by Rob Sorenson

No one spoke for a full minute. Buffy slowly walked over and slumped on one of the two double beds in the room, beds now shared by nine shocked people. Well, not so much Willow and Wesley. They'd known about

this for hours. Still, there was a certain amount of numbness that Wesley could not shake. It was nearly incomprehensible. Xander was the first to find his voice.

"So...I take it that wasn't insane Slayer humor?"

Buffy simply handed the papers to Xander without a word.

Another minute of silence. He handed the papers back.

"Ok, guess not. This is...out there."

Buffy took a deep breath and got to her feet, facing the group. "We need to find out where exactly they're operating. I realize this is a shock, but it's actually a good thing. Now we can be the ones who get to them and put a stop to this. We've all been on defense for long enough.

It's time we take matters into our own hands. Now, the most important thing is to find out where exactly their base of operations is--" she stopped speaking, frowning deeply. "Am I boring you?"

Xander had nodded off. Faith smacked him on the back of his head, grinning as he jumped.

"Gaah! What?"

"Sorry, B." She fixed her eyes on Cordelia. "Guess I wore him out."

Cordelia merely rolled her eyes. Xander, in the meantime, was cowering beneath Buffy's glare. After waiting a beat to let her annoyance sink in, she continued.

"As I was saying before I was so rudely interrupted by snoring, we need to find out how to track them once we get there."

Wesley spoke up. "I have a bit on that. Apparently Disney World has underground tunnels that are used by employees to get from one section of the park to another without being seen. That's how the costumed characters appear and disappear the way they do."

"So we think the Council has offices next to Mickey and Minnie?"

"Essentially, yes."

"I don't know about that," Xander said. "If I were a betting man I'd guess they work near Cruella Deville or Captain Hook's office. Mickey and Minnie are too nice for the bad guys to associate with."

Angel couldn't resist. "Using that logic we should put your office next to Goofy's, I suppose."

"Yeah, well, at least I wouldn't be next to Eeyore, now would I?" Xander went on in a passable imitation of the patched donkey:

"Woe is me. Cursed with a soul. Nobody cares, but that's ok. I'll be over here disappearing into the fog in my big black coat. Pay no attention to me."

Spike snickered as Angel glowered at them. Faith elbowed Xander and gave him a dirty look. Buffy went on as if they hadn't spoken.

"Willow, we need to get down there."

"Already done. Everyone's booked on a flight out of JFK tomorrow morning, arriving in Orlando at--" Willow checked her notes--"11:45. Well....everyone except Angel and Spike."

The blonde vampire raised an eyebrow.

"It'd take us two days to drive. Can you teleport us again?"

"I guess. I've never tried teleporting anyone from a remote location, but since it's just two of you it shouldn't present a problem."

Angel was a little unnerved by the prospect, but said nothing. Buffy and Cordy picked up on it immediately. Buffy decided to quietly let him know after the meeting that Willow could handle it rather than embarrass

him. Cordy, on the other hand....

"Don't be a big chicken. Willow knows what she's doing."

"I'm not chick-- I'm not nervous about it. If Willow says she can do it, I believe her."

"Thank you, Angel." Willow smiled brightly.

Faith had a question.

"Ok, we know where we're going. Any idea what exactly happens when we get there?"

"I guess we go down to these tunnels and try to track them down," Buffy said. "If anyone has another idea, I'd love to hear it."

No one had anything to say.

"Ok, then. I assume you got us a place to stay, Wills?"

She nodded. "Contemporary Hotel. Best access to the parks. The Monorail train runs right through it." She smiled eagerly. "Plus, the building has this cool trapezoid shape."

They stared at her. Willow frowned.

"Excuse me for enjoying the architecture. I do it for a living, remember? You think these flights and hotel rooms get paid for by our good looks?"

Spike considered. "Well, we are an awfully good looking group."

This broke the tension a little. Buffy shook her head and smiled slightly.

"Ok, are we done here? Let's all go back to our rooms and get some sleep. It might be our last chance for a while."

