Remember Me

"It's not a formal ritual that you do," Angel informed her.

"Like I said, it's during the act of sex," Spike reminded her.

She nodded slowly, "okay, so we're in the middle of having sex and then you bite me, say 'mine' and I bite you back, say 'mine' and it's done?"

Both vampires nodded, "pretty much, yeah."

"Okay, so. . . the next time we're all feeling. . . randy?"

Angel and Spike smirked and she knew what was on their minds. She rolled her eyes. "Right. Who am I talking to? You're both ALWAYS randy. But, I'm not. I'm a little drained right now I have to say."

Their faces fell.

"Maybe we could go out?" She asked hopefully.

"Go out? I thought you were 'drained.'" Angel pointed out.

"I'm drained from all intense matters. I'm looking to blow off some steam. I'm thinking, let's all go out and DO something that doesn't involve slaying vampires, meditating or magic."

"Like what, kitten?"

"How about dinner? I'm starving and we could go someplace nice where there's dancing. Maybe take a walk on the beach after?"

Angel smiled, "I'm game. We could all dress up-"

"Oohh! I'm picking out an outfit for Spike!" Buffy exclaimed and immediately went to the closet. "Angel, could Spike borrow one of your suits?"

"I don't need to wear a bloody suit," Spike complained.

Buffy turned and batted her eyelashes at him and stuck out her lower lip in a pout. "Pretty please?"

He glared at her, "no fair pouting like that. You know what it does to me."

She continued to pout.

"Fine, I'll wear a suit!" Then, "I'm takin' a shower."

She smiled brightly and started to rummage through the closet.

Angel came up beside her. "Everything go all right?"

She turned to him and sighed heavily. "He's going through some guilt over his shady past."

Angel looked down, "I know how he feels."

"Which is why you should talk to him. I can only do so much to help, Angel. You've been through it."

"I STILL go through it, Buffy."

"Then you need to talk to each other."

Angel sighed and nodded, then he looked up at her. "How come you're not choosing my suit?" He sounded so much like a wounded puppy that Buffy had to giggle at how cute he was being, his own lower lip dangerously close to jutting out.

"Because unlike Spike, you have variety in your wardrobe. I'm used to seeing you all nice, not so much with Spike."

He nodded, but he was still not assuaged.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll choose your suit too."

He smiled wide then and Buffy laughed. As big and tough-and old- as her men were, they were still big kids at heart.


Buffy was having a blast-and she couldn't keep her eyes off Angel and Spike. They were so incredibly handsome that night. Angel with his dark suit and navy button down and Spike with a navy pin stripe suit and pink shirt and tie, they both were so dashing that Buffy couldn't help the surge of pride she felt at being with both of them. She was on BOTH their arms and she didn't really much care what anyone thought.

She listened to them banter back and forth about Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, the book she was reading for her lit class. She had a paper to write and wanted their opinion on it, considering Angel had been around during that time, she thought maybe he knew something about what the critics of that time thought about it or even what Mary Shelley herself had to say about her work. It had sparked a whole nature vs. nurture controversy with Spike and Angel. She found it funny considering they were both essentially saying the same thing, but felt the need to argue about why they agreed.

"Well, being that Frankenstein created him out of dead murderer's, I'd say at first he was inherently bad," Angel began thoughtfully, "plus look at Victor, I mean, he wasn't exactly the epitome of kindness. He wasn't a very nurturing father--"

"Ah, BUT, he wasn't exactly the biological father, now was he?" Spike interjected. "He was just a crazy scientist playing God by creating a creature out of human bits who then abandoned his 'son' because he was disgusted by what he created."

"Which is what I was trying to get at if you would have let me finish."

Spike smirked, "sure you were, Peaches."

Ignoring Spike, Angel looked directly at Buffy and continued. "He abandoned his 'son' and left him to fend for himself, which was not the best thing to do for the Creature. He couldn't even speak, very much like an infant despite his size. Plus, he was disgusting to look upon. He was attacked by everyone he came in contact with."

"Not everyone. There was the De Lacey family." Spike added. "He was taught what kindness and love was through them."

"Until he was seen by everyone, save for the blind father. Then all they did was show him abhorrence. " Angel pointed out.

"So, you think that his violence was a by product of how his 'father' and society treated him? Basically, nurture wins out over his nature," Buffy summed up.

"Correct," Angel agreed, "well, that's what I'm saying anyway. There are many ways to look at Frankenstein and nature versus nurture with the Creature is a debate that no one has yet agreed on."

