Buffy the Vampire Hunter Stories: Old Love, New Love: Out of the Ashes (part one)

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the Buffy peeps, though Gabrielle is all mine. I also don't own the songs used. No copyright infringement is intended to the people who actually own this stuff. Don't hurt me!

Notes: Gabrielle isn't my real name. I wasn't just putting myself in the story. I'm nothing like the chick in the story, save for shared music tastes and a love for the Lettuce King. Just so ya know ;) I just love the name.

Gabrielle looked around cautiously. The other students seemed completely normal. //Not a good sign.// She still found it difficult to accept that her last school had expelled her simply for wearing her pentacle. //Wasn't even legal for them to expel me. It's religious discrimination.// But her mother didn't have the finances to fight the school's decision, so they'd moved to nearby Sunnydale, which had a reputation for being fairly tolerant of alternative religions.

//If we could've wrestled some cash out of that dead-beat dad of mine, I'd still be with my friends back in my old school.// Naturally, her mother had insisted Gab would make new friends quickly. //Yeah, right. 'Hi, I'm Gabrielle. I'm a witch. You?'//

With one last dramatic sigh, Gab shouldered her bag and went in search of her new locker. It only took a few minutes of number-reading to find it, and the first thing she did was put her "Something Wiccan This Way Comes" bumper sticker on the dented metal door. The girl with the locker to her right smiled and watched Gab quietly for a moment before speaking. "Hi!" Her shoulder-length red hair bounced in a manner that could only be described as "perky". Gab patted her own long black hair, making sure it hadn't escaped from its thick braid.

"Hi. My name's Gabrielle. Call me Gab." She held out her hand, which the girl took and squeezed warmly.

Gabrielle nodded, wondering if her virgin status was that obvious. "Yep. Today's my first day."

Not seeing any reason to object, Gab nodded. "Sounds good to me. Less lonely." Something about the girl put Gabrielle at ease, lulled her into a sense of security.

"Well... yeah, I am." //Now we find out whether she wants to be friends with a freak.//

The girl beamed and seemed, if it were possible, even more friendly. She almost glowed with happiness, and Gabrielle's sense of kinship grew. "Me too."

"Nope. I've been studying all summer to restor-er, just to learn. Maybe you could help me. There's a lot I don't know."

"That'd be great! We could be our own two-person coven!" //Hallelujah! Maybe I won't be alone in this hellhole after all. There's something about her...//

"He's the school librarian. He knows all about the occult. It's sort of his hobby. You're gonna love him. Everybody who's nobody does. No offense," she added quickly.

"None taken. I'd much rather be nobody interesting than somebody stupid," Gabrielle assured her new friend with a smirk.

"Hiya, Will!" Xander called. "And hel-lo, gorgeous." He sat down beside Gab and plunked down his lunch tray, smiling broadly.

"Down boy," admonished Willow. "Gab's new here, so don't scare her away yet. She's a witch like me!"

"Oz is at work. He got a job working in the computer lab on half-days. I'm so proud!"

Suddenly nervous, Gab turned to stare at Xander. Her stomach fluttered. "Hellmouth?"

"Oh, just a little center of evil and paranormal activity. No big deal... unless you're right on top of one, which Sunnydale is."

"It means," Will broke in, "that there are lots of vampires and demons and stuff around. Speaking of," she continued, indicating someone over Gab's shoulder, "here comes Buffy. She's the Slayer, the person chosen to fight vampires and the forces of evil."

Buffy came in on the end of Will's speech. "Uh, sharing a bit much maybe, Will?"

Willow shook her head with a strange smile. "I don't think so. Buffy, this is Gabrielle."

Gab offered her hand, which Buffy took. "Hey. So you're part of the club now?" Buffy queried.

"We can always use another practitioner of those magical art things. Pretty handy to have around."

Giles then walked into the cafeteria, waving to Buffy. "Buffy, you didn't stop by the library as I requested. You need to look over those texts on... Oh, hello. Rupbert Giles." He offered Gabrielle his hand, and she shook it. "I apologize for not noticing you right away."

"No problem. My name's Gabrielle. I'm a witch." She laughed silently at using the greeting outside her head.

After a moment's hesitation, Giles nodded his approval. "Good. The more people we have helping the better. So long as they're loyal," he added pointedly.

