Giles finally came up to tell them Forrest was gone, finding both Riley and Spike on the bed with Graham. When the door opened, Riley didn't move, keeping his body between his friend and the possible threat; Spike, on the other hand, looked about ready to vault over the soldiers and attack anyone who stuck their head through the door.

Somehow the vampire managed to curb his rage and refrain from attacking Giles, even though his features shifted and he snarled silently. He was seething, because the Watcher had broken the odd sense of peace he'd felt while watching over his human lover and his companion.

"The coast is clear," Giles whispered unnecessarily, wondering what the hell was going on between the three men.

Spike mumbled something incomprehensible and slid off the bed with his characteristic boneless grace. He stormed out of the room, still muttering darkly, the effect only slightly spoilt by his care not to stamp too loudly so as not to wake the sleeping Marine. Riley smiled, then brushed his lips against Graham's temple in a soft kiss and rolled off the bed too. His lover stirred a little but didn't wake; he seemed to sense that Riley was neither worried nor leaving for good.

They closed the door quietly and went back downstairs to continue their work.

********************

Three hours later Riley leaned back in his chair and stretched slowly. He felt tired and sore, having spent the entire afternoon alternately on the phone and in front of the computer. He was thirsty, hungry and could feel the beginnings of a headache. But all that didn't matter.

He'd done it. He had built a new life for Graham and himself in under twelve hours, and at the same time arranged for a couple of unpleasant surprises for Walsh. All they had to do now was wait until the paperwork was finished -- which, thanks to Willow, shouldn't take too long -- then they'd be gone.

Damn, he was good.

Giles, looking up from his book and noting the smile on Riley's face, raised an eyebrow. "I take it you succeeded," he remarked, drawing everyone's attention to the soldier.

Buffy stopped bickering with Xander and jumped up. She started to move towards him, then stopped, obviously remembering that she wasn't his girlfriend anymore and unsure now how to approach him. "Did it work out?" she asked.

Riley didn't even try to contain the grin lighting his face. "In about twelve hours a helicopter will pick us up and take us to our new base."

"No rest for the wicked?" Xander asked at the same time as Buffy cried, "So soon?"

"Given the situation I think it is a very sensible idea to leave as quickly as possible," Giles stated. "May I inquire where you'll go?" he added, turning to Riley.

The Iowan shrugged. "Colorado," he said. "As far as I've been told we'll be stationed at Cheyenne Mountain. There's some kind of project going on there. It's basically an Air Force operation, but for some reason they're recruiting from other branches of the military as well. I don't know any details yet, but I know the second in command there, a crazy colonel I met...uhm...actually, that's classified."

"And you're sure you can trust him?" Buffy asked worriedly. "What if it's even worse there?"

Riley finished his stretching and stood up, wandering towards the kitchen in search of something edible. "Like I said, I know the guy. He's a good man. I wouldn't even think of entrusting him with Graham's life if I weren't certain he was. If he says that gig at Cheyenne Mountain is up and up, then I believe him. The colonel has both feet firmly on the ground and so does the general who's in charge of the operation, so the danger of running into anything supernatural is almost non-existent. That's one of the reasons why I chose this job. Graham has had enough of demons and vampires for a long time. And to be honest -- me, too."

Xander grinned. "I see your point, man."

Buffy wasn't so easily pacified. "I don't like the idea," she murmured. "You don't know what kind of project you're getting into this time. It could be dangerous."

"That's pretty much a given," Riley said reasonably. "It comes with the job. I mean, we're soldiers. Walsh recruited me because of my background in covert ops, and though we never talked about it, I'm pretty sure Graham was running black ops before he joined the Initiative."

"And that means...?" Buffy was confused.

To everybody's surprise, it was Xander who answered. "That means even you don't want to cross this guy. He's a killer." He noticed the looks the others gave him and shrugged. "Hey, I was a soldier once, remember? I know the difference between covert ops and black ops."

Riley blinked. "He was a soldier?" he asked the room in general.

Buffy made a weary gesture with her hand. "It's a long story," she sighed. "Halloween. Anarchistic warlock. Everybody becoming what they'd been dressed up as. He still has some of the memories, though they're fading."

"Uh huh." Why did he still bother asking? "Coffee anyone?"

"Yes, please," Willow answered, looking up from her work to give him a brilliant smile.

"Oh, no," Buffy broke in. "No more coffee for you. You're past your limit already. Don't think I didn't notice you made Riley drink your tea, while you stole his coffee."

That explained the strange aftertaste.

Willow blushed. "I had to stay awake somehow. And he didn't mind, right, Riley?"

"Tell you what: I'll get you some ice tea and we'll pretend you didn't deprive a poor, tired soldier of his vital dose of caffeine. Deal?"

The witch grinned. "Deal. Oh, and I forwarded Walsh's private files and notes to Xavier Trout, like you said." Her eyes sparkled excitedly. "Hacking into the Pentagon database is real tricky. Can we do it again some time? I love a good challenge. By the way, who is this Mr. Trout?"

Riley smiled, putting together a tray with drinks for everyone without even consciously thinking about it. "Just some guy Graham told me about. Gray said if I ever was in trouble, I should contact him. And if this situation doesn't qualify as trouble, I don't know what does. However, if Trout is who I suspect him to be, I'm fairly sure he'll take care of Walsh and her little experiments once and for all. Are you sure you got through to him?"

