CHAPTER ONE
The Performance Review

“Lindsay.  I’m glad you could make yourself available on such short notice.”

Lindsay inclined his head once in acknowledgement before closing the door to Holland’s impressive office.

“I’ve just come from the quarterly Management meeting, Lindsay.  The Senior Partners were very keen to discuss staff management issues – particularly in light of recent events – I’m sure you know what I’m referring to son.”

Lindsay knew he was in a difficult situation, Holland was no fool and the last thing Lindsay wanted to do was patronize him by acting the innocent, that particular game would never wash, not at Wolfram and Hart.  “You’re referring to Angel, Sir.  I’ve made some poor choices.”

Holland narrowed his eyes and his voice was distinctly frosty when he answered “More than your share actually.  I must advise you son, that at this point your very life depends on the way you answer my next question – is that clear enough?”

“Yes, sir.  I understand.”

“Despite your recent transgressions, I personally believe you have a wealth of untapped potential.  I handpicked you for that very reason, Lindsay, and luckily enough for you I have been able to persuade the Senior Partners that should they choose to exercise forbearance the rewards would be well worthwhile.  Now I want you to tell me the truth when I ask you – what are you willing to do to restore my faith, and more importantly what are you willing to do to restore the firm’s faith in your abilities?”

That was the million-dollar question – answer this wrong and he would be leaving the office in the boot of his new Mercedes rather than behind the drivers’ wheel.  “Anything Sir”

Holland smiled slowly and leant back in his chair for a moment.  “Good answer.  I’m sure you won’t let me down again.  Why don’t you head home and get some rest, you’ll be putting in the hours on our ‘friend’ Angelus soon enough.”
 

CHAPTER TWO
We Got Trouble

“Ahhh!  Angel!”

Hearing his Seer’s anguished cry Angel rushed out of the cave like darkness of his office to find Cordelia’s white face peering up at him in alarm from behind the computer screen.

“Cordy” he said quietly kneeling beside her chair to take her trembling hand in a lame attempt to offer comfort.  He always felt guilty that she suffered with the visions for him but after two centuries as a vampire he had absolutely no idea how to deal with her pain so he floundered around somewhat awkwardly, which was an unfamiliar sensation for him and one he didn’t particularly like.  He might have his soul but he was still a master vampire and awkwardness, and helplessness, didn’t sit well with him.

“Vision?”

“Huh?  No, dorkus, email!”

Wincing slightly at Cordy’s sharp tone Angel rose quickly to his feet to stand behind her to study the screen she was currently gesturing towards

“It’s Willow.  She’s in trouble.”
 

Willow sighed loudly and leant back on her chair to stretch before wincing slightly at the popping sound her spine made.

‘Why do I always get stuck with the lonesome late shift?’ she grumbled to herself annoyed with the knowledge the rest of the gang had departed an hour earlier citing the fact this last leg of research would require only Willow’s IT skills and not any slayage as such.

Sweeping her tired eyes around the dark and deserted Magic Box, Willow grinned in triumph when she spied the open box on the counter and one solitary and slightly sad looking jelly donut.

“Ahh jelly donut, how on earth did you survive the scourge I call Xander?”  She giggled a little at her own silliness and stood slowly.

Willow froze suddenly when she heard the back door to the shop rattle slightly.  She blushed furiously at the thought that Giles may have heard her little soliquy to the donut.  She was a little relieved nonetheless, strangely enough the shop was kind of spooky at night – at least it was when she was alone.

“Giles?”

“Might be from the same country, luv, but you definitely couldn’t mistake me for the Watcher.”

Willow spun around with a gasp desperate to confirm with her eyes what he ears were telling her.  Seeing him lounging casually against the back door her heart, which had almost stopped at the sound of his voice, began to hammer noisily in her chest again.  “oh Shit.”

Spike grinned happily around the ever-present cigarette and nodded his blond head in amicable agreement.  “Indeed.”

Her rather impressive self-preservation instincts finally decided to make an appearance and she sprung towards the counter where the telephone sat.  Spike obviously guessed what her first move would be and she was no match for his preternatural speed.  He lunged for the phone at the same time she did tearing it easily from the socket and sending it crashing against the wall across the opposite side of the store.

