Hidden Agendas by angelic_amy

1. Watching. by angelic_amy

2. Regret. by angelic_amy

3. Discovery. by angelic_amy

4. Deceit. by angelic_amy

5. Frosty. by angelic_amy

6. Old Alliances, Re-established. by angelic_amy

7. Vanished. by angelic_amy

8. Unexpected Arrivals. by angelic_amy

9. Livid. by angelic_amy

10. Impossible Probabilities. by angelic_amy

11. Fighting. by angelic_amy

12. Return to the Living. by angelic_amy

13. Out of the Loop. by angelic_amy

14. Family. by angelic_amy

15. Diversion. by angelic_amy

16. Lies Exposed. by angelic_amy

17. Break In. by angelic_amy

18. Juvenile Disputes. by angelic_amy

19. Failure. by angelic_amy

20. Sleeping Arrangements. by angelic_amy

21. Back on the Horse. by angelic_amy

22. Train Wreck. by angelic_amy

23. Taken. by angelic_amy

24. Nightmares. by angelic_amy

25. Revelations. by angelic_amy

26. Unreachable. by angelic_amy

27. Liberation. by angelic_amy

28. Déjà Vu. by angelic_amy

29. Paying a Visit. by angelic_amy

30. Secrets and Stratagems. by angelic_amy

31. Units Unite. by angelic_amy

32. Ingenuity. by angelic_amy

33. Unprecedented Phenomena. by angelic_amy

34. Bombshell. by angelic_amy

35. Tying Up Loose Ends by angelic_amy

36. Chapters Close. by angelic_amy

37. A New Beginning. by angelic_amy

Watching. by angelic_amy
Disclaimer: This story is inspired by and contains characters from "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," a series that is wholly the intellectual property of Mutant Enemy, Twentieth Century Fox and Joss Whedon. This story is written without permission, with no intent of infringement or expectation of profit. I am not making any money from this! This fiction presented is for private sharing only. The author's owns nothing of the actual show. No commercial and/or trade purpose is intended to infringe the copyrights registered by official parties.

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HIDDEN AGENDAS

Chapter 1: Watching.


A pair of eyes watched her as she moved down the road, tracking her as she scoured the quiet street. Following no apparent path, she weaved in and out of side streets and alleys, constantly on the look out.

Hunting.

She moved with the grace of a dancer, her laid back stance concealing her true nature. To those who were unfamiliar with this creature, she appeared to be an easy target, slight of frame and short in stature. But those who knew her, saw her for what she really was, her true self.

A predator.

Those caught unprepared suffered for it, and she used that knowledge to her advantage.

Suddenly her pace slowed, as she approached the mouth of the alleyway. Turning slowly, she looked over her shoulder, studying the shadows. From his vantage point he knew it was unlikely he would be discovered, but he lowered his body, blending in with the darkness as a precaution. A small knowing smile played across her face, as if she realized someone was watching her from the dark. Yet she didn’t pursue it. Moments later she was on the move again, her attention now focused on what lay ahead.

The cold night wind ripped through his thin cotton shirt like a knife as he dropped from the roof top half a block away, landing on the ground without a sound. He knew that she sensed a presence but that did not deter him. He had a reason for being on the street tonight. As stealthily as possible he advanced on her position. It appeared he was not the only one who felt the cold, her shoulders trembled slightly as she shivered.

Gusts of wind whipped down the alleyway, catching her long hair, which danced about her head as if it had a life of its own. Frustrated, she took a hair band from her wrist and secured it from her face, tying it in a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. Seemingly satisfied she proceeded further into the alleyway.

The smell hit her with the force of a knock from a quarterback. The dank stench of rotting food, mixed in with a little urine and the sharpness of whiskey overwhelmed the street. Each time the wind rose, so did the smell. Her nose crinkled in disgust as she found herself in the center of it all.

“Gross….” she muttered.

He couldn’t help but chuckle quietly to himself as she tried to block the smell with one of the sleeves of her shirt. The smell did not bother him, he had the choice to block it out and one he wisely took.

A lone streetlamp cast its small beam onto the concrete lighting the path ahead a few meters. It was in this light that she found what she had been searching for; she had been hoping that she wouldn’t. That would have meant there was some chance things could work out better. But her discovery suggested otherwise. She had found it.

The body.

Crouching beside the pale young man she touched his neck, finding no pulse, his skin cool in comparison to her own. She was too late. Dropping her gaze for a moment, she pulled a short wooden shaft from her jeans pocket and twirled it in her hand. Moving away from the boy, she perched herself atop a stack of wooden pallets, waiting. She was not disappointed. Less than 15 minutes passed before the inevitable happened. The body began to arise.

Lifting herself from the crate, she stepped forward as he lifted himself to his feet. His head snapped towards her, a feral grin spreading across his face, his gaze staring from yellowed eyes. He made it a whole two steps before she plunged the wooden stake into his chest. Shock flashed across his face for a moment before his body exploded into ashes.

“I’m sorry Justin…” she said softly as she dropped her weapon to the ground. It clattered as it hit the pavement and rolled into the darkness.

Stepping from the shadows behind her, the man who had been following her announced his presence. “Lost your weapon, great plan there luv. You better hope you don’t run into any beasties on your way home.”

The young girl spun on the spot, a frown crossing her face. A hand lifted to her hip as she questioned him. “Spike… what are you doing here?”

The bleach haired vampire removed his cigarettes and lighter from the inside pocket of his long black duster and sparked one up. Inhaling deeply, he took a long drag before he responded.

“Got bored sitting around in my crypt, thought you might want some company.” he said with a raised eyebrow.

A look of realization dawned on her, which was quickly followed by an expression of disgust. “In your dreams Spike.”

“Always Buffy.” he responded with a smirk.

This rewarded him with a glare as she spun on her heal and walked through the alleyway and out the other end, headed in the direction of one of Sunnydale’s many cemeteries. He waited a few moments before following after her. In truth he did have some information to share that she might be interested in, he just liked watching her squirm.

“Hey wait up.” he called as he picked up his pace. He fell in line beside her, finishing his cigarette and flicking it away, extinguishing it with a firm stomp of his boot.

His face was mottled with bruises, and his right eye was still slightly swollen from a few nights ago. Glory had almost killed him, tortured him for hours and he had let her do it. He had resisted giving her the one thing she wanted. The identity of the key. Dawn. Had Buffy forgotten that already? He sure as hell hadn’t. And he hadn’t forgotten her visit to his crypt that night either.

Pretending to be the robot version of her self, she had slyly questioned him, extracting the information she wanted. She had needed to know her sister was safe. And Spike had bought it, thinking he was talking to the robot. That was until she kissed him. The feel of her lips on his had given away the truth. And she had thanked him. He couldn’t deny that his hope that one-day something may happen between them grew in that moment, but for now he was content with her gratitude. The chance that love would blossom between them was a slim one, he knew that, but it wasn’t going to lessen his efforts to prove himself to her. He wasn’t on a schedule here. Eternity stretched before him. He just had to be patient, something he wasn’t renowned for. But he could learn.

A man can change…

“What’s the hurry slayer… you got a hot date tonight?” he inquired, trying his best not to sound jealous, and feeling that he failed miserably.

Buffy stopped in her tracks and her face fell for a moment, and he instantly regretted his words. Soldier boy Riley Finn had only left a few weeks ago, and she was obviously still feeling the sting from that loss. Whilst Spike was glad the guy was gone and out of the slayers life, he knew that Buffy missed him being around, even thought she didn’t mention him much. Actually that was probably the biggest indicator. The momentary sadness in her eyes was quickly replaced with anger and he tried to apologise.

“I didn’t mean…”

“Save your breath.” she interrupted. “I’ve got work to do.”

She began marching off on him again and he reached out to slow her, grabbing her arm at the elbow. “Buffy…” he urged trying to stop her.

She responded by snatching her arm away from him and slamming her elbow up into his already battered face. Spike swore under his breath, a hand reaching up to touch his face, hissing when he realized his nose was bleeding. Again.

“Leave me alone Spike…”

The slayer walked off into the night, leaving the vampire behind clutching at his re-broken nose.

~~~

The key slipped easily into the lock and twisted silently. Buffy opened the front door and stepped inside, dropping her satchel on the floor as she closed the door behind her. It hit the floorboards with a THUNK and she instantly regretted being so careless. She might have woken Dawn.

Ascending the stairs to the bedrooms she passed by Dawn’s room and pressed herself up against the door, listening for any sounds of movement. All she heard were her sisters quiet snores. Feeling a little more relaxed she continued down the hall to her bedroom.

Once inside, she began peeling the layers of her dust coated clothing off until she was standing in her underwear. A loose singlet replaced her bra, which she combined with a pair of pyjama pants. She combed her hair, looking at her tired reflection in the mirror and wondering why people even bothered going outside at night anymore.

It had been a quiet night for patrolling, something that was uncharacteristic of Sunnydale. But the night had not been uneventful. Two stakings, one a newborn… Justin. Buffy had been walking past the Espresso Pump when a girl had ran screaming from an alleyway, calling for her boyfriend who had been attacked. Buffy had calmed the girl and taken off in the direction she had pointed out. After a few hours had passed with no sign of him, Buffy had feared the worst, which she subsequently stumbled upon in that alleyway. No body meant he couldn’t explain his disappearance to his girlfriend… she was going to be devastated.

Buffy sighed, again wondering why people continued to flock to the town. But she knew why, high mortality rates meant that property prices were low, which encouraged all types to settle down here, and most never saw the dark side of the town until it was too late. To the ignorant it was a picturesque town. Yet to the enlightened it was seen as a sleepy town by day, a dangerous place to venture at night. Her hometown sure had its quirks.

Sunnydale was located on top of a Hellmouth, which acted as a beacon attracting all types of creatures, some more dangerous than others. Tonight she had only come across vampires.

Yawning, she stretched her arms out and then padded over to her bed. Drawing back the blankets, she slipped in between the sheets and switched off her bedside lamp, the room filling with darkness. She closed her eyes and slowly drifted off to sleep.

~~~

Spike hadn’t meant to bring up soldier boy, hadn’t meant to cause her pain, but he had. And the effect of his completely innocent words had shown immediately. After the elbow to his nose, he had intended on catching up with her and giving her a piece of his mind. And he had almost caught up with her a few minutes after she had run off, a biting comment on the tip of his tongue when he noticed how dejected she looked. Her shoulders were slumped and she looked…. defeated. So instead of starting another war of the words, he had hung back and watched her as she made her way home.

Which is where he was now… on her front lawn. He watched from the shadows of the trees as she slipped inside her house.

Three cigarettes later, her bedroom light switched off and he turned on his heel and began walking back to his crypt.

~~~

Buffy stood amongst a field of daisies. Dawn was running ahead, laughing as she collected a bouquet of the pretty flowers. “Come on Buffy…” she called, her laughter ringing out again.

Giving chase, the slayer weaved in and out of the flowers, following the laughter. But the faster she pursued Dawn, the further away she became. “Dawn… slow down…” Buffy called, but her sister didn’t respond, she just laughed some more.

Panic rose within Buffy, her heart thumping against her rib cage as she began to frantically search for her sister. Her arms pumped up and down as she ran faster and faster until she began to feel nauseous from the speed. The flowers lifted from their roots and began spinning around her, the momentum growing as her panic rose. It felt as if the world was moving like a jumping castle, her feet sinking into the earth with every third step as the ground gave way. The strength of the shaking worsened and Buffy’s panic raised a notch.

Earthquake… her panic stricken mind screamed at her. She had to find her sister and get her to safety.

“Dawn! Where are you…”

A scream rang out and everything stopped. The world stopped shaking and the roses fell from the sky, falling like missiles as they hit the ground. Then she saw her ahead. Dawn was standing a few feet in front of her, and Buffy gasped in terror when the reality of what she was seeing hit her.

Dawn was clutching at her abdomen, pain etched across her face. She lifted a hand to examine it and found it to be covered in blood. Fear etched across her face as her hand fell limp beside her. “Buffy…” she whispered, her voice strangled in her throat as she gasped for air. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed in a heap amongst the ripped up daisies.

“DAWN!” Buffy screamed, as she dove to the ground beside her sister.


~~~

Buffy’s eyes flashed open and she instantly knew something wasn’t right. She moved to her side and almost rolled over a shoe. What is a shoe doing in my bed…? She thought for a moment, before she realized that she wasn’t in her bed anymore. She was on the floor. She had tossed and turned so much in her sleep and thrown herself out of the bed.

Using her elbows to lift herself into a seated position, she tried to recall the details of her nightmare. The images were slowly beginning to fade, but the look of terror on her sister’s face stuck with her. That expression, that look, had been too real.

Wanting to ease her worries, Buffy slipped out of her bedroom and walked down the hall to her sister’s room, opening the door slightly. Dawn was sound asleep. Closing the door she tiptoed back to her room, fixed her blankets and climbed back into bed.

~~~

Buffy wasn’t the only personally not sleeping well. Alone in his crypt in Restfield Cemetery, Spike tossed in his bead, haunted by his dreams.

~~~

“Buffy I love you….” he declared. He waited anxiously for her reaction; even though his mind screamed for him to turn on his heal and run before the inevitable train wreck that would be her response arrived. He needed to know the truth, needed to hear it from her.. And the truth he got. Buffy tipped her head back, her golden hair cascading over her shoulders, and laughed.

“You have got to be kidding me Spike…. I mean come on… what on earth made you think that YOU would have any chance with ME?” she replied.

Dropping his gaze to the floor he started to stammer, and when he looked up again he found him self on his knees, crouched before a brunette in a white and lavender silk dress, hair up in a quaff and long white silk gloves on her hands.

“Whatever gave you the idea that your affections would be returned William…?” said the haughty voice.

“My poems… you knew they were about you yet you did nothing to discourage me.” he said softly. “Please… I have better ones, let me read something to you.”

The brunette stood up and waved him off. “William I do not want your affections. I do notice you, and I cringe. You are beneath me.”

“Cecily…” came his breathy voice, on the verge of tears. But she was gone.

Another brunette woman, appeared from the shadows, and she smiled at him, her yellowed eyes fixated on his neck.

“The stars are singing to me and they tell me the pretty yellow bird is going to lose her wings…”

William raised to his feet and ran off.


~~~

Spike sat up in his double bed and rubbed at his forehead. “Bloody hell.”

~~~

A pair of eyes watched from the shadows, peering into the double story house on Revello Drive. The slayer was sleeping soundly in her bed, completely unawares as to what was happening right beneath her nose. All of the pieces were falling into place… it was just a matter of time before all the elements that were required aligned. And when that happened, it would be time.

The slayer would die.

Soon.

~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: This fic is my baby, the first piece of fiction I've ever written. So I hope you all like! Comments would be greatly appreciated.
Regret. by angelic_amy
Chapter 2: Regret.


Sunrise came and went yet the Summers house remained silent. The postman delivered the mail, a concerned neighbor dropped by with a care package and the phone rang three times. But no one stirred.

When Dawn finally awoke, it was after 10am and she was very late for school. She rushed into Buffy’s room and shook her sister, trying to wake her. Buffy stirred and rolled over, burying her face in her pillows. Frustrated, the younger sister walked over to the window and opened the blinds. That gained a reaction.

“Dawn… go back to bed, it’s too early…” Buffy mumbled through a pillow blocking the sunlight from her eyes.

“Buffy it’s after 10.” Dawn replied.

That got Buffy’s attention! She sat bolt upright in her bed and reached for her alarm clock. Dawn was right. They had both slept through their alarms, or in Buffy’s case, forgotten to set it in the first place.

“Oh my god Dawn you’re late for school…” she gasped as she pulled herself from bed and walked over to her closet to fish out some clothing, just something to wear whilst she drove Dawn to school. Normally she wouldn’t resort to such drastic action, everyone who knew her knew just how badly she drove, but Dawn was more than just a little bit late.

“I know...” came the slow response. “So maybe I could just stay home for the day, you know, have a day with just the two of us.”

Buffy stopped the frantic foraging she was doing in her closet and turned to look at her younger sister. Hope filled her eyes, accompanied by a little uncertainty. Ever since… since… God Buffy couldn’t even finish the thought. Ever since IT happened, they hadn’t had many opportunities to spend time together, just the two of them. People were always coming over to check up on them.

“Well I suppose you are really late…” Buffy started.

Dawn lunged forward and dragged her sister into a tight embrace, hugging her around the neck. “This is going to be soooo cool!” she said excitedly. “We can go to the Magic Box, and hang with the gang…”

Returning the hug, Buffy eventually had to peel Dawn’s arms away from her neck. “Sounds good, but if we’re going anywhere then we both need to shower first.”

“Yeah you really stink…” Dawn commented.

Buffy’s jaw dropped. Sure she hadn’t had the chance to shower when she got home from patrol last night, but she didn’t think she smelled that bad! Dawn saw the look of shock on Buffy’s face and laughed.

“You smell like grass stains and dirt… nothing major in terms of whiff factor.” she clarified.

Pushing Dawn out of her room, Buffy smiled. Dawn was cracking jokes… this was a good thing. The house hadn’t been the same since… since Mom. But if Dawn was cracking jokes, then she must be ok-ish. Grabbing her dressing gown she darted for the bathroom door.

“Beat you to the shower!” Buffy cried as she slammed the door quickly.

Dawn pouted and returned to her room to pick out an outfit for the day.

~~~

“Giles it really shook me up…” Buffy said fidgeting in the chair she was sitting on. “It seemed so real.”

Giles removed his glasses and wiped them with his handkerchief before returning them to the bridge of his nose. He was intrigued by her dream. Buffy was known to have dreams of a prophetic nature, but he wasn’t certain this was one of them. With everything that had happened of late, it might just be her mind panicking about the possibility of more loss. But telling her not to worry was not going to satisfy her.

“Buffy it was a horrible dream yes, but I’m not certain it is one of your prophetic dreams. Do you think possibly it could just be your fears for Dawn’s safety have filtered into your dreams? Glory is still out there and she hasn’t shown any sign of letting up on her search for the key.”

Buffy shrugged her shoulders, standing up. She began pacing the room as she considered Giles’ suggestion. It wasn’t a far stretch, and she had been a little high strung of late considering all that had happened over the last month… and she certainly didn’t need to take a trip down memory lane right now.

“Maybe you're right…” she said with a sigh. “I guess I have been a little on edge lately…”

“…With due reason.” Giles interrupted.

Buffy nodded slowly as she stopped pacing and turned to look at her watcher. “Giles, if anything was to happen to Dawn I don’t know if…”

“…Nothing is going to happen to Dawn.” He interrupted again. “We’ll look after her.” He promised, a gentle smile crossing his face.

The bell attached to entrance door of the shop tinkled signaling someone had entered, and Buffy was immediately on the defensive. Moments later she relaxed. It was just a young woman. A young woman who was not Glory. Deciding she needed to burn off some of her pent up energy, she headed towards the training room.

Giles nodded letting her know he would come get her if she was needed.

“Welcome to the Magic Box. Please by lots of things and give me your money.” Anya greeted, a beaming smile stretched across her face.

The potential customer eyed Anya with an expression of distrust before she began wandering about the shop, picking up and touching items. Giles couldn’t hide his amusement, grinning at the look of confusion on Anya’s face.

“I was friendly and polite, and encouraged her to buy things, why does she look at me with such distrust?” Anya asked bemused.

Giles was about to explain to her that maybe she was a little too eager about telling the customers to part with their money when the bell on the door tinkled again. The person that entered didn’t look to be the friendliest guy on the planet. To be truthful, he wasn’t actually a person. He was a demon, and he appeared to be carrying not one, but three swords in his four arms, the other hefted a large bag.

“Buffy, would you join us out her for a moment please…” Giles called over his shoulder calmly, not tearing his eyes away from the demon.

The slayer appeared from the back room, stretching her arms as she moved into the room towards her watchers side. The young woman who had been browsing dropped the statuette she had been holding and ran screaming from the shop.

“That’s a one of a kind!” Anya yelled indignantly as she walked over to pick up the pieces. Perhaps Willow could fix it later…

“By the looks of all the swords I’m guessing not the friendly variety…” Buffy said with a hint of sarcasm to Giles, as she picked up a dagger from the counter beside the register.

“Try not to damage the blade, I have a potential buyer for that expensive knife…” Anya’s voice sang out.

Buffy rolled her eyes then took a few steps towards the demon. His skin was ice blue, almost transparent, and looked like it would shatter when it was touched. Here’s hoping… she thought idly. He was sort of humanoid in appearance if you could forgive the two pairs of arms and razor sharp teeth that looked like ice picks that hung from his gaping maw of a mouth.

The three arms carrying swords snaked about his body in an almost hypnotic fashion, each blade coming close, but never touching him, or each other. The fourth arm carrying the large bag finally seemed to give up and dropped it to the ground, a loud clanging noise ringing out on impact.

Buffy had seen enough, this guy looked dangerous.

“You had to come indoors for this? Why can’t you demons ever start a fight outside where there is less chance of damaging valuable merchandise?” Anya demanded.

The slayer took two quick steps forward and launched herself feet first at the demon, the force of her kick knocking him in the chest and sending him flying back towards the door that he had entered from. Buffy flipped in the air and landed on her feet a few feet from the demon, switching the blade in her right hand to her left, and balling her right fist. She retracted her arm to swing forward and was about to send the punch when something smashed through the front window of the shop. Something covered in a smoking blanket.

“Spike!?” Buffy said incredulously. “Don’t you have anything better to do?”

Spike rolled away from the light that shone in from the shattered window, and threw the blanket off of him. He stood up, straightening his jacket and grinned at Buffy.

“Oh come on slayer… aren’t you the least bit intrigued why I’m smashing through windows in broad daylight? I haven’t got a death wish…”

“Could’ve fooled me…” Buffy spat back. “Breaking the windows in the Magic Box with Anya inside…”

“Hey!” Anya cried indignantly, before shrugging her shoulders when she realized that Buffy had a point. “I’ll invoice you.”

Spike brushed it off. It wasn’t like he had any money to pay for it anyway. He opened his mouth to speak but Buffy cut him off.

“NO Spike, I don’t want to hear it.”

She sighed in frustration; she couldn’t believe Spike’s timing. The demon was beginning to lift itself to its feet, and was trying to gather its swords. Keeping her eyes on Spike, she spun her right elbow backwards into the demon face, knocking him to the floor once more.

“Can’t you see I’m kinda busy here…” she added with a grimace.

“He’s not evil.” Spike announced pointing at the demon sprawled on the ground.

“Pfft.” She responded. “You expect me to believe that he’s not…”

“Don’t believe me pet? Take a look at him.”

Buffy looked over her shoulder at the slumped form of the demon. He had reached into his pocket and pulled out a business card, and was extending it in her direction.

“Thorak designs…” she read aloud.

“Oh dear lord.” Came a voice from behind her. Giles walked up next to her and took the business card from her hands. “My new weapons supplier…”

Buffy looked aghast at Giles. “And you forgot to mention this little detail to me before I started pounding his face?”

Giles shrugged apologetically. “I thought Thorak was a Cheplov demon, not a Vistagree.”

”My apologies for my mistake.” He offered to the demon who had now lifted himself to his feet.

“No apology necessary.” Came his reply. His voice was kind of haggard, which might be in part due to the wallop that Buffy gave him. “Happens all the time. Well it’s not normally a slayer that’s laying into me, but the getting beaten up is kind of familiar.“

“I tried to tell you about him last night but you were too busy pounding my face to listen.” Spike snorted.

He lifted himself up onto a bench and lit up a cigarette, taking a long hard drag of it. He continued his smart assed remarks with a raised eyebrow. “Why else do you think I was following you last night…?”

Buffy rolled her eyes and turned to face the Visagoo… or something demon that was Giles’ new supplier.

“I am so sorry. If I had known I would never have…”

The demon raised a hand to shush her. “No apology necessary. I’m just excited to finally meet the Chosen One. Even if it was a fist first introduction.”

Spike rolled his eyes, and Buffy blushed slightly.

“I do apologise for the fright I must have given you all. I am aware of my appearance, but I insist that I am no more dangerous than a fly.” The demon assured.

“What sort of fly….” Anya’s voice piped up.

“Ah… so. New supplier for the Magic Box then, these your wares?” Buffy inquired as she picked up a blade and examined it. “It really is exquisite work.”

The demon bowed his head in acceptance. “Yes they are mine. Made from four different metals and pounded with the hammer of a troll, and then finally blessed by mute Nepalese Nuns.”

When the look of awe flashed across both Buffy and Giles’ faces simultaneously, he couldn’t help but grin. “Well the nun part isn’t true but the rest of it is. The name’s Thorak.” He introduced, offering and arm to both of them.

“Nice to meet you Thorak. Rupert Giles, proprietor of the Magic Box. And you’ve met Buffy.”

A voice huh-humphed from the other side of the shop. “How could I forget…” he said dryly. “This is Anya, my assistant.”

“Pleasure to meet you Thorak.” Anya beamed. “Your weapons are going to bring in more patrons and thus further increase our profits. We are very grateful.” She shook his hand vigorously.

The bell on the door tinkled and four worried faces walked through the door. Xander walked in first and his eyes went from the swords littered across the floor, to the smashed window to the very large blue demon leaning ominously over his girlfriend.

Willow, Tara and Dawn followed, all of them with jaws gaping and anxious looks plastered across their faces.

“Demon!” Xander yelled snatching a blade from the ground and charging towards him. “Get away from my girlfriend.” He threatened.

“Or what, you’ll glare him to death…” Spike quipped, a large grin spreading across his face. “No let me guess, you’ll let him beat you to a pulp then when he’s worn out you’ll kick him in the shins…”

“Shut up Spike!” Xander fumed, stopping to glare at the vampire.

“Oooh...” Spike mocked.

“Xander….” Buffy interrupted. “Met Thorak, our new weapons supplier…

“Weapons supplier? You mean…” Xander looked from Buffy, then to Giles who had removed his glasses and was nodding slowly. Realizing his mistake he smiled bashfully, his demeanor returning to his more laid back normalness.

“Nice to have you on board.” Xander greeted, dropping the blade and stepping protectively beside Anya, wrapping an arm around her shoulders.

Willow and Tara moved further into the shop, stepping over the many sharp objects on the floor and headed towards the table in the center of the room. They placed their books to one side of the mountain that already covered most of the tabletops surface. Research. All of it on Glory. And they still hadn’t uncovered anything new. Hopefully the new books the two Wiccan’s had tracked down would yield some usable information.

Buffy walked over to the table where her friends sat and pulled up a seat beside them. The both looked exhausted but at the same time content in each others presence. They seemed happy. Which made Buffy happy.

“So what’s the sitch?” she asked with a grin.

Willow returned the smile as she flipped open one of the new texts. “Well we managed to get a hold of those books we were talking about the other day. Fingers crossed they’re helpful.”

The red haired Wicca crossed her fingers on both hands before unlocking them to flip through the pages. Xander had managed to drag Anya away from Thorak and was busy helping her pick up the pieces from Spike’s ungraceful and extremely damaging entrance. The vampire in question was still sitting on the counter top, watching everyone with a small smirk playing on his lips, as if he saw something or knew something that they all didn’t. With Giles smoothing out everything with his new supplier, Buffy was free. Free to spend some time with her sister, who was currently standing around looking bored.

“How do you feel about getting some lunch Dawnie?” Buffy asked.

The excited smile on her sister’s face was all the response she needed. Returning the expression Buffy grabbed her jacket and bag and headed towards the door.

“I’ll check in later after patrol.” She called over her shoulder to Giles.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Thank you to the wonderful people who left reviews! They really brighten my day.
Discovery. by angelic_amy
Chapter 3: Discovery...


“I’m sorry Dawn, something came up. Maybe tomorrow?” Buffy suggested of their planned vid-fest for the night.

Dawn just nodded slowly, but she tried not to appear to be too upset. Why should she? She had spent the entire day with her sister, something she hadn’t done in she couldn’t remember how long. The movies could wait. Dawn wasn’t going anywhere.

“I’ll see you later?” she asked hopefully.

“Definitely. I’ll be home in a few hours. Don’t wait up.” Buffy leaned forward and kissed her sister on the forehead as she approached the door. “Don’t stay up too late.”

And then she was gone. Dawn sighed when the door closed and began moving up to her room.

~~~

Buffy looked at her watch and decided she had waited long enough. Spike had said to meet near his crypt at 9:30, and it was almost 10 o’clock. Fed up she dropped down from the head stone she had perched herself upon and began wandering towards the exit to the cemetery. What a waste of time that was… she thought as she walked along the path.

He had been hanging around a lot of late, showing up on patrols, at the Magic Box, at her house. Just being around. That’s because he is in love with you… a little voice inside her head explained. She caught herself wondering for a moment if he was just held up or if he’d gotten himself into some sort of trouble again, and then questioned why she cared. Because she didn’t… he was the one who had feelings for her.

A rustling noise of movement came from the other side of a nearby crypt, and Buffy immediately took on a defensive stance and pressed herself flat against the tomb. The hair on the back of her neck stood up on end. Not a mourner, at least not a human one. Quietly removing a stake from her pocket, she balanced it in the palm of her right hand and waited for the creature to step forward within striking range. A few seconds later she sprang from her hiding place and drove the stake downwards towards the creature’s heart.

A pair of hands reached up to block her thrust, and a brown paper bag dropped to the ground, spilling its items.

"Hold up there luv.” A familiar voice spoke. “Can’t you tell the difference between a friend or foe?”

“Your not a friend Spike.” Buffy retorted.

A wounded expression flickered across his face for a moment, before being replaced by his usual cocky swagger. He knelt down to gather his shopping, stuffing it all back into the bag.

“Why did you call me Spike…?” Buffy asked impatiently.

“Hang on a bleedin’ moment pet, let me gather my stuff.”

Buffy rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest as she waited for Spike to do just that.

“I heard some information you might be interested in.”

She tapped her foot impatiently on the ground, wondering if he was dragging this out on purpose.

“Keep your knickers on…” he reprimanded. The corner of his mouth curled up slightly; as if he only just realized the words he spoke. “Or not…”

“Enough!” Buffy shouted, storming off from him.

“A hit’s planned for tonight… an innocent is in danger…” he called out clearly, knowing that would make her stop. And it did. She turned on her heel slowly and looked at him suspiciously.

“A hit?”

“I was down at Willy’s and a few demons were big-noting about the payout they were going to receive once they completed the job. Tonight..” He explained further.

“Tonight where.” She persisted.

“The Arms. The guy with the price on his head is staying there.”

Buffy whirled around from him again and began to walk towards the seedier side of town.

“Hey wait up… I gotta put my blood in the fridge…” Spike called after her.

When she showed no sign of slowing he dropped the bag in the bushes and ran to catch up with her.

“Bollocks.”

~~~

“If my stuff gets nicked I’ll…”

“You’ll what Spike, glare at me?” Buffy teased with a raised eyebrow.

Spike glared back at her then stepped forward towards the door. “This is the room.” He announced.

Buffy lifted an arm to stop him before he got there. “If the person living here is alive, then you won’t be able to get in…” she reminded.

Spike grimaced but held his position, waiting for Buffy to enter first. She stepped up to the door and it was at this close range that she realized that the person staying there must have had a visitor tonight already. The door had been forced open; half of the locking mechanism had been ripped from the frame.

Buffy pushed it open slowly, trying not to dislodge it from its hinges. The smell hit her instantly, and she wrinkled her nose up in disgust. Lifting an arm up she covered her mouth and nose with a sleeve and stepped further into the room.

Spike entered in behind her, giving a low whistle at the sight. “Somebody had themselves a whole lot of fun.” He said appreciatively at the destruction.

“Spike please.” Buffy replied in disgust.

Body parts were strewn across the whole room, and green tinged blood was splashed across the floor, the walls and the bed. Weapons, swords to be more precise were also scattered about the room, impaled in the walls or body parts. Body parts that were slightly blue in colour.

“Oh god… Thorak.” Buffy identified.

“Thor-who?” Spike repeated.

“Thorak. Giles’ new weapons dealer. I think this is him…” she said crouching down to look at an the torso.

“Damn.” Spike muttered.” What a way to go, cut up by your own merchandise.”

He too leaned down to inspect the damage. “Clean wounds, his blades are well made.”

Standing upright he stepped over a leg and reached for a short sword that was imbedded in the wall, impaling an arm there. He pulled it clear from the wall with one tug, and then pushed the limb free, sending it to the floor with a thud.

“Who could have done this…” Buffy asked, already trying to profile a suspect.

“Not just any demon… Vistagree’s are a tough breed. It would need to be something with a lot of bulk behind them. Or a group with a lot of combined muscle.” Replied Spike.

“I’m sorry Thorak…” Buffy apologised as she continued sifting through the contents of the room.

Spike began gathering the weapons and returning them to the large duffel that he had seen them in earlier that day.

“What do you think your doing?” Buffy demanded. “You’re going to STEAL his weapons?” she said aghast.

Spike paused what he was doing, then shrugged his shoulders and continued filling the bag.

“Not like he’s going to use them.” He said pointed to a limb. “And it’s probably not a good idea to leave them for… oh say some kiddy to find?”

Buffy realized he had a point and reluctantly began to help him gather the weapons. Once they were all removed from the room it made it a lot easier to count the body pieces… and it was then that Buffy realized that something was missing.

“Spike…” she called.

“Hmmm?” came his reply.

“Where’s his head?”

~~~

Giles rubbed his temple trying to massage away the headache that was plaguing him, but it wasn’t working. A headache brought on by the information that Buffy had just delivered. He was never going to find that sort of quality for such a cheap price. And it was a shame about Thorak, he seemed to be a genuinely nice demon.

Spike dumped the large duffel on to the watchers desk, sending a stack of books flying to the ground. He shrugged his shoulder nonchalantly and unzipped the bag.

“We scored the merchandise for you Rupert old boy.”

“Not we. It was Spike’s idea.” Buffy clarified glaring at the vampire. “The weapons couldn’t just be left lying around like that…” she trailed off.

“So you say his head was missing. Intriguing. It could be ritualistic.”

“Intriguing?” Buffy repeated. “Don’t you mean gross and disturbing.”

“It wasn’t ritualistic.” Spike piped up. “Looked like a hack and slash job to me, and I should know…”

Giles pondered on that thought. “Perhaps the killer, or killers took his head as proof, a trophy of sorts for whoever ordered the hit.”

“Again I say gross.” Buffy shuddered.

Giles was still deep in thought, theories flying in and out of his brain. Buffy waited patiently for a few moments but when he still didn’t say anything she waved her hand in front of his face.

“Earth to Giles… it’s getting kinda late. I’ll check in tomorrow at the shop?” she proposed.

When Giles nodded and walked over to his bookshelf and pulled out a few volumes Buffy waved goodbye and walked out of his apartment.

~~~

Buffy was about half way home when Spike fell in step with her. They walked silently for a few minutes before Buffy got sick of the shadow act and stopped. Spike stopped as well.

“Why are you following me Spike?” she asked tiredly.

He looked confused. “I was just…”

“Just what?” she interrupted. “Walking me home? I don’t need a bodyguard…”

“It’s just that things are different now.” He said slowly.

THINGS are not different Spike. They’re the same. You’re still a pain in the ass.”

Hurt flashed across his face again, for the second time tonight.

“It IS different.” He insisted.

“All that has changed is that you have gotten it into your head that you have a chance with me. Spike nothing is EVER going to happen between us. Get the hint.” Buffy said exasperated.

“But I have changed.” He maintained. “I’m a different man now.”

“That’s just it Spike, you’re NOT a man. You’re a vampire.”

Spike brushed off the comment. “That didn’t seem to matter with Angel.” he reminded.

Buffy’s raised her hand and slapped him across the cheek. “How dare you compare this… this infatuation you have with me; to my relationship with Angel. There is NO comparison.”

“You’re right… no comparison. I’d actually be able to give you what you need.” Spike said grabbing her and pressing her body up against his. “No pesky curse in the way.”

Buffy struck out at Spike again, this time balling her fist and punching him in the jaw.

“You're a pig. Stay away from me, I mean it.”

Buffy turned her back on the vampire and stormed home, leaving him behind. Spike watched her walk off, shocked by her actions for a moment, before his expression hardened.

“I’ll show her….”

~~~

Buffy slipped into her house and leaned up against the closed door. She breathed deeply for a few seconds, trying to control the rage that was boiling up inside of her. How could he think that she would ever want to be with him? It wasn’t going to happen.

She was so angry that she could feel herself trembling. He had no right to judge her relationship with Angel, or Riley, or whomever she chose to date. It was none of his business.

His words from a few weeks ago haunted her. Maybe you just can’t keep their interest…

Buffy’s shoulders shook as she began to cry, slowly slumping to the floor.



~~~~~~~~~~

A/N: Yes... Buffy is being bitchy. But you have to remember, that she has just lost her Mom and Riley has skipped out on her, PLUS she saw Angel at the funeral.

Give her a chance to give Spike a chance.... :D
Deceit. by angelic_amy
Chapter 4: Deceit.


The following few nights came and went, nothing really out of the ordinary. Patrol was slow, a few vamps but that was it. No demons. No more dead bodies. And no Spike.

It was as if he had gone into hiding. Most likely he would be found drinking at one of the towns demon watering holes, or lounging about in his crypt. But he had kept away from Buffy. Which was what she had asked.

Buffy looked at her appearance in the mirror and smiled, twisting around so that she could get the full scope. She felt good. Her new green backless halter fit her nice and snug, and was secured tightly around her neck. A long denim skirt went well with her new black heels. Her hair was pulled back from her face but left to cascade down her back. She was wearing the new hair clips Dawn had bought her as a belated birthday present and with a minimal amount of make-up she was ready.

Willow and Xander had suggested the night out. They said she needed a night to just relax and not worry so much. ‘You deserve some fun.’ They had said. And a small part of her agreed with them, but the majority of her believed she should be patrolling, or searching for Glory.

The doorbell chimed and Buffy gave her appearance a quick once over before she left her bedroom and began descending the stairs.

“It’s Janice’s mom Buffy.” Dawn called out. “Have a nice night!”

Dawn rushed from the living room and stopped when she saw Buffy at the foot of the stairs. “You look beautiful.” She said, a smile on her face.

“Really?” Buffy questioned. “I’m not so sure about the skirt…”

“You look great. Go, have fun, talk to guys!” Dawn giggled.

Buffy grimaced and gave her sister a quick hug before shoving her out the door. “I’ve got my cell phone if you need me.”

Dawn nodded and left the house, running to the car that was waiting for her on the street. A few seconds later the car pulled away and Buffy was alone on her doorstep. She fetched her keys from the kitchen, slipped a black leather jacket on and left the house.

~~~

Spike watched Buffy leave her house from the shadows of the garden. His plan had been to confront her about the other night, to give her a piece of his mind. But then he saw her and that plan got thrown out the window. She looked gorgeous. His first thought was to go up to her and compliment her, and the second thought which followed a split-second later was one of jealousy, wondering who it was that she had gotten so dressed up for.

He cursed silently to himself, dropped the cigarette he had just finished and took off after her, keeping a safe distance behind.

~~~

The Bronze was packed. The loners, the popular and the jocks all mingled together, fighting for their own space in the crowded club. Buffy walked passed the security on the door and inside, immediately searching for Willow and Xander. She figured they would probably be at their usual table so she started walking in that direction. Sure enough, there they were, Anya and Tara were also with them.

Buffy waved to them all as she pushed through. She removed her jacket and placed it on her seat before sitting down.

“Man it’s packed in here tonight!” Buffy exclaimed.

Willow nodded, sipping her drink through its straw. “It was kind of sudden. It got really busy about half an hour ago.”

Xander turned his attention from whatever Anya had been whispering into his ear to the new arrival to the table and his eyes nearly popped out of his head.

“WOW Buffy, you trying to give me cardiac arrest!?” Xander said appreciatively.

That warranted a slap on the shoulder from Anya, and Xander gave her a look of apology before flashing Buffy a grin as if to reinstate his point. Anya turned her glare from Xander to Buffy and looked as if she was going to issue a warning, but she held back.

“That’s my doing… I told her to dress nice because I was bringing a friend from my sociology class tonight whose been dying to meet her!” Willow beamed.

Tara nodded in agreement. “His names Jake and he’s really nice.”

Anya smiled confidently. “A man who is not Xander. This is a good plan. You should flirt with him.” She said eagerly. “With the new guy.”

Buffy tried not to laugh at the reactions of her friends. She knew she wasn’t quite ready for a relationship yet, but there was no harm in meeting some new people. There was also the fact that she had no choice in the matter; Willow had threatened to bring him over to the house if she didn’t show tonight.

She scanned the club, trying to figure out which one was Jake.

“Oh he’s not here yet Buffy.” Willow cleared up. “We wanted him to show up after you’d had a little time to relax with us.”

“I’m getting drinks, anyone want anything?” Xander offered.

Buffy shook her head and turned her attention to the dance floor. It had been months since she had been out there and let loose, and the more she looked at it, the more she wanted to get out there.

“Anyone wanna dance?” She asked the group.

Willow and Tara both nodded, but Anya declined, deciding to wait for Xander before she joined them.

Buffy led the way to the floor and found a space for them. She immediately began moving with the music, lifting her hands over her head and snaking them down as she floated across the floor.

~~~

Spike followed the slayer to the Bronze, and watched from the mouth of an alley as she walked inside. Giving her a few minutes to move about inside, he too went into the club. He immediately headed for the back of the Bronze, where the stairs to the mezzanine were. He slowly climbed the stairs and found a place in the shadows on the catwalk like platform.

He scanned the crowd, trying to find her, which he soon did. She was talking with her friends. Moments later the whelp moved off towards the bar and Buffy and the two Wiccan’s headed towards the dance floor. Spike watched her move on the dance floor, captivated by the rhythm of her hips, and the carefree attitude with which she exuded. This was a different girl than the one a few nights ago. This girl was enjoying herself, she seemed at ease.

Spike continued to watch her move, mesmerized, his attention only wavering when the other two scoobies joined them on the dance floor. But they were not alone. A third joined them, an unknown male who leaned towards Buffy and kissed her on the cheek.

Clenching his fists Spike slammed them down onto the railing, the sound ringing out, but not loud enough to be heard over the music. He kept his position, watching. Watching closely the male he did not know who was making moves on Buffy.

Don’t fall for the smooth act Buffy… he’s got ulterior motives! Spike thought.

Well if it was him; he would…

~~~

Xander and Anya moved through the crowd and onto the dance floor where Buffy, Willow and Tara were dancing. Xander steered an attractive looking guy towards Buffy and introduced the two.

“Buffy, this is Willow’s friend Jake. Jake, this is the Buffster.” He said with a grin.

Buffy smiled and held out a hand for him to shake. “Please to meet you Jake.”

Jake returned the smile, and accepted Buffy’s hand, drawing her close so that he could plant a kiss on her cheek. “The pleasure is all mine.”

He stepped back, running a hand through his sandy blonde hair, seemingly speechless.

“Willow you told me your friend Buffy was pretty, you didn’t tell me she was gorgeous!” He gushed.

Buffy blushed, and Willow laughed. The song ended and a slower one replaced it. Willow and Tara drew each other close, as did Xander and Anya. Buffy stood awkwardly still for a moment.

“This is embarrassing, I haven’t been set up on a date since High School.” Buffy laughed, trying to hide her nervousness.

Jake nodded slowly, laughing along with her. “It is kind of weird.” He agreed. “But we’ve met, and the others seem to be kind of busy now…” he said pointing over his shoulder at the other two couples who were now moving along to the music.

“Can I have this dance?”

Buffy stared at him in surprise for a moment then nodded. Jake moved closer to her, lifting her arms around his neck and placing his on the small of her back as they began to sway to the music.

~~~

“Damn it…” Spike watched on in fury as the new guy wrapped his arms around Buffy.

He began pacing the catwalk, tossing up between staying where he was and moving downstairs and cutting in on the dance. He knew that Buffy would be less than thrilled if he ruined her night, but he didn’t know if he could stand by and watch someone else slide in and grab what it was that he wanted so desperately. But at the same time he didn’t want to worsen his chances by upsetting her.

Who was he kidding? He knew he didn’t have a chance with her, but that wasn’t going to stop him from trying.

“Bloody hell.” He muttered.

Looked like he was staying put.

~~~

The song ended and Buffy and Jake parted. Jake tipped his head in thanks and offered her his hand as he started to head back to the table after the others. Buffy accepted and walked behind him.

A tingling sensation went up her spine, and she had the distinct feeling that someone was watching her. But she was in a busy club… it could be anyone inside. She brushed the feeling off and smiled when they joined the rest of the group at their table.

“So Jake. Tell us a little about yourself for Buffy’s benefit.” Willow grinned.

Jake obliged and went on to tell the group how he was planning on going to medical school, about his family and how he and Willow came to know each other.

“So here I am, walking out of the lecture hall when a blur of red hair rushes past. She bumped into me and almost knocked me over!” he said with a chuckle.

“I did not!” Willow protested.

Tara patted her girlfriend’s hand. “It’s okay sweetie… just admit it.”

Willow shrugged. “Well you should have been moving faster, I was in a hurry!” she protested.

Buffy laughed along with the others, surprised at how at ease she found herself. She was having fun, something she hadn’t expected. Jake was sweet.

“So Jake, medical school huh? What’s your dream job?” Buffy asked curiously.

“My ultimate goal is to become a field surgeon, possibly work for the Navy or Army.”

A hush went over the table and the smile slipped from Buffy’s face as she looked to the floor, memories of Riley flooding in. She stood up and excused herself from the table and started walking towards the toilets near the back of the stage. Jake noticed the sudden change in everyone, and after Buffy was out of earshot he gave Willow a confused look.

“What did I do? Did I say something wrong?”

“No it’s just that… Buffy’s ex-boyfriend was in the army, and things didn’t end so well.” Willow explained, trying to keep it vague.

“Those species-bigoted commandoes in the special ops force asked him to join them on a mission giving him 24hours notice. They were fighting and he didn’t tell Buffy till his transport was just about to leave and when she didn’t accept his ultimatum he left and shattered her heart into a million tiny pieces. Plus before this he was letting vam…” Xander clamped a hand over Anya’s mouth before she said too much.

“That’s my girlfriend, always ready to give too much information.” Xander laughed awkwardly.

“Oh.” Came Jake’s response, before a slight frown crossed his face at her choice of words. She had a way with speech...

“That’s kinda harsh.” He looked towards the direction she had walked in, worry in his eyes. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories… do you think she’ll be okay?”

Willow nodded, as did Xander. “She’ll be fine, she just needs a little time to herself. But she’ll be back!” Willow said the last part enthusiastically for show, but secretly she was wondering whether she should follow after her or not.

~~~

Spike watched the group closely as they laughed and talked about the table, trying to control the mixture of rage and jealousy that was boiling inside of him. Then things took a sudden change. Buffy’s face fell and then she hurriedly left the table and moved towards backstage, leaving the would-be lover boy and her friends looking rather awkwardly, eyes trained on the departing slayer.

“And that would be my exit cue…”

He descended the stairs from the catwalk quickly and pushed through the crowd towards the back of the stage. He slipped a cigarette out of his pocket and put it between his lips, and had his lighter in his hand ready as a cover.

Sure enough there she was, leaned up against a wall, fresh tears falling down her cheeks. She looked up when he walked towards her, her eyes glistening with more on the verge of falling.

“What are you doing here Spike?” she asked miserably.

He opened his hand to show the lighter and tilted his head. “No room out there to smoke in peace.” He said matter-oh-factly. He removed the cigarette and pocked it along with his lighter.

“You alright pet...?” he asked with a little more concern in his voice.

Spike inched forward slowly, until he was standing directly in front of her, a mere few centimeters from her. He looked down at her, willing her to look at him, to talk to him.

“I… he…” she started then stopped, her voice choked with emotion. “One of Willow’s friends is with us, ah… Jake... he was telling us how he wanted to be a field surgeon. In the army.” She added with emphasis. “It just made me think of Riley and how he… how he….”

How he left you… Spike thought, but he kept his mouth shut.

“How he… left… so suddenly.” She finally finished. “I guess it still hurts…”

Buffy lowered her gaze to the floor, trying to stop the images of that night from flashing through her mind, and failing. She was running, trying to catch up to him, she was almost there, but the helicopter was lifting into the air. She shouted his name, but he didn’t hear her, or he ignored her…. it didn’t really matter which one. He was gone…

A tear broke free from her eye and slipped down her cheek.

Spike reached up hesitantly with his left hand, and used the back of his fingers to gently brush the tears away.

“Shhh….” He shushed. “It’s okay pet. He didn’t know how lucky he was. He didn’t deserve you…” he said, a little of his anger seeping into his words.

Buffy looked up at Spike, seeing the fury in his eyes and for a second wondering why he was being so nice to her, considering her treatment of him the other night. She hadn’t exactly been nice to him, yet here he was.

“Spike I….” She started, but he lifted a hand up to stop her.

“It’s not necessary.” He soothed. He moved his hand from in front of her face to her right shoulder, and touched her softly, trailing his fingers all the way down to her hand.

Buffy flinched from his touch and tried to step away from him, which only brought her closer to him. Spike inhaled sharply as her warm body brushed against his as she squeezed her way passed him.

“I should be getting back.” She said quickly once she was a safe distance away from him.

“You don’t have to…”

“Goodnight Spike.” She fare welled, cutting him off.

Spike stood frozen in his place for a moment, wondering how that had all happened so fast. The sensation of her warm body brushing against his had sent shivers down his spine; by the time he could react she had slipped free and disappeared. He kicked the nearby boxes, sending them scattering across the floor.

Walking in the opposite direction he left through the backstage exit and walked off into the alleyway.

~~~

“I’m sure she will be right back!” Willow assured a few minutes later when Buffy still hadn’t shown. “She’s probably just gone to the bathroom…”

“Or to the back exit…” Anya muttered, not quietly enough.

Xander glared at his girlfriend then smiled apologetically at Jake. “I’m sure Will’s right you know, she’s probably just…”

“Gone.” finished Jake. “It’s okay, really. I should probably head home now anyway, I’ve got an early start for classes tomorrow. Tell her it was a pleasure meeting her.”

He waved to the group and then walked towards the exit.

“Well that was... tense.” Tara said summing up the situation. Willow nodded agreeing with her.

Anya was sitting beside Xander, sulking for having been told off twice in a matter of minutes now. He just had this look, which told her she had done or said something wrong, but he didn’t understand how difficult it was sometimes to get used to this tact thing. She looked up from her empty cup to ask for a refill when she saw Buffy walking back to their table looking a little like she had been crying.

“Hey guys, I’m sorry. I…”

Buffy didn’t a quick headcount and realized that someone was missing. Jake had left.

“He felt awkward about that slip of words, and decided to call it a night…” Willow explained when she saw Buffy confused look.

Now I’m driving guys I hardly know away…? Nice one. Buffy scolded her self.

“Maybe I should follow after him…?” she suggested.

Willow nodded. “He only left a minute or so ago… you might catch him outside.”

Buffy smiled quickly at her friends then left them at their table as she weaved amongst the crowd towards the door.

~~~

Spike wandered around from the band exit at the back of the Bronze and into the alley, and walked around to the front of the club. He lit up a smoke, watching the door as people began to exit. One person he had not expected to see leaving was the Casanova. He seemed to be in a hurry as well, fishing quickly through his pockets for something. A cell phone soon appeared.

Wanting to take a closer look Spike leapt up onto the roof of one of the buildings running along the road he was traveling, keeping an eye and an ear out for what he was up to. He was walking along quite quickly, and seemed to be anxious to speak to whomever it was he was dialing on the cell.

“Contact has been made… it was as easy as you had said.” He spoke into the phone, a leisurely grin spreading across his face as he slowed around the corner.

There was a pause, obviously he was listening to the person on the other end of the line, and Spike wished he could hear both ends of the conversation.

“It’s going to be almost TOO easy.” He added with a laugh. “I’ll continue to keep contact with the target, and will wait until your arrival.”

Spike had heard enough. He had known this guy was dirty. Well he hadn’t known but he had suspected as much. Ok, not so much suspected, as in hoped. Because if he was; then the guy would have no chance with Buffy. And now he knew something was up. The guy ended the call and continued walking. Spike dropped from the roof he was walking on and landed right in the guy’s path.

Jake jumped backwards, surprise flashing on his face. Spike looked at him for a moment with a penetrating gaze before he stepped towards him. He grabbed him by the shirt collar and dragged him towards the edge of the building, close to the mouth of an alleyway.

“Jake is it?” he asked with a raised eyebrow, letting the guy go. “Consider this a warning… stay away from Buffy.”

“Who… who are you?” Jake stammered.

“A friend. Just keep away from her. Got it?” Spike poked Jake in the chest, hard, letting him know he was serious.

“Jake….” A female voice called from behind him.

Jake spun to see Buffy walking up towards him, and when he turned back in the direction he had been facing, the blonde guy who had appeared from nowhere was gone. He looked around a little, confused.

Buffy stopped when she was standing almost beside him. “Hey, look about before….”

“Did you see that guy?” he asked, still looking for him.

“What guy?” Buffy asked confused. “I didn’t see anyone.”

Jake looked once more, and then turned his attention back to Buffy, his objective.

“No-one, it was no-one.” He brushed off. “You were saying?”

She looked at him curiously for a second before continuing. “I just wanted to apologise about before… I’ve just had a rough couple of weeks and then you made mention of the army… and I guess I wigged a little.” She took a deep breath, glad to have that explained. “So I’m sorry.”

Jake waved it off. “Not a problem, really. I understand.” He added softly. “Anyway, I really should get going, I’ve got an early class tomorrow morning…”

Buffy nodded. “Alright, as long as we’re good here?”

“We’re good.” He responded. Sticking his hands into his pockets searching for something, a smile crossed his face when he found what he was after, a business card.

“My number….” He said handed it to her. “Call me sometime.”

Buffy nodded, accepting the card. “I will. Goodnight.”

“Good night Buffy, pleasure to meet you.” He said with a grin, then turned and walked away.

~~~

Spike watched from deep in the alleyway, hearing every word of the encounter. The boy didn’t appear to listen to advice. He guessed he’d just have to be more convincing next time…

~~~

Spike paced his crypt, trying to decide what to do. What she would want most, and how to tell her without some of the blame being deflected his way. The boy just wasn’t who he said he was. And she should know about it. But the last time he told her something she should know was when he had taken her to that nest where the soldier boy had been letting vamps feed off of him to get some sort of rush. And not only had that crushed her, but she had blamed him for showing her that.

