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Secrets and Lies by angelic_amy
 
Exposed.
 
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A/N: Jumped online quickly to put this chapter up. As you may be aware, Megan is the wonderful person who betas my work. Unfortunately, this is the LAST chapter she has been able to beta - partly because my email was back firing and the chapters weren't getting through to her, and now because *fingers crossed* she's had her fifth baby.

This means, there's going to be somewhat of a wait for the next couple of chapters. Just giving you all forewarning - they will go up soon but I wouldn't hold my breath about getting anything more for the next week.

Just thought I'd let you all know that *unfortunately* you're going to have to wait. Feel free to bug me over at my LJ if you must. ::grins:: http://www.livejournal.com/users/angelic_amy/

On to the chapter...



Chapter 16: Exposed.


Lindsey walked into the bar, his eyes immediately scanning the confines of the small space in search for his ‘champion’. He wasn’t too hard to find, what with light bouncing off that shock of white bleached hair. The vampire was sitting at the same table he had first found him at a few weeks ago. The difference this time being that he seemed to be somewhat inebriated.

The table he was slumped against was littered with empty glasses, the one he cradled in his hands half full of whatever sort of whiskey he was sinking back tonight.

“Spike,” Lindsey greeted with a disapproving shake of his head. “What happened to patrol tonight? You won’t be much help to the helpless in the state you’re in right now. You’d just as likely get yourself killed.”

“So, it’s not like anyone would notice,” Spike mumbled as he attempted to sit a little straighter to eye his guide, only to begin sliding off his seat.

“Whoa there,” Lindsey admonished as he stepped forward to catch the falling vampire before he hit the floor, slowly pushing him back into his seat. “How much have you had?”

“Not enough,” came Spike’s grunting reply as he waved the bartender over. “Gimme another,” he demanded, waving two fingers in the air.

“No, I think you’ve had about enough,” Lindsey decided. “What brought on this desire to drench yourself in whiskey?”

Spike’s head lolled downwards, the hand not clutching his glass lifting to massage his temple. “She left,” he mumbled. “She was ‘ere, and she left.”

“Who was here?” Lindsey played dumb, knowing exactly who Spike must me drowning his sorrows over.

“Buffy…” he answered, her name uttered with absolute reverence.

“She was in town? Wow!” Lindsey continued the charade.

Is.

Lindsey blinked in surprise at the venom in Spike’s tone. His earlier drunken episodes had never shown this sort of disdain for the Slayer. In fact, in the past Spike had practically worshipped her. “What happened?” he probed.

“Used me, like she always does,” Spike continued, his jaw clenching in anger as he explained. “Got her kicks and then ran off.”

“Ran off where?” Lindsey questioned, trying to keep his tone neutral.

“Dunno.” Spike sighed, finishing the rest of his scotch before dropping the empty glass on the small table. “Back to England and the poof she’s datin’ over there. Or to Peaches. Point is, she’s not with me. She ran off; she always runs.”

Spike’s expression cleared for a moment as he considered the weight of what he was saying. Because there was truth to his words, Buffy did always run. And he always chased her. His expression became somber again.

Now Lindsey was worried. “Peaches?”

“My bloody grandsire. You remember those two had a thing? I wouldn’t be surprised if she was shackin’ up with the Ponce as we speak.”

Lindsey’s stoicism faltered. This new development wasn’t good, didn’t work in their favor. Eve was supposed to be keeping watch on Angel, and her little spy at the hotel—Danny—was supposed to be keeping tabs on the whereabouts of the Slayer.

“Excuse me a moment.”

Not waiting for a response, Lindsey turned his back on Spike and walked a few feet away, removing his cell phone from his pocket and dialing Eve. The line connected and began ringing. And then rang some more.

Lindsey frowned; it didn’t normally take this long for Eve to pick up. Something wasn’t right. Disconnecting the call, he tried again.

“Doyle?” Spike called.

“Just a second,” Lindsey replied with a raised hand.

Seconds later Spike was standing before him, a small black—vibrating—cell phone clutched in his outstretched hand.

“Eve can’t come to phone right now—” Spike drawled slowly, the previous haze in his eyes clearing, his expression hardening. “Your girl’s a little… tied up at the moment, Lindsey.”

Lindsey’s jaw clenched in anger before he whirled around abruptly, intent on exiting the establishment as quickly as possible, only to find himself slamming up against a solid wall of muscle chest.

