A/N: This chapter was written by Willowzlilsecret.

A/N: Sorry this chapter took so long to be posted...I was on vacation and I just got back so yeahh.. I'm sorry if that caused any inconvenience for anyone...but now it's posted and it's chock full o' angsty fun. Well, not funfor the characters, I'd suppose..but I dont want to ramble on...:)Ozlover.

Chapter Twenty-Three: Caught

Amazingly, the group slept in late and by the time they were up, Giles was gone, breakfast was on the table and Jenny was outside on the deck, tanning.

Oz and Willow were the first up, as usual. They sat down in front of their pancakes, and looked at each other, not really saying anything. Suddenly Oz reached over the table and grasped Willow's hand. He brought her fingers to his lips and kissed them.

"I love you." he said softly. Ever since they had told each other how they felt…with the love…he had been a bit more affectionate. She did a half smile before leaning over the table. Their lips met and Willow caressed Oz's face softly.

Connor banged down the stairs with Xander and the couple pulled apart just as the boys walked in.

"Oh! Pancakes! What a pleasant surprise!" Xander smiled as he sat down. He had the distinct impression that he and Connor had interrupted something. He ate quickly and he, Connor, and Oz went into the living room to watch TV. Willow cleaned up the four used plates before pulling a magazine off the countertop. She sat down at the table again and began reading.

Dawn and Cordelia came down next and they all discussed the latest scandals of the star world. Then the three of them cleaned up and went into the living room with the guys. Buffy was next down and she saw that Angel wasn't up yet.

She went into the kitchen and ate very slowly, counting to 50 before she swallowed, hoping that she would be able to talk to Angel. Sure enough her fifth bite in, there he was. He sat down, wearing only grey sweatpants. (they weren't the kind that get all tight and funky at the bottom) His black boxers were peaking out from the top of his pants. His hair was messy and he looked half asleep.

Buffy switched seats and went down right next to him. She wrapped her hands around his upper arm. "Good morning."

He looked at her out of the corner of his eye before taking another bite of pancake. "You're very happy this morning." he observed.

"Yeah, well I get to spend time with you…why wouldn't I be?" Buffy asked as she kissed his shoulder. He glanced at her again and took a big bite of pancake.

"I don't like this syrup." he said suddenly and put his fork on the table.

"I kinda want to talk to you." Buffy said and then kissed him softly on the neck.

"Oh really?" he said softly and pulled her onto his lap. He kissed her softly on the lips and nipped her bottom lip. She squeaked, but quickly kissed him back, snaking her tongue into his mouth.

His hands slipped from her shoulders down to her waist and she wrapped her arms around his neck. Angel finally pulled away and trailed kissed down from her mouth down to her neck and down to the top of her cami. She gasped and then moments later his mouth found his way back to hers.

Buffy was feeling very nervous. She felt like (even though he wasn't there) Spike would walk in at any moment and catch her. Suddenly she felt herself rubbing up against Angel. She tried to stop, but part of her didn't want to.

"Oh god." she whispered. Angel kissed her ear and pulled her closer.

"Nah, I'm just an Angel." he joked before kissing her again on the neck. She knew from the amount of kissing and sucking on her neck, there would be a hickey. She'd just have to make out with Spike in a dark room so that he'd think it was his fault. Or get really good cover-up.

"My GOD!" Connor exclaimed as he came in the kitchen to get some coke. Buffy jumped and let go of Angel.

"Uh, hi." Buffy said feebly.

"I'll just pretend this never happened." Connor said, backing away. "Just…proceed or whatever."

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

Buffy decided on wearing a silky scarf around her neck for the rest of the day. And since everyone was bored out of their minds, Buffy agreed when Spike asked to come over.

Almost immediately she regretted it. She'd end up making out with him and making both of the guys mad.

The doorbell rang and Buffy rushed to get it. She pulled Spike in.

"Come on. We're going upstairs." she whispered. He raised an eyebrow, but followed wordlessly.