He finally stopped pacing when he came to a decision. He wasn’t going to tell her. Not yet, not until he had the proof. And maybe he would be able to find a way to make the fool blow his own cover. The edges of Spike’s lips curled up. Now that was a better plan.



~~~~~
A/N And the plot begins to thicken... :D Please tell me what you thought!
Frosty. by angelic_amy
Chapter 5: Frosty.


~ A few days later… ~

“So…. How was your date last night?” Willow questioned eagerly.

Buffy held the phone up to her ear, her friend’s energy catching on. “It was nice… we went out for dinner, then saw a movie. He was really sweet.”

“Kissable sweet?” Willow asked, starting with the 20 questions.

“Hey what is this, an inquisition?” Buffy laughed. “No kissage. Not sure if I’m ready for that yet…”

“But when you are ready Jake will be waiting!” Willow added excitedly.

“Ok Will I’m cutting off your sugar supply, calm down a little. It was just one date!”

The sound of a door closing caught Buffy’s attention and she realized it was probably Dawn being dropped home by Janice’s mom.

“Dawnie’s home Will, I gotta go. See you in class tomorrow.”

Buffy hung up the phone and padded downstairs looking for her sister. She heard her soon enough, in the kitchen. She probably had her head in the fridge searching for something to eat. What Buffy hadn’t been expecting was for someone else to be there, but it sounded like she was having a conversation.

“… It was soooo funny, I nearly died when I saw the look on the teachers face!”

“I can imagine it was pet.”

Buffy recognised the voice instantly. She walked into the kitchen, and found Dawn on one side of the counter making peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, with Spike sitting perched atop a stool on the opposite side of the bench.

“Hey Dawnie, did you have fun at Janice’s?” Buffy asked, completely ignoring Spike’s presence.

“It was great… I was just telling Spike a story about how a teacher at school…”

“Spike why are you here?” Buffy cut in, looking from her sister to the vampire. “Better question, HOW are you in here?”

They had only done that reverse-entrance spell for vampire’s invitation on her house a few weeks ago, and Buffy sure as hell hadn’t given him access. It wouldn’t and couldn’t have been any of her friends, because only a resident could invite a vampire in. Buffy’s gaze turned to her sister.

“Dawn…”

Dawn folded her arms over her chest. “I invited him. He’s my friend too.”

Spike saw that anger flash through Buffy’s eyes so he interrupted before she could start something, answering her first question.

“Had some info I thought you might be interested in is all.” He replied, smiling at her.

“And what… you thought you’d tell me, and we’d go off on patrol together?” Buffy asked sarcastically.

“Buffy….” Dawn said quickly. “You don’t have to…”

“Save your breath niblet, I know when I’m not welcome.” Spike clenched his jaw as he stood up and walked right up to Buffy.

Spike stood up, facing off with Buffy for a few moments as he warred with himself internally. Tell her now? Or later?

“Your new pal isn’t who he says he is.” he informed as he started to walk away.

“What?” Buffy replied in confusion.

“Wake up slayer… new guy suddenly appears and in no time he’s wormed his way into your life. Ever wondered why he’s constantly checking his cell phone?”

That bit was going to piss her off…

The last couple of days of surveillance a pattern had emerged with the guys movements. Each night he would stop by an apartment complex and disappear inside, returning a few minutes later. After every exit, he would make a call before returning to the dorms on campus.

Spike had tried following him into the complex, but without a direct invite that was sort of impossible.

“Have you been SPYING on me?” Buffy asked incredulously.

“I was looking out for you. I didn’t trust him and…”

“Get out Spike.” Buffy ordered. “NOW!

Spike started to object but then he gave up, throwing his hands up into the air in frustration.

“Just don’t come crying to me when it all falls through…” he shouted back at her as he stormed out of the house.

Buffy stood there shocked. He had been spying on her? Of all the nerve…

“Buffy he’s just looking out for you…” Dawn started.

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“No, you never do.” Dawn replied. She grabbed her sandwich and left the kitchen, climbing the stairs to her room and slamming the door.

“Fabulous…” Buffy muttered.

~~~

He stared at the information in front of him, dreading what it meant. He had to go back… she was in Sunnydale.

It was obvious that is where she would be, almost too obvious. He just hoped that he got there in time.

Before something happened to her…

~~~

Spike paced the Summers front lawn. So much for letting the guy expose his secret himself. Yes he had reason for suspicion now, but nothing concrete. He should have waited… but seeing her out with the guy tonight had just made his blood boil with anger.

He had to run his mouth off didn’t he…? Stupid. He reprimanded himself. He stopped pacing and walked down the path to the street, kicking over a neighbor’s trashcan as he stormed by.

~~~

“Looks to me like you have a bit of a problem on your mind there buddy.” A voice interrupted Spike’s thoughts.

The vampire looked up from his drink and scowled at the bartender, Willy. The sniveling little man ran his fingers through his greasy hair, and whipped the dirty tea towel from his shoulder and began polishing glasses with it.

“Back off mate… I’m not in the mood.”

“Oh come on… it can’t be that bad can it?” Willy eyed him closely. “Girl troubles?” he probed.

Spike stood up and leaned across the bar grabbing the bartender by his shirtfront and pulling him close. He kept his face in its human form, because the second he morphed; the second there was intent behind his actions; his brain would get zapped by the bloody chip that was embedded in his skull.

“Now listen here… I said back off.” Spike growled, letting the bartender go and shoving him away from him.

Willy raised his hands in the air nervously. “My mistake… just thought you might be interested in some advice… I know a guy who knows a demon who can help with girl troubles is all.”

Spike scowled and picked up his drink, slammed the rest of it down his throat and stood up, leaving the bar.

“I don’t need your bloody help.”

~~~

After trying to convince Dawn to come down stairs and have some dinner with her failed, Buffy decided to head out on patrol. She left a note for her sister on the fridge door and grabbed her knapsack with supplies and left the house.

A sweep through the first three cemeteries came up empty, and Buffy was almost ready to pack it in for the night when a scream ripped through the night breaking the silence. Running in the direction the scream came from, Buffy found herself in a park.

A young woman was cowering against a park bench from a large demon that was looming over her, a demon that had small stumpy wings on its back. Buffy dropped her knapsack and quickly removed the small battle-axe that was inside. She crept up on the demon until she was directly behind it. The young woman’s mouth was open as if she was trying to scream, but no sounds were coming out. She must’ve spotted Buffy approaching because her eyes suddenly widened. This alerted the demon, which spun around in her direction.

It was ugly… its hide was dark brown in color and it had yellow pustules all over its torso and head. It had a small beak like mouth, which revealed a long forked tongue when it snapped open and shut. It had eight long talons on each arm that stretched out towards her, snapping like its beak. A low guttural sound resonated from deep within its throat, and its head bobbed like a chicken with each step it took forward, gnashing its beak and talons in her direction.

“Anyone tell you of this fantastic new thing we have here that’s called a manicure? Get one of those and your nails will be looked much more presentable in no time…”

The beast screeched at her, in a pitch that was almost deafening. Both Buffy and the young woman raised their hands to block out the sound.

“Guess you wont be wanting that free gift certificate at the local salon.” Buffy quipped as it paused for a breath, hefting her axe up and swinging it in the demons direction.

Her first swipe missed, but the second one connected, cleaving off three of the talons on one hand. Again the beast screeched, this time in agony causing Buffy to try and block her ears.

The demon took advantage of its opponent’s momentary pause, swiping out with its undamaged hand, scraping through Buffy’s shirtsleeve and opening up two deep cuts in her upper arm. Buffy yelped in pain, and grasped at her injured arm, feeling the blood running through her shirt and onto her fingers.

“You ruined my shirt! Do you know how much a new shirt like this would cost?” Buffy spat out.

The demon lunged forward to attack again, narrowly missing her neck as she dropped down on all fours, swinging her leg out to try and sweep the demon off its feet. It merely jumped her attack, beating its small wings to hover in the air for a few moments before landing.

“Hey that’s no fair… No flying!” Buffy complained as she swung again with her axe.

This time the blade connected, slicing into the beast’s abdomen, spilling its contents across the ground. The demon tried to fly but its energy was fading fast. It quivered on its short stumpy legs for a moment before Buffy launched a feet first attack at it, knocked it into the park bench before it dropped to the ground. The young woman screamed as it came near her, and inched backwards, daring not to move any further in case it attacked her.

Buffy stood on its chest, hearing a gurgling noise rising in its throat.

“More….” It spoke it heavily accented English. “More will come… She will never stop…”

“More of who will come… who sent you? She who?” Buffy demanded.

The demon shook for a moment, and then died. Buffy sighed, lifting her leg from its chest. She turned to the would-be victim and offered her a hand.

“You’re safe now… it’s gone.”

Her eyes were still as wide as saucers, and she looked over at the motionless body of the demon for a moment before accepting Buffy’s hand. “What… what is that?” She asked, fear still etched across her face.

“I’m not sure… but you’re safe now.” Buffy assured.

The girl nodded quickly and stood up, still eyeing the demon. “That… that monster was going to kill me…”

“You’re safe now.” Buffy repeated her assurances.

The girl nodded, giving Buffy a quick nod before turning and running away. Buffy walked over to where she had dropped her bag and put the axe away. Time to head to Giles’ place, he would want to hear about this.

~~~

“Are you sure you are alright Buffy?” Giles asked as he began to pack away the bandages and antiseptic, returning them to his first aid kit.

“I’ll live.” She replied, rolling the sleeve of her shirt over the bandages. “Giles this demon wasn’t your regular crush-kill-destroy kind. Someone sent him. A she sent him. And it said that more will come.”

Giles listened carefully as he walked over to his bookcase and began removing books. “You said it had wings?”

Buffy nodded. She had a strange feeling about this… she knew this wasn’t a random attack. “Do you think it could somehow be connected to the attack on Thorak?” she asked.

Giles placed the volumes he had selected on his desk and pondered that thought for the moment. The attacks were days apart, and had completely different MO’s, but it was worth cross-referencing.

“I don’t think it’s likely, but I’ll see if I can find any connections between the two cases.”

Handing Buffy a book on winged demons he sat down at his desk and began his search.

~~~

“This is it, I’m sure of it.” Buffy said bringing the book over to Giles. “Right down to the last boil….”

She shuddered as she dropped it in front of her watcher.

“A Bornossiak demon. Interesting.” He read. “It says here that they normally keep away from humans, but there have been known cases of the demons being contracted by another to carry out their dirty work. As payment the Contractor finds the demon a host so that they can implant them with their young. The young Bornossiak gestate for 3 months, unbeknownst to the host and when they are ready to birth they eat their way through the host body, feeding on it over a couple of days.”

“Too much information Giles… I really didn’t need that visual.” Buffy scrunched up her nose. “So was our lady the host or the target?”

Giles took off his glasses and placed them on the table, rubbing his temples. “There’s no way to really know now, not unless you got a way to contact her?”

Buffy shook her head. “Sorry…” she apologised.

“No matter.” He thought for a moment. “I have a few more things I need to cross reference. Go home, I will speak to you tomorrow after I’ve had a chance to confirm or reject my suspicions.”

“Suspicions Giles? What’s with the cryptic?”

“Tomorrow Buffy. Take care on the way home…” He warned.

Buffy nodded, collected her bag and left.

~~~

Spike was crossing the road from the Fish Tank; slightly more inebriated than he had planned on being. Why did he let Buffy get under his skin so easily? Cursing her name under his breath he started heading in the general direction of his crypt. A few minutes walking and he changed his mind and began walking towards her house. He was going to give her a piece of his mind. Didn’t she know that he just had her best interests at heart? He was always thinking of her first. A lot of bloody good it did him though, he might as well be invisible.

Stumbling on the edge of the curb not more than a few blocks away from her house, little alarm bells went off in his head. Someone was watching him, following him. He cursed himself for having drunk so much, then cursed Buffy’s name for making him get in the state in the first place.

“I KNOW you’re following me… why don’t you just show your face and get it over with.” He yelled to the shadows behind him.

One by one vampires crept from behind cars, trees, fences. “Bloody hell.” He muttered under his breath.

“I change my mind, go back to hiding in the shadows.” He tried.

The vamps began removing weapons from their pockets or underneath their coats. Knives, steel knuckles, and he was pretty sure he saw a stake in there too.

“We’ve been waiting for this day Spike.” One of the vampires spat out.

They inched closer, fanning out as if they planned on forming a circle around him. Spike didn’t see a way out of this with out a fight. He was weaponless, drunk and definitely out-numbered. He counted nine vampires.

“You’ve been killing our kind, and now it’s time for us to return the favor….” Another snarled.

“What can I say, I’m not a fan of most of the vamps that live in this town. You’re all a bunch of try-hards…” He mocked.

A couple of the vamps to his left growled, and took a few steps closer. This was going to get ugly… and fast.

Then they attacked. Half of the vamps held back as a secondary wave, a barrier in case Spike broke free from the other five who had launched themselves at him. Spike began throwing punches wildly into the masses, connecting with jaws, chests and arms. But for each punch that he threw, double came back at him. Some he could block, but the number that were getting through and connecting was growing. He started seeing double, partly because of the numerous blows to his head, but mostly due to the alcohol.

“Hey!” A voice shouted.

The attacking vampires slowed, but didn’t stop completely, the second wave turning to face the newcomer.

“I really don’t want to have to kill all of you, I’ve had a big night and I just want to get some rest.”

“Ssslayer….” One in the outside ring hissed. “I’ve alwaysss wanted to sssink my teeth into a chosssen one….”

“Sorry to disappoint, but tonight isn’t going to be your night.”

Buffy dropped her bag on the lawn and leapt into the air, flipping over the heads off two of the vampires and landing behind them. She struck out at both vampires with the stake penetrating them from behind. They were dust before any of the others had a chance to react.

“Buffy….” Spike called from beneath the pile of five that were pounding on him. The sound of her voice gave him a renewed strength and he began fighting his way to his feet, throwing one of his attackers head first at a tree.

A loud crunch noise sounded on impact and the vamp collapsed to the ground, unconscious.

“Spike… how do you always get yourself into so much trouble… Better question, why do I keep coming to save your ass from these situations….” Buffy spun a roundhouse kick to a vampire on her left, and double her fists together, slamming them into the nose of a vampire on her right.

ME in trouble?” He exploded in response. “I’m the one always helping YOU!

“Throw me a stake….” He demanded.

Buffy obliged, plunging her second one into the chest of yet another vampire. Two of the vamps lunged at her at once, trying to knock her from her feet, and they almost succeeded. She heard a roar behind her as Spike fought of the vamps around him, staking two in quick succession. There were four left, and one unconscious.

Buffy disposed of another, but not before his friend gave her a good hard kick to her arm, right where she had been sliced earlier on in the night. She yelped in pain, clutching at her arm.

“I just had that bandaged!” She yelled in fury as she kicked at punched the offending vampire up against a tree. Once his back hit the trunk he had nowhere to go, and that realization crossed his face seconds before the stake turned him to dust.

She turned around slowly, seeing Spike dispose of the last of the two that had been fighting him. That left the unconscious one.

“Looks like we got ourselves a captive…” Spike sneered as he leaned over and kicked the vampire in the guts. The kick was good but Spike was still feeling the effects of the drinking bender he had been on and toppled over the barely conscious vampire.

Buffy rolled her eyes, crossing her arms over her chest. “Spike are you drunk?” she accused.

“No…” he denied bluntly.

Leaning towards him, she inhaled deeply and scrunched up her nose at the whiff of alcohol that came with it. “You smell like you’ve been bathing in alcohol…”

Shrugging his shoulders he finally managed to make it to his feet. “It’s not your concern….” he said, and then rethought his answer. “Thought you didn’t care slayer…”

“I don’t.”

She turned on her heel and started walking in the direction of her home. Spike watched as she walked away from him. He hauled himself to his feet, grabbing the last vamp around his shirt collar and called after her.

“Hey! Thought you were going to interrogate this vamp?”

Buffy stopped. “Vampires wanting to kill you… what’s so strange about that?” Then she continued on her way.

Dropping the dead weight on the ground, Spike thrust a stake into the demon’s heart. His body was pleading for rest, so to his crypt he went.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you guys like this chapter, please let me know your thoughts!
Old Alliances, Re-established. by angelic_amy
Chapter 6: Old Alliances, Re-established.


“Are you sure?”

“I’m quite certain Buffy. The victims of these attacks aren’t connected in any logical or immediate way. They’re completely separate attacks.”

Buffy frowned, pacing Giles apartment. She had thought for sure that there must have been a link between the two attacks.

“If there is a link between the two cases, it’s an ambiguous one. I assure you I was quite thorough with my research. But, if your suspicions are correct then more attacks shall follow, perhaps an association will become apparent then.” Giles removed his glasses and massaged the bridge of his nose for a moment before returning them. He had spent the better part of the night with his head in books and he had found nothing.

“But I don’t want more attacks!” Buffy exclaimed. She sighed, slumping into the armchair. Holding her head in her hands she fought the frustration of being left in the dark. This was all part of something bigger. She knew it.

Giles moved quickly into the kitchen when the kettle began to whistle and poured two cups of tea. Returning to the living area, he handed one to Buffy and sipped at the other as he lowered himself onto the sofa. With these recent attacks, the pending threat of Glory, and running the Magic Box, he had been run off his feet. It felt good to sit down and relax for five minutes.

“I’m sorry Giles… I guess I’m just a little frustrated. The last thing we need right now if a new threat to deal with… Glory is coming down on us more frequently and Dawn is…”

“Everything is going to be okay Buffy.” Giles soothed interrupting her escalating worries. “We can handle this.”

Buffy was too tired to argue. Instead she sipped at her warm tea, it warming her mouth and throat as the liquid slipped down. A frown crossed her face as she remembered the events from last night. “As if I don’t already have enough things to worry about, I bailed Spike out from yet another fight on my way home last night.”

Giles raised a curious eyebrow.

“Don’t know why, figure he owed them money or something. There were nine of them. PLUS, he was drunk.” She added, her annoyance obvious.

“Nine vampire you say?” Giles probed. “That’s a bit extreme… are you sure there wasn’t something more behind it?”

Buffy shrugged her shoulders. “Once they were dust I left him where he was… didn’t care enough to find out why they were after him. When does Spike NOT have someone after him?” she posed.

~~~

Half an hour later Buffy left Giles’ place and returned home. Dawn had still been sleeping. Not wanting her to be late again Buffy had opened the curtains in her sister’s room and ushered her out of bed and into the shower. Ten minutes later she was dressed and eating breakfast when a car horn honked outside and Dawn flew down the stairs and threw open the front door.

“Bye Buffy!” she called as she slammed the door behind her.

Buffy watched from the lounge room window as Xander pulled away from the curb and drove towards the middle school. The house was empty. Deciding to take advantage of the fact she ascended the stairs and locked herself in the bathroom for a long, hot shower.

~~~

Spike ran from the safety of shade with the blanket wrapped around his head and body, straight at the Summers back door. He fumbled with the door handle for a moment before it swung open and he lunged forward. Jumping up he closed the door behind him and dropped the smoking blanket on the ground. He tentatively moved from the kitchen into the living room and then walked past the front door being mindful to keep out of the patches of sunlight that streamed in from the few windows that weren’t covered. No one was downstairs. He figured the bit was probably at school.

“Buffy?” he called.

When she didn’t respond he started to climb the stairs to the second level. It was when he was half way up that he heard the sound of running water coming from the bathroom. Oh god she’s in the shower…

He stopped where he was and closed his eyes for a moment, and was instantly flooded with images from his imagination… a steamy bathroom, the hot water from the shower head streaming down on her. Down her toned back, her legs, her face, her abdomen…

Shuddering in delight at the imagined images his mind conjured he continued up the stairs. He would wait for her in her room. The walk down the hall was both cautious and torturous. Knowing that she was on the other side of that door… naked…

He walked passed quietly, not wanting to make too much noise. Luckily the blinds were drawn both in the hall and in Buffy’s room. He walked into her bedroom and sat down on edge of her bed, waiting for her to emerge. He would wait for her to return to her room after she had dressed.

~~~

Ten minutes later Buffy shut off the taps and stepped out of the cocoon of warmth in the shower and into the steamed up bathroom. She ran her fingers over the mirror on the wall, examining her tired reflection for an instant before pulling a towel free from a hook and wrapping it around her body under her arms. Tucking it at the front she retrieved a second smaller towel and began to dry off her hair as she opened the bathroom door and walked to her bedroom.

She flicked the light switch as she stepped into the room and immediately jumped in fright, her eyes widening in shock when she saw a figure seated on her bed. The towel she had been using to dry her hair dropped to the ground and she clutched desperately at the one wrapped around her torso as it loosened its hold.

“Spike! What are you doing in my room?” She demanded, the surprise of his presence evident in her voice.

Spike appeared to be just as surprised as she was, and his eyes widened when he drank in the next to nothing that was concealing her body. From the look of the dew on her skin, it was safe to assume she was naked beneath the towel. He had thought she would have dressed in the bathroom. A flicker of amusement crossed his face at her surprise of him being there, which was followed closely by a gaze of appreciation. Realizing that if he continued to ogle her that the chances he leave this house alive would be drastically reduced, he averted his gaze as he stood up and moved to a corner of the room, facing away from her.

“I won’t look…” he told her as he fought to keep facing the wall.

Buffy glared at his turned back for a moment before she walked over to her bureau to retrieve some underwear. Clutching the smalls tightly to her chest she grabbed a pair of jeans and a t-shirt from the closet.

“Stay where you are.” She demanded as she left the bedroom and walked into Dawn’s room. Closing the door for safe measure she dried off and dressed quickly. Taking a few deep breaths to calm herself from the shock of finding him in her room, she grabbed her wet towel and opened the door, walking back to her room. Picking the other one up from her bedroom floor she placed them both in the hamper in the bathroom and returned to confront Spike.

He had waited patiently, with his back turned the entire time, not daring to turn around. The last thing he wanted to do was piss her off. So whilst he waited for her to return he had been replaying the image of her standing before him with just the cotton towel between them. He too inhaled a few deep breaths to calm himself, but for an entirely different reason than Buffy’s.

“Spike.” she called as she moved back into her room.

Turning slowly he noticed that her cheeks were flushed a light crimson in colour, but he didn’t draw attention to it. She stood a few feet away from him, her arms folded over her chest defensively.

“What are you doing here?” she asked.

He was surprised that she held his gaze. Moments earlier she had been mortified to find him in her room when she had thought herself home alone. But now… She never stopped surprising him. Returning the stare for a moment, he studied her face for a second before responding.

“I just wanted to thank you for helping me out last night…” he answered.

She stared at him quizzically for a moment, her disbelief obvious. “Why come to my house in the middle of the day? You’ve been making a habit of showing up whilst I’m on patrol or at the Magic Box… you could have apologised then. Why here?”

He shrugged his shoulders. Truthfully, he didn’t have anything better to do during the daylight hours, and he preferred to get it off of his chest, than to lie about in his crypt thinking about it all day. That, and he wanted to see her…

“Didn’t have anything else to do.”

“Right.” Buffy walked over to her bed and sat down, leaning against the pillows. “Well if that’s all….” she hinted for him to leave. She planned on catching up on some lost sleep for a few hours before she returned to the Magic Box for even more research.

Back-pedaling Spike tried to prolong his exit. “I also wanted to apologise for the other night…”

“Other night?” she said confused.

“In the kitchen… the information you didn’t want to hear…” he probed.

“Didn’t want to hear?” she repeated indignantly, glaring at him. “What are you talking…”

“Your new playmate Jake…” he interrupted, stopped the next cutting remark directed at the boy that wanted to escape his lips. “I guess I didn’t go about it the right way but I really was just looking out for….”

“You’ve been spying on me Spike… how did you think I was going to react?” she asked somewhat calmly. She was too tired to allow herself to get worked up by an argument.

“I wasn’t spying.” he insisted. “I was at the Bronze, and after you left me out near the stage I took the back exit onto the street to light one up. I saw the boy and over-heard his conversation. Did a little digging after what was said is all… I wasn’t spying.”

Buffy contemplated his explanation for a moment before posing another question. “How did you know who he was when you saw him in the alley?” she asked.

Spike’s expression hardened. “So maybe I saw you in the Bronze before I came out the back. That doesn’t make the guy any less dirty.”

He sat on the end of her bed, pleading with her to believe him. Buffy could see the concern in his eyes, and she wondered if his information sharing was part of an ulterior motive. Yes she had been a little curious as to why Jake was constantly checking his cell phone, and she had wondered why he walked away when he received a call, but then again her father almost always had his cell on his person also.

Spike could see her resolved melting and he hoped that she would at least hear him out before she tossed him out into the sun. He knew that she was aware that he cared for her, he’d told her that. He wanted to be with her, but that was not his motivation for this, to wipe out the competition. Ok, so it wasn’t his ONLY motivation. He genuinely didn’t want to see her taken advantage of.

“I don’t want to see you get hurt is all….” He said sincerely. “I know there’s more to it all than the wanker’s sharing. I want to clear up a few details first, then I’ll lay it all on you. What you do with the info is your choice.”

Buffy nodded slowly. “Alright.”

She was taking what Spike was saying on face value. He was right about one thing, his actions were a little suspicious. She didn’t know what was stopping her from telling Spike to back off, but she didn’t. If something was up, then it was better to know now. If nothing turned up, then she would beat Spike around the block for playing on her insecurities.

Spike took her silence as acceptance. He smiled with relief.

“I need to get some rest… do you mind?” she asked tiredly.

“Oh, sure.” Spike fumbled as he stood and walked quickly to her bedroom door.

“Watch out for yourself.” He warned, and then disappeared down the stairs before Buffy could reply.

By the time he had made it downstairs, and had his blanket wrapped around himself, she was already fast asleep.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N Hope you liked, please let me know!
Vanished. by angelic_amy
Chapter 7: Vanished.


~ 3 days later… ~

Willow walked out of class with a frown on her face. Three days in a row and no appearances by Jake. She knew that she shouldn’t worry, she’d only just met the guy and it wasn’t as if they were super close or anything. But he and Buffy seemed to get along and the last thing that Willow wanted was another guy disappearing on her best friend.

She had been shocked when Riley had up and left the way he had, and she knew that Buffy had compared the demise of that relationship to her one with Angel. Both break-ups had impacted on her friend, and the last thing she wanted was for Buffy to be wary of relationships because of that.

Jake’s disappearance wouldn’t help matters.

~~~

“What do you mean he hasn’t been going to class?” Buffy asked with a frown.

“Exactly that.” Willow said with a shrug. “You know Buffy, maybe he’s just sick or…”

“He’s not sick Will, if he was he’d be at home and he hasn’t answered any of my calls.” Buffy said in resignation. “He’s avoiding me, I must have done something wro--“

“NO, Buffy don’t think that.” Willow admonished. “Maybe he’s been busy, or…” She was reaching for excuses, she knew that but she had to convince Buffy that Jake hadn’t disappeared because of her. “Or… or maybe he’s a little intimidated? You are a strong beau--“

“Intimidated.” Buffy repeated, her expression darkening.

“Spike.”

~~~

“Ow! Bloody ‘ell slayer for the third time I didn’t DO anything to the ponce.” Spike defended himself, his jaw throbbing from the blow she had just sent his way.

“Well then WHY has he just disappeared into thin air? He hasn’t been going to classes, he isn’t returning my calls, he--“

Spike interrupted. “You called him?” he said incredulously. “EVEN after what I told you?”

“You didn’t have any proof.” She said emphatically. “And anyway, how do I know that you weren’t just saying all that stuff so that I wouldn’t speak to him huh?”

“We all know about your little obsession.” She folded her arms over her chest as she waited for a response.

“I’m NOT obsessed.” He said vehemently. “Dammit Slayer do you listen to ANYTHING anybody says to you?”

Buffy swung her fist again, but this time Spike caught it. She pulled her hand out of his grasp, glaring daggers at Spike as she stepped away.

“Stay the hell away from me Spike.”

~~~

His old home beckoned him to enter and for a moment he hesitated. He was already in town, there was no sense turning around now. He had to face his demons, face his past.

He was here for her…

Reaching for the doorknob, he twisted and stepped inside the old Mansion on Crawford Street.

~~~

“He’s driving me IN-sane!” Buffy cried, slamming her fists into the punching bag before her.

Giles took an unsteady step backwards as he tried to steady the bag for the next attack. She hit at it with full force again and he barely managed to keep his footing. “Alright Buffy that’s enough for now.” He said calling an end to their training session.

Buffy stopped her last attack and walked away from the bag, stretching her muscles out as Giles drew in a relieved breath. Spike had been making his presence in town more obvious of late; ever since he made his feelings for the slayer known they hadn’t been able to get rid of him, even after repeated threats.

Buffy sighed, not knowing what to do. “If it’s not Spike, then I don’t know who it is.” She said quietly.

Giles pondered everything that she had said, before taking into consideration the events of the last few days. He didn’t want to suggest that perhaps something had happened to this Jake fellow, but that didn’t stop him from thinking it.

“Perhaps he’s visiting out of town?” he offered lightly as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

“Maybe.” Buffy said her voice hushed.

Before she could delve further into her thoughts, a crash sounded from the front of the Magic Box. She shot Giles a confused look before she reached a dagger that was on a nearby bench and rushed out of the training room…

…and right into an ambush.

~~~

Spike cracked his jaw and cursed at the pain it caused him. Stubborn bint…

Taking a large swig of his whiskey he was startled by a sudden noise outside his crypt. It wouldn’t be the slayer, she was much too pissed off with him right now to pay him a visit.

Suspecting it was a visit of the demon kind, he threw off his duster and approached the steel door. He threw it open and stepped outside…

…nothing.

To his right he heard the sounds of a fight, and immediately began moving towards it, figuring the slayer was about taking her anger out on his kind and figured he’d join in the fun.

~~~

Buffy eyed the six vampires that stood before her with caution. None of them were moving… they were all waiting. What for she had no clue.

“No Undead allowed. Didn’t you see the sign?” she mocked as she took a step towards the vamp nearest her.

That got a reaction. The tallest vampire with a balding head who was wearing an outfit right out of the 70’s raised a hand to quell her before speaking. “We mean you no harm slayer.”

“Yeah!” she scoffed. “Didn’t you get the memo when you were turned? Vampire = evil, slayer = evil killer. It’s pretty simple really.”

“It is not time for you yet.” He replied calmly.

“Not time for what?” Buffy asked, her curiosity piqued. The rest of the vampires stood still, silent, eyes all trained on her. What were they waiting for?

“Your death.” Baldy replied simply.

Rage coursed through Buffy’s veins. “Sorry to disappoint but I don’t plan on dying, especially not by any of you…” she said taking the time to glare at each of the six vampires.

Baldy laughed. “We are not here to kill you. She will come when it is time.”

Again with the mention of she… Buffy thought.

“She whom?” Giles voice interrupted.

Buffy didn’t turn her attention away from her watcher, but she felt his presence as he moved alongside her. A side wards glance and she saw that he was fully armed, crossbow loaded and ready to be fired.

“It’s not your time. She will come for you. First the bleached ally, and then you!” A youngish looking female piped up.

“SILENCE!” Baldy roared.

The bleached one… Buffy thought.

“Spike.” She identified.

Baldy took two steps towards the fledgling and wrapped his hands around her neck, tearing her head clean of her shoulders. She exploded into dust in his hands before he turned on Buffy.

“Giles!” she yelled giving the signal.

Giles aimed and fired, taking out the vampire to the left of Baldy as Buffy launched herself at the leader. She slammed a right hook into the vampires face and his head snapped to the side with the force of it.

The other vamps stood still, mute. Whomever it was they worked for, was obviously more threatening that she was, and Buffy watched as Giles took them out one by one without so much as a flinch.

Moments later Baldy was the only one left standing. His response to his entire crew being dusted was not one that she expected. He laughed. A low, belly rumbling laugh that resonated from deep within. “The ally of the leader of the light will be struck down and she will come to dance on his grave.”

“Ally?” Buffy repeated. “You need to fire whoever you’ve got doing your intel. Spike is not my ally, he’s a pest, an annoyance.”

The vampire’s speech was cryptic, and he wasn’t making a lot of sense.

Buffy had her stake poised to strike yet still the vampire did not move. When it appeared that he wasn’t going to say anything else she lunged forward.

He chose that moment to speak…

“The reborn will strike vengeance upon the leader of the light and the blood of the key will flow freely to destroy the prodigal.”

Buffy’s stake pierced the vampire’s heart and she screamed. “NO!”

The vampire exploded into dust.

She turned to Giles, her eyes filled with panic. “Giles!?” The vampire had mentioned the key. The key… Dawn. And Spike death was a… what? Trigger? He couldn’t die… not if Dawn’s life was in the balance.

“Go.” Giles urged.

Buffy didn’t need to be told twice as she broke into a run for the door…

~~~

Spike weaved through the headstones, following the sounds of the fight, but the sounds became no closer. He quickened his pursuit, breaking into a jog as he ran towards the south end of the graveyard. Now they were sounding closer.

He rounded the Jones Mausoleum at a speed to fast to slow down and couldn’t avoid the fist that struck out from nowhere, knocking him against the edge of the mausoleum.

His head hit the stone and everything faded to black.

~~~

Buffy pumped her arms and legs harder, her speed kicking up a notch as she darted through the gates of Restfield Cemetery and towards Spike’s crypt.

Please be okay…

~~~

Spike’s eyes blinked open for a moment as the world spun before him. A blonde head leaned towards him but his vision was too blurry to identify them.

“Buffy…” he mumbled.

“Not quite.” The smug voice replied.

Everything was falling into place.

~~~

“She comes!”

The blonde stood up, tearing her eyes away from the vampire at her feet and scanned the trees and head stones ahead. “Change of plans boys…” the voice purred.

“Get the girl.”

~~~

Buffy ran out of the empty crypt, her desperation growing. If keeping Spike safe would help protect her sister, then she would do anything in her power to keep him out of harms way, even if meant keeping him under 24 hour surveillance in her basement.

“SPIKE!” she yelled as she ran for the opposite end of the graveyard.

Vampire dropped from the trees, surrounding her in a circle. Buffy’s head whipped around as counted them. Eight, no, make that 10…

12…



“Uh guys, I don’t exactly have time for this.” She addressed as the vampires attacked as one.

~~~

The vampire was coming to and the blonde turned away from him to hide her identity. She did not care whether he lived or died, he meant nothing to her and her plans. He was but a pawn.

Hearing the sounds of fighting, a malevolent smile spread across her face as she turned towards her transport and left.

~~~

“SPIKE!” Buffy cried out as she ducked an attack from one vampire, thrusting out with her stake and stabbing another in the neck as she tried to fight her way out of the pack of vampires that were converging on her.

She had dispatched two of them, injured a couple but they never stopped coming.

He’d better still be alive...

~~~

The sound of his name being called broke through Spike’s foggy brain. His attackers had fled and the sounds of fighting could be heard not far from his current position. He considered ignoring them and returning to his crypt, when his name was called again.

He would recognize that voice anywhere.

“Buffy…”

~~~

As Buffy’s desperation grew, her attacks became sloppier, and the vampire’s attacks hit home more and more. There were seven left…

She caught the glint of something metallic shining in the moonlight, and she franticly tried to avoid the weapon but it kept switching hands. A fist shot out and knocked her in the head and the world faded to black.

She saw the flash again and moments later intense pain radiated upwards from her abdomen before the darkness overcame her.

Spike found the group seconds before it happened. A flash, a punch, and then a stab.

He could smell it in the air… the blood.

Her blood.

“BUFFY!” he screamed as he launched himself at one of her attackers, savagely slamming his elbow into the vampires face, crushing his nose.

She hit the ground and he knew immediately that she was unconscious.

A primal growl erupted from within him as he assaulted the vampire with the knife. His movements were a blur of speed, right hook, left roundhouse, right jab, right jab, and left uppercut, left spin kick…

On and on he went, fighting them back, keeping them away from her. He could hear her heart beat weakening as her blood flowed from her body. He had to get her out of here.

His eye caught a stake on the ground not far from where Buffy lay unconscious, and Spike threw himself at it, rolling to his feet as he swung his right arm backwards into the chest of one of the vampires. A second soon followed and the remaining five eyed him with more caution.

One of the larger ones pushed another forward, and Spike grinned menacingly as he staked it without opposition.

“Come on boys I don’t have all night.” He growled as he took a step towards the next one.

“Let’s get outta here!” A vamp called to the others desperately.

“You’re life will be worthless if you abandon the mistress.” Another admonished.

The arguing two continued to argue between themselves as the two who had kept silent turned and ran towards the cemeteries exits, figuring if they got far enough away they had a fighting chance.

Their disappearance didn’t go un-noticed, the last two taking one look at the fury etched on face of the blond vampire before them before taking off after the other two deserters.

Spike’s attention instantly turned to Buffy who was still unconscious.

Lifting her from the ground he cradled her in his arms as moved at a pace as close to a run as he could, the exit in his sights. He needed to get her to a hospital.

He was not without wounds himself. Blood poured freely from a gash in his arm, and he was limping on his left leg even as he ran, each step sending pain shooting up his leg. But he continued on.

For her.

A figure stepped out of the shadows, stalling Spike’s movements.

“Angelus.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you like!
Unexpected Arrivals. by angelic_amy
Chapter 8: Unexpected Arrivals.


“Angelus.” Spike repeated.

Angel looked to the unconscious form of his ex girlfriend. His expression showed concern for her condition, but no surprise for it.

“Spike I…”

“You SON of a bitch.” Spike snarled, taking a threatening step towards his sire. “WHAT did you do?” he demanded, immediately assuming that he was behind it.

“I’m NOT Angelus.” Angel insisted. His eyes ticked to Buffy again before he met the furious eyes of his childe.

“I was looking for Buffy and…” he trailed off.

“Well you’ve found her, now get out of my way.” Spike demanded as he tried to step past him.

Angel moved to block his path and Spike’s rage increased.

“Are you blind as well as stupid?” he roared. “She needs to go to a hospital.”

“I know.” Angel replied. “Give her to me, I’ll take her. My car’s out fro--"

“Over my un-dead body.” Spike spat out. “I’m takin’ her.”

Angel raised an eyebrow. “The medics will take one look at you and try to hospitalize you as well.” He pointed out.

Spike looked down at his bloodstained shirt and skin and cursed. Angel was right.

“I’m coming.” He insisted.

Angel shook his head in the negative. “You go to Giles’ place and inform him of what’s happened and I’ll take her to the hospital.”

Spike looked from Angel to Buffy, and back again before finally relenting. Angel would get her there quicker than he would, and her watcher would want to know what was going on, and the whelp, red and the nibblet.

“Alright.” He said gruffly.

Angel held out his arms and Spike gently handled Buffy over to him. Her head lolled backwards and Spike gave her a fleeting look before taking off in the direction of Giles’ place.

Angel watched Spike leave and then scanned the graveyard for a moment before running towards his car.

~~~

Giles was scanning books of prophecies for mentions of the key. After the attack in the Magic Box, he had closed up shop and left immediately to begin his research. Luckily, he had already begun searching for references to the key because of the threat of Glory, and all the references were page marked.

Now all he had to look for was a mention of the prodigal…

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Giles jumped in his seat at his desk, startled by the sudden noise, the book he was reading clattering to the floor with a thump. He stood quickly and moved to the door and threw it open expecting Buffy.

“Spike.” He snapped.

Spike shoved past him and into the apartment, and it was then that Giles noticed the limp in his step, the pain in his expression, and the blood coating his arms and shirt.

“What happened?” he asked his worry evident in his tone of voice. “Buffy was lookin--“

“She found me.” Spike interrupted. “She’s been hurt Giles, hurt bad.”

~~~

“I need a Doctor! This woman needs some help!” Angel shouted as he rushed through the doors of Sunnydale Memorial, Buffy’s limp unconscious body cradled in his arms.

Nurses immediately came to his aid, taking one look at Buffy’s bloodstained clothing before one of the ran off to page a surgeon. A gurney was wheeled towards Angel and Buffy was taken from his arms and gently placed on it. Two nurses attended to her, checking her vitals before wheeling her off towards the operating theatre.

A third nurse came over to Angel with paperwork, asking him all sorts of questions about Buffy and her medical history. He answered as best as he could as he watched her disappear behind the swinging doors.

“How did this happen?” the nurse probed.

“She was mugged…” Angel replied calmly, his distress for her shining through his eyes.

~~~

Giles paled at Spike’s words. It took a moment before his concerns for his slayer were replaced with rage when it occurred to him that Spike knew Buffy was hurt; yet she wasn’t here.

He grabbed the vampire by the neck of his shirt and slammed him up against a wall. “And you just LEFT her there?” he snarled incredulously, hints of Ripper appearing in his expression.

“NO!” Spike retorted, ripping the watchers hands away from his throat. “Angel took her to the hospital.”

Surprise replaced Giles’ rage. “Angel? But he should be in--“

“…LA. I know.” Spike interrupted. “But he’s in town, and he took Buffy to the hospital. I couldn’t exactly walk in there like this…” he said waving a hand to indicate the blood that covered him.

“Right.” Giles replied, his voice a little calmer than it had been moments ago. “I’ll just go--“

“…to the hospital. I’ll call up the scoobies.” Spike offered.

Giles was astounded by Spike’s offer and it took him a moment to respond. “Right.” He said again. “The numbers are by the phone, I believe Dawn is at Janice’s house again. The numbers there on the list and--“

“…Just get to the hospital Rupert.” Spike interrupted for a third time. “I can handle a few phone calls.”

Giles just nodded, reached for a coat on the hook by the door and left.

Spike watched him leave before moving to the telephone and beginning the ring around.

~~~

Angel paced the hallway of the Sunnydale Memorial impatiently as he waited for the doctor who had taken Buffy to return with news of her condition. So far, there had been nothing.

He turned around to resume his pacing in the opposite direction, when he saw them walking in his direction. Giles, Willow, Xander, Anya, a blond female that he didn’t recognize, and Dawn.

Giles was the first to speak. “Angel. Any news?”

Angel shook his head to the negative.

“So Dead-Boy, back in town. I’ve got to say, impeccable timing.” Xander piped up.

Angel bit back the retort that was on the tip of his tongue when Xander reached out with his right hand to shake that of the vampires. Willow was next, a quiet “Hey” being her only greeting.

He turned to look at Dawn, and found himself wrapped in a tight embrace. Dawn buried her face into Angel’s chest and he could feel the wetness of her tears seeping through his shirt. He wrapped one arm around the small girl and held her tightly.

“Buffy’s strong Dawn.”

Dawn pulled away and nodded once, sniffling.

“All we can do is wait.”

~~~

Spike locked the door to Giles’ apartment as he left. To say that Buffy’s friends were surprised to hear his voice on the other end of the phone line was an understatement. Xander, had to be called twice because he hung up the first time as soon as he found out who it was spouting his annoyance about the time. It was only when Spike blurted out that Buffy was in the hospital immediately after he picked up the telephone the second time, did he have the boy’s attention.

Once they’d all been notified he had taken a moment to think, to try and sort out in his head exactly what had happened. This attack was premeditated. There was no way it was a spur of the moment thing, it had been organized. He had just been lucky that the last few henchmen hadn’t been loyal to their boss, because if they had been…

He closed his eyes, not even wanting to think about what could have happened to her if he hadn’t gotten her away so quickly.

If Angel hadn’t gotten her away so quickly…

A thoughtful frown crossed his face as he limped in the direction of his crypt. What was Angel even doing in town?

~~~

The doctor walked down the hallway towards the waiting room where the large group of people was waiting to hear news of his patient.

They all stood up when they saw the doctor slowly walking towards them, and Dawn took one look at his somber expression before bursting into tears and wrapping her arms around Giles. Giles wrapped an arm around Dawn’s shoulder as he desperately tried to control the panic that was rising within him. The expression on the doctor’s face was grim.

Xander was the one to finally speak. “Doctor how is she?”

The doctor looked at the chart in his hands for a moment before meeting the gazes of the people before him. “She’s critical.” He said calmly. “The stab wound she received when she was mugged was quite deep and she’s lost a lot of blood.”

Willow gasped audibly, her eyes shining with tears that she was barely managing to contain. She grasped at Tara’s hand, clenching it tightly in hers as the doctor continued.

“We had to operate.”

Giles inhaled slow and deep as the doctor described the procedure.

“She was actually quite lucky that none of her major organs were damaged in the attack.”

Xander clenched his jaw. His friend was lying in a hospital bed and the doctor was saying she was lucky?

“C-can we see her?” Dawn’s timid voice asked, her face streaked with tears.

The doctor’s expression softened slightly. “She’s in recovery at the moment, as soon as we move her into a room you’ll be able to visit with her.” He sighed, hating what he had to inform them of next.

“We managed to stop the bleeding and sew up her wound, but the blood loss was too extensive. I’m afraid she’s slipped into a coma.”

The thread of control Willow had been hanging onto snapped and tears began to rush from her eyes. Tara wrapped her arms around her girlfriend in an attempt to sooth her.

“If we’d gotten to her earlier…” he said eyeing Angel with suspicion. He was well aware of the fact that it was he who brought his patient in tonight, but there was just something about the dark haired man that made him feel uneasy.

Angel had been silent the entire time the doctor had been speaking but he couldn’t handle anymore, not missing the obvious dig made to him. If Dawn hadn’t been present he would have had the doctor slammed up against a wall by his throat. He clenched and unclenched his fists, his jaw tensing in anger.

The doctor seemed to notice the hostility in Angel’s eyes and he took a wary step back.

“Is she going to be okay?” Giles asked, finally finding his voice.

The doctor’s eyes ticked to the elder gentleman of the group. “She is breathing on her own, and her vitals are strong, but there’s nothing more we can do for her right now. The sooner she wakes from this coma, the better.”

Having given that last piece of information, the doctor offered his apologies and turned and walked back down the hall.


Angel slammed his fist into the wall behind him and everyone jumped at the noise. He should have gotten her here sooner… he should have been here sooner…

“Angel, you did all you could.” Giles said.

“And it wasn’t enough.” He growled out. He wanted to be by Buffy’s side but sunrise would soon be upon them.

Sensing the hesitation in him, Giles nodded once. “We’ll let you know if there’s any change.”

Angel’s expression softened, nodding once to show his appreciation. Searching in his pockets, he removed a business card with his cell phone number on it, handing it to Giles who pocketed it immediately. “I’ll be at the Mansion.” He informed them before turning and disappearing down the hall towards the exit.

~~~

Spike made it to his crypt no long before sunrise, collapsing on his bed. The more he thought about it, the more convinced he was that something wasn’t right. What had brought Angel back to town so suddenly?

He passed out almost instantly, dreaming of golden hair and vanilla…

~~~

A few hours later Giles and Dawn were the only two remaining in the hospital. Giles had convinced the others to go home and get rest, and Anya was going to go open the Magic Box for business where they would all meet at lunchtime.

He looked to his side, smiling softly. Dawn was curled up, sleeping on 3 of the hospital chairs with his coat thrown over her for warmth. He was just contemplating getting up for some bad coffee when a nurse approached them. Gently waking Dawn, they listened as the nurse explained that Buffy had stabilized enough to be moved into a room, but she was still in the coma.

Dawn had demanded to see her and the nurse had given them directions to Buffy’s room, leaving them outside the door. When she opened the door, she almost wished that she hadn’t been so insistent on seeing her sister so soon.

Buffy’s face was mottled with bruises and there were wires and tubes everywhere. There were two IV’s sticking in her arms and a heartbeat monitor beeped beside the bed. The side of her face that wasn’t bruised was ashen in colour, pale against the white of the sheets.

Dawn began crying again as she leaned up against Giles, turning her face away from the bed when she could no longer bare looking at her sister. She looked so weak, so small in that bed. If it weren’t for the steady beeping of the heart monitor, Dawn would have sworn that she was lifeless.

Giles moved to the seat beside the bed and sat down, Dawn dragging another beside his and making herself as comfortable as possible as she cried for her sister.

Giles fought back his own tears for Dawn’s sake, only letting them fall when she had exhausted herself and fallen asleep.

~~~

Buffy was running blindly, trying to find the exit. She knew it had to be here somewhere…

Fear drove her on as she ran through the murky darkness. Common sense told her to slow, to be more cautious… to feel her way around. But she did not have time… somewhere in the darkness… it hid.

She stumbled and fell, her breath was knocked out of her and something splashed on her arms as she landed but she quickly dragged herself to her feet and continued running. Her feet sank into the squishy earth beneath her, almost as if the ground was trying to consume her. And she wouldn’t be surprised if it was…

She was lost, she was tired, and she was scared. But she wouldn’t give up… not while SHE was out there. SHE was hunting her and hunting Dawn.

Buffy would find the answers… but first she had to find a way home…




~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: PLEASE leave your thoughts, they encourage me to write more and post quickly. ;)
Livid. by angelic_amy
Chapter 9: Livid.


The morning flew by quickly, Buffy’s condition never changing. Giles almost had to drag Dawn out of the hospital, only convincing her to come with him to the Magic Box when he agreed that they would return immediately after the meeting.

Together they met, red cheeked and puffy eyed standing silent for a long moment as they all fought to keep their emotions in check. Giles had Dawn set on the task of making hot drinks for everyone and when she left the room he informed the others of the attack from the previous night, and of the cryptic speech of the vampire who had appeared to be in charge of the operation.

Xander was furious that it was inadvertently because of Spike that Buffy was in hospital, and when Willow tried to stand up for Spike, Xander snapped at her. It had been Angel that had gotten her to the hospital, not Spike he pointed out. Giles stepped in at this point, silencing them all with a shout and a glare that was not to be defied. He informed them all that if it hadn’t been for Spike, then Buffy would be dead… she wouldn’t have even made it out of the cemetery alive.

Sobered by this piece of information, Giles handed out the books he had been using to research the key and the ‘prodigal’ and set them on task, just as Dawn returned with a tray of steaming hot drinks. Insisting that Buffy wouldn’t want her to fall behind, Giles set Dawn on her homework and the Magic Box became silent.

~~~

Spike paced his crypt like a caged tiger, his jaw clenching and unclenching in anger as his frustration grew. He was trying to remember the events of last night, trying to find something that would point to who it was that was responsible for the attack but no matter how many times he played it through his mind, nothing came to him.

He remembered seeing a flash of blond hair and for a moment he thought that it might be Harmony, but he had laughed that off. She didn’t have the stones nor the smarts to pull off something like this.

He was itching to get outside and find those responsible for hurting Buffy. He almost wished that he had chased after the four remaining vampires that had taken off, and made them pay for what they had done but he knew that if he had wasted anymore time then Buffy wouldn’t even make it to the hospital.

He was fuming that no-one had let him know what was going on… whether or not she had even made it there in time. He didn’t have a telephone but someone could have come past the crypt. The longer that he was kept locked inside, the more frustrated he became.

When sunset finally arrived, he dashed out of his confines and into the cemetery, immediately heading towards the hospital.

~~~

“She’s in the hospital.” He answered her nervously, keeping his gaze lowered to the floor.

“She’s ALIVE!?”

When he nodded in response she picked up a dagger and flung it at him, imbedding it in his head.

“Guess I’ll have to do this myself.” She said with a determined frown.

~~~

Spike stood in the corridor outside her room, breathing unnecessarily as he tried to work up the courage to step inside. When he could take the suspense no longer, he opened the door and walked inside.

What he saw froze him in his tracks.

She didn’t even look like she was alive.

He was so lost in despair that it wasn’t until Giles cleared his throat that Spike noticed that there were other people in the room. The watcher was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room; Dawn slumped in the one beside him. And in the shadows of the room… was Angel.

Spike’s face clouded instantly with anger. “You son of a bitch…” he snarled as he took a step towards him.

Angel’s expression remained passive, his gaze finding Spike’s and holding it for a moment before he returned his stare to Buffy. Giles stood, effectively blocking Spike’s path to Angel, not that he couldn’t have shoved past if he wanted to. His expression became questioning as he looked at the watcher in disbelief.


“He got her here in time.” Giles said quietly.

“In TIME?” Spike exploded, startling Dawn who jumped in her seat. “She’s in a bloody coma.”

Giles’ expression became stormy; matching that of Spike’s and the watcher’s stance became more determined. He knew that Spike was worried; it didn’t take a genius to see how much this was eating him up inside. But picking a fight with Angel was not going to do anything to help Buffy.

“Spike I think you should leave.” Dawn said quietly, her expression became hard.

Spike’s jaw dropped in astonishment. He didn’t believe his ears. But one look into her eyes confirmed what he had heard. He opened his mouth to argue, but stopped when he saw the pain in Dawn’s eyes. Gritting his teeth, his eyes flitting to Buffy once more before he turned and left the room.

Dawn watched Spike leave, and once he had left the room a sob escaped her lips. He had no right to accuse Angel like that, if it weren’t for him then Buffy might…

She didn’t even finish the thought. She knew Spike was worried about her sister, and under normal circumstances she would wanted him to be there. But he couldn’t be around if he was going to pick fights.

Giles took Dawn in his arms once more offering the comfort she desperately needed. She didn’t know that it had been Spike who had came to Buffy’s rescue; she only knew that it had been Angel who had brought her to the hospital. When she had been called at Janice’s house, the caller had spoken to her friend’s Mom, before driving her straight to the hospital. Giles knew that Dawn had assumed it was one of them.

If he could tell her without explaining why it was that Buffy had been in the cemetery he would. But he couldn’t. It would break Dawn’s heart if she found out that it was inadvertently because of her that Buffy had been hurt. The threats against Dawn’s life had been too important to ignore, but Dawn wouldn’t see it that way.

So for now, Giles kept quiet.

Turning to Angel, he let him know that he was going to take Dawn home to his apartment, and he would return before morning. Angel nodded in response, taking the chair beside Buffy’s bed and reaching for one of her hands, enveloping it in his.

~~~

Spike wandered meaninglessly about town. Why hadn’t Giles stood up for him? Why had Dawn kicked him out? And Angel…

He swung his left leg out, kicking at an empty soda can, sending it skittering down the street. The poof hadn’t even responded. He had just looked away… Like the great big bloody coward that he is.

“Takin’ the credit I bet… blaming it all on me, what a bloody surprise.” Spike ranted as he moved down the street.

He made it all the way to the factory district before he even realized where he was going. Walking inside the remains of what had been his old lair when he had first came to town he finally proceeded to take his frustrations out on the remaining furniture. He threw the charred chairs at the walls, smashing as they connected, pieces of wood flying all over the place. He overturned the large table and threw the pot plants, which had housed ferns that Dru had insisted on having at the stone pillars, feeling momentary satisfaction when they shattered and sent the dirt spraying throughout the large room.

When there was nothing more he could destroy in the room he collapsed to the floor and howled in anguish.

He had been terrified that she wouldn’t make it to the hospital in time… but seeing her like that, with tubes running everywhere, had broken his heart. She looked so helpless, so frail.

He replayed his actions through his head over and over. If only he hadn’t left his crypt and followed that noise. If only he had dodged that fist that had almost knocked him unconscious. If only he had ran faster when he heard her shout.

The countless what ifs taunted him as he broke down in desolation.

~~~

He dreamed of her…

But that wasn’t anything out of the ordinary; she was always in his thoughts. The sound of her laughter was like music to his ears and her smile… that bright smile that she reserved only for those closest to her, how he wished that once, just once, he would be on the receiving end of it.

But that wasn’t going to be possible, not if she didn’t wake up.

Not if they didn’t let him near her…

~~~

Spike wasn’t the only person who dreamed of Buffy.

Angel had left the hospital shortly before sunrise, tiredly making his way into his old bedroom. The Mansion was just as he’d left it. None of the vamps in town had attempted to take up residence, and he could tell just by taking a deep breath of the musty air that it had been a long time since even Buffy had been here.

He should be glad about that… but he didn’t know if he was.

He still loved her. Buffy was still the only woman in the world that he cared for. But he stood by his decision. She deserved a chance at a normal life. Seeing her move on and into a relationship with Riley, especially after that day they had spent together in LA, had been almost too much to bear. The demon in him had wanted to tear out the soldier boy’s throat, even more so now.

Giles had informed him of Riley’s sudden decision to leave Sunnydale at the hospital, and the sudden rush of rage that had overcome him had made it difficult to contain his game face from surfacing in the hallway filled with medical staff. Riley didn’t deserve her, not if he didn’t realize how special a gift he had thrown away. Angel grit his teeth in irritation, the soldier boy had willingly thrown away something that he himself would give anything to have.

Throwing his coat on a chair in the bedroom he quickly peeled off his clothing and sunk into bed, soon falling into a restless sleep.

