He's been sitting alone in his darkened office.brooding. Confronting Penn had done nothing to improve his gloomy disposition. There were too many memories, threatening to drown him, to drown the soul. Maybe there was a perfect misery clause to the curse too, he thinks wryly. Memories of the demons'.memories of family - shattered by the remembered look of disgust in Penn's grey eyes. Eyes that had once gazed at him in adoration, in love.no! Not him.at the demon. The demon kept locked inside for so long now, but still very much alive.

Startling him out of his dark reveries the phone rings once.twice.it's late - he should let the machine pick it up, but no, what if someone needed help now. And that's what he is there for.to help the hopeless, so he sighs and reaches over to the phone, picking up the receiver. "Hello.Angel Investigations." He tries to sound pleasant. The voice on the other end of the line slices through him like a knife,

"Then this must be Angel."

"Penn." He breathes the name that has been on his mind for days.

A harsh sound, almost a laugh, "Ahh...you remember my name - how touching, since you've forgotten so much else."

Suppressing his anger, "I haven't forgotten your name... What do you want, Childe?"

Angel can almost feel the sneer through the hard plastic held to his ear, "Well since you'd forgotten your favored Childe so quickly, I could only assume that the rest of us weren't far behind. And although you speak the word so easily, you don't even know what it means anymore, do you?"

Angel is tired, his control slipping, "What the hell are you talking about? Your presence is rather fresh in my mind, and Spike? I haven't had the pleasure of forgetting him, either."

An answering growl, "Not Spike ... William ... Will ... Pup...Our boy .the one you promised me you would take care of always!"

Angel sighs, deflated, "That's not who he is now..."

The tone of accusation is like a blow, "How closely did you look, fool? Because from where I'm sitting...I see Will."

The demon inside Angel is listening.he can feel it, just hearing Penn's voice gives the demon some sort of hold he hasn't had in a long time. That can't happen, so the soul responds curtly, "Listen, I don't have time for your cryptic nonsense... Why don't you get to the point? You're out trying to kill Spike, or fuck him? Does any of this pertain to me?"

There is a very long pause before Penn responds, "Who the fuck are you? Who are you that you would think for an instant that I would harm my brother?" No answer to that, Angel's response had been an unthinking reaction, but no way to take back those words now. Penn continues, his voice barely controlled, "And what need is there to try and kill him?. You had almost finished the job yourself. You might be sorry to hear that he would be dead now if not for me. Does that make you happy? Sad? Tell me, what does the soul feel?"

Suspicion tinges Angel's words, "What's that supposed to mean?"

Penn doesn't seem to hear, "Remember those hands? Hands that caressed us both? The hands of the Childe you created and taught? Those hands all over your body.does the soul remember? Does the demon inside you whisper in your head during the long days to remind you what it was to hunt with your boy, to love him? Or does the soul stop your ears?"

Irritation at this presumption bubbles up in Angel, "You don't know a damned thing about my soul. What the hell are you talking about?"

The answer is unexpectedly quiet; "I'm talking about his hands. What his hands were doing when I found him. If you remember at all, you remember strong hands, long fingers.but I saw claws, tendons stretched across bone, holding a splintered piece of wood to his own chest."

Angel's voice is barely a whisper, "Stop it."

Penn doesn't even hesitate, "Ahh.it would have been so quick for him. His skin was paper-thin, bones just as brittle.there wasn't much to stop him."

Panic and denial flood through Angel's body, "NO! You're lying.don't lie to me.not about this!"

A harsh laugh, "What does it matter? He was almost dead already. Those lips that once worshipped your body, were parched from starvation. He hadn't fed in weeks, and it's been months since he's had human blood."

Shaking his head, trying to block the ugly pictures Penn is painting with his words, "No. No, it's not possible.someone would have told me. They would have told me he was hurting.you're lying!"

Penn's outrage is palpable, "Who? Your pet humans!!?"

Desperate to believe, "My friends, yes."

