Chapter Three: The Meeting, Part 3

[Anita Blake]

::As she watched Spike walk out of the room with an almost unconscious Gwen, Faith frowned::

(Damn it! Now I feel guilty because I goaded him so much. I guess I'm going to have to apologize and play nice...)

Xander: "Well, that's not something you see everyday..."

::Looking at Xander, she decided that he was not up to sparring at the moment::

Xander: "Well, I'm gonna go find Buffy. I got kinda sidetracked on my way here, but guess its time to continue on. I'll see ya later, Cyclops."

::Walking out of the training room, she manuevered around the sparring slayers and moved into the hallway::

(Well, not much more damage I can do here...Speaking of which, I should probably go see how Giles is, and then check in on Gwen and Spike. But after I talk to Buffy, 'cause I still don't know what's going on.)

::Walking around the corner, she almost slammed into Buffy and Willow who were walking her way::

(Woah, watch where you're going Faith, or do you want to help fill up the medical center some more?)

Willow and Buffy: "Hey, party people, what's up?"

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy threw up her hands to stop Faith from bumping into her. ::

"We were just on our way to find you. Time to go to work...where's Spike? Wasn't he with you?"

[Anita Blake]

::Faith fidgeted slightly before answering Buffy::

Buffy: "Um, yeah, but he had some...things to work out and decided to take out his frustrations on someone, and that someone happened to be Gwen. Last I saw, he was taking her to the medical center."

(What's with the guilt Faith? Are you gonna turn all goody-goody on me now?)

::Trying to divert the attention away from the fight, Faith honed in on what Buffy had said::

Buffy: "Why were you looking for me? Am I in trouble?"

(Maybe I'll mess with B...It'll be fun. She looks like she could use a laugh.)

::Assuming a worried/panicked expression she threw up her hands::

Buffy: "B, he told me that he was 18. He looked old enough. I didn't even suspect anything 'til is mom tried to attack me..."

[Buffy Summers]

:: It took a second for what Faith said to register. ::

"We've got to go pl- Wait...eight-...mom...when did you...where..."

:: Buffy put her head in her hands, then looked up at Faith, a strained expression on her face. ::

"Faith!"

[Anita Blake]

::Grinning at Buffy, Faith shrugged::

Buffy: "Now, B. You know that half the stuff that comes out of my mouth isn't the truth. Besides its so much fun to mess with you. Especially when its something embarrassing, you turn really red and start stammering. Sorta like Red there..."

[Black Eye Guy]

::Willow was chuckling at Faith having a joke with Buffy, But when Faith said Buffy was like her, by going all red and embarrassed her face changed to a joking offended face::

Faith: "Hey! I don’t get embarrassed that easy - anymore... I am a grown up, in a mature sexy-lesbian relationship!"

::She smiled::

[Anita Blake]

::Faith grinned at Willow's outburst::

Willow: "Wow Red. You got through a sentence with words like 'sexy' and 'lesbian' without suttering and/or getting red....I am so proud of you!"

::Laughing, Faith slapped Willow on the back::

Buffy: in sotto baby-talk voice "Awww, our witty, bitty Red is all grown up and using big-girl words."

[Black Eye Guy]

::Willow laughed, even though she and Faith had had a rocky past, She felt they had since they fought the First they had become more comfortable around each other, so she decided to push a joke hoping it wasn't taking it to far::

Willow: "Yeah, not having grown up in prison I have learned a wider vocabulary of words"

::She smile at Faith::

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy's head snapped back to look at Willow. She spoke under her breath. ::

"Willow!"

:: She was concerned Faith might take that comment a little personally and punch Will in the face. ::

[Anita Blake]

::Faith looked at Willow in shock for a second before smirking at her::

Willow: "Wow, Red. Ok, you're right. You've changed. You're so not the same innocent I first met in Sunnydale. You're just a big bad lesbian."

::Looking at Buffy she grinned::

Buffy: "Don't worry, B. I'm not the same sociopath you used to know and love. I've changed...slightly. No hitting of the friends. I got it."

