A/N: We're finally going somewhere folks. Thanks to everybody for reviewing. Love you guys!

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Buffy was grim as they got back into the limo in the garage parking lot of Wolfram and Hart, but stayed silent until they were off the property and back on the highway. She had made her decision the moment she’d realized that the law firm was using Bell the same way her father was using her.

She tried to ignore the way she was dying inside.

She sent out her magicks to test the limo for listening devices before turning to Spike.

“We’ve got one week to get Bell out of there,” she said.

“Thought the silly bint told us two weeks,” Spike said as he searched for his pack of smokes. He scowled as he realized they were at home with his leather coat.

“She did. And that means it’ll take about a week, tops. Wolfram and Hart doesn’t fuck around when they want something.”

“And I’m taking it she just became our priority?”

“She knows what I am, Spike. And she told me that my father knows too. That he’s been doing all this shit deliberately.”

Spike saw the pain in her eyes as she finally told herself the truth.

“He wants something from us, pet.”

“Something from me. I mean, look what he did with Charles. He caged him up because he was unpredictable, then sent me in there to kill him. What do you think he’s gonna try and do with me? I don’t wanna have to fight him.”

“Violence is easy, pet. We need to out think your father here.”

She laughed softly, choking back tears.

“That’s funny. Bell told me almost the same thing.”

“Buffy, love.” He reached out and ran his fingers over her hair.

“We’ll sort this out.”

“And tomorrow we take on the Gustuuks.” Her voice was heavy, and Spike ached for the weight on her shoulders.

“Spike, its always something more, another fight. I just want this to stop.” She leaned into him, buried her face in shirt and breathed in deep. His scent was soothing, his hand on her hair gentle and steady.

He was the one constant in the chaos.

She lifted her head eventually and met the steady gaze of cerulean eyes.

“We need to get my car and go meet with Giles. He’s gotta know someway we can bust Bell out.”

*

Meanwhile, in a small town called Sunnydale, not so very far away…

A young Wiccan came awake gasping, shivering despite the summer heat. She felt a tremor go through her, saw a flash in her mind of terrible things.

Beside her, her lover awoke from her afternoon nap with similar discomfort.

“Tara? What is it, baby?”

“A witch, Willow. Sh-she’s in trouble. Needs our help.”

Willow reached out, sending threads of magick across the great network of energy that ran the world around. She sensed the woman, felt her fear and pain, but was unable to pinpoint her location; there was a black wall masking everything but her essence.

“Shhh…” she whispered, kissing Tara’s trembling mouth, trying to comfort her while dealing with her own levels of intuitive fear.

“We’ll contact the Coven in England. They’ll help us find her.”

“S-soon, Willow. We don’t have much time. She’s very scared.”

And Willow, who had learned long ago to protect the innocents of Hellmouth she’d been unfortunate enough to be born upon, wrapped her arms around her lover and wondered what the day would bring.

At the Chase Mansion, later that evening…

Cordy slid into the shower with not-so-pure thoughts on her brain. As she washed over her body, she imagined Angel’s hands in place of her own, fondling and sliding soapsuds into cracks and across sensitive flesh.

She was trembling by the time she shut the water off, reached for her towel and stepped out of the shower. Flipping her head over, she quickly toweled her hair and wrapped it up above her head.

The girl in the mirror looked more like a woman, with rosy cheeks and a flushed face, eyes wide and dark. She raised a hand to her mouth and traced the bottom lip with a shaking hand.

“Angel,” she whispered.

She was going to do it tonight.

Cordy realized that seducing Angel only one night after bonding and heavy necking wasn’t exactly, well, proper, but in reality it was a lot longer than one night. She’d been patient for years, quietly waiting for her vampire to wake up and realize she’d been there all along, loving him.

They’d shared quite a bit the night before. He’d confessed to her the sad story of his mortal life, his drunkenness and lazy nature, told her horror stories of how evil he had been once he had turned. It was almost as if he was determined to scare her away, to get her to turn her head in disgust for his past. But she’d been watching the real him, the redemption seeking him, for far longer than he realized.

He’d been working for her father since she was 13, but it was only recently that he’d come into her sphere of influence. It was only recently that she’d become noticeable enough to protect.

Or maybe it was just that her father had more enemies as of late, she thought as she wrapped her body in a towel and went into her bedroom..

So Cordy chose her outfit carefully, mind bent on the seduction of a hundred-and-some-odd-years vampire.

“Let’s see… Revealing but tasteful… Ugh, god no. Who’s mom was I channeling when I bought that?”

Her hand finally fell on her newest wardrobe acquisition, a midnight blue sheath dress from Express. It was quite nearly skin tight, and allowed for easy access. It was not the sort of dress one wore lightly.

She blow-dried her hair slowly, enjoying the sensual feel of it as it fell over her fingers. She imagined Angel doing the same, the tips of his fingers massaging her scalp and his lips caressed hers.

Eyeliner, cherry red lip gloss, high heeled shoes. Cordy put on each layer with care, with artistry, and with barely contained lust.

“Alright, broody boy,” she said as she turned around slowly in front of the mirror.

“Let’s see you try and resist this.”

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Ch. 21- Meddling Powers coming soon!