Title: Returning

Summary: Spikes been gone from Sunnydale for awhile. He and Angel have renewed their relationship. Now Dawn needs him, and he must return. How will the Scooby's react to Spike and Angel's relationship?

Rating: pg-13 to start, N-17 later

Disclaimer: I own nothing, but I can dream.

Feed back: Please I need it and I thrive on it.

Willow watched as Buffy paced up and down the room, frustration coming off of her in waves. "She should've been home hours ago, Will."

"I'm sure there's a logical explanation, Buffy. Maybe she stopped off at friends and just forgot to call."

Just as Buffy went to respond the door flew open and a visibly shaken Xander walked in. Willow ran over to him and helped him sit down on the couch, when it looked like he wasn't going to say anything she asked him.

"Xan, what is it? You look like you did that time that you ate that bug in kindergarten."

He shook his head frantically and told them.

"No, this is way so much worse. I ran into Clem and he told me that there was talk at Willy's." He stopped for a minute not knowing how to go on, and then he drew in a breath and said. "There's no easy way to say this, Buffy. Someone has Dawn. They are going to use her for some kind of ritual thingy."

Buffy looked at Xander her face pale and then she asked.

"Who? Who has her, Xander?" She asked her voice breaking, as she felt the panic wash over her in waves, Willow noticed her unconsciously look the door, wondering if she realized that she was doing that a lot lately. The same way she always veered off towards Spike's crypt, only to stop herself and walk away every night while they patrolled.

"Clem doesn't know, but the talk is that it is someone powerful. And I don't think he means the president."

Buffy started towards the door while saying... "Well, I can't just stay here waiting for the ax to fall, I got to find her." She left without even asking them if they wanted to join her, leaving them not knowing who they were more worried about Dawn or her. They sat there in silence, until Willow broke it.

"She's changed, Xander."

He nodded in agreement then said. "More and more every day."

Willow bit her lip looking unsure, Xander looked on dreading the words he knew that were going to come out of her mouth.

"Maybe I should call Spike. He'd wanna know it being about Dawnie and all. I am sure he would come and help." Xander looked thoughtful for a minute and then he nodded and asked.

"Yeah, he'd wanna help. But, Will do you really think that wise. I mean Spike being all unchipped and everything."

"Well, she wouldn't have to know, would she?" She said while she was walking to the phone.

"No but she'll probably figure it out the first time he hits a human and no pain." But he was talking to thin air.

Chapter Two

The phones insistent ringing woke Spike up knowing that only a select few knew his number he reached over to answer it.

"Yeah." He said accent thick from sleep.

"Spike." He sat up a grin coming to his face at the voice on the other end.

"Hey, how's my favorite little witch?"

There was a tense silence as he listened to what she was saying.

"Bloody hell. When?" He asked while getting up and pulling on his jeans, in one smooth motion, thinking it was a good thing he came home last night rather than staying at Angel's. Their relationship while doing well still had its tense moments.

He walked over to the fridge and pulled out a bag of blood, vamping he drank it quickly.

"The Slayer having any luck?" He asked.

"She went out looking; she's been gone for awhile now." He sat down on the couch, posture relaxed, only to stiffen when he heard what Willow asked. "Will you come and help?"

"Red, please you know that I don't want to come back to Sunnyhell."

He drew in an unneeded sigh, and then he said. "I'll talk to Angel tell him what you told me, and then we'll see, alright?" They said their good-bye's and hung up. Spike grabbed his keys and headed for the door.

Dawn groaned and opened her eyes, and then she moved her head from side to side groaning painfully while she took in her surroundings. The room she was in was dark, and drafty, the only light was from the candles flickering in the corner. She jumped when the door opened and then stiffened when a greasy haired man, no a vampire walked in.

"Good to see you are awake. The mistress will be very pleased."

"My sister's the Slayer, and you are so dead when she comes to get me."

The man laughed and then he said an evil grin on his face.

"She'll never find you not before the ceremony." With that he turned around and walked out of the room locking the door behind him. Leaving a very scared key behind.

Chapter Three

Spike opened the door to the Hyperton and walked in, looking around he spotted Cordelia, her back to him. He walked up to her and kissed her neck; she jumped then squealed as she turned around.

"Spike! You ass." He laughed then thru a arm around her shoulder, they became such good friends in the years that he been there, at first she was all "Evil vampire, must stake." Then when she saw how happy he made Angel she accepted him.

