There was a long pause, and for a moment Buffy wondered if she had been cut off.

"Hello? Hello? Hey, are you still there?"

"Oh yes, pardon me. Ah, have you actually read the book yourself? Do you know where the book is?"

"Sure, I've got the book right here, and I've read it, but to tell you the truth research is not my strong point, so I could do with a, I don't know, a temporary Watcher or something to fix things up."

"Of course. I will send someone straight away. Give me your address and telephone number."

Buffy gave him the dorm address and number, and asked when the help would arrive. "Well, we have some personnel in the States, I should imagine someone will arrive by this evening your time. In the meantime, it is imperative that you keep the book in a safe place. That will be the key to freeing your, ah, ex-Watcher from this union."

"Okay, okay, whatever," said Buffy hanging up and having no difficulty in remembering exactly how many different ways she disliked the Council. But still, this was an emergency, and once Giles was back to normal they could just tell the Council to leave, the same as they had done before.

With the Giles issue looking better, Buffy turned to the problem of Willow. It seemed she needed to be reminded of who her real friends were. Buffy toyed with the idea of getting Xander involved, but he was too unpredictable. He could even take Willow's side, especially if Anya decided to get involved. (I mean, if he'd date an ex-demon, he probably wouldn't care that Willow was with Spike) she reasoned.

But there were still plenty of options available and Buffy considered all the wonderful possibilities before dialing an number that Willow had given her, in case of emergencies.

Getting through to the paging service, she quoted Sheila Rosenberg's pager number before dictating her message: "Urgent message. Willow is using drugs, and is living with a drug-addict, a Catholic. Has refused help from friends. Please come ASAP."

Buffy could hardly keep her voice steady but the time she got to the end of the message, she was laughing so hard. The only difficulty she could see was that Willow's parents might decide it was their daughter's problem and choose not to intervene.

So she needed something else. It was now after 7am, perfect timing she decided as she called Riley's dorm and asked for Forrest. Putting her hand over the mouthpiece, she used her best Texas accent and in response to Forrest's greeting of "What's up?" she drawled "If you want to find Hostile 17 he is at 107 West Street," before quickly putting the phone down.

Then she lay down on her bed to get a few hours of sleep and let her carefully planted seeds of trouble grow.

Angel and Giles were sharing a pot of tea in the Englishman's kitchen, which was rather gloomy as all the curtains had been closed to protect Angel from the morning sunshine which normally filled the room.

The silence was broken by the ring of the telephone, and Giles picked it up hoping fervently that it was not Buffy. "Hello?"

"Giles?"

"Wesley? Do you need to speak to Angel?"

"No, no. I have received some rather disturbing news, and I wanted to let you know immediately. A friend of mine in Boston, who works from time to time for the Council, is currently on his way to Sunnydale to meet with Miss Summers. She has advised the Council that you have, ah, been involved in a demonic ritual and has asked for their assistance in freeing you. She has also told the Council that she has the book, the "Legend of the Servants", and that she has read it."

"Good lord."

"Quite. My friend called me to warn of these developments, as he knew that I was acquainted with you and feared I may be in some danger."

"When will he reach Sunnydale?"

"Not until this evening. But I do not know if he is the only person who the Council has summoned. I would strongly recommend that all of you leave immediately. If the Council really believes what Buffy has told them, then they will know that there is a Servant of Gaia in Sunnydale - a prize indeed if they can somehow get control of her."

"Yes, yes, quite. However I don't think we can travel until dusk, not with Spike and Angel at any rate. But we will do what we can, and we will see you this evening at the latest."

"I will wait here, at the office. Please call if you need anything."

"Yes, yes, we will, thank you Wesley." It occurred to Giles as he hung up that Wesley seemed a little less irritating than normal, but it was a passing thought only as the full weight of the other man's words brought a worried look to Giles' face.

Angel had been increasingly alarmed by the telephone call; he had heard everything that Wesley had said. It seemed that Giles was right about Buffy, she was beyond caring what damage she caused to those around her.

"Did you hear all that?" Giles asked. Angel nodded slowly, saying "If Buffy would call the Council in, she may well have stirred up some other trouble as well. We need to alert Spike and Willow, and get them out of Willow's house. And we need to find a safe place for the four of us until dusk, when we can head to LA."

Giles thought of the possibilities, then asked Angel, "Do you still have your old apartment?"

"Yes, but Buffy knows where it is."

"Ah, but she doesn't know you are involved. And while she may expect Spike to go to the Crawford Street mansion, she wouldn't expect him to go to your old apartment."

"Good idea. You call Willow and Spike, and make it quick. We will drive over now to get them then go straight to the apartment."

While Giles made the call Angel dug out some blankets from a cupboard. Giles hung up and went to bring Angel's car as close to the house as possible, so Angel could dash out with the blanket for cover. Angel moved onto the back seat keeping the blanket over his head, although the tinted windows offered some protection.

They soon reached Willow's house, and Willow and Spike were waiting just inside the door. Willow ran out next to Spike, helping him to keep the blanket over his body as he joined Angel on the back seat. Willow hopped into the passenger seat next to Giles, then looked around to make sure both vampires were properly covered.

