Unforgettable - Part 7
By Jill

Same day, 4.00 p.m.

"So we're getting the help we need after all," Spike said from his spot
beside Angel. They were sitting in Angel's car again, where more empty cans
and stuff were littering the floor. Angel sighed inwardly, that was
obviously the price he had to pay to avoid Spike's smoking. "Although I
guess the lovely Miss Chase didn't really like the way you got it."

Angel shot him a sideways glance, "No, not really. Brent Harley and her
boss, Tim Philips, were cool though. Brent checked Buffy's account
and stuff and had her already taken off his list. And Tim," now he had to
grin, "just told Cordelia that this would take care of the problem very
neatly. You should've seen her face."

Spike laughed out loud, "Too bad I wasn't there. But hey, I got to watch our
beloved Darla instead." When he saw Angel turn his head and raise a
questioning brow, he shook his head, "Nothing happened. She just did her
job. Really boring. Which reminds me, the deal isn't fair, you know. You get
to work with the lovely Buffy while I'll spend tomorrow with Alexander Harris.
What kind of mother calls her son Alexander anyway?"

"You wouldn't want to know," Angel replied thinking about Xander's mother
who was an alcoholic and his father who'd died ten years ago from liver
cirrhosis. It was almost a miracle that Xander had managed to stay clean.
"Xander's alright. Gets on your nerves sometimes, but he's a good guy.
Actually right after Buffy he was the next off my private list. He just
isn't the type to betray a friend or colleague."

"But you see the problem, don't you," Spike asked, "I mean you and," he
wiggled his brows, "Buffy. And then there's me and... well, Xander. Why do
you get Buffy and I don't get Dru?"

"Speaking of Dru-" Angel began but was cut off when his friend raised a
hand.

"Stop right there. I'm not talking about Dru. She might have been your
rookie once, but she isn't any of your business now. This is private, okay!"

It wasn't a request, it was a warning, Angel realized and was more than a
bit surprised, "Oh?" he said, one of his brows coming up.

"Yeah, oh," Spike replied gruffly. "God, I don't need this," he exclaimed.
"Why can't I just have some nice uncomplicated fling? But, no. Of course
Spike has to meet...," he paused, exhaled a long breath and ran a hand through
his short hair. "This is downright freaking you know."

His friend chuckled slightly, but there was a world of knowledge in his
eyes, "I know," he said simply. "Does she know?"

"Well," the blond hesitated for a moment, and then said, "We didn't actually
talk about it. But hell, I never thought I'd fall like this. Head over
heels. Last time... it was slowly, but surely, but this," he shook his head
as if he was still not able to understand what was happening with him. There
was annoyance in his eyes, when he added, "I avoided it. Not ever again, I
vowed and then it hits me and there's absolutely nothing I can do."

Angel had to smile at the honest despair in his friend's voice. "Dru's a
great girl. She's a great cop. But she's sweet and vulnerable so don't hurt
her. She tends to..." he began, then stopped, started again, "While she was
working with me, there was a guy. She got pregnant and he left her. Treated
her badly. She lost the baby and it almost destroyed her. So be careful," he
paused again, "I wouldn't usually tell you this, but..." he shrugged.

"I understand and I'll do my best," Spike promised, his heart going out to
the girl she'd been years ago. Thinking about her lost and lonely made him
want to kill the guy who'd done this to her and in that very moment he
suddenly understood what he'd seen on Angel's face this morning when he'd
been on the brink of breaking Riley's neck. He wasn't sure if Angel would
have gone through with it, but he knew that his friend had been close to the
edge.

"So Darla didn't do anything special?" Angel asked, changing the subject.

"No," with a sigh Spike shook his head. "She and that Kate-girl went to
investigate, then to dinner, then they were observing a guy. So I was
observing the observing team. It was so interesting, I almost fell asleep."

His partner chuckled, "Poor boy. I wish-"

He stopped when the door of the house they'd been observing suddenly opened
and Riley Finn stepped out in the open. He was on his own, his hands buried
in the pockets of his trousers, he was ducking his head and walked towards
his car. After a moment the door opened again and a short kind of man
appeared in the doorway.

"Riley," he called and the blond stopped, then turned.

"Yeah?"

"Are you sure about this?" the short man asked.

Riley's eyes narrowed, "Are you doubting my decisions?"

"N-no," the short one replied hastily, obviously afraid.

"Good," the blonde's stance relaxed and he was fumbling in his pocket for
his car keys. "Don't forget, I'm the boss in this."

"O-okay, Riley," the other man stuttered, then stepped back and closed the
door. Riley's face stayed on the door for a moment. Finally he shrugged and
went for his car, got in it and drove away.

Angel sighed and started the ignition, while Spike fastened his seat belt,
"Ain't that day fun," the blond said on a grimace, "I get to watch Darla and
Riley on one day. Tomorrow I'm going to work with Xander. I'm some lucky
guy."

*****

"Oh my God." With wide eyes, filled with shame and shock Simone
Chambers stared at the pictures on her desk. There were six of them and all
showed her and Riley Finn in an unmistakable situation. Her breath came in
shallow gasps and her mouth was suddenly dry, so that it was impossible to
swallow the lump in her throat.

