Lane's face crumpled and he covered it with his hands, taking a slow, deep breath. "I don't want to kill you, Spike," he said, voice breaking. "I don't want them to kill you." He tore his hands away from his face, eyes welling with tears. He closed in on Spike again, moving until he was face-to-face, searching Spike's eyes. "But I will if your only wish is to drag me down with you." He wasn't angry anymore - he was pleading, desperate. "There's got to be a compromise."