Twenty minutes of arguing, a few nasty comments about the Slayer’s derriere, wrist restraints and a ball-gag later, and the Slayer was finally able to load the rental car with weapons, luggage, and a few of Spike’s things after convincing Giles to run back to the mansion to pack him a bag. The wrinkles around Spike’s eyes were the only clue that he was smirking since his stupid mouth was stuffed with a t-shirt. He easily could have spit it out and it wasn’t until he was hoisted into the SUV and strapped in the front seat that he figured it out and pushed the gag out of his mouth with his tongue. Spike wiggled in the front seat to try and get more comfortable, which was incredibly difficult to do with his hands tied behind his back. He looked out the window and tried to listen to the watcher and the slayer talking outside the vehicle. He twisted around in his seat and awkwardly reached for the window handle and rolled it down a hair to hear a little better.
“You mind speedin’ it up out there?”
“Shut up, Spike!” they both yelled. Spike scowled and muttered something under his breath, turning away from the window.
They hadn’t even started driving yet and Buffy was already preparing herself for a nervous breakdown. “You sure you don’t want to come with me?” Buffy pouted.
“I wish that I could, but with Angelus and a now powerful Drusilla on the loose, I’m afraid of leaving Sunnydale while you’re gone. Plus, I can continue researching a way to restore his soul. Should we find a solution…”
“You’ll contact me immediately and I can get rid of the annoying vamp?”
“Precisely. Though I wouldn’t count on it. We’ve found no answers as of yet.” Giles sighed and reached in his back pocket. “Here is enough money for food and hotel stay, gas and other expenses. Do not let Spike get his dirty little hands on this.”
“Like I would!” She said incredulously.
“I heard that!” Spike shouted.
Buffy shook her head and sighed. “Anyway…what are you going to tell mom?”
“Y-you haven’t,” Giles sputtered, “You mean, she doesn’t know?”
“Oh, like she’d be totally cool with her seventeen year old daughter driving across country for 2 weeks.”
Giles pursed his lips and shot Buffy a look of disapproval. “This is very irresponsible, Buffy. Joyce is going to be worried sick.”
“I know, and that’s why you are going to be the one to break the news.” She bounced happily and gave him an award winning smile before spinning on her heel and walking to the driver’s side of the car.
“Now…wait just a minute, Buffy!” Giles’ protestations fell on deaf ears as Buffy slammed her car door shut and waved at him through the window. His shoulders sagged and his lips formed a tight line. Telling Joyce was not going to be easy. He wondered if Buffy knew that by telling her, he’d inevitably have to tell her about her calling. It wasn’t going to be a joy ride, but then again, neither was Buffy’s excursion. Perhaps he owed her one.
Buffy’s hands rose in the air and twitched in anticipation as she eyed the various knobs and devices in the rental car. “Ok, start ignition,” she said out loud and put the keys in the ignition and cranked it. Spike’s eyes went wide suddenly.
“Uh…Slayer? You have driven an SUV before, right?”
“Of course I have,” she lied. “Now then…where’s that stick shifty thing…oh, here it is!” She clapped her hands triumphantly and located the gear shift next to the steering wheel. “P, R, N, D! It’s D, right?”
“You’ve driven a bloody CAR before, RIGHT?” Spike was taking unneeded breaths as the situation sunk in. He was going to die by the hands of a Slayer, and not in the fun way.
“Yes! I drove the car at the DMV when I took Driver’s Ed! God, quit freaking out or you’ll make me nervous!”
“Did you pass the test?” When she didn’t answer and merely looked out the window, Spike exhaled and closed his eyes. “Ok, first thing’s first. Your parking brake is on.”
“No, stupid…my foot isn’t even on the brake,” she said with a satisfied smirk, not realizing that her foot probably should be on the brake before she shifted into drive. That didn’t matter. She was busy mocking a bossy vampire.
“The bloody lever next to your seat, you stupid bint!”
“Oh,” she furrowed her brow. She pushed the button in with her thumb and lowered the parking brake. “I knew that.”
“Now, take that vicious little foot of yours and press the brake before you shift into Drive.”
“That’s D!”
“Yes,” he rolled his eyes. “That’s D.” He silently thanked the Gods that the SUV was at least an automatic. He’d hate to have to explain how to work a clutch. And didn’t that put all kinds of images in his brain that he didn’t need to think about at the moment?
Buffy’s tongue darted out and nestled in the corner of her mouth as she yanked the lever into drive and then slammed her foot down on the gas. They bolted forward and they both shrieked.
“Brakes, Slayer! Brakes!”
“Ok, ok!” She slammed her foot on the brake and they jerked forward as it came to an abrupt stop. They panted for a moment when they realized she’d come mere inches from crashing into a rather large tree.
“Put. The Car. In park,” he said calmly, though his irritation showed by the ticking muscles in his jaw. Once the car was safely in park he turned his head slowly in her direction and then shouted, “Are you trying to get us killed you stupid bitch? Do you even know how to fucking drive? We’ll die before we even make it off this bloody street!”
