How to Treat Your Lover

Two days after they destroyed the Thesulac, Angel and Spike moved into the hotel. Angel moved back into room 217, which had been remodeled, combining two suites into one, consisting of a sitting room, a bedroom and a small bathroom. They moved in on a Friday and Wesley was going to move the business over on Monday, leaving the vampires alone for the weekend.

Two days in which Spike ran around the lobby and first two floors naked. Seeing him streak by more than once, Angel had an idea that Spike was a hedonistic exhibitionist who was just born in the wrong century. On several occasions, when Spike ran past him naked, Angel was at the ready with a wet towel and snapped it at the alabaster ass with a loud, sharp, stinging blow that had Spike yowling and rubbing his ass.

Spike running naked wasn’t the only amenities to be enjoyed with their two-day vacation. So far, the pair had christened the lobby floor, both sets of stairs and defiled the beds in two other rooms on their floor.

The second night they were in residence, Angel started dreaming when he slept. They weren’t about his past, Buffy or Spike. He was dreaming of Darla. But, it wasn’t Darla of the past or when they met in Sunnydale before he staked her. She was different in these dreams. Her hair was longer and straight. She looked different, but she still smelled like Darla.

Caritas

The Host and Angel were on the side of the stage discussing his performance.

“Uh, Send in the Clowns and Tears of a Clown both in one night. What a treat,” the Host said jovially.

“Well, I was sort of going for a, you know, medley kind of thing,” Angel explained.

“Yeah, yeah. Well, more of duo-dley, really, wasn’t it?” the Host teased.

“I-I couldn’t come up with a third,” Angel said bashfully.

“Still, I’ve never seen you open up like that. Now, tell the truth. You’ve been practicing, haven’t you?” the Host prodded with a smile.

“A little,” Angel agreed softly.

“Probably not in front of the mirror,” the Host commented dryly.

“In the shower,” Angel admitted, embarrassed. It was true; he had been practicing in the shower. Spike tried to get him to stop, begged him to stop. He even offered bondage fun if his Sire would never sing again.

“And, it so shows,” the Host smiled.

“You think?” Angel asked, slightly surprised.

“Yeah. You really put your heart into it. Question is: what happens to it now?” the Host asked.

“It?” Angel asked confused.

“Your heart, you big softy. It may not be beating, but it can still break,” the Host said.

“What do you mean?” Angel asked. “Spike would never – if anything, it’s usually me who fucks up and breaks his heart.”

“This isn’t about Spike. Your relationship with him is solid. You made sure of that when you completed the claims. However, you’ve come to a bend in your own personal uphill road. Whether or not that slows you down . . . well, that’s up to you.”

The Host turned away from Angel and the crowd clapped appreciatively as the Host started singing, “Because . . . there is hills and mountains between us . . . always something to get over. If I had my way, surely you would be closer.”

Angel had wandered away from the stage, preoccupied with thoughts of what the Host had told him. He glanced up and saw Darla standing at the bar, smiling at him. He walked up to her, put his hands on her waist and pulled her closer.

“Darla,” he laughed slightly, “I was afraid you weren’t coming.”

Darla returned the smile. “Don’t be silly, silly! I’ve been here the whole time.”

He looked surprised. “You have?”

“Ah-mm, just waiting for you,” she said, making Angel smile. She raised a finely arched brow. “Aren’t you going to ask me to dance?”

Angel looked sheepish for a moment and then led her to the dance floor with a smile. All of a sudden, the bar was deserted save for the Host still singing on stage. Angel pulled Darla into a slow dance. He stared at her afraid to blink lest she disappear on him.

Angel leaned his forehead against hers. “I still can’t believe you’re here. I mean – I killed you.”

“I’m over that.” She smiled reassuringly. After a moment, she asked, “You haven’t told anyone about these dates of ours, have you?”

Angel pulled back a little. He hadn’t told anyone, not even Spike and thankfully his childe hadn’t probed his mind lately. He didn’t know why he was keeping his dreams a secret from Spike. It felt like something he was compelled to do. He cared about Spike, but with the same token, he knew Spike and Darla didn’t care much for each other. He was always the buffer between them.

“No,” he assured her. “I want you all for myself.”

“I know how you feel,” Darla sighed.

Angel held her tighter as they danced. She felt real. But then, this was his dream and in dreams you can touch anything, right? “This is so strange,” he said.

