“Umm…so any ideas as to who the danger is coming from? No?” It was Conner asking the group as if nothing had just happened, evidently trying to lighten the mood. “Anybody?”
After a moment Buffy looked up at Darla with anger in her eyes. “See? It didn’t work. We didn’t come across evil, unless you count Angel and Spike.” At this she looked at them, “Are you guys evil?”
Spike shook his head and Angel told her, “Not last time I checked.”
Buffy turned back to Darla, “See? This was useless.”
Darla let out an exasperated sigh, she was getting a little tired of Buffy not trusting her. “Well actually they’re meant to guide you spiritually which if you were paying attention you’d see that they were…as for finding the evil, we knew it wasn’t definite, it was just an idea.”
Buffy looked at Darla for a minute not wanting to back down. She was frustrated and didn’t like having to go through that. All of those memories, whether bad or good didn’t sit well. Not to mention if they had seen more of what happened when she went back in time…only Dawn and Faith knew about that, and Faith only found out because she and Buffy had gotten drunk a week after it happened and she cried and told her everything. Going through all of this in her mind made her feel defeated and fighting with Darla wouldn’t change what happened. She sighed a frustrated sight and sat in the chair in front of her.
“I was thinking,” Willow interrupted their thoughts, “Spike and Angel weren’t the only ones that could be doing this.”
“I promise Willow I’m reformed now!” Faith yelled, though she was clearly joking.
“Not you dumbass,” Buffy let out a snort of laughter and waited for Willow to continue. “I know it’s a little unlikely, but we could look into Harmony.”
Buffy snorted louder this time. “Willow, are you kidding? It’s Harmony, I mean I know she’s evil but come on!”
“She does have the motivation.” Angel told her while glaring slightly at Spike.
Spike let out an uncomfortable cough before speaking as if he had nothing to do with any motivation Harmony would have, “Motivation is one thing, but ability to have a good enough plan that your seer would be worried? Buffy has a point, it’s just Harmony.”
While Buffy liked that Spike was agreeing with her she couldn’t help but wonder if he was doing it because it was Harmony they were talking about. She decided to change her view. “I guess it wouldn’t make a difference if we looked into it right?”
Faith got up at this, “I’m going to go with B, what I’ve seen and heard about this broad she’s not very dangerous, but better safe than surprised by the underdog. Willow you want to do a locator and we’ll send out some slayers to look into it?”
“I think that’s a good idea.” Willow got up with Faith and they both left the room to go about their task.
It didn’t go unnoticed to Spike that when he agreed with Buffy she decided to agree with the rest of them. It also didn’t go unnoticed that as more people left she became more uncomfortable. While this made him feel guilty for putting her in that position, he couldn’t help but wish they would all bugger off so he could try to talk to Buffy.
With Dawn, Faith and Willow gone Buffy was getting worried. They were the people she turned to and relied on most. She was now left with Angel, Conner and of course Spike. She had spoken to him directly only one or two times since he showed up and she still didn’t know what to say. She was about to make an excuse to leave when Conner piped up.
“Hey Angel…Dad…umm whatever I should call you?”
“Whatever you want.” Angel of course would prefer Dad but he wasn’t going to push it.
“Okay, I’m going to stick with Angel right now…I was wondering though if you wanted a tour, you could see where I sleep and stuff…” Conner was clearly nervous wanting to connect with Angel but still unsure of the whole thing. Buffy could see this and while the prospect of them leaving her alone with Spike terrified her she couldn’t just sit there and let him be uncomfortable.
“He has a killer CD collection, I think you’d be impressed.”
Conner gave her a look that thanked her for saving him from his awkward babbling.
“Let’s see it then.” Angel smiled and got up to leave with Conner before realizing he would be leaving Buffy and Spike alone. He turned to Buffy, “Are you going to be okay?”
“Yeah,” Buffy yawned deciding to use tired as an exit strategy, “I’m think I’m going to go have a nap and then check on Dawn.”
