Ritual, Bonds and Unification

FANDOM: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel the Series Crossover w/Mutant X
TITLE: Rituals, Bonds and Unification
AUTHOR: Willie J (aka Lemonychocolate)
EMAIL: wmj166@yahoo.com
ARCHIVE SITE(S): http://parrot.nearheralways.com/index.php, http://www.brain-insane.com/beyondcanon, http://www.adult-fanfiction.org
PAIRINGS: Spike/Brennan/Jesse, Angel/Xander
RATING: NC-17
DISCLAIMER: I make any claim to, nor hold any license to the original characters to this story. These characters are used for the sake and sole purpose of entertainment only. No profit shall be, nor will be gained from the writing found hereafter; nor shall any personal credit be taken as to the character designs, personalities or concepts stemming from the original characters used. All situations in the story below, unless otherwise stated, should not, in any way, have any bearing on the creator’s original work..
FEEDBACK: Oh please send me feedback, privately or through the list
DISTRIBUTION: List Archives
SPOILERS: Some Angel S2
DEDICATION: This is dedicated to my beta Kris
BETA’D: Kris and James
SUMMARY: Brennan (Mutant X) is sent to investigate a safe house in Sunnydale...not a good idea

Part 1

Brennan paced restlessly back and forth, occasionally shooting angry glances at the window.

" 'Ah, yes Brennan, I need you to go to Sunnydale and check out the safe house there. There's something strange going on in that town and I need to be sure what's going on there.'" He nastily mimicked Adam's voice under his breath.

Brennan growled angrily, watching the men outside the glass barrier. He had already found many of his fellow mutants locked up behind the glass barriers. And now he was one of the exhibits in this crazyass place.

"Psssst, kid, calm down before you get yourself sprayed again." He heard the voice in the next cell whisper harshly to him.

Then inhaling nosily, Brennan heeded the stranger's advice and struggled for control. That damn ice bitch had already learned enough about his powers to put him in a rubber padded room. All the openings were far too small for someone of his size to fit through. And when he acted up...he shuddered slightly in fear. That shit they pumped into his cell had a very nasty tendency to short-circuit his brain, causing his powers to turn on him.

That frozen icicle Dr. Walsh wasn't taking any chances, especially not after that blonde vampire had escaped.

He snorted, a vampire! He couldn't believe that he actually saw a real-live vampire, well okay maybe not alive, but still it was a fuckin' VAMPIRE!

Man, was Adam gonna freak when he told...Brennan swallowed heavily and crouched in a corner of his cell. The possibility of him getting out alive was slim and none, he thought painfully. He stood up slowly, his eyes hard and cold. But he was part of Mutant X and no Eckart-wanna be was gonna cage him.

Maybe what he needed to do was think like Shalimar, his feral teammate. Next time the baby soldiers came into his cell, he needed to go crazy mad on them…and get himself pounded into a pulp, he snorted ruefully. While he was good in a fight, he definitely didn't have Shal's deadly speed and agility.

Probably what he needed right now was his molecular teammate’s ability to phase out of the cell. Of course, Jesse had holding his breath in order to become intangible down to a science. Brennan smiled wryly, he had a sneaking suspicion though that *he*, on the other hand, had very weak lungs.

Too bad he didn’t have Emma’s psychic powers…yea boy! He could get inside and fuck with their heads, maybe aim a psychic blast at one or two of them. And then while he’s concentrating on putting a serious beat down on the soldier boys, one of them would probably be sneaking up behind him and beat the shit out of him, he snickered quietly and felt his dark mood lifting.

Then he frowned as a bunch of the soldier boys rushed past his cell and then an ear-piercing siren split the air and his cage door slid opened. Uh uh, he thought as he peered out and saw cage after cage opening.

Now, on one hand he was free, Halleluia and praise the Lord, but on the other hand...and he started throwing bolts of electricity at the escaping creatures as best as he could while also trying to escape. There was no fuckin' way was he letting some of these things escape, he may not be as psychically inclined as Emma but he knew evil when he saw it.

He blinked as he saw the vampire that had escaped standing in front of a door, almost like he was guarding it. Hmmm, what the hell was he doing back here and what was he guarding? Brennan my boy, you have way too much curiosity, he thought wryly to himself as he waded through the fighting humans and creatures. He grabbed one of those nifty tazer guns from a downed soldier boy. He certainly won't be needing it anymore, he thought in sick horror, as he briefly stared into the soldier's shredded face before heading for the vampire.

"Hello, come here often?" he panted as he sizzled an approaching creature with his tazar gun.

Spike gave the dark haired human a disbelieving look before sucker punching an encroaching demon.

"Not particularly my scene, luv," he drawled out dryly, ducking a blow from another demon.

"Ooooh, an English accent. Speak some more!" Brennan chuckled as he ducked a blow, then slammed his fist into a unprotected side.

"Roight. Tell ya what, we get through this and I'll talk ya ear off. How's that grab ya?" Spike laughed, bright blue eyes gleamed with wild enthusiasm as heped ped and kicked a demon in the face.

Buddy, you can grab me anytime, Brennan thought, almost getting lost in that wild electric gaze that seemed to play across his nerves. And for the first time, not mooning over another pair of oblivious blue eyes.

"You got yourself a date, blondie," Brennan smirked as he spun and dropkicked another creature in the face. God, I'm flirting with a vampire!

"A date? I never said a word about a date! Besides, I don't even know yer name," Spike protested with a wicked grin, kicking at a demon's kneecap and hearing it shriek in agony.

Brennan gave him a smile just as wicked. "It's Brennan and where else are we gonna have an interesting conversation where you talk and talk? Dinner, coffeehouse, my bed, my shower, I could go on, but you kinda get the message. So, what's your name?"

"It's Spike and yer kinda forward, ain't cha?" Spike remarked with a raised brow, ducking another punch from a hairy demon.

"Hey, you could always say no." Brennan gave him a cool look over his shoulder just before he spun away, dodging a blow from some scaly-looking creature.

Spike simply gave him a unreadable look in return before attacking the demons in earnest.


Then it was over, all except for the moping up that is, as one of the demons broke past them and through the door they were guarding. Spike leapt after and onto it's back then with a vicious twist he snapped its neck.

