Chapter Twenty:

Angel’s fist grazed Spike’s cheek as he ducked and danced back a few steps. He felt the glancing blow straight down to his toes. While it hadn’t made direct contact it still hurt and Spike couldn’t help snarling.

He watched with feral eyes as Angel advanced again his game face devoid of expression, of any real sign of anger. Spike found that to be unreasonably eerie.

Poised and ready for Angel, Spike rushed the larger vampire.

He blocked Angel's next swing head lowered and kicked out catching the older vampire in the gut, sending him reeling backwards.

Spike grinned in satisfaction as he watched Angel struggle, only to lose his grin when Angel moved faster than lightning, and wrapped his hands around Spike's arm and tossed him through the air.

Landing on his back Spike blinked back tears of pain as his head slammed against the floor.

Angel moved fast trying to reach Spike before he could regain his feet. But it was useless Spike was on his feet, feet spread wide and his stance ready for anything.

Standing a few feet apart they traded blows, aiming for any part of the body they deemed vulnerable.

Spike knocked Angel back far enough so that he could rush Angel with all the power he could.

Hitting him with his lowered shoulder and ramming him to the ground. Stumbling as his balance was off he managed to catch himself before he followed Angel down. But it was enough time for Angel to reach out and grab a hold of Spike’s leg and drag him towards him.

Spike tried to kick out but missed completely and with one sharp yank he fell down and Angel crawled to straddle him.

A triumphant grin lightened Angel’s features.

“I’m going to enjoy this,” Angel stated as he grabbed a stake from his pocket and raised his arm.

Spike wasn’t sure why he found the situation rather funny, but he did, and that was why he grinned. Then laughed. And laughed.

Startled Angel hesitated, his golden eyes filling with confusion.

Spike continued to laugh all the while his mind worked furiously as to how he was going to get out this situation.

His lips pulled back in a wide smile as he met Angel’s eyes abruptly, and he bucked with all his strength.

Knocking Angel off balance as Spike managed to lift his leg long enough to ram his knee into Angel’s back.

Throwing the startled man off of him Spike managed to make it to his feet. He moved fast reaching out and grabbing Angel’s arm, the one that held the stake. His fingers pried at Angel’s to release the stake from his death like grip.

Angel swung his free arm his hand fisted and slammed it into Spike’s side. Followed up by an attempted kick to Spike’s knee.

But Spike twisted aside so Angel's foot missed his knee completely.

They wrestled for control of the stake.

Their audience watched with bated breath as they fell to the ground the stake pressed between them. Knowing that if either of them died Buffy would not be pleased.

Giles at the moment didn’t give a flying damn about Buffy’s feelings as he stalked forward towards the tussling pair. He waited for his moment.

Spike managed to reverse his and Angel’s position so he was now on top.

Leaving him exposed to Giles.

The Scoobies were transfixed as Giles lifted the stake he had taken from his coat pocket. Raised it above his head and with unwavering accuracy brought it down towards Spike’s heart.

“Spike,” Faith shouted unable to stop herself as she stood and watched Giles try and murder Spike. He might be a vampire but he didn’t deserve to be murdered in cold blood. She couldn’t allow that.

Faith’s shout caused Spike to lift his head and glance behind him, in time to see Giles and the stake headed for his heart. He managed to jerk away but not in time so that the stake plunged into his chest cavity. Inches from his heart.

He screamed and fell sideways off of Angel, his hands clawed at his chest desperate to get it out. He had dealt with his fair share of pain, had even been staked per Maggie’s orders with a plastic stake, but this was different, this was real. He had a wooden stake inches from his heart.

He would be damned if the Watcher was the one to do him in, with gritted teeth and closed eyes, Spike gripped the stake and tore it from his body. His body jerked and he felt lightheaded as he opened his eyes.

His vision swam as he tried to find where Angel was, where that bastard of a Watcher was.

Angel had slowly risen to his feet shocked at what he had seen Giles do; he hadn’t thought the old man had it in him. He cast Giles a small smile as he approached Spike’s fallen form.

“Now we'll see what a dusty Spike looks like,” Angel said mockingly as he moved closer.

Faith found herself moving before conscious thought. Striding forward she grabbed Giles in a grip that threatened to break bones. She dragged him backwards.

“You better make this fair Angel. Let Spike get up and then fight it out like men. You do this fair or I’ll stake your sorry no good ass. I would hate to see the look on B’s face when I tell her I had to put you down Angel, like a rabid dog.”

Faith's words echoed in the silence and no one doubted she would do it.

Spike crawled to his knees, swayed and almost fell back down; he steadied himself, the stake gripped tightly in his hand.

His head lowered and blood pouring from his wound, he blinked back unconsciousness.

“Thanks for that luv,” he gritted out as he forced himself to his feet and caught himself against a wall.

Angel sent Faith a death glare and bared his fangs at her. He would abide by her rule and do this fairly. He would wait for Spike to prepare himself, and then he would kill the son of a bitch.

Spike took a deep breath and with a strength of will he’d cultivated in the time Maggie had had him imprisoned, he shoved back the pain, and with a grin worthy of a snarling wild beast he pushed off the wall.

Spread his legs wide and beckoned Angel forward with a flick of his wrist.

“Come and get me,” he taunted.

With stakes in both of their hands, the two circled eachother aware that this had turned into a duel to the death.

Neither intended to be the loser.

Without another word the two began to fight in earnest.

Moving in with quick jabs of their stakes in an attempt to scare one another.

Spike tired of their endless circling and feinted, dodging inside, and with a slightly curled open palm slammed it into the side of Angel’s head.

Pain snaked its way up Spike’s arm and he hissed as Angel stumbled, his vision blurred as he saw stars.

He dodged Spike’s next blow with a forearm.

He pushed back with all his weight on Spike’s injury and was met by Spike’s own weight. They leaned on one another for a moment, trying to bear eachother down; abruptly they stepped back from eachother.

Punches flew and kicks sailed as the two tried to best eachother.

The longer the fight continued the angrier Spike became. His eyes were narrowed to slits; his game face had slipped away. And his wound was pouring blood all down his side and onto his hand, making his grip on the stake precarious.

His thoughts were bits and pieces, nothing was clear. He wasn’t sure if it was the blood lose or the fact that he was in a life or death fight.

He was madder than he had been in a long time.

That stupid Watcher had tried to kill him! And here was this prat Angel trying to finish him off because he had Buffy’s love and Angel didn’t.

Didn’t they realize he was the only one who could help Buffy? Spike wondered as he rammed his knee into Angel’s face as he shoved him downwards.

Didn’t they understand that he had to find his son?

His blood mingled with Angel’s as Angel head butted Spike and sent him flying into a near by wall. Spike hit with a loud thud, his body making an indentation as he slowly slid down.

His stake clattered from his hand and he moved to grapple for it.

Angel lunged for the stake and in his haste managed to kick it further away. Spike rolled around and in a rage attacked Angel with everything he had.

