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Chapter 41
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Buffy and Spike made their way in silence to the upper floor to collect the swords and make a stand. It was going against Buffy’s every natural instinct to agree to let Spike go into the battle with the remaining Partners alone. She had every intention of watching his back, however. She had just gotten him back into her life and there was no way she would let pair of amped-up demons take him from her again.

The couple stayed hidden in the recess of the stairwell, watching the activity in the hallway. Ram’s robed minions were milling about outside the doorway to the room where Buffy had awakened such a short while ago. She looked at Spike and whispered, "Looks like we’ve found the core to this rotten apple. Still wanna get the swords first, or are you planning to charge in now and catch them by surprise?"

"I made a mistake earlier by thinkin’ it was gonna be too easy; wound up hanging from the bleedin’ ceiling. Remind me to stop that nasty habit, yeah? Starting to get permanent chain and manacle marks on my delicate skin." Spike smirked at Buffy after his little joke. Soul or no soul, Spike was still and always her Spike through and through. He quirked an eyebrow and continued, "Course, if a certain blonde warrior bint with a tongue as sharp as any sword wanted to put a pair on me…"

Buffy smiled and rolled her eyes before replying quietly, "You already have a big enough pair, I think!"

Spike couldn’t stop himself from following his urge and kissed her on the forehead. "Nice you didn’t finish that off by callin’ me a pig, love."

"Not a pig …although if it’s true that you are what you eat…," she teased in return. "Look! Those monk guys look like they’re getting ready to move out somewhere."

"Don’t think they’re headin’ for Matins either--course, I can’t really tell what bloody time it is in this dimension," Spike muttered.

"Is this Matin another demon?" Buffy was hoping for one she could take on in battle.

"No, pet," Spike held back his laughter with difficulty. ""Matin’s a mornin prayer gatherin’ for the other kind of monks--you know, the ones supposed to be on our side. Any of those headed our way?"

"No. Looks like they’re headed down the main staircase. I think they’re finished searching for us up here." Buffy peeked around the edge to survey the scene again. "I don’t see anyone coming out of that room either. Think the big boys are still in there?"

"Likely. Can’t see either of them puffs dirtyin’ their hands with the grunt work. That’s the whole point of havin’ lackeys." Spike huffed a bit in disgust.

"Coast looks clear. I’m glad it looks like they aren’t in the room where you were being held. The swords might have been moved, but it’s worth a look anyway." Buffy moved into the hallway, walking point. Spike kept his eyes focused behind them, nearly walking backwards on full alert.

As the pair passed the door to the room they suspected housed the two demons they needed to slay, they paused to listen for any sign of occupancy.

"And I’m telling you that this entire situation could have been handled differently from the start. That female you kept helping up the corporate ladder should have been gutted when she suggested the entire plan of giving control of the Los Angeles branch to that … that abomination. All it would have taken was a look at his unpredictable behavior, with or without a soul, and any fool should have anticipated disaster!" Ram was wading knee-deep in waters that had already flowed under the bridge and getting on Wolf’s last nerve.

"Yeah, like your plan was any better with that whole confusing mess with darkness and The Beast reacquainting himself with Angel. Gotta say I kinda enjoyed the whole ‘girlfriend sleeps with the son’ bit though. Didn’t think you still had it in you, you old goat! Shame we lost Jasmine in that disaster. And I will admit it looked like your little soap opera might have done the job since the idiot let them take away his soul. Maybe if we’d offed his circle of friends first that would have done the job," Wolf reflected.

Buffy motioned to Spike to move into the room they were interested in, then jerked her head towards the suite with the conversing Partners, a questioning look on her face. Spike mouthed the word "later" and they moved on.

To door was well oiled and made no noise when they opened it. Spike’s blood still pooled where it had spilled and the chains hung empty from the ceiling in quiet testament to the torture he had recently endured. In the corner was the special sheath, complete with mystical swords that had been removed from Spike’s back to allow a clear target for the lash the robed minion had favored.

"Bingo! Hello, my lovelies!" Spike was gleeful at seeing his weapons available. He repositioned the sheath and adjusted it for easy reach of each sword, testing the access.

