Title : Broken Chains
Series: Samian Wine and Pyrrhic Dances Stories 14
Author: Surnia
Rating: R
Pairing: Spike/Willow Buffy/Giles
Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer was created by Joss Whedon and is owned by 20th Century FOX. No copyright infringement is intended

A young man in brown tweed stood in front of the ruins of the house which had until recently been the Watcher's compound near Sunnydale. A stench of death and magic still lingered over the site. As his icy blue eyes took in the picture of destruction, his hands clenched and unclenched as he attempted to contain his rage. "They will pay, uncle, they will most assuredly pay for this," he whispered before turning and walking back to his car.

***

Elsewhere Buffy was having a mocha with Willow, complaining about her lack of spare time between studying and slaying and what vampire dust was doing to her hair. And why couldn't she and Giles go the beach or something non-slaying related?

Willow grinned at her, "Well, if that's all you've got to worry about, you're practically normal girl."

Buffy smiled back at her, "We'll all pretty normal, and, more importantly, we've all got honeys! No one's a spare wheel! You've got Spike - which I think is still weird. Annoying punk bloodsucker and my best friend." She shook her head. "Okay, controlling the ew factor here. Xander and Van seem to be okay together and I've got Giles!"

"And your Mom's being looked after by Angel, so she's safe. And that Irish guy has got the hots for Cordelia."

"And accordingly to Angel, Ethan's pretty much tied down with Lulu - and elsewhere."

"And Drusilla's left the country."

"No one's trying to end the world that I know of."

"It's cool!"

"Definitely."

They both looked at each and said simultaneously, "We haven't jinxed it, have we?"

***

The Englishman examined the papers in front of him and, after arranging them into a tidy pile, smiled malevolently. He had devised the perfect revenge. Almost elegant in its symmetry. Uncle Gordon would have been proud. Better still, this would not even involve him directly. All he had to do was sit back and watch. If it should fail, there would always be scope to try something else. He just had to wait for the perfect moment.

In L.A. Joyce had been staying in Angel's apartment. She had bought a bed after Angel had nobly spent a couple of nights on the sofa. She managed the gallery by phone and had given her assistant a promotion. Doyle had given her some contacts for making purchases at very good prices. So she felt that she had everything under control.

She was getting used to being a vampire and the idea of drinking blood was not nearly so revolting as it had been at the beginning. She simply imagined that was drinking a Bloody Mary - with a lot of tomato juice. Angel was showing her the in's and out's of being an ensouled vampire and teaching her some fighting techniques. She was also pleasantly surprised to find out that he knew a lot about art. He treated her like his own childe and she was delighted to find out that he wasn't as dour as she had first thought, although she had to admit, he did like to be in control. But she was getting used to her new situation and its limitations and thought that she could deal with this on her own. Men wanting to be in control was nothing new.

It wasn't difficult for Carey's nephew to find out where Angel lived. He looked at one of the business cards Cordelia had made and smiled. This was almost too easy - almost an insult to Uncle Gordon's memory. Not far from Angel's apartment, he rented a room and set up what he needed for the Romany spell which he began to perform.

Inside Angel's apartment, Joyce and Angel were sparring while he taught her fighting techniques. Suddenly, simultaneously they both gasped, grabbed their sides and collapsed to the floor in pain.

The Englishman finished his spell and said, "Welcome back, Angelus."

Angel pushed himself upright and then grinned down at Joyce's form on the ground. "Well, well, what have we here?" he asked with a sneer.

She sat upright holding her head, "A vampire with a goddamn headache, you stupid prick."

Angelus roared with laughter. "Looks like more than just my pesky soul has gone for a walk."

She grinned up at him and said, "Angelus, isn't it?"

He bent over, pulled her up by her hair and yanked her head up to his, kissing her savagely. He suddenly jerked her head to one side and sank his teeth in his neck and drank. She twisted, fighting him.

He pulled back and slapped her hard across the face, "*Never* fight me, woman. I'm going to treat you like a childe, so now you'll find out what it's like to be the childe of a master vampire."

She grinned back at him, licking the blood on her mouth with her tongue, "And then?" she asked.

"Then we go and kill."

"The Slayer and her damned Watcher."

"We'll get to them. They need a little tenderising first."

"How?" she asked.

"I'll show you," he said, ripping off her top and then the rest of her clothes. He noticed that the bite mark was already healing, so he bite it again, ripping the flesh, and then picked her up.

"What are you going to do?" she asked as she squirmed with excitement.

"Make you scream," he smirked.

"With pleasure?"

"After the screams of pain," he said just before he threw her across the room and into the wall.

She pulled herself to a sitting position and waited for him with her legs splayed out as he advanced on her removing his belt. Her eyes gleamed in anticipation.

He chuckled as he slowly pulled the belt from around his waist and said, "I can see you're going to enjoy this. I must introduce you to Dru sometime. She can give you some pointers in enjoying pain." He yanked her up again and grinned at her, "You just have to remember who's in charge here."

"I don't think that there's any question about that, Angelus," she replied.

He tied her hands behind her back and carried her over the table and threw her face first on it. He whispered in her ear, "I'm going to make sure that you don't forget, Joycie."

*****

Much later, Joyce was lying on Angelus' bed, idly watching the lash marks and cuts heal on her legs while Angelus used her as a pillow. She tried the ropes binding her to the bed, but they were firm. She sighed. She would just have to wait for Angelus to decide to untie her - which was just what he wanted - to be in control.

He opened his eyes and said, "This is a pleasant sight. I like my children tied up."

"I seem to remember some manacles in the wall at the mansion," she said.

"I never used them properly - like we're going to do with Buffy."

"Good," she said. "And Rupert. What are we going to do now?"

"Kill an annoying secretary and a half-demon."

"Cordelia and Doyle. Are you going to untie me so we can go have some fun?"

He untied her and kissed her hard, tearing her lip. She licked it and he said, "Vampire healing's great, isn't it? I'll let you experience its full potential."

"I don't doubt it," she said.

He yanked her head back, "Don't presume."

"Never. So who's first?" she asked eagerly.

"Cordelia," he said. "It will freak Doyle out."

***

Cordelia was in her dressing gown when they arrived. She opened the door and asked in annoyance, "What? Another mission? Couldn't you have called first? Is Doyle with you?"

They came in and Angelus said, "We need to talk."

"Talk? Oh no, don't tell me - you're giving up the dark crusader thing and going into antiques and I'm out of a job."

"Well, that's right. I am giving up the dark crusader role and you are out of a job."

Startled by the tone of his voice, she turned around and looked at him in some confusion, "Angel, are you okay?"

"Fine. Never better," he said with a grin.

She took a step backwards. "Oh my God, you're all grr again."

Angelus looked at Joyce, "You know, as annoying as she is, she's often quicker off the mark than that ditzy daughter of yours."

Joyce laughed. Shocked, Cordelia said, "Oh God, both of you. Hey, you didn't give him that moment of happiness, did you? Because that would be so Jerry Springer if you did."

"No, dear, some kind person thoughtfully removed those annoying souls for us."

Oh God, she thought, this so not good. She looked around frantically. Stake. Cross. Her eyes lighted on her bag. Cross. She started to bolt towards it, but Angelus had followed her eyes and knew what she had in the bag. He grabbed her by the waist and threw her down and yanked open her robe. Kicking and twisting, she tried to get away. He laughed again and straddled her, holding her arms down with his knees.

He grinned up at Joyce and said, "Nice tits, don't ya think? Much admired by Doyle. Though I doubt he ever had the balls to actually to feel them." He started to pinch her nipples. At Cordelia's noise of protest, he brought his face close to hers and hissed, "Perhaps we should mail them to him."

Suddenly a shoe hit him in the head.

"What was the hell was that?' Joyce asked.

"Damn ghost," Angelus said. "Keep an eye out for floating objects."

"Why me?" Cordelia demanded, "I'm not Buffy! I'm not like even a good friend!"

"It's a start," he said, "we have to start somewhere - and Joyce needs a bit of practice before we get down to the serious business."

"Mrs Summers," she began and her mouth went try as Joyce produced a knife and tested its edge.

Joyce said, "Not as sharp as it could be. So I suppose it will just hurt more."

"That's the way I like it," Angelus said as he ran a claw down between her breasts, leaving a trail of blood which he bent over to lap up.

"Why me?" Cordelia complained again, "why not your girlfriend's loser friends?'

"Cordelia," he said, his face inches from hers.

"What?" she replied.

"I don't think you fully understand what's happening here."

"What?" she repeated.

"You're about to be raped and tortured to death," he said with a smile.

She looked at him and realised this was deadly serious and opened her mouth to scream, but he clamped his hand across it. "And we have far more interesting uses for your mouth."

Another shoe hit him in the head. "Goddamn fucking ghost!" he said, removing his hand to swat at it. Cordelia screamed and he punched her in the mouth and then stood, yanking her upright. "Now we're going to get started." He looked at Joyce, "Watch out for the fucking poltergeist." He licked the blood from Cordelia's split lip, "Ready for us, Cordy?"

"Fuck off, Angelus," she said defiantly.

"Not off, Cordy," he replied, dragging her to the bed while Joyce followed, fondling the knife.

****

Some time later, Doyle arrived and was about to knock on Cordelia's door when the word "Angelus" appeared on the door in blood.

Doyle froze. "Oh shit," he whispered. Cordelia! He reached for the knob and the word changed to "Dead" and then "Trap". Oh shit. Phantom Dennis, was it? He slowly backed away from the door and ran. When he got some distance between him and the apartment, he went to a pay phone outside a church and shakily dialled Cordelia's number. It rang for a long time before it was picked up.

"Hello?" It was Angel's voice.

"Hey, Angel. Is Cordelia there?'

"She's in bed," Angel said, glancing at the bloody corpse being artfully arranged on the bed by Joyce.

"Could you give her the phone?"

"She's not awake, Doyle."

"Is she ill?"

"Maybe you should come over here. She does seem very ill."

"Okay, I'll be right over. Maybe you should get Mrs. Summers to help if she's ill."

"She's already here."

"Okay. Be right over."

"We'll be expecting you."

Doyle hung up the phone, took a few steps and then threw up. He staggered into the church and sat down. Angel was invited into his apartment. There was no way he was going there tonight. Disappearing was a serious option. Oh God. Cordelia. He would go in the day and make sure. Where could he go now? He thought of someone he knew and just as he got up to go, he suddenly collapsed with a vision. Oh God, he thought, Sunnydale. He had to let them know. Who could he tell? He didn't have any of their phone numbers with him. And there was no way he was going to the office at night if Angelus was back. Information. He went to a pay phone. What was the name of the Watcher? Giles, Robert or Rudolph or Rupert. That was it - Rupert. He rang information and got the number.

He stood there impatiently waiting for someone to answer the phone, looking around, half expecting Angelus to appear. Finally there was an answer.

"Hello?" said the British voice.

"It that Giles as in the Watcher?" he asked.

"Who is this?"

"Doyle in L.A.?"

"Ah, Angel's associate."

"Not any longer. It's Angelus."

There was silence at the end of the line and then he said, "Are you absolutely certain?"

"I think they've killed Cordelia," he said, voice breaking. "They're waiting there for me now."

"They?"

"Mrs Summers is with him."

"Where?"

"Cordelia's apartment."

"But you haven't actually seen him."

