A Lighter Shade of Darkness by Cindell T.

He jumped up to the roof of the crypt in one smooth leap, then suddenly came flying back down, landing on his back. He looked up for only a moment before rolling out of the way, as Buffy's boot landed hard, right where his face had been. "You're good." she admitted breathlessly.

She charged him as he prepared himself for another go-round. They had been fighting for what seemed like hours and were both tiring. Despite how fatigued her muscles were, Buffy never slowed her punches. With a final kick, she sent him falling over the top of a tombstone. He tried to rise, but was still on one knee when Buffy leapt over him and staked him cleanly through the back.

As his dust settled, Buffy stood straight up and glared at the space where he had been. "But not quite good enough." She was exhausted, but invigorated at the same time. Lately, more and more of the older and stronger vampires had been showing up, gunning for her. And as the fights got harder, she became stronger. Each one pushing her to be better, to be more than she was.

She suddenly whirled at the sound of footsteps behind her. "'Bout bloody time, luv." Spike walked up to her, grinning his typical smart-ass grin. "Thought you were gonna fight that one all night."

Buffy raised her eyebrows at him, "What's the matter, jealous?"

Spike scoffed at her remark "Me? Jealous? Of that…that poofter? What, just 'cause he got to see some of your best moves? 'Cause he could actually throw a punch without some soddin' chip zapping his skull? Just 'cause… it's been a long time since I've been able to fight you that hard?" He stepped closer to her.

Buffy gave him a mock defensive look and protested, "He didn't fight that hard. I won didn't I? He's dusty; I'm still standing. Piece of cake."

Spike grinned at her. "Piece of cake, right. That why it took you close to a bleedin' hour to dust him?" He noticed her shaking arms and took a step closer. "By the looks of things, you wouldn't 'ave been standin' much longer." He tilted his head and grinned at her as she shivered slightly. "Or are you just tremblin' with desire for me?" he gave her his sexiest smile and lightly traced one finger down her bare arm.

She took a step closer to him and glared in his eyes. "In your dreams, bleach boy."

"No, pet, in yours." He was inches from her as they looked into each other's eyes.

She knew what he was waiting for; the traditional make out session that always followed any particular hard fight. He always waited for her to start it. He was being true to his word about giving her the time she needed and letting her set the pace. It had been months though, and she was getting tired of the now agonizingly slow pace. Time to turn things up a notch, she thought. She turned and quickly walked away.

It took him a moment to react. "Bloody hell. Hey!" When he finally had use of his legs again, he trotted the few steps to catch up with her. "Aren't you forgetting something?" She ignored him and kept walking. He grabbed her arm to stop her. "Where do you think you're going?"

"To the Magic Box." She turned to leave again, and this time he grabbed her more forcefully and pulled her too him. She had to struggle not to smile.

"Is that what you really want to do?" He looked deep into her eyes, trying to read her.

She gazed back placidly at first, but soon she could feel her pulse start to pick up. She knew he would notice, but she didn't want to give away anymore than she had to. "What do you think? You're so good at knowing what I want. You tell me." She raised her chin slightly, trying to seem stubborn and unaffected.

He didn't buy it. In the space of one breath he could feel her desire rising. That old familiar pattern of changes in her body that told him the truth she would never speak. "I'll do better than tell, luv. I'll show you." He gave her a seductive smile as he drew closer.

She leaned back, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. He noticed, and immediately changed his mood from slow and seductive to fast and demanding. He pulled her to him and wrapped one arm behind her head, quickly claiming her mouth with his own. She was ready for him and responded with equal passion. She wrapped her arms around him, pulling him hard against her.

He stopped the assault on her mouth and began kissing a wet trail down the side of her neck to the dip where it met her shoulder. There he settled and began teasing her in earnest, biting and licking at her tender skin. He clutched her to him as her breathing quickened.

This was what she had always wanted, what she could never get from anyone else, pure passion, aggressive and demanding. A desire so strong it held nothing back. As his blunt teeth bit and scraped along her neck, she realized how much she truly trusted him. He sucked hard on her neck, causing shivers up her spine. She let out a small quiet moan.

He lifted his head to look at her face. Her eyes were burning as she gazed back at him. "Tonight." She said. "Now." No other words were needed. He took her hand and began walking quickly toward his crypt.

*************

Giles was at the Magic Box's front counter, unpacking two huge antique books. He put the first one down gently and began unwrapping the second. As he removed the acid free tissue paper from the back cover, he smiled at how well preserved the dark burgundy color of the leather still was. He lightly traced his hand down the cover, marveling at the smooth supple texture. The only thing better than receiving rare old books, was receiving rare old books in mint condition.

Giles slowly turned it to gaze at the binding and noticed the title embossed in gold leaf. As he finally turned it to the front cover he gasped slightly. Centered in the front cover was a raised emblem of a blood red dragon carrying a sorcerer's magic staff in its taloned claw. It's furrowed brows rode two bloodstone eyes that glared at him with fiery hatred. Above it the title 'The Legend of Enoch' fairly glowed, embossed in gold.

Giles slowly began to open the book, holding his breath in anticipation. Suddenly the phone rang and he started, nearly dropping the book. He rolled his eyes and carefully placed the book down as he picked up the phone. "The Magic Box, how may I help you?" His eyes were still on the book till he heard the familiar voice at the other end.

"Rupert? This is Edward. We need to talk" His voice was strained and Giles immediately knew something was wrong.

"Yes, Edward. What is it?" Giles placed the books back in the box.

"Things here are rather… well, we've been a bit preoccupied here as of late, which is why I haven't called before. How is Miss Summers doing?"

Giles bristled at the question. The last time the Council had visited them they had put everyone on the defensive, claiming the need to know if Buffy was prepared for the information they had on Glory. They had attacked her methods, grilled her friends needlessly, not to mention threatened Giles with deportation. The fact that they had called out of the blue and asked about Buffy put him on edge, to say the least. "She is doing well."

"And her friends… are they remaining… useful?"

"Yes, quite. Edward what…"

Edward interrupted him, "And the vampire… Spike. What about him?"

Giles was taken aback. "Spike? Edward, what is going on here? Have you not been receiving my reports?"

Edward was silent for a moment. "Some of them, yes. But…uh…circumstances being what they are here, we've found it rather difficult to…keep up…as it were." He paused. "I really need to know about the vampire, Rupert. It's very important."

Giles answered, "Spike is…um…well, he's still among the undead. He has become quite an integral part of our group actually, helping with patrols…"

Edward sounded shocked. "He has?"

"Well…yes. It…it's really quite remarkable how…"

"What about his bloodlust? How is that effecting him?" Edward asked.

"Well, I…I don't really know. It's not a topic we discuss…I suppose the same as it always has." Giles was beginning to resent the interruptions but was intrigued to find out why all the sudden interest in Spike.

"So nothing has changed? How odd. We were certain that it would have had some effect on him." Edward drifted off in thought.

"You were certain what would have some effect on him? Really Edward, I do wish you would just explain what you're talking about."

Now Giles was really confused. Lately the Watchers Council had been more and more out of the loop for some unexplained reason. Though Giles had continued to send his reports to the council as regularly as possible, replies from them had come fewer and farther between. When Buffy died and they had decided to use the Buffybot to keep up appearances, Giles had decided to keep that detail out of his reports. Dawn and the Scooby's needed him here. If the council found out the Slayer was dead they would have pulled him back to England.

After a few moments of silence Edward spoke, "Are you alone?"

Giles carried the phone around to the other side of the counter and looked around the store. The store was completely empty and though he knew Anya was around somewhere he couldn't see her. "I… I believe so."

"Rupert," Edward spoke impatiently. "You must be certain. This is important."

Giles frowned and looked around the store again. "Well alright. There's no one here, I'm sure of it. What's this all about then?"

Edward sighed and began in a low voice. "A few months ago you came to me with a problem. Do you remember? Having to do with Buffy's… reluctance in staking a certain vampire ?"

Giles remembered all too well. When Buffy had told him about Spike chaining her up in order to confesses his love for her, Giles had nearly hit the roof. Gone through it in fact. Then when Spike had come to the Magic Box Giles had assumed he was trying to weasel his way into her good graces by going through her friends. He had barely restrained himself from staking Spike then and there. Instead, he sent him on his way and called the Council. He had decided it would be best for everyone if Spike would finally get that chip out of his head. That way there would be nothing holding anyone back from staking him.

In order to get the Council to do that, Giles had told them about Spike's infatuation with Buffy. He had told them that the combination of that and the chip keeping him from hurting anyone, was giving Buffy a reason to resist killing him. Without the chip, she would see him for his true self and certainly have no qualms about killing him.

Giles regretted making that call now, for so many reasons. "Oh dear Lord. You mean…"

"Yes. I took your advice and had the chip removed from Spike. He is fully capable of taking human life now. In fact he has been for some time."

