Buffy stared at the peaceful face in front of her the features slack with unconsciousness. She shifted her position in the hard chair she had been keeping a silent vigil in for the last three days. Three days where she had waited patiently for the still figure in front of her to awaken. And with each passing day her hope faded a little bit more.
Sitting quietly in the dark she glanced at the fading light outside the tiny little window. It would be dark soon and once again she would have to leave her silent post for a quick patrol.
So much had happened in the last three days. It was hard to believe that everything in her life could suddenly be turned upside down in such a short space of time. She longed to be able to tell someone what she was feeling but there was no one who would understand.
No one but the person in front of her. But people weren't really great conversationalists while they slept the sleep of the unconscious.
Letting out a deep sigh she slowly made her way to her feet. Another night where her patient would remain sleeping.
Distracted by her thoughts she missed the small flutter of eyelids. She didn't however miss the pained moan that drifted from the makeshift bed.
Kneeling down beside the prone figure she placed a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"Hey can you hear me?"
Piercing blue eyes opened and seemed to take a moment before they focused on her face.
**********
His first thought as he drifted to consciousness was that he hoped someone had gotten the license plate number of the semi that hit him so he could rip the driver apart limb by limb. His head was fuzzy and there was a distinct pounding in his temples. He couldn't help the pained moan that escaped his lips.
At the touch of a warm hand on his shoulder he felt a surge of confusion. Warm? Then when he heard a soft but distinctly feminine voice he opened his eyes.
What the hell had happened to him? From his senses he could tell he wasn't in the factory and was damn sure that he was not in the presence of his dark princess. In fact the scent was familiar if he could just focus his eyes. Slowly they started to clear.
Green eyes full of concern stared back at him framed by a pretty face. His muddled brain struggled to put a name to the familiar features in front of him. It took a moment but the realization finally clicked into place.
"Slayer!" He growled low afraid that if he shouted like he wanted to it would tear his head wide open.
"Spike. Welcome back to the world of the living. Or the not quite so living in your case." The quip lacked any of the malice her words were usually draped in.
The sight of the petite blond in front of him burned in his chest and he could feel his rage soaking through his entire body. He was practically shaking with an intense fury directed at the pain in the ass in his presence.
With a lightening fast move he grabbed her arms just below her shoulders his fingers digging into her flesh with enough force to bruise even a slayer. Snarling he twisted to pull her along as he tried to sit up.
He barely got his shoulders off of the cot when he let out a shout of pain his hands immediately letting the small girl go.
"What the bloody hell did you do to me you fucking bitch!" He gave in to the rage and pain to bellow the words holding in a wince at the sound of his own voice echoing in his head.
She continued to stare at him numbly not moving away from him.
Stupid bloody bint should be cowering in fear in a corner but she made no move to leave his side. What the fuck was going on?
His chest was heaving with his confusion and anger the act of breathing usually helping to settle his agitated state. It would take more then a few deep breaths this time.
She watched him carefully trying to gauge his reactions. His blinding anger didn't surprise her this was Spike after all but the amount of pain she could see shining out of his blue eyes concerned her greatly.
In all the time she had spent waiting by his side for him to regain consciousness she had hoped even if it was a small hope that he would be able to help them out of this horrid situation. After all his sole purpose and motivation were already at stake.
But in the back of her mind where she had catalogued his various injuries as she tended to him that first night she had a niggling suspicion that looked to be the truth.
It was most likely that his back was broken.
They were all so very fucked.
She watched his chest rapidly fall up and down as he breathed and tried not to think about how weird that looked after he had lain perfectly still for the last three days.
A mild panic had begun to push the rage out of his system as he tried to find the strength to move his legs and they failed to respond. He stared down the length of them focusing on the tenting of the blanket where his toes were and tried to get the smallest wiggle from them. Gritting his teeth with the effort he let out a frustrated roar at the lack of movement.
He whipped his head back at the woman who was still kneeling next to him. Grabbing her again he began to shake the small body.
"What. The. Bloody. Fuck. Did you do?"
The quiet growl was actually a lot more frightening then his angry bellows and Buffy had to fight the urge to swallow against her trepidation. This was probably not the brightest idea she had ever had.
Oh there was no doubt that he was in a lot of pain and he was at a slight disadvantage not being able to move his legs but she had no doubt that his hands and his fangs were just as deadly as ever. And the most disturbing thought she didn't want to take advantage of his current predicament. It just didn't seem right.
So she took his shaking without a complaint until it felt like her head was going to rattle straight off of her neck.
