Spike was almost hypnotized by his own breathing as he ran down the wet alleyway. Plop, plop, plop – the noise of his boots colliding with the damp Gotham street echoed. His running slowed down as he took a chance to catch his breath and get a grip of his surroundings.

Catch his breath, God it was amazing to him that he even had to catch his breath. 120 years since he needed to breathe, of course he never really stopped breathing. He always kept breathing so people wouldn’t get suspicious. But for the first time in years he needed to breath.

As his vision cleared he noticed two things. One he couldn’t see that well in the dark anymore, but he had a feeling he could see better than most people. Things used to be so clear even in the dark, but now the shadows have dimmed on him. Making it where he can only see clear outlines. Two he was in Gotham City. He should know he’s in Gotham; it was after all one of his and Dru’s favorite hangouts in the 50’s. They spent a decade in the bleak city adding to the mayhem and destruction that already accompanied it. Of course he always preferred Bludhaven, now there was a city for demons.

But he remembers Gotham the most. The fight that Spike is most proud of in his entire unlife happened here. If you asked Angel he would say that Spike’s favorite fight was with the first Slayer he killed, but Angel doesn’t know as much as he likes to think. If you asked Buffy she would say that Spike’s favorite fights were with her, but alas even his love is wrong.

Now the fight that almost took his life just over 50 years ago happened here, when he went one on one with the Green Lantern, Alan Scott. He and Dru were trying to find a crystal that would bring the Master out of his mystical prison, and it was reported to have been sent to a museum in Gotham. Now Spike never did like Ol’ Bat Face, but he also couldn’t resist his dark princess, she wanted to free him so he wanted to free him too. When he tried to steal the crystal he was confronted by Green Lantern and the fight was on.

The fight took two hours only to end in a tie and the destruction of the crystal. He remembered when he discovered that Alan’s ring didn’t work on wood, he grabbed a 2 by 4 and started deflecting Alan’s energy beams. In that situation Spike knew that the further away he was from The Green Lantern the more he himself was at a disadvantage. He needed to get close and stay close. Soon enough he got the chance, getting up, close and personal with the Green Lantern. He then proceeded to beat Alan Scott senseless with the 2 by 4. One more minute and Alan’s brain matter would have been splattered against the floor, but he pulled off a lucky shot and sent Spike flying.

The Battle continued like that for a while, Spike’s speed and 2 by 4 helped him dodge the blasts and Alan’s very painful realization that he can’t let Spike get close again kept him even more alert then usual.

After the crystal was destroyed Spike stopped the battle, declaring that he’d be back another day. He then practically skipped back to his lair, his adrenaline was peaked. He just stood one on one with one of the best Super heroes in the world, and tied. A member of the JSA, the protector of Gotham back then, and he tied. When he got back to the lair he celebrated, and for the first time dominated Drusilla in all aspects of their relationship, something that turned her on immensely – she always did like being dominated. They feasted on children and screwed for an entire week.

Spike shook his head of the memory, slightly bothered that the idea of he and Dru didn’t bring on feelings of disgust or longing. He remembered in Sunnydale when he first got his soul he was always bothered with conflicting emotions. His demon was always lusting towards blood, itching for a death, while his calm and peaceful poet's soul looked down on such things, it wanted Spike to stop and sit down, read a nice book of poetry and ignore the atrocities of the battle with the first.

The demon’s gone that much he knew, but if he was to guess he’d say he wasn’t entirely human either. Passing through walls like a bloody ghost of all things, yet he’s leaning up against a wall right now, shivering in the cold night.

Spike closed his eyes wearily, but then opened them quickly, not yet ready to be in nothing but darkness again. Spike began to wonder – ‘My demon is gone, does that mean I’m William?’ His face became a mask of concentration. The months in perpetual darkness gave him a long time to think on his life and his choices. Things he could have done better, smarter, faster, once again beating himself up for not being good enough.

‘Never bloody good enough.’ He thought bitterly, Spike was never good enough, not good enough to love, not good enough of a warrior, not a good childe just a mistake always a mistake. These thoughts started to bring Spike to a rage, but he soon calmed down. When trapped in months of solitude, you learn to be patient – at least he learned to be patient with himself.

‘Don’t get me started on Nancy boy William.’ He thought. So weak and quiet, never spoke up or defended himself, not rich enough, not smooth enough, beneath others.

Spike shook his head, ‘But I’m not William am I? I have his soul but does that make me him? If I’m not William…am I Spike?’ His questions began to race through his mind.

‘Let’s see,’ Spike raised his hand, which was loosely balled into a fist. ‘I still like Manchester United, I still like hot wings and beer,’ His fingers started to pop up as he counted his list off. ‘T.S. Eillot, my mother, Buffy, Joyce.’ As he counts the list off he finds that he is still likes and loves the same things. Yet he isn’t meek like William, or craves the things that Spike craves.

He tilted his head forward and rested on his hands, a tired sigh escaped his lips.

If he was given an obstacle he knew he wouldn’t handled the situation like either entity. He wasn’t yet sure how he’d handle it, but he knows that it wouldn’t be the same. So the question that we all pondered when such situations become our life escaped his lips.

“Who am I?”

He then heard an explosion and the screech of metal being ripped apart. His head jerking in the direction of the sound and before he could even think, his feet were taking him to it’s source.

Spike soon found himself exiting the alleyway and standing in front of a large lake. He continued on to the noise. Up ahead of Spike he sees a car slowly sinking into the water and a large gray beast dropping a missile launcher on to the ground.

“Ugly Bugger.” Spike muttered to himself before sprinting towards the Alligator like creature.

“Boom.” He heard the beast say, just moments before he leapt into the air.

“Hey!” Spike said in mid-air to get Croc’s attention.

Croc turned to Spike’s leaping figure and before he could say anything he found Spike’s fist planted right in his mouth.

“Bloody Boom!” Spike shouted as Killer Croc fell to the ground.

Spike shook his hand slightly, ‘Wankers got tough skin.’ He thought to himself. Spike knew he wasn’t as strong as he once was, but after 120 years of fighting slayers, rival demons, and angry mobs even without the demons strength he’s a fine specimen of human fitness, above the level of any average Olympic athlete.

The hulking man-monster stood up, wiping the blood away from his mouth.

“Gonna enjoy breaking you, stick man.” Killer Croc snarled.

Spike rolled his eyes, “No wonder Buffy doesn’t take bad guys seriously anymore.” He speaks calmly as Killer Croc charges.

Spike side steps Killer Croc and spins hitting Killer Croc in the back of the head sending him once again down to the ground. Most people don’t think that Spike’s trained in any fighting style, that he only learned what he learned in bar fights and a demons natural instincts.

You don’t kill two slayers on bar fighting skills and you don’t travel the world without learning a few things before eating your sensei.

Killer Croc jumped up and charged Spike again. Spike side stepped him once more something Killer Croc was expecting, but it was a fake and Spike went the other direction, kneeing him in the groin. He then landed a solid elbow on the back of Croc’s neck, before spinning around and slamming Croc’s head into the ground repeatedly. He flipped Croc over and started to pummel the metahuman in the face. His punches fast and rigorous, hitting their marks before he could respond.

Croc finally bucked Spike off of him and sent him flying towards the docks. Spike tucked and rolled roughly before springing himself up. He was about to charge Killer Croc, just before he spoke up.

“Aren’t you forgetting something, Stick man?” Killer Croc said as he winced to stand up.

Spike pretended to think about it, “Let’s see…did I forget to kick your ass? Nope? Well then, I’m right as rain.” Spike said before he advance.

“How about the boy at the bottom of the lake.” Killer Croc smirked when he saw Spike halt his steps.

“Thought so.” Was the last thing Killer Croc said before running in the other direction.

Spike took a step forward to chase him, but stopped and looked back at the lake with fear and confusion in his eyes. He looked back towards the directions of the missing villain, and once again back towards the lake.

It was no contest to Spike; he knew what he had to do.

Spike turned towards the water and ran towards it diving in.

The first thing spike thought as water engulfed him was ‘Bloody buggering hell it’s cold!’ The second thing he thought was, ‘I can’t let this person’s death be on my hands.’ He briefly wondered why it mattered so much to him, and why he was leaping off like some hero.

