Angel slowly stretched his arms above his head. It was only a little after midnight, and the hotel was quiet. Dawn and Spike had retired to their room, saying something about playing a game. He didn�t know what to make of his childe�s relationship with Dawn. He knew that Spike had strong protector instincts, he�d seen it time and time again with Drusilla. He just never thought that they would apply to a human.

And there was a tension there. Sometimes it was so thick Angel could smell it, taste it. It harkened to his darker urges. An almost forgotten scent that brought back the old times, making Angelus sit back inside his body, inhale and grin in remembrance, while Angel�s soul tried to repress.

Faith had gone to shower. She had trained for four hours, pushing herself to limits. She told him it was to prepare herself after being lazy for so long. Angel suspected that she was trying to work herself into a state of exhaustion to keep herself from thinking. He had used that technique often enough to know it didn�t work. He would go check on her later to make sure that she was ok.

Yeah, that was why he was going to go see her. Out of friendly concern. Wesley and the rest of them had left for Sunnydale shortly after breakfast. Wesley was eager to get out of town, and Gunn was anxious to see what a Hellmouth was like. Cordy seemed to be glad to get a paid vacation. Angel knew that the Scoobies could handle themselves, even without Buffy, but it wouldn�t hurt to have the Fang Gang�s assistance for a little while.

He had instructed Gunn to place some flowers on Buffy�s grave for him. He mourned the death of the Slayer and his former love. But it didn�t consume him the way leaving her had. Somehow, her death released him from the pain that had begun to feel as much a part of him as Angelus.

In ways, he was relieved for Buffy�s sake. She had worked hard for the good fight. Now she could rest. In death, she could be a normal girl. Find some peace, something life had always denied her.

He trudged up the stairs to Faith�s room, hesitating only a moment before he knocked. Maybe they could make coffee and talk. She still hadn�t told him what Lorne had said. Or they could watch a movie and not talk. Just enjoy companionable silence between friends.

�Faith? How�s it going?� He pushed her door open when she didn�t answer. She couldn�t still be in the shower, he would be able to hear the water running. Maybe she was taking a bath? Or getting dressed?

His body tightened in response to his thoughts. He pictured himself entering the steamy room. Her hair damp and clinging to the back rim of the tub. She�d ask him to wash her back. He�d remove his shirt so it wouldn�t get wet. He�d run his hands over her slick skin . . .He shook his head. He couldn�t entertain those thoughts. He had to focus on helping her, being there for her. Not seducing her, being on top of her . . .Bad Angel! He walked into her bedroom. The room was dark and chilly. The bathroom door was wide open. Nobody home. He turned to the source of the chill. The window was open. Faith was gone.

Dawn carefully stuffed the last items into her bookbag, looking nervously over her shoulder to where Spike was standing looking out the window and smoking a cigarette. �Ok, I�m ready.�

Spike continued to stare out the window, his attention caught by something moving in the shadows. As he watched, Faith turned into a back alley and disappeared. Well, that should upset Peaches. Hope she doesn�t kill anybody, wind up in the clink again. She was growing on me. Dawn called his name softly, bringing his attention back to the misadventure at hand.

�What�cha got in the bag, bit? We�re going for a little grand theft auto, not a slumber party.�

�Stuff.�

�Well, that was descriptive.�

�You�re on a need to know basis and you don�t need to know.�

�Nibblet.� His voice held a tone of warning.

�You wanna know what�s in the bag?� Dawn rolled her eyes. She tossed it to him, Spike was about to delve inside -- his curiosity was peaked. �I just needed some female items and I was trying to be discrete.�

Spike stopped, cigarette dangling in his mouth. �Female items you say, bit?� He handed it back to her as if the bag contained potpourri, Christmas ornaments, and other things a demon didn�t want to touch. �You can have that right back.�

�You�re embarrassed.� She grinned wickedly.

�Am not.�

�Are two.�

�Am not.� He held out his hands again, demonly honor was at stake. �Lay it on me, bit. Whatcha got in there? Pink boxes with silly chits runnin� in fields of daisies? I can take it! Let me see.�

�No. You�d probably faint.�

�I do not faint!� His voice had graduated to a full blown yell.

�Are you trying to bring Angel up here?�

�No.� He hissed.