"I spoke to him. His voice is different. And I just had a vision. He'll be coming to Sunnydale. They'll be coming."

"Oh my God."

"I've got to go. I'm using a public phone. I've got to get somewhere where's he not invited before he figures out that I'm not coming."

"Thank you," Giles said as he hung up.

Giles hung up the phone and thanked every deity he could think of that he had reversed the invitation to his apartment - that applied to *all* vampires unless they were re-invited, and none were. Although he would probably have to re-invite Spike fot his.

Buffy came downstairs and asked, "Who was that?"

"Did Willow ever invite Angel into Spike's place?"

"No," she said. "Why?"

He looked at her and said, "That was Doyle. Angelus is back."

"Oh my God," she said, sitting down heavily. "And Mom?"

"Doyle says that she's evil as well."

"You mean he had happiness with my Mom?" she said in disbelief.

"Seems unlikely, Buffy. It could well be a soul-snatcher or a Romany spell."

"Like the shaman."

"Only the shaman could do it. And he would have told me. The fact that they are both evil most likely means a spell is involved."

"Why would anyone want to put the whammy on my Mom?"

"They may have intended it for Angel and got your Mom as well. That's moot now."

"How did Doyle know?"

"I'm not entirely clear about that. He wasn't very coherent. He thinks that Cordelia is dead. And he had a vision of Angelus and your mother in Sunnydale."

She put her head in her hands. "I thought this was over."

He picked up the phone again and said, "I'm going to ring Willow and make sure that they don't invite them in. I can't imagine Xander doing so, so we can clue them in tomorrow. I'm going to try to get in touch with Arthur Browne and see if he knows anything. For instance, anyone who knows about Romany spells or other spells to empower vampires."

She nodded glumly, "Sounds like a first step."

He stepped across to her first and lifted her chin, "We'll deal with it, Buffy. We're warned this time. We'll sort this mess out."

She nodded, but looked unconvinced.

***

Angelus finally realised that Doyle wasn't coming. He kicked a chair into the wall as he dodged another flying knife. "He's not coming," he said. "Probably had one of his damn visions and has crawled away to hide and save his scrawny Irish hide."

"We could go to his apartment," Joyce said, stroking his arm.

He shook his head and said, "Little half-breed's too smart for that. He won't go there." He glanced at Cordelia's bruised and bloody body and said, "I really wanted to see his reaction. Such a waste."

"Never mind," Joyce said, "we could take photos and send them!"

"Not the same thing," he growled, "it lacks impact. You don't get the full sensory senation." He made a decision. "Let's go to Sunnydale before he warns them. We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise, would we?"

"No, I agree. Unprepared is much better. Like when you killed that teacher."

"That was brilliant, wasn't it?"

"You should have seen them."

"I did," he replied, "I watched from the window. Ah, but it was sweet!"

She giggled and kissed him. "So what now?"

"We kill someone with a fast car and pay an unexpected visit."

They were soon on their way to Sunnydale, Angelus mentally running through what he would do to Giles and Buffy and trying to decide which one he would kill first - while the other watched. Slowly, of course, in stages. Perhaps a bit of torture on one and then switch torture the other and so on. All things considered, he decided to start with Giles while Buffy watched. That should soften her up quite nicely.

Once in Sunnydale he stepped from the car and looked around and inhaled. Nothing like the throb of the Hellmouth. Maybe he should open it. But later. Where to start? Spike was too clever to let him in. But Xander might let Joyce in. He got back in the car and drove to Xander's house and sent Joyce to the door.

She knocked and after a few minutes Xander opened the door. "Mrs. Summers! I didn't know that you were back in Sunnydale."

"I just got back. I really need to speak to you - about Buffy."

"What is it?"

"Could I come inside to talk? I feel rather exposed out here."

Xander opened the door wider but couldn't bring himself to invite a vampire in. He frowned, "Why don't we go to Giles'?"

"He's not home," she said.

"Yes, he is, I just spoke to him." He suddenly got a very bad feeling about Joyce. Something was definitely off. What was she doing here. "Where's Angel?" he asked.

"I really need to talk to you about Angel and Buffy," she said.

"There is no Angel and Buffy," he said, mental alarm bells increasing in volume. "Let me try Giles' number," he said, starting to back away.

"Wait, Xander! We need to talk first!"

"We are talking," he said carefully.

Out of sight, Angelus fumed. This was not going to plan.

At this point Vanessa, coming back with a pint of milk, ran straight into Angelus. She started when she saw him and turned to run but he was too quick for her and grabbed her. She screamed for Xander and he clamped a hand over her mouth. He grinned. This must be Xander's new girlfriend. The whelp was smarter than he thought - he still hadn't let Joyce in. And if he hadn't let her in yet, he must be suspicious. Time to stop this little charade.

He dragged Vanessa where Xander could see him holding her and said, "Xander, my boy. How are you keeping?"

Xander turned pale, "Oh God."

"It's been awhile, Harris. Looks like you managed to get a new girlfriend. A little on the skinny side." He sniffed her neck, "But it's fresh blood nonetheless." He grinned at him before his fangs came out.

As he saw Angelus sink his fangs into her neck, Xander turned and rummaged frantically for the crossbow he kept and loaded it. When he came back, Joyce was drinking from the other side of her neck and both of them had positioned themselves so that they were behind Vanessa and there was no clear shot at their hearts. He aimed for Angelus' head and fired and then started to reload. When he looked up again, Vanessa was lying on the ground and no vampires were in sight.

He stood there hesitating. Could she still be alive? Was it a trap? He stepped back and picked up the phone and dialled Giles' number. Giles answered after the first ring. "Giles!" he said a little shakily, "Angelus and Joyce."

"They're here, then," he stated.

"You knew!" he shouted angrily.

"We just heard from Doyle that he thought that it had happened."

"Well, it *has* happened," he continued to shout and they've got Vanessa. They both bit her. She's lying outside and I don't know for sure if she's dead and I don't know if they're waiting for me."

"Stay put, Xander. We'll be there immediately."

Xander paced restlessly inside the open door, crossbow in hand. Unable to stand it any longer, he cautiously made his way to the body, crossbow at the ready, cross, extra bolts, and holy water in his pockets. He reached the body and still looking around, reached down and checked the pulse. Nothing.

The Citroen drove up and Buffy rushed across to the body and told Xander crossly, "You should have waited inside."

"Too late anyway," he said, dropping to his knee beside Vanessa and turning her over. He touched her face and found it cold. He cradled her in his arms, stroking her hair, rocking her, trying to keep control over the emotions raging inside of him.

Giles arrived with another crossbow and looked down sadly, "I'm so sorry, Xander. I'll call the police."

He went inside and reported a wild animal attack and also called Willow and Spike to warn them that Angelus and Joyce were definitely on the loose in Sunnydale.

After the police had removed the body, they sat with Xander. Staring at the blood on his sleeves, Xander looked at Buffy and stated, "Angelus is going down this time. I don't care what you or Willow say."

She looked down at the floor. "Xander," she said quietly, "there's worse."

"Is Willow okay?" he asked anxiously.

"It's .. we think ... "

Giles put it, "Doyle thinks that Cordelia's dead."

An involuntary sob escaped Xander and he walked to the other side of the room.

"Xander?" Buffy asked.

He waved her away. "He is definitely dust this time," he stated. "Deadboy's gonna be so dead that there won't even be any dust left."

"Xander," Giles said, "I share your sense of loss, but we have to deal with this in a co-ordinated and organised manner. We don't want any more casualties.

"What about Willow?" he asked suddenly.

"Willow knows what's happening and she's got Spike to protect her as well." Giles looked around and said, "I think you should pack a bag and come back with us. I don't want any of us on our own so that he can pick us off one at a time."

Glancing at the blood on his sleeves, Xander's face took on a bleak expression. Without a word, he changed his shirt, packed a bag and went back with them, sitting sullenly in the back seat. Angelus and Joyce watched from the shadows.

"Well, there goes the element of surprise," Angelus said. "The half-breed probably had a vision and let them know." He shrugged and said, dragging Joyce to him, "So we hunt."

"When can we kill them?" she asked, eyes gleaming yellow.

"Soon. Come on. Let's get some supplies from the warehouse and find a new base. I'm sure we can convince someone to invite us in. Or ..." He smiled and then chuckled darkly. "I have the perfect base. They'll never look for us there. And if they do, we've have an edge."

He yanked Joyce to him for a vicious kiss. Then they disappeared into the night.

******

Everyone gathered at Giles' apartment and sat around in a gloom. Except for Spike who was pacing furiously, muttering under his non-existent breath. Snarling, he finally stopped and said, "So what are you lot going to do?"

"Kill Deadboy," Xander stated without emotion.

"I'm with you if Angelus Bloody Wanker is back."

"Willow, could you make some tea, please?" Giles said.

"She's not your bleeding tea lady, mate," Spike snapped.

"I never said she was, Spike."

"Sorry," he grumbled as Willow went to make tea.

The phone rang and Giles answered. Everyone fixed their eyes on him as he responded with monosyllables. "Yes. Yes. Are you sure? No. Right. Yes. Fine. Ta." He hung up and everyone looked at him expectantly.

He cleared his throat and said, "That was Arthur Browne. There is someone who has extensieve expertise in Romany lore and their spells."

"And?" Buffy said.

"He was one of Carey's protégés and he's gone missing."

"So it was magic," Willow said.

"And it's the bleeding toffee-nosed Watchers again," Spike snapped.

"So it would seem," Giles agreed.

"Then we could just curse them again!" Willow said eagerly.

"And watch them get uncursed again by this pillock," Spike said.

Giles nodded, "Spike is quite right. If he's determined to carry this through, he'll simply do the spell again. And I have no idea what the long-term effects would be."

"Long-term?" Willow asked.

"Having your ruddy soul ripped out, replaced, ripped out, replaced," Spike explained.

"Oh," Willow said.

"Precisely," Giles said, "We need to locate him *and* stop Angelus and Joyce at the same time."

"No," Xander said, "we need to *kill* Angelus."

"Xander," Willow began.

Xander leapt up, "No, don't start. You didn't watch them drain Van. Don't you dare start."

Giles sat down and said slowly, "She has a point, Xander. If this is due to a spell, Angel didn't do anything."

"And if he's killed Cordy as well, he should *want* to be dust before he does any more damage!"

There was silence. Finally Giles said, "That's perhaps easier said than done."

"Then I'll do it," Xander said with quiet determination. His declaration was followed by another silence.

Giles said, "Xander, you can stay here."

"I don't want to stay here," he stated.

"I don't want you on your own. You'd be too much of a target."

"Can I stay with you, Will?"

"Sure," she said.

Buffy put in it, "Whoa - I don't want you and Spike going looking for him."

Spike looked up and said, "Xander's probably be safer with us. I imagine their main target is you and your Watcher." He gave her a hard look and added, "I have no intention of leaving Willow on her own while we go on a wild goose chase. I know Peaches a lot better than you do."

Buffy looked downcast. Spike said to Willow, "We need to get back."

Willow said, "I'll get on the net and see if I can find out anyone who knows about this guy. But I don't think it likely. I mean, I'm always looking for Romany witch stuff and I've been through all of Ms Calendar's stuff and I've never heard of anyone like that. But I'll try." She brightened, "Maybe he's using an alias!"

Giles said, "He may well have the same attitude as I do when it comes to computers."

