TITLE: Setting Things Straight
RATING: NC-17
PAIRING: Angel/Spike
SUMMARY: This is my first fanfic. It started off as a rewrite of Season 7 with Buffy going bad not sure where it will end up. Just wondered what would happen if Spike had some real support after he got his soul back

SPOILERS: All mainly Buffy Season 4 & 7, Angel Season 3 & 4
DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of these characters; they belong to Joss
FEEDBACK:

A/N Apologies for the delay been madness in my real life, kids, grand parent and my parents all driving me mad plus my best friends wedding to help organise. It's madness I tell you!!!!!!!! Also found this if you like spangle fics then check it out. I promise you will like it www geocities com wannalinkme Add the dots your self and stick a slash between com and wannalinkme. Sorry had to do it this way other wise it wouldn't show up!!! How enjoying

Spike's thoughts

# Angel's thoughts #

Part 18

The Summers Residence.

"Who ate the last pop tart?" Dawn asked shaking the box.

Xander looking rather guilty waved his hand "Sorry."

"Xan," She whined as she started searching the rest of the cupboards for something to eat, huffing when she found nothing so she sat down and glared at Xander.

"So what do you think happened last night?" Xander asked trying to move Dawn's mind away from food and the murderous look she was giving him.

"Don't know, maybe Spike just had a bad day." Dawn shrugged.

"Yeah," Xander said thoughtfully "You don't think he knows something we don't?" Dawn looked at him brow creased in confusion "I mean the way all the books were scattered about the place and ripped. It looked as if he was looking for something and my guess is he didn't find it."

"Like what?" Dawn asked

"I dunno, but if Spike got pissed my guess is it's bad." Xander mused.

"You think it's safe to go back there yet?"

"I'll phone Angel in a bit."

"Good cause I'm starving, at least there is food there and a free bath room. I don't know how Buffy puts up with it."

"She doesn't." Buffy said as she walked in "I'm getting to that point where I'm going to kick someone's butt if I don't get some peace." She said as she ran her hands through her greasy hair in disgust. "So you guys going to tell me why you're all here instead of at Spike's?"

"Spike wrecked the house." Dawn said.

"Why?"

"Dunno, but it was a really big mess."

"Oh." Buffy said thoughtfully "So how long are you staying? And please can I come with you just so I can have a shower?" Buffy begged.

"I'll phone Dead Boy and see." Xander said as he stood and retrieved the phone.

"So, you alright?" Dawn asked.

"What between losing my soul, and having a house full of hormonal teenagers?" Buffy slumped down on the stool Xander had vacated and laid her head on the counter "Sure I'm doing fine" the words dripping with sarcasm.

Xander walked over "Right who's up for a nice hot shower and food?" He asked smiling rubbing his hands together.

"I'll grab my stuff and Willow." Buffy smiled as she jumped up and bounded up the stairs.

An hour later Xander pulled the car up outside Sanctuary and said seriously "Dead Boy said we have to be good and leave Spike alone."

"In other words he said if you antagonised Spike he would rip you head off." Dawn said smiling.

Xander pretended to look hurt, and then smiled sheepishly "okay so he threatened me with death, but I had to practically beg him to let us come over so please guys." Xander begged.

"Fine." Buffy said as she got out of the car and looked at the house. "Oh its big, and nice, not what I was expecting."

They all walked up to the door and stood looking at it. "Well, somebody knock." Willow said quietly.

"No need I have a key." Connor produced a key from his pocket.

"How come?" Dawn asked.

"Dad gave it to me when we first moved in."

"So how come you never use it while we spend forever waiting for Angel to find his?" Dawn asked slightly unamused.

"Because this way I get to annoy dad by grabbing you and kissing you." Connor smiled.

"Just get the door open first will you." Buffy said quickly hoping they wouldn't kiss in front of her. On this she and Angel were definitely on the same page.

Connor smiled at Dawn and opened the door.

"I see what you mean about the mess." Buffy said as she walked into the sitting room.

Willow quickly disappeared upstairs and a few seconds later there were sounds of the shower.

Buffy pouted as she heard the water. Then looked all business like. "Right Xander you go in the kitchen and cook breakfast while the rest of us get started on this mess."

Xander shuffled from foot to foot looking at the floor.

"What?" Buffy asked as she put her hair up in a ponytail.