“But good,” Darla replied.

“But good,” he agreed.

Angel leaned down and kissed her red lips. This had to be a great dream, because she was soft and pliable in his arms. His Sire had never been soft before. She always had a hard edge about her.

The Host drank his Sea Breeze as he watched the pair from the stage. “Somebody get these two love-vamps a room!”

Angel was asleep with a dreamy smile on his face. He jolted awake, blinked his eyes and looked around. Spike was on his back asleep beside him. Angel put a hand to his forehead and swallowed. He had just had a dream about kissing Darla, dancing with her. Some part of him felt guilty like he was cheating on Spike in his dreams. He was still Spike’s Sire, and he’d always been with Darla, so why would this be any different now?

Because now you’re mated to him, Angelus answered.

How do I know it wasn’t you who started the dreams of Darla? Angel asked.

Why would I want to dream about that coldhearted bitch? Angelus replied.

You were with her for 150 years, you tell me, Angel countered.

Forget about her for a moment and look over at the person beside you. Then, you’ll have your answer, Angelus suggested.

Angel turned his head and saw his boy sleeping peacefully, his body still.

Why would I dream about Darla when we’re tied to that creature? A creature I made. He’s sleek, deadly, and resourceful. That boy is poetry in motion and he’s mine, claimed by me through you, Angelus said.

Angel reached over and ran his fingertips over a prominent cheekbone. Even through all their arguments and their fights, Angel never tired of looking at Spike. His boy was all whipcord muscle and angles. He watched his fingers trail over a cheekbone and down to the full lips. When Angel ran his fingertips over Spike’s mouth, the lips parted and sucked them in gently. He moaned when his childe laved his tongue over the pads of his fingers.

Knowing Spike was awake now; Angel pulled him over on top of him, still teasing his fingers inside his childe’s mouth. That mouth which could hurl insults at him one minute and offer up immense pleasure the next. Spike still had his eyes closed, but he was working Angel’s fingers over in his mouth. Angel felt the soft-scratch of tongue as it teased his fingers. God, now Spike was rocking against him. Angel groaned as their cocks brushed against each other.

“Spike,” Angel drawled. “What are you doing?”

Spike let go of his fingers. “You wake me up with your touch and you’re wondering what I’m doing?”

“Well, yes, but, you’re grinding against me and I didn’t initiate that,” Angel said, his eyes twinkling in amusement.

Spike sat up and the covers dropped to his waist, revealing that he was still naked. Angel sighed in feigned disappointment at the sight in front of him. At least he’s naked in the right room this time. I don’t want to deal with Cordelia if she sees him naked.

“You do wonders for a person’s self-esteem,” Spike said petulantly.

“Is that right?” Angel reached down and gently rubbed his fingers along Spike’s cock pressed against his stomach.

“Yeah,” Spike’s voice was gravelly all of a sudden. He was gyrating as Angel leisurely ran his fingers along the top of his cock with enough pressure for the underside to rub against Angel’s stomach.

“You’re awfully sensitive for a vampire. I’ve barely touched you and you’re squirming around,” Angel observed with a hint of a smile.

“Well, if you could keep your bloody paws off my dick long enough, I wouldn’t be moving,” Spike moaned.

“Okay.” Angel moved his hand away. He propped one arm behind his head and the other on his chest and watched Spike’s reaction with a smirk.

“Ack! Put it back!” Spike said mildly indignant.

“First, you don’t want me to touch you and then, you do. Which is it?” Angel asked innocently.

“Put it back! Please? I was wrong. Love your hands on me, don’t want them anywhere else,” Spike quickly replied.

Angel reached over to the nightstand and grabbed the bottle of hand cleanser that was inconspicuously sitting by the reading lamp. He popped the lid open and squeezed a liberal amount of the clear liquid on his fingers. Setting the bottle aside, he wrapped his fingers around Spike’s cock, gripped the length tight, and stroked gently.

Spike rocked into his Sire’s fist and gyrated against the cock under him. Angel watched him with glazed eyes, tuning everything else out but the “Oh, yeah, Angel!” that had become a litany on Spike’s lips. He watched his childe’s reactions to everything he did. When he flicked his thumbnail across the urethral opening, Spike hissed and shuddered. When he pulled the foreskin back and massaged his thumb over the frenulum, Spike cried out at the sensation.

