Subject: [BA_Gutter] FIC: Together Again 19/28 Date: Fri, 09 Jul 2004 16:06:10 -0000 From: "sunnyd_lite7" 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: My beta's make me better! so hats off to Pattyanne and Desota_hia_873. They made sure my ideas resembled sense. Feedback: yes please! Chapter 19 Spell time Summary of action to date: It's the second day since they quit Wolfram & Hart. Lorne has given Wesley a talking to, and Wes followed that up with some quality broody, punctuated by drinks with Spike. Angel is having visions and is thinking that the gang is out to overthrow him. Gunn has decided that he won't be the old Gunn and is hoping that there's a role for him in the new Angel's Investigations. Harmony came by looking for a job and dropping off all the shoes Illyria bought on their shopping spree. She also let them know that she'd been 'spicing' Angel's blood. The 'spice' was actually a poison that Spike found out by battling with Angel, using fangs and fists not just words. Wes and Gunn chatted things through and Wes will do the spell to give Fred back her memories, despite his fear that once she knows of his betrayal she'll be repulsed. Yup a busy 36 hours! *** *** *** *** *** Half past five in the morning. And no coffee anywhere! This was down right cruel and Gunn hoped his friends appreciated his dedication. HE didn't even need to be here, what with Wes doing the casting and Fred being the recipient. But he had a feeling that this was where he should be, and he'd learnt enough on the streets to always follow his intuition. He'd stayed at his apartment last night. Away from the team, standing on his own two feet. At least until his savings ran out. Distance helped him think. If things didn't go well at today's meeting, maybe he and Wes could start up a company. He now had the lawyer knowledge, even if the firm planned to cancel his paperwork. He thought they would, but it didn't matter. He didn't need the briefs and the courtroom antics, although the golf thing was kinda cool, and it had helped his ax swing. So, demon language and the ability to talk his way out of any parking ticket, definitely pluses by him. Looking around the lobby, he realized that he was the only one there. It was a half hour to show time. Thinking that maybe Fred had picked up some coffee, Gunn wandered towards the kitchen to see what he could scrounge up. *** *** *** *** Her alarm went off. Twenty minutes before the spell. Wes had told her about the mechanics of it last night, knowing that the information would reassure her. He took such good care of her. She just knew that she was wearing that smug little smile which she got whenever she thought of him. She stretched and looked around. He'd kept his word and hadn't disturbed her last night. Not surprising really, he always did what he said he would. But why, when they'd been apart so long, hadn't he taken advantage of the time they had, unless.. . had she done something in the memories which he hated? Was he just covering until she knew and would understand why he was dumping her? That would explain his reticence in giving the memories back. Fred began to hyperventilate. Deep breathes. Start working through the periodic table.. .Hydrogen, Helium, Lithium, Beryllium.. . Some people counted to ten, but to focus her thoughts Fred needed something more. The periodic table, the numbers of pi, the various constants in chemistry; THEY were her version of a 'happy place'. They formed a safe refuge of order in what was a chaotic life. Calmer, Fred realised that the kisses she'd shared with Wes had not been 'pre-dumping' kisses. They had been full of longing and tasted of hope. But bittersweet, like hope was only one percent and it was being diluted by the darkness. Wes did tend to carry a dark cloud with him, and it had definitely been present the last few days. Oh, it lifted now and then, and maybe, once this spell was out of the way, it would vanish for a time. She knew that it was a part of him; he wouldn't be her Wes if he was all surface and glitter. Some surface was good-- his scruffy yet striking face, for example. But he was so much more than surface, like those eyes looking at her like she was his salvation. Like she was worthy. How could she give that up? Maybe she wouldn't have to. Time to get up, places to be, and another life to re-visit. *** *** *** Gunn returned to the lobby with a big cup of joe. He found that Wesley had made it downstairs and was setting up the spell."Need any help? There's more coffee if you'd like." "That WOULD be a godsend right now. Thank you, Charles." Wes gestured to the circle of sand in the middle of the lobby, "It's set up. Since I will not be affected this time, there should be no worry about me passing out." "Bloody hope not. Don't fancy trying to save this from going pear- shaped AGAIN." A disgruntled, but no longer limping Spike joined them in the lobby. "Man, you are still bruised. What did you two do to each other while we struck out on the Barney demons?" Gunn knew that vampires could take a great deal of damage, but knowing and seeing were two different kinds of understanding. "Wouldn't be bruised if there's been any blood in this place. Speaking of bloody annoyances, anyone check his grumpiness this morning? He's been talking in the basement for over an hour, and the Slayer thought MY language could be foul." A look of chagrin passed between the humans. "Didn't hear anything, so thought he was still asleep," was Gunn's offering. Head tilted to the left, Spike's gaze bored through Gunn. He snorted and, not contradicting that statement, merely said, "Right, then. Guess the honour's all mine." As Spike started down the stairs, he called back to them, "So, sorted out the cleansing spell yet?" Not waiting for an answer he disappeared into the basement. "Can I say, oops? Do you know of any butcher shops where we could even buy blood?" Gunn's question was answered from on high, or at least on balcony. "There are a dozen distribution centres if you're talking low grade animal. The exotic stuff and human takes a bit more finessing, but, my little cinnamon rolls, as a previous publican in this fair city, you need only ask me." Looking up they saw Lorne wearing his trademark smile and the glitter suit that annoyed Spike so much. The presence of so many mirrors seemed to set him off. "Lorne! Quite the sartorial ensemble there," was Wesley's greeting. "Coming to make sure I do my job?" "'Course not. I would never doubt your word. But sleeping through mystic energies generally gives me the willies. Figured I might as well be part of the group." The light caught on his blazer as he shrugged while walking down stairs. Gunn squinted and complained, "Jeez, Lorne, you need to issue sunglasses when you wear that thing." "Oh, and howdies are the latest word in post lawyer wear." "It's comfortable, and doesn't wrinkle as easily as the suits would," Gunn's turn to shrug. "So, you know where we can keep the fanged ones in blood?" "Yes, if we are to perform the cleansing spell, Angel will need to feed afterwards. I've done that once and really don't relish a repeat performance." Wesley comment earned a look of confusion from the others. "Wes.. .he FED from you? And you let him?" Gunn's tone expressed shock, horror, and a tinge of disappointment. "It was when I pulled him from the sea. I'd severely underestimated the amount of blood he would need to regain any state of consciousness, so I used what was at hand, or at arm." There was humour in that comment, but only of the blackest kind. "That's what you meant by being fresh out of blood. I gotta give it to you man, you attract hard decisions like geeks to a sci-fi convention." "What about geeks? Are y'all talking behind my back? And I thought this was a private spell casting." Fred looked at the three of them. "Answers, boys! That's why I'm here.. .isn't it?" ***************** tbc... The team still has a lot of questions to get through. What, you'd thought it'd be easy and straight forward? With THIS crew? Hey I'm working with what Joss gave us! Enjoy!