‘Is this what William would be after seeing all that I’ve seen. Would his poofy idealistic nature take a turn for changing the world himself? If William weren’t so damn weak, would he have jumped into an ice-cold lake to save some wanker he didn’t know?’

Spike continued swimming downward, he could see the car at the bottom of the lake, with the guy he kicked in chest trapped inside. As Spike got closer he realized who it was, Nightwing the original Robin. Which means…

‘I threw Batman into a bloody wall. Well that’s…just…great.’ He thought as he reached the car.

The metal was twisted in front of Nightwing. Spike tried his best to pull the metal apart, but even with Vampire strength, the fused metal would have been too strong. Spike looked at his hands for a moment and then at the metal stopping him from meeting his goal. Spike concentrated as hard as he could and put his hands on the metal, when they phased through he smiled in relief. He put his arms around Nightwing and hoped to hell this would work. Spike pulled on Nightwing and pulled him through the metal like moving through solid objects was a normal everyday thing. Spike pulled Nightwing up and began to swim to the surface.

His head popped out of the water and he began to gasp for breath, he could see his breath clearly as his teeth began to chatter. Spike pulled himself and Nightwing out of the water and laid him on the dock.

‘Shit! He’s not breathing.’ Spike looked down at his hands as he came to a harsh realization. A hundred and twenty years of living and the only thing he could was take life away. He had no idea how to perform CPR. He had no idea how to save someone.

Batman was driving the batmobile down the streets, keeping his eyes open for the possibly resurrected vampire. Everything was quiet, not much crime tonight, which was unusual, but it was still early.

Suddenly the batmobiles computer flipped with the panicked voice of Oracle practically screaming.

“Batman!”

“What’s wrong!” Batman’s voice replied sharply. He’s doesn’t hear Barbara like this unless it involves…

“It’s Nightwing!.”

‘Dick!’ Batman’s face belied his emotions as it always does and forced his voice to stay calm. “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know. I was talking to him and then I heard an explosion. The com link was still active and I tried to reach him, but then it just went out. Batman…it sounded like someone destroyed it. I heard it crunch before it went out.”

“Oracle, where was he!” His voice stern and commanding, the voice he uses on his ‘children’ when he needs them to listen, the voice that they always listen to.

“Exact opposite direction, boss.” Her voice was cool and calm after hearing Bruce’s commanding voice.

The tires on the batmobile screeched as Batman sharply turned it and he put the petal to the metal as he drove down the road. His thoughts turned to Jason like they always did when these situations happen. The son he lost, the son he couldn’t save. ‘Not Dick…I can’t let him die. Ever.’ Batman’s voice in his mind stern, as if commanding himself.

“I will not fail you, son.” His words quiet as he drove faster, forgetting that the link was still on. Oracle heard his soft words, worry etched on her face, but hope in her heart.

The Batmobile zoomed down the street, dust and random bits of garbage people have thrown out their window whirling around the vehicle as it goes down the road.

Batman quickly slammed his foot on the break as the saw the site before him. In the middle of the road was a discarded missile launcher and over near the docks was Spike! Pummeling Killer Croc.

Batman opened up the roof and leaped out of the car running towards the two fighters. He saw Croc buck Spike off of him, but Spike just rolled and sprung up to his feet.

‘He’s good.’ Batman observed, as he got closer.

Killer Croc said something to Spike that Batman couldn’t hear and then took off in a different direction. Batman’s first instinct was to chase after Croc, just like Spike’s, but just like him he stopped.

He kept his eyes on the former vampire wondering what the cause of indecision was about, and to his wonderment Spike took off towards the lake and dove into the water.

‘Is he crazy? It’s freezing!’ He thought to himself as he got closer, never stopping his stride.

As he got close to the Missile launcher he noticed something next to it.

Batman bent down to inspect what it was. It was Nightwing's smashed com link.

Batman sharply looked towards the lake and fear began to sink into the man who causes fear.

“Nightwing.” His words were but a whisper before he got up and sprinted towards the water. He was about ten feet away when he saw Spike pop out of the water, bringing his son with him. He ran and watched as Spike placed his son on the dock, his shoulders slumped in defeat.

As Batman got there Spike looked up with sad and burdened blue eyes.

“I don’t know CPR.” He croaked.

Batman quickly understood and began to perform CPR on his son.

‘One, Two, three, breath.’ He counted in his head has he pumped his hands over Nightwings chest. He holds Dick’s nose and tries to force air into his lungs.

One, two, three – he tries again

One, Two, three, he forces air into him again

“Dammnit Nightwing, breathe!” He said one last time before pumping his hands and forcing air down his son’s throat. As he pulled up he saw Nightwing spit up water and take huge gasps of air.

‘Thank God.’ Batman said in his mind, his face still betraying his emotions, it was stoic as usual.

Batman looked up and around, searching for Spike, but he was nowhere to be seen. He looked at the spot next to Nightwing where Spike was before, his eyes focusing on the spot.

Batman looked away from the spot and gathered Dick into his arms taking him over to the Batmobile, and gently placing him inside it. He got in and turned the computer back on.

“Oracle, we’re coming home.”

“How is he?” Her voice quiet.

“He’s burned a little on the left side of his body and almost drowned. Spike pulled him out of the water.” Batman started the car and began the drive to the batcave.

“Spike?” Her voice questioning.

“Yes, Spike. I want you to start researching everything you can about his death. We’ll be home soon.” His tone was no nonsense as pre usual.

“Sure thing, Bo-” He cut off the computer and chose to drive in silence, occasionally glancing at his son, and not for the first time, regretting bringing him into this life.

Spike watched as the Batmobile drove away, a spot on the middle of the dock seemed to shimmer and he appeared, never actually leaving Nightwing’s side as his Batman preformed CPR.

Spike sighed and looked down then up at the illuminated city.

“Long bloody night.”

Chapter three: Going on

Bruce places his mask on its holder inside the vault. He went back on his patrol after dropping Dick off at the mansion, letting the caring hands of Alfred and Leslie show his son the compassion and medical care he needs. Bruce closes his eyes briefly as he thought about the injuries Dick took on. Bruce knew of course that Dick’s had worse than the small burns he acquired before the Nightbird was submerged in the icy water. The burns were the least of Bruce’s worries.

Bruce emerged out of the vault and into the empty batcave. Barbara was up in Dick’s old room by his side while Alfred and Leslie took care of him. They’ve yet to update him on his condition beyond the small amount of first-degree burns he has on his left side. From what Alfred told him, the burns were minor and wouldn’t scar. All Bruce had to do to know his son’s current condition was go up the stairs and into the house and see.

Bruce strode over to the Batcave's computer, determined to pick up Oracle’s research before she went to Dick’s side. His eyes began to shift back and forth quickly as he read and absorbed the details written by the Justice league.

Dick Grayson was shivering almost violently as he lay in his old bed; covers surrounded him in attempt to keep him warm. He was conscious but his eyes weren’t lucid at all. The young wheelchair bound redhead sitting by his bed looked at him with worry clear in her blue eyes.

Dick tried to shove the covers off him, but Barbara forced them back up.

“We need to keep you warm, Dick.” Barbara told him a bit forcefully.

“Don’t need them.” His words were slightly slurred.

Barbara sighed, “So damn stubborn.”

“Aren’t you all, Miss Barbara?” Alfred said with a warm smile from the doorway, a tray with two cups of tea sitting on it, steam rising from the cups.

Barbara couldn’t help but return his smile as he walked towards her.

“Are you implying something, Alfred?” Barbara replied with a mischievous glint in her eyes, accepting the offer of tea with a quiet “Thank you”.

“Oh why heavens no! I would never do such a thing.” Alfred said as he sat the tray down.

“How’s our patient?” The batfamily's butler and confidant inquired.

Barbara’s face lost its smile and she returned her eyes to Dick.

“The same.” She answered back.

Alfred placed a comforting hand on Babs’s shoulder and squeezed it gently.

“Master Dick will be just fine by morning, Miss Barbara. He is a tough one.”

“Tough or not I don’t like to see him like this.”

Alfred’s face grew grim. “Nor do I, Miss Barbara. Nor do I.”

Bruce Wayne continued to read the report and it’s details.

