{"id":7052,"date":"2015-08-01T23:45:22","date_gmt":"2015-08-01T22:45:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/?p=7052"},"modified":"2024-11-11T19:45:02","modified_gmt":"2024-11-11T19:45:02","slug":"to-be-alive-or-to-live-26-30","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/2015\/08\/01\/to-be-alive-or-to-live-26-30\/","title":{"rendered":"To be Alive or to Live. 26-30"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chapter twenty-six<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Angel paced agitatedly back and forth waiting for Spike to return. The next steps in his plan raced through his mind. It would work. He just needed to get to LA as a vampire with a soul and the spell in hand. Wesley would take care of the rest. A slight unease settled over Angel.<\/span><\/p>\n

Maybe Wesley wouldn\u2019t think\u2026No, Angel\u2019s mind veered from any doubts that were starting to circle around his head regarding Wesley\u2019s or\u2026Cordelia\u2019s reaction. They would see that this was the only way.<\/span><\/p>\n

They didn\u2019t need Groosalugg. Angel would protect and save Cordelia. That\u2019s what he promised he would always do and that was what he would do, no matter the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike easily opened the Magic Shoppe\u2019s front door, grinning at the new, now useless lock. Giles, the intellectual smart-arse, couldn\u2019t seem to figure out how to keep the shop free from his unwanted visits.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike wandered around the dark front room, his cigarette the only light flicking in the room. If he was a balmy ass gypsy curse where would he hide, Spike ruffled through some old books and papers. Nah, the Angel worshipers would want to keep it somewhere safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

Safe, now that was a smack on thought. Spike sauntered over to the iron box underneath the counter. Really, watcher, Spike hummed as twirled and listened to the resulting clicks.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lovely, Spike thought, as the door swung open. In 24 hours, his world would be rid of the specter of Angel and he would have a hearty meal. Spike smiled as he pulled out the boxes and papers tucked away in the body of the safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

He quickly glanced through them. His smile got bigger as he caught the word \u2018soul\u2019 on a computer print out. Spike scanned it. Yep, gypsy stuff, soul stuff, eureka. Spike hurriedly closed up the safe; he stubbed out the fading embers of his cigarette. Time to go.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike opened the door, pulling it wide.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpike?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cRed, um good\u2026night,\u201d Spike scrambled. Great the witch.<\/span><\/p>\n

Willow quickly pushed past the blonde vampire, glancing suspiciously around. \u201cWhat are you doing here?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUm, nothing.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Willow glared. \u201cTry again or I\u2019m calling Giles and Buffy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTattletale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpike.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGee, Red, like I said nothing, well nothing much anyway. I left my smokes here.\u201d Spike held up his crumpled pack. He really hoped that the witch didn\u2019t notice that it was almost empty.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSmokes? No, really why are you breaking into Giles\u2019 shop.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhy are you, pet? Um? What dastardly witch brew are you brewing outside the know how of the rest of the watch patrol. You\u2019re dabbling, aren\u2019t you?\u201d Black magic, is it? Whoa, wait, sex magic. Are you and your little girlfriend getting a little bored, lost the excitement have you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike pursed his lips. \u201cWhy didn\u2019t you just call me? No reason to go all felon.\u201d Spike\u2019s brows wriggled as his lips smirked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYou are disgusting. I left my books here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSure, right red. I won\u2019t tell. But, if you need me.\u201d Spike winked as he pushed past Willow into the darkness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Willow watched as Spike blended into the night. Damn, vampire, she grumbled, shaking her head. Sometimes, she almost really liked the sardonic bleach blonde, but other times. Willow glanced into the main room of the magic store. Nothing seemed out of place. She went to the cash register, nope, no money gone. Willow shook her head as she picked up her books.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike had been up to something, but he hadn\u2019t shown any signs of evil lately, just the normal annoying stuff, she would give him the benefit of the doubt. After all, the money was still there and nothing else looked disturbed. Though, Willow would have to mention to Giles to change the locks\u2026again. Willow chanted an easy lock spell on the shop and left.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter twenty-seven<\/b><\/span>
\nAngel stood in the cemetery watching as the first morning rays bathed the head stones. His face remained expressionless as the sky around him brightened.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike had returned a couple hours earlier, smug, and satisfied at his night\u2019s work. The blonde vampire urged Angel to lay bare his neck and for them to get on with it. Angel refused.<\/span><\/p>\n

