Chapter Text
Not too distant past
******
Lindsey McDonald, Wizard extraordinaire, died in a back alley of Los Angeles, killed by the peace loving demon Lorne. In life Lindsey had been a lawyer for the evil law firm Wolfram and Hart. He had signed a contract, as all employees were required to do, that his soul belonged to the firm for eternity.
In another part of the city a portal from hell opened and a demon horde poured out. Angel went to fight a dragon and was killed by it’s fire. Angel’s human soul was retrieved by a caseworker and reborn on earth as human. The vampire soul had signed a contract with the Circle of the Black Thorn before its death. It was taken to hell and his service claimed by the demon Moloch, a partner in hell’s equivalent of Wolfram and Hart.
Shortly after Lindsey’s arrival in hell the demon Moloch had a proposition for him. He could sign a contract agreing to return to the Sentinel reality as Angelus’ Guide, wizard powers intact, and claim the world for hell, or he could stay in hell and be tormented for eternity. Lindsey signed the contract.
Angelus was called to the meeting. Moloch told Angelus the contract was signed with the codicil he requested. Angelus laughed. “You should have read the fine print,” he told his new Guide. “In all things personal you’re my thrall, you can’t use your magic against me. You belong to me for all eternity, my sweet little bitch.”
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Late Afternoon
Guide Guild - Hetty’s office
******
Hetty sat back in her chair and considered what she had learned about Sentinel Spikeman. A first-generation Sentinel who was the best in his class in hand to hand combat. He had worked as a detective in Lakeview without a guide longer than most sentinels went without a guide. After bonding with Xander he immediately transferred to Cascade PD. It was odd enough for Hetty to call the Lakeview captain and ask about it. The Captain explained it was a sentinel exchange due to a pregnant guide that wanted to be closer to her family. He just never thought he would loose Spikeman. He blamed the whole thing on Xander running. If he hadn't run Spikeman never would have met Ellison. Hetty knew that Spike, as he called himself, must have picked up Xander's scent outside of a guide meet. He never would have had a chance to run at a meet.
Hetty decided to look into why Xander ran. She found Jim's liaison officers report. Which led to Spike filing charges against Ethan Rayne, the attempted murder by a sniper outside of the Cascade Guide Hospital, the cross bonds, and the official reports about the kidnapping. All and All a week from hell for the Sentinels and guides. She also read the doctors reports about Spikeman's contribution in healing his guide. Spike, she decided was an enigma, a throw back able to track his guide by feeling the bond, and a new mutation, the ability to heal his guide. This was a sentinel she would like to get to know. But for now she had other things to worry about.
Hetty frowned at the certified letter from Washington Genetics asking for a complete listing of all Guides. The female list was to be broken down into double X and single X Guides. The list of male Guides was to be broken down into those who carried the sentinel gene and those that did not. It bothered Hetty...a lot. She could feel the hairs on the back of her neck stand up. Hetty knew W.G. was planning to use Guides for genetic experiments. She could understand the breakdown of the female Guides. It had always been that way, but male Guides? She couldn’t think of any reason for it...unless… She got a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. They were going to try to trigger the Sentinel gene in Guides. She knew it took physical and emotional stress to trigger a Sentinel. Now this. She doubted that they were willing to wait for the children, that they were forcing Guides to bear, to grow up or they would test the children themselves. She knew that The Initiative was behind the rash of abductions. The only reason she could think of for this request was to start targeting male Guides with the sentinel gene for abduction.
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Three Levels Below Washington Genics
The Initiative
******
Senator Neville Kade, Director of the Initiative, Adrian Donovan The director of The Agency of Sentinel Affairs, Dr. Jiang Tu O.B.G.Y.N., head of genetic operations, Sentinel Liam Angelus, Head of Security, and Wizard and Guide Lindsey McDonald, sat around the conference table for their weekly board meeting.
“The letter has gone out to Henrietta Lange,” Dr, Tu said. “We’ve demanded she comply within 3 days. We should be able to start our Sentry Program by next week.”
Senator Kade and Director Donovan nodded their head in agreement.
