Things That Go Bump in the Night

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Chapter Twenty Eight
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In the wake of Angel's quiet announcement pandemonium reigned, and it took several minutes before Angel got everyone quieted back down. Doyle swallowed convulsively against the waves of distrust he could see reflected in the eyes of almost everyone around him. It took a lot to stay where he was, and not take a step backward.

"What kind of demon?" Giles asked, his expression carefully, blankly, neutral.

"Brachen," Doyle replied, tuning out everyone except the watcher, and was gratified when his posture relaxed immediately.

Thtchetcher nodded thoughtfully. "It just might work," he replied slowly, pausing briefly before continuing, "if I'm guessing right about what this 'plan' is."

Both Xander and Buffy continued to stare at him suspiciously, and Doyle shifted uncomfortably as he turned to look at them calmly -- well, as calmly as he could. He *hated* this part. He wanted to forget his demon half even existed most of time, so telling people about it rated as one of his all time least favorite activities. It rated right down there with getting the shit kicked out of him by a brassed off slayer.

Buffy folded her arms across her chest belligerently, not bothering to hide the flurry of emotions that flew across her face and flickered in her eyes -- clearly conflicted feelings.

Doyle watched silently as, underlined by anger and distrust, he watched dawning hope get a toe hold in her eyes. He couldn't hear that hope in her tone, however. "Yeah, just what is this so called plan?"

"Buffy!" Xander exclaimed in shock. "You can't be serious?"

"Xander," Giles admonished, "now is not the time."

"Well," Xander returned sneeringly, "when will it be? When he--"

"Doyle loves Cordelia," Angel interrupted impatiently. "Nothing else matters right now."

"I'm still waiting to here this plan," Buffy said over the other objections in the room.

Doyle took a deep breath and plunged ahead. "I go to Willie's -- alone. I might be able to get the information because they'll think I'm there because I 'want to be there', instead of because I want to interfere."

Xander snorted rudely. "That won't work," he snapped, "unless, of course, that's what really *is* happening. You're conveniently forgetting the fact that Willie has seen you with us."

Giles and Angel frowned at Xander, but Doyle ignored both of them. If this was going to work, they had to trust him -- at least a little.

"Of course, if--"

"Not in demon form he hasn't," Doyle said, before Xander could finish another sneering insinuation. He cleared his throat in increasing discomfort, but maintained eye contact with Xander. "I know you care about Cordelia. So do I. Can you get past your bigotry long enough to help her?"

"Bigotry!?" Xander shouted, striding forward. "Why you--" Cutting off his own insult, Xander frowned. "What do you mean, 'demon form'? You've got two . . . like a vampire?"

Doyle nodded. "Sort of. It comes from being a half breed -- like vampires."

"I've seen pictures of full Brachens, but--"

Buffy interrupted Giles impatiently. "I've got just one question. Do you look different enough in demon form that Willie won't recognize you?

Doyle shrugged. "That's what I'm hoping."

"Show us," Buffy demanded imperiously.

Doyle opened his mouth to protest, but Angel beat him to it.

"Buffy, that's not nec--"

"No," Doyle said, interrupting Angel, "she's right," muttering a very quiet, 'much as I hate to admit it,' to himself before continuing. "You know me too well to know if it might fool him. They don't know me as well." Then with only the slightest outward indication that he hated what he was about to do, Doyle shifted, closing his eyes against the expressions those around him would be wearing. He couldn't close out the sudden gasps though, and they tore at his soul.

"Whoa!" Richie exclaimed.

Doyle's eyes popped open, wanting to see the expression that went with Richie's intrigued response. After the quickest of glances though, he glued his eyes to Buffy. Everything hinged on her, he was sure. Everyone else would follow her lead. They may, or may not, like it, but they *would* follow. He couldn't read her. Before this moment, he'd never have thought she could have that good a poker face. He hadn't thought she had it in her.

Shifting back to the more crtabrtable human form, Doyle stared at the slayer impatiently. "Well?" he asked finally, when it looked like she wasn't going to say anything at all.

She looked down at her feet for a long moment, while Doyle's heart pounded in his chest. She looked up so quickly that he was tempted to take a step backward, but the reluctant grin that was pulling up one corner of her mouth let him relax instead. She nodded once -- firmly.

"It just might work," she said. "How good a look did Willie get of you?"

"I stayed pretty much in the background when they were questioning him." On either side of him, Angel and Adam confirmed it, and Buffy's grin grew a little.

