Buffy heard Willow start to scream and shivers ran through her. Pain flared deep within her body. She paused and felt Spike stop in front of her. He looked back and raised one eyebrow.

"Need me to do this alone?" His voice was calm and accepting.

"I will not send you on a suicide mission." Buffy whispered and set her shoulders.

"I'm not being sent. I'm offering to go." He turned and ran a single finger along her cheek. They locked eyes and stood frozen, transfixed.

"I won't let him keep you. I'll keep my vow." Spike never looked away from her steady gaze.

Buffy fought the urge to kiss him. She leaned her head against his chest and let one tear fall hidden from his view.

"Getting them out is more important. If it comes down to saving me or getting them out, you save them. I am the slayer. One falls and another is called."

Spike opened his mouth to argue with her, but she placed a finger against his lips. Her eyes narrowed as she turned toward the noise and cringed. Willow's screams were loud and her begging was horrible to hear. Buffy looked up the stairs scanning for a trap.

"He's the only vamp here at the moment. He's a complete bloody idiot. We can save them. I promise you we'll get them out of here." Spike grabbed her hand and squeezed.

Buffy gulped and ran up the stairs still clutching his hand. He kept pace with her and they released each other as they kicked open the double doors to the master suite.

Buffy saw Angelus' naked form thrusting into Oz and wanted to vomit, but she managed to force her body to act. She grabbed his shoulder and pulled him off of Oz in a single movement. He turned and grinned making no move to cover himself.

"I knew you'd come back, lover. Don't be mad. I needed some toys to pass the time." Angelus sneered. "Their charms weren't as rewarding as yours, but one makes do."

Buffy froze again as she looked at his body. There was blood on him and she wanted to close her eyes against the pain that raced through her memory.

"Leave off. The girl isn't going to fall into your clutches so easily." Spike broke the final chain holding Willow and let her slump to the ground before he turned to face Angelus. Buffy heard Spike's voice and her equilibrium returned.

"I can speak for myself, but I think I'm done with words." Buffy lunged and drove a stake into Angelus' shoulder and pinned him to the wall behind them. She pulled the small silver dagger from her boot and slid it along his chest until it rested above his heart.

"You missed my heart with the wood and silver won't kill me. Did you forget, mo ghrá?" Angelus practically purred against her ear.

"Don't call me that." She plunged the dagger into him and dragged it through his gut. She watched his eyes widen as the splash of blood hit her hand. A strange pain charged though her and she wanted to cry.

"You are more my beloved in this moment than ever before." Angelus kissed her cheek and then rubbed his face against her hair. She shivered and took several deep breaths.

"Buffy, I can't carry them both and we need to get moving. Dru is coming back. She's close. I can sense her." Spike watched as Buffy wrenched the blade free and swung away from Angelus. Their eyes locked and he saw the fear that was taking hold in her again. He nodded to Oz who was clinging to a bedpost, trying to stand and hold a sheet wrapped around his body. "He'll never make it on his own."

She ran to them and picked up Oz in a fireman's carry. "I am sorry. I know this hurts, but we have got to get you away." Buffy apologized as she followed Spike toward the still open doors.

"Buffy, are you really going to leave me here alone?" Angelus pouted as he pressed his weight against the stake trying to free it from the wall. "I won't play nice next time, beloved or not."

She didn't look back as she fled through the doors. His growls and curses filled the air as they made their way down the stairs. Oz grunted as she came to a quick stop behind Spike. He cradled Willow in his arms and looked back at Buffy.

"Dru's out front with about five minions. She's carrying on about the damn pixies. We are going to have to go out the back way."

Buffy nodded as she shifted Oz slightly on her shoulder. He whimpered and she cringed. Spike turned away from the doors and headed toward the back of the house. He paused before stepping into the room where his existence had changed so radically and cursed under his breath as he heard Buffy's breathing change. He turned around and found her staring at the chains. Oz moaned and Buffy closed her eyes.

"We have no time for this, Buffy. They are important. We came here for them. Are you going to let them die because of some chains?" Spike watched her shake her head and turn toward him. "Keep your eyes on me. Getting out of here is all about timing now."

Buffy shuddered, but she carefully nodded her head. "I'm walking out this time. That's an improvement."

They were across the room in a flurry of rapid movement. Spike led her through the garden to the side gate, which was standing open. They stayed in the shadows as Drusilla suddenly rushed into the house with the minions chasing after her.

They managed to get their cargo to the car without drawing any notice. Xander breathed a sigh of relief as Spike set Willow in the front seat and buckled her in. She curled into herself and sobbed as Buffy and Spike carefully arranged Oz across their laps in back.

"Get us to a drive through car wash and take us through. Then you find another one. It would be better if they are spaced out a bit through the town. We are going to have to hit four or five before we head home." Spike moved the werewolf carefully across his lap, so that Buffy cuddled him against her.

"You have got to be kidding me. He's bleeding. She's a mess. We have got to get them home." Xander exploded.

"We can do that if you want to defend our homes the whole night, and find new ones if we survive." Spike snarled.

"Do it, Xander." Buffy said quietly before turning and locking eyes with Spike. "We don't have a choice. I'm in no shape to hold off an attack tonight."