She pulled him into her room and he immediately began kissing her.

'Well, this might work out after all.' she smiled. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him onto her bed. He shifted so he fell next to her, instead of on her. She suddenly began giggling again, but quieted up.

She pulled him close and kissed him lightly. He kissed her neck and shoulder and pushed away the strap of her camisole to continue kissing her. She closed her eyes and just enjoyed it. Soon he was reaching for the scarf. She held her breath, hoping he wouldn't notice it.

"What is this?" he asked. "Who is it…?"

"Willow." Buffy said quickly then mentally kicked herself.

"You two are…doing…that?" he asked. She tried not to panic, thinking quickly.

"I thought you meant the scarf. The scarf is Willow's." Buffy said.

"Ok, well I meant the hickey on your neck." he raised an eyebrow and eyed her suspiciously.

"Well, it's obviously from you." she said, smiling. He seemed to accept it. She sighed in relief and let him continue kissing her.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

Jenny had finally came in from tanning and explained to the gang that she was going to a dinner party with Giles.

"So I'm just going to be getting ready and Giles should be home soon. After I take my shower I'm going to make some lunch for you and then I'll finish up. Now why don't you hurry along to the beach a while." Jenny said and shooed them out of the house.

They all went down to the beach, which was looking a lot cleaner.

"I'm going seashell hunting." Angel announced and walked away, searching the ground.

"I'm swimming." Dawn said and stripped down before running out to the ocean. Connor followed her.

Xander, Cordelia, Willow, and Oz decided to throw a Frisbee together. Which left Spike and Buffy.

"I don't really have my swim trunks." Spike pointed out as Buffy took off her clothes.

"Oh right." she said. She pulled her shorts back on, but left her shirt off. "Wanna walk?"

"Sure." they walked down the beach, their fingers entwined.

"Spike." Buffy spoke first.

"What is it pet?" he asked, noticing a hint of worry in her voice.

"I…I have a problem." she said, turning to him. They both stopped walking.

"I'll do what I can to help." Spike said, putting his hands on her shoulders. She looked down.

"I think that I'm in love with you…and someone else." she confessed.

"Oh." was all Spike could manage.

"And I really, really love you, but he means a lot to me too, and…and I just don't know what to do." Buffy said, tears filling her eyes.

"Well, do you want my advice as your boyfriend? Or as just some random guy?" Spike asked.

"How about as my boyfriend?" Buffy tried.

"You should pick me. Now how about the advice from the random guy?" Spike suggested, chuckling lightly.

"I pick that one." she joked.

"Follow your heart. Wherever it takes you." he said simply.

"Th-thank you." she sobbed. He pulled her into his arms. She kissed him softly for the last time.

"I'll be seeing you." he said as she pulled away. He still held her hand, but she walked away.

Soon only their fingertips were touching.

"Bye." she said and turned away, holding back the heart wrenching sobs building inside her.

"I love you.." Spike whispered and buried his head in his hands to cry.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

Buffy didn't tell anyone that she and Spike had broken up, and kept it to herself. About an hour later everyone went back to the house and ate their sandwiches.

"Where'd Spike get to?" Xander asked. Buffy's stomach did a flip-flop at the sound of Spike's name.

"He…Something came up." she said and decided she was no longer hungry.

"I'm gonna take a nap." she announced and left.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

Empty spaces…fill me up with holes…

Buffy lay on her bed, the radio playing. She had just woken up from a refreshing nap and left the radio on.

Distant faces…with no place left to go

She noticed that every time she turned on the radio, a song always related to Spike.

Without you, within me…I cant find no rest

And of course so did this one

Where I'm going is anybody's guess

She wondered if she had made the right choice, in letting Spike go.

I tried to go on like I never knew you

She would now have Angel…

I'm awake but my world is half asleep

But was Angel enough?

