Beneath You

Frankfurt, Germany- A Nightclub.

A neon sign with the sign Tattoo Nachtlokal. Electonica music pounds in the background. A pink-haired girl dressed in leather runs in the pedway above the building. She looks tired and desperate. She's not running very fast. Two people dressed in black robes run behind her. The girl runs out of the building and climbs down the wall. She enters the room where people are dancing. And gasps as one of the robed people pushes her back into an entryway. They fight briefly, but the girl is overcome, falls, and is stabbed in the chest. The robed person sheathes the knife (same as in Lessons) and walks away. The girl lies dying on the floor. "From beneath you..." Her head turns, eyes wide, toward the camera. "It devours."

Sunnydale- Summers' House- Buffy's Room

A scream. Buffy is in bad. Dawn leans over her, shaking her shoulders and calling Buddy's name. Buffy wakes, and is still groggy. "I heard screaming." She sits up. "That was you." Dawn says. Buffy is remembering her dream. "There was a girl." "That would be me." Dawn says quietly, rational. "Uh, no." Buffy shakes her head. "It was..." "Just a dream." Dawn finishes. "It was just a dream, right?" Buffy knows it wasn't 'just' a dream. "From beneath you it devours." She says quietly, considering. Tries to remember. "That's what she said, and then they..." Buffy looks up at her window. "There's more like her, Dawn... Out there, somewhere." She gets up, moves toward the window. Stands looking in the distance. "And they're gonna die."

Sunnydale- A Street

The street is quiet and dark. A 'normal' night. Suddenly the ground begins to shake. Rocks roll down the grass. The pavement tears up. A line of destruction crosses the ground.

-Credits and Commercials-

Sunnydale- Sunnydale High- Basement

A big rat sits on top of some old office equipment in the basement. In the background Spike is talking. "No, no, no, no, no, no." He mutters, out of view. Spike peeks his head out from behind an old file cabinet. He's kneeling on the floor- dishevelled and dirty. His hair is a mess- uncut, two-toned, and wild. "Now is not the time." He says- apparently talking to the rat. He moves slowly, coming from behind the cabinet. He's stalking the rat. "You know it. I know it. But making them understand..." He stops, crouching behind another piece of furniture- eyes intent on the rat. "Is a totally different matter." He crawls forward now, on hands and knees. "No manners is the problem. Proper breeding... Lack of etiquette. All of it lacking. All of it lost on them." Spike looks up and around as the ground begins to shake. Forgetting the rat, he stands. "Not the time. Not hardly ready." Spike says, panicking. He cringe- ducks. Covers his ears. "Stop. Please, Mum! Begging now! Make it stop! Oh, God." The pipes and junk rattles and shakes. Spike drops to his knees and covers his head- screaming.

Sunnydale- A Street- Xander's Car

Xander is driving Dawn and Buffy to school. Dawn sits in back, with Buffy shotgun.

"Could you die?" Dawn gushes. "'Cause seriously, speaking for everybody who are me in the car right now, we're very excited."

Buffy nods, does a slight eye-roll. "Well, I'm glad for all of you, then."

Xander and she don't seem to know what to do about Dawn's enthusiasm.

"I mean, it's just so cool. You're coming to school with me. You'll be, like, there the whole time." Dawn pauses. Her eagerness cooling. "You understand you cannot talk to me, look at me, or hang out with any of my friends, right?"

"Look." Buffy reasons. "I doubt we'll even see each other. Assuming I even half understand my fuzzy job description."

"It's not fuzzy. You're what, dealing with troubled kids?" Dawn shrugs.

"At a spankin' new Hellmouth High." Xander counters. "Please. Outside of drugs and violence and unwanted pregnancy and, uh, unleashing of hordes of Armageddon that comes pouring out of the school's foundation every now and then, what trouble could these kids have?"

Buffy smiles slightly at Xander's commentary. "Guess I'll find out."

Xander continues to keep his eyes on the road as he drives. "Those kids are damn lucky having a Slayer and a friend on campus there for 'em. I hope they appreciate it." Xander pauses. "I know I did."

He a turns a small smile at Buffy."Days gone by, huh?"

"I thought you hated Sunnydale." Dawn remarks.

"Yes and no, with an emphasis on the yes." Xander says thoughtfully, "But at least then I was dating."

"You could be dating now." Buffy says.

Xander looks uncomfortable, fidgets. "Um, I don't know what's not clicking for me right now."

"Well, you know, there's that thing with -Anya-." Buffy says pointedly.

"The leaving-her-at-the-altar thing?" Xander asks.

"Yeah, that one." Buffy nods. Xander nods briefly- bothered. "That's not something you just bounce right back from." Buffy continues. She looks at Xander. He's still peeved. Unhappy at the topic. Sharing his righteous indignation.

"Sure it is. She bounced back to being a vengeance demon, and I bounced back to being a dateless nerd."

"Do you guys talk at all?" asks Dawn.

Xander seems to just remember that she's there. "I've seen her at The Bronze a couple of times." Xander grumbles "I guess there's a lot of scorned women there making vengeance wishes on their exes."

Buffy puts on a southern-type accent. "That's where I go to get my scorn on." She and Xander share a smile.

"You guys really need to ease up with the whole dating demons thing." Dawn remarks.

"Uh, hello?" Buffy replies. "I'm sorry. Wasn't that you having a smooch-a-thon with 'teen vampire' last Halloween?"

Dawn glares- her eyes wide. "See, this is why I don't want you talking to my friends."

Sunnydale- Sunnydale High- Administration Office

Principal Wood opens the door to the office for Buffy. The office is bustling with people- the beginning of a school day.

"We'll sort of feel our way around." He says. "Some students will be sent to you, and others, I'm hoping, will start to come in on their own." He directs Buffy to a cubicle. A poster on the front of it says 'Mentoring Encourages Rewarding Growth…'

"What if they don't? Should I panic?" Buffy turns and asks quickly. She seems a little overwhelmed.

