The Situation

By Esmeralda

Part Eleven

The lamps green light seemed woefully inadequate outside the confines of the storage room. Xander couldn't make out anything more than a few feet ahead and he envied Doyle's ability to see through the darkness. The half-demon led the way down the corridor. It was eerily silent until a lonely howl rang out around them.

"That was a long way off, right?" Xander hissed. "I mean it didn't sound close to me. Did it sound close to you?" He held his lamp up and peered anxiously around him.

Doyle's pale face looked worried. "It sounded close enough. Let's hurry up and find Angel."

They stepped up the pace, moving swiftly down one corridor and onto the next. Another cry rang out. It was impossible to tell what direction it came from. Xander didn't know if they were leaving it behind or heading toward it - a distinctly unsettling thought. His stomach growled loudly and he flushed. "Sorry," he whispered.

Doyle just shook his head. "This is hopeless, they could be anywhere." Then the half-demon stopped. "You'll have to do that thing again."

"Thing?"

"You know, close you eyes and sense him."

Xander felt panic tighten his insides. "I...I don't think I can."

"Well you'd better try. Cos we ain't findin' 'em this way," said Doyle.

Xander reluctantly closed his eyes. Angel was right, he could *feel* Spike. It was a cold crawly sensation under his skin. He didn't know what it meant and most of him was afraid to find out. Why hadn't Spike ever talked about it? *'Mated'* - what did Angel mean by 'mated'? The demon in the bar had referred to him as Spike's consort, Spike hadn't corrected it. Was that what all this was about?

He was beginning to hyper-ventilate. It wasn't helping.

"Hey, calm down. Take it easy," Doyle's soft voice soothed him, as did the feel of warm fingers resting over his own. "Just take slow, deep breaths. That's right. Slow and deep. Now think of Spike. Try and feel out where he is."

Xander let himself be lulled by that musical voice and the cold, crawly sensation became a definite tingle. He opened his eyes. "This way," he said flatly, and walked off. Doyle hurried after him.

--------------------

The two vampire's were also experiencing 'tingling' sensations, but theirs stemmed from a very different source - the thrill of the hunt. They had cornered one of the Locksaw demons in a training room (after it had torn down the door). Now it eyed them angrily from across the room.

Locksaw weren't stupid creatures, but theirs was an animal cunning as opposed to reasoning intelligence. It could smell that they weren't human and as such it upgraded their threat potential; although the look in its amber-red eyes suggested it didn't view them as much of a danger.

Spike stepped closer and its tail thrashed - the scales made a rattling noise. The vampire froze, growling low in the back of his throat. As the Locksaw resumed pacing, Angel moved. Unlike Spike he didn't stop when the demon waved its tail, instead he sprang forward, landing on its back. The Locksaw reared up trying to throw off its mount, and Spike swiftly joined the attack, sinking knife and fangs into the demon's vulnerable underbelly. He sank his fingers between the scales for purchase and clung on desperately.

A Locksaw's chief weapons were its amazingly powerful jaws and huge razor sharp teeth. The claws on its four feet were relatively short, though Spike did his best to avoid being gouged by them. It tried to shake the vampire free in order to stamp on him. Angel grabbed the creatures head and wrapped his arms around its snout - trying to hold its jaws closed and away from his Childe.

The only truly vulnerable parts of a Locksaw were its eyes and underbelly - since they were the only parts not covered with impenetrable scales. It bucked and thrashed madly as Spike sliced into its body. The vampire raked at it with his knife while he bit down as hard as he could, tearing out chunks of flesh with his teeth. The Locksaw's foul tasting blood filled his mouth and he spat it away. Its howls had changed to angry bellows.

"Hurry up," Angel hissed. The older vampire's arms were being wrenched from his sockets as the Locksaw swung its head back and forth trying to free itself.

Spike heard the pain in his Sire's voice and jabbed the knife deep into the Locksaw's belly, pushing it in with such force that the whole knife and much of his hand sank into the slit. The creatures bellow became a gurgling cry as blood bubbled up into its throat. It threw itself around madly and finally succeeded in throwing Spike off. The vampire quickly rolled away from the Locksaw's feet as the enraged beast tried to stamp him into the floor.

Angel leapt clear and the two vampires drew off to a safe distance as the Locksaw went through its final death throes. Eventually, the creature sank to the ground, its death rattle signalling its end was imminent. Sure enough, the Locksaw's amber eyes rolled back into its head, and with one last violent shudder the beast lay still.

Angel winced as he straightened up; his mouth curled into a smile as he looked at his Childe. Spike was spattered in sticky yellow blood, it oozed stickily down his arms and as he wiped his forehead he left a bright smear of it across his already well-coated face. He looked as though he'd been dipped in egg yoke.

"What?" he asked.

"Remind me to make you take a shower before I let you in the car," said Angel smirking.

"Eh?" Spike looked down at himself. "Oh bloody hell," he moaned. He glowered at his Sire. "Next time I'm on top." Angel's smirk broadened and waggled his eyebrows. Spike realised what he'd said. "I think I preferred you without a sense of humour," he muttered sullenly.

"Come on," said Angel. "We still have one more to find."

Spike trailed after his Sire. He picked his cap up off the floor and used it to wipe some of the sticky guck of his skin. He sniffed and his lip curled up in disgust. "Fuck it stinks."

"Then hurry up," Angel called back to him. "The sooner we get out of here the sooner you can wash all that muck off you." Spike pulled a face and wandered after the older vampire, still trying to wipe off the Locksaw's foul smelling blood.

--------------------

Doyle and Xander were still inching their way along the corridor. They turned a corner and froze. Less than twenty feet away, at the other end of the corridor, a pair of orange eyes the size of car headlamps blinked.

Neither man moved so much as a hair. For a timeless moment, seconds spun past them uselessly. Then the eyes moved. Black pupils narrowed into reptilian slits and the amber orbs grew steadily larger as the beast slowly stalked toward them.

"Oh, shit," Doyle swore softly.

"W-what do we do?"

"Back up, *very* slowly," Doyle whispered.

They began to retrace their footsteps back around the corner. They'd barely gone two paces when the creature gave an angry roar and charged toward them.

"*Down!*" Doyle yelled.

Xander threw himself to the floor. The air above his head seemed to ripple as the Locksaw sailed over them. He didn't have time to take a breath, Doyle was already dragging him to his feet.

"*Run, run*," the half demon urged frantically.

