Chapter Ten
Lineage
It
was a little after
He
didn’t think long on the absence of his crew, because his mind was already on
the heist. He had a chance to briefly
look over the layout of the house and the vault that the Mayor had given him
when he told him he would do the job. It wasn’t going to be easy. The place was
built like a fortress.
The
security system was the best Angel had ever seen. In fact, it was so good that
certain aspects of it looked familiar and he couldn’t help but wonder who
designed it.
There
was no doubt in Angel’s mind that Oz was the best there was…anywhere. And he knew that Oz didn’t moonlight. He was as dedicated to the Order as Angel
was. So that meant that either there was someone else out there who was just as
good or someone has been borrowing Oz’s ideas.
He
hadn’t had a chance to show the schematics to Oz yet but he knew that when he
did, the computer genius would not be happy to learn that someone had been
stealing his ideas. He was very touchy about that sort of thing.
He
walked through the lobby and toward his office. Opening the door he stopped
when he saw the reason why his team was mysteriously absent.
“It’s
about time you showed up. I was about to send a search party out for you.”
Angel
frowned at his uncle. He sat in Angel’s
leather chair drinking his whiskey, looking like he was king of the castle and
Angel didn’t like that. This was his castle and he was the king.
The
question was what was he doing here?
Uncle never came here. He always made Angel come to him; it was a power
trip for the old man.
Shutting
the door he made no attempt to hide his displeasure. “What do you want?”
Quentin
smirked at him, “Is that anyway to greet your Uncle?”
Angel
looked at him, really looked at him. He
noticed the old man’s body language and how he seemed tenser than usual. He
noticed the way his hand swung slightly as he rested it on the arm of the
chair. And he could just make out the slight movement of his leg that was under
the desk. Angel grinned inside, the old
man was anxious.
He
poured a drink and walked to the desk with the decanter. “Forgive me if I seem abrupt Uncle your visit
is just unexpected.”
He
held the decanter out to Quentin, who shook his head no.
“I’ve
been trying to reach you at the house but the line appears to be dead. I
was…concerned.”
Yeah right. “There’s a problem with the equipment. I have
to send Oz over to fix it. What’s up?”
“I
spoke with the client.”
“The Mayor?”
“Yes.
He informed me of your decision to do the job. I’m very pleased Angelus.”
Angel
nodded. I bet you are. Let the games begin.
“I
know that this must be a difficult time for you and I want to make sure that
you are in the right frame of mind to complete the job successfully.” Quentin’s
keen gaze stayed riveted on Angel’s emotionless face.
“Difficult time?”
“Angelus,
I know how much the girl meant to you and I’m sure finding out that she had been manipulating
you this whole time was quite a shock.”
“Quite.”
Angel coldly said as he sipped his whiskey.
Quentin
smiled, “It’s better to discover now how…untrustworthy she is before you are
fully involved with the…”
“Traitorous bitch?” Angel interjected.
Quentin’s
eyes sparkled, “I think I would put it more eloquently, but yes.”
Angel
sat there staring at his Uncle amazed that the man really thought he was
getting one over on him.
“So
you thought what, that you would come here and console me? Really Uncle, I’m
touched by your show of emotion. But it’s not necessary. That whore is out of
my life.”
He
tipped is glass toward him while smiling dispassionately, but his heart
protested to his last statement and his stomach churned restlessly.
Quentin’s
smile faded, he didn’t like being associated with such trivial things as
emotions. “Hardly dear boy, I want to make sure that you’re not so distraught
that you screw up the job.”
“Ah…of
course, well have no fear Uncle. My head is exactly where it needs to be. The
job will get done.”
Quentin
smiled, relaxed once more with his position. He just knew the boy would dump
that tramp the moment he read the file.
He was too egotistical to do otherwise.
He
stood up placing his glass down on the desk. “Good. I don’t need to remind you
the importance of this job.”
“No. You and The Mayor want to control the World.”
Quentin
chuckled, “that’s a little dramatic don’t you think.” He walked over to the
window and looked out with his back to Angel.
Angel
just stared at him. He was so familiar
with this position it was boring. The
old man would cross his hands together behind his back and stare out the window
while telling him some tale that was supposed to incite Angel to his side.