"What? How long is 'for some time'… exactly?" Dread was pooling in the pit of Giles stomach as he realized what Edward was suggesting.

"The operation was carried out just after the issue with Glory had been resolved. Our people were lucky enough to find him in a state of… well… he was quite out of it when they found him. Apparently he had been taking to the bottle quite a bit for some reason. He did us a favor actually. Made it easier to capture him without his being aware. The operation went smoothly, and we had him back in his crypt five days later. He was completely unaware anything had happened."

Giles sat slowly on the stool behind him. He couldn't believe all that time had gone by without anyone knowing. Spike had been with them all, including Dawn, without anything to hold him back from killing them, or worse. He wondered briefly why Spike hadn't tried. He dismissed the thought quickly reminding himself that he had become an important part of the group, even to the point of risking his life for them. That coupled with the fact that Spike didn't know it was out, of course he wouldn't try anything. But it was only a matter of time.

Edward broke through his thoughts. "Giles, I was going to tell you right away but… well… as I said, we've been a bit preoccupied with problems of our own. In fact… I really need to go now. I'm not sure when we'll be able to speak again… so…good luck." The line suddenly went dead.

Giles looked at the receiver in confusion. "Bloody hell." He knew something had to be seriously wrong for Edward to just hang up on him like that. Good, he thought. Serves them right. Giles hung up the phone and smirked happily for a moment before his mind brought him back to the danger at hand. "Buffy!"

He jumped up and rushed to the door, nearly running into Dawn headfirst. "Dawn, have you seen Buffy? Is she at your house?"

"No, I just came from there." Dawn looked up at him warily. He looked completely panicked and she was about to ask him what was wrong.

He suddenly grabbed her shoulders. "Where are they?"

"She and Spike went patrolling hours ago. Jeesh Giles, what's the problem?"

"Stay here," he told her firmly and disappeared out the door.

Dawn walked over to the table as she tried to figure out what just happened. Anya stepped slowly out of the training room and crossed to the table, a look of fear on her face.

Dawn was too confused over Giles behavior to notice. As she sat down, she asked Anya, "What the heck was that about?"

"Trouble." Anya looked up at Dawn. "The big kind."

*****************

The door of Spike's crypt flew open as he and Buffy stumbled inside. They had run the last few yards and Buffy was laughing breathlessly. Spike closed the door behind them and turned to see his love trying to calm a giggling fit.

She looked up to see him approaching her. Her giggles subsided as she took in his seductive smile. He was hunting her as he stalked ever closer, his eyes never leaving hers, his desire showing clearly in their blue depths.

When he was mere inches from her he stopped and tilted his head to look her over. He watched her chest rise and fall heavily, felt the heat radiating from her body. When he looked into her eyes and saw the naked passion displayed there his desire nearly overwhelmed him.

"What are you waiting for, Spike?" She said huskily. "Show me you want me." She smiled at him and leaned slightly forward.

Not able to resist any longer, Spike pulled her close and seared her lips with a burning kiss. She clung to him trying desperately to get closer. He withdrew from her and once again his mouth began a slow wet journey down her neck as his hands roamed under her shirt.

She arched back, leaning against the tomb behind her, and wrapped her legs around his waist. He could feel her heat right through his jeans and it coaxed a low growl from his throat. The vibrations of his growl against the pulse in her neck sent shivers through her body. "Oh, Spike" She moaned.

Suddenly the door of the crypt flew open, banging loudly. Spike was startled enough that his game face flew on as he turned to fight. As soon as he saw Giles come through the doorway, he shook off his demon visage and relaxed a bit. "Bloody hell!"

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Giles rushed up to them as they separated, and stood protectively in front of Buffy. "You just stay back, Spike. I'm warning you."

Buffy's embarrassment melted as confusion took its place. She stared at him in disbelief. "Giles, What's the matter?"

"Yea, I was just… Um…I was going to…uh…" Spike stumbled over trying to come up with something other than the truth. Buffy had given him a long talk about how she didn't want anyone to know what was going on with them until, well, until she knew just what was going on. He had agreed to keep their make-out sessions a secret for the time being. So just how was he supposed to explain this?

"I know bloody well what you were going to do, and I won't let you. You will not turn her." Giles gave Spike a dangerous look. For a second Spike saw the Ripper in his eyes.

"Turn me? What are you talking about Giles?" Buffy stepped around Giles and stood between him and Spike.

Giles looked from Buffy to Spike and back. They were both looking at him as if he'd gone insane. Maybe he had. He'd seen the way they looked at each other when they thought no one was watching. He knew Buffy was starting to fall for him and that was something he couldn't allow. Despite Spike's obvious love and loyalty for Buffy, he was still a vampire. And especially now that Spike was freed of the chip, he was certain it wouldn't be long before his vampire urges resurfaced. He was just glad he had gotten there in time. "Buffy, come with me." He took her hand and tried to pull her away from Spike, all the while watching him as one would a cobra about to strike.

She stood her ground "No, Giles. Not till you tell me what's going on. I haven't seen you this tweaked since… well, I don't think I've ever seen you this tweaked." He really did look slightly crazed and Buffy was beginning to worry.

"I will explain everything later, just come with me now." He tried to pull her away again but this time she yanked her hand out of his grasp.

"No." She suddenly had that look she got when she would not leave something alone. "I'm not going anywhere till you explain why you are so sure Spike will try to turn me. As we all remember he can't hurt anyone with that computer chip in his brain." Giles remained silent, glaring at Spike, with his hand on Buffy's arm. "Giles, what is it?" She suddenly had a bad feeling something was terribly wrong. "Tell me, now." Her voice left no room for argument and Giles broke his gaze on Spike, long enough to get a read of her face.

Giles spoke quietly and slowly, watching Spike for a reaction, more than Buffy, "Well, Buffy. You see…he doesn't… exactly have… the chip… anymore. It was removed." He gently pulled the shocked Slayer, away from the even more shocked vampire.

After several minutes of tense silence, Spike was the first to recover. "Now wait just a bloody minute. That's impossible. I think I would bloody well remember somebody cutting a hole in my skull."

Giles hadn't taken his eyes off Spike. "Not necessarily. They could have drugged you without you knowing and kept you out of it the entire time."

"How long?" Buffy stared at Spike as if she'd been betrayed. "How long have you been without it?"

Spike was hurt by the look on her face. He knew she was thinking that he had kept it a secret from her. "How the bloody hell should I know?"

"Think," Giles replied. "when was the last time you actually tried to hurt someone?"

Buffy tried to think but her brain wouldn't respond. She felt like she was falling into a great abyss. For months she had trusted him, with her life, with her sister… with her heart. Had he been playing her that whole time? Waiting till the right moment to strike out at all of them?

"The fight with Glory." His voice and face were calm. The kind of dread calm you get when you realize something you would give your life not to know. He looked straight at Buffy. "The last time I hurt a human was that night at the gas station. You remember. The Knights-of-misplaced-loyalties were trying to get lil' bit? I stepped in to fight the good fight, and got zapped right on my soddin' ass for tryin'."

Buffy couldn't believe it, wouldn't believe it. All that time without it. She looked from Spike to Giles. "Yea, but wouldn't we have noticed he was missing? I mean, an operation like that doesn't happen one day and then you're up and around the next, scar free like nothing's wrong."

Giles answered her, still looking at Spike. "Actually, it took five days exactly."

"Five days when?" Buffy crossed her arms. Spike had been with her or Dawn pretty much constantly since Buffy was reborn. There wasn't a single five-day span since… then it hit her. She looked at Spike. "When I… while I was…"

"Dead." he finished for her. "After you died Buffy… I wasn't exactly my usual, fun-loving self." He tried to smile. "Not for a while at least." He hung his head down as painful memories resurfaced.

"There were actually two weeks during that time when none of us saw him." Giles relaxed enough to glance at Buffy. "We just thought he was either grieving or had left town."

Spike's head snapped up. "I would never leave Dawn, you know that." The defensive anger in his eyes put Giles back on edge, and he moved to stand between him and Buffy.

"We didn't know that then, Spike. And now, without the chip, we have no reassurances that you will continue to protect her." Spike took a threatening step towards him, but Giles stood his ground.

As they locked eyes, Spike realized that now was not the time to show force. He regained control of his emotions and tried, what he hoped was a sincere smile. "Guess I have some reassuring to do, now don't I?"

The two men stared each other down, neither one sure if they trusted the other. Finally Giles spoke in a low, threatening voice. "Well, the only thing that will accomplish that task is time. Something I am willing to grant you. However, you only have one chance Spike. You hurt one hair on anyone's head, you so much as bruise anyone's feelings… I will make sure you wish Buffy staked you a long time ago."

Spike nearly shivered at Giles' tone. The look in his eyes was pure Ripper. Spike never could resist tempting fate though, so he smiled and tilted his head. "You know? You would have made one hell of a vampire, mate."