While the vampire paused to take a leisurely drag on his cigarette and admire the impressive hole in the wall the impact of the phone had just created, Willow remembered the stake sitting unobtrusively on a small pedestal just near the stairs next to a shiny new Orb of Thessulah.

Deciding that the whole ‘try and beat him to it’ strategy didn’t work with vampires she edged quietly towards the pedestal hoping he would continue to find the ruins of Giles’ phone fascinating for the next fifteen seconds or so.

No such luck.

“Wouldn’t be looking for this now would you, Pet?” He asked her happily holding up a stake before twirling it expertly between long, pale, fingers.

“Shit”

Spike raised on dark eyebrow before flicking his cigarette to the floor.  “Oh I bet you’re
just the veritable scrabble champion.  Is that all you can say?  Here I was relying on you being the brains of the outfit.”  He rolled his eyes in annoyance before continuing “that’s the only bloody reason I’m here, but if your not going to be any bloody use to me I suppose I’ll just kill you now and be done with it.”

“Huh”

Willow winced as he snorted in disgust.  Again with the idiotic response! She wasn’t doing herself any favors here.

“If you don’t stop that annoying edging you’re doing, I’ll break both your legs.”

Willow froze not doubting his words for a single second despite the seemingly offhand manner in which he delivered the threat.  “Uhhh…what are  you d doing here?”  She squeaked.

He didn’t answer right away, choosing to study the flaking black polish on his fingers instead and savoring the intoxicating scent of her fear – and her sandalwood body oil – he’d been a sucker for that since the early sixties – made him feel all nostalgic for Jimi Hendrix, odd shaped bongs, and newly emancipated young women eager to explore the ‘sexual revolution’.  Loved the fucking sixties, man.

“Killing two birds and all that rot.”  He finally replied a little absently lighting another cigarette from his seemingly never-ending supply of Marlboro’s.

“See, I got Marcus working on a little project for me and while he’s a real gun on the books, the bloody great twit isn’t too handy on the old computer – being ancient and all.”

Willow swallowed nervously not at all fooled by his friendly tone, she had a sneaking suspicion she knew where this was heading and she wasn’t too happy about it.

“Fact is, pet, I’m in need of a hacker and since I already know one” he grinned inclining his head in her direction “I thought why waste time looking elsewhere?  After all we’ve worked together before and I do so appreciate that protestant work ethic of yours.”

“Ahhhh, Spike – I’m Jewish”

“Whatever”

Silence stretched out for a moment as each watched the other carefully trying to predict the next move.

Willow broke first, just as he knew she would.  She was the nervous babbler if his memory served him correctly – and it always did.

“What’s the what on the ‘two birds with one stone’ remark?”

Spike smiled slowly and stalked smoothly towards the little red head.  “That’s the beautiful thing.  I need a hacker just as much as I need a bargaining chip.  And you, my pretty little witch,” he laughed snapping a long arm out with lightening speed to wind one hand in the back of her hair, “just happen to fit the bill perfectly on both counts.”

Struggling instinctively for a moment to extricate herself from his steely grasp, Willow squealed and lashed out blindly with her small sneakered feet before connecting solidly with his shin.

“Ow, bloody hell, Red” he snarled yanking her head back and spinning her around to pin her face first against the wall “that freaking hurt!”
 

CHAPTER THREE
Wanna Trade?

“Giles?  It’s Angel.  Willow’s in trouble.”

Cordelia chewed nervously at her nails completely oblivious to the fact that the $150 manicure she had splashed our on the day before was now effectively ruined.

“no, we know that….yes, she sent Cordy an email.  Spike’s got her.”

Cordy was only half listening to her boss as she paced back and forth mumbling to herself “stupid PTB, never send useful visions anyway, asleep at the wheel again if you ask me.  Hate you Doyle, stupid demon, stupid visions –“

“Cordy!”

“Huh”

Angel, who had been speaking to Cordelia without any response for the last minute, shook her shoulders gently to gain her attention “Cordy, get your stuff, we have to go to Sunnydale.”