[Black Eye Guy]

Faith: "That’s right you have changed too, I’m not the only one::

::She smiled warmly at Faith, glad that she had not taken offence from her comment. The two of them have really changed since they first time they met she thought::

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy didn't entirely believe that, but she cracked a small smile just the same. How different all their lives might have been if only...

Just then she spied Angel coming down the hallway towards them. ::

"Why don't we make our way to the hospital - we can check on Gwen and make our plans there."

[Anita Blake]

Buffy: "Good idea. We can check on Giles too. Poor guy, he's just gettin' up there. Isn't as spry as he used to be..."

::Sighing dramatically, Faith started walking in the direction of the hospital::

"Come on you lazy bums. Light a fire under your butts! We got people to see and things to talk about."

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy rolled her eyes as she followed Faith down the hall. ::

"Jeeze who died and made you Slayer?"

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike sat with Gwen in silence for a while, and she soon fell asleep.

He continued to watch her - to watch over her. He didn't move an inch in his chair for a long time. If anyone were watching him, they would think he were dead.

He chuckled a bit to himself.

He found the urge inside himself to move, and he did just that. [i]He thought.

He stood and looked down at Gwen, smiling at the sleeping girl. He squeezed her hand once and turned to leave.

He made his way to the hallway outside of the medical center. He leaned against the wall, and pulling a pack of cigarettes and a silver Zippo from his pocket, he lit up. He inhaled, and it felt good. He closed his eyes and let his head rest against the wall, inhaling again on his cigarette.

People passed, giving him looks. He didn't know if smoking was allowed in the compound, and he really didn't give a damn. He paid them no heed as he continued to smoke.

He finished, and stubbed the butt out with the toe of his boot against the carpet. He didn't bother with it again and entered the medical center.

The lights somehow seemed brighter, the center a little less caring and more stoic, cold and isolated. He shoved his hands into his duster pockets and walked back to Gwen's room, where the girl was still fast asleep.

A small crept onto his lips as he made his way back to his chair. He slid his duster off and sat down, watching the girl for any signs of change. She slept soundlessly, peacefully.

Spike felt the first stirrings of sleep crawl upon him. He realized that he hadn't slept since they'd arrived at the compound. His body was exhausted.

He slid deeper into the chair. He looked at Gwen one last time, threading his fingers through her much tinier ones. He covered himself in his duster and drifted off to sleep.

[Anita Blake]

:: Buffy rolled her eyes as she followed Faith down the hall. ::

"Jeeze who died and made you Slayer?"

::Turning around and walking backwards, Faith smiled at Buffy::

Buffy: "Uh, that would've been you, remember?"

[Buffy Summers]

"All hail captain obvious."

:: They reached the medical wing. Angel still was being the silent, brooding type he always was. They walked through the doors, to see Spike, asleep next to Gwen. ::

"Spike! Wake up! Putting my people in the hospital? Are you trying to sabotage me?!"

[Lyri]

::Gwen was startled out of her sleep by the loud voice. Her reflex reaction caused more pain to shoot through her temple.::

"Ouch. What's going on?"

::Glancing at the chair by her bed, she saw Spike also waking up, and figured he'd fallen asleep whilst watching over her and she couldn't help but smile. Then she remembered the other voice.

::Looking towards the door, Gwen saw Angel, Faith, Willow and Buffy entering her hospital room. It was Buffy who had spoken, and she was looking angrily at the vampire. Gwen felt the need to defend him.::

Buffy: "Hey, it wasn't his fault, okay? Back off."

::She couldn't stop the anger that built inside of her towards the leader of their group, but suddenly Gwen's power, which she had been working so hard to control while she was here, started to build up again, and pulled her hand from Spike's grasp, not wanting to hurt him if she couldn't get control of herself.::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike shot up.

"Bloody hell-" He snapped, prepared to rage at the person who had woken him, and Gwen from her rest. He looked up and saw Buffy, who was staring him down.

"Buffy." Spike said quietly, and nodded in her direction. He didn't try to defend himself - Gwen handled that just fine.

