Love Hurts

A/N :- Thank you all soooo much for the fantastic reviews and comments. I love reading them all and hope that there will be plenty more :) They make my day!!


Chapter Thirteen.


Waking up with a warm body next to her was something that rarely happened. Opening her eyes and looking up, Buffy smiled. Spike was curled around her, his head above her on her pillow with his mouth open.He snored quietly , it was almost a purr. He shifted in his sleep and pulled her closer .

She felt rested. Last night had been the best sleep that she had had in years. Buffy felt lighter too, like the weight had been lifted from her shoulders and the burden she had carried for five years, was suddenly gone. She knew that it wasn't over, that this was just the beginning, but she refused to let it spoil what she had now. For now she would bask in the arms of the man she loved. Buffy closed her eyes again and buried her head into Spikes chest, surrounded by his scent and warmth, she drifted back off to sleep.

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

Angel stormed into his office and threw his body into his chair. His fingers drummed on his desk angrily. Where the fuck was she? What the hell was she playing at? One thing he was sure of, when he found her, she would pay for this!

Penn returned to the mansion after being out all night searching for his bosses piece of ass. He hadn't had any luck and he knew that he would bare the brunt of Angel's fury. Not one of his informants had been a help and no-one had seen her. Now he had to face Angel and tell him the bad news and find out what he wanted to do next. With a deep sigh, he entered the office without knocking.

Angel looked up from his laptop and shut the lid when he saw that Penn had returned. He sat back in his leather chair and steepled his fingers, eyes narrowed.

"Tell me you have good news for me? "

Penn shook his head, "No, we've all been looking and there's no sign of her . I've sent Luke to check with the police and airports, but we doubt we'll get any information on her whereabouts. "
"She didn't have a passport ,so she can't leave the country. Did you check the local hospitals? "
"First place we looked. Can I ask you something? " Penn asked , albeit nervously.
"What? " Angel snapped back.
"What do you intend to do with her once we find her? You can't seriously be considering allowing her to get away with this. It won't look good and this could encourage the other girls to try and do the same. "

Angel's jaw flexed and his temper flared. How dare his employee tell him what he should do! " Don't worry about it , Penn, " he growled, letting his anger bleed into his voice, "I intend to punish her.We'll find her and trust me when I say she will suffer. So will anyone helping her. " He didn't appreciate Penn doubting him or his intentions.

Penn gave Angel a disbelieving smile. It was almost smug. Since Buffy had arrived he had wanted to get rid of her, knowing that she was a weakness of Angels. Somehow the girl had gotten under his bosses skin and had then crawled her way into his heart. So much so that he had pushed Darla away. Penn had no idea where Darla was , but it was rumored that he had a hitman called Lucas kill her. It was shame if that was the truth, Darla had been a hard bitch with a good head for business. Seeing the state of Angel, he hoped he got to the girl first, just so that he could take his anger at the situation out on her.

"You think that she has some help then? How could she have contact with anyone? "

Angel glared at him, "I don't know .. She obviously has though, don't you agree? " Penn nodded and paced in front of the desk. "Has anyone looked at her fathers law firm? "
"No, I'll get someone to check into it straight away. "
"See to it. Oh ,and Penn? "
"What? "
"If you find her , or any leads, I want to know immediately. Don't go after her without me. " Angel gave a cold hard glare that told Penn that he knew what he had been thinking earlier. "I mean it. Nobody is to touch so much as a hair on her head. Anything happens to her and you will be held responsible. "

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


Buffy woke again, the sun shining down on her brightly, causing her to squint and use her arm to shield against the light. Spike was already awake, leaning up on his elbow watching her with a wide smile. "Morning princess. "
"Morning. What time is it? " Buffy sat up quickly, panic set in and now she looked scared.
"Buffy... "

She looked over at Spike and her shoulders fell, she took a deep calming breath and nodded. She knew what he was going to say, for her to calm down. Last night they had talked and he had said he would stand by her and that they would take Angel down together. They planned to talk to Buffy's contacts and have all correspondence go through him so she didn't have to worry about being found out. She had finally agreed to stay with him and not return to Angel.

"I know.... After all this time it's hard to shut off the panic. I know what he'll do when he realizes I'm not there, or coming back. "
"We'll face that when the time comes ,love. Right now I think you need to lay back, relax and let me get us some breakfast."
"I think you're like the perfect man. "
"Hardly, " he grinned.
"Well I think you are. " Buffy leaned into Spike and kissed him.
"Breakfast. " Spike repeated and slid off the bed. He glanced back and watched as Buffy settled back in the bed with a content look on her face.


Buffy lay in the bed, warm and content. When Spike was there, holding her or just simply close by, she could put everything out of her mind and not worry. But now that he was in the kitchen, her mind began to race and panic rose up. What if Angel found her?

