"Where do you get off, mate?" Spike was shocked and angered by the presence of a living human in his basement hideaway. "Coming down here… prying into my business. Being real?" His shirt lay, forgotten, on the bed as he stood to confront Wesley. "Get out of here. This place will make you crazy." He stood inches from Wesley, so close he could feel heat radiating off his body. The stony expression finally broke into a smile and nervous giggles. "Too late for me."

"Give it up, Wes. He's gone 'round the bend." Wesley jumped slightly at the sound of a familiar, yet wholly unexpected, voice from the shadows. "Could be my influence. He tries so hard."

"Angel," he breathed. "When… how… why are you here?" Wesley walked toward Angel, leaving Spike rambling to himself.

"Oh, I've been here for a while now," Angel smiled. "Have to keep an eye on my boys, now don't I?"

"Slayer'll be back," Spike suddenly called out. "She knows where I am."

"That's right, boyo," Angel sneered. "She'll be back, but it'll be too late for Watcher-boy here, won't it?" He smiled at Wesley, then walked away singing softly.

Wesley knew something was strange about Angel. Even humming, he couldn't carry a tune to save his soul, but just then, he'd had perfect pitch. Spike tackled him from the side and Wesley fell to the ground with a loud 'oomph.' He looked up into the face of his attacker and was greeted with yellow eyes, a ridged forehead and long, sharp fangs.

tbc...