"Hey, Luv .Where's Angel?" He asked and when she looked at him, that the fire that usually in his eyes was gone, she knew that he had been in contact with someone in Sunnydale. He got that same look that he had when he first arrived that had Angel ready to head there and kill the person that put the look of such devastation in his childe's eyes."

"In his office." He squeezed her shoulder then headed towards the door, Cordelia hot on his heels, she was so protective of him and if his heart wasn't already taken, by his ponce of a sire he knew he could've grown to love her. He opened the door and strode in, to find said sire going over one of his books.

Angel looked up when the door opened and took in an unneeded sigh he knew something was wrong right away with Spike, he felt it in their reopened bond.

He got up and pulled Spike into his arms, and then he pulled back, saying. "Alright what's the matter?"

Spike looked at his feet then at Cordelia before taking out a cigarette, he lit it then drew a puff in deeply before saying.

"The Bit's in trouble." That was all he said and Angel fearing the answer said. "And that affects you how?" Spike looked away then drew himself up for courage then said.

"Red called, she asked me to come and help get her back from whatever beastie that took her."

Angel's eye's flashed yellow, and he growled deep in his chest, he couldn't believe that Spike would even consider returning there for any reason and for him to think that he would let him. Apparently Cordelia felt the same way because she interrupted angrily.

"For what so Buffy can take her frustrations out on you?" Before Spike could answer that charge Angel jumped in.

"You're not going back there, Spike." There was a deep anger in his voice and considering all that transpired in the last two years, it wasn't as shocking as it once would've been. They had renewed their sire/childe bonds and in the last few months slowly started to renew their deep love for one another, so as a result Angel was very protective of Spike the way he once was, and that in itself didn't anger Spike the way it once would've. To have Angel back in his life loving him like he used to was a dream come true, one he thought he would never have again. And it was even worse since Spike had to kill Drucilla,to save Cordelia's life, he had lost it then, tried to greet the sunrise and that was when Angel knew that his feelings for his favored childe had never changed they were just buried beneath all of the guilt that he felt.

"I made a promise, Luv. To the Bit that if she ever needed me all she had to do was call. Well it may have not been her that called but that doesn't change the fact that she needs me."

"Let them take care of it she is Buffy's responsibility not yours." Even as he said it, he knew it was useless, once Spike gave his word it was bonded and he'd get himself killed to keep it, but he also knew that he was going with him, Buffy got no more free shots at his boy, not if she didn't wanna see Angelus come at her anyways.

Chapter Four

Later that evening Spike drove into Sunnydale, followed by the rest of the gang, He and Angel had decided earlier that maybe it was best if they kept their relationship unknown for awhile, not wanting to have anything more to deal with right now.

He pulled up in front of the newly remodeled Magic Box, shutting off the car he sat there, until someone pecked on the window, he rolled it down to reveal a very worried looking Angel.

"Yeah?"

Angel looked at his childe the changes in him were so drastic, the Slayer had succeeded in doing something that he himself even at his most evil would never want to do; she took the laughter out of his favored childe's eyes and replaced it with such a look of deep sorrow. He was finally starting to heal only to have to return to the one place he swore to never let Spike return to.

"We could still leave, it's not too late you know?"

When he meant Spike eyes there were tears in them and an intense pain that he hadn't seen there in over a year.

"No. Am alright. Just memories you know they tend to get to a bloke." He opened the door and stepped put and right into Angel's arms, he hugged him back, closing his eyes and thanking to whatever gods that would listen that he had his sire back in his life. He pulled back unconsciously adopted his trademark devil may care attitude, when he glanced around him he was shocked to see the rest of the gang there to show their support as well. Then Cordelia spoke breaking the silence.

"Let's get this over with the sooner I am away from this town the better. And remember, Blondie no more taking their crap you can defend yourself now." They started to the door and Spike said. "Believe me, Luv. I won't let them get any free shots" Angel opened the door and went in followed by Spike and the rest of the crew.

Chapter Five

Buffy was sitting at the research table trying to figure out where to start looking for clues as to where Dawn was being held, having looked in all the abandoned warehouses she was stumped as to where to look next. Willow had to just sit down when the door opened. They both looked up surprise on Buffy's face when she saw Angel walk in.

"Angel-" Buffy said and started to get up out of her seat, only to sit back down in shock, when she saw who walked in behind him, Spike, it couldn't she thought she would never see him again ,but when she took a step towards him she stopped in shock ,whenever everyone gathered around him. Angel in front his eyes flickering between gold and brown.

