(no subject)

[sunnydalealum]

In the apartment, Beth sits huddled in an armchair that feels far too big for her, clasps her hands tightly in her lap and tries to stop shivering.

"I know them," she says, her voice hollow.

Comments

[bloodandnicotine]

Spike looks round curiously. "Did anyone bring the handcuffs?"

[sunnydalealum]

If the three Slayers were staring before, they are STARING now.

"If not," Gunn says a little doubtfully, "we can improvise."

[sunnydalealum]

"Slayer," Jordie says, her knuckles white, her voice shaking just a little. "We attacked a Slayer. Not a human."

There's a tension there that could go either way, and it's communicating itself to the others.

[stilljustandrew]

"That's a distinction for the Council to discuss," Andrew says flatly. "And you're still AWOL. Are you three going to give your parole and come with me quietly?"

He looks from one to the other, again.

"If not, which one of you gets to explain it to Harry later?"

[sunnydalealum]

Angel's watching, ready to let Andrew play out his hand -- and ready to back him up if they call his bluff.

Gunn's watching Angel for cues.

Spike's watching everybody at once, to see which way they're going to jump.

Tricia and Sara are watching Jordie.

[sunnydalealum]

Who has locked eyes with Andrew ... and finally, after a long pause, lowers her gaze.

"We'll come," she says, "if she does."

[bloodandnicotine]

Spike's eyes flicker to Beth. If she's willing, he'll go along with this Council Cop thing Andrew's got going: he's not precisely dancing at the thought of her in their power, but it gets her out of here in one piece, and for all the Council are arseholes, they tend not to waste Slayers except in the field. Plus Beth has this mad habit of not wanting to kill people properly, so she probably wants even these jumped up Slayerlings left alive.

On the other hand Spike thinks he's finally learned to read Beth's reactions pretty well. If she doesn't think this is the best way out, he's fully prepared to grab her and jump out the bloody window. He'll figure something out before they land. Or shortly afterward. It's always worked so far.

[sunnydalealum]

Beth's looking trapped, but not desperate. Her eyes go from Andrew to Jordie to Spike to --

"I'll come with you," she says, barely audible. "But can -- can someone --"

She nods at Lorne, still lying in a heap in the doorway.

"There's a healer he sees. She's on his cellphone. Please can someone call her?"

[stilljustandrew]

Andrew looks at Angel.

"We'll take care of it," he says, very quietly.

[sunnydalealum]

"We?" His voice and expression are both extremely mild.

That's a bad sign, on Angel.

[stilljustandrew]

"That's we meaning Angel Investigations if you're okay with it," Andrew says, "and we meaning the Watchers' Council if you're not, I don't care which, just gimme a clue here."

[sunnydalealum]

Gunn lets out an exasperated breath and steps over to Lorne, carefully tugging at his jacket to find his cellphone. "Who'm I calling?" he asks Beth.

She lets out a shaky sigh. "She's in there as Doc. Just tell her where, she'll come."

He flips open the phone, and thumbs down to the number.

[stilljustandrew]

"Thanks," murmurs Andrew, and digs into his pocket for his own cellphone. Call Willow, first thing, see how long it'll take to set up a transit spell to the Academy; hope it won't be long enough for the three vigilante Slayers to start having other ideas. Get them all there, that's the first thing.

Then the real mess starts.

For a moment he envies Jonathan, whose problems right now are limited to a post-vision migraine.