Buffy sat with Riley on the narrow cot in the damp crypt.  He was having a
difficult time wrapping his mind around everything Buffy had told him.  She
explained that she and her friends had plotted and kidnapped him to try and
find out things about the initiative.

" I can't believe you did this Buffy!" he said angrily as he stood up and
began to pace.  " But, Willow and Hostile 17?" he asked narrowing his eyes in
concentration.  " How?"

" Willow isn't a vampire, she was using a very powerful magic spell to appear
vamp like."  Buffy explained.

"Yeah but the Hostile, he is one and I saw him bite her.. but he's not supposed
to be able to hurt anybody."  Riley shook his head and looked at Buffy to
explain.

~~~~~~~~

Xander and Giles who both had been kept busy with an irate Harmony had been 
unable to aid Willow and Spike's battle with Oz.  The two men were busy 
dodging Harmony's sharp nails.  She wanted blood.  Actually she appeared like 
she wanted to make them both suffer for Spike's indiscretion. 

"Xander just use the holy water!" Giles yelped as Harmony kicked him in the 
groin sending him to the ground writhing in pain. 

"Back! Back!" Xander yelled, throwing the contents of the small vial on the 
enraged demon. 

Harmony hissed, " Xander, I'm so going to make you pay for that, Geek Boy!"   
Harmony turned on her high heels and ran out of the crypt. 


Spike couldn't believe what was happening.  It ranked up there with the time 
he was in the wheelchair when Angelus used to fuck Dru in front of him.  This 
however felt even worse.  Here was the mortal woman, his fire Goddess whom he 
had claimed, renouncing him.  Could he blame her, he had vowed to protect 
her, keep her safe and he wasn't able to lift a finger to stop the dog-boy 
from slapping her?  He was pathetic, he couldn't consider himself a demon, 
and he wasn't much of a man either. The stupid wolf at least had the balls to 
take what he considered his.  She was better off without him. 

"She's right," Spike said his voice tight with unleashed anger, "it didn't 
mean anything, just a little poke to pass the time, it wasn't anything worth 
repeating." He grinned wanting to hurt the wolf and her. 

Willow heard Spike's cruel words and she felt her newly healed heart break 
anew.  She let go of Oz's leg and wrapped her arms about her knees her 
nakedness making her vulnerability all the more painful.  "Oz, can we please 
leave?  We can talk."  Willow whispered looking at the dirty floor of the 
crypt.  Part of her hoped that Oz would hit her again just so she could focus 
on the physical pain instead of the mental anguish. 

Spike saw Willow visibly cringe at his words. His chest felt all tight and 
tingly once again.  He tried to stand on shaky legs. 

Oz glared down at the huddled form of his old love. He was enraged that she 
had been intimate with Spike." Talk, I wouldn't even let you blow me baby!   
You're covered in his stench, filthy demon bitch." He growled and literally 
spat on her. 

Oz's head shot back from the force of the unexpected blow.  " Argh!" Spike 
howled as he more or less fell into Oz and knocked him over.  Oz lost his 
grip on the stake.  He began to pummel Spike.  Both men were growling and 
rolling around on the ground. 

"Stop, please stop," Willow cried, she was just about to join the fray in 
hopes of stopping Oz from dusting Spike. 

Xander having heard and seen enough on the periphery managed to grab Oz by 
the back of his shirt and pull him off Spike.  Oz started swinging at Xander 
as Spike lay bleeding on the ground. 

"Xander was mighty pissed himself, nobody treated Willow like she was trash, 
nobody. He managed to connect with several powerful blows before Oz landed on 
his ass and lost consciousness. 

"Are you all right?"  Willow asked her voice cracking. 

Spike felt her hot tears dripping down onto his face. < Bloody hell, one look 
into her innocence eyes and I'm a pathetic poof! > Spike moaned in pain but 
managed to sit up enough so that he could gather Willow into his arms. " 
Shhhh, luv, 'tis all right." He mumbled softly into her ear as he rubbed her 
back. 

