Spike couldn't take anymore. Before, the screams of young women had been music to his ears, but now, hearing Buffy's pained cries were his ultimate torture. He was praying silently that Buffy would pass out before the torture could continue and she would be saved from suffering for a short while. He couldn't depend on that though, he had to do something. Standing there whilst his lover was tortured made him feel so futile.

'We have to do something Angel, NOW' Spike begged his grand-sire as another of Buffy's screams could be heard. 'God he's killing her. We have to get out of here.' He struggled again with his restraints.

'Don't fight it, they'll only get tighter.' Angel instructed Spike. 'Have you got anything to cut them with?'

Spike could just about move his hand to his pocket, and did so subtly so that the creeper did not tighten. He did not expect to find anything but tried his luck anyway, and it appeared that luck was on his side. His hand brushed against a circular, metallic object. He enclosed his fist around it and pulled it out gently. As he looked down he saw it was the device Buffy had used to form the shield around them in the alley.

'What's that?' Angel asked.

'It's Buffy's. She must have...'

flashback

'...Your lips' Spike breathed as she leant up and placed her lips to his and kissed him softly. She took the shield device out of her pocket and placed it gently into the pocket of Spike's duster without him knowing.

end flashback

Spike knew that two of the jewels controlled the shield, but Buffy hadn't used the third jewel yet. Spike took his chances and pressed it. A burst of green energy emitted from the device turning the creepers to dust leaving Spike standing free.

He threw the device to Angel, who caught it at his waist with his one free hand. He pressed the same jewel Spike, had and within a few seconds he too was creeper free.

Now that Spike stood the chance of actually doing something to save Buffy, he ran out of the room and into the lobby to get his bearings. Angel came to stand behind him.

'You recognise this area?' Spike questioned him.

'It's familiar, but...I don't know' Angel replied.

Another of Buffy's screams could be heard.

'Screw where we are, I just have to get to Buffy' Spike said, and ran in the direction he had heard the screams coming from, Angel hot on his heels.

After descending a few floors, he turned a corner and found himself at a wall of blue and orange flames. 'Whoa, bloody hell' he cried as he stopped short and stumbled back. He knew Buffy was behind there because he could sense her. He was just about to jump through the flames when Angel grabbed him by the shoulders and pulled him back and around the corner.

'What the fuck do you think your playing at?' Spike demanded.

Angel put a hand over his mouth to quieten him. He pointed towards the fire and through the licks of flame he could see the back of Wolfram standing over an unconscious Buffy and a demon at his side holding instruments of torture. The demon went to use the implement on Buffy but Wolfram stopped him.

'Enough. It's no fun if they aren't conscious. No screaming you see. We'll continue this when she wakes up.' Wolfram instructed him. He turned and walked out of the room through the flames. They parted for him, and he walked straight past where Spike & Angel were hiding.

'I'll get Buffy, you take care of demon boy there.' Spike told Angel, and before Angel could do anything Spike ran and dived head first through the flames, quickly enough so that they wouldn't catch him alight.

The demon turned to face him. Spike ran for him and leapt over him, doing a somersault over his head. As the demon turned around to face Spike he was knocked to the floor by Angel who was now wearing his game face.

Spike turned his attention to Buffy's unconscious form that was strapped to the table by iron cuffs. Nothing could prepare him for the sight that greeted him. Buffy lay on the table, pale and a drops of sweat glistened on her forehead. Her body was covered in deep bloody gashes and welts. She was bruised and battered and the thought that someone had done this to her infuriated Spike so much that he walked up behind the demon, grabbed him by the head and twisted his neck. It snapped and he slumped to the floor dead.

'Hey, I was just getting started on the guy' Angel complained.

'Oh take your anger out on his corpse, we have to hurry though' Spike said as he turned back to Buffy and ripped the cuffs from around Buffy's wrists and ankles. He stroked a stray piece of hair away from her face and kissed her forehead gently. He had found his Buffy again after thinking that he would never see her again. All he needed now, was for her to open her beautiful eyes and for them to be away from here before Wolfram could hurt her again.

Spike placed one arm under Buffy's back and the other under her knees and lifted her up. He cradled her to his body and held her close, her head resting on his shoulder. 'Lets go peaches' he called to Angel, who was pummelling the corpse of the demon. Angel looked up and his game face faded as he saw Buffy in Spike's arms. 'Is she gonna be ok?' Angel asked him. Spike looked down and whispered to himself, 'God I hope so'.

Spike walked over to the barrier of flames and looked down at the dishevelled and wounded Buffy. He pulled her even closer to his body and shielded her with it before her leapt through the flames. He landed on the other side in a crouch and looked at Buffy to make sure she was unharmed by the flames.

'We need to get her somewhere safe and clean up those wounds before we attempt any great escape. Wolfram will know by now that we're gona and he'll be watching the exits' Angel informed Spike.

Spike was impressed by Angel's intuition. Spikes only thought would have been to get Buffy out of the building and as far away as possible. 'Where do you suggest?' Spike asked him.

Angel pondered this for a few moments before he said 'my office.'

'Well what are we waiting for?' Spike said as he started to make his way to Angel's floor.

