•••

“Is it done?” The impatient lady lawyer stood over the sorcerer, tapping her toe in a sharp cadence.

The old man sighed. Ah, the impatience of youth. “To go back that far takes time, Lilah.” The sorcerer returned to his altar, adjusting the items laid out there. “If instead you simply wanted to—“ The woman cut him off.

“Tried it. There’s something wrong with him now—it has to be this way. Otherwise everything will just get screwed up again.” Lilah glanced at her watch, scowling. “Fine. Look, I’ve got to go. Just get this done. No money until I see results.”

She received no answer as she spun around and stomped out of the small backroom and into the bookstore the sorcerer used as a front for his darker business. The lawyer hoped this worked; it had to. Otherwise the new guy in Special Projects would be getting a new office…hers.

•••

Angel sighed, watching Wesley and Cordelia stumble out the door. Another client, another messy and violent battle, and he felt no closer to redemption. Picking himself up off the couch, the vampire began stripping off goo-covered clothing as he made his way to the shower. Unlike his human coworkers, he was not exhausted; rather, fighting demons deep in the sewer system had energized him. It was also less than two hours before sunset. They were biologically programmed to go to sleep soon; he was not.

The vampire hummed tunelessly while scrubbing his head, trying to remove the viscous mess from his hair. Hot water sluiced over his body, washing away any lingering aches from the battle. There was no real reason for him to be so broody at the moment; he had just started ruminating over the futility of his work.

The first bolt of pain rushed through his body as he was turning off the water. It struck through his head and raced down his spine, radiating into every part of him. The agony grew, pulsing in his veins. The sensation burned along his nerves, turning into exquisite pleasure. /What the hell?/ Angel shook his head, trying in vain to clear it. He tripped on the doorjamb, falling forward into his bedroom. As his eyes clouded over and darkness descended, he felt the sensation of a cool breeze on his face.

•••

He wondered why he never got rid of the clothes after the last time. Standing in front of the closet, Angelus took stock of his choices. He immediately discarded the boring garments of his souled alter-ego and focused on the small collection of leather and silk leftover from the last time he’d gotten out to play. Smiling, he chose an outfit and laid it out on the bed. Ah, this would be fun. So very much fun.

As he groomed himself, Angelus thought back to those precious times when he’d been freed from that damned soul, comparing them to the current day. He felt different and tried to pinpoint what it was. Oh, he was definitely Angelus, but the rage, the insanity, was strangely absent. To be honest, he felt like his old self, like he was before he ever got the soul in the first place. Laughing, the vampire finished dressing, ending his reverie. No more of that—after all, he wasn’t that ensouled freak of nature.

The dark vampire spent a few minutes collecting up some items he figured would come in handy, packing them safely in the trunk of his convertible. /At least Angel got something right./ The black car, while not Angelus’ first choice, was certainly more than he expected from his other half.

In a matter of minutes, the freshly reborn Master vampire was gone, plans and schemes already swirling about.

•••

“Bloody hell!” Spike viciously kicked his television set. He was pretty much trapped in his crypt, and had been for several days. As was the norm with his luck, a vigilante group of college students, human college students, had formed in response to a series of rapes on campus. Spike had nothing to do with the attacks; he couldn’t pinch a human, much less rape one. That was irrelevant, however. The small bands of youths roaming the cemeteries and parks of Sunnydale wouldn’t care. They’d take one look at him and have a field day. So Spike was laying low, hoping that the rest of Sunnydale’s demon community took care of the overzealous students.

The vampire gave up on the misbehaving television and threw himself into his recliner. He was stir crazy—nothing to fight, nowhere to go, no television to watch. The Slayer and her minions hadn’t even stopped by to harass him lately. Ever since the chit had come back from the dead, the group had treated him like the plague. Buffy he could understand; after all, he’d spent months mooning over her and she probably didn’t want to deal with that now that she was playing catch-up on the Slaying business. Honestly, he was in no rush to see her either. After she’d died, he’d pretty well come to his senses on that issue, and had spent several days laughing at himself, when he wasn’t busy drinking himself into oblivion. The others, though, he didn’t understand. They had no problem bothering him before, but now he was persona non grata. /Fucking humans./

A soft knock at the door to his crypt startled the vampire. He approached the door warily; normally he would have sensed someone approaching his home. Picking up a sword in case his visitor was nonhuman and nonfriendly, Spike unbarred the door and opened it.

