Disclaimer: Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy own all the characters contained within. I hold no claim on them.
Rating: NC-17
Summary: Set during Buffy versus Dracula and then goes seriously AU after that! Buffy is missing and Spike is the only one who has noticed. Where is Buffy and why is Spike the only one who is worried? Will the peroxide vampire be able to find her before it's too late? What has happened to the Scoobies and will they save Xander before he really becomes Dracula's butt monkey?

Chapter 26

"Where is she?" Spike burst through the Magic Box door and spotted Tara sitting at the research table immersed in a letter.

Giles and Anya followed closely on his heels.

Spike ignored Giles whining at Anya about the scratches all down one side of his new car. Her retort to his less than manly whimpering was that she had saved his life and he owed her.

Tara looked up tiredly from the letter she was reading. It was from Willow; Tara having found it in amongst the letters behind the till. Anya had put it away safely that morning when it had arrived.

Spike slid to a halt at the look of concern on Tara's face.

"What happened?" he asked gently, his nostrils flaring as he scented Riley on Tara.

"It wasn't pretty." Tara tried to verbalise what she and Buffy had witnessed in the ward and struggled for the right words.

"Whitebread never was," Spike muttered as he sank down in the chair next to Tara. "Come on, luv, don't keep us hanging. What happened?"

Anya whispered to Giles and then disappeared out the shop door.

The older man hovered behind the till, keeping an eye on the door and listened to Spike coaxing out the news from Tara.

"Spike, she just ran off. I tried to stop her but she was too strong. I think, no, I know that seeing Riley in the state he was really shocked her."

"State? What has happened to the boy?" Giles leaned on the counter and stared expectantly at the girl.

"I tried to see… it felt like all his essence had been drawn from him. There was some sort of electrical imbalance. The doctor that Graham brought with him thinks that he might be able to help Riley."

"Graham?" Spike interrupted.

"One of Riley's friends from the Initiative," Tara explained softly. Spike tried to suppress the prickling of anger that shot through him. The Initiative where around and near Buffy? He growled quietly, trying not to burst into a fear-fuelled bout of pure ire.

Tara laid a hand on his arm, surprising him with her bravery at touching an un-chipped and extremely agitated Master Vampire. Her eyes bore into his and she quirked the corner of her mouth. "No need to worry, they have no idea about Buffy. I zapped her with a little warmth and they never knew."

“That worked out nicely then…." Spike stared in surprise at Red's girl. She was a revelation. Every time he thought he had her pegged, she threw a curve ball and shocked the hell out of him. He narrowed his eyes and wondered if she was a mind reader or something.

"Excellent idea. Last thing we need is the apparently not-so defunct Initiative discovering that Buffy has been turned-- that would be too much of a temptation for them." Giles nodded approvingly at Tara for her quick thinking.

Tara nodded, "Buffy was upset by the state Riley was in. He was covered in vampire bites, head to toe. I snuck a look at his charts and it seems that the vamps that got a hold of him had nearly bitten off his...his...um…" Tara gestured at Spike’s lap.

Both men inhaled deeply and loudly, and then reflexively covered their groins.

Spike suppressed a teeny smirk at the thought of Riley having his dangly bits chomped off.

"Oh my! Poor man," Giles exclaimed.

"Yeah, heartbreaking really," Spike added unconvincingly, earning a look of rebuke from Tara. "Wot? So I'm not tossing ashes on my head and weeping over Cap’ Cardboard’s near Bobbiting."

Giles failed to suppress the snort of laughter, and to everyone's utter surprise he started to giggle uncontrollably.

Anya clattered back in carrying several bags of take out and juggling a tray of coffees. She stopped, stupefied. "You broke Giles! What did you do to him? Fix him!"

Giles braced his hands on his knees and guffawed with laughter.

Anya looked from one to the other, "what's so funny?"

"A Vamp tried to bite off Riley's bits and bobs," Spike chortled.

"Oh, well now I understand Spike's mirth. A fitting end to something that Buffy had experienced first hand. Good news - no more feelings of jealousy, right Spike?" Anya nodded and began to unpack the food. She leaned over to Spike, "No great loss for womankind, I hear!" she smiled and winked at Spike. He suppressed a snort of laughter at her cheeky comment.

"Where's Buffy?" Anya asked as she pulled out the second container of blood and noticed that her friend was not there.

"Still waiting to find out about that!" Spike turned to Tara.

"So...so...sorry, she said she needed to think. I tried to stop her but she was too fast."