After about 5 minutes they had reached Angel's floor and Buffy was still unconscious. Debris littered the floor. A couple of concrete support beams had fallen from the ceiling onto the lobby floor.

'Someone had fun!' Spike commented

As Spike neared Angel's office he noticed the lifeless body of Hamilton amongst the debris he saw two puncture marks on his neck.

'A lot of fun' Spike quipped.

'Oh yeah. He said his blood was full of ancient power or something. Used it to my advantage' Angel told him as they entered his office. 'We should take her up to my apartment. I have some band aids and stuff up there. She'll be safer there.'

Spike followed Angel to his elevator. They entered it and Angel pushed the button as they started to ascend. As they stopped the doors opened and they both stepped through.

Spike carried Buffy over to Angel's bed and laid her on it gently. She was still so pale and this worried Spike. 'Shouldn't her slayer healing have kicked in by now?' he thought to himself as Angel went to the bathroom and grabbed the first aid kit. 'Sort her out, I'm gonna cover this window with something, before the sun rises.'

Spike looked up. He hadn't even realised the window had been broken. He turned his attention to the kit on the bed and took from it what he needed.

He took Buffy's shirt off gently and inspected the wounds on her body. She had several bad puncture wounds in her stomach. They reminded him of the marks he used to leave when he tortured his victims with railroad spikes back in the early 1900's. He knew how much pain that had caused his victims, and he couldn't bear the thought that someone had done that to Buffy. He pushed those thoughts aside and concentrated on helping Buffy. He'd use his repented anger to do some serious damage on Wolfram if he met him again.

After clearing up her torso, he moved to inspect her hands. She had deep cuts in them that still bled slightly. Her beautiful body had been abused, and the thought sickened him. A lone tear escaped from his eye.

'I've done the best I can peaches' Spike told Angel after cleaning up Buffy's injuries. 'Can you keep an ear out for our buddy Wolfram. I just wanna lay with her for a while.'

Angel nodded to him and went back to covering the window. Spike went round to the other side of the bed and took off his duster, laying it over her. He spooned up against her, wrapping his arms around her securely. He thought he had lost her for good when he had made that deal, but now that she was back in his arms, he would not leave her again. He rested his chin in the crook of her neck and kissed her cheek softly.

Buffy felt different. She no longer felt the coldness or loneliness she had while the demon had tortured her into unconsciousness. She felt warm and safe. She feared it was another dream, and if she dared open her eyes she would be back in that room. The room she had believed had been her home, but was actually a chamber and was filled with torture devices. But wait, there was something else. She could no longer smell the burning metal, or flesh. Instead she could smell... whisky, and... tobacco. This smell had always made her feel safe, it was a scent that belonged to one person, that person was...

Buffy shot bolt upright like a bullet out of a gun.

'Spike' she cried, as she realised she wasn't in the chamber. She was in a totally different room. Firm arms gripped her shoulders and she was afraid she would turn around to the glaring eyes of the demon. She looked down and found she was laying on a bed, covered by a coat, a black, long coat. A voice sounded behind her.

'hey, shh. Its alright. I'm here love' She turned around and saw Spikes deep blue eyes staring into hers. She flung herself into him, and he wrapped his arms around her. She started sobbing wildly.

'Oh god, Spike. I thought I'd lost you. I...I'

'Shh, you haven't. I'm right here' He ran his hand through her hair. Tears were also falling from his eyes now.

Buffy leant back slightly so she could look into his eyes. He was really there. 'Spike' she whispered and brushed his lips with hers, as light as a feather, before pushing him down on the bed. He pulled her face down to his and kissed her deeply as she laced her fingers with his. They kissed like there was no tomorrow, tongues diving in and out of each others mouths. Spike kissed her intensely, taking her face in his hands, fingers sliding up through her hair till his thumbs pressed against her ears. Spike gasped as Buffy's hands glanced across his sides, gathering the fabric of his shirt. He suddenly remembered where they were, and pulled back unwillingly. Buffy wouldn't let him go, and captured his lips with hers again.

'Buffy love...' He trailed off as she bit lightly on his bottom lip. He started to kiss her again, but pulled back before he could get lost in the moment again.

'Buffy,' he placed two fingers over her lips. 'We've got an audience'

'Huh?' she said as she looked over Spikes shoulder and saw Angel staring out of the window, pretending not to see that couple lying on his bed. It reminded him too much of the time he had dreamed Spike was making love to Buffy, when Eve had put the parasite on his body.

'Oh I didn't even notice, I was...' He was cut short, by the sound of his personal elevator activating. Angel grabbed a sword off the wall and chucked it to Spike, who caught it by the handle. Angel grabbed another one and he walked over to the left side of the elevator. Spike took Buffy by the hand and led her to Angel's bathroom.

'You stay in here.' He told her.

'I can fight' Buffy replied indignantly.

Spike looked her up and down 'no offence love, but you really don't look up to it. Now stay here'

He pulled the door shut and went to stand opposite Angel on the other side of the elevator doors.

As the elevator stopped whirring he raised his sword ready to attack. The doors opened and...

TBC