I felt like I was suffocating, even though I didn't really breath. I was torn up with jealousy, and I forced myself to hide it form Angelus and Dru. If he knew...well, let's just leave it at he'd torment me even more, if that was possible.

So every day while Dru and Angelus slept I crept (as much as one can creep in a wheelchair) to the farthest corner of the warehouse and made use of my legs. I pushed myself as far over the edge as I dared, ignoring the pain when it wasn't enough to make me faint. I fought with myself, using rage and jealousy as my weapons, making them the strength with which I could go on walking. And after I could walk, I paced. For hours on end, I paced, rebuilding the muscles the Slayer had so carelessly destroyed. I still played the part of a cripple, though, and pretended to ignore the way Angelus and MY Dru kept leaving together for the hunt. They never asked me to go with them. If they would've I'd have jumped up and exclaimed, "Let's get to it then!"

And I paced. Until the Plan came to me one day when I was angrier than usual. Angelus and Dru had stayed out all night last night. The Plan was brilliant. Get the help of the Slayer to kill Angelus. Surely I could talk her into it, make her believe that all I wanted was to get rid of him. Then Dru would be mine and only mine.

The next night I waited anxiously for Angelus and Dru to leave for the hunt. Finally they did, without a backward glance. A whisper of a growl escaped my lips. Once this was over...I never allowed myself to finish that thought.

I quickly dismissed all the "servants" as Dru tended to call them. Then in an instant I was on my feet and outside. I had missed the cold chill of the nights...I allowed a small smile to play on my face for a brief moment.

I found Buffy in the graveyard, just where I expected her to be. I didn't approach her from the open, I wasn't fool enough to think I was back to full strength yet. I watched as she paced back and forth. Stalked would have been a better word for it. I wondered if I looked this angry when I paced.

The Slayer was ready when a small female vampire flew from a new grave, staking it in a few seconds. I made my move.

I was behind her before she could sense my presence. I pinned her arms to her sides in a quick movement. She froze. I carefully guarded my game face, not wanted her to get the wrong impression (author's note: is there a right impression of vampires?).

"Slayer," I greeted cheerfully. Buffy tried to head-bang me but I was ready for that and dodged it.

"What do you want?" Buffy hissed angrily.

"Not you, don't worry," I murmured near her ear. "Not tonight." I moved my face within biting range. Then I released the Slayer in a very risky venture. She turned to me prepared to fight. I shoved my hands in my jacket pockets, another dangerous thing to do. Buffy let her stance relax slightly. She glanced around the graveyard.

"Where are all your minions?" she asked suspiciously.

"They're at home, watching Interview with a Vampire and making jokes about Brad Pitt." When all else fails, try humor. Buffy tried to hide a smile, but I saw it first. I slowly smiled in return.

"So...what do you want?" Buffy asked me, replacing a stake in her jacket sleeve.

"Dru." My answer was curt. Buffy's brows furrowed in an amusing way.

"I thought you already had her," she commented, now thoroughly confused. A good thing, in my eyes.

"Not anymore," I said, sitting down on a nearby bench. My legs weren't going to last me much longer. < I just hope this works. > "Not since Angelus came back," I stated vehemently.

"You want to get rid of Angel?" she asked, disbelief written all over her face.

I nodded gravely. "Ever since he killed that teacher, he's been really cocky." I purposely pushed the sore spot. "And he's taken Dru away from me."

Buffy bristled. < Good girl. >

"Don't you want to get rid of him, once and for all?" I asked slowly, ready to bolt should Buffy decide she didn't like what I was saying. Her shoulders slumped weakly. The Slayer nodded sadly.

"But I can't seem to do it on my own," Buffy admitted with a frown.

"I have a plan," I offered casually.

"I'm listening." She wiped her hand across her eyes.

"If they see us together, you and me, they'll go nuts. Dru's very possessive," I added for Buffy's benefit.

"So's Angel," Buffy muttered. She took a step closer to me. "But do you really think seeing us together would distract them enough for us to get the jump on him?"

I hedged. "Well, uh...that is...um..." Buffy glared at me. "We'd have to do more than just be seen together."

"Like how much more?" Buffy's voice came as close to a growl as any human's I've ever heard- living, that is.

I cleared my throat, watching the Slayer closely, should she up and decide to stake me. "Like kissing more," I said softly.

Buffy's eyes showed her disgust, although her face remained neutral. Something inside of me got a sharp pain. "Just one kiss?" Buffy asked reluctantly.

I nodded quickly, before she changed her mind. "Only one."

"And how do I know you aren't setting me up? That this isn't some elaborate trap?"