"You'll be surprised, Buffy." Mr. Wood responds. "You're the youngest and, uh, least -stuffy- member of this faculty." Buffy smiles. "I think the students are gonna want to come in and talk to you, and when they do, don't evaluate them. Just listen."

Listening, Buffy moves to the window and looks out to the hallway.

"They need to feel like there's someone around here who actually understands them."

Buffy looks up from the window- excited. "Can I give detention?"

"Okay by me." Mr. Wood says seriously. "A little authority can be a wonderful thing. Just remember that while you are here to help, you're not here to be their friend. Trust me. You open that door and these students will eat you -alive-."

Buffy does a half smile/grimace. "You heard about Principal Flutie, right?" Mr. Wood has not, apparently. He looks clueless. Buffy shakes her head quickly. "Forget it." She sets her bag down at her desk.

"Okay, then. And Buffy, relax." Mr. Wood leans on the divider. "There's only 3 things these kids understand- the boot, the bat, and the bastinada." He laughs. Buffy just stares at him. "It's the... It's a... It's a bad joke." Mr. Wood says uncomfortably- tries to explain. "It's the bastinada. No one ever knows what that thing is." He shakes his head.

Buffy looks up, "A wooden rod used to slap the soles of the feet in Turkish prisons, but if made with the correct wood, makes an awesome billy-club." She nods.

"I think you're gonna fit in just fine." He says it slowly, a bit freaked. But recovers, "Is there something else?"

Buffy stands. "Um, yeah. Uh, just one more thing. I was, uh, just curious, you know- I mean, not that I'm not grateful or anything, but, uh, I guess I was wondering why I-

"Have this job?" Mr. Wood finishes.

Buffy looks a but shamed. "I still haven't finished college."

"I know." He says.

Buffy smiles, flippant. "Was it my sparkling personality? Or maybe you enjoyed my work at the Double Meat Palace?"

He's a little bit amused- but doesn't smile. "I'm a vegetarian."

Buffy seems a little surprised at the info. He continues. "These students need someone around here who understands them. I need someone who understands these students. Why? Is there something about you that I don't know that maybe I should?"

Buffy smiles brightly. "Nothing I can think of." They're interrupted by a teacher entering the office- two boys in tow.

"Oh, if you'll excuse me. First catch of the day. I'll be in my office if you need me." Mr. Wood gestures for the boys to follow him into his office- just across from Buffy's cubicle.

Buffy leans over the divider- calls after him. "Thanks. I'm just gonna have a look around, get to know the place." Her voice gets quieter, talking to herself. "Make sure it's all... School-like." Her eyes get distant.

Buffy leaves the office and heads to the basement access.

Sunnydale-Sunnydale High- Basement

Buffy walks in the basement. She calls Spike's name. A rat sits on a garbage pail. All is dark and creepy. Buffy enters the room where she'd last seen him. The door shuts behind her. Creaking, ominous. "Spike?" No answer.

Bath, England- Giles' Home

Willow sits inside Giles' house at the door. She looks out on the pretty English countryside. It's drizzling. Giles walks up behind- leans over to her.

"Taxi's here." He says quietly.

Willow continues to stare out at the landscape. "I know."

Giles nods. "And in keeping with quaint old British tradition, you would now be expected to get into it."

Willow squints. "I don't know if I can." She turns to him. "Giles, I'm not done here."

Giles sighs and walks over to lean on the doorway opposite her. "That's your fear, talking."

Willow nods. "Yes, and my fears of being an obnoxious blabbermouth. You're the one that keeps telling me to trust my instincts."

"True." Giles nods.

"So, shouldn't we be listening?" Willow asks. "I don't want to go back home just so I can -screw- up again." She pauses, looks up entreating. "Why don't I stay? Not forever, just long enough to, I don't know, make my fear shut up a little, maybe."

The taxi beeps its horn in the background. Giles leans out the doorway and waves to it. He leans forward to Willow.

"It's possible, but... Try to be very specific. What exactly are you afraid of?"

"Huh. Well..." Willow rolls her eyes a bit. "For starters, how about the Hellmouth's getting all rumbly again? And now I know it's got teeth, and are those literal teeth? 'Cause I don't know if I can handle it. And what if I can handle it? Does that mean I have to be a bigger, badder bad-ass than the source of all badness? And... Well, what if I give up all this control stuff and I go all veiny and homicidal again? And what if-"

"They won't take you back." Giles interrupts.

Willow nods. "Uh-huh."

Giles leans down to get eye-level to her. "Willow, we could spend another two years here training and practicing and learning to hone your powers, and still there'd be no way of knowing for sure that the friends you left behind you... Are still your friends."

"Well, sure." Willow says glibly. "I mean, if you put it that way, duh." She smiles a little.

Giles continues to be serious. "I'd love to offer you some guarantee that you'd be welcomed back to Sunnydale with open arms, but I can't. You may not be wanted, but you will be needed."

"That all you got?" She asks.

"For the moment, yes."

"Okay." Willow sighs. "I guess I'd better." They both stand.

Giles hands her a bag. "Trust yourself, and the others might follow." He opens an umbrella and leads Willow out to the taxi.

Sunnydale- A Street

A woman walks on the sidewalk- a dog trailing behind her on a leash. The dog stops and growls at a bit of the sidewalk. The woman turns to the dog. "Rocky. Come on. Do your business so I can go home." She looks up at the sky. "I could have gotten a cat, but no." A crunching sound. The dog yips. The leash moves. The woman turns to look. The dog is gone. There's a hole in the ground where it had been, the leash disappears into the hole. Suddenly, the leash is pulled toward the hole (she doesn't let go) and she's pulled with it toward the hole. She stops just short of the hole- as the concrete and dirt fly up. A huge 'something' (we don't see it) looms above her. She screams and runs down the block. Right into someone. "Hello?" Xander says, puzzled.