Bitterness seeping through the phone line, "Oh, they took care of him. Let me tell you how. They chained him or tied him up in their homes. Fed him PIGS BLOOD, when they felt like feeding him at all. And finally, when they were convinced that he was too weak to do them any harm, they turned him out. Your 'friends'. that soul of yours is not the best judge of character, is it?"

~~The demon is no longer listening, it is screaming.~~

"YOU LIE! You're lying to me, Gods help you - I will hunt you down and dust you myself for lying to me... for putting me through this "

The calmness of Penn's reply hits him like a fist, "No. There is some part of you that knows that I would never lie to you about this.about family. The soul may not care that I found our boy broken and alone.but I need you to know. You were selfish before the soul, but now. 'putting you through this'? Take a moment and imagine what he's gone through. A Master vampire of the line of Aurelius reduced to relying on filthy human scum who treat him like a rabid dog. Surviving merely on their whim. That is what you left him to."

Logic, there must be a way for this to make sense, "Damn you, Penn! You can't put me through this - you can't tell me that I wouldn't have been contacted if he was hurt..." his voice trails off, even he can't believe what he is saying, and obviously, neither does Penn.

"And when exactly did you ask about him? Inquire after our boy often did you?"

This is wrong, this isn't working. If Penn is right.and Penn wouldn't lie - Angel knows this, "Where is he? I need to speak with him. I need to hear this from him."

Power in the voice that responds, "He doesn't want to speak with you...and I won't let you touch him...see him...speak with him...If I could wipe you from his memory I would."

The souled voice of reason, "Listen, I've had plenty of opportunity to hurt him, and I never have - now put him on the phone... I just need to hear this from him."

Insolent laughter, "And what of your opportunity to help him? What of that, Angelus? Sins of omission. You left him."

No denial, almost a plea, "Just let me talk to him.hear his voice.I need to know."

Penn's voice is heavy with anger, "NO! You talk to me now."

Angel is furious, and he knows the demon within should be laughing at him, but the demon is just as desperate.for once, they agree. "WHY?!! Why would you call me, and lay all of this shit on me and then deny me the opportunity to confirm all of this with him? Tell me that!"

Penn's voice is low and deadly, Angel can almost sense those steel eyes bearing down on him, "Because I want you to know what you've done...what your inaction has brought him to...this bag of bones, pleading for death. It may as well have been by your own hands. You want guilt? Then let your putrid soul embrace this. And know that you will never have a chance to make this right. I WANT YOU TO KNOW!"

Not trusting himself to speak, Angel remains quiet.trying to calm the tempest raging inside him. Penn wants him to know? Fine. "Why hasn't he been feeding, Penn? You need to tell me. I know you won't lie... please tell me... I need to know..."

"Humans." The word is spat out with such venom, "He was captured by human soldiers. He was caged.drugged." Penn's voice trails off.tight with emotion.

"When.why?" Angel presses for more.

A heavy sigh, "Shortly after you abandoned the Hellmouth. There were doctors. They.They performed experiments on him. They cut my boy open, and they put some sort of microchip in his brain. He can no longer feed from nor defend himself from humans."

Silence. Finally, Angel speaks, "No one told me. No one said a word."

He can hear the rage in Penn's voice, betraying his otherwise calm words, "Interesting ...considering one of these humans is your Slayers current beau. Your humans knew about all of this. They found out after it had been done.but they knew and never said a word to you."

The questions unspoken fly through Angel's head 'How could they have not told me? The watcher would have called! My boy.tortured by humans.chained?!! Gods this wasn't possible!'

The demon slips through a crack, if just for a moment, "Put him on the phone, Penn... Do this NOW Childe!" Angel pulls back control, "Penn, I must speak with him... you have to put him on the phone."

The answering snarl is not what he expects, "Save your commands, Angel....I am no longer your Childe...and neither is Will. I trusted you to care for him, and you threw him aside like so much trash. You don't give the orders anymore. If anyone has that right, it's me. Since you are incapable or unwilling to head this family - I will assume the reins."