"Oh," she said. "I hadn't thought about that."

"But it won't hurt to try," Giles said. She gave him a little smile, realising that he was really just giving her something to do.

Once they were gone, he went over to Buffy and wrapped his arms around her. "I'm so sorry, love."

She sniffed and said, "I think I could deal with Angelus this time - now that I've got you. But Mom." She started to sniff more loudly, "I don't believe this! How could they!"

"We'll stop them, love."

"How?"

"I imagine this pillock is somewhere close watching and we can..." He blinked and immediately went for his address book. He rang Doyle's number and Angel's office and left a message, "Doyle, this is Giles. Ring me immediately."

Buffy looked at him, "What is it?"

"An idea. If Cordelia's dead, we'll need some of her blood. We already have Vanessa's blood on Xander's shirt."

"Why?" she asked.

"Oh, I thought I might call up a minor demon who's keen on revenge," he said casually with a very Ripperish-gleam in his eye.

"Giles!" she said.

"Trust me on this," he said.

"Giles! Giles, look at me!" she demanded. He did so and she said, "Last resort - you hear me! We try to deal with this without demons. I am so *not* going to have you be demon chow."

"I won't be," he replied.

"One word, Giles: Eyghon." He looked away for moment and she said, "It had to be said."

"This is different, Buffy," he said quietly, "this business with Eyghon entailed becoming his devotees and allowing him to possess us. I am most definitely *not* going to ever attempt anything like that again."

"So what are you thinking of doing? I *need* to know."

"There's a demon called Arioch who deals with particular cases of revenge." Noticing her look, he said, "we'll wait until I hear from Browne - unless he takes too long." He picked her up and kissed her. "Let's get some sleep." She wrapped her arms around his neck.

It was just after dawn when the phone rang. Giles picked it up. "Doyle. I thought it would be you." He held the phone away from his ear and then said, "Calm down. Listen, I'll fax you a spell to revoke the vampire invitation. Angelus and Joyce are here in Sunnydale. No, they killed Xander's girlfriend. Calm down, Doyle. We think that someone with a grudge has done a spell - probably meant for Angel, but it caught Joyce as well. I need you to do something. Go to Cordelia's and see if she's ... if she's no more. Doyle, are you still there. If she is ... , well, get something with her blood on it. Why? Because if worse comes to worse, I'll need it to stop whoever's behind this. Fine. You'll ring me?"

He put the phone down and said, "He's going to Cordelia's. He'll phone us later."

She snuggled up against him and murmured, "Poor Cordelia. I hate this."

"So do I, love," he said.

***

Doyle made his way to Cordelia's apartment and, with a shaking hand, opened the door. The stench of blood hit him straight away. Trembling, he looked in cautiously and then made his way to the bedroom where the stench was strongest. He took a deep breath and looked in the door and promptly covered his mouth and sank down against the wall outside the room. "Oh Christ," he whispered, unable to move.

He took several deep breaths and rose and went back to the room. He stepped beside the bed and looked at Cordelia's sightless eyes staring off into space. He closed them and kissed her on the forehead, "Oh, princess. It was a spell. And we're going to get the bastards who did it. I promise - if I have to call in every favour I'm owed." He took out a handkerchief from his pocket and dipped it into the blood. He fought back the urge to cover the body, and found himself compelled to explain to her lifeless form about the police and crime scenes and then he backed away.

He looked around the empty apartment and said aloud, "Phantom Dennis. I guess I owe you my life. Look after her for me."

He went to the office and found a fax with the spell from Giles. He took it and went back to his apartment to disinvite Angel. Then he would call Giles and then Kate.

*****

Angelus and Joyce prowled around Sunnydale. They found a couple of teenagers making out in an alley and shared them. Angelus was in a vile mood. He had intended to use Joyce to gain access to Giles' apartment but now there was no chance of that. He needed some bait - something to get Buffy alone. He could take her and Joyce could get Giles. He shrugged - or the other way around. He had plans for the two of them that would take days if not weeks.

He sensed rather than saw it and moved. He looked down as a bolt from a crossbow hit him in the shoulder. Damn. If he hadn't moved if would have hit the heart. He spun around, expecting to see Buffy. It was Xander, grimly loading the crossbow for another shot.

"Split up!" Angelus shouted, dodging to one side. Xander looked around cautiously, his back to a tree. Joyce was coming from one side and Angelus from the other, but it was Angelus he wanted. Angelus moved towards him and Xander fired, but Angelus rolled under the bolt and Joyce grabbed Xander from behind. He spun and hit her in the face with the crossbow and pulled out his cross. Angelus kicked out his knee and Xander fell. Angelus lunged for his neck and drew back with a snarl. Xander was wearing a thick dog collar studded with small crosses all the way round.

"Cunning," he snarled. "But there are other places to bite you. You know, maybe I should turn you - given what your doppelganger is meant to be like."

Xander brought his knee up and kicked Angelus in the balls. He bellowed in pain and doubled up. As soon as Angelus yelled, Joyce kicked Xander in the ribs and he heard the crack of bone breaking, but he managed to hold up his cross. Angelus staggered upright. He was furious and fully intended to break every bone in Xander's body when he heard a familiar voice behind him: "Peaches! Playing with your food again. Never grow up, do you? You're real tit boring, aren't you?"

Angelus paused, then turned and said in a jovial tone, "Spike." He glanced at the crowbar in his hand.

"Oi! Slayer! I've got the wanker here!"

Not wanting to face Buffy and Spike together, Angelus and Joyce ran off. Spike gave Xander a hand up and he gasped in pain.

"Ribs," he explained, "broken, I think."

"Listen, you gormless git, are you trying to get yourself killed? Cause Red is would go apeshit if that happens - not to mention the Slayer."

At which point Buffy ran up and said, "There was a vam ... Xander!" She looked at the crossbow and realised what he had been up to. "Xander, you nut-case!"

"Almost had the bastard," Xander growled, holding his side.

"Busted rib," Spike said. "We'd better get him to hospital."

Buffy shook her head in helpless disapproval as they left the park. Xander turned to her, "Sorry, Buffy, but he deserves to die."

She looked back at him and said, "I'm not worried about him, Xander. I'm more worried about him killing you."

Angelus was now livid at being thwarted and decided to commit a little mayhem outside the Bronze to make Buffy feel bad and then work out a plan to get her on her own.

When Xander was waiting to have his ribs taped, Buffy made sure that Spike would stay with him and then pick up Willow at Giles', she set off for the apartment, fuming. If Angelus had made an appearance at that point, he would have been dust.

She stormed into the apartment. "Buffy?" Giles asked in concern.

"Angelus and my Mom. Xander."

Willow asked anxiously, "Is Xander okay?"

"Just one broken rib and one fractured," Buffy replied. "He'll live - if we can keep him from launching his own one man crusade."

"That was Angelus?" Giles asked.

Buffy said, "Xander went after Angelus with a crossbow. Hit him. Missed the heart. They fought - the three of them. My Mom kicked Xander. Hence the broken ribs."

"Oh dear. Where is Xander now?" Giles asked.

"With Spike."

"That's okay then," Willow said.

Buffy looked at them a little bleakly. "Any news?"

Giles nodded and said, "Browne rang. He's sending someone to help with the information."

"Another tweed guy."

"You know him, actually," Giles said carefully, studying the carpet pattern.

Buffy looked at him, "Not Wesley."

He nodded and Buffy looked at him in disbelief. "He is quite knowledgeable," he said, "Just not very good at fighting. And a pain in the pass." He looked at her and gave her a broad smile, "Occasionally an insufferable pain in the ass. But knowledgeable. And definitely NOT your Watcher."

She grinned at him, "I've got my Watcher."

"And I've got my Slayer," he grinned back.

Willow smiled, "Ah, one of those moments."

Buffy threw a cushion at her. "Watch it, witch!"

Willow threw it back, "Don't ever mess with a witch!"

Spike arrived not long after and collected Willow. Buffy came over and sat in Giles' lap and removed his glasses. He smiled fondly at her, "Is this your way of telling me that we've done enough for the night?"

As she pushed the book away and straddled his lap, wrapping her arms around his neck, she said impishly, "You could say that."

He ran his hands up her thighs and, cupping her bottom, pulled her closer to him, "Do you have other ideas?" he asked innocently.

As she unbuttoned his shirt, she said, "Might do."

He leaned forward, allowing her to pull his shirt out of his trousers and then remove it and then pulled her top off over her head. "Mmm." he said, capturing a breast in his lips and then moving to the other one. "Such as?"

She arched her back and said in a shaky voice, "Stuff."

"What kind of stuff?" he asked, nipping a nipple with his teeth.

"Nice stuff," she said with her eyes closed, startled at the sound of her panties tearing. "That's cheating," she protested.

"Only in the strictest sense," he replied. "Are we going to be strict?"

"Nope," she replied, grappling with his belt and zipper. "Sit up," she ordered, as she pulled his trousers and boxers down his hips and started to wriggle against him.

"Sod this for a game of soldiers," he muttered and, grabbing her by the waist with one arm and pushing himself up with the other, lifted her up and deposited her on the floor and immediately pushed himself into her as deeply as he could.

She grunted in appreciation and wrapped her legs around him, trying to push him in deeper.

He pushed himself up on his elbows and remarked, "So this is what it takes to pin you down."

"Well," she said breathlessly, undulating her hips under him, "you've got a large enough pin for it."

He groaned and started to thrust, pulling out nearly all the way and thrusting back in as hard as he could, knowing that her Slayer strength could absorb anything he could throw at her. They continued in silent concentration, cutting out the present problems in the intensity of their coupling. Finally, Buffy started to quiver as her orgasm overpowered her. Seeing her face momentarily free of anything except pleasure he followed her.

They lay there, clinging to each other. Suddenly Giles started to laugh.

"What?" she asked.

"What a picture we must make - you with just your skirt bunched up around your waist and me with my trousers and boxers around my ankles." He suddenly started to giggle uncontrollably.

"What?" she said, "Giles?"

"Sorry," he said, "it just reminded me of something that happened at Oxford with a very pompous Greek professor."

"Pompous you're not," she said, "well, a little uptight at times. And longwinded and..."

"Buffy," he said in a warning tone, "I think I should remind you that you're still pinned. Retaliation can be taken if necessary."

"Can it?" she asked. "All right, old guy," she said, bringing her hips up, "whatcha got?"

He grabbed her wrists and said, "Listen, young lady, you may have the advantage of youth, but I have the not inconsiderable benefit of experience - and I can make you scream."

He suddenly pulled out of her, causing her to make a noise of complaint, and moving down, pulled her legs apart and attacked her sex with his tongue, going straight for the clitoris.

"Ugh!" she gasped, "no fair!"

Ignoring her protest, he raked the sides of her vagina with his tongue and then latched onto her now throbbing clitoris like a limpet, sucking on it as hard as he could while his fingers started to seek out the G-spot. Buffy flailed her legs about while her head rolled back and forth and she made incoherent noises until she finally screamed.

With a final lick, he looked up at her and said, "Told you I could make you scream."

"Okay, experience wins," she agreed.

He crept back up body and kissed her gently.

"I've had an idea," she said.

He rolled his eyes and said, "While we were having sex?"

"I think it's a kind of lateral thinking. Why don't we go find Angelus and my Mom in the day?"

