Dregs continued to walk away, never looking back. "Never mind him, Gunn. He's not going to tell us anything." Wesley frowned as he got out of the car, "Something's not right here, the higher ups want us to believe that Spike is up to something.. Then this guy shows up and tells us not to trust Spike. Seems a bit too..."

"Easy? Is that the word you're looking for? I hate to admit it but after thinking about it, if Spike were behind this, he would have covered his tracks better, because of Buffy. I think you're right, we're being set up." Gunn got back in the car and closed his door. Wesley followed.

"Now we just have to figure out by whom?" Wesley tapped his fingers on the steering wheel as they watched the door to Sylvie's Place.

******

"Okay, this place is a notch above the last one." Buffy looked around as they walked into the bar . "A mix of human and inhuman clientele." Spike began to scan the room for anyone familiar.

"See anyone you know?" Buffy asked.

He shook his head, "Guess we'll just have to find the bartender Dregs mentioned."

She followed him closely to the long wooden bar at the back of the room. A human was tending bar ; as they approached the bar, Buffy could see a long scar stretching from under his right eye to his chin. Briefly, she wondered if he had received the scar from a customer. "Are you Smithy?" Spike asked as Buffy sat on one of the worn stools.

" Yeah, why?" The bartender answered as he dried glasses with his apron.

"Friend said you could might have some information about a missing vamp. Top guy over at Wolfram and Hart. Can you help?"

"You work for Wolfram and Hart?" Smithy asked frowning, "Don't rightly know that I want to help anyone that works for them."

Spike sighed, "Can't say that I blame you, ; but we really need to find this guy. Wanna help us or not?" His patience was running thin.

The bartender looked around to make sure no one was close, "Why do you want to find Angel?" He asked hesitantly.

Buffy leaned over the bar, her eyes hopeful, "We want to help him. You know Angel?"

"Yeah, I know him." Smithy let out a sigh of relief, "In fact if it wasn't for him, I would have more then just this nifty scar." He rubbed his chin, "I know this place doesn't look like much; but it's mine and I make enough money to support me and my girl. Try to make it a place where all kinds can come and get treated fairly. About a year ago. I got a demon in here wanting protection money and I refused."

He pointed to the scar, "Angel came in and took care of the situation, I don't have to pay any protection money and I'm still alive thanks to him. When I heard he was at Wolfram and Hart I couldn't believe it - then I heard he was missing."

"Angel is trying to change Wolfram and Hart from the inside ; but we really need to find him . Can can you tell us anything?" Buffy asked, her voice soft and sincere.

Smithy sighed and looked around the bar once more for eavesdroppers, " " Last night two guys, two low life morons," He rolled his eyes and shook his head to emphasize his words, "were in here, bragging about bagging a vampire, mentioned he was one of the higher up guys at in Wolfram and Hart."

"Are they here tonight?" Buffy asked, leaning over the bar.

Smithy shook his head. "No, I haven't seen them tonight. But I'm telling you they couldn't have planned this on their own, . Those those two were sharing maybe three brain cells between them."

"So, did they say how they managed to bag this vampire?" Spike asked as he picked up a bottle off the counter and started looking for a glass.

Smithy offered him one, "Yeah, they drugged him." Smithy offered held out another for Buffy.

"No thanks, any ideas where they might have taken him?"

"That's the weird part. They were laughing about i, ; said they had him stashed right under the law firm's feet. Not sure what that meant. I didn't want to ask too many questions, there was a little demon sitting at the bar who seemed awful interested in the conversation. I played it cool like it didn't matter to me ; told them that was one more vampire out of the way. I'm glad you two came in. I didn't know who to go to with the information."

We'll do our best to help him." Buffy hopped down from her stool, "Thanks for the information."

"Yeah, thanks." Spike nodded at Smithy as he and Buffy turned to leave.

Smithy's tone became serious, " There's one more thing...."

"What is it?" Buffy asked worriedly.

The bartender lowered his voice, "If I understood them they've poisoned him....... something about the blood of a slayer."

Buffy's face turned white, "Blood of a slayer? Are you sure?" She stumbled almost falling.

"I think that's what they said." He nodded at her.

"Poison? Blood of a slayer? Buffy you heard of this before?" Spike put his hand on her shoulder to steady her, his voice fearful.

"If it's the same poison... we have to find him, Spike." She sighed, "We have to find him quickly."

