DISCLAIMER: ALL ARE JOSS'S I own none of these characters.
Spoilers: Up to Wrecked
Feed back: Please! My first fiction. Brookejaffe@hotmail.com
Summery: Spike has been kidnaped by Drusilla who wants him back so
they can go back to being the way there were. Buffy is not sure if
Spike wants to be saved . . . meanwhile Dawn is being held by
Drusilla and she thinks Spike is back with her . . . I wrote this
while sick! Feedback please!
Title: The long Road. 6\? Warning Character death.
Rating: PG-R   
                    Part Six
   
    All the way to the hospital Buffy was thinking the worst.
That Dawn was dead, eaten by some demon or worse, that Drusilla was
the one who took her and was feeding her to Spike. No, no he would
never. Not Dawn, he made a promise to me, to her. Xander looked over
at her and he knew at once what she was thinking. She was shaking her
head.
    "I can tell you one thing Buff." She looked over at him,
gloom lingers in her eyes and she was  not sure if she really wanted
to hear what he had to say. "Captain Peroxide . . . "
    "Xander," She sighed and fought back a sob.
    "Captain peroxide," He continued, "he would never break a
promise. Even though I hate his un-dead self, he always came through
for us when we needed him. When Dawn needed him." He looked out the
Window. Buffy squeezed his hand and smiled.
    "Xander is right. After you died, who knew that he would stay
and help us, although there was all the moping and boo-who-ing and it
was all quite annoying." Xander gave Anya a strict stair. "But Oh
what a big help." Anya quickly said patting Buffy's hand.
    "Thanks guys." Was all Buffy could say. They pulled up to the
hospital. Buffy did not wait for the car to come to a complete stop
she jumped out and took off toward the entrance.
    "I'm looking for Winifred Burkle she was . . ." The nurse
held up her hand up indicating she was on the phone. Buffy tried to
wait patently. "Look I need to know where she is, and now!" She
brought her hand down and hit the counter. The power of Buffy's arms
broke the desk in half.  The nurse looked up at her horrified and
grabbed a book.
    "Room, um, 212." The nurse told her quickly. Buffy mumbled a
quick sorry under her breath, and ran off to find the room.  Buffy
was in no mood wait for the elevator and ran up the emergency
staircase. She burst through the doors nearly knocking over a doctor.
    "Sorry, room 212?" the Dr. pointed down the hall and Buffy
took off running. She stopped at the door. She was afraid that Fred
was going to tell her that Dawn was dead and that she, herself,  was
barely able to get out. Buffy knocked and walked into the room. She
looked at the bed but found it empty. She turned her head toward the
bathroom, but the door was open and it was also empty. Great, now
what? She sighed. She sat down on the edge of the bed. She put her
head into her hands.  She had no idea what to do now. Suddenly
something wrapped around her ankle. Buffy screamed and jumped off the
bed, kicking off whatever it was that had grabbed her.  She kneeled
down and slowly picked up the blanket that was hanging off the bed.
Buffy peeked her head under the cover to see what had grabbed her.
    "Fred?"

    Spike was sure that Dru was going to punish him once she knew
that the girl had escaped. He sighed and walked over to the door. He
put his hand up against the invisible barrier and tried to push
through. It was useless. Where was Dawn? Was she all right . . . she
must hate him. He was used to Buffy's painful words and attitude but
to have Dawn hate him. His nibblet. HE could not bare it. He walked
over and picked up the chair. He threw it at the open door and
watched as it passed through and hit the wall across the  hall. Great
if only he were a piece of bleedin' furniture. He growled and smashed
his hand into the wall. Which started to bleed right away. He
laughed, then closed his eyes.
    "You should be careful. Never know what kind of villains got
a knife at your back."
    "Your hand is hurt."
    "So is yours."
    "Right."
    Spike heard a noise and snapped out of his daydream. Drusilla
had walked into the room. All Spike wanted to do were shut his eyes
and go back and remember times he had shared with Buffy.
    "All will be forgotten soon." Drusilla plainly stated as she
walked around the room.
    "Dru, stay out of my head. I have enough in there without you
messin' about!" He snapped at her and he walked over to the door. He
was still not able to get through. But how was Drusilla able too.
    "Wouldn't you like to know?" She smiled over at him.
    "You know Dru, lately, I have been wondering what I ever saw
in you." Spike watched Drusilla's face change and she began
whimpering. She walked toward to the door to leave. "Dru, pet. I'm
sorry. I just don't understand why you are keeping me locked in this
room. Why not let me out? I can help." He cleared his head and
thought of nothing but her, Drusilla.  Filling his head with her so
that would be all she was able to read from his mind. She studied his
face for a while.
    "You know the girl is gone." Drusilla said to him. She was
testing him, he knew that much all he had to do was pass.