“Angelus,
The Order of Aurelius has been watching over this country since it gained its
freedom from the British. You know as
well as I do, that it is this Order that has been the main force in keeping
this country running smoothly and in an orderly fashion. We look out for the greater good because we
know that governments are corrupt, they always have been and they always will
be.”
Angel
smugly stared at his back; this was the part where he told him that sometimes
killing was a necessary evil to help protect what the country stood
for…democracy and freedom.
“There
are bad people in this world Angelus, people that our own government isn’t
aware of. Those people are the ones that we need to watch. We’ve been doing it
for centuries but times are changing and we need someone else in office. We
need someone who understands that sometimes violence is needed to keep peace. Richard
Wilkens is just the man we need to get things done.”
Angel
snorted, he highly doubted that. “Uncle you’re not telling me anything I don’t
know.”
He
stood up, “Look I don’t care if you and The Mayor want to control the entire
world. That’s not my business. My business is making sure that you get the
chance to do it.”
It
almost made him sick to say it, to stand there and kiss his ass, make him think
that he was on the same side. But he had to and he had to play it to a tee. His
Uncle was too shrewd and too intuitive.
He would pick up the slightest hesitation or doubt that Angel had and
then he would ambush him.
The
fact that Uncle wanted to put a psycho like The Mayor in office told him one
thing. Quentin was getting greedy. He was tired of being the puppet master
behind people that he thought were substandard.
He wanted the world to know that he was in charge. It was the complete
opposite of what the Order stood for.
The objective of the Order was to make sure that the government didn’t
forget the people that put it into business. Not world dominance. Uncle had
forgotten that and Angel meant to remind him.
Quentin
turned around and faced him. He looked hard and long at his body language and
facial expressions. Seconds passed by while
he made his quick perusal. Detecting no
sign of deceit, he smiled at him. “Good.”
He
headed toward the door and opened it, “I’m glad to see that you are back to
your old self my boy. I must admit I was concerned that you were turning your
back on your family’s legacy and your duty to this country. It would have been
a shame to lose your talents. I would hate to see what happened to my dear
brother Liam happen to you.”
Angel’s
eyes hardened frostily. “I know my duty
to the Order and to my country Uncle.
Kill for the greater good.” His voice was just as hard and callous as
his eyes.
Quentin
nodded, “Keep me informed.” He left, closing the door behind him.
Angel
walked over to the wall and hit the button that opened the panel to the
security cameras. He watched as his Uncle left the building and got into the
waiting limo.
As
the limo drove down the street Angel threw his glass at the wall and it
shattered into a million pieces. Uncle
just confirmed his suspicions He had suspected for a long time that his
parent’s death was never as innocent as a simple car crash. People in their line of work didn’t die that
way. They died from guns or knives,
usually welded by their enemies, not car crashes.
He
knew the old bastard was responsible and he knew why.
Since
the day Angel was born his father had drilled into him what the Order stood for
and what Angel’s role would be in it. He
had a deep understanding and commitment to keeping the objective of the Order
alive. It was that understanding that
made his job easy. There was no guilt.
He never felt like a bad person for killing any of the marks he had ever taken
down. Because he knew that what he was
doing was for his country.
He
never cared about getting credit for his deeds, that didn’t matter to him. All
that mattered to him, his father, and all their ancestors before them, was
insuring that the Order continued in their steadfast partisan roots.
But
Quentin didn’t have that same agenda, at least not anymore.
Angel
remembered his father’s diary and all that it said. In it Liam wrote how Quentin was his half
brother, the product of an affair that Angel’s grandfather had with an English
Noblewoman. That was news to Angel.
He
also wrote that they never liked or trusted each other. They worked together only for the good of the
Order. Liam told him everything and he
told him never to trust Quentin. This
Angel always knew, he easily remembered the strained tension between the
brothers.
But
the more he had read the dairy the more he saw through the eyes of his father
how over the years with Quentin in charge the Order slowly changed. From his father’s entries it appeared that it
all started when Liam married Patricia.
Quentin protested to the marriage from day one. It didn’t matter that Patricia herself was a
member of the Order, what mattered to Quentin was preserving the Order, and he
felt that love was a detriment.
Liam
knew that was the turning point of the Order.
He knew what Quentin thought and he knew what steps Quentin took to
protect the Order. He started to associate the Order with men in high power,
who underneath their thousand dollar suits, were just low life criminals that
ran guns and sold drugs.
When
Liam confronted Quentin about it, his response was simple, keep your friends
close but keep your enemies closer.
