Seeing Red

Summers' Residence- Willow's Bedroom

The room is sunny, bright, and cozy. Well-lived in. Various articles of clothing lie strewn about the floor. Willow and Tara lounge on the bed- cuddled together. Tara's lays back against the headboard, propped up amongst some pillows.

"When did morning happen?" She laughs.

Willow is curled up against Tara, her arms wrapped about Tara's waist.

"After the moon went down." She replies lazily- then moves up to give Tara a long kiss. Then leans her head against Tara's side.

"I forgot how good this could feel… us together... without the magic."

Tara smiles. "There was plenty of magic."

Willow laughs, then sighs. "It's getting late."

"Want to get up?" Tara says semi-seriously. She starts to slowly stoke Willows hair.

"No. Oh, god, no." Willow buries herself deeper into the covers. "I was just thinking about Buffy."

Tara furrows her brow. "Oh. She still isn't back?"

"I didn't hear her… She wouldn't talk about what happened at the magic shop when she got home last night. She just wanted to know how close I was to tracing the camera signal back to the empire of the nerds. Then she left again."

"I'm sure she'll be ok." Tara continues to caress Willow's hair and shoulders.

"I'm not really worried about her going up against Warren and the others. I know this is gonna sound crazy, but..." Willow pauses, looks doubtful. "I think something might be going on... With Spike and Buffy. I mean, she looked so hurt when she saw him with Anya. I think maybe…"

"They've been sleeping together." Tara blurts out.

Willow snickers. "No. No. I wouldn't go that far."

Tara continues, seriously. "No, I mean she told me they've been sleeping together."

"Sleeping together?" Willow sits up. "You mean like the naked kind of together?" She looks horrified.

"I'm sorry I didn't say anything, but I... I promised her I wouldn't." Tara clasps Willow's hand.

"Does everybody else know? Am I the only one she didn't…" Willow says hurriedly, now looking anxious.

Tara stops her, strokes Willow's hair. "God, no. She...she didn't even mean to tell me. It just came out."

Willow sighs, now looking dejected. "How could she hide something like this from me?"

"I think she was afraid of the look you'd get on your face..." Tara says gently. "Kinda like the one you're wearing now."

"Oh, no, I'm not… I'm just...trying to understand." Willow shakes her head, her faces softening. "So is she."

"Well, she probably really needs someone to talk to."

"Probably." Tara smiles slowly- continuing to strok Willow's hair. Then coyly. "We've been kinda busy. Maybe we didn't hear her come home."

Summers' Residence- The Upstairs Hall

Willow stands at Buffy's room. She's wearing a red and grey nightshirt emblazoned with the number 78. She knocks as she opens the door to Buffy's room. "Buffy?" The room is empty- the bed neat and unslept in. Willow closes the door and starts to go back to her room.

Hearing the noise, Dawn quickly appears from her own room. She's wearing a pink halter-top and purple shorts. Her hair is done in pigtails.

"She back yet?"

Willow stops- looks nervous.

"Oh. Not yet. I'm sure she'll be home soon. Everything's fine. Just go back to bed."

Dawn looks at Willow like she's nuts. "It's 10:00." Willow starts but doesn't know what to say- looks toward her bedroom.

Dawn continues. "You don't think she's... Gonna hurt Spike, do you?"

"She told you about Spike?" Willow asks quietly (she's sure she's the last in the know).

Dawn nods, looking serious. "It was kinda obvious after last night."

Willow covers her surprise (but of course!) "Yeah. I totally knew."

Dawn doesn't see Willow's discomfort, and continues seriously. "It must've hurt so much... To see him and… and Anya like that? And poor Xander… Everything is so screwed up."

Willow gets serious too- tries to reassure Dawn. "It's gonna be all right. It's just... Complicated. You know, when people have such strong feelings for each other, sometimes…"

Tara exits Willow's room. She's wrapped in a blanket. "Is she back yet?"

She sees Dawn, slows and smiles. "Oh... Hey."

"Oh. You and..." Dawn beams- she's obviously elated- her eyes are wide.

"Uh, that's my cue to go put some clothes on." Tara turns to go back into the room.

Dawn stops her- giddy and jittery- her face still alight. "No! No, no, no. I.. I'm totally not here. You guys, y… you do whatever you want."

Tara and Willow watch her- amused.

"Um...I I'll go watch TV! Downstairs. Real loud. In the basement, where I can't hear...anything. Aah! Oh, my god! Oh, my god!"

Dawn rushes to her bedroom- then turns back, almost incoherent with joy. "I love you guys! All right!"

She goes back into her room.

The Troika's Lair

Buffy kicks down the door to the basement lair. Pissed off and a bit exasperated. She's wearing jeans, a brown leather jacket, and a black and white shirt underneath.

"All right! Let's make this quick." The lair is deserted. "Fine. But I'm not leaving till we have a little chat."

She stops to pick up some computer print-outs. "Very little, considering the pummelling that needs to occur." She mutters.

She stops to look at some scantily clad action figures sitting atop a ledge. "Ew." And continues to look around. "I mean, guys, hello! Slayer here. Did you honestly think I wouldn't find you..."

She stops and picks up some more papers, then walks further into the room. A whiteboard stands with the surface tilted almost horizontally. There's writing on it. Buffy moves the board for a closer look. On it, in green marker- "Too Late!"

Buffy's eyes widen a bit. "Well, that can't be good." Suddenly, a very large circular saw blade slices completely through the whiteboard- as other blades appear around the room (think Astar- the robot).

Buffy looks around at the incoming blades- then jumps and manuvers herself out from among them. She grabs the books she can- then makes it up the stairs as a blade slices them in half.

Buffy throws herself out of the house- papers flying across the lawn. Gathering herself she looks down. Her leather jacket has been sliced through at her midsection. "Ok. That's gonna cost ya."

--Credits--

with a new addition. Just after Michelle Trachtenberg…

Amber Benson.

They show scenes from her Blowing the magic powder in 'Family', Laughing in the kitchen in 'Older and Far Away', picking herself up in 'Hush', walking though UC Sunnydale in 'Normal Again', standing with Willow outside the Magic Box in 'Dead Things', and standing with Buffy in the kitchen and casting a spell in 'Older and Far Away'.

