•••

“Angelus? How?” Cordelia asked disbelievingly as Wesley slumped against the counter. “Did he get a happy? I thought Darla was long gone.”

Wesley groaned. “I don’t know, Cordelia. Neither of us have seen Angel for days, and then there was that call from Sunnydale.”

“What did they say, exactly?” The ex-cheerleader asked.

“Xander and Anya found the claddagh ring and a cerebral implant chip in Spike’s crypt, and the blonde vampire is missing. Add to that Angel’s disappearance, along with the other items…” His voice trailed off.

“Stick it in the oven for twenty minutes and ‘Ding!’ you get the Scourge of Europe.” Cordelia muttered, sliding to the floor. “This is so not good.”

“I know. I just don’t know what to do.” The ex-Watcher said, thumping his head on the counter.

“Yeah, and it’s not like the visions have stopped or anything.”

•••

“What do you mean, missing?” Lilah screeched at her assistant. “You can’t even find the one bloodsucker in this town we have under constant surveillance?”

The young man quivered. “He just vanished, Lilah. His lackeys are still around, but his car is gone, and they’ve been out looking for him for almost a week now.”

“Fine.” The lawyer paced the floor. This was not what she had planned. A sane, if evil, Angelus was supposed to be her biggest ally—the key to keeping her position. “Think, Barry, where would a newly reborn Master vampire go?”

“Darla?” The man offered up.

“No! She betrayed him, to us if you don’t remember. Even unsouled, that wouldn’t work. Neither would Drusilla.” Lilah tapped her head. “Does he have any other childer that he hasn’t killed?” A smile flashed on her face. “William!”

“William?” Barry asked in confusion.

“William the Bloody, aka Spike. The other half of ‘The Scourge of Europe.’” Lilah said, satisfaction evident in her voice. “Of course he’d want to team back up with Spike. After all, they made some wonderful mayhem together.”

The young assistant shivered. Knowing Lilah, he would be the one sent to find this Spike, and he wasn’t sure he wanted to meet someone who’d earned that nickname, nor one who’s sire called him William the Bloody.

•••

Cordelia yawned as she and Wesley approached Sunnydale. “Good old home. When are we leaving?”

“Once we find Angelus and give him his soul back.” Wesley replied, turning into a parking stall near the Magic Box.

“Ah, Wesley, Cordelia. So glad you could make it.” Giles said as their Los Angeles counterparts entered the store.

“Anything yet?” Wesley asked his Watcher colleague.

“I’m afraid not.” Giles responded.

“It’s like Spike disappeared in thin air.” Buffy said, descending the ladder leading to the book loft. “He’s not been to any of his blood suppliers, but we haven’t found a body that looks anything like his old work—nor one with his fang marks on it.”

“Perhaps they left town.” Cordelia offered. “After all, you’ve kicked their asses before. Maybe they decided to start fresh somewhere else?”

“It is highly unlikely that either Angelus or Spike would pass up the opportunity to confront a Slayer. One of Spike’s several titles is Slayer of Slayers.” Giles commented.

Willow and Tara entered the shop then, carrying two large boxes. “We got everything, Giles.” Willow said, setting the boxes on the counter. “Hey Wesley, Cordelia.”

“Willow. And this is?” Wesley asked about the blonde witch.

“Tara.” Willow said, smiling as Tara blushed.

“It is a pleasure, Tara. What are the contents of the boxes?” Wesley inquired.

“They are personal items from Spike’s crypt. We’re going to use them with the things you brought from Angel’s place to do the location spell.” The redhead answered.

“How will this spell work?” Wesley asked. In his experience, location spells were tricky things. “Angelus is proficient enough in magicks to block his and Spike’s locations.”

“We think we found a way around that.” Willow said, pulling out containers of herbs. “A normal spell won’t work, you’re right, because a simple blocking spell would prevent even a powerful witch from seeing their location in a scrying pool or mirror.”

“However, if the spell was performed so that a person was used as the focus of the spell, a person with some magickal abilities, then Angelus would be unable to block it.” Giles finished for her.