The demon laughs as Angel's ego speaks for him, "You will ALWAYS belong to me!! Don't you dare try to usurp my authority with him!"

The demon's laughter is joined by Penn's, "That's almost funny...what position is it exactly that you think you have with him? It is my blood that flows through him...my love keeping him alive. Whatever it is you are now...it is not our Sire. You are....nothing."

Feeling foolish for having tried that tack, desperation tinges Angel's voice, "Where are you? Tell me, Penn."

No snarl now, only sorrow, "I'm in a room...watching my sweet boy sleep...seeing the bones standing out from his skin."

Hope, there is always hope, "You're still on the Hellmouth, aren't you?"

White hot rage in that voice now, "Don't you dare come here....I WILL KILL YOU IF YOU COME NEAR HIM. He is under MY protection! Your soul cannot touch him!"

'How dare he?' Angel thinks, letting his ego loose to play again while the caged demon snickers, "Do not stand in my way, Childe! I am much more powerful than you, and I would hate to be forced into destroying you." Regretting the words as they leave his lips.

Penn's voice, the voice of the predator, unafraid, and in control, "Once upon a time, perhaps.but not now. You're practically human! When was the last time you fed properly? Of course you would try to kill me...wouldn't you? What's one more family member slain by your hand?"

Irked by the truth of Penn's words, Angel tries to bluster on, "That's of no concern to you, obviously. However, Spike belongs to me - he was raised correctly, and I'll see to it that he's cared for."

A snort of laughter, Penn hasn't bought the line either, "You would try to quote lore at me when you have slain your own Sire? Abandoned your kin? Will you see to his care like you have in the past hundred years? I don't think so."

The demon is wild with wrath now, not directed at Penn, but at the soul, and Angel shivers involuntarily, "You haven't any idea what you're provoking, do you Penn?"

Hurt mingles with rage in Penn's voice, "Fuck you! You LEFT HIM! You don't get to come back now! Why didn't you call me home when you left? He doesn't belong to you...he's MINE Gods, I trusted you to care for him. You vowed. You said he would always be with you. It's the only reason I could bear to leave..without him. He would have come with me, Angelus...he wanted to."

Almost a whisper, "I know."

"I should have just taken him with me.made him go."

Angel speaks, as if repeating someone else's words, "But his pull to be at his Sire's side overrode that, didn't it?"

Bitterness, "But he understood the rules better than you, Angelus.you bastard."

A flicker of belief, "Then he still does."

The accusation is there like a blade in Penn's retort, "Not any longer Things change.....I believe you told me that yourself. My hands stopped him....my body held him...my blood saved him. Where were you?"

Broad shoulders slump, "I didn't know."

His guilt, or Penn's voice speaks, "Didn't care!"

Hot denial, "Not true!"

His blame is given voice by his eldest Childe's; "You don't care now...just want to soothe some of that guilt...well I won't let you. And stop talking about what you've gone through....you were always this selfish. It's not about you...it's about what he needs. And that is me."

The demon sneers at the human entreaty on his captor's lips, "Penn... I'm begging you - let me speak with him... I just need to clarify a few things. Trust this, I will seek vengeance on his behalf!"

The heir apparent is not amused, "That's my job now....you abdicated...I will take revenge where it is needed!"

Angel can forget his current life for a moment, can't he? Slip back into the old role, or try to, "You don't need to step in for me - I will visit retribution on whoever did this to my boy!"

Reality cuts into his dream in Penn's voice, "He was almost dead....I DID NEED TO STEP IN FOR YOU!!! It's too late for you now. He doesn't want or need your soul. You should see his face when he talks about you...gods...I think he hates you more than I do!"

Dread fills him at those words. Dread at their effect on the war being raged inside him, perfect dread that it just may be the truth, "You're crossing lines, Penn. You should know better. No more of this..."

Penn does not understand the delicate balance he toys with, "You denied him everything...I deny him nothing. Live with that!"

The decision is made, there really wasn't a choice now, was there? "I'm on my way..."

