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Soldier Diaries Series: Relative Issues	By : JINXI Category: AtS AU/AR > Slash - Male/Male > Angel(us)/Spike(William) > Angel(us)/Spike(William) Views: 1800 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Angel: The Series, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
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Title: The
Soldier Diaries: Relative Issues

Author:
Buffywatcher

Feedback:
Constructive comments always welcome: jinxascendant@hotmail.com

Pairing:
Spike/Angel (Sort of. You�ll see)

Rating: Strong R to possibly NC-17ish

SposWarnings:
Character death in this one (You don�t see any details). There�s Violence, M/M
relathip,hip, strong language�Bit of uncomfortable ickiness here or there�The
usual goodies.

Disclaimer:
Just borrowing them for a bit of harmless fun. All characters, recognisable
likenesses are retained by their owner and accredited license holders.

Writer�s Notes:
This story takes place in an AU setting. This one is going to contain a bit of
a twist to the usual Vampiric driven storylines so I hope that doesn�t offend
too much. This series will also bring forth the fact that Step-siblings can be
lovers but if that goes a bit too far for your moral fibre I�d suggest giving
this story a pass. Please excuse any minor discrepancies or artist license. As
always thanks are going out to GF, MarieC, Luba, and Mera my most excellent
group of Beta/Editors.

Writer�s Dedication:
This story if for Stony, my own favourite muse and beta/editor Ghostsforge,
since it was his Challenge that gave me the idea for it and he helped with the
outline concepts that drive this little tale.

Distribution�Yes Sir.� Both men answer in tandem.

Woods closes the file and picks up another,
scanning it briefly. �Captain Charles Jacob Mathew Gunn retired British Army
with highest honours bestowed. He also served with distinction in the S.A.S.
and holds doctorates in applied mechanical engineering and electronics. He
speaks German and Czech fluently. He is a heavy weapons specialist with
classifications in combat driving, demolition, and heavy construn.�

Woods sets that file down and grabs up the next
one in the stack. �Lt. Commander Anya Jensen-Giles retired British Navy with
highest possible honours bestowed. She holds several doctorates in medicine and
applied computer programming. She is fluent in Russian, Japanese, and French
and is believed to be fluent in no less than fourteen Demon languages and
dialects. There are some indications that she has ties to both MI5 and
Interpol, but these are unconfirmed at this time. There is actually little
information of a personal nature on any of these people having been classified
and restricted by the English government. Mr. Giles did reveal however that the
Lt. Commander is actually quite adept as he put it, in arcane matters.�

�Arcane matters Sir?� Meers asks hesitantly.

�That would be magic�for want of a better word,
Private. That was told me in idenidence and does not leave this room, I trust
you understand.� Woods waits for their acknowledging nods. �Magic does exist Gentlemen, it is a powerful resource and one which the
US
government neithecogncognises nor accepts and therefore does utilise; which is
something I mean to rectify. We need every advantage we can get and from what
Mr. Giles tells me it�s a well accepted resource among the Watchers and nearly
every Watcher is to some extent or another trained in its proper usage.�

He closes the file, sets it aside and opens the
last file, scanning its contents before looking up. �There isn�t much on either
Mr. Giles or his assistant Wesley Wyndham-Price. Mr. Price was formerly a
Warrant Officer in the RAF and he retired honourably with several decorations
for valour. He holds doctorates in psychology, physics, and medicine. He is
fluent in sixteen languages and almost an equal number of dialects both Human
and Demon. He is a Watcher that much we can confirm but we have no access to
their personal records so we have no idea what that entails. Mr. Giles has
revealed that it will be Mr. Price that will be assuming the role of Watcher
for the Slayer but was reluctant to part with many details regarding their
additional business here.�

Liam is uncharacteristically silent as he
ponders whether or not to tell the Commander what Spike has revealed about
their presence here. �Sir, I think I can shed some light on that additional
business, but I have to ask that this remain strictly confidential.�

�Of course Liam, this entire meeting is off the
record and will remain that way.� Woods assures him.

