BAD ANGEL

A/N: Just plugging my other fic on this site. Check out Dreams and Nightmares. It is complete.
Also, just letting you know about BuffyThankYou.com. It's a board where we fans can express our thanks to the people who make the show that has inspired so much fanfic.
I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Part 11

Spike and Gunn remained frozen momentarily, both shocked by the realization that Rayne had taken Buffy with him. Then suddenly bursting into action, they ran alongside the paramedics as they wheeled the gurney to the ambulance.
“Who is this woman?” Spike asked completely puzzled.
“I think that’s Rayne’s girlfriend, Cordelia.” Gunn responded as he ran along, “I saw a photo of her in the file Willow pulled together. My men were supposed to be guarding her but we never found her.”
“Obviously Rayne found her first.”
“Yeah, but how did he know?” Gunn asked automatically before he even considered the possible answer.
Both stopped in their tracks, both coming to the same conclusion.
Inside job.
“Oh God!” Gunn suddenly felt quite deflated. The knowledge that he trusted someone who was actually working for Rayne barreled over him like a freight train.
Spike saw the disillusionment in Gunn’s eyes and gave him a moment to collect his thoughts. Patiently he waited for him to speak.
Shortly after the ambulance drove away Gunn found his voice.
“What do you suggest?” He was at a total loss as to what to do next.
“Well, I can vouch for Giles and Willow. I’ve known Rupert since I was a child and Willow is like a sister. I am certain they aren’t involved. So the question is, which of your men are you certain of? Which are you sure you can trust?” Spike was also rather distressed that everything they were working on was compromised from the very beginning. No wonder Rayne wasn’t at the ranch, he knew they were coming.
Thinking briefly Gunn answered, “I can only think of Harris. I’ve known him the longest, we were friends long before he joined the Bureau and we’ve worked together a lot over the years. The others, I only know professionally and I’ve only worked with each of them a few times.”
“Fine, we’ll start there. I suggest that you go to the hospital and find out everything you can about Cordelia’s prognosis. Also, check in with Finn to see what he’s come up with but be careful not to give anything away. I’ll take Dawn to Giles and inform him of what’s happened. Then when you’re done at the hospital, call Harris. Again be careful what you say but have him bring Hank and Joyce to Giles’ office. They can reunite with Dawn there. I don’t think we should go to the safe house. It may be a trap. Then I guess we’ll figure out what to do about getting Buffy back after that.” Gunn nodded in agreement.
As the two walked toward their vehicles, Gunn then suggested. “Hey wait, we can still use these agents.” He gestured to the eight agents who had accompanied them to the ranch.
“What do you mean?” Spike asked.
“Well, I think we agree that whoever is working for Rayne was part of the operation from the beginning, one of the agents posted at the Summers’ home.”
“Yeah.” Spike replied curiously.
“Well, these agents only just came to us for the rescue. They weren’t around long enough to give Rayne a heads up and they certainly weren’t there to know about Cordelia. I think we can still use them.”
“I see your point but I would feel more secure with fewer people working on this.” Spike responded skeptically.
“I agree. But I was thinking to use them for more practical tasks. I’ll have three of them secure the area and impound these cars. I’ll send a forensics team here was well. The others will go back to the ranch with a second forensics unit to search for anything that’ll lead us to Rayne.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
Spike and Gunn then set about their tasks.