--Commercial--

Summers' Residence- Living Room

Willow and Tara come down the stairs laughing and holding each other.

Tara is wearing a yellow flowered and black wraparound blouse with a black/brown skirt. Willow is wearing a pinkish flowered blouse and jeans.

They enter the living room, where Buffy sits on the couch- wearing a billowy white flowered blouse over black camisole, and her blue jeans. Dawn sits at her feet wearing a long sleeved blue shirt.

Dawn is munching on something as they go over what Buffy was able to salvage from the Troika's lair.

"Ok, we're here, ready for action. Uh..." Willow starts..

"Bad-guy...fighting... Action." Tara grins.

Buffy looks at the two of them. "Guys, you didn't have to… you know, if you still want to be alone."

Willow looks at Tara. "No. No. We're good."

"We're...we're better than good." Tara agrees.

They continue to look at each other. Buffy looks unconvinced.

"Great."

"Super." Willow says softly- then moves in towards Tara. They kiss.

Dawn giggles- still very happy. Buffy looks a bit uncomfortable- but also happy. They stop. Willow rolls her eyes.

"Ok, all right. We'll stop." Tara giggles.

Dawn sits up, a bit intense. "Oh, you better not." She shakes her head insistently.

"So, um, nerds, how are them… they?" Tara asks, trying to gain decorum.

Buffy looks relieved, then sighs. "Well, I found their lair, but they obviously knew we were tracing their signal. They left in a hurry. Van was gone, but everything else was still there."

"Uh, we should go back." Willow says, nodding towards Tara. "Um, Tara and I can Sherlock around, and.."

"There's nothing left now. Giant buzz saw. It was a thing." Buffy lowers her head, serious. "This is all that I could save. I... I know it's not much, but we need to go through it and see if we can find anything that might tell us what… what they're doing, where they're going."

Tara picks up a book that Buffy'd salvaged- it's sliced in two. "This might... Take a while."

"Anything we can do to fast forward?" Buffy asks. "We really need to find Warren and the others before anyone else gets hurt."

Willow looks up from the books. "Should we call Xander?"

Buffy looks doubtful. "I don't think he's really in the Scooby space. We need to give him some time."

"Maybe they've heard something in the demon bars about those guys. Uh, Spike's…" Dawn says tentatively, looking up at Buffy.

"Spike…" Buffy says sharply. "Spike's not part of the team."

"So he's not..." Dawn shrugs. "Going to be around anymore?"

Willow and Tara look up at Buffy- wait for her reaction.

"Uh...I don't know, Dawn." Buffy stumbles out. "Not… not for a while."

"What about Anya?" Tara suggests, gesturing to the sliced book. "She might be able to help with the demon texts."

Buffy looks unsure. "I'm guessing she's not feeling real researchy right now."

Sunnydale- A Bar

A young woman with curly blond hair sits at a bar- leaning over a martini glass. Her face isn't visible. She's sniffling and wiping her eyes. She looks up- as Anya starts to speak to her.

"I know how you feel. Maybe I can help." Anya is wearing a pink vee-neck blouse. Her amulet is visible. Her hair is very blond- and very straight. The woman looks at Anya, sniffles.

"How could Carl do that to me? That bastard."

"He's a man." Anya says shortly. "Look no further."

"But with my sister?" The woman sobs. "She's not even pretty."

"Well, it isn't always about looks... Or a beating heart." Anya looks up, searches the ceiling. "Sometimes intimate, sweaty relations with the wrong person just seems like a good idea at the time."

"She's fat." The woman blurts. "He cheated on me with my fat, ugly sister."

Anya peers closely at the woman. "Likes 'em fleshy, huh? Bet you wish he'd bloat up a couple of thousand pounds and pop like a big ol' meat zeppelin, don't you?"

"He said he loved me."

"Oh, gee, then he must've meant it, 'cause, hey, guys never say anything they don't really mean, do they?" Anya rolls her eyes and ignores the woman as she continues.

"They say, "I love you," and...and you think it's true. They say, "Oh, Anya, I want to be with you for the rest of my life." and...and you believe them. You believe they feel the same way about you because that's the way love's supposed to be, right?"

"Who's Anya?" The woman asks, confused and a bit annoyed- but Anya continues to rant.

"And then you get all excited with the tingly anticipation. But wait! Not so fast. There's the apocalypse and the back from the grave and the blah blah blah blah. And by the time you're finally standing there in that beautifully expensive white dress you dreamed about ever since you became human, he gets all heebie-jeebie and decides, "you know, I'd rather just go steady…""

The woman shakes her head- disgusted. "Men suck…I wish Carl's flesh would be..."

As Anya continues. "…you know, he said it isn't me, but how can I believe him? I mean...he knew he didn't want to get married. Deep down, he knew. But he lied to me every day, for months..."

"I wish..." The woman begins- But Anya doesn't even notice her anymore.

"…He lied and lied and lied some more, 'cause, hey, who's gonna notice with all the other lies flying around like little monkeys? Then he thinks he can just sweep the carnage underneath the rug by saying…"

Sunnydale- A Cave

Andrew cowers- creeping backwards on his hands as a very large insect-like demon backs him into a corner.

"I'm sorry. Sorry! Please! I'll never try to desecrate your chamber again. Don't...hurt me. Please."

Suddenly the demon glows blue. Warren and Jonathan appear in the passage behind the demon. Warren sticks a cattle prod into the creature's side again and again.

"Hit him again! Hit him again!" Jonathan says frantically. The demon finally falls to the floor.

"Wow. These things are tougher than I thought. You know, one jolt from this should've dropped an elephant." Warren gestures towards the demon with the cattle prod.

Andrew rushes over and grabs the prod from Warren. He starts jabbing the demon.

"You want a piece of this? Huh? Yeah! Not so tough are you now, puff 'n' stuff?!" The demon doesn't move as it's shocked.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Warren protests. "We need him fresh, all right? Not smoke house."