“I guess I just saved you a trip then, Peaches.”

Cordelia emitted a startled yelp and dashed behind Angel before peeking cautiously from behind him to stare wide eyed at William the Bloody who was currently standing framed in the doorway to the office of Angel Investigations, like some kind of macabre John Wayne in one of those opening or closing shots Ford was so fond of tacking on to every single western movie he ever made.

“Spike” Angel snarled, crossing his muscular arms forbiddingly across his chest.

“Hello Daddy-o.  I’d say it’s good to see ya but we both know what a load of bollocks that would be.”

(Well the accent and smart assed comments just blew the old Duke resemblance right out of the water.  Cordy sighed in disappointment and then shuddered at the fact she had been disappointed.)

Angel didn’t bother to reply to his Chile, but remained still - waiting.  Spike rolled his eyes in frustration and almost had to squelch down a sudden urge to stamp his foot.  The magnificent poof always made him feel insignificant with that stupid vacant stare and monotone voice.  Didn’t matter how many fires he lit, or how many riots he incited, it just never seemed to capture the poof’s notice – like he wasn’t even worthy of his Sire’s time!  Couldn’t he just act like a normal demon for once in his pathetic unlife?  Was it really expecting too bloody much to hope for a little undivided attention once in a century or so?

He had to get a grip here, didn’t want to ruin his Big Bad image by throwing a hissy fit.  Another reason he hated Peaches.  He was the only individual on the face of the earth who ever made him feel so….neglected, made him feel compelled to throw a tantrum just to ensure the bloody sod noticed his existence at all.

“Would have brought the little woman along with me, but she’s a bit preoccupied at the moment” Spike grinned when Angel’s mouth tightened slightly.  Score.

“What do you want boy?”

If it was possible Spike’s grin widened.  His sire only ever called him ‘boy’ when he was furious.  There was nothing Spike enjoyed more than ruffling his Sire’s feathers a little.  “Oh I want lots of things Angelus.  I’ll get em too, just as soon as Red’s finished doing her thing.  Then I think her and me will have a little ….celebration (insert evil and suggestive leer here).  ‘Course I don’t expect she’ll be much in the partying mood.”

“Let her go, Spike.  I’ll only ask you once.”

“Yeah, I could let her go.  Still that’s all up to you, Peaches…One living, breathing, Red head for the Rune of Limarrath, which I happen to know you have stashed in the bat cave.  What do you say, Peaches?  Wanna come to the party?”
 

CHAPTER FOUR
Cruel and Unusual Punishment

Willow shot Marcus a cautious glance.  Since Spike had left half an hour earlier the bookish vampire had remained as quiet as a grave, ignoring her completely in favor of the heavy leather bound tome he was studying.

She was getting increasingly restless.   Here she was sitting in the most impressive private library she had ever seen, too nervous to move from her chair to browse.  It was cruel and unusual punishment she decided scowling angrily.  “Stupid vampire”

“Excuse me?”  Marcus asked sharply raising golden eyes from the book before him to the human sitting directly across the table from him.  The very delicious smelling human, he amended.

Willow’s eyes widened in momentary panic when Marcus licked his lips hungrily “I didn’t mean you!  I was talking about Spike” she squeaked.

Deciding to ignore her, Marcus pushed all thoughts of feeding out of his mind and returned his attention to the book.  At least that’s what he tried to do, but the frustrated sigh from the human effectively distracted him once again and he found himself gritting his fangs in frustration.  Spike had made it very clear the human was not to be bitten while he was gone.  It was cruel and unusual punishment.

“What is it, human?” he snapped.

Willow jumped slightly at the sharp tone in his voice but took comfort in the fact he had not slipped into game face.

“Bored I guess… Can I look at the books?”

Marcus rolled his eyes.  “Alright”
 

CHAPTER FIVE
Best Laid Plans

Although he didn’t show it, Angel almost swallowed his tongue in surprise at the sight that greeted him upon entering the gloomy library that Spike had been holding Willow in.  He did allow his mouth to curve up ever so slightly at the harsh expletive that sprung froth from his childe.

“What the bloody hell is all this, Marcus?”

