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Author's Chapter Notes:
Thank you to all that have hung with this story..........
"He's still breathing on his own, but not well." The first mate informed his captain. "We need to get him medical attention."

"And how Jorge, do you think we can do that? We are not supposed to be in American waters." Pedro Gonzales, the captain of the Cuban fishing vessel said.

"We must do something Captain." Jorge pleaded. "It's sad the young woman we could not save."

"I know…let me think on it." Pedro compromised.

His conscious was telling him he to place a distress call. He should and let the Americans come and take the man and woman they’d found in the early morning before dawn. The one concern he had was they'd blame them for not calling them sooner.

"We can tell them we just found them and by the time they get here it will not make a difference." Jorge suggested. "It would not be a lie to tell them the woman was already dead, and he unconscious."

"Then make the call Jorge." Captain Riaz said. "We've completed our business here and the castaway knows nothing."

"Thank you. I'm sure there will be someone out there happy we found them." Jorge said as he made his way to the ship's radio.

Pedro wasn't sure why he agreed with the man but he did. He was sure someone out that would find closure. Unlike Jorge, he knew the man would be dead before help arrived, but that was on God's hands. He had his story ready. They'd just arrived in the spot they always came to fish when they found the man holding the woman with one arm and gripping the donut shaped ship float with the other.

"Yes, that will work." He mumbled as he turned to make sure his crew understood the story as well.

*******

Spike glared at the two men as he said, "What do you mean Harmony was waiting for me at the port?"

"Do you really need me to draw you a picture, Master Vampire?" Wesley asked, hoping to calm his best friend down a bit with some humor.

"Darla handled her rather well, I must add." Giles said, in support of the young woman.

"I can't believe the crazy bint showed up like that." Spike huffed as he started to pace.

"Well, she does make you believe what they say about blondes." Wes offered, "I'm sure she has no idea about Angel and his revealing the intimate tape of them together."

"So, what did Darla say?" Spike asked, as he calmed down and became curious about what the two women talked about.

"She took Harmony aside, preventing any of us from overhearing anything being said." Giles replied.

"Guess I'll have to give her a call when I get home." Spike sighed, trying not to get upset. "She better not be at my place when we get there."

"Might I suggest you also tell Buffy…don't need for her to hear it from someone else." Giles suggested.

"I hear ya." Spike sighed, worried that his ex-girlfriend might cause some problems, "I doubt Harm will believe I just met Buffy on the cruise."

"Who cares what the bitch thinks?" Wesley snorted.

"I think you're holdin' back on me Percy, come on and tell me how you really feel about the girl." Spike chuckled.

"Jenny and I are taking the girls to Disney, if anyone is interested." Giles said to change the subject.

"Maybe we can all meet up for dinner Wednesday. Me and Buffy will be in L.A. for my audition." Spike suggested.

"We can ask Jenny when they get here." Giles answered, "Need to make sure she doesn't already have plans."

"I'm thinking Willow and myself, can come in for dinner as well." Wesley added.

"Great." Spike said with a huge smile. He decided to wait until then to let them know Buffy was moving in with him.

"They should be landing here in the next 20 minutes." Giles pointed out as he looked at his watch.

Spike couldn't help but smile, 20 minutes and his girl would be back in his arms. All thoughts of Harmony were forgotten as he started to plan how he was going to make Buffy welcome in his home. The more he thought about it, the more he wanted to introduce her to their new home that very night.

*******

"So, have you found anything more about this mystery Misty woman?" Chris asked his partner.

"Only that she existed once and doesn't resemble the passport we found."

"What?"

"Seems Misty Rawlins was a blonde who died twenty years ago. The forensic team is working on her room now trying to get all the finger prints they can. Might take sometime to run them and get a match. God only knows how well the stewards really clean after each guest." Marcus answered, wishing he'd followed his father's advice and had gone into pig farming.

"Can this case get anymore complicated?" Chris asked.

"Is now a good time to find another career?" Marcus snorted. "I have L.A.P.D getting a search warrant to search Mr. O'Conner's place there."

"I wish."

"So did you get any information from Mr. Cartis?" Marcus asked.

Chris sighed, "He should be getting here any moment now."

"Keep me up to date."

"Will do, partner." Chris answered as he heard a knock at his door, "Well looks like my next appointment is here."