Xander willed his legs to obey him as he scrambled up and tore down the corridor. He'd lost the bag and his gun when he'd dived, but he still clutched the phosphorus lamp. He held it like a relay baton as he charged down the corridor, legs and arms pumping madly.

The Locksaw demon was momentarily confused at having missed its targets on the initial strike. Hampered by the size of the corridor it took another moment or two to turn its bulk around, before setting off in pursuit of its prey.

Xander didn't realise straight away that Doyle wasn't with him. Somehow they had become separated in the darkness. Once he did his terror escalated into near mindless panic. At first he ran on, unsure what else to do, but gradually he slowed and stopped - looking behind him fearfully.

"Doyle?" he croaked.

Behind him the dark corridor was silent. Xander took a hesitant step.

"Doyle?" he whispered loudly. A burst of automatic gunfire made him jump violently. It was followed by a blood curdling scream that turned his insides to ice. "No," he protested desperately. "Doyle." He stumbled forward. A low growl stopped him in his tracks.

There was the skittering sound of claws moving across the tiled floor. A false calmness stole over Xander as he faced the beast before him. He knew that he couldn't out run it and there was nowhere to hide. Shaking, he closed his eyes and waited for the end.

Part Twelve

When the silence stretched out beyond a handful of seconds, Xander forced one eyelid open a crack. Both eyes suddenly widened with terror as the Locksaw gave a loud growl and charged toward him. The lamp clutched convulsively in trembling fingers revealed row upon row of shark-like teeth. Strings of saliva trailed from its open jaws. Xander closed his eyes again quickly. He felt the creatures foul, hot breath upon his face and he waited for the fatal strike.

It didn't come.

Instead there was a strange 'surprised' cry and a different angry growl. Followed by what sounded like two cats fighting.

Xander prised his eyes open and stared. Spike had the Locksaw by its tail and was fighting to stay clear of its snapping jaws. The enraged beast twisted and turned as it tried to reach its tormentor. Both demons hissed and growled as they fought.

There was a flash of metal and a blade plunged downward. It pierced the Locksaw's eye as it swung its mighty head toward Spike. The beast emitted a pain-filled shriek and lashed out with its back legs. They caught Spike in the chest and sent the vampire flying back into the wall.

"Spike!" Xander cried. Without thinking he shot forward and as the beast lunged for him he hit it with the only thing he had to hand - his lamp. The casing broke and phosphorus poured over the creatures head. Some of it trickled into its injured eye and its shrieks grew louder. It snapped its jaws and thrashed its head sideways, knocking Xander off his feet. The Locksaw lowered its salivating jaws toward him as he tried to scrabble clear.

It never reached him as Spike picked himself up, shook himself vigorously and then charged the beast. Spitting, snarling, clawing - all Xander could see were two pairs of glowing eyes and the smears of phosphorus. The corridor itself seemed to shake and tremble as the two demons battled. Suddenly there was another angry growl and Xander realised that Angel had joined the fray.

Moments later, the beast sank, broken and bloodied to the floor. While two worn and weary vampires dragged themselves away from its battered corpse. Xander breathed a heavy sigh of relief - seeing the creatures eyes dim and two pairs of very welcome golden eyes come toward him. The breath had barely left his lungs when he was pushed back against the floor and a hard, lean body pressed down onto him. Cold lips crushed his and he murmured as Spike stole the last of his breath in a bruising kiss. He was gasping when the vampire released him.

Stunned, Xander blinked, staring up into furious yellow eyes.

"What the *fuck* do you think you are doing?" Spike hissed.

Xander couldn't speak.

"Let him up, Spike," said Angel.

With a snort of anger, Spike stood up and dragged Xander unceremoniously to his feet. Still in shock from his near brush with death, Xander swayed and clung to his lover. Immediately, Spike's arms closed around him and Xander found himself crushed against the vampire's chest.

"Bloody idiot," Spike growled. "Could've got yourself killed."

Xander sank gratefully into the vampire's near smothering embrace. He felt so tired all of a sudden. Angel's soft voice stopped his eyes from closing.
"Xander, where's Doyle?"

"Wha-?" he mumbled dazedly.

"Doyle. Where is he?" Panic underscored Angel's normally measured tones and Xander stiffened, pulling away from his lover slightly.

"Oh god, Angel.....I." He swallowed hard. "We...we got separated, when it came after us. I couldn't see him. There....there was this scream..." His voice trailed off. Angel's yellow-gold eyes stared at him, unblinking.

"A scream...?" The vampire echoed softly.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," said Xander, tears clogged his throat. "It's all my fault. I...I wanted to warn you. Riley....Riley and the others they went. I thought...I..." His voice broke off and he bit his lip to hold back a sob.

Spike's arms tightened around him. "Easy, pet. No one's blamin' any one. Now what's this about soldier boy?"

Xander sucked in a shaky breath and tried to pull himself together.

"He.. he went out to look for the b-bad guys." He scrunched up his face, trying to remember. "They were heading towards 33a, that's what he said."

"Doyle's not dead."

Angel's soft voice carried through the darkness. Xander looked toward him, into a pair of stunned golden eyes.

"I'd know if he was." The vampire sounded as if he was trying to convince himself as much as them. "I'd know," he repeated more firmly.

"Then we'll find him," said Spike, "and then we'll get the fuck out of here."

The two vampires guided Xander around the fallen Locksaw and they made their way back toward the storage room. None of them spoke. They all knew either they would find Doyle alive....or they would soon stumble across what was left of him.

--------------------

Doyle was very much alive, and pretty much scared out of his wits. After pulling Xander to his feet and ordering the boy to run, Doyle had taken off - desperate to put as much distance between himself and the Locksaw as possible. Like Xander, he'd quickly realised that he was alone.

Cursing, Doyle had stopped and turned back, briefly slipping into his demon form to try and pick up Xander's scent. Instead he'd drawn someone else's - quickly followed by a burst of gunfire and a chilling scream. With a shudder Doyle had slipped back into his human form and continued walking.

He almost stumbled into a pair of Regesh demons as they exited a doorway. Turning, Doyle raced back the way he'd come - only to meet three more closing on him from the other direction. Trapped between the two groups, Doyle readied his rifle and prepared to fire. A cold voice startled him.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you."

Doyle's eyes widened and he looked up - as a long tongue shot out and yanked the rifle out of his hands. The demon clinging to the ceiling scuttled away like some obscene lizard. Doyle sagged and raised his hands in surrender.

Part Thirteen

Spike held Xander close, partly to guide the boy, and partly to reassure himself that Xander was alive, and whole, and well.