Buffy smiled. "Of course ya can. And you can also do partying. We Bronze tonight."

The tight-packed group of people danced even closer as the singer switched over to a slow song. Oz's guitar whined melodiously along with the lead singer's voice, and he smiled at Willow, who blew him a kiss and giggled. "He's so cute when he's playing!"

Buffy shook her head and patted her friend on the back. "You are so far in love you'll never dig your way out." A hint of regret permeated the statement.

"Yeah," Xander agreed. "You'd never see me acting like that because of some girl." He spotted someone walking in and called out, "Cordy!" The girl groaned and tried to get lost in the crowd. "CORDY!" Xander ran after her.

Gabrielle, who'd only been half-listening to the conversation, broke in. "I'm gonna go... over there for a minute, okay?" Without waiting for them to agree, she walked off.

The handsome blond man couldn't believe the girl was coming over. //Idiot must have a death wish,// he thought to himself. //Pretty damn hot, though. Make a nice midnight snack.// She smiled, her dark blue eyes gazing at him with fascination. //Can't say she didn't ask for it...// He stepped forward and took her hand, then bent down and kissed it suavely. "My name's Spike. Who're you?"

"I'm Gabrielle. I... I saw you standing over here, and... I just thought I'd come talk to you. It just... It seemed like I should." She sounded less and less certain.

She blushed and ducked her head. "I don't know. I feel stupid. I just thought that you... I just thought I'd come talk to you."

"I'm glad you did." He lifted her chin with one finger and gazed into her eyes. //Oh, God, she is gorgeous. Haven't seen anybody so pretty since Dru ran off. Maybe I shouldn't take her as a snack after all.//

"Me too." Gabrielle had never felt so attracted to someone after knowing them for such a brief period of time ever in her life. In fact, she had never been so attracted to someone period. "I feel like I know you."

"Maybe we were lovers in a past life." He leaned toward her until she should have been able to feel his breath caressing her face. But of course, he didn't breathe. "Do you feel that?"

"No. No, I don't feel a thing." //This is where I should listen to those little warning sirens in my head. This isn't normal.//

Gabrielle's mind cried out in shock and fear, but her body wouldn't let her pull away. //He's a vampire! I know it! I should get Buffy! This isn't normal!// But his lips were soft, his kisses gentle, and suddenly she didn't care who he was... or what he was.

Buffy shifted her weight from foot to foot uneasily. "Gab should've met with us almost thirty minutes ago."

Xander, who was standing beside Willow and Oz attempting to stay awake, put in, "Maybe the boogeyman got 'er."

"Xand, you know it's best not to say stuff like that around here." The Slayer squared her shoulders and headed back into the Bronze. "I'm gonna go find her. Back in a jiff. I hope," she added under her breath.

In a dark corner toward the back of the club, Spike and Gabrielle gazed into each other's eyes. Suddenly, she laughed. "Ya know, I don't think I've ever done anything quite this clichéd before. I mean, sitting in the dark, staring into a guy's eyes... it sounds positively trite!"

"Yeah, well, don't knock it till you've tried it." He planted another kiss on her lips. "'Sides, I think my... species... makes this a pit more peculiar than the usual, eh?"

Gabrielle jumped up and Spike followed her reluctantly. "Uh, Buffy, I, uh... I don't know."

Spike grinned. "The Slayer here doesn't believe that anybody but her precious little Angel can be a 'good vampire'. She thinks I'm dirt, that's for bloody sure. Don't you, Buffy?"

"Yeah, I do," she replied sarcastically. "Gabrielle, I promise you this guy's no good. Last time he was here he almost got three of my friends killed. One of them was in the hospital and everything. C'mon, let's just leave."

"No!" Gabrielle looked half-pleadingly, half-defiantly at the Slayer. "I mean, I don't want to."

"A vampire. I know. We covered that. Look, Buffy, I know you have my best interests at heart, but... I think who I'm with is my decision."

Buffy's stance became slightly less combative. "I know. We just met and it seems like I'm just trying to tell you what to do. No matter what I say, it'll seem like all I wanna do is control you. I'm sorry. I just... I know Spike better than you do. He's not a nice guy. At all. Ever. Well, hardly ever, anyway. He's a little less obnoxious when he's drunk and depressed."