“Angel?”

•••

Angelus smirked. His childe looked more than a little shocked to see him, well Angel, at his door. This was going to be so much fun! He took advantage of the blonde’s astonishment to push the door open wide enough to let himself in.

“Spike. It’s been awhile.”

Spike whirled around. The tone of that voice brought thousands of memories rushing into his mind. /Angelus!/ What had happened? How had that crazy bastard gotten out? He raised the sword menacingly. The last time that his sire had gotten free of the soul, he’d been so insane from his captivity that not even Spike had been willing to face him.

“Calm down, childe, or I’ll begin to think you’re not happy to see me.” Angelus murmured to his wayward offspring. He had to play this carefully. The vampire wanted his favorite childe by his side, but if he couldn’t convince Spike to come willingly, he would have to stake the blonde.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Spike shot back, circling the larger vampire.

“I woke up this morning a new man and thought I’d stop by to catch up. As I said, it has been a long time. Too long, in my opinion.” Angel answered, still in that calm, low voice.

Spike was confused, although he hid it well. This was certainly Angelus, but not the Angelus he’d last encountered. That one had been mad, completely insane. This Angelus was much like the one that had sired him. Evil, to be sure, but rational.

Angelus knew what was going through Spike’s mind. He couldn’t blame the younger vampire; he wouldn’t want to face himself as he’d been before, completely out of control. The vampire smiled, now moving with Spike as the blonde tracked him through the crypt.

“Come, childe. This is not the way I taught you to treat your sire.” Angel said, still calm but with more force in his voice.

“You aren’t my bleeding sire. You’re nothing. I ought to cut your sodding head off.” Spike spat at the older vampire, still keeping up his guard.

“Ah, that would be a mistake, Spike. If you did that, we couldn’t have any fun, now could we? And we are going to have fun, you and I. Just like old times.” Angel said seductively.

“Old times?” Spike muttered. “Old times is me in a wheelchair and you sniffing after the Slayer. I think not.”

The older vampire tutted softly. “Ah, sweet Wil. You have forgotten the hunts, the terror. Blood running in rivers through blackened countryside.” Angelus reminded his child of their days as the Scourge of Europe.

Spike shivered at the memories. They were good ones—the two of them, fucking and fighting their way across the continent. “Right. And you want to pick up where we left off, is that it? Somehow I don’t think so.”

“You’ve changed so much then, that you no longer crave it? The smell, the ecstasy of the kill? Blood pooling in your mouth, at your feet. The cries for mercy, all unanswered. You would forsake that? The birthright I gave you?” The vampire whispered, drawing Spike closer to him, almost within reach.

Spike snorted, trying to hide the effects of his sire’s words. Oh, he missed it, he missed it every day of his miserable existence. “What would you know of it? You’d rather make some deal and try to take over the world. A bit of violence, a bit of blood never was enough for you. Why bring it up now?”

Angelus smiled. “That was a mistake. I was mad, being locked away for so long. But I’m better now. Who needs to rule the world, when there are so many better things to do?” The brunette said. “Or people…” he added under his breath.

The blonde kept following Angelus around the crypt. Suddenly the larger vampire leapt forward, knocking the sword aside and grabbing Spike before the younger vampire could react. “Mmm…you’re weak.”

Spike struggled against Angelus, but knew he was trapped. The older vampire was stronger than he, particularly since he’d obviously been feasting on humans while his childe was reduced to stale animal blood.

Angelus smirked down at the blonde. Yes, this was going to work nicely. Spike was so close, seduced by a few whispers. The dark vampire lowered his head, capturing the smaller man’s mouth in a gentle kiss.