Angel nodded at her and left with Conner as she got up to exit the other way ignoring Spike hoping he wouldn’t say anything.
Mixed with Spike guilt he could now feel annoyance rising in him. Were they all just going to leave him there to sit and stare at his shoes?
“Buffy?”
She stopped, but didn’t turn around wincing slightly that her great escape didn’t work. “Yeah?”
Spike wanted to say so much. He wanted to tell her he was a wanker and a moron and he was sorry. He wanted to tell her how much he loved her and how much that hadn’t changed at all. He wanted to ask her if she’d loved him, if that was real. He wanted so much just to touch her. Just a hand on her shoulder. It had been so long since he’d seen her, he felt he needed to touch to make sure she was really there and not just a mirage to his love parched mind.
He couldn’t find how to say all this, and he didn’t know if it was right, so he thought of the next best thing. “Umm…do you know where I sleep?”
Buffy turned around now. The angrier she got the easier it was to deal with him, then she wouldn’t have to show how much she was hurting. She was definitely angry now. After all of this, everything they’ve been through, then and before, all he wanted to know is where he would sleep?
She fixed him an icy stare and answered the question as evenly as she could. “There are a couple of spare rooms, I’ll show you to one on my way to mine.” She might have been angry but she didn’t want to get into it right now. If they fought feelings would inevitably come out and she just wasn’t ready to deal with it right now.
Spike got up and followed her out. They went through a kitchen that led to a second set of stairs. She quickly went in the fridge and got herself a bottle of water and headed up the stairs. He followed after her. Knowing he was that close was giving her goose bumps but she ignored it and continued her ascent.
Following Buffy Spike could smell her scent wafting right in his face. It was the best thing he had smelled in a long time. Since he died in the hellmouth to be exact. It hadn’t changed at all and he would have been happy just to breath her in forever.
When they got to the top of the stairs they walked by a couple of doors before Buffy stopped in front of one and turned around. She explained everything looking everywhere but at Spike, his presence was messing her up and she didn’t want him to know. “This will be yours I guess.” She pointed at the door in front of her and then to the one across the hall, “And that’s one of the bathrooms in case you need anything.” She then turned and pointed down the hall “And that’s me at the end there if, you know, danger happens.”
She turned around to look at him again and he was just staring at her.
“Okay…so your all set and I’m going to go nap. I’ll see you later.”
As she turned Spike knew he had to do something, “Buffy…” he began and put his hand on her shoulder to stop her. She turned around and looked at him with slight shock on her face and tears threatening to spill. She lifted up her hand and placed it on the one he had on her shoulder.
“So you are real…” She told him. She of course had known he was real but she hadn’t had proof, not concrete tactile proof. She too had been afraid he was a mirage.
Spike knew seeing grief mixed in her eyes he shouldn’t be happy, but for a moment he was. Not only was he touching her, solidifying that she was…solid, but she had felt the same way. If she had felt the same way, then she probably didn’t hate him. This was good news.
Buffy suddenly realized that her hand was still on his and pulled away from him slowly. He reluctantly lowered his and put it at his side wishing it was still on her.
Buffy was a mix of emotions again. For a moment it was clear, Spike was alive and she was happy, but all the pain of not knowing and what that meant came flooding back when she realized that he was indeed there and he still hadn’t let her know until now.
“I have to go sleep now.” With that she turned around and quickly walked down the hallway in the direction of her room ignoring Spike’s whispered plea of her name as she left him there.
[Reviews - 45]
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | 
Chapter or Story
Has been viewed 1418 times
- Text Size +
-
Table of Contents [Report This]
Chapter or Story |
Chapter or Story | Chapter or Story - Text Size +
Author's Chapter Notes:
Okay so the first chapter in a long time not riddled with memories! Who's excited? I love doing the memories and I find them important but it is nice to get on with the plot. The first chapter of my supplemental story should be coming in the next day or two so stay tuned!
Chapter End Notes:
Thanks to everyone that's reading and reviewing. Keep doing both!