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Chapter 13

Checking her watch, she figured Spike was probably not only up –and had been up for a while – but probably wondering where the hell she was. He'd probably take it as her still being pissed at him and ‘punishing' him by leaving him. However, she wasn't sure how he was going to take the news of where she'd been. And while she knew that she had to be honest – SHOULD be honest, a large part of her wanted to keep quiet until she had tangible information. She catalogued in her mind what she'd learned and while it was all fishy and validated the fact that she felt Tara was off, she wasn't sure if Spike would see it that way. He'd think she was just being hormonal and territorial. Bitchy.

The thought actually angered her. She looked down at her arms, at the scars Drusilla had left the last time Buffy had a bad feeling. Those scars told her she wasn't wrong. They also told her she needed to be up front and honest with Spike. She had a family to save.

"Where were you?" he asked as soon as she entered the apartment.

He was standing with his back to her, fixing some blood. He appeared to have just showered as his hair was wet. He was barefoot with his usual jeans on and when he walked over to the microwave, she noticed his black shirt was hanging open.

She didn't expect him to be so direct right away and had to take a minute to gather her thoughts. "I didn't expect that right away," she told him honestly.

He looked over his shoulder. "Oh? Had to think of a lie then?"

She pursed her lips together. This was a far cry from the Spike that had
wept in her arms last night. "You know it's funny. When I keep secrets, I
get your attitude. When I tell you the truth, I get attitude too. So you tell
me Spike, what should I do? Cause I'll do it. Pick a side and stick to it."

She saw his shoulders slack and slouch. He turned to her, "I'm sorry.
Again." He scratched the back of his head, "When I woke up and you were
gone . . . . I assumed you were still mad at me and didn't want to be around
me. Coupled with the headache and feeling like I'd been hit by a truck…"

She cocked her head to the side. "Any better?"

He nodded. "Now that you're home, yes."

"Don't break out the happiness just yet," she said hesitantly.

Taking his mug out of the microwave, he sipped it and regarded her
curiously. "Oh?"

"I went to go see Willow," and she winced, waiting for the yelling.

He nodded slowly, thoughtfully. "And?"

"And I learned some interesting things about your girl."

His expression darkened. "She's not my girl Buffy. You're my girl."

"From the way you defended her last night, I wasn't sure anymore."

"How can you say that to me? How can you think that? Buffy . . . You're
my world. You're everything to me. You and the baby are all that matters."

"Then I don't want you spending any time with Tara," she told him firmly.

"She's in my class, Buffy."

"And that's it. I don't want you to spend any time beyond that with her."

He cocked his head to the side. "What did you find out Buffy?"

"Well, I found out that she goes and on about you all the time."

"Can you blame her pet?" he smirked.

She shot him a glare. "Not now," she snapped.

He put his mug down and started for her. "Pet, I was kidding, trying to
lighten the mood. Come here –" and he reached for her.

She backed away, "no. We're doing this. We're talking. You want honesty,
then you're getting it. Laid right out on the table for you. No jokes, no
holding back. Can you handle it? Can you handle All Honest Buffy?"

His jaw clenched and he stood tall. "Give it to me."

"All right. I think Tara's a liar. I think something's going on with her and I
think that whatever it is, it has to do with you. Did Tara tell you that Willow
and her were dating?"

Spike's eyes widened.

"Exactly. She's gay Spike. Or at least she was. Willow said she changed
after she was ‘chosen'. She said she stepped back from her and now blows
hot and cold with her. Willow has a hard time saying no to her which is why
she sought us out when Tara pleaded with her that she must know
someone that could help her. Funny that, don't you think? Almost like Tara
knew of us, but didn't know how to get to us and used Willow as her ‘in'.
Tried to make it innocent and all in the name of helping a friend and
keeping the Slayer thing on the down low, but it's fishy to me just the same.
Especially since before Willow could meet you, Tara was taking your class
and already approached you. Almost like she just couldn't wait."

"For?"

"That's where I'm lost. And something struck me when Willow said that
she had a hard time saying no to her. . ." Buffy started pacing.

"Like?"

"The way you and Giles are in her presence. How you just can't say no to
her, the way you rush to her defense."

"I told you pet, it's got nothing to do with me having a thing for her! It has
everything to do with not wanting her to die. The way you could have.
Wouldn't be able to live with myself if I could have helped someone and
didn't. What if I…what if I hadn't helped you?" he finished on a whisper.

"And I'm telling you that she's up to something. How funny is it that she
doesn't have a Watcher still. She's been a Slayer for some time now and still
no Watcher? The Council may be made up of a bunch of ‘wankers', but from
what you've told me, they're efficient when it comes to duty. You'd think
they'd be all over their only Slayer at the moment. And yet they're not."

"Coincedence?"

"That's just it. Too many things are coincidental and so fake sounding.
Everything she's told us sounds like a made up fairy tale."

"If you call slaying demons and vamps that could kill you a fairy tale,"
Spike said dryly. He looked up at her and spoke again before she could
respond. "But I know what you mean."

"Do you?"

He met her eyes and said seriously, "Yes. Buffy, if you don't want me to
help her, then I won't."

"Do you believe me though? Do you see what I'm seeing?"

"Yes, pet."

"But you still need proof, right?"

"Don't you?"

"Yes. And I'm going to get it."


"How?"

"Short of confronting her? I don't know yet. But I will find a way."

"Can I hold you now baby? I really need my girl in my arms now."

She gave him a weak smile and allowed him to engulf her in his arms. She
hugged him back and inhaled his soapy scent, stopping when she could
trace just the slightest scent of something sour on him.

What the hell was it? And why did she keep on smelling it?


A/N: Just a heads up that it'll probably get really ....bad. lol. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel and I promise it's not a train!!





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