Angel wanted to see the sunrise one more time before he sentenced himself to an eternity of nights. The sun rose higher, heralding a new day, choices to be made, hopes to be realized, and dreams to be had. It could be his for the rest of his mortal life, if he just stayed and basked in its warmth.<\/span><\/p>\n

His future. Angel blinked as the moisture formed in his eyes. This was what he always wanted. Life, real life, not the parody that he had been practicing ever since he first was cursed with his soul. Angel strained his eyes staring, trying forever to capture the glorious sight.<\/span><\/p>\n

The new day, it would be the last time he ever saw one. Choices? As a human, his choices would have been limitless. Hopes, dreams? Angel sadly smiled closing his eyes. He would be giving them up. Or would he?<\/span><\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s smile became real as his heart grew lighter. His hopes and dreams weren\u2019t wrapped up in the glowing ball in the sky, but in the warmth of Cordelia\u2019s smile, in her very life. She was the one that gave him the hope that fueled his dreams of the future, not the sunlight.<\/span><\/p>\n

The day was beautiful and a novelty, but it might as well be night, if Cordelia no longer smiled. Angel\u2019s choice was made without regrets or doubts, just with a surety that his decision was the right one. The only one possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

Angel swiftly returned to the dark crypt without sparing another glance at the sun. It wasn\u2019t the brightness he needed.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cChange your mind, did you?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDo it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGuess not.\u201d Spike moved awkwardly towards the dark human. \u201cUm, how to do what to do this?\u201d This was decidedly weird. Spike could smell the blood flowing underneath Angel\u2019s skin; he wanted to taste it, to have it fill his mouth and throat. But, there was just something strange about feeding from a willing human, it kind of took the fun out of the whole experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

And then when you top it off with the fact that the non-victim was Angel, it was just really weird. Oh well, the Poof was carrying around a skin bag full of fresh human blood and Spike was hungry. Spike stalled, maybe if he pretended that he was actually really killing Angel.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSpike\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t be in such a bloody hurry. Give a vamp a moment, will you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Angel ripped off the makeshift bandage on his forearm. \u201cNow.\u201d Angel pressed on the wound until fresh drops of blood appeared on his skin.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike\u2019s nervousness was gone as soon as the scent of the blood hit the air. The blonde vampire growled as he grabbed at the limb bringing into his lips.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike sucked greedily, expanding the cut with his incisors. Angel fell to the ground as the blood drained from his body. His last thought before the blackness overtook him was that he should’ve called Wesley. Spike could very well screw up.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike leaned in encircling Angel\u2019s limp form in his embrace. Spike\u2019s lips and teeth tugged on Angel\u2019s flesh, becoming more urgent as Angel\u2019s heartbeat weakened until it was barely negligible. The life was draining from Angel\u2019s body as quickly as the blood. Spike pulled away as the heart encased in the empty body stopped. Spike bit into his own wrist drawing blood, he shoved it in Angel\u2019s lax lips.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCome on Peaches. Drink, you damn poof, drink. Don\u2019t die, you bleeding idiot.\u201d Spike sighed as Angel started to suck automatically on Spike\u2019s arm. Spike didn\u2019t even want to guess why he was relieved. If anyone ever asked, he would deny the feeling.<\/span><\/p>\n

Spike pulled his arm away from the increased pressure Angel was exerting on him. The damn old fledgling would suck him dry and end up killing them both.<\/span><\/p>\n

Angel\u2019s eyes glowed yellow as Spike jerked away. \u201cTime to nap,\u201d Spike grumbled. Angel blinked as the new vampire blood filled his body, then wearily he slumped. Spike cushioned Angel\u2019s descent. Then the blonde vampire picked up Angel\u2019s unconscious body and laid it on the stone tomb. Spike quickly grabbed the chains nearby and tightened them around Angel\u2019s still body.<\/span><\/p>\n

