In Loving Memory (1/1)

by Samantha McCullah

They'd finally lain her to rest today; of course, the ceremony was during

the day to prevent any of us showin' up uninvited. I managed to attend anyway.

Her mates were probably wonderin' who was in the DeSoto with blackened

windows.

I went to say goodbye to her, but I couldn't. I had a promise to keep.

So, that led me back there. Back to that blasted place I hadn't been to

since the night she'd died in my arms, since the night that bastard killed

her. God, I was pissed.

I stalked into the mansion, no longer caring if they knew I was walking or

not. I only wanted one thing: Angel's blood on my hands. I entered the garden

to be confronted with a site that usually would have made me happy. Drusilla.

Alone. Well, not really alone, she was playing with that bloody doll.

"My Angel's very angry," she whispered, not looking up from the doll as she

brushed its hair.

"Good for him," I growled. Finally, she looked up with surprise evident in her

eyes. I guess I was the last vampire on earth she'd expected to see. She

smiled

lazily at me and held the doll up to her ear. Then her smile drained from her

face, and I knew something was up. With a howl of rage, Dru threw the doll

against the nearest wall.

"Miss Edith is wrong," she stated firmly, holding herself. "Right, my Spike?

She's says you loved the Slayer, but she spoke out of turn. Now she won't

speak again." I closed my eyes against the sight of Dru 'cause I knew she was

right. Even if I didn't want to admit it.

"Now, Dru, you don't have to worry anymore. Isn't that right, Spikey?" My

eyes snapped open the minute I heard that voice. Growling deep in my throat,

I turned to face him. He stood leaning against the patio doors with a smirk

on his face that told me he knew the truth. "You see, Dru, I sent our dear,

sweet Buffy screaming into Hell."

"Shut up," I hissed.

"I can't believe this," he laughed, stepping away from the door and sauntering

towards me. "All those times you called me Buffy-whipped and you wanted

her. And

I got there first." He circled me like a cat with a mouse. But this mouse has

fangs. Sharp ones. Not moving, I watched him circle me. Then he stopped and

placed his hands on my shoulders like he was going to hug me. "You know what,

I bet you're angry that I killed her. I mean, it's been almost a year, and you

never even came close." That did it; I snapped. Grabbing his wrists, I pushed

him away from me. That only caused him to laugh harder.

"Be careful, Angel," I smiled. "One night, when you're feeling your strongest,

you'll bleed until you're dry." With that said, I rushed forward and

backhanded

him. He fell to the garden floor, stunned but none the worse; then I heard her

behind me. Drusilla let out a high-pitched whine as she started towards me at

a run. I barely had time to turn towards her when her body impacted with mine

and sent us both sprawling to the floor. She began clawing at my face and

digging

gouges into my face.

Finally Angel pulled her roughly off me. "You see, Spike, my boy, you can't

fight us both," he taunted.

"Well, then," I muttered, wiping the blood as it ran into my eyes as I pulled

one of the stakes I'd taken off Buffy's body out of my coat pocket. "Guess

I'll

have to get rid of some of the competition," I snarled. Pushing myself to my

feet, I moved the stake around so that it was visible to Angel. He smirked

when

he saw it and released Dru from the hold he had on her. She rushed me

again, but

this time she hit the stake full in the heart.

"Spike?" she murmured in disbelief just before she exploded in a shower of

dust.

"Didn't know you had it in you," Angel taunted.

"Can we skip the witty banter?" I replied. I wanted this done.

"Sure," he replied followed by a left cross that busted my lip. I managed

to block his next punch and kick his legs out from under him. He tried to

get to his feet, but I kneed him in the face.

"That was for me," I commented. "And this..." I slammed my foot down into

his back. I heard rather than felt his back break under the force. "Was for

Dru. And finally," I continued, grabbing his chin and pulling his face close

to mine as I knelt down. I forced his mouth open and dug my fingernails into

the back of his tongue. With one swift and finally tug, I ripped his

tongue out. Blood poured out of his mouth in the most satisfying sight I'd

ever seen. "That was for Buffy."

I pulled his head back with my bloody hand and stared into his pain-filled

eyes.

"Now...whistle," I ordered softly.

___________________

When it was done, I hadn't even bothered to clean up. I stopped by my room

long enough to pick up an old bottle of vodka I'd hidden in there. Then I

set out to the cemetery. I managed to drink half the bottle by the time I

got there. Loneliness will do that to someone.

When I finally reached her grave, I saw her friends, the red-head and the

obnoxious one, as well as her Watcher standing next to it. I could hear small

bits of their conversation.

"Angel will pay this," the obnoxious one commented.

"He will," the Watcher replied calmly. Almost too calmly. "He'll die for

this."

"Too late, mates," I slurred stepping out of the shadows. I knew what a

pitiful sight I was. A bloody hand clutching a half-empty vodka bottle,

the other holding a bloody sack. I offered a weak smile to her friends, and

they were either too shocked to stop me or they didn't care as I walked

over to

her tombstone.

I knelt down next to the marker that held her name and reached into my pocket.

I withdrew a handful of dust from it and placed it at the base. I saw her

Watcher step forward slightly, but I waved him back. Then I put my hand in

the sack and pulled out Angel's severed tongue. I could see Red cover her

mouth in disgust. I placed the tongue next to the pile of dust.

"See, Slayer, I keep my promises," I whispered, tracing the letters that

made up the only other words on her stone: 'In Loving Memory'.

*Fin*

Comments? Send too Samantha McCullah

Get me back to Angel of the Night!

Get me back to Spike's Corner!

Get me outta here period!