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Enjoy

…

Dawn sat on the steps in the lobby where Angel's office was. She was waiting for Willow to show up. "Hey there," Conner said from behind.

"Hi," Dawn said sheepishly.

"Looks like we're holding off on the apocalypse," Conner said, sitting down next to her.

"Yeah. Can't we just leave him with what's-his-name?" Dawn asked. Conner laughed.

"Buffy doesn't want to, believe me, I asked her already," Conner said. Dawn giggled at that.

"I'm just waiting for Willow," Dawn told him.

"Yeah, witch girl. I think I met her once," Conner said.

"Really?" Dawn asked.

"Yeah. I don't really remember it though," Conner said. It was a long time ago and had a filter of fake memories over it.

The elevator doors clicked open. Conner watched as a red-head and a guy with an eye-patch came in. Dawn's eyes lit up in surprise. "So this is evil Wolfram and Hart, I always knew lawyers were evil," The eye-patch guy said. Dawn giggled and rushed forward for hugs, leaving Conner a little confused and jealous.

…

Harmony finally left. Spike watched her lock the door and leave. He'd been waiting for the whole hour she'd been there for her to go. He glanced behind him, Harmony really was stupid. She'd left him the one thing no other captor had left him. There, on the coffee table, sat a telephone.

Now all he had to do was get there. He tried to lift himself up, ignoring the pain the action caused. Slowly and gently he made his way to the coffee table. He was surprised he wasn't tied down anymore. Harmony really was getting stupider.

At the phone he dialed a number he knew well. He sighed in relief when it actually rang. He wasn't sure if the phone would be connected. "Hello?" Her sweet voice came.

"I'm in a basement…again," Spike panted.

"What? Spike, is that you? You're in a basement?" Buffy asked, confusion in her voice.

"Bloody hell, yes," he grunted impatiently, "Just find harmony."

"Harmony? Why?" She asked.

"She knows where I am," Spike told her.

"Harmony kidnapped you?" She asked.

"Yeah..." Spike said.

"Why would she do that?" Buffy asked.

"Cero paid her to," Spike said weakly, unsure how long he could keep talking to Buffy.

"Okay. Spike, just hold on," Buffy said softly. She hung up and Spike put the phone down.

Good. Maybe Buffy hated him, but at least he could depend on her. She always got Spike back. As for harmony, Spike didn't know what Buffy would do to her.

But now he could relax. Buffy was on her way. He thought about going back to where he was, away from the coffee table. Too far, he stayed where he was. That was a bad idea though, because when Cero came in, he knew exactly what Spike had been doing. Cero decided to end this game now.

…

She could smell him. Illyria stomped down the alleyway angrily. It was so extremely faint, but she knew he was near, and that was enough for her.

It stopped. The scent stopped. She looked behind her and saw an indented set of stairs. She made her way down and saw the oversized padlock on the door. She took in it one hand and crushed it easily, kicking in the door almost at the same time.

Now his scent was strong. "Buffy…?" His groggy voice said from across the room. Illyria followed his voice and the scent of blood. She came to a coffee table and was afraid to step around it. She could see his blood already. It was all over the small table. She remembered she was a god of chaos and terror and took that step.

There was so much blood. For once violence didn't please her, it made Illyria sick now. Her Spike. He had done this to her Spike. Illyria caught the bastards scent, he had exited through the door at the back. It seemed fresh enough that Illyria could chase him down now and kill him. But Spike groaned and Illyria made her choice. Spike was too injured for her to leave him here.

Illyria could see that Cero hadn't finished, he probably ran away at Illyria's intrusion. Spike's stomach was practically carved out, Cero must have avoided his chest so Spike wouldn't turn to ash before he had been thoroughly tortured. Deep gashes and burns covered him, and this was the first time Illyria had seen Spike without his hair slicked.