Anger, incredulous, "You wouldn't dare!"

Click

*****
Part 6:

"Gem."

Penn spins around, still holding his cell phone, "Pup!"

"Gem.I heard.ya know I heard."

Penn sits down next to his lover on the bed, "I know, Will. Gods, that is one confused creature! He actually thinks he's going to come here and 'fix' everything."

Spike leans up on one arm, "He will come, Gem.this one's not so diff'rent from our Sire.sure we can 'andle him?"

The older man laughs out loud, "Will.that creature's been surviving on less human blood in the past hundred years than you have! I really don't think it's going to be much of a showdown."

Will casts his eyes to the dingy carpet at his feet. "Right then, so we wait for the poof to come 'round, swingin' 'is batcape an' tryin ta save the world..."

Penn tilts his head thoughtfully, "William, do you just not want to face Him? I can arrange for us to travel straight away, but we will be forced to confront Him at some point. Then there's the added complication of your condition "

Blue eyes travel the length of the tightly muscled form sitting beside him, "Feels odd, ya' know."

"What's that, then?" Penn questions, brows knitted together in concern.

"Been about on me own fer so long, jes. Nevermind. s'not important." His fingers absently pick at the blanket, knotting up little balls and plucking them off.

"Pup, there's nothing you can't confide in me. You know this." A reassuring hand is placed on William's shoulder.

"It's just. I'm alone, no one gives one soddin' wit as to what I'm doin'. everyone leaves me. I couldn't find you. ya know that? I looked. Sire never told me where you were. He caught me tryin' ta sneak off to be with you. spent three days in bed lickin' me wounds after that lil' adventure. so yeah. when He left. Darla was called to the Master - It was jes me an' Dru. An' you know what 'appened there. So I don't know where you are. Don't reckon I'll be seein' ya again. No Dru, No Sire. Darla. bloody hell, Darla. No one. Then, out of nowhere, there you are. An' fuck me if I don't wanna just crawl into a hole an' wrap me'self around you, never let you go. Just like no time passed, you make it all go away. Then 'ere comes Sire. gonna 'fix' things. Big effin' ponce that 'e is. Now He wants to come make everythin' alright. Why? Why now? Why, when I 'ave the only thin' I need. That I've ever needed, ever wanted. Why's He comin' to bugger everythin' up?"

Penn looks into the eyes of his lover, "I don't know, William. I honestly don't know. I won't hazard to guess his motives. For the most part, if I were pressed to figure him out, I'd guess it was his ego, more than anything. Maybe to assuage his guilt over allowing harm to come to you, though that doesn't make very much sense, since he's had plenty of opportunity to see to your care. So maybe it's simply his over inflated ego. his elevated sense of self importance. Maybe Sire's not lingering that far beneath the surface after all."

Laughing, William tilts his head towards Penn, striking an obvious Angelus smirk, "MINE! Ye' belong ta me!"

An amused grin spreads across Penn's face "Yeah. Grrr. Don't bite me Sire. please."

"Wantin' a bit o' the lash? Wouldn't mind schoolin' ye lad." No longer able to carry on, William bursts into laughter, falling back against the bed. "I'm a big scary vampire. I've Sired William the Bloody, Penn the Engraver, an' Drusilla the Wicked Nutter Princess. Fear me. I used to be the Scourge of Europe."

Penn flings himself back next to William on the bed, laughing loudly, "Oh, you are such an insolent thing."

"An' you.. Are a bit of alright." Propping his head up on his hand, scanning the well-muscled chest, lingering on the full lips and resting on the grey eyes.

"Is that so, Pup? Do elaborate." Penn licks his lips and waits casually for William's response.

