Reggie and Giles sprinted towards the airport terminal.  Special passes allowed them to bypass security and go straight to their New York City flight.  When they had presented Travers with what they knew, the head of the Council had paled beyond anything they’d ever seen before.  He started calling in favors left and right to get Faith released from jail and Giles, along with Reggie, on the next flight out of London.

Reggie collapsed in his seat.  “I’ve never seen Travers work that fast in his life.  What the hell is going on with him?”

Giles shook his head.  “No idea, Reg.  He wasn’t very forthcoming when Glorificus was a threat, and she was a Hellgod.  The man is a complete mystery to me.”

“All you did was mention the First, and he had the Slayer out of jail and us winging our way to the States,” Reggie murmured.

“Better get some rest,” Giles said, closing his eyes.  “We only have a two hour layover in New York.  Then, we’re on to Los Angeles.”

Reggie checked his overnight bag before he also closed his eyes.  He had no idea what was going to happen, but he knew he was in on something monumental that might just change the supernatural world as they knew it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

A dark-haired vampire stepped into the foyer behind Groo and Wesley.  He scanned the room until his eyes fell on Spike.  “Hello, chief.”

“Lawson.”  Spike waved Dawn behind him.  He’d only spent a couple of days with the younger vampire over half a century before.  He had no idea what Lawson’s motivations might be for answering Angel’s bloodline call.  The younger vampire never seemed to be itching for blood, but Spike wasn’t taking any chances with Dawn.

Lawson scanned the room looking for his Sire.  “Where is he?”

Spike didn’t even pretend not to know what Lawson meant.  “He’s on the bottom the ocean, mate.  M’girl and I are off to rescue the idiot.”  He shook his head.  “It’s a good thing vamps can’t drown, even if the body thinks it is.”

“Do I need to stake him?” Buffy asked with eyes narrowed while she studied the newcomer.  She recognized the name from the night before in Wesley’s apartment.  She also noted Spike’s protective stance in front of Dawn.

Spike laid a hand on Buffy’s arm.  “He’s answering the poofter’s call just like me.”

Buffy stared into Spike’s eyes for a moment.  After a few moments, she gave a nod, and she turned to the newcomer.  She realized that Spike was just being extra cautious, but he was willing to let Lawson help them.  With a wave of her stake, she said, “If you step out of line, I’ll dust you faster than you can whistle Dixie.” 

Sam snorted.  “I’m a Yankee.  I’m not sure I can whistle Dixie.”

“Let’s get this show on the road,” Spike said with a laugh at Lawson’s joke.  “I’d like to find Peaches before the sun rises.”

Wesley rose to his feet.  “Groo, can you help me with the coolers?”  He gestured towards the big red and blue ice chests that contained enough blood to ensure that Angel would be well fed when he was released from his watery prison. 

Groo gave a solemn nod before he hefted one of the coolers up to his shoulder.  He marched out of the hotel just as Anya popped into the lobby.

“Wow, yum.  Look at him,” Anya cooed when she saw the show of muscle power.  Then, she shook herself like a wet dog.  “No, no, I have Xander right where I want him.  Her.  Him.  Boy, is this gender thing confusing.”

Spike sidled up to Anya.  “You keep an eye on demon boy there.  He’s taken a likin’ to the Bit.”

Anya’s eyes widened.  “She just keeps attracting them, doesn’t she?”  Her eyes darted to Buffy.  “Like mother, like daughter.”

Spike growled under his breath.  He was curious about Anya’s words, but now wasn’t the time to deal with them.  There would be time for that later.  “Must be a Summers trait.  We’ll be talkin’ later, demon girl.”  He followed Wesley and Groo out of the hotel to keep the Pylean in his sight.

“Yeah, I know, we will,” Anya muttered under her breath.  She had been getting odd messages inside her head all day, and she knew she’d have to talk to Spike and Buffy about them soon. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

Connor watched the Hyperion from his vantage point on the building across the street.  He recognized Wesley and Groo as part of Angel’s team and the abnormally strong blond and her demon friend Anyanka, but the rest were strangers to him.

“He doesn’t deserve to be rescued,” Connor muttered.  He was startled when the blond woman stopped in her tracks, and she peered towards his hiding spot.  How on earth did she know where he was hiding?  This needed to be looked into.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

“You can’t be fucking serious?” Xander screamed.  He jumped to his feet, and he pointed a finger at Bernd.  “That is the goddamn Hellmouth, and a high school has no business being on top of it!  I should know.  I went to school there!”

“The city council isn’t giving us much choice,” Bernd replied, more calmly than he was feeling.  “I feel the same way, believe me, but they are being stubborn.  They didn’t even change their minds when Mayor Davies tried to reason with them.”

Xander flopped back into his chair.  “Sorry.  High school sucked big time.”

“The biggest problem is the lack of an alternate building spot,” XanDaria said.  She had a very quiet voice, and the others had to strain to hear her.

“What?  You’ve got to be kidding?”  Xander was on his feet again.  He teetered over to the map of Sunnydale that hung on the wall.  “God, I hate high heels.”

“But they make your legs and ass look so fine,” Bernd said with a leer.

“Get your mind on the job, Zoofman,” Shadow growled.  She turned her attention back to Xander.

Xander decided to ignore Bernd.  He pointed at several locations on the map.  “Any of these areas could be used.  The factories in this location have long been abandoned.  Two streets worth of houses here have been condemned, and this last location doesn’t even have any buildings on it.”

Shadow joined Xander by the map.  “The factories are owned by the Wilkins’ estate.  Newman Construction is getting ready to raze the houses for an apartment complex, and the vacant area is slated to be turned into a park.”

“What the hell do we need another park for?” Xander grumbled.  “Don’t we have enough places for the vamps to hang out at?”

Bernd gave Xander a sly look.  “The heir to the Wilkins estate likes a cute girl in a tight dress.  You could go sweet talk him into giving that acreage to us.”

Xander wrinkled his nose.  He didn’t even realize how appealing he looked.  “I don’t think Anya will let me do that even for business.”

A smarmy grin crossed Tito’s face.  “Come on, Harris.  Buck up and take it like a man.  I mean woman.”

“I am not going to work my womanly wiles on Wilkins’ heir.”  Xander shuddered.  “He probably wants to turn into a snake like the last Mayor.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*

“So, what’s the what?” Faith asked.  She studied the bald black man, and the tall lanky woman, across the glass from her.

“The Slayer showed up in Los Angeles.”  Fred glanced at Gunn before she continued.  “She said she had some kind of vision.  A really Big Bad is coming, and you need to be out of jail.”

“Yeah, something called the First Evil,” Gunn added.

Faith leaned forward.  “From beneath you, it devours.  I know.  I’ve been dreaming too.”

“Lehane.”  A female guard stepped into the room behind Faith.  “You must know some pretty important people.  It seems you’re gonna be released.”

“When?”

“Now.”  The guard laughed.  “Hope you have a ride.”