"Hope he can give us some leads." Marcus said praying for a break in this case.

"Talk soon I think he's here." He said before he hung up and then called out, "Come in."

He watched as two men and a woman stepped into his office, one at a time. He could see they brought what he'd asked for and hoped some where it gave him a clue as to what could've happened to the missing twosome.

*******

Giles' phone rang and he noticed on the caller ID it was their boss calling. He looked at both Wesley and Spike and asked, "I wonder what Robert is calling me about?" Right before he answered the phone.

"Giles here."

"Rupert, glad I could catch you. Andrew called to alert me to a major problem." Robert sighed.

"It sounds serious by the tone of your voice." Rupert replied.

"Angel is missing."

"What do you mean Angel is missing?" Giles asked, holding up his hand toward his friends to hold off their questions and comments.

"He never disembarked off the ship it would seem. They found all his things still in his cabin when they went to check on him. The police are now involved and they are starting to treat this as foul play it would seem." Robert explained.

"Dear Lord, this is not good."

"No, Rupert, it's not. I'm calling to alert you that the Florida police should be contacting us shortly. Seems, they've already been in touch with Mr. Cartis and his group. It's how Andrew came to know about it."

"Spike and Wesley are here with me now. I can call Xander and Anya if you'd like." Giles offered.

"That would help. I'll call Darla and Colin, since Andrew has already notified Warren and Jonathan." Robert replied, sounding relieved in a way he didn't have to do it all. "To make matters worse one of the ship's guests, unrelated to ours, is missing as well."

"Have you called Noel yet?" Giles asked.

"Hmmm, let's say he wasn't happy." Robert said before saying good-bye and hanging up the phone.

Giles sighed as he turned toward his friends and say, "It would seem the shit is about to hit the fan."

"This has got to be good cuz Rupert cussed." Spike tried to lighten the mood.

"Yes, and it is not a time to joke either, I'm afraid." Giles informed the blonde before asking, "Where is the tape of Angel and the others?"

"What is going on, Mate?" Spike asked as he started to become very worried.

"It would seem Angel never left the ship and his things are still on board. The police are involved and they are treating it as a possible crime."

"This is not good." Wesley replied, as he tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling as he answered, "I have the tape with me right now."

"On your person?" Spike asked.

"Right here in my carry on." Wesley answered, "But it means nothing, I'm sure it's a copy and the original is in his apartment."

"It means everything." Giles added before he turned to Wesley and said, "Get rid of it now. Do not, and I mean, do not take it home with you. The only ones that know about its existence, other than Angel, is standing here now and my wife. She will not say anything."

"I'm not afraid to let the police know I've seen it." Spike replied, not wanting to hide anything from the police. "They have the uncanny way of finding this shit out."

"Then what do you suggest we do with the tape?" Wesley asked.

"Give it to me and I will let the police know I have it and am aware of him sleeping with my past girlfriends, when they weren't so past." Spike replied with a shrug of his shoulders, but unable to hide the pain in his eyes.

"And Buffy?" Giles asked.

"I will explain all of it to her." Spike answered, having shared some of it with her already and feeling sorry he had tell her everything now.

"She will not judge you for it." Wesley assured him.

"I know, it’s the fact I'm going to be dragging her into this mess that bothers me." Spike explained as he turned to face the window looking outside. "She deserves better than this."

"This is not your fault." Giles said hoping the young man would believe it as the truth it was.

"Why do I feel like it is?" Spike asked in return.

"Because you feel responsible for some reason that it's your fault Mr. Psycho is trying to sabotage your career. The total blame lies with Angel and his insane actions. He is a man with a tortured soul." Wesley offered as his explanation.

"One who has gone missing and if you show the video to the police it will put you at the head of list as they play the reality game of Clue." Giles pointed out. "Be careful how you play this. I think we should first wait and see what the police find during their investigation."

"But I feel like I'd being lying if I don't.."

"Stop right there." Wesley growled as he came toe-to-toe with his best friend. "You had nothing to do with whatever happened to the bastard. I will not let you give the police any reason to suspect you. I'm sure when and if they find the original it will give them some ideas, but unable to connect them to you. I will take care of the tape that is in my possession and nothing more will be said about it. Am I making myself clear?"

