Title:   A Past Not Forgotten

Author:   angelspike69 & anamcara420

Rating:   NC17

Pairing:   Angel/Spike

Summary:   It's been 25 years since the events in the alley.  Who survived?

Spoilers:   There will be some slight spoilers from Not Fade Away, and then it goes totally AU as the screen went black.

Warnings:   M/M sex – if this isn't your cup of tea, then don't read.

Disclaimer:   Joss created the characters.  We're just playing with boys, and having lots of fun.

Distribution:   Previous chapters can be found in my archive – http://www.myperfectrhyme.com.    If you'd like to archive it, please ask.

Authors' Note #1:   Many thanks go out to dragonydreams for the wonderful beta.  She answered our call, and we are truly thankful.

Feedback:   AngelSpike69 (marinersgal69@msn.com) & Anamcara420 (ldelrossi@excite.com)

 

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Chapter 2

Angel regained consciousness slowly, reluctant to pull himself from his dream; his dream of good times with Spike.  He was Angelus in London prowling with the newly turned William.  He taught him how to choose his victim; how to seduce a woman; how to track prey with finesse.  They spent hours together alone, even after William became proficient in his attack strategy.  He saw them laughing in a tavern surrounded by lovely young barmaids vying for the attention of the two obviously elegant young men.  Spike, fragile and hurt after the crazed slayer cut off his hands reluctantly moving in to his penthouse to heal.  Spike trying to teach him how to play the video games that he cajoled him into buying – ostensibly to help his fingers regain their flexibility.  Spike laughing at him because as he failed to maneuver his large fingers on the buttons while the younger vampire's own slender fingers flicked over the key pad amazingly fast.  His offer that Spike stay in the spare room whenever he wanted.  It was nice having someone to go home to occasionally.  Slowly they grew closer.  Their friendship grew hesitantly.  He saw them tentatively comforting each other on the plane as they traveled back from the Deeper Well.  Their anguish over the loss of Fred drawing them together, although they kept up their snarking in the office.  Their failure to rescue Buffy from the Immortal and their reluctant realization that they had to move on as she had.  The evenings spent watching old movies, drinking and talking for hours.  It was not smooth sailing.  They were both master vampires, but Angel learned it did not diminish him to listen and to value Spike's suggestions...some of them.  The knowledge and satisfaction that Spike always had his back and...that loyalty killed him.

 

Angel tried to open his eyes but couldn't.  He realized that there was a huge weight crushing him.  His entire body ached and pain stabbed violently into his head.  He groaned as he tried to get up.

"Did you hear that?"  Faith asked.

"What?"  Buffy demanded.

Angel groaned again.  He heard the voices indistinctly.  He marshaled all his strength and tried to move and felt some of whatever was on top of him shift.

"Listen!  Wait, that pile of bricks moved.  Someone is under there."  Faith yelled as she knelt next to the mound and began to toss the crumbled bricks from the pile.

"Faith, wait.  It...it could be..."  Buffy began.

"Yeah, and it could be Angel or Spike or Wesley or Gunn."  She retorted without stopping her search.

Two of the new slayers joined her.  They had removed only a few more bricks when the mound shuddered and a dusty body lifted itself onto its knees.  Faith and the young slayers drew back, while Buffy stood there brandishing her stake.  The body moaned and attempted to stand.  Without thinking of any possible danger, Faith rushed in to help.

"Faith, stop!"  Buffy yelled as she grabbed the dark-haired slayer by the arm, stopping her from going any farther.

The body staggered to its feet and lifted its head.  Everyone gasped.  It was Angel; a terribly battered and bloodied Angel.  Faith looked into her friend's horribly bruised face.  "Angel."  She rushed forward and he leaned heavily against her.

"Where's everyone else?  Where's Spike, Angel?  He was with you."  Buffy asked loudly in an annoyed tone.  She didn't seem to notice his damaged body.