He and Angel had tracked the second Locksaw back toward the storage room. That had alarmed him. Finding Angel's bag, abandoned in the corridor, had sent that sense of alarm spiralling up several notches. However, seeing Xander standing there, about to become demon-dog food, had gone way beyond alarming.

If his heart had possessed the ability to beat it would have stopped as the beast sprang toward his lover. Grabbing its tail had been pure reflex; a desperate attempt to stop the beast from reaching the boy. His fury had been limitless as he tore into the creature that had dared to threaten what was his. He rejoiced in every agonised shriek and every pain-filled tremor. Only when it was finally dead, did his awareness kick back in. *What the fuck was Xander doing in the corridor?*

The stumbling explanation left him somewhat numbed. Xander had risked his life to warn him. Okay, so he'd known the kid was hot for him. More than that perhaps, but this? These were strange and - for him - untested waters. No one had ever risked their neck for him before, at least not willingly. Angel didn't count, he was his Sire and thus bound by an ancient code to take responsibility for him. This had nothing to do with responsibility.

Xander loved him - enough to take a chance with a Locksaw demon and fuck knew what else, that might be roaming around these corridors.

The worst of it was, Spike knew the kid wasn't the only one afflicted. Tackling a Locksaw like that had just been plain dumb, and Spike was anything but stupid. Yeah he'd said the words. He'd claimed the brat and said he'd loved him that one time. This was the first time he'd realised just how seriously he'd meant those declarations. He'd been prepared to risk his unlife for Xander's. That was a first. Even Dru had never dragged that degree of commitment out of him.

Maybe it was time he had a little chat with the whelp, when this was all over. There were some things Xander was going to have to know.

First things first. They had to get out of this nightmarish place....and he really needed to wash this Locksaw crap of him. It was starting to itch.

He let himself listen to the familiar thump, thump of Xander's heart - a little faster than usual - but soothing nonetheless. As was the blood warmth of the fingers threaded through his own. He squeezed them gently and got an answering squeeze in return. Spike tried to ignore the instincts that told him to grab Xander and get the hell out of here. Angel wouldn't leave without knowing demon-boy's fate, and he wasn't leaving without his Sire. Besides, he knew Xander well enough to know the whelp wouldn't leave without them either.

A sharp, familiar smell assaulted his senses and he stopped.

"What is it?" Xander asked. His voice shook.

Spike was loath to tell him but knew he'd see it for himself soon enough. "Blood," he said brusquely.

"Oh," said Xander in a small voice.

Spike concentrated on the scent, absorbing its nuances. Some of the tension left him. "It's not him."

"It's n-not...?" Xander's relief was only too clear. "How...who..?"

"Its human blood. Pure human," Spike explained. "Probably one of them soldier gits."

The three moved forward gingerly. The scent of blood grew stronger until even Xander could smell it. His nose wrinkled and then he grabbed at Spike as his foot slipped on something.

It was one of Riley's men. Or rather what was left of him. The man's lamp had rolled across the floor. Angel picked it up and handed it to Spike, who passed it to Xander. Spike crouched down beside his Sire as they examined the remains. Xander raised his lamp and peered over his lover's shoulder.

"Oh jeez.." He turned away quickly. "He's... it.."

"It ate him," said Spike matter-of-factly. The vampire lifted up part of an arm. "Well, most of him." Xander convulsed as if he was going to throw up. Only the lack of regurgitable material in his stomach stopped him. Spike dropped the arm and moved to stand beside his lover. Tear-filled brown eyes looked at him from a face pale with shock.

"His...his name was Martinez, I think," Xander gulped. "I....I said I didn't care if he died."

Spike didn't care for the guilt stricken tone. "So, don't," he said bluntly. "He was a prick. Now he's a dead prick. His end could 'ave been worse." The vampire's golden eyes promised that the demise he'd had in mind for Martinez would have been a lot less sudden. "He was one of the bastards that filched me from the Watcher's. I remember his voice. If he'd had his way I'd have been filling test tubes and jars."

The message was clear - don't feel sorry for this git he wasn't worth it. Xander wiped his eyes roughly. "So.. so the Locksaw got him? I mean he was the scream I heard?"

"Seems that way," said Angel standing up. "His gun's been fired."

Spike grinned evilly. "I bet that made the Locksaw real pissy." He glanced around him. "That would certainly explain the mess."

"So," Xander asked puzzled. "If Martinez was the guy who got attacked. Where's Doyle?"

The two vampires exchanged a look. It was Spike who voiced the possibility. "Someone else has 'im."

A noise up ahead startled them. Spike frowned and sniffed the air.

"Humans," he whispered.

"Riley," said Angel. Spike nodded in agreement. "We'd better find them."

That got the older vampire twin incredulous looks. "He might know what's happened to Doyle," Angel explained.

"Yeah," Spike muttered. "He might have shot him." His Sire sent him a dark look that effectively shut the younger vampire up.

"Play nice, Will. They won't tell us anything if they're scared," Angel warned, slipping back into his human guise.

Spike shook his head in disgust. Xander tugged on his arm. With a look of long-suffering the younger vampire let his face shimmer back into its smooth human planes.

The three of them walked on down the corridor - mindful of where they put their feet - heading in the direction of the sound.

Part Fourteen

They found the bedraggled group of soldiers in a room near by. Their numbers had increased slightly from the original group, but some of the old faces were missing. Evidently Martinez wasn't the only soldier to make a messy exit. Riley was still alive; he was tending to a man with a bad leg wound. The three were met with hostile glares as they crossed the room, but the fight had clearly gone out of the Initiative.

Riley glanced up as the reached him. His face bore a large bruise and a gash down one side. "Come to say 'we told you so'" he muttered bitterly.

"No," said Angel. "We came to see if we could help." He ignored Spike's snort and looked at the injured man's leg. "You need to set the bone." The man had suffered a bad break, a good three inches of bone stuck out through his torn flesh.

"I'm no medic," Riley snarled. "I know what he needs, but if we do it wrong there's a good chance we'll damage his femoral artery."

"So don't do it wrong," said Angel simply. He motioned for Spike to assist him. The younger vampire looked surprised and then glared; however he came forward to help his Sire.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Riley exclaimed. Two more soldiers stepped up to defend their fallen colleague.

"Relax," said Xander. "Let them help. They know what they're doing." His eyes said (You *do* know what you're doing, right, guys?)