Then he sat and waited. In one hand, he had a glowing cigarette in the other the computer printout.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter twenty-eight<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHow is she?\u201d Wesley nodded towards Cordelia\u2019s bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cOut like a light, thank god,\u201d Gunn said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAnd him.\u201d Wesley nodded towards the pacing Pylean warrior.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUnfortunately wide awake. If that fake Kevin Sorbo type goes towards that bedroom one more time, I\u2019ll kill him, warrior for good or not.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunn turned as he felt a soft tug on his sleeve. \u201cWho\u2019s Kevin Sorbo?\u201d Fred said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunn rolled his eyes. \u201cA better actor, with better hair and understands the words \u2018hell no\u2019\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Fred remained puzzled. \u201cGroo is just worried, he wants to help Cordy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGroo is just a buffoon\u201d Said Wesley. \u201cRegrettably, he may also be the only way to relieve Cordelia of the increasing pain of the visions.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley ducked as a book flew towards his head. \u201cBelieve me, I don\u2019t like it either.\u201d Wesley dodged another text that bounded by his head. \u201cI read everything I could think of. Damn\u2019t, now I\u2019m defending my failures to a ghost.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWesley, don\u2019t. We know you have been trying. Don\u2019t we Dennis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The books fell with a loud slam to the floor.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis is ridiculous.\u201d Wesley yanked off his glasses and rubbed his brow.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley slammed on his glasses as a loud scream came from the bedroom. \u201cCordy.\u201d Wesley ran towards the closed door. \u201cGunn, watch him.\u201d Pointing to Groo.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGot it, man,\u201d Gunn body blocked the Pylean warrior from barreling into the bedroom. \u201cYou stay here.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Princess\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWill call you if she needs you. Until then stay put.\u201d Gunn remained directly in front of the warrior.<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley dropped on the bed beside the trembling, crying young woman.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordy.\u201d Wesley gently placed his hands on her shoulders. His tone strained and full of emotion.<\/span><\/p>\n

The young woman didn\u2019t acknowledge him. Her convulsing form strangled the short painful gasps that emerged from her heaving chest.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley leaned in attempting to gather Cordelia in his arms. Cordelia struck madly at his hands. \u201cNo, No, No\u2026\u201d Her eyes wide with untold fears.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordy,\u201d Wesley sharply pulled her to him.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo\u2026\u201d Her body shook and the sobs choked in Cordelia’s throat.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cTell me,\u201d Wesley said. His arms tightening around her.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNooo, no, Angelus\u2026no,\u201d Cordelia pushed with all of her strength, breaking free from Wesley\u2019s hold.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley sat up stunned. \u201cCordelia?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The young woman curled up into a small ball in the corner of the bed, her tears dampening the covers.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley\u2019s eyes started to blink rapidly as he thought. Maybe it was just a bad dream, not a vision. Because a warning of Angelus was impossible. \u201cCordelia?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

***<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia tried to compress her body into a smaller circle, willing herself to disappear. She wanted to disappear, to be gone. Cordelia sobbed louder as she tried to push back the vision of Angelus. But the demon with the face of Angel pressed forward his mocking evil smile causing a slash of pain through her skull.<\/span><\/p>\n

From somewhere far away she heard Wesley\u2019s concerned voice. He was calling to her, begging her to respond. Cordelia cried harder, the pain, her head felt like it was going to erupt, her heart felt like it was shriveling, and dying, and she was dying. Cordelia wanted to die. Again, this time a little closer, she heard Wesley.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia struggled. With the ruthless, delicate skill of a surgeon, Cordelia began to cut away at the pain, sectioning it off, shoving it to the corner of her mind that had been built to house it. The walls were waning, the lock weakening, but the room still stood. Cordelia pushed her pain inside and slammed the door. Cordelia attempted to do the same with the ache in her heart, but the ache wouldn\u2019t budge, it never did.<\/span><\/p>\n