“So, sensitive, Spike,” Angel whispered huskily.

When the dark vampire let go of his erection to get more of the slippery stuff, Spike nearly cried. Not that he was at climax level, but it felt amazingly good. He sighed contently and sank down against Angel, nearly melting, when he felt hands on him again. While Angel continued to stroke the shaft, he reached under Spike with his other hand and teased the perineum and anal opening with slick fingers.

Spike closed his eyes and moaned. He couldn’t help it if he was sensitive to touch. When he was turned, he enjoyed being a vampire and the sensations that came with it. His demon rippled under his skin whenever he was touched by his Maker. Sure, he loved to fight and enjoyed the exhilaration of brawling. But, Angelus made him what he was.

He and his demon responded to his Sire, because he was familiar. Not that he responded to Drusilla in the same way. Angelus – Angel – his Sire was comfortable. Angel knew him, knew what he was capable of; knew what he wanted. Angelus had cultivated him. So, it was safe to let go – to be himself – within this room.

While he thought about the impact Angel had on him, Spike was sliding along Angel’s fingers. So far, his Sire had worked three fingers into him, stretching him, and was working toward adding a fourth. Spike rocked back on the fingers and forward into Angel’s fist.

“Mmm, so responsive, but then, you always were like that, weren’t you?” Angel commented as he watched Spike sway on him.

“God, Angel. Why haven’t we ever done this before?” Spike moaned when Angel’s fingers brushed against his prostate.

“We’ve always done this,” Angel replied.

“No. We’ve always fucked. Animalistic. Possessive. Needy. Fucking. We’ve never done this,” Spike pointed out.

“And, what would this be?” Angel asked.

“This is . . . different . . . nice . . . good,” Spike gasped as he moved against Angel.

“Maybe I’m being generous. Maybe Angelus is satisfied with the way things are at the moment,” Angel said and then got a lecherous gleam in his eyes and said in a low, husky voice, “Maybe I just enjoy watching your reactions to what I do to you.”

The low tone sent a shiver along Spike’s spine. That voice had a faint trace of the old Angelus in it. Not the one from Sunnydale, but before. That voice made him harder if that were possible at this point – juncture – moment. Bloody hell, he couldn’t even think of words that didn’t have a double entendre to what was happening now.

“Mmm, you’re whimpering,” Angel pointed out. He carefully slipped his fingers out of Spike only to hear a sharp moan when his fingertips slipped free of the tight muscle. Pulling his hand out until he cupped it around the heavy balls, he asked, “Do you need to come, Spike?”

“Uh-huh,” was all he managed to say.

Angel pressed up on his thighs, indicating him to lift up. Spike stood up on his knees, reached down and rubbed the head of Angel’s prick over his perineum to his backside. They both groaned when the blonde lowered himself onto it. Angel smooth his hands along the insides of Spike’s thighs to, once again, wrap his fingers around Spike’s shaft.

“Do you remember what it was like to ride the horse we had back in 1885?” Angel asked as he massaged his boy’s sacs.

Spike’s eyes rolled back when Angel started to push up and grind against him with a roll of his hips. He groaned as the action cause his Sire’s cock to brush against his prostate. The younger vampire braced his hands against Angel’s hard stomach, feeling the muscles ripple underneath at his touch. He closed his eyes to concentrate and fell into Angel’s rhythm.

“Ride me, Spike,” Angel encouraged in a low voice. He tightened his grip on Spike’s dick reassuringly. “I got you. All you have to do is control the speed.”

Spike rocked back and forth in counterpoint to Angel’s movements, thrusting his cock into the tunnel of his Sire’s fist and then back onto his cock. Once he set the tempo, he used the momentum to bounce steadily.

Angel encouraged him with slow, rising movements as he released Spike’s cock and slid his hands up his childe’s stomach, raking his nails back down, lightly scratching the flesh. The dark vampire sat up and shifted until Spike was lying on his back at the foot of the bed.

“You’ve had your fun. It’s my turn now,” Angel growled softly, punctuating his words with a hard thrust that sent Spike sliding over the covers and nearly hanging over the end of the bed.

“Ahh, bloody hell,” Spike groaned as he held onto Angel’s forearms for support.

“Let’s see,” Angel pulled him back under him by an inch or two, “how well I can pay you back for teasing me in front of my crew, hm?” He pushed deeper, pulled back, angled his hips and thrust forward and bumping into Spike’s prostrate. As the younger vampire grunted, Angel was saying, “Making passes at Cordelia in front of me. Did you think I wasn’t keeping track of you?”