�Fine. Then don�t worry about it, it�s just menstruation.�

�Don�t say that word!�

�Menstruation?�

�Bloody Hell.�

� There�s nothing to be upset about, Spike.�

�Nothin� to be upset about.� Spike muttered, sliding out the window, Dawn in tow. �Like havin� my hands full of tampons and lipstick happens everyday. Menstruation, my bum.� No wonder Darla and Drusilla were so thrilled to be vampires when it came to that aspect. Damned if he wanted to talk about it though. When he was alive couldn�t� imagine a lady of his acquaintance speaking about such things. And he wasn�t her bleedin� girlfriend. He was a demon. A manly demon. High time she treated him as such.

�Did you say something?�

�No.�

�Spike? Dawn?� Angel knocked on the door. �You in here?� So help him, if he found them in a compromising position. . .well, �Spike� would have to find a new nickname. �I�m coming in!�

He quickly opened the door to find -- an open window. Angel let out a small sigh of disgust. It wasn�t enough that they wanted to go off without him, they had to sneak out behind his back.

There was only one solution. He�d have to go on a search. Angel exited the room and grabbed his coat off a chair in the hallway. He slipped it on and thought lovingly about his car. There was something about driving the big machine that relaxed him. Made him feel powerful and in control. He imagined sitting on the leather seats, sliding his hand along the smooth dash, or tuning the radio to his favorite classical music station. Yes, everything would be alright. Angel pulled open the door of his garage. All he found was a minuscule pool of oil. His face darkened.

�Dammit!� His eyes drifted the Wesley�s scooter which occupied one corner. �Least I don�t have to wear that pink helmet again.�

Faith tossed back the rest of her Corona and put the lime in her mouth. She set it back on the table and made her way to the center of the dance floor. She hadn�t done this in so long. She let the beat of the music seep in her ears and enter her mind. It felt so good, to move along with the force of the music. She let her body go, moving in time to the music. The only other time she felt like this was when she was slaying. It only happened with a routine pack of vamps or something else that was of the ordinary. She loved it, becoming a force of nature. Not in control of her own body.

�Hey,� A smarmy voice said. Just like that her mindless dance was obliterated. �Hey.� She said, turning her back on him. �What�s your name?�

She whirled around, her hair resembled a black cloud. �Look, buddy, I don�t feel like company right now. So you can leave me alone?�

�Sure thing.� He said, backing away. Faith grinned as she let the beat dictate her movements once more.

�So, how does it feel to be bad, bit?� Spike ran his hand along the top of his car door as they sped through the darkened streets. He waited for her to gush and thank him for taking her along. He knew she had an ornery side, he was beginning to think she may have a wild side as well.

�Kay, I guess.� Dawn feigned disinterest as she sat next to him, looking at the store fronts as they whizzed by.

�What?�

�Can we go to a club?�

�Uh, I�m a bit old for those dance clubs you can get into.� He imagined a throng of teenagers writhing to a boy band and shuddered.

�What about the ones you go to?�

Spike cast her a sidelong glance. �Ask away, bit, I know you�re dying to.�

�I want to go to a club, Spike. Please? Can we?�

�No. You�re a young girl, you should be in places like that.�

�And you should?�

�I�m a demon, I�m already corrupted.�

�I know.� She grinned. �But you sound like Angel.� He glared at her . �What? You do. You sound exactly like him.� She looked thoughtful. �Though you�re probably saying that cuz you don�t think you can get me in.�

�I could get you in anywhere if I�ve a mind to.� Spike said indignantly. �What club are you thinking of? I�m not taking you to strip club.�

Dawn�s eyes rounded. �You mean with naked men?�

Spike burst out laughing. �Plenty of those in L.A., I imagine. I was speaking of lady ones though.� She gave him a dirty look. �I�ve never been to one with male strippers, but why don�t you ask Angel to recommend one to you.�

She laughed a little, not sure if he was kidding. �Oh! How about that one?�

Dawn pointed and Spike pulled over and into the parking lot. Her eyes were glinting with excitement. Dammit, she�d played him again. He was wrapped around her fingers.