I stood and turned to go. "You'll just have to trust me."

"Easier said than done," I heard her mutter. "What if you're thinking of killing two birds with one stone and killing both me and Angelus?" Buffy called out. She jogged a few feet to catch up with me.

"Meet me tomorrow at sunset at the front of the warehouse, if you're in. I'll dismiss the 'minions' and then open the door for you, as soon as Angelus and Dru leave." I stopped walking and turned to her. "Oh, and wear something..."

Buffy got my meaning. "Right," she said sarcastically. And I walked away, leaving the Slayer in the cemetary. I couldn't do this without her, killing Angelus. I needed her help. And that chilled my bones. *******

Sunset. Dru and Angelus left quickly, and I immediately sent all the 'servants' out with a request to bring me back three young women. For them, the task would take all night. I knew they would return just an hour before sunrise. It was typical of them.

I opened the door carefully, to find Buffy pacing in front of it. I really would have to talk to her about that particular habit. I stepped back courteously and the Slayer walked in warily. She glanced around the room.

"They're all gone," I informed her, walking around her to one of the chairs. I sat to conserve my strength.

I examined the Slayer. She wore a long black coat, hiding everything else beneath it.

"Well..." Buffy murmured, looking uncomfortable. Extremely uncomfortable. I tried not to grin.

"Something to drink?" I asked. I motioned at the table before me. Crystal tumblers and a large crystal pitcher graced it's top.

Buffy walked over to the table, keeping as far away from me as she could. "Wonderful," she whispered. "Glass things for me to break when I fight."

I laughed aloud. This Slayer was too much fun! Buffy shot a startled look at me. I grinned at her. "Planning on wearing your coat all night?" I asked offhand. The Slayer flushed slightly, but shed her coat immediately. I gulped when I glimpsed her dress. It was midnight blue, and sleeveless. It was flared from the waist down, and short, showing off a *lot* of Buffy's skin.

I was not able to think of anything else intelligent enough to say. < No wonder Angelus fell for her. > Buffy placed her coat on the table.

"It was the only one I had that I didn't mind ruining. I ruin whatever I fight in," she admitted with a laugh. She tugged at the hemline of her dress. "So what exactly *is* the plan?"

I stood and pulled my wheelchair out from the corner of the room. "Dru and Angelus have no idea that I can walk," I said guiltily. "They won't be expecting me to help you."

Buffy nodded her assent. She crossed her arms and leaned lazily against the table. I knew that it was a front. But a very good one. This Slayer wasn't lowering her guard for a moment. She knew me all too well. "So what time are our elusive hunters expected to return?"

I paced across the floor and back again. "Not for another hour at least."

Buffy sat down on top of the table and crossed her legs. My eyes traveled to her half-boots half-heels. < How can she even fight in those? > I forced myself to tear my eyes away from her. Buffy picked up the pitcher from the table and examined its deep purple contents carefully. "What is it?" she asked me curiously.

"It's grape juice," I replied, pacing over to one of the boxes nearby where I had hidden a few stakes. I took them out and over to the table. I noticed Buffy hadn't served herself a drink. < She probably thinks I poisoned it. > I laid the stakes down. The Slayer nodded. She pulled three of her own out of some recess of her clothing.

"I always come prepared." I shook my head in amusement. Here we were. We had been having a conversation for over an hour, a vampire and a Slayer and neither one of us had tried to kill the other. < Must be the weather. >

I checked my watch. "Twenty more minutes." Buffy jumped up and joined my in my pacing. She looked about ready to burst. < I guess hanging with Angelus hasn't cured her nervousness around vampires any. >

Together we paced until only five minutes remained before Dru and Angelus would return. Quickly I hid the stakes in a pocket on my chair. I sat down and motioned Buffy over to me. She questioned me with her eyes.

"Come here," I commanded. Buffy obeyed slowly. "They'll be back any minute," I told her. I sat down in the wheelchair. Buffy stood awkwardly in front of me. "Come here!" I pretended exasperation. In reality I was worried about what we were getting ready to do. Especially Angelus' reaction. If the suspense didn't kill me, he would sure try. I reached out and pulled Buffy into my lap. She huffed angrily.

"When you hear the door open, kiss me," I mumbled. If I had had any blood in my veins, it would've all been gathered in my cheeks at this moment.

