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Author's Note – here's another rewrite of my story that needed to be changed for the people who didn't understand. So, here goes nothing… hope you like my changes again!

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Old authors note, still useful

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Author's Note – to those reviewers who so badly wanted this story to be Spangel, I can promise you that you won't be disappointed. Sorry if that spoils anything, but it'll make you readers and reviewers happy. Please keep reviewing because without them I can't continue my work.

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CHAPTER FIVE – ANGEL?

Buffy had taken Eve downstairs and shackled her to the wall, in the cage that Angel had been kept in when he was Angelus. She had spent the past three days locked down there, with no human contact except to shovel food down her mouth once a day. Buffy really hated her, and quite often refused to be the one who fed her. It was usually Faith, because now she was good at holding in her feelings. Buffy had spent her time with Spike, helping him get better. He was getting stronger, only days after the battle with Hell and the Senior Partners, the Black Thorn and the Powers That Be's choice to let it all happen. Buffy continuously had to give him blood, to keep his strength up and to aid his recovery from wounds and especially his accumulated wound from Eve. When he became strong enough to fight properly again, Buffy began training him downstairs. In front of Eve so that she could see what sort of moves she'd be expecting to receive against herself eventually. Or at least, that's what Spike and Buffy would tell her.

They were absolutely furious with her after what she did to Angel, but they hadn't spoken to anyone about it. Not even each other. Finally, after training on the third day since Angel's "departure", Buffy decided to ask Spike how he felt.

'How do I feel? How do you think I bloody feel? That son of a bitch stake by bloody Grand-sire! She has no idea about being a vampire, and she'll probably never know.'

'Spike, you have to accept that she's a vampire and that she's free to do anything she wants.'

'Yeah I know, she doesn't have a bloody soul does she? You can't tell me that Angel's death doesn't mean anything to you.' Spike replied.

'Angel was already dead, you know that and I know that. But yes, his death did mean something to me. I thought I was going to lose you earlier that night as well. You weren't exactly in the best shape.' She smiled, hiding her true feelings about Angel's staking.

'Come on Buffy, let it out. I can tell that you're hiding your feelings. Just let it out, I'm here to listen.' Spike assured her that it was a healthy choice.

'You know what Spike, you're right. She's a bitch. I don't even know Eve, but the impression I'm getting is that she's an rude, selfish and pompous bitch. I want to be the one to drive a stake through her heart to show her how painful it must be, but I'm sure that you'd prefer to have that job. That woman has no idea what she's done to us. She has no idea what Angel meant to us. She has no idea!' Buffy was creaming now. 'No idea at all!'

'Alright Buffy, and yeah, I kinda do wanna be the one to drive a stake through her heart. It'd make me feel kinda warm inside to see her die, not like I had to see Angel.' He showed his true sorrow in the last few words of his sentence. Not like I had to see Angel. Buffy could feel his pain; feel how hurt he was by her.

'I've had enough of this. What we're doing with her down there isn't enough, we've got to get the message through to her that she's destroyed a part of us that can never be replaced. Angel was…' she stopped, looking past Spike to the front door. One swung open, revealing a dark shadowy figure.

'Hey!' Spike jumped to his feet and grabbed and arrow that was lying under the edge of the couch. He felt it with his foot, took hold of it and thrust it forcefully at the figure.

He watched as a hand shot out into the light and grabbed hold of the arrow. Spike suddenly recognised who it was.

'Angel?' he said. 'Is that you?' Buffy snorted.

'That's ridiculous Spike. Angel is…' then she saw him too. It was truly Angel, in his form. His shiny black shoes, black pants, blue button-up shirt and sleek black leather coat. It was him standing in the doorway on his own. He stepped forward and into the light, removing himself from the dimness of the shadows and immersing himself in light. He used his left arm to shield himself from the light, which was surprisingly bright to him.

'Bloody hell…' Spike muttered. It was all he could say.

'Spike? Buffy?' He squinted in the light, it clearly hurting his eyes. He heard fumbling around and footsteps, before the lights suddenly dimmed. Buffy had turned the lighting switch as she rushed over to where Angel stood just inside the door. He lowered his arm and closed the door behind him.

Just as he caught sight of Spike, he was nearly bowled over by Buffy. 'Oh Angel, I thought you were dead!' she cried, before deciding to make a slight change to her comment. 'Again.' She smiled and hugged him tightly. Angel hugged her back, but kept his gaze focussed on Spike.

'No Buffy, I didn't die. I've been out here the whole time.' Angel replied, getting a puzzled look from Buffy as she eased back.

'Excuse me?' she asked. Spike wandered over to them.

'Yeah. What do you mean you've been out there the whole time?' he added.

'Well, I woke up to find myself lying in the dumpster around the corner of the alley. You know, these alleys are endless. They're like a maze…' his thoughts wandered off.

