Chapter 1: The Fall

Buffy walked down the dark alleys of Los Angeles until she found who she was looking for. Riley Finn, her carrier. “Got anything for me?”

“I got Green, White, Brown, and Gems. What’s your poison?”

Buffy hated that they always came up with new nicknames for drugs. There are so many, it made her head spin remembering them all. But Riley was using the simple terms. Green was obviously pot, White was cocaine, Brown was heroin, and Gems were crack. “Got anything else?”

“Got the paper to show for it?”

Buffy put her hand in between her breast and pulled out a wad of $100 bills. “This enough.” she stated sarcastically.

Riley’s eyes became wide at the look of the bills. She must have mugged a millionaire or something, he though. “This way.” He then led her deeper into the dark alley to where his boss was.

It was only 4:00 in the afternoon, but the alley made it look like it was an hour past midnight. Buffy was completely blind in it’s darkness until a lighter lead her way as it lit a cigarette. This is what she has been waiting for.

“Spike. Chick here wants something different.” Riley told his boss. The sound of Riley’s retreating footsteps told her that this Spike was going to help her out.

“So…something different, eh?” He asked in an attempt to be seductive.

Buffy played along. “Yeah. Something tasty.”

“Well… I’ll show you the way.” He must have had great night-vision, cause he easily found her hand and lead her to a warehouse. The light under the door and the embers from Spike’s cigarette were the only lights she could see. Someone else in her position would bail, but Buffy was completely determined, no matter what the voices in her head said.

Spike opened the door for her. Inside it was almost like a rave, but with more drugs and less activity. The walls were surrounded by couches that were stained, torn, and completely occupied. Her nostrils flared at the smell of vomit, smoke, sex, blood, and urine. How could people live like this? she puzzled in disgust. The people on the couches were either asleep, passed out, too stoned to move, or dead. Buffy tried not to loose her cool as Spike continued to lead her up the stairs.

On the upper level, there was more activity. Orgies going on that looked like 20 naked people trying to play Twister. Most of the people in the group had no idea what they were doing so they just continued to swim around in the puddle of flesh.

Spike was still holding her hand. He guided her to a room, completely oblivious to the actions taking place around him. Buffy was a bit worried of what lied in the room, but no matter what, she was going to get through this.

She let out her breath when she realized that it was his office. 3 mini-fridges stood next to each other on the back right corner, his desk in front of the only window the entire building had, and a shelf of various liquids in jars lined the right wall. On his desk, there were money (Buffy guess it was about $1,500), business papers, a dirty mirror, and seven pens lined neatly to the left side of a notepad. This is too easy, Buffy thought.

“What exactly do you think is tasty, luv?” Spike finally said as he led her to the comfy chair in front of his desk.

“I don’t know. My brother told me he got some sweet stuff from you before. But he was so out of it that he forgot to tell me what it was.” Inside, Buffy was screaming out her brother’s name at Spike, but she kept her cool. Or at least she thought she did since Spike didn’t react to what she was feeling.

Spike sat down in his desk stair and looked at her as he picked up one of his pens and played with it in his hands. “Can you describe how your brother was feeling from our… product? That could be useful.”

He fell into a coma and never woke up, she wanted to say. “I wasn’t around him long enough to really notice.” Now was the time, “I want to ask you something.”

“Yeah?” he leaned forward, his elbows resting on the desk. “What’s that?”

“Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?” She said with a smirk that grew by the second as his face got further and further into confusion.

“What?” Three seconds later, he heard a bang in the bottom level. He stood up in shock, didn’t even notice that Buffy pulled a gun and was aiming it at his head. “Oh, Bloody HELL!!!”

“William Snow, your under arrest for drug dealing. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney…”

*******************

I can’t believe I FELL for that! Spike yelled at himself. He sat in the interrogation room of the narcotics division of the LAPD. Angel is going to kill me.

He’d been sitting there for almost two hours. The second Buffy put the cuffs on him he asked for a lawyer. Now he was waiting for Lindsey to arrive. That damn McDonald sure does take his time, Spike huffed. He finished off his third coffee with extra sugar.

It wasn’t like he was a junkie himself, he just sold the stuff. He hadn’t touched an ounce with his own hands after Drusilla OD’d five years ago. She was never the same after that, babbling about a ‘Miss Edith’ whispering things in her ear and seeing the sky rain blood from time to time. But Dru was his sweetheart, so he would always take care of her and that meant he had to keep a clear head all the time. That’s the only thing he was scared of when he was arrested. What would happen to Dru if he weren’t there to take care of her?