"Come on," she said impatiently to Giles, once satisfied that her mates were safe. He seemed to catch her urgency, and they made the trip to Angel's old apartment in record time. Trooping upstairs, Spike asked conversationally, "So why is the great poof here exactly?"

"Giles asked me to come," Angel said calmly, noting the fresh bite marks on both his mates' necks, and the way they kept close together.

"And we appreciate it," said Willow, glaring at Spike's back. "Giles, what exactly is going on? What was the emergency that we had to leave the house so quickly?"

So Giles repeated the information he had received from Wesley, and also explained that there was no way of knowing how many people the Council had sent to Sunnydale. "They would certainly send more than one if they believed what Buffy told them, that a new Servant is being created, well, you can imagine what a prize it would be if they could find some way to control her, or him."

"But how could they hope to control a Servant? I thought in the past the Watchers were very much in the control of the Servants, not the other way around," asked a worried Willow.

"There is a significant difference between dealing with an established group of powerful, immortal magicians and with an individual teenager, who has no understanding of their own powers. Many indeed have suggested that it is for this reason Slayers are usually chosen when girls rather than adults, and then separated from their friends and family, because they are then more, ah, amenable to the control of their Watcher. And, as you know, Slayers usually die before reaching a sufficient maturity to want independence from the Council."

"So the Council wants me to become some sort of brain-washed Super Slayer?" asked an upset Willow.

Spike cursed the Watcher for bringing this up - as if Willow didn't already have enough on her mind. He was trying to think of something to distract her when Angel's calm voice intervened.

"Willow is not alone, as a Slayer is. She has Spike and I to help and protect her. No-one is forcing her, or us, to do anything."

Spike saw Willow visibly relax, and was surprised to feel no resentment at Angel's intervention. (Sometimes that sodding poof actually has his uses) Spike thought grudgingly.

He tentatively listened to the sounds in his head that he now thought of as Willow and Angel. Willow was still upset but feeling safe; Angel was radiating protectiveness and, underneath and so faint that Spike nearly missed it, the strongly repressed rage of his demon that someone was daring to threaten its mates.

(Mates?) thought Spike to himself, but when he tried to find the emotion again it was gone. Shaking his head his hands searched his pockets instinctively, only for him to realise with horror that he didn't have any cigarettes on him - (Bloody Hell!)

"Does this place have a telly?" growled Spike, wondering how he was going to survive a day without nicotine.

"Sorry," said Angel unconvincingly, as he looked around at the spartan interior. He hadn't been inside here for more than a year - not since Willow had restored his soul and Buffy had sent him to Hell. Everything was covered in dust, but the lights still worked and there was running water.

"Well we can't stay here all day like this," said Willow briskly. "There's no food for us humans and no blood or cigarettes for the vamps."

Willow paused for a moment, then came to a decision. "Giles and I will go to the supermarket and to Willy's, to get provisions."

As both Angel and Spike started to protest she raised her hand. "It is daylight, so neither of you can go. If the Council is looking for a vehicle, it will be Giles' car. And Buffy doesn't know what Angel's car looks like so that won't be a problem. The council is looking for Giles so logically I should go alone BUT," and she raised her voice as the objections started again, "Giles and I shall go together instead.

We won't be long, and at least we will have some food. It's a long time until dusk, and I for one haven't eaten since last night."

And ignoring Angel and Spike's identical expressions of displeasure, Willow checked that she had her wallet, then headed to the door with Giles trailing behind her.

Before she closed the door she turned to her mates, showing her resolve face and said sternly, "Behave!"

Angel and Spike watched the door close and each felt the silence become louder and louder. Angel tried to remember his feelings of last night, when he'd been confident that he could make things right.

Looking at Spike's set expression, Angel thought even his patience might run out before he could get Spike to accept him as his mate.

"How's Willow taking it? The whole, ah, Buffy thing?"

"How do you think, Peaches? Her best friend has gone psycho and now she's on the run with two demons and a has-been Watcher. Oh yeah, and she's about to play Magic Roulette with a good chance of biting the big one."

Angel let Spike rant on, and when it seemed he had finally run out of steam he heard his demon murmur, (let's play,) and Angel felt a smile of agreement spread over his face.

Spike saw the smile and the hairs on the back of his neck leapt to attention, but before his mind could process this new threat he was thrown to the floor and as he tried to utter a protest a tongue plunged into his mouth while busy hands unfastened his jeans.

Spike squirmed to get free, but stopped when he heard Angel's groans become louder. (The bugger's enjoying it!) Spike realised furiously.

His anger changed abruptly to panic as Angel flipped him so that he was lying face down on the hard floor with an even harder vampire pressing against his back.

Spike gritted his teeth as he felt Angel's fangs tease the nape of his neck before savagely piercing the skin, causing the blonde to growl in mingled pain and lust as his hips jerked uncontrollably.