Liam
understood and could even agree with it to some point but he still could not
overlook the fact that the principle of the Order was shifting from selfless
patriotic acts to self-serving purposes.
He saw the changes in Quentin as well as he became studiously selfish
and greedy, it was clear to Liam that Quentin served himself and no one else.
Liam
had been incensed to see something that his ancestors built turn into something
vile and evil, and he was determined to change that.
He
kept working in the Order, diligently documenting every crooked deal and
immoral man that Quentin had contact with.
He learned that there were others like him within the Order that were
not happy with what was going on. They
rallied together having secret meetings and becoming a silent factor within the
organization. Their only goal was to restore the Order to its once noble and
nationalistic roots. Everything they discovered was kept in safety deposit
boxes in
The
last year before they died, Liam’s entries became frantic and sparse. He wrote of a man, someone he thought was a
friend, someone he had trusted with his life many times over, someone he
believed was betraying him. His last
entry was as clear as clear could be…he feared for the well being of his family.
Not
long after that Liam and Patricia O’Rourke were killed and Angel was sent to
live with his Uncle. It was a month
after their death that Angel, who was away at boarding school in
From
then on Angel never trusted his Uncle. When he turned eighteen he traveled to
Like
their father’s before them, they worked silently in an attempt to attain their
target. And over the years there were moments when Angel thought they would.
But those chances disappeared for one reason or another, and Angel became
disgruntled.
He
started to become what he hated most. He got lost in the blackness of his job
and forgot what it really all meant. He became just a ruthless killer who
wanted nothing more than the thrill of the kill and the rewards in his pockets.
He had become his Uncle.
But
Buffy changed all that. Meeting Buffy
had been like a burst of radiant light in his otherwise dark life. She put hope back in his soul. She made him remember that there was more to
this world than what he had been doing. It was because of her that he once more
picked up his endeavors to restore the Order.
But
falling in love with her also made him realize that he couldn’t accomplish that
goal within the Order anymore. He wasn’t
about to make the same mistake his father had. There was no way he would
sacrifice her to accomplish his own personal mission.
So
he decided to leave the Order. He could
still take Quentin down from the outside. He knew everything there was to know
about his Uncle and his dealings, and he knew that he would finally
succeed.
He
had made several attempts to do just that since meeting Buffy, but each time he
did Quentin handed him another job, one that actually benefited the country,
one that reflected what the Order used to be about. It was almost like he knew and tried to
manipulate Angel into believing that the Order never changed.
Angel
knew otherwise but he took the jobs anyway, it was just in his blood. He couldn’t resist the call of the thrill. It
was just something that he was born to do. So he kept working for Quentin and
he kept waiting for the right time to leave.
Then
it happened. He was literally handed a
gift from the devil himself and it was both the worst day of his life and the
best.
Quentin
thought that by showing Angel the folder on Buffy that it would bring him back
to the Order, take him back inside the darkness where Quentin wanted him to be.
And for a short and asinine moment it had – that was what made it the worst day
in his life.
But
once more his goddess saved him. Once
more she had restored his faith…in love, and in himself – and that made it the
best day.
This
was it. This was the chance they had all
been waiting for and he was going to take it.
No matter what, he was going to succeed in achieving his goal and
restore the Order to its origins. He was going to make his Uncle pay for
killing his parents and he was going to make his father proud of him.
Uncle
was right; there was no job that was more important than this one. It had to go off without a hitch. And with
the help of Buffy it would.
He
turned his attention to the mark.
Henry
Mersum.
He
pulled out the picture that the Mayor had given him. He stared into the man’s
green eyes, there was a tug in his gut; something was telling him there was
more to this guy than what the folder said.
According
to this, the man was a lawyer for Wolfram & Hart. They were a big time law
firm whose clients ranged from
Angel
knew that a man who had his home wrapped up nice and tight with such a high
tech security system was more than just a lawyer. He was as crooked as his
criminal clients.
He
probably had a falling out with The Mayor, maybe he was supposed to be the
financial backing for the Mayor’s run at the presidency, but then for some
reason pulled out. And now the Mayor
wanted to steal it.
It
made sense and Angel figured that was probably this guy’s story and the reason his
inner light bulb was going off.
Satisfied with his line of thinking he put the folder aside and moved on
to the vault and the layout of the house.