She didn't dare to look up, didn't dare to look into the pair of accusing
blue eyes, the eyes she loved so much. Didn't want to see the blame in them,
didn't want to see them looking at her without love and warmth. But she knew
she had to and so she slowly raised her head, her watery eyes on the man in
front of her. "Mike, please," she whispered, "I can explain-"

"Explain, huh?" he shouted, the anger spilling over. "What do you want to
explain? There's nothing, do you hear me, nothing to explain. The pictures
tell the story very clearly. What I want to know, Simone," he said, the pain
almost consuming him, "is when you decided to make a fool of me. God, I was
such a fool," he said again, and turned away from her in disgust, a hand
combing wearily through his hair. He was 25 years old, but if someone had
told him he was hundred, he would've believed it today.

He hadn't thought of anything when he'd discovered the plain envelope on his
desk. He hadn't even thought of anything after he'd opened it and looked at
the pictures. He had almost laughed thinking it was some weirdo who wanted
to make a bad joke, until he'd recognized the face of the woman. And
although he hadn't liked seeing the woman he loved in bed with another man,
and had liked it even less when he'd realized the man was Riley Finn, he
already knew that Simone had had a life before him.

She hadn't been a virgin when they'd met, but hell, neither was he, so there
was nothing he could blame her for. Simone was a beautiful young woman and
how could he blame a man that he wanted her too. For Mike she was the
fulfillment of his dreams - or so he'd thought, until he'd seen the
engagement ring she wore on the picture. The ring, he'd sold his Harley for.
The ring he'd given her only four weeks ago.

"Mike," he heard her standing up and hesitantly stepping towards him.
Instantly his body went rigid and she stopped. "Can't we talk about this?"
she pleaded. "I need to explain why-"

"No," he said sharply. "I don't want to hear it, Simone. Or do you want to
tell me it happened before we met?"

"No," she whispered, wringing her hands, feeling cold allover. "It happened
only a few days ago," she told him, feeling utterly miserable.

"Well," he turned back to her, his face carefully blank, "at least you're
honest. I have to give you that. Although I'm not sure if I care at all." He
went for the door, when her panicked voice stopped him cold.

"Mike, he blackmailed me," she cried, sinking down to the floor, her body
racking with terrible sobs, "He blackmailed me," she whispered again,
curling into a ball.

Mike stared at her, and then slowly closed the door he'd just opened.
Closing his eyes for a moment he swallowed pain and pride and kneeled down
beside her.

*****

Same day, 6.00 p.m.

Willow Rosenberg was a person who was usually content with her life. She'd
grown up in suburban L.A. A single child of Jewish parents she'd always been
bright, had breezed through high school and college, a promising career
before her. Her parents had bragged about her intelligence and already seen
her as a doctor of kinds, when, to her parents' horror, she'd suddenly and
unexpectedly decided to join the LAPD.

Unexpectedly for her parents at least, who had no idea that she was dating a
non-Jewish boy who was extremely bright as well but whose family background
was by far not the same as Willow's.

His father had raised Oz after his mother had died when he was still little.
His father was a good guy, but he was busy with his job that demanded for
him to leave his home quite frequently and so Oz was more alone than
anything else.

He and Willow had met at college where they'd both joined a computer club.
But quickly catching on that they were already in another league, they had
decided to form their own advanced club with two members - Oz and Willow.
And soon it was Oz and Willow all the time, not only at the computer, but
everywhere else.

They hadn't told Willow's parents, not because they didn't want to, more
because it never came up. Mr. and Mrs. Rosenberg never asked and Willow
never told and so when she announced she was going to marry her long time
boyfriend they almost fainted. In the end they accepted it, but although
they weren't living far away Willow and Oz saw them barely and as the
redhead realized this very moment, they didn't even know they would be
grandparents soon.

Willow smiled and patted her still flat abdomen while she sighed in
contentment, sipping at her green tea. She was sitting on the sofa in her
living room, her feet on the table, the radio blaring in the background. It
couldn't get much better in life.

Yet, today Willow was not a happy woman.

The reason was Buffy of course, or rather her absence.

It was Willow's day off and she had used it to see her doctor, then for
shopping and she had even found the sexiest teddy she would use in the near
future to seduce her husband. A wicked little smile played on her lips at
the thought.

But she felt still itchy. And the reason was Buffy. Buffy hadn't called. Not
once. Not the whole weekend. Willow had expected her to call on Friday, but
then she'd assumed it might have been late. But Saturday and Sunday had
gone by and still nothing.

On Sunday afternoon Willow had finally called Faith but she hadn't heard
anything either and the redhead began to worry. What if anything had gone
wrong Friday night? Faith had only laughed at that and told her not to
worry, but Willow couldn't shake off the feeling that something might have
gone wrong. She tried Cordelia's office in the afternoon after she got home,
but the brunette was in court and not expected to be in the rest of the day.

So there she sat, with her legs propped on the table, the tea in her hand
and was staring at the phone as if she could make it ring by her will alone.
Of course it didn't ring. That would have been too much luck, Willow guessed
and she had the feeling that this wasn't going to be her lucky day.

She looked at her watch and sighed. Oz wouldn't be home before nine. He was
with a client tonight, checking the computer-system of a building company.
Recently they had more problems with virus alerts and now they'd hired Oz to
find out what was wrong. The job was demanding, had long working hours but
it couldn't be helped because it paid very well and they needed the money,
especially now that they were expecting their first child.

