Splinter

Angel stepped out of his office, feeling for the first time in weeks that he had accomplished something with that last conference call. Plus, he finally had a good night’s-day’s sleep, better than any for some time now. It was just a coincidence that he had taken down a full nest of vampires before taking a fresh scalding shower, disconnecting his phone and falling quickly into the deepest slumber he had in a long time with nothing more to add to a rather uneventful night.

Nothing at all.

His need to shower once more when he got out of bed was merely a habit he had chosen to take on, nothing more.

It had been a fairly standard night.

The soaked towel that had unceremoniously been draped over his couch was none of his concern either. In fact, he had maintenance get rid of the leather seat when he asked for a new bed as well as new color schemes for his penthouse. The propositions for them still lay untouched on his desk.

Nevertheless, the lack of meaningless dreams disturbing his slumber was the best start of any day.

Angel glanced at Harmony's vacant desk for once relieved that she was not in her post as expected. He had been anticipating one -or both- of the Sunnydale Pep-squad Duo to barge into his office, putting a chink in his silver day. Not that he had been sneaking glances all morning at his unopened office door or anything like that. He was all too busy finally putting an end to the mountain of documents needing the man in charge's input.

He had readied himself to a jumpstart of an uneventful day. A day that was all begging for some sad fool to jinx it. In the back of his mind, he had been waiting for Harmony to slap more 'urgent' papers onto his desk, for Cordelia to report a 'crisis' vision, or for the accidental peeing of some demon clan on another's territory resulting in a premeditated species annihilation that needed him to jump to the foray.

He actually wouldn't have minded any of that.

And yet it was the sight of Spike and his recently ever-present shadow Raven on either side of the head of his legal department that had pulled his good day to a screeching halt – the three were talking, seemingly in a deep discussion. Angel swore he heard some bone shuddering metal against metal scraping, ringing his ears…

“I’m telling you, man, not dissing Bruce - but Jackie has the best air-kicks, how about...”

Angel took a second of contemplation, and then coughed loudly. Suddenly, the space that had been filled with the hustle and bustle of underlings in front of his office emptied.

A couple extra frowns adorned Angel's face at the obtuse reaction from the underlings. Did everyone know something he didn’t?

Spike twisted his lips. “Neat trick. I should learn that.” He tilted his head to the side as if to get a better look at Angel. “Although, I’m sadly lacking in the caveman forehead department,” he said with a loud click of his tongue. He ignored the scathing 'you shouldn't be here any more' look Angel was slapping him with. If the big poof was acting like all's well, then so was he.

Raven barely spared Angel a casual look, acknowledging his presence.

And Gunn had the dignity to look somewhat sheepish.

“My man Angel! We were just going over the possible legal issues and ramifications of additional species wanting their share of the Treaty." Gunn plastered an extra large grin on his face. "This is getting huge!”

Angel was not impressed. He crossed his arms, his glare generous.

Gunn finally took notice of where he was standing and made a very dignified shuffle to the back.

“Master Hrafen, what did you think of the magical seal proposal…” Wesley was amiably talking as he turned a corner. He stopped in his tracks. All his years of training as a watcher screamed at him to run. Or at least place himself at a safe distance and keenly observe without interfering. The trapped look in Gunn’s eyes seemed in favor of the first option.

Wesley internally sighed as thankfully Cordelia and Harmony were nowhere in sight, predictably conspiring. Or were squeezing information out of Xander who had barely stepped foot into the building before he and his sleepless expression were whisked away by two animated ex-cheerleaders into Lorne’s office. He spared the boy a moment of pity - as well as some curiosity regarding what he had witnessed of the demon world the previous night - before he reluctantly took part of the growing tension.

“Angel, Spike informed us that you have given your consent to the upcoming peaceful alliance.” Wesley held back his amused smile. No one could judge him to being politically incorrect.

Spike turned his head, scoffing at Wesley’s delicate wording choice and mumbled, “Not in so many stuffy words.”

“Ah,” Wesley started. However, the elevator dinged open to reveal a very ecstatic looking Fred. He had to smile warmly at the childish glee that had taken over her face. Yet, Gunn overenthusiastically beat him in greeting her.