"Nasty sort of fellow. Lucky for you blighters I was here, eh?" And he gave the White Hats his best cocky grin while the dark-haired bloke was still outside, making sure no otcreacreature tried to get past him.

"Yes, thank you," Brennan heard a male voice reply coldly and was puzzled, did we or did we not just kick some serious ass guarding this fuckin' door? Who and what were we guarding it for anyway?

"Although your heroism has been slightly muted by the fact that you were helping Adam to start a war that would have killed us all," he heard the voice continue and he narrowed his eyes in shock. Adam? Adam was involved in this?! Think you idiot, he admonished himself sharply.

Then he heard a young female accuse Spike of only helping them so he wouldn't get a steak. The vampire that had just saved their asses by the way, he thought inditly,tly, and why was Spike so afraid of steaks? Steaks in his opinion...then he thought, oh a STAKE!

He stepped through the door and asked harshly, "And did you survive?" Letting them see the tazar he still carried. It worked amazingly well at quelling humans.

"Ah, ya really don't wanna do that," Spike said quickly with a quick glance around when Buffy stepped into the room.

"You just fuckin' saved their sorry asses and they are accusing you of all sorts of shit," Brennan replied angrily to the vampire.

"You put that gun down or I'll take it and beat you across the head with it," Buffy snarled coldly as she stood in the other doorway.

Brennan narrowed his eyes at the tiny blonde. His lip curled in equal disgust at the look revulsion the blonde soldier boy was giving both him and Spike.

He ignored the red-head hugging the blonde, and their mutual congratulations. Buffy reminded him oddly enough of Shalimar, but without the feral's warm, loving personality.

Then he slung the gun around his back and powered up his hands. Letting the electricity build and smirking as their hair started drifting up under his static charge.

"Uhm, pet, I wasn't talking to him, I was kinda talking to all of ya." Spike smirked, it kinda felt good to have somebody at his back.

Buffy blinked at the man with electricity dancing on his fingertips, then at Spike standing calmly at his side and wearily shook her head.

"Whatever, let's just get the hell outta here," she said. “Riley, organize the soldiers and pull 'em back. I'll take point." And she started to walk out.

"Aren't you forgetting something or someones? Spike, why don't we go get the exits open? There's a lot of people that don't belong here," Brennan said coolly without looking at the group.

Buffy whirled around, "I don't know who you are or who you think you are but what I do know is that you obviously don't understand what the hell you are doing. Those *people*, the creatures that you want to free so bad, are demons. Demons that kill humans," she snarled, getting into his face.

"Oh, I know who I am and I know what I'm doing! What you apparently don't know is up until about 30 minutes ago I was IN one of those fuckin' cages and I can assure you that I am 100% human. I even have the papers to prove it," Brennan growled down into her startled face.

"Yeah, that's right! What your soldier boy over there and that Popcicle doctor been doing is locking up anybody that don't fit their little definition of homo sapien. Kinda reminds me of another little man, one that believed in a superior race and that sorta started a war, you might have heard of it, World War II?!" Brennan shouted.

Spike's mouth had dropped open as he watched the human gave the Slayer whatfor. Kinda reminded him of Angelus back in the days before he got cursed. It felt nice to get defended, like the boy was protecting his honor. And he snickered silently over that, like he had any honor to protect. He was evil and the Big Bad. Of course a Big Bad with a muzzle, he eyed Brennan speculatively, but maybe with the right incentive Sparkles could 'unmuzzle' him.

With a final angry glare, Buffy left with Willow and Riley. She delegated Giles and Xander to help open the exits to allow the demons and pent up people to escape.


After all the captives had finally made r esr escape, Brennan found himself slowly strolling back to the safe house with Spike at his side. He slanted a look down at the blonde vampire wondering at the dark look on his companion's face.

"I hope you don't think this is a date," Brennan said firmly. "Cause I have my standards. I want at least dinner, a movie and I sure as hell won't be putting out on the first date. I don't want you to think I'm easy."

Spike blinked, pulled from his deep thoughts on how to get his chip removed and wondering if this was how Angel felt with his soul, as less than a vampire. Stopping for a moment, he regarded the dark haired man for a few seconds, before nodding. "Okay, dinner and movie. So d'ya put out on the second date?"

Brennan started laughing, he knew he would like the guy. "You got a place to stay?"

Spike just shrugged. "Not really. I could always go back to the War'sr's place and stay," he replied vaguely.

"The Watcher?" the elemental raised a brow.

"Yeah, that silly ponce, Giles. He's the older bloke with the kids," Spike replied a little impatiently.

"Oh. Then maybe you'll wanna stay at the safe house with me?" Brennan asked overly casually.

The vampire glanced up at his taller companion, "Sure ya got enough room?"

"For you, I'll make room," Brennan replied softly.

Spike smiled and looked away. Maybe he won't Turn Brennan when he got the chip removed.

Maybe.


A few days later, days of cautious advance and retreat on both sides they had their first date.

And predictably ran into Buffy.

BrenBrendon, it was, right? I'm sorry we got off on the wrong foot," Buffy said brightly, extending hand and to the startled Brennan.

"Actually, it's Brennan," a voice drawled coolly behind her, making her spin around with a slight gasp.

"Spike?! What thll all are you doing here?" Buffy narrowed her eyes angrily.

Spike flicked his eyes over her, then handed Brennan his drink. "On a date, what's your excuse?" And he slid past her into his chair.

Buffy glanced between the two, comprehension dawning on her face. "Ewwww but he's, like, a vampire, Brennan!"

"Uh huh, 'course when yer the bloody Slayer and all, it's okay for ya to shag a vampire though, eh luv?" And Spike's words were dripped with contempt.

Buffy flushed at the look Brennan gave her. "Angel had a soul," she responded tightly to smi smirking vampire.

"And?" Brennan raised his brows wondering what difference that made.

"I would have thought you would understand that a soul makes the difference! Angel could give love and be loved, that's what made the difference for me...for us." Buffy looked at Brennan with quiet conviction in her eyes.