The vampire glared at her. "Ha, ha. You're so bloody funny I can hardly stand it. Anyway, ya've got it all wrong about me and Gab. I really like 'er." Spike took Gabrielle's hand and smiled at her. "She's... she's like the girl I always wanted Dru to be. But Gab can actually be the girl I want because she's in her right mind. Luv," he said, again holding her captive in his gaze, "I think I'm falling in love with you."

It was all Buffy could do not to gag. Gabrielle didn't notice. All she could see was the handsome man in front of her saying that he was falling for her like she was for him. "Spike, I... I'm falling in love with you too. I didn't think you... that you'd want to be with someone like me, someone-"

"Human?" he finished. "I used to be too, ya know. You remind me that there were perks. But your annoying little friend the Slayer here might have a point. I mean, vampires can be a bit hazardous to your health. Not that I'd ever hurt ya on purpose, Luv, but if you happened to come by before I got to feed one night... Well, it could be dangerous."

Buffy could scarcely believe her ears. //Spike's on my side? Tad too bizzaro for me.//

Gabrielle shook her head emphatically. "No. It doesn't matter if it's dangerous. I love you. That's what's important, right? We can do it. I know we can." //I can't believe I'm saying this to a guy I just met!//

"With you lookin' at me like that with those eyes of yours... how can I argue? What's say we give it a shot?" He glanced back at Buffy. "With the Slayer's approval?"

"Yeah," Buffy was shocked to find herself replying, "with my approval. Not that I don't still think it's a bad idea, it's just that it would be awfully hypocritical of me to say no. Wouldn't it, Spike?"

"Sure would." He returned his attentions to Gab. "So, you ready or what? I'll walk ya home. Your home," Spike added when he noted her devilish grin. "You're worse than me!"

Gabrielle took a deep breath and knocked smartly on the door. //Am I nuts? I'm going to the house of some guy I don't even know to dig up info on my boyfriend's past! I have most definitely lost it. Whatever little I had of it, anyway.// A muscular man with short-cropped brown hair opened the door. "Can I help you?" he asked politely.

She smiled in relief and walked past him. There was a large fireplace directly in front of her. Angel gestured for her to sit down on the expensive-looking gray couch. "I'm sorry to bother you. I . . . I have a few questions I'd like to ask you, if it wouldn't be an imposition."

"Oh! Sorry! My name's Gabrielle. I'm a friend of Buffy's. See, I've been kind of, well, dating... Spike, and I wanted to find out about his past a little since he won't talk about it with me, and somebody let slip at some point that you were his sire, so I thought..."

"Yes. Spike's past is the only thing we haven't talked about. I mean, we've been together for almost six months now. I know everything about him... except that."

"I don't know. I don't like talking about the past. Lot of baggage. Lot of negative, painful baggage."

The girl seemed so disappointed, Angel couldn't find it in his heart to let her leave without having gained any ground. "Wait. What do you want to know?"

//I can't believe I stayed at his house for eight hours and didn't learn anything about Spike's past! I got so absorbed in just talking... But I'll find out tomorrow. Now that he trusts me, I'm sure Angel will be more willing to open up. I hope. But first I get to see my baby.// Gabrielle grinned like a fool at the thought of getting to visit Spike. She practically ran all the way to the warehouse. "Spike!" She called, throwing the door open wide.

He came running up to meet her, his arms wide. "Luv!" Taking her into his embrace, Spike proceeded to shower her with passionate kisses. "God, I missed you!"

"Nothing special," he replied, picking her up and carrying her over to the bed, which was encased in black satin sheets. There were blood-red rose petals strewn over the surface. He paused and looked down at her, eyebrows raised. "Are you sure you're ready, Luv?"

Gab smiled confidently. "I'm sure." She slowly unbuttoned his shirt and cast it aside. "Very sure."

It was almost dawn. Once again, Gabrielle had spent the entire night talking and laughing with Angel. Once again, she'd learned nothing about Spike's past. "Are you this evasive all the time?" she asked petulantly.

Rising to leave, she knocked over a vase full of flowers. It clattered to the floor, sending roses scattering in all directions. "I'm sorry!" Gab stopped to scoop them up and almost knocked over Angel, who was doing the same thing. He grabbed her by the shoulders to keep them both from falling over. "I, uh..." She felt trapped. Their eyes were locked together. //This is not a good thing to be doing,// her conscience warned. //Remember Spike? Hel-lo? Anybody listening in there?// But it was too late. By the time her thoughts caught up with her actions, she and Angel were already kissing. Gabrielle suddenly pushed him away. //Finally, someone listens!// "I . . . I can't. I'm sorry. Good night." Grabbing her purse, Gab sprinted from the room.

