Author's Note:

I have to work early today so I won't be posting the final chapter until Tomorrow, which means you guys will have to wait patiently to see how the story ends. Personally it would drive me nuts to have to wait to read the last chapter, but unfortunately that's just the way it is sometimes.

If we are lucky, I'll have time to post tomorrow but I wouldn't count on it.

Chapter XIX

NEXT DAY

It was irritating is what it was, the lack of security in this place. The way she could just waltz in to his office and sit in his desk like it belonged to her.

"What are you doing here?" he demanded as he dropped a stack of files on his desk.

She grinned at him, "Just admiring the view since this will soon be my office."

Lindsey glared at her, "Really? I hadn't gotten the memo, will that be when I move upstairs?"

Lilah laughed, "Oh you wish, Lindsey. Its funny, all your talk about how you're going to rise to the top of Wolfram and Hart, the guys upstairs don't seem to agree with you."

"They told you that did they, or have you been sticking your nose in business that doesn't concern you."

Lilah stood up, "I'd say it concerns me. Seeing as, when you fail your current project I will be the one taking over. This one and every other project that they meant for you, including the V.I.S."

"What do you know about the V.I.S? That is supposed to be highly classified."

She grinned and walked around the desk, "I have my ways, Lindsey. I know a lot more about the V.I.S than you think and that includes the little project that goes with it." She headed for the door, a smug look on her face.

Lindsey glanced over his shoulder as she opened the door to walk out, "I hope you're comfortable in your office downstairs, because I don't plan on failing."

Lilah wanted to taunt him some more but really it was kind of sad even to her. He had been a good once, someone she had made it her personal goal to beat. Now he wasn't even really worth her time, because she was going to go places. Lindsey wasn't going to be going anywhere any more.

"For your sake…you had better not fail, Lindsey." It really was sad, she thought.

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Spike sat on the couch, still a little weak from what had happened to him yesterday. His back and right arm were a little tender, the skin had begun to heal but because he was on a strict pig's blood only diet, healing was taking a little longer than usual.

It was only the middle of the afternoon but he had only had four blood packets in an effort to speed up the healing process. He wanted to be ready when it was time to face their mystery attackers.

Buffy was pacing around the living room, going over everything that had happened to them in the last few days. She had come to the same conclusion as he did, whoever was behind this was obviously after both of them and they really wanted Spike dead.

She paused in front of him, "Okay, whoever is behind this, they know us. They were able to track us down, find out where we live and get inside. So it's most likely demons or vampires, but without an invitation…then again it could be both vamps and demons."

"Could be but not very likely pet, demons and vamps don't usually work together."

"Either way, they figured out how to play us. Me especially. They didn't want us to know what they were up to, do you think maybe they were trying to turn us against each other?"

Spike shrugged, "Possibly, made sure that every time something happen I was the prime suspect. I'll admit, the thought that you might have drugged me entered my mind."

Buff frowned, "But you know that I would never do that to you, right? I mean, I know we have issues and we'll probably have more issues in the future but if it ever came down to killing you-"

Spike nodded, "Wouldn't do it that way, I know. Figured as much yesterday, didn't seem like your style that's why I put the idea outta my head."

"I'm sorry, my first instinct was to blame you for what was happening and it shouldn't have been."

"Forget about it, what's done is done. We have to find out who is tryin' to off us before your mum gets here."

Buffy groaned and slumped down next to him on the couch, "Crap, tomorrow is Friday. I'm supposed to send the car to pick her up in the morning, but I can't bring her out here now, she could get hurt."

"She'll understand if you explain what's goin' on. She'll just have to wait til we get this straightened out."

The phone rang then, startling them both. Normally Buffy didn't answer the house phone because it was the number that she gave out to clients but for some reason she had a feeling that this time, she should answer.

"Hello?"

It was Lorne, "Hey Kitty Cat, you mind stopping by the club tonight…I uh wanted to talk to you about something."

"I don't know, Spike and I were going to stay in today. We're trying to figure out who is behind these attacks before my mom comes over tomorrow. I really don't want to bring her out here until we've made sure that she won't be in any danger."

"Oh that's sweet, too bad-if you don't come to the club tonight your friend is dead and tomorrow your mommy will be next." Said an unfamiliar female voice.

Buffy looked at Spike with panic in her eyes, "Who is this?"

"Oh come on Buffy, it hasn't been that long. Tell me, how's my Master doing? Wait, that's right you killed him but not before he killed you."

"Darla! But how? Angel killed you, I was there. I saw you turn to dust." Spike was at her side now, using his enhanced hearing to listen.

Darla laughed bitterly, "Yes he did didn't he, my boy killed me and then you killed him."

"How do you know about that? How did you come back?"

"My Boy tells me everything and as for the rest…you'll have to come to the club and don't forget to bring your new pet with you. It's a pity William didn't turn to dust yesterday but no worries that'll be taken care of very soon. Bye now!"

Buffy hung up the phone and looked at Spike, "Darla is back and she has Lorne, we have to get to the club before its too late."

"It's daylight out and Darla isn't one to stay and fight, she'll hold off on her plans until the sun is down that way she can make her escape if things don't go her way."

