Disclaimer: Everything BtVS and AtS is owned by Joss, ME, and all them over there. Everything Anita Blake is owned by Laurell K. Hamilton

Chapter 6

Xander dropped a pile of papers on the counter and turned toward the blonde vampire and blue demon sitting in chairs watching the closed office door. Spike had a slight smirk on his face; Illyria 's head was cocked to the side as she listened to the shouting coming from the small office.

�What's going on?� Xander asked glancing back at the door.

� Willow 's talking to Angel,� Spike replied.

�She's very angry,� Illyria added as the last round of shouting stopped.

�Yeah, got that she's angry. Why?�

�Angel got all high and mighty, Willow thinks it was a bad idea,� Spike replied, �Now if you don't mind, we can't hear if you talk.�

*****

� Willow , you never met the man,� Angel said his voice low.

�It doesn't matter, Angel,� Willow said her temper barely controlled, �You ordered Lorne to kill a man. A human being, because you decided you didn't trust him.�

� Willow , he tried to kill me��

�I don't care, Angel,� Willow interrupted. �You had no right to decide that he didn't deserve to live. You've made mistakes, I've made mistakes, does that mean someone should get to decide our fate?�

�It's not the same thing,� Angel was pacing the small room. He knew Willow was right, it was a bad decision. Lorne left because he knew it wasn't right. No matter what his feelings for the lawyer, the man didn't deserve to die. �I'm sorry, Willow. I shouldn't have done it.�

Willow took a deep breath, she was glad he was finally seeing her point in this. She was fairly confident that he did see her side; that he wasn't just agreeing to end the argument. �Is there anything else I should know, Angel? Before we go any further, I have to know if I can trust you.�

�You can trust me,� Angel said turning toward her, �You know that.�

�I thought I did, but I'm not so sure.�

�Willow��

�Just don't, Angel,� Willow sighed, she wanted to trust him. �It's going to take time.�

Before he could respond there was a knock on the door and Faith pushed it open. �Just making sure everyone's still alive in here.�

�We're fine,� Willow smiled at the slayer, �Any luck with furniture?�

�Yeah, but we could use some help moving it,� Faith responded, �Dawn and Chuck not good with the heavy lifting.�

�What about Spike and Illyria ?� Angel asked.

�Way more interested in your argument than moving furniture.�

�We'll be right up,� Angel responded.

*****

�What about this one?� Spike asked pushing a large chair toward the center of the room he and Willow were working in.

�It looks good to me,� Willow glanced at the chair, �Anything that doesn't have too much fabric and isn't broken will probably work.�

They had chosen to take the top floor and while Faith and Dawn took the second, and Angel and Xander had taken the third. Gunn had left to pay a visit to Anne and see what help he could recruit. Willow was becoming increasingly sure that they would have enough furniture for all the second floor bedrooms, and would only need to replace the mattresses.

This was the last room she and Spike needed to check then they were going to start carrying the trash down to the large dumpster they had rented that morning. They had been working together in relative silence for most of the afternoon, occasionally discussing various pieces of furniture, or her views on the plans for the hotel.

�Will?� Xander's voice came from the floor below, �You guys almost finished?�

Willow looked at Spike, �You done in here?� When he nodded his agreement she moved to the door and yelled �Yeah, we're ready to move the trash out.�

�Want dinner first?�

�We'll be right down,� Willow answered.

�Find anything else you could use to locate Lorne, Red?� Spike asked as they walked down the steps.

�Actually, I may have found something last night,� Willow grinned, �I don't want anyone to know though. Wanna help with a spell tonight?�

�Yeah,� Spike agreed. �Can you do it without anyone knowing?�

�I think so,� Willow frowned, �Dawn's going to help too. I just don't want Angel or Gunn involved yet. You probably shouldn't be either, but I need someone stronger than Dawn around if there's a problem. Faith's going to keep Angel out patrolling.�

�You could've sent me out with Angel,� Spike suggested, �Then you wouldn't have had to tell me about it.�

�True, but what are the odds of you two not staking each other?�

Spike didn't have a chance to answer as they reached the bottom of the stairs and found themselves surrounded by a room full of teen-agers. The pair made their way through the crowd until they located Gunn on the couch in the center of the room. �Pizza?� he asked as they approached.

�Thanks,� Willow reached into the box and grabbed a piece, �Who are all these people?�

�Our new help,� Gunn said, �At least for today, we may have more tomorrow.�

�With this many people we may get done faster than I thought,� Xander said approaching them. �I thought you'd come back with three or four kids.�

�We could lose some of them, but I figured we could use all the help we can get,� Gunn explained.

