Sorry for the long delay. I've had more computer problems but I managed to
get this out. I hope you like it!
Chapter Sixty-Two: Never Know Your Luck When There's A Free For All
"Riley," Buffy said. "How did you find me?"
"It wasn't hard," Riley explained. "Who else would you and Spike go to in LA if you're in trouble."
"They know that they can count on me," Angel said. "Unlike others I know."
"I did what I had to do," Riley said. "And I'm doing what I have to do now." He pointed his gun at Buffy.
"You're going to shot me?" Buffy said. "I would have thought that your orders were to bring us in alive."
"They are," Riley said. "These are tranquilizer guns. They have just the right dosage to knock you and...him," He gestured to Connor, who was sleeping in Angel's arms. "Out without doing any real damage. It'll just make them easier to transport."
"No one's going anywhere," Spike said. "Except maybe you and your mates."
"We're not leaving without our subjects," Riley insisted.
"Yes you will," Spike said. "You can leave or you can be resposible for every member of your organization's death."
"What is this idiot babbling about?" Riley asked.
"He's talking about a virus that's been implanted into your computer," Wesley said. "It's untracable and you can't get rid of it. It's programmed to lock every way out of every building in your organization. Once you are all locked inside the locks on the demon's cages will be released. You will be prevented from getting to your weapons. It will be a demon feeding frenzy."
"Say," Spike said, leaning against the desk as the impact of what Wesley said hit Riley. "Isn't your wife in one of those places?"
Riley faltered for a minute but then his face hardned, "It doesn't matter. Sam would want me to bring those two in no matter what."
"You'd let your own wife die?" Gunn said with disbelief.
"She'll be fine," Riley said, looking at Buffy and Angel. "Because this is a bluff, right?"
"Don't look at me," Buffy said. "I don't know anything about this."
"You'd never allow it, though," Riley said. "I know your policy about killing people and the souled vampire isn't going to add to the body count right now. Neither one of you wants that much blood on your hands."
"When someone tries to take our children away from us," Buffy said, looking at Angel. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect them."
"You'd really kill thousands of people just to protect two?" Riley said, gesturing to Connor with his gun. "The spawn of vampires?"
Angel let his face slip into vamp mode for a second, "Point that thing at him again and you'll lose that arm."
Riley quickly lowered his gun, "It doesn't have to be this way, we can do this the easy way or the hard way."
"Riley," Buffy said in one last chance to reach him. "You don't have to do this. You can pretend that you never found us. You can make up any excuse. You can go back to your life and we can have ours."
"I'm sorry Buffy," Riley said. "But it has to be this way."
"No," Spike said. "It has to be this way."
Angel handed Connor to Buffy and, before Buffy knew what was happening, pushed Buffy into the office and locked the door. Spike grabbed an axe and stood in front of the office door. Lorne grabbed some herbs, threw them up in the air and shouted an incantation. There was an explosion, a cloud of smoke and then cries of pain. When the smoke cleared the soliders stood, with their guns on the floor having been reduced to melted rubble.
"Now let's have some fun," Spike said, taking his position in front of te office door. Every other member of Angel Investigations grabbed the nearest weapon and charged.
"Remember," Wesley said, drawing first blood by sending an arrow into the nearest soldier's arm. "Don't kill them, just hurt them."
"No problems there," Gunn said, cutting into another solider with a sword.
The battle continued with the staff of Angel Investigations winning. The government soliders were well-trained but without weapons. Their bare fists and martial arts were no match for A.I.'s arsenal. It didn't take long before almost every soldier was taken care of.
During the entire battle Spike didn't take his eyes off of Riley. Riley held back and let his team take care of everything. Then when the tide of the battle started going in the wrong direction Riley, realizing that the entrance was blocked, made a run for the basement door.
"Peaches!" Spike yelled at Angel. Angel looked at Spike. Spike jerke his head towards Riley. Angel understood and he quickly took Spike's place guarding the office door while Spike chased after Riley.
Riley ran into the basement of the hotel, Spike close behind him. Spike was not letting Riley get away.
"Going somewhere?" Spike asked, as Riley looked around. He couldn't find the exit into the sewers and he was trapped.
"I'm not afraid of you," Riley said, picking up a broken table leg from the floor.
"You should be," Spike said, taking a few practice swings with the axe.
"You can't hurt me," Riley said. "Even if you wanted to."
"That's true," Spike acknowledged. "Thanks to you and your mates I can't kill you but," Spike gestured to the shadows. "I know someone who can do it for me." A Fahyrl demon stepped out of the shadows and growled. "This is Max. He's a demon for hire and he works for me right now. All I have to do is give the word and he'll tear your head off and let me drink from your brain stem."