'Angel!' Buffy snapped, bringing him back to reality. 'That's impossible, we saw you die. Eve staked you right in front of us, don't you remember?'

Angel shook his head. 'I don't have any idea what you're talking about Buffy.'

Buffy was feeling a little agitated and worried. 'Angel, maybe you need some blood. It sounds to me like you're not thinking straight.' She took his arm and dragged him to the kitchen. As they passed Spike who was standing on the second step, Spike noticed Angel's expression that appeared to be directed at him. It was an expression that pleaded for help. Escape. It was an expression that told Spike Angel had something to hide.

CHAPTER SIX – A CONFRONTATION

Buffy had Angel sitting at the dining table with a fresh mug of warm blood. She sat on the chair opposite him, staring at him as he drank happily.

Spike entered the room a few minutes later, after pondering Angel's conveyance of emotions towards him. Does he have something to hide? Spike thought to himself. Is it about him being staked by Eve? Something is wrong…

He wandered in a leant against the counter. Angel glared at him over the top of his mug as he took a sip, and Buffy noticed immediately. She followed his fierce gaze to Spike, and eyed him suspiciously. Angel quickly returned his view to Buffy, ignoring Spike completely.

'What's going on?' Buffy asked, seeing Spike staring at him fascinatingly.

'Oh, what? Nothing.' Spike mumbled. 'Just getting myself some blood.' He grabbed a bag of blood from the fridge, where they had begun a stockpile for emergencies and for everyday drinking. He squirted some into a mug and stuck it in the microwave. All the while, Buffy and Angel watched each other while watching him out of the corner of their eyes.

Spike leant back up against the counter again when his mug was heated and began sipping it slowly. He stared at Angel, as the kitchen was silent.

Finally Buffy piped up. 'I can't take this anymore Angel, tell me what happened.'

Angel stared at her blankly. 'You said you've been in the dumpster the whole time. That's impossible, so where have you been?' Angel stared at her before replying.

'Buffy, I don't want to talk about it.' His mood seemed to have changed dramatically. He wasn't as calm as he was when he came back to the Hyperion. He seemed… troubled. Something was bothering him, and Spike figured that it had something to do with where he'd been for the past three days.

'Angel, do you want the basement?' Spike asked, resting his mug on the counter. Angel nodded and got to his feet, placing his mug on the sink.

'Wait, Spike. Aren't you forgetting someone?' Buffy reminded him.

'Oh, right. The bitch. Did you want to get her?' Spike answered.

'Yeah, just keep Angel busy for a while. I don't think he's going to want to see her just yet.' Buffy ordered, leaving the room. Angel eyed them both suspiciously, even though he secretly knew exactly what they were talking about. He didn't want to see Eve; not yet.

As soon as Buffy was gone, Spike fired the question at Angel. 'What are you hiding gramps?' His voice was stern but calm, and he allowed a long silence for Angel to answer. 'Well?'

Angel sighed. 'I can't lie to you, William.' He began. Spike stared at him, gob smacked. 'I know exactly what's going on. My guess is Eve is the bitch you've got in the basement that Buffy's gone to take care of. And frankly, she's right. I don't want to see her just yet.'

'I guess you're not as stupid as you look then.' Spike said riskily.

'Look Spike, where I've been for the past three days has been a horrible place.' Spike watched him. Eagerly awaiting his next sentence.

'Where'd you go?' Spike asked him.

'Take one guess.'

Spike paused and pretended to think for a moment. He'd already chosen his answer: 'Hell.' Angel nodded.

'Yeah, unfortunately you're right. And trust me, it's not the kind of place I'm wanting to go back to.'

'So the whole fire-and-brimstone thing is for real down there?' Spike asked, interested in Angel's ordeal.

He nodded in response. 'Spike, it was hell. And I'm not referring to it literally. The place was horrible. All the people I've hurt were there, except the really good ones. They'd gone to Heaven long ago. But the ones who went to Hell were there waiting for me. It was torture, the place was like a living nightmare. And I mean that too, all your nightmares come to life. You find yourself locked in a metal cell, underground, surrounded by everything burning. There are no windows, only a thick metal door with a tiny flip-hatch to see out of. All you feel it heat, nausea and the pain of everything you've done to deserve to go to such a place.' He stopped, and Spike was fixated on the movements of his hands to show his emotion. For the moment, Angel had been avoiding eye contact with Spike as he explained his torment, but he suddenly looked directly into Spike's eyes to deliver his last words 'Spike, don't let me go back. Don't ever let me go back.'

Angel's eyes pleaded with Spike, making him fully understand everything. He understood the pain that Angel must have felt to see all those people he hurt, now that he has a soul. Though, because of the soul you'd think that would help him on his way to Heaven. He had to ask.