Lindsey sat in his seat staring through the window. He was mesmerized by the moonlight shinning on the passing clouds. And in the distance he could glimpse the sun just coming over the horizon. It was breathtaking.
They had been flying for a few hours now and everyone in the cabin except for Lindsey and Angel had fallen asleep. Lindsey was rather relieved that Buffy was finally asleep. When Angel carried her onto the plane, she screamed and screamed. She kept on screaming and fighting until Adam and Luke finally boarded the plane. That’s when her screams got even more shrill and desperate. She was screaming for Dawn, her parents, anyone and everyone. Through it all, Angel held her close in his arms and patiently tried to soothe her. Lindsey had never seen anything so heartbreaking, the pure agony on her face forced him to turn away. But her heart wrenching cries tore at him, driving him to near insanity. He was also certain his hearing would be permanently impaired as a result. However, once they reached cruising altitude, she started to tire and quiet down.
That’s when the copious tears started.
Rivers streamed down her face as she begged Angel to let her go. But her pleading soon dwindled to all out bawling. Angel held her to him, murmuring soothingly in her ear as she wept uncontrollably. But his efforts were in vain. She was inconsolable.
Eventually however, she cried herself out and sat quietly in Angel’s lap, staring blankly ahead while he tenderly stroked her arms and caressed her hair, periodically kissing her forehead. He held her like that until she fell asleep.
As he watched them, Lindsey had to admit he was shocked to see that Angelus could be so gentle and patient.
When she fell asleep, Angel asked him to recline the empty seat next to him then after removing the handcuff, he carefully placed her in it and wrapped the blanket around her. She’d been sleeping ever since.
With the cabin silent, Lindsey decided to ask Angel about his decision to bring Buffy along.
“Angel, obviously you’re attached to her but are you sure you want to take this risk?” He ensured to keep his voice low so as not to wake Buffy.
“Lindsey, I know you’re concerned and you have every right to be. But believe that I am fully aware of the tremendous risk I’m taking and I am taking precautions. Keeping her wasn’t originally part of my plan but now that I’ve had her, I simply can’t walk away.”
After briefly considering Angel’s words, Lindsey asked, “Are you in love with her?”
“I don’t know. I feel a connection to her. There’s definite attraction.”
“Do you think she might feel the same … I mean, eventually?”
“Well, I’m not expecting a miracle but I’d like to get to know her better. I can’t do that with the feds breathing down my neck.”
Lindsey nodded and then cautiously proceeded onto more sensitive territory, “So what about Cordelia?”
”What about her?”
“Is she … did you leave her alive?”
“She’ll survive.”
“Hmm, ‘she’ll survive’ Angel, was that really necessary?” Lindsey marveled at Angel’s sudden coldness. How could someone have the capacity to be so cruel to one person and yet so gentle with another?
“Look Lindsey, what happened between me and Cordelia is exactly that. I don’t get involved in your personal business and I expect you to respect mine. Cordelia knew who and what I was when she got involved with me. She was well aware of what happened to people who crossed me. If she chose to think that being my girlfriend exempted her from my wrath then she was sadly mistaken. What she did was unforgivable.”
“So then am I to assume that you’d do the same to Buffy if she ever crossed you?”
“Yes. But the difference between Cordelia and Buffy is that I know I can’t trust Buffy. I would never put myself in the position where she could betray me. Cordelia had too many freedoms, Buffy won’t have that luxury.”
“So basically she’ll be your prisoner.”
“You make it sound like I’m going to chain her to the bed.” At Lindsey’s look he conceded, “Ok, sure she was restricted to her room at the ranch and of course she won’t be able to come and go as she pleases but now she’ll be free to roam the villa, at least for the most part. I’ve called ahead and they’re making the necessary arrangements for her. Like I said, I’m not looking for her to love me and I know it’s going to take time but if Buffy proves to be at least … receptive to me then we’ll see.” Angel gently caressed her arm as he spoke.
Lindsey didn’t know what to say. He was still very upset about Cordelia but Angelus did have a point, Cordy knew what she was getting into. Angel never hid his life from her. Of course, that didn’t make him feel any better about what Angelus did. Or that he stood by and let it happen. And now that Buffy was Angel’s new interest, Lindsey worried what would happen if Buffy proved not to be as receptive as Angelus would like.


Spike quickly drove down the highway to Giles’ office. Dawn was in the seat next to him. He had tried telling her that the woman in the ambulance was not Buffy but she refused to believe him. She kept saying that Angel killed Buffy, that it was her dead body in the ambulance and that he was lying to her. And no matter how he tried to convince her otherwise and point out the flaws in her reasoning, she adamantly insisted that he was lying. She was silent ever since. He was tempted to take her to the hospital so she could see for a fact that it was not Buffy but he doubted that they’d let her see Cordelia, not to mention that Cordelia would probably be in surgery for hours. And even if he managed to get Dawn in, she’d probably say that they switched the bodies or something. The poor girl was completely irrational at this point. So instead Spike decided to get her to Giles as soon as possible and hopefully when Hank and Joyce arrived they would be able to help convince her. The silence was unnerving

When they arrived the sun was just about up. Spike carefully pulled into the garage. He was hopeful that the press hadn’t caught wind of what occurred only hours before. Seeing only Giles and Willow’s cars, he helped Dawn out and escorted her into the building and into Giles’ office. Willow and Giles were both anxiously awaiting his arrival.
“Spike, what happened?” Giles asked without preamble. He had been on pins and needles ever since Spike called asking for the location of Rayne’s plane. As he spoke, he noticed the familiar-looking young lady shyly following and added somewhat puzzled, “Um, you have Dawn with you. Did you find Rayne? … Where’s Buffy?”
“Well, apparently Rayne decided to take a trip a few hours before we got to the ranch. When we figured out where he was it was too late, he had already taken off. He took Buffy with him.” Both Giles and Willow gasped at that. Dawn stiffened in his grip. Spike continued, “We’re doing everything we can to locate them. Gunn will be here in a while and Harris should be bringing Hank and Joyce soon. Uh, Red, in the mean time would you take Dawn to the kitchen, maybe make her some hot chocolate, perhaps something to eat. I need to talk with Giles for a bit.”
“Sure, we have lots in the kitchen. Are you hungry Dawn?” Willow then took Dawn’s hand and led her into the office kitchen.
Giles and Spike went into Giles’ private office.
When the door was closed and both were seated Giles asked, “What really happened?” He knew Spike was intentionally leaving something out.
“Rayne knew we were coming. By the time we got to the ranch, he was long gone. The place was empty. We figured that he was trying to escape on his plane. That’s when we called you. Anyway, he was long gone by the time the local police got there and like I said, he took Buffy with him. As you saw, he left Dawn behind. She was tied up in the office. But perhaps more importantly, he also left a badly raped and beaten Cordelia behind as well.”
“Cordelia, isn’t that …”
“His girlfriend. The one who so carefully made all those notes and went to Faith, who then came to us with Finn and gave up Angelus. That’s the one.”
“Dear Lord!”
“Exactly, Rayne knew we were coming and he knew about Cordelia.”
“Dear Lord!”
“Right again, he’s had someone working for him on the inside all along. He’s known exactly what we were doing since day one. And that’s how he was able to plant those tapes.”
“Oh dear! What is Gunn planning to do?”
“Well, right now we’re keeping quiet about this. At the moment he is at Sunnydale Memorial checking on Cordelia. When he gets here we’ll plan our next step. But one thing is certain; we are cutting down the number of people working on this. He is confident that Harris is trustworthy so as of now it is you, Red, Gunn, Harris and I. We can’t afford to compromise this investigation any further.”
“That sounds reasonable.” Then Giles asked, “Has Dawn been able to provide any useful information?”
“Right now Dawn seems to be in shock or something. She is convinced that Buffy is the one in the hospital. Actually she thinks Angelus killed Buffy. I’ve tried to tell her otherwise but she refuses to believe me so as of now, no, she hasn’t said anything useful. But perhaps after her parents get here and things are a bit more settled she may come around and be of some help.” Spike really hoped that Dawn would come out of her daze.
“Well, let’s hope. When are you taking Dawn to her parents?”
“Actually we’re meeting them here. For security reasons, we’re waiting until Gunn gets back.”

