AUTHOR'S NOTE: this first part is done in third person instead of first, as I have been using. It will get switched back later in the story. Any "I" used in the story is Christine's P.O.V.
Spike slowly woke up for the second time that night. Only this time, he didn't have a hangover headache, he had an I-got-hit-over-the-head-by-my-grandsire headache.
After grumbling some choice names for Angel, he slowly stood but staggered. The fact that he was alone was the second thing he noticed.
Enraged, he stalked off to Buffy's house to go through with his plan to not only defeat the Slayer, but to win Drusilla's affections back. Surely if she heard that he had killed Buffy, she would not think he'd gone soft anymore she would think he was as evil as he always was.
Spike felt a stab of pain at the thought of his sire and former lover. Losing her, damn it all, still hurt too damned bad. Buffy would pay and pay dearly.
Angel and Buffy kept their eyes peeled as they searched one of Sunnydale's many graveyards.
"I wonder where he ended up." Buffy said out loud.
Angel thought of the information Christine had let slip and he frowned deeper than he usually did. If only they could use it.
The brooding Vampire thought of Willow and Xander. He clenched his teeth. Could he let them get hurt? Would Buffy ever forgive him for knowing it would happen?
Angel couldn't stand the idea of Buffy being angry with him. He loved her too damned much for that. Yes, he admitted to himself, even after everything they had been through, he still loved her. He figured he always would.
It was too bad it would never be. They couldn't risk him losing his soul again. Sighing, Angel made a decision that he hoped he wouldn't regret.
"Spike will head to the local magic shop, hoping to get ingredients for a spell to harm me. Instead, he'll find Willow and decide he can use her for a love spell to use on Drusilla."
Buffy stopped in her tracks. "Why are you telling me this?"
Angel answered by continuing. "He's going to capture Willow and take her into a local warehouse basement. Xander too. They'll get hurt."
That said it all to Buffy. "Okay." She said simply. "Let's make sure that doesn't happen."
Buffy knew she was crazy for just accepting that Angel had given her this information. But, it was about her friends. Maybe Giles was wrong and they were supposed to know what was going to happen so she could prevent it. Either way, she would not have her best friends harmed.
Both of them ran off to make sure they got to the magic shop in time. Sure enough, they saw Spike in the back, watching Willow.
Filled with anger, Angel grabbed Spike's duster and pulled him into the back room.
"What the bloody hell is going on?" Spike demanded.
"I know what you're going to do to Willow and Xander. You're not going to get away with this."
Spike had a good grace to look shocked.
"You really are pathetic, Spike." Buffy said icily. "I should have killed you instead of letting you go!"
Spike growled and lunged at her. Buffy punched him. A fight ensued, but thanks to Spike being outnumbered since Angel was there, they overcame him easily. That's when Buffy swung her stake at Spike's heart.
Thanks to Spike's Vampire reflexes, he was able stop the stake. From there, he pushed Buffy off of him and into some of the store's supply boxes, which toppled on top of her.
"Buffy!" Angel exclaimed, and went to see if she was okay. The momentary distraction was enough for Spike to make his exit and disappear.
Angel helped her out of the boxes. "Are you alright?"
"Yeah," she answered, then noticed Spike was gone. "He escaped huh?"
Angel grumbled a yes.
"Let's go find him. He couldn't have gone far."
And so the two of them left the store and were once again on the hunt for the blonde Vampire.
Just then, Angel heard the rumbling of an engine right before a huge, black Desoto came into view then sped past them.
Spike flipped the two of them the finger before speeding off into the distance, and out of Sunnydale.
Angel rolled his eyes at Spike's juvenile display. "Well, at least he's out of our hair."
"True." Buffy answered. The two of them walked back to the house where everyone was waiting.
"We foiled Spike's plan and then he skipped town. Both are of the good."
"No damage? Nothing went all weird?" I asked, desperate to make sure my telling Angel didn't screw things up.
"Nope, not at all. I guess maybe we were supposed to know. So, thanks." Buffy said and smiled.
I smiled back. Thank god.
Little did I know, it did screw something up, but in a way I never would have ever imagined.
