Subject: [BA_Gutter] FIC Together Again 11/25
Date: Sun, 20 Jun 2004 19:10:24 -0000
From: "sunnyd_lite7" <mainguy@nichols1.ca>


Title: Together Again
Author: SunnyD_Lite
Spoilers: Follows 'Tangled Webs' which has spoilers to Shells, then
goes on its merry way.
Rating: PG but there is Spike language – you have been warned.
Disclaimer: Joss, ME, Sanddollar, and other corporate types own every
conceivable copyright and interest in the characters. They stopped
playing with them, so I thought I would. No profit, no foul, right
guys?
A/N: First off, hugs and doughnuts to my betas Pattyanne and
Desota_hia_873. They made sure my ideas resembled sense. This piece
will make more sense if you've read Tangled Webs, now on the sandlot.

Chapter Note: Just a short chapter today, but its got our favorite
vamps!

Feedback: Yup, yup, yup, it's all good!

Chapter 11(A)
Spike woke up with a jump.

The hotel. That's where he was.

He took a moment to listen. Hmm...seemed that everyone but Gunn was
around. He thought it would be a good thing for them to actually talk
about what had happened, but he wasn't placing bets on them actually
doing so.

He wondered how Fred was managing. He also wondered if there was any
blood left from the lot he'd brought in last night. Only one way to
find that out, so he got up, planning to head to the lobby.

As he got to his door, he ran his hand through his hair and realized
he'd needed to control his mop.  He wasn't letting the fellas see HIM
all little Lord Fauntleroy.

First shower, then blood.

Taking off his shirt, he wondered if there were any towels around
this place.

Chapter 11 (B)

Angel knew that Spike was up. If he wanted that last mug of blood, he
should probably get downstairs.

He wondered if the cleaning staff would be by again, and if Fred had
done the sweep for electronic bugs yet.  He did feel a bit silly not
having thought of that himself. Not that he'd ever let Spike know
that.

Getting up again he looked around the room where they'd put him last
night. It was the one Connor had been in.

Why would they do that? Oh right...Fred still didn't know.

That was going to be awkward, or full of dramatic irony as she
stumbled through without the back-story the rest of them had had.

Maybe Wes would do the spell for her. That would bring everyone up to
speed, except Spike. And right now he could use a slow Spike. The
vamp was much too sharp for his liking. He was surprised that he
hadn't staked 'William the Bloody' when he was a fledge. The boy just
grew more annoying with age. He hadn't been THIS annoying in
Sunnydale, had he?

No, Spike had been in a wheelchair in Sunnydale and HE'd been
Angelus.

Even then, Spike had been trying to overthrow him. Went to the
Slayer, of all people, behind his back. From a strategy point of
view, it was a brilliant move. Again, not something he'd share with
Spike.

Trick about William is that he wanted to belong. So he probably
wouldn't try to overthrow Angel now, not unless the team got behind
him...which would never happen. He annoyed the rest of them as well.

But...Gunn had said that Spike had helped them figure out the missing
memories. What if they began to rely on him?

Gunn was acting like a leader. Wes had proven, time and again, his
ability for independent action. Lorne was a follower, but he could
sling some harsh truths and he did pick up and leave for Vegas that
time. Fred he felt secure about.

The rest? The troops had to be kept in line. Maybe if they did have
the talk, on his schedule, they could think they were contributing
while he held control.

That sounded like a viable plan. A bit of showmanship, let them think
they're getting what they wanted.

He needed them. First to figure out why he was having these visions;
second, he'd tried going on his own before and that never ended well.

He needed more blood. Must be the pain from the visions. He didn't
think he'd been drinking this much at the office. Though it was hard
to tell, with Harmony bringing it in whenever he wanted.

Angel sighed. While he wouldn't miss the endless meetings and that
stupid strategic plan, which he half thought they'd created to
distract him, he WOULD miss having a secretary and endless blood.
That otter stuff wasn't half bad. He wondered where he could get some.

With that thought he headed to the lobby where he knew Wesley and
Fred were.

tbc