Buffy almost fell as she rounded the corner of the corridor. The floors had been recently cleaned and in her haste she nearly created a Slayer Snowball, rolling down the hall. She grabbed the wall and steadied herself before continuing on down the corridor. She'd lost Gunn and Illyria a while back, overtaking them to get to Spike's apartment as soon as possible. They were still following her but she didn't know how far back they were neither did she care. Her only objective was to get to Spike as quickly as possible. Something might have happened to him already. She couldn't think that way, though. He was probably fine. She'd get there in time, she was sure. Spike would be sitting there playing some boring computer game and having a sly cigarette; she'd slap him for smoking and haul him away to safety before any demons could get to him.

It would all be fine.

She skidded to a halt outside the apartment. The door was wide open. A feeling of dread spread throughout her entire body.

Buffy stepped inside, it seemed empty but she called out anyway "Spike?"

There was no answer. She did a quick sweep of the apartment but it was empty. She slumped down onto the couch, afraid. Afraid for Spike. It was possible he had just gone out but then he wouldn't have left the door open and she wouldn't feel this way. She wouldn't feel as if something terrible was about to happen. Maybe had even already happened. He had been taken, she knew it.

"Buffy?" Gunn appeared in the doorway "He's gone?"

Illyria glided in "There is no one present here but us. I detect there has been demonic presence here, recently"

Well, that sealed the deal then.

Buffy stood slowly, looking around "We have to find him"

"No doubt. But how?" Gunn asked her.

------------------------------

Angel watched as Buffy paced his hospital room rapidly. She was on the cell phone, hospital rules be damned, as she had been for the last half an hour. After she had arrived at the hospital to fill them in on what had happened with Spike she'd gone straight into Slayer mode trying to drum up some contacts in L.A that could help her find him.

He had to wonder what the demons had wanted with Spike. They had been looking for the vampire with a soul. All they had gotten was one newly human William the Bloody. Maybe they were going to perform some magick ritual, maybe they just wanted to kill him while he was weak. Angel didn't know, all he could do was speculate like the rest of them.

Dawn walked up to Buffy as she hung up, defeated. They embraced and Angel watched the sheer upset that crossed Buffy's features. She wanted Spike to be safe and with her. He turned and looked at Nina who sat at the end of his bed. Nina was beautiful, she was smart and sexy and he really liked her.

Angel turned back to Buffy and his heart skipped a beat. It was a novelty to him, since his heart had only just recently started beating again.

No one would ever affect him the same way that she did. He felt guilty about feeling this way when he should have been as concerned about Spike as everyone else was. He was worried for the guy. Spike was human now and that meant that he was worth saving. Yet every time he tried to think about some Angel man of action plan, he just fixated on the way the sunlight caught Buffy's hair.

"God, I wish Oz could just track him" Buffy sighed as she pulled away from Dawn.

Her sister nodded "You know what he said. The trail was too cold"

"I know, I know"

Angel cleared his throat, determined to get in gear and help "Well...maybe Willow could help? Do a locator spell or..."

Buffy's eyes widened as she looked at him "Willow! Oh my god, why didn't I think of her before?"

He watched as she frantically dialled a cell phone number. He was glad to have helped. Putting in suggestions, concentrating on the issue at hand. He could do this whole human thing. It was a piece of cake.

"Are we not worried they might come for you too?" Nina asked, taking his hand and squeezing it.

Angel shook his head "No. Wes put extra security on the ward. It's Spike who needs the help now"

"Yeah, I guess," She nodded "I can't imagine what Buffy's going through. I don't want to"

Angel glanced at the Slayer "What do you mean?"

"Her boyfriend's life is on the line and he only just got it back"

Angel gave a small nod and turned back to watch Buffy. Her boyfriend. Spike was her boyfriend. He had known they were together, of course. He had known all too well. When it got to the stage of people referring to Spike as her boyfriend though, it had to be serious. Buffy didn't fall for someone easily and she had fallen for Spike. It hurt his heart. He was with Nina but, still, it hurt.

All he had ever dreamed of for so many years was being able to be with Buffy. The only way that could have happened was if he had risked the curse or been made human. He had wanted the Shanshu so much. Partly just because he wanted to live and partly because he still thought that one day down the line they'd be together again.

If he was honest with himself he still thought that. Just sometimes.

But sometimes is something...

"Willow's going to try it now," Buffy announced, and then looked right at him "Thanks, Angel"

Angel smiled.

-------------

Spike didn't feel good at all. Not one bit. Not only did one side of his head feel like it had swollen up to epic proportions but he was pretty sure he wasn't in Kansas anymore, Toto. He was lying flat on his back on a cold stone floor wishing the pounding in his head would go away. He opened his eyes to find darkness. Either he had gone completely blind or there was no light where he was.

He sat up slowly, hand pressed to the side of his head, blinking and looking around. He seemed to be in a building much like the mansion he had once stayed in back in Sunnydale all those years ago. It brought back a few pangs of nostalgia and fear. He'd been taken by a demon, he remembered that now, and he was in no way up for a fight. Spike wasn't even sure he could stand.

"My William," came the chillingly familiar voice from nowhere "back where he belongs"

He looked over his shoulder "Mum?"