“It was fu-u-u-un,” Spike’s voice vibrated with the thumping of his Sire’s movements.

“Uh-huh,” Angel nodded. He tightened his hold on Spike’s hip and positioned him where he wanted him before burying his cock to the hilt and thrust faster. “You are such a slut for attention; someone would think I didn’t raise you right. I would be remiss in,” he was saying and groaned when Spike’s contracted around him, “not seeing to your – ah, God – every need.”

“Fuck, Angel! I need you right there,” Spike groaned when Angel hit just the right spot.

Angel caressed his hand up along Spike’s throat, flexing his fingers in a gentle massage. “Right there?” Angel inquired with a hard thrust. “Is that where you need me: always inside you? How you ever survived this long without me is a mystery.”

“I got by-uugh!” Spike answered.

Spike imagined the head of his cock was turning colors from being ignored and nearing orgasm. It was more painful than the pounding he was receiving. It was something that was long overdue as far as he was concerned. No sex in four bloody months! He made a note to never stay with Cordelia again. Next time their house blew up because Angel pissed off the wrong person, they were getting a room at the Holiday Inn or something.

“Jesus, Angel! Make me come already! My dick’s about to fall off here,” Spike said melodramatically.

Angel laid over him, his hand still on Spike’s neck and nipped at his ear. “Do you need to cum Spikey?”

Spike growled at the nickname. He hated that name. It was worse than being called Willy. He gripped Angel’s sides so hard that he left finger-shaped bruises. The pain from it made his Sire buck into him, sending him up a few inches on the bed.

“Cum,” Angel growled as he pounded into his boy until he felt Spike tighten around him. When he did, he shifted and sank his fangs into his childe’s neck. Spike yelled when Angel bit him and shuddered through a convulsive orgasm.

Spike lay there, breathing heavy. The way his head was positioned over the end of the bed, exposing the column of his neck was irresistible. Angel slowly retracted his fangs and licked along Spike’s neck, worrying the skin with his teeth, but not breaking it.

“God, Will . . .” Angel trailed off.

“He didn’t let me play,” Spike commented thoughtfully.

“Who?”

“Angelus.”

“How’s that?” Angel asked as he licked at the healing wounds in Spike’s neck.

“Because I was riding you and he took over and buggered me all to hell,” Spike answered.

“How do you know it wasn’t me? That I couldn’t lay back and watch you anymore and I took over, shagging you into the bed?” Angel asked as he reached down and carefully withdrew from his childe’s body to lie beside him.

“Because Angelus’ desires drive you and you wouldn’t have completed the claims otherwise,” Spike said, staring at the ceiling.

Angel was gently fondling his lover’s sacs when those words were spoken. He frowned, but didn’t stop his movements. The way Spike made it sound; Angelus was the entire reason the claims were in place. Was that why he was dreaming about Darla? NO! Darla had no part of the relationship he had with Spike now. He would always be tied to his childe by blood. Granted, he hadn’t put much thought into his relationship with Spike before he appeared in L.A. a year ago. Now, it was different and Darla, dream or otherwise, had no part of it. Yes, Angelus may think he forced Angel to reclaim his boy and had blamed him for the loss of his family due to the curse. But, Angelus wasn’t the only one to reclaim Spike of his own free will.

“Spike . . .” Angel was still touching him. When Spike didn’t acknowledge him, he looked over at his childe. “Spike, look at me.”

When the blonde vampire turned to face him, Angel was stunned by what he saw in those blue eyes. Spike’s eyes were always so expressive. However, this was different. There was no mockery, no scorn. None of the personality that made up what Spike was to the outside world. They were open and guileless. They were the eyes of a vulnerable William. Angel was inwardly pleased. He had offered Spike a sanctuary to let go – to be himself – in this room, and Spike had taken it. Outwardly, he was serious.

“Angelus wasn’t the only reason for claiming you. When I reinitiated the bond last year, it was me. It wasn’t Angelus. I attacked you out of anger, but once I sank fangs in and tasted your blood again . . .” Angel’s voice drifted off as he tried to find the right words. “When I drank you into me, it tasted like home and I forgot how much I missed that. I forgot how much I missed you. After you left and went back to Sunnydale, you were all I could think about. I deliberated over it for weeks before I tracked you down and completed the claim. It wasn’t on a whim and it wasn’t Angelus driving me to do it . . . at least not entirely.”