"First things first, let's start with getting' rid o' this," His hand loops to unhook the slacks and unzips them, Penn's hips lift to assist in easing the garment down his legs, then lying him back gently against the mattress "There now. Always goin' on about me bein' a work o' art. Soddin' Hell, Gem. You're a bleedin' masterpiece." Penn swallows hard, pulls his bottom lip into his mouth, and looks up at his boy. "That's right, Pet. supple skin, always smellin' like cedar an' spice. long and smooth, you move like a bloody cat. Your lips. the death of me, they are. crimson when you're aroused. Love to slip inside them, love to suck on them. Love to make them mine."

William leans over to place a soft kiss on Penn's lips. and then pulls back "Perfect. Broad shoulders. sculpted chest. pink nipples." He leans in again, dragging his tongue across Penn's chest, sucking hard on the pink nubs of flesh, once again leaning back. "The swell of each muscle on your stomach stands out. the narrowin' of yer waist, over the bones a' your hips, down to a patch a' thick dark curls, an' then." William moves down the bed, spreading Penn's thighs apart, and placing his tongue on the silken sac, hungrily sucking them into his mouth, rolling them around, licking hard against the space where the hair and flesh meet. Releasing the heated skin, he props himself up on his elbows between Penn's thighs, the immense grey eyes peering down at him in amazement.

"Pup." "Not done yet, Gem. turn over." Penn complies with the request, as he places his chest to the mattress beneath him. "Mmm, now there's a sight." Two hands trail over the backs of his thighs, "Anyone ever told you that you 'ave the legs of a God? Sure, you could sit on Mt. Olympus, fit right in there. But this. Perfect round arse. You know that already, don't you. You know exactly how shaggable you are. Trottin' about like it's merely an accident of birth ya' weren't born an aristocrat. Bloody gorgeous, you are. But I get to watch you break, get to see yer eyes close, an' yer body tremble, watch yer face as you come. An it's all for me."

"Yes, William. God's. touch me.it's all for you." Penn's voice, heavy with lust, his hips pressing forward into the mattress.

"That's right, Gem. do it again, wanna watch you flex." Again, his hips press forward, the muscles in his backside flexing beneath the skin. "Ahh, yeah. now that's perfect. Can picture what it looks like when you fuck me."

"Are you going to fuck me, William?" A slick finger is pressed into his hole "Williammmm. where'd you get that??!"

"Hmm? Oh. the oil? Had it in me things, left it next to the bed."

"You never moved, Pup."

"Magic Vampire stuff, luv. Ya wouldn't understand."

Laughing beneath him, "Little Prince, you're a right nut."

"Yeah. reckon I am. all those years with Dru may've done me in a bit. I'll look into it, that is. when I'm done buggerin' you senseless."

"Hmm. bugger away, my boy."

"Right then, stop interruptin' me."

"As you wish."

A hard slap against Penn's rear "Didn't I tell you to stop interruptin' me, I'm tryin' ta set a mood 'ere, an' yer effin the whole thing up."

"Mmm."

"That's right, you moan, that's okay."

The finger works its' way deeper into the constricted channel, pausing slightly against the sensitive prostate, and brushing against it. The moans beneath him become more pronounced, hips flexing forward, giving him the show he's been begging for. "Know what I want." "Hmm?" "You. Know. What. I. Want."

Penn rises to his knees, spreading them far apart, exposing his heavy sac "Yeah, pet. That's what I want." The finger presses deeper into Penn, as another set of strong digits enclose his silken flesh, kneading and pulling. The gasp from the darker man heightens William's arousal; he pulls his finger from Penn, and begins stroking his own hardness. "Bugger me, Gem. Nothin' gets me nut like yer moans." "Please, William." "Yeah, love. Right here. give me a mo'." Penn's own hand moves to his aching shaft, and he begins stroking, and moving his hips with want.