�Listen to me, platelet. The only way we�re going in is if you do everything I tell you, no questions.� He reached over and took her chin in his hand. �Understand?�

�Completely.� She breathed, mesmerized by his face. �Whatever you say.�

His eyes began to burn with intensity. �Are you sure you should be making that kind of promise to me?�

�I trust you.� She nodded, waiting for him to shake off the spell, go back to being her protector. Her babysitter.

His eyes didn�t change. Abruptly he grabbed her hand and dragged her out of the car. He held her gaze for a second more before he turned and dragged her towards the club. �Good.� Was his only reply.

The bouncer gave them the once over. He was a broad young man, wearing the quintessential baggy pants, wife-beater tank top, and baseball cap. �I.D.�

�Sorry mate. Ain�t got any.� He pulled Dawn close to him, nuzzling her neck in an unconcerned way as if he were much more interested in the brunette at his side than the man standing in his way.

�Then get lost.� The bouncer crossed his beefy arms over his chest.

Spike stepped closer to him, putting Dawn behind him. Then he flashed his demon face. �Are you sure you want to piss me off, mate?�

The bouncer shifted his hat a little to reveal two small red horns. �Not impressed.�

Spike scowled and glanced back at Dawn who gave him a wide-eyed look. He released her hand. �I left my smokes in the car, luv. Be a good girl and go get them for me, would you?�

She shrugged and headed back to the car to get them. Spike reached into his wallet and pulled out a fifty dollar bill. He quickly handed it to the bouncer who graciously stepped out of the way.

�I didn�t see them, Spike. Did you check your coat pocket?�

�Right you are, pet. They were right here the whole time.� He held his arm out to her. �Ready to have some fun?�

She looked at him suspiciously, but accepted his arm and walked into the club, her bookbag, almost forgotten in the Angelmobile, in tow.

Angel swerved suddenly as a pink convertible pulled dangerously close to him at the stop light. �Hey stranger, you looking for a party?� It was a car full of young men.

�I kinda have one.� Angel shrugged, confused.

�It�s dangerous to be traveling in one of those.�

Another of them offered. �Why don�t you come with us?�

�Yeah, we can put your . . .moped in the back end.�

�Among other things.� One of them snickered under his breath.

Angel thought it over. He really hated Wesley�s moped. And he really loved convertibles. Maybe they could help him. �Hey, do you know of any clubs or bars . . .that someone like me . . .would go . . .�

�I told you he was one!� The guy in the back seat shouted. �Just look at his coat!�

�You . . .know what I am?� He knew there were a lot of vampires in L.A. but he never thought the general population was so aware.

�So, what do you say, handsome, are you coming with us? I know just where to go.�

Angel shrugged. Why not. He could get around faster. And he wouldn�t have to pay Wesley for the gas money. �Sure.�

They pulled over to the side and put the moped in the trunk, securing it with a length of rope. �So where were you headed, honey?� These guys were awfully friendly and . . .happy.

He hoped they weren�t taking drugs. Vampire groupies . . .you never know. �Well, I�m looking for Faith, Dawn and Spike.�

�We can�t help you with the faith part, and dawn�s not for a couple hours. But we know where you can find some spikes. � The men exchanged looks. �There�s a couple of clubs a few blocks up that you should feel right at home at. Angel wasn�t sure how they knew Spike. But if they could help him find his car, he was all for wherever they were headed.

Faith rocked her body to the steady sounds of �California Love�. She ignored just about everybody to dance with the beat of the crowd. She could feel the energy of the people around her rushing over her body in waves. In this moment, she was in the constant ebb and flow of life. In this instant, she wasn�t out of place, she wasn�t even a person. She was a force of nature, a glimmery haze of light and power, without focus, without pretension, without pain.

Pain. Pain was prison. Pain was thinking about Buffy. Pain was looking at Dawn. Pain was Angel.

When it came right down to it, she owed him her life. He had made it possible for her to step away from the pain, yet he increased it. He helped her stay on the right path. He was the embodiment of good, a warrior for the powers, hero of the helpless, the vampire with a soul. As all that was good about �fighting the good fight�, he was temptation personified. Yet, he had a dark side.

One that she had occasion to meet. A dark side sitting just under his skin, too close to the surface. A dark side, that just like her, was a force of nature. And as all that was wicked, wanton, and dark, he was temptation as well.