It was then Gwen yanked her hand from Spike's limp grasp. Spike looked at her, and saw a mixture of embarassment and acute rage written across her face. Spike looked up and saw that Buffy was now staring at the two of them, her eyebrow raised. Spike scooted his chair away from Gwen's bed and stood, sliding on his duster. He purposefully put himself between Gwen and Buffy, cutting off Buffy's line of sight to the other girl. Spike gave Buffy a cold look of his own, topped with extra frost. "What's the commotion all about, love? Time to fight some big evil, yea?"

[Black Eye Guy]

::Willow was standing at the door to the room Gwen and Spike were in, She watched as Gwen pulled her hand away from Spike, and she noticed how Spike placed himself in front of Buffy. She was picking up on a weird atmosphere that she could not quite place her finger on, and the weird thing was that it was not her ‘witchy’ sense they were noticing it::

[Anita Blake]

::Faith noticed the tenseness of the atmosphere and saw the way Spike had moved to a protective stance in front of Gwen::

(He likes Gwen. Hmmm, Wonder how B's gonna take this...)

Spike: "Yo, Blondie. Little less hostility, and a little more 'splainin'. B doesn't have to beat you down if she knows what's goin' on."

::Looking at Gwen, Faith noticed the anger that she was trying to hide::

(Poor kid. She's a newbie. Guess I'm gonna have to give her a few tips.)

::Smiling, she sauntered over to Gwen's bed, past the glaring duo, to plop on the bed next to Gwen::

Gwen: quietly, so the others don't overhear "Cool down ok, Static? B and Blondie there go way back, and she's not really angry at him. It's been a long few day and everyone is feeling stressed, but you're not going to help by frying the person taking you in."

(She looks terrible. No slayer healing powers to help her, and she looks it.)

Gwen: "You're feeling alright aren't you? Blondie didn't mean to get so rough with you."

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike transferred his icy stare from Buffy to Faith as she passed him. [Little bint is trying to be the leader. It'd be cute if it wasn't so bloody irritating.]

He looked back up at Buffy, who hadn't said a word to him, just stared. He looked past her to Willow and Angel. Angel was giving him a look similar to Buffy's, and Willow was looking small and sympathetic. Spike sent a small smile in Willow's direction. [Gotta love Red.]

He looked back at Buffy, now looking exasperated. "We were training, Miss Rogue-yet-Repentant and I. Gwen" - Spike made a point to not give Gwen any nicknames now, and the word made his sentence sting - "decided to join the party. I kinda lost my head, kicked her in the temple, and brought her here. Anything else for the bloody calvary?" His last question was an abrupt snap.

He felt like he was being put under the microscope, and yet Spike didn't move, didn't falter. He felt some need to protect Gwen, something that told him although she was strong, she still needed someone. And far be it for Spike to turn a lady down when she needed him.

Spike's vampire hearing picked up Faith trying to speak softly to Gwen. He turned his head to the side, and looked at Faith. He looked back at Buffy and waited for her reply.

[Wanabee-slayer]

:: Angel warched the seen unfolding in front of him. He saw the sadness in Buffy's eyes and was filled with mixed emotions. He hated to think Buffy could feel the same way about Spike as she used to for him. Yet he stood there without saying a word::

[Angels baby101]

::Illyria had fallen asleep in the library for what seemed to be sometime she was still healing from the fight, though now she seemed to be back to normal completely. She stood up and walked out of the library and down the halls again looking for something else to get into. She had heard some of the doctors talking about Spike and Gwen's fight and how gwen got hurt. So she quietly started to walk towards the hospital wing::

(Poor human, getting mixed up in the halfbreed's rage over Fred how pathetic)

::Illyria walked into the hospital wing, and looked around she walked up to a short man in a white coat and reluctantly asked where gwen was being treated he told her where to go using his hands alot in demonstration of how to get there. She brushed past him and walked toward her room, she arrived at the room and noticed a group of people in there she openned the door and walked in not caring what the others would think. Gwen had helped her out during the battle it was only right she would find out if she was ok, Everyone turned to look at her knowing she had interupted something, Spike looked at her with nothing but anger she looked past him and straight to gwen::

"The small human told me where to find you. They talk as if no one can hear. They said that the halfbreed hurt you, I dont know why i came. I just wanted..."