�Wil told me that there will be a new Slayer
soon, as the Council is going to retire Ms. Summers from her duties. Apparently
they feel that the physical strain imposed will prove detrimental to her health
should she continue to serve in the capacity that she has been. There is
apparently some ritual or ceremony that will remove her from the bloodline and
activate a new Slayer.�

�Correct me if I am mistaken Liam, but isn�t
their other Slayer in prison for murder?�

�It was too late for what Giles? Not for Wil
obviously, since he�s as alive and annoying as ever.�

�Drusilla was mad with grief and wanted revenge
for her Mate. She went after Buffy, striking a blow against the Council through
the death of the Slayer. She was staked by Xander, when he threw himself in
front of an arrow meant for Buffy. It wasn�t a mortal wound, but Drusilla was
frighteningly competent even in her madness, she�d poisoned the arrow with a
very rare, infallibly deadly poison with no known cure. He knew he was going to
die a slow and lingering death and there was nothing we could do to help him.
The pain was unimaginable�he tried to wait for William, but in the end the pain
was too great, he took his own life rather than suffer.� Giles says; the
mourning still clear in his voice. �All that was left in the end was for Spike to
bury him. He left a letter for him but none of us have ever ret. It. It seemed
to comfort him somewhat, better than any of us could do at least.�

�I�I never knew the details of how Xander died.
Buffy�they don�t talk about him much. I had no idea it was so horribly tragic.
I didn�t know that he and Wil were together.�

�Or that Wil even visited here quite often, I
know. He was always careful about his visits for Xander�s sake. He�d
established a cover with Buffy and her friends, only Willow ever
really knew the whole truth about him. That whole tale about his horrible
childhood worked perfectly, none of them ever really took the time to look
passed the surface appearance he presented them.� Giles states quietly. �He
really was quite an extraordinary young man.� Giles turns his head and glances
out the window to where the motorcycle is easily keeping pace beside the truck
and makes a realisation. �Young Meers there actually reminds me of him in some
ways.�

�You�re right; I�ve been wondering who he
reminds me of!� Anya says with a pleased smile.

�He is a bit like Xan back before his training
started.� Gunn says fondly.

�Probably the reason Spike�s taken to him so
readily as well, he�s usually rather mistrustful of people until he�s taken
their measure for a while.� Wesley says, somewhat distracted by Gunn�s hand on
his thigh, which earns him a shy but bright smile from the normally reserved
Englishman.

ck'>Liam does a double take then shakes his head;
he�s probably misreading that gesture he�s sure.

�Yeah Spike, go ahead.� Wesley says suddenly.

Liam leans to the side so he can peek around the
seat and sees Wesley is pressing his fingertips to his ear and realises that
he�s wearing a state of the art mini ear mic that is even smaller and more
compact than the ones his own team uses.

�Open mic to Spike. Certainly, that�s a good
idea. We�ll meet you there. Standby mic.� Wesley says.
The motorcycle revs up and streaks ahead as Spike opens her up and lets the
horsepower fly. Liam grins as Meers� startled shriek is clearly audible as the
powerful machine leaps ahead and down a side street. �Spike is going to stop
off and change, he doesn�t want to look like an escapee from a commando movie
in public, so he�s gone to change into some civvies.� Wesley reports for the
non-micced occupants of the truck.

Liam�s eyes climb in envy, obviously they�re
voice activated and far beyond the bulkier technology his team uses, so much
for having the best state of the art equipment! The Commander is looking about
as envious as he is and makes a small nodding motion with his head.

�Depending on the branch, some can be almost a
year long.� The Commander says helpfully.

�Our basic training program for a Hunter is a
minimum of four years, with an additional four years of either military
experience or comparable apprenticeships, so all Hunters have a minimum of
eight years of training before they ever see active duty.� Wesley reveals much
to Woods and Liam�s shock. Not even some of the best trained, most elite combat
units in the U.S.
military require that level of training before field experience!

�Buffy told me that she was only 15 when she
began her training, and within a short time she was the Slayer.� Liam says
confused.