“Long time no see, Linds,” Gunn greeted sarcastically.

Lindsey spun again, this time confronted with a very pissed off Angel.

“Going somewhere?”

“Apparently not,” Lindsey replied with a resigned slump of his shoulders.

~~~

Buffy walked into the Wolfram and Hart offices after there had been no answer at Spike’s apartment. She figured this was as good a place to check as any. Even after her repeated return visits, this place still gave her the creeps. Buffy shuddered as she walked out of the elevator and into the lobby. This place was the very embodiment of evil--how could Angel not see that, feel that?

The first thing that struck her was the emptiness of the place. The main atrium—the gateway to the offices—was empty. Completely empty.

"Hello?" Buffy called cautiously, her stance immediately shifting into a defensive pose.

There was no response.

Hearing a muffled noise coming from within Angel's office, Buffy slowly but surely began to move towards it. Not bothering to knock, she opened the double doors and confidently moved inside. Her jaw dropped, mouth gaping at the sight before her.

Eve looked up at the sound of someone entering, eyes going wide when she recognized the Slayer. Instantly she began struggling against the ropes that bound her to the wooden chair, her pleas for help muffled by the gag tied around her mouth.

"Who did this to you?" Buffy asked as she moved forwards, dropping to her knees before the bound woman to loosen the gag.

Eve sighed with relief when it was removed, opening and closing her mouth and cricking her jaw several times before she finally answered. "Angel."

Buffy's hands stilled at the rope securing Eve's ankles to the chair. With a curious mind and an amused stare, she lifted herself to a standing position, arms folding over her chest as she appraised the now squirming woman before her. "Angel. Huh." Buffy shrugged, leaning back against the side of a sofa as she continued. "Now why would he do that?"

"I don't know!" Eve exclaimed, her voice urgent as she looked up at Buffy. "Please, can you untie me? The ropes are burning my wrists."

"I'm sure they are," Buffy responded with a knowing smile.

"Well? Are you going to let me go?"

"What do you think?" Buffy asked with a raised brow. "I'm betting Angel tied you up for a reason. Just like I came here fo--"

"GET away from her!" a shriek came from the door.

Buffy jumped, startled by the sudden noise although she recognized the voice. Without turning she addressed the newcomer. "Harmony. What are you doing here?"

Harmony stalked forwards, her gaze flicking from Buffy to Eve and back again as she made her way to the Slayer's side. "I'm on watch duty. Angel left me in charge of her," she explained, pointing at Eve.

Putting on her best innocent act, Eve silently hoped that she would be set free, but she didn't like her chances. "Please, don't leave me here alone... with her. She's a vampire."

"I know," Buffy nodded. "We went to high school together." With that Buffy turned.

Eve's jaw dropped. "The Senior Partners are going to be so --"

"I don't care. I don't work for the bad guys," Buffy replied bluntly. With a nod in Harmony's direction, the liaison to the Senior Partners was re-gagged, much to the woman's annoyance.

Stopping at the doors, Buffy turned to face the pair again. "Harmony, I'm looking for --"

"Spike?" Harmony interrupted. At Buffy's surprised look, she shrugged her shoulders. "He's with Angel. They're at a demon bar names Wally's, a couple of blocks from west here."

"Thanks," Buffy replied sincerely, smiling briefly before leaving the office.

~~~

"Why?" Angel demanded as he slammed Lindsey up against the wall for the third time.

Lindsey chuckled despite the throbbing pain at the base of his skull. He was going to have one hell of a hangover tomorrow, that was for sure. "Why not?"

Angel's face vamped and the ex lawyer-cum-vigilante just laughed some more.

Wes and Gunn looked to each other nervously, both hoping that Lindsey would explain his actions sooner rather than later.

When his faux guide's head hit the wall a fourth time, Spike finally stepped in. "Peaches, you're not going to get too many answers from a bashed in skull. And brain matter? Remember Germany—the stains?"

Angel seemed to think about what Spike was saying for a moment, letting go of Lindsey's shirt that he had clutched tightly in his balled fist and shoving the other man into a nearby booth. Angel slid into the booth next to him, Wes and Gunn taking the other side.

Spike watched on as the trio began their interrogation. Despite being within earshot—thanks to his vampiric hearing—he tuned out the voices as he lost himself in thought. His little show had been commendable, so believable in fact that he was beginning to look at things differently himself. All those things he had said about Buffy, it was meant to be an act to fool Lindsey long enough so that the others could take position, to corner and interrogate him as they were currently doing. He wasn't supposed to believe his words.