Spike and Giles then went to the kitchen and joined Willow and Dawn in a light meal.

As they ate Dawn seemed to come alive. She appeared to be less threatened by Willow’s presence and she slowly began speaking more and opening up.
At they casually talked, she surprised Spike by her question, “That wasn’t Buffy was it?”
“Do you mean in the ambulance?” He asked stunned that she was speaking to him.
When she nodded he responded, “No Dawn, that wasn’t Buffy. I’m certain Buffy is alive. Angelus took her with him.” He hoped she would believe him now.
She sat quietly considering his words then asked, “Was that his girlfriend?”
Spike nearly choked. “You know about his girlfriend?”
“I didn’t see her but now I remember that he made a few calls before we left his house. He told someone named Adam to bring his girlfriend to the hangar in Sunnydale. I didn’t remember until just now.” She then took a small bite of her sandwich.
Cautiously Spike replied, “Yes Dawn, it was his girlfriend. She was badly hurt.”
“Did he hurt her?” Dawn asked, her voice full of worry.
“We think so.” At her stricken expression he added, “But I don’t think he’ll hurt Buffy like that.” He so badly wanted to allay her concerns.
“He beat Buffy. She showed me what he did and I saw him hit her.” Clearly his attempt was futile.
Deciding not to patronize her by perpetuating the lie Spike conceded, “I’m sorry for what he did to both of you. Neither of you should have had to endure it. And yes, he is a very dangerous man and to be honest, he may hurt Buffy again. But the fact that he took her suggests that he has an interest in keeping her a while longer and that means we still have some time to find her. And Dawn, we will not stop until Buffy is safe at home. I promise you that.” Spike hoped he’d be able to make good on his promise.
She seemed to be satisfied with his response.
“Do you remember anything else?” Giles asked cautiously, not wanting to push her too much.
“A little but everything’s kind of fuzzy right now.” She replied.
“Well, when you’re done eating would you like to take a nap? It might help clear your head.” Willow suggested.
“Will you stay with me?” Dawn’s eyes reflected her anxiety.
“Sure Dawnie, I’ll stay with you.” That brought a small smile to Dawn’s face.

The four then continued their meal while casually discussing what would happen next.
Some time later the phone rang. It was Gunn saying that he was on his way.

As soon as Gunn arrived he quickly briefed Giles and Spike on the situation. Harris was on his way with Hank and Joyce.
“It looks like Cordelia is going to make it but it’s pretty ugly. She has a long road ahead of her. Not only was she savagely raped and sodomized but her jaw is broken, she has a fractured arm and leg and a few cracked ribs. There was also some internal bleeding that the doctors managed to control. That’s just the major injuries. Her body is covered with these welts that we suspect came from a crowbar. Anyway, she is still unconscious but her doctors will contact me when she wakes up.”
“Have you been able to locate her family?” Giles asked.
“Uh, yeah. I was going to call you guys because I left her file here when we went to Rayne’s ranch but Finn called me first. Some cop in the city spotted her car near a nightclub. Anyway, he inspected it and that’s when he found her handbag and keys nearby and he immediately called Finn. As it turns out Cordelia is from Sunnydale so I called mother. Her parents got there before I left.”
“How did they take it?” Spike asked.
“Not well. I mean in addition to the expected, I gathered that they didn’t approve of her relationship with Rayne.”
“You told them it was him?” Giles asked surprised.
“No, I didn’t have to. When I called I only said that she was in the hospital. When they got there and I told them what happened, they just knew it was Rayne. Anyway, the hangar is secured and the forensics unit is almost finished there. By the way, the two SUVs we saw in the lot were impounded but there was a third car as well. Once all the squad cars cleared away they also found a Mercedes. It is registered to Lindsey McDonald so we know that both he and Angelus are behind this.”
“Well that helps, we know to monitor both their movements.” Giles added.
“What about the ranch? How’s the search going there?” Spike asked.
“They’re making progress but that mansion is huge. After we meet with Hank and Joyce I plan to go back out there. Speaking of Hank and Joyce, where’s Dawn?”
“Oh, she’s taking a nap. She had something to eat a while ago and decided to rest a bit. And it appears she does remember some things that might be of assistance but her head is still a little muddled. We have a little room with a cot next to the kitchen. Willow is with her. We figured she should rest before her parents get here. Maybe that’ll help clear her head and you can try questioning her when she wakes up.”
“That’s a good idea. We probably need to handle her with kid gloves right now so I’ll see if she’s ready to talk later. If not, I’ll try again tomorrow after she’s been home for a while.”
“That should be fine.”
The three then prepared for their meeting with the senator and his wife.



