unpaid leave when she was contacted by the State Department.
Giles bet that whatever she'd been doing in Russia, and the nature of the complaint against her, were the keys to discovering just what she was really doing here in Sunnydale. Now all he had to do was find out what those two things were and they just might stand a chance at stopping her.
"Perhaps Willow can wrestle some additional information from that machine of hers."
"You know, they say talking to yourself is the first sign of senility."
Giles snapped his head up and blushed when he found Buffy standing in his bedroom doorway. "Yes, well… "
Buffy smiled and leaned against the door frame. "I brought Willow's 'machine' and a change of clothes. So what's going on here? Find anything useful?" "As a matter of fact, yes. Xander managed to acquire some building plans from somewhere and, amazingly enough, it appears that at least one of them will actually be useful. Cordelia took all three to Angel several hours ago and I expect a call from him at any time. I've gotten some information about Professor Walsh that may assist us in discovering her agenda separate from Initiative's. And you?"
"Wow! The only thing I've done is go to my classes and talk to Riley."
"What did Riley have to say?"
"Not much. Just that Walsh didn't seem overly suspicious or anything. Which is of the good, but it kind of makes *me* suspicious. From everything I've seen of her, she's not one to leave loose ends like Willow running around."
Giles nodded in agreement and gathered his notes from where they were scattered around his bed. "Perhaps she is too busy at the moment to deal with it, but I agree that something is not right there. Did Riley offer anything else?"
"Just regular business stuff. There's new recruits to take care of and something about having to pick a team to escort some alphabet people around town."
"Alphabet people?" Sometimes Giles wondered if Buffy said things like that intentionally just to make him ask.
"Yeah, you know, CIA, FBI, CDC, something like that." She shrugged her shoulders. "He didn't seem to think it was very important, so I didn't ask."
A sigh escaped him as he stood to go downstairs. "Everything may important. Could you please try to find out?"
Buffy nodded her head and scrunched her forehead in thought. "I'm pretty sure he said CDC. If it was, would that be bad?"
"Possibly. I don't know. The Centers for Disease Control doesn't normally use the military unless it's very serious. Remember that movie you children insisted we watch? Something with an escaped monkey and a virus?"
Buffy paled. "Oh my God, Giles! Do you think Professor Walsh plans to release a virus in Sunnydale?"
"No, I don't. From what I've been able to discover about her, that is not her style. But it may be very important to find out why Riley must escort members of the CDC around town."
"I will. I'll find out tonight on patrol."
"Very well. Now, I simply must have some tea before I expire from thirst." Giles gestured for Buffy to proceed him down the stairs. "Would you like something?"
"No thanks. I'll just catch up with Willow and then I should go."
They reached the bottom of the stairs and Giles broke off to go to the kitchen while Buffy seated herself next to Willow at the table.
"Where's Spike?" Buffy grabbed a handful of chips from the bowl on the table and got comfortable.
"He's pouting in the bathroom. I told him I had to check my email once Giles was off the phone and we didn't have time to surf for porn sites." Willow snapped the phone line into the back of her lap top and turned it on. "And now that Giles *is* off the phone," Willow turned her head and yelled towards the bathroom, "I'LL STILL BE TOO BUSY TO SURF FOR PORN!"
The girls heard a muffled, "Sod off!" from the direction of the bathroom followed by the toilet flushing.
"What is he doing in there? I mean, he doesn't *use* the bathroom, does he?"
Willow giggled and shook her head, "No. It's the only place he can smoke."
"Oh. Well, how's everything with you? He's not driving you too crazy, is he?"
Willow grabbed her own handful of chips and pushed her laptop back a little. "No, it's going okay. He's just… Spike, ya know?"
Buffy looked at her friend for long moment, knowing there was more Willow wanted to say. She'd seen that look before and knew it meant 'I'm mentally arguing with myself'.
"I.. uh… won a bet about whether Riley would be with you when you came over. Now he has to leave his hair black and wear the new clothes he bought for the rest of the week." Willow shared a smile with Buffy and turned back to her email.
Knowing that wasn't what Willow really wanted to say, but also knowing this wasn't the time for girl-talk, Buffy shrugged her shoulders and let it go for now. "Okay, well, you know where the stakes are if he gets to be too much for you." She stood and dropped the few uneaten chips back in the bowl. "I've got to jet but make sure Giles keeps me up to date, okay?"
"Don't let the door hit you on the ass on the way out, Slayer." Spike strolled in to the living room and threw himself down on the couch.
Seeing Spike with black hair was still a shock and it took Buffy a moment to stop staring. "Whatever." She turned back to Willow and winked. "Well, at least he's upgraded his look from Billy Idol wanna-be to Elvis wanna-be. There may be hope for him yet."
"Yeah, baby. I'm a hunk-a-hunk-a burning love." Spike gave Buffy the two finger salute and dug underneath him for whatever was poking him in the back.
"See ya, Buffy. Be careful." Willow bit her lip to keep from laughing and pulled her laptop back towards her as Buffy left.
Giles came out of the kitchen, tea and notes in hand and took them to the table. "Here's what I've found out so far…"
**************
"Okay, here's where I think Willow entered the sewers." Angel pointed to a line on one of the pages of the building plans and made another sketch on a separate piece of paper.
"If you say so. It just looks like a bunch of squiggles to me." Cordelia shrugged in apology. "You know I don't understand a thing you're telling me. I don't know why you're bothering."
"Because Spike and I are going down there in a few hours and I need someone out here to know where we went and how we got in. Please, at least try to at least pay attention to where I mark these."
"What good will it do to go in to that place? It's too dangerous, Angel. There has to be some other way."
