The car ride to Laytonville was filled with silent tension. Buffy was lost in her guilt and pain. She couldn’t believe that all this time her friends had so little faith in her. Then there was Angel. Rationally, she knew that she had probably been a willing, even eager participant in the sex, but to have her memories erased, left her feeling as though she had been taken advantage of somehow. She was so lost in her own confused feelings she didn’t notice the turmoil going on inside Spike.

While Spike was trying to deal with his anger towards her. He couldn’t believe she had used something they had shared to attack her former love. He had thought since she had chosen him that she was over her jealous feelings towards Angel. Apparently he had been wrong. At the same time his heart was breaking for her and he could still feel how badly she had been hurt by what she had discovered that morning.

He chuckled to himself. The more things change the more they stay the same. He was torn between wanting to rip Buffy’s head off and comforting her, leaving him frustrated and confused.

They arrived at the small town before sunset. Buffy went inside and registered them at the hotel. They went inside and dropped off their bags in, neither saying a word.

Spike thought wistfully of the day before when he was listening to Buffy’s laughter and the easy, comfortable flow of conversation between them. Now any attempts he made to talk to her were met with one word responses or just a nod of her head.

Spike lay on the bed trying to read over the information Faith had given him, to prepare for the evening. Buffy had decided to take a shower, he thought she was just trying to hide in the bathroom.

He tried to concentrate on the papers before him. Five unexplained deaths in the past three days, all of them killed in the same way. Their throats were slit ritualistically and they were also branded with strange markings. The press thought there was a cult somewhere in the town. Spike thought they were probably right, however, whether they were dealing with amateurs playing around or competent magic practicioners he had no way of noticing. He also noticed there were quite a few deaths in the past few weeks where the deceased had their throats ripped out and were bled to death. These were all blamed on wild animals. Given the amount of wilderness in the area they were, that was a possibility, but Spike tended to think the deaths were all related in some way.

Buffy finally emerged from the bathroom as the sun set. She looked extremely tired and drawn, eerily reminiscent of that last year when they were fighting off the First. He hated to see her like this, but he knew any attempt on his part to comfort her would only lead to her rejecting him. Which would only fuel the anger he was feeling towards her.

“I think we should start by checking out the cemeteries in town see if there is any vamp activity.” He told her after she emerged. He waited to see if she would respond at all, but all he got was a nod.

“You ready then?” He knew his voice sounded harsh, but the more she ignored him, the angrier he got.

They left the hotel and walked through the small town to the cemetery. Spike watched Buffy, as she trudged up the street. She had on a tight pair of blue jeans with a sleeveless black shirt. Over her shirt she wore a short brown suede jacket to combat the chill in the night air. To him she was as beautiful as always, but the blank pain in her eyes didn’t do justice to the way she looked when her eyes were alive.

As they entered into the cemetery the silence became oppressive. There was no moon out to give off any light and the dampness in the night air combined with previous warmth of the day gave off an eery fog.

After fifteen minutes of searching the cemetery and coming up empty handed, Spike was ready to call it a night.

“Well, everyone here seems to be pretty much dead and staying that way.” He remarked, trying to bring some kind of levity to the situation. Buffy didn’t even respond.

That was the breaking point for Spike.

“Oh, would you quit with the bloody martyr routine already!!” He yelled at her, his rage bubbling over.

Buffy stared at him completely stunned. “What?” She finally noticed the rage inside her coming from him.

“This little martyr act…GET OVER IT!!!”

“I’m sorry, I just found out I was betrayed by most of the people I trusted. I just can’t ‘get over it’.”

Spike grabbed her shoulders roughly and stared directly into her eyes.

“Yes, they did. They betrayed you, they lied to you, they made decisions behind your back and never bothered to explain why or tell you. You have every reason in the world to be mad at them.

But you aren’t mad at them, are you? No, you’re mad at yourself.” Buffy tried to look away, but he grabbed her chin and forced her to keep looking at him.