Hank and Joyce sat in the back seat as Agent Harris drove them to meet Giles. They were surprised that Giles wanted to see both of them at his office. Ordinarily he came out to the house. As they neared the office, both grew increasingly anxious. They hoped he had good news.
After pulling into the garage, they quickly entered the building and made their way into Giles & Co. Private Eye. Spike greeted them and then ushered them directly into the conference room.
Giles immediately got down to business.
“Senator Summers, Mrs. Summers, we have made quite a lot of progress in this case and we have some good news and bad news. Before we get to that however, I must tell you what we know. Angelus Rayne kidnapped your daughters. He is Ethan Rayne’s son. They were being held at his ranch. Yesterday his girlfriend came forward and confirmed what we suspected. And last night we went in to rescue them.”
Sitting across from him, Hank and Joyce were so apprehensive that they could barely sit still.
Seeing their anxiety, Giles silently indicated for Spike to bring Dawn into the room, then he continued, “As it turns out, Rayne left the ranch before we arrived and he escaped. This is where the good news comes in.” Then pausing dramatically he added, “He left Dawn behind and she is safe.”
Hank and Joyce nearly jumped out of their seats, “Where is she?”
“She’ll be here in a moment.” Giles answered, smiling slightly.
Then Hank cautiously asked, “And the bad news?”
Suddenly grave again, Giles replied. “The bad news is that he took Buffy with him.”
They froze and time stood still.
Joyce was the first to find her voice, “H-He took Buffy with him?” Her eyes filled tears. She looked from Giles to Gunn and back to Giles seeking confirmation. Hank remained silent, stunned.
Gunn answered, “I’m deeply sorry. We got there as fast as we could but Rayne was already gone and as Giles said, he took Buffy with him. But I swear to you, we will not stop until Buffy is safe at home. We will get her back.”
Just then the door opened and Spike walked in with Dawn trailing behind.
Joyce gasped, her hand flying to her mouth when she saw Dawn standing there. She was so overcome with joy that Dawn was safe but also greatly despaired that Buffy was not. She looked from Dawn, to Giles and Gunn then to Hank and back to Dawn, unintelligible sounds spewing from her mouth.
Then as if she suddenly remembered how to walk, Joyce jumped out of her seat and ran over to Dawn, throwing her arms around her daughter, tears streaming down her cheeks.
Only a step behind, Hank pulled both Joyce and Dawn into a warm embrace.

Giles and the others quietly left, giving them some privacy to reunite.


Buffy stared out the window sipping a glass of orange juice. She had woken up some time ago and was greeted with an omelette and fresh fruit. How was it that Angel knew exactly what she liked? That bastard! In any event, now that she was done eating she watched the clouds drift by while the sun gleamed down on the ocean thousands of feet below them. Her thoughts kept drifting between wondering where the hell Angel was taking her to whether Dawn was all right. She was somewhat relieved that Dawn was no longer at Angel’s mercy but she was worried that something worse might have happened to her. However, despite her concerns she was surprisingly calm. She knew that with Dawn out of the picture, the rules had changed. She just needed to figure out what they were and make them work in her favor.
Angel was sitting next to her with his arm draped around her shoulders.
Putting down her juice, Buffy finally could no longer ignore a pressing problem. “Angel, I need to use the bathroom.” She felt so silly asking to use the bathroom as if she were a small child.
“Sure Buff. I’ll take you.” He then escorted her to the lavatory. Of course his decision to accompany her only made her feel worse.
The bathroom was unusually large and when she tried closing the door behind her, he casually walked in. At her shocked and questioning gaze he remarked, “Come on Buff, don’t tell me you’re shy.”
“Can I have some privacy please?”
Smiling mischievously, he answered, “You have five minutes. And don’t lock it. I’ll be back.” He then stepped back out the door.
Quickly she relieved herself and washed her hands and face, trying to freshen up. When he returned he stood in the doorway discreetly watching her. When she was done she asked, “Where are you taking me?”
“Some place warm, tropical and simply wonderful. A sunny California girl like yourself will love it.”
Frowning at his vague answer she asked, “Well how much longer before we get there?”
“Anxious are you Lover? Kiss me and I’ll tell you.” An evil smile gracing his lips.
She glared at him and really had to suppress the urge to slap that obnoxious grin off his face.
Instead she chose to return to her seat. Of course, his large body blocking the doorway thwarted her attempt and there they stood at an impasse.
Not the least intimidated by her diminutive stature, he held her waist and gently pushed her back into the bathroom, locking the door behind them.
Pressing her against the wall, he hungrily covered her mouth with his. The kiss started soft and gentle then quickly escalated into an all out onslaught. His hands roamed her body, frantically groping her as he greedily devoured her mouth.
Feeling his erection, Buffy feared he would fuck her right in the lavatory.
“Not here.” She whispered between kisses.
“I want you.” He murmured, punctuating his words with a pronounced gyration.
“They can hear us.” Buffy really wanted to get out of it. She couldn’t imagine him touching her after everything that happened the night before.
“I don’t care.” He then began kissing her neck, his hands slipping under the chemise.
“NO!” She yelled, violently pushing him away.
He pulled back, his eyes full of fury.
Seeing his crazed look Buffy put her arms up defensively, bracing for the blow.
When none came, she slowly opened her eyes, their gazes locking.
Taking a deep breath, he calmly spoke. “I’m not going to hit you.”
She looked at him suspiciously, mistrust all over her face. Then slowly she lowered her arms to her sides and stood before him, waiting for his next move.
Cautiously he reached out and caressed her cheek before lightly kissing her lips.
“We’ll resume this in the privacy of our bedroom.” He then quietly left the lavatory and returned to his seat.

