Part 4

" Spike! What ever it is you want you will just have to come back later, I'm extremely busy " Rupert Giles started to close the door.

" Well that's bloody charming, I come all the way over here to save her pathetic life and it's *Piss off Spike* " the peeved Vampire slammed the palm of his hand against the doorframe in frustration. He'd finally tried to do a good deed only to have it thrown right back in his face, literally.

The extent of Spike's outburst caught Giles by surprise

" Save a life... you? That's a good one. Now run along and scare an old lady or something just as pointless" Giles sounded distracted and nervous as he continued to close the door in the vampire's face.

" Well sod you then, what do I care if he takes her bleedin' soul" Spike turned on his heel and marched off into the night, mumbling something about Giles being an ungrateful git.

" WAIT"

The urgency in the other man's voice caused Spike to turn back, this time he was confronted by a very different expression on the ex watcher's face

" What did you just say?"

******

Spike followed Rupert Giles into his living room ignoring the rumbling noises that were coming up from his stomach. He silently cursed not having the sense to visit the butcher shop on his way over, but he also knew that if he'd stopped for even one more second his evil side, which was usually his only side would have won over

On entering the main living room, he was surprised to see it already filled with familiar faces.

On one side of the room were members of the extremely annoying scoobie gang. Xander, Anya, Tara and Willow all sat quietly drinking mugs of hot chocolate.

** Ok, maybe that wasn't such as surprise after all ** Spike thought, but then he turned his head and was confronted with the really unexpected guests.

Angel, Cordelia and a new side kick.

" Bloody hell it's like one of those high school reunion thingies, not that I actually went to high school or any kind of school for that matter" he grinned and then continued.

" All we need now is Blondie and we'll have a full set" Spike looked straight at his old sire and waited for some sort of reaction. Angel's stoic face just glared.

Spike was on a roll, he couldn't pass up the chance to annoy these people, seeing as he had so little fun in his life these days. He took his pleasure where he could and watching people squirm still gave him a happy.

Shoving his hands deep in the pockets of his new duster, the vampires face became alive with mischief.

" So, Angel. What's up? LA ran out of that Nancy boy hair gel you love so much or have you found a cure for that pesky curse" he smirked, not bothering to wait for a reply he turned his attention to Cordelia.

" Cordy, have you put on weight? Such a shame about your hips? " Spike feigned a sympathetic look.

"Never mind. Someone must be agreeing with you" he leered the last part and moistened his lips with his tongue.

Cordelia's eyes darkened in fury as she opened her mouth to attack right back. She was only calmed when Angel placed his hand gently on her shoulder in reassurance. He had heard what had passed between his childe and Giles and knew that Spike had information they desperately needed.

Angel would let Spike have his fun for now, but later….

Spike then walked slowly across the room stopping in front of Wesley.

" I don't believe we've met, you must be Wesley *screams like a woman* Wynden Price. You're the dickhead that gives us Brit's a bad name" Spike looked towards Giles and grinned.

Cordelia decided that this was one insult too many, she stood up and got right into the blonde vampire's face.

" Hey! Spike. How about I do all humanity a favour and stake your sorry ass myself, before your stupid little games bore us all to death" she smirked, pulling a small stake from her jacket pocket and ran it slowly down the side of his cheek.

Xander's eyes shot open in surprise at the change in his ex girlfriend.

" Wow! Go Cordy, go." he cheered her on but the stern look he received from Anya stopped him cold.

Ignoring the stake, Spike looked deep into the dark haired beauty's eyes.

" Ooh ... A Buffy wannabe" he grinned and leaned forward, the wooden stake indenting in his skin.

Cordelia didn't move and showed no sign of being intimidated.

" Oh, please....I'm twice the woman cry Buffy ever was, I don't see the point of keeping useless pet vampires around even if they have been fixed, I'd dust you in the blink of an eye"

The whole room sensed the tension that was passing between the two, each secretly making side bets on who would be the first to break.

" Pet vampire, that's rich considering you work for the Slayer's ex lapdog over there, You're bluffing and you know it. You see, if you stake me then you'll never know who wants the Slayer's soul" Spike knew he had the trump card and played it with glee.

" Cordelia slowly moved her mouth and placed it right next to the blonde vampire's ear, she whispered so quietly that only Spike could hear.

" It might just be worth it"

" ENOUGH" Angel's rich voice separated the two and broke the tension.

" Hey Giles where's the fire?" Buffy breezed into the room closely followed by Riley. She had only been in bed for an hour when Giles's confusing phone call had summoned her here; she'd met up with a just as confused Riley on the way.

The moment Buffy entered the room she was stopped in her tracks by a tingling sensation she hadn't felt in a long time. Angel was close, very close.