Brennan looked at her disbelievingly. "So, what you're saying is because Angel had a soul, he could love. But Spike, on the other hand, since he's soulless could not possibly understand what it means to love? And this in spite of the fact that he had continuously stayed faithful to one vampire for over 80 years, while Angel couldn't even last 2 years with you because of a stupid curse?" His shoulders started shaking and his laughter rang out in the club, drawing the attention of almost everyone who smiled tentatively at the merry young man.

Buffy's mouth opened and closed several times as she tried to think of a reply. Then she just growled at Spike, "Be at Giles tomorrow night at 7 pm." And she whirled away without waiting for a reply.

"Well, that was certainly interesting," Brennan remarked as the blonde stomped away.

Spike snorted. "Thanks mate, been a long time since I had someone at my back," and herkedrked lewdly. "That is, somebody looking after me, like." For a brief moment thinking of his grandsire.

Brennan smiled and looked away, "You're welcome."

They were silent for a moment. "Wanna go back home and shag?" Spike offered with a slow smirk.

"Dude, we are so outta here," Brennan exclaimed jumping up and hustling Spike out the club.


Spike looked up into Brennan's eyes as he was laid on the bed. "Pet, I'm not him," he warned the other quietly, cursing his foolish tongue for speaking the words as Brennan froze above him.

"Who are you talking about?" Brennan stammered, then flushed at the cool look the vampire gave him. He slumped on the other side of the bed and raised a hand to his face, uncaring of their mutual nakedness.

"The other gent that I can see ya thinking about sometimes," Spike retorted, snagging his cigarettes off the nightstand. He grabbed Brennan's hand and arched a brow, smirking as the other rolled his eyes and lit his cigarette with a small charge.

"I have no idea who you're talking about," Brennan replied stiffly.

"Pet, as a vampire, I have certain abilities. One of which is the increased ability to smell. And I can smell ya lying to me right now," Spike answered calmly.

"And Luv, I don't much like being used. Got enough of that with that bleedin' Dr. Walsh and I ain't too much interested in doing it again. I know ya feel something for me, but ya also feel a lot for 'im too. I don't mind sharing but I won't be a bloody substitute for who ya really want. I may be Love's Bitch, but I’m not Love's Fool," Spike finished quietly then got out of the bed and headed for the door.

"Spike wait!" Brennan called out to the vampire, he sighed and ran his fingers distractedly through his hair, trying to figure out the best way to tell Spike the truth. He walked over to the door and simply started talking from the heart.

"Look, I'm sorry. You're right and wrong at the same time. There's a teammate that I...want, that I wanted but he doesn't even notice me except when we're fighting and he's one of the best friends I have. But somewhere in the past couple of days when I think about where I want to be, who I want to be with...somehow his face is slowly fading and your face is becoming clearer." He caressed the still, frozen face before leaning in to kiss the beautiful vampire gently. Planting soft delicate kisses along the sharp cheekbones, trailing down to the tightly etched jaw and then down to the corded neck.

Spike shivered as he felt the warm human lips caressing his neck, definitely not gonna Turn him, he thought through his rising lust as his dark haired lover raise his head and met his eyes head-on.

"Shag?" Brennan asked hopefully.

"Shag," the vampire agreed firmly, dragging a laughing Brennan back to the bed.

"Buffy, I thought Spike and the other young man was supposed to be be here tonight," Giles frowned gently.

"They are, I told them myself 7 pm, Chez Giles' place." Buffy nodded her head forcefully.

Xander wander out of the kitchen eating popcorn. "Did you tell 'em or ask 'em?" And threw a handful into his mouth and dropped half on the floor. He looked up guiltily at Giles' weary sigh.

"Sorry G-man," he said contritely, getting down on the floor and picking up the popcorn.

"Please stop calling me that," Giles responded absently, his frown becoming heavier. "I quite agree with Xander, which probably is a sign of a coming apocalypse. Did you ask them or did you tell them to meet us here?"

Willow added hesitantly at Buffy's dark look, "Well, you gotta admit that sometimes you have a...a...tendency to...uhm order people about. Not that we don't appreciate it, you know," she added hastily at the look Buffy gave her.

"They were out on a date when I saw them," Buffy replied cunningly, trying to shift the topic away from her.

Xander looked up from dumping the popcorn into the garbage can, "Who was?"

"Spike and Brennan," she smirked at the astonished looks on everyone's faces. Score one for the Buffster, she crowed and rubbed her nails on her shirt.

Xander shook his head, his eyes wide, "I so did NOT see that coming," he muttered to himself.

"Oh, didn't you?" Bumockmocked him. "Weren't you the one that said you had Spike tied up in your basement?" She watched with wicked glee as his face turned brick red.

"Bu...bu...but not in the way that you're implying!" Xander yelled angrily, stomping over to her.

"What's the matter, Xander baby? Your homophobia is showing," Buffy smirked up into his face, but was surprised at the anger she saw.

Xander trembled, wanting to punch Buffy in her fat face, "Fuck off, Buffy!" And grabbing his jacket he stormed out, ignoring Willow's shout of 'Xander, wait...she was only kidding!'

And when he reached home, he did what he should have done when the chipped Spike first came to them.SearSearching through his jumbled pile of stuff he found what he was looking for, and reading the paper, he dialed the number, "Cordy, it's Xander....could you tell Deadb...I mean Angel, that Spike...."


Slowly Spike came awake with a blissful sigh, feeling the warm wetness surrounding his aching cock. And he twisted his hips, arched slowly into his lover's mouth, wanting only to be balls deep down Bren’s throat as the mortal reverantly worshipped his thick shaft.

Five times, Brennan thought as he licked and stroked the throbbing organ. Damn, but that Spike could lay down the fuck! Maybe that’s why he was called ‘Spike’. When he finally got worn out from fucking the vampire, Spike had quickly flipped him over and ran that cool tongue up his ass. And while he was working his hungry ass on that wet tongue the vampire slipped in a finger...brushing his sweet spot...and oh MAN! he was in Fuckcity. But when Spike slid that long fat trouser snake into his ass...oh yeahhhhh, he thought he'd died and went to Fuckheaven...where the only thing you did was fuck and fuck and fuck.

Spike had rode his ass so hard last night, that he had to lie on his stomach just to get some sleep. But having his ass upturned only made it convenient for the his vampire to ease very possessive fingers into his semi-raw pucker before they both fell asleep.