Giles smiled back humorlessly. "You don't know the half of it." He took a step back. "Remember Spike, one chance." In the instant he turned from Spike to Buffy, all signs of the Ripper vanished from his face. Giles smiled tenderly at her, "We really should go tell the others. I came straight to tell you first."

She nodded absently at him and they turned to go. As Spike watched them leave he thought to himself, Well Spike. You finally got your wish, you're chip free. And you know what? You're also just about the luckiest bloke on the planet. If you can just convince Buffy's watchdog there that you're not a threat…

Spike walked away happily. He'd had the chip for two years and during that time had grown to love Buffy more than his own life. He felt certain he wouldn't have a problem resisting his vampire urges. Giles was right, it would just take time for them to come around. And, being a vampire, time was something he had plenty of.

****************

Giles and Buffy walked silently though the night toward The Magic Box. He kept silent, aware of her turmoil, simply keeping her company, ready for the time when she would want to talk.

A million thoughts raced though her mind as she struggled with the ramifications of what she had just been told. Spike no longer had a chip. That meant he could hurt anyone, he could hunt again. Sure, he'd been without the chip for months now, but that didn't mean anything. It was like the prison door had been left unlocked without him knowing it. He had thought it was locked, so he'd had no reason to try to open it before. But now… now he could.

She stopped walking and turned to Giles. "This is huge. Bigger than huge, it… it's… huge! Spike is without a chip. Spike is chip-less. He could hurt anyone, kill anyone." She resumed walking, faster this time. "I just don't get why this happened, either. I mean, why would someone want to take his chip out without telling him? It, it's like they were experimenting or…the Initiative." Buffy stopped and looked at Giles.

Before her confused mind could form the next thought, Giles replied, "It wasn't the Initiative." He paused. Buffy raised her eyebrows at him in exasperation, and he continued reluctantly. "It… it was the Council of Watchers."

Buffy was dumfounded. "The Council of Watchers? Ok, I know there are some pretty twisted minds running that thing, but why the hell would they want Spike chip-less? If anything, I would think they'd just want him dead. Unless… they thought with the chip gone I'd have no reason to let him live anymore?" Buffy read Giles face as affirmative. Affirmative and… guilty. "Ok, you know something you're not telling, so tell."

Giles fidgeted uncomfortably. "We really should be getting on so we can tell the others, don't you think?"

"What I think is that you'd better spill what you know. Now." She stood in front of him, pinning him with her eyes.

He realized he wasn't going anywhere till he confessed, so he took a deep breath. "I called the Council and planted the seed of an idea in their minds that without the chip, Spike would return to his ways and you would quickly be forced to do away with him." At her stunned expression he hurriedly continued. "It… it was a long time ago, back when he uh… when it seemed his feelings for you were becoming… dangerous. I only did it to protect you, Buffy. I had no way of knowing things were going to develop as they have."

Buffy was silent, waiting to hear the rest she knew she wouldn't like.

"Today I received a call from the Council. The questions they asked lead me to believe they had decided it would be interesting… to um… remove it without telling him, or, or me… and see how he reacted."

"So you're saying they've been watching us this whole time? That they're probably watching us right now, amusing themselves with how our little drama is unfolding?" She looked angrily around.

"No, actually they haven't been able to… uh… watch us, for quite some time now. Apparently soon after the operation on Spike they ran into… well, they didn't say exactly what, but something else took a higher priority for them." Giles smiled at the possibilities of what the Council being distracted by a 'higher priority' could mean. Whatever it was, it couldn't be good for them. He turned serious again as he noticed the anger on Buffy's face.

"The… the point is, without the chip there is nothing to hold him back from his true nature. I'm sure it will not be long before he gives into his instincts, then I'm afraid you'll have to put him down for good."

Buffy's blood turned to ice as she realized what Giles had just admitted. "No."

He looked at her, confused. "No what?"

"No, I won't 'put him down for good'. He hasn't killed anyone in all these months that he's been without the chip, hasn't even tried to hurt anyone." She cut him off as he tried to speak, "And there is nothing to suggest that's what he going to do now. So you can put away any thoughts of Spike becoming dusty, by my hand or anyone else's. Unless and until he proves me wrong, he's one of the good guys."

She paused and became thoughtful, "You know, I always knew there was more to evil and good than just black and white, but I don't think it really sunk in until now. Of course, until now, I never thought that my Watcher, the man I looked up to and respected, would do something so dark and twisted as manipulating the Council to do his dirty work. Until now, I never thought that a soulless vampire could be anything but a cold blooded killer, incapable of any real feeling or decency."

She looked at him sadly and frowned, disappointed that the man before her was so different than she had thought. "I guess I'm gonna be doing a lot more thinking from now on." She turned her back on him and walked the rest of the way, alone.

********************

After two years Spike was free. No more holding back. "Look out world. Spike's back." He laughed out loud at the pure joy his demon was finally feeling. Course, they'll be no actual killing, he chided himself. Buffy wouldn't stand for that, not even if I was starving. He smiled evilly, But then again, at least I won't have to pussyfoot around like some bloody poof trying not to step on anyone's toes. He thought of all the times he'd held back from smacking Xander, or… Oooo, training Dawn should be interesting.

He had been enjoying the sparing matches they'd had, but they both knew he was holding back and that wouldn't help her reach her full potential. Giles had tried to train her, but he acted fatherly toward her, treating her like she was glass. Buffy couldn't train her because of all the sister-angst between them, their fights always ended up being just that; fighting, not training.

But Spike… now with the chip gone, Spike could show her what vampire fighting was really like. He'd not seriously hurt her, of course, but actually being able to land a few punches would be… fun. Spike grinned wider at the idea, as his demon instincts beginning to surface. He turned down into an alley, headed for Buffy's house. There was no school for Dawn tomorrow, and Spike hoped he could convince her to join him in a little midnight training session.

As he got about half way down the alley he froze. He turned his head slightly, sniffing the air. Blood; fresh and warm. He turned around and stepped slowly back the way he'd come. One step, two. There it was again. He stopped and listened intently, his vampire hearing honing in on the small shuffling sound coming from behind a door on his left.

He stepped up to the door and noticed fresh blood smeared on its edge. He breathed in deeply and his vampire features covered his human face. The air was not only heavy with the smell of blood, but also fear. Whatever it was, it was wounded badly and its attacker was nearby. Spike took a step back and kicked the door open. It was pitch black inside, but he could still see a young girl cowering in the far corner of the small windowless room.

He stepped in and stalked slowly toward her, his senses on full alert for her attacker. When he got close he could see that she had bite marks on her neck and deep scratches all down her arms. Her blood was dripping from every mark, and a growl of pure demon pleasure rumbled in his throat. The instinctive reaction caused him to pause. Where did that come from? he wondered. The sight of humans in pain hadn't been a turn on for him in a long time. I must be more hungry than I realized, he thought dismissively. Shaking off his demon features he looked at her again. He could tell whatever vampire did this to her was inexperienced, or weak from hunger.

Spike had only seen marks like that once before, a long time ago. The vampire who made them had been at the end of his rope, starving, desperate for the slightest taste of blood. The vampire had lunged at a man, and clumsily managed to catch its teeth on his neck before the man backed up, screaming. During that struggle, the vampire had clawed frantically at the man's arms, trying to hold on to him long enough to get a good bite. That vampire had been Spike.

He was close to the girl now and crouched down low in front of her. He spoke quietly and calmly, "Don't worry now, luv. I won't hurt you."

The girl was startled by the sound of his voice. She was completely blind in the darkness and tried to press closer to the brick wall behind her. She was nearly hysterical but as Spike continued murmuring, his voice had an eerie calming quality, soothing her enough for her to be able to speak in a horse whisper. "Please, help me."

"Course I will, luv." Spike began to reach toward her but stopped, and turned his head slowly to the left.

Looking behind him he felt, rather than saw, the creature. The vampire was small, probably very young when it was turned. It began to crawl toward Spike, and as it entered the shaft of light from the open doorway, Spike could see he had been right. A dry skeleton of a boy crawled toward him, head barely raised enough to stare at him, arms wobbling as it tried to move closer. It's voice rasped through cracked lips to him. "She's mine. Leave us."

Spike turned and grinned at the vampire. "Oh I'll leave, mate. But she's coming with me."

The vampire struggled to rise. "You'll have to go through me." It tried to give a tough look, but ended up looking pitiful.

Spike thought for a moment, then shrugged. "Alright." Quick as lightning he leapt forward, grabbed the vampire's head, and twisted it clean off. As the dust settled, he turned back to the girl. She was still crouched against the wall, whimpering, quickly drawing closer to death, as her dripping cuts fed into the pool of blood forming around her.