The redhead accepted the ice tea with a grateful smile and shrugged slightly. "Pretty sure. But in the unlikely case I didn't I sent the backup mail to Matt Shepherd, though I don't know why you think he can help." She frowned a little. "I did a background check on him, and he's not even in the army anymore. He got his honorable discharge almost two years ago. Runs a small bar in Hermosa Beach now. Are you sure you got the right address?"

"Positive," Riley confirmed. "Graham made me learn these two contacts by heart a couple of weeks ago." He paused, then sat down abruptly. Xander and Buffy quickly rescued their drinks. Riley didn't even notice. He was thinking furiously. "That must have been when Walsh started to...oh, dammit. He thought he was going to die."

Giles regarded him calmly. "He had every reason to. I have to admit that I don't know much about your friend, but from what I have seen and heard so far it makes sense he would want to protect you in case Walsh decided to experiment on you when she was...well...finished with him."

//Finished with him. Killed him. My God. I think I'm going to be sick.// Riley closed his eyes and took a few deep breaths. He couldn't believe he'd trusted the woman, had even liked her. How could he have been so naive?

Buffy's small hand touched his shoulder, offering support and comfort, but it was Willow's nervous little cough that made him open his eyes again. He didn't like the look on her face when he lifted his head. "What else?" he asked hoarsely.

The witch squirmed uncomfortably. "She did," she whispered.

Riley frowned in confusion. "She did what?"

Willow met his gaze, a strange jumble of emotions in her eyes. "Experiment on you," she explained. Her fingers darted over the keyboard, calling up the information she was looking for. "I just found the files she had on you."

"Uh...no offense, Wills, but wouldn't he have noticed if she fed him to the demons, so to speak?" Xander asked.

Willow shook her head. "It wasn't that kind of experiment." She bit her lip, scanning the file again. "It looks like she was trying to make him stronger, faster, more aggressive. She started to drug his food without his knowledge."

Riley swallowed, fear and anger knotting his guts. "For how long? And how do I get the stuff out of my system?"

"Well, that's the good news," Willow said, smiling weakly. "She was still preparing you for the experimental mixtures, so you should be all right. You'll probably feel fidgety and unwell for a couple of days, and your skin might itch a little, but that should be all. You got out just in time."

//No// Riley thought bitterly. //We didn't. I should've realized much sooner that something was amiss. Instead of pursuing a girl who didn't love me and didn't need me, I should have seen what was right in front of my eyes. I should have seen that my best friend was hurting. He could have died. He almost did.//

"I...I'm gonna take a shower," he mumbled, jumping up and beating a hasty retreat. He felt sick and dirty, and desperately needed some time alone.

He could hear someone, most likely Buffy, stand up, but she didn't follow him. He climbed the stairs, walked past a strangely silent Spike, and locked himself in the bathroom.

*****
Part 18:

After paying homage to the porcelain god for what seemed an inordinate amount of time, Riley finally managed to convince his stomach that it had already gotten rid of its meager contents. He didn't know if he had to thank the drugs for his nausea or the realization that he'd almost lost Graham. Somehow, the discovery that his friend had made arrangements for when he wasn't going to be there to protect Riley anymore had driven the point home brutally.

Graham could have died.

He could have died, and he'd knew it. Graham had known Walsh's experiments would kill him sooner or later, and he'd chosen to deal with it alone. Because Riley had been too busy to look past Graham's usual stoic mask. Because he hadn't recognized Graham's one and only plea for help.

"Dammit, Gray," he whispered, leaning against the washbasin and fumbling with the faucet. His hands were shaking. "Why didn't you say something?"

He knew why, of course. Graham had done what he'd done from the first day they'd met: He'd watched his CO's back. He'd made a deal with the devil, shielding his friend with his own life and his silence. Too well trained to refuse to obey Walsh's orders, too loyal to let her use Riley instead of him. Too damn afraid for the man he loved to try and save himself.

//I hope Trout arranges for her death// he thought grimly, //or I'll have to take care of it myself.//

Envisioning Walsh's bloody demise helped battle the nausea and pull himself together. He couldn't afford to lose it. It was no use wallowing in guilt and beating himself up because he'd failed his friend. His lover needed him strong and focused, not crying over spilt milk. It was about time Riley got his act together and carry Graham for a change.

Thus determined he stripped quickly and stepped into the shower, already planning ahead. They'd need new clothes, since they hadn't taken anything with them when they'd left the campus. Giles would certainly help out. He was still feeling guilty for having been in the bathroom when Buffy stormed the bedroom the night before. His clothes might not be a perfect fit for either of them, but better than nothing. Fortunately both Graham and Riley were used to travelling light, so all they had to do was evade the Initiative for a couple of hours and be at the pick-up point. No problem.

He was just making a mental note to ask Willow if the drugs Walsh had slipped him were going to pose a problem at the medical examination at their new post, when outside the shower somebody cleared his throat discreetly.

Riley whirled around, his body kicking into high gear instantly, ready to take on who or whatever had managed to sneak up on him. //Great, Finn// his inner voice admonished acidly. //Well done. Letting down your guard in Sunnydale can get you killed.// He knew for a fact that there were things that didn't need an invitation to enter a house, and some of them were smart enough to get in from the roof instead of trying to go through the Slayer and her merry band of warriors.

