A kick to the face sent him falling to the ground, the dagger flying out of his hand and onto the dark pavement. When he was able to stand, he saw Buffy in fighting stance above him.

"You do anything to hurt him, and I swear I'll kill you," she promised him. "Only this time it'll be for good. I mean it."

"Ooh, I'm scared," he told her sarcastically. "The little lady's a killer. Try using that logic on your boyfriend. It would save both of us a lot of trouble."

Crossing her arms over her chest defiantly, Buffy shook her head. "Get out of here."

"With pleasure," Spike said, gesturing with his arm as if to bow. "I'll be seeing you, love. Like I said, think about it before you go defending Angel. He isn't worth the effort."

"Worry about yourself, Spike. Leave me alone."

He shrugged, pretending to be hurt. "Don't say I didn't warn you." Buffy watched carefully as he stepped over to Angel, crouched down on the ground. "Stay away, and don't ever come back. If you do, you'll wish you'd never been born." And then, with a sweep of black leather, he disappeared into the night.

"You okay?" Buffy asked, reaching over to help Angelus up.

Wincing in pain, he shoved her away from him and stood on his own, declaring, "I don't need your help. I was fine until you butted in. Just leave me alone." Then, he too was gone.

"Fine, don't thank me," she muttered, turning around and starting back home. Something on the ground caught her attention though, and she bent over to pick it up.

Her Claddagh ring. Angelus must have dropped it during his fight with Spike. The way he acted when the vampire gave it to him proved it still meant something to him and so did she. She just wasn't sure what.

Thunder rumbled and lightning lit up the sky, causing her to snap out of her reverie. Shoving the ring into her pocket, Buffy ran over the slippery pavement and headed back home...