"No matter how you look at it though, Victor was in the wrong ultimately. He played God, created something that he was disgusted by and then abandoned it. What happened to him, he created and asked for."

Buffy nodded, "right. Mass destruction ensues when you play God."

"Right," Angel and Spike said at the same time then gave each other a funny look.

"Now, if Victor had shown the creature love, or at least took the time to teach him the correct way in which to interact with humans, do you think the creature would have ultimately been accepted by society?" Buffy asked.

Both men fell silent and appeared thoughtful.

"Perhaps, though I doubt it. I mean, the creature was hideous, there is no way around that. I think it would have been stretch," Angel said thoughtfully.

"Although, if society saw how accepted the creature was by Victor, then there might have been a good chance that it would have been accepted. Victor just didn't want to take the time to try and care for it. He was disgusted by his creation, by himself. It was doomed from the start," Spike summed up.

"Would you like to dance?" Buffy asked Spike suddenly. They both took a moment to grasp the sudden gear shift. Spike nodded and stood, holding out his hand. She smiled warmly at him and followed him to the dance floor.

"Have I told you how gorgeous you look tonight, luv?" Spike murmured in her ear as he wrapped his arms around her and pulled he close.

She smiled, "when we left. Have I told you how handsome you look tonight?"

Spike grinned, "you did. Guess I should considering you picked out the suit. Though, pink, luv?"

"Eh, just think of it as a light red and you'll be fine. Do you feel better?"

"Much," Spike breathed softly onto her neck, causing goosebumps to form on her skin. She rested her head on his chest, basking in Spike. They completed two dances before Angel cut in.

"Having a good time, sweetheart?"

She nodded emphatically, "yes, I am. Are you?"

"Very much so. Not very often we get to take our girl out like this. It's a nice change."

"I agree."


And so the night continued on to a walk on the beach and then a game of tag which proved difficult considering Buffy wore a long, French blue, simple and yet elegant dress. Frolicking in the sand and water was just what the doctor ordered however. They were laughing so hard their sides hurt and as they all collapsed, uncaring to their dress, onto the sand to lie back and watch the stars, they felt free and light again.

When it was time to go home, they walked in silence, hand in hand. Entering the apartment, they all went directly to the bedroom to change and Buffy stopped and watched them, halfway between pensive and adoring. She watched Angel take off his jacket and hang it and watched Spike take his off and throw it casually onto a chair. She watched Spike and Angel both unbutton their shirts and she walked to Spike, shaking her head. He looked at her in question and she noticed Angel stopped what he was doing and waited. She smiled at him and shooed Spike's hands away from his shirt. She began to unbutton it herself and kissed each bit of skin exposed. Spike's moan was the only sound in the room. Soon, Angel was behind her, and the sound of her dress being unzipped was next. As Spike kissed her, she could feel the feather light kisses that Angel was trailing down her back. She let out a small sigh of happiness and tilted her neck to the side, giving Spike access to it and he sucked on her jugular. Getting the spot ready, she knew.

Meanwhile, Angel had completely divested her of her dress and she was left standing in her bra and panties. A cool breeze blowing through swirled around them, gently tickling her skin. She spun to Angel and found his shirt unbuttoned, but not taken off. She looked up at him with a smoldering gaze and splayed her hands across his chest, moving them to take off his shirt. He watched her with a hungry stare and growled softly before engaging her in a passionate kiss that left her breathless. No words were passed as she was lifted in his embrace and carried swiftly to the bed and gently laid down. Pulling Spike on top of her, she made fast work of undoing his pants. As he stood to discard them, she found Angel ready for her, completely naked in all his beautiful glory. Licking his lips, he leaned across her and pulled her panties down tantalizingly slow and Spike, being done with his own pants laid down next to her and unfastened her bra, lavishing much attention to her exposed breasts. Angel settled between her legs, teasing and tickling the insides of her thighs before finally reaching the goal both he and Buffy wanted him to get to. Spike looked up at her, caressing the side of her face, watching the pleasure Angel was giving her play across her face. His gaze spoke of love, trust and adoration. She brought his head down and kissed him voraciously as her first orgasm hit. Angel continued to lap at her, and Buffy stopped him by lightly pulling on his hair.

"Inside me, now, please," she told him breathlessly. She pulled on his shoulders, bringing him up to her for a kiss and he straddled her. She rolled them over and straddled him, poising herself for his entrance. Gliding herself down on him, they both let out a moan of mutual satisfaction. She turned towards Spike.