"Do I get one of those pretty shiny toys or are you going to be needing both to feel all manly?" Buffy teased as she held out her hand for a sword.

"Suppose I can spare one for the lady." Spike looked at both swords with longing, loath to part with either to anyone but his Buffy. Finally he settled on the older of the two and handed Hrunting over to Buffy. "This one’s supposed to never fail. Seems like a good choice. Beowulf had a bit of a problem trying to off Grendel’s mum with it. Its name is Hrunting."

"When did you start naming your weaponry, Spike? Must be a guy thing, naming stuff they like to play with. Riley called his old Camaro "Betty’. Did you have a name for that pile of junk you used to drive or do you only name swords and axes?" Buffy had an indulgent smile on her face as she asked.

"Didn’t name it, now did I? ‘Hrunting they named the hilted sword, of old-time heirlooms easily first; iron was its edge, all etched with poison, with battle-blood hardened, nor blenched it at fight in hero’s hand who held it ever, on paths of peril prepared to go to folkstead of foes.’ Spike quoted the ancient heroic poem to a befuddled-looking Buffy.

"Huh? I get the poison part … cool … what the hell was the rest?" Buffy had a bad feeling her lack of study time was about to be exposed.

"Old epic poem, one of the oldest. Tells of a hero named Beowulf and his battles against all kinds of beasties, gods and nasties. That’s what this beauty is, love, his sword. Used it against a monster named Grendel. That’s ancient magic you’re holdin’ in those dainty, lethal hands of yours, Slayer. Have a bit of respect. Willow fixed the poison part so that it won’t hurt either of us, so don’t get your knickers in a twist about that part of the quote," Spike reassured her.

"Works for me! Okay, hero, what do you say to taking out a couple of lawyers?" Buffy smiled up at Spike brightly.

"Ladies first," he held the door for Buffy to lead the way into battle.

Spike kicked in the door to the room where they had heard the Partners’ voices, Excalibur drawn and ready. Buffy flanked him after they cleared the doorjamb. Ram looked up from the small desk in the room, a startled expression on his face. To Buffy he appeared human in all respects. A rather dusky-skinned, handsome businessman, in fact. He reminded her of a young Omar Sharif.

"My dear young lady, there’s no need for violence here. I don’t know what nonsense this vampire has been feeding you, but I am not your enemy. I am a friend to mankind. I’ve given many great gifts to humanity as you all grew and developed. Surely we can discuss our differences like civilized beings?" Ram had taken a position behind the chair of his desk as he spoke.

"Don’t know what you’re seein’, Slayer, but this one’s the goat-headed sod that did the damage to yours truly. Watch he don’t spit on you." Spike looked at Ram and continued, "That’s one nasty way to poison a bloke by the way. Didn’t your demon mum ever teach you it’s not polite to spit on somebody?"

"So, looks like you’re just another horny demon after all, huh?" Buffy added.

Without warning, Ram unfurled his wings and leapt from the open window to the courtyard below.

"Since when do sheep fly?" Buffy asked. "That is so unfair!"

Spike had already cleared the window and followed the demon down to the pavement below. Buffy made the leap a few seconds after and, remembering the prophecy insisting on Spike doing battle alone, took up position to fend off any others who might try to intrude on the battle.

Spike had learned how the famous toxin was administered and was not letting the demon get a clear shot with the poison again. Ram was using his horns to butt Spike against a pillar, while at the same time trying to grab the sword from Spike’s hand.

Spike heaved Ram away from him, sending the demon sprawling into a terra cotta pot filled with geraniums. Before Ram could regain his feet, Spike was looming over him with the sword singing towards Ram’s neck.

Ram rolled away before the Sword could connect and dove behind a rose trellis.

Ram’s minions began to try to join in the battle defending their lord, but Buffy was hacking away at their number. So far, they were all trying to enter from the lobby doors and she was able to contain them well enough.

Ram unfurled his leathery wings again in an attempt to put distance between him and the angry, Excalibur-wielding vampire. Before he could spring up to use his wings, the sword of legend neatly severed the right wing, throwing Ram off balance and back to the ground.