And then he was woken very early in the morning as a cool tongue burrowed deep into his ass. Sweetly easing his achy stinging flesh and he pushed back for more of that liquid tongue, whimpering with fast rising lust. But Lord have mercy! When Spike rammed that long pale shaft down in his ass, all he could do was howl at the mixture of pleasurable pain and writhed his backside for more. Begging with every wiggle of his hips for more of that big boy dick and Hooooollllly shit…did he get more.

Fast and slow, hard and deep...as Spike kept a tight grip on his shimmying hips, directing their fuck. And all he could do was arch his ass, pleading with every move, for more...more of that thick and meaty bone spreading him open...more of that thick rigid pole pounding deep into his greedy ass while he clutched and tore at the sheets in a frenzy of pure fucklust. His eyes blind to everything…every thought, every braincell was centered, every nerve was focused on his gaping hole and the hammering Spike was putting on him.

Now it was payback...he thought as he swiped his tongue around the drooling head and probing gently between Spike's ass with a well lubed finger. He sent a small charge through his finger aimed at the small bundle of nerves deep within the vampire’s cool interior and chuckled around his mouthful at the hoarse shout from Spike. Oh yes, payback was going to be very, very good, he smirked, now it was time for Spike to learn how an elemental ‘gave a fuck’. And if he got lucky, maybe Spike would return the favor he thought.

Then he happily b dee deepthroating an increasingly demanding cock while playing a oscillating wave of electricity over the pale body he was paying homage, steadily watching Spike's face.

Ah, thank God I’m already dead, Spike thought hazily before his mind was overwhelmed by the blinding orgasmic wave that swept him under. And his eyes rolled back in his head, as his body became a tautly arched bow of agonized pleasure, while his face shifted rapidly ben hun human and demon as electric fire washed over his body endlessly.


By mid-day Xander was standing before the safehouse, peering nervously at the address on the paper. Why did Giles pick him to go to Brennan's house? He wondered if it was punishment for the way he talked to Buffy? Or, he gasped slightly, did Giles know what he did? Did G-man know that he called Angel to come get Spike? Oh man, he was so in trouble and he dithered a few more minutes. Dancing restlessly from one foot to the other foot before squaring his shoulders and firmly ringing the bell.

Ahhhh too bad....they're not home, he thought cheerfully and turned to bounce away, but unfortunately the door opened, thwarting his plans.

Brennan yawned wearily as he regarded the young man at the door, "Yeah?" and yawned again wondering about the odd look on the kid's face. Remembrance hit him and his eyes narrowed, "Xander, right?"

"Uhm, yeah," Xander bobbed his head anxiously, blinking nervously at the bare chested man. Okay, don't panic! Just because he's gay does NOT mean that he's gonna attack you if you walk in that door.

"Ahhh, Giles....he's our school librarian...I mean, he was our school librarian...but since we blew up the school I don't think he's really a librarian anymore...he owns the Magic Box...you know, the one right downtown....though I think he's still Buffy's Watcher...not that she really needs a Watcher and all, but sometimes she does, we all do...cause he's really smart...lots smarter than Willow and umpf," his eyes went wide at the hand covering his mouth.

Brennan sighed as he tugged the kid into the house, "Enough."

"SPIKE!" he yelled for his blonde lover.

"Aw, what the bloody hell is that pup doin' here," Spike snorted strolling into the room with a cup of blood.

"I don't know, he rang the bell and then started yapping about Giles, that Buffy girl, something about a school and a store...and I have no idea what thel hel he wants," Brennan replied in exasperation, giving Xander a slight push towards the couch.

"Let me try, I think I can decipher their language now. It's kinda tricky but I think I can do it," Spike answered, putting his mug down and sitting across from the wide-eyed boy.

"Okay, let's start with a few simple questions, so just nod yad,"d," he said looking at Xander and nodding approvingly at the comprehension on the boy's face.

"Giles sent you?"

Nod

"Giles sent you for us both?"

Hesitant nod.

Spike gave Brennan a clever look. "Okay, now this is where it's gonna get tricky," he whispered. "Gonna hafta let the whelp talk."

"What did Giles tell you?" he said slowly, carefully enunciating his words.

Xander took a deep breath, okay don't panic...just stay calm and focused. "Giles, he's Buffy's Watcher, he, meaning Giles...uhwoulwould like you two, meaning you Brennan and you Spike to come to his apartment, the place where he stays because he wants to ask you two, meaning uhm...you two some questions." And nearly fainted at managing to get this all out without totally lapsing into babblehood.

"See…tricky," Spike whispered to Brennan. "So, Giles would like us to come over to his place for tea and crumpets, eh?" Then Spike groaned, holding his head in his hands at the confused look the boy gave him.

"Crumpets? Tea? I don't remember Giles mentioning tea or crumpets. Crumpets...that's some of those English thingies that you British people like to eat, right? Hmmm, wonder what they taste like? Are they like biscuits? No, no wait, I remember Giles saying that biscuits over in England were actually called cookies. I wonder what cookies are called, if biscuits are cookies. Say are scones biscuits? Because if biscuits are cookies then maybe scones are biscuits in disguise? Sorta like...,"

"SHUT UP!" Spike yelled jumping to his feet with his gameface on.

Brennan was blinking under the torrent of words. "How do you talk like that?" he whispered, looking at Xander with stunned eyes.

Xander opened his mouth...

"NO! Not another word from ya, ya hear me?! Not another flippin' word from ya!" Spike roared, pointing his finger furiously at Xander.

"Well, he asked me a question," Xander replied stiffly, his eyes angry and hurt as he pressed back into the couch and away from Spike. People shouldn't go around asking other people questions and stupid ole vampires getting mad just cause they try to answer the question, he groused silently.

Brennan swallowed his laughter and pulled Spike away from the kid. "Sure, it's tonight? Okay, I just have to make a couple of calls and we'll be there, cool?" He raised his brows at the kid, giving him a slight smile at the acknowledging nod.

"I'll see you tonight, then," Brennan smiled at the kid and quickly ushered him out the door.

Spike regarded Brennan curiously. "So who ya gonna call?"

"My equivalent of Giles," Brennan smirked and dialed home.

"Shal? It's Bren, could you grab Adam and..."