That thought almost brought tears to his eyes, but he heard Angel’s voice in his head. “Suck it up, Willy. Be tough if you expect to survive.” That’s what Spike did; he swallowed his tears, lifted his chin and continued to wait for Lindsey. What’s taking the git so long?!

*******************

Buffy watched William Snow through the one-way mirror. Rage was making her body go aflame. She was waiting for this for five years. This is why she became a narcotics officer, to finally nail Spike’s dick to the wall. The thought brought a smile to her face. She smiled even more when she thought about Spike becoming some Bubba’s prison bitch. She tried to hold back a giggle in the presence of her superior, Captain Giles.

Giles didn’t look at her, but he knew her well enough to know that it brought her great joy to cuff the bleached-blond. He knew about it enough that he scared him.

“You didn’t listen to my orders.” Giles told Agent Summers while keeping his eyes on Spike.

“I got the job done didn’t I? Doesn’t that count for something?”

“You got the job done because William was not at his sharpest.” Giles turned to address her. “We got him because HE screwed up, not because YOU did your job well.”

“I guess I’m lucky.” She didn’t want to argue, she just wanted to savor the sight of Spike locked up. “He’s going down, and that’s all that matters.”

“To you.” Summers was the only agent that he grew fond of. He really didn’t want her to get killed because of what happened to Sam. “If you don’t get your act together, I may have no choice but to transfer you.”

He said this before. It barely made Buffy flinch. She was the best cop this city has ever seen. It wasn’t because of her black belt, her marksmanship, or her agility and stamina. It was because she was driven. There was no way they would get rid of her. Not when scum like William “Spike” Snow were still out there.

*******************

She couldn’t stand it anymore. She entered the interrogation room with two cups of steaming coffee. One black, the other with extra sugar. Spike didn’t talk to her, he didn’t even realize it was her that busted him. At the warehouse, she was wearing a nice leather coat over her hot pink halter-top and a red mini-skirt. She almost looked like she was 17 in that outfit. Now she was in gray work suit that still showed off she curves and her real age of 26.

She sat down across the table from him, sipping her coffee. Spike just held his for a while, waiting for it to cool.

“Man, your lawyer is sure taking a long time.” She commented as she looked up at the clock. “It’s been what? 4 hours?”

Angel would always tell Spike the ways cops would try to get you to talk. There was the Good Cop/Bad Cop, which isn’t the case here since there’s only one officer in the room. This was the casual conversation route she was taking, and Spike wasn’t going to follow her. He knew soon she was going to talk about personal stuff that didn’t have anything to do with why he was here.

“How’s your brother doing?” Buffy asked.

See, there she goes. He couldn’t help himself though. “How about your brother? He really a junkie or was that all made up?” He should have kept his mouth shut, he thought as the sentence was uttered. But the look on her face after he said it made him reconsider. He hit a nerve, and it made him smile for the first time since the bust. “He on the street? Bumming cash from ya? Stealing? Or his he one of my dealers?”

Buffy’s jaw clenched. She felt the blood in her neck boil as it raised to paint her face red with fury. Spike was too into making her more upset that he didn’t realize what she was going to do.

He leaped back when he saw this petite blond completely turn over the metal table that separated them, Spike’s steaming coffee spilling in his lap, scolding him. She then ran over to him and pressed him against the wall with her left hand on his neck. She wasn’t trying to strangle him, she just wanted his head still as she started punching him with her right.

The moment he saw her hand turn into a fist, he screamed for someone to get her off him. She got three good punches in before two fellow officers came and pulled them apart. Buffy was trying to fight them off so her can kill the son of a bitch. “You killed him, you fucker! You killed my brother! I’ll kill you! You are dead! DEAD!” was that last word she said before the door slammed shut.

Spike knew he never killed anybody, let alone a Narc’s brother. Not on purpose…

*******************

Buffy’s shoulder was bothering her as she waited in Giles’ office. She had to remember never to fight back when Bruno and Bucko were holding her back. She may have been very strong for someone her size, but she still could get herself hurt if she pushed herself too much.

She was rubbing her shoulder when Giles came in with a thick file under his arm. He looked into her eyes as she turned to see him enter. She knew she was in for something, but didn’t know what. It was punishment enough to see the disappointment in his eyes. Even though Giles was her boss, she always thought of him as a father, mostly since her own was banging his “Secretary of the Week”.

He broke eye contact as he walked around her and sat behind his desk, Buffy’s eyes never leaving his face. Giles put the file down on the desk and opened it. “Five counts of assault, 2 counts battery, 12 threats, and now you’ve attacked someone in custody.” Oh, that was my file, Buffy thought. Is it really that thick? “You give me no choice Buffy. I’ve warned you time and again but you continue to act like a vigilante. You are no longer working for the department of narcotics.”