“Stop yelling at me!” Buffy’s chin quivered and then she remembered that she was the freaking Slayer. “If you raise your voice at me again, so help me, Spike, I will stake you and dance in your ashes!”
Spike closed his eyes and then spoke in a sickeningly sweet voice. “Fine. Slayer? Dear? Would you be so kind as to gently press on the gas once you’ve gone into drive and ease us out onto the road? I’d be ever so grateful not to die in a car crash.” He batted his eyelashes and Buffy growled in annoyance.
“Just shut up and tell me where the lights are.”
“The lights? Oh for cryin’ out…there, Slayer.” He pointed to the lever with his head. “Click it forward once an’ your lights will come on.”
After knocking over someone’s garbage can, almost taking out a mailbox and leaving tire tracks on the pavement, they were finally on their way to the freeway and Spike wondered if they packed any booze or horse tranquilizers. He needed something and he needed it fast or else he was going to use all his strength to break his restraints and sink his fangs into the neck of the worst driver he’d ever seen. Ever. He looked over at her and smiled inwardly. Her hands gripped the steering wheel so tight her knuckles were white; her body leaned forward awkwardly as she focused on the road and he watched her feet going back and forth from the gas to the brakes. If he didn’t hate her so much, he might have thought she was adorable. But, he was suffering from a near death experience…and he did hate her, so he snorted and leaned against the glass window. His head bumped against the glass repeatedly every time she pressed on the brakes and he screwed his eyes shut, willing the daylight to near so they’d be forced to stop. But that was hours away. Hours and hours and hours away.
~*~*~*~
Buffy lifted the lid to the console between their seats and started digging through the CD’s she brought.
“What are you doing?”
“I’m looking for music! This car has a CD player in it! Isn’t that cool?”
“Oh yeah, it’s a marvel of technology, that. My question is why both of your pretty little hands aren’t on the steering wheel?”
“I totally have the hang of this now. See? I can drive with one hand!” Suddenly, they veered off the road and she shrieked, grabbing the steering wheel with both hands and righted them again. “Or not?” she shrugged her shoulders sheepishly.
“Bloody hell, Slayer! Just concentrate on the road!”
“Fine!” She huffed and a line formed between her eyebrows. Spike shook his head and watched as her lower lip jutted out in an adorable pout.
“What’s wrong,” he groaned.
“I’m bored. You haven’t said anything in hours and it’s too quiet.”
“Thought you wanted me to shut up!”
“I just wanted you to shut up at that moment. I didn’t mean forever!”
“You were very clear, Slayer. You said, ‘If you say one more thing about my legs, I’ll personally see to it that YOUR legs never work again so shut up!’”
“See, now that’s where you totally misinterpreted what I meant. I just didn’t want you ogling my legs and making gross statements. I didn’t say to sulk in silence for five hours and bore me to tears!”
Spike sighed in frustration. “You have got to be the most difficult person I’ve ever met.”
“I could say the same thing about you!” So, she was being difficult, but at least arguing was kind of like conversation and she was absolutely bored out of her mind. Spike was happy for the distraction as he so loved getting under her skin.
“Yeah, well, it’s not my fault you’ve got Hawaiian Tropic thighs. Shouldn’t wear such short skirts if you don’ want blokes lookin’ at you.”
“See? Do you see? This is the thing I’m talking about. Those are the comments I don’t want to hear.”
“Why? Are you ashamed of yourself, Slayer? Did Angelus ruffle your feathers and give you a complex?”
“Don’t talk about Angelus! That is none of your business.” Her hands gripped the wheel tighter as blind fury crept up her spine with rigid indignation.
Spike smirked. “That’s right, Slayer. Deny, deny, deny. You know, he told me what a frigid bitch you were but I was nice enough to give you the benefit of the doubt. Guess I was wrong.”
“Shut up!”
“Do you really want me to shut up or is this another one of your weird requests where in a few minutes you’ll want me talking again?”
“Yes, Spike. I really, really want you to shut up. I was stupid to think that we might have a normal conversation. So keep quiet.”
Spike grinned and watched the road, not saying a word. He counted to ten, waiting for the inevitable.
“And you know what else?” Ah, there it was, right on time. “You’re totally annoying. I can find ways to entertain myself, thank you very much. Don’t need you to keep me company,” she trailed off, muttering under her breath. “You’re lucky I don’t pull over and stake you.”
Spike waited patiently.
“I said you’re lucky I don’t pull over and stake you!”
He remained silent.
“Ooh! God, I hate you,” she huffed when she was getting no reaction from him.
Spike chuckled.
“Stop that laughing!”
~*~*~*~
Buffy was bound and determined to play Spike at his little game. If he was going to be stubborn and not talk to her, then she was going to be silent, too. And really, how hard would it be for him to just say something pleasant? Not the point. The point was that he pissed her off with his stupid little smiles like he held a secret and his quiet humming which was barely audible. She hoped he’d hum louder just so that she could figure out the song he had stuck in his head and maybe it would get stuck in hers too and she could just concentrate on that, but of course, it was too low to hear over the car engine and tires rotating on the pavement. But luckily for both of them, they arrived at their hotel just before sunrise.
