It's another dead-end!" Buffy grumbled as she turned around to face Wesley and Gunn.

"This place is like a maze." Gunn looked around the dark corridors "Do you think Spike got in?"

"I'm sure he has." Wesley assured him as they backtracked to where they had started in the tunnel.

Buffy's voice rose impatiently. "He's probably as lost as we are!"

Wes tried to reason with her. "Or maybe he's found Angel, already."

"Maybe he has, but he's not the antidote... I am." She shook her head as if to clear it and added softly, "I'm sorry, Wes. I'm just worried about both of them."

"It'll be okay, Buffy. Let's go this way and see what we find," Gunn replied as he directed his flashlight down another tunnel.

*****

"Can we gag him, or better yet knock him out?" Spike looked at Lindsey with disgust.

"Gagging me won't change things," Lindsey smirked. "Both of you are going to die."

"Gag him." Angel instructed Spike as he tore a piece of blanket, "We've got to get out of here quickly; it won't take long for the poison to work on you."

"Buffy's on her way, and Wesley and Gunn are with her." Spike informed him trying to concentrate on gagging Lindsey instead of the poison swimming through his body. Angel was right; he was already feeling lightheaded.

Lindsey laughed again, "This will be interesting. Which one of you is she going to save? Or possibly the two of you will just drain her dry - self preservation you know?"

Angel's fist met Lindsey's face with a loud thump, Lindsey passed out on the ground, and "On second thought knocking him out was a better idea."

Spike nodded as he sat down on the cot, "So how fast does this work, should we try to find Buffy?"

"I don't remember too much after passing out the first time; it worked fast. " Angel replied solemnly.

Spike laughed bitterly, "Guess you got your way, after all."

"I never wanted it to be like this, Spike. You know that." Angel sat beside him.

"How would I know that, Angel? I was always Dru's toy to you in the old days; and since I've been back, I've just been a bloody reminder of what you used to be. You hate me." He ran his hands over his face and was surprised to find that he was running a fever, his body beginning to ache all over.

"I don't hate you, Spike." The words were barely a whisper as Angel moved over to let Spike lie down.

"What did you say?" Spike looked at him through bleary eyes.

"I said I don't hate you. But, you are right about one thing, you do remind me of what I used to be, and not just because of what Angelus did. You make me realize that I'm also responsible for Dru's actions and for yours and countless others too." Angel sighed.

Spike raised his head, "You weren't responsible for everything I did," he replied softly.

"Maybe not everything, but a lot of it. I don't like accepting what Angelus did; it's even worse to think about all of those I sired and let loose on the world."

"Nothing you can do can change the past. Worry about the present now, I need you to do something for me." Spike closed his eyes and laid his head back down on the cot.

"What do you want me to do?" Angel asked hesitantly.

"You won't like it."

" I'm not surprised. What is it, Spike?"

"I want you to tell Buffy that I love her and she needs to find a way to be happy."

"You're not going to die, Spike. You said it yourself, Buffy is on her way." Angel pulled the blanket up over Spike.

"And there's one Slayer, two sick vampires, she's determined to be the one to save you, Angel. I won't let her drain herself to save us both; and at this rate, I'll be too far gone; to worry about it." Spike shook his head at his grandsire.

"She's resourceful, she'll find a way. Just rest till she gets here." Angel stood and walked toward the cell door, looking down the hallway for signs of Buffy. The corridor was empty and he heard no sign of movement. He looked back at Spike shivering on the cot and weighed his options. He could go look for Buffy alone or carry Spike with him. He wasn't sure he had the energy left to do either. Just as he was returning to the cell, he heard a voice in the distance.

******

"I see a light down this one," Wesley called over his shoulder.

"He sees a light," Gunn called back to Buffy.

She quickly caught up to Wesley and squeezed in beside him in the narrow tunnel; "I see it too. It's not too much further." She took the lead and quickly made her way towards the faint light.

"It looks like there are cells down through here." She stopped to let Wesley and Gunn catch up.

"I'm not really surprised," Wesley told her as he shined his light in one of the dark chambers.

"We probably don't want to know what they are used for," Gunn added.

"Buffy?" A voice called from several feet down the tunnel.

