Chapter 7: The punishment

Title: Reunion time.

Author: Nikka

Author notes: Hi everyone, If you need to know about summary, rate and all the rest it's all in chapter 1 I'll just remind you that English is not my native tongue so you may find some spelling & grammar mistakes, you're more then welcome to let me know about them but remember you may find them while you read the story. Have fun.

Disclaimer: Angel & Buffy's characters are not my creation (wish they were) they belong to Joss Whedon and David Greenwalt. Other characters that are not familiar from the show do belong to me.

A special thank you to Sigma for reproof reading my story. I hope you'll see the difference. As of that the upload of the chapters may take longer.

The door opened, and Spike raced in. He was covered with a black blanket and was smoking slightly as it was still daylight outside.

"Bloody sun." he cursed.

"Keep your voice down, Connor's sleeping". Angel told him.

"Relax, daddy-dear. I won't wake your precious sonny, I'm here looking for the slayer. Is she here?

"No, she's not, Spike, and what are you doing looking for her all the time?" Angel frowned, thinking it odd that Spike was around her all the time.

"It's no use. The fool is like a boomerang: you throw him and he comes back time after time." Giles smiled.

"Hey, who you calling a fool, old man?" Spike tried to tease Giles back, but it didn't really work. "So where is she? I have some information for her."

"She's out. What do you want?" Angel demanded.

"Aren't you over protective? Make sure your new lady won't find out your cheating behind her back." Spike smirked.

"You're not worth a response. Just leave or I'll throw you out". Angel growled, having had enough of Spike's little remarks.

"I can hurt demons, you know. Go ahead. Try it, Angelus. I'm dying for a good fight". Spike tried to provoke him.

"But you can't hit me, so unless you want a black eye, leave now. Unless you have something productive to say". Giles' words made Spike's smirk disappear.

"Fine, I'll go. Just tell the slayer that something's on his way to get her and he's not a nice demon". Spike said, walking towards the door.

"Wait!" Giles called after him. "Is it the Magistrate?"

"How do you know about the Magistrate?" Spike asked surprised.

"Cordy had a vision and she saw him". Angel said and, grabbing the drawing, he showed it to Spike who just laughed.

"What's so funny?" Wesley asked. Spike didn't answer he just kept laughing.

"Answer him!" Angel who was losing his patience ordered Spike.

"Relax, Mr. Broody" Spike, still smiling, said to Angel.

"I thought you were smarter then this, Rupert". Spike said smugly. "This is not the magistrate; this is his assistant…. yeah, you can call him an assistant".

"What assistant?" Wesley frowned.

"Don't you know anything?" Spike was pleased with himself. "The Magistrate never travels alone; he has a big ugly demon with him. You can recognize them by the rings".

"The rings?" Angel asked, trying to follow Spike's explanations.

"They both wear blue rings, that's their trade mark." He stopped, looking at the three who seemed even more confused if that was even possible. "First the Magistrate sends his goon I think he's called Brolug. Like I said, ugly fellow."

"Why?" Wesley asked.

"Why what?"

"Why the Brolug first? What does he do?"

"He does the first sweep. He finds the people the Magistrate needs to test, makes sure it's safe for the magistrate to arrive, and then the magistrate comes." Spike answered this time without any remarks.

"So, the magistrate can be harmed." Angel said.

"No, no, no. That's a very, very BAD idea". Spike jumped in. "The Magistrate is not a one demon. It's a name for his kind of demons. They serve a great power and, if you harm one of their emissaries, they will send more to punish you like you've never been punished before. Don't go there".

"From where do you know him…them so well?" Giles inquired.

"Let's just say I had an earlier encounter with him a long time ago, and I don't recommend it".

"That's just great, that means that what Cordy saw was the Brolug and not even the Magistrate itself".

"What are you moaning about? He's not here for you." Giles said to Angel.

"Oh, so you already know why he's here?" Spike asked.