~~~

Giles and Dawn returned to the hospital that morning, but there was no change in Buffy’s condition. She was stable, which was one thing that they could be thankful for. But what they needed was for her to wake up.

After a while sitting by her side, in the condition that she was, became unbearable. The pair left the hospital and drove in silence to the Magic Box where Xander, Anya, Willow and Tara were all waiting for them. The mood was not dissimilar to the previous day, each person wearing matching somber expression on their faces as they continued with their research. Narrowing the field was the hard task.

Spike’s recall to Giles suggested that they were looking for vampires, but they were obviously working for someone. As was the Bornossiak demon. Figuring out who was behind everything was the issue.

Xander slammed shut the book he was reading with frustration. “Giles I’m not seeing anything new here.”

He stood up and began to pace the room. It didn’t feel like they were doing enough. All he wanted was for Buffy to wake up and looking at books wasn’t going to help achieve that. He needed to do something, something active. An idea came to mind and he grabbed his jacket from the back of his chair and slipped it on.

“I’m goin to pay Willy a visit.” He announced as he left, not giving anyone the chance to stop him.

Anya worried about Xander’s safety and thought about following before reasoning with herself that he would be okay. Xander was smart. He wouldn’t go into a bar filled with demons and pick a fight. Most likely he would pay for the information. Having convinced herself that her beloved would be safe, she returned to her shop keeping duties whilst Tara, Willow and Giles continued with the research.

“We really should be getting receipts from Willy…” she muttered. “I’m certain his ‘intel’ could be written off as a tax break.”

Willow caught Anya’s mutterings and shook her head in disbelief before continuing with her research.

~~~

“I want answers Willy.”

The greasy haired bartender gulped visibly when the slayers dark haired friend leaned ominously over the bar. Ominous was not a word one would normally associate with Xander, but it fit his demeanor tonight.

When he had entered the bar mere minutes earlier he had been expecting the usual bravado then to be slipped a $20 for his troubles. But not this time, this time Xander Harris was angry. Willy had never seen the kid so worked up, and he had been in here dozens of times before.

Using his bar cloth to wipe his forehead before returning to his glass polishing, his eyes darted around the half empty bar before he nodded once. “I don’t know much… but I’ll tell you what I do.”

Xander’s expression told Willy that he was listening but that he shouldn’t try his patience.

“New group of vamps arrived in town a couple of days ago. Big plans they say. Going to make the slayers life a living hell they say.” Willy raised an eyebrow. “I’ve been here a while, heard this sort of bravado before. But these guys, these guys were different. They knew stuff, stuff that outsiders shouldn’t know.”

Willy leaned closer further over the bar and Xander mirrored his actions as the bartender’s voice lowered in volume, not that there was much point, considering the vampires in the room would be able to hear him anyway.

“They didn’t mention who they were working for, but I did hear one little tidbit that you might find useful… for the right price of course.” He suggested, rubbing his fingers together in a sign of wanting cash.

Xander’s expression darkened before his fist shot out and connected with Willy’s nose. Both men shouted in pain, Xander shaking his sore fist in the air whilst Willy covered his bleeding nose with his dish rag.

“Willy…” Xander threatened.

“Alright, alright!” Willy spluttered in pain. “The Master. They mentioned the Master.”

All of the colour left Xander’s face, his jaw slackening. How many times can this guy come back…?

“That’s not possible… the Master’s dead. I saw Buffy crush his bones; he is one vamp who is definitely dust in the wind. Literally.”

“Hey man, don’t beat up the messenger. That’s what I heard. That was the only name that came up in conversation.” Willy shrugged his shoulders, gently prodding his painful nose.

“Thanks.” Xander muttered as he turned and left the bar.

This was bad… very bad…




~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: If you've read this, please take a second to drop me a line. I know people are reading but I don't know what they think, :( Reviews do a make a happy author.
Impossible Probabilities. by angelic_amy
BIG thanks to Cordykitten for the reviews!



Chapter 10: Impossible Probabilities.


“That’s not possible!” Willow gasped in shock, turning to Giles for reassurance. “Right, I mean… he’s dead in the never coming back sense right?”

“This is troubling.” Giles said, pondering the information that Xander had gained from Willy.

Anya was currently fawning upon the young man in question; who had retrieved an ice pack from the freezer moments after Xander had returned to the Magic Box.

“Troubling… is that all you can say? Last time Buffy faced the Master she DIED!” Xander ranted. He felt helpless. They now had a lead, something that they could focus their research upon, but it was not a nice possibility.

The Master had been the one foe that had truly scared Buffy. He had killed her when they had last fought, biting her and then dropping her face first into water. She had drowned and if she hadn’t been given CPR in time, then not only would she have died, but the old ones would have returned to rule the earth… the Hellmouth… would have opened.

“We have to treat this seriously… we need to keep the possibility that his followers are trying to resurrect him again open. It’s been tried before.” Giles pointed out.

“Last time they had bones to work with!” Xander cried. “The Master is dust… dust that is spread across the consecrated grounds of several graveyards.”

“Xander.” Giles said gently, imploring him to calm himself. “There are several other possibilities. Spiritual possession for one where they could--“

“We get the picture.” Xander growled. “There are other ways.”


“W-why would they want to resurrect him?” Tara asked. She had been given a brief run-down of the Master and what had happened during Buffy’s first year in town by Willow several months ago, but being the romantic that she was, her girlfriend had tended to focus more on Buffy’s relationship with Angel rather than the foes that she had faced.

“Buffy dead.” Xander said bluntly, but simply.

The entire room was silent. Dawn’s face fell and Xander immediately felt bad for his straightforwardness. He was surprised that Giles hadn’t scolded him for the fact.

“She can’t be left alone. Somebody needs to stay with her at the hospital.

Everyone turned to look at the person who had interrupted the troubling silence.

Dawn.

Giles blinked in surprise, having forgotten that she was no longer in his office working on her homework. Sighing, he removed his glasses and cleaned them thoroughly before replacing them on the bridge of his nose, using those few moments to think. She was right. If these vampires were agents of the Master’s, who were somehow planning on attempting to bring him back to life again, then Buffy’s weakened condition was probably something they would be looking to take advantage of.

“I’ll go.” Willow offered quietly, raising her hand as she offered. “I can continue researching at the hospital. Maybe I can put up some wards so that we can be alerted whenever a vampire tries to enter the building?”

Giles shook his head. “The size of the building will make that difficult. There’s also the fact that Angel and Spike would most likely be making appearances to take into consideration. A spell of that magnitude probably wouldn’t allow for exceptions.”

Willow’s shoulders sagged in defeat. “You’re probably right.”

She gathered together a couple of books and slid them her shoulder carry bag. “I’ll stay with Buffy for the first few hours.”

“…And I’ll take over from you after that.” Xander insisted.

Giles nodded. “Very well. Dawn and I will stay for a few hours after that and I’ll see if Angel is available to take over after us.”

Once it was all agreed upon, Willow left the shop and the others returned to researching now that they had a direction to focus their attentions upon.

~~~

Buffy ran through the field searching for her sister. It was happening again. The moment she had seen the flower filled valley she had known. She broke into a run, screaming for her sister even before the shaking began.

“Dawn! Where are you…”

The ground trembled beneath her and her panic stepped up into overdrive.

A small part of her subconscious was telling her that this was happening for a reason… that she should be searching for whatever it was that her dream was trying to tell her. But the rest of her mind was screaming at her to run faster, to search more quickly before it happened again.

A scream rang out and everything stopped. The world stopped shaking and the roses fell from the sky, falling like missiles as they hit the ground. Buffy’s heart constricted as everything happened again as it had before, exactly as it had before.

She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment, knowing that she was too late… knowing that when she opened her eyes that what she would see before her would break her heart.

Buffy’s eyes blinked open, wet with fresh tears as her gaze focused on the sight before her.

Dawn was standing a few feet in front of her, and Buffy gasped in terror when the reality of what she was seeing before her, even though for the second time, hit her with the force of a Mack Truck.

Dawn was clutching at her abdomen, pain etched across her face. She lifted a hand to examine it and found it to be covered in blood. Fear stamped across her face as her hand fell limp beside her. “Buffy…” she whispered, her voice strangled in her throat as she gasped for air. Her eyes rolled back into her head and she collapsed in a heap amongst the ripped up daisies.

“DAWN!” Buffy screamed, as she dove to the ground beside her sister.

She reached her sisters side, cradling her shivering body in her arms as the tears streamed by her side. “I’m sorry Dawnie… I-I wasn’t fast enough… please just be okay… PLEASE!” she begged.

A sudden realization hit her, the dream hadn’t gone this far last time. Buffy began actively searching, what for she had no clue. Something… a clue… anything that would help her to understand why this was happening…

She looked up into the sky, at the surrounding fields, at her sisters blood stained hands. It was there… clutched in her sister’s enclosed fist that she saw it.

It was blond…


~~~

“Dru…” he murmured as he stirred from sleep.

Blue eyes blinked open and closed several times before the sub level of the dark crypt came into focus. For a moment he didn’t realize where he was… the last thing he remembered was tearing things apart in the factory. His mind was hazy but his subconscious informed him that he had stumbled out of there a little before sunrise. When he looked up and saw the roots of the trees above ground that snaked across the ceiling that his location became apparent. He was in his crypt. Seconds later the remnants of his dream sank in.

Spike sat bolt upright, gasping in horror.

No… this can’t be happening…

Swinging his feet to the side of his bed he hurriedly pulled his jeans up over his hips, dragged his shirt on over his head and slid his boots on as he rushed up the ladder to the crypt proper. He reached for the steel door and yanked it open just as he realized. The sunlight streamed through the open door and onto his exposed hands, instantly causing his right hand to sizzle and smoke.

Roaring in pain and in frustration for his own stupidity he slammed the crypt door shut before stalking towards the small bar fridge he had upstairs and removed a packet of blood, draining it in seconds. The blood would help his hand to heal more quickly. He was just lucky that he hadn’t stepped further into the light. Kicking at a wall in annoyance he began to pace his crypt, waiting for sunrise.

He had to know that she was all right, that his dream had been just that… a dream.

If Dru was back in town…

Spike clenched his eyes shut for a moment before they flashed open again moments later, searching for the half bottle of whiskey he knew was up here somewhere. He should have done it weeks ago… he had had her, shackled and bound. All it would have taken was one plunge -- point side in, and maybe this wouldn’t be happening.

Dru had been his life, his world for a hundred years and he had been willing to sacrifice that… all for Buffy. But she hadn’t taken him seriously. No that wasn’t true, she had taken him seriously; she just hadn’t cared. And Dru had escaped.

It was at times like that the Buffy frustrated him the most. She saw things as black and white. Vampire were evil and if she had anything to say about it they would all one day meet their fate on the pointy end of one of her stakes. Him included until a little over a year ago. Ever since he had been chipped by the Initiative she had no longer considered him a threat. He was in a manner of speaking, neutered. He continued to live his undead existence purely out of pity. And he liked to think because more recently he had helped her.

But he was still evil, not worth her time.

All vampires were evil.

All that is, accept for Angel.

Bloody ponce…

Spike kicked at the wall again, reveling in the pain that shot up his leg before realizing that injuring himself right now, when Buffy would need him most whether she admitted it or not, was probably not the best idea. Refraining from attacking any more of the walls or furniture, Spike sank into the armchair and switched on the television, trying to distract himself with Passions whilst he waited for sunset.

And for the first time ever… it wasn’t working.

~~~

Willow squeezed Buffy’s hand one last time as Xander took over from slayer watching duty, and walked out of the room before tears overcame her again. Willow was not an angry person by nature, and it took a lot for someone to make the very short list of people she would want to take her frustrations out on if she had the strength and courage to do so. Faith, Harmony, Percy’s girlfriend… Are they even going out any more?

Clearing her thoughts of those unnecessary, Willow quickly made her way out of the hospital and began walking in the direction of the Magic Box. If she found out whoever had done this to Buffy, then they would be finding themselves on her list.

Better read up on some magical attacks.

They would need them to use against Glory anyway, so Giles wouldn’t be that mad… right?

~~~

Angel had slept fitfully, vivid dreams waking him every few hours. He was a hypocrite; he knew that. He didn’t need the dreams mocking him, reminding him every time he closed his eyes. But they did, over and over again.

She’s never going to forgive me… he thought desolately.

“Never…”

Trying to push the thoughts out of his mind, he began pacing the great hall of the Mansion. He had to make her see… prayed that she would listen, that she would understand. Continuing his pacing, he waited for sunset.

~~~

The second the sun dipped below the horizon, Spike was out of his crypt like a shot. He needed to know she was okay… that she was still safe in her bed at the hospital. Or better yet, at home and awake.

If she were back in town then she would have made her presence known. Dru wasn’t exactly known for her patience, one thing he was thankful for. She may be batty out of her mind crazy, but at least she was predictable when it came to the important things in life. Sex, Blood, Revenge, Death. She wanted it all, and fast. Always had. It had been one of the many things he had loved her for. But not now, now it only made him worry. Because he knew that the revenge and death would be directed at Buffy.

The walk to the hospital quickly became a jog, and he cursed himself for not thinking far enough ahead to pick up his car.

A few minutes later Sunnydale Memorial came into view and he rapidly made his way towards the entrance. Not bothering to stop at the nurse’s station since he knew which room she was staying in anyway, he made his way to the door. As he had done the previous night, he paused for a moment, inhaling sharply as he prepared himself to enter the room. Seeing her like that… was almost too much to bear. But not seeing her at all… was worse.

He heard a sound of movement behind him, and turned suddenly to see Angel standing before him. He looked just as anxious.

“Spike.” He greeted coldly. “What are you doing here?”

“Same thing as you Captain Forehead.” Spike sneered in response.

Then Angel did the strangest thing, he just nodded in understanding. “Shall we?” he suggested, reaching for the door.

Spike blinked in shock and followed Angel into the room.

She was still there, hooked up to those machines, the constant buzzing and beeping the only indication that she was still alive. She looked like death. He skin was sallow and pasty, where it wasn’t bruised, the bed seeming to swallow her tiny form in it.

Spike inhaled sharply, unable to hide his distress. He would have thought that it would be different, having seen her the night before. But it wasn’t. If anything, it was even more painful.

Giles looked up from the book he had been reading, still trying to gather information on possible demons and vampires that could be responsible for Buffy’s current condition. They weren’t having much luck. He was astounded to see Spike and Angel walk into the small room together, but he managed to disguise it.

Both vampires wore similar expressions of misery on their faces, and Giles couldn’t help but smile at the irony. The two vampires with the most notorious reputations for their evil deeds, were both suffering from the predicament that his slayer was in. His slayer, with her blatant disregard for the ruling and authority of the council, was undoubtedly the most notorious in her field. It was her impropriety and independence that had aided her time and time again in battle. It was her quick thinking and resourcefulness that had averted countless apocalypses. And it was her kind and loving nature that endeared her to everyone around her. Apparently this didn’t exclude vampires.

Placing his book on his seat as he stood to greet the two vampires, he gave them both a curt nod as he gave Buffy a fleeting glance, before looking over his shoulder at Dawn. She was sound asleep, curled up in a little ball in the hospital chair, which could not be at all comfortable. But she had refused to leave when he had suggested it.

“I should take her home.” He told the vampires, directing his comment at the two of them.

Angel nodded silently in agreement.

“She looks worn out.” Spike observed.

“She is.” Giles replied. “Now.” He continued, his voice taking on a business-like tone. “Angel you’re here for your rotation I assume?”

“His rotation?” Spike questioned with a frown. “There’s a bloody rotation now? Why don’t I know anything about it?”

Giles sighed in frustration. “Because you weren’t there when it was discussed.”

“Taking turns watching the slayer.” his brow furrowed with concern. “You managed to narrow down the list of suspects? I told you about the blond hair didn’t I?”

Giles shook his head in response to Spike’s first question, neither noticing how Angel’s shoulders suddenly tensed. “You told me, but I’m afraid I haven’t been able to narrow the list much.”

He sighed, weary from the lack of sleep over the past few days.

“Go home Giles, get some rest.” Angel finally spoke. “I’ll stay until just before sunrise.”

“NO!” Spike blurted out. “I’m not going anywhere… you go hit the street Peaches, someone should be patrolling.”

Angel’s expression became stormy and Giles stepped in before the two vampires before things escalated.

“You are NOT being left alone with her.” Angel stabbed his finger in Spike’s direction.

“And you are? Not bloody likely.” Spike snapped with a roll of his eyes.

“You’re evil.”

“Am NOT!”

“Oh THAT’S mature.” Angel scoffed.

“Spike is chipped now Angel, he can’t harm a living being.” Giles informed.

“HEY! I can hit demons!”

“But not humans.” Giles added.

Angel looked from Giles, to Spike, and back again. “You’re actually going to trust him to watch over her?” he asked the watcher, before turning to Spike.

“And you. Why do you even care?”

“I don’t fancy leavin’ her with you all night. What if she wakes up and you go all ‘perfect happiness’ on her eh?” Spike said with a quirked eyebrow.

Angel clenched his fists and took a step forward, and this was when Giles stepped forward.

“Split the night. Angel, you stay with Buffy for the first half, Spike you go patrol. And then you can switch.” Giles firmly suggested.

“The poof can go patrol first, I’m NOT leaving.” Spike said emphatically.

Giles sighed in frustration, a scathing comment on the tip of his tongue before Angel conceded. “I’ll hit up some old informants, see if anyone’s got anything we can use.” He said calmly to Giles, before turning a threatening glare in Spike’s direction. “But if you so much as--“

“It’s settled then.” Spike said dismissively, moving to the chair that sat beside Buffy’s bed and sitting down on it.

Angel watched Spike examine Buffy’s face for a moment, before he nodded at Giles and quickly left the room. Lifting Dawn up into his arms, Giles gave Buffy and Spike a fleeting look before exiting after Angel.


Now that they were alone, Spike’s expression softened as he gazed at Buffy. His eyes begged her to wake up, shaky breaths escaping his lips as the constant ‘beep, beep, beep’ of the heat monitor reverberated throughout the room. Taking her right hand in his left, he gave it a light squeeze before pressing a gentle kiss to her knuckles. “You gotta wake up pet.”

“Please.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N Hope you like!
Fighting. by angelic_amy
Thank you to Cordykitten and Kyra for the reviews!



Chapter 11: Fighting.


“TELL me.”

His head snapped back with a jolt, searing pain resonated through his skull and down his spine when it connected with the brick wall behind him. This was bad, very bad. The vampire in front of him was beyond pissed, and it didn’t seem likely that he was going to be able to talk his way out of this one.

“I s-swear… I got nothing.” His adams apple bobbing in her throat with each nervous gulp.

His head hit the concrete again, this second blow causing stars to burst in front of his eyes. The pain was making him nauseous and he had a feeling that he was going to hurl if the vampire kept shaking him like that.

“Really. Now why is it that I have this feeling that you’re lying to me Terry. You do remember what happens when you get caught in a lie don’t you?”

Terry shuddered as the memories hit him. Yes he remembered, very clearly. Broken fingers caused lots and lots of pain. He knew he should keep his mouth shut, that talking was just going to cause him more trouble, but right now all he could think about was avoiding the pain.

“Alright, alright. So maybe I did hear something.” He whimpered fearfully.

Angel let go of the lapels of the jacket that the demon half-breed that was cowering before him was wearing. Now he was getting somewhere. “Everything.” He commanded.

Terry nodded nervously, looking up and down the alleyway to make sure that they didn’t have an audience before he spoke. “There’s been some activity underground. Deep Underground.”

He looked around again nervously. “Ever heard of the sunken church beneath the High School?”

Angel’s eyes flashed yellow. He should have known. “Go on.”

~~~

Spike’s expression was solemn. He had been sitting with her for hours, cradling her hand in his, whispering soft words of encouragement to her. But there had been nothing. No change what so ever. The longer he sat with her, the most disheartened he became, his pleas more desperate. The one consolation was that Drusilla was nowhere nearby. He’d have known if she were; he’d be able to sense her the moment she set foot on the hospital grounds. They had spent a hundred years together and in that time he had become very aware of her presence.

He knew it wouldn’t be long before Angel would show up and he’d have to leave her. He didn’t want to though; he wanted to stay by her side until she woke up. He knew that she had been in the cemetery that night because of him, looking for him. Giles had told him everything. And the guilt that he felt knowing that was agonizing.

Lifting her hand to his lips, he kissed her knuckles for the umpteenth time just as the door creaked open. Spike’s gaze never left Buffy’s face, even when Angel moved right into the room. When he saw Tall Dark and Broody pull up a chair on the other side of the bed to Buffy he finally moved.

“Look after her.” he implored, leaving the room before Angel could respond.

~~~

“Ah-HA!” Willow exclaimed with excitement when she found the book she had been searching for. Giles would not be at all pleased if he knew what she doing right now, which is why she was waiting until after the spell until she informed him of it.

It was a spell, a very specific locator spell. If she performed it correctly, it would hopefully point out the location of where in Sunnydale any vampires of the Master’s bloodline would be located on a map she had spread out before her. Obviously Spike and Angel were of that line, so their presence would be expected. But if more than the two showed up, then they might have a lead to work from.

Setting up the spell, she glanced over at the clock and noted the time. It was far too late for her to wake Tara up for some help, so she crossed her fingers that she would be able to work the spell by herself.

~~~

Why is this happening… why aren’t I waking up? Buffy thought desperately as the tears continued to stream down her cheeks.

Her gaze lifted skyward as she screamed out in despair, in grief, and in frustration. This couldn’t really be happening could it? She had been certain… what, minutes, hours ago that this was a dream. Like last time. Except this time she wasn’t waking, this time it didn’t stop.

Could it be real? Could this actually be happening? Fury replaced her grief momentarily as she cursed Giles name. He had told her it was just a dream, a bad, bad dream. But she had been certain that there was something more to it, that it might possibly be prophetic.

“You’re stressed about Glory he said.” She mocked. “It’s something your mind has conjured up as an outlet for your stress he said.”

She sobbed loudly again as she ran her fingers over her sisters arms. They were cold.

Dawn was cold.

The sarcasm left her as a sense of overwhelming guilt filled her. Here she was blaming poor Giles for not researching, when it was she who hadn’t been able to get to her in time. It was all her fault… if only she had trained harder, if only she had more stamina, maybe she would have got to Dawn in time.

“It’s just a dream, it’s just a dream, it’s just a dream.” She wept, trembling with grief.

With each moment that passed, she became less confident that this was just a dream.


~~~

A puff of green smoke rose in the air, causing Willow to cough as the cloud grew. Waving her hand to clear the air, she looked down at her map. Three little glowing spots were illuminated on it. Willow was stunned that it had actually worked and it took her a moment before she started, grabbing a pen and paper and jotting down the locations.

The Hospital.

Shady Hill Cemetery.

The High School.


“The high school…” she murmured. That had to be it. But why would they want to go to the high school, it was in ruins now anyway and there was nothing important about that…

“The Hellmouth.” She said with a gulp.

Reaching for the telephone, she dialed Giles’ number, and hoped that he wouldn’t be cranky with her for waking him.

~~~

The telephone rang and Giles’ head lifted from the tabletop, the pages of the books he had flipping through sticking to his cheek for a moment as he sat up. Ordinarily he probably wouldn’t have worried about answering quickly, but tonight he reached for it immediately. He didn’t want the ringing to wake up Dawn. Having only lost Joyce a few weeks ago, and with Buffy now in a coma, she was taking things pretty hard. When he had knocked on her door a few hours before to offer her some tea, her eyes had been puffy and swollen from crying and she looked downright miserable.

He had tried to reassure her, but his words offered her no comfort.‘I want Buffy to be alright, I want her to wake up’ she had said.

And he had agreed with her.

Running his free hand through his hair as he picked up the receiver and placed it against his ear, he cleared his throat quietly before speaking, his voice weary from lack of sleep. “Hello?”

“Giles, I think I found something!” came the excited reply.

He recognised the voice immediately. Squinting as he turned his head to view the clock, he removed his glasses from the bridge of his nose and wiped his eyes.

“Willow, what are you doing up at this time of the night?” he scolded half-heartedly. “You should be asleep.”

“So should you.” She replied. If she knew Giles, he had probably fallen asleep on his books.

“Yes, well.” He said as he straightened himself a little. “Found something you say?”

“I think I may know where this threat may be, the vamps that are trying to bring back the Master.” She informed him. “I did a spell that pin-pointed the location of vampires that were linked to the Master by his bloodline.”

Giles listened in interest as Willow explained the specifics of the spell and of how Spike had donated his blood to be used. A few weeks ago that would have been surprising. But now? Spike had come to Buffy’s rescue in the cemetery, and his distress upon seeing her in the hospital bed had been immense.

“So the map showed three areas of town but I ruled out two of them.” She continued.

“Angel and Spike.” Giles filled in.

“Yes.” Willow said with a nod. “One of the green lights was hovering in the hospital and one in Shady Hill Cemetery. I assumed it was Spike in the cemetery since Angel has watch duty at the hospital.”

“And the third?” he asked tentatively.

Willow took a deep breath. “Sunnydale High.”

Giles whipped his glasses from his face again, cursing under his breath for not having thought of it sooner. “The Sunken Church.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“Were you able to get an estimate of numbers?”

“No.” Willow shook her head. “But there’s more than one… the green light was… larger, more vibrant than the other two specks on the map.”

Giles slipped his glassed back on again and reached for the text which he was almost certain contained a family tree of sorts relating to the Master and the Order of Aurelius. Now it was just a case of going through the tree and crossing out any unlikely or improbable vampires in the line. The Master’s inner circle was tight, a closed circle of sorts and seldom few vampires were sired by the Master himself, or by his first blood children. The vampire behind the attempt to resurrect him would almost certainly be a direct descendent, or a childe of one of them.

“Giles are you still there?” Willow’s voice echoed down the phone line. She had heard movement from Giles end, the shuffling of paper and the umming and ahhing that could only mean he had already begun his research.

“Hmm? Oh yes, Willow.” He said, her voice reminding him that he still had the telephone cradled against his shoulder. “You get some rest, I will try and narrow down our list of suspects and let you know of the results in the morning.”

“Alright.” She said with a tired sigh. “Don’t stay up too late.”

“I’ll try.” Giles replied with a smile, touched by her concern.

“Night Giles!” she said cheerfully.

“Goodnight Willow.”

Hanging up the receiver, Giles found the family tree he was looking for and began making notes on a blank notepad, going through the list quickly and eliminating those he knew to be dead, and excluding Angel and Spike of course, before he began to follow up on those still possibly alive.

It was going to be a long night, but at least now they had a location.

~~~

Spike had been wandering the cemetery that he considered his own for hours. It had been the last stop for the night in search of clues, figuring that he might be able to find some physical evidence that could identify any of the attacks. The few he had fought were nameless faceless flunkies. Those in charge had disappeared before he had came to properly. They were the ones who had planned and executed the whole thing, so they were the ones he was after.

He paced back and forth, partly out of frustration, and partly in search of clues. So far, nothing had turned up. And it was getting close to sunrise. He was going to have to head into his crypt. He cursed the lack of physical evidence, kicking at a headstone in frustration as he walked passed it. He did realize that if he expected to find anything then he should probably be paying more attention to the ground, and less to his thoughts of revenge. But right now, all he could think of was blood.

Making those sons of bitches who put Buffy in hospital pay for what they did.

Painfully.

Slowly.

All his thoughts of vengeance, of blood, were making him hungry. With a frustrated growl he turned and stalked towards his crypt at the other end of the cemetery. If he was planning on doing any damage when he found those in charge, he needed to be strong, and rested.

If he had worn a watch, he would have known that sunrise was only 30minutes away. But he didn’t need a watch… he could feel the sunrise coming. Cursing himself that he didn’t find anything he made a silent vow to tear the vampires in charge apart.

Piece, by bloody piece.

~~~

The hairs on the back of Buffy’s neck all stood on end, and her shoulders tensed in apprehension when she felt a presence nearby her, a presence that hadn’t been there seconds ago. She wasn’t alone anymore. Snapping her attention to the site, she frowned when she saw nothing.

Gently placing her sister back on the ground, she stood up and confronted the presence that she felt, taking on a defensive stance. Nobody was going to take Dawn away from her…

“Whose there?” she demanded harshly.

The sensation disappeared and Buffy blinked in confusion before spinning in the other direction. A loud gasp ripped from her throat and her heart began to race when she found the space behind her empty.

Dawn was gone…

“DAWN!” Buffy screamed. “DAWNIE!”

She knew it was ridiculous to call out, even as she screamed. But she couldn’t help herself. Her sister was gone… she had been there seconds ago, and now she was gone. Someone or something had taken her. She fell to her knees, staring at the empty space where Dawn’s body had lain moments before and it was then that she also noticed that the blood was gone.

Her breathing came in shallow gasps as she tried to stop herself from hyperventilating. The voice in her head that had been drowned out by her sorrow again began to reassure her that this was just a dream. She couldn’t have disappeared like that if it were real…

But it gave her little solace. If it were just a dream, then why wasn’t she waking up?

Buffy felt a presence behind her again and she whirled around in anger. For the second time in a matter of minutes her breath escaped her and her jaw dropped.

“Mommy?”




~~~~~~~~~~
A/N Hope you like! Please let me know your thoughts!
Return to the Living. by angelic_amy
Chapter 12: Return to the Living.


“Mommy?” she repeated.

A soft smile graced Joyce’s face as she knelt down in front of Buffy. “It’s me sweetheart. I’m right here.”

“Mom!?” Buffy repeated, this time not in shock, but in joy. Before she could respond, Buffy threw herself forward and wrapped her arms around her mother’s neck sobbing so hard her body shook.

“I missed you so much.” She cried.

“I missed you too sweetheart. Both of you.” Joyce replied as she held onto her daughter, rubbing her hands across Buffy’s back in a soothing motion.

Buffy didn’t want to leave her mother’s embrace, but the guilt she had felt when she heard her mother’s words, ‘Both of you.’ Caused her to recoil.

She couldn’t bear to look up at her mother, but she knew she had to tell her. She had to know that she had failed. Her voice cracked as she prepared herself to speak. “Mom… Dawnie is… Dawn’s…”

“Fine.” Joyce replied. “Worried about you, all of them are actually. But she’s okay.”

Buffy blinked in shock. “She’s what?”

“She’s sleeping at Giles’ house right now, waiting for you to wake up.”

“Wake up?” Buffy replied in confusion, even as she began to understand. The voice in her head had been right. This was a dream… she had dreamed it all. “She’s okay?!” she repeated with relief, fresh tears beginning to track down her cheeks,

“Yes Buffy, she’s fine.” Joyce said with a smile.

Her smile faded and she looked off into the distance on her far left. “Buffy I don’t have much time.”

Buffy’s eyes flew to her mother’s face. “You’re leaving me?” she said forlornly.

“I have to go back, I don’t belong here sweetie. And neither do you.” Joyce reached out and stroked Buffy’s cheek gently. “You need to breath Buffy, stay calm…”

“But I--“

Joyce interrupted. “You need to wake up honey… they’re all waiting for you. Your sister needs you.”

Her eyes filled with tears when she saw that her mothers face was beginning to fade before her. “But what if I can’t protect her? What if something happens to her? I don’t even know who--“

“You can and you will Buffy. You just have to know where to look to find the answers.” Joyce blew Buffy a kiss. “I love you and your sister Buffy, make sure she knows that. I’m always watching over you both.”

“Mom… MOM!” Buffy cried as her mother disappeared completely.

But she was gone.

Buffy wiped at her cheeks. Listening to her mother’s words, she looked at the ground around her, and settled herself onto her back, closed her eyes and began to practice the meditation techniques that Giles had taught her. She had to focus; she had to keep her mind clear if she was to return. She crossed her fingers and hoped that it would work. Inhaling deeply, she held the breath for a few moments before exhaling, clearing her mind of all thoughts except one.

Going home…


~~~

Angel slipped his duster on over his shoulders as he prepared to leave. He was going to be cutting it close, and would probably have to stay holed up in a sewer, or one of the factories because he had stayed longer than he was supposed to. But he couldn’t leave her.

Turning back to look one last time at Buffy’s sleeping form before he left, he sent out a silent wish that she was okay and that she would wake soon. It was he was turning away from the bed that he saw it. He thought he saw it… movement.

Her little finger.

All thoughts of leaving left his mind as he sat down beside her and reached for her hand.

“Buffy…” he whispered, urging her to wake up.

Her fingers clenched in his for a moment and his heart soared with hope. He watched silently, willing her to open her eyes.

As the last remnants of her dream began to fade, Buffy felt herself begin to return to consciousness. The first thing she noticed was the pain, and she breathed in deeply in reaction to the sharp stings in her side.

Something shuffled to her left and it was then that she realized that she wasn’t alone. Someone was holding her hand.

Her eyes fluttered open…

“Buffy…”

Her vision was blurry and her head hurt as she turned her head slowly to the side, blinking as she tried to focus on the person sitting beside her. But she didn’t need to see to know who it was… she would recognize that voice anywhere.

“Angel.”

~~~

“We’ll be there immediately.” Giles said as he hung up the telephone. He contemplated letting Dawn rest but he knew that she would never forgive him if he didn’t wake her. His research was instantly forgotten as he made his way to the spare bedroom.

Rousing her from sleep, she looked up at him with confusion and fear for a moment before he set her mind at ease.

“She’s awake.”

~~~

“Wh-where am I?” she asked as she tried to sit. Pain shot through her at the simple movement and Angel placed a hand on her shoulder to still her movements as he reached for the button beside her bed and pressed it once, signaling the nurse.

“You’re in the hospital.” Angel soothed, his voice soft and gentle as he urged her to relax.

“Hospital…” she repeated in confusion. The last thing she remembered was… fighting in the graveyard. She had been looking for Spike.

Spike… she thought. Spike…. DAWN!

She gasped, trying to sit up again but Angel forced her back down as gently as possible.

“I-I have to go, Dawn is--“

“Fine.” He informed her. “She’s been staying with Giles and she’s probably on her way over right now.”

“Fine.” Joyce replied. “Worried about you, all of them are actually. But she’s okay.”

Buffy relaxed, her mother’s echoed voice, combined with Angel’s reassurance soothing her. The tension melted from her shoulders as she lay back against the pillows. Her sister was safe and that was all that mattered.

The nurse entered the room with a chart, checked the readings on the machines that were all still hooked up to Buffy and made a few notes before leaving again to notify the doctor.

“How did I get here?” she asked perplexed.

“I brought you here.” He informed her.

“Y-you brought me?” she repeated again.

A million questions flew through her mind all at once. What happened, who were the vamps that jumped her, where had Spike been, what was Angel doing in town…

Her expression softened when she felt his thumb gently rubbing her knuckles.

“You saved my life.” She whispered.

“I-I…”

Giles and Dawn burst through the door, both of them wearing identical anxious expressions on their faces, cutting off what Angel was beginning to say. Both expressions dissolved simultaneously into relief.

“BUFFY!” Dawn shrieked as she launched herself at her sister and wrapped her arms around her in a tight embrace before Angel or Giles could warn her to be gentle.

When Buffy hissed in pain, Dawn backed off smiling apologetically before she perched herself carefully on the edge of her bed.

“How are you feeling?” Giles asked.

Buffy looked from her sister to Giles, a relieved if weary smile on her face. “I’ve been better but I’ve also been worse.”

She shot Angel a look of gratitude then. “If Angel hadn’t gotten me here when he did.”

Angel ducked from Buffy’s praise, looking at the floor sheepishly.

“Yes, well.” Giles said as he cleared his throat. “I suppose I should let you two catch up.” He said tilting his head in Dawn’s direction. “Angel, a moment if you will.”

Angel nodded, rising from his seat and following Giles out into the hallway. Once the door was closed behind them, Giles instantly began questioning. “You haven’t told her?”

“Told her?” Angel replied, feeling his shoulders go rigid. How did Giles know…?

“About Spike?”

“Oh. No, I was about to tell her when you both walked in.” He breathed a sigh of relief when Giles’ questioning went in a different direction than he had been worrying about, before his brow crinkled.

“Giles, about Spike.” He asked, his tone hardening at the mention of the other vampire.

“Yes?” Giles raised an eyebrow in question.

Angel didn’t know which question to ask first and as usual it wasn’t the more pertinent one that found his lips. “How long has he been in love with her?”

Giles blinked in surprise. He certainly hadn’t been expecting to hear that asked. “How long?” he paused thoughtfully. “How long I can’t answer, but we’ve been aware of it for several weeks now.”

“Weeks…” Angel said in shock. “And you haven’t done anything about it?”

“Done anything?”

Angel grunted in frustration, running his fingers through his hair as he began to pace the corridor. “When Spike becomes fixated on something, he becomes obsessive. He becomes--“

“Dangerous?” Giles filled in.

There was silence for a moment before Angel continued. “The object of his desire… consumes him, and all he can think about it getting what he wants.”

“Sounds like someone else I know.” Giles said knowingly.

His abruptness caught Angel off guard. “I’m not Angelus.”

“I wasn’t talking about Angelus.”

Giles could feel the anger radiating from Angel but he stood his ground. The vampire ran his fingers through his hair again, before turning his stare towards the watcher. He knew that Giles looked at him differently now, that the trust that had been there would no longer be restored. And he didn’t blame him. He had, Angelus had killed his girlfriend. Jenny. But Angel wasn’t him. He had his soul back; he wasn’t a danger to Buffy.

Giles could sense the inner conflict that Angel was going through right now and a part of him was glad for it. He knew that Angel loved Buffy but that didn’t mean that he thought it was a good idea for the vampire to be around her so much. Buffy had a soft spot where Angel was concerned and she probably always would. And whilst he was grateful for Angel’s help whilst Buffy was injured, when she had recovered and left the hospital, it would probably be best for all parties involved if he left town and returned to LA.

“Why are you here Angel?” Giles asked, finally breaking the silence.

“To help.” Angel replied quietly. He would tell them, and soon. Now just wasn’t the right time.

“How did your patrol go?”

And with that little peace offering the friction was gone.


~~~

“Are you in much pain?” Dawn asked, her concern for her sister palpable.

“A little.” Buffy answered honestly. “I’ll be fine so long as I don’t have to run, or walk, or move.” She said with a wry smile. “I’ll be fine in a couple of days. I promise.”

Dawn nodded quickly, her eyes lowering the blanket that was covering Buffy’s wound. “So it was…” she breathed in deeply, her fingers tightening in her sisters hand. “…it was a knife?”

Buffy nodded. “Sure felt like one.”

“A knife in your abdomen.” Dawn stated.

Buffy nodded again, a small frown crossing her face. Where was Dawn going with this? Reaching forward with her free hand, she hooked her fingers under Dawn’s chin and raised her face so that she could meet her gaze.

“What’s going on in that head of yours Dawnie?” Buffy said lightly, even though her sisters expression was grave.

“I-I was just thinking.” Dawn mumbled. “About…”

“About what?” Buffy urged softly.

“Faith.”

Buffy’s face went white as guilt washed over her. Dawn saw the reaction and quickly tried to explain her thoughts.

“I mean she was in a coma, like you, because of a knife in the gut, like you.”

A knife I put there… Buffy thought as Dawn continued.

“And she didn’t wake up for months and months.” Tears trickled down Dawn’s cheeks. “I was afraid that you weren’t going to wake up, and I’d be all alone.”

“Dawn.” Buffy said softly. “I’m not going to leave you. You hear me? I’m not planning on going anywhere.”

Dawn nodded, wiping her tears away.

The door creaked open and Giles re-entered the room alone. Seeing the frowns on both Summers’ faces he pointed out the time to them on the clock by Buffy’s bed. “Sunrise, Angel had to leave.”

Both girls nodded, and it was Dawn who spoke, asking the question that was also on Buffy’s mind. “Is he staying? Or going back to LA?”

Giles looked at Buffy for a moment, seeing the question reflected in her eyes as well as he replied. “He’ll be staying, for a few more days at least.”

Buffy nodded slowly. She didn’t know why Angel was in town, but she was glad that he was. Shifting uncomfortably on the bed, she lifted herself to a more seated position. The stings of pain that she felt were almost a comfort because they tracked all the way down to her toes. At least she knew she wasn’t paralyzed.

“How long till I can go home Giles?” She was anxious to get out of there. She hated hospitals, always had.

“I’m going to see if we can have you released by this afternoon.” He said with a tender smile, seeing the worry on her face. “They’ll want to run some tests of course before you leave, but I’m sure that they will be impressed with your remarkable recovery and will have to release you.”

Buffy returned the smile that Giles sent her way. It was when she was hurt that she was most grateful about being a slayer, the super fast healing meant that she never had to wait too long before she was back at full strength.

“Some food might help with that ‘remarkable recovery’ as you put it.” Buffy hinted.

Dawn’s face lit up as well. “Oooh! Me too.”

Giles shook his head before agreeing to bring them both something to eat.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you like, please leave your thoughts!
Out of the Loop. by angelic_amy
Thanks to Cordykitten and Kyra for the reviews! I'm glad you're enjoying the fic.


Chapter 13: Out of the Loop.


Sunset came and Spike was instantly out of his crypt and into the cemetery, speedily making his way towards the hospital just as he had done the night before. He had tried to sleep most of the day but his mind just wouldn’t let him relax. Now that it was night he didn’t feel so trapped.

He was almost half way to the hospital when he thought he saw someone step onto the street from an alleyway, see him, and then disappear right back into it again. Ordinarily he wouldn’t have bothered with the follow-up, but this wasn’t an ordinary situation. The face was of someone he recognised as a threat, someone he knew to be untrustworthy. Someone who had lied to Buffy.

Jake.

A primal growl escaped his lips before he broke into a run, rounding the corner to the alleyway and following the sounds of footsteps that were coming from up ahead. Spike upped his speed as he closed in on the sandy haired male, reaching of and yanking the guy back by his left shoulder as he finally caught him.

“Ouch!” Jake cursed as he spun around to face Spike, his eyes widening when he recognised the guy before him as the one who had threatened him in the alleyway outside the Bronze. “Hey… I didn’t do anything I swear. I backed off like you said.”

Spike took one deep breath before his fist shot out and connected with Jake’s nose. Cartilage crushed beneath the blow and blood ran freely from his nose.

“What was THAT for!?” Jake shouted in pain, hands flying to his broken nose.

“Quit playing games.” Spike snarled. “I can smell it on you.”

Jake’s hand fell from his nose and he only took a moment to consider what Spike was saying before a low chuckle escaped his lips. “You’re not as dumb as they told me you were.”

Spike’s fists clenched at his side, his face shifting into its vampiric countenance as he took a threatening step towards him.

Jake held his hands up in the air in a mock sign of surrender. “You know, that’s not quite as intimidating as it used to be.”

His own face shifted, a cocky smile spreading across it. “I’ve got my own now.”

~~~

A sigh of contentment escaped her lips as she settled back against the soft pillows on the sofa. She was home.

“Are you comfortable?” Dawn asked. “Did you want anything else? Something to eat? Drink? More pillows?”

Buffy laughed at her enthusiasm. “Something to drink might be nice.”

“Sure!” Dawn said with a bright smile.

“XANDER! BUFFY WANTS A DRINK!” she shouted in the direction of the kitchen. “AND I’LL HAVE ONE TOO.”

Buffy winced as Dawn yelled before she sat next to her. “Comin right up.” The youngest Summers said with a beaming smile.

“Thanks,” Buffy said wryly.

Anya was the first one to come out from the kitchen, a frown of displeasure marring her brow as she walked into the living room in a huff, arms crossed over her chest. “Xander is not yours to order around.” She informed Dawn pointedly.

“I wasn’t ordering I was just--”

“I… ME… I am the one who orders Xander around. Got it?” Anya said with a quirked eyebrow. “It’s a girlfriend privilege that I’m not going to share. And I won’t share his body either.”

“Ahn!” Xander said mortified. “Please.”

“What!” Anya cried indignantly. “I didn’t mention your penis or sex skills once!”

Xander closed his eyes and shook his head whilst Buffy and Dawn both simultaneously burst into laughter.

~~~

Giles hung up the phone, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. Narrowing the list of vampires linked to the Order of Aurelius that were still among the living, was not as easy a task as he had once thought it would be. But he was getting there… slowly. Checking the phone number he had scrawled on the notepad before him, he picked up the receiver again and dialed.

~~~

Angel’s steps were careful, decisive, every one placed specifically so as to make as little sounds as possible. He was deep underneath the surface of Sunnydale, wandering the catacombs beneath the ruins of the High School. Paying a visit to the Hellmouth wasn’t something high on his list of things to do. He’d much prefer to be at the Summers house with Buffy.

He wanted to find out how she was feeling, and needed to know what she remembered…

~~~

“Wondered why you disappeared.” Spike said, not at all impressed by Jake’s transformation. To be honest, he had almost expected that something along these lines had happened. “You should’ve stayed gone.

Jake cocked an eyebrow, not at all intimidated. “Still looking out for your friend?” He mocked. “From what my sources tell me, friend is a bit of an exaggeration. All you are to her is an annoyance.”

Spike’s fist shot out again but this time Jake blocked it and danced out of the way with a laugh.

“That’s right. She could care less about you. It must cut you deep, that she went out with me.” Jake continued his taunting.

Spike’s right hook connected with Jake’s jaw this time. The vampire just laughed as his head was knocked back as he stumbled a few steps. When he found his footing again, he spat out the blood that was pooling in his mouth.

“You’ve got a big mouth you know that mate?” Spike snarled. “But have you got the stones to match it?”

Jake laughed again as he took a few steps backwards. “Her knight in black armor. I know all about your little obsession with the slayer.”

Spike stalked towards Jake, like a tiger about to strike at its prey. Jake was pressing all the right buttons, if he was smart, he would shut his mouth.

“What did you think? That she would look at your face… your true face… and give you a kiss?”

Spike growled again, his rage making his attack sloppy as he spun a kick at Jake’s mid-section which missed its mark, hitting the other vampire in the side instead.

“You’re nothing… you’re beneath her.”

Before Spike had the chance to attack again, five vampires appeared from the shadows and formed a tight circle around him.

“Oh bollucks.”

~~~

When Giles entered the Summers house a few hours later, he was greeted with the sound of laughter coming from the living room. Closing the door behind him, he followed the noise into the room where he found Buffy, Xander, Willow and Dawn sprawled about the sofas and the floor watching a movie of some sort.

Willow was the first one to notice Giles’ arrival and she gave him a warm smile as he walked in.

“Hey G-man.” Xander said casually as he reached for some candy from the bowl in front of them.

“Giles!” Dawn squeaked, untangling herself from the pile of legs on the floor to find her feet, throwing her arms around the watcher. “You have to watch this movie with us!”

Giles found himself being dragged into the room and directed to an armchair, which he sank into with no resistance. It was much more comfortable than the wooden chair at his desk which he had been sitting at for the last several hours.

“Hey Dawnie, I think it’s time for you to head off to bed.” Buffy announced when she finally realized the time.

Dawn groaned in faux annoyance, but truthfully, she was glad that Buffy was back and able to boss her around. “Alright, alright.” She said with a wave of her hand. “Goodnight everyone.”

They all said their goodnights as Dawn climbed the stairs, all of them waiting for the sound of the click signaling her bedroom door closing.

“So.” Buffy said as she switched the television off, much to Xander’s dismay. “By your expression I’m guessing not a social call.”

“Am I not allowed to worry about your recovery?” Giles said.

“Not doubting that you care here Giles. But you’ve got pensive face.” Buffy pointed out.

“Quite right.”

Willow shifted uncomfortably, knowing at least part of what Giles was going to be filling Buffy in on. Xander’s expression also became somewhat grave, something that wasn’t missed by Buffy.

“Am I the only one who doesn’t know what’s going on here?” she asked her worry increasing.

“Well you were in a coma.” Xander said with a ‘well duh’ look, smiling in an attempt to lighten the situation.

“Right. My mistake. I’ll try not to let that happen again.” She replied with a grin.

“Good.” Willow chimed in with a happy smile.

“So.” Buffy said, trying to keep her cool as she prepared herself for whatever it was that Giles needed to tell her. “You were about to explain the pensive face.”

“I’m afraid I have some troubling information.” Giles said as he removed his glassed from his eyes, something he always did when he was trying to sort out things in his mind. “It would appear that the vampires that attacked you the other night were working for someone connected to the Order of Aurelius.”

“Order of Aurelius?” Buffy repeated. She knew the name, but wondered why they would be after her.

“It seems that they are planning on resurrecting the Master.”

“Again.” Added Willow.

~~~

The place was empty…

Angel had searched the entire cave, and all of the little passageways that were connected to it. There was no one there.

Footprints in the dirt indicated that there had been movement down here recently, but whomever it had been, had cleared out already.

“Dammit!” he cursed.

Turning around he moved towards the passageway that would lead him above ground.

He needed to speak to Giles.

But it could wait until tomorrow…

~~~

Spike wiped at his bloodied cheek with the sleeve of his shirt and wrapped his duster more tightly around himself as he moved through the automatic doors of the hospital. He had dusted the vampires that had attacked him, but not before they had gotten in a few licks of their own.

Jake on the other hand, had disappeared as soon as the fight started. Spike made a mental note to track him down later on and finish him off.

He walked passed the nurses station, not stopping when the small woman sitting behind the desk called out to him. Turning the last corner as he approached Buffy’s room he reached for the doorknob and twisted it open quickly, stepping inside.

His jaw instantly dropped.

The bed was empty.

Whirling around to head back towards the nurse’s station, he almost collided with the woman who had been sitting behind the desk.

“Where is she?” he demanded.

“T-that’s why I was trying to stop you.” She replied, a little anxious. She had recognised the man before her as a visitor of the blond girl. He had been in last night as well.

“She’s not here anymore.”

Spike’s blood ran cold, instantly imagining the worst situation. “Where is she then?”

“She was released early this afternoon. Her family took her home.”

The nurse blinked in surprise as the man before her turned on his heel and stormed towards the exit.

~~~

Buffy suppressed the urge to hurl, her eyes widening in horror. “The Master? But I killed him…”

“And crushed his bones.” Xander pointed out. “That’s what I said, pointed this out yesterday, but apparently they don’t seem to care.”

Buffy tried to come to terms with the sudden shock as Giles continued to explain, quickly running over their progress, Willow’s spell and the list of possible suspects which he was slowly narrowing.

“The Master.” Buffy repeated again, her eyes glazing over as memories washed over her with vivid clarity. She blinked them away, trying to clear her mind. “What does this have to do with Dawn?”

It was Giles’ time to be surprised now. “I’m afraid I can’t answer that question.”

She frowned. “The vampires that attacked that night, the ones at the Magic Box… they mentioned Dawn.”

“Maybe they were just threatening you Buffy?” Willow suggested softly. “Trying to get you all worried and worked up so they could lure you out?”

Giles nodded. “That’s a possibility.”

“I don’t think that’s it.” Buffy said with a shake of her head. “Giles what they said… it was pretty specific.”

Before Giles could respond, the door burst open and through it walked a very pissed off Spike.

“Oh crap.” Willow muttered in realization. No one had told him.

“Spike.” Giles said calmly, even as the vampire before him glared at him in anger. “Buffy’s been discharged.”

“So I was told.” He replied bluntly.

His expression immediately softened when he turned his attention to Buffy, who was sitting on the sofa with a confused look on her face.

“Buffy.” He said softly.

“Spike.” Buffy replied.

Spike took a few steps towards her, his intentions on sweeping her into her arms. But then he remembered where they were, that all her friends were in the room, and oh yeah… she’d kick his ass for it. Folding his arms over his chest, his expression became stoic, void of the emotion that had been there moments ago.

“I ran into a pal of yours Red.” He said shooting Willow an I-told-you-so look.

“Friend of me? Who?” Willow asked.

“Joke, Jackass… oh, that’s right. Jake.” He said sarcastically.

“Jake?” Buffy and Willow both repeated at the same time.

“Where’s he been?” Buffy asked.

“Where did you see him?” Willow added.

“Who cares…” Xander mumbled under his breath, which gained him a broad smile from Spike.

“Been? Don’t know? Where? Cemetery.” Spike answered the girl’s questions.

“The cemetery?” Giles reiterated. “Was he at a funeral?”

“Yeah his own.” Spike snorted.

Buffy blinked in shock and Willow’s eyes widened like saucers.

“Huh? What? Did I miss something here? I thought you said you saw him?” Xander piped up, realizing after the words left his mouth what Spike was saying.

“He’s been turned.” Giles clarified.

“Nice deduction Rupes.” Spike mock praised. “And from what I can tell, sounds like he’s working for whoever it is that put Buffy in the hospital.”

“He… he’s a vampire? But how?” Willow asked.

“Do you need a refresher course on how vamps are made Red?” Spike shook his head as he tsked at Giles. “Your crew are getting sloppy mate.”

Giles pursed his lips, refusing to respond. “Interesting. Well I should return to my research.”

He walked over to Buffy and held her in a warm embrace for a few moments before he said his goodbyes and left.

“I should probably get some sleep as well.” Buffy said with a yawn.

Willow got up and reached for a blanket and spread it over her friend, and was rewarded with a smile. She then went about preparing sleeping space for herself and Xander. They were going to stay the night just to make sure Buffy would be okay, this being her first night home from hospital and all.

Spike shifted his weight from one foot to the other, feeling decidedly out of place.

“Well I’m going to do another sweep before I hit the sack.”

Buffy smiled gratefully. “Thanks.”

Spike was surprised, but didn’t let it show for too long. She’d said thank you… something that didn’t happen too often. Not when it was directed to him anyway. Nodding in acceptance, he said his goodbyes, leaving the trio of friends talking in the living room.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: I know, I know, poor Spike! But things get better, I promise. And Jake's back...

Hope you all like, please leave your thoughts!
Family. by angelic_amy
Chapter 14: Family.


Jake walked through the lair, a cocky swagger in his step as he nodded at the guards at the door to the inner sanctum. After his encounter last night, he had hit the streets to feed. For a town that was under the protection of the slayer and her band of friends, it was surprising easy to feed without consequence.

After feeding he had hit the local bars again with a few of the vamps lower in station than he was, the group drinking more than their feed of blood, both free and in glasses, followed by as much liquor as they could stand before they had returned to the lair to sleep the day away. Now that sunset had fallen, it was time to head out.

He laughed when he thought of what was to come...

Mistress would be pleased with his efforts tonight. He had done as she had instructed, lead the bleach haired vampire away from the hospital.

He couldn’t believe how easy it had been to wind the vampire up like that. All it took was a couple of deliberate statements, a couple of leering looks at the mention of the slayer, and Spike had become enraged.

It had been all the proof that he needed for his mistress. It was as she had suspected… another of the family had fallen victim to the slayers charms. Not that his mistress cared for the second, it was the principle behind it. She didn’t like her family being corrupted; she didn’t like the name that Buffy was giving her family in the underworld circles.

The Order of Aurelius was once the most powerful vampiric family in the world. Now… because of the slayer, the name no longer held such power, nor did it command the respect it so rightfully deserved.

But it would once more.