On his feet he grabbed a struggling Angel by his hair and slammed him up against the wall, his hand smashed up against Angel's throat. His other hand grabbed the stake from Angel’s limp hand and tossed it aside.

He didn’t need the weapon; he would just tear Angel’s head off.

His mind was a blank canvas, his emotions a vortex of rage, and he took it all out on Angel. Banging the larger man’s head against the wall. Feeling every punch that ran through his fists to his arms, Spike lost himself in the sensations.

He bore down on Angel, pushing him to the ground, beating Angel senseless as he released his rage.

Faces flashed through his mind, of all the people who had done him wrong, who had caused him pain. One face remained in his mind's eye, the smirking smug face of Maggie Walsh.

“I hate you,” Spike chanted.

“Do something,” Willow cried out in horror as Spike wrapped his hands around Angel’s throat and began to tug. She feared he was going to tear Angel’s head right off. She turned imploring eyes to Faith.

Faith’s hand tightened on Giles’s arm before she let go of him, and raced towards Spike hauling him off the unconscious Angel.

"That's it," Faith gritted out and shoved Spike aside, putting herself between Angel and Spike.

Spike growled and swung around facing the Scoobies and focusing his eyes on Giles.

"Don't you wanna finish me off old man?" Spike snarled as he advanced on the older man.

Giles let his face hold all the contempt and rage it could as he moved forward. He would gladly be rid of Spike.

"I will revel in the day you no longer exist, you bloody fiend. I will surely be the one who kills you. But not now. Not now," Giles spat out in disgust.

Spike's bloodied lips curled up in a sneer as he reached out; his hands bloodied, and gripped Giles' shirtfront and yanked him to him.

"You gutless bastard," he said lowly. "You think Buffy'll appreciate this? You tryin' to kill me? I ought to rip your head off and spit on your blood. You aren't worth the effort old man. But if you screw with me one more time, I will kill you, regardless of Buffy's feelings."

Faith shook her head and with a sigh figured she had seen enough of Spike threatening Giles.

She had figured Spike owed Giles a few threats and a good shaking for what he had tried to do.

"Enough," Faith said quietly and turned to fully face Spike and Giles.

Spike's breath came in ragged gasps as he tightened his hands on Giles shirt before he shoved him away.

He lifted shaking hands and ran them over his face, smearing blood all over it. Blowing out a breath he moved sluggishly towards Buffy's door.

"I'm sorry Spike but you can't go in there," Faith said coolly as she walked towards him and grabbed his arm.

Spike tensed and she felt the coiled muscles in his forearm ready to strike.

"Let go of me," Spike muttered. God knew he was tired, he thought. So damn tired, all he wanted to do was sit with Buffy and hold her hand.

"No, it would be best if you stayed away. I won't have you fighting with Angel again. You have caused enough problems. Now before I change my mind and introduce you to my stake, get the hell out of here," she snapped out.

Jaws clenched tight Spike jerked his arm from her grasp and fisted his hands. It took everything he had in him to stay still, to not react and attack the other Slayer.

He was weak from the wound Giles had inflicted and from the fight he had just finished. He wouldn't stand a chance against the chit.

Reluctance in every inch of his body Spike turned from Buffy's door.

"Don't think this is the end of this," he coldly said as he gave them all a deadly once over.

With slow and measured steps he turned and walked away down the hall.

And when he was far enough away so that he was out of their sight he leaned against the wall, and closed his eyes in guilt and despair.

If he couldn't get by Buffy's loyal guards then how was he going to be of any help to Buffy?

And if he couldn't see her then how could he leave her not knowing if she would live or die? How could he search for his son when his heart and mind would be here with Buffy?

He couldn't bear the thought of it.

~*~

Wes stared hard at Rowan as he finished stating the facts of his plan. He wasn't sure what she was thinking, as her face was expressionless.

He rather thought it was a good idea and suspected that if he had Rowan's help he could set it in motion.

While he admired his plan he still couldn't help but feel a bit apprehensive, after all he had failed in keeping Tate safe.

He had tried with all his power to protect that little baby.

His face contorted in misery as he closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. He could not keep rehashing the events that had occurred in the past couple of hours.

He watched Rowan as she tilted her head to the side and pursed her lips.

"You would know better than I Wesley if this would work," she murmured with lowered eyes.

Wes licked his dry lips and nodded.

"If…and this is just a thought, it were to succeed you do understand that you would have to steer us in the right direction?" Rowan asked curiously.

Wes parted his lips to speak.

Thought better of it and nodded again.

Rowan gave him a slow nod and then gave him an abrupt smile.

"Well then I will see to it you are released as soon as possible and you can get started on your plan."

With that said she turned and strode for the door.

"Any news on Buffy?" Wes called after her. He could only imagine what Buffy and Spike were going through.

No doubt they would surely blame him and he didn't fault them. He had failed.

But no more thoughts like that, he thought with a fierce shake of his head.

"I haven't heard from her or Spike for that matter. I will see what I can find out. I'll be in touch Wesley. Feel better," she told him as she left the room.

Wes gingerly rose from his bed and headed for the bathroom. Once there he leaned over the sink turning on the faucet and splashed water on his face.

He stared into the mirror and met his own eyes. Straightening his shoulders he gave himself a grim smile and nodded once.

He could do this.

Turning his back on the mirror he strode back into his room and rang for the nurse on call.

When no one came he made his way to the door and pulling it open spotted Rowan in deep discussion with a nurse.

Looking around he noted she seemed to be the only one on the floor at the moment.

"What's going on?" he asked as he approached the women.

Both glanced at him.

"Well there seems to have been a disturbance in one of the patients rooms. In fact two men were fighting. Two men I am certain we know," said Rowan.

Wes felt his face blanch as he realized whom she was speaking of.

"Oh dear. What floor?" he demanded.

"The fifth floor. Come on," Rowan answered as she grabbed Wes's arm and led him towards the elevator.

"Wait a minute you can’t take him. He needs to rest," the nurse called after them.

Wes heard Rowan murmur a few words and the nurse stepped back wearing a blank expression.

"What did you do to her?" Wes demanded as he stared back at the nurse as they entered the elevator.

"Just a little blanking spell. She won't remember that we got on this elevator. It will be a blank. Don't worry your little Watcher head about it lad. She'll be fine."

Unsure but willing to believe her Wes settled his shoulders back against the wall of the lift and tried to relax.

He could only guess that Spike and Angel were fighting over Buffy.

While he could understand the sentiment, he could not wrap his head around how that would help Spike find his son.

"I can't believe Joyce is dead," he muttered aloud. He knew he should not have let Joyce engage in her plan. After all she wasn't trained in dealing with things such as this.

He should have stepped up and been more forceful and made her realize the error of her plan. No doubt that it sounded good in theory but things rarely went as planned.

