~Parts 1 - 4~

The blonde Slayer, Buffy, looked around the living
room. The group was having a meeting at the home of
her former Watcher, Rupert Giles. They were discussing
the latest demon that threatened Sunnydale's
existence. Her ex-lover, the souled vampire Angel, had
phoned earlier that morning, reporting that Doyle had
received a vision. According to the Irish half-demon's
vision, a large group of demons were preparing to
invade the city. Buffy sighed. Sometimes, she hated
being the Slayer. She was tired of doing all the
stupid research, all the fighting. To top it off, she
had to protect her friends.

But that was before Riley.

And the Initiative.

The Initiative was different. They captured demons,
and experimented on them. The experiments were quite
fascinating to watch, as she herself viewed many of
the sessions. There, people did research for her, she
didn't have to mull over old, dusty books. There, the
other people could back her up
on patrol, unlike Xander or Willow. She felt important
there. She was sick of researching at Giles',
listening to Xander's stupid jokes, Anya's constant
talk of sex, putting up with a chipped Spike's
whining, and Willow's faulty magic. She was sick of it
all. They could sink or swim for all she cared.

She looked around the quiet room, at each person.
Willow was working on a spell from an old magic tome,
Anya and Xander were whispering quietly to one
another, Giles was furiously writing...She smirked
when she looked at Spike. The bleached moron had a
dopey look on his face as he watched Willow. Buffy
tried to contain her mirth as she saw the look in his
eyes. Her nemesis was completely head over heels in
love with Willow! This was perfect. This was sure to
give her bonus points with the head of the Initiative,
Maggie Walsh.

Buffy cleared her throat. Giles looked over at her
curiously. "Yes, Buffy?"

"I'm gonna go take a patrol." Buffy said, pulling on
her light jacket.

"Need any help?" Willow asked.

Buffy mentally groaned. "No, that's okay Wills. Thanks
though." She headed to the door.

"Be careful!" Xander called after her.

The blonde grinned and waved. She walked until she was
out of sight. She stopped and whipped out the standard
issue cell phone all Initiative agents were required
to carry at all times. She smiled. Bringing in Hostile
17, the chipped vampire who eluded them, and the human
girl he was in love with, a witch no less, was a
guarentee to bump up her ranking in the Initiative.
She smiled in glee as Walsh answered.

"Maggie Walsh."

"Professor, it's Buffy."

"Ahh. Agent Summers. What do you have to report?"

"It's about Hostile 17, ma'am."

Maggie's voice registered surprise. "Really?"

"Yes." Buffy replied. "I know where he is. Shall I
make the capture?"

"By all means." Walsh said.

"There's more." Buffy told her. "He's in love with a
human girl. A witch. I believe you know her. Willow
Rosenberg?..."

***
 

"Hey, has anyone else noticed that Buffy's been
acting, I dunno, different lately?" Xander asked the
group after the Slayer had departed.

"Like how?" Giles questioned the teen.

"Maybe she's sick." Anya suggested.

"Let's hope it's something terminal." Spike snarled.

Willow sighed. "I haven't really seen her a lot
lately. She's been spending a lot of time with Riley."

"I don't like him." Xander said bluntly. "There's
something off about him."

Willow shrugged. "He seems nice to me."

"Chubs is right. There must be something off about
Farmboy if he's dating Slutty the Slayer. Anyone who
dates her has to be bleedin' insane." Spike snickered.

"Hey! Angel's not crazy!" Willow defended.

Spike narrowed his eyes. "Since when did you become
such good friends with Peaches?" He asked jealously.

"I have always been friends with Angel. You were just
too busy trying to kill us to notice!" Willow snapped.
"Why do you care anyway?"

"I don't." Spike lied.

"Children, and Spike, please. Just...go back to being
quiet. I'm getting a headache."

"Fuck that!" The blonde vampire exclaimed. "I'm out
of here!"

"Don't let the door hit your worthless ass on the way
out!" Xander said brightly.

Spike flipped him off and left.