I pray for this heart to be unbroken

As she realized she might've make the worst mistake of her life her heart broke into a thousand tiny pieces

But without you all I'm going to be is incomplete

And what hurt more was that she wasn't sure if Angel would be able to pick them up without getting hurt.

Voices tell me I should carry on

She wasn't sure if she could go on, pretending that she never met the perfect man

But I am swimming in an ocean all alone

She felt so alone. She couldn't talk to anyone about it

Baby my baby its written on your face

She couldn't take it anymore. The last part of the song was cut off when she turned the radio down.

You still wonder if we made a big mistake

Was it a mistake?

She went downstairs and was greeted by a lecture giving Jenny. She plopped down on a couch to listen.

"Ok kids, we really do have to go, I made dinner, and its on the table. I just want someone to walk the dogs and then all of you to stay in the house. All this uproar about the rapist 'finishing what was started.' It's insane really. Just, be careful. I really wish we didn't have to go. I feel like a terrible parent leaving you young children here alone." Jenny said as she put in her earrings and adjusted her shoes.

The whole group was sitting on the couches in front of her and she stood in front of the TV. They all nodded and Dawn, Cordy, Connor, and Xander all got up to walk the dogs.

"Well, leaving now." she said and kissed Xander and Willow on the cheek. Giles walked down the stairs, looking very spiffy indeed. He linked arms with Jenny and the two of them left, after a short lecture from Giles about safety precautions.

Then Cordy, Xander, Dawn and Connor left, leaving the rest of the teens alone.

"We're just gonna..." Willow pointed up the stairs and took Oz's hand. Buffy's eyebrows shot up. She thought she'd never see the day.

Buffy turned to Angel. "So…" she said, looking at him slyly while tracing circles on the couch with her finger.

"So…" he repeated, looking at her as well. Soon neither of them could wait any longer. They leaned into each other and kissed. Buffy deepened the kiss.

She soon found herself straddling Angel's lap and kissing him. She heard the door open and jumped away.

She ended up on the floor next to Turtle, who gave her a disapproving grunt before settling again. Xander came in with the rest of the dogs, followed by Connor, Dawn, and Cordy. Beans and Snoopy were falling over one another to get to Buffy first.

"I thought they had gotten over that phase." Buffy sighed as the dogs jumped all over her, licking her and yipping happily.

Angel helped her up and shooed the dogs off to the kitchen where Dawn was putting out some fresh water and food.

"Looks like another storm a-brewin'." Xander said as he plopped down on the couch.

"Yikes, definitely what we don't need." Buffy said, biting her bottom lip nervously. The rest of the teens exchanged glances, but decided to leave it alone.

"Where's Willow and Oz?" Dawn asked as she returned to the living room. Buffy raised an eyebrow and smiled mysteriously. Moments later everyone had figured it out.

"Jeez. Are we talking about Willow? Our Willow?" Cordelia joked.

"That's exactly what I thought." Buffy agreed. Willow and Oz emerged from the stairs, having heard the rest of the group get home. She had her hands entwined with Oz's and she looked a little dazed.

"Hi guys." she said dreamily, waving with her free hand. Oz winked at Xander quickly, unnoticed by anyone else. Xander cringed at the thought of his little cousin…

The two sat down and the group sat in silence. Suddenly the lights flickered.

"Told you there was a storm coming." Xander said. Rain had started a soft steady pitter-patter on the roof and windows. So far there was no thunder or lighting that they noticed.

"Well, lets watch some TV a while." Angel said, turning on the TV. It was on the news.

"So, in case of any worries you might be having, no, this is not a hurricane. It's just aftermath. Now back to Michelle." said a woman wearing a poncho and holding a microphone up to her mouth. The screen cut in half to a woman wearing a suit and sitting in a news room.

"Thank you Sarah. And now to the top story of the day." she started, and the screen was fully turned over to her.

"Ooh! We get the top story!" Xander joked as he leaned in. The lights flickered again and he looked up, fairly nervous, but turned his attention back to the TV.