"Yes, we believe he's here because of the spell Willow did". Giles explained.

"Which one? It's hard keeping up after Red this days". Spike smiled.

"The spell that brought Buffy back! We think it wasn't meant to be and that's why he's here". Giles glanced at Spike and became worried. If any vampire could look paler than normal, spike did. The smile had been replaced with a look of fear. "What? What is it?"

"No, you have to be wrong. It can't be that reason...not that spell...not the one that brought her back."

Angel could swear he saw true wordiness in spikes eyes, dare he even say love. "Spike! What's wrong?"

Spike looked at him; his eyes so sad. "If the magistrate finds that you have abused your powers, that you have done something that wasn't meant to be, he will punish you."

"Well, we already knew that." Angel said to him. "No, you don't understand. The punishment he uses is pain, but not physical pain". Spike stopped for a moment trying to collect himself."So what's the punishment?" Angel frowned.

"The best way to inflict pain, true pain, is to take from you what you wanted. Whatever it was you did that wasn't meant to be, it won't exist anymore, but you'll remember everything that happened"

Horror grew across their faces as they realized what he was saying. "You mean…." Giles stopped; he couldn't think it, let alone say it.

"He means I'll die again and you'll remember it all." Spike turned to the door he saw Buffy standing there with Dawn, Willow, and all the rest. They must have come in while he was distracted.

"Buffy, I…" Spike didn't know what to say.

"Don't. I don't need pity." she looked at him. He could see the acceptence of her fate in her eyes.

"NO!" Dawn sobbed, falling to her knees.

Buffy bent down and held her. "It's o.k. Dawnie, it will be o.k.".

"This can't happen! I just got you back...you can't leave me...I won't let you!" Dawn got up, anger replacing tears. "We need to convince this Magistrate that bringing Buffy back was the right thing to do...the only thing to do".

"You're right Dawn. If he's going to test us, we'd better be prepared". Willow refused to give up so easily.

"It's not that simple, Red". Spike cut her off "You can't prepare for the Magistrate. It doesn't work this way."

"So, how does it work, spike? It seems you're an expert!" Xander snarled at him.

"Hey, moron, don't get mad at me cause you all blew it. You messed with powers you have no comprehension of!" Spike growled, furious at them for bringing her back. But, mostly, he was angry at Buffy. He knew that all she wanted was to go back to that place she had been at. If you looked closely, you could see not only acceptence but happiness in her eyes.

"Well, there's must be something we can do!" Fred said.

"Didn't you hear me, little girl, there is nothing you can do but wait. And I promise you, the Magistrate will rule against you".

"What makes you so sure, Spike." Xander sneered.

"Because what you did was wrong and you're all too blind to see it."

"I think it's time for you to leave". Willow glared at Spike.

"Fine. I'll go". He walked towards the door, put his blanket on, and, as he left, he turned to them. "You are all such fools."

He stalked down the sewers leading to his place. "Idiots" he yelled throwing a rock against the wall.

"Well, they don't have your experience, do they, William?"

Spike turned to see a familiar face. "You're already here. Isn't your lapdog always first?"

"He is. I'm not really here, call it...special affects." The man coldly smiled.

"So what's the occasion?" Spike asked, lighting a cigarette.

"I need some information before I arrive."

"What kind of information?"

"You know what kind, William. I need information about the slayer"

"So why do you come to me?" Spike was surprised. "I'm sure her friends will have more information for you".

"But they don't. They don't posses the information you have".

"I don't think I can help you. Good luck next time." Spike started to walk away.

"William! Just because I'm not really here at the moment doesn't mean I'm powerless, actually it is quite the opposite"

Spike stopped, turning with a sigh to the man.

"So...shall we begin?" The man stared at Spike.

"Yes, Magistrate. Let's begin."

TBC

Hi ppl,

Don't think I don't appreciate your reviews cause I do. But if I don't give my story any new reviews I don't know if you even read this fic. So a sign from time to time would be nice.

Thanks.