Previously in Red Roses: After Buffy offered to take the chip out of Spike's head so they could take the world together, Spike realized just how bad things had gotten and after a fist to fist fight that ended in Buffy almost staking him, he told the Scooby gang exactly what had been going on. Held captive, Buffy taunts her former friends and shows them what they've truly done to her by bringing her back. Willow attempts to do the spell to put Buffy's soul back in its place but it doesn't work. Giles explains that no magic will work on Buffy, she is immune, and that they have very few options. Everyone becomes hysterical as Buffy's death is mentioned and most have to leave the room, all but Spike, Giles, and the tied up Buffy. Spike guards her like a dog as Giles tries to explain their loss of hope. It isn't clear if he will actually kill her or not but that seems like what he's going to do. The decision is made for him when Spike offers to do the killing himself, knowing how to make it as painless as possible. Giles gives in and hands the stake over only to be fooled by the two as Spike slips off Buffy's chains during a distracting kiss and he is attacked from behind. The rest of the crew from the kitchen, Anya, Willow, and Xander, all try to reason with the two vamps but Buffy wants none of it. She attacks them all and in a futile attempt, already drained of her power, Willow attempts a simple levitation spell. Buffy isn't affected and instead attacks, spitting accusations at her sire and getting her first taste of human blood from her cheek. Together Spike and Buffy run away where she takes him to get his chip out as she explains how she has changed and he explains how he'll remain true to her cause. Concern washes over everyone as Buffy waits for Spike's chip to be out and the Scooby gang try to find the vamps before they decide to kill or hurt anyone else.

"They're not here." Xander called out from inside the dark of Spike's crypt. Everyone else started to funnel through the door, every other with a flashlight in their hand.

"Check downstairs." Dawn said quietly, her arms wrapped tight around her body to keep out the cold and to keep her standing. She could have mentioned how to turn on the lights but she didn't feel much like helping at the moment.

"Downstairs?" Xander asked with a bit of a cartoonish look as he swept the light across the ground. He didn't see any downstairs.

"Yeah." Dawn moved in slowly and stood over the spot where the trap door was hidden. "Spike never let me down there but there's a ladder right under there."

"Alright." Xander shot everyone a worried look, stuffing his stake into his back pocket and checking his holy water, as he uncovered the ladder and climbed his way down. "Buffy? Spike?" Anya followed him down and they both called out together. "Spike? Buffy?"

"Buffy? Evil vampire Buffy?" Anya's calling was cut out by a small mumbled argument between the two before; "Fine. Buffy who we totally know is a vampire but are not going to say is evil yet? You here?"

Xander's sigh of frustration could be heard but he just called up instead; "I don't think they're here."

Everyone on the top floor looked at each other with grim smiles before climbing down after the couple and joining them on the lower level.

"Whoa." Tara ran a hand over the giant bed and the drapes that matched the comforter. "When did Spike get all of this?"

"Well he planned to move in permanently." Xander said bitterly as he opened the fridge and found the blood left behind. "That's pretty obvious. And look, blood. They haven't come back here."

"Maybe they knew we'd be coming." Willow said looking out at the stone wall, not really concentrating on anything. She had been that way ever since leaving the house. Occasionally she would run a hand over her cheek but the stinging from her cuts only seemed to make it worse.

"What if he's lying?" Xander slammed the fridge door behind him as he leaned on the bar and faced the rest of the group. "What if Buffy was human when we brought her back and he somehow changed her but made it look like we did it? Blamed us so she would be mad at us and go to him? Makes sense doesn't it?"

"I don't know Xander." Tara shook her head as she subtly ran a hand up Willow's back to try and soothe her. It killed her that nothing was working but they would have their time. Buffy was what was important now. "Buffy was acting weird right off the bat."

"Yeah." Dawn leaned against the stone and mumbled when everyone started to look at her. "Actually…well…she…"

"What?"

"When I was cleaning her up…after she….when she came back. Well…I cut my finger and she…kinda…kinda…"

"What?" Xander asked a bit more forcefully.

"Well freaked out a bit?" Dawn's voice rose as she knew she was only promoting the idea of her sister being, well, wrong, but it was true and it wasn't Spike's fault. "She didn't say anything but she had a look and…I don't know. But Spike hadn't seen her before then!"

"We don't know that!" Xander continued to argue his side. "He could have been there right after she crawled out and changed her before any of us seen him."

"I was with him the entire time!" Dawn continued to raise her voice as her heart started to pound louder. Pretty soon it was the only thing she could hear, just the pounding in her ears, so loud, it was almost echoing off the walls with her screams. "He couldn't have! He was protecting me from the demons then I ran away and found Buffy myself!"