Andrew stops hitting the demon. "I'm done bein' the bait. Next time, one of you can wiggle on the hook."

Warren leans down to the demon. "Look, if this works... The next time, we'll be the thing that everyone's afraid of."

"Ok. So... What now?" Jonathan says dubiously.

"Well, now it's your turn, Sparky." Warren says- tossing a skinning knife to Jonathan. Jonathan looks form the knife to the demon and sighs.

Spike's Crypt

Spike stands at his table. He's wearing his black tee and black jeans. He pours a bottle of alcohol into a very large glass of blood. Sighs, then lifts it to his lips and drinks.

"Does it help?" He turns his head to the crypt entrance. Dawn stands there.

He considers the glass. "Doesn't hurt." Then looks at the girl.

She's got a canvas bag looped over her shoulder.

"Not planning a camp-out, are we?" He quirks his eyebrow.

Dawn moves a bit forward, but doesn't leave the entryway. She looks uncertain. "No. I'm sleeping over at Janice's. Figured Willow and Tara might want some time to, uh..."

Spike slowly smiles at his glass. "Oh, so the birds are flying again, eh?" He looks dubious, starts to turn towards Dawn. "Ain't love grand?" He says softly- then takes a drink. He walks to his easy chair and sits.

"I wanted to stop by on my way, and... You know." Dawn purses her lips a bit, considers. "Everybody's pretty mad at you."

"Yeah." Spike drawls softly. "Kinda picked up on that." He sits back in the easy chair.

He doesn't look at Dawn- instead he stares into space. His left hand rests lightly on the glass perched on the arm of the chair. His right hand rests on his knee.

"You're not gonna be coming around anymore..." Dawn pauses. "Are you?"

Spike stares again at the glass. He fingers the edge. "It's complicated, Nibblet."

Dawn laughs ruefully. Shakes her head. "Everybody's been saying that."

"Must be true, then." Spike grips the glass, takes a drink.

"Was it worth it..." Dawn tilts her head. "What you did with Anya?"

Spike turns to look at her finally- brow lowered. "Buffy told you?"

"Kinda caught the show. There was a camera somewhere in the magic box." Dawn explains.

Spike turns away- he finally understands what happened. He stretches his neck and clenches his jaw.

"Warren and...and Jonathan and that other guy have been watching Buffy."

"Wankers!" Spike says harshly- his voice soft.

Dawn walks down from the entryway- gets where she can see Spike better.

"Do you love her?"

Spike looks over at her- manner changed a bit. He wants to explain. He speaks faster- becomes a little more animated.

"Uh, no. No. It was just a... Uh... It was a bad day. For both of us. I don't know. We just had a few drinks, and things just..."

"No." Dawn interrupts. "Not Anya. Buffy." She says directly.

Spike gets very still again. He considers his glass.

"Do you really love her?" Dawn asks.

Spike's brow furrows and his nostrils flare a bit- almost imperceptibly.

Dawn notices the reaction- she almost moves closer. "Then how could you do that to her?" She stares at Spike, her head tilted- waiting for an answer. Spike continues to regard his glass of blood- his face closed and dark.

"Oh, right, 'cause big sis was treating me so well up until that point." He continues to play with his glass.Dawn sighs- a bit frustrated. "Must still be a bit of the evil left in me after all."

She looks at Spike. Says frankly, "I don't know what happened between you two. But what you did last night... If you wanted to hurt Buffy, congratulations." Her face is dark now too. She puts a bit of snark into her tone. "It worked."

She turns, knows that nothing else can be said, and walks out of the crypt. Spike is left- still staring at his glass of blood and alcohol.

Sunnydale- A Cave

The Troika watch from a hidden corner as a demon like the one they'd shocked walks though a mystical barrier in the cave.

"This is it." Warren says, walking up to the barrier. "We found it."

Andrew is still scared, but determined. "Y-you sure it's in there?" He starts to reach for the barrier.

Warren stops him. "Be careful! Only Nezzla demons can pass through the barrier." He tosses a rock into the barrier- it dissolves into nothing. "Everything else gets curly-fried."

Jonathan appears from another passage. He's wearing the hide of the demon they'd shocked- it's too big for him. "Um, maybe we ought to rethink this."

Warren looks him up and down. "Just make sure all your skin's covered."

"Why can't I just use a glamour?" Jonathan whines.

Andrew is impatient. "You can't Siegfried and Roy the barrier." He sneers. "It's gotta be the real deal."

Warren plops the head of the demon over Jonathan's. It squishes.

"Ohhh! It's still wet." Jonathan moans.

Warren considers the get-up. "Good. Then it should, uh, still be fresh enough."

"Should be?" Jonathan says cautiously. "Wait a minute. What do you mean? What do you mean, "should be"?"

Warren suddenly shoves Jonathan through the barrier- and Jonathan screams- but makes it though to the other side.

"Wasn't sure that would work." Warren laughs to Andrew. Jonathan doesn't seem to hear.

"Jackass." Jonathan mutters- than goes deeper into the cave on the other side of the barrier.

Andrew stares at Warren- intense. "You think he knows?" He asks quickly.

"Well, if he did, why would he be here?" Warren replies- a bit jumpy- hyped.

"Why is he?" Andrew asks- jealousy and suspicion creeping into his voice. "Our mojo's tight, bro. We could've pulled this ourselves."

"Yeah, well, somebody had to guinea pig the meat suit. Were...were you gonna volunteer?" Warren looks Andrew up and down. Andrew breaths a negative. Shakes his head shortly. He nods to ward the barrier.

"I don't trust that leprechaun." Warren gesture emphatically. "Ok, just stay frosty. This works the way we planned it, by the end of the evening, Jonathan won't be a problem."

Jonathan appears from behind the barrier. He's carrying a box.

"You got it?" Warren asks him.

"Yeah, I got it." Jonathan mumbles, then hands Warren the box.

"That's it?" Andrew asks- still intense.

"Better be." Jonathan lifts off his fleshy mask. "No way I'm... Goin' back through there. That thing stings like a mother."

"Dude. Unholy hair job." Andrew flicks at Jonathan's head- which is covered with sticky demon goo.

