Title: Just Some Good Ole Boys

Author: Cindy Cindy

Rating: PG-13

Summary: Angel and Spike duke (pun intended) it out with some demons. Feedback: Please review. I always send a nice thank you note!

Disclaimer: I still don't own them, and Waylon Jennings owns all song rights to the Dukes of Hazard theme song.

Authors Notes: I am hoping I will be able to conclude this in three or four more chapters. Look for appearances from Illyria, Willow, Giles, and of course Dru.

Thanks again to my husband for his help working out the kinks.

Shifting the scene to see the unseen. I may not believe in science, but he is clearly made of atoms, and molecules, and bits of paper. The hermit should be out to play.

"This is so your fault!" Angel said to Spike. "I'd rather live dangerously." Angel mimicked. The creatures continued to climb out of the crack in the pavement using the long sharp fingernails to cling to the surface.

"What are they?" Spike asked. Several of the creatures had now worked their way out of the ground. They began to advance on the two vampires, moving slowly but deliberately.

"Eaters of the Dead, basic carrion demons." Angel replied. He took a few steps back from the place the creatures were emerging. Spike did likewise.

"How convenient for them," Spike said grimly. He looked at the creatures coming towards him. They were small, about waist high, ash grey, slightly shiny and equipped with talons on their hands and feet that could easily slice open a cantaloupe. The talons on their feet obviously impeded the demons' abilities to walk. Each step they took brought them no more than an inch or two closer. However, the talons were easily the least disturbing things about them. Each demon's face looked as if was slit from ear to ear and filled in with rows of large sharp teeth. Spike didn't look close enough to see if it had eyes. "Ugly buggers aren't they?"

Angel nodded his head to reply. The gray demons continued there slow advance. The sounds of their long nail scrapping through the pavement echoed through the night. "I think this is Wolfram and Harts way of saying they are glad we reunited. Some one has to summon these things. Personally I would have just sent flowers," said the dark vampire.

Spike looked at Angel as he surveyed the scene in front of them. The demons continued to work their way out of the ground. There was at least a twenty of them now, movingly slowly towards the two vampires. The streetlights reflected off their pale skin. "So, we just gonna stand here and get eaten. I suppose that's why they're here, being eaters of the dead and all." Spike pursed his lips for a moment and looked over at Angel. Getting no response, he continued on "We could always fight. What kind of weapons do you keep in those chinos anyhow? A broadsword where your knackers used to be, perhaps?"

Angel still didn't reply. He warily eyed the slowly moving army of the Eaters for several more moments. Spike and Angel could have easily walked away by now. "This isn't right," he finally said to Spike. "These things aren't even a real threat to us."

Suddenly the Eaters were in the air headed towards them at great speeds. There was no time to run now. Spike swung his arms wildly knocking the creatures right and left, but their sharp nails tore into his flesh. "You didn't mention they could fly!" Spike yelled at Angel. He heard the crack as Angel broke one's neck beneath his foot.

Angel moved around so that he and Spike were now defending themselves back to back. Without any weapons, the demons would chew them to bits before long. He heard Spike howl with rage and could smell Spike's blood in the air. "I didn't know," he shouted back. Angel's arms were moving fast as they could. The demons were not very strong. Knocking them in all directions would buy them some time. Angel could hear Spike groaning as he attempted to dislodge one of the Eaters that had clamped his rows of razor sharp teeth in to Spike's leg. Even if they ran for it, Spike probably wouldn't make it very far. They were going to need wheels.

"My truck's about twenty yards behind us, in the hotel parking lot." Apparently, Spike had become mind reader. "Weapons in there too!" He added.

"On the count of three then," Angel snarled. One of the eaters had attached itself to Angel's back and clamped down on his shoulder. "One..." Angel dislodged the little beast. "Two..." Angel knocked away another flying towards him. "Three!" Angel was off like a shot. He made it about twenty-five feet before a big black pick up truck pulled up in front of him effectively blocking his path. The eaters swarmed behind him. The passenger door of the truck flew open to reveal Spike sitting at the wheel, loading up a crossbow.

"Get in," He yelled. Angel did as told and slammed the door behind him "Here, take this." Spike handed Angel the cross bow. He slammed the truck into reverse, mowing down the creatures that were trying to get into the truck.

"I thought we were going on the count of three." Angel said.

"Well that was a bloody stupid idea." Spike replied. Spike switched the gear into drive and headed out of the parking lot. "Where to then?" he asked.

Some one has a brave little heart. And it beats, beats, beat no more. The sound was aggravating. Now it will want to eat, eat, eat.

The truck cruised out of Tuscaloosa and down the highway. It was after midnight and the road was nearly deserted. "Where did you get this monstrosity?" Angel asked Spike. The big black Dodge Ram was definitely contrary to Angel's taste.

"Took it off a couple vamps I dusted outside the Atlanta airport. Don't know where they got it, don't care." Spike was looking at the headlights reflecting in his rear view mirror. He pressed the accelerator harder causing the truck's big engine to hum.

The increase of speed did not go unnoticed by Angel. "So does this thing have a hemi?" Angel still thought fondly of some of the cars he had at his disposal during his tenure at Wolfram and Hart, especially the Charger. Spike continued to speed up. "We're gonna get pulled over, and I doubt you have a drivers license." Angel said

Spike tapped the rearview mirror. "Look behind us." was all he said.

