Disclaimer: So me and Jossy were talking the other day, and I was asking him if I could make a Spike clone for myself. Well he turns around from his work table, looks me straight in the eyes, quirks up his eyebrow and asks, 'What for?' I laugh at him amusingly, and say 'For what else, the obvious of course, to play racket ball with.' He looks down to the ground, shaking his head in dismay, and says 'Finn you have many many problems.' Sadly that might be true, but it's nothing a naked Spike wouldn't cure.

A/N: Thank you all for the reviews, I love them, keep them coming!! We're just getting into the thick-of-it, so stay with me, I still promise those cookies!!! The quote from this chapter and the last is by Tracey Chapman. Enjoy my pretties!

Better Man

Chapter 8

Turnaround- Part 2

You got a fast car

I want a ticket to anywhere

Maybe we make a deal

Maybe together we can get somewhere

Anyplace is better

Starting from zero got nothing to lose

Maybe we'll make something

But me myself I got nothing to prove

Silence.

No one moved.

Spike and Angel stared at each other, neither one knowing what to say. For a minute all Dawn could do from the anxiety was hold her breath and hope for the best. Finally she decided to speak, praying that it would break the ice.

"Angel you're back," she blurted out," why? I mean when...when did you get back?"

He continued to glare at Spike his eyes never leaving him, "An hour ago."

Dawn smiled and nodded her head, ever so slowly inching out of the room to get Buffy. She was almost home clear when Spike suddenly came out of his stupor.

"Surprise Peaches, I'm home," he glowered, a tight smile on his face, a smile that never reached his eyes.

Angel unclasped his hands, cracking his knuckles leisurely. "Yeah I know, Buffy told me. My question is, why are you here Spike?"

"You know why," he clenched his jaw.

"Oh really, because the last time I checked I lived here, and Buffy was my girlfriend, so that still doesn't explain your presence."

He felt like he'd been hit in the stomach with a sledgehammer, all the blood suddenly draining from his face. Girlfriend? His Girlfriend? Together. Why didn't she tell me. Made me believe that we had a chance. Made me think that she loved........his thoughts trailed off as he took a step back towards the door, unable to speak. He was ready to leave, to runaway, anything to be free from the pain that was crushing his heart. But as he turned around, Buffy came into the room, a blank expression on her face.

 And then he knew.

He knew that she was just as lost as he was. She didn't know what she wanted, he could see it in her eyes. The reality should have destroyed him, but instead it simply gave him hope. Hope that what happened between them the last few days was as real for him as it was for her. And Spike was not ready or willing to give up on that. Not in this lifetime.

He watched her walk up beside Angel, her external emotions never revealing her true feelings. Angel then taking her hand in his, and for a moment no one spoke.

"You knew this day would come Angel, are you ready for it," he ground out, a vicious look slowly making its way on his face, as he inched himself forward.

"Are you," Angel mocked, dropping Buffy's hand.

"Since the day we met," he replied, a steely gaze in his eyes.

Angel moved closer to Spike, never flinching, "Lets get this over with them," he stated as they came at each other with tremendous force.

Angel threw his arm into Spike's jaw, causing him to back step. Spike recovered quickly and rammed his fist into Angel's left ribcage, making him double over in pain. Neither had the chance to do much damage before they each felt a small, but powerful hand push them apart.

"HEY, HEY, HEY, you two in the kitchen now," Buffy yelled, pulling them behind her by the arms.

At the same time, Willow and Xander came running down the stairs, curious about all the commotion. They came up behind Dawn who was standing just out of view from the kitchen door.

"Whoa, what in all that is holy, is going on down here, "Xander whispered to Dawn.

She tilted her head back towards them, "Well I'm not totally sure, they were being really cryptic, but it was something akin to, 'I hate you,' 'No, I hate you more,' and so forth, but you get the gist," she said craning her neck to hear better.

They then heard Buffy's angry voice a second later, "If you don't step back from each other I swear by God I will tie you to a chair and gag you both, now listen to me."

"Oooh, showdown," Xander giggled.

Dawn waved her hand in the air at him, "Shhh, I can't hear."

"If the two of you want to fight like 12 year old boys, then by all means go at it, I'm not gonna stop you. But do not even think about trying it in my house. There has to be a better way for the both of you to deal with this grudge thingy you've got wedged between you like a ten ton truck. Is there any chance at all, you can try to get along.