"Ok, what's going on?" She asked then her eyes jerked towards Spike started laughing.

"Daddy's protective is all, Slayer." Then he sauntered passed her walking over towards the table stopping in front of Willow, he pulled her up from her char and into his arms. "Hey, Luv. How are you?" She pulled away tears in her eyes and said.

"I didn't think you would come." He put his arm around her shoulders and then he led her into the back door closing the door behind them. Buffy went to follow them only to stop when Angel stepped in front of her.

"Move out of my way, Angel." She told him not believing her eyes, Angel protecting Spike, and from her. She stiffened whenever Cordelia spoke from behind her.

"Jeez, jealous much, Buffy. Sit down and leave him alone. He's not here for you." Buffy looked at her then back to Angel saying.

"Move out of my way, Angel. I won't let Spike alone with Willow." She went to walk around him, but Angel stopped her again, she went to shove him out of the way only to stop only to stop whenever he started to talk.

"You sure you want to do that, Buffy? You may be the Slayer, but that's my childe in there and I won't let you hit on him, not anymore." Buffy stiffened and stepped back.

"Did I miss the memo? You hate him, why are you defending him? He's an evil-"

Cordelia interrupted then. 'Disgusting thing. Yes we know. WE got the memo, but that evil disgusting thing has saved our lives more times than we can count over the last few years. So I'm thinking that there is not a one of us here that's going to let you hurt him."

And when Buffy looked around she found that everyone including two people of whom she never meant before nodding their heads in agreement. She turned back to Angel determined to get some answers.

"Alright, Angel. Tell me what in the hell is going on here, why all the sudden defensiveness of Spike?" When she meant his eyes she was shocked by the anger in them, and the underlining hate that shadowed his eyes, something she never thought she would see there for a moment she thought he was channeling Angelus.

"I told him not to come, but he insisted that he made a promise and that he intends to keep it. Willow asked him to come and that's the only reason that we are here."

"Alright, Angel. What bug crawled up your ass?" Before he could answer the back room door opened and a laughing Willow and Spike walked out, only to stop laughing when they felt the tension in the air.

"Ok, what could have possibly happened in the last five minutes?" Willow asked and Buffy looked at her with disbelief, and said.

"Well in the last few minutes, not only do I find out that you went behind my back and called Spike, whom of which you never once let on that you knew where he was, but I also found out that you went totally around the bend. What's with you and Spike? And just where in the hell have you been the last three years, Spike?"

"Well, looky here I do believe the Slayer's mad, Luv." He told Willow and then he turned back to Buffy his voice as cold as stone. "Listen closely, Slayer because I'm only going to say this once. I didn't come back to this place of hell for you, I came back cause Red here said that the Bit needed me, as to where I've been the last three years the answer to that is as far away from you as I can get." With that he turned back towards Willow and kissed her on the cheek, meant Angel's eyes and nodded and they all turned towards the door and left.

Chapter six

When the door shut behind them Buffy turned to Willow, still in a state of shock over what transpired the last hour she asked. "Why did you call him, Will?" Willow looked away, uncomfortable and then she meant Buffy's eyes and said.

"Because he can help, Buffy. And you know it and if you would just listen to him you would realize it."

"I'm not interested in his help, but I do want to know what's going on between you and Spike."

"Well, that's a long story and you may find it hard to believe I know that I did for awhile. When I was at the Coven last year, Spike and Angel showed up there. He said that Dawnie had told him-"

"Waite, Dawn knew where he was?"

"Well apparently he came back to check on her-"

"When? I never seen him."

"Buffy, I'll never get finished if you keep interrupting, like I was saying he came here to check up on Dawnie and she filed him in on everything that happened while he was gone, and he and Angel came strait to see me at the Coven, he helped me to come to terms with everything I was going thru. He helped me far more than anyone else there ever could, he was so nonjudgmental. And the stuff he knows about magic, Buffy. He knows far more than me-."

"Oh, that's just peachy Spike knows magic. Maybe he's got Angel under a spell and this is some scheme of his to kill us all."

Willow shook her head. "Buffy, that's crazy. Spike's been living in L.A for the last two years helping Angel. He's made some close friends too."

"I think I found that out. I mean Cordelia of all people, and Angel, he's always hated Spike."

Willow looked away uncomfortable, them she said. "I don't think it was hate at all, Buffy."

