Spike lay on Giles' couch. He was battered and bruised and could barely talk, but he somehow managed to get out the story of what happened to him. The gang was astonished. "Why would Riley do this?" was an often repeated question. Everyone felt bad for Spike and helped in any way they could. Willow got a blanket for him, Dawn retrieved a pillow out of the bedroom, and Anya just sat next to the couch rambling on until Spike yelled for her to stop.
"Hey watch it! That's my girl you're talking to mister!" cried Xander. Spike give him the two finger salute which was the equivalent to being told to fag off.
"So what do we do about this Giles?" asked Xander. The two were having a discussion in the kitchen, away from everyone.
"I don't know. I suppose we should keep him here til he rests up." Giles responded.
"I don't know. What if Riley comes over? It'll be the ass kicking of a century when Riley sees Spike. I think we should just bring him back to his crypt and leave him there." Xander said.
"Are you mad?" Giles asked with a hint of disbelief in his voice. "We do that and Spike is surely dead."
"Is that such a bad thing?" asked Xander. Giles gave him a warning look. "As long as Spike is in my house, no harm will come to him."
Hours passed and soon Buffy was back from patrolling. She looked tired and worn out from the day. "So what's up?" she asked as she looked in the fridge for a soda. She opened it up an began to drink as she turned to face everyone. She had not noticed it before but everyone was staring at her.
Giles was the first to speak. "Something happened. Something with Riley."
Buffy put her drink down immediately. "What happened? Is he ok?" Buffy quickly asked.
"He's fine love, it was me who got the beating." came Spike's voice as he walked out from the bedroom, now fully rested but still covered in bruises, cuts and scrapes.
"Spike what are you doing here?" Buffy demanded. "And what happened to Riley?!"
"Riley got his friends after Spike." Dawn cut in.
"Yeah, they beat the crap out of him." Anya said.
Spike gave Anya a look of frustration. "Yeah, they got the best of me tonight. Took four of'em, but they got their job done. Your boy toy was the one behind it." He paused for a moment and then turned his back to light a cigarette. " Not so perfect is he now Slayer?"
"There must be some mistake. Riley wouldn't do this. He has no reason to. I mean why-?" Buffy was interrupted before she could finish her statement.
"He did this to me and you still protect him?!" Spike yelled in disbelief. " People aren't everything you hope for sometimes Slayer. You of all people should know this. People change..."
There was a knock on the door. Spike immediately went for it but was held back by Giles and Xander. "Willow, answer the door! Giles and Xander, take Spike in the bedroom." Buffy ordered.
It was Riley. "Hey what's up? Just out around and figured I'd drop by to see you."
Buffy stared at him as did every other person in the room. "What's going on?" asked Riley.
"How could you? How could you Riley?" demanded Buffy.
"How could I what?" asked Riley who was obviously playing dumb.
"You ordered your men to take care of Spike? To teach him a lesson? Is that what you did?" asked Buffy who was now in a tempered mood.
"I don't know what you're talking about." Riley said.
A slight crash could be heard inside the bedroom and a low groan. "Cut the crap." Spike said as he walked out. "You ordered your boys on me. Tell her." he said as he pointed towards Buffy who had never taken her eyes off of Riley. "Tell her!" he yelled.
"It wasn't like that. He's lying. He attacked my friends and they had no choice. It was self defence." Riley was quick to say, now sweating a bit. He took Buffy's hand. "He's lying Buffy."
Buffy looked at him with an almost disgusted look. "Why would he attack four guys? He has a chip in his head for God's sake! How could he possibly do this?!" Buffy was visibly angry. She yanked her hand away. "What did you do Riley?"
"Ok so maybe I did order my men to take care of Spike." Riley began. "But he wants to hurt you Buffy. He wants to hurt us. Don't you like what we have together Buffy. The two of us? He wants to take that away and I won't let him. I love you too much to let him break us apart." Spike interrupted at this point.
"That's a lie! You're jealous of me and the Slayer and you want me out of the picture." Spike said.
Riley glared at Spike. "This is all your fault!" he yelled as he jumped at him.