The shower curtain was opened slowly. Riley waited, cornered, ready to launch himself at his adversary and knock them aside. His first priority was to get out of the bathroom and to the bedroom. Graham was still asleep, defenseless, with only a chipped vampire to guard him. He was in no condition to fight, he was still weak and sore and...and here.

"Gray?"

Graham raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

"What are you doing here? And how did you get in?" Riley asked lamely, trying very hard not to stare. Graham hadn't bothered to dress, and the view was more than enough to make Riley forget his earlier panic.

Broad shoulders moved in a slight shrug. "I woke up, heard the shower running and thought I'd ask if you wanted to share."

Riley sputtered, "Didn't I lock that..."

Graham replied, "I guess. What's your point?" He stepped closer.

Right. Cheap, mass produced button push door lock versus specially trained in infiltration commando. No contest. But Riley was not going to dwell on that while facing a naked Graham!

After the previous night they should have been past the embarrassment, but still Riley felt himself blush. It didn't help that his body was already reacting to Graham's nearness, all but screaming "Hell, yeah!!!" and pouncing on the Marine.

"Aren't you..." He stopped, unsure of how to phrase it. "...sore?" he finally mumbled.

Graham leaned against the wall, slowly. "Actually, I was thinking of returning the favor from last night," he said, his voice low and gentle. He moved forward a little, closer to Riley, then stopped, suddenly unsure. "If you want to, that is."

Riley couldn't help the grin that flashed across his face. "Oh, I want to," he answered, not even trying to hide his desire. His gaze wandered over Graham's bare form, drinking in the sight of pure, male beauty, then looking past the casual grace and obvious arousal. "I don't think this would be a good idea," he said quietly, turning off the water and stepping forward so he could reach out and take a hold of Graham's shoulders, supporting him. "You look about ready to drop."

Graham only looked at him, his face unreadable. Again Riley didn't bother with the fa�ade. The Marine was too good at hiding his emotions. Most of the time he even managed to keep his eyes shuttered, but Riley had learned to get past the veil of frozen steel and gather the information he needed. However, he didn't have to, this time. Maybe it was because he was still tired, maybe he didn't want to hide from Riley, but Graham met his gaze freely. The bluish gray depths of his eyes were swirling with a mixture of longing, fear, and dawning hopelessness. And suddenly Riley realized that Graham thought he regretted his decision and was waiting for his CO to push him away.

"Gray, no," he growled, a bit more harshly than he'd intended, because he couldn't bear the resigned acceptance in his lover's eyes. "Don't even think it!"

Graham didn't even pretend not to understand. He turned his head, avoiding Riley's intense stare. "I'm sorry."

"Well, I'm not," Riley shot back, moving closer and gently touching his forehead to Graham's. "I don't regret a thing, okay?" he whispered. "And I want you. I want you so bad it hurts. I just don't want to hurt you, or to push you into something you're not ready for. You've been abused for weeks, you've been hurt and betrayed. I won't go away. I won't leave you. But I won't..."

"...take advantage of me?" Graham asked. He looked up, and Riley's breath stopped at the combination of relief, love, and amusement shining from his eyes. How could a guy be so strong and vulnerable at the same time? And how could he still trust Riley so much after all he'd gone through?

"Something like that, yeah," he said, a bit hoarsely.

Graham cocked his head, a sexy little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "I appreciate it," he replied sincerely. "Now would you please take advantage of me already?"

"Gray..."

"Ri, I'm a grown man. A United States Marine. I can take care of myself, okay? If I didn't want it, I wouldn't be here now. I've dreamt about this for too long to let Walsh or Forrest or anything else take it away from me, understand?" The last words were almost snarled. Steely gray eyes bore into hazel ones, silently communicating what Graham couldn't say out loud.

Riley swallowed, spellbound by his lover's fierce gaze. Spike was right. His eyes DID remind of a falcon. "You want to take me in the shower or the bedroom?" he asked.

As an answer, firm lips met his in a languid, thorough kiss. Riley opened his mouth to deepen the contact, shuddering in pleasure when a warm, clever tongue darted between his lips to invite his own into a playful dance. He had missed this taste, unique, delicious, 100% Graham. He had missed his lover's powerful presence, his scent, his touch.

They moved in unison, stepping back into the shower until Riley was backed against the wall, the cold tiles cooling the fire burning under his skin. He heard himself moan softly when Graham drew back, and the Marine's answering purr. Instinctively he wrapped his lover into his arms, ceaselessly stroking and caressing the broad back while Graham kissed the corner of his mouth, then trailed a path of kisses along his jaw and down his throat. Teeth against his skin, and he should have panicked, because he'd seen so many bodies with puncture wounds since he'd come to Sunnydale, but instead he leaned his head back, baring his throat. Trust. One of the pillars of their relationship.