Sunnydale- Summers' House- The Living room

The woman (Nancy), sits in the centre of the couch flanked by Xander and Dawn. Buffy sits across form her. They listen to her story.

"And whatever it was, it was big and strong- stronger than... I mean, I don't know how it's possible." Nancy pauses, looks at them. "You hear things in this town, living here in Sunnydale, but nobody actually believes them. You know, you'd have to be crazy, and..." She pauses. "And you guys think that I'm crazy, don't you?"

Xander shakes his head. "I don't."

"We've seen things, too, Nancy." Buffy says blandly. "And we're gonna take care of this. It's your lucky night."

Xander smiles. "Considering, you know, your dog just got all ate up and stuff." He pauses- considers. "Hey, can I freshen up your tea?"

"No, that's okay. Thanks." Nancy replies. Xander shakes his head and grimaces (had been trying to be cool, courteous guy- came off as odd ball guy).

"So you say this thing just came up out of the ground, I mean, without any warnings or signs or anything?" Dawn asks.

"Just this kind of rumbling, you know, like just before an earthquake." Nancy explains, gesturing.

Buffy looks down. Her dream clicks. "From beneath you it devours." She says quietly.

"What?" Nancy asks- didn't quite hear Buffy.

"Nothing." Buffy says quickly.

"Nothing good." Dawn mutters. She also looks down- thoughts on Buffy's dream.

"It's sounding monsterific, all right." Xander agrees.

"Should we round up the gang?" Dawn asks- no enthusiasm there.

"Good thinking, except..." Xander gestures at the three of them. "This is the gang."

"Look, Nancy," Buffy leans forward. "we're gonna get into this, and I promise you, if your dog is alive, we're gonna find him. The only thing that I need is a little-" Buffy's interrupted. She looks sharply to the door.

"What you need is help." Spike stands in the foyer- leaning slightly against the entry-way. He's all cleaned up- wearing a blue long sleeved shirt and black pants. His hair is cut and bleached. He looks arrogant and assured. "Fortunately, you've got me." Buffy looks shocked.

-Commercials accompanied by much jumping around my own living room, excessive drooling, and shrieking-

Sunnydale- Summers' House- The Living Room

The situation is as we left it. (OMG,OMG,OMG)

Spike, nods slightly, respectfully. "Buffy." He says quietly.

Buffy is still shocked. Expression unchanging. "Spike." She looks him over very briefly, then gets up. Xander and Dawn- almost as shocked, sit on the couch.

Nancy's clueless- but she gets the vibe. "Who's that?" She asks Dawn.

"He's..." Dawn pauses. "It's Buffy's-"

"Ex." Xander finishes abruptly- yet quiet. Buffy stands by the window. Fidgeting, pacing, she then turns to face Spike.

"And I'm thinking it's a little more complicated than just that." Nancy observes.

"Always is." Xander says, still quiet.

"You've changed." Buffy says- really restraining herself. Tightly coiled.

"I have." Spike's still relaxed, confident, quiet. Still leaning at the entryway.

"New clothing. Better hair. Not so much with the crazy. I like it." Buffy looks him over, gathers her indifference. "Now, what do you want?"

"Easy." Spike drawls. He stands up straighter, sneers a little. "If you think I like putting myself here, surrounded by people who don't particularly like me, you'd be wrong."

"If you're uncomfortable," Xander stands, comes to Buffy's side. "we can make you leave."

"I'll be quick." Spike says to Xander. Then to Buffy, "We need to talk. You want to do that here or privately?" He gestures to the front door.

"I'm thinking here," Xander snarls. "in the company of good friends and pointy weapons." Nancy makes a face at the 'pointy weapons' comment.

Buffy steps in. "You said something about quick."

"I did." Spike steps further into the room. "Before I start, and for the record, the last you saw me, I was a mess- out of my head, admitted." He looks humbled. "Last week, living in the school basement... Well, you saw me."

Dawn stands, confronting Buffy. "You did?" Xander also looks at Buffy- questioning.

"Guys, just a second, okay? Yes, I saw Spike." Buffy tries to get them to drop it- gestures to them both. "I just didn't-"

"What?" Dawn's angry, hurt. "You just... Forgot to mention it?" Xander looks on- more hurt than angry right now.

Buffy rationalizes to Dawn. "Things were insane in the basement. I saved your life. We can discuss this later."

"Sure." Dawn says- really pissed. "Whatever you want."

"Right." Xander says, now angry.

"'Cause that seems to be the only time you let us in, Buffy. Whenever you want."

Spike cuts in, mildly. "Now, in fairness to Buffy-"

"Shut up, Spike!" Xander cuts him off. Spike looks just a little amused, still very mild. Blinks slowly. Through this, Nancy just takes it all in.

"Okay." Buffy sighs, looks at Dawn and Xander. "Guys, give us a second." She and Spike go into the foyer.

They stand by the door in the foyer. Spike by the door.

"Do not start by saying you're sorry." Buffy says quietly.

Spike stands, still confident- hands on his hips. He shakes his head. "I didn't come here to atone."

"Then what the hell do you want?"

"Only to help you." He says- still quiet.

"Help me what?" Buffy demands. She crosses her arms in front of her chest.

"I was hoping you'd tell me. You're the Slayer, connected to the visions, a long line of worthies. Right? I'm just a guy with his ear to the ground, but even I can feel it. Something's coming. I don't know what exactly, but something's brewing. And it's so big, ugly, and damned, it makes you and me look like little bitty puzzle pieces." He pauses, still quiet, unthreatening. "If I'm wrong," He looks toward the door. "say so."

Buffy stays quiet- unsure. Her arms in front of her chest now seem more protective than defiant.

"Lovely. No hard feelings." He gestures at the door. "I'll go out that door and you can lock it behind me with any spell you like. So... Am I wrong?"

