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Banner by Kris
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Words: 1,952
Chapter 5
Not Who You Think
“Spike.” She muttered wearily. “How did we get here?”
The vampire looked down at the girl before him and frowned. “You know me? Must have a good watcher, pet.”
“What’s this got to do with Giles?” She asked a frown marring her beautiful face. Not know where he was coming from she frowned up at him once more before holding her hand out. “Help me out of this bed please. I feel weak.”
A sneer crossed his lips, unknowing of what to do he looked from her and shoved her hand away.
“Spike? What’s the matter?” When he didn’t answer, Buffy began to panic. “Oh, God, is it Dawn? Did Glory come back? Spike, answer me damn it!”
“Shut. Up.” He growled at her in obvious irritation. “I don’t know what the bloody hell you’re blabbing about. Or how you know me, but who ever you think I am, I’m not him.”
“Spike?” She asked again cautiously, not wanting him to attack her. She hoped he would remember her, something was wrong and she felt as though she would need his help soon. She couldn’t help but feel a spell had something to do with his behaviour. “Talk to me… William?”
At his human name Spike glared over at her, and in a second had his hands gripped painfully around her upper arms. A small cry escaped her lips as Spike shook her.
“How do you know me?” He shook her harder as she began to cry. “Tell me!” His voice was cruel and cold as he shouted at her, not caring about the tears that fell from her eyes pitifully.
“Please... Spike… what happened to you?” Her vice got quieter as she spoke to the vampire who claimed to love her and was now treating her as some sort of rag doll. The thought of a doll gave Buffy an idea, although in his current mental state she should probably have kept quiet. “Did Drusilla come back again?”
“What? How the fuck did you know about Dru?” His anger turned to malice at what he assumed to be a threat against his lover. He lifted her from the bed and pulled her against him. Kneeling on the thin mattress, blankets wrapped around her calves, as a pissed off William the Bloody breathed against her neck threateningly, she realised it probably want the best time to piss him off further.
“Recently, only that she left you for a chaos demon more than once, that she loves Angelus more…” Not that she ever did what was best. With the name of her ex, Spike lifted Buffy clean off the hospital bed and threw her into the door. The banging echoed down the hall yet no one came to help her, scrambling up into a sitting position and away from Spike, she willed her legs to work.
Months of laying still ate away at muscles, sapping her strength and she didn’t know why. She had no idea why she was unable to stand for any amount of time right now.
“Dru did no such thing you lying bitch. What are you playing at?” His fangs elongated as his ridges form, hissing down at her he stalked forward as she gasped.
“You’re not my Spike. Who are you?” She asked as the fog seemed to lift, the spell was worse than she thought.
Stopping where he was he tilted his head to the side and studied her for a few moments, she looked so confused he couldn’t help but feel something akin to sympathy for her. Demon or not the look on her face was pitiful. He figured she really didn’t know him, or Dru, and reacting like this wouldn’t be good especially if she was the wrong person. Wouldn’t want granddad on his back for no reason.
“Told you pet. I’m not who you think I am.”
XXX
After stopping off at his apartment to feed Angel did a quick patrol of the closest cemeteries then headed back to the hospital to see Buffy. Upon arriving he was dragged off by Dr Crowell to be spoken to privately. Overcome with worry, Angel was cold to the other demon.
“What did you do?” He growled loudly. “If she’s hurt I’ll kill you.”
“Relax, he won’t hurt her.” At the mention of a man, Angel paled slightly. He had sent everyone home, who else would come to see Buffy and get into the room? “He hasn’t left yet, I thought I’d warn you first. Didn’t want a fight to break out on my shift, you see.”
He nodded to let Angel know that was all; he didn’t even get a name from the mysterious visitor. Opening the door Angel strode out and headed in the direction of Buffy’s room, knocking two nurses out of the way as he went.
XXX
“Where am I?” She asked as tears welled in her eyes and her voice cracked.
Spike frowned as he looked at her, feeling bad he moved closer to her again but not as menacingly as before. He held his hand out for her and unconsciously held his breath as he waited for her to grasp it. Once she had the unneeded air rushed from his lungs as he pulled the trembling girl to her feet.
“You’re at Sunnydale Memorial Hospital, pet. Far as I know, you’ve in a coma for a little over 3 and ½ months.”
At the expression on her face Spike’s grip tightened, she looked ready to pass out. He shook her softly, trying to help her snap out of her post-unconscious daze.
“Months?” She asked hesitantly.
“Yeah, way the vamps are speaking, seems the Master almost had himself a good day.”
His words stirred something inside of her, as she repeated the name of her killer in her mind images sprang forward and assaulted her. Weakening her further than she was already.