Though he had rarely worked in the field he knew that as a fact and had been trained for an event such as that.

If only…

Wes started as the elevator came to a stop and the doors swished open and Rowan stepped out.

He trailed after the witch and they had no problem seeing where the fight had taken place.

Blood smeared the walls, the floor; debris from holes in walls littered the floor. The hall looked as if a Mack truck had come rolling through and did a hell of a lot of damage.

Gathered in a huddle off to the side were the people Wesley had come to know over the short time he had been here in Sunnydale.

"Willow what happened?" Wes asked as they approached the group.

Willow glanced up her eyes landing on Wes then skirting around to all the people milling about. She finally swallowed and gestured for him to come closer.

"Spike and Angel had a fight because Angel wouldn't let Spike see Buffy," she answered quickly.

Wes's brows rose.

"What happened to Buffy? I heard about Joyce. Surely she could use all the comfort she can get," he muttered.

Willow let out a shaky breath and glanced at Xander for help, but he looked blank and finally she turned her gaze to Giles.

"It seems Buffy has been going into seizures off and on for the last couple of hours. Spike brought her in and the doctor says that she is healthy and that there is no real reason why she should be seizing."

Giles paused and the next words he spoke seemed to pain him, Wes realized.

"And now it seems that because of Spike we have no knowledge of what could happen to her next. Angel had the right thought to kill that parasite. If it's the last thing I do I will-"

"That's more than enough," Wes snapped a bite to his tone. "I will have no one touching Spike. He has a son and there is no way I will allow you to kill him while his son is missing. Now where is he? I must speak to him."

Wes's gaze skimmed the faces of the gathered group. Seeing that no one wanted to answer he pursed his lips and shook his head.

"Don't you understand that Spike is the only one who knows what might be wrong with Buffy? He was captured by Maggie and held for months. He might know the cause of her illness. I very much doubt Buffy would be thankful of your interference in her relationship with Spike. Where is Angel? Where's Spike? I must speak to someone who has the sense that God gave them!"

Giles paled at the tone of Wesley's voice. He couldn't understand the lack of respect from this insolent fool.

"Spike's gone. For good," a voice came from the left of them and Wes turned sharply.

Met the brown eyes of a man whose face was bruised and bloodied. A man Wes assumed was the vampire Angel.

"Really?" Wes asked and couldn't help the taunt in his voice. "We will see about that. Now excuse me I want to see Buffy. Rowan perhaps you could find Spike and tell him what we discussed," he urged as he strode past them all.

Pausing when he realized he had no clue as to which room Buffy was in.

Turning back with a slight chagrined look on his face he gestured forward.

"Which room if you please?" he asked.

He heard Willow whisper the number and with a nod of thanks he walked off.

Wondering with all these new developments if his plan could still come to bear fruit.

He hoped that it would.

~*~

Spike didn't stray far from the hospital. He couldn't bear to tear himself away from Buffy. So many things warred inside of him. He knew that he had to find Tate.

The trail would be getting colder by the minute.

He shivered as he rested against the side of the building. He couldn't think straight. He knew he had to get going on this.

He could not stay here.

But his body refused to move, from lack of blood and the strength of his love for Buffy.

What had happened to her? He wondered once more. He could not fathom what had caused this.

He bit his lip as pain slid through him and he banged his head against the brick wall.

"Buffy," he whispered raggedly.

"Excuse me," the quiet voice came from behind Spike and he stiffened slightly. He kept his face hidden as he leaned his forehead against the bricks.

"Get out of here," Spike snapped.

"Spike…"

Hearing his name Spike stiffened even more and slowly, with deadly grace he turned to stare at the speaker.

His gaze raked over the boy.

Small and thin in stature the boy stood his ground as Spike's cold angry gaze met his. His hair was wet from just having been washed but Spike could still smell the scent of blood.

It surrounded the boy and Spike felt his stomach growl, and fiercely he blocked out his blood lust.

He scowled at the boy.

"How do you know my name? Who the hell are you?" Spike lashed out as he stalked forward.

Oz stuffed his hands in his pockets and resisted the strong urge to move away as Spike advanced.

"We've met before. You wouldn't remember because of your amnesia. You kidnapped my girlfriend Willow when you were here last. Right after I guess you were kidnapped."

Spike slanted his eyes away from Oz and shifted on his feet.

He should probably apologize but at the moment he was too tired to care about this boy's girlfriend and what he'd done to her.

"Get away from me doggy," he spat.

Oz felt his anger stir in the pit of his stomach as he glared at Spike.

"I just came over to see how you were. I heard about Buffy's house burning down and that Dr. Walsh has your son."

Spike sighed unable to keep his anger as he gave a curt nod.

"Good lot that's gonna do considerin' I have no clue as to where that bitch is going. Can't seem to move my ass long enough to go after her, on account that Buffy's lying in a coma upstairs. What the hell good am I, if I can't even protect the people I love?"

Sighing in aggravation and defeat he grimaced and moved his eyes away from Oz's pitying ones.

"Well…having met the baby I can say he's a good kid. And since this plan failed, whatever you have planned next I'll be right there with you. I want to find Tate. As much as you do."

Oz knew he wasn't lying. He did want to find Tate; he felt that he owed the baby since he had failed this time around.

But the truth was he wanted something, anything, to keep his mind off of the body he had devoured.

And if helping Spike find Tate was the answer then he was there.

He didn't ask about Buffy being in a coma or the fact that Spike's face bore bruises that hadn't been self inflicted.

He understood that there was only so much the vampire was able to handle and if he brought up either of those things he feared Spike would snap.

"Appreciate it," Spike mumbled and shook off his desolate mood and straightened.

Oz gave him a nod.

Spike watched as the boy began to wander off.

"What's your name, boy?" he called out after Oz.

Oz turned slightly and replied.

"You can call me Oz," he called back and hurried off towards the entrance of the hospital.

Spike frowned after Oz.

Not only had the boy smelled of blood and human remains he had smelled like a dog. It hadn't been hard to deduce that the boy was a werewolf.

Buffy had all kinds of friends he mused.

His whole body ached and he knew he needed to go find something to eat.

Slowly he moved away from the hospital, every step more painful than the last.

"You gonna say something?" Spike asked aloud. Not bothering to turn his head to see if Rowan was lurking in the shadows still.

"You know what you have to do," Rowan said softly.

Spike limped his way off.

"Don't start old woman," he told her tiredly.

"It's a fact that the longer Maggie is with Tate the harder it will be to find her. I don't have to tell you what she'll do to him once she is sure you're not coming to search for your son."

Spike wanted to ignore her words and cover his ears as he walked and she followed.

"Don't talk to me about what Maggie's gonna do to my son. I am well aware of what's at stake here! Tell me something I don't know. Tell me something that hasn't occurred to me! I know what's going to happen. And I can't do a damn thing about it!"

He was yelling and couldn't stop himself as he whirled to face the old witch and glare at her.