Buffy gasp. No, no, no, he wasn’t serious. He’s messing with you. “Please tell me you’re joking?”

“I wish I was Buffy, but the department can’t risk you anymore. You’ve been violent to every dealer we bring in, even ones that you weren’t assigned to.”

“It was just that one time, and he grabbed my…”

“I don’t wanna hear it.” This is the first time Buffy has ever seen Giles remotely pissed off. “Buffy, you finally crossed the line today. No one is going to doubt that you are one of the best officers this city has ever seen, and someone like you is needed in homicide. Do you think you can manage that?”

Buffy nodded. She knew he was doing her a favor. Someone in her position would have been canned easy, but she got transferred. To Homicide. Heck, some people would call that a promotion.

She finally stood up from her chair with her head still staring at the carpet. She didn’t notice Giles until he was in front of her and pulling her chin up. “I’m sorry, Buffy. But it’s for the best.”

“I know,” was all she said before she left his office and started to pack her things from her desk.

*******************

Spike continued to repeat in his head, must kill Lindsey, must kill Lindsey, over and over again. Stupid lawyer!

He was stuck. 15 years to life.

He was only there for 3 days and he was already feeling like tunneling under the walls to freedom. But a ray of hope shined when the guard told Spike he had a visitor. Only one person it could be…

“Hey Angel. How’s Dru?”

“She’ll be ok. She won’t even notice you’re gone. I’ll make a life-size cardboard cut out of you for her.” Angel laughed while Spike merely chuckled. “You know you deserve what you got. Letting that cop right into your office? Silly boy.” Angel was seeming to be going easy on him, but Spike knew that if it wasn’t for the thick plexy glass, he’d be dead now.

“I was rash. Over my head.” Spike didn’t bother giving excuses. “How’s the misses?”

“Darla’s ok. In a mood as always. Staying with her father for a while.”

“She doesn’t know how good she’s got it with you, bro.” slightly comforting his brother. Spike laughed at that. He’s the one doing the comforting and he’s the one behind bars.

“Yeah.” Angel agreed. “Life on the inside real bad?”

“You got to get me out of here man! I think I’m already going crazy!” Spike said in a very dramatic panic that was half mockery.

“Sorry. Nothing I can do.” Angel saw Spike’s saddened blue eyes. There was more there then the fact that he had to spend 15 years in jail. “Hey, what’s else is wrong?”

He looked up at his broad-shouldered brother, “There’s this cop. She really had it in for me. She gave me this.” He pointed to the purple that was under his left eye. If Angel saw him the day he got in, it was so swollen that Spike was blind in that eye.

“Whoa. Big chick? Don’t worry, I’ll take care of her…” Angel offered what Spike interrupted.

“No, no, no. She was a small thing but… hell man, she flipped over a heavy metal table easily. And she was screaming at me that I killed her brother or some shit like that.”

“Really? Well, I know you Spike. You wouldn’t harm a fly.” Spike was a bit insulted by this. 20 years trying to put on the persona of a Big Bad and yet his brother still saw him as the poetry-writing geek with a chemistry set. But the pang of guilt that started when he was left alone in that room again after the cops attack on him made him think…

“What if he… what if I… made a bad batch?”

“William…” Angel usually calls him ‘Willy’, unless he’s trying to be the comforting brother. “You didn’t mess up. I always had people test your stuff before we send it out. Nothing was wrong. If he died using your stuff, he probably used too much. So stop with the guilt trip already. You’re a great guy, and you have nothing to worry about.” Spike gave him a look and Angel realized the flaw in what he said. “Well, besides this.” He chuckled.

Spike let out his own chuckle. “Is Dru going to visit?” he said hopefully.

“She never likes being around the blues, you know that.” Angel reply apologetically.

“Tell her to write me ok. The only thing that going to make this place hell is being without her.” Spike almost sobbed at that.

“Will do. If she can still write that is.” Another chuckle. “See ya around Willy.”

“Bye Ang.” They hung up the phones they talked to each other with and headed back to their lives.

This bloody sucks.

AN: the line "Have you ever danced with the devil in the pale moonlight?" is from Batman. I always love that line and thought it would be cool to use it.
Review please, help me finish this story!

Chapter 2: Desperate Times…

Three Years Later

Buffy was sleeping on her desk again. Homicide almost seemed boring compared to Narcotics. Faith Thomas, Buffy’s partner, finally woke her up to tell her that it was 3:00 in the morning. Buffy groggily got her stuff and headed for home.

