Giles sat on the sofa and watch Buffy talking to the media, he was not really paying attention to what she was saying he was to busy watching his slayer.

He noticed the tense line of her shoulders the way she was forcing herself to relax to appear calm. He stood up and went to the door after the doorbell sounded twice.

"Morning" he said to Angel as he made his way back to the TV. "Coffee is fresh," he said as he sat back down.

Angel made a beeline for the kitchen but quickly returned to sit next to the watcher.

"Do you know what happened?" he asked getting comfortable.

Giles gave a nod "Murder at the library" he muttered his eyes glued to the screen.

"She looks tired" Angel said looking at Giles. Who again nodded his head?

"She was gone when I woke up" the watcher said turning up the volume.

TV Conversation

Sergeant have you identified the body" the reporter asked shouldering her way into the front of the caution tape.

Buffy gave a quick shake of her head "No yet but once we do the proper channels will be followed. Please try to be patient when we know something we will let you know. Thank you all for your time" Buffy quickly turned away and walked back towards the building leaving Bill to wrap up.

"I am assuming Spike has told you the issue with Buffy" Giles said switching off the TV.

Angel smiled "Yeah I am working on it" he said getting up. "I need to talk to Dawn"

"She is gone she had to go to the university this morning to submit her forms" Giles said getting to his feet as well.

Angel signed "Ok if you see her please tell her to call me" he said as he walked towards the kitchen to rinse out his coffee mug. He was just getting ready to leave when Spike called out.

"Morning Peaches" the blond said reaching for a mug. Angel stopped and turned to the younger man.

"What are you doing today?" he asked leaning up against the counter. Spike made his coffee and took a sip.

"For a man that drinks tea Giles sure makes a mean coffee," he muttered before turning his attention to Angel.

"Not much why?" he asked moving to the table.

"Finish your coffee and go get dressed. I have something to show you" Angel smiled pushing away from the counter. He returned to the living room and switched the TV back on.

He watched the coverage hoping to get a glimpse of Buffy, half an hour later Spike walked into the living room freshly showered and ready to go.

"Just where are you taking me" he asked as they walked out to Angel's car, the older man just smiles and started the car.

***

Buffy watched them slowly lower the woman to the ground, "Take her out the back" she said to the young corner who gave a soft nod of his head as he handled the body gently.

"We have it sectioned off no media," she said turning her back to find both Mike and Bill packing up the tapes.

"Ok boys lefts head out and leave these guys to finish up" she said stopping in front of Bill.

"Call me if you need me, I will start the log in we really can't do anything until the crime scenes is done with their processing. Once they ID the body that is when we step in," she sighed.

Bill smiled and said "I will meet you at the station" he gave her shoulder a squeeze and walked away.

Buffy walked to her car the reporters called her name trying to wave her over but she offered a tight smile and got into her jeep.

***

Marcus sat on the bed in the hotel room and smiled as he watched the coverage. "Slayer nice to meet you" he said into the empty room.

***

"This is a nice building Angel but why are we here?" Spike asked as he gazed around the empty space

"How about we work together," Angel said from the doorway, he watched Spike stop and fully turn to look at him.

"Come again Peaches" Spike asked a little confused.

"Let go have a bite to eat and I will give you the details," Angel said switching off the lights and opening the door.

***

Buffy sat behind her desk trying to focus on her report; her mind kept drifting back to library and what she had seen.

"I thought you might need this" Anya said from the doorway. Buffy lifted her head to see the x-demon loaded up with a baby carryall and a large coffee and bag.

Buffy smiled and waved her in. "Anya you are a life saver" she smiled accepting the bag, which held a toasted omelet sandwich.

"We where in the area and thought we would stop in and say hello" Anya said pulling Naya free of her seat.

Buffy felt her heart swell "Every time I see her I fall in love all over again" she smiled accepting the little bundle.

Buffy and Anya talked with ease about the upcoming events; they both eat their food while Naya slept in Buffy's arms.

An hour later Anya glanced at her watch and said "Oh we have to go" she said standing up reaching for her travel bag.

Buffy stood up and place the baby back into the carryall. "Thanks Anya I truly appreciated the distraction" she smiled hugging her friend.

"BBQ at my place if you get out of here in time" Anya said moving towards the door.