Forcefully but without overly strong-arming him she pushed his hands away.
"What's the last thing you remember Spike?"
The quiet tone of her voice sent a little shock through his system and he was glad for the distraction however small it might be from the fact that he couldn't move the lower half of his body. Instead he plunged into his memories hoping at least for some type of explanation for this hell he found himself in.
He remembered the Slayer and her friends busting up the ritual in the church and the fight he had with her and the mini Slayer. Dru had called to him and he had gone to her side to get her out of there before the fire spread any further and then nothing but blackness.
His eyes searched hers.
"I was on my way out of the church Dru was in my arms and then nothing." The thought finally seemed to penetrate his brain and he began to seethe again. "Where the hell is Druscilla?!"
"Take it easy. Your loony sire is just fine."
"Watch it little girl." The low threat in his growl was hard to miss.
"Save me from the lecture. You want to know what’s happened or what?" Her patience was thinning from her fatigue and she wished that she had gotten some sleep earlier in the day instead of dragging her tired self to school once again. Damn Snyder.
She watched as a muscle ticked in his tightened jaw and had to wonder if he had been able to use his legs if she would be dead right now. It was pretty possible considering the murderous gleam in those cold blue eyes.
When he didn't answer her she figured he did want to know but it was the last thing he was going to admit to her considering how unflattering the position he now was in. Technically he was totally dependant on her and that had to be terrifying all by itself.
"Look there's been a lot going on so I'm just going to spit it all out. None of it is going to be pleasant and you're just going to get more pissed. And even though it may sound strange I'm sorry about that. But you'll understand why when I get done."
She stood and settled herself back into the metal chair. A small shiver traveled up her spine as her body met with the now cold surface.
"So you were carrying Druscilla right? Here's what happened."
********
Three days earlier.
Buffy swung the chain once more in the air before letting go and giving a triumphant yell as the organ fell on top of the annoying vampire. From what she could see he was totally under it but he had pushed his loony girlfriend free and she was now crawling back in the direction she had come. Back towards the still unconscious Angel.
That just wouldn't do at all and she began to make her way back to his side.
The sound of the falling beam startled her and she had to tuck and roll back out of the way. The burning wood now created another separation and she could no longer get to Angel. She turned to look behind her seeing the others on the far side of the flames.
"Giles get them out of here I'll handle the rest!"
He didn't look happy about it but he gave her a slight nod in response. Her eyes scanned the back of the church for another exit. There was one straight behind her now a section of wall that had crumbled away with the structural damage the place was now taking from the fire.
Looking back to where Angel had been laying she spied the vampiress dragging her boyfriend out of the church through a shattered stained glass window. She had to get to them but she wouldn't be able to without going out and around. And they were almost out now.
Spurring her body back into motion she picked her way over the organ and couldn't help the glance down at her fallen enemy.
Oh she had no delusion that she had finally dusted him but she had a hard time resisting the urge to see his prone form for herself. From the back of the now shattered organ she could see his face.
He almost seemed peaceful lying there amid the debris. Looking at him now she would never guess at the total menace and deadly nature of this creature. Here he looked just as innocent as a newborn not a line on his face to mar the almost angelic features.
Her eyes darted around again taking note at how close the flames were now coming to the both of them. She took in his prone form once more and fighting the urge to question her actions more fully she began to move the remaining rubble from his body.
Freeing him she tried to gingerly settle him over her shoulder so that she could carry him out.
*********
"You pulled me out?" The incredulity in his voice didn't surprise her, hell he should hear the way she had been jumping down her own throat at her actions. They didn't make a whole lot of sense to her either.
"Yeah could we not talk about that? I'm thinking total lack of good judgment there. But that isn't important right now. We've got way bigger problems."
"Bigger problems? Some how I doubt that Slayer."
"You obviously haven't been living on the Hellmouth long enough then."
"Nothing you could say would be a surprise."
"Damn it Spike don't you know saying stuff like that is just asking for trouble? Nothing would surprise you huh?" At his confident nod she had to give him a small sneer. "How about the fact that it's been three days since that organ fell on you?"
The loss of time seemed to give him pause but Buffy thought he hid it pretty well.
"Nope." His cocky grin was back and she took a deep breath reminding herself that she still had a lot more to tell him and it was her own damned fault that he was here annoying her now.
She was the idiot that saved him after all.