Angel licked and nipped at Spike’s skin while he moved his hand to stroke his lover’s hard shaft as he explained his motivations. In doing so he was slowly forgetting about the dream he had of Darla as he focused on drawing responses out of his boy.

“I always associated a mating with females. I never imagined it would take with you,” he said as swirled his tongue over Spike’s sensitive nipples. “I can’t say I have any complaints about that.” He moved onto the stomach and felt the abdominal muscles quiver under his tongue. Then, he looked up at Spike and saw the blonde watching him through lust-glazed eyes. “I was serious when I told you that I never regretted what I did.”

Spike reached down and tugged on him. Angel climbed up his body and Spike nibbled on his lower lip with his teeth and whispered against his Sire’s mouth, “Show me.”

Cordelia was downstairs dusting by the stairs and Wesley was behind the reception desk.

“Oh, this place is never going to get clean,” she bemoaned as every swipe of the feather duster caused even more dust to float in the air.

“Buck up. It’s just a little dust,” Wesley chirped.

Cordelia continued to clean as she said, “This isn’t mere dust. This is ‘son of dust.’ This is the kind of dust that spawns countless generations of little baby dust.” She threw her hands up in defeat and walked down a few steps. “I give up!”

“Very well. We’ll just move our offices back to your living room,” Wesley threatened casually.

Cordelia hurried back up the steps and proceeded to clean. “And I’m dusting.”

Just then, both Wesley and Cordelia looked up at a banging sound and watched Gunn swagger into the hotel. “Where’s Angel?” he asked annoyed.

“I believe the word is ‘hello’?” Cordelia said sarcastically.

“Yeah? ’Cause I thought ‘where’s Angel?’ summed it up,” he shot back. “We got work to do.”

“He’s still sleeping,” Cordelia said as she sifted through the file cabinet.

“Sleeping? It’s 3:30 in the afternoon. I’ve been up since dawn!” Gunn said.

Cordelia walked over to the counter beside Wesley and pointedly said, “Sort of missing the ‘creature of the night’ angle isn’t he?”

“I knew I said 4:00,” Gunn was still ranting. “Where’s Blondie then?”

At that moment, a lusty growl echoed faintly in the cavernous hotel. Cordelia rolled her eyes not surprised that the two resident vampires were up to . . . she didn’t care to know what they were up to. “With him,” she said lightly.

Gunn wrinkled his nose at the thoughts the sound gave him. His pseudo-boss was upstairs fucking his . . . what was Spike anyway? Angel should be downstairs getting ready for a meeting he and Gunn were supposed to have with a contact from Gunn’s old neighborhood. But, no! He was upstairs getting his undead rocks off with a blonde pretty-boy. How did a dead body create sperm anyway? Gunn shook his head to clear the images those thoughts brought to mind.

Wesley cleared his throat to try and dispel the awkwardness and croaked, “You had an appointment?”

“He didn’t brief you?” Gunn didn’t sound surprised. “Angel promised to back me up. We’re meeting a snitch downtown. This guy has a line on Deevak.”

“Deevak?” Wesley raised an inquisitive brow.

“Demon. He set up camp in my neighborhood. He put two of my men in the hospital last night. So, could one of you go up there and knock on his coffin-for-two?” Gunn sighed, already tired of waiting. Thinking about it a moment, he felt the urge to ask “They don’t have matching towel sets, do they?”

“He doesn’t use a coffin. Maybe you’ve never heard the expression ‘let sleeping vampires lie?’ He’ll rise on his own. He always does. Hey, maybe we can help?”

Gunn scoffed. “I think he’s doing more than sleeping up there. As for you two, if I find Deevak, I’m gonna need more than C3PO and stick-figure Barbie backing me up. No offense.”

“Very little taken,” Wesley commented with an air of his upper-crust British upbringing.

“Deevak is a badass. I’m gonna need the serious muscle,” Gunn explained.

Just then, the doors opened and David Nabbitt stepped in, wearing his blue silk, role-playing cape and swung an artificial sword in the general direction of the small group. “Demons of the underworld beware! Your time on the surface is drawing nigh!”

Cordelia’s face light up with a thousand-watt smile and hurried around the desk. “David, hi!”