"No way in Hell," Angel simply responded, shaking his head.

Spike let out an sardonic laugh," Look at that Peaches, you and me actually agree on something, Where's the bloody parade?"

"Shut your mouth Spike."

"Is Nancy Boy comin' over a bit upset, because I'm tellin' the truth?"

"Stop it now," Buffy asserted, putting her hand out to stop Angel and Spike from continuing their banter. "Let's for the record clear something up right off the bat here. Whatever kind of pissing contest the two of you are playing can stop as of now."

"Well that might be kind of difficult pet, seeing as we've been at this for a hundred years. But I'll have you know, he started it," Spike pointed.

"That's mature," Angel uttered, glaring at him.

"It's the truth."

"How do you figure?"

"Well, it all really began with Dru you see."

"This again," Angel yelled, clenching his fist so tight his knuckles became white, "Ok I didn't have a soul at the time. Not my fault."

"Fuck you Angel, "Spike screamed back, moving towards him, "That excuse is way overdue, and you know it.

"Oh really," Angel moved around the counter, using his height as an advantage to make the blonde man feel intimidated.

"Yeah really" Spike answered, refusing to give in, then moving closer, until they were a few feet away, " So quite playing the innocent boy act. You knew exactly what you were doing.. You take everything away from me, you always have!"

"Maybe that's because it wasn't yours to begin with," he was standing in front of him now, an arms reach away.

 Spike stared into his eyes, unable to keep the look of hate from his face. "Oh so your name was on it, I see-."

"STOP," Spike was cut off by Buffy's shout, her hand yanking him back onto his side of the room, then proceeding to so the same with Angel. A furious expression darkening her eyes. "This is stopping now. I've got a few things to say and that's the end of it," She looked back and forth between them making sure they were listening before she continued, a stern face directed towards Angel," You are not Dawson.  You. Are. Not. Pacey. And I am definitely too short to be Joey. So lets give the teen melodrama a rest for like 5 minutes ok. No one's killing any one to night, there will be no WWF Smackdown, Spike will stay on the couch where he's been, Angel will take my room, and I will stay with Dawn. Is that understood?"

She watched both of them, prepared to fight an entire war if need be. Angel gave a disappointed look as he came up next to her. "But Buffy what about us," he asked quietly, watching Spike from the corner of his eye.

Buffy turned to face him, stepping back a bit, to put distance between them both. "Angel right now I just need time to figure everything out." She paused for a moment as if thinking of how to say what she was feeling properly.

But Spike interjected to quickly, an edgy roughness to his voice. "Ya know what, I'm actually not alright with this. How about you and lover boy stay in your room, I'll find a place of my own, and we'll all be happy, savvy?"

He didn't wait for an answer, simply turned around and rushed out the room. Buffy didn't hesitate to follow him, grabbing him by the elbow, before he reached the front door.

"Will you hold on a damn second," she breathed out.

"Why, so I can watch you and Mr. Hair Gel sail away into the night? No thanks, I'd rather stick hot pokers into my eyes, and swish 'em around in my brain a bit." he yelled back at her, pulling his arm away. She jumped in front of him this time, so that he couldn't move forward.

"I'm not going to fight with you about this, I want you to stay Spike, but I need time," she looked at him with sincere honesty.

However, Spike didn't buy it, he knew his feelings were black or white, why shouldn't hers be as well. "You don't need time Buffy, this is really a one or the other kind o f choice."

She moved away from him, upset by his insensitivity, "So I'm supposed to make a life altering decision that involves not only myself, but two other people, in the blink of an eye," she questioned him.

He brought his hand up to caress her face, softening his demeanor, "When it comes to choosing who you love, it really shouldn't be that hard. I wasn't for me," he finished, sadness creeping into his eyes.

Buffy pushed his hand away, pulling back from him, uncaring, "Well I'm not you am I," she said, walking away, leaving Spike alone and heartbroken.

******************************

Everyone had scattered to different parts of the house after Buffy went to bed. Willow had decided to leave with Xander around 9:30, and Dawn had fretted over Spike for the last few hours, but he wouldn't let her, contending that he only wanted to be left alone.

She paced around the first floor for a while, before she noticed Angel sitting in the family room alone, his body reclined back into the sofa, as he stared at the ceiling.