"Why do you keep defending him?!"

"Because it's true!" Dawn turned to the rest of the people in the room, all keeping their mouths shut for their own reasons. Well they should have been talking. They should have been defending him with her. "Spike has done nothing but try to help us. We did this to her!"

"Dawn you had nothing to do with it." Tara tried to comfort from a distance, already knowing the teen wouldn't understand.

"I wanted her back just as much as you guys did."

"It's still us that brought her back." Willow spoke to the wall as she watched a drop of water wind its way through the cracks towards the ground. "It was me. I did the spell. It was all me. God Giles, what are we gonna do?"

"I'll tell you what we're gonna do." Xander interrupted before Giles even got a chance to open his mouth. It was just as well. He had a look mirroring Willow's and everyone had been pointedly ignoring him since the living room. They all knew he was willing to kill her and none of them were willing to forgive him for it. "We're gonna build a nice little vamp cage and we'll lock both of them up. No need for Spike to play the big hero and mess things up. Willow, you and Tara can do a tracker spell right?"

"Sure-"

"So go to the Magic shop with Anya and get what you need, including the stuff for the cage. Take Dawn with you too. Giles and I will keep patrolling." Everyone nodded along with Xander, all ignoring the biting tone he had towards the elder in the room.

"Okay." Willow responded as she snapped herself out of her staring contest, now having something prosperous to do, and turned towards the man they were all so furious with. Deep down she knew what he tried to do but she couldn't really process it and he was still always the one to go to for a plan. "Sound good Giles?"

"It sounds like the only plan we have." Giles nodded but the others were already leaving without hearing his answer. Xander and Dawn were up the steps, Tara helping Willow reach the top, but Giles waited and whispered to the last of the group. "Anya, a word?" She looked up the steps and back at Giles with a curious stare before taking herself over to him and pointing the flashlight between the two of them. Giles continued to murmur to her when she was within range. "At the back of the shop, up the stairs, I told you about those books correct?"

"The restricted section." Anya nodded along, remembering her lessons in taking over the Magic Box. "Yes I remember."

"There is a book there that may help. I don't want Willow or Tara to know about it."

"But Giles, doesn't restricted mean no touchy?"

"You're the only one to touch." Giles brought out a tiny scrap of paper and placed it in her hand before continuing. "Chthonic Gods: Spells From Below." Anya checked and that was what the paper had written down on it. "Don't let the other girls know and bring it to me when you can."

"I thought magic wouldn't work on her."

Giles gave a tight lipped smile in appreciation for her logic and ability to keep up. While Anya was an odd one he could always count on her to be smart and understanding. "We used gypsy magic. The same magic used on Angel. It works on most but not those who've been touched by...well, this magic is not so…light."

"Dark magic?" Anya's eyes widened at the thought. She had used magic enough times in her life to know the cost Giles was talking about. She had seen what dark magic could do and it was never a pretty sight.

"Hence why the other girls must never know about it. Dark magic brought her back, dark magic will work. Willow has seen enough dark magic though. I will be the one to handle it."

"Alright." Anya nodded and slipped the paper in her pocket. Ideas were already streaming through her mind. If dark magic worked, there could be a way to help Buffy after all. Of course the other girls couldn't know about it. Anya had seen what a bit of dark magic did to Willow already, Tara was too weak to handle it. Giles would be able to and maybe even she could help. It wouldn't exactly be her first time. "If you're sure."

"I am."

With a nod they both headed back up the ladder where the others were waiting for them.

"What was that about?" Xander asked with arms crossed and an accusing glare sent towards Giles.

"Me." Anya said with a bit of a fake smile. She was never a very good liar to Xander, she always told the truth all the time no matter how many people asked her to stop, and lying to him just seemed wrong. Married couples weren't meant to lie, but they weren't exactly married yet. "I had to make sure that whatever we use from the shop I get compensated for. I'm willing to help Buffy but I still run a business." Everyone gave her the usual looks of disappointment for her caring of money over people but at least they brushed it off. Anya knew that the lie was for the opposite reason, it was to help Buffy. Plus, she really did want to know she was going to get compensated. She didn't get a chance to ask though.

"Giles," Willow started. "After we get her in the cage, should we send for the council or-"

"No. They will kill her in a heartbeat."

"Weren't you going to do that Giles?" Xander asked, his arms crossing over his chest. "What's stopping you?"

"Nothing." Giles answered sharply, everyone snapping their gaze back to him, most of them glaring. "She has not killed yet but she will if she hasn't already. If she attacks, I will not hesitate to put her down. Buffy never would have wanted this."