"When and which way?" Spike prodded gently, worry starting to fill him. Their run in with Glory had him concerned for all of their safety and no one should be on their own right now.

"Few minutes ago and off to the left. Spike, she was really shaken by Riley's condition. You know what she's like," Tara sighed. "And you know how fast she can move-- I couldn't catch up!"

Spike nodded grimly, "Yeah, silly bint'll be blaming herself about that wanker now."

Giles sat down and helped himself to a sandwich and some coffee. "If I know Buffy. She will be concerned that his involvement in her life resulted in Riley's current predicament. You say that the Initiative have taken him to their base?"

"Yes, they are going to try an fix whatever was done to him. But they have no basis for their research, they have no idea how this happened," Tara added worriedly.

"We can only hope that there is a cure." Giles handed Tara a cup of green tea with a gentle smile.

"Tara, did they tell you I saved them from Glory and Dracula?" Anya interrupted excitedly.

Spike rose. "You lot got the wards up, right?" He gestured to the exterior of the shop. Tara and Giles had spent several hours incanting projection and warning spells around the shop, Spike and Buffy's place, as well as their own homes.

All three of them nodded, and watched as Spike shot out into the night to find Buffy.

"You saved Giles and Spike? How?" Tara turned to Anya with a slight grin.

"Well, I was waiting in the getaway car and saw that Giles was about to be eaten and Spike pulverised. Did we mention that Glory and Dracula are working together? Very disappointing of Drac to side with someone so obviously demented. Anyway, I saw that they were in trouble so I rammed Glory with the car and shot the Bride about to chow down on Giles with that nifty little crossbow. You know, the one I found on Ebay."

**********

Spike loped down Main Street. To the passer-by he looked like a normal human being, albeit a very good-looking one. But unknown to the casual observer, Spike was using all his vampiric senses to track down his missing childe.

There was a faint trace scent of her heading south and Spike turned and shot down the street, chasing after his girl. Her usual scents were intermingled with shock and a touch of guilt. He rumbled deep in his chest and began to walk faster and faster. Ignoring the twinges of jealousy he was feeling and focussing instead on Buffy.

**********

Buffy sank into the armchair and curled her legs under her, pulling her Mom's throw around her for comfort. The house was so still, almost lifeless without Mom or Dawn around. She missed them both. The daily calls weren't enough, and she was tempted to get Spike to drive her down to LA for a visit. But then reminded herself why they were there and not at home.

Glory.

Buffy curled up even tighter and was severely tempted to pull the throw over her head and pretend nothing was going on.

But it was.

Riley was a drooling vegetable.

Dawn was in danger.

And Spike was covering up something.

Something big which, when she found out what it was, he was going to be so much dust!

Buffy stared sightlessly at the framed picture her Mom had left out on her desk of the three of them. Her mind was filled with images of Riley and his bite-strewn body. She had barely been able to look at him let alone speak to Graham, the doctor or Riley. Instead, she had clung to Tara and let them discuss her ex and his situation. Buffy's hand crept into her slacks pocket and fingered the card Graham had given her containing his contact numbers. She had dumbly taken it and nodded as Graham had promised he'd keep her apprised of Riley's condition, and to call him no matter what time if she needed to talk.

"Long day, sweetie?

Buffy's eyes widened at the sight of Glory strolling into her home without any hindrance. She then slumped, remembering that they hadn't placed any wards here as Mom and Dawn were not in Sunnydale.

"So this is where the Slayer eats, sleeps, and ...combs her hair?" Glory trailed her finger over the desk as if checking for dust.

"Oh..." she picked up the same photo that Buffy had been staring at seconds ago.

"So cute!" She tossed the photo frame aside casually, not even flinching when the glass shattered. "I can't even stand it." She turned to look at the fireplace. Buffy slowly uncoiled and reached for a stake she had tucked in her waistband

"Personally? I need more space, but uh, this is good for you, it's, it's so quaint, and..." Glory flashed around and appeared behind Buffy plucking the stake out of the Slayer's hand.

"If I wanted to fight, you could tell by the being dead already." Glory flopped into an armchair and fiddled with the stake she had confiscated. "So play nice, little girl.

Buffy's hands clenched into small fists, "What do you want?"

"The key. Why else do you think I'd come here? See," Glory pointed the stake at Buffy. “I think you know where it is. And that's a good thing.”

"I'm glad you think so," Buffy dryly replied.

