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Animal - Ch. 18
I watch Buffy from the corner of my eye drink her second cup of coffee this morning. Granted she’s only slept two hours, maybe, but with everything, and I’m really thinking about the everything being Angel, I can’t help but worry.
“You know I found this really nice dress last night with Angel,” I hear her say, but the words don’t really register, “It was hot pink and just barely covered my ass…Willow!”
My head snaps in her direction and I shake my head. “Huh?”
Her eyes soften and she sets her cup down on the kitchen counter. “Will, you’ve been a space cadet for the past few minutes. What gives?”
I shrug and think of how to ask how she’s handling all of this without sounding mother heny. “Nothing, just thinking, gettin’ lost in the big old space that is my brain,” I manage lamely.
Her eyebrow raises and she moves in front of me, pressing me against the kitchen counter. Her arms lace around my waist as she gathers me in her arms. “You are a horrible liar, Will.”
Her smile and nearness cause me to give in and I rest against her, leaning my forehead against hers. “I know,” I pout quietly. “Really, I’m worried about you. How you’re handling Angel and stuff.”
I feel her shrug as she says, “We talked a bit last night. Dawn sent him. And you know Angel, can’t help wanting to get on that tarnished white steed of his to try and save the day.”
“Still,” I try to argue, “it’s a lot.”
We both still as we hear the front door open and the rest of our team arrive. We hear Debra greet Alex, Elliot and Olivia as she ushers them into the living room. “We can rain check this conversation for later, baby,” Buffy says then plants a soft kiss on the corner of my mouth.
“’Kay,” I agree straightening up. I grab our coffee cups and head to the living room to fill everyone in on what happened after Buffy and Angel left to check on Vlad’s tip. We round the corner into the living room at the same time, both of us stopping to take in the people gathered there. Elliot is sitting on the arm of the couch next to Olivia and Alex. Deb’s got the recliner closest to us, Jimmy has his usual spot, the tattered recliner we dragged from his house and Vlad looks like a giant on a dwarf’s couch as he sits on the far end of the couch closest to Jimmy.
We had to break out the air mattress for him last night, but he didn’t quite fit. The tattered piece of plastic lies in a heap over by the dining room table. I look at Buffy and see my thoughts reflected in her eyes. How we manage to collect people especially people so…unique is beyond either one of us. She smiles at me and starts in, “Good morning everyone.”
There are pleasantries exchanged while I go over to my laptop and cue up the T.V. to act as a monitor. I power on the T.V. and pull up the address of the building Buffy gave me this morning.
“So, what did you find out?” Olivia asks.
“Maybe her spot,” Buffy answers. “Will, you ready?”
I look up at her and nod.
“This building here,” Buffy says, pointing to a satellite image of a four story apartment complex north of Harlem, “Angel and I cased it last night. The thing was crawling with vamps.”
“And?” Elliot asks from his perch.
“And, there hasn’t ever been one in the city since I started living here. It’s our first solid lead on finding her,” Buffy answers. Her face breaks into a genuine smile as she says, “That and I saw her.”
A few mouths drop and she continues, “It was lucky, but we couldn’t do anything. Angel and I were way outnumbered. So we hung back and watched her go inside. We watched the place until just before dawn. She’s in there.”
“See, I did good.” Vlad grins from ear to ear. He really is a sweet guy. We talked a little last night trying to figure out how to help him.
“Fucking fantastic,” Debra spits from the chair. “So when do we go in and get my brother?”
“Soon,” I say.
Her eyes go large and she snaps, “Soon? What the fuck is that supposed to mean. If we know where she is, let’s get moving.”
“Hey,” Buffy barks, “First, watch your tone with my fiancé and two, when I say we were outnumbered, I’m talking massacre here. There are at least seventy vamps in that place. I’m good Debra, I’m not that good. Even with Angel fighting by my side. We would be dead.”
“There’s more of us today,” Olivia offers.