"I thought he was going to kill you."  Willow hiccuped between sobs as she 
clutched Spike's back. 

< His mate, his love, he wasn't about to let some stupid sod come between 
them. >  Spike titled her chin, 
" Don't cry pet, I'm fine. He hurt you, I'm so sorry, I wasn't able to stop 
him," he blurted out guiltily. 

Spike ran his index finger over the mark he had placed on Willow's neck. < 
Can't even protect my mate! > 


"Oh please, you too are going to make me barf," Xander interrupted.  "For 
sanity's sake put some clothes on and Spike ditch the fang face.  It's bad 
enough you and Willow are...are...are doing the naughty but, I don't want to 
watch you two kids kiss and make up. 

Xander turned his back on the duo and took hold of Oz's arms.  "G-man, gonna 
make it, how bout giving me a hand?"  He asked the green faced ex-watcher 
that leaned against the wall of the crypt. 

Giles nodded his head gingerly. 

"We're gonna take Oz some where to cool off and then we expect to see you two 
over at Giles in say, thirty minutes or less fully clothed."  Xander grunted 
as he lifted Oz's legs.  " Hey Giles, Does it feel like Oz has put on a 
little weight?"  Xander asked mockingly.

Part 22

"I'm so sorry, I wasn't able to kill him for you Luv," Spike said wiping 
Willow's tears, managing to smear blood and dirt over her cheek. 

"Kill him?"  Willow's bottom lip still quivered from her sobbing.  "I don't 
want you to kill him," she replied sharply, her wet lashes blinked rapidly as 
she pulled out of Spike's embrace.  She stood on shaky legs and moved towards 
the torn up bed. 

Spike furrowed his human brow, " You still have feeling for him?" he hissed 
angrily as he staggered to stand. 

Willow caught Spike's accusing glare as her head popped out of his black tee 
as she slipped on to cover her nakedness.  "I.. He was suprised, I think he 
thought I was the other Willow."    She tried to find some excuse that could 
explain how a man that she had loved could act with such hate and venom 
towards her.

 
"He was shocked to see us.. me.." Willow face reddened thinking exactly what 
was happening when her friends interrupted.  She bent down and picked up her 
black leather hot pants. 

Spike was growing angrier, he put his hands on his hips.  It was about time 
she understood what exactly Oz had done.    " The stupid git found you with 
Riley, and will talk about what you were doing there alone with him later 
pet.. but the wolf, he knocked you out cold and came to the Watchers and..." 

"You knew he was back?  I thought Riley had hit me?  You knew he was back and 
you suddenly decide to bring me to your old lair with Harmony for a quick 
shag?"  Willow  said accusingly, mimicking Spike angry stance. 

Willow's mind replayed Spike's harsh words. * 'Twas just a poke to pass the 
time, nothing worth repeating* 
< I can't believe I was so stupid to think.. All this I did to try and help 
him, secretly hoped he notice me.  Well Rosenberg you got what you wished 
for! > 

Willow waved her hand at the bed.  "You did this to hurt and embarrass me, 
you knew he was back and you lied and you.." Willow bit her lip to keep from 
crying once again. 

< I can't believe she still cares for the stupid sod.  He talked to her like 
she was some whore, smacked her and.. She still is defending him.  Of course 
she still cares for him, he is acting like any worthy mate would act to get 
her back, remind her whose top dog. >  Spike rolled his eyes and shook his 
head as he stared a whole in the floor.  < I cant protect her, how can I keep 
my claim on her. >  Spike hated himself, he hated the bloody soldiers who had 
done this to his head, he hated the stupid wolf, and he hated that she 
couldn't care for him. 

"Enough!" he roared his human face changing to his demonic one.  " You fucked 
a demon pet.  What did you expect?"   

Willow wasn't going to cry in front of him.  She turned and ran from the lair 
as fast as her bare feet would take her. 

Spike felt enraged, he so wanted to kill something.  He picked up one of her 
thigh high boots and flung it against the cement wall.  " Arghhhhh" he 
bellowed. 