Willow and Marcus who had been completely oblivious to the arrival of Spike and Angel, both jumped visibly sporting equally surprised and then guilty expressions on their faces.

Trust Willow to have somehow put the vampire so at ease that he now sat on the floor with the red head amidst a sea of ancient books having an animated discussion on the merits of Winthrop’s ‘Demon Index’.

“Angel!”  Willow cried loudly in relief springing to her feet before launching herself towards him.

Marcus might not be the most vampiric of vampires but he was no idiot and his survival instinct was just as sharp as the next demon’s, so he knew his next action might just be his saving grace in the eyes of Spike who was no doubt about to tear him a new on over his fraternizing with the human prisoner.

“Ouch!”

“Sorry.  Uh, I mean, stand still human!”

Spike rolled his eyes at Marcus but was secretly glad the nonce had at least come to his senses quick enough to avert the red head’s beeline to the poof by grabbing her firmly by the back of her collar.  “Better late than never I suppose, Marcus”

“Take your hands off her, Minion!” Angel purred quietly “and I’ll give you a head start.  Scout’s honor.”

Willow and Spike both shivered at Angel’s threatening tone, each flashing back to their own nightmarish memories of Angelus.  For his part, Marcus almost obeyed.  He wanted nothing more right now than to flee as if the very hounds of hell were snapping at his heels.  Between Spike and Angelus, he thought he could handle a few frisky puppies a damn sight easier.

“Oh shut yer pie hole, Peaches.  I told you how this was going to work.  I show you the chit’s alright, you go back to the bat cave and get me my rune.”

“You know the rune is no use to you without the Scripts of Darmoorah, right?”

Spike couldn’t help himself this time and he did stamp his foot.  “Of course I bloody well know that you magnificent poof, why the bloody hell do you think I’ve got Glinda the bloody good Witch?”

Angel had no idea what Spike meant and he supposed his blank expression must have conveyed that very clearly because suddenly Spike slapped himself in the forehead and groaned dramatically.

“Do I have to bloody explain every freakin detail?….I’ve got the bloody scripts on disk, stole em from some dodgy law firm who have a lot of really great stuff – “

“Boy!”  Angel snarled before he had to endure a half hour of Spike going off on a completely unpredictable and inconsequential tangent that would somehow lead back to one of two of the blonde’s favorite topics; shagging and killing.

“Oh yeah, stole em but they were encrypted, or so the witch tells me.  All I know is, got a computer problem, Red here is the girl for the job.  Just so happens I know you’ll be more inclined to give me the rune if I’ve got me a red headed ace up me sleeve.”  Spike drew breath and plastered a smug grin on his face.  “And you always said I could never plan, eh Sire?  How do ya like this for a bleedin plan?”

Angel had to admit this was one of Spike’s more well considered schemes,  Angelus would have been mildly impressed although more likely to have simply taken the rune by brute force rather than involve himself in a hostage situation.  Still, although Spike was one of the most fearsome and powerful vampires walking the earth, Angelus was still the big Kahuna in that respect and soul aside, Angel still had enough demon to draw on to cause Spike to take the cautious route.  Hence the Willow factor.

Pushing his musings on the merits of Spike’s strategy aside, Angel focused on what was really bothering him right now.  “You stole the disks from a law firm?”

“Is there a fucking echo in here? Yes!  I stole the bloody disks from a law firm – what of it?”
 

CHAPTER SIX
Legal Action

“Are you mental?”

“Cordy-“

“No, Angel.  Last time we had the pleasure of evil dead’s company he was using you as a kebab.  What the hell are you thinking?”

Willow and Spike sat silently on the sofa in the Hyperion’s foyer their eyes darting back and forth between the two brunettes like spectators at a tennis match.  While Willow’s face held concern, Spike’s was full of barely contained amusement.  Spike couldn’t quite contain his joy at seeing the cheerleader tear a new one for the mighty Angelus.

“Glad to see you know how to handle you woman, Peaches.”  Spike laughed.

“Ouch, Bloody hell!”

Willow dropped the heavy book she had used to whack Spike in the back of the head with “Shhhh” she admonished.