He
really needed Spike and Oz here. They were the two people that he always ran
over the jobs with. He checked his watch; he knew where Spike was and Oz…
“Present.”
He
looked up to see Oz strolling in.
“You
know you freak me out when you do that.”
He said watching as Oz shrugged his shoulders and sat down.
Angel
sat back in his chair, “so what do you think?”
“I
think he’s just about ready for an enema.”
Angel
grinned at the stoic reply. “He did seem
rather nervous and edgy didn’t he?”
Oz
nodded. “His leg was tapping a mile a minute.”
When
Uncle arrived at the hotel, everyone quickly scattered and left the building,
but not Oz. He left but then snuck back
into the garage. He had made his way to the vault where he locked himself in
and watched everything that went on from the cameras.
“Refreshing
isn’t it, to see him so…uneasy with things.”
Oz
nodded.
They
silently looked at each other, Angel’s expression answering Oz’s question, even
though he hadn’t asked it yet. “So this
is the job, the one we’ve been waiting for?”
Angel
smiled brightly at him, “it is.”
“Good.”
Angel
grinned again at the red-heads short but to the point answer. He didn’t know what he would have done all
these years without Spike or Oz. They
were his two closest confidants.
Like
Angel, they were heirs to the legacy, a legacy that was slowly being tainted by
the impurity that was Quentin Travers. And like Angel, Oz and Spike wanted it
restored to what it was created to be and they stuck by him with the knowledge
that one day that time would come.
Oz
stretched and then sat back in the chair getting comfortable. “So fill me in.”
**********************
Buffy
slept till about
She
took a quick shower, then got dressed putting on a pair of black pants and a
dark blue shirt. After she pulled on a
pair of boots she walked out to the living room and peered out the window.
Seeing
Grant sitting there and looking up at her, she smiled and waved. “Hello dog.”
She
could see his frown from where she stood and she chuckled walking away from the
window.
She
headed out of the loft and walked up the staircase to the fourth floor where
Faith was just sneaking out.
“Boo.”
Faith
jumped and dropped the boots she had been holding, her hand went up to her
chest as her eyes landed on Buffy. “Jesus B you scared the crap out of me.”
Buffy
smiled, “where you going?”
Faith
dragged her away from the door, “I was coming for you.” She whispered.
She
dragged her down the stairs and back to Buffy’s loft, whispering all the way.
“I would have come sooner but my jailor thought that I was too tired.”
She
continued to whisper down the stairs and Buffy giggled. “Faith I don’t think he
can hear you.”
Faith
snorted, “Don’t be too sure of that. I swear that Brit can hear the Queen
farting over the pond!”
Buffy
laughed just as they stepped inside the loft.
Faith shut the door and leaned against it putting her shoes on. “So what happened? Are you okay?”
“Yeah…I
think I am. I mean seeing Parker and Adam again wasn’t
exactly a happy moment but its okay.”
“B
I talked to Angel and…”
Buffy
smiled, “I know I saw him.”
“You
did?”
Buffy
still smiling nodded, “Yeah he was here when I came home.”
“Oh…okay,
so things are copasetic?”
“Well
besides the fact that one of us is an assassin and that we’re both a couple of
lying thieves, one of which is married to a pig…” she shrugged, “…pretty good.”
“So
what happened when you went to the compound? I got to tell you I’m a little
surprised to see you here.”
She
looked at Faith her green eyes bright and clear. “I went there to kill him.”
“And…”
Buffy
sighed, “He’s still breathing. They want me to do a job and at the time I
figured it was best to go along with them. I mean I’m quick but a bullet is a
lot faster than me.”
Faith
looked at her oddly and Buffy shook head.” Never mind.”
“I
told them I had to come home to keep up appearances. Of course Parker who’s not
exactly the sharpest tool in the shed didn’t want me too but Adam understood.
Anyway, I got home and Angel was here.”
She
had this look in her eyes of pure rapturous heaven, “He’s so sweet.”
Faith
rolled her eyes.
“Have
I ever told you how sweet it he is?” Buffy asked.
Faith
stood up straight, “Yes B plenty of times.”
Buffy
shrugged, “Oh…okay, well anyway. We’re
going to steal the diamonds together and then get rid of Parker. But I guess
you know all that already don’t you.”