"Stand on the bed," she told him and he did so. She took him into her mouth, darting her tongue out to tease his member with it and she felt Spike's fingers entwine in her hair. She looked up to see his head slightly thrown back, his eyes half-mass. Her gaze fell on Angel who looked up at her with intense ecstasy written on his face. He reared up and suckled on her breasts before she turned to him and kissed him as she stroked Spike with her small hands. Angel lay back down, guiding her movements and she could feel her next orgasm building inside her. She began to move harder and faster on him and hollowed out her cheeks on Spike.

"Not yet," Spike ground out and pulled out of her mouth, dropping to his knees beside her.

"Oh God, I'm. . .ahh. . ." Buffy moaned, closing her eyes. They popped open when she felt Spike's fangs graze her jugular. It was time. She was slightly frightened by how it would feel and hoped it would come soon.

"Don't worry, my love," he whispered to her before sinking his fangs into her neck. Starbursts of color flashed behind her eyes as her orgasm hit at the same time. She opened her mouth to let out a shout, but only a small gasp came out as her mouth formed a perfect 'O'. Her orgasm triggered Angel's and as he came inside her, still moving, he latched on to the underside of her breast and grazed his fangs against her, asking for acceptance. She pushed him against her, saying 'yes.' He sunk his fangs in and she came again, nearly fainting from the pleasure of it. She closed her eyes tightly and rode out her pleasure with them.

Spike pulled away from her jugular and she heard him whisper, "Mine." He licked at her, closing the wound all the while murmuring 'I love you' and 'mine.' Angel released his fangs from her breast and whispered, "mine," before tending to his own marks. She wasn't sure what side was up as she felt the marks on her skin tingle and warm her. They seemed to scream at her, letting her know she belonged to them and them only. For eternity. Angel rolled her to her back and she stared up at both of them in awe. She felt limp, but not yet complete. She needed Spike inside her now. Angel rolled to his side and Spike slid inside her, filling her up again. She let out a small moan and reached for Angel. She buried her face in his neck, sliding her tongue across it. He took her hand and brought it to his engorged member. Instinctively, she stroked him and sucked on his neck.

"Do it," he commanded on a whisper. "Please."

Without thinking, Buffy bit down as hard as she could and felt his blood pour in her mouth. He came instantly as Buffy did. It was amazing. She felt him in her blood, in her body, everywhere. She felt everything he was feeling at that moment: Complete, loved, adored, blissful and content. She saw his love for her, surrounding her in a pink haze, felt his devotion by the stirring in her heart as it pumped his blood through her. Taking her mouth off him, she tended to his mark the same way he had and whispered, "mine."

Her head dropped back. She wanted Spike now. She wanted to feel him as she felt Angel. Spike watched her intensely, his eyes dark with need and lust. He leaned into her and she kissed him hungrily, trailing kisses to his neck. He licked at her neck, where his mark was and she immediately bit down on him. They both came instantly, Spike on a roar. Seeming ravenous for his blood as well as the connection, she sucked hard on him until she needed to breathe. "Mine," she said breathlessly and licked at his wound. Her head dropped back and her eyes shut tightly as she now felt Spike within her. Along with his love, she felt his relief. They belonged to each other now. She lay there, feeling as if her body were floating on a cloud. Every limb, cell, bone and muscle was completely sated. She felt their blood within her, her connection to them stronger than she could have ever imagined. She felt complete in ways she didn't think she could ever put in words. She couldn't move to say anything, couldn't even open her eyes. She allowed herself to float away with her lovers and fell into a deep sleep.


Chapter Six


Buffy slept until noon. Her eyes opened slowly and a yawn escaped her as she stretched her limbs.

"How'd you sleep?"

She looked over to see Angel standing in the doorway, hands in his pockets. He was smiling at her. She smiled back. "Like a log. Is that normal?"

"For you? Very much so."

"No, I mean after. . .after the claiming."

He nodded and made his way to the bed, sitting on the edge, facing her. "Yes, I would say so. Especially since you experienced both of us. It's an intense mating when it's just one."

She sat up and back against the headboard. "It was intense. . . but, a good intense." She crawled out of bed, feeling a sudden surge of energy. "It was amazing, Angel. I could feel you both inside me pumping through my veins. . . I always knew that blood was important to a vampire's survival, but I never really GOT the power it holds as much as I do now. Where's Spike?"