::She stopped in her sentence, she was annoyed with herself, she sounded human, like she cared..she felt like her insides where burning::

"Will you be alright?"

[Winifred Burkle]

::Oz had parted with Willow when Buffy arrived and they headed off. He decided to try and get a better feel for this place. He'd only arrived mear minutes before his introduction at the meeting. The guy flying the helecopter that brought him in said the place was amazing, completely state of the art. Oz wasn't really a tech head, unless it was technology related to music, but he was definitly interested in seeing what this place had to offer.::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike was prepared to go into a fit of rage at the sight of Illyria, strolling in and past everyone else. He clenched his fists and ground his teeth, closing his eyes to keep from screaming.

"Doesn't 'rest' mean a goddamn thing to you f-cking pillocks?" He muttered, his eyes fluttering open.

His eyes followed Illyria as she passed, and she approached Gwen, he turned an readied himself for the flood of anger he was about to unleash.

But instead, he stood in shock at what came out of Illyria's mouth. The anger on his features melted into a softer, more amazed stare. His body loosened and he just looked at her, and felt more affection for the thing wearing Fred's skin than he ever had before.

Illyria looked up, and Spike caught her eyes. The cold blue seemed a bit warmer this time around. Spike smiled a little at her, and nodded in thanks.

He turned and caught the whole group in his exhausted stare. "For the love of Christ, can we continue this outside? Poor girl needs her rest if she's gonna make the trip to Canada. Whatever else we've got to bitch about can be done elsewhere."

Spike turn to Gwen and gripped her hand for a moment before releasing. "Won't be long, love. Rest your pretty little head and I'll be back in a few, alright?"

[Angels baby101]

::Illyria looked to spike then back to Gwen, she wasn't part of the conversation they were having before so she took a seat next to Gwen, right about now she really didn't care if Spike got upset for her not listening to his orders.. Illyria watched Gwen feeling alittle guilty for what happened to her. If she wouldn't have upset Spike earlier maybe it wouldn't have happened on the other hand Illyria was still disgusted by these feelings she was having, but Gwen had helped save her life during the battle. Illyria could sense spike about to say something probley to her refusal to leave she didn't turn to him instead she took a deep breath::

"I wish to stay with her until you return."

::Illyria felt like she owed Gwen some generousity, and not her normal cold unhumain tone.::

[Lyri]

::Gwen felt herself calm down, and her power went back to normal...or at least as normal as she could make it. She smiled at Faith, who was still sitting on the bed beside her, and then looked up at Spike.::

"Thank you," she mouthed silently to the vampire.::

::She didn't care if anyone else saw her, she and Spike now had something between them, something she couldn't explain, but it was something she wanted to protect, yet nurture at the same time. She had known Angel and Gunn for close to a year before the fight in the alley, but even they couldn't come close to the relationship she now had with Spike. It surprised her how quickly she had bonded with the English man, but she didn't want to do anything to damage it.

::A movement out of the corner of her eye drew her attention and Gwen turned to see Illyria sit herself down in the chair Spike had just vacated, stating that she would wait until the others returned.::

Spike: "I'll be okay 'til you come back. Just don't be long, okay?"

::It confused Gwen, the way she wanted Spike to always be near her now. She had been a loner all her life, never making any friends. But she figured it was time for a change.::

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew walked the deserted hallways of the compound in a solumn manner. He stopped beside a door in the hospital and heard arguing from within. He guessed it was just the group finally combusting. He knew the unity wouldn't last. He walked a little further and entered Giles' hospital room where he lay there ... asleep. ::

Giles: I guess you can't hear me ... That's fine. I just- I need to get things off my chest. This past year, you've taught me a lot. I mean, you've been a dad to me, practically. And now you're hurt and now you might die for all I know ... and I'm scared. But you taught me not to be ...