"Well, it's the only thing keeping you alive right now. Because you may be tiny queen in vampire world... but to me, you're a bug. You should get down on your knees and worship me!"

"Bollocks to that. She's a goddess in the vampire world, you ratty haired bint." Spike leaned against the arch leading into the front room. His calm demeanour belied the frantic rush he had been in prior to entering the Summers’ house. Halfway to Revello Drive he had picked up Glory's scent following Buffy's and had thrown caution to the wind and raced here.

For a brief second, Glory's imperious expression slipped and her hands shot to her hair, a pout trembling on her lips.

Visions of Buffy being beaten to a pulp again by the Hell god filled his terrified mind and he fell into protect mode. "Stay away from her you bint, or I'll make you bleed and beg for death," he threatened, ignoring Buffy's shushing motions..

"Aww it's the boy toy with a waaaay over inflated opinion of himself." Glory flipped her hair and turned back to Buffy. "You better warn your little friend who mashed me against the wall that Dracula is not happy with her!"

“Huh?” A small frown marred Buffy’s forehead, she turned to Spike wondering what the hell had happened earlier. But before Spike could explain himself Glory spoke.

"Where's my key, Slayer?" Glory demanded, dismissing Spike's presence with a wave of her manicured hand as she focused instead on Buffy.

Buffy shook her head, "No idea."

"Sod off why don't you?" Spike added for good measure. He watched as Buffy moved slowly closer and closer to him, his muscles tensed ready to fight or flee - whichever she decided.

"Ooh, I like him. He's sassy." Glory paused for a moment and then a look of malice crossed her face. "He was so nearly mine earlier, if it hadn't been for that bitch driving me into a wall!"

"And I'll kill him. I'll kill your mom, I'll kill your friends ... and I'll make you watch when I do," she sighed dramatically. "Just give me the key. You either have it or you know where to find it."

She stood up and tossed the stake causally at Buffy, who caught it reflexively.

"Obviously, this is a one-time-only deal. Next time we meet, something you love dies bloody. You know you can't take me. You know you can't stop me."

With that, Glory brushed past them and headed off into the night.

"I'll give Drac your love, shall I?" Her words echoed mockingly behind her as she disappeared.

***********

"Fucking hell!" Spike slammed the door shut, knowing it was a purely symbolic action, but he needed to do something before he flipped out. The fear that had seized him from the moment he had scented the Hellbitch was now in full throttle - there was little either of them could do against Glory and it was emasculating the hell out of him.

As per usual.

Buffy reached over and gently brushed the glass off the photo of her, Dawn and their mother. The shards of fine glass, nicking her fingertips and small beads of blood seeped out of the cuts. She pulled away from the photo and licked her fingers, sealing the cuts.

"She nearly had you? Spike what have you been up to?" Her voice was deceptively calm; so relaxed was her body that Spike froze and waited for the meltdown. He was an adept at reading women and the blond vampire knew hell was about to be unleashed on him in the form of his very pissed off girl.

'I'm well and truly screwed here no matter what I say.' Spike pasted on his best ‘please forgive me for placing myself in mortal danger’ look on his face and slowly batted his lashes at his fuming girl. "She didn't hurt you did she, love?" Spike waited with baited breath.

Buffy shook her head, "Nope, she didn't hurt me. What about you and the others? I thought it was strictly recon?" She folded her arms under her breasts and tapped the toe of one of her well-shod feet impatiently.

Spike sheepishly shuffled his feet, secretly gladdened by her possessive nature and worry of his well being - even though they were together and had declared themselves to each other, he was still unsure. His demon kept tickling around his conscious, prodding and pushing for him to claim his childe. So far, Spike had suppressed the natural urge; he wasn't sure if Buffy was ready for the final step. He knew he was, but was she?

"Well?" Buffy growled, not buying the cute behaviour. After seeing the state Riley had been in because of her involving him in her supernatural world and making him feel inadequate, she was dammed if she was going to let Spike play chicken with death. She was determined not to let anyone else get hurt because of her, and she knew Spike had only been out searching for Dracula because he wanted to help her.

"Wasn't me! It was Anya! She crushed the lopsided arse against Drac's place and she dusted one of Dracula's birds with that nifty little crossbow, you know?"

"Yeah, the one she found on Ebay," Buffy interrupted dismissively. "That still doesn't explain the whole ‘lets taunt the Hell god and scare Buffy into thinking Glory was gonna waste you!’" Buffy eyed Spike possessively. She sauntered over to Spike, a sultry sway to her hips, and then just as he was lulled into a sense of security, her hand whipped out and grabbed hold of his balls through the denim.

