The Evil Comes Crawling on Silent Paws

Author: Susi

Email: susi@redssoulmates.com

Parts: 11 - 20

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~Part: 11~

Giles' Apartment - Same Night

"It was as if he knew me," Buffy ended her report.

"And how could that be?" Xander demanded to know and took for the first time part at a conversation since Anya's death.

"Perhaps our enemy lives unnoticed amongst us all the time," voiced Angel carefully his suspicion, which he had since Anya's disappearance. But he was not prepared for the outcry of denial and indignation that crushed down on him. Encouraging, Willow pressed his hand.

"I will search the police archives a second time, perhaps I missed something," declared Willow and pulled Angel with her to her laptop to get him out of the way.

"Ähem....perhaps we all should calm down...yes...calm down and then...then we can think about what happened," Giles ruminated and sipped at his tea.

"As in the case of Anya?" Xander said bitterly and stormed out of the room.

Embarrassed they looked at each other and winced when they heard Xander's door slammed shut.

Buffy although stood up. "All that we do is talk talk talk. I can't wait here any longer, Giles, I must do something or I'll get crazy." She then took her jacket and started again her search for her vanished lover.

Spike looked questioning at his sire, who indicated with a nod that he should follow her through the tunnel.

*** *** ***

Xander, Giles and Angel didn't stay at home long after Buffy left and were now searching on the other side of the town in the abandoned warehouses. Angel had hesitated to leave his mate alone, but Willow could convince him finally that she felt totally safe at Giles' apartment.

At about noon Willow took a little break. She hadn't found anything specific, only an old newspaper article from the late twenties about a little town in the north of Oregon where 10 people were murdered in the same way as in Sunnydale, but the murders from Sunnydale were definitely not the work of a ghost from the past. With a shake of her head and slightly hungry, Willow went into the kitchen and made herself a sandwich. Yawning, Willow stretched her aching muscles and wished Angel was here to give her one of his famous back massages. She just entered the living room again when the doorbell rang. Frowning she placed her plate at the coffee table and opened the door.

"Buffy Summers?" asked the supplier friendly. Willow shook her head, "No, but I'm her friend. Perhaps you could give the package to me?"

"Ahh, then you must be Miss Willow Rosenberg, right?" the supplier guessed. Willow nodded insecure. "It's ok Miss. I'll give the package either to Miss Summers or to you. Would you be so kind and sign here?"

Willow signed the delivery paper and carried the package into the living room. After half an hour she couldn't resist any longer and opened slowly the package, after all it was for her too, Willow reassured herself. At first she saw thousands of blood-red rose petals and she inhaled deeply the sweet scent. Knowing that there must be more hidden in the package, she dug carefully under the petals and found a box in the form of a heart. *Who would make such a present to Buffy or me?* Willow thought surprised. With a shrug she grabbed the box and opened it. The contents froze the blood in her veins and with a shriek Willow fainted for the first time in her life.

An Old Warehouse - Same Day

Riley swam on a wave of sheer pain. He didn't know how long he was already here, but it had to be at least the next day. This monster, he couldn't think of another name, had made things with him, which went far beyond what the training of the Initiative had taught him. Pain was a part of him before, but now Riley had to learn, that he knew nothing about real pain. The dull throbbing in his left hand told him, that she was still there, but he didn't know how much was left. And worst of all was Anya's skinned body with her bloodied grimace which constantly stared at him, as soon as he opened his eyes. With a pained sob he shut them again and listened to every noise, which perhaps told him when his tormentor would return in order to end his deed.

~Part: 12~

Giles' Apartment - Same Evening

Spike went almost elated through the tunnel and dragged at his cigarette. All in all it was a really good day for him. The mere look of pain and despair on the face of the slayer was enough to follow the order of his sire willingly. Of course, Slutty's search for her farm boy was unsuccessful and wore her out even more, until she went to her mother to seek comfort. Spike already felt sorry for Joyce. When he returned to the watcher's apartment, Spike had suddenly felt a familiar tingle in his stomach, as if his dark princess was back in Sunnyhell, but that couldn't be. She was after all in Brazil shaggin' her demon meat. Whistling, Spike opened the door to the apartment and went straight to the kitchen to warm up some blood. Since he heard no noise, Spike assumed he was alone in the apartment, until he sensed the slow heartbeat of a human. Sipping with appreciation, Spike went into the living room. When his eyes fell on Willow's unconscious form laying before the couch, his cup fell unnoticed, with a loud clatter, down on the floor. Immediately he was at her side and lifted her carefully in his arms to carry her to the couch. Willow's head lay nestled on his lap while Spike inspected her for any injuries, until he saw the package on the table. With a gentle gesture he stroked a silky strand of Willow's red hair out of her face.

"Red....Red....wake the hell up," Spike tried to wake her up in a soft whispering voice. But he had to wait a long while before Willow opened her eyes. With a horrified scream Willow threw herself at Spike and clung to him.

"Hey Red...careful, you’re crumpling my duster....now tell Uncle Spikey what happened, hmmm?" Spike wanted to know and tried at the same time timidly to come loose out of Willow's clasp. But he only succeeded in that Willow clung even more firmly to him. *If my sire finds us like this, I'm immediately a pile of dust* Spike thought with grim humour.

"Ri... Ri...Riley", Willow stammered into his shirt.

*Come on Red, give me a little bit more* "It's the package, right?" asked Spike carefully, upon which Willow began to hyperventilate. "Obviously, you moron," Spike chided himself and tried at the same time to get Willow to breathe again. "Breathe Red, come on, breathe, in... out... in... out," Spike urged Willow with a panicked voice to breathe in a calm way. After some endless seconds, her respiration calmed down again; however, she further clung firmly to Spike as if he was her lifebelt. And so sat Spike with Willow in his arms, slowly rocking her, till her slow breathing signaled him that she was finally asleep. Then the door to the apartment flung open and Spike was almost relieved. Almost.

When Angel saw his mate in the arms of his childe, he stood rooted to the spot at the door. *Trust Angel...trust* Swallowing his rage and jealousy, Angel carefully approached the couple on the couch. Spike, whom the calm controlled manner of his sire more frightened then anything else, started to explain everything when Willow suddenly struggled free from him and took shelter in Angel's strong arms.

"Oh God, Angel....say that it's not true...please," imploring green eyes looked into Angel's chocolate brown and confused ones. Comfortingly, Angel hugged his mate and winced at the strong smell of fear which emanated from her small body.

"Little One, what frightened you so much?" asked Angel while he gently stroked Willow's cheek. But Willow didn't want to talk now, she simply wanted to forget in the arms of her mate. Demanding, she pressed her lips on Angel's cool mouth and rubbed her hips provocatively at his body, which instantly responded to her erotic motions. Groaning, Angel picked his mate up in his arms, without interrupting the passionate kiss, and carried her in Giles' guestroom.

"What the devil....?" began Xander, who had just arrived with Giles, and pointed with his thumb at the disappearing couple.

"Red got a shock from that package on the table." He patted his hands along his duster in search for his cigarettes. "Found her unconscious and when she woke she totally freaked out. Well," explained Spike and lit his cigarette, "now they shag like rabbits... as therapy. It's usual among vampires."

"Uhhhh," said Xander and wrinkled his nose, "I soooo don't need to know the ins and outs of this."

"We should perhaps examine this box to find out why Willow felt such panic," Giles announced and cautiously grabbed for the box as if it could explode in any moment. With a shake of his head, Spike took the box from him and opened the lid. With a disgusted look Spike tried to close the box before Giles and Xander could have a look at the contents.

"Are these..." began Xander deathly pale only to be interrupted by Spike, who threw the closed box back on the table, "Yep...fingers. Five, if you ask me. Think Farm boy has a problem now...."

"Keep your mouth shut, both of you!" exploded Giles, completely unusual. After his outburst he went to his bar and poured himself a large shot of his best whiskey, which he then drained in one gulp only to take another one.

