Dawn was appalled. "This is what Ethan did to the vamps?"

Buffy, standing beside her sister, nodded. "This is it. It's been very interesting."

Dawn shook her head, watching as William shyly attempted to get Tara's attention and Liam lolled on the couch, alternately chuckling at William, grinning at Buffy and Dawn, and checking out Cordelia's backside. They had gotten back to the Hyperion about an hour earlier, and Buffy was keeping watch over the vampires while Giles worked out how to disenchant them. Ethan Rayne had certainly made it difficult enough to do so.

William finally succeeded in his efforts. "Miss Maclay," he said, "I most humbly apologize for my untoward behavior earlier. I cannot imagine what came over me. For such a gentle lady as yourself to be subject to such uncivilized, nay, brutish behavior-"

"William," Tara interrupted, "it's all right. I shouldn't have touched you right then."

"Still, I find myself quite without excuse," fretted William, not going easy on himself. "It is true that I did find the fight . . . quite unexpectedly invigorating, actually. Exhilarating, even." He drifted off for a second before getting back to his self-flagellation. "Nonetheless, to attempt to bite a lady is utterly beyond the pale. You are gracious beyond compare, that you would be willing to put such a distasteful incident behind you."

Tara shook her head, trying hard not to laugh at William's earnestness. "Really, it's nothing. Besides, it all came out all right in the end. We got Dawn back, and that's what's important."

"Of course!" William smiled proudly, thrusting his chest out. "I should pay my respects to the young lady." He practically strutted over to Buffy and Dawn. "Miss Summers, Miss Dawn. I trust you both are well?"

"F-fine, thanks," said Dawn uncertainly.

"Good! It is heartening indeed to see that you are healthy after your ordeal, particularly as I myself assisted in rescuing you." William's eyebrow twitched just slightly in irritation at the derisive sound Liam made from behind him. "Perhaps I could regale you with tales of my exploits when your nerves are sufficiently settled, Miss Dawn."

"Um, thanks," said Dawn, "but I'm not supposed to let you . . . regale me, and is this really Spike, Buffy?"

Buffy shrugged. "This is the way he was before he got vamped."

"Mr. Big Bad?"

"Uh-huh." Buffy shook her head sadly. "Kinda disillusioning, isn't it?"

Dawn looked from her sister to William to Liam, who was still chuckling, and back to Buffy. "And Angel was . . ."

"Frat boy on Prozac?" Buffy supplied.

"That works. So how's Giles coming on that reversal spell?"

"Wesley and Anya had to make a supply run to a magic store, but it'll be soon." Buffy touched Dawn's arm. "We got you back. That's what's important. You're really all right?"

Dawn nodded. "Still feel a little squishy around my legs, but I'm okay. Thanks for coming to rescue me. Remind me to thank everybody."

"When a young lady of virtue is in distress, a gentleman could do no less," William proclaimed. "Ah! I feel a muse speaking to me."

"You'd best keep it quiet," said Liam. "The poor lass has had enough frights for one day."

"Lout!" growled William. "May I remind you that it was I who killed the monster whilst you were unconscious?"

"And if it hadn't been for me, you'd have been a sack of body parts," Liam shot back, never losing his amused grin.

Luckily for all concerned, Anya and Wesley chose that moment to enter the hotel, and the vampire quarrel was cut short.

"Did you get what we need?" asked Giles.

"And more," said Wesley. He gestured toward Anya. "May I borrow her the next time I have to shop for supplies? I paid less than half of what I expected to."

"The markups were horrendous," said Anya. "They must have Irpa demons pricing their products. Fortunately, Wesley had me there to talk 'em down. He'd have paid full price, and that would've been just stupid."

Wesley and Giles shared a look. "Yes, well, be that as it may, we can now disenchant Angel and Spike. And not a moment too soon," said Giles.

***

The spell had been reversed, and Spike was fuming, both literally, puffing obsessively on a cigarette, and figuratively.

"So it's this Ethan Rayne chap that did it? Turned me into a nancy?" the blond vampire asked.

"Turned you into your former self, yes," confirmed Giles.

"Where is he?"

"In government custody, I believe."