"These are mine!" she growled, her fangs dropping and her eyes flashing to lavender.

Spike's eyes rolled back in his head and his jaw dropped, a long moan whispering out of his mouth as Buffy gave Spike Junior a good squeeze and a hearty fondle. Spike knew the look in her eyes; she was hurting and wanted to shag to make it better and there was no way he was going to be her sex toy – well, not on these terms.

He stepped away, "Buffy, luv, not like this. Lets talk." Spike rolled his eyes as the words came out of his mouth. He sounded like a trashy TV psychiatrist talk show host! Spike was dammed if he was going to let her use him as an interactive dildo - something to scratch the itch and make her forget her worries. Not without calling her on it. 'Defending his somewhat dubious virtue from his girl?' he smirked. He wasn't one to say no, but to be used like this by her--by his Slayer-- was not sitting right in his gut.

"What about, the Hell god who just sauntered in here and gave me an ultimatum - tell or I kill everyone you love? Or was it the visit to the hospital you wanted to talk over? How I just froze and stared at the drooling mess that was my ex? And how it's all my bad, cos Riley only went to get bit so he could be darker for me? Oh! Or is because my idiot sire of a boyfriend decided to not be with all the observyness but instead pick a fight with Glory and Dracula and whoever the hell else he could find?” Buffy roared and then whirled and stomped out of the front room and upstairs.

Spike stood stock still, listening to Buffy muttering under her breath about stupid male egos and how they needed to pick a fight with anything that would fight back. He cocked his head as he heard Buffy go into her recently vacated bedroom and slam the door. 'So much for standing up for yourself. Now she's in an even more rotten mood.'

He rocked on his heels and thrust his hands in his duster pockets, his fingers brushing against the box that had lain forgotten there for so long.

Curious, he pulled it out and opened it. A smile brushed across his lips at the contents. He closed it reverently and stashed it back in his pocket. 'Need to make amends with the bint. Not good for the digestion, all this drama.

Spike knew that the Riley issue would have to be addressed - hopefully to Guam, along with the nit who got in his way for too many years. He also knew that he wasn't the only one she was going to have a 'go' at for scrapping with Glory and the Vamps. Giles was going to get it in the neck; a sound erupted out of Spike that sounded suspiciously like a giggle. He knew that with Buffy her anger was just a way of her expressing how worried she was about their safety.

She loved them all. ‘Has a big heart, my girl…’

There was a loud crash from above. Instinct propelled his heavily booted feet up the stairs, her name fading from his lips as he kicked the door open with a snarl.

Buffy span around with an answering growl and vamped out.

Spike scanned the room for intruders and found only a broken lampbase that she had thrown against the wall in a fit of pique.

He was on autopilot, ready to protect his childe, and instead she stood there with a feral look in her eyes and growled challengingly. The atmosphere in the small room was charged with anger, possessiveness and a sultry undertone of sexual arousal. One that was vibrating off Buffy in waves of intoxicating scents that called to his demon. All control lost, Spike vamped out and growled warningly at the minx who was standing her ground against him.

Buffy flashed her fangs at Spike and with salacious flicks of her tongue, she toyed with her fangs, purposely slicing it and letting the crimson drops of blood scent the air. She purred coyly at him and fluttered her lashes, her slim hands making short work of her shirt. Naked from the waist up, she swayed towards him.

Spike whimpered. He was fighting a losing battle; he knew he shouldn't succumb, but the siren in front of him had other ideas. He was supposed to be stopping her from using him for sex to forget her worries. But when she toyed with her nipples like that, who could deny her? His cock lurched in his jeans and hardened at the sight of one of her hands sliding down the front of her slacks.

Spike's hands clenched into fists, the mantra of ‘be strong’ stuck on repeat in his mind. He tried desperately to resist reaching out for her and ripping off the rest of her clothes. His moral high ground was rapidly vanishing as the first button of her slacks was popped open with one manicured fingernail. His cock twitched in anticipation and his nipples tightened.

Buffy looked up through her lashes and with her free hand pulled the tie from her hair and shook her head. Her long hair settled on her shoulders and tickled the tops of her grapefruit sized breasts. Taking in the mesmerised look on her sire's face, a throaty chuckled erupted from her.

Spike's amber eyes were riveted to her bobbling breasts and the perky nipples that were calling to him. His mouth watered and his brain shut down. Instead, all he could hear was the new mantra of 'get the girl', over and over.

