DISCLAIMER: I don't own them, I don't want them, they make me cry too much. Joss and his people do the owning thing
TIMELINE: Right after Restless.
SPOILERS: Everything on both shows to be safe.
DISTRIBUTION: Great, just let me know where.
AUTHOR'S NOTES: Sequal to Bloods thicker than. Spike has just killed Riley, now he's after Angel.
FEEDBACK: Yes please.
RATING: Same as show.
DEDICATION: Rosi,Leisa,Deirdre,Shirl, Leonie, Sunny.Kate.

Part 1

Buffy crouched over the body of her boyfriend; she gently moved his hair away from his forehead and closed his eyes. Apart from the two small holes in the side of his neck Riley Finn looked to the world to be sleeping soundly, but his pale skin and cool touch told Buffy that Riley would now sleep for eternity. She dropped a soft kiss onto the top of his head and whispered goodbye, then she looked up at Giles with large tear stained eyes.

" Buffy, I'm so dreadfully sorry " Giles spoke quietly. He had no idea how to comfort the girl at such a difficult time.

"When I find out what did this I'm gonna rip its heart out with my bare hands" Her voice was dangerously calm.

Xander walked over, his heart saddened at the sight of his best friends' pain

"Buffy, will he rise? Do you want me to…" His voice was as caring as possible at this difficult situation.

" No, he won't be rising. This was murder, cold blooded murder"

She looked around at the empty beer bottles and shook her head.There wasn't any sign of a struggle.

" If I didn't know any better, Where's Spike?" she asked as she looked back at Xander.

" I haven't seen him for a while but Buffy this couldn't possibly be his work, chip remember"Xander imitated the chip by tapping his head.

Buffy took one last look at Riley.

"Whoever or whatever did this Riley, I'll make it pay, I swear."

*****

Spike wandered down the street with a new air of confidence, The big, bad was back. **Watch out, here comes Spike and he's gonna make the whole bloody world pay ** he laughed to himself.

He smashed the lock of the nearest car, using the head of his second victim, then jumped in and hot-wired the engine. " Easier than taking candy from a baby" He laughed as the engine fired.

" Right, next stop L.A" he laughed and headed the car out of town.

Part 2…

L.A.

Angel moved slowly through the devastation that had once been his home. His books had all been destroyed in the explosion, loose pages lay scattered like tossed confetti at a wedding.

He picked one up from the floor and lovingly dusted it down. Flicking through the pages, he sighed with relief when his precious photograph slipped, undamaged, from its' hiding place. Angel gently traced the black and white features, he opened his heart for a moment and let himself remember just how much he still loved the face that stared back , how much he would always love her.

"Wow! Must have been some party" A familiar voice entered the room

Angel snapped the book shut, without even turning around he answered.

"Hello Spike".

Spike stood leaning in the doorway calmly drawing on a cigarette, as Angel turned to face him, he smiled.

"You never invited me, I'm so hurt" Spike joked, watching the different emotions cross his sires face.

Angels' eyes met Spikes his whole body now alert. "Might have something to do with the fact that you're usually trying to kill me. What do you want Spike? Why are you back in my town? " Angel watched Spikes' every movement, not trusting him for a second.

" Well, I was thinking a nice vacation would do me the world of good, we just fought another battle to the death and this time without you " Spikes' smile never wavered.

" Buffy, is Buffy….?" Angel's voice was full of concern for the Slayers safety.

"Peachy" Spike interrupted; he watched the relief fill his sires eyes.

" Then what do you really want Spike? I still haven't forgotten the last vacation you took here. Well, you don't forget hot pokers that quickly" Angel was losing patience.

" Oh, I'm so hurt, can't I just visit? I mean we are related after all. Hey! I'm one of the good guys now you know." Spike pretended to be hurt." So I hear " Angel couldn't resist the little smile that tugged at the corners of his mouth.

Spike watched him, inside he seethed with fury.

" I'm only in town for the night, brought all the news from good old Sunnyhell, Giles heard about the trouble you had and asked me to check you out. Thought why not? Maybe we can bury the hatchet, have a beer, chase some girls. Well, I'll chase, you watch, keep forgetting your little problem. Be just like the good old days." Spike walked over to Angel and put his hand on the other vampires shoulders. "What d'you say mate? "

" You must think I'm stupid " Angel pushed his hand away.

Spike shrugged his shoulders " Angel I'm tired of fighting, I'm really on the good side now. Oh bloody hell, the Slayer said she'd stake me if I didn't check you were all right." Spike played the angry card so well.

Angel watched him even more closely. It was true, Spike had been reluctantly helping them out since his implant. Giles had already confirmed that weeks ago.