Spike stubbed out the cigarette on a marble tabletop as Wesley cringed. "I'll find 'im. And when I do, I'll rip his head off and shove it up his-"

"Spike," interrupted Buffy, "your head would explode."

Spike glowered, lighting another cigarette. "I don't care, long as the last thing I see is his bloody, mangled corpse!" Tara giggled, and Spike rounded on her. "And what's with you, calling that ponce William 'sweet'? Idiot couldn't even tell what side of the street you walk on, and you all but drew him a diagram!"

"Go easy on her, Spike," said Angel. "You were kind of sweet, face it. Although, y'know, your poetry . . ."

Spike choked on his cigarette smoke. "Shut your gob, Liam!"

Angel smirked. "I think I recall something about, 'the lady from Eire, with her gleaming, golden hair-'"

Spike flew at Angel and tackled him hard enough to knock both him and the couch over backwards. They began trading loud, thumping blows as they rolled around on the lobby floor. Spike, filled with rage, seemed to be trying to kill Angel with his bare hands, while Angel couldn't seem to repress a smirk of amusement even as he defended himself. They finally got on Wesley's last nerve.

"Will you two take it outside?" snapped the ex-Watcher. "Preferably in the daytime?"

Angel trapped Spike in a headlock. "Sorry, Wesley," said the elder vampire.

"Ow!" grunted Spike. "Let me go, you buggering-"

"Watch the language, Spike," said Angel, releasing the younger vampire.

Spike threw a glare at his elder and pulled out another cigarette, swearing under his breath.

Wesley had had enough. "Light that cigarette, Spike, and I'll put it out with holy water."

The look on his face promised he would do just that. Xander leaned over to Willow. "Is it just me, or has Wesley grown a spine since Sunnydale?"

"Not just you," murmured Willow in reply.

Spike, still spoiling for a fight, glared at Wesley. "Why don't you just try it, you-"

Buffy's voice interrupted him. "Spike, let it go." It was more a request than a command.

The blond vampire struggled internally for a moment, but gave in to Buffy's entreaty. He stomped off toward the office, cigarette in hand.

Buffy turned to Wesley. "I. . .wanted to thank you," she said. "That was some good Watching, back there."

Wesley didn't seem to know whether to be confused, surprised or pleased. After a moment of hesitation, he said, "Thank you. I suppose I had to get it right eventually."

Buffy smiled.

***

As Wesley and Buffy spoke, Angel's eyes flicked between Spike's retreating backside and Buffy's face. Making a decision, the elder vampire followed the younger.

Inside the office, Spike was about to light another cigarette when Angel's voice stopped him. "She trusts you, doesn't she?"

Spike looked at Angel. "Buffy? Yeah. Yeah, she trusts me. After all, who else does she have to count on right now?"

Angel considered this. "She told you where she was."

"She did. Hell, I'm the only one of the Sunnydale crew that knows." Spike smirked a little. "And it's not like you're there." The younger vampire watched his grandsire's face with cruel glee. "I'm the one she counts on nowadays to protect the Bit when she can't. I'm the only one she can talk to about what she's going through, 'cause she doesn't want to burden her so- called friends with the knowledge that they're responsible for dragging her away from her final reward. Face it, I'm all she's got."

One of Angel's hands was suddenly wrapped around Spike's throat. "If you hurt her, Spike, I swear-"

"Oh, if I hurt her? Tell me, is there a way to hurt her you haven't discovered yet?" Angel shoved Spike away, causing the younger vampire to sprawl against the desk. Spike chuckled. "I won't be the one hurting her, mate. 'S not like it's any of your business, anyway; you're not a part of her life anymore. You've got your world, with your own Scoobies and your brown-eyed beauty."

Angel's eyes narrowed. "Cordy and I aren't like that."

"Cordy, is it?" Spike's grin grew larger as Angel glanced away. "I've seen the way you look at her, the way you touch her. Somebody's got a crush."

"That's nonsense, but you know what? It doesn't matter what my feelings for Cordelia are," Angel said very softly, regaining his footing. "I love Buffy. I will always love Buffy. And I'm telling you, if you hurt her in any way, I will make you pay."

"I won't be hurting her. Can't, remember?" Spike indicated his head.

