Buffy was certain once she woke up the previous night would have been nothing but a dream. It couldn’t possible have been real she reasoned.

She’d obviously been fed too much drugs and had somehow confused Angel with Spike. Internally she cringed as she thought of how Angel would react to that.

Though she and he hadn’t spent too much time talking about Spike, she was wise enough to know Angel was certainly jealous of the other vampire.

Hadn’t she after all left Angel in the dark to come rescue Spike? She knew he had a certain right to be angry. But she didn’t want nor need him to take on his possessive boyfriendly role. She hated when acted like her father.

If she wanted to and she didn’t, she could probably analyze that more thoroughly, and find all the roots of her obsession/love for Angel fell at her father’s feet.

But as it was she left that can of worms alone and concentrated on remaining asleep a little longer.

She hated this part of waking up.

She’d been in a deep sleep and something had woken her from it. She was on the edge of sleep and wakefulness, and she knew if she tried hard enough she could fall back asleep.

She let out a yelp as cold fingers danced along her bare leg.

Her eyes flew open and she sat up, tossing the covers off her as she did so.

Wiping a hand over her eyes she glared at the offender.

“Angel…” she began but trailed off abruptly as she stared at the man sprawled out next to her.

Ok, she mused, maybe last night hadn’t been a dream. Because for as long as she and Angel had been trapped here, he’d never slept on the bed with her. And he certainly hadn’t grinned like he was doing right now.

Narrowing her eyes she had to swallow before she could actually speak.

Because right now what she was seeing didn’t quite make sense, at least not to her.

“Wh-what are you-What is wrong with you?” she finally blurted out.

Spike kept grinning even as he rolled over onto his stomach to peer up at her. He was sure right about now she was seeing dual images. Him and Angel. The glamour was wearing off, at least for her it was.

Rowan had made his glamour to certain specifications. People who saw Angel saw what they wanted to see. People, who saw him as he was, saw the truth for what it was.

Buffy was seeing…

He frowned she looked confused and he wondered if maybe he was wrong. He hoped those drugs hadn’t made her loopy, made her forget what happened last night.

“Buffy,” he said slowly as he levered himself up onto his elbows.

“So I guess it wasn’t a dream then.” Buffy made it a half question, half statement as she looked at him.

He nodded mutely waiting for her to expand on that.

She didn’t.

Slowly the grin slipped away and he lowered his eyes.

“So how come I can see you?” she asked abruptly biting her lip and clasping her hands together.

“Cuz you want to see me,” he answered somewhat smugly. “Don’t you?” he asked as he lifted his eyes and met hers.

Buffy turned her face away and realized abruptly that she was virtually naked, and in bed with Spike to boot.

Discretely as she could she pulled the sheet up to cover herself up to her chest.

“What are you doing in bed with me?” she demanded still not looking at him, wondering how she was going to get out of bed without flashing him, and the camera crew a good bit of her backside.

“I wasn’t about to sleep on the floor Slayer,” Spike drawled out smirking as he watched her think. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head. He let his hand slide out and he tugged at the sheet.

She kept a tight hold on it.

“Stop,” she muttered.

“Don’t be shy now luv, I’ve seen you naked remember?”

She sent him such an astonished look Spike couldn’t help but laugh. He lowered his head and fairly shook with it.

“Oh…yeah,” Buffy finally managed to strangle out as she glared at his bent head. Tugging the sheet out of his grasp she wrapped it around her and rose. “I guess it wasn’t that memorable,” she bit out scathingly.

Spike nodded trying to wipe the grin off his face.

“I guess it wasn’t. Guess I wasn’t up to par huh? Let’s talk about that,” he suggested as he rolled onto his back.

“Let’s not,” Buffy countered as she headed for the bathroom.

“We’ve got a lot to discuss Buffy. I’ll be waitin’ when you come out. Buffy aren’t you forgettin’ something?” Spike called out as Buffy swept into the bathroom.

She poked her head out.

Spike inclined his head to the closet.

“Not that I wouldn’t mind a show, but I doubt you’d like to give it to everyone who’s watching. Get your clothes,” he ordered sternly.

He felt her blush and narrowed his eyes as she strode out and went to the closet. She took her time in selecting an outfit.

“Thanks,” he heard her mutter before she retreated into the bathroom and slammed the door shut.

“Welcome,” he whispered as he closed his eyes and let himself doze.

~*~

Buffy stared at her reflection in the mirror as she finished wiping the condensation off. Really looked and didn’t really like what she saw.

She looked haunted.

She had circles under her eyes as big as silver dollars; her face was pale and slightly gaunt. Her collar bone stuck out considerable against her chest.

Grimacing she turned away from her reflection and slowly got dressed. As she pulled on new undies she couldn’t forget the fact that Spike was outside the door. Though she’d thought she had imagined last night now she knew she hadn’t. It was difficult for her to understand how he could be here.

She’d been sure he, Wes, and Tate would have been long gone from here and yet…here was Spike all ready to rescue her. She didn’t like it, not one little bit and she was going to tell Spike just that.

Pulling on her shirt she turned to face the mirror again, and cursed the vain thought of wishing for makeup. She hadn’t thought about her appearance much and she resented the fact that Spike was the one to make her think it now. She didn’t have to look pretty for him, she thought angrily. She didn’t have to do anything for him.

Hell she didn’t even have to talk to him.

But she knew he would make that virtually impossible. Talking to him was what he wanted right now and she wasn’t sure if she had it in her to do that. He wanted to obviously talk about Angel. How was she going to do that, when she couldn’t even talk to Angel about Spike? It certainly didn’t seem fair to talk to Spike and not to Angel.