Deciding that she would only end up getting herself in a state if she laid there thinking about the situation, she got up and went to Spikes dresser. She pulled one of his tee's out of a drawer and pulled it on and then went into the kitchen. He had his back to her as she slipped onto a stool, he turned his head slightly to acknowledge the fact that she was there.

"I thought I was supposed to be cooking you breakfast in bed? "
"I got lonely. Smells wonderful, what are we having? "
" Not much, my culinary skills are very limited but I can knock up eggs with bacon and English muffins. "
"Sounds great, " she replied. Her stomach growled loudly as if the smell was fueling her hunger.

After a few more minutes Spike set a plate in front of Buffy and then took the stool next to her.

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

Angel had had enough of sitting around waiting for his men to come back with more bad news. He stood up with purpose, pushing his office chair back with his legs and grabbed his car keys. He retrieved his mobile from his jacket pocket and dialed Penn. Penn answered after two rings.

"Penn, have the car out the front, I'm coming with you. "

Penn looked up at the roof of the car and stiffened his jaw before he answered, "Sure, see you in two. " Now that Angel was coming with him, he couldn't take his frustrations out on the girl should he find her. He looked up at the front door of the mansion and saw Angel running down the steps. Once Angel was in the car, Penn pulled away at speed in a bid to release some of his tension.


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


Spike walked into the bedroom and stopped dead in his tracks. Buffy stood at the end of the bed holding up her clothes from the day before, naked except for her bra and a pair of Spikes boxers.

"Very fetching, pet. "
"Ha, ha . You're killing me with your wit. " Buffy turned and sat heavily onto the bed, dropping her arms onto her lap and sighed. "My clothes are so creased they're unwearable. "

Spike smiled and crossed the room to sit beside her. "Then we'll go shopping and get you some new ones. I have a few bits here that Dru left. Let's see if they will fit you. "

Buffy looked up at him, not thrilled at the idea of wearing his ex-girlfriends cast offs. "They're not that bad Buffy and it will only be for a short time. Its that or you wear some of my sweat pants and a baggy t-shirt. "
"Damn you and your logic! " She teased. She dropped her creased clothes into his laundry hamper and turned to him, "Okay, I'll wear her stuff. She wasn't into anything freaky was she? "
"Trust me when I say that she was very conservative, almost Victorian. "

Buffy raised her brows and followed him through the house and into what she thought of as his junk room. She stood at the door while Spike waded through the boxes. After moving several big boxes, Spike let out a triumphant 'A-ha!' and climbed back out of the room with a large box in his arms. Buffy moved to the side to let him pass her and turned off the light before closing the door. Spike carried it to the bedroom and dropped it in front of the bed. Buffy looked at the box and then tore the strip of masking tape off and then started to unpack the clothing.

When Spike had said that Dru's taste in clothes were conservative, he wasn't joking. Most were very Victorian in style but luckily the catwalk fashions had been styled on that look, so she could easily pull it off. After laying the clothing out on the bed, Buffy chose a black high necked, lace and silk blouse and a long black skirt.Spike packed the rest of the clothes back in the box, pausing when he held a long red dress. Buffy watched as his whole demeanor changed. He looked tense. His fists gripped the material tight and his knuckles turned white. He breathed in loudly through his nose and let it back out slowly.He looked up at Buffy and apologized as he threw the dress back in the box , telling her that he would wait for her out in the lounge. Buffy jumped slightly when the door to the bedroom slammed shut.

She was confused. When Spike had told her that Dru had left him because she knew that he was still in love with her, he seemed to accept that as fact. Like he knew it was the truth himself. He also made it seem as though he had never loved Dru, yet he acted as though she had hurt him badly and seeing her clothing had refreshed his memories and the pain. Buffy looked down at the skirt and blouse and wondered if she should just wear her crumpled clothing until she had a chance to buy a new outfit. Last thing she needed was to wear clothing that Dru had and have him acting all weird around her all day. She picked up her clothes and went into the bathroom, she turned the shower on hot , hung her top and skirt on the shower rail and closed the door. She hoped the steam removed most of the creases. After five minutes she went back into the bathroom and breathed a sigh of relief. Once she had turned the shower off, Buffy got dressed in her clothes and tidied Dru's clothing away in the box and carried it back to the spare room.

Spike stood on the deck overlooking the garden ,smoking his third cigarette when Buffy slid the door open and joined him. He glanced sideways at her and frowned.