"Because we won't have Spike to help?"

"If we locate them, may we can get him there by car or sewer."

They lay comfortably side by side, Giles reflecting on the problem, not noticing the mischievous look that came into Buffy's eyes. She pushed herself up and crept down and removed his trousers and boxers. He gave her a quizzical look and she explained, "You don't look so silly now."

"And what about you?"

She took off her skirt, looked at him and smiled. "I'm just going to get a drink of water," she said innocently moving towards the kitchenette.

Giles put his hands under his head as he continued to think about where Angelus might be hiding. Buffy came back and knelt beside him. Which was when he noticed her smile. Having got his attention, she moved between his legs. He noticed that she had one hand behind her back. With a smile, she brought the hand around in front of her - it was holding an open jar of chocolate spread. Dipping her finger in it, she spread it along his penis, which immediately sprang to attention.

She put the jar down and ostentatiously licked her finger and then started to lick off the chocolate off of his penis. She chuckled as it got harder the more she licked. Finally she started to suck, managing to take the entire length of him down her throat. She heard him make an inarticulate noise and sucked at the spurting penis until it was dry.

She looked up at him, making a smacking sound, "Salt and chocolate is nice. And what was that about experience?"

"You vixen!" he exclaimed. "I'll show you, young lady!"

He rose, grabbed her, rushed up the stairs with her and tossed her on the bed. Opening the bedside cabinet, he pulled out some silk scarves and tied each of her hands to the bedstead and then her feet. He looked down at her spread-eagled on the bed and she smirked at him.

Putting a double of pillows under her bottom, he bent over her with his face close to hers, "I am going to wipe that supercilious smirk off your face, love."

"I'd love to see you try," she said smugly.

"Don't look too smug," he warned.

He disappeared and then came back and put some things out of sight. She craned her neck trying to see what he was up to. He turned with the the jar of chocolate spread in his hand. Using a teaspoon he spread it around her nipples, carefully making a pattern. She heard a clink as he closed the jar and opened another. He went back to the bedside cabinet and removed a vibrator - a smooth one and smirked at her. He moved a jar of honey into view and covered the vibrator with it.

Buffy swallowed hard. Straddling one of her thighs, he slowly pushed the vibrator in and turned it on. As he moved it slowly in and out and bent over and started on the chocolate on one breast, carefully using his tongue to remove every trace and then he moved to the other to clean it with equal care. All the time, he was moving the vibrator, gradually increasing the pace, occasionally allowing his thumb to graze her clitoris.

Groaning, she yanked at the restraints. As she arched her back, he bit her nipple hard. She shrieked as her orgasm overpowered her. He continued with the vibrator with a smug smile and started to bite the other breast with little nips and then a strong bite again. Once again she arched off the bed. He took the vibrator out and said, "Open your mouth." As she did, he put the tip of the vibrator in and she licked it, tasting herself mixed with the honey.

He set it aside and moved down her body, saying, "That's what I get to taste now." For the second time that night he attacked her vagina with his tongue, licking up the honey mixed with cum, carefully avoiding her clitoris, relishing the moans she was making. He explored every inch as his tongue sought out every trace of honey and then started to suck it off her clitoris, alternating between sucking and licking as she rocked the bed as her legs strained as the restraints. He grabbed hold of her ass and sucked hard, holding her as she tried to thrash about as another orgasm overtook her.

Releasing her, he moved up her body and pushed his cock into her and then stopped and looked down into her eyes. "Well pinned down again," he said as he started to rock into her, "and you were saying about experience?"

"Experience. Is. Great," she said, relishing the feel of him filling her. "Wins. Hands. Down."

"Well, your hands are definitely tied down," he said, adjusting his position so that he rubbed against her clitoris as he thrust.

She groaned as he increased the pace and then when he was on the verge of coming, he bit her on the neck and she fairly shrieked. When she got her breath back, she tugged at the restraints. "You bit me on the neck! You really bit me!"

"And you liked it," he said and held her head still, looking intently into her eyes. "Just remember - if anyone's going to bite you, it's me - not him."

She swallowed hard, looking at the intensity of his look. "Rupert," she said quietly, "he's of the past."

He sighed as he reached to untie her hands. "I wish," he said. She wrapped her arms around him and held him. "Buffy, he's going to try and wind you up. If there's any vulnerability, he'll find it."

"Giles, listen to me. When Xander shot him, I was more worried about Xander than Angel. I can do this."

He pulled out of her and untied her ankles. Lying back beside her, he said, "He'll go on at you about me - probably the usual old man comments."

"Ha!" she said in derision, "he's older than you."

"With Joyce there, he'll bring up the candy incident."

"I can deal with that. I've already dealt with that. It was magic."

"And he might taunt you with what happened in the mansion w-when he kidnapped me."

"About the torture?" She stroked his fingers, "But you survived."

"That's not what he'll use with verbal taunts, I dare say."

"Oh, you mean *that* part."

"Precisely. Can you handle it?"

"Yes," she said.

"Good," he said, pulling up the covers over them. "let's get some sleep and think about the problem in the morning."

***********

Buffy woke up the next morning and looked over at Giles. Glancing at the silk ties still on the bed, she entertained some wicked thoughts for a couple of moments and decided to wait until after the current crisis. First they had to locate two vampires and lock them up and then find the person who had done this. Maybe lock him up with Angelus before they resouled them. No, that wouldn't be fair to Angel. Feed him to Spike? It was a pity that Lulu wasn't here. Lulu would *love* a crack at him. Gosh! Had she just wished that that murderous skanky vampire was here. Feel the weirdness.

She sighed involuntarily and Giles opened his eyes.

"Sorry," she said, "didn't mean to wake you. I was thinking."

"About?"

"Scenarios of bad-Watcher slayage."

"Buffy ..."

"The best was feeding him to Lulu."

He smiled, "Even I could concur with that particular scenario."

"I guess we catch them and lock them up in the ex-Darla warehouse."

"Not a bad idea. How do you propose finding them?"

"I haven't come up with that yet. I think it may need Willow computerage."

"Why don't you phone her?" he asked, getting up and heading for the bathroom.

"Hey!" she said, "it's a trick to get the shower first!"

He smiled sweetly at her and said, "I'd ask you to join me, but I think we might get distracted."

He quickly closed the door as the pillow hit it. Grumbling, Buffy called Willow and arranged for her to come over with her laptop and Xander. Hearing a great deal of profanity in the background, she told her to tell Spike that they would fetch him before they tried anything. When the message was conveyed, the swearing subsided - somewhat.

Once they were there, Xander collapsed on the sofa while Willow ran through possibilities. Eventually she shook her head, saying that there were just too many. She picked up a spell book and said that they should do a locater spell on Joyce. Giles pointed that he knew just such a spell, having successfully used it before to locate them.

After a brief conference, it was decided to perform it immediately. Buffy and Willow went to Buffy's house to get some hair to use for the locator. Xander continued to snooze while Giles collected the ingredients. The preparations were interrupted by a knock at the door. Giles looked through the view port and made an indeterminate noise. He opened the door and stepped back.

"Mr. Giles, it's good to see you again. You're looking well, if a little informal."

Giles rolled his eyes. "Wesley. Well, that was quick. Tea?"

"Yes, please."

He glanced at Xander's sleeping form. His questioning look was answered as Giles said, "the others will be here soon. Well, Buffy and Willow."

Wesley said, "Others? Cordelia?"

Giles looked away and said, "Cordelia moved to Los Angeles after graduation. She's dead."

Wesley almost staggered. "Dead?"

"Angelus. As is Vanessa Travers. Xander has broken ribs."

Xander had woken up and said, "That was Mrs. Summers."

Giles continued, "And Spike is working with us."

"Spike the vampire?" he said in a tone of disbelief.

Xander spoke up, "He's Willow's honey."

"What? What is it about you people and vampires?"

"Hellmouth," Xander stated.

Giles went to put the kettle on and came back. "This is all down to whoever did a spell," he stated. "There is no other reasonable - or even unreasonable explanation."

"Yes, the two of them turning at the same time does indicate magic, doesn't it?" Wesley agreed.

He set down a briefcase and removed a file with some papers in it. He took out a photo. That's Gordon Carey's nephew. Ian Mellon. He was the daughter of Carey's favourite sister. Went to live with him after she was killed in a swimming accident. His favoured field was Slavic-centred and extended to the Romany. He hasn't been seen since his uncle's ... demise."

"Where was he seen last?" Giles asked as the kettle whistled.

Wesley followed him to the kitchenette and put the folder on the counter. Mr. Browne has some connections in intelligence, and they ran a check. He flew to Los Angeles a week ago."

"So he's definitely in the frame," Giles said. "What's he like?"

"Fanatically devoted to his uncle."

"So we have a vengeance scenario," Giles concluded.

"Why are gypsy spells always about vengeance?" Xander asked.

"They aren't always," Giles said.

"It's simple," Xander said, "I kill Deadboy, Willow restores Mrs. Summers, and you stop this Mellon person."

"Xander," Giles said.

"Don't Xander me. Are you going to tell me that you want Angel back again - so we can all wait for the next disaster when he loses his soul? Angel is a disaster waiting to happen."

"Xander."

"He's a murderer and he's going down."

Giles sighed. "I have my own issues with Angel, but he has helped a lot of people."

"As many as he's killed?"

"Potentially he could help more."

"Sorry, but it stops here."

Xander went back to the sofa and picked up a book.

Wesley said, "He does have a point, Mr. Giles."

"I know."

"I realise that Buffy's attachment to Angel makes it difficult."

"We'll just have to see what happens, won't we? At the moment Willow and Buffy are fetching some of Mrs Summers' hair to use in a locator. Our priority is to at least capture them so that no further damage is done."

Wesley nodded, "That seems reasonable. But if you resoul them, he would probably just perform the same spell again."

"We were planning on containing them until this - Mellon, was it? - is dealt with."

Wesley nodded, "That seems sensible."

There was a bang as Willow and Buffy came in. "Okay, we've got the stuff," Buffy said. Her eyes fell on the visitor, "Wesley." He crossed her arms and said, "Well?"

"I'm here to help, Buffy." Wesley said, looking somewhat nervous.

"And not give orders?"

"Only if it's essential for sorting this out. From what Mr. Giles has been telling me, I think that you have already determined on the best course of action." He looked at Willow, "Miss Rosenberg," he said with a nod, trying not to think about her and a vampire being intimate. He found himself sneaking glances at her neck, looking for bite marks.

Buffy said, "We've got hair and stuff, so we can locate."

"What are you going to do when you find them?" Wesley asked.

"Lock 'em up. We've got the perfect place for it."

"And a keeper?"

She frowned, "We've got Spike."

"And me," Xander said in a dangerous tone.

"Xander, I don't..."

"Want me to kill your ex-sweetie," he spat.

"Waste a useful ally," she said. "Wasn't he useful at Graduation? Xander, this isn't his fault. It's the fault of whoever's done this."

"Ian Mellon," Wesley said.

"Oh, he has a name," she said.

"We think."

"He brought deliberately Angelus back." she insisted. "So he's responsible for whoever Angelus kills."

"She does have a point, Xander," Giles said.

Xander sat down heavily and said, "I just want someone to pay for this."

"So do I," Buffy said. "But the right person."

Giles said, "We're wasting time. Let's begin."

"The same spell you and Ethan did to locate Willow and Buffy?" Xander asked.