“Raph,” Jimmy speaks up finally, “You saw Buffy fight that demon last night. It didn’t look as strong as some of the vamps that I’ve seen fight. If there really are that many in there, it’s a problem.” He runs his hand through his hair and then says, “And as much as it kills me to say this, vamps are fucking tough to kill. They’re fucking strong and can break anyone of us, Red and Buffy aside, with one hand.”
“He’s right,” Buffy tried to reason, “This isn’t the old west and we aren’t pulling a John Wayne.”
“You got an idea, Cupcake,” Jimmy smirks.
“Actually, yes,” she says, beginning a light pace across the living room. I should have known. I also know that the idea she has I’m not going to like even if I haven’t heard it. “There’s four stories and we have to assume that there’s one vamp per room in that place. With the attacks on the Council, we’re also short slayers.”
“And the assumption that we need to draw?” Alex asks.
“Well, I was thinking that easiest solution to getting rid of the vamps is to blow the place up,” Buffy says, stopping her pace of the living room floor.
“Not with my brother in there!” Deb tries to shoot the idea down.
Buffy rolls her eyes and says, “We’d get him out first.”
“Huh?” Elliot asks.
“Come again,” Olivia and Alex say at the same time.
“No fucking way,” Deb states.
Yep, see I knew I wasn’t going to like the idea.
“Cupcake, we can’t just go around blowing things up,” Jimmy says slowly.
My lover’s hands go to her hips and she shakes her head. “Look she’s started this. I’m trying to end it. If she wins, we’re talking no more slayers. Which means humans become fodder. Apocalypse for everyone. War remember? I’ve blown up schools and whole towns before to stop it. One little apartment building isn’t going to make much of a diff.”
“Town,” I get out quickly, “it was only one town.” I look between everyone making sure they get my clarification. The plural makes it sound worse than what it actually is.
“Will,” she warns lightly. “I’m just saying in the face of the harbingers of doom and death, one tiny little apartment building is small potatoes.”
Shaking my head, I try to wrap my head around what Buffy just said. Blow a building up? You’ve got to be kidding me. “There has to be another way,” I say.
“Better idea, Olivia?” Willow asks.
“Uh,” I stammer and feel Alex’s hand on my thigh giving it a gentle squeeze in support, “well, uhm, not really. Not yet. But Buffy we can’t go around blowing up buildings. What about civilians?”
“We can clear the area or at least try,” the blonde answers.
“You said she’s started a war right?” I ask and continue as she nods her head, “Well, it just seems to me that if she started it, she’s the one coordinating it. Those other vampires have to be getting their direction from her.” An idea begins to take shape in my head so I think out loud, “She has to be communicating with them. What if we did some surveillance, see if we can get information to help the other slayers to stop the other vampires? We pass that information along and create some type of diversion to try and clear the building of some of the vampires before we go in?”
I watch as everyone mulls the idea over. Buffy’s the first to speak, “The extra info would be good, but we’re still way out numbered.”
“I could use a spell or two to try and thin the numbers,” Willow offers as she sits on the arm of the recliner where Jimmy sits.
“A spell?” Alex asks. I turn my attention to her and see her look a little out of sorts. It’s not something she is very often, but when she’s a little shocked her lips part in this particular way.
“I have a few sunlight spells that work really well. Buffy, there’s also the option that we lure them out and take care of them that way or oh, we could like be all sneaky and just try to get Dexter out or get her alone,” Willow throws a few ideas out all of them sounding better than blowing a building up.
I watch as the slayer’s mouth sets itself in a grim line. Her eyes skirt to Debra as she runs her hand through her hair. “Will,” she stops and turns her attention to Deb, “Deb, I…God this sucks, but I have to say it, we have to assume that he’s dead or at least been turned.”
“No,” Debra spits, “we fucking don’t. He’s alive.”
