Chapter Nine

The metallic blue '65 Thunderbird glided down the highway, its totally restored engine fairly purring as it ate up the miles. Buffy was staring out the passenger window, her bare feet resting comfortably on the dashboard as Faith drove expertly, well over the speed limit.

About an hour ago they'd received a call from Giles. He'd had information for them, but it was the kind that ruled things out instead of ruling anything in.

"Buffy, Giles here."

"Giles? ‘Giles' who?"

"Really Buffy, is this the time for making jokes?"

"Probably not, but what else can I do when you identify yourself?"

He didn't bother to hide his irritation:

"It's called ‘good manners', something which I'm sorry to say seems to be severely lacking in this country."

"Oh, I see. So it's considered polite to attack my native land, a native land you now call ‘home'?"

"I am not attacking, merely...Oh for God's sake, may we please stay on topic?"

She grinned at Faith, then decided to take pity on him:

"Okay, what do you guys have?"

"Well, I'm not quite sure. I must admit I'm not all that familiar with Conatal demons, but what Willow and I have turned up...well this is all very peculiar."

"How so?"

"Everything we've uncovered seems to indicate that they do not involve themselves in matters like this. They're a very insular group, preferring to stay in the shadows and busy themselves with their own affairs. They rarely, if ever, let themselves be drawn into situations of this magnitude."

Buffy glanced at Faith and whispered:

"Don't know yet."

She then spoke clearly into the phone:

"Well according to Angel, this time they're as involved as you can get."

"Yes, I understand that and it makes very little sense."

"So are these guys evil?"

"They're certainly not good, although they don't usually attack humans, at least not those that will be easily missed. They're extremely skilled fighters but rarely organize, not unless they have an exceptionally strong leader or it's time for their..."

She could hear him shuffling papers as he looked for the information.

"...Ah yes, here it is...their ‘Taldion'."

"And that is?"

"Put simply, it's almost like a celebration. It comes around once every hundred years or so."

"And what, we're the lucky ones because now's the right time?"

He sounded completely frustrated:

"But that's just the thing, Buffy, it's not."

"Huh?"

"Yes, my sentiments exactly. Willow and I have checked every available source, and it is not the proper time, not even close."

"Again with the ‘Huh?'"

She could hear papers shuffling again:

"Willow is attempting to obtain some information from her connections..."

Buffy sat up straight then, alarmed at what Willow might be doing.

"What connections? Giles, you know how she gets carried away. Did Kennedy at least go with her?"

"Hmm? Oh, sorry, no cause for alarm. Just her Wiccan associates and assorted demon friends. She's already returned and is on the phone tracking down a few leads."

She relaxed and leaned back again:

"Good."

"Don't worry about us, things are quite well, our lack of cogent information notwithstanding. And you and Faith?"

"We're fine, we're making good time."

He was no longer distracted, his presence reassuring as it sounded in her ear:

"And where exactly are you two?"

"I don't know. Faith, where are we?"

"Got about two, two and a half hours if the traffic and lack of cops holds."

"We're about..."

There was a smile in his voice:

"Yes, I heard her. I doubt I truly wish to know just how far over the speed limit, she is in fact, driving."

Before Buffy could answer, Faith spoke up:

"Oh, and tell Grandpa we don't got all day to get there."

"I heard that as well. You may inform my dear granddaughter I shall firm up next week's schedule with her insults solidly in mind. Expect to find yourselves on..."

"Giles? Giles? Your...aking up! Bad...co...ec...tion. Can't...a...you said."

Faith looked over at her alarmed and mouthed:

"Newbie patrol?"

Buffy nodded as she continued to pretend she was losing the signal.

"Lovely, Buffy. I particularly enjoy when you scratch your fingernails across the mouthpiece."

"Can't hear...back later."

"We shall as soon as we learn anything else. Please let us know when you arrive."

"We will. Bye, Giles."

She disconnected the call and turned her full attention to Faith:

"Why do you always have to tease him?"