“I’m going to get a room. You stay put.”
He looked at her incredulously and craned his neck back, pointing to his restraints.
“Right, well…don’t…spit on anything.”
He chuckled as she got out of the car. She was a strange bird but he couldn’t help admitting that he’d had a good time in the car with her. It was a hell of a lot better than being ignored by his sire and stuck by himself for hours on end. At least the Slayer had a tongue on her and a fire in her ass. It was highly amusing. Still hated her, though. Definitely no friendly thoughts in his mind, not at all. Oh, no. He was still plotting a way to sink his fangs in her neck the moment he was healed and paid his promised two grand. Wouldn’t do to off her now. He wanted to kick her ass first, maybe cop a feel or two and drink from the chalice of her neck. He was just biding his time with childish entertainment and lascivious comments that turned her cheeks red. That was one thing about humans that he loved; their ability to physically show embarrassment. It was especially gorgeous on the Slayer. And yes, he completely skimmed over that flattering adjective because again, he hated her. He tilted his head curiously when he spotted her stomping back towards the car with a scowl on her face. She opened the back door and pulled out his wheel chair, slammed it on the ground and pushed it to the passenger door, opening it and huffing.
“What’s got your knickers in a twist?”
“The only room available has one bed.”
His tongue rolled behind his teeth in utter joy at her discomfort. “Well, then…looks like we’re gettin’ cozy.”
“Oh no,” she said with a shake of her head as she unsnapped his seat belt. “You’re ridin’ the carpet, my friend.” She started loosening his restraints.
Spike’s eyes raked over her body in a way that sent shivers down her spine. “Why, Slayer…thought you’d never ask.”
She furrowed her brow and then her eyes lit with understanding. “Eww, Spike! God, you’re such a pig.”
“Don’ knock it, luv. Bet you taste delicious.” Spike didn’t know why he kept dropping the innuendos, but he figured it was just because her reactions were so adorable. Not adorable…easy. She was not adorable, she was the Slayer. But it didn’t stop him from continuing. “I bet a bloke could get addicted to your sweet puss-” he was cut off by a fist in his nose. “Ow! Bloody hell!”
“You’re disgusting!”
“That hurt!”
“It was supposed to.” She ignored his tongue slipping out to lick away the blood that drizzled out of his nose and put one arm beneath his knees and the other at his back. His cocky attitude seemed to disappear when he wrapped his arms around her neck for support as she lifted him out of the car.
Spike hated this. Hated being in a wheelchair. Hated to have to depend on someone to help him into it. He was a master vampire, not this weak and sorry excuse of a vampire, or so his grandsire told him daily. He could make do getting from his chair to a bed on his own, but that was about it. And knowing that the Slayer, his enemy, had to lift him up like a rag-doll did nothing for his self-esteem. When she made a move to push the chair, he quickly grabbed the wheels and did it himself, angrily moving away from her to conceal his broken pride. He didn’t need her pushing him around.
Buffy frowned as she watched Spike wheeling away. Maybe she’d been too hard on him, but at the same time, she didn’t think Spike was the kind of vampire who would appreciate her pity. He had crossed a line however, and she reacted the only way she knew how. With an upper cut to his face. Still, something about his situation didn’t make her feel very comfortable. It was easy to ignore it when he was in the car, but when he was in the chair, everything changed. If the shoe were on the other foot, she’d have been miserable. At least Spike still had balls and banter, latching on to something that made him feel masculine and evil. As annoying as it was, at least he had that and she couldn’t fault him for trying. But she still had her own pride to contend with and wouldn't put up with it just because he was handicapped at the moment.
She shook off those thoughts as she unloaded the car and craved a long shower. A good long massage under the spray of hot water was just what she needed. And then it hit her. Spike was going to need her assistance at some point. Spike was going to have to get naked and Buffy was going to be the one to help him get naked and lift his nakedness into a bathtub. She could do this. She was the Slayer. How hard could it be? Ok, that was not where her thoughts needed to go. And he probably couldn’t get hard anyway, right? He was paralyzed below the waist. Still…naked Spike was so not something she’d prepared for. Maybe he didn’t need to bathe right away.
“Slayer, are you coming?” He shouted from outside their hotel room door.
She lifted their bags and walked towards him. “Yeah, just getting our stuff.”
“Good cos’ I could really use a bath.”
squawks
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!
05/18/17 04:16 am
pj! I remember wishing one of your stories would be finished seriously about a decade ago. Amazing. I just tried an old password I used to use and amazingly got in too. Memories!
pj
03/20/17 01:20 am
10 yrs later, i finally rem my username and password. Pari, you rock. Hope you are well.
Rabbit_moon1
12/23/16 01:12 pm
I donate every month. Please donate to keep this site up!
AudryDaluz1
10/06/16 08:34 am
Great post.
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:45 pm
And anyone else who loves this site, it's worth mentioning there's a nifty little "Donate" option just below the shout box here! ;)
Chrissel
08/31/16 03:43 pm
Just wanted to take a moment to thank Pari and all the mods for maintaining such a great site!