Ugh. I was hoping the story wasn't going to go this way, but it looks like I'll be disappointed.

Buffy isn't perfect (she wouldn't be interesting if she was), but...does she always have to be wrong? Does she always have to screw everything up and then put up with being lectured by Dawn/Angel/Anya/Joyce/whoever? Does Spike always have to be some poor, helpless little woobie who, for whatever reason, can't stand up for himself? I mean, just for variety's sake, it would be nice to occasionally see another aspect of Buffy - you know, the girl who is full of love, the one who always comes up the plans to stop the apocalypse, the one who takes her mission so personally that she assumes the weight of her friends' problems in addition to her own.

I really like your writing, otherwise I wouldn't keep reading your stories. And you have a kink you like, which is awesome - we all have our own kinks. But when your readers can pretty much predict the way the stories are going to go...well, it might be worthwhile to think of changing things up a bit. At the beginning of any story, I can pretty much guarantee that Dawn and Anya (and Joyce, if alive) will be the only ones entirely on Spike's side. Buffy will discover she loves him, and in the process she will manage to screw something up horribly, cause Spike to be hurt, and then be lectured by Dawn/Anya/Joyce about how she should treat him. Dawn in particular is always the Defender of Spike, knows better than Buffy about everything, loves Spike more than anyone, and is always, always right.

I'm not telling you what to write, and it isn't a flame. But I have to say that the formula is getting a mite stale.

Author's Response: i'm sorry if they tend to be a bit predictable...but i really dont understand why...as far as i recall, the only other fic ive written that had buffy being thoughtless and mean to spike, and dawn and anya defending him, was "Blood Bound"... in all my other Spuffy fics Buffy has been completely on Spike's side adn not a bad character at all...and Dawn and Anya didn't even factor majorly into any of my other spuffy stories, either...lying eyes, trusting you, belonging....neither anya nor dawn were even main characters.... i don't know...i just find it hard to see where you're coming from with this.... the one thing all of my fics have in common is a vulnerable, somehow wounded spike...but that's pretty much it.... i appreciate your opinion, but i mostly disagree with it thanx for the review, love :)

Oh man, he better not do shit to my woman Anya! Strong, amazing, LOVELY Anya! She better whoop his butt! Can't wait to see what happens next!

I hope they get Xander and torture him! Is anyone going to forgive Buffy for her stupidity and carelessness? Update soon please!

I have absolutely no problem with Angel lecturing Buffy - she needs to listen to others once in a while. Many times on the show we saw where Buffy was completely wrong about something but it was only her slayer skills and ability to think on her feet that really saved the day. This fic captrues that less than flattering side of her that arrogantly assumes she will be able to handle whatever comes her way. My only real issue with Angel here, and Giles for that matter, is that he allowed Buffy to take too much control. It seemed like he and Giles had no input in this plan whatsoever. DId they all underestimate Xander or was Buffy planning this all on her own?

Buffy loves Spike and I'm sure she had nothing but the best of intentions going into this, just as I'm sure that she didn't want to believe that one of her best friends was capable of such cruelty.
But what bothers me more than anything regarding Buffy's actions is not so much how silly her plan was cause imo if Spike was more himself, he might have been able to handle Xander until help arrived but the fact that Buffy pushed him into it when he was wasn't ready. Buffy allowed her selfish desire to clear Xander to put Spike at risk while he was still vulnerable. She willfully ignored the signs that he wasn't ready. Does Spike even remember how to fight? Even if her plan worked, did she consider the emotional cost to Spike in having to confront his tormentor again? Yes, justice and vengeance are needed but why not spend some time helping Spike get in tune with his demon and rediscovering the thrill of the fight - learning how to defend himself. I would have appreciated Buffy's efforts better had she and Angel worked with Spike in that way before pushing him into this vulnerable situation.

I hope the evidence she wanted was worth the cost.

I disagree with Meg. Although, I feel for Buffy and she really thought that she was doing the best thing.

I think she deserves what she got from Angel or Dawn.

Keep up the good work. Please update soon.

Oh my GOD!! You are so evil! Gah! Evil in a good way yeah... but still! Really good chapter, looking forward to more.

I think i want to kill someone- Buffy! So stupid.

Well meg, I disagree with you.
Considering how abusive Buffy was of Spike and how she put her need of being 100% sure it was Xander above Spikes safety and wellbeing (mental). She deserves everything she gets. Even tho I am not an Angel fan I was hoping he would ram her head through the wall.
Tho Spike is normaly far from innocent, right now he is as innocent as a newborn babe. You do not put a child in a room with a known pedofile just to be 100% sure, do you now?

Ah well - off the tangent, arnt we ?

Just wanted to say - great story. Cant wait for the next chapter.

cant wait to see what happens next!!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

MORE PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love it - hope Anya can get him out of there!

I´ve been hanging onto your every word with utter enthusiasm, but I´m sorry that I have to say, at this moment, you´re drawing this out way too long. It´s sad and also unnecessary that you made it so that Xander had the possibility to torture Spike again. Or is it just that you pile up a bit more so people won´t object when you kill off Xander? I don´t know, I think it would have been enough to prove that Xander was the torturer in the first place, and then I´d made him suffer, but not by getting the easy way out.....

Author's Response: well, to be honest with you, my motivation at the moment has more to do with setting spike up to have an opportunity to get his *own* vengeance, not have it given to him by someone else...the only way he's ever gonna really get over this is if he can take back his dignity and power from xander himself... :)

Get him to say 'Help Me' - please. Let Anya KILL Xander slowly and painfully and never let him near any of them again. I usually HATE Angel/Angelus with a passion, but in this fic I really like him. Please get him out of there soon - I can't stand it anymore

*screams* NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!! i hate you xander.

...love the story tho! =D can't wait to see what happens