Soon.

~~~

Spike approached the door to the Magic Box shortly after sunset. When Willow had dropped by his crypt early this morning, he had been surprised to say the least. The fact that they had even considered to fill him in on what was going on was a pleasant surprise.

Maybe they were taking him seriously; maybe he was going to be more included, maybe they were beginning to trust him…

So okay, that last one might be a bit of a stretch. But being informed of the meeting, that was a start.

Stopping at the door to the shop, he raised his hand to open it when he felt a presence behind him. Figures that he’d be invited.

Ponce.


“Spike.” Angel greeted coolly. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“Wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Spike replied bluntly.

Before anything else could be said between them, Spike reached for the doorknob and twisted it open.

~~~

Cordelia paced the lobby of the Hyperion Hotel in LA, wondering why Angel wouldn’t have called to check in. Things were not right between them, not like they used to be. But they were still part of a team. A team that was supposed to check in with the home base, especially when they were out on assignment.

He had been gone for days now.

Back in Sunnydale… she thought.

She couldn’t help but wonder if he had volunteered so readily to go back there because of Buffy. Of course that’s why… she rolled her eyes. Not that she was really that perturbed by it, Sunnydale was not somewhere she planned on going any time soon. Yes it was her hometown, but she had moved up and on.

Sick of waiting, she reached for the phone and began to punch in the telephone number.

“Cordelia…” a voice called from the office.

“Ugh!” Cordelia muttered as she hung up the phone. “But Wes he was supposed to check in three days ago.”

“I’m sure everything’s fine.” He said calmly. “Don’t worry.”

“I’m not worried.” She retorted. “I’m annoyed. I’m sure he’s just using this as an excuse to get out of work.”

Wesley shook his head in disbelief. Getting up from his desk he walked into the foyer where Cordelia was perched upon the bench, a frown spread across her face. “It probably isn’t even switched on anyway.” He pointed out. “You know Angel doesn’t know how to use his cell.”

“Alright.” She said begrudgingly. A thought occurred to her, a smile spreading across her face. “I could always leave a message for him at the shop that Giles runs now, then we’d know he’d get it.”

Wes thought about it for a moment before nodding in agreement. It was troubling that Angel hadn’t checked in. “Alright. The name of the shop is The Magic Box. I have the number written down in my office.”

Cordelia waited for Wesley to return with it, before quickly dialing.

~~~

“Are you sure that you’re comfortable?” Giles persisted.

“I’m fine Giles, really.” Buffy said with a smile.

A meeting had been called (after dusk so that Angel and Spike could attend), to share the information that had been discovered over the past few days. Willow, Xander and Tara were seated with Buffy at the table, Giles standing nearby with his notebook in his hand.

Anya was also in attendance but she was busily counting money from the daily takings. Spike and Angel were standing near the front counter, switching from shooting looks of distrust and annoyance at each other, to eyeing Buffy with concern. Buffy was seemingly oblivious to their watching eyes, but Willow who was sitting right beside her, was not.

The next-door neighbour was watching Dawn, something she was not at all impressed by, but it had to be done.

“Alright, I suppose we can begin.” Giles said, satisfied that Buffy was comfortable enough.

Just then the telephone rang.

“Let the machine get it Anya.” Giles instructed.

Anya shrugged her shoulders and continued with her counting. Her greeting echoed through out the room and seconds later a familiar voice followed.

“Giles? Giles are you there?” the female on the line sighed in frustration. “It’s Cordelia.”

A frown instantly marred Anya’s face as she shot a glare in Xander’s direction.

“Have you seen Angel? We’ve been trying to get in contact with him but apparently he’s forgotten that a cell phone needs to be switched on for it to work.”

“Did you want to answer that?” Giles asked, a grin spreading across his face. Buffy and Willow both chuckled at Cordelia’s obvious annoyance. Before Angel could respond Cordelia sighed loudly before continuing.

“Anyway, I was just calling because Wes may have some information for Angel about the whereabouts of--“

Cordelia’s voice cut out as Angel answered the phone.

“Cordelia I’m here.” He spoke.

Giles frowned in consideration as he watched on with intrigue. The conversation was short, with not much more than one-word answers from Angel in response to whatever Cordelia was saying. The vampire’s body language was closed off, which was true to nature for him, but something about his behaviour was setting off alarm bells in his head. He pushed the thought away when the call was ended and Angel rejoined the group.

“Everything ok?” Buffy asked.

“Yeah, it’s fine.” Angel replied, running a hand through his hair as pulled up a seat at the table.

“Who are you looking for?”

Spike’s brows knit together as he noticed a sudden change in the elder vampire. His shoulders tensed, and his kind of, blinked. He also saw that Giles was watching Angel closely as well. He had obviously detected that something was up as well.

“Looking for?” Angel said.

“The person Cordelia had information about?” Buffy said with a small frown. He was acting kind of funny. “Angel is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine.” He said. “It was about a client for a case I was working on before I left town. Nothing that can’t wait”

Spike didn’t buy it, and by the looks of it neither did Giles. But Buffy just nodded before turning her attention to Giles. “Shall we get started?”

“Yes. Right.” Giles turned his attention to his notebook. “As you are all aware, we have reason to believe that the group of vampires behind the attack on Buffy are connected to the Order of Aurelius.”

Xander looked to Spike and Angel accusingly. “Nice family you have there.”

“Xander!” Buffy chastised.

Spike shrugged his shoulders. “He’s not wrong.”

All eyes turned to Spike. Everyone except Angel was surprised. “The Order of Aurelius are a bunch of right pricks and if they’re behind this then expect a full scale attack.”

He kept his worries about Drusilla being in the mix to himself for now. If she was somehow behind all of this, then she would have to be dealt with, and he was the person who would do it.

“With Xander’s interrogation of Willy, and Willow’s spell we’re almost certain that the group has taken up residence beneath the ruins of the High School.” Giles continued.

“Not anymore.” Angel announced.

Once again everyone looked curiously at Angel. “An old informant gave me some info, I checked it out last night. There’s definitely been activity down there, but they’ve moved out already.”

“And you were going to tell us this when?” Giles said a little put out.

“I’m telling you now.”

Watcher and Vampire stared at each other for a long moment before Willow piped up, breaking the heavy silence that had fallen in the room.

“Maybe I could try that locator spell again? I’ve still got the supplies, and some of Spike’s blood.”

“Spike’s blood?” Buffy repeated with a frown. ”Why would you have Spike’s blood?”

“It was a requirement of the spell. Blood from the line that the spell was trying to locate.” Giles informed.

“He volunteered.” Willow added.

Buffy blinked in surprise.

“Why so shocked pet? Thought it was common knowledge that I’m no fan of the relo’s.” Spike said with a pointed look in Angel’s direction.

A grin spread across Xander’s face at Angel’s scowl in response to Spike’s dig. Willow nudged him in the ribs when she saw the wheels in his head ticking over. The last thing they needed right now was an argument.

SMASH!

A brick flew through the window, landing in the middle of the floor with what looked like paper tied around it.

Willow being the closest, reached for it and unraveled the paper. Her face went ghostly white when she opened it up and read it to herself. Buffy’s heartbeat increased at the dread she saw in her friend’s eyes, reaching her hand out for the paper.

Spike took it from Willow and handed it to Buffy. Her eyes moved across the note before she stood suddenly, throwing her chair back behind her in the process of standing.

Midnight, Weatherly Park. Come alone or your sister’s dead.

“Buffy!” Xander cried as she took two steps in the direction of the door before her knees began to give way.

Both Spike and Angel moved to catch her from different sides of the table, but it was Spike who got their first. She collapsed against his chest, the crumpled note falling to the floor.

“Dawn… I have to get to her before...” she mumbled as she started to lose consciousness.

“BUFFY!” Giles shouted as he rushed to her side, taking her from Spike’s arms and gently laying her on the floor.

The metallic tang of blood filled the air, both vampires realizing what had happened. The sudden movement had ripped open her stitches, the blood slowly soaking into her shirt.

“We need to get her to a doctor.” Giles said, his concern palpable.

“I’ll bring my car around front.” Angel announced as he swiftly left the shop.

“Dawn…” Willow alerted. “They’re going to hurt Dawn.”

“No they bloody will not.” Spike growled out, dragging his duster off from the glass counter top near the register, slipping it over his shoulders.

“She’s at the next-door neighbours house.” Giles informed, realizing what it was that Spike was going to do.

Spike didn’t respond as he stormed towards the front door.

“Take her home if you get there in time.” Giles said.

“When I get there.” Spike corrected as the door slammed open and he stepped out into the night.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you like! Sorry for the delay, it is soooo hot here (Australia) right now and being in front of the computer makes it worse!
Diversion. by angelic_amy
A/N: Thank you to Cordykitten and klylu for reviewing!


Chapter 15: Diversion.


Spike ran at full speed towards the Summers house. He knew which neighbour Dawn would be staying with; he just had to make sure he got there on time. Pushing himself even faster, he turned onto Revello and ran towards the neighbours house. He reached the door and raised a fist, pounding on it repeatedly.

He heard movement inside, but he refused to relax until he knew that Dawn was safe.

A few moments later a woman in her early forties answered the door. She looked at Spike, then past him into the darkness, a frown crossing her face.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“I’m a friend of the Summers family, I need to speak to Dawn.” He said quickly.

The woman looked him over a little disbelieving before she nodded once. “Stay here, I’ll go get her.”

Spike nodded, pacing the doorstep anxiously as he waited. He heard more movement inside and relief washed his face when Dawn opened the door.

“Spike? What are you doing here?” Panic coursed through her when she immediately began to think the worst. “Buffy?! Is she okay? What’s going on?”

“Your sis is fine bit, I’ve just got to get you home.”

Dawn exhaled deeply, her fears leaving with her breath. “I’ll just get my things.”

Turning around she walked into the other room and retrieved her magazine and her jacket, said goodbye to Mrs Smith and then walked back to the front door to meet Spike. The pair quickly made their way across the lawn and to the Summers house, Spike breathing a sigh of relief when the door closed behind them.

~~~

Buffy woke feeling the sensation of movement, her eyes blinking open and staring at the back of a car seat. She was leaning against someone and immediately tried to sit up straighter.

“Stay still, you might tear more open.” Giles warned as he placed a hand on her shoulder to still her movements.

“Where are we going?” she asked.

“To the hospital. We need to get your stitches looked at.”

Buffy shook her head vehemently. “I don’t want to go back there, please Giles I just want to go get Dawn.”

“Dawn will be fine, Spike left to collect her from your neighbours. He’s taking her home.”

“Then that’s where I want to be.” She said not leaving any room for argument.

Giles nodded, exchanging a look with Angel who was driving, who turned at the next street and began heading towards the Summers house.

~~~

“They’re all gone.” A sandy haired female called out.

“Shhh…” someone hissed at her.

“Alright, the coast is clear.” Jake announced as he sauntered out from an alleyway and joined the rest of his crew out the front of the shop. “Lets get what we need and get out of here.”

The vampires stormed into the Magic Box, knocking over furniture and empty the contents of boxes as they moved through it, searching for what they needed.

~~~

Buffy shuffled across her seat and made her way out of the passenger side door of Angel’s car before Giles had the opportunity to stop her. He quickly exited on his side and made his way around the vehicle and reached for her arm, offering her support as they made their way to the front door. A second carload with Anya, Tara, Willow and Xander pulled up behind Angel’s convertible, the occupants exiting and quickly making their way towards the front door.

“Dawn!?” Buffy called out. “DAWN!?”

Angel open the door to the house and Buffy hobbled inside, freeing herself from Giles as she called for her sister.

“DAWN!?”

“I’m here, I’m here…” Dawn called, a slight annoyance to her tone. She walked out from the kitchen and walked into the foyer, shortly followed by Spike.

Relief flooded Buffy’s features and she stepped forwards to wrap her arms around her sister in a tight embrace. Dawn returned the hug, pulling Buffy close to her and holding her tight.

Spike could smell blood in the air and he knew it to be Buffy’s. Obviously they hadn’t taken her to the hospital. Leaving the group that had formed in the entrance to the Summers house, he made his way upstairs and into the bathroom. He figured Buffy would have to have some bandages and the like around here somewhere, the number of scrapes she got into.

Sure enough, tucked under the sink behind the hair styling products and lotions was a first aid kit. Opening it to make sure it contained what they would need, he quickly shut the case and left the bathroom, descending the stairs.

“What were you doing up there?” Angel said with a suspicious frown before he noticed what the other vampire was holding. Nodding once, he turned away from Spike and made his way into the living room where the rest of the group was slowly filtering.

“Buffy you need to get that looked at.” Dawn said with worry in her eyes.

“I’m not going back to the hospital.” Buffy replied firmly.

“Won’t have to.” Spike said as he joined them, moving into the room and placing the first aid kit on the coffee table. “Rupert can redress the wound, I’m sure he’s probably done it before.”

Giles was surprised by Spike’s forethought, but not as much as Buffy was.

“Thanks.” She said quickly.

Spike nodded in acknowledgement, smiling at her momentarily before he took a few steps away from the group and leant up against a wall.

Giles handed his research to Willow who began flipping through the pages whilst he went about checking Buffy’s stitches. Buffy lifted up her shirt, wincing as the stretching motion caused the area of her wound to throb with pain.

As expected she had torn a few of them open. He found a couple of butterfly wound closures in the kit and peeled them off the backing and then stuck them perpendicular to the line of her wound, effectively using them to hold the two sides together. He placed two more on as well for good measure, before placing a sterile bandage over the wound and using tape to fix it to her.

“Thanks Giles.” Buffy said with a grateful smile when she rolled her shirt back down again.

Giles packed away the contents of the first aid kit. “Give yourself time to heal, I can only do that so many times before you’ll have to go in to see a doctor.” He said, his tone scolding but his expression warm.

Buffy mock saluted Giles, which earned a giggle from Dawn.

~~~

“We found it!” an excited shout came from the mezzanine platform above him. Jake took a few steps backwards to look up at the group.

Climbing the ladder he joined the rest of the group on the platform and thrust out his hand. The object they had been searching the shop for was quickly but carefully placed in his palm. The delicate blade glistened under the dull light and he knew immediately that it was what they were searching for.

Nodding in confirmation, a whoop of excitement sounded through out the shop as the vampires cheered.

“Let’s get out of here.” Jake said, slipping the dagger into a sheath which he had attached to his belt loops, before he descended the ladder and began moving his way towards the back of the shop.

~~~

“Giles are you sure this is all?” Willow said with a worried frown, causing the mood in the room to revert to a serious one, all eyes turning to the red head holding Giles’ research.

Buffy turned to speak to Dawn to suggest that she head up to bed but Dawn had seen it coming a mile away and was already up out of her seat. “Goodnight.” She said begrudgingly.

The others chorused their goodnight as a group, once again waiting until they heard Dawn’s bedroom door closing before they continued with their discussion.

“Giles, list, all.” Buffy said re-capping what Willow had begun saying.

“I’m afraid so.” Giles hesitated. “It would appear that most of the vampires of direct blood line to the Order of Aurelius have met their end one way or another.”

“But…” Buffy filled in, sensing that Giles was holding out on something.

“There was quite a number that I could not find a definitive record of their state of life, or unlife.”

Buffy took the list from Willow, noting the three columns that Giles had drawn up with vampires confirmed alive, dusted and the longest list which was those that were unaccounted for. She sighed in frustration. “We’re getting nowhere with this.”

“What about your inferiors in LA? Did you not order them to assist us when you spoke to the annoying brunette before?” Anya asked Angel, shooting a glare in Xander’s direction; who responded with a what-did-I-do? look of innocence.

Willow and Buffy both shook their heads in disbelief at Anya’s blatant dislike for Cordelia but both said nothing.

Anya was well aware that the ex-prom queen that currently worked in LA for Angel, Cordelia, had been a paramour of Xander’s. The relationship hadn’t lasted long which was one thing to be thankful for, but her Xander had cared for her. Even though their relationship was not always pretty, even though they bickered constantly. He had cared for her.

And that bothered Anya. She didn’t understand; it was one of the many things about mortals that she did not comprehend that well. She had been witness to the imperfect state of Xander and Cordelia’s relationship, in fact; it had been the pain that their first (or was it second?) break-up that had brought Anya to Sunnydale in the first place.

What was more important was that his past made her jealous, something she had no problems with voicing.

Sometimes, when life as a mortal was difficult she would wonder what her life would be like if she was still in the business, still in vengeance. At that moment Xander would do or say something sweet that would quash those thoughts. Right now, he was avoiding her gaze.

Angel responded to Anya’s question with a slight frown. He didn’t know her all that well, and her bluntness could be a little off-putting, a little surprising. Which was saying something considering he worked with Cordelia.

“They’re not my inferiors. I work for Wesley now.” He clarified first. “They have other cases right now that need their attention.”

“Well if they’re so short staffed maybe you should go help them then eh?” Spike suggested with a pointed look. “Go somewhere that you’re needed?”

“Spike!” Buffy chastised. “If it weren’t for Angel being in town when he was then I’d probably be dead right now.”

Spike’s jaw dropped, stunned by the words that had just left her mouth. She thought that HE rescued her…?

Willow, Xander and Giles all looked around the room uncomfortably, none of them willing to correct Buffy’s mistake. Xander shrugged his shoulders apologetically in Spike’s direction, but he was still staring at Buffy in disbelief.

Angel at least had the gall to look reluctant to accept the credit, even if he didn’t voice it. “I’ll be returning in a few days.”

Buffy had expected it; she had known that he would be leaving. But to hear him say it was difficult. “Of course.” She said quietly.

Xander, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, stuck his hand in the air and waved it around a bit. “At the risk of sounding like a supporter of these two.” He said with a jab of this thumb at the two vampires in the room.

“Maybe we should have them look at the list. They are related to the vamps were trying to find and they might know something we don’t.”

Giles blinked in surprise, silently cursing himself for not thinking of it sooner. He had used all of his contacts from the Council and it hadn’t even occurred to him to question either Spike or Angel about the matter.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence mate.” Spike drawled sarcastically.

Buffy read through the list of vampires that couldn’t be accounted for, pleased when Spike and Angel managed to confirm the status of over half of the ten or so listed.

“Run through the list of possible suspects again Buffy.” Xander suggested.

Buffy read out the list of vampires confirmed alive who were possible suspects. None of the names rang any bells to her, and whilst Giles knew a few by reputation there had been minimal reports of activity from those few over the last decade.

“…Robert DiMarco, Malthus and Gabriel.” Buffy said finishing the list.

“You forgot Darla.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you like!
Lies Exposed. by angelic_amy
Quick pimp - I've begun posting a new story over at the Bloodshedverse as a prezzie for my good friend Sue! Click HERE! to go read. It's a lot darker than anything I've written before and I would REALLY appreciate any feedback! Thanks!


Chapter 16: Lies Exposed.


No-one spoke for what seemed like hours. Everyone was in state of shock.

“Darla?” Giles finally repeated, removing his glassed from the bridge of his nose as he massaged his temple. “Darla was killed, by Angel, over two years ago now.”

Buffy nodded in agreement. “I was there, I saw him stake her.”

“Where would you get a ridiculous idea like that from?” Xander said with astonishment. “I mean, that’s a stretch not even I would have suggested.”

“She’s alive. I’m telling you she is.” Spike insisted. “When Dru was in town --“

“That’s your source?” Buffy said with a scornful laugh. “She’s insane Spike, she could have imagined it.”

“She BLOODY well did not. She told me all about their little escapade in LA that night with you in my crypt.”

Willow looked at Buffy curiously, completely unaware of what it what Spike was talking about.

“Not only did she tell me, she showed me the burn marks from when the poof set them on fire. Both of them” Spike he said emphatically. He turned his glare to Angel.

Buffy gasped at the disclosure. “You knew.” She whispered, the betrayal she felt evident in both her words and her eyes. She was in utter disbelief. How could Angel not tell her this?

“You knew and you didn’t…” she trailed off with a shake of her head, turning her eyes away from Angel.

“Buffy I…” Angel started.

“Don’t!” she said, raising her hand to stop him from continuing. She didn’t want to hear his excuses. “Just… don’t.”

“You didn’t TELL them she was back?” Spike declared angrily.

Angel’s eyes flashed yellow. “Stay out of this Spike.” He said, spitting out the name of his former partner in crime. “This doesn’t concern you.”

“Bollocks it doesn’t!” Spike shouted in return, taking a threatening step towards the older vampire.

Angel didn’t back down, in fact he mirrored Spike’s actions and moved towards him. “Spike you’re not needed here so why don’t you go find someone else to annoy.”

Spike had enough, balling his fist he shot out a punch at Angel’s nose. Angel’s head snapped to the side from the force of the blow, a snarl crossing his face as he returned the favor and swung a punch back at Spike. The hit landed on the side of his jaw and it sent him reeling to the side, hands pressing against the wall behind him, which he used to spring himself at Angel.

Everyone else in the room stood up and backed away from the pair who were oblivious to their shouts of alarm. Buffy lifted herself to her feet slowly, shaking with rage as the two vampires slugged at each other.

“Giles!” Willow called out in alarm when the two vampires crashed to the floor in the middle of the room, shattering the wooden coffee table that had been standing before Buffy.

“ENOUGH!” Buffy shouted as she reached down and grabbed at the collar of Spike’s duster and yanked him off Angel with all the strength she could spare.

“BOTH of you, just cool it.” She snapped, looking from Angel to Spike and back again.

As if they only just realized what they had been doing, it became apparent to them both of the destruction they had caused.

“Buffy I--“ Angel attempted to apologise.

“I don’t want to hear it.” Buffy cut off. “From either of you.”

Angel strode over to the other side of the room, putting some distance between him and Spike.

Buffy moved back to the sofa and sat down slowly, wincing at the small stings of pain from her wound. But she would welcome the pain over how she felt right now. Willow sat down beside her, offering her a lop-sided half-hearted smile.

This whole situation was a great big mess, and she could only imagine what Buffy was thinking right now.

“You could have informed us of this sooner Spike.” Giles said sharply.

“I didn’t know.” Spike defended himself, managing to keep the whine out of his voice which accompanied his thoughts. “I mean I knew she was alive, but I just didn’t connect the dots. Plus I didn’t think that nancy boy here would hide the second coming of his sire from you lot.”

He refrained from pointing out that Giles hadn’t figured it out either, and he had given all the information he had on the attack. He silently cursed himself. Now that he thought back it all kind of made sense. The sadistic nature of the attack on Buffy in the graveyard reeked of Darla’s handiwork. And he had seen blond hair. Why had he thought of Harmony but not Darla?

“Well I guess we have our suspect then.” Xander said. “I mean… female which explains the mention of she all those vamps were going on about. Also, homicidal vampire connected to the Order… AND she has a serious grudge against Buffy. Do we need to search any further?”

“I think not.” Giles replied, drawing the same conclusions as everyone else in the room.

“That’s good right?” Willow said with a worried smile. “I mean, we know who to look for now. Right?”

“No thanks to the poof.” Spike muttered under his breath, silently thinking the same thing about himself.

“Spike I think you should leave, sarcasm really isn’t helping us right now.” Buffy pointed out.

Spike’s expression clouded with confusion and hurt for a moment before it became blank, stoic. For a moment he considered arguing with her, protesting that he was needed, that he could be of help, but he could see from the look in her eyes that it wouldn’t do him any good. Not right now.

He nodded once in response to her request, shooting a scathing glare at Angel as he moved past the dark haired vampire and towards the door. Looking over at Buffy once more, he ducked his head, turned and walked out of the house, closing the door behind him.

She inhaled deeply before looking towards Angel. They needed to talk.

“Guys, do you mind if I speak to Angel in private. Please?” Buffy asked.

Giles frowned for a moment before dipping his head in acknowledgement. “It is getting rather late.” He pointed out. “Perhaps we should continue this tomorrow.”

Buffy nodded in agreement to this plan, and her friends slowly began to rise from their seats. Willow gave Buffy’s hand a reassuring squeeze before both she and Tara left the house. Anya immediately took Xander by the hand and began dragging him towards the door after Willow and Tara.

“We’ll drive them home.” Xander said. “See you tomorrow Buffy.”

He looked at Angel for a moment, feeling his protectiveness for Buffy beginning to rise within him as they said goodnight and left.

The sounds of a car starting up and pulling out of the driveway could be heard inside the house. At that moment Buffy realized that Giles didn’t have a ride home, not unless Angel was to leave now, which he wasn’t.

“And I’ll just --“ Giles started.

“Did you want to stay the night?” Buffy offered, interrupting whatever Giles was about to say.

Giles was appreciative of the offer and was about to decline when Buffy insisted.

“I’d feel better knowing that there was someone else here tonight, and I know it’d make Dawn happy. Please?” she implored with a look.

Unable to say no to her, Giles nodded in acceptance, grateful that he wouldn’t have to walk home.

“You can take my room since I’ll be sleeping here… or Mom’s.” Buffy said, her expression becoming forlorn for a brief moment before she masked it with a calm smile.

“Thank you.” Giles said as he moved to pick up his books and notepad. Out of respect for Joyce, he mentally decided on taking Buffy’s room. He said his goodnight and ascended the staircase to the second level.

Buffy fidgeted uncomfortably when she found herself alone with Angel. A million questions flew though her mind and she was trying to order her thoughts.

“Why?” she blurted out. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

Angel shifted nervously from his place against the wall and moved closer, hesitantly taking the armchair beside the sofa where Buffy was sitting. He perched himself upon the edge of it, his hands clasped between his knees and his gaze on the floor as he tried to explain his actions. Or lack thereof.

He took a deep breath before he began to tell Buffy how it had all come to this. “She was human. When she came back, Darla was…” he trailed off. He was doing this all wrong.

“Human?” Buffy repeated, once again shocked by what she was hearing. This was a night for surprises that was for sure. “But how… how is that possible?”

Angel had expected Buffy’s shock. “Do you remember me mentioning Wolfram and Hart, the law firm that has been giving me trouble in LA?” he asked softly.

Buffy just nodded.

“Well this was one of their great ideas. Just another way to mess with me.” His jaw ticked as a scowl passed over his face. He balled his fists in his lap as he relived what had happened the last few weeks over in his mind.

“Is she…? Still?” Buffy couldn’t even think straight.

“Still human?” Angel filled in. “No. When they brought her back they brought her back wrong, she was dying. Her second chance at life and they bring her back diseased with no chance of survival. I tried to find a way to help her.”

Buffy couldn’t help but feel jealous at the anger that she could see reflected across Angel’s face, the concern that he obviously had felt for Darla visible in his eyes, the anguish at not being able to help her.

“Did you… did you turn her?” Buffy asked.

The look of astonishment that followed her questioned answered it clear enough. Angel looked disgusted that she would even suggest such a thing. “Of course you didn’t.” Buffy said quickly. “But then who was it?”

“Drusilla…”

Buffy didn’t know what to say, and Angel seemed reluctant to continue. Her thoughts turned to Dawn, and the dreams she had been having. A new purpose for the conversation entered her mind.

“Do you know why she’s in town? Why she wants me dead?” Her tone was accusatory, spiteful, her dislike for the other blond more than evident.

“I don’t.” Angel said quietly.

And it was the truth.

He had heard through an informant a couple weeks after he had last seen Darla that she had left LA, and at first he had been relieved. But then he had found out her planned destination and panic had set in. “An informant told me where she was going, but not what she had planned.”

Buffy accepted his answer and was about to ask another question when she was hit with a sudden realization. She had thought Angel had come to town to see her, that the timing of his arrival had been impeccable as it usually was. This piece of information threw that out the window. He hadn’t come to Sunnydale for her; he had come here because of Darla.

“Oh my god!” Buffy gasped, voicing her thoughts. “You came here because of her. I thought that…”

Her eyes fell to her hands in her lap, suddenly finding the stitching of her jeans incredibly interesting.

Angel realized what Buffy had thought, what she had been thinking and he drew in a deep breath, awash with new guilt. He had hurt her, again. “Buffy…” he started.

“Don’t.” she interrupted, silencing him with a look. “Please, just leave.”

Regret flooded Angel’s gaze, and he wished that he could do something that would take away the expression of complete betrayal, which Buffy wore openly.

“I’ll come by tomorrow at sunset.” He said quietly as he stood, giving her one last look of apology before he turned and left the living room and quickly exited the house.

The door clicked closed quietly as he left, and Buffy inhaled a shuddering breath. She was still in shock about the whole revelation. Darla was in town. Darla was alive. Darla had been human. And Angel had hid it all from her. He had come to Sunnydale… for her. She felt betrayed.

Even worse, she felt as if she had been replaced.

~~~

Spike watched from the shadows beside the house as Angel walked out and immediately moved to his car. Moments later the convertible backed out of the driveway and tore off down the street.

She didn’t let him stay… he thought, his mind flooded with instant relief.

Inhaling the last drag of his cigarette he let that relief wash over him for a moment as his mind began to tick over possible locations that he could search tomorrow night. He would find where the bitch was holed up, he would find her and tell her exactly what he thought of her and the rest of the bloody Order.

This needed to be dealt with quickly. The last couple of weeks had given little activity from Glory and her group of obsessed followers. But the quiet wouldn’t last for long and if there was one thing Spike knew from experience, it would most likely go down at the worst possible time.

Dropping his cigarette butt on the ground, he extinguished it with the toe of his boot. When the light in the living room flicked off Spike turned on his heel and began walking down the street in the direction of his crypt.

~~~

Buffy wrapped her blanket tightly around herself as she settled down onto the sofa. She was unbelievably overwhelmed by everything that was going on, and Angel’s unintentional revelation still had her reeling.

Closing her eyes she tried to push the thoughts out of her mind and get some sleep.

So far, it wasn’t working…



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you all like!
Break In. by angelic_amy
Thanks: To cordykitten and klylu for the reviews!


Chapter 17: Break in.


Giles placed the teapot onto the tray with the cups and lifted it from the bench, carrying it into the living room. Dawn was sitting in an armchair, her focus on the television screen as she flipped through the channels with the remote. Buffy was sitting on the sofa she had slept on, wiping her bleary eyes as she stifled a yawn.

“Didn’t you get much sleep last night?” he asked with concern. He had meant to place the tray on the coffee table, but since Spike and Angel had destroyed it last night that wasn’t possible. He stood still for a moment looking around the room with an expression of annoyance on his face.

“I can bring in a chair from the dining room?” Dawn offered as she got up from her seat and returning a moment later with said item. She placed it in the middle of the room, careful not to place it in the line of sight of the television for both herself and Buffy, before she settled back into her armchair.

Giles smiled with gratitude as he placed the tray onto it and poured Buffy a cup of tea. She had insisted on coffee, but having found none in the kitchen she was going to have to settle for his drink of choice. Buffy accepted the mug, cupping it with both hands as she blew on the top of it to cool it down.

“Not much.” She said belatedly answering Giles question. “My mind wouldn’t let me rest, thinking about too many things.”

Giles noted the look of pain that crossed Buffy’s face and suspected that is had less to do with her wound and more with whatever had been spoken with Angel last night. Deciding to hold off on questioning her about it until a later time he handed both girls a plate with some freshly cooked toast on it, which they both readily accepted.

“Judging by the time, I would assume Dawn that you won’t be attending school today?” Giles asked with a questioning brow.

“Crap!” Buffy cursed. “I completely forgot that it was a school day.”

She fixed her stare on her younger sister. “Dawn…” she said pointedly.

“What?” Dawn said with faux innocence which neither Giles nor Buffy accepted. “Come on! Can’t I stay home today? Please? You just got out of the hospital and --”

“And nothing.” Buffy cut short. “You’ve missed enough as it is. I’ll call Xander, see if he can give you a ride.”

Dawn pouted. “Please?”

“No Dawn.” Buffy said firmly with a firm stare. “Go get changed, if Xander answers his phone you’ll be there before the end of first period.”

Dawn grumbled the entire way up the stairs to her room.

Buffy called Xander on his cell phone and she was glad when he agreed to come pick up her sister. He had been planning to come over so that he could drop Giles at the Magic Box anyway, so it would just be a short detour.

Sighing as she placed the telephone back in the receiver she slowly stood up from where she was sitting on the sofa. “I should probably get changed as well if I’m going to be seen in public.” She said with a wry smile as she left the room.

~~~

Anya approached the front door to the Magic Box her key at the ready to unlock the front door when she notice that the front door was open ajar. Approaching it cautiously, she pushed it open fully before she stepped inside.

She gasped when she saw what was inside.

~~~

“All ready.” Buffy said lightly as she slowly made her way down the stairs. She was dressed in jeans and sneakers, a loose fitting yellow tank top and navy sweater that zipped up completing her change of clothing.

Both Dawn and Giles were waiting for her by the front door, Dawn dressed for school and Giles wearing the same clothes he had worn the night before. They were looking slightly worse for wear; the shirt was rumpled suggesting that he had slept in it. But she knew that he kept some clothing at the shop for the odd occasion that he spent a whole night there doing research so he would be able to change once they arrived.

Locking the front door behind them, they all piled into the car and Xander pulled out of the driveway.

~~~

“Ahn?” Xander called as he approached the Magic Box, frowning when he noticed that the front door was wide open. “Anya?”

He stepped inside the shop, his eyes widening at the destruction he was met with. The shelves had been ransacked, smashed pottery littering the floor and books were strewn everywhere. A gasp behind him signaled Buffy and Giles’ entrance, both wearing similar expressions of dismay.

Anya exited from the back office, muttering under her breath about insurance policies, a broom and pan in her hands. She noticed the arrivals, glaring at them all as she swept an arm out to indicate the shop and its current state of disarray.

“Do you see what they’ve done to my shop?” She cried in annoyance. “Our shop.” She corrected a moment later when she caught the frown on Giles’ face. “Hundred’s of dollars worth of damage. And the profits! I don’t even want to think about the lost income.”

“Perhaps we shouldn’t be so hasty in the clean up, the insurance company--“


“…will want proof.” Anya interrupted, lifting a disposable camera from the bench where the cash register was formally situated. “I’ve already taken pictures of everything.”

“Oh, very good.” Giles said with a nod. “Carry on then.”

He turned his back on her as he made his way towards the pile of books that had been thrown carelessly on the ground, oblivious to the glares that Anya was shooting in his direction. Carefully sifting through the titles, he examined each one to make sure that none were missing, and also to check the current state that they were in. Several of the books had damaged spines and one, an obscure text on prophecies had been completely torn to pieces. He sighed in resignation as he picked up the pieces and placed them on the counter.

A gasp came from the direction of the front door and Giles, Buffy and Xander all turned to see Willow and Tara had arrived. “W-what happened?” Tara asked in shock.

“Oh! The crystals!” Willow said forlornly as she bent over to pick up a few shattered remains of a broken amethyst.

“I’m tipping Darla’s minions.” Xander said with a frown.

“Why do you have to make so many enemies?” Anya asked with annoyance. “It would save me a lot of money and clean-up effort if you were nicer to the demons in town.”

Buffy quirked an eyebrow in amusement. “That would conflict with the slaying part of my duties.”

“Well you could be nice whilst you killed all the demons.” Anya said with a shrug. “All the ACTUAL demons of course, not those who are formerly of the demon variety.”

Xander shook his head in amazement, joining Anya in her clean-up job and quietly reassuring her that she not on a list of the slayers targets.

“Giles what do you think they wanted?” Willow asked as she surveyed the damage. She stepped over as much of the broken products without shattering anything further, to join Giles in picking up the texts from the ground.

“I’m afraid we won’t be able to ascertain that until a full stock take is completed, and even then…” Giles shook his head in resignation. Almost all of the stock would have to be thrown out, only a few items were salvageable. He was just relieved that the books weren’t as damaged as they could have been.

Buffy had her arms folded in front of her chest, a frown of contemplation washing her features. A thought suddenly occurred to her and she quickly made her way into the training room, letting out a sigh of relief when she found that it was relatively undamaged. A couple of boxes had been tipped over, but apart from that, everything was in its place.

Including all of the weapons.

“Weird.” She mumbled.

“Did you find anything Buffy?” Xander called out as he joined her in the back room.

She shook her head to the negative. It didn’t make sense. Why would they ransack the rest of the shop, shatter almost every breakable object, but not touch the weapons? The arsenal in the back room contained enough short blades, crossbows and swords to arm, well a small army.

“They didn’t take anything.” She said with a puzzled frown.

Xander surveyed the room, equally mystified. “Well that says a lot about Darla’s smarts. Or lack of.” He said with a half grin. “That’s a good thing right? That they were stupid enough to not think of taking your weapons?”

“Perhaps not.” Giles said as he joined the pair in the back room, holding an empty velvet lined wooden box in his hand, whatever had been inside it was no longer there.

“What is it Giles?” Buffy asked.

“This box formerly contained the Dagger of Cortanzine.” He informed.

Buffy looked to Xander to see if this meant anything to him, but he just shrugged his shoulders. “I’m in blanksville here Giles.” She quipped.

“Well considering history was never one of your favourite subjects I’m not surprised.” Giles said with a light smile. “The dagger which was contained in this box was said to hold mystical properties.”

“Magical blade.” Buffy surmised. “Isn’t there like dozens of them all with different purposes?” she asked.

Giles blinked in surprise. “You actually listened to that lecture?”

Buffy shrugged her shoulders, a smug grin on her face. “You were talking about sharp pointy things. It was interesting, not like all those other speeches on stuff like the history of the quarterstaff.”

Xander snickered as Buffy scoffed, the grin disappearing off his face when Giles shot him a disapproving look. “I think I hear Anya calling me…” he said slowly as he made his way back into the shop.

“No I didn’t!” Anya’s voice sang out from the other room, causing Buffy to chuckle. When she heard Giles clearing his throat and caught the eye roll he shot in the direction of the main room of the shop, she wiped the smile off her face and tried to replace it with a more serious one. But it was difficult with the sounds of Anya and Xander’s bickering floating throughout the shop.

“Go on, you were saying, mystical blade.” Buffy urged.

“The Dagger of Cortanzine is not only an incredibly sharp and deadly weapon, it is also rumoured to be a devourer of souls.”

Giles had Buffy’s complete attention now. “It’s a soul sucker? How can a blade eat a persons soul?” she cried out in alarm and disbelief, the joviality in her stance and tone from moments earlier completely dissipating. This was bad, very bad.

“I’m not all together certain.” Giles said as he pondered that thought for a moment. “I had been looking for a way to destroy the blade, it’s an incredibly dangerous weapon, especially in the wrong hands.”

“Like it is now.” Buffy said with a dejected sigh. She began to ramble as her thoughts fell from her mouth. “What are we going to do? What do you think they are going to do? Whose soul would she be after?”

She gasped with sudden awareness. Darla, soul sucking blade, Angel.

“She wants Angelus.”

“Oh dear.” Giles said as he removed his glasses. “Yes that is a definite possibility.”

Buffy began to panic. It was the most feasible reason she could think of. It wouldn’t be for her, Darla wouldn’t bother with stealing her soul from her. She would just want her dead. And Dawn… well Buffy still had no idea how Dawn fit into this whole thing. She was starting to think that maybe Willow had been right with her suggestion from the other night. Maybe Darla was just taking advantage of a weakness.

She hoped that was all that it was, that Dawn wasn’t somehow involved in Darla’s plans for resurrecting the Master. One crazy blond after her sister at a time was enough for Buffy to have to deal with. Glory was still a threat, but things had been quite for a couple of weeks now. And Buffy intended on taking advantage of this interlude to deal with Darla and stop her plans.

The Master.

Buffy shivered. Just thinking his name was enough to cause all of the hairs on the back of her neck to stand on end and send a chill down her spine. The last thing she wanted was for him to be walking the earth again.

Whatever Darla had planned, they would figure it out soon enough.

“We need to let the others know about this, if they bump into Darla or one of her minions while they’ve got this blade…” she trailed off, not wanting to finish the thought out loud.

“We’ll tell them now.” Giles said softly, placing a hand on Buffy’s shoulder in an action meant to sooth her. “It’s probably best if the group stays together after dark, it’s not safe for anyone to travel by themselves.”

Buffy nodded mutely, leaving Giles’ side and walking towards the door to share this new information and suspected plan of Darla’s with the rest of her friends.

~~~

Darla was reclining on a sofa, turning the sharp little blade over in her hand when she heard a knock on the door. Having been expecting Jake to return via the sewer tunnels from the Alibi Room around about now, she called out permission for entrance.

The young vampire entered the room, a broad smile stretched across his face as he approached her. “It is done mistress.” He informed as he knelt before her, taking one of her hands in his and kissing her knuckles. He revered her as she was meant to be. If it weren’t for her he would still be weak, he would still be human. She had given him strength, power, immortality and even the pleasure of sharing her bed. That; was the most rewarding of all.

“This pleases me.” Darla purred, beckoning Jake with a curled finger to join him on the sofa.

Jake eagerly crawled up from his kneeling position to join her, raining kisses up her arm as he moved closer to her.

“Did the snitch buy it?” she asked with a raised brow referring to Willy, the proprietor of the Alibi room. He was the last in a long line of informants that Darla was aware that both Angel and Buffy sourced for information on occasion.

“Every word.” Jake assured as he continued his worship of her body. “You should have seen the look on his face when he ‘overheard’ the details for the resurrection ceremony. The other vampires in the bar as well, they all believe that the Master will arise again.”

Darla joined Jake in laughter. “Very good. You are fast becoming a very useful asset.”

Jake dipped his head in pride. “I live to serve you.”

“And serve me you have.” A coy expression shifted across her face. “However may I reward you?”

A carnal grin stretched across Jake’s face. “However you see fit mistress.”

Darla grabbed Jake around the neck and wrapped herself around him, catapulting them both off the sofa and onto the ground.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you like, please leave your thoughts!
Juvenile Disputes. by angelic_amy
Thank you to klylu for the review!


Chapter 18: Juvenile Disputes.


It was just after sunset, and Buffy and her friends had assembled in the living room to discuss their next plan of attack. When Buffy and Giles had explained to the group earlier about the properties of the missing dagger, and Buffy’s theory behind it’s theft had set them all on edge. Right now, they were waiting for Angel and Spike to arrive so that they could inform them of the new developments and figure out what they should do next.

As had happened previously, Willow had stopped by the haunts of both vampires to inform them of the meeting, not that they wouldn’t have shown up anyway. Once again Spike was surprised by his inclusion but he tried not to make a big deal out of it. Willow saw right through his nonchalance.

The dynamic of the group had shifted recently. The previously accepted opinion of Spike being a scheming, no-good, evil vampire whose only interest was in snagging Buffy, was waning. He had demonstrated time and time again over the last few weeks just how much he cared for Buffy. It was not just an obsession to him. Willow and along with her, Tara, had begun to accept Spike more for who he was. The way he had protected Dawn when he was kidnapped by Glory, the desperation he showed at the hospital when Buffy was comatose, and the determined way in which he had instantly taken off into the night when a threat was made against Dawn, again, were all testament to the change in him. Willow knew that there was an unspoken trust between Spike and Giles, even though Giles would loath admitting it. And as for Xander, she had noticed a change in his reactions towards the bleach blond vampire as well. Willow just hoped that Buffy would see what everyone else was beginning to notice.

Spike was a good man.

The front door to the Summers house opened and Angel breezed inside, instantly making his way to Buffy who was immediately relieved by his arrival.

Willow frowned. Considering what Buffy had told her at the Magic Box earlier on about Angel’s reason for being in town, she was surprised at how happy she was by his appearance. Sure she understood that Buffy worried for his safety, so was she. Willow was glad that Angel was all right; but there was something about the way he had been behaving over the last few days that had her feeling a little off. He was being even more broody, even more monosyllabic than usual. Something was up, she was certain of it. She just couldn’t put her finger on what. It was almost as if he was hiding something. That combined with the fact that he had known about Darla’s existence the entire time and not told them, worried her. She just hoped that Buffy didn’t forget about that too soon…

“Sweetie, is everything alright?” Tara asked looking at Willow with a concerned frown.

“Everything’s fine. Just thinking is all. You know me and my mind.” Willow said tapping the side of her head for emphasis. “It never stops whirring.”

Tara nodded after a moment, accepting Willow’s answer. The pair walked arm in arm into the living room, joining everyone else who had assembled there.

“Shall we get started?” Buffy suggested when the pair found a seat beside her on the sofa.

“Shouldn’t we wait for Spike?” Willow pointed out the blond vampires absence. “I’m sure he’s on his way.”

“No we should get started. We can fill him in later.” Buffy said dismissively.

Willow nodded once. If Buffy knew that it had been Spike that had rescued her in the graveyard, she believed her friend would not be so quick to exclude him like that. But it wasn’t her place to inform Buffy of that. If anyone should do that, it should be Spike.

Or Angel…

~~~

Spike walked into the dimly lit bar, eyes scanning the crowd before he made his approach to the bar. He wanted answers, and he wanted them now.

He had been on his way to Buffy’s house when he had overheard talk from a group of fledgling vampires about the Master. They were talking about his coming, that the day he would arise was nigh, and a whole lot more pompous garbage just like it.

He had trailed them to the Alibi Room, giving them a few minutes to get settled inside before he entered. They were sitting in a dark corner, huddled around a table and from the animated way in which one of them was speaking they were presumably still talking about the ‘great one.’

Sparking up a cigarette as he sauntered over to the bar, he inhaled deeply, drawing the nicotine into his lungs as if it was life’s blood. He saw the nervous way in which Willy twitched as he approached, and he liked it. It was nice to know that some people still feared him in this town, even if he was a little light on the evil these days.

“Willy.” Spike said with a hard stare as he inhaled another long drag, closing his eyes for a second as he did so. “Willy, Willy, Willy.”

“Spike! Buddy! Pal!” Willy said with a little too much eagerness. “What can I do you for tonight? A nice big glass of fresh, warm O+?”


Spike’s lips curled up into a snarl as he reached across the bar and yanked Willy forward by the collar of his shirt. “Why drink from a glass when the taps right in front of me? Not good to taunt a hungry vampire Willy, mentioning blood like that…”


Willy gulped loudly, his hands rising in the air in an action of surrender. “Y-you can’t bite me.” he said unconfidently. “The chip it will --“

“Hurt like hell for a couple of minutes, but it might be worth it.” Spike finished for him, his tongue running over his upper lip as he eyed the bartender’s neck.

“No! Please! Don’t!” Willy pleaded, clenching his eyes shut as he cowered in fear. “I’ll do anything. Name your price. Just don’t eat me, please.”

Spike held onto Willy for a moment longer before releasing him, the bartender sighing audibly with relief.

“Spike… man…” Willy said with a shake of his head. “You scared the be-jesus out of me.”

Ignoring Willy, Spike turned around at the bar and leaned back against it, propping himself up with both elbows. “What can you tell me about that lively bunch of posers?” Spike questioned over his shoulder.

Willy followed Spike’s line of sight to the bunch of vampires who were laughing and talking in one of the darker corners of his bar. “Them?”

“Yes them.” Spike growled in warning, letting Willy know he wasn’t to be messed with.

The greasy haired bartender considered playing innocent, but knew that Spike would not only see right through it, but he would probably smell the lie on him. The vampire was incredibly perceptive when he wanted to be. “Have you spoken to Harris lately?” he asked.

“The whelp?” Spike asked, a little perplexed. “What’s he got to do with them?” he asked as he turned back around at the bar so that he now faced Willy again.

“The boy came in askin’ questions a couple of days ago. He paid me a fee and I gave him some info about the happenings in town.” Willy clarified.

“I heard you got punched.” Spike drawled sarcastically.

“Yeah, well, maybe there was a disagreement about the sum.” Willy lamely covered, unconsciously raising a hand to finger his nose as if it were still hurting. “Anyway, I gave him some info about…”

Willy trailed off, leaning in closer and whispering. “About the Master.”

Spike’s expression became that of being bored and he cocked an eyebrow as he spoke. “And? Heard all this. I’m related to the pile of dust.”

Willy’s left eye twitched in surprise. He hadn’t heard that before. “Really? He as big and bad as they say he was?”

“Willy…” Spike growled for the second time.

“Right. Info. Got it.” Willy said as pointing in acknowledgment. “The group down there are the ones working for whoever’s running the operation in bringing the old guy back from grave.”

“You wouldn’t happen to know any of the particulars of this resurrection spell now would you?” Spike suggested.

Willy looked around the room nervously before nodding his head. “I heard mention of blood. The slayer’s blood. And some mention about some gem. The gem of Omaro, Amaroo.”

“Amarra.” Spike filled in.

“That’s it!” Willy said, nodding his head vigorously. “Have you heard of it before?” He asked curiously.

“Yeah.” Spike muttered as he turned and walked towards the exit. “I’ve heard of it.”

~~~

Giles had just begun to fill in Angel about the details of Dagger of Cortanzine when a loud stomping noise came from upstairs then slowly descended the stairs.

“WHY do I have to stay upstairs?” Dawn’s whine echoed towards them before she reached the living room. She stood their, eyebrow raised and pouting as she made a show of folding her arms across her chest.

Buffy sighed in frustration. “Dawn, please. Can you just go back up to your room? We’ll be finished soon and I’ll come get you.”

“But I can help!” She insisted. “I can look in Giles’ dusty old books, or fetch things for you… or, or make coffees?”

Angel couldn’t help but smile at the young girl’s enthusiasm. She just wanted to spend some time with her sister, but Buffy was having none of it.

“Just go back upstairs.”

Dawn resisted the urge to stomp her feet in annoyance. “If I was going to be ignored why couldn’t I just go to Janice’s?” she sulked.

“You’re not being ignored.” Buffy exhaled noisily. “You just can’t be here, in this ROOM here for this conversation. As for Janice’s I need to know that you’re safe, that you’re close by so I can keep an eye on you.”

“You don’t trust me. That’s it, isn’t it?” Dawn snapped.

“Giles, would you talk to her please?” Buffy begged.

“Dawn --” he began.

“Forget it.” The younger Summers said as she walked back up the stairs in a huff, stomping on each and every stair. A door slammed upstairs and Willow cringed when she saw the irritation in Buffy’s eyes.

“Buffy, she just feels left out is all.” Willow excused.

“I know, but I don’t have time for this right now.” Buffy said as she massaged her temples. “I need her to be safe, so I need her here. But at the same time I don’t want her being involved in any of this.”

“We know Buff.” Xander said with a half smile.

“Perhaps you could bribe her with sweets?” Anya suggested, eyebrows rose almost comically as she posed her suggestion.

“Ooh! Or maybe a trip to the mall?” Willow added excitedly.

“Movies, I vote movies.” Xander said with a broad grin.

Buffy laughed.

Giles shook his head with amusement. “Let’s get this back on topic shall we?”