�We're going to need to get the supplies right away then,� Xander said, �We're going to get it all cleaned out quickly with this much help.�

�They only have a couple hours tonight,� Gunn said, �Anne is pretty strict about curfew and I don't want to be responsible for any of them not having a place to stay.�

Once everyone had finished eating, they quickly decided that they would get the second floor emptied and worry about the other floors in the morning. They would all meet back at the hotel early, and Xander, Dawn, and Gunn would go shopping for what they would need for the second floor and furniture repair. They had to wait until they received the blueprints and permits for construction before work could begin on the first floor.

They quickly separated into groups, some carrying out the furniture that was to be thrown out, and the rest moving the good furniture into the basement, which they had all decided was the best place to store and work on it. After an hour, everything had been moved and everyone was heading out, Angel and Faith were leaving to patrol as the teen-agers all headed back to the shelter for the night.

�Mind if I join you guys?� Xander asked as Faith was finding the sword she wanted to use.

�Sure,� Faith agreed tossing a stake in his direction.

Gunn turned to Willow , Spike and Dawn, who were all sitting on the couch, eating the remaining pizza, �I'm going to turn in if we're done for the night.�

�I'm exhausted, so no more work for me tonight,� Willow smiled.

�Good night then,� Gunn said and disappeared up the stairs.

�Where are we doing this?� Dawn asked when they were alone.

�My room is probably best,� Willow frowned, �In case anyone comes home early.�

*****

�Did it work?� Dawn asked as soon as Willow 's eyes opened. The spell had taken longer than the younger girl had expected and she had become worried. �Are you okay?�

�I'm fine,� Willow smiled at her, then at the vampire sitting on the other side of her trying his best not to look worried, �And yeah, it worked.�

�He's okay then?� Spike asked.

�Yeah, still in Los Angeles actually,� Willow responded, �I was thinking maybe we could go see him.�

�I thought he didn't want�� Dawn began.

�He did say not to try to find him,� Spike interrupted. �Is visiting him the best idea?�

�I know what he said, but wouldn't he want to know that you're all okay too,� Willow asked.

�He did work with Angel for a long time,� Dawn agreed, �I would want to know, even if I didn't want to work with you anymore.�

�So, what we all drive over to his house?� Spike asked.

�No, I was thinking the two of us,� Willow responded.

�What about me?� Dawn asked.

�Sorry he's in a bar,� Willow answered, ignoring the other girl's frown, �It's not open but I'm in enough trouble with Buffy as it is.�

�So when do we do this?� Spike asked, wanting to see for himself that the demon was all right.

�Tonight,� Willow responded, �We'll leave when the other's go to bed. That way we don't run into them while we're out.�

*****

Several hours later, Willow and Spike walked into the deserted building that once housed Caritas. It was obvious that the demon had begun making plans to re-open the bar. Spike briefly wondered how he planned on keeping Angel from locating him if he was returning to the same place he had first met the vampire. �So this place is a demon bar?� Willow asked.

�Was,� Spike answered, �Not like Willy's though. This was a safe haven for all demons and humans. No violence in the building.�

�Liking Lorne more already,� Willow grinned.

�What are you doing here?� A voice came from a dark corner, �I said I didn't want to be found.�

�Should've hid better,� Spike said, as Lorne stepped out of the shadows, �And Red was worried about you.�

�I'm sorry Cupcake,� Lorne turned his attention to Willow , �I told them I was out of the game now. It isn't for me.�

�I know about all of it,� Willow said, �None of it should've happened, but I wanted to know you were okay. Everyone did.�

�Angel doesn't know��

�Where you are no, and he won't unless you tell him,� Willow smiled, �No one does except for Spike.�

�So then everyone is okay?� Lorne asked, turning to Spike, �They all made it out?�

Spike and Willow looked at each other; neither had considered the fact that they would have to tell Lorne that Wesley had died that night. �I'm afraid not,� Willow frowned, �Wesley didn't��

�The magic was more than he could fight,� Spike finished.

�This is why I left,� Lorne said quietly several minutes later, �I can't keep watching my friends die.�

�I understand that,� Willow said quietly, �But consider letting them know where you are, they do care about you. You don't have to be involved in their work but let Angel know you're here.�

�I'll think about it,� Lorne agreed, �Come back and visit when the place is open. I'd love to have you sing for me.�

�I don't sing,� Willow smiled, �Well, except that one time but��

�We'll be back,� Spike said, cutting off Willow before she could begin babbling, �But we need to get back before we're missed.�

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