Giles nodded as he started moving furniture. Xander joined in. Giles got down and prepared the circle. Xander brought out the map while Giles fetched the candles and crystals and finished the preparations. Giles ordered Willow to sit in the circle with the hair. After explaining what she had to do he sat opposite her and began the incantation. As he finished saying, "Mor dial hktga", she handed him the hair. His hand hovered over the map and settled on a spot on the map. He broke the circle and said, "I don't bloody believe it."

"What?" Buffy asked.

"Willow looked at the map and said, "Oh. Oh gosh."

"What?" she demanded again.

"The school," Willow said.

"But it's a pile of rumble," Buffy said.

Giles said slowly, "Remember what's underground?"

Buffy's eyes grew wide. "The Master's lair."

"Precisely. Very cunning. The last place we'd look and the last place you'd want to go. Pillock."

Wesley asked, "Is it still possible to get into the place?"

"Must be," Buffy said. "There's all these tunnels."

"And daylight isn't a problem," Giles pointed out. "He can operate there whether it's day or night."

"I know the way there," Xander said.

Buffy nodded and said, "Dart guns. We need to take them out with dart guns."

"A good crack on the head will also do the trick," Xander pointed out.

Giles scowled at Xander and said to Buffy, "We'll be at a disadvantage down there, Buffy. There may not be time to be gentle." He turned to Wesley, "What about dealing with this sorcerer?"

Wesley looked a little lost and said, "We'll need to flush him out."

Willow frowned, "Maybe we should flush out Angelus as well? Buffy, do you really want to go back down there?"

She shook her head and said, "But I will."

Giles frowned and said, "The emotional stress aside, from your description of the lair, it's a place where they can easily play hide and seek - and they'll have the advantage of vampire sight in the darkness. I don't like it."

"I agree, Mr Giles," Wesley said. "It would be letting him chose the ground."

"Maybe we need bait," Willow said.

Realising what she meant, everyone looked at her and Giles immediately said, "No, Willow."

Buffy agreed, "I'm not going to risk you."

"But I've got Spike," she protested.

"Which is another reason why you as bait wouldn't work," Giles said. "Angelus would know that Spike wouldn't let you be out on your own with him about. It would scream 'trap'."

He sat down and said, "But the bait idea isn't a bad one. Let's use an irresistible bait."

Buffy looked at him and realised that he meant himself. "No, no, no. Absolutely not."

"Buffy, think clearly. They're not going to kill me straight away. Angelus is far too fond of torture."

"Torture!" she squeaked. "No way."

"I'm familiar with his techniques, but I'm hoping that we can catch him before it comes to that. My point is that Angelus won't be satisfied with just killing us. He wants to gloat. That will give us an opening in which we can spring a trap."

Buffy started to pace and said, "I just know that I'm not going to like this."

"First of all, I suggest he'll try to split us up. We choose where he can do it."

"And then?"

"I expect that he'll take me someplace. If he's in the Master's lair, it will probably be there - because he knows how much you hate it."

Willow said, "Spike said that some of the chains and stuff are missing from the warehouse."

"Then we have to decide where to spring our trap. And I suggest we do it before he reaches the lair itself."

Buffy looked at Willow and asked, "When did he find that out?"

"Er, he had to go out. Do you have those maps of the tunnels?" Willow asked.

Buffy glowered, but decided to let it go. Giles fetched the maps. Xander and Buffy started to compare routes they had taken to reach the lair. Xander pointed out that his route was probably the one that Angelus was used to since he had been the one who had guided him. Remembering his journey through the tunnels with Angel, he pointed out a junction where they could intercept them. They agreed to spring the trap there.

Willow said, "I'll call Spike and let him know. He said that the cage was still okay. Do you think we'll need a second cage?"

"We'll use the manacles on one of them," Giles said, "If we put them together, I wouldn't trust Angelus not to kill Joyce just to hurt Buffy."

They spent most of the rest of the day going over plans, with frequent calls to Spike who evidently was going out of his mind. After one fraught call, Wesley said to Willow, "Forgive me, but last I was here you were with Oz."

"Groupies," she said, as if that explained everything.

"But from Oz to Spike?"

"From a werewolf to a vampire. Maybe my witchiness attracts the supernatural. But there was someone in between."

"Oh, not supernatural?'

"Not as in vampire," she said, deliberately being vague.

Wesley shook his head, feeling a little perplexed and very out of touch. He was also surprised that Buffy wasn't more upset about Angel.

In the late afternoon, Giles and Buffy drove Xander and Willow back to Spike's and then came back, leaving Wesley on his own. They got back and he was still in the books.

"Well, Wes, ready for another fight?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, and I hope I last longer," he replied. "But I still don't know how we're going to stop Mellon - short of magic - unless we can get our hands on him ..."

"Can't you do some kind of a magic trace thingy?" she asked.

"He's not casting," he said. "So he could be anywhere."

"Watching?" she said.

"Well," Giles said in a tone of voice that was laced with menace, "we'll deal with him after we've dealt with Angelus."

"You're staying here until tonight?" Wesley asked Buffy.

"Er, yep," she said.

"Do you need anything?" Giles asked. "I'm just going to talk to Buffy upstairs."

"No, thanks, I'm fine," he said, pointing to a pot a tea and raising a book.

"Good," Giles said as they went upstairs.

As soon as they were upstairs, Buffy pushed him into the bathroom and closed the door. "Talk?" she asked in disbelief.

"Well," he said, as she jumped up with her legs around his waist.

"Talk?" she said, "when we might get killed tonight? Talk?"

He pushed her against the wall and stroked her thighs, "Wesley's downstairs," he whispered.

"He can screw himself for all I care," she said

He sucked at her neck, "Wank maybe."

"Wank?" she said. As he chuckled, she said, "Oh, *that's* what wanker means."

Holding her against the wall with his hips, he pulled her top over her head, and remarked, "Remind me to teach you English sometime." Blowing in her ear, he added, "After I give you a good shafting."

She groaned and tried to wiggle closer to him as her hands undid his trousers. As his hand snaked between her legs and his fingers started their explorations, she asked, "Are you sure this is a good idea before ... Oh!"

He twisted her clitoris and whispered, "It's actually a very good idea. If Angelus smells us on each other, it would infuriate him. Angry people make mistakes."

"Oh good ... God, you're good ... it's all part of the plan then. God, Rupert!" He had let his trousers drop and entered her suddenly, surprising her. "G-good plan."

Nothing else was said for several moments as they thrust against each in total concentration, each aware that it might be the last time, their passion fuelled by the fact that Wesley might hear. Finally she shrieked and tried to stifle it against his neck.

"You're not wearing any underwear, Mr. Giles," she panted.

"Neither are you, Miss Summers."

"Do you think Wesley heard?"

"Well, you do have to scream when you come."

She giggled and said, "No showers?"

"No showers."

"So it'll drive Angelus wild?"

"Without doubt."

"Good."

After rearranging their clothes, they came back downstairs. Wesley gave them a very odd look. "Everything all right?" he asked.

"Yes," Giles replied, "just some final preparations for tonight."

"Ah, yes, very good. Training?"

"Umm," Giles said, opening his weapon chest.

****

Soon after sunset, Spike arrived with Xander and Willow and they collected their weapons. Spike didn't like the idea of Willow coming along, but she pointed out that she would be safer with them than on her own. Once he saw her face, he realised that there was no point in arguing with her. She was coming along.

Well armed, the four set out in Spike's car. They would wait until Spike had seen Angelus leave the ruins. Willow would be with Spike and Xander with Wesley. They all sat and waited.

At the agreed time, Buffy and Giles went out on patrol in the cemetery where Buffy and Angel used to meet. Knowing that Angelus was an obsessive creature, they expected that he would arrange for some little drama in a familiar spot. They walked in the direction of what had been Sunnydale High, acting as if it was a normal patrol.

Buffy twitched. They were being watched. And she knew who was watching them. She looked at Giles and he understood what her look meant.

Angelus was in the shadows and inhaled deeply, smelling the scents left on their bodies from their earlier activities. He snarled and growling, shaking with anger. "Fucking whore," he thought, "doesn't even bother to wash him off before she goes out. She needs a proper lesson about who she really belongs to. The slut has my mark on her! And what does that English bastard think he's going touching what's mine." He smiled darkly, thinking about how he would teach them both a lesson - a very long and painful lesson.

Restraining his urge to attack them immediately, he retreated further into the trees and told Joyce what she had to do. She went some distance away out of sight and started to scream. "Oh God! Help me! Someone please help!"

Buffy looked at Giles. She recognised the voice. She said aloud, "Wait here. I'll be right back."

"Be careful," he called after her. He steeled himself for what he knew was about to come.

She ran off towards the sound, leaving part of her attention still behind her.

Angelus crept out of the shadows and grabbed Giles from behind. "Gotcha, you English bastard."

"Angelus. It's been some time."

"Too long," he hissed. "And you reek of something that's mine. I don't like people touching what's mine."

"She's not yours, and it's rather more than touching."

Angelus snarled and whispered, "This time I'm gonna break you, Rupert."

"You're welcome to try, pillock!"

Angelus cracked him on the side of the head, knocking him out, and hefted him onto his shoulder and set off for the lair. Piss-easy, he thought.

Meanwhile Joyce led Buffy on a wild goose chase, much as Buffy had expected and then disappeared. As soon as the cries for help stopped, Buffy made for the mausoleum and into the tunnels so that she could join the others. She just hoped that Giles was okay. Probably just unconscious, she told herself. He must have the thickest skull of anyone she'd ever met. She arrived before Angelus and Joyce and joined Spike and Willow.

Angelus had waited for Joyce. "Lose her?" he asked.

"Child's play," she said. "After all, she is just a child." She grabbed hold of Giles' hair and lifted his head up. She licked her lips and said, "Oh, this will be fun. This time I get to use the handcuffs."

Angelus yanked her to him and kissed her. He laughed and said, "First we teach him a lesson and then wait for Buffy to figure out where he is. We may have to leave some clues. She can be dim sometimes. Taking her in the Master's lair will be simple. After all, that's where she died."

Joyce reached up to kiss him and purred, "You're so clever, Angelus."

He started off for the lair with Joyce following him. The jostling woke Giles up, but made himself remain limp. As Angelus turned a corner, Spike stepped out in front of him. "Peaches, you never learn, do you? You just never stop arsing about, you dumb fuckwit."

Joyce said, "Spike, you shouldn't talk like that to your sire. It's very disrespectful."

"Why not?" Spike asked, "he's nothing but a great big jumped up jessie."

Angelus snarled, "You think you can take both of us, boy?"

Spike laughed in derision, "Pull the other one, Paddy. She's not Darla. What's she going to do? Drown me in hot chocolate? What's wrong. Mick, the daughter dump you so you had to settle for the mother?"

Angelus roughly deposited Giles and went for Spike. Spike was ready for the attack and promptly kicked him in the balls. Angelus doubled up but forced himself upright through the pain and Spike punched him the face. Angelus went with the punch and started to grapple with Spike.

Giles pushed himself up from the ground as Joyce reached for him and stuck his cross in Joyce's face. She retreated hissing - and turned and saw the others blocking her exit. She looked around in panic and ran towards Angelus at the very moment while Xander had his crossbow fixed on Angelus' back, aiming for the heart. He fired just as Joyce came between him and Angelus and the arrow went through her chest. Screaming, she collapsed in pain.