"Well, there isn't. Until we get a look at whatever they're hiding, we don't know how to stop whatever it is they're doing. I don't think we'll find everything we're looking for since this isn't the main lab, but hopefully, we can find enough information to plan the next step. "
"I thought we decided that you and I were going to hang out at that horrible yuppie bar?"
"I changed my mind. I don't want you anywhere near that place." Angel bent his head back to his task, making a map of the underground facility for himself and Spike to follow. "We need to take care of the Sunnydale problem before we take on whatever spy network they have going."
"Why?"
"Why what?" Angel asked without looking up.
"Why don't you want me going with you? Afraid little Ms. Cordy can't pull her weight? Think I'll stop to admire someone's shoes and give us away? I'm just not as good as your precious Buffy? WHAT?"
The anger in Cordelia's voice got his attention and Angel looked up, surprised. "I don't… no, that's not…" He put his pencil down and tried again. "I don't want you getting hurt. That's all. You mean… a lot to me, Cordelia and…"
"Yeah, I know. I'm sorry." She sighed and the anger melted away. "I just hate feeling so useless to you."
Angel grabbed her hand and squeezed gently. "You are the only one I trust to get us out of there if something goes wrong. You are not useless to me. You've never been useless."
"Yeah, right." she scoffed.
"Okay, maybe at the beginning you were a little iffy in the help department. But…"
"It's okay, Angel. I understand." Cordelia smiled softly and then turned her attention to the sketches Angel was making. "Show me again what it is I'm supposed to be looking at?"
The phone rang before Angel could continue. A quick glance at the clock confirmed it was still too early to be Giles and no one else had the number. That could only mean something was wrong.
"Hello?"
"Hey, old buddy. Heard you was in town. Long time no see."
"What are you…"
"Anyway, I thought maybe you could meet me at Ms. Edith's and we could catch up on old times. Been awhile since those tea parties in the garden."
"Ms. Edith's? I don't…"
"Yeah, she hasn't seen Alexander in a while either. Why don't you stop by his place and pick him up on the way?"
"Alexand…"
"You got it. Okay, well, see ya later, then."
The line disconnected and Angel replaced the phone on the hook. A deep sigh escaped him and he started placing the floor plans back in their folders. "Pack a *small* bag, Cordelia. I don't think we'll be back here for a couple of days."
"Who was on the phone?"
"Spike… I think. I'm pretty sure he was trying to tell me to go get Xander and meet him at the Mansion."
"*Pretty sure*? Why not positive?"
"I guess he thought someone was listening. We won't know what's going on till we get there. But, he's not the type to suddenly go insane. Okay, there is the thing where he told me to bring *Xander*. Anyway, I have to assume he was trying to give me a message in a way anyone listening would not understand."
Cordelia nodded and went to the closet to get out the luggage. "*Is* there a type to suddenly go insane?"
*************
"Here are the reports you requested, ma'am."
"How up to date are these?" Walsh quickly flipped through the stack of papers until she reached the end. She noted several long distance calls without the location verified. The rest listed not only city and state, but also the billing address for the number. It looked like someone spent the entire day on the phone. And if the addresses were any indication, the day was spent checking up on her.
"Last call logged in was two hours ago at seventeen hundred hours, ma'am. The shift changed then. The unidentified numbers should be verified within the next hour. And I'm supposed to…"
She cut him off with a wave of her hand. "Be sure someone brings me the updates. You're dismissed"
"Uh…"
Walsh slammed the report onto the table in front of her and glared at the corporal where he hovered at the door. "What is it?" she snapped.
"Doctor Blake needs you to come down to the holding cells. The new capture is ..uh… causing trouble."
"Why didn't you say that in the first place?" She picked up her pager off the table and started for the door. "Anything else?"
"No, ma'am."
Walsh swept past the corporal without another word. The halls were nearly empty since it was dinner time and she took these few minutes to gather her thoughts. The witch was still in town or at least told that annoying Giles person about her little adventure. Either way, it was time to deal with that little group once and for all. It was a little ahead of the schedule she'd set, but it couldn't be helped. The prototype would be ready for testing within a matter of days and she didn't want to run the risk of anything getting in the way of that.
The containment area she'd had built across town to house the Slayer was complete enough to do its job, so there was no reason not to have Riley bring her in as soon as possible. The only problem she could foresee with pushing the schedule was finding a way to alter the rest of the groups information enough to have justification to bring them in on suspicion of… well, something. Her boys were loyal but she didn't think she could get away with detaining innocent civilians without cause.
Sliding her card through the lock, Walsh pushed open the door to the cell area but Dr. Blake was no where to be seen. "Typical." She went back through the door and turned to the guard there. "Where's the new capture?"
"Dr. Blake moved him to the isolation room, ma'am."
Reversing her direction, Walsh vowed to have a few words with Dr. Blake about his communication skills. Rounding the corner, she nodded to the guard in front of the isolation room and unlocked the door. Once again, Dr. Blake was not present, but there was someone in the cell.
She approached the glass and had to wonder why Blake found it necessary to isolate this one. From the back he appeared humanoid, was calm and was even wearing some kind of uniform. Not like the dirty rags that most demons seemed to prefer. Then he turned around.
"What are you doing here!" she hissed as she moved closer to the glass. "I told you I would contact you as soon as…"
"My phone calls did not seem to influence you, so I decided to come in person and explain our position in this business arrangement."
"I don't who you think you are that you can just…" Walsh looked up at the camera in the corner of the cell and adjusted her position out of its sight.
The demon cut her off with an imperious wave of his hand. "I am the
one who convinced my brethren to finance you. And the Scourge do *not*
like to be made to look fools. Now, open the cell, Margaret."
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