Don't Quit Your Day Job parts 18-23

Part 18

Willow twirled the red g-string around her finger." Gee, you guys shouldn't have," she smiled teasingly.

"Er.. Willow, the outfit is not from any of us," Giles replied, his voice rather strained, his face flaming a darker red then the outfit.

"Yeah, Deadboy Jr. here, swears that he didn't send the skanky leather outfit," Xander exclaimed, glaring at Spike.

"What's the card say?" Willow asked.

"Card?" Xander repeated sheepishly.

Willow dropped the garment and dug through the tissue paper in the box. She pulled out a small note card. "Great!" she exclaimed.

Spike felt like he had stepped into the sun. Willow's teasing voice, her scent, proximity, and his vision of her wearing nothing but the g-string; summoned his game face and his straining erection. Spike turned and moved away from the table. He wanted only to possess her, to feel alive and be cocooned in her liquid heat. He wanted to taste her essence and savor her blood. He wanted her blood to flow through his veins and her womanly essence to fill his mouth, as he claimed her with his manhood and filled her with his seed. Spike morphed into his game face. He shook his head and changed back into his human visage. Spike repeated this litany until he regained control of himself. < I'll not be involved with the bloody witch, I act like a fledgling around her I can't control myself from changing,stupid pillock. > Spike turned back around in time to hear Xander ask about the clothing.

"What? Who's the pervert?" Xander asked grabbing the note card; he began to read aloud:

"Dear Willow, Dinner tonight at La Rose Noir at 8:00, Alex."

"This is perfect," Willow smiled. "I can keep him busy, while one of you searches his apartment for evidence."

<I'm going to chain her up downstairs, before I let her go anywhere near that skanky rat! > Spike thought.

" No! No! No!" chanted Xander and Spike, who suddenly found his voice. "Excuse me, but the last time I checked neither of you was my keeper," Willow said testily.

"Come on, Wills, that guy is so skanky… he goes out into the alley to…" Xander suddenly stopped unable to think of a way to say it delicately.

Spike continued, "he's truly a wanker, Pet."

"After every performance…" Xander added.

"And how would you two know this?" Willow asked glaring at them both. Xander stood with his mouth open, looking sheepish.

Willow turned her green eyes to stare at Spike daring him to speak.

Willow was still hurting from his earlier rejection after their frenzied sex.

"I forbid you to see that freak!" Spike spat out angrily. < That stupid little chit thinks she can handle him, he'll be all over her.. he's only interested in shagging her.. the skanky bastard.! >

Willow's eyes shot green sparks; she resented being objectified first as a sex object and then the next minute treated as some dumb incompetent. Her anger bloomed into a full force rage.

"How dare you!" Willow yelled moving closer towards Spike pointing her finger into his chest: "Just because we fucked once doesn't mean you have any say over me!" she spat.

Spike practically recoiled from her words. < How dare she talk to me like that? Me, William the Bloody!"> Spike pulled back from her and turned away from her, < I've gone from bad to worse, first Dru, now this little chit. I worry about her safety. I'veacted like a bloody schoolboy… To make matters worse the only impression I made, with my lovemaking was to leave teeth marks in her neck! >

Spike's own hurt coalesced into anger. He turned back to face Willow: "Apparently, I'm not demon enough for the likes of you! Go ahead and let a real demon Fuck You!" he hissed.

Willow's hand connected with his chiseled cheek, the impact sounded like ice cracking.

Spike struggled with his demon. This mortal woman may have emasculated the man whose body he shared, but the demon only wanted to possess her body and blood. The man's whose humanity Willow had touched wanted to be warmed by her soul. Spike struggled to remain in control of his demon. <I'll show her,> the demon raged. <I'll make her howl!> The man wanted to please her, yet felt terribly inadequate. His two personas battled for dominance.

Willow whirled away from Spike. She glared at Xander who was frozen his mouth still agape like a statue. Giles had his head stuck in a book, pretending to read; yet his face was scarlet.

Willow snatched up the g-string and threw it at Xander. " I won't be needing this!" she growled. She picked up the red leather skirt and bustier and stormed out of the library.