:: Andrew began to tear up. ::

Giles: So I need you to hand things over to me. I think I'm ready. I know I'm ready! I know I can handle this mission, I know I can make you proud. You just have to let me ... If it wasn't for you and Buffy, I wouldn't even be alive. I never doubted either of you, even in the darkest of times ... Please, just have faith in me. Please don't doubt me.

:: Andrew is completely broken down by this time. Tears are running down his face. He wipes them away with his sleeve. ::

Giles: I can make you all proud.

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy blinked. Best to just ignore Spike's little rant. She looked around Spike at Gwen, and gave her a warm smile. Putting a consoling hand on her shoulder (and not realizing Gwen's animosity towards her), she spoke reassuringly. ::

"Rest well. If you want to sit this one out, I understand. Think about it."

:: Buffy turned and motioned for the others to follow. ::

"Everyone should get some rest. We leave for Canada in the morning."

[Edmund Blackadder]

::Giles laid in bed, kept his eyes closed. Now the medicines had begun to take effect, the pain was gone. He knew he still wasn't able to go on this particular mission, but he was already feeling fitter.
He could hear everyword Andrew had said.::

Andrew: 'Bloody Hell. You have one major incident, and the drying squad are sent in. Andrew, i am not prepared to hand over all the duties i have to attend. However it would also be in my best interest to eleviate some of the burden onto someone. I would like you to take over my field duties. I will stay at the center, train who i can. And for godsake man, pull yourself together. I could do with a Cup of tea.'

::Giles held back a smile to Andrew. Yes it was true that Andrew had tasted a darkness, but So had the watcher in his youth.::

Andrew: 'Two Sugars....and do we have any Jaffa's?'

[Lyri]

::Gwen watched as Buffy and the others left the room. She felt major guilt building up.::

Oh, great. Buffy thinks I'm mad at her.

::Now that her power had returned to normal, Gwen realized that she just needed to vent at someone...and Buffy was the only person who had come close to pissing her off, even though the woman had only been worried about her, worried she had gotten hurt training with Spike.::

Which, let's face it, is true.

::Rolling her eyes, Gwen threw back the sheet that was covering her and climbed out of bed. She smiled at Illyria, still sitting in the chair.::

Illyria: "Sorry, Blue. But there something I have to do."

::Pulling on her boots, Gwen made her way, slowly, across the room and out into the hallway, where the others were still gathered. Her eyes locked on Buffy.::

"Um, Buffy? I get the feeling that you think I'm mad at you. I'm not, really. It's just my nature. I thought you were angry at Spike, for hurting me. I was...I was trying to protect him."

::Gwen felt her face flush, but she pressed on.::

Buffy: "If you still want me on this Canada thing, I'm there. Don't know how useful I'd be. Still feeling a little dizzy. But i want to go with you."

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy smiled. Truth was, she hadn't thought the girl was mad at her. But Gwen's concern and determination showed real promise. ::

"Well, as long as you're feeling up to it. Good to have you."

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike turned around and watched Gwen jog after Buffy and friends. He didn't follow, just collapsed back into the chair.

He let his head fall into his hands as he sighed, full and heavy. He knew he'd taken Buffy's presence out of proportion - but he just couldn't help it. It seemed a little beyond him, now, how much he cared for Gwen. He had let the stress and emotion of the day sink a little too far into him.

He looked up when Gwen trudged tiredly back into the hospital room. He gave her a long face. "I completely bollocks that up, didn't I?" He muttered, rubbing his face. He noticed how she was walking - slow, steady, and her eyes looked dazed. Spike shot out of his chair to assist her, sliding one arm around her waist and helping towards her bed.

She sat on her bed, and Spike sent a look to Illyria. The Old One rolled her cold blue eyes and stood, and Spike pulled the chair out from underneath her and sat across from Gwen.

"I'm sorry. About everything, love." Spike said quietly, looking down at his hands as he said so. He sighed again, feeling the weight of the day bear down upon him once more. "I've been acting like a right ponce all day, and I'm sorry you had to suffer from it. If you want...I can stay here all night, with you. If that's what you want."

Spike looked back up at Gwen, gauging her reaction.