"Get off." Jonathan whines.

"Make me, skin job."

Warren is busy looking at the box. "Shut up." He orders the two. He slides an electronic gizmo across the top of the box- and the box opens. Inside are two red orbs with markings similar to the disc in 'Entropy'. Warren picks them up. "Gentlemen... The orbs of Nezzla'khan. Strength. Invulnerability. The deluxe package."

Andrew brightens, looks at Warren. "They're everything I've ever dreamed of."

"You know, those things have been down there for, like, a zillion years. How do we know they'll still work?" Jonathan asks. Suddenly a burst of blue light flows over Warren. His eyes briefly glow sliver as waves of blue light pass over him

"Oh, they work." He gasps. "Don't look any different. I thought they were supposed to make us all huge and veiny."

--Commercial--

The Troika walk through the cave. Jonathan's free of the demon costume- but he's still covered with goo. Warren puts the orbs into a leather pouch at his belt.

"Are you sure they're working right?" Andrew asks- as a demon comes around the corner. Warren looks at the demon.

"Let's find out." Warren quickly takes the demon out- and snaps its neck.

"Mahatma!" Jonathan says in awe.

Warren stands, gesturing wide. "Welcome to the show, boys."

"That was so hot." Andrew sighs. Jonathan runs up to Warren- tries to take the orbs.

"Let me try 'em!" Warren grabs Jonathan's wrist- pushes him away. "Watch the paws, little man."

Jonathan hold his hurt wrist- looks askance at Warren. "We're supposed to share."

"Oh, relax." Warren snarls. "You'll each get a whirl... Soon as I'm done playin' with 'em." He nods and laughs.

Xander's Apartment

Buffy knocks at Xander's door. She's wearing a black sweater over a white shirt. Her hair is up.

Xander answers the door wearing a red paid work-shirt with white undershirt, and blue jeans.

"Hey." Buffy says softly. He looks her up and down. A bit cold. "Hey."

He walks away into the apartment. "I think there's still a cold one in the fridge." The kitchen table has two empties on it. Various other things clutter the table.

Buffy closes the door and walks into the apartment behind him. "Thanks, but, uh, I think it's still a little early for me." She smiles a bit- gestures to the door. Xander sits on the couch. Buffy sit across from him.

"She loves you." Buffy says sadly. "You know that. Anya was just... She was hurting." She shrugs a bit. "She was hurting, and she did this really stupid thing."

Xander looks at his lap. Then up at Buffy. "With your boyfriend." He says- though without heat and only a touch of bitterness.

Buffy looks directly at Xander. "He's not my boyfriend." She says coolly.

"I know why Anya... I understand. I do. But you..." Xander shakes his head. "All those times I told Spike to get lost... That he didn't have a chance with a girl like you." He laughs- now the bitterness is there, but only half hearted.

"You don't know how hard it's been." Buffy explains. Her eyes are dark.

"What, lying to me?" He's more bitter about this- he radiates hurt.

"Being here." Buffy says sharply. "After I was brought back." She looks to the ceiling. "You have no idea how hard it is just being here."

"You could have told me."

"You didn't want to know." Buffy retorts. Bitterness deep in her own voice now.

Xander sneers a bit. "So you went to him instead."

Buffy looks at him, aloof. "Xander, what I do with my personal life is none of your business."

"It used to be." She nods. "It just happened, ok?"

Xander snickers a bit. "Oh. Like, uh, "say, you're evil." Then a bit viciously. "Get on me"?"

Buffy's eyes get stony. "You fought side by side with him when I was gone. You let him take care of Dawn."

"But I never forgot what he really is." Xander says quickly, then breathes. "God, what were you thinking?"

"You're asking me that?" Buffy laughs, a bit of an eye roll. "Oh, 'cause your decision-making skills have really sparkled lately."

"I'm not saying I didn't make any mistakes, but last time I checked, slaughtering half of Europe wasn't one of 'em." Xander spits out. "He doesn't have a soul, Buffy. Just some leash they jammed in his head. You think he'd still be all snuggles if that chip ever stopped working?" He pauses, "Would you still trust him with Dawn then?"

"It doesn't matter." Buffy shakes her head. Righteous. "I'm not seeing him anymore. It's over."

"Yeah." Xander breathes out, nodding, "There's a lot of that going around." He stands abruptly, crushing the beer can in his hand. He tosses it to the floor and stalks away- slamming the door as he leaves the apartment. Buffy closes her eyes as the door slams.

Sunnydale- Outside the Magic Box.

Soft, sad music in the background. Xander walks down the street. It's night, but there are a lot of people out. His eyes are red. He ducks his head a bit as he passes people. Inside the Magic Box, Anya dusts the merchandise absently. She's thinking. Xander comes to the Magic Box. He watches Anya through the window. Anya doesn't see him.

Summers' Residence- Willow's Room

Willow and Tara lie in bed. Willow has her laptop out. She's spread across the foot of the bed. Tara's in the same position as at the beginning of the show- her back leaning up against the headboard. Neither of them appear to be dressed.

"It's all a mess." Willow mutters, her eyes dance across the computer screen. Tara is reading from one of the documents Buffy salvaged form the Geek's basement.

"These things take time. We'll figure it out." Willow smile, computer light flickering across her face. "Sure, we'll decipher codes, foil evil schemes..."

"Finally get out of bed." Tara suggests- not serious at all.

Willow frowns. "I was with you up until there." Then pauses. "Whoa."

"What is it?" Tara asks, leaning forward. The computer screen shows a diagram.

"Uh, one of their data CDs, it's filled with encrypted blueprints, schematics."

"To what?"

"I'm not sure. Their designations have been stripped." Willow mutters.

"Maybe we can cross-reference them with the county clerk's office." Tara suggests.

Willow grimaces. "Would that involve getting up?"

"Eventually." Tara smiles.

"Then I'm coming out firmly against it."

"What about the trio's evil scheme?" Tara asks- making a false-serious face.

"Well, I'm kinda busy working on my own." Slyly, Willow moves from the computer. Tara sighs and lies back on the bed.