Later that night, Willow eyed her nervous friend thoughtfully. Every time a car passed outside, he jumped almost a foot in the air and he was making her anxious. She wished Tara was here, somehow her gentle blonde girlfriend always seemed to make her feel strong and in control.

Buffy looked at Xander with hidden concern. While she was still a little pissy from his comment the other night she was also a bit worried. Xander had gone past Jitteryage, paused briefly to say Hi to Mr. Nervousness and was now the official Mayor of Wigginsland. She could only be thankful that Riley wasn’t here. After that little tussle with Adam, Xander couldn’t stand to be around her Riley for longer than a minute. She frowned, funny enough neither could Giles.

There came a knock on the door and Giles looked sharply at Xander who looked as if he was going to pass out. The door opened and Brennan and Spike sauntered in, arguing.

"Look, I'm only saying that it's only polite to wait until somebody answers the door when you knock," Brennan said in exasperation.

Spike squinted at him, "Okay, so what if they don't answer, eh Professor?"

"Well, if they don't answer then of course you can stroll in and rob them blind," Bren gave Spike a grin.

The vampire looked at his dark haired companion and started chuckling, "Ya was a bloody thief!"

"Hey, hey, hey!" Brennan said sharply. "There was no blood involved in any of my heists! At least, not if I could help it."

Giles mouth had dropped open in surprise at this revelation and he looked anxiously around his living room.

"Don't worry, Mr. Giles. I assure you that you have absolutely nothing I would steal," Bren looked at the man solemnly.

Xander turned away, managing to turn his snicker into a cough at the look of relief on Giles face.

Buffy blinked, damn but I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me before but Good Lord he looks hot! What a waste of prime beef, she thought as she curled her lip at Spike.

Spike growled slightly as he looked at the Slayer, "Mine!"

Bren ignored the byplay and regarded the others in the room.

"The tweed man is Giles, he's my Watcher and Mr. Know-everything-under-the-sun; this is Willow, one of my bestest friends and a Witch," as she was introduced Willow gave Brennan a slightly proud smile.

"I'm the Slayer, killer of the bad demons, endowed with superstrength, blah, blah, blah; and that's just Xander," Buffy continued as she watched Brennan, waving a hand at everyone and missing the slightly hurt that flickered across Xander's face.

Brennan raised his brow as he turned to Xander, "Uh huh, so what's your area of expertise? I get the knowledge man, the witch and the slayer so where do you fit in?"

Xander looked away and said quietly, "I work at a construction site. I don't have any superpowers. I'm just Xander, like Buffy said." And there was a slightly bitter twist to his lips.

Brennan's eyes narrowed, "You have no super strength, no powers.....no NOTHING?" His voice was raised in astonishment.

"No," Xander looked at him challengingly.

"Hoooollllly shit!" Bren exclaimed, "Dude, you da man!" And he eagerly shook a flabbergasted Xander's hand.

Buffy's jaw dropped, "EXCUSE ME?! Xander has no superpowers, yet you're happy to meet HIM?"

The elemental cast her a disparaging look over his shoulder, "Look Buffy, where I come from I can find people like you and me just about every 10 feet. Some are good, some are bad...they all have powers and a good majority of 'em like a good fight. But do you KNOW how rare it is to fiomeoomeone normal, someone without any powers to protect them...fighting? Bro, Adam would definitely like to meet you," Brennan finished, turning back to Xander.

"You know something...I always wanted to be an architect," Bren murmured, his eyes soft and dreamy. "To design a house or...or a building and then to watch it go up…knowing that you created this. Bro, you have got to have THE coolest fuckin’ job in the world!"

Spike threw himself on the couch next to an abashed Willow, sulkily watching as the boy and his Pet sat in a corner talking eagerly.

There came another knock on the door and bemused , Giles answered it. Opening the door, he was face to face with a dark haired male and three young people.

"Yes, may I help you," he lifted a brow.

Adam smiled, "Good evening, I'm Adam Kane and one of my people asked me to meet him at this address. These are my associates, Emma DeLauro, Jesse Kilmartin and Shalimar Fox. May we come in?"

Brennan at hearing Adam's voice, looked up, "Hey Adam c...umpf," he looked wide eyed at the kid covering his mouth.

"Are you insane or just have a death wish?" Xander whispered to him furiously. "You NEVER invite strangers into your home!"

Shalimar, at the sight of Bren being restrained, doved through the door, running to help him...

Willow, seeing a blonde streak racing past her to Xander, chanted a spell throwing the woman away from him...

Emma twisted and lashed out with a psychic blast at Willow...

Buffy jumped and put herself between Xander and the crazy growling woman...

"STOP!" Giles bellowed, freezing everyone in their tracks.

"Have you lost your minds?! Willow, Buffy sit down! And you three, you sit as well!" Giles snapped at the five young people.

Adam's brows rose as he calmly stepped over the threshold and watched his three charges scurry to take seats.

"Willow and Buffy, I have said this before but I think it bears repeating: NO FIGHTING IN THE HOUSE! And you three," he snarled rounding on the newcomers. "How dare you come into MY home and start creating such a ruckus?!"

"B...bu..but we thought he was attacking Bren," Shalimar replied softly.

"Young lady, we live on a Hellmouth and as such there is not a single human that will willingly invite a stranger into their homes," Giles retorted crushingly.

"Perhaps you might tell us what a Hellmouth is," Adam quietly asked.

Shalimar growled softly under her breath as she eyed Spike, her eyes flaring gold, "He's dead." And six pairs of eyes turned to Spike who smirked at them.

Giles rolled his eyes, "His sort is one of the reasons why we do not invite people into our homes. We don't even have 'Welcome' mats or anything of that nature outside our homes. Spike is a vampire," he said casually.

Jesse looked at the lean, wiry figure and burst out laughing, "Vampire?! Vampires don't exis...oh shit," he went quiet as Spike's face rippled and changed.

"Eh, Watcher, you got any blood left and Wheatabix," Spike raised a brow inquiringly as he strolled into the kitchen.

"Yes, but don't use any of my good china," Giles shouted to the vampire. "Sometimes he can be a bit of a trial," he said confidingly to Adam, who nodded sagely even though he was as shaken as Emma, Jesse and Shal.