“Fred! You seem ready to pop. Something science-y I bet. In the mood to share?” Gunn interjected quickly. Even if everyone were saying that the waters were presently calm in ‘vamp front’, much to Cordelia’s chagrin and distrust, the black man would choose any situation to being in the middle of a vampire squabble, or girls on a mission tirade. Peaceful and silent as it may be, he hadn’t survived years living on the streets without an innate sense in these matters. He was nearly suffocating here!

Knowing what he knew of the affairs of these vampires - more than he even cared to - made him want to be elsewhere whenever all three were in the same place. He missed the old days when Spike and Angel would ignore each other or yell so loud he could hear them in his office, it never failed as a forewarning not to interrupt. Although, recently, every time he saw Angel and Spike together, he recalled seeing them ‘together’, which of course then led him to binge in happy hour and with his luck Cordelia would gain even more blackmail material to pull his strings with. So, yes, Fred’s interruption was most welcomed.

Fred nearly bounced. “It’s a find! See, I’ve been looking into old dusty relics for a while now, you know, ‘cause some harbor pretty well-preserved primordial organisms.” She waved her hands around, looking at everyone excitedly. “Well, there’s this informant guy person who said that there was this artifact stuck in customs---” She let out a small giggle at how bizarre that was. “--- for like a long time now and no one picked it up, and there was no address or nothin’. And it looks like bad old Wolfram and Hart had a standing order when something like that happens that it should be delivered directly to the firm after a certain number of days.” She puckered her lips in thought. “I guess they missed the whole new non-evil corporation--- long story short, it’s here!!”

Wesley caught Angel's look and nodded. He would handle it and make sure that all past standing orders go through either of them before being carried out. Then he looked at his cheery girlfriend and instead of giving the expected lecture on being safe, he sighed beseechingly.

“Where is it now?”

The somber look that Fred had on when she awaited the 'you should be more cautious, dear' scolding melted and she replied, “It’s in the lab. I’m going to do the tests now before we open…”

“Might I see it?”

Everyone turned their eyes to Raven who was calm in the wake of the gazes and their varied inflections.

“Ancient artifacts are a leisure pursuit of mine,” he explained. When he took note of what seemed like hesitation on Fred, he continued. “Unless it isn’t ---?”

“No, no, the more the merrier!” Fred squeaked. She was taken aback, finally processing the vampire being in their midst. A strong thought of ‘Poor Angel’ passed her mind before she recalled what their boss had done, or neglected to do or… She shook her head. She was really confused in all of this. From Cordelia, to Lorne, to Gunn, to even the subtlety of Wesley's aims she felt at a loss on what to think or feel. Was Raven the good guy? Was he the bad guy? Was he a vampire in love willing to compromise for the person he loved? That wasn’t completely unheard of, right? Spike was with them because of that. And that premise in itself held so many prospects that she feared subjecting herself to such anguish, because it all appeared so bleak when you really looked at it. She didn’t know what to think, and that was something she had always prided herself on being able to do.

So, she pasted a good-natured smile on her face and enthusiastically ushered everyone into the large elevator.

A little while later, Fred blinked when everyone practically jumped out of the elevator the second it reached its destination. Well, almost everyone. Raven nodded his head politely at her and she felt her face heat up as she quickly exited, followed by the elegant vampire. She didn’t mean to catch Angel’s glowering eye, so she pretended not to see it while silently berating herself at being charmed by Spike’s --- uh, boyfriend? Master to his slave? She shook her head and grinned at Knox who was looking uneasily at the group of silent men following her. She turned around, faced them with a grin on her face and waved at the giant sarcophagus she was standing next to.

“Uh, Fred---?” Knox started speaking, somewhat unsure, before Fred interrupted him, asking the guys what they thought, mentioning that she was thinking about doing some tests to check its age, but it seemed, like really, really old!

The perky scientist went on speaking about what might be inside it but stopped, catching her breath when all of a sudden Raven had silently appeared next to her. A gust of wind caused by quick movement ruffled her hair.

It happened too fast, no one had time to speak much less intervene. Knox was lifted off the ground, Raven’s right hand clutching his throat, while the other ripped at his lab coat covered shirt. Fred gasped, there was a strange bump stretching Knox’s skin.

“Qwa'ha Xahn.”