"Fine be that way." She caught his wince of pain as he tried to shift his shoulders and she felt a pang of guilt. God that was the worst, guilt at injuring her mortal enemy in a fight where he had been trying to kill her. She was just so screwed up. "Spike your still healing let me go and get you some thing to eat and we'll finish this alright?"
All he could do was blink at her. Who the hell was this girl? Didn't she know what she was supposed to do? Not that he minded being undusty but this was getting ridiculous. First she saves him and now she was going to make sure he got something to eat? What in all that was evil was going on?
Somehow he had managed a slight nod in her direction and he watched as she bounded up the steps. Now that he had the time he wondered just where they were. It was dark and a little dank giving the place a distinct underground feeling. Taking note of the washer and dryer in the room he figured he was in a basement. Judging from the look of things the basement to a regular house.
The thought that flitted through his mind made him pause. They were in a house, one she looked to be perfectly comfortable in even while in the basement. Bloody fuck. She had brought him to her house?
Okay so he lied he could still be surprised. The little blond was proving that every few seconds now.
She was coming back down the stairs a coffee mug in hand. The look on his face must have betrayed his confusion.
"What? I said something not someone Spike." She eased herself next to him on the cot her hands gently propping him up with against her body. She moved slowly stopping when he winced in pain hoping that he was elevated enough to drink from the mug. Buffy handed it to him not wanting to say anything else.
He had to admit the smell of blood stirred his hunger and he felt close to being starved. Concentrating on the meal in front of him he finally registered something. The blood in the mug was human. That surprised him he had felt certain that she would be totally against that.
He drained the last of it and handed the mug back to her waiting hand.
She settled him back down on the cot just as gently as she had propped him up. Setting the mug on the floor she moved back over to her chair.
"Better?" This was just insane. Why the hell did she care so much? She wasn't supposed to she was certain that before three nights ago she had hated him with every fiber of her being. This just didn't add up to hatred. Not any she had ever heard about.
He wasn't sure how to answer her. Right now he was seriously questioning his sanity. This couldn't really be happening could it? Laying wounded on a cot in the house of the very girl who was supposed to eradicate his existence and whom he had been trying to kill. A girl he had been tearing his hair out to take out of this world. He hated her. Course he had hated her before this but everything that had happened in the last few moments was making his hatred grow. He could feel it taking root deep in his gut its tendrils licking out to the rest of his body. How dare she put him in this situation? It wasn't like he could just get up and walk away and she was the one who had caused the damage in the first place.
So in response he just continued to glare at her.
Buffy wasn't at all shocked at his lack of response and took his glare for what it was. He hated her and that was fine they were mortal enemies after all. He was only here now out of her own deluded sense of fairness. It had just seemed wrong for him to go out like that. Especially with the challenges their past battles had given her. No they would fight again just as before only not right now.
"Right well after I took you out of the church I hid you outside and went looking for Angel. I guess your ritual worked cause they were totally gone and I couldn't find them. Then I brought you back here." She shrugged at the look in his eye not willing to interpret it. "None of my friends but me knows your still alive or undead or whatever. I didn't think it would be a good idea to let the others know. Kind of defeat the purpose of saving you in the first place."
When he opened his mouth she threw a glare at him.
"I told you don't ask." His jaw clacked shut. "After getting you settled here I went searching through town looking for where your psycho girlfriend could be hiding Angel." She didn't miss the flash of anger in his eyes and was almost feeling sorry for him. He had yet to hear everything. "When it got dark I went to patrol...."
********
Two nights ago.
Buffy kicked the stone down the gravel path. She had been all through town and not sign of either that psycho or Angel. Fighting down the constant worry that was plaguing her she tried to think of a plan to find her boyfriend.
She had seen the look in Druscilla's eyes when she had been making her way to Angel as the church burned all around them. And she had seen the injuries that had littered her boyfriend’s undead body that had yet to heal. Not a pleasant thought. It would be easier to think that Spike had been the one who was responsible for those torturous wounds but she had the sinking suspicion that the bitch was the one who did all the work. It didn't seem Spike's style.
So worry was the ever-present emotion that wracked her body. Even carrying for the unconscious blond hadn't helped her mind find something else to focus on. She could imagine what kind of torture Angel was going through even if she could do without the mental picture. But unlike what everyone else thought she did pay attention to what Giles told her and she did indeed do her research on vamps. The Watcher's Diaries had chronicled just how insane Angelus' girl was.
She hoped Angel wasn't paying for it too much now.
"Hey."
The soft masculine voice cut through her musings and she felt a wide grin spread across her face.