Once she got home, she went straight to the bathroom. She looked at the bags under her eyes for quite a while until she notice the mustard stain on her white blouse. How did that get… oh yeah, hotdog, Buffy whined in her head. She hadn’t had any real food since her mother died last year, making Buffy the soul guardian of a hormone-enraged 16 year old girl.

These were the times she wished Sam were around. He was always good with Dawn. Sure he had a lot of personal problems but when he was babysitting her and/or Dawn, you couldn’t want a better brother.

“Oh, you’re home.” Damn said with a yawn.

“What are you doing up?” Buffy asked in surprise to the taller form in the doorway.

“Nature calls.” Dawn pointed to the toilet. Buffy then left to let her do her business.

She went to the small kitchen in their apartment and started looking for something to eat. Oh, I didn’t finish off that yogurt, Buffy’s stomach said to her brain. She grabs the small container, opened it and realized when she last tried to eat that. Not that hungry, her brain said back to her stomach.

The sound of a flush and a door opening caught Buffy’s attention as Dawn walked into the living space and looked at her older sister. “Sorry, didn’t get around to go to the market. All we basically got is plain bread with nothing to put on it.” When it came to Dawn, nothing to put on bread meant there was absolutely nothing, not even ranch dressing.

Buffy went to the cupboard and pulled out the small loaf of bread and pulled two pieces. “I said there’s nothing to put on it though.” Dawn told Buffy not thinking that she heard her.

“I know. But the tummy demands something… anything really. Even your peanut-butter quesidias.” Buffy laughed at her sister’s experimentations with different foods. Dawn gave her an annoyed look, but Buffy was used to it.

She finished her two plain slices of bread and noticed Dawn asleep on the couch… again. Has she ever learned the proper uses of a bed? Buffy thought. She turned off the TV and picked up the blanket on the comfy chair to put over Dawn. After that, Buffy went to her own room and easily fell into a dreamless sleep.

*******************

Jail wasn’t as bad as Spike thought at first. Some guys tried to take a piece of him, but one brawl where he ended up the victor and that was all over. He wasn’t running the place, but he got enough respect to be left alone.

What he liked the most was his cellmate, Clem. A sweet guy who you’d think wouldn’t harm a fly, that is until you get him angry. Spike asked him once what he was in for and Clem completely shutdown, putting up a brick barrier around the subject. He got the hint and talked to Clem about other things.

He was almost enjoying himself there, until 2 months ago. His fiancé, Dru, sent her last letter with her ring. Said she met someone else and didn’t bother to apologize. Soon after that, Angel stopped visiting. The last thing Spike got from the outside world was his bleach. Now he was almost fully brunette again. He couldn’t bear looking in the mirror anymore, he was reminded of the weakling he was before Angel help him out.

Spike and Angel weren’t brothers by blood, but they were both orphans in the same joint. Angel was a lifer, the only way he was getting out, was his 18th birthday. He was the son of a crack whore who left if on in the waiting room of some hospital. From birth, Angel was addicted to meth but after time he got over that.

Spike on the other hand was 5 when his mother died in a car accident. He was born in London, but through his father, he had American citizenship so he continued to live in the states.

At first, Angel teased William about his poetry endlessly. But they grew a bond when some kids started fighting with little William. Angel took him under his wing, taught him to fight, to act tough, and to stay calm in difficult events.

When Angel left when he was 18, William ran away to join him.

Now Spike was abandoned by the man who taught him everything, who gave him everything. He told Clem of all his frustrations and he was sympathetic.

Spike wondered what would’ve happened to make everyone he loved on the outside turn on him. One thought came to mind, but that was ridiculous. But a voice in his head was always bringing it up; she’s sleeping with Angel. No, that can’t be, Spike reasoned. He must’ve done something. No matter how many times the voice would tell him about Dru’s probable affair with his brother, he would continue to blame himself. Spike was always one for self-punishment.

Clem would try to take his mind off the subject of Dru and Angel by bring up discussions about Knight Rider, Passions, or other television programs that they liked. Spike was glad that Clem was doing his best to comfort him. With Clem, this place could be at least a little bearable, but it started to get worse and worse over time…

*******************

Wesley called Buffy into his office. These were the times she really missed Giles. Wesley was all about duty and by the book, the kind of captain that would get on your nerves.

“What’s up cap’n?” Buffy said in mock cheer as she entered his office.

Wesley scoffed her total lack of respect for her superior. “It’s to do with The Gentleman case.”

“Oh?” She said as she set herself down in the seat in front of his desk. “Is that the guy who kills women after they leave galleries and cocktail parties and the such?”