Which is why Faith knew that she couldn�t touch him. She knew that she couldn�t let herself be tempted. She had come too far. She also knew that the good fight needed their warrior. She bit her lip. Not that she knew that if she were to . . .touch him, that his soul would be in any danger. It was pointless to wonder. He didn�t want her. He just wanted to save her. To him, she was no different than the countless, blurry faces he rescued everyday. He was her rescuer, her savior, too. And her penance was to look at him every day, want him, and do nothing about it , except feel grateful. To be honest, it grated against her nerves.

For once, Faith, the rogue slayer, would want, but not take. Not have. She closed her eyes. Now was not the time for self-reflection and pity. Now was the time to blow off steam and forget the world. It wasn�t like she was going to have to confront him tonight.

Lindsey McDonald stared at the young man dubiously. �You�re sure you can do this?�

�No problem.� He flashed the lawyer a confident grin and gave silent thanks to glamours and their ability to mask insecurities. Dimitri was fifth in a sacred line of Russian sorcerers. Unfortunately, he was still an apprentice, which meant his spells did not always go as planned. He�d offered his services to Wolfram and Hart in order to prove himself to his family. �You just want a simple �truth� spell, right?�

�That�s right. We want a whole of revelations going on at the bar. That way the drinkers will bond and most importantly go there more often and spend a lot of cash.�

�I can do that.� Dimitri knew he could, barring any unforseen problems.

�Good.� Lindsey gestured to the various bottles of wine and casks of beer. �Go to it.�

He rolled up sleeves and ran a pale hand through his hair. �Casting. Right. Okay.� He turned to the alcohol and began to chant in Latin. The bottles began to glow. Lindsay looked on with a satisfied smirk. This little investment was sure to bring big returns for the firm, and with that, big perks for him. Yes, this meant a new company paid for car. It was a good night to be, as the firm put it, morally ambiguous.

�Just stick with me, and stay away from the bar, lil� bit. And we may come out of this night intact.� Spike slid into a booth in the back corner of the club. He eyed her carefully. She was sitting rigidly straight, shifting her weight back and forth. �Relax. Kick back. Stop squirming.�

�Actually, I�ll be right back.� Dawn started to climb out of the seat.

Spike put his foot on the seat beside her and grabbed her wrist in both hands. �Hmm, that�s funny.� One hand circled her wrist, while he used the thumb of the other to stroke small circles on her palm. �I don�t remember giving you permission to leave.�

�I don�t remember asking.� He didn�t budge. �C�mon, Spike. Lemme go! I have . . .stuff . . .to do.� She grabbed her backpack and raised it to indicate what �stuff� she was talking about.

He grinned at her and moved his foot out of her way. �Just don�t take too long.� He warned her. �I don�t want to have to come in after you.� He smiled, she was blushing. �What do you want to drink?�

�Screw driver?�

�I was thinking more along the lines of a cola, sweet.� He raised his eyebrow. Ah, what the hell. They were out to have a good time, and as long as she was with him, nothing was going to happen to her. �Feel like being bad, do we?�

She nodded emphatically.

�Alright then. It�ll be here by the time you get back.� Dawn stood up, but Spike, who still held her wrist, tugged her toward him. He bent down and nipped a knuckle. �As will I.�

Dawn was shaking as she ran for the bathroom. She strode quickly into a stall and locked it, leaning her head against the door. What was going on with him? What was going on with her? She shook her head. Then she pulled her shirt over it. She summarily stripped and began digging an entirely different outfit out of the bag. Did she want to be bad? Oh yes. She was sixteen at midnight tonight, which was in . . . (checking her watch) OH! Twenty seconds. It was time that she had some real fun.

Angel climbed out of the car in the parking lot. He had spotted his car while they were flying down the highway. He had to admit that he was glad they had found it when they did. The car hadn�t seemed that crowded when they had first invited him into it, but somehow or another, he kept coming into contact with its occupants. He could almost swear they were a little too friendly. And happy. He carefully maneuvered the moped into the backseat of his convertible.

Looks like Spike and Dawn were inside. He knew that Spike was the only one audacious enough to take his car, and he knew that Dawn didn�t go anywhere at night without Spike. He tried to retain some amount of self-righteous indignation about their unusual relationship. He knew that most likely their relationship was innocent. And even if it was starting to become more, he really had no right to talk. Buffy had been sixteen when they had started dating.

