Fighting Back

Disclaimer: A little more fun, but still not mine. More fun than pocket lint.

Summary: Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Reviews: Yes, Please. Reviews rock. Thanks to all the great people who take the time. Muse loves you.

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Angel's smile widened just a little. His eyes grew colder and his face hardened. A chill chased down Giles's spine. He's seen this before. Horror filled his eyes seconds before the blow knocked him unconscious.

Angel caught the older man before he could hit the floor. He eased the limp body into the easy chair. He picked up the phone and dialed quickly.

"Are you ready? Good. Do it now." He hung up and dialed again.

"I'll be ready in a few seconds. Thanks for your help... Yes, I'll call you when it's over." The dark vampire hung up again and scooped his catatonic Childe up into his arms. He knew he had to be touching Giles for this to work so he stood with his leg snug against the unconscious Watcher and braced himself. The three of them disappeared.

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Buffy answered the door at her home but didn't see anyone there. She shrugged and turned to walk back into the house. She felt a sting seconds before she collapsed. She was carried out to a waiting van and her assailant went into the house. Dawn was carried out a few minutes later, then Willow. The mysterious van drove away.

Xander closed his door and turned to go to the store. He never saw who hit him. His limp form was added to the three already in the van.

The van pulled up to an apparently abandoned mansion. If the Scoobies had been conscious they would have recognized the place. The Scoobies were carefully carried into the house and the van stashed in the garage behind the house. The mysterious group secured the unconscious captives in the living room, making sure the young people could not get loose but would not get hurt. Their orders were clear. No one was to be injured... yet.

Angelus appeared with his unaware burden. Giles was caught before he could hit his head on the floor and secured with his 'children'. The master vampire looked at his minions and approved of their handiwork. Spike was eased into an overstuffed chair. Making sure the blond would remain upright, the older vampire backed up and checked everything again. With a wave of his hand he indicated the others should get out of sight. He didn't want the Scoobies waking up and seeing them. Sitting down, he waited.

He didn't have to wait long. Giles was the first to wake up. He looked around with dawning horror. His gaze landed on the vampire sitting across from him waiting patiently. The former Watcher knew from experience that Angelus had unlimited patience. The coldness in the watching brown eyes, the posture of the large body and the room in which they were being held all told Giles that they were now dealing with Angelus, not Angel.

An evil smile found its way across Angelus's face. "It's about time you woke up, Rupert." He spoke softly. The tone in his voice chilled Giles to the bone. "I wonder when your little friends will join you. I don't want to wait much longer to have my fun."

Giles struggled futilely against his bonds. He knew before he started he wouldn't be able to get free but he had to try. Xander moaned somewhere to his left and he could hear Dawn starting to come around. Giles closed his eyes as he realized that they were all in Angelus's clutches and they had little hope for rescue. The vampire looked at his captives, happy to see them starting to revive. He looked off to the shadows.

"Buffy's not going to wake up anytime soon, is she?" He asked someone standing out of sight. Apparently receiving the answer he wanted, he smiled. "Good." He looked at Giles again. "You're sweet little slayer won't be joining us right away."

He got up and walked over to Xander. "Xander! So good of you to join the party." The vampire greeted the brunette with vicious glee.

"Angelus. What happened? Where's Angel?" Xander asked angrily.

"The Poof took a vacation. Much like old Spikey here. A little mental break from the tedium of being good. Ah, Dawnie, you're getting prettier all the time." The vampire caressed a finger down her cheek as her eyes fluttered open. He moved over to Willow. She glared at him over the gag in her mouth.

"Now, Willow, don't look at me like that. I know you're big with the mojo, so you're not allowed to say anything." An evil smile once more appeared when she glared at him mutely.

He clapped his hands together and rubbed them with wicked glee. "We're all awake, well except for Spikey and Buffy. Buffy cause I don't want her to be awake yet and Spike, he just isn't there at all."