An ancient evil going by the name of “The First Evil.” Was attempting to raise an army of Turok-han, also known as the vampires that vampires fear. Buffy Anne Summers at the time one of only two Slayers had received a gift from Liam O’Conner, also known as Angelus before he received his soul, and known as Angel now with his soul. Note: He has now taken over the L.A. Branch of Wolfram and hart, the inter-dimensional demonic law firm, and maybe considered a threat. Buffy Anne Summers received the Puragtio de pressinus –

Bruce sat back as he read the words. ‘Purgatio de pessinus?’

“The Cleansing of evil?” Bruce Wayne whispered to himself, before sitting forward again to continue reading.

-An ancient holy weapon that channels the wearer’s soul into a beam of pure light, destroying everything and anything it considers evil in its path. The following day, Buffy Anne Summers led a small army of potential Slayers, Civilians, and one vampire, a Spike aka William the bloody who at the time also had a soul, directly into the Hellmouth to wage war with the army. During the battle Spike wore the Purgatio de Pressinus, and he began to channel his human soul. A beam of light erupted from his chest and annihilated the turok-han army. It went on to destroy the Hellmouth, although Spike himself had a chance to escape before the Hellmouth was destroyed, he decided to stay and finish it off completely. The crystal it’s self also destroyed Spike, presumably because of the vampire demon residing in his body.

- Superman

A picture of Spike from 1979 was seen attaching the page. He had torn jeans, and frosted bleach blond hair; his shirt was ripped and had several pins going through it. He wore a sneer on his face just as well as the duster around his shoulders.

Bruce sat back once again, “Hello Alfred.” He stated calmly.

We pull back to see Alfred has been standing right behind Bruce Wayne, staring at the picture. The tray that he carried upstairs was in his hand, the other cup of now not so steaming hot tea was on it.

“Good evening Master Bruce. I brought you some tea.” Alfred’s friendly British accent wafted through the batcave.

“Thank you, Alfred.” Bruce’s voice far away as he took the cup into his hands, his eyes never leaving the screen.

“Is this the chap who pulled young Master Dick out of the lake?” Alfred asked.

“Yes.” Came Bruce’s short reply.

“Hmm I’ll have to remember to give him a hot cuppa if we ever meet.” Alfred thought out loud.

Bruce didn’t say anything to that, but only drank from his cup. He soon rose out of his chair.

“I’m going to retire for the evening, goodnight Alfred.” Bruce said without turning around and headed for the house.

“Are you going to stop by Master Dick’s room? He’s ill you know, Hypothermia. He’ll be better by morning of course it’s only a moderate case…but it would be good of you to be there.” Alfred attentively added the last part.

“No I don’t think so Alfred. He has Barbara by his side, and he’ll be fine.” With that Bruce continued on.

“Of course he’ll be fine, sir!” Alfred’s voice elevated slightly.

“But I must ask of you, Master Bruce. Do you think I would not have a hand in raising a good man?” Alfred continued on.

Bruce turned around and narrowed his eyes in suspicion at Alfred.

“I’d say that that you’d make sure they were good, even if they didn’t believe it to be true.” Bruce replied almost briskly, wondering what Alfred was getting at.

Alfred walked over to Bruce and laid a hand on his shoulder, “Then I say, where would a good man be when his son has taken ill.” Alfred squared his shoulders and looked Bruce right in the eyes.

Bruce was amazed at the fact that Alfred could still make him feel like the little boy who would take cookies out of the cookie jar when he thought Alfred wasn’t watching. Bruce soon came to realize that Alfred was always watching. He then thought of times when he was sick and Alfred was always there by his bedside, reading him stories going above the call and duty of Butler.

“He’d be with his son.” Came Bruce’s quiet reply.

“He would, wouldn’t he?” Alfred replied with a bit of a smile.

Bruce nodded to Alfred, “Goodnight Alfred.”

Alfred nodded back and watched Bruce disappear into the house.

“Goodnight, son.” Alfred quietly said and turned to clean the area up.

“Good Lord I taught them all better house keeping skills then this.” He reprehended them in his own company as he put things in order.

Bruce entered the room, seeing his son shaking on the bed and Barbara lovingly tending to him. Her eyes shot up when he entered.

“I thought you’d be Tim or Cass.”

“They’ll be in later, their patrols are running a bit late. Run in with some bank robbers.” Bruce informed her.

Barbara nodded and returned her attention to Dick.

Bruce walked over to the other side of the bed and pulled up a chair.

Barbara looked over at him curiously.

“Do you want me to leave?” She asked.

Bruce shook his head and then formed one of his classic half smiles. “Even if I did, would you?”

Barbara smiled back, “No, I wouldn’t.”

Bruce just nodded and sat down in his chair, taking his seat by his son’s side.

The neighborhood seemed dank and desolate, the streets and buildings covered in grime, some of the buildings were empty, deserted with boarded up doors and windows. Random bits of trash were strung out amongst the street; graffiti of random gangs were sprayed on everything, street signs, dumpsters and even a few of the parked cars.

Now a Gotham street was not the place to be at night alone, especially if you’re a pretty girl. Granted better to be in Gotham at night then Bludhaven, but being alone in one city of the damned was just bad as being alone in another.

Just like tonight as a lone woman was walking down a Gotham street, she’s about five foot four with long and wavy chestnut brown hair, a single purple streak beautifully blended in on the right side of her head. She wore tight hip hugger jeans and a black tank top, with a black leather purse hanging loosely from her hands.

Kelly Sanders was no stranger to the streets of Gotham, despite her aura of casual ignorance of her grimy surroundings, she was raised in Gotham her whole life and even owns a bar in Bludhaven of all places. She’s taken several self-defense classes only accenting what she’s learned on the streets and from her big brothers. So when a thug jumped out in front of her, she wasn’t too worried, it was the other four guys that worried her.

“Well aren’t you a cute little thing?” Thug number one said with a sneer.

Kelly took a defensive stance, “Wish I could say the same thing, although I’m sure “little thing” is accurate enough.” The other four thugs started laughing.

“Damn Ricky you going to let this slut talk about you like that?” Thug number 2 asked as he chuckled.

Thug number one (Ricky) growled and swung at Kelly, only to miss when she dodged it. She returned his punch with a swift kick to the groin and a small jab to his throat.

Ricky coughed and stumbled back holding his groin.

“Bitch.” He snarled as good as any demon. He looked up at his friends, “Grab her.”

Two of the thugs grabbed Kelly from behind and held her down, she instantly began to struggle but their grips were two strong.

“And it was just getting good.” Came a cockney accent from the shadows of the alleyway.

All the thugs and Kelly turned to where they thought the voice came from only to see nothing but darkness.

“Pitiful really.” The voice continued on around them seemingly to be everywhere and nowhere.

“No one like’s a challenge anymore, always going for the easy target. Ganging up on an unarmed girl. Pathetic.” The voice kept moving around them.

“Who are you? Show yourself!” Ricky yelled as he looked around the shadows.

“Cowards.” The voice continued on. “You never go after the easy target, you go after the one you might not beat. So when you do-”

Spike phases through the wall of an abandoned building and clobbers Ricky in the face, “-you know you accomplished something!”

The two thugs let go of Kelly and began charging towards Spike. Spike drops down as they speedily approach sweeping their legs out from beneath them. Both of the thugs fly into the brownstone steps of the nearby apartment complex.

Another thug comes running up behind Spike with a chain in his hand wilding swinging. Spike turns around and grabs the chain out of the thug’s hand, and then twists his arm behind him in an arm lock. He applies more pressure to the thugs arm, causing him to scream in protest and pain, while he wraps the chain around his knuckles. Spike then rears back and slams his chained wrapped fist into the thugs twisted elbow, causing it to snap. Spike let’s the thug drop to the ground screaming in pain as tears stream down his face.

The last thug starts running towards Spike yelling and screaming like a banshee as he raises a lead pipe in the air. He swings the pipe wildly at Spike, but Spike just grabs it and head butts the thug. With the pipe in his hand Spike steps back and spin kicks the thug in the face. The thug spins in a 360-degree circle spitting out two teeth and a stream of blood before landing on the ground unconscious.

Ricky the first thug rose from the ground, his hand cupping his already bruising face.

“Who are you!” He yelled at Spike.