She leaned down next to Spike and pushed the T-shirt she still clutched in her hand into the huge wound to stop it's bleeding. Spike groaned though he was still passed out. Illyria wished Spike would get up, she wished he would mock her. Just something to let her know he was okay.

But he wasn't okay and Illyria knew it. She had to make him be okay. She made him get up. He woke up and panted, leaning on her. "Let's go, Spike," She ordered softly. He mumbled something she couldn't make out. She got under his arm and helped him to stand. He could almost walk, he just needed her guidance. She made him hold the T-shirt against him and slowly they walked out of the basement together.

…

Buffy watched Willow doing the spell in the building's main lobby. Angel and everyone else waited. There were cars and an ambulance waiting for the address. It all depended on Willow. Spike had told Buffy to ask Harmony, but she disappeared. No one knew where Harmony was.

Dawn still sat on the stairs. She was waiting too. Because as soon as this was done they could close the Hellmouth and go home.

Willow looked up, a look of surprise filling her face. "He's…here," She said.

"No, he's not," Angel said, "We checked, he can't be here." Willow looked at the entrance and pointed. Everyone turned to watch as Illyria and Spike walked in. Spike looked ready to drop right there.

Medical men on stand by came rushing into action. Carrying Spike away and leaving Illyria covered in Spike's blood, looking sad to see him going.

"Well, that was dramatic," Willow said, watching.

"Yeah. Is it like this everyday?" Xander asked.

"Pretty much," Angel grunted. "Illyria, what about Cero?"

"I've yet to destroy him," Illyria said coldly, staring down the hall where Spike was taken.

"Well, we can worry about him later. Willow, is there anything you can help us with now?" Angel asked her.

"Yeah. There's these spells I've been working on…" Willow said, continuing to describe various spells, but Illyria wasn't listening. Everyone left as Angel gave his orders. Then Angel left too.

Illyria wondered what she should do. Wait for Spike, or hunt down the man who hurt him. She wanted to kill. She wanted the violence of that man. But she wanted to make sure Spike was okay.

"You really like him, don't you?" The blonde woman asked, smiling.

"Why must you all say that? What does it mean?" Illyria asked back, a little bitterly.

"Well," Buffy said, thinking for a minute, "To like someone…I guess it means you want to protect him."

"Spike is mine," Illyria explained, "Only I can hit him." Buffy laughed a little.

"Yeah, I felt that way too," Buffy said, "Almost. I let other people hit him too, I think."

"You can't hit Spike," Illyria warned, "He's my pet."

"Okay, okay," Buffy said, backing off. Then more softly added, "I'm just glad someone finally cares about him."

"What do mean?" Illyria asked.

"Spike..." Buffy nearly whispered, "Doesn't have much luck with love. If you haven't noticed, not many people around here like him."

Illyria nodded, no one seemed to notice Spike's absence except to be glad he was gone. "Why not?"

Buffy smiled. "He's kind of an ass…" She said.

"Yes…" Illyria agreed. "But he's mine." Illyria walked down the hall, for once not sensing relief behind her but a lingering happiness. The Slayer certainly was strange to have affections for the vampires she was designed to destroy. But Illyria ignored it, she too was designed for violence, yet now she was finding herself attached to a lower being.

…

"So, he's back?" Willow asked Dawn while preparing her potions. "From the dead?"

"Yeah," Dawn replied, quite dejectedly.

"Well, at least now he can help with this Hellmouth," Willow said optimistically.

"I guess," Dawn said.

"I know you don't like him Dawn…but we need all the help we can get," Willow told her.

"I know," Dawn said. Dawn still hated Spike, but the Hellmouth was nothing to joke about.

"Anyway…" Willow said, putting down her tools. "I saw you making the googlie eyes at that boy," Willow teased.

"What? Spike?" Dawn asked, offended and disgusted.

"No, silly," Willow comforted, "Conner, the cute one."

"Oh…" Dawn sighed, "Yeah." Dawn blushed. Even Willow noticed Dawn's liking for Conner.

