Welcome! I know I kow I have too many WIP's but I'm working on them all, I promise! And I am very excited about this story which is all co-written with Scribes1015 on a whim. It seemed a little fitting with all the things going on in the world right now.

He hadn't payed much attention to the stories printed off to the side in the papers the last few months. Nor had he really payed much attention to the news stories when they first began to blip across the screen, but then Wes and Cordy had moved one of old television sets up from the basement. Everyday there was more press coverage, more infected, more dead. New York was at a standstill, the photos leaked of the empty city haunting. California was trying to stay ahead of the virus, closing non-essential establishments well before their numbers reached that of other states.

It wasn't working, the numbers had quadrupled in Los Angeles within the last forty-eight hours. Obviously as a vampire he was immune, but unfortunately he couldn't pass that immunity onto those that he loved. Wes, Gunn, and Cordy had all moved permanently into the hotel for the foreseeable future. If supplies were needed, he went at night. Even Gunn, who was usually the restless one of the group, didn't try to come up with excuses to run out.

The Virus ravaged his old country, Europe's deathtole was insurmountable. Nearly forty percent of the population was dead. As cases began trickling into the United States, he kept expecting the government to shut down air travel, as of now it had yet to happen. The NBA had been cancelled, which Gunn had yet to stop bitching about, and all of the schools were closed indefinitely last week.

Still, travel was allowed.

OoOoO

Then this morning, the governor held a press conference. California was issuing the strictest execution of stay in place that the country had ever seen. Immediately something snapped inside of him, he needed to call Sunnydale. He still wasn't sure if this virus was biological or some form of sorcery, but either way he knew Buffy wouldn't take it serious, wouldn't stop patrolling. It's just who she was, but he knew from her stint in the hospital while Angelus was out that slayers contrary to popular belief weren't immune to sickness.

Standing from the trance he'd been in resting on the counter, he quietly slipped into his office closing the door behind him. Leaning back in the old leather chair, he once again stared off, trying to figure out the right thing to do. It wasn't his place to keep her safe anymore, she was in a new relationship, sighing he knew inviting Buffy, hell begging her if need be, meant inviting all. But he couldn't very well not offer them shelter, somewhere safe, because of the soldier. Besides, he'd go through much worse if it meant ensuring her life, no matter what.

He knew he had one shot at this, he could call Giles. Hell he could have Wesley call Giles, but that wouldn't get her here. No, he was going to have to call her himself. Grabbing the phone he dialed the old familiar number, listening to it ring, he found himself holding an unneeded breath.

"Hello," he heard his most favorite sound on the other end of the line.

"Buffy," he breathed.

Totally caught off guard, she nearly had to choke back a sob at the sound of his voice. Honestly she had been wondering if he was going to call, if either of her ex boyfriends would care enough to call during this crisis. She should have known he would, she doubted he even knew about her break up.

"Angel," she asked as though she wouldn't recognize his voice in a crowded room full of people.

A thick silence hung between them for a few moments as each of them waited for the other to speak. Eventually Angel found his voice, "How are you," he managed. He really should have thought this through more before calling, what exactly was he supposed to say?

"We're doing okay, considering," she told him honestly. "Mom's quarantined in the hospital, no visitors allowed. Giles is beyond freaking, him and Willow have been hitting the books hard trying to find out if the virus has any mystical origins."

"And?"

Cutting her eyes across the kitchen to where Willow and Giles sat, she eyed them both suspiciously… he hadn't asked what was wrong with her mom, and both of them seemed highly vested in the book they were reading...upside down.

Asshole, like she wasn't aware he kept tabs.

"Nothing so far," she pulled out one of the stools from the kitchen island to sit on. "What about you, I mean anything on your front?"

"Come here," well, so much for subtlety.

"Huh?"

"I mean, I'm sorry I didn't mean it like that, it's just I'm working out of this giant hotel now, and this virus it's bad Buffy. I don't care if you want to bring Riley, or whoever. I'd just feel a whole hell of a lot better knowing that you're okay, even if it's not my place anymore." He paused knowing that was a lot to take in coming from him. "Plus, two watchers are better than one," he added meekly when she had yet to answer.