"Oh Buffy"she said stopping to look at the slayer "Naya is lucky to have you she is gonna need someone like you to to run to when Xander and I are being overbearing parents" with a smile she made her way out the door.

Buffy waved her off, understanding the hidden message with a shake of her head she got back to work. Sometime later Bill poked his head in

"Summers we have and ID" he said slapping the inside of the door frame, "I will bring the report in here" he said ducking back out to return with a file.

Buffy got to her feet sighed this is the one part of her job she hated. They moved quietly down the hall towards the staircase that would take them to the morgue.

"Hey Sara" Buffy called out seeing the older woman getting the body ready for the review.

"Buffy how are you doing" Sara smiled as she pulled the sheet back. Bill took a deep breath and began to read from the file.

"Monica Shoemaker, 25 single lives at home with her parents 4 year resident at Sunnydale Medical Center" Bill paused looking at Buffy who was walking slowly around the body.

"Keep going Bill" she muttered her eyes slowly going over the victim's body trying to see if anything un natural had done this.

"Was last seen yesterday after floor rotations she was to meet up with some friends for a birthday celebration but was a no show"

Buffy continued her walk around softly calling out "Sara tell me what you found"

Sara started with the obvious "Cause of death is unknown, there is no blood in the body" as soon as those words left her mouth Buffy saw it the puncture wounds on her neck closer to the hair line then usual.

"Victims eyes, liver, heart, tongue, and lungs where removed from her body, no evidence of sexual assault. Rape kits are still being processed. There are no defensive wounds, in my opinion she was taken by surprise"

Buffy listened as the older woman finished off her report and smiled her thanks.

"Bill we should go and notify her family" she said, as they made their way upstairs.

"Buffy" Sara called out causing them to stop at the door "The person that did this know how to use a scalpel, they must have some kind of medical background, that just my opinion of course. I'll put that in my report" she muttered going back to her task.

"Mike and Casey are on their way," he said sitting down in front of her desk. Once they were back in Buffy's office. Time was lost as they worked the hour's bleed together as they tried to piece the puzzle together with what they had.

The knock on the door brought both Buffy and Bill back to reality

"Sorry I was told I could come in" Angel said he held a bag in his hand and a coffee in the other.

"Bill I brought in a few pizza's I saw the news and thought you all might of forgotten to eat" Angel said with a smile.

Bill stood up he stretched and groaned "Thanks man I am starving, Buffy I will take this and worked the rest of the time line tomorrow after the interviews. I will keep you posted, I'm off to eat then I'm headed home for some shuteye. You should do the same" he smiled picking up his paperwork and walking out giving Angel's shoulder a slap.

"That was nice of you" Buffy said sitting back in her chair her shoulder was throbbing.

"What's in the bag?" she asked as her stomach growled with hunger.

"BBQ chicken macaroni salad, potatoes and veggies" he smiled filling the chair Bill had just empted.

"Xander's famous chicken" She groaned reaching for the bag. Angel sat back and watched her eat.

Buffy asked Angel to close the door once this was done and he was once again seated she tossed him the file.

He took it and reviewed it "Can I see the body" he asked after he was done. Buffy wiped her mouth and gave a nod.

"Let me call Giles once he gets here we can go the body is being released tomorrow" she said. Angel watched her place the call.

The office was quiet while they waited for Giles, Buffy used this time to clean off her desk she made her agenda for tomorrow. She needed to be briefed on other cases and review her court dates.

Angel finally broke the silence "So how long have you been at this" he noticed the way she was favoring her shoulder.

"Bill called me a little after 1 this morning" she said getting up, he watched her pull open her door and walk from her office into a main area and look at a large board that hung on the wall.

He watched her wipe out names and dates and replaced them with others. Twice uniformed men stopped her; one she signed off on something the other he followed her back into her office.

"Sarg we are short staffed tonight Jake is off his daughter is sick and Miranda has the flu" Buffy sighed and reached for a binder, she looked at a schedule a and said, "Give me a minute or so"

Buffy made a few calls and call the young man back in "Ok Carol will cover Jake's shift and I will cover the half of Miranda's and Max has agreed to be on call for the remainder of the day and later on tonight"

Angel frowned at this it was already 6:45pm she looked tired. "So what time do u get to leave?" he asked.

