Chapter 16
Buffy’s sleep-fogged brain registered the sound of the heavy crypt door banging shut and she blinked, trying to pull herself awake. She moved to sit up but found herself pinned by a strong muscular arm gripping her tightly. She sighed in relief and twisted around to look at her sleeping lover. For a moment she thought Spike had left but he was still cuddled up beside her.
So then why did the door…?
“Spike? Hello? Is anyone here?”
Buffy knew that voice.
Female. British. Think brain think. Oh. Oh shit!
Buffy rocketed up in the bed, her Slayer strength forcing Spike’s arm off her.
“Crap! Shit, shit, shit! Spike, wake up! Where are my clothes? What time is it? Crap. Spike!”
Spike was awake from the moment his arm left Buffy’s body but he was still in a sleepy haze and was confused when he opened his eyes to see Buffy scrambling around his bedchamber locating her clothes and stumbling into them.
“Wha’s happenin’? Where’s the fire luv?”
Buffy hopped around on one foot trying to get her pants on while looking for her shoes.
“Spike, get up already. We overslept. Watcher lady’s here to…watch you and I shouldn’t be here. We can’t let them find us. God will you get out of bed and get dressed already?”
Buffy successfully got her pants on and found her shoes, plopping down on the bed to put them on. Spike was leisurely stepping out of bed, running a hand through his hair which apparently didn’t hurt anymore. Buffy had no time to be pleased about his vampire healing at the moment and found his casual attitude to their situation extremely irritating. She spotted his jeans lying at her feet and tossed them at him. His reflexes allowed him to catch them before they smacked into his face which annoyed her a little. He deserved a smack the way he was acting like this was no big deal. He raised an eyebrow at her and slowly began to get dressed.
“Calm down pet, there’s no need to get your knickers twisted.”
Buffy gaped at him. Was he serious?
“Spike the Council are here. They’re going to find us together like this and you can’t see how that would be a bad thing?”
She was struggling to keep her voice low enough for no one to hear them upstairs but it was really difficult at the moment. If she couldn’t shout at him she’d have to smack him round the head soon and she was really trying to ease off hitting him now they were a couple. He was making it very difficult for her.
Spike slid his t-shirt on over his head and pulled it down, walking over to her, seemingly oblivious to any danger from the panicked girl at the foot of his bed.
“Relax Buffy. They aren’ gonna come down here, they don’ even know this room exists.”
“It won’t take long for them to spot the trap door Spike and they won’t have any problem trespassing on a vampire’s lair. How am I gonna get out without them seeing me?”
Spike placed his hands on her shoulders and waited for her to look him in the eye.
“You’re not gonna like it but, you’ll have to go through the tunnels and take the sewer exit. I’d take you but I should go get rid o’ them before they come down here.”
Buffy stared at him with a scowl on her face.
“Eww. You know this is your fault, right? Always trapping me here and making me late.”
Spike dropped a kiss on her forehead and squeezed her shoulders before stepping back and nodding in the direction of the tunnels.
“I know. Best get goin’ luv. Exits that way, I’ll go take care o’ these pillocks.”
Buffy watched as he headed for the ladder, looking back over his shoulder at her. She was still annoyed that she’d have to walk through the nasty sewers but she knew she couldn’t blame him for that. She couldn’t wait until the Council left and she didn’t have to worry about this stuff anymore. She gave him a small smile and a little wave which he returned before she left, disappearing into the dark tunnels. Spike watched her go for a minute.
Too bloody adorable.
He heard them moving about upstairs and sighed. Yet another fun-filled day with these tossers. At least he didn’ have it too bad since that Lydia bint clearly admired him, not that he’d do anythin’ ‘bout it. He had his girl.
He listened and waited ‘til he heard them talking in a far corner before silently opening the trap door and climbing through it, closing it quietly after him. He rose up to a full standing position and stepped forward a bit into the middle of the room, hooking his thumbs in his belt loops and waiting for them to notice him.