Buffy remained in the bathroom for several long moments trying to compose herself. She was so shaken up. He was visibly angry by her refusal and she was certain he was going to hit her. She was at a loss for why he didn’t but she was grateful for whatever caused him to check his temper. Taking a deep breath, she soon also left the bathroom.

Lindsey sat in his seat quietly observing them. He noticed when Angel went into the bathroom with her and locked the door. He couldn’t help but hear what was going on, particularly when Buffy yelled for Angel to stop. And if he had any doubts, Angel looked supremely pissed when he returned to his seat. When Buffy finally came back she looked terribly flushed and upset. And when she took her seat next to Angel, the tension between them was palpable. Lindsey was glad the flight would soon be over.

About an hour later, the plane finally landed. Before they disembarked, Angel pointedly showed Buffy the gun in the holster around Adam’s waist then said, “Don’t do anything stupid.” He then gave her his jacket to wear over the chemise and firmly took hold of her wrist, again cuffing her to him.
As they walked off the aircraft, Buffy gasped while reading the sign on the airport.
“Welcome to Montego Bay, Jamaica.”

As they walked through the building Buffy hoped to signal to someone that she needed help, that she was kidnapped but she knew she had to be careful. She had no idea if that gun was loaded or not. The problem was however, that she never saw anyone. They were at the section of the airport reserved for VIP guests and private planes so the throngs of tourists she was expecting were nowhere in sight. And as they moved along Buffy noticed that Lindsey was carrying a briefcase and walked ahead of the group with Lorne while Angel, Luke, Adam, Graham and Forrest surrounded her and caged her in. She could barely see past the walls of large bodies surrounding her.
When the Immigration and Customs representatives appeared, Angel moved behind her, wrapping their cuffed arms tightly around her waist. His free arm draped across her chest. To the casual observer it looked like they were just being intimate but Buffy got the message. She knew he was ready for her to scream.
Holding her tightly he murmured, “Just be a good girl and you’ll be fine.”
She started tearing up but she was still going to take the chance until she saw Luke pointedly pounding his fist into the palm of his hand. She vividly remembered what that fist did to Angel’s girlfriend. She started shaking. Seeing that she was about to fall apart, Angel turned her to him and planted a long wet kiss on her mouth. He kept on kissing her while Lindsey handed over their travel documents and while Adam showed his license to travel with a firearm. A short while later, Angel broke the kiss and the group moved on to collect their luggage from the Customs agent.
A while later they were outside and heading towards the parking lot. Buffy was dumbstruck. How was she allowed to enter the country without any documentation? She doubted that Angel would have had the time to get false papers prepared for her. And she never heard the agents ask about her even once. What was going on?

Minutes later they came to two Explorers parked side by side. As they approached, an old man emerged from the passenger’s seat of one.
“Angelus my boy! How was your flight?” The man gave Angel a huge hug and a handshake.
“Long. I can’t wait to get to the house.” He then squeezed Buffy’s hand and she was suddenly reminded of what he planned to continue once they were in the privacy of their bedroom. Her heart sank.
Just then the old man looked directly at her and smiled, “I see why you’re so taken with her. What wouldn’t I give to see Summers’ face right now. By the way, I take it there were no problems in the airport?”
“No problems at all. Thank you for arranging that for me, as you know I was pressed for time.”
“I imagine you were. But you know I’m always here to help Ethan’s boy out.”
“Yes Quentin, you are one of the few of Ethan’s associates that I trust enough for something like this.”
“Well, I’m glad I can still be of some use to you. You picked up the business so quickly and after you came into your own I didn’t think there was much more I could do for you. Ethan was my dearest friend and I wish I were able to do more for you and your mother. But now I am glad to help when I can. And Angel, I am so sorry for the loss of your father. I wanted to attend the funeral but as you can imagine, returning to the U.S. wouldn’t be a wise move.” A hint of sadness in his voice.
“I know Quentin. Some things simply cannot be helped.” Angel too couldn’t hide the grief in his voice. Buffy couldn’t help but notice how choked up Angel was getting.
“Well, that’s all past now. Ethan wouldn’t want us to despair.”
“You’re right. He’d want us to be happy.”
“Yes he would. So let’s be on our way. We have lots to do.”
Everyone then piled into the vehicles and within minutes they set out on the winding two and a half hour drive to the villa.