Before Buffy could say anything Giles walked in, Buffy stood up with the file and said "OK boys lets get to work"

An hour later Giles was getting ready to leave and Angel was back in Buffy's office. Buffy was talking to Monica Shoemaker's parents they wanted to know what was being done to catch their daughters killer.

Angel called Spike and gave him the details on the murder and asked him to do the legwork he did not want to leave Buffy.

Buffy walked back into her office at 10:30 she was a bit shocked to see Angel still there.

"You could have left with Giles" she said sitting in her chair, her shoulder and stomach where both throbbing.

"Spike is checking the local haunts to see what he can find, I am where I need to be," he said looking her in the eye.

Buffy was too tired to argue, so she went back to work, Miranda's job was to cataloged all evidence that came into the department, Buffy made her way downstairs and signed in and began to do this.

Angel sighed with relief when he saw her return to the main office by 12:45am.

"Ok I am out of here see you all in a few hours" she smiled and waved.

"Where are your keys" he asked and caught them when she tossed them over.

"Stop at the cemetery I will do a quick sweep" she said closing her eyes. Angel was glad he has stayed.

Together they ran through the cemeteries and 4 vamps later Buffy was standing under a hot showered.

Before coming up Buffy had Thanked Angel for what he had done and had gone upstairs.

Buffy was shocked he was in her bedroom. "Your not suppose to be here" she said tightening the belt from her robe.

"I will leave once I give your shoulder a rub down, and don't say its ok. " he said when she went to protest.

"I've seen how you have been slouching and favoring it all afternoon" he said.

Buffy watched him turn his back "Lose the robe and get in bed" he said hands on hips.

Buffy did as she was told she was too tired and a rub would do her well a few minutes later she said.

"OK" Buffy mumbled she was lying flat on her stomach. Angel bit down on his arouse and pulled the sheet down to her waist.

He tried not to notice the scars that ran across her lower back. He squeezed a small amount of the ointment into the center of his hand and rubbed them together warming it in his hands.

Buffy could not stop the shiver that ran through her body when his hands met her flesh.

"Buffy you need to relax if this is going to work" he whispered, and smiled when he felt her body go slack.

Angel gently worked the knots from her back leading up to her shoulder; he smiled with each groan or sigh that passed from her mouth.

"Am I hurting you?" he asked when he got no response he leaned over and saw she was fast asleep. He gently kissed her face and pulled the covers up and left.

He stopped to wash his hands and was on his way down the stairs when Spike walked.

Spike closed the door and said, "Who is Marcus and why does he hate you so much?" he asked.

Angel was taken back by the anger in his voice, "Word is Marcus is gunning for you and is here to take away what you took from him.

***

Marcus was on the prowl he moved among the humans as if he where one himself. He decided to get familiar with his new home, he moved through the streets with a smile on his face. He saw a beautiful woman sitting outside at late night café.

"Well maybe a I'll stop for a little snack" he said to him self as he moved into the shadows to watch.

****

Spike watched as Angel hung up the phone, he turned to look at him "Cordy will fax over the file under that name" Angel said reaching for his coat.

"Buffy is sleeping I will be at my place once I get the fax I will call you" he sighed moving towards the door.

"I will come with you" Spike said getting up from the table "We can talk about what my salary will be" he joked.

Buffy was in the cords of a nightmare, she was surrounded by vampires and she could not move. She shot upright when they closed in.

"It was a dream that's all" she muttered as her hand rubbed her face. She looked at the clock and it was a little after 3 in the morning. Buffy knew she would not get anymore sleep that night so she threw back the covers.

She quickly dressed and moved through her house, Dawn was at Willows and Giles was at his place, Spike was nowhere to be found.

Buffy made her way down to the basement, she was feeling restless she went to the laundry room and from the clean clothes basket that had yet to be put away she pulled out a pair of joggers and shirt.

Soon she was walking outside the air was warm and fresh she walked slowly looking at the dark house letting her mind drift over her day and the horror she had seen.

As she crossed the park Buffy felt a tingle shoot down her back causing her to stop. Buffy took a deep breath and relaxed trying to pin point what she had heard.

