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Culmination

Angel's face was no longer white with pain, his features relaxed. There was something in his eyes that reminded her of Angelus. A carefree lightness that couldn't be associated with Angel. For a second her stomach clenched but she washed down her fear and walked into the confines of her bedroom. He met her eyes with a small smile, slightly skewed, as if he didn't have complete control of his muscles. "I'm sorry," He said softly, dropping her eyes and his smile. "I was weak."

They stood in silence and the moment stretched into awkwardness. As were so many of the few moments between them now. There really was nothing to say. Every time she saw him they were farther apart, living in different worlds, different universes. How could LA be so far away? "No one begrudges you painkillers." She finally said softly, sitting on the edge of the bed. Once she might have touched him, his hand or his face. But her hands stayed in her lap, folded pristinely. "How are you feeling?"

"Disoriented." He said weakly. She didn't like seeing him weak like this. It reminded her of another place, another time. Another time she had been willing to sacrifice a human for him. "Don't be angry with Spike, he was very kind to that girl."

She wondered what the admission had cost him. She felt Spike enter the room. Silent as the wolf. Drifting behind her, out of her line of vision, invisible in the mirror. He knew she knew he was there, but his soundless stealthy steps were second nature. The innate tendency of an accomplished predator. She shuddered and he kept his distance. She wasn't angry, just sad. Very sad. She steeled her expression and her heart. There were other things to worry about right now. Romance was so not on the list of priority's. Wait for Spike, check. Care for Angel, check. Time to get her sister back and take Glory down. Hard.

"You need your rest, Sleep." She said simply and climbed to her feet. Spike followed her into the hall and closed the door quietly behind him. "Where are Dru and the other Vamps headed?" She asked.

"I told them to head out of Sunnydale and not to hunt here." Buffy nodded mutely and went downstairs. He stood at the top of the stairs for a long moment before he finally followed her.

The war council was grim and fast. That was where they were now. War. Quickly everyone conferred and it was decided unanimously that Spike hunting by scent was the best hope of finding Dawn. The sooner he got out on the streets the better. If she wasn't bleeding her scent would fade fast. They decided to head to the wealthier side of town and Cordelia was already on the phone, calling hotels, searching for her "aunt". Spike was vibrating with energy. When she asked he said he was coming off the drugs but her blood made his body sing.

It was just the two of them in the dark streets. The scenery was unfamiliar. Buffy didn't visit this side of town often in daylight, and very rarely patrolled here. After dispatching three Vampires within the hour she was beginning to think that she should spend some quality time here. The problem was that the police tended to assemble here and rarely left the safer confines of the west side for the rest of Sunnydale.

Spike was rarely silent, so the hush between them was particularly conspicuous. She subconsciously found herself closing the physical distance between them. Her body brushed up against him and she didn't move away. He couldn't help the way he was. It was unreasonable to be so hurt. He was just helping Angel, and he had followed her unspoken rules all the way. How could some of the same things that drew her to him, also push her away? Deadly, Silent, Cunning, Intelligent. Maybe she should consider dating a Marine or something to scratch her bad boy itch without coming down in hives.

They trotted quickly down one street and up the next. Spike was completely focused, silent, turning his head this way and that, in game face. Her mind was really becoming quite twisted. She couldn't help a squashed giggle every time someone took a double take and found themselves staring at an innocently scowling Spike, game face gone. At least it was funny until the boys and blue took a special interest in them and crossed the street stopping them. "Awful late for you two to be out wondering the streets." Barney wannabe drawled.

Spike rocked back on his heels and shoved his hands in his pockets. "Not against the law." Buffy stiffened, antagonize the police, great game plan Spike. She gave him a very dirty look before giving her very best blond ditz smile.

"We're just out for a walk." Buffy said sweetly, trying out the twisty sluty move that Faith was using earlier. Spike let out a little growl and moved closer, pressing himself flush up against her back. He was just so cute when he was jealous.

"Where are you headed?" Asked the other policeman; aiming a slightly overly polite smile in her direction. "Pretty little thing like you shouldn't be out here this late at night."

Spike made no sound but his hands flexed twice. "Oh I'm not worried," She said sweetly, playing the dumb cheerleader to perfection, if she did say so herself. "I've got William to protect me." She smiled up at him and had to choke down giggles at the furious expression on his face. Poor Spike, he was all tensed up with violence and couldn't maim the police because she would get all mad. Suddenly Spike went motionless and squeezed her waist gently.

"I'm supposed to get my girl home by One so if you blokes can excuse us." He steered her away without giving her so much as a change to say anything. She turned and waved at their enthusiastic goodbyes just to rattle Spike. He just had this effect on her, any other time she would have been embarrassed to flirt with a police man, but Spike always made things so fun. "I caught a whiff of her." He whispered in her ear, walking casually until they turned the corner.

"Dawn? Glory?" She questioned, suddenly dead serious. Excuse the pun.

"Both, they were both here, just recently."

Spike led her to a small back door of an expensive looking hotel. They looked at each other and on a whim Buffy leaned in and gave him a small kiss, just barely a press of lips. She meant for that to be all, just a reassurance after wigging out earlier but Spike pulled her back in for an encore that left her breathless and shaky. "What's the game plan?"