Graham kissed his throat tenderly, almost reverently. His hands kept wandering over Riley's chest and hips, preparing the way for his lips. By the time he reached the area of his lover's navel, Riley was panting, his skin sensitized by the light, teasing touches. Graham greatly enjoyed painting his twitching abs with his tongue and rubbing his cheek against the taut skin. The short whiskers only helped to intensify the feeling, until Riley thought he'd go crazy. He undulated his hips gently, trying to draw Graham's attention to the part of his anatomy that was waiting most desperately for his touch.

Those strong fingers slid down his hips and with a short detour over his buttocks found their goal between Riley's thighs, tracing patterns on the smooth skin there. He spread he legs to grant his lover better access, then arched his back in sheer ecstasy when Graham engulfed his cock in his mouth, licking and sucking gently. So hot. So good.

Again they worked together instinctively, reacting to the other's body language rather than to agreed signals. Riley would shift just so, and Graham would stop nuzzling the base of his cock and slowly kiss and lick his way up to the head. Graham would tense just a little, and Riley would let go of the Marine's shoulders and reach up to grip the shower-head instead.

Riley had had sex in the shower before, but never like this. Without the water running it was strangely quiet in the room, only the sound of their heavy breathing breaking the silence. Graham's mouth was hot on his pulsing member, his fingers welcomed between Riley's cheeks. The commando was torn between the desire to close his eyes and give himself over to his lover's touches, and the need to watch Graham. It wasn't a sight he'd expected to see anytime soon...Graham on his knees in front of him, pleasuring him, driving him crazy with his tongue and teeth and hands.

His hips moved forward without his conscious assent and he watched in fascination as Graham closed his eyes and allowed him to slowly sheath the whole length of his cock. Where the devil had his friend learned that?!? Not that Riley was complaining. On the contrary. It was very hard to suppress the tiny mewls of pleasure that wanted to escape while he was fucking his lover's mouth. God, he hadn't thought it could get any better than the night before. He should've known being fully aware and able to really participate would make one hell of a difference with Graham.

The finger that had been teasing his opening was now sliding into his body, starting to stretch him in time with his thrusts. He threw his head back, fighting for control, wanting to draw this out as long as possible. A second finger joined the one already in him, and he spread his legs and pushed back, biting his lip so as not to scream. He didn't want to provoke a repeat performance of Buffy's Action Hero entrance.

Then Graham swallowed, his throat muscles massaging Riley's cock, and he was lost. He shot his load into the moist heat, unable to contain a whimper when Graham took it, sucking him until he was done. The Marine drew back unhurriedly, then sat back on his heels and looked up at his panting CO.

"You know what?" he asked, smiling impishly. "I'm feeling better already."

*****
Part 19:

Staring into Graham's falcon gray eyes, which were dancing with laughter, Riley decided that maybe demons were a lot smarter than he'd initially thought. After all, they'd seen what nobody else...nobody human, at least...had seen before. They'd realized how special this man was, and even in their mating frenzy they'd treated him with a lot more respect than the people he'd trusted. Of course, they'd also hurt Graham, which meant Riley would kill them on sight should they ever be unfortunate enough to cross paths with him.

Still trembling from the aftershocks of his orgasm, Riley pulled his lover up against him, kissing him thoroughly. Graham's familiar taste, mingled with his own, made him sigh in contentment. Every time he kissed this man, it felt like coming home.

He could have happily spent the rest of the night standing in the shower, doing nothing more than kissing Graham and holding him tight. The erection poking against his thigh, however, reminded him that they were still one climax short of mutually satisfying sex. Looked like he'd have to make love with his partner again. What a sacrifice.

"I'm not sure I want to know why you're grinning like that," Graham remarked.

Riley's smile broadened. "Like what?" he asked.

"Like that," Graham said, pulling back a bit to study his lover's face. "It's the archetype of the infamous cat-about-to-eat-the-canary grin."

"Not that I'm particularly averse to that idea," Riley purred, pointedly staring at Graham's crotch, "but I was thinking more in the line of the canary fucking the cat." He stopped; thought about it. Shuddered. "Now THAT was a disturbing image."

Graham leaned his head against Riley's shoulder, shaking with silent laughter. "Careful, Iowa," he gasped. "You're going to ruin your reputation."

"I can live with that," Riley decided, trailing his thumb firmly down Graham's back, along the spine. He was rewarded with a shiver and an involuntary thrust against his body. The laughter subsided into a soft moan. Riley's heartbeat quickened again. "Like that?" he asked in a low voice.

Graham's body answered with another shiver. "God, yeah," he whispered, arching into the caress with sensual abandon.

Riley watched, mesmerized, growing hard again in response to Graham's passionate reaction to his touch. The Marine noticed and smiled, his hands travelling down Riley's sides to cup his ass, pulling him closer. When he spoke again, his voice was dark and rough, a deep rumble that vibrated through his lover's body excitingly.

"I want you," he rasped.

Not trusting his voice Riley answered by simply turning around and spreading his legs, his palms against the cool tiles. Normally, he would've felt extremely uncomfortable in this position. Years of military training had conditioned him to 'watch his six', so he tended to get nervous if anybody was behind him, where he couldn't see them. But with Graham he didn't even experience a twinge of uneasiness. Maybe it was because they were used to working together, guarding each other's back, or because he trusted Graham like he'd never trusted anyone else before. Or maybe it was because he wanted this man more than he'd ever thought possible.