    "Well then, you should know that the whole bloody gang is on
their way, or will be soon. You can't keep playing these silly games
of yours Dru." 
    "I have a plan. It involves you and your little girl out
there."  She stopped and put her hand to her head.  "It's wrong," she
moaned, "All wrong!"
    "What pet, what do you see?"  Drusilla straitened up, smiled
and walked over to the door. She snapped her fingers at Spike.
    "Come, it is almost time."  She waves her hand and walks
through the door. Spike follows but is cautious when he comes to the
door. He reaches out with his hand and it passes through. He smiled.
Guess he passed that test. He walked out and followed Dru. He was
going to have to play along, for now.

    "Fred? What are you doing?" Buffy asked feeling a little
weird talking to the girl as she huddled under the bed.
    "Mean, mean lady tried to eat me." She whispered to
Buffy. "Oh," She moaned. "I am so sorry, I'm not as strong as Angel,
sorry I could not help." Buffy was shaking all over she was so scared
she was sure she was going to faint. Buffy put one hand onto the bed
to steady herself.
    "Fred it's ok. Please come out here and tell me what
happened. Please." This made Fred burrow further toward the back of
the wall.   Buffy felt a hand on her shoulder. She looked up to see
Angel standing above her.
    "Why don't I try?"  Buffy against all her better judgement
nodded.
    "Just see if she knows where Dawn is." He looked at her
sighed.
    "I'll do my best." Buffy walked out of the room. What was
there left to do but wait?
    "Buffy." She looked over to Xander. "We should go to the
waiting room. You know and wait for Angel to come to us."
    "Xander, do you have your cell Phone on you?" He reached into
his pocket and held it up for her to see. He threw it over to her.
She smiled at him. "Call me after Angel is done. I'm not one for
waiting around." She walked down the hall and out of Xander's view.
    "I hate it when she does that!"
    "Where is Buffy going?" Anya asked as she came up behind
Xander stuffing the remainders of a turkey sandwich into her mouth.
Xander grabbed his chest.
    "Jeez An, sneaking up on people is so not ok especially when
you live on a hell mouth!"
    "Sorry." She said and swallowed the food that was in her
mouth.
    "And to answer your question with a question, where do ya
think?"
    "Oh. Well what are we supposed to do?"  She grumbled
    "Wait." He said sitting down into a chair that was in the
hallway. Anya sat next to him.
    "I hate waiting!" She whined, "It is so boring! Why does
Buffy get to go off and be all not waiting?"
    "Maybe because she is the slayer? And it is kinda her job."
Xander closed his eyes.
    "Well la de da! Still not fair!"
    "Ahhhhhhhh." Xander slammed the back of his head into the
wall in frustration.
   
    Spike knew right away where he was when they walked out of
the room. The factory. Why was he not surprised? Dru wanted him back,
why not go all nostalgic while she was at it. He followed her into
the main room where he saw at lest a two dozen vamps a strange
looking demon and a scared Dawn tied to a chair. He wanted more then
anything to run over to her and untie her, tell her that everything
was going to be ok. At that moment he was not sure of it himself.
    Dru walked over to Dawn and made her stand. "Look how pretty,
Spike." She said circling and coming to a stop behind her, holding
her out at arms length, presenting her to Spike. Red and black-
covered finger nails were pressing deeply into Dawn's neck.  "I could
be her mommy, would you like that? Can I be your new mommy?" Dawn
ignored her comments. "Oh you have made mommy very sad, not in the
mood to play are we?" Dru spun her around bringing her face to face
leaving four deep scratches on the side of her neck. Dawn was
whimpering from pain trying to hold back the tears.
    "Spike, help . . ." She cried out as Drusilla hold on her
neck tightened. Spike tried to move over to where the two girls were
standing but was stopped by the Demon who stepped in front of him.
    "You don't want to ruin her game now, do you." The demon
waved his arm and Spikes feet were stuck to the ground. He struggled
to move but he was stuck on the side lines for now.
    "Look at me deary, Be in my eyes, be in me." Dawn could not
help but to become lost in her gaze. The whole room watched as
Drusilla's appearance changed and melted into the form of Joyce.
Spike gasped and struggled against the power of this demon.
    "Dru, stop it. Please she is just a girl." The vison of Joyce
just smiled over at him.
    "Mommy? How are you  . . . ?" Dru brought her finger to her
lips.
    "Shhhh, everything is going to be ok now. We are together
now." Dawn wrapped her arms around Drusilla's body holding on for
dear life. All the meanwhile Dru is cooing to her and telling her
everything was going to be ok.
    "Mommy, please I want to go home." Dawn was crying. Seeing
her like that was breaking Spike's heart. He had to do something and
quick.