"Now, as you know, the former rapist and murderer, Joe Sanchez was caught a while back. But it seems that he has someone 'finishing the job'. The NC police have been trying to keep this out of people's notice, but the more girls that turn up missing, the more questions there are. One policeman from the center of North Carolina is here for vacation and was called on the case. Here's from Mr. Giles." she said. The teens exchanged looks.

"I didn't know Uncle Giles was a policeman." Willow exclaimed, slapping Xander lightly on the shoulder.

"Hey! Neither did I! I thought he retired a while ago!" Xander defended, and turned back to the TV.

" 'I'm happy to say we have a very good lead on who it is—' " Giles began, but the TV shut off as well as all the rest of the power in the house. The teens clung to each other. Mexican music floated downstairs and the group all looked at each other, horrified.

"I know what it is." Willow said finally. "Our radio. It doesn't run on electricity." Everyone visible relaxed, and Oz and Connor ventured up to turn it off.

"My god. Why did this have to happen. I wish I had just been able to go to Italy." Cordelia cried.

"Hey!" Xander objected.

"And brought Xander with me." she added. Everyone knew this didn't really make sense, but it seemed to satisfy Xander.

The music stopped and Oz and Connor returned. Almost as soon as they sat down, there was a banging on the door.

"I'll get it." Dawn said and walked down to the door. She opened it and was surprised to see Mike standing there.

He was holding a gun up and snarled, "Get out of the way." Dawn's eyes widened and she scrambled up the stairs.

"Mike's the rapist!" she yelled as she tripped over the rug and fell. Everyone jumped from their seats and backed away as Mike stormed up towards them.

"I'm going to kill him." he growled.

"Who?" Willow asked feebly.

"SHUT UP!" he yelled. He was still holding up his gun, so the group decided it was probably best to listen to him. "I know you're here. Trying to kill the girl."

"He's insane." Dawn whispered, on the verge of tears. Oz inched to the sliding glass door that lead out to the deck. Mike spun around to him.

"Touch that door and the redhead dies." he warned. Oz froze, looking from the gun, to Mike, to Willow, and back to the gun. Dawn was sobbing by now and Buffy was holding her tightly.

"My dad has a gun here." Xander whispered to Angel. "Distract him and I'll try and get it." Angel nodded as he strode over to the door.

"Don't move!" Mike roared facing Angel, pulling out a second gun. He had one aimed at Willow and one aimed at Angel. Xander used the distraction to crouch down and crawled to the trunk against the walk.

There was a bang in the kitchen and everyone turned to look at the door. Cordelia moved in front of the rest of the girls to get a better look.

Xander quickly pulled the gun out and turned it on Mike. But Mike had taken the gun off Angel and Willow and was now aiming both guns at the kitchen door.

"Come out, come out, wherever you are." he said in a sing-song voice. The door swung open, but Mike didn't shoot. He found that Xander's gun was against the back of his head.

A teen boy stepped out of the kitchen, holding a gun as well. Buffy gasped.

"Josh?" she questioned.

"You know him?" Mike asked, looking utterly perturbed.

"He's Spike's friend!" Buffy exclaimed.

"Yeah. Spike's my friend. And I'm here. Protecting you from the killer." the teen called Josh called through the dark.

"You ARE THE KILLER!" Mike exploded. At this point Xander was so confused, he didn't know where to put the gun.

"He's trying to trick you, don't trust him." Josh said, sounding sincere. Xander pointed his gun at Mike. Suddenly the boy reached out, grabbed Xander's gun, cracked him across the face with it, and pointed one gun at Dawn and one at Mike.

Xander fell backwards being hit in the face. Now, seeing as he didn't have a weapon, he backed away.

"Josh!" Buffy screeched shrilly. Dawn felt to make sure her cell was in her pocket. It was. She inched over in front of Oz, and Oz moved back to the group. Angel stood on one side of Dawn and the door handle was on the other.

"Who's the good guy?" Connor asked.