The fact that Angel had called had her mind reeling, now he was basically pleading for her to bring everyone… including her ex-boyfriend to stay with him indefinitely. Nothing about this conversation was making much sense, but one thing was for certain, she could hear the fear in his voice.

Oh boy.

"You're sure this is a good idea?" He was right Giles and Wes together would give them an advantage, not to mention strength in numbers. If things kept going down the path they were headed, the looters and rioters would be out before they knew it.

"Of course," he whispered without hesitation.

"I'm not sure who all will agree to it," she warned him, keeping the information about Riley's departure to herself for the time being. This definitely wasn't the time to bring up her relationship status, or lack there of.

"That's fine, like I said, everyone's welcome… well except Spike."

Her face scrunched up at the mention of the blonde vampire's name, "Trust me, being quarantined with Spike is not on the top of my priorities."

That caused him to chuckle slightly, "Well the order goes into effect at midnight, do you think you can make it here by then?".

Looking from the curious eyes of Willow, to the pensive stare of Giles, she was almost certain they had already deciphered what she was about to ask them to do. She was also fairly certain she could guess the reaction of each, shit was about to hit the proverbial fan.

"Definitely. Midnight, got ya." It was strange how easily they fell back into conversation.

Momentarily forgetting their circumstances, forgetting the past, a small smile formed at the corner of his mouth. The excitement of seeing her rushing through him like a tidal wave, a feeling he wasn't exactly prepared for after so long.

"I'll be waiting," he whispered far too huskily for this evening conversation in front of her friends.

"See you then," she told him softly before placing the phone back onto it's cradle. Turning back around to look at the two people she loved dearly watching her every move, questions swarming behind their eyes.

OoOoO

Every single member of their little "Scooby Gang" had rushed around like they were chickens with their damn heads cut off as they tried to gather as much supplies as they felt they might need, perhaps might want during this whole mess of things, and that they could simply just get their hands on. Plus there was needing to be able to fit it all in the vehicles that they had managed to wrangle up for this surprise trip from Sunnydale up to Los Angeles.

There had been some grand arguments between them as they worked to gather everything up. Buffy was still unsure her own self at first if this was the right play, but everything inside of her screamed that it was. And really she wasn't sure of what other choice any of them had right now. This was outside of even what she would consider more or less her version of normal and she didn't like it. Not one damn bit.

The only thing that even gave her much pause about leaving the Hellmouth behind until they knew what was going on was her mother. She knew Joyce was under the best protection she could have right now at the hospital and it wasn't as though she could see her anyway with everything going on... but Buffy couldn't help that fear inside of her of if something happened and she was so far away.

Not that she could do much if something happened when she was across town in their house.

She hated every aspect of that side of the situation.

A quick but meaningful conversation with her mother had eased those fears some though. Joyce had surprisingly even encouraged her to go after thinking it over. The more people they had to help right now the better. Joyce was of course more concerned about her two children than herself anyway and she knew Angel above anyone else would do everything possible to keep them safe for as long as possible.

After hanging up the phone, Buffy had taken a deep breath and stormed up on the fly the best speech she could muster to convince them to come along with her but she also made it clear that she was going whether any or all of them came along or not. After that, with much grumbling, everyone kind of scattered about in a rush to go back to where they each considered home and gathered what they wished to bring for the trip. They also all stocked up on supplies from various stores around town, at least what they could still manage to find given all the panic and hoarding that had been going on in the small town. Various items from The Magic Shop were carefully piled into anywhere they could fit in the parade of cars and before they knew it they were standing in a circle together going over any last minute plans.

"So... we're really doing this?" Xander asked, staring down at his shoes that were covered in a nice amount of dried mud.

Buffy nodded, more to herself than anyone else. "I think we need the extra help, I really do. Angel said he is in a hotel which will provide space for us to all be together and work this out. Hopefully. We will have a bigger team, two watcher's, probably better resources all around in a more populated area. I know it's last minute and we don't know what is happening or going to happen... but it just seems like we are low on different options. I want us to be together, to be safe, and to figure this out... and we are struggling with every aspect of that here."