Spike thought about it for a moment, unsure of how to answer.

Spike shrugged, “Hoping to find out, mate.” He said before spinning the lead pipe in his hand and bashing the thug in the head.

Spike just dropped the lead pipe and looked around. The thugs were laid out groaning as they held their broken bones. Spike smirked a satisfied smirk, before walking on down the grimy street.

Kelly shakily picked up her purse and looked around. She’s never been so close to something bad happening, oh she’s been robbed before and mugged, but she had a feeling that these thugs weren’t going to stop at that. But then this stranger with golden white hair, sharp cheek bones, and lively blue eyes came to her rescue.

Kelly nervously tucked her hair behind her ear as she watched the now silent figure walk away.

“Thank you.” She called out.

“Whatever.” Spike replied as he gave a little bit of a wave of his hand, as to indicate that he acknowledge her gratitude.

Kelly frowned in frustration at his attitude, but unwilling to let it go, the need to return a favor for a favor pushed her on.

“Do you have a place to stay?” Kelly asked.

Spike turned around and leered at her slightly with a raised eyebrow.

It took a couple seconds for her to get what his look was implying before she blushed and backtracked.

“I- I have a couch is all and you're in wet clothes, and you know I’m just trying to be polite, you perv.”

Spike smirked at her and shook his head, he looked around and the truth was, where was he going to go? He’s been back for two hours and that’s a little hard for him to believe, and ever since he’s been back it’s been non-stop fighting. A place to rest sounds great to him right about now.

“Sure, pet. I could use a place to stay for the night.”

Kelly smiled and nodded her head in the opposite direction he’s walking.

Spike walked over to her and they started off towards her apartment complex.

“So what’s your name, Mr. Hero man?”

Spike had to think about it; once again the question that’s been plaguing him tonight has come back in a different form. Was he Spike, William, or none of the above?

“It shouldn’t be that hard of a question really.” Kelly said amused.

Spike shook himself out of his line of thinking and stared at the young girl by his side. He then said the first thing that popped out his mind.

“Randy. My name’s Randy.”

“Kelly.” She replied and extended her hand.

Spike/Randy stared down at it for a moment, an indescribable look on his face. He slowly took the hand into his own and began to shake.

Kelly smiled at him, “Come on, Randy. Let’s go home.”

Note: Readers Rock! But Reviewers Rule! Thank you to everyone for their reviews, and thanks to Squirl who constantly believes in me and my writing.

Chapter four: Something new

Randy and Kelly stood out side a hulking and gothic looking building. Time hasn’t been entirely kind to the apartment complex. The brick walls of the building haven’t been washed in years, making it looks sooty even in the dark of night. Withered vines have scaled and wound themselves up the walls.

Randy eyed the building with a mix of approval and amusement. “Homey.” He said sincerely, but Kelly took it as sarcasm.

“Yeah well what can you do?” Kelly said with a shrug and smile, practically bouncing up the stairs like a child and turning around to wave him up.

‘How can she be so innocent after being raised in a city like this?’ Randy questioned himself as he followed her up and inside.

They entered the apartment building and Randy took in his surroundings as they walked towards the elevator. The walls were tinged with yellow and had shadowy stains spread over its uneven surface. The stains were of various things Randy noticed, to his amusement most of them were “love stains”, but he also noticed that a lot of the stains were blood dried long ago.

“The walls used to be white…I think.” Kelly said, as they got closer to the elevator.

Randy nodded and continued on, once again wondering how this girl could keep such a bouncy attitude in this city.

The elevator doors open and Randy and Kelly step inside, much like the hallway the elevator seemed almost decrepit.

“Is this thing safe?” Randy never did like elevators too much, not enough room to move and be free. If it’s one thing Randy likes, it’s freedom.

“This old thing? Oh yeah, looks bad but it’s in great shape.”

Randy nodded and moved over to the corner to rest.

“Wait! Don’t stand there-“ she paused and bit her lip, “Hobos kind of…well it’s nickname is “the piss corner” for a reason.”

Randy’s face scrunched up in disgust as he moved away from the corner.

“Bloody nice place you’re living in, pet.”

She looked at him apologetically, “Yeah it’s crap, but I was raised here. I know everybody in this neighbor hood, known them my whole life. I know their whole life. It’s…it’s home you know?”

Randy tried to understand, but really he didn’t know what home was. It’s been so long since he’s had one. Spike never had a home, just traveled like a gypsy. Randy slightly snorted at the idea of HIM traveling like a gypsy. Every time he thought of gypsies he thought of Angel’s curse, and the fact that the wanker couldn’t have sex gave Randy his own little perfect happiness.

“No, pet I don’t. I don’t have a home.” The truth of his words saddened Randy a lot more then he thought they would.

Kelly looked up at Randy, sympathy shining clearly in her eyes.

Randy took the sympathy for pity and harshly replied, “I don’t want any pity! I hate pity, there’s no point!” His eyes darkened and flared with anger at the same time.

Kelly backed away slightly, but she wasn’t afraid of him it was just instinct to do so. “Not pity, sympathy. Everyone has a home…or at least they should. What about friends? Family.”

Randy thought of Dawn, Joyce, and Clem. The only people he could call friends in the last 120 years of his life, one died, the other one hates him if she’s still alive…’GOD, did she even make it?’ And the other is off somewhere, probably impossible to reach. He didn’t even want to think about family.

“I don’t have any.”

“Friends or family?” She inquired, but dreading the answer.

“Neither, look pet I’m knackered, could we just get to bed?” Randy said with a mix of fatigue and exasperation.

When Kelly gave him a good look over, she did notice how tired he seemed. His eyes weren’t so young and lively as they were in the fight; they now seemed old and exhausted. The last time she saw eyes like that were her grandfathers eyes, he was in world war two and watched as his entire platoon was massacred by a grenade. Ever since then he had these eyes that had seen too much. She wondered how someone so young could have eyes so old.

“Yeah alright, let’s go to bed.”

“You keep saying that and I’ll have to start throwing innuendo around.” Randy said as he waggled his eyebrows.

Kelly blushed slightly and smiled at Randy, “Perv.”

Randy smirks, “And don’t you forget it, pet.”

Randy and Kelly continued on down the hall way till they got to her apartment door.

Kelly opened her door and stepped inside, but Randy stayed outside the door. He hesitated, but wasn’t sure if it was the years of being Spike and not able, or the years of being William and only trying to be polite.

“You coming in?” Kelly called from inside the apartment.

“Uh….yeah.”

Randy walked into the apartment and let out a low whistle. The apartment was clean! Not just clean but nice, very nice. The apartment had wooden floors; the walls and ceiling were a creamy navy blue. As Randy went further into the apartment he saw the kitchen to his left, white tile floors with oak counter tops and a stainless steel fridge, at the end of the kitchen was an opened door that lead to what looked like a small wine cellar. Spike continued on and made his way to the living room; it has two plush black leather couches, a white love seat and a black recliner. The two couches were facing each other, separated by a glass coffee table, on the right side of the couches was a big screen tv and on the left was a fireplace.

Randy shook his, “Posh, pet. This place is absolutely posh.” Randy said in amazement.

Kelly shrugged, “Guess it does kind of give a whole new meaning to the words “don’t judge a book by its cover.”

He pulled his duster around himself slightly, “Not sure I’ve heard that one before, pet.” Randy sighed and sat on one of the stools at her kitchens bar.

“Want anything to drink?” Kelly hollered from within the cellar.

“I’m not really much for wine, luv.”

“Oh I don’t have any wine, just alcohol. Who say’s you have to store wine in a wine cellar?”

Randy chuckles and shakes his head, “Got any Jack Daniel’s?”

“Jack Daniel’s coming up.” Kelly said with enthusiasm.

Kelly walked out of the cellar with a bottle of JD in hand and placed it on the bar with two shot glasses. She took off the lid and poured the two drinks up like a pro.

Randy raised an eyebrow at her professionalism, “Bar tender?” he asked as he drank his first shot.

“I own a bar actually, over in Bludhaven. It’s called Bludhaven Blues.”

“Bloody hell! Bludhaven?” Randy exclaimed in slight shock.

“Hell pretty much describes it, but yeah over in Bludhaven. It was my grandfathers, and he passed it to my father, who passed it on to me.”