Spike's demon screamed to take her quickly, before any more blood was wasted. "No." Spike commanded in a guttural voice. He took the girl up in his arms as gently as he could and carried her out the door to the alley. Her pulse was weakening and Spike knew she didn't have long. As he turned back up the alley, his demon raged, desperate for just a taste of the bloody girl in his arms.

Spike continued up the alley, carrying the weak girl, as his demon called out for her blood. He stopped suddenly, his unnecessary breath coming faster as he looked down at her exposed neck. He watched for a moment as her pulse beat weakly, her blood seeping out the jagged mark in her neck. The smell of her blood was all around him, intoxicating him, calling to him. He smiled as his demon features once again surfaced. He leaned his head closer to her… then backed away.

"No." He repeated and continued on up the alley, faster, desperate to get her to someone who could really help her. As he rounded the end of the alley, he ran straight into Giles.

They stared at each other for a moment, the vampire and the Ripper. Spike marveled again at how purely evil and dangerous Giles could look when he took on the persona of his youth. Giles looked down at the girl. "Is she still alive?"

Spike tried to let go of his vampire face but it wouldn't obey. "Yes she's alive. And I didn't do this."

Giles smiled at him. "Of course." He held out his arms. "May I?"

Spike gently placed the girl in his arms and stepped back, his human face finally returning. "You do believe me, right?" He watched as Giles carried the girl over to his car and carefully laid her in the back seat.

"What I believe is irrelevant, Spike." He closed the door and turned back to the vampire he so desperately wanted to stake. He realized however, that if he did, Buffy would never be able to move on. She would always remember Spike as the misunderstood vampire who loved her, not the brutal killer that Giles knew him to be.

"Although… I don't believe Buffy would quite see it that way." Giles stepped right up to Spike and stared at him with barely concealed hatred. "I will warn you for the last time, Spike. You have one chance with me. I find any real proof that you've hurt anyone…and I will stake you." He stood there for a moment before striding to the driver's side of his car. He gave Spike one last threatening look, and drove off toward the hospital.

Spike stood watching the car disappear around the corner. He had thought it would be so easy, thought his love for Buffy would keep him from the call of the hunt. He had been a fool. He turned and walked toward his crypt, dreading the days to come, realizing he was in for the struggle of his un-life.

Chapter 2

Buffy walked into the Magic Box, prepared for battle. She had no illusions that it would be difficult, at best, to get everyone on her side about Spike. Dawn would be easy; she liked Spike, and trusted him when no one else did. His not having the chip wouldn't affect her opinion too much.

The rest of them though, especially Xander, would be hard to win over. She marched up to the table where they were all sitting. "Guys, I'm glad you're all here. I've got some really, really big news you are not going to believe."

Anya spoke up in her usual blunt way. "Is it about Spike losing his chip?"

Buffy froze and frowned at everyone. "Ok, maybe not so big news."

Tara smiled as Buffy sat next to her. "Anya was eavesdropping when Giles got the call."

"Was not." Anya replied defensively. "I just happened to be standing where he couldn't see me, but close enough for his loud voice to be heard clearly."

Buffy blinked at her, "And that's different from eavesdropping… how?"

Anya was at a loss for words. Unaccustomed to that situation, she looked down at her hands. "It just is."

Xander suddenly spoke. "Ok, let's stick to the crisis with the most danger of getting us all killed; Spike is chip-less. Ergo, I say we all grab some weapons, spread out over the city, and hunt him down. Who's with me?"

"No one is hunting him down." Buffy stated firmly.

"You're right, spreading out would make us too easy a target. Will, you got some kind of vampire-calling spell…?"

"I said no one is hunting him down, period. He's not a danger to us."

Xander looked at her disbelievingly. "Not a danger? Buffy, we're talking about Spike. The same Spike that tried to kill you numerous times, tried to kill Willow even when he was chipped…"

"The same Spike who let Glory torture him till he was nearly dead, rather than give up Dawn. I know who we're talking about."

Xander sighed. "Look, I know he's been there for us lately, believe me, I get this. But you're ignoring one crucial detail… He's a vampire. Without the chip, there's nothing holding him back."

"There's us holding him back." Dawn had been silent for as long as she could. "Spike may be a vampire, but he cares about us now… all of us." She looked around at each of them. "He told me so himself. And Spike always protects the people he cares about. He won't hurt us now." She stood up and grabbed her book bag off the table. "I'm tired, let's go home Buffy."

"That's it?" Xander still wasn't convinced. "'Let's go home'? Dawn, home is the last place you should be. He has an open invite, he could sneak in while you slept…"

"No he won't!" Dawn surprised them all. "Spike is not gonna hurt anyone…so just… just drop it!" She ran from the store and after a scolding look at Xander, Buffy followed her out.

Xander looked around guiltily. "She'll be fine. She's just mad. I'm right though. I am." Xander looked down, feeling terrible. Anya patted his hand tenderly and they shared a comforting look.

*********************

"Dawn wait!" Buffy ran to catch up to her sister.

Dawn turned and glared at Buffy. "Why? Why did they have to do that to him? Hasn't he suffered enough? Now everybody's going to be trying to stake him… and… and he hasn't even done anything wrong. Why can't they just leave him alone?" She looked angrier than Buffy had seen her in a long time.

"No one's going to stake him. I promise." And she meant it too. As far as Buffy was concerned nothing had changed. She trusted Spike with everything she had, and she knew the depths of his love for both of them. It might not be easy, but Buffy was sure he would find a way to keep his demon in check even without the chip.

"He wouldn't do it. He'd never do it no matter what they say." Dawn crossed her arms and stared at the ground.

"I know." Buffy put her arm gently over her sisters' shoulder and guided her back to the car. "It's getting late. Let's go home and we can talk more in the morning."

*********************

Tara and Willow returned home, both silent in thought. It had been a strange night for them. They had watched the Buffy/Xander argument without saying a word. For Tara that was the norm, but for Willow to not say anything to support Buffy was strange. Tara plopped her bag in a chair and approached Willow, placing a hand on her shoulder.

Willow jumped and spun around, then relaxed and gave Tara an embarrassed smile. "Sorry, I'm a bit jumpy tonight. Guess that whole 'Spike can bite you for real' idea has me kinda wigged."

"Not a problem. I understand. Want me to draw you a hot bath?" She smiled affectionately at her.

"Yea. Actually that sounds really good." Willow nodded.

Tara did as she promised, adding bubbles to the water and lighting several candles as well. She offered to join her lover, but Willow explained that she wanted to meditate and told her, "Maybe after dinner." Tara smiled understandingly and went to the kitchen to prepare their meal.

Willow entered the bathroom and immediately gave a deep sigh. The room was very cozy and she could feel the tension start to leave. She closed the door and began to undress. Removing her earrings and necklace, she opened one of several jewelry boxes the girls owned. Resting in the bottom was the decorative gold amulet she had tried to use in a levitation exercise so long ago. Willow picked it up gently and looked it over, an urgent memory trying to resurface. She slowly lowered it to the counter and looked in the mirror.

Her reflection looked back at her, with two black voids where her usually bright eyes should be. "The time has come so soon?" her reflection asked.

"Yes." Willow's body answered. "An unforeseen event has occurred to clear the path. I need only a few days time to weaken her support."

"You can be sure of this?" The surprised reflection replied.

"The witch is sure of it." The dark spirit hiding in Willow's body was growing impatient with its counterpart's questions and it showed in Willow's voice. "Without the vampire the Slayer will fall. And when that happens..." An evil smile crossed Willow's lips. "…the witch will be without her greatest allies."

"Without two of her greatest allies." The reflection corrected. "What of the others, the younger witch in particular?"

Willow sighed and explained in a voice one would use with a small child, "The Slayer is the keystone of the group, the vampire her counterpart. Without them the others will be too weak to resist. We will have little opposition to our goal. Tell them to prepare, I will signal them soon."

The reflection nodded and its eyes returned to normal.

Willow blinked once then resumed undressing, unaware that anything was wrong.

*********************

To say it was hard getting through the day was a huge understatement. As hard as she tried to concentrate, Buffy's mind kept wandering to Spike. Xander had been so sure Spike would kill again and Dawn had been just as sure he wouldn't. As much as she hated to admit it, Buffy found herself somewhere in the middle. She knew she trusted Spike, the chipped Spike. But without that guarantee she had to admit she was a little nervous about patrolling with him tonight.

When the sun finally went down she found herself approaching his crypt with butterflies in her stomach. She stopped just outside the door, trying to decide the best way to handle the situation. After a few moments running through the possibilities, she decided the "nothing happened" approach would be the easiest. As she pushed the heavy crypt door open, she forced a smile and the back of her mind warned her to keep alert; just in case.

The crypt was nearly completely dark. The only light, that of the half full moon, filtering dimly through one dirty window. "Spike?" she called softly. There was no answer as she stepped slowly into the room. The trap door leading down to the lower level was open and Buffy slowly walked toward it, her nerves on edge.