“We have to do something about Miller.” Donovan Said. “I can’t assign Initiative soldiers to abduction detail until we get rid of him.”
“There is something we can do,” Angelus said, “take his Guide.”
“He’s always with his Guide; he doesn’t even send him out to do errands.” Donovan said. “We were going to set an example for any Sentinels that didn’t fall in line with the new laws by stripping Sentinel Wall of his Guide, a level 7.2 I believe. Miller took Wall as his second and cross bonded with Wall’s guide. Wall and his Guide even went so far as to wear Miller’s scent to the Agency just to prove the bond. With a second Guide Miller won’t go into a coma at the loss of one Guide.”
“You’re worried about some beta cross bond?” Angelus asked with disgust in his voice. Cross bonding with a beta was common in the military. Betas needed a relationship with an Alpha to anchor their abilities. A Beta/Alpha bond wasn’t permanent like a Guide bond.
“Wall’s not a Beta, He’s an Alpha, a Sentinel Prime.”
“You’re telling me that an Alpha, a Sentinel Prime, laid on his back and took it up the ass from Miller?” Angelus asked. Now he was intrigued. Alphas didn’t wear anyone’s scent. How had Miller pulled it off. An Alpha would fight to the death before allowing himself to be sodomized. Brother bonds were always mutual fellatio, performed as equals.
“I can’t be sure of the sex position, but yes, every Sentinel in the building picked up the scent.”
“Get a decent fighter to challenge Wall for his rank. That’s a fight to the death. That will send his Guide into a coma. He’ll need a Mindwalker to heal his Guide. We’ll tell him we’ll release one from Guide Proliferation if he resigns."
“We’ve already tried that.” Donovan said. “Wall killed the Sentinel.”
Angelus was getting very annoyed with Donovan. “Then get a better fighter to challenge him.”
“The Sentinel that challenged him held the gold medal in hand to hand combat.” Donovan said. “There isn’t anyone better in the Agency. The whole thing was beyond weird. After Wall killed Rohgah he knelt in front of Ellison’s second.”
“He knelt in front of a second, someone else's second and his Alpha did nothing. That means this so called second is nobody's second, he’s the true Alpha of the Pack.” Angelus growled. Did these men understand nothing of Alpha Sentinel behavior. This was turning into quite a tangled debacle. Something was going on. Alpha Sentinels did not behave that way.
“That’s what's so weird about it. Ellison’s second is small for a sentinel. One of my Sentinels insulted him about it. He got a dislocated shoulder for it. Then he…”
Angelus growled. “What the hell is the Sentinel’s name!” he demanded. “He’s the one we should go after.”
Donovan looked into the suddenly yellow eyes of Angelus. He was visibly shaking when he answered. “William Spikeman.”
“Spike,” Angelus spit and looked at McDonald. “You were supposed to take care of that.”
“I did,” the wizard said. “I took him out of the amulet and sent him back to his reality in L.A.”
“HE’S HERE,” Angelus yelled. “HOW THE HELL DID HE GET ~HERE~!”
“I don’t know how,” McDonald said, worried about his Sentinel’s anger. He knew he would be punished for this screw up unless he could find a way to make it right. “The Aspect from the amulet was supposed to come here but he is still in the original reality traveling with the hell god Elliria.”
“We can’t kill Spikeman,” Dr. Jiang Tu said. “He’s on my priority list. Apparently he has healing capabilities.”
“I’m not killing my Grand childer,” Angelus said glaring at Dr. Tu.
“Maybe we can turn his being here to our advantage,” McDonald said.
“How?” Angelus asked.
“Spike's here to bring Sentinels to the next stage of evolution by making Childer,” McDonald said. “You’re his grand sire, you have power over them. We can take them, make them our own.”
“I never had control over Spike.” Angelus said. “Not unless I beat him into obedience. Not even the Master had control over Spike and he’s tenacious. Beating him only ensured temporary obedience.”
“I’ll help with an empowerment spell.” the wizard McDonald said. “All you have to do is locate them.”
“The second I look he’ll feel it,” Angelus said. “He’ll know I’m here. You’ll have to use a locator spell. We can’t afford to lose the element of surprise.”