OoOoO

"What do you mean Buffy and friends are coming here? No way!" Cordelia half-shouted, her eyes wide. "No!"

"We are in the middle of a crisis, Cordelia! The entire damn world is!"

She extended a long finger his way. "Exactly! Just the perfect opportunity for you two to be together, all amped on your stupid hormones and reliving memories of your glory days together and all those lusty feelings toward one another popping right back up to the surface! Oh, it's the end of the world anyway, right? What's a little last minute bliss going to be mean in the end?! Who cares if we get nasty with one another again and release Angelus on the world for the big bang going on?!" she huffed out. "What's the worst that can happen? Oh. Right. We all know the answer to that I do believe!"

Angel fought the urge to roll his eyes. "I didn't invite Buffy here for any of that, Cordelia. This isn't about me and her."

"Everything is always about Buffy and Angel, Buffy and Angel, blah blah blah!" she groaned. Looking over at Wesley, she tried to get him to join in on her side of the argument but the young former watcher threw his hands up in front of him and backed away a few steps... making it clear he was not getting involved in this one way or the other right now.

Angel rubbed his tired brown eyes. "I am worried about her, Cordelia. I want her here so I know she is safe. I am worried about Buffy and I am worried about Dawn and I am worried about Joyce who can't even come. I am worried over Willow, and Xander... over Giles... I will feel better with them here. I can't deny that. But I don't see what is wrong with the extra manpower either. The Slayer, another Watcher - a more experienced one at that, some witches... the extra hands doesn't seem like much of a downfall to me. Maybe we as a group can manage to survive this longer and get to the bottom of what is happening and stop things from getting any worse!"

"Because you are blinded with damn puppy dog I love the one woman on the planet I can't have eyes!" she shot back. "That's why you don't see any flaws in the damn plan! And that's why you didn't even think to ask any of us before you sprung into action about it because you knew we wouldn't have agreed. And why!"

Before he could respond to any of that, the brunette had turned around and stormed off. Stomping feet and slamming doors echoed behind her as she moved further away from him.

Angel let out a large sigh before just allowing his body to fall back, collapsing into one of the office chairs behind him. "I know I should have discussed it with everyone first and I am sorry for that. I didn't entirely think all of this through. I didn't even know what all I was even going to say to her when I made the call."

"She's just worried," Wesley said softly. "We all are... and I don't mean about Buffy Summers. I am sure she will see the benefits sooner than later, Angel. Just give her some time. Gunn has mentioned a few worries of his own with new people coming into the fold. Just... let it work itself out."

OoOoO

As the hours ticked on, his anxiety only seemed to increase. Cordy had finally crawled back out of her room, but needless to say, tensions were high. Everytime he came within eyesight of her she would start groaning and grumbling one thing or another. He finally acknowledged her when she started in on how hard it was going to be to stock up on Orb of Thessellas in the middle of a quarantine.

"Look Cordy, she's bringing her-,"Angel paused, swallowing the bile in the back of his throat. "Boyfriend," he eventually managed. "And I would really appreciate it if you weren't discussing our sex life when they showed up."

Of course Cordelia had the audacity to look disgusted at the notion. "Oh, you wish buddy," she told him as she circled the counter to stand in front of him, one hand poised on her hip, the other poking him in the chest. "I just want it to be clear that when you two lose your cool, or whatever, and this whole grand idea blows up in your big stupid faces, that I was the first to say I told you so!"

Angel tried to suppress his chuckle at her outburst knowing her flare for the dramatics. Holding up his hands in surrender, he slowly took a step back from the brunette. "How about you go pick the rooms for everyone, make sure the air is on in all of them."

As though she had come up with the idea all on her own, she instantly relaxed, a giant smile crossing her face. "Oh you bet your ass I will, and I'm going to make sure that little miss slays a lot is in the furthest one possible." Once again forcing himself not to roll his eyes, he simply nodded, and watched as she turned to make her way up the stairs.

"Yo, how many of these Sunnydale people are we talkin'? I get it's your ex girl and all, but the way I see it we're taking on a lot of risk just inviting all these strangers to live here indefinitely."

"They're not strangers," Angel told him pointedly. "No one's saying you have to stay," he added, wanting to enforce the fact that Buffy, her people, would always be welcomed here.