The voice behind her made her jump and spin, ready for a fight. "I'm right here." Spike was sitting on the floor against the wall of the crypt. Buffy knew this because of the two yellow eyes that glowed back at her.

"What are you doing sitting in the dark? You nearly gave me a heart attack." Buffy took a step towards him.

"Just waiting for you, luv." He rose and stepped into the ray of moonlight. His face was human looking and Buffy stared up into his deep blue eyes.

"Well I'm here, so let's get going." She started for the door but Spike reached out and grabbed her arm, pulling her back.

"Don't think that's such a good idea." He looked into her eyes; sorrow twisting his undead heart. Just when he found her he was losing her again. The thought fueled his anger and for an instant his eyes sparked yellow.

Buffy was mesmerized as his eyes changed from despair to fury to resignation. He had always had expressive eyes, but now they were so clear, so alive, as if some intangible element had been missing before and was now back. She frowned as his words finally registered. "What? What do you mean, not a good idea?"

"I'm not going on patrol with you." He let go of her arm and walked over to his TV watching chair. Picking up the worn duffle bag, he turned back to her.

She looked at the bag then back at him. Realization swept over her face. "You're leaving? No. You are so not leaving. You can't; I need you." Even a few months ago she would have struggled to say that to him, although it was as true then as now. She had spent so much time denying his love, denying her own feelings, she made a promise to herself she wouldn't hold back anymore.

"You need someone I can no longer be. Without the chip, I'm just too dangerous. I can't control it, can't deny what I am. I'm a vampire, sooner or later…" He looked at her tenderly, realizing that even now he was hurting her. "Giles was right; I would try to kill you." He smiled a bittersweet smile and took a step toward the door.

Buffy blocked his path and gazed up at him determinedly. "What happened?" She wasn't about to lose him without a fight.

"Nothing happened." He looked away from her.

"Don't lie Spike, do what you're good at. Tell me the truth I don't want to hear."

His head snapped up and he glared at her. "You want the truth? Fine. The truth is I'm a killer. Last night I came across a girl who had been attacked. She was covered in blood." His eyes glowed yellow and he stopped to take in a large breath, remembering that night. "It was glorious, the blood, the fear; I reveled in it. Enjoyed it. Wanted to take her and drain every last wonderful drop of blood from her body."

Buffy refused to let his words disgust her. She stared back at him, her eyes never wavering. "But you didn't."

It wasn't a question. Spike looked in her eyes and realized she knew. She wasn't asking him if he did, she was telling him she knew he didn't. Baffled he replied, "No. But I wanted to."

"But you didn't." Buffy repeated firmly. "Don't you see Spike? It doesn't matter how much you wanted to. People want things everyday that they shouldn't have. What matters is that in the end you didn't do it. You controlled yourself." She took the bag from his hand, and put it back on the chair. She walked back up to him all business. "On the way over, Giles warned me that he'd heard about a vamp nest down by the docks. I'm taking them out tonight, and you're going to help."

He knew that look. It was her 'don't even try to argue 'cause I'm not taking no for an answer' look. Both he and the Scooby's had learned a long time ago that there was no defense against it. The battle was lost. Spike frowned at her and shook his head. "You are bloody stubborn, you know that Slayer?"

"And you wouldn't have me any other way." She gave him a quick light kiss on the lips. "Now let's go."

**************

Bane-"That which destroys life, which is poisonous, destructive, evil, dangerous."

**************

There was always sound at the docks, the cry of a seagull, the whispering caress of waves against the pier, the clang of rigging against a mast. It was a constant symphony many found relaxing and peaceful. Tonight there was only silence. It was as if the entire area was holding its breath, aware that something was about to happen.

Buffy hardly ever went to the docks, vampires usually nested closer to town. But this group was different; they were here on a mission. The leader of the group was fairly big, and very old, even for a vampire. He had volunteered to lead this group of seven against the Slayer, knowing full well he might pay for failure with his life.

He had been instructed not to take his mission lightly. This was no ordinary Slayer. Not only had she cheated death and managed to live far longer than any before her, but also she had managed to recruit one of their own to help in her battles. The vampire Spike was well known as having been one of the baddest vampires that ever walked. He was also known as a traitor.

The leader of this group knew him as a former friend. They shared the same passion for the unknown, the fight they weren't sure they'd win. When they first met it had been in one such fight. They had barely managed to survive it, and when it was all over they were both flying high off the experience. They decided they made a good team and spent 20 years spreading mayhem and fear through Italy.

But that was lifetimes ago. Now, as he looked out the warehouse window at the moonlit waters, Bane told himself that he would enjoy killing the vampire who allied himself with the Slayer. He turned his head slightly as one of his scouts approached and whispered to him. "They're here."

Bane nodded and his scout left him. After another moment gazing at the waters, he turned to the others who were sitting behind him, chatting about battles past. One by one, they noticed their leader's gaze and slowly stood and gathered around him.

"This is what you have trained for. Remember your mission; kill the Slayer if you can, but Spike will not leave in one piece. Go." They quickly spread out and disappeared into the darkness to wait for their prey to enter the empty warehouse.

************

Buffy and Spike had no idea what was waiting for them in the shadows of the building. To them this was just another vampire nest in a long string of nests they had defeated. Sure, it was in an unusual area of town, but that didn't mean anything. As Buffy walked confidently up to the door, she began to frown. By the time her hand was on the doorknob, she was no longer sure of herself. Something didn't feel right. She turned and whispered behind her, "Spike?"

"Yea, luv, I feel it too." There was something going on but he couldn't tell what. All he knew was the demon within him was screaming to be let out.

Buffy opened the door and stepped inside, her Slayer senses tingling. In the center of the huge room were six empty chairs surrounding a table lit by a single floor lamp. All the windows had were blacked out, but on her left, the moonlight streamed through a single clear window, and lit up a man sitting with his back to her in an oversized chair. The rest of the area was pitch black, but her senses were screaming that the darkness held danger.
She turned toward the man in the chair, keeping part of her awareness open to the vast area around her. She knew she could handle herself under most normal circumstances. This, however, suddenly did not feel normal. She was glad Spike was with her and drew from his presence to give her voice a confident edge she didn't quite feel. "So where's all your buddies? Did they hear I was coming and hightail it out of here… 'cause I'm thinking that's a pretty smart idea, one you should have thought of."

She continued her slow approach, and though she couldn't see his face yet, his voice betrayed a smile. "Oh, they're around, don't worry your pretty little head 'bout that."
The moment he heard the vampire's voice, Spike knew they were in big trouble. His mind flashed back to several of their adventures together and his demon smiled at the delightful memories. "Bane?" Spike stepped around Buffy and as he did pointed to his back. She immediately understood the message and spun to keep an eye on the darkness. Whoever Bane was, Buffy knew Spike wanted him to himself.

The man slowly stood and turned to face Spike. "You remember?"

"Course I remember, mate." Spike tried to keep his voice and attitude casual, at least till he could find out what his old buddy was up to. "I never forget my friends."

Bane chuckled in distain. "Friend? Is that how you think of me? I'd love to hear your definition of friend in that case. 'Cause last time I checked… friends didn't betray each other."

"I never betrayed you." Spike said firmly.

"Not when we were together, no. But you've betrayed our kind by allying yourself with the Slayer. And that means you've betrayed me as well. And that means… we are no longer friends." His demon face came forward, eyes glowing yellowy gold, the bridge of his nose and brow extending, and teeth becoming long and jagged.

Spike braced himself for an attack and allowed his own demon to show. "Alright. Let's do this." He closed the distance between them in the blink of an eye.

Buffy heard them roar behind her and as she turned to see, a vampire jumped out of the darkness at her. Her head spun back around, but not fast enough to see the fist aimed at her nose. As her head snapped back and she stumbled, she grabbed her stake from its place, wedged in the back of her jeans.

She glared at the smiling vampire. "You'd better savor that memory, 'cause it won't happen again." As she took a step toward him, she sensed movement behind her. She instantly changed her forward momentum into a backward roll as the vampire leapt off the table behind her and missed her completely, instead taking out the one she had been facing.

As he turned to glare at her, she rose to her feet and smiled back. "Nice work. Sure you're not on my side?"

He spun toward her, fury enhancing his features. "That's it. Guys…" he called to the shadows behind him, "we're taking her out now!" Suddenly Buffy found herself in the center of a vampire storm. They were coming at her from all directions and she was struggling to save her own life.

Spike heard the commotion behind him but he had his hands full. Bane was much older than he was, and stronger as well. Spike was using every trick in the book to keep him from getting the upper hand. Finally, Bane managed to get behind him and grabbed his head in a vice-like grip.

"Well, Spike. I must say I'm quite impressed. You put in a good show. I was starting to wonder if I'd really be able to take you after all." Spike thrashed slightly and tried to elbow him. "Now none of that." Bane warned, tightening his grip. "Wouldn't want me to twist your head off before we've had a chance to chat."