Buffy shakes her head, but her resolve increases, as she stands up straighter. “I don’t like it anymore than you do, but even you can’t remember if he was alive before they tried to kill you.”
“Sweetcheeks,” Jimmy cuts in, “I…my partner’s…”
“Don’t,” Debra shakes, standing up from the recliner, “I don’t need to hear this shit.” She spins away from the living room and heads towards the bedroom that I think belongs to Jimmy.
Without prompt, Jimmy stands and follows her. I get it. But I think that Buffy may be right. This woman or thing hasn’t shown much mercy. Debra survived her stay with her, if only by sheer stubbornness.
“So,” Elliot finally speaks, “we do a stake out and tap the place?”
We all turn our attention to Buffy who shrugs. “Baby,” Will says, “it’s actually a good idea. We can pass any information we get back to Xander and Dawn then maybe they can stop the other vampires. Find out where they’re hiding or what they’re doing next.”
Buffy’s head slowly nods and she goes to sit down in the recliner vacated by her partner. “I was kinda looking forward to blowing something up,” she pouts.
I shut my eyes briefly to try and stifle my groan. She’s nuts. That’s the only theory that explains it.
Willow laughs and I open my eyes to watch her supportively run her hand along Buffy’s back.
“You both are nuts,” Elliot says what I’m thinking.
For their part, Buffy and Willow laugh and nod. Buffy grins at me and says, “I know. It just makes life more interesting.”
“Says you,” Willow scoffs, “I have to live with you.”
Buffy looks up at her lover and sticks her tongue out. “You love me. I know it. You know it.”
The redhead rolls her eyes and resumes talk of actual business. “Then I’ll leave you cop types to actual cop type work. I have a meeting in an hour at the office.” She gets up and extends a hand to Buffy, “Come on, shower.” Turning to us, she says, “I’ll send Buffy and Jimmy along in a bit and catch up with everyone later.”
Elliot, Alex and I watch Buffy and her partner disappear around the corner and I say, “So I guess that leaves us…?”
Elliot smirks and shrugs, “We should head in and at least sign in. Get the paperwork started on the taps.”
“I’ll contact the A.U.S.A. and let her do the grunt work on securing the warrants for the taps.” Alex stands and I follow.
“Cabot, court?” Elliot asks.
“No, thank God. I’ve got a few motions to write and then a nearly clear slate. I’ll come by later and drop the warrant off. I also want to catch up with Munch and Fin to see if they have anything going that I need to get them out of.”
“Munch and Fin in trouble?” I ask incredulous.
Alex’s left eyebrow arcs. “I understand, unlike the two of you, they are paragons of virtue, but on the off chance, I’d like to cover my bases.”
Elliot snorts and I roll my eyes. I grab Alex’s attaché and follow them out the door, not bothering to lock it behind me. I would normally, if it were anyone else, but with these people I think they’ll be fine.
Buffy once warned me that once you know you can’t unknow. There’s a part of me that should have listened. That maybe I should have just let well enough alone and not pursued the truth. I’m still trying to figure out what it all means or maybe it doesn’t mean anything at all.
We hit the street and Elliot slips behind the wheel while I hold the passenger door open for Alex, I wait for her to get in before closing it and hop in the back seat. I stare out the window and go through my list of to-dos for the day. Alex will secure the warrant for us and once that’s done, I’ll head down and grab the equipment and the van. Buffy and Jimmy should be there by then and we can start the stakeout.
With any luck this thing will be wrapped up by the end of the week and I go back to running down scumbags that can’t keep it in their pants. Sighing, I lean back against the seat and hope that’s the case.
Things had just started to get clear…or clearer at least. I’m by no means ready to start the life in Brooklyn with Alex, but I’m ready to start making compromises for a life outside of S.V.U. It may be what I do and it may define me to an extent, but I want more. I need more.
