A/N: I know the last chapter was really short, so here's the next one in quick succession...

'This is it,' Riley said, pulling up to the kerb. 'The one with the red door.'

Buffy said nothing, slamming the car door behind her. Her jaw was clenched so hard she could feel the muscles straining, her small hands balled into fists at her sides. She felt like every part of her was suffused with anger, spun out of glass and ready to break at the slightest blow.

'Oi, Slayer!' called a familiar voice in the still night. 'What're you doin' in this unsavoury part of town so late at night? Never know what nasties might be lurkin' about.'

'Go home, Spike,' Buffy gritted out, not pausing or looking around.

'Shan't,' Spike replied lightly, strolling towards them with his hands in his pockets. Then he stopped, looked up at the row of condemned houses. 'Hang on a sec, I know where… oi, Soldier Boy, what's goin' on?' he asked, voice harsh in the cool air. 'You were meant to confess, not walk her into the bloody lions' den!'

'Shut up, Spike,' Riley hissed.

'You knew about this?' Buffy asked, shocked, looking up at Spike.

'Well, I knew there was a, uh, specialist business around here…'

'And you didn't tell me?'

'And why the bleedin' hell should I?' Spike bristled. 'Still a vampire, luv, no white hats on my hat stand.'

'Right,' Buffy said bitterly, nodding. 'I shoulda known.'

Spike looked oddly crestfallen, and she knew it hurt more than it should that he'd kept her in the dark about something like this.

Pushing her warring emotions aside, Buffy marched up the steps and kicked in the red door. Her eyes adjusted quickly to the gloom and she saw about a dozen people milling about in the cluttered room. The figure nearest to her turned, yellow eyes gleaming in the dim light, and she staked him before he could react.

'Slayer!' yelled a vampire standing near the stairs, and all hell broke loose.

A female vampire stepped up in front of her, snarling, and Buffy blocked her clumsy punch. There was blood on the vampire's lips and Buffy saw a pale young man lying behind her, looking up weakly from the stained mattress on the floor. A new surge of anger and disgust burst through Buffy and she staked the vampire with a cold, efficient fury.

By the doorway, a stocky vampire in black grabbed Riley by his shirt front. 'You!' he shouted. 'You're the one who came here with Jasmine! And now you've brought the Slayer?'

'Looks like,' Riley said, punching the vampire hard. Buffy ignored it, letting them fight, focusing on the two vampires trying to outflank her. One of them, a Hispanic guy in a hideous floral shirt, threw a punch which she ducked easily. In the distraction, his friend slipped around behind her and lifted her in a bear hug. She kicked the first vamp in the face as he approached, head-butting the one behind with brutal force. He roared in pain but didn't drop her; then suddenly his arms disappeared in a whoosh of ash and she fell to the floor. In a flash, Buffy swept out the legs of Floral Shirt Guy and pounced with a stake to send dust scattering across the filthy floor.

She turned, expecting to see Riley behind her, but it was Spike's pale hand that helped her up.

'Thanks,' Buffy said, a touch breathless.

Spike nodded, brushing vamp dust from his lapels. 'I think your boy toy's in trouble,' he said, nodding towards the corner.

Buffy looked over; there was only the stocky vampire left and he was standing over Riley, who lay on the floor clutching his throat. In two strides she was there, and a heartbeat later the vampire was dust.

Riley clambered to his feet, gasping; Buffy could see the beginnings of a nasty bruise on his neck. 'You okay?' she asked tersely.

'Yeah,' Riley said hoarsely. 'Thanks.'

Buffy nodded once and turned away, stalking out into the night.

…

'Well, someone's gone and buggered up a good thing,' Spike observed, turning to Riley. 'What the hell were you thinkin', mate? You had the Slayer in your life, in your bed, all warm and soft and golden, and you chose to come down here to this rat-hole instead?'

'I don't need a lecture on morality from you, Spike,' Riley rasped. 'The only reason I haven't staked you yet is that Buffy seems to think you're helpful.'

'Right,' Spike nodded, pursing his lips. 'I see you've been working on your delivery, I almost believed you that time. But face facts, chum – you're just not enough for her. Not man enough, and certainly not monster enough.'

Riley grimaced. 'Whatever.'

'Very eloquent,' Spike sneered, turning to go. 'Say, have you still got pals in the Army? Only now might be a good time to skip town.'

'Get away from me, Spike, or - '

'Or what?' Spike hissed, getting right up in his face. 'Like it or not, Buffy needs me around. More than that, she wants me around. Which is more than can be said for you, on both counts.' He smiled, cold and grim. 'You're not talkin' your way out of this one, y'know; the girl's finally seen sense.'

With that he turned on his heel, whisking out of the door. Riley sighed and rubbed his injured throat carefully.

Somewhere behind him a board creaked, and Riley whirled around. Standing in the gloom were two vampires, one short and greasy-haired, the other tall and blond.

'You've ruined everything,' the shorter vamp hissed. 'Nobody'll come near the place now that the Slayer's been here!'

'Picture my dismay,' Riley said, adrenaline surging at the new threat.

'Oh, I'll do more than that,' the vampire said, moving closer. 'I'm gonna take this out on your flesh, Abercrombie.'

'You're welcome to try,' Riley said bravely, looking around for the stake he'd dropped.

A searing pain struck him in one kidney, then the other. Too late he realised that there was another vampire behind him.

The agony was blinding and Riley fell to his knees, fighting the urge to vomit. One of the vampires punched him hard in the face, sending him sprawling to the floor, and another stepped in to kick him savagely in the ribs.

They're going to kill me, he thought as consciousness began to fade, and I never got to put things right with Buffy…