Disclaimer: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer and Angel are not mine, I'm just playing with them.

A/N: Major changes in this chapter! There is still lots of Bangel angst, but I took out some things that didn't seem necessary to the plot, and upon re-reading it, seemed out of character for Buffy - re: No Bangel kissage in this chapter. Sorry!

Chapter 3: Searching

Buffy held the newspaper clipping in her hand, squinting at the photo. She was having a hard time believing that the newest slayer was the girl in the photo.

"Are you sure?" She asked Wes, looking very doubtful.

"I'm pretty sure. I glanced through the article and it mentions a witness who reportedly saw one of the assailants' turn to dust. He thought it was some kind of magic trick to disguise the attacker's getaway. They also mention that while she had a near fatal neck wound, the girl was fine just a few hours later. There's no name listed, though, because she's a minor and her parents refused to publicize the information." Wesley answered her.

"Well, the photo does seem to have been taken on the fly." Dawn pointed out. Photos in the paper were usually pretty clear. This one was fuzzy, suggesting that it'd been taken quickly so that the girl wouldn't notice she'd been photographed. Buffy sighed and then nodded.

"We should split up into teams then." She suggested. "Angel and I will swing by the address in the photo. We'll drop Spike and Dawn off at the nearest cemetery on the way. We found out about this girl because of the increase in slayage, it's a good chance that she's there." Buffy began. Spike looked like he was going to say something, but Angel beat him to it.

"Wes, you and Gunn check with some of our contacts. Fred..." Angel said.

"I'd like to go with Spike and Dawn, if that's all right." Fred interrupted quietly, her drawl evident. Buffy widened her eyes in surprise, and shot a look at Spike. He just smirked. If Buffy could voluntarily go with Angel, then he wasn't going to give her an inch where Fred was concerned.

"That's fine. I'll have Lorne man the phones here. If you find her, call us, and keep on her till Buffy and I can get there." Angel finished, grabbing his duster and putting it on.

*

Angel peeled out, his tires squealing against the pavement. He clearly couldn't get her away from Spike fast enough, Buffy realized.

"Was that necessary?" Buffy asked, her tone dry. He gave her a look before turning his attention back to the road. Buffy put her hand on her forehead. Spike and Angel together was just a headache waiting to happen. They rode in silence a few more minutes before Angel pulled over to a non-descript building. Buffy checked the number against the clipping. "This is the place." She said, tucking it back in her pocket.

"It was completely necessary." Angel spoke up out of no where. His hands were clenched on the steering wheel, and he was staring straight ahead. Buffy sighed. She wasn't sure what exactly was going on with her and Spike, and the last thing she needed was a second irrational vamp to deal with.

"Angel...I" Buffy began.

"Don't, Buffy. No matter what you say, it doesn't change things. I want you, but I can't have you, and you..." Buffy sighed again, and reached out to take Angel's hand in her own. "You want Spike. I don't get it, and I won't pretend to get it. I know I'm jealous, but I promise, if Spike is what you really want, I won't stand in your way." Angel told her, trying not to relish the feeling of his hand in hers. You can't have her. Get over it, He told himself, pulling his hand away.

"Is that why you didn't tell me about Spike?" Buffy asked him, half-dreading the answer. "I swear, the two of you are like three- year-olds bickering over a toy."

"It's one of them." Angel answered, ignoring her barb. She moved closer and put her hand on his arm.

"What other reason is there?" Buffy asked him. She knew she was playing with fire. Hell, if Spike could see her now, he'd be so hurt. Buffy suddenly realized exactly how close she was to Angel. What the hell was she doing?

"Buffy…" He trailed off, realizing how close she was. Awkwardly, they both looked away.

*

Dawn, Spike and Fred walked aimlessly through the cemetery. Dawn and Fred were under strict orders to flee if more than three vamps attacked, but that warning seemed unnecessary. The cemetery was dead, literally. Dawn snickered at her private joke. Both Spike and Fred looked at her.

"Sorry, bad cemetery pun. I figured I'd spare you." She explained. Spike smirked at her.

"Someone's being hanging out too much with the Whelp." He said, putting his arm around Dawn. She looked up at him.

"If you wanted to know how he was doing, Spike, all you had to do was ask." She told him. Spike tried to pull off a horrified look, but it was false to both Fred and Dawn's eyes.