“Yes… it is.” Wesley answered. “We got the toxicology report back and thought you might find it interesting.” He handed her the file.

“Oh? Why?” She asked curiously as she skimmed the pages.

“The chemicals in their system seem to match up with the chemicals someone you know uses.”

She looked at the list of toxins found in the bodies of the murdered women. They definitely striked a bell, a very loud bell. “No. I put this guy away three years ago.” She said as she handed the file back, “It can’t be him.”

“I wasn’t saying that it was. But he might know who would be getting his hands on the drugs.” Wesley was also telling Buffy something else. Something that really pissed her off…

“I am not going to see Spike!” She yelled as she stood up, looking down at her boss as he took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.

“I wasn’t asking Buffy.” He put his glasses back on and looked up at the petite blond, “But it’s the only connection we have to the killer.”

He was working on her conscious. She hated that. Giles would sweet-talk her to do curtain cases, but Wesley guilted her into working the case. “Alright. I’ll talk to him. But don’t get angry at me if I give him a good punch or two. Just a warning. He’s the reason I was transferred here from Narcotics.”

“Yes, I remember reading that in your report when you got here.” He said with a smile of satisfaction. “I’ve already set up a meeting for you with him in 2 hours.”

“What?!” she screamed in disbelief. “You were going to make me go no matter what, were you?”

“I am your boss that last time I looked.” Wesley handed her back the file. “Send William my regards.”

She snatched the file and left his office in a huff. But before leaving, “I do this and I’m done with this case, right?” He nodded and she slammed the door as she left.

Wesley smiled at her display. He was pleased with himself too. He put his feet on his desk and leaned back in his chair, but he leaned too much and fell to the ground. Oi, thank God no one saw that, Wesley sighed in relief until he saw Faith giggling in the window. He gave her an annoyed look and she went back to her desk. Why did I pair off the two most irritating officers I have together? he asked himself.

*******************

Buffy waiting in meeting room. She came early so that she could brush up on her Snow drug family history. Spike got his nickname from creating the strongest homemade drugs in the city. Angel was given his name because he was first taken in by some nuns who couldn’t resist his cuteness.

Buffy’s seen pictures of Angel, not so bad looking, but after three years he gained weight and muscle and lost his neck. The guy was now a hulk, and Buffy never though guys without necks were all that attractive.

For some reason, she started thinking about what her love life was like. That didn’t take long cause she never had a steady boyfriend. In high school, she was the quiet girl taking her Judo lessons without anyone’s noticing. In the academy, she flirted and had one-nightstands with some guys when she was drunk enough to say “yes”. In Narcotics, she was completely married to her work. And now, she was hoping that she would’ve met a guy now and settled down, but her mother’s death and the raising of Dawn squashed her dreams of a relationship with any guy.

The door finally opened to revile Lindsey McDonald and William snow wearing his gray jump suit. Lindsay must’ve forgotten to tell Spike who was going to talk to him ‘cause he was in utter shock at the sight of her and tried to keep and defensive distance. It almost made Buffy laughed to see him squirm, but she was here on business and the sooner Spike was out of her life again, the better.

Lindsey took a seat between Spike and Buffy, “You said that you’ve got something to offer us?”

“Yes, I have.” She directed to Lindsey and then straight to Spike. “Have you heard of The Gentleman killer?”

“Yeah, word gets around in the jailhouse. The fellas in here always like a good laugh.” He was purposely trying to provoke her, but Buffy was ordered to take Anger Management courses when she was transferred to Homicide, so his banter didn’t affect her at all.

“Well, that’s sweet.” She said, proud that she kept her cool instead of leaping at his throat. Why did I think this was going to be difficult? she thought. “But we at found a connection from the killer… to you.”

Spike raised his scarred eyebrow. She remembers that scar, she gave it to him the that interrogation room. The fact it was still there to remind him every time he looked in the mirror created the beginnings of a smile. “Well, since I have a pretty air-tight alibi, you can surely right me off as a suspect. And what’s a Narc doing with a murder case anyway?”

“Not in narcotics anymore, I’ve been in homicide for the past three years.”

“I was your last bust, eh? Got the revenge you wanted since I was put away?” He knew she must’ve worked out most of her anger, but bringing up her brother was going to make her flinch.

It worked. But Buffy stayed on the ball, “Is there anyone you know who could have used the same chemicals you did to make you’re drugs?”

“They were all household items, plus some stuff stolen from labs. I guessing any bloke could have made his own if he had the brains for it.” Spike shrugged while giving himself an ego boost.