"And who will deliver the news to the slayer?" Spike finally disturbed the silence.

Same Night - An Old Warehouse

The door opened with an unholy squeak and roused Riley from his pain-induced sleep. A shudder went through his cold body when he heard the hoarse voice of his tormentor.

"Your whore loved your present, tin-soldier," probing hands slid over Riley's lower body and made him shiver in fear. "Too bad she wasn't the one who opened it first."

Riley couldn't suppress a painful moan when he felt the knife cut into his side. "Perhaps she’ll love this present even more." With frigid cruelty the man poked for Riley's kidney.

"Aaaaaaahhhhh," screamed Riley at the top of his lungs before the pain was too much and he sank into deep unconsciousness.

"Now.. now, my little tin-soldier," croaked the man and wiped the tears from Riley's face, "you have so much more to give..." He washed the kidney and wrapped it carefully in a sheet of satin paper. "And now I have a meeting with my other guest." He roared with laughter and wanted to leave the dungeon when he caught sight of an old bloodied porcelain doll which laid on a desk near the door. "She definitely wants to speak with you, my dear!" he murmured and closed the door behind him, "or perhaps not... it could be a little bit difficult without her tongue..ha ha ha .....doesn't matter...ha ha ha .... she can still communicate with the stars....ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha...."

~Part: 13~

Sunnydale One - Week Later

Buffy was a wreck. At first she was short tempered and shouted at everyone just for being around her, so everybody tried to be invisible. But after the second 'present' Buffy's nerves laid blank and every now and then she began to cry. Due to her inattention, Xander and Willow were slightly injured during a patrol and Giles had massive problems trying stop Angel from killing her. Giles had no other choice but to release Buffy from her Slayer duties until she got her bearings back. While Buffy eagerly agreed with Giles' recommendation, nobody really believed that she would sit at home and wait. So Angel and Spike took turns in following her silently through the night.

Spike wished for the hundredth time this night he could have a smoke, but nooo, he had to follow the stupid bimbo through half of Sunnyhell. What she was looking for in the sewers, Spike didn't know, because nothing was here - not today, yesterday or the day before. Not even a little slime demon to play with. Spike was so lost in his thoughts that he missed the can at his feet. With a loud rattle it rolled to Buffy, who stood frozen in the tunnel. "Shit," Spike muttered and lifted his eyes to look at a pissed off Slayer.

"Are you following me, Mr. Impotence?" asked Buffy through clenched teeth. Wincing at her words, Spike tightened his shoulders.

"No, Slutty, I love to walk through garbage and sewage, the same as you."

Buffy hated Spike's mocking tone, no, that was not true, she didn't hate Spike's mocking tone, she hated Spike, totally, with every fiber of her being. Slowly and unseen she pulled her stake from her sleeve. "Why are you following me, Spike? Last chance to give the right answer," threatened Buffy with a contemptuous look.

"Listen, you stup-" he saw her eyes flash with rage and then the pain exploded in his chest. Buffy knew that she had missed his heart but the pain on his face gave her a rush of satisfaction.

"I hate you," said Buffy and pushed the stake an inch deeper. "I hate your selfishness," she twisted the stake to the right, "and I hate your arrogance," she jammed the stake between two of Spike's ribs, "and most of all... I hate your accent!" With that said, she broke off the stake. "I hope you'll suffer like my lover." Without another glance, Buffy turned around and jogged into the sewers.

With a pain filled groan Spike slipped to the ground. Coughing, he placed a hand to the wound and sensed that the blood already ran into his lung. Spike knew that he didn't have much time, if the stake would not be removed as quickly as possible, he would bleed to death. He closed his eyes in despair and felt tears well up. *Stop it, you pillock, you're not going to die...your sire will kick your-* cough, cough *...shit... my sire... he will now never find out that I love him...* cough, cough *...I must tell him.... I must tell him that-*

"Tsk, tsk , tsk. Dead man, you spoiled all my fun," croaked a dark voice near Spike's ear. "I had so much planned for you," whispered the voice and Spike felt a cold blade stroking his cheek. With a disappointed sigh the man took Spike's hand. "Well, then I have to give you your present now. I hope you like it anyway." Spike had closed his eyes firmly all the time when he felt the man laying something in his hand. "And now I have to go. What do you think would the witch miss the most? Hmmm?" A shudder ran through Spike's body. "Yess," hissed the voice hoarsely, "I hope he's more fun than you!" And with a brutal kiss to Spike's lips, the man vanished just as silently as he had appeared.

Carefully Spike opened his eyes and looked at his hand. His pain befogged brain couldn't quite comprehend what he saw. It was a doll, actually an old porcelain doll, which looked almost like... Ms Edith. A new wave of pain shot through Spike's body when he finally realized what the doll meant. His dark princess was dust! But why had he sensed nothing? Not the slightest hint that she was gone forever? Perhaps...perhaps because he had never really loved her, not like the man who meant the world to him. With a sob, Spike hugged the doll to his chest.

Angel's Apartment - Same Time

Angel lay with his head in Willow's lap and purred contently. A soft smile graced Willow's lips as she continued to glide her fingers through his thick dark locks. Willow loved these moments of pure peace and she couldn't get enough of her mate. It was still a miracle to her, why such a gorgeous man had chosen a shy and plain girl like her. But who was she to scrutinize her luck? Suppressing a moan, Willow felt Angel's hand teasingly wandering along her leg when he suddenly writhed in pain.

"Oh God, Angel, what's wrong?" desperately Willow held his twitching body to her and kissed his sweaty brow.

"It's...it's Spike," he ground out through gritted teeth. When the pain lessened, Angel stumbled to his feet. "I have to go, he needs me."

"Should I come with you?" asked Willow, anxiously not knowing what to do.

Angel shook his head. " He'll need a lot of blood. Go check if we have enough here, otherwise call Willy, say it's an emergency. He'll deliver it immediately. And then prepare the other room." He bent down and kissed her hard on the lips. "I won't be long!" He turned around and ran to the door.

"Angel!" Willow shouted and when he had turned back to her, she whispered, "I love you, my Heart!"

With a silent, "Ditto!" Angel disappeared into the night in search for his beloved Childe.

~Part: 14~

Somewhere in Sunnydale - Same Night

Ethan Rayne blew out the last of the four black candles and took a deep breath. Since the funeral of the girl, he had waited impatiently to hear about another murder but nothing had happened. And now he grew impatient and that was never a good sign. When he heard the knock at his door, he swiftly rose from his kneeling position before the little altar, shut the curtain and went to open the door to a black clad Giles.

"Ahh, Ripper, I've expected you," Ethan went back to sit on his couch and said over his shoulder, "Or should I say 'the real Ripper'?"

Giles entered the apartment and silently closed the door behind himself. "You can call me whatever you want," said Giles with a voice that didn't fit him while an unholy glint sparkled in his eyes. "Why have you summoned me?" he asked with this hoarse inhuman voice and added with a hint of annoyance, "You crudely interrupted my play!"

"Yes, your play, that's exactly what I would like to speak about with you," replied Ethan as he folded his hands. "I can understand that, after this long time and your imprisonment in the depth of Hell, you're a bit rusty." Giles' eyes began to gleam and Ethan hurried to correct himself, "rusty wasn't what I wanted to say... hmmm... more like... out of practice?" The gleaming dimmed down in Giles' eyes. "See, whatever it is, I know your background and there's only one reason why I released you. My 'dear' old friend Rupert has to pay for what he did to me in the past three years. Like in London in the last century, you'll for certain leave your bloody marks behind and that's the point," Ethan's voice had become slightly louder, "I want to know the details, in fact every little bloody detail, how you torture them... how you play with their minds and mostly... how you kill them. I want to know how the remaining deal with their fate, which I intended for them."

