Part Seven-
//this is torture this is pain it feels like I'm gunna go insane I hope your coming back real soon 'cos I don't know what to do//
Faith was sitting on a crypt in Restfield Cemetery when Spike came bowling headlong into the clearing, jumping up from her position she rushed toward him. Her visual assessment as he came toward her told her he wasn't too badly hurt, but he was favouring his left leg and blood trickled from a cut above his eye. A ragged tear in his shirt suggested he had been shot. Faith drew in a breath anxious for her vampire, more than she thought it was possible.
"Spike? Where've… what happened to you?"
Spike shot a look behind him and drew himself up next to her, "I found her. Sodding bint." He patted his pockets anxiously then growled in frustration. "Got a smoke? They took my bloody cigarettes."
"No." She noticed that he was still watching the trees around them and gestured for them to start walking, she let him lead them but she knew where they were headed. "Who's they?"
"Lab guys, commando guys. I don't know *scientists* you'd call them. The boss was a cruel bitch, I could smell Buffy's blood the whole time I was there."
"Buffy?" Faith quickened her pace unconsciously, she had to see Wes as soon as possible which meant the detour to Angelus with Spike had better be quick.
"Who's you think I was talking about? She can't handle all the drugs they're filling her up with. She's dying in there." At this the pair started to run.
Giles stood in the very empty Crawford Street mansion, the entrance hall was huge, the ceiling at least three stories above her and the dark of the night combined with the lack of light inside the building made it impossible to see more than fifty metres around him. Two swooping staircases sat on either side of the hall and doors led off in random patterns down pitch dark corridors. He supposed it was meant to be intimidating the pure hollowness inside. It felt like he'd entered the devils lair, but who said Angelus was the devil?
Angelus was reclining in a chair across from him and they stared each other down for a moment. Eventually Angelus stood and crossed to meet Giles in the centre of the room, moonlight let in by the open door scattered across his face for the first time and Giles saw the vampire for the fast time. Half of his face was hidden in shadow but the pale skin that was revealed seemed gaunt and cold. The deadly, playful smirk he wore in all the pictures was gone replaced by hollow frown. And his eyes were deader than those of any vampire he'd ever seen they were almost totally black and the normal spark in the corner of every persons eyes was nearly swallowed by it. "She's not here." He spoke.
"I know. But I know who's got her." Giles replied there was no time wasting time on formalities. "and I can't save her. Not on my own."
"Why are you asking me? Surely your beloved council will save her?" He growled and paced angrily towards Giles. "They've torn her to shreds all ready, why are you letting them do it again?"
"I'm asking you because you're the only one who can save her! I don't want you near her, but she's dying without you, the witch could see it. I know you don't love her. You can't have to have bonded with her and left her alone to die. But please save her now."
Angelus stood stock still as though considering the offer. "Only if you let her stay with me. You've been keeping her from me, she fought the bond to stay with you, because of her duty."
"I… with two conditions I'll agree." Giles steeled himself for Angelus' response, and went on when he was greeted with a short nod. "You don't turn her, even if she wants you too. And second after a year she can leave if she wants." He wasn't sure if Angelus would agree but that was the deal and there was nothing to be said. If Angelus wouldn't agree he'd go elsewhere.
"Fine." Came the short grunt from Angelus. Before he could say more Spike came catapulting into the room, the other Slayer with him.
"I found her." Spike wheezed before collapsing in a panting heap on the floor. "I really need a smoke."
"Giles!" Faith called startled, she looked sort of guilty to have been found in the company of vampires, and Giles suspected there was something there he hadn't quite noticed yet. But it wasn't important at that moment. "Spike was being held in some complex with Buffy by evil scientist people."
"I know, it's under Sunnydale somewhere." Giles replied, "I couldn't find it because there are cloaking spells over the building, I thought Angelus could track her through their link, but if Spike's managed to escape…"
Angelus took over letting a short growl escape. "Take me to her." Spike was up on his feet in a moment despite his obvious fatigue. Giles shot a look at Angelus and was surprised to see the change that had overcome him at the news that they knew where Buffy was. Colour had risen to his cheeks and a fire burned in his eyes, Giles recognised that fire and knew his own eyes held it too. The fire was the passion for vengeance that ran through them, the desire to hurt those that had hurt the one they loved. Maybe the vampire did love Buffy.
In her cell in the Initiative Buffy started to laugh, outside her cell Professor Walsh paused in front of her, curious at the smile that graced the petite Slayer's lips. "Why are you laughing?" Her brisk manner was nothing short of scientific but Buffy could sense the foreboding inside her, after all when do prisoners normally laugh?
Buffy turned to face her and her eyes locked on hers and she regained her composure instantly. "He's coming. And when he does you'll all burn for what you've done. You'll see, you'll see. 'What's starting cannot be stopped, and what you've done cannot be erased'" And with the smile still locked on her face she turned away and sat still in her cell.
Walsh was afraid, for the first time in her life she was afraid, calling over a soldier she ordered the security to be tightened. She'd be ready for what was coming.
Sorry that this part is so short! The rest will be longer I promise.
Weasy