She frowned in thought. "Recon, we'll check it out, see what were up against, and then decide. If we can get her out we will, I don't want her in there any longer than she has to be." He nodded and pushed the door open, she darted in before him and she felt irritation spark through the bond. She smiled at his protectiveness and walked down the small corridor like she owned it. It opened into a busy noisy kitchen. No one paid them any mind as they walked directly through, dodging cooks and assistants. Spike led her to a narrow staircase at the back of the kitchen; if he hadn't brought it to her attention she might not have even noticed it. He jogged up without hesitation. She glanced behind her, no one noticed them, Sunndale citizen's really needed to become more aware of their surroundings.

Spike strutted without hesitation to the elevator and pushed the button. He leaned in close to her and whispered in her ear. "There's at least five of them, not including little sis and fuzzy." There was a very proper looking couple in the elevator and Buffy suddenly became very conscious of her faded blue jeans and spangle top. She stepped inside with a shy smile and Spike pushed the button for the next floor. They sat in silence as the elevator moved up. The stuffy couple eyed them disapprovingly and even though she wasn't looking at him she just knew that Spike was scowling at them. She felt herself blush when Spike pulled her back against him and buried his head in her neck. She almost pulled away in embarrassment before she felt him shift into game face just as the doors slid open. "Not it." He whispered and she reached out to push the shiny number three. The woman sniffed and looked away. Thankfully the conservative woman and her husband departed on the third floor.

They rode all the way to the sixth floor before Spike nodded and they stepped cautiously out into the wide hall. She wouldn't be able to jump out of a window here. Maybe Spike could leap out with Dawn and she'd find her own way. They crept without a sound along the soft padded carpet. Spike stopped at a door and they looked at each other, what now? Spike reached out and stroked her hair; it took her a second to realize that he had pulled her barrette out. Thief. Maybe he was a pick pocket before he was a Vampire.

He crushed her barrette and manipulated the wire before squatting down and inserting the end into the lock. Buffy casually leaned up against the wall and kept watch. It seemed like forever before she heard a small pop. Spike grinned at her and game faced, leaning into the door to listen. "Seven people breathing, someone whispering in the back room. Dawnie's crying, very softly, maybe into her pillow."

"There's two rooms?"

"Yeah, sounds are muffled at the back, must be a suite." He pushed the door open quickly and he was in the room so fast she only saw a blur where he used to be. He dispatched the two short little men in seconds, breaking their necks. It's them or Dawn, it's them or Dawn, it's them or Dawn. She kept up her inner monologue and fought back tears as he lay the second man down on the carpet noiselessly. She shut the door silently and they moved quickly to the back room, Spike touched the knob and then pulled out the twisted wire from before. Buffy looked around wondering what the best exit route might be. There was a light click and Spike met her eyes before pushing the door open.

Dawn lay in one of the large beds that filled most of the room. She hesitated a second, checking to see that she was ok before springing into action. Spike had already taken out two more of the quirky creepy guard things. Buffy moved to attack a small well dressed demon in a suit but he moved like greased lightning and her fists connected with air. At the corner of her consciousness she was aware of Spike exchanging blows with Glory. But she was concentrating on her own fight. This little guy was unbelievably fast and he hit really hard.

She threw a glance at her sister and shouted for her to run. It cost her, as in a big right hook to her cheek, but Dawnie, apparently unharmed, leapt out of bed and sprang for the door. Suddenly a huge weight crashed into her, knocking her against the wall. Her head rebounded painfully against the harsh plaster and she stared for a moment at the pretty stars dancing in front of her eyes. Spike pushed off of her, where he had apparently been flung, and leapt back at Glory. But it was too late to distract her. She raised one dainty hand and sent the door swinging shut with a sharp sound of finality.

Ooookaay. Plan B. She grabbed Spike, hurling him towards her sister and leaping at Glory herself. She picked up a heavy chair in mid leap and smashed it over, what did Spike call her, Fuzzy's head. "Window!" She shouted loudly and swung one of the broken pieces of the chair at Glory's back. It connected with a very satisfying thunk. Of course it didn't even faze her. The God swung at Buffy and she thanked her lucky stars that she managed to maneuver out of her way because that looked like it might have hurt. At the same time she jabbed with the splintered end of her chair leg and drew blood. From the corner of her eye she watched as Spike ripped out the little demon's throat. He scooped up her sister and hurled through the air towards the window even as the demon fell to the ground. His shoulder hit the glass and he rebounded with a crash!

Glory managed to grab her while she was distracted and spun her into the wall with enough force to make her head spin. The God twisted Buffy's arm behind her back painfully and forced her head against the wall with one hand. Buffy struggled and attempted to free herself but Glory was much stronger than she looked. "Did you really think I wouldn't take precautions? That I'd leave the window available for an escape route?" She snarled in Buffy's ear. "Did you puny mortal's really think you could defeat me?"

Spike was shaking himself off and hurled towards her Vampire fast. He grabbed Glory with one hand and her with the other. And then things got crazy. Later the whole event would be a bit of a blur. The second the three of them touched an electric shock went through her body and she was struck immobile. From Spike's hands, and her own she noticed belatedly, poured bright green runes, frighteningly familiar. She felt dizzy and sick as a circle of terrifying green light enclosed the three of them. She felt it drawing closer and closer and heard Glory s frantic shrieks, and then there was nothing. Just blessed darkness.







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