Part 19

Willow was furious. < How dare he talk to me that way! He practically accused me of being some... some whore. I hate him! I'll show him ... I can handle myself.... Stupid dead ass... what every possessed me to..> ~~~~~~

Spike growled and muttered that he was going to patrol tonight and practically flew out of the conference room. Giles put his unread book down. "Xander, you had best close your mouth unless you're attempting to catch some insects." Giles remarked, trying to regain some modicum of normalcy after the little scene he had witnessed.

"G-man," Xander stuttered, "What the hell just happened? I have never seen Wills so angry before and she hit him! Those two make my fights with Cordy seem like romper room antics."

"Yes, it appears that they still have a lot of unresolved issues between the two of them." Giles said, reaching up to his face only to remember that his glasses had been broken just that morning.

Xander suddenly just realized he was clutching the red-g string Willow had thrown at him.

"So, Giles, How about I cover Wills backside tonight... I mean be her backup at the restaurant.." he stuttered. ~~~~~ Willow tore off her tee shirt and slacks. She took off her bra and panties. <This leather is so constructing not to mention hot... I won't be needing you,> she thought tossing them into her backpack. < Boy, this skirt is short... > Willow tugged it to try pull it lower upon her thighs. Willow loosened the ties on the bustier and slipped it over her head. It gaped loosely over her chest. < Great, just great> She reached behind herself to try and tighten the stays. "Damn.. damn!" she muttered, Xander," she yelled, "I need you to help me!"

Willow stuck her head out the bathroom door and yelled "Xander Harris! Get your ass in here!"

Xander's eyes were as big as saucers. " Giles, if I'm not out in 10 minutes... come in after me." Xander cautiously moved towards Willow's irate voice.

He peered around the open doorway. " Yeah, Wills, you hollered?"

"I need for you to lace up these damn stays." She demanded as she turned her back to him. Willow cupped the leather bustier close to her breasts. "Tighter, Xander!" Willow rasped, practically unable to draw a breath.

Xander looked at Willow's reflection in the mirror; " If I pull any tighter your boobs are going to pop like overfilled water balloons," he teased. Willow met Xander's eyes in the mirror and smiled, " Don't make me Laugh. I could die from lack of oxygen." Willow turned around, and Xander couldn't help but leer at his best friends newfound cleavage. "Gotta admit Willow. Red is defiantly your color." Willow hugged Xander, "Thanks Xander."

As she pulled away, Xander put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her green eyes. " Wills, you don't need to do this to prove anything to the blond fang," he said softly.

Willow pulled away, " This is about catching a killer. Spike has nothing to do with this," she snapped.

"Sure, Wills... look I'm going to be your backup tonight... that Krycheck character is so skanky...we need to talk about our plan with Giles." Xander said taking Willow by the hand.

Giles had seen Willow in her stripper costume.. but this red outfit fit her like a second skin leaving very little to the imagination. Willow's every curve and valley was accentuated and molded by the red leather. Giles cleared his throat and stifled a groan as Willow sat down in a chair near the conference table. His pants suddenly felt way to tight; he needed a drink... a good stiff drink....

"So Giles... Xander and I need some input about our plan. " Willow began.