Xander sighed heavily. "Only the truly evil would have headquarters under the happiest place on Earth."

On that note, everyone rose to leave. Xander lingered to speak with Willow for a moment, noticing Spike doing the same.

"Something I can do for you guys?"

Xander gestured toward Spike. "I'm not in a hurry if you want to go first."

Spike shrugged. "Just a quick question. Are all the circumstances going to be the same when we teleport this far?"

Willow grinned at him. "You mean the no clothing clause?"

"Right."

"I'm afraid so."

Spike and Xander exchanged looks, both with smiles on their faces. Willow looked from one to the other.

"What?"

Xander spoke, not breaking his amused stare at the vampire.

"Spike's not gonna tell Angel until the very last second. That about it?"

"Got that right. The look on his face might be enough to make this whole thing worth it."

"Wish I could be there."

"I'll get one of those disposable cameras for a reaction shot." He clapped his hands together. "Well, that's all I had. You need me to leave so you two can talk?"

"Nah. Nothing too serious. When Wills mentioned work I remembered that we hadn't had a chance to talk about business stuff."

The redhead stretched.

"I figured we'd talk about it on the plane in the morning. I got us seats together."

"Oooh, do I get the middle? I love to sit on a plane between two fine ladies."

"What was that, Xand?"

Faith had overheard his last sentence and was standing behind them, arms folded with an amused _expression on her face. Xander shook his head.

"Am I ever going to be able to say anything without you hearing it?"

"Not if I can help it. Hey Red, did you get me an aisle seat, at least?"

"I put you on the wing, Faith. Make sure you hang on to something."

"Har, har. The witch is gettin' funnier all the time." She looked at Xander hungrily. "Though the idea of hanging on to something is giving me some interesting ideas."

Xander sighed. "The things I do for love..."

Spike looked at them thoughtfully.

"You know, now that you mention it there're a coupla things I'd like to hang on to right now myself. I'd best be off then."

Willow shook her head. "You guys are such horndogs."

Xander snorted. "Like you're not?"

Willow merely waved Xander and Faith out of the room with a smile. When they turned away her smile faded a bit. Spike shot her a sympathetic look. She merely shrugged.

"Go ahead. Don't let my pathetic lack of a sex life stop you."

"It's just a matter of time, you know. You're too damned good of a catch for it to be otherwise."

"Thank you, William."

He merely nodded and walked out the door.

*******************************************************

Angel and Cordelia had separate rooms next to one another. He took her hand as they walked down the hallway.

"I think it's best that you head back to LA."

She stopped.

"Excuse me?"

"I think it would be best if you took Gunn's truck back home. This is going to be dangerous."

"Right. Of course. Thank God you and I haven't been in dangerous situations before. Angel, I'm not leaving you."

"I realize we've been in danger before. This is different. We're going in blind here. Plus, I have all kinds of backup that I don't normally have."

"Oh, ok. So I can be discarded because all the really powerful people are here. Thanks so much."

"That's not what I'm saying and you know it. Gunn and Fred need you in LA. I'd be more comfortable with you there if Wes or I can't be. Gunn's a good fighter, but he gets overexcited. I trust you to be the steadying influence."

She sighed heavily.

"I don't like this. It feels like you don't need me any more."

"I just said--"

"I heard what you said. I just don't believe you."

"If I have to make it an order, I will."

She took her hand from his.

"An order. An order?! How can we possibly have--"

She broke away, walking quickly toward her room. Angel caught up.

"How can we have what?"

She turned back, tears in her eyes.

"How can we have anything approaching...whatever it is we're approaching if you can just bark orders at me?"

"I didn't bark. When have I ever barked?"

"You know what I mean."

"I don't want to see you get hurt."

"I thought you said you needed me in LA."

"I need that too."

"Why do you have to be so controlling?"

"Since when did caring about you become something bad?"

"You always try to run everything. That might be caring in your world, but not mine."

"Cordy, please. I need you to do this."

She turned away toward her room.

"Fine. I'll leave in the morning."

"I don't want you to be angry with me."