“Sorry.” Chorused the young adults in the room.

~~~

Spike flicked the third cigarette butt on the ground and crushed it with the toe of his boot at the end of Buffy’s driveway. He couldn’t believe what he had just found out tonight. It completely blew the whole Master resurrection scheme out of the water.

The Gem of Amarra no longer existed.

So whoever put that part of the story out there had ruined the whole thing. And Spike had bets on Jake being the culprit. Bloody ponce…

He began walking up the drive when he heard a noise coming from the side of the house. Eyes narrowing in suspicion he moved to the left side of the house and walked down beside it, keeping flush against the building and safely hidden in the shadows.

There dangling half out a window and clinging onto the ledge for dear life; was Dawn.

Spike relaxed back against the house and watched with amusement as she reached for the branch of a tree that was growing beside the house and quickly climbed down it, dusting herself off when her feet found the ground.

“And where do you think you’re off to niblet?” he called from the shadows.

Dawn shrieked in surprise before clamping a hand over her mouth when she realized that the others inside might hear her. Standing a little taller, her nose sticking up in the air she put on an air of bravado. “What’s it to you?”

Chuckling Spike pushed off from the wall and took a few steps towards her. “Your big sis know you’re out here?”

Dawn glared at Spike at the mention of her sister. “Like she cares! She’s having a meeting which I’m not invited to.”

Spike was a little taken aback by this statement. So much for being included… he thought to himself, before he shook it away. He was late. Very late in fact. Of course she would have started the meeting by now.

“She does care.” Spike said confidently. “You’re all she bloody worries about.”

“Ha!” Dawn scoffed. “Like you’d know!”

“Like I bloody well wouldn’t!” Spike retorted becoming irate. “Why do you think she was in the --”

He stopped himself before he said too much, but Dawn’s eyes instantly widened. “In the where? What are you talking about Spike?”

“Nothing.” He covered. “We should get you back inside.”

“No!” Dawn snapped. “Not until you tell me what you were going to say. And don’t lie to me.”

Spike looked at Dawn thoughtfully for a moment. He thought Buffy would’ve told her by now. It’s what he would’ve done. If his family were in trouble, he’d want them to be aware of it. Not ignorant and more likely to get themselves into trouble by sneaking out of windows in the middle of the night.

“In the cemetery. When she got hurt.” Spike said quietly.

Dawn shook her head in disbelief. “No. She was just patrolling. And how would you know anyway…”

She realized even before she finished speaking. “You were there!” she said in hushed tones. “It was you wasn’t it? Not Angel. When you came to the hospital the next night you were all limpy and bruised.”

He looked at her for a moment, wondering how she could figure it out yet Buffy couldn’t. He nodded in confirmation.

“It was my fault?” Dawn asked softly, her eyes watering up with tears.

“No pet it wasn’t. Someone was threatenin’ you and your big sis was just trying to find out what was going on.” Spike explained.

“It was my fault.” Dawn repeated. “She was out there, because of me. Trying to keep me safe.”

“And WHAT a great job she did of that.” A voice called from the shadows.

Dawn and Spike turned in the direction the voice came from, seeing a group of five vampires approaching from the front lawn, headed by Jake.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you like!
Failure. by angelic_amy
Thanks to cordykitten and Champion for the reviews.


Chapter 19: Failure.


“Get behind me, NOW.” Spike ordered as he stepped in front of Dawn.

Jake laughed. “Well isn’t that sweet. Protecting the slayers sister. Think that will win you any points?” he mocked with a raised brow.

Spike growled in response, backing away slowly, his arms outstretched to keep Dawn behind him. “Bit!” He called over his shoulder. “Back door. NOW.”

Dawn didn’t need to be told twice, she bolted down the side of the house in the direction of the back door, her heart racing as she ran up the few steps and swung the door open and stepped inside to safety.

“SPIKE!” she shouted through the open door, her alarm reaching everyone in the living room.

Buffy was on her feet in a second and moving through the house in the direction of her sisters voice. The others quickly followed behind her. They found Dawn in the kitchen, staring out into the backyard through the open door, her expression panicked.

“Dawn why is the door open!” Buffy chastised. She reached for the door to pull it closed when she heard the sounds of a fight coming from outside. “What’s going on?” she demanded.

“Spike’s outside, there are vampires.” Dawn cried in alarm.

Saving the rest of the interrogation for later Buffy pulled Dawn further into the kitchen before she stepped outside and onto the small deck. Angel followed. “Stay here Buffy, you’re hurt. I’ll get him.”

Buffy’s annoyance that Spike had gotten himself into another fight dissipated when she remembered the little speech from the night in the Magic Box when she was attacked. Baldy as she had nicknamed him, had cryptically spoken about Dawn, and had referred to Spike as her ally. His words echoed through her mind.

“The ally of the leader of the light will be struck down and she will come to dance on his grave.”

“The reborn will strike vengeance upon the leader of the light and the blood of the key will flow freely to destroy the prodigal.”


“Spike!” Buffy shouted in alarm. If Spike got himself killed then that could set a chain reaction in motion that would ultimately lead to Dawn’s death. Buffy needed Spike to be safe. She needed to keep Dawn safe. What surprised her was that she didn’t want Spike to get hurt, and not just because of her sister’s safety.

Angel moved around the corner of the house, spotting Spike in the midst of a fight with several vampires. Swinging a punch at one nearest to him, he snapped a stick from the tree nearby and used the makeshift stake to dust the first attacker. Half of the vampires now turned their attention to him.

Spike saw Angel join the fight, glad to have some help but annoyed at who had come to his aid. Ponce is probably just fighting for the glory and the praise…

Leaping into the air, Spike grabbed hold of the branch that Dawn had clutched onto when she had climbed down from her window and swung himself backwards and then pushed himself forwards. The pendulum action and the speed of his push threw a lot of extra power behind his attack so when he glided through the air his legs connected with a sickening crack to the vampires head in front of him.

“STOP!” a voice commanded from the back of the group.

Spike recognised Jake as the speaker but before he could question what was going on, the group of four remaining vampire took off, fleeing into the night. Spike let go of the branch and dropped to the ground, landing on his feet as he watched with curiosity as the vampires scurried away.

Turning to Angel who looked just as bemused, a smirk curled at the edges of Spike’s lips. “Must have gotten a look of your ugly mug and run off scared.”

Angel glowered at Spike before he turned and walked back around to the back door, Spike following in his footsteps.

“Spike!” Dawn called with relief, wrapping her arms around the vampire’s neck when he walked into the house behind Angel.

Spike held her for a moment before extracting himself from the teens embrace.

“You okay?” Buffy asked quietly.

“I’m fine.” Spike said with a nod, surprised that she even asked. Surprised that she cared. Cared… maybe that’s too strong a word. Worried.

“Nothing I couldn’t handle on my own.” He said with a pointed look in Angel’s direction.

“Did you dust them?” Willow asked noting the lack of evidence, which should be covering his clothes.

Spike shook his head. “They took one look at peaches and ran away howling.”

Angel glared again, clenching his jaw tightly and balling his fists by his side. “Spike.” He said threateningly.

“What?” Spike said with mock innocence before his tone became more serious. “As soon as they saw him they disappeared.”

“Maybe they were afraid of him.” Dawn suggested. “I mean he has the large brow and the broody stare.”

Angel raised a hand to touch his brow, muttering under his breath that it wasn’t that big whilst Spike grumbled that he was just as scary as the poof was.

A hint of a grin curled the edges of Buffy’s lips at the childish competition between the two male vampires before her expression became serious once more. Closing the back door, she led the group back into the living room, Dawn following at the rear.

“Please let me stay.” Dawn begged when she saw that Buffy was about to send her away. “I won’t say anything, I’ll be quiet. I just want to know what’s going on, especially if it concerns me.”

Buffy frowned. “How do you know that it involves you?”

Dawn blinked in realization and tried to cover up her tracks. “I just mean… I suspect that it is about me and if it is then maybe I should know about it.”

Buffy looked from person to person trying to find the culprit with the big mouth. Spike was standing off to the side paying way too much attention to his fingernails.

“Spike…” Buffy started.

“I made him tell me!” Dawn blurted out wanting to defend Spike, who shot her a grateful look even though he knew it would not save him from Buffy’s wrath.

“What? You made him tell you? Tell you what? When?” Buffy demanded.

“Ah, Oh.” Dawn fumbled, looking decidedly uncomfortable under Buffy’s scrutiny. “Please don’t be mad… If you promise you won’t be mad I’ll tell you.”

“Dawn.” Buffy threatened.

“Buffy perhaps we should --“ Giles tried to intervene but Buffy would have none of it.

“DAWN.” She said a little more loudly.

“So I might have been sneaking out of my bedroom window.” Dawn said nervously. When she saw the look of anger on Buffy’s face she continued, trying to explain before her sister exploded at her. “I was just going to go for a walk but I didn’t get very far. Spike saw me on his way inside and was forcing me back into the house when those vampires attacked.”

Buffy folded her arms over her chest, glaring from Dawn to Spike and back again. “Is this true?”

“That’s about right.” Spike said with a nod.

“Dawn do you have any idea how stupid that was!?” Buffy asked incredulously. “You could have been hurt, they could have taken you or --”

The rest of the group had moved away from the sisters and had settled themselves back in their seats and were talking quietly amongst themselves to give the sisters a modicum of privacy.

“I’m sorry.” Dawn apologised, stepping forward and hugging Buffy. “I’m so sorry. I know you worry and that you’re just trying to look after me.” She said, remembering what it was that Spike had told her.

Buffy was stunned speechless. She had been expecting more of an argument than that. She returned the hug, holding Dawn tightly. “You could have been hurt.” She said quietly.

“It won’t happen again, I promise.” Dawn said with a nod of her head. “Please, just let me help?”

Buffy considered it for a moment before agreeing, listing off her terms. “You won’t touch anything unless it is handed to you. You won’t ask any questions, and if the conversation looks like its going somewhere that you really shouldn’t be listening in on you will go up to your room with no complaints.”

“Agreed?” she asked with a raised brow.

“Agreed.” Dawn said with a nod.

Together, the sisters took a seat, joining the rest of the group for the debriefing session.

~~~

Jake paced the tunnel as he worked up the courage to enter the inner sanctum. Tonight had definitely not gone to plan. She was certainly going to mad. He just hoped he would be able to convince her that leaving like they did was the right thing to do. She had instructed, implicitly in fact, that the other vampire was not to be harmed. She cared none for Spike; he was a stepping-stone in achieving her goals. Something to be dealt with. The other one though, Angel… he was important.

Pangs of jealousy swept through him at the thought of being replaced. It was inevitable; he knew that. Once everything fell into place he would find himself substituted. Although not entirely. But the thought of having to share her after what they’d had since he’d been turned made his blood boil. Perhaps she would reward his efforts in preserving the life of the other one, the one that would soon return to the fold if Darla had anything to say about it.

Perhaps…

His hand rose slowly, balling a fist with which he knocked lightly on the door.

Her sharp call of permission caused him to wince. Nope… not happy at all…

~~~

With Dawn now being present, Buffy didn’t think it wise to start the soul sucking dagger line of conversation she had planned for tonight’s debrief. It was definitely something that would be dealt with, tonight, just not while Dawn was with them. So for now, they kept to the lighter points of discussion. Something all of her friends seemed to pick up on.

“So Will, we’re going to need you to mojo up that vamp alarm spell for us. So we know when anyone of the undead variety steps foot on my lawn.” Buffy requested.

“Sure.” Willow replied. She tried to subtly tilt her head upstairs and look pointedly at Dawn, trying to suggest that she could go upstairs now and take Dawn with her but to Buffy it looked like she was squinting.

Huh? She mouthed.

Willow sighed, standing up from her seat and announcing loudly. “So. I’ll be going upstairs now. To do that vamp alarm spell. Dawn. Would you like to give me a hand?”

“Oh….” Buffy drew out slowly in realization, shutting her mouth before Dawn suspected something. Thankfully, she did not. She was too excited about the prospect of being allowed to help perform a spell.

“REALLY!?” she squeaked, looking from Willow, to Buffy, and to Willow again.

“Sure.” Buffy said with a light smile. “So long as you stay away from the matches and let Willow do all the flamey parts.”

“Yay!” She shrieked, jumping up and down on the spot excitedly a few times before she managed to regain control of herself. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Buffy found herself wrapped in a tight embrace, before she was released and Willow received the same treatment.

Tara stood up and pointed at Willow as she walked from the room with Dawn. “I-I’ll just go watch them, make sure that they do the spell correctly.”

Dawn’s excited chatter echoed down the stairwell and into the living room as she babbled non-stop before a few moments later the door was closed.

“Not one for subtleties are we pet?” Spike said with a raised brow.

“Shut up!” Buffy said with a small chuckle, shaking her head in resignation.

Angel kept quiet, watching Spike intently. He was barely taking his eyes away from Buffy. He was using pet names when he addressed her. And she was relaxed around him. He didn’t like this, not one bit.

Xander mimicked the smile Buffy wore. “Willow can sometimes be a little too expressive with her…”

“Expressions?” Anya offered.

“Hey!” Xander objected playfully. “I thought it was my job to make the obvious comments around her.”

“Looks like you’ve been replaced Xan.” Buffy said, shaking her head as she tsked him.

“Shall we return this conversation to the reason why we’re assembled here tonight?” Giles suggested after he cleared his throat. “We have no guarantee how long Willow’s spell will distract Dawn.”

“Right.” Buffy agreed with a firm nod. “On topic. That’s where we are. We’re topic bound. Giles, you have the floor.”

Giles cleared his throat again, making sure he had the attention of everyone in the room before he began. Riffling through his papers, he handed the sketched picture he had found in one of his texts regarding the missing dagger. “It’s called the Dagger of Cortanzine. And last night it was stolen from the magic box.”

“Cortanzine?” Angel repeated with a frown, not sure he had heard Giles correctly. He had thought the weapon was a myth.

“Yes, Cortanzine.” Giles said with a stiff nod. “We believe that whomever broke into the store --“

“Presumably Darla’s minions.” Buffy interrupted, not looking at Angel as she spoke.

“Presumably.” Giles agreed. “We believe that this is what they were searching for. Nothing else appears to have been taken.”

“Taken.” Anya said with frowning as her bottom lip jut out in a pout. “Destroyed on the other hand, well that would be my income for the next six months.”

Spike let out a low whistle. “Sounds like they did a number on the place.”

“Quite.” Giles admitted.

“Weapons?” Spike continued.

“Not touched.” Buffy said with a disbelieving shake of her head. “Not one of them is missing. It doesn’t make sense. Either they’re incredibly stupid or --”

“Incredibly confident.” Spike finished.

“Exactly.” She agreed.

Spike figured it was the later. Darla might be a right bitch and as pigheaded as they came, but she was also one of the most sadistic and conniving creatures he had ever met. When she formed a plan, she executed it without scruples. Even if meant the sacrifice of her own minions.

“What’s so special about this sharp and pointy? What does this Dagger of Cortanzine do?” Spike asked.

“It’s the devourer of souls.” Angel informed.

“Reportedly.” Giles said.

Angel shook his head. “I didn’t believe it existed. I’d heard stories…” he trailed off. “If it’s real, then so is its power.”

“Devourer of souls?” Xander repeated, only just managing to comprehend fully what he had a moment ago been informed. “It EATS souls?”

Giles nodded. “I’m afraid so.”

Xander shook his head in disbelief. “First the Judge who wanted to burn the humanity out of us, then the stone demon Achilla that --“

“Acathla.” Spike offered, looking at Angel as he said it. That had been his grandsires plan after all.

“Acathla…” Xander continued without missing a beat. “The Mayor who wanted to snack on us. And now a dagger?!? What next? NO!” he said with an enthusiastic waggle of his finger. “More importantly, Giles why was it in the Magic Box.”

Anya nodded her head vigorously at that. “You could have sold it to Glory like you did the bloodstone and --“

She trailed off when she caught the very un-subtle side ways shake of Xander’s head. Figuring it must be one of those employee-employer no-no’s he had been explaining to her recently, she changed track. “I’ve just begun adjusting to this whole mortal thing. Now my soul is at risk? I’d be safer as a vengeance demon.”

“Getting back on track.” Giles said with a grimace. “Anya I do not believe that you are in any immediate danger of losing your soul.”

“Oh.” She said with obvious relief. “Well that’s good then.”

“We believe it will be used to remove the soul of --“

“Me.” Angel supplied.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you like, please leave your thoughts!
Sleeping Arrangements. by angelic_amy
Thank you to Cordykitten, Klylu, Buffyratt and Jenny for the reviews.


Chapter 20: Sleeping Arrangements.


Buffy’s gaze finally lifted from the floor when Angel spoke. All the talk of the Judge and Acathla had brought bad memories to the surface. That was not a happy period of her life, for many reasons. “Yes.” Buffy said with a nod. “That’s what we believe.”

Spike’s gaze ticked between Buffy and Angel, noting the agitated way in which Buffy was holding herself. She was worried. Worried about Angel. He clenched his jaw in resentment. Angel on the other hand, didn’t look all that fazed. But then, he wasn’t much for expressions.

“What does this have to do with Dawn?” Xander asked. “Or the Master?”

“I don’t believe it has anything to do with either of them.” Giles answered. “Either Darla had several plans up her sleeve…” he trailed off.

“Or she’s playing cat an’ mouse.” Spike offered. “We can rule out the Master’s resurrection as her motivation. The old codger’s goin’ no where.”

Giles quirked an eyebrow in surprise. “Oh?”

Buffy was filled with momentary hope. To rule out the Master’s revivification would lift a large weight from her shoulders. “How?” she asked.

“Paid a little visit to Willy last night.”

“Oh yeah?” Xander asked with a broad grin. “He still whining about his nose?” he couldn’t help but be proud of himself. Giles directed a frown at him and Xander returned an apologetic shrug. “Which is totally not the issue right now.”

Spike grinned. “Tried to tell me you paid him.”

“Spike.” Buffy urged impatiently. “You were saying… Master staying all dust like?”

“Spell’s a sham.” Spike said confidently.

“How can you be sure?” Angel said with a narrow stare.

Spike cocked a brow. “Because that fool Jake she has spreading the word about was a little too inventive when it came to details.” He turned his attention back to Buffy, a smile creeping across his face when he continued. “The git mentioned the Gem of Amarra. Spell is sposed to bind him to the ring.”

A bright smile stretched across Buffy’s face.

“The Gem of…. OH!” Xander said in realization. He explained further when Anya nudged him. “Vampire’s holy grail. Spike dug it out of a cavern, Buffy took it from him…” Grinning broadly he elaborated. “Beat him around a bit first of course.”

“Hey!” Spike said indignantly. “I held my own. Knocked you out good and proper.”

Xander frowned. He had forgotten about that part. “Moving along. Buffy gave the gem to Angel.”

“And Angel destroyed it.” Giles said, his own relief beginning to settle in.

“Yes.” Angel affirmed with a nod.

A sigh rolled off Buffy’s shoulders, some of the tension she had been holding within her releasing. The Master was not a threat. She wouldn’t have to face him again. That was… a relief. More than a relief. She gave Spike a grateful smile.

Which he saw, and returned. “Right then.” He said happily. She was smiling because of him. “So we find Darla before she gets all stabby with the soul eatin’ dagger, keeping the bit safe from both Darla and her godliness and we might actually get some quiet in this town.”

Buffy sighed. “That’s a nice thought.” Snapping out of the little day-dream she looked at the clock on the mantle and stood up from her seat on the sofa. The pain in her abdomen was almost non-existent now, and the wound was healing nicely. But she was still taking it easy, just to be on the safe side. “I’ll go check on this spell of Willow’s and then we can discuss sleeping arrangements.”

“Sleeping arrangements?” Xander repeated. “You throwing a party Buff?” he teased.

“My parties always end with violence and death. So that’s a big no.” she said with a small grin before her expression became serious. “Until we find and eliminate the threat everyone is housebound.” She looked pointedly at Spike and Angel.

“No-one and I mean no-one is to go outside after dark alone. That includes you two.” She said pressing her hands against her hips, daring them to argue with her.

“I’m not bloody sharin’ with peaches.” Spike muttered under his breath.

“Spike.” Buffy said in warning. “Kitchen, now.”

He was about to argue when he saw the determined look on her face, the kind of expression that meant big trouble and a likely bloody nose if he argued. So he followed her. But not until he waggled his brows at Angel.

The other vampire watched with undisguised hostility as Spike left the room with Buffy.

~~~

Buffy turned to face Spike as soon as they were in the kitchen. She opened her mouth to begin her scolding but he beat her to the chase.

“Before the lecture, I just wanted to say sorry.” Spike said quickly.

Buffy frowned in confusion. “For being an ass to Angel?”

Spike smirked at her perplexed expression, snorting his response. “Not bloody likely.”

Buffy huffed in frustration. “Well what then?”

“For opening my mouth and spilling your little secret to your sis.” He said, his gaze downcast.

Buffy folded her arms over her chest. “Oh yes. I’d almost forgotten about that.”

Stupid…

“Right. Well. Sorry.” He said as he tried to step past her.

“Uh ah. You’re not getting off so easy Mr.”

Spike arched a brow at her choice of words; a moment later he cheeks reddening when she realized what she said. “Well if you wanna make it hard…” he drawled, his voice dripping with innuendo.

“No!” Buffy blurted out. “There will be no hardness between us.”

His smirk stretched even broader, and Buffy’s eyes widened again.

Spike took a slow step towards her and Buffy’s shoulders went rigid. She took a step backwards and bumped into the bench. He moved another step towards her, closing the distance between them. He refrained from reaching out and touching her, mainly for the sake of his nose, but also because he didn’t want her hurting herself and opening up that wound again.

“You alright pet? You’re lookin’ a little… flustered.” he asked as he tilted his head to the side to study her. Her eyes were darting around wildly, nervousness rolling off her in waves. But he detected no fear.

“No. I’m fine.” she retorted with a shake of her head. “I should probably be…”

“Leavin’ so soon?” he quirked an eyebrow. “Thought we were going to discuss the sleepin’ arrangements.”

Buffy’s jaw gaped. “I-I… what?”

A warm chuckle passed through his lips. She was right in front of him. Twitchy as all hell, but she wasn’t backing away. Even better, she wasn’t swinging punches.

“E-excuse me.” She finally managed to get out.

Spike took a step to the side and let her walk past him. It had taken all of his self-control to not reach out and grab her, kiss her like he wanted to kiss her. But if he had done that, he doubted that he would be walking away from it with his nose in tact.

He was going to wait for her. Things were changing between them. He had convinced himself that they had. She was actually being nice to him on occasion. Had even said thanks to him a couple a times the last few days. Punches were few and fair between; he was getting invites to the scooby meetings now and when he had told her about the nil possibility of the Master arising she had smiled at him. Genuinely smiled. One of those smiles that was blindingly bright. This was progress. Just now, there had been progress. Instead of her usual mode, punch and run, there had just been a quick escape. No anger, no fear, just nervousness.

Spike was not renowned as being a patient vampire. His normal mode of conduct was to throw himself into things headfirst. In his past that had worked just fine. With Buffy all it got him was headaches and bloody noses. He had learned from his repeated mistakes.

He was going to wait.

Because things were changing.

A smile stretched across his face and when he turned to walk out of the kitchen he was confronted with a very pissed off Angel.

“Bollocks.”

~~~

Buffy climbed the stairs quickly, making her way to Dawn’s room and knocking on the door lightly but opening it before she received a response.

Tara was seated on the edge of Dawn’s bed, watching on as Dawn and Willow sat on the floor. Dawn blew out a candle and began gathering supplies from the floor and packing them away in the small box Willow had brought into the room.

When she saw her sister there, she turned and smiled brightly. “Hey! We did it, the spell. Even vampires of the super sneaky variety won’t be able to set foot on the property without our knowing.”

Buffy smiled at her sister, who was obviously immensely proud of her involvement in setting up the ward.

“Will?” Buffy asked for confirmation.

“We’re all set.” She said with a thumbs up. “Spike and Angel are inside the house so they won’t set it off until they go outside.” She shrugged her shoulders apologetically. “I couldn’t figure out how to exclude them from the spell. So expect some loud ringing when --“

WHOOOOOOP! WHOOOOOOP! WHOOOOOOP!

“Vampire!” Dawn jumped to feet in alarm.

Buffy walked over to the window and peeked out through the curtains, sighing when she saw Angel and Spike in a stand off in the middle of the back yard.

“Idiots.”

~~~

“Do you not understand what STAY INSIDE means?” Buffy demanded angrily as she walked through the back door to confront the two vampires who were in the middle of a heated argument.

“Buffy I really don’t think that he should be staying here tonight.” Angel said with a stabbing motion of his thumb in Spike’s direction.

“Feelin’s mutual.” Spike retorted loudly before muttering under his breath. “Bloody ponce.”

“ENOUGH!” Buffy snapped loudly. “Inside now before Willow’s spell gives me an bigger headache than I’ve already got.”

Angel opened his mouth to protest and Buffy jutted out an arm and pointed it at the back door. “I swear to god if either of you gets yourselves killed because you didn’t listen to me, I’ll bring you back to life just so I can beat you to death myself.”

Surprised at the venom in her voice, both vampires moved towards the door, glaring at each other as they passed inside the door. The alarm instantly stopped sounding and Buffy let out a sigh of relief. Closing the door to the back yard behind them she turned to confront the two vampires, her arms folded in front of her chest.

“What exactly were you two doing out there?” she demanded.

“Expressing our mutual dislike for each other.” Spike explained, ignoring the withering glare Angel shot in his direction. “Point of fact is, neither of us is too keen on sharin’ a sleeping space.” He said titling his head towards the basement door.

Buffy’s eyebrows rose. “Really?” she asked. “Well point of fact is, I don’t care. Right now I need both of you to be safe.” She said emphatically. “And the only way I can be sure of that is if you’re here.”

“I don’t know about Peaches here but I can take care of myself pet.” Spike continued. “I’ve managed to survive this long ‘aven’t I?”

“Because she let you.” Angel snorted.

Spike shot a glare in Angel’s direction, which was ignored, and Buffy rolled her eyes at the two vampires before her.

“Grow up.” She cried in frustration. “Both of you. You’re acting like…” she thought for a moment. “…like Harmony and Xander.”

“Harm and the whelp?” Spike said incredulously. “And which one do you suppose I am then?”

“That’s not the point.” Buffy retorted. “Point is, this testosterone display is getting old. Learn to ignore each others presence.”

“Why both of us?” Angel asked, realizing how childish it sounded a moment later. He continued, clarifying what he meant. “You said you need both of us to be safe.”

Buffy nodded. “Yes?”

Angel paused for a moment, carefully considering his choice of words. “If Darla has the Dagger of Cortanzine in her possession, then I think it’s safe to say that Giles’ theory is a valid one.” He paused again. “Why would she want Spike?”

“HEY!?” Spike interrupted. “I’ll have you know that --“

Buffy rolled her eyes at the bleached vampire, silencing him with a look.

“He doesn’t have a soul to steal.” Angel finished.

“I still need him to be safe.” Buffy said, her expression becoming thoughtful. “There’s a prophecy that Giles hasn’t completely cleared up yet and…” she trailed off.

“There’s a prophecy about me? Anything interesting?” Spike asked, this being the first he had heard of it.

“Only that your death will make way for Dawn’s.” Buffy revealed. Pain filled her eyes at the thought of losing her sister, and she allowed herself to wallow in it only for a moment before her expression became firm once more.

“Giles hasn’t been able to make much ground on research into this prophecy, so until then we need to take this as a genuine threat.” Buffy said. “So if keeping you safe will keep Dawn safe, then you’re not leaving my sight.”

Spike knew that her concern was for her sister’s safety, and he nodded in acknowledgement. He also resisted the urge to point out that if he were going to stay in her sight, literally speaking, then that would mean sharing a room.

“I’ll call Wes.” Angel offered. “Get him to look into it.”

Buffy’s expression softened. “Thank you.” She said, turning her back on the two vampires and leaving the kitchen to join Xander, Anya and Giles in the living room.

“Prat.” Spike muttered under his breath as Angel followed.

“I heard that.”

~~~

“Of course.” Wesley said with a nod of his head. “I’ll call immediately if anything should surface.”

Cordelia hovered around the desk, waiting for Wesley to get off the phone so that she could grill him for information. He was talking to Angel, that much she knew. And by the sounds of it he wouldn’t be returning anytime soon. She looked up to see Gunn walking into the office and waved as he made his way towards the weapons cabinet to put away the axe he was carrying.

“Yes of course.” Wesley said again. “Alright. Bye.” With that farewell he placed the receiver back in its cradle and looked down at his scribbled notes before him.

“Yo English.” Gunn said as he sauntered into the office. “What’s happenin’?”

“Mr Broody face finally decided to call and check in.” Cordelia said huffily as she folded her arms over her chest with annoyance.

“Angel called?” Gunn inquired.

Wesley nodded. “He wants me to look into a prophecy concerning Spike.”

“SPIKE?!?” Cordelia repeated more than a little bewildered by this. “Why would he want you to do that? Not forgetting the fact that he is a murdering, evil vampire, but Angel hates him. With a passion.”

Gunn cocked an eyebrow. “We in the business of protecting vampires now?” he asked. “Cos that wasn’t what I signed up for.”

Wesley sighed in exasperation. “Spike is harmless now. He has that chip in his head care of the defunct government agency the Initiative. Remember?” he directed at Cordelia.

The brunette just shrugged her shoulders, not really caring. Spike was house broken, couldn’t hurt anyone now, but that didn’t mean anything to her. He had tried to kill her on several occasions and that was not something she forgot easily.

“The prophecy implicates Buffy’s sister Dawn. It seems Spike’s existence is tied to Dawn’s for some reason.” Wesley continued. “So as you can imagine, Buffy is concerned for Spike’s welfare.”

“I’m sure Angel’s loving that.” Cordelia snorted.

“Yes, well.” Wesley said as he reached for a text before him and opened it up. “Right now my priorities are in regards to cementing or disproving this prophecy.”

“What you want me to do?” Gunn asked, offering his assistance.

Wesley pointed to a stack of books on the shelf behind him. “Look for any reference to the Key, the Ally and the Prodigal.”

Gunn did as instructed and retrieved a few books from the shelf and sat down in one of the free chairs, opening the first one up. With a dramatic sigh, Cordelia did the same.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you liked, please leave your thoughts!
Back on the Horse. by angelic_amy
Thanks to jenny, Terra, cordykitten and klylu for the reviews! You guys rock.


Chapter 21: Back on the Horse.


The rest of the night had progressed with little conflict. Xander and Anya had taken Buffy’s room; Willow and Tara had taken Joyce’s. Dawn had offered to share her bed with Buffy who had appreciated the offer but declined. There was no way the two of them would be able to fit into the single bed. So Buffy took the couch again. Giles had taken the other sofa in the living room without complaint, even though it was obviously not the most comfortable sleeping option.

Spike and Angel had been banished to the basement shortly before sunrise with blankets and pillows, their bickering echoing upstairs until Buffy had closed the door on them. They could sort out their own sleeping arrangements between themselves.

Night had passed and it wasn’t until it was well into morning before anyone in the house stirred, Dawn being the first.

Tip-toeing quietly passed the other bedrooms she had crept her way to the stairs and slowly descended making as minimal noise as possible and snuck into the kitchen. Opening the fridge and frowning at the lack of variety, she removed a carton of juice and a few jars of condiments she busily went about making some toast.

It was Saturday, which meant no school for Dawn, something she was immensely pleased about. Pouring juice for herself, Giles and Buffy, she pilled a carry tray with the drinks and freshly cooked toast and carried it into the living room.

“Rise and shine!” she greeted cheerfully as she placed the tray on one of the chairs someone had occupied last night during the meeting.

Buffy stirred in her sleep, as did Giles, the smell of the warm toast enticing them to rouse from sleep. Buffy sat up first, rubbing the sleep from her eyes as she stretched, pleased at the lack of pain that movement caused her abdomen. Lifting her shirt she peeled back the bandage, which Giles had been replacing for her, and was pleased to see that the wound had sealed completely, the edges a bright pink indicating the scar was healing.

“Eeww Buffy that’s gross.” Dawn said with a wrinkling of her nose.

“Sorry.” Buffy mumbled apologetically. “But hey, healing!” she said pointing to her scar.

“Healing?” Giles repeated as he followed Buffy in sitting up, picking up his glasses from the side table beside the sofa he had been sleeping on and slipping them on. He blinked a few times as his vision adjusted then looked to Buffy, noting the bandage, which she held in her hand. “I would presume that your wound is getting better?” he asked hopefully.

“That would be a big yes.” Buffy said with a nod. “I may even be up to going on patrol tonight.”

Giles frowned at that. “Do you think that is wise?” he asked. “With Darla intent on making your life as difficult and unpleasant as possible, perhaps you should hold off on patrolling until you’re at your full strength.”

“Giles I’m fine.” Buffy huffed impatiently. “No more pain, and good with the healage.” She said pointing to her scar again for emphasis. “I can’t leave this town unprotected another night, which it is. If it will make you feel any better, I’ll take Angel with me.”

Giles expression relaxed at that but now it was Dawn’s turn to frown.

“Angel?” she repeated, barely managing to keep the screech out of her voice. “What about Spike? He’s of the vampire super strength variety as well you know.”

Buffy pursed her lips at her sister’s obvious disdain at her choice of patrolling partner. “I know that Dawn.”

“Didn’t Angel and Darla have a thing way back?” Dawn pointed out with a determined look. “Isn’t Angel at risk of being hurt, or worse if he goes out?”

“Angel can take care of himself?” Buffy pointed out, scowling at the mentioned of Angel’s relationship with Darla. She realized that Dawn brought that up on purpose to hurt her. Even though they were no longer together, it still wasn’t a pleasant reminder. Refusing to think about that, she focused on the more happy knowledge that he had dusted his sire once before.

“And Spike can’t?” Dawn cried with frustration. “Why are you so determined to treat him like he’s nothing?”

“Dawn I --“

“Whatever.” Dawn said flippantly, waving off whatever Buffy had been about to say and storming out of the room after she snagged her glass from the tray. “Enjoy your breakfast.”

Buffy sighed. Dawn just didn’t understand. She was trying to keep Spike safe, and by keeping Spike safe it would ensure that Dawn was safe. Her sister knew that she had been in the cemetery that night because of her, but she knew nothing about the prophecy regarding the two of them. And she was determined to keep it that way.

It wasn’t that she worried any less about Angel’s safety; she was concerned. But his safety wasn’t linked to Dawn’s like Spike’s was. And Buffy couldn’t take that risk.

“I just wish this was all over.” Buffy said as she rubbed at her temples.

“I know.” Giles said quietly.

~~~

The day flew by rapidly, research filling the bulk of it with the group of friend’s only taking breaks to eat and use the restroom. So far they had come up with nothing new. Zip. Zilch. Nada. And it was more than a little discouraging.

The vampires continued to sleep the day away, much to the annoyance of Anya who wanted to know why they were allowed a reprieve from book duty yet she wasn’t.

“AHA!” Xander exclaimed when he thought he’d found something. “Oh no, wait…” he read on, the disappointment on his face coming that his ‘aha’ had been downgraded to a ‘na ah’.

“This is pointless.” Anya pointed out, gaining the attention of everyone seated in various positions of discomfort around the room. “We’ve found nothing.” She huffed. “Why can’t we just speak to a higher power, make them give us the information.”

“Ahn, please.” Xander scolded. “If it was that simple don’t you think that Giles --”

“Why didn’t I think of that?” Giles interrupted.

Anya smiled proudly, promptly closing the book she had been reading. Xander shook his head in disbelief.

“You mean to tell me we can actually do that?” he asked. “And we’ve been reading these books why? On the phone Giles, lets ring these bad boys up now and find out what we can.”

Giles’ lips pursed as he quirked an eyebrow annoyance. “There isn’t a hotline we can dial.” He said as if pointing out something that should have been plainly obvious to the boy. “There is however a conduit in Los Angeles that might be of some value.”

“LA.” Buffy said blankly. “We going to be needing someone to be physically there for this?”

“Yes.” Giles said with a nod. “I shall ring Wesley immediately. Perhaps he has had some luck.”

Buffy nodded and watched as Giles left the room to make the phone call. She sighed; closing the book she had been trying to read through and placed her elbows on the table, resting her chin against her palms. “I don’t think I could have read another word.” She said with a groan when Giles was out of earshot.

“Me neither.” Willow said with a vigorous nod. “And I’m a book geek of the old school kind.”

Buffy laughed at that, looking up at the mantle to see the time on the small clock sitting between framed photographs of herself in happier times, with her mother and Dawn, and one with her father as well. It was starting to get late and sunset was fast approaching. Time to start preparing for patrol. “Will, can you lower that vamp alert spell for me?” she asked.

Willow understood what she wasn’t saying. Apart from the fact that it would give everyone a splitting headache for the time it took Buffy and Angel to cross the lawn, but it would also wake up everyone in the neighborhood. Everyone including the other vampire who was currently sleeping in the basement. With a quick nod to her friend she began preparing to take down the spell.

With that sorted out, Buffy lifted herself from the sofa and excused herself to go take a shower.

~~~

Downstairs in the basement Angel stirred from sleep, his eyes blinking a few times as they adjusted to the dim lighting. The curtains were drawn on the small windows which even when unshielded offered minimal direct sunlight. Lifting himself from the cot that he had slept on he slid his shirt over his arms, which was followed by the black leather jacket that he had worn the previous night.

Once dressed he climbed the stairs from the basement up into the kitchen he closed the door behind him. He and moved towards the sounds of speech he could hear coming from the living room.

“Morning.” He greeted.

“For you maybe.” Anya replied. “Afternoon for us.”

Willow laughed at the look on Angel’s face before saying hello herself. She knew of Buffy’s plans for the evening for patrol so took it upon herself to inform him. “Buffy’s just changing, she will be down soon for patrol.”

Angel’s brow creased with worry. “Is she sure that’s such a good idea? How is her wound healing?”

“Fine.” Giles filled in. “It’s scaring over so it shouldn’t be too long now until it is completely healed.”

Angel was relieved to hear that. “She’s not going alone is she?”

“No.” Giles shook his head. “She plans on taking you with her.”

A small smile spread across the vampires face at this piece of information. Deciding he should arm himself in preparation he moved over to the weapons chest and removed a couple of stakes and slid them into his pockets, also retrieving a small battle-axe.

The stairs creaked as Buffy made her way downstairs, dressed in a pair of comfy sweat pants and a black form fitting tank top that she regularly wore for patrol. Upon moving into the living room she saw Angel awake, and armed, having obviously been alerted to the fact that she would be requesting his presence on patrol.

“Hi.” She said quietly.

Angel’s smile faded slightly when he saw the pensive expression on her face. He had thought that by requesting his presence for tonights patrol that she had possibly forgiven him for his with holding of information. That appeared to have been wishful thinking on his part.

“You ready?” he asked her when she had selected had placed a few weapons in a carry bag and slung it over her shoulder.

Buffy nodded, addressing Giles before she left for patrol. “Watch out for Dawn.”

Giles nodded in response, watching as Angel and Buffy left the house and hoping that their patrol would pass without incident.

~~~

Darla eyed each of the vampires before her, wanting them to clearly understand the objectives of tonight’s ambush.

“Get the vampire. That is all. No one else is of concern at present. Everyone understand?”

A chorus of yes replies found her ears and a satisfied smile slithered across her face.

~~~

Dawn crept towards the basement and opened the door, wincing at the squeak from the hinges. Waiting a few moments to make sure that no one had heard, she opened it a little wider and slipped inside and slowly descended. She got half way down before she spoke.

“Spike. Spike are you awake?” she called in hushed tones, partly so as not to alert anyone upstairs, and partly so that she didn’t startle him if he were still sleeping.

A grunt came in reply to her question. Reaching the bottom of the stairs she flicked the switch for the other half of the room, the space flooding with light immediately.

“Spike wake up.” Dawn said with a little more impatience when he flung a hand over his face to block the light. “It’s after dark.”

Spike’s eyes blinked open and he regarded Dawn with suspicion. “Bit, what are you doing down here?”

His eyes scanned the room and he found it empty apart from the two of them. Angel had obviously made his way upstairs already. Eager to be near Buffy… he thought with a snort.

“It’s after dark.” She said, looking over her shoulder at the stairs, paranoid that someone was going to come searching for her.

Her glance didn’t go unnoticed. “Why do you keep looking at the door niblet?” he asked with a frown.

“I’m not supposed to tell you.” She said as she bit her lip. “But I thought you would want to know.”

Spike’s frown deepened. “Know what?”

Panic instantly began to fill him and he leapt to his feet, finding his shirt and quickly slipping it over his head, glad that he had slept in his jeans last night, otherwise Dawn would have copped an eyeful. “Is it Buffy? Is she okay?”

“She’s fine.” Dawn assured, a smile gracing her face at Spike’s concern. She knew she was right in telling him. His distress proved it. “She’s out, patrolling.”

“Patrolling. By herself?” Spike asked, his frenetic movements slowing.

“No.” Dawn replied quietly, looking around the empty basement as if pointing out the obvious.

“Angel.” Spike bit back.

Dawn nodded in confirmation.

“Well sod that. Peaches is the one with the bloody threat against his life.”

Grabbing his duster he slid it over his shoulders and roughly pulled his doc martins on and marched towards the stairs, Dawn trailing close behind.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Liked it? Please review! Your comments keep me writing.
Train Wreck. by angelic_amy
Thank you to cordykitten and klylu for the reviews!


Chapter 22: Train Wreck.


“Why didn’t you tell me?” Spike demanded when he made his way into the living room. “Patrolling? And I’m what, under house arrest?”

The occupants of the room were all taken by surprise, not having expected his outburst, nor knowing how it was that he found out that Buffy and Angel had left. A guilty looking Dawn appeared at Spike’s side, her arms folded over her chest in defiance even though she knew that she was probably going to be lectured for informing him.

It’s not like he wouldn’t have realized soon enough anyway… she mused.

“What, did you think I wouldn’t notice that they were both absent?” Spike continued, furious that he had been kept in the dark. Literally.

“Spike.” Giles said calmly. “It was a simple matter of the fact that Angel was awake when Buffy was preparing to leave.”

“Bollocks.” He snapped in retaliation. “Why am I being kept in the dark here?”

“Spike…” Willow tried to reason. “She’s just trying to look out for you. You know?” she said with a pointed look in Dawn’s direction; which caused the younger Summers to frown with confusion.

“You needed cover from daylight.” Anya said obviously. “That’s why you were sleeping downstairs and not up here where there was a chance that you would self combust.”

“Ahn, he didn’t mean it in the literal sense.” Xander said quietly.

“I am not going to just stand by and watch her get hurt all over again.” He vowed. He turned his stare from Willow to Giles. “If you’re right, and Darla is after Peaches, then there is nothing that is going to stop her from trying to get him. Nothing.” He said ardently. “Nothing. Not even whatever it is she has planned for me.”

Dawn’s gaze became accusing as she looked at the others in the room. “I tried telling Buffy and Giles that this morning but they wouldn’t listen.” She did a double take when what he finished with finally found her ears.

“Planned for you?” She worried, fear filling her at the thought of Darla harming anyone. If she was after Angel and Spike, then Buffy wouldn’t be safe with either of them. “What about plans for you?”

Spike turned to Dawn, taking her hands in his. “Nothing niblet. I just got to get your sister back here in one piece. And I’m going to make sure that happens. Alright?”

Dawn nodded.

“You just stay inside. Don’t go out, no matter what.” He ordered.

Again Dawn nodded.

Tara walked over to Dawn and wrapped an arm around her shoulder and began to lead her upstairs with the promise of teaching her a glamour spell, hoping to take the younger girls mind off her worries for her sister. Willow excused herself and followed the girls upstairs.

“Spike do you think this is wise?” Giles asked. “Buffy wants you to stay here.”

“And be an indoor kitty whilst captain forehead gets to play? Pfft.” Spike snorted. “Not bloody likely. If there’s some ass kicking to be had, especially of the Aurelius variety, then there’s no place else I’d rather be.”

“You do realize that there is a chance that it will be your Aurelian butt that cops the kicking if Buffy finds you out there?” Xander said with a raised brow.

Spike grinned at what Xander had meant to be a warning. He should have known that that wouldn’t serve to deter him. If anything, it encouraged him. With a smirk Spike turned and walked out of the house.

Xander shook her head from side to side. Buffy was not going to be happy about this.

~~~

Buffy and Angel walked side by side, the silence in the air deafening. They used to be able to walk like this in quiet and it would be comfortable, they would both feel at ease. But not anymore. The fact that things between them had changed was blaringly obvious. It was the elephant in the room that refused to keep its presence unnoticed.

Both silently wished for a vampire, or a demon to make their presence known so that tension wouldn’t hand in the air as it was. It had been quiet for several hours now, having run into absolutely no activity all night.

Someone up there must have been listening to their thoughts, because at that moment a pair of vampires was spotted at the south end of the cemetery. Nodding once at Angel to indicate he should take the left Buffy took off to the right. They fell into an old yet comfortable pattern, sneaking up on the unsuspecting pair and launching a double attack.

Angel threw punches at his opponent; whilst Buffy aimed a roundhouse kick to the midsection of hers. Like a well oiled machine they fought side by side. Buffy parried blows with the her vampire opponent, ducking punches that were thrown her way as she dropped to the ground and swung her leg at his knees and knocked him over.

Angel continued throwing punches at the vampire he was facing, backing his up against the wall of a mausoleum. They dusted their respective targets within seconds of each other, pleased smiles gracing both of their faces.

“It’s been a long time since we’ve done that.” Buffy said with a grin.

Angel nodded in agreement. “Yeah it’s been a while.”

~~~

Spike watched from the shadows of the nearby trees as the former lovers conversed. This wasn’t how it was supposed to happen. He had lied to her, not some little white lie. No, it was a tremendous life-endangering lie. Yet now here they were talking as if nothing had happened.

She couldn’t have forgotten so soon… could she?

He refrained from lighting up a cigarette, not wanting to betray his position even though he was desperately craving one right now.

~~~

Angel reached forward, offering an arm to Buffy to help her to her feet. Accepting his hand she stood, the fact that he held her a moment longer than he had to not escaping her. She brushed the vampire dust from her clothing once they parted, feeling the need to say something before the uncomfortable silence overtook again.

“So… how are things in LA?” she asked. She probably could have picked a better topic for conversation, but all others escaped her right now.

“Good.” Angel replied with a nod. When she quirked an eyebrow in response he laughed. “As good as they can be.”

“Those lawyers still giving you hell? Or trying to?” she asked with a grin.

“Yeah.” He said with a roll of his eyes. He took a step towards her, and hesitantly reached out with a hand. “You’ve got a little…” he said as his fingers brushed against her cheek. “…vamp dust.”

“Great. Vamp dust. As if I need anything extra to make me look gross.” Buffy blushed, wiping at her cheek with her hand. “Better?”

“All gone.” Angel confirmed with a nod. “And you don’t look gross. You’d look beautiful if you were covered in mud.”

The words he spoke caused the atmosphere around them to thicken, which they both felt. Buffy blushed even redder at the compliment, wondering when things between her and Angel had become so strained that a compliment could set them both on edge.

~~~

Spike couldn’t watch anymore. He had seen enough. Turning on his heel he stormed away from the pair who by all means looked as if they were repairing the rift between them. The last thing he wanted to be around for was a reconciliation.

Not caring that his exit wasn’t exactly stealthy, he made his way towards the nearest liquor store.

~~~

“So.” Buffy said, as the tension in the air rose to a new high. “Shall we do a sweep of the next cemetery before we head back to the house? Giles will probably want us to help with the research.”

It was a lame excuse and she knew it. Considering that it was getting quite late now the others were most likely in the process of heading to bed.

Angel nodded slowly, the moment between them having passed and Buffy’s expression closing off again. He had no one to blame but himself for the way things were between them. He caught himself wishing he could turn back time and change the last few days, quietly berating himself for those thoughts a few moments later.

He had already done that once, a few months after he had first left Sunnydale. Not again.

That forgotten day still haunted his dreams. He had been human, and he had been happy. With Buffy. But a threat against her life had spoiled his newfound humanity. He couldn’t bear to stand by and watch her die, which was an almost certainty if he remained human. So he had turned back the clock and the divide between the two of them had widened as he tried to distance himself from the memories that only he had.

~~~

Xander walked over to the window and parted the curtains for the fifth or sixth time in the last 15 minutes. Spike, Buffy and Angel had all been gone for several hours now and he was beginning to worry. About Buffy of course. While he was not a great fan of either vampire, they had both proved their usefulness over the last few years and it would be disappointing if something happened to either of them. But his focus was on Buffy.

Much to Anya’s annoyance.

“She’s the slayer. She can take care of herself.” She said with an impatient stamp of her foot, preferring it if Xander’s attention was fixated on her and not staring out that blasted window.

“She’s an injured slayer. And my friend. I’m just worried.” Xander said as he finally let go of the curtain and returned to Anya’s side, pressing a soft kiss to her knuckles as he took one of her hands in his.

“I’m sure she will be fine.” Giles assured, even though inside he was just as worried as Xander was.

As of yet, Dawn and Willow had yet to leave the young girls room. Tara had come downstairs once to give a status report to Giles before she retreated back upstairs.

It was remarkable how Buffy’s brush with death had everyone at unease. She dealt with death every night, faced her own every time she set foot outside to rid the streets of Sunnydale of the evil element that prayed on the ignorant. But when her death comes close, they are all reminded of just how dangerous her calling is.

Checking his watch for the time and noting that only a few minutes had passed since the last time he had looked at it, Giles sighed with resignation and returned his attention to research.

~~~

Spike guzzled the whiskey as if it were blood, wiping the trickle that escaped his lips with the back of his other hand as he removed the bottle from his lips. He was beyond intoxicated right now and it most likely wouldn’t be too long before he passed out. His foot hit the edge of the curb, and he barely managed to keep his balance as he stumbled forward and grasping at a street pole to steady himself.

Yep, he was drunk good and proper now. Buffy would be so thrilled when he turned up at her house, stumbling and slurring.

Buffy…

His face shifted repeatedly from its vampiric to its human form, back and forth as he fought the urge to seek her and Angel out.

Angel…

A low growl rumbled from deep within him when he thought of the vampire who he had once considered his mentor, with his paws all over his Buffy. His Buffy. That was a laugh. His pursuit of her was pathetic. He knew that. She could never feel anything for him. He was an evil, soulless monster if he remembered her words correctly. Sure things had been changing of late, but that didn’t mean anything the moment that Angel arrived on the scene.

“Wanker.” Spike spat out, kicking a trashcan over as he walked past, sending the contents skittering across the street and feeling mildly placated by the mess he had caused.

Well he wasn’t going to stand by and watch whilst the object of his desire and the vampire that was the bane of his very bloodied existence, reunite. No he would not. It was better he left now, before he had to watch the bloody train wreck that was his life shatter into a million pieces.

Buffy had the power to break him, physically, and emotionally. Right then and there he decided he wasn’t going to give her the chance. He would go by the house, say goodbye to Dawn, grab the keys to the Desoto that he had left downstairs in the basement, and leave.

Say goodbye to this sodding hellhole of a town like he should have done years ago.

Taking another large swig at the bottle of whiskey he turned 180 degrees and began stumbling towards the Summers house.

~~~

Jake and his men hit the cemeteries, figuring they were the best of any place to begin their search. If nothing turned up, then they would set Plan B into motion.

The house…

~~~

Spike staggered up the driveway to the Summers house, his earlier plans of leaving already forgotten. During his walk back to the house he had finished off the whiskey, the empty bottle still clutched in his hand. That fact was however forgotten as he raised it to his mouth, cursing when it yielded nothing. His arm fell limply to his side as he looked up at the house before him.

Images of Buffy floated into his mind, filling his heart with hope. He needed to see her, to feast his eyes upon the golden goddess that was the slayer. The inner poet in him began mumbling under his breath about her beauty, about her wit, about her strong right hook. Moments later the visions distorted and visions of her with Angel surged forward and clouded his psyche. The bones in his face shifted as the demon seized his features; the need to claim what it felt was rightfully his taking over.

“BUFFY!” he roared towards the house, beckoning her to come out to him. “BU-FFEEEY!”

A light upstairs switched on and it was Xander who poked his head outside via Buffy’s bedroom window.

“Spike?!” he called disbelieving what he was seeing right now.

Spike was on the front yard and by the looks of it was drunk out of his mind, shouting at the house for Buffy.

“She’s not back yet, she’s still out on patrol with Angel.” He announced.

That was obviously not the best thing he could have said as a low growl reverberated from within Spike. The vampire took two steps towards the house, tripped on his own feet and fell face first to the ground. The bottle flew from his hand and smashed when it hit the driveway a few feet from where he lay.

Groaning, he rolled over onto his back.

Sighing with annoyance Xander watched as the vampire tried to pull himself into a seated position but failed. “Stay there, I’ll come down in a second.”

Spike had no intention of going anywhere. He didn’t think he could move if he needed to right now. Even in the state that he was in, he realized that allowing himself to get this smashed was probably not the wisest plan he had ever thought up.

The brilliant light streaming towards him from the oncoming vehicle was blinding, and he raised a hand to try and block the brightness from his eyes. The vehicle pulled to a stop on the street in front of the Summers house, the side of what he now identified as a van opening up and several people leaping from it and moving up the driveway.

Only they weren’t people…

~~~

Xander moved back inside the room and slipped a shirt on over his bare torso before exiting the room and moving down the stairs as silently as possible. He made his way to the entranceway without waking anyone else upstairs but stirring from within the living room suggested that Spike’s shouting had woken Giles.

“Is that who I think it is?” the watcher asked as he rubbed at his eyes.

“The one and only.” Xander replied with an exasperated shake of his head. “Drunk of his ass and calling for Buffy.”

Giles sighed, lifting himself from the sofa and following Xander to the front door. The vacant second sofa in the room suggested that Buffy and Angel had yet to return from patrol. Giles tried to quash the worries that that thought caused to rise within him.

The sound of squealing tires echoed down the street and both men shared a confused look before they threw the door open.

Both men started forward when they saw Spike being lifted from the ground and carried towards a van on the street that was obviously waiting for them.

“HEY!” Xander shouted as he ran out of the house and onto the lawn.

“Xander!” Giles shouted in warning as the teen ran towards the vehicle, seeing what he didn’t moments before it happened.

He felt the sharp sting of something hitting his chest, the sound of tires squealing reaching his ears seconds before everything went black.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Liked this chapter - leave a review!
Taken. by angelic_amy
WARNING Some scenes in this chapter are graphic, with descriptions of torture. Not obscenely descriptive... but still, not very nice. Just letting you all know. You have been warned.


Chapter 23: Taken.


The van careened down the streets of town, taking the quickest route to the other side where they had made their lair.

“I’m hungry…” the driver complained as his eyes searched to side window, searching for an easy meal. The slayer was out on patrol, so there would be no incident if they stopped and grabbed a bite to eat.

“Keep your eyes on the road. We’ll feed when we get back to the lair.” The vampire beside him growled.

“Would you shut up and let me drive.” The driver snarled, tearing his attention away from out his side window and glaring at the vampire beside him. “I could navigate this van back to the lair blindfolded. Lived here my whole life.” He reminded the out-of-towner.

“Yeah well just watch where you’re going.”

“Or what?” the driver demanded as he looked away from the road ahead of him again. “You think you can tell me what to--”

THUMP! THUMP!

A body shaped something catapulted into the air and rolled over the roof of the van before hitting the pavement with a sickening thud.

“Shit!” the driver swore as he pulled the van to a screeching holt and looked in the rear view mirror. There in the middle of the street lay the prone body of a human. Winding his window down he could smell the blood pouring out from the many wounds the hit must have caused.

“Just drive!” the other vampire in the front ordered.

“He’s already dying! It’s a waste of blood.” The driver complained.

“We can’t feed here. Too many witnesses.”

The driver looked across the street and cursed when he realized their location. They were right in front of the hospital. “Shit. Alright, lets get out of here.”

And with that the van tore off down the street again.

~~~

Buffy rounded the last street corner and onto Revello drive her gaze floating towards her house. Angel walked silently beside her, the weight of his earlier ‘beautiful’ comment still hanging between them. Neither had made any effort to clear the air between them since, so they had walked in silence.

It was when they reached the driveway that Buffy realized that something was very wrong. Shattered glass blanketed said driveway, and thick black marks marred the street before her house.

“Dawn!” she shouted in alarm when she immediately thought he worst. She ran at the front door, followed closely by Angel.

Buffy threw the front door open, shouting for her sister as she entered only to have her fears quelled a few moments later when her sister appeared from the living room and threw her arms around her tightly, her cheeks puffy and red from crying.

“Dawn? What happened?” Buffy asked as she was filled with a sense of dread.

Dawn led her sister wordlessly into the living room, a gasp breaking from Buffy’s lips at what she saw. Everyone was awake, and huddled around the prone form of Xander. Anya was huddled at his side, tears streaming down her face whilst Willow and Tara stood off to the side holding each other for comfort.

“What happened?” Buffy demanded as she fell to Xander’s side, two fingers reaching for his neck in search of a pulse. She let out a mildly relieved sigh when she found its steady beating.

Giles held his hand out towards Buffy, a small dart sitting in the middle of his palm. She took it from him, mindful of the tip and examined it but it meant nothing to her. Returning it to her watcher she demanded answers. “Is he going to be okay? Who did this? How did it happen?”

“Spike was --“ Giles started to explain, trailing off when Buffy immediately scanned the room and found the bleached vampire absent.

“Where is he?” she assumed instantly, figuring that he had something to do with it.

“Buffy he didn’t do this…” Dawn said with wide eyes. “It was…”

“It was what?” she demanded.

“Vampires.” Anya provided, glaring at Buffy. She blamed the slayer for Xander’s current condition. If she had been back earlier then maybe he wouldn’t have run out onto the lawn like he had when Spike had turned up drunk. “Or at least that’s what Giles tells me.”

“Giles?” Buffy pleaded, her desperation for answers overwhelming her.

“Xander has been drugged.” Giles informed both Buffy and Angel. “Nothing lethal. I recognise the darts. They are similar to ones that I used to use for the tranquilizer gun with Oz.”

“With Oz…” Buffy said wide-eyed in realization. Those darts were potent enough to take down a fully-grown elephant, and Xander had been hit with one of them? “Will he be okay?” she asked.

“He’ll be fine.” Giles said with a nod. “He may be out for a little while, and the dart site is going to sting a little, but apart from that…” he trailed off.

They were lucky, that’s what Buffy understood Giles hesitation to be. Her eyes fell to her friends face in silent apology.

“What’s this about Spike?” Angel asked.

Giles sighed in irritation. Buffy was going to be less than pleased. “Spike found out quite early in the evening about your leaving for patrol.” He said with a look at both his slayer and the vampire by her side. “And he decided to follow you.”

Buffy tensed in apprehension. “And?”

“I’m assuming that he did not meet up with the two of you?” Giles probed. When both shook their heads in response he continued. “A little over 20 minutes ago he turned up, drunk.”

Buffy folded her arms over her chest, a scowl crossing her face at this little piece of information. “Where is he?” she demanded, intent on giving him a good talking to. “Is he passed out downstairs? When I get my hands on him I’m gonna --“

“He’s gone.” Dawn interrupted.

“Gone?” Buffy blinked in surprise. “Gone where?”

“Taken.” Giles supplied. “Vampires. Most likely Darla’s men. They came in a van. By the time Xander and I heard the disturbance they were already in the process of dragging him into the vehicle.”

Buffy was furious. Furious with Spike for getting himself into this mess, and equally as mad that Darla’s minions’ only appearance had been missed by her. What she wouldn’t give to beat the un-life out of them right about now. Her fury swiftly turned to panic when the prophecy echoed in her mind.

“Do we have any idea where they’ve gone?” Buffy asked.

The responding shaking of heads was a resounding no.

“Fantastic.” She cursed. “This is the last thing we need right now.”

“Buffy.” Dawn said quietly. “He just wanted to help. He just wanted to make sure you were okay. He was worried.”