An arrogant expression appeared on Giles' face. "Do you want to say that I am your slave?" Ethan shook his head. "Good, that wouldn't be too healthy for you. I'll overlook your attitude towards me... this time, but only since you give me this great body to reside in. And now I'll give my undivided attention to my play. You only have to know that their deaths are more horrible than any human being can imagine." Then he turned around and left, cruel laughter trailing behind him.

The Sewers- Same Night

Angel staggered through the sewers, doubling up with pain again and again. He knew that he was running out of time, the pain in his chest grew with every second and that could only mean that his childe lay somewhere dying in this godforsaken place. Gasping, Angel slid around the next corner and there he saw him, leaning against the wall, his beautiful face a luminous white spot in the pitch-black darkness of the sewers.

With renewed strength, Angel ran to Spike and slumped beside his lifeless body. The overwhelming scent of fresh blood let Angel's demon come to the fore and he snarled angrily when he saw the gaping and intense bleeding wound and the fine layer of dust covering Spike's sweaty skin, telling of his near final death.

Spike heard his sire's snarl and lifted his fluttering eyelids. "Sire?" Spike whispered longingly only to be rewarded by a heavy coughing fit.

"Ssh, don't try to speak, Will," Angel pressed his left hand on the wound in the impossible effort to stop the bleeding when he felt the remaining piece of wood under his hand. He shut his amber eyes in pure rage and then an earsplitting roar sounded through the sewers.

When he had himself under control again, Angel carefully cradled Spike in his lap before he slashed his wrist with his fangs and pressed it to his childe's pale lips. It took a few seconds before Spike felt the hot blood of his sire dripping between his cold lips but he was so full of pain and so weak that he wasn' t able to change into his vampire face.

"Come on, Will, drink," Angel urged him and finally the demon's hunger overrode Spike's physical weakness and he began to drink. With every sip of his Sire's blood he felt warmer and slightly stronger, less dead. Spike bit more firmly into his sire's wrist and now took deep gulps of the red nectar. A soothing purr vibrated deep in Angel's chest when all the long forgotten feelings crushed down on him through the old blood-bond. *Could it be that his Will... no, no, that was impossible, his childe hated him, he had made that perfectly clear at every occasion.* Angel was torn from his thoughts when his view suddenly became blurred. "Will, you have to stop," Angel demanded softly and gently stroked Spike's damp hair, "or else I'm too weak to bring you back home."

Home - that meant safety and no pain - home - that stood for love and devotion - home - the only word that penetrated Spike's foggy brain and he retracted his fangs and licked weakly over the bleeding cut. Extremely cautious, Angel staggered to his feet and then lifted his whimpering childe into his arms to carry him back home.

Giles' Apartment- Same Night

"G-man!" shouted Xander from the kitchen. "Do you want to play chess?" When he got no answer, Xander frowned and looked through the kitchen door upstairs to Giles' room. "Giles?" Still no answer, but Xander had heard noises coming from his room, so where was he? With a shrug Xander turned around and- "Aaaahh, God Giles, it's enough when Deadboy does it... you almost caused me a heart attack."

"Sorry, Xander, I was in the cellar for a while and didn't knew you were looking for me," pensively, Giles took the offered teacup, "did something happen?"

"No, no," hurried Xander to reassure Giles. "I only wanted to know if you'd like to play chess against me."

Giles knew that Xander was an excellent chess player and he couldn't resist the opportunity to seize revenge for his last disgraceful defeat.

Angel's Apartment - Same Night

Driven only by his willpower, Angel had dragged them back to his apartment. Before he could knock, the door flew open and Willow was at his side to help him carry his now unconscious burden into the prepared room. With a shaking voice, Willow barely dared to ask if Spike was still alive. "Is he dead?"

"No, but a lot is not missing." Angel had never before sounded so exhausted. "We must operate on him, there's a piece of a stake embedded in his chest." Horrified, Willow looked at her mate, a stake would mean that... that Buffy had staked him, but that had to be a misunderstanding. Buffy would never do that, she was their friend...wasn't she? She had changed a lot during the last two weeks, but that didn't mean necessarily that she had turned against her friends. Willow suppressed her approaching uneasiness, having more important things at hand. She left Angel, who gently undressed Spike's feverish body, and went to get the much needed supplies.

It took them almost two hours to remove the remaining rest of the stake from Spike's chest, because over and over again they had to stop to feed him some blood or bind his thrashing body to the bed. With a sigh of relief they sat back to examine their work. "Do you think he will make it?" whispered Willow and let her eyes roam over the still vampire before her.

Angel reached for her hand and gave it a soft squeeze. "My Will is a fighter, he survived Angelus, what, in comparison, is a small piece of wood?"

"But he's so pale!" lamented Willow, "his skin looks almost transparent." With a gentle gesture she wiped a sweaty lock from Spike's forhead.

"We ought to let him sleep," Angel finally said and rose from the bed, hoping that she would understand and follow him. But as soon as Angel had left Spike's side, he began to whimper and squirm.

Willow sensed her mate's indecision and when Angel tried to say something, she silenced him with a soft kiss. "I know, it's a vampire thing and your Childe needs you now more than I do. Xander and Giles will be more than happy to have other company, so I'll go and pack some things for... three days? Do you think that will be enough time to sort things out between you?" Angel was time and again amazed how naturally Willow handled him being a vampire.

Angel pulled her into his arms and hugged her tight. "You can't imagine how much I love you, Little One."

"Don't underestimate my imagination, you big vampire," teased Willow and hugged him back. Unwillingly they separated and with a final passion-filled kiss Willow left the room.

He ran with his hand through his locks and turned back to his writhing Childe. Without further thinking, Angel undressed and slipped beside Spike under the cover. Almost instantly Spike's tossing and turning died down and he unconsciously sought the coolness of his sire's body to alleviate his fever. Angel began to purr softly again and the young injured vampire snuggled even closer to him. On the verge of sleep, Angel believed to have heard how his Childe whispered something that almost sounded like 'luv you'.

~Part: 15~

Angel's Apartment - Next Morning

Spike swam on the edge of consciousness. His whole body hurt badly and the most disturbing thing was that he couldn't remember why.

Holding his non-existent breath, Spike let his fingers roam over the bed sheets... silk. Startled he let his hand wander further over the silk, where it suddenly collided with a solid body. It took him some effort to open his eyes and turn his head, looking directly at the dark tousled head of his sire. *Oh my God, Angelus! Naked...in bed...with me!!* Spike's thoughts raced through his mind -  should he just take advantage of the situation or should he-.

"Feeling better?" Spike's inner turmoil was suddenly interrupted by a dark and sensual voice. Swallowing hard, he looked at his sire, not knowing what to do or say. He felt as if he was the abandoned fledgling again, shortly after Angelus had found him in the dark cellar, almost starved to death and slowly going insane.

Angel was irritated by Spike's silence and started to worry even more when he saw the bright blue eyes of his childe get clouded with fear. *Spike feared nothing, he was the big-bad-ass-vampire who ruled the world; there was nothing in this world that could cause such a reaction.* Carefully Angel stroked Spike's cheek and winced when the younger vampire shrank back from his touch.

"Spike... please... look at me," pleaded Angel, but Spike's only reaction was shutting his eyes.

When Spike felt the feather-light touch of moist lips on his own, his eyes opened wide again in surprise. This felt so right and with a surrendering sigh, Spike opened his lips to invite Angel's tongue to rediscover his mouth. The dark haired vampire didn't need any further encouragement and with a low sensual growl he slipped his tongue into Spike's mouth to slowly explore long forgotten and denied territory. Spike growled deep in response and grabbed for Angel's shoulders to pull the gorgeous body of his sire down on his own. He needed to feel and touch him, to make sure that this wasn't another fantasy of his. Angel resisted only slightly and then, to not hurt or open one of Spike's fresh wounds, he carefully lowered his body onto Spike's. The contact between their chests sent lightning all over Spike's skin as their kiss continued. He rolled them over so that he was now on top of Angel and broke their increasingly passionate kiss. The blond proceeded to kiss a trail down Angel's neck, to his chest and then over to his right nipple. Licking and sucking the bronze colored nipple, Spike quickly got it very erect. He moved over to the left nipple and continued what he had started with its counterpart.