It was decided that Giles would search the government agent's apartment while Willow was dining with him. Xander was going to blend in the restaurant and hang out at the bar and keep tabs on Willow. Willow agreed that if she needed his help in the restaurant she would call attention to herself by dropping a dish. ~~~~~ Spike had circled the cemetery twice and had beaten the embalming fluid out of two vamp fledglings before he dusted them. < Stupid little witch.. I don't care what she does ....or who she does it with... no...> Spike kicked the teeth out of a vamp coming up from the ground, < she can trot her pert ass all the way down to LA to play dress up with the big Poof, for all I care...>.

~~~~~~ Willow was sipping a glass of champagne. She felt everything was going marvelously. < Alex has actually been very charming and polite...who would have thought it? Giles must be through with his search by now. > Willow knew that it was time to make a trip to the ladies room to check in with Xander.

She excused herself, and couldn't help but smile as Alex stood as she did. She exiting the dining room and looked toward the bar for Xander. < Where is he? >

"Willow," Xander was out of breath... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Spike had finished his patrol. It was only 9:30. < I'm damned to hell already... I can't trust those two stooges to keep her safe can I? I may as well swing by the restaurant and drain the spook. > Spike began to whistle and sauntered back toward his car. He decided to check in with Giles.

Giles answered the cell phone. " Yes," he replied. " It's me.. Have you found anything incriminating at the rats house?" Spike asked.

" No... nothing that would link him to the murders of the women." Giles replied.

"Damn.. What about Willow?" Spike asked trying to sound unconcerned.

"Well, actually I was just about to go to the restaurant, I should have gotten a call from she or Xander an half hour ago." Giles said tightly.

"Never mind, I'm closer!" Spike growled.

Spike burned rubber on his way to the restaurant. He entered and glanced around the dining room as the hostess clutched at his arm, telling him he was not dressed appropriately for dining. He saw no sign of Willow, or the rat. He brushed the woman off his arm and scanned the bar area. < No sign of the kid, either. >

Spike questioned the bartender and slipped him a $50.00. Spike didn't like what he heard. The bartender told him that Xander had sat at the bar for two hours nursing a coke and stiffed him on a tip. He said that he had seen the dark haired man and a pretty redhead cozying up to the bar together and that they had left together just twenty minutes ago.

Spike stormed out of the establishment and called Giles again. " She left with the bastard!" Spike shouted into the phone. " Have you heard anything from either of them?" Spike growled.

"No, and this isn't like Willow, or Xander for that matter." Giles replied.

"Tell me his address?" Spike snarled. ~~~~~~~~~~~~

Alex couldn't believe his luck. He had high hopes for his date with Willow but never expected it to end like this. He moaned and pushed the redhead's head back down on his cock. < God she's good. >

Spike's vampire hearing heard sounds that enraged him. He vamped out and kicked in the door to the apartment.

The redhead, startled by the yellow-eyed demon, scraped her teeth along Alex's cock as she threw herself backward on the floor. " Jesus!" Alex screamed in discomfort, grabbing his member.

Spike had Alex around the neck and was about to snap it when his brain registered that the women screaming was not Willow.

He dropped Alex. " Who the hell are you? Where's Willow?" Spike snarled at the short curly haired redhead. "I don't know," she sobbed. "Please don't hurt me?" she begged tears coursing down her face.

Spike focused his attention back to Alex, " Where is Willow?" He yelled.

"How the hell should I know!" Alex grumbled, trying to get out of Spike's grip. " Ever hear of knocking before you drop in.?" Alex swore rubbing his sore dick.

" If you don't tell me what happened with Willow, I'll rip your dick off myself!" Spike raged, shaking the man.

"Calm down. She left the table to use the bathroom and came back a moment later with the young kid from the club... she was crying said she had to go …something about you." Alex said.

"What? Why was she crying? What did she say exactly?" Spike asked, his human visage returning as his human body cramped with fear.

"She came in, upset, said she was sorry she had to go.. that Giles had called Xander and told him you.. Spike.. had been badly hurt while on patrol." Alex explained.

Spike swore, " The demon's got her!" Spike tore out of the apartment.

Part 20

Spike in game face growled as he stormed through the broken apartment door.

Alex shouted, " Next time call first!" to Spike's retreating back.

Spike hit redial on the cell phone. " Giles, the demon's got her!" he hissed.

" I know, Xander just called, he said he was ambushed and knocked out at the restaurant. He said he didn't see who struck him but that Willow was gone as was Krycheck when he awoke a few minutes ago." Giles reported tightly.

" The stupid fool… how.. Giles,…I should have never let her go.." Spike said angrily.

"Look, why don't you go to Millenium club and see who is there? It might help us figure out who the demon is. I'll talk to Xander some more and see if he has any more useful information," Giles offered. " Call back in thirty minutes," Giles said and hung up.

Spike sped towards the club. < Why didn't I listen to my inner demon, chain up the witch; have your way with her until she screams with pleasure… no… let the little tigress smack you instead…. Get all soulful and brooding like the big Poof…bemoaning whether or not she likes you! Stupid fool now she's going to be tortured and killed by some monster. > Spike wiped a blood red tear from his eye as he parked his car to enter the club. ~~~~~~~