"Thought you sorted some of the other clothes out? "
"No offense but I saw the way it effected you and I didn't want you acting the way you did with that dress. "

He put his head down and looked at the tip of the cigarette. "Sorry,love. It's just ... I can't explain it.Well, maybe I can. The dress was the last thing she wore before she left. It was left on the bed, tossed aside the way she did with me. It seems so stupid but it just bought back so many memories. I wouldn't have taken that hurt and anger out on you, love. Believe me when I say that. "

Buffy listened as he told her and stepped closer, to hug him from behind.Her arms wrapped around his chest and she laid her head on his back. Spike flicked the rest of his cigarette away and turned in her arms to face her. His hand cupped her cheek as his thumb brushed across her lips. He leaned down slowly to capture her lips in a gentle kiss. As he pulled away he whispered huskily. "I love you, pet. Always have and I won't hurt you. Not intentionally. "

"I know. "


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


Angel and Penn pulled in to the car park below Morgan, Summers and McDonald, the tyres screamed as they turned sharply on the smooth tarmac. Angel looked around and spotted her car.He said nothing but pointed at the abandoned vehicle. Penn smirked as he got out, Angel stood tall and looked around before they both walked towards the elevator.


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


Buffy was grateful that Spike was with her while she called Tara and then Lindsay. As uncomfortable as that had been, he had positive news. Buffy agreed to come in to the offices as soon as she could.She rang Tara back and asked her to meet her there too. After a brief stop to buy herself some clothes, Spike and Buffy drove to the law firm in silence.

The car park was busy and they finally got a parking space after twenty minutes. Neither spoke as they got out of the car. Spike reached his out and took her small hand in his as they crossed to the elevator.Once inside, Buffy pushed for the floor they needed and waited.The doors opened and Spike stepped out first, still holding her hand so that Buffy was only a step behind him. He held his hand up to the receptionist as a greeting and strode down the hallway to Lindsay's office. Buffy looked around as they walked down the hall, not seeing Tara she hoped that she was already here and was waiting for them with Lindsay.

Spike knocked firmly on the door and walked in.He nodded towards the lawyer and then shut the door once Buffy was inside.

"Spike, Buffy, " Lindsay greeted them with a smile and held his hand out for Spike to shake.He ignored it.
"Lindsay. You said you had news, lets not waste our time or yours. Just tell us. " Spike stood ramrod straight, but he pulled a chair out for Buffy.She took it.

"I understand we'll be joined by a ... " He looked at a sheet of paper, "Tara MacClay? "
"That's right, " Buffy said as she nodded.
"Would you rather wait for her to arrive so that we don't have to repeat ourselves? " Lindsay asked.

It made sense to Buffy but she looked up at Spike to see if he agreed. He did. " Right then. We'll wait in my office.Call me when she arrives. I take it the window's been replaced? "

Lindsay nodded. Buffy stood and followed Spike out and across the hall to his office. Immediately, Spike started up his desktop pc and sat in his chair. Once the computer had booted up, he got up and took the briefcase that Buffy had bought with her, and started to photocopy the files. When that was done he took out what looked to Buffy like a dictaphone and plugged the usb into the computer.He retrieved the tape of Angels confession and put that into the dictaphone device and copied that onto the pc. The phone rang as he was taking the tape out and as he was busy Spike hit the loud speaker button.

"What is it? " He barked.
Lindsay's voice came through the line. " Ms. MacClay is here. "
"Fine. " Spike answered, "We'll be in shortly. Have the front desk make us all some coffee, we'll need it. "

He hung up and continued to gather everything again, ready to put back in the briefcase. Buffy looked out of the office window, the one that looked into the hall and froze. The last person she expected to see walking down the hall , was there. And he wasn't alone. She backed away from the window and hit the lights.

"Hey! " Spike called out before looking up at her and then he realized something was wrong. "Buffy, what is it, pet? "

Buffy turned quickly and ran behind the desk and ducked, pulling him down with her. Her fingers automatically went to his lips to silence him. He peered around the desk and saw what had her so spooked. Spike ducked again and pulled Buffy into his arms. Spike heard a door close by open and closed his eyes tight, hoping that it wasn't what and who he suspected it was. Their luck wasn't with them, as Lindsay came bounding into the office calling out his name. On getting no reply and seeing the office in darkness, Lindsay turned to the receptionist that happened to be talking to Angel and Penn at the time, and asked if she had seen Spike and Buffy. Angel looked down at the Texan lawyer and narrowed his eyes, yet kept a blank expression. Penn smirked and looked into the office that Lindsay had just exited. It was at that point that Buffy peered over the desk and tried to get the file and tape.

Angel smiled. He had her. All he had to do was play it cool now. He turned on the charm and then said his goodbye's, excusing himself from the conversation. Penn watched the office as they walked past and nodded to Angel. They looked back over their shoulders to see that the hall had cleared.

Buffy breathed a sigh of relief to see that Angel was leaving. Angel had obviously heard Lindsay but had realized that she was untouchable here. On shaky limbs, she stood and made her way to the open door. Spike was right behind her. As she went to leave , strong hands grabbed her and pulled her from the room.Her scream pierced the air and drew most from their offices. Nobody moved once they saw what was happening and froze in their doorways.Buffy was held against Angels chest with a gun against her head.