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Chapter 17

It was now close to dawn, Angel suggested that would be best to go back to the hotel, they all rode back with Angel. Spike rode shotgun despite the wave of animosity coming from the elder vampire. Buffy watched the looks that went back and forth between them and groaned. Hadn't Angel got over her yet? Obviously not. This was going to be 'fun'.

Willow went straight up to the room that Angel allocated her,not wanting to be involved in the arguments she knew were coming.
Gunn and Wesley walked up behind her, talking amongst themselves.

They arrived back at the hotel and all piled into the foyer, Angel went straight to the desk and hit the answer phone so that he could listen to any messages.
There was only one from someone complaining of a vampire stalking, something that could deal with tomorrow. He walked back to the group and sat on the circular seating.
He blew out an un-needed breath and looked up at Spike.

"How the hell could you be so stupid, you put us all in danger tonight,your just lucky we managed to get you out without casualties. Not to mention the fact that they're after Buffy. Again that's your bloody fault"
"Wait a minute, how is it his fault?" Buffy immediately jumped to Spikes defence.
"Buffy" Angel stood up and walked over to her and rubbed her arms "He was stupid enough to get captured "
"Because of Giles, he delivered Spike to them and he trusted Giles, something I won't be doing again" she looked at her Watcher and back to Angels hands ,that were still on her arms.
Spike growled a low warning at Angel.
"And what the hell is going on with you? I left you so that you could have a normal life, that did not include having a... dare I call it... a relationship with him" he growled

Buffy swung a punch at Angel, who landed on his ass
"How dare you! You don't get to tell me who I can have a relationship with any more"

Angel sat there staring at her, finally raising himself off of the floor. He looked across at Spike, who now had his arms around Buffy and was nuzzling her neck .

"Your... mated? To him?"

Buffy turned slowly "What of it? Least I can trust him"

Angel flew at Spike, knocking him and Buffy over, landing on Spike, he swung a punch that connected, the second punch was caught mid air.

"You land one more, and you'll have to deal with me" Buffy stood behind him, her eyes shone gold and she growled a warning.
"My god Buffy what has he done to you?"
"You lot are really starting to piss me off" she swung Angel up and threw him back onto the sofa that Giles had sat on.
"Now you are all going to listen to me."

Buffy crossed her arms and watched as Spike got up from the floor and stood, his head bowed down.

"Don't bow to him, you've nothing to be ashamed of, whereas they" she looked at Angel and Giles "Have"

Buffy looked straight at Giles

"I'm sorry Buffy but your life was in danger and I did what I had to, to save it"
"My life is in constant danger, every day something or someone threatens it, and we usually get through it , together.This time wouldn't have been any different. Are you really that stupid, they still would have come after me."
"They assured me...."
Buffy cut him off
"They assured you that I'd be safe huh? Since when did the Watchers Council keep their promises?"
Giles sat quiet
"Just as I thought. You used to be like a Father to me, now I don't know who you are, I can't trust you any more, I'm not sure whether I can forgive you.What you did has hurt me, has hurt the ones I love, just go to the room Angels put up for you"
"Buffy I....."
"Save it Giles , I'm not interested"

Giles left, his shoulders slumped and his feet dragged , he looked like an old man as he walked up the stairs.

"Now then " Buffy faced Angel " You get a warning, cross me again and I'll kick your ass all the way back to hell"

"What have I done?" he tried his smacked pup face
"Will you quit it, it won't work on me now" Buffy sighed "I'm tired.Tired of it all.Look, Spike and I are mated , we're together in every sense of the word. In less than two weeks ,we will be married and there's nothing that you can say or do that will change it. I did what you said, I found someone , maybe not exactly what you meant but, Spikes good for me, he loves me and we're happy. Move on Angel, I did."

Spike knew something was coming, he could sense it. Angel was not just going to sit there and take it.

Angel looked at Spike and then at Buffy

"If I knew that he had claimed you I would have been there for you and would have stopped it. I can't sit here and watch you do this Buffy. How the hell can you marry him, he's a vampire! "

"Shut up you wanker! You left her! You didn't even keep in contact with her! Too wrapped up in your own shit to be bothered 'bout the girl you claim to bloody love. Well now it's too late Angelus, the girl loves me an' I love 'er. "

Angel balled his fists, he was getting angry, his wayward offspring was pushing his limits. Not only had he claimed Buffy after Angel had, but he was being defiant and standing up to him, showing complete disregard for vampire protocol.
And Buffy was stood there, watching, proud of him for doing it! It was too much for him to take.

