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"Buffy, is that really you?" Spike asked.

He had been out patrolling through Los Angeles when he had somehow caught hold of her scent. Since it smelt different from before, Spike followed it to the alley, where he was now confronting the former Slayer and his suspicions were sadly confirmed: Buffy was no longer the Slayer he knew. This creature before him was simply now a shadow, a shell to be used by the bloodthirsty demon that now resided inside her.

"No, it's the Easter Bunny," Buffy retorted, "Of course it's me."

"But…it's not you, Buffy. Not anymore," Spike said.

"Oh, don't cry for me, Spike. I'm faster and stronger than ever before-"

"Yeah, well, it's just the fact that you're evil now, sweetheart."

He knew that he couldn't let her continue on like this. The Buffy he knew wouldn't want to be a murderer. He knew he had no choice but to lay her to rest, despite of what his feelings for her would say. He knew it would be what she would want. Buffy glanced at her victim and shrugged, before turning back to Spike.

"Does that mean you have to kill me?" she innocently asked.

"Fraid so, pet."

She smirked, "You could try."

She turned and ran away, as Spike quickly gave chase, but her comment about being faster was actually true, as Spike was struggling to catch up to her. And the fact that she didn't need to breathe meant he would have to outthink her in order to catch up. Buffy darted around a corner and disappeared from sight, as Spike took a moment to look around, spying her on the fire escape and he climbed after her. Buffy peeked over the side briefly, smiling to herself, before ducking through a small window, as Spike entered the small loft after her. Her fist suddenly slammed into his jaw, staggering him, as Buffy then threw him across the room.

"Buffy, what happened to you?" Spike asked, "How'd you end up like this?"

"How do you think?" Buffy replied, "The same way you make every other vampire."

"Who did this to you?"

"It doesn't matter, Spike. Not anymore. What's done is done."

She growled and rushed forth with a high kick. Spike ducked under her leg and rose up with a punch, but she blocked and palmed him in the chest. Catching his balance, Spike parried Buffy's fist and elbowed her in the face, followed by a second blow. Buffy fell onto her hands, her legs flipping up and striking Spike in the jaw, knocking him down onto his back. He groaned, as Buffy fell on him, wielding a stake and he quickly grabbed her wrist, struggling to hold her at bay.

"Come on, love, you don't want to do this," Spike growled.

"Don't you understand, Spike?" Buffy said, "I'm the Slayer. You're the vampire. That means I kill you, not sleep with you."

Spike pulled down on her arm, his elbow flying up into her jaw and knocking her aside. He flipped up onto his feet, whirling around as he vamped out, while Buffy was swiftly back on her feet, kicking him in the face. He spun around from the blow with a backhand, but Buffy caught his wrist and swung the stake under his arm, but he caught hold of her wrist, before kneeing her in the stomach. Smacking her across the face, Spike then kicked her in the stomach, as she lunged at him, but he threw her to the ground, grabbing hold of the stake and holding it above her heart as he pinned to the ground by her throat, staring into her green eyes.

"Do you really want to do this, Spike?" Buffy asked softly, "Do you really want to kill me, the woman that you claim to love?"

Spike faltered and Buffy took the chance to knock his hand aside, before kicking him back. Flipping up onto her feet, Buff gave him a smirk and dived out the window. With a growl as he resumed his human face, Spike quickly gave chase, landing on the road five stories below, running after Buffy as he drew out his cell phone.

"What is it?" came Angel's voice.

"You're not gonna believe it, Angel, but I'm chasing Buffy through the streets of Los Angeles," Spike replied, "I'm going to need back-up on this."

"Where are you?"

Running past an intersection, Spike caught sight of a road sign and quickly told Angel the address, before hanging up and focusing on the chase. He knew it would be a while for Angel to arrive, so he knew he would have to try and distract Buffy long enough for the back-up to make their presence. Racing off in a different direction, Spike was able to come out in front of Buffy, grabbing hold of her and swinging her around into the alley he had come out of. Buffy growled, punching him in the face, as he responded with a blow of his own. As he went to go for a second punch, Buffy did a backwards handspring, her feet striking him on the jaw and staggering him. She then slammed him against the wall, growling in annoyance to learn she no longer had possession of the stake, as he elbowed her in the jaw, then whirled around with a punch, followed by a small jumping punch, dropping Buffy to the ground.