After giving Hank and Joyce some time with Dawn, the others returned to the conference room. When everyone was settled, Gunn turned his attention to Dawn. ”Are you up to answering some questions?” He hoped she knew something useful. When she nodded he then asked, “Do you mind if your parents leave the room?” Her alarmed expression was reply enough. She clearly wanted them to stay. And by the looks of it, Hank and Joyce weren’t too eager to leave their daughter either. Unfortunately, Gunn was hoping she wouldn’t mind them leaving. He didn’t want them interfering with the questioning but he certainly could understand her anxiety.
Aware of Gunn’s concerns, Giles pulled Hank and Joyce aside, “Uh, please forgive my bluntness but if we’re going to do this then we must do it properly. Since Dawn would like for you to stay then we must insist on certain guidelines. The questioning process is very delicate and we may need to question her several times over the following weeks. But I cannot stress enough that we need Dawn’s exact memories. It may help us figure out Rayne’s state of mind and what he may do to Buffy or perhaps where he might have gone. So you cannot participate in any way. Neither can you comment. And I must remind you of the nature of this situation. You may hear things that are very upsetting but you cannot allow yourself to react and upset Dawn. It will be difficult enough for her so please refrain from any outward reactions. We don’t want her to suppress anything. What she knows may prove crucial not only to capturing Rayne but more importantly, to rescuing Buffy. So please, if she starts crying, let her cry. I cannot be more serious about this. As much as you want to be there for her, if you don’t think you can handle it then I ask that you please wait in the main office, we can’t afford to disrupt the procedure for you to leave the room.” Giles kept his voice stern but compassionate.
Hank and Joyce looked at each other briefly and then nodded. “We can do this.”
“Fine, then let’s begin.” Giles pulled out his notebook while Willow prepared the recording equipment.
When all was prepared, Gunn asked Dawn, “Are you ready?” When she nodded he added, “Now I will be asking you the questions mostly but Mr. Giles will occasionally ask some as well. If you don’t understand something, let us know so we can clarify for you. And when you need a break, just say so. We’re not in a rush so feel free to take your time answering the questions and if you remember something later on just say it.” Without further delay he began the long questioning process, tracing the events from the moment she left her boarding school with Mr. Flutie.
During the first part of the interview, it seemed that with the exception of her violent abduction, Dawn’s stay with Angelus was rather uneventful. They were surprised that she didn’t know Buffy was even there until Sunday morning when she was taken to see her. Giles was particularly intrigued that Rayne didn’t have any contact with Dawn himself but had a monitor in Buffy’s room for her to watch Dawn. As Dawn’s account continued, Giles grew increasingly fascinated, particularly with the little visits Rayne permitted between the sisters. His fascination only soared when she recounted the day she actually met Rayne and what he did to her and Buffy. Willow turned bright red as Dawn described how Rayne forced Buffy to have sex with him right in front of her. Their heads were all cast downwards when she said that he threatened to rape her if Buffy didn’t do what he wanted. The silence of the room was deafening. But no one reacted. Not even Hank and Joyce. The only sign that they even heard the horror she described was their tightly clasped hands. But Giles could see Joyce was fighting back her tears, her face was also bright red and he was certain she would break Hank’s fingers. Fortunately that particular story soon ended and then Dawn was talking about how Buffy tried to escape but Angel caught her and knocked her out. When she got to the part where they left the house, Giles suggested taking a break. Quietly they all dispersed, each trying to control the overwhelming emotions coursing through them. It surprised no one when Joyce quickly left the office for some fresh air. Ragged sobs wracked her body before she could even get outside.

Some time later they sent Harris out to retrieve her. When they returned she was much calmer and ready for round two. Once they resumed the questioning, Dawn went into what Angelus did before leaving the house and how he took care of Buffy’s cut hand. Then she described the events that occurred at the hangar from when they arrived to when the cops found her, including the bruises Buffy showed her from Angel’s beating. It was these last events that Giles particularly focused on. He asked Dawn to describe in detail how Angel took care of Buffy from the time she was knocked out to the last time she saw her sister. Going over how he carried Buffy with him and got a blanket for her, how he bandaged her hand, how he kissed her and held her, Dawn then recalled the conversation she had with Buffy and how she suspected that Angel liked her.
Giles and Spike exchanged worried looks, both knowing what the other was thinking. Hank noticed their exchange.
Once Dawn finished her account, Giles and Gunn asked her a few more questions before ending the session. They knew they’d probably have to question her again but for now this was enough.
Once the interview was over, Gunn then answered Hank and Joyce’s questions about the attempted rescue. Giles and Spike noted that he was rather vague when discussing how Rayne found out that they were on to him. He didn’t lie but he didn’t volunteer anything either. They also understood why. Gunn didn’t want to give away anything more than necessary. He didn’t want to alarm the mole in his group and he couldn’t guarantee that Joyce and Hank wouldn’t inadvertently say something to the wrong person. He intended to keep a tight lid on the situation until he could flush the traitor out and provide evidence of the treachery. He did however plan to remove all the agents currently guarding the Summers’ home. He, Harris and Spike would now provide security.
As the discussion wound down Hank asked to see a picture of Angelus Rayne. Willow pulled out the photo they had.
He stared at it a long time then said, “I remember him.” Everyone grew silent, wondering what Hank was talking about.
“You’ve met him?” Giles asked.
“No, not really but I remember him. At Ethan’s trial, when the verdict came down he was there with his mother. I’d only glimpsed him a few times before then and I probably would never have noticed him but when they took Ethan away he started screaming for his father in the courtroom. Actually, it was pandemonium when they read the verdict but I distinctly remember seeing him and hearing him above the noise. I guess he grew up hating me.” Everyone sensed the guilt Hank felt. No one knew how to alleviate it. Holding Dawn to her, Joyce gently took his hand and smiled at him. This was not his burden to bear alone.