Angel let out a soft groan as he ran his fingers through his childe's short bleached hair. God, this creature was heaven and hell at the same time to him. Almost nothing could compare to the sensations which his beloved childe could produce only with the tip of his wet tongue. A sensual growl rumbled deep in Angel's chest and Spike stopped his ministrations to move back up to his sire's mouth and kissed him again deeply. It felt so incredibly good to kiss, smell and taste this big piece of temptation again. *His* big piece of temptation, Spike mused with a chuckle.

A bit disturbed by his childe's chuckle, the dark haired vampire finally decided it was Spike's turn to receive some caresses and pushed him back on the silk sheets before climbing on top of him and kissing the younger vampire more aggressively than he had before. Angel almost came in an instant when he saw the raw desire and acceptance in the dark blue depths of Spike's eyes and continued down Spike's neck, slightly nibbling with his blunt teeth at the pulse point, which throbbed temptingly under the pale skin.

Groaning in delight, Spike felt his penis jerk with every nip of his sire's blunt teeth at his skin, but he wanted this to last as long as possible and so he grabbed into Angel's dark locks and pulled his mouth away. Smirking knowingly, Angel continued kissing and licking his way down Spike's chest. He teased the blonde's right nipple with his cool hand, twirling the hardening bud between his fingers and sucked on the left with his tongue. He remembered how sensitive the younger vampire's nipples were in the past and how he had enjoyed as Angelus had driven the blonde crazy with need. But that was in their past and Angel wanted to create new memories for both of them and so he started to move further down the cool twitching body, always making sure not to touch the throbbing erection of his childe. Spike thought his brain would explode with pleasure and a whimper escaped his slightly opened lips. Angel kissed his way down Spike's ribcage and across his stomach, down to his belly button. Feeling the flicking of his sire's tongue in and around it, Spike felt as if he was in Heaven and the heaviness in his loins increased from minute to minute.

While still licking the younger man's stomach, Angel reached down to grab finally the pulsing cock and caressed it lightly, enjoying the never-forgotten feeling of it twitching in his hand. One hundred years were definitely too long. With a silent vow to himself to not let them drift apart again, the dark-haired vampire moved his hand down further to gently knead Spike's balls for a second. Then he moved his hand down to lightly stroke that sensitive area between his legs. This motion sent shivers of delight across Spike's skin and he lifted his hips in desire to be touched, having had enough of teasing. Angel's own erect cock begged for release, oozing precum the whole time, but this was about the beautiful young man lying beneath him. He wanted this to be a new start between him and his favourite childe. So Angel suppressed his own needs and started licking Spike's sack with a long stroke, causing the blonde to moan with pleasure. Then Angel took his hand and wrapped it firmly around the steel hard shaft, with his thumb sliding over the sensitive head, spreading the pre-cum around the tip. Finally when he had the younger vampire moaning and writhing in ecstasy, Angel opened his mouth and engulfed the sensitive head, sliding his tongue around the ridge of the head causing Spike to moan some more. The younger vampire reached down and laid his hand on his sire's head, this beautiful head that was giving him so much pleasure for the first time. For Angelus this would be unthinkable giving his childe pleasure without hurting and for the first time Spike was glad that his sire's actions and behaving were softened by the soul. As the blonde  ran his fingers through the dark silky strands, Angel began to swallow Spike's cock, til he finally got down to the base. He then began this intense suction as he slowly moved back up to the tip. Settling into a slow up and down motion, Angel started to purr deep in his throat, intensifying the pressure on the now oversensitive glans, while all that Spike was able to do was moan loud with delight.

Angel sensed Spike's approaching orgasm in the erratic movement of his hips and the breathless wailing sounds the younger vampire was making. The dark-haired vampire slid his tongue across the steely throbbing organ, licking all around the slit and then covering the head with his saliva. He let the head slip deep into his mouth again and delighted at the feeling of the velvety smooth skin covering the rock hard cock sliding around in his mouth. *Angelus was a fool for wasting such a delicious sensation.* Angel thought before he worked his way down again to the base of Spike's erection and then vacuumed his way back up to the tip. The blond man entwined his fingers behind his sire's head, while holding onto him tightly.

Angel knew Spike was lost in the pleasure he was feeling. As he continued to suck on his childe's cock, using his tongue and strong fingers, he felt Spike's body suddenly tense. Angel knew Spike was on the brink of orgasm, which made him speed up his actions, driving Spike to the writhing insanity of orgasm.

Spike's hands clamped tightly around Angel's head, holding him at the base of his cock. With a cry of pleasure, the blonde fired one quick spurt of cum before Angel pulled his head back up to the tip. He wanted to taste the sweet nectar of his childe that he had desired for so long. Spike fired shot after shot into the waiting mouth and Angel caught every precious drop of the unique flavour that was purely Spike.

After the younger vampire finally relaxed and got slightly flaccid, Angel moved back up to Spike's mouth. Angel kissed him again and released some of his childe's cum which he had saved just for him. Their tongues intertwined and Spike rubbed his exhausted body lasciviously at the older vampire's one. Although he felt satiated and tired, Spike wanted to show his sire how much he had missed him and their lovemaking. Purring contently, Spike rubbed his newly erect cock against Angel's throbbing steel hard flesh. With a frustrated whimper, Angel tried to hold still but his overloaded senses forced him to move his hips in unison with his childe.

"I want to feel you in me, Angel," groaned Spike between their kissing, for the first time using his sire's given name in a century. "Take me back, where I belong, Sire."

"But, Will, you're hurt-" started Angel to protest halfheartedly, only to be interrupted by a hand wrapped firmly around his throbbing length.

"Do it, Angel. I need it... we need it," demanded Spike and massaged the steely cock in his hand with soft strokes, slowly spreading the pre-cum over the silky flesh to lubricate it. He knew it would be painful at first, but at the same time he would be coming home.

Angel couldn't resist any longer this tempting creature lying beside him, teasing him with his words and hands beyond every endurance. Angel gave into his own needs, and gently helped Spike on his stomach and placed a pillow under his hips. Then he softly kissed down Spike's spine and rubbed his middle finger around the tight hole. After a moment Spike relaxed visibly and pushed back slightly. Angel gradually inserting his finger into his childe and gently began to stroke the blonde vampire's prostate to ease the pain which he knew Spike felt after such a long time.

When Spike felt Angel enter him with his finger and stroke his prostate, he inhaled deeply and moaned with pleasure, rubbing his own hard erection against the silk sheets beneath him. Sticking a second finger into him. Angel began the process of stretching the blonde out by sticking a second finger into him. He worked his fingers in and out of Spike and hit his prostate in a regular rhythm. Spike was moaning more than the older vampire had ever heard him before. After Angel had gotten a third finger in and worked it for a while, Spike demanded, "Now! Angel, oh for Christ's sake, let's do it now."

*Who am I to argue with an incredibly aroused Spike when he wants me to fuck him?* Angel grinned roguishly and told his childe to roll over onto his back, then he settled himself between Spike's legs who wrapped them around Angel's waist to prevent his possible withdrawal at the last second.

Angel rubbed some more pre-cum onto his throbbing penis, and began to push into Spike. At first there was some resistance, but as he began to push outward the head slid in. That first intrusion brought a look of pain to Spike's face and he grunted in discomfort. The older vampire promptly held off to let Spike adjust, and when he signaled that he was ready, Angel began to push into him again slowly, taking occasional breaks to allow Spike to get used to the invasion. Finally he war resting against his childe's anus and he was in to the hilt. Looking at Spike's face to make sure he was ready, Angel began to pump in and out of him with a steady rhythm.