He moved over to stand behind Dawn. He leaned over her shoulder to whisper in her ear. "Scream for me." Blue fire shot at him from her eyes as she clamped her lips closed, refusing his order. He laughed. "You don't have to scream out loud. Mentally will do just fine." He crooned. Confusion filled her eyes, followed by understanding. He vamped and leaned in again. "Don't let on." He whispered. Louder. "Now, scream for me." His fangs scraped her neck startling a scream from her.

Xander strained against his bonds. "Get away from her!" He yelled.

Sapphire eyes glimmered for a second. Pale slender fingers twitched then became still again.

Fear filled the teenager. She frantically opened her link to Spike. 'Spike!' She screamed mentally. 'Help me. It's Angelus. He's got us all. Please Spike. Come back. We need you.'

Spike's essence drifted closer. Something was wrong. He needed to do something. What? The girl was back. The one who'd made him sad. She was screaming something important.

Angelus opened his Childe/Sire link. 'Oh, Spikey. It's me. Angelus. I have some really yummy people here you need to wake up and snack on. Come on boy, you know you want to. No? Okay. Guess I'll start with Dawn.' Closing the link, he waited.

The fingers twitched again, clenching into a fist.

'Spike! Help me!' Dawn screamed as Angelus scraped his fangs against her neck again.

Xander struggled harder, desperate to get free and help Dawn. Willow watched helplessly as the vampire circled in front of the teenager. Still in full game face, Angelus moved over to Xander.

"You know you can't get free, boy. Why are you trying? There's no one who can help you. But...come to think about it. Struggle...please. The adrenaline will make you taste that much sweeter." The vampire taunted. He flicked at glance at the blond sitting across the room. Inwardly, he cheered when he saw the clenched fist. 'Just a little more.' He thought.

He moved over to stand in front of Buffy. She was still unconscious. His orders had been for her to be drugged so she wouldn't wake up until it was too late. But that didn't mean he couldn't have some fun. He circled around behind her and pulled her head to one side.

Dawn screamed again. Aloud this time. Another glimmer appeared in the deep blue eyes of the younger vampire. Giles struggled harder but was beginning to tire.

"Stop. You don't want to do this." Giles protested.

"Oh, don't I?" Angelus purred. "Look at my Childe. Look at what she did to him. She broke him. I need to do this." He licked the side of Buffy's neck. "Ahhh, she still tastes sweet."

The fear in the room was almost tangible. Angelus was enjoying the sweet scent. He opened his link with Spike again. 'What do you think my boy? Should I drain the Slayer dry or do you want me to save you some?' This time he could feel Spike's presence, the anger beginning to build in the younger vampire was heartening. 'What about sweet little Dawnie? Should I drain her or do you want her for yourself?'

Giles looked over at the younger vampire. He could see a difference in the eyes. There seemed to be a glint of anger sparking in the deep blue gaze. He noticed the clenched fist and saw with hope that Spike seemed to be coming back. Little flashes of lightening were beginning to shoot from the unfisted hand. He looked around to see if anyone else had noticed, all attention was still on Angelus who was now back behind Dawn. Her wide blue eyes were glazed with fear and she appeared to be trying to connect with Spike.

Spike's essence struggled to figure out why he had to help the sad girl. He knew he loved her and the realization that he had a promise to protect her snapped him back. He went into full game face and launched himself at his Sire. Rage fueling the first leap across the room, knocking Angelus away from the frightened teen.

Angel leapt up. Game face fading away as he faced his enraged Childe. "Spike! It's okay. It's me, Angel. I'm not Angelus. Tell him Dawn."

Snarling Spike advanced toward his Sire, anger clouding his vision. His Niblet had been in danger. The danger must be eliminated. His focus was on Angel, lightening sparking from his fingertips. He didn't notice the figure sneaking up behind him until the chain fell around his shoulders pinning his arms to his sides. Instinctively he tried to transport out of the trap but it was magically enhanced so he couldn't move. He growled in frustration.

The person holding the magical chain moved up behind Spike. "So this is Spike. Feisty little vamp, isn't he?" Gunn observed.