“And it’s going to get him killed.” Buffy added quietly.

Spike had been taken, which meant that Dawn was possibly in real danger of being hurt herself.

“Giles how are we going on that research?” she asked. “Has Wesley come up with anything yet?”

Giles shook his head in response. “Not yet I’m afraid. The last time I spoke with him this afternoon was to suggest he contact the conduits. I don’t expect to hear from him until mid afternoon at best.”

Nodding in acknowledgement Buffy began to pace the room, trying to figure out what to do. Her concern for her sister’s safety was palpable. “Alright.” Buffy said as she tried to think. “Everyone should go to bed, get some rest. We can worry about Darla and what to do about Spike in the morning.”

“Buffy are you sure?” Giles questioned, knowing her concerns for Dawn’s welfare would be at an all time high right now.

Buffy nodded, moving to Xander’s side and reaching over to lift him.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Anya faltered, her tears having yet to slow their track down her cheeks.

“We’ll take him upstairs to bed, get him more comfortable.” She said softly, relieved when the ex-vengeance demon nodded her head in agreement. With Angel’s help they carried Xander upstairs and set him carefully on Buffy’s double bed, Anya immediately crawling to his side and taking one of his hands in hers.

Dawn, Willow and Tara had followed them upstairs and made their way to their respective rooms to retire for the night, knowing there was nothing further that they could do tonight. Buffy walked back down the stairs with Angel, wrapping her arms around herself in an attempt at comfort. Giles was preparing her bed for her, and she shot him a grateful smile as she moved into the room.

“He’ll be okay Buffy.” Giles said speaking of Xander. “He’ll wake up late tomorrow feeling like he’s slept for a week, but he’ll be fine.”

Buffy nodded numbly.

Angel placed a hand on her shoulder, his expression grave. He may not like Spike all that much, but that gave no one the right to snatch him away like they had. Buffy’s concern was written all over her face and Angel knew that whilst mostly for her sister, it was partly for Spike as well.

“I can head back out if you want?” he offered. “Rattle a few cages and see if I can track down the whereabouts of Darla’s lair.”

Buffy shook her head. “Thanks, but no. It’s not safe for you to go out by yourself.”

Angel quirked an eyebrow to ask if she was sure, and she just nodded. After a moments hesitation he accepted her response and voiced his goodnight before disappearing towards the basement.

Buffy moved over to the sofa and laid herself down, wrapping the blankets tightly around herself as Giles settled down on the other one and switched off the light.

She sent out a silent pray to whatever gods that may be listening, that they keep Spike safe.

~~~

Spike strained against the manacles that bound him to the wall of what could only be described as his cell. His current predicament was not something he had imagined finding himself in when he had left the house earlier this night. And he had no one to blame but himself.

He knew what it meant as well. Buffy had told him about the prophecy. He was aware of the fact that if his current captivity ended with a dusty end, that Dawn’s life would be in jeopardy, and that was the last thing that he wanted.

His struggles were pointless but Spike refused to give up. He had to get out of here. For Dawn’s sake.

Cursing his earlier stupidity of drinking far too much alcohol, he tried to familiarize himself with the space in which he was now captive. His eyes roamed to walls of the dark cell, the mustiness in the air hinting that whatever this place had been, it was no longer inhabited. Underneath the musk there was a very familiar smell of disinfectant, a sort of clinical cleanliness that one associated with a hospital.

Or a laboratory.

He stiffened when recognition washed over him in waves. He knew this place. He had been here before.

The Initiative.

This place still gave him nightmares. It was the soldiers that had once run this complex that were behind the fact that he was chipped.

“Oh bloody hell.” He cursed. Things couldn’t get any bloody worse.

The heavy steel door screeched as is swung open and in through it walked a burly vampire pushing a trolley laden with scalpels and other nasty little sharp things before him.

On second thoughts…

~~~

“Excellent.” Darla purred as Jake delivered the good news.

Spike was now in their captivity, and it would only be a matter of time before everything was in place and she could finally achieve the goals she had set. The slayers death, the return or Angelus, and the destruction of the ‘prodigal.’ She couldn’t help but laugh at the name the prophesized writings had given. But soon, the prodigal would be no more and then the real fun could begin.

She was going to drink this town dry…

“Hans has entered the cell. We have set up a live feed for which you to view the proceedings on if you wish?” Jake informed as he pointed towards the television screen that was set up in the corner.

Darla nodded in approval, waving her hand with nonchalance at the blackened screen. “This might serve as light entertainment.” She said with a devious smile.

At her request Jake switched on the television screen with the remote. The picture flickered a few times before it cleared. The picture was black and white, but the camera was placed in a position in the room that clearly showed what was going on in there. Hans, a burly vampire with more brawn than smarts was currently looming over Spike who was chained with manacles to the wall behind him. The larger vampire had a scalpel in his hand, the dull light in the room reflected off the blade.

Spike’s expression was blank as Hans interrogated him, asking the prewritten questions. The bleach haired vampire appeared to be unresponsive.

“Why is there no sound?” Darla asked with pursed lips. She had been looking forward to hearing her great grand childe’s screams.

“We are trying to remedy that problem.” Jake apologised. “I have others out scouring for the leads we require to set the system up properly.”

She sighed with disappointment. “Oh well. I suppose I shall have to just settle for watching then.”

Her attention on the screen hardened as Hans stabbed forward with the scalpel into Spike’s left shoulder, slicing deeply into the muscle. Pain contorted across the vampires face but he kept his mouth clamped shut, refusing to give into it and scream.

“Tsk, tsk. Stubborn Spike.” Darla said with a shake of her head. She turned her attention back to Jake who was watching the screen eagerly. “I want you to report to me every hour. He’s almost as stubborn as Angelus. If he doesn’t scream, then I may just have to have some fun of my own.” She said with a malevolent smirk.

“As you wish.” Jake said as he bowed and walked out of the room. Oh he would make sure the vampire screamed…




~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Liked it? Leave a review!
Nightmares. by angelic_amy
Thanks to klylu and cordykitten for the review!

WARNING: Some scenes in this chapter are somewhat graphic, with descriptions of torture. Not obscenely descriptive... but still, not very nice. Just letting you know. You have been warned



Chapter 24: Nightmares.


“Buffy…” he gasped as he reached for her outstretched hand, grasping hold with a grip tight enough to crush bones. If she weren’t the slayer, he probably would have.

“Spike.” Buffy replied, her concern for his welfare evident in her eyes. “Spike, we need to get you out of here.” She said urgently as she looked over her shoulder, expecting to hear footsteps at any moment.

“I-I can’t.” he mumbled in response. “Leave me here… just get out, get out now before she comes back.”

“No.” Buffy shook her head adamantly. “I’m not leaving here without you.”

“Buffy…” he pleaded but she interrupted.

“No
Spike. I’m not leaving.” She said with conviction. She tried lifting him from the floor but his body was a dead weight. He had no strength left in him and she didn’t think she could carry him out of here on her own. “Spike dammit!” she cursed. “GET up so I can take you out of here.”

He didn’t think he could do it, but the fire in Buffy’s eyes promised him even more pain if he didn’t at least try. So he did. Every fiber of his body cried out in defiance as he forced himself to his feet, gasping in agony as the movement sent shard after shard of pain ricocheting up and down his worn and weary self. He was gasping for un-needed breath by the time he made it to his feet, feeling more than a little light headed. “I can’t… I just need a moment to rest.” He begged.

“We don’t have time.” Buffy insisted as she began walking him down the hallway to the exit.

A tingling sensation ran up his spine as they moved… like they were being watched. He turned to look over his shoulder and saw several of Darla’s minions in pursuit of them. “Hurry, we have to hur--”

A gasp of pain and surprise from Buffy returned his attention back to her. Her shoulders were trembling and when he looked down at her chest his entire world exploded. Protruding from her chest was a crossbow bolt. Blood was gushing from the wound and he could hear her heartbeat already beginning to slow.

Standing in front of their exit with the crossbow still raised towards them, was Darla. With a coquettish little wave of her hand she turned and walked away.

“Spike…” Buffy wheezed.

“BUFFY!” he cried in desperation. “Just hold on, Buffy HOLD ON.” He demanded as he found himself filled with a new strength as the urgency to get her out of her filled him. He began dragging her towards the exit

The pain in her eyes as she looked at him faded a moment later and her body fell limp in his arms.

“NOOOOOO….” He screamed as the tears streamed down his face.


~~~

“NOOOOOO!”

Darla couldn’t hear the scream the broke from Spike’s lips, but she could see it clearly. He had passed out several hours ago from blood loss and the sheer pain of the torture he had been put through. He was even more stubborn than she remembered him being, and his lack of responsiveness to the torment had displeased her. That was when Jake had reminded her of his affections for the slayer.

Darla had immediately given the order for the injection.

One of her newly sired minions had been an apothecary in life, his potions and drugs having had uses for more than just ailments. It was a particular concoction of his that she had ordered he administer to Spike’s unconscious form.

As it had been explained to her, it was a drug of suggestion. As it worked its way into the bloodstream it unlocked the hidden little doors in the mind, coaxing the injected to explore their every wish, every dream, and every nightmare. Then it played upon that. Their greatest wish was exploited and turned on its head. Their greatest nightmare was realized.

Considering the state that Spike had been in when he had passed out, and knowing the reason that he refused to give in was because of his love for the slayer, she could only imagine what he was dreaming about right now. If only she could have a little television screen that showed his thoughts. She was sure that it would be, quite the nightmare.

~~~

Buffy slept fitfully, unable to allow herself to rest peacefully. Even in dreams her worries haunted her. She had dreamt that dream again last night, and like the first time it had ended with her cradling her sisters body in her arms. The significance of the blonde hair in Dawn’s hand now made sense, but she had been unable to decode anything else.

There was a little more than an hour before sunrise, and even though she knew it was early, Buffy needed to sort this out now.

Throwing back the blankets she slipped the sweat pants she had worn the night before whilst on patrol over her hips and climbed the stairs two at a time. She needed to know where Spike was, and she needed to know now. Knocking hurriedly on her mother’s bedroom door and waiting for a response from inside, she threw the door open and walked in.

“Will, I need you to do a locator spell.” She beseeched.

“Bu-buffy?” Willow called as she sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes. “What time is it?”

“Early.” She announced. “I need you to do a spell.”

“We tried to do the locator spell to find where the Order was holed up last night remember? It didn’t work.” Willow said with a frown.

“I know. I don’t want you to find the Order.” Buffy said with a shake of her head, her words coming out in a steady stream.

“I want you to locate Spike.”

~~~

Darla was becoming bored with Spike lack of responsiveness. Save for when he had been unconscious and obviously dreaming, he had made little noise at all. Now as she walked down the hallway towards the room he was being held captive in, she decided to take matters into her own hands. And she knew which cards to play.

The guards on the door stood to attention when they spotted her walking down the hallway towards them. They bowed their heads subserviently as she entered the darkened room, closing the door behind her.

Spike’s head was lolling to the side as she advanced on him, his eyes glazed over.

“Spike. I trust that you find your quarters… comfortable.” She mocked as she leaned forwards and yanking his head up his hair to look at her.

Spike glared with hatred at the face of the reason why Buffy had been hurt in the cemetery that night almost a week ago. He didn’t want to give Darla the satisfaction of knowing how much pain he was in, which is why he hadn’t screamed, the entire ordeal. He had kept himself distracted, concentrating on anything but then pain. And then he had thought of her, and it had all faded away. Buffy. It was thinking of her that had kept him strong.

“Oh so it’s going to be that way is it?” she asked with an amused raise of her brows. “Where’s your family respect? Drusilla would be so upset.”

He resisted again from responding.

“One way conversation, I’m going to lose interest real quick.” Her fingers trailed over the sharp implements that were laid out on the tray. “I wonder which one I should use first…” she thought as she raised a finger to her mouth in a mocking manner.

“Do what you like.” He said with a shrug of nonchalance, the very movement sending pain rippling through his body.

“Given up so soon?” she said with a pout. “Now that’s disheartening. What would your Buffy…” she spat the name out, the feel of it on her tongue vile. “…think about your surrender?”

A low growl resonated from deep with Spike, his face shifting into its vampiric countenance as Darla’s thinly veiled attack caused the ire within him to grow. So Darla knew about his feelings for the slayer. He shouldn’t be that surprised really; it wasn’t exactly a secret. Drusilla had known for years, before he had even known. With her recent stint in LA catching up with ‘Grandmummy’ it would stand to reason that it would be one of the little pieces of information that Dru shared.

Getting the family back together had been an obsession of hers for decades; the plans she would dream up were mind-boggling. The voices in her head whispering their little secrets, telling her the ways it could be done, and then they would be whole again. But then Angel had taken Darla’s un-life and then found himself in love with the slayer. When the curse had been lifted Drusilla had pranced about the factory, buzzing with excitement. Her family was whole again, well as whole as it could be. And now, with Darla back from dust and returned to the undead, well it could only have been a matter of time before she had begun prattling on about the family again.

Darla hated Buffy, with a passion. It was Buffy who had stolen Angel’s heart. It was because of Buffy that Angel had been staking their kind, fighting the good fight. And Buffy was the reason why Angel had staked her. And now another of the family had fallen under the charms of the slayer. Spike was sure that pissed off Darla to no end.

“Now, now.” She tsked. “It’s not nice to not pay attention when someone is speaking to you William.

Spike growled again. That was another thing that he hated about Darla, calling him by his former name. He had never been worthy in her eyes, not worthy for Drusilla and not worthy to be a member of the Order. Not worthy to be a vampire. There was still too much humanity in him. His poetry, his devotion to his sire. It had sickened her. And for a while Darla’s rejection had burned him. Not being accepted in the family. But not anymore.

“Go to hell.” He spat out in defiance.

“Oooh. Feisty aren’t we.” She said with a cluck of her tongue. “I wonder how feisty you’ll be when I’m bathing in the slayers blood.”

Spike roared in anger, straining against the chains that bound him to the wall. She had better hope that he didn’t get free.

Darla dragged a wooden chair across the floor from beside the far wall of the room until she was just out of his grasping range and sat herself down on it. The expression she wore was conspiring, malevolent, just plain evil. “I’m going to let you in on a little secret Spike. Figuring as you’re not going to get out of this place alive, and you probably won’t even be around for the showdown I’ve got planned for your little slayer, I may as well let you know what we have in store.”

Spike stiffened against his restraints. Being stabbed with hot pokers, sliced open with scalpels, even being burned with holy water were tolerable, so long as he knew that she was okay. Darla’s flunkey had questioned him about what the slayer knew, trying to see if they still had the element of surprise in their hands. He had probed for weaknesses, but Spike had given none. Not speaking meant that Darla gained no ground. And he could live with that. But hearing what she had planned and not being able to do a damn thing about it…

Darla saw the conflicting emotions that crossed Spike’s face and it brought a confident smile to hers. “Ah… so I have your attention now.”

“You so much as --”

“Are you threatening me William?” Darla demanded with mock surprise. “This is going to be fun.”

Spike struggled against the chains again, feeling the metal bite into his skin as he strained against them. A grunt of pain mixed with a roar of outrage when they didn’t even budge.

Darla laughed at his unwillingness to give up. It was almost commendable. “Alright William, I going to offer you a deal. Now think about this carefully, because it will be a once off.”

He didn’t care what she offered him; he wasn’t going to do anything to betray her. He wouldn’t do that to her, not to Buffy.

“You’re life, for that of the slayer, and her sister.”

“I’d rather burn in hell.” Came his automatic reply.

Annoyance flickered across Darla’s face for a moment before the cool façade was back up again. She hadn’t been expecting that sort of response. At least not so suddenly. Her hands clasped around a jug that sat on the tray next to her.

“Have it your way then. Burn.”

She threw the contents of the jug at Spike, the vampire screaming out in agony for a moment before passing out, leaving the holy water to burn at his skin.

~~~

Buffy hovered around Willow and Tara as they made the final preparations for what they were about to do. The spell that they had tried last night hadn’t worked; Willow explaining that it was possibly because it was an amalgamation of spells, something that they had come up with themselves and not something out of a spell book. The fact that it had worked when they had first tried it almost a week ago couldn’t be explained, and was probably just a fluke.

But the spell they were going to perform now was your standard locator spell, something that Willow and Tara had performed dozens of times.

Buffy paced the bedroom floor, back and forth as she kept her eyes trained upon the pair of wiccas on the floor who were trying their best to concentrate.

“Ah Buffy?” Willow said as she opened her eyes. “This will work a lot better if we have umm, less pacing. I kinda need to concentrate.” She said apologetically.

Buffy nodded, taking a seat on her bed and sitting as still as possible whilst the girls began chanting under their breaths, sprinkling the required elements over the map of Sunnydale that was laid out before them. As they continued chanting a small green light began to form over the center of the map and began floating over it in a grid like pattern. It finally came to a stop and began to glow more brightly.

Both Willow and Tara opened their eyes to confirm that the spell was complete, and along with Buffy they all leaned forward to check the co-ordinates.

Buffy’s expression became grim and Willow and Tara shot her a worried look.

“Looks like we found him.” Willow said hesitantly.

Buffy stood up and left the room, leaving Willow and Tara behind sharing an anxious glance.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Like it? Leave a review!
Revelations. by angelic_amy
Thanks to cordykitten and klylu for the reviews.


Chapter 25: Revelations.


Spike didn’t know how long he had been out cold for. It could have been seconds, minutes, or even hours. It really didn’t matter.

“Look who’s awake.” A voice spoke from the far corner of the room. Darla slunk towards him with the predatory grace of a jungle cat. Save for Angelus, he didn’t think he’d ever met a creature so sadistic, so… evil.

Spike frowned at the coppery taste inside his mouth. He spat the liquid out of his mouth that splattered all over the floor, the redness identifying it as blood. His blood. Looked like Darla had gone a few rounds with his face whilst he’d been out.

Kinda explains the splitting headache…

He strained against the manacles again, the small action sending barbs of pain reverberating across his skin. Oh that’s right… holy water.

“So now where was I?” she said slowly as she lowered herself to the wooden seat that she had been sitting on earlier. “Oh yes. I was about to tell you all about how your little slayer is going to die.”

A growl echoed throughout the room, which only caused Darla to laugh even more. “I must say, I am quite impressed with this unwavering desire to protect the slayer. It really is quite commendable. But it won’t do her a lick of good.”

“Now. On to brighter topics. Should I start with the slayer or her sister first?” Darla asked.

“You’ll stay AWAY from them.” Spike snarled. “Buffy won’t let you anywhere near the bit, and whilst I’m still alive she won’t get hurt. Not one hair on her head.”

Darla stared at Spike for a moment, before tipping her head back and laughing. Loud, shoulder shaking laughter. She wiped at her eyes. “Oh this is just too much. Don’t tell me that she actually bought that prophecy crap I fed to all the big mouths in town.”

If Spike’s heart were still beating it would have stopped right now. Darla seemed to find his reaction amusing because she began laughing again.

“There is no prophecy. At least not concerning you.”

Spike’s jaw dropped open in shock as he inhaled a deep, unneeded breath. This, this couldn’t be happening.

“In fact.” Darla continued. “The entire prophecy regarding you and the slayers sister was completely made up.”

Spike clenched his eyes shut as he took in what Darla was saying. She could be lying; she could just be trying to cover her tracks. But she wasn’t. She had a tone in her voice when she was being deadly serious about something, a voice she was speaking with right now.

“But she’s still going to die.”

His eyes snapped open. “Why? What do you want? Why her?”

A snicker left Darla’s lips and she leaned in a little closer to him. “Her blood. It’s always… about the blood. Her blood is the key to all of my problems.”

~~~

“Giles!” Buffy shouted as she descended the stairs two at a time. “GILES!”

A rumpled Giles lifted his head from the pillow he had been resting upon, and rubbed his eyes as he reached for his spectacles from the side table. “Buffy, is everything alright?” he asked as he forced himself to sit, even as his body protested against the movement.

“We have to go now, we have to go get Spike.” She said as she joined him in the living room.

“Buffy we don’t even know where to begin our search. Not to mention that --“

“I know where he is.”

~~~

“Are you certain?” Wesley questioned the speaker box for the fast food restaurant.

“Do NOT question us. Our knowledge is absolute.” The speaker box boomed in response.

Frazzled by this news Wes ran his fingers through his hair before pushing his glasses up to the bridge of his nose. “So Spike isn’t in anyway connected to the phenomenon?”

“No.” came the response. “Your question has been answered.”

The lights began to dim and Wesley frantically tried to pursue his questioning. “But what about Angel? How do we destroy the dagger? Can this be stopped?”

“SILENCE! Your question has been answered.”

The unseeing hand of the mystical wind pushed Wesley in the chest, sending him sailing backwards into the garden where he landed with a thump. The static charge that had been in the air second prior dissipated, the lights dulled and the speaker box shrank back to it’s original shape and size.

Shakily lifting himself to his feet, thankful for the cover the receding darkness had offered him whilst speaking to the conduits he slowly moved towards his car. He had answers. None that he had expected, and it left him with even more questions. But at least he would be able to inform Rupert of what he had ascertained. Deciding to wait until a respectable hour before calling he pulled the car out of the parking lot and began the return trip to the Hyperion as the first rays of morning broke over the horizon.

~~~

“The Initiative? Are you kidding me?” Xander asked as he glanced from Buffy to Willow, and then to Giles. The solemn expressions on their faces answered that question for him. Looked like they would be taking a trip down memory lane. “So when do we saddle up?”

Buffy blinked in surprise. That was probably the last thing she would have expected to hear coming from Xander. Spike wasn’t exactly one of his favourite people, vampires. Xander was very much a firm believer in the policy of, if it didn’t have a heartbeat, it was evil. And Buffy understood that.

The other reason why she was surprised by his offer was also the fact that he had been UNCONSCIOUS for oh… up until about thirty minutes ago. He was shaky on his feet, and the lethargy had yet to give up its hold on his muscles just yet. But that hadn’t stopped him from offering.

Buffy’s eyes misted at her friends kindness. No matter what she knew Xander would be there for her. And Willow, and Giles. “Y-you’re with me on this?”

Xander nodded in response.

“But you hate, and I mean HATE Spike. Why are you offering to help?”

“This is for Dawn. So I wouldn’t be anywhere else.” Xander said calmly. Buffy was family to him. And Dawn was Buffy’s family, so by extension, also his. “Besides, Spike’s not all that bad. He kinda grows on you.” He paused for a moment, grinning at the shocked expressions of everyone in the room. “Like syphilis.”

“No sweetie, syphilis makes things fall off.” Anya sat with a there-there pat on his shoulder.

Buffy burst out laughing, laughs which tapered off and slowly became sobs. “I have to keep her safe Giles.” She said staring at her watcher with shining eyes. “She’s all I’ve got left.”

“No.” Willow said with a shake of her head. “You’ve got us too.”

Anya and Tara kept on the outer as the three friends embraced tightly. When they separated Buffy turned her hugs to Giles, who was both surprised, and happy for the affection shared. “We’ll get through this Buffy.” He promised when she pulled away a few seconds later. “We always do.”

The sound of footsteps on the stairs alerted everyone to Dawn’s arrival. She was the only person not in the room, besides Angel who was currently holed up in the basement.

“I know.” She said with a teary smile, as she wiped at her eyes when Dawn entered the room.

“You know?! Why am I always the last person to find things out?” Dawn said with a pout as she moved to sit beside Buffy on the sofa. A frown crossed her face when her attention turned to the television, which was notable off.

“Hey? How can you know if you don’t even have it switched on?”

Everyone frowned, looking at Dawn like she’d grown a second head. It was Tara who opened her mouth first. “Dawn, what are you talking about?”

“TV! ON!” she said pointing at it in a frenzied manner.

Xander obliged, switching it on before leaning against the arm of the sofa. He was still sore at the site where the tranquilizer had hit him, and he was still tired even though he had slept longer and deeper than he could ever remember.

A newscaster appeared on screen, microphone in hand. A gurney with a black zipped up bag on it was being wheeled behind her.

“The victim of this senseless hit and run was found only recently when a passing motorist noticed the man in the middle of the street. Unfortunately it was too late to do anything to save him, who as irony would serve, was on his way to begin a shift at the hospital behind me.” The newscaster stepped to the side and pointed at the front entrance of Sunnydale Memorial, which was looming behind her.

“Hospital?” Buffy repeated, only to be met with a shushing sound from Dawn.

“If anyone has any information regarding this matter, please contact the Sunnydale Police Station.” The reporter flashed off screen and the weather forecaster began giving the weekly temperature run down.

“Dawn. What was so special about --”

“It was Ben.” Dawn interrupted her sister, her eyes filling with tears. “The doctor who helped Mom, and looked after me. It was him.”

“Dawnie, how do you know that?” Willow asked.

“You missed the beginning of the report. They mentioned him by name… a-and showed a picture of him in his hospital uniform. They said that he didn’t have any surviving relatives.”

Buffy felt bad for the young doctor. He had been so great to them when they had been in and out of the hospital for Joyce. “Oh Dawnie I’m sorry.” Buffy said as she reached for her sister. Dawn had liked the doctor a great deal. The two sisters embraced, her friends slowly making their way to the kitchen under the guise of making coffee to give the sister’s some alone time, Giles being the only one who remained behind.

“We could go to the funeral… if you wanted?” she suggested.

Dawn nodded meekly, wiping at her eyes. “So. What was everyone talking about before I walked in the room and killed the conversation?”

Giles looked at Buffy for consent before offering a small piece of information. “We may have a possible location for where Spike is being held.”

Dawn’s face instantly brightened. “That’s GREAT!” she said, continuing in a rush. “When are you going to go get him? What can I do to help? Do you think he’ll be okay? I could help with a spell? Or go to the butchers and collect some pig’s blood, or…”

“Ok firstly.” Buffy said as she lifted a hand to shush her sister. “Eww. You will not be going anywhere near pig’s blood. Is that clear?”

Dawn nodded with a dejected sigh. She just wanted to help.

And Buffy understood that.

“You want to help?” she asked. At Dawn’s vigorous nod in response Buffy smiled. “Then you can start by getting the first aid kit and making sure we have enough bandages and antiseptic.”

At Dawn’s worried start Buffy rested a hand on her shoulder to calm her. “It’s just a precaution. In case. I’m sure he’s fine.”

Dawn seemed to calm a little at Buffy’s conviction, which was good. Buffy just wished that she had been able to convince herself as well.

~~~

“So you see Spike. You being here, locked up like you are… all it does is make my job of killing the slayer, and her sister easier.” Darla laughed for the umpteenth time. “You’re merely a distraction for the slayer.”

“It won’t work.” Spike said unconfidently. “She’ll see right through it.”

Darla arched a brow. “Oh really? Then why hasn’t she?”

Spike was unresponsive. The bitch was right. Buffy was going to fall right into her trap. And it was all his fault. If he hadn’t gotten himself captured, if he hadn’t been so sloshed, if he hadn’t left the house… the what if’s taunted him.

“Bitch.” He snarled at Darla. “If you lay one finger on either of them I’ll…”

“You’ll what Spike? Strain against those chains some more?” she said sarcastically. “Give up. There’s nothing you can do to save her. Them. Either of them.”

Spike struggled against the manacles just as Darla had mocked. He had to get free. He had to save them.

“Now.” Darla said as she stood up from the wooden seat. “I’m thinking you need to be reminded of your place.I am your relative, your blood. I think you should be punished for that ‘Bitch’ comment.”

“Oh sorry.” Spike said regretfully, his eyes sincere for a whole three seconds before his voice filled with malice and his eyes expressed his defiance. He titled his head up at her, sticking his chin in the air as he addressed her. “Meant to say whore.”

Darla face clouded with rage. Picking up the chair she had been sitting on and smashed it against the chained vampire, grabbing one of the splintered legs in her right hand and gripping it tightly. “You really aren’t that bright, are you William.” She stated.

Without waiting for a response she lunged forward and shoved it into Spike’s chest.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Liked it, leave a review!
Unreachable. by angelic_amy
Thanks to cordykitten and klylu for the reviews!


Chapter 26: Unreachable.


Angel slipped the leather jacket on over his shoulders and made his way up the stairs from the basement and headed towards the living room. The place was buzzing with activity. Giles was running over the stratagem with Buffy, who was pacing the length of the room with a deeply thoughtful expression on her face.

Xander was busily sharpening stakes and placing them into the carry bag Buffy would be taking with her, and Anya was loading the crossbows with bolts. Willow and Tara were working their magic, trying to infuse a crystal with a protection spell, to create a shielding bubble of sorts for Buffy to wear. So far they weren’t having much luck.

Dawn was sitting by herself in the dining room, laying out bandages and antiseptic creams, preparing the command center for first aid. It was she whom Angel approached first. Her expression was serious as she worked busily at setting the materials on the tabletop in preparation for a worst-case scenario.

“Dawn.” Angel said in greeting.

“Angel.” Dawn replied coolly. She was still angry with Angel about the whole taking-credit-for-Spike-rescuing-Buffy incident.

Angel didn’t miss the clinical tone in which she addressed him. Not that he blamed her for it, but it was still a surprise. Dawn loved almost as fiercely as Buffy did, she held onto those that she cared about with all of her might. He used to be one of those people. Not anymore it seemed. He knew why she was mad at him, he just wished that after all of this was over, that he might be able to set things right. And not just with her, with Buffy as well.

“You’re doing a good job here.” He praised warmly.

A little surprised by his compliment, especially since she was giving him her best cold shoulder, Dawn blushed. “Thank you.”

He nodded once and turned to walk away, only to stop when she spoke to him again.

“There’s some pigs blood in the fridge. You should probably get your strength up.” She offered. “But don’t take too much, Spike may need it when we get him back here.”

Angel nodded again, a ghost of a smile gracing his face. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.”

And with that Dawn’s attention was back on her task.

Leaving her to continue what she was doing, Angel finally joined the others in the living room.

“Angel. Bout time you woke up. You were sleeping like the dead.” Xander said dryly.

Angel just cocked an eyebrow as he made his way to the other side of the room and to Buffy’s side. “Where do you want me?” he asked.

Buffy was in full business mode, her stance, her expression, her tone of voice. It was in times of crisis that she really exuded her leadership and power. If the grim determination on her face was anything to go by then Spike would be coming back to the house tonight as Dawn had said.

“I’ll need you here.” Buffy said pressing a finger to the schematic map that Willow had dug out of the box it had been stored in since their last major fight in the Initiative complex. Who’d have known it would come in handy again. The area she was pointing to on the map was the large atrium where the pit was located, specifically the door that led to the laboratories. That area was the most secure part of the building, even with the surveillance system out of operation.

“You’re my bulldozer.” Buffy said with a hint of a smile. “I’ll need that door kept clear so that we can make our escape.”

“Consider it done.” He said with a nod of his head.

Xander, Willow and Giles would be stationed at the other side of the atrium, near the supply cages, armed with crossbows and holy water. It was via the tunnels behind the weapons cages that they would make their entrance. They would be keeping their exit clear, but Buffy wanted them to stay hidden unless their presence was detected.

Anya would be waiting outside the mouth of the cave in the van, which with the aid of Giles’ credit card they had managed to secure.

Tara would be staying at the house with Dawn.

Buffy would be making the rest of the journey by herself. Her only objective was to find Spike, and get out of there. Taking on Darla, could wait until later.

“Alright, is everyone ready?” When she got the response she was after she picked up her bag and headed towards the front door, sparing a moment to give her sister a hug, and a promise that she would return,with Spike, before the group turned and left the house.

Dawn and Tara watched from within the safety of the house as the van pulled away from the street and began heading towards the other side of town.

~~~

Wesley grimaced in frustration when he was met yet again with a busy tone. He had been trying to contact Rupert since midday, but he had yet to manage it. He had tried the Magic Box several times, the private residence of the watcher, the Summers house, and even Angel’s cell phone.

Cordelia had bluntly pointed out the fact that Angel’s cell wouldn’t likely ring considering he had left the charger for it in LA and it had been days since it had last been charged. When it had diverted to his voicemail that proved apparent.

He knew that Giles had been staying at the Summers’ house, which was why he had tried calling the residence so many times. But he had yet to get through. Hanging up the phone he lifted himself from his desk and moved out of the office and towards the front desk where Cordelia and Gunn were both sitting.

“No luck?” Gunn asked with an inquiring raised brow.

Wesley nodded, removing his glassed from his face as he joined them. “The line is still busy.”

“Wow. You’d think that in a time of crisis that they would keep the line free.” Cordelia stated the obvious bluntly. “I bet it’s Dawn, talking to one of her school friends.”

“Whomever it is, I sincerely hope that they disconnect the call. It is imperative that Rupert receives this information.”

~~~

Dawn sat down on the sofa to settle in and watch some television while she and Tara waited for the gang to return. “Who buried the remote again?” she said with an eye roll as she stood up.

Tara laughed. “Probably Xander.”

“Yeah.” Dawn said in agreement. “Probab--”

She didn’t even finish the sentence when she removed the object she had sat on from between the cushions of the sofa. It was the hands free telephone. Her eyes widened when she noticed that the counter was climbing. “Who left this off the hook?” she asked as she pressed the end call button.

Buffy was going to be so mad if they missed anything important.

~~~

Darla was lounging in her private quarters when a rap at the door interrupted her. “What?” she called out in annoyance.

“H-he’s awake.” Came the timid response.

“Excellent.”

~~~

Buffy fidgeted nervously in the seat beside Giles as he drove the van into Breakers Woods. She just hoped that they got there in time. She feared for Spike’s well being, praying that he was still alive, even better, not injured. But from what she knew about Darla from the information that Giles had shared with her from the Watcher’s Diaries, that didn’t seem likely. Refusing to allow herself to think the worst, she kept her eyes trained on the dirt road they were traveling down.

Willow, Xander, Anya and Angel were sitting in the back of the van, talking quietly amongst themselves. Well, Willow and Xander were doing most of the talking, a pointed comment here and there being inserted by Anya; and Angel just sat back and observed. His mind was elsewhere, like Buffy’s.

He was thinking about her, and the damage he had caused between them for not coming forward with the information that he had, when he did. If he wanted things to be right between them again, then they were going to need a clean slate. No secrets. Which meant that he had to tell her.

“Load up.” Buffy’s voice came from the front seat as the woods opened up into a clearing and the deep mouth of a cave into the rock became visible.

Giles pulled the van to a stop and Buffy inhaled a couple of deep breaths before she reached for the door.

“Are you sure about this?” Giles questioned, mistaking her concern for hesitation.

“I’m not just going to leave him in there Giles.” She whispered quietly in return. She knew that Giles assumed that her concern was solely because of Dawn’s involvement in all of this. But it wasn’t. The loyalty he had shown not only to her sister, but also to herself, especially over the last week was testament to just how much he had changed.

The others, especially Willow and Dawn, thought that she didn’t see that change. And for a while, she hadn’t. Buffy may have been a little slow on the uptake, but she wasn’t completely blind. She had noticed. She also knew that the change in him was in large part due to his feelings for her. But that didn’t explain the kindness he had shown her sister, or the growing camaraderie with Xander even though they would probably both deny its existence. Bit by bit he was becoming more accepted. And it had happened slowly, under the radar. Spike’s normal mode of operation was brash and loud and in your face. This assimilation into the Scooby gang had been subtle. Which made it all the more genuine.

A ghost of a smile graced her lips as she left the vehicle.

~~~

This time the telephone rang! Wesley shuffled the papers in front of him as he waited for someone to pick up. A few moments later the line picked up and a young female voice answered.

“Hello?”

Unsure of whether he was speaking with Buffy or Dawn, Wesley proceeded to identify himself. “Hello. It’s Wesley Wyndam-Price. Is Rupert available?”

“Wesley?! Hey!” Dawn chirped. “It’s Dawn.”

The bounce in her tone of voice identified her before she vocalized her identity.

“It’s rather important that I speak with Rupert. Giles.” He added as an afterthought, thinking that Dawn probably didn’t know him by his Christian name.

“Giles isn’t around right now, can I take a message.” She asked, mouthing the identity of the caller to Tara when she joined her in the living room. “He’s with Buffy and Angel right now, they’ve gone to rescue Spike.”

Wesley rubbed the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. This wasn’t good. This was exactly what Darla would want, and it was the worst possible thing that they could do. Especially now that he knew that Spike’s life was not linked to Dawn’s. They were likely just walking into a trap.

“Could you let him know that I called, and that it is imperative that he calls me back as soon as possible.” He stressed the importance of his request. He would call back in a few hours anyway, just in case Dawn forgot to pass on the message.

“I’ll let him know.” Dawn said with a nod. “Bye!”

“Bye.” Wes fare-welled as he hung up the phone. If only Angel had taken that blasted charger with him to Sunnydale, he might have been able to contact them sooner and warn them of what was to come.

~~~

“Buffy could I speak with you a moment?”

She turned at the sound of Angel’s voice, a worried frown crossing her face when she took in his stance. His expression was calm but the way he was holding himself was not. “Angel we really have to get in there.” She said as she stretched out an arm towards the cave.

“It’s important.” He pleaded.

Looking towards the rest of the group who were waiting for her by the mouth of the dark cavern, she raised a hand to signal that she would be with them in a moment.

“Angel please we really have to be --”

“It was Spike who rescued you in the cemetery.” He blurted out in one breath.

At Buffy’s bewildered expression he paused, waiting a moment for it to sink in before he continued. “He was the one who… fought back your attackers. My arrival was just a lucky coincidence.”

Buffy’s jaw dropped open. “What… how…?”

“He was beat up pretty bad, and I had my car parked just around the corner.” He explained.

“Why didn’t you TELL me?” she asked, feeling her temper rise.

“I’m telling you now.” He said quietly. “I… he…” he ran a hand through his hair as he tried to sort out his thoughts. “I’m just trying to be honest with you.”

When Buffy’s expression clouded, he continued quickly. “At the hospital I tried to tell you but then your friends showed up, and then there was the whole thing with Darla.”

His head dropped in shame. “I… I just thought you should know. Just in case…” he didn’t finish the thought aloud but they both knew was he was insinuating. In case Spike didn’t make it out of this alive…

His eyes finally rose to hers again. “I’m sorry. For not telling you sooner.”

Spike had rescued her… Spike had rescued her. She was having hard time absorbing this, and as was true to form Angel had left it to the last moment to inform her. She was angry with him, and there would be words later. But not now, now they had a job to do.

With a curt nod of her head she turned away from him and began moving towards the cave. “We’ve got a vampire to set free.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A.N: More up soon.
Liberation. by angelic_amy
Thanks to klylu and cordykitten for the reviews.

Chapter 27: Liberation.


Buffy took the front, leading the group through the tunnels and towards one of the many hidden entrances to the Initiative complex. Giles, Willow and Xander followed in a line behind her, with Angel taking up the rear. As they neared their entry point, noises from within began to reach their ears.

Lifting a hand to still the movement of the group, Buffy whispered over her shoulder at Angel. “How many?”

Angel’s vampiric hearing allowed him to eavesdrop with ease on the small group of vampires that were standing sentinel just around the corner from where they were hiding in the shadows. He counted the voices, hearing three but it was possible that there were more.

He lifted a hand with three fingers extended, and then shook his hand from side to side. Buffy understood what he was trying to explain and nodded, acknowledging his response before she signaled back that the two of them would take them out.

Angel swept passed the others, directing them with a look to stay behind. Speaking with each other in sign the pair quickly separated, Buffy sticking to the shadows of the tunnel whilst Angel walked right out into the open.

The sentinels spotted him immediately eliciting a chorus of ‘heys!’ which echoed down the tunnel as the moved forward to investigate.

When they passed Buffy without realizing, she leapt out from the shadows. The five vampires were effectively caught between her and Angel now. As recognition of the slayer dawned in their eyes, mouths turned up into snarls and fists began to swing.

Angel’s own face shifted into game and as one, the slayer and the vampire attacked. They needed to dispose of the guards quickly and quietly. If their presence was detected by any of the vamps in the inner compound it would make their attack less of a surprise and more like walking into a trap.

Buffy took out her frustration on the face of the first vampire to charge her, slamming her stake into his chest even as his hands flew up to cup his broken and bleeding nose. The second vampire caught a right hook to the cheek followed by a roundhouse kick to the midsection, which sent him flying into the vampire that Angel had been pounding on. He proceeded to stake both vampires that were now on the ground, only to be tackled by a third.

Left with only one opponent, Buffy made quick work of him. But not before she slammed his face into her knee and practically dislocated his shoulder.

Seeing the compromising position that Angel was in, currently being straddled and pinned by his opponent, Buffy stepped forward and slammed her stake into the back of the female vampire. She offered a hand to Angel through the dust of the combusting vampire that was still swirling in the air.

Signaling to the others, they crept towards the entrance to the compound.

~~~

Spike’s head lolled to the side as he struggled to stay conscious. Darla had done a right good job of messing him up. When she had plunged the make-shift stake into his chest he thought he was done for, that it was all over. At that precise moment an image of Buffy floated through his mind and he had lost consciousness with the comfort of knowing that her face, even if only imagined, would be the last thing he would ever see.

And then he had woken up, and he had almost wished that the bitch had staked him. Blood was pouring freely down his chest from the gaping wound, care of Darla. He knew that if he didn’t feed soon, or if the bleeding from his wounds wasn’t slowed, he wasn’t going to live much longer. Decapitation, sunlight, holy water, wood through the heart… these were all effective in killing his kind. A little known fact was that they could also die from extreme blood loss.

He didn’t think he had much time…

~~~

They breached the inner sanctum as stealthily as possible, Xander, Willow and Giles taking up position just inside their entrance point. The activity in the main cavern was minimal, which worked in their favor. But there were still enough vampires on guard that their presence would be detected almost instantly once they stepped out from their hiding place.

“There’s no easy way to do this.” Buffy whispered, stating the obvious as she searched for a route less populated.

“I’ll create a diversion, you just get to Spike.” Angel said calmly as he began to rise from his hiding place.

“Angel!” Buffy hissed. “What if you run into Darla? She has the dagger, you can’t just…”

“I’ll be fine.” Angel said cutting of her worried little rant. “Just get him out of here.”

Before she could argue Angel leapt from their hiding place behind the large shipping crate which hid their entrance point, and ran towards the first guard and staked him from behind. The shout of pain that slipped from the vampire’s mouth as he dusted alerted the others to Angel’s arrival, and as one the group converged on him.

“Back him up!” Buffy directed to Giles as she shot out from behind her point of cover and ran towards the entrance to the laboratories.

Giles lifted himself to the elevated height on top of a small packing crate and began firing into the crowd of vampires that were amassing in the atrium with his crossbow.

~~~

Buffy met her third obstacle just inside what used to be the high security section of the laboratories of the compound. The pair of vampires were quickly disposed of, but not before she received a good hit to the head, which momentarily stunned her. Slightly dizzied she continued down the hallway.

An alarm sounded, ringing loudly throughout the complex. Someone must have tripped it. Knowing that her time was now limited she began sprinting down the corridor, shouting as she ran only slowing to check the doors.

“SPIKE!”

She threw open a door and was met with an empty room. She tried to next and found it empty also.

“SPIKE! WHERE ARE YOU?”

The third door she tried was locked. She twisted the handle as hard as she could but there was no way she was going to be able to bust through the reinforced steel. He was in there… he had to be. Almost certain that she had found his cell she took off at a sprint further down the hallway in search of someone who might have a key to the door.

She didn’t have to travel that far. A few feet ahead of her, walking out from another room, was a very familiar face.

“Jake.” Buffy snarled when she recognised him.

The vampire turned at the sound of his name, shock at the sight of the slayer before him, stunning him for a moment before a weak smile crossed his face. “Buffy? Hey. How’s it going?”

Buffy took two steps forward and slammed her fist into his face. “KEY. Give it to me, NOW.” She demanded.

“Key?” he repeated, trying for ignorance.

That was a big mistake.

Buffy’s fist shot out again, slamming into his jaw, the hit sending him flying against the wall behind him. One hand reached out and grabbed him by his throat and pinned him there, whilst the other held a stake pressed hard against his chest.

“Key. Give it to me, now.” She said more calmly this time, her tone threatening.

Jake didn’t doubt for a second that she would do it. “Key, right.” He squeaked out, finding it hard to speak considering that his voice box was currently being crushed beneath the grasp of the slayer.

Buffy relaxed her hold on his throat, gripping him by the collar of his shirt instead. “Unlock the door, now.” She ordered as she dragged him towards the door in question.

Jake gulped as he fumbled in his pockets for the key. Darla was going to be furious. No, furious was an understatement. If he lived past the next few minutes, he was going to have to try and convince his mistress that the escape of the captive was not his fault.

“The guards, what happened to them?” he inquired as he slid the key into the lock.

Buffy raised a brow in response as if saying what-do-you-think?

“Just wondering why you didn’t take their key from them before you dusted them.” He continued as he twisted the key in the lock and pushed the door open.

With all of her strength Buffy shoved Jake head first at the wall, feeling momentary satisfaction when the smart ass collapsed to the ground unconscious. She had the mind to dust him, and was preparing to strike when a pained cry came from within the room just opened. All thoughts of vengeance fled her mind as she rushed into the room.

“Spike!”

~~~

“More bolts!” Giles demanded as he thrust a hand behind him towards Willow.

Willow scrambled for the requested items and handed a couple of them to Giles. She was worried for Buffy, and hoped that she was okay. And she was also worried for Angel. He was greatly outnumbered and if not for Giles’ excellent marksmanship with the crossbow he would likely have fallen.

Please hurry Buffy…

~~~

“There has been a breach!”

Darla rolled her eyes at the minion who appeared at the doorway to the room that she had nested in. The sounding alarms had alerted her of that fact. She was certain it was the slayer and her band of hangers-on that had stormed the complex, and the fact that they were here indicated that they knew a lot more than she had hoped.

It also meant that she had to get out of here quickly if she wanted to make her escape alive. Pointing at her belongings the pair of vampires who were standing guard at her door instantly stepped inside the room and gathered her possessions.

Deciding it was best to arm herself Darla reached for her weapon and loaded it up. The slayer had fired one of these at her the last time they had met. She figured it was time to repay the favor.

~~~

“Spike!” Buffy called a second time as she rushed into the room and fell to her knees by his side. He was unresponsive.

Her eyes filled with tears when she took in the many wounds that he had been inflicted with, most notably the gaping hole in his chest. She needed to stop the bleeding before she moved him. Scrambling to her feet she threw open the solitary cupboard which was situated by the door, throwing the contents over her head and onto the floor in her search for a bandage of some sort.

But there was nothing there. Suppressing the urge to scream in frustration she moved back to his side. His arms were manacled over his head, which would only be increasing the amount of blood that was seeping from his many wounds. There were deep cuts in a crosshatch pattern all over his chest, and several stab wounds on the underside of both arms.

His face was bruised and beaten, his left eye swollen over and his lip was split. And his skin… she gasped when she realized that it was much to pink for a vampire’s skin. And it wasn’t because of bloodstaining. No… he had been burned.

Moving him was going to be incredibly painful for him, but it had to be done.

Her hands flew to his left arm, tugging on the manacle. Adrenaline coursed through her as her panic increased. It wasn’t going to give way with just pulling on it. Her eyes scanned the room and fell to the tray of what were obviously torture implements. There, in the middle of the tray, was a small gold key.

Grabbing it from the tray she slid it into the lock on the manacle, holding her breath in hope that it would work. When it did a gasp of surprise left her lips and she slowly lowered his arm, which fell limply by his side. She made quick work of releasing his other arm.

Now that he was free she had to do something about that chest wound. Since the room was void of any medical supplies, she was going to have to make do with what she had on her, namely a long sleeved shirt. Grabbing at the shoulder of it, she tore at the seam, the material sliding down her arm. She repeated the process on the other side and then ripped them both in half lengthways so that she had four long strips. Tying them together so that she now had one long piece of material, she quickly began wrapping it around Spike’s torso.

Her touches must have pained him because a gasp left his throat and a moment later his eyes fluttered open.

“Buffy…” he mumbled in disbelief.

~~~

Angel grunted in pain when a random fist connected with the side of his jaw. He was greatly outnumbered, and the ringing of that damned alert siren was doing his head in. He just hoped that Buffy was okay, and that she would be coming out soon.

He didn’t know how much longer he could hold off the vampires that were attacking him.

~~~

“Yes Spike it’s me.” She confirmed. She finished tying the makeshift bandage, sorry that the pressure was causing him pain. It was a temporary fix, and the wound would need to be treated properly, soon. But right now it would have to do.

“No…” he shook his head in disbelief. He was dreaming this. She wasn’t here; she was a figment of his imagination. “No, no you’re not… I’m dreaming…”

“No Spike, I’m here. And I didn’t come alone.” She informed him. “The others are here too.”

“Others?” he repeated, a moment later decided that it wasn’t important. She was here. Really here. Panic swept through him when he realized what that meant. She would be in danger if she stayed here any longer. She needed to leave, the sooner the better. “Buffy… you need to get out of here… Darla…”

His face contorted in pain as he felt himself being lifted from the floor. Buffy was by his side, holding him up, most of his weight leaning on her. A second later he began to slip from her grasp as his knees buckled beneath him.

“Leave… Buffy just get out of here. I’m too weak...”

He tried to push her away from him but said weakness made his intended shove come out as more of a nudge.

Buffy lowered him to the ground softly and knelt before him. He was right. He was too weak. And she wouldn’t be able to carry him out here by herself. She was left with few choices, but Buffy knew what she had to do.

Reaching at the tray again she grabbed a scalpel and pressed the blade into the palm of her hand, a short cry of pain escaping her lips as it dug into her flesh.

Spike smelled her blood instantly, his face shifting into its vampiric form involuntarily. “Buffy what did you do?” he gasped.

She lifted her palm towards his face but he turned his face away from her.

Realizing that time was an issue here, and that she needed him to co-operate she grabbed his face with both her hands and leaned forward, pressing her lips against his in a gentle kiss.



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A/N: Liked it? Please review!
Déjà Vu. by angelic_amy
Thank you to klylu and cordykitten for the reviews!


Chapter 28: Déjà Vu.


Every nerve in his body began to sing when her soft lips brushed against his. His pain was forgotten in that moment as their lips danced together, what had obviously began as a way to grab his attention becoming so much more. He leaned into the kiss, his tongue darting out to run the length of her bottom lip and that was when Buffy pulled away.

She had kissed him and now she had his attention. It was only as she moved her hand that she realized that his face had been in its vampiric form the entire time.

Lifting her palm to his mouth she pleaded with her eyes as she pressed it to his lips. “Drink, please.”

Still dazed from the fact that she had willingly kissed him Spike didn’t realize what she was doing until the taste of her blood hit his tongue. He tried to pull away but she held her hand there, refusing to remove it until he had fed.

Knowing that she wouldn’t give up, and the fact that the scent her blood was assaulting his senses, he gave in. His tongue flicked out to lave across her palm, licking away every last drop of her spilled blood. He licked at the wound, his saliva slowing the bleeding until the self inflicted wounds flow stopped.

The entire time he had been suckling at her hand tingles had been shooting up Buffy’s spine. He had only been cleaning the wound, she knew that was all he was doing, and the gentle action caused a shiver to roll through her. He had been tender, the act was almost sensuous. But that was not the purpose of her inflicting the wound.

Drawing her hand away from his mouth she frowned when she noted that the blood had stopped flowing. She looked up and met his eyes, which were clouded with adoration and respect. He appeared awed at the gift she had given him. At that moment she knew that she could trust him with what she was about to offer.

Leaning towards him, she flipped her hair off her shoulder and arched her neck, exposing the creamy skin to him. “Drink.”

Shock washed Spike’s features as a gasp slipped from his mouth. “Wh-what?” He didn’t trust his ears that he had heard her properly.

“Drink.” Buffy repeated again. “You need your strength if you’re going to get out of here. That little lick did nothing.”

She was serious and he couldn’t believe it. He began shaking his head vehemently from side to side, almost instantly regretting it when the action caused nausea to rise within him. “No Buffy, I won’t… I can’t…

Buffy knew that he meant that he couldn’t let himself do that, but she took it literally as well. He still had the chip in his head, and the last thing she wanted to do was cause him more pain.

“You won’t hurt me.” She said confidently. “So long as I’m not hurt, the chip won’t fire.”

Spike shook his head from side to side again. There was no way he was going to do this.

“Spike.” She snapped when he looked away from her. When their eyes met again she nodded once as if to confirm that she had just said what she had said. “I trust you.”

Once again shock filled Spike’s eyes, but this time Buffy didn’t give him the chance to argue. Grabbing him as gently as she could she guided his fangs to her neck and pressed his mouth right against her throat.

Spike resisted for a moment longer, waiting… almost as if willing her to be fearful, to give him an excuse to reject her offer. But none came. And the steady thump of her heartbeat that he could feel beneath his lips was almost hypnotizing. Her blood was calling him.

“Buffy…” he mumbled against her throat.

“Drink.” She ordered calmly.

Buffy’s words reassured him and he nodded once as he opened his mouth. Spike’s fangs broke the skin at her neck, and his whole body tensed in preparation for the blinding pain that he had come to associate with the chip. But she had been right. He mustn’t have hurt her, because it wasn’t firing. With that knowledge in hand Spike suckled at her neck, drawing a deep pull of her blood into his throat.

A breathy gasp escaped Buffy’s lips at the sensations she was feeling. This was not the first time a vampire had fed from her, not even the first voluntary time. But each time, the sensation was different. The Master hadn’t drawn a lot of her blood when he had fed upon her, but the bite had been painful, causing her to faint which had resulted her falling and drowning.

Dracula’s bite had also been painful, and whilst she hadn’t resisted it, it was only because she was under his thrall that he had been able to bite her in the first place.

And then there was Angel’s bite. Angel’s bite had been the most similar to this in sensation, the only difference being that Angel had been delirious due to the poison coursing through his veins, and once he had begun to feed he had lost control and taken too much.

Spike’s steady pulls at her neck were slow, deliberate, and measured.

And the sensations it was causing within her…

Spike’s lips left her neck and he licked at the wound, closing the bite with his saliva before drawing back to look in her eyes, fearful of what he would see there. All he saw was compassion.

“Let’s get you out of here.” Buffy said with a smile as she began to lift him to his feet.

~~~

Giles fired another bolt from his crossbow, hitting the vampire he had aimed at square in the back, it combusting into dust before their eyes.

Willow and Xander were pelting the crowd of vampires with bottles of holy water, kindly donated by Anya. Their combined attacks had thinned the group, killing some and causing others to back off. But there were still at least ten that refused to leave. And Angel was taking quite a beating due to their attacks.

“Throw me another stake!” Came a frenzied shout from within the circle. Xander obliged, throwing the piece of wood into the air, Angel’s fist rising from the pack to secure it before quickly disposing of another vampire.

~~~

“The prisoner has been released!” Jake informed as he entered Darla’s private quarters.

Darla sighed in annoyance. She had expected it, just hadn’t thought it would happen so soon. “How did they get him out of there? That room is secure.” She asked as she turned to address him.

It was when she met his gaze that she saw the large purplish bruise that was forming down one side of his face.

“The slayer… she stole a key from one of the guards.” Jake lied, then continued when he saw Darla’s gaze narrow at the sight of the bruising on his face. “I tried to stop her, but she knocked me out.”

Darla pursed her lips. “Why didn’t she kill you?”

“I-I don’t know.” He mumbled in fear.