“I’ll bloody kill you for that, you pasty little bint-“

Angel lunged across the foyer pinning his recalcitrant Childe against the sofa.  “Enough!” he snarled warningly slipping into gameface.  “you’ve gone too far this time, boy.  No one threatens my family and walks away – understand?”

Spike swallowed nervously swatting at the large hand curled firmly about his throat.  If he didn’t know any better he would think Angelus had just made a comeback.  He frowned spectacularly up at his Sire for a moment before dropping his gaze submissively and unconsciously baring his throat.  “I’m your Childe, Angelus.  Aren’t I family?”  he questioned quietly, eyes still downcast.

Willow and Cordelia held their breaths as the question hung unanswered for moment before Angel slid his human face on and released Spike’s throat, licking his lips and growling hungrily.

“That’s the only reason your sitting here now Childe.”  Angel purred softly running a hand gently down the side of Spike’s face, he had heard the raw longing in his Childe’s question and couldn’t help but respond to it.  “No one threatens my family and walks away.”

Cordelia frowned darkly.  “I say let the lawyers have him.  It’s his own stupid fault, he-“

“Cordelia, show Willow to her room.  I want you both to get some sleep”

Willow was a talented girl.  She had a flair for magic, her hacking skills were almost unrivaled and she had a very handy propensity for diplomacy.  Cordelia was also a talented girl.  Her gifts however, did not include diplomacy.  That was why Willow decided to intervene before the caustic remark she could see dancing on the tip of Cordy’s tongue, found it’s way past her painted lips.

“C’mon Cordy.  Angel’s right, let’s get some rest, Kay?”
 

Cordelia sat thoughtfully on the edge of the bed in the guest room considering Willow’s words carefully.  “So when Wolfram and heart showed up to exterminate Spike and retrieve the disks, they automatically backed each other?”  Willow nodded “And you’re saying it has something to do with the Sire/Childe thing?”  Willow nodded again.

“Look, it was an absolute primitive instinct.  Neither one of them gave it a second thought, their only priority was to protect each other –“

Cordelia sighed in frustration before interrupting “But Spike tried to kill Angel.  That was only, like a couple of months ago, Will!”

“Yeah I know.  I’m pretty sure Angel would kill Spike without pause if he needed to, and we already know Spike would do the same…but I don’t think the vampire in either one of them would allow a third party to-“

“So it’s that possessive thing Angel always pulls, huh?  You know, the whole control freak thing.  Who are you dating Cordy?  What time will you be home?  Nothing will happen - I won’t allow it, I made Spike and I’ll unmake him, blood of my blood, blah, blah, blah.”

Willow grinned.  “It’s all about family.  He sees you, Spike, and even me as family, we’re under his protection, but were also under his authority.”

Cordelia wrinkled her nose “Ewwww, caveman much?”

Willow shrugged.  “it’s kind of nice.  I mean, it feels safe.”

Cordelia raised her eyebrows.  “you’re disturbed, Will.  Truly disturbed.”
 

CHAPTER SEVEN
Bedtime Stories

Spike watched his Sire closely.  He was sitting in his large leather chair feet resting casually on the edge of his desk, fingers steepeled beneath his firm chin.  He was a picture of calm.  Beautiful serenity.  Spike wasn’t fooled though, if he wanted to keep his unlife he was gonna have to tread carefully.  He might be dealing with soul boy here, but this was about family and Spike knew better than anyone that Angel would do an Angelus in an instant if his family needed him and he would obliterate anyone or anything in the blink of an eye if he had to.  Including his favorite Childe.

“You’ve been a fool, William.”

Spike shifted uncomfortably in his own chair, nervous about the use of his real name.  In that past ‘William’ had always preceded a nasty beating.

“You’ve endangered my girls, you’ve endangered yourself….you’ve endangered me.”

‘No shit’ he thought with a grimace.  One minute he’d been laying down his terms to Peaches, the next thing he knew they were surrounded by a bunch of pissed off lawyers.  Normally that wasn’t such a scary thing for a vampire of Spike’s standing, but these crafty bastards had six very large Fryal demons as enforcers and those weren’t good odds even with Angelus thrown in the mix.