Randy nodded and downed another shot; he wasn’t really sure how to talk to her. She’s his opposite in many ways, all about friends and family, running a business in a city that is the closet thing to hell on earth because it was family business. When was the last time he had that? He didn’t even have that when he was William.

“You picked a hell of a place to start a new life.” Kelly commented as she rummaged through her refrigerator.

Randy’s head shot, “What?”.

Kelly closed the fridge with a plate of chocolate cake in hand and placed it on the bar.

“Well no friends, no family, look like you’ve been here about an hour. Just figure you came here to start something new, oh why you picked Gotham I’ll never know.” She opened up a drawer and pulled out a fork.

Randy looked into her eyes for a moment pondering what to say. He’s been truthful with her so far, although he’s not too sure why. He decided to say the closest thing he found to be true in his own mind. “Not really starting a new life, pet…just…starting.”

“Beginning for the first time?” She asked, “Never had a life before?”

His eyes squinted and darkened as he thought about the question, “No I never had a life before.” He placed emphasis on life for the very reason that he didn’t have a life before, he was born and lived for 25 years then he started an unlife.

Kelly nodded slowly as she kept her eye contact, when she saw Randy downing another shot she asked, “So…how can you phase through walls?”

Randy spits up his JD.

Dick Grayson continued to shake and mumbled while he laid in his bed, next to him was Barbara making sure he kept warm from his frequent cover pushing. On the other side of the bed sitting in a chair was Bruce Wayne, his elbows resting on the chairs arms, his hands tangled together and placed over his mouth as he sat there and watched his son fight the sickness.

“Where’s your computer?” Bruce asked Barbara quietly.

“Hmmm?” Barbara was only half paying attention to Bruce.

“The Laptop.” Bruce was referring to how she always has her laptop with her when researching something away from her main computers. It wasn’t like her to be away from it even if she was attending to Dick.

The former batgirl sighed, “The truth is, Bruce. That report from Superman…that’s all there is. The crystal seemed to be the most valuable piece of information, but beyond what he already said in the report there’s no information….except.”

“Except…what.” Bruce asked.

“Well there might be some more information on it, just nothing stored in computers. Apparently the order that held it kept it hidden extremely well from the modern world. That is until Wolfram and Hart…took it from them. I told Superman about it, and he said he’d personally visit the order and see what he could find. With any hope he’ll be here tonight with the information we need.” She explained to Bruce.

Bruce Wayne just nodded and returned his attention to Dick.

A blue and red blur sped through the sky faster then a speeding a bullet and landed on a plateau. It’s Superman! His red cape bellows around him as the high winds of the peak blow. All of his searching for the order that once held the Purgatio de pessinus lead him here. He would have made it sooner but he had to stop a mudslide and a various muggings, and an odd case of a cross dresser dognapper that will give Superman nightmares for a long time.

Superman scanned the area around him, using his supervision and x-ray vision to find the hidden temple within this jungle. He finally spotted it…shamefully in front of him. Superman gave himself a half smile for not looking there first, and then approached what appeared to be the side of the mountain. A giant bolder was in the side of the mountain, and it didn’t take long for Superman to figure out that the boulder was the front door. With no time to figure out whatever code or word the Monks and their order used to move the bolder he grabbed it and began to pull. The mountain seemed to tremble as he did the impossible once again; dirt and dust began to fall on him as he pulled the rock out more and more. Finally he opened the passageway and discarded the rock, easily throwing it over his shoulder.

Superman walked into the temple with his familiar aura of confidence. The entrance was a dark tunnel made up of rocks and dirt, with roots from the trees on top of the mountain dangling from the tunnel’s ceiling. Dust clouded the air of the tunnel, all the movements of the boulder shaking it up. Superman entered the main room of the temple, which was virtually an empty room except for the scrolls and text in the middle. His face scrunched up in disgust and he turned away briefly before turning back into the room with a grim look on his face. The floor was littered with the dead members of the order; their lifeless corpses lay on the ground clothed in brown robes, a thin layer of dust blanketing their bodies. Each with a bullet hole in their head.

Superman lowered his head in silent prayer. He quickly gathered all of the texts and scrolls and swiftly exited the temple flying in a blue and red blur to his and Lois’s apartment in Metropolis. He returned a few seconds later knocking down a few trees and gathering them up. He then re-entered the temple and systematically began to build an alter for each monk, placing them each on their own alter. He then used his heat vision to light each one and just stood there, once again in silent prayer as the fallen holy might now find peace.

Randy sputtered, “Wha-huh?” ‘Damn I was hoping the chit wouldn’t notice that’ Randy thought.

Kelly looked down at her now spit and Jack Daniels covered cake in dismay.

“Aww that was my last piece.” She huffed. She got up from the chair at the bar and dumped the cake in the sink than began to wash the plate.

Randy just continued to stare at her with confused eyes.

She returned her attention to Randy with a smile on her face, “Sooo, Superpowers, huh? Must be cool.”

Randy narrowed his eyes a bit, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I saved you that’s all, but you have quite the imagination. A..YAWN..time for sleep.” Randy gets up and heads for the couch.

“Oh come on! It’s not I haven’t seen a superhero before; the world’s littered with them. I just want to know.” She starts to whine a little bit.

“I’m not a bloody superhero!” Randy growls.

Randy sighs when he see her flinch, “I don’t know what I am, pet. Or how I can do what I do, I just can. I don’t want to talk about it, and I don’t want it to be a big deal, I’ll be gone in the morning and you won’t have to worry about me.” Randy then turned towards the living room and stepped into it, going towards the closest couch and just landing in a tired heap.

Kelly watched confused as Randy faked instant sleep. She always got a little star struck when it came to heroes, but it’s only because she believes the world needs them. During world war two her Grandfather was saved by Hawkman, and she was saved once by Batman himself. If it weren’t for heroes she wouldn’t even be alive. So of course she got a little star struck when she met them.

“Not a hero, huh? Then why did you save me tonight?”

Randy didn’t answer he just stayed silent, his face buried in the plush leather couch.

“I’ll see you in the morning, and don’t go running off. Let me at least make you breakfast before you leave.” She said as she headed towards her room. She entered her room and turned around, closing it slowly.

“Goodnight.” She called out softly, before closing the door.

Bruce entered the Batcave not surprised to see Superman standing in the middle of it.

“Barbara told me you were coming.” Bruce said as he walked deeper into the batcave.

Superman stood there with the scrolls and texts under his arm, his face still set in a grim state, as it’s only been minutes since the funeral for the monks.

Superman nods his head, “Bruce.”

Bruce noticed that something was wrong, and wanted to glare at Superman for bringing in his troubles, but his own worry over Dick and need for information on Spike made him not bother with it.

“Is this all there is?” He asked as he took the texts from Superman.

“Yeah.” Superman sighed, “I read it on my way over, some interesting stuff in their Bruce.”

Bruce nodded as he went through the texts.

“It’s says some interesting things in there. Redemption, cleaning of souls…resurrections.”

Bruce nods as he reads the texts.

Superman sighs and turns around, and says “See you around, Bruce” before taking off into the sky.

As Superman flew off Tim Drake aka Robin came out of the shadows with Cassandra Cain aka Batgirl following behind.

Tim removes his mask, “Big blue seemed off tonight.”

Bruce just kept reading, but gave an “Mmmhmm” as his only response.

Tim sighed, “Well ok, I’m going off to check up on Dick.” Tim then went into the vault and changed out of his suit and into normal clothing, he emerged from the vault a few minutes and later and left the batcave.

Cassandra stood transfixed into front of the computer, her mask held in her hands, as her chocolate brown eyes scanned the screen.

“Bad guy?” She asked Bruce, unsure if she herself knew. Something about the look in his eyes, something beyond the sneer on his face that told her maybe he wasn’t.

Bruce looked up and over to her, and then at the picture.

Randy’s sleep was restless as he was constantly turning and flipping, trying to find a comfortable place, but never succeeding. He finally opened his eyes and stared at the ceiling, he was tired and he felt it down to his bones. A sense of wanting to just melt into some comfortable warmth, but never succeeding to do so. Randy rose from the couch and stiffly walked over to the other couch, something he didn’t notice before was a curtain behind the couch. He opened it and there was a balcony, he was separated from the balcony by a sliding glass door. He decided that he needed the air and opened it.