***

Buffy smiled sinisterly as she watched from the
shadows as Willow, Xander, and Anya all left the
former Watcher's house, engaged in conversation. She
followed them stealithy through the park, and watched
as they split up, Anya and Xander going to Xander's
house, and Willow heading to the dorm. Buffy opted to
follow the redhead. She smiled as Willow turned around
and saw her. "Hey, Wills."

"Hey, Buffy." Willow greeted. "What's going on?"

Buffy shrugged. "Boring ol' patrol. You?"

Willow yawned. "Going back to the dorm to get some
sleep. Are you heading back too?"

Buffy shook her head. "Wanna patrol with me?" If she
could get Willow alone she could take her back to
headquarters without anyone noticing.

Willow gave her an odd look. "You *never* ask me to
patrol with you."

Buffy shrugged. "Well, I'm asking now. Will you?"

"Not tonight, Buffy." Willow told her. "Maybe some
other time." Willow gave her a wave. "I'll see you
later, okay?"

Buffy watched her leave. "Okay, some other time!" She
cursed under her breath at her failed attempt. Her
eyes lit up coldly as she got another idea.

The Slayer headed to Giles's house. It was time to
put her plan into effect.

***

The blonde crept silently from Giles's house. She
noticed Spike was gone. That meant he went to the
crypt. It wouldn't be too hard to lure him out. She
turned behind her. "When I get him out, taze him."

Riley smirked and nodded. "Gladly." He really
disliked the blonde vampire.

"Stick to the shadows." Buffy advised. "I don't want
him to see you until it's too late."

***

Spike heard loud, furious pounding on his crypt door.
He groaned in annoyance. It wasn't as if he was busy
or anything. He just didn't want to deal with anyone.
Unless it was his Red. He inwardly hoped it was. He
was visibily disappointed when he opened the door and
saw the blonde Slayer. "Oh, it's you." He said flatly.
"What in the bloody hell do you want?"

"W-Willow..." Buffy choked out, eyes swimming with
tears.

Spike felt his dead heart clench with dread. The fear
was plainly visable on his face. "What?!"

"A demon came out of nowhere." Buffy hiccuped. "By
the dorms...i-it attacked her. I-I tried to get to
her...she was bleeding, bad."

Spike was numb. It couldn't be. There was no way his
Willow was hurt. Not his little spitfire. "Well, where
is she?"

Buffy didn't miss a beat. "I left here there. I-I
didn't know what to do.  We have to go to her. Hurry!"
The blonde tugged on the vampire's arm, dragging him
out of the crypt.

Spike followed the Slayer out into the night. "Where
is she?" Buffy stopped walking, and turned to face the
vampire. She smirked. "Spike, you are an idiot." The
blonde vampire's eyes widened when he saw the
commandoes appear behind the Slayer.

"You bloody bitch! You set me up!" Spike hissed, eyes
blazing yellow.

"I guess I did." Buffy replied. She watched as Riley
pointed a tazer at the hostile, shocking him into
unconciousness. She laughed as the soldiers dragged
Spike away.

"Nighty night Spike."

***

Spike groaned as bright light assulted his eyes. He
looked around. He was laying on a cot in one of those
damned cells at the Initiative. He remembered the
Slayer, and her little boyfriend, and white hot pain
lancing through his bones. He stood aburptly and
vamped out. The little Slayer bitch had set him up! He
sensed someone watching him, and whirled around to see
the Slayer standing outside his cell. He growled
threateningly.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Please. You aren't scary.
You're chipped, and locked in a cell. You are
completely helpless."

Spike snarled, and advanced towards her, stopping
when he reached the barrier. "I *will* get this chip
out." Spike hissed through clenched teeth. "And when I
do, I'm going to destroy you."

Buffy snorted. "You don't get it, do you? You won't
be leaving here alive. We'll carry your pathetic ashes
out in a Dustbuster."

Spike growled.

Buffy shook her head. "Poor Spike." She said
condensendingly. "Your secret's out. I know you want
Willow."

Spike stiffened, and tried to play it off. "What have
you been smoking, Slayer?"

"Why were you so eager to help her when you thought
she was hurt?" Buffy shot back.