Lydia spotted him first, turning around and letting out a startled “Eep!” when she spotted him. The other two with her jumped in surprise as well, pulling their crossbows up to aim at him. He just smirked in amusement and strolled over to the fridge to get some blood.
“Mornin’ all. Take it you still have questions then? Don’ see what more I have to tell you.”
“Where did you come from? The place was empty when we got here.”
Spike added some burba weed to his blood before taking a large gulp, noticing the disgust on the Watchers’ faces. He licked his lips and hummed his satisfaction before heading towards the beat up old armchair and flicking the telly on.
“Someplace private. Creature of the night remember? Can’t have you knowin’ all my secrets no matter how much you might want to.”
He sat down and stared at the t.v. completely ignoring them. His thoughts were all on Buffy and last night and he struggled to keep his face impassive.
“Yes, well…um…I suppose we should just monitor your routine day again then.”
Spike rolled his eyes. They’d done that yesterday. How much did they expect him to do as a vampire in broad daylight? By all rights he should be asleep right now. That he would normally venture outside and visit Buffy and her pals didn’ matter. They didn’ know any different after all.
“Well then you’re in for another evenin’ in front of the telly aren’ you? Some excitin’ job you’ve got there. Right bloody fulfillin’.”
He took another sip of his blood while they all took up positions around the crypt. It was gonna be another long bloody day.
***
A frustrated wail broke out through the fancy mansion that harboured Glory and her scabby minions.
“Where the heck is my scout? Can’t I rely on anyone around here to do their job properly?”
Jinx and another nasty hobgoblin tried to appease her but she was pissed off and having none of it. She flung a pair of shoes at them and continued to pace around the room.
“Find him already. What is with you useless animals?”
Another underling came rushing into the room and whispered hurriedly into Jinx’s ear. Jinx looked at the messenger who nodded and then turned back to Glory. She was not going to like this.
Gathering his courage he told his mistress that her scout had been found dead in the woods, some of Sunnydale’s more unpleasant nightlife having discovered the body until it was quite mutilated, but it was safe to assume the Slayer had killed him. Glory levelled her cold eyes on him before erupting in a loud shout.
“SHE DID WHAT?”
***
“Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry. I’m late, I know I’m late but there was this thing last night I had to deal with and I was tired and I’m here now so we can get started.”
Buffy burst into the training room, babbling away furiously and stripping off her jacket while Giles, Travers and the rest of the Watchers looked up in surprise at her loud entrance. Travers glared at her while she prepared for a training session, securing tape around her hands.
“Ah yes. Well I’m pleased you could finally find the time to join us. I…thing? What thing?”
Buffy looked up, beginning a few quick stretches.
“Huh?”
Travers reigned in his irritation and took a deep breath, narrowing his eyes at the flustered girl who had somehow managed to become one of the longest lived Slayers in history.
“The thing that detained you last night. The reason you are late this morning. That thing.”
“Oh right. Yeah, one of Glory’s minions showed up outside my house. The first scout she decided to send out to spy on me. I questioned him about Glory but he didn’t give up much, just that he was the first spy and she was still looking for the Key but doesn’t know what it is any more than we do. He tried to escape and I had to kill him.”
She conveniently glossed over the fact that Spike had been with her and she’d ended up staying at his place until Lydia and her crew had almost walked in on them and she had to sneak out through the sewers. She cringed at the memory of crawling out of that smelly manhole and sneaking into her house later only to bump into Joyce on her way upstairs. Startled eyes had met and Buffy was praying her mother wouldn’t ask any questions, knowing full well where she must have been when the distinct smell of the sewer became noticeable and Buffy rushed up to her room to grab some clean clothes and take a shower, leaving a confused Joyce on the stairs wrinkling her nose.
Giles moved forward to stand next to Buffy.
“Why didn’t you call? I could have helped you with him.”