Randy step out of the apartment and let the cool air surround him like a blanket, he wasn’t used to his body being warm yet. He constantly felt hot, too hot, but he new he wasn’t sick. Not in the way of physical illness. He walked towards the wall of the balcony and leaned up against it. His hands digging into the top of the stonewall.

Smack! The sound of something heavy falling behind, Randy turns around instantly surprised to see what appears to be scrolls on the ground before him.

“Everything about the crystal is there.” Comes a gravely voice from the shadows of the balcony.

Randy looks over to the shadows and even in it’s darkness he can see the outline of the Batman.

“The crystal?” Randy asks.

“The jewelry you wore.”

Randy’s face takes on a stunned look, eyes startled, his mouth slightly agape.

“How did you…”

“I know.” Was Batman’s reply.

“How did you find me?” Randy asked as he neared the scrolls.

“I’m a detective.”

Randy just nods, ‘of course’ Randy thought, ‘The world’s greatest one at that, of course he found me.’

“The jewel was used centuries ago to cleanse the sins in a persons soul. It could also be used to destroy hellspawn by channeling a pure soul. It was seen as a copout by an order of monks. The church was using it to cleanse some of their more…devious members.”

Batman was silent for a bit, “Everything that was evil about you is gone, your demon, your sins, everything cleaned.” His words were almost bitter, it was obvious he found this to be a cheat to his responsibilities.

“You have a second chance, so I’ll let you stay in my city if that’s what you choose.” Batman continued on, he jumped onto the ledge of the Balcony’s wall and turned away from Randy.

“Everything you do will be on your soul now.” He explained.

Randy looked back down at the papers and heard one last thing from Batman.

“I’ll be watching.”

Randy’s head shot up, but Batman was nowhere to be seen. Randy returned his attention to the scrolls on the ground, and he wondered if he could now rest.

Note: Reader Rock, But Reviewers RULE!. I'd like to thankSquirlyForSpike for all her help! Thanks partner! And everyone should go read her stories "Can't help but See" and "Silence is Golden." Two very awesome fics. Just In case anyones confused in my story "Randy" is what Spike calls himself as he starts his new life in Gotham.

Chapter five: The night calls me a knight and vengeance will be mine.

Randy heard Kelly enter the kitchen; he heard the slight clang of the pan being moved from its place beneath the stove. The suction like snap of the refrigerator door opening, and it’s various contents being shuffled around. He listened quietly as the cabinet door was opened up and something was removed, and winced slightly when he heard the sharp wooden thud of the cabinet swinging close. He felt the warm stripes of golden light from the morning's dawn crisscrossing over his body from cracks and openings in the balcony curtain. He was quite aware of the activity, but Randy didn’t move a muscle till he smelled the aroma of the sizzling eggs wafting through the apartment.

Randy sat up from the couch, the contents left by Batman the night before held against his chest like a safety blanket. Holding for dear life as if all the promises of a clean soul were to disappear the moment he let go, and he’d be back in that dark hell, counting the seconds, dreading the minutes, looking forward to the hours.

The leather shifted beneath his weight as he moved to find a comfortable sitting position. He let out a small sigh as he sunk into the couch. Never in a long time has Randy had such a satisfying night of sleep. Perhaps it was the couch, or the fact that someone was being decent to him and giving him a place to stay. Seeing someone’s eyes light up like Dawn’s once did when he told her horror stories, but this time they lit up for such a more satisfying reasons. They lit up because he was special, because he could do things others couldn’t and because he saved her life. He never knew how wonderful that could make a person feel, but last night he saved two people’s lives and he’s never felt more needed, he never felt more peaceful, like his mind and its troubles were put to rest. He never felt more right till he saved their lives. He briefly wondered if that’s what Buffy and Angel feel every time they save a life, or if they were so restricted by duty and selfish searches of redemptions that they saw it as nothing more then a jail sentences being served.

A plate slipped in front of Randy with two eggs and a piece of toast with jelly on it. He looked up into the warm eyes of Kelly as she looked down, a soft and playful smile on her face.

“Morning, sleepy.”

Kelly looked down at the papers, scrolls, and text being held by Randy. Her eyes turned questioning, but her smile didn’t fade.

“What are those?”

When Dick gained consciousness he was instantly bombarded with images, fire with metal ripping and contorting around him. The flames bearing against his skin as the horrible screech echoed throughout his ears. His body in constant spinning motion, the last thoughts before being submerged in the icy lake was ‘Barbara’ and the images and thoughts that went along brought on a sense of longing and sadness, then the water hit him. Flashes of seeing the water flood and extinguish the flames, gasping, struggling, and fearing his fate was sealed. The utter silence of being trapped in the water, his heart beating was the only sound he now heard. His skin becoming tighter and muscle constricting in the icy cold water. One last image before everything went black for him, a flash of neon blond hair penetrating the water followed by a body clothed in black.

‘Spike?’ Dick thought as the memory flooded to the front of his mind, 'It was Spike who saved me?’

It was then when the memories and images no longer took hold did he feel the heat of a soft warm body molded against his side, a slender yet strong arm. A female’s arm, but a fighter's arm too.

Dick slowly opened his eyes and thanked God for the dim lighting in his room. He looked down to his side and there on top of the comforter snuggled into his side was Barbara. Still wearing her glasses, her face at rest was peaceful as if when she let all things go, being close to him brought some semblance of peace. ‘I’ll have to remember that.’ He thought as he smirked. Dick brushed away the wisps of her beautiful red hair and leaned down to kiss her forehead.

As soon as he finished kissing her forehead he heard someone clearing his throat. Dick turned his head to see a groggy but smirking Tim Drake sprawled on a chair by his bedside.

“Morning, loverboy.” Tim said in a low raspy voice.

“Tim!” Dick’s voice was slightly high pitched, saying his little brothers name in surprise. “So…uh…how are things?” It sounded lame even to Dick, ‘Oh you just saw me kissing my girlfriend while we’re on break, even though she told me no kissing under any circumstances, so how are things.’

“Five bucks.”

“Five bucks what?” Dick asked confused, he just woke up from a car crash and people are randomly spitting out numbers.

“Ok Twenty bucks.” Tim bargained.

Dick’s widened in shock, “Twenty bucks what!”

Tim sighed, “Fine, fifty bucks and I won’t tell Barbara your stealing kisses in her sleep.”

“What…uh…ah…huh.” Dick was at a loss of words, ‘were did Time learn bargaining skills from? He just starts demanding things before a person realizes what’s going on…oh right, Batman. Duh, it’s were I learned it from.’ Dick thought.

“You know it doesn’t really matter since I’ve been awake before you were, Dick.” Barbara said without opening her eyes, her hold around Dick slightly tightened.

“Barbara!” Dick slightly squeaked before regaining his composure, “Uh..Heyyy.” He tried to come off smooth, but he still looked sickly and well…he just squeaked, you really can’t save yourself when you’re Nightwing the son of Batman and you squeak, it’s just going to be held over your head.

Barbara opened her eyes and looked up at Dick. She pushed herself up and rested on one elbow so she was eye level with Dick. She gave Dick a quick and softly passionate kiss, a distinctive “Ewwww.” Could be heard in the background from Tim.

When Barbara pulled back she said, “Ok, the breaks over and it will stay over as long as you do two things.”

“Anything.” Dick replied, this time a distinctive imitation of a whip snapping could be heard in the background.

“One, don’t die, and two, don’t do anything stupid when it comes to us.” It was simple request really.

Tim got up from the chair and headed towards the door, “Well, I guess the break will be back on this afternoon, because I doubt Dick can hold to the latter. Ow!” Tim’s head bobbed as a book slammed into it.

Dick rolled his eyes, and mumbled, “Boy wonder my ass, couldn’t even stop a book from hitting his head. When I was Robin I could stop a book.”

Barbara rolled her eyes at the both of them, and leaned up and kissed Dick on the cheek. “Of course you would have, you were a way better Robin.”

Dick smirked and closed his eyes as he leaned back into his pillows. When Dick closed his eyes Barbara started signaling Tim mouthing the words “I was just kidding. You are the way better Robin.” Then gave him a wink.