    "But Dawnie, you are home. We are your family now, you and me
and Spike. We will be a  happy family you'll see. Mommy will make
everything better again." Dru let the facade fade and she was back to
herself. Still, with Dawn wrapped in her embrace. She ran her fingers
through Dawn's hair and let her features morph into game mode. She
looked over at Spike. "Family." She whispered to him. She moved the
hair away from Dawns neck. And brushed the soft skin of her neck.
    "Dru, the slayer!" Spike did not know what else to do, and
hoped that she would buy it. Drusilla suddenly lost her game face.
Spikes' yell snapped Dawn out of the trance Dru had her under. With a
horrified scream she pushed at Dru with all her might. Dru fell to
the ground. Dawn took this advantage and ran to the corned of the
room and hide behind a chair that was almost up against the wall.
    The demon who was concentrating mostly on Spike, left his
side when Dru fell to the ground. She began moaning and he ran to her
side. The spell that he was casting on Spike vanished and almost at
once he was after the demon.  He picked up the nearest sharp object
which happened to be a very rusty ax and with one swing decapitated
the demon. Dru screamed and grabbed her head and cried on the floor.
    "If this is what Cordelia meant about a big bad, then someone
needs to let the girl know not to be such a drama queen!" Spike threw
the ax away and was  ready to fight any of the vampires that were
standing all around the room, but they held there ground. Spike
scanned the room for Dawn. He ran over to where she was huddled.
    "Nibblet." He whispered and held out his hand for hers.
    "Get away from me!" She slapped his hand away.  "Leave me
alone! You, you lied me, you went back to her!"
    "No, bit it's not like that, I . . ."    
    "Get away from me! I hate you." She yelled.
    "Dawn . . ." Before Spike could finish his sentence two hand
were pulling him up and throwing him into the air. He crashed into a
table across the room. Dru now looked down at Dawn. She was horrified
and screamed.
    "You should have listened to Daddy. Now he is all banged up
and cannot play any more." She looked over to where Spike laid
sprawled out on the broken table.  "But he was not playing fair,
you'll play with me now won't you?" She looked back at Dawn, her game
face was now showing and a big grin.
   
    Buffy was not sure where to start looking.  It took her every
effort to put one foot in front of the other. If she stopped looking,
she was afraid that she was going to break down.  She was standing in
front of the entrance to the cemetery. 
    "If I were Dru, where would I go?" Buffy sat down on the top
of a grave stone and pondered. If Dru wanted Spike back, where would
she go?  Buffy could only hope that it was not going to be to the
extreme that Spike had gone to when he was pining to get Dru back.
Spells and such.
    "Look I just need a few supplies, then I'll take you to. . .
oh God." Spike moaned
    "What's wrong? Not like I care." Buffy asked.
    "Oh my head! I think that I am sobering up. T's horrible! I
wish I were dead."
    "Well if you close your eyes and wish real hard . . ." Buffy
pulled out a stake.
    "Hey back off."
    "Buffy we still need him to find the others." Angel stepped
in between the two.
    "Need him? He's probably got them locked up in the factory."
She stated.
    "Well, hey, how thick do you think I am?"
    Buffy's eyes snapped open. The factory, Dru was insane and to
her that was home. Buffy jumped off the head stone and began
running. `Oh, please' she though as she approached the factory.
Please let Dawn be here and be ok.  She reached into her pocket for
Xander's cell phone and realized that she must have dropped in on the
ground somewhere between the cemetery and here.  Oh well, she
shrugged her shoulders. Xander is gonna be all pissy now when she
gets back. He will just have to deal. She frowned at herself.
    "Mental note. Look for Phone." She crept around the building
checking for a easy way in or for any sign of Dru and her club of,
wish we were crazy like you minions.  Buffy stopped in her tracks.
The hair on the back of her neck stood up. Three vamps walked around
from the side of the building. She smiled.
    "Evening boys." They all snarled at her. "Wondering if you
could help me out? I'm looking for a really old crazy insane woman
who likes to play with her dolls and is set on getting back together
with her X. Anyone?" The first vamp charges and without the bat of an
eyelash she bends down and picks up a box, crashes it up against the
wall and slammed a piece into the vamp's chest. "Well I guess you
didn't." She dusted her hand off and brought her attention back to
the other two. "You see I'm late for a tea party and you know how
Miss Edith can be."  The second vampire charged at her. She threw him
over her shoulder and knocked him off his feet. "Pity." She slammed
the stake threw his heart and watched as he became a big pile of
dust. She looked over at the third and last of the remaining
vamps. "All right, I'm going to make this one easy for you. Drusilla,
building? Yes or No?"