The next night when she arrived at Spike's house, he couldn't help but notice how edgy she seemed. "What's the matter, Luv? You look like you're about to jump out of your skin."

"Wrong? Nothing. I-" she stopped herself. //TELL HIM THE TRUTH!// "I've been going to see Angel."

"Angel?!" Spike jumped up from the couch. "Are you kidding me? What the hell for?"

"No. No, it wasn't like that. I just wanted to know about your past. You wouldn't tell me, and-"

"And so you went to him. Aw, for Christ's sake, Gab, if it was that important, I'd've told ya. What did he say?"

"But . . . you said you'd been 'going to see' him? If he wouldn't talk, why'd you go back?"

"Only a few times?!" He turned away from her, choking down his anger. Suddenly a thought crept into his brain. //Oh, God, why didn't I see it before!// "I know why you're so bloody nervous!" Spike wheeled around to face her, so furious it was all he could do to keep from vamping out. "You were with the bastard, weren't you?"

"No! Not really! We kissed, but . . . it was an accident. And I ran out right after it-" Spike grabbed her by the shoulders, his fingers digging into her flesh. He was fully in vampire mode. Gabrielle struggled and continued to talk, hoping she'd somehow penetrate the shield of anger he carried. "I love you! Angel-" Spike's teeth ripped open the flesh of her neck. She tried to scream, but found it impossible. //Help me!// she cried out in her mind. And then everything went black.

When Gab awoke, all she could focus on for several minutes were her throbbing head, aching neck, and flip-flopping stomach. "Uuuugh," she moaned, rolling over onto her side and pushing herself up, almost falling down again in the process. A strong arm held her up. "Who-" Then she saw him. Angel.

"No, dead feels a lot better than you probably do. But you'll be okay. He didn't take much blood." He paused, uncomfortable. "It was because of last night, wasn't it?"

"I heard talk about Spike being on the prowl and being pretty merciless. I knew he hadn't acted like that since you two hooked up, so I figured something had happened. I'm just glad he stopped himself."

"Nuh-uh. She's in L.A. on business. She won't be back for another couple of days."

Gabrielle stretched out on the couch and listened to her favorite song on CD. In light of recent events, she felt the song described her life to a "T". //Nobody sings it like Melissa.// She turned the volume up another notch and clicked on the repeat function.

The sign says do not enter
No trespassing allowed
With visions of redemption
I walk against the crowd
The sun is white with envy
Confusion on the ground
Breathing soft and holy
Temptation's only sound

A demon's day in madness kissed
I swear I never had it like this
Forbidden yet I cannot resist

Shocked in silent trances
Our eyes search just to know
What makes flesh and body hunger
For another burning soul
Conscience quiet pleading
In the corner of my eye
But seeing is believing
All consequences fly

A demon's day in madness kissed
I swear I never had it like this
Forbidden yet I cannot resist

With fever I persist
The rages of your kiss
My reckless heart in fist
And I cannot resist

A demon's day in madness kissed
I swear I never had it like this
A demon's day in madness kissed
Forbidden yet I cannot resist

Before the song could play again, the doorbell rang. Careful not to stand up too quickly, Gabrielle went to answer it. Once the door was open, she saw Buffy standing there with a large bag. "I come bearing chocolate," the Slayer stated solemnly.

"In that case, come in." She sat down on the couch beside Buffy. "I take it Angel called you anyway?"

"Yep. You knew he would. Can't stand seeing a pretty girl in trouble. It's a weakness. Anyway, you need talk and chocolate to advance the healing. It's the only way to go. Believe me, I know."

"You name it, I've got it: double chocolate chunk ice cream, fudge chocolate chip cookies, fudge, brownies, and lots of candy bars."

"Sore. My head's still swimming, and this neck bite's gonna scar big time. I don't know what I'm gonna tell mom."

"Nothing. Or at least as little as possible. But I meant how are you doing mentally?"

"Oh. Not at all good. He almost killed me and I still love him. Is that stupid?"