"See how well you fly with one wing, pillock!" Spike charged the demon, intending to run him through with the sword while he had a slight advantage.

Ram responded by trying to spit poison onto Spike’s few areas of exposed skin. Spike dodged the spray, moving with the grace of a dancer. "You should still be paralyzed, vampire. What trick allows you to withstand my powerful toxins?"

"Yeah, like I’m gonna tell you! This isn’t some stupid telly rot where the hero gives away all his secrets to the Big Bad." Spike laughed at the demon as he continued to press his attack.

A familiar voice rang out from the other entrance to the courtyard. "Got room for another hero here, or should I just let Buffy handle the whole monastery?"

"Have at it, Peaches. Just leave the wildlife to me, yeah?" Spike answered.

"Angel! What are you doing here?" Buffy continued to hold back the red-robed minions as she spared a glance to her first love.

"Just here to help my idiot offspring. You know me, love a good fight." Angel joined Buffy in holding off the encroaching enemies. They began fighting back to back, slashing and hacking through the remaining numbers of Ram’s followers.

"Angelus, you ingrate! We gave you everything, did all you demanded and you side with these two?" Ram glared at the newcomer while continuing to fend off Spike’s attack.

"Didn’t give me anything but a big headache. And these two are family," Angel retorted.

Ram grabbed a section of the rose trellis, broke off about a foot of painted cedar and then, whirling, picked up a large section of the broken terra cotta pot to use as a shield.

"Make that flowerpot on your wheel, Khnum? Shoulda stuck to doin’ the arts and crafts and kept out of meddlin’ in human lives," Spike taunted as he fought.

Ram executed a leap over Spike and before the vampire could turn to face him, drove the wood slat through Spike’s back where the shirt had been torn during the torture.

"Spike!" Buffy froze in horror, expecting to see her lover dust in front of her a second time.

"S’okay, love. He missed anything important." Spike changed hands with his sword, now using his right to continue to beat back the demon.

Using a sweep kick, Spike knocked Ram to the ground and brought Excalibur down and across the demon’s throat. He had to jump back to avoid the spray of black toxin that shot from the severed neck along with arterial blood. As the sheep’s head rolled to the side, Spike jammed the sword into the gut of the body releasing a stream of viscous matter that poured out onto the concrete. On contact, smoke began to rise as the concrete reacted as if acid were eating through it.

"Damn glad I wasn’t standing too close to that!" Angel looked at the smoking body at Spike’s feet.

"Balls! Need that blood! Quick, Gramps, grab something to collect it from the head over there," Spike ordered.

Angel picked up a smaller flowerpot, knocked out the contents and rushed to Spike with the makeshift container. He glanced over to see that Buffy had finished off the last of the minions and was safe.

"Thanks, mate." Spike gathered as much blood as he could from the flow still available. Spike then stood and clapped Angel on the shoulder in greeting. "Thanks for not followin’ orders. There were too many for Buffy to handle by herself. Old
man’s gonna be right pissed though."

"Naw, I finally convinced Rupert that you might need some backup after all. As long as I keep away from the main guys, he’s okay with it." Angel explained.

"Troops okay out there?" Spike asked.

"Lost one of the new slayers, the cute one with all the braids," Angel replied.

"TaLisha. Damn! She was a right good dancer, too." Spike shook his head sadly.

"Um, guys, shouldn’t we do something with this icky stuff before we get more company?" Buffy pointed to the pot with the precious, urgently needed demon blood.

"Yeah, we’d better at that, love. Well, that’s two down and one nasty wolf left." Spike took the pot from Angel and carefully took it to the lobby, pouring it into the amphorae with the blood he had taken from Hart earlier.

"So, Angel, plannin’ to stay for the next act?" The slight smile Spike gave to the other vampire made it clear that it wouldn’t offend him if the answer were yes.

"Thought I might. Never know when you might need your pale ass saved. Besides, I owe you one at least," Angel answered. Angel then turned to Buffy and broke out in an unaccustomed grin. "Buffy! We’ve been worried sick about you. You’re looking good, all things considered."