•••

Spike froze in shock. It had been so long since Angelus had touched him, even longer since he had been anything but cruel. The feel of his sire teasing his lips apart roused the blonde from his stupor. Groaning, he opened his mouth, inviting his sire inside. Angelus accepted, sweeping his tongue across the roof of Spike’s mouth, caressing his teeth, searching for the sensitive spots he’d never forgotten. Soon Spike was returning those ministrations and Angelus growled under his childe’s expert mouth.

The pair remained locked together for many long minutes, Angelus’ hold on Spike softening even as the blonde reached up to press his sire closer to him, resistance forgotten. The kiss turned rough as the vampires’ gamefaces appeared. Fangs slashed tiny cuts into lips and blood flowed between the reunited lovers.

Spike jerked as he felt Angelus push him backward toward the bed. He pushed against that cold, hard chest. Angelus batted his hands away easily. “Shush, childe. You cannot deny me, your sire.” He looked down at Spike. After a moment, the younger vampire acquiesced, dropping his gaze to the floor. When had that happened? When had he fallen back into the role of childe to Angelus’ sire?

Angelus howled in victory. His lovely, perfect childe was returned to him. He reached out with eager hands, ripping away the thin cloth barriers that covered his boy’s perfect, pale body. Spike hissed as Angelus ran his hands over him, testing and caressing his form. The blonde reached up, carefully unbuttoning and removing Angelus’ silk shirt. He set it aside neatly, then returned to lick his way across his sire’s broad chest, stopping to nip at dark, erect nipples. The brunette snarled and drug the smaller man up, claiming him with a brutal kiss.

Spike fumbled a bit, and then peeled down Angelus’ leather pants, never breaking the kiss. Angelus suddenly pushed him back, hard, and the blonde fell onto the bed behind him. He watched through sooty lashes as his sire removed his boots and pants. The older vampire quickly covered him, pressing his body into the bed.

“Mine. Never forget that, childe. You are mine.” Angelus growled, scraping his fangs over the blonde’s sensitive neck. Spike pushed back, rolling Angelus over until he was back on top. The two vampires scrambled over the bed, licking and biting whatever they could reach.

Finally Angelus pinned the smaller vampire under him, grasping Spike’s erection in an unforgiving hand. Pumping the younger man roughly, he glared down at his wayward childe. Spike snarled up at him, trying to throw off the larger vampire.

“You can’t win, Spike. I’m stronger. You’ve got nothing but pig’s blood in your veins.” Angelus reached down, ripping his teeth into Spike’s arm, eliciting a soft howl from the blonde. He took his free hand and smeared it with blood, reaching down to lubricate Spike’s puckered hole. The blonde continued to struggle against Angelus’ weight, at the same time writhing from the pleasure his sire’s hands were causing.

Angelus reared up, and then thrust into Spike, settling himself wholly within his childe. Spike stilled, staring up into glowing, golden eyes. It had been too long, far too long since they’d been like this, sire and childe. Spike had been a master vampire for decades, had been dominant, the aggressor. No one had ever taken him except Angelus, and the last time had been more than a century before. Memories of that last time flooded both of them.

Leaning down, Angelus began thrusting slowly, at the same time whispering roughly. “You remember, as I do. The last time, all the times before. You want this, sweet Wil. You have always wanted this, to give in to me. We belong together.” Spike snarled and reached up, catching Angelus’ neck in his teeth. He scraped the skin, but did not break the surface.

Angelus thrust harder, making Spike buck under him. He laughed; he knew what Spike wanted, what he needed. Sire’s blood was heady stuff for the blonde vampire—a rare treat that he’d not been given in ages.

Spike twisted and moaned under Angelus’ ministrations. His sire was right; it had been far too long, for both of them. The feel of his sire inside him, pressing over him, was exquisite. Just one more thing…

Angelus cocked his head to one side, exposing his neck to Spike. The blonde’s eyes widened almost comically before he reared up, catching the pale flesh. Angelus howled his pleasure at the sensation of fangs slicing into his veins, of the gentle sucking of his childe. He twisted slightly and ripped into Spike’s neck, completing the circuit, drinking from his childe. He could feel Spike strengthening as sire’s blood flowed into his veins. His thrusts roughened, becoming erratic. They were both close, very close. He fisted Spike quickly, nearing completion.