"You break a lot of bones, you learn a bit about them," Spike offered. Not quite the reassurance Xander had been looking for. It also seemed to alarm Riley and his men.

Angel spared his sullen Childe a hard stare and then turned his attention to Riley. "We know what we're doing. Give him something to bite down on, we can't risk any one hearing him."

The injured soldier was only semi-conscious. He moaned softly. Riley grabbed his hand. "You'll be okay, Graham. Listen, they say they can fix your leg. What do you want me to do? It's your call." His friend focused on him weakly.

"D-do....it...." Graham gasped.

Riley hesitated then looked up at Spike and Angel. "Okay."

"Riley!"

"What?!" Riley spun around to face another soldier. "You want to risk trying?"

"We know-"

Riley cut him off. "We know what to do, yeah. I *know*. I also know that I don't have the experience to do this, and neither do you."

The soldier turned away angrily. He focused his hatred on 'Hostile 17' "You hurt him and you're dust."

Spike growled in response to the threat.

Xander was more vocal. "You so much as poke a pencil near him and I'll shove that M-16 so far up your ass, when you sneeze you'll blow the top of your head off." His expression said that he was deadly serious, and his eyes held a slightly crazy glint that clearly unsettled the soldier.

Spike looked amused and he sniggered softly.

Angel interceded. "Xander, calm down. No one's getting hurt here." He took a hold of the injured man, who now had a leather belt clenched between his teeth. "Will."

Spike elbowed the angry soldier aside and took hold of the injured limb.

Riley pulled the man back when he would have lunged for Spike. "Cool it, Forrest."

Silence fell as the vampires prepared to force the man's broken bone back into position. Those watching couldn't know it, but Spike was probably better suited for this task than any Doctor. Bedside manner not withstanding - he could 'read' the veins beneath the veil of skin, sensing where each blue thread lay in relation to the next. The blood pulsed through the artery, beckoning his demon. He struggled to contain it and concentrated on positioning his fingers in just the right place so that when he moved them like so-

Graham gave a muffled scream, his teeth cutting into the belt. He shuddered, his eyes rolled back and he passed out. Spike made another minor adjustment and released the man's leg. "Done," he announced. "Course, he won't be running away from anything for a while."

Angel pushed him away. "Shut up, Spike."

Spike smirked but fell silent.

Riley turned to face them as the other soldiers bandaged up the unconscious man's leg. "I... erm...Thank you," he said awkwardly.

Angel nodded, accepting the reluctant gratitude - and the unspoken apology behind it. "If I can, I'd like to ask a favour of you."

The young man looked uneasy but he nodded. "Ask it."

"The other member of our party - Doyle. He's missing. I don't suppose you've..." His voice trailed off as Riley shook his head.

"We haven't seen your friend, sorry." He sounded genuinely regretful.

"I've lost three of my men too."

"The Locksaw?" Angel asked.

"No. That is, it got Martinez and injured Graham but the others were dragged off."

"Dragged off? By what?"

Riley looked frustrated. "I don't know. They're nothing we've encountered before. We were in retreat after the Locksaw attacked and we ran into these other things. Pretty much your basic HST."

"Sorry?" Angel frowned, puzzled.

"A standard biped hostile. No horns, or claws, but they were very strong and they exhaled this sort of choking cloud."

"Wrice demons," Spike sounded surprised. "What's a bloody Wrice demon doing down here?"

"A what?" Riley asked.

Angel filled him in. "They're forest dwellers. That 'choking cloud' is a type of nerve toxin. It paralyses the Wrice's victim."

Xander sensed the arrival of a *eww* moment. "Then what?" he asked.

"Then they split you open and feast on your innards. They like their meat fresh and hot, and preferably still breathing," said Spike with a certain amount of glee. "They make the Locksaws look like tidy eaters."

Xander had been expecting something gross, nevertheless he turned a little green. "Aren't there any demons with non-revolting eating habits," he moaned.

"Says you," Spike chuckled. "The brat who thinks cold pizza constitutes a meal...and that dust bunnies just add flavour."

"It wasn't dusty, it had only slid out of the box."

"Yeah, three days before."

Riley listened to this exchange with an incredulous look on his face. He had seen the kiss of course, but this playful bantering was even more alarming. "Xander...You....This is a hostile."

Xander gave him a 'well duh' look.

"I thought you were Buffy's friend. Why would you be consorting with a hostile?" Riley looked annoyed and suspicious.

"Hey, let's leave Buffy out of this okay. You might not know her as well as you think. Yes I'm 'consorting' with a 'hostile'. I know who he is and what he is. I know he's not an animal that you can just drag off to your little torture chamber." Xander's blood was up and he faced the taller man angrily.

Angel was silent, subdued by the mention of Buffy.

"Torture?" Some of Riley's annoyance fled to be replaced by puzzled confusion. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about the house of horrors you've got down here. Where you stick 'hostiles' in electric chairs and zap them till their skin starts to melt." Xander was breathing hard as memories of Spike in that room came flooding back to him.

A growl told him he wasn't the only one experiencing an unwelcome recall. Spike's eyes glowed as his true face re-emerged. "You took me out of the Watcher's house," the vampire snarled. "I should-"

"-Will," Angel's quiet voice cut through the sudden tension. "Leave it alone. They wronged you, I know that, but this isn't the time for this." Spike didn't move, his lips were curled back revealing long, needle sharp fangs. "Will."

Spike ground his teeth. "Then find me something else to kill, before I suck farmboy's eyeballs out." The vampire strode off into a corner. He turned away from them, his rigid posture clearly said stay back. The soldier closest to him got up and moved away.

Xander stared hatefully at Riley and stomped across the room to join his lover. He lay a hand on the vampire's arm, it was shaken off roughly. There was a brief whispered exchange, and Spike pulled Xander hard against him. Entwined in an embrace, they both turned away from the rest of the room.

Angel watched them silently before letting his solemn gaze fall upon Riley. "Now, I don't know if you're really unaware about what's going on down here. But for reasons I'm not going to share, I'm prepared to give you the benefit of the doubt - for now." He stepped closer, narrowing his gaze. "You hurt Spike and for that I should kill you. Help me get Doyle back and maybe I won't."

Riley's mouth opened in wonder. "Now just wait a min-" He stopped as Angel's face shimmered and he found himself inches away from a pair of baleful yellow eyes and glistening fangs. He stumbled back. "You're a...You're a..."

"A 'hostile'," said Angel. "Yes, I know. I'm what you unbelievers refuse to refer to as a vampire, but then you already know that." He stared at the other occupants of the room, most of who had scrambled to their feet, weapons drawn. Spike came out of his corner to stand beside his Sire.