~~~~~~ 

Buffy had brought Riley back to Giles.  She tried to explain along the way 
about her role as slayer.  Once they got back to Giles, Riley had used the 
phone to call Graham and tell him that everything was all right.  Graham told 
him that Walsh was ape shit since he had been gone over twenty-four hours 
without word.  Graham guessed it was about a girl.  Riley explained that he 
would be back to the dorm in a few hours. He rang off and looked at Buffy. 

"I still don't think I'm really clear about this slayer thing nor do I 
understand how Willow got involved and what any of you are mixed up with 
Hostile 17."  Riley lectured. 

Giles and Xander entered. " Oh.. Oh. Buffy.. Who's your friend?"  Xander 
tried to act innocently. 

"It's OK Xander, I told him everything."  Buffy explained. 

"Everything?"  Giles stuttered.  " Oh dear." 

"Where's Willow and Spike?"  Buffy asked.   

"Probably attached at the pelvis," Xander joked. 

"Gross, seriously, Riley here said he saw Oz hit Willow and then he said that 
Spike came back a little while later and bit her."      Buffy sighed, I think 
he got dehydrated or something and was hallucinating. 

"I saw them both," Riley snapped, "and the Hostile.. er Spike isn't supposed to 
be able to bite and he is loose and dangerous." 


"No, he definitely is not dangerous, Oz was kicking his pale ass."  Xander 
commented.  " However, Oz, he's another story altogether."  Xander continued. 

"Oz is back?"  Buffy asked her eyebrow raised in surprise. 

"Yeah, and he did see Willow with Riley," Xander explained 

Riley interrupted, "yeah I told you, and he hit Willow chained her up and 
left.  Spike came back all angry, pulled her from the chains and bit her." 

"What? How? Where is Willow?"  Buffy asked excitedly. 

"I'm more concerned about what she and DeadboyJr., doing right now."    Xander 
mumbled 

"Giles, what the hell is going on?"  Buffy huffed impatiently. 

"Well, it seems that Riley witnessed Spike claiming Willow.  Oz was convinced 
that Spike meant harm to her, and we along with a little help from Harmony," 
Giles winced,  " tracked them down to their old lair. We actually interrupted 
their, er um.." Giles stuttered and blushed. 

"They were having wild monkey sex and we interrupted, Oz freaked, attacked 
Willow and tried to kill Spike."  Xander blurted out. 

"What?"  Buffy blanched and thought she might be sick. 

"No!"  she cried in disbelief. 

Just as she was to ask about Willow the door swung open.  Willow's eyes 
were red, a nasty bruise was forming on her left cheek.  She was out of 
breath, barefoot and looked like she was wearing Spike's black tee. 

"Where's Oz?"  she panted.

Part 23

Willow couldn't believe that she had actually let herself believe that
Spike could care about her, Willow Rosenberg. Willow chastised herself for
coming up with the stupid 'I'm an uninhibited vamp'scheme, that she had hoped
would both help Spike while letting him see her in a different light. When
Willow woke up in bed with him, he seduced her with amative touches and welcome
words of devotion. He had made her feel loved and desired and her body had
responded in earth shattering intensity. As usual, nothing good every
lasted for Willow, just seconds after the most intense orgasm of her life, her ex,
her best friend, her mentor and her lover's ex just happen to pop up.
Willow felt a wave of embarrassment as she recalled how Spike's erect penis had
also popped up, how the soft skin felt against her breasts. Willow shook her
head, and began to run faster.

Oz her first love, her first betrayer, after abandoning her for months
shows up when Spike was pleasuring her. Oz was in a rage, Willow was afraid he
was gonna stake Spike. She wondered if she could have handled the situation
differently. < Like it's every day your ex- wolf boy friend comes back to
find you sitting on a vampire's face, a vampire who once was your worst
enemy. I was shocked to see Oz, then terrified he was gonna destroy Spike
in his rage. I knew Spike couldn't fight him, I did the only thing I could
think off, try and persuade Oz that my being with Spike was meaningless, a
mistake, and try and get Oz to calm down to reason with him. < That plan
failed miserably and you heard instead how meaningless you really are to
Spike. He knew Oz was back, he just wanted to have his fun, and torment
me in the process. I'm such a fool. I hate myself, He hurts me and yet I
still don't want to see him dusted. I must be a complete masochist. >

Willow out of breath, chest heaving burst into Giles living room. Her eyes
quickly took in the gang and Riley but no Oz. " Where's Oz? Willow panted
afraid that he had somehow given Giles and Xander the slip and was loose
after Spike.

"Willow, Oh God! Are you all right?" Buffy exclaimed worriedly taking in
her best friend's disheveled state. " Giles and Xander said you and Spike had
sex, it's not true right?"

" See look! You can see the bite marks!" Riley babbled and pointed at
Willow's neck desperate to make Buffy believe what he had seen. " He's
dangerous and on the loose!"

" Where's the dead Romeo anyway? " Xander asked.