Hell, he had slept with her on her seventeenth birthday. And technically, Dawn wasn�t human. Still, Spike had no soul. It should have made a difference. It didn�t. He wasn�t sure why he trusted Spike with Dawn. But he did. Soul or no soul. Chip or no chip. Spike would look after his own, and Spike considered Dawn his.

He understood why they were inseparable. He understood that they had leaned on each other after the death of Buffy. He understood that Spike protected Dawn when she needed security the most. He understood that Dawn loved Spike, the Powers only know why. He even understood the cuddling that went on.

He could NOT understand why they had to be inseparable in HIS car! He walked past the bouncer and into the club. His eyes scanned the dance floor for any sign of the dynamic duo. His eyes lit on an attractive brunette, decked out in leather. She was dancing to the music like a wild thing, ignoring the crowds around her. She seemed to exude pure sexual prowess. He felt his body responding to the sway in her hips, the power that charged the air around her. She turned and he could see her face. It took him a moment to register who it was.

He ran to the bar. �Vodka. Neat.� The bartender had no sooner placed the glass in front of him then he had it raised to his lips. By The Powers that Be, that was Dawn!

At the other end of the bar, Faith looked on as the bartender set her up with four tequila shots. She gave the frat boys next to her a cocky grin. �You sure you want to bet on this, boys?�

The leader of the motley group sneered at her. �You sure you can out drink me, honey?�

�I�m sure.� Faith drawled, trying to hide her grin. The guys had pestered her since she sat down on the bar. They asked her to let them buy her a drink, or dance, or other things that she had no intention of doing. She challenged the leader, Blane or something to a �drink off.� She�d drink him under the table and collect her twenty bucks. His pals had slapped him on the back and he�d cockily asked her for her phone number instead of the twenty bucks when he won.

Blame, Lame, Plain or whatever the hell his name was, lucked out. She couldn�t kill humans anymore, maybe just a little maiming. Bad Faith! Not that he didn�t deserve it.

Blane picked up his first shot and so did Faith. She licked her wrist and poured salt on it and so did he. They both downed them at once and bit down on a lime taken from a small bowl. She grinned as she reached for her second. They repeated the process three more times. Blane swayed a little on his feet. Faith was still sober. Gotta love that supernatural constitution. The bartender poured four more shots. The frat rat downed another shot as did Faith. He sucked on his lime and then held out his hand.

�Do you know why I really drink?�

�Because your daddy gave you too much growing up and you�re just a macho schmuck?�

�No.� He shook his head. It felt.. . fuzzy. �Because I have a very small�� he leaned over and pulled at the waistband of his jeans.

�No need to finish that thought.� Faith tossed back another shot. Blane reached for his next one, dribbling it down the side of his mouth. She did another shot and then another. The young man had one more, before he looked at his best friend. �Did you know I slept with your girlfriend?�

His friend blinked. �She has the ugliest mole on her inner thigh. Gyugh! I nearly lost my lunch when we did it on your desk and I got an eyeful of that.� The other frat boy proceeded to ball up his fist and punch Blane in the nose. He fell on the ground, blood streaming from his nose.

Faith grinned, feeling a little disoriented. She knelt by Blane�s motionless but still alive body. �Can I have my twenty bucks now?� No answer. �That was rude.� She reached over and pulled his wallet out from his jeans. She extricated a twenty and put it back. She looked up to see more fighting among the fraternity brothers. �Why do I always get involved in fights?� She was about to intervene and keep the peace when she saw something very strange at the other end of the bar. Angel was drinking. . .and taking his coat off?

Dawn closed her eyes and let the music guide her steps. She was glad she�d talked Spike into this. She was about to turn around when a cool hand grasped her forearm. �Spike.� She said, confident it would be her protector and regular pain in the ass.

�Guess again.� She opened her eyes to see Angel. He looked angry. There was a small vein in his face that was nearly popping out. Then he threw his coat over her.

�Hey! I�m not a coat rack!� She threw it on the floor.

�That�s wool!� Angel groused, bending over and picking it up. He looked at her revealing outfit. She wore a leather mini skirt and a backless top held together by one string that looked like a second skin. �You might as well be naked.� Then he got a funny look on his face.