"'Hostile'," Angel mused. "Such a bland, uniform word. I wonder, is that why you chose it? Less scary than the words that chase you through your nightmares - werewolves and vampires, demons and ghouls, witches and warlocks."

He spread his arms wide and laughed mockingly - pure Angelus. "You're children," he taunted. "Making up names to hide behind. Using your special weapons and secret code words, while all around you is a world you cannot face or understand. How can you fight something you don't even believe in?" His expression turned serious. "Time to grow up. This isn't the world you know. This is reality. Magic exists. Evil exists. All the monsters that you once tried to hide from in your beds are real. If you want to stand a chance against them you have to face that."

There was a long silence, then Riley stepped forward. "What do you want us to do?"

Forrest looked displeased but he didn't question his friend's call. If Riley said 'deal' he'd deal. It seemed to be the general consensus amongst the others - they obviously didn't like it, but they didn't want to die either.

Angel spoke calmly. "You want your base back. I want Doyle. I suggest we work together."

Riley seemed to consider the proposition. "All right. What's your plan."

Angel smiled coldly. "I thought we'd just find who did this and kill them. Unless you have a problem with that."

"No, but.." Riley frowned. "I mean 'how'?" He didn't seem that happy at admitting his inadequacy, but he was out of his depth here and he knew it. It was one thing tracking down hostiles when you were well armed and well organised. It was quite another to be facing unknown numbers of *demons* in the dark, with only a handful of guns that were next to useless. A good soldier knew when to make sacrifices and when to make the most of unexpected allies. He ignored the part of him that said this was a very bad idea.

Angel opened his black bag and took out a number of weapons that wouldn't have looked out of place in a museum. There was a small hand axe, several lethal looking knives, a couple of crossbows and a dozen or so stakes.

"No wonder that thing weighed so damned much," Xander grumbled.

"You're all trained in hand-to-hand combat right," said Angel.

Riley nodded. "Of course, but-"

Angel cut him off. "I know that you're no match for the majority of demons strength wise, and your reflexes won't give you an edge either. However, you do have one thing."

"What?" Forrest couldn't stop himself from asking.

"Most demons don't see humans as a threat. They fear your weapons but you they'll write off. That means they're over confident." Angel's expression was even colder than his voice. "Over confidence can be lethal."

Riley picked up a stake. "So we do what. Poke them with sticks?"

"Those will work on vampires, Torus demons and Vendari. The latter have violet coloured skin and long claws; use the stake just behind their ears. Torus demons are big, eight feet or more. They have a fleshy skin tone and a high pitched cry when they charge."

"Charge?" a soldier asked worriedly.

"Charge," Spike repeated. "They'll try and crush you up against something, so don't face one with a wall behind you. Take the stake and ram it into its chest, they're allergic to wood."

Xander's eyebrows lifted. "Allergic? What's it gonna do, sneeze itself to death."

"No, pet. It'll start to haemorrhage. A few minutes and its insides will be sludge." He looked at the soldiers who were now listening raptly. "Just don't stand near it when it collapses. I've seen fellas pulled out from under a dead Torus, not a pretty sight."

Angel watched his Childe with a sense of pride, as he willingly took a back seat and let the younger vampire discuss the do's and do nots of demon slaying. Spike was always happy to play to an audience, especially if he could scare the heebies out of some of them. It didn't bother the vampire that they were effectively 'selling out' the other demons. Vampires only really extended their loyalty toward their own kind, and Spike's loyalty was even more limited than that.

Weapons were handed out. Xander took a knife and a crossbow. After looking longingly at the latter he swapped it for a couple of stakes. "You know," he said, "there is just one other teensy weensy problem." Everyone looked at him expectantly, Xander looked up at the phosphorus lamps that the soldiers had fastened to the ceiling and placed around the room. "How do we fight when we can't see."

There were general grumbles around the room as everyone else voiced their thoughts on this little hiccup.

"You'll be able to see," said Angel.

"Not good enough," said Forrest. "Just what are you planning to do, huh. Shove us out there and let the hostiles pick us off while you three make a run for it?"

Spike grabbed the man by the arm. "I don't run from any scabby-arsed demon," he growled.

Forrest winced as the cold fingers crushed his arm. Angel cleared his throat and Spike let the man go. "No one's running from anything," the older vampire said. "Once we locate where the demons are holed up we'll do a little spell-casting of our own."

Riley looked surprised. "You can do that?"

"You'd better hope he can," said Spike.

Angel looked slightly indignant. "I know some magic. I can cast an illumination spell, but it'll only last for an hour or so and its range will be limited."

"How much illumination will it give us?" Riley asked.

Angel was impressed by the young man's matter-of-fact attitude. It seemed Riley at least was beginning to accept that there was more than the realms of man and animal at work here. "Not much," he admitted. "It'll be mainly red light, so you'll only really be able to pick out shape and movement. I suggest you take the lamps as well."

Riley had some of his men collect them.

Angel had one more thing to ask of the young man. "Is there some kind of main control room. Somewhere that your operations are run from?"

Riley looked at Forrest, who stubbornly refused to meet his friends gaze. He nodded reluctantly. There's a room the next level down. It's where the main communication equipment is."

"How big?" Spike asked. Riley gave him the exact dimensions of the room.

Spike smirked at him. "They teach you that in commando school." Riley bristled.

Forrest shoved himself forward. "I'll show you what they taught us," he sneered, brandishing his knife.

"Ooh, please. I'm shakin' in me boots," said Spike. He eyed the knife with something like amusement. "Wrong weapon, soldier boy. Someone wasn't paying attention in class."

Angel was getting fed up with the constant bickering. "Knock it off, both of you. Riley, get your men together." Riley and Forrest moved away, organising the rest of their squad. Angel slipped a knife into his ankle holster and turned to Spike and Xander. "Remember, this guy knows magic. It's possible he's only spent time learning this spell-"

"-but unlikely," said Spike. "So what, we take him out first?"

"If we can," said Angel. "He might not even be down here."

"Makes sense," Spike agreed. "Send the drones to do the work, while he waits top side."

"That's my guess," said Angel. "This is all a bit disorganised for someone working magic. I think he or she has simply opened the doors and let loose the animals-"

"-For a bit of bloody mayhem. Not a bad plan." Spike tried to find somewhere to shove his stake without getting it to close to any vital parts of his anatomy. Sharp bits of wood made him nervous. "Someone with a grudge against these gits?"