Willow burst into tears.

~~~~~~~~

Spike was in a fury. The stupid chip. <I'm unable to kill that dog,
unable to protect Willow, I hate myself, and I've turned into a silly sod, much
worse than the Poof ever was. I love the redheaded mortal. She's still in
love with the little dog! > Spike ripped the sheets off the bed. He could
still smell Willow's scent; he could still taste her feminine sweetness.
< She's mine! I claimed her! I want her! > Spike then severed the 'do not
remove under penalty of law tag' off the mattress and continued in tearing
up the mattress, separating the foam and fiberfill, and tossing the bed
springs about the now empty crypt. He bellowed his rage as he tossed about the
lamp and upended a desk.

Spike sat amid the destruction of the crypt holding one of Willow's leather
thigh high boots. < I still feel bloody awful. I need a drink. > Spike
stood up and tossed the boot dejectedly into the ruins.

~~~~~~~~

" Willow, what happened?" Buffy asked in alarm

" Did something happen? Were you being pursued by something?" Giles
questioned.

"Spike's on the rampage again and needs to be captured! I'll call the
team." Riley said and moved toward the phone.

"No," Willow cried wiping her nose on the sleeve of Spike's black tee.
"Oz, where is he?" Willow asked again.

" He's tranquilized and chained up in the van Wills," Xander explained.
"We're not going to let him hurt you again, I promise."

"Where is Spike?" Buffy asked, not trusting the blond vamp as far as she
could throw him.

"Yeah, I'm surprised he isn't..." Xander's words were cut off by Willow's
breaking down once again.

~~~~~~~~

Spike entered Willie's bar and ordered 2 bottles of blood and a bottle of
tequila. Willie quickly gave Spike what he asked for and silently hoped
the vamp wouldn't cause any trouble.

~~~~~~

Xander walked down the stairs.

"Well, how is she?" Giles asked.

"Buffy's still sitting with her, she finally cried herself to sleep." Xander
replied tightly. It killed him to see Willow so hurt. From what he
gathered in between sobs, Spike had done a number on her. Willow was
heart broken. Xander was there in the crypt during the X-rated soap opera
scene. He had witnessed Willow trying to calm Oz down. He saw how
Spike tried to defend Willow, and how the Vamp was reduced to a pile of
vanilla pudding. He had heard Spike's nasty comment about how sex with
Willow didn't mean anything. Xander knew that Spike was just shooting his
mouth off . After all he Xander Harris was the King of Cretins, he knew a
lot about shooting one's mouth off.

"I say, I call the team and we capture the hostile and stake his ass."
Riley offered.

"NO! I'll handle it, GI Joe." Xander replied as he moved toward the door.

" Where are you going?" Giles asked curious that Xander would leave when
Willow was so distraught.

" To give a certain vamp an attitude adjustment."
 

Part 24

Spike's physical injuries had healed with the bottled blood.  His mood
however, despite a bottle of tequila was worsening by the shot. <Stupid,
bloody, git, I don't need the likes of her!  Bossy little piece of
fluff...nose always stuck in a book... wild raggedy mop of hair always in her
face..> Spike growled softly and tossed back another shot as a vision of
Willow's beautiful face leapt into life; creamy skin flush with passion, eyes
darkened with desire, silky whips of swirling fire, kiss stung lips alluring
parted offering a tantalizing view of her pink-Spike growled again as he felt
his loins tightened in response to the torturous vision.

Xander took a deep breath and entered the demon hang out.  Willie grimaced as
he saw the young man.  A motley assortment of demons and vampires looked
Xander over.   <Damn! > Willie thought, the slayer is gonna have my hide and
drive away business if anyone eats the kid.  Willie motioned at Xander to
come here, hoping to get rid of the slayer's pet.

"Hey Willie," Xander replied ignoring the nervous barkeep.  " Another bottle
for me and my mate Spike."

< Shit! Spike is so not in the mood, even with the chip, he can cause a lot
of damage. >  "Ah.. Kid.. I.."  Willie stuttered as Xander moved towards
Spike's corner table.   Xander plopped down in a rickety chair, "Hey Spike,"
he uttered.

"What the hell do you want, Moron?"  Spike snapped, his chin jutting out
defiantly, shooting sparks from his golden eyes.

Willie and every other patron in the bar were waiting for Spike to
spontaneously combust.

"It's about Willow, " Xander replied.

Spike's hand shot toward Xander's arm.  Spike had a grip on Xander's arm
before an empty bottle knocked off the table shattered onto the floor.  "What
about her?" Spike gasped as his vision clouded from the pain of the implant.

Xander pulled his arm out of the vamps crushing grip flexing his fingers.
"Easy Spike, you wouldn't want any of your demon friends to get the wrong
idea," Xander teased.  "Hey Willie, where is the bottle I asked for?"