Point is, she’s not with me. She ran off, she always runs. Not only did she run like always, but she had waited for his back to be turned so he couldn’t even see her do it.

His own words taunted him as he became lost in thought.

~~~

Buffy moved quickly down the streets of L.A., headed for the bar that Harmony had told her about. She knew she wasn't needed for the little sting operation Angel had planned, and that wasn't why she was going. She was headed there for one reason and one reason only.

Spike.

She had made her decision back in the hotel suite and she was going to follow through with it.

No more running... she mentally repeated to herself. She couldn't let her past experiences interfere with her future. And if she wanted Spike to be a part of that future, she needed to let him know. Sooner rather than later.

Buffy just hoped that she hadn't missed her chance.

~~~

"Spike?"

Fred's voice broke through his reverie. Forcing a weak smile onto his face, he turned to face her. Spike saw genuine concern in her eyes and he was almost surprised by it. In such a short time he had become a part of this team. Even if Angel himself denied it, Spike knew he was doing good here. He was helping. His life had purpose.

Buffy being here, showing up like that had thrown him into a tailspin. When she was around he could barely think of anything but her. What she was doing, where she was, why she wasn't with him right now...

Who am I kiddin'? Even before she came all I did was think of her.

"Spike, is everything alright?" Fred asked worriedly when he hadn't responded. She had hung back whilst the guys had taken care of Lindsey, for once playing the spectator. Lindsey and Eve had almost convinced Angel to sign away his Shanshu. She knew that he no longer held such a strong belief in the prophecy as he once had, but as long as it was still viable--as long as there was a possibility that one day he would be redeemed of his past crimes against humanity, that he might one day become human—he had hope. Something to strive for, something to push him. A reason to fight the good fight.

And they had tried to take that away from him.

'The vampire will play an important role in the apocalypse, for which side it is unknown.' Fred knew that taking away the Shanshu would be taking away Angel's hope—his chance for redemption.

If he had signed that parchment and Cordelia hadn't awakened it would have thrust him into deep despair. He would have given up. L.A. needed a champion and Fred didn't think Spike would be sticking around much longer, not now that he had Buffy back in his life.

"Yeah," he muttered in response. "Everythin's fine."

Fred's frown deepened, her lips pursing as she placed a hand on her cocked hip. "Now why don't I believe you?" she asked good-naturedly despite her frown.

Spike was silent for a long moment before he finally responded. "She's not going to stay."

"You don't know that," Fred began only to be interrupted.

"Yes, I do." He knew he was right. Buffy wasn't going to stay. She had family and friends and obligations back in London. As soon as Dana had been taken care of, she would have no reason to stay in L.A. "She'll be done what she came 'ere to do before sunrise."

Fred's eyes widened. "She won’t just leave will she? She wouldn't go without saying goodbye?" She had come to like the Slayer immensely and had been hoping they could hang out—even just for a night—before she went back home. Fred didn't have many female friends now that Cordelia was...

Her thought instantly went to Lindsey and Eve and their plan to not only rob Angel of his redemption but also fill each and every one of them with false hope.

"Let me at him!" Fred demanded as she stormed towards the booth where the four men were seated.

Spike shook his head in amusement as he watched Fred launch into a verbal attack.

He sensed her presence the moment she entered the bar, his shoulders stiffening as he felt her move towards him. He wasn't going to let her do this to him anymore. She couldn't just take what she wanted when she wanted and expect him to be okay with that. No longer was he going to let her use him.

"Spike," Buffy whispered as she moved to his side, knowing that he knew she was there just like she had known he was in this bar the second she had stepped inside those doors. She had felt him, just like she always had. Her body was so keenly aware of his presence, always had been. Ever since that first night at the Bronze. Buffy had sensed the power, the strength within him the moment she first laid eyes on him in that alleyway. And unlike with Angel, she knew what he was from that first meeting. How she had ever denied that meant something, she didn't know.

She spotted Angel and the others talking to—make that interrogating—a dark haired male who was unfamiliar to her, but she dismissed it immediately. The reason she was here at this bar was standing right before her. "Can we talk?"

Spike's expression was blank as he turned to regard her, for once reigning in his emotions. He only uttered one word before he turned and walked away from her. "Outside."

Nodding mutely, Buffy followed.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you guys liked! Let me know what you think.
 
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