Bren met Xander's eyes guiltily, "Sorry dude, I forgot." And he was taken aback by the dark look in the kid's eyes.

"To forget is to die. Don't ever forget," the other whispered quietly to him, his eyes deadly serious and giving Brennan a very scary sense of what these kids had been facing for almost four years.

While Giles was busy explaining to Adam et all what a Hellmouth was, there came another knock at the door. And Xander sighed softly causing Bren to look at the sad-eyed boy oddly.

"I'll get that," Giles barely glanced up at Xander's quiet words.

Walking with leaden steps, Xander took a deep breath and slowly opened the door, already hearing Cordy's mouth going a mile a minute.

"And another thing Angel, if that idiot childe of yours gives me one, just one evil eye I swear to God I'll be Hoovering him up...Oh hi Spike," Cordy whirled around and gave the blonde vamp a wide smile as she stepped inside, followed by Wesley.

Angel merely nodded his head at the occupants, "Rupert. May I come in?"

"Angel?" Buffy breathed, her eyes softening as she looked at her former lover.

Giles stopped talking and looked hard at Xander, his eyes narrowing as the boy avoided his gaze. And his voice was flat as he spoke, "Xander."

That one word speaking volumes to the Scoobies, the mutants and the L.A. crew.

Angel switched his attention to the dark haired boy, marveling at the changes he could see. Inhaling deeply at an intoxicating scent pouring off Xander.

"Giles," Xander lifted his head, peering at the angry Watcher under his bangs. "Look Giles, you saw those demons AND people in the cages! We both did and I'm sorry but I don’t think I could ignore it…nobody should be caged like...like an animal. The Initiative shoulda killed them instead of experimenting on them like that. I'm sorry if I disappointed you, but not even Spike shoulda been caged like that. We call ourselves human but what they were doing was inhuman and I don't care how you or anybody else tries to justify what was going on but I believe it was evil," he finished shakily.

Angel, his eyes fixed on a frozen Spike, stepped into the apartment.

"Childe of my Childe, what have they done to you," he whispered despairingly, understanding finally the young man's desperate, rambling phone call.

Spike walked forward slowly, to stand before his grandsire. The mask he wore around the Scoobies dropping for the first time, revealing the boneseated terror and despair he carried since he had been chipped.

He gave a tormented look at Bren and his gaze soften. Despite all the care and the love the human had given him, he knew that the other still cared for Jesse and he was so tired. Tired of being mocked, tired of not being able to defend himself from the humans, tired of not being what he was re-created to be...he would rather be dust blowing on the wind than to continue this charade of unliving.

Then dropping to his knees and bowing his head, "Sire of my Sire...I, William the Bloody, beg the Master of Aurelius for the Ritual of Letum." Then he waited, praying to whatever Gods or DemonGods that looked after wayward vampires that Peaches would grant his request and put end to his miserable existence.

"What?" Angel whispered, his body going rigid with anguish and in full gameface.

The Scoobies as well as Cordy and Wesley were stunned. Cordy dropped heavily into a chair, her normal grace abandoned in her deep shock.

"I take it that this is not a good thing?" Adam murmured quietly to Giles.

"Not unless a vampire begging for permanent death is something you would find amusing," Giles stammered out.

And Bren heard that softly spoken response and looked at his lover in shock.

"Spike NO!" He yelled striding over to the blonde vampire and sinking to his knees beside him.

His voice came out in a wail of pain, "Why?"

Jesse's eyes narrowed slowly on the torment on his friend's face, realizing that Bren cared...cared deeply for the...crea...the vampire and he shuddered. He had came too fuckin' late. He smiled bitterly, that should be his name: Too Late Jess. Trying to decide whether to act on his feelings...to act on the love he saw in Bren's eyes and he sighed, resting his head on Shal's comforting shoulder. He should have listened to her, he really sha lia listened to both her and Emma.

Spike looked into Bren's gaze and touched his face softly, "Because yer still in love with him. Because I'm tired of being a punching bag for any human that wants to hurt me and because I can't defend ya against humans, because I can't even defend my. B. Because I'm tired of being less than what I am. Because THIS is not what I am. There's a lot of 'becauses' I can give ya, but the most important one is because I can't live like this. Pet, I am slowly going insane with this chip in my head and I don't want ya to see me like that," his voice was soft and loving before hardening, aware of his audience.

"Spike, I...I think I can short-circuit the chip,"Brennan's voice trembled as he spoke, holding a rope to the vampire, pleading with Spike to just hold on.

But Spike merely snorted, "Luv, I can smell yer lie a mile away." Reaching out he grabbed Brennan's head and gently rested his forehead against his human. "Let me go, pet. Yer friend likes ya, maybe even loves ya, so ya'll be fine."

"I don't want fine, I want you," Bren could feel the sting of tears in his eyes. "Adam, please!" He twisted to his father-figure, his eyes mutely begging for help.

"Bren, stop it!" Spike ordered sharply, tugging the elemental back to him. "Nobody can fix this and ya deserve someone human like ya'self. But I think ya picked a fine bloke though," he whispered to his human, smiling sadly at the watery chuckle the other gave before enfolding Brennan in his cool embrace.

"Actually, uhm Spike, I believe that I might, and I stress this, that I might be able to help you. I think it's possible with ttlettle help from Jesse and Emma," Adam said thoughtfully.

Angel sagged backwards and only Xander's quick grasp saved him from a fall. He blinked at seeing the dark eyes so close to his own before straightened up and looked away. No use hungering after something that he couldn't have. Not gonna have Angelus making a surprise re-appearance, especially in Sunnydale and he grinned wryly at Angelus' pout.

Spike blinked up at the human, ignoring the Slayer's angry protests, "Ya think ya can do it," he asked doubtfully.

"It may take a bit while I and Emma get an understanding it works, and how your mind is shaped but I think it can be done," Adam nodded decisively.

Bren smiled slowly and helped Spike up, his gaze meeting Jesse's apologetically and received a wry smile in return. And he knew that things would work out.

Spike glanced between the two and whispered, "Ya know, I really don't mind sharing."

And at the wild disbelieving look Bren gave him, he wiggled his brows lecherously making the other laugh and pull him close.