"It's a gray day today, raining, so he went out for a bit."

She frowned, "I don't like that he does that. It makes me nervous."

"Good thing I convinced him to bring a blanket and umbrella then."

She smiled weakly, "I still don't like it. He takes chances."

"Wouldn't be Spike if he didn't."

"Yet you both get angry with me if I take them. What if it gets sunny again? It's New England for Christ's Sake. You know what they say about the weather in New England. If you don't like the weather, wait a minute." She grabbed some clothes out of her dresser. "I'm going after him."

She started for the shower and Angel stopped her, grabbing her arm. "You don't need to save him, Buffy."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, you're not his redemption."

"You think because I'm going after him to bring him home in case it gets sunny and he turns to dust means I consider myself his redemption?"

"I think because you try to fix him every time he's a little sad about things means you think you're his redemption."

"How can you say that to me? You out of everyone know what it's like to have a soul and remember the things you did. And, for some bizarre reason that I have yet to understand, you won't talk to him and he won't talk to you about what it's like to feel guilty and sorrow for it. I don't think and nor have I ever thought that I was his means of redemption or your means of redemption. I DO think I am the ONLY one either of you will talk to when you're hurting or angry or need someone to listen to you. I took both of you into my life as you came to me and then I fell in love with both of you. Part of loving you both is being part of the things you go through. I'm not going to ignore it like you do when Spike is hurting. Just like I wouldn't ignore it if you were hurting. It's not my fault that Spike is more vocal about it whereas you keep it in until you explode.

I'm going after him right now because I don't want him to turn to dust should the sun come out, NOT because he's been going through a hard time remembering. Just as I would go after YOU if YOU were out there right now."

Angel stared at her for a long moment and guilt slowly etched itself into his features. He sat down on the bed and stared at his hands. "I'm sorry. I don't know what I was thinking."

"I don't either," and she walked away from him.

With heavy thoughts, Buffy washed herself wondering if as many steps as they had all taken forward, were they now taking steps back? First Spike with his wanting to be the only one to claim her and now with Angel upset with her for going after Spike. She supposed she knew that they would have to get jealous now and then about having to share. She couldn't expect that they would always be as comfortable with it as they had been lately. She had hoped that since they had made amends with it, they would have allowed themselves to explore their relationship a bit more. Not that she expected them to become lovers, but she did expect them to at least be able to talk to each other more than before. She hoped it wasn't going to take yet another tragedy before they came together.


Time passed and things seemed to have calmed. There were no more attacks at her happy place, Angel never brought up how he felt about Spike and Buffy, and Spike seemed more at ease. The claiming had done wonders for him.

With the help of Angel, Buffy worked more on her magic and developing ways to fight using her power that seemed to have grown since the claiming had been done. She found magical workings easier and while it unsettled Spike, he was also willing to do anything that would save her from whatever was planning on coming.

And so, one night Buffy sat cross-legged in the grass, letting her eyes drift shut. She concentrated on her breathing, on sending imaginary roots into the ground in which to ground her. She inhaled and pulled energy from the sky, concentrating specifically on the sun, feeling the heat of it beat down on her even in the black night. Exhaling she extended her palm, outstretching it and cupping it. Inhaling, she pulled energy from the Earth and it rolled through her body, from her feet up to her outstretched hand. Through her closed lids, she could see it. She opened her eyes, not breaking concentration as she held a ball of sun in her palm. She smiled and stood slowly, keeping her palm open and cupped slightly. She began her walk through the graveyard, smiling when she saw three vamps coming her way.

Bringing the ball close to her mouth, she said firmly, "three." The ball split in three immediately and she gently blew on them saying, "destroy mine enemy."

The vampires had already begun their run in the opposite direction, howling in fear. She smiled victoriously as the three balls of sun hurtled through the air zoning in on said vampires. As soon the 'suns' reached the vampire's, they immediately dispelled into dust, leaving three neat piles. The 'suns' exploded, sending light particles into the air. Buffy smiled at the beauty of it and when they dispersed she spun around.

"You can come out now."

Spike and Angel came out from a nearby crypt where they had been watching in the doorway.

"Did you see that?" She asked excitedly.

"How could we miss it? You nearly singed me," Spike complained.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "I told you to stay AWAY from the ball of fake sun. Not my fault if you don't listen."

"And really, what else is new?" Angel quipped which earned him a jab on the arm from Spike. Angel moved forward, smiling proudly. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "Good job, Buffy."