"Good. Doyle goes in alone, and the rest of us stay outside, waiting to follow him."

"Some of us should be waiting beyond the sewer entrance to Willie's, in case they leave that way," Angel offered.

"We can keep in touch via cell phones," Willow piped up, stepping forward eagerly. "I've got one. Angel's got one. We need one more,"

"Cordelia has one," he said, pointing to the purse that had been left behind when she'd been taken. It sat there like a mutuiltuilt-inducing reminder of her status as missing.

"Is there a back door to this place?" Joe asked.

"Yeah," Xander replied.

As everyone rose and headed for the door, grabbing weapons and other necessities, they began the gentle bickering about who exactly would be in the three groups watching the exits while Doyle was inside. By the time they reached the cars it had been decided that Angel, Xander and Willow would be below ground near the sewer entrance to Willie's. Tara, Richie, and Buffy would be at the back door.

They had a moment of contention when Buffy protested that she wanted to be at the front door, since it was her firm belief that was the door they'd use. Everyone managed to convince her, however; that she was well known enough that she would stick out like a sore thumb there. Giles, Adam, and Joe were assigned the front door, but not until Joe made it absolutely clear he wasn't going to be left behind.

Piling into Joe's vehicle, they made room for everyone as best they could, Richie happily suggesting Buffy sit on his lap. Everyone laughed as she quickly complied, easing some of the growing tension.

"I've just got one question," Doyle said after everyone was seated, and whoever could be was belted in. "Is this a once in a lifetime-- well ordinary lifetimrituritual? Or could it be done any year?"

"For Xander, it's once," Giles replied. "For Cordelia, I suppose it would depend on what her status is when we find her."

"Status!" Xander exclaimed. "What the hell do you mean by 'status'?"

"I mean whether she's still *pre*Immortal."

"Oh," Xander replied, dejectedly.

Doyle wasn't any more satisfied with that answer than Xander was.

"From what we've been able to figure out from vague references, and from you two," Willow said, singling out Richie and Adam, "-- we don't have the actual ritual to study -- it requires someone who is new to being Immortal.

Tara nodded quickly. "Yes,'inexperienced in the ways of being quickened,' " she said, obviously quoting.

Adam shook his head, and Doyle immediately turned his attention to the Immortal.

"Not just newly Immortal, I think. My bet is that the length of time their sacrifice has been Immortal doesn't mean anything at all. I think it has to do with whether or not they've received a quickening. Once a new Imal tal takes a head, they'd be safe."

"Okay, I *so* did not need that mental image, Adam," Buffy replied, frowning slightly, "but it does make sense."

The rest of the drive was made in uncomfortable silence, each rider occupied with their own thoughts, fears, and hopes for how this day was going to end. Doyle startled when Joe pulled to the side of the road a good six blocks from Willie's, but jumped out with everyone except the group that was going to watch the front door with Joe.

Watching as Joe pulled out, those left behind slowly continued the journey on foot. The two groups would split up closer to their destination. Oddly subdued, no one spoke for an entire two blocks.

Buffy's hand on his arm nearly made Doyle jump, but he turned his head to look at her. Seeing something he didn't quite understand in her eyes, he hesitated, then slowed his step and they fell behind the others.

"I want you to know that you're going to have to prove yourself to me before I'll trust you."

Doyle stiffened, old resentments surging through him anew. "Angel trusts me," he spat out through clenched teeth. "Cordelia trusts me. Isn't that enough for you?"

Buffy shook her head decisively. "No, but their trust is the reason you're getting the benefit of the doubt," she replied, then as if that was all there was to say, she strode forward.

While Doyle took a moment to control the tangle of emotions coursing through him, Buffy's step faltered and she half turned back toward him, glancing over her shoulder. Her lower lip was pulled between her teeth.

"I know that's unfair -- assuming you're on the level -- and I'm sorry about that," she said sounding sincere. She opened her mouth, looking like she was going to say more, then suddenly snapped her mouth shut and took off at a trot, hurriedly catching up with everyone else.

Doyle frowned, watching her. "I know that's unfair," he muttered, mimicking Buffy's voice. **How *dare* she!** he thought angrily, while trying not to let her affect him. **I don't have to prove myself to anyone!** he thought firmly, then also hurried to catch up. He could worry about Buffy later. Even if he wasn't sure of anything else, he was sure she wouldn't do anything that might jeopardize Cordelia's rescue. Everything else could wait until later.


TBC