**“Welcome.” The Master greeted her, his voice echoing off the walls of the underground cavern, making Buffy feel as if he was all around her, closing in on her. And she knew she wouldn’t escape.
“Thanks for having me.” She stopped speaking for a moment to take a look around. Focusing on her surroundings she hardly noticed the Master step closer to her and into a small patch of light. “Y'know, you really oughtta talk to your contractor. Looks like you got some water damage.”
“Oh, good. The feeble banter portion of the fight. Why don't we just cut to the...”
She fired a cross bow bolt then, hoping to take him by surprise. She held her breath instinctively as the arrow soared across the room towards his heart, she dared not breathe incase the disturbance her inhaling and exhaling caused would throw the weapon off course. He shattered her hopes and illusions as he reached out swiftly and grabbed the wooden arrow mere centimeters from his undead heart.
“Nice shot.” He told her as he looked at the weapon in his hand appreciatively before throwing it down and disappearing into the shadows.
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~
He was behind her in a second, one hand wrapped around her throat as the other moved her jacket away from her jugular, pushing it down her shoulders and onto the floor, all the while whispering mockingly into her ear.
“You tried. It was noble of you. You heard the prophecy that I was about to break free and you came to stop me. But prophecies are tricky creatures. They don't tell you everything.” His voice lowered another octave. “You're the one that sets me free! If you hadn't come, I couldn't go. Think about that!”
Frozen with fear Buffy didn’t even try to fight him off, she had lost. It was too late. A lone tear trails down her cheek as she felt the Master sink his fangs into her previously unmarred neck. After a few sips he lets her go.
‘That’s all he’s taking? I’m dying for a few sips?’ She thought in hazy outrage before the darkness took her under.
“Oh, God! The power!” He shouted in joy as Buffy fell to her knees “And by the way...” He stops walking and looks down at her as she falls forward again to lay face first in the large puddle of water she had previously mocked. “I like your dress.”
~*~ ~*~ ~*~ ~*~**
Buffy coughs, water spewing from her mouth as her head turned to the side.
“Buffy?” A cautious Xander asks her.
“Xander?” She looked at him then to his opposite side. “Angel?” Trying to get up, she realized she couldn’t. “What the..?” She noticed she was no longer on the floor in the cavern, but in a hospital bed with Spike leaning over her once more.
“Luv, glad you’re awake, but we got to stop meeting like this.” A small smirk played against the seriousness of his face as he took in her confused features. “You wondering why we keep meeting like this?” When Buffy nodded he sighed. “Figures.”
He walked around to the other side of the bed, and sat down on the edge by Buffy’s head. Lifting her head and placing it in his lap as he moved closer to the headboard he stroked her hair softly. “Where to start?”
“The beginning?” She asked jokingly. It was after all the obvious solution.
“This is my dream, and your vision. If you will, call it what you want I guess. You’re life after all. Except you’re dead, luv. Harsh but true I know, don’t look at me like that.” At his words the look of anger and ‘slayer’ melted from her face to be replaced by resignation. “You died and saved the world. I said this part before you woke up.”
She just nodded her head, not wanting to interrupt him. “I don’t really remember what happens when I wake up, not consciously anyway. But you will. You’re in Heaven, pet. In a way, I guess you could call it that. And I’m your link to the real world. I’ll let you know how everyone is, even me at my worst.” He let out a humorless chuckle and sighed. “I really miss you pet.”
“Too bad you won’t remember, huh?” Spike smiled sadly and nodded.
“Anyway, this is your Heaven, your reward, you get what you want. A second chance, to love and I was selfish… I wanted to be here because in this world you’ll love me, if you let yourself.”
“I won’t love you. I’ll lov- like someone who looks like you. I don’t think I could ever love anyone but you Spike.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean, kitten.”
“But I do! I never got to tell you but I do.”
XXX
“I do.” She muttered wearily to herself as Spike placed her down on the bed again.
“Do what, luv?” He asked indulgently, he’d had enough practice with Dru to be an expert at this sort of thing.
“Love you Spike.” His eyes flew to hers, and she frowned. Looking back up at the ceiling she cried out, “don’t leave me here… take me home.”
Lifting the blankets over her tired form, Spike wrapped them around her and sighed. There was something weird going on with this chit, best to kill her and be done. Then why the hell was he still coddling her? He moved away from her with a sigh, looking over her again she didn’t seem to notice he was leaving. As he got to the door he heard her say something else and frowned, spinning back to face her, tears and all, he noticed she sat staring straight at him. And then she smiled!
“I miss you, too William.”
XXX
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