He could feel Angel smile as he continued to suck against Spike's skin, and Spike moaned as one of Angel's hands reached under him to find Spike already hard - and he soon became harder as Angel stroked him with a firm hand, the familiar feel of his sire's hand bringing back hundreds of memories of nights they had spent together. Angel's hand abruptly removed itself as the precum started to leak from the tip of Spike's swollen member.

Angel collected the fluid on his fingertips and moved his hand to rub it roughly into Spike's hole, enjoying the feel of the tight ring of muscles clenching instinctively at the intrusion. Angel knew it had been a long time since Spike had been taken this way, so he tried to slow himself down, massaging with his fingers until he felt the smaller man begin to relax.

Angel then wasted no time, pulling Spike onto his knees and pushing his head down with one hand while the other hand held his own cock in position at Spike's entrance, resting the tip against the clenched rosebud for a moment before thrusting slowly into Spike's tight hole.

Spike groaned at the invasion - damn, but he always forgot just how big Angel was. Angel hadn't fucked him during the ritual - not his ass, anyway. They hadn't done this since before Angelus was souled, and he was reminded again of those early years when Angelus had been his god, and Spike a mere fledgling trying to impress his grandsire.

As Angel started to thrust harder Spike felt his inner walls tear slightly, unable to stretch far enough to deal with Angel's width. He heard Angel's voice, deep and dark, growl "You're mine Spike. Bound to me by blood and magic. Don't ever forget who you belong to."

Angel's word and the scent of his blood excited them both, and Angel's movements became more frenzied, until both men were growling, in game face, as Angel pounded into Spike's willing form. Angel felt his orgasm approaching with an unstoppable force, and he grabbed Spike's head and turned it, allowing Angel to bite deeply into the side of the vampire's neck, sending both of them spiraling into their release, and reducing both to purrs once the growling had died down.

(After all) reasoned Angel, (actions speak louder than words.)

It took Spike a while to get his brain started again. At first he thought (Now I remember why I put up with Angelus for all those years.> Then Then

Angel smiled, and pulled Spike more firmly against him. He licked the still bleeding bite mark on the younger vampire's neck, admiring the raw look of it. "Boy, your memory must be going. Don't worry though, I'd be happy to give you a reminder if you need one."

Spike felt Angel's cock rub against his thigh, growing harder by the minute. He was tempted, but they needed to get cleaned up before Willow and Giles got back, plus he wanted to make sure that Angel knew that just because he might be a good shag didn't mean - well, Spike wasn't sure exactly what it did or didn't mean, he just knew that he belonged to Willow - and he belonged to Angel.

"Sod off" he grumbled, pushing Angel away and climbing to his feet. He groaned as his body totaled its various aches and pains; those two were wearing him out, vampire stamina or not.

"Willow'll be back soon, and the Watcher. Although, I don't know, the git'd probably enjoy the view." And Spike headed to the bathroom, narrowly avoiding Angel's hand as it reached out to swat at him.

When they had both cleaned up, they silently decided to avoid the dusty sofa and sat on the floor, Spike longing for a smoke.

Angel, unable to read Spike's expression, instead looked in his mind to see what the bond showed. He felt the echoes of their recent encounter, pleasure and acceptance, but also uncertainty. He focused on the uncertainty, and saw that it was because of Willow.

Frowning slightly, Angel turned to his mate and asked, "Have you and Willow spoken abut the bond? I mean, since the ritual?"

"No, not really," answered Spike, wondering what exactly Angel was trying to get at and wishing he would get to the point already.

"So you haven't discussed the future, where you are going to live, what you are going to do?"

Spike's nicotine craving was fraying his already worn nerves, now that the lust-induced fog was lifting from his mind. "Look, we're going to do whatever Willow wants. I don't give a toss where we live as long as Willow is there, and I don't care what we do as long as a large part of the day is set aside for shagging. So if you've got a point, just sodding get on with it."

Angel ignored Spike's bad temper with the ease of long practice, and asked him, "And me? Am I going to be there too?"

Spike raised an eyebrow. His life was getting to be more dramatic than a soap. "Peaches, you're my sire and my mate, and I'd as soon shag the both of you as just Willow, plus it'd be nice to have another bloke about. But it's up to Willow. If she doesn't want you there you won't be."

Angel supposed that was as close as he was going to get to a declaration of - well, maybe not love but affection - from Spike. So he moved onto what seemed to be the key to the whole problem. "And what do you think that Willow wants?"

Spike's face made it obvious that he had something to say, but when he spoke Angel's hopes that just for once things would be straightforward were dashed.

"Why don't you fucking ask Willow what she wants? Bloody Hell, what am I, advice for the lovelorn? Sod that." And Spike sat in silence, refusing to look at Angel and deciding that there was nothing he wouldn't do for a packet of Marlboros.

Then he became aware of a feeling in his head, that he took a moment to recognise as Willow. She was very, very scared. Spike looked at Angel in alarm, to see that he had also felt it.

Angel pulled Spike into his comforting embrace as the two sat on the floor, knowing that they could do nothing to help her, forced to simply sit and wait for their mate to return safely.