Whatever the reason, he didn't even tense when he felt a hand caress his back. He closed his eyes and surrendered to the rush of desire coursing through his veins, forcefully suppressing a low moan when Graham's fingers pushed into his body again. That strange, unspoken rule of silence was in force once more, only adding to the heat rising between them.

Graham left him for a few heartbeats, moving soundlessly like a cat, and when he returned his fingers where slick, sliding into Riley's ass easily. Riley picked up the slow rhythm his lover set, getting used to the feeling. He almost groaned in disappointment when Graham withdrew his fingers after far too short a while, then smiled when he felt something a lot thicker press against his waiting entrance.

Again they moved in unison, Graham pushing forward and Riley back, with the result that the Marine's slick cock bore deep into the tight channel. Riley flinched at the suddenness of the intrusion and Graham froze, waiting for him to adjust. Riley flexed his muscles, testing the feeling. He found he liked it. Liked it a lot. The sensation of being filled, his heartbeat throbbing around his lover's cock, was incredible. He wanted more.

As if sensing his readiness to go on, Graham started to thrust gently, driving deeper and deeper into his body until he was plastered against Riley's back, holding him in a tight embrace. The need to touch was clearly still there, and Riley inwardly cursed their decision to do this here instead of in the bedroom. He wanted to turn around and wrap his arms around his lover; kiss him, watch him come. The bathroom didn't offer enough space to lie down though, and even if it had...the hard floor was less than inviting.

//Note to self: Next time, be traditional and go for a good, old-fashioned bed// he thought, before his higher brain functions submitted to the feeling of Graham's cock pressing against the sensitive gland inside him.

He braced himself against the wall, his muscles tensing as his lover drove into him hard, rocking him forward. The hand stroking his shaft was setting him on fire. It burned his awareness until he was reduced to the sensations of callused fingers working his erection and the hard, thick rod sliding in and out of his ass. Every thrust brought him closer to his second climax, and he bit his lip again, fighting it, waiting for Graham to find his release first.

This felt right in so many different ways. Graham being inside him now somehow completed the circle, bound them together for good. Partners. Lovers. Life-mates? He hoped so. Not that they'd ever talked about it. For now it was enough to be together. Graham's body was hot and hard and ALIVE; nothing else mattered at the moment.

Riley managed to hold out until his lover tensed and slammed into him so forcefully he actually saw stars. Liquid heat filled his body at the same time he came all over Graham's hand and the glossy tiles; his strangled cry echoing through the bathroom. It was the most intense orgasm he'd had since...well...last night, actually. Pretty damn amazing anyway.

They stayed still for a while, panting and trembling, doing their very best not to drop where they stood. Graham was leaning against Riley heavily, still connected to him intimately, his breath cool against the sweat-slicked skin of his CO's back. Then the Marine's knees seemed to simply give out and he started to slide to the ground.

Riley turned quickly, catching his lover just before he hit the floor. Graham shivered in his arms, but his temperature seemed normal and his pulse was slowing already. He blinked, obviously surprised at finding himself propped up against his friend, then groaned softly.

"Tell me I didn't faint," he demanded.

Riley glared at him, his heart still racing. "You scared me half to death!" he snapped.

"But I didn't faint," Graham insisted.

"Only because there's not enough room to faint," Riley growled, reluctantly easing his grip when Graham pushed himself upright again. "Next time we do this, we'll find us a nice, comfy bed, are we clear, soldier?"

The man in his arms reacted to his tone instinctively, snapping to attention and answering "Yes, sir," before he swayed and had to lean against Riley again to keep from falling flat on his face. "Right now bed sounds really good," he mumbled.

Riley shifted a little and turned on the water, cleaning them both quickly. Graham didn't protest, which told him a lot about his friend's condition. He was just trying to figure out how to reach the towels without letting go of his not too steady lover, when he heard a knock on the door.

"Can I open the curtain without any of you decking me?" Spike's voice inquired from inside the bathroom.

Riley closed his eyes briefly. "Why did I even bother to lock the door?" he grumbled. "Nobody gives a damn about privacy in this house."

He thought he heard an evil little snicker, but he wasn't quite sure. The vampire pulled the shower-curtain aside and cocked an eyebrow at them. "Cute," he commented dryly. "Where's my camera when I need it? Get out of the stall and dry, Hayseed, I'll take care of the falcon."

"Falcon?" Graham asked, before Riley could bristle at Spike's tone.

"You'd rather I called you 'lover', pet?" the vampire grinned, though Riley thought he saw something very akin to hope behind the mockery in his eyes.

Graham scowled. "I have a name, you know?" he growled.

"Congratulations," Spike said. "Now let go of that idiot and dry off before you catch your death here."

Riley decided to ignore the 'idiot'. He had no intention of spending the rest of the night in the bathroom, bickering with the evil dead. He transferred Graham into Spike's arms, not even stopping to wonder why he was ready to trust the vampire with his lover. The Marine allowed Spike's touch, holding still while the blond toweled him off with surprising gentleness. His gaze, though, never left Riley, who hurried through the motions, then stared in surprise at the clothes lying on the toilet.

"What's that?" he asked.

Spike glanced over his shoulder and shrugged. "They belong to my pouf of a Sire. He left them behind when he took off. Thought they might fit." A flash of yellow in his eyes warned Riley not to comment on it.