"So she would want to be killed?" Dawn yelled back feeling her blood already start to boil again.

"She wouldn't want to be drinking the blood of the innocent." Giles tried to sound semi-comforting but he knew he was failing.

"So what happens if we do catch her?" Xander asked, his anger never leaving his tone. "Are you going to kill her before we can find a way to help her?"

"If we manage to catch her alive I will provide help in your research but I will tell you now that I do not have very high hopes. I do not see her coming out of this alive."

"Great to know where you stand Giles." Dawn spat out as she stomped off towards the door to get out into the cold night air. She really needed to cool off.

"Dawn-"

"No!" She spun on her heels forgetting any restraint she might have had. "That's my sister. Soul or no soul, vampire or not. She's my sister!"

"It's alright Dawn." Xander assured her as he stepped in front of Giles, cutting him off from her view completely. "We'll find a way to get her back."

"Oh my god." Willow whispered out at the chair she had been staring at and everyone turned to see what she was looking at.

"What Willow?" Tara asked, keeping up the circles on her girlfriend's back.

"Angel! Maybe he can help."

"So we're going to bring another vamp into this?" Xander scoffed but no one seemed to agree with him. He looked around the room waiting for someone to say something. "Does no one else see that as a bad idea?"

"Xander, he's had his soul taken away." Willow nodded along with her idea, building up its momentum in her mind. "He knows best what she's going through. Maybe he knows a way to help. He has his own investigations team, maybe they could even help."

Giles spoke before Xander coul again, "Let's hold off on getting Angel wrapped into this-"

"But Giles-"

"Or do you forget how he feels about Buffy as well? Look at what Spike just did. He helped her escape all because of his feelings for Buffy. Angel would do the exact same thing. If they believe any part of her has a chance of resurfacing-"

"Alright. We'll wait till we have her at least. Yeah?" Everyone but Giles nodded along with her but he at least didn't disagree straight away.

"Let's split up." Xander commanded, putting the team back into the situation at hand. "Meet you guys back at the Magic Box. Stay safe."

"You too." Anya called back to him as they exited the crypt and started the walk back to the shop, flashlights held high, stakes silently places in back pockets, and holy water stuffed in every front pocket with the hope of a fast getaway if she decided to come back.

"Come on Giles." Xander held open the door and pointed towards town. "Let's go find an undead rouge half-slayer half-vamp that hates us."

"Wonderful."

"How do you feel?" Buffy leaned over Spike's body in the chair, a hand holding onto his upper arms, digging her nails in to prevent her from attacking the humans surrounding them. It had only been an hour or two but she was losing all sense of self control as the blood rushed around her. It was all she could think of after a while and when they came to tell her he was done with surgery, she almost bit out the doctor's throat.

"Like I had someone touching my brain." He groaned at the light above his head and held his free hand over his forehead, feeling around for any cuts. There was a ghostly feeling inside his scull where he knew the human had touched him. He could almost smell it. "It's all…not right."

"Other than that?"

"Oh," His eyes darted down where he felt her hand wrapping around his wrist. "Fine."

"Okay." She quickly released his arm and spun around to face the agent that had removed the chip. The small device was now sitting in a tiny metal bowl on the small table by the chair. It seemed so tiny for causing so much pain. "Thank you."

"Yes Miss Summers." He nodded and turned to the man in charge who nodded at her.

"Watch him." He pointed at Spike and then made a gesture to round up everyone else he had brought along. "Everyone, out!"

"So, what do we do now?" Spike pushed himself into a sitting position and closed his eyes as the humans left the room. He was a bit dizzy from the anesthetic they gave him but it wasn't enough to prevent him from feeling the change. There was still the usual pain he felt as a vampire with no teeth, the usual headache and throat pain that he had learned to live with. But now he had the knowledge that he could fix it. His demon was free and was rearing at the chance to get out there and run. The lingering smell of the human blood wasn't helping.

With a wicked smirk Buffy leaned over towards Spike and sniffed the air. "I don't know about you but I could really use some human blood."

"You sure you want to go out tonight? Scoobies will be out looking for us."

"Oh you're just a big baby." She pulled back with a laugh, backing up towards the door, mocking him as she did. "Scared of your chip going off?"

"Well you're not the one who's had their head explode every time they punch in the wrong direction."

"Well if we're gonna meet Angel, I'm gonna need-"

"Whoa, whoa, whoa." He stopped in his tracks making her have to turn back to face him. "We're doing what now?!"

"Meeting Angel." She replied calmly, with a smile and everything.

"Why?! Why the bloody hell are we meeting that Neanderthal?"

