Chapter 3
Spike had found his blanket down in the basement. He wasn’t quite sure when he’d left it here but it was nice to think they’d kept it for him. He smirked, knowing they probably just kept it as a spare blanket. No need to let it go to waste even if it was a bit tatty. Any thoughts that Spike might need it next time he popped around for a visit hardly would have entered their minds.
Buffy had run off to the hospital a little while ago. She’d rushed out the door throwing a quick glance in his direction and was gone. She’d left him alone in her house. Maybe she was going to pretend nothing had happened. She was being nice to him now until she had some space to think of an excuse for what they’d done and as soon as she did he fully expected a fuming Slayer to beat him to a pulp for taking advantage of her. Either that or just ignore him altogether. Spike didn’t know which was worse.
Sighing to himself he picked up his blanket and headed for the front door. He opened it and prepared for a mad dash to the sewers but stopped when a thought occurred to him. He was alone in Buffy’s house and it was by invitation. He’d snuck into her house before but always at the risk of being caught. Now he had full access to her home and he was just going to leave? He left the door ajar. He’d only be a minute. He wanted to look inside her bedroom, the room he spent so much time staring at from outside at night. The room he was forbidden to enter. He let the blanket drop to the floor as he made his way upstairs.
He slowly let the door to her bedroom swing open. He could smell her. A deliciously, fruity fragrance after her shower. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. He took in the sight before him. Clothes were tossed about where she had rushed to get dressed and he noticed a few stuffed animals lying around as well as crosses and bottles of holy water. Yep, this was Buffy’s room all right. A Slayer but girly too.
He walked around the room memorising every detail. Photos of Joyce, Dawn and the Scoobies were stuck to the wall as well as a few of the soldier boy. He snarled when he saw them. The kissing earlier had made him feel possessive and he struggled to prevent himself from ripping them up. He began moving about the room again turning his attention to her weapons chest and the few books scattered about on the shelves when something caught his eye. He stepped closer and couldn’t stop a smile playing across his lips at the sight of a small stuffed pig. How many times had she called him a pig and here she had one in her room, pride of place near her bed. Seems the Slayer wasn’t so put off by pigs after all. He ran his hands over a sweater he found tossed on the bed. It was so soft. He picked it up and brought it close to his face and was instantly hit with her scent. She’d worn it recently and he breathed her in, reminding himself of their kiss earlier and how she’d consumed his senses.
Downstairs Riley had arrived after going MIA all night. He was expecting a rush of questions as to where he’d been and what he’d been doing. He stopped when he noticed that the door was ajar. That was odd, why would they have left the door open?
“Hello? Buffy?”
There was no answer. Something didn’t feel right. He picked up a raggedy blanket off the floor and his suspicions rose. A noise upstairs grabbed his attention and he dropped the blanket, placing his jacket on the banister as he quietly made his way upstairs. He saw Buffy’s door open and moved closer, stopping when he recognised a familiar bleach-blonde head and black leather coat. Spike.
Riley was furious at the sight of the cocky vamp in his girlfriend’s room. He was still holding a grudge against the one demon who’d managed to escape him back at the Initiative as well as the feelings of betrayal when he found out Buffy and the Scoobies had been hiding him and protecting him from Riley and his men.
“What are you doing in here?” he asked in his most fed up and exasperated tone.
Spike spun round quickly hiding the sweater behind his back.
“What me? I was um uh…What are you doing here?”
Riley strutted into the room confidently. He had a reason and a right for being here and he could imagine what Buffy would say about this menace being in her room.
“Looking for the girl who’s going to rip your arms off when she finds out you were in her bedroom.”
Spike didn’t like the way the big hulking brute was moving closer to him. He had to think how to explain being here. Not that he was afraid, mind you, he just knew he had no way of defending himself other than verbally.
“Yeah well, me too.”
Riley glanced down at Spike’s hands hiding behind his back and tried to get a closer look which Spike avoided twisting away. Clearly he didn’t want to be caught with… Riley was confused and looked at Spike suspiciously.
“Were you? Were you just smelling her sweater?”
Spike shifted uncomfortably.