Buffy shimmied out of her slacks and stood clad only in a thong, which she toyed with as she licked her lips. Smearing blood over them, their cherry redness calling to Spike. His tongue flickered across his dry lips as he slowly began to relax his hands; they hung loosely at his sides. 'Two can play this game, if she's so determined for a shag, least I can do is make it a good un.'

With a rasping snarl, Spike shrugged out of his duster, which pooled at his feet. He yanked off his T-shirt and with a smirk that revealed his fangs he ran a hand over his defined pecs, and looped his thumb in his waistband. Fanning his fingers over his erect cock, he casually drummed the tight denim. Each little tap of his fingers sending a jolt of pleasure up his spine.

Turning and walking towards the window, Spike ignored the purr of enticement from the little tease. He pulled the curtains open and scanned the street, checking that the coast was clear. The moonlight flooded the room; his pale chest was gleaming in the silvery light. Spike rested an arm against the frame and deliberately tensed the muscles in his back, giving Buffy a show.

Buffy took in the pretty view with an appreciative glance and then curled her lip up, 'enough with the playing’. She ripped off her thong and threw it at Spike.

Spike turned and caught her offering deftly with one hand; he raised them up and sniffed them before tucking the frilly scrap of nothing into his jean pocket. He decided to return the favour and within seconds was standing naked, one hand idly pumping his cock as he lazily perused Buffy. He may be ready to play, but he had one more weapon in his arsenal to shift her out of her ‘lets shag like crazed minks to make me feel less guilty’ mood.”

“Love you, pet…”

And with those whispered words the entire atmostsphere of the room changed. Gone was Buffy’s need to screw to make herself feel better. Instead, it was replaced with anticipation.

She drew in a gulping breath. “Oh.”

“Yeah,” Spike nodded and smiled around his fangs.

She raised a shaking hand towards him, beckoning him to her arms and her willing body.

Spike slinked over to his trembling girl and pulled her into his arms. Buffy’s hands curled around his shoulders as she sank into his arms – drawing strength from his embrace.

Their lips met and they devoured each other’s mouths, heedless of their fangs as they tore into each other.

Blood dripped between them from their cut lips coating their necks. Drops of the crimson fluid splattered across Buffy’s breasts. Spike pulled away and watched as the scarlet drops slid downwards. His mouth watered and his demon pushed to the fore. Dipping his head, Spike’s tongue lapped at their combined blood. A purr erupted from Buffy’s lips and they fell backwards onto her childhood bed.

Their bodies twisted and turned on the mattress as they re-visited familiar pleasure points on each other’s bodies – ones that they had learned from their previous carnal games.

Both of them were lost in the rapture of their lovemaking. Their combined purrs and growls painted the silence of the night with their presence.

There was a hint of feralness to their coming together, but underlying it all was a tenderness that balanced it out.

Seconds of bliss turned into minutes as they ravaged each other’s bodies.

A low guttural moan slipped past Buffy’s panting lips as Spike slid into her over sensitised body. Her nails scoured welts along Spike’s sides as her hands grasped at his hips, trying to anchor herself against the storm of euphoria that Spike filled her with as he thrust into her over and over. Her hands scrabbled up and her sharp nails drew blood.

Unable to delay her completion a second longer, she was greedy for everything Spike had to offer, Buffy sank her fangs into Spike’s pale throat and she drank deeply and greedily.

Spike’s hips bucked against hers as he felt her fangs enter his throat and her channel pulsing as she came over and over. Her inner walls captured his cock within her, holding him as a willing prisoner in her welcoming depths.

His sharp fangs pierced her neck and he drank.

Spike’s toes curled as a jolt of electricity shot down his spine and into his balls and he erupted with a muffled howl.

*********

Buffy woke to the sound of Spike involved in a whispered conversation on his phone. She was curled around him, one arm tossed over his stomach and the other bent under her head.

“So you went to some demon place and did what?” Spike hissed quietly.

Buffy kept her eyes shut and focused hard on the faint voice at the other end of the phone. Her vampiric hearing easily picking out Angel’s voice – he sounded tired and in pain. ‘Finally…might be able to find out what Spike’s been so sneaky about.’ She deliberately kept her body lax so as not to clue in her oblivious sire as to her consciousness.

“So you passed and what?” Spike questioned softly, trying not to alert his sleeping girl to the conversation. It was one he had been hoping for, as well as praying to whatever watched over semi-reformed former Big Bads.