"Angel?" Buffy called back as she ran towards his voice. Gunn and Wesley followed closely behind her.

"Angel?" She called out his name again as she found the open cell. Her heart caught in her throat at the sight of Angel, standing but looking feverish and weak. He met her at the door, blocking Spike from her view.

Wesley noticed Lindsey on tied up on the floor; "Lindsey kidnapped you?"

Angel nodded, "Yeah, I'll explain later, right now we've got to get out of here. Spi...."

Buffy interrupted him by putting her arm around him, " Don't worry, we're going to get you out of here and then we'll get you the antidote." She started to lead him out the door when she saw the blond on the cot, "Spike!"

"That's what I was trying to tell you, Buffy. Lindsey poisoned Spike too, and his is the fast acting poison like Faith used, maybe even stronger." Angel pulled away from Buffy and leaned against the wall, "He's already in bad shape."

Buffy knelt by the cot, "Spike, it's me." She ran her hand through his damp hair.

Spike opened his eyes slightly, "Buffy?"

"Yes, it's me. We've got to get you and Angel out of her so we can get you both well again." She tried to smile through watery eyes.

"You can't save both of us, luv." He replied as he weakly took her hand in his.

"We'll see about that." She kissed his forehead, "I heal fast. Remember?"

"He's right, Buffy. You can't give enough blood for both of them. Remember what happened last time when it was just Angel?" Wesley's voice was sympathetic.

"I'm not choosing between them!" Buffy shook her head.

"There has to be another way," Gunn sighed.

"There is. I didn't want to do this, I feel like it's my responsibility... but I don't think I have a choice now." She pulled out her cellphone and a small black book from her coat pocket. She found the number she was looking for and dialed.

"Hello, Jenna. It's Buffy. Yes, it's been a while. Could you please meet me at Wolfram and Hart? Yes, I know they are evil, but I need your help. A man named Wesley with an English accent will let you in. Now. I need you to come now. Thanks." Buffy clicked the phone off. "We need to move. Wesley, you and Gunn help Angel. We'll leave this guy here for now. And Wesley? Make sure Fred is still here, please." She kicked absently at Lindsey's unconscious body as she handed him her phone.

"Of course." Wesley called the lab. He and Gunn propped Angel between them.

"You need help with Spike?" Gunn asked as they turned to leave.

"No, he'll hate this, but I've got him." She lifted the limp vampire, put him over her shoulder, and followed the others through the basement and up to the lab where Fred was waiting.

"Wesley please go let Jenna in, she shouldn't be too long," Buffy instructed him as she laid Spike on a gurney. "Gunn can you make Angel comfortable?"

Angel was laying on a second gurney, "Buffy, what are you going to do?" He asked curiously.

"I'm going to ask Fred to draw blood from Jenna, a slayer based here, to save you," Buffy explained as she smoothed loose curls off Spike's forehead.

*****

Wesley entered the room with the younger slayer. The young woman looked confused. "Why did you need me, Buffy?"

"Jenna, I don't have a lot of time. Angel and Spike are both sick; they need the blood of a slayer to survive. I don't think I can donate enough for both of them, so I'm asking you for your help. If you don't want to give your blood, I understand," Buffy explained rapidly.

"They're vampires, Buffy." Jenna looked from one vamp to the other.

"I know. Again, we're not big on time right now, but I will explain later." Buffy held Spike's hand tightly in hers.

"If I don't, what will you do?" Jenna asked hesitantly.

"I'll try to cure them both myself," Buffy answered simply.

"But you said that you weren't sure you could."

"I'm not, but I'll try."

Jenna rolled up her sleeve. "I'll do it."

"Thank you," Buffy replied, relief in her voice.

"Should I draw from you first, Buffy? Spike does seem to be sicker then Angel," Fred asked as she began to get her phlebotomy tray ready.

"No, just draw Jenna and give Angel the blood. I'll take care of Spike myself." Buffy picked Spike up once again. "I need somewhere private, please."

"Buffy, this isn't a good idea, let Fred draw your blood," Angel pleaded.

"No, I have to do this," she replied stubbornly.

"You can use my office." Wesley nodded in understanding as he handed her a key and gave her directions.

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

TBC