"No. I've been there. Man, have I ever been there. It isn't normal, but we weren't smart enough to pick normal guys. We have bad taste. But vamps sure know how to treat a lady. All those decades of experience."

"Tell me about it!" Gab grabbed a couple spoons from the kitchen and dug into the ice cream. "I'm not gonna get over him."

"He doesn't. He can't. He loves you. He told me and Angel once that love wasn't brains, it was blood. Once you love somebody, you love them. Case closed. I'll always love Angel, but that doesn't mean I can't use my brain to keep my blood from taking over. It won't work any other way. You and Spike were kinda fated to fail. Vamps and humans don't mix."

"Yeah, but either the water puts the fire out or it evaporates. That's all it can do. No in-between."

Gabrielle's mother arrived home late the next day to find her daughter and Buffy asleep on the couch, surrounded by chocolate with an Indigo Girls CD at full volume.

Oh, Juliet, when we made love you used to cry.
You said, "I love you like the stars above, gonna love ya till I die."
There's a place for us.
I know you know the song.
When you gonna realize it was just that the time was wrong?

Amelia shook her head and turned the CD off. "Wake up, Sleepyheads," she said to the dozing teens.

"Mom?" Gabrielle rubbed the sleep from her eyes and stretched, as did Buffy. "Welcome home, mom. This is Buffy."

"Uh . . . we had a sad movie marathon," Buffy saved. "Chocolate was very necessary."

"Actually," said Buffy, "I was kinda hoping Gab'd wanna come with me to the school library. I've gotta do some research, and I hate to research alone. What do ya say?"

Amelia smiled. "Good to see some teenagers who know how to be responsible for their work."

"You got it, kid. It was dull. Extremely dull. I almost killed myself with my pen. But something interesting did happen on the way home."

"Well, I was about a mile from the house, and I almost ran over a young man who was walking down the middle of the road. I wouldn't have seen him at all if it hadn't been for his hair. It was so bleached it was almost white! I got out to see if he needed help or if he was hurt, since he'd jumped into the gutter just before I stopped, but he was gone! It was like he just disappeared."

Buffy and Gab exchanged a look. "All you saw was the hair?" Buffy asked cautiously.

"Well, I caught a glimpse of his face. It was strange. He looked almost --you're going to laugh- inhuman."

"Not really. C'mon, Gab, let's head to the library. I have a lot of work to do." Without another word, they left.

"I know. None of the other vamps are brave enough to go strolling down the streets like that. He must be really wigging out."

"Nope. Spike's always been a tad unbalanced, to put it mildly. You and Angel may have triggered it, but it was always there, waiting."

"I know, hon." In attempt to comfort her friend, Buffy put her arm around Gab's shoulder and squeezed. "I promise it's not your fault. And he's gonna be kicking himself when he comes back down. Not everyday a jerk like him gets a sweetie like you."

"I'd advise you to find somebody better... but I know it wouldn't mean anything. I mean, if it weren't for the fact that Angel could lose his soul if we hooked up again, I'd go for it regardless of the stupidity factor. Spike doesn't have a soul, so you're safe."

"He has a soul." She smiled. "It's just very well-hidden." They laughed and continued toward the school.

Back at the warehouse, Spike took another gulp from the bottle he'd been gripping since late the last evening. //Damn it! I love the little slut! I mean, I don't think it's all her fault... It's Angel. Only good decision he ever made was me and Dru. Dru... I love Gab even more than I ever did Dru. And Angel took her away too.//

A steely hard look filled his dark eyes, and Spike knew exactly what he was going to do. //Angel's gonna pay!//

"Giles?" Gabrielle called, stepping into the library. She quickly spotted the librarian poring over a book called 'Demonic Possession and You'. "Busy?"

"Spike?" He pulled his glasses off and began to clean them meditatively with a handkerchief that he produced from somewhere. "I haven't heard much from him lately. Been fairly quiet, actually. There's a problem that I'm unaware of?"

"Yep. He's, well, he's... a little upset. You see, Gabrielle was at Angel's house the other day, and they kinda . . . kissed. It was no big deal, but Spike found out. He wigged out and put the bite on Gab, then left. Obviously, he stopped himself in time, but... we aren't sure it'll go so well for Angel." Worry creased Buffy's brow. "Spike hates Angel anyway. This gives him an excuse to... to God only knows what."