As Angel began to build up speed, Spike grunted and moaned in pleasure, moving his hips to join his sire with each thrust. His childe's cock was stiffer than Angel had ever seen it before and drenched in his own precum. The blond vampire was moaning more loudly now as Angel slammed into him again and again, lost in the sensation of the tight channel massaging his hard shaft. By his facial expressions, Angel knew they were both close. Suddenly he watched as Spike's cock began to jump and his body began to twitch with orgasm, coating their stomachs with his cold dead seed. His sphincter clamped tight around Angel's engorged cock throwing him over the edge too. With a howl Angel bit into Spike's sweaty neck, drinking the sweet elixir deeply, while he spurted rope after rope of his cold cum into the twitching channel. After one final deep thrust, Angel collapsed on top of his beloved childe and they lay there together in a heap of sweaty flesh catching their breath and savoring the post-orgasmic feelings.

Purring deep in his chest, Angel offered his wrist to his childe. "Blood of mine... bound together forever," whispered Angel, afraid to be rejected for the millionth time. Spike was overwhelmed, having never thought that his sire would want to bond with him. This was one of the oldest rituals in the vampire society and was only  to be done between equals. Lapping shortly over the vein, lying directly under the pale skin, Spike bit gently into the offered wrist. Like fire poured the potent rich blood down his throat and he drank greedily. After some minutes Spike retracted his fangs and lapped tenderly over the wound till it was almost healed. He then raised his head and locked eyes with his sire.

"Blood of yours... bound together forever."

Angel had to blink two times, overwhelmed with joy, he not only had a mate now in his life but also a true companion. He leaned forward and tenderly kissed Spike on the mouth, but retreated when Spike tried to deepen the kiss. "Later, my love. Now we'll rest. You were hurt really bad last night." They lay down, Spike resting his head on Angel's shoulder, snuggling closer to the solid body and wrapping his right arm around the dark-haired vampire's waist. They slowly drifted off to a restful sleep as they held each other tightly.

~Part: 16~

Buffy’s home - Same night

Buffy pulled herself up to the windowsill of her room and climbed ungrazefully inside. She breathed heavily and brushed a blonde sticky strand out of her eyes. When she passed by the mirror, she stopped in shock. Who was the person staring back at her? Her clothes were all covered with dried blood and there was a blood trail drawn across her left cheek. But the worst were her hands, looking as if bathed in blood. Suddenly she realized what she had done a short while ago and tears dropped unnoticed down her dirty cheeks. Did she really killed Spike a minute ago? Or was it all just a nightmare? The brutal murder, Riley's and Anya's mysterious disappearances. Again she looked at her bloody hands and suddenly Buffy couldn't stand the pain inside any longer. What had she done? Had she become the same as the 'Sunnydale Murderer'? Unscrupulous with a tendency to sadism? With a loud sob Buffy toppled on her bed and wept bitterly 'til an uneasy slumber settled down on her.

Giles‘ Apartment - Same Night

Willow was glad to be in bed finally. Although she missed the strong arms of her lover, the emotions that she recieved from Angel through their bond gave her the much needed peace to get to sleep at last.

"Wills, are you awake?" Xander whispered and folded his hands behind his head.

With a yawn Willow spun slowly around on her back. "Hmmm?"

"Spike will be ok, won't he? Not that it will bother me if Deadboy Jr...." Xander swallowed hard.

Tired Willow laid her head on Xander's shoulder. "It really didn't look bright at first but at the moment Angel is very-," Willow searched for the right words without revealing to much about the telepathic connection with her mate, "-content."

Xander acknowledged her slight hesitation with a small grin. He tucked her head under his chin and pulled her tighter to his body. "Good, I would miss him."

Next Morning - Giles‘ Apartment

Buffy had been up for two hours already and tried her best to make breakfast in Giles' kitchen.

"Morning, Buffster," muttered Xander sleepily and lumbered to the fridge where he poured a glass of orange juice.

"Morning, Xander, slept well?" Buffy returned cheerfully before she carried on with the breakfast preparation.

Xander leaned against the fridge and watched Buffy's movements. "Like a little baby. But tell me who had thrown you out of bed so early? And why are you making breakfast? Are you possessed or something?"

Buffy shrugged her shoulders before filling 4 plates with scrambled eggs and ham. "I just felt the urge. Could you please help me a bit?"

While they set Giles' dining table, Xander suddenly mentioned, "Did you already hear? Someone tried to stake Spike last night."

Buffy set down the cups with a fierce clang. "Really?" she mumbled and swiftly went back into the kitchen.

Totally baffled, Xander wanted to follow her when Willow and Giles came downstairs.

Willow gave Xander a big hug. "Wow, Xander, what did we do to deserve this?"

Xander hugged his eldest friend and replied with a snicker, "Be glad that I'm not the cook. You have to thank Buffy for it."

Xander felt Willow got stiff in his arms and then abrupt disentangling herself from him. When he saw her flashing green eyes, he got queasy. "Willster, anything wrong?"

Before Willow could answer, a cheerful smiling Buffy came out of the kitchen with a pot of coffee. "Good morning together. I hope you're really hungry, I've certainly made too much."

Willow couldn't believe it. Buffy pretended as if nothing had happened. Outraged, she blocked Buffy's way. "How could you?" she hissed enraged.

"Yeah I know that you hate wastage-" Buffy tried to act the fool.

Willow's eyes flashed and took on a dangerous green tinge. "How dare you to play down such a brutal and unscrupulous deed in such a succinct way? You're the slayer! You have to bear responsibility for the ones who help you!"

"Wills, what that's all about?" Xander broke in on her flaming tirade and looked puzzled from one girl to the other.

Giles who also had watched, totally shocked  by Willow's outburst, now stepped forward and layed one hand on her shoulder to calm her. "Willow, would you please explain to me what this is all about?"

With a further irritated look at Buffy, who hadn't said one word yet, Willow turned around to Giles. When Giles saw tears glisten in her expressive eyes, he gave her hand an encouraging squeeze.

"Last night Angel brought Spike home... more dead than anything else... he was so pale and than all the blood everywhere..." Willow's voice broke.

"Ehem... sure... bad matter... but why do you relate all this to Buffy?" Giles asked perplexed. Demandingly, he looked at Buffy, who only shrugged her shoulders and took a seat next to Xander.

Willow sniffled and blew her nose. "We found the remnants of a stake between Spike's ribs, deeply embedded in his lungs... he was in so much pain that Angel could feel him even over a great distance."

Giles was at a loss of words. He knew that Buffy and Spike weren't best friends but normally they held a truce and a bit of respect for each other. "Hmm... Buffy, is it true what Willow just told us?" he asked a bit insecure. *What would happen to their little group if they started killing each other.*

Buffy lowered her gaze guiltily at her entwined hands. "I- I didn't mean to, but Spike provoked me... and.. and suddenly I had the stake in my hand. From there on everything happened so fast and I ran away... home," sad and exhausted, Buffy looked at her watcher. "Please, Giles, you have to believe me that I didn't hurt Spike on purpose."

With a disdainful snort Xander pushed his chair back and went to Willow's side.

"Xander! Please... as a slayer-" Buffy began imploringly.

"What," Willow cut her short outraged, "is it now your duty to kill your friends?"

Giles thought it was time to interfere and pour oil on troubled waters. "Please, first we should all calm down-"

"And then what Giles?" asked Xander, "Do we go on as if nothing has happened?"

Giles swallowed hard and took off his glasses to clean them as he always did when he was nervous. "N-no, of course not. After all w-we went through together, there will never be normality for us again. But I'm certain that we will conclude, after careful consideration, that Buffy acted on pure instinct. Just one moment, I'm not done," said Giles when Willow and Xander wanted to cut him short. "We're all nervous wrecks, but I hope that we will act as adults and give Buffy the chance to explain."