But they had made it out with only minor injuries.  The loss of Marcus was a little unfortunate, but damn it had been a bloody good time.  A spot of violence, nothing better!

Angel watched the play of emotions flicker across this childe’s face.  He knew Spike had absolutely no idea of the shit he had gotten himself into.  Sure, Spike’s big plans had all gone off surprisingly well considering his notorious impatience, but as always he had failed to factor in one major consideration – the ramifications of stealing from Wolfram and Heart.

“Get comfortable, William.  I’m going to tell you a little bed time story about Wolfram and Heart”
 

CHAPTER EIGHT
Not Too Old To Take Over My Knee, Boy

Spike was distracted, he couldn’t sleep.  Of course it didn’t help matters that after their little ‘talk’ his Sire had delivered that beating he had known was coming and then given him the oldest, skankiest, and coldest room in the fucking hotel to sleep in.

Then there were the strong and steady heartbeats – so deliciously close, and yet so far out of his fucking reach.  Wincing slightly as he touched his split and still bleeding lip he was immediately reminded of what he could expect if he so much as hurt the feelings of either one of the tasty little chits asleep and blissfully vulnerable in the room not three doors down from his.  He was particularly annoyed that the red head had managed to slip through his fangs for the second time without him getting so much as a nip.  ‘Note to self, bite first bargain later.’
 
 

But it wasn’t really any of these things that were keeping him awake.  He had an itch.  It was steadily driving him fucking mad.  He wasn’t gonna be able to scratch it.

80 odd years out from under his Sire’s thumb – a Master in his own right - and in the space of an hour Spike was back where he started the night he was turned.  As Angel’s bitch.  All it took was one long, hard…..bite, and he was lost to his Sire again.  Left wanting – more.

He groaned and smashed the lumpy pillow over his head and yelled into it, writhing in frustration.

After a thorough thrashing (which they had both thoroughly enjoyed no matter how much the poof would try to deny it), Angel had pinned Spike’s battered body to the wall of his office.  Looking into his Sire’s blank face Spike had to admit he had no idea what was coming, so when Angel curled his fist in his hair and yanked his head to the side in order to expose his long, white, neck – Spike cried out in surprise – only to fall abruptly silent when his Sire’s long fangs tore angrily into his neck.

Heaven.

Man, it had been 80 years since Angelus had taken him like that.  80 long fucking years since his Sire had claimed his Childe.  But that was exactly where it had ended almost as quickly as it had begun.

Angelus pulled his head away from Spike’s neck and turned his back on him.  “Get upstairs, boy and rest.”

Raising shaking hands to his still bleeding throat Spike had gulped in an unnecessary and decidedly uneven breath.  He was confused, Angelus had never stopped at just the bite – it had always been more – blood, shagging, more blood, and more shagging.  A whole package deal.  “Sire?”  His only answer had been a warning snarl.

Oh Spike knew that for most vampires, their Sire’s only ever bothered with the bite and usually it was used as a form of punishment and sign of domination.  Spike had never been a minion, he had been created a Childe of a Master and as such the claiming had always meant so much more than mere domination, unlike minions, the claiming bite for a Childe signified his favored place at his Sire’s side and the claiming always went beyond blood……..but not this time – and Spike was left feeling….unfulfilled.

“Impotent bloody Poof” he snarled to himself kicking his heels petulantly into the lumpy mattress and then crying out when a stray spring burst through the threadbare material of the mattress to spear into the back of his foot.  “FUCK!”

This was fucking ridiculous, he’d lay big money on Peaches having a bed the size of the sodding grand canyon – wasn’t fair that his favored Childe was abandoned to this miserable cell.  He’d been punished, he’d taken it like a good little vampire, he’d even allowed his useless Sire to bite and run, but enough was enough.  “He’s me Sire, ponce is supposed to look after me – least he can do is share his bed.”
 