"Buffy wanted you to check up on me?" Angel still wasn't convinced but the thought that Buffy was thinking about his safety gave him a warm feeling inside.

" I wasn't supposed to tell you that, look I'm dying for a beer, you want one or not cos I'm off " Spike turned.

" You said you had news from Sunnydale?" Angel asked against his better judgement, but he needed to know how she was after their latest battle. She had been so worried the last time he had seen her.

Spike turned back "You're never gonna believe what happened to Captain Farmboy" Spike smiled again, remembering his own handy work.

That was the deciding factor, Angel wanted this new information on Riley,** if he'd hurt Buffy..**

He turned around to pick up his book

" There's a bar just....." THUD. Angel crumpled to the floor.

Spike stood with a crowbar in his hand

" I prefer this bar Angel, works every time" Spikes' evil laughter filled the room.

Part 3

Angel slowly regained consciousness, his head hurt like hell. He tried to remember what had happened and why the room seemed to move. Then he realised that it wasn't the room that was moving, it was him. Slowly getting to his feet, he noticed that he was locked in a large steel cage hoisted high into the air. Every time he moved it swung dangerously.

Angel clung to the bars and looked around him. It was a warehouse of some kind, filled with an assortment of large boxes.

Angel tried the door and was not surprised to find it was heavily padlocked. When he looked above him he saw the cage was situated directly beneath a large glass skylight and dawn was approaching rapidly.

Angel ran his hand over the large swelling at the base of his skull, then he remembered.

Spike

"Look how the mighty have *ha* risen" Spike sneered at his play on words.

Angel fidgeted in the cage, as the smell of sunrise became stronger

" Spike, I…" Angels' voice hid any trace of fear, he wouldn't give him the satisfaction.

"Shut your gob, Angelus!" Spike cut him dead, he pulled viciously on the chain holding the cage and sent Angel crashing from side to side.

** I should have known better** Angel cursed himself for his stupidity.

He knew he had to keep a clear head now, when Spike was angry he made mistakes. He also knew that there was very little time to save himself, nobody else could, nobody else even knew where he was. He would have to push Spike into making a mistake and he would have to do it sooner rather than later

" The name's Angel " he reminded the blond vampire with a sarcastic smile.

" Angel, Angelus, Judas, bastard all the same to me, Oh! let's not forget Mr. *I've got a soul* crap as well. You see Angelus you don't fool me for one second. You're still the same sadistic, vicious, bastard I always admired. You just hide it really well these days, but you know what me old sire? Its still there, its always there, laying just under the surface. That's what frightens you the most because, deep down, you're not only as evil as me, you were ten times worse.

Spike watched Angel flinch as each word attacked him. Then continued.....

" All this *I'm so good now, I've got a soul*, don't make me laugh, you're only one shag away from the rest of us demons."

Angels temper snapped and he shouldered the door violently only to fall back in pain.

" Talking of shagging, heard the news about old slutty yet?" Spikes' voice was positively euphoric.

The muscles in Angel's jaw twitched as Spike pushed all the right buttons.

" That doesn't work anymore Spike, I know she's moved on, I've met Finn." Angels' voice sounded cold and empty at the mention of his replacement.

"That's the difference between you and me mate, you met him, I actually ate him. Didn't taste a bit like chicken!"

Spike let out a roar of laughter, and waited for the forthcoming reaction.

The realisation of Spikes' words hit Angel hard. He knew then that Spike had somehow been restored to all his evil glory and had obviously killed Riley. Angel forced himself to remain quiet, even though panic for Buffys' safety was building with each new word.

"One down and one to go, once you're a big pile of dust I'm gonna go back and comfort poor little Buff."

Angel couldn't believe what he was hearing. He had no idea that Spike had feelings for Buffy, the thought made him sick to his stomach.

"She wants to play the tease? I'll give her tease all right and I haven't got a bleedin' soul to lose afterwards" Spikes voice ripped into Angels' dead heart. He was finding it increasingly difficult to stay calm as his hatred for his childe grew.

Spike continued the torture " Hey! Maybe she'll be grateful for a nice cold body to curl up to again, what do you say mate? Got any tips? What really makes old Buff scream?" Spike licked his lips

Angel roared "I'm going to kill...."

Spikes laughter cut off the threat. "What's up Angelus? I thought you liked to share with me, look how you always helped me out with Dru. You were so thoughtful, especially when I was stuck in that bloody wheel chair" Spike exploded.

At that moment Angel knew just how deep Spikes' hatred went, his demon had always revelled in tormenting the blond vampire. Drusilla had been the worst, Angelus had fed on the other demons' pain without a second thought.