�Sadly the Sr rar ranks were decimated at the
time and she was the only one that was strong enough, she does have surprising
depths of natural talent. She is the strongest Slayer yet.� Giles says sadly.
�It will be a blow to their ranks to have her retire, but it is necessary. The
Council has decided to make some policy changes. Slayers will serve no more
than eight years before retirement. That is the least that we can do, given
most have been in training for two to four years before they even have the
possibility of being strong enough to ascend to Slayer. They risk their lives
nightly, at least this way those that make it have a chance at still having a
decent quality of life left to live. With Spike as the first fully functional
Hunter in over a hundred years and the Hunter ranks swelling to record numbers,
the Council foresees we�ll be able to hold every Hellmouth in check.� Giles
says proudly.

�Of course that will severally limit direct
interplanal travel by their means but there are of course other ways to enter
this plane.� Anya adds somewhat fatalistically.

�And it also doesn�t take into account the
Demons and other nasty types that are already here.� Gunn adds.

�But having both the Slayer and the Hunter here
in Sunnydale should make this Hellmouth the primary target for interested
parties.� Wesley chimes in.

�Pardon me? Spike AND the Slayer will both be
here in Sunnydale?� Commander Woods says excitedly. �I thought you were all
going to retire?�

�Not all of the Hunters fell to Vampires Liam.
Other Demons have taken them too, initiating pair bonds that finish them as
Hunters as readily as any Vampire�s fangs could. One true Hunter is bonded to
D�Hoffryn the master Demon of Arash Ma�har.� Anya says quietly. �There are
ancient tales that say that bonding or turning a true Hunter voluntarily
magnifies a Demon�s powers a hundredfold or more. Of course that could only be
just stories and fables.� Her tone of voice betrays the fact that she doesn�t
believe that for a second.

�You said Penn was some relative of Wil�s?� Liam
asks curiously.

�An Uncle MANY times removed. Wil�s something of
a legacy of sorts, he�s the third true Hunter produced by his family line and
as we expld ead earlier he�s rather unique in other ways.� Giles answers.
�Three Slayers have gone rogue in the last few hundred years, Hunters from
Wil�s bloodline took them all. Not really something to be proud of, as it
wasn�t done lightly and there were no other choices available, but it�s
impressive all the same.�

�It skips generations?� Commander Woods asks
interested in the mechanics of it all and how it must effects it must have on
the lives of the �fortunate� gifted. �Or have there never been Father and Son
Hunters? I noticed you said the Lt. Colonel�s bloodline has produced other
Hunters, successful ones but you didn�t say his Family has; I thought that was
curious.�

�Well not precisely.� Giles says after several
moments. �There has never been a Father and Son as no true Hunter has ever
fathered a child in that way. Those that have been turned have been known to
sire Childer and some have fostered children while they were Hunters�but true
Hunters never have children of their own.� He adds finally.

�He means that they prefer men, it�s almost a
genetic predisposition built into their genetic codes. Not to get me wrong,
they like women as well in nearly every case, but all of their closest bonds
are always formed between males. We�re not really sure why that is, but we
expect it was a deliberate modification that was added to their genetic
make-up; perhaps as a way to control their population. The true Hunter genes
are carried by the matriarchal genome but manifest only in the Males under a
pretty confined set of genetic drift. There has been some discussion about
seeing if artificial insemination is effective, but Spike refused to be a test
subject for that.� Anya lectures.

�He opposed quite violently if I remember
correctly, as did we all.� Wesley adds.

�Yes, another factor that precipitated our early
�retirement�. Spike is very protective and possessive, but strangely enough
that doesn�t seem to extend to a desire to father children. The Council can be
rather thoughtless at times and some factions can be a tad�� Anya glances at
Woods and Liam. ��Militant. We felt it would be best to pursue this course of
action.�

�They wouldn�t try to force him would they?!�
Liam exclaims in alarm.

�It would be the last thing they ever did if
they tried it.� Four voices growl in unison.

�Spike has always made it clear that he follows
MY orders, not those of the Council, so if they hope to keep his services to
them, they�ll have to deal with me. I�ve always done my best to look after Wil,
Liam I swear to you. I know that you�re angry that he had his childhood stolen
away from him like he did, but truly we had no choice or he would have been a
Vampire or worse by now.�

�I�understand that you feel that way, but I just
have trouble imagining what could be so dangerous that it was necessary. I
don�t have the benefits of your knowledge and experience to help me understand.
That�s why I�m here, I want to understand.� Liam admits honestly. �Then if I
decide that you�ve abused him, I�ll knock your fucking block off and do what I
have to do to get him away from all this.� He growls.