It took some doing, but Spike finally understood enough to able to let down the protective barrier within his minds. And it was during Emma's initial scan of Spike that something was brought to light, something almost impossible to believe.

With a frown on her face, she turned and asked Angel's permission before diving into his mind and blinking at only something she could see.

"Adam, this is so weird," she said gesturing to the two vampires.

Angel was sitting, highly uncomfortable, between Cordy and Buffy. Every time Buffy so much as touched him, Cordy would practically start hissing and scratching. Not that she had any romantic interest in him, but she was waaaay too protective, like he reallly needed a babysitter or actually a Buffybuffer as she called it, he thought ruefully.

"What's weird," he asked wearily, getting up from between the two combative females and sitting beside Xander. Feeling his churning emotions calming. There wasethiething about the boy that even had Angelus purring in almost contentment.

"Spike has almost two personalities...I mean, yeah, they are a little merged but still he has two. While you on the other hand have about three. There's you, there's another that wants to rip our...ewww," she shuddered in disgust before continuing, "And then there's actually a third that's really merged, more than Spike's. But somehow, you and that other one is suppressing it in some way."

Angel and Spike froze, becoming extremely still. Only their eyes were alive in the silence of the room, before they slowly closed.

Giles looked nervously at the motionless vampires, "Please say that again, only this time in plain English."

"I don't understand how or why but from what I can sense it seems as if when a vampire is created uhm..Turned, a demon sorta enters into them...then I think what is supposed to happen is that the soul and the demon somehow merge together into a..a..new kinda creature. Now I don't know what happened with Angel to cause such a separation but the process had already been started BEFORE the separation. So the partially merged one is still there, plus Angel, plus the mean one."

"There's no record of this in the Watcher's diaries," Wesley whispered, turning shocked eyes to Giles who looked equally stunned.

"Actually there is, but it was always considered rubbish and soundly discounted since we could never really verify the existence of such a vampire," Giles replied in a shaken voice.

Both Angnd Snd Spike came back to 'life' and looked at the occupants.

"She's right, there's another one inside," Angel gave them a tight twisted grin. "We just checked and it appears that between me and Angelus, we've effectively have him chained down. Unfortunately, every time we get too close, there's a lot...and I mean bucketloads of pain involved. And we found what separated us in the first place."

He blinked and when he opened his eyes again, they were bloodred, making everyone scramble back except for Xander, who really wasn't going anywhere considering the iron grip Angel had on his leg.

"Ohboyohboyohboyohboy," Willow whimpered, moving away from the vampire.

Angel grunted and his eyes flickered, slowly returning back to normal human brown and he slumped against the boy.

"You smell good," he murmured without opening his eyes, smiling a little as Xander's heartbeat increased dramatically.

"Uhm, thanks. Does that mean you plan on eating me later?" Xander stammered, his eyes wide as he looked at the vampire on his shoulder.

"Only in a good way," Angel responded softly.

"Is that a good for me or a good for you?" Xander held his breath anxiously for the answer but Angel only chuckled hoarsely.

"The curse," Giles softly exclaimed. Whirling around he met Willow's eyes in perfect understanding before both ran to his bookcase and began rummaging around the shelves, muttering to themselves.

Cordy rolled her eyes, "While those two socially inept look for the spell, allow me to introduce ourselves. I'm Cordelia Chase, this is Wesley Wyndam-Price and he's my exclusive property so back off, blondie." She looked coldly at the busty blonde that had been eyeing her Wes for a little too long.

Her eyes narrowed dangerously when the blonde bimbo growled at her, "Sweetie, do you *think* your growling scares me? I had Angel up in my face cause I taped over his episode of Passions and you think you scare ME?! Welcome to the Hellmouth, baby, cause I can you things that will bleach your hair naturally. I'm Hellmouth born and bred! We don't die, we..."

"MULTIPLY!" Xander and Buffy shouted gleefully.

Cordy gave them both a cool look, "I was going with 'We don't die, we kick ass' but your version will do for now." She strutted away with a toss of her hair, satisfied she had put the little tramp in her place.

Emma leaned over to an angry Shalimar and whispered, "The funny thing is they will certainly try to kick your ass and you might not win."

"But they're just a bunch of kids," Shal whispered back with a slight frown.

"True, but Shal if what I've seen in Angel and Spike's minds are true, those kids HAVE faced down way more danger then we've faced. You push them too hard and I have a feeling that they'll push you back...extremely hard."

"Found it!" Willow ran to Giles with the cursespell clutched in her hand.

Giles read it rapidly then looked up, "This cursespell is what separated Angel and Angelus in the first place. Binding Angelus within and only true happiness was supposed to release Angelus. However, what the spell apparently did was pull the essences of both halves of the vampire and placed Angel in charge of the body with the added caveat of what would happen should he misbehave. Which more than likely stopped the merger of the soul and demon."

"Do you think you can find out more from the chained one, like how to unify Angel and Angelus," he added, turning eagerly to Emma who nodded hesitantly.

"NO!" Angel shouted startling everyone. "First help my grandchilde become whole and then if you are still willing, you may help me."

Both Jesse and Emma approached the blonde vampire tentatively and he gave them such a wicked grin that they hurriedly backed away.

"Behave," Angel hit Spike on the back of his head and growled furiously.

Spike pouted, "Fine!"

Jesse and Emma approached again, this time Jesse placed his hand on the back of the vampire's head and began breathing slowly, watching Emma. Then, when she nodded, he simply inhaled....

Everyone gasped as Spike's body seemed to shimmer and ripple. Then using her telekinetic power, Emma gently detached the behavior modification chip and raised it above the vampire's head before plucking it from the air.

....and Jesse slowly exhaled.

"Did it work," Spike asked eagerly.

"You gotta test it out," Bren watched him hopefully.

Spike eyes alighted on Cordy and an evil grin twisted his face. It took him all of two seconds to be in front of her and punch her.

No pain!

He wanted to scream and shout, and so he did...

...dropping to the floor with a scream of pain as Cordy planted her foot firmly into his crotch.

"Do you think Angel keeps me around for my filing skills?" Cordy yelled at the curled up moaning vampire. "You idiot…I have none!" She struggled to reach the moaning vampire, kicking and screaming as Wesley grabbed her and carried her away.