Buffy looked at Giles grateful, glad to have him on her side, but the anger in his eyes didn't hide how disappointed he was with her and her deed. "Ok, I'm sorry. I know I messed it up... really big this time and if I could I'd try to undo last night, but that's not possible. As soon as Spike is better I'll apologize to him."

With a shake of her head Willow turned round and left the apartment without another word.

"Oh boy, Buffster. I wouldn't like to be in your shoes when Deadboy finds out who tried to kill Spike."

Giles cleared his throat and fussily put on his glasses again. "I fear he already knows it. I can only hope that Angel will not let himself get controlled by his emotions but rather be considerate of the whole situation. And now I beg to be excused. I have to visit a forgotten friend." He took his jacket and keys and left the apartment quietly, leaving behind a hopeless slayer and a curious young man.

~Part: 17~

Angel's apartment - Same morning

Spike snuggled closer to the hard solid body of his sire with a satisfied purr. Oh God, how long ago was it that he had felt so content? 100 years? More? He could feel Angel's thoughts and feelings humming through their blood-bond. Fear to have almost lost his childe forever. Rage against the one who hurt his favourite childe. Love and contentment to have his companion back after such a long time of loneliness. Spike sleepily opened his eyes and studied the man beside him dreamily. The delicately chiselled features with the long dark eyelashes, the hard muscles of the broad chest, the long shapely legs and all that belonged to him. Damn... he had almost forgotten the small red-haired witch, who had stolen the heart of his sire. Spike's gaze searched the dim room, but he couldn't detect the evidence of another person.

"Stop thinking," whispered a dark sensual voice into Spike's ear and sent a shiver down his spine. Angel nibbled tenderly at Spike's earlobe before he kissed the auricle. Just when he let roam his hand over Spike's arm, the younger man drew back.

"Bloody hell, what do you think you're doin' there, you soddin' pouf?"

For seconds Angel froze before he relaxed again and continued his action of kissing and licking a moist path 'til he bit into the blonde's pulsepoint with his blunt teeth. "How does it feel?" Angel murmured sensually.

A shudder ran through the blonde vampire's body and he tried to repress his passion-filled moan. Angel could feel how troubled Spike felt through their blood-bond. He almost believed he sensed something like fear. Hesitantly, but full of passion, he kissed Spike's lips before he reluctantly pulled back and stood up.

"I'll go and heat up some blood, ok?" Before he left the room, Angel turned around at the door and let his gaze travel longingly over his childe's gorgeous body.

When Spike heard Angel working in the kitchen, he tried to gain control over his body. But every time he closed his eyes, he could feel Angel's soft lips against his neck and his cock grew even harder if that was possible.

"Damn! Damn! Damn!" Spike cursed under his nonexisting breath. When he couldn't stand it any longer he enfolded his rigid member with his left hand and began to stroke it, slowly up and down. He spread the pre-cum over the tender skin, to use as lube, with his thumb. In his mind's eye it was not his own hand but his sire's, which tightly, but also tenderly, encircled his turgid shaft. With a groan, Spike's other hand rubbed against his sack like Angelus' had done in the past.

Angel stood undiscovered by the door, the two cups of blood forgotten by the erotic sight greeting him. Each passing second and every move of Spike's hand increased Angel's arousal. The dark vampire's erection stood up proudly, leaking with pre-cum. With care, Angel set down the cups on the commode and slid beside his childe on the bed. Angel still couldn't quite believe that this beautiful creature was a part of him again. As a matter of fact, not all was like it had been between them in the past, but they had laid a basis for a new beginning the past night. Mesmerized, the older vampire stared at the purple glans of Spike's erect cock and the increased flow of pre-cum. Angel licked his suddenly dry lips unconsciously, before he bent down to take Spike's rigid member into his mouth.

When Spike felt a wet mouth envelope his over-sensitive penis and the slight sucking, he almost came at once. Baffled, he looked at the dark head of his sire which bobbed up and down between his legs. Angelus, despite his feelings for his favourite childe, had never done this for him. All of a sudden it didn't matter any longer if his sire had a soul or not, if he had a mate or not, 'cause Spike knew with absolute clarity that he had reclaimed his own place in the big heart of the mighty poof.

Angel sensed how Spike drifted away and doubled his efforts to bring him to an exquisite climax. He sneaked his hand under Spike's butt who raised his hips unconsciously with every flick of Angel's tongue. When the dark haired vampire heard Spike's lust-filled whimper, he gently inserted one and then two fingers into his rectum. Spike's eyes snapped open and he cried out when Angel hit his prostate with his fingers. "God, Aaaaangel!" One last flick from his sire's tongue against his oversentive cockhead and Spike came.

When the first spurts of his childe's cum hit his tongue, Angel's human visage vanished and his true face emerged. With delight, he drank every salty drop of the blonde's sperm until Spike's frantic movements slowed down. With a devilish grin, Angel cut Spike's softening cock with one of his fangs and sipped the escaping droplets of his childe's sweet blood. Spike couldn't stand the suction on his spent member any longer and began to squirm causing Angel to raise his head instantly. When the blonde saw his sire lick the rest of his blood and cum from his sensual lips, he pulled Angel to him and passionately kissed him. Spike could taste himself on Angel's lips and grew hard again instantaneously. Their cocks rubbed against each other and Angel moaned with lust, becoming aware of his own pulsing erection. Heat spread through his groin and he could feel his balls tightening. With a shudder, he came in great spurts, closely followed by his childe's second orgasm.

Afterwards, Angel and Spike lay side by side sated and exhausted.

"You chose really well," said Spike finally and put one arm under his head. Angel had forgotten how erratic his childe's mind worked and furrowed his brow. "Red doesn't mind if I live with you, does she?"

With a grin, Angel propped himself up on his elbow and returned, "Perhaps you both should arrange that among yourselves, even though... nah, better not, afterwards you two will fight for me like two old fishwives."

"Hey you big ponce, who says that we can't manage without you? Red is a bloody appetizing bit..." Angel pinned Spike down into the cushions. A deep warning growl emanated from his chest before he bit the younger vampire's jugular hard, but not hurting. With every gulp of Spike's heated blood, Angel's growls became quieter until he purred. Spike pressed tighter against Angel's hard body and rubbed his resurrected erection at the pulsing shaft of his sire. The blonde vampire shut his passion-clouded blue eyes and thanked whoever was listening above for vampire stamina.

~Part: 18~

Café in Sunnydale - Same day

Giles entered the café in Sunnydale, searching for Edgar Pembrook, an old friend from the London headquarters. He saw him sitting in the furthest corner of the room and went quickly to the table.

"Hello Edgar, nice to see you again after such a long time," he greeted his friend and shook his hand.

A small smile appeared at the corners of Edgar's mouth. "Aye, Rupert, it's quite good to meet you again. But the circumstances couldn't be worse."

"When I got your call, I already thought as much. Is it a new prophecy? Is Buffy in danger?" Giles pestered his friend.

"Rupert, it's much more serious than you think. Two weeks ago our seers found out a drastic change in the world pattern. An enormous dark power, who could destroy the whole balance between good and evil, appeared on the scene."

"But... thank you, Geraldine," Giles poured himself a cup of tea and tried to handle the new information. "That means the 'Sunnydale murderer' is not an ordinary mortal. Is that what you want to tell me, Edgar?"

"Did you know, that your old pal Ethan Rayne is back in town?" Edgar asked instead of an answer. When he saw Giles' surprised expression, he nodded. "I have heard on good authority that Ethan has his fingers in the pie. You have to find him, Rupert, and end what he began. Your slayer must not die. Melissa is not ready yet to take her place."

Giles shook his head sadly. "My slayer isn't a great help at the moment, she's very unstable. Last night... last night Buffy tried to kill a friend." Giles swallowed and tried to pull himself together. "Do you know where I can find Ethan?"