"This is crazy," Dawn said, attempting to make conversation. She knew she wasn't getting anything out of Buffy or Spike, so that left her one unappealing, yet highly available alternative.

"I'm glad I'm not the only one who feels that way," he said bringing his head up.

"Yeah well, this wouldn't be Casa de Summer's, if wildly insane things didn't happen every other day," she responded.

"I guess, but this is so strange. Where did he come from, why is he back, something's not right and I have a feeling he's up to no good. I want to find out what's going on, and soon," he stated a million thoughts running through his mind.

"Yeah I'm curious myself to know why he's back," she lied, trying to go along with him. She wanted information about what happened tonight, but being forced to deal with his inane personality, was beginning to grate on her nerves.

"Whatever the reason is I'm sure he has some ulterior motive, Spike always does. And there never for anyone's benefit but his own," Angel said, waiting for her to agree.

"If that's what you think," she responded blandly.

"You've been around long enough to know he's worthless Dawn," he paused, thinking for a minute, "So do you want to help me find out what's going on with him, you're on my side in this?"

That really was all it took. The word worthless seemed to echo throughout the room, building her anger that much stronger. She's almost wanted to laugh when he'd said it. Instead she stayed emotionless, standing up from the couch, and facing him directly. She glared down at him, the softness of her usual voice all but gone when she spoke.

"There's no denying that Spike has done some awful things, things that hurt us and him. There's no denying that he's been horrible to all of us at one time or another. And he will continue to screw up because that's Spike, and we'll all forgive him. And there's no denying that you have done a lot for Buffy, been there when she really needed someone. But do not be mistaken, I never have, nor will I ever, be on your side when it comes to Spike."

She didn't wait for a response, an emotional or physical reaction, simply walked out of the room and up the stairs, never looking back.

***************************

It was an hour later when Dawn rolled over in her bed, unable to sleep. She looked over to her nightstand and glanced at her clock: 10:25. She'd been trying to fall asleep but nothing was working. She flopped back down onto her pillow, pulling the purple chenille blanket up to her chest. But it was no use, and a few minutes later she got up and walked down stairs.

Dawn went into the kitchen and grabbed a small glass from the cupboard, filling it halfway with lemonade from the refrigerator. She took a few sips, before she noticed the back door was slightly ajar. She went over and look through the window, seeing Spike sitting on the porch his, face hidden by his hands.

"How long have you been out here," Dawn asked, sitting next to him.

"Does it matter," he managed to get out.

Dawn stared at him, wishing she could comfort him with a hug, knowing that it wouldn't help him right now," Yes, it matters to me, and it matters to Buffy. You just have to be patient Spike. Your relationship hasn't been all flowers and chocolate candies, you can't blame her for being cautious."

She watched him stare at the ground, silent. "Talk to me, say something, please."

The words didn't come, not the ones he knew she wanted to hear, that everything would be ok, that if he waited for her then the sun would shine, and the world would be a happy place. But it wasn't true, it was never true.

"Maybe it's time I finally leave Dawnie," he tilted his head to look at her.

"Are you kidding me? Do you honestly think that after everything that's happened I'm just gonna let you leave now? Your sorrily mistaken my brotha, your stuck with me, and that's just the way it is," she teased, smiling at him when she saw a small grin slide onto his face. It didn't last long though, before he reverted back to his sullen visage.

Dawn scooted closer to him, lowering her voice, "I don't know what all happened tonight, but I do know she's wants you here Spike, or else she wouldn't have asked you to stay. So tell me what you're thinking," she asked him.

Spike puffed out a breath of air. His throat felt tight, and his head ached with a nauseating pain. He still hadn't answered her question, and for a while he just sat there, trying to think of the right way to put it. He continued to mess with the hem of his shirt, pulling the fabric back and forth through his fingers, his head hung low. He still couldn't come up with an answer for her and it was making him angry, mostly at himself.

"Did you ever have one of those day you wish you could start all over again," was his only reply.

"Yeah every week, it's usually Tuesdays," she shrugged.

"You're a sarcastic lil' brat aren't you," he chuckled.

"I'm your brat though," she said wrapping her arms around him, and resting her chin on his shoulder.

"That you are," he smiled to himself, "that you are."

A/N: Awww isn't that sweet, don't ya just love it when Dawn isn't being all whiny and complaining Yeah me too. Until next time kiddies.  Don't forget to review!!!!!!