"You'll have a tough time explaining my corpse to Buffy," Riley said, confidently. "I'm sure she'll want to raise her child with you, knowing that you have my blood on your hands."
"Buffy will know that I did whatever it took to protect our son," Spike said. "She'll only be disapointed that she didn't get to kill you herself."
"Right," Riley said. "That's not the Buffy I know."
"She's not the Buffy you knew, you git," Spike said. "None of you get it. She's died, gone to heaven and been brought back. That's changed her from the Slayer that you knew. Her world's a little grayer than when you knew her. Add in her maternial instincts.." Spike shrugged. "And it adds up to the Buffy that's upstairs."
Riley glanced up the stairs and realized that Spike was right. The Buffy that he'd just seen wasn't the same one that he'd left. She had changed and so had he. Riley faltered for a minute and almost considered abandoning his mission and getting what was left of his team back to Headquarters. Then he saw the axe in Spike's hands and heard the sounds coming from the shadows and Riley's resolve strengthened.
"No," Riley said. Spike looked confused, wondering what Captain Cardboard meant. "No, I came here for a reason and I"m not leaving without them."
"Sorry to hear that," Spike said. He raised his voice, "Max," Spike gestured to Riley, "Have at it."
The demon advanced on Riley. Riley searched for some kind of weapon but all of his government issue weapons had been destroyed. Riley immediately dropped into a fighting stance.
"Don't bother," Spike said. "Max here may not be the smartest demon but he's the best at what he does."
"And what's that?" Riley asked, not taking his eyes off of Max.
"Killing things," Spike said.
Riley decided to take the offensive. He'd fought this kind of demon before. He quickly kicked at Max's stomach but Max was ready. He caught Riley's leg and threw him off balance. Before Riley was aware of what was happening Max had spun him around and was seconds away from snapping his neck.
Spike held up his hand, "Wait one second." He walked over and looked at Riley. "I want to savor every second of this."
"Buffy will never forgive you for killing me," Riley said, struggling in Max's grip.
"Maybe," Spike agreed. He walked up close to Riley, "Maybe she'll hate me forever for this but at least she and our son will be safe from you and the rest of your mates."
"You think killing me is going to stop them?" Riley asked. "Kill me and they'll send someone else. If you kill them then they'll just send another. We'll keep on coming."
"How quickly humans forget," Spike said. "Remembe the little virus in your computer systems. One click and it's all over and one snap and it's all over for you."
"Just get it over with then," Riley said, shutting his eyes and thinking about Sam, wanting his last thoughts to be of his wife.
Riley kept his eyes shut and waited, waited for Max to snap his neck and for whatever happened afterward. He waited but nothing happened. Riley slowly opened his eyes and saw Spike just standing there, studying him like he would a bug under a microscope.
"What are you waiting for?" Riley demanded. "Just do it."
Spike smirked at Riley and snapped his fingers at Max. Then before Riley knew what was happening Max had dropped him to the floor. Riley watched, gasping, as Spike handed the demon some money and the demon vanished into the sewers.
"Come on," Spike said, pulling Riley to his feet. "Time to go."
"What's going on?" Riley asked.
"This," Spike explained. "I just let you live...."
"Why?" Riley gasped.
Spike looked away and didn't answer. "Because," Spike finally said. "Now you owe me."
"This changes nothing," Riley said.
"Yes it does," Spike told him. "A vampire, one who hates you, just spared your life. Doesn't that change your...perspective on how things work?" Riley didn't answer. "I'll take that as a yes. Now," Spike said, gripping Riley's shoulder. "You're going to go back to your mates and tell them whatever you have to, just convince them to stay away."
"Or what?" Riley snarled. "You won't kill me again?"
"Or I'll release that virus and you and all your mates will die."
"You're bluffing," Riley said.
"Am I?" Spike said, allowing his face to shift into vampire mode. "You want to take that chance?" Riley didn't answer, "I didn't think so," Spike said. "You leave now and everyone gets what they wants, you get to keep your wife and mates alive, Angel gets to keep Peaches Jr. and Buffy and I get to keep our son."
"This won't stop us," Riley said, pulling away from Spike.
"I think it will," Spike said. "You don't want to live with all that blood on your hands."
"I'll survive," Riley said, even though he didn't believe that and neither did Spike. Spike and Riley stared at each other for long time and finally Riley said, "Fine." He started towards the sewers. Just before he disapeared Riley stopped and turned back, "My team?"