Willow had decided to work at the precinct as long as possible but there
would be a point when she would have to stop and she hadn't decided yet if
she wanted to continue working after the baby was born. If she didn't go
back to work they would need every penny. Oz' business was still young. It
was running well so far, but you never knew.

Irritated with the way her thoughts were going she glanced at her watch
again, then at the phone. It still wasn't ringing. Darn. Buffy still hadn't
called and curiosity was killing her. She could almost hear Oz telling her
that she would get all the news tomorrow at work, but that was still more
than 12 hours away. An eternity if you were a concerned friend who had been
doing her best to get two lost hearts back together.

She should have called Buffy herself. The only problem was that she wasn't
quite sure how the blond had taken the setup she and Faith had arranged at
the Splash Friday night. And Willow wasn't looking forward to Buffy yelling
angrily through the phone at the redhead for sticking her nose into things
that weren't her business. On the other hand she had to face her friend
sooner or later and maybe it would be easier on the phone. Especially if it
hadn't worked out the way Willow hoped.

With a slight frown on her forehead she finally reached for the phone.

*****

Angel sighed with relief when Riley finally pulled his car from the road and
into the driveway of a neat little white suburban house. It had been a long
drive from one end of L.A. to the other. The blond had stopped from time to
time to get a smoke, some booze, then he'd driven to a fast food restaurant and
returned five minutes later with a huge bag, emptying it while he was driving.

"I wonder why he came here?" Spike said almost to himself, but Angel had
just wanted to ask the same question. "I can't picture him around here."

"You'd be surprised," his partner, replied, "We grew up only five minutes
from here."

The blond raised a brow, "You're a suburban boy, huh? Well, well, who
would've guessed? Angel Reardon growing up in some neat little house with a
neat little family."

A bit irritated by his friend's comment Angel asked, "What's wrong with it?"

"Nothing," Spike held up his hands in defense. "It wasn't meant as an
insult. You just don't look like the neat-little-house-type. Maybe because
we met in Manhattan and I thought you fit in perfectly. But then, the part
of London I'm from isn't inner city either. Ever heard of Esher?"

"No," the other man said, his eyes on Riley who was just climbing out of the
car, stuffing the cigarettes in his back pocket and then taking two bottles
of what seemed to be Whisky out of the car. "Seems he's got a date," he
said, his attention suddenly on the little red sports car that was standing
right in front of Riley's. He was sure he had seen it before, but somehow he
wasn't able to make the connection. From the intent look on Spike's face his
friend was thinking the same.

They got their answer when the door of the house suddenly opened and a woman
stepped outside, then nervously glanced around before she held out her arms
for Riley and he went right in to them. They hugged, then she stepped back,
pulled him with her and the door closed behind them.

Angel and Spike both leaned back in their seats and some seconds ticked by
before they turned their heads and looked at each other, one with a question in
his eyes, the other with dawning understanding. A moment later Angel muttered a
curse under his breath, jerked out his cell phone and dialled Cordelia Chase's
number.

*****

same time, somewhere else in L.A.

"Buffy?"

"Hmmm?"

Xander slowly turned his head to get a better view of his partner who was
sitting in the passenger side seat, eyes closed, but obviously not asleep.
He chuckled at the picture and popped some chocolate in his mouth.

"In ten years all your teeth will fall out," Buffy remarked without opening
her eyes. She knew her partner very well and didn't have to look to know
what he was doing at the moment.

He chuckled again and shrugged, "Yeah, well. Then I'll get artificial ones.
They have a certain advantage. You can take them out before a fist-fight, so
they won't get punched out."

One eye cracked open, "A fist fight? Xander, the last fistfight you were
involved was 20 years ago in high school. And I can't remember you losing a
tooth."

"A guy always needs an excuse," he replied grinning happily, stuffing more
chocolate in his mouth.

"You know," Buffy said, straightening in her seat, "You and Spike will be
the perfect pair. Angel said his car is littered with empty chips bags and
cans of soda. This Internal Investigation is a gift from heaven for the two
of you."

"And you're certainly completely devastated that you have to spend your time
with Angel, am I right?" he shot back, a mischievous glimpse in his eyes. He
saw that she was about to reply and held up a hand, "No. I'm glad, I really am.
I know I never really liked the guy, but that's just my big brother
attitude. Putting it aside, I think Angel's a good guy. And you deserve
whatever you wish for after what Riley put you through."

Her head jerked around, "What do you mean?" she asked, suddenly alarmed. Had
anyone told him about the other night? Maybe Cordelia, she thought. She and
Xander had once been high school sweethearts. But would Cordelia-

"What do I mean?" he interrupted her thoughts, "Well, let's think about it.
Do the words adultery and violence ring a bell?" He was clearly irritated.
Did she think he would ever forget what Riley Finn had done?

Buffy released a breath of relief, "Oh that," she said almost carelessly.

Xander narrowed his eyes, "Oh that? What do you mean, oh that? I think
that's enough. If you ask me, you waited way too long to dump him. And you
should let him bleed."

"Xander, Riley doesn't have a lot of what you call 'blood'," she emphasized
the last word. "He doesn't have a rich background. Neither do we, if I may
remind you. But if you want to know if I'm going to get what he owes me, the
answer is, yes."