"But it's tampering with evidence." Spike looked at his friend in a different light.

"What would you do if it was me and not you this tape would spread speculation about? Knowing in your heart I was not guilty of anything." Wesley asked giving his best friend an understanding smile.

"I would be doing the same as you I'd imagine." Spike sighed as he returned the smile with one of his own.

"Correct, brother of my heart." Wesley said as he nodded his head once.

"Give me the tape." Giles demanded. "I will burn it as soon as I get home."

"No! Spike hissed, "I will not get you anymore involved in this then you already are, mate."

"In for a penny in for a pound, my boy. Giles said as he gave the blonde a very determined glare. "I protect my own."

Spike felt his throat constrict as he looked around the airport making sure no one was close to them. Looking back at Giles he said, "I would never be able to look Jenny or the girls in the face if anything happened to you because of me."

"Nothing will." Rupert stepped closer and placed his hands on Spike's shoulders. "We will stand united in this. We know the tape will be found and exposed if the police go through his personal items thoroughly. Let them work for it. I refuse to let Angel have anymore power over you. Give me the tape and forget it ever existed."

"Why are you doing this?" Spike asked.

"For you are very important to those who care about you, is why. You are very important to me and my family and I believe in you." Giles said with tears him his eyes. "Both you and Wesley make me as proud as a father would be of his sons."

"But it's wrong." Spike tried to reason.

Giles chuckled, "Only wrong if I was protecting a killer, which I'm not. I just trying to protect an innocent man the best I can from being fed to the lions for no reason other than a mentally challenged individual's attempt to hurt you."

"I just don’t' want anyone getting into trouble because of me." Spike explained, "I don't want to lose the only family I ever had."

"Won't lose us, I promise." Giles reassure him, and then surprised the young man by hugging him and saying. "Go home and make love to your girl then tell her what is going on. Take one day at a time and act like the tape is something you know nothing about."

Spike realized this bit of news would affect someone else as he and Giles separated. He turned his head to look at Wesley and said, "Don't change the wedding date."

"I'm not planning on it." Wesley smiled as he placed his hand on Spike's shoulder. "We are not breaking any laws, Spike. Just not giving the police any information voluntarily that has nothing to do with Angel's disappearance."

"I just hope it doesn't come back and bite us in the arse is all." Spike sighed, agreeing to do as they said.

"It won't." Wesley promised, knowing full well it would take time for the investigators to find the original tape, if there was even one to find.

"Now, let's put on our happy faces and get ready to meet the ladies, shall we?" Giles suggested as he again checked his watch and realized the others should be landing shortly. "I think a short trip to the men's room is in order." He made sure to direct the comment to Wesley.

"Follow me old man." Wesley smirked.

"Be careful, young man. They do have soap in the dispenser, and you're not too old for me to make you wash your mouth out with it." Giles said in his best fatherly voice. "Now Spike, watch the other bags and there might be a lolly in it for being a good boy."

Spike good naturally stuck his tongue out at Wesley and saying, "I knew he liked me more."

Wesley snickered as he winked, "Think what you wish, but I know he loves me more."

Giles rolled his eyes and tried to keep the smile off his face as he playfully glared and said, "Children, please behave I would so hate to discipline you both in public for acting so childish."

"Yes, Da." The both said at the same time causing all three to laugh. With all three realizing if nothing else, Angel's antic accomplished something the evil man never expected. It brought friends closer, making them a united front.

*******

Chris White looked at his caller ID and wondered what the coast guard was calling to tell him. He prayed they'd found a body or two that would give this case a much needed break. Already they had the media calling and asking questions. He was sure within the hour all hell was going to break loose with some kind of story concerning the missing T.V. star. They still haven't found out the missing woman's true identity yet, since it would appear no one had reported her missing.

"Lt. White, here." He greeted the caller.

"Lt. White, this is Petty officer Roberts. I think we may have located your missing couple."

"I hope so." He sighed before he asked, "Are they dead or alive?"

"The woman is dead, the man is barely alive. He's been transported to North Broward Trauma Center for treatment. The Lifeflight medical team was concerned if he'd live until they got him there."

"Where was he found?"

"A Cuban fishing ship found them. They said he was barely holding him and the dead woman afloat with a floating device from the ship that you reported two people missing from."