"You really want him?" Angel yelled as he grabbed Buffy's shoulders "Hmm? You want a soulless monster?"

Spike punched Angel in the face and snatched his hands off of her. "You don't get to touch her now you prick"
"Will you both shut up and come down from your testosterone highs, Spike, let me just get this over with, please. Angel, I'm marrying him cos I love him, more than anything, more than you." she held up her hand to stop Angel from having his next outburst " I can trust him to be there, to take care of me and to watch my back. He's not the same man that you knew"
"He's not got a soul or even chipped any more, Giles told me that he had it removed, how can you trust him?"
"If he wanted me dead, I would be by now. He could of killed me at any time"

Angel stood up. Tears stung his eyes . He looked at Spike , who was sitting with a wicked grin on his face , and then Angel looked at Buffy.
"I guess that's all there is to say. I don't like it Buffy, I'll never trust him with you, but it is your choice. All I can say is that I'll be with you whenever you need me. I won't see you before you leave. Take care of yourself"
Angel ran to his room, hiding the pain that he held in his heart.

Spike stood and wrapped his arms around Buffy, she watched the stairs as if she still expected Angel to come back.
"Hey, M'stood ere you know"
"I know, just worried . I thought it was going to be harder than that"
"Me too. Guess the old gits not that bothered after all." he looked down at Buffy "Does that bother you? That he's not as cut up as you thought he would be?"
"No, course not"

Buffy looked up at Spike "Let's get you to bed and then I'll see to those injuries"
"M'fine, don't fuss woman" he kissed her and then walked up the stairs, stopping on the third one "You coming or what?" He smiled down at her and held out a hand.

Buff ran to him and took his hand. They ran upstairs, Spike pulling at her clothing and nibbling on her neck. They entered the room and Spike fell on the bed.Buffy went into the bathroom and came back with the first aid kit and wet cloths. She set about cleaning and dressing his wounds.

"I'm knackered pet, how 'bout you?"
"Tired, do you think that Giles and Angel will leave it at that?"
"I don' know, doubt Peaches will, as for the Watcher? He'll sod off to England with any luck"

Realising what he just said and how it might affect her, he watched to gage her reaction. Buffy seemed okay.

"I know what your doing, and I'm fine. To be honest I hope he does go . He said that I had been taught everything that I needed and that now it was time I stood on my own two feet, he was right. I don't need a Watcher now"
"He's not just a Watcher to you though, Buffy he's like a Father to you"
"So, he'll be like a Father that lives abroad and we visit for long weekends"

Buffy wriggled under the covers and slid over to Spike, wrapping her legs through his and laying her head on his chest.

"How are you feeling ?"
"Do you want the truth? I feel like a bloody truck full of crosses ran over me, not to worry your pretty head though, I'll right as rain after a good kip an' some blood"

Spike kissed the top of her head and wrapped his arms around her, pulling Buffy tighter to him.

"Takes more than a bunch of wankers to keep me from you, an' I will have my devilish good looks back in time for the wedding pictures . Go to sleep an' I'll see you in the morning pet"
"Night "

Down the hall, Angel listened to the conversation. So, they were still determined to get married, even though this proved that they were nothing but a danger to each other.He would have to do something to stop it. A good nights sleep would help clear his mind and hopefully provide a plan.


As they all slept, a figure walked in through the Hyperion doors and stood at the top of the foyer steps.A group of dark clothed men spread through the hotel, their weapons raised in case of a confrontation. The figure lifted his plastic hand to his eye line and grimaced.

"I want the scroll and the vampire , keep it alive, he's nothing to me if he's dust"

Three of the dark clad figures moved up the staircase and along the hall, they all moved with precision, moving from one room to the next silently.

Buffy couldn't settle, Spike pulled her closer to him and rumbled a low growl, his demon trying to connect with and pacify the slayer within her, even though he was asleep. Buffy looked down at him and kissed his forehead, before slipping from the bed and pulling on her clothes. She opened the bedroom door slightly and focussed on the dark hall, mainly on Angel's room.