"Your nature will reassert itself, even with that chip in your head. Don't fool yourself about that."

Spike gave Angel a humorless smile. "And yours won't because of your soul? There's nothing inside you screaming to just take what you know is yours, like, say, your 'friend' with the amazing body? I'm sure there's some way you could ruin her life-say, drive her insane, make her kill you, or burn her to a crisp. You telling me you're positive that won't happen?" Angel looked away in sudden discomfort. Spike chuckled. "I'll make you a bargain: you leave me to my illusions, and I'll leave you to yours."

Spike walked out of the office, and Angel leaned on the desk, taking deep breaths, regaining control. "I really hate that boy," he muttered.

"Angel?" Buffy's soft voice came from the doorway. The vampire looked up at her.

"Buffy. How's Dawn?" he asked.

"She's fine. Says she's going to start a 'People Who Kidnapped Me' scrapbook." Buffy rolled her eyes, and Angel chuckled. "How about you?"

"I've got a headache. And a mortal case of embarrassment." He shook his head, grinning a little. "I'm never going to live this down. Not with this bunch."

Buffy laughed. "Well, if it's any comfort, neither will Spike."

Angel had a million things to tell her about Spike, a million warnings on the tip of his tongue, but they all died as he looked at her-really looked at her-for the first time since she'd come to L.A. She was so thin, thinner than she'd been even after her mother's death, and there were shadows in her face and eyes he'd never seen before. Angel sat on the edge of the desk, holding out his hands, and Buffy came forward and took them.

"How are you, Buffy? Really."

Her green eyes looked around the office, at anything but him. "I-I can't say. It's hard. There's so much . . . I feel like I left part of me behind in that grave. Something I once had that I can barely even remember now."

Angel disentangled one of his hands from hers and brought it up to brush the hair back from her face very gently. "You'll find it again."

"You don't know that."

"No," said Angel, standing. "But I know you."

He wrapped his arms around her, kissing her forehead, and after a moment, Buffy relaxed into his embrace like she'd never left it.

***

A little while later, both groups reassembled in the Hyperion's lobby to say goodbye. Dawn gave Angel a hug.

"Thanks for helping rescue me," she said.

"Thank Cordy. It was her vision," he told her. Dawn had no problem doing just that.

"It's certainly been interesting, Mr. Giles," said Wesley, shaking the Watcher's hand.

"That assessment will get no arguments from me," agreed Giles.

Willow and Xander both hugged Cordelia and promised to keep in touch. Xander also shook Gunn's hand.

"It's been very cool," said the carpenter. "Thanks for loaning me the harpoon gun. I gotta rig me up something like that."

"Hell, you can have that one," said Gunn. "Fred here's been helping me build a better one."

"It's all about the physics," said the young woman. She opened her mouth like she was going to say more, but was interrupted by the lobby doors opening and admitting a young man.

"Gianni!" Dawn squealed. She ran and threw her arms around the cryptologist's neck and just about squashed the cat in his arms. "And Diogenes!"

"Hello, Bella," said Cassio.

Dawn dragged him over to Buffy. "Buffy, this is Gianni Cassio. He was helping me escape when Nicole the Bitch caught us."

Cassio shrugged modestly. "At least I got the security system down."

"That was important," said Buffy. She shook his hand. "Thanks for helping my sister."

"Eh, it was no problem. I knew there was something bad about that job the second I took it. I think I'll go work for somebody less scary now-like the Cosa Nostra." He looked down at the cat he was holding. "Me and my friend Diogenes. He's got good taste in people."

Dawn took the cat into her own arms. "Where are you going?"

"Back to Europe, I think. I am not sure." He took Dawn's shoulders, kissed both her cheeks, and said, "Addio, bambina. Have a good life."

"You too, Gianni." Dawn handed the cat back, and Cassio left.

"We'd best be going as well," said Giles. "Particularly as Dawn has school tomorrow."

"What?" Dawn looked outraged. "Don't I get a day off on account of having been kidnapped and bled for my power?"

"Sorry, kid," said Buffy. "'Bye, guys. Thanks big time."

One final round of goodbyes, and they were gone.

END CHAPTER 12