Disclaimers, etc.: Please see opening chapter

Summary: Previously – Spike and Dawn enjoyed a day together, Buffy explained her dream to Spike, Gnash the hell dimension where Angelus was sent.

Author's notes: Warning - this chapter may be revised in the future.

This chapter is for jazielsan, Shanshu, Charlie, and vamp who reviewed my first chapter. Thanks guys.

Chapter 2: Negotiations

The music pounded painfully in Sarah's head, the driving drum beat and harsh guitars grating on her eardrums. She just had to go outside for a moment to give her head a rest. She communicated this to her friend, Cindy, via hand gestures, the music too loud to allow a properly understood verbal message. As Sarah carefully pushed through the crowd near the door and emerged onto the street, she already felt a little better, glad to have left the chaotic atmosphere of The Bronze. The air, reasonably fresh compared to the smoky, alcohol-laden vapors inside, was a welcome relief.

After a moment of relative quiet near the entrance, Sarah decided that the cause of her headache had to be the music. It couldn't be alcohol, because there'd only been one drink, a drink that she was reasonably sure had been watered down on top of that. She scoffed. When had she become such a nerd? She supposed that perhaps one tough semester of college could do that to a girl. She moved a little farther away from the door and the ogling eyes of a drunken fraternity boy, trying to find some peace to think of a plausible excuse to go home early.

The band was not what she'd expected, but in retrospect, she should have known better. Her girlfriend Cindy was nice enough, and she loved her to death, but even she had to admit the girl was an airhead. She should have known better when Cindy had assured her the band was really good and focused instead on her friend's excited descriptions of the lead singer. No amount of good looks was worth sitting through that racket. Sighing, she considered heading home. Perhaps Cindy wouldn't even notice.

She'd only walked a few more paces from the door when a hand snatched her into an alley. That alone would have been enough to scare her half to death, but something about the hand was all wrong. It felt too bony. Sarah had no time to make sense of any of that information, barely getting out the yelp of surprise, before her eyes met with an inhuman face. Her breath caught for a moment, her brain trying to find any kind of logical explanation to rationalize away the horror that she was seeing. It was a college prank or it was part of the act inside; either might have been acceptable if she hadn't felt that cold, clawed hand touching her flesh. Before she could scream, another of those hands covered her mouth. Sarah felt her body start to defy the demands of her brain to fight and to flee as the monster pulled her back into its massive chest, effectively pinning her. Too frightened, she didn't notice the demon's body stiffen or the sound of an approaching voice.

"Oh, thank you so much. This way, you said, right? Oh there you are, Sarah, I was wondering where…"

Sarah watched Cindy's eyes go from thankful to terrified in seconds.

"Even better," said the cold voice of the monster that held her, just before Cindy screamed.

Without warning, Sarah stumbled hard into the alley wall she'd been shoved towards. She fell to the pavement without a sound and watched the monster grab her screaming friend and disappear seconds later. It wasn't until a few moments afterwards that the reality would hit her, but she didn't tell what she'd seen to the people who came running. She would sound completely crazy. Self-preservation provided her with a believable lie and the all too reasonable excuse for giving it. She went through the motions, cooperating with the police, pretending to be helpful, all so she could just go home where she'd be safe.

The first pangs of guilt wouldn't hit her until the quiet hours before dawn, their cause of an entirely different nature than her story to the police. It was then that Sarah remembered something just as horrible to her as the monster's hideous face and something not as easily excused as her fib. It was something she tried to stuff deep down, but the memory wouldn't be denied. Because in those sleepless hours when there was nothing to do but worry and think, Sarah recalled with perfect clarity her first coherent thought following the incident. Thank God the monster took Cindy instead of me.

*********

Angelus thought he was imagining things, because he couldn't believe he was seeing what he thought he was: a young, tasty, all-too-human woman. Grinning evilly, he scented the air from behind his hiding place. She smelled human as well, her aroma enhanced by the obvious, delicious tang of fear. He stifled a laugh. God, she was a shapely one too, with large tits and round hips. If this was a delusion, he was going to make it last, that was for sure, and if it was real? Well, he'd still make it last. No matter how starving he was for the rich taste of human blood, there was something else he'd missed just as much. If the woman was real, he'd catch her soon enough, so why not make it fun? Any vampire could hunt and kill. He made it an art.