"Good job? That was friggen awesome!" She exclaimed.

"It was indeed awesome, Miss Summers." Buffy spun around, ready to attack, taking a stake out of her back pocket.

Spike and Angel moved quickly, each of them on either side of her.

A man, in a suit, emerged from the shadows. He was of medium-height, a tad stocky, with salt and pepper hair and dark, beady eyes. At first glance, Buffy guessed he wasn't a vampire and that he had to be at least fifty or sixty. Next to him was a taller man, lean, yet muscular, with short mahogany hair and intense, yet inviting blue eyes. He also wore a suit, and he held his hands in front of him, clasped. He looked to be about twenty-five.

"Who are you?" She asked, pointing at them.

"Quentin Travers."

Spike and Angel growled at that and Quentin seemed suddenly aware of the men at her side. His expression darkened immediately from one of simple pleasure to anger.

"William the Bloody and Angelus. Just what are you two disgusting beasts doing here?" He roared.

Buffy immediately took the defense and moved in front of them. He might not be a vampire, but he could be a demon and Buffy wasn't taking any chances. "Who are you again?"

"I am Head of The Council," he told her angrily, brandishing a stake of his own, as did his companion.

"Put the stakes away. You hurt them, I hurt you."

Quentin glared at her, and started to tuck his stake back in his jacket.

"Are you kidding? Give them to me," Buffy planted herself in front of him and held out her hand. She meant business and the men seemed to know that. Huffily, Quentin placed the stake in her hand and the man next to him did so as well, extracting two more from his jacket. She cocked her head to the side. "Any more?"

Disgruntled and shooting daggers at her, Quentin produced two more stakes and slammed them in her palm.

"What do you want?" She asked, folding her arms across her chest.

"You, Miss Summers."

Not expecting that answer, she stepped back, out of his reach. "Excuse me?"

"Your powers are unparalleled. You have strength, agility, heightened senses and more impressive, magic. You, Miss Summers, are just what the Council needs."

"She's not bloody well, interested!" Spike barked.

"Crawl back under the rock you came from, Quentin," Angel growled.

"Shut up, fiends of hell!" Quentin shouted.

"Stop it!" Buffy yelled, irritated. Ever since the whole debacle with Faith and Wesley, Buffy had hated the whole concept of the Council even more than she did before. She had always thought it unfair that a Slayer had to risk her life to save the world while the Council remained safe from such dangers in some kind of Ivory Tower. The fact that the stout man before her had sent emissaries such as Faith to her, and not bothering to confront her on his own, made her disrespect him even more. And this man before her, he seemed to demand HER respect. It was almost laughable.

"Miss Summers, we have started out on the wrong foot, let's begin again," Quentin backpedaled.

"No need. I'm not interested in whatever you're offering."

"You haven't even heard what I'm offering," Quentin all but spat.

"Fine. What are you offering me?"

"The chance to help future Slayers. As I was saying before, your powers are unlike any Slayer we've ever had. You have a gift, Miss Summers and we could duplicate that to help our Slayers, to help save the world."

"Duplicate? Isn't that the same as cloning?"

"Not entirely."

"Explain how it's not, 'not entirely.'"

"There are breakthroughs in the ability to duplicate powers such as yours, to transfer energies, with no harm to you, just a simple pin prick to use your blood-"

Buffy held up her hand. "Stop right there. Use my blood? I'm not a lab rat, Mr. Travers."

He seemed genuinely confused. "What's a simple pin prick compared to saving future warriors such as yourself?"

"I'm not a warrior. I'm a girl that happened to be born with these powers. I'm not a Chosen One. I CHOSE to help by doing what I can, but I'm not a Slayer. I have no desire to be one and I have no desire to be part of the Council."

"Instead you wish to surround yourself with disgusting monsters such as these?" Quentin gestured to Spike and Angel who growled at him.

"They are NOT disgusting monsters!" Buffy shouted.

"Do you know the things they have done?" Quentin hissed. "They've killed children, murdered entire families?do you know that Spike used to torture his victims with railroad spike's?"

"Yes," Buffy hissed back.

"Do you know he did it to children too? That he tortured poor, defenseless children?"

Buffy winced at that, not wanting to imagine that. "He didn't have a soul then. Neither of them did."

"Angelus wiped out his entire family, INCLUDING his little sister," Quentin continued.

"They didn't have souls!" Buffy shouted at the man, shaking in anger.

