A/N-This is another chapter written in between classes, hence the short length. I don't know if I'll be able to update again today, but I will try. (Gotta watch the actual show and I do have HW..)

The voices were getting louder all the time. And it was definitely her voice. But Spike wasn't going to be fooled again. This had happened before, he thought he found her. But his happiness turned into bitter disappointment when he realized that it was only his imagination.

The vague memories he had were merging with dreams, and it seemed that he was losing them, slowly but surely. But Spike could feel the dull fingers of that aching mist around his brain begin to retreat, and he welcome this thankfully. It seemed that a band around his mind was loosening, and he'd be able to think again. But he only had one thought, and he tried to escape it, but he never succeeded.

The dirty vampires must be destroyed. Nothing that soiled, that disgusting, could be allowed to live in the world with her. The words circled in his head, over and over, providing him with purpose, but also filling him with shame and self-disgust. To escape, he tried to pull back into the mist that would cloud everything, blocking those harsh thoughts. But a part of him refused, and fought courageously to remain in the light. He couldn't fall back again, he needed to get home. He needed to find the source of this voice that washed over him like rain. He needed to make things right.

*** "Angel, will you go get me something to eat? I'm hungry, and we're going to be here awhile."

"We don't need to stay in here, Buffy, he'll be fine."

"I don't want to leave him alone. You might want to get yourself some blood too, this may be a very long story."

Angel nodded and departed. She wished Angel wasn't here at all, she didn't feel like rehashing the past in front of her ex-lover and first love. After the initial feelings of horror, pity and shock and departed, the old feelings of affection and tenderness came flooding back.

She decided that she need to cut his hair, and maybe even bleach it again. He just didn't seem like Spike without it. Of course, it was very possible that this creature was no longer the Spike she knew, and would never be again. In that case it seemed silly to worry about the color of his hair.

"Spike, I didn't want you to go. You didn't have to go. Fuck, you never left before when I told you to, why did you have to listen to me? You could have stayed; we would have worked it through.

"Dawn, she missed you a lot. We all missed you. Even Xander. We were both wrong that night, I wish you would have given us a chance to fix it though." Buffy sighed, "Maybe when it comes to my vampire boyfriends, I'm still naïve. Maybe you were right to leave, but Christ, Spike, didn't you think I would need you? Didn't you think I had learned to count on you there to help me?" Her tone was rising and she forced herself to take a calming breath before she continued to talk.

"I'm going to tell Angel everything, even the parts that aren't mine to tell. I'm sorry, you probably won't like that too much. Lord knows I don't, but I haven't talked to anybody else about it. Not Xander, not Willow, not even Dawn or Giles. They don't know everything, and it's just been bottled up inside of me, festering. So maybe it is a selfish reason to spill my guts, and yours too, I guess, but I need to do this."

Buffy paused, almost as if she was waiting for a response from the sleeping vampire. None was forthcoming.

"And when I'm done talking to Angel, I'm going to take you home with me. That's where you belong Spike. Sunnyhell."

She leaned over and gently kissed his cool, and now clean, cheek. "Stupid..

*** ".vampire!"

"Stop calling me that Slayer."

"I wasn't talking to you, bleach for brains. You know, if you are going to insist that you tag along with me every night, the least you can do is help me out."

"You had it under control."

"He ruined my new pair of pants! Do you know how much these cost?"

"Don't know, don't care. Whatcha doing wearing new pants to patrol in anyway?"

"I'm going to the Bronze with Riley tonight."

"Yeah, so am I."

"You're going on a date with Riley?"

"No, I'm going to the Bronze, with somebody."

Buffy snorted, "Who, Harmony?"

"No," Spike shuddered, "and don't ever mention her name again. God that Bint drives me crazy."

"I think it's sweet that you have a girlfriend."

"Careful there, Slayer, don't choke on the sarcasm."

"So, who is she?"

"No one you know, Slayer."

"Anybody I have to slay?"

"No."

"What does she look like?"

Spike shrugged, "Pretty little thing."

"How long have you known her?"

"Not long."

"Where does she live?"

"Slayer, what's with the 3rd degree? You're not jealous are you?"

She folded her arms defensively, "Of course not! Why should I be jealous?"

"I like it when you're jealous, you turn a pretty shade of green."

"I am not jealous. And don't talk to me tonight."

"What, good enough to patrol with but not good enough to have a drink with?"

"Exactly."

"Fine, Slayer. But don't you come and talk to me."

"Oh, I have no interest in meeting your latest hoe."

"Fine."

"Fine."

"So," Spike asked several minutes later, "want me to walk you to the Bronze?"

"I don't need your protection, Spike."

"Never said you did, Slayer, just trying to be courteous." "You? Courteous? Hah! That'll be the day."

"I'll have you know that I can be a perfect gentleman."

"Uh huh, I'm sure you've eaten a few perfect gentlemen, but that's probably as far as your knowledge goes."

"You think so, huh?"

"Yeah, I do."

"I bet I'm more of a gentleman than your perfect little Riley."

"Prove it."

"Oh, I will."

"Good, you can start.."

*** ".tonight." Angel said apologetically.

Buffy smiled, "No this is more than enough. I wasn't that hungry anyway."

"So, where were we?"

TBC