Angel grinned absently to himself as he head the door to his rooms squeak open.  Remaining still in the middle of his bed he wondered briefly what his Childe was up to. Of course he hadn’t expected Spike to remain in the room he had been allocated, he never was one for following orders, but Angel was mildly surprised that his Childe had chosen to seek him out  Angel had been fully expecting to wander down the stairs in the morning to find Spike sprawled on his good leather couch (dirty boots and all) with two or three empty bottles of his very best single malt whiskey rolling negligently on the polished floor boards next to his passed out corpse.

He was almost positive Spike would spend the rest of the day sulking over the previous evening’s events.  Apparently not.

For the briefest moment Angel considered leaping from the bed the moment he felt it dip beneath Spike’s smaller weight and kicking him out on his ass.  But if Angel was right, the next few days were going to be exhausting for both men, trying to clean up Spike’s mess with Wolfram and Heart – in all fairness his Childe was going to need all the rest he could get and as his Sire, Angel was going to make sure he got it.  Besides, with him in his bed at least he knew the little bastard wasn’t making breakfast of his girls.  So he kept his eyes shut and let Spike believe he was still sleeping soundly.  Fifteen minutes later – they really were.
 

CHAPTER NINE
Secret Women’s’ Business

“I’m so glad you’re here, Will.  I hate running these kooky magic supply errands, Angel usually makes Wesley go, but with him and Gunn out of town I get stuck with all the crappy day time jobs.”

Willow grinned happily at Cordelia.  She loved the Sunnydale gang with all of her heart, but it was really nice to feel like she was appreciated for her company rather than just her hacking or research skills.  Made her feel almost normal, which was a foreign concept living on the Hellmouth and assisting the Slayer in the ongoing battle with the ‘forces of evil’.

“S’okay, Cordy.  Would have felt kind of weird hanging at the hotel with Angel and Spike by myself.”

Cordelia widened her eyes “You noticed that too?  There is something uber suspicious going on between those two.”

Willow knew Cordy was no idiot, but she had to wonder momentarily if she was really that blind.  “Ahh, Cordy….you know that Angel’s put the bite on Spike, right?”

Cordelia frowned for a moment.  “You know I did notice some major hickey action on bleach boy’s neck this morning.  Did Angel do that?  Why would Angel do that?  Who’d want to bite that moron?”

Willow was pondering just how best to explain it to Cordelia when the tall brunette suddenly stopped on the sidewalk the color draining from her pretty face.  “It’s one of those creepy vampy things isn’t it, Will.  Ewwwwwww.  I’m scarred for life now, my boss has caused me irreparable psychological damage! I’m gonna ask for a raise!”

Willow giggled at her friend’s theatrics “C’mon, drama queen – let’s get this job done.  Angel told us to hurry and get back to the hotel.  Besides, putting the bite on Spike isn’t such a horrible thought…..”

Arching one eyebrow, Cordelia decided to let Willow’s last sentence slide for the time being.  “Yeah, he’s got the major wiggins over the lawyer boys – there goes my social life for the foreseeable future.  Brood Boy is never gonna let us out of his sight for more than a half hour stretch now.  You realize we’re gonna be stuck living at that drafty mausoleum until he’s sorted this mess out right?”  Cordelia grumbled absently.

“Well maybe we better pick up some videos on the way home.  Something guys find really annoying, serve em right for going all cave man  on us……”

“Oh!  I know!  When Harry met Sally, Pretty in Pink, anything with Meg Ryan or Sandra Bullock - chick flicks!”  Cordelia squealed in delight.  “It’s soooo good to have a girl around for a change, I’m so sick of cleaning axes and listening to arguments about football!”

Neither one of the girls noticed the man who stepped out from the shadows behind them, both too absorbed in the plans for the rest of the day and the strange behavior being displayed by their vampire roommates.

The smile that split Lindsay’s normally expressionless face did not reach his eyes.  It was not a nice smile.  “Well, well.  No daytime protection for your nearest and dearest.  Sloppy, Angel, very sloppy.”
 

CHAPTER TEN
Don’t bet on it

“Wanna lay a little wager, pet?”

Willow started slightly at Spike’s whispered question, squeaking when she felt his icy hand steal it’s way around her waist.  She had not heard him sneak up behind her, too immersed in watching the interaction between Angel and Cordelia to notice Spike.  Her heart thudded instinctively in her chest even as her brain reassured her that even Spike would not dare to snack on her with his Sire less than three meters away.