She scoffed. Spike, with brains? That’s a laugh. “They found the exact same toxins in the exact amount of the drugs you made, care to comment?”

“Got no idea.” Spike shrugged again, “I’ve been outta the game for a while. Lost contacts with some people.” A hit of pain came out as he said this, but Buffy didn’t catch it, she hated this man too much to worry about his pain. “Maybe you should try Angel. He’d know. So if that all…” He started to get up out of his chair but froze when Buffy repeated his movements.

“We’re not done.” She raised her voice in anger. Spike sat back down at her words. Lindsey started wondered why the hell he was there, then his mind drifted to other cases he was trying to work on. No one noticed the cowboy lawyer. “I understand that you had assistants working for you, making the drugs. Care to give me a few names?”

Finally, Lindsey was included when Spike nudged his shoulder. “What? Huh?” Both Buffy and Spike looked at him with distain. How the hell did this guy pass the BAR? they both thought. Buffy repeated herself, “Before names are given, we need to see what’s on the table.” He said as though he was doing his job the whole time. Spike rolled his eyes, and Buffy soon did the same.

“We’re willing to knock off 2 years off his sentence if he gives the names.” Buffy hated the idea, but repeated exactly what Wesley had said to her before she left.

The Lawyer and the Blond whispered to each other for about two minutes. During this time, Buffy found that her finger nails were quite fascinating.

“5 Years.” Lindsey finally said catching Buffy’s attention.

“No way. 2 or no deal.” With that, Spike stood up and Lindsey soon followed him as they started to leave. “Wait!” Buffy exhales deeply as she considered their request. “I’ll take it to my superior and see what he says.”

Spike then gave her a smirk that made Buffy’s skin crawl. He knew she’d cave. “Right then. Same time tomorrow?” He asked as if he was asking her out on a date. Buffy’s stomach started to turn at his tone.

“Whatever.” They left her alone to clean up the files she had spreaded out when she was waiting for the two to show up. When she knew she was alone she uttered, “I’m going to kill that son of a bitch. I don’t care what it takes.”

*******************

She entered the offices to find her partner being comforted by the department’s psychiatrist. Wesley was nearby, watching Faith with caring eyes. Buffy made her way to him and asked what was going on.

Wesley pointed his head to his office so that he could tell her in private. He lead the way not looking at Buffy until she closed his office door. “Do you remember Tara? Faith’s cousin?”

“Yeah, they were practically sisters. Attached at the hip. Why?”

Wesley had trouble getting the word to come out of his mouth. But after a while he found out how to tell her that, “We found her body. She’s dead.”

This was utter shock to Buffy. Tara was nothing like Faith, she was modest, innocent, sweet, and caring. How could someone so rare in the world just be dead? “H-how?” Buffy stuttered.

“The Gentleman.” Wesley said trying to hold back his own tears. Everybody close to Faith knew Tara, Wesley thought of her almost as family as well as everyone who worked there, though he never would admit that out loud. “She was murdered.”

Buffy knees all of a sudden gave. The last time she felt like this was when the doctors told her, her mother, and Dawn that Sam was brain-dead and would never come out of the coma.

Wesley caught her before she completely fell to the ground and lead to the chair in front of his desk. He quickly went to the cooler in the corner and got Buffy some water. She drank it down in one gulp, coughing afterwards. Wesley again went and got her more water. This time she just stared at the clear liquid.

She tried to bury the pain in the pit of her stomach. That wasn’t a wise thing since the last time she did that, it exploded back at her when she attacked Spike. She knew this, but needed to do her job. She wasn’t getting paid for mopping. “Spike… he says he’ll tell if we take off 5 instead of 2.”

Wesley was shocked that she was changing the subject. Well, she wasn’t changing the subject really. “We need those names. We can give him the 5 years.” He said without giving it a second thought. He should actually talk to the DA about it, but these were desperate times…

AN: I thought is was kinda funny to have Lindsey be an idiot attorney.
I'm sad to say that the next chapter most likely won't be posted until after New Years. I'm moving soon and won't have internet access for a while.
Hope you enjoied this chapter and REVIEW!!!

Chapter 3: Desperate Measures

Spike strutted down the walkway to his cell after his second meeting with the cop. I gotta learn that bint’s name, he commented to himself. He was getting five years knocked off his sentence. But that still meant he had 7 more years to go. That thought brought him down from his small high.

Honestly, the stories of The Gentleman made him sick to his stomach. He hated death, most of all murder. Maybe it had something to do with the guilt she laid on him 3 years ago or maybe it was because…

He reached his cell and saw an energetic Clem waiting. Why Clem was almost always in a good mood continued to puzzle Spike, but it was good thing to see in a place so depressing. “So… how’d it go?” Clem asked as if Spike went out on a hot date and came back the next morning.