"Oh fuck," Xander said.

Buffy had come up from behind Spike to help and saw her mother go down. "Mom!" she cried out. Furious, she turned and kicked out Angelus leg and then delivered a hard to the head, knocking him out. "Handcuff him!" she shouted, rushing to her mother. The bolt had just missed the heart. Buffy grabbed one of Joyce's arms and Giles the other. "Pull it out!" she shouted to Xander. "It's too close to the heart."

He grabbed it and yanked it out and Joyce shrieked. They promptly manacled her hands behind her back as well.

"Ungrateful brat!" she shrieked at Buffy.

"Mom, you'll thank us for stopping you," Buffy said.

"So you can get back to screwing that cradle-snatcher!" she spat, glaring at Giles.

Wesley's eyes widened as he realised what the earlier noises upstairs had been. How long had this been going on? No one had told him.

"Come on," Buffy said, "let's get them to the warehouse. Giles, can you help Spike with Angelus?"

They carried Angelus to the car and man-handled Joyce there. When they got to the car, Buffy said, "Spike, you and Giles get in the back with Angelus. Put Joyce in the front. You can keep an eye on her. I'll drive. Giles, if you give Xander your car keys, he can drive the others to the warehouse."

Xander took the keys and they were soon on their way to the warehouse.

Angelus started to come round in the car and Spike cheerfully bashed him on the head again. Giles glared at him. "It was my turn," he complained.

"Sorry, mate. Next go is yours."

"Ta very," he replied with a gleam in his eye.

Buffy concentrated on driving and ignored the glare that her mother was giving her.

They arrived at the warehouse and brought their charges inside. Joyce watched sullenly as Angelus was chained to the wall, spread-eagled. She looked at Buffy and said, "That's not a very nice way to treat your ex."

"We just don't want him to get loose and hurt anyone," she explained.

Spike lowered the cage and released Joyce's wrists. She immediately turned on him, clawing at him. He expertly grabbed her wrists and said, "Sorry, Joyce, but I spent a hundred years with the mistress of clawed rage. You aren't even half as strong as she is at full power." Ignoring her hissing, he bundled her into the cage and raised it.

"Not this damned cage again!" she screamed.

"Sorry, Mom. It's necessary."

"I'm sorry I ever had you, you little treacherous bitch!"

The door opened and the others came in. Xander stared balefully at Angelus.

"Oh look," Joyce said, "the rest of the boy scouts have arrived."

Regaining consciousness, Angelus shook his head and grunted as he realised his position. He sneered, "Yeah, they're all here. The slut of a witch who's gone from rutting with a dog to shagging a vampire. The Slayer whore who fucks her Watcher before patrol." He looked at Xander, "The poor little would be white knight who can't protect his bitches. And look - even Pussley's here."

"Can I guard him?" Xander said, his eyes not leaving Angelus' face.

Giles stepped up beside Xander and looked at Angelus. He said to Xander, "I don't want you to stake him when we're gone."

"While you go home and screw your little tart?" Angelus sneered.

Giles punched him on the nose, smiling slightly at the sound of cartilage breaking. He looked at Xander, "Of course, that still leaves you a lot of scope."

Xander grinned for the first time and said, "So it does."

Buffy said, "Look, you two, this is not productive."

"Of course not, dear," Joyce said, "it's putting off the time when you can get home and spread your legs for him."

Buffy looked down, clearly beginning to get rattled.

"Buffy, please wait outside with Willow," Giles said.

"I'm not going to let you..."

"Trust me," he said firmly.

She went out with Willow. As soon as she was outside. she started to cry. "It's okay, Buffy" Willow said, hugging her. "It'll all be okay."

Buffy said, "Angelus I can deal with. But Mom..."

"Its okay, Buffy. It's just the demon talking," she said. "it's not her."

"Yeah, sure." She started to pace.

Inside the warehouse, Giles was nose to nose with Angelus. "Angelus," he said coldly, "I suggest you watch your mouth. I have a score or two to settle with you. Just give me a reason."

Angelus sneered, but kept silent.

"Angelus is twice the man you are!" Joyce yelled at him.

"What do you say, Angelus? Do you want to settle accounts?" Giles said.

Angelus wisely kept quiet. Spike looked at Joyce and said, "I wouldn't be so sure. Angelus had a chance to break him under torture and failed."

Wesley cleared his throat, "Um, so what are we going to do now?"

"I suggest that Xander guard him tonight and Spike can switch before dawn. That keeps Willow with a protector if they've acquired any associates or fledglings."

"Suits me," Xander said with a smile, thinking about the holy water and matches in one of his pockets.

"All right, let's go." Giles said. He hung behind a little and said to Xander, "Oh, and Xander, we do want him alive in the morning."

Xander nodded, "He'll be alive."

As the door closed, Xander smiled at Angelus and removed the bottle of holy water from his pocket. "Now, Angelus, let's see what we can do to pass the time, shall we?"

"You haven't got the balls for torture, Harris," Angelus scoffed.

"Balls," Xander said, "sounds like a good starting point." He started to unzip Angelus' leather trousers and said, "let's make sure you remember Cordelia." Joyce crawled to the edge of the cage, fascinated as the first drops of water hit Angelus' skin and he screamed. "Hey, Angelus, you scream like a wuss," Xander taunted. As the water hit a sensitive area, Angelus screamed again.

"When you take over, you can either drop Willow off or she can go with Xander, Giles said to Spike outside.

"Willow said, "I'll go with Xander. I think I'm going to need to talk to him."

"As you wish. But we must have a guard on them at all times. We don't want to have to do this again. Wesley, get in."

Wesley and Buffy got in the car and they drove back to Giles' apartment.

When they got inside, Buffy headed upstairs. Wesley looked hard at Giles and said, "Can I speak to you."

Giles glanced after Buffy and said, "If you're going to start preaching about propriety, forget it."

"It's not Council policy for a Slayer and a Watcher to ..."

"I'm no longer officially her Watcher, remember? I was sacked."

"But if you're re-enstated..."

"Then they will have to accept the situation."

"Mr. Giles, I ..."

"Don't, Wesley. Just don't I'll get you some blankets. Let's see if we can find a solution to the Mellon problem, shall we? Before Xander dismembers Angelus."

"But..."

"No buts. I don't particularly care if he does, but I'm not sure what it would do to him in the long term. I'll see you in the morning."

Wesley watched him go upstairs and shook his head. Why were things never easy here?

****

Over an awkward breakfast, they discussed the problem of Ian Mellon. Wesley pointed that it might be necessary to deal permanently with Angelus and Joyce if they couldn't locate Mellon. Buffy screamed at him, pointing that it was the Council's fault that her mother was a vampire and there was no way that she was simply going to slay her when they were the ones who had vamped her and desouled her.

Once she had stormed out, Giles said, "You definitely have a knack at rubbing people the wrong way, Wesley."

"Sorry, but if we can't locate Mellon... I don't know what else to do. I was hoping we could talk him round."

Giles nearly choked on his tea. "Wesley, think a moment. Unleashing Angelus was not a sane course of action. Turning Joyce, while utterly despicable, had a certain sick logic and Travers used magic so that he would have some control over the vampire. But Mellon simply released one of the most vicious vampires in history - one who nearly managed to suck the world into Hell - with no controls whatsoever. Do you honestly think that he would listen to reason?"

"So you think he's mad," Wesley concluded.

"I don't care if he's actually mad or obsessed with vengeance. It's the same - he won't be amenable to logic."

"We can't keep them locked indefinitely and I don't know what the effects would be if their souls keep coming and going. It may drive them insane in any case."

"I know."

"Listen, Mr. Giles, I have a few contacts trying to root him out. I'll speak to them if I may use your phone?"

"Please, go ahead," he said, mentally making a decision about the course he would take if Wesley proved unsuccessful.

He left Wesley to it while he made sure that he had the necessary ingredients - outside of what Doyle was meant to bring.

Wesley was unsuccessful and said that there must be something they could do to screen out spells or something. He poured through the books while Giles prowled about the apartment.

A knock at the door. He opened it. "Doyle, come in."

"I've brought the ..."

Giles put his finger to his lips, indicating that Doyle should be quiet. He nodded and came in.

He noticed the stranger sitting on the sofa. "Wesley, this is Doyle."

"Wesley?" Doyle said, "as in Wyndham-Pryce?"

"The same," Wesley replied as he came across the room to shake Doyle's hand.

"Cordelia mentioned you," he said, his voice cracking slightly.

"Oh, you ... I mean, you knew her?"

"They worked together with Angel," Giles explained.

"I see. And how did you manage to survive?" Wesley asked, his voice edged with a note of suspicion.

Doyle eyed him and then decided that in his position he would probably be suspicious as well. "Phantom Dennis," he replied.

"Phantom Dennis?" Giles asked.

Doyle said, "Cordelia's apartment was haunted. She called the ghost Phantom Dennis. He was quite friendly. When I arrived at her apartment, 'Angelus' appeared on the door."

"I see," Wesley said, although he obviously didn't.

Giles said, "Doyle, why don't we take a walk and let Wesley continue his research? I could do with some sun."

"Okay," Doyle said.

"See you later, Wesley," Giles said as they went out the door.

As they walked up the steps, Doyle said, "Okay, what's with the cloak and dagger?"

"I'd rather not have everyone knowing what I'm planning and turning into a flock of mother hens."

"I've got what you asked for." His eyes hardened slightly, "And if you're going to do something, I'm in. You didn't see the body."

"I'm sorry. I rather liked Cordelia - even though she could be very annoying."

"Let's see," Doyle said, "blood, vengeance, secrecy. Who ya gonna call up?"

"Arioch," he replied.

"Against Angelus?"

Giles shook his head. "This isn't really Angel's fault is it? It's the fault of the bastard who let him loose."

Doyle frowned, "So the summoning would take some explanation so that Arioch doesn't go after Angelus and Joyce and leave the guy responsible alone."

"Precisely."

"I'm in," Doyle said.

"I don't want to endanger anyone else," Giles said stubbornly.

Doyle grinned and allowed the blue spikes to emerge from his face. Giles jumped and said, "You're a demon!"

"Half-demon. My father was a Brachen demon," he said.

"Well, that explains your propensity to visions," Giles said.

"You're going to have to tell Buffy," he insisted.

"I'd rather not worry her," he replied stubbornly.

"God, you're one stubborn Englishman, aren't you? We need someone on guard in case uninvited guests show up."

"We've got Joyce and Angelus locked up," he said.

"You caught Angelus?" he asked, surprised.

"Mind you, he might be somewhat the worse for wear when you get him back," Giles said. Noticing the Irishman's look he said, "Xander had a few issues to work out."

"I can understand that. Look, Giles. You and me in the circle. Buffy outside in case Angelus has sired any fledglings or if this guy has any surprises."

Giles exhaled. "Fine."

"But we still have a problem. We have the blood of the victims which would lead to Angelus. But we want Arioch to jump over Angelus to the caster, we have nothing of his to focus him."

"We have a photo."

"That's a start. Maybe Wesley has something more?"

"We could ask."

On their way back they started working out the details.

*********

Buffy was already back when they got back. She looked at the Irishman, frowned slightly while she tried to place him and then said, "Doyle, right?"

"Right," he nodded.