"Umm I'm not allowed to cook." Xander said sheepishly.

"Why?"

"Because last time he did he made a mess and burnt Spike's pan so he got banned from the kitchen."

"But I'm allowed in now, just not allowed to cook." Xander said hurriedly.

"I'll start breakfast." Dawn said as she headed towards the kitchen.

Buffy looked green at the thought of Dawn cooking.

"Don't worry she's been taking lessons from Angel and is getting good at it." Xander said as he bent down to pick up a book. Connor started edging towards the door.

"You, mister can stay right there." Buffy scolded without lifting her head from her task of stacking more books. "Come on give us a hand."

Connor sighed and started carrying the books into the library. They soon had a system going and were making quick work of the mess.

Spike woke as soon as the key clicked in the lock.

"It's the others and Buffy." Angel mumbled, "They phoned earlier."

"Didn't hear anything." Spike said as he snuggled into Angel's chest.

"That's because the phone was on vibrate." Angel said smugly.

Spike snickered "Is that cause you did it by accident and don't know how to put the ring tone back on?"

Angel cuffed him playfully on the back of his head then pulled him closer. "Alright I have no idea what I did I was trying to send Cordelia a text, thought it would be easier than trying to get her to stop talking." Angel sighed.

"Pass it here luv." A few beeps later Spike handed the phone back "Done." He said smugly.

Angel took the phone and placed it on the bedside table mumbling "Stupid thing."

Spike chuckled.

"So you feeling any better?" Angel asked

"Yeah, a bit."

"Care to tell me what you saw?"

Spike buried his head in Angel's chest breathing his scent in deeply "I saw hundreds upon hundreds of Turok-han's, a whole army waiting, lots of blood and lots of death." Spike said quietly.

Angel pulled him closer and kissed the top of his head. "We still have the amulet." He said

"We have no idea what it does."

"Then we find out."

Spike scoffed "What do you think I was doing yesterday."

Angel sighed, "Do you know how to charge it, or what ever Dru meant by that."

"Yeah, got that from the Turok-han's blood." Spike stated.

"What?" Angel yelped.

"Yeah funny thing that. When I drained him, he passed on knowledge as well as power." Spike said thoughtfully.

"Didn't know that was possible." Angel mused.

"Must have something to do with age."

"Umm, so you getting up?"

"Angel luv we are still vampires we sleep in the day and fuck all night."

Angel rolled his eyes as he got out of bed, "I'll take that as a no then."

"Didn't say that did I?" Spike said as he slowly got out of bed.

Angel walked downstairs closely followed by Spike.

"Xander you can't put that there it looks wrong." They heard Buffy's voice coming from the sitting room. Suddenly Spike was over the banister and standing in the sitting room glaring at Xander menacingly.

"Oh no you don't," Xander said quickly putting the ornament down before he dropped it. "You made the mess and I'm helping putting things straight so you can't blame me for any of it."

Spikes whole demeanour seamed to sag. "Hey you." Buffy said shyly. "You feeling alright?"

Spike turned and looked at her "Yeah."

"Food." Dawn yelled from the kitchen.

Everyone left the sitting room and piled round the kitchen table Willow making a quick appearance and Angel set about sorting out blood for him and Spike.

"Whoa, Dawn this looks great." Buffy said as she tucked into a big pile of pancakes.

"Thank you." Dawn replied as she also tucked in.

"So, have we figured out how to defeat The First yet?" Xander asked with his mouth full.

"Why don't we just kill it?" Connor asked

"If only it was that easy." Buffy said wistfully.

"Why isn't it?"

"How do you kill something that's incorporeal?" Xander asked.

Dawn snickered "You call Ghost Busters."

"Har, har, I thought it was my job to make stupid comments like that." Xander scolded playfully.

"True but you had your mouth full."

Xander just glared at her mainly because he had just squashed half a pancake in his mouth again.

"You lot are animals," Spike said watching them all eat.

"Hey this is the first meal I've had in ages." Buffy said defensively.

"Me too." Willow agreed.

Angel passed Spike his blood and sat down.

"What's a Ghost Buster?" Connor asked.

Dawn giggled; Xander looked horrified "It's a film." Buffy said smiling.

"Oh." Connor said looking rather bemused.

"So what's the plan for today?" Angel asked.

"Training, research the usual." Buffy replied.