But, Buffy wasn't listening she went on talking as if Willow never said anything.

"Soulless demons never change, Willow. I just hope we don't live to regret this get the gang together, Will. Let's meet back here in a couple of hours."

Chapter Seven

Angel watched as Spike paced up and down the length of their hotel room, and wondered not for the first time if he was going to tell him what was bothering him, besides the obvious that is. Not being able to stand it anymore he finally broke the silence. "What is it, Spike?"

Spike stopped and glanced over at Angel, his eyes had that worried look in them again and he put his hand up to his face wearily before going over and sitting on the bed where Angel was laying watching him, he knew he was getting as bad as him at the brooding, but these days he had a tendency not to really care.

Angel pulled Spike down to lay against him, this was one of the things he missed the most those few sane moments he had after he got his soul. His favorite childe laying beside him wrapped up in his arms, naked and spent from a night of lovemaking, his beautiful features relaxed in sleep, but Spike wasn't asleep now, and they needed to talk to clear up any misconceptions that he may have that Dawn's being missing is in anyway his fault. "Talk to me, Spike. I can't help you unless you do."

Spike looked up and meant Angel's eyes and seeing the worry in those soft brown depths, made him look away, only to have Angel's hand cup his chin and turn his face back to him, guess there was no way of getting out of this, his sire wanted to talk and talk they would.

"How will they react, Angel?" He asked his voice so low if it wasn't for his being right next to him he doubts he would have heard it.

"To what?" Angel asked stumped this question was not what he expected to hear, but the fear in Spike's voice told him this was serious. Spike snuggled closer to him and sighed, making him grin for just a minute at one of the many things Spike had never lost from his human days, so that he almost missed Spike's quiet response.

"My soul. How do you think they will react to it, I mean when I left here that night I certainly never thought I would end up with one." Angel tightened his arms, remembering the way his childe had gotten the one thing that Buffy with all her misconceptions of his childe, thought would be the only thing to make him be able to love. His Will never needed a soul to love he always felt things so deeply, it used to drive Darla crazy.

"Will, it doesn't matter what they think, you are truly amazing the way you stood up to the oracles demanding that they give you the visions so Cordelia's life would be out of danger, it was so unselfish and brave of you."

Spike laughed but there was no joy in the sound it was a bitter self mocking laugh.

"Yeah, I was really amazing cowering in your bedroom covers over my head, too much of a nancy boy to face the things I had done." Angel lifted Spikes face to him

Still not believing that he still thought that his reaction was anything but normal.

"You did better than me I hid away and ate rats." Spike smiled making Angel lean down and kiss him, he saw so few of them lately. Spike deepened the kiss before pulling away and saying. "We better head to Scooby central, the quicker we find Dawn the quicker we can get home." Angel nodded in agreement wanting nothing more than to take Spike home and reclaim him, they had waited long enough.

Chapter Eight

Dawn felt herself surfacing again. Her arms had long since gone numb. She just kept hoping that this was all a dream and that she would wake up in her nice cozy bed at home. She needed Buffy to come before they opened the portal that they said would end the world, she had long since given up hope that she was no longer the key put here by some monks that had caused her sister to die. She felt the tears well up again for what seemed like the thousandth time maybe Spike would come back to help she missed her adopted big brother the last few months before he had left he never came around and when he did he was always so off putting and his face always had healing cuts and bruises on him even worse than the ones he used to get from the fights he picked with humans hoping they would get lucky and kill him, right after Buffy had died it took her going to him and threatening to do the same with much more permanent results to finally snap him out of his suicidal ways, that was her last thought before the darkness over took her again..

Buffy glanced impatiently at the door willing it to open, she still couldn't believe that Spike and Angel were working together and not killing one another, and what was with Angel's "my childe" thing anyway everyone knew that Drucilla was Spike's sire, wasn't she? Why would Spike lie about something like that anyway?

When the door opened and the subjects of her puzzlement walked in, she frowned at how close Angel stuck to Spike, who really didn't seem to mind all that much, in fact he seemed to crave it. Never once straying away from him. She came back from her musings to hear Spike talking.

"Ok, what do we have on the beastie?" And to Buffy's shock Xander was the one to answer. "Well, I ran into Clem and he said that there was talk at Willy's and that they had Dawn, that they needed her for some sort of ritual." Spike nodded his head listening his gaze steady holding none of the contempt that it usually did when it came to Xander.

"Did he say where or why?" Spike asked him asked him, and when Xander nodded and said.