Willow mentally berated herself for the thousandth time. < How could I have been so stupid? > Willow replayed the events in her mind. < I should have been suspicious when Xan was not at his post at the bar. Then Xan is behind me all out of breath. Jeez, Willow, why didn't you notice he was wearing a different outfit than before. Duh, it's a shape shifting demon! So the Xander/Demon tells you that Spikes been hurt and you start crying .. over the big jerk… but lets not forget your manners.. you at least told Alex you were leaving. Actually Rosenberg, that might be a good thing, cause then Giles or Spike may be able to find you…. like he even cares… What about Xander? I hope he's OK. Where the hell am I? It dark and smelly and it looks like some medieval dungeon. My evil vamp self would think she's at Disneyland here with the thick chains… Yikes, what the hell is that thing used for?…Not my idea of four star accommodations. The Xan/ Demon chloroformed me… I could be 100 miles away by now. I still don't know who the demon is either. >

Just as Willow finished that thought, the dungeon door opened with a loud squeal. In walked the demon in its true form. Willow felt the bile rise in her throat… < It's hideous… that smell… and its going to rape and torture me and until I die! > The creature looked at her with its large obsidian insect eyes. Its large mud colored thorax oozed what look like yellow-green plasma from its pores. The demon moved several feet closer to her on its spindly brown legs. Its legs were segmented and covered with darker brown colored carapaces. As it walked it made a slight crunching noise that sounded like a roach being crushed under your shoe.

Willow stood immobilized her mind silently screaming. The mutant insectoid stood about six feet tall from its spindly legs to a set of black twitching antenna. < Oh Goddess, it head is shaped like an ant….Yuck… I hate em… and it seems to have jowls on the sides of it head…are they venom sacks?..> The demon had two sets of long opaque wings on either side of it thorax much like a dragonfly. The hideous creature stopped about three feet in front of her. Its wings fluttered back and forth, one managed to touch her face. She felt a jolt of cold course through her body. So cold, yet the white lancing pain she experienced felt like fire.

The mutant moved back slightly, its legs making that revolting crunching noise. The demon was speaking to her in her head; * Don't worry Willow, I find his scent just as repulsive… soon his scent shall fade and his mark will have faded… Then you shall be mine… and he shall be punished for his insolence.. taking what was mine.* It uncoiled a long black forked tongue and licked along Willow's exposed cleavage.

Willow wanted to scream, but she knew she was going to vomit. She backed up towards the corner of the dungeon, turned around and heaved.

Willow's head hurt and her throat burned she wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. Willow made herself turn back to look at the demon. Its black eyes glistened with malevolence. Willow noticed the creature had what looked like a stinger on its lower body that was pulsating and twitching. Willow felt weak with fear. Once again it projected thoughts in Willow's head; * You shall pay for your betrayal. I will make you burn and he shall be a witness* As Willow watched the demon shifted back to humanoid form. " Oh Goddess, No! You!" Willow croaked.

Part 21

Spike noted the bouncer Sipowitz was at his usual place at the door. " Andy, have you seen Willow tonight?"

"No, man, it's her night off." Andy replied, blowing out smoke from his cigarette.

Spike hurried into the club and saw a buxom brunette dancing. He used his predatory visual acuity to scan the smoky club. He saw the nerdy psychiatrist up close to the stage. He saw Sam behind the bar and Nick perched on a barstool. Spike saw Tami, the waitress coming from the back room. Spike didn't see the cop. < I'm going to rip him apart. > "Spike," Tami waved him over to her. Spike moved towards her, <perhaps she knows something about the cop>. ~~~~~~~~~~

Giles and Xander repeated all the relevant details to Tim Bayliss. Giles thought since Tim was already involved and knew about the case his police connections may aid in finding Willow.

" Hi, Spike, How's it going?" Tami asked smiling sweetly.

" Not so good, luv. Look, Willow's in trouble. Have you seen her or Bayliss tonight at all?" Spiked asked tersely.

" Gee, as a matter of fact I did see Tim, skulking around in the basement of the club… I went down there to get some wine…" she said matter- of- factly.

Spike grabbed her arm. "Show me the way" he said.

Tami lead Spike out into the alleyway and down a set of rickety stairs. A bare bulb lit the dim recesses of the basement. Spike saw another door off to his left. " Do you know where that leads?" he whispered.

" I think Nick said there's an old bomb shelter under the building." Tami responded.

" Ok, pet, thanks. I want you to go back upstairs now." He said softly headed for the steel door.

The next thing Spike felt was a sharp pain in the back of his head, exploding white light followed by darkness. ~~~~~