"No." Spike said as he sipped his blood. "We need to charge the amulet tonight so today Willow is learning a spell, and the rest of you can scout around the temple check that it is all clear and that there will be no interruptions for tonight."

Willow looked at Spike questioningly. "Why tonight? It doesn't give me long to learn the spell?"

"What if The First were to attack right now in full force?" Spike asked his eyes sweeping round the table making sure he had their attention. "Dru said we needed it in the final battle. What if the final battle were to happen today? We wouldn't be able to use the amulet, what ever it does and that's just stupid. So tonight we charge the amulet and get ready for war cause that's what we are in, a war, good against evil. Its time to stop playing about and get serious, otherwise we are all going to die." Spike stood and stormed out.

"Whoa, what's eating him?" Xander asked.

"The fact that he had a vision and has seen what we are to face and all of us die." Angel stated.

Xander gulped and everyone looked at Angel.

"Why do you think he wrecked the house? He's right we have become lax. We need to focus."

"Has he had a vision before?" Dawn asked meekly.

"Yes lots."

"So he's like a seer?" Connor asked.

"I suppose." Angel agreed.

"Do they always come true?" Buffy asked in a quiet voice.

"Yes, unless we find a way to change them. It's the same with everything; one small event can change the whole out come. The trick is to know which event it is." Angel explained.

"But you know how to change what he saw?" Dawn asked hopefully "Cause I really don't want to die."

Angel smiled reassuringly "We have some ideas." He said hoping that they didn't detect the lie.

"One of which is the amulet?" Willow asked.

"Yes."

"Well I better start studying." Willow said as she walked in the same direction Spike had gone.

"Yeah we had better get back to mine and get the potentials out and patrolling. I'll talk to Giles as well and see if he's found anything new. But first I'm going to grab a quick shower." Buffy said as she stood.

"Looks like Connor and I are washing up then." Dawn said flatly.

Angel smiled in sympathy "Xander and I will go see if we can make more of a dent in the sitting room." Angel stood and looked pointedly at Xander.

"I'm still eating." He whined as he stood.

The Summers Residence.

The sun had just set and everyone was gathered in the sitting room.

"Tonight there is one objective to charge the amulet." Giles stated "Now as we believe that it will help us to defeat The First we can expect that he will send some thing after us, in order to stop us. This is not a training exercise this is the real thing. Half of the potentials will stay here as back up along with Xander, Anya and Buffy..."

"What?" Buffy screeched, "Why am I staying?"

"We need someone with super strength to, firstly guard the potentials and secondly to be back up."

"Why can't Connor and Angel stay?" Buffy pouted.

"Because I want Connor near me and I want to be near Spike and he has to go in order to do the spell." Angel explained.

"Fine but Dawn stays here, with me." Buffy said.

"She comes with me." Connor said standing.

Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes in surrender "Fine, what ever."

"We go, we do the spell and we get back here. No pissing about." Spike said eyeing a few of the potentials meaningfully.

"Any questions?" Giles asked. "No, good let's go."

Everyone stood and gathered their weapons mainly consisting of stakes that Xander had whittled during the day. Willow gathered her bag of supplies and they headed out.

Spike sided up next to Willow and gave Kennedy a pointed look. Kennedy huffed then went to walk next to Amanda.

"How you feeling Red?" Spike asked quietly.

"Me?" Willow squeaked, "I'm fine." She said nodding her head rhythmically.

Spike smiled "You have nothing to worry about; the spell is a simple one, nothing too deep."

"Yeah it's not that it's just..." Willow stuttered.

"It's just that the last time you were at the temple, you were about to destroy the world." Spike looked at the redheaded witch thoughtfully. "The memories of her won't ever fade you know that don't you?"

Willow looked at him with tear glazed eyes "I just miss her so much."

"I know luv, so do I." Spike said slinging his arm over her shoulder; Willow rested her head on his as they walked along in silence.

"I was looking into the spell earlier." Willow said quietly.

Spike stiffened slightly "And?"

Willow stopped walking and turned and looked at him. "I know that what we are doing will end up binding you to the amulet in some way."

Spike nodded.

"We have no idea what the amulet does. This could kill you." Willow said honestly.

Spike smirked and tilted his head. "Takes a lot to kill the Big Bad Red, or haven't you figured that out yet."