“We can do it after moon rise tonight,” McDonald said.
“Get out,” a yellow eyed Angelus growled to the Board. “I need my Guide.”
The members of the board hurried to leave, but didn’t make it to the door before Angelus had Lindsey bent over the table. “Beg for it, Guide,” he growled.
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Evening ~ Angelus’ Apartment
******
“There they are,” McDonald said, pointing at a map with three brightly shining red spots and one purple one. “One is located here. That’s Miller’s address. All the others are here at Ellison’s address.”
“Why is this one purple?” Angelus asked.
“It’s weaker,” McDonald said. “It’s not a childe but it carries his blood.”
“The idiot made a thrall,” Angelus said.
“Then that’s where we’ll get in,” McDonald said. “Once we get in we can take over the others.” He started the incantation.
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Evening - The Nesting Room
******
Jim was the first to enter the nesting room. He took one step over the threshold and stopped. Blair nearly bumped into his back. Jim’s nostrils flared scenting for danger. He scanned the corners and saw nothing unusual, but he felt it. He searched his vast experience as a Sentinel trying to define what it was he felt. His first thought was that the room was heavier somehow, but that wasn’t quite right. It was more like there was a feeling of importance in the air along with a feeling of curiosity, but he felt no immediate danger. Satisfied he moved into the room to let the rest of the group enter.
Blair also felt the difference as soon as he stepped over the threshold. Unlike Jim he didn’t stop, he kept walking looking up at the ceiling, expecting to see something hanging there. It felt as if there was a presence, or more likely more than one presence. He reached out for Jim’s hand and their fingers intertwined.
Gibbs was next to step over the threshold. He had wondered why Jim had stopped to scan his own bedroom, but now he felt it himself. He was being watched, he felt no malice in the room, only a feeling that something important was about to happen. A decision had been made, or had it? He felt uneasy and more than a bit awkward now that it came to it. He wasn’t at all sure how to go about renewing the bond with Spike. He felt as if it were being forced and that’s not what he wanted for himself or for Spike. He wanted it to feel right and at this moment it didn’t.
Tony followed Gibbs into the room. He was a level 7 empath, but never considered himself particularly tuned in to ‘energies’. His strong point was the ability to sense his Sentinel’s need and be a true partner. He accepted it as truth when Abby talked about seeing or feeling a person’s energy vibrations. Now he felt it, one step into the room and he felt it. Not a person’s energy, but the room’s energy. He was tempted to step back out so that he could step in again, testing the difference, but Xander was in back of him so he walked forward to his Sentinel. “Boss?” he whispered. Gibbs gave Tony’s hand a comforting squeeze.
Xander followed Tony into the room and felt a thickening. He recognized it immediately. In a past life he had been possessed by a Hyena. The Hyena was now his animal spirit guide, but the possession had left him with a sensitivity to the animal spirits. He knew they were present; all of them were there to witness the renewal of Spike’s bond with Gibbs.
Spike was the last to enter the room. He stepped over the threshold and stopped. His eyes flashed yellow and his nostrils flared as he looked around. He wasn’t quite sure what the cause was, but whatever it was, it was heavy and important.
Xander took Spike’s hand. “It’s all right,” Xander told him, “it’s our animal spirit guides, they’ve come to witness.”
Spike nodded thinking if Xander’s hazard detection hadn’t kicked in it must be okay. Xander began to unbutton Spike’s shirt. Spike unbuckled his belt and unzipped his fly and let his pants fall to the floor. Xander walked behind Spike and slid his shirt off his shoulder as Spike stepped out of his pants. Gibbs and Spike walked silently to the center of the nest. Spike stood naked in front of the larger, older Sentinel, his head bowed. Subservient, he waited for Gibbs to take the lead.
The Hyena began to circle. Xander felt it and then he heard it speak to him.
“Watch closely my Little One,” It said in it’s not quite human voice. “The older one must make a decision. Will he walk in the light or fall into darkness? The darkness calls to him Little One.”