But then, she mused with a shrug, when had her life ever been fair.

But, she decided abruptly, before they ventured into Angel land she had some questions that needed answers. And she was certain he’d answer them.

She opened the door to the bathroom after securing her wet hair into a ponytail and making sure she looked decent.

Her eyes skirted the room and rested on Spike who still lay on the bed, his eyes closed and a peaceful expression on his face.

She narrowed her eyes and took a few steps into the room.

“I want to talk to you,” she said as she crossed her arms and took a determined stance.

He opened one blue eye.

“So talk,” he invited smoothly.

Buffy nodded.

“How’d you get here?” she asked curiously.

“Saw a bird about a git,” Spike said with a small smile, knowing his answer would piss her off.

Buffy frowned as she ran that through her head. It didn’t make any sense to her, and she had the sinking suspicion that’s the way Spike wanted it.

“That doesn’t even make sense,” she snapped. “If you aren’t going to tell me then fine! Make me wonder and get all worried about-about things. Things like that other thing. The small unexpected thing. I’m sure you don’t care about that,” Buffy finished with a smugness belied by her unconcerned tone.

Spike wondered if she even understood what she had just said. It was filled with hidden meaning, he thought.

He frowned as he realized she thought he didn’t care about Tate, and that perhaps he’d left Wes and the baby high and dry. He couldn’t have her thinking that. Nope.

He opened his eyes.

Sat up and beckoned her closer.

When she hesitated he shrugged, and got up off the bed, and slowly wandered towards her. He stood a few inches away knowing he was making her all kinds of nervous.

He loved it so he smiled.

“Now would I do that Buffy?” he asked lightly. “I made sure the-that things were all tucked away safe and sound before I left. In fact things are going rather smoothly. I’m certain,” he added confidently.

Buffy wondered how he could be so confident, she knew that no matter how good things were going it couldn’t last. She knew that something was bound to go wrong, and she hoped it happened to them and not to Wes and Tate.

“So things are good. How’d you get here S-Angel? It couldn’t have been easy with you being where you were,” she muttered desperately wanting to take a few steps back. She didn’t like him being thins close. Not when he had his sense of self back, and he seemed too amused by the affect he had on her.

With a nonchalant shrug Spike said, “Actually it was. Took a dip and ended up here. So ‘bout you and me gettin’ naked. How was that? For you I mean? I wanna know everything I mean to you Buffy. Who is Angel to you? At the beginning if you please,” Spike stepped back and gallantly swept his arm out on a bow.

Buffy couldn’t help the incredulous smile as she side stepped him and lay down on the bed.

Spike took up residence leaning against the wall.

“I don’t see why you want-“she began irritated.

“Please, just explain things from your perspective so I’ll know what not to do,” Spike said speaking about himself now. He wasn’t anything like Angel he was sure, and didn’t want to repeat the other vampire’s mistakes. “Again,” he added belatedly.

Buffy scowled and closed her eyes.

It was hard to talk about Angel, she reflected but she guessed Spike deserved to know. After all he didn’t even remember Angel and their history.

She wondered if that was a blessing.

She hoped explaining her sordid history with Angel would deter both her, and Spike from thinking about pursuing whatever it was between them.

“Well you were tall and handsome. Mysterious,” she began not looking at Spike as she spoke. “A real turn on. I couldn’t figure you out and I really, really wanted too. You were always slipping away right when things would be getting interesting. Of course I didn’t know you were a vampire-“

“What?!” Spike exploded. “How could you not know he-I was a vampire?” he demanded incredulously. “Are you not the Slayer? Thus able to sense vampires?”

Buffy gave a small shrug.

“Hormones and all that Sp-Angel. It kinda kept me from really feeling out your aura. Plus whenever you turned up vampires were always near. Kinda hard to distinguish you know? But boy did I ever find out. You kissed me and vamped out-“

Spike snorted in laughter and shook his head.

“Couldn’t control himself then,” he muttered in amusement. What kind of bloke was this Angel fella? Since he’d heard of Angel he hadn’t liked him, and now he knew he was gonna hate the bastard before long.

“YOU couldn’t control yourself,” Buffy fairly hissed out reminding him he was in the guise of Angel. He couldn’t refer to himself in the third person. “But that was my introduction to Angel the vampire. It was a little while later when I found out about your soul. But once I did we became close.”

Buffy paused and shook her head as memories flooded through her.

“And…?” Spike asked impatiently. He didn’t like the look on her face, he didn’t want her getting nostalgic and wanting to run back to Angel.

“And you saved my life when I died-“Buffy began once again.

“What?! How-Why-How?” Spike sputtered out pushing off from the wall and hurrying forward. He took a seat on the bed and crawled towards her.

Batted her hands away when she tried to keep him from touching her. He knew it was insane, but he felt the intense urge to see if she was okay.

He let his hand cup her cheek as he peered at her.

“You’re okay right?” he asked softly.

Buffy let out a sigh as she saw he was actually worried. She let her expression soften slightly and nodded.

“That was like almost two years ago,” she reassured him.

Spike stared at her a long moment, letting his thumb rub along her cheekbone.

“I’m sorry,” he muttered shaking his head fiercely. “Just got me scared-was rememberin’,” he mumbled and dropped his hand.

Buffy assured herself she didn’t miss the feel of his cool hand on her cheek.

