Chapter 7: One Step Forward…
“This is pointless,” Anya sighed, closing the open tome on the table in front of her. The group had researched all day and had found nothing; Giles’ theory was still the closest thing to an explanation for Buffy’s behavior.
Giles didn’t want to admit it, but he, too, felt any further research would be fruitless. He had hoped that there would be some mention of aftereffects of a resurrection spell such as this, but he was wrong. “I’m afraid you’re right.” Giles pulled off his glasses to clean them and thought for a moment.
“What about the Watchers’ Diaries?” Willow inquired.
“This is the only occurrence of a Slayer being resurrected. I don’t think the Diaries would be very forthcoming in this situation.”
“Well, the Council isn’t exactly known for sharing information. They probably wouldn’t tell you if this had happened before,” Anya offered.
Giles glared at her, but he knew she had a point. Ever since his fallout with Quentin on Buffy’s eighteenth birthday, the British man and his followers had kept information from him. On most days, he was glad Buffy had quit the Council and that he no longer had to follow their ridiculous rules, but sometimes, like now, he wished that he had remained an intricate part of the organization.
He sighed, “That may be true, but how do you suggest we gain that particular information, Anya?”
“Break into the Council,” she replied with a shrug, in a voice that seemed to say ‘duh’.
“Could we even do that?” Willow wondered.
“Not likely.”
“We’re runnin’ outta options here, G-man.”
“Thank you, Xander. I did not realize that. What would we do without you?” The older man grumbled sarcastically, throwing a glare the brunette’s way.
“I guess we can only do what Mr. Giles suggested and give Buffy some time.”
“I suppose I could contact the Council and see if they’re willing to tell us anything. Until then, I suggest we give Buffy time and space as Tara said. She’s strong, she’ll be all right.”
Giles hoped he sounded more convincing than he felt.
***
“Do you think we could take her patrolling? Maybe if she kills something, it’ll help her?” Dawn sat on the couch with Spike while Buffy slept upstairs.
“I dunno, Bit. I don’t think Giles would be too happy about that. I’ll do a quick sweep tonight, just so the demons know there’s still a threat.”
“I hate this.” Dawn crossed her arms and pouted, “We just sit around all day, waiting for Buffy to do something and she never does. I want my sister back.”
Spike wrapped an arm around Dawn and pulled her against his side. “I know, plum. She’ll come back. I promise. And you know I never break a promise.” He touched his forehead to hers briefly before pulling away, “She just needs to figure out how. Have some faith.”
“You do see the irony in that last statement, don’t you?” Dawn raised an eyebrow.
“It’s not lost on me, no. Now go get some kip.” He patted her back in an effort to make her stand up. She did as instructed and leaned down to kiss his cheek before bounding up the stairs.
“Love you, Spike.” His undead heart warmed from that declaration. No one except for his mother had ever loved him for just being him. However, Dawn did, and he thanked whatever power he could for that, hoping that one day her sister would feel the same.
“You too, Nibblet.”
A few minutes later, Spike heard a creak in the stairs and quickly turned his head towards the sound. Buffy stood there, wringing her hands in front of her in a nervous, yet familiar gesture.
“Hi, pet.” Spike smiled warmly.
“Could we patrol?” The request was spoken so softly, that Spike was afraid he imagined it.
“Pet?”
“Patrolling. Could we, uh, go?” The request was hesitant. Spike couldn’t believe his ears. Buffy had said something. Finally. He was consumed with hope that everything in his world would turn out right just from those few words, because it meant Buffy was moving forward and there was a chance for happiness in both of their futures.
“Buffy… I don’t know.”
She stepped away from the banister to walk towards him, “Please, Spike. I’ve been cooped up in this house for days. I need to get out.” Her eyes pleaded with him.
“Buffy, I… how long have you been able to talk?” Spike stood up, squinting in curiosity.
Buffy looked down shyly and with a slight shrug replied, “Since yesterday.”
The vampire closed his eyes for a second as he thought about her answer. “Why are you just speaking your first words now, then?”
“I wasn’t ready yet,” she said simply, and came into the doorway separating the foyer and family room.
“But you think you’re ready to patrol?”
Buffy rolled her eyes at that, “I’m the Slayer, Spike. Slaying is what I do.”
“I know that, luv, but are you strong enough?”
“Yes, Mom,” she replied sarcastically. “Plus, I’ll have you to back me up!” She graced him with a dazzling smile before hopping up and grabbing a coat, showing him there was no point in arguing with her.
Spike stood in shock for a moment, trying to process what had just occurred. Buffy suddenly appeared to be one hundred percent recovered and back to her old self; but he knew her better than she realized, and he could tell that she wasn’t okay. She was putting up a façade to hide her true feelings about being alive again. He hoped that with time and patience she would let him in; let him take the pain away and show her that life could be wonderful.