“Pfft no.”
Riley put his hands on his hips and stared at Spike.
“Well, yeah, alright, I did. Right, it’s a predator thing, nothin’ wrong with it jus’ know your enemy’s scent. Whet the appetite for a hunt, y’know,” he took in a big sniff of Buffy’s sweater, “hoh that’s the stuff, Slayer musk it’s bitter an’ aggravating Grrrr.”
He took in another big breath before Riley whipped the garment out of his hands. He grabbed Spike by the coat, roughly.
“Out!”
Spike scowled as Riley pulled him towards the door, noticing one of the Slayer’s knickers sticking out of a drawer which he pulled out as he was dragged out into the hall, quickly stuffing them in his pocket. Might as well grab a souvenir while he had the chance.
“Hey, watch it, easy you pri… you’re bruising the leather.”
As soon as they reached the bottom of the stairs Riley tossed Spike away from him and towards the door. The vamp had other ideas, pulling back and shrugging his jacket back into place.
“Look, I know for a bleeding fact the slayer wouldn’t mind me bein’ here.”
Riley tossed him a highly sceptical look.
“Right, what’s a little sweater sniffing between sworn enemies.”
Spike tilted his head and pursed his lips. Time for some revenge.
“Your girl in the habit of buying her enemies drinks, cos she spent the better part of last night with me, doin’ just that.”
Spike smirked and tilted his head the other way in satisfaction. Riley gave him a disbelieving look.
“Because you guys are such tight pals,” he said gesturing at Spike with his hands.
“Yeah.”
Riley grinned and shifted his hands back to his hips.
“That’s good. Tell me another.”
Spike was gonna enjoy this. The ponce might be puttin’ on a confident show but Spike knew he was getting to him and he knew just how to push the guy’s buttons. The conversation he had with Buffy popped into his head and he wasted no time in answering Riley.
“Oh kay how ‘bout this one,” he clicked his tongue glancing at the door before continuing, “twice in recent memory she’s had her lover wicca’s do a de-invite on the house, keep out specific vamps. Ever ask yourself why she’s never taken my name off the guest list?”
Spike leaned forward putting on his most innocent look, batting his eyelashes and waiting for the man to come up with an answer. Riley blinked. Buffy had Harmony and Dracula disinvited but not Spike. Why? He saw the way the vamp in question was looking at him in amused victory and he recovered quickly.
“Because you’re harmless.”
“Oh, yeah, right,” Spike scoffed, “Takes one to know I s’pose.”
Riley straightened his arms huffing while Spike slid his hands into his duster and lifted up his shoulders in a cocky, victorious gesture.
“Least I still got the attitude,” he sniffed, “What you got? Piercing glance? Face it white-bread, Buffy’s got a type and you’re not it. She likes us dangerous, rough, occasionally bumpy in the forehead region, not that she doesn’t like you, but sorry Charlie, you’re just not dark enough.”
That was it. Spike’s goading had done the trick, Riley was seriously pissed. All his insecurities rushed to the surface as he was reminded of Buffy’s relationship with Angel and he grabbed Spike by the collar, determined to wipe the self-assured grin off his face. He shoved him against the wall.
“He… Hey!” Spike shouted before panicking when Riley opened the door and shoved him into the sun, maintaining his grip on Spike’s jacket.
“Hey, hey,hey!”
“Am I dark enough for you now?” Riley asked.
Spike ignored the question, he wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. He struggled against the bigger man’s grip.
“Bloody, pull me back in you sod, I’m startin’ to sizzle.”
“You don’t know anything about Buffy. You never did. I’m the one that knows what she needs.”
Spike was getting tired of this macho display Riley was putting on to reassure his ego.
“Oh yeah. That’s why you’re at the hospital with her right now, giving her what she needs.”
Riley was thrown by that and pulled Spike back inside roughly.
“What are you talking about?”
Spike straightened and looked back just as confused. Sure Buffy was in a hurry but he figured she would have told commando boy where she was going.
“Don’t you know? Didn’t she tell you?”
Riley moved closer shoving away his hurt feeling that Spike seemed privy to information he should obviously know.
“You tell me.”