Spike relaxed a bit. "Chat 'bout what?"

Bane pushed him towards the center of the room where Buffy was putting in, what was literally, the fight of her life. Spike took one look at the odds against her and became very still. His head lowered slightly and the yellow eyes of his demon glared at her. She was absolutely stunning, a vision of movement and light. He smiled at her deadly beauty.

Bane misinterpreted this and relaxed his grip on Spike ever so slightly. "You see it don't you? She is going down tonight. You were supposed to die with her but… I might be persuaded to let you go, if you can convince me that you no longer care for her safety."

Spike leaned slightly forward and licked his lips, as one of the vampires she was fighting landed a blow to her chin, causing blood to spray from her cut lip.

Spike growled low in his throat and breathed in the scent of her fear. An evil smile spread across his face as her kicks and punches became noticeably slower and sloppier.

Bane saw his reaction and looked up to enjoy the battle himself. In that instant Spike grabbed Bane's arm and spun, twisting it behind him. Quickly pulling a stake out of his coat, he buried it deep in his former friends' chest.

As their leader's dust settled to the floor, all but one charged Spike. The one that stayed found himself hard pressed to defeat the tired Slayer. She had seen Spike's actions out of the corner of her eye and it gave her an adrenaline rush that kept her going, though her muscles cried to stop. After she finally managed to dust her opponent, Buffy turned to find Spike.

He was standing with his back to her, watching the last vampire's dust fall. As she approached, he spun around, his yellow eyes burning into her. She was out of breath as she drew near he watched her chest rise and fall with fascination.

"Are you alright?" She asked. She noticed that though his shirt was ripped and a small cut could be seen on his chest, he seemed relatively unscathed. He looked up into her eyes and she froze. Gone was the Spike she knew. Even with his game face on she could usually still see or sense some part of the man she loved. Now there was only demon.

"Yes." He answered huskily and quickly took her in his arms. He bent down and with the tip of his tongue licked the blood off her cut lip.

Her whole body shivered and she pulled him to her, kissing him hard. As his arms wrapped around her body, Buffy lost herself in his kiss, his arms, his presence. It was a primal feeling Spike had kept hidden from her. In all their time together he had only showed her glimpses of it. But the Slayer in her craved more. She knew no matter how raw and violent their passions became he would never truly hurt her. Now she was getting the full force of his demon self and was loving every minute of it.

She arched back baring her neck for him. He kissed a trail down her neck then drew back slightly to gaze at the pulse beating heavily just under her skin. He was lost in the sensations his vampire body was giving him. Her breath, her pulse, her heat; the sound of her heartbeat pounded in his head. He smiled, letting his jagged teeth show, and bent down slowly, preparing to bite her.

As his teeth grazed her neck Buffy moaned. "Yes. Oh Spike." Her voice broke through the desire filled haze in his mind. He stopped and drew back to look at her face. It was a study in ecstasy. She was so lost in her feelings and her trust of him.

Her eyes fluttered and she opened them to look at him. "Why did you stop?" she panted.

He frowned, his face flickering between human and vampire. "Do you know what I was about to do?" Of course she didn't know. He hated to tell her because he knew that would be then end of them, probably the end of him as well.

"Yes," she replied huskily. She drew a finger lightly over his lips, staring at them with a hunger he'd never seen in her before.

"No, luv. I don't think you do." He stepped back from her, his human features finally gaining control of his face.

"Yes, Spike, I do. You were going to bite me." She saw the shock on his face and rushed to explain. "I know you can bite someone without draining them and without turning them. I trust you enough to let you." She stepped closer and placed a hand on his chest. She looked up at him with heat in her eyes. "I want you to."

He smiled at her tenderly. She had no idea what that meant to him, that she trusted him that much. But he didn't. Without the chip, and with everything he'd been feeling since finding out it was gone, he wasn't sure he could trust himself that much. Not with her life. "I know pet. But it's just the heat of the moment. Tomorrow you'll regret it, and when the Scooby's find out what I'd done…well, vamps like Bane would be the least of my worries."

"You don't get it, do you?" She shook her head in disbelief. "How could you not get it? You. The one who understands me better than anyone, including myself."

She stepped close to him again and though he could tell her heart rate and breathing were returning to normal, she still smelled of desire to him. "I've wanted this for a long time. I just didn't trust you enough till now."

He touched her cheek and sighed as she closed her eyes, nuzzling against his palm. "Well that's just bloody irony for you in' nit? 'Cause luv, the thing is…I did trust myself enough…until now."

She felt his hand withdraw and she kept her eyes closed, breathing in the sent of him lingering there. When she opened her eyes he was gone. She looked around the warehouse frantically, but he was nowhere to be found. As fear pooled in the pit of her stomach, she ran toward his crypt.

***************

Spike knew he didn't have long, probably only a few short minutes before Buffy would catch up to him. He entered his crypt at full speed, grabbed his duffle bag still sitting on the chair, and headed out the door. He hated leaving her like this but he knew it was the only way. Buffy was a fighter and he knew that now that she trusted him so completely she would fight to keep him in Sunnydale. He was afraid that fight would end with him taking her life.

He had felt it when he held her at the warehouse. That nearly overwhelming desire to taste her blood; to drink from her and lose himself in her. He had managed to resist, but just barely. He couldn't take the chance that he would be able to resist a second time. He loved her too much.

And yet somehow his love for Buffy wasn't enough. Angrily, he walked faster. As he approached his car and threw the bag in back, he paused to look back at the cemetery. He remembered all the times they'd fought against each other and with each other. "I'm gonna miss you, pet. But this is something I have to do…for your own good." He would do anything for Buffy, and if that meant getting outside help, then so be it. He quickly got in, peeled away from the curb and headed for the nearest highway entrance.

****************

Buffy was frantic by the time she reached Willow's. She had been everywhere she could think of looking for Spike. First stop had been his crypt. When his missing bag confirmed her suspicions that he was leaving, she nearly broke down then and there. Instead, she allowed anger to fuel her and she began a systematic search of town and the nearby areas. It was almost sunup now and as she knocked on Willow's door, the realization that she may have lost him forever gripped her mind in terror.

A sleepy-eyed Willow opened the door and as soon as she saw Buffy's face she woke completely up. "What's wrong? Is Dawn ok?"

Buffy brushed past her and began pacing in the living room. "Dawn's fine. Spike's gone."

"What? How do you know that?" Willow closed the door and joined her friend in the living room.

"Because…I just do is all. I've looked everywhere, he's not in his crypt, not at the Bronze, not even the Magic Box or Giles'." She stopped pacing and turned to Willow. "Please, Will. You have to help me. I can't just let him leave. I… I love him."

Willow sat down hard on the couch. "Oh."

Buffy sat next to her. "I know it's kind of… um…"

"Shocking?" Willow supplied.

"Well I was gonna say surprising…"

"No… no I think shocking is the word to use here." Willow did look shocked for a moment. She began to frown and looked over at Buffy. "Actually… not so shocking. You know, I kind of saw this coming."

"You did?" Now it was Buffy's turn to be shocked. "How could you? I didn't even see it coming."

"Of course not. You're too close to it. Add in your stubborn refusal to do what's good for you and…presto, no seeing." Willow gave a small smile.

Buffy returned it. "Yea. Guess you're right. So, what do I do about it now? It's kind of hard to love someone who's running from you."

"He didn't say anything that would give you some clue as to where he went?" Willow stood and walked over to a bookshelf.

"No. Just that he didn't trust himself with me without the chip."

Willow turned back to her with a large book in her hands. "Wait a minute. Spike left because he didn't trust himself with you? As in didn't trust himself not to… hurt you?"

"That's the gist of it. But I know he wouldn't hurt me. I told him that. I trust him, even when he doesn't trust himself."

"Wow." Willow stated.

"Yea, deep huh?" Buffy smiled then noticed the book in her hand. "What's that?"

Willow sighed and went to sit next to her. "I think I can find out at least what direction he went in, but it's going to take time. And I need you to get me something of his." She began thumbing through the pages of the book.

"Ok. Um… I could run back to his crypt and see if he left anything." Buffy looked hopefully at her and when she nodded, stood and started for the door.

"It has to be something personal. Something he was close to, both physically and emotionally. The more the better." Willow placed the book on the table, open to the page she'd need.

"Personal, right. I won't be long." Buffy disappeared out the door.

Willow tip-toed to her bedroom and peeked in on a dead-to-the-world Tara. She smiled tenderly at her, then went to the bathroom to retrieve some herbs stored in the medicine cabinet. As she was about to open the mirror she paused. Something wasn't right. She looked at her reflection and was dimly aware that her eyes were the wrong color.

Her reflection gazed back with black void eyes. Frowning, it waited for Willow to speak first.

After a few moments, Willow shook her head and spoke quickly. "The time is almost at hand, and none too soon."