"They could form an army on their own," Xander rejoined. "I mean there must be a lot of pissed off 'brother demons' out there."

"Maybe that's exactly what someone has done," said Angel, a speculative look in his golden eyes. "Wrice demons wouldn't come down here without a good reason and they certainly wouldn't bring Locksaws with them. What if someone has banded together all the demons the Initiative have struck against and a few others who are probably concerned about a potential strike."

"A shared enemy makes for strange bed-fellows," murmured Spike.

The three of them exchanged glances.

"I want Doyle," said Angel. His expression said he would willingly tear his way through a demon army to get back his friend.

"Then lets start the killin' and get home," said Spike. "I want to wash this muck off me."

"I was meaning to ask you about that-" Xander broke off as the vampire glared at him. "Of course, it can wait," he said quickly.

"Stay close to me," said Spike. "Don't take on anything with more arms than you and leave the things with horns and tentacles to me."

"Arms, horns, tentacles. Check," said Xander. He frowned. "So what do I fight?"

Spike looked at him. The vampire wanted nothing better than to find a cupboard to lock the whelp in until all this was over. "I suppose you can kill vampires," he muttered reluctantly. "You have at least had some practice at that."

Xander decided that now was not the time to point out that he hadn't exactly been flushed with success in the vampire destruction stakes. "No problem." He held the wooden stake up, gripping it firmly. Spike pushed his hand away. "Just watch where you stick that," the vampire growled. Xander shot his lover an apologetic look. Spike muttered something unintelligible and Xander suddenly found himself pressed against the vampire's body. He dropped the stake and wrapped his arms around his lover as Spike kissed him. A cold tongue slid slickly between his lips and probed his mouth with relentless urgency.

Xander's legs went weak as the blood rushed to other parts of his anatomy. He clung to Spike as the vampire's kiss continued. He began to feel light-headed. Fangs pierced his lips and hot crimson fluid filled his mouth. He drew Spike's tongue in deeper and let his lover taste the blood. They drank it between them. A sharper, richer taste suddenly exploded across his senses and he knew that that it was Spike's blood he was tasting, mingling with his.

When the kissed finally ended he stumbled and would have fallen if Spike hadn't held him upright. "Woah," he murmured. He was surprised when the vampire struck his cheek, hard enough to sting.

"Snap out of it," Spike growled. "First we fight, then we fuck."

Xander looked into his lovers glowing eyes and grinned goofily. "I love it when you get all poetic."

Spike raised his eyes to the ceiling and pulled the dazed youth with him over to the door where the others had assembled. Most avoided looking at either of them, the few that didn't, either looked shocked or horrified. One warning growl from Spike and they found something else to look at.

Angel regarded the pair of them patiently. "Ready?"

"Let's go," said Spike. He glanced once at his Sire as the rest of them filed out. They had no need for words. The message was clear - be careful, and watch out for Doyle and Xander. Both knew that they could rely upon the other to keep their respective charges safe.

Spike indicated to Xander to follow him and they left. Angel exited the room last, but moved up to take point with Riley.

"Your friend," Riley whispered softly. "He means a lot to you."

Angel's eyes narrowed, but he couldn't detect any hidden meaning behind Riley's words. "Yes. More....More than he knows," he admitted quietly.

Riley nodded. "I hope he's still alive," he said honestly.

His expression suggested an understanding beyond his years, reminding Angel that despite his youth, this was a soldier who had already lost several comrades.

"He is," said Angel simply.

There was nothing more to be said.

Part Fifteen

Doyle knelt on the floor, in a room the size of a small aircraft hangar. His wrists were bound with a length of flex, and the demon guarding him had slipped the belt from his jeans around his neck as a sort of make-shift leash. The demon yanked on it and Doyle winced as his head snapped forward, the leather tightening painfully around his throat. He glared at his captor; a Prenod demon with pustular skin and bad body odour. Doyle turned his face away in disgust and looked around him. The room was awash with demons - lumbering Torus, slender copper-skinned Eluthi, tentacled Gracchen. Races who rarely cohabited and would never work together in a million years.

Yet, here they all were, doing just that. Some were methodically tearing up charts and records; others smashed technical equipment, tossing computers around like tennis balls. A group of terrified humans in lab-coats crouched in a corner. They had already seen one of their number dragged out and beaten to death. The mangled bodies of khaki-clad army personnel also littered the room.

Doyle was not having fun. He had considered slipping into his demon aspect to try and bluff his way out. His plan was foiled before he could put it into effect when the lizard-like demon 'shopped' him to the others. They were unimpressed to discover that he had been about to shoot the Regesh, not to mention the fact that he had been spotted in the company of a human, fleeing from the Locksaw. He was now firmly rooted in the enemy camp.

Nevertheless, his desperate chatter and half-demon status had at least ensured that they didn't kill him outright. Instead he'd been presented to the Prenod, a pet to replace its Locksaws, which were currently missing.

Doyle wondered what had happened to the others. He refused to even entertain the thought of anything bad happening to Angel. However, he was a little surprised that he was equally loath to consider the possibility that anything bad had befallen the blond vampire, or the boy.

Spike was....well he was a vampire. How could you stay mad at a guy for acting according to type. As for Xander - the boy had guts and he obviously meant a lot to Angel; that intrigued Doyle almost as much as it bothered him. He glanced up at the Prenod to check he wasn't being watched, then he began to work on loosening the cord around his wrists. He had to be ready. Either he was going to have to make a break for it alone, or the others would come and there was gonna be one hell of a fight. He wanted a part of that. The Prenod was pissing him off.

He'd been quietly struggling for a good twenty minutes when the atmosphere changed. The demons stopped crashing and smashing things about and a disquiet murmur spread through the room. Doyle strained to see from his position on the floor. He craned his neck upward to the stairwell and a grin spread across his face. (Gotta hand it to the man, he sure knows how to make an entrance.)

Angel stood at the top of the stairwell, Spike stood to his right, Riley was on his left - holding a crossbow. The older vampire held a demon by its ankle, holding him out over the railing. A hush fell across the room. Angel's expression was faintly bored as he looked down upon them. "I found this out in the corridor. Does it belong to any one here, or should I just throw it away?"

The demon in his grasp gave a whimper and one of those below pushed his way through his stunned companions to address the vampire. "You would side with those who hunt us, vampire?" It asked in disbelief.

