Spike continued to struggle as his wrists began to raw from the force of the metallic he was inflicting on himself. Buffy was absorbed deeply in the destruction she had caused, and didn't notice Liam looking at Spike, examining him. He grinned with superiority as he leaned over the arm of the throne, and William used a technique he hadn't used in many years. William's eyes locked and overrode most of Liam's senses.

Buffy didn't hear her goon move as he got up and began to pace around Spike. To the foolish observer, it looked as though Liam was deciding how best to torture him next, but Liam had another plan. Liam could hear Spike's soothing voice in his head.

She can't possibly love you. She's loved too many others. Trust me; hear my voice. You could be happy getting away. All you have to do is assist me just this once, and then I can guarantee she'll be gone. Liam tried to shake the voice away. He didn't want his snookers gone. But there was something about the way she watched the events unfold. Something he didn't see in her eyes as they made love. Usually, she had conquest in her moments of ecstasy, but this was so different. Liam knew as he turned to face Spike that this was the only way. Liam searched behind Spike and gently moved behind his back. There was a natural bridge created by the wall and the enchantment that his finger wouldn't fit through. He jiggled while Spike kept lookout, but there was so little need. Buffy was so engrossed in the proceedings that she hadn't even noticed Liam move across the room.

Liam drew the sword to his side and raised his eyebrow. Spike nodded and gritted his teeth. Liam hacked deftly through Will's index finger and only got a slight gurgle through his gritted teeth and the finger fell to the floor. Liam used the finger to wiggle the enchantment off the wall. Spike stretched and snapped his neck muscles. He was shackled, but could at least move around now. Liam stood looking at him stupidly. Spike's first order of business was to clothesline Liam. That was the first thing Buffy saw as she took her eyes off the screen.

Angel wasn't quite sure what was going on anymore, but apparently there were lots of secrets everywhere and one can opener had freed all the worms they'd been hiding. From his vantage point, he saw many enraged people and in the midst of it; a spurned love reigning down judgment on him.

Oz's voice was calm, though Willow felt as though his voice was booming off the echoes of the canyon. "Willow, haven't you hurt us enough? Hurt yourself enough? We know you're doing some sort of drug when you think we aren't watching."

Willow shook her head. "Don't judge me. You have no right."

Riley answered for Oz. "We may not have that right, but this thing involving Angel and Xander doesn't involve anyone else. For years, we've been helping and harboring his pain. Well I for one am done! Stand down, Willow. Let them handle this."

Chris came up, walking confidently in front of Willow with a puffed chest. "You can't talk to her like this. I won't let you."

Willow chuckled. They would pay for every little infraction they had incurred over time. "Sic them, Keller."

Xander watched as Keller sprinted across the room and his gaze returned to Angel. He moved forward slowly. Even with no weaponry; he was convinced he had enough strength to beat the vampire. Angel saw the shadow of the possessed Xander coming slowly toward him and he tensed up.

Angel's absent breath was shallow. He began to scoot back with palms forward, signaling for peace. "Please, don't make me fight you."

"You brought this on yourself," Xander hissed, stepping up onto the catwalk that Angel was secured on. Angel brought himself reluctantly up into a fighting stance as he and Xander hung over a giant, rusted turning gear for the ancient dam.

Riley reacted quickly as he saw Keller charge. "Like I said, this ends now."

Using Oz's lap as a fulcrum; Riley flung himself forward and met the charging rhino head-on. There was a sickening crunch as the two met. Chris Keller's momentum was infamous, however, and they continued backwards. Riley's back crashed through a wooden wall and he found himself locked in a wrestling hug with a crazed immortal hanging over the edge of a dam.

"I applaud you for getting rid of my goon. I had forgotten how resilient you can be, Spikey."

"You know, what, I'm sick of your yappin' pity party. How many people have to pay the price for your so-called revenge? Why don't you just grow up, Buff?"

Buffy raised a battle ax out of the side of her throne and leapt out into a slight kneel. Even without a weapon William was determined to destroy the Slayer who had gone round the twist. He locked and braced his manacles in a steel web and pounced forward with a glare. Buffy swung the axe, aiming at his side and Spike heard the air next to his ear move.

He brought the chain downwards near where she had tried to cut into his hip and lashed the back of her knee. She went down, but brought the ax forward. It sliced through his chains and came inches from clipping his nose when he stepped backwards off of her arm. He tucked and rolled back to the wall to gain better leverage and could see she was pissed.

Lightning came rolling through the dust bowl of a night. Keller's eyes crinkled as he exhaustingly grappled with Riley. Riley crawled his way out of the maniac's bear hug and stood panting and ready to charge like a bronco.

"This is none of your business," Riley barked out of anyone else's earshot.

Keller shook his head, brushing dirt off of his shirt. "Oh no, this is all my business. You see, you idiots can't appreciate someone like her. So I figure I'm going to destroy you and your hound dog of a lover and then I'll whisk her away somewhere nice; somewhere where she won't have to hide herself and what makes her special."

"She's poison; didn't you learn your lesson once with your boyfriend?" Keller stumbled a bit when Riley mentioned Toby. No one, save for Willow, was supposed to know about that period of his life. "That's right. You don't think you're the only one who can do research? I can't let you go back in there; at least, not while I still have breath. I was here before you, and I'll be damned if I'm not here after."

"We'll see, soldier boy."

Lightning danced around them; unsure of which to aid. Riley's punches met Keller's forearm and then his nose. Riley knew he couldn't kill the renegade highlander. He'd just have to disarm him long enough to get away. Riley crouched as Chris tried to leap over and kick his head. Chris came back down on his left foot and crushed Riley's ankle. Riley's upper body strength went into overdrive as he grabbed for Keller's face. Riley did a somersault and took Chris with him. Half of Keller's face was ripped down and a harsh jaw was revealed with a bit of overgrown fang.

"My face! Now you've pissed me off, kid." Chris used the lightning to hit around Riley. His brown hair stood on its sides and he pulled back to the wall to try and ground the bolts. Riley ducked under a steel vent and came back around a ladder.

Chris Keller whistled. "Awww, we were just having fun! Come out and play. See if you can save your girlfriend," Chris jeered.

Riley hung out over an old aqueduct and climbed back up a grate. His fingers ached and he hoped that this would take Keller by surprise.