"I am." Mike said, sounding a lot more calm. There was a long silence where all the was heard was rain splashing against the windows and the occasional crack of thunder. Dawn cautiously pulled her phone out of her pocket and flipped it open.

Josh fired at her, barely looking.

"NO!" Cordelia screamed and threw herself in front of Dawn. The bullet went into her lower chest. She fell backwards into Dawn and knocked Dawn over.

Dawn fell through the glass, shattering it.

"Go! Run! Get help!" Buffy screamed. Dawn looked up, horrified as blood pooled around Cordelia. She glanced at Buffy and showed that the glass had left long scratches down her face and arms. She pulled herself up and ran.

Xander had run to Cordelia's side and was trying to slow the bleeding.

"Oh god." Willow said quietly.

"Anyone runs, someone else will get killed." Josh warned, looking at the teens menacingly.

"Why the hell aren't you shooting?" Angel screamed at Mike.

"Hold your horses." Mike said firmly. The guys had crowded around Cordy and the girls were too scared to move.

Sirens filled the air and Josh looked from the group to Mike. A maniacal smile was plastered onto his face. He turned his spare gun on Willow and Buffy. He shot both guns. So did Mike.

Buffy dragged Willow down and heard the bullet whizzing over their heads. Willow was sobbing uncontrollably and Buffy held her, stroking her hair. She heard two thumps seconds later.

She chanced a look over the couch and saw Mike and Josh both lying on the floor. Josh raised his head a few inches off the floor and fired his last shot at Buffy. His head hit the floor as the bullet went into Buffy's shoulder.

She shrieked in pain and heard the front door splintering open. Everything went black.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

Willow held Buffy, screaming for help. Giles was there, holding up his badge. Two police took Josh away and paramedics were running around the room with stretchers.

Dawn walked in the door and saw Buffy being taken away.

"Oh god." she whispered and ran after.

Cordelia was in an ambulance and Xander went with her.

Buffy was in another and Dawn went with her. The rest of the group was standing around the living room with Giles for a few minutes before they heard a motorcycle pull up.

Spike burst in. "Dawn called me…is everyone alright?" he asked and was immediately hushed by the sight of blood and shattered glass.

"Oh god." he said and looked at the group to see who was missing. "Buffy. Xander. Dawn. Cordelia. Are they alright?" he demanded.

"Buffy was shot in the shoulder. Cordelia was shot in the stomach. Dawn is just scraped up. Xander is fine." Giles said.

"Are…are they going to live? Buffy and-and Cordy?" Spike asked softly.

"We don't know." Giles said truthfully.

They heard Jenny's car pull up and she rushed in. She was given the same quick news before each of the teens recalled the story.

"This boy is going to have a life sentence." Giles muttered as he scribbled things down on his notepad.

"What about Mike? Who is he?" Oz questioned.

"He works for the police here. He's been a little…off his rocker…since his younger sister was raped and murdered by Joe. That's when he got involved in the case. Then it got too much, and he took a few days off. Joe was caught during his time off. We, I'm sorry to say, neglected to tell Mike. Well, Mike was very upset with us after that, and when the murders started up again, he…well…he called us all the equivalent of 'stupid worthless gits' and vowed he would find the 'real' killer." Giles explained.

"Ok, and Josh…what did he have to do with any of this?" Spike questioned, thinking that it was impossible that one of his best friends and band members could have done this. Giles took off his glasses and began.

"That's what we're trying to figure out. He had the same style as Sanchez and—"

"Sanchez?" Spike interrupted.

"Yes. Joseph Sanchez. Don't you watch the news?" Giles asked.

"Not much. But…Josh Sanchez. That's who that was…is." Spike said breathing heavily. He was about ready to take a gun to Josh's head himself.

"That's very helpful. Now I'm going to tell you all right now, you're not staying here for the night. Jenny, I want you to take everyone to the nearest hotel and then call my cell. I let you know when you can see Buffy and Cordelia." Giles said before leaving.