Giles and company amaze him by laughing. �We�d
have expected nothing less.� They all chime together as Gunn pulls into a
parking lot and parks the Hummer in a distant spot, but one directly under one
of the powerful floodlights. They all get out and congregate at the back of the
Hummer and Gunn unlocks one of the smaller sections of the rear trailer and
Woods and Liam watch in shock as a transformation takes place. Gunn whips off
his coat and he and Wesley hold it up like a dressing screen, their faces
turned discreetly away as Anya leans over the open compartment.

�ANTARCTICA?!� Giles
and Wesley exclaim together as Woods and Liam snicker and nod.

�Obviously someone has sprung them from their
duty though.� Liam mutters darkly. Woods scowls and is quickly on his phone
with every intention of finding out what those three are doing back in his
town.

They talk quietly so as not to disturb Woods�
phone call. The waitress returns with their drinks and a little while after
that she�s back with their appetisers. After a few minutes Woods slams his
phone closed with a violent snap that doesn�t bode well for someone. Before
they can ask him what he learned Anya suddenly starts laughing in a clearly
devilish way.

�Things are about to get verrrrry interesting.�
She motions across the dance floor and everyone turns to look and freezes.

Either Warren
stopped off to change too or Spike has loaned some clothes as he�s changed out
of his uniform as well. Simple blue jeans, though so impossibly tight it�s a
wonder that he can walk, and a dress shirt and simple black leather boots have
replaced them. The outfit isn�t that much different than Wesley�s only minus
the vest, but as much as Liam would rather not admit it, Warren is
looking very good. It�s the man standing so confidently at his side however
that has his heart pounding in his throat.

Spike�s changed into painted on black leather
jeans that ride so low on his hips; it�s a wonder of fashion science that they
stay up at all. A silver chain belt, not unlike Gunn�s, is threaded through the
belt loops. A silky looking vivid blue T-shirt is poured over his chest and
tucked into his leather jeans neatly, but the fabric of it is so sheer he may
as well not be wearing a shirt at all. A black leather sleeveless waistcoat has
been expertly made and tailored to hug his chest perfectly. The front is
harshly cutaway baring most of his chest from the shoulders to just before his
belly button, before the material swoops back in. Crisscrossing leather ties
are threaded through grommets on either side of the vest and are laced and
pulled together, so about two inches of the shirt underneath peeks through
them. The vest ends a couple of inches above the waistband of the leather jeans
and the glint of metal peeks from his navel betraying the fact that it�s
pierced by a simple stud. Several thick silver chains encircle each wrist and
several fingers of both hands sport masculine silver and onyx rings. A
collection of whimsical silver chains encircles his throat and dangles down his
chest at varying heights. A simple black leather collar with silver accents is
clasped around his throat and a pair of silver studs peek out from his left
earlobe. His scarred brow sports another simple silver piercing and his feet
sport simple black leather boots that sport several decorative silver chains.
His ever present Duster is casually tossed over his arm, as it is warm enough
to do without it inside.

The
outfit is very much like Spike himself is, a little larger than life with a
distinct air of pure sexuality, simply presented with no apologies and no
quarter given. As they watch, Spike motions towards them and starts heading for
their table with Meers at his heels. Before they can reach the table, several
men and women try to stop the pair, but Spike grabs Warren�s
hand and they dodge passed most with little or no concern for the longing
glances that follow them. One brawny type with more muscles than brains decides
that a little force will work where polite requests will not and drops a heavy
hand on Spike�s shoulder, pulling him around, whip-lashing him and Warren
around.

Liam is about to jump to his feet to teach themmoxmmox some manners, when Spike does something that has him glued to his seat.
His raises his hand and strokes his fingertips along the heifer�s cheek as
tenderly as a lover. He tilts his head to the side and smiles and says
something that has Warren
red-faced and looking like he�s going to fall down laughing at any moment.
Spike slides his hand around the bastard�s nape and pulls his head down to say
something in his ear that has the ox scurrying away eagerly with a huge smile. Warren
finally explodes into laughter and Spike has to practically carry him to the
table he�s laughing so hard. He pushes Warren into
a chair, pours himself into the last one, takes the glass Gunn hands him and
tosses back the whiskey with a sigh.