Willow smiled and they carried on walking "Angel doesn't know does he?"

"No, and you're not to tell him. He's got enough to deal with, with Connor. Besides nothing is going to happen."

Willow smiled

The temple of Proserpexa loomed out of the darkness.

"Let's have some light shall we." Giles stated as he removed a large torch from his backpack, several of the other potentials did the same and flooded the temple in an orange glow.

Willow shuddered; Spike placed a reassuring hand on her and smiled.

"Come on luv let's get this show on the road."

Willow nodded and they walked forwards.

Spike took a deep breath. "Right here goes." He mumbled closing his eyes and calming himself. "Stand clear everyone." He instructed.

"Why?" Dawn asked Angel quietly as everyone started to move back.

Angel shrugged.

Spike turned to Willow "Time to put on a show I'd say."

Willow looking very serious and whispered, "You sure you can do this?"

"This is the easy part." Spike smirked. "Ready?"

"Let's just get it done." Willow said and they both looked at the temple.

Spike took one last deep breath "Proserpexa as your last follower left on this plane of existence I call on you." Spike's voice was loud as it echoed in the silent air. Nothing happened, Willow looked at Spike both confused and worried. Then there was a quiet rumbling and the statue started to glow a dull red.

"William The Bloody, it has been a long time." Hissed a voice coming from the direction of the statue. "Where have you been? I have waited such a long time for you."

"Been busy your grace." Spike said bowing his head.

"Busy." Roared the voice "You were once my most honoured disciple and you have been busy." Proserpexa's voice spat.

Spike stood perfectly still.

"Never mind we will deal with that later. Why are you here and with the witch? I like her she nearly cleansed this stinking world."

Willow stiffened.

"I'm here to release you from these mortal bonds and allow you to rejoin your brethren."

Proserpexa chuckled. "Have you become so powerful that you can break the chains that tie me to this existence?"

Spike pulled the amulet out of his duster pocket and held it up. "I can release you Proserpexa."

Proserpexa gasped, "Where did you find it?"

Spike smirked "Like I said I've been busy. Will you rise for me and show these mere mortals the beauty that has been buried for so long?"

The earth began to rumble and shake electric blue flashes of lightning snaked its way around the spire as it slowly began to rise. Gasps were heard behind Spike and Willow but they didn't look around knowing it would anger Proserpexa. Slowly the rest of the temple rose from its resting place below the ground to stand before them.

"Beautiful as always." Spike said in awe yet again as he gazed upon the temple covered in intricate carvings still intact even after surviving an earthquake and being buried for the last seventy years. Spike leaned towards Willow and whispered "You ready?"

"Yes." Willow whispered back.

"Remember wait until you feel the power beginning to build then begin, the incantation." Spike said.

"You need not worry William I will tell the witch when to start."

Spike cocked an eyebrow questioningly.

"What you didn't think that I would not know the words that would set me free." Proserpexa chuckled. "Have you forgotten so much?"

Spike sighed and stepped forward "May I enter?" he asked clutching the amulet tightly the only outward sign that he was nervous.

The doors to the temple opened as Proserpexa's voice boomed out "Yes my favoured one you may enter."

Spike walked forwards and entered the temple the doors banging closed loudly behind him.

"Giles what's going on?" Angel asked nervously as he watched his lover walk into the temple.

Giles looked at him accusingly, "I'm not sure. As usual that childe of yours has omitted to tell me a few facts, like the fact that he was a disciple of Proserpexa's."

"Don't look at me I didn't know either." Angel said quickly defending himself.

There was a rustling in the bushes behind then too quiet for human ears to pick out but Angel swung round and looked and smiled wickedly.

"Riley Finn." He hissed as the human's scent hit his nostrils.

"Where?" Giles asked looking around wildly.

"In the woods." Angel said inclining his head in the direction the noise had come from. "Come out, come out, where ever you are." Angel said loudly in a singsong voice that reminded Giles so much of Angelus that it sent a shiver down his spine as he involuntarily stepped away. The potentials turned and looked at Angel, saw him looking into the woods and did the same.

Slowly Riley emerged from the undergrowth closely followed by a large number of soldiers. Angel did a quick count; they were outnumbered not by much, but enough that it would really test the girls.

"Angel, how good to see you again." Riley sneered.

Angel shrugged "Sorry I can't say the same about seeing you. What do you want?"