“You honestly think that it’s your fault they had do what they did. You think there must have been something wrong with you for them to have to lie to you.” Buffy’s defenses started kicking in and Spike could see the stubborn look come into her eyes. He knew she probably wasn’t hearing a word he said, but that never stopped him before. Besides the fact he was too angry with her to stop now.

“Its all about choices, pet. They made the choices that they thought were best, so did you.”

He let go of her and started pacing back and forth, his anger giving him a nervous energy. For the first time in days he desperately wished for a cigarette.

“Personally, I think the Watcher did the right thing offing Glory’s other half. If he didn’t I would have hunted him down, for what happened to you.” His voice got thick as he remembered her lying on the ground broken in front of him. He walked up and leaned into her. “Only I would have made him scream for days first.” He informed her coldly.

“As for what the Whelp did, what exactly would you have done differently if you had known?” He continued on not even giving her a chance to answer as he stepped back and resumed his pacing. “I’ll tell you what you would have done, you would have died. You would have held back, thinking you had to wait for sweetheart to come back and Angelus would have used that against you and you would have died. I remember, I was there. You almost died anyway.”

Buffy finally recovered from her shock angry enough to speak. “Really, I thought you were too busy carrying your crazy, slut of a girlfriend out to notice.”

“Hey, I kept up my end of our bargain, luv. The rest was up to you.” He pointed at himself. “E-VIL. Remember?” He made sure to annunciate the evil as if she wouldn’t understand if he didn’t.

He stopped for a minute, but Buffy knew he wasn’t done yet. She began to recognize the feelings of hurt behind the anger she felt coming from him. He smiled a thin smile at her.

“And we both know why you are upset with Peaches don’t we.” He turned away for a moment not wanting her to see the pain on his face, forgetting for the moment she could feel it.

“The fact that you would use something we shared to attack him because you were jealous disgusts me.”

“What?!?” She couldn’t believe he was saying this.

“You were upset that Darla shared something with him that you never could. Then the fact that they had a child together just killed you didn’t it. You attacked him the first chance you got. Then you find out that you two actually had a chance, except he threw it away for the both of you. I wonder if he snuck out of your bed to go talk to his Higher Beings. Once again you weren’t enough to keep his interest.”

At that Buffy’s eyes filled with tears at his angry words. Spike’s anger was spent and now the look on her face made him feel horrible for adding to her pain. He couldn’t bear to look at her knowing what he had done, so he turned and walked away from her. He wasn’t sure where he was going he just needed to get away.

((You’re wrong about one thing.)) He heard her voice in his head and it stopped him cold, but he couldn’t turn to face her.

He heard her walk up behind, but he still didn’t turn.

She studied his hunched shoulders for before speaking. “Spike, you’re right about everything, except one thing.”

When he still didn’t face her, she pulled on his arm forcing him to turn around. Now he was the one with tears in his eyes.

“I didn’t attack Angel out of jealousy. I don’t care that he slept with Darla. I was mad that he could judge either one of us, when he made such a mess of his own life. Yet he still felt like he was above us enough to try and keep us apart.” Spike tried to swallow the emotions building up in him.

“When he told me about being human for a day, it did make me feel like once again I wasn’t enough for him, but that only confirmed that we weren’t meant to be together. The thing that upset me was that he took away my memories and I don’t think he did that with my consent. Someone messing with my mind like that makes me feel violated somehow.”

An involuntary shiver ran through her at the thought of it. Spike immediately wrapped his arms around her. She leaned into him enjoying the safety and comfort she felt in his arms. It was nothing like the dangerous, forbidden feeling she had with Angel.

Buffy felt horrible that she had been so wrapped up in her own feelings she didn’t even notice how bad she had hurt Spike. And she knew he was right in everything else he told her, it still hurt her, but now she didn’t feel like it was all her fault.

“I’m sorry I shut you out.” She whispered.

“I’m sorry I yelled at you, I just didn’t know how else to break through that wall you put up when you get scared or hurt.” He squeezed her to him before letting her go. He gave her his cockiest grin. “Although I do believe that’s the first time you’ve ever admitted Iwas right.”

“Don’t let it go to your head, Spikey.” She told him.