"Everything about you is wrong, Spike." Buffy's eyes and voice are intense. Spike nods, turns to leave. But he stops as she continues.

"But something is coming." Buffy says quietly, looking down.

"You're gonna need some help?" He asks, turning to face her again.

Buffy smiles slightly, but it's disbelieving. "Since when did you become the champion of the people?"

Spike continues seriously, "I didn't. I'm just a guy who can lend a hand if you'll let me. Ball's in your court, Slayer."

Back in the Living Room, Spike now leans against the fireplace as Buffy makes plans for action. Xander and Dawn stand in the same places they'd been in. Dawn looks uncomfortable- her arms folded against her chest. Buffy's all business.

"Okay, we're gonna split. Two pairs. Whatever this creature is, it's burrowing through solid ground. That means a strength and power that we don't usually deal with, but we may have to get used to now that the Hellmouth is getting all perky." She puts on her jacket (brown suede) and opens her weapons chest.

Nancy leans to Xander. "Shouldn't we call the police or something?" She asks quietly.

"And tell them..?" Xander asks, smiling a little.

Nancy nods. "I'll stop interrupting." She and Xander made eyes at each other. Flirtatious.

Buffy gets a few knives ready. "Xander, take Nancy home. Drive, don't walk, and try not to stop till you get there." Spike looks up- realises that she means that the two of them are to pair up.

"Understood." Xander responds.

"Is your girlfriend always this... Commanding?" Nancy asks.

Xander stops. "Who? Buffy?" He gestures to Buffy- taken aback. "Oh, no, no, no, no, no. See, uh-I mean, she's a girl, and- and she's a friend, but-but-but she's not my girlfriend." He says quickly- gesturing a bit wildly with his hands.

Dawn interrupts him. "Xander." He turns- she gestures to the corner of her mouth. "Little drool."

Buffy tests a flashlight. "Spike and I will check out the scene." She tells them.

Xander stops dead. Walks over to her. "Okay. In the biggest way, I am not loving this plan. I'm not loving Spike." Then whispering, "He… he tried to rape you."

Buffy is still all business. "And he failed." She says firmly. "I know I can take him. Xander, take Nancy home. Spike and I will patrol." She gestures over to Spike- who still stands by the fireplace, unmoving.

"I'm command central, so everybody check in with me." Dawn says seriously, then shrinks, "Okay. I'll be here doing my homework, but the other one sounded cooler."

Buffy smiles. "Be safe." She looks over at Spike. "Let's go."

"Righty-o, then." He says, starting to follow. Xander and Nancy have already left.

Dawn stops him. "Spike." He turns, looks at her, questioning. "You sleep, right?" Dawn asks. She looks resolved, strong. Spike looks sideways at her. "You- vampires- you sleep?"

Spike nods, "Yeah. What's your point, Nibblet?" He smiles slightly.

"Well, I can't take you in a fight or anything, even with the chip in your head." Dawn says coolly. "But you do sleep. If you hurt my sister at all, touch her... You're gonna wake up on fire." Her expression doesn't change. Spike looks impressed- and very taken aback.

Sunnydale- A Street

Spike and Buffy walk down the street. Spike carries the flashlight. He's a pace or so ahead of Buffy.

"You're awfully quiet." Spike says.

"Wouldn't know what to say." Buffy responds, quiet.

"Fine with me." He says, continuing to walk. "I was more than half expecting to get an earful, anyway. And when exactly did your sister get unbelievably scary?"

Buffy stops walking, looks at him- at a loss. "What are you doing?"

Spike turns, "What?" then, quiet again. "I told you once, straight up, I'm here to help, and that's all." He turns again- gestures to the pile of rubble that's left of part of the sidewalk. "Think this here's our spot?"

"How'd you guess?"

He looks at the hole in the ground- aims the flashlight at it. "I don't fancy sticking my head in there."

"But if something bites it off, that'd be a clue." Buffy quips with a shrug. Spike gives her a sideways look, then leans down. He moves a bit of the debris. Buffy watches him for a moment, then looks away. "So what happened to you?"

Spike continues to peer at the mess. "Well, you saw me. Those ghostly types in the school basement got in my head. Made me flat-out bug-shagging crazy. And I'm not exactly bragging about it, but they were stronger than I was. Made me see things, do things." He stops. Looks up at Buffy- voice changing from business-like- gets softer. "And how come you never told anyone you saw me?"

Buffy looks at the ground. Then at Spike. "I don't know. I guess... I was partly hoping you were some kind of mirage." She looks at the ground again.

"Sorry to disappoint." Spike says, still looking at her. She doesn't return his gaze.

"Not your fault."

Spike holds the flashlight out to her. "Hold the torch, would you?"

She looks at it, hesitant. Then reaches out to take it. As her hand touches his, Buffy flashes back to the attempted rape. She takes the flashlight and pulls her hand away quickly. Spike can see something is wrong- moves back too.

Buffy turns away. She takes a deep breath. "Look, this... Us working together- it's not a way for us to get back together, if that's what you want." She says quickly.

"It's not." Spike says- his voice neutral. "Look, I can't blame you for being all skittish." He grimaces.

"Skittish?" Buffy looks down at him, a little angry. "That's not a word I would use for it. You tried to rape me." She turns her face from his- he also looks away. "I don't have the words." Buffy breathes.

"Neither do I." Spike says, looking down, thoughtful. "I can't say 'sorry'. I can't use 'forgive me'. All I can say is, Buffy..." He looks up at her again, face plain. "I've changed."

"I believe you."

"Well, that's something." He says, a little surprised.

"I just don't know what you've changed into." Buffy says, her face mask-like. "You come back to town, you make with the big surprises- twice. I don't know what your game is, Spike, but I know there's something you're not telling me."