Knox’s eyes widened at Raven’s hissed speech then dropped to the ground wheezing, his eyes shining with moisture but never leaving the calculating look on the vampire’s face.

“You’ve chosen a host for your God.”

The room’s stunned occupants were left wondering if that was an accusing statement or a question.

“What the Hell is going on?” Angel finally exploded. None attacked his employees but him! His anger had nothing to do with the way Spike fell into a backup stance near Raven leaving Angel’s side unprotected. Nothing. At. All.

Wesley narrowed his eyes at the vampire eying the tomb with distaste. He eased Fred behind him in a protective gesture, and was glad that his girlfriend was too shocked to protest his actions.

Fred was more deliberating than under shock. From this angle she had a better view of her assistant’s chest. His flesh seemed to have been cut open, odd hard objects were placed under his skin before the skin was stitched closed again. She winced at the thought of how painful that must have been.

“Knox---” she barely started before Spike’s voice interrupted her, warning Knox, who was slowly inching away, not to move unless he wanted those chicken arms to be ripped off.

Spike kept the shirtless scientist in his peripheral sight, ignoring instinctive senses that were screaming ‘apologies to your sire for disrespecting his presence’ as he had easily done for years. Instead, he focused on Raven. He forcefully pushed aside the emotions conflicting between hope, fear and the unexplainable apparition of dim light in a long dark tunnel. “Mr. Van… care to share with the rest of the class?”

“I would advice that you contain the sarcophagus before returning it to its rightful domicile,” Raven spoke, not answering the question.

Angel made it a choice to ignore him as well. “What do you think you’re doing?” His fists were throbbing in need to split one arrogant all-knowing vampire's face and he was very close to abiding by with their wishes.

Spike, on the other hand, recognizing the all too calm tone of Raven’s voice, realized the seriousness of the situation. “Better safe than sorry, ain’t that your philosophy, oh mighty defender?”

Angel turned his hard eyes to Spike. The blond merely replied with his usual raised eyebrow, head tilt with an added sneer as an afterthought. The taller vampire rolled his eyes and inclined his head to Gunn who pulled out a cell phone and let out a series of quick instructions. A bunch of hard looking men quickly appeared and in no time had the large item securely covered and according to protocol moved it to a designed, fortified containment facility on the same floor.

“Rightful home?” Spike looked at Raven in question.

“More like prison,” Knox spat. His hand was massaging his throat. His eyes had filled with venom when the reinforced coffin was being relocated. However, he didn’t dare move with Spike keeping close watch on him.

Raven faintly allowed a disgruntled gaze to pass over the fallen scientist. “Your prophecy had been broken.” He simply looked amused when the response was gnashing of teeth.

“What’s a Qwa'ha Xahn?” Wesley spoke up through the minute silence.

That might have been the right question since Raven proceeded with a slight pause of thought, eyes roving over the prostrated Knox with distaste, to explain that he had seen similar sarcophagi hidden in the Deeper Well in England, in the Cotswolds to be exact, fiercely guarded for what was kept there needed to stay buried. It was the final resting place-- for the remaining Old Ones who were not driven out of this dimension. He had read of an ancient prophecy regarding the Warrior God Illyria, imprisoned in the Deeper Well and destined to return to the base of its power, guided by its Qwa'ha Xahn, its priest. He gestured to Knox.

"The demon's essence was not yet released - the coffin still enclosed. It would be wise to contact the Demonbane and inquire if he had misplaced one of his cares."

“Drogyn?” Angel asked suspiciously.

Raven's lips tightened but civilly answered Angel’s one worded inquiry. “Yes, he has been the Guardian and Keeper of the Deeper Well for decades.”

Angel crossed his arms and nodded. “I know him, he’s a truthsayer.”

Raven raised an eyebrow but didn’t say anything in response to Angel's manner of layered speech.

"The battlebrand?" Wesley said aloud, wistfully. "Given eternal youth a thousand years ago…"

Spike snorted, saying in a pretentious upper-class accent, "Percy did a paper." Wesley flushed but Spike kept on with a snicker, "Bet you were the envy of all the other watcher-bes."

Angel sighed and turned to Fred. “Sorry, Fred, but we can’t take any chances.”

Fred looked disappointed but nodded in understanding.