"I'm on my way, thank you for calling me. What did you do with the woman's body?"

"She was taken to the morgue."

Chris sighed with relief as he said, "Thank you, do you have the Cubans in custody?"

"Nope, they gave their story and we let them go. We couldn't take the chance of letting them touch American soil. They said the woman was dead when they found them and the man said "she pushed me" before passing out."

Chris thanked the man again before disconnecting the call and dialing up his partner. All the while going to his car so he could drive to the hospital and make sure this was in fact their missing celebrity. Then he'd go to the morgue and see what they could tell him about the woman.

*******

Spike felt his heart skip a beat when he saw her face, noticing her looking around in search of him. It hit him hard just how much she'd come to mean to him in such short amount of time. There was no way he would be able to be away from her for even a few hours if there was any way to avoid it.

Buffy tried her best to be patient and not push the people out of her way. The flight had been uneventful and she managed to sleep most of the trip. All she wanted now was to see him and jump in his arms. She found it hard to believe in less then a week he had gotten so far under her skin.

"More like below muscle and imbedded in my nervous system." She mumbled to herself.

"Did you say something?" Willow asked, tying to see through the crowd if she could locate any of the men waiting for them.

"Oh, nothing, just mumbling to myself is all." She answered, telling herself she needed to be more careful with keeping her thoughts to herself.

Willow chuckled and then pointed over toward the terminal windows, "Look, there they are."

Buffy smiled as she again fought the sensation of running toward him. The last thing he needed was for her to go all teenybopper on him. It lasted a few seconds before she broke into a run, dropping her carryon in the process.

Spike opened his arms to welcome her as she sped toward him. Bracing himself to catch her he was disappointed when she came to a complete stop with just inches separating them. The mischievous glint in her eyes prepared him for her question.

"Did you miss me?" She asked, looking at him coyly while innocently biting her bottom lip.

"Does the flower miss the sun?" He asked right before he reached out and pulled her against him. "Does not the grass cherish the rain after a hot sunny day?"

"Oh, more poetry to make me all fluttery inside." She whispered as she leaned in to gently kiss his lips briefly before answering, "Yes the flower misses the sun and the grass loves to feel the touch of the rain when it's been too long without its sweet bliss."

Spike's fingers gently thread themselves in her hair behind her head. "I missed you just as much if not more."

Buffy leaned in and claimed his lips as hers, deepening the kiss and taking control. She would show this man just how much his words moved her. Never did she think she could fall in love all over again, but she just did.

Willow laughed enjoying see her friend finally find love. She calmly moved to pick up Buffy's discarded luggage as she then continued on to meet up with her man. Looking over toward Jenny she noticed the older woman's smile as she too was watching the blonde couple's reunion.

"I never thought I see the day Buffy would fall in love like this." Willow told her as they moved together to join their men and hugging couple. "You don't know how happy I am for her."

"As I'm sure when she comes up for air she will be as happy for you." Jenny said, as she noticed how Wesley kept staring at Willow with such longing. "I think one day you should sweep Wes off his feet too."

Willow giggled, "I have plans for him…just didn't want to upstage those two love birds."

"I know what you mean." Jenny agreed, hearing her girls in the back ground making happy words about Spike and Buffy. She was so happy he'd found someone that the girls liked and returned their feelings as well.

Willow shook her head yes as she too found her way into her lover's arms. She felt like she had come home, even if they were standing in the airport terminal. The thought of telling her parents of her impending nuptials didn't bother her any longer. Being with him like this gave her the feeling she could face anything as long as he was with her.

Jenny hugged her husband close and said, "It's not them."

"I know." Was all he said, wanting to tell her about Angel in the privacy of their own home.

"Let's get out of here." Spike whispered, "I can't wait to take you home with me."

Buffy laughed as she replied, "Hey, that's my line."

"Tomorrow it's your line, today it's mine." He teased, "Let's stay at my place tonight and then go to your house tomorrow."

"Okay." She easily agreed, wanting to just be with him right now.

The three couples left hand in hand followed by two happy young girls. Some people became brave and would stop them for autographs or snap their pictures. The three men graciously would sign and pose freely, knowing these people were the reason they had jobs. If not for the fans, there'd be no show for them to work on.

*******





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