Sunnydale- A Bar

Xander sits a bar- the bar tender pours a shot for him- dribbling all over Xander's hand. A brown haired woman sits next to him.

She leans over."You're all wet." Smiling, she hands Xander a cloth napkin.

"It's a good thing I'm part fish." Xander smiles back.

"Which part?"

"The part with the hook in it." He says wryly.

"Careful. Someone might reel you in."

"Yeah, but then there'd be the flopping and the gasping. Sure, maybe it'd work out, but chances are, I'd up and leave you at the helm in your white dress, then find you spawning with another fish who turns out to be spawning my very good friend night and day behind my back."

The woman's smile is getting doubtful- she doesn't know what the hell he's talking about.

"And then comes the fighting, and again with the flopping and the gasping. Hey, chicken of the sea here's not doin' too good with the women these days."

"Huh?" She looks at him, bewildered.

"Sorry, I'm just lookin' to curl up with the quiet alone tonight." Xander replies, his eyes liquid.

The door to the bar opens. Jonathan and Andrew are the first to enter. They look out of place and unsure. Warren follows behind them. He's confident and full of himself. Jonathan looks angrily at his watch.

"We don't have time for this." He snarls.

Andrew looks at him sideways. "Ease up, twitchy." Warren eyes the bar patrons.

"All right. Let's make some noise."

Sunnydale- A Cemetary

Buffy battles a vampire. He's fighting very well.

"Not bad. How hard you gonna hit when you're blowin' in the wind?" Buffy asks- then pulls a stake.

She dusts the vampire- just as he kicks her solidly into a tombstone. The tombstone crumbles as she hits it. Buffy looks at where the vampire used to be.

"That was rhetorical." She groans- her ribs obviously paining her.

Summers' Residence- The Bathroom

Buffy enters the bathroom wearing a grey bathrobe. She's very sore. An overview shot of the bathroom reveals that she is alone.

Bending over gingerly, she turns on the tub and sighs deeply.

"Are you hurt? You're not moving so well." Spike enters the bathroom. He 's still dressed in his fitted black long sleeve shirt and jeans.

Buffy doesn't turn to look at him, sighs again. "Get out."

Spike closes the door- but it doesn't latch. "We have to talk." He says, glancing over at her.

Buffy turns to face him. She shakes her head. "I really don't."

"Well, this isn't just about you," Spike pushes the door fully shut. "as much as you'd like it to be."

Another overhead shot of the bathroom shows Spike- his dark clothes contrast with the bright bathroom. Buffy stands a few feet away by the sink.

Buffy crosses her arms. "You spoke. I listened. Now leave." She says firmly.

"I'm sorry." He nods slightly. "Not that it matters anymore, but I needed you to know that."

"Why?"

"Because I care about you." He says plainly.

Buffy holds herself a bit tighter. "Then you might want to try the not sleeping with my friends." She says peevishly.

"I didn't go to Anya for that. I was looking for a spell." Spike explains- still plain, open, honest.

Buffy's eyes widen with anger. "You were gonna use a spell on me?" She asks harshly.

"It wasn't for you." Spike breathes in in frustration.- clutches his hand to his chest. "I wanted something!" Raising his eyebrows, he gestures to himself again with his hand. "Anything to make these feelings stop. I just wanted it to stop!" He seems on the point of pounding his foot to the floor, but restrains himself- gets quiet again.

Buffy looks at him, a bit taken aback.

"You should have let him kill me." He mutters, eyes on the floor- then looks up at her, his head still low.

Buffy looks at the floor now too. "I couldn't do that." She whispers.

"Why?" Spike's eyes change- he considers her- it's an opening. It's hope.

Buffy moves to the bathtub. Her voice stronger again. "You know why."

Spike watches her move, says levelly, "Because you love me."

Buffy leans over the bathtub- she can't really bend well. One hand works the faucet, while the other supports her back. "No, I don't." She insists, emphasizing each word.

"Why do you keep lying to yourself? Spike says lowly.

Buffy turns quickly- starts, "How many times..." then stops.

Spike narrows his eyes and tilts his head, senses the change in direction.

She breathes, then says tightly- very controlled. "I have feelings for you. I do. But it's not love. I could never trust you enough for it to be love."

Spike shakes his head, amused. He laughs the words. "Trust is for old marrieds, Buffy."

Buffy looks away from him, her eyes dark. Spike continues, hard. He looks at her intensely.

"Great love is wild, and passionate, and dangerous. It burns and consumes."

Buffy holds her ground, states sharply, "Until there's nothing left. Love like that doesn't last."

"I know you feel like I do." Spike saunters slowly closer to her- his voice still low. "You don't have to hide it anymore." He raises his eyebrows a bit, a slight leer to his expression.

Buffy raises her head to the ceiling- does a bit of an eye roll and shakes her head. She's frustrated. "Spike, please stop this."

Spike moves forward, grabs Buffy by the waist. "Let yourself feel it." He breathes- pulls her forward to him.

Buffy pushes him away. "No." She says sharply.

"You love me." He pulls her close again, his voice still low.

Buffy winces, attempts to push Spike away again. "Ow. No. Stop it."

"You love me." He says again, but louder, still trying to pull her close.

Buffy attempts again to push him away- "Spike, don't!" She loses her balance and grabs on to the shower curtain. It comes crashing down- and she falls. Hard. Her already injured back impacting on the side of the bathtub. She yells in pain.

Spike keeps at her. "Let it go." He says, his face close to hers. He doesn't seem to see that she is in pain. "Let yourself love me." Spike's voice cracks. Buffy is still trying to push him away- but with more desperation. Their limbs are entangled. She crawls toward the bathroom door, but Spike still grapples with her, his body on top of hers.

--Commercial--

Spike straddles Buffy. His face intent. Buffy is still struggling, still in pain, still yelling. She tells him to stop.

"I know you felt it when I was inside you."

Buffy kicks at him, crawls away- but Spike grabs at her foot and stops her from getting to the door. She is yelling no, telling him to stop.

"You're gonna let me." Spike turns her over, gets on top of Buffy again. He hold her wrists together in front of her- then pulls them above her head.. "You'll feel it again, Buffy." He says, his eyes wild.

