Author: Bitten And Staked

Title: City of Angels - Chapter 22 - Not love, not yet.

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Summary: Buffy leaves Spike at the table so she can talk to Angel but her conversation with him only serves to confuse her emotions even more.

Timeline: set in between season 5 and 6, in my alternate world where Buffy didn't die. Spike's crypt is trashed during the final showdown and Dawn convinces Buffy to let him stay since he protected them both.

Series: Part 22 of ?

Pairing: Buffy and Spike. Romance, love and nooky.

Rating: PG13

Disclaimer: everyone else owns Buffy and all associated with her.

Feedback: always welcome so email me - webmaster@talesoftheslayer.com

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"Angel?" Buffy caught his arm at the bar.

"Buffy." He sounded miserable. "How long have you loved him?"

"I don't. There's something between us but I'm not sure what it is… yet. It's not love… yet." Buffy stumbled on the words.

"You gave him that Buffy in love smile on the dance floor. He loves you Buffy, he's never had that intensity of passion in his eyes, not even for Drusilla." Angel looked into her eyes and saw he had struck a nerve, she clutched at her stomach in an attempt to ease the tightness.

"Spike was pretty upset when he chained me up and offered to kill Drusilla for me a few months back. I tried to convince myself he couldn't love me without a soul but recently I realised he really does, just like Drusilla had said."

"He offered to kill Dru for you? Jesus Buffy." Angel knew he couldn't top that one.

"I know he loves me, I know he can be a good man if I let him. There isn't anything to worry about Angel, you knew the old Spike the same as I did, only longer. Tell me he's the same Spike you once knew."

"I can't because you know he isn't. We don't have hearts to break, but it would kill him if you were playing him." Angel look defeated.

"I'm sorry Angel. Spike says it's the two people in the workplace theory but I know he came back from Brazil because of me."

"Be careful Buffy."

"I don't want to hurt him, when the government put a chip in his head he went suicidal on us. Kept trying to stake himself, I don't want to see him like that again."

"I missed a lot didn't I?" Angel tried to sound casual as Buffy nodded at him.

"Angel?" Cordelia's sharp tones rang in Buffys ears. "What is the super bitch doing over here and what's with her little puppy dog?"

Buffy swung around to see Spike staring at her intensely, palms splayed out on the table in front of him he looked like he was getting ready to rain fury down on Angel for detaining her so long. Dawn looked uncomfortably at Buffy and she realised it had been a bad decision to up and leave Spike for Angels company even for a minute.

"Cordy, not now and I suggest you don't provoke the vampire." Angel turned to her but it was too late, she was trying to stare down Spike. "Cordelia don't be a fool."

Buffy watched as Spike rose from the table, within seconds he was standing in front of Cordelia and their eyes were locked. Buffys mouth dropped open as Cordelia's balled fists fell limply to her side and she swayed on the spot with hazy eyes.

"Don't like this little missy. Doesn't she know it's rude to stare?" Spike chuckled and poked Cordelia hard enough for her to fall backwards into Angels arms.

Buffy could hear the pain on the edge of Spikes voice, she had grown used to being able to pick up on his emotions even when he was hiding them with so much show.

"Bastard." Angel gritted his teeth and Buffy looked at Spike.

"Just because you were deemed unworthy of learning thrall doesn't mean the rest of us didn't pass the test."

Buffy looked at the prone form of Cordelia in Angel's arms, she had to admit it was an improvement but it was also very wrong. Something bubbled in her stomach, a rising tide of emotion that she pushed down into her feet. There was something between Angel and Cordelia and she knew it. She felt it like Angel had felt that there was going to be a connection between her and Spike before she had even formed a truce with him.

"Spike, unthrall her or something, please!" Buffy was begging him and Spike knew he'd be a fool not to listen to her now.

"Fine." He raised his eyes to heaven and patted Cordelia on the cheek. "Wakey wakey rise and shine."

"Ugh, my head." Cordelia came around to see Spike standing inches from her face, she tried to scramble backwards into Angel.

"It's okay Cordy." Angel held her tightly so she couldn't struggle.

"Who? What did he do to me?"

"I'm the vampire guard dog aren't I? But you can call me William the Bloody, scourge of Europe and slayer of two Slayers. Call Buffy a bitch again and something nastier will happen next time we meet... bitch." Spike spun on his heel and headed back towards the table, grabbing his duster he walked out the door.

"Sorry." Cordelia sobbed out.

"I have to go." Buffy panicked as she looked at Angel and Cordelia. "Will she be okay? I didn't know he could do that."

"Neither did I. It'll pass soon, she's just freaked. Follow your heart Buffy but if he hurts you he's dust."

But she wasn't listening; Buffy was already halfway to the table and only stopped to grab Dawn on the way past. Dawn shot Angel a true Spike patented look of hatred and then followed her sister out of the club.

Angel just held onto Cordelia and wondered when did everything get so confused.

Spike was waiting in his Desoto just down from the club. When Buffy slipped into the passenger seat next to him he just looked at her.

"It was kinda…" Buffy started.

"Wrong?" Spike offered to her as Dawn got in the back of the car.

"I was going to say funny. For a moment there I thought I was going to pee my pants laughing at them. They so can't deny that if they aren't together already they will be. Oh Cordy! Oh Angel!" Buffy let out a giggle and Spike grinned at her.

"We defend the gates of hell to save people like her?" Dawn piped up from the back.

"Guess we do. What's funnier is my thrall has always been a tad pathetic, only works on the weak minded." Spike burst into a fit of giggles and struggled to start the car.

"Lets go my vampire guard dog." Buffy sidled up close to him and pointed the way home and again Spike obeyed, but no matter how much she smiled she couldn't deny the growing tidal wave of emotion inside her.