"What do you mean same poison?" Spike asked slightly confused. "Before Angel left Sunnydale, Faith... she shot him with a poisoned arrow. The only cure was the blood of a slayer. " Buffy took Spike's hand and led him out of the bar quickly telling him the story.

"So that's why you have his mark? I didn't know." Spike shook his head trying to clear his thoughts as they walked down the sidewalk.

"Yes, that's why I have the scar. He didn't want to do it, but I forced him and then he...well... he took a lot of blood and I ended up in the hospital. When we were done battling the Mayor he left for LA." Buffy sighed, "You know the rest of the story from there."

"I just thought, well I thought he left because he couldn't handle the temptation of being near you. I thought that you might have let him bite you during..." Spike didn't finish, "How much time does he have?"

"Not long, it worked pretty fast last time. We have to find him Spike. I have to find him." Buffy ran her hands over her face, "I'm not going to let him die."

"We'll find him and then we'll figure out a way to save him that doesn't involve your blood." Spike replied, his voice sharper then he had meant it to be.

"It's the only way, Spike." Buffy shook her head.

"Lots of other slayers out there now. Doesn't have to be you." He grumbled as he stopped and leaned against telephone pole.

"What do you suggest, we find him and drag one of the new slayers in to feed him?" She hissed back at him.

"If that's what it takes to keep his fangs off you, then yeah, maybe!" He glared at her then softened, "Just want you to be safe and sound, luv."

"I'll be fine, Spike." She took his hand and squeezed it.

"Sure, you almost died last time he dined on you and you're willing to do it all over again for him." Spike shook his head.

It only took Buffy a moment to realize where his anger was coming from. She took his other hand in hers and looked directly in his eyes, "This is not what you think, Spike."

"And what would I be thinking?" He asked harshly.

"You think it's because I'm still in love with him; I can see it in your eyes. You're never going to believe I chose you, are you?" She sighed.

"Well it's kind of hard when you want to feed yourself to him to save his life."

"If the positions were switched and you could save Dawn with a slight risk to your life would you do it?" She asked calmly.

"I would do anything to save Nibblet." He replied huffily.

"But you don't love Dawn the same way you love me, right?"

"Of course not, for one thing she's just a kid..."

Buffy smiled softly, "Everyone is a kid compared to you Mr. Over- a- Century. The point is you love me differently but you still would save Dawn. I love Angel, but differently from the way I love you... and I have to save him." She dropped his hands and pulled him into a tight hug, "Do you understand?" She asked in a near whisper.

"If I say I understand that doesn't mean I have to like it, does it?" He kissed the top of her head and sighed resignedly.

"If you said you liked it, I'd think something was wrong with you. If it's any consolation, if it was you missing, I wouldn't be anywhere near this calm." She gave him another small smile, "We're wasting time arguing ; we have to find him. Any ideas where to look?"

"Actually, I do have an idea. They said he was under the law firm's feet, so he must be close. When I was a ghostie, I roamed all over Wolfram and Hart, basement to penthouse. There are some tunnels under the building, might be a perfect place to hide someone."

"That's a good idea, hide him right under their noses. Let's check it out."

******* "Here they come," Gunn pointed as Buffy and Spike exited the club.

He and Wesley watched them walking away, serious expressions on both of their faces. Spike finally stopped, it appeared he and Buffy were arguing.

"Trouble in paradise?" Gunn asked Wesley as he started the car.

"Maybe... I don't know. But I think it's time we found out what Spike has learned, if anything." Wesley drove towards the couple. He slowed down as he approached them, "We're probably being watched ; and we have to make this look like we're taking Spike in. Can you do that?"

"Sure, make me take down the vampire with his Slayer girlfriend standing by." Gunn grinned slightly nervously at Wesley, "You did give him warning this might happen, right?"

"Yes, I gave him a note saying it might come to this." Wesley stopped the car.

Gunn jumped out of the car, grabbed Spike, and threw him against the car, . The startled vampire hit the back of his head and slumped to the ground unconscious.

"What the hell are you doing?" Buffy yelled as her fist found Gunn's face.

Wesley soon quickly joined the fray, "Buffy, just get in the car," he he said sternly, risking bodily injury as he took her arm and pushed her into the back seat just as Gunn shoved Spike in after her.