Angel cocked his head slightly. "No," he said slowly, as though speaking to a stupid child. "I side against those who annoy me." He smiled unpleasantly. "In case you were wondering, that would be you." The Broxel demon facing him glared, its pale green skin darkening. "You don't frighten me vampire. We are many, you are but two." It dismissed Riley with a snort. "Humans do not count, they're just food."

Angel leaned forward casually, still holding the terrified demon by the ankle. It squealed as it dipped a little closer to the floor. Angel shook his head, tsking softly. "Where *are* my manners. Here we are chatting away like old friends and I haven't even introduced myself and my companions." He waved his free hand toward Riley in a bored manner. "The human probably has a name, I forgot to ask it." He indicated Spike. "This is Will, some of you may have heard of him. He's sometimes referred to as 'William the Bloody', or Spike." That caused a ripple around the room and one or two of its occupants shuffled nervously.

Angel turned a beatific smile upon his captive audience and touched his hand to his chest. "And my name," he said quietly, "is Angelus."

Doyle swore he heard a spider scuttle across the floor. He'd never known a silence quite like it. He knew that Angelus had something of a nasty reputation but terror on this scale was something wholly unexpected. There was the sound of a door opening and closing as someone made a hasty exit. The Broxel had turned yellow. Doyle thought judging by its expression it was probably apt.

"So," Angel continued mildly. "Do we fight now?"

Several more demons took a step back. The door behind Doyle opened and closed again. His grin widened. Unfortunately several of the species in the room didn't have the sense to know who or what they were dealing with, and, emitting whoops and cries, they surged forward. So began the battle. The first casualty was the unfortunate Regesh demon, who was still dangling by his ankle. Angel simply dropped him onto the group of Meshii rushing the stairwell. It screamed as it fell; the cry was cut short as it struck a Meshii, killing them both instantly.

Spike leapt over the stairwell. Unlike the unhappy Regesh, he landed like a cat and immediately flung himself into the fray. He picked up the closest Meshii and holding him aloft, snapped the demon's spine, before throwing him at a charging Torus.

Angel dropped down beside his Childe and punched a Neidmach He chanted a short sentence in Latin and the room was instantly bathed in an eerie red light. That was the signal for the others, as Xander and the soldiers poured down the stairwell and began landing punches. Blades flashed, stakes thrust forward, and vampires vanished in clouds of dust.

"Oi, that git's wearing my coat!" Spike's annoyed voice carried across the growls and shouts. Doyle watched as the blonde vampire waded through the chaos, slapping aside any demon who got in his way. The vampire Spike was heading for froze like a deer caught in the headlights. A greasy haired youth, he was wearing a long black, battered leather duster.

Spike reached him, stopped, and looked down. "Those are *my* boots." He sounded outraged. Quicker than the human eye could follow his hand shot out and grabbed the unfortunate fledgling. "Get 'em off now."

Doyle's eyes widened in surprise as the young vampire stripped out of his clothes with preternatural speed. Spike took back his coat examining it closely before putting it on. As the fledgling nervously handed him his boots, the blond smiled. "Cheers, mate." The grin turned brutal and the fledgling's face briefly registered shock - just before it turned to dust. Spike put his stake into his pocket and began to change his boots.

Doyle shook his head. Only Spike would think of doing that in the middle of a fight. He turned his attention away from the blond as he searched frantically for Angel. The older vampire had disappeared amongst the multitude of bodies that surged around the room.

Doyle tried to shuffle forward and gasped as the Prenod pulled hard on the belt. The leather tightened enough to choke and he began to cough and splutter. He shifted into his demon aspect and headbutted the Prenod. All he got was an eyeful of pus. Then the Prenod struck him and everything went kind of hazy.

The next thing he knew, the Prenod was coming toward him - gurgling? Doyle watched as the repulsive creature toppled sideways off its chair and collapsed onto the floor. It had a large knife wound in its back. Doyle looked up and blinked to try and clear the spots from his vision. He slowly focused on a pair of yellow eyes and a deeply worried face.

"Doyle? Doyle? Can you hear me? Are you hurt?"

Strong fingers removed the belt from around his throat and then the flex from his wrists. They rubbed his skin, getting the blood flowing again. The fingers were cold.

"A-Angel?" he mumbled dazedly. His vision spun as he was suddenly pulled against the vampire. Recovering from the shock, Doyle happily snuggled into the embrace, inhaling the smell of leather and familiar scent of his friend. "Hmm, Angel..."

He was not at all happy to be released. Angel touched his face gently. The vampire's expression was hard to read, but Doyle thought he could see what he wanted in those glowing eyes. "Ang-" he began. The vampire hushed him, laying a finger against his lips.

"We have to help the others."

Doyle nodded mutely, pulling himself together. He allowed Angel to help him up and he looked around at the mayhem. The red light made it appear as if the room was bathed in blood. Something which was becoming less illusionary even as he watched.

"Time to fight the good fight, eh?" He grinned.

Angel's demonic features smiled back at him. "Something like that." The vampire gestured with his arm politely. "Shall we?"

"Why not." Doyle charged forward into the sea of bodies, throwing himself onto the back of a Noxus demon.

Angel gutted a nearby Regesh before taking on the challenge of an incensed Moola. Its enraged howls echoed around the room.

--------------------

Spike had finished redressing his apparel. He'd kept one eye on Xander all the while. Now he moved to join his lover - who was equipping himself pretty well for a namby-pamby human.

Xander had successfully staked two vampires and had used a chair to beat the crap out of a slimy, one-eyed demon. Now he was wrestling with another slender creature. He gave a surprised yell, which rapidly became a croak as a tentacle tightened around his throat.

The demon's enthusiastic embrace ended when something grabbed the tentacle and tore it apart - spraying Xander in white gunk.

"Mmrghuh," he spluttered. He wiped what felt and smelt unpleasantly like month old milk from his face. He met a pair of less than pleased golden eyes. "S-Spike?"

"What did I tell you, pet. *No* tentacles."

Xander was indignant. "It didn't *have* tentacles when we started !"

Spike grinned. "No, they do kind of take you by surprise don't they. Course," he added, "it's not *strictly* a tentacle."

Xander felt his stomach clench. "Okay, I know I'm gonna regret this but if it wasn't a tentacle - What was it?"

Spike winked at him. "Let's just say his chances of fatherhood would be questionable, even if he were still alive."

"That's it, I'm going to hurl," Xander moaned weakly, clutching his stomach. He yelped when something struck him, knocking him off his feet. He landed beside the body of the tentacled demon. Recoiling from it in revulsion he looked up.