She continues to plead. "I'm gonna make you feel it." Spike tears at Buffy's house coat, drawing it down. Buffy's cries sharpen, and she suddenly gains leverage. She kicks Spike across the room, and he smashes into the wall and shelving.

Spike gets up - then as he looks at Buffy, he seems to 'see' her- bewilderment, then realization come over his features. Buffy stands, clutching at her housecoat, holding it together, she sobs hoarsely.

"Ask me again why I could never love you."

"Buffy, my god, I didn't..." Spike breathes, uncertain, wavering. Like he 's coming out of a fog.

"Because I stopped you!" Buffy bites out, shaking. "Something I should have done a long time ago."

Sunnydale- A Bar

Jonathan and Andrew are at the bar. Andrew sips from a tropical drink- complete with parasol and fruit skewers. They both look anxious.

"What are we doing here? Somebody might recognize us." Jonathan mutters. Then looking around, he sniffs.

"Oh, that's just great. We're risking everything so that Charles Atlas can get a date. He's gonna end up getting us thrown into jail. Or worse. Maybe you and I should think about..."

"Warren's the boss." Andrew looks at Jonathan coldly. "He's Picard, you're Deanna Troi. Get used to the feeling, Betazoid." He then stalks away- leaving Jonathan standing by the bar.

Warren, meanwhile, is trying to put he moves on a dark haired girl over by the wall.

"And the clothes and the cars and the money... See, it's all just window dressing. Baby, this is what's really important. 2 souls comin' together."

"Hey!" Warren is interrupted by another man- a bit bigger than he. "She only comes together with me, so get lost, shrimp."

Warren recognizes the guy. "Frankie? Oh, my god, is that you? How long has it been? It's Warren!" Warren gestures to himself. "Remember Warren? Gym class, fifth period? Man, you and your jock buddies used to give me such a hard time. That thing with the underwear?" He stops, laughs. "God, I thought I'd never stop crying."

"That was you?"

Warren taps Frankie on the shoulder. "Yeah, that was me. But, hey, no hard feelings. I mean, I know you were just foolin' around, like I'm gonna be with your girl in about 5 minutes." Warren leers at the woman.

"What'd you say?" Frankie asks- moves in to intimidate.

"You heard me, meathead. Take a walk." Warren says, his face cold.

"Oh, you're dead, you little..." Frankie grabs Warren to shove him aside- finds that he's unmovable.

"This ain't high school." Warren shoves the guy- and he sweeps across the room into the bar. The woman looks on in horror. Other guys join in on the fight- but Warren is invincible.

"Let's party!"

"Oh, don't worry about the tab now, ladies, it's on daddy tonight." Warren points to some women sitting at the bar, then smashes open the cash register.

The washroom door open- the sound of flushing can be heard. Xander steps out. He staggering a bit- sees Warren at the register. Warren saunters over to some more women.

"Don't worry babies, Daddy gonna give you some, too."

Xander walks up to Warren. "See, now, I think it's the daddy thing that's throwin' her, 'cause incest is not that sexy."

Jonathan hides his face in his fist. "Aw, crap." He mutters.

Andrew seems unconcerned- he continues to sip his drink.

Xander continues. "So, uh, why don't we leave the ladies to their impending nausea and move the freak show outside. What do you say?"

"Ok." Warren nods, definitely hyped up. "But let me ask you something first. You think maybe you could put in a word for me with that Anya chick? 'Cause if she's taking it from a vamp, I think I might have a chance."

Xander draws back and punches Warren. Xander holds his wrist- in definite pain. Warren still stands.

"No wonder she's screwing a dead guy. You hit like a girl."

"Well, at least I know how to get one." Xander breathes, uncowed. Warren smacks Xander solid in the face- propelling Xander over the pool table. Warren shoves the pool table aside, rushes up to where Xander lies- his face bloody, his nose probably broken.

Warren leans over Xander. "Let's see how popular you are without a face."

Jonathan runs forward, taps Warren on the shoulder. "Warren, we have to go."

"We go when I'm ready."

Jonathan shies back. "Hey, it's your call, but.." he shows Warren his watch. "… we're gonna miss that thing you wanted to do tonight if we don't leave right now. That's all I'm saying."

Warren nods, then glares down at Xander. "It's your lucky night, Shemp."

Andrew grips his drink like a security blanket- chewing on the straw. "We just gonna leave him there? What if he sics the slayer on us?"

"Bring her on." Warren growls.

Summers' Residence- Foyer / The Bathroom

Xander arrives at the house, his face still bloody.

"Buffy. I found Warren. Actually, my face kinda found..."

He stops- sees Spike's duster folded over the banister. He walks over, picks it up and brings the jacket upstairs. Not knocking, Xander opens the bathroom door.

"Is this what you call not seeing Spike anymore?" He asks. Buffy looks up. She's sitting on the bathroom floor, her eyes full of tears.

"What did he do?" Xander looks down. Buffy's thigh, exposed from under her housecoat, sports a large bruise. "Did he hurt you?"

"He tried." Buffy says softly, shaking her head- then looks quickly at Xander. "He didn't..."

"Son of a bitch!" Xander turns to go, but Buffy stops him.

"Don't. Please, just don't." Buffy leans her head against the shelf, tears forming again.

Willow suddenly enters the bathroom- bouncy and excited. "Hey, I think we finally have something..." She stops. Sees Buffy on the floor- Xander's bloody face. "What happened?"

Buffy quickly covers her leg. "Nothing." She murmurs- then all business, "What'd you find out?"

Summers' Residence- The Dining Room

Willow sits at the computer with Tara. Buffy sits on the other side of the table- now clothed in her white turtleneck. Xander stands- a pack of ice on his face.

"We were able to decipher pretty much everything except these. It isn't written in any ancient language we could identify." Willow gestures to some parchment on the table.

Xander snorts, smiles. "It's Klingon. They're.. They're love poems." He blushes a bit- ashamed of his geekiness- then gets serious. "Which has nothing to do with the insidious scheme you're about to describe."