"Hey, you started yanking his chain. Just followin' your lead."

Buffy smacked her lightly on the shoulder:

"If we get Newbie patrol all of next week, I'm going to kill you."

"So, they got any info worth knowin'?"

"Not really. Giles has no idea why these demons are acting the way they are. He says they usually stick to themselves, and it's not time for them to do this ‘together' thing they occasionally do."

"But they're doin' it."

Buffy slid over closer to her, half sitting on the middle arm rest:

"They definitely are. Angel said they're really good fighters, and Giles confirmed that, so this bonding deal isn't exactly in our best interests."

"Well, I don't give a shit why they're doin' what they're doin'. Just want'em to stop."

"I'm with you there. Maybe Angel will have some more details when we see him."

"Somebody better. What do we got left to eat?"

Buffy looked in the bag.

"Chips, all of the fruit and granola bars Will packed for us...and one Snickers bar."

"Just one?"

"Yep...Can I have it?"

"The whole bar?"

"I'm dying for it."

Her hand began blazing a trail along Faith's thigh.

"But B..."

"Please?"

Just one word whispered into Faith's ear, and the candy bar was lost.

"Okay...but if it was anybody but Soulboy we were rushing to rescue, I'd be pulling over and makin' ya earn it."

Buffy laughed and slid back over to her side of the car.

"I wouldn't mind that."

She tore open the Snickers, peeled back the wrapper, and then hesitated as she looked at it.

"Okay, I feel kinda bad about hogging it. Want a bite?"

"Yeah, that'd be good."

Buffy held it out to her:

"Here."

Faith's bite took more than three fourths of the candy bar, and Buffy couldn't pull it away fast enough to save it.

"Faith!"

She couldn't respond, not when she had so much chocolatey goodness in her mouth and a huge grin threatening to make her drool it down onto her lap.

"Give that back!"

But there was nothing Buffy could do except watch while Faith chewed and swallowed with some difficulty.

"Damn, that's the best candy bar ever made...yeah, B?"

"I wouldn't know, you ate it all."

"Why ya bitchin'? Got some right there in your hand."

"You are such a pig."

Faith smirked and wiggled her eyebrows:

"Teach ya to offer."

Buffy popped the bite size remainder into her mouth:

"Fine, be all smug, but you will definitely pay for that later."

"Wow, you sure are scary, Slayer."

"Yes I am, you've just forgotten, is all. I'm going to be happy to remind you."

Faith laughed:

"Mind giving me a kiss for now?"

"Why should I?"

"'Cause I taste like chocolate."

Buffy leaned over and gave her a peck on the cheek:

"That's all you get because I'm mad at you."

"Aww...eat a banana and some of that delicious granola, baby. That'll cheer ya up."

"Ha, ha."

They drove in a comfortable silence for a while with no sound except the low rumble of the engine and the radio playing softly. Buffy leaned her head back against the headrest as she thought about the woman next to her.

Faith had given her everything: love, understanding, the best sex ever invented, and so much happiness she could barely stand it.

"Whatcha smilin' at, B?"

"What?"

"You're grinning like a nut. What for?"

Buffy linked their hands:

"I'm grinning at how happy you've made me.

"Damn, I must be hot shit, ‘cause a smile like that's pretty amazing."

"You get what you earn, F."

Faith smiled big then:

"Works for me."

"Me too."

A song came on the radio that Faith loved and she cranked it and sang along, complete with the rhythmic pounding of her hands on the steering wheel. There was no point in talking until the song ended, and when it did, Faith turned down the radio:

"Hey B, how come we've never run across these demons before?"

"Giles says they tend to avoid most humans, so I guess that means Slayers too."

"Makes sense, ‘cept it doesn't. I mean, why are they goin' totally against their grain? Not often somebody'll just change their way."

"It's a mystery, for sure. Will and Giles are still trying to figure it out, Angel too. Somebody should have something helpful soon."