    "Yes." She smiled
    "See that was not that hard now was it?" The vamp just stood
there watching her. "Ok now is the time you run." The vampire turned
on its' heals and began to run. Buffy twirled the stake in her palm.
Took aim and let it fly after the vamp. It combusted. "I just love it
when they do that."  Buffy walked around the corner that the vamps
had just appeared from, nothing, no way in from the ground.  She
would have to somehow get up to the roof. "Never easy." She walked a
bit further and noticed a pile of crates stacked very high up against
one of the walls. "Going up." Buffy began to climb.

    Spike shifted and sat up. Ouch. That really hurt. He shook
his head and recognized the sound of Dawn screaming. Despite the pain
in his body Spike jumped up and quickly summed up the scene. He
watched as Dru dragged Dawn out from behind the chair by her hair. He
let his game face fall into place.
    "Dru. Were not finished, pet." Dru looked up and over to him.
She let go of Dawn's hair and walked over and stood in front of
Spike. She looked at him like she was a lost puppy who needed to be
helped. "Not this time baby. You're not going to hurt the girl."  Dru
lunged forward and began fighting with Spike. Dawn huddled into the
corner of the room and watched in terror.

    Buffy heard Dawn scream and climbed faster and more
vigorously. She reached the top and began searching for an entrance.
She saw a light glow coming from a sky window and ran over and peered
in. Buffy watched in horror as Spike fought Drusilla.  She had to
find a way to get inside. She was terrified that she was going to see
Spike get dusted.  She had never seen Drusilla so angry.  She
searched the roof for some kind of entrance, but there was nothing.
Only the window that she was looking through.  Buffy saw Dawn huddled
in a corner and sighed a breath of relaxation, that Dawn was fine,
well for the moment.  There was nothing else Buffy could do, she
stood up took a few steps back and begun a running start toward the
window. She crashed through the window raining glass down on the
room.  Everyone including Spike was surprised by the glass that came
pouring down on them. Spike watched as Buffy landed gracefully to the
floor next to him.
    "Nice of you to finally show." He told her smugly.
    "Better late then, well, better late then too late." She
smiled over at him.  Suddenly Buffy was surrounded by a group of
vampires that brought her away from Spike and she began fighting. 
Drusilla took this time to regroup. She picked up a piece of wood
from the broken table and slammed it into Spike's chest. Missing the
heart, but coming close enough to take him out of the game.  Buffy
tried to get to Spike but was held back by the group of vampires.
    "Angel and the group of humans are outside." Dru yelled to
the vampires. "Take care of them, now." All the vampires that were
surrounding Buffy left the room.
    "Look like it's just you and me." Buffy said to Drusilla.
Glancing behind her to make sure that Spike still had his body and
that he was not dust. He was now laying next to Dawn.  Buffy and Dru
began to fight. Throwing kicks and punches, both equally matched.
    Dawn watched the other vampires leave, and took this
opportunity to help Spike over to where she was huddled before. She
gathered him into her arms.
    "Spike!" He looked up at her and grinned.
    "Hey bit, you ok?"
    "God, Spike, I'm so sorry. I thought that you  . . . you
know." She hugged him and he winced. "Sorry."
    "Hey, No problemo." He grabbed a hold of the wood that was
lodged in his rib cage and with a grunt yanked it out. When he did
not turn to dust, he opened his eyes he sighed. He then looked over
to where Buffy and Dru with fighting.
    "Stop trying to take my family away from me!" Drusilla yelled
as she punched at Buffy.
    "He is not your family anymore!" Buffy answered as she
blocked the punches, throwing in a few of her own. "He is ours!" This
sent Drusilla into a new rage and she began to slowly get the upper
hand of the fight.
    Spike was not sure yet if he was going to be able to help
Buffy, with the injuries that Drusilla gave him he was not even sure
that he could stand, but when she called him family, her family. Well
he could have sworn that the heart that lay dead in his chest
actually took a beat. He struggled to get to his feet, he had too,
and with Dawns help he was up. Clutching the wound with one hand and
still holding onto the piece of wood with the other, he slowly limped
toward the fighting two.
    "Dru." He said in half of a whisper. She glanced over her
shoulder, laughed and continued fighting with Buffy.  Spike continued
to walk closer to the girls.
    "Spike, stay back," Buffy yelled, "your hurt." Spike ignored
her comment and stayed where he was.  Drusilla did not like how close
Spike was getting so with one spin kick to the chest she sent Spike
flying across the room and into the wall. He slumped down onto the
floor.
    "Enough games, little girl." Drusilla reached out her arm and
took Buffy's neck in her hand. Buffy struggled against her grasped
but could not break free. She could feel Drusilla's hand tightening
and began to panic.               
    Spike pulled himself up, spitting blood from his mouth.