“Well anyway we got along fine, made out a lot and-“she trailed off as she caught Spike’s disgusted face. Pursed her lips and vowed to add more of that,” then Spike came to town with Drusilla. He was hell bent on helping Drusilla get better. He kidnapped you and I felt as if my heart would break. I loved you oh so much. Like…this much.”

Buffy threw her arms wide to demonstrate her love for Angel, she knew she was putting it on thick, but she needed Spike to understand there wasn’t a chance for him.

Spike kept his face expressionless as he rose onto his knees beside her, looming over her he wanted to smirk but didn’t.

“How much?” he whispered as he leaned down, letting his cheek brush hers briefly, before he began to nuzzle her neck.

A shiver rolled down Buffy’s spine as she felt the feather light touch of his lips on her neck. It took her a moment to remember he had asked her a question.

“A-a lot,” she stammered out hoarsely as he nipped at her neck with blunt human teeth.

“You smell good Buffy,” Spike murmured as he caught her lobe in his teeth.

Buffy sucked in much needed air and blinked slowly.

“That’s um…cuz…um…I took a shower,” she stated lamely a little breathlessly.

He trailed kisses along the side of her face as his hands cradled her head, watched as Buffy lifted her arms to rest on his shoulders.

He lifted his face and let his mouth brush hers.

“Tell me about Spike,” he ordered his eyes intent on hers.

He watched in amusement as her pupils dilated and sharp anger flew into her green eyes, as he felt her whole body tense.

“Spike’s a bastard,” she spat glaring up at him.

Spike nodded knowingly.

“Translation…you like him. That’s okay, I’m quite sure Spike has some fine qualities,” he told her smugly.

Buffy arched a brow and smirked.

“That right Angel? When’d you jump on the Spike has fine qualities band wagon? You hate him remember? Almost as much as I do.”

Spike tsked.

“See I have a hard time believing that Buffy. You ran off to rescue him. You left me, your boyfriend, to come and rescue Spike. Why? Surely there’s a reason. One that will make sense to both of us.”

Buffy closed her eyes to get away from the intensity of his blue ones. She wanted to ask him to move, but she knew he wouldn’t. He was enjoying this too much. She knew what he wanted from her and she wasn’t going to give it to him. Not today.

“I was curious,” was all she allowed herself to say. She didn’t need to expand on that because it was the truth. She’d been intensely curious when Drusilla invaded her mind. There had been no ulterior motives or feelings to egg her on.

No, a little voice in her head mocked, of course not. These feelings just sort of sprang up didn’t they? You’ve never thought of Spike as sexy… Right!

She squashed that voice viciously.

“Curious,” Spike repeated and decided to leave it at that. “Tell me how you first met Spike. What did you think of him? And open your eyes,” he added flicking her nose with his finger.

She shoved at his hand.

“Don’t do that again,” she said in a deadly voice.

“Then open your eyes.”

Her eyes flashed open.

“I met Spike in an alley. I was fighting another vampire, and when I dusted him Spike stepped out of the shadows. Clapping. I asked who he was and he said I’d find out on Saturday. I asked what happens Saturday. Spike said I kill you. He ran off and left me there.”

Spike hid a grimace as buried his face in the crook of her neck.

“Sorry,” she heard him mumble. She rolled her eyes even as she let her fingers tunnel through his hair.

“I thought he was the most gothic looking vampire I’d ever seen. And the most arrogant. Cocky and too sure of himself. Bastard. He made me angry. And then he couldn’t even wait until Saturday! He had to attack me on Parent-Teacher night, and if my mom hadn’t hit him over the head with that axe I’d be dead!”

Her words fell between them.

“Then why did you rescue him?” Spike whispered as he lifted his head and met her eyes.

Buffy opened her mouth to repeat what she’d said before, but no words came out and she closed her mouth.

She didn’t like all the unchecked emotions she was seeing in Spike’s eyes at the moment. He obviously thought there was more to it than curiosity.

To be honest so did she, but she wasn’t about to tell him that.

“I-I don’t know,” she said at last on a deep sigh.

Spike cocked his head to the side and considered that a moment.

A large part of him wanted to push her for an honest answer. To make her reveal everything to him now.

But the saner side of him rebelled and he backed off.

Physically and emotionally.

He rolled away from her and rested his hands behind his head. Studied the gray ceiling and tried not to dwell upon what she’d said about him and Angel.

He knew of course that he’d tried to kill her; his memories were made up of them fighting and arguing.

But it still caused him all sorts of discomfort to have her state it aloud like that. They hadn’t had the best start granted but there was still hope.

There was always hope.

He felt Buffy shift and roll, felt the sting of her eyes on him and abruptly closed his eyes. He didn’t want to talk because he knew if he did then he’d pounce, and demand she give him everything she had to give.

Her heart, her soul, and her body for starters.

“Why do you love me?” she asked her voice demanding an answer.

“Who said anything about love?” he asked in return. Clenched his jaw when she laughed at that.

“No one has to say it Sp-Angel! I just…know. I don’t understand why-or even how for that matter! It doesn’t make sense to me and I want you to tell me. Now!”

“Isn’t it enough to know that I love you?” he growled out as he rolled to face her. “Why must you know more? It’s here.”

He thumped his fist over his dead heart.

“And here,” he pointed to his head. “See you’re all around me. I can’t escape you Buffy. And I wouldn’t even if I could. You’re all that’s left Buffy.”

It pained her to hear him say that. Beyond words, it hurt in a place she hadn’t known she’d allowed Spike access to.