Gibbs reached out his right hand and stroked the solid muscle mass of Spike’s chest. He felt the the flow of Spike’s energy climb up his arm, felt his heartbeat steady and strong. He wanted him, wanted to lay this Sentinel on his back and claim him as his own. He opened his mouth breathing in and tasting the younger Sentinel’s scent. He lifted his left hand reaching out to pull Spike to him.
Xander tried to call out a warning but found he could not speak or move.
“No my Little One,” the Hyena told him, “He must make this decision himself. Do you trust him?”
Xander thought about the question. He remembered how Gibbs had beat Spike to be sure he was good enough to bond with Tony, how Gibbs had called them all to Washington because he feared Abby may be in danger, and how he stood up to his long time and closest friend Ducky when he questioned the wisdom of trusting Spike.
The tiger, Gibbs animal spirit guide snarled. Gibbs stopped, that damn persistent feeling that this was not right suddenly pulsed through him. He let his left hand drop and lifted his eyes from Spike’s chest to his face and saw Xander standing behind his Sentinel, quiet and still, waiting for Gibbs to lay Spike down where he would hold his Sentinel in his arms as Gibbs took him, which was what he wanted to do even if he had to kill Jim, his sentinel brother. He looked into Xander’s eye’s, a Guide’s eyes, filled with unconditional trust. Gibbs shifted his gaze and looked at Spike his hand still resting over Spike’s heart, the beat still steady, the Sentinel still naked and submissive to his whim. “This isn’t what I need,” Gibbs whispered as much to himself as to Spike.
“It’s all I have to give,” Spike whispered back.
“No, it’s not,” Gibbs said.
Spike’s eyes turned yellow. There was one thing of value a Sentinel would want. “My Guide is his own person,” he growled. “He’s not mine to give.”
“It’s not your Guide I want,” Gibbs said. “I want us to bond as equals. When we bonded I beat you, drew blood, tested you to be sure you were good enough. I didn’t see you as my equal. I only saw you as good enough.”
“I drank your blood,” The yellow eyed Spike said. “That made us equal.”
“I understand that’s your way,” Gibbs said, “but it’s not my way. I want...I need to bond with you Sentinel-to-Sentinel, like I did with Jim. True brothers.” Gibbs let his hand drop from Spike’s chest.
“The older one has chosen the light,” the hyena said. “Will the younger choose it too?”
Spike closed his eyes and when he opened them they were blue again. He nodded to Gibbs and turned to his Guide. “It’s okay Xander, you won’t need to hold me for this.”
Xander took two steps back before turning and going to stand beside Jim.
“Equals,” Spike said, “Sentinel-to-Sentinel.”
“True brothers,” Gibbs answered. He lifted his hand and placed it behind Spike’s head pulling him into a kiss. This felt right, the way is should be and the pair fell to the floor.
Gibbs never felt Tony help him remove his cloths. He was lost in the dance with Spike. Spike’s energy filled him and Gibbs opened to it and let it flow back circling and spiraling outward, ever outward, energy reaching out and calling, calling...to Jim.
The Hyena stopped circling. “The third one feels the call, Little One, Will he answer?”
Jim let go of Blair’s hand he took off his shirt and dropped his pants. He walked to the pair now locked, head to groin, in a Sentinel-to-Sentinel bond, He dropped to his knees and reached out laying a hand on each of his Sentinel brothers. The circle connected and the energy flowed through all three of the Sentinels. It filled them and Jim became lost in the dance. Their heartbeats became drum beats faster and faster until the Sentinels could hold back no longer. They climaxed and the energy burst into a chrysanthemum of light, each petal of energy rushing to a member of the hive and finding its rightful home. Two bullets of light broke away and speed across Cascade.
“It is done, Little one,” the Hyena said. “They have chosen the light.”
The Guides went to their exhausted Sentinels. They found their place in the nest and laid down, Guides protected between Sentinels. Sentinels suckling their Guides. The animal Spirits laid down with their charges. Tonight was a special night; the darkness had lost a battle. All was as it should be and they slept.