"Angel's mates will take them back." Spike said. "If you'd made a different choice....."
"I won't forget this," Riley said.
"I hope not," Spike said. And he watched until Riley was gone.
Once alone Spike leaned against the stairs and let out an unneeded sigh of relief. His gamble had worked. He slowly climbed the stairs and went into the lobby. Buffy was sitting on the couch, Angel was standing next to the desk, cuddling Connor. Everyone else was gone.
"Soldier boys clear out?" Spike asked, drawing attention to himself. Buffy tried to get up but Spike quickly moved to her side and sat down next to her, "You okay?" Spike asked.
Buffy nodded, "Fine. What about Riley?"
"He won't bother us again," Spike said.
"You didn't?" Buffy asked.
"No," Spike said. "Captain Cardboard is still among the land of the living."
Angel eyed Spike suspiciouly. He knew that Spike had hired a demon but Spike had insisted that it was only to scare Riley, not to kill him. Angel wondered what had really happened down there.
Spike saw Angel looking at him, "Don't worry, I didn't get blood on your basement floor."
"What did you do?" Angel asked.
Spike just grinned. "By the time I was done with him Captain Cardboad didn't know up from down, metaphorically speaking of course."
Buffy and Angel exchanged a glance, "I'll find out what happened," Buffy promised.
Angel nodded, "Are we safe from them?" He asked Spike. "Or should we get ready for another round?"
"They won't be back," Spike said.
"How do you know?" Angel asked.
"Trust me," Spike said.
"Famous last words," Angel said.
Spike ignored Angel. He stood up and helped Buffy off of the couch, "We're leaving. We only have a few days until..."
"Right," Buffy said.
"Do you need any help?" Angel asked.
"No," Spike said quickly. "We'll be fine."
"We will," Buffy assured Angel.
"If you need anything..." Angel said.
Buffy nodded. She went to him, smiled at Connor and kissed Angel on the check. "We'll call."
"We need to get going," Spike said, pulling Buffy away. He knew that he shouldn't feel jealous but the sight of Buffy and Angel together still bothered him.
"Spike," Angel said, nodding his head.
"Angel," It was all Spike could say.
"Take care of them," Angel said.
"Always," Spike said. The two of them stared at each other for a long time. Then Spike finally turned and he and Buffy left the hotel to return to Sunnydale and all that faced them there.
Chapter Sixty-Two: Never Know Your Luck When There's A Free For All
"Riley," Buffy said. "How did you find me?"
"It wasn't hard," Riley explained. "Who else would you and Spike go to in LA if you're in trouble."
"They know that they can count on me," Angel said. "Unlike others I know."
"I did what I had to do," Riley said. "And I'm doing what I have to do now." He pointed his gun at Buffy.
"You're going to shot me?" Buffy said. "I would have thought that your orders were to bring us in alive."
"They are," Riley said. "These are tranquilizer guns. They have just the right dosage to knock you and...him," He gestured to Connor, who was sleeping in Angel's arms. "Out without doing any real damage. It'll just make them easier to transport."
"No one's going anywhere," Spike said. "Except maybe you and your mates."
"We're not leaving without our subjects," Riley insisted.
"Yes you will," Spike said. "You can leave or you can be resposible for every member of your organization's death."
"What is this idiot babbling about?" Riley asked.
"He's talking about a virus that's been implanted into your computer," Wesley said. "It's untracable and you can't get rid of it. It's programmed to lock every way out of every building in your organization. Once you are all locked inside the locks on the demon's cages will be released. You will be prevented from getting to your weapons. It will be a demon feeding frenzy."
"Say," Spike said, leaning against the desk as the impact of what Wesley said hit Riley. "Isn't your wife in one of those places?"
Riley faltered for a minute but then his face hardned, "It doesn't matter. Sam would want me to bring those two in no matter what."
"You'd let your own wife die?" Gunn said with disbelief.
"She'll be fine," Riley said, looking at Buffy and Angel. "Because this is a bluff, right?"
"Don't look at me," Buffy said. "I don't know anything about this."
"You'd never allow it, though," Riley said. "I know your policy about killing people and the souled vampire isn't going to add to the body count right now. Neither one of you wants that much blood on your hands."
"When someone tries to take our children away from us," Buffy said, looking at Angel. "We'll do whatever it takes to protect them."
"You'd really kill thousands of people just to protect two?" Riley said, gesturing to Connor with his gun. "The spawn of vampires?"
Angel let his face slip into vamp mode for a second, "Point that thing at him again and you'll lose that arm."
Riley quickly lowered his gun, "It doesn't have to be this way, we can do this the easy way or the hard way."