“I’m sorry,” she told him quietly. “But it’s hard for me to grasp. Vampires shouldn’t be able to love. Especially- Well you know Angel when we had sex and you lost your soul…you didn’t love me then,” she gritted out.

Spike blinked as he absorbed what she’d said.

“Then he-I was a fool. A soul doesn’t matter. Not to me. All I know is what I feel and it’s not gonna go away just because you want it to Buffy. What I feel is true and right. I feel it. So do you. Don’t you?”

Buffy licked her suddenly dry lips.

“I…I don’t love you,” she said as calmly as she could.

She didn’t love him.

She didn’t, she assured herself. She couldn’t love him. Love didn’t just strike like lightning and shoot you down.

It had to grow, she reasoned. Her love for Angel had grown, and broken, and had sort of grown again.

He stared unblinkingly at her and stupidly she wondered if he really needed to blink. After all he was dead and his central nervous system was dead too. Did he really need to blink?

Why was he staring at her still?!

Why couldn’t she look away?

She wanted things to go back to the way it’d been years ago. Before Angelus, before sending Angel to hell, having him come back, and her rescuing Spike.

It hadn’t been easier, she thought darkly, but it sure as hell made more sense back then.

Before she knew it she was talking, forgetting all about their pretense of Spike being Angel. At the moment she was too angry to think or even care about being heard.

“Spike…” she considered stopping but ignored the urge, “I just can’t! Okay? I will not go down that road again! No matter what you think it’s not going to happen. I don’t know why you think you love me-but you can’t. It’s not- I don’t believe it! I won’t ever believe it. I will never, never, feel the same way! Ever.”

“I’ve got forever pet,” Spike snapped. “I’ve got bloody eons! I don’t give a damn about what you believe or don’t! We both know who’s lying here don’t we? I’m not going to sit here and listen to you tell me I’m some sort of repeat of you and that bloody bastard Angel! I am not!”

“But it would be! You’re a vampire Spike,” she yelled as she got to her feet, and tried to put as much distance between them as she could. “Slayers and vampires don’t mix!”

Spike got off the bed as well and glared at her.

“One vampire didn’t work,” he spat. “One soulful vampire didn’t work. You talked about him losing his soul and not loving you. Well that’s not a problem with me is it? ‘Aven’t got a soul to lose luv. I’ll be anything you want me to be Buffy- do you understand what I’m saying? I’ve got nothing besides you and-and the other thing. But it was you. The Slayer. Buffy who kept me alive. Kept me somewhat sane. How do you think I can stand even being in this room Buffy?” he shouted throwing his arms out.

Buffy swallowed hard as his words hit her like physical blows.

“You think I’d come into this place if it was just a fleeting fancy?” he asked his voice lowering dangerously as he stalked closer to her. “With all this fancy magic just so I could pretend that I love you? I came here knowing if things go wrong I’m back where I started. I’ve been tortured Buffy, by these people, and I came so it wouldn’t happen to you too. I came because I love you. And you will love me,” he vowed on a growl.

Buffy was dumbstruck as she gaped at him.

She shook her head trying to dispel his words, and the truth behind them as well. If he believed it, if she let herself fall for it, then she would start to question everything. Specifically Angel and Angelus. Two beings embodied in the same vampire.

Why couldn’t he love her?

Spike let his glare slip away as he watched Buffy’s stricken face, watched as she stood open and vulnerable before him.

Emotions skirted across her face and he read each and every one of them.

“I don’t know why he didn’t love you Buffy. But don’t compare us. It’s not right or fair. I love you. And the why is different, from why Angel loves you. I know you feel for me. Tell me,” he pressed urgently striding towards her.

Buffy shook her head and took a quick step back from him.

“No,” she gasped out.

He backed her into the wall and kept her there as he lifted his arms, and planted them beside her head.

“Why can’t you give me something?” he whispered hoarsely. “Anything will do. Would it be so bad loving me then?”

Buffy bit her lip.

She wanted to lie as she opened her mouth and spoke.

And knew she couldn’t.

“No,” she whispered back. “It wouldn’t be bad. I…”

“Say it,” he urged again.

“Can’t you see,” she muttered angrily, “that I just can’t? I’m n-“

“Say it.”

She glared at him as she shoved him and had the satisfaction of seeing him stumble back about a foot.

“What do you think’s gonna happen if I say it Spike? Loving you would be a huge mistake. You’ve got so much going on right now. So do I. You’ve got that…thing. You’ll have to care for it forever. How would I explain all this to my friends? Much less my mom? Or even Angel. I couldn’t. I just couldn’t.”

Spike narrowed his eyes.

“You know what I heard in what you just said? I heard about everyone but you Buffy. What do you want? You want a nancy boy like Angel? Someone you can’t ever really be close to? Want the vamp that’ll go soulless on you? Or me? I might be soulless but at least I know what love is. I know how to love. And I love you. You tell me and make me believe you could never love me and I’ll let it go. I will let you go,” he declared passionately.

Buffy closed her eyes.

“I can’t-I don’t- dammit,” she swore angrily as she rubbed a hand over her face. She couldn’t even say it.

What the hell was she doing? She wondered frantically. She couldn’t possible be thinking about-

She cut that thought off abruptly. She wasn’t going to say anything to him, she told herself. What was the point?

There was Angel to think of and Tate.

And herself obviously.

It had torn her apart dealing with a soulless Angel once, and she couldn’t even think about going through it again with Spike.

What did she want?

She knew what she wanted.

She just didn’t know why she wanted it, she mused resignedly.

It made no sense.

She looked up at him and sighed.

“I feel for you. Is that what you want to hear Spike?” she asked angrily.

