Title: Afterglow 50/57

Author: T. Claybourne  (t.claybourne@yahoo.com)

Rating: Rated R most chapters for violence and Language, some are NC- 17 for sexual content

A/N I'd like to thank my Beta Reader Hawera And muses Michelle Branch, Robbie Williams and Evanescence

Additional A/N on Chapter 50: Please note that this author does not share Mia's views or statements on the punk movement. In fact this author holds her 1977 Nevermind The Bullocks CD,( Sex Pistols) very very dear. In fact I will come out and say I feel there are epic songs that set the stage for all future Punk songs and their themes upon that very album. (P.S. If you would like some other recommendations for a punk music library feel free to contact me, I have quite a few other groups other than the ones listed in the story.)

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Afterglow Chapter 50 Tour Of Duty

Spike and Angel walked in silence towards the Thames. Angel cleared his throat.

"It's because you came and now you're doing this for Mia sake. Now don't say a bleeding word about it?"

"Right."

The two vampires walked on until they got to the river Thames. Angel stood at the wall and looked out. "Been a long time since I've seen this."

"Smells much better, fewer bodies than back then."

"Helps that we don't live here… together…. and that we have souls."

"Wait, something faint, really faint, this way." Spike turned right.

They walked along Victoria Embankment until they reached the Westminster Bridge.

"It's stronger here." Spike turned left on to the bridge. They walked until they were halfway across, then he stopped. "No, let's go back." They went back the way they came and began walking again.

"Spike, that's the Houses of Parliament. How nice, you planned a tour."

"Will you bloody shut it, I'm concentrating."

They ended up on Victoria Street.

"And now look, here is Westminster Abbey, I should have brought my camera."

"Wait a bleeding minute, did you just make not one but two jokes? It's certain now, hell just froze over."

Spike looked at Angel who was actually smiling. It was eerie, as if they had switched places.

Suddenly Angel's face became sober. "She's near here, or was."

"I know." They tramped around and found a small alley a street beyond the abbey where her scent was strong.

Spike looked to Angel, "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I sense her under this trash skip." He pushed it out of the way. " Well I'll be damned, look at that."

"You have got to be kidding," started Angel. "God of death has a lair with manhole access."

Spike shrugged. "Bugger could be daft."

"Took Mia; must be."

Spike grinned, "Yeah, bleeding stupid. He is going to be in some pain once she's let loose."

"I'm just looking forward to watching instead of being the recipient. I was on the end of her wrath after she was turned. It will be nice to be just a spectator this time."

"I remember that. We called it therapy. Emma was very pissed off and she recalled you telling the Lurker to …do it."

"I did tell him that. And even with everything that has happened since, I still wouldn't take those words back. I know it changed everything for you but I couldn't have borne being the cause of her dying again. Besides, Mia the vampire is something special in her own right, isn't she?"

"I wouldn't have had you change it either." Spike looked away for a moment, "And you already know my answer to that question, don't you?" Spike moved the manhole cover. He looked at Angel. "Mate, if I don't make it out of this, you need to tell Buffy…"

"Neither of us will, Spike."

Spike cocked his head.

"Mia is psychic. She didn't want us to come after her. You figure it out."

"You came anyway."

"Yes. You can still turn back."

"Never backed away from a fight before, not going to start now."

Angel looked up at the sky: it had a reddish gray tinge. "Sunrise."

Spike looked down into the dark. " I know I felt it coming. Well, this is it. You go first."

Angel shook his head and jumped in. He landed quietly at the bottom and used the extra senses the spell had given him to follow a dark tunnel until he smelled her. Angel crept up and grasped the bars. She lay curled on the ground in the corner.

"Mia," he whispered, and she jumped in surprise.

She squinted, then crawled over to him. "Angel? How did you do that? I wasn't asleep, I was listening."

"I've had a lot of practice. Remember, I was once a very deadly vampire"

She grinned, "I know. I read about it."

Then from the tunnel could be heard at stage whisper level. "Bloody hell……..sodding rock……sure, just go on ahead, you ponce."

Spike came around the corner.

"Such great stealth. Can you teach me?" Mia whispered.

"Em?" he sighed.

"You two were not supposed to come."

"Who said?" smiled Spike as he dropped the bag to the ground.

She stared at them through the bars. Angel delved into the bag, got out some powder and sprinkled on the lock, which broke open. He did the same with her chain. Mia rubbed her ankle.

"They just settled. They sleep very soundly. I sang that song, One hundred and one Bottles Beer On The Wall at the top of my lungs once and they didn't stir."