Spike turns away again, then gets up, dusting himself off. "You're right. There is. But we're not best friends anymore, so too bad for me. I'm not sharing." He says quickly. Buffy nods- unhappy, but accepting. "We've been through things. The end of the world and back. I can be useful, 'cause, honestly, I've got nothing better to do. Make use of me if you want." He blinks. Then turns and gestures to the debris. Changing his voice back to business-like. "And there's nothing here. Just a bit of slime, mounds of displaced dirt and such. Whatever our beastie is, he's gone." Spike turns and walks past Buffy- up the sidewalk.

Buffy stands staring at the hole for a moment. Shakes herself, then sighs. She's conflicted, and unsure- and trying hard to keep it together.

Sunnydale- An Apartment Foyer

Xander and Nancy walk up to her apartment steps.

"Boy, I still can't believe that all of this is happening." Nancy says as she opens the door. "I mean, even with this town's reputation for, you know, unexplained weirdness."

Xander smiles. "Right. Sunnydale- come for the food, stay for the dismemberment."

"There's good food?" Nancy asks- half serious. A bit of awkward flirtation ensues. Rebound boy and girl trying to enter back into the dating game (personally, I do not feel the chemistry). "Well..." Nancy says awkwardly, "Thanks." She pauses. "And that's a couple levels of lameness right there, me saying "thanks" after everything you've done for me tonight."

"Well, you could slip me a 20, but then I'd have to act all offended." Xander suggests.

Nancy laughs. "Got it. So... Um, do you think I might, instead, give you a call sometime?"

"Just to check in?"

"No, actually, I'm hitting on you." Nancy replies, blunt.

"Even better. I'm very listed." Xander replies, jumpy, hopeful. Trying not to seem like a dork.

"And I'm really pushy." Nancy replies. "So that works out well, then." There's a awkward pause. Then she turns to go up the stairs.

"Good night." Xander turns- "Nancy..." about to say something. The room starts to shake. The lights flicker. Xander looks out the door, suddenly scared. "I just got a swell idea. Run!"

The glass door shatters as the monster smashes through it, burrowing under the floor. Tiles fly into the air. Xander and Nancy run to the stairwell, and up it. A huge Dune-like worm crashes through the floor, its' mouth full of teeth. But it can't get up the stairs. Xander and Nancy cower back from it, move back form the stairs. The monster retreats back into the ground. Everything gets quiet again.

After a moment Xander looks at Nancy. "Are you okay?"

"I just..." Nancy breathes- still staring at the hole in the floor.

Xander gestures. "Dumb question. Are you injured? Are you hurt?"

Nancy is way freaked. Breathing fast. "I don't think so. I just- I-I don't think that I can take any more of this."

Xander nods, looks over at Nancy. "Two attacks in the same night. I'm starting to think it's not coincidence."

"Oh, sure. Why not?" Nancy breathes. "A monster trying to kill me. It's just the thing that was missing to make my life absolutely perfect." She pauses, groans. "Ronnie would love this, boy."

"Right." Xander nods. Thinks. Comes to a thought. Turns to her. "Who's Ronnie?"

"Oh. Um... Only my psycho ex-boyfriend that I've been trying to get rid of for the past few weeks. I almost prefer the monster. Ronnie was, um... Trouble."

Xander believes he's on to something. "Uh-huh. And I'm just curious. Was this Ronnie guy a... Borrowing money kind of trouble, or was he a... Raising demon trouble kind of guy?"

Nancy looks over the remains of the hallway. "Uh... Ronnie? He couldn't... Uh... He just... He was an abusive bastard, is the catchy headline. And he'd just show up, even after..." She pauses, leans back. "You know the feeling that you get when your ex is constantly ruining every part of your life and it just doesn't stop?"

Xander smiles, nods once. "Yes."

"And you get so tired of feeling helpless that all you can do is just wish that it would stop?" Nancy asks.

Xander cocks his head. She said the magic word. He blinks rapidly. "Wish?"

Sunnydale- The Bronze

Anya and a young woman sit at a table in the Bronze. Anya's hair is back to brown. She's got it cut in a pixie and is dressed in black. She seems to have dropped the puritan-style for something more casual.

"And it's not the fact that he cheated." The woman complains, "It's the way he cheated, you know? I mean, we could have talked. I could have handled it."

"Uh-huh." Anya says, intent. "Uh-huh, I get it. Go on." She seems bored by the talk- waits for the word.

"You know what he is? He's spineless. Yeah, that's it. He's... He's like this spineless little pig. And you know what I wish?"

Anya perks up, leans forward. "God, do I want to." The woman looks at her strangely.

-Commercials-

Sunnydale- The Bronze

"You were saying?" Anya prompts. The conversation has lost its direction.

"Um... I want more quesadillas?" The woman suggests.

"Before that."

"A margarita?"

Anya looks at her, patience lost. "After that."

"Ohh! Yeah. God." The woman gets back on track. "My boyfriend's spineless. He should just... You know, he should just be spineless, for real." Anya gets excited. "No spine. Got it. I can do that." "What do you mean?" The woman looks at her oddly.

Anya gets down to business. "See, honey, what I'm driving this towards here is sometimes, don't you just wish that-" she turns to look to the bar. Her excitement fades. "Oh, penis." Xander, Buffy, Spike, and Nancy have just entered.

"Is this the one you talked to?" Xander asks- gesturing to Anya. Nancy nods.

Anya laughs vaguely, shoos the woman off. "I tell you what- why don't we put a pin in it? Why don't you get yourself a drink and we'll pick it up in a few? Okay?" The woman walks away. "You guys, I am working here." Anya moans. Buffy walks up to the table, smiles, and drops a very large knife on it. "We noticed."

"That's why we're here." Spike adds. He stands in the back of the group. Still looking very put together. Like he's the muscle.

"Right." Xander gestures towards Nancy. Smiles vaguely. "Did you turn this nice lady's ex into a giant worm monster?"

Anya laughs briefly. Then stops. It's not funny. "Yes."