"What is going on?" Buffy asked angrily as she felt the back of Spike's head for the lump she knew had to be there. She pushed on it softly and he stirred, opening his eyes slowly, "Are you okay?"

"I will be. Thanks, Gunn you made it very realistic," he replied sarcastically.

"Sorry, man. But your girl got me good, too." Gunn rubbed his jaw.

Spike gave Buffy a wink and a smile., "That's my girl. Now what exactly do you have planned?"

"We decided that we needed to find out what information you had; and we wanted to make sure it looked like we still didn't trust you. So, any ideas where Angel is?" Wesley explained as he drove towards his apartment.

"Actually I did have an idea, right before I was thrown against the car." Spike glared, "I was telling Buffy that while I was playing Casper, I was all over Wolfram and Hart. There are tunnels underneath, maybe for storage or torture or who knows? But the guys, who took Angel, said they were putting him right under the law firm's feet, . The tunnels would make sense,." Spike explained as Wesley pulled into his driveway.

"Well, lets go in and make a plan, it shouldn't be a problem to go in and get him." Wesley led them towards the basement laundry of his apartment, "There should be no bugs here."

Buffy looked at Spike, and he nodded his head in understanding, "There's more to it then just going in and getting him."

Gunn stopped mid-step, "What else is there?"

"Wesley, you remember when Faith poisoned Angel?" Buffy asked as they reached the basement.

"Poison?" Gunn scanned the basement for company.

He nodded his head, "Yes, the vampire killer poison, it took a slayer's blood, your blood to cure him."

"If our source is right, then Angel has been poisoned again. We have to find him, Wesley." Buffy hopped up on to one of the washing machines.

"Buffy... the last time this happened it worked rather quickly. We may not find him in time and if we do...the last time you...well he almost killed you."

"I pointed that out to her, she's a bit stubborn." Spike put his arm around Buffy's waist, "But she wants to do this."

"And it's okay with you? I mean the guy did try to keep you two apart,." Gunn asked in disbelief.

"Can't say that I like it, but it's her choice."

Wesley nodded, "Alright then . We find the tunnel entrance and go from there."

"I believe you can get to the tunnels from the basement ; try some of the doors in the back right corner, probably an outside entrance to." Spike started up the steps.

Gunn called him back, "We got a problem, Spike. If we're being followed you can't go in with us, in fact it's best if they believe we've gotten rid of you."

"They'll never believe that Buffy would leave with us willingly though, not if we've harmed Spike." Wesley added thoughtfully.

"No, but if we carry her out as if she's been drugged, then we can carry her back to Wolfram and Hart with us. Any questions and we can explain we staked Spike in an altercation over Angel's dissappearance. Buffy was so upset ; we had to drug her. We're sending her on the company jet back to London." Gunn took a breath and continued, "That way whoever planned this will think Spike is out of the way and that Angel's cure is also on the way out of town."

"Very good plan." Wesley smiled at Gunn, "Spike can join us in the basement, possibly through that outside entrance? Buffy is this okay with you?"

"It doesn't look like we have a choice. I just hope we get there in time." She was anxious now.

"Shall we go then?" Wesley started up the steps, "We'll go by my place and pick up weapons."

Gunn turned to Buffy and Spike, "Buffy, take a minute. We'll come back down to get you."

Thanks," she she nodded gratefully.

"We're going to find him." Spike told her as he pushed her hair behind her ears, "So don't worry and be careful. I'll meet you as soon as I can."

"When this is all done and Angel is safe and sound...well we're going back to your place and I'm going to reward you." She leaned up and kissed him softly, her voice caught slightly, "Be careful."

Gunn and Wesley showed up shortly, "You a good actress, Buffy?" Gunn smiled as he picked her up.

"It can't be too hard to play unconscious." Buffy smiled back.

"Yeah, she had practice watching Giles all of those years..." Spike tease, trying for a bit of levity.

Wesley grinned at Spike's comment, "Let's go."

Spike watched as Gunn carried Buffy out of the building. He gave them twenty minutes and left making sure no one was following him. ****

"Angel," The voice called from the ceiling woke him up . He was so tired, and it was hard to keep his eyes open now.

"Who are you?" He asked weakly.

"You'll meet me soon. By the way, it looks like Spike is out of the way ; I don't have the details on that yet. But here's an interesting tidbit...Gunn and Wesley were seen loading an unconscious slayer into his car. Wonder what that's about?"

TBC