A/N: The song 'Good Enough' belongs to Darren Hayes. I'm just borrowing.

Part Five

You know that saying 'never saw what hit him?' Well, that's what happened with Spike. Quite literally. He knew that one moment he stood before Angel, desperate, and the next, he was sent flying across the room when he felt someone or something slam into him. He knew it wasn't Angel, because he still stood at the foot of the stairs. After he was thrown, Spike found himself trapped underneath a teenager, a stake held to his chest.

"Do you want me to kill him, Dad?" the boy asked.

Dad, Spike thought, what the hell?

Angel approached the two as the rest of his associates came to watch. Spike tensed as the boy raised the stake. So, this is it, huh? he thought.

Angel shook his head, "No."

Spike relaxed as the stake was removed from striking distance and the boy stood up. He started to get to his feet when he was grabbed by Angel and slammed into the nearest wall.

"Bloody hell!"

The stake suddenly reappeared before his heart.

"Let me do it," Angel said.

Spike inwardly rolled his eyes as he steeled himself once more for the blow he knew wouldn't come. He found himself smirking, "Don't you wanna know why I'm here...Granddad?"

"Not really," Angel growled, preparing to strike.

Spike quickly realized he was going to have to drop the cocky attitude if was going to get anywhere with Angel.

"Okay, okay!" He allowed his face to display the desperation he felt. "Please, you have to help me. I have nowhere else to turn."

Angel relaxed his grip slightly, "And why would I help you?"

Spike couldn't help himself when he felt the smirk return, "Because that's what you do."

Angel slammed him against the wall again, "Why would *I* help *you*?"

Spike sobered again, "Because we both love Buffy."

Angel released his hold on him, "You can't love. You're a vampire."

Spike openly rolled his eyes this time, "Look who's talking."

"Yeah, but I've got a soul."

Of course, the soul. Spike wasn't at all surprised when Angel threw that in his face, "Why is it always the soul? What is so bloody important about that soul of yours?"

"Because a soul keeps you from being evil," Angel argued.

"That's crap and you know it. Watch the news. Read the papers. Plenty of *soul-having* humans commit crimes more sinister and evil than even you could have come up with in you day. Much less me."

Angel didn't say anything. Spike had a point. But he'd be damned if he'd admit it.

Spike smirked, "Cat got your tongue, Peaches?"

Angel growled, "Just tell me why you're here, Spike."

He sighed, "I told you. I need your help."

"Yeah, I got that part. My help with what?"

Spike hesitated. He looked at the others staring at him. He remembered the ex-cheerleader, Cordelia. But the rest...he had no idea. "Can... can we talk about this somewhere private?"

Angel nodded and turned to the man with the shaggy hair and glasses, "Wes, mind if we use your office?"

"Go right ahead," Wesley said. Angel led Spike into the office.

"Well, that was weird," Cordelia said.

"Weird how?" Gunn asked.

"Spike coming here. Asking *Angel* for help."

"You know that vampire?" Wesley asked, surprised.

"Oh, yeah. We go way back. I knew him when he first came to Sunnydale, trying to kill Buffy. Did you know he's killed two Slayers already?"

"Why did he call my dad 'Granddad?'" Connor asked, a look of confusion on his face.

"Oh, that? Well, your dad sired this crazy vamp named Dru back in, like, the 1800s. And she sired Spike."

So, what, that makes me his great uncle or something?"

Cordy paused, "Well...uh...I guess so."

"That's weird," Connor mumbled.

"You said that Spike was trying to kill Buffy?" Fred asked.

Cordy nodded.

"Well, why did he say that he loved her?"

"You're kidding, right? *You* want *me* to help you control...your demon?" Angel couldn't contain a slight smirk.

Spike snarled. What the hell did it take?

"Sorry. But why the sudden change in heart? I mean, last time we met, you had me tortured. So...why?"

"I told you why, you nit. I love Buffy," Spike growled.

That sobered Angel. He knew he told Spike earlier that he couldn't love without a soul, but he knew that was a lie when it came to his grandchilde. He had seen Spike in love. With Drusilla. He loved her with his entire existence.

"And she loves me," Spike added, and muttered under his breath, "Or, at least, she did."

