*****

Xander rose slowly from his crouching position in the bushes. He stood for a while shaking the feeling back into his numb legs before stepping awkwardly forward into the small clearing. From there he watched the sun creep slowly into the sky, signalling the start of a new day and probably his last. Feeling safer bathed in the early morning rays he cautiously made his way to the mansion knowing that they would both be there now.

He paused outside the entrance, took a deep shaky breath and plunged inside holding the stake in what he hoped was a threatening manner. He felt panic rising as the darkness closed in around him but he pushed bravely on down the unlit corridor, hugging the wall for comfort.

Xander stalked into the centre of a large room shrouded in shadows, constantly turning full circle to make sure he was alone. He realised that a sensible man would have kept his back against a wall but it was funny how his sensible side always deserted him when he was in mortal danger. �Why do I always get the shitty jobs?� he whined.

�Because you�re a worthless piece of shit?�

He spun wildly towards the voice and held his breath as the fake-blonde vampire stepped casually from the gloom, his features distorting as the demon surfaced. �Spike� he gasped. Remembering to breathe he hoisted the stake higher and said �Don�t come any closer or I�ll skewer you�

A strong hand wrapped round his throat and he felt a body push against his back. �You wouldn�t want to do that now, would you?� a rough voice whispered in his ear, a cold tongue snaking out to slowly lick his neck.

�Angel� he hissed, then whimpered as the grip tightened round his throat making him gasp for air.

�Call me that again and I�ll snap your puny neck, got it?� He jolted Xander�s head back sharply to prove how easy it would be.

�Right, yeah, Angelus, I got it� he replied hastily, his heart skipping a beat as he realised Spike was now stood directly in front of him. Xander made a feeble swiping motion at the blonde apparition. Spike easily caught the stake and plucked it from his grasp.

�Loosen your grip you moron, �e�ll be no fun to play with dead� Spike studied the stake for a moment before using the pointed end to work a strip of flesh from between his teeth.

�So, would you care for a Xander sandwich?�

�That would be fun�. Spike grinned.

�Errm guys, we are talking food here aren�t we? I mean, sandwich as in �good to eat�, yeah?� Xander asked hopefully.

Spike�s grin widened and he arched an eyebrow suggestively.

�Eww�. Xander dodged sideways from Angelus� grip and backed away several steps. The two vampires exchanged glances then started towards him.

�D�don�t hurt me, I come in peace, I�m on a mission� he said, hands raised submissively. When they didn�t stop he added �Buffy sent me, we need your help�. They stopped.

�Why should we help you?� Angelus asked.

�Because you�ll enjoy it. We need you to kill some people for us� Xander replied.

�He�s takin� the piss, let�s kill �im�. Spike lurched forward but his Sire caught him round the waist and held him till he ceased struggling.

�Wait a minute, I don�t think he�s got big enough balls to waltz into our lair and bullshit us, let him finish before we kill him�.

Xander smirked, �Oh no, I�m not gonna tell you the full story now, if you wanna know then be at the Library after sunset, ok?� Without waiting for an answer he turned and started walking towards the corridor and freedom.

�Ok, he�s done, now you can kill him� Angelus instructed, and Spike launched an attack, picking Xander up and hurling him effortlessly against the wall.

Xander landed awkwardly, panting, his body stinging from the impact. He tried to struggle to his feet as Spike closed in, but his head hurt, fresh blood trickling from a small gash just above his eyebrow. Spike hauled him ungraciously to his feet, propelled him against the wall and using his body to pin him pulled his head back by the hair to feed.

Xander closed his eyes and tried to will himself elsewhere, his panic riddled mind frantically scouring through the options for a workable plan. In record time it came up with his only chance. Beg. He opened his mouth to speak.

�Stop�. Xander was pleased, instead of the gibbering whine he�d been expecting, the single word held hidden power and authority. It took him a few seconds to realise he hadn�t spoken.

Spike sighed. �What now?�

Angelus moved up behind Spike and wrapped his arms around his Childe. Placing his fingertips just inside his jeans he rested one hand flat against his stomach, the other moving up to idly scratch his chest. Spike moaned softly and leaned back, his free hand reaching down to rub his Sire�s thigh; his face softening as the demon recoiled from this show of affection.