"And what, you're telling me they do now?" Quentin laughed maniacally. "They still have the demon inside. All humanity is wiped once the demon sets in."

"I think you're the one without the soul," Buffy said through clenched teeth, her fists balled at her side. " You're the demon. They've kept me alive longer than any Slayer the council has EVER had. Put that in your dusty old books and shove it, Mr. Travers. Get out of my town and leave us alone or you'll see more than you care to of what I can do."

Glaring, Quentin spun on heel and marched away, his crony following close behind, turning back once to steal a glance at the outraged blond.

Spike and Angel were next to her in a heartbeat, Angel running a hand down her arm to soothe her as Spike took her in his arms and placed a kiss on her head. She could see the hint of pain in their eyes as Quentin's words made them once again recall their past. If she knew how, she would find a way to make Quentin Travers pay for that.


"Mr. Travers, what is your plan now?" Lindsey McDonald, Quentin's right hand man and magic extraordinaire himself, asked when they had made it out of the cemetery and far away from the powerful trio.

Quentin stopped abruptly and turned to his star pupil. A slow smile spread across his face, his teeth almost preternaturally white. "Miss Summers will acquiesce with my proposal."

"How?"

Quentin slapped Lindsey's back, assuring the younger man. "Why by force, of course."

Chapter Eight


"I don't think the police can help us in this case," Angel told Spike as he stood in the doorway watching his grandchilde lay on their bed, hugging Buffy's pillow to him.

"Did you get a hold of Giles?"

"I did. He feels the same way I do. Whatever happened to Buffy, it was just as she'd seen it happen in her meditation."

"She was taken from us," Spike said, emotionless.

"Yes," Angel whispered. "I can try and get in her mind like I did in our meditation, find out where she is."

Spike sat upright. "You can do that? I tried using the claim to find out what's happened to her. . .all I see is blackness."

"I can try. It's not a guarantee."

"Then what the sodding hell are you waiting for? My girl is out there-"

"OUR girl!"

"Our girl is out there and she needs us."

"I was trying to be nice by coming in here and telling you what I learned from Giles, you ingrate," Angel said through clenched teeth. "I figured you'd want to know before I did anything. I was trying to be courteous, you know, the thing you never are."

Spike glared at him, "courteous? Who was the one who asked you to fucking move back in here when she hated you? If it weren't for ME, you would still be alone in your miserable apartment above the gallery!"

"I'm sure you enjoyed your time with her all on your own!" Angel yelled at him.

"The fact that I had SOMETHING first before you? Hell yeah!"

Angel stomped into the room and backhanded Spike across the face. "Don't push me boy, or you will find yourself thrown out in the hot afternoon sun!"

Spike stood, rubbing his cheek from Angel's blow and stalked out of the room. Angel hung his head in defeat and let out sigh. For the first time since they'd come home, he allowed himself to look around their room. Buffy was everywhere. "I'm sorry. You wouldn't want us to fight, Buffy. I'm trying to be strong here, I really am. I just need you, sweetheart. I don't know where you are and it's killing me."


All Buffy could see was blackness. She heard voices, felt a chill stab at her skin, but she felt as if she were outside herself. Her limbs ached, and she soon realized her hands and feet were tied together. She tried to conjure up a spell to get her out, but she had no energy to even move a muscle. She tensed when she felt someone close to her. They tugged at her blindfolds, the course cloth scratching her skin lightly. Her eyes took a moment to adjust, but the chloroform had made her woozy and her eyesight was blurred. She was near passing out again.

Tears leaked from her eyes and she implored the person in front of her to help her. She had to get home, she wanted to be home, she needed to be home. Please, she begged, please. Don't hurt me. Just let me go.

Lindsey watched the young warrior fall apart before him and he felt a stirring in his chest he'd never felt before in his short life. Could that stirring possibly be in his heart? Could he be feeling for her, his job, his soon to be charge? He stared at her, her green watery eyes, her red cheeks, her windblown hair. Her pleading made him want to hug her, tell her it would be okay and hand her back to the vampire's she had so earnestly defended. On the other hand, the darker, more primal part of him wanted her for himself.

His hands were tied, plus, she would be much safer with him by her side than if he let her loose. Quentin's wrath wasn't to be underestimated.

"I'll take care of you," Lindsey promised her and pressed the chloroformed cloth back under nose once more, sending her back into darkness.