Angel stood up a bit straighter and glared at his former lover, all feelings for her dissipated in a moment.  "You're standing on him," he said quietly although his body trembled with rage.  The pain and anger were too much and he wavered.  Faith clutched him as he groaned.  He stumbled past Buffy as Faith kept her arm around his waist and walked with him.

Willow, Kennedy and several of the young slayers gasped at the devastating news of Spike's death.  Dawn began to cry.

Buffy glanced down and for the first time noticed the dust scattered at her feet.  She turned and stalked out of the alley after Angel.  The vampire was leaning against the partial wall of a collapsed building; his head down.  Faith hovered in front of him, speaking softly.  "Angel, you're hurt.  I know vampire healing and all, but let's get you somewhere and clean the wounds; get you blood."

A strident voice pierced the eerie quiet in the alley.  "Angel, what happened?  How did Spike die? Where are the demons?  Everything is dust."  Buffy spoke in confusion and anger.

Angel slowly lifted his head and she stepped back, startled by the look of pure hatred in his eyes – the golden eyes of Angelus.

Leaning heavily on Faith, he spoke, his voice dangerously quiet.  "Wesley died elsewhere, murdered by a demon.  Gunn died with us in the alley."  He closed his eyes, took an unneeded breath and hissed in pain.  His chest felt like hot pokers were wedged between his ribs; his arm was half numb, half on fire.  He looked at Buffy again.  This time she gasped involuntarily at the anguish in his eyes.

"I was fighting the dragon.  Spike was next to me fighting a demon.  I turned to look at him and before I could warn him, another attacked him from behind."  Angel struggled to continue, but his voice broke.  All of them watched as tears fell from the powerful vampire's eyes.  "He turned to dust.  I couldn't get to him and he turned to dust.  I couldn't...I couldn't help him."

Angel sagged to his knees, the effort of speaking and his pain exhausted him.  Faith knelt next to him, her arm protectively around his waist.  Angel lowered his head.  His shoulders shook and he sobbed.  The others were silent, awed by the depth of the souled demon's pain and sadness. 

"We need to take him somewhere safe.  He's got to rest so he can heal."

Angel lifted his head, his cheeks wet, tears pooling in his brown eyes.  "Illyria did some god thing and light burst from her body.  Everything began to crumble and that's the last I remember."

He groaned and struggled to stand.  He drew himself up straight and walked stiffly toward Buffy.  His face contorted with anger; his voice low but wild with fury.  He spat out each word. "Maybe...maybe if you had helped us...Maybe Spike would be alive...maybe this all could have turned out differently...maybe they'd all still be alive.  You deemed us evil, that's why you didn't help Fred when I called.  You said you couldn't help...I was evil...had to be evil to be working at Wolfram & Hart.  Yet you had no problems with my association with them when you needed my help to get your slayer back.  How ironic is that?  You got what you wanted, but when we needed the help, you all were suddenly so self-righteous.  Couldn't stoop to help the enemy."

He stared for a long moment at Buffy and then with Faith's help, he staggered out of the alley, mumbling quietly, "I've lost everyone...Doyle, Cordy, Fred, Wes, Gunn, and Spike...no one's left."  Buffy called out his name as he was walking way, and he turned his head slightly to look at her.  "That's it Buffy.  I'm done.  I've given all I can give; there's nothing left."  With that said, he turned back around, and let Faith lead him out of the alley.  Buffy did not follow.  At the end of the alley, he turned left and gasped.  "Hotel...we need to go into the Hyperion."

"Angel, it's damaged.  It could be dangerous."

Angel pulled her with him, determined.  They entered the devastated courtyard of the old hotel.  Angel walked slowly through the toppled trees and up the shattered steps of the building.  The glass doors were smashed and he maneuvered carefully around the jagged pieces of wood. He stopped and stared into the building that had briefly held such happiness for him.  He began to step down and stumbled; only Faith's strength kept him from tumbling down the steps.  The lobby was strewn with debris and Faith nervously eyed the cracks in the wall.  "Angel, this whole thing looks like it will collapse.  What do you have to do here?"