“I kinda had my hands full and it was nothing I couldn’t handle. They really aren’t all that dangerous physically speaking, once you don’t let them spy on you and beating up demons is my job. I took care of it.”
She knew Giles had been referring to his skills of torture when he was the Ripper. He was very effective at it but Buffy didn’t like that side of him. It was so unlike the Giles she knew. The man who was her surrogate father.
Travers thankfully saw no need to question her any further and instead recommended they get back to the training routine. For once Buffy was glad to be getting down to business even though they were trying to make her mess up as much as possible with their complicated strategies.
***
“So is everyone clear?”
“Sir, yes sir.”
Riley looked around at each of his men, the crack team he had assembled for tonight’s mission.
“Good. Go get ready. I don’t want any mistakes tonight.”
His men all nodded, saluting before he dismissed them and headed to his room. Soon he would be rid of the pest that had been a thorn in Riley’s side from the minute he’d captured him. He smirked when he thought of how easily his enemy would turn to dust, helpless to defend himself. Tonight would be a good night.
***
The minute the sun set Spike was on his way out of the crypt, his merry band of Watchers following. They struggled to keep up as he made his way to the Magic shop. They had of course questioned him about yesterday and whether Buffy normally acted that way. He knew Lydia was suspicious about the way Buffy had brought him in back to take care of him even though she hadn’t exactly been nice about it. He gave them a snarky answer about how she just couldn’t afford to have someone with super strength on her team injured and that she’d hurt him more than the sword, playing nurse. His hands were pretty much healed and he’d removed the bandages, two angry red scars in place of the deep gashes that had been there. Another day or two and you’d never know he’d been hurt.
“You seem in an awful hurry to see the Slayer and her friends.”
“Not really but it gets you lot back to your wanker of a boss quicker and hey, might be somethin’ to fight again, somethin’ of the demon variety this time.
They were nearing the shop, Spike couldn’t wait to get rid of them, even if he was walking into a shop full of them Buffy would be there, and having her close to him would be worth it. They could see the large Magic Box sign as they approached and Spike quickened his pace. His senses kicked in seconds before the pain did and he roared and fell to the ground, electrical surges coursing through his body.
The Watchers panicked when he fell and twirled around looking for their enemy. Lydia’s eyes widened when she saw they were surrounded by men in dark clothing, their faces covered, all wielding large guns.
“The Initiative! I thought you were disbanded.”
One of the men stepped forward, pulling off his mask, his attention drawn to the vampire lying semi-conscious on the ground.
“Not the Initiative, government. We’re monitoring the Hellmouth and removing any threats to the citizens of Sunnydale.”
“That’s what the Slayer is here for.”
Riley turned cold eyes toward the woman. He pointed his gun at Spike as he spoke.
“With things like that running around I guess she’s not doing her job then is she?”
“He’s an ally, he fights demons, he’s no danger to humans.”
“We put the chip in his head remember? I know what he’s capable of and not being able to bite doesn’t mean he can’t still hurt them other ways. He’s evil and he can hurt demons, meaning he can lead a group of them if he wants and let them do his dirty work. Not to mention that chip is government property. It’s our job to eliminate him.”
Riley headed towards Spike, removing a stake from his jacket.
“If you dust him you won’t get the chip back!”
“I’d rather let it be dust than continue to let him live and there’s no way I’m wasting the time and effort of having it removed. Too great a risk he’d escape before we could kill him.”
He stood over Spike, rolling him over with his foot until he could look the vampire in the eye. Spike was aware of who was in front of him, they hadn’t quite knocked him out with that jolt this time but he was in no shape to move and try to defend himself, not that he could since they were human.
“Well Spike, this is the end for you. Got any last words?”
Spike knew he was done for unless he could stall, even then he didn’t know if it would do any good. He couldn’t fight. The Watchers were no help and the others had no idea they were out here.
“Finn. Might have known you wouldn’ stay gone. I’m touched I got to you enough to have you plottin’ my death. Did you really need your pals to bring me down? You really are pathetic. Don’ even think you can handle a defenseless vamp on your own.”