Spike broke away from Angelus’ neck, howling his pleasure. Angelus leaned back slightly, struck by the beauty of his pale childe, lips stained with blood, prominent ridges accenting his sculpted face. His own ecstasy washed over him and he poured his own release deep into Spike’s body, once again marking his favorite childe with both scent and blood. “Mine, Wil.” He snarled, collapsing on top of Spike.

“Yours.” Spike whispered, giving in effortlessly to his sire. “Welcome back.”

•••

Spike woke slowly, aware of quickly fading aches in his body. Looking around, he jumped in alarm at the sight of Angel lounging in a chair. Memories of the past hours came to him and he relaxed slightly. “Sire?”

Angelus grinned, watching Spike wake. He could easily torture the boy at this point; the younger vampire was easily confused when he first woke up. Now, however, was not the time for such tricks. Maybe later…

“Come here, boy.” Spike obediently approached his sire, uncaring of his nudity. He stopped several feet away, just out of reach, his trademark stubbornness showing. Angelus laughed slightly. He missed that as well; he liked his childe this way—mindful yet willful as well.

“I have a surprise for you, Spike. Something you will greatly appreciate.” Spike cocked an eyebrow, waiting for elaboration. “Come over here.” Angelus patted his leg, indicating that Spike should seat himself there. The younger vampire relented, sitting stiffly.

“Relax, childe.” Angelus reached up, stroking the back of Spike’s neck in long, slow motions. The blonde quickly relaxed, melting into the familiar caress. Angelus smiled and reached down to a box next to the chair, retrieving a small, leather bound book. “Do you know what this is, Spike?”

Spike looked at the book. “Spell book. Common one at that.”

Angelus smirked. “I’ll bet the Watcher has ten copies in his little store, doesn’t he?” Spike nodded. Angelus deftly opened the book to a page he’d marked. “Tell me, what is this spell?” Spike took the book and studied the spell briefly.

“Healing spell. Why?” He asked suspiciously.

“Hmm…And this one?” Angelus flipped a few pages. Spike read that one and then responded, a bit impatient.

“Translocation spell. There a point to this?” He was rewarded with a gentle slap to the back of his head.

“Mind me, boy.” The rebuke was softened by the teasing tone of Angelus’ voice. “Now, what might happen if someone combined the two spells?” Angelus asked, waiting for the proverbial light bulb to flicker on in Spike’s mind. His was a smart boy, after all.

Spike thought for a moment. Angelus liked to play games, but this didn’t seem like one of them. It was more like one of his lessons, and those were usually very informative. What would they do…”Fuck all! The chip—“

“Yes, the chip. Rather simple, really. Angel figured it out a long time ago. He just wouldn’t do anything about it. The witch and the Watcher know about it too, I’m sure.” Angelus watched Spike’s face contort in anger and hatred. He knew it was directed at the humans. Angelus was not responsible for Angel’s behavior—but Spike had for some reason trusted those humans to help him. To realize that the cure was so simple and so easy…

“Can we—you, you know…” Spike asked hopefully.

“Of course I can, and I will. Can’t have my favorite childe running around the victim of vigilante humans, now can we?” Angelus watched Spike blush in humiliation. “Ah, now, don’t mind that. It is all in the past, hmm?” Spike nodded. “Now, run get dressed. This won’t take long and we do have some…business to take care of.”

Spike stood, looking a bit askance at his Sire. “Business?”

Angelus smiled evilly. “Nothing like Acathla, I assure you. There is, however, a law firm in Los Angelus that needs some attention.”

“Why?”

“They are the ones that so thoughtfully removed that pesky soul.”

“And you want them dead why? Thought you’d be sending a thank-you note.”

“Yes, except that they did so with the intention of getting me to work for them. I believe that when they removed the soul, they did so by reverting me back to my person as I was before I got the soul, in the hope that I wouldn’t be insane. Unfortunately, they failed to realize that the sane Angelus would never work for them.” Angelus said, the evil smile still firmly in place. “And they need to be taught a lesson, don’t they?”