Willow had paced every inch of the dimly lit room. It reeked even more since she had lost her dinner in the corner. < OK Rosenberg, what can I use as a weapon against that monster. > Willow examined a narrow wooden table that had some sort of restraints upon it. She also saw the black pools of dried blood both on the table and about the floor near it. Willow, swallowed hard again. < Oh Goddess, I've got to get out of here. Her mind reviewed the post mortim information from the other victims. The women had been brutally tortured and most likely sexually assaulted. … > Willow's mind flashed on the monster using its forked tongue..and is it the venom that burns? > Willow's chest still hurt where the demon had run it hideous tongue along her. < What if it uses that appalling stinger…or other stuff to 'molest' me with? > She picked up what looked like a large riding crop with a metal ball and small spikes upon its tip. <Maybe I can use this as a weapon… This should work nicely. > Willow picked it up. It was heavier than it looked. She eyed a dark black cabinet. I bet that's where he keeps his other *tools*. < If I can break in there.. I might be able to find some more weapons or a tool to get the hinges of the damn door! > Willow tried to use the blunt end of the riding crop to pry the cabinet door open. The dungeon door started to open again. Willow quickly moved to stand behind it, so that she could lash out at the monster. She heard the sickening crunching noise its legs made. Her heart beat double time in her chest. She lifted the weapon and started to swing it forward so as to connect with the demon's head. Willow's heart stopped in her chest as she saw Spike thrown over the creature's shoulder, blood pooling down his face. She pulled back with her arm

"Spike!" she cried out involuntarily. " Great Goddess, what have you done?" she yelled moving forward.

The demon projected into her head, * stay back if you wish to see your lover whole* Willow skidded to a stop as she saw a large pointed stake being held by the demon in its brown pincers.

Willow looked at the still open door. The door slammed shut and Willow took a deep breath. "Please can't I tend to him? He's hurt!" Willow begged.

No! The vampire will be punished! * The demon moved toward the back wall and dropped Spike roughly unto the cement floor. Willow flinched as she heard his head crack on it. Tears began to stream down her face. The demon began to strip Spike's clothes away. " What.. are you doing…? Willow sniffled. The demon ignored her as he bent down to remove Spike's pants, Willow decided this was her chance to hit the demon. She ran at him, swinging the weapon. The demon lifted its arm and managed to block the blow, the metal tip wrapping itself around the hard shell of its forearm. The demon slapped Willow with its other arm and shoved her back roughly and she landed on her tailbone. * You stink of him. …. Thank you, Willow.. I think this shall be just the tool to begin the punishment. The demon reached for the manacles and pulled Spike's naked body upright and lifted first one arm than a second and clasped his wrists into the chains.

The demon turned and looked at Willow, * What do you think of your lover now? *

" Please don't hurt him," Willow begged, her voice quivering with fear.

" The demon raised up the instrument of torture and brought it down across Spike's chest. Willow screamed as if she was the one receiving the blow. The metal nails tore a narrow swath across his chest. Spike remained unconscious. Willow moved forward and grabbed the demon's arm as it raised the weapon again. The blow was slightly deflected, yet it still managed to scrape along Spike's ribcage. The demon grabbed both Willow arms. * Don't be jealous, Willow, you're turn will come.* Its long black tongue slithered out its mouth and once again licked along Willow exposed breast. Willow took a deep breath and tried to imagine it was a cute puppy dog. Its tongue felt like sandpaper scraping across her skin. She exhaled and moaned, " No!" as she felt the scraping tongue dip between the valley of her breasts. *Don't like me touching you there? * The creature let go of one of her arms and grabbed her hair and pulled Willow's slightly backward over its arm. Its tongue slithered out again, Willow began to scream as she felt it creep between her thighs.

"Leave her alone!" Spike growled menacingly, pulling against the metal restraints.

Part 22

Spike heard Willow's scream enter the black void he had been drifting in. His head and body felt an immediate pulse of pain and his demon asserted itself. He growled and pulled upon his restraints. The creature was harming his Willow.

The arthropod retracted its tongue, shoved Willow down, and turned to look at Spike. Willow scurried backwards quickly before she stood. Willow was never so happy to see a vamp in her life. She gave Spike a broad smile. Spike's yellow eyes took in Willow's lithe form squeezed into the tight leather outfit. His body immediately began to respond to her. He tore his eyes from her and glared at the stinkbug. The creature's antennas were twitching spastically as was what looked like a stinger. The demon morphed back into Tami.

" I'll rip you apart…you roach.. Let Willow alone!" Spike snarled.

Tami moved closer to Spike; " I've got to get back upstairs… the music's stopped, the stripper finished with her set… I'll be back after the club closes… and you shall witness how a real demon savors its prey…. I've always hated vampires…. and you, weak, stinking demon shall watch… and once I'm through with her… you're going to be the demon 'fall guy' and I shall be on my way to a new location…" Tami laughed as she moved toward the door. She looked back over her shoulder at Willow, before opening the door. " Say goodbye to your lover dear… but don't touch him!.. If I smell his stink on you… I'll make you wish you were never born!" Tami opened her mouth and unfurled the long black tongue and ran it over her own human visage mockingly. She slammed the door, laughing.

Willow moved across the dank room toward Spike. " Oh Goddess, are you all right… your bleeding pretty badly.." Willow cried softly looking into Spike's yellow eyes and touching his cheek. " I'm so sorry…It's all my fault…" she continued to babble as a tear slipped down her face.