“A person…you mean—“ Wesley began.

“We’re going to cast the spell on two of us.” Willow stated.

“Two?” Cordelia asked. “Why two?”

“We can’t be completely sure that Angel is Angelus and that he is with Spike. So we need two people, one focused on each. Wesley will have to be one of them.” Willow told her.

“Why Wesley?” The cheerleader asked.

“Because the person has to be at least vaguely familiar with the person being located and have magickal abilities. That leaves me. Will you, Willow, be the other?” Wesley asked.

“No, Tara is going to be the one for Spike. I need to be separate, in case they show back up.” Willow said, concern for her girlfriend obvious in her voice.

“We haven’t much time, so we’d better begin.” Giles said, setting up the spell.

•••

“Ouch.” Wesley rubbed the back of his head. “Why do spells hurt so much?” Tara grimaced also, cradling her aching skull.

“Did it work?” Cordelia asked from the safety of the loft, where she, Xander, Anya, and Buffy had watched Giles and Willow cast the spell.

“Can either of you see the vampires?” Willow asked.

Wesley closed his eyes, focusing his mind on Angel. He saw nothing, nothing at all. “Nothing.”

“I see Angel.” Tara said softly.

“What?!” Willow squeaked.

“I think Spike’s looking at Angel.” The blonde said, her eyes still closed. “He looks like he’s asleep.”

“Of course—it’s daylight out. Vampires would be resting at this time.” Wesley realized. “I was seeing what Angel was seeing—nothing.”

“Spike just went back to sleep, I think.” Tara said, opening her eyes.

“So you two see what they see?” Buffy said. “How weird is that?”

Giles grimaced. “This might not have been such a good idea.”

“Why not?” Xander asked.

“Because Wesley and Tara will be able to see everything the vampires do—including any…” Giles’ voice faded away.

“Bad, evil vampirey things?” Buffy finished for him. Giles nodded.

“It shouldn’t be too bad, since they can focus on other things, right?” Willow said worriedly.

“Perhaps, although they will always be attuned to what the vampires are doing. At least we will know if they start to kill.” Giles said, still frowning severely.

“Do you have a place we could rest? I think the spell took a lot out of both of us.” Wesley asked. Indeed, both he and Tara looked rather exhausted.

“Of course. Why don’t you two rest at my flat? The rest of us can stay here and research.” Giles handed Wesley his keys. “Do call us as soon as they move about, so that we can determine where they are.”

•••

Wesley stretched out on the couch. He had never felt this tired before. It was like someone was pressing down on him, weighting him down. The ex-Watcher rolled over on the couch, trying to get comfortable. He’d insisted that Tara take the spare bedroom, leaving him Giles’ lumpy sofa.

Tara tossed on the mattress. She couldn’t get comfortable; the bed just didn’t feel right. It was too warm, too flat. She thought about asking Wesley to switch—the sofa would be much better. She punched the pillow, snarling into it. If she didn’t get any sleep, she wouldn’t be able to focus on the spell later.

•••

Spike lifted his head, staring down at his sleeping sire. He’d been overjoyed when Angelus had accepted him resuming their old sleeping patterns—Spike draped over Angelus like a vampiric blanket. The blonde had slept better these past days than he had in over a century.

Grinning evilly, the younger vampire licked down Angelus’ neck, eliciting a snarl from his sire. The brunette wrapped his arms around Spike, rolling them over. Whiskey eyes flecked with gold caught Spike’s sky-blue ones, making the blonde shiver.

“Good evening, childe.” Angelus rumbled, thrusting his erection into Spike’s groin. The blonde reached down, fondling the engorged flesh. Angelus shifted into gameface, growling as his childe began to jerk him off.

•••

Wesley groaned, rubbing his eyes. He hadn’t had an erotic dream in months, but this one, with the playful blonde, had left him achingly hard. The opened his eyes, only to find Tara standing over him. He shifted quickly, covering his erection with a blanket.

