Spike smirked in amusement as he watched Anya bounce excitedly. “Don’t be thinking to experiment on this vamp, Demon Girl. I like my parts just where they are.”

Anya smiled at Spike and said, “Don’t worry Spike, Xander made me promise I wouldn’t touch any penis besides his.” She giggled softly, “I’m sure Buffy will tell me if I ask her though. About the removal of Angel’s penis and if it grows back.”

Methos threw back his head and laughed loudly. “Oh I’m sure she will explain it in great detail.”

Xander scowled at Anya, “I thought we had agreed not to discuss personal matters in public, Ahn.”

“This isn’t public Xander, this is family.” Anya replied with an innocent smile.

Dawn giggled and shook her head. “I may love Xander like a brother, Anya, but I don’t need to hear all about his… parts.” She grimaced in disgust.

Giles removed his glass and polished the lenses. “I concur. None of us need to know about Xander’s… parts.” He placed the glasses back on his face and adjusted them until they were comfortable. “Now, can we get back to the topic at hand?”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Buffy approached Angel, a wicked smirk gracing her lips. “Let’s see how much you enjoy this.” She traced the point of the dagger lightly down Angel’s torso, leaving a bubbling welt in its wake. She turned to Irnhe and said, “When you do this, you will need a heated dagger. Quite useful when the subject must not bleed to death.”

Mordecai nodded. “Everything she needs will be provided. You have my word on this.”

Buffy smiled at Mordecai as she traced the dagger around Angel’s navel. “I know you will provide. You always do.” Turning her attention back to Angel as he let out a strangled groan. “Is this getting your attention vampire?”

Angel bit back a scream, but was only partially successful. It came out as another strangled groan. He shook his head and tried to adopt a bored expression, until Buffy stuck the dagger’s tip into his navel and held it there. His entire body jerked and he shouted out in pain.

Irnhe chuckled, “Sounds like that got his attention.”

“Indeed, wonder how loud I can make him scream?” Buffy queried, as she traced the dagger’s point lightly down the length of Angel’s rapidly shrinking dick. “Oooo, I don’t think he likes this anymore!” Buffy said with snicker. She moved the dagger to Angel’s thighs and traced a dozen lines vertically from hip to knee, each line exactly a half inch from the one next to it. Buffy stepped back, admiring her handiwork and laughed at the look on Angel’s face. “Don’t worry vampire, I’m not finished with you yet.”

Mordecai stepped up beside Buffy and commented, “Your skills have improved since you were my student, my dear.”

“Thanks Mordecai. I do try to keep a hand in, from time to time.” Buffy stated, her head cocked to one side as she studied Angel and contemplated her next move. “You know, I’ve always wondered if vampires can regenerate all their body parts, given enough time and blood…,” she muttered to herself as she approached Angel again. “What do you think Angel?”

“I am not going to tell you anything, you psychotic bitch. Now let me go!” Angel snarled.

“Well, I guess I shall just have to find out for myself.” Buffy said with a grin. “Care to join me Irnhe, in a little scientific exploration?”

“I would be honored, My Lady.” Irnhe said as she stepped up next to Buffy.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~


“Right, back to Kronos.” Methos grimaced and look at Giles. “As I said she spent weeks torturing him for not obeying her commands. In the end, he was ready to do whatever she asked of him, if she would just stop the pain. When she was finished, he no longer had the inclination, or the ability, to violate anyone in the same manner again.”

“I thought immortals regenerated and recovered from their wounds rapidly and completely?” Anya asked a look of fascination on her face.

“Generally, we do. Depending on the age of the immortal of course. The older ones heal quite rapidly, even from mortal wounds.” Methos said, taking a drink of coffee.

“So how did she do it? I mean, how did she castrate him?” Anya asked leaning forward eagerly, deliberately oblivious to the pained looks her boyfriend was sending her.

“Just so you know, it took her several weeks to reach the point where she removed his equipment, but seeing as Angel attempted to touch Dawn, I don’t think she’ll have as much patience with him.” Methos explained. “As I said, she’s more than likely using her left-hand dagger, which cauterizes wounds as they are made, to carve a lasting impression on the vampire. And knowing her the way I do, she is more than likely ‘experimenting’ to see if his balls will grow back.” Methos shrugged.

“Somehow, I don’t see her being too concerned if they don’t grow back.” Willow said with a faint smile.

“She won’t be. Considering that she wanted to kill him outright.” Again, Methos shrugged. “She’ll take what she can get.” Suddenly Methos surged to his feet, his hand going automatically to his sword. “Someone is at the door.”

Spike stood up and approached the door. “Seeing as I’m hard to kill, let’s see who is behind door number one, shall we?” Thus said, he flung the door open to reveal their visitor.

Methos abruptly sheathed his sword and sat back down. “Damnit Cass, couldn’t you have at least called to warn me you were coming? Or do you get a perverse pleasure out of driving me up the wall?”

“Phones can be tapped, hence no phone call,” Cassandra said as she came to stand before Methos. “As for driving you up the wall, I’ll take any chance I can to torment you.” She shrugged. “I thought you might like to know what Joe has found out.”

Methos looked up at Cassandra and quirked an eyebrow. “And what has Joe found out that necessitated your dramatic arrival?”

Spike closed the door and leaned against the wall behind Xander, “Something tells me there is a story behind these two.”

Xander nodded, watching the byplay between the two immortals, “Yeah, kinda reminds me of Joyce and Giles.”

Cassandra cast a glare at the two males before returning her attention to Methos. “It seems that both sides of the Watcher’s Council are acting in tandem. They know we are here, and from what Joe has said, they have this idea to ‘take out’ Mr. Giles and blame us.”

“Oh my, Mother is not going to be pleased.” Joyce said as she came to stand beside Cassandra. “Not pleased at all.”