Closing his eyes, Angelus centered himself, calming his raging hunger for just a little bit longer. Then with some initial difficulty, he forced his human mask into place and stepped from behind the rocks.

*********

Buffy felt much better. She had promised Spike that she would explain things to Angel if he would stay with her just a little bit longer while she worked through her initial anxiety. Of course Spike hadn't objected in the slightest, suggesting exactly what he could do to help her work through the aforementioned anxiety. She'd put up a show of offense and the requisite "pig", but both had known his suggestion was exactly what she wanted in the first place. Luckily Dawn had excused herself earlier after manipulating some cash out of Spike for ice cream. Lucky too, that the bed was still in one piece, that small miracle perhaps aided by the fact that they never quite made it there.

She smiled at Spike sprawled out on the floor beneath her, his hands still above his head despite her having removed the cuffs already. He was perhaps the only male she knew who could look self-satisfied after being thoroughly ravaged.

"Thanks for the tumble, luv," he teased, "but I've overstayed my welcome as it is." He chuckled. "Angel's gonna brood over the bruises we left him already."

"Spike," she scolded, pinching his hip.

He jumped a little, giving her a lascivious tongue roll. "Oh, now there's another."

 "Stop it. You know we can't start again." She turned serious for a moment. "I do have to tell him. I'll see you again soon, okay?"

He nodded. "Bye, pet."

When Buffy saw his fangs and brow ridges recede, she moved to lie beside him. Caressing his face, she smiled into the now blue eyes that were clouded slightly with disorientation. Angel looked above his head, finding his arms there then rolled his eyes as he brought them down. He sighed, finding himself naked as well. "Spike," he muttered. "I should've known he was up to something."

Buffy pouted in what she hoped was an adorable fashion and softly rubbed his slightly reddened wrists. "Now don't blame Spike entirely. It was partly my fault." She supposed some worry showed in her eyes now that it was time to share the story of her dream with him, because Angel seemed to pick up on it.

"What's wrong Buffy? You look worried." He reached a hand up to stroke her hair.

She smirked slightly. "You should have seen me before this," she teased, motioning her hands between them.

Seeing through her jokes, he looked at her, his gaze serious. Some of Spike's memories were no doubt returning to him slowly. "Tell me."

She nodded then pulled the comforter from her nearby bed to wrap around them. Snuggling into him, she smiled sadly. "I had a dream."

*********

Her body ached all over, but it was nothing compared to the wreck of her mind. Sitting up carefully, Cindy tried to get her bearing as she took in the strange landscape in front of her. This couldn't be happening, because it was impossible. That had been her plea for the last few moments she remembered before waking up here, and it seemed just as appropriate now. It had all looked and felt so real though. The feel of the whatever-it-was's hands on her skin, the black eyes, and the large body with the scaly skin all had seemed bona fide, but then with a flash, literally, it had disappeared, and she was alone. As she looked at her surroundings, somehow that idea became only slightly less terrifying than the monster had been.

A noise startled her into motion and she scrabbled away from the sound, her heart rate increasing. Oh God, where was she? She wanted to look for a place to hide, but she couldn't turn her back on the noise, fearing something would get her as soon as her back was turned. She got to her feet and prepared to run until she saw a figure taking a few careful steps from behind some rocks. He moved tentatively, his head and shoulders ducked a little and his steps unsteady.

"Are you real?"

Relief flooded her as he spoke. He had such a reassuring voice, and she wasn't alone anymore. He must've been here a while, she reasoned, because his clothing had seen better days. The shirt already bore tears and his pants looked as if they carried the dust of the ages. "Where are we? How did we get here?"

"I don't know. I woke up here one day quite a while ago."

"Me too, but just now," she offered, glad someone else could share her bewilderment.

As he came closer, she mused that he wasn't half bad looking, in spite of the obvious dirt and ruined clothes. "What do we do now? How do we get out of here?" He smiled in response, and the first prickling sensations moved up her spine.

"Oh, I don't know exactly what you'll do, but me, I plan on having dinner." With that declaration, his face deformed hideously, his mouth growing obvious fangs.

Cindy screamed and turned, fleeing despite the aching in her limbs. She didn't notice that this new monster didn't follow right away, nor did she hear his response to her actions.

"God, I love it when they run."