“What is it, Tara?”

The blonde witch sat down on the couch next to Wesley. “Can you feel it?” Tara asked, moaning. “Look through his eyes, Wesley.”

The dark-haired man watched as Tara slid back on the couch, running her hands over her body. Something was very wrong—Tara was painfully shy, not to mention very much in love with Willow. The ex-Watcher closed his eyes, focusing on Angelus. He hoped to find some answers there.

A moment later, his eyes shot open as he turned to the writhing witch. Wesley reached over, dragging her into his lap as he captured her mouth in a brutal kiss, their eyes fluttering closed again. Tara responded by pulling viciously at his clothes. In mere moments, they were naked, biting and sucking on each other. Tara screamed softly as Wesley thrust hard into her. They coupled madly, snarling and clawing at each other.

•••

Angelus watched as Spike pulled on the tight leather clothes he’d gotten for his childe. They suited him well, better even than the black denims he’d adopted as his own. The older vampire’s eyes settled on the healing bite marks on Spike’s neck. His blonde childe, on the rare occasions when he woke before his sire, was unparalleled at wake-up sex.

“Come, childe, I’m hungry.” Spike grinned, following Angelus out of the hotel and into the night.

•••

“Wesley! Did you and Tara see anything?” Giles asked over the phone. He and Buffy were about to return to his flat to check on the pair when the phone had rung.

“I see. We’ll be there shortly.” Giles replaced the receiver, turning to the gang.

“Angelus and Spike are together. In San Francisco.” He said to the group. “Feeding.” Buffy jumped up, grabbing stakes and other weaponry.

“We’re going up there?” Cordelia asked as she helped gather supplies.

“They have to be stopped, no matter what.” Buffy said, although the pain she felt at having to stake Angelus again was obvious.

Wesley and Tara were waiting when the gang arrived. “Are you ok?” Willow asked, taking in Tara’s odd, mischievous appearance.

Tara nodded, avoiding her gaze. Wesley answered for both of them. “We are fine. The spell is quite draining. That is all.” Giles raised an eyebrow at Wesley’s even but commanding tone of voice.

“We had better get going. Will you two be able to tell us where to go?” Wesley and Tara nodded, following the group out to the cars. No one commented when Wesley and Tara piled into the back of Giles’ car together, leaving Willow to sit alone in the front with the Watcher.

•••

Barry peered into the Magic Box. <Shit.> The store was abandoned, as had been Spike’s crypt. He swore, returning to his car. Lilah was not going to be happy, not at all. Sighing, he decided to try the Watcher’s place, hoping to find someone to beat up.

The assistant thanked whatever demons watched over him when he pulled up near the Watcher’s flat. It looked like everyone was there—literally. He couldn’t see any vampires, though. He got out of his car, creeping closer so that he could hear the excited chatter as the young people piled themselves and a lot of gear into several cars.

After they had driven away, Barry flipped open his cell phone. “Lilah? Good news. Angelus is with Spike, and they’re in San Francisco.”

Barry whistled merrily as he drove back to Los Angeles. Lilah had been so pleased he’d located the vampires that she’d let him come home, deciding to send someone else to collect her new toy.

•••

Spike laughed, dragging Angelus onto the dance floor. Angelus echoed the laughter, pulling Spike flush to his body. The vampires writhed to the music, drawing appreciative stares from the other dancers. After several minutes, the brunette vampire grabbed his childe, carrying him out the back of the club to a dark alleyway.

The blonde snarled as his back hit a brick wall. Angelus pushed on his shoulders until Spike fell to his knees on the pavement, then thrust his groin at his childe’s face. Spike caught on, unzipping his sire’s trousers and freeing a throbbing erection. Angelus braced himself against the wall, leaning his forehead on the bricks, as Spike swallowed him to the root, then began sucking.