"What do you got for me that doesn't rhyme?" Buffy asks.

Tara pulls up a CD-ROM. "Um, this."

"It was filled with encoded blueprints and schematics." Willow explains, handing Buffy some papers.

"To what?" Buffy asks, looking confused- she shuffles through the papers.

"Um, banks, armoured car routes, corporate vaults. This is big." Tara explains.

Willow types a bit. "They're looking to score some serious dinero. We don't think they're planning just one job."

"Spree, anyone?" Xander asks, applies the ice to his face again.

Buffy looks over the list of places. "I...I can't cover all these at once."

"You don't have to." Willow leans over, shows Buffy the computer. "We think there's one they may hit tonight.

Tara nods. "It's time-sensitive."

"Be careful." Xander advises, "Warren's gone all mighty mouse, emphasis on the might."

"Good. Then I won't have to hold back."

Spike's Crypt

Spike slams the door open to his crypt and lunges down the stairs. He's without his duster. Scenes from the bathroom flash through his mind. He walks over to the floor by the fridge- retrieves a bottle of alcohol and pours a glass. Scenes from the bathroom continue to go through his head. Suddenly, the glass shatters in his hand. Spike looks at his hand, throws down the glass.

"Uh, knock knock." Clem appears at the door. He's holding a container

"I was just in the neighbourhood, so I thought, you know, there's a Knight Rider marathon on the TV, so..." He lifts his container joyfully. "I got hot wings!"

Spike continues to look down at his hands. He shakes his head. "What have I done?" He shakes his head again, slowly. "Why didn't I do it?" Spike's voice breaks, his brow furrowed, he lifts his head to the ceiling. "What has she done to me?"

"She done" who?" Clem asks, walking forward.

Spike turns his back to Clem- gestures dismissively, helplessly.

"Oh...the Slayer, huh? Gosh, she break up with you again?"

Spike looks up, stops pacing- his posture bent, defeated. "We were never together." He mutters, "Not really. She'd never lower herself that far."

"She's a sweet girl, Spike, but, hey," Clem pauses, raises his hand. "issues."

Spike raises his eyebrows, a bit amused- but continues to move his body aimlessly- turns away from Clem, paces.

"And no wonder, with the whole coming back from the grave and whatnot. I had this cousin who got resurrected by some kooky shaman. Whoo, boy," Clem makes a 'schitzoid-type' gesture to his head. "What that a mess."

Spike turns back to Clem, his forehead knotted, his voice and face full of desperation. "Why do I feel this way?"

Clem shrugs. "Love's a funny thing."

Spike has stopped. He stands looking straight at Clem, "Is that what this is?" then he walks forward again, "I can feel it..." he touches his scalp. "Squirming in my head."

Clem looks confused. "Love?"

"The chip." Spike says.

Clem nods.

"Little jiminy cricket, gnawing bits and chunks." Spike continues to hold his head.

Clem gestures to his own head, moves his hand around. "Uh, maybe a wet cloth?"

Spike sniffs, "Everything always used to be so clear." gestures left and right. "Slayer, vampire. Vampire kills slayer, sucks her dry, picks his teeth with her bones." he says between clenched teeth. "It's always been that way. I've tasted the life of 2 slayers." He nods, "With Buffy..." turns to a grimace, then a snarl. "It isn't supposed to be this way!" Spike tears down a bit of ironwork. "It's the chip! Steel and wires and silicon. It won't let me be a monster..." He leans over the crypt, morose- voice breaks again. "And I can't be a man. I'm nothing." Spike says softly.

Clem walks up behind him, sets a hand on Spike's shoulder. "Hey... Come on now, Mr. Negative. You never know what's just around the corner." Spike brushes Clem off, walks further up the crypt.

"Things change."

Spike's voice vibrates with suppressed laughter. "That they do. Hunh!" Then, realizing something, he turns to Clem. His face dark, and thoughtful- very vampire-like though he hasn't vamped.. "If you make them."

Sunnydale- An Amusement Park

An armoured car gets loaded with bags of money at the amusement park. Two security guards stand talking with a park employee. the last bag has been loaded.

The truck tries to drive away- but can't. Warren prevents it. He 's lifting the armoured truck off of its back wheels- he flips it on to its side. Andrew and Jonathan watch.

"I can't wait to get my hands on his orbs." Andrew says eagerly.

Jonathan mutters. "Yeah, I'm sure he'll be givin' 'em up any second now."

Warren rips the door off of the armoured truck. Suddenly, Buffy' s there- standing atop the truck

"Hey. Is this your bank? 'Cause if not, there's gonna be a fee for that." Buffy jumps down to tackle Warren, but he throws her off.

"I was wondering when super bitch would show up."

She dusts herself off. "You really got a problem with strong women, don't you?"

"Nothing I can't handle." Warren says, throwing a punch.

Buffy and he trade blows- until Buffy goes down.

"You seem a little off." Warren comments. "Is this a bad day?"

Buffy jumps up. "It's gettin' better." Buffy slams him with the door from the armoured truck- and into the amusement park arch.

"Is that all you got?" Warren asks- just as the arch tumbles on top of him- boulders and cement burying him.

Andrew looks anguished, "No!" he screams.

Buffy saunters up to Andrew and Jonathan, cocky. "There's 2 ways this can end, and right now I'm thinkin' they're both gonna hurt."

Andrew smiles. "I think you're right." Warren shakes himself loose from the debris. He's fine. Buffy hears the stones moving and turns, her eyes wide.

"Oh, what's the matter, baby?" Warren taunts. "You never fight a real man before?"

--Commercial-

Buffy and Warren continue to fight. They're pretty equal. Buffy slams Warren into the armoured truck.

"Wow." Warren sneers, "That almost hurt, kitten."

They continue to fight,

"Kill her. Kill her!" Andrew cheers. Jonathan looks appalled. Warren punches Buffy- she's on the ground.

"You know who I am, slayer?" He asks. Buffy gets up form the pavement. "You're a murderer."

Warren nods. "Well, that, too. But more to the point..." They continue to trade blows. "I'm the guy that beat you. And it's not the muscles, baby. It's the brains."