Drusilla had really messed him up but somehow he still had enough
energy to get up and to his surprise was still clutching onto the
piece of wood that Dru had stabbed him with. He walked over to her.
    "Dru," Spike grabbed a hold of her and spun her around to
face him, despite the force he used to turn Dru around she still held
onto Buffy choking the life out of her. She was barely
conscious. "You should have never come back here pet." 
    "Spike?" Dru's eyes widened and Spike looked down at his hand
and realized that he had driven the stake into her chest.  The world
began to move in slow motion.
    "Oh, God, Dru . . ." The look of hurt and betrayal that was
on her face would be engraved in his memory for all eternity. He
watched her lips form his name but the words would never escape. She
began to fade away. "Dru, no . . ." Spike reached out to hold her in
his arms, but what was left was only air. He watched as her dust
settled onto the ground. He could hear Buffy choking for air. Spike
looked around the room.  He felt a pain in his chest that was so
unbearable. What did he just do?  He blinked back tears afraid if he
let them fall, there would be proof what he had just did was real.
The pain was too much. He looked down at the stake that he still
clenched in him hand.  He could not accept that moments ago he just
killed his love that lasted over a century. She had created him, 
made him who he was. He focused on the stake again. He should not be
here if she gone. It was not right.  Buffy slowly got up off the
floor and came and stood in front of Spike.
    "Spike." He looked up at her with his light blue eyes glazed
over with fresh tears. He looked back down at the stake. Buffy
reached out her hand and took it from his grasp. He continued to look
at his hands. Buffy reached out to him and covered them both with
hers. Spike quickly yanked his hands away from her.
    "I hope you're happy." He whispered and began to walk slowly
backwards looking around the room. Dawn came up behind him. She
placed a hand on his shoulder and he turned to face her. She had
fresh tears running down her checks. He took his hand and wiped them
away then pushed her hair behind her hair.
    `Spike." Dawn walked closer reaching out to him, but he just
flinched and jerked himself away. Dawn looked hurt but she
understood. Spike turned toward the door. He walked passed Buffy.
    "Spike." Buffy whispered as he walked by. He stopped for a
moment, Buffy watched as a tear fell down his cheek, and without
looking back Spike walked out if the factory. Not sure where he was
going to go.
    Dawn ran to Buffy throwing herself into her arms. Angel
cleared his throat. Buffy looked up and saw the whole gang looking
down at them.
    "Everyone ok?" Buffy asked
    "Just some scratches, but yes fine." Angel replied
    "How much did you see?" She asked
    "Everything." Was all he replied

TBC
   
 

                         Part 7
    All Buffy wanted to do  was to follow Spike. She remembered
how she felt thinking that she had killed Angel, she could only
imagine how Spike was feeling. Buffy Held Dawn in her arms, both
needing all the comfort they could get.
    "Come on Dawnie, lets get you home."
    "But . . .  Spike?"
    "Hey," Buffy squeezed Dawns arm, "talking Spike here, big
bad, he'll be fine." Dawn gave Buffy a questionable look.  "He will."
Buffy tried to reassure Dawn and herself, but the worry showed on
both faces and was unable to be hidden. Buffy led Dawn out of the
factory, afraid to let go of each others embrace. It was the only
thing holding the two together.  Nothing between them was said on the
walk back.  Buffy knew there would be a lot of questions for her when
they all got home. 
    When they reached the house, Buffy took Dawn right up stairs
and got her into bed. Dawn was exhausted and fell right to sleep. 
Buffy watched Dawn for a while and when she felt it was all right for
her to leave, she picked up her jacket and made her way back down
stairs. What Buffy needed now was to go out and find Spike.
    "You're going to look for him." It was stated as a fact
rather then as a question.  Buffy had her hand on the door, she
slowly turned around, Angel was leaning against the dining room door
frame.
    "I have to." Buffy sighed. "You can't understand.  He killed
her for me. I need to see him, talk to him."  Buffy opened the door
and walked out onto the porch.
    "What makes you think that he even wants to see you right
now?"  Angel snapped at her. Buffy turned slowly around to face him,
the shock clearly showing on her face. "I mean, Buffy, you cannot
understand what he is going threw right now."
    "Can't I?" Buffy hissed at him. "Like you know anything about
what he is feeling, or what I am for that matter. I know exactly what
he is feeling."
    "Jeez Buffy, you need to start thinking things threw before
you go out and act on them. How do you know that going to him right
now won't just make things worse and confuse him more?"
    "I don't, but there's one way to find out." Buffy walked down
the porch steps.
    "Buffy," Angel called after her. She stopped and spun around
once again to face him. She walked over and stood up to him like a
challenge.
    "Angel, you decided a long time ago that you wanted out of my
life, now I'm telling you, stay out of it." Angel took a step closer
to her.