"I see," said Giles, replacing his glasses. "I hadn't realized that you'd become emotionally involved with Spike." He sent a disapproving stare Gab's way. "Well, then. I suppose we need to take care of Spike?"

"Surely," Giles ventured, "you see the danger of a vampire scorned? He'll kill Angel if it kills him in the process. That's all he'll be focused on. And after Angel, he tried to kill you once, who's to say he won't try again?"

It was obvious from Giles's expression that he didn't approve of a repeat of Buffy's escapades with Angel/Angelus. "I see. And you believe he still loves you and means you no harm?"

"We mustn't let him kill Angel, however. Correct?" he looked to Buffy for confirmation. After Angelus had killed Jenny Calendar, Giles wouldn't have hesitated to let Spike rip his heart out and eat it if that's what he chose to do.

"That could be extremely dangerous. Spike is homicidal at best now. It wouldn't do to further antagonize him. You would be a reminder of what angered him to begin with."

"Maybe not. Maybe I'd remind him why he stopped being homicidal in the first place."

Spike stared into the window of Angel's mansion. //The wanker doesn't even know I'm here. What a sap! He thinks that it's all right just because "it didn't mean anything." Yeah, right. I'm sure! He's never gonna lay his filthy hands on Gabrielle again. Or anyone else, for that matter.//

Creeping around to the back of the house, Spike quietly opened a window. //Not locked? Jeez, what century does he think this is? Like nobody's gonna wanna sneak into a mansion and steal something. Please! Bloody moron.// He was careful of creaky floorboards. //He's not even gonna see it coming.// Spike drew a long, sharp wooden stake from his duster. //Watch out, Brood Boy. Here comes trouble!//

Spike watched Angel poring over some book-- //Probably some French trash again// --in front of the fire. //Ya know, ashes to ashes just isn't good enough for our little friend here... He deserves a spot of torture. Good, old-fashioned torture. Yeah, that'll do the trick!//

Quietly, he shoved the stake back in his pocket and withdrew a switchblade, thumbing it open with relish. //Angel's gonna suffer. How could he? How could he bloody touch Gabrielle? She's a bloody goddess and he's... He's Angel, for Christ's sake! Those hands aren't gonna be touching anybody anytime soon. And those brooding good looks? Not for long...//

"So good of you to remember my name. Touching, really." He ran the blade of the knife along his finger, sucking the blood that welled up. "I thought maybe we could... chat."

"Does the world bloody revolved around you or what? I just wanted to talk, and you assume I've been obsessing about you and Gabby." //On second thought, it is kind of sad that I was, but, hey, he was puttin' the moves on the woman I love!// "Nah. I just wanna have a little father son talk. What'd'ya say?"

"Why not?" Spike couldn't help but smile at the way Angel was eyeing the knife. "Not scared are ya?"

"I... Yeah, a little. I know you. You aren't my most balanced acquantaince, to be frank."

//Ya little pussy! God, why did I ever hang around you? Sire or not, you're a freakin' idiot!// "I'm hurt." //But not as hurt as you're gonna be!// Spike took several menacing steps toward Angel, smiling in a more-than-slightly demented way. "C'mere, Daddy Dearest..." In a quick movement, Spike grabbed Angel around the neck and shoved him to the floor. The knife flashed out, leaving two bloody trails behind on the other vampire's cheeks. "Oh, I'm sorry, did I hurt you?" Spike drove the knife into Angel's throat, reveling in the feeling of his sire's warm blood flowing over his hands. "Not half as much as you hurt me, ya bastard!"

"What was that? An appology? I don't give a damn!" He neatly sliced open Angel's shirt, then cut his name into the flesh there. "Just so nobody mistakes my handiwork, mate. Credit where credit is due and all that." Angel had lost too much blood to do more than watch and vainly attempt to stay conscious. "Yeah, fight to stay awake. I want you to feel every minute of this." He shoved the knife under each of Angel's fingernails. "I know you'll heal up good as new in a week or so . . . but until then this ain't gonna feel too good." Standing, Spike looked down at the other vamp and grinned. "Bye, Angel. I'm gettin' bored. You just don't put up the kind of fight you used to." Careful to step on and break as many bones as he could on the way, Spike exited the mansion. //Next time you'll know better than to mess with William the Bloody!//

Gabrielle pulled up at Angel's house as Spike was making his way out. She saw him squint for a moment, trying to ascertain who was witnessing his escape. "Gabby?" he called.