“7 more years of this rat hole.” He said with a smile. Clem’s cheeriness was always infectious to Spike.

“Yea! Much better than 12, huh?” Clem asked while jumping up and down slightly, not caring that the loose skin on his arm was waving back and forth.

“Much, much better.” Spike’s smile was wider now at the hilarious sight of Clem’s enthusiasm. But soon, the smile started to fade and Clem stopped moving to turn from cheery to concerned.

“Hey man, what’s the problem. This is a happy day.” He tried to cheer Spike up again.

Spike was silent for a little while until, “It just this wanker, The Gentleman. You heard of him?”

It was kind of a stupid question. Everyone in the joint would always hear about the terrors of the outside world, just waiting for some fresh fish to come swimming into their hooks. Clem merely nodded at Spike’s question.

“He’s been using my stuff to knock out those women.” He said with a pang of guilt avoiding eye contact. Buffy showed him the toxicology report after he’d taken the deal. It was definitely his stuff, no doubt about it. Oh my god, Spike thought as he looked at the list of toxins, but Angel’s voice popped in his head to tell him to stay tough.

Clem’s voice brought Spike back to the present. “… you’re not to blame.” was all Spike could make out.

“Yeah. I know but…” Spike trailed off and went back to the meeting with the blond cop.

What mostly stuck in his head were pictures of the victims, 4 in all. They were placed in open fields, their arms crossed around their chests to cover the deep open wound where their hearts were ripped out, two tiny puncture wounds to their throats, needle marks right into the jugular. Spike heard of people shooting up that way, it kinda made him queasy thinking about it.

Their cause of death was overdose, the heart removal was post-mortem. Each victim died from a different drug, all of them designed by him.

He thought it was kinda strange that the cop wasn’t trying to pin all these murders on him, cause she had no problem blaming him for her brother’s death.

Trying to avoid the guilt that formed into a lump in his throat, he came back to see Clem waiting for Spike to finish his sentence. “I…I knew… those girls. All of ‘em.”

Clem took a step back, trying to get a better look at Spike to see if he was joking or not. Clem didn’t like his observation, “You… you’re serious? His guy killed dames you knew? And with the stuff you made?”

The lump came to Spike anyway, keeping him from talking, so he just nodded.

“Holy shit!”

*******************

Buffy got the list. Her work with Spike was done. She let out a long sigh after it was over. Get this to Wesley, then I’m off the case, and then I’m going to take the longest bubble bath in history, Buffy planned.

She plopped the list on Wesley’s desk while he was working on more paperwork. As she was trying to leave the office, Wesley spoke, “There’s a bit of a problem…”

“Problem?” Buffy turned around but her hand was still on the doorknob.

“I got a call from Snow’s Lawyer.” Dammit, just when I thought it was over, Buffy complained in her head. “It seems that he has more information that would be useful to the case.”

“Yeah, the list is right there.” Buffy started to leave again until Wesley’s voice intervened.

“He says he knew all the victims.” Buffy spun right around.

“He-he’s lying! There is no way he knew Tara! Tara was…”

“A former drug addict.” Wesley finished for her. Buffy blinked. No way, she thought. “Yes, hard to believe. It was after her mother died. Faith noticed the problem and got her cleaned up.”

In utter shock, Buffy dropped her small body on the chair in front of the desk. “How did I not know of this?” She finally asked while in a form of dream-state.

“Tara was not proud of that fact, and Faith respected that. I only know because Faith asked me to help her out.” Wesley admitted, half hoping that he didn’t expose too much of his caring side.

She was too dumbstruck to say anything. She just sat there for a minute with Wesley looking straight at her, waiting for her to at least move. She did, without a word, she was back at the door. She had it half open when, “We need to go back to talk to Spike again.” Wesley’s voice told her back. She nodded and went home.

*******************

Buffy was happy that this time Wesley was joining her. She didn’t know why, but she sure needed the support to face this jerk-off again.

Spike entered, this time without a lawyer. They had a little spat on the phone and Spike told him to “Sod off.” Hell, he felt safer without the cowboy attorney. Mostly when he noticed that there was another cop with the fiery blond. Someone to hold the shrew down, Spike giggled to himself.

Spike took a seat. Without a word, Wesley pulled out the photos of the girls in the order they were killed. “So… who are they?” Wesley spoke in a calming and yet almost breaking voice when he pulled out Tara’s picture.