Angel pulled a battery-operated lantern out of the bag.

"Xander was upset when he didn't tell you tonight that he loved you. He sent this."

Angel handed her the locket. He watched as she closed her eyes for a moment.

Her grip tightened on the locket. "Thank you," she said as she opened her eyes.

He handed her some clothes and her boots from the large duffle. "These he packed, he said the pants were special, you'd know what they were."

Mia stood up and began stripping off her clothes. She was naked before Angel even realized it.

"Ah, well," he turned around. "Spike," he said. He grabbed Spike by the shoulder as he did and turned him as well.

"Seen it before, mate."

"Not lately."

"Modesty was never really Emma, or Mia's, strong suit."

"Houston, we have a problem!" announced Mia. "And you can turn around, you two gentlemen, I'm no longer naked."

They turned around to see her holding the pants out, they were too big.

"He said you'd worn them before."

"I have. I guess the one-rat-a-week diet is a success."

"Here." Spike pulled his belt off.

Mia put it on, pulled it tight and made a new hole. "That'll work," she said, tucking the extra length through the belt loops.

Spike pulled a plastic bag of blood out. "This might help too, pet."

Mia took it, went into her demon face, and used her fangs to bite into it. She drank it down. "That was so good. I must have been really hungry, more than I thought. It kind of made me feel buzzed."

"That would be the Slayer in it."

"What?"

Mia stepped forward, and Angel stepped between her and Spike.

"Buffy donated it. She thought you could use the strength."

"Spike!" Angel said in an exasperated tone.

"Just because you have a thing for Slayer's blood doesn't mean I do. That's it, leave. You can't play with us. Go home now."

Angel turned and looked at him. "You heard her. Get."

"You bloody well need me."

"Not any more. Slayer's blood in me. That, and I'm a big girl, no chain or cage. Shoo and go play with that Slayer of yours. You'll be better off with her: she'll put up with your crap."

She turned away from him. "OK, Angel, what kind of fun toys did you bring me?"

The two of them squatted at the weapons bag. Spike stood a moment in the dark further back. He just stared at her, not knowing what to do.

Mia called out, "Wait, Spike."

He stepped forward.

"You can take this." She threw his Sex Pistols CD at him.

That was it: he reacted. He swooped down, grabbed her and threw her against the cage bars. She fell to the floor of the cave and he pounced on her, holding her to the ground by her shoulders.

"You are the most infuriating bloody woman. You twist me in knots of worry and when I finally find you, what do you do? "Get, shoo". I don't bloody think so. This is how it goes: you suit up with your weapons; we, as in all of us, go in there and kill them. Is that clear?

"Rock."

"What?"

"Rock." Mia picked up a rock twice the size of her hand and hit him on the side of the head.

"Bloody hell!"

Angel laughed.

That shocked Spike more than the rock to the head. "Angel… you…you… Are you actually laughing? And like that and with your soul?"

Mia yanked Spike up and dragged him to the wall of the cave holding him about three feet above the ground.

"First off, you are not in charge. You do not set the battle plans. I am The Slayer a vamped one but The Slayer in this happy three. Not only did you have me drink the blood of a human slayer just now; I was one of those type of human slayers before I died or did you forget. Second, I just decided: you, never tell me what to do, ever. And third and last, that is the worst CD I've ever been forced to listen to. As far as I am concerned they do not truly represent the Punk Movement. That's why I was keeping the Ramones, and The Clash's London Calling CD."

Spike broke free and pushed her away. " Finished?"

Mia nodded.

" Out of your system now , your being angry about that human blood I slipped you?"

She nodded again.

Spike threw a punch that landed her against the cave wall almost where she had held him. He quickly turned and elbowed her in the nose bringing blood. He then with out warning swung around with a kick catching her on the side of the head sending her to the floor of the cave. Mia lay looking up at him a small smile on her face as she wiped the blood from below her nose.

" Don't ever hit me in the side of the head with a rock after I've just rescued you, again. You got that, woman."

"I don't believe I'm saying this but… children… please, we have work to be done."

Mia stood, she and Spike looked at each other for a long silent moment; then they each glanced to Angel at the same time and burst into laughter.

~ ~ ~

Mia loaded the loops in her pant legs with the silver stakes and syringes. She put on the back holster to her short sword, buckled on a silver nitrate gun dart gun, and helped the boys holster up with guns.

Mia was trying to hook on her hip-holster for the long sword; the one Angel had given her.