"I'm sorry about Cordelia."

He nodded sadly.

"Have you seen Xander?" Giles asked her.

"Should be over later with Willow. Angelus is still non-dust." She smiled slightly, "But it looks like he spent an uncomfortable night. And is spending an uncomfortable day."

"Splendid." Giles looked at Wesley, "Any ideas?" He shook his head. Giles continued, "You have a picture of Mellon. Do you have anything else of his?"

Wesley nodded and went to his briefcase and produced a sealed manila envelope. "Mr. Browne said that you might need this."

Giles opened and looked into and smiled. It was not a pleasant smile. Wesley involuntarily took a couple steps backward.

"Giles?" Buffy asked.

"A piece of cloth with some blood on it." He tipped out the envelope, "and a note.' He quickly read and said, "Browne likes to keep things as insurance. It's Mellon's blood."

"So where's the best place to go and do this?" Doyle asked. "We need an open space without a lot of people."

"I think the empty mansion will serve our needs."

"Angelus' old place?"

"The same."

"Excuse me," Buffy said, "Am I missing something here?" She looked at them and then exclaimed, "Uh no. Demon invoking territory. Giles! We talked about this!"

"It's all right," Doyle said, "No problems involved. Dead easy. And safe."

"How do you know?" she demanded. He showed her his spines. "Oh," she said.

"Are all your friends witches, demons or werewolves, Mr Giles?" Wesley asked, slightly taken aback.

"I resent that, Brit," Doyle said, "I'm only half demon. I'm completely human on my mother's side."

"You get used to it," Giles shrugged, ignoring Doyle. He went to fetch a book from his bedroom and showed Doyle the invocation.

Doyle nodded his approval. "We should do this just after sunset - or as the sun is setting. Have you got everything?"

Giles nodded and Buffy moved in front of him and stood with her hands on hips, "Hello, earth to Giles! You are not going to become demon chow."

"Actually, love, we'd like you to be there in case any unwelcome company arrives."

"And a demon's not unwelcome company?"

"Arioch has a very specific brief. He undertakes vengeance for wrongs done to innocents. He doesn't go after anyone else." Giles explained.

"So, everyone else guards our two prisoners?" she asked.

"Just in case of anything unexpected," he said, "although I think everyone should be all right. After all, we are his targets."

"So when can we re-curse them?"

"Once we know that Mellon is out of the picture."

"Is this unending?" Buffy asked, beginning to look somewhat miserable.

"I sincerely hope not."

"Wes," Buffy asked, "in your file does it say that Carey has any other devoted followers who are going to appear and try to kill us?"

"Not that I know of. I think that most of his associates have been taken in hand."

"Great," she said. She suddenly put her arms around Giles' neck, "And don't you dare become demon chow. Do you hear me? That is an order!"

"Yes, dear," he said.

Wesley looked embarrassed and Doyle intrigued. Buffy looked at Wesley defiantly, as if she was daring him to say anything.

Doyle and Giles retired into conference mode, working out exactly how they could direct Arioch to go after Mellon rather than Angelus and Joyce and then how they would know that it had actually worked and Mellon had been dealt with. "An alastor vengeance light!" Doyle suddenly said.

"Ah," Wesley said from across the room, "I've heard of that." He looked through several volumes, located a passage and handed it to Giles.

"Thanks," he said, reading it. "Yes! I've got one of those!" he said, rummaging through a chest and emerging with a crystal.

"This is looking promising," Doyle said, "if only I could see the bastard when Arioch gets him." He looked upward, "Give me a vision I can enjoy, why don't ya!"

When Xander and Willow arrived, Buffy informed them of the plan. Doyle and Giles were still in conference. Willow went over to join them and complained, "Don't I get to help?"

Giles smiled at her, "You're the expert in cursing them with souls once we finish with Mellon. You need to be fresh for that. It's going to take a separate curse for each I think. We wouldn't want the wrong soul in the wrong body."

"Eech, that would be awful! Joyce as Angel and Angel as Joyce," she said. She looked at Doyle and said, "Hi, I'm Willow."

"A pleasure," he said, kissing her hand with a flourish.

"Her boyfriend's a vampire," Giles remarked casually.

Doyle yanked his hand back. "If I had known how keen the girls are on demons, I would have told Cordy my secret."

"Secret?" Willow said.

"Half Brachen demon," Giles muttered.

"Oh," she said.

Giles looked at his watch. "We should get a move on so that we can set this up."

They set off to their two destinations in two separate cars. As soon as they were in the mansion Buffy checked out all the rooms to make sure that there were no unwelcome surprises. She came downstairs frowning.

"Buffy, what is it?" Giles asked.

"One of the rooms is clean and dusted."

"Angelus?" Doyle asked.

"Not his style or colours," she said, shaking her head.

"Another vampire?" Giles asked.

"Feels non-vampire and whoever it was hasn't left anything behind."

Giles frowned, "It could he that Mellon is closer than we thought, keeping an eye on things. Let's get things set up."

After they swept the floor, Giles make an elaborate circle on the floor and then double-checked all the markings on it. Then he made a smaller circle outside the larger one with markings connecting it to the first.

Buffy looked at what he was doing and asked, "Is that safe? Connecting the two?"

"It's a one way connection," Giles explained.

"Oh."

Doyle produced a brass platter. They put the picture of Mellon and the fabric Giles had received from Browne on one side of it and the handkerchief and sleeve with the blood of Vanessa and Cordelia on the other side. In the middle they set the crystal. Buffy prowled about impatiently, glancing at them and then looking around for any danger.

"It all seems in order," he concluded.

Doyle nodded. He looked at Buffy, "Does she always pace like this?"

He nodded and said, "Needs something to fight, don't you, love?"

She suddenly rushed up and wrapped her arms around him, "Don't you dare get yourself killed. I'm going to be really really mad if anything happens to you."

Doyle raised an eyebrow.

Giles said, "I'll be careful, Buffy. And you be careful. If Mellon turns up, he may use magic. Be careful. And don't break either circle."

She nodded as Doyle and Giles stepped into the circle to wait for the sun to set. "By the way," she asked, "what does this Arioch look like?"

"He's impressive," Doyle said.

"How impressive?"

"Hey, he's a vengeance demon. Whadaya expect? Tinkerbell?"

Giles looked at his watch and took a deep breath. "Time to begin," he said.

Buffy looked even more alert, looking around. Stepping to the centre, Giles intoned, "Magne Arioche, te iubeo. Veni ex loco tuo. Consumite furore! Great Arioch, come and avenge the wronged. Come forth. I command you. Te iubeo!"

A yellowish light started to fill the smaller circle. It flickered and rapidly grew, like a fire taking on a shape. Buffy looked startled as its eyes appeared first in the middle of the light. When it finally filled the circle, Arioch was about eight feet tall with yellow cat-eyes which reflected the light. He had small horns and a lion's mane which extended well down his back - and very nasty razor-sharp teeth."

He looked around, growled and then demanded, "Why have you summoned me?"

"To avenge the wronged."

"Who is wronged?" he roared.

Giles touched the brass platter and it sped to the smaller circle. Arioch picked up the bloodied handkerchief and the sleeve of Xander's shirt and sniffed them.

"Vampire." He glared at Buffy. "You summon me to kill a vampire when the Slayer is present?"

"It's not the vampire who is a fault, but the sorcerer who took away his soul so that he would kill the innocent."

"What sorcerer?"

Giles pointed at the picture and the piece of cloth with Mellon's blood. Arioch picked it up and sniffed it. He snarled and then spotted the crystal in the centre. "This is irregular," he growled.

"True," Giles admitted.

Doyle let his demon face out and said, "Look, Arioch, demon to demon ..."

"Half-demon," Arioch sneered.

"Okay Half-demon to demon: this guy did a Romany spell to remove the soul from the vampire so that he would kill the Slayer and the Watcher. Since then he has killed others who are innocent."

"And what is your interest, half-breed?"

"One of the innocents," he replied.

"And your relation?"

"I loved her," he said.

Arioch nodded, "Then vengeance is just and deserved." He touched the crystal which glowed for a moment. He stretched to his full height and sniffed the cloth again. "He is close." Then there was a crack and he disappeared.

"Big guy," Buffy commented.

Doyle nodded as they broke the circle and picked up the crystal.

She looked at it, "What happens if he does his vengeance thing?"

"This glows again."

"Okay, it's like a sorcerer pager."

"Something like that," Buffy," Giles said, "Shall we remove this circle so that it isn't reused for undesirable purposes?'

She smiled ruefully, "Floor washing again."

"Then we'll check on the others."

"Sounds good."

***

In the warehouse the others were waiting, but unsure exactly what they were waiting for. Wesley was extremely uncomfortable. Willow was sitting in Spike's lap and he couldn't help notice that they weren't keeping their hands to themselves, which he found disturbing. Xander was looking with satisfaction at Angelus who looked rather unwell. Wesley decided that he didn't want to see what was under his shirt. And Joyce Summers was looking at him as if he was her next meal and giving him come hither looks. Why were things never straightforward in Sunnydale? It was so ... disorderly and unsettling.

Giving up on Wesley, Joyce crawled to the other side of the cage and looked with disgust at Spike and Willow. "Spiiike," she purred, "why don't you come over here and play with me?"

"If even I wanted to, you're the Slayer's mother, pet, and she'd stake me." He kissed Willow and added, "Not to mention what Red might do to me."

"Spike, this is very unvampire-like of you."

"I know. It'd be killing me if I wasn't already undead."

Xander glared at him, "I hate vampires."

"Pity," he replied, "I really like humans. They're right tasty."

Wesley shifted uneasily. The door opened, and he said, "Thanks heavens ..."

The sight of a gun barrel stopped him cold. Behind the gun barrel stood a sandy-haired man with piercing blue eyes.

Wesley swallowed hard, "Mellon, what *are* you doing, man?"

He waved the gun. "All of you move to that side of the room." He looked at Angelus and demanded, "Who's got the keys?"

Silence. Angelus looked at him keenly. "Looks like our saviour has arrived, Joycie."

Mellon glanced at Joyce and looked back at Wesley. "She was a mistake," he explained.

"Mistake!" she said indignantly.

"She was too close to Angelus."

"So, are you planning on letting me go then?" Angelus asked.

"So you can dispose of the Slayer and Rupert Giles."

"Well," he drawled, "'dispose' is so quick. Destroy is much better."

"Whatever. Now who has the key?"

Silence.

"He pointed the gun at Wesley who said, "I don't have the key. I just arrived. Perhaps Mr. Giles has the key."

He pointed the gun at Xander and said, "You, boy, the key."

Xander shrugged, "So shoot me. Add another body to your tally."

"I haven't killed anyone."

"Beg to differ." Willow stood up and went in front of them with her hands on her hips. "You're a murderer and that's," pointing at Angelus, "your murder weapon. You murdered Cordelia and Vanessa, and now you want to murder us."

"I want justice," he said.

"Justice," she said shrilly, "justice?"

"For my uncle."

"Who was calling up demons - how many innocents would have been killed if Buffy hadn't slain them? Buffy's done nothing but save the world and slay demons and vampires and he tried to kill her! That makes *him* the bad guy!" Willow's eyes were flashing now with righteous indignation.

"She quit! Mutinied! Deserted! Abandoned the Council!"

"Because they wouldn't help! She never stopped slaying!"