[Winifred Burkle]

::As Oz walked around checking out the place he considered if he should go with Buffy to Canada. It sounded like a serious thing, but at the same time it was vampires, not exactly foreign territory to Buffy and the rest of the gang. Or him for that matter. But he wasn't sure that perhaps he might have things to do here. He figured he'd should find her and see if she had enough people. If she did, then he'd stay, but if she hinted she could use another person on te team, he'd go.::

[buffetofsporks]

:: Andrew looked at Giles, starstruck. He didn't know whether to be excited that he was alright or freaked out that he just cried in front of him. Whatever he was, he was happy nonetheless. Andrew wiped another tear from his cheek and smiled. ::

Giles: Thank you!

:: Andrew ran up to Giles and hugged him past, he was sure, the fragile man's hugging limits. He let go and stood beside the bed. ::

Giles: But I don't know how to make tea, though. I always end up dangling those tea-bags on my ears ... but I'll get someone on it.

:: Andrew exited with a triumphant smirk on his face. He was an official Watcher now. ::

[Lyri]

::Gwen smiled as Spike helped her back to her bed, then laughed as he forced Illyria out of his chair.::

Spike: "Thanks, guess I'm not really back to normal just yet.""

::She listened as Spike apologized for acting the way he did. She tried to cut in, to tell him there was no need, but he was on a roll. Finally, he asked if she would like him to stay with her, and looked up at her with a face so innocent Gwen was shocked.::

I wonder how old he is? she thought to herself. When did he become a vampire? 'Cause I think I've just met the boy he used to be.

::Reaching out, Gwen grabbed hold of Spike's hand and gave it a sqeeze.::

Spike: "I'd like that."

[Anita Blake]

::Faith, who had been silently watching the other occupants of the room, perked up at what Buffy had said::

(This is better than a soap opera. And I don't like soap operas...)

::Standing up and stretching slightly, she grinned at Buffy::

"All right people. You heard the boss lady. We're going to.......Wait!"

(Did she say Canada?)

"What's in Canada?"

[Buffy Summers]

:: Buffy banged her head against the wall. ::

"Come on, I'll explain it to you on the way to the barracks..."

[Mesektet Ra]

Gwen had finally settled back down in her bed. Spike had spent the better half of and hour fussing over her, trying to make up for the way he'd been acting.

"Are you sure you don't need anything, pet? Are you hungry? I can get one of those bloody annoying Whitecoats in here to get you whatever you need."

He pulled the chair up beside her bed, settling himself down into it. He was ansty and very much awake. He started to pick at the already chipped polish on his fignernail was he waited for Gwen's reply.

[Anita Blake]

::Grinning at Buffy, Faith jumped off of Gwen's bed. Following Buffy out the door she looked at her::

(Hahaha, she said barracks...)

Buffy: "Gee, B. You're sounding very commanderish today. Barracks? That's a very army-like word..."

(But, vamps in Canada?)

::Glancing over at Buffy, Faith frowned::

Buffy: "But, seriously. What sorta self-respecting vampire takes up residence in Canada? There's nothing there but moose. And a few people."

[Edmund Blackadder]

::Giles sat up in his bed. He knew that Andrew would be ok with the basics of the mission, but he would need back-up, nee more then that, Giles needed reassurance.
Buzzing for the nurse, Giles sat back.::

Nurse: 'Ah, thank you Matron, i would appreciate if you could get a message to Dawn Summers. Could she please stop by, before she leaves.'

::The Nurse nodded then left as quickly as she entered. Giles picked up a novel from his table, Moby Dick. He knew that his recovery would take a little while, but with tea, Jaffa cakes and a good read, he would be mended in no time.::

[Lyri]

::Gwen tried to hide her laughter as Spike continued to fuss over her.::

He's being so sweet.

::Leaning forward slightly, she tried to ajust her pillows as she answered him.::

Spike: "I guess I could use some food. Haven't really eaten much in a while. But as long as you don't go anywhere, I'm good."

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike perked. "Of course, love. It'll only be a second."

Never turning away from Gwen, and never wiping the grin off of his face, he reached up with his left hand and smacked the nurse call button. A crackly, broken voice spoke over the speaker. "Yes, Ms. Raiden?"