Spike tried to keep his smile dimmed but it was useless as he grinned.

“Yeah pet that’s what I wanted to hear,” he told her.

“Really? Well why leave it at that? Let’s let it all hang out. You want it all well here you go! I think I’m in love with you! What am I going to do about it? Not a damn thing! Why? Because it’s wrong. On so many levels I won’t even bother going-“

She broke off as he came closer.

“Don’t,” she snapped lifting her hand.

“Wha?” Spike asked as he advanced closer.

“Don’t touch me, don’t kiss me. I’m explaining things to you,” she told him as she skirted around him.

“But you just told me you love me. That deserves a kiss,” he mused. “A lot more than a kiss luv,” he drawled.

“Spike…” She stated warningly.

“Buffy…” he mocked back.

They both turned sharply as the door was suddenly unlocked opened.

Chapter Fourteen:

Spike’s whole body went taut and his senses were on overboard. A lucky thing because he wouldn’t have heard it had he not been alert.

The soft whine of a bullet sailing through the air.

He moved even before the thought registered in his brain. Shoved Buffy to the ground and took the bullets meant for her. The guard armed with an automatic weapon didn’t let up on firing even as Spike strode purposefully towards him.

He had already assessed the situation, and when he reached out and snapped the man’s wrist back, he grabbed the gun. Swung it onto the guard who’d had the brains to try and run for cover.

Dispassionately he fired and watched as the man slumped to the ground.

He felt rather than saw Buffy as she moved into the doorway behind him.

“You killed them…” she breathed in disbelief.

Spike didn’t respond as he reached back and snagged her wrist. He tugged her out of the room and began to move.

“Buffy we have to get out of here. Obviously they know I mean to take you and run. Hurry,” he growled as he felt her resist.

Buffy couldn’t seem to grasp the fact the he’d actually killed those men. And had stepped right into the path of bullets.

“You saved my life,” she mumbled.

Spike sent her a grin over his shoulder.

“I came to get you out pet and I didn’t mean in a body bag. Bloody hell,” Spike snarled as he rounded a corner, and found himself face to face with a dead end.

Buffy shook her head to clear it. They were in a situation she’d expected to happen with Angel not Spike. So she supposed the rules she’d normally have apply to Angel wouldn’t work with Spike.

Pulling out of Spike’s grasp she studied the metal door that blocked their escape.

“We could break it down,” she remarked as she lifted a foot and slammed it into the door. It shuddered but didn’t move.

Spike tilted his head and moved past Buffy back the way they’d come.

“Buffy I need you to take this,” he told her after peeking around the corner to see if anyone else was coming. He turned back to face her holding out his hand.

Buffy glanced at his hand then up at his face and frowned slightly. They needed to break down that door and get the hell out of here! She didn’t know what he wanted but it would wait she was sure.

“It can wait,” she told him and turned back.

Spike caught her shoulder.

“No it can’t. This is a teleportation medallion. I need you to use this.”

She stared at him in shock.

“What? What are you talking about? I thought-you said you were getting me out of here Spike. This is ridiculous; we don’t have time for this!”

Spike resisted the urge to shake her. Obviously she didn’t understand the urgency of this. He was bleeding here and she wanted to argue about how she was going to leave. She was probably used to men who did what she wanted.

Right now he didn’t care what she wanted. He wanted her safe and sound, so he ignored her, and said the chosen words to engage the medallion.

The air shimmered and Buffy gaped as a hole formed and energy pulsed around the edges of it.

Spike gripped Buffy’s shoulders and picked her up. He set her into the portal and grinned into her growingly angry face.

“I’ll see you later luv,” he told her before he gave a brief but forceful kiss. He turned his back and raced off.

“Buffy,” the voice came from behind Buffy and she turned back to stare at Angel who was still bound to his chair. Her eyes skirted off of the old woman.

“Hullo there lass,” the old woman acknowledged her with a smile and a wave. Buffy returned it warily before she turned back to the still pulsing portal. “I expect you’ll be wanting to go back. To open the medallion back up just say his slayer. Off you go now lass,” she ushered Buffy back into the portal.

Before she could speak much less thank the woman she was back in the council building. She landed on her knees and didn’t bother to watch the portal close as she detected the sounds of running feet. She dashed back to the steel door and gritting her teeth she began the task of kicking it down.

~*~

Spike muttered to himself as he felt another bullet hit him squarely in the chest. Grinding his teeth together he shook his head.

“Bullets don’t kill vampires,” he told them in a tight strained voice. They may not kill him, but they sure as hell hurt like a bitch. And the way he was getting shot he was in for a world of pain once he had time to stop, and stand still long enough to feel it.

He didn’t waste much time in trying to be gentle as he went through the guards that tried to take him down. He wasn’t quite sure where he was. He’d left Buffy and had run down a maze of hallways it seemed. Came upon a group of guards and had taken care of them.

His main priority at the moment was getting to Maggie Walsh, he knew she was here and he owed her long over due pain. He grinned ferociously at that thought; he glanced around the deserted hall striding quickly to the nearest door, he reached for the knob.

It wouldn’t budge but with the added pressure of his shoulder to the door it soon opened, and he stumbled into the room.

Blinking he took in the room and shook his head in confusion.

“Bloody hell,” he began. “What’s this?!”

~*~

“I really don’t think we should be doing this,” someone muttered as they crept through the deserted halls of Council Headquarters.

“I agree. This is absolutely ridiculous. I must say rescuing this Slayer is pointless. I’m quite sure she’s in no immediate dange-“Ronald Thornton began his voice squeaky with agitation.