"Angel you're alright!" She was holding him within a second her naturally enhanced speed fueled with her sense of relief and joy at seeing him.
A comforting peace settled around her as she found herself engulfed in his strong embrace. She gave in to the sensation of just being held by him and let the joy of his return flood through her body.
So she was a little shocked at him gently pushing her away.
Her questioning eyes found his hidden in the darkness making them impossible to read.
"I take it you're glad to see me then?" There was something about his tone that was off but she shrugged it away.
"Of course I'm glad to see you. I was worried about you."
"No need to worry about me Buff."
"But Druscilla-"
"Oh I think I can handle Dru just fine." This time she couldn't help but notice the note of something darker in his words and she just continued to stare up at him for a moment. "Got to tell you that I'm kind of glad things worked out the way they did."
"What are you talking about Angel? What happened?" Somewhere deep within her psyche she had the feeling that she didn't want to know.
"I just realized some things. Tell me Buff if you had rescued me last night what would have happened?"
She unconsciously took a step backwards.
"Um I'm not sure I would have taken you back to your apartment I guess and then gone home. Why?"
The low menacing chuckle that came from him sent a shiver up her spine. Something was really wrong.
"You really are innocent aren't you? Pity that." He took a step forward and she retreated. "It's a good thing Dru isn't."
"Angel?" She couldn't help the way her voice came out tiny and insecure.
"What did you really think I would wait for you? After all these months didn't you think I might have a few needs of my own?" He gave another deep chuckle. "Last night was just what I needed."
She continued to stare at him the confusion etched into her face her eyes wide with denial at the innuendo.
He took another step forward this time bending down until his mouth was next to her ear.
"Dru was always such a good girl, learned her lessons well and she hasn't forgotten a thing in the last century." The puff of air at his words sent another shiver through her. "I'd almost forgotten how good it could be between the two of us." He stood up abruptly.
There was no denying the words now she was blond but not dumb.
"You.. You slept with her?" The words were a tiny whisper and she felt her throat clog after them with the threat of tears. "I. I thought you loved me."
His chuckle turned into a deep laugh then and she took another step back.
"You really are a naive little thing. Love you? You’re just a little girl. Did you really think someone like you could hold my interest for very long? Sure it was a novelty for a time but the blushing virgin act gets old after awhile."
Her breaths were coming out in strangled gasps now as emotion threatened to overwhelm her.
"Oh and I just have to thank you for taking care of Spike for me. Couldn't have gotten her alone if that pest was around." Another deep chuckle past through his lips. He seemed to study her intently for a moment.
"You know you still have some potential maybe I should teach you a few tricks." The step he took this time brought his face into a stray beam of light from the street and she could see the malice in his eyes. Something she had never seen in them before.
She didn't have any words and the panic at what he was saying began to settle over her. The tilt of his head told her he could scent her fear and she knew that this was a good time to get out of the area. Without thinking she turned and ran for all she was worth not stopping until she was facing her own front door.
Using a trembling hand she went in and shut the door behind her. She let her mind drift as she went back up the stairs and got ready for bed.
Something was definitely wrong with Angel but she didn't know what. She couldn't believe that the cruel man that she had seen tonight was the same tragic figure she had fallen in love with. Could she have read him so wrong?
The trembling in her body refused to stop until she collapsed onto her bed and curled into a ball. Finally feeling somewhat safe the tears came and she sobbed her pain into her pillow before drifting into a troubled sleep.
********
She awoke with a headache and let her hand come up to rub her temples. Her eyes felt sore and dry from the crying she had done the night before and she began to sit up.
She froze when the sheet slid from the top of her body. The cool air hitting her bare flesh sent a wave of panic over her. Lifting a corner of the covering she stared in shock at the rest of her nude body. She glanced around the room quickly taking in the sunlight streaming in through the open window and saw the piece of paper lying on the pillow next to her a single red rose on top of it.
With a shaking hand she pushed the rose out of the way and picked up the paper.
It was a simple pencil sketch that sent her panic into areas of hysteria. On the page was a picture of her lying prone and naked in her bed. The image was disturbing in and of itself but what caught her attention was the pair of puncture marks on her neck.
Leaping off the bed she ran to the bathroom her eyes glued to the mirror in front of her. There on her neck placed over where the Master had made his mark stood two red punctures.
******
The deep bellows of his laughter grated on her nerves and her hands kept curling and uncurling in tight fists. She desperately wanted to punch him. Hear the sound of crunching cartilage as she broke his nose but she couldn't.