Spike shook his head, a little thrown himself. Riley didn’t know?
“Her Mum’s sickly. They took her to hospital for a bit of prod and poke. Bite-size one’s gone too. Yeah it’s…it’s funny her not calling you about that. I’ve known since last night.”
A bad idea maybe but Spike couldn’t help shoving it in the other man’s face. Riley was upset and Spike made him angrier gloating the way he did. Riley grabbed the vamp and tossed him out again.
“Hey, what, blanket, blanket!”
Riley kicked the blanket out and slammed the door. He didn’t think he could be more pissed off. What was Buffy doing? Why didn’t she tell him? More importantly why did she tell Spike?
Spike ran for the sewers with the blanket covering him. Captain Cardboard hadn’t known huh? Things were getting interesting around here. Maybe things with Buffy weren’t as hopeless as he thought. He grinned and away from the sunlight, sauntered off towards his crypt reliving the kiss earlier that morning.
***
Buffy was completely exhausted by the time they got home. She made sure Dawn was okay before heading back downstairs to straighten the house up a bit. She needed to keep busy. Dawn had just wanted to go straight to bed. The news of Joyce’s brain tumour threw them. Buffy had been in shock when the doctor told her. It had taken a while to sink in and she couldn’t answer any of his questions. Luckily the intern Ben had stepped in and given her the time she needed to process things.
The battle with the snake demon had been rough too. After having no sleep the chase and fight with it and Glory earlier really took its toll on her and her body was crying out for rest. But she couldn’t settle down yet. It had been too close. Glory almost found out about Dawn. She was getting closer and Buffy needed to focus on her Mom. There was too much to handle at once.
Then there was Riley. He’d shown up at the hospital and only then did Buffy realise she hadn’t told him about Joyce needing tests. She didn’t know what to tell him. It hadn’t occurred to her to call. She was too distracted. She tried to reassure him when he said he thought she’d need him but honestly seeing him only made her feel guilty about what had happened with Spike. She couldn’t think about that now. It was too complicated. Later as she’d watched Dawn head in to hear the news from Joyce she felt the strain again and struggled to keep her composure. Riley had held her and told her to let it out because he was there for her.
Immediately her mind conjured up a different body, a smaller one, more compact with leather clad arms surrounding her, the unique smell that mingled with cigarettes and alcohol wafting around her. The words too, so similar to the ones he had spoken in that seductive British accent.
She pulled away from him, making excuses that she couldn’t afford to fall apart because she wouldn’t be able to stop and they needed her to be strong for them now. It was true. She had to hold it in, at least until the end of the day when she could think about things while they slept. Only then would she be allowed to feel vulnerable. Her mother had called her then and she’d walked away from him, guilty that when he’d held her, she had wished for an instant that he was someone else, someone whom it had been so easy to show her weakness to and the last person who should have seen her so vulnerable.
When she finally couldn’t resist her body’s urgent need for rest she locked up, switched off the lights and made her way up to bed. She washed up, changed into her pyjamas and removed her make-up. Before she got into bed she went to stand by her partially open window. She was staring out at the dark and empty street when she felt something, a familiar tingle. Spike. Spike was outside and very close. She didn’t look for him, instead continuing to watch the street, letting his presence comfort her. Knowing she wasn’t alone she climbed into bed and focusing on the tell-tale tingles informing her Slayer’s sense that a vamp was nearby she managed to drift off into a much needed sleep.
Outside Spike stood by the tree that had become his regular spot at night and lit up a cigarette. He had watched her as she looked out her window before going to bed and had marvelled at how beautiful she looked in the moonlight. Of course he knew she was exhausted, he could see it in her face. He knew she’d had no sleep and a bruise on her shoulder suggested she’d been in a fight today. Probably venting some of her frustration out on some nasty that had crossed her path.
He also noticed the absence of one Mr. Riley Finn. Two nights in a row now, soldier boy was spending the night elsewhere and Spike was more than happy. He didn’t think he could handle the knowledge of the big brute putting his paws all over his Slayer. Yes she was his. Spike had spent all day thinking about that kiss and his possessiveness had grown. Once she got things sorted with her mum they were gonna have words. One way or another he was gonna find out what this meant. Something had changed and he wasn’t gonna let it go, he couldn’t.