"No I sort of freaked out, and ran to get Buffy." Spike only nodded and to Buffy's shock only responded 'Well, I'll stop by and see Clem later see if he found out anything else."

"Xander, did you know where Spike was too?" Buffy asked angrily. "What no hug and kiss for him, I mean obviously you are on the whole Spike's a good guy too,"

Xander looked at her shocked; he opened his mouth to answer her only to have the tall black man who was sitting beside Cordelia speak up.

"You know something, for someone whose sister is being held by god only knows what kind of beastie, you sure don't act to worried."

Buffy looked at him in shock who was he and who did he think he was talking to her like that, not realizing that she said it out loud she was shocked to hear him answer.

"Names Gunn and I for one am tired of hearing you put down someone who only came here to help. You are a spoiled, egotistical, self centered little white girl who thinks the world revolves around her. Believe it or not everything is not about you. So sit your little ass down and try to put your mind where it is supposed to be, on finding your sister so I can go home and not listen to your oh woes me's again . Because frankly I have heard enough of it to last both Spikes and Angel's lifetimes put together"

When he was done there was a tense silence until Cordelia broke it by clapping and then watching Buffy's mouth open and shut in shock was just too much she started to laugh while saying thru her giggles "That was truly amazing after only just meeting you, Buffy Gunn has managed to both shut you up and sum you up all in one day. My hat, if I was wearing one goes off to you ,Gunn for being the first person to tell Buffy to her face what I and if everyone else at this table was truthful have thought for years."

With that statement ringing in her ears Buffy got up and stormed out, leaving behind a tense silence to which Spike broke "Well, I guess we can all call it a night and get some sleep because personally I am knackered . See you all tomorrow."

With that he grabbed Angel by the hand and motioned to the other's to come on and he left, wanting to get back to the hotel for more sire snuggle time, cause he personally could never get enough of it.

Chapter Nine

Giles got out of the car and walked up to Buffy's door, he really wished that he could've come back under better circumstances. Buffy's call was frantic something about Dawn being in danger, somehow he knew that the inactivity of the Hellmouth was too good to be true. But that all had changed with Buffy's call last night, and with his hurried trip back to the place he only wanted to visit on holidays.

Everything had changed, Xander had finally given up on trying to get Anya back after leaving her at the alter and concentrated on furthering his career in construction.

Anya had returned to the vengeance business, but had remodeled the Magic Box after Willow's venture into the dark magic's.

Dawn had started her final year in High School, much to all their dismays they had rebuilt the school over the Hellmouth again, causing Buffy all kinds of worry.

Willow had come a long way from the pit of darkness that she had sunk into. Her recovery still remained a mystery to him, one that he hoped to unravel someday.She too had went on to get her masters in computer technology ,while still practicing in white magic the way Tara would've wanted her to.

While Buffy still worked at The Doublemeat Palace plus her normal rounds of nightly patrols of the cemeteries.

And no one knew where Spike was he had strangely disappeared the night that Buffy thought she had murdered Warren's girlfriend, while he himself had went back to England to try and help the hopelessly dependant Slayer to stand on her own two feet.

He sighed this newest development was a puzzle to him what portal could they possibly be talking about, he had searched all of his texts just to come up empty handed and frustrated. He drew in a deep breath and knocked on the door.

Buffy was in the kitchen when the knock came to the door, she was still fuming from what Gunn and Cordelia had said the night before she was to worried about getting Dawn back, but with Spike being back in town it thru her for a loop, hoping it was the pizza she ordered for her supper Buffy opened the door.

"Giles!" She hugged him and pulled him in the door while saying "I didn't think you would get here this soon, but I'm sure glad to see you." She told him as they walked into the living room.

"Yes, well I felt that being the urgency involved in the matter that I should take the first plane back."

Buffy looked at him hoping he could provide the answers they so desperately needed to get Dawn back, so that they could all go back to their normal lives whatever that means. She just wanted to get to a point in her life where there wasn't a coming apocalypse at every corner. Spike's return and his new alliance with Angel was just the icing on an already hopelessly sweet cake. She came back from her musings to find that Giles was finishing up with what he was saying.

"-and I figured that the books I had at the shop would have something in them."

Buffy nodded and then said. "And you could be here for the next Scooby meeting, you'll never guess what has been happening here, besides the normal that is my life Spike came back and he brought friends."

Giles looked worried "Oh, dear did he have the chip removed then?"