Angelus felt the urge to chase her right away, but forced himself to wait so it wouldn't be over too quickly. Reliving the girl's reaction helped him. Watching her hopeful, relief-filled eyes suddenly widen in horror had been priceless. They almost always fell for it, but somehow he never tired of that expression of shock and terror, and this girl, she screamed like a pro. Of course it helped that just before she screamed, her lungs filled with air, enhancing her ample chest. God, this was going to be fun. He closed his eyes and picked up her scent, following it at a leisurely pace.

Angelus had learned early on that following a scent trail was fairly easy in this dimension. Somehow there was a constant movement of air, not really wind per se, but movement nonetheless. He had supposed at one point that it was likely magical, but in actuality, he could care less as long as it let him find prey, and this evening, what glorious prey it was. It wouldn't be long before the waning sun disappeared entirely, and there would only be an unearthly glow emanating from the various rock outcroppings. She would have no time to run anywhere else in the encroaching darkness. He chuckled to himself. Not only was she buxom, but brainless as well, just like in the movies. Okay, he could use that.

He moved in a mockery of stealth towards the closest rocky ridge. "Well, let's see, our heroine has chosen to hide in the first place she saw, because the monster would never look there." Making his tone sarcastic and loud, Angelus ensured that she would hear his every word. He also made sure she could hear his approaching footsteps, relishing in her growing fear that carried on the air. He inhaled deeply and waited for the inevitable.

As expected, the anticipation of his arrival was too much for her, and she fled into the encroaching twilight, flushed like a quail from brush. Angelus followed, not rushing, watching her labored breathing with appreciation, but his hunger was growing as he came nearer. As he gained on her, intending to end the chase now that he'd had his fun, she looked behind her in terror, and suddenly tripped, sprawling on the dusty ground below.

"Oh, and the heroine trips, maybe twisting an ankle. How cliché," he taunted.

She gave a strangled scream and scrambled to her hands and knees, attempting to rise to her feet. Angelus was on her back in a moment, wrapping his arms around her waist, and in a parody of affection, he whispered in her ear, "Oh, now how did guess that this is my favorite position?" He then sunk his fangs into the skin between her neck and shoulder. She screamed, not then knowing that it would be the least of what he would do to her.

*********

Gnash looked down on the body of the girl, taking a moment to admire the vampire's handiwork before he spoke. "So I see you enjoyed my little gift, Angelus." The vampire startled in response, and the demon smiled in amusement. "Be careful now. Don't let all that nice, human blood make your senses weak."

Angelus looked him up and down then, and the demon was amused to see forced indifference in the other's expression.

"And what are you supposed to be? Some cross between the monster from Alien and Kermit the frog?"

Gnash would have gotten angry if the retort hadn't been so amusing, not to mention a somewhat accurate as a description. "Oh, but you forgot one important component. There's a little Merlin in the mix as well." He let some blue sparks dance on his talons for show. "Though perhaps in my case, maybe more of a Morgana, not including the feminine aspect of course."

"Oh, so that's how you got here. Magic." The sarcasm in his tone wasn't at all subtle. Angelus sighed heavily. "And I suppose now that you've given me the little bimbo, here, you want me to do something for you." He rolled his eyes. "Well, screw you. I'm not anyone's lacky. And since you seem to know who I am, the chance is pretty good that you need me. So whatever it is, you can shove it until you give me good reason to say otherwise."

"Are you done?"

Angelus looked towards the featureless sky above him. "Yes, I'm done. What do you want? Though I've got to tell you, not much I can do from here."

"No, you are correct on that. What I want you to do is not here, but back home."

"Of course," he huffed, adopting a put-upon expression that would make a diva proud. "And what God-awful place is home to you?"

"Why Sunnydale, California, of course, but you should have known that." Gnash watched Angelus' expression light up on hearing his words, then subsequently smolder.

"I have business there myself," he growled.

"And I imagine that our purposes are somewhat similar."

"Well, what are you waiting for? Let's go home."

Gnash smiled. "Soon."

Angelus growled. "Soon?" He looked ready to make an issue of it.

"Yes, as in not quite yet. Look at yourself. You're practically skin and bones. I may be powerful, but I am a secretive demon. I don't make my presence known to my enemies. Do you understand?"

Angelus smiled. "You want me to be your calling card."

"Not so slow after all," Gnash said. "And to do that, you need to be strong again. These aren't girls like the one I sent to you.  Well, actually one is a girl, but not your usual girl."

"Let me guess," Angelus offered. "Small, blonde, annoying, heavy into stakes and weaponry. Am I getting close?"