"I-I'm going to go now." Spike said, feeling almost guilty. He walked away, head hanging.

Angel ran to catch up. "Spike!"

"What is it?" Spike asked, not really wanted to be yelled at this moment.

"It's not your fault." Angel said. He cautiously put a hand on Spike's shoulder. "You didn't know. Just…just don't blame yourself. If you did something stupid, Buffy would never forgive you."

"Thanks mate." Spike said and got on his motorcycle and left.

"Ok kids, pack up your clothes and we're heading over to a hotel. Now." Jenny said and went up to her room.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

The gang was split up, three to a room. Jenny and Willow shared the other room, and might be joined by Giles at some point. And Connor, Angel and Oz shared a room. They would split up differently once Dawn, Buffy, Cordelia, and Xander were there, but this was the situation for now.

Jenny and Willow sat in their bedroom, on the same bed, facing each other.

"I have never been so scared in my life." Willow whispered, tears filling her eyes. Jenny grasped both of Willow's hands in her own.

"It's ok now. Rupert has gotten the whole family in for questioning. There will be no more attacks, and finally Rupert can have a good night's sleep." Jenny assured her.

"Why didn't you tell us what he did?" Willow asked, tilting her head to the side.

"I…had no idea. He retired a while back, but they wanted him on the job. He told me a few days before Joe Sanchez was caught, if memory serves. And I didn't want you kids worrying about it." Jenny said, letting go of one of Willow's hands to brush some red hair out of her niece's face.

"We're not children." Willow muttered snappishly.

"I…" Jenny began, but was at a loss for words. "I know…I-I'm sorry."

Willow shrugged and hugged her aunt, so happy that she wasn't the one that got shot. She felt guilty right after thinking that, because her two best friends were in the hospital with bullet wounds. And one of them might die.

At the thought of her best friend being killed, she began sobbing. It would be all her fault, she had insisted that Cordelia come.

"There, there." Jenny murmured, pulling the girl into a hug. "There, there."

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

The guys sat around the room, barely talking at all. The TV was on, but it was turned way down. All that had been on the news for the past hour or so was about the rapist.

They were there; they didn't need the recap.

"I hope Buffy's ok." Angel kept muttering to himself. He was surprised that Oz wasn't with Willow. If he could, he would be with Buffy, cradling her in his arms.

Buffy had saved Willow's life and had gotten shot.

At least she would live.

Cordelia had saved Dawn's life and had gotten shot.

She wasn't so lucky.

Angel felt so bad for Xander, who had finally found the perfect girlfriend. All his other girls had played him or dumped him for someone more popular. He was glad that Xander would be able to stay at the hospital with her.

'I wish I could be at the hospital to keep him company.' Angel said to himself. "I'm gonna go to bed."

The other guys gave him thumbs up and they switched out the lights. Oz and Connor sat at the window, looking out onto the road. They were playing cards and neither of them talked, trying to give Angel as much peace as they could.

He sorta wished they would talk. As un-manly as it sounds, he was afraid to be alone. And darkness and silence made him feel alone. He knew he should fall asleep before the other guys, because Connor was going to have to share a bed with him, and he wouldn't be able to get to sleep if there was someone next to him.

He rolled over and buried his face in the pillow.

x0x0x0x0x0x0x0x

Dawn sat next to Buffy, who had a blood transfusion and had her shoulder bandaged. She was still asleep, but she would be ok.

Dawn had her arm in a cast (it was sprained when she fell) and all her cuts were cleaned out. She ended up lucky, not needing any stitches or anything.

But since she wanted to stay with Buffy, the nurse made up an excuse that she needed Dawn to stay overnight. And so she and Buffy were sharing a room.

Dawn was worried to death about Cordelia, and felt guilt-stricken. She was just trying to help, but it might've gotten Cordy killed.

She grasped one of Buffy's limp hands in her own and kissed it lightly.

Half an hour without moving, she finally released Buffy's hand and went to bed as well.