Angel turned around and saw the car closing in on them. When he looked closer, he saw a shiny little grey head and talons wrapped around the steering wheel. "They can drive!" he exclaimed. Angel picked up the cross bow he had rested between his legs. "They're about two and half feet tall. How in the hell are they driving?" Angel rolled down the trucks window.

"Wondering how they hotwired that Porsche, myself. That's a dead useful skill. Don't think we're gonna out run them, mate." Spike had pressed the accelerator to the floor, but the demon driven Porsche kept gaining on them. "I'm givin it all she's got."

Angel had climbed halfway out the window and was training the crossbow on the Porches tire. Angel fired his first shoot. At the very same moment the truck hit a pothole and the caused the arrow to miss its mark. "Watch what you're doing," Angel barked.

"Take it up with the Alabama Department of Transportation. These roads are complete shite." Spike retorted as the he hit another pothole.

Angel reloaded the cross bow and took his second shot. The target smoothly pulled behind the truck and avoided the arrow entirely. The car was now close to being on their bumper. "We're gonna have to try a different tactic," Angel said as he lowered himself back into his seat.

"Better buckle up then." Spike pulled a hard right and the truck headed up an exit they had nearly passed. The Porsche slammed on its' breaks to avoid hitting the truck's back end and spun.

Spike was bouncing in his seat and nodding his head rapidly to the tune in his head. He was clearly enjoying this. Angel smiled slightly, despite his worry. "Spike keep your eyes on the road." Dense woods on both sides surrounded the road.

Spike continued to bounce in his seat as the truck careened wildly down the dark road. "We need music!" he cried as he hit the play button on the truck's c.d. player. The sounds of The Dead Kennedy's filled the cabin. "Buzz bomb, buzz bomb automobile," Spike sang along, "the roads my slave, that' how I feel."

Angel didn't even bother to comment on Spike's poor musical tastes. Headlights flashed in his side view mirror. "They're back." The Porsche headed down the road at breakneck speeds.

Spike did not say a word. Spike did not slow down. He just turned the truck of the main road onto a dirt path into the woods. Low branches beat the windshield and the sides of the truck. Spike looked over at Angel and raised his eyebrows "All wheel drive!"

Angel didn't know how to respond. He had a very clear image of extracting him self from he wreckage of a flaming car. He was about to tell Spike to slow down when he saw the demon's car again, it was a good twenty yards back. "I know this is a stupid question, but do you have a plan?" he asked.

"No," said Spike, "but we have the truck and a Porsche is not meant for off road adventure. A point for us then." Spike caught sight of a clearing ahead. "Looks like we might loose our advantage though."

The clearing drew nearer and both vampires saw that it was actually a large pond. Angel began to unbuckle his seat belt but Spike put his arm across his chest. "Better keep that belt buckled. Not gonna bale, mate." Spike pointed to a fishing pier directly in their path. "We're gonna jump it.'"

Angel looked at him as if he was out of his mind. "Have you completely lost it?"

Spike grinned as he pressed the gas harder.

"It can't be done." Angel said nervously. The headlights of the Eater's car came in flashes through the woods. "I hate swimming," he added.

"Don't worry, we're not gonna get wet. Your hair is safe." Spike grinned even bigger. The truck was approaching the dock.

Spike's grin grew manic as they neared the pier. He put the accelerator to the floor and headed down the dock. The headlights of the Porsche were not far behind them. Angel craned his neck and saw a couple of the Eater's hanging out of its windows.

The end of the dock was approaching. "Yee- haw!" Spike whooped.

Angel closed his eyes. The truck was airborne, for about three seconds. The Ram landed in the lake and began to sink quickly. The vampires scrambled to get out of their seat belts. Angel put his feet up on the windshield and kicked it out. Spike and Angel had just made their way out when they heard a loud splash. The Porsche landed in the water in front of them. The vampires wasted no time in swimming for shore. As soon as they hit the shallow's they stood and turned around. The moonlight glinted of the pale metallic creatures flailing helplessly in the water. The Eaters of the Dead were not built for swimming. Their talons clawed at the water, but to no avail. One by one, they went under, followed by the truck, then the sports car. The two vampires stood in the waist deep water and watched.

"Little buggers can fly, but they can't swim." Spike said.

"You know what else can't swim Spike?" Angel said through gritted teeth. He was soaking wet and just knew that his hair looked like shit.

Spike bit. "What?" he asked.

"Trucks you idiot!" Angel yelled as he shoved Spike down in to the water. Angel grinned as he watched the platinum head go under. His satisfaction was short lived as he felt himself pulled under. Spike had one of his arms wrapped around his waist and was delivering sharp blows to the bigger vampire's kidneys with the other. Angel grasped Spike by his hair and pulled them both to the surface. Not letting go of Spike, who was kicking the water ferociously, he dragged him to shore.

"Let go of my hair you great fucking oaf." Spike screamed. He was now on his knees in the mud in front of Angel. The indignity of it all was too much for him. Angel had just carried him by the hair as if he was Drusilla punishing one of her dolls. He was ready to counter when the name hit him, Drusilla. Spike went limp and Angel let go. Spike sank down and looked out over the pond. The water was still rippling from the impact of the two vehicles and the subsequent struggles of their occupants.

Angel crouched down in front of Angel. Spike never gave up this easily. He expected more of a fight from him. Angel looked at Spike. The younger vampires seemed distant. "So I guess now would be as good of a time as any to tell me why you came."