Disclaimer: I don't own BTVS. I'm just borrowing them for my own nefarious purposes.

Betrayal

Chapter Four

Spike awoke with the mother of all hangovers. It was a minute before he remembered where the bloody hell he was- a dingy hotel on the coast with a sorry collection of whiskey. He had the last few days travelling from dodgy hotel to the next sampling as much alcohol as he could manage, which incidentally was a lot with his vampire constitution. There had been plenty of women wanting to give him solace in their beds, but he politely and on occasion impolitely rebuffed them. No amount of alcohol could make him forget he loved Buffy. As usual he was love's bitch. He was still avoiding her calls. He could change his number but that would involve leaving him with a lot of work contacting his clients with his new number. He hoped she'd get the message soon enough. He wasn't ready to talk to her, let alone see her. However, he couldn't continue wandering around like this a foolish drunken stupor. Maybe he could bury himself in some work instead? A solution came to him as he remembered an offer of work over in Cleveland. Charlie Gunn had called the previous week to see if he could spare some time but he had refused after consulting with Buffy. She hadn't wanted to go and he didn't want to go without her. Being away for one day was one thing, but the idea of voluntarily leaving for at least a week had been unthinkable at the time. Now he wanted to go anywhere she wasn't and further away the better. With his decision made, he picked up his cell and rang Gunn's number.

Gunn was quick to answer. "Yo fangboy."

"Hey, Charlie-boy." Spike gave a little smile. "Do you still need some help with those nasties? I really fancy a spot of violence."

"Great. I could do with a little help. Is that lovely lady of yours coming?"

"No," Spike answered shortly.

Gunn didn't seem to catch Spike's shortness. "I have to hold on the case if you're coming and the client's breathing heavy down my neck. Promise me you won't flake out even if your girl grabs you by the balls and tells you not to."

"I'm coming," he promised. "I'll get the next available flight. I'll let you know when the details are sorted." He hung up and took an unnecessary breath. He needed to get hold of Pete and convince him that he needed to get out of Blighty and across the pond within the week. Pete could get anything from anywhere for a small price.

It was two days later before Spike reached Cleveland. The vampire was greeted at the airport by a cheerful looking Gunn. "You look worse for wear," Gunn commented goodnaturedly.

It was true. Spike hadn't been feeding properly and he mainly drank alcohol for the last couple of days. "Better get some beauty sleep, then," Spike replied with a wink.

"Off to the chariot, Bleachboy." Gunn gave him a smirk as he headed towards the car. "You know you better not be relying on me as your Prince Charming. You're pretty but you're just not my type."

The two men guffawed. Maybe this trip is just what I needed, Spike thought.

On the way back to Gunn's apartment, Spike asked that they stop for some smokes. Gunn filled up his petrol tank while he went into the shop. The vampire picked up some whiskey and a few packets of cigarettes. As he returned from the 7/11, he heard his cell phone ring in the card. He spotted Gunn about to answer it. "Don't," he warned.

He grabbed the phone from his stunned friend and after taking one look at the caller id he hung up.

Gunn looked at him questioningly. "Buffy doesn't know where you are, does she?"

Spike responded, cooly. "It's none of the bint's business."

Gunn shook his head. "You two must have had some fight."

"I don't want to talk about it. Let's just talk business instead."

That night Spike and Gunn, laden down with weapons, hit a vamp nest. Spike had convinced Gunn to let him use the flamethrower.

"You're flammable, man," Gunn had pointed out.

The vampire had just smirked. "Yeah, not likely I would set myself on fire. You on the other hand would probably aim the thing at me."

The man had looked unhappy but let him have his way. They stood about a yard away from the dilapidated building that they believed served as a nest. Spike bounced on the balls of his feet, excitement coursing through him. He had a flamethrower in one hand and a stake just up his sleeve. "How many vamps, do you reckon?"

Gunn rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "The source said about ten bloodsuckers."

Spike adopted his vampire visage. "You ready?"

"Yeah, I've got my game face on."

Spike chuckled as he tore over to the building. With a powerful pull, the front door came off its hinges. The advantage of vampire strength and hopeless carpentry.

A vampire came at them instantly. "Hey, what are you doing, man?" He was dust before he could say anymore. There were at least another seven vampires here and they converged on the both of them.

"This is fun." Spike took aim with his flamethrower and three of the vampires burst into flame. "Thanks for inviting me, Charlie."

Charlie was too busy to answer as he was fighting. In no time the two had disposed of all of the vampires.

Gunn patted him on the back. "You know you're insane."

Spike smirked at him. He really needed that. As a vampire, he revelled in the thrill of the chase and the adrenaline rush of a kill. He was a monster. No matter how much of a white hat he had become, he had never forgotten what he was. Angel wasn't a monster anymore. He didn't have to avoid the sunshine or drink blood or worry about a sodding curse any longer. Fuck him and fuck her. Oh hang on, that's what they did wasn't it. His heart may not beat, but it still stung like hell. The smug satisfaction from a job well done didn't last long after all. Gunn on the other hand seemed elated if a little disturbed by the vampire's foolhardy actions. "Thanks, man. These are only small fry compared to the job we've got tomorrow night."

Spike pouted. "Why can't we do it now?"

"The guy who's paying us has it set. We can't go in and mess up the plan."

"You know Charlie-boy I'm not one for plans unless they involve a drink."

"That's the first word of sense you've spoken since you got here."

The vampire slapped him on the back and assumed a look of mock outrage. "Sense, Charlie, I'm offended."

Buffy had continued to call him. It seemed she still hadn't got the message. Spike put his cellphone on silent and didn't bother to listen to the half a dozen voicemails she had left him. Despite this he remembered he had promised that he would keep in contact with Dawn. The next day he decided to give her a call. Dawn answered on the third ring. "Spike, it's good to hear from you."

"Hi Bit. How're the trouble makers?"

Dawn laughed. "The kids are good. They're running us ragged."

"No new nasties lurking?" He was blatantly fishing for information on the slayer. Just because he was angry didn't mean he didn't care.

"No nothing Buffy can't handle." Dawn spoke softly. "She's doing ok considering, but she misses you."

Spike ignored her last comment but got on the reason why he called. "I'm in Cleveland with Gunn. Before you ask I'm not going looking for Peaches, but if I come across him then it will be his own fault that he runs into my fists."

"Uh huh," Dawn said suspiciously.

"I know Buffy would never forgive me, if I dusted the bastard and well don't ever tell anybody this but he's family. It's more about Buffy though."

"Of course," Dawn responded drily.

"I best go, now. Some baddies need a pummelling."

"Look after yourself, Spike."

"You too, Bit."

He put his phone down and his dead heart clenched a little. He missed his Bit and Buffy. It had been almost a week now and his anger and hurt had not abated. However, there was some brawling and drinking to be done. That would have to do for now.

To be continued...

Thanks for reading. Please leave a review to let me know what you think.