It never left, not since Angel left. Now it was just harsher, bigger, but still manageable she willed.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia sat up and blinked away her tears. \u201cAngelus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIm\u2026\u201d Wesley stopped. He was about to say impossible, but as he stared at the weak, trembling young woman trying so hard to maintain a semblance of her normal strength, he stopped. If Cordelia saw Angelus, then Angelus was back.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere.\u201d He would not bother with why or how. Cordelia\u2019s visions had never been so helpful before. That\u2019s what he was for.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSunnydale.\u201d Cordelia\u2019s weak voice trembled.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley nodded. \u201cDennis.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The water and prescription painkillers were already floating beside Wesley\u2019s hands. The water threatened to overflow from the glass as Dennis\u2019s ghostly presence pushed it frantically towards Wesley.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThank you.\u201d Wesley grabbed at the items. He placed the huge pill up to Cordelia\u2019s lips.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia shook her head.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley snapped his head forward. \u201cYes. I know you hate it, but you will take it. It helps\u2026\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWesley?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t worry. We will go to Sunnydale\u2026And so will you.\u201d Wesley answered the beginning of Cordelia\u2019s strangled demand. \u201cBut, if we are to face Angelus, there are certain things we need to gather, that will take time. We will leave within the hour,\u201d he said, at Cordelia\u2019s anxious jerk.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBut until then you will take this and rest.\u201d Wesley glared at the young woman, his tone, and expression accepting no argument.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia\u2019s wide pain eyes filled with new tears. \u201cPromise.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley smiled sadly. \u201cI won\u2019t leave you.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia\u2019s lips disappeared as her tearful eyes closed in trust and gratitude. She slowly opened her mouth as Wesley gently pushed the huge pill to her tightened lips.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNow, drink.\u201d Wesley gently held the glass of water up to Cordelia\u2019s mouth. He smiled as Cordelia grimaced, then swallowed. \u201cGood, girl.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia grumbled and gave a slight smile as she lay back down. \u201cI\u2019m not two, you know.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI know, but this is the only way I ever get to win.\u201d Wesley uncharacteristically placed a tender kiss on the young woman\u2019s forehead.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBig softy,\u201d Cordelia mumbled as she tried to relax and let the medication take effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cSweet, brave child,\u201d Wesley said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cUmmph.\u201d Cordelia\u2019s eyes closed as the numbing attributes of the medicine took over.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter twenty-nine<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley got off the bed. Angelus, how\u2026. Not the problem right now, he veered his mind from its natural inquisitiveness. Angelus had to be stopped. He would be a danger to all of them, especially to her. Wesley glanced at the young sleeping girl.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cordelia hadn\u2019t seen or hadn\u2019t been able to tell what Angelus would do. Probably the Powers didn\u2019t think it was necessary, after all, nothing Angelus ever did was not evil. Wesley took a deep breath and headed to the other room.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s up, what did Barbie see.\u201d Gunn rarely called Cordelia that nickname anymore. It had started as a term of annoyance, but now was saved for times of great stress. Gunn had been nothing but stressed and worried since this whole thing began.<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley stared at the room. Gunn was tense, ready for battle. Groo wasn\u2019t tense, just ready for battle. The Power\u2019s new warrior seemed to be nothing but ready for battle or com-shucking. Wesley shook his head.<\/span><\/p>\n

For one brief, contradictory moment, he wished that Angelus would meet the longhaired buff buffoon. Wesley shook his head at the not nice thought and glanced at Winifred. The innocent young woman looked concerned, frightened, and determined.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cCordelia\u2019s vision\u2026I\u2019m going to Sunnydale so is she. I would like it if you would also go.\u201d He nodded to Gunn.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cLike I wouldn\u2019t? What\u2019s up?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGunn\u2026wait\u2026Fred I think you should stay and Groo. I don\u2019t want you anywhere near.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere the Princess goes I go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There was really no point arguing with the Pylean. He only seemed to know a few phrases. All of which began with the Princess.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going.\u201d Fred said with as much anger as she was capable of. Fred may be scared, but she wasn\u2019t abandoning her friends.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s Angelus.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Gunn was the only one in the room that was startled. \u201cHow? Angel is human, how does Angelus enter into the equation?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know. But Cordelia saw him in Sunnydale.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAngel?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Angelus, Angel\u2019s soulless vampire counterpart.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe beast.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, Groo, but not the beast that you met before, this is the real beast, the beast that could destroy her.\u201d Wesley nodded towards the bedroom.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI will kill it.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d Wesley said. \u201cKill Angelus before I or Cordelia say to, you will die. Remember that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEnglish?\u201d For once Gunn had to agree with the buffoon. All that Gunn ever heard about Angelus was bad news, real bad news.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cNo, Gunn. Now, we will need some things.\u201d Wesley went to the kitchen table and started to comprise a list.<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Chapter thirty<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t believe you\u201d Buffy said. She had listened to Wesley\u2019s startling pronouncement and then promptly disregarded it. There was no way Angelus was back. Angel was human.<\/span><\/p>\n