"What do you mean, ‘all things considered’? I look fine!" Buffy rushed to the mirror in the lobby area to reassure herself that she still looked stylish yet
deadly. Spike shrugged and he and Angel shared a look of mutual amusement.

"Calm down, kitten. Angel only meant your bein’ held captive and all. You look perfect, always perfect." Spike said with his adoration clearly showing in his
eyes.

"Glad you came, Angel. I’m good, but there were just too many of them for me. Nice to have you at my back." Buffy hugged Angel tightly but didn’t even attempt a kiss in greeting. "Spike, this really IS Angel, isn’t it? You’ve still got that orb doohickey?"

"The one and only, pet. Wouldn’t have let him get close to you if it weren’t the real vamp. Hey, wait a minute … maybe that’s not such a good thing. Last time you wound up with Angel breath," Spike said with a furrowed brow.

"Down, boy! I made my choice of where to serve the cookies," Buffy said, putting a reassuring hand on Spike’s arm.

Angel couldn’t help throwing in a reminder of their torrid history though and said softly, "Thought you said you were always going to be my girl, Buffy?"

"I did. I am." At Spike’s hurt look, Buffy grabbed both vampires by their arms and forced them to stay to hear what she had to say. "Angel, you were my first love. Everything I learned about loving a man, I learned from you. I told you then that I would always be your girl and inside me, the part of me that will always be sixteen IS your girl and that will probably never change. Spike, you still love Dru, don’t you?" Spike nodded, eyes still narrowed in suspicion of the bond between his sire and his love.

"The thing is we both grew up. Okay … I grew up, you just grew apart from me." Buffy was addressing Angel again. "A part of me may always be your girl, but the
rest of me, the grown-up me, is someone that moved on. I may be your girl, but I’m Spike’s woman." With that she leaned up to the vampire under discussion and kissed him tenderly. "Come on, Angel, you’ve moved on, too! Don’t play all hurt guy with the puppy eyes. I know you and Cordy had a thing, remember? I came back from the dead and you couldn’t wait to get back to her in L.A. It happens. Almost no one finishes up in the happily ever after with their high school sweetheart. That doesn’t mean I don’t love you and always will. Just differently, you understand?"

"Yeah. I knew it, Buffy." Angel still had a sad look to him as he voiced his real feelings for the first time. It was true that he had dearly loved Cordy after he and Buffy had parted and he would likely still be with her if she hadn't been so cruelly taken from him. "Can’t even call it a broken heart really, not now anyway. Guess we did the heartbreak part a long time ago. I’ll always love you too, you know.
Kinda hard to let go of a habit though. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I guess I just had ‘Angel n Buffy 4eva’ imprinted like you wrote on that notebook when you were in High School. I had the idea that you would always be mine. Not fair to you, I admit it. Think we can prove Spikey wrong and actually become friends?"

"Well we can’t let him be right ALL the time, can we?" Buffy smiled tenderly at Angel and wrapped her arm around Spike’s waist. "I don’t think I could put up
with him if he thought he was always right."

"Hey, this is the souled version--I know all about my faults." Spike leaned a bit closer into Buffy’s embrace. "Not always right, make plenty of mistakes, but never gonna hurt my girl again, ever."

"OK, let’s get this last guy so Spike can kill him and we can go home. There’s a couple of people I want you to meet," Angel said to Buffy, letting go of her hand.

"A couple? Geesh, when you move on, you don’t play around, do you?" she teased the broody vamp. "At least we practice serial monogamy!" She gave Spike a gentle squeeze then released him. "So are we talkin’ an Oz kind of wolf? Did you bring any shiny silver bullets?"

"Not that easy a job, Buffy. This is a wolf straight out of nightmares. Supposed to even scare the Viking gods, no pansy group there! Don’t expect killin’ him’ll
be a cakewalk. Bugger seems to think he’s Al Capone, to listen to him talk. So major bad wolf with a gangster complex. I’m thinkin a sneak attack, if we can do it," Spike suggested.

"Okay, who’s up for a little wolf hunt?" Buffy looked from her past love to her future, her eyes gleaming, ready for a fight.