Buffy knew someone or something was there.

The hall was clear so she made her way silently down towards Angels room. Once she was at his door, she turned the handle and pushed in slowly, not wanting to disturb Angel, should everything be okay , she would just return to her bed, both Angel and Spike being none the wiser.

A hand reached around her mouth and pulled her up against a hard chest.

"Don't say anything..... Buffy?"
"Well duh!" she shrugged out of Angels embrace "I see your vamp senses of detection are rusty then" she sarcastically said with a slight smile

Angel rolled his eyes and sighed

"Do you know who's in the hotel and what do they want?" she asked as she reached for the weapons cabinet doors and opened them

Angel pointed to the door and put his finger to his lips . He took his favoured sword from the cabinet and handed a shorter one to Buffy and motioned for her to follow him. They stood either side of the door and stared at each other. Buffy waited for Angels signal.

The door opened slowly and two figures stood in the hall, both of the intruders held back in the hall, almost as if they expected the ambush
Angel shook his head as Buffy nodded into the hall.She wanted to attack and he was holding her back.

The first intruder walked forward and entered the vampires room, closely followed by the second. Angel nodded as the second figure was within the confines of the room and within striking distance.

Two heads rolled from dark clad shoulders as the bodies hit the carpet.

"How many and are they human?"
"Not human pet" Spike walked into the room and picked up one of the heads and sneered "Nasty buggers these, like demon ninja's, so Peaches, who you royally pissed off then? And you! " he jabbed Buffy in the chest "What the hell do you think your doing getting in a decent bit of bloody violence without me!"

Buffy sniggered "Um, sorry?"
"Don't do i' again or else Summers" he pulled her to him and kissed her "Now, do I get a weapon or have I got to go fist 'n' fangs?"

Angel huffed and threw Spike another sword "So you know of these demons then?"
"Yeah, there was a nest of 'em in Sunnydale once, got rid before they could make good on the contract someone had on me, whoever wants you gone bloody means it, these guys are ruthless and expensive"

"Could it be the Watchers Council again? I mean they might be trying this because you helped us" Buffy asked
"No I doubt they would waste money employing demons like these, too sophisticated for them, I have my own suspicions as to who it is, and he happens to be downstairs"Angel replied

"And the nit that's pulling the strings is human, none too bright is he, coming into a vamps home at night"
"If it's who I think it is, he won't care , he has a score to settle and he's here to do just that. This is my fight, just go check the others and keep them safe, I have a destiny to go protect" Angel disappeared into the hallway shadows

"Always was one for the soddin dramatic, think he watches too much tv or something"
"This coming from a vamp that watches Passions religiously" Buffy rolled her eyes at Spike and went out into the dark hall.

Spike and Buffy went to each room and woke up the occupants, getting them all settled back in Angels room. Cordy was less than happy with being woken up and at being held in a room by Buffy and Spike.

"Last time I saw you, you were all with the torture and pokers and stupid fashion accessory for vamps obsession, I should stake you where you stand "

Spike looked embarrassed "Yeah 'bout that, sorry"
"Oh my god! Did he just apologise? I must be hearing things, since when did he..... apologise for anything?"
"Since I, since Buffy" he sheepishly replied
"Is she, are you banging another one of the undead populace? You are aren't you? Oh that's just priceless, wait til Angel hears about this, it will be whole world of bad moods and I for one don't want to be tip toeing around the boss in case he goes all world endage again"
Buffy sighed heavily "He knows , now if we could get back to the protecting and the being of the quiet so that I can hear Angel, I'd really appreciate it"

Cordelia raised her brows but remained quiet, as much as it pained her. She mumbled something that caused Buffy to give her a exasperated look.
"Look at the size of that rock on your finger! Who the hell are you playing! Your getting hitched and your carrying on with bleached idiot? Are you nuts!"
"The bleached idiot is the one that I'm getting hitched... getting married to Cordy , now please shut up"
"Hey just a request but can we quit puttin' bleached an' idiot in the same sentence when your talkin' 'bout me?"His look was one of annoyance
"How do you marry a vamp? Not like they can stand in a church with all the crosses and holy water and say I do"

Spike was losing his temper, he wished he had eaten Cordy when he'd come after the Gem of Amarra and done the world and himself a favour. He sucked on his cheeks and turned to her, flashing his vampire visage at her for a split second.
"You have got to be the most annoying bint goin' now shut the hell up!"