Riley's eyes swept around the room, he recognised most of the faces except for a pretty dark haired girl and her companion. He then saw a face he prayed he'd never have to see again. His hated rival was staring straight at Buffy and Riley swore he felt his girlfriend tremble.

Buffy couldn't breath and she certainly couldn't form a sentence as her eyes drank in the sight of her ex lover. It had been so long, far too long and her heart involuntarily flipped.

Finally, finding her sanity, she turned her head away and her eyes sought out Giles.

"What's going on?" Buffy fought to keep her voice as calm as possible, her Slayer senses were already working on overtime screaming at her that something was very wrong. Riley quickly moved to stand by her side again.

" That's what we're just about to find out. Spike, the floor is all yours"

" Where do I start?…It's not as if any of you are even going to believe me."

" Just get on with it man" Giles interrupted impatiently.

" It's the end of the road for your heroine. Blondie's number is well and truly up" Spike started dramatically and turned to face the slayer.

" Spike, would you mind translating that into something we all might understand" Xander asked.

" Short and sweet, Buff's really done it this time, she's finally pissed off the big gun himself"

Xander looked at Willow, who indicated she had no idea what the vampire was talking about either?

"Still needing to work on that translation thing, Spike. What's the big gun?"

Spike looked around the room at the blank faces, his eyes settled on Anya who had already worked out his meaning. Her eyes opened wide in shock.

" I'm so leaving town, there's not enough orgasms in the world to make me stay around this time" the ex demon sounded terrified.

" Oh please, spare us the visuals" Cordelia muttered under her breath.

" Spike" Angel's voice growled dangerously low "What do you know?"

Spike started telling them about his most recent unwanted vacation. He watched as their expressions changed from disbelief to sheer horror as one by one they started to believe him. Nobody interrupted him again until he'd finished his story.

"OK, I'll ask the question everyone is this room is thinking. Why are you warning us and why should we believe you?" Xander was the first to break the awkward silence.

" I knew, I just knew it would be a waste of time" Spike's shoulders slumped and he shook his head.

" I believe him, it's what I saw in the dream" Angel spoke quietly from the other side of the room. All eyes then turned towards the other vampire and waited. Angel felt really uncomfortable, the last thing he wanted was to discuss his dream with a room full of people but Spike's story did make a lot of sense.

" I dreamt that Buffy lost her soul"

" Dream?" Buffy's voice was the first one he heard as everybody began to speak at once. The noise in the room grew into a dull roar

"QUIET" Wesley shouted at the top of his voice, bringing the meeting to order before they lost track of the real importance.

"It seems that Angel and Spike have both received similar information regarding a serious threat to Buffy's life. I for one trust Angel completely and know he only has the Slayer's interests at heart, what I don't trust is you…" Wesley looked straight at Spike and heard the others in the room quietly agree. Spike's hatred for Buffy over the years was well known by all in that room, suddenly Spike changing sides made no sense.

"I think what we need to know is, why would Spike betray the devil for the Slayer?"

Spike looked around the room and realised not one of them really believed his story.

** Well what do I care** he thought bitterly regretting his decision to help.

" You know what" he raised his hand in a one fingered salute.

"Up yours" Spike turned his back and headed for the door.

Buffy moved with slayer speed and blocked the exit; she then looked straight into his eyes.

" I believe you, Spike. But maybe you should just tell the others your reasons for helping us" Buffy bluffed the vampire, in all honesty she was as much in the dark as the rest of them but the story had frightened her enough to want to know more.

Spike looked around the room, the last thing he wanted to do was admit he owed the slayer anything and yet they would never believe him unless he told the truth.

"You bought me a coat, I saved your soul. No big deal, call it quits." He shrugged his shoulders.

Buffy's eyes widened in surprise. She had considered a few reasons why Spike would offer to help them.

**Money** Spike usually wanted payment for his help, so that was a possibility. Also there was the chip, Spike never stopped trying to get that removed. Both of these reasons made sense but Buffy couldn't image it being anything as simple as a debt of honour, that was so ridiculous she almost laughed.

"Besides, I didn't fancy spending eternity down there, well not yet anyway. That place is really over rated and far too hot for my sensitive skin" Spike turned away, as far as he was concerned the explanation was over.

** And if they still didn't believe him, well tough luck.**

" I still say we can't trust him" Cordelia was the first to speak she hadn't forgotten their last dealings with Spike and as far as she was concerned chip or no chip he couldn't be trusted.

"We have no choice, Angel's information, combined with what Spike has just told us, confirms we have a very serious threat here. We have to take every precaution to protect Buffy's soul" Giles walked across the room and stood next to his Slayer, his very presence offering silent support

" That's why we're here, we all want to help" Wesley joined his fellow ex watcher.