    "Shame on you Buffy. Threats do not become you." Buffy smiled
    "You should know better, Angel. I don't make threats.  I make
promises." Buffy spun back around before Angel could throw another
insult her way.  "And I guess I just made one." She called after
him.  Buffy took off running toward the only place that she thought
Spike might be.

Angel sighed and walked back into the house. Well, his first attempt
failed, he thought it would be better coming from him that Spike
would not want to see her or talk to her this soon. Maybe coming from
Spike, she would stop acting like a fool and come back to the side of
the sane population.
    "Was that Buffy out on the porch with you?" Willow asked as
Angel walked into the living room. Xander walked up behind Angel
carrying a soda.
    "Outta my way dead boy." Xander said as he walked passed
Angel.  Angel growled at Xander who chose just to chuckle and plopped
down on the sofa. "Well was it her, or not?"
    "Yeah it was Buffy.  She is going to look for Spike." Angel
sat down next to Xander.
    "What? Why?" Xander jumped up almost spilling the soda onto
Angel who caught the can just in time. Xander looked down at
him. "Thanks, and again, What? Why?"
    "She thinks she needs to talk to him about what happened. To
make sure that he is all right. Just Buffy being Buffy." He put
Xander's soda onto the floor and leaned his head back against the
back of the sofa.
    "And you did not stop her because?" Angel ignored his comment
and continued to stare at the ceiling. "God, how could she just up
and bail on Dawn like this?"
    "Xander," Willow said becoming very parental.
    "No, Will, this whole Spike thing is getting ridiculous and
out of control. So yeah he killed Dru tonight! It is about time
someone did! Maybe someone should also be thinking about spiking
Spike already. We need to get into Buffy's head and fix whatever is
the matter with her.  There is no way that she could care about Spike
this much."
    "Xander!  Listen to yourself. You are being all evil and cold
hearted. There was no bailing on Dawn. She would never. She's just
not the Buffy she used to be. We pulled her out of heaven Xander, and
things are bound to change, for everyone!"
    "Understand change, change is good.  But Spike is no good.
Spike, never be good. Why am I the only one who can see the bad?
Spike will never be good! He is just a soulless evil dead vampire who
will stab us all in the back right when we all decide to trust him. 
That is what his kind does, that is why we call the Demons!"
    "What about Anya, Xander? She was all demonie for more than
one thousand years."
    "Well she's different. She has changed and not only in the
emotional but in the physical too."
    "So it is ok for you to make exceptions but it is not ok for
everyone else? Pathetic much Xander?" Willow walked passed him and
out into the hallway. "Night Angel."  She started walking up the
stairs.
    "Will," Xander called after her. Willow stopped on the stairs.
    "Not tonight Xander, if your gonna get all, `gang up on
Buffy,' show courage and say it to her face. I'm not all for the
throwing of the mud when the target is not here to defend herself." 
Willow continued up the stairs. Xander sighed and flinched when he
heard Willows bedroom door slam shut.  Xander looked at Angel and
began to say something, but Angel held up his hand as he got up.
    "Don't. Not with me, not now. I am going to look for Buffy."
Without another word Angel was gone.  Xander sat back down on the
sofa and picked up his soda. He looked around. He tapped his fingers
on the can. He looked around again.
    "An?"

Buffy stood, waiting, wondering if she should go to him. Would he
even be in there? Buffy watched his crypt afraid that is she looked
away it would vanish. She took a hesitant step forward. Why was this
so hard? Buffy looked down at her shaking hands.  She rubbed them
together trying to get some warmth from the cold night.  Was Angel
right? Was coming here, now, too soon? Buffy turned to leave, she was
not sure if Spike would be ready to face her, or was it that she was
not sure if she was ready to face him? Buffy looked over her
shoulder, searching for the courage to make the first move and walk
threw his door and to him. She closed her eyes, "This is your chance
Buffy, no wigging, doing." Buffy stood there trying to convince
herself to go to him.  While trying to convince herself, she nearly
missed Spike coming out of his crypt, he was carrying a duffle bag.
Buffy's felt a jab in her heart as a lump formed in her throat. `Oh
God,' she thought, `he's leaving again.' The fact that Buffy might
lose Spike again gave her all the courage she needed, and she quickly
came up behind him.
    "Are you running?" Spike froze in his place, not turning
around to face her.
    "You could say that, yeah." Buffy reached her hand out to him
but pulled it back before she touched his shoulder.
    "Would it do any good if I asked you to stay?" Spike let the
duffle bag drop to the ground.
    "No." Spike could not bring himself to turn around and face
her.  If she saw him like this, so week and so sad. "No, I just need
some time,"
    "What about me? What about us?" Buffy took a step closer.