"Oh, it's like that?"

Frustrated beyond belief, he was done discussing this. "No Gunn, it's not. In case you haven't noticed we're in the middle of an apocalypse here, one that we're on the losing side of. Our best shot at this thing mystical or otherwise is with them here, hell it may be our only shot."

"Angel's right," came the British voice as Wes appeared between them, in an attempt to diffuse the situation. "I assure you the people Angel invited, they can all hold their own Gunn. None of them would risk bringing the virus here, not to mention they are all willing to leave the hellmouth unguarded. That alone should say something."

Looking back and forth between Wes and Angel, Gunn weighed his options. Knowing how bad things were outside, he knew it was best he stay here… still you couldn't have told him a year ago he'd have this much trust riding on a vampire.

Soul or not.

OoOoO

Dawn bounced happily in the backseat of Xander's car. Thank god he had talked Buffy into letting her ride with him and the gang instead of her and Giles, she couldn't even imagine how boring the trip would have been then. Buffy all moping about wearing her Angel face, while Giles sighed repeatedly, stopping only to clean his glasses at a red light.

No thank you.

"I can't believe we're going to Angel's," she squealed from between Willow and Tara. Despite all the drama between Buffy and Angel, she'd always liked him. He'd actually taken the time to notice her existence, plus he knew cool stuff. Sometimes they would play this game where she got to ask him questions until she stumped him, they'd called it Stumped… well she had at least.

"Tell me about it," grumbled Xander from behind the steering wheel. As if his life couldn't get any worse, plague, apocalypse, Buffy's mom sequestered in a hospital from a brain tumor, Angel… yep that pretty much summed it up.

"What's your deal against Angel anyways?"

Xander glanced at the younger Summers sister from his rearview mirror. "Oh you know, self-preservation."

Dawn rolled her eyes, there had always been some weird jealousy thing between him and Angel. She wasn't really sure why, she just always assumed it had to do with the fact that he was a vampire.

"Oh please, Angel's not dangerous."

"Umm Dawnie, do you remember when he turned evil?" Willow questioned.

Duh.

"Umm, terrorized my home and sister for months. How could I forget? But that was Angelus and trust me, no one has to worry about that. They were together for nearly a year after that, and believe me when I say our walls are thin."

Everyone in the car seemed to freeze, their eyes bouncing back and forth between Dawn and each other. None of them knowing exactly what she was insinuating.

"Uhhh."

"What," Dawn asked bewildered. "I just meant that they have a lot of experience not crossing that line, I mean surely you guys didn't think they were just completely celiba-" Willow slapped her hand over the young teens mouth before she could say anything further.

Anya smacked Xander in the side, catching him off guard. "See! I told you there was no way those two weren't getting each other off somehow."

"Um how about we listen to the radio," suggested Tara, her face blushing beet red at the images that were being created inside her head.

Huffing Dawn crossed her arms, wiggling to get comfortable between the two witches again. She hated how they all acted like she was just some dumb kid, who didn't even know what sex was. Catching the wink that Xander shot her in the mirror, she couldn't help but smile back at him. He was so sexy, she would never understand why he chose Anya… a small part of her still believed they were going to get married one day.

Mrs. Dawn Harris, it even sounded perfect.

OoOoO

Buffy was glad that she'd chosen to ride with Giles, something told her that she should enjoy the peace and quiet while it lasted. Hotel or not, they were all about to be sharing close quarters. Something that had only really began to sink in as they crossed the Los Angeles county line.

The last time she'd seen Angel, she'd sent him away after he'd fought with Riley. After she'd rubbed her brand new relationship all in his face. The same relationship that was now over, hoped in a helicopter and left the country over.

She could feel him, inside, his presence growing stronger every mile that passed. She had looked up the address, she was from L.A. so she had a general idea as to where they were headed. Butterflies swarmed her stomach, as the desolate streets became more and more familiar.

OoOoO

Angel watched as the two cars parked out front through one of large windows to the front double doors of the hotel. He felt his stomach tighten the more they just seemed to sit there, but finally both sets of headlights turned off and the humming of the engines died out.