Riley threw back his head and looked at the night sky "What do I want." He mused then his head and eyes snapped towards Dawn, "I want two things, one I think you can already guess, and the other is Dawn."

Dawn squeaked, Connor moved to stand between her and Riley.

Angel laughed, "Well one you will never have and the other will never be yours again."

"Oh I beg to differ." Riley said stepping aside as Amy walked to the front. Angel stiffened when the witch came into view.

"Willow." Dawn said "Need a bit of help here."

Willow turned and looked at the scene behind her. She looked at Amy and something inside of her started to build.

"That's it child let the rage come, use it, give it to me." Proserpexa's voice hissed seductively in her mind.

Images filled Willow's head Tara telling her it was over, her addiction to magic and there standing before Angel was the reason it had all happened. She and Tara could have had a wonderful time together those last few months if it hadn't been for that bitch. It was her fault they had only had one day.

Willow walked away from the temple and stood next to Angel "Amy it's been a while." Willow said trying to keep a lid on all the emotions flowing through her body.

"Willow." Amy said with a slight smile.

Angel looked at Willow and noticed that her roots had turned almost black. He turned to Giles who was also looking at the young red head with a worried expression on his face.

"So where is my little slut?" Riley asked

Angel's attention snapped back to the corn fed farm boy standing there with a sneer plastered on his face.

"He isn't yours any more." Angel said keeping all emotion out of his voice.

Riley laughed "But he is, he wears my collar."

It was Angel's turn to sneer "No he doesn't."

"What do you mean? The spell I did was unbreakable." Amy asked slightly flummoxed.

"Nothing is unbreakable." Willow said.

Amy looked at her "What did you do?"

"I did nothing Spike removed it." Willow informed her enjoying the look of shock and worry that flittered across Amy's face.

Amy laughed and turned to Riley "let's get this done." Riley nodded. Amy turned to the surrounding soldiers and said. "Leave the witch to me."

"Do you honestly think you're powerful enough to take me on?" Willow's eyes had also started to turn black. Giles and the surrounding potentials started to back away from her.

"Let's find out." Amy yelled as she raised her hands and a bolt of lightning flew towards Willow.

Willow raised her hand and as the bolt struck it wound around its self and became a large ball of blue electrical fire. Willow stood there looking at it mesmerised, then she turned and looked at Amy "Is that the best you can do?"

Amy stood there unable to move staring at Willow whose hair was almost all black, deep blue veins had begun to appear on her face and her eyes were black pool of nothingness. "Riley." Amy hissed.

Riley looked at Willow and the potentials, and advanced making a b-line for Angel, the other soldiers following his lead. The fight began fists hitting flesh, feet kicked and thudded, bolts of lightning and fire filling the air.

Willow did her best to deflect the stray bolts that Amy sent flying everywhere but soon the scent of singed flesh filled the air along with Proserpexa's laughing voice, the smell of blood and churned up earth.

Spike walked slowly up to the altar and placed the amulet on it and stepped back.

"Do it." Proserpexa's voice hissed in his head "Set me free."

Spike knew something was wrong outside the swell of magic in the air told him so. "I need Willow's help." He said quietly knowing it was a lie. He had only asked Willow to try and show her that she could still use magic as long as she was careful.

Proserpexa chuckled "No you don't William and we both know it."

Spike sighed. Then the air just in front of him shimmered and he was looking at pictures as if through a window of what was going on outside.

"Do it now and as my last act on this mortal plane I will help your friends."

Spike watched as he saw Riley hit Angel; Angel changed into game face and advanced. Spike chuckled to himself knowing Riley was in for one huge arse kicking Angel only ever changed in a fight when he was mad and channelled a bit of Angelus. Then he saw Willow black haired blue veined and his breath caught, he knew she was passing a point that would be hard if not impossible to come back from.

"I can take it out of her, the darkness; I can give her back the light she has lost. Do this for me William and I will make her light and whole again."

Spike nodded and the scene disappeared. He walked back to the altar and placed his hands on the edge.

Outside the fighting had reached fever pitched. Dawn was holding her own until one of the soldiers came up behind her and hit her over the head, she crumpled to the floor. Connor screamed in fury and grabbed the solider around the neck and twisted, killing him instantly. The battle seemed to still for a moment as everyone looked on, then realisation hit, everyone knowing that this would not end nicely, people were going to die.