She spun on him.

"It's a little late for that.? You just told me I wasn't good enough to help you."

"Did you ever consider that you might be too good to help with what we're about to do? We're going against people here, Cordy, not demons. It's different. Trust me."

She just stared at him. He stepped over to his door.

"I didn't want you to be angry with me in case I don't come out of this. That's all."

He slipped his key card into the lock. "We'll talk in the morning."

She took a deep breath. "Angel."

He turned back, eyes weary as she spoke in a feather soft voice.

"Can I stay with you?"

"Cordy, I just told you why I don't want you to stay with me. You really need to start listening--"

He broke off as she pointed at his door, eyes on him. He suddenly found his shoes very interesting.

"Oh, you meant..."

He didn't know how to respond. She quickly took her key card out of her purse, speaking quickly.

"That's ok, I understand. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable-"

"Cordy."

Angel's hand was outstretched. She met his gaze. A hint of a smile appeared on his face as he simply nodded. Cordelia took his hand and they went together into his room.

*****************************************************

Xander and Faith were two floors up from Angel and Cordelia. They walked in silence for a minute before Xander decided to speak.

"So who told you about the broom closet thing?"

Faith hesitated a moment.

"Well, you sorta did."

"Do I talk in my sleep or something?"

"No, you don't. May I add, by the way, that you damn well better not be dreaming about that."

"I might now. Every dream I have involves you."

When Faith smiled just for him Xander's world always felt a little brighter. He went on.

"Getting back to my question..."

"I may have overheard you and Cordy talking in your room today."

"In the hospital?"

"Yeah."

"Where were you, under the bed?"

"No, dumbass. I was in the bathroom."

"You must have been in there for a while. Who did number two work for?"

"I'm gonna work a size seven shoe into your ass in a minute."

"Why didn't you just come out?"

"Huh?"

"Don't 'huh' me. Were you waiting to see if I was going to throw Cordy on the bed and have my way with her?"

"No. I think you value your life more than that. I just

wanted....I don't know what I wanted. It doesn't matter."

"It matters to me."

"Why?"

"You don't trust me."

Faith looked at him then, a hurt _expression on her face.

"You don't trust me either. You've been acting like an ass toward Angel since he got here."

"Angel and I have been doing that for years. You have nothing to do with that."

"Oh, bullshit. Look, Angel is my friend. That's not gonna change."

They entered the room in silence for a moment. Xander stopped in his tracks.

"I understand that you guys are friends. I just don't like the fact that everything I say is automatically stupid when he's around. It's always been that way. Angel is always right. Angel is a champion. I become an afterthought the moment he walks into a room. It gets old after a few years."

"That's your problem, not his. For Christ's sake, Xander, you and Spike are friends now. Spike! There was no one you hated more than Spike. You told me that yourself. What changed?"

"Spike changed. I guess I changed some too. He's saved my life more times than I can count. Most of all he makes Buffy happy. It took me a while to come around to that...but things change. You should know that better than anyone."

Faith's voice was very quiet as they began to undress for bed.

"Angel saved you from me if I remember right."

Xander stopped removing his shirt for a moment, closing his eyes at the memory. "Yeah."

"Then, after everything I did to him and Wes, Angel saved me anyway. I owe him, Xand.. I always will."

He sighed and nodded wearily.

"Plus he has a nice ass."

Xander stared daggers at her. She shrugged. "I'm just sayin'.."

"I'm going to ignore that and take my turn at making a point. Cordy will always mean something to me, too. I learned what not to do in a relationship based on all the stuff I put her through. What we put each other through. She's a

friend who will give it to me straight, whether it hurts me or not. You, Buffy and Willow will always be closer to me...but you guys care too much to give it to me straight sometimes. With Cordy, what you see is what you get. Everyone needs someone like that."

Faith just folded her arms and grunted.

"Plus, those breasts are magnificent."

Faith raised an eyebrow at him.

"Is that supposed to be funny?"

"Payback's a bitch, ain't it?"

They exchanged a grin as she held her fist up at him in a threatening manner. Faith's smile faded as she spoke.