"Riley," Buffy said in one last chance to reach him. "You don't have to do this. You can pretend that you never found us. You can make up any excuse. You can go back to your life and we can have ours."
"I'm sorry Buffy," Riley said. "But it has to be this way."
"No," Spike said. "It has to be this way."
Angel handed Connor to Buffy and, before Buffy knew what was happening, pushed Buffy into the office and locked the door. Spike grabbed an axe and stood in front of the office door. Lorne grabbed some herbs, threw them up in the air and shouted an incantation. There was an explosion, a cloud of smoke and then cries of pain. When the smoke cleared the soliders stood, with their guns on the floor having been reduced to melted rubble.
"Now let's have some fun," Spike said, taking his position in front of te office door. Every other member of Angel Investigations grabbed the nearest weapon and charged.
"Remember," Wesley said, drawing first blood by sending an arrow into the nearest soldier's arm. "Don't kill them, just hurt them."
"No problems there," Gunn said, cutting into another solider with a sword.
The battle continued with the staff of Angel Investigations winning. The government soliders were well-trained but without weapons. Their bare fists and martial arts were no match for A.I.'s arsenal. It didn't take long before almost every soldier was taken care of.
During the entire battle Spike didn't take his eyes off of Riley. Riley held back and let his team take care of everything. Then when the tide of the battle started going in the wrong direction Riley, realizing that the entrance was blocked, made a run for the basement door.
"Peaches!" Spike yelled at Angel. Angel looked at Spike. Spike jerke his head towards Riley. Angel understood and he quickly took Spike's place guarding the office door while Spike chased after Riley.
Riley ran into the basement of the hotel, Spike close behind him. Spike was not letting Riley get away.
"Going somewhere?" Spike asked, as Riley looked around. He couldn't find the exit into the sewers and he was trapped.
"I'm not afraid of you," Riley said, picking up a broken table leg from the floor.
"You should be," Spike said, taking a few practice swings with the axe.
"You can't hurt me," Riley said. "Even if you wanted to."
"That's true," Spike acknowledged. "Thanks to you and your mates I can't kill you but," Spike gestured to the shadows. "I know someone who can do it for me." A Fahyrl demon stepped out of the shadows and growled. "This is Max. He's a demon for hire and he works for me right now. All I have to do is give the word and he'll tear your head off and let me drink from your brain stem."
"You'll have a tough time explaining my corpse to Buffy," Riley said, confidently. "I'm sure she'll want to raise her child with you, knowing that you have my blood on your hands."
"Buffy will know that I did whatever it took to protect our son," Spike said. "She'll only be disapointed that she didn't get to kill you herself."
"Right," Riley said. "That's not the Buffy I know."
"She's not the Buffy you knew, you git," Spike said. "None of you get it. She's died, gone to heaven and been brought back. That's changed her from the Slayer that you knew. Her world's a little grayer than when you knew her. Add in her maternial instincts.." Spike shrugged. "And it adds up to the Buffy that's upstairs."
Riley glanced up the stairs and realized that Spike was right. The Buffy that he'd just seen wasn't the same one that he'd left. She had changed and so had he. Riley faltered for a minute and almost considered abandoning his mission and getting what was left of his team back to Headquarters. Then he saw the axe in Spike's hands and heard the sounds coming from the shadows and Riley's resolve strengthened.
"No," Riley said. Spike looked confused, wondering what Captain Cardboard meant. "No, I came here for a reason and I"m not leaving without them."
"Sorry to hear that," Spike said. He raised his voice, "Max," Spike gestured to Riley, "Have at it."
The demon advanced on Riley. Riley searched for some kind of weapon but all of his government issue weapons had been destroyed. Riley immediately dropped into a fighting stance.
"Don't bother," Spike said. "Max here may not be the smartest demon but he's the best at what he does."
"And what's that?" Riley asked, not taking his eyes off of Max.
"Killing things," Spike said.
Riley decided to take the offensive. He'd fought this kind of demon before. He quickly kicked at Max's stomach but Max was ready. He caught Riley's leg and threw him off balance. Before Riley was aware of what was happening Max had spun him around and was seconds away from snapping his neck.
Spike held up his hand, "Wait one second." He walked over and looked at Riley. "I want to savor every second of this."
"Buffy will never forgive you for killing me," Riley said, struggling in Max's grip.
"Maybe," Spike agreed. He walked up close to Riley, "Maybe she'll hate me forever for this but at least she and our son will be safe from you and the rest of your mates."