Spike was gone.

Frantic, Xander stumbled to his feet. It took him only a moment to realise what had happened. The charging Torus had caught him a glancing blow on the way to its intended target. Spike was now being pounded against a filing cabinet. The metal folded inward with the force.

"Spike!" Xander charged forward, jumping over a fallen Regesh. Slipping and sliding across the pools of blood, he flung himself at the huge demon, bringing the stake down into its shoulder. The wood didn't even scratch it. The Torus' armour plated skin was impenetrable.

"C-chest...ch-chest. Stick.. it.. it," Spike growled out in between slammed against the cabinet. The vampire was struggling to retrieve his own stake from his pocket.

Xander was still clinging to the creatures back. How was he going to stab it in the chest? He needed to get it to turn around. Wriggling forward he put the stake between his teeth and jammed both his thumbs into the creatures eyes. He felt the jellied mass give as he pushed down as hard as he could. The Torus bellowed and staggered back. Spike sank down to the floor.

The Torus stubby forearms were too short for it to grab its attacker, so it attempted to shake Xander off. When that failed to dislodge him it tried to slam him against the cabinet. Xander saw the move coming and leapt clear. The enraged Torus turned and lowered its head to pound him. Xander thrust upward with his stake. The creature stopped and looked down at it. For a moment it just stood there. Then it began to gurgle; bubbles of blood appeared from its mouth and nostrils.

Suddenly its legs crumpled and it began to fall. Xander's eyes widened as he realised it was falling directly toward him. Before he could get his limbs to move, someone grabbed him and rolled him clear. He ended up beneath another - very familiar - body.

"Er...Hi," he offered, seeing Spike's displeased look. "I know, I know. It had horns. What was I supposed to do, it was-" any further explanation was silenced as Spike's lips sealed over his. The kiss was surprisingly tender and a touch desperate. Xander responded to it enthusiastically. Then his survival instincts kicked in - shouting to him that making out in the middle of a demon fight was probably a very bad idea.

Spike evidently shared that thought as he broke the kiss and stood up, pulling Xander to his feet. "We are going to have a little chat," he said softly. Spike placed another light kiss on Xander's startled mouth. "Later," he promised. Then he turned away and drop-kicked a vampire that was trying to gnaw on Forrest.

Xander shook his head. (Talk, right.) He wondered if he was ever going to find out what was going on. Then someone punched him and he punched them back and he was occupied with more pressing matters.

--------------------

Riley had shot a number of vampires/hostiles....whatever. He'd never actually staked one before. He watched it explode in a shower of dust and stared at the piece of wood in his hand. (Okay, so it works.) He looked around him for another target. His eyes caught on the blond vampire who was busy kicking a Noxus demon into a bloody pulp. The demon was larger by about a foot in every direction, it also possessed claws the length of a man's forearm.

The vampire didn't even appear to be making that much of an effort. Riley watched wide-eyed as 'Hostile 17' spun and ducked, and kicked and punched. It moved with a grace and speed no human could achieve. Claws sliced uselessly through the air above the vampire's head. Riley had fought Noxus - they were fast, deadly, strong. Either this one had consumed more than its fair share of strong drink or it was simply
outclassed.

Riley reluctantly plumped for the latter.

Suddenly the vampire made its move, darting forward so quickly that all Riley actually saw was the spray of blood as the Noxus toppled back clutching its throat. He couldn't see a weapon. Blinking, he realised that 'Hostile 17' had simply ripped out the Noxus' throat with its bare hands. He watched the agile figure slip through the sea of struggling bodies. The vampire disappeared from view for a moment, to reappear beside the other vampire - the one who now called himself Angelus.

Riley walked forward without even knowing. His attention held by the sight of the two vampires working together to take down a group of Wrice demons. The latter exhaled clouds of paralysing fumes that had no effect on creatures who had no need to breathe. Bodies were passed back and forth between the two vampires as they fought - their moves so precise and well timed that they appeared choreographed.

As the last Wrice demon fell, Riley looked back out across the room and realised he wasn't alone in playing the part of watcher. Xander stood facing the two vampires, his expression tense. The youth darted forward as the last demon hit the floor and Riley watched the blond vampire grab his arm and pull him in for a brief kiss before re-entering the fray.

Riley frowned and refocused his attention on the fight, driving his stake into another vampire before rushing to assist Forrest and Jensen who were battling with a six-armed Fluute.

--------------------

Eventually, screams and yells dulled to moans and whimpers. Bodies began to pile up and the number of demons still standing dwindled to a handful. The last two turned and ran. Leaving a group of battle weary, bloodstained warriors.

Riley, Forrest, Jensen and seven other soldiers had survived relatively unscathed. Three more were injured but not badly. Five were unconscious, but still capable of breathing unaided. The other living soldier was in a more serious condition - basically he was just waiting for the last rites. Doyle had a deep gash on his right arm; a worried Angel was using a belt as a tourniquet. Spike and Xander were bruised and covered in blood, slime, and your basic indescribable guck. They watched silently, as Angel finished tending to Doyle.

Riley approached them. "Is everyone okay?"

Angel nodded. "Doyle's hurt but-"

"-I'll be fine," Doyle finished patiently. "I heal pretty quick." He had shifted back into his human face and he smiled gently at the vampire who looked a little flustered. Doyle stood up. "So, time to go home, yeah?"

Forrest had come to stand beside Riley. "He's a 'Hostile', he ain't going nowhere." He stared at Spike with undisguised loathing.

Spike hissed and Xander tensed. Angel ignored Forrest and addressed Riley.

"We're leaving Sunnydale."

"Will you be back?"

Angel didn't answer.

Riley nodded. "You have safe passage for the next 48 hours. After that." He shrugged unhappily.

Angel understood. "We'll be gone by then." He motioned to the others to follow him and the four backed away cautiously.

Forrest started forward and Riley grabbed him by his jumper and dragged him back. "You will not move. Is that understood soldier?!" he barked. His friend eyed him sullenly. "I said, is that understood?"

"Yes," Forrest muttered. "That's understood, *Sir*." He poured all his resentment into the last word.

Riley let him go. He looked back just as Spike was about to exit through the doorway.

The blond vampire darted forward and leaned over the stair railing. He grinned savagely and waved two fingers at the men below. "Catch you later, wankers," he called out cheerfully.

A moment later Angel's spell ended and the room was plunged into darkness. Spike's cold laughter echoed out around them, fading into silence as he moved away......

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