"Did you find something for Graham to wear?" Riley asked, rummaging through the heap in a futile search for underwear.

Spike relaxed a bit. "Xander went and bought something while you were busy blackmailing people. It's in the bag in the corner." He finished drying Graham and waited impatiently for Riley to get dressed. "Hurry up, Hayseed," he snarled when Riley didn't move quickly enough for his taste. "Falcon here's getting cold."

That earned him a steely glare. "I can speak for myself," the Marine growled. "And I'm not cold."

The vampire studied him critically. "You're shivering," he stated.

"I'm not."

Spike rolled his eyes. "Oh, excuse me. Must be an earthquake then. Come on, Finn, lets go warn the Slayer. Maybe it's a Hellmouth thing."

"I'm all right," Graham insisted, extricating himself from the vampire's arms and stepping out of the shower.

Riley quickly buttoned Angel's shirt, trying not to think about how ridiculous he must look in black silk, and went to stand at his lover's side. He was aware that both he and Spike were kind of hovering over Graham, ready to jump to his aid the second he showed any sign of weakness, but he couldn't help it. It was obvious that no matter how much the Marine had enjoyed having sex with Riley, it had taken its toll on him.

Graham still managed to dress without help, with the careful precision of a man who knew that one hasty movement would send him to his knees. He didn't argue when Riley and Spike maneuvered him back into the bedroom when he was done, just sank down on the bed gratefully.

"Okay," he said, leaning back against the headboard and staring at Riley levelly. "Spit it out. What was that about you blackmailing people?"

Riley grimaced. He'd known it was too much to hope that Graham hadn't registered Spike's words. Graham didn't miss much. And he was frighteningly good at drawing connections and finding answers where most people kept floundering in the dark.

Time to inform his best friend about his afternoon activities.

*****
Part 20:

Graham took the news of his impending transfer with characteristically stoic acceptance. He didn't even comment on the fact that Riley hadn't asked him before he'd made the arrangements. Spike, on the other hand, did.

"Nice new life you built there, Hayseed," he scoffed from his position beside Graham. "Tell me again the difference between the Initiative and that other secret underground project you're getting into. Oh, I forgot. You don't know." He smiled thinly. "I'm sure your friend appreciates that you took the time to ask for his opinion."

Riley froze at his words, suddenly unsure. He hadn't thought twice about what he'd done. All he'd known was that he had to get Graham to safety, as far away from Walsh and Sunnydale as possible, but still in the service. He'd been sure Graham would want to...NEED to get back in the field, do what he did best. So he'd gone and found a job that seemed promising, picking the SG Command because he knew the guy they'd be working for, and because the colonel had accepted his condition not to split him and Graham up. They'd be together, serving under a soldier who had proven repeatedly that he stood by his men.

He hadn't even thought about the possibility that Graham wouldn't want to go with him.

Noting his CO's uncertainty, the Marine went into protective mode without hesitation. He frowned at Spike. "He didn't have to ask for my opinion," he declared firmly. "He did the right thing."

"How do you know?" Spike asked sharply. "Maybe he got you into even worse trouble."

"You didn't get it," Graham replied calmly. "It doesn't matter where Riley's going. As long as he wants me, I'll stay with him."

"That's just plain stupid," the vampire growled. "What the hell did he do to earn that kind of loyalty? He was too busy courting the Slayer to see what he had in you. He didn't notice you needed him until it was almost too late. He bloody failed you in every possible way!"

The Marine met his gaze coolly. "He's my CO. He's my partner. He's my friend. He saved my life more than once, and he came through for me when I needed him the most." He turned his head, looking at Riley with quiet intensity. "If you want me, you've got me," he said simply.

Riley swallowed, reading the feelings in Graham's eyes and shaken by the depth of his own emotions. He didn't trust his voice, so he only nodded. Graham smiled and nodded back, sealing the wordless vow.

Spike looked from one man to the other and groaned loudly. "Oh, no, now they're going all mushy on me." He sniffed derisively. "You're pathetic, both of you!" he informed them.

The humans ignored him. Spike heaved a deep sigh and got up. It was no fun taunting Riley when the guy was too focused on his lover to register the insults. Which reminded the vampire...

"Finn," he growled. Riley didn't react. "Finn. Finn! Hey, Hayseed!!"

"What?" Riley snapped, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from Graham's.

Spike fixed him with a stern stare. "No sex. Give the poor bloke a chance to rest, or you'll have to carry him to that chopper."

"The shower thing wasn't my idea," Riley defended himself, blushing despite his valiant efforts not to show his embarrassment.

Graham smirked, looking far too pleased with himself.

Spike glared. "Does the phrase 'too much information' mean anything to you?" he inquired. "Because that. Was. Too. Much. Information."

"Oh." Riley grinned sheepishly. "Sorry."

The vampire snorted. "Yes, sure. Sorry, my ass. You'd be more convincing if you didn't grin like an idiot." He noticed Graham stifle a yawn and his expression softened. "Get some sleep," he grumbled. "You're not out of the woods yet. Or out of Sunnydale in this case." He shot Riley a disgusted look. "Man, I can't wait to see you go."

"Spike?"

"Yes?"

Riley smiled sweetly. "I'll miss you, too."