Buffy adjusted her position on my lap. I felt the chair tilt sideways and shifted my weight to compensate. My ears picked up on the faint sound of footsteps. "That's them," I hissed. My stomach flip-flopped. Buffy nodded, not looking at me, and leaned closer. I heard the footsteps coming closer and closer and then they stopped. I pulled Buffy's head down to mine. I listened as the door opened and Angelus and Dru walked in. Buffy's arms were wrapped tightly around my neck. I could feel her hands shaking. The kiss ended soon enough, when an outraged scream was heard from across the room. Angelus was fairly shaking with rage. Drusilla stood behind him, staring openmouthed at the two of us.

"Angel!" Buffy exclaimed, pretending guilt. "What are you doing here?" She hopped off my lap and went to stand beside me.

"Spike!" Angelus roared. I flinched at the tone of his voice. "Just what do you think you are doing?!" His volume remained that of a bugling elk. He took two steps closer to us.

"I was just having some fun," I drawled as calmly as I could. I had never seen Angelus this angry before. I tugged Buffy closer. She leaned down and placed another kiss on my lips for good measure, surprising me. Dru let out a shriek and came flying at us. Buffy sidestepped and pulled me out of the way with her. She pretended to support me, and slipped me a stake.

Now both Angelus and Dru were coming at us. I quit faking and pulled Dru out of the way while Angelus went after Buffy. He was so distracted with his rage that he didn't even notice as the stake was plunged straight in his heart. With an unearthly scream he was reduced to a pile of dust.

Dru pulled away from me with another shriek and lunged for the Slayer. I snagged the back of her dress and shouted Buffy's name. She quickly looked at me, tears running down her face and bolted from the warehouse, not bothering to take her coat with her. I held Dru back until she was far enough away that Dru couldn't possibly catch her, and then released my hold. Dru fell, weeping hysterically, to the floor over Angelus' ashes. I watched her for as long as I could bear and then turned and fled.

< My Dru doesn't love me anymore. > I ran through the streets, not caring where I went. Nothing would soothe me now. Then I saw a bent figure sitting on a swing at the park playground. The Slayer. I walked quietly over to her.

"Hey," I said, taking a step to the left, so as not to get hit with that stake she threw at me.

"Don't do that!" Buffy exclaimed. I retrieved her stake for her. "Thanks."

"Why so blue, Slayer?" I asked. I leaned against a nearby pole, almost forgetting what I had been running from.

Buffy's face fell. "I just kept hoping there would be some way to get him back," she muttered sadly. She looked up at me. "Why are you upset? I thought you'd be back having a PART-ay with Drusilla."

I looked away. "Unfortunately, Dru wasn't in the partying mood. She's not the same, since..."

"I know how she feels." Buffy stood up, and stretched lazily. "I need to get home..."

"The sun is about to come up." I stayed where I was. This was the second time in one day I had been close to the Slayer and hadn't even had an urge to kill her. < Am I losing my touch? >

I watched the Slayer walk off, then headed off in my own direction. I didn't return to the warehouse. I was too afraid to face Dru. Instead I holed up in the sewers. And paced. ***********

The next evening, as soon as the sun was safely down, I crept back to the warehouse like a dog with it's tail between its legs. I didn't go in, actually I didn't even get near it. Hysterical weeping could be heard blocks away. Shamefaced, I turned and ran away. ***********

Dawn announced itself with streaks of pink across the sky. I reconsidered on last time what I was doing. This rooftop of one of Sunnydale's many downtown stores provided no cover from the sunlight. I glanced around. The streets were deserted, no one would see me go. I closed my eyes for a brief second and wished that things were different. Nothing had turned out right. I wasn't supposed to fall for the Slayer, or have Dru NOT accept me back. True, Angel was out of the picture, but the sadness of the two women who meant the most to me had ruined any joy I could have gotten out of his death- er, destruction.

I ran a hand through my short hair and felt the first rays of the sun burn my skin. I panted in pain and gritted my teeth. A startled shriek behind me told me I had been spotted. No matter. In minutes I would be no more. Strong hands lifted me and roughly pulled me inside a metal door. It clanged closed.

"No," I mumbled, hardly coherent anymore.

"What do you think you were doing?" a familiar, and loved, voice demanded. Buffy sat down, holding me up. We were in a dark stairwell. The air was cool.

"Isn't it obvious?" I tried to move away from her but she held me still.

"Then you probably should've tried it on a different roof. This is my mother's art store. Not a good place to commit suicide. Especially when I'm here."

I realized my mistake. Now I had to escape. If only I could reach the door. In my heart I knew I would do whatever she asked me. < Stupid muscle > Buffy looked at the burns on my face and hands. She looked confused as to why she had just saved a vampire. Then she shrugged.

"I never learn my lessons soon enough," she murmured, leaning toward me. I searched her face for any signs of the disgust she had displayed before. There was none.