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Find and Seek -- by Echo
Rating: G
Description: Angel sees some things and comes up with a REALLY bad idea to take his mind off certain other things, sequel to Impressionistic Things.
Disclaimer: Don't sue me for borrowing. I know they belong to Joss Whedon.
Willow was sitting in Giles' apartment with Spike next to her. Everyone else had gone elsewhere. Angel, Cordelia, and Wesley had made plans to stay with Ms. Summers. The four of them plus Buffy and Riley had gone over to the Summers' house to get everything situated. She would never have believed it if she hadn't seen it herself. Angel had laughed. He threw back his head and laughed. He'd shook Riley's hand. She'd expected a little brooding. They'd asked her to come, but she refused. She had said she was going to the dorm to get some sleep, but when she got there, she hadn't wanted to sleep. She also discovered she didn't want to be alone. Her thoughts were drifting, and she didn't like their drift. She'd come back to the apartment hoping to find Giles. She'd found Spike watching TV. She was tired and she was trying to process Angel's reaction. Xander had hauled Anya home. Willow had never seen him so embarrassed.
"Sort of weird, don't you think, Red?"
"What weird?"
"The poof laughing."
"Yeah."
The two former watchers, Buffy, and Riley were talking to Joyce Summers downstairs. Cordelia had always liked Buffy's mom. She'd been really happy when Ms. Summers had suggested they stay here. Her own parents had left Sunnydale several months ago. Strange, but these people she used to think of as losers were more family to her than her parents. She missed them. She was in Buffy's old room unpacking her clothes when Angel walked in.
"Hey, Angel." He didn't respond. "Are you ok?"
"Yes, I'm fine."
"I'm proud of you."
"What?"
"I know it hurt you when you found out. You're holding up really good."
"Thanks. I'm just glad Giles told me before I got here."
"Yeah, that could have sucked earlier."
"I guess he was so worried about Riley, he forgot Spike."
"Yeah, stop and marvel at the weirdness there."
Wesley was amazed at Buffy. She was really making an effort to be nice to him. To include him. She'd never done that before. She introduced him to her mother as one of her former watchers. He'd liked Joyce Summers instantly. He liked the Riley fellow, too. He hoped Angel did. He was very polite and nice. Buffy obviously cared a great deal for him. He wondered what Angel and Cordelia were doing upstairs. Knowing Cordelia, probably talking about how Angel really felt about Buffy and Riley. Just then Cordelia appeared in the kitchen.
"Where's Angel?" Buffy asked.
"He decided to take a walk." Buffy got up. "Let him. It's not you, it's Spike."
Angel peeked into the window of the apartment. The TV was on. He could see Spike sitting on the couch. He moved over a little and saw Willow asleep on the couch next to him. She obviously trusted him if she was willing to fall asleep in his presence. Suddenly Spike shook her awake.
"Oh, rub it in."
"What?"
"Spike's such a threat I'll fall asleep next to him."
"Spike, I'm so tired I'd fall asleep next to Charles Manson right now."
"So go to your dorm and snore there."
"I do not snore."
"Fine, you don't snore. Just go to your place."
"I don't want to."
"Why?"
"It's too quiet in my room. I started thinking about Oz."
"You bother me."
"Then you leave." She curled back up on the couch.
Angel watched as Spike looked at her out of the corner of his eye. He moved his hand to touch her hair, but he stopped. He looked away. There was such wanting on his face. An idea started to form in Angel's head, but he had to make sure his instincts on part of it were right. He had to make sure he'd seen what he'd seen. It was the worst idea in the history of bad ideas, but it would give him something to concentrate on while he was here. Plus, if he was right, it would make Willow happy, and royally piss off Spike.
To be continued…
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