“No. Of course not.” He told her. Then he turned around and yelled into the vacant graveyard. “The Slayer admitted I was right about something.”

Buffy hit him on his arm. “You’re such a jerk.” She said walking away from him.

“One of the reasons you love me, pet.” He smiled, following behind her, a bounce in his step.

“So this was pretty much a bust.” Buffy commented as the neared the entrance of the cemetery. “Any other spots we should check out?”

“Well, we could wait until tomorrow and go talk to the coroner, see if he can tell us about the weird brands found on the bodies.”

“What are we going to do for the rest of tonight then?” She asked him, teasing.

“I can come up with one or two things.” He leered at her, reaching out to grab her cute little butt.

Buffy came to an abrupt stop. “Do you feel that?”

Spike sensed her alarm and immediately started scanning the area with his senses. “There’s something out here. I can’t tell what it is though.”

Buffy noticed movement off to their left and immediately took off after it. Spike followed her without a word. They moved gracefully between the gravestones, following the figure out of the cemetery and into the woods beyond.

Once out of the graveyard the feeling of evil grew stronger and the two warriors fell back a bit to avoid being detected.

They followed the shadowy figure into a small clearing in the forest, but lost him then in the fog, which seemed to grow thick around them.

((I don’t like this)) Spike’s voice came to her.

((Neither do I)) She answered. ((This screams of ‘trap’ to me))

((Yeah, but they were expecting Faith, not us.))

((Think we need to try our new trick))

((That may be wise))

Before they could do anything a voice came out of the fog.
”Ah, Buffy Summers, how nice to see you again.”

A man stepped out of the fog, towards them.

“Ethan Rayne!! I thought you were rotting somewhere in a military prison.”

“I got a ‘get out of jail’ free card courtesy of some Council members you decided to upset.”

“Isaac Milton.” Buffy growled.

“Yes, it seems Ripper declined their invitation to help the cause, so they decided to recruit me instead.” He walked around her in a circle. “Aren’t you going to introduce me to your mate?”

Spike could sense another heart beat in the fog, with more moving in, so he knew Ethan wasn’t alone.

((I think they have us surrounded, luv))

((Yeah, but they don’t know WHAT they have.))

“Ethan, I’m sure you’ve heard of William the Bloody.” To Spike she said aloud. “Ethan was responsible for the Halloween costumes that transformed the people wearing them.”

“Ah, yes the infamous William the Bloody. You were expected to surpass Angelus in ruthlessness before our lovely Slayer had you declawed.”

“You’re about to find out how declawed I am, mate.”

“Talk, talk, talk. That’s all you people ever do. Let’s get on with this already.” Another voice came out of the fog.

“Amy? What is this, the reunion from hell week?”

“Wasn’t she the rat girl?” Spike asked.

“Hey, Buffy. How’s Willow doing? Still letting all that power go to waste?” Amy questioned snidely.

“Yes, Amy is my new apprentice. It seems she believes as I do that there are people in power now, that really don’t deserve it. We plan on correcting that oversight.”

“Really, now how do you plan on doing that?” Spike drawled.

((Be ready to join up, luv. I sense several nasties moving this way.))

((I know, I make about six of them. I don’t want to do it too soon and tip them off, though))

((Right))

“Well, first off we’re going to kill the two of you.” Ethan said gleefully.

“How did you know it was going to be us and not Faith?” Buffy asked, curiously.

“Ah, ah, ah. A good magician never give up his secrets. All I’ll say is maybe your ‘friends’ aren’t as trustworthy as you thought.”

“Don’t tell them anything.” Amy interjected.

“It won’t matter soon, anyhow. I was told you managed to defeat the present I sent you. I take it you didn’t like cheese.” The figures they could sense approaching finally broke through the fog. “I doubt you will be so lucky against a half dozen of them.” Ethan and Amy stepped back away from the couple, who now stood back to back, tensed and ready to fight.

“Kill them.” He ordered the Golems.

“Oh and don’t think about running away.” Amy told them. “We’re here to make sure you can’t run.”