"You think killing me is going to stop them?" Riley asked. "Kill me and they'll send someone else. If you kill them then they'll just send another. We'll keep on coming."
"How quickly humans forget," Spike said. "Remembe the little virus in your computer systems. One click and it's all over and one snap and it's all over for you."
"Just get it over with then," Riley said, shutting his eyes and thinking about Sam, wanting his last thoughts to be of his wife.
Riley kept his eyes shut and waited, waited for Max to snap his neck and for whatever happened afterward. He waited but nothing happened. Riley slowly opened his eyes and saw Spike just standing there, studying him like he would a bug under a microscope.
"What are you waiting for?" Riley demanded. "Just do it."
Spike smirked at Riley and snapped his fingers at Max. Then before Riley knew what was happening Max had dropped him to the floor. Riley watched, gasping, as Spike handed the demon some money and the demon vanished into the sewers.
"Come on," Spike said, pulling Riley to his feet. "Time to go."
"What's going on?" Riley asked.
"This," Spike explained. "I just let you live...."
"Why?" Riley gasped.
Spike looked away and didn't answer. "Because," Spike finally said. "Now you owe me."
"This changes nothing," Riley said.
"Yes it does," Spike told him. "A vampire, one who hates you, just spared your life. Doesn't that change your...perspective on how things work?" Riley didn't answer. "I'll take that as a yes. Now," Spike said, gripping Riley's shoulder. "You're going to go back to your mates and tell them whatever you have to, just convince them to stay away."
"Or what?" Riley snarled. "You won't kill me again?"
"Or I'll release that virus and you and all your mates will die."
"You're bluffing," Riley said.
"Am I?" Spike said, allowing his face to shift into vampire mode. "You want to take that chance?" Riley didn't answer, "I didn't think so," Spike said. "You leave now and everyone gets what they wants, you get to keep your wife and mates alive, Angel gets to keep Peaches Jr. and Buffy and I get to keep our son."
"This won't stop us," Riley said, pulling away from Spike.
"I think it will," Spike said. "You don't want to live with all that blood on your hands."
"I'll survive," Riley said, even though he didn't believe that and neither did Spike. Spike and Riley stared at each other for long time and finally Riley said, "Fine." He started towards the sewers. Just before he disapeared Riley stopped and turned back, "My team?"
"Angel's mates will take them back." Spike said. "If you'd made a different choice....."
"I won't forget this," Riley said.
"I hope not," Spike said. And he watched until Riley was gone.
Once alone Spike leaned against the stairs and let out an unneeded sigh of relief. His gamble had worked. He slowly climbed the stairs and went into the lobby. Buffy was sitting on the couch, Angel was standing next to the desk, cuddling Connor. Everyone else was gone.
"Soldier boys clear out?" Spike asked, drawing attention to himself. Buffy tried to get up but Spike quickly moved to her side and sat down next to her, "You okay?" Spike asked.
Buffy nodded, "Fine. What about Riley?"
"He won't bother us again," Spike said.
"You didn't?" Buffy asked.
"No," Spike said. "Captain Cardboard is still among the land of the living."
Angel eyed Spike suspiciouly. He knew that Spike had hired a demon but Spike had insisted that it was only to scare Riley, not to kill him. Angel wondered what had really happened down there.
Spike saw Angel looking at him, "Don't worry, I didn't get blood on your basement floor."
"What did you do?" Angel asked.
Spike just grinned. "By the time I was done with him Captain Cardboad didn't know up from down, metaphorically speaking of course."
Buffy and Angel exchanged a glance, "I'll find out what happened," Buffy promised.
Angel nodded, "Are we safe from them?" He asked Spike. "Or should we get ready for another round?"
"They won't be back," Spike said.
"How do you know?" Angel asked.
"Trust me," Spike said.
"Famous last words," Angel said.
Spike ignored Angel. He stood up and helped Buffy off of the couch, "We're leaving. We only have a few days until..."
"Right," Buffy said.
"Do you need any help?" Angel asked.
"No," Spike said quickly. "We'll be fine."
"We will," Buffy assured Angel.
"If you need anything..." Angel said.
Buffy nodded. She went to him, smiled at Connor and kissed Angel on the check. "We'll call."
"We need to get going," Spike said, pulling Buffy away. He knew that he shouldn't feel jealous but the sight of Buffy and Angel together still bothered him.
"Spike," Angel said, nodding his head.
"Angel," It was all Spike could say.
"Take care of them," Angel said.
"Always," Spike said. The two of them stared at each other for a long time. Then Spike finally turned and he and Buffy left the hotel to return to Sunnydale and all that faced them there.