Chapter 8: …Two Steps Back
Spike followed behind Buffy, staying a safe distance away from her. He had patrolled with her countless times in the past, but this time was different. Tonight, Buffy resembled an animal tracking its prey.
She wasn’t just patrolling; she was hunting.
Her movements were primal and threatening as she silently glided through the grass of each cemetery. The creature he was with tonight was a true warrior; a true killer, and it unnerved him. If Buffy suddenly decided to be angry with him and lash out, he didn’t know how well he could protect himself. Even without the bloody chip in his head, Buffy would still be dangerous.
She was letting the Slayer inside her completely take over. The anger, sadness, and betrayal she felt let loose, pushed to the surface and controlled her. She did only what her Slayer instincts told her to.
When three vampires came out from behind a bush, Buffy smiled sinisterly. She was searching for something to release her inner demon on, and the three nightwalkers were exactly what she needed.
“Slayer,” the tall, brawny one in the middle spat, as he stepped forward threateningly.
Buffy didn’t even grace him with a response; instead, she charged at him with lightening speed and began punching him with extreme fervor. The other two vampires came at the Slayer from the sides. She quickly dispatched the one she had been fighting with a punch in the face that caused him to step backward, giving her the time to focus on the other two vampires. To the one on the left, she delivered a powerful kick to the groin, making him to double over in pain. As the vampire on her right neared, she squatted to the ground and took his legs out with a swift kick of her leg.
As the three demons recovered, Buffy stood in the middle of them in a fighting stance. She hadn’t even reached for her stake yet, and Spike knew she had had at least one obvious chance to go in for the kill.
However, the master vampire also knew how much she needed a good fight, and he was smart enough to stay out of her way, thankful he wasn’t the one she was taking her anger out on. He lit a cigarette as he stepped back to lean against a tree, watching Buffy punch and kick the vampires with a speed and brutality he had never witnessed from her before.
He stood in stunned silence as the Slayer sent Big N’ Tall flying over a headstone, then jumped up and wrapped her legs around one of his lackeys’ shoulders in order to flip him over onto his back and finally turn him to dust.
The third vampire rushed her from behind, but met the pointy end of her stake before he could do any harm.
“Should a’ learned the first time, mate,” Spike sighed, shaking his head.
Big N’ Tall was up again and circling Buffy, as if trying to find the best way to attack. Instead of moving in a circle with him, however, the Slayer stood watching him with menacing eyes, clutching her stake.
“It’s just you and me, Sweets. Do you taste as good as you look?”
“Why don’t you come find out?”
He lunged. Buffy rammed her fist in his stomach, causing him to collapse behind her, clutching his injured area. She didn’t give him time to recover and was straddling him within seconds.
The cockiness was gone from his eyes, replaced with fear of the creature now above him. The killer of his kind had him trapped beneath her strong thighs and he knew there was no way out.
But instead of staking him, as Spike thought she would do, Buffy started pounding her small fists into the bloodsucker’s face and neck. She had his arms trapped underneath her, so there was nothing the vampire could do but take her beating.
And that’s what it was: a violent, relentless beating on a now defenseless animal.
Spike had dropped his spent fag to the ground and was now walking towards the Slayer. As he got closer, he could hear the bones of the demon’s face breaking as her powerful fists came down on him. When the beating began, his legs had struggled to find escape, but now they lay motionless in the grass.
“Slayer.”
There was no answer, so Spike knelt down beside her. Silent tears were making wet trails down her cheeks and her lip was trembling, but she was unaware of it. She was trapped in her own world of anger and pain, no longer part of her surroundings, aware only of herself and the vampire beneath her that was paying for her emotional torment.
The vampire in question was now unrecognizable, his face a mess of blood and bruises. Buffy’s hands were stained red, but she had not let up on her attack. The current punches were as brutal as her first.
“Slayer,” Spike said a little louder. There was still no response. “Buffy!” he yelled, grabbing her fists and wrapping his hands around them. She looked up at him then, eyes filled with pain and unshed tears.
“Why?” Her chin trembled as she tried to hold back her tears. The one word held so much confusion. Why was she brought back? Why couldn’t she receive the peace she so greatly deserved? Why was she Chosen to fight the creatures of darkness? Her eyes held so many questions that Spike was unable to answer.
“Oh, sweetheart.” He let go of her hands to wrap his arms around her small body and pull her off the other vampire and against his hard chest. He rocked her back and forth slowly, running his fingers through her hair and whispering comforting words to her. In his arms, she finally cried. She cried for everything that had happened to her during her young life. She cried for the loss of her innocence, for the loss of her mother, and finally for the loss of her sanctuary. She sobbed; harsh wails fell from her lips in response to all the pain she had suffered.
Spike held the Slayer, the women he loved, helpless to do anything but let her tears soak his shirt and break his heart.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
I had to compress chapter 7 and 8 so I could make the word count quota. Thanks to slaymesoftly for helping with this chapter and all the others.
Chapter 8 has some violence. Be warned.
Chapter 8 has some violence. Be warned.