"How many people are we exactly expecting again?" Cordelia asked from behind him. He could feel unease falling off of her in waves as she stared out the window as well for a moment before starting back up with the endless pacing. Her heels clicked and echoed loudly.

Angel shrugged. He hadn't taken a head count when he spoke with Buffy earlier, he just went on assuming that she would bring whoever she felt she needed to. He didn't know if they were waiting on another vehicle or whatever the case may be as he counted the heartbeats and tried focusing on who was out front with her. He had felt Buffy miles and miles away... and the others he was more familiar with became clearer as he honed in on those vampire related senses while they all just nervously waited.

Buffy, Dawn, Giles, Xander and Willow were easy to check off in his head, that strange girlfriend of Xander's, then there was another female... a witch... also in the car with them, but he also began to pick up on the obvious lack of the soldier boy, Riley. Before he let his heart leap into some sort of hopeful state, Angel began to wonder if they were waiting on him in another vehicle, or maybe the government had recruited him with his previous ties to The Initiative and he was unable to leave Sunnydale, perhaps they'd even reached out to him to help with more severe areas... really, he didn't know and wouldn't until they came in. He didn't want to get ahead of himself though.

"Perhaps we should go offer to help them with their bags?" Lorne broke into his thoughts as he also came to stand behind the nervous vampire.

"Maybe," he offered. Before he could say anything else though, a car door opened and had he any breath, Angel knew it would have sucked right out of him as Buffy's small figure appeared, climbing out from the side. She stared a hole right back through him before leaning back down to say something to Giles.

Judging by his reaction, Lorne let out a low whistle. "That would be her then, huh?"

Angel could only nod and try to swallow down the lump forming in his throat.

His team watched silently as everyone outside began pouring out of the cars, grabbing what their hands could carry and talking amongst themselves before finally coming to the door.

Lorne reached an arm out to open the door before anyone could knock, Angel stepping back out of the way, then Lorne's arms stretched out before him as he gave him best smile. "Welcome to Angel Invest-"

"Ahhhh!" shrieked the younger of the Summers' women. And Dawn more than likely would have attacked the green-colored demon had Buffy not grabbed her hand in the knick of time.

"He's okay, Dawn. He is part of my team," Angel spoke, taking a step forward of his own.

Everyone's eyes seemed to fall on him, including Buffy's. The two seemed to stare at one another for an eternity before Cordelia coughed loudly. "Yeah, yeah, the Buffy and Angel saga continues... blah blah blah... anyway! Dawnie, this is Lorne. And yes, he is a demon but he's on our side. He's like... he can tell your future when you sing or hum or something."

"Cordelia, that is not how it works-" Lorne sighed.

Cordy waved him off. "Details later," she cut him off with. "We'll all have plenty of time apparently to get acquainted with one another later. Or not," she said with a look toward him.

Angel just sighed and started to do a general welcome to the hotel as well, asking a few questions that'd fall under small talk, and then everyone kind of introduced themselves before offering to give a tour of the grounds and try to fill them in on anything they might not be aware of happening here in LA.

OoOoO

"Why exactly am I all the way in the back?" Buffy asked as they began being shown rooms Cordelia had apparently decided for them.

"Perhaps if something were to go wrong, Buffy might be better off closer to the-" Giles started to say but Cordelia's bark of laughter had his words dying out.

"We have plenty of people here now, everyone will be fine where they are. I think we can all agree we need to keep some distance between the two former lovers."

Buffy crossed her arms across her chest and narrowed her eyes. "Which ones are we exactly talking about, Cordelia? You and Xander?"

"Oh, please don't drag me into this," Xander groaned, already having had an earful from Anya about this whole situation when it came to being stuck in a hotel with his high school girlfriend.

Cordelia rolled her eyes. "Don't play dumb. We all know what happens when you and Angel are around each other. I'm just trying to keep people safe."

Buffy felt her cheeks blush a little but mostly her blood boiling through her veins. She opened her mouth to go off on the former cheerleader but Giles, Wes and Lorne all three started talking at once trying to say something - anything - to calm the situation down and a provide distraction before the two women wound up causing the first fight of quarantine.