�You have a choice, either tell us what the fuck is going on or the blonde bitch finds your abused, barely recognisable body in her closet and your head in the toilet� Angelus said. He bent his head forward to nip Spike�s neck before returning his full attention back to the prisoner.

Xander weighed up the options and decided that maybe he could tell them the details. �Willow is always getting chain letters and be��

�Chain letters?� Spike interrupted. He released his hold on Xander�s hair allowing him to relax a little.

�Yeah, �send this to everyone in the world in minus 5 seconds or you�ll have shit luck for so long that your grandchildren will be cursed� kinda trash but because Will�s superstitious they really freak her out�.

�And where do we fit into this?� Spike enquired. �We need them gone. Will�s told them not to send anymore like a thousand times but they didn�t stop so�Willow is doing the hacking thing and finding out areas and names for you, if you�ll do it that is� he let the sentence hang.

�What�s in it for us?�

�You get to have fun and feed and not worry about Buffy�.

Angelus sniggered. �You think I can�t handle Buffy?�

�She�s still alive�. Xander flinched as soon as the words were out, waiting for the blow but it didn�t come. He cautiously opened first one eye, then the other. The vampires had backed off and were standing, still entwined, looking at him.

�Ok, we�ll do it, when do we get the names?� Angelus asked, ignoring Spike�s murmured complaints.

�Be at the Library after sunset, and come alone, just you two, any more and we�ll kill you all� Xander retorted, then turned and ran as Spike�s game face slid across his features and a low growl escaped his lips.

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

The two vampires strode confidently into the Library shoving and laughing like boisterous teenagers. They stopped abruptly when they noticed the scene that awaited them. Giles, Cordelia and Oz were armed with crossbows and Willow was sat by the computer. All were staring intently at the newcomers. Buffy wasn�t around. �Hey, no fair� Spike moaned, �You promised to play nice�.

�And we will once we are sure of your intentions�. Giles sighted down the bow, targeting Angelus� redundant heart then turned his head to check Spike was equally well covered.

�E-hem, Cordelia, you might want to aim at his heart, if you shoot him in the, erm, th-there you�ll only make him angry� he stammered.

�Oh that is so selfish. Do this, do that, who do you think you are? It always has to be about you doesn�t it? Look he�s wearing leather pants, a welcome change from the charity shop rejects you choose, but no, I�m not allowed a few seconds to check out his large pack�� she paused, noticing the smug grin on Spike�s face and the blank stare on everyone else�s. ��the heart, right?�. She re-aimed, cursing under her breath.

The uncomfortable moment was broken by Xander�s arrival. �It�s all clear, they�re on their own�. They lowered their bows and relaxed slightly.

�You�re going to do it then� Willow cried, fresh tears spilling from her eyes. She raced forward and embraced Spike, sobbing loudly on his shoulder.

Spike was unsure of what to do, it had been a long time since anyone had come to him for that kind of comfort. He reluctantly, clumsily put his arms around the stricken girl hugging her close and tried to think of something soothing to say. �There there chucklebunny, don�t cry� he tried, still managing to sound unsympathetic and bored.

�Yeah�, Angelus sniggered. �Uncle Angelus and Auntie Spike will make the bad people go away�

�Fuck off, wanker�.

Spike felt Willow�s hand brush against his body as she placed something in his pocket. Reaching in he felt a slip of paper. �Hey�� he started.

Willow silenced him and standing on tiptoes she whispered �Shh, these guys are nothing to do with chain letters but two of them keep spamming up my mailing lists and the third keeps hounding me in chat rooms wanting to get into my cyber-panties so take care of them please�. With one final squeeze she backed away from him and returned to her seat.

Spike glanced at his chest where her head had been. �Ew, uh guys, snot won�t damage my leather will it?� he asked, brushing disgustedly at the wet mark.

Giles cautiously stepped up to them and handed Angelus a computer printout containing names, pictures, areas and even some addresses. �there are a few blanks where we only have a name and picture or University address so you�ll have to use your intuition to find them, and � thanks�

Taking the hint the vampires backed out of the library. Angelus paused at the door. �Bye lover� he whispered before vanishing from sight.

Hidden in the stacks, crossbow quivering, Buffy sobbed loudly.

~end~