"Have to get some things...in the office."  He said as he looked up at the large crevices in the walls. He walked carefully over the chunks of plaster and around the broken railings from the balcony.  The lovely round sofa in the center of the lobby lay under chunks of plaster.  He stopped and closed his eyes as he remembered Cordelia sprawled on the soft velvet cushions and Fred resting her head on the top.  Faith looked up at him but said nothing.  She stood silently supporting him.  Angel opened his eyes and they made their way through to the office.  He walked around his desk and stopped before a bookcase.

"Help me move this, Faith."

The slayer helped the weakened vampire and the bookcase stood away from the wall.  Angel looked down.  "Faith, could you kick in that part of the wall?"

Without asking the reason, Faith thrust her foot against the paneling and it gave way.  Angel knelt before the jagged hole.  He removed a worn leather shoulder bag and stood up.

Faith's eyes widened and she smirked.  "You dragged yourself over here to get a handbag?"

He looked at her and his mouth twitched slightly.  "This is my nest egg.  Let's go before the building falls on top of us.  We'll go out the back; see if my car is still there."

They walked out into the semi-darkness and Angel turned to Faith.  "It'll be dawn soon.  Can you drive?"

Faith nodded and got into the front seat of the old Plymouth.  Amazingly it wasn't damaged by falling debris, only covered in dust.  Angel reached into the bag, retrieved a key, and handed it to her.  "Pump the gas a few times first." He said as he walked around to the other side.  The old car coughed, wheezed and then caught.  Faith looked up at Angel in surprise.  He offered a small smile.  "I kept her tuned.  Bet that Viper I drove at Wolfram and Hart wouldn't have started.  Nothing fazes this old girl." Angel climbed into back seat.  "I'll have to cover up once the sun rises."

"Where are we going?"  She asked.

"Just drive north, out of Los Angeles.  We'll find a motel and stay until dark. If...if that's okay with you."  Angel said quietly.

She turned to face the vampire and smiled. "I'm with you, Angel; as long as you need me."

Angel returned her smile and directed her to US 101.  She picked up I-10 and drove toward San Bernardino.  Faith searched for a motel as Angel watched the pink of the early dawn sky.  The slayer saw a sign and pulled off the highway.  She drove into the parking lot of an old motel, its neon sign only half lit.  She jumped out and went inside the office.  A few minutes later she came out and drove them around the building. 

"The back is more heavily shaded."  She told Angel as she parked in front of the door marked 24.  She unlocked the door and Angel hurried out of the car, huddled beneath the folds of the blanket.

The room was old but clean.  It had two twin beds, a dresser and a chair.  Angel collapsed onto one of the beds although his hand still clutched the leather bag.

"I saw a 24 hour grocery as we drove here.  I'll go and get toothbrushes, shampoo and other stuff.  I don't know where we can get your blood."  Faith spoke, her brows furrowed in concern.

"I'll be okay today.  We'll try somewhere tonight."  The vampire whispered sleepily, his eyes already closed although he still sat up.

"Angel, your clothes are still damp."  She pulled him to his feet and pulled down the bedspread.  She pushed him down and tried to take the bag from his hand.  He opened his eyes and released his grip.  Faith laid it on the floor.  She gently helped him out of his torn duster and ragged shirt. He hissed in pain and held his arm close to his chest.  She knelt and took off his boots, and then helped him to lie down.  He was asleep before she left the room and did not stir when she returned.

She emptied the bags of supplies and stumbled tiredly into the shower.  She stood for a long time in the scalding water, shampooing her hair over and over to get the dust and dirt out.  She banged her fist on the tile and remembered another night after Wesley had come to tell her about Angelus.  She had broken out of prison and pummeled the tile in his bathroom until it crumbled.  She rinsed her underwear and t-shirt in the sink and hung them on one of the towel racks as she thought of her time in the sleazy motel in Sunnydale.  Wrapping one of the towels around her long hair and the other around her body, she walked out of the steamy bathroom.  Her jeans weren't that dirty and they'd never dry.  She'd just have to wear them until she could wash them.  Maybe the next motel would have a laundry room.

TBC