Bound

Willow made it in quick time. She still had her key and entered the house to find the television on and the place seemingly empty.
"Dawn? Spike?"
"Up here" Dawns voice sounded deeper than normal
"Kay,I'm on my way up" Willow took the stairs two at a time."Is he Okay?"
Willow wasn't expecting to see him like that. It was bad. Spike looked catatonic.
"He won't talk to me or anything, he said Angel made her his and he took her, that's all"
"It's going to be okay Dawnie , listen to me. I want you to get me a map and the crystal off the side in the dining room, go!"
Dawn left to get the items .
Spike sighed
Willow stared at him. Maybe she had underestimated his feelings for Buffy after all.
"Spike? Spike look at me"
Nothing
"Dammit!" she paced at the end of Buffy's bed "Spike listen to me, was it Angel or Angelus?"
At the sound of his name he growled , progress.
"Angel or Angelus?"
"Angel"
"Snap out of it and help us" she growled at him
Spike looked at her
"We can't go up against him alone. We need you , she needs you, just like we did when he bought Acathla forward"
Dawn came in carrying the items Willow had asked for. "You got him to respond. How"
"Angel"
He growled
"See"
Dawn sat on the bed and stroked his arm "We'll get her back"
Spike looked at Dawn, his eyes shone with fresh tears. "My fault, should of just staked him"
Willow put the crystal on the map and chanted a spell .
"He's taking her to Los Angeles " she picked the items up and put them in her bag. " Get up Spike , we're going on a road trip"'

Giles had a restless night, despite the whiskey he had consumed. Something about Angel's behaviour was not sitting right. Had he made a rash decision in bringing the elder vamp in to deal with this situation?He didn't think so. Spike and Buffy had put on a united front and Angel had a claiming rite over her apparently. That was worrying, why hadn't he thought of or known about that before? Everything was a mess.
He woke again two hours later to the sound of his cellphone
"Giles here"
"Willow slow down, Angel's what?"
"They left here okay, when did this happen?"
"Dear God" he said that alot lately
"He's taking her back to his place, it's the Hyperion Hotel"
"Hope it helps , can I do anything?"
Obviously not he thought
He put the cell back on the night stand and swung his legs over the side of his bed.He had made a huge error in judgement. Now Buffy was in danger from both vampires. He wiped his face with his hands and stood up. The pounding in his head wouldn't stop. 'Got to stop hitting the bottle you pillock' he thought to himself. Like he would. A trip to the bathroom , two tablets and a swig of pepto later and Giles was ready to start his day.
Angel had Buffy, Spike was distraught, Dawn was close to a breakdown, and it was all his fault."Great going "
So, Willow knew where they were going, shouldn't take much to get her back.Angel wouldn't hurt her and she was away from Spike, Angel had claimed her. How bad could it be?

Angel watched her from the corner of his eye. She sat huddled against the door of the car and hadn't said anything since he had bit her. Damn! She was away from him though, that was what the Watcher had wanted .Once she sees sense then he would let her go again. This wasn't how it was meant to turn out. His new life didn't include her. He was in love with Cordy, not her. So why did he claim her again? How would Cordy react? Why ? Dammit why?


She sat quiet, not knowing if he was Angel or the other beast. He had bitten her again and she and Spike had been powerless to stop him. Why did he do that? Did he still love her? Did she still love him? No, she loved Spike. Spike , oh my god Spike, he must be going crazy by now. Dawn must be frantic. Why was her life such a mess? Giles and Angel. She would never forgive them for this. Spike, you best save me again, that's what you do , you save me. She blinked back the tears. He was watching her. Bastard. God how she hated him. She should stake the wanker.


The car sped out of the drive and towards the freeway. Nobody in the car spoke. Willow held the map on her lap and hugged Dawn to her. Spike put his foot down and didn't let up from the gas til he was on the freeway and heading for L.A. The girls clung to each other , his driving was scary at the best of times, but now it was like a white knuckle ride. Not that he cared, all he cared about was getting the love of his unlife back and away from Angel. The fury bubbled below his surface and he wouldn't lose that , not until his Grand sire was dust, and she was his.