The demon was in a great deal of pain. The smell of his own blood and Willow's proximity left Spike barely in control. " Willow, get back" he growled.

"Spike?" she looked into his eyes and saw raw hunger and something else. < Lust>. Willow backed up and picked up Spike's shirt from the floor, continuing to babble. " I was so stupid.. I can't believe I didn't know it was her, er, it at the restaurant.. let me just clean you up and we'll get out of here before it comes back."

Willow looked back into Spike's yellow eyes as she began to wipe the blood from his face. He growled under his breath. " Get back, Willow!" he hissed.

" You need some blood to heal," she said softly as she wiped at the blood across his chest and abdomen. His eyes narrowed, " Get away from me before I drain you dry!" he yelled harshly.

Willow stepped back in shock and dropped her eyes. She took in his aroused member. < He needs blood. He took it before when we… er… God, I can't even say it … had sex… so what if he… didn't really.. it's a matter of his life … er unlife and my possibly death…>

She met Spike's eyes, licked her lips, took a deep breath then moved quickly forward. She pressed her body against his and stood on her toes and met his fanged visage with a hard kiss. He moaned and growled loudly as she stuck her tongue into his mouth and sliced it against one of his fangs. He sucked her hot tongue deep into his mouth. She ran her hands along his chest, up around his neck, along his shoulders. She kneaded the tightened muscles with her hands. Her hands continued to journey upward, scraping her nails against his flexed arms until she touched his bound wrists. She pressed herself flat against him. Spike strained against the bonds and bucked forward with his body. Their two bodies straining to meld as one. Willow moaned as she felt his cold body and marble cock push against her abdomen. She grabbed his wrist in her hands and angled herself up forward on tiptoes. She tore her mouth from his and tilted her neck. " Please, Spike," she keened huskily. Her body was on fire and she needed him.. wanted him.

He sunk his fangs into her neck and began to drink lustily. His cock was twitching and Willow was mewling and rubbing herself against him with her leather clad skirt. Willow felt her sex convulse with Spike's every suckle. As he drank her blood he felt his wounds heal and his pain alleviate. Her hot blood flowed throughout him. He needed to possess her totally. The only ache was in his cock. He tugged at the bonds violently and gasped when he wrenched them free from their metal confines.

He wrapped his bruised arms about Willow's ass, and lifted her up. She keened his name again and pulled on the back of his head, and wrapped her legs about his waist. He quickly turned around and pinned Willow up against the cold wall. He pushed her skirt up with one hand. He thrust into her liquid heat. Willow threw back her head and screamed. Her core was already convulsing from an orgasm that wracked her body as Spike had begun to feed off her. He filled her completely and his pelvis rubbing against her engorged clit caused her to orgasm again.

Spike tore his mouth from her neck and licked the oozing droplets then he began to pump violently into her. He moved a hand up to tug at her tight bodice and freed a breast, and sucked it greedily into his mouth. Willow gasped and moaned and moved her hips forward to meet his every stroke. . He grazed her areola with his fangs causing blood to pool, which he licked clean. Willow thrashed and bucked against him clawing at his back. They both came yelling incoherently.

Part 23

Detective Bayliss, after meeting with Giles, put out an all points bulletin on Willow. Since Spike never checked in with Giles at the agreed upon time, the three men decided to go to his last known destination.

Detective Bayliss, Giles, and Xander scanned the Millenium club. The smoky club was filled with regulars. Tami was flitting from table to table serving drinks as the newest dancer was flirting with the customers. Giles moved toward Niles Crane, Xander, to talk to Sam Malone at the bar, and Tim towards Tami.

Tami smiled up at Tim. " Hey, Tim, what'll you have?" ~~~~~~

Spike felt Willow's head crack painfully into his as her legs fell limply from his hips. He swore aloud as his flaccid member slipped out of Willow's burning core. It shrunk further in response to the cold dank air of the prison. He gathered Willow's unconscious form in his arms and sank to his knees. < Damn! What have I done? Not again! What was she thinking! > Spike hugged her still form closer to his chest and buried his human face in the hollow of her unblemished neck. He sighed and thanked a God who no longer watched over him, as he heard the steady pulse beat of her fiery blood. < Damn witch! > He felt her warm blood trickle down over his chest as it continued to leak from his savage bite, from the other side of her neck. He also felt the mingled essence from their coupling leak onto his bare thigh.

The warmth and feel of her body and the smell that was hers alone made him surge with desire once again. His demon reappeared. Spike howled. He placed Willow down upon the cold floor. He slipped into his pants and struggled to button them, his member painfully aroused. He rushed the metal door, grasped it with his two hands, and wrenched inward with his entire demon strength and anger. The door creaked and groaned in protest but one set of rusty hinges popped. Spike howled his rage again and threw his weight against the door in the opposite direction. The metal split like wet tissue paper. Spike turned toward Willow, picked her up, and gently rearranged her red leather outfit. He stormed out of the dungeon. < I'm going to kill that fucking cockroach! >

