Chapter 9

My hands held my stomach as I gasped for air. Coughing from the lack of oxygen, I managed to sluggishly lift my head.

My vision was a little blurry but I could make out two dark figures fighting against the gate.

Squinting my eyes, I noticed that the vampire, who was attacking me, was now the one being thrashed.

I tried moving my legs, but I was still weak from the assault. Using my elbows to push me up, I sat down on the pavement. One of my hands reached up and touched my cheek. I could feel warm liquid ooze from my cuts from when I crashed to the ground. I squirmed slightly when I moved as my back was sore.

When I turned my head to look behind me, I heard the vampire turn to dust. When I turned back to the gate, a dark shadowy figure began approaching. Hovering over me, he reached out his hands.

"Damn bugger got away from me... sorry he caught up with you, are you hurt?"

There's that British accent again.

My vision was still slightly blurry and couldn't completely see while he helped me up. "Thanks, and I'm okay" I said disorientated, touching the back of my head as it throbbed.

He looked at me with big blue eyes, "I don't believe that, your cheek's all banged up."

"Is it?" I lied, lifting my hand up and touching my cuts, pretending I didn't notice. "Well, I think I'll be okay, thanks anyway" I lied, and started to walk out of the alley. My legs still felt like jelly and my knee was pretty bruised so I wobbled as I walked.

Losing balance, I fell backwards into his muscular arms. "Whoa, watch it" he said concerned, holding onto me. I turned to face him and blushed slightly. "Uhh, thanks" I managed to squeak out, embarrassed by my clumsiness.

"Get your hands off her Spike" Angel yelled, standing in front of us. Confused, I slightly pushed away from him and wondered where Angel had come from. I lifted my arms in protest, "wait, where did you come from?" Angel suddenly became agitated; I sensed it in his voice. "Well after our fight, I was worried and came out here looking for you, but I can see that that was unnecessary." I rolled my eyes. "Well I was just grateful that... Spike is it?" he nodded, "came along when he did... so you can go back to the hotel, I'm fine."

Angel huffed, "there is no way I'm leaving you here with him." Spike chucked, "oooh, rejected– what, did that pesky curse get in the way again?" he snickered, obviously hoping to get Angel upset. And apparently, it was working.

"Why don't you just keep your mouth shut about things that you don't know" Angel muttered, moving closer to Spike, almost breathing down his neck. I stepped back, feeling a little uncomfortable.

"Did I hit a nerve soul-boy?" Spike hissed, pushing Angel slightly back.

"Don't ever touch me" Angel growled, regaining his footing. I intervened; worried this would get out of control. "Boys, please, let's just get out of here" I pleaded, stepping closer, almost standing in-between them. I sighed in the fact that neither of them heard anything I said; and if they did, they chose to ignore it.

"Soul-Boy" Spike repeated playfully but this time sending Angel really over the edge. As I looked over at him, his arms swung up and shoved Spike.

Spikes arms automatically flew up trying to regain his balance. As his arms lifted, I felt one bash me on my left jaw. I was already weak so it didn't take much for me to lose my balance.

Falling back onto the pavement, I let out a small cry.

More angry then anything I tried to get up as the two men rushed to my side. I quickly pulled back my arm from Angel and leaned completely on Spike.

As he helped me to my feet, I brushed off the dust on my pants.

"No matter what you do Angel, I always get hurt" I whispered, not just talking about the scuffle with Spike.

I couldn't look at him, but I could hear him mutter apologetically. "I didn't mean for that to happen..." Seeing as I wasn't looking too forgiving, he quickly got angry. "Anyway, it was Spike that hit you, not me"

I wrapped my arm around Spike's shoulders and he put his arm around my waist. "Don't Angel... you've done enough." Before he could rebut, I lifted my head to Spike, "Got a place I can crash?"

"Yeah, sure, you can come back with me" He said, feeling a little guilty about his auto-reflexes injuring me. Without saying another word, I nudged Spike to begin helping me walk out of the Alley, leaving Angel all alone.