"You know, this could go all night. Neither of us wants to land the killing blow. You can't bring yourself to do it and I'm having too much fun."

She swung her leg around, tripping Spike up, before getting up and taking off. Spike groaned in annoyance, getting up and giving chase once more, wondering when it was going to end. Buffy leapt over a wall and landed in a small marketplace, just as a 1967 Plymouth pulled up and Angel, Connor and Kate hopped out of the car.

"Angel. Nice to see you," Buffy grinned, "Been a while."

"I wish I could say the same, Buffy, but you're not her, are you?" Angel said.

"Oh, it's me alright. Think Angelus would like me now?"

"He'd still kill you anyway."

At that moment, Spike came leaping over the wall, as Buffy whirled around. She grabbed hold of him by his coat, as Connor rushed in, but he was taken down by Spike's thrown form, as Angel rushed in, while Kate sidestepped, her taser on Buffy as she went to blows with Angel. He slugged her in the face, going for a second punch, but she caught his wrist, kicking him in the chest, then in the face, as Connor and Spike untangled themselves, before getting up. Throwing Angel aside, Buffy moved for Connor, catching his fist and spinning around, flipping the teenager onto his back. Spike grabbed Buffy from behind, moving her away from Connor, but she broke out of his grip, whirling around to punch him in the face. Angel came in with a front kick, which Buffy blocked, as he then punched her in the jaw. Using the blow as momentum to land a spinning backhand, Buffy grabbed Angel by the back of his coat and threw him against the wall, before moving towards Kate, as she pulled the trigger. Dodging the darts, Buffy grabbed Kate's arm, bringing it up behind her back, while grabbing hold of her throat and using her as a shield as Angel, Spike and Connor surrounded her, though keeping their distances as Buffy gripped Kate's throat tighter.

"Seems like we have a bit of a stand-off," Buffy said, "What do we do about it?"

"Let her go," Angel said, "This is between me and you."

"Is it now? I don't think so, Angel. Maybe I should just kill her. I am kinda hungry."

She grinned and vamped out, bringing her fangs down to Kate's throat, but Angel stepped forth and Buffy withdrew, a small knowing smirk on her face.

"Do you care for her, Angel? And here I was thinking I was your one and only. Oh well, time passes and people move on. Hey, Angel, you remember Jenny?"

"You know, she talks too much," Connor said.

"Yes, I remember Jenny, just like all the others," Angel said softly.

"Good. So if I kill new-blondie here, would it remind her of you."

"Connor is right, you do talk too much."

"And I'm getting bored."

Shoving Kate aside, Buffy took off, as Connor and Spike gave chase, while Angel raced over to Kate, checking on her, mainly her neck.

"You should go after her," Kate said, "I'll be fine."

"Alright. We'll take care of this."

Knowing she would be fine, Angel left Kate behind and took off, weaving across the streets as he breathed in Buffy's scent, homing in on it as it led him to a nearby park. Upon reaching it, he found Buffy in combat with Connor and Spike, but mostly the latter, as the former was currently unconscious. Moving around to behind the fight pair, Angel rushed in silently, grabbing Buffy in a half-nelson, trapping her arms.

"Hey, what the f-"

"Keep her pinned, Angel, it'll be easier to deal with her," Spike said.

"Why is Connor unconscious?" Angel asked.

"She blind-sided him with a king hit. Took him down straight away."

"Are you two going to chat all night or what?" Buffy demanded, "You know, two hot guys, one hot girl, a dark park, we should make the most of it instead."

"Spike, knock her out," Angel said.

The younger vampire shrugged and struck Buffy in the face, as she grinned, licking the blood off her split lip. Angel adjusted his hold, bringing one arm around her throat while still trapping her arms, before applying pressure to her neck. Buffy groaned, as she soon passed out, falling limp in Angel's arms.

"Or you could do that," Spike said,

"Wake Connor up," Angel said, "We're going home."

"What are we doing to do with her?"

"I don't know, but we need to let Giles know what's happened to her."

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