********************

His internal watch woke Riley around half past four in the morning. For a moment he had no idea where he was or why he was wrapped around Graham like a love-sick octopus, then he remembered. Time to leave.

He raised his head and found his friend wide awake and looking at him in the semi-darkness, his eyes silvery in the light from the corridor.

"Good morning," Riley breathed.

Graham smiled and captured his lips in a slow, thorough kiss. When they parted, the Marine's voice was warm and soft like molten honey. "Good morning."

Riley's body reacted immediately to the seductive purr. His hands tugged the rumpled shirt out of the way, coming to rest on the silken skin beneath, his knee parting Graham's legs expertly. Graham moaned, arching against his lover reflexively, the hard bulge of his growing erection rubbing against Riley's thigh.

It was a testament to Riley's self-discipline that he managed not to give in to his instincts and take his willing partner right then, renewing his claim. Not that he didn't want to. He was dying to rip off the hindering clothes, touch and taste and bury himself in Graham's body. The only thing holding him back was the knowledge that they had neither the time nor the spare clothes to do as they pleased.

He drew back slowly, closing his eyes and leaning his head against Graham's broad chest, his thumbs gently stroking the quivering flanks. "We gotta go," he whispered, his voice hoarse.

Graham released a shuddering breath. "Yeah," he agreed. His hands continued to caress Riley's back through the material of Angel's shirt.

"Everything will work out fine."

"Yeah," Graham said, pulling his lover closer. Riley could feel him tremble very softly under his touch.

"Graham?" he asked quietly.

"Yeah?"

"Are you afraid?"

Silence. Then Graham answered, just as quietly: "Yeah."

Riley nodded to himself. Yep, that was what he'd thought. He sighed. "Me too."

They lay silently for a while, gathering their courage. It wasn't every day that they turned their backs on something they'd believed in and changed their whole life. Facing monsters and demons without batting an eyelid was one thing, but defying Walsh and going up against the Initiative was something else entirely.

"You think they'll try to stop us?" Graham asked.

"I don't know," Riley sighed. "If we're lucky we can slip away without anybody noticing. After all, nobody knows where we are."

"Ever heard of Murphy's law?"

Riley paused, thought about it, and shuddered at the possibilities. "I'll go wake Buffy," he decided, letting go of his lover reluctantly.

Graham raised an eyebrow. "She's still here?"

"Yeah. We talked it through yesterday, while you were sleeping, and came to the conclusion that it'd be best if we didn't go to the rendezvous point without backup. So Giles, Buffy and Spike will accompany us. Xander got us some weapons, Willow finished the paperwork, so basically we're good to go."

"Will they come, too?"

"Xander and Willow? No. Giles car isn't big enough. They went to the campus to keep an eye out for trouble." He tried to smooth the wrinkles out of the borrowed shirt and scowled when his efforts proved futile. Another reason to despise Buffy's ex. Only a vampire could look good AND feel at ease in black silk.

Graham chuckled and closed the buttons of the comfortable, military-style shirt Spike had given him. "I've got to admit, that's the strangest group of demon hunters I've ever met," he said. "Not that I'm complaining, mind you."

Riley couldn't suppress a smile at that. Stoic and unyielding as he might seem, Graham was one of the most flexible people he'd ever known. He'd taken everything Sunnydale had thrown at him in stride, be it demons, vampires, or Slayers. Nothing seemed to shock him. So the Slayer's team consisted of a couple of kids, an ex-librarian, an ex-vengeance demon, and a chipped vampire, so what? As long as they did their job, Graham couldn't care less. For a soldier he was remarkably open-minded. It was one of the reasons why Riley had fallen for him so hard.

"You're really something else, you know?" he told him, needing to say it at least once.

Graham stopped searching for his socks and looked at him questioningly. "Why that?"

Riley shrugged, knowing he wouldn't be able to put his thoughts into words without sounding like...well...a fool in love, most likely. It would embarrass Graham to no end. It would embarrass himself to no end. So, stick to vague and clumsy.

"You're...you."

Graham's mouth twitched, fighting a bemused smile. "I'm me."

"Yes." Riley grinned, grateful for the shadows hiding his blush. "You're you."

"Uh huh. -- Did you know that sometimes, you're a little...peculiar?" Graham inquired deadpan.

Time to change the topic. "Oh, look, it's almost five. Stop dawdling, Miller, we're heading out."

"Yes, sir."

"And stop smirking."

Now that his plan was put into action, Riley found himself almost giddy with excitement. He hadn't realized just how tightly he'd held himself under control, how tense he'd been. He knew it was stupid to feel so relieved. This thing wasn't over yet, they wouldn't be safe until they were at Cheyenne Mountain. But he couldn't help it. Only one hour. They could do this.

He watched Graham tie his boots, his gaze traveling admiringly over his friend's broad shoulders and down the curve of his back to where the pants stretched tightly over his ass. He couldn't believe this man had actually become his lover, that he was allowed to touch him whenever he wanted. Unable to stop himself he reached out and ran his fingers through the short, dark hair, grinning like a fool when Graham lifted his head and smiled at him.

The Marine leaned into the caress, rubbing against his lover like a cat, then finished tying his boot-laces and stood up. "Ready?" he asked.