"Good," he replied with a single nod and took a large gulp from his drink.
"You know-," he never got to say what he wanted when both their cells
started to ring went off. They exchanged a quick glance, and then unison
reached for their phones.

*****

"Eunice, calm down," Riley said to the almost hysterical woman. She was
pacing through the living room of the house he'd just entered. She was
petite, almost fragile, her skin lucid like expensive porcelain doll, and
shining dark hair. In the artificial light of the lamp she looked almost
like a fairy, a very agitated, nervous fairy.

Eunice stopped her pacing and bit her thumbnail, "Calm down?" she echoed and
frowned. "I can't calm down. What if he finds me?" she asked. "God, he found
me before. How do you know it'll be different this time?"

"Because I made sure he didn't," he replied trying to approach her. But she
held her hands in front of her body and he stopped instantly. "Nikki,
please," he said using her nickname. "You don't need to worry. I'm expecting
a lot of money tomorrow and then you'll be on your way to a place where
he'll never find you."

Tears filled her eyes and her lips began to tremble, "It sounds wonderful,"
her voice quivered, "Oh, Ri, I'm so afraid."

With two steps he was with her and pulled her in his arms, "Shhhh," he
crooned. "Don't be afraid. I'm here now. I'm here now. I promise, he won't
hurt you again. Never again."

They both almost jumped out of their skins when suddenly the doorbell rang.
Eunice pulled away from him, her eyes widened in panic, "Oh God. He's found
me. Oh God-"

"Stop that," Riley almost shouted. "Do you really think Pedro would ring a
bell, if it was him? Think rationally, Nikki."

"I-," she stopped and her panic subsided slightly, "You're right. But... Oh
God, you have no idea what he'd do with me if he found me."

"Oh, I think I do," he replied, taking a deep breath. "You stay here, I'm
going to see who's there. Probably some Jehovah's witness." Assuring himself
with a last look that she was holding up - even if just barely - he turned
and went for the door. He gasped when he saw who was standing right in front
of him, "Angel? Spike?"

"Yeah, it's us," Angel retorted, not waiting to get invited, instead pushing
the surprised detective aside and entering the house, Spike in his tow.
Ignoring Riley completely, he proceeded to the living room and when his eyes
fell on the woman there, he raised a brow, "Hello, Nikki," he said, "Nice to
see you again."

The woman whirled around, "Angel," she whispered breathlessly, her confused
eyes darting to Riley. "What's going on?" she wanted to know.

"Good question," Angel said. Crossing his arms he turned towards Riley, "And
I'd really like to hear the answer. And you'll better tell us soon."

"What the hell are you doing here?" Riley asked, not willing to play the
defensive part, "Are you following me around?"

"As a matter of fact, yes," Spike said, smiling slightly.

Riley frowned at that, and then incredulously asked, "You were really
following me? Why the hell did you do that?"

"Because it's what we do," Angel answered, "It's the job we're paid for."

"You are paid to follow me?" Riley still didn't understand, then it hit him,
"You're working for Internal Affairs. I can't believe it," he shook his
head, chuckled, "But I should've known. From the moment Giles told us you
were coming back I had a bad feeling. But why are you following me? And why
Internal Affairs?" he wanted to know, honestly surprised. "Is there a dirty
cop running around?"

"That's what I wanted to ask you," Angel said casually. "Is there one?"

"You-" Riley was speechless for a moment, then ran a hand through his short
hair, "You think I'm the dirty cop?"

"You have to admit, you're behaving a bit suspicious these days," Spike
said, glancing at the nervous woman who was biting her lower lip at the
moment. "And I would really like to be introduced to this beauty here," he
added.

"What?" with an irritated frown Angel looked at him. "Oh. Sorry," he said as
if remembering the woman's presence again, "Spike, this is Eunice Montez.
The name should ring a bell," he told his friend, "Her husband is Pedro
Montez."

"Pedro Montez, the drug lord?" Spike asked suprised, things suddenly making
sense to him, others however... "And why is she here?"

"She is Montez's wife," Angel replied, "but she is also Riley's sister."

"His sis- Bloody Hell," his friend cursed under his breath. "And why didn't
anyone care to tell me that?" he demanded.

"Because she left the States 20 years ago when she married Montez," Angel
explained. "As far as I knew Riley broke off any contact when she married
the man," he turned to look at his former friend, who nodded.

"That's right," Riley confirmed. "We didn't see each other for over 19
years. We didn't talk. Nothing."

"Riley, no," Eunice pleaded.

"It's no use, Nikki," he said. "They need to know. You know Angel, he won't
leave until he knows the truth."

Spike raised a brow in surprise. This was a Riley he hadn't seen before. Was
he protecting his sister? That was something Spike could relate to.

Eunice looked back and forth between the three men, and then finally
released a sharp breath. "Alright," she began, "It all started ten months
ago. Pedro - that's my husband," she said, looking at Spike. "I'm older than
Riley. By five years. I'm his half-sister. My father was never married to my
mother. But I came to stay with my father's new family from time to time.
That's how I met Angel too."

She combed shaky fingers through her hair. "I fell in love with Pedro when I
was eighteen. He was so handsome, so," she fought with tears that were
threatening to spill over. "My family was furious. He was from Colombia and
there were rumors that he wasn't what he seemed to be. But I was young and
in love and so we ran away. Married in Vegas. And it was good - at first. He
seemed to love me too. Then when I got older I began to ask questions and he
didn't like it.