Riley dropped down, holding Spike with a knee pressed against his stomach and the stake poised over his chest, another hand wrapped around the vamp’s throat.
“Congratulations Spike. You wanted to drive Buffy away from me and you did. You wanted her and you got her. Guess you were right after all. She does like a monster in her man. Reckon that means I’ll have another shot with her after I stake you? Reckon I’m monster enough for her now?”
He pressed the stake into Spike’s chest until it broke the skin. Spike winced but then he laughed. Riley was furious.
“What’s so funny?”
“You are mate. You drove Buffy away all on your own, it had nothin’ to do with me. Face it, I was just the voice in your head that kept all those doubts and insecurities o’ yours alive. I never believed I had a shot with her but you did. S’why you stayed innit? You think she’ll want you any more for dustin’ me? You really don’ know her at all do you? You think you’re a monster? You’re just a sad pathetic loser holdin’ a grudge who needs all his toy soldiers to make him feel like a real man. Still as dull an’ borin’ as ever White-bread.”
Riley’s eyes flashed viciously.
How dare he?
He raised the stake and Lydia screamed.
“Wait! You can’t!”
Spike drew in an unneeded breath as the stake plunged downwards.
***
Buffy had been sitting in the magic shop waiting for Spike and Travers’ team to show up since the sun set. It was still early but she knew Spike would have headed straight here and she was getting antsy. She started jiggling her leg up and down casting glances towards the front door every few seconds.
“Um, Buffy? Are you okay?”
Buffy looked over at Willow sitting opposite her and then noticed all the Scoobies staring at her, worried frowns on their faces.
“I’m fine. Fine. Peachy and keen. Why?” she asked, plastering a fake smile on her face.
“Well it’s just…you seem kinda…”
“Jumpy? Anxious? Ready to hop off your seat and go flying out the door?” Xander supplied.
“Well, um, yeah. That.”
“Oh. No I’m…”
“Fine?” Giles asked, staring at her leg that was still bobbing up and down.
Buffy stilled, the Watchers were beginning to cast looks in her direction now too.
“I guess I’m just itching for a fight or something. Stress from the last couple of days getting to me. It’s no big deal really, I…”
She stopped suddenly, looking over at the door again, this time staring at it intently.
“Buffy?”
“Something’s wrong.”
She couldn’t explain it but she was sure she had felt that tingle telling her Spike was close but it was distant and not getting any stronger. Some instinct was warning her of danger, telling her to get outside now.
“Buffy, what…?”
Buffy tore out the door, leaving them all staring after her as the bell jingled as she left. She was racing down the street and spotted Lydia and the other two Watchers surrounded by men, army men.
Oh no. No, no, no.
She spotted them. Spike was lying on the ground, Riley kneeling over him, stake raised. Lydia screamed at him to stop as he brought the stake down and Buffy launched herself at him.
She barrelled into him and they went tumbling on the ground, the stake flying through the air and landing with a clatter on the pavement.
Buffy wasted no time springing to her feet and caught Riley with a kick to the chest as he was standing up, sending him soaring backwards and hitting the ground hard.
The other soldiers attacked and Buffy whirled into action. Her heart was beating fast and her adrenaline was pumping through her system. Fear from seeing Spike almost dusted and rage at the military still in her town going after her vampire fuelling it. She had them incapacitated in seconds.
Spike hauled himself up off the ground shakily and she rushed over to help him. The Council members were dazed and stared around at the unconscious soldiers. One was still moving and he got slowly to his feet.
Buffy had an arm around Spike and the vamp was bent over, still sore from the tazer shot. The others had rushed out of the Magic Box and were looking a bit bewildered by everything. Xander noticed the pale, shaky looking soldier that was still standing, his eyes fixed on the blonde couple in front of him.
“Riley?”