Faith
blushed slightly, “I do and I’m sorry. But hey I stuck up for you. I was ready
to kick his ass if he didn’t get his shit together.” She rubbed her fist, “I
even got in one good shot. That boy has one hard head I can tell you that.”
Buffy
smiled at her friend’s fierce loyalty.
“I know Faith, don’t worry about. Besides at least now I know to wear a
boxing glove when I give him my ass kicking.”
They
smirked at each other.
“Anyway,
Angel left to go to some hotel?”
Faith
nodded, “Yeah it’s some old hotel down on
Buffy
took that in wondering what her quite friend’s reaction would be when she
learned of Oz’s true profession. “Angel said he’d be back before ten and then
he forbade me to go anywhere until he got here.”
Faith
grinned at her mischievously. “But of course we’re not going to do that, are
we?”
Buffy
grinned back, “Well you know me, I’m not one for taking orders to well. Angel’s
going to have to learn that if we’re going to be working together.”
Faith
snorted, “Oh yeah…I can see it now…Mr. I’m In Charge giving you leeway to do
whatever you want.”
She
reached up and grabbed her head, “Wait…I’m having a premonition…I foresee Buffy
and Angel at each other’s throats…wait, they look like Buffy and Angel but
their faces are bright red and there’s smoke billowing out of their ears.”
Buffy
chuckled. “Stop it. I’m sure it won’t be that bad.”
“Yeah right.”
Buffy
shrugged, “Well so what? The best part of arguing is making up, right?”
Now
Faith had that faraway look, with a boyfriend like Spike she had a lot of make
up sex. “No arguments there.”
“I
figure that there’s no time like now for him to get used to that idea so I
thought I’d get a head start and do a little recon. Wanna
come with?”
Faith
smiled, “Oh god yes. I’ve been itching for something naughty to do.”
“Faith
I know that Angel wants you to help but I’m worried about you. If you don’t
want to because of…well you know, I’ll understand.”
Faith
knew exactly what she was talking about but she didn’t care. This was Faith’s chance to get back at the
Brotherhood. Maybe it wasn’t the chapter that she belonged too but it didn’t
matter. If you hurt one you hurt them all.
“B
don’t worry about me, I’m 5x5.” She walked over to the window and looked out.
Buffy
smiled at her, relief filling her. She
was still worried but she was glad that she would have someone to go back there
with.
“Who’s
the unhappy camper that’s been casing the place since early this morning?” Faith nodded to Grant.
“That
is Grant.”
Faith
turned and looked at her with wide eyes. “The Grant?”
“The one and only.” Buffy grabbed her coat
and opened the door. “Come on let’s get going. I want to get there and check it
out, and then I want you to take me to the hotel.”
Faith
followed her out the door. “What about your watchdog? He’s going to see us
leave?”
“Good.
Then he can report back to Parker that I’m doing my job.”
“Yeah
but he’s going to follow us back to the hotel?”
“No
he’ll follow us back here and then we’ll sneak out the through the tunnels.”
She briskly walked down the stairs with Faith next to her.
“What
tunnels?”
“I’ll
tell you about it on the way.”
The
club was pretty much empty at this time of day, only Amy and a few bouncers
were there getting ready for the night.
They waved to Amy on their way out and walked right out the front door.
With
a purposeful stride Buffy walked right up to Grant. “Grant.”
He
nodded coldly, his eyes on Faith. “Who’s this?”
“Faith,
she’s a sister from
Grant
eyed her skeptically, “Parker didn’t say anything about a second.”
Buffy
smiled, “That’s because he doesn’t know.”
“Well
I think I should run this by him first.”
Faith
looked at Buffy, “You were right B, but I didn’t want to believe that a brother
could be so spineless especially up against a gutless pig like Parker.”
Buffy
sadly shook her head, “I know so sad isn’t it.”
They
both turned and looked at Grant who was murderously staring at them. Buffy could practically smell his fury.
“Fine
go ahead, but don’t get any smart ideas Buffy, I’ll be right behind you.”
Buffy
smiled, he was so predictable. “Grant the only ideas I have are the best ways
to steal the diamonds. Come on let’s go, we’ll take your car it’s less
conspicuous.”
Faith
looked back at Grant, “Nice to meet you…brother.”
Grant
watched them get in the car. He started
his bike up and waited for them to pull out.
When they did he was right on their tail.
**********************
“We’re
going to need someone we can trust. Who are our choices?” Angel asked Oz.