Spike clutched Angelus’ legs, using him as leverage as the older vampire began to thrust into his mouth. The blonde relaxed his throat, allowing the large cock to slide more easily. He heard from the rough panting above him that Angelus was close. Freeing one hand from its grasp, Spike reached up, squeezing his sire’s testicles firmly. He ran his tongue down the sensitive underside of the huge cock in his mouth, scraping his fangs along the sides.

Angelus howled, bucking in Spike’s mouth as he filled his childe’s mouth with cold semen. He yanked Spike up, slamming him against the wall as he caught the blonde’s mouth, sharing his fluids. They kissed, nipping and biting, for several minutes, until Angelus reached between them to free Spike’s leaking erection. When he began to fist his child, Spike broke the kiss, panting.

“Harder, Angelus.” Spike moaned, thrusting into the brunette’s hands. “More.”

Angelus grinned, complying. His childe had been good that night, obediently following his orders, so he would reward him. “Bite, childe.” Angelus bared his neck, allowing Spike to feed. The younger vampire sunk his fangs in, drawing out sweet sire’s blood. He lapped at the wound for a moment, until Angelus pulled away. Spike growled, reaching for that bloody neck, but Angelus just laughed and replaced his hand on Spike’s cock with his mouth. The blonde’s head hit the wall as he howled out his release, filling his sire’s mouth with his come.

•••

Giles looked back in the rearview mirror and nearly ran off the road. Wesley and Tara were wrapped around each other, their hands disappearing in each other’s clothing. “What on earth—“

Willow looked back and screamed. “Tara!”

Tara and Wesley turned glassy eyes on the pair in the front seats. They didn’t bother disentangling themselves, nor removing their hands from very private areas. “What?”

“What the hell are you two doing?” Giles said, having regained control of the car.

Wesley looked at Tara, whose face was twisted in a smirk. “Whatever we want to, Ripper.”

“Unless you want to join in, Red.” Tara said, leering at Willow.

Willow paled. “Giles? Why do they sound like…”

“Like Angelus and Spike?” Giles said, his hands shaking on the wheel. “I don’t know, but it must have to do with the spell.”

Willow thought frantically. Then it hit her. “They can see what Angelus and Spike are seeing. What if they can feel what they’re feeling, or something?”

“Then all of Angelus and Spike’s thoughts and feelings might be flowing through the link into Wesley and Tara.” Giles added, paling further. “Those intrusions must be overwhelming their own personalities.”

“Goddess, what do we do? What if they try to…” Willow’s voice drifted off as she watched Wesley and Tara resume their necking. She turned away in horror as Wesley pulled Tara into his lap, their next activities very clear.

“We must find Angelus and Spike. Once they’re dead, Tara and Wesley should be free of their influence.” Giles spoke.

“Drive faster.” Willow said, covering her ears. “Can’t you all restrain yourselves?” She yelled into the back seat, where snarls and groans began in earnest.

“Bugger off, witch.” Tara snarled back, sinking down on Wesley’s cock. She grinned at Willow’s pained gasp, then began riding the Watcher, howling her pleasure.

“At least we know what Angelus and Spike are doing.” Giles said, gasping. “Maybe the urge to feed doesn’t transfer the same, since the vampires have fed already.”

“I hope so.” Willow said, choking back tears as her girlfriend fucked in the back seat.

•••

“What’s with them?” Buffy asked as she extracted herself from the car. The gang watched, mouths agape, as Tara draped herself on Wesley, who was looking much more menacing than they’d ever seen him.

“The spell has had some unexpected side effects. We have to find Angelus and Spike NOW!” Willow screamed, burying her head in Giles’ shoulder.

“What do you mean?” Buffy asked. “Cut that out!” She said to Tara, who was licking Wesley’s neck.

“Buffy, it seems that Wesley and Tara have absorbed some of Angelus’ and Spike’s… personality traits, due to the spell. There is no way to reverse it until the vampires have been killed.” Giles explained. “Unfortunately, Angelus and Spike have a very close relationship.”

“Do we know where they are?” Xander said, hoping to get this over with before he retched. The sight of Tara and Wesley sucking face wasn’t the most pleasant thing he’d ever seen. Then again, the mental image of Angel and Spike together wasn’t any better.

