Spike's yellow eyes glowed in anger. Angelus had killed Drusilla! He really wasn't bluffing...

Shoving the slayer away from him, Spike lunged at Angelus. Landing on her knees onto the ground, Buffy stood and brushed herself off, taking in the scene around her. Spike was waging a full-blown attack on Angelus, and the four other vamps stood guard over Willow and Xander, not quite sure what to do.

Two advanced on her while the others watched their captives for any chance of escape. Spike's orders were not to be disobeyed. He wanted the slayer eliminated.

"Just when I thought this night couldn't get any worse," she mumbled, preparing for their attack.

The two didn't put up much of a fight as she staked them very quickly and turned to the remaining pair. After watching what she had done to their comrades so effortlessly, they hurriedly let go of their captives and ran away.

"Chickens," she remarked under her breath. "Are you guys okay?"

"We're fine. I think," Willow answered, scratching her head. She had never been so scared in her life.

"Yeah," agreed Xander. "It's not every day we get to watch father-son wrestling. Kinda like Jerry Springer, only there aren't any enormous security guards jumping in to break it up. Let's get out of here before I have a heart attack, okay? I've had about all the excitement I can stand for one night."

Willow nodded and Buffy did the same. It had just begun raining, and she didn't think it was a good idea they stay outside. Coming together, the group began to walk off and back to their homes. However, Buffy seemed to be lagging behind, peering over her shoulder at the still ongoing fight between Spike and Angelus. They seemed to be tied as the battle raged on.

"Buff? Earth to Buffy?"

"Huh?" she asked, turning around with a confused expression.

Xander looked at his friend, concerned. "You coming?"

"No, you guys go on without me. I have to take care of something."

"You're sure? I don't think you should be getting messed up in that. Leave it up to them to solve their own problems."

"Xander," Willow interrupted.

"Okay. I'll shut up. Just be careful, alright?"

Nodding, Buffy promised to call them and watched as the duo walked away. She felt horrible about dragging them into this mess. It was her responsibility to keep them out of danger, not put them in it. It was a good thing Spike seemed the most interested in her than anyone else.

Checking over the small distance between herself and the vampires, she saw Angelus deliver a sharp blow to Spike's nose. A faint trail of blood trickled out of it. She would have worried about cosmetic appearances, but they were vampires so what did it matter? Their faces were screwed up no matter what you did.

Spike countered him with a nice punch and then kick to the head. Angelus was knocked off balance and pushed onto the ground.

'Ouch.' Buffy winced sympathetically. 'That's gotta hurt.'

As Angelus stumbled to get up, Spike spotted the dagger lying on the ground near him and bent over to retrieve it. Angelus staggered to meet his attacker, not knowing what he was doing, and Buffy called out, "Angel!" to warn him.

But it was too late. Angelus' head snapped around at the sound of her voice, and Spike found his opportunity to injure the vampire and used the dagger to slash him across the right side of his ribcage. Putting a hand over the wound, Angelus doubled over in pain. This was the second time he'd been stabbed trying to save the slayer. It was too much.

"Who's in control now, huh?" Spike taunted him, waving the miniature sword in front of his face. "You are a disgrace to your family, Angelus. It's time you paid for it."