I just hope Alex wants those same things, to at least begin to build something together outside of work and our stolen moments at each other’s apartments. Maybe once all of this goes away we can figure something out. We both know that if we keep an us in the mix that someone will have to leave the squad. It’s not looked down upon as it used to be, but it’s still a risk.
It’s also one thing Buffy and Willow will eventually have to face, if the doctor continues to work her wife’s cases with her. It’ll open the door for motions upon motions that their A.D.A. won’t want to deal with.
“Liv,” Alex’s gentle voice causes me to look over. She’s got the back door open and there’s a small smile playing at the corner of her lips. “Elliot doesn’t want to play chauffeur.”
I grin. “Wouldn’t want to make him feel like a servant.”
“Of course not,” she teases back. Her hand gently squeezes my upper arm then her elegant fingers trail down my arm and over my hand. I shiver under her touch as she says, “I’ll be by soon to drop the warrant off. You guys be ready.”
I nod as I squint against the morning sun. “We’ll be ready.”
“Good,” she says, offering me one last lingering glance before turning and heading up the steps to the D.A. building.
The back of the van is cramped and a little warm for this time of year so I loosen my necktie, take it off, shove it my pocket and open the few top buttons on my shirt. How I got stuck on stakeout duty with Cupcake’s ex is beyond me. Deb really ain’t talkin’ to me right now so she stayed at the apartment. My partner and the two other D’s had the shifts for the past twelve hours and I suppose my number came up.
But.
It still sucks to be stuck in a van with Angel…what kinda name is that for someone like him anyhow?
I guess it fits right along with the names like Buffy and Willow, but…I mop my face with my hand and clear some of the perspiration. Let’s face it, I’m just cranky ‘cause what I really wanna do is punch the guy in the family jewels and tell him to stay the fuck away from my girls.
Of course that would piss Buffy off and she wouldn’t talk to me for a month, but…hell it may just be worth it. Is it a protective, pissing contest?
Yeah, yeah it is.
The only thing is that it just may be worth it. I heard the stories. Of how much he’s helped which I’m thankful for ‘cause he’s helped keep both of my girls alive at times, but he’s also tried to kill them.
Soul or no soul it don’t fly.
I’m just thankful that the other guy, Spazz, Puke, Spunk…whatever something a guy shouldn’t be named didn’t show up.
I might just die trying to stake his sorry excuse for a waste of space. A small beep pulls me from my thoughts and I dial up the volume on the monitor. It’s all basic chatter. Nothing serious. I turn my attention to the video monitors and watch a few of its inhabitants come and go. No visual sighting of the dark haired bitch that’s been causing all the fuckin’ ruckus. She has been on the phone though talking to someone or thing named Matsui. The information relayed was about another set of attacks against Princess’ own slayer school.
Hopefully it’ll get to them in time to prepare for the attack. The last conversation we had, I know that Xander, Dawn, Giles and some cat named Wood were downplaying the situation, but Dawnie gave me a call to let me know to be vigilant. I know from her tone that the attacks are a lot more vicious than what they’ve let Cupcake in on.
Knowing Buffy, it’s probably a good thing. She’d be on the first plane out to protect the girls that she still feels responsible for. Which shouldn’t surprise, some of the conversations we’ve had…well, all I can say is that I’m happy she’s here and not there. Angel shifts in his seat next to me and I see him cast a sidelong glance my way.
The cats been wearing a sulk since Buffy told him he was with me. As my partner would say what-the-fuck-ever. He got a problem he can bring it up; I’ll just have to end it. I study him openly now, my eyebrow raised as I take in the haircut and the clothes. I may not know much about Buffy’s taste in men, but for some reason he doesn’t strike me as her type.
I may be biased as Red’s the only one I’ve seen her with and I love Red just as much as I do my partner. I do know if he thinks he gonna come in here and fuck with them, vampire or not, I’ll find a way to make sure he ends up gettin’ cleaned up by a street sweeper.
Sighing, I rub my eyes and tire of the silence. Innocuous enough I ask, “First stakeout?”