�I�m not naked. I�m just having some fun, Angel.� Her chin jutted out. �Spike said it was okay.�

�What did I say, bit?�

�That I could come here and dance.�

Spike looked her up and down. �Is that what you had in that book bag.�

�Yup.� She looked apprehensive.

�You don�t look half as slutty as Buffy did when she wore it.�

�HEY!� Angel and Dawn cried.

Angel shook his head, trying to clear it. �She can�t be wearing that in public. She�s a child!�

The blond vampire smirked. �Not anymore.�

Angel tried to reason with the young woman. �Do you know what men think about when they look at you dressed like that? They want to dance with you, put their hands on your hips and guide them to their own. They want to get you alone in a darkened corner of this smoky bar and whisper in your ear decadent things they�d like to do with you.� His voice deepened. �They want slide a knee between your��

�That�s quite enough of that kind of talk, poof.� Spike said angrily, as he stepped behind Dawn, placing his arms protectively around her waist and pulling her back against his chest. �And I�m the one you call the pedophile.�

Angel still stared at Dawn dreamily, he hadn�t heard a word his childe had said. �I know I did.� He clapped a hand over his mouth. �Oh, God! I said that out loud.� He reached out to Dawn in supplication. �I�m so sorry, Dawn. I�m not that kind of man. Well, yes, maybe I am sometimes. If you only knew the things I�d like to do with you.� He was shocked by his own words. He slapped his own hand. �Argh! I keep saying these things. I need to stop this!�

By now Spike was seething. �Dawn is mine! Keep your filthy mouth and mind to yourself!� He watched Angel look at Dawn and continue smacking his own hand. �Stop thinking about her like that! That�s my job!� Spike turned Dawn who was wide eyed, to face him. � I didn�t mean that! I wouldn�t get you in a dark corner, I was thinking more along the lines of a hotel suite. Or earlier, I was thinking about the two of us in the back of the poof�s convertible.� He slapped his own hand, he couldn�t meet her eyes. �I need another bloody drink.�

Angel made a moue of disgust. �Oh, God, You two didn�t. . . in my car did you? That would never come out of the leather interior. Leather stains you know!� Angel looked down at his sedate black trousers and brushed away a speck of lint sadly. �I miss leather.�

�Excuse me.�

The blue eyed demon turned to see a preening man appear at Angel�s shoulder. �Oh, hi, Jordan.� Angel said. Dawn and Spike looked at him in askance. �He gave me a ride here.�

�Wasn�t the ride I was hoping to give you, dearie.� Angel�s brow furrowed.

Spike snorted and sneered at Angel. �Always expected that of you, peaches.�

Jordan eyed Spike. �Though you�ve got very good taste, dearie. He�s simply yummy.�

The younger vampire grinned, liking any compliment. �Think I�m better looking than the poof?�

�I think it�s a toss up.� Dawn grinned. �Here, here!� Both vampires pinned her with intense gazes. She looked at the bar longingly. She wanted another screwdriver.

Angel was sick of this. �I�m taking Dawn home.�

Spike stepped in front of her. �Like hell you are! I bloody well know what you�re planning to do with her when you get her alone.�

�And you aren�t planning it? You sleep with her.�

�Yeah, and don�t you forget it.� He scowled. �Get your own girlfriend, Peaches. I�m sick of you taking mine. Oh, I have an idea! I�ll pick out a girl I don�t give a flying rat�s ass about and I�ll pretend to like her so you can steal her away. Alright? Will that work?�

Angel blinked. �I don�t steal women away. I�m just cuter so naturally they��

Faith joined the mix. She gave Dawn a thumbs up for her outfit and then she smiled at both vampires. �You two are fighting. . .AGAIN?� She rolled her eyes. �Do everyone a favor and get the sexual tension over with. Just go for it so we don�t have to hear you two whining.�

�I knew it!� Jordan crowed. �The coats, the cheekbones, the hair gel. . .both of you are too good looking to be straight.

Faith leaned back and looked at Angel�s backside. �Nice ass.� She clapped a hand over her mouth. �I heard that. It wasn�t only in my brain was it?� Dawn shook her head sadly.

�Lot of that goin� around, luv.� Spike drawled. Then he turned around. �What do you think of mine?�

�Very nice, too.�

�Not you, Jordan.�

�Oh. Sorry.