Spike turned to Methos with a calm outward appearance and said, “Dunno what you mean mate. Wanna clarify that for me?”

Methos stared at Spike, his eyes burning with a fire that was at odds with his bland expression. “Need I remind you, that the entire HOUSE heard you this morning?” He took a sip of his drink. “So, I shall ask you one more time, what exactly is going on between you and my Mother.”

Giles started laughing, “Looks like you are going to have to face the music Spike. Could not have happened to a better man… errr vampire.” Giles snorted and slapped Spike on the shoulder.

Spike sighed and scratched the back of his neck. “I know what has already happened. And I know what I want to happen, but it’s up to her.”

Methos nodded his head once, sharply. “Remember that. It IS up to her, and if you hurt her, in any fashion, you will have me to deal with.”

Spike nodded, “Understood.”

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

Buffy crossed her arms and fixed her gaze on Tannic. “Why do I have the feeling that you know a hell of a lot more than you are telling us?”

Tannic sneered at Buffy, “What we do is none of your business. We are the Powers That Be. You do not have the authority to question me, or my decisions.”

Buffy darted forward, and grabbed Tannic by the throat, choking off his airway. “You had best remember who it is you are speaking to, CHILD, before I loose what little control of my temper that I have left.” She shook him roughly, a rumbling growl issuing from her chest. “Now you will tell me everything that you had Whistler do, and the reasons behind your instructions, or I shall reach inside your pathetic little brain and tear the information out myself.”

Deais placed a hand gently on Buffy’s shoulder. “Gently Lady. We all wish to hear what he has to say.” Turning to Tannic, she glared at him. “I for one, am very interested in why you saw fit to remove the Cursed One from his appointed duties.”

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

Spike looked at Methos and started to say something, then closed his mouth and shook his head, muttering to himself.

Catching Spike’s actions from the corner of his eye, Methos quirked one eyebrow and asked, “Is there something you wanted Spike?”
“Dunno if I should, or not. I mean it could be something she doesn’t want people knowing about, and if that’s the case, you wouldn’t know anyway, but I can’t see myself asking her about it without sounding rather intrusive, so… what do you think?” Spike said in a long, rather rambled rush.

Giles lurched to his feet, having consumed five glasses of whiskey, and headed to the bathroom. As he passed the tied-up watcher, he hollered at Spike. “Get rid of this lump of trash, would you. He is starting to stink up the place. I nice long walk off the short end of the pier should do nicely.” He stumbled into the bathroom and closed the door behind him.

Spike and Methos shared a look and laughed. “Looks like ol’ Rupes is right snookered. He’s lost that uptight attitude of his.” Spike snarked.

“Indeed, although I suspect he’s not as drunk as he would like us to think.” Methos said with a wry grin. “More likely he’s trying to give you some space to ask what it is you are stumbling over.”

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


Buffy turned to Deais and asked softly, “Just what was Angelus’ appointed task?”

“He is charged with protecting the Slayer, to teach her that not all demons are of evil intent.” Deais looked at Buffy. “He is supposed to keep her alive longer than the previous ones.

“Care to explain what he was doing in Sunnydale then?” Buffy said with deceptive calm.

“What do you mean? He was in Cleveland, where the Slayer is. That is where he was sent.” Deais said with a look of utter confusion on her face.

“That may be where you wanted him to be, but that not where he was.” Buffy smirked. “Who was sent to tell him where to go?”

“Tannic sent Whistler to tell him Lady.” An older-looking male figure stepped forward. “We were all here when Tannic told Whistler to tell the Cursed One his destination.” The male figure scratched his beard, “In fact his exact words were, ‘Tell the Cursed One where he must go and what he must do.’ Didn’t think much of it until now, but if the vampire was not in Cleveland, but in Sunnydale, what was the reason behind it?”

Buffy nodded, “Indeed Kylian, and I think we shall ask Whistler first.” She turned to Whistler and inquired, “What was the exact message Tannic sent you to take to Angelus?”

Whistler swallowed and darted a glance at Tannic, who was currently being choked by Buffy. “Well, it was like this. The bosses wanted Angel sent to Cleveland to watch over the Slayer, but Tannic thought he’d be of more use in Sunnydale, on the Hellmouth, seeing as it didn’t have a slayer present.”

“So,” Buffy said with a snarl, “Tannic here took it upon himself to go against the wishes of his fellows, and send the vampire to Sunnydale. Without their knowledge or consent.”

“Yes Lady, he did.” Whistler said quietly, looking very nervous.

Buffy snapped her fingers and summoned another ceatric. “Hold this imbecile.” She shoved Tannic at it, and turned away, her thoughts racing.

Tannic started to struggle against the hold the ceatric had on him, his voice rising in indignation and outrage. “Let me GO! I command you to let me go!”

Deais shook her head and told the ceatric to silence Tannic. It did so by placing one of its four hands over his mouth.

Buffy paused in her pacing and looked up, “Someone summon Angelus here please. I think it would be best to have him on hand for this little interrogation.”


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

Spike sighed softly and began. “Yesterday, just before the fight began, Buffy did something that has me confused. Well she did and said something, and I was wondering what it meant.”

“What did she say and do Spike?” Methos inquired.

“She sliced open her finger, rubbed the blood on my lips, and made me lick it off.” Spike ran a hand over his face. “Then she muttered something I didn’t quite catch, and told me that they wouldn’t be able to kill me while she was alive.”

Methos dropped his glass and stared in shock at Spike. “She did what?!?!?”