"She got away! Why didn't you kill her!?"

Spike was growing increasingly annoyed at Angelus' cocky behavior now that he was back, and his actions towards the slayer didn't help at all either. He seemed to enjoy taunting and toying with her until he was certain she would break, but she never did. She stayed strong enough to tackle every situation Angelus threw at her, and he and Drusilla were left to pay the consequences.

"Don't worry about it." Angelus waved him off. "We'll get her next time." He didn't think there was anything to be worried about. Buffy was a worthy adversary and well worth the wait.

"That's what you always say," he murmured, turning around in his chair.

After an unfortunate run-in with the slayer many months ago, he was seriously injured and totally dependent on a wheelchair to get around. Angelus was always teasing him about it, but what he and Drusilla didn't realize was that Spike really didn't need it. He had now totally healed, and the chair was of no use anymore. He still didn't tell his companions, though. He wasn't ready yet, and what they didn't know wouldn't hurt them.

"Oh, Spike, don't fret," Drusilla cooed in her light British accent, kneeling down beside him. "Angel will fix everything."

"I just worry about you, pet," he told his paramour in a similar accent. "That pesky slayer needs to be stopped. She's ruining everything."

"Don't worry about Buffy," Angelus assured him nonchalantly. "I'll take care of her. You're better off thinking of yourself. You're still not healed completely. Why don't you stay here tomorrow night?"

"What's that supposed to mean?" Spike asked angrily, spinning around to face his sire.

"Nothing." Angelus moved around the room slowly, enjoying the fact that he really was in charge. "It's just that well, Spike, you're still not all that healthy, and I wouldn't want to risk your health outside. It's been great having you with us, man, but maybe you should get some rest."

"I'm touched. Really," Spike said, trying his best not to want to kill what a human might call his 'father.' "But it's the slayer you should be worrying about. Not me."

"I'll handle her. Trust me." Angelus grinned, and Drusilla had no reason to doubt him. Spike, on the other hand, wasn't so sure...

What ravages of spirit conjured this tempestuous rage
Created you a monster broken by the rules of love
And fate has led you through it, You do what you have to do
And fate has led you through it, You do what you have to do

And I have the sense to recognize
That I don't know how to let you go

Through one of the windows, he could see Buffy as she stirred and rolled over in her sleep. He would often come in the few hours when he wasn't feeding, just to check up on her. He wasn't able to go in due to some kind of spell she had put on the house, but he would still sit and watch her. Somehow, she had managed to get under his skin when he was still Angel, and the memories just wouldn't go away.

Every moment marked with apparitions of your soul
I'm ever swiftly moving, trying to escape this desire
The yearning to be near you, I do what I have to do
The yearning to be near you, I do what I have to do

But I have the sense to recognize
That I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go

She had put up a good fight tonight, sticking with it 'til the end. Tough and smart. That was what he liked about her. God, was she beautiful when she was mad. He wanted her more and more every day. Soon, she would be his...

A glowing ember, burning hot and burning slow
Deep within I'm shaken by the violence of existing for only you
I know I can't be with you, I do what I have to do
I know I can't be with you, I do what I have to do

And I have the sense to recognize
That I don't know how to let you go
I don't know how to let you go...