Willie looked from the grinning fool to the scowling vamp trying to decide if
it was safe to get near the insane lad and the psychotic vampire. " Coming
up," he squeaked.

"What about Willow?" Spike growled his blue eyes still flecked with gold.
"Has something happened? Is it the wolf?"  Spike hissed.

"Well," Xander looked down unable to meet the vampire's eyes afraid he might
laugh out loud at Spike's panicked look.  "She's at Giles.. with.."  Spike
interrupted, "the bloody wolf," he exhaled, running a hand through his hair.
" Willie," he bellowed.  "Get the bottle over here!"

"No, Oz is chained up in his van."  Xander explained. "Willow was real upset,
crying her eyes out over everything that happened."

Willie hurriedly set a bottle of tequila and two fresh glasses down on the
table and scuttled back behind the bar.

"Well, I'm sure she and the wolf will make up." <Bloody mangy pup will be
looking for her to scratch his belly in no time. >
Spike grumbled and knocked back another shot as a vision of the wolf boy
shagging *his Red*.

Xander chuckled, " There's about as much chance of that happening as you
suddenly being able to sunbathe."

"What's that supposed to mean?"  Spike slurred irritably.

"Willow and Oz are over."  Xander answered.

Spike exhaled and unneeded breath and scowled at Xander.  "He's upset at
finding Willow with me, he'll get over it."  Spike swallowed another shot of
tequila.

"Nah, Oz is not likely to forget that Cinamax moment.  Hell, I almost got a
happy seeing Wills in her all her naked glory fucking your face."  Xander
grinned .

Xander had to bite his tongue as Spike growled menacingly at him, nostrils
flared and fangs gnashing against his lower teeth.
<Stupid Moron! How dare he.. If I had my bite I'd rip his eyes out for just
seeing her naked! >

"Why are you here?"  Spike hissed, wishing he could rip out the boy's tongue
and feed it to the Gacnar demon's pet dog.

"Well, since Oz & Willow are not an item, and you've had your go at Willow, I
wanted to make sure you meant what you said about her not being of any of
interest to you any more."  Xander explained.

"What?"  Spike asked confused.

"You used Willow, had your fun and broke her heart. I want to make sure your
going to stay away from her."  Xander remarked.

"I had me fun, little bit of fluff isn't-broke her heart?" Spike wondered if
he was too drunk to understand what the moron was saying.

"Yeah, she came to Giles and cried her self to sleep. Come on Spike, you
played Willow, you must have known that she wouldn't sleep with you unless she
loved you, then you humiliated her with all her friends and in front of her
ex too."  Xander declared.

Spike felt that funny tingling in his chest again.
He gulped another shot to take away the burning in his chest.  < I've fucked
up royally! >

"So since you're through with Wills, I thought I'd pick up the pieces and
have a go at her..."  Xander's words were cut off as Spike spew out his drink.

Part 25

"What!" Spike choked angrily, "did you say."

"I said" Xander answered, " since you've had your fun, I thought I would have
a go at Willow."

Xander had to bite the inside of his cheek to keep two, opposite impulses
from happening.  One part of him wanted to laugh at the normally pale-faced
vampire flushing beat red.  The other part, noted for self-preservation
wanted to run like hell as he saw the murderous gleam in Spike's golden eyes.

Spike wanted to rip the grinning teeth out of Xander's mouth and shove them
one by one up the boy's urinary track.

Xander jerked back in the rickety chair as he saw one of Spike's arm's shoot
out towards him.

Spike's fierce growl changed into an agonizing roar of pain, as his implant
kicked in.
His arm crashed down upon the table sending the liquor bottle crashing onto
the dirty floor.

The Gacnar demon's pet dog began to howl as if in empathy to Spike's undead
cries.

<Useless! F'en useless sack of shit!>  Spike thought. < Why did I have to go
and fall for the silly little chit? I can't have her! I can't protect her!
I've hurt her feelings.>  Spike grabbed his head with both hands and set his
elbows upon the table in an attempt to keep it from exploding.  He hadn't
felt this helpless since he was paralyzed in a wheelchair being taunted by
Angelus.  He couldn't remember feeling this hopeless even when Dru left him.
He drew in several deep breaths and attempted to refocus his tear filled
eyes.  He raised his watery blue eyes and looked into Xander's dark orbs.

"Please don't hurt her," he uttered.

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