"I can't reach the buckle because of the gun. Can you help?"

Spike buckled her in.

Angel grimaced as she put the sword and scabbard in. "In my day we carried our swords in our hand ."

"Please, Angel. In your day you pulled them out of big stone demons or had them thrust in you to stop the big stone demon from sending us all into hell."

Spike chuckled, "Got you there. mate."

"Not always sweet as peaches are you, Mia?"

" No she's not, but you spend any time with her you'll get used to it. Its almost endearing."

Angel smiled. " I was never much for peaches anyways. " Used to like other fruit, apples berries, we had berries in Ireland".

"We should stop this talk. I'm still hungry and we have a battle. Let's get going." Mia checked over her weapons and their harnesses. She put on her locket and pulled her coat from the bottom of the bag.

"Oh, Buffy sent these. Said you'd be wanting them." Spike pulled out the hair ties and perfume

"Hair ties! Perfume. I love her. Now I know why you have her in bed every chance you can, I think, no I know, I want her." Mia snorted. "So, now she has three souled vampires wanting her."

There was silence. "What, not even a smile? Sheesh, that was a good one. Admit it."

Angel chuckled.

Mia looked at Spike. "Spike?"

As his eyebrow went up, Mia grinned.

"Oh, I see. You're just picturing things with me involving your girl that she would blush over."

Angel chuckled again and Spike joined him.

Mia pulled her hair back into one hair ties, braided it and used another to fasten it. She dabbed the perfume on what would have been pulse points if she had a pulse.

"Hmmm, hair ties," contemplated Angel out loud.

"That's what I thought about the perfume." Spike said to Angel, he then turned to Mia. "Oh lord, Mia, cut the pants off and you could be Laura sodding Croft and Blade's love child"

"I love the perfume. I want these guys to remember that it was very much a girl that kicked their asses. Obviously Buffy knows how it goes, and shut the fuck up, Spike. When I want your opinion about how I dress I'll ask for it, and wait, nope, not today."

Angel looked around. "I think we're ready. Spike has been told to shut up, something that's always welcome in my book, and we are fully loaded weapon-wise. Mia, you really look ready for battle, like a true special operations soldier against evil."

With a laugh Mia replied, "You really know how to charm a girl, Angel. Spike, did you catch the subtlety in that? He said the same thing, that I look much too overloaded weapon-wise for his taste, but still it didn't come off…."

"Like he was kissing your butt. Come on, Mia, would you really want that from me?"

She grinned, " No, you're right. Looks suave on Angel, but it would look stupid on you. I do like how you are direct and to the point, no holds barred and you say exactly what's on your mind. It's an appealing quality of yours. I know I shouldn't bring it up, but on that first day when we had coffee it was one of the things that attracted me to you. So…."

"Suave? He does not have a suave bone in….."

Angel interrupted, " You are impossible. I am forced to say again, Children…."

"Right then, Madame Slayer has set the game plan. Angel and I take out the creatures, while she distracts the mighty lord of death and then she kicks his butt."

`"No, one more thing," Mia looked deep in Spike's eyes, " There will be no pain. No pain. Whatever they say or try to show you, it will always appear to you as if they are spilling Buffy's blood: you have to stop them." She turned and said the same to Angel.

"So, we all thralled up?" asked Spike.

"Hope so."

"OK then," said Angel

"Wait," started Mia. She stood on her toes and kissed Angel, hard and deep. He was taken by surprise but swept up in the kiss and responded by pulling her to him. She ran her hand at the back of his hair. Their tongues met. Her hands drifted down to sit on his chest then to his waist. Angel pressed her against him running his hands past her sword to the small of her back up underneath her coat. Mia's hands came back up drifting to his face.

"Oi, Mia, what the bleeding hell?"

Mia placed a hand to either of Angel's cheeks and pulled away. She looked deep in to his eyes briefly and turned from him directly to Spike.

She looked into his eyes, then kissed him. It was Mia who pulled Spike close. She pressed her body as close to him as she could. Her weapons were a bit in the way but she managed to get most of it there. She moved her tongue into his mouth to take the kiss as deep as it possibly could go. She felt him respond. His hands searched for some place her weapons weren't, they finally came up and rested on her either side of her jaw. Mia felt everything she had in Paris and she hoped he did too. She pulled away, stared into his eyes just briefly, turned and started to walk away.

Both men just stood staring. They were taken aback.

"What the hell…"

"Bloody hell what…."

"….Was that?"