"You had trouble gaining control that time."

"I know. It's her worry over the Slayer. The stress is causing her to be more aware, making it harder for me to take over."

"What do you need?" The reflection asked.

"Call the Tallinach." Willow's voice was hard as steel.

"Are you sure? It is unreliable after it's last encounter with the Slayer." Willow's reflection frowned in worry of it's own.

"It's not for her. The Slayer will be leaving town soon. The Tallinach will be needed after she goes."

The reflection looked confused for only a moment before it realized what it's counterpart meant. "For the witch. To distract her."

"Yes. The dreams should work well enough for that. Go, tell them to await my signal one last time."

The reflection nodded and it's eyes returned to normal.

Willow shook her head and looked around slightly dazed. "That's weird. Guess I need more sleep." She opened the cabinet and began looking through the items.

****************

Spike drove like the proverbial bat as he shot down the deserted highway. The events of the last two days plagued his mind; finding out about the chip, saving the injured girl, the fight with his old buddy, the blinding desire that had enveloped him when he had held Buffy in his arms.

He cringed at the memory. That moment had decided things for Spike. As much as he loved Buffy he had nearly taken her life, nearly given in to the overwhelming desire to drink from her. It was at that moment Spike realized what he had to do. He was desperate not to lose Buffy, and desperate times called for desperate measures.

As the DeSoto cleared the top of a hill, and Spike saw the twinkling lights of the city appear in front of him, he muttered to himself, "And this is one bloody desperate measure." He stepped on the gas and the car plunged into the dark outskirts of Los Angeles.

Chapter 3

Buffy slammed open the door to Spike's crypt and cringed at the hollow sound it made. The noise echoed though the empty chamber, and realization hit Buffy for the millionth time that night, that he was really gone. Tears threatened to fill her eyes, but she fought them back, as she had every other time that night. She reminded herself he was not gone, but running scared, frightened that his demon cravings would get out of control. He had done the only thing he could think of to protect her, leave. He was wrong to do so, and when she finally caught up to him, she would be sure to make that very clear.

She stepped around the chamber, looking for any personal item they could use in the location spell Willow would perform. Spike didn't have many possessions to begin with, and he had done a good job clearing out what little he did have. She was about to head down to the underground level, when she glanced at the TV, and noticed something small and silver resting on top of it. She walked over, and as she neared it she began to frown. The last thing she expected to see was sitting there with no note, yet speaking volumes to her.

She picked up the silver skull ring and turned it over as memories came flooding back. Ages ago, it seemed, Willow had cast a spell that had backfired in so many ways. One of which made Buffy and Spike get engaged. The funny thing was that it had done more than that. It had opened up a floodgate of emotion in both the Slayer and the vampire, and they had fallen head over heels in love as well. Spike had given this ring to her as an engagement ring. When the spell had been broken, their hate for each other returned and she had thrown the ring at him in anger, never imagining that he would keep it.

Buffy had made everyone promise never to talk about the forced engagement, and for the most part no one had. When Spike and Buffy had first started getting together for real, they had joked about it a couple of times. It seemed so long ago that they had wanted each other dead. That had changed slowly over time as Spike had changed.

Spike had never mentioned the ring, so Buffy figured it had gotten lost. Now she realized he had been holding on to it. She knew he would never expect her to wear it again, but leaving it like this was his way of telling her it wasn't over. No matter how strange things got, or hopeless they seemed, Spike truly loved her. His love was real. No spell had created it and leaving her would not break it.

She grabbed the ring tightly and ran to Willow's. They needed to get the spell done so she could be on her way to finding him. She didn't want to waste another minute.

*********************

Spike barely got the car into the warehouse, as the first rays of dawn hit the valley. He quickly closed the huge rusty doors and turned to view his surroundings. The place was obviously deserted, but for how long was hard to tell. Spike hoped it would stay that way at least until nightfall.

He walked back to his car and fished out his spare pack of cigarettes from the bag in the back seat. Lighting one, he took a long drag and looked around, muttering to himself, "This is gonna be one bloody long day." Shaking his head he went off to find somewhere he could be hidden from view, yet still keep an eye on his ride.

As he sat with his back to the wall, hidden between stacks of boxes and an old band saw, he thought about the gift he had left Buffy. He figured she'd found it by now and hoped she'd understand the importance of it. He loved her, more than anything. Their spell-induced engagement may have been torture to her at the time, but he had savored every minute of it, though he would never tell anyone that. In the dark times that followed, when he realized his feelings for her, and it seemed they would never be returned, he had clung to the memory of her arms around him, her eyes looking into his with love instead of hatred. Those precious memories were what had given him hope that someday… someday maybe, she would be his.

He had kept the ring safely hidden, even though he knew she would probably never wear it again. In fact he wasn't exactly sure why he kept it, the words 'sentimental value' never crossed his mind. He told himself he just liked the ring. It was after all a skull, a symbol of death, fitting for a Big Bad Vampire like he claimed to be.

As he had been about to walk out his crypt door, he had stopped, realizing that he couldn't leave her with nothing. That's what the others had done, those men in her life who had thought so little of her as to leave. He growled in anger at the thought of anyone hurting Buffy. He was different than them, and he would spend the rest of his un-life proving it to her if need be. So he had left the ring, along with a silent prayer that she would understand its meaning; He loved her and would return someday.

Spike put his cigarette out on the cement floor, then leaned his head back against the wall and drifted off into a semi-sleep state, visions of his beloved dancing through his mind.

**********************

When Buffy arrived at Willow's, she quickly handed over the ring. Willow frowned at it then at Buffy. "Is this…"

"The ring Spike gave me when you did that spell that made us get engaged? Yea." Buffy sat down on one side of the couch. The coffee table was laid out with a map of the U.S., a candle at each edge of the map, designating the four compass directions, and a small dish in the center.

"I can't believe he kept it this whole time. Where did you find it?" Willow sat next to her and placed the ring in the center of the dish.

"On top of the TV. He left it as a message to me. He didn't want to leave, Will. I know it. He just felt he had to. And now I have to find him, and help him."

"Are you sure Buffy? I mean, if he feels he's that much of a danger…maybe he's right. Maybe he should be alone." Willow hated to upset her friend but the thought of Spike un-chipped sent shivers down her spine. She remembered clearly when he had been inches from biting her. The only thing that had stopped him was the chip.

"Willow, I know Spike. Number one, he would never hurt me. And B., if he's having that much trouble controlling himself, the last thing he needs is to be alone. I have to find him and I have to help him, I won't let him do this alone." Buffy gave Willow her best resolve face and hoped it would be enough to end the debate and start the spell.

It was. Willow sighed and turned to the table in front of her. She closed her eyes and muttered something in Latin. Buffy watched as the ring began to wobble in the dish. Willow frowned with her eyes still closed, and spoke the Latin phrase louder. The ring wobbled a moment more, then slid to the South Side of the dish. Willow opened her eyes and smiled. "He went South." She paused and frowned at Buffy. "What's South?"

"I don't know. Not much really except… oh God… L.A. He went to L.A." She jumped up and began pacing. "He couldn't have. That would be… just… so stupid! He couldn't… there's no way. He couldn't have."

"Couldn't have what?" Willow asked sheepishly. She felt something was building in Buffy and would be exploding anytime now.

"Why would he do something like that? That is the last person he should be talking to… probably won't get much of a chance to talk, actually. Probably kill him before he knows what hit him. Stupid, stupid!"

Willow was at a loss. Usually able to pick up on Buffy's train of thought, for some reason this time she was on a completely different track. "I don't get it. Why would he go see Drusilla? She'll only make his cravings worse won't she?"

"Drusilla? Wha… no, Willow… Angel. He went to see Angel." She started laughing at her friend's mistake until a thought occurred to her. "Oh, no. I hadn't even thought of that. What if Dru finds out he's in town? I'm not sure he can resist her, not in the state he's in now." She grabbed the ring off the dish and headed for the door, in full Slayer mode. "If she touches one hair on his head, I'll stake her before she can blink." And with that she was gone.

Willow stared after the door for several seconds, complete shock registering on her face. "Angel. Wow. That should be interesting."

"What should be interesting?" A sleepy voice queried from the doorway. Willow turned to see Tara standing there in her pajamas.

Willow smiled. "Nothing honey. It's still early, why don't you go back to sleep and I'll wake you when your breakfast in bed is ready. I'll tell you all about it then."

Tara smiled and turned, heading back to bed with a mumbled "Ok."

Willow began gathering up the items on the coffee table to put them away. She tip toed into the bedroom and placed the small dish back on the dresser. As she glanced in the mirror she thought she saw something strange in her eyes. She leaned in closer but everything looked normal. "Weird. I really need more sleep."

She went to the bathroom for a drink of water. As she was about to pick up the glass on the sink counter, she paused, then picked up the gold amulet still lying there. She looked in the mirror and was shocked to find black void eyes staring back at her. Before she could react, the world went dark and her head drooped.