Gunn raised his hand. “Just need to ask, this big bad demon wanted to get back from dead, can understand that, why this place?” He pointed at Knox. “Mad Scientist here obviously was in on it, how is he 'guiding' a stone coffin?” he directed the question to Raven.

“The bodies of Old Ones have long withered, what's contained are their being’s essences. They require a host.”

“Like… a parasite?” Fred piped, interested. “I’ve read that some mummy possessions happen the same way. But, uh, Knox was going to…?”

“No, he had already chosen a host for his God,” Wesley said recalling Raven’s earlier words. He drew closer to Knox who was slowly standing up, bracing himself against the wall. “Who was it?” he said tightly.

Knox was glaring at Wesley, his gaze barely left the Englishman to Fred a split-second before Wesley’s punch hit him hard and he was once more on the ground, crouching in pain.

Fred was gaping, from the news or Wesley's aggression, she wasn't sure.

“He was going to turn me into a mummy shell?”

Spike shook his head with a chuckle and gave her a one armed hug when her face creased in horror.

“Wouldn’t let that happen to you, petal. Besides, bet you’d’ve been the prettiest mummy I’d ever seen.”

“You’ve seen mummies?” she asked, eyes not leaving Knox as if she was seeing him for the first time.

"Fought plenty of 'em." He puffed up his chest and winked when Fred grinned, looking relieved.

“One tried to wed him,” Raven interjected. “Drusilla was fascinated with the entire event.” He chuckled.

“More like break out my organs and feast on their godly flesh,” Spike said with a huff, his face wrinkling, recalling the incident.

“Sounds like a mess you'd get yourself in. When was all this?” Angel asked in what was meant as fake interest, trying not to question Raven's presence during that event.

Spike scratched his head, his other hand fiddled with a metal button on his leather coat. “It was the first and last time I set foot in sunny old Egypt. Dru took a fascination to sleeping in the old pyramids, said the walls were talking to her, telling her bedtime stories, well, it wasn’t the walls.” He stuck his hands in his pockets. “If Ray here hadn’t been in town to add to his ever growing overpriced collection I’d’ve had my bollocks in a bloody jar.”

Fred giggled and Spike faked outrage at her amusement in the face of such a scarring experience.

Angel mentally commented with sarcasm at how convenient it was that Raven was present, first in Egypt and now in L.A.

Gunn coughed uncomfortably. It seemed Angel spoke aloud.

Raven turned to Angel and coolly reminded him about Illyria's teleportation being predestined. As Angel had so conveniently mentioned Drogyn was a truthsayer who could not lie, and would concur to the fact. And as for being there for William, he would never alter any outcome, be it chance or not, especially if William's own kin were lost in their self-made worlds not seeing what was right in front of their maniacal selves.

Spike visibly winced, but wasn't worried anyone would notice; they were too busy having a front row seat to Spike’s Life. All that was missing were the freshly popped, natural buttered corn.

More to the point, he knew that when Raven was presenting his extra-cool demeanor, he was pissed, and that if he plain out spoke his thoughts, then they were really in trouble. Spike quickly interjected, “Wouldn’t kill ya peaches to check in with an old mate, you know, for the greater good and all.”

Angel crossed his arms but nodded. He pleasantly took in the flash of annoyance in Raven's eyes.

“I’ll charter a jet and then," Gunn said cautiously, he inclined his head at Knox when three strict looking men appeared. "We’ll have you in England in ten hours.”

Knox coughed some blood when security restrained him – it seemed that Wesley’s punch was harder than they had thought. "Could be there in four…" he offhandedly mentioned that the Firm had really fast jets.

One of the guards nudged him forward but Knox didn't fight it and instead let out a crazed chuckle. “It's a shame, Mr. Gunn, that you passed on your chance for a regenerative brain-boost; we would've been basking in my God's glory by now.”

“Shut your gob. I’ve met enough gods for a lifetime,” Spike spat.

“Or those who think they are,” Angel mumbled bitterly. He waved at the guards. “Get him ou…”

However, Gunn interrupted him before he finished his order. “What're you on about?” he demanded.

Knox tilted his head upwards and licked his lip, wincing when his tongue touched blood. “You went to the doc to boost up super lawyer when the Senior Partners decided you weren’t up to the job. But it wasn’t the Senior Partners that took it in the first place.”