Spike took all his courage and used it to turn himself around to face
her.  "Don't you love me anymore?" A tear ran down her cheek and
without hesitation, Spike had her face cradled in his hand as his
thumb quickly wiped away her tear.
    "You don't understand." He said, as he began to take his hand
away from her face,
    "Then Make me understand." Before Spike could fully take his
hand back, Buffy had taken his hand in hers, she took a step toward
him and cradled her face in his hand. "Please." She closed her eyes. 
    Spike sighed. "You know I spent most of my unlife, if not all
with Dru. She was my whole world.  She was my day my night and
everything in-between. Then we came here. Sunny-hell, and this bloody
place changed everything. Dru left me because of this place, because
of you. That truce we made. Said I had gone soft. Guess I always was.
It was hell losing her, I was spent on revenge, so, I came back. 
Then everything really changed, the sodden commando's my chip,
teaming up with the slayer and her scoobie snacks." Spike
chuckled. "Don't get me wrong, I was still the big bad, I was only in
it for the money, but then I got to know the real Buffy Anne Summers.
The girl behind all the slayer power. I was smitten." Buffy was
almost lost in his gaze, remembering how Spike used to say he was
drowning in her, she now knew what he meant.  He ran his hand threw
Buffy's hair. "But what Dru and I had, was just  . . . I never
thought I could ever kill her, I never wanted too, and without even
bloody thinking, I  had done it." Spike let go of Buffy and picked up
his duffle.  "If I could kill Dru that easily, what is stopping me
from doing it again, to someone else I care about?"
    "Me, I will. I am all about the stoppege!"
    "I never meant to do it, Buffy. It was an accident. I did not
want her dead! Just out of my life." He started walking away again.
    "I know . . ." She began to follow him. "Spike.  Hey . . .
stop! Please." Buffy grabbed Spike's arm and spun him around to face
her. "We need to talk. Don't shut me out, please. We need to talk."
Spike growled and threw his bag to the ground. Buffy was surprised at
his reaction.
    "What could we possible have to talk about?" Before Buffy
could answer, Spike was answering for her.  "Oh, ok let me guess. How
about you are feeling sorry for me. Is that it? Well slayer, I don't
need your sympathy.
    "That's not . . . "
    "Like hell it's not. I know you slayer. More then you think.
I have studied you, seen you, all of you, every inch from head to
toe." Spike's voice had become seductive. Buffy blushed, but as
quickly as he had been seductive he was cold again. She could no
longer read his expression.
    " I know you want to be the big bad and show what a manly man
you are. It's ok to go all steel magnolia sometimes.  Let me in
Spike. I know that you don't want too, but I can help, trust me."
    "Why? So that tomorrow you can tell me that everything was
for nothing? That I'm nothing. I'm threw listening to your theme
song, over and over." Spike stood inches away from Buffy. "I'm a
vampire. A VAMP-IRE!  Evil, and should not be having these feelings,
any feeling!  And yet I find myself in love, not only in love with a
human but with The Slayer!  You treat me like dirt, and I put up with
it, well no more. This man has drawn the line, now it is your choice
if you are going to cross over it." Spike stood their eyes locked
with Buffy's, watching and trying to read the expressions that were
crossing her face. Each second that passed made it harder and harder
for him to stand there. After a few seconds of silence that felt more
like an eternity to Spike he broke the silence, he had his answer. He
turned his back on Buffy and began walking away from her.
    Buffy stood there and listened to every word that Spike had
said. She was trying to piece together what to say to him, when he
suddenly turned his back on her and began to walk away. "Spike!"
Buffy called out after him.
    "See you around Slayer." He answered coldly and continued
walking. Buffy had, had it! She quickly caught up to him. "Stop
walking away from me!" She hissed and spun him around. Spike's hand
flew on its own and punched Buffy sending her flying some feet
backwards.  Buffy was stunned, not sure how to react. She stood up in
time to see something come out from behind a grave stone and tackle
Spike to the ground.
    Spike had no intention of hitting Buffy. He did not know what
else to do. He wanted her to go away, and if it meant having her hate
him, for hitting her, he would do it. What Spike was not ready for
was the attack from the dark thing that jumped out and tackled him to
the ground. With a loud thud Spike landed on his back. He took a few
punches in the face, but he was still not able to make out what was
attacking him. He grabbed a hold of some of the clothing that it was
wearing and with his feet flung it over his head. Spike quickly
rolled over and hopped up.
    "What the hell?" Spike glanced at Buffy who was now standing
next to him. She shrugged her shoulders and took a stance position.
When the creature came into view both dropped their arms too there
side. Spike sighed. "Figures."
    "Angel? What the hell are you doing here? Are you following
me?" Buffy snapped. Spike chuckled and wiped the blood that was now
dripping from his nose.