Giles turned his hand reaching out and gripping Ronald’s collar. He began dragging him closer. He glared down at him, his blue eyes blazing behind his glasses.

“You’re quite sure she’s in no immediate danger are you Ronald? How did you come to that astounding conclusion? She’s been held here for the amusement of a mad woman, and God only knows what she’s been doing to Buffy! Now open your mouth again, and I will personally introduce you to immediate danger,” Giles snarled as he shoved Ronald away from him.

He ignored the gasps of horror and indignation as he continued his march through the halls.

“It seems likely they would have Buffy on the second floor. There are more secure rooms up there. Miles can you get to the security room on level three and cut off all cameras?” Giles asked as he glanced over his shoulder at his little band of miscreants.

Miles a young Watcher in training nodded eagerly as he dashed away.

“Now everyone get ready we’re going up to the second floor,” Giles told them and abruptly headed for the stairwell.

“Must we walk?” someone asked pitifully.

Giles ignored them as he continued up the stairs. He knew that it was only a matter of time before they were greeted by armed guards and perhaps killed. He had managed to garner a few magical necessities from a mage before he’d come here.

Glamour’s for all of his people and a few spells to confuse and freeze their enemies. He hadn’t wanted to make this a rash mission but having seen Spike yesterday…

He had immediately changed his plans to get Buffy out sooner rather than later. He still could not fathom why Spike was interested in Buffy. Or for that matter why Buffy was interested in Spike. They were mortal enemies. Who had on one occasion helped eachother save the world.

But that had been a year ago and things had gone back to the way they should be. Giles had no fondness for vampires, and he could not understand Buffy’s attraction to them.

He hoped he was wrong about Buffy being attracted to William the Bloody. He was an evil fiend and needed to be dealt with accordingly.

Huffing a little out of breath he paused at the door that led to the second floor.

“On three everyone.”

He slowly counted to three and opened the door.

He just hoped Buffy appreciated what he was going through to get her out of here.

~*~

Buffy spent a lot of time dodging guards. Not that it was hard, but it was frustrating because they were like roaches and everywhere at once.

She’s learned quite by accident, as she had run into one of the guards that they weren’t supposed to hurt her. She wasn’t supposed to be shot at, which she found to be a plus. Bullets a dead Slayer they would make.

Grimacing she strode through a hall strewn with bodies.

It was clear Spike had come this way, she mused with a shake of her head. She didn’t want to dwell on how this was going to make her feel once she was out of here.

After all this was an extraordinary situation nothing was normal here, and God knew she couldn’t hold herself to these…feelings. She wasn’t sure if she wanted to either. It would be so easy to pretend that she’d never rescued Spike, never fallen under the temptation that Spike represented.

It wasn’t like she didn’t love Angel because she did. That was a given and it wouldn’t go away, hell it hadn’t gone away. But…Spike. She wasn’t sure how that had happened. Of course she had been attracted to him from the beginning. He was hot and he knew it.

He was arrogant and cocky, crude, and all of it put together was actually a turn on. He was certainly everything she had never wanted, that was for damn sure.

But he seemed to be everything she needed.

And she didn’t know how to feel about that. She had not come all this way to fall for an amnesic vampire, who happened to be her mortal enemy. She hadn’t expected herself to bond with said vampire’s baby and fall in love with said baby’s vampire father.

God she was crazy.

She knew it and soon if Spike had his way, would everyone else. He wasn’t going to keep quiet about loving her, and would no doubt announce to anyone who would listen, how she was in love with him too.

“And what was up with him sending me off like that? Like I don’t know what I’m doing! I’m the Slayer,” she asked aloud with a pout.

Of course he was killing people and she certainly didn’t approve of that. Not that that was a reason to toss her into the portal and take off to have all the fun.

Although it was kind of thrilling being told what to do and not being given a choice. After all she had never had a man be that way with her.

At least not Angel.

If she thought about it he treated her almost like a father would his child. Protecting her from harm and the evilness of the world etc.

Cept she was the Slayer and it was her job.

“I’m the Slayer and I have a right to be here,” she muttered even as she stumbled into a room.

She blinked as she took it in. Shook her head and let a snort escape.

“I should have guessed the Council would have a dungeon,” she mused.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!”

Head cocked to the side Buffy stepped more fully into the room, and wandered to the last cell and peered into it. She studied the bloody and beaten man who cowered in a corner. Frowned and bit her lip.

“Need help getting out of there?” she asked as she placed her hands on the bars and bent them.

The man gaped at her and Buffy couldn’t help but feel a little bit of pride run through her.

She waited patiently for him to get to his feet and step through the hole she’d made. She looked him over and grimaced slightly at the smell that was coming off him.

“Hi I’m Buffy,” she told him as she turned away from him and headed back for the door. She heard his in drawn breath and sent a quick look over her shoulder. “You up for this?”

Quentin Travers could do no more than nod his head and follow behind her as she strode out.

Feeling better about herself and happy to have her thoughts off her love life, and what her friends, and family would say, she turned to wait for the man to catch up with her.

“You didn’t tell me your name,” she said as they walked.

The man cleared his throat.

“I…I’m Quentin Travers,” he muttered.

Buffy looked at him more closely and narrowed her eyes thoughtfully.

“Ohhhh,” was her only reply. No.

~*~

“Impossible,” Maggie snapped as she strode down the long corridor of the Initiative’s Headquarters underground Sunnydale U. Her arms were crossed and her jaw was clenched shut in anger as she listened to her assistant prattle on.