He watched as she came to a stop a few feet from him and gave him a small sad smile.

"You want Buffy and you want your son. Well right now you can't have them both. It's one or the other. You need to decide. Because there's not much time left Spike. I spoke to Wesley and he has a plan. I think it will work as long as we do things properly."

Spike lifted a hand and scratched at his aching jaw.

"Properly? What do you mean? What's his plan?"

"Tell me who you're picking Spike. You know in your heart what's right. Buffy has a whole support system here. When she wakes up she'll be loved and well taken care of."

"You mean by Angel?" Spike couldn't help but ask in disgust. He shuddered at the thought of Angel anywhere near Buffy.

"If you think he can sway Buffy from loving you that easily then you are both better off by yourselves. Now think of how happy she'll be when you come back with Tate in tow."

He didn't have to think about it. There was no choice to be made. Buffy had already urged him to leave.

And even though she was indisposed he couldn't hang around to help her get better.

"We'll leave as soon as I see Buffy again. And if you want it to be soon, then you had better talk some sense into those people. Because I won't leave until I say goodbye."

With that said Spike hurried away, off to find something to eat.

Leaving Rowan to stare after him.

~*~

"Well are you sure he won't hurt her?" Willow asked as she watched Rowan with wary eyes.

"Absolutely. Now if you would all clear out and give him some space he'll come and be gone soon enough," Wesley said as he glanced at Rowan who nodded.

Willow glanced at Xander who was resting comfortably in his hospital bed.

His eyes were hooded.

"I don't know Will. I think it's been a hell of a day and I'm exhausted. Can't think about all this right now. If he wants to see Buffy why not? She's gonna need all the love she can get. I just… I can't deal with this right now," Xander whispered hoarsely.

Willow nodded slowly as she made her way to his side and took his hand.

"Fine. Angel's gone off with Faith and Giles will just have to deal with this. Just… never mind. Xander's tired and he needs his sleep."

Wes nodded and he and Rowan left the room.

"How did your phone calls go?" Rowan asked Wes as they made their way to the elevator.

"Better than I had hoped. I have contacted a number of people who will see to it that the word spreads."

Rowan nodded.

"And you're sure that once other vampires learn of Tate's existence there will be a search en masse for Maggie and Tate? We'll just have to follow the trail they leave and we'll have Tate back in no time."

Wes was fairly certain his plan was a good one. He wouldn't go so far as to say it was foolproof because it wasn't.

But it was the only one they had and it would have to do for now.

"Hopefully. Now where did Spike get off to?" Wes asked as he and Rowan boarded the elevator.

"To hunt I assume."

Wes paled and stared at her aghast.

Rowan merely shrugged unconcerned that Spike might possibly be out there killing people.

Wesley swallowed and couldn't find too much energy to react beyond that.

"So he'll be back here then?" Wes asked instead.

"One can only assume."

They got off at Buffy's floor and headed for her room where Giles was just coming out.

"We thought you should know that Spike will be coming by to visit with Buffy. He wants to see her before he goes in search of his son. Don't cause any problems Rupert or you will have to deal with me," Rowan warned.

Giles glared at both of them and too angry to get a word out he stalked past them.

Wesley and Rowan exchanged a glance before they set up to wait for Spike to come and see Buffy.

~*~

It wasn't until the next night that Spike managed to get back to the hospital.

If he'd been a little more knowledgeable in the lay out of Sunnydale he might have made it back sooner.

As it was he had searched all night for a suitable human in which to feed from. He had been tempted to feed until he had drained his prey dry, but knew if he did Angel and Giles wouldn't hesitate to kill him.

And in the state he was in he wouldn't stand up to it. So he drank as much as he dared from a lone man wandering around the bad part of town.

Unsatisfied he had continued to hunt taking as much as he felt was needed from three different people.

He found an abandoned building not too far from the hospital and had stayed there the whole day.

And while he'd waited out the sun with the nourishing effects of the blood his wound began to slowly heal, and his brain began to work properly.

His mind slowly went over Wesley's plan and found that it was a good one. One that might even work.

He pushed doubts of Tate's welfare out of his mind, he knew that Maggie wouldn't hurt the baby. He was her bargaining chip.

Hurting Tate would ensure his and Buffy's wrath for the rest of their lives.

The other thing that had plagued his mind had been Buffy.

With a clear mind he had finally figured out what was wrong with Buffy.

And sure of it, as soon as night fell, he headed for the hospital.

He knew he was a sight for sore eyes and that he looked like he had just pulled himself from the depths of hell.

With his head ducked he made his way through the hospital corridors. Until he was on the fifth floor and he hesitated a moment in front of Buffy's door.

He wondered if she had relapsed while he'd been stuck inside while the sun had been out.

Turning the doorknob he shoved open the door and scowled when he saw her room was filled with people.

"Get out. I want to see her alone," Spike flatly said as he crossed his arms and glared at them all.

One by one the people trickled out leaving Spike alone with Buffy at last.

Moving stiffly he took the vacant seat at her bedside.

He reached out and took her limp hand in both of his.

Studying her pale face he let his ears pick up on her slow steady heartbeat.

"I'm leaving," he said softly kissing the palm of her hand. "Just like you wanted. I know that's what you wanted."

Swallowing he shook his head.

"I'll be back. With Tate and you had better be here when I get back," he said fiercely. "Alive. Alive and well all right?"

With his face a mask of grimness he trailed his fingers down her warm cheek and then leaned forward to brush his lips over hers.

Standing he kept her hand in his.

"I love you Buffy, more than you could ever know," he muttered as he gently placed her hand back down and walked away.

He shut the door behind him and gritted his teeth as he spotted Buffy's friends standing waiting for him.

His gaze slid over them and settled on Giles with a blank expression.

"I want to talk to you," he said and moved off sure that he would follow.

Giles reluctantly followed Spike aside and waited impatiently for him to speak.

"I know what's wrong with Buffy," Spike said and raised a hand when Giles tried to speak. "It's the drugs Maggie gave her. See she's manufactured the drugs for vampires."

He paused seeing if this was registering with Giles. From his angered face Spike could tell it wasn't making sense to him.

He was too angry to think straight.

Spike turned away from Giles and let his eyes rest on Angel.

"Angel," he called out and watched Angel slowly make his way to them.

"What?" Angel spat out angrily.

"Buffy's got drugs meant for vampires in her system. I don't think Maggie thought of the ramifications of doing this. Because where I know her drugs were meant to make a vampires vital organs alive, in this case it's making Buffy's system shut down."

Angel frowned and stepped forward invading Spike's space.

"Are you sure?" he demanded.

Spike nodded.

"I can't think of any other reason. While Maggie knew about Slayers I don't think she thought she could capture one. So she didn't make drugs for humans. She wanted vampires to mate with vampires. Hence the rejuvenating drugs."

"Dear God," Giles finally gasped out as his mind moved past his anger.