"I'm honest with you all the time, ya know."

He sighed. "Faith..."

"Look, the chick bugs me, ok? She's rude as hell and she flirts with you."

"You know, there are times when you're more than a little rude, and you flirt with guys too."

"Not in front of you I don't. That's gotta count for something, right? I actually heard her."

"Yeah, well, Cordy didn't know you were hiding out in the toilet. I care for her. That doesn't mean anything was going to happen."

"Are you gonna try to tell me you don't find Cordelia sexy?"

He hesitated a moment. This was dangerous enough territory with a woman who couldn't break every bone in his body without breaking a sweat.

"Tell you what, Faith. I'll tell you that I don't find Cordy attractive if you tell me that you never considered what it would be like to hook up with Angel."

They faced one another from across the bed. Xander was in his boxers while Faith wore his Superman T-shirt. She folded her arms and looked down at the carpet.

"Touchy."

"Say what?"

"Touchy. It's French or something. It means you sort of turned it around on me there."

"You mean touché?"

"Whatever. Stop correcting me and get into bed. I'm not done with you yet."

"Faith, I really am kinda tired, and.."

He shuddered suddenly. Faith frowned.

"What's up with you?"

"Huh? Oh, nothing. Got a chill. Anyway, like I was saying, it's been a long day already."

"Quit your whining. Slayers have needs."

He lay down and Faith moved over to him, laying her head on his chest. No doctors. No IV drip. No casts.

Just Faith. He sighed contentedly, wondering if she really knew how comfortable she made him feel.

"Faith."

"Yeah?"

"Only you. Nobody else. Ever. Okay?"

Faith moved away quickly and raised herself to her knees across the bed, sticking her chest out in an exaggerated manner.

"Oh, so now you're saying these old things are good enough for you?"

Xander turned around and mooned her.

"I don't know. Is this enough for--"

Faith leaped across the bed and slapped him on his exposed cheek.

"Ow!"

"I love you too, baby."

She leaned back, arms now stretched over her head as he turned around. He descended toward her and she put her fingertips on his cheek, caressing him tenderly. They kissed softly at first, but the urgency quickly grew as they

entwined. She pulled back for a breath of air, kiss swollen lips curling into a grin.

"Just because you were just all sweet to me a minute ago, don't think you're gettin' out of doing your manly duty. Not gonna happen."

He ran his fingers down her body, reaching that special spot. He kept his eyes locked on to hers as he touched her, eliciting a whimper and a quick intake of breath. He swore his heart stopped whenever he made her do that.

"I wouldn't dream of it, sweetheart."

**************************************************

"We need to get Willow a girl."

Buffy looked at Spike.

"Ok, you now hold the prize for the strangest post coital topic. I thought I would hold the lead for a while, but you keep raising the bar."

"Sorry. It's been on my mind."

"I hope for your sake you don't mean Willow was on your mind for the last 45 minutes, because..."

"Don't be silly, luv. When we're together I focus on nothing but you."

She slung one leg over his, caressing his calf with her foot. Her fingernails lightly scratched his

chest.

"Good answer. You shall be rewarded."

"I may need a few minutes to collect it."

"Not all rewards involve that, Spike."

"What better reward could there be than that?"

Her eyes sparkled. "My undying love?"

He looked deep into her eyes. "That'll work just fine."

They shared a affectionate kiss, their passion sated for the moment.

"Still wouldn't mind going again, though."

She couldn't help but laugh.

"Seriously, though, is Willow having a hard time?"

"I think she sees the rest of us pairing off. You and me. Angel and Cordelia. Xander and Faith. Makes her feel lonely."

Buffy's eyes clouded.

"Run that by me again?"

"I said it makes her feel lonely."

"I think you know what part I meant. Angel and who?"

"You heard me the first time. Cordelia."

Buffy put her head back on the pillow, staring at the ceiling. "Are you sure?"

"Wouldn't say so if it wasn't."

She looked over at him, eyebrow raised. "You thought you could just slip that past me and I wouldn't say anything?"