"Very, and she has strong allies. Perhaps much stronger than you remember."

"Like that red-headed witch who sent me here."

"Yes, for one. And another witch and a vampire for two others. While you remain here getting stronger, I'd like to try and even those odds a little too."

"And I'll be getting stronger how?" Angelus asked, giving a vague gesture to his surroundings.

"There's plenty more where she came from," Gnash answered, indicating the girl's body with a nudge of his foot. "You just take care of regaining your strength and fighting skills. I'll supply the rest."

"Why can't I get stronger back in Sunnydale?"

"Because I don't trust you to be patient, vampire. Patience is my strong suit, not yours. You'll be off trying to get your revenge before you are anywhere near ready. No, I'll let you stay right here. I'm doing enough for you as it is. Wouldn't you agree?" His voice carried a bit of warning that he could see was not lost on the vampire.

Angelus bristled, at first defiant, but quickly backed down, shoulders slumping just a little. "I'll stay here and get stronger. Just don't forget the choice eats, and we have a deal."

He watched Angelus stand up straighter again, the demand mostly for show since there had already been an offer to supply the vampire with more humans, but Gnash was always the diplomat. It went along with being a good behind-the- scenes demon. It was much easier to get someone to do your bidding when they felt like part of the process. "Of course. You will be provided for." Without further discussion, Gnash brought out his pre-made spell, smashed it, and vanished before Angelus could change his mind.

*********

Buffy would be fine. Whatever her Slayer dream had meant, he was sure she would overcome it. There was no way that Angelus would be coming back now. If he could have, he would have done it all ready. This Angel was sure of. Of course the fact that he was heading back to L.A. to get things in order there so he could return to Sunnydale for a while in no way negated his certainty. He was just being cautious, thorough; that was all.  The fact that he was heading back earlier than expected was just a coincidence. With a phrasing that made him question whether he was channeling Spike at that moment, he thought, Yeah, right.

Shifting in the driver's seat, Angel resigned himself to the drive home. The movement elicited a slight groan as he remembered yet another disadvantage of leaving early: no recovery time. He never should have let Spike talk him into staying under for that last thirty minutes or so. A tense Buffy was often a Buffy that liked to blow off steam. When Spike was thrown into that equation, it often resulted in a little "rough and tumble", emphasis on the "rough" part. Sure Spike enjoyed himself, but he didn't have to live with the lingering aches and bruises that followed. Angel shook his head and smirked. Buffy did seem to like things a little rough at times. That was something he never would have guessed about her in the old days but probably should have.

Until his merger with Spike, he'd only had the one night with Buffy, and that night had been her first. She'd had no real idea of what she would like in terms of a physical relationship then, because it was all new. She'd had plenty of time to figure it out after he'd left. Though surprisingly, with him, she enjoyed returning to the romance and slow, shy wonder more often than not. Perhaps it recalled one of the best times in their relationship: the one perfect moment. Angel couldn't argue with the appeal.

It wasn't usually the same thing with his counterpart, however. After gaining some of Spike's memories and a new insight after they had merged, Angel knew that a lot of Buffy's relationship with Spike had been self-destructive on her part, including a lot of the sex. Perhaps Buffy herself wouldn't have guessed she'd enjoy keeping a little of the rough play even after their relationship changed. Maybe it was the way Spike made her feel powerful. For Buffy, Spike would be tamed, and the look that would cross her face as she watched him surrender, well, the memory of it now made Angel want to shiver. Equally as magnificent was her expression those times she surrendered in turn. Angel had seen it first through Spike, but slowly, Buffy allowed him to see that side of her as well.

It had been hard for her at first, he knew, and she had finally admitted as such one night in his arms. Once she had let him know that she was afraid of what he would think, that she was worried about him seeing how much she had changed from the shy, inexperienced woman he knew, it had been easy for him to show her that she had no reason to be concerned. Generally though, she left the rough stuff for Spike, which was fine with him. The "morning after" bruises were bad enough.

Angel flipped on the radio, glad that his musings had taken his mind off the problem at hand for a while. Unfortunately, as L.A. drew closer, so did his thoughts of another dilemma. How was he ever going to convince Cordelia that he had to leave for a while and that she'd likely have to take on more of the paperwork while he was gone? Inwardly, Angel groaned at the thought, imagining much groveling and bribery would be required. Suddenly, in comparison, those aches and bruises Spike left him with seemed to be only a minor inconvenience.

TBC