"I'm just hopin' we can beat the shit outta some of'em. Not gonna be as fun if we can't."

"I've got my fingers crossed for you."

They pulled up alongside the curb in front of Angel's place in just over two hours. Faith turned off the ignition and shook her head in disgust as she looked at the building:

"Man, once a dive, always a dive."

"It's definitely not the homiest place I've ever seen."

"Gotta tell ya, B, best thing we ever did is gettin' him clear of here."

Buffy smiled as they got out of the car and headed for the door:

"Agreed. Wow, it's even worse than I remembered, no wonder he's been so..."

The front door swung open to reveal a smiling Angel:

"Now here's a sight for sore eyes! My very own Slayer cavalry."

"Yeah, came to clean up your mess, Soulboy."

They hugged and then it was Buffy's turn:

"Two Slayers, at your service, sir."

Then went in and Angel locked the door carefully before following them into the room he used as a living area.

"Sorry for the sparseness. Most of my stuff's already been shipped."

"Don't we know it. Spent all day unloading your shit for ya."

He looked at her with a slight frown:

"You didn't have to do that."

Faith dropped down onto the couch:

"Now you tell us. B, when ya call to check-in, tell Red and Ken to put his stuff back into the boxes."

Angel laughed:

"Hey now, none of that. Just leave it all right where it is. So are you guys hungry?"

"Not me. We ate junk all the way here and I'm still a little ‘blah'."

"Faith?"

"Nah, but wouldn't say ‘no' to a beer."

He opened the small refrigerator that was tucked into a corner and peered in:

"Sorry, just blood. I didn't have a chance to go shopping."

"Don't worry about it, I'm good. So what's the sitch?"

He sat down heavily in the only easy chair, rubbing his hands over his face.

"I've been researching all day, but I haven't come up with a thing. I just got off the phone with Giles about an hour ago, and if he's baffled, well I doubt I'm going to have much success."

"Yeah, if G-Man and Red are lost, no way are we gonna be found."

Buffy looked around.

"Angel, which phone's still..."

"It's in my office."

"Yeah B, right over there. Most of us call it a ‘closet', but Soulboy's got him a good imagination."

Angel feigned irritation:

"It worked out okay."

Buffy walked in and hit the light switch, illuminating Angel's office closet. She squeezed between the wall and the desk and sat down, already reaching for the phone. Willow answered on the second ring:

"Hello?"

"Will, it's just me. We're here, anything new to report?"

Willow's voice was both excited and worried:

"Yes and no."

"Okay, that's unique. What's the story?"

"The Conatal demons are acting completely out of character. It doesn't make any sense at all, no matter how we look at it. But, and this is a big ‘but'...my sources say there's a new big cheese in town."

"And?"

"And nothing else, not really. I'm still trying to get a line on what kind of cheese it is, a name, a classification, anything that would help us research it. So far it's all kind of vague, but I'm expecting a call pretty soon."

Buffy stretched her arms above her head and smiled at the laughter drifting in from the other room.

"Okay. I don't know Angel's plan yet, but we should be here for a while longer. Call us when you get something, here or on our phones."

"We will. So how's Angel?"

"He's good, but he seems kind of tense and on edge."

"I guess having tough warrior demons to battle and an apocalypse to stop, could stress anybody out."

"Yep, no argument here. I should go. We haven't discussed anything about anything, and Faith is anxious to find out if she can fight any of the bad guys."

Willow laughed:

"I'll keep a good thought for her. You guys be careful."

"We will, don't worry. Talk to you later."

She headed back to the living area to find Angel and Faith standing side by side as they looked down at a map.

"This isn't the right one either. Maybe it's in this stack."

He headed over to a large pile on an end table and began shuffling through it with increasing impatience.

"Faith, could you check upstairs? I have a million by my bed."

"Sure."

She went upstairs and Buffy headed over to him:

"I'd offer to help, but I don't know what I'm looking for."