'I'm sorry Angel.' Was all he managed to say in response to Angel's speech. Then he added, 'so how come you didn't go to Heaven? I mean, you've got a soul.'

Angel turned away. 'I went through purgatory before a judge sent me to Hell.' He said. Spike couldn't help but laugh.

'You mean to tell me that there's a courtroom in purgatory, between Heaven and Hell where you get told where you're going to spend the rest of eternity?' he asked. Angel nodded, getting slightly annoyed at Spike's complete ignorance.

'Spike, do you understand how close I came to really dying?' He snapped. 'You don't know what it's like down there. In fact, I hope and pray that you'll never know. I'd hate for you to have that fate.'

Spike felt a little buzz inside him. Something felt warm, something felt good by what he was being told by Angel.

'Nice to know that you care, Angel.' He said softly and soothingly. He rolled his eyes at the thought of what he was about to do, and wandered over to the dining table where Angel was still sitting. He pulled out the chair closest to him and sat down. He looked into Angel eyes, deep into his eyes. He reached out his hand and placed it on Angel's arm, comfortingly. 'Thankyou for caring, and I'm sorry I didn't.'

Angel beamed. 'God Spike, you have no idea how good it feels to be back. I hope I never get staked again, because I can only guess that I'll be going back down there.'

'Maybe not.' Came a voice from in the lobby. Buffy appeared at the door.

'Oh God…' Angel moaned, covering his face with both hands. 'How much did you hear?' he asked, still with his hands covering his face.

'Enough to understand Angel.' She said encouragingly. 'With the Shanshu prophecy, if you become human then you may have a chance to get into Heaven. Or, if you continue doing the good work, you may redeem yourself enough to not have to go to Hell.'

'Forget it Buffy. The Shanshu is gone, I've already told that to Spike. He knows that it's his, and that I can never have it.' Angel said sorrowfully.

Spike piped up. 'He's right pet, he even told me himself. Signed the damn thing away to be in the hallowed Circle of the Black bloody Thorn.'

'That's ridiculous Angel, you can't sign away a prophecy. You of all people should know that.' Buffy said.

'So, you mean it's not mine?' Spike asked, confused.

'No Buffy, I didn't know that.' Angel said, hoping that this new little discovery could give him some hope.

'Angel, there is no way on Earth that anyone can sign away a prophecy. If it has been set out for centuries, then it can't be changed by a simple pen-to-paper.' She explained. Then Angel remembered the key part he had forgotten to mention.

'What if it wasn't signed by a pen?' he asked, resting his hands on the table as he leant back.

'What do you mean?' Spike asked. Buffy looked at him for an answer.

'I signed the parchment… in blood.' He exhaled. Buffy's jaw dropped, as did Spike's.

'You did what?' Spike cried. 'You bloody git, never sign anything as important as that in blood. You never know what's gonna come of it.'

'Angel, I don't think it will make any difference anyway.' Buffy assured him. 'Just remember what I told you, you can't sign away a prophecy.'

Angel was still sceptical, but he tried to think positively. 'I guess all we can do is wait until the Powers that Be step in and make one of us human.' He said to Spike.

Spike shook his head. 'After this mate, I don't want it.' He said. 'I'm just prayin' it's you.'

'Why don't you want it?' Angel asked, puzzled.

'Well, humans only live for a certain amount of time right? Well, that means they'll die eventually. If I die, I'm goin' to Hell and I know that for sure. From how you described it, I don't wanna go. I wanna hang around here for as long as bleeding possible.'

Angel hung his head. 'So you want me to have that fate?' he said harshly.

'God no!' Spike cried. 'I don't want that for either or us. Let's just hope that this wasn't the apocalypse the prophecy was referring to.' Angel simply nodded and agreed.

Buffy looked out the window to see the sun rising over the buildings. 'Guys, you might wanna head down to the basement.' She said, pointing out the window. Angel pushed the chair back and wandered out of the room. Spike reluctantly followed, not really knowing what he was going to say to the vampire during their long day underground.

When they'd disappeared, Buffy was alone. Alone to think of the worst possible things that could happen to her two ex-lovers. She hated the fact that it was all she could think about, but still longed for an answer: who is the prophecy really about?

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Author's Note – Wow. Another two chapters rewritten. I can't believe how quickly I'm managing to get these done. Sorry about the wait for them all, but these things take time. I've got exam studying to do, homework, assignments and an English teacher who won't get off my back. Cut me some slack okay? Well, what can I say about where this is going? Angel is back, as you have noticed. I hope you understand what happened when he was staked by Eve, but there will be more information on that in the next two chapters. Don't worry, there's plenty more storyline to come. This is barely even the tip of the iceberg. Happy reading!

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