"This is Mr. Spike." Spike said cordially, making a face at Gwen, rolling his eyes. Gwen choked back a giggle. "Ms. Raiden requires some eats, if that's not too far beyond your perameters of nursehood." Spike choked back a laugh himself.

"Oh, no problem, Mr. Spike. Whatever Ms. Raiden needs. Is turkey on white and a cup of peaches okay for her?"

Spike looked questioningly at Gwen. Gwen's eyes lit up and she nodded. "That'll be fine. Oh, and make it quick. My girl is hungry, and she doesn't like to be kept waiting."

With that, Spike released the button, and snorted. "Mr. Spike, Ms. Raiden." He mocked. "What a bunch of poofters."

Gwen laughed, and Spike was charmed. She seemed so hard on the outside, so callous and cold, not unlike Spike himself. It was a treat to see her laugh so openly, so unrestricted. Spike got the feeling that Gwen never had many opportunities to laugh like that.

Spike leaned in closer to Gwen's bed conversationally, cocking his head on the side.[/i] "So, love, now that we have all this time to ourselves and I'm not exactly the tired type, tell me about yourself. I'm a bit curious."

[Wanabee-slayer]

::Angel stood in the doorway of Gwen's room watching Spike fuss over her and couldn't help but think that something was going on between them although he new this would hurt Buffy it brought a smile to Angel's face thinking he could have Buffy all to himself::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike stopped laughing, and sniffed the air. He almost growled, and rolled his eyes.

He turned around to find Angel standing in the doorway, grinning. "Oh, if it isn't the magnificent poof himself. I thought you left with the herd. What keeps you here, grinning like a ponce?"

[Lyri]

::Gwen had been about to answer Spike's question when she saw him turn towards the door. Following his gaze, she saw Angel leaning against the frame, a strange smile on his face.::

Angel: "Hey. What's going on?"

::Gwen scooted over on her bed, closer to Spike. She wanted both of the vampires to think it was an unconscious move on her part, but she knew exactly what she was doing.

::She looked from one vampire to the other and rolled her eyes. She sensed the histroy between them, and it was something that she wanted to more about, if only to understand Spike a little better, get to know him a little bit more.::

Spike and Angel: "So, you two know each other, huh?"

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike folded his arms, never taking his unerring gaze away from Angel. "Oh yea, love. Peaches and I go way back." Spike smiled wryly at Angel, narrowing his gaze. "Isn't that right, grandsire?"

[Wanabee-slayer]

" Something like that." :Angel replied still smiling at the thought of having Buffy to himself. "I told her it wouldn't end well," Angel was thinking of the night he found out Spike and Buffy were together. "But she just wouldn't listen."

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike growled, low in his throat. He knew exactly what Angel was talking about, and it sent a bout of rage through him that he hadn't experienced in a long time.

He took a step forward, threateningly. "If you think that anything has changed between Buffy and I, you're wrong." He said, voice low. Gwen had taken the backseat to his rage, and he wasn't thinking about how his words were affecting her. "I love her, you insignificant poof. Love doesn't die." He examined Angel a little bit. "While it seems, Peaches, you just might."

[Lyri]

::Gwen watched the two vampires glare at each other. She was starting to understand.::

"You guys are both in love with Buffy, aren't you?"

::She couldn't understand why the knowledge hurt her the way it did. It wasn't like there was anything between her and Spike. They had known each other for less than a day.::

But we're already inseperable.

[Wanabee-slayer]

:: Angel stepped closer to Spike::

Spike:"What you and Buffy HAD was not love. Buffy and I will always love each other." ::Angel growled he was getting sick of Spike telling him what to do::

[Mesektet Ra]

Spike balled his fists. They began to shake.

It was then and only then did he remember Gwen. He turned and looked at the girl, who looked small and hurt. He remembered what he said, and what she said said in reply. Her words had almost gone forgotten in his fiery rage.

He turned to look at Angel. "Another time, poof." He bit, his eyes almost burning with his anger. "Now get the hell out of here before I make you."