He glanced at her before returning his attention to the task at hand.

"It's fine, we'll find it. I should have...Buffy, could you hand me those?"

She turned to the papers sitting on the bar, her nerves suddenly on edge. Obviously this case had her more wound up than she thought, but she couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong.

She stopped walking and turned back to Angel, only to find him close behind her and looking worried.

"What was that?"

His head was cocked as he listened. Buffy didn't hear anything, and after a minute, Angel relaxed.

"Guess it was nothing. Sorry, I've been a little on the jumpy side."

"It's okay, I'm finding myself a little on..."

His eyes suddenly jerked to the front door and Buffy whirled quickly to face the threat. She had heard nothing but she trusted Angel's instincts as much as she trusted her own, and hers were screaming at her that she was in danger.

Angel stepped closer to her, his chest brushing up against her back:

"Did you hear that?"

She answered him softly without taking her eyes off the door:

"No, I didn't hear a thing."

He whispered his response into her ear:

"Me either, Buff."

*********************************

Faith came bounding down the stairs a few minutes later:

"Nothin' but crap in the ones upstairs. Must have it down here...Guys?"

Everything was just as she remembered it, except there was no sign of Buffy or Angel.

"B? Soulboy?"

She searched the entire place, which didn't take long. They were just gone, and there was no sign of a struggle. She knew there was no way that Buffy and Angel wouldn't have put up a fight, and she also knew there was no way she wouldn't have heard it, even from upstairs.

"What the fuck?"

She called home, waiting impatiently for someone to answer:

"Yes, hello?"

"G-Man, B and Angel have disappeared."

"Pardon me?"

"You heard me. Was upstairs lookin' for some shit Angel needed, came down like five minutes later and they're both gone."

"Did you..."

"Searched the whole place. Can ya call B's phone? I don't know the number."

"Certainly. Willow, would you please dial Buffy's phone? I'll explain momentarily."

Willow quickly dialed and listened to it ringing.

"She doin' it?"

"Yes, it's ringing."

"Well nowhere near here, I don't hear shit."

The panic was rising in her voice, and Giles made sure to stay as calm as possible:

"Does there appear to have been a struggle of any kind?"

"What, think I'm a moron? No sign of nothing. Even the front door's locked like it was."

"Hold on...Willow, would you please set about performing a locator spell to determine Buffy and Angel's whereabouts? Faith, perhaps a trapdoor of some sort?"

She was already busy pulling back the rug and feeling along the floor.

"Yeah, I got it. Behind the counter. Leads down into the sewers."

"Do you have any idea why they would..."

"None. Doesn't make any sense at all. Listen, gonna head on down, and I doubt the phone's gonna work. I'll check back when I..."

"Might I ask you to hold off for a moment?"

"Can ask, but I..."

Willow's voice was audible in the background:

"They're nowhere. Someone or something's masking their location."

"So she's got nothin'?"

Giles was still focused on Willow:

"Can you break through it and find them?"

"Yes, but it's going to take me awhile. I don't...Hold on."

"Giles, what the fuck is going on?"

"Willow's receiving the call we've been waiting on. Perhaps we'll soon have some idea what we're up against."

Faith began pacing angrily. She wanted to get going, but instead found herself on the phone waiting for maybe absolutely nothing that would help.

"Fuck this! Giles?"

She heard only muffled sounds for a couple of minutes, and then Giles' voice floated to her as if from far away:

"Good Lord..."

"G-Man?"

"I...Faith..."

"Goddamn it, Giles, what is it?"

He cleared his throat twice, and still had difficulty getting it out:

"Faith, Willow's source just informed her that the big evil is...a vampire..."

"A vamp? How's that make sense? Angel said those demons were..."

"...a vampire...with the face of an angel."

Her legs wobbled and she had to lean against the counter to remain standing.

"No...Giles, that can't be right...No way can that be right."

"Her source is positive. Angelus is back."

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