"Bloody Hell. Can't wait." Will presses his shaft to the puckered entrance "To be." pushing forward past the clutching tightness "Inside. aaahhh.you." Penn bites down on his bottom lip, and continues pulling at his hardness. William places both hands on Penn's backside, pulling the globes apart so he can view himself slipping in and out as he jets forward with quick sharp thrusts, each one landing against the swollen gland buried inside. The slaps of thighs together, his sac swings against Penn's, "Love. You. Love. You. So. Bloody. Much. Love. You. Love. To. Fuck. You. Love. You." Each word disrupted by jagged pumps against the rendered hole. "Oh Gods, William.Gods. So. Good"

William drapes his body over Penn, "Kiss you. need." Penn turns his head painfully to the side, William tries desperately to capture his lips, only able to reach them briefly between thrusts. "Am I tight enough for you, Pup." A whimpering, and another attempt to kiss him answers his question "Kiss you. so tight.. Kiss you" Penn's tongue travels out to meet with Williams. "Can't. reach. you. Fuck! Need you. your lips. need them" Penn slides forward, allowing the throbbing shaft to slip from him, and quickly shifts to his back, looking up at blazing blue eyes boring into him. "Inside, now." Quickly, William moves himself into the tightness, sheathing his cock to the root. His hands slip beneath Penn's knees as he pulls them over his shoulders, his voice hoarse and low with need, "Mmm. open for me. Kiss you"

"Kiss me, Pup. come down here." Lips crush together, tongues desperately caressing, hips thrusting violently, moaning into each others mouths. William pulls back slightly, eye to eye with his Penn, "Love you. gonna come. come with me." "Kiss me.", Penn begs. "Yeah." Again their lips meet, Penn's hand moves to his own cock, and he begins pumping frantically at the weeping member.

"Now. Now." William cries into the open mouth beneath him. The orgasm is blinding and obliterating, mindlessly thrusting, pulling, hammering, thrashing, ripped from their bodies. They sink together, Penn's legs falling from his shoulders, William placing soft kisses on those beautiful full lips. His body moves down, lower as he trails his tongue through the puddle of cool wetness on Penn's abdomen, lapping at the thick fluid, rolling it around on his tongue, keeping it in his mouth, and moving down further, pressing Penn's thighs apart, his own seed collected there. His tongue sneaks out, dipping inside the tender hole, tasting the familiar flavor of them, blending the liquids together, Penn's sighs above him. His finger now, slipping in. coating it, removing it. the arm outstretched, reaching for Penn's lips, then gentle sucking, subsiding to soft kisses at his finger tips. Finally, sated, Will crawls back up the length of Penn's body, collapsing in waiting arms, pulling him close in a fierce embrace. No words, just lips moving in his hair, both content to let sleep take them together.

---------------------------------------------------

Two pairs of startled eyes look up as the tall form strides into the room, shock slips from apprehension into fear as they see the rage on his face. The blonde is the first to react, "Angel??" dread clear in the question, "Angelus?"

If it were possible, his countenance darkens further, "You will both wish to God that I was Angelus if I don't think you answer me truthfully."

The blonde stands, assuming a defensive stance, "What the hell is this about, Angel? You just burst into Giles' home and start threatening us?"

"Yes.er.Angel. You, ah, obviously know you are welcome here, but your entrance was a bit unseemly." The Watcher speaks hesitantly, watching the dark man with apprehension.

Suddenly the dark demon is across the room, one hand pulling the Englishman up by his ever-present tweed coat, "What have you done with Will?" the question spoken through clenched teeth.

Buffy rushes to her Watcher's side, looking from one man to the other in consternation, "Angel? Who's Will?"

She is silenced by a look from Giles who begins to speak, "Will is William." Still no recognition from Buffy, but Giles understands a little too well, and too belatedly, "William the Bloody.Spike." Angel growls softly and pushes the Watcher back into his chair, grimly waiting for more.

A frown causes creases in her forehead, "Okaaay. Angel's wiggin over Spike.why?"

Giles lets go a heavy sigh, "I suspect, and you can correct me here Angel if I'm wrong, I suspect that Angel is concerned over Spike's current, ah.condition."

Buffy laughs, "The Fangless Wonder? Yeah.de-chipped and still obnoxious enough for me to want to stake his undead ass." Her light mood vanishes as Angel turns on her.