“There
aren’t too many left that Uncle hasn’t already sniffed out. But I think there
might be one that we can trust, although I’m not sure you’re going to like it.”
Angel
looked at his friend warily, “Please don’t say who I think you’re going to
say?”
Oz
shrugged. “She’s the only one left.
There is no one else that’s as high up in position as she is, believes
in the cause, and hates Uncle to boot.”
Damn
it, she was the last person Angel wanted to bring in on this job, especially
now. But he had no choice. “Alright call her.”
They
had been going over the schematics of the job for the past three hours when
Wes, Gunn and Fred returned. They went over the plan with them and they were
all sitting around the lobby going over the last minute details.
Angel
looked at each one of his friends. They had all been there for him at one time
or another. And they had all became a
part of his family in different ways.
Wes,
Gunn and Fred weren’t like Spike, Oz and himself. They didn’t have any ties to
the Order. They worked for Angel because
they felt indebted to him and they had no where else to go. He felt obligated
to give them the option to get out now.
“Guys
you know that you don’t have to be apart of this. It’s going to get ugly and if
you want out Oz, Spike and myself, we would understand. This isn’t your battle.”
They
glanced at each other briefly and Fred spoke. “Angel, haven’t you learned by
now that whatever is your battle is ours too? We’re family and family sticks
together.”
“Right
on.” Gunn said and Wesley nodded. “Dude there is nothing that could take me out
of this one. The chance to bring Uncle down…it’s too tempting. Screw the danger.”
Angel
looked at Gunn and Fred, smiling at their enthusiasm, and then he turned to
Wesley. “Wes?”
“Count
me in.”
“Thanks
guys. It means a lot to me.” He said it and he meant it.
Gunn
shucked him on the shoulder, “Look our fearless leader is getting all misty
eyed on us.”
They
all laughed except for Angel who was scowling.
“We’ve
got problems mate.” Spike came barreling in, looking not as joyful as the
others did.
Seeing
that the voluptuous brunette was not with him, Angel’s scowl immediately
darkened. “Where’s Faith?”
“Probably
with your girlfriend, I woke up and she was gone.”
“What,
are you saying that a woman slipped by you!
Man that’s rich!” Gunn started to
laugh.
Spike
scowled had him, “Shut up.”
“What
do you mean? They’re not at the loft?” Angel barked
“I
just said that, didn’t I?” Spike barked
back.
Spike
was pissed off. He was worried sick about sending Faith into the pack of
wolves. Unlike Angel who had been
blissfully ignorant of all the dirty little secrets in Buffy’s past, Spike
didn’t have that luxury. He knew everything there was to know about Faith and
it scared the crap out of him that she was going anywhere near the Brotherhood
again.
“Damn
it. I told her to wait for me!”
“Angelus
the girl has a mind of her own. You seriously didn’t think she was going to
obey you did you?” Spike incredulously
asked.
Angel
looked at him like he had lost his mind.
That was exactly what he expected.
When he gave orders people listened it was just the way it was.
Spike
shook his head at him, “You have a lot to learn mate.”
“Do
you know where she went?” Fred asked.
Angel
started to pace.
“Knowing
her history, I would put my money on the mark’s mansion.” Spike said.
“Recon.”
Oz stated and Spike nodded.
“I
can’t believe she didn’t listen to me!”
Angel was still wrapped up in the fact that his orders were completely
ignored.
“I’m
not surprised.” Wes stated and Angel turned on him.
Wesley
swallowed, “She’s obviously used to working alone, Angel, and she did what she
always does…her job.” He shrugged his shoulders and Angel just stared at him.
“What’s
the big deal? It saves us time.” Gunn
interjected. Angel turned his black eyes
on Gunn and he put his hands up in the there, “I’m just saying.”
Just
then the doors swung open and Faith and Buffy strolled in, each one carrying a
frozen latte and smiling like they had just returned from a day at the beach.
“I
don’t know B, I think red is better. It just looks faster.”
“Red
is hot but too flashy. It’s like a beacon for cops.”
“That’s
true, you know I used to own a red one and I did get a lot of tickets with it.”
Buffy
smiled, ”See I told you.”
The
deathly silence of the room got their attention and they stopped and looked
over to see everyone staring at them. Fred, Gunn, Wes and Oz looked like they
were bracing themselves for the next apocalypse, and Spike and Angel looked
like they were ready to start it.