Spike laughed. Indeed, if Angelus wanted to play, then they would play. Something occurred to him. “What about Darla and Dru?”

Angelus’ face darkened in anger. “If Darla crosses me, she’s dead. As for Drusilla, I will leave her to you. She is rather unfaithful, and I have no further use for her. She would come between us, if she could.”

Spike nodded his approval. He never hid his hatred for Darla, and Dru had lost him a long time ago. Even Spike had his limits. “Well, let’s get on with it then.”

•••

Xander and Anya wasted no time making their way through the cemetery, weaving around headstones. The vigilante groups prowling Sunnydale had kept Spike pinned in his crypt, and the gang was worried he might not be getting anything to eat.

The pair approached Spike’s crypt, concerned when they saw that the door was standing open, during daylight hours. “Spike?” Xander called into the crypt. Receiving no answer, the two humans cautiously entered.

“Maybe he’s asleep?” Anya said.

“Maybe.”

Once inside, Xander saw no sign of the blonde vampire. The place was the same as the last time he visited, sans owner. He and Anya wandered around, trying find some clue as to where Spike was, or at least a pile of ashes.

“Xander? I think I found something.” Anya called over to her fiancé.

Xander approached the table Anya was at and looked down. What he saw froze him to the spot. Black and blood red silk lay intertwined on the table. On top of the silk was a gold ring and a small object. The ring he recognized; it was the claddagh ring Angel had given Buffy—the one that Willow had returned once again to Angel the last time Buffy had died, when they weren’t sure if they could get her back. He’d not returned it when she’d risen from the dead—again.. He quickly gathered up the silk and the objects, pulling Anya with him out of the crypt.

“Xander, what is it?”

“I don’t know, but I think it’s bad. Really bad.”

•••

“Why San Francisco?” Spike whined. The two vampires were ensconced in one of the nicer hotels in the city, one that catered to nonhuman clients. He was currently stretched out on top of Angelus, recovering after yet another strenuous bout of getting reacquainted.

“Good feeding, no Slayer.” Angelus growled. “I want our enemies to get comfortable, to calm down. Then, when they are vulnerable, we’ll go back and play.”

Spike smiled. It was good to have his sire back. Indeed, they would play. “So, what’s for dinner?”

•••

Buffy and Giles turned to greet Xander and Anya when they entered the shop. “Good, you’re back in time to wish Giles off.” The Watcher was flying back to England again and Buffy wanted everyone to say good-bye.

“You might want to hold off on that, G-man.” Xander said nervously.

“Why, Xander? Is something wrong?”

“I think so.” Xander replied, setting down what he’d brought from the crypt. “Anya and I found this at Spike’s crypt.” Buffy and Giles joined them at the counter. The Slayer cried out when she saw the ring.

“How did that get there? Angel has…”

“I know, Buff. That’s not all, though.” He picked up the small, square object that had accompanied the ring. “I’m not completely sure, but I think that this is—“

“Spike’s chip.” Buffy finished. “I saw one at the Initiative. They look like that.”

“Dear Lord. Do you think…” Giles began.

“What I think is that Spike doesn’t have his chip and Angelus is back.”

“What?!” Buffy screamed, still focused on the ring. “No! Spike got the ring somehow…Angelus is not back!”

“I’ll call Wesley. He would know where Angel is.” Giles picked up the phone to call his fellow former Watcher. Several minutes and a short conversation later, he turned back to the group. Willow and Tara had arrived after their classes a moment before.

“Wesley said that Angel has not been seen or heard from in several days…And that his car and several items are missing from the hotel. Including a spell book, Angelus’ clothing, and some weaponry.”

“Spell book?” Buffy asked tremulously.

“Which one?” Willow asked.

“Lk’thankisk” Giles responded.

“Goddess…” Willow whispered.

“Do I want to know?” Xander asked warily.

“Giles and I figured out how to take out the chip a long time ago. The spells were in that book—it’s very common. I’m sure that Angel realized how to do it as well.”

“This is so not good.” Anya said, slumping on the counter. Xander beat his head on the counter.

“You can say that again.”