"She brings me my blood. She's the only bloody one of
your lot I can stand." Spike defended.

Buffy shook her head, smirking. "Please. You want
her. You want to chain her to a bed, and fuck her
brains out, don't you Spike?" Buffy asked snidely.
"I'll bet you want to turn her too."

Spike growled, his demon coming to the fore at the
thought of tying the tiny redhaired beauty to his bed
and making her scream as he pleasured her over and
over again.

Buffy smiled coldly. "As if she would ever want you.
She feels *sorry* for you. You're like a helpless
little puppy to her." Buffy's eyes lit up in
satisfaction as a flash of pain went through his eyes.
"Oh, did I hit a sore spot?" Buffy asked. "Sorry
Spike. But it's the truth. She doesn't love you. Hell,
she doesn't even like you. Anyway, she's still hung up
over Oz."

Spike's eyes grew stormy with jealousy at the thought
of Willow wanting anyone but him.

Buffy smiled sweetly at the vampire. "Just thought
I'd give you something to think about while you're
locked up in that little cell."

Spike managed to regain control of his demon. "I'm
going to destroy you, Slayer."

Buffy smirked and rolled her eyes. "Promises,
promises." Riley walked over and stood next to his
girlfriend. "Is everything ok?"

Buffy smiled. "Everything's fine, honey. I was just
telling Spike about how Willow would never, ever want
him, much less *love* him. How she's still hung up on
Oz."

Riley smirked at the outrage in the vampire's eyes. He
hated the vamp. Always had. "She's a sweet girl."

"Yeah." Buffy nodded. "We should set her up with that
friend of yours. Graham?"

Riley smirked as the hostile's eyes flashed yellow
and growled. "That's a good idea. He was asking about
her the other day. I think he's got a crush."

"That's nice. Willow deserves a living, breathing
*human* man, not some sad, sorry excuse for a
vampire." Buffy said, shooting Spike a venomous glare
full of hatred before turning back to her boyfriend.
"So, what's going on?"

"I just came to tell you Walsh is holding a meeting."
Riley told the Slayer.

"Cool. Let's go." She replied. She turned to Spike.
"Bye, Spike. Don't go anywhere. Oh wait. You can't."

Riley laughed as he and Buffy walked away, ignoring
the vampire's curses and threats.

***

Buffy was sitting on the Watcher's couch, smiling. It
had been 3 days since she had taken Spike back to the
lab. So far, no one had noticed the British vampire's
absence. Buffy thought about Willow. She almost
decided not to turn her in to Walsh, but ultimately
decided to go ahead.

Willow walked in, worry in her green eyes. "Hey, has
anyone seen Spike?"

"No, thank God." Xander replied. "Maybe the bastard
got staked."

"Xander." Willow admonished, frowning.

"What?" The young man asked, unable to figure out why
she was upset with him.

"I haven't seen him in three days." Willow said
softly. "I'm worried."

Buffy inwardly smiled at the look in Willow's eyes.
Her best friend had a look of affection in her eyes.
The witch wanted the vampire. The Slayer smirked. She
couldn't wait to brief Walsh on this new development.
Buffy finally had a way to isolate the redhead. "Let's
go look for him."

Xander looked at the Slayer in surprise and horror.
"Buffy, why the hell do you care where Fangless is?"

"I don't." She shrugged. "I hate him. But Will's
worried."

Willow smiled at her gratefully. "Thanks, Buffy."

Buffy shot the girl a fake smile. "Anything for you,
Wills. Let's go find the bleached dunderhead."

***

"I'm really worried." The redhead said softly, as she
and the blonde trekked through the park.

Buffy cringed with disgust. It was obvious Willow
cared for the hostile. She slowed down as Willow
walked ahead of her. Buffy took out the cross she was
carrying, and called to her friend. "Willow!"

"What?" Willow turned around, and gasped as she was
hit  upside the head with the heavy cross. She fell to
the ground, and felt blood trickle down her face,
before everything went black.