“It was temporary,” Wesley spoke evenly, looking from Knox to Gunn. "Gunn told us he declined the doctor's offer. He still retains some of the information that was implanted in him when the final arrangement had been completed with the Firm upon handing them Lindsey." His gaze settled on Knox evenly. "The doctor was not working under the Senior Partners' orders, but yours." The Englishman pointed at one of the security. "Dispatch three of your men to apprehend the doctor." He watched as the man spoke in his earpiece to report just that.

"We all do our part - we walk the same path that would lead us to our benevolent prevailing God." Knox smirked at Gunn. “We needed someone with enough clearance but with something to lose, it was perfect. Problem is, when you were offered a piece of paper to sign for a permanent boost…”

Gunn's fists strained at his sides.

“You refused and my God was held up by customs.” Knox scoffed at the audacity of the fact. “And then all Hell broke loose.”

When it seemed Gunn had nothing else to say, Angel inclined his head and the guards ushered Knox towards the laboratory door.

Gunn was too busy piecing up the events in his head. He had declined the offer when he recalled his past and the deal he made, selling his soul for his truck. Then, he had meant to do good for his people; however, he would never make the same mistake twice. He knew that someone would get hurt and this time he didn't dare make a deal with a devil. Luckily, his lawyer powers hadn’t completely disappeared by the time they uncovered Lindsey’s plan, and Wolfram and Hart’s senior partners handed them their old law firm in exchange for the coup d'état lawyer. Gunn wasn’t as top on his game as when he had a head full of demon and human law knowledge, but he had enough left to push him into carrying on being a lawyer, this time at a slower pace but with more moral ground to fortify him than he had in a long time.

But that didn’t stop the new fact from hitting him hard.

He could have killed Fred. He wished he'd had his own go at Knox before they took him away.

“You didn’t.”

It seemed that Angel wasn’t the only one whose thoughts were louder than he liked.

“I was tempted,” Gunn replied to Fred’s comforting words. She smiled at him sadly but said nothing. Instead she clutched at Wesley’s hand. “Really, really tempted.”

Angel’s features hardened as he observed his friend and heard his bitter words. He didn’t get a chance to speak through the ascended silence.

“It is the choices we make that define who we are, not the temptations that we didn’t indulge in,” Raven spoke, not looking at Gunn, his sight unwavering from an increasingly uncomfortable looking Spike.

Luckily for Spike the rising tension was interrupted when both Cordelia and Lorne rushed in, nearly bumping into each other in their haste.

“FRED!!”

Fred blinked at the unison yell.

“I had a vision…” Cordelia didn’t finish because she was busy hugging Fred, pushing Wesley away at the same time.

“Fredikins, blue is a good color on you but would you not wear it for some time, sugar?” Lorne grinned a little too widely and hugging her from the other side moving Wesley further back. "I need time to recover…"

Fred nodded wide-eyed when Cordelia finally released her. Lorne gave her one last squeeze and let go as well, but didn't move away.

“Bit green around the gills there, green jeans, even for you,” Spike pointed out.

Lorne waved. “Don’t ask. Where’s the big infinite evil girl liquefying remains?” he asked looking around the laboratory.

Fred blanched at hearing the 'liquefying' part.

“Lucky for us, Ray here is anal about his relics.” Spike tilted his head to Raven who was ignoring Cordelia's fiery gaze.

“Yes, lucky,” Angel mumbled.

Spike rolled his eyes and tried to change the topic. “Weren’t you playing Hag Gossip with poor Harris?”

Lorne scratched the side of his face. "We forgot him with Harm…"

Cordelia waved that off. "Maybe he'll spill after she finishes showing him her unicorn collection. He's been hiding something that happened last night." She crossed her arms and moved her eyes to look at Raven pleasantly.

Spike's lips stretched in a devilish smile. "I bet I know what Droopy's reluctant to divulge."

Raven turned his head. "Why not ask him now?"

Xander slowly came into the room and looked uneasily at Spike and Raven. “I felt like someone was dancing on my grave.” He eyed Spike pointedly. “I guess crisis is averted or everyone would be jumping all over the place. Cordy, can I finally go back to the very expensive hotel room I’m mooching off Giles to sleep? I have bags under the bags, I’d hate for you to see what’s under this very manly patch.” He pointed at her covered eye.