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Angelus’ and Lindsey’s Home
*****
The Wizard was lost in his incantation. This was supposed to be an easy spell for him, but there was resistance, a barrier of some kind. He tested it, it was animal energy and not one animal either, not even one kind of animal. He concentrated and focused on the one he needed. The thralls animal spirit guide, the tiger. He broke through, but then the tiger snarled and surged forward swatting the wizard's spell away. A weakness in the barrier appeared and the wizard tried again. He nearly got through but the energy pushed his spell away. Another crack opened and the wizard focused on it. The spell wasn’t getting through. The opposing energy was growing stronger. He kept pushing to get through and then he was hit. He screamed and fell to the floor knocked out of his spell. At the same time Angelus was hit in the chest, he gasped, his eyes turned yellow and for a moment he couldn’t breath.
“What the hell was that,” the Sentinel asked. “You said that the thralls energy was weak.”
“There was an energy barrier protecting him,” McDonald said, “protecting all of them. I almost got through but then it pushed the spell back and we got hit.”
Angelus gave an ironic laugh, ”Spike used to say magic always has consequences. We’ll go after Miller’s Guide. I’ll do it personally, No more screw ups. As for you, this is the second time you failed me today. Now you’re going to pay the consequences. Lindsey knew he was going to have a very pain filled night.
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Morning - The Nesting house
******
Blair suddenly woke up, blasted out of sleep by a wave of fear he sat up trying to scream. Jim grabbed his Guide pushing him down to safety before jumping up. Spike and Gibbs were already already on their feet. Spike stepped over Tony, Gibbs ordered him to move to Xander. All three Sentinels scanned for danger. Xander’s Sentinel sense screamed protect the Guides so he threw himself over Blair and Tony shielding them from danger with his body. In the hall McGee and Clint finished checking the house and called clear.
“Xan it’s okay you can get off of me now,” Blair said.
Xander looked at Jim. “Let them up Xander,” Jim told him. Xander rolled off the pair and Blair and Tony sat up. “What happened Blair, why were you afraid?”
“What time is it?” Blair asked.
“6:30,” Jim said.
“Good we have time.”
“Time for what, Guide. Tell me now,” Jim demanded.
“I talked to Incacha; we have to call Graham, they’re going to take Riley today.”
“Who is?” Gibbs asked.
“Someone he called the dark one. Incacha said hell sent him here to work with The Initiative.”
Spike called Graham through the Hive link.
“What's going on there?” Graham asked.
“Incacha just told Blair that the Initiative is coming after Riley today. Come to the nesting house for breakfast and We'll fill you in on everything.”
“We'll be there in twenty minutes.”
Spike grabbed Tony’s hand. “Shower.”
“Um… ah...don't you think maybe we should delay this, considering?” Tony asked.
“No Guide, you're hurting that ends today.”
Tony stopped when he realized Jim and Blair were showering too. “The four of us?” Tony asked.
“I'm Jim's second, we always shower together.”
“Yeah, but…”
Spike growled and picked up Tony, put him over his shoulder and walked into the shower.
“Stop fighting it Tony,” Blair said. “ you're about two seconds away from being reclaimed.”
Spike put Tony down and started soaping him up.
******
No one wanted to eat breakfast until they heard Incacha’s message.
“Okay,” Blair said. “I’ll start with the simple stuff. Clint, Incacha said you should buy your bow and arrows today. It’s important or he wouldn’t have mentioned it. He also went into Willow's dream and she gave permission for Sweet to contact her directly and she understands she can contact you also. About what happened last night: Jim, Gibbs, and Spike formed a triad. It makes us stronger and from what Incacha told me we need to be stronger. The rest of it is what got me so scared. We all know that Spike was sent here from what we call the light. Well it seems that hell has sent two of its own to our reality, A Sentinel that Incacha calls the Dark One and his Guide, a user of black magic. Incacha calls them a perversion. The Animal Spirit Guides came to protect us from a magic attack and to help form the triad. The Initiative wants to get rid of Graham and put in an Initiative soldier as head of the Agency.” Blair looked at Graham. “They’re going after Riley to force you to resign. He said the Dark One himself is going to do it.”
“I never let Riley out of my sight,” Miller said. “He’d have to fight me to the death to get him.”