Angel sent him an annoyed look.

"What can we do?" Angel asked Spike ignoring Giles for the time being.

"I don't know. I think it might wear off because she's the Slayer. But then again it could shut down all her vital organs and kill her."

Spike stopped and sighed as he tried not to contemplate that. He had to hope Buffy didn't die. He had to hope that Buffy could overcome this and come out stronger.

"What kind of drug is this?" Giles asked taking his glasses off and cleaning them.

Spike shrugged.

"Don't know. Have them run tests. Hunt down some of Maggie's men. See if you can find anyone who worked for the Initiative, Angel. They can't have all flown the coop or been killed in the explosion. Find them and we might be able to find out what drugs are in Buffy's system."

Spike glanced back at Buffy's closed door and then turned back to face the two men who'd been the most important ones in Buffy's young life.

Let his guard slip a little.

"I am counting on the both of you to keep her safe. Understand? You keep her alive no matter what you have to do," Spike said lowly.

Angel's eyes narrowed.

"No matter what?" he echoed and watched as Spike nodded.

Giles looked back and forth between them in horrified silence.

"No matter what," Spike repeated with a fierce look that he shifted to Giles. "You do what you can. Keep your cool and let him do what he has to Watcher. Or so help me I'll-"

"Spike," Rowan's voice interrupted him threatening Giles and he swung around. He met Rowan's steady gaze and nodded curtly.

"Just…do everything you can," Spike muttered as he turned and headed for Rowan.

Wesley clapped a hand on Spike's shoulder and gave him a smile.

"Ready Spike? Rowan has everything you'll need."

Spike frowned as he met Wes's eyes.

"What are you talking about? Aren't you coming with us?" Spike demanded.

"No. I figure some one should be here to see to your needs as well as Buffy's. I'll watch over her. Better than I did Tate. I swear," Wes promised.

Spike managed a small smile.

"Thank you Wesley," he gave the younger Watcher a quick impulsive hug.

Wesley stepped back and Spike latched onto Rowan's elbow and led her away.

Giles clutched Angel's arm in a tight grip.

"What did he mean by 'no matter what'?" he asked his voice squeaky and high.

Angel turned his gaze from Spike's departing back and settled on Giles. His demeanor grim, his brown eyes bleak, and mouth flat.

"What it means is I am going to do whatever I have to in order to keep Buffy alive. Infer whatever you want from that Giles. Excuse me," Angel muttered as he stalked away from Giles for Buffy's door.

With a furrowed brow and a heavy heart Angel stepped into Buffy's room, his eyes resting on her still form.

Knowing that if worst came to worst then he would have to do what he had never thought possible.

He would have to turn his golden princess, all that was good and light in his world, and make her into a force of darkness the world had yet to see.

He prayed to a God that he didn't believe in and hoped he wouldn't have to resort to that.

Knowing that if he did there was no turning back from that. He would be one more step closer to letting Angelus loose, with a turned Slayer as a childe.

His soul rebelled at the very thought, but oh, Angelus reveled in the mere suggestion. The havoc they would cause.

Angel squashed that side of him down viciously and with a pained groan he slumped down in the seat beside Buffy's bed. And buried his head in his hands.

~*~

Chapter Twenty One:

Before the sun went down there had been a hint of hope, a sense of rightness that all would soon be right in the world. In fact the light of a new day had brought renewed spirits and a brighter outlook on what was to come. They talked amongst themselves while they huddled over their fallen leader and tried to talk about anything and everything but the facts. Anything but the fact that they felt responsible in a sense for what had happened to Buffy and her mother. That they had known that Joyce’s plan was not the smartest or the most strategically mapped out. But none the less they had gone through with it and the casualties were irreplaceable.

So they talked about the weather, which just happened to be a cloudy sixty-seven degrees with a slight chance of showers through the afternoon. They talked about the fact that Xander hadn’t yet gotten anyone to sign his cast; only to be reminded by Giles that he had dislocated shoulders thus did not require a cast. They talked about Principal Snyder and how he had pitched a fit when they had called off from school with help from Giles. They talked and talked. Everything coming out of their mouths meaningless and forgettable.

Until suddenly they couldn’t speak anymore, words failed them and it was all they could do to remain in the same room with eachother. Their guilt and anger eating away at them. Making them uncomfortably aware that in part what had happened was each of their faults. That no matter what they said or rather didn't there was no escaping it.

So one by one they trickled out of Buffy’s room with lingering looks at the strongest girl they’d ever known and guiltily gave huge sighs of relief to be free for just a moment of the huge weight on their shoulders. Not looking eachother in the eyes they dispersed each going their separate ways.

Only one remained and he had made a promise to look out for her and he intended to keep it even if it killed him. And the sense of hope that Buffy would wake and things would again begin to make a certain sense was there still, in the pit of his stomach and his faith in her was stronger than he could have ever imagined. As he had never gotten to work with his own Slayer he felt it was his duty to do his best, as he had felt a certain protectiveness and fondness for Spike, he felt he could watch over Spike’s most prized possession and if needed be a pseudo Watcher.

And as the sun went down his hope was still lingering, but he could not help but let his head drop into his hands. He wanted her to wake up so he could help her, for he felt about as useless as he had since birth, he mused with a sad tight lipped smile that didn’t register with his eyes.

He stiffened when he heard the door open scrapping slightly against the linoleum flooring, running over the small piece of cardboard Wesley had placed there to be alerted when someone entered the room. His head shot out of his hands and he jerked himself upright and out of the chair in a matter of seconds, his body between her bed and the door.

His stance was tense and defensive one that didn’t change as he watched Angel slowly step into the room closing the door behind him.

His eyes swept over Wes dismissively and settled on Buffy.

“I’ll stay with her now,” he said flatly as he began to shrug out of his leather duster.

Wes shifted on his feet as he relaxed slightly.

“I’ll stay.” His tone was just as flat and cold as Angel’s was. He had no intention of leaving Angel alone with Buffy. He had heard what Spike had said to Angel. Save Buffy by any means necessary. Which Wesley knew meant perhaps even turning her. He shuddered internally at the thought; he could not imagine what she would be like as a vampire. It had never been done and Wesley knew there had to be a good reason for that. So he had taken it upon himself to inform Giles of that fact and though he knew Giles resented his recent status in his Slayer’s life he had agreed. The discussion with the rest of Buffy’s friends had almost caused a mini riot, with Xander leading the charge to stake “Dead boy’s sorry ass.” His exact words. So it was decided Angel was not to be left alone with Buffy no matter what. They would take shifts. Wesley had taken the first one.

Angel sent him a narrowed look that told little of his thoughts.

“I want to talk to her,” Angel said abruptly as he turned to face Buffy, reaching out to take one of her hands in his and grip it tightly.

“Well, I would suggest you go right ahead and do that. I will promise not to eavesdrop.”