After a moment it lifted again, a new light in her eyes and a sinister smile on her face. "It is time." She turned to the mirror and spoke to her reflection, as she put the golden pendant around her neck. "Finally, the time has come to claim our prize. Tell them to call the Tallinach now. We will begin today."

"Now?" Willow's reflection sounded unsure and a little frightened. "But, the Slayer has not left town yet. Shouldn't we wait until we are sure she is gone? What if she finds out?"

Willow's face glared at her reflection. "You worry too much… and are starting to annoy me." The threat in her voice was clear. "Do not forget your place." When the reflection bowed its head she continued. "The Slayer is out of the picture, for now. She has gone to find the vampire. But they won't be gone forever. We need to move now or risk everything."

She turned a powerful stare on her reflection. "Go, have them call the Tallinach. I will give it its instructions when it arrives… and then…" She placed a hand to the pendant hanging from her throat. "The possession of Willow… and her power… will truly begin." She began laughing as the reflection faded from the mirror, now showing the tub and wall behind Willow.

***************

Minutes later Willow was standing in the living room, the golden pendant still around her neck and giving off a faint glow. She turned as a dark shadow stretched out from the counter's edge and formed a humanoid shape next to her. "Tallinach. You were once part of a powerful group… feared in the human world, respected in the demon world… until the Slayer and her friends defeated you, nearly killing you all. Forcing you to flee for your life… reducing you to lurking in shadows… afraid… alone.
The shadow lowered its head for an instant, then straightened and leaned toward Willow, anger evident in its voice. "I know this. What I do not know, is why you have brought me here."

Willow smiled a pitying smile. "You wish to return to your former glory, regain those counterparts you have lost? I can do that for you. I have within my grasp a power that will make anything possible. All you need to do is put that girl," she pointed to the closed bedroom door, "in a dream of torture… until I tell you to stop." She smiled at the black figure.

"Done" The darkness moved to the door and silently melted into and through it. After a few moments of waiting, Willow saw it return. "The witch is mine. What now?"

Willow smiled. "Now, the fun begins." She went to a cabinet in the living room and began rummaging through the shelves, looking for something. "You must stay here and keep her from being disturbed. I don't know how long I will be gone for, but she must not be woken during that time."

"You … don't want me to kill her?" The Tallinach's head tilted in puzzlement.

"No!" She turned, pointing a finger at the dark form. "She must remain as she is, alive, until I get back." She turned back to her search. "Her friends may come looking for her if I'm gone too long. Make sure you send them away and do not alert them to your presence. Ahh! There you are." She reached to the very back of the bottom shelf and pulled out a stone tablet with a woman's face carved on one side.

She stood and turned toward the Tallinach, the tablet tucked safely under one arm. "Remember my instructions. Keep the witch alive and in the dream until I return. Then, when my power is secure, I will give you your dream… to be the powerful Tallinach once again, restored, complete." She turned and headed quickly out the door.

The Tallinach nodded its head in thought, then turned back to the bedroom.

****************

Just as the sun kissed the horizon, Willow arrived at the ritual grounds. A nearly perfect circular clearing in the middle of the woods, with a waist high stone table on the side opposite the setting sun. She ran across the small clearing and up to the table, then placed the tablet face up on it. She stood facing away from the sun with her arms out to each side, palms up, and began chanting in a low voice.

As the minutes ticked by and the sun set behind the hills, the light dimmed and changed the feel of the place from a sunny day picnic, to a shadow filled nightmare. Willow's chanting grew slowly louder and her amulet began to glow once more. As the top arc of the sun disappeared beyond the hills, her eyes flew open and her chanting stopped.

In a dark voice she intoned, "Powers of the underworld, of demons and death. I come before you as I promised, the witch's power within my reach. I beseech you, grant me my own form and will, that I may confront the witch, and take her power to use as you command." She bowed her head, raising her arms higher. "I await you."

A sudden wind picked up, swirling the leaves around her. Slowly, the tablet on the table rose, and moved back from Willow. It hovered, with the carved face directly opposite her. The rectangular shaped stone began to elongate, it's lower edge stretching downward, a full body being carved in it's wake. Moments later, a complete person of stone stood on the other side of the table from Willow.

Willow raised her head and dark mist flowed from her eyes into the eyes of the stone woman. When the transfer was complete the stone softened and became flesh, flowing robes of black and gold, and her shoulder length wavy hair stirred by the dissipating breeze. Soon all was still once more.

Willow… the real Willow, body and soul… blinked several times and looked around her fearfully. "Where am I? What… what's happening?"

"Calm yourself child." The woman spoke soothingly. "I brought you here. You are safe now, no harm can come to you in this sacred place." She smiled tenderly and noticed Willow relax just a touch.

"Where is this place? And who are you? And… and what do you mean safe 'now'?" Willow looked at the woman.

"My, but you are full of questions, aren't you my dear? For now you must trust me that this is a place of safety, hidden from the eyes of the evil ones, sacred to those of your kind."

"My kind?" Willows senses were tingling. She could feel the power around her. "You mean witches?"

"Yes. But not just witches. There are many who study the magic arts. Some… like you… are very powerful, yet lack the proper guidance. When that causes danger… as unguided power always will eventually… I am sent to bring them here, for council and help in righting their wrong."

"So you're like what… a guardian angel for witches?"

The woman laughed, a gentle tinkling sound that made Willow smile despite her fear. "Oh my dear child. You do have much to learn. A witch's guardian angel is little more than an overgrown cherub with a few parlor tricks up their sleeve. Goodness no dear, I'm far more advanced than that. I'm only called in the most dire of circumstances… such as what you now find yourself in." She stepped to the side of the table and raised one arm, gesturing to the empty space in front of Willow. A large mirror faded into view above the table, framed in a black and gold cloth, matching the robes the woman wore.

It took Willow a moment to realize that, though the trees behind her were clearly visible in the mirror… she was not. The woman appeared at her side and gently placed a hand on her invisible shoulder. "Do not be frightened child. Your absent reflection will return once we have solved your problem. It is a necessary side affect of the amulet you wear."

Willow looked down, noticing the gold pendant for the first time since waking in this strange place. She placed her hands over it. "The amulet makes me invisible? Why?"

The woman's brief frown went unnoticed. She forced a smile and replied, "Time is short my dear. We must focus on the problem at hand… Tara."

At the sound of her love's name, Willow's head snapped up with a fierce look of determination on her face. "What's wrong with Tara?"

The woman's face became serious as well. "See for yourself, my dear." She turned her head and waved her arm toward the mirror.

The surface image distorted and dissolved into a black void of swirling gray mist. Willow squinted at it, trying to find some familiar form in the darkness. Slowly her eyes opened wide and began filling with tears as an image presented itself. It was Tara, but not like she'd ever seen her, not even when Glory had taken her mind and left her a lost shell of the girl she once was.

Her face was contorted in the most horrible mask of fear and terror. Tears streamed freely down her face, and though no sound could be heard, she was obviously screaming. She was reaching desperately for something unseen with one hand outstretched, fingers stretching to their limit. The other hand was clutched to her chest. It was deformed into a hideous claw of bony white fingers, the tips bloodied and raw.

After a moment Tara stopped screaming and her outstretched hand slowly dropped. A look of complete hopelessness and despair overcame her expression. She visibly withdrew into herself, her knees pulled up to her chest, face buried behind them, arms circling her shaking legs. She turned over and lay in the fetal position, unmoving except for the occasional tremor.

Willow stared unbelievingly at the horrible image before her, her mind trying to figure out what had happened. It was impossible to think of anything that could have done this to her.

She felt a breakdown coming on. Her mind was screaming to copy her lover's position, curled up, hiding from the reality of what she was being shown. In the instant she thought that, another part of her took charge. Power coursed through her body and mind, and she turned to the woman who obviously was her only key to helping Tara.

When the woman saw the look on Willow's face, she felt a momentary panic. Black eyes stared right into her. The air crackled with electricity around them. She could feel it, the raw power this young witch contained was pushing to be let out. She had no idea of her full potential. But when she spoke, it was obvious she was fully aware that her power was great. Her voice low with anger, she spoke in a slow even manner, leaving no room for argument. "Tell me where she is."

The woman smiled sympathetically at her. "You can not go where she is, my dear. But I can help you get her out of there."

**********************

The day Spike spent in the warehouse had been thankfully uneventful. He had even managed to catch a couple hours sleep here and there, but each time he dreamt of Buffy. She was there in his arms, and he was promising he would never leave her again. Each time she would look up at him so trustingly, and each time would end with his fangs buried in her neck. That's when he would jerk awake and vow not to fall asleep again.

By the time night fell he was haggard and miserable, unsure if his plan to ask Angel for help was really such a good idea. But it was the only idea he had. And so he gathered himself up, ope