Buffy was hungry and tired and needed the bathroom. She wanted to ask him to pull over at the next services , but she really hated him right now and she felt her stubbornness rise up. That stubbornness that Spike found adorable. Tears threatened to fall again.
"Do you want me to pull in and get you some food or anything, the next services are close by"
"Kay"
He sighed, like he was annoyed at her for not being grateful or something. The bloody nerve of the guy!
"I'll have to accompany you to the bathroom, just in case you get any idea's"
She didn't answer him, didn't look at him. She felt numb.
"Buffy?" he pulled up and parked "We're here. I'll get out and I want you to act as normal as you can. I'll hug you and we'll look like any normal couple, so don't try anything"
Normal couple? She laughed "What's one of them"
"What?"
"Normal couple...... that's rich coming from you" her voice oozed hatred.
"Look you can do it my way or I'll just continue to drive , your choice"
My God he was so much like Angelus right now. What if this is Angelus?
"Do you still have your soul?"
"Why would you ask me that?"
"To coin a popular Sunnydale phrase .... Duh!"
He looked up at the sky "If I was him again I would have killed you by now , not just claimed you"
She laughed again " You would have tried"
"How the hell does he put up with you?" she was trying his patience
"He loves me"
A loud growl
She looked up at heaven
"Can I please pee before I make a scene"
Angel manhandled her to his side and draped his arm over her shoulders and held the wrist of her other arm tightly. "Now try and look happy"
What a joke! Look happy? He's full of the funnies tonight!
They walked in through the doors and headed straight to the disabled toilet. He walked in with her, watching to see if anyone noticed and locked the door.
"Not good with the peeing with an audience"
"Your choice" he turned his back on her
She huffed and sat down.
"Why are you doing this , other than the fact that it's Spike? You can't be getting any joy from it. I'm assuming you have a life without me so why would you want me now?"
"I don't know"
"What kind of answer is that?"
"The only one your going to get, now hurry up"
"Like that helped"
He turned to her with his game face on " HURRY UP"
"BACK OFF FANG FACE, STILL A SLAYER HERE!"
He turned back away and she huffed again. He huffed too. She really was trying him.

Dawn had fallen asleep and was laid out on the back seat. Willow kept watching the map and nudged Spike , he glanced at the map and noticed the crystal had stopped just ahead of them.
"He's at the services , we'll be there in ten" Spike put his foot down again "Make that five" he went into game face.


Buffy finally finished in the bathroom and now Angel was getting her food.
"Want some soup?"
"No"
"Sandwich then"
"No"
He growled "What then?"
"Not hungry" her stomach growled and churned . Trust it to make me out a liar now
"Of course your not" he said sarcastically a raised brow met her stern look.
"Okay, soup and a sandwich then , and a muffin, just so I can keep my strength up, wouldn't want to kick your ass on an empty stomach"
He laughed at her " Still just as feisty then"
"Of course, possible worse now I have had lessons of Spike"
She was just going to keep rubbing his nose in the fact she was with him. The look on his face was even more delicious than the soup.She laughed.
Buffy felt the tingle.
Vampire
She looked around , maybe it was him.
There was no-one around. No shock of bleached hair, nothing.Yet the tingle was still there. She stopped eating . Angel noticed.
"Feel him too do you?"
"No"
"Don't lie to me.He's close, time to go" he snatched her up from her seat and dragged her towards the exit. She just had time to grab her muffin.
"Let go of me!"
The tingle got worse, making it's way to her stomach, which wasn't making the soup sit well.He was here, somewhere.
"SPIKE!"

He ran into the services, Willow and Dawn trailing him. She was here , he felt her.He scanned the area and saw nothing.... an empty table with a bowl of half eaten soup that still steamed . Her scent was there. He had sensed him and fled "Fuck"
"SPIKE"
Still here , oh god let me make it in time. He watched as the door swung shut. He ran out of it and saw a dark figure bundle her into the car. With all the speed he could muster, Spike ran to the car. Buffy's tear streaked face was at the window screaming for him as it pulled away.
He dropped to his knee's, he had failed her again. Been so close. Failure, that's what he was.
Willow ran up to him, panting.
"They got away?"
"No shit Red .... " he stood up and paced , growling angrily, game face on. He kicked at some refuse and picked up a rock. He threw it at a car , smashing the window . The car alarm went off, deafening him.
"Bloody hell!"
He stormed off towards the DeSoto , the girls close behind him.