Wesley saw Angel stiffen and felt a glimmer of satisfaction. He had not yet made his mind up on whether he liked the older vampire or not. He guessed that part of his rather instant dislike of the vampire had been because he was encroaching on Spike and Buffy’s tentative relationship. And as he was quite fond of the two he had taken offense.

Now he would have to make up the rest of his mind in regards to Angel.

“Please would you-“

“I am not leaving. It’s not up for negotiation.”

Wes reclaimed his seat on Buffy’s right side and looked down at her peaceful face. Wishing once more that she would wake up and things could be made slightly less all consuming.

“You can trust me. You have to know that trusting Spike is like signing your own death warrant. He can not be trusted. I think-“ Angel began his voice colored with frustration and contempt.

“Please. There’s nothing you can tell me about Spike that could possibly be true. The Spike you knew is dead and you have no idea who or what he is about now. Please do not speak to me about Spike. Just talk to Buffy and be done with it.”

Angel turned from Wes his mouth working with anger and a million things going through his mind. He had never thought this would have happened, that Spike would swoop in and take everything that meant a damn thing to him. Steal his woman, earn the respect of a Watcher and the loyalty of the Scoobs, and yet Spike had and here he was left out in the cold with a man he hardly knew watching him as he talked to the woman he loved.

Things were going to have to change and soon.

~*~

“Hush,” she whispered with dread as the baby continued its wailing. She cradled the baby to her bosom and wished for the nth time that she had an inkling for maternal instinct. That she had been born with a nurturing nature instead of a commanding and domineering nature that precluded ever having children as she knew she would resent not having the control and domination she craved.

A part of her wanted to toss the baby aside and run for her life. She certainly knew that things had just gotten a hell of a lot more interesting in the past forty-eight hours and she would be a wanted woman.

A small smile curled her mouth upwards as she thought of this as she paced the length of the dingy stained carpet of the motel room she and Tate were staying in at the moment. She knew through the thin walls the baby’s wails could be heard clearly and from the pounding from the neighbors they weren’t pleased. But she didn’t give a damn about them and if they came to the door and threatened her she would shoot them. Perhaps not kill them but make them remember the name Maggie Walsh.

“Please little baby be quiet,” she tried to sooth but failed.

Her anger growing with each cry she took a deep breath and gently but firmly placed the baby onto the middle of the bed surrounded by pillows and took a step back. Her head was pounding and her breath was coming in quick sharp gasps as anger began to over come her, and make her want to scream until her throat was raw.

“Think,” she muttered aloud as she turned from the baby. She had to think of a way out of here. She had driven until she’d gotten to L.A and then she had gotten a cab to take her into Nevada, and had found this motel in the middle of nowhere about fifty miles from Reno. She’d bought a run down piece of crap and here they were. With a baby that was crying for only God knew what and she was on the verge of losing her mind. She had to get them out of here. She was sure that she could get far enough away from Spike and Buffy so that she could use some of her military contacts and go underground.

Her previous thoughts of capturing Buffy and Spike once more had fled her mind. When she had killed Joyce she had cemented her fate and had known she would never have Buffy or Spike even if she had Tate. Buffy--well the Slayer wouldn’t kill her she was confident, but that didn’t mean Spike would not find joy in ripping her throat out. So now she knew she was on her own with this, with no backing from the U.S., no more backup from the Initiative, no one would be watching her back. All she had was herself and that…well that’s all she'd had for most of her life. She would rely on her own skill to get out this alive.

“Shut that fucking baby up,” someone screamed from the other side of the wall and Maggie flinched slightly as she turned to glare at the offending pea green colored wall.

“Tate we have to get out of here,” she muttered. It didn’t matter that the baby was screaming or that she hadn’t fed him, or that she would be running out on her bill, she had to get out of here now.

Turning sharply she hurried back to the bed and lifted Tate back up, and grabbing her small bag she headed for the door. Not caring about anything but getting out of there. Getting to a safe place so she could think properly and figure out what she had to do.

She got into her car and with a sputtering start placed it in reverse and roared out of the lot, Tate screaming all the while.

A shape emerged from the shadows that had fallen as the sun had made its descent and he leaned back against the wall, a cigarette dangling from the edge of his mouth. His cowboy hat shielding his face as he took a deep drag and then slowly exhaled.

He flicked the cigarette aside and turning on his booted heel he headed for the pay phone a few feet away. He dug around in his hip pocket for some change and jerked the phone up. He dialed a series of numbers and waited as the operator connected him long distance.

“Yeeeesssss….” The voice on the other end drew out the word and the caller could hear laughter from the other end and the clinking of glasses.

“Hello,” he answered with a slight sniff, he wondered again why he’d decided to come down to the bloody west and have a grand old time. Play at being a cowboy for a while. Seemed all the fun was being had back home.

“Is that you Reginald?” the voice asked in surprise as it registered the caller’s voice.

“Yep. It’s me and I’ve got a little something to tell you. I assume you heard about the rumor…?” he asked leadingly as he fingered the buttons of the pay phone.

The silence was lengthy as Reginald heard his boss move away from the party and into a less crowded and loud room.

“Yes. What is it?”

“Well Lorenzo I think I just got it confirmed,” Reginald said as he gave a toothy grin, fangs and all.

~*~

Spike kept his back to Rowan and the man she was currently deep in conversation with. He could not bring himself to talk to the man without giving way to his anger and vamping out and perhaps killing him. So he kept himself apart from them and wondered what they would do next. It hadn’t been hard to follow Maggie’s trail to L.A., and it hadn’t been hard to imagine that she would get the hell out of there as soon as she could. The only problem was that her trail stopped cold and there was nothing left.

Nothing.

Spike felt a growl rumble at the base of his throat and instantly squashed it so that the man would not over hear it. With a grimace he pushed away from the wall and with his back still to them he clenched his hands into fists and stared off into the night.

“Thank you,” Rowan said as she shook the man’s hand and watched as he walked off and then turned to face Spike’s back. “Well as you guessed there was nothing there. He said she’d just given him the keys and walked off. With Tate.”

She paused as she waited for Spike to respond.

He wasn’t inclined to speak at the moment, because he knew if he did he would lash out and make things worse. He didn’t want to hurt her or alienate her so that she wouldn’t help him. So he kept his moth closed and his back to her as he struggled for the control he was fast losing. He ducked his head and studied the tops of his boots, and then with a deep breath he released slowly, he turned.

“I figured he wouldn’t know much. Seems we’re at a dead end. I spent too much time in Sunnydale with Buffy. If I had left like she’d wanted I might have been able to catch up with them. Doesn’t matter. S’not like she’ll hurt him. Can’t not if she wants to experiment on ‘im. She’ll treat him right. Has to. C’mon we can’t find anymore tonight. I think once we’re settled for the night I can think more clearly. Head on back to the room and I’ll see you there.”

Spike watched as Rowan opened her mouth to speak and another voice interrupted her.

“I’ll stay with him and make sure he stays out of trouble.”