"I tried to leave him. More than once. But he is very... old-fashioned.
Divorce isn't a word in his dictionary and so he threatened me. We have two
children. But they're grown up now. They can be on their own. Ten months ago
I managed to get a letter through to Riley. Pedro was planning to visit the
States to meet with a partner in Miami. And he wanted me to come with him.
Show off his pretty wife, if you understand."

"I can follow," Spike said, his face grim.

She smiled slightly, a sad, hopeless smile, "One night I just ran away. And
I called Riley again, hoping against hope that he'd help me." She turned
towards her half-brother, her smile suddenly warm and loving, "And he did.
He picked me up and hid me. Over the last few months I've been to so many
places I don't remember. Pedro is still searching for me. You have no idea
what he's going to do if he finds me."

"I see," Angel said after listening to her story. He gave Eunice a smile,
she returned hesitantly. They had spent good times together in their youth
and they were both remembering it now. "So that's your connection with
Simone Chambers," he said turning back to Riley. "You are blackmailing her
for money, aren't you?"

Riley stared at him for a moment, ready to deny it, but realizing that it
was useless, "Yeah," he admitted on a released breath. "I found out things
about her father. Things that... could get him into jail and she was willing
to pay for them."

"You mean instead of reporting him, of doing the things you should've done,"
Spike remarked, "you used that knowledge for yourself?"

"He did it to help me," Eunice pleaded her brother's case. "You don't know
Pedro, you have no idea what he'd do to me if he found me."

"Oh, I think I have a pretty good idea," Spike replied, not giving an inch.

"I think you have absolutely no idea," Eunice retorted, her voice suddenly
cold as ice, "I've seen him do things, you wouldn't believe in your worst
nightmares. He's a man without a conscience. He feels like a king and he
acts like one. And I mean that in the worst sense."

"Nikki," Angel said gently, putting a hand on her arm, "I know you're
afraid-"

"Afraid," she echoed, shaking off his arm, "I'm not afraid. Angel, I stopped
being afraid a long time ago. I'm terrified. Pedro is a monster. I know my
children are safe from him because his family honor would never allow him to
hurt them. But I'm a traitor in his eyes. I embarrassed him by running away.
There will be no mercy if he finds me."

Angel took a deep breath and exchanged a glance with Spike. Then he turned
back to Eunice, "I'm sorry for all this, Nikki."

"Then help me," she pleaded.

"I can't. Not in the way you want it."

"Angel," Riley interrupted, "It's only one day. Give me one day and Nikki
will be gone. Then I'm going to turn myself in. God knows there's a lot more
I have to sorry for."

The dark-haired man's face hardened instantly, and his thoughts went to
Buffy for a moment, "Yeah," he agreed. "There is." Something flickered
through Riley's eyes but it was gone too quickly to identify it. Was it
shame? Was it guilt? Even regret? Angel couldn't be sure.

"So you will give us 24 hours?" Riley asked hopefully.

"I can't do that," Angel replied. A soft sob came from behind him and he
knew that Eunice had started crying. "Riley, you know I can't let this
happen. You blackmailed another person. You're a cop for God's sake, doesn't
that mean anything to you?"

The blond looked at his former best friend for a long moment, before he
said, "If it means any- I was desperate, Angel. Desperate people tend to do
crazy things. I tried, you know. I tried to get the money. I used everything
I inherited. I took out a loan, but my wife's divorcing me and in California
that doesn't get banks jumping at the opportunity to trust you with their
money. Pedro will kill her, Angel. I couldn't let that happen."

"I understand that," the dark-haired man said gently, "But what I can't
understand is what you did to help her. You blackmailed Simone Chambers. You
had proof that would probably get her father arrested and you used it for
your own purpose. I can't act as if it never happened. Why didn't you
contact the FBI?" he asked. "They would've helped you. Maybe she knows
things about her husband. It would give them a reason to take her in
protective custody, maybe give her a new identity. There's always another
way, Riley."

"So this ends here, huh?" the blond said, a myriad of emotions playing on
his face.

"Yes," Angel confirmed. "It ends here. Give me your weapon, Riley. I promise
I'll look after Eunice." He held out his hand, waiting for his former friend
to hand him his gun.

"Oh God," Eunice sobbed behind them and Spike and Angel were distracted only
for a moment. It was enough for Riley to draw his weapon and direct it
towards the other officers.

"Don't do this, Riley," Angel said quietly, when he saw the gun.

"I have no choice," the blond said, desperation clearly audible in his
voice. "This is my sister we're talking about. I have absolutely no choice."

"We won't let you leave this house," Spike told him very calmly.

"Then you'll probably die today," Riley replied. "And I'm sure you don't
want that. So you'll better stay away. Come on Nikki," he told his sister.

Eunice glanced quickly at Angel and Spike, and then rushed to her brother's
side. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

"Riley, please don't do this," Angel tried one last time.

"Sorry," the blond shrugged, "I have to."

*****

"God, drive faster," Buffy demanded, "Drive faster, Xand. Something's wrong.
I know something's wrong. I can feel it." She was nervously chewing on her
lower lip.