“What kind of wager?  And, let me go evil dead!” she growled in her most threatening voice.

Spike grinned and chuckled quietly into her hair, she was so cute when she was trying to be scary.  “Half a pint of your delicious blood says the poof and the cheerleader are gonna suck face before tomorrow night.”

Willow gasped and elbowed spike firmly in the ribs spinning away from him as he doubled over, more in surprise than any real pain.  “I WILL NOT BE BETTING MY BLOOD!” She yelled indignantly.

Spike groaned as Angel impaled him with a golden glare “What’s going on here?  Spike -get away from Willow.”  He snarled, his ‘discussion’ with Cordelia effectively over.

“Bloody hell, Red!  Did you have to dob me in?  Bloody poof will kick my arse now – ya happy?”  Spike pouted as he blinked up at the small red head owlishly from his submissive position before her – it always worked with the birds.  (I’m just a fluffy little puppy, baby) Sure enough, the chit bit her bottom lip and dropped her outraged gaze guiltily.

“Sorry, Spike I didn’t –“

“He’s playing you, Willow.” Angel interrupted her smoothly before delivering a short and vicious boot to the back of Spike’s knee sending his Childe crashing clumsily to the floor before pinning him motionless to the floor with one size 13 Italian leather boot.

“Spoil all my fun you bloody pillok” Spike snapped from his position on the floor, not at all concerned at the huge vampire looming darkly over him.

“Apologize to Willow” Angel deadpanned ignoring Spike’s petulant comment about ‘fun’.

Spike glared mutinously up at his Sire for a brief moment.  William the Bloody did not apologize to whiney little human chits!…….Hi ho, this could work.

Angel sneered suspiciously at his Childe when he noticed the sly look enter Spike’s eyes but lifted his heavy foot from his boy’s throat so that he could comply with his Sire’s whishes.

Rising gracefully to his knees before an increasingly nervous Willow, Spike plastered his most smoldering smirk on his ridiculously handsome face and captured one of her nervously fluttering hands in his lowering his lips to her wrist he placed a very wet, very lingering kiss on her pulse point never taking his stormy blue eyes from her wide and now glazed green ones.  “Forgive me, Pet?” he whispered huskily arching one dark eyebrow questioningly while surreptitiously watching his Sire’s reaction from the corner or his eye.

Willow blushed furiously silently cursing her traitorous body for it’s immediate and lusty reaction to the undead scoundrel.  Sheesh, a sloppy kiss and very insincere apology and she was practically jelly!  Disgusting!  Now if she could just get her voice to work she’d give him a good piece of her mind.  “It …it’s o..o..okay.”  (good one Rosenberg – ya wimp!)

Angel swallowed over a sudden lump in his throat.  Insolent little brat knew just how to push all his buttons.  Spike knew he could never resist him when he ‘begged’ especially when he did it on his knees!  Angel’s demon was going apeshit screaming at him to pin the Childe to the floor RIGHT THERE, RIGHT NOW.

Cordelia looked on in fascination as her broody and always unruffled boss reduced the chair back he was gripping, to mere splinters.  For a guy who didn’t need to breathe he sure was doing a lot of panting.  That nefarious little bastard licking Willow’s wrist was playing Angel like a finely tuned violin!  “Shameless little tart!” she spat loudly making all three players in this twisted little scene jump guiltily.

“Who ya callin’ tart, Cheerleader?”  Spike snapped leaping angrily to his feet, no longer ‘sexy Spike’ more like ‘surly Spike’

“You have to ask, bitch?”  Cordy yelled impressively not noticing Angel wince at the language she was using.

Spike’s mouth dropped open before his game face quickly appeared “BITCH?  You callin’ me BITCH?”

Cordelia was clearly in her element now, Queen C had been the most formidable verbal sparer in Southern California!  No badly bleached little bloodsucker was gonna win against her – when it came to bitching – she was the Slayer!  “If the shoe fits, baby!”

“You fucking clueless little slu-“

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