"You would be dead right now except for the love I once had for you, but my patience is being worn very thin. Sit down now, and keep your mouth shut."

Stunned into silence, Buffy abruptly sits on the couch, looking once at Giles, astonished to see him nod to her to acquiesce to Angel.

The dark demon's attention is turned back to the Watcher, "You held him prisoner." It is not a question, and the Englishman knows better than to speak. "You fed him animal's blood." He is pacing the room, escalating anger barely contained. "You abandoned him to starve at your whims." Ceasing his movement he towers over the two, "You never once saw fit to mention any of this to me?"

Before Giles can muster and answer, Buffy squeaks, "Why would you care?" She takes in the angered looks on Angel's face, "What? He's a demon.he's evil!"

Both humans shudder as the demon comes to the fore, eyes flashing citrine and fangs glistening and he roars at them, "HE'S MY CHILDE!"

Giles just blinks at the vampire, there really isn't much he can do or say that won't anger the man.demon further. He can just hope that Buffy won't speak again. Just hope his charge has enough sense.

"Cut it out, Angel!" Her former lover turns his glowing eyes on her, but she keeps speaking, "I think you're over reacting a bit here. I mean, Spike isn't really your kid, he's more just Angelus' kid. Childe, whatever. You leave me - the former love of your undead life - alone on the Hellmouth, but Spike's in trouble and you ride in on the white horse? Geez, you didn't get this upset when you dusted Darla! And it's not like Spike's dead.he's just.neutered."

Before Giles' can speak, Angel's hands are wrapped around Buffy's throat, hauling her struggling form off of the couch. "I didn't choose Darla.she chose me. You silly little girl! I chose Will over a hundred years before you were even conceived! Chose him as my mate, as my companion. And I chose him for eternity!" A baleful glare cast at the Watcher; "You've never taught her a damn thing about the Childe/Sire relationship, have you?" Not waiting for an answer he turns back to the gasping blonde, "You don't have a damn clue, do you, Slayer?"

He releases her and she shrinks back onto the couch away from him, rubbing her throat. "Apparently not." She shoots a look at her Watcher, "Seems nobody told me.hey! Not even you!" Her eyes back on Angel. "Oh!" Her eyes grow wide with sudden understanding, "You mean.you and Spike.you and he.you used to."

Giles prays silently to all the deities he can think of, to silence his charge. They do not answer.

She is on her feet now, shrieking at the large man, "You had sex with Spike?!! That's disgus - " Her rant is cut off by a sharp crack from Angel's fist. Silent at last, she slumps to the floor.

Stunned, the Watcher stares at Angel as his face shimmers back to its' human planes, "Did you - is she?"

"She's breathing." Angel answers his unspoken question curtly. "You care for her."

Angered, Giles responds hotly, "You know I do!"

Sighing Angel sits heavily on the couch, "Then how could you think I wouldn't care what was happening to my boy?"

Sparing a glance at his Slayer, Giles returns his focus to Angel, trying to answer truthfully, "I honestly didn't think that you.er.the soul really had any attachment to Spi" that glare again, "I mean William. Angel.you never asked about him. Please be fair about this."

"Fair?" There was a threatening growl in the demon's voice, "Was it fair to chain him up? You knew he was helpless!"

Giles snorts, "Helpess? Not that one. He might not have been able to attack us physically, but he was still capable of quite a bit of mischief."

"You don't speak about him in that tone, Watcher. Not ever." The Englishman realizes just how precarious his position is. "You of all people should have known better. I can understand ignorance in that one." A dismissive wave at Buffy's inert form. "But you know you should have told me. And all those times you called me, for information.for assistance. Not once did you mention his situation."

Rising to his feet, the dark man speaks low and firm, "Don't ever presume on our past again, Rupert. Don't try to reach me, and don't you dare cross me." One emotionless glance at the girl that had once been his lover, finally stirring on the floor, "And Watcher.not teaching her what we really are is a very dangerous mistake. Like all the others, this one will die young."

With those ominous words he is gone.hunting.

*****