"I'm driving as fast as I can," Xander replied, not taking his eyes from the
traffic. The last thing they needed were an accident to slow them even more
down than L.A. traffic did. "Buff, don't worry. Angel and Spike are good at
what they do. They can take care of themselves."

"I know," she said. "But this is a weird situation. This is about Riley.
There are so many unfinished things between them. Angel and Riley, I mean.
This is much more than just a simple problem." She thought for a moment, "We
could use the siren."

"Buffy, they only informed Cordelia that they needed to confront Riley. They
never even requested support. It was Cordelia who said we should go there,
so we knew what was going on. There isn't an emergency."

"Maybe not, but I still have a bad feeling."

Xander chuckled slightly at that. He remembered all the bad feelings Buffy
had when she and Angel were first dating four years ago. He could understand
that she was worried about him. Anya was constantly worried when he left in
the morning. But so far, nothing had happened.

But then the speaker in their car came to life and the voice that came
through made their blood freeze in their veins. Without another word, Xander
pulled out the light and put in on top of their car, the sirens howling,
while he floored the accelerator and the car shot through the traffic. He
looked to his side. Buffy was white as a sheet, all blood drained from her
pretty face, her eyes huge with fear, she was trembling all over and the
voice from the speaker asked, "Did you hear, 633, there's an emergency,
detective Stevens just reported officer down. Please confirm message,
officer down."

With a last glance on Buffy, Xander pulled the micro to his mouth,
"Confirming," he said, "We're almost there. Is it bad?"

"Sorry, Detective Harris, Detective Stevens didn't say that. But I suppose
as he wanted us to send for medical help."

"Thanks, officer," Xander said, breaking the connection. "He'll be okay," he
tried to assure Buffy.

"You don't know that," she replied, her voice hollow, hopeless. "Oh God,
Xand. What am I going to do if he-" her voice broke and she hugged herself
tightly.

"He won't," Xander's voice was firm. "Do you understand? We don't even know
if it's Angel."

"Xander, Spike called in. Whom do you think he was talking about?" she
cried. "And now stop talking. Drive. Oh God," she yelled, "Drive."

*****

There were other police cars on the scene already when Xander brought his to
a screeching halt in front of the small suburban house. A uniformed officer
was busy applying tape around the crime scene.

Even before the car stopped completely, Buffy jumped out and ran for the
house. Pushing everyone in the way aside, she stormed through the door,
shouting Angel's name. She had to expected him lying there, in his blood,
maybe on the brink of dying, but she was completely unprepared for the scene that
met her eyes.

Angel was sitting on the ground, Riley's head in his lap, while Spike stood
with two other detectives asking them to call the FBI. A woman she didn't
know was kneeling by Angel's side.

Sensing the commotion at the door Angel looked up and his eyes instantly
locked with Buffy's who gasped in shock. He was holding Riley, and from a
hole in her husband's chest came a constant stream of blood. Angel had
obviously tried to apply pressure by using his shirt, because there was
something unidentifiable, soaked with blood and Angel was bare-chested.
Buffy's eyes flew to Spike, who looked at her the moment he became aware of
her presence. He shook his head slightly, indicating her without words that
Riley wouldn't make it.

Buffy kneeled down beside Angel and her eyes found his again. They communicated
silently over Riley's dying form and there was pure love in their eyes.

Suddenly Riley's head moved in Angel's lap and his eyelids fluttered,
"Angel," he whispered, then his eyes fell on his wife, "Buffy," he said and
smiled. "Good to see you. I'm sorry." He coughed and felt the sharp pain in
his chest.

She closed her eyes for a moment, and then nodded, "I know," she replied,
giving him a smile. "I know you didn't want to hurt me, Riley."

"No," he shook his head, another cough wracking his body, and he tasted
blood in his mouth. He was really going to die today, he thought. He
should've known from the expression on the faces that were looking down on
him. "No, that's - that's not what I mean," he whispered. "Although I'm
sorry for that too." He chuckled slightly and it hurt. "I'm sorry for so
many things, I don't even know where to begin."

"Don't talk Riley," Angel's voice sounded strained. "You're going to need
your strength."

"No need to lie, Angel," Riley replied, chuckling again. "I don't have a lot
of time left, so I better get started admitting my sins."

"Oh God, Riley," Eunice sobbed, her trembling hands brushing her brother's
hair from his forehead, her eyes resting on him lovingly.

"Riley-" Angel tried.

"No," he interrupted the dark-haired man. "There's a lot I need to say. I
killed Mike," he said without warning.

Angel's eyes widened, while Buffy let out a gasp, "Wha - What did you say?"
she demanded.

"I killed him. I shot your brother."

"You..." Buffy stared at him, obviously not able to digest the revelation.
"You killed Mike?" she whispered brokenly. "Oh my God."

"God, Buffy," Riley cried, hot tears falling down his cheeks, "I didn't do
it deliberately. I never... It almost killed me when I read the report, when
I read with my own eyes that only three bullets were missing from Angel's
weapon. I thought the whole chamber had been empty. But then..." he shook
his head, the pain and torture in his eyes almost taking her breath away.

"I used Angel's weapon that evening. But I never... Then two years later I
came across the report. And reading it I remembered. I must have suppressed
it. I read it up. They call it suppressive amnesia. I was aiming for one of
the bank robbers at the window and without warning Mike was suddenly right
in my line of fire. I shot him. Then I accused Angel, married you. But I
swear by God, I didn't know. I didn't remember."