Angel had had enough, he watched Dawn fall and Connor kill the man, and felt his dead heart die inside him. Angelus was rattling the bars of his cage wanting to get out and hurt the one who had hurt what was his by rights.

"What's the matter old man?" Riley teased as his fist connected with Angels jaw.

Angel snapped out of himself and looked at the man standing before him, his face slipped back to his human form and he asked simply "Why?"

Riley stood looking confused "What do you mean why?"

"Why are we doing this?" Angel asked spreading his hand.

Riley sneered and produced a stake from his pocket and attacked. Angel was ready he knew he could defeat Riley easily. Angel blocked the first thrust and sent a right hook slamming into Riley's stomach.

Spike muttered the incantation over and over allowing the power within him to build and build. He began to feel light headed and felt his control begin to slip. His voice faltered slightly, Proserpexa hissed. Spike continued till the magic was pumping round him so fast and furious it felt as if his insides were being churned in a blender.

All was still and quiet Spike said one word loud and clear as he allowed the magic to flow out of him "RELEASE."

Lightning cracked around the temple, all directed at the amulet. Spike stood there paralysed as the magic flowed and whipped around him.

Proserpexa laughed in joy as slowly the chains of her prison were freed.

Spike stared as the she demon slowly appeared in front of him. Then screaming in pain as the last lightning bolt ripped through him and entered the amulet. Spike slumped to the floor panting.

The door to the temple swung open and Proserpexa walked out. Angel looked while he blocked Riley as he tried yet again to thrust the stake into his heart. Angel caught a glimpse of a white haired, black clad figure slumped against the altar. Anger flared in Angel, Angelus fought even harder for release and Riley was quickly knocked unconscious and flying through the air as Angel roared his frustration. Before Riley hit the ground Angel was walking towards the temple and Spike.

Suddenly Angel couldn't move. He fought hard to try and break the invisible bonds that held him but it was no use.

Proserpexa glided up to him "You may not enter." She hissed.

"Let me go to him." Angel whispered pleadingly.

Proserpexa smiled calmly "He will be fine and when he is ready he will be at your side, now I have little time and much to do."

Angel looked at her worriedly. What was this hell demon going to do with her new found freedom? He dreaded to think.

"I made a promise; do not fear your people will be fine. As for the others..." She left the sentence hanging in the air, as she drifted away from the paralysed Angel.

Proserpexa came and stood next to a dark haired Willow.

Willow could feel the darkness coming into her and sweeping away the light as she fought both Amy and to keep the light in her. She was losing she could feel it all slipping away. Something touched her arm and she turned and saw a woman standing next to her. Time seemed to stand still for Willow as the woman lent in and kissed her on the lips, as she slowly faded into nothingness.

Pain ripped through Willow and she threw her head back in a silent scream. Black clouds of dust streamed from her mouth and flew upwards, all fighting had stopped and everyone was standing watching as the black cloud separated and scattered into smaller and smaller clouds of black before flying towards the waiting potentials and smashing into their stomachs as they all fell forward.

Willow slumped to the floor as a white glow filled her and she laughed merrily. She felt whole for the first time since Tara was taken from her she felt the light; there was no darkness, no despair, only a warm loving feeling.

She turned her eyes to Amy. Amy shuddered and ran. The potentials slowly picked themselves off the ground and looked around and smiled as they felt power flow through them. The power of the

Slayer, very quickly they began to defeat the soldiers that were once again moving forwards to fight.

As the last soldier helped one of his fallen comrades off the ground Spike appeared at the door to the temple Angel was finally able to start moving, slowly at first but as the magic dissipated he began to run and caught Spike as he slumped to the ground.

"Will?"

"I'm all right, just a little drained." Spike answered as he slipped the amulet into his duster pocket. "Help me up luv, got one last thing to do."

Angel helped Spike to stand and they slowly walked away from the temple.

"Stop here and stand back pet." Spike said as he caressed Angel's cheek.

"You sure?"

"Yeah."

Angel moved slightly away. Spike drew on his inner strength to remain standing and turned, raised his hands and felt for that last bit of power deep down inside. Slowly the temple sank back into the ground to be covered in earth as if it had never been there, as the last piece of dirt fell into place Spike collapsed on the ground and passed out.

TBC