For the rest of the night Spike kept watch under Buffy’s window until he felt daylight approach and then he reluctantly left. Time to head back to his crypt and listen to more of Harmony’s bitching about his absences lately. Spike didn’t think he could take much more of the chit’s complaining or her incessant prattle, not to mention the horrible décor now adorning his crypt. The sooner he got rid of her, the better.
***
The next day for Buffy was spent in the hospital taking care of her Mom. Dawn was there too and Willow dropped by for a visit bringing a few gifts to cheer them up. Joyce was spacing out more often as the tumour pressed on her brain and even blurted things out in a voice that sounded nothing like her own. Buffy was unnerved by it but tried to reassure Dawn it was okay and it was normal considering their Mom’s condition. There was a brief moment of tension when a crazy guy freaked Dawn out about not being real. Buffy had the feeling he knew what Dawn was, for some reason being out of touch with reality meant he could see through her. Luckily nothing had come of it and they managed to settle Dawn down.
Joyce had lost patience with the hospital and had made her mind up to come home while waiting for the operation. She was adamant that she couldn’t spend any longer in the hospital and even though Buffy was unsure if she could handle all the medication and settle Joyce down when she went into a daze she felt pressured by her Mom’s relief that she could go home and hurried to agree to do whatever it took as long as her Mom could wait at home. Gathering all their stuff the three headed home and Buffy got Joyce to bed without too much trouble although they had to keep the lights off because they were too bright for Joyce’s eyes.
Dawn and Buffy settled down in the darkened living room watching television when they heard a lot of noise coming from the kitchen. Joyce was taking out pots and pans and rooting through the fridge. She had the gas on and Buffy rushed to turn it off coughing.
“Mom what are you doing?”
Joyce turned around, a nasty look in her eyes at being questioned.
“I’m making breakfast. You shouldn’t eat any more, you’re disgustingly fat.”
Buffy didn’t know what to say. Dawn looked on slightly scared. Their Mom never acted this way. They knew it was the tumour but hearing her mother say that hurt Buffy. Joyce blinked and soon she was herself again, confused and apologising. Shrugging it off, Buffy took her Mom’s arm and together her and Dawn put Joyce back to bed. Joyce jumped when Dawn stroked her hair. It was like the man at the hospital. She told Dawn to get away from her, that she wasn’t real. Dawn ran into her room and Joyce was back to normal wondering what had happened. Buffy settled her in before going to check on Dawn.
She found her upset in her room, holding back tears. It took time but Buffy explained that their Mom didn’t hate her, it was the tumour and whatever had happened with those other people Dawn told her about meant nothing, that she was real and everything would be okay. Buffy had a sinking feeling that anyone with mental problems could see Dawn for what she really was and that was dangerous. She’d have to discuss it with Giles later.
Once she had Dawn settled for the night, Buffy headed downstairs and began washing the dishes. Upstairs she could hear her mother rambling on as though talking to a strange intruder. She turned the radio on to drown out the noise and loud, lively music filled the air. She focused on washing up and memories of a similar night flooded her memory. A night when Spike had been here beside her drying the dishes as she passed them to him, right before he held her as she broke down. But she was alone now and knowing her mother was upstairs talking away in her own mind to people who weren’t there caused her to break down again. She started crying and couldn’t stop, alone where no one could see her she let her pain out. She was just a girl but she had so much pressure on her to take care of her family and somehow it seemed too much. Saving the world didn’t compare to the responsibility Buffy now felt to be an adult and care for her sick mother.
Washing her face and wiping away the tears Buffy regained her composure moments before the sound of her sister screaming her name grabbed her attention. She flew up the stairs to her Mom’s room where she found Dawn and her mother on the bed.
“What is it?”
“There’s something out there Buffy it’s after Mom.”
“Alright stay here.”
Buffy shut the door and was knocked down by a large slug-like demon. They struggled and went toppling down the stairs where the demon took off with a shriek much faster than it should have been able to move. Buffy struggled to get her breath back and got to her feet shakily. Her shoulder hurt and she knew she’d have some nice new bruises to go with that tumble down the stairs.