“Now
there is a shade of red that is definitely a beacon.” Faith commented looking
at Angel.
Buffy
braced herself for the explosion she knew was coming. But it wasn’t the loud ranting that she was
expecting instead it was eerily calm. “Didn’t I tell you to stay at the loft?”
She
could hear his teeth grinding together in his effort to control his temper; it
was like nails on chalkboard. “Yes.”
“Then
why didn’t you?”
If
this wasn’t such an important moment for the future of their relationship, both
as a couple and as a working team, she would have laughed at his facial
expression. Because he definitely looked like he was going to blow his top, but
they were in a way starting over and she would be damned if they did it on the
wrong foot…again.
“I couldn’t sleep so I went to the mansion to
do some recon.”
“Alone?”
He almost screamed it. But he didn’t. He said it low but with so much force
that his breath blew her hair around.
She
closed her eyes to the hot air breathing on her face, and she bite her cheek in an attempt to control her own anger. “No…I
went with Faith.”
“I told you to wait for me.”
“And
I told you to rest!” Spike bellowed at Faith.
Faith
rolled her eyes, “Rest! What am I two? God Spike, if you had your way I’d be
sleeping until this whole thing was over.”
“You’re
bloody right!” He stormed over to her,
“Do you forget what brought you to LA to begin with?”
Faith’s
eyes darkened to a stormy brown, “No.” She sneered.
“Then
why are you so anxious to put yourself in their reach again. Do you have a
death wish or something?”
Angel’s
dark gaze went from Buffy to Faith and Spike.
He wondered why Spike was so vehemently against sending Faith with
Buffy; he knew there had to be another reason one that stemmed from more than
just basic concern. There were too many
secrets going around for Angel’s taste, and in his experience secrets were what
killed a successful job.
“Is
there something I should know about?” he asked them angrily.
“Yes!”
“No!”
Angel
stared at both of them, “We’ll talk about this later.” Then he turned back to
Buffy. “Buffy I don’t like it when people disobey my orders.”
“I
can vouch for that.” Gunn said and Angel quickly looked at him silently telling
him to shut up.
“And
I don’t like it when people bark orders at me!”
Buffy responded, her own voice slightly higher
than it was before.
“I
told you to wait for a reason. Plans need to be made before you do anything!”
Buffy
was really starting to get steamed. “I’m
not stupid Angel. I know what needs to be done; I’ve done it a hundred times
before!”
“Then
you should have waited!”
They
were toe to toe, their eyes brilliantly sparkling with anger, staring at each
other. “Waited for what? We didn’t do
anything. I went to get an idea of the layout. Plus I had to look like I was
doing something because Grant would have reported back to Parker that I
wasn’t.”
She
had a point, but still there were things they needed to get straight. He moved closer to her and spoke with a
hushed tone. “Buffy, I don’t like you going out on your own. We’re supposed to
be doing this together.”
She
smiled at him, her hand automatically touching his arm, caressing it softly.
“We are baby. It’s just that I’m used to working on my own. I’m not used to
asking permission when it comes to pulling off a heist. It’s just the way I do
things.”
His
eyes darkened. “You are not alone on this Buffy. We have an entire team that is very
accessible and very capable of handling recon work. Next time let me handle it.”
Buffy
stared back at him, her own eyes darkening. “I can do my own recon work
Angel. Besides it’s me that’s going in
there not your team!”
“Are
you saying that you don’t trust my team?”
“No.
I don’t know your team. Look it’s not about them okay, it’s about me and the
way I do things that’s all!”
“Well
you better change your ways…because around here we do things as a team and I’m
the one that dishes out the orders.”
Buffy
took deep breaths trying to control her own anger. She didn’t like the way he was talking to
her, especially in front of his team. People she barely knew. She got even closer and lowered her voice. “I
don’t appreciate your tone Angel. I am not a dog for you tell when to sit or when
to play dead okay! I don’t take orders anymore…from anybody, I thought I made
that clear to you from the beginning!”
He
stared at her, her turbulent eyes telling him that he needed to get over
himself and real quick.
“Baby
I know that you’re worried but you have to trust my judgment and you have to
get over this I’m in Charge attitude, because I am not one of your lackeys. I’m
your equal and I’m just as capable of coming up with plans and making decisions
as you are.”