Buffy snorted "I have no idea but he has Angel eating out of the palm of his hand, and he brought Cordelia along with my new least favorite person the ever so delightful Gunn." She looked at Giles to see his reaction and wasn't surprised to see him cleaning his glasses.

"I see. Well maybe we should continue this conversation on the way, I really must see if there is anything to be found on this new portal, and we need to put our heads together to think of a way to find Dawn and bring her home." Buffy agreed and followed Giles outside, not looking forward to another meeting with the crew from L.A.

Chapter Ten

Gunn sighed and watched the blonde belt down yet another shot of Jack Daniels. They had been sitting there for a couple of hours now ever since Spike had woken up and decided to let Angel sleep and come and get him to drag him down the local demon bar, whose owner was the biggest snitch and the best person to get any information off of, at least that's what Spike had said but the vampire had yet to say anything to the man, in fact he has not said a word only to ask for another shot. Tired of the silence Gunn finally asked what he had been sitting here wondering.

"Is there a point to being here, Spike?' Spike looked over at him and said.

"Course there is, mate. Getting drunk, and that's what I fully intend on doing, getting knock down can't move unless I crawl drunk."

Now Gunn was getting really worried the blonde used to get drunk at every opportunity in the past, to the point where Gunn finally figured out it was his way of dealing with pain, but lately he had not been drinking as much preferring instead to be around Angel, so what was puzzling him was why was he here instead of back at the hotel with him?

"You and the big guy have a fight?' Gunn asked him. Spike shook his head and replied "No, just needed to get away for a little while give him a break from the emotional thing that is my life right now. Plus I really am not looking forward to seeing the Slayer again tonight. Bloody hell let's get out of here by now Angel's probably up and ready to send a all points bulletin out for me." With that he drained his beer and walked towards the door.

"Looky here, Dale it's the Slayer's pet vampire. Word has it that she's been keeping a tight leash on you ,Spike" There was a snicker behind him and when he turned around Spike froze, no it couldn't be but it was, the one demon that Spike had no way of defending himself from, being that he was half human the chip didn't recognize him as demon, so that resulted in one of the worst nights of his life, it all came crashing back the stink of cum, the pain of at least ten cocks being shoved up inside of him repeatedly ramming into him until his world became one huge red ball of pain, then came the real torture, the things that happened after that would've made his experience with the Angelus a few years back feel like child's play. He was so deep into his nightmare memories that he didn't hear Gunn's scream in warning there for he didn't see the knife coming at him until it was too late to stop it.

Gunn looked on in horror as he watched the normally cool vampire literally freeze in terror, and as he watched thinking that Spike would snap out of it a knife came out of no where catching the unsuspecting blonde in the side. The next thing he knew all hell literally broke out at least twenty demons jumped on Spike taking him down to the ground easily, he threw his cell phone to the snitch and told him.

"Press #4 and tell Angel that Spike needs him now." With that he jumped into the fray to help Spike.

Chapter Eleven

Angel was just coming out of the bathroom drying his hair and wondering where Spike took off to without waking him up, whenever his cell phone started ringing, he picked it up wondering who could be calling ,when he saw Gunn's number on the little screen he answered it.

"Angel." When he heard the message on the other end he hung up and quickly put on some clothes and then he grabbed his keys, running out the door he headed for the car not even bothering to stop whenever Cordelia asked him what was wrong the only thing on his mind was getting to his childe before it was too late.

Whenever Angel walked into the bar there wasn't a single demon that wasn't involved in some way or the other he looked around frantically for the familiar bleach blonde head and felt the demon inside him rage, his childe was laying on the ground in a fetal position while three demons was kicking him he did a quick survey of the rest of the room, spotting Gunn frantically screaming Spikes name while knocking anything that got in his way down.

He let the demon take full control and he tore into anyone who dared to come between him and his boy, snapping necks he went thru everyone until he reached Spike's side, his golden eyes flashing pure rage, his demon loving every minute of the violence while at the same time it raged at the pain and fear that he could sense coming off of his boy in waves.

Whenever he finally reached Spikes side he knelt down beside of him rumbling deep in his chest as he reached for him.

Spike laid there lost in the reenactment of that night whenever he sensed something, Angel, his sire was here everything would be alright now; he jumped whenever he felt gentle hands lift him from the floor and into the strong arms that he loved so well, he turned and buried his face into the strong chest and started to shake.