Giles sadly shook his head, at Spike’s age he really should know better.

"Angel," Emma questioned quietly looking at the other vampire. "Your turn."

She sank to the floor, closed her eyes and entered Angel’s mind.

Angel stiffened against Xander's shoulder, moaning in pain as bloody tears seeped from beneath tightly closed lids.


Emma narrowed her eyes at the angry expression on Angelus' face, then the cool expression on Angel understanding the delicate balance the two maintained.

"You sure you can help us, girlie," Angelus asked harshly, giving a contemptuously look at his more human looking souled self.

Emma hesitated, then quietly answered truthfully, "I have no idea. I need to see HIM to answer you."

Both males glanced at her, before turning and walking down a narrow pathway, that opened into a dark cell. And inside, past the roaring flames she saw an creature, a man chained to the floor.

She took a step and sank to her knees as agony that raged through her, distantly feeling hands gripping her and pulling her upright. Then came the sound of Angelus' vicious laughter before she was shoved into the burning inferno.

Screaming and writhing in pain, she tumbled across the threshold and onto the other side. Slumping exhaustedly on the floor a few feet from the bound creature and she looked back with furious eyes at the smirking Angelus who was getting up from the punch Angel landed to his jaw.

"You freakin' idiot, you coulda killed me!" she shouted angrily.

Angelus raised a brow, a mocking sneer on his lips, "But I didn't now, did I?" Then his face turned serious, "Now fix us."

And with a huff of anger she turned to the creature, touching the chains gently. Turning her head at the low moan from the two outside and remembered that both Angel and Angelus were the ones that had chained their parent self.

"Who are you," came a quiet voice and she twisted to look down into cool topaz eyes.

"I'm a friend," she stammered under that haunting gaze.

A single brow was raised, "I have no friends. Only those two fools out there that have finally realized my existence. I felt one of them awhile ago and apparently one of them told the other, and now they finally found me." He gestured with his chin at the waiting men.

"Actually, that would be me you felt," Emma said quietly. "They want me to free you so that they, that you can be whole. They didn't know that they were more than themselves within. They only knew of each other." She looked apologetically at him.

He sighed, "I know. Things went to buggery when that gypsy cursed me. Do you know how close I was to a total merger? I only had a few more years to go! Argh, I can't believe that I've been trapped down here for centuries by those two idiots and listening to their incessant wraggling." He thumped his head down on the floor several times, chuckling happily at the yells of pain from the men on the outside.

"Uhm sir, I think I know of a way to free you," Emma hesitantly spoke.

"Darlin', not to insult you but I've been trying for the past three centuries," he cast an ironic look at her. "So what do you think you can do?"

"This," Emma whispered, placing her hands at his temples and holding on grimly as he bucked and screamed, writhing from her touch. And there were screams of pain coming from outside the dark cell as she forcefully re-intergrated the three into one being. All the while praying that she was doing the right thing and wouldn't get herself killed for it.

Finally there was silence on the other side and the body slumped exhaustedly on the floor, the chains lying broken and shattered against his hands and feet.

Sighing softly, Emma stood up slowly and began backing cautiously away, then turning and making a mad dash to her point of entry. Stopping with a gasp as she met unreadable topaz eyes barring her way with a cool smile on his face. And she swallowed heavily as he stood in front of her.

"You're in an awful hurry aren't you, pretty girl," he prowled slowly towards her with a slow roll of his hips.

Emma tried a psychic blast to keep him at bay, not in the least surprised to see it fail.

And she shuddered as he glided around her.

"Now a smart girl like you should have known that you couldn't hurt me like that. After all, you are in my mind," he whispered into her ear before coming back around to face her.

And crooked his arm at her with a slight bow.

"Shall we," he prompted with raised brow and laughing eyes.

Emma narrowed her eyes at him then angrily slipped her arm through his.

"You know you are going to meet somebody that will throw you for a loop and I hope I'll be there to see it," she muttered resentfully.

"Darlin' you've already met that someone," he retorted with a lazy smile, his topaz eyes glinting as they came to a stop.

"See you on the outside," she heard him whisper as blackness closed around her. She opened her eyes and slumped tiredly against the couch.

"You guys are so in trouble," she rasped out and snickered wearily.

Xander felt the dark head stirring against his shoulder and blinked as brilliant topaz eyes opened.

"Xander," the other whispered, smiling as dark eyes widened and locked onto his.

"Who," Xander stuttered, unable to break the hold of those beautiful topaz eyes.

"Call me Angel," he continued smiling into the boy's fascinated gaze, then sat up and looked around.

"You may all call me Angel," as he got to his feet and stretched languidly, reaching down a hand and pulling the boy to his feet as well.

"My Angel," Buffy breathed gazing at him with stunned eyes, her hand reaching up to touch his face gently.

Angel tilted his face out of range, "No, not your Angel. Not anymore," and his voice was quietly firm while ignoring the incessant tugs the boy was giving trying to free his hand.

Buffy's face fell and her eyes filled with tears, "But...but I...but I always thought that...that when your soul...was permanent...that we would be together."

"Buffy, when the Angel part of me left you two years ago, he got on with life and gradually the pain faded away." He looked away from the pain in her eyes, "I don't want to hurt you mainly because I'm more Angel than Angelus and I remember you meaning the world to me. But I'm not in love with you anymore."

Xander frowned in concentration and tugged harder at his wrist, what the hell was wrong with Deadboy?

"Is it someone else," Buffy asked him past the lump in her throat, as tears trickled slowly down her face.

"Buffy, please let the matter drop. It is a pointless question to ask me, I haven't asked you if someone's been sharing your bed, have I? Besides, you don't love me. And in any case, how would it be possible for me to start something considering that Angelus would return?"

Angel ignored Buffy's tearstreaked face, "Adam, would it be possible for me, Cordy and Wesley to stay at your safe house until tomorrow night?" And at the answering nod, he turned to Xander.

"Perhaps can show me to this safehouse," raising a brow inquiringly.

"Fine," Xander huffed out, giving up on getting his wrist free and determinedly avoiding all eye contact with the vampire. Nope, not gonna get trapped in those beauti...those weird looking eyes.

"Thank you," Angel murmured, pushing the boy ahead of him and outside before anyone had a chance to say much of anything.