***

Spike was sitting against the wall. 3 days. It had
been 3 days since that bitch had set him up, using his
love for the redhead to lure him out of his crypt. He
wondered if Willow had noticed he was gone. He
wondered if she cared. The Slayer stopped by several
times, taunting him, telling him that Willow hated
him, and that he was beneath the redhead. The blonde
vampire hated the Slayer more and more with each
passing moment, and his resolve to kill her only
strengthened. He wouldn't drink the blood packets,
knowing that they were drugged. He was hungry, but he
didn't want those commandoes do Satan knows what to
him while he was drugged. He spent the majority of the
time thinking of Willow. And when he let himself get a
few minutes rest, he found himself dreaming of her,
dreaming of claiming her, and turning her.

He stood up and growled as the barrier to the cell
opened. He snarled as the Slayer's boy toy walked in,
and pointed a dangerous looking gun at him. His eyes
narrowed in pure hatred as the slutty Slayer herself
followed her boyfriend in. "Hello, Spike." She smirked
coldly. "We're gonna go for a walk."

Spike had no choice but to follow the bitch. They
walked down the corridor, and stopped in front of the
door.  Buffy opened it as Riley pointed the gun at
Spike. "Get in." Buffy said coldly.

"Go to hell, Slayer." Spike retorted. His eyes
widened as he smelled blood. He couldn't place the
scent. It was familiar, though.  He turned to the
Slayer, hatred in his eyes. His eyes widened as he
heard a whimper. He suddenly remembered why the scent
was familiar. It belonged to Willow. *His* Willow. He
glared at Buffy, anger in his eyes as they flashed
gold. "What the bloody fuck did you do to her?"

Buffy merely smiled sweetly, before shoving a cross
at him. He hissed, and backed into the room, not
noticing as the Slayer shut the door, and locked him
in. He ran over to the heap on the floor, sliding to
the ground. "Fuck! Pet? Willow luv, can you hear me?"

Willow did not reply. Her eyes were closed. Spike
knew she wasn't dead. He could hear her heartbeat. He
caressed her cheek. "Come on, baby. Wake up for
Spike." He pulled the unconscious redhead into his
arms. He noticed dark, sticky blood flowing from a
gash on her head just above her temple. He tried to
ignore the alluring call of her blood, but couldn't.
He pulled her closer against him, rocking the young
woman softly, while lapping gently at the wound,
purring. Her warm, sweet blood soothed the demon, and
tempered his bloodlust. He shifted her in his embrace,
and took a look around the room they were imprisoned
in. It was an actual room, and it had real walls,
unlike the invisble barriers in the cell.  There was a
tiny window in the door, aside from that, there was no
way to see out of the room. There was a cot with a
heavy comforter and pillows against one wall, and a
table with two chairs in the middle of the room. The
door had no handle. They were trapped. Spike shifted
his bundle, and carried her over to the cot. He sank
down on it, settling the redhead in his lap. It was
his fault she was here. He would protect her. However,
the blood  he had drank from her made his brain
sluggish. The warm body of his love nestled in his
embrace made him drowsy. It wasn't until then he
realized how tired he actually was. He leaned his head
back against the wall, closing his eyes. He vowed to
kill the Slayer and her commando cronies. Chipped or
not, he would protect his redhead, not matter what. It
wasn't long before he fell asleep, with Willow nestled
in his arms, still holding her protectively, even in
slumber.

***

Willow woke up, her head throbbing. She felt arms
around her, and found she was pressed against a hard,
well-muscled body. Her face flushed crimson when she
saw the face of who was holding her.  His blue eyes
were looking down on her with concern. "SPIKE?!"

"Are you okay, pet?" He asked worriedly.

Willow looked around her surroundings. "Where are we?
I was just in the park with Buffy, looking for you,
and then something hit me..."

A warm feeling washed over Spike. "You were looking
for me?" He asked softly.

Willow blushed again, but ignored his question.
"Where are we?"

Spike's eyes hardened. "The Initiative." He spat
hatefully.

Willow gasped in shock. "What?! Have you been here
the whole time?"

Spike nodded. "Yeah, luv."

Willow tried to will the tears out of her eyes.
"Buffy will find us."

Spike sighed sadly, not sure how to tell the witch
about her friend's betrayal. "I don't think so,
ducks."