“We do know that; they seem to be willing to tell us where the vampires are.” Giles said, leading the group down the street. “But keep up with them—if they wander off, we might not be able to find them.”

•••

“Peaches, isn’t that one of yours?” Spike said from his perch on the wall. Angelus spun around, cursing at the sight of Cordelia pushing her way through the crowd.

“Yes.” He hissed, his face shifting. “That stupid bitch. Still hungry?”

“Yeah, but I’m not sure it’s such a good idea, sire.” Spike pointed at the others who had appeared. “The whole gang’s here.”

Buffy spotted them first and pulled the rest with her. “Angelus!” She shouted, bringing out a stake.

“Slayer. What brings you to San Francisco?” Angelus asked, lounging against the wall.

“You. You’re dust, Deadboy.” Xander said, sneering.

Spike was paying more attention to the others. He cocked an eyebrow when Wesley pushed Tara against the wall, consuming her mouth. Last he’d heard, Tara was still bedding Red. Wasn’t this an interesting development?

“Quit that!” Anya said, slapping Wesley on the head. The ex-watcher spun around, growling menacingly.

“Do that again, bitch.” He snarled at the young woman. Tara, too, was growling.

“Wesley seems to have grown a spine.” Angelus remarked, amused by the small scene. “Any particular reason for this new facet?”

“Nothing you need to know about, Angelus.” Buffy said, charging him. Soon the two vampires were fighting the combined forces of a Slayer, Watcher, witch, Xander, and Anya. Wesley and Tara held back, watching the fray.

“Think we should lend a hand, sire?” Tara said, stroking Wesley’s arm.

“In a moment.” Wesley pulled Tara up for one last kiss. As one, they turned, chanting softly.

Buffy just missed Angelus and was about to try again when an invisible force threw her backwards. She hit the pavement with a whoosh. Xander landed on top of her, and she turned her head to see Giles, Cordelia, Willow and Anya similarly incapacitated.

“This is new.” Angelus said, appraising Wesley and Tara. “May I ask why you did that?”

Wesley grinned. “They were hurting you.” Tara nodded, smirking.

“And why would you care?” Spike shot back.

Tara grinned widely. “Because we feel everything you feel, see everything you see.”

The two humans took several steps backwards as rage flowed along the link. Angelus and Spike moved faster, grabbing them by their necks. “Explain.” Angelus said, vamping out again.

Wesley clawed at his neck until Angelus relaxed his grip slightly. “Willow and Giles wanted to track you, but knew you would block a normal spell, so they altered one, making Tara and I the foci. There was a side effect, however. Instead of just being able to see what you saw, we feel what you feel, and can sense some of your thoughts. They’re stronger than our own.”

Spike looked over at his sire. “That’s why they were acting like, well, like you and me. Before, you know, against the wall.” Angelus studied his childe for a moment, then looked back at the humans. He applied some of the mental training he’d picked up over the years, blocking his thoughts from the humans.

“Can you stop the spell?” Angelus asked Wesley.

Tara spoke. “We can stop it, but unless you die, we can’t get rid of the parts of you that have embedded in us.”

Buffy and the others had recovered by this time and had returned to the vampires. “Let them go.” She ordered, picking up her fallen stake.

Angelus looked over at the battered Slayer, grinning madly. “I don’t think so. I like them.” With a nod to Spike, the vampires picked up the humans and jumped over the wall, disappearing into the black night.

“Get them!” Willow cried, flinging herself over the wall. The gang looked frantically, but found no trace of their friends.

“Goddess.” Willow whispered, sinking to the sidewalk. Buffy sat down next to her.

“We’ll find them. And when we dust Spike and Angelus, they’ll be back to normal.” She reassured her friend, knowing that the chances of finding Tara and Wesley before they were killed or turned was slim. Then she’d have to stake two of her friends.

“This is so not good.” Xander said, gathering Anya in his arms. No, things had just gone from bad to worse.