Square Seventeen...
Wesley sighed, leaned against Spike without a fight, all but asleep on his feet. "Leads, hints, half-recorded prophecies. I suspect the manifestations are only the visible result of the disturbance, a symptom rather than an end unto themselves - like sparks caused by repetitive motion over carpet."
"What's that tell us?"
"After last night's patrol, my partner and I drove to Los Angeles. Is there a problem on the site?" Xander squinted at the time display on his cell phone. "Where's Russ?"
"Mr. Fenwick did not have a review scheduled with me at nine this morning, and he did not miss his review."
Xander felt the bang of his own heart through Spike's hand where it lay over his chest. "Review? What? That's not until next year!"
"Today."
"It's blondie bear." Gunn removed his sunglasses, looking Spike's nakedness up and down with amusement. "It's a whole lot of blondie bear. Who ain't no natural blond. What're you doing here?"
"I don't have enough information. Charles - please."
Gunn sighed, rubbed his hand over his scalp and looked from Wesley to Xander to Spike. "I've gotta think about it, man. Listen, Anne's expecting me at the shelter - we could use some extra help Christmas Eve, servin' up food, makin' sure everybody's got a bed or a piece of floor to sleep on. You come down there and help out and I'll let you talk a bit more. Then I'll make up my mind. We got a deal?"
"Andrew organized all of this, actually," Wes said, waving his hand around at the multi-colored twinkle-lights, the tinsel garlands and the gigantic tree that was all but breaking under the weight of the ornaments. "Fortunately, Connor was in charge of the eggnog - refills, anyone?" Four cups were thrust forward and Wes blinked in surprise.
"Just fill the damn thing, Wes," Angel growled.
"Did you find a clue?"
"Man, I got better than a clue."
"What's that?"
"I got a name."
No More Snakes And Ladders Square Seventeen. 8:00 PM EST March 28, 2005