Angel looked at Giles curiously from the door. What was he doing over there? He took a step into the hall and Giles was by his side in an instant.

"What have you done to me? I just heard a whisper through a stone wall." He pointed to the far wall. "That’s not normal! Buffy sensed another vampire in here…" Giles was distraught. His eyes changed subtly as Angel looked at them, glinting yellow. Maybe he’d gone too far. Time for the truth.

"I’ve been adding my blood to your food." Angel walked to the kitchen with his bag of food; Giles trailing behind him like a puppy. "It will make you undetectable to vampires. Well, that’s the theory…" His book placed a hand on his un–beating heart and he took the slim volume from his breast pocket. He looked lovingly at the binding and swept his fingertips over the smooth forehead of his adopted child. He sighed.

"Why do I need that talent, pray tell?" Giles asked acidly.

"Because you’re the Watcher–Slayer." Angel studied him closely as that piece of information sunk in.

"H… how do you know?" Giles asked. He looked pale.

"The brands. And this book," he handed the precious volume to the Watcher and bit his lip anxiously as Giles handled it. "Carefully please Rupert, it is sentient…" Giles gave Angel a shocked look and carefully opened the pages, the book was still and quiet.

"What was the last thing that Chloe said to you?" He could see the other man working on that one.

"She said she needed me to take over. Then I felt the burning start and I don’t remember after that." He closed his eyes, reliving the moment. "Why has it taken so long?"

Angel shrugged. "I don’t know. All I know is I didn’t have to turn you. I’d have to bite you for that. There’s an exchange of blood y’know…" He laughed, and then suddenly stopped.

"What…?" asked Giles warily. He closed the book and handed it back to Angel.

"Oh, shit!"

"What…What?" Giles was getting anxious.

"The Snyder prank, Giles, the bullet went through my flesh and blood into,"

"…My flesh and blood." Giles finished. "An exchange of blood. And you bit me to remove the bullet! Perfect just bloody perfect!"

"But we don’t know. I mean you’re still eating. You’re still alive, Giles. You’re warm…" Angel was grabbing at straws.

Giles sank down the wall, completely drained. He had just spent the second most horrendous months of his life kicking a habit. Again! Now he was going to be hunted by his own Slayer. Great! Make my Millennium!

They stared at the cross on the counter. "Pick it up, Rupert." Angel ordered.

"You pick it up! It’ll burn me…" Angel sighed and picked up the water gun and squirted him with it.

"That didn’t burn did it? Let me tell you, I’m more afraid of Holy Water than I am of a crucifix. Now pick it up!"

Giles wiped his face with his hand. He was sure Angel was enjoying this too much. He picked up the cross and dropped it immediately. "It tingled." He picked it up again in his fingers, feeling it. "Actually it’s quite pleasant…"

"Alright, Rupert, you don’t have to sleep with it. Next is… Oh, you’ll like this…" He gripped the Watcher’s arm and propelled him toward the door. Angel ducked behind it as it opened and shoved Giles into the mid- morning light. He shut the door and waited.

He heard nothing for two or three minutes. Willow’s going to dust me for sure. There won’t be enough of me left to run through an egg timer! The door opened slowly.

"The next time you want to blind me with sunlight, warn me." Angel let out a long sigh, and then he smiled. He laughed and walked away from Giles, rubbing his hands together. It worked! He patted his pocket where his book rested and felt content at last. Giles took a breath as well. He could still walk in the sunshine. He’d really miss sunshine.

End of Pt.4

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