He opened his arms and pulled her close, near tears. "Thank God! I've been worried. I mean, I thought I might've... well, ya know."

"Yeah, I know. I'm okay." Not quite wanting to leaving his embrace, she backed up reluctantly. A glance at Angel's dark house sent a shiver down her spine. "God, Spike, you didn't-"

"Just a little good, old-fashioned tor-er, retribution, Luv. Nothin' to worry much about. He's a vamp. He'll bounce back. No harm done, right?" he asked hopefully.

"God... Spike, I came to warn you! The only reason Buffy isn't standing here over your ashes with a stake in her hand is that I told her I could convince you not to hurt Angel! Now... She's going to kill you, and I can't stop her."

Spike blinked. He'd never heard her speak with such... naked fury before. She wears it well... "Luv, I am. But now that I have you back, nothin' can go wrong!"

"But it can! Buffy is frantic! She's frantic and she'll be angry. Spike, I promise you, she'll be able to take you out."

A car screeched to a halt behind hers. "Well, you better decide fast, cause if we're gonna leave, it's gonna be now."

"I'm sixteen! I love you... but I'm just not ready to give up my mom and my friends-- or even my stupid school! I want to be with you; I just have to get through all the normal stuff first, okay?"

Before Spike could reply, all four doors of the car flew open and Buffy, Giles, Willow, Oz, and Xander piled out. "Where's Angel?" Buffy demanded.

Gab jumped in front of Buffy's stake-wielding arm. "Buffy, just stay still and breathe for a minute, k? Killing Spike won't solve anything."

He averted his eyes and nodded. "Yeah, Slayer, you'll find your reason." Buffy turned and ran into the dark mansion. "Well, that's it. She's gonna find 'im, and I'm gonna get the business end of a bloody stake."

"Why are we here all armed and everything? I'm not much in love with the stakes, and I honestly don't think the crossbow does a thing for Giles's ensemble."

A small smile graced Gab's face. "I dunno. I think it looks distinguished. As to all the armory . . . I'm thinking it's to keep my boyfriend here from going anywhere until Buffy is satisfied that Angel's okay. Which he isn't."

"No? Spike finally kick his ass?" Hope shone through in Xander's tone brighter than the sun showing itself on a cloudy day.

Spike leaned toward Xander conspiratorially. "I just messed 'im up a bit. Won't be trying any funny stuff for awhile." They grinned together.

"Enough with the macho posturing. Buffy's gonna be pissed." Spike and Xander both looked properly abashed. "I don't want any killing taking place, and I think that's where this evening is headed, unfortunately."

Buffy exited the house. "Somebody come help me. I can't get Angel out of here by myself." Again, she was swallowed by the darkness of the mansion.

Gabrielle nodded then drifted over to where the others stood while Spike entered the house.

Spike found Buffy crouched by Angel's prone form, gently trying to wash off some of the blood with her jacket. "Slayer?"

"Yeah, that's about how I'd feel in your position. But I can get him out to the car easier than any of them. Do you want him out or not?" She nodded silently. "Figured." Trying to avoid tearing any of the already-healing wounds, Spike hefted Angel into his arms and headed out. "Coming, Slayer?"

Buffy followed closely behind, the stake clenched in her fist. "One false move and you'll never make it to the car."

"Gotcha. I'm not plannin' anything, believe me. Gab'd have my head if I pulled anything else."

Once Angel was deposited in the back seat of the car with Will and Oz watching him, Buffy faced Spike and Gabrielle. "You tortured the man I love," she stated.

"No, I can't. I can't kill you because of her." Buffy gestured to Gab. "I know how horrible she'd feel if you died, because I felt the same way when I thought you'd killed Angel. You didn't. You live. For now. But if you ever so much as consider touching Angel again..." she let the threat go unfinished. They knew what she meant. With that, Buffy climbed into the over-crowded car and Giles, who already had the engine running, pulled away. "If you ever put me through something like that again, I'll kill you myself!" Gabrielle collapsed against Spike and breathed a sigh of relief. "I love you."

To Be Continued in Chapter Two: Out Of The Ashes (part two)

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Out Of The Ashes (part one)