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chapter forty-eight

Douglass opened her eyes and blinked a few times in confusion. "What
happened?"

Giles jumped, surprised at the small voice. "Thank God you're awake, I was
getting worried." Giles leaned forward and kissed her forehead. "You saved
Cordelia's life." Pride showed through his eyes but it didn't erase the lines
of worry that were etched into his face.

Douglass sat up with the help of her father and looked around, Gunn was
holding Cordelia whispering into her ear, Willow was staring at the building,
her arms wrapped tight around her. Dawn and Buffy were huddled together with
Buffy soothing her sobbing sister, Douglass started getting frantic. "Where's
Lindsey?"

They all stopped what they were doing to look over at Douglass who was trying
to stand, looking at the older Englishman to explain to his daughter that he
had run back into the building.

"He went back inside. Lilah..." Douglass's face went pale, they had forgotten
the female lawyer and left her to die but worse Lindsey ran back into the
fire and risked his life.

"How long has he been inside?" Douglass looked around at their faces panic
gnawing a hole in her stomach. "HOW LONG?" she yelled at the top of her lungs
when no one answered. Her hair was a mass of curls, flying in every
direction, her eyes sparkled in fury.

"About ten minutes." Giles answered softly.

Douglass froze her eyes widening in terror, she was about to run to the front
door when the sound of screeching tires came from around the corner. Everyone
stopped what they were doing to look up at the black van heading in their
direction.

"Oh this can't be good." Gunn tensed.

The van stopped and ten men jumped out, Buffy jumped up, stepping in front of
her sister. Gunn shifted Cordelia off his lap so he could stand, Giles tried
to shield Douglass from the intruders view but she stepped out from behind
ready to fight with her friends.

"Douglass, if you wish to protect the baby I suggest that you step back."
Giles whispered, looking at her father she stepped behind him again. Willow
joined Douglass trying to concentrate on a protection spell that would help
her friends.

It wouldn't have been much of a fight if the men hadn't had taser guns, Gunn
was the first to fall to the ground followed by Giles. As Buffy tried to hold
the men back five more men jumped from the van.

Dawn sat in horror as she watched Douglass, Willow and Cordelia snatched up
and tossed into the van. The men that were keeping Buffy busy ran as soon as
the van pulled off and headed down the street.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lindsey choked on the smoke that was filling the stairwell, the heat was too
much and he knew he had to turn back. In a way he felt bad for Lilah, no one
deserved to die trapped in a fire but he also knew if she hadn't died that
day sooner or later she would meet a bloody end. It was just the Wolfram and
Hart way of things.

But he had decided to leave that way of life behind, it didn't mean his life
was no longer in danger just maybe more so but now he could try and make up
for all the evil he had done in his past. Angel and the others might think
that this was once again another episode of his conscience getting the best
of him but to Lindsey this was a long time in the making. Now he had a baby
to think of and a beautiful girl to look after which meant he needed to get
out of this building now.

Turing around to head back to the ground floor he bumped into Angel. "Are you
insane Lindsey? I thought I told you to get the girls out of here." Angel
looked behind Lindsey to make sure he didn't see any sign of Willow.

"I got them out but I remembered that Lilah was upstairs." Lindsey coughed
again. The sound of shattering glass broke them out of their conversation,
reminding them they needed to get out. Angel grabbed Lindsey by the arm and
started to pull him down the stairs going so fast that Lindsey could barely
keep up. When they got to the lobby Angel stopped. "I can't go outside but I
want you to get everyone out there and meet up at the hotel." As the
ex-lawyer was shoved toward the door Lindsey looked over his shoulder once as
he watched Angel dash to the door leading to the basement.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Shh Pet, I'm here." Spike pulled Aria close and stroked her hair.

"I was so scared. It's so dark here and I thought that something had happened
to you." Aria hiccuped back her tears trying to take deep breaths to calm
herself.

"I'm here see, " Spike held his arms out wide. "Perfect as always." Aria
rolled her eyes and snuggled close.

"Is everyone else all right?" Wesley asked from the shadows of the sewer.

"Peaches made another tour of the place to make sure we all made it out."
Spike didn't spare a glance in Wesley's direction, his attention totally
focused on the beauty in his arms.

Spike inhaled Aria's scent reassuring himself that she was in his arms and
out of danger. Tilting her head he placed a kiss on her forehead, cheeks then
her soft lips. Pulling her closer Spike stood for a moment just feeling her
heartbeat.

They heard a door opening near by and a light spilled into the tunnel, soon
Angel was seen striding toward them a grim look on his face.

"Everyone's out....except Lilah. Lindsey was the one to remember about her
being trapped and came back in to get her out." Lines of guilt showed on
Angel's face.

Spike noticed the look and put his hand on his grandsire's shoulder. "You had
others that you were thinking of so I took the liberty of getting the bitch
out." Seeing Spike motion his head to the side Angel looked to see Lilah
huddled on the ground.

"Thank you Spike." Angel felt some of his guilt lessen. "I told Lindsey to
gather the others and meet at the Hotel."