“Well…” her assistant began but Maggie waved her off with a sharp flick of her wrist when she saw Riley Finn approaching.

“Go, far away, now,” she ordered the young woman and turned her attention to her soldier. “Tell me Riley what’s this I hear about rogue missions? I heard you took your team on a recon mission to that little hotel on the edge of town. I specifically told you to leave it alone. Why did you disobey me?” she asked voice cool and controlled.

Riley ducked his head a moment before he answered.

“Well ma’am I know what you said and what I felt. They were two different things. I had a gut feeling that there was something off there. I was wrong and ended up meeting up with the Slayer,” he replied regretfully.

Maggie eyes him sharply.

“Slayer? Brown hair, dark eyes? Bitch of an attitude?” she asked curiously.

Riley nodded silently.

“Hmmm. No matter, no harm, no foul. Disobey me again and you will pay the price. Tell me Riley how our little spy Xander Harris is fitting in,” she said as she began moving once again.

She listened with half an ear as Riley talked. Her thoughts were on other things. She had a feeling…in the pit of her stomach, a sense of foreboding that would not go away.

Shaking it off and putting it down as nerves she smiled slightly. She was almost there, she thought excitedly. Almost there and once Angel made it with Buffy there was no doubt in her mind that she’s have her super, super baby in no time!

And it had all come together, oh, so nicely. She hadn’t counted on Buffy coming to rescue Spike in London, but it had turned out to be a wonderful surprise. After all she was The Slayer and her helping Spike was an interesting development.

Then to have Angel come down thinking to be the knight in shining armor, which frankly had been a stroke of genius, unplanned of course. Buffy had been involved with the vampire before, and it seemed only natural to allow nature to take its course.

Maggie wasn’t stupid either and having seen Buffy and Spike together, and how the vampire listened to her, it was obvious there was something between them.

“What? What did you say?” she asked as she caught the tail end of what Riley had said.

Sending her a curious look he repeated what he’d said.

Her eyes narrowed in surprise and wonder.

“Well things are about to get a hell of a lot more interesting,” she mused.

~*~

Joyce waved off Wesley’s attempts to argue with the plan they’d made up.

“I’m sorry Wesley but this is the way it has to be, understand?” she asked as she regarded him carefully.

Wesley glared at her and shook his head.

“No, I won’t allow you to use Tate. I promised Buffy I would look out for him,” Wes argued as he shook his head and tried to remain calm. He hadn’t expected Buffy’s family and friends to want to use Tate as bait in destroying Maggie Walsh. If he had he would never have come here.

Joyce let out a long sigh as she glanced away.

“There’s no other way Wes. I’m telling you if there was then of course we would try it. We put Xander in there and it’s brought us nothing. I want this finished tonight. I hate to use the baby but Buffy would understand. Sometimes you have to do things you wouldn’t normally do. Now everyone understands what’s going to happen don’t you?” she asked the room.

She got nods of ascent and with a silent prayer she headed for the door.

“Come on then,” she muttered and walked out.

~*~

“We have to go help Buffy,” Angel yelled as he struggled uselessly.

Rowan ignored him as she went about searching for something amongst her messy clutter. She hummed and was quite pleased with herself when she heard Angel curse. She had enjoyed her time with him, catching him up on all the things he’d missed out on once he’d been turned.

Yes it had been quite fun.

“Listen c’mon I know you have some sort of deal with Spike, but Buffy can’t trust him and there’s an army of soldiers in there. She’s going to die. Do you want that on your conscience? I can not sit by and watch her die again,” he spoke more calmly but none less passionately.

Rowan cast him a glance as she pondered his words.

“Perhaps you’re right,” she acknowledged.

Angel nodded eagerly.

“Then let me go and I’ll get her out of there,” he replied excitedly.

Rowan shook her white head.

“No. If you go lad then surely I’ll be goin’ with you. If we’re gonna do this then let’s get on with it,” she muttered impatiently.

“Okay,” Angel reluctantly agreed.

Rowan studied him with narrowed eyes and muttered under her breath.

Angel gave a roar of triumphant as he felt his magical bonds drift away. Free as a bird he jumped to his feet and tottered as dizziness assaulted him.

He blinked.

Rowan laughed.

“Didn’t think I’d let you be at your best did ya boy? Let’s go. If need be I’ll let you help with the fighting, but until then enjoy the dizziness.”

Angel glared at her but didn’t say anything as he swayed unsteadily on his feet.

Rowan opened the portal that led to the Council building, and taking Angel’s arm she stepped through it, and didn’t glance back as it closed behind them.

~*~

Giles cursed roundly as he realized the entire second floor was littered with bullet holes and dead bodies. He could only assume that Spike had gotten here before he had and now he had Buffy.

He cursed himself and his reluctance to use Rowan. If he had put aside his aversion he would have had all his ingredients in time, and no doubt would have gotten to Buffy sooner. But no, he had to be his stiff British self, and ask the most inappropriate questions. Grimacing he swept a hand over his sweaty brow.

“Dammit,” he yelled angrily as he turned on his little group. “Spread out and search every room on this bloody floor! I want the Slayer found and brought back to me! If you find William the Bloody…kill him.”

Giles turned his back on them and raced down the hall, and rounded the corner to re-search the whole floor once more. He eyed the door that had been flattened and wondered if Spike had been the one to do it. Gritting his teeth he forced himself to step through the door and into the dark halls beyond.