"See, you are an old softie." Fred drawled, grinning. This time Spike's horrified look was real.

"I am not!" He sputtered, stopping dead in his tracks. The two girls ignored him, linking arms, and continuing down the walkway. "I'm not!" Spike called after them, before running to catch up.

Connor poked his head up over the top of Tracy's tombstone and watched as the trio passed him by. He'd hidden behind it when he'd heard them coming. He studied them as they passed, and it hit him all of a sudden.

One of them was a vampire. He tightened the grip on his stake and rose up from behind the stone.

One of them was going to pay.

*

Spike smiled to himself as he watched Fred and Dawn walk ahead of him. They didn't let him get away with anything. He lengthened his stride, intent on catching up with the girls. That was his only excuse for not noticing the figure that came flying at him from the side until it was too late. They hit the ground with a thump, Spike letting out a yell. That got the attention of Fred and Dawn, who turned around.

"Spike!" Dawn cried out as Spike struggled with his assailant. She and Fred wasted no time. They rushed over to the fighting pair. Before Fred or Spike could say something to stop her, Dawn tackled Spike's attacker, and they went rolling past a near by headstone and out of immediate sight. Fred helped Spike to his feet, intent on finding Dawn.

"Bloody Hell." Spike said, sounding funny. He was looking down at himself, and Fred followed his gaze to a bright red stain spreading on the front of his shirt.

"Oh, no." Fred replied, placing her hand over his wound. Spike's knees buckled, and he slumped against Fred. She wasted no time grabbing her cell phone, and dialing Angel's number.

*

Dawn and the mysterious assailant fought blindly for several minutes, rolling over and over, each trying to gain the upper hand and keep it. They rolled once more before Dawn felt herself begin to pick up speed. The fighting magically ceased, and Dawn found herself clinging to Spike's attacker in a desperate attempt to stop them from rolling any farther down the hill they were headed down. Nothing was heard but the sound of their grunts and each one took a turn hitting the ground. Dawn moaned at her back thudded against the ground one final time, and then grunted as her attacker landed on top of her. Her eyes opened widely as stars danced brightly in front of them. She sucked in air greedily and her eyes focused on the face above hers.

For a moment, time stopped. Brown eyes met Hazel ones. Dawn took this moment to register several things. One, Fred and Spike weren't nearby. They'd rolled father away than she'd thought. Two, her legs were wrapped intimately around her attackers waist, which led to number three. The person lying on top of her was the slayer they were looking for and yet, because of their position, it was very clear, that this person wasn't the slayer they were looking for. The person lying of top of her wasn't who they were looking for because SHE was a HE. After a minute or two of shock and blatant staring, the boy got up and disappeared into the night.

*

Buffy opened her mouth to speak when the ringing of Angel's cell interrupted her. He gave her an apologetic glance and wasted no time picking it up.

"Angel." He answered the phone, grateful for the interruption.

"Angel, it's Fred. We ran into some trouble in the cemetery. Spike's hurt and Dawn's run off." Fred told him.

"We're on our way, just stay put. Give me your location." Angel replied, starting the car. He put it into gear and peeled out as Fred told him exactly where they were. Angel flipped his phone shut, and stepped on the gas. He glanced at Buffy. "Spike's been hurt, and Dawn ran after whoever did it." He told her. He watched as her jaw clenched, and pushed down a bit more on the gas pedal.

*

By the time Dawn had made her way back to where she'd left Spike and Fred, Buffy and Angel had just arrived. Buffy was clucking like a mother hen over Spike, and Angel looked none too happy. Dawn reached them just as Buffy spoke up.

"Where's Dawn?" Buffy asked, concerned.

"I'm right here." Dawn answered, before moaning. It hurt to talk. Hell, it hurt to breathe at this point.

"Dawn." Buffy exclaimed, taking in her sister's appearance. She left Spike's side, where Fred was tending his wound, and went to sister. Dawn's face and arms were scratched up, and one arm was gripping her side. She was limping, and it was clear that walking was painful.

"Is Spike all right?" Dawn wanted to know.

"He'll be fine. Your mysterious attacker missed the heart when you went Slayer on him." Buffy replied.

"Good." Dawn said, before losing the last of her strength and slumping forward. Buffy caught her sister with ease. "By the way," Dawn went on, her world spinning dizzily. "I found that Slayer we're looking for. She's a he." She managed to get out before her world went black.