Nabbitt met her half way. “I got here as quick as I could.”

Cordelia looked at him skeptically. “We paged you two days ago.”

Nabbitt looked at her sheepishly. “I was in Kuala Lumpur, hostile take over.” He turned quickly and whipped his sword up at Gunn. “Ah-ah! Identify yourself, traveler. Are you also a fellow demon killer?”

Gunn batted the sword away. “Who’s this guy?”

“David Nabbitt, meet Charles Gunn. Gunn, Nabbitt,” Wesley said without looking up from his research.

“Ha,” Nabbitt smiled apologetically and pulled the sword back. “Pleasure’s all mine. So, where’s Angel?”

“Actually, he’s still kind of sleeping,” Cordelia excused.

“At 3:30? I’ve been up since dawn!” he mimicked Gunn’s earlier sentiment.

Ten minutes later the sounds stopped. Twenty minutes after that Angel and Spike came down the stairs. Well Angel walked down the stairs; Spike was still working a few kinks out of his body from the last position he was in. Upside-down against the side of the bed wasn’t conducive to 127-year-old muscles.

“Sorry I’m late,” Angel said in greeting, causing Spike to cough up a lung.

Cordelia tried to hide a smile. She cleared her throat and tried not to look at Spike, lest she burst into a fit of laughter. The blonde walked up next to her and tickled her ribs trying to make her break down.

Oblivious to the secret communication, Nabbitt held up his sword valiantly. “Ah! I stand ready to fight the good fight, sir! What do you need?”

“Financial advice,” Angel replied.

Nabbitt blinked as the winds deflated the sails of his mock demon-fighting endorphin. “Okay. Good.”

“We’re making this hotel our new base of operations. Right now we’re leasing it for six months with an option to buy.”

“How much are you willing to put down?” Nabbitt asked.

Cordelia overheard from where Spike was teasing her by tugging on her hair and trying to get her to bend over to get a look down her shirt. “Nothing! Nothing would be good.”

Angel looked back and saw Spike jump back to an innocent position. He glowered at his childe before turning back to his newly-appointed financial advisor.

Nabbitt shrugged at him. “That’s easy. You could look into seller financing, take over the owner’s payments and skip the bank completely or you could make a play for a preservation grant. Offer to restore the original décor and get the city and the feds to give you a tax break and loan at a sweetheart rate. Or you could apply for an FHA and get a PMI in lieu of a down payment.”

Angel’s brows were furrowed in thought when he heard the sound of a body drop and the next second Cordelia had become attached to David Nabbitt’s side. He looked back to see Spike pick himself up off the floor.

What the hell are you doing?

Not a bloody thing now. She heard money being discussed and pushed me aside.

You’re a demon. You’re stronger than her, how can she push you around?

So, I have a soft spot for her. She’s flirts like Drusilla did.

We’ll be discussing this later.

Yes, Sire.

Meanwhile, Cordelia was fawning over David Nabbitt. “Is anybody else getting warm?” Nabbitt looked at her, surprised. “Do that 'tax breaks,' FHA and PMI part again.”

Nabbitt swallowed hard and looked between Angel and Cordelia, at a loss for what to do. He’d never had a girl act this way around him. They’ve flattered him and tried to make nice with him over his money, but Cordelia was melting over him, and there was possibly drool.

“Uh, I-I’ll have my money guy run up some numbers for you,” Nabbitt stammered.

“Thanks,” Angel said. He wasn’t too pleased with his small crew at the moment. Gunn was standoffish, Wesley was Wesley. Spike was teasing Cordelia. They’d have to have another discussion about that later. The first one didn’t seem to take, with all the orgasms going on. And, Cordelia had all but dropped to the floor and offered to spit-polish the guy’s shoes.

David nodded and ran up the few steps to the doors. He stopped and turned around with a big smile. “Is this demon fighting cool or what, huh?” With that, he dashed out of the hotel.

When David left in a swish of billowy cape, Gunn followed Angel as the dark vampire leisurely poured a cup of coffee. “What are you doing, man? We need to move on this.”

“Relax, we’ll make it,” Angel assured him as he drank. Cordelia’s coffee-making skills had improved a little.

“Relax?” Gunn asked anxiously. “Every time you ask me for a favor I’m right there. First time I need your help, you’re having a nooner with peroxide boy. What’s up with that?”