�Okay Spike, fess up�what did you say to the
giant that had him looking like he came right in the middle of the dance
floor.� Anya says laughing with a knowing grin. Hearing her Warren
breaks into fresh gales of wild laughter that Spike tries to silence by shoving
a deep friend zucchini stick in at the right moment.

�He�he told him�� Warren can�t
stop laughing, even as he�s trying to chew the zucchini. �He told him he was
allergic to idiots that didn�t know how to use soap, that he should go take a
shower and look him up when he has a doctorate. The guy�� More
laughter. ��He said he was going to go enrol at the University right
now! Think someone should tell him it is winter break and no one will be there
for a couple more weeks?� There�s more laughter as Spike just shrugs and looks
bored.

�He wasn�t much of a challenge.� Spike says
dismissingly. �What has your underwear in a bunch, you all look about as happy
as Lobsters at a cookout?�

Liam explains about their unwelcome surprise in
the form of Mr. Finn and his friends.

�That would be the same Riley Finn that made
Xander miserable would it?� Spike asks softly but his eyes glint with diamond
shards of icy intent.

�None of my contacts seems to know who sprung
that trash from their duty posts in McMurdo, but it seems they have orders to
report to me tomorrow for assignment to one of the action teams.� Woods barks,
clearly not pleased by this turn of events. �Those three, Finn especially, are
nothing but trouble which is why I pulled strings to get them posted as far
aware as humanly possible.�

�They must have some friends in mighty high
places if they�re back, and no doubt they�re here for some agenda of their own.
Having those yahoos back is just going to make things go from bad to worse on
the Demon front. It could be the match that sends up the whole powder keg.�
Liam snarls.

�We need to know why they�re really here and who
is helping them.� Woods says angrily.

Spike smiles coolly and his eyes darken and
flare with a dangerous fire that has several people starting to get fidgety in
their seats. �I think that I�ll go have a little �talk� with Mr. Finn and find
out what we want to know shall I?� Spike rolls out of his chair in a lazy roll
and carefully folds his Duster over the back of his chair. �I think I need to
make a bit of an impression on the gentleman to smooth the way a bit, mind if I
borrow your Pet, Mate?� Spike glances at Gunn who smiles and shakes his head.

Spike slips around the table slowly and holds
his hand out to Wesley; who stands and melts against his side as Spike wraps an
arm around him to slide his hand into his back pocket. The pair strolls
casually to the dance floor, glued together so tightly that their hips roll in
unison as they walk. They sway and weave their way through the other dancers
until they�re in the centre of the floor, but instead of dancing, they twine
around each other, just gently swaying through the song currently playing
finishes up. A familiar pounding bass track starts playing; Spike and Wesley
laugh and turn to face each other. They stamp their feet to the beat, before
bouncing into a dance that would be more at home on stage at a live sex show
rather than a dance club in a Hellmouth tainted college town. They bump and
grind like boneless marionettes, their bodies are pure fluid sexuality as the
Kinks� My Sherona blasts from the club�s speakers.

It�s obvious that Spike and Wesley have put on a
show like this before, as they rock and rub together only to pull away
playfully, chasing each other around the floor, only to dart away just as their
bodies brush together. Liam narrows his eyes as he watches the pair, glancing
at Gunn and shaking his head in wonderment as the big man smiles as he watches
the pair affectionately. The playful pair soon find
themselves in the proverbial spotlight as dancers slowly clear the way for the
sensual duel the dancing pair is laughingly engaging in. Liam notices that they
are slowly but surely working their way closer to Finn and his cohorts, a fact
that hasn�t escaped and appreciative Riley Finn.

Just on the ending beat, Spike spins on his
heel, turning his back to Wesley who obligingly �bumps� him straight into Finn
who plays the gallant Galahad and catches him. Liam growls deep in his chest as
Riley seems less than quick in removing his arms from around Spike and getting
his hand off his leather painted ass. Wes quietly makes his way through the
dancers and off the floor with a huge smile and manic eyes.