"I believe you," Buffy whispered, her eyes searching Angel's again and she
found the same sadness in them.

"After... After I knew what I'd done. I..." he shook his head again, another
cough wracking through his body.

"Riley, why didn't you tell them," Angel wanted to know. "You didn't kill
him. It was an accident." He looked down at the blond whose cheeks were wet
with tears and in whose eyes was nothing but despair.

"Tell them?" Riley said almost incredulously. "She would've left me," he
cried, turning his head back to Buffy. "You would've left me. I saw the way
you reacted when you thought it was Angel. And you loved him. You never
loved me."

"Riley-" she tried to protest, but he interrupted her.

"No need to lie, Buffy. I knew it. Right from the start. But I loved you.
You were the love of my life and... I had the irrational thought I could
make you love me back. But you can't people force to love you. Two years ago
I couldn't face that. So I didn't tell you and you didn't leave me. But I...
felt unworthy to be at your side... so I... did everything to make you hate
me and it... worked," he chuckled again. An unhappy sound.

"Riley." Angel had no idea what to say. He knew nothing he could say
would be what Riley needed. His former friend needed to forgive himself, and
Angel wasn't sure if he was able to do that. Again images of Riley laughing
with him, of Riley joking, them together playing football, flashed through
his mind, and he felt a lump forming in his throat, "I'm sorry," he
whispered.

"Yeah, I know," shook his head, "I know you are, although you have no reason
to be. You're a much better person than I ever was. I envied you... God, I
was so jealous."

"Why?" Angel wanted to know. "You were my best friend. My best and most
trusted friend. Why did you have a reason to be jealous?"

A smile that was somewhere between sadness and bitterness crossed the
blonde's features, "You're still oblivious, aren't you? You have no idea,
Angel, how it feels to grow up in another man's shadow."

"But I never-"

Now Riley laughed, but it was not a happy sound, "I know that. You never saw
it that way, but then you were the shadow I was growing up in. You might not
believe it, not even now, but it was that way nevertheless."

"I never saw anything in you but my friend," the dark-haired man insisted.

"Yeah. A friend." Riley nodded almost to himself. "But you were always
number one. Can you imagine how often my father said he wished I was like
you? How disappointed he was in me? I was a loser."

"You never were-"

"But you see, that's exactly the point. I was a loser. In his eyes I was and
what happened over the last four years proved it. And my father admired you.
You were the quarterback of our high school team, then again in college. You
got two scholarships for college. Your parents couldn't stop telling mine
about their great son. And all I managed to be was your friend. Did I ever
tell you that the first girl I slept with in college went to bed with me
because she couldn't have you?"

"Oh Riley," Angel said helplessly.

"Yeah, what did I say? I'm the loser," he chuckled again, softly this time.
The gunshot wound didn't hurt anymore and he remembered that fatal
wounds never did. "She always loved you," he said, suddenly changing the
subject. "I lost there too. I fell in love with the same woman and she
never, not once, stopped loving you. And I knew it. That's when I really
started hating you. You don't have to tell me how irrational that is, but...
I couldn't stop it."

"I'm sorry," Angel said again. And he was. For the loss of a man who had
once been his best friend. And for the man who was lying in his lap, and who
had lost himself by wallowing in self-pity and nursing his jealousy.

"Yeah, I'm sorry too. For more than you can imagine." He was getting weaker
by the second and he could almost feel his life slip away. "Nikki. I'm
sorry," he whispered, "I can't keep my promise."

"Oh Riley," his sister cried softly, "I love you. Without you I wouldn't
have been able to leave him."

"I love you too," he replied, then grabbed Angel's hand urgently, "I know I
have no right to ask anything from you, but please take care of her. She
needs... help. She told the... truth... Pedro is... dangerous."

"I know. I promise, Riley. I'll help her."

The blond smiled, released a breath of relief. "Good," he said, his eyes
already clouded over, but nevertheless searching for Buffy. "I love you," he
whispered. "I... always... sorry..." A shiver ran through his body, then
suddenly his eyes became unfocussed, unseeing, and his form went slack in
Angel's arms.

*

"Angel, Spike," Cordelia shouted pushing past the police officers who were
standing in the doorway. She released a breath she hadn't even noticed she'd
been holding when she saw the two detectives standing and obviously
unharmed, but a frown appeared on her face seeing them each holding a woman
in their arms. It was not so surprising to see Angel holding Buffy, but she
didn't know the other one.

Her eyes fell on the paramedics who were busy covering a body on the ground.
"What happened?" she asked.

Slowly Angel raised his head, "Riley's dead," he said and a sob came from
the woman in Spike's arms. "This," he indicated the woman, "is Eunice
Montez. She's Riley's sister. And Pedro Montez' wife."

"Oh," was all Cordelia replied. Riley's sister was Pedro Montez' wife.
Interesting. "Still, I need to know what happened."

"Riley tried to leave with his sister," Spike explained, knowing how hard it
was for Angel or Buffy to talk about it. "Eunice here," he gave the woman in
his arms a quick smile, "wants to leave her husband, but it seems he isn't
taking it too well. So Riley tried to help her and in order to do that he
blackmailed Simone Chambers. Angel tried to persuade him to talk to the FBI, but
he wouldn't have it. He pulled his gun and wanted to leave with his sister. Of
course we couldn't let him do that."