Shrugging it off Darla swept passed Jake and into the hallway, the crossbow loaded and held out before her. “We’re leaving.” She announced over her shoulder at her second in command. “Get a weapon, and follow me.”

Doing as instructed Jake grabbed a sharp looking knife from the weapons shelf and fell into line behind her.

~~~

“I hope they’re alright.” Dawn said as she chewed on her lip and looked out the window for the umpteenth time since her only family and her friends had left over an hour ago.

“I’m sure they’re fine Dawn.” Tara said softly, silently praying that her girlfriend came back to her in one piece.

~~~

Spike was gasping for un-needed breath as Buffy dragged him to his feet and began leading him out of the cell he had been confined to. She looked down the hallway, only slightly surprised when she found that Jake was nowhere to be seen. She had figured that he would have woken up eventually; she just hadn’t thought it would be so soon.

Spike gasped again, feeling more than a little light headed. “I can’t… I just need a moment to rest.” He begged.

“We don’t have time.” Buffy insisted as she began walking him down the hallway to the exit.

A tingling sensation ran up his spine as they moved… like they were being watched. He turned to look over his shoulder and found nothing. Déjà vu washed over him when he felt like this had happened before. Then it hit him, that dream.

“Buffy!” he shouted in alarm as he spun his attention back towards their intended direction. His shout of alarm startled Buffy and she turned her gaze towards him.

“Spike what is it?”

His stare narrowed, glaring at the hallway before them. Whatever it was that he was seeing, Buffy didn’t.

“Spike…”

Blond came into view at the mouth of the hallway and Spike’s entire body tensed when he saw the weapon raise and then fire before Buffy even realized that they weren’t alone. Acting on instinct Spike shoved Buffy to the side, the crossbow bolt imbedding in his arm.

Standing in front of their exit with the crossbow still raised towards them, was Darla. With a coquettish little wave of her hand she turned and walked away, followed by Jake and several other vampires.

A roar of pain ripped from Spike even as relief washed over him when he realized that Buffy was safe.

“SPIKE!” Buffy shouted in alarm.

She reached for the arrow that was sticking out of his arm but he pulled away from her. Judging by the pain radiating from the wound it was a through and through. Which would mean he couldn’t just pull it out. Grabbing hold of the end of it, he snapped the piece of wood, his face crumpling at the pain the action caused.

“Buffy… you need to pull it through.” He directed as he lifted his arm to show the arrowhead poking out the other side.

Nodding, Buffy reached for it and grasped onto the piece of wood. “This is going to hurt.” She warned.

“I’m bloody well aware of that.” He cursed. “It hurts like a bitch now.”

A hint of a smile crossed her face at his cursing. This was the Spike she knew. Obviously her blood had helped him. “On three.” She instructed. When he nodded she began counting. “One…”

She ripped the piece of wood from his arm.

Spike growled as the fresh pain, relieved that the arrow was out of his arm, but pissed off that she had gone early. “You were supposed to wait till three.” He pointed out.

“But if I had you would have been ready for it and tensed up.” She said with a shrug. “Come on, lets get you out of here.

~~~

Xander saw the flash of long blond hair side by side with the platinum head of Spike, and he knew that they would be getting out of here.

“ANGEL!” he shouted into the crowd. “TIME TO GO!”

Angel dusted the vampire before him and began stumbling towards the shipping crate that was guarding the exit into the tunnels. He was bleeding from several cuts to his hands, and lip, and he was almost certain that he had several broken ribs.

Looking over his shoulder as he made his exit he saw Buffy half carrying Spike as they made their way towards him. He gasped when he saw Spike’s condition. This wasn’t just the work of whomever they had assigned to beat him up. Darla had most definitely had a hand in causing the colourful marks that marred his ivory skin.

Giles was still firing his crossbow at the vampires that dared to follow his slayer, and Willow was by his side throwing the last remaining bottles of holy water.

When Buffy joined them at the mouth to the cave Angel stepped in line with her on the other side of Spike and threw an arm around the vampires back, assisting in getting him out of there as soon as possible.

They were met with no obstacles on the way out, and were soon back outside under the night sky and moving quickly towards the van.

Anya spotted the group coming and unlocked the doors, starting up the engine and sliding across to the passenger seat so that Giles could accept the driver’s.



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A/N: Liked it? Leave a review!
Paying a Visit. by angelic_amy
Thanks to klylu and cordykitten for the reviews!


Chapter 29: Paying a Visit.


The drive back to the house was silent. Willow looked around the back of the van at the occupants, each person wearing similar expressions. Angel was pretty beaten up and was trying to keep as still as possible so as not to infuriate his broken ribs. She had thought that he was in a bad way, but that was before she had seen Spike. His condition was by far the worst of the two vampires.

The cuts, the stab wounds, the burns… hardly any of his exposed skin was unblemished. She pitied him for the state that he was in, but also in complete awe of the fact that he hadn’t given in. If she had been subjected to such torture, she didn’t think she could have survived it, and not just because she was human. Willow was by no means a weak person, but the courage it must have taken to live through what he had… awed her.

Xander was sitting in the far corner of the van, looking anywhere but at Buffy and Spike. Willow understood that even though the air between Xander and Spike wasn’t as volatile as it used to be, they were by no means friends; Xander didn’t trust the vampire enough for that. But seeing him like this must have really shaken him up.

Even Anya was uncharacteristically quiet as she sat in the front with Giles as they made their way out of the woods and towards Revello Drive.

And then there was Buffy.

Willow had noticed the bite mark on Buffy’s neck almost immediately, even though she had tried to conceal it with her hair. She wasn’t aware if anyone else had seen it, but she had. And surprisingly, she was okay with it. Buffy wasn’t a fool. If she had allowed Spike to feed from her, then he must have been in a really bad way. Willow could only imagine the state he must have been in when Buffy broke him free from that cell. Not wanting to imagine him any worse she returned her thoughts back to Buffy, who was sitting beside Spike, her worried gaze traveling across the vampires face and body.

Willow saw genuine concern for Spike’s well being in Buffy’s eyes. She speculated that it wasn’t just in regard to Dawn, something she would not be voicing out loud to her friend any time soon. She wondered if this would bring the vampire and the slayer closer together, and found that a small part of her was hoping that it would. Spike adored Buffy, practically worshipped the ground she walked on, something he did not hide even though he was ridiculed for it. He was protective over Buffy, and it didn’t go unnoticed by Willow that this was the second time in a little over a month that Spike had been tortured by a crazy blonde woman because of his connection to Buffy. And he was definitely a lighter shade of evil these days. And it wasn’t as if Buffy was against dating vampires…

Am I really justifying Spike’s worth here? She thought with a shake of her head. Buffy doesn’t need a matchmaker…

“We’re almost there.” Giles called from the front seat, alerting the others, specifically Buffy, that they were close to the house.

Spike let the relief that announcement brought wash over him for a moment as he drug his gaze from the floor up to Buffy. He was in a state of euphoria. His wounds still hurt like hell, and it would be several days before he was well enough to fight, but the pain was dulled by the knowledge of what she had given him in that cell. Not just her blood. But that kiss. He couldn’t deny how much it meant to him. His only worry was that she would regret it. He didn’t think he could stand that rejection.

His eyes found hers and his worries were quashed. She was watching him so intently that he could almost feel her gaze burning into him. But that was how he always felt when he was around her. Alive…

Spike reached for Buffy’s hand that lay on the seat beside him and linked his fingers through hers, giving them a tight squeeze in thanks. When she returned that squeeze and didn’t pull away he felt his heart soar.

A glimmer of a smirk danced on Willow’s face when she noticed the linked hands. Buffy doesn’t need a matchmaker…

The van pulled to a stop and Buffy slowly extracted her hand from Spike’s, moving to support him around the waist as they brought him into the house. Angel exited the van after Buffy and once again made his way to the other side of Spike. Knowing that he was in no position to disregard help right now, Spike nodded in thanks to Angel as they slowly moved towards the house.

~~~

Darla and her crew returned to the Masters old lair, the Sunken Church beneath the ruins of Sunnydale High after the encounter with the slayer. Her numbers were incredibly depleted and although they had managed to escape without her bargaining chip, she still had the Dagger of Cortanzine in her possession.

She figured it was time to lay her cards on the table.

“We’re going back out.” Darla announced as she spun on her heel and addressed the minions that had amassed in the chamber.

“But we’ve taken great losses!” One of the fledglings pointed out. “We’ll be no match for the slayer!”

Darla snapped her fingers once and Jake stepped forward, plunging a wooden stake into the back of the vampire. “Anyone else have any questions? Comments?”

When none came Darla smiled thinly and began shouting orders.

~~~

“Oh dear lord.”

Wesley wiped at his forehead with the handkerchief from his pocket as he was filled with a new sense of dread. “Things couldn’t possibly get any worse.”

Cordelia’s mouth gaped and she swatted at Wes’s arm. “You do realize that you’ve just jinxed us now right?” she questioned with an arched brow.

Her sarcasm washed right over him as he began gathering papers and hurriedly stuffing them into a briefcase.

“Wes… what is it?” Cordelia asked when he didn’t even acknowledge her sarcasm.

“We need to get to Sunnydale as fast as we can.” He informed as he reached for his jacket and slipped it over his arms.

Cordelia’s eyes widened and she began to shake her head from side to side. “Ohhh, No.” She objected. “Sunnydale? The place where we nearly got eaten alive, literally. And not just once, on several occasions. I’m NOT going back there.”

“Not goin’ back where?” Gunn queried as he joined Wes and Cordy in the office. He had been out dealing with one of their cases, Angel Investigations having found themselves quite busy ever since Angel had left town.

“Sunnydale.” Wesley informed.

“Why?” Cordelia whined.

Wesley’s expression was grim. “Because if we don’t not only will Darla cause Angel to lose his soul, but she will also destroy the prodigal.”

“The prodigal? That dude you had us researchin’ in connection with Spike?”

“He’s not connected to Spike.” Wesley enlightened. “He’s connected to Angel.”

“What?” Cordelia said with a confused frown. “How? Will you please explain what is going on?” she added with a ‘humph’ as she folded her arms over her chest.

“In the car. If my sources are accurate, we don’t have much time.”

~~~

“They’re here!” Dawn shouted excitedly, leaping from the sofa and rushing to the front door when she heard a car pull up in the driveway. After peeping through one of the square glass panels to confirm it was them, Dawn threw the door open and bounded down the few steps from the front porch to the path.

And then stopped still.

“Oh my god!” She cried in alarm, a hand flying to her mouth when she took in Spike’s wounds.

“Dawn, you got that first aid station all prepared?” Buffy asked as they approached the door.

Nodding numbly she led the group inside the house, Giles being the last one to enter, before closing the door.

Tara swept forward and wrapped Willow in a tight embrace, thankful that her girlfriend had returned in one piece. Xander and Anya stood in the entrance way in a similar position, sobered by Spike’s condition.

“Giles.” Buffy called from the dining room. “I think we’re going to need you’re expertise here. We’ve got two vampires in need of patching up.”

Giles entered the room, where Buffy was in the process of lowering Spike onto a chair as gently as possible.

Angel lifted a hand to shake off the offer. “I’m fine, I just need some rest.”

Buffy quirked an eyebrow and playfully tapped him on the stomach. Angel doubled over almost instantly when the pressure, although light, caused pain to radiate from his ribs.

“Oh yeah, you’re just fine.” Buffy drawled sarcastically. “Sit down, you’ll get your turn.”

Angel did as instructed and lowered himself to the seat beside Spike.

Giles did a quick stock take of what Dawn had laid out, rolling up the sleeves of his sweater as he cleaned his hands with a sterilizing agent. “Dawn, would you be able to prepare some saline solution in a large bowl please?” he asked.

“Saline?”

“Water, salt, stir it together.” He said kindly.

Dawn retuned a few minutes later with what Giles requested. He dipped his finger in the solution and tasted it, satisfied with the strength of it. Opening a bandage from its packet Giles dipped it in the solution and squeezed out most of the excess. “This is going to sting a little.” He warned Spike. “But your wounds need to be cleaned.”

Spike nodded once, gripping the sides of the chair as he prepared himself for it.

Cautiously, Giles dabbed the wet bandage on one of the minor wounds on Spike’s shoulder.

“Bloody, sodding, shagging, bollocks!” Spike cursed, the string of words out of his mouth before he had a chance to censor himself.

Giles re-dipped the bandage in the water and began to move it towards Spike’s shoulder but the vampire flinched.

“Not again.” He said with a vehement shake of his head, muttering sarcastically under his breath. “This is going to sting a little. Little my ass.”

Buffy fought back the grin that wanted to stretch across her face. “Oh you big baby.”

“Does it sting? Poor Spikey-wikey.” Xander mocked, grinning broadly in amusement of the whole situation.

“Hey!” Spike retorted.

“Buffy?” Giles said impatiently. “Would you mind?” he asked, holding the soaking bandage towards the slayer. “If you tend to Spike I’ll see about patching up Angel’s ribs.”

Nodding once, Buffy accepted the bandage, and drew up a chair in front of Spike. “Try not to move.” She said. “And if you try and escape, I’ll tie you down.”

Jaw agape at her threat, knowing that she would follow through with it, Spike nodded once in acquiescence.

He flinched a little at the sting from the salty water, but slowly found himself relaxing at the soft and soothing way in which Buffy tended his wounds. She was gentle, unlike the Watcher. He observed her closely as she cleaned his wounds, avoiding the hole in his chest for as long as she possible could. When she had nothing else to swab, she slowly peeled back the makeshift bandage she had tied around his torso and with feather light touches began to clean that wound as well.

She was surprised at how much it had healed, knowing that the rapid acceleration of his healing was due to the slayer blood that was coursing Spike’s veins. She trailed her fingers lightly over the mending flesh, her actions eliciting a shiver from the vampire. Thinking that she had hurt him, she drew her fingers away and reached for the sterile wounds dressings and slowly began tending to the wounds.

~~~

“And you trust the source English?” Gunn asked as they drove down the freeway towards a town he had only ever heard stories about.

“No.” Wesley replied with a shake of his head. “But I trust the intel.”

“And the difference is?” Cordelia said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as she stared out the window. She was beyond annoyed that she was being forced to go back to Sunnydale. Behind the annoyance and sarcasm, was hidden fear.

Cordelia Chase was afraid of going back to Sunnydale.

And she didn’t scare lightly, as least, not as much as she used to. Everything had changed so much in the last year and a half. She had sworn that she would never return to that town. At first, it was because of shame. After losing everything to the IRS and having to start over with nothing, she hadn’t wanted to return to face the gossip, the looks. Recently, it had been because she no longer considered Sunnydale to be home anymore. LA was her home.

Although she would never admit it, the teensiest part of her was nervous about meeting up with the old gang. The people who she had first considered the lepers of High School, who had quickly found their way into her heart. And then shattered it. She was over Xander, well and truly. Towards the end of senior year they had begun to mend their friendship, slightly. But now… so much time had passed. And she knew it would just be awkward, for all of them.

“Wolfram and Hart don’t like it when other beings interrupt their plans.” Wesley said interrupting Cordelia’s thoughts. “They have plans for Angel and Darla isn’t included in them.”

“Well we all know what a sucker he is for blondes.” Gunn said with a grin. “It may be a little difficult persuading him to go through with this.”

He may not have ever met Buffy Summers, but he had most certainly heard about her, from Wes and Cordy. Angel didn’t speak about her much but he was always different after seeing her. And then there were the few photographs that Angel thought no one knew about, but Gunn had stumbled upon.

And of course there was Darla. Even though Angel had tried to kill her, he knew that the vampire still held the evil vampiress with regard. Gunn didn’t know much about the relationship between vampires and their sires, but that didn’t mean he didn’t get it. When his sister had been turned… he shook his head, trying to clear the painful memories. Yeah… he understood what it was like.

“When he finds out what Darla is planning, I don’t think we will have too much argument.” Wesley said quietly. Wesley’s thoughts went to the weapons they had stored away in the trunk, a vivid image of the tranquilizer gun coming to mind. And if he does…

“Gunn would you try calling the Summers house please?” Wesley asked, handing his cell over to Gunn in the back seat. He had yet to receive a return call from Giles, and with this new information he needed to contact the watcher as soon as possible.

Changing lanes he steered the car off one freeway and towards another, which would take them almost directly to their destination.

~~~

Buffy finished bandaging Spike’s wounds, she stepped back to eye her handiwork. He was a patchwork of bandages, and it was going to be a painful couple of days for him, but at least the wounds wouldn’t become infected.

Spike opened his mouth to thank Buffy for her work but before he had the chance to say anything the telephone rang.

Dawn moved into the kitchen and answered it, speaking with the caller for a few moments before covering the mouthpiece with her hand. “Giles, it’s for you.”




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A/N: Liked it? Leave a review!
Secrets and Stratagems. by angelic_amy
Thank you to klylu and cordykitten for the reviews!


Chapter 30: Secrets and Stratagems.


“Rupert Giles speaking.” Giles greeted as he accepted the telephone.

“Giles, my name is Gunn. I’m a friend of Wesley’s.”

Recognizing the name, Giles nodded. “Gunn. It’s a pleasure. How may I be of assistance?” he asked, assuming that he was calling to clarify something in regards to their research.

Angel’s attention darted to Giles when he heard the familiar name mentioned. His ribs were now wrapped with a pressure bandage and the cuts on his hands and face had been treated. Standing up he slowly moved towards Giles who was standing in the doorway to the kitchen, facing the rest of the group in the dining room.

“We have some information.” Gunn informed.

Imperative.” Wesley’s voice was heard in the background.

“Imperative information.” Gunn corrected. “It has to do with Angel and the slayer’s sister.”

“With Dawn?” Giles asked with concern.

Hearing her sister’s name mentioned Buffy also rose to her feet and moved closer to Giles.

“Yes with Dawn. On the plus side she is in no-way connected to that vampire Spike. The prophecy is a fake.” He said, repeating almost word for word what Wesley was prompting him. “But she’s still in danger.”

Buffy couldn’t hear the conversation wholly, but she did pick up the word danger, her arms folding in front of her chest as she demanded answers. “Danger? What danger?”

Lifting a hand to shush her, Giles prompted Gunn for more answers. “Do you have the specifics? Could you put Wesley on please?”

“He’s behind the wheel right now.”

“Driving? Driving where?” Giles queried.

“To Sunnydale. Looks like we’ll be having ourselves a meet ‘n greet.”

“Excellent.” Giles said with a nod. “How long until we should expect your arrival?”

Checking with Cordelia first, Gunn gave a time estimate. “About an hour and a half, we’re near halfway.”

“Oh good.”

Angel removed his cell phone from his pocket, showing Giles that it was dead and then pointing to the telephone in Giles’ hand.

“Angel would like to speak with you for a moment.” Giles said, handing over the telephone to Angel only to be bombarded by questions from Buffy. Assuring her that they would have all the answers that they needed soon, he managed to placate her slightly.

“Gunn.” Angel said quickly. “Hold the phone to Wes’s ear for me.” He requested.

After a quick greeting Gunn complied with Angel’s request, holding the cell phone to Wes’s ear.

“Talk to me.” The vampire urged.

Hearing the urgency in Angel’s tone of voice and knowing that the vampire would not be satisfied without at least some answers he spoke. “We’ve received some intel from Wolfram and Hart.”

“And?”

Angel’s face went white as a sheet, his eyes darting towards Buffy for a moment before he looked away. Thankfully she was too engrossed in thought to notice his perusal.

But Spike did.

Eyes narrowing, he watched the elder vampire as he took in whatever information was being given to him, before fare welling and hanging up the telephone.

“Anything of interest mate?”

Angel looked over at Spike, knowing that his reaction to the news mustn’t have been as guarded as he had thought it was. “Not really.” He said dismissing the question. “I’m going to go lay down until Wes and the others arrive.” He informed as he walked from the room and towards the basement door.

“Buffy…” Willow called as she entered the dining room. Xander, Anya, Tara and herself had moved to the living room whilst Giles and Buffy had been tending to the vampires wounds. “Did you want me to help with anything?” she offered.

Buffy shook her head. “We’re good here.”

“What about the…” she made the action of lifting a cup to her lips and swallowing.

“Drinks?” Buffy said with a frown. “Was there something planned for tonight?”

“No.” Willow said as she dropped her hand to her side. “I was referring to the…” lowering her voice, “…pig’s blood.”

“Ohh!” Realization cross Buffy’s face. “Yes. Some of that would be great. Angel’s gone downstairs.”

With a nod Willow moved into the kitchen to prepare mugs for Angel and Spike.

Buffy was pacing the dining room as she tried to draw some conclusions from the little information Giles had given her. Dawn’s life wasn’t roped up with Spike’s. Which meant that the whole thing had been a hoax. The information they had surmised from the local informants had been incorrect.

It also meant that tonight had been a big set up. There had to be some reason why they had escaped from the Initiative so easily. After exiting through the tunnels they had been met with no resistance. And that didn’t make sense.

She let us walk out of there…

Running her fingers through her hair Buffy tried to connect the dots but she didn’t have all the pieces. She didn’t know why they would have been allowed to walk out of there so easily. She didn’t know why Darla was still after Dawn.

And she wouldn’t know until Wesley arrived.

“You’re makin’ me dizzy here love.” Spike said, wondering what was going on inside that head of hers to make her so agitated.

“Sorry.” Buffy apologized, and Spike didn’t know if she had realized that it was him that she had just apologized to.

Grabbing her jacket from the back of the seat she had been sitting on, she slipped it on over her shoulders. “I’m going on patrol.” She informed Giles.

“Now hang on a minute…” Spike objected.

“Buffy do you think that’s wise?” Giles questioned. “Darla could be anywhere.”

“I’ll stay close.” Buffy said. “Just do a sweep of the street.”

Before anyone could argue with her further the front door was closing behind her.

~~~

Angel paced the length of the basement. The shock that had just been dropped upon him…

He had to tell Buffy. She wasn’t going to be happy. But he had cleaned the slate early on tonight and he wasn’t going to sully it by keeping something from her now. Lowering himself to the cot he lay down to get some rest before Wesley and the others arrived.

~~~

Buffy had made two passes down Revello Drive before venturing a little further until she found herself wandering Weatherly Park. She had only been there a matter of minutes when the snap of a twig being trodden on alerted her that she was not alone.

Sighing deeply she raised her hands in the air in frustration. She could never have a moment of peace in this town. “Alright, show yourself. I’m not in the mood for games.”

A woman stepped out from behind a large oak tree and when the moonlight washed her face Buffy’s expression clouded in anger. “Darla.” She spat out the name. “I didn’t think you would be stupid enough to try something tonight. Especially after losing more than half of your flunkeys.”

A vicious smile curled at Darla’s lips. “Oh but I expected that.”

Buffy frowned when her earlier suspicions that their exit from the Initiative were confirmed. She shifted her body weight into a defensive stance, preparing for any attack that Darla may make. “Why? Why lead your own men…” Rolling her eyes. “Vampires… to the slaughter?”

“Because I needed to see.”

“See what?” Buffy demanded.

~~~

**Flashback**

Darla reclined on the sofa watching at the screens with interest, examining each and every move that the woman on screen was making. She may detest the slayer with every bone in her body, but she couldn’t deny that she truly was a magnificent fighter. Her attacks were sharp, deadly, her thrust of the stake felling two vampires before they even realized they had company.

Angel was taking care of a majority of her crew which had converged into the main atrium, and it was only a straggler here and there that met their demise at the pointed end of the slayers stake. But it was enough. The few minutes that she observed the slayer fighting gave her insight into her style.

She was far from traditional, her fighting style a merger of several forms of martial arts, mixed with a raw instinct. And that was what was most dangerous about her…

**End Flashback**


~~~

“You.” Darla responded with a smirked, as if daring Buffy to try and wipe it from her face.

And try Buffy did.

Her mouth curled up in anger she threw herself into the air and spun a roundhouse kick at Darla’s head. Which the vampire subsequently ducked. The lack of contact caused Buffy to land slightly off balance.

“We’ll you’ve seen me. Now get the hell out of my town.”

Darla threw back her head and laughed. “Do you really think that I’m just going to leave?” she asked, fluttering her hand in their air to mock her demanded travel.

“I was kinda hoping you would object. I’ve got some payback to exact.” Buffy retorted as she took a threatening step towards the blond vampire. She was going to make her pay for what she did to Spike, and for whatever she had planned to do to Dawn. Darla didn’t even flinch as she approached, and that disturbed Buffy a little more than she liked.

“For Spike?” Darla asked with a raised brow. “That boy is a hell of a lot more stubborn than I remember him being. Drusilla is going to be quite upset when I inform her that he won’t be returning to the family with Angelus.”

Buffy snarled. “Angel won’t be going anywhere with you.”

“Is that right?” Darla questioned.

Buffy’s right fist shot out in an arc that should have connected with the vampires left cheek, but Darla ducked. Buffy over swung and found her legs being swept out from beneath her as Darla dropped to the ground and spun her leg out in a move that was pure Summers.

Buffy hit the ground on her back, kicking her legs up into the air, one foot connecting with Darla’s lower jaw as she vaulted herself up onto her hands and then sprung to her feet.

Darla rubbed at her jaw as she reeled back. “I didn’t see that one…”

“See?” Buffy repeated. Realization dawned on her.

“Yes that’s right.” Darla said with a nod. “All those security cameras still wired up… it was just a matter of getting the power online so that they would be operational and what do you know, I have a fully operational, surveillance equipped lair in my hands.”

“So what are you doing out here?” Buffy demanded.

“I know your style now Buffy. I’ve been meaning to exact a little revenge upon you for months.”

“So exact away.” Buffy said sarcastically. “Well… you can try.”

Darla didn’t need any further invitation. Her face shifting into its vampiric countenance, she attacked. Right hook deflected by Buffy’s left block, who dropped to her knees and spun her leg in a wide arc, which was jumped by Darla. Fists flew in fury, the vampire and the slayer parrying their blows back and forth; blocking each other’s attacks yet neither collecting a solid hit. Then a fist broke through and Buffy’s head reeled back as she stumbled backwards a few steps to try and right her balance.

“Luck.” Buffy scowled.

“That?” Darla queried with a raised brow. “No… THAT I learned from Angelus.”

Buffy launched a fist at Darla and the fight resumed.

~~~

Giles peered out the window of Summers house, frowning when yet again he was met with nothing. Buffy had been gone for almost an hour. And he was worried.

“It doesn’t take an hour to walk up the street.” Spike said, voicing Giles’ exact thoughts as he joined the watcher at the window. “I could go…”

“Don’t even think about it.” Dawn said as she joined the pair, folding her arms over her chest. “YOU Spike, are going nowhere.”

“Bit your sis…” He protested, only to be cut off by Xander.

“Will castrate you if you so much as step one foot out that door.” He said with a bright smirk. “Actually, that might be kinda funny to watch.”

Spike snorted. “Yeah I’ll bet you’d get a real kick out of it.”

He knew that the whelp was covering his concern for his friend with sarcasm.

A set of headlights shone through the window and Giles’ peered out once again. The passengers exited the vehicle and it was when they began walking up the path that the light illuminated their faces and identified them.

“They’re here.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you enjoy guys! More will be up tomorrow. Please read and review.
Units Unite. by angelic_amy
Thanks to cordykitten and effection for the reviews!


Chapter 31: Units Unite.


The regard Dawn had shown when descending the stairs to the basement to speak with Spike several days ago; was practically non-existent as she bounded down to wake Angel.

“Angel?” she yelled from half way down. “Wesley’s here.”

Lifting himself up from the cot, Angel acknowledged Dawn with a nod of his head before standing and following the teen up the stairs.

Dawn re-entered the living room where everyone was now sitting. She flashed a grin in Spike’s direction.

“Could you have shouted any louder bit?” he asked with a smirk.

“Probably.” She replied with a giggle. “Want me to try next time?”

“Try what next time?” Came Angel’s gruff reply as he joined the group.

Dawn pasted a look of pure innocence on her face as she shrugged her shoulders, giggling when Angel sighed and turned his attention away from her and Spike and towards the new arrivals.

Anya, Xander, Willow and Tara were squished together on the one sofa, eyeing the intruders with interest. Willow and Xander avoided looking at Cordelia, who was currently receiving death stares from Anya, with Tara feeling a little awkward being the only one with no prior history with the brunette. She had heard the stories from Willow, and knew why the brunette would be hostile towards them; she just hadn’t expected everyone to be so… uncomfortable.

“I’m Gunn.” He said as he extended a hand towards Giles, who accepted and introduced himself in return.

“Rupert Giles.”

“Ah!” Gunn uttered in response. “And everyone else is…?”

Pointing at each individual Giles gave the introduction. “Anya Jenkins, Xander Harris, Willow Rosenberg, Tara McClay.”

“And I’m guessing the squirt is the slayer’s sister?”

“Hey!” Dawn cried indignantly. “I’m no squirt. Tell him Spike.” Dawn insisted, looking for back up.

“’Course not lil’ bit.” Spike said playfully, grinning at Dawn’s annoyed look. Before turning his attention back to the group. “Cordelia.” He greeted with a nod. “It’s been a while.”

“Not long enough.” Cordelia retorted.

Angel stood silently beside the LA crew, figuring that they were waiting for Buffy to join them before they begun the meeting. “Dawn, did you want to get Buffy?” he suggested lightly.

“I’m not going outside.” She retorted petulantly.

Outside…

Panic swept through Angel and it didn’t go unnoticed how all of the Sunnydale-ers stiffened at Dawn’s comment.

“Outside?” Wesley inquired.

“Yes.” Giles said slowly. “Buffy went out on patrol and…”

“WHAT?” Angel shouted. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Angel!” Willow gasped.

Giles pursed his lips before continuing his explanation. “She was just doing a patrol of the street, she should have been back a little while ago but I’m sure that she’s just been held up.”

“By Darla.”

“Angel that…” Giles began.

“Is probably likely.” Wesley finished.

“Did you bring it with you?” Angel asked.

“Bring what?” Dawn asked.

“It’s in the trunk.” Wes replied.

“Keys?”

Wesley removed them from his pocket and handed them over. Angel snatched them away and immediately left the house.

Spike’s gaze narrowed as watched him leave. He knew that he had been hiding something earlier, and his actions just now proved it.

“BRING what?” Dawn demanded. “Stop ignoring me and please give me some answers.

Giles frowned at Angel’s abrupt exit. “Yes Wesley, I would appreciate it if you could clear up what is going on.”

“You might want to take a seat.” Wesley suggested.

~~~

Angel removed the tranquilizer gun from the trunk he closed the lid. His concern was divided, and he hated the lack of clarity and purpose he was now filled with. When he reached the curb he stopped and inhaled a deep breath, trying to catch a whiff of Buffy’s scent. But it had been a while since she had left and there was nothing clinging in the air.

Figuring that a cemetery would be as good a place to start as any, Angel broke into a run, heading down Revello towards Shady Hill. He knew that Buffy could take care of herself, she had proven countless times just how capable she was. But Buffy didn’t know Darla, or what she was capable of.

He had to find them soon, before anything happened. If something did… he would never forgive himself.

~~~

“SODDING hell.” Spike cursed as he lifted himself to his feet and began to pace the room, ignoring the pain the movement caused him. “She’s going to kill her.”

“Well… duh!” Cordelia snorted. “She is a vampire. A demon. Evil. Like you.”

“Spike’s not evil!” Willow started, jumping to Spike’s defense.

“Yeah, right. And Xander has great fashion sense.” Cordelia replied rolling her eyes.

“Hey!” Xander began, having trouble thinking of an immediate come-back.

“He’s not even scary anymore.” Dawn said placing her hands on her hips.

“Hey!” Spike interrupted. “Just hang on a second now bit.”

“See?!” Cordelia said, gesticulating towards Spike as her gaze darted between Giles and Wes. “He’s getting all grr about people not thinking he’s evil. Doesn’t that tell you something?”

“That he’s got an ego?” Xander supplied which earned him a glare from the vampire in question.

“Cordelia.” Giles began, trying to reason with her. “Spike has been of great assistance over the last few weeks. If it weren’t for him, Buffy could have been killed by Darla’s minions.”

“She’s the slayer, she’s going to die eventually.” Cordelia said with a shrug, even realizing herself after she’s spoken it that it was a little harsh. Especially because Dawn was standing right there.

The smaller girl folded her arms over her chest and took a step towards the older brunette, only backing down when Spike placed a hand to her shoulder gently. “I’m not going to let that happen niblet.” He promised, glaring at Cordelia for her insensitivity.

Gunn blinked, surprised by the personality transplant in his friend. This was not the Cordelia he knew, and he was almost certain that he had seen her at her spit-fire worst.

We’re not going to let that happen.” Corrected Willow, who was now on her feet, followed quickly by Tara, and then Xander and Anya.

“Cordelia why don’t you bite that tongue of yours hey?” Xander suggested. Even he was surprised by her hostility.

“Shut up Xander.”

“No YOU shut up Cordelia.” Anya interjected. “If I were still a vengeance demon you would be in all sorts of trouble.”

“Dating demons now Xander? Colour me not shocked.” Cordelia retorted.

E-ex-demon.” Tara offered, feeling more than a little intimidated by the brunette, but not liking how she was speaking to her friends.

“What?”

“Ok ENOUGH.” Giles said loudly. “Can’t you all be civil for ONE night?”

When no one argued with the fierce look he shot at the group, he continued. “Willow. Did you think perhaps you could perform a locator spell? See if we can track down Buffy’s whereabouts?”

Willow shot Cordelia one last glare before nodding in response to Giles’ request. “Sure. Tara, Dawn, some help please.”

The trio of girls left the room and ascended the staircase.

“I didn’t mean…” Cordelia began to apologise.

“Yes you did.” Spike interrupted. “You just didn’t think first.”

Cordelia pursed her lips but didn’t argue. Since when did Spike become all insightful guy?

~~~

Buffy took another hit to the head, sending her reeling backwards as she lost her balance. She whipped around to face Darla, a snarl curling at her lips as she began to circle the vampire.

“Why now? Why come back to Sunnydale now?” Buffy inquired, her expression grim as she searched for an opening for attack.

Things didn’t make sense. If she was after Angel, if her goal was to remove his soul, then why didn’t she try and do it weeks ago back in LA? The Dagger… she reminded herself.

But even without it, there were other ways a soul could be removed. Or Darla could have sent one of her lackeys to town to retrieve it and return to LA. Why was it necessary for her to come to Sunnydale?

“Why do you want my sister?” Buffy demanded.

“Your sister…” Darla mocked. “She’s not your real sister. At least not by birth.”

Buffy couldn’t contain her shock at Darla’s statement. Obviously the vampire knew something about Dawn’s origin… but that couldn’t be possible. The monks re-created a history of memories. It wouldn’t make sense for Darla to know otherwise unless she had been investigating her sister. Or…

“Are you working with Glory?” Buffy assumed.

“Glorificus? I’d forgotten that she was in this world.” Darla said with a quirk of her lips. “I know of her but we’ve yet to make acquaintance.”

“Then why?” Buffy roared, swinging wildly with her fists, feeling momentary satisfaction when Darla’s face copped the brunt of her blow.

The vampiress lifted a hand to her nose, pulling it away to examine the blood on her fingers. “Fury looks good on you.” She praised, laughing as she licked the blood from her fingers.

She wondered for a moment about how vicious a creature the slayer would be if she were to be turned. She definitely had the potential, and it would break ‘Angel’. But Darla shrugged off the idea. Once Angelus returned to the fold she wouldn’t want anyone else to vie for her boy’s attention.

Darla looked up at the moon, then over her shoulder, her grin stretching.

Buffy noticed the looks; it wasn’t the first time that she had noticed the divided attention. “What do you keep looking at?” she snapped.

“It’s a surprise…” Darla purred.

Buffy didn’t like the expression on her face, nor the way she continued to circle her without making a move. Why isn’t she attacking me?

Buffy gasped. “You’re stalling me!”

Darla threw back her head and laughed. “I was wondering how long it would take for you to figure that one out. Angel spoke so highly of you in LA, but I’ve got to say… I’m a little disappointed that you didn’t realize sooner.”

Darla stepped to the left when Buffy tried to walk around her. “Nah ah.” She said with a waggle of her finger. “You’ll spoil the fun if you interrupt.”

Buffy swung out with a fist and slammed it into Darla’s jaw, sending the vampire reeling backwards. Using that as a diversion, she began to run towards the park exit but she only made it a few feet before vampires began to appear from the shadows.

“Great.” She muttered.

Clenching her fist tightly around her stake she lunged.

~~~

“Your plans?” Giles inquired.

The two Englishmen had left the living room when it appeared that no blood would be drawn amongst the remaining teens, and had moved into the kitchen to discuss the matter more in depth, away from prying ears.

“This is a capture mission.” Wesley responded.

“Do you really think that is wise considering the subject?”

“You want to try and persuade Angel otherwise?”

“Point taken.”

The Watchers shared a glance before a thumping noise sounded out in the hallway. Both men left the kitchen and walked through the dining room to the foyer where they discovered the source of the noise.

Dawn bounded down the stairs two at a time, shouting as she descended. “Giles! Spike!”

“Yes Dawn.” The Watcher responded when he reached the bottom of the stairs.

“Niblet?” Spike answered when he made his way from the sofa as quickly and painlessly as possible.

“We’ve found her!” She exclaimed excitedly.

“Buffy?” Both asked.

“Yes! She’s at Weatherly Park.”

Willow and Tara descended the stairs slowly; a nod from both Wiccan’s confirming Dawn’s excited exclamation.

“Well what are we waitin’ for?” Spike demanded as he returned to the living room and made his way towards the weapons.

“Oh no fang boy, stay away from the weapons. You’ve got enough sharp and pointies for my liking.” Gunn said as he stepped in front of the bleached vampire.

From Gunn’s short experience this last hour, he hadn’t seen the vampire make one threatening move towards any of the humans in the room. But that didn’t mean that he trusted him. There was only one vampire that he trusted and even then he still kept his guard up slightly.

Spike frowned and tried to step around the taller man but he just moved in the same direction. “I’m going after her and you’re not going to stop me.”

“He can’t be trusted.” Cordelia snapped in the vampire’s direction.

“Yes he can.” Dawn said as she moved beside Spike and folded her arms over her chest in a show of defiance.

“I trust him as well.” Willow said as she joined Spike on his other side. Though Tara didn’t voice it she joined Willow.

Begrudgingly Xander also joined Willow.

“Xander?” Cordelia said in surprise.

“What?” He said with a shrug of his shoulders. “You haven’t been around Cordy. You don’t know how things have been around here.”

A smirk began to creep its way across Spike’s face, which Xander caught immediately. Lifting a hand he pointed at the vampire. “Don’t read into it. You’re still a pain in everyone’s ass. A little vamp muscle just comes in handy every now and then.”

Giles and Wesley watched on in intrigue from the doorway as the Sunnydaler’s slowly joined Spike’s side.

“A lot happened recently?” Wes asked quietly.

“You have no idea.”

Anya stood and made her way to Xander’s side. “I don’t trust him.” She said bluntly. “But I trust Xander and I don’t like you.” She said with a pointed glare in Cordelia’s direction.

“You send him out there he’s only going to end up with more holes in him.” Gunn pointed out.

“Spike will be staying here with Dawn and the girls.” Giles announced, finally making his presence known.

“Rupes I --“ Spike began.

“Don’t argue.” Giles admonished. “Buffy would want you here.”

Spike held the Watcher’s stare for a moment before nodding once and taking a step back. Dawn moved with him, grabbing his hand and giving it a squeeze.

“Let’s load up.” Xander suggested. The sooner they brought Buffy back here, the better.

The group divided as some began retrieving weapons, whilst others moved out of the way.

“Alright, we all clear on what is going to happen here?” Giles asked. At the nodded response he began leading towards the front door.

“Ah… we m-may have a slight problem.” Tara called.

Everyone turned towards her and then took in her position at the window, the soft curtains bunched to the side in her hand.

Xander pushed his way towards a window and mimicked Tara’s action. “Oh crap.” He muttered. “Giles, we’ve got company.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: The long awaited reuinion! I hope it didn't disappoint. Hope you like the chapter, please review!
Ingenuity. by angelic_amy
Thanks to klylu, effection, suzyluvsspike and cordykitten for the reviews.

Chapter 32: Ingenuity.


CRASH!

Glass shattered throughout the living room as a rock barreled into the room and landed on the floor.

“Get DOWN!” Spike shouted when a second missile torpedoed through another window to the side of the house.

“Someone get the lights!” Gunn said urgently.

Willow complied, scrambling for the switches and flicking the immediate ones in the living room and the entranceway off. The room was blanketed in darkness.

CRACK!

Heads swiveled towards the sound of the noise.

“The back door.” Xander hissed at Giles.

Keeping low to the floor the Watcher crept from the living room and towards the kitchen. Flicking off more lights as he went, the interior of the house fell to darkness. Another crack sounded and when he looked at the door Giles realized that whomever was out there was trying to break through the door. With an axe. As quietly as possible so as not to betray his position to anything outside, he returned to the living room.

“The doors locked.” He announced quietly. “They’re trying to break through it.”

“But vampires need an invite to get inside. What’s the point of that?” Cordelia hissed in response.

CRASH!

Another window in the dining room shattered.

“The money it is going to cost to replace all that glass…” Anya said quietly with a shake of her head as she moved closer to Xander’s side.

“I’m scared…” Dawn whispered, burying herself in the safety of Spike’s arms.

Spike winced at Dawn’s tight hold but kept quiet as he wrapped an arm around her, whispering promises in her ear. “Nothing’s going to get you niblet. They’ll have to go through me first.”

Dawn nodded knowing that he wouldn’t let anything happen to her.

“We’re sitting ducks here.” He threw Giles way. “How many of them are there?”

“I’m not sure.”

“Then we find out.”

Loosening himself from Dawn’s tight hold he inched towards one of the windows and peered out, careful to keep his position concealed as he counted the vampires on the front lawn.

~~~

Angel felt his anxiety grow as each cemetery turned up nothing, of any real worth anyhow. He had dusted a few stray vampires on his way, interrogating them about Darla yet none yielded any information. Either they hadn’t known anything or Darla had scared the un-life out of them to the point that death was a more pleasant alternative than her wrath.

Leaving the current cemetery he made tracks towards Restfield, hoping he would find them there.

~~~

Buffy dusted the vampire before her only to be tackled by another. The wind was knocked out of her lungs when she hit the ground at an odd angle. She struggled to free herself even as she gasped for breath.

Darla tipped her head back and laughed at the slayer’s struggles from her seated position perched atop a headstone.

When one of her lackey’s became a little enthused and opened his mouth to bare his fangs Darla made her authority known. With a flick of her wrist another under her command stepped forward and slammed a stake into the vampire’s back.

A shower of dust rained down on the slayer as the pressure of being pinned to the ground was released. She coughed as she inhaled some of the dust, striking out with her leg to topple the vampire responsible for the dusting and snatching his stake from his hand.

“Mistress…” He begged in Darla’s direction.

“I don’t want her dead yet. I want her to see the show I have planned for her sister.” Darla said with a smirk.

Buffy drove the stake home. “You won’t touch my sister.” She snarled as the vampires converged on her once more until she found herself surrounded again.

“I promise you that her death will be slow…” She drew the word out. “…and painful. Yours will follow in the same fashion.”

“You BITCH!” Buffy shouted as she slammed her fist into the face of a vampire before her, beginning a charge towards Darla only to he dragged back into the circle.

“How original.” Darla retorted with a roll of her eyes. “Spike called me that exact same thing…”

A fist shot out and connected with Buffy’s chin, blood spraying from her mouth.

“Now that’s more like it.” Darla purred.

~~~

“’Bout ten out front.” Spike counted as he moved away from the window.

“Half that many out the back.” Gunn announced as he returned from the living room.

“So we take the back first.” Xander suggested, lifting his sword from the floorboards.

“And face axe guy?” Anya replied incredulously. “I don’t think so. I like you in one piece.”

CRACK!

“What are they going to do once they bust that door down?” Cordelia asked as she gestured towards the back door with her thumb. “They need an invite.” She said pointing out the obvious for the second time.

“Cordelia they may not be able to enter but they can still deliver an attack.” Giles said as his worry magnified.

“Like what?”

WHOOOSH!

Glass smashed as a bottle was thrown through the kitchen door and shattered on the floor, the spreading liquid igniting on impact.

“Like that.” Xander pointed out.

Spike and Giles stood abruptly and quickly made their way to the kitchen.

“We need to put this out!” Willow said as she followed them, diving towards the sink and searching for a container to fill with water. She found a bucket and filled it before handing it to Spike.

“Wait!” Giles warned. “Water could accelerate the burning.”

Spike knew the Watcher was right, but they couldn’t just stand by and let the house burn down around them. “Find an extinguisher, fire blanket, anything.” He ordered as he began stamping his boots on the flames that were creeping across the floor towards them.

The room was quickly filling with smoke and both Giles and Willow began coughing, and they weren’t going to be able to remain in there too much longer. Spike however, could. When Dawn appeared at his side with a fire extinguisher, he took it from her before pushing her gently back into the dining room, not wanting her anywhere near the fire. But Dawn wouldn’t stay away.

Aiming the hose at the flames he pressed the trigger, slowly putting the fire out. “Get her out of here.” He shouted over the noise of the extinguisher.

With their mouths covered Giles and Dawn left the room, followed by a coughing Willow who carried the water filled bucket out from the kitchen.

~~~

“BUFFY!” Angel shouted as he ran out of Restfield.

He had checked all of the cemeteries and she had yet to turn up. Knowing that she wouldn’t venture as far as the docks or the bus station he tried to pinpoint where she could possible be. She would be somewhere close to the house. He didn’t think she would have strayed too far knowing that Dawn was still in danger.

The most obvious location was the Sunnydale High ruins. Angel sped up as he ran out onto the street and in the direction of the school. Deciding to check the places in between, he headed towards Hammersmith Park.

Only that, and Weatherly Park stood between him and the High School ruins.

~~~

“What’s this for?” Xander asked as he removed the bucket of water from Willow’s hand and placed it on the ground.

Between coughs she answered him. “I have an idea. Tara sweetie?” She called.

Tara came forth, spotted the bucket and a small smile curled at the edges of her mouth. The two Wiccan’s had debated whether or not this was possible just the previous night, and it looked like they were going to give it a test run tonight. Removing a small vial of holy water from her pocket she un-capped the lid and poured it into the bucket. If all went to plan, the blessed water in the vial would mix with the fresh water of the bucket, thus cleansing it, which would give them a bucket load of holy water.

Catching on with the idea a broad smile stretched across both Watchers’ faces.

“Ingenious!” Wesley proclaimed.

“Fingers crossed it works.” Willow said. With Tara’s help they lifted the bucket and stood near the front door. “Be ready.” Willow threw over her shoulder.

Wesley, Giles, Xander and Gunn took position, weapons in hand as Anya stepped forward and opened the door.

Willow and Tara ran out onto the porch and with one swing back first, threw the bucket forwards at the few vampires that charged at the door. Everyone waited with bated breath as the water rained down on four of the vampires on the lawn. The water had the desired effect, two of the vampires combusting instantaneously, whilst the other two that were doused began to smoke and sizzle slowly, screaming in agony as their faces and hands burned.

A cheer rose from within the house as Willow and Tara moved to the side to make way for the four men to run outside, before darting back through the open door.

“We have to make more!” Willow shouted excitedly as they moved through the house towards the bathroom.

Not to be left out Cordelia positioned herself at one of the smashed windows with a crossbow at the ready.

“Dawn.” She called over. “Can I get some help?”

Dawn considered rejecting the request, but this was her house and she knew they were all fighting to keep themselves, and her safe. Nodding once she gathered as many arrows as she could carry and brought them to Cordelia’s side.

Loading the first one up, Cordelia aimed and fired, striking a vampire that had been creeping up on Gunn in the shoulder.

~~~

“Think about it.” Darla called to Buffy as the slayer tried to fight her way out of the circle. “Think over the last few weeks. The attacks on the demon population. Surely you would have noticed the rise in deaths.”

“I’m a vampire slayer.” Buffy spat out as she threw an uppercut punch and knocked out a vampire to her left, before spinning a kick at the chest of one to her right. “A dead demon is just one less hassle for me to deal with.”

“What about Thorak?”

The name rang a bell and it took a few moments before Buffy remembered the demon weapon’s supplier for the magic box. He had been cut up by his own merchandise. Buffy treated all demons as a threat unless otherwise instructed by Giles, and she knew that Thorak’s breed was one of a few that were about as harmless as a puppy. Looks can sometimes be deceiving…

You killed him? Why?”

“His hardware didn’t work.” Darla said with a shrug. “I propositioned him for a blade and it didn’t do the job I wanted it to.” She threw her head back and sighed, running her fingers over her abdomen.

“Anything else?” Buffy demanded as she staked another. The group was thinning, but it was also wearing her out. And each moment she spent fighting here, was a moment that Dawn was in danger. The only thing she was thankful for was the fact that they attacked only in pairs, and had been instructed only to wound her, not go in for the kill. All fangs remained in jaws.

Although I could get beaten to death… she thought wryly.

Darla laughed. “You interrupted one of my plans. The Bornossiak demon.”

“The name means nothing.” Buffy spat at Darla as she flipped over the head of one vampire and staked it, only to be knocked to her knees by another.

“Stumpy little wings, brown hide, yellow boils all over its skin, claws.” Darla supplied.

“Again… could be anything.” Buffy snapped as she rolled to her feet and kicked out at another vampire.

Darla sighed with annoyance. “For a demon hunter you don’t know much about demons.” She mocked.

Buffy would have rolled her eyes if she’d been given the break to do so.

“The Bornossiak demon impregnates its victim, doesn’t kill them. The spawn incubates for about three months before it eats it’s way out of the host.”

Buffy remembered now. She saved a girl from one of those demons a couple of days after Thorak had been killed. I TOLD Giles those attacks were connected…

“What? You had a grudge against the girl’s family? She prettier than you?” Buffy quipped. “Because between you and me, you’re looking even worse for wear than the last time we fought. Few more wrinkles around those eyes.”

Darla growled at Buffy’s insolence, snapping her fingers and calling off her men. Dropping down from the headstone she prowled towards the slayer who was slowly lifting herself from her knees.

“It was a test. We needed to make sure the spell would work and the spawn could be removed.”

“Why?” Buffy demanded. “Why put that girl’s life in danger for a test?”

“I need to be sure.”

“Sure of what?” Buffy shouted. “Quit with the cryptic.”

Darla lifted her shirt and exposed her abdomen. “If the blades couldn’t cut it out, I needed another way and a spell was the best bet.”

“Get what out?” Buffy’s brow creased into a frown.

“The thing growing inside of me.”

Buffy’s jaw gaped.

“The baby.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Tell me what you think!
Unprecedented Phenomena. by angelic_amy
Thanks to cordykitten, klylu and effection for the wonderful reviews!


Chapter 33: Unprecedented Phenomena.


Spike aimed the nozzle of the fire extinguisher at the back door, dousing the flames as quickly as possible. Despite his best efforts the fire was moving quicker than he could put it out, and he had resorted to stomping out the flames that licked across the floor whilst he tried to save the areas which were suffering structural damage.

He could hear the sounds of fighting coming from the front lawn, but he knew that he had to put this fire out or else the house was in danger of going completely up in flames and collapsing on those inside.

Not going to let that happen…

By the sounds of things, the vampires that had been in the back yard had joined those in the front, which meant he had to get this fire under control so he could help.

“Come on!” He muttered as he sprayed the extinguisher in a new direction.

~~~

“Vampire’s can’t have children. They’re dead inside. That’s NOT possible.” Buffy shouted, her mind reeling from what Darla has just told her.

It’s not possible…

“You’re making this up.” Buffy continued.

“I assure you I am not.” Darla said with a shake of her head, letting her shirt drop.

“No…. NO!” Buffy shouted. “You’re lying.

Buffy struck out with a fist, clocking Darla on the chin.

Darla’s laughter sang out, the sound of it grating of Buffy’s nerves. All she had done was laugh. At her, at her friends, at Spike. She was sick of the laughing. If she had to she would beat the vampire’s face in until it was impossible for her to laugh any further. Buffy was a little surprised at the violence of her thoughts, but she didn’t allow herself much time to think about it. As a rule Buffy tried to steer clear of unnecessary violence. She would fight her opponent, and kill them as quickly as possible. But if extreme violence was what it would take, to keep the people that she loved safe from the sadistic vampire before her, then so be it.

“Have you asked yourself why I will be draining your sister of her blood yet?” A perfectly manicured brow arched in question.

Buffy said nothing as she approached the vampire. She did want to know what was going on, but she wasn’t going to give Darla the satisfaction of knowing that.

“It’s quite simple really.” The vampire continued. “One mystical life blood for the other. Your sister isn’t human, the properties of her blood are strong enough to bring down dimensional walls.”

Buffy blinked in shock again, stopping her circling abruptly. She narrowed her gaze. “How do you know all this?”

“I have my sources.” Darla purred. “Anyway… her blood is the only thing that will be strong enough to expel this thing from inside me. The ritual only requires half a pint… but I’m thinking I’ll drain the girl, just to be sure.”

Buffy swung out with her fists again, her rage affecting the accuracy of her blows. “You won’t touch my sister. Not while I’m still living.”

“You see now that’s the greatest part.” Darla said with yet another laugh. “You will be alive when I kill her… and remove Angelus’ soul… and get this thing out of body. Then you will die after I’ve butchered your family and all your friends.”

“NO!”

Another snap of Darla’s fingers and the minions dove at Buffy again.

“Shouldn’t be too long now…”

~~~

“No one…” Xander slammed his left fist into the vampires face. “…breaks windows…” A right hook followed. “…in this house…” He kicked out with his leg, tripping the vampire, and grasping tightly on his stake. “…and gets away with it!”

He dropped to his knees and staked the vampire.

A cheer from Anya and Dawn sounded from within the house, only to become shouts of worry when Xander was knocked over by a larger, more burly vampire. Gunn, Wes and Giles were all busy fighting off their own opponents, and Xander was currently pinned to the ground with fangs lowering to his neck.

“XANDER!” Anya cried in alarm, moments later rushing through the open front door, grabbing the only weapon on the way that just so happened to be an umbrella. Anya ran to Xander’s aid, smacking the vampire on the back using the umbrella with as much force as she could muster.

Wanting to shield himself from the blows the vampire rolled off Xander only to leap to his feet and charge towards Anya.

“AHN!” Xander cried as he scrambled for a stake.

Dawn leapt up from her spot beside the window with Cordelia and ran through the house, screaming for help. “SPIKE! SPIIIIIKKKKE!!!”

She ran into the kitchen where Spike was putting out the remaining flames on the kitchen bench. “SPIKE they need help!” She shouted.

The fire now out, he dropped the extinguisher on the ground and quickly followed Dawn to the front door.

The lawn was in chaos.

Giles was moving in for the kill with an arm poised with a stake. A large cross was held out by his other hand at the other side, which he waved around in an effort to deter any other vampires that might attack him.

Wesley was fighting a smaller female vampire of Asian descent, who was currently kicking his butt with her martial arts moves. Wes was just trying his best to dodge her kicks, swinging out with a small sword whenever she danced within his range.

Gunn was holding his own, the large custom axe he was carrying cleaving chunks out of any vampire that dared come near him.

Xander was on the ground, scrambling for his stake that he had dropped a few feet out of his reach when he had been pounced on.

But it was Anya who was in the gravest of danger. She was running across the lawn, umbrella in hand, whilst a very large oafish looking vampire lumbering after her, a murderous glint in his eye.

Spike snatched the stake that Dawn had rushed to retrieve for him, shouting back into the house as he ran out. “Red! We may need some more of that brew of yours…”

He took two steps onto the porch and leapt onto the back of oaf-man, dropping the two of them to the ground in the process. The landing jarred every bone in his body, sending pain shooting through his limbs as he felt some of his bandaged wounds split open.

“AHN! Get inside!” Xander ordered when Spike distracted her immediate pursuer.

Anya ran towards the front door as Dawn stepped out onto the porch and grabbed her arm to drag her into the house. She pushed Anya in first, and a scream ripped from her lungs when she felt something seize her other arm and yank her away from the safety a few feet in front of her.

“SPIIIIIKKKKE!” Dawn screamed as she was dragged off the front porch and down along the side of the house.

