*~*~*~*
*~ "I can't believe he's forcing me to do this," the
blonde vampire grumbled, shuffling his feet defiantly
as he made his way up the steps leading into the high
school. "There has to be limits to the sire-childe
relationship, and this *has* to go way beyond that
bloody limit."
*~ He sullenly pushed the swinging door open, taking a
cautious step into the library. He waited for the
enevitable explosion, and was surprised when it didn't
come. He looked around the big room, surprised to see
that it was empty.
*~ "Hey, Watcher," he called after a hesitation. At
least the bloody Watcher had to be there. He was
always there. No answer. Spike frowned and made his
way silently over to the door of the watcher's office.
Jack-pot!
*~ He knocked firmly on the doorframe, startling the
gray-haired watcher. He grinned at the fear literally
*rolling* off the broad frame of the Watcher. He hated
to spoil the illusion, but he'd been sent there for a
reason, and he so *hated* disappointing his sire.
Well, disappointing his sire usually ended with him
bleeding and hurting.
*~ "Ease off, Watcher," the blonde vamp drawled,
leaning against the wall, effortlessly blocking the
human's only mode of escape. "I'm not here to hurt
you. We need your help."
*~ "M-my help? What would you need my help for?" In
his confusion, Giles' fear lowered a notch.
*~ "We need information, and we don't trust the others
with it," Spike answered, getting right to the point.
There was no time for games. The slayers could be
coming back any time now, and he *so* did not want to
be there when they did. "We need to find out what
happened to Red and why. Angelus thinks it was a spell
of some sort."
*~ "I don't know what the symptoms are or anything,"
Giles said, his swift mind already going through the
possibilities. He hated the vampires with a passion no
one even realized, but he would do anything for
Willow.
*~ "I was given permission to have you come and meet
with her and Angelus. But if you tell anyone of it,
then you die. Horribly. And Willow will suffer for it
in the end, got me, Watcher?"
*~ "I- I understand," Giles stammered. "When and
w-where?"
*~ "We'll let you know," Spike grinned, pulling away
from the wall. He could feel the slayers coming down
the hall. He needed to get out of there, quickly.
"Remember, don't tell anyone."
*~ The Watcher nodded solemnly and watched with wide
eyes as the blonde vampire disappeared into the
bookshelves.
*~ "Hey, G," Faith called out, throwing herself into
one of the chairs gracefully. "Didn't find anything on
patrol."
*~ Buffy followed at a more sedated pace and sat down
at the other end of the table from Faith. Giles exited
his office and stood watching them for a second. He
worried about Buffy, she was so tired looking. Losing
Willow and then seeing her again had nearly destroyed
her. Faith... There was something off about her. He'd
felt it since the first time he'd seen her. He
frowned, removing his glasses and rubbing his eyes
tiredly.
*~ He would go meet with the vampires. He didn't have
to think about it. Willow was important to all of
them, even if she wasn't quite... herself.
*~*~*~*