Moving through the house Buffy kept an eye out for the demon but there wasn’t even a sound. Moving back to the kitchen warily she picked up a large knife as a weapon and began the search again. At least now she had something to attack it with. Just as she was passing the basement door it opened and she jumped ready to strike. She was stopped at the sight of a familiar scarred eyebrow and bleached hair. Rolling her eyes as the vamp shut the door she thought about how much she didn’t need this right now.
“Spike.”
“Yeah. Uh listen did you hear a noise?”
Buffy did not have time for this. She had let him stay at her house before because she didn’t feel right kicking him out during the day but he was gone when she went back meaning he’d probably found his blanket. If he thought that allowing him into her house for one night meant he could come and go when he pleased he had another thing coming. She wanted to know why he was here and why he was sneaking around her basement.
“What the hell are you doing in my house?”
Spike knew she wouldn’t be eager to find him here but he was hoping she might be a little more accepting after the other night. Apparently absence didn’t always make the heart grow fonder. Hearing the commotion upstairs he thought he should go help or sneak out unnoticed, whichever was the better option. Now he found himself faced with a less than amused Slayer.
“Right then, caught me. You’re basement’s full of junk and me being in need of ah junk…”
Buffy rolled her eyes and he knew she’d bought it.
“You were stealing?”
He scoffed and quickly moved to hide the photos he was holding in the pocket of his duster.
“Well yeah. Can’t exactly work at burger barn can I?”
“Wait.”
She noticed what he was holding.
“Are those pictures of me?”
Before she had time to glare at him or he had time to come up with an answer a dark object flung itself at Spike with a shriek and he found himself pinned under one nasty looking demon. He shouted in pain and surprise and tried shaking it off but it held him down, biting and scratching at him. Buffy watched, waiting for an opening when Spike kicked out and sent the knife flying from her grasp. Buffy rolled her eyes before the demon turned its attention to her and lunged. Soon she was the one pinned down.
Gasping she flung the creature off and backed away. Spike ran to pick up the knife and tossed it her way.
“Buffy!”
She caught it and the demon knocked her down again, scrambling to get on top of her, shrieking the whole time. She struggled with it before plunging the knife in deep in its back and it screamed but remained on top of her. She struck a second time and on the third stab felt its strength slacken and it slowly sank down on top of her lifeless. Gasping for breath, she gathered her strength and rolled the disgusting thing off her.
A hand with chipped black nail polish was held out to her and she took it. Spike pulled her up and she tingled at his touch. It didn’t last long as soon the house was flooded with army men.
Riley walked in and immediately his attention went to the two blondes still holding hands. Spike knew exactly what he was looking at and feeling outnumbered let go of Buffy’s hand and stared back at the soldier who turned his attention to the Slayer.
“You okay?”
Buffy just stared at him in confusion before running upstairs to check on her Mom and Dawn.
Riley sighed as she ran past him and Spike couldn’t help adding salt to the wound.
“You just missed a real nice time.”
Riley looked down at the dead demon and exhaled sharply. He should have been here with Buffy but instead he’d been enjoying tracking down a Queller demon. He was all excited over possibly capturing an extra terrestrial which had wound up here at Revello drive where Buffy had disposed of it with Spike. Again, Spike was in Riley’s place. Not only that but it looked like the vamp might not be such a hated enemy after all if this was the second night he’d spent with Buffy in Riley’s absence.
Not wanting to risk the soldier boys taking him in Spike made a swift exit. He knew Buffy would be preoccupied with her Mom and dealing with the soldiers crowding her house and now wasn’t the time for them to talk. He’d touched her though. Held her hand for a moment and even that short contact was nice. She didn’t hate him at least, not when she let him help her.
Riley watched the vamp stalk off into the night feeling bitter and angry. He really hated hostile 17 and the reasons why just kept adding up. Buffy came back down when she was sure everything upstairs was okay and was less than pleased when she found her house filled with army guys.
“What are they still doing here?”