“Who said anything about noon? We’ve had surround sound clarity since 7:00 this morning,” Cordelia commented.

“You’re actually awake at 7 a.m.? How come you never came in until 9 a.m. before?” Angel swallowed his drink.

“Why should I come in any earlier than I have to?”

“So, why were you here at seven this morning?” Spike asked.

“Wesley’s still trying to brown-nose Angel. Like this job has any perks,” Cordelia said. When she saw Angel frown, she hurriedly said, “except killing evil demons and saving the world.”

“Uh huh,” Angel looked at her skeptically before handing over the keys to his beloved convertible. “Cordy, you’re driving.”

“Me? Drive your car?” Cordelia sounded surprised. “So cool.”

“Wesley, we’re gonna need some bribe money. There’s some cash in the box,” Angel instructed.

“Hey, wait a minute!” Spike and Gunn chorused.

“I thought you wanted to move on this?” Angel inquired as he drank the last of his coffee.

“Which is why we’re not taking those two, they’ll slow us up. At least we can use Spike!” Gunn said indignantly.

Angel grabbed his coat as Spike grabbed his duster. “We go up against Deevak; we’re going to need the entire team.” He turned to Cordelia and said, “Pick us up in the back, in the shade.”

“How come I can’t drive your car?” Spike asked.

Angel’s answer was to grab his wrist and thrust into to a sunbeam that shown through the window of the door. When his hand started to smoke, Spike yelled and yanked his hand back. “That’s why.”

“You sadistic fuck; I knew you still had Angelus under the bloody surface,” Spike said angrily as he nursed his singed hand.

Gunn shook his head as the vampires walked out the back and Cordelia and Wesley headed for the front doors. When the ex-watcher passed him, he smirked and said, “Shotgun.”

The ’67 Plymouth pulled into a parking garage. Cordelia and Wesley got out, followed by Angel, Spike and Gunn. Gunn walked ahead of the group a few paces and looked around at the seemingly empty garage. “Damn, we’re too late. He split.”

“Maybe he heard what a pleasant person you were to be around,” Cordelia commented.

Spike and Angel searched the dim garage with their enhanced sight and Angel picked up something. “Over there.”

Realizing he was spotted, a short black kid slowly peeked out from behind a van. “Are one of you Gunn?”

Gunn stepped up. “That’s me. Are you Jameel?”

Jameel emerged from behind the van and inched closer. Angel and Spike flanked Gunn and Angel tossed an envelope at the kid who caught it.

“Here’s your money,” Angel said gruffly.

Jameel glanced at the envelope and threw it at Gunn’s feet. “Keep it. I changed my mind.”

Gunn picked up the envelope and held it menacingly at the kid. “You don’t want this that’s your choice. But, you’re gonna tell me where to find Deevak.”

Jameel backed away from him. “Hey man, the only reason why I showed up is ’cause I know you got a rep and I ain’t looking to make no new enemies. But, on this Deevak situation I just can’t help you. He’ll know it was me. Demon’s got eyes and ears all over the place, not to mention teeth! There’s a good chance that he had some vamps tail me over.”

The small group looked around the empty garage. Gunn shrugged. “I don’t see anyone.”

Jameel nodded nervously. “Good. I’m just here to pay my respects and be off the streets before sundown like my momma taught me.”

Gunn stepped closer to the kid. “You want to make it home at all; you’re gonna start telling me what you know.”

Jameel’s eyes widened in fear. “Look man, I’m sorry. But, Deevak scares me a lot more than you do.”

Gunn handed the envelope to Angel, then whipped around and knocked Jameel down with a punch.

“Gunn!” Cordelia said in surprise. She hadn’t expected there to be a fight, just an exchange for information.

“Hey!” Angel yelled. Both he and Spike moved forward to stop Gunn but the hunter was already kicking Jameel as he rolled away.

Spike grabbed Gunn’s arm as Angel stepped between Gunn and his target. “What are you doing?”

Gunn turned angry eyes on the dark vampire. “What I got to do. I got people dying!”

Jameel sat up, favoring his injured side. “Man, I didn’t do anything!”

Gunn shook Spike off, pushed past Angel and pulled Jameel up by fistfuls of his jacket. “You think I care? It’s survival of the fittest, bro. Right now, you ain’t looking too fit.”

Gunn pulled his fist back to hit Jameel who was trying to cower away from him, but Angel caught it with a command, “Easy.”