Cordelia crossed her arms and looked at how close Spike and Raven were standing. “Yeah, guess how Angel’s had been feeling.”

Angel's face revealed nothing.

Spike groaned.

And a little twitch on Raven's face was all the response he cared to give.

Xander smacked his hands over his ears, moaned and snapped his working eye shut. “God, I’m having a nightmare while I’m awake. I know because I don't sleep standing up. Aren’t we done already?” He winced sneaking a look at Angel. It was a sympathetic glace.

Angel reared back. “What have you been telling him?!” he demanded of Cordelia.

“The truth!” she raised her voice. “It’s about time someone said aloud what everyone had been tiptoeing around. We’re all adults here…” Everyone groaned. “Well at least I am!”

She pointed to Spike’s side. “And I don’t trust his evil Armani covered ass!”

Raven seemed composed in the face of her words.

“Cordy.” Fred looked uncomfortable. “He was the one who saved me, and you know, the Treaty…” her unsure voice trailed off when Cordelia threw her a betrayed look.

“We don’t know if he has other plans than having naked sweaty hot vampire sex with Spike.”

Spike smacked a hand on his face.

Xander chuckled jeeringly. “You didn’t seem so modest last night, sir smooch-in-public.”

Spike blinked silently. A mere second later he smirked recalling something. “Speaking of that, you mates care to see what Vlad gave me?”

Xander’s eye bulged.

“You are not changing the subject, mister. We are communicating here.” Cordelia frowned, her finger held up mid-point. “Who’s Vlad?”

Wesley remarked, “Vladimir Dracula.” He shrugged. “At least, I assume that’s who Spike’s referring to.”

“He’s real?” Fred whispered astonished.

Cordelia huffed. “Why don’t I ever meet famous vampires?” She checked her nails.

Lorne crossed his arms. “You would like him, Cordy. He’s more vain than…” He coughed and chuckled lightly when he sensed that his well-being was at risk. “What present did you get, Pookie? Was it an engagement gift?” He wiggled his eyebrows and grinned when Spike looked at him with unmarred disgust, but pointed his hand in a direction nonetheless.

“He gave me Harris.” Spike acted aloof which didn’t fool Raven.

The Hravolen master took a step back for a better view of the predicted explosion.

“You don’t HAVE ME!”

“You didn’t tell me Spike HAD you!!”

“I’m hearing blockbuster reviews.”

“Oh, man.”

“Wes, I don’t get it.”

“Later, dear.”

A growl caused everyone’s jumbled words to come to a halt. “Spike. Explain.”

Spike sniffed haughtily. He was planning on some sort of scathing reply but the look in Angel’s face put a stop to it. He sighed because his fun had been brought to a standstill by the king of anti-fun himself. “Well, Captain Crunch--- hey, why don’t I let Harris show you himself?” Spike smirked when Xander’s face paled.

“Wa---”

“Xan-pet, show the poof here some lovin’. He’s being missing out on because he’s a sanctimonious trotter.” Spike waved Xander forward like he was gesturing at a puppy.

Xander’s face flamed when he realized what the blond was aiming at. However, when he didn’t move he released the breath he was holding.

Spike furrowed his brows.

“Xander, smack a wet one on Angel.”

Nothing.

Spike advanced on the shocked human and poked his chest. “Is he broken?” He turned wide blue eyes at Raven, looking as if he'd lost his favorite toy.

Raven took pity on him. “Leif, in essence, Vladimir gave you his lease for the night, which naturally expired. It's inferred that you initiate your own.”

Spike took a couple of steps towards the older vampire, outraged. “He didn’t say nothin'!”

Raven shrugged. “It’s common knowledge.” He pasted a casual demeanor, carefully covering his relief at being rid of his beloved’s maddening human toy.

Spike pouted. “Not to me.” He glanced at Xander who was annoyingly grinning. His eyes narrowly missed the confident expression on Angel’s face. He snorted. “As if you knew.”

Xander was happily beaming when he noticed the pleased look on Raven's face. He wondered why the vampire was happy of the outcome before realizing that he could care less what Creepy Cool Vampire thought.

Spike scoffed at Angel and bit out at Xander instead, "What are you still doing here? Shouldn’t you be half-way back to me old home by now, reporting to your keeper?"