He
breathed out trying to calm down. His hands came up and he grasped her arms,
pulling her closer as his fingers lightly stroked her arms. “I’m sorry for
yelling at you. It’s just that I’m used to giving orders and having them be
obeyed without question.”
He
looked down at her face, God he could never stay angry with her for long. “I do
trust your judgment Buffy but you have to give me some flexibility here. You
can’t just run off and do things on your own.”
His
hand reached up and caressed her head. He pulled her to him and kissed her
forehead. “Baby I’m just thinking about your safety, I worry about you. If
something were to happen to you…I don’t know what I’d do.”
“Oh
that’s so cute.” Fred said and Angel blushed slightly, making Gunn chuckle.
Buffy
smiled at him, “I know Angel. I worry about you too. But we are both professionals. I know what
I’m doing. You don’t have to protect me.”
She
kissed him lightly on the lips. “It’s not going to be easy for either of us but
I think if we really want to stay together as a couple and work together as a
team, then we need to be more open minded to the other’s feelings.”
He
looked down into her beautiful face he took her hand in his and kissed her
palm. Once again she was right.
“Alright, I’ll do my best not to…bark orders at you.”
Buffy
smiled, “and I’ll do my best to sometimes obey you.”
Her
eyes twinkled with humor and Angel chuckled pulling her closer and hugging her.
“Yeah right.”
“Hey
do we have that option too? Because you know sometimes, I feel the need to
disobey.” Gunn asked, thinking of
Angel’s Harley that sat in the garage.
“I
think that right is reserved for blondes named Buffy.” Oz answered.
“I
can be blonde.”
Angel
looked over at them, smiling at their jokes, but his eyes were steely. “No.”
Gunn
looked at Oz. “Too bad.”
Oz
nodded, “Yeah I think you’d look good as a blonde.”
Fred
and Wesley giggled.
“That’s
just peachy. Now can we get down to business?” Spike said.
Angel
looked at Spike, “Good idea. Why don’t you start by telling me what’s going on
with you two.”
“Um…Angel,
is that really important? I mean, what does it have to do with anything?” Buffy
asked, she wanted to help keep her friend’s secret just that…a secret.
Angel
stepped away from Buffy, “Everything.” He looked back and forth between Buffy
and Faith as he spoke. “Look, you guys are part of the team now and there are
no secrets in this team. If there is something that involves Faith and the
Brotherhood that might happen to come up in the middle of all this, then I need
to know.”
Spike
went to interject but Faith stopped him. “No, he’s right. It’s okay.”
She
stood up and looked at Angel and the gang. “When I left
“Why?”
“Because
my boyfriend, Luke’s brother…died, and Luke suspected me.”
“Why
would he suspect you?” Fred asked.
Faith
smiled, “oh I don’t know…could be because I killed him.”
Angel
closed his eyes, great this was just what they needed more psycho bikers
looking for revenge.
“I
know what you’re thinking Angel and trust me you don’t have to worry about it.”
Faith said trying to reassure him.
Angel
didn’t know what to think. What could he say?
He was sure that the guy probably deserved whatever he got from
Faith. He also knew that he couldn’t
control everything or all the players involved in a scheme as deep as this one
was. He just had to hope that this
particular skeleton stayed in the closet.
He
opened his eyes to see everyone staring at him, waiting for his reaction. He looked at Faith. “I’d be lying if I said I
wasn’t worrying about it but if you’re not concerned then I’ll try not to be
too.” Looking at Spike he added;
“Besides I think Spike will be worrying enough for the both of us.”
Faith
smiled as she snuggled up against Spike, “I know he’s so sweet…my killer in
shining armor.” She kissed him loudly on
the lips and he blushed looking away from the gang.
“Stop
it luv, I have a rep to protect.” He
said making Faith chuckle.
“He’s
very bendable today.” Gunn said and Oz nodded.
“That’s
what love does.” Fred answered, feeling the love and romance in the air.
“Maybe now is my chance to renegotiate that
forbidden bike riding thing.” Gunn said looking at Oz.
Angel
looked back at Gunn. “And you’re being very bold. “
Gunn
chortled, “A man has to take his opportunities as he sees ‘em.”
Angel
nodded, “Fair enough.”
Gunn
smiled, seeing a door opening. “So, how about it?”
Angel’s
answer was quick and direct. “No.”
Gunn’s
smile faded as quickly as Angel slammed the door.