Gunn glared at Angel. “Let go man. This is my case.”

Angel’s eyes hardened. “It was. Now, it’s mine.”

They stared at each other. Spike watched them, wondering if Angel would physically harm one of his team for the sake of a two-bit snitch. Angel had told him how he met Gunn and how impressed he was with vampire hunter’s aptitude in handling himself. Subconsciously, Angel had taken Gunn in as one of his own as he had Cordelia and Wesley. As well as he was being treated, there was still a part of Spike that wondered if he was intruding on Angel’s new family, and maybe a little jealous by it.

Just then, the access doors opened and a gang of vampires rushed in. The small group saw the swarm.

“Angel!” Wesley yelled to get the vampire’s attention as Angel and Gunn were still staring each other down.

Jameel was nearly hopping to get free. “Oh, man. See, I told you I was being watched!” He pulled himself free and disappeared as the others turned to confront their new situation.

The four guys took one vampire each while Cordelia danced around with stake in hand swinging at the backs of the vampires. On her second try, she staked Wesley's vamp just as it was about to jump on a downed Wesley, and then gave him a hand up. Angel, Spike and Gunn continued to fight their vamps, both doing about equally well. Spike’s vampire turned and saw Cordelia and went for her. He got two steps before Spike thrust a stake through his back.

After the fight, the group was sitting on the ground with their backs against the rear bumper of the convertible. The only evidence of the small battle was the piles of dust around them.

“I’m so sick of dust,” Cordelia said as she brushed it off her clothes.

“I think I got a crick in my neck,” Spike commented.

“I can’t lift my arm all the way,” Angel declared.

“That vamp did a number on my ribs,” Gunn stated.

“I’m afraid I threw my back out again,” Wesley groaned. He pulled a smashed pager out of back pocket. “Ach, lovely!” He dropped it on the ground beside him.

“Ach! Grease stains all over my new outfit!” Gunn, Angel and Spike look at her. “Okay, so maybe my pain isn’t physical, but do you have any idea of the dry cleaning bill I’m looking at?”

Spike inclined his head toward Angel and whispered, “Do you think your arm will heal up by the time we get back to the hotel. ’Cause all this fighting has my blood . . . pumping . . . away.”

Angel growled softly and whispered back, “I could ask the same about your neck.”

“Oh, no worries there. A good massage and relaxation will help that,” Spike replied.

“Well,” Gunn said out loud. “We’re still no closer to finding Deevak.”

“Probably for the best,” Wesley grunted in pain.

“How do you figure?” Gunn shot a glance at the former Watcher.

“Well, we’re hardly prepared to face a demon of Deevak’s caliber in our current condition,” Wesley explained.

“You’re ready to pack it in? The only reason I called you was because you all are supposed to be the demon experts,” Gunn retorted.

Angel sighed. “Wesley’s right. Three vamps, we should have been able to take them all a lot easier and faster than we did. We need to regroup.”

“Hey, I helped you when I was done killing my own,” Spike said indignantly.

“Yes, and we thank you for that,” Gunn said sarcastically as he stood up. “Maybe the rest of you need a little down time. I’m gonna track down Jameel and make him talk.”

“When you do find him, you may want to be a little more Guy Pierce in L.A. Confidential and less Michael Madsen in Reservoir Dogs?” Cordelia suggested.

Gunn looked down on the group. “I haven’t bothered to see a movie since Denzel was robbed at the Oscars for Malcolm X. Later.”

As group watched Gunn leave, Wesley said offhandedly, “That was quite a performance.”

“I know! Talk about being wound up too tight,” Cordelia commented.

“No. I-I mean Denzel,” Wesley clarified.

“Oh, well, he’s always great,” Cordelia said.

“What about you?” Wesley asked Angel.

“Who doesn’t love Denzel?” Angel quipped.

“No! I mean – what you said before. It’s true. I’ve never seen you have so much trouble with a simple vampire before,” Wesley observed.

“It’s an off day,” Angel replied. “Let’s go.”

The group stood up. Spike immediately searched his pockets for a cigarette. He shook one of out the pack. He pulled it out with his lips, flicked his lighter open and did his best James Dean impression as he lit up.

“Ew, Spike. Do you have to smoke? The car windows will definitely be open now,” Cordelia said in distaste with a crinkle in her nose.