"No way." Nancy says, disbelieving. "Are you saying that that thing was Ronnie?"

"You wish it, I dish it." Anya replies. "I thought we were clear on this. I didn't think you were going to go all -narc- on me." Nancy looks around. Still not quite believing this.

"You wished your ex was a worm?" Buffy turns her nose up in disgust.

"Well..." Nancy shrugs. "We were just talking."

"Anya has a way of making things happen." Xander says to Nancy. Nancy looks at the ceiling- chews her lip.

"I had a quota, the guy had it coming. What's the big?" Anya says- a bit defensive.

Nancy is not handling this well. "I think I'm gonna be sick." She says.

"Anya, that thing you created burst through solid pavement and ate her dog." Buffy states bluntly.

Anya's mouth opens and she squeaks, grabs her arms to her chest. "Oh, puppy!"

Xander steps forward, his voice breaks a bit. "Wait. That gets your sad noise? People's lives are in danger and you give it up for the Yorkie?"

Anya rolls her eyes. "You never understood me, Xander."

Nancy leans over toward Xander. "Xander, who is this woman?"

"Anya?" Xander gestures vaguely. "She's, um... Anya. My ex."

"Oh." Nancy says shortly, glowers.

Anya notices. "Hey. Nobody's bragging here." Anya gets up- moves to leave. Spike rushes over, stops her. Holds her by her forearms. "Hey!" Anya pulls away. "Get your hands off the merchandise! Spike. You don't get to go there again." She preens, adjusting her hair and dress.

Spike pulls away, backs off- hands in the air. "Please. I've already forgotten about our little time together."

"I thought you were Xander's ex-girlfriend." Nancy comments- looking at the group.

Anya shrugs. "I am."

"But you and Spike-" Nancy begins Anya waves her hand- brushes it off. "Had a thing."

Spike eyes the ceiling. "Didn't last." He mutters.

"But... Weren't you Buffy's-" Nancy gestures between Spike and Buffy.

"Briefly." Spike says shortly.

"Never serious." Buffy says almost simultaneously.

Nancy looks around, scathing. "Is there anyone here who hasn't slept together?" Xander turns to look at Spike. Spike blinks quickly, turns away from Xander.

"Look. At least we're all bipeds, which is more than I can say for Ronnie the Worm Boy." Anya says with a small laugh.

Buffy shakes her head. "Okay, guys, could we focus here for just a second? Anya, this Ronnie- okay, he wasn't a worm. Worms are, like, this big." She holds her fingers about an inch apart. "This thing was, like-" She moves her arms out to show the breadth of the worm.

"A Sluggoth demon." Spike blurts. He looks at Anya. "Am I right?"

Anya sighs, put out. Flutters her eyes. "Maybe."

"Wait." Nancy says. "I didn't wish for that. I mean, I don't even know what this whatchamacallit demon thing is."

"Sluggoth demon." Spike explains again. "It's a very -large-, very -nasty-, natural predator who died around the crusades."

Anya rolls her eyes. "Same phylum. It's not cheating. I just embellished."

"Well, you can un-embellish now." Xander demands.

Anya looks over at Xander, flips her hair. "Bite me, Harris." Xander deflates a bit. Swallows. "I have rules to work with. Vengeance demon codes of conduct. But you'll never understand 'cause you're all still so... Human." She looks at them all, a bit baffled. This strikes her as wrong.

"I'm not." Spike says softly, he turns to face Anya. "I'm a demon, just like yourself, Anya."

Anya looks at him, eyes widening. She tries to look closer into Spike's eyes- fascinated. Spike doesn't notice. Continues to speak. "Now, you're gonna turn this spell around like a good little vengeance demon, or I-"

Spike notices her face. "What?"

"Oh, my god." Anya says, awe-struck- she continues to stare at Spike's eyes.

"What are you staring at?" Spike looks at her, confused- he squints his eyes.

"Oh, my god." Anya repeats, still staring. Spike gets it. She knows.

He backs up. "Right. Let's go." He tries to move away from Anya.

Anya grabs Spike's arm. "How did you do it?"

"Spike, what is she talking about?" Buffy demands.

"I can see you." Anya says, still holding onto Spike's arm. He is trying to get her to let go- tries to not let her see his eyes.

"Nothing." Spike insists. "Let's go. Got some worm hunting to do."

Anya is up from her chair- she isn't letting Spike's arm go. He keeps backing up, keeps trying to shake her free. "How did you do it? This shouldn't be possible." Anya insists. She's still trying to see into Spike's eyes.

"Shut up!" Spike is losing it. He can't handle this. "Shut your mouth!"

"How did you get it?" Anya won't let go. She's smiling almost madly. She won't let go. Spike loses it entirely. "I said you shut up!" He punches Anya viciously in the mouth. She flies across The Bronze. Nancy sees this as a time to leave. She exits The Bronze. Spike walks over to Anya, picks her up by the hair and punches her again. Anya hits back- sending Spike soaring into the pool table.Anya stands- she's in demon face. "I am so gonna kick your ass."

Spike gets up off the pool table, smiling. He swaggers towards Anya. "Right, bitch. Round and round we-" Anya walks behind him, swings Spike around. As she does- he vamps.

"You haven't changed, Spike." Buffy punches Spike- he holds his ground, and punches Buffy back. She turns, angry. And punches him two, three times.

Spike staggers back, smiles, "Working out some personal issues, are we?" She hits him a few more times. He doesn't punch back now- but leans forward, sneers. "Hey, I guess this will be first contact since you know when. Ooh. Up for another round in the balcony, then?" Spike gestures upward to the second floor. Buffy punches him one more time. He falls. Spike leans over on his side, chortles as he gets up. "Right you are, love. I haven't changed. Not a lick. And watching your face trying to figure me out was absolutely delicious." Buffy leans toward him, intent, serious- basically ready to stake.