Spike looked away. "Might be that I didn't want to see your reaction."

She looked at him earnestly.

"I would think the last year would tell you how I feel. Not to mention the last forty-five minutes."

"That's not what I meant, exactly."

She raised her head to look into his eyes expectantly.

"Buffy, what do you want me to say?"

"Say that you believe me."

"Of course I believe you."

"Then why do you two always have to get in each other's face?"

"We go back a long way, pet. A century before you. We'll always have something of a rivalry. Don't know why, exactly. It's not about you."

"Really?"

Spike sighed as she smirked at him..

"Maybe a little. He was your first and all that. I know what that means to a person."

"You're going to be my last."

He stared at her.

"Now that was the perfect thing to say."

"I thought so."

"So you're ok with Angel and Cordelia?"

She shrugged. "It's....odd. They're so different. I mean, clearly Cordy's not the same person she was in high school, but....oh, Hell, I don't know. Relationships don't have to make sense, do they?"

He smiled. "If love made sense, it'd be awfully dull, wouldn't it?"

"I don't want to see him hurt, that's all."

They lay in silence for a moment. She frowned and looked at him.

"How do you know they're all couply anyway? It's not as if Angel would tell you anything."

"I've known that prat for too long. Watch his face when they're in the same room for five minutes and it's bloody obvious."

"You were watching his face?"

"Well..."

Buffy smirked again.

"You were making sure he wasn't making googly eyes at me, weren't you?"

He rolled his eyes. "Oh, please. Like I care how he looks at you."

"You're so cute when you're jealous."

He decided to change the subject.

"About Willow--"

"We're not matchmakers, honey. She's a big girl. It's sweet of you to care so much, though. I'll talk to her."

"It's not talk she needs."

"I can't help her with anything beyond that. I'm spoken for."

"I love you, Slayer."

"I know. Me, too." She closed her eyes for a moment. "Whoa."

Spike leaned close to her, eyebrows knitted in concern.

"You all right, luv?"

"Huh? Oh...yeah." Her eyes cleared and she smiled.

"What was that all about?"

"Oh, nothing."

"Didn't look like nothing."

"Promise you won't freak out?"

"When do I ever freak out?"

She stared at him.

"Right, then. I promise."

"I think Faith is sending Xander to the Magic Kingdom before we get to Florida, if you know what I mean. He's...got a lot on his mind right now."

He looked at her incredulously.

"You can sense how he feels when they're shagging?"

"Only if they're really close by. I don't know exactly how close, but in Sunnydale if they're at his place I don't pick it up...much."

Spike shook his head. "Could things get any more bizarre with us?"

"Don't even say that. Whenever anyone says that..."

"Good point. Sorry. So..." Spike had a sly smile on his face. "I take it's the same for him when we're together, yes?"

"Sure, I guess. We don't talk a lot about it. Just a little smile in the morning if either you or Faith stayed at my house the night before."

"Let's give him something to think about, then."

"Already?"

"The challenge inspires me."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Challenge?"

"That's what I said. Let's give Xander something to think about besides Faith."

She put her arms around his neck, kissing the hollow of his throat as she spoke against his skin.

"Think you can take her?"

He grabbed her shoulders and rolled on top of her roughly.

"You think I can't, Slayer?"

Her eyes burned into his.

"I think I'm going to like this game."

*************************************************

"Oh, shit!!"

Faith stopped her ministrations and looked at him with concern, face glistening with sweat.

"You ok, baby? Did I hurt you again?"

"Huh? Oh...no, no more than usual," he panted. "Just had a toe cramp. No biggie. Please continue." <Dammit, Buffy!!>

**************************************************

Dawn looked from her bed to Willow's.

"Willow? You asleep?"

"Is that a joke?"

"I wish. Can I ask you something?"

"I know what you're going to ask, and no, I didn't think about it."

"Oh. So, when we get to Florida..."

The redhead sighed.

"Right Note to self: do not put our room directly between the rooms of two horny Slayers."

- End Chapter Eighteen -