Later, Gunn and Harris left to check on the progress of the search at Rayne’s mansion. Hank, Joyce and Dawn were to stay at Giles’ office until they returned. While they were gone, Willow took Dawn and Joyce into the kitchen where they munched on some snacks and talked. Giles, Spike and Hank remained in the conference room.
“Uh, Mr. Giles, do you mind sharing what you were thinking when Dawn said that Rayne liked Buffy?”
Pausing briefly he answered, “I can tell you what I suspect but remember, this is just a general idea. I may be way off.”
“But you may not be.” Hank pressed. “You think he’s in love with her don’t you?”
“Well, I’m not sure if I’d call it love. Given what I know of him, I’d venture to say that he is at the very least obsessed with her. He may feel that he’s in love, he may even think he needs her but clearly from Dawn’s recollections, it is very dark and twisted.”
Thinking over Giles’ words, Hank then asked, “Does that put Buffy in more or less danger?”
“Perhaps both. He likes her and as Dawn described he can be very gentle with Buffy. But he has also been violent with her. I think Buffy’s safety probably lies in how she responds to him.”
“So basically if she does what he wants, she’ll be fine.”
“For the most part, yes.”
“But?”
“Well, before it seems he only wanted her to sleep with him. That was difficult I’m sure but also relatively simple. But now, he may be asking for much more than her body. He may be asking for what Buffy simply cannot give.”
Hank nodded gravely, taking in the full meaning of Giles’ words.




The two vehicles pulled up to a large rod iron gate. Angel then punched in a security code and the gate opened automatically. Buffy was instantly struck by the beauty of the place. The villa was modeled in a Mediterranean style and the extensive gardens and fountains stretched as far as the eye could see. Angel smiled when he saw her awed expression. He knew she’d love it. This was going to be their home. Throughout the long drive, the mountainous landscape and lush vegetation captivated her. Seeing how riveted she was, Angel pulled her into his lap so she could get a better view. When they finally pulled into the driveway, her eyes were huge moons. As he watched her, Angel wondered if she had any idea how wealthy he really was. Then he remembered that she never really saw the scale of the ranch so of course she would have no idea of what to expect. Leading her inside, he took her into the main hall, through the arched doorways and into the back where she could see the various gardens. There was a gazebo in the distance, a pool and just about everything a person could wish for. It was amazing.
Buffy sensed that he was trying to impress her and she had to admit, she was a little impressed. Angel actually had taste. And damn good taste at that. But he was still her kidnapper and she was there against her will.
“Do you own all of this?” She gestured to her surroundings.
“Yes, it belongs to me. Of course, it could belong to us.” If it weren’t for the pointed look in his eyes she would have thought she misheard him. Or at least she could have pretended to. Flushing deeply, she looked away from his penetrating gaze, not sure how to respond to that. Surely he was joking but that look in his eye made her suddenly quite nervous.
Seeing her tense up he simply moved along as if nothing had occurred. Moving back into the main house, she saw that the others had unloaded the luggage and were going about settling in. She couldn’t help but sense the permanence of the mood. She got the feeling that Angel intended to keep her for a while.
Just then he led her upstairs and down a very long hallway. Eventually they entered a bedroom that looked very much like a suite. There was a sitting area that led out to a balcony and off in a corner was a wet bar. Leading her further into the room, he took her through a doorway and into the sleeping area. The bedroom was huge and it led out to another balcony with a small round table and two chairs. Opening two of the doors in the room, he showed her the bathroom and the large walk-in closet.
“There are clothes in there for you but I will take you shopping over the next few days to ensure you have everything you need.” He then unlocked the handcuff.
Moving away from him she sat on one of the armchairs, waiting for some sort of explanation.
At her expectant look he took the floor, “There are rules that I expect you to adhere to. As long as you keep my rules, your life here will be quite pleasant. Obviously, you are not allowed to leave the grounds alone but you are free to walk around most of the villa and the gardens. Naturally there are a few rooms that are off limits. You will not be allowed access to the phone, the mail or the Internet. You can however watch television and listen to the radio. There are many servants here but right now I only have the basic staff. The others will come once you’ve … adjusted to your new home. We will share this room. You are required to share this bed with me. You are also required to have breakfast and dinner with me, whether it is out on the balcony or in the main dining hall.”
“Is that it?” She asked annoyed by his presumptuous attitude.
“Well Buff, I’m sure you will feel the need to test the boundaries and see what you can get away with so the rules are subject to constant revision but for now, yes, that is it. Oh, and I’m sure you realize that breaking the rules comes with a penalty.”
”What are you going to do, beat me again or maybe have your thugs hold me down and rape me?” Her mocking tone stung him.
“No Buff, I won’t beat you again. And if you recall, I said you would be punished as Cordelia was if you attacked me or any of my men again. For these other matters, I won’t hand your punishments over to anyone else. I will handle them personally. Of course, I can’t guarantee that you’ll be able to walk afterward but I promise you won’t be seriously injured.” She glared at him.
Then he continued, “There is one last thing however. Don’t think for a second that since Dawn isn’t here then she is no longer in danger. And that goes for your parents as well. Should you try to … hurt yourself, I only have to say the word and someone you love will pay dearly.” Despite his menacing tone, Buffy was sure he was bluffing.
She had to challenge him, “I don’t believe you.”
“Believe what you want. But know this. My grasp is far reaching. I have people working for me all over the world, some of who were among the people guarding your parents and looking for you. How do you think I knew Cordelia betrayed me? How did I know when to leave the ranch and head to the hangar?” At her shocked look he went on, “Yes Buff, my spies were in your house and they saw your parents everyday. And just think, little Dawn is probably in their custody right now.” Then kneeling before her and tightly grasping her shoulders, he added, “So don’t think for a second that I can’t order them murdered. If you try to kill yourself, who knows what I might do.”
Certain she knew he was deathly serious, he stood again, “Now I’m going to take a shower and you’re going to join me.” He then grabbed her wrist and pulled her off her seat and into the bathroom. He locked the door behind them.