"She's at Caritas, so that's probably where the fight is gonna go down but we don't know how many others are there waiting for us. I doubt that she plans on taking us both on her own."

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"Okay boys, we know where the Slayer likes to spend her time so all we have to do is stand by and wait for her to make an appearance, the move in for extraction. Any questions?" the captain glanced at his men.

"What if she shows up with the vampire sir, William the Bloody?"

"If the Slayer shows up with William the Bloody, we try to capture him as well but our main priority is the Slayer. I'm sure the Council would love to study him, but if capture proves to be too difficult then take the first shot that you get. We can not sacrifice the mission for a vampire, no matter who he is."

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"This has 'trap' written all over it." She huffed as she stood next to him in front of Caritas.

"Probably but I reckon Darla's only got a handful of vamps with her, the hardest part will be stakin' her before she makes her grand getaway."

Buffy sighed, "Leave Darla to me, I want to personally send her back to hell."

Spike nodded at the door, "Shall we?"

Inside everything was dark and it was quiet. The tables and chairs had been pushed up against the walls leaving a wide path up to the stage, where a single spotlight was lit.

Up on stage sat Lorne, tied to a chair and with a gag in his mouth. Buffy gasped when she realized that he had taken a few hits. There was dried blood on the side of his face and he was slumped forward.

He glanced up when he heard her gasp, his eyes wide and he tried to speak but the gag muffled his words of warning.

"Terrible isn't it?" came Darla's voice from behind them

Spike rocked forward and sneered at her, "If it isn't my dear old grandmum, not looking quite as young as you used to but I reckon a few years in hell will do that to you."

Darla resisted the reflex to reach up and check her face for flaws, she knew that Spike was just messing with her. She really couldn't understand why Angelus hadn't just killed him years ago.

"William." She grinned, knowing how much he disliked his human name, "You aren't looking so well these days, maybe you need to get a little more sun. I'd be happy to help you again."

Spike snarled at her but she only laughed.

Buffy grabbed Darla and slammed her into the counter, "What did you do to Lorne?"

Darla chuckled unafraid of the Slayer, "I didn't do anything." She nodded behind them to the stage, "But he did."

Buffy dropped Darla and turned back towards the stage again, her breath caught in her throat when she saw him standing up there behind her green friend, "No."

Angelus smirked, "Hello Lover."

"But-How?"

Angelus danced to the front of the stage, "Turns out that I have some friends in high places."

Spike was at a loss for words, this was like a nightmare not only for him but especially for Buffy. Somehow, some sick bastard must have thought it would be funny to bring back Darla and Angelus.

"What do you want?" she ground out as she tried to keep from falling apart.

Angelus laughed, "Now there's a question." He dropped down so that he was sitting on the edge of the stage, "Last time we saw each other I wanted to awaken Acathala and destroy the world, but you made sure that didn't happen. What do I want this time?"

"Still playing games Angelus, hiding in the shadows while your woman does all the work." Spike glanced at Darla, "Never did have much brains of your own did you grandmum?"

Darla ignored his comment, "Make all the jokes you like William but I'll be the one to have the last laugh as I watch you crumble to dust."

Buffy was having a hard time wrapping her head around all of this. Angel was back, no that's wrong. Angelus was back and he was trying to kill her, and Spike. Not only was Angelus back but his sire Darla was back as well. How did this happen? How could something like this happen?

Why was this happening, just when she was beginning to get over him, to forget him?

"What do you want from me, Angelus?"

"Ah, there it is. That is the question you should have been asking from the beginning. You killed me, stuck a sword in my gut and sent me to hell generally in these circumstances one would come back seeking revenge."

"So you came back to kill me?"

"I don't plan on killing you, on the contrary you will be very much alive when I get through with you, I can't say the same for your new pet though." Angelus glanced at Spike, "What happened Spike, Dru didn't like that you betrayed her to the Slayer?"

Spike shrugged, "She was more concerned about her Daddy than anything else but yeah that was about it."

"Ah Dru, we'll have to pay her a visit when we're done here. I'm sure she'll be happy to see that I've returned."

"For someone who's been rotting in hell for the past two years you seem pretty sure of yourself." Buffy spat, "I may have hesitated to kill you last time, but I won't make that mistake again."

Angelus hopped off the stage and sauntered over to her, stopping when there was only two feet of distance between them, "Let me make something clear for you Buff, only three of us will be leaving this building alive." He nodded at Darla.

The female vampire had poured gasoline over the chairs, tables, and the counter. Nearly everything surrounding them was wet. She now stood near the back door with a match, ready to light it.

Buffy turned back to Angelus eyes wide, "No! Let go of Lorne. He has nothing to do with this."

Angelus thought for a second, it wasn't exactly in his nature to show mercy but he wanted a good fight with Buffy. If she was concerned about her friend she wouldn't be able to concentrate on their fight.

"You have thirty seconds to get your demon friend out of here."

Buffy ran past him to the stage and quickly untied the rope, she helped Lorne to his feet and to the back door.

As soon as she was certain that he would make it, she turned back around to face Angelus.

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One Last Chapter to go!