“You sacrificed yourself for her? Mustn’t have worked seeing that you and I are having a confab,” he retorted.

“It did? Right…so was another test…you passed?” Spike shifted slightly, his attention piqued. “So Mum’s alright, not sickly anymore?”

Panic filled Buffy and was followed swiftly by a hot rage. An all encompassing one, directed at Spike and Angel for keeping something so vital a secret from her. Her Mom had been sick? A growl erupted from her throat before she could stop it.

Spike’s body froze at the sound.

“Peaches, need to get back to you.” With that he snapped the phone shut and dropped it on the nightstand. “Slayer?” his voice was tentative.

The sound of him addressing her triggered Buffy into moving and with a fluid roll she pulled away from him and sat with her back to him. She rose without speaking and jerkily dressed, her back still facing Spike.

“Luv, talk to me, please.” Spike knelt on the bed and reached for her rigid back.

“Don’t touch me!” she snarled in a hurt-filled voice.

“Please don’t do this, pet – talk to me!” Spike stood and yanked on his discarded jeans and stomped into his boots.

“Don’t do what? Be mad cos you lied to me? Hid something as important as my…mom…as mommy’s health?” her voice trailed off with a sob and Buffy turned slowly to face him.

Anger and rejection emanating from her small frame, her shoulder’s hunched protectively, trying to shield herself from the perceived deception from the one person she had never expected it from. Spike always told her the truth, even before they had become lovers, even when they had been enemies. It may have hurt, but he had always been frank with her.

Spike moved towards her, his hands outstretched to calm her-- to comfort her.

“Don’t.” Her hand raised in a slashing movement.

“We couldn’t tell you,” Spike tried to explain.

“Tell me what exactly?” Buffy asked in an icy voice.

Spike sighed, his fingers twitching towards his pocket. He needed a fag more than ever.

“Tell me! Tell me what you and Angel decided not to tell me – lemme guess, it was for the best, right? Keep Buffy in the dark again, protect her again…” she growled and slipped on her shoes. “You know how old that is getting?”

“No! Don’t, luv. We only knew that something was off with her; she didn’t smell right. Peaches noticed before I did and told me…” Spike tried to explain. He could see he was fighting a losing battle; Buffy was getting crosser by the second.

“So you had a group sniff of my Mom?” she asked sarcastically.

Spike sighed deeply and ran his fingers through his dishevelled hair. How had they gone from the sublime to the all out fury that now filled the room?

“Is she okay now?” for a brief moment Buffy let the anger leave her face and her eyes filled with tears and her lower lip trembled as she tried to suppress the tears. She failed and they poured down her face unchecked.

Spike’s entire being ached to comfort her and he stepped towards her, only for Buffy to step backwards away from him-- which wounded him deeply. “She’s as fit as a fiddle now, I swear on my love for you.”

Buffy nodded briefly and then a harsh laugh erupted out of her, “Your love for me? Some love, you big fat liarhead!” she exclaimed brittley

“Oi, enough…none of that!” Spike’s anger peaked abruptly. She had no grounds to doubt his undying love for her – no matter how much she thought he had messed up. He had been trying to spare her any more worries; with Glory and Drac in Sunnyhell, he had been determined to not add to her stress. The blond vampire had been worried that if his childe had known about her Mum, then Buffy might’ve gotten sloppy on patrol or in a fight and been hurt, or even worse, killed. That had been the motivating factor behind his and Angel’s subterfuge.

“Yeah, you’re right it’s enough.” Buffy shouted and turned, disappearing out of her window and into the night.

“Bollocks!” Spike threw his duster on over his naked torso and launched himself out after her. Fear filling him for her safety. In the state of mind she was in now--the exact same one he had been trying to avoid by not telling her about Joyce-- he was worried she’d get hurt or worse, dusted.

*********

Buffy easily outstripped Spike as she ran down the empty streets of Sunnydale. She ran with no mind to where she was going. Only wanting to out run the deception Spike had been a party to.

He had done the one thing she had never expected him to do.

He had lied to her – okay, a lie by omission, but still it was a great big honking fib.

Tears still ran down her cheeks, drying in the wind as she ran at super human speeds.
Her feet pounded out an unrelenting rhythm as Buffy tried to get away from it all. Only to be stopped by a tree root, tripping her. and Stumbling, Buffy managed to stay upright.

“I’ve been waiting for you…” A chillingly familiar voice echoed out of the darkness. One she had not wanted to hear ever again.

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