Spike examined the pictures, swallowing back the bile that was threatening to come forth. “The first one, Cordelia Chase. She dated Angel for a little while, worked with us until she got herself clean. Anya, I didn’t catch her last name, she was a major regular, always haggled when buying. She decided she liked her money more than the dope. Harmony Kendall, she…” this one was the hardest to look at and talk about, “she traded sexual favors with me for a fix. Last I heard, she was buying stuff from some other people. Tara Maclay,” Buffy flinch at the fact he easily said her full name as if she was… “sweet girl. Didn’t stay all that long, rebel-teen phase I guess. Family helped her out.” Then he pushed the pictures back to Wesley and exhaled deeply. “That’s it.”

Wesley also let out a breath that he didn’t know he was holding. He carefully put the pictures back into the folder and set it aside. He then picked up another folder what contained on single piece of paper and handed it to Spike.

“What’s this?” Spike looked puzzled.

Wesley looked at Buffy apologetically. She had no idea what he was sorry for, until he said, “Temporary release form. Sort of like a work program, only you work for us. And if you help us nab the bastard, maybe you can be a free man again.”

Those last three word dove into Buffy’s stomach and twisted and jabbed inside. He never said he was going to do anything like this. “Is this necessary? Why release him? He’ll just escape and flee to… Mexico.” She was just trying to find an excuse to change Wesley’s mind. Obviously he wasn’t thinking to clearly when he made this decision.

“He may. But the officer I’m placing him with would rather kill him then let him leave the city.” As he said this, he looked directly into Buffy’s eyes. They widened when she knew what he was talking about.

“ME!”

“HER!” Spike yelled out. He threw the paper back to Wesley. “No, no, no, no, no. Not her. I’d rather be here for 70 more years in solitary without a shit-bucket.”

“That could be arranged.” Wesley told him threatenly.

“Can I talk to you?” Buffy practically pulled Wesley out of his chair and to the corner of the room. Spike strained trying to listen to what was being heard, but didn’t catch her saying, “Are you nuts?! Letting him out? And dropping him on MY lap?” She noticed Spike trying to listen in. Even though he didn’t hear a thing, Buffy quieted down. “I have my 16 year old sister living with me. And you want me to expose her to THAT?”

“I’m not asking you to LIVE with him. You’re in charge. I took the liberty to rent the apartment across the hall from you. He’s going to be rooming with Officer Ha… What?” he asked as she gave him a disgusted look.

“You took the LIBERTY? You went behind my back! Why didn’t you say any of this to me before?”

“Because you would’ve refused.”

“Damn right I would’ve.”

“I’m not asking Buffy.” Wesley gave her his stone-face, he was meaning business and he didn’t care if anybody’s feelings were going to be hurt in the process. “I’m ordering you to take custody of William Snow. Now as I was saying. He’s going to be living with Officer Harris…”

“Xander? He’s a pushover!” She didn’t like saying that. Xander was a great guy, hell, one of her best friends. But she wasn’t blind to his clumsiness and immaturity.

“Shall I continue?” He almost yelled in annoyance. “You just have to live with this. Remember, this is about a serial killer, not a vendetta between you and Spike. People’s lives are hanging on this. Do you want people to die because of your hatred for this man?”

It was a dumb question, she didn’t really need to answer, “No.”

“Alright then.” With that, he turned back to the convict. Buffy didn’t have a choice in this, but Spike did. He was either in or out.

Wesley explained to Spike about the circumstance. He was relieved to know that Buffy wasn’t going to be hovering over him like vulture 24 hours a day. He wondered what this Xander Harris was like.

Truth be known, Spike already said yes. The “free man” thing lingered in his mind. If he got out, he could try to win Dru back. But also because Spike didn’t want any deaths on his conscience. The Gentleman was using Spike’s knowledge to kill women he knew. And there are still some out there that could be would-be victims.

The conversation lasted 15 minutes until Spike took the pen and signed the form. Buffy then signed after that, and Wesley finished with his signature. It was done.




AN: While writing this I completely forgot about those ankle tracking bands that they put on people on bail. But after I wrote the chapter, I didn't want to add it anyway. I felt that it would conflict with some things in the story.
Don't know when I'm going to have the next chapter posted, things in my life are getting kinda crazy. For example, I'm sitting on a milk crate box as a computer chair and having to deal with dial-up after I've grown fond of cable internet. I am still under a cloud of writers block with this story. Soon, I might consider having someone write the rest or making the story a dual effort. So help would be appreciated.
Anyway, hopefully in the next chapter we'll have some words with the evil trio! And also the attraction begins between Buffy and Spike.