He would not think of the possibility of Buffy being hurt or God help him, dead. If he thought like that he had no doubt he would not be able to go on. So keeping his thoughts on all the nasty things he would do to Spike once he found him, he was shocked when he saw the air begin to crackle and energy split through air.

He took a quick step back, then another as a hole opened and he found himself facing a portal.

Which held Angel he noted and …Rowan?

~*~

Spike reached out and started to touch the thing that held his attention.

“Don’t,” came a sharp voice from behind him.

Spike turned sharply in game face, ready to hurt anyone who approached him. He glared at the skinny man hiding in a corner on the farthest side of the room.

“Why not, it’s got my name on it,” Spike muttered as he turned to fully face the man. He narrowed golden eyes on him and waited for a response.

He heard the man gulp and grinned flashing fangs.

“It’s not supposed to be contaminated. That’s um…that’s your sperm,” the man managed to get out through a rapidly closing throat.

Spike abruptly turned back to the vial. Studied the row of vials it was in, noted that they all held his name on them. He counted them and felt a little bit sick. There were thirty vials of his sperm right in front of him, and it sickened him to think that Maggie was using it to get women vampires pregnant.

In a fit of rage he swept his arm wide and knocked all it to the floor and had the satisfaction of seeing it shatter.

“That really won’t help. We’ve got more of it. It’s stored with the other vampire’s sperm,” the man couldn’t help but point out.

“What?” Spike demanded.

“Dr. Walsh wanted to see whose sperm was stronger. She wanted to use yours on the Slayer, but only if you were captured again. Since…um you weren’t she settled…um… on that other vampire’s sperm,” the man went on quickly stumbling over his own tongue.

Spike’s boots crunched over the broken glass as he headed directly to the cowering man. He stared down at him a long moment, and abruptly reached out and gripped him by his throat.

“Are you telling me the Slayer’s pregnant with Angel’s baby?” he asked dangerously.

The man’s eyes nearly popped out of his skull as he gulped once more, and his eyes skirted away from Spike’s feral golden ones.

“There’s…there’s um…that other vampire is behind you,” he gasped out.

Spike flung the man away without another thought and spun on his heel. His eyes rested on the tall looming figure standing in the doorway.

He cocked his head to the side and studied him with a look of acute disdain.

“Oi what’s with the hair?” he asked before Angel lunged at him.

~*~

“He must be here somewhere,” Buffy muttered to herself.

“Well I would think it wise to follow the trail of dead bodies,” Quentin murmured condescendingly.

Buffy rolled her eyes and tried to keep her temper in check. It wouldn’t do to get pissed off at him, after all he was probably in a great deal of pain, and she kept leading them in circles.

“Well I didn’t ask you did I?” she heard herself saying sharply and winced.

“Well you should have. I’ll have you know I know this building inside out little girl. I could be of the utmost help. I was only stating the obvious. Because quite clearly you aren’t thinking straight,” he told her angrily, his voice as sharp as hers had been.

Rounding on him she glared at him.

“Okay so much for being civil Mr. Travers. Have you noticed that I was the one who rescued you? I deserve a little gratitude at the very least, not your condescending opinion on how I’m doing such a bad job of keeping you alive. Let me tell you something. I don’t have the patience to put up with your mouth a minute longer! All I want to do is find Spike and get the hell out of here. If you’re with us or not it doesn’t matter. You don’t matter to me. I was trying to be all nice and Slayer like when I rescued you. But if this is the thanks I get, then get the hell away from me, and get out on your own,” she yelled.

Turning she stalked off not waiting to see if he followed or not.

At the moment she didn’t give a damn.

“Well I must say that was well done.”

She stiffened at the voice and slowly turned to face Giles.

He stood slightly ahead of Quentin a grin on his lips as he took her in.

Buffy felt the urgent need to run into his arms, and give him her biggest Slayer hug. But one thing held her back as she studied him.

“What are you doing here?” she asked confused. He could so not be here.

Giles frowned, that had not been the response he’d been looking for.

“I came to help you out of this dastardly mess,” he replied his smile faltering as she continued to stare at him. “What’s wrong Buffy?” he asked.

Buffy opened her mouth to speak, but before she could, Quentin gave a squeal and jumped in the air, hurriedly backing away and into the wall.

“Sorry there lad,” Rowan said as she hopped up, not in the least bit apologetic at startling Quentin. She glanced from Giles to Buffy and grinned.

Giles grimaced and averted his eyes from Rowan’s ghastly leg that was in full view, because she had her skirt hiked up exposing her mis-matched legs.

Buffy glanced at the woman again and then frowned as she realized she was the woman who’s helped her get back here.

“Wha-“she began but Rowan interrupted.

“We’ve a wee bit of a problem. Seems your vampires’ are in a fightin’ mood. Came to get you so you could break it up. I rather fancy Spike’s pretty face and would hate to see Angelus cause it any harm. Wouldn’t you lass?” she asked slyly as she hopped until her back was facing them. “Coming?”

Buffy reached out and gripped Giles’ arm.

“Does she have a…frog leg?” she whispered.

Giles nodded as he followed after Rowan.

“I dare say you have a good amount of explaining to do Buffy,” he told her scoldingly as he glanced at her from the corner of his eye.

Buffy ducked her head and closed her eyes briefly.

“After I break up this fight between…my vampires’,” she mumbled.

“Your vampires?!” both Giles and Quentin exclaimed horrified.

Buffy let go of Giles’ arm and hurried to catch up with Rowan unable to look at Giles, and the disappointed expression he no doubt had on his face.

Things could not get any worse, she thought tiredly.