"Buffy!" Xander shouts from behind.

"Not now, Xander." Buffy says through her teeth.

Xander continues. "Nancy-she's gone, and out there all alone, she's worm bait." Buffy sighs, looks from Spike to the door. Torn between Spike and Nancy. Spike just stands, looking very bloody and vicious behind her.

"Oh... I'll go find her. You stay with Anya. Get her to reverse that spell." Buffy looks at Spike, backs away from him, then turns and runs out of The Bronze.

"Hey, is that it?" Spike shouts after her "Little touchy-feely and you're off to the Bat-poles?"

Sunnydale- An Alley

Nancy walks, muttering to herself. "Freaks! Why do I always surround myself with freaks?" She pauses. The ground is rumbling. She runs, screaming for help. She finds a ladder on a building and starts to climb. It gets quiet. She thinks Ronnie has stopped. But then the building starts to quake. She climbs higher. Suddenly the ladder comes loose from the building. She screams. Buffy runs across the rooftops. She's trying to reach Nancy. Spike follows close behind Buffy. Buffy doesn't see him.

Sunnydale- The Bronze

Anya sits at the table in The Bronze. She's resigned, unhappy. "What do you want me to do?" Xander stands in front of her. "Reverse the spell." "It's not that easy, Xander." She snaps. "You can do it." He says insistently. "Yeah, sure, the spell part. What about me?" Her voice goes up a pitch. "I'm in enough trouble as it is. Halfrek's all over my case, D'Hoffryn is -not- pleased with my work, and you -don't- want to see him angry, trust me." "Nice friends you got." Xander says, scowling. Anya scowls back. "Nice friends I -had-. Chums, co-workers, bridesmaids. Oh, I had the whole package, until something fell part. Now, what could that be, Xander?" "You saying this is my fault?" Xander nods, bitter. "All I'm saying is none of this happened until -you- dumped me at the altar." She replies. "And sooner or later, Anya, that excuse just -stops- working." Anya fools around with the straw in her drink. Thoughtful. Cornered.

Sunnydale- An Alley

Just as Nancy is about to fall, Buffy swoops out to save her Spider-man-style. They drop into a dumpster full of cardboard. Buffy walks the alleyway- wary. Ronnie pops up form the earth. She's standing steady- but not sure how to attack it. Spike arrives- Buffy turns to see him as he he grabs up a metal bar form the wall. He moves past her- toward the demon. "You've had your turn, love. Leave the real violence to the demons, yeah?" Spike starts to hit the demon with the pole. He backs up to get some power behind a throw. "That's right! Big Bad's back..." he twirls the javelin-like piece of metal. "And lookin' for a little death!"

-Commercials-

Sunnydale- An Alley

////note: this isn't fleshed out yet- hadn't the time. :-( will complete this evening. ~7PM AST.//////

Spike "I'm sorry." "Right." He looks down at the piece of metal. "Wrong." "Wrong manoeuvre. Not hardly helpful." "God, please help me." "Help me!"

Buffy "You're not the one who needs help." "He's going into shock."

Spike "Too much, too much, too much..."

Buffy (on cell to 911) "Yeah, I need an ambulance. Someone's been stabbed. Oh, god, uh, corner of third and Fairview. Okay, help is coming. Try not to move."

Spike "Deep, deep, deep inside me."

Buffy "Look, Spike, whatever you're doing-

Spike "Get away! Get-uhh!"

Buffy "Do it somewhere else. I am through with this."

Spike "Oh, oh, lucky girl. Call it quits. Now, there's an option. If only it was so easy. If only-if only- What the hell are you screamin' about? I can hear you. No need to shout!"

Spike "I get it. The joke's on me. Lots of laughs. Yeah. Hey, bring the wife and kiddies. Come see the show. 'Cause it's gonna be a circus. This... Just the beginning, love. A warm-up act. The real headliner's coming, and when that band hits the stage, all of this... All of this... Will come tumbling in death and screaming, horror and bloodshed. From beneath you it devours. From beneath... Poor Rocky."

Xander "Buffy!"

Nancy "You. You did this. What are you?"

Spike "She's not calling me."

Buffy "Help is on the way. Look after him."

Xander "Where are you going?"

Xander "You do know you did the right thing here?"

Anya "Tell him that."

Xander "You reversed the spell. It took guts. I know this is bad, but it could be worse."

Anya "Oh, it will be."

Sunnydale- A Cemetery

Buffy walks. She's searching for Spike. She walks toward a church- candles flicker in the windows.

Sunnydale- A Church

Buffy opens the door to the church and walks inside. Candles are burning in an alcove by the entryway. She walks part-way down the aisle- looks around. The rest of the church is full of shadows. Buffy walks to the right row of pews.

"Didn't work." Spike walks from the shadows behind Buffy, startling her.

Buffy spins to face Spike. "What the hell are you-"

"Didn't work." Spike carries his blue shirt as he walks up to her. His chest is bare. Red scratches cover his torso. Spike avoids looking at Buffy's face. He holds up the shirt. "Costume. Didn't help. Couldn't hide." He flings the shirt onto the floor. It's a defeated motion. Tired.

Buffy flinches as he throws the shirt and looks at Spike warily. She's a bit freaked- not sure what to think. "No more mind games, Spike." She says quietly. Looks him over quickly, warily.

Spike leans his head down. If his eyes were open he'd be looking at the floor. His head and upper body are taut. "No more mind games." He shakes his head in a tight motion. "No more mind."

Buffy looks down across Spike's chest. She lifts her had to the marks. "Tell me what happened to you." She says quietly. Concerned- and curious. Still wary. She touches the skin above his heart.

"Hey, hey, hey!" Spike opens his eyes and recoils- hugging himself. "No touching." He looks at Buffy- eyes narrowed and questioning. "Am I flesh? Am I flesh to you?" He asks. His voice is uneven and demanding.