He caught the bruised vampire with a tackle and then began throwing punches at him. Spike was defenceless. He put up his hands to block the punches. Buffy had had enough of this and pulled Riley off of Spike. He pushed her down and looked up to see Spike coming at him. Spike now wore the vampire face and was ready for a fight. Riley used Spike's own momentum against him as he threw him through a window. "How do you expect to win this? You can't even hit me without causing yourself pain." Riley laughed. He went to throw a punch at the fallen Spike but his attempt was caught by Buffy who was now behind him.
"Stop it!" she yelled.
"No. It ends here. He should have died a long time ago. And now I'm gonna do it!" Riley cried.
"No I won't let you." Buffy said. "You don't have a choice." Riley responded as he stunned Buffy with a right elbow. Then like a reflex, Riley took out a weapon and shocked Buffy with it. The same weapon that was used on Spike. The Slayer fell to the ground as the Scoobies rushed to her aid. She was unconscious. Giles advanced towards Riley, determined to stop him but Riley warned him quick enough.
"Don't be a fool!" he shouted at the former Watcher. Giles backed off and joined the others who were trying to revive Buffy.
"Now for you Spike." Riley said as he focused his attention to Spike who was on one knee.
"Should of told you one thing mate...." Spike said with a grin.
"Oh yeah and what's that?" Riley taunted.
"That electric shocker you boys have. Well it done a good job. In fact, it made me soddin' chip malfunction. I can hit people!" Spike said as he came up with a strong uppercut which floored Riley.
Spike wiped the blood from his mouth as Riley got back to his feet. "Good. I'm glad your chip doesn't work anymore. I won't feel so bad about destroying you now." Riley commented.
He threw a kick at Spike which caught the overzealous vampire in the knee and rocked him a bit. Riley went for another but Spike jumped back and regained his composure. "C'mon then. Is that all?" he laughed.
Riley was infuriated. He lunged at Spike who sidestepped and pushed him into a brick wall. Riley's nose broke instantly and blood began to pour from it. He grumbled in pain. Then came a left backhand from Riley which Spike never saw until it was too late. He went down for a moment. Riley jumped on him like he did before inside Giles' home. "Now you're gonna get it." he said. Spike kneed him in the groin and a cry of pain came up from Riley's throat. He rolled to his side, holding his crotch but slowly got to his feet, wanting more. Spike threw a punch which landed, then another and then came up with a hard kick to the stomach.
Riley was winded, but he got back up to his knees. He concealed his ready weapon behind his back and motioned for Spike to come on.
"Oh soldier wants to play does he. Well I love to play." said Spike as he growled in his vampire state. He walked towards Riley who in turn tripped him and stuck him with his weaponry. The familiar surge of electricity went through Spike again and he howled in pain. Riley was getting the best of him and he knew it. It was over. Spike had lost. But then, out of nowhere, Riley felt a sharp pain on the back of his head and rolled over as his eyes went up into his head. There was Xander, holding a brick which had been dislodged in the wall.
"Thanks, mate." Spike said as he coughed. He looked at Riley who was just lying there motionless. The weapon still in his hand.
"How's the Slayer?" asked Spike.
"She's out cold." said Dawn.
"Better bring her inside then shouldn't we?" Spike said as he picked up Buffy's body and brought her inside. "There you go love."
"SPIKE!" came the shrill shout. Riley was in the doorway.
"How the bloody hell do you keep going?" Spike asked as he quickly walked towards Riley, ready for round two of their fight.
Riley went to use the weapon on Spike again but this time Spike knew it was coming. He caught Riley's arm and turned it back into him. Riley's eyes lit up as his body surged with energy.
"How do you like it?!" Spike yelled. "How do you like it?!"
He pulled the weapon away and broke it over his knee as Riley fell to the ground, now a truly beaten man.
"Spike......?" Buffy said softly as she arose. Her eyes closed and holding her head.
"Yes love?" Spike replied, coming to her side. She looked at his battered and broken face. She reached out and felt his cheek. His face went back to normal, no longer showing the evil side of his soul.
"I'm glad you're alright." she whispered. Spike nodded and smiled. "Well I'm not exactly doing cartwheels here love, but I've been in worse shape."
Buffy gave a soft laugh, the best she could as she was in quite a bit of pain. "I.......I love you Spike." she said as she put her lips to his.