Just then, the lock clicked and the door opened.
Willow gasped as Buffy walked in, followed by Riley.
"Buffy! Help us!"

Buffy shared a smile with Riley, and smirked at the
Spike and the redhead in his embrace. "Isn't this
cute?"

Willow immediately stood up, her face red. "Help us
get out of here!"

Buffy smiled. "Sorry, witch. I can't do that."

Willow saw the coldness and hatred in her friend's
eyes and gasped. "You...you hit me, didn't you?" She
asked softly.

Buffy smiled coldly. "Of course I did. I needed to
bring you in."

"Why?" Willow whispered, shocked her best friend had
turned on her.

Buffy smirked again, the hatred apparent on her face.
"You have the honor of being the first witch ever
taken into custody. Walsh has all kinds of fun
experiments she dreamt up, just for you."

Willow shuddered in horror. "How...how can you do
this?"

"Easily." Was the Slayer's reply. She glanced over at
Spike. "How long do you think it will take to break
Willow?"

Spike snarled, and pulled Willow behind him
protectively. Buffy just looked vaguely amused. She
turned around to leave, before shooting a cold look at
Willow. "See you in the morning, Wills."

Spike pulled Willow into his arms, and whispered
words of comfort to her. Only after the lock clicked
shut did Willow allow the tears to fall.

***

After hours of sobbing in Spike's embrace, Willow
finally fell asleep. Spike was sitting on the cot,
Willow curled up against him. He hated himself. If he
hadn't of fallen in love with her, she never would of
been betrayed by her best friend. She didn't deserve
this. His eyes softened as he looked down in her
sleeping face. He loved her more than he thought
possible. He would protect her, even if he had to give
his own unlife to save her, he would protect her. He
placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and rested his
cheek against the top of her head. He would get them
out. Somehow.

***

Spike was jarred out of his light sleep by the sound
of the door opening. He growled, and pulled Willow
closer. She opened her eyes, and cringed when she saw
the Slayer enter, followed by Riley, Forrest, and
Graham. Buffy smirked, and the men eyed the couple
coldly. "Good morning!" Buffy said sweetly. "Sleep
well?"

Spike glared at her, and scowled. Willow looked
frightened. "Buffy, don't do this. You don't have to
do this."

Buffy ignored her friend's plea. "The Intiative is
great. People listen to me. They respect me. I have
people to research and patrol for me. Do you know what
I like best of all? I don't have to deal with any of
you. I'm sick of Xander and his stupidity, and of Anya
and her whining. I'm sick of Giles always bossing me
around. I'm sick of Spike, and of listening to his
bitching and whining, and I'm sick of  you and your
screwed-up attempts to help me. I don't need you. I
don't need any of you. By bringing you in, I'm sure to
get a higher rank."

"You sold us out to move higher in the Initiative?"
Willow asked softly, disgusted.

Buffy flipped her hair. "Of course." She said, as if
it were the most obvious thing in the world.

"You bitch." Willow whispered, shocked at her former
friend, wondering if she ever really knew Buffy at
all.

Buffy slapped Willow in the face. "Shut your mouth.
You're just lucky I didn't bring you in sooner." She
glanced at Forrest and Graham. "Take her to Walsh."
The Slayer said, motioning to Willow. The two
Commandos smirked, and advanced on Willow. Spike
snarled and moved to protect her. He was stopped when
the Slayer whipped out a stake, and poked it into his
chest. "Don't even think about it. If you try to help
her, I will stake you, and hurt Willow more than you
can possibly imagine. She will be begging for death."
Buffy warned lowly.

Spike stopped. He didn't want Red hurt, especially
because of him. He caught her wildly frightened eyes,
and mouthed I'm sorry before the two Commandoes
dragged her out of the room, and down the corridor.
Buffy smirked and turned to look at Riley. "Looks like
the Big Bad has a soft spot for the little witch." She
turned back to Spike, and smiled maliciously. "Don't
worry. We'll bring Willow back to you in one
piece...more or less."

Spike watched silently as the bitch and her boy-toy
walked out, locking the door. He sank down onto the
cot, and stared unseeingly at the wall.