~~~~~

Giles looked up at the sound of a collective gasp. His mouth dropped open as he saw Spike standing bare chested and Willow's unconscious form lying limp in his arms. Giles thought Willow was dead, as her complexion was pasty white and her slender arms hung loosely, as did her fiery hair. Giles stood so quickly from the table his chair slammed onto the floor as he rushed towards Spike. Spike yellow eye's saw Bayliss and the demon Tami. She was pointing at him and clutching Tim's arm.

" Spike, my God…" was as much as Giles was able to utter before Spike handed Willow into his arms. Spike moved with preternatural speed; his game face glared menacingly. Tami morphed into its true form and pushed screaming patron out of its way as it headed for the exit. Spike and detective Bayliss gave chase. Xander, holding his breath, rushed to Giles as he clutched Willow.

"Is she…" Xander croaked. "She's just unconscious…" Giles replied tightly. Giles noted that blood still trickled from twin holes in her pale neck. Since her head and arms hung down, Giles also noted the blood leaked out from her barely concealed breast. Giles moved towards a recently vacated table and lay Willow's prone form upon it. "The bastard bit her again!" Xander yelled. Blood flooded his face. Giles raised his eyebrows and wiped his sticky palm, which had previously gripped Willow's thigh, upon his slacks as he commented; " Apparently that's not all he's done."

~~~~~~ Spike tackled the demon, sending them both careening into trashcans in the alleyway. Detective Bayless yelled, " Freeze! get you're hands up! Now!"

Spike used his fists to pummel the creature about the head and thorax. Its bodily fluid burned his bare flesh like holy water. Spikes own demon raged with the pain. < You will never hurt Willow again! > The creature's pinchers clawed at Spike's abdomen. Spike howled in fury and pain as the creature stuck him in the thigh with its stinger. ~~~~~~~ Giles was using a napkin to dab at the drying blood on Willow's pale skin. " We need to get her to the hospital, Giles!" Xander exclaimed.

"Her pulse and respiration are strong, I think she just passed out…< from blood loss and overexertion>… get some strong alcohol from behind the bar…. It should work like smelling salts." Giles ordered. Xander fetched a bottle of whiskey and undid the cap. Giles waved it under Willow's nose and called her name, " Willow.. come on dear wake up.. Willow".

She stirred slightly and mumbled, "Spike".

Several gunshots sounded outside the club; both men's heads turned toward the club exit.

Willow opened her eyes, and slowly sat up. " Giles? Xander? … what… where's Spike?" she asked.

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