"Don't be embarrassed," Willow said. She sat down beside Dawn and rubbed her back. "I think it's cute. Have you two gone out?"

"Yeah, like once," Dawn told her.

"Only once?" She asked.

"Yeah well, apocalypse comes first after all," Dawn reminded her.

"Oh," Willow said. She nodded her head, understanding. "Maybe when this is all over he'll ask you out again," Willow suggested.

Dawn shook her head. "I'll be leaving with Buffy when the Hellmouth is closed. Assuming I don't die," Dawn said negatively.

"Dawn! I'm sure you'll have time for one more date!" Willow said trying to be supportive.

"I don't know," Dawn sighed, "He's too smart. He's from Harvard."

"Harvard?" Willow asked, her eyes popping out of her head. "Well, who needs smarties, huh? I think Skittles are much better," Willow supported.

"I agree, Skittles are pretty cool," Conner said from the doorway. Dawn's whole face turned red as she covered her mouth with her hands. Willow stuttered to find something to say. How much had Conner heard?

Dawn just plain got up and left, overcome with teenage-like embarrassment. Willow stood and tried to talk to Conner. "So…Harvard-boy. You and Dawn...You like her?" Willow asked.

"I guess," Conner said. In truth all he'd heard was the part about Skittles, he didn't know Willow and Dawn were talking about him.

"Uh huh. You guys…went out on a date?" Willow asked. She went into interrogation mode, like when she had interrogated Jonathan back in High School rather unsuccessfully.

"Yeah," Conner admitted. He considered it a date.

"And you haven't asked her on another one…?" She asked. She was making a slow circle around Conner, rubbing her hands together, which freaked Conner out a little.

"I guess not…" He told Willow. He was started to suspect Willow to do something dramatic soon.

"You know she's leaving when the Hellmouth is closed?" Willow asked, making sure Conner knew what was what.

"Yeah, I know," He said.

"Well, poo-head! Ask her on a date, then!" Willow said, exasperated, flinging her arms in the arm for effect.

Conner was taken aback by Willow's method but nodded his head and back away slowly. Willow sighed, her job done, and returned to her real job as Conner slowly left.

In the hallway Conner bumped into Xander. "Oh, hey! Conner-me-boy," Xander said in a pirate-y voice, which made Conner begin to think Sunnydale bred wierdos.

"Hey…" Conner said. He cringed as Xander swung his arms on Conner's shoulders as the walked.

"I hear you've taken a liking to our little Dawnie," Xander said, eyeing Conner.

"Yeah…I guess," Conner agreed.

"You guess! Don't you know anything," Xander said, shaking his head. "With Summers' women, you don't guess, you know. Like Buffy, when you like her, you know it. She knows it. The vampire in your basement knows it." Xander was getting a little off topic and weighing Conner down. Xander coughed and got back on track. "Anyway, I know you're a good guy and all, but I'm sure Buffy's told you the rules."

Conner shook his head, Buffy had creeped him out, but not threatened him yet. "Rreally?" Xander asked, surprised. "Well, I guess 'cause you're Angel's boy. Well, you know. If you do anything to Dawn, I'd have to break your legs…or find someone big to do it. You catch my drift?" Xander asked.

"Hurt Dawn…Legs broken, got it," Conner said. He didn't really find Xander threatening, just awkward.

"And Willow might look adorable and cute and totally harmless…but she could flay you're whole body in under a second. I've seen it. It's pretty gross," Xander told him.

"Thanks for the warning," Conner said, not knowing if Xander was serious.

"As long as we understand each other," Xander said, giving him what was supposed to be a threatening look, but just looked goofy.

As Xander turned of on the hall, Conner wandered down another hall, thinking over the awkward conversation of the day. As the got near Angel's office he spotted Buffy and Dawn talking further down. Immediately as he saw Dawn's face lit up laughing at a joke, he knew what Xander meant. When you like a Summers' woman, you don't think, you know.
...

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