***

"Let me go!" Willow demanded as Graham and Forrest
dragged her into some kind of a hospital room and
threw her into a chair, she struggled, but was no
match for the two men as they strapped her arms to the
chair. Willow scowled, shooting daggers at the men.
She had no way to get free.

"Thank you, gentlemen." A voice said. Maggie Walsh
entered the room, and took a seat across from Willow.
"Miss Rosenberg."

"Walsh." Willow spat. Buffy and Riley walked in, and
stood by the door with Forrest and Graham. Willow
glared. She wouldn't give them the satisfaction of
crying or screaming. She would be brave.

"Miss Rosenberg, do you know why you are here?"
Maggie questioned.

"Because *she* betrayed me." Willow said, glaring at
Buffy.

Walsh half-smiled. "Not quite. You were brought in
for two reasons. I'm quite intrigued by you. A witch.
I must say, I've never had a witch in custody before.
Agent Summers will surely recieve a handsome reward
for bringing one in."

Buffy beamed, and Willow felt sick to her stomach.

"The other reason," Walshed continued, "is because we
are quite interested in your vampire friend. Hostile
17."

"His name is Spike." Willow corrected.

"It'll be dust when we're finished with him." Riley
said confidently.

"We are very interested in his reactions to you."
Walsh said. "Agent Summers, you said he was quite
distressed when he smelled Miss Rosenberg's blood?"

"Yes, Ma'am." Buffy replied. "The vampire was
extremely agitated."

Walsh nodded. "Interesting." She smiled at Willow.
"The hostile seems to care about your well-being.
That's an added bonus. I believe we will keep him
around for awhile, to gauge his reactions to you."

"What are you going to do to me?" Willow asked,
trying to will the trembling from her voice.

"I have reason to believe that a witch's magic comes
from within. That her magical ability is somehow
connected with her body. I want to see if a witch can
survive if this magic is taken from her. I believe I
have found a way to drain a witch of her magic. You,
my dear, will have the honor of being the first witch
I have ever experimented on." Walsh smiled darkly as
she withdrew a long needle from her pocket.

She turned to Buffy. "Time to start the experiment."
Walsh said, as she approached the redhead, needle in
hand.

Willow's eyes widened with horror, and only then did
she lose her bravery, and began to scream.

***

Spike rose to his feet abruptly as the door swung
open. He watched as the two commando friends of the
Slayer's little boyfriend brought Willow into the
room. Her eyes were red and puffy. "Pet?" He asked,
concerned. Willow turned her teary eyes to him. "Oh,
pet." He whispered sadly. "Come here." Willow
immediately ran to the blonde, sinking into his
offered embrace.

The blonde vampire hugged her tightly, giving the two
men a look full of hatred as they locked the door
behind them. Spike held her, whispering to her, trying
to soothe her as she sobbed into his shirt. After she
calmed down, Spike swung her into his arms, and sat
with her over on the cot. She curled against him like
a kitten, still sniffling. Spike stroked her hair.
"Shh, baby. It's all right now. I'm here."

Willow wiped her eyes with the heels of her hands.
"Spike, I was so scared."

Spike brushed his lips against her forehead. "I know,
baby, I know." He rocked her gently. "What happened,
luv?"

"Professor Walsh runs the Initiative. She's my
Psychology teacher at school." Willow's eyes teared up
again. "She...she wants to see if a witch can survive
without her magic. She found a way to drain the magic
out of a witch. She had this long needle..." Willow
stopped, and started crying again.

Spike shushed her, and Willow laid her head on his
shoulder. After a few minutes, she spoke again.
"Something's happened to Buffy, Spike." Willow
whispered. "She's evil."

The blonde nodded. "I know, luv."

Willow yawned. "I'm tired."

"Sleep, baby." Spike said softly. "I'm here. You're
safe now."

Willow snuggled against him, and closed her eyes.
Before long, the redhead's breathing had taken on the
deep, rythmatic pattern of sleep. Spike ran a finger
along her jaw, before resting his cheek on her head,
and falling asleep himself.

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