Tim smiled and left the room with a bit of bounce in his step.

Barbara sighed and snuggled back into Dick, ‘Boys, they're such babies.’

“A gift.” Randy replied to Kelly’s question.

“A gift?” Kelly responded incredulously. “A gift from who?”

“Batman.” The reply was simple, short, and to the point.

“Batman!” Kelly squealed with excitement, “Batman was here last night! That’s so cool!”

Randy could only smile at her excitement, he remembered when Dawn would get excited like that over some namby pamby boy band’s newest music video, or some rot.

“You’re a regular Superhero groupie aren’t you, luv? Got Superman’s poster over your bed don’t ya, pet?”

Kelly stuck her tongue out at Randy and went to sit down.

“Anyways, this right here.” He nods to the scrolls and text now placed right next to him. “Explains why I can do what I can do.”

“Well, why can you?” Kelly inquired.

Randy was silent for a minute, unsure if he should just reveal his life story. I mean he’s known this girl for a whole night and most of that was sleeping. She seemed innocent enough, and good enough, but appearances have been known to be deceiving. Randy remembers how harmless Doc seemed. Randy noticed her imploring gaze now turned into sympathetic puppy eyes, which only made him scowl. He sat back and wondered if he should tell her, in the end it all came down to one thing…he was a sucker for puppy eyes.

“Well, pet it all started in1880…” He began.

40 minutes later…

“So you used to be a vampire?” Kelly asked.

Randy sat back leisurely.

“Yeah.”

“Then for 120 years you killed people.”

“Uh huh.”

“Then you fell in with love with your mortal enemy.”

“Sounds right.”

“Then you got a soul, because you did something really really bad.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Then you sacrificed yourself to save her, and ultimately the world.”

Randy nods.

“Then you were trapped in a black nothingness for months, counting the seconds of eternity.”

Randy nods again.

“Then some all together higher force decided to purge you of all the evil inside you and sent you here last night? Where, as a side effect and only way for you to survive the trip has fused your physical body with your very soul? Making you somehow a balance between the spiritual and physical within yourself?” Kelly asked in a long breath.

“Sounds about right, Kitten.”

“Do you want a job?”

Bruce Wayne was sitting at the Batcaves computer, going over some case files. His face intense as always as he studied each case, his most important case however was the search for the recently escaped Killer Croc. Bruce’s eyes darkened at the thought of Killer Croc trying to take his boy away. Too much of that has happened in Bruce’s past, his parents were of course the most obvious lost, but he also lost Jason his second Robin to the Joker, and the same maniac crippled Barbara. Now Killer Croc’s aiming for his other boy…he won’t have it.

“So it was Killer Croc.” Dick’s voice pierced the silence.

“He was the one who shot off the launcher.” Dick continued.

“Yeah.” Bruce’s reply was short and to the point, as always he hardly gave further explanation.

Dick sighed and sat down, still weak from the crash and being sick.

“Was it really Spike who pulled me out? That’s what I remember before I passed out.”

“Yes.”

“I mean was it really Spike? Was it really him, and what are we going to do about it? What should we do?” It was awkward for Dick to seek guidance from Bruce, he was his own man now, and he has his own city that he protects at night, where he makes the decisions. Then again a case of a resurrected vampire possibly with a soul who saved the world but has a history of killing is not an easy case. A lot of variables.

“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” Dick inquired.

Bruce didn’t turn from his screen as he explained, “It’s him all right, but he’s not a vampire anymore. He wore some mystical jewel that channeled his human soul into a form of…energy. He used the energy to destroy the Hellmouth in California. Apparently it cleansed him of his demon, and relieved his soul of the sins. So we do nothing. There's nothing to do.” Bruce said calmly.

Dick sigh in wonderment, “Wow…imagine. To you have all your burdens relieved.”

Bruce looked over to Dick for a minute, studying him. “Yeah.”

They both lapsed into silence, thinking over their own pasts, wishing for their own burdens to be lifted, both real and the ones created in their minds.

After a while Dick finally spoke again, “So I heard you stayed by my bed for most of the night.”

“No.” Came Bruce’s short reply.

Dick smirked, “Well that’s what Alfred told me.”

“He’s lying.”

“Alfred?” Dick said with humor and a bit of a chuckle in his voice.

“Go to your room.” Bruce ordered.

“Are you trying to make a joke?” Dick asked.

Bruce looked up his face serious as he thought about it. “No I wasn’t, go to your room, you’re annoying me.”

Randy’s eyes bulged slightly, his face took on a look of surprise.

“You want me to…what?…A job?”

“Well yeah, a job. I told you I own a bar. Well, as you know, Bludhaven isn’t the safest place, and well, bartenders tend to not stay for long…one way or another. I kind of need a bartender slash bouncer.”

Randy’s eyebrows scrunched together, “I don’t know, pet. I really need to.” ‘What do I need to do? Go back to Buffy? Disrupt her life? Go to Angel? Get killed because he’s a wanker?’

“Look you don’t have a passport, or a green card, or any legal papers of any kind. I mean not everyone’s going to get the “I was once a vampire story”.”

Randy sat back and ran his hands over his face thinking. ‘Well, what do I have to bloody lose? Might be better this way, new town, new people. See if I can do that moving on thing Angel was trying. Maybe I already did in that bloody void.’

“Come on! Come on!” Kelly’s voice broke through his thought bubble. “Please! Pretty please. I never hired an ex-vampire before.” She whined like a child.

Randy smirked, “Ok, pet. You got yourself a bartender.”

Randy entered the empty bar wearing a pair of blue jeans, a white shirt, with a blue button up over it, and some brown mountain climbing boots. His hands in his pockets as he strolled in with a smirk on his face.

“Well, well. What are you sods up too?” His voice wasn’t the cockney northerner accent that he adopted a hundred years ago, but his more refined softer accent he had as William. Although it had more presence along with his confidence.

A big bulking black man with a scar over his left eye and a cue ball baldhead behind the bar looked up with a smile on his face. “Hey, pasty, finally showing up for work?” He said with a Cajun drawl.

“Pasty!” Randy said with mock indignation, “I’ll have you know my skin is porcelain not pasty, Smokey.”

A curvy Hispanic woman with long mahogany colored hair wearing a short black skirt and a black t shirt with the Bludhaven Blues logo on it came out of the back. A mischievous cat-like smile on her face.

“Hola, Randy.” She walked up to Randy and gave him a peck on the cheek. Her hand resting on the small of his back as she turned to face Smokey.

“Hola, Maria.” Randy said with a smile, “Now tell Smokey here my skin is porcelain and not pasty.”

She turned back to Randy, “I don’t know, I think it’s more of a creamy egg shell white, but you're still handsome either way, Randy.” Maria said with a wink and sauntered over to one of the tables and began to clean it off.

Randy and Smokey smirked to each other before watching Maria walk over to the table and clean, her nice round bottom swaying behind.

“Hate to see her leave.” Smokey began.

“Love to watch her go.” Randy finished.

“I can you hear you two, you know!” Maria called out.

“We know.” Randy and Smokey called back in unison.

Kelly walked out of the and gave Randy a smile, “You're late for work.”

“That’s what I said.” Smokey put in as he started cleaning glasses.

“Late for work…has anyone been in here tonight?” Randy asked already knowing the answer.

“Well, no, people don’t come in till about 10 you know that.”

“Well, it’s 9:30 and I’m not late for anything.” Randy smirked.

Kelly huffed and threw a balled up rag at Randy, “Go and get changed, perv.”

Randy shook his head in amusement as he rose from the seat, “What ever you say, Groupie.”