When Angel felt a hand touch him on his shoulder he turned game face in place, only to relax whenever he saw it was Gunn.

"Wow, Big guy let's get him out of here." Angel nodded and stood up his precious burden in his arms and followed Gunn out of the bar.

Chapter Twelve

Whenever t hey got back to the hotel all that was on his mind was that his boy was holding onto him Chapter Twelve

Whenever t hey got back to the hotel all that was on his mind was that his boy was holding onto him like he never wanted to let go and it made him want to go back to the bar and kill the bastards that did this all over again, this time slowly and painfully. He started when he heard his boy's voice.

"Sire." He looked down at his boy and meant eyes that were deep pools of pain, and felt something give inside of him.

"Yes, childe?" He asked knowing subconsciously that right now Spike needed his sire, the tears streaming down his face confirming it.

"They hurt me. "He said this so low that Angel even with his sensitive hearing could barely understand.

"Yes, I know. And now they are dead."

"No, they really hurt me before in the alley."

"They hurt you in the bar, Will." Angel corrected gently thinking that he was to upset to remember where he was.

"NO!" Spike screamed frustrated that Angel didn't understand what he meant, he tried to pull away only to have Angel tighten his arms and ask him.

"What is it, Will?"

"Those bloody bastards raped me, Angel. In that alley repeatedly, over and over again, and when they were done they left me lying there hoping that the sun would rise and finish the job that they started."

Angel listened to his childes story in horror tears running down his cheeks he pulled Spike closer to him and kissing the top of the golden locks he said. "They can never hurt you again, Will. They are dead I killed them all."

Spike nodded, and then Angel lay back on the bed pulling Spike with him he said." Sleep, Will. "Spike nodded before succumbing to the exhaustion that suddenly over come him. Angel sighed and thought this was just one more thing that he had to make up to Spike.

The things that his childe had to go thru in the years he had been away would have broken a lesser vampire , but not his Will, he just accepted things and moved on until things got to be too much and he just shut down.

He tightened his arms around his sleeping childe before he too succumbed to sleep.

Chapter Thirteen

With a frustrated sigh Buffy plopped down into the chair beside Giles, causing him to jump. "Anything?" She asked.

Giles looked up from the book he was reading and leaned back in his chair. He pulled off his glasses and started to polish them the way he always did whenever things got to be too much.

"No, unfortunately the only thing the key, Dawn, was ever tied to was Glory, and we all know that is not a possibility. But I still have some more things to go over." Buffy frowned and then she got up and walked over to the door and looking out frustration in her movements, she turned around and said.

"Well, for wanting to help, Spike sure isn't here is he?" Just as she said that the door opened, almost knocking her down, to admit Cordelia and the man who said his name was Gunn, and behind him was the same mousy little girl who has yet been introduced.

"So where is the fanged wonder and Angel?" Buffy asked sarcastically.

Gunn stiffened ready to jump all over the blonde bitch that had made both his friends so unhappy, whenever Cordelia said.

"Something came up, and they can't make it tonight." Buffy looked ready to say something smart but before she could Cordelia went on. "And before you say something that will cause me to turn around and walk back out that door, despite the promise I made to Angel. Shut up and sit down and let's get some research done. I so want to get out of this town of doom."

And so saying that she walked over to the table and sat down, picking up a book that was sitting beside Giles and started to leaf thru it, Gunn and the girl following close behind.

A few very frustrating hours later, Cordelia slammed the book she had been reading, causing the people around her, to jump. "This is ridiculous. We are never going to find anything, because it is not here. I vote that we get some much needed rest. Maybe tomorrow someone will contact Buffy."

"Well, no one asked you to come anyways. In fact I don't remember asking any of you here. So why don't you and your little friends jump back on your broom and fly out of here." Buffy said and much to her dismay Giles spoke up to that.

"Buffy, please if we're going to get anywhere in this we need all of the help we can get." He then turned to Cordelia and told her "That's fine. And please tell Angel and Spike that we hope to see them tomorrow." Cordelia nodded and got up and walked towards the door followed closely by her friends.

"What was that all about, Giles? We don't need their help." Buffy told him angrily.

"Right now, Buffy I'm afraid we need all the help we can get. We have nothing and the longer we wait the more of a chance that we never find Dawn." Buffy nodded in agreement then she got up and left fully intending on finding where Dawn was tonight. She wanted to get her sister back as soon as possible, and on the plus side Spike and all his little friends would be able to leave too.