She directed her question at Riley but the group’s commander spoke up.
“Checking that it was the only one, that the building’s secure and getting ready to bag and tag the body.”
“Well hurry up. I want you all out of my house. My Mom is sick and we’ve had a really rough day so the sooner you all clear out the better understand?”
The commander nodded and motioned to the men to hurry preparing the body. He knew what the Slayer was capable of and even though he wasn’t happy at being told what to do he knew better than to piss her off right now. He cast a quick look in Riley’s direction and the ex-soldier couldn’t miss the contempt in the other man’s eyes. It added to his humiliation.
As soon as the last soldier left the house, Buffy slammed the door and walked toward Riley.
“What were they doing here?”
“I went with the gang to the woods when we found out about a meteor that crash landed. We found a dead guy out there and figured something had crawled out and started a killing spree. We knew you were busy with your Mom and didn’t want to worry you so they went to do research while I stayed to investigate the crime scene.”
“Uh huh. And did the gang know you were going to call in the Initiative for help too?”
Riley shifted uncomfortably under her glare before his indignation kicked in and he defended himself.
“No but I knew we couldn’t handle this alone and we couldn’t call you. I went to people I knew had the ability to help track it down and capture it. I didn’t want to worry you. I figured we’d have it taken care of and they’d be gone before you even knew about it.”
Buffy felt her anger rising.
“I’m the Slayer Riley. Weird demons arrive and start a killing spree I’m supposed to know about it. I can understand you didn’t want to worry me but information like that would be nice to know. That thing attacked my Mom. It could have killed her and you decide to go and call in the people I trust less than I do the Watcher’s Council? Since when are you still in touch with them?”
“I trust them Buffy. The organisation you knew was shut down. They’ve learned from their mistakes and now they’re helping people. They know about demons you can’t just expect them to sit back and pretend everything’s ok. You can’t be everywhere at once you know. They’re making a difference and I stayed in touch with them because I knew it was a useful contact to have.”
“Oh yeah? They were real useful tonight with their fancy gadgets weren’t they. I can’t trust them Riley. Just because they screwed up last year doesn’t mean they’ve learned from their mistakes. You said they wanted to capture it when that thing needed killing. I don’t need them as a contact. It was useful when your life was in danger from what they did to you but your fixed now and there’s no reason to stay in touch with them. I don’t like it and I don’t want them spying on me.”
Riley was getting angrier and more defensive as she continued to lash out at him.
“They’re not spying on you Buffy! They were helping!”
Buffy’s eyes narrowed and she lowered her voice dangerously.
“I don’t need or want their help. I need to take care of Mom now. You should leave.”
Riley panicked. Was she kicking him out? He moved toward her his whole demeanor changing.
“Hey Buffy I’m sorry. I should’ve told you, I just thought we could take care of it and I was worried when I saw that thing. I know how dangerous it was for you and seeing Spike here again didn’t help my mood. Let me help you. I know it must be hard with your Mom right now.”
Buffy barely heard him, still fuming that he would have brought the Initiative back to Sunnydale when something he said caught her attention. Seeing Spike here again? When had he seen Spike here? Deciding it was best not to raise that issue she backed away when he moved to put his arm around her.
“No. I need to do this myself. Mom wouldn’t like anyone else to see her like this. I’ll be fine. This is between family. You should go, get some rest. I’ll talk to you later okay?”
She backed towards the stairs again. Riley wanted to complain but knew that would only lead to a further argument. She was pushing him away again and he was going to let her. He nodded and walked to the door. He turned around as he opened it and looked at her.
“Okay Buffy. I’ll talk to you later. I’m here for you, you know that right? Anything you need, you don’t have to be alone.”
Buffy nodded.
“I know. Goodnight Riley.”
“Goodnight Buffy.”
She walked away upstairs and he left, closing the door firmly behind him. He wasn’t going home tonight. He was going to that place. The place he felt needed.
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Author's Chapter Notes:
Chapter 3 is here. This is pretty much canon with the events and dialogue but with some background scenes and character thoughts thrown in. The rest of the story will go more AU after this.
Disclaimer in full effect.
Disclaimer in full effect.