Rowan sent Oz a look that held little confidence and more frustration than worry.

“I’m not afraid he’ll get into trouble. It’s what he’s not doing that’s worrisome.” With that said she gave a brief nod and headed off in the opposite direction.

Spike headed off as well not waiting for Oz to trail after him. He didn’t mind having the dog around him, and didn’t care that he seemed to be having his own little crisis at the moment either. Oz had wanted to come along and had faced no opposition. Though Spike did wonder what the girl would think, the red head. Buffy had mentioned them and he could very well smell them on eachother. Not that he’d placed much thought in that because his focus was now solely on finding Tate. He didn’t have time to think of anything else but his son and in a way he thought it was for the better. Because if he thought about Buffy he knew things would not be as focused for him at all.

“Where are we headed?”

Oz’s question roused him briefly from his thoughts and he turned to glance at the boy.

“I’m off to feed and you’re gonna mind your own business,” he answered harshly as he strode a little faster. Heedless to the sounds and sights of the streets as he passed by. Not conscious that he was headed into the seedier part of town, and that had he looked around he would have noticed more than one vampire hanging on street corners. But he didn’t and if he had he wouldn’t have cared.

All he could think about was that Maggie was running.

That was obvious and from this point on he would look upon her as nothing more than a nuisance that he would kill as soon as he got a hold of her. It wasn’t about revenge. It had stopped being about revenge once Maggie had taken Joyce’s life and put Wes into the hospital. There would be no lingering death, there would be no torture and he would not waste his time by making her suffer. It would be quick and to the point. Bloody but short. Her death would be by his hands and he knew that if he didn’t find his son with her then he would revise that plan and make her suffer like she had never suffered before. She would regret the day that she had allowed him to escape, and hadn’t killed him when she’d had the chance.

Maggie was running and she had better not stop unless she wanted to die. Since he had spent all those months locked up under her supervision and torture he knew her. Knew the way her mind worked and it ate at him as he roamed the streets. He needed to find her, he had to find her. She was gone from L.A., but that didn’t mean she’d left the States yet. He had a feeling she hadn’t. She would want to do this on her own, but she would realize that she would need help. She would need the help of the government, if not them, then people she’d befriended or blackmailed to help her. She wasn’t as ignorant to magic as she liked to pretend, he knew that. She would have to take precautions against Rowan but there wasn’t a mage on earth who would help her once they realized whose baby she’d stolen. He might not remember his past but by the reaction he’d had from others he had been one badass.

He figured that she knew that tracing an aura in a crowd was difficult as auras blended and merged when interacting with others. So he knew she could have taken the train or the bus, but he knew she would never have put up with common people. She had the sense that she was better than everyone else, and couldn’t be bothered to abide by rules meant for the common man. So he had knocked off trying to find any leads on her that way. Now as he hunted the streets for suitable prey he let his thoughts wander. If those forms of transportation were off limits then it meant that she had used another means in which to escape the city.

He watched with heightened alertness as a taxi zoomed by and with a certainty borne from his gut instincts he knew that was the way she had gotten out of town. He knew that it was the only possible way she could have gotten away. She wouldn’t risk renting a car that they could trace. Plus they were cleaned on a regular basis and were easy to trail using magical means. A taxi was a different thing all together. While it did have a number of auras in it, they only left a marginal imprint and it would be easier to search out Maggie and Tate’s auras.

A savage grin flashed quickly across his face as he realized that Maggie had made her first mistake, and if he was right he knew they’d be one step closer in finding her and his son.

~*~

“I…I have to help him find Tate. I can’t stay here and do nothing,” Oz had said his face stoic and impassible. His voice was calm and rational for the coming hysterics he’d feared were on their way.

Only they hadn’t come, because there wasn’t much Willow had been able to say. Her feelings and thoughts were torn in so many directions that she could hardly hear herself think straight. He had been able to see the struggle in her eyes as she nodded slowly.

A part of him had been angered that she couldn’t tell by looking at him. That she could not see that he’d devoured a human last night, eaten flesh and blood and even now he craved the taste of man. He had been so angry in that moment that he had wanted to scream at her, to make her see what it was she loved. He was an animal and nothing more. This guise he wore hid his basic instincts and he might appear civilized to the world, but on the inside he was a raging beast.

Oz replayed his conversation with Willow over and over in his mind as he trailed Spike and wondered again why he hadn’t stayed. At least there he would have been acknowledged. Felt as if he were doing something even if that was only helping Willow cope with the sudden lose of Buffy’s mother. But he hadn’t stayed there because he had been afraid that they would all be able to tell just by looking at him. See what he was becoming--no what he had become, what he had been since he’d been bitten.

His eyes scanned the streets and his senses stretched seeking signs of anything that would alert him to danger. He had come with Spike in part to get away, to sort out his thoughts, but to also help Spike find his son. Feeling slightly responsible in the boy’s kidnapping as he had been in on Joyce’s plan from the beginning. He had wondered if they had been doing the right thing by implementing the plan that had holes as big as his head in it, but had gone along; thinking that if someone would say something then it would be Faith. As the only Slayer in sight and the person Buffy would no doubt blame if things went wrong since Giles was gone, they had all assumed Faith would step up and say this plan sucked and wouldn’t work and it was a no go. Only she hadn’t and Joyce was dead and they were all regretting letting Joyce have her way.

When Spike stopped to feed at last Oz moved as far away as he could without leaving Spike’s back open to any possible dangers. But the fresh scent of blood assaulted his nose and made his mouth dry as hunger gripped him in knots and had him growling. He had known the taste of human flesh would not be easily assuaged by human food. But he refused to give into his instincts to maim and kill.

So he studiously blocked out the sounds of feeding and ignored the appetizing whiff of spilled blood, and was startled when he felt a hand clamp down hard onto his shoulder.

“Thought you were gonna watch m’back?” Spike asked as he spun Oz around so that they faced eachother. Oz took an involuntary step back as he met Spike’s golden eyes and saw the blood trickling down the side of his mouth.

His eyes flickered away and then back briefly.

“I was,” Oz said his voice coming out hoarse.

He resisted the urge to squirm as Spike studied him with an intensity that was frightening. Oz wasn’t scared he assured himself; more accurately put he was cautious of the danger Spike represented at the moment.

“Don’t worry mate,” Spike told him nonchalantly, “dog blood doesn’t appeal in the least. But I can tell by the non look on your face that you’re feelin’ a bit peckish. Have at it. I don’t rightly give a fuck whatcha do as long as you don’t get in my way,” he finished with a grin.

Oz felt intensely uncomfortable as he watched Spike step back and glance at his victim who was leaning drunkenly against the alley wall. The thought that he could actually reach the man in three seconds and rip his throat out entered Oz’s mind. That he could be eating the man within five had him turning his back to the man. The fact that he wanted to, that everything inside of him was screaming that he do it had him running as fast as he could out of the alley and away from temptation. Not noticing when Spike fell into step beside him.