Buffy sniggered and then rested her free hand onto Spikes arm in an effort to calm him down

"What's the plan then? Cos mine would be to just rush out and start taking out the ninjarry thingies , this lot must have learnt how to handle weapons, no way could they have survived by hiding behind Angel"
"Well, they might have, he has put on few pounds n' spread" Spike retorted earning himself a slap on the arm. "Right sod this, everyone grab a toy and lets go help the old git"

Everyone was armed and waiting by the door of Angels room, Spike nodded to Buffy and she swung the door open.


Angel stood in the middle of the foyer facing Lindsay, who had three of the ninja demons behind him, four of them were on the balcony.
Angel mentally cursed at himself for being so stupid. He should have known that the lawyer would come heavily protected, after all, he worked for Wolfram and Hart.
The firm that he had crossed more than once in his time in L.A. The firm he had infiltrated and stolen the scroll from.

"So you want the scroll? " Angel shrugged his shoulders and looked up at Lindsay "What we have translated so far, says that it's all about me, so I see it as mine"
"We had it first and it belongs to us, so hand it over "

Buffy stood at the top of the stairs , after slicing through the demon that had attacked her she tutted "How school yard of you both, 'it's mine, it's mine... Geez... Angel just beat him up already"

The rest of the hotels occupants were doing a good job of killing the demons off, all convening down in the lobby, surrounding Lindsay and the three remaining ninja demons.

"Well, looks like you got me beat champ, guess I'll be going, Wolfram and Hart won't be impressed and will send something worse to deal with you, be warned "
"Your losing your edge Lindsay, I'm not worried, whereas" Angel sniffed the air in front of the lawyer " You stink of fear,hard to feel threatened by someone that's about to piss his own pants. Now get the hell out of my hotel before I do something I regret"

Cordy dropped onto one of the couches and let her short sword fall to the linoleum "Thank god that's over, can I please go back to bed now and at least pretend my life's just a nightmare, just for tonight"

"I think we could all do with that " Gunn replied as he cleaned down his axe

Spike sauntered over to Buffy and went into game face, which drew attention from the group gathered around them. Buffy smiled and held out her arms "See not a scratch". He checked her over for injuries and growled.Buffy huffed and stroked his face "I'm fine, down boy". Spike nuzzled into her neck and purred.


Angel threw his sword down and walked into the office, slamming the door behind him.

"You two could be a bit more sensitive" Cordy spat as she went into the office after Angel.
"Guess we got told" Spike whispered into Buffy's ear
"Yeah, guess we should get out of the way then, I don't want to be blamed for Angel going postal"
Spike grinned and slapped Buffys ass, "Get up them stairs wench " he growled

Everyone watched as they disappeared into the hallway upstairs , their laughter could be heard until the bedroom door slammed shut with a shriek from Buffy.

"Are they always like that?" Gunn asked
"Only when their not fighting to the death or saving the world" Willow answered with a yawn "They wouldn't know they love each other if they hadn't have swapped bodies . Now that was way wigsome, I'll tell you tomorrow, right now I need some serious z's"She stood up and headed for her room. She looked into the office as she passed it and saw Cordy hugging Angel. 'Oh yeah, like Angels gonna be mourning the loss of the Buffster for long' she thought.

By four a.m the hotel was silent again and everyone was in bed and asleep. Wolfram and Hart was a different matter entirely. Lilah and Lindsay had been called in and had joined Holland in the room that had housed the scroll. A large box was in the centre of a pentagram and five vampires were chained to it. Holland stood beside a Sharman , who held his head high.

"Maybe this will distract Angel . You two seem to fail with every other endeavour, this is the last test that I shall entrust you with. Fail me again and rest assured, the Senior Partners will be looking for answers. Trust me when I say it will not be another one of your fabricated reports. Let's just say that the repercussions will be dire"

Holland nodded to the Sharman and he began his chanting. The smile that ghosted Hollands lips made the vampires shudder, that or it was the sudden feeling that they were about to dust.