Angel slumped down and squatted in the corner of the cage. He knew he was in serious trouble. Spikes' hatred was very much in control. Years and years of torment were now resurfacing

" Spike, Dru was….she would never have stayed even if………"

"NO. You don't know a sodding thing about Dru and me. You come strutting in with those bloody leather pants and she falls at your feet. But she loved me, I know she did and she was my world. I'm so empty without her" Spike let his guard down for a moment as all his pain and bitterness spilled out.

" I do understand" Angel spoke quietly, portraying some of his own anguish.

Spike glanced up at him.

"Well, well what a pathetic pair of demons we have become, we let love fill our heads until we are too stupid to see clearly. That's all gonna change.

Spikes' face became cold and angry again.

" I want Dru back, not going to happen though is it? So I'll just have to settle for old Buff instead"

Angel saw the renewed hatred grow in the vampires' eyes and knew he was deadly serious. Spike was out for revenge.

" With you two losers out of the picture, well good old Spike will save the day. I'm off now; it's a long drive back to Sunnydale. Slayer should be tucked up nicely in bed, all warm and waiting for me to comfort her. Think about that Angel as your hair catches on fire, I'll be setting your slayer on fire" he grinned happily.

"NOOOO" Angel cried out in pure Rage"

" Might even turn her, that could be fun we'd have eternity to shag together then." Spike slipped on his leather coat while completely ignoring the threats coming from the cage.

" Bye Angel, one day you'll thank me for this" Spike picked up his car keys.

" One day I'll kill you for this! " Angels' voice was extremely dangerous.

"Sorry old mate, you already did that once. What makes you think you can do it any better the second time?" Spike started to calmly walk away, stopped and then, as an afterthought " I'll give her your love shall I ?" He laughed heartily as he walked out of the warehouse, leaving the sound of a tormented Angel smashing with all his might against the cage walls.

Finding his car outside he looked towards the approaching dawn and checked the blackout paint on his windows. He climbed into the car and started the engine.

The door was violently yanked open. Wesley and Cordelia stood there.

" The Cavalry took it's bleeding time didn't it?" Spike smiled

"Where is he?" Cordelia screamed.

" Don't get your knickers in a twist sweetheart, I didn't damage him too much" Spike leered.

Wesley took a step closer. "What have you done to Angel? " he asked calmly holding a wooden cross. Spike hissed.

" Left him sunbathing. Well, he will be in about ten minutes to be precise. Third on the left and straight to the bottom." Spike threw the padlock keys at Wesley and, as he caught them, Spike took the opportunity to grab back the door and slam it shut, he then lowered the window slightly.

" Better hurry, I can smell the sun rising, its so hurtful to the poor old sods skin you know" he laughed and then as a final afterthought "Give Soulboy a message for me, tell him I'll still give Buffy his love "

The car screamed away leaving only the sound of Spikes' evil laughter.

Wesley and Cordelia ran straight for the warehouse. Wesley managed to pull the cage crashing to the ground just as the first rays of sunlight hit the room. Between them, they managed to drag Angel away from the harmful light.

"Spike, where's Spike?" Angel cried in panic.

" Don't worry he's gone " Cordelia tried to reassure her friend.

"Oh God! Buffy, I have to go to Buffy" Angel pulled himself to his feet.

Wesley looked at his boss and saw real concern in his eyes

"Oh, talking of Buffy, Spike gave me a message for you"

Part 4

Spike stopped at the junction to read the road sign.

"Well left for Sunnydale, right destiny unknown?" he voiced his thoughts out loud.

He thought of the tormented Angel and smiled.

" Well Buff, if that doesn't get my dear old Sire running all the way back to Sunnydale to protect you from the big, bad, Spike then nothing will. If the wanker's got any sense he'll never leave you again. Arrrr. young love, gets you right in the guts"

Again the vampire smiled, he'd done his good deed for the day, although he would never actually admit it . He respected the Slayer in a sick way, she and Angel belonged together, even Spike could see that.

He indicated right and headed the car in the opposite direction to Sunnydale. Dru was out there somewhere; all she needed was a little torturing. Just like Angel and Buffy, a good kick in the right direction and he was just the man to do it. When Angel realised he'd been tricked he would owe Spike big time, that's if he didn't kill him first. No, Angel would be too busy with the Slayer now to think about causing trouble for him and Dru.

**Good job the Cavalry turned up so quickly, now if only they knew it was him that had phoned them.**.

Spike lit a cigarette and reflected on the events of the last few hours. Killing Riley still felt pretty good.

**The things I do for the love of my Sire. Bloody stupid poof.**

As the car set off to find Drusilla he turned on the car radio and sang badly for the next ten miles…

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