    "I wanted to see if you were ok." Angel glanced at
Spike. "You touch her again Spike.  I will kill you."
    "Bugger off, Poof. She is no longer your concern. Buffy's a
big girl, isn't that right pet? She can make up her own mind." Angel
growled at Spike and took a step toward him. Buffy stepped between
them.
    "Stop it! Both of you. This game is old and I don't want to
play." Buffy looked at them both.
    "Fine by me.  I was about to take my leave anyway." Spike
fixed his jacket and picked up the pack of cigarettes that had fallen
out of his pocket when angel knocked him down. He lit one and put the
rest back into his jacket.
    "No, Spike we are not done here. There is more that I want to
tell you . . ." Spike raised an eyebrow in question. "It has nothing
to do with Dru, that is something we will deal with later."
    "Buffy," Angel interrupted her. "You're making a mistake."
    "Really? Angel I already told you to stay out of my life. Why
are you still here anyway? We beat the big nasty and everyone is
safe, go back to LA, to your own town and get out of mine." Spike
chuckled again and exhaled a long stream of smoke.
    "If you do this Buffy, decide to be with him." Angel glanced
at Spike. "Forget about what I think, what about your family, your
friends. They will never agree to seeing you with him. Never. Right
now, Xander and Willow have already begun fighting. They know there
is something wrong with you. They want to help. You don't need Spike
to get threw whatever it is you going threw. You have your friends,
that's all you need. Tell him to get out of your life once and for
all. You don't need someone like him." Buffy looked at Spike and then
back at Angel. Spike sighed and threw the butt of his cigarette on
the ground and slowly begun walking away.
    "Your right angel there is something wrong with me. It
started even before I died." Spike thought that he could not hurt
anymore, but the words that he heard from Buffy were far worse then
any torture he could get afflicted on himself.
    "Thank god." Angel said.
    "I was blind! All this time I have been looking for someone
to love me. Riley. You. But all this time it was right here. I was so
stupid and Blind. Spike was there for me.  Right by my side. Even
when I told him there was no chance that he would ever be with me. No
matter how hard I pushed him away, he was still there. Always more
annoying then ever. He was there for me, for Dawn, for everyone. I
could not believe something that had no soul could ever love me.
Angel, Spike had more of a soul then both you and Riley have put
together.  I'm sorry Angel.  I love him. I love Spike." Buffy
giggled. "I love you!" Buffy turned around to yell it to Spike but he
was gone."Shit!" Buffy took off running in the direction that Spike
took his exit. Angel stood there watching after her.
    "Good luck Buff."
    Buffy ran and searched the cemetery. Up ahead she spotted
Spike near the entrance. She started calling his name. She ran faster
when she saw his car parked a few feet away.
    "Spike! Stop please wait!" Spike climbed into the car and
started the engine up. Buffy reached the entrance and jumped in front
of the car just as Spike began moving. He slammed on the breaks and
turned the engine off. He jumped out of the car.
    "What are you daft? I could have killed you." He yelled.
    "You would have if you had left without me telling you this."
    "You're cured and want me out of you life?"
    "No. I'm in love with you Spike . . . I love you." Buffy took
a deep breath. "I LOVE SPIKE!" She screamed as loud as she could. 
Spike just stared at her. "I realized this morning when Cecily came
to visit, and she showed me everything." Spike was trying to say
something.  Buffy looked at him, "Oh, long story, I'll tell you
later." She looked at him and saw his Blue eyes twinkle. "I wanted to
tell you but then you were kidnaped and Dawn. You needed to know. I
needed to tell you." She wanted him to say something. Anything. "You
can go now if you want." She steeped back away from the car.  Spike
slammed  the car door closed. He walked toward her and took her in
his arms. Buffy's heart was beating so fast she was sure that it
would explode. Spike looked down at her. He traced the shape of her
lips with his finger. Buffy shuddered at his touch. She smiled up at
him.
    "I love you, Buffy." Spike said nearly in a whisper.
    "Spike," Buffy paused and she felt his arms tighten around
her. She giggled. "I love you too." Spike crushed his lips into hers,
savoring and exploring every inch of her mouth. He did not want the
kiss to end, neither did Buffy, but they both knew she had to
breathe. He brought his head back far enough that their foreheads
were touching.
    "What about Xander and the scoobie gang?" Buffy stiffened a
bit.
    "As long as you're there by my side, and take most of the
punches, we'll get through this." She squeezed her arms as if trying
to get closer to him. Spike let go of her and laughed.
    "Well look at the bright side." He said. "At least we have
Dawn on our side." Buffy smiled at him and took his hand in hers.
    "And a lot of good that will do when we face the lions. Lets
go home, Spike. Face the firing squad, and start groveling, oh how I
love the grovel."