His chin juts out and he shakes his head.
Alright I can take a hint. Fuck you too buddy.
I go back to watching the monitors and glance at my watch. Great. Three more frickin’ hours to sunrise and we call it a night. Knew I shoulda brought the paper.
I watch the minutes crawl by and the only sound I get is the ticking of my watch between the chatter on the mikes. The funny thing, watching these videos, is that these vamps are regimented. There are always between two to four around the front and the satellite feed TARU hooked up shows that there’re just as many around each side of building. Cupcake was also right, there’s at least seventy vamps in this place and there are five heat signatures on the top floor, six on the third, seven on the second and only one on the first. My guess is they got feeders for their army.
“You know, if you hurt her, I will kill you,” Angel’s voice sounds for the first time that night.
My head snaps around to him and I raise an eyebrow.
“If I had to pick someone that would be her type, it wouldn’t have been you,” he spits.
I take in his posture, slouched, arms folded with his bottom lip sticking out. Guy looks like a three year old in a time out. And type? “What the fuck are you talking about?” I ask.
“You know I’ve been sitting here trying to see it and I can’t.” He levels a glare at me, continuing his rant. “I hoped she would have found someone…younger and less…” he waves a hand at me, “you. So if this is some midlife crisis, and I’ve had a few, and you hurt her, soul or not, I’ll make you pay.”
Uh? I’m truly lost.
“How’d you do it? Ask her to marry you?” he seethes.
Me propose? Wait. I take a moment and review the last few moments of conversation. He thinks I’m marrying Buffy...Did he get high when I wasn’t looking.
He continues to glare at me and I’m trying figure out what to say. Should I tell them she’s not marrying me. Should I play with him and fuck with his head. I scratch my chin and rub my stubble.
“Look, Angelcakes, I can see why you’re upset. You’re you and you were her first in a lot of ways.” I turn a nasty smirk his way and say, “But bud I can tell you she ain’t an innocent teenager anymore.”
His face despite the lack of blood flow pinks and I continue on brazenly, “Fact that Buffy of mine can do this thing with her tongue…” I trail off and shake my hand like I burned it.
Yeah I’m a fuckin’ bastard. And if Cupcake finds out about this, she’ll ream me, but to fuck with him it’ll be worth it. I look at him and his jaw has dropped a little. Might as well go in for the kill.
“Willow absolutely loves it. Rocks her world.” I wink at him and give it a minute for him to catch up.
“What?” He gaps.
“Look numb nuts, maybe princess didn’t fill you in so let me clue you up.” I point a finger in his chest and spit, “If you came here to see who she was fucking that wasn’t you, go the fuck back to L.A. and stay your ass there. As for me proposing to my partner…I didn’t. She ain’t marrying me you ass. Her and Willow have been together about four years. She’s switched teams.”
His jaw nearly drops to the floor then he stammers, “You…Willow…her and Willow?”
I nod slowly.
“You didn’t pick up on the engagement rings both are sporting?”
He shakes his head as he sinks in his seat
I shake my head and say, “Pull your head from your ass. Talk to Buffy if you want the rest.”
My pocket vibrates and I pull my phone from my pocket, answering, “McAllister.”
“Old man, you and Angel can call it a night,” Buffy says. “We have what we need from the surveillance.”
“You sure?” I ask. I look down at my watch and see that we still have another hour and a half scheduled.
“Yep. Will sent the transmissions over to Dawn and they have enough info to go after the vamps tomorrow.”
“Roger that. We’ll pack it in. See you at home.”
“’Kay, be careful.” She ends the call and I slip the phone back in my pocket.
Least there’s some good news there. “Come on,” I say to Angel and move to the front of the van, “we’re done for the night.”
He doesn’t move, but instead just sits there still stunned by tonight’s little revelation.
I squeeze behind the wheel and pull away. Good. Maybe he’ll leave town now and I won’t have to kill him.