Abruptly he stopped and flattened himself against a near by wall and gripped his hands tightly together to keep them from shaking.

I can't kill anyone, he kept thinking as he stared sightlessly into space and breathed in deeply, trying to center himself and get a hold of himself.

"What's wrong with you?" Spike asked curiously as he planted himself in front of Oz. Not invading his space but close enough to reach out, and grab Oz if he decided to bolt again.

Oz heard him and abruptly looked him in the eyes, meeting the golden gaze and seeing something he certainly did not want to see. A connection between them, the same urge that drove Spike also drove him, and it scared him shitless. He did not want to be a killer or an animal and yet that's exactly what he was turning into it seemed.

"I…I can't… I don't want to--" he couldn't say anymore as he felt his heart begin to pound, and he felt as if he would keel over and pass out any minute. A part of his mind told him that he was having an anxiety attack, but there was nothing he could do about it.

"Oh! For bloody fucks sake snap out of it," Spike growled as he reached forward and grabbed Oz by the front of his shirt and shook him. Making sure the boy's brain rattled around in his skull for good measure.

Oz felt his head snap back and felt a moment of whiplash as his eyeballs rolled and his breath hitched and he felt his stomach heave.

"Stop it," Oz snapped out through gritted teeth and when he felt his feet touch ground again he stumbled back as Spike released him.

"There we go. Got a little color in you. Have to say you sure did get my mind off of Tate. Freakin' out and running 'round like a chicken with its head chopped clean off. Now do you wanna tell me what's gotten into you?" Spike demanded feeling slightly concerned despite himself.

Oz finally nodded and shoved his hands into his pants pockets.

"The blood," Oz whispered faintly. "I smelled the blood and for a minute I wanted to kill. To murder… I'm not like that. I'm not a killer. I'm not a killer. I am not a killer. I am not a killer. I am not a killer."

Spike's brows rose and shaking his head he wondered how to get through to Oz. He certainly hadn't counted on dealing with the boy's problems as well as trying to find Tate and Maggie. If he was going to freak out every time he smelled blood well then they had a problem. Because this game they were playing was a dangerous one and blood was going to be spilt. A lot of blood and there was a good chance it could be any one of theirs.

"C'mon let's get you back to the motel," Spike muttered that as he grabbed Oz by the arm and began to walk half carrying the werewolf down the street.

Spike figured he would have to help the boy now that he knew he had a problem. Wouldn't do to have something happen to him, not while Oz was on his watch. Buffy would hate him if he let the boy go off and kill innocent folks while he watched on. So with his mind on something other than Tate and Buffy for the first time in what seemed like forever he relaxed a tiny little bit, and allowed a small flicker of hope to lighten his mood.

They might just make it out of this alive or rather undead, he thought wonderingly.

~*~

Lorenzo Giancarlo listened to his childe and settled more comfortably into his wide backed leather chair, settling his handmade Italian leather shoes onto the matching ottoman.

"You're certain?" he demanded lowly staring at his manicured nails and listening carefully.

Reginald answered yes and Lorenzo released a long drawn out sigh that held a number of meanings.

"Can you follow?" he asked curiously.

"She's not too far gone but I can only travel during the night as you know. I think if I were to put feelers out we could find her soon enough."

"Do it and keep in touch with me every second. Reginald?" Lorenzo asked.

"Yes, Lorenzo?" Reginald asked with a slight measure of fear.

"Thank you," Lorenzo said warmly before he hung up and placed his cell phone on a near by table and clasped his hands together. His thoughts were turned towards what it was he had heard recently. In the last forty-eight hours he and he supposed the rest of the vampire world had been made aware of the fact that there was a vampire baby out there. A baby that had come from two vampires, born of their flesh and blood.

And it was something he had a very keen interest in. It was something he had never thought could ever happen.

"So this is where you ran off to," his mate's voice reached him and he glanced up as she strolled towards him.

He reached out his hand to her and when she reached him she took it and he pulled her down onto his lap. She looped an arm around his neck and gave him a small slightly mocking smile.

"What took you away?" she asked as her fingers played with the curls at the nape of his neck.

"Reginald called and I was hesitant to tell you this as it was not confirmed. But now…" He trailed off his deep voice going soft and slightly dreamy. It had always been a dream of his and it was something he had given up hope for centuries ago. Given up the dream of ever having children with his bella mia. And now it might be possible!

She stared at him the look on her face wary and slightly curious. Though she was his partner in every sense of the word there were some things she kept out of and that was certainly true with his minions and progeny, as he kept out her business with hers. So she was slightly surprised that Lorenzo wanted to speak to her about Reginald.

As she had been out of the country the past few days, and the fact that she had been in seclusion she hadn't had time to hear any juicy gossip.

"Now what…?" She demanded a little too sharply as concern began to creep its way inside of her.

"Now Regi called and confirmed it for me. I heard an interesting rumor just the other day. That there was a woman…who had somehow created a baby. A baby by two vampires. Created from two vampires. From what I understood there was a lab but it was destroyed. But the baby is alive and this mad scientist has him."

He paused to gauge her mood.

"A baby?" she asked her voice a whisper. She could not quite believe what she was hearing. She shook her head slightly as she met his eyes.

"Yes," he answered his lips curling upwards and his arms tightening around her waist. "Yes Samantha can you imagine? We could have our own baby. A child that could have the same longevity as us, our blood and perhaps our very own powers."

They were both silent letting the wonder of it sink in.

"Who are the baby's parents?" Samantha asked abruptly, as it occurred to her that this all seemed a little too perfect.

She watched as her lover's face tautened slightly in reaction to her question. And felt more than a bit of worry as she watched his eyes narrow and then felt his non-existent breath ease out of him.

"Well that's the thing." He began with a touch of trepidation. "Since this woman's lab was destroyed and she stole the baby from its father well… It's going to be a bit difficult finding her alive. And we want her alive, because we need her to help us make our baby."

Narrowing her eyes Samantha disentangled herself from his hold and got to her feet.

"You didn't answer my question," she retorted sharply. "Who are the baby's parents?"

"William the Bloody and his sire Drusilla."

She laughed hollowly at that and then turned cold gray eyes to Lorenzo's dark green gaze, speaking without words as years together had made them accustomed to one another's thoughts and emotions.

But Samantha couldn't leave the words unspoken.

"Well in that case we will just have to keep the baby for our very own."

Lorenzo’s grin was all the answer she needed as he rose and embraced her in a long and hard hug.

“And if they try to stop us?” Lorenzo asked curiously.

“We will kill them,” Samantha replied wickedly.

Lorenzo shook his head and lowered his head so that their lips touched.

“I knew there was a reason why I loved you,” he drawled out affectionately as he kissed her. Her arms came up to wrap around his neck, and he pulled her closer as the kiss deepened and they sealed their fates.

Next