Undressing them both he turned on the shower before picking her up and carrying her in. A showerhead was mounted on each of the three walls, creating a triple-direction spray. Within seconds Buffy was completely soaked. However despite his gestures for her to proceed, she stood before him, refusing to move. Seeing that she intended to make this difficult, he took the loofah, poured a jasmine scented shower bath over it and then proceeded to bathe her. Lightly he scrubbed her arms, her neck and her back. Then he moved to her chest and down to her stomach. He then kneeled before her and washed her legs and her feet. Then, resting her thigh over his shoulder, he gently cleaned her sex, ensuring to rub her clit with each pass of the loofah. He felt a tremor run through her. When he got her nicely lathered up he slid a finger deep into her, causing her to take a sharp breath. Slowly withdrawing it, he then replaced it with two and then three. He knelt before her, fingering her slow and deep before increasing his pace, their eyes locked. Buffy knew she should fight back but what did it matter now. She was in a foreign country and totally at his mercy. Besides, he’d just hold her down and fuck her anyway. So instead she just stood there and let it happen.
As the lather washed away from her, he began licking her clit and lightly sucking it, his fingers vigorously thrusting into her. Then when he knew she was ready to pop he voraciously sucked her as he pumped, eliciting a shriek and sending her into a fit of convulsions. She would have collapsed had he not held her up. Propping her on the ledge, he then proceeded to clean himself. Once he was done, he gathered her in his arms and washed her hair, lightly kissing her. Then, as the shower washed the lather from her, he lifted her and wrapped her legs around him. Then with a slow, deep thrust, he penetrated her, pressing her to the wall. From there he plunged into her again and again, his rhythm getting increasingly frantic, his loud grunts filling the bathroom. As usual, Buffy closed her eyes and held on to him but this time, instead of escaping somewhere peaceful, she was jarred back to reality by the nightmarish memory of the brutal rape she witnessed the night before. Abruptly she released her hold on him and unwrapped her legs, a wave of nausea washing over her.
“No, Angel. I can’t. Please don’t make me!”
Puzzled, he pulled back. Then seeing her sickened expression he released her, letting her slide down his lean body until her feet touched the tiled floor.
At his questioning gaze she said, “Please don’t hurt me but I can’t do this. It’s just too much, too soon.” When he did nothing to stop her, she turned and left the shower.

Angel was furious. This was the second time she refused him in less than twenty-four hours. He was tempted to drag her back into that shower and fuck her into the wall but he knew that would only undermine his goal. He wanted her to come to him on her own. Of course, he wasn’t quite deluded enough to expect that she ever would but he wanted her to at least enjoy the sex between them. He knew that would take time. He just didn’t know how long he could endure her acting up. And his still raging hard on did nothing to help his mood.
Quickly he showered again, this time with the cold water on full blast. Then he dressed and made his way into the bedroom. He was surprised to find Buffy lying on the bed. He had expected to search the villa high and low for her. Instead she was wrapped in an oversized towel that seemed to swallow her whole. He couldn’t tell if she was crying or not. Cautiously he approached her. “What is it Buff?”
“Nothing.” She barely whispered.
Not taking that for an answer he crawled into the bed and leaned over her.
“Don’t lie to me Buff. What’s wrong?”
Tired of his games she turned to him, “How can you ask me that? You took me from my home. You threatened both Dawn and I. You forced me to have sex with you. You beat Dawn. Then you beat me. You just threatened my family. And as if that weren’t enough, what you did last night sickens me so much I can barely stand the sight of you. And now you want me to enjoy having your dick inside me. Well, sorry to disappoint you but I can’t get the sight of your beaten and raped girlfriend out of my head.” She then turned away from him and again hid within the folds of the towel.
Taking a deep breath, he moved to the closet and pulled out some underwear, a T-shirt and sweatpants for her. Then placing them on the bed, he crawled back in and pulled her into his arms. He suspected holding her would probably repulse her more but he hoped she would find some comfort too. Sighing deeply, he reminded himself that he needed to be patient. This was going to take time. And one thing was for certain; it wasn’t going to be boring.
Soon both fell asleep.


tbc ...