~~~

“Why do you persist? You are gravely out numbered, and by now the rest of my minions would already be at the house. Why fight so hard when all you are going to return to is the cold bodies of your friends?” Darla taunted.

“NO!” Buffy shouted as she staked another vampire. “SPIKE won’t let that happen…”

“Spike?” Darla mocked. “Spike has got more holes in him than a pin cushion. Do you really think he’ll be able to protect them? I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran off to safety at the first sign of trouble.”

“No.” Buffy retorted, her tone menacing. “Spike wouldn’t do that. I believe in him. I trust him to protect them.”

“You put too much faith in that boy.” Darla tsked, shaking her head from side to side. “Didn’t your mother ever teach you about trusting the wrong people? Well…” she laughed. “Spike’s not exactly a person now is he?”

Buffy roared in anger as she pushed her way out of the circle and dove on top of Darla, knocking her from the headstone. No one spoke of her mother like that and got away with it.

~~~

“SPIIIIIIKKKKKE!” Dawn screamed again as her kidnapper dragged her around the side of the house.

She whirled around, looking up into the face of the monster. She knew this vampire. “Oh!” She gasped. “It’s you!

A malevolent smile curled at Jake’s lips. “Yes it is.

With a sharp tug he dragged her out from beside the house and onto the back lawn, heading towards his mistress.

~~~

Angel had heard sounds of fighting coming from within Weatherly Park and he knew he was in the right place.

As he ran towards the sounds, the trees around him opened up into a clearing, the full moon shining brightly, illuminating the scene before him. The voices traveled to his ears, the anger in Buffy’s very clear.

“Spike wouldn’t do that. I believe in him. I trust him to protect them.”

“You put too much faith in that boy.” Darla tsked.


Angel crept up behind one of the vampires and staked it from behind, before disposing of a second.

He turned at the sound of an angry roar to see Buffy flying through the air and tackling Darla to the ground.

His face shifting into its vampiric countenance and he growled at the five remaining lackeys.
“Beat it.” He snarled. “You’ve got a ten minute head start.”

The vampires looked at each other and then at the slayer who was pounding on their mistress. They had stayed purely out of fear of what Darla would do to them if they deserted. But with the slayer picking them off one at a time, it seemed they would meet a dusty end no matter which way they looked at it. As a group the fledglings took off towards the exit of the park.

“I’m going to kill you.” Buffy shouted in fury as she slammed Darla’s head into the ground.

“No you’re not.”

Buffy whirled around. “Angel?”

~~~

Willow and Tara swung the bucket a third time and let the contents loose, the holy water spraying over the vampires that both Giles and Xander were fighting, inadvertently soaking the two men as well. The vampires combusted and there was just a handful remaining.

Wesley was still fighting the ninja vamp, and after some signaling by Gunn, shifted his position around so that her back was facing the larger black man. Wes took a step back, seeing the puzzled expression cross the vampire’s face moments before the arc of Gunn’s swing decapitated her head from her body.

Seconds later another cry of pain sounded and Spike found himself falling the few inches to the ground as the large oaf like vampire he had been fighting combusted beneath him. He winced in pain as he brought himself to his feet.

With Wesley, Giles and Gunn handling the three remaining vampires, Xander turned from the fight. “Ahn!” He cried with relief as he rushed towards the front door and wrapped his arms around his shaking girlfriend.

“Which way did she go?” Spike demanded.

Anya lifted a shaking hand and pointed down the side of the house.

Spike stepped forward; snatching the umbrella from her hands and then immediately took off in the direction she had pointed.

“Spike wait!” Xander shouted. “I’ll come with you.”

“Just get Buffy back here.” The vampire threw over his shoulder as he disappeared down the side of the house.

~~~

“Let GO of me.” Dawn shrieked as she tugged her arm, trying to free herself from the vampires vice grip. She smacked at his arm with her free hand, dug her nails into his flesh, punched him but he wouldn’t let go. When they stopped she still had biting, and kicking to use on him.

“Stop squirming so much.” Jake snarled. “Boy am I going to love seeing Darla rip your throat out.”

“AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!” Dawn screamed at the top of her lungs, only to find Jake’s other hand clamp around her mouth, silencing the noise.

“Quiet!” He hissed in anger. “Or I’ll give you something worth screaming about.”

“Like hell you will.”

Jake turned at the voice just as a brightly coloured object whizzed through the air and slammed into his forehead, knocking him off his feet.

~~~

“Watch me.” Buffy retorted as she lifted her hand and then slammed her fist down, stake point first.

Angel saw the whole thing in slow motion; Buffy lifting her arm, the way her blond hair tossed over her shoulder as she swung, the sharp arc of the deadly blow, and the smirk that crept across Darla’s face inches before contact. A warning was on his lips seconds too late.

Buffy saw her sister’s face as she swung. This was for her…

The tip of Buffy’s stake hit Darla’s breast and bounced off, sending Buffy reeling backwards so fast that she fell from her straddling position of Darla.

“What the…” She cursed as she scrambled to a seated position.

Darla rolled her eyes as she sat up. “You can’t kill me. Not while this…” She said pointing at her slightly curved stomach. “…is still inside me.”

She stood slowly as the slayer brought herself to her feet. “So you see…you can’t kill me.”

“No?” Buffy said with a raised brow. “I’m betting I can knock you unconscious though.”

She balled a fist and sent it flying towards Darla’s face.

Angel stepped in between the two warring blondes, Buffy’s fist connecting with his shoulder.

“Angel? WHAT are you doing?”

“I can’t let you do this Buffy.” He said quietly, rubbing his shoulder where her fierce blow had landed.

“Why? She’s evil Angel. Evil with a capital E.” Her eyes blazed with anger, not understanding why he was getting in her way. “And you’ve killed her before. Don’t tell me this is a the-only-person-who-can-kill-her-is-me kinda deal.”

“No.” Angel said with a shake of his head.

Darla took a step to the side, keeping herself shielded by Angel’s bulk, smirking at the infuriated slayer.

“Then what?” She demanded. “That bitch was trying to kill my sister, trying to kill me. Do you even care about that?”

Buffy was shaking with rage.

“Of course I care.” He said quietly. “But I can’t let you kill Darla.”

“Angel?!” Buffy snapped. “What the hell is going on?”

Angel took a deep breath before answering. “I can’t let you kill her Buffy.”

Buffy folded her arms across her chest, waiting.

“The baby’s mine.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Hope you liked guys! Please review, more will be up soon. Amy.
Bombshell. by angelic_amy
Thanks to klylu and adoria for the reviews.


Chapter 34: Bombshell.


“The baby’s mine.”

Buffy felt all of the air sucking from her lungs as the mother load of all surprises was dropped on her. This couldn’t be happening. She had been incredulous about Darla being pregnant in the first place… but now this?


“The baby’s mine.”

A shiver rolled through her body, images from her past haunting her like photographic flashes.

Their first meeting in the alleyway, their first kiss, seeing him in vamp face holding her Mom, dusting Darla, getting coffee, patrolling, kisses, more kisses, the factory and Dru’s party, making love, heart break, Angelus, Acathla, heart break, The Mayor, Faith, the Prom, heart break…

She gasped as she inhaled a much-needed breath, not having been fully aware that she was holding it in the first place. Her past, their intertwined past was filled with so much violence, and pain, and heartache. And now this…

“The baby’s mine.”

Buffy blinked her eyes, trying to clear the fog in her mind. She turned her back on the two vampires, walking several feet away from them before she managed to think clearly enough to speak. Her voice was barely above a whisper. “How?”

Angel moved to her side, the tranquilizer gun hanging limply by his side as he reached out with his other hand to touch her shoulder. Buffy flinched at the touch, and stepped away from him, her hurt filled gazed turning on him. “How?” She repeated.

“Well that part is actually quite simple.” Darla drawled. “There is a joining of bodies.”

“Darla…” Angel growled menacingly.

“What?” She replied innocently. “Your slayer here wanted to know how and I was just --“

Angel turned swiftly, aiming and firing a dart from the tranquilizer gun, which imbedded in Darla’s neck. Seconds later a thump signaled Darla’s fall to the ground.

“Buffy…” He began softly, once more reaching for her arm.

“You slept with her?” Buffy asked, her stare accusing as she stepped away from his grasp again. Her tone was accusing, angry, her disbelief evident in her eyes. “You slept with her?”

“Buffy I was in a really bad place and --“

She cut him off as her anger sparked again. “Oh don’t feed me that I-was-in-a-bad-place crap.” She spat out, her eyes blazing.

“You went to her? Of all the whores in LA you could have turned to. Hell, you probably could have visited Faith in prison. I’m sure they allow conjugal visits to murderers… that’s your type right?” She turned away from him and began walking towards the exit.

Angel blinked at the mention of the other slayer. “Are you… are you jealous?

“NO!” Buffy retorted a little too loudly. Even though she knew Faith had turned herself in, and was trying to do the right thing and pay for her crimes, she still wasn’t the brunette’s biggest fan. “What was it then? Did you just need to scratch an itch?”

Angel grabbed her arm and yanked her back. He was sorry for hurting her, he knew that this revelation was a shock, but she had to understand why this happened. And her spiteful words weren’t helping him reign in his temper.

Buffy pulled her left arm out of his grasp, swinging her balled right fist around faster than he could react. The blow connected with Angel’s nose. He let go immediately to hold his bleeding nose, giving Buffy the opportunity to put some distance between them.

“Well I hope you got your satisfaction.” She spat out.

His tone was low, irate, as he tried to explain. “Buffy… It wasn’t like that.”

“Then what was it like?” She demanded.

“It was about YOU.” Angel roared in response.

~~~

Jake snarled as he turned to face his attacker.

Dawn had scurried away from Jake the moment his grasp had left her forearm, and she now was behind Spike.

“Well if it isn’t the slayer’s lap dog.” Jake mocked.

Spike swung out with the umbrella, slamming it into Jake’s head for the second time. This time the object bent in half. His weapon now useless, Spike threw it off to the side as he prowled towards Jake.

His whole body felt on fire from the wounds that had opened up, and he was in a great deal of pain, something he hid carefully from his opponent. And Dawn.

“What? No witty comeback?” Jake taunted.

“Niblet. Back away a bit yeah?” Spike warned.

Dawn nodded even though Spike had his back turned to her, backing several feet away and clutching a tree as she watched the two vampires circle each other.

“You’re pathetic.” Jake spat out. “What kind of loser follows around someone who clearly isn’t interested in them?”

Spike’s right hook shot out and connected with Jake’s nose, blood immediately gushing from his nostrils.

“You don’t know a thing about me and Buffy.” Spike growled.

“You and Buffy?” Jake laughed. “There is no you and Buffy. Hell I probably got more play from the whore and we just danced a couple of times.”

Spike’s face clouded with undisguised rage as his fist shot out again. Nobody spoke about Buffy like that. But this time his punch was blocked, a return fist catching him in the middle of his chest.

Spike doubled over as searing pain followed, stretching its tendrils out from the stab wound in the middle of his chest and throughout his body.

“Spike!” Dawn cried in alarm, taking two steps towards her fallen friend.

“Stay BACK bit.” Spike ordered as he dragged himself to his feet.

“Oh did that hurt?” Jake mocked, sticking his bottom lip out in a pout.

“Not as much as this is going to.” Spike retorted. With a feral yell he launched himself at Jake, pushing him with all of his might towards a young tree that grew behind him.

Jake’s eyes flashed wide as he was propelled backwards, pain shooting through him as he felt something sharp puncture through his back before breaking through the middle of his chest. He had enough time to look down and spot the badly pruned branch sticking out from his chest.

“Oh shi--”

Jake exploded into dust as Spike fell to his knees.

~~~

The last vampire was dusted on the Summers front lawn, the weary fighters slowly approaching the front door.

Giles did a head count as those from inside the house met the others on the porch, noting the two absences. “Where’s Dawn? And Spike?”

“Someone took her, and Spike ran after them.” Xander filled in.

“Why didn’t you follow them?” Giles demanded.

“Spike said he could handle it, it was just one vampire.” Xander said defending himself. “He told us to go get Buffy.”

Giles clenched his jaw, knowing that Spike had a point. Buffy was in more grave danger at the moment, but if anything happened to Dawn…

“I can do a locator spell on Dawn?” Willow offered. “We can go get them while you guys go get Buffy and kick some Darla shaped butt?”

“Oh I’m liking that plan.” Cordelia said with a smirk.

“Spell won’t be necessary cos the cavalry’s returned.” A British voice called from the shadows.

A limping Spike emerged with Dawn at his side, helping him shuffle from the darkness and across the lawn.

“Jake’s toast.” Dawn said proudly.

“I hated that guy.” Xander said with happy smile.

“No you didn’t.” Anya insisted. “You and Willow were the ones who set him up on that date with Buffy. If I remember rightly I was the one who didn’t like him because of his desires for a military career which we all know those guys with their experiments on demons and hatred off all things non human is what came between Buffy and Riley and --”

Xander silenced Anya with a kiss.

“Not shy is she?” Gunn said with a shake of his head.

“Her babbling can sometimes even outrun my babbling and I’m pretty certain I’m the biggest babbler in the group.” Willow supplied.

“I like your babbling.” Tara said shyly.

“Well.” Giles said removing his glasses, and turning away from the kissing couples.

“What’re you lot waiting for? There’s a slayer that needs retrieving.” Spike pointed out.

“Yes, of course.” Wesley said with a nod. “Gunn can you retrieve the shackles from the trunk of my car. I’m afraid we’re going to have to borrow your van Rupert.”

With the impending sunrise not too far off, they were going to need safer transportation for bringing both Darla and Angel back to LA.

“It’s a rental.” Giles informed. “So long as it’s returned to a depot for the company in LA, it’s all yours.”

“Excellent.” Wesley said with a nod. “I’d say we’re prepared. Where exactly are we headed again?”

“Weatherly Park.” Spike informed. “Just bring her back safe.”

“She’ll be tied up but relatively unharmed.” The Watcher supplied automatically, before catching the quirked brows in response from almost everyone there.

“Oh you meant Buffy…” He realized. “Of course.”

Gunn, Wesley and Giles headed towards the van whilst the rest of the group walked inside the house.

“I am not taking the blame for this mess.” Dawn pouted.

~~~

“Oh that’s rich.” Buffy snapped in response. “You’re blaming this on me?”

“I’m not blaming…” He trailed off, running his fingers through his hair. “You’re not letting me explain.”

“So explain.” Buffy said bluntly, folding her arms over her chest.

“There was this prophecy.” He began only to be interrupted by a snort from Buffy. His eyes narrowed. “What?”

“Prophecy’s don’t seem to hold a lot of weight these days is all.” She replied flippantly.

“This prophecy was about my redemption. It says that one day the powers will absolve me of my crimes and I would be rewarded with humanity.” Angel paused for a moment, waiting for a response from Buffy but all he got was a surprised blink.

“I was helping all these people and a small part of me knew it would all add up to my ‘reward’. I guess the longer time went by with nothing I became a little jaded. Everyone was living their lives, moving on…” He said with a pointed look in her direction. “And I was waiting for mine to begin. I almost wish Wes had never stumbled across it. Because knowing that final outcome, yet waiting for it to happen…”

As his words sunk in Buffy understood the meaning of that pointed look. She lifted her chin in defiance. “You were the one who ended things between us Angel, I wanted to be with YOU. So you can’t blame me for moving on.”

Angel rolled his eyes when he thought of the soldier boy who had replaced him. “And what a fine choice my replacement was.”

“Your replacement?” Buffy snapped. “Riley wasn’t…” Buffy cut herself off. She wasn’t going to into this with Angel, not after what he had just done.

“How dare you criticize who I date?! You gave up that right two years ago. If anyone has the right to criticize poor judgment here it’s me. Your deranged lover…” She spat the word out. “Was trying to kill me. AND my sister.”

“She’s not my lover.” Angel said bluntly, knowing that Buffy was right. He didn’t have a right to pass judgment on her, but that didn’t make seeing or hearing about her being with someone other than him, any easier.

“One night stand?” She asserted.

“You’d know a lot about those wouldn’t you?” He retorted angrily, instantly regretting the words when he saw how Buffy’s face crumpled.

Spike had told him all about her fling with the college boy early last year when he had come to town for the Gem of Amarra. He hadn’t ever brought it up with her, and at the time he had tried to hide how much that knowledge had hurt, that she had moved on so suddenly. And he only had himself to blame for that.

It seemed that he still wasn’t very good in dealing with matters concerning Buffy. The times it could have been discussed that he had passed up on, only to fling it in her face now? When it came to her he reacted without thinking, and the outcome was not always the best. Now was a prime example of that.

Buffy’s fist shot out and connected with the side of his face, his head reeling backwards from the force of her blow. That was the last thing she ever would have thought he would throw in her face.

“Buffy I didn’t mean…” He apologised immediately. He took a slow step towards her, his arm extended to touch her.

“Don’t touch me.” Her voice was barely audible, filled with anger, and pain. ”You take one step closer and I’ll…” She trailed off.

She purposely ignored his apology. It hurt, what he said to her. Because if she took his statement literally, then their relationship boiled down to a single coupling, and the morning after that night had been one of the most painful of her young life. Angel wasn’t referring to them, she knew that. But it was what she thought when he said it.

He was talking about Parker. A shiver of revulsion ran down her spine at the thought of the college boy. That was one mistake she wished she could take back. How Angel found out about it she could only guess.

So now here they were, back in their old routine of avoidance when a painful topic was raised that neither wanted to deal with. So she did what she always did. Changed the topic.

“What are you going to do with her?” She asked as she nodded at Darla’s unconscious form, her tone cool.

Angel studied Buffy’s face for a moment before looking over his shoulder at the inert vampire. “Take her back to LA, lock her up until the birth.” He said quietly.

Buffy nodded once, about to ask a question when voices from behind her alerted them to the presence of Giles, Wesley and Gunn.

“Cavalry’s here.”



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: Buh-bye Jake...
Tying Up Loose Ends by angelic_amy
A/N: Ok. First of all, I just wanted to thank everyone who has feedbacked an given me encouragement for this story. It has meant the world and it is because of all of you that I continue to write. :D

Secondly, just needed to let you all know that this story is wrapping up. Just two more chapters after this one.

BUT - a sequel is in the works and will begin posting here soon after the completetion of Hidden Agendas.

Anyway, onto the fic!

~~~~~

Chapter 35: Tying Up Loose Ends.


The mood inside the Summers house was jovial, if a little tired as the slayer’s friends plus Dawn and Cordelia began the tedious task of cleaning up the broken glass from the windows, and disposing of the rocks that had been used as missiles. Xander was busily boarding up the windows whilst Spike was closing up the gaping hole in the back door as best he could. It was going to have to be replaced some time over the next couple of days.

The fire damage in the kitchen was extensive and was going to be a costly job to fix. He just hoped that the house insurance would pay for it.

A short while after everything was cleaned up Dawn, with Willow’s help, made hot chocolates for everyone and the group settled on the sofas to await the return of the others.

Spike sat with them, albeit on a separate chair to them, his gaze never leaving the front door.

~~~

Buffy rode up front with Gunn, the others piled into the back of the van with a still unconscious and shackled Darla.

She didn’t pretend to understand what would possibly have driven Angel to do what he had done. To her the most obvious thing he should have done if he missed her as much as he professed would be to call her, visit her. Not fire all of his friends, let Darla and Drusilla massacre a room filled with lawyers before sleeping with the reason for all of the chaos the last two weeks.

Gunn had filled her in on the happenings in LA as they drove back to the house, and by the sounds of it they had been having a tough couple of months.

But then so had she, and she didn’t try to explain away her mistakes.

Riley had left her.

And it had hurt. Not quite as much as Angel leaving, and definitely nowhere near as much as the death of her mother, but there was still pain there. Her friends had told her that the end had been coming, that they had seen how strained their relationship was. At first she had disagreed with them. But with time she had been granted perspective. Said perspective had shed new light on not only her behaviour by Riley’s as well.

He had wanted to be her protector, to shield her from things that she fought nightly. Her counter reaction had been to shut him out, bit by bit. Buffy knew she had issues with men and that was part in fact to her relationship with her father and his abandonment. All the men in her life left her. Her Dad ran off to Europe with his secretary, Angel left for LA when their relationship hit the skids because of outside pressures, Parker had used her, and Riley hadn’t been able to live up to the ghosts of her past. All were painful emotionally.

And there was pain in the physical sense because of her battles with Glory, who come to think of it, had been much too quiet over the last couple of weeks for her liking. That was something she would have to speak to Giles about tomorrow, after a long nights sleep and a decent breakfast.

All the men in my life leave… she thought before mentally chastising herself. Because that wasn’t completely true. Giles had never left. And he was like a father to her. There was Xander. His joking and foolery aside, he was as loyal and loving as they came. Always there in a fight, willing to risk it all to protect her, his best friend.

And there was Spike.

She rolled her eyes as her thoughts went to the bleached former menace who had recently become much, much more. Spike was an ally, and recently, a friend.

He had first come to kill her. And despite his numerous failed attempts, and countless ass kicking’s, mostly from her, he always returned.

He returned after their brief truce to fight Angelus and defeat Acathla.

He had returned after kidnapping her friends in an attempt to win back Drusilla’s love.

He had fought by her side to stop the apocalypse.

He helped bring down Adam, despite being the reason the demon/human/cyborg hybrid was after them in the first place.

He had protected her sister.

He had saved her life.

A small smile graced Buffy’s lips.

Despite her threats of death if he ever returned to Sunnydale, Spike had always returned, even if she didn’t want him to. He loved her, and not even being beaten by a god and a psychotic, pregnant, mass-murdering vampire, could deter him. He still stayed.

Buffy’s smile grew.

~~~

Dawn slipped away from the others in front of the television to join Spike in the dining room, where he was currently pacing back and forth. His brow was creased with worry, his stare never leaving the window even as he paced.

“Spike.” Dawn called softly, breaking through his reverie. “She’ll be okay.”

Spike knew that Dawn was tying to convince herself just as much as him, the worry in her voice not hidden as well as she was trying. His expression softened and he nodded once, lifting his arm in invitation.

Dawn closed the few feet in a matter of seconds, wrapping her arms around Spike in a gentle hug, using his comfort to bolster her strength. She stifled a yawn, exhausted from the chaotic events of the night.

“Why don’t you go rest bit, I’ll wake you when she gets back.” He said with a gentle push in the direction of the living room.

“You promise?” Dawn asked as she fought off a second yawn.

“Promise.” He said with a smile.

Accepting his offer Dawn walked back into the living room and curled herself up on the sofa where Willow and Tara were sitting, resting her head against the red head’s shoulder.

He resumed his watching, hoping that she would return soon. Daylight would be the only thing to drag him away from this window until he knew for sure, that she was safe.

~~~

Angel sat in silence; having slipped into a patented brood the moment the van was loaded up and traveling back towards the Summers house. As he looked down at Darla’s unconscious form he thought of the future and what it would hold for him. He had never in all his years of un-life thought that a child would be a part of that equation, least of all his child.

To say that he was apprehensive was an understatement.

Vampires weren’t supposed to have children, in a biological sense they couldn’t have children. Yet for some reason here he was, to become a father in a handful of months. He was going to have a child.

The hint of a smile curled at his lips.

Wesley and Giles had conversed quietly, catching up on what both teams had missed out on and reminiscing about the mother country.

After Wesley’s firing from the Council due to his inability to get his slayer to obey command, he had almost returned home. He had still wanted to work for the cause, even if it meant he was restricted to office duties and research instead of over-seeing a slayer. But his firing had not only been just his title position as Watcher, but also from the Council itself. With little money and no home to return he had stayed on in America, finding himself in LA of all places.

His firing was the best thing that could ever have happened to him. He now worked for the cause, helping the helpless and waging nightly wars against the demon population of the city that had become his new home. He had wonderful friends and he was making a difference in the world.

I should thank Buffy for that… he thought. If it weren’t for her stubbornness he wouldn’t be in the position he was today.

“Will you be staying the night?” Giles inquired.

Wesley looked to Angel for the answer, a sharp sideways shake of the vampire’s head confirming his suspicion. “Unfortunately no. We’ll be returning to LA as soon as we drop you and Buffy home, and collect Cordelia.”

Buffy listened in from the front of the vehicle, her gaze turning to look out the window when Wesley answered as she suspected. It was probably for the best. She needed some time digest the bombshell that had been dropped on her tonight. Things between her and Angel were not okay. And she didn’t know if they would ever be the same again.

“Well do pop in again soon.” Giles said. “Despite the fighting and the injuries, and the fearing for our lives, this was rather enjoyable.”

Wesley chuckled in response. “We’ll try.”

Buffy looked to the front when Gunn pulled the van up the driveway, her eyes going wide when she noticed the boarded up windows.

“What happened to my house?”

~~~

“They’re back.” Spike called when he saw the headlights from the van shine through the window he stood at.

Xander, Anya and Cordelia were immediately on their feet and moving towards the front door, throwing it open as the van pulled to a stop. Willow gently shook Dawn, who sleepily wiped at her eyes and stood up, following the two witches as they walked out onto the porch with the others.

Spike was the only one who remained inside the house, his eyes fixed on the darkly tinted windows of the van. He held an un-needed breath for a moment before the front door opened and a short blond climbed out of the vehicle.

“And Buffy’s with them.” He announced to no one since the others had already exited the house, the smile on his face reaching his voice.

“Buffy!” Dawn shouted as she bounded down the steps and towards her sister, throwing her arms tightly around her. Buffy returned the embrace.

“What happened to Darla?” Willow asked as she took her turn in embracing her best friend.

Buffy’s face clouded for a moment, Gunn offering the information when he saw the slayer’s reaction. “She’s shackled and tied up in the back of the van.”

Xander grinned. “So it’s over then? No more crazy vampire’s trying to kill our Buffy?”

“Xander, this is a Hellmouth remember? Vampires tend to flock here in droves.” Buffy laughed.

Xander shrugged his shoulders, grinning sheepishly. “I meant of the female-with-a-major-grudge-against-you-and-wants-to-remove-dead-boys-soul variety of course.”

“I heard that.” Angel said as he climbed out of the back of the van.

“I know.” Xander beamed.

“Speaking of soul loose-age…” Buffy said slowly. “Did that Dagger of Cortanzine turn up?”

Reminded by Buffy, Wesley removed the carefully wrapped blade from his pocket and handed it over to Giles. “We found it on her person when we were tying her up.”

“Hog-like I hope.” Xander snickered.

“Thank you.” Giles said as he accepted the blade. “I will work on that spell to destroy it immediately.”

“Immediately?” Willow sighed. “You mean immediately in the tomorrow after lots of sleep sense right?”

“Of course.” Giles amended.

“Does this mean we’re going?” Cordelia asked.

“Yes.” Wesley answered. “I’ll be taking my car, Gunn will be driving the van with Angel and Darla, and you can take Angel’s.”

“It’s at the Mansion.” Angel informed.

“I’ll drive you there now if you wish?” Wesley offered. At Cordelia’s nod, the two moved to the former Watchers small car, waving their goodbyes before pulling away from the house.

Buffy watched as the pair left, standing silently as her friends fell into their comfortable banter that accompanied the removal of a serious threat.

“So that’s it? We can sleep now?” Xander asked excitedly. He was exhausted.

“Sleep sounds good.” An even more tired Dawn mumbled.

“Come on inside.” Giles suggested as he wrapped an arm around the young girl’s shoulder and began leading her towards the house.

~~~

Dawn walked through the front door, her eyes immediately finding Spike sitting by the window in the dining room, watching the goings on outside. When Giles made his way into the living room to prepare his bed, she slowly walked towards Spike. His stare was so focused, so intent. Dawn didn’t need to look outside to know who he was looking at. He had that same look in his eyes that was always there when he looked at her.

At Buffy.

She saw how his jaw clenched, and a quick glance outside showed Angel moving to Buffy’s side. Dawn wished she could say something to calm Spike, to reassure him, but she knew that whilst he would appreciate the sentiment, it wouldn’t mean as much as anything said by Buffy.

Spike loved her sister. Had loved her for a long time. And for a very long time that feeling had been rejected, unreciprocated. But things had been changing. Dawn had noticed how Buffy had been softening towards Spike, how concerned she had been when she had found out he had been captured. The delicacy she had shown when she was tending his wounds.

Yes, things had changed.

“You going to stand there staring at me all night niblet or did you have something to say?”

Broken from her reverie, Dawn smiled. “I could say the same thing about you. Why don’t you go out there? I’m sure she’d be happy to see you…”

Spike sighed. “I’m not to sure about that. It seems your sis has all the company she needs right now.”

Dawn looked out the window again. She knew Angel still loved Buffy, and he probably always would. But Dawn also knew her sister. And this… secret that Angel had been hiding from her, it wasn’t something that Buffy could just get over.

But obviously Spike didn’t understand that. This side of Spike, the insecurity, the doubt, it was so different to the Spike of old. But Dawn didn’t doubt that it had always been there, he had just covered it up with his bravado, and his attitude. Lately he had been forgetting to put that wall up to hide his feelings. That, or he thought he was hiding it, when it truth his feelings were on his sleeve for all to see.

Spike loved Buffy.

She knew that it wasn’t easy for her sister to open up to people. She had been burned too many times. Dawn just hoped that she opened her eyes up to Spike before it was too late.

“She was worried about you, you know?” Dawn offered as she turned to leave. “When you were being held hostage.”

Spike tore his eyes away from the window, his eyes questioning as he spoke. “Really?”

As if remembering that he shouldn’t entertain such thoughts, Spike’s wall went back up, his eyes closing off. “That’s because she thought if I got hurt you’d be in danger.”

“No.” Dawn said simply. “It’s not. If that was all she was worried about then she wouldn’t have been so gentle when she bandaged your wounds, she wouldn’t have done that at all. She would have left you for Giles to patch up.”

Spike remained silent as he pondered what Dawn was saying.

“She wouldn’t have left me here with you, if she didn’t trust you.” Dawn continued, seeing in his eyes that he was considering what she was saying to him.

“And she wouldn’t have let you bite her.”

Spike’s eyes shot up. “Niblet what gave you the idea that I --“

“I have eyes you know.” Dawn interrupted with a shrug of her shoulders. “I did see the mark on her neck.”

“She made me do it, I didn’t want to hurt her.” Spike confessed, his eyes betraying the guilt he felt.

“I know.” Dawn asked. “Do you think she would have done that for any old vampire?”

It was as if the lights suddenly went on in his head as realization dawned on him. When it had happened, he had hoped that it meant… something. But after he had been brought back here, and had fed a little more on the pig’s blood, he had chalked it up to delirium; that the blood loss was making him see things in her eyes that weren’t truly there.

But if what Dawn was saying were true…

“Dawn I…” He looked up to see her slowly walking upstairs.

“Give her more credit Spike. Give yourself more credit.” And with that she was gone.

Bolstered somewhat by Dawn’s little pep talk, Spike decided that tonight was the night. He was going to talk to her, really talk to her. He couldn’t just keep waiting and hoping that one day… No. He had to know. Tonight.

He had to know if she felt something, because it seemed that lately things were changing between them. He just hoped that if she were going to let him down, that she’d do it gently.

~~~

“I feel like I could sleep for a week.” Xander said with a yawn.

“I could shoot you with the tranquilizer gun if you want?” Anya suggested with raised brows.

Xander laughed, wrapping his arm around his girlfriend’s shoulder as he led her inside. “If I can’t sleep in an hour I may take you up on that.”

“Hey whatever happened to Glory?” Willow asked as she and Tara walked inside. “Not that I’m complaining of course, one crazy blond woman is enough to deal with at a time thank you very much.”

“Maybe she’s taking a vacation.” Xander offered.

“Or maybe her worshippers mutinied and killed her.” Anya offered.

“Ahn please… those scabby little freaks loved her.” Xander scoffed.

As her friends filtered inside their voices faded and Buffy found herself alone, in the middle of her lawn with Angel, Gunn already having climbed behind the driver’s seat of the van.

“I should probably go inside.” Buffy said as she turned and walked quickly towards the house. She didn’t look back but she could feel that Angel was following her.

“Buffy wait…” Angel called as he jogged to catch her on the porch. His hand fell on her shoulder, silently hoping she wouldn’t turn around and slug him.

Buffy stopped and slowly turned around.

Neither noticed the shadow watching them from within the living room…



~~~~~~~~~~
Chapters Close. by angelic_amy
A/N: Big thanks to Megan for her betaing for this chapter!


Chapter 36: Chapters Close.


Spike watched from inside the living room as Buffy slowly turned to face Angel. Turn away… come inside… please don’t listen to him…

His mind was a whir of thoughts, most of them involving inflicting incredible pain to the vampire on the other side of the wall. He couldn’t believe Buffy was going to listen to him after Angel had kept another secret from her.

When he had seen her climb out of that van he had wanted nothing more than to run outside and sweep her up into his arms. She was safe, she was home and he was relieved.

But then all of her friends had flooded outside and he had found himself standing behind, watching her like he did so often. People flocked to Buffy. And he didn’t just mean tonight. As a whole, people were just drawn to her. She was a cautious person, and scant few were allowed into her heart. Most of them who had been let in were currently upstairs sleeping right now.

Dawn’s little speech had lent him some courage. If Dawn had noticed a change then maybe it wasn’t all just wishful thinking on his part. Maybe she did see him differently.

Spike had always been on the outer, never allowed entrance into that trusted circle. Until today. And now he felt like he was being shut out again.

Even before he knew her, he had been drawn to her.

When word reached him that the newest slayer was guarding the Hellmouth, the very place he needed to bring Dru to make her well again, he had jumped at the chance. That first night, his first sighting of her, dancing at the Bronze with her friends, had changed his life forever. Since that moment she had always been in his thoughts. Whether it be hatching his newest foolproof plot to make her the third on the list of slayer’s felled by his hand, or dreaming of her beauty and wondering how she would feel curled up in his bed, she was always there.

He loved her, and she knew it.

And before tonight he had been ridiculed for it, not only by her but also by her friends. When she had come barreling through that door at the Initiative, when she had kissed him and offered her life’s blood to help him heal… when she had gently bandaged his wounds, it had felt like things were changing. Like she was finally seeing him.

All his hope flew out the window the moment he saw Angel touch her.

~~~

“Angel…” Buffy mumbled quietly.

“Buffy please. Just hear me out,” he pleaded with her.

She acquiesced with a nod.

“I’m sorry. For Darla, for putting your sister in danger, for everything,” he apologized softly. He ran his hands through his hair as he tried to find the right words. “What I said before… was inexcusable. I was angry and I lashed out, and I apologize for that.”

Buffy nodded again, feeling some of her anger recede as Angel spoke. The apology was genuine, she was certain of that. “Look, lets just forget about it, okay?” she whispered softly.

“No,” Angel said with a determined shake of his head. “I don’t want to forget about it, I don’t want to forget about us.”

~~~

Spike felt his entire body go rigid as those words left Angel’s mouth, and he had to fight to keep in the growl that wanted to escape his lips. The demon within him was demanding release, wanting to claim what it felt was rightfully his.

Spike’s demon thought of Buffy as his.

The man in him knew that in truth, it was the other way around. Every molecule, every cell, every hair on his body, belonged to her.

~~~

“Angel… there is no us. Not anymore. Our time has past.” Buffy conceded quietly, surprised that saying those words didn’t sting like it used to.

Even when she had been dating Riley, she would sometimes find her thoughts traveling to Angel. He was her first love and a small part of her did belong to him and him only. And even though she had moved on, the thought of him doing the same had hurt.

It had hurt tonight when she had found out about Darla.

Moving on was a fact of life, and she realized now that what stung the most was the fact that he hadn’t come to her, hadn’t told her about the things that were happening in his life. Not the fact that he had been with someone else.

Maybe she was finally over him…

“No,” Angel shook his head again. “I don’t believe that. Buffy what about the prophecy?”

~~~

Inside Spike’s head he had silently been cheering. She had turned him down!

She said no!

He knew how much Peaches had meant to her, and by turning him down maybe it meant that she was finally over him, that his worries from earlier were unfounded. She wouldn’t go back to him now, and not just because of the secrets he’d kept hidden. She had said that their time was past.

But the momentary happiness Spike felt faded at the mention of a prophecy. Hadn’t they suffered through enough of them, real and fake?

~~~

“Angel, you don’t even know how far away that will be,” Buffy sighed.

Two years ago, hearing that Angel might someday be human, that they could be together, would have been the greatest thing anyone could have ever told her. But now?

“I won’t give up on you,” He said determinedly. “Not if there is a chance that we can be together one day. Buffy I would be human… I could give you the life that you deserve.”

~~~

Spike’s jaw gaped. Angel… human?!

How was that even possible?

How can I compete with that?

~~~

“Angel.” Buffy sighed as she looked up, searching those brown eyes and seeing the conviction there. “The prophecy may or may not come to pass in this lifetime. I’m not going to make promises I can’t keep, and I don’t want you to feel obligated to come to me if and when it does happen.”

Angel stepped forward, placing his hands on her shoulders. “Buffy, I’d never loved anyone before I met you. You’re the reason I do what I do.”

“Did you hear that?” she said with a smile. “You said loved. Not love. Angel what you and I had is in the past. I do care about you. But I don’t love you. Not anymore.”

Angel’s shoulders slumped dejectedly. He had waited too long and had missed his chance. If only he had never left in the first place maybe…

If Buffy knew Angel at right, right about now he would be wondering what he could do to fix things or what he should have done so as they didn’t end up where they were now. A small smile started to creep its way across her face. Angel was a big part of her past. He was her first love and her first heartbreak, all in one package. She could never deny that he was important to her because he was. Just not in the same way.

These past few days had shone a light on that for her. At the Initiative complex all of her concerns had been about saving Spike and not just to secure her sister’s safety. She had been worried for Angel but at the same time she knew that he would be able to take care of himself, he always had. It had been hard when he had left her after graduation but she had learned to deal, she had made steps to move on. And not itty bitty steps big ones. Two years ago if she had been asked what she saw in her future the first thing she would have responded with would have been Angel.

Now when she thought of the future, she thought of family. She thought of her sister, of her friends and of Giles. She had grown as a person and her priorities had evolved, as had her love. When she thought of Angel now, it was with affection nothing more.

“I know you may not see it, but right now you’ve got more important things to think about.”

~~~

Hear that? She cares about HIM… not you. Prat.

Spike mentally kicked his inner self. He was trying not to let this get to him trying to stay optimistic. Dawn said…

But his hope was deflating with each moment longer she stayed outside.

~~~

“Like what?” he asked.

“Like your child,” she replied simply. “Angel you’re going to be a father.”

A tiny smile crept across Angel’s face.

“Despite the…” She searched for the right word. “Circumstances which are the cause for the impending birth, I am happy for you. This is something that shouldn’t be happening for obvious biological reasons, but it is,” she smiled softly.

An eyebrow lifted as she continued speaking, her voice taking on a harsh but decisive tone. “I still think you must have lost your mind to sleep with Darla, and I DO promise you that if she ever sets foot in this town again she will not be leaving here alive.”

Angel winced, but didn’t argue with her, instead nodding once in acknowledgement. The whole thing with Darla… he wished he could take it all back. But if he did that, it would mean taking away the baby.

“But if you hadn’t messed up so badly, you wouldn’t be about to become a father.”

A horn beeped and Angel looked over his shoulder to see Gunn waving him towards the van. The horizon was beginning to lighten and he would have to lock himself in the back of the van, safely away from the sun’s harmful rays.

“We’re not good here, Angel,” Buffy informed solemnly. “You and me… you kept secrets and you put my sister’s life in danger.”

“I know,” he replied, mentally berating himself again. He knew he could never take back what he had done, he just hoped that one day he would be able to make things right. Now was not that time.

“Thank you,” he said with a smile.

“For what?” she asked quizzically.

“For being you. For not tying me up on your porch and leaving me to greet the sunrise. And for understanding.”

At Buffy’s quirked brow he laughed.

“Okay… tolerating.”

“That’s more like it.”

Angel returned the grin, thinking for a moment before he pulled Buffy into his arms, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead and holding her tightly.

Buffy tensed for a moment before quickly returning the embrace, and then just as quickly extracting herself from his arms and taking a step towards the front door.

“Go! Before you turn all crispy fried.”

Angel jogged down the stairs and walked backwards across the lawn to the van. “You’re incredible. You know that?”

He opened up the backdoor, smiling at her again. “I’ll always love you Buffy.”

Before Buffy could respond, he had disappeared into the back of the van and closed the door. A salute in her direction from Gunn and then the van backed out of the driveway and disappeared down the street.

“Goodbye Angel,” she whispered with a relieved sigh.

Angel was a part of her past now, and that was where he belonged. They had tried the on-again, off-again thing and it hadn’t worked. She had come to realize that their time had passed. Despite his promises, things would never be the same between them again.

It was over.

Really over.

She was done dwelling on the past; the ‘what if’s’ no longer had as much influence as they used to. She was ready to move on to her future, and she knew that no matter what she decided she would have the support of her friends.

Her thoughts went back to Spike, her hand tracing up to gently touch the two tiny puncture wounds on the side of her neck, a small smile creeping it’s way across her face. She had been thinking more and more about the bleached vampire over the last… well, if she was honest, several weeks. At first she had dismissed the new feelings of trust that she felt for the vampire. Yes, he had protected Dawn from Glory, but did that mean he deserved a chance?

Yes…

She was ready for a new chapter of her life to start. All she needed to do was make the first move. Buffy inhaled a haggard breath as she tried to bolster her courage. Was she really going to do this? Was she really going to risk opening up to another vampire?

He’s not Angel…

She inhaled deeply again. Because he wasn’t Angel. Spike was vastly different from her former love. The only real similarity between them was that they were both vampires.

Spike was a vampire, he didn’t have a soul, and by all means he should be trying to kill her. But he wasn’t. And it wasn’t just because of the chip. If it were removed tomorrow she doubted that his feelings would change, and she trusted that he would never try to bite her friends. He had changed so much over the last year it was incredible.

And he loved her. Completely.

Figuring that he would be in the basement Buffy turned and walked towards her front door, her fingers grasping the handle. Admitting that she was wrong was not something that Buffy could do very easily. So telling Spike that she knew he had changed, that he was a better man like he had professed to her just mere weeks ago, was not going to be easy. But she had to.

She was going to tell him.

Now.



~~~~~~~~~~
A/N: One more to go guys! Let me know your thoughts. :D
A New Beginning. by angelic_amy
*BIG HUGS* for the lovely Megan for the beta job.

Thank you to: Angie, Cordykitten, klylu and adoria for the reviews.

~~~~~

Chapter 37: A New Beginning.


Spike heard the door creak open as he pretended to be checking his bandages. In truth, more than one of the wounds should probably be re-dressed but he had refused to let anyone near him. He had just wanted Buffy to come back safely, wanted her to take care of him like she had before.

But now, after what he had heard, what he had just seen…

Buffy walked into the house, closing the door quietly behind herself as she listened for voices. A glance thrown at the sofa in the living room showed Giles snoring quietly, but save for that noise the place was quiet. She turned to go into the kitchen to get herself a drink and stopped when she saw him sitting in the dark.

“Oh, Spike. What are you still doing up?” Buffy asked. She was surprised to see him still awake. She was surprised to see him upstairs…

“Fixin’ my bandages,” he responded sullenly.

Buffy frowned at the hostility in his voice. What was wrong with him? Deciding to fetch herself a drink before she took on the task of confessing her thoughts to him, she turned towards the kitchen. She tried to feign nonchalance at his tone of voice by shrugging her shoulders at his indifference, and walked right passed him and into the kitchen.

Spike counted, waiting for her reaction to the damage in there. 1… 2… 3… 4…

“Spike! What happened in here?” she called out a little loudly as she returned to the dining room, her jaw gaping in surprise.

“There was a fire,” he stated the obvious.

“I can see that.” She frowned, her arms folding over her chest. “What happened?”

Obviously the Watcher didn’t give her a debrief before hitting the sack. Best not to let her know about her sister’s attempted kidnapping just yet…


“Darla’s men attacked, tried to smoke us out.”

Buffy’s eyes widened. That explained the boarded up windows. “Who put it out?”

“I did,” he admitted grudgingly.

She inhaled a deep breath, her shoulders sagging as she relaxed again. “Thank you,” she whispered gratefully

Spike nodded, not making a big deal out of it but secretly thrilled that she had thanked him.

“Did you want some help?” she offered when she saw that he seemed to be struggling a little with the bandage.

God yes…

“No. I got it,” he replied as he rewound the bandage that was wrapped around his wrist and tried to fasten it, but not doing so well.

Buffy frowned, watching him for a moment before slumping into the seat before him and grabbing his hand, dragging it towards her so that she could re-bandage it properly. She worked in silence, fixing the bandage and checking the one on his other hand before her hands went to the buttons of his black shirt.

“Don’t,” he mumbled as he pushed her hands away, standing up to move away from her. He was trying to stay mad at her, trying to remind himself that he wasn’t good enough and that she would never chose him. But her kind actions were making it difficult.

“Spike, what is your problem?” she demanded as she followed him to the basement door, climbing down the stairs as he descended to the bottom.

“My problem?” He whirled around when he reached the floor.

His sudden stop almost caused Buffy to slam into him. She stopped on the last step before the bottom, the extra height advantage making it so they were at eye level.

“Yes, your problem,” she stated as she folded her arms over her chest. “I’m not the one sulking here.”

“I’m not sulking,” he retorted.

“Fine,” Buffy smirked. “Brooding.”

“I don’t BROOD,” he snapped. “You’re confusing me with Peaches.”

He stalked away from her, towards the cot he had been sleeping on for the last few days, determined to ignore her, until sunset if he had to. He stopped just short of it, keeping his back turned to her. As soon as night fell he was out of there to go back to his crypt where he belonged.

“Spike, I wasn’t trying to compare you to Angel,” Buffy explained with a frown, wondering what had put him in such a huff.

“Yeah? That’s not what it sounded like,” he retorted. “I’ll be out of here by sunset,” he promised as he turned his back away from her, closing his eyes as he waited for her to leave. “So you won’t have to tolerate my presence any longer.”

“Tolerate what…?” She trailed off, her eyes widening with realization.

“Spike, were you spying on me?” she asked incredulously. “AGAIN?

NO!” he replied angrily as he whirled around to face her. “I told you I was --“

“Fixing bandages that didn’t need fixing?” Buffy interrupted.

“They were itching,” he complained.

Buffy stared at him for a moment before laughter burst from her lips. “Well for someone who was eavesdropping, you didn’t listen too well.”

“What? I wasn’t eavesdropping,” he insisted with a frown. Not really… Was it his fault that they were having a conversation right next to one of the smashed windows?

“Oh okay,” she said with a slow nod. “So you wouldn’t have heard that Angel and I are getting back together, then?” she asked innocently, biting the inside of her cheek to stop herself from smiling.

“You’re WHAT?” he exploded. This couldn’t be happening. Okay, so he had feared that it was, but actually hearing from her that it was? “But you said --“

“Ah HA!” Buffy said triumphantly. “Caught you.”

Spike realized he had been caught out, but he was angrier about the fact that she had even joked about getting back together with Peaches. “That’s not funny,” he sulked.

“Yes it is,” Buffy objected, giggling again. “You should have seen the look on your face.” She had to fight not to burst out laughing again at the incredulous look that crept across his face. “Spike, I wanted to tell you that --“

“I don’t care,” he interrupted.

“But you haven’t even let me tel-”

“Sod off,” he said as he turned his back on her.

“Spike…” Buffy moved closer to him, lifting her hand to his shoulder to turn him around.

“Buffy, I --“

Whatever Spike had been about to say was cut off when Buffy wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed his lips gently.

Spike’s entire body went rigid at the feel of her against him, a couple of seconds passing before he realized that she really was kissing him. It wasn’t a figment of his mind, he wasn’t dreaming. He wasn’t imagining it. She was kissing him.

Buffy broke the kiss, slowly unwrapping her arms from his neck until she stood before him, looking up into his deep blue eyes, searching for a reaction. Something, anything to tell her that he understood. Her lips were tingling in protest when they parted from his, a shiver of excitement rolling over her.

“What…” Spike cleared his throat when his voice didn’t want to work properly. “What was that for?”

“To make you listen,” Buffy answered with a smile. “I had to get your attention somehow.”

Spike didn’t know whether to smile or frown. If this was just some sort of game…

“Buffy, if you’re just playing with me…” He trailed off, his face falling as he began to imagine the worst.

“I’ve done a lot of thinking over the last twenty-four hours,” Buffy informed him, ignoring his plea for a moment as she tried to explain. “Before we found you, on the way there, on my way back from my fight with Darla tonight.”

Spike listened, wondering where she was going with this but for once just letting her speak.

“I thought about the people in my life, in particular, the men.”

Spike’s face clouded with anger and he clenched his teeth. “Buffy, if --“

“Just wait, I have a point to this, I promise,” she confided softly. When Spike nodded once, she continued.

“All of them have left. My father, Angel, Parker, Riley…”

Spike was practically gnashing his teeth as the names of her three formers were brought up. He couldn’t believe how stupid they all were for letting her slip from their hands. His eyes fell to the floor in an attempt to hide the blinding jealousy he felt, knowing that they had been given the opportunity to be with her, and angry that they had all thrown it away and hurt her in the process.

“But not Giles, or Xander.” Buffy reached up to hook her finger under his chin to lift his gaze to meet hers. “And not you.”

The anger in his eyes faded when he heard her softly spoken words, and saw the gentle smile that crossed her face. He searched her eyes for answers, not wanting to let himself hope that she was saying what he wanted her to be saying.

“You’ve never left me,” she added, laughing as she thought about it. “Even when I wanted you to.”

“Buffy…”

But she interrupted him again. “I know why you stay. I know that you care.”

This is it… Spike thought, preparing himself for the rejection he suspected was coming.

“I don’t know why… or how. But things have changed. You’ve changed.” Buffy clenched and unclenched her fists to release some of her nervous tension. She could tell that Spike was anxious and whilst she was hiding her own anxiety well on the outside, inside she was mass of nerves. Just because she knew Spike cared for her, didn’t mean he would accept what she had to say. She tore her gaze from the floor, imploring him to believe her as she looked longingly into eyes. “I’ve seen it. The way you’ve looked out for Dawn, looked out for me…”

She ran her fingers down the line of his cheekbone as she subconsciously leaned closer to him. Mentally she knew that her body was communicating what she was trying to express much more clearly than her words. When he leaned into her touch, his arms wrapping more tightly around her waist she felt her heart begin to beat more fiercely. She couldn’t remember the last time she had found herself this nervous, a fact that only convinced her further that she was making the right decision by telling him all of this. Despite her anxiety in regards to his response she forced herself to continue.

Spike’s eyes fluttered shut at her gentle ministrations. This wasn’t how it was supposed to go; this wasn’t what he thought she was going to say. He leaned into her touch, his hold around her waist tightening reflexively, their bodies crushing together. Spike had to bite the inside of his mouth to stop from moaning out loud when she moved, unintentionally rubbing herself against him. Never in his wildest dreams would he have thought he’d find himself in this position, with Buffy in his arms. And the fact that she was here in his arms and not in Angel’s, he found himself being filled with hope yet again.

“I don’t know what this is between us. I just know that I trust it.” Her hand dropped to his chest. “I trust you.”

She had trusted him to protect Dawn and she had shown her appreciation for that fact when she had tended his wounds. She just hadn’t fully realized at the time that’s what she was doing. Buffy was opening up to Spike; to the possibility of a future with him and that was something she did not take lightly.

“Buffy, I --” He tried for the third time, only to be cut off again by her lips. He wasn’t going to complain. His arms instantly tightened around her waist as hers snaked around his neck. He pulled her closer to him as he felt her tongue push its way into his mouth, dancing with his. A shudder rolled through him, and he knew he had to be sure now. If he waited any longer, he wouldn’t be strong enough to stop her.

He broke the kiss hesitantly but didn’t let go of her; holding her in place, flush against his body. “Am I…” he began, inhaling deeply before he began again. “Buffy, I’m not a consolation prize,” he said calmly. “If this is just something to get back at Peaches for sleeping with Darla…” His hold on her began to loosen, Buffy’s tightening in response.

“It’s not,” she affirmed with a shake of her head. “I don’t love you,” she told him honestly, continuing quickly at the hurt look that flashed through his eyes. “But I think I could. One day. I care about you, Spike, and not just because of what you did for my sister. You’re a good man, Spike.”

Buffy hesitated, waiting to gauge his reaction. The pain faded from his eyes, to be replaced with the beginning of a smile.

“Say it again,” he pleaded.

She thought about it for a moment before repeating what he wanted to hear. “I care about you, Spike.”

A brilliant smile filled Spike’s face as his lips swooped down to claim hers, his tongue running the length of her bottom lip as he begged for entrance. Buffy parted her lips and their tongues began a battle for dominance, dueling with as much ferocity as when they sparred.

Spike lifted Buffy up and spun her in a circle, breaking the kiss with a gasp as the movement caused pain to shoot through his body. Buffy slipped from his arms, her concern palpable. “Are you okay?” she asked.

“I’ll be fine, just need a couple of days to heal is all,” he confessed, biting his bottom lip in worry before pleading with her. “Don’t leave?”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she vowed softly. When he tried to pull her up against him again, she held him at an arms distance away. “But no more of this till you’re better.”

Spike pouted when she resisted.

“Later, okay? You can wait a couple of days, I’m not going anywhere.” She pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.

“Promise?” Spike asked, his voice hopeful.

“I promise.”



THE END


~~~~~

A/N: First of all I want to say a BIG thank you to everyone who has followed this story from the beginning. I appreciate each and every review that was posted, and would LOVE to hear your thoughts on the ending. You all may or may not be aware, this was my first piece of Buffyverse fiction and your encouragement has meant more than I can express.

Reading your comments always brought a smile to my face because you guys read it, and KEPT reading. Which was awesome.

A big thank you goes to Megan for her betaing of the final two chapters, her help was invaluable and the reason why these chapters are as good as they are is because of her guidance.

That’s it from me for now!

My next story, ‘Secrets and Lies’ will begin posting in a few days. It is already complete so updates will be quick.

The sequel to Hidden Agendas will follow a few days after that. (It however is a WIP so updates will be on a weekly basis.)

I hope to see you all around on the verse, and please feel free to drop me an email or post on my Livejournal.

Once again, thanks for all the support.

Amy
xoxo