Edgar shivered by the sudden rage flickering in Giles' eyes. "We lost his track in one of the old warehouses. Rupert, please be careful, Ethan is a powerful magician. He has gained strength since your last encounter."

It was difficult for Giles to regain his composure. *Ethan, you Pillock, what have you done this time?*

Edgar Pembrook bent forward and said sternly, "With everything you do, be aware of the global effects if you fail." With a glance at his watch, he added, "I hope next time we will meet under better circumstances in London. Oh, by the way, the council voted in its last meeting for your reinstatement as an official watcher. I'm really happy for you, Rupert, and of course for your slayer."

"Thank you, Edgar. I really can imagine how many favors you had to demand," Giles replied deeply moved.

"Nonsense!" Edgar Pembrook refused roughly. "You underestimate your reputation, Rupert. You have more friends at the council than you know." Edgar stood up and shook hands with Giles. "All right! It's time to say goodbye. I hope you are successful.. for all of us."

After Edgar had left the café, Giles sat at his place and nipped at his tea, absorbed in thought. *God, Ethan. What has he done this time? Halloween and Eyghon had been bad, the case with the enchanted cookies rather grotesque. But the summoning of a mass murderer? It was somehow not Ethan's standard, too many incalculable risks.*

Determined, Giles stood up, paid the bill and left the café towards the old warehouses.

Giles' Apartment - Same Time

Buffy went into the bathroom and splashed cold water into her tear stained face. She could already feel a headache form behind her eyes.

Suddenly, she heard Xander's voice behind her, "Do you feel better now?"

"Xander!" Buffy twirled around, startled, but Xander had already left the room. She quickly dried her face and followed him into the sitting room, where he sat on the sofa, pretending to read a book. Slowly Buffy went over and sat down beside him.

"Xander, do you believe me, that I'm sorry?" Buffy sounded like a lost little girl. New tears melted her view.

"Sssh, it's ok," Xander whispered and took Buffy comfortingly in his arms. "You were not yourself last night. Give us some time." He stroked gently over Buffy's back. After a long while her tears slowly run dry and she wearily snuggled closer into his arms.

When the front door opened and Willow came in, she stopped in the door frame for a second to gaze at her friends, before she resolutely shut the door.

"Willow," Buffy whispered tear choked again, looking over Xander's shoulder at her long time friend.

Slowly Willow came closer, until she stood directly before them. Her eyes still glittering with rage, she laid her hands on her hips. "I can't approve of what you did last night. But I'll try to help you. Leave Angel and Spike to me, I'll try to explain what you're going through."

When Buffy opened her mouth, Willow held up her hand. "No, Buffy! I'm not doing this for you, but for all of us. I'm doing this for us, the gang. We rely on each other and must stick together. But you should never forget, that you changed everything tonight."

Gratefully, Xander squeezed Willow's hand and mouthed, "Thank you."

~Part: 19~

Old Warehouses - Same Time

Deep in thought, Giles approached the area of the old warehouses. *Where are you, Ehan? Where would you hide?* A cold breeze puffed him in the back and send a chill down his spine.

Giles looked undetermined across the place. "Hmm, where should I start?" He turned to the left. Again a cold breeze, slightly stronger, pushed him in the right direction. Giles tumbled forward, regaining his balance.

"Crazy!" mumbled Giles. "But it's really unimportant, where I start. So the right side it'll be." He noticed that he had talked to himself and chuckled. "You're getting old, Rupert!"

Giles turned to the buildings on his right side and started to observe them closely for the tiniest hint.

One hour later he was still searching. *Nothing! One hour of searching and still nothing!* He was on the verge to look on the other side of the street, when he suddenly felt it. Like a magical pull, coming from the last building at the corner. Cautiously, Giles entered the dark building and went straight to the first floor, where he halted in front of a large metal door. He rose unsteady his hand to knock at the door. With a loud squeak the door flew open and he stood before Ethan Rayne.

"Hello, Ripper! Ahh no... I should better say 'Rupert', " Ethan saluted with a smirk and asked Giles in with a grand gesture.

Enraged, Giles pressed his hated opponent against the next wall. "I thought I made myself perfectly clear when we last met. Why are you back, Ethan?"

"But, Rupert," retorted Ethan with a mischievous glitter in his eyes, "you should know me. Have I ever done what you expected from me? Where's the funny thing about it?"

Slowly, almost resigned, Giles loosened his hold on Ethan's jacket. He wearily ran a hand through his hair.

"Ethan, just tell me which demon you summoned this time and I will let you go."

Ethan looked disappointed at his former friend and now favourite foe. "God, how pathetic have you become, Rupert! Where's your fighting spirit?" He searched for a reaction, anything, but all he saw was weariness and resignation. "Really, Rupert, you take every joy of conspiring from me. Think of the whole effort which I had to go through, the amount of time, which I-"

Giles couldn't endure it any longer. With a yell of rage, he rammed his fist in Ethan's grinning visage.

"Aaargh, my nose!" Ethan Rayne wailed and shielded his bloodied aching nose with his hands. "You broke my nose, you cretin!"

"And when you don't tell me the name of the demon at once, I will break your jaw too," Giles hissed seething with rage.

Ethan, feeling the gravity of his situation, tried to fight back desperately, but Giles' hold on his throat made it almost impossible.

"The name, Ethan!" Giles snarled and squeezed harder.

Ethan gasped for breath, frantically clawing with his fingernails at Giles' hands, who felt no pain, nothing, in his current state of rage.

"Alright, Ethan, you asked for it! We will end it, now and forever," said Giles and increased the deadly pressure on Ethan's throat.

Ethan realized the deadliness of his situation and croaked, "Ripper..."

"Wrong answer, Ethan," Giles replied with deadly seriousness.

In total panic, Ethan tried to speak, "J... J--ack....Rip-...Ripper."

Only reluctantly, Giles opened his clenched fingers and Ethan panted for much needed air.

"Jack, the Ripper," Ethan repeated with a trembling coarse voice, just to play safe.

Horrified Giles remembered the Watcher Diaries about this murderer and with a scream he sent Ethan to sleep.

"Oh my God," Giles whispered, "you maniac brought back the worst human beast that ever roamed the earth."

With a last glance at a defeated Ethan Rayne, Giles hurried back to his apartment. At least, now they knew what they had to look for.

~Part: 20~

Giles' Apartment - same evening

Willow giggled softly and held the phone away from her ear when her mate suddenly shouted at his impudent childe.

"Sorry, Little One," came Angel's deep voice through the line, "can you please tell me again why I burden myself with this bleached blonde nag?"

The redheaded witch couldn't hold her pearling laughter any longer when she felt the annoyance, bewilderment and capitulation through their mental link.

"You love him," Willow simply stated.

After a small pause, Angel whispered conspiratorially, "Yeah, I do, but don't tell him or I'll never have a moment's peace again."

"Heard that, Peaches!" came Spike's voice triumphantly from the background.

Willow heard a frustrated deep growl from her mate. God, how she missed him. His strong hands, his smirk, his cool skin under her hands, the slight rippling of his muscles when he made love to her, his soft lips on her throat, the sweet pain when he bit her... "I miss you so much, my Angel," confessed Willow aloud.

"Ditto," came the souled vampires instant reply, his voice dark with longing and need.

Suddenly, the front door opened and Giles flounced in. He gave her a short look and said with a strained voice, "Hang up, I have important news."

A bit bewildered by his rude behavior, Willow said quickly good bye to her mate and followed Giles into the living room, where he already rummaged through his books.

"I know it's here... somewhere...," Giles mumbled and pulled book after book out of the shelf, "it has to be... aha!" He turned around with a very old and used looking book in his hands and went to the three anxiously waiting teens.

Giles slumped, suddenly tired, into the chair next to Willow and carefully laid the book on the table. "This is our killer."

Not sure what to say, they all looked at the book and then back at Giles.