Riley had to force himself to pull his hand away. He'd always been a very physical kind of person, and he couldn't get enough of the look in Graham's eyes each time Riley touched him. Like Riley was the only thing in the whole world that really mattered. Like he was special and needed and wanted and...and damn, he had it bad.

"Lets get out of here," he suggested, turning around quickly. If he kissed Graham now, they'd miss their ride.

He thought he heard a wistful little sigh and felt that big, dopey grin stretch his face again. Obviously, he wasn't the only one who would've liked so spend just a bit more time in the bedroom. But as always Graham followed him without argument, a silent shadow guarding his back. He glanced over his shoulder and chuckled. Guarding his back and checking out his ass. Nice.

Graham realized he'd been caught and met his gaze, looking slightly embarrassed but not especially apologetic. Riley could've sworn the temperature in the room was rising considerably. He took a deep breath.

//Pull yourself together, Finn// his inner drill sergeant yelled. //Mission now, sex later. Get your lazy butt in gear, and get your partner to safety! What are you waiting for? Move!//

"I...I'm going to..." he gestured vaguely into the general direction of the stairway, "...I think we should...uhm..." Damn, it was hard to concentrate with Graham smiling like that! He found himself stammering like an insecure teenager and groaned. "Gray! Would you mind?"

The Marine blinked, shook himself, and slipped back into his professional persona with an ease that would've been discouraging, if it hadn't been so...Graham.

Riley smiled gratefully. "Thank you."

The only answer he got was a nod in return, but he didn't mind. He was used to this side of his friend.

They tramped down the stairs silently, not really surprised to find their allies up and about. Giles was rummaging around in the kitchen, searching his drawers and fridge for something resembling breakfast while waiting for the water too boil. Buffy was busy stuffing a battered gym bag with weapons, muttering something about the lack of sleep and its possible effects on stressed-out Slayers. Spike was lounging on the couch, trying to look utterly bored and as sexy as possible while still being comfortable. Only he could pull that off without ending up looking ridiculous.

"Good morning," Riley said, feeling a bit awkward and not quite sure what to do.

Buffy glanced up from what she was doing. "Hi, Riley." She hesitated, then looked at Graham, smiling tentatively. "Hello."

Graham nodded, his posture rigid. "Hi."

Riley could see Buffy was a little irritated by his lover's curtness; she was unaware of the fact that in contrast to her ex-boyfriend Graham was used to hiding his emotions behind a stoic mask, especially during a mission. Before Riley could say anything to break the ice or make an ass out of himself, however, rescue came from the side he least expected.

"Morning, pet," Spike greeted Graham, once again ignoring Riley. "Feeling better?"

Graham turned to the vampire and actually smiled. "Yes."

A part of Riley wanted to kick Spike -- out of principle, and because he'd made Graham smile when in mission mode -- but the larger, more reasonable part recognized his reaction as petty jealousy and cast it aside. He looked at Buffy and saw that her face had softened at Graham's tiny smile. Okay. Point for the vampire. He'd made the Slayer realize the Marine wasn't trying to offend her, but was simply too focused on the task at hand to relax.

Giles, who had watched them from the kitchenette, chose this moment to announce his presence with a cheerful "Good morning," that reestablished normalcy in the room simply by its perfect timing. Buffy went back to her preparations, Spike sank back in a highly skilled sprawl, and the two soldiers went over to help with breakfast.

They worked in companionable silence, fixing a tray with sandwiches and the obligatory tea, somehow managing not to get into each other's way. From time to time the Watcher eyed Graham over the rims of his glasses with a mixture of concern and friendliness, but he didn't ask any questions.

Breakfast was eaten quickly and without much talking. Riley and Giles went over the plan of action once again, while Buffy munched on a sandwich, watching Graham from under her lashes. Spike, too, was staring at the Marine. Graham noticed but didn't react, allowing them to look their fill. If he was feeling uncomfortable under their combined scrutiny, he didn't show it, but Riley kept one eye on the situation nonetheless.

"Any questions?" Giles inquired finally.

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Come on, it's not that complicated. We get in the car, drive to the pick-up point, and then me and Spike make sure Riley and Graham reach the helicopter without being shot in the back by potential lurkers in the bushes."

Giles sighed. "As always, you have a talent for summing things up that is disturbing."

"Well, that's what we're going to do, right?" Buffy asked, grinning.

"Basically...yes," the Watcher admitted. "What's the time?"

Riley glanced at his watch. "05:14 hours."

"Fine!" Buffy jumped up, eager to see some action and get rid of her cup of tea. "Lets get moving."

Spike, for once agreeing with his blonde nemesis, got up and threw her bag to her. She caught it easily, not even noticing the weight. Graham blinked, exchanged an impressed look with Riley, and stood up, too.

Time to go.

Giles got his keys and followed his charges, locking the door behind him. "You know, maybe we should leave that bag here," he remarked, frowning a little because the lock was being difficult again. "It's going to be cramped enough as it is in my car."

"Uh...Giles?" Buffy said.

The Watcher managed to turn the key and turned around with a smile. "Yes? What is..." He stopped, seeing the problem himself. "Oh."

In the face of the two dozen Initiative soldiers surrounding them, Riley thought that "Oh," was a bit of an understatement.

*****