Angel sat in the center of his study, door shut and locked. He made a circle made of sea salt around him and lit a couple candles. He closed his eyes and focused on Buffy, on her blood that was part of him now, on her scent that was everywhere, on her image in his mind. He relaxed more and felt himself rise and then fall, rather, plunge into darkness. It was all he could see. He called for her in his mind and all he heard was an echo. Had it worked? Did she see nothing? Was she in darkness? Was her mind somehow shut down? He called for her again, again and again. Then he felt something. Fear. Her fear. Her desperation. He screamed for her. Nothing. Pulling himself out, Angel opened his eyes. He promptly closed them. He wasn't going to stop until he got something.

Spike was doing almost the same back in their room. He felt her fear for a brief moment before the connection was lost. Slumping against the bed, he felt useless and desperate. She was out there, alone and afraid and there was nothing he could do. He didn't know where she was, what was happening to her. Would she come back to him? Was she being hurt? The knock on the door brought him out of his musings. He bolted up and ran for it, not quite thinking clearly-if it were Buffy she would just OPEN the door, not knock on it. Willow stood on the other side of the front door, looking scared and worried. As soon as she saw Spike's worn and sad face, she burst into tears.

"She's not home, is she?" She asked through her sobs.

Spike reached for her and gave her a weary hug. "No, Will, she's not."

"Where is she?"

"We don't know. Angel's trying something, trying to see if he can get in her mind and see where she is, talk to her somehow."

"It's not working?"

"Haven't heard anything yet."

"I thought when you claimed her you were supposed to be able to do all that telepathic stuff!"

Spike guided Willow to the table and sat her down. "Tea?"

"Please."

"The telepathic stuff, the being able to send messages to each other via our thoughts? That's the sort of thing that develops over time as the claim grows stronger. The only way the claim can grow stronger is by more blood being shared. It wouldn't be safe for Buffy to draw her blood and drink from her every night. We can sense her emotions, if she's sad, angry, happy, afraid, et cetera. Just as she can sense ours-to an extent. She's not a vampire, she's still human, so for her, her abilities to communicate with us might be garbled a bit. Through the claim, I was able to sense that she felt fear not too long ago. . . it passed as quickly as it came and I was shut off from it. Part of the reason for the claim was to be able to protect her if danger came. If vampires came after her, they wouldn't be able to bite her due to the claim. Plus, if she were in danger, we would know it."

"And whatever's happening to her, if she is in danger, you can't feel it because she doesn't feel it?"

"Right."

"So, she could be knocked out or-"

Spike shot her a deadly glare and growled, vamp face coming forward, "don't say it."

"If you can't tell what's happened to her, if she can't let you know, then how are you going to find her?" Willow whispered.

"By ripping everything apart from here to Timbuktu until I find her."

"Hello?"

"Finally! I've been trying to call you for weeks," Angel grumbled into the phone to Wesley.

"I know. I'm sorry for my rudeness. It's been rough here."

"Oh? Why?"

"Apocalypse."

"How goes that?"

"Averted, thank you."

"Good to hear. Listen, aside from the usual apocalypse glory hunters, has there been any demons, vampires and whatnot after Faith?"

"Nope, pretty much everything has been apocalypse related. Why?"

"Has Faith been yammering about Buffy?"

Wesley sounded appalled, "no, sir, she has not. She's been very quiet on the matter. I rather think she's moved on from the whole incident."

"Was that before or after she opened her big mouth to the Council? Or was that you?" Angel's frustration was growing each moment. He wanted someone to blame for Buffy's abduction-he refused to believe anything worse than that-and he was sincerely hoping he would find SOMETHING or SOMEONE to blame. If not for anything else then to at least find answers while he was feeling so incredibly useless. For some reason, he liked Wesley and he trusted him despite what occurred in the past. He just didn't know how MUCH he could trust Wesley with Faith around. What he knew of Watchers, they did anything they could for their Slayers. Even if Wesley did seem to have a handle on Faith's character, it was still a shaky line to walk on and he didn't want to do anything to put them in even more danger than Buffy already was.

"Are you accusing me of lying? Of backstabbing you?"

Angel sighed heavily. He'd crossed that line now apparently. "No, I'm just. . . you and Faith swore not to say anything to the Council-"

"And we did not."

"Then they showed up here, unannounced."

"What?" Wesley sounded genuinely surprised. "Who did exactly?"

"Quentin Travers himself. And some guy was with him. Didn't say anything."

"Probably Lindsey McDonald. He's the new apple of Quentin's eye. I hear he's adept at magic and training to be a Watcher. I don't really care for him. His nose seems a bit brown to me."