"And so you shot him?" Cordelia asked incredulously.

"No," Spike slowly shook his head. "And that's where the story gets really
interesting. Riley opened the door and wham he went down. While Angel took
care of him and Eunice, I tried to find the killer. But he was gone. Or
maybe he used a long distance weapon. I have no idea. We'll have to wait for
the coroner's report, I guess."

"Are you telling me that someone shot Riley, while he was about to leave the
house?" Cordelia needed to be absolutely sure she had heard right.

"Yes, that's what we're telling you," Angel confirmed, holding Buffy close.
She was completely shaken. First she had been consumed by fear it was Angel
who was shot him and then Riley's revelations had done the rest. "Cordelia,
I need to get Buffy home. Riley told us a lot before he died." He stroked
Buffy's back and kissed her skull, "He shot Mike."

The brunette gasped, "He, what?"

"It was an accident. But it ate him up. Can we talk about this later? Buffy
needs some rest."

"Yes, yes, of course, take her home," she replied instantly and watched them
leave, Angel carrying the blonde more than she was walking. Then she ran a
hand through her hair, "God, this... this is..."

"Yeah, I know," Spike agreed, still holding Eunice. "Pretty heavy. I
contacted the FBI," he explained. "They'll take care of her."

"Good," Cordelia nodded in agreement. "He really shot Mike?" she asked.

"Yeah," the blond nodded as well. "I thought Buffy would faint. She's going
to need a while to get over this."

The brunette wanted to answer, but two FBI agents entered the house and
after a little conversation with Cordelia, Eunice and Spike they agreed that
Riley's sister was in need of protective custody. As soon as they had left,
the assistant DA put a hand on Spike's arm. "What do you think about a cup
of coffee? I need one and you could tell everything what happened here. I
have a feeling it's quite a lot."

Spike grinned for the first time, "I would never refuse the invitation of a
pretty woman," he said and made her smile. "Come on, Miss Chase, let's
talk."

****

"Buffy," Angel said softly after he had closed the door of her apartment
behind them.

"Yeah," she replied, without looking up, without really paying attention.

"I want you to lie down."

"No," she shook her head, giving him a smile that almost broke his heart, "I
can't lie down. Riley just died. I need to organize things." She nodded to
herself, "Yes, I'm sure there are things to be done. I'm still his wife, you
know, I need-"

"You need to lie down," he told her gently but firmly. When she didn't
react, he took the matters in his own hands by scooping her up in his arms.
Glad she didn't protest, he carried her into her bedroom and gently put her
down there. "Stay here. I'm just going to get you a cup of tea. I'll be back
in a minute. Okay?"

She nodded but didn't look at him. He was sure she was still in shock and he
hurried to make some tea and a sandwich for her, although he was almost
certain she wouldn't eat one bite. Returning to her room he found her in the
same place he had left her, staring at the ceiling, her eyes dry and
incredibly sad.

"Here," he said softly, sat down on the edge and held the tea towards her
direction. Her eyes focused slowly on him and in autopilot she took the cup
and drank a large gulp. He winced seeing her drinking the hot brew like
that, but she didn't even seem to notice. "Easy," he said, taking the cup
back. "Do you want anything to eat?"

She shook her head, but didn't lay back. Instead she was looking at him. "He
killed Mike," she said, and each word seemed to hurt her throat. "He killed
my brother and I let him touch me. I married him. I hurt you and sent you
away and all the time it was him-" her voice broke and she squeezed her eyes
shut. "Oh Angel," she whispered.

Angel wanted to touch her. He was dying to taker her into his arms and hold her,
to try to soothe her, calm her down. But for the moment she'd set up this
invisible boundary around herself and now she even crossed her arms, and he
didn't want to trespas over the line. They had kissed just once, but in no way
they had established what sort of relationship they were in.

She frowned, "I even enjoyed him touching me. For a while. It was fun. And he was
touching me with those hands. The same hands that held the gun." Her voice was
flat, and she began to shiver.

"Buffy, stop," Angel pleaded. "Don't do this to yourself. You had no was of
knowing what was going on."

"No I couldn't," she admitted, and looked at him searchingly, eager to find the
prove for the honesty in his words in his eyes. Sh reached for him then. She
unwound her arms and reached out for him, giving him the permission to take her
in his own arms.

The next moment he held her tightly and after only a second hers came
around his neck. "He was messed up, Buffy," he was whispering too, trying to
explain where there was no explanation. How did you explain when a person
had lost himself? "He was eaten up by jealousy. But I'm sure he loved you.
And when he found out it was him who killed Mike he couldn't bear it. I'm
not trying to find an apology, because there is none. But I can understand
what was happening to him. And I'm absolutely sure he loved you."

"I want to believe it," she cried into his neck. "I want to believe that he
killed Mike by accident, and that he didn't remember when we married, but at
the moment I feel so... so..."

"I know," he replied, "I know. Nobody expects you to forgive him. God knows
I can't. Not now. Maybe never." He took a deep breath, "Do you want me to
stay?"

"Yes," she said, tightening her hold on his neck. "I don't want to be alone.
Stay with me."

"As long as you want me," he whispered and lay down beside her. With their hands
entwined they fell asleep.

... to be continued