The other Scoobies were staring too. Matching looks of disbelief on their faces. Buffy scowled at him and kept her arm protectively around Spike. Her voice was cold when she spoke. Pure Slayer and her friends turned frightened and confused eyes on her as she addressed her ex-boyfriend.
“What are you doing here? I thought you were leaving. This is my town and soldiers aren’t welcome.”
“Yeah, you just prefer to hang out with demons and monsters. You don’t own the town Buffy, I’m in charge of a team guarding the Hellmouth and what I’m doing here is finishing what should never have started and tying up the last loose end from the Initiative.”
“Guarding the Hellmouth? Please if you were doing that I wouldn’t have my hands full with Glory and Knights of Byzantium and everything else that runs around this town at night. Or maybe I would only you’d all be dead already. Get out of Sunnydale, hell out of California, even out of the States altogether, just get far away from me or so help me I will change that rule I have about not Slaying humans.”
Her friends all gasped. They never thought they’d hear her talk like that. Xander was really confused.
“Hey now, I know you two didn’t leave things on the best of terms and seeing the soldiers again is unwelcome but lets not get nasty and psychotic here.”
Buffy kept her eyes fixed on Riley and her arm around Spike who was now fully standing and also glaring at the soldier.
“He tried to stake Spike.”
“Uh huh, and I get that he’s sort of one of the team now but the reason you’d get all deranged over that would be what exactly? It’s just Spike Buff, he should have been dust a long time ago.”
The look she shot him had Xander stumbling back a few steps, his eyes wide with fright. He moved a little behind Anya who was staring from Buffy to Riley to Spike and understanding seemed to dawn on her face, her eyes popping open in amazement. Tara also appeared to have figured it out and was a little shocked but focused her attention on Willow and the others who were still oblivious to the reason Buffy was suddenly so scarily protective of the Brit.
“I don’t understand. Buffy what’s going on, why are you…?” Willow stumbled but Riley cut her off.
“Because she’s doing the vampire. Her and that thing are together. I knew he was after you but I didn’t believe you’d ever sink that low, even after Angel. He doesn’t have a soul. You’re just a sick, twisted girl who gets off on sleeping with dead guys huh? Even Dracula had more class than him. Guess they don’t need a thrall do they? You’re happy enough to just jump them.”
Spike growled viciously but Buffy tightened her grip on his arm. The chip wouldn’t keep him from trying to hurt Riley even if the pain would set in before he could do anything. She didn’t want him getting hurt. She thought at this minute, if the chip wasn’t a factor she might just have let him attack.
“Get out of here. Leave and never let me see you again. You have to the count of five before I make sure I never have to deal with you again. One, Two, Three…”
Riley threw another nasty look in their direction before turning and walking off, leaving his team behind on the ground. Buffy waited until he was out of sight before facing her friends. They were all staring at her. Tara and Anya were shifting around uncomfortably and watching Willow and Xander.
Xander was dumbfounded and Willow didn’t seem to know what to do. She was doing a pretty good impersonation of a fish right now. Giles was standing perfectly still, his lips pursed tight, staring fixedly at the Slayer and vampire, not a hint of emotion on his face. Travers stepped forward. He seemed perfectly at ease with the situation and Buffy could practically feel the glee emanating from him.
“I think it’s time we called an end to this evaluation. Miss Summers, if you’d care to join us inside. Mr.Giles, you too.”
He turned and headed back into the shop, his team following. Buffy looked at Giles, her heart sinking as he still refused to show any emotion before he turned and followed Travers back into the shop. Spike placed an arm around Buffy’s waist, hugging her to him. He knew how much she was hurting seeing her surrogate father walk away from her like that and he wished he didn’t have the chip so he could beat some sense into the man and make him at least talk to her.
The others were still standing there gaping at her and Buffy didn’t know what she should do. Xander eventually broke the silence as shock was replaced by amazement and disgust.
“You’re sleeping with Spike?!”
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Chapter 16. After tomorrow the updates are going to slow down considerably since I'm just about caught up to where I've written for this fic.