" Then I suggest we get started as soon as possible" Giles nodded

" Wow! Research party. It's just like old times" Willow grinned and walked across the room to where Wesley and Giles had started pulling out volumes of demonology.

" Old times here I come" Xander stood up and joined the fun, closely followed by Anya muttering that although she didn't have any old time's stories to share she wasn't gong to be left out.

Riley found his eyes drawn to the quiet vampire in the corner of the room. Every drop of prejudice he had ever known regarding demons and vampire's made his disgust for Angel grow stronger by the second. It wasn't just jealousy that fuelled the hatred he had for this man, it was cold fear.

Riley knew that Angel was the biggest threat here. Not to Buffy, but to him.

" This assassin. What are we talking about here * Order of Taraka*?" Buffy asked looking across at the study table. She was finding this *devil threat* really hard to take in, especially with Angel being in the room. It felt so strange working this close with him again.

** So close and yet so far** Buffy reflected sadly knowing things could never be the same again.

" What 's the * Order of Taraka*? Riley asked slipping his arm possessively around Buffy's waist for Angel's benefit..

" Believe me buddy you really don't want to know" Xander replied and then on impulse he turned his eyes towards Cordelia. He was not surprised to find her looking straight back. Memories of worm guy filled both their heads and for a moment they took a small trip down memory lane.

When the moment was over Xander smiled and turned his attention back to Buffy.

" They were bad but we can beat these guys" he offered hopefully.

Angel walked slowly across the room, his handsome features deep in thought

" The Order of Taraka will seem like a walk in the park on a Sunday afternoon compared to this. We are dealing with the purest form of evil here, we have no idea how bad it's going to be but believe me it's going to be worse than anything we've ever faced before. Add every dark evil you've ever known together, times them by infinity and you're still be short."

Angel couldn't help but noticed how frightened everybody had suddenly become, but he had to make it perfectly clear what they were up against.

" I don't want to frighten you but we have to prepare ourselves for anything and everything" he finished and allowed himself to look at Buffy. He was so proud to see how strong she was being, then again she was the Slayer and she certainly had grown over the last few years.

" As if the order of T….Arrrrr" Cordelia didn't get a chance to finish her sentence. She reached out for Wesley as the painful visions flashed into her head.

The rest of the scoobies watched on in wonder. When the confusion and pain subsided, Wesley reached into his jacket pocket for a small clear bottle of painkillers and calmly passed then to her. Picking up the nearest glass of orange juice from the table Cordelia swallowed the pills without a word.

When she had finally composed herself she turned towards Angel.

" Are you all right? What did you see?" He asked his voice gentle and full of concern

Buffy watched in awe at how close this little group had become, in her heart she was pleased that Angel had at last found the love and support of a family. But she was also saddened to know that she was no longer part of his life and she never would be again.

Angel helped Cordelia over to a chair and sat her down.

" It's a message from TPTB. Something very dark and yet strangely familiar is coming to Sunnydale and it will take Buffy's soul. You need to do a protection spell, bind Buffy's soul as tight as you can it might just save her."

Riley felt Buffy tremble

" I won't let him get you " he picked up her small hand and held it tightly between his fingers.

" Yeah. Soldier boy to the rescue, anybody got any steroids?" Spike laughed.

" This is no laughing matter" Wesley raised his voice. "Cordelia would not have received a warning from TBTB unless the threat was beyond serious.

" That's what I've been trying to tell you wankers all night. That vortex can open at any second and drag her off. So if you're planning to do some kind of spell or other.....Well you better do it * Now! *." Spike was surprised at the passion in his voice. He then worried that these * bloody fools* were getting to him.

" Right, a binding spell it is then. Willow, Tara. I would very much appreciate your help here " now Giles had something to work on he felt more in control.

Buffy pulled away from Riley and ignoring everybody else she slowly walked across the room to where Angel was standing.

" Can he really steal my soul?" she asked her voice finally giving away how frightened she was. Buffy knew that if anyone in the room could answer that question Angel could.

Angel reached down and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

" I'll never let anything hurt you, I promise." He reassured her from the bottom of his soul. Just the sound of that promise calmed Buffy's fear. In that moment she knew that no matter where the threat came from, Angel would be there to watch her back, as he had a thousand times in the past.

Once more the darkness didn't seem so black, once more they would stand together and fight as equals.

The whole room felt the intensity in Angel's words. They watched as Buffy took comfort in them and wrapped them around herself like a child with a security blanket.

Spike nudged Riley in the ribs and laughed.

" Sorry mate, looks like you're history "

Go to Part 5