Angel drove off at speed. Her crying was starting to get to him. If he hadn't realised the connection and depth of love between them before, he did now.Was she ever this broken by his leaving all those years ago? Somehow he doubted it. That hurt him more than he cared to admit, even to himself.He watched his rear view mirror for Spikes car. Knowing that they left the services a short time before he did, he thought it wouldn't take too much for them to catch up. Spike also had the benefit of having Willow with him, who just happened to be a very powerful wicca. She sent chills down his spine, after all she had cursed him with his soul again, more than once.So far there was no signs of the car following him. He looked briefly at the woman sat against the car door opposite him , it made him ache to see her so distraught, it really did, but the events of the night and Giles hadn't left him much choice. On top of that, Spike hadn't exactly made his decision any easier. Buffy's sobs echoed around inside his head adding guilt to the many emotions that swam around him since this whole mess had began. Now Angel just wanted the whole thing done with, over , finished and forgotten. Maybe he should just pull over, give her back to Spike and wash his hands of the mess.Could he?


Spike saw the car ahead and knew that Angel would be watching for his car in his rear view mirror. At least he was keeping his head and thinking rationally, something the old Spike wouldn't have done. He hung back enough to not be seen but close enough to still watch him. He gave thought to stealing another motor and using that. Again the old Spike would have but not this Spike, he didn't want the police chasing his ass and drawing unwanted attention to him and the girls.At least he hadn't hurt her , he didn't smell blood mixed with her scent and she was walking, or rather being dragged Okay. Not that he thought Angel would hurt her unless he lost his soul and that seemed in place when he saw them earlier. He doubted Buffy would give Angel the happy that he needed to become the sadistic bastard Angelus anyway, she was Spikes girl.


It took a while for the hangover to go and it left Giles feeling washed out. He felt so tired it was bordering on exhaustion. Sitting alone in his apartment, he felt alone, utterly alone. He hadn't heard from any of the Scoobies, the Slayer or the annoying Spike.He just hoped nothing happened as they left last night. A feeling of dread hit him. ' What if something occurred after they left?' he thought. He picked up his phone and dialled Buffy's cell. It went to voicemail. "Shit"


The exit was just ahead and Angel sped off towards it, feeling confident that he didn't have a tail. Buffy was still silent and was looking out of the window , watching the familiar scenery of Los Angeles float past her. She blinked slowly. She hated this city.The city of her youth, where things went from bad to worse, her parents splitting up and her new found future as a Slayer were memories she thought she laid to rest here , memories she didn't want flooding back to her. It seemed ironic to her that Angel chose to live here too. He had given her memories that needed to be buried along with the others , no doubt by the time this fiasco was over, there would be more. She really hated L.A.


Spike came off the exit and took the turn towards the outskirts. He knew where they were heading, he had been there before.God he wished he could get Marcus back this time, seeing Angel hanging by his wrists with red hot pokers through his body would be euphoric, he'd love to do that to him now.He smirked. Willow wondered what was going through his mind. Maybe its best not to know.Dawn was silent, worried that Angelus would somehow make a reappearance. After the last time she really hoped he wouldn't. He had kidnapped her along with Giles and had tortured her, mentally , not physically, but when it came to him, that was bad enough.Course they were all memories placed in her subconscious by the monks, it never actually happened , to her anyway.She couldn't help the sob or the tears that fell . Spike caught her in the rear view and turned slightly.
"Don't fret Niblet, I'll get her back from the wanker. I'll be dust before I leave her with him."


Xander answered the phone . Anya stood beside him frowning.
"What do you mean Angel's taken Buffy and Spikes after him to get her back?"
"Willow and Dawn are with him? How could you let this happen Giles?"
"Back to L.A, are you sure ?"
"Not that I like him .. but d'ya think Spike will need back up. I could get there in two hours"
"I'll load up the weapons too, so I guess I'll see you just before I leave "
"Bye"
"Anya... pack a case we're going to L.A."
"Can we sightsee?"


Giles put the phone down and waited for Xander to arrive. He had spent time going through books and had researched for anything that could be heading their way since the storms. It would seem a very nasty prophecy was about to come to fruition and it included Angel and Spike, or rather Angelus and Spike. Buffy herself was at the centre." Typical!"
The prophecy stated that one would cause the rebirth of the Slayer and the other would ascend . Giles rubbed at his eyes and replaced his glasses. He needed another whiskey. At this rate he was fast becoming a drunk.


