Title: What's Best

Status: Complete. Four chapters. (4 of 4)

Pairing: Spike/Angel with Angel/Buffy references

Summary: Angel fulfills his promise.

Warnings: Homosexual, heterosexual relationships. Strong language. Sexual references. Brooding. Abuse. Angst. Oh, and Buffy bashing.

Author's Note the First: Words in double parentheses, i.e. ((these words)), are meant as the current character's personal thoughts. One more thing: chapters are divided up by location – one long chapter may be followed by one short chapter.

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Location: Underground Caves, Sunnydale, California

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Dawn watched as Spike finished another cigarette. She sighed. She didn't know what to say, what to tell him. ((I wish --))

"Can I speak to him alone?"

Dawn looked up and smiled. ((Angel.)) She looked over at Spike and realized that he hadn't moved. She shook her head, got up, and left.

Angel stood there for a moment, just watching Spike. Then he sat down beside him.

"What do you want, Peaches?"

"I… I wanted to give you this." Angel held out a card. Spike didn't move, just continued to stare at nothing. Angel waited and, only when Spike took the card, realized that he had been holding his breath. He let it out slowly.

"What is this?"

"He's… He's a good friend of mine. Trustworthy. He owes me a favor."

Spike stared at the card for a moment. "A doctor?"

"A neurosurgeon actually. That means he can --"

"Why?" Spike interrupted him.

"What?"

"Why are you doing this?" Spike asked as he finally faced Angel. He watched Angel try to decide on an answer and wondered whether he would lie to him. "Why, Angel?"

Angel sighed and looked into Spike's eyes. "I… I have no rights over you. I have no right to tell you what to do. I lost that a long time ago."

Angel reached out to touch his childe's cheek and Spike leaned into the touch. They looked at each other, neither choosing to move. Then Angel broke eye contact and looked down. He pulled his hand away. Spike continued to watch him.

"I want what's best for you. I wasn't then. I'm still not now. I don't know if I'll ever be. But I want what's best for you. And this life… This life of denial and captivity, of forced conscience… It's not what I want for you."

Then Angel immediately stood up. He didn't look at Spike and began to walk away.

Spike watched him as he disappeared down the passage. Only after Angel's footsteps had receded, did Spike finally acknowledge his words.

"Thank you, Sire."

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End Chapter the Fourth

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Like fresh meat loves salt, an author is bland unless a reviewer is willing to add flavor.

The End. So how was it?

Kamp West