Buffy whirled around, “What do you mean, ‘Gone’”, she demanded. “I thought you and Cassandra had him all tied up and sleepy-spelled.” She stormed out of the kitchen, a hard look on her face.

Methos grabbed Spike by the shoulder, preventing him from following Buffy. “I think you need to explain what you meant by ‘gone’.”

Spike tried to pull away from Methos and follow Buffy, but found himself sitting on a stool, staring into the cold eyes of the man who referred to Buffy as ‘Mother’.

“Do you mean he dusted?” Giles softly inquired.

“No, I don’t mean he dusted. I mean he just up and vanished!” Spike snarled, frustrated.

Buffy stormed back into the kitchen, her eyes flashing in anger. “Goddamned stupid fucking piece of shit… when I get my hands on him…,” she muttered angrily as she stomped her way to the basement door. Pausing, she whirled around and pinned Methos with a glance. “My bike is stashed over by the cemetery…”

“Restfield Cemetery” Spike interjected.

“What he said. Go fetch my stuff. Now.” Buffy all but snapped as she wrenched the door open and stomped down the stairs.

Methos sighed heavily. “She’s in a right snit. I’ll be back. DO NOT antagonize her. For your own safety, just leave her be…” His words trailed off as he watched Spike follow Buffy. “When Joyce comes down, tell her I’ll be back in a few minutes.” he directed at Giles as he made his way out the door.

Giles simply remained on his stool, a stunned look of utter shock on his face. He blinked a few times and muttered, “My word…”

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Upstairs, Joyce laughed to herself as she hung up the phone. “What an idiot…” she muttered. “Maybe I can get Spike to bite him.”

“Bite who Mom?” Dawn asked as she entered her mom’s bedroom.

“Oh, just that idiot principal of yours.” Joyce answered.

“Toldja he’s an idiot.” Dawn cheekily giggled as she darted out the door again and downstairs.

“Come back here missy.” Joyce laughed as she followed her daughter.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Down in the basement, Buffy was pacing and swearing under her breath, infuriated that he had interfered and taken her prey. She promised herself that the bastard would pay, in spades. So intent on her inner dialogue, she didn’t detect Spike’s presence until he had touched her. The gentle touch startled her out of her reverie, and she reacted by spinning around and punching him… squarely in the nose.

“OWWW!whadidyagoandothafor!” Spike yelled, clutching his nose, agony radiating from it.

“OMG! I’m sorry, so sorry Spike.” Buffy clutched at him, trying to pull his hand off his nose. “I didn’t mean to hit you. I’m so sorry. Let me see.”

Realizing that he had startled her, he knew that she didn’t mean it. “’S okay love. Just a lil bump, s’nothing.” Spike said, wiggling his nose and noticing that it wasn’t broken. “You pull your punch or something? Cause, just blood, not busted.”

“Yeah, I kinda reacted without thinking, and tried to stop when I realized it was you. I’m sorry Spike.” Buffy whispered as she wrapped her arms around him in a hug.

“S’my fault too love, I shouldna startled you like that. No worries.” Spike said as he returned her gentle hug. “Now, wanna tell me what’s got you in such a state? I mean, I know Peaches is gone, but I don’t think it deserves this kind of reaction.”

“It’s not the damned vampire that has me in this state; it’s the goddamned interfering bastard who took him that has me in this state.” Buffy stated as she slowly pulled away from Spike. “And as soon as Methos gets his ass back here with my stuff, that bastard and I are gonna have words!”


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Dawn giggled as she darted into the kitchen, coming to a complete stop as she saw Giles sitting at the counter, with a stunned look on his face. She turned to Joyce who had been right behind her and loudly whispered, “I think someone broke him.”

Joyce edged past Dawn and approached the stunned Englishman in her kitchen. “Rupert? What’s wrong?”

Giles started, jarred from his stunned state by Joyce’s quiet inquiry. “Angel is gone.”

“GONE? What do you mean gone.” Joyce demanded. “I hope it’s the ‘oops we staked him’ kind of gone and not the ‘we let him go’ kind.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know which it is, dear. Spike went to check on him and came back saying he was gone. Buffy seems to be having some sort of temper tantrum, and Spike followed her downstairs. Oh, and Methos went to get her stuff. Said he’d be right back.” Giles muttered grumpily, feeling like a messenger boy.

“Well, who knows which it is? Does Spike? Does Methos? Does Mother? And what do you mean she’s having a temper tantrum?” Joyce punctuated her words with sharp jabs of her index finger into Giles shoulder.

“Joyce…” Giles started to say, but stopped when Buffy emerged from the basement, Spike following her like a pale shadow.

“He was taken, and I am so going to have words with the bastard who took him.” Buffy stated.

A/N: Thanks to all of you who read, review and encourage me. It is greatly appreciated.