�He�s SO dead.� Wesley laughs breathlessly. �We�ll
be in the truck.� Wes grabs Gunn�s hand and the pair scamper out of the club,
their hands already moving restlessly over each other.

�Well�we�ll be seeing them in an hour or two.�
Anya quips and everyone laughs though a blush or two betrays the fact that
everyone knows they�re hardly going to be out there talking.

Liam turns his attention back to Spike and
almost growls again as he sees that he�s leaning against the wall surrounded by
Finn, Forrest, and Miller looking like a mouse cornered by a trio of hungry
alley cats.

�He�s going to peel them like grapes.� Anya says
with a laugh.

*As long as the son of a bitch doesn�t try to
eat him I�ll deal.* Liam thinks as he watches as Wil skilfully manages to
manoeuvre Riley away from the others and onto the dance floor. He clenches his
hands into fists as Riley reaches out and strokes Wil�s cheekbone, he responds
by stepping closer and letting his hand drop to Finn�s thigh. They�re barely
dancing he notices, just kind of swaying and talking with soft touches now and
then by Wil that have Riley straining to get closer to him like a horse
straining at its reins. His eyebrows rise as he realises that Wil is carefully
moving across the dance floor until he�s practically back at their table. He
makes a graceful exit, stalking slowly back towards the table with a glance and
a wave over his shoulder to Finn. As he turns back around the sexy smirk
softens into a wicked grin as he walks slowly away from Riley, his muscles
moving fluidly under the leather skins.

�Hey wait! You didn�t tell me your name or when
I can see you again!� Riley calls out after him.

Spike meets Liam�s eyes and winks saucily as he
stops and slowly looks over his shoulder at Finn. �No I didn�t.� He slowly
turns his head back around and continues on his way back to the table, grinning
as he knows that Finn is unconsciously following him.

�You have to tell me who you are!� Finn calls
out again.

Spike plants his foot and swings his hips slowly
around as his hands brace on his hips and he�s facing Finn again. �Who do you
want me to be?� Spike asks quietly, his voice deepening into a purring cadence
that is more sexual than a moan of fulfilment after an hour messing up the
sheets of a bed�repeatedly.

�Oh now that was just pure wickedness!� Finn squeaks.

�What can I say Pet? I�m anything but an Angel
you know.� Spike purrs as he slowly turns around and walks back to the table as
Finn stares gaping after him.

Liam laughs as the purely dumbfounded look on
Finn�s face as he stares like a gasping fish after Wil. He pulls Wil�s chair
next to his and turns it at a slight angle with a glint in his eye.

Spike chuckles as he sits down and Liam drops
his arm over his shoulder, letting it rest against his chest in a clearly
familiar and possessive gesture that shouts �hands off�. Finn looks outraged as
he realises who Liam is and storms off, pushing his way through the crowd and
earning himself a lot of dirty looks from the people he�s jostling.

�Well learn anything interesting?� Liam asks as
he hooks his chin over his shoulder and they watch Finn rejoin his friends,
gesturing wildly, obviously in the middle of a tantrum.

�I�m in like Flynn.� Spike says with a chuckle,
his hand lifting to cover Liam�s as it rests against his abdomen.

�Don�t you mean in like FINN?� Anya asks
laughing as everyone else groans at the play on words and finally joins her.

Liam chuckles and tightens his arm in an
affectionate squeeze and realises how much he�s missed the bundle of trouble
that is Wil and he�s glad that the pain in the ass is around again. �So are you
going to tell us what you found out about our Mr. Finn there? Aside from the
fact his sense of rhythm is about as good as his fashion sense that is.�

�Oh Meow, meow, there, there Kitten put away the
claws until you can sharpen them on the plump Mr. Finn tomorrow hmmm?� Spike
quips with a smirk that turns into a chuckle as Liam growls and bites his
shoulder in fake menace. �If that�s supposed to scare me I have to say it�s
just turning me on.� Spike chuckles as Liam blushes but doesn�t remove his arm,
not wanting to appear so easily flustered. He leans back against Liam as his
eyes spark dangerously as his eyes track Finn and his friends leaving the club.
�He has orders to report to the Commander tomorrow as you already know. He told
me it was some sort of �diplomatic� goodwill assignment, like he�s the Pope or
Ghandi or something rather than a lowlife skank in the grass. He mentioned he
was particularly looking forward to working with a Colonel O�Donnell again but
I got the definite impression he�s more interested in you than he was letting
on. He told me he was previously assigned to a research station in Antarctica and
that he was looking forward to working somewhere hotter. That�s right around
the time he made some hints about me rubbing a few sticks together to start a
fire so he could keep warm.� Spike is clearly disgusted by the very idea of
intimate contact with Riley. �I said that he must have pissed off the wrong
person to be dropped in that frozen wasteland and he said that it didn�t
matter; that he had powerful friends in high places. I said he surely must have
some friends in �VERY� high places if he�s getting a plum of an assignment like
this after getting shuffled off to the frozen back and beyond like that. He
said that Senator Wilkins was a good friend to have and that there would be
some changes in the near future and that he could be a very powerful friend to
have if I wanted to be �nice� to him.�

Liam and Woods glance at each other and swear
violently, sharing a glance of disgust.

�We should have known Wilkins would be mixed up
in this!� Liam growls.

�Who is Senator Wilkins?� Giles asks, not
familiar with the name at all.

�He was married to Maggie Walsh, the woman that
ran Project: Initiative until she played God one time too many and one of her
pet projects bit her in the ass. Fatally.� Liam says
disgusted.

�He�s also just taken over one of the
appropriation committees the President assigned to oversee military
expenditures and determine the viability of on-going projects and resources.�
Woods says with a groan. �He�s probably going to threaten to cut off our
government subsidies if we don�t do whatever it is he�s planning to manipulate
us into, using Finn there as a middle man.�

�We�ll see you one constipated Senator and raise
you several multi-billionaires and one Englishman that plays chess with the
President by email and thinks we don�t know that.� Spike says with a grin as
Giles flushes and ducks his head modestly. �No reason to tip our hands at this
point of things though is there?� The gleam in his eyes doesn�t bode well for
Finn and company.

�What do you have in mind?� Woods asks slowly
smiling.

�Assign them to the Colonel�s unit where he can
keep an eye on them while he runs them ragged and give you a chance to see what
they�re up to and once we know we squish them like roaches?� Anya says with a
grin. �Spike and the boys and I will gladly lend a hand as I believe you
mentioned to Giles earlier?� Woods nods. �While we�re helping the unit, Spike
will have the access to Finn that he�ll need to turn him from mole to Benedict
Arnold. Once Spike has him eating out of his hand we can use him to gain access
to their network and see just how deep this goes. Once we know who is involved
we dismantle the network to the last man, woman and idiot, starting with Finn.�

Liam is starting to grin at the thought of
having Riley�s neck under his boot heel as he slowly crushes the life out of
him. He�s not happy about having the idiot so close to Wil on a nightly basis
but if it will get rid of the corn-fed Iowa boil
on humanity�s ass he�ll tolerate it for a while. He�ll just have to keep Wil at
his side so he can look after him�at least until the inevitable urge to
strangle him becomes overwhelming again he thinks with a private grin. He
reaches over and grabs his whiskey and lifts the glass. �To Operation: Roach
Motel.�

Everyone laughs and grabs a drink of their own
and raises their glasses. �To Operation: Roach Motel.� They all say in unison
before tossing back their drinks and laughing.

Liam hugs Wil once more than removes his arm and
sits back in his chair, trying to tell himself he�s not regretting letting him
go and grabs the bottle of Jack Daniel�s and pours himself another glass before
tossing it back with a flick of his wrist.

A dishevelled Gunn and Wes come back, clinging
together and looking worn out.

�What did we miss?� They ask in unison, sharing
a look of bewilderment as everyone else breaks into a fresh round of laughter.
They shrug their shoulders and slide back into their chairs and toss back their
own drinks and pick at the appetisers. They�ll be filled in eventually but for
now they�ll just enjoy the company of good friends. Strange
though they may be.

TBC
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Soldier Diaries Series: Relative Issues