Buffy looks at him- still very confused, but listening hard.

Spike curls more into himself, voice getting a little quieter. His focus diminishes again- he stops looking at Buffy. "Feed on flesh. My flesh. Nothing else, not a spark." He moves his face to look down towards the shirt. Avoids Buffy's face. His eyes and cheeks are wet.

"Oh, fine." He drops his arms from his chest, nods. Looks up very briefly at Buffy, then drops his eyes quickly. "Flesh, then." He continues to nod- resigned. Very sad. "Solid through." His hands drop to his waist- he starts to undo his pants. His voice breaks. "Get it hard, service the girl."

Buffy grabs his hands, frantic. "Stop it! You-"

Spike and Buffy scuffle for a moment. He grabs her throat and she punches him- then throws him over into the pews.

Spike leans up from the mess of the shattered pew. "Right." He looks around, his voice quavering. "Girl doesn't want to be serviced." He's lost focus again. His eyes are distant. "Because there's no spark." He continues to look around, lost. He raises his voice. "Ain't we in a soddin' engine?"

Buffy walks up to him, stands in the aisle. Her voice still quiet, but now more perplexed. "Spike, have you completely lost your mind?" She shakes her head slightly, brow furrowed.

Spike looks up at her from the debris- focus regained. "Well, yes." He says snarkily. "Where have you been all night?"

Buffy stiffens a little. "You thought you would just come back here and... Be with me?" She asks angrily, still confused.

Spike glares up at her. "First time for everything." He mutters with a little sarcastic laugh.

"This is all you get." Buffy responds. She's got her determined face on. "I'm listening. Tell me what happened."

Spike looks up, then away. Swallows. "I tried to find it, of course." He blinks.

"Find what?" Buffy asks, patience diminishing.

"The spark." He blurts- looking around again at anything but Buffy. Then gasps a little between each phrase. Like each word is hard work. "The missing... The piece... That fit. That would make me fit…"

Buffy looks on with growing compassion. Her anger melting away.

"Because you didn't want..." Spike breathes deep and catches a sob. He turns his body to get up. "God, I can't... Not with you looking." His face turns into a snarl, and he half crawls and half stumbles into the dark at the side of the church.

Buffy watches, unmoving. Alarmed at his retreat into the shadows.

Spike walks slowly along the pews, the outline of the back of his neck and his hair visible in the little light. He turns to face Buffy.

"I dreamed of killing you." He says quietly.

Buffy looks down into the broken pews, picks up a makeshift stake. She hefts it, gets the feel for its weight. Then stands with it raised.

Spike walks further into the dark. He's not visible. "I think they were -dreams-." He continues to walk and becomes visible again as he passes a window. He holds his head in his hands. "So weak." He says quietly, then his voice changes, accusing. "Did -you- make me weak?"

He stands by the window, his voice and posture conflicted- frustrated, his head down. "Thinking of you. Holding myself, and spilling -useless- buckets of salt over your..."

Spike moves back into the darkness, pausing. "Ending." He sobs, breathing. "Angel." He blurts. "He should have warned me. He makes a good show of forgetting, but it's here, in me..." Spike continues to pace in the darkness. "All the time. The spark."

Buffy still holds the stake ready, watching the darkness. She's surprised at Spike's saying Angel's name- then as Spike continues, at the word 'warned' her eyes widen very slightly. Understanding clicks in her head. Her eyes go distant, trying to grasp the situation. She doesn't know how to handle this.

Spike stops, appears in the light behind Buffy. He walks forward, and around her. "I wanted to give you... What you deserve. And I got it. They put the spark in me... And now all it does is burn."

Buffy's wariness has gone- she's not looking at Spike. The stake is forgotten.

"Your soul." Buffy breathes, eyes distant.

Spike smiles as she says it. The smile is a bit bitter, a bit relieved, a bit resigned. Looks down, then tilts his head at Buffy. She turns to face him. "Bit worse for lack of use." The smile disappears.

Buffy shakes her head a little- it's hard to believe, but she accepts it. "You got your soul back." She looks up at him, in the eyes. "How?"

Spike just looks at her, searching. "It's what you wanted, right?" He asks softly. Spike doesn't wait for an answer. Instead, he turns his head to the ceiling- shouts to God. "It's what you wanted, right?" He turns his head, looks down. Pauses, then gestures to his head, shoulders hunched and tense. "And.. and now everybody's in here, talking." He walks past Buffy towards the front of the church. "Everything I did, everyone I..." He pauses. And -Him-... And -It-... The Other... The Thing... Beneath- beneath you... It's here, too. Everybody, they all just tell me go… go..." He turns, looks at Buffy. "To Hell."

Buffy shakes her head slowly, she's amazed- in disbelief. "Why? Why would you do that?"

Spike interrupts her. "Buffy, shame on you." He looks over his shoulder at her- then down at her feet. Speaks quietly, and quick. "Why does a man do what he mustn't? For her. To be -hers-. To be the kind of man who would nev-" His voice breaks and he turns his face from her, pauses. Looks at the floor. "To be a kind of -man-." He says mournfully.

Spike walks slowly to the front of the church. A wooden cross stands at the altar.

"And she shall look on him with forgiveness..." Spike says, his voice breaking. "And everybody will forgive and love." He stops, inches from the cross and looks at it. "He will be loved."

Buffy stands watching him, shocked still. Her mouth opens slightly like she wants to say something- but can't.

"So everything's okay, right?" Spike leans over the cross, draping his own arms over the arms of the cross- supports himself against it. Smoke slowly rises from where his flesh touches the wood.

Buffy watches, unmoving and silent. Tears stream down her cheeks.

"Can-can we rest now?" Spike sobs quietly. "Buffy... Can we rest?"

The last image is of Spike on the cross. Draped over it in the dark, smoke billowing around him.

CREDITS.

///////////

**

-Cath

CathJoudrey@hfx.eastlink.ca

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