And really, what did Cordelia know about anything, visions or not. Buffy had never even heard of the Powers. And she couldn\u2019t believe if they were all so important, they would have given Cordelia such power and responsibility.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not like they could count on her to prevent the forecasted evil she supposedly saw and experienced. Cordelia would never put the fate of others before her own physical safety and comfort. No matter what Angel had said. It just wasn\u2019t possible for a person to change that much, just like it was impossible that Angel had somehow lost his soul as well as his new gained humanity.<\/span><\/p>\n

None of it was possible.<\/span><\/p>\n

And who were all of these people with Wesley and Cordelia? Buffy stared at the young black man glowering and the young timid woman standing, almost hiding behind him. The longhaired handsome man was pacing and snapping a deadly whip against his thick thighs mumbling something about no time and a princess.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buffy didn\u2019t know who they were, didn\u2019t want to know, she just wanted them all to leave. Especially, Wesley and Cordelia. In Buffy\u2019s world, Cordelia always looked just as beautiful as she was self-centered and incompetent. Those were tenets that Buffy knew and believed in; it was one of the few stable things in her world.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, that stability was being rocked to its core by the agonized look on the pale former cheerleader. Cordelia looked awful. And then there was the confident urgency in Wesley\u2019s tone. Wesley wasn\u2019t supposed to be confident; he was and always would be an accented duffus Giles want-a-be with delusions of intelligence. But here he was without a stutter or a stammer, just looking exasperated and disgusted\u2026at her.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buffy shook her head and looked again at the strangers. They were all looking at Wesley for something\u2026leadership, Buffy realized. They were also casting protective, concerned glances at Cordelia. Buffy\u2019s eyes widened, Cordelia wasn\u2019t wearing any make-up.<\/span><\/p>\n

The unease in Buffy\u2019s stomach grew larger. That just wasn\u2019t how it was supposed to be. Her beliefs were being shaken. If she was wrong about them, than maybe they were right. No, Buffy thought. They couldn\u2019t be.<\/span><\/p>\n

Buffy narrowed her eyes toward the huddled form of the former cheerleader. Cordelia hadn\u2019t said a word, neither confirming nor denying Wesley\u2019s explanation and warning. She just stayed motionless, as if she was just able to only concentrate on staying upright.<\/span><\/p>\n

But, now, even in her disheveled and hurt stance, Buffy saw a spark of the former cheerleader in Cordelia\u2019s clouded eyes. Cordelia was getting angry.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t really give a damn whether you believe us or not, Buffy. Just tell us. Where is he?\u201d Cordelia finally spoke.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cHe is not Angelus, I tell you. He is human.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWas.\u201d Cordelia\u2019s eyes flashed, her anger overcoming her pain momentarily.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis vision, if you can explain how? And who or what exactly are the Powers to Be?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe don\u2019t have time, Rupert.\u201d Wesley shot, no longer burdened by his former insecurities concerning the older former watcher. Wesley had gone through too much and done too much, to ever allow Giles previous prestige as a watcher make him feel timid and apprehensive.<\/span><\/p>\n

After all, they had both been fired and Wesley had learned much from that experienced and every single one that had followed. \u201cBelieve it or not, but realize at least- Angel is human, therefore he can be turned back to a vampire. And without a soul, he is Angelus. So, where is he?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWith Spike,\u201d Willow said.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d Both Wesley and Cordelia looked shocked.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s okay, Spike can’t hurt anybody, he\u2019s neutered. The chip\u2026\u201d Willow started.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhere.\u201d Cordelia said<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cBuffy,\u201d Giles said softly. \u201cIt is better to be safe.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cFine, but they\u2019re wrong.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cYes, right, of course, but Willow, please- the spell, just in case.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Wesley spoke quietly to Gunn as Willow hurried to the safe.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s gone.\u201d The redhead ran back to the waiting group.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Willow\u2019s eyes widened. \u201cSpike was here last night. He had broken in again. He said that he left his cigarettes. Why would he take the spell?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe’d better go.\u201d Giles ushered everyone out of the shop.<\/span><\/p>\n

Chapter 31<\/a><\/b><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Chapter twenty-six Angel paced agitatedly back and forth waiting for Spike to return. The next steps in his plan raced through his mind….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7052","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-completed-fics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7052","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7052"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7052\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13520,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7052\/revisions\/13520"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7052"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7052"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/goteamfiction.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7052"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}