"Now, I don't believe you. Buffy could never love you. You're an evil, soulless killer," Angel said and he could swear he saw the younger vampire flinch at his words.

"They haven't been keeping you in the loop, have they?" Spike asked.

"They've, uh, told me some things but not a word about you."

Spike nodded, "Course no. Thing is, I've been helping the Scoobies out for about three years now."

"Why would you help them out?"

Spike sighed, "Look, it really doesn't matter, now does it? What matters right now is that I've..." He faltered, "I've done something-"

Angel interrupted, "What did you do?"

Spike closed his eyes, remembering vividly. "Maybe this was a mistake." He left the office with Angel on his heels.

"Spike. What happened?" Angel asked, grabbing his grandchilde's arm, stopping him.

"If I tell you, you won't help me. And I need your help, more than I'd like to admit," Spike answered.

At that time, the front door opened and a wildly dressed, green-skinned demon with horns entered. He looked at Spike, "Well, hello, Cheekbones."

"Lorne, this is Spike, an old...friend," Angel spoke.

Lorne nodded, acknowledging, before returning his attention to Spike, "Now, Blondie, what's got you so worked up?"

"Wha-?" Spike asked, confused.

Lorne smiled, "No offense, Sugar, but you're like a billboard. I don't need to read you to know you need help."

"Read me?" Spike asked.

Cordelia spoke from her place behind the counter, "Hey, Lorne, why don't you give Spike a reading?"

"A reading? Why didn't I think of that?" Angel muttered.

"What? You're gonna tell me my future? Thanks, but no thanks," Spike said.

"Not that, silly," Fred said, giggling. "He reads your aura and can tell you your meaning in life."

"Sounds like fortune tellin' to me," Spike remarked.

Angel tried to convince him, "It might help me figure out how to help you. It's worth trying, isn't it?"

Spike sighed, "But this aura-reading stuff sounds like it's gonna expose everything. Things I don't want people knowing."

"I will only reveal to them what you want me to. I will not tell them anything you'd wish to keep secret. I give you my word," Lorne said.

Spike thought for a moment before speaking, "Fine. Go ahead. Read me."

"Well, that's the catch," Gunn said from the back.

"What?" Spike asked, looking at him.

"You have to sing," Cordy said.

Spike turned to her. "What?" he asked incredulously.

"Lorne can't read you unless you sing," she explained.

"Oh, no. I didn't drive all the way to LA to humiliate myself. I came for help."

Cordy shrugged, "Angel did it."

Spike couldn't help it. He laughed, "And you didn't call me? I woulda loved to have seen that."

"No, you wouldn't," she said matter-of-factly. "I'm still having nightmares."

Spike laughed harder, "That bad, huh?"

"It's not that bad," Angel muttered, still sore about the whole singing bit.

Spike put his arm around the souled vampire, "Oh, what's the matter, Peaches? Our making fun of ya hurtin' your feelings?"

Angel growled, "Either sing or get the hell out of here."

Spike held up both hands in surrender, "Okay, okay. I'll sing." He looked at Lorne, "Anything in particular you want me to sing?"

Lorne shrugged, "Whatever your heart desires."

Spike got quiet and began to think. He didn't take long in deciding a song. This one had been stuck in his head for days thanks to Dawn who had been playing the CD constantly since the day she bought it. Course...to save himself some embarrassment, he decided he was going to sing it an octave lower....

He cleared his throat before starting.

"If the going got worse

And the worse got rough

The days became endless

And harder than tough

I'd be good enough

Better than best

Would be simply to be good enough

If everything I give

Doesn't seem like a lot

If it's all that I got

Baby, tell me that could be good enough

Cause I don't know

Which way this road is gonna turn, oh, no, no

But I know it's gonna be fine

But there are some days

No matter how much I learn

That the road gets tough

And I don't feel good enough

And if you're giving me some of that loving

Could you pass some over

Let me cry on your shoulder

And tell me, baby

I could be good enough for you."

Spike swore he saw Lorne's eyes widen slightly when he sang. He knows, he thought. "So, uh, was that enough? You get everything you need?"

Lorne nodded.

"Wow," Cordy exclaimed, "That was amazing."

Spike smirked, "Glad you like." He turned back to Lorne, "So, what's the verdict?"

End Part Five