"I'll remember that when I knock 'em clean out of your..." Buffy is interrupted, when Jonathan suddenly jumps onto Buffy's back, sending her off-balance.

Warren grins, "Whoa, Sparky! I didn't think you had it in you."

Jonathan holds on tight as Buffy attempts to throw him off. He whispers, "The orbs. Smash his orbs."

Buffy finally brushes him off. Warren smashes Buffy into a park bench- then stands over her.

"Say good night, bitch." Buffy reaches up and grabs the leather pouch from Warren's belt. She smashes them into the pavement. The blue energy billows up and out form Warren, his eyes glow silver again- but this time they're being drained.

Buffy looks Warren over. "Good night, bitch." She sneer in her best Faith-esque tone. She kicks him back on to the pavement.

"You're nothing but a sad little boy, Warren, but it's time you grow up and pay for what you've done."

Warren scrambles up, quickly removing his coat. "Get away from me. I swear to god I'm gonna take you down, you piece of..." His coat off, Warren reveals a rock jet pack- that he ignites. He soars into the sky.

Buffy looks up- annoyed, and frustrated.

"Aw, come on!" She groans.

"Well played, Slayer…" Andrew sneers, removing his own jacket. He's got a jet pack too.

"Why didn't I get one of those?!" Jonathan whines.

"…This round to you, but the game's far from over." Andrew ignites his jetpack- soaring into the building's overhang. He falls to the ashphalt.

Sunnydale- The Police Station

Two police cars pullup to the Sunnydale Police Department. An officer removes Andrew and Jonathan from the back of one car. They're escorted into the station.

"Jet packs! You jerks were setting me up to take the fall." Jonathan groans.

Andrew broods over Warren. "He left me. He flew away and left me."

Jonathan looks over the station. "Oh, god. The big house."

Andrew continues to talk about Warren. "How could he do this to me? He promised we'd be together, but he was just using me. He never really loved... Hanging out with us. You think he'll come back for us? I mean, he wouldn't just take off, would he?"

Sunnydale- A Street

Spike pulls up in a motorcycle. Dressed in black- he's still missing his duster. He flicks a cigarette onto the pavement.

"Get nice and comfy, slayer. I'll be back. And when I do, things are gonna change." Spike disappears down the road.

Summers' Residence- Willow's Room

Willow and Tara are in the bedroom. Its morning and they've just gotten dressed.

"Hey, clothes." Willow smiles- gesturing to her blouse.

Tara smiles slyly. "Better not get used to 'em."

"Mmm. Yes, Ma'am." Willow pulls Tara forward into a kiss, and then hug. Tara peers over Willow's shoulder, looking out into the backyard.

"Xander." Willow pulls back, smiles. "Ok, not quite the response I was fishing for."

"No, he's here." Tara walks over to the window, gazes down on Buffy and Xander.

" Think they're making up?" Willow asks. She pulls open a dresser drawer.

"I hope so." Tara smiles, "That's the best part."

Summers' Residence- The Backyard

Buffy stands in the backyard holding a long stick. She's using it to poke into the underbrush. She's wearing a lavender hoodie and blue jeans. Xander appears behind her.

"Time for the spring poking already?" He asks. Xander is wearing jeans, and a pale yellow shirt over a white undershirt. He's got his hands in his pockets

"Just making sure there are no more evil trio cameras. Or evil uno." Buffy says quietly, facing him, unsmiling.

"The sinister yet addictive card game?" Xander asks with a straight face. He pulls a very slight smile from Buffy- that disappears.

"Warren. Jonathan and Andrew got clinked, but Warren pulled a rocket man."

"You'll find him." Xander says with a bounce, his expression still neutral. "He won't be much good without his friends."

Buffy agrees. "No, he won't." The two both look down, sensing the deeper meaning. They move to sit on the bench.

"How did we get here?" Xander sighs. Buffy squinches her face a bit, tilts her head.

"Scenic route. Long drive."

"The past few weeks..." Xander starts…

"I know."

"I thought I hit bottom, but... It hurt that you didn't trust me enough to tell me about Spike." Xander pinches his lips together, looks down. "It hurt."

"I'm sorry. I should have told you."

"Maybe you would have if I hadn't given you so many reasons to think I'd be an ass about it." He smiles a bit ruefully.

"Guess we've all done a lot of things lately we're not proud of."

Xander looks down again."I think I've got you beat."

Buffy widens her eyes, smiles very slightly. "Wanna compare?"

"Not so much." Xander says. "I don't know what I'd do... Without you and Will."

"Let's not find out." Buffy smiles sadly, then pulls Xander into a big hug. "I love you. You know that, right?" Xander's eyes suddenly go wide. He pulls away from Buffy- calls her name. They both stand up.

Warren has just entered the back yard. He's dishevelled- still wearing the clothing from the night before.

"You think you can just do that to me?! You think I'd let you get away with that?!" He looks around, then pulls a revolver.

"Think again." Warren starts shooting. Buffy pushes Xander down. He lands on his back. Buffy falls. Warren runs, still pulling off rounds.

Summers' Residence- Willow's Room

Bullets sound from the backyard. Willow, smiling, is suddenly sprayed with red, Tara, looks at her, surprised.

"Your shirt." She says. Then falls- a red hole through her clothes- clean through the heart.

"Tara?" Willow runs forward.

Summers' Residence- The Backyard

Xander pulls himself up form the grass. He appears unharmed.

"Sweet fancy Moses, where the hell did he..." He sees Buffy. She lies on the grass, unmoving.

Summers' Residence- Willow's Room

Willow picks up Tara, cradles her in her arms.

"Oh, god! Tara?! Baby? Baby, come on! Come on."

Summers' Residence- The Backyard

Xander leans over Buffy, his hand over her heart. The wound pumps blood through his fingers. "Buffy!" Buffy stares at the sky. She blinks.

Summers' Residence- Willow's Room

Willow gasps for air, calls Tara's name…

Willow looks to the ceiling. Her eyes change- become red rimmed with black.

-Credits-

**

-Cath

CathJoudrey@hfx.eastlink.ca

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