Xander chuckled and leant forward. "That's a joke, right G-man? This little old book is our killer?"

Under Giles' angry look, his laughter died in his throat. "If you don't want to see the seriousness of our situation then, for God's sake, leave my house!" With every word, Giles' voice had risen in volume.

Three pairs of eyes flew to his face. When Giles saw the fear in the youths' faces, he tried to calm himself and pointed at the book. "This is the story of the most vicious murderer of the 19th century. He butchered six women in East End London and was never arrested."

"But, Giles, that's over a century ago," interjected Buffy confused. "Either he's long dead or he's rolling around in a wheelchair."

"This isn't a game, Buffy," Giles insisted in an excerted tone, "you don't seem to understand with what we are coping here. This man couldn't be found then because the Council caught him and sent him to Hell where he should have stayed till the end of time."

"You mean, they sent a living breathing human being into Hell?" made Xander sure. Giles only looked at him. "Good, serves him right!"

Willow, who had remained silent the whole time, furrowed her brow in deep concentration. "Who brought him back?" she asked finally. "Is it Ethan Rayne?"

Once again amazed by the red-haired witch's keen perception, Giles took a deep breath. He knew that he was partly responsible for the latest events, but Ethan had been once his best friend and his death was never an option for him.

"Er... you're right, he's the one behind it all." Frustrated Giles took off his glasses and absentminded rubbed them clean with his handkerchief.

Furious, Buffy jumped up and grabbed for her jacket. "Really, why I'm not one bit surprised, Giles."

"Sit down!" barked Giles. By her hurt look, he apologestically added, "please, Buffy. We shouldn't rush into a situation we can't judge at the moment."

Xander stood up as well. "Buff's right, we should go and kick the bastard's ass out of town once and for all."

"I know how you both fee-" started Giles, but Xander interrupted him with a cry of anguish.

"NO! You don't... no one knows how... how... no one...," tears were running down Xander's pale face and Buffy pressed his hand in sympathy.

Giles swallowed hard, he didn't knew how to cope with this situation anymore. Watcher were only trained to support the Slayer, not to guide a group of young innocent children through a hell called life. "I'm sorry Xander, you're right... and Buffy, you too. But we all should calm down and... and handle this case like every other."

Buffy and Xander hesitated, both filled with the desire to finally get revenge. Seeking for help, Giles looked at Willow.

"Oookaay, guys," chirped Willow encouriging, "research-time!"

Hours later

"I think I found something," stated Xander and waved with his book. "It says that a person from Hell is abble to roam the earth within a vessel."

"That's it," shouted Giles, "why didn't I recognized it by my own?" Thrilled Giles jumped up and went over to Xander, where he looked over the young man's shoulder at the text. "The ghost needs a body to perform his deeds."

Buffy sarcastically glanced at the others. "Wow, big news!"

"No, no, Buffy! You don't understand," got Giles excited, "if we find the vessel, we're able to destroy this monster forever."

"By killing an innocent person?" interjected Willow quietly.

Xander looked at her irritated, "What?"

With a sigh, Willow explained, "The vessel has to be a living breathing human being. Don't you agree, Giles?" After his short nod, the red-headed witch continued, "Buffy can't kill someone who certainly doesn't know what happens to him."

Ashamed by his thoughts, Xander dropped his head. Silence settled over the little group, till Buffy couldn't stand it any longer and fidgeted with her stake. "What if it's Giles?" They looked at Buffy as if she suddenly sprouted two heads. "What?" asked the blonde slayer pouting, "it's not so absurd." She pointed with her stake at Giles. "Ethan hates Giles. Ethan tried to kill Giles several times and failed miserable. Ethan summons Jack the Ripper. Ethan gets his revenge. Totally obvious."

Shocked, Giles went to his sideboard and took a big shot of Whiskey which he drained in one gulp. Wearily, he wiped his forehead and slumped against the furniture. "If that's true.... and I dread there's no doubt about it... we have to take precautions." The longer he thought about Buffy's simple statement, the more horrible hidden pictures flooded his mind and kept running like a movie behind his closed eyelids. A shudder ran through Giles' body and he took deep breaths to calm his stomach. Startled, he looked at the small hand on his trembling arm. Warm emerald eyes looked concerned at him.

"We'll find a way, Giles."

Giles gave Willow a tremulous smile and patted her hand. "I know." He turned and looked at Buffy and Xander. "Find something to restrain me in my room. I don't know what will happen, but we shouldn't leave something to chance."

"We could use Spike's old chains," suggested Xander. When Giles nodded in agreement, he turned and went looking in the basement.

"Buffy, please go to the 'Magic Box' and bring me the book about sleep spells, it should be in the shelf in the back. Perhaps, if I don't dream..." Giles stopped unsure what else to say. He never had felt so hopeless before. Glad to finally have something to do, the blonde slayer nodded and quickly left the house.

A second later, Xander came back into the room, heavy chains clinking with every of his steps. "Found them under tons of smut!" He swang them lightly and offered them to Giles and Willow.

"Ugh! I see," Willow laughed and skiped out of the way.

With a dry smile Giles took the chains and went to the stairs. "We should start, you never know..."

When Willow passed by Xander, she started to giggle again and tipped at her nose. Baffled, he pondered what caused her amusement when suddenly his brown eyes widened in realization. He wiped furiously with his sleeve over his face, but only succeeding in further smearing the dirt. After a second Xander growled in frustration and chased after Willow, who sqealed and ran after Giles.

~~~*~~~

Giles had made himself comfortable on his bed and Willow and Xander helped him fasten the chains.

Willow fluffed a second pillow for Giles and tucked it behind his back. "Do you need anything else? I could bring you something to eat... or to read... or-"

"It's ok Willow. I'm totally comfortable... er... under the prevailing circumstances... I mean."

Green eyes roamed over the tight shackled form of the watcher. "You don't say!" Willow returned with a slightly raised eyebrow.

With a chuckle Xander interjected from his seat in the corner, "G-man, give up, you're fighting a losing battle."

Giles felt like a little schoolboy and started blushing. "Ok... good... I feel terrible, like a laced up turkey... better?"

"Nope," answered Willow, before she bent down and kissed Giles on his cheek. A golden light flashed suddenly through his eyes, unseen by the two youths. Giles quickly turned his head and pressed his lips on Willow's soft ones. Appalled she jerked her head back and stared at the man who was more a father to her then her real one. The sudden sneer on his face told her all she had to know.

"Why the sudden shyness, you hot little minx?" said Giles with a leer at rosy lips. "Come a bit closer and I will show you what you missed so far!"

Willow pressed a hand to her mouth and flet at Xander's side, who jumped out of his seat and pulled her protectivly into his arms. "What the fuck-?"

Mocking eyes laughed behind the glasses. "Hello loser, liked my present?"

The red-haired witch felt how Xander's body went rigid. "It's him," she whispered desperately. Xander's only response was the tightening of his arms around her. "We need help!"

After what seemed like an eternity for Willow, Xander's posture slightly relaxed. "Get Angel."

"But-"

"Get Angel!" Xander exclaimed louder and shoved her vehemently towards the door. Willow hesitated for a second, but when she heard the raspy lascivious laughter from the man on the bed, she bolted down the stairs with her hair flying behind her like a flame.

The two men staired at each other, either weighing up his next move.

Giles licked his lips and tried out his chains. Nothing. He pulled harder, again nothing happened. When he saw the idiots grin, he stopped struggling. "Magical enchanted?" Giled asked with dawning recognition.

Xander didn't move.

Bored by the lack of emotion from the youth, Giles tried another method. "Your girlfriend was really a screamer." No reaction. "She liked it when I-"

Xander had enough. He sat down again, took out a tissue handkerchief and ripped it in two pieces. Then he made two little balls and put them in his ears. With a satisfied sigh, Xander grinned at the fuming bastard. Hopefully Will and Angel would be back really fast.

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