"He called me. He thinks I'm alive." She groaned to herself knowing this wasn't going to be easy. Getting Spike on her side had been complicated enough. She wasn't even fully sure he was on her side all the way. He would do anything for her but that didn't mean he'd do anything she said. Turning her over to the humans was a low blow but getting the chip out seemed to change his mind. Well, she would see after she got him to agree to Angelus. "Besides, we're going to need him."

"Need him?" He scoffed at the air, refusing to move until she took it back. "For what?"

"I told you what I care about."

"Revenge. Right. Got a plan then?"

"It sounds so simple when you say it like that."

"Well if you want to pop 'em off we can go do that now." Cracking his knuckled he smirked and nodded towards the ceiling where the humans were probably out looking for them now. "We'll team up, take them down together."

Buffy looked towards the ceiling as well. The idea was tempting but it wasn't in the plan. Killing them would thrill her for the moment but it wouldn't sustain her. "No. Not good enough. I don't mean just them either. I have my sights set a little higher."

"Alright. Well I'm fully behind you there." He'd had plans to burn the world before. They didn't pan out but that was her fault. Maybe with her by his side, it wouldn't be so unattainable. "What exactly did you have in mind?"

"Angel. We'll use him."

"And how are we going about using the great ponce? He's not gonna like the whole dead thing you've got going on. He's not exactly going to come skipping with lilacs in his hair."

"No. He's not." She turned back to the dark of the hall and led their way out of the building, Spike fighting her every step of the way. "That's why we need his soul gone."

He stopped completely again and she kept walking so he had to call up to her with his disgust. "You're not gonna sleep with him are you?"

"God no." She gagged and he jogged to catch up, only to stop straight yet again. "That's where you come in."

"What?! You're not expecting me to sleep with him are you?!"

"As entertaining as that thought is, no." She chuckled at his look and continued to walk to the surface. "Magic took the soul out the first time, we can use it again."

"How? The only witch we know-"

"You don't know a single witch? In your old age."

"Hey-" He pouted. "I am not old."

"Yes you're very spry for a hundred something." She nodded sarcastically as she watched the mice scatter at her feet wondering only momentarily how they got into the base in the first place. Did mice live underground?

"Well why do we need him? We can take him down, kill him ourselves. Killing vamps is fun too."

"We need him." Her tone suggested she was done arguing but he was still Spike.

"But why?"

"I said death wasn't good enough for my friends." She was sure to put as much sarcasm as she could into the word 'friends'. She really needed to find something else to call them. "They need to pay."

"Well I can help with that. Always wanted to lay one in on the whelp. Done a good bit of torture in my days. They don't call me Spike for nothing."

"And who did you learn from?"

"Oh please, Angelus didn't teach me nothing. I did it all on my own."

"Sure you did." Buffy chuckled at his childlike behavior before leading them both down the last tunnel. "Well Angelus has a certain flare that I'm looking for. I was on the receiving end once before. I want that."

"I can do that." He mumbled pathetically like a kid watching his girl swoon over the local jock.

"Spike just stop arguing. You'll get to play too. Okay?" She felt like she really was talking to a kid as she opened up the hatch to the outside world and jumped out, listening to Spike climb out behind her as she sniffed the air and allowed her eyes to roam over the city lights below. They wouldn't have long left in the night before the sun would start to rise and they needed to get out of town before it did.

"Um Buffy-" Spike came up behind her as she started walking into town again, intent on following her nose and getting a real meal for once. "It's- Well Dawn had nothing to do with you being pulled back you know? She and I didn't know a think about it. She was-"

"Just as clueless as ever. I know. She's not a part of this. I don't wish to kill her. I don't exactly want her alive though. Don't worry. I have plans for her," She cheerfully stated as they found the clearest path into the trees.

"Do you really think she'll let you change her?" He didn't really like the idea too much. Dawn had clearly grown on him and while eternal life had its perks, there was a reason he hadn't suggested it sooner. It was Buffy's plan though and if it meant Dawn got to avoid the torture that she had in store for the others, then maybe it was for the best. Buffy would get her way no matter what and he wasn't in the mood to argue just after having turned her in to the humans. He was more in the mood to eat for the first time in far, far too long.

"When I'm done, I'm sure she'll be begging for it."

"I thought you said you wouldn't hurt her."

"Not physically. Hence, Angel."

"Angelus is a real ass you know."

"I'm aware." She laughed again at his stupid behavior as she continued to weave in and out of trees. "You two will just have to play nice for a while. Once they're all out of the way, I have something else in mind."

Clearing the trees they both looked out at the small field separating them from the people walking by. A look was shared between them before they both darted off at vampiric speed, chasing the closest source of grub; The Bronze.