Angel couldn't help the chuckle that escaped, "are you saying he's a brown noser, Wesley?"

"I believe that was obvious."

"Didn't think you had it in you."

"You'd be surprised what you learn when you are with Faith as often as I am. She'd of course be a lot more colorful than I was, but you caught my drift."

"So you never said anything to them? Or to any demons or vampires?"

"Again, no. I gave you my word, Angel and to me that is sacred."

Angel believed him. "Thanks Wesley."

"If Quentin came to see you then it could have possibly been of his own accord. He often has the mentality of 'if you want something done, you have to do it yourself'. Then he complains that no one helps him. It's a conundrum. As far as something coming after Buffy. . .has there been something? I worry that our visit there led others to know of her."

"Seems so," Angel said, trying to keep his emotions in check. He was rubbing his eyes so hard he thought they were going to fall out.

"I sense something is amiss, Angel. What's happened?"

"I don't. . . I don't know if I can tell you."

"Because of Faith? Tell me, Angel."

The need was there inside him to tell Wesley. To unload on him, to let someone else know, someone who could maybe help.

"Buffy's been taken."

"Taken? She's been kidnapped?"

"Yes," Angel choked out.

"Oh dear. When? How? Who?"

"A few days ago. How, I don't know. Who, I don't know. . . that's the whole problem. That's why I needed to know what's going on over there. If you knew of anything."

"How can I help?"

"Talk to Faith. I know she's your Slayer and that you probably trust her-"

"I understand Angel. I know."

"Then you can help me by getting answers from her. I'm not saying that she is the one to blame for any of this. I'm merely suggesting that if she could have slipped somewhere about Buffy. . . then maybe I could have a starting point on how to find her."

"You love her very much, don't you?"

Angel's eyes filled with tears. "More than anything in this world. I'd give my soul up for her to be safe and just. . . HERE if I could."

"You'll find her, Angel. You will. When I was there, I saw the bond the three of you had with each other, the way you all loved and cared for one another. The Fates brought you all together and they'll keep you together, you'll see."

Tears strolled down Angels cheeks, unchecked.

"In the meantime, I will do what I can to find any information out. I won't say a word to Faith just yet, not until I'm sure she's innocent. I'll be in touch."

"Thanks," Angel managed.

"Don't worry, Angel. You'll find her."

Angel hung up and let himself do yet another thing he didn't often do: Cry.


Days past and as they did, Spike and Angel felt more and more useless. Angel started having migraine's from the amount he tried to get into Buffy's mind and Spike had taken to drinking more often and banging heads together at night, demanding to know why they dared enter HIS town and what did they know about Buffy?

"Do you have to have every sodding light out in here?" Spike snapped as Angel entered the living room.

"My head is killing me, the light only-okay, the TV blaring is NOT helping!" Angel exclaimed and then winced.

Spike shut the TV off and threw the remote across the room, shattering it. Angel bolted up and pointed a threatening finger at him.

"You have to stop acting like a damn child, Spike! I miss her too, but-"

"Oh cram it, Peaches! I don't give a rats ass how you feel right now. This is all your fault." Spike shouted and jumped up.

"How is this MY fault? What the hell did I do to make this happen?"

"You and all your magic working. It got her stronger, didn't it? Got her so strong that every demon on the bleeding planet wanted a piece of her."

"All those things were keeping her safe, not putting her in more danger. At least we knew something bad was after her before it happened."

"Wasn't like it did much good though did it? We didn't prevent it, did we? It still bloody happened! What the fucking hell is the point of having a vision if you can't bloody stop the bad from coming anyway?"

Angel stopped, his whole body dropping. He didn't have an answer to that.

"And you, joining her to find out more. . .you found out nothing. Except that you weren't meant to be there when she was taken and that you weren't supposed to know what it was. What good is all that magic if you can't protect her?"

"Just like in everything else, it's not fool proof-"

"I don't want to hear it!"

"Shut up Spike. Maybe you should quit your wallowing and drinking for more than five minutes and actually come up with some ideas on how to find her instead of relying on me to come up with all the plans and ideas. Maybe then I'd hear less of your bitching." With that, Angel got up and strode out of the room. He knew Buffy would hate that they were at each others throats lately. He supposed it was normal considering they were both angry and worried. He hoped they could somehow get over it and focus on Buffy instead of their own anger. If they didn't, who knew what would happen to them.