Well she could but it would be sinking to his level and she simply refused to stoop that low. He was pretty much at her mercy whether he acted like it or not.
"I'm glad that I could amuse you." The words were sharp as she gritted her teeth.
"So you wouldn't put out?" She could barely make out his words through his deep laugh.
"If you're finished?"
"Didn't know soul boy had it in him." His body was still shaking with his mirth.
Buffy let a cold smile spread on her lips.
"That's why you need to pay attention."
The slow and even tone shocked him and Spike stared at the look on the young girl's face. If he didn't know better he would swear that she had turned evil right then. So instead he just continued to stare at her.
At his silence Buffy felt a little surge of pleasure. Sure it was wrong but damn if he didn't deserve that. It was what she had to tell him she was unsure of.
"Turns out that's exactly his problem."
The statement didn't make much sense to him and he was almost going to shrug it off but there was something to the look in her eyes that made him reconsider. He didn't speak and for once while he was awake he didn't even breathe.
"You see it seems that my computer teacher is a gypsy. One of the clan that cursed Angelus with his soul." She got up and turned away from him then. It didn't matter how much of the truth he knew but she could still feel the pain in knowing that the Angel she loved was gone and she didn't want him to see that in her eyes. "She was here to make sure nothing was keeping them from the revenge they set out for a hundred years ago. Only problem was no one decided to tell us that there was a little loop hole in said curse."
She turned back around to face Spike gathering her inner strength. She may have been humiliated but she refused to surrender her pride completely.
"One moment of pure happiness. That's all it took a few seconds. And boom it’s all over just like that."
Something in her tone grated on him and he couldn't help his response.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" He growled through his teeth.
"Don't you get it? That's not Angel. It's Angelus."
At the name a slow pleasure filled smile seemed to form on his lips and Buffy had the urge to wipe it clean off. Luckily her words would do that for her.
"Oh you still don't seem to understand so this time I'll use small words so they actually penetrate that peroxide drenched brain of yours." His eyes flashed amber at her words but she ignored it. "One. Angel had a moment of pure happiness to lose his soul. That moment seemed to be when he screwed your girlfriend. Two. As your grandsire Angelus can sense that you're not dust. Three. Vampires have a great sense of smell. I left to go on patrol after moving you around and trying rather unsuccessfully to force-feed you. Meaning that I pretty much had a neon sign flashing over my head that said I was near Spike. Four. When Angelus was in this very house drawing me while I slept you were down here in the basement unconscious. He couldn't help but sense you if he was any type of vampire at all."
She sat back down in the chair and looked at him hard trying to see if her words were making any sense. He just continued to stare at her blankly.
Letting out a frustrated sigh she shook her head. Why did she even bother?
"Let's add shall we. You're newly unensouled grandsire sensed your presence smelt you all over me and knew you were in my house when he was and yet... You're. Still. Here."
Now the words were seeping into his unconscious brain and a silent fury was growing. And even though he hated the girl in front of him he knew the truth in her words.
He concentrated on his bond with his Sire and had no problem sensing Dru. Just as she had always been she was there and trying harder he could faintly sense the bond between him and Angelus not that it had been used in the last century but the mere trickle of feeling told him it still worked. And would work better the closer they were in proximity.
Meaning that even though they knew he wasn't dust and sensing him in this house the other night. Angelus had just left him here.
They weren't even going to try and help him.
Well he had held out little thought of Dru being able to do anything on her own. She wasn't one for planning and most times it was a wonder when she remembered something one day to the next. So if it was just Dru he wouldn't hold his breath.
But now Angelus was back.
Her precious Daddy.
If he wasn't completely buggered before he most assuredly was now.
If his grandsire refused to acknowledge his presence, if he truly felt that he was just an annoyance that stood between him and his Childe he had no doubt where he stood.
Nowhere.
Because heaven help him nothing stood in the way of what Angelus wanted.
And heaven didn't help his kind.
He was completely at the mercy of the tiny girl in front of him.
The thought sent a new chill of dread down his spine. Well as far down as his waist. Where the sensation suddenly stopped.
At the flash of pain in his eyes Buffy knew he understood. It didn't bring her any particular joy. No the thought of someone even if they were an evil bloodsucker, being completely abandoned by there own family seemed just wrong.
She just nodded silently at him. As long as he understood she had no goal other than that.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Okay so I'm kind of nervous about posting this one. I know I've posted before but I've held on to this story for a few months now and just work on it at my leisure. So I'm not that sure about it. Please let me know what you think. Thank you all for reading.