Mellon took a deep breath to calm himself. "Desertion merits the death penalty. They have to die," he stated coldly. He levelled the gun at her, "And if some others have to die on the way, so be it."

This time the silence had a deathly quality to it. No one moved. No one spoke until a rattle and hiss was heard outside. The vampires twitched. They sensed something. The door blew open and a blast of heat came in. Arioch stooped and came through the door and sniffed at Mellon.

"Sorcerer," he said in a booming voice.

"Who are you?" Mellon squeaked.

"Vengeance," he replied.

"No! I want my vengeance!" Mellon furiously fired the gun into the demon which switched as the bullets passed through it and then roared in indignation.

"You dare!" His mouth seemed to stretch and elongate and he suddenly swallowed Mellon whole, much as a snake would take in a large meal - except for the crunching of breaking bones and the blood which dripped from its mouth as Mellon's body scraped over the razor-like teeth.

Arioch's mouth shifted back to its normal size and his snake-like tongue darted out to lick up the blood on its chin. Then he sniffed the air and its eyes fixed on Angelus. "You!" it said.

Willow exclaimed, "No, no! Not his fault! He's - he's ... like the gun!" She pointed at the gun which had fallen on the ground.

Spike took hold of her waist, pulling her back, and said, "Pet, not a good idea to piss off a demon like that."

Arioch then sniffed at Joyce and said, "And you as well." She cringed in your cage.

Willow turned to Xander, "Xander! say something."

He looked sullenly at her and said, "Are you asking me to save Deadboy?"

"What about Buffy's mom?"

Xander weighed things for a moment and stepped forward. He shrugged and said, "She's right."

"Who are you?" Arioch roared.

"They killed my girlfriend ... and ex-girlfriend. So I figure I should have a say."

Arioch lowered his head and sniffed at Xander. He nodded, "I smell the scent of one still lingering on you. You want these two spared?'

Xander looked down and said, "Yeah, but I wouldn't mind if you hurt that one a bit!" He pointed at Angelus who snarled at him, struggling against his bonds.

What passed for a smile crossed Arioch's face. "I understand." He crossed to Angelus and ran a talon down his shirt, which fell open revealing a multitude of burns and blisters. He nodded his approval of the injuries and then raked his talons down Angelus' chest who screamed in pain. He smiled at Xander and then backed out through the door and was gone.

Wesley felt somewhat faint and Willow looked away from Angelus' bleeding chest. Noticing her reaction, Xander pulled the shirt together in front. He glared into his face, "Think of Van and Cordy, fang-face."

Angelus snarled at him, "When I get loose, Harris, you are going to die - slowly."

"Save a vamp's unlife and this is the thanks you get."

Buffy stepped through the door and swallowed hard when she saw Angelus. Lifted his head, he spotted her and said, "Hello, sweetheart."

She was followed by Doyle and Giles. Doyle looked at Angelus and then at Xander. He shrugged and then said, "The alastor vengeance crystal glowed. So Arioch must have done his thing."

"Yep," Xander said, "we had a demonic visit."

Giles looked at the blood soaking Angelus's shirt and said, "I see. Mellon was here. What exactly was he doing here?"

"Trying to force us to release Angelus. He threatened Miss Rosenberg with a gun," Wesley said.

Giles' face darkened, "He did, did he? And?"

"The demon arrived and, well, swallowed him whole."

"More or less," Xander said, "there was a bit of crunching. Not exactly like eating a Twinkie, but close. Just a lot noisier."

Joyce hissed, "Buffy, your friend made him hurt Angelus. What sort of psychotic friends do you have, Buffy? It's the bad company you keep that's responsible for your appalling attitude. But what could I expect from a freak?"

"Mom, please. It's the vamp speaking."

"Buffy, this is your mother speaking!" she insisted.

Willow interrupted, "Buffy, we should do the cursing as soon as possible. It will be easier for everyone." She fetched her bag and held up two orbs. "So who's first?"

"Mom," Buffy said.

Giles nodded and said, "Spike, will you gag Angelus? Just as a precaution."

"Love to, mate."

He gagged him, none too gently. Then he moved as far away as possible from the proceedings, fearing for his demon.

Joyce shrieked and banged on the cage as Willow set out her circle and sat down. Wesley held the burning herbs and Giles assisted her. There was a flash in the orb and Joyce stopped screaming and collapsed in the bottom of the cage. After a few minutes, she looked up and said haltingly, "Buffy? Where am I? Why am I in this cage again? Is this Sunnydale?"

Buffy opened the cage and helped her out. "Mom, it'll all come back in a minute. Bad guy removed the curse." Joyce looked across at Angelus and her eyes widened. "What happened to Angel?"

"That can wait," Buffy said. She noticed how weak Willow looked. "Will, are you okay?"

"Stuff takes a lot out of you," she explained.

"Will, I don't think you should do this twice," Xander said.

"We have to ..." she pointed at Angelus.

Giles said, "Let's switch and I'll take the brunt of it."

"But you already did the summons tonight," Willow protested.

"It doesn't take as much as a transference - and I had Doyle there to help."

"Okay," she said in relief.

Angelus started to hiss and struggle frantically in his chains when he realised what they were up to. Spike took Joyce to the end of the warehouse and they carried out the curse. As the orb glowed, Angelus sagged in his chains. A few moments later he started to groan and looked around him. He swallowed hard and said, "Not again." He looked at their faces, "I didn't kill anyone, did I?" Doyle nodded sadly and Angel noticed that Cordelia wasn't there. He groaned, "Oh God, not Cordelia." He looked at Doyle and then Giles, "Why didn't you just stake me!"

Xander said, "Well, if I had my way, you'd be dust. But they wouldn't listen. As usual."

They heard a shriek from the other part of the warehouse. "Mom?" Buffy said.

Giles held her back, "Give her a moment, Buffy. I suspect her memory's just come back."

He went over to Angel and unlocked the manacles, starting first with his feet. Angel dropped like a stone. Everyone looked down at him in silence until Doyle came over, pulled him up and took him over to a crate and sat him down.

Xander glared after him, "He's more forgiving than I am."

Spike came back to them with his arm around a weeping Joyce. Buffy went up and gave her a hug. "Did Spike tell you? It was a nasty guy with a grudge."

"But Buffy," she managed to gasp, "I helped him kill. I'm a murderer."

"The demon was. It wasn't you. You should be okay now."

"Why?" she wailed.

"Bad Council guys."

Wesley said, "Hopefully the last of them."

Buffy sat her mother down and sat down beside her, keeping her arm around her. Doyle was still talking quietly to Angel. After allowing Buffy a certain amount of time, Giles joined Buffy and knelt in front of Joyce.

"Joyce," he said, "this is not your fault. It's the result of a spell. Remember the Hansel and Gretel demon and what nearly happened then?"

She looked at him, "But it could happen again. And it was all going so well." She started to cry again.

Giles put his hand on her knee, "Joyce, it's exceeding unlikely. There are very few people who can forcibly remove the soul."

"Mom, it's true."

"But, I... Oh God, poor Cordelia..."

"I know," Buffy said in a little voice.

"I can't stay here," she said, "and I can't go back to that place."

"Makes sense," Doyle said, and she looked up to see him standing near her.

"Oh God, Doyle, I'm so sorry. How can you even bear to speak to me?"

"Because, as Buffy said, it wasn't your fault - nor Angel's. Neither of you did anything at all to bring it about."

"What do I do now?" she sniffed.

"New York."

"New York?"

"People in trouble, people to save. You can still find stuff for the gallery and you can act as secretary. And you'll be some distance from Sunnydale."

"When?"

"How about immediately? . We take Angel back to my place. Feed him a lot of blood so he can heal. Pack and leave for New York. I've had a vision of us working there and I've got contacts."

"Contacts?" Buffy asked.

"Whistler for one."

"Not him again," Buffy groaned.

"He's not so bad when you get to know him. Spike," Doyle said, "you wanta help me get him in the car?'

"Anything to get rid of the ponce," he growled as he moved to help Angel up.

Angel groaned in pain and said, "Wait."

They paused a moment and he said, "Xander." Xander looked sullenly at him. "I'm sorry. I know it doesn't help, but I really am. And you were justified - and right." Xander looked at him and then turned away. "Buffy. Giles. I ... I don't know what to say."

Giles stepped closer to him, still tense, "Nothing to say, really." He took a deep breath and added, "We were the targets and you were used. Well, good luck in New York."

Buffy said, "He's right. We were the targets. Look after Mom."

Angel nodded and Buffy embraced Joyce who said, "We'll keep in touch - by phone and e-mail."

There was a great deal of sniffing and Joyce said, "You can visit me. New York's a great place to shop."

"Right," Buffy said with a tiny smile.

Doyle left with Angel and Joyce. Giles looked relieved to see him go. He turned around and noticed that Xander was deep in conversation with Wesley. "Xander?"

"Yeah?"

"Can we give you a lift?"

He shook his head and said, "I've just had a job offer."

Willow said in surprise, "You're going to be a Watcher?"

He shook his head. "Demon hunter. Wes here's got some contacts."

"Wesley has contacts?" Buffy said in surprise.

Wesley smiled slightly, "Indeed I do." He turned to Xander, "Shall we?"

"Yep. Stop by my place and I'll pack a bag."

"Excellent." He offered his hand to Giles, "Mr Giles, I don't doubt that we shall meet again."

"Yes, well. All the best, Wesley." He held onto his hand for a moment longer. "And if anything untoward befalls Xander, I shall take it very much amiss and hold you responsible."

Wesley nodded and then turned to Willow, "Miss Rosenberg. Do take care," and he looked pointedly at Spike who gave him a cheeky look. Willow hugged him, startling him. "Buffy," he said in a voice tinged with respect, "I know I'm not your Watcher anymore, but if you ever need help and I might be able to offer it - however insignificant - please call upon me."

"Thanks, Wes," she said.

"Well?" he said to Xander.

Willow suddenly grabbed Xander in a bear hug and she was followed by Buffy joining in. Xander staggered from the sheer force of it. "Whoa! Overload! It's okay, guys. I'll be back. I just feel the need to do something violent involving demons."

Buffy said, "You can stay here and help me kick demon butt."

"But it's usually you that does the kicking, Buff."

"I could let you do the kicking."

"It's the 'letting' that's the problem. I need to do this."

"Oh Xandman, we're going to miss you."

Willow was still hugging him when Giles said, "I understand, Xander. But if you get in over your head, don't hesitate to call."

"And the cavalry will arrive?"

"Most assuredly."

"Hey, Wills," he said, giving her a hug back, "I'll be in touch. And I'll be back."

She sniffed a little and stepped back and her face became stern, "You'd better come back in one piece, Mister, or I'll have to do some Wicca mojo on you."

"Ouch!" He looked around, "I'll be seeing you. Look on this as my Kerouac thing - a little delayed."

With that he left. Willow and Spike walked off into the night, Willow insisting that they get home before they started anything.

Buffy looked up at Giles and then put her arms around his neck, "Looks like it's just us, big guy."

He bent over to kiss her and said, "We should follow Willow's advice and go home."

She gave him a wicked look and said, "Can I forget patrol tonight?

He smiled and at said, "Yes, provided you're ready for a work-out."

"Very ready," she said with an innocent smile, thinking about what she was going to do with the silk ties when they got home.

END

AUTHOR'S PAGE