Spike pulled the DeSoto up to the curb and stared up at the hotel. He could feel her in there, with him. He cranked his head to the side to loosen the tension in his neck and shoulders. Hearing an audible pop , he was satisfied, Willow and Dawn grimaced.
"Okay Red, want you and Niblet to wait 'ere , If m'not back out with her in an hour come an' get us.Y'know the spell , have it ready"
With that Spike ran over to the hotel entrance . He stopped and righted himself , game face on and his cockiness came to the front.
"Showdown"
He stepped into the foyer.


Willow spread the herbs and crystals out on the back seat. Dawn laid the incantation out ready for Willow to read. They were ready.


Buffy woke up in his bed. She tried to move and raise herself up on her elbows to look around, and found herself cuffed to the bed at the head board.
"Fuck"
"You have been spending too much time with that wayward childe of mine, he certainly has rubbed off on you in a bad way. I never thought the Buffy I knew would use such language"
"Get used to it "
He laughed
"Still full of that spunky attitude I love I see"
"And your still a egotistical bore "
The smile left Angels face
"Enough, why do you have to fight it, I claimed you, you shouldn't be so disobedient"
"What am I? A puppy your training ? Get used to me not doing as I'm told"
He sensed him at the same time as she did.
"Seems William is here , he really is persistant, maybe I didn't teach him enough of a lesson before. "
He left to go and meet the intruder.
"I am so gonna stake his sorry ass"
She pulled on the cuffs and heard the wood creak.


"Anybody home? Helloo vampire here... might wanna think about security..... PEACHES?"
"William.. "
"Where is she ? She best be safe an' untouched "
"Safe .. untouched .... hmmmm can't guarantee you of that"
They circled each other , fists gripped at their sides
Spike growled out his challenge.
"Don't be a fool boy.. you can't best me. Walk away while you have a chance and forget the Slayer"
"Never gonna happen you nit. Girls mine"
"Not any more"
Spike shot forward and landed a hard punch to Angel's face. God it felt good!
Angel spun from the force of the blow and growled, punching Spike in the kidneys. Landing with grace, he crouched ready to leap up and attack again. Angel ran to bowl Spike over , misjudging the distance he fell to the floor . Spike grabbed his stake and sat on Angels legs, pinning his arms with one hand and raising the stake above Angels chest.
"Didn't think it would be this easy ..... must be the extra weight your carrying now , that and the desk job you have going eh"
"Get off me boy"
Spike grinned "Say please"
He was about to slam the stake through Angels chest when he saw her at the top of the stairs, holding a crossbow. It was aimed at him.
"Buffy?"
"Get off him now!"
"Buffy don' do this luv"
Spike stayed still, Buffy glided down the stairs.
"Move off him, Angel stay where you are"
Not knowing what the hell was going on, both vampires complied.
"Sit over there Spike"
He sat on the circular seat in the centre of the room
"Seems I owe you a huge wealth of pain again , Angelus" she looked down at him , her foot on his neck.
Spike let out a loud sigh of relief.
"Take your foot off me"
Buffy bent down to stare the vampire in the face "You don't have the right to tell me what to do, did you really think the claim would work? My heart belongs to someone else now you moron"
Spike got up and moved behind Buffy , wrapping his arms around her waist.
She closed her eyes and bathed in the waves of love coming from him.
"Buffy , luv, leave it now "
Spike took the crossbow from her and she slumped in his arms, tears flowed down her cheeks.
"Sit over there pet, I'll deal with this."
Lifting Angel to his feet with his hand tightly around the vampires throat "Come near me or mine again and I will let her go postal on you , and then I'll happily drive a stake through your chest.Consider yourself warned mate, next time I see you I might not be quite so forgivin' .Your only getting a free pass this time cos your one of the white hats , or meant to be" Spike gave him a suspicious look, souls still there.
Buffy watched as Spike dropped Angel and turned his back to him.She ran into his arms, smothering his face in kisses.She glanced over his shoulder and saw Angel get up and grab a stake that had been left carelessly on the floor.She whispered into Spikes ear.
Still holding her against him with one arm, he swiveled and raised the crossbow. The arrow flew and hit Angel in the chest.
"Missed on purpose you wanker, next time I'll hit the spot jus' right"
Angel slumped to the floor and watched as Spike walked away with the love of his life.