“Incacha said he’s as strong as Yellow Eyes and that Spike knows him.”
“I don’t know anyone called The Dark One,” Spike said.
“Well this part doesn’t make any sense to me,” Blair said. “But when Incacha told me you know him he showed me a bowl of peaches.”
“Angelus,” Spike and Xander both said at the same time.
“Can I kill him?” Miller asked.
“No,” Spike said. “He’s old and very strong. He won’t kill me or my Childer, He’d consider them family, but everyone else… He’ll want to get control over me. He’ll do that by killing everyone I care about. He must have gone after Gibbs because he thought he was a thrall. The tribunal must have known they were coming. That could be why they were so afraid of Sweet falling into darkness.”
The doorbell rang. Everyone stopped what they were doing and listened.
Jim went to the door with Gibbs by his side the remaining five sentinels formed a semicircle behind them and the Guides behind them.
Jim looked at Xander, “Xanman, are you picking up anything?”
Xander knew that Jim was asking about his hazard detection. “No,” he told him.
Jim opened the door. Hetty was surprised to see seven Alpha Sentinels ready to confront any danger that might be present. She was not often surprised. Sentinel Sam Hanna was also surprised and more than a bit leary of the situation.
“Take off your shoes and socks now,” he whispered to his Guide Callen.
“What? Out here, before we get in the house?” Callen asked.
Sam already had one shoe off. “Just do it now!” he said through clenched teeth. Callen complied.
“May we come in?” Hetty asked.
“Come in, my word it’s safe,” Jim said and stepped aside.
As soon as Jim closed the door Abby made an end run around the Sentinels, “Hetty..” she yelled and grabbed her in an enthusiastic hug.
Hetty gave a little umph, “Miss Sciuto,” she said. “How good to see you again.”
McGee moved up and put his hand on Abby’s shoulder. “Abbs, that’s enough of a hug. You can let go now.”
Tony went to stand by Gibbs but Spike got to him and grabbed his hand holding on to it. Xander moved up to stand by Gibbs. The rest of the Guides moved to stand beside their Sentinels, drawing off any stress they felt from an unexpected visit of a strange Alpha.
“Have you had breakfast?” Blair asked. Now that they were inside they were guests as far as Blair was concerned and should be treated that way. They weren’t strangers to Jim, although all previous contact had been business related and they had never visited the house before. “We’re having pancakes, not a problem to make a few more.”
“We’ve eaten, thank you,” Hetty said.
“I have chamomile tea if you’d like, Hetty?” Blair asked.
“That would be lovely,” Hetty said.
“Sam, I have a fresh pot of coffee?”
“Callen and I will have a cup.”
Hetty looked around the room. “Good morning, Tony,” she said when she saw him standing beside Spike holding his hand. “It looks like I asked the wrong question the last time we met.”
Tony blushed. Spike picked up the sudden tang of embarrassment coming from Tony. He tilted his head to the side and focused on Hetty. She had never felt that kind of look coming from a Sentinel. It was intense but controlled more like what she would be expected to feel coming from a Mindwalker than a Sentinel.
“You must be Sentinel Spikeman,” Hetty said.
It was Blair that broke the tension. “Please come into the dining room, I think we’ll be more comfortable in there.”
******
Gibbs handed Hetty’s letter to Jim. “We knew this was coming eventually.” Gibbs said.
Xander was standing behind Gibbs and read the letter over his shoulder. When he read it he looked at Spike. He wanted to go to him and feel his reassurance that everything was going to be all right.
“I wanted to make sure you knew,” Hetty said. “I know Tony carries the Sentinel Gene.”
“Xander also carries the Sentinel Gene,” Jim said.
“We have news of our own.” Gibbs said. “There was a metaphysical attacked on us last night by The Initiative. They failed so today they plan on abducting Riley and using him to extort Miller’s resignation.”
For the second time that morning Hetty was surprised. Gibbs was talking about the metaphysical and doing it in front of other Alpha Sentinels. Hetty looked around the room. No one seemed uncomfortable about the statement. She decided to pursue it. “Who was your contact for that intel?” she asked.
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