When she heard nothing she began to walk when suddenly she hard a soft cry from the trees just off to the park.

Buffy took off running at top speed, she crashed threw the trees and saw a man hunched over a woman the moonlight flashed on the blade he held in his hand.

Her foot connected with his back sending him flying over the woman, who was lying on the ground bleeding from her neck and chest.

Buffy put herself between the woman and the man who was slowly getting to his feet.

"Didn't your mother ever teach you not to play with knives" she said her body tight.

****

Spike sat with Angel waiting for him to finish reading what had just come through the fax machine.

"Ok this happened about 3 years ago" Angel said reaching for his mug of coffee.

"Marcus Sandler, was a surgeon that was turned, I was on a hunt and came across both him and his sire. I staked her and nearly got him but he got away." Angel stopped to take a sip of his coffee.

"So you killed his sire and know he wants revenge," Spike asked looking confused. "Why wait so long" he asked getting to his feet, he was suddenly on edge.

"No Marcus has popped up here and there he disappeared about a year ago all my leads went cold he was famous for cutting his victims up" his voice died off as he remembered the case Buffy was working on.

"I'm an idiot," he shouted grabbing the rest of the papers and his jacket. "Come on we got to go show this to Buffy" he said.

Spike followed not saying a word.

****

Marcus took his time getting to his feet, he felt his face shimmer, he slowly turned to stare at the slayer, laughter erupted from him and he touched the tip of his knife to his temple as his other hand raked through his black hair.

"This could not be better," he laughed as he pulled at his own hair.

Buffy was a bit taken back by his response. Cold fear slid down her back as she watched him. He was laughing hysterically the knife pressed against his head so sharply the skin slit.

"My mother taught me many things," he laughed pointing to the woman on ground. "Like never to play with my food, as you can see" he said taking a step towards Buffy smiling.

"I could not help myself" he stopped just before her. "Tell me slayer is it true what they say, that you're a little slow these days because if your not feeling well" he cocked his head to the side showing mock sincerity.

"We can reschedule for another night" Marcus was relaxed he was sizing her up looking for something that would give him the upper hand.

Buffy forced herself to remain still her body relaxed, something told her this was not a run of the mill vamp. He was too controlled.

"Where did you come from?" Buffy said tossing a glance at the woman on the ground she had grown quiet. That was her mistake, the next thing she knew she was slammed up against a tree his fingers around her neck, the knife slid into her side with ease.

White-hot pain flared within her, Buffy grabbed his wrist and used sheer strength to pry his fingers from her.

"Angel will feel my pain once I am done with you, they will not be able to put you back together once I am done. How I look forward to your screams," he whispered in her ear.

Buffy tried to block out the pain, but could not stop the cry of pain as he pulled the blade free.

She watched in a daze as he slowly licked the blade clean. Once again his eyes found hers.

"I taste fear slayer," he laughed advancing once more.

***

Spike came down the stairs his body on alert he called out for Angel who was coming up from the basement.

"She is not there," Spike said swearing he should have stayed. Angel walked over to the phone.

"Who are you going to call this late" he asked wanting to leave the house and search for Buffy.

"Giles" Angel said as the phone rang.

"Ok you do that I'm going out," he said unable to wait any longer he had a horrible feeling in his stomach.

Angel caught up to him just as he cross the lot heading for the park.

"He is on his way" Angel said stopping as he felt a shudder pass through him his eyes scanned the area.

Spike watched his friends eyes turn to glowing ambers "She's in trouble" he said taking off at full speed.

Spike was right behind him.

***

Buffy head rolled back as his fist connected with her mouth, blood spurted from her mouth.

"Slayer this is a bit disappointing. I thought you where something to be feared" he laughed.

Buffy responded with a punch to his chest and followed with elbow to his face.

"That's more like it," he said slashing at her. Buffy moved out of reach, she could feel herself bleeding out.

Her body was growing tired she was fighting a losing battle she knew this in her heart. Just as he Marcus advanced on her Angel and Spike appeared Buffy could not contain her sigh of relief.

Spike went to his slayer his arms wrapped around her as her knees gave away.

"Check the girl" Buffy whispered as Spike gently laid her down on the ground.

Angel attacked Marcus with a vengeance. "You should have stayed gone," he said as he tackled him.