Over the last two weeks Randy has formed as pretty tight bond with the only staff members brave and loyal enough to stick it out with Kelly at Bludhaven Blues. Not to mention a close friendship with Kelly, the girl was understanding and caring and for whatever reason she didn’t judge him. He wondered why the Scoobies treated him the way they did and the way the Blues staff treats him. Was it because he was human? Was it easier to make friends as a human? Maybe the fact that they were never there for his dark days had something to do with it, or were the Scoobies too held up in their black and white moral values to forgive? Randy knew that they never totally forgave Angel or even accepted him, something that made him feel better, it wasn’t him they couldn’t accept, it was themselves. Perhaps they had good reason, could you be friends with your best friend's murderer? Of course not, but Spike with a soul and Spike without a soul are two different people, and towards the end, even without a soul he was a different person. Maybe Spike with a soul and without wasn’t that different, same harsh attitude, same indifference to the deeds he committed. But there was a change in values, a need to be there and do the right thing. Should his soul have been punished for the deeds he committed as a demon? No, he realized. No, they shouldn’t have. He made friends here, two of them in two weeks and Kelly has been like family. The way she accepted him, and let him live in her apartment, let him get his grounding in the world. He was surprised really, surprised how easy it was to be connected with people, how easy it was to be someone’s friend and want to protect them, want to hear about their family, and their problems and help. He never knew connections could be formed so fast, but he already knew that to lose one of his new found friends would place a hollow spot in his heart.

Randy came out of a the back a few minutes later sporting the Bludhaven Blues t shirt like the rest of the staff, like the rest of his friends. There were a few people at the bar now and some sitting in the seats, that night's band was setting up in the stage placed in the corner of the bar.

Randy smiled; it kind of felt good to be just another human.

Dick Grayson just finished his nightly Nightwing patrol and what soon has become a ritual for him, he’s headed towards Bludhaven Blues, one of the few bars in town that isn’t doing anything illegal on the side, but not just that. He goes every night to see Spike, or Randy as he now goes by. Barbara only halfway understands his almost obsession with knowing Randy, but that’s more then Dick understands himself.

It’s not like it was the first time his life has been saved, every hero’s needed help, he, Tim, Bruce, Clark, Hal, and the rest have all needed saving by another, a teammate, a friend. Why was this so different to him?

He entered the Bludhaven Blues just like he has for the last two weeks. The Bar was crowded this time at night, the air smoky as he entered, the loud fast-paced band playing their untalented hearts out.

He walked up to the bar, his jacket pulled tight around him.

“Hey, Randy.” He said as he sat upon one of the bar stoles.

“Oi! Dick! How’s it going, mate?” Randy said as he looked briefly before cleaning off a new glass.

“Good, good.”

“The usual, mate?” Randy asked as he placed a freshly cleaned glass in front of Dick.

“Yeah.”

Randy pulled out a bottle and started to pour it up, “So I gotta ask, what’s a bloke like you doing? Coming in here every night, at the same time, sitting on the same chair, and always starting up conversations with the same guy. Me. Now I know I’m damn good looking, but I hate to say it much to your disappointment, and the disappointment of that guy over there.” Stopped and pointed to the back of the bar, a man with a green haltor top on and big loop ear rings and some Jackie O glasses waved at them.

Dick’s eye bugged out, “What! No. No I’m not! Not that there's anything wrong with being—is that the guy from Little Nicky?”

Randy and Dick both turned to see the guy rubbing on his nipple, they both shivered in pain.

“You know, I don’t have a problem with someone being a poof, that's their business, but some things are just wrong.” Randy stated with disgust.

“Like a grown man wearing a halter top and rubbing his nipple in public?”

“Bloody right.”

Randy moved over to a new costumer and started taking his order.

“You know, I’d like to know that myself.” A female voice said from behind Dick.

He jumped slightly, cursing that their being so many people in the bar that he can’t even tell when someone is sneaking up on him. He turned around to see Kelly standing right behind, arms crossed over her chest, her eyes scanning him suspiciously.

“Uh…know what?” Dick decided to play dumb.

“I’d like to know why you’re in here every night, specifically talking to Randy.”

She’s protective of Randy, he realized. A bit overly protective he surmised. ‘She knows!’ Dick figured out.

“He seems like a cool guy is all. I got done with work came in here and we chatted seemed like he could be a friend, and the bars cleaner than most in Bludhaven. Felt like a win win to me. Talk to a friend, have a good beer then go home to my girlfriend.” Dick shrugged, playing it as cool as possible, though he liked it better when explaining things as Nightwing, he could just punch someone in the face if he wasn’t explaining it right.

She kept her gaze on him for a bit; the story didn’t seem to dampen the flames of suspicion at all.

“Mmhmm.” She said before turning around and walking towards the back.

“Um…yeah, Bye.” He said slightly nervously. He shakes his head, ‘And they say Batman’s scary, I’d rather face Batman then a woman in mamma bear protective mode. They scratch.’ He thought.

All of a sudden a loud crash was heard. BOOM! The front door of the bar splintered and flew off its hinges. The door flew right over the bar and smashed into the wall of bottles. Randy ducked and leapt to the side, missing the soaring shards of glass. Dick jumped out of his chair and did a back flip, also getting out of the way of the shards.

Randy got back and scanned the area, Smokey and Maria were on the other side of the bar, but Kelly got hit by the door as it flew towards the bar. She was lying on the ground holding her bleeding arm.

“Kelly!” Randy screamed as he jumped over the bar and raced to her side.

“Ouch! Fuck, it hurts!” Kelly gritted through her teeth.

Randy was about to ask to let him see how bad it was when he heard a familiar voice,

“Well, Well Stickman. He meet again.”

Randy and Dick looked up simultaneously to see Killer Croc standing at the door.

Randy growled a growl that would make any demon proud as he leapt into the air at Killer Croc. This time Killer Croc was ready and pulled out a baseball bat that was being held from behind him and swung it at Randy, smashing him in the ribs. Randy flew back and directly into Dick, they both tumbled to the floor and when they got up they Saw Killer Croc holding a struggling Kelly in his arms.

“You want your woman back?” He said with a sneer, “Then come and get her!” Killer Croc growled and ran into the back room.

Randy and Dick both began to chase after Croc, racing into the back they saw Croc turn the corner with a struggling Kelly in his arms and followed him, this continued on, twisting and turning around corners. They finally stopped when they saw the fire exit was just swinging close. They raced towards it, pushing the limits of their speed. Randy jumped though the door, phasing through it like he’s done so many times in the past two week. He turned his head to right and then to the left, unsure of where to go. When Dick finally got of the door and did a quick look and already knew which direction.

“That way!” Dick yelled pointing in the right direction.

He and Randy sprinted down the alleyway trying to get to Killer Croc, but as soon as they turned the corner they stopped dead in the tracks.

There Kelly was lying on the ground with her neck contorted in an impossible angle.

You could see the devastation in Randy’s eyes, the way the world was falling apart as his blue eyes became glossy, tears spilling freely as he walked closer to Kelly. Hoping against hope that what he thinks happened hasn’t.

He kneeled by her still form, her chest wasn’t moving up and down, the first thing you look for, the hope and possibility that they're alive, but her skin has already taken on a blue tinge. Randy dropped to his knees, his only family in so long, the only person who hasn’t been judgmental of him, hadn’t excluded him was there…dead.

Randy gathered her in his arms and began to weep uncontrollably, the alley silent except for his echoing weeping as he held her in his arms, his body shaking as he lets the tears flow freely, His muscles were tense in his back and his sobs and soft prayers to God were filed with anguish.

Dick could only stand behind him, unsure of what to do, but wanting nothing more than to be there and comfort him, after all he knows this pain too.

Finally Randy leaned his head back and screamed into the night, a scream made up of anguish and hatred; mixed with a promise vengeance. The kind of scream that chills your soul. It echoed across the city, reaching limits beyond any siren, any cry for help. The members of the Arkham Asylum were driven wild by it; Batman doing his patrol looked up and sympathized with it. Batgirl and Robin halted themselves in the middle of a fight to listen to the ever-tortured scream. The very bowls of hell became unrualy as the pain penetrated their flames. It was the kind of pain that made angels weep…and they did.

It was then Dick understood what he needed to do; he understood why he was driven to Randy every night.

He walked up behind Randy and placed his hand on his shoulder.

Randy looked up; his tears cascading down his face.

Dick looked down into the man who saved his two weeks ago, into the eyes of the man who was as once the second most feared vampire known to history.

Dick saw something in Randy’s eyes, the hatred bubbling inside them, the need to do something about it, the drive and determination, now Dick knew right then and there. That he was no longer staring into the eyes of a former vampire, he was looking into the eyes of a…brother. Both Nightwing's and Dick’s new brother. His brother in an all too familiar pain.