I fall to pieces

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I fall to pieces_4

Xander had her by the hair, she was hunched over, her own hands pulling his hair. “Get away! Aah! Cut it out!”

“Ow, I'm so gonna bite you!” She said struggling against him.

“Ow... Ok, stop, stop! We should stop, ok?”

“Ok, I will if you will.”

“On the count of 3...” Xander said as he started to count. “Uh-huh. Uh-huh. 1...2...3!”

“Right, ok.” They both let go of the other, pushing away.

“Harmony, it's been great catching up. Really, I'm just gonna pick up the tattered shreds of my dignity and go home... Leaving you with your fire.”

“My fire? Yeah, right. Like I listen to the sex pistols. Eww. This crap belongs to Spike.”

“Spike?”

“Can you believe him? I find that stupid gem and he takes it from me. Then everything was "slayer this" and "slayer that." I mean, he probably already killed her. I'm not taking him back, I just...I just want to know why it is that men always...” She glanced up at Xander’s retreating back. “Leave.” She shrugged and tossed a lot match behind her, grinning as the pile of Spikes belongings went up in flames.

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“We’ve got big problems G-man.” Xander said collapsing onto the chair.

“How many times do I have to remind you not to call me that?” He asked as he whipped his glasses off of his face. Sitting down across from Xander he began to polish them to a brilliant shine.

“What’s going on Xand? What kind of problems?” Willow asked.

“Guess who I ran into? Harmony. Spike’s in town and shockingly he’s after Buffy.”

“Now is not the time for your sarcasm Xander…do you think he has her?” Giles asked.

“Well Harmony said something about him taking some gem and going off to find Buffy…so I’d guess so…”

“Bloody buggering hell. The gem of amara…” Giles said angrily.

“Did I just hear…” He looked at Willow and shook his head. “Bad words out of Giles’ mouth?” Glancing at the watcher Xander noticed the grim expression on his face. “How bad?”

“The gem of amara. I thought it was just a myth. It renders the vampire who wars it virtually invincible…No aversion to sunlight…crosses…holy water…stakes…nothing can kill them…”

“So he could walk in the sun? Oh god. He must have taken her…” Willow said softly, tears forming in her eyes.

“Yes quite…it is important that you do not invite her in…if you see her…we don’t know what Spike’s intentions were…he may very well have turned her.” Giles voice broke and he let out a sob.

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As soon as the sun set Angel was on his way. Growling in frustration he passed cars constantly, making it to the outskirts of Sunnydale in an hour and a half.

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“I’ll have a cheese burger, large fries and a large pepsi.” Buffy placed her order and glanced at Spike. He was grinning at her.

“I’ll have a blossoming onion…and Spicy chicken wings…” He shot another cocky grin at Buffy. He waited until the waitress left to speak again. “Glad you actually eat, not like some of those stupid chit’s, ordering a small salad and a glass of water.”

“I have to eat.” She grinned back. “Slaying eats up a lot of calories…”

“I know something else that uses a lot of calories…” He said suggestively. Picking up one of her hands from the table he stroked it softly. “So beautiful Buffy. Don’t know what I did to deserve havin’ you be here with me…”

“Spike I…I can’t believe you’re gonna give up hunting for me…”

“Course I will. Wouldn’t want to give you any reason to ever walk away from me. I swear luv. I didn’t know I could feel like this…feels like my heart is hammerin’ in my chest whenever you look at me. Feel like I could walk on water when you smile at me…and when you touch me I feel like I’m gonna come alive and combust at the same time…a few bloody hours with you, not fighting…not being mortal enemies and I’m falling in love.”

‘Falling in love? FALLING IN LOVE?’ Her mind screamed at her. Her eyes opened impossibly wide. ‘Did he really just say that? How can he love without a soul?’

Noticing the way her eyes bugged out at his admission he cringed. ‘Way to go mate, scare the girl off.’ Shaking his head he realized he needed to do some damage control. “Buffy…I…I’m sorry luv. I didn’t mean to scare you sayin’ that…”

“Here you go…” The waitress said placing their food in front of them. “Will there be anything else?” Spike glanced at Buffy. Her eyes were downcast and she refused to look at him.

“No thanks, we’re good.” He said softly. She walked away and Spike locked his eyes once again on Buffy. “Eat up luv. Gonna need your strength with what I have planned for the rest of the night.

Buffy smiled with the memory of what he had already done with her, to her, for her. Without looking up at him she started on her food.

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Angel pulled up and was out of the car in a flash. He banged hard on the door waiting for someone to answer.

“Angel. Do come in.” Giles said politely, defeat in his voice, his posture.

“You’ve found her then?” He asked, noticing the grief stricken faces on the other occupants of the room.

“No…we didn’t find her…” Giles shook his head.

“What do we know?” Angel asked taking charge.

“All we know for sure is that she disappeared from the front of the school…Willow found her belongings on the grass outside the main building.” Giles said seating himself and indicating a chair for Angel. “We also know that Spike may be gunning for her.”

They talked before Angel arrived and decided it would be best if he didn’t know about the gem just yet. They all remembered what happened when he lost his soul, and didn’t want to take any chances.

“We can start at the school. I doubt her scent will still be there, but it’s something…” Angle sighed. “If Spike does have her…we’re running out of time, if we’re not too late already.” Angel felt tears welling up in his eyes. ‘If I hadn’t have left her none of this would have happened.’ He thought guiltily.

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They finished eating in silence. “Goona go pay the bill luv. Be right back.” Spike said softly. He got up from the table and walked up to the counter.

She watched him silently. When he came back to the table she met his eyes and reached out her hand towards him. Taking her and in his he pulled her to her feet. “Ready to go back?” He asked.

She nodded moving closer to him.

“Got a stop to make on the way there…that be alright luv?”

She nodded again, still not trusting her voice.

He pulled her in to the butcher shop a few blocks away. Surprised she followed him in silently. Spike ordered a couple of pints and paid without complaint.

“I can’t believe you just bought blood…” She said softly, her hand still enclosed in his.

“Meant what I said Buffy. I want to be with you. Whatever it takes.”
Stopping on the sidewalk Spike turned to her and looked into her eyes. “I swear, you’ll never have anything to fear from me…do anything for you luv.”

“I believe you.” She said softly. “I was there Spike…the way you treated me…I trust you…I just…if you can feel that way about me…how come Angel couldn’t? He had a soul…” Spike had an armful of sobbing slayer before she even finished speaking. “He left me…”

“Oh luv. Don’t know what’s wrong with that wanker. I’ll never leave your side.” Spike reassured her.

“But he loved me Spike…he did…and he left…he…I made him lose his soul when we…when we…and he hated me…he…”

“Shh baby. Shh. I’ve got you now…I’ve got you.” He whispered soothingly. Wrapping his arms tighter around her he silently cursed his sire. ‘How could you do this to her you bloody pillock? Had her. Had her love and you just threw it away.’ His demon was raging. Angry that someone who hurt his slayer was still walking the earth.

“Spike?” She whispered. She could feel him trembling with barley-contained rage.

“What is it pet?” He asked gently.

“I want to go…I can’t be here…” She was still whispering, afraid there were people staring at them.

Nodding Spike wrapped one arm around her, holding her close to his side and started walking towards the mansion.

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Angel let his demon out, scenting he air around him. “No. It’s gone. I can’t catch her scent…”

Giles shook his head sadly.

“Why don’t we try Spike’s crypt?” Willow asked.

“Even Spike wouldn’t be stupid enough to take her there…” Angel growled. “But I do have another idea…” He motioned for them to follow him to the car.

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End chapter FOUR.

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