Ethan and Amy started chanting together and a barrier rose up in a circle around them, trapping them in with the Golems.

Just before the first Golem could attack, Buffy and Spike merged. Their eyes could be seen glowing through the dense fog as the two deadly creatures began their attack.

Buffy kicked the legs out from under one creature separating knocking him to the ground. She was on him immediately ripping his head off his body, not even watching as he crumbled.

One of the golems tried to grab Spike, but he grabbed his arm and used to it propel it around and into two more, knocking their heads off, before he released it. He was on it in an instant ripping its head of as it crumbled.

“What’s going on?” Amy yelled to Ethan. “No one warned us about this.”

“Can you feel the power coming off them?” Ethan was entranced. “Imagine having power like that?”

Buffy meanwhile was doing a handstand using her legs to grab one of the remaining Golems around its neck and flipping it to the ground. Then she tightened her legs and twisted its head right off.

Spike walked up to the last Golem and simply used his hands to twist its head off.

All that remained was the two fighters and piles of stones.

“Well, time for plan B.” As Ethan said this, he dropped the barrier. Buffy and Spike immediately turned towards the evil sorcerer. Their eyes glowed more brightly at the sight of their main prey.

Ethan pulled out a gun and shot Buffy at point blank range. Spike howled their connection broke and some of her blood hit splashed onto his jacket.

Before Ethan could move, Spike was on him. His fangs tore into Ethan’s neck draining the man of all life quickly. Amy took off, running in a blind panic, but Spike caught up with her before she managed to get ten feet away. He made short work of the girl as well before turning back to Buffy.

He cradled her body in his arms as tears ran down his face. “Please, luv. You can’t leave me now.”

She was still alive. He could hear her heart beating faintly. He knew he wouldn’t have time to get her help.

He was so lost in his own grief he didn’t notice her heart beat getting stronger or the wound in her chest closing up.

For an hour he sat with her mourning, when he heard her voice. “Spike? What happened?”

“Buffy?” He thought for a moment he was dreaming. “Buffy?” He said again.

“Ugh. Why do I feel like I was just run over by a mack truck.”

He started laughing and crying hysterically. He rained kisses all over her face in relief.

“Spike?” She asked again.

“You were shot, pet. I thought you were done for.”

“No. I’m still here. I’m in a lot of pain though. I feel like there’s an elephant standing on my chest.”

“I don’t understand he shot you at close range with a Magnum.”

“Isn’t that Dirty Harry’s gun? God, what a ham? Did they get away?” Her voice was getting stronger and she was able to sit up on her own and look around.

She saw Ethan’s body laying not far away, the wounds in his neck clearly visible.

Buffy looked up at Spike. “And Amy?” She asked quietly.

“She tried to run. She didn’t get too far.”

Buffy didn’t say anything for a few moments. She could feel her strength returning to her and the pain lessening with every passing moment.

“Did you find out who their informant in the school was?” She asked, her voice still in the same quiet tone.

“No, I really wasn’t focused on questioning at the time.”

Buffy tried to stand up, but she was still pretty weak so Spike had to help support her.

“Guess Tara wasn’t kidding when she said I wasn’t mortal anymore.”

“Guess not.” Spike couldn’t tell what she was thinking or feeling through the bond, her emotions were a jumble of pain, fear, anger and determination.

She started to move back towards the cemetery, they walked around Amy on their way. By the time they made it to the gates of the cemetery Buffy was healed enough to walk on her own.

“We need to head back to the school tonight. We’ll need to call in the others. I want to find out why Isaac Milton wants us dead so bad and I think Giles has the answer to that.”

“Alright.” Spike agreed with her.

“And Spike.”

“Yeah, luv.”

“Next time, try to get the information out of the bad guys before you kill them.”

Spike didn’t know what to say. Did that mean she was ok with what he had done.

Buffy wrapped her arm around him and looked up at him. “Its all about choices. Those two were given more than enough chances to reform. They always chose to come back and try to hurt us. I think you made the right choice.”

Spike let out a sigh of relief.

“Come on lets go home. I’m exhausted.”