Xander shrugged. "Willow and Faith misplaced their recruit witchy slayer, they're tracking her down. We'll leave when they secure her."

Angel's interest was peeked. "Anything we can do to help?"

"Nah…" Xander shook his head and enjoyed seeing Angel's elation deflate. "Willow has a tracking spell on her, the slayertte is cloaking, but they’ll get her." He started to move away towards the lab door.

Cordelia followed him. "I didn't think you'd come after us to the lab. I thought you'd hide in the closet when I said the word 'danger'."

Xander puffed up. "Danger now runs from the Xander."

Lorne called from behind, halting Xander's hasty pace away from the tense room. "How did you escape Harmonica's little pony clutches?"

Xander turned his head and sheepishly looked in the faces of the interested people who were moving towards the door. He pulled out a gun out of his pocket.

"You shot her?" Fred gasped horrified, looking at Cordelia who seemed to be caught in a clutter of emotions before settling on gazing at Xander with heated interest. Fred blushed.

"Nasty…" Gunn snickered.

Spike looked impressed. "You've grown a pair, mate. Did it hurt?" He all but bounced. "Tell me it hurt."

Wesley shook his head unfazed from where he stood. "It's a tranquilizing gun."

Spike turned his head to Xander who shrugged confirming that. "Sorry. She'll be awake in fifteen minutes or so. Hence me wanting out of here." He gestured with his thumb behind him.

"Can I have that?"

All eyes turned at Angel.

"It could…" he explained, trailing off speaking to their retreating backs."...come in handy." He was soon left alone in the laboratory.

"That's not right, I'm the boss…" he mumbled, exiting himself a little while later.

"Can't see anyone denying that, Angel-cakes."

Angel turned to find Lorne standing a little to his left. The green demon held his hands up in defense. "Not planning on decapitating me if I speak?"

Angel narrowed his eyes. "Depend on what 'advice' you plan on giving."

Lorne lowered his hands, chuckling under his breath, his face serious. "Well, then, you might not like this." He looked Angel in the eye. "I read people- that's what I do. It's the only thing I can bring to the helping table, nothing more." He held up his hand to stop Angel from interrupting. "Yeah, I know. Been there, done that. Not here for a boss pep-talk, don't worry, the sandman does his thing every night." He pointed back to the lab. "But, see, sometimes people cover up what they intend to do so even a song in their hearts can't let me in. Fred could've died today because Knox passed my reading. But that's not your problem; it's mine to deal with." His voice tightened. "I don't need you to sing for me to know that that face you're wearing isn't hiding an iceberg under it. I know what happened with Spike last night. Late last night…"

Angel opened his mouth but Lorne stopped him once more.

"Not to worry, Masoch. Not telling Cordy, she's already on a mission post-tapes…"

Angel inched forward. "What tapes?"

Lorne sighed displeased at Angel's change of subject. "Would you forget about the tapes? Gunn took a vengeance on the one tape. There're no tapes. This is about you." He pointed at Angel.

"You keep pulling back more and more inside you and not facing what's in front of you because you think you know best. And who am I to judge, you might."

Angel crossed his arms.

"Point is, repression might be the right medicine for some people, but it ain't the drug for you. You keep pushing in, what's forever living inside you is pushing out. You be careful or an outburst would happen and soon - and it won't be the pretty sparkly kind. Especially now."

Lorne threw his hands up in the air. "There, I've said my piece." He nodded mostly to himself. "Now I might get some peace of mind."

He walked off in a rush but stopped a few steps from turning the corner. His back was to Angel's. He spoke knowing that Angel could hear him, "You always had two minds about everything, Angel. But this is something you can't."

Angel's eyes snapped open, the gold in them melting back to brown before he headed off in a different direction. He had a plane to catch. They had a potential risk in the building and there's no time like the present to transport the runaway back home, and no one better than him to do the job.

Still, it would have been nice if he could've shared his first plane ride with someone else.

TBC

It might take me a while to update in this site, I tend to forget *blush* so make sure to check my livejournal: http://lusciousspike.livejournal.com/ for the fastests updates and better format. Thanks to all of you who feedbacked. You keep reminding me why I'm writing this. Keep it coming and hopefully so shall I!