Pairing: Willow/Spike
Rating: R-ish (for now at least)
Archived: www.geocities.com/seeing_reddd (anyone else wants it...just let me know where it's going:)
Disclaimer: I humbly borrow, twisting and bending plots to my will.
Summary: Mid-Season 4. Oz is gone, Spike has the chip. We know Riley is part of the initiative, but he doesn't know about Spike.
Spoilers: Up to around Doomed
Thank you so SO much, Janet, for all your help and encouragement:)
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~Part: 1~
Walking through the forest, she closed her eyes, listening to the brook babbling to her right, whispering to her its secrets. The petite brunette felt the setting sun play across her face as it danced through the tree branches. Stopping, she inhaled deeply, breathing it all in. Taking another deep breath, she began a silent meditation to her goddess. She felt the wind blow across her face like a gentle caress, tossing her long, dark curls around her tanned face.
Hearing a twig snap behind her, the witch jumped and turned. Her heart was racing as her eyes searched the area. Finally, they settled on a small rabbit, as it scampered away, and she let out a deep breath that she hadn't realized she was holding.
"A little jumpy there."
Again, her heart began to pound at the startling voice, and she turned around, before once again smiling in relief, seeing the park ranger. He was young, and very good looking, though she got a vibe from him that just wasn't quite right.
"Getting a little late to be out here alone, Miss," he told her gruffly. "Sun will be setting. Woods aren't exactly safe for a woman like yourself."
She smiled knowingly. "I'm sure I'll be just fine. These woods are a part of us. We have a connection," she tells him with a soft smile, her southern accent thick.
The ranger frowned and rolled his eyes. Just what he needed, another hippie dancing around the forest.
"Just the same," he told her, "wouldn't want to see anyone get hurt."
"I appreciate your concern," she replied, "but I'll be fine."
She turned and wandered away, heading down the path, the brook still talking at her right. Not too far ahead, she reached a small clearing and stopped. The girl saw a small stone temple and approached, kneeling down before it and placing the sacred stone on top. This was what she had been looking for. Again, she closed her eyes, and chanted softly. The winds began to pick up, shifting directions and her hair flowed wildly.
Her eyes opened wide and she turned, a look of horror on her face, before suddenly jumping up and running, the protective stone forgotten. She was moving fast, but it was dark and trees seemed to be everywhere. She knew she was not fast enough. She could feel it, just at her heels, like the wind licking at her face. Turning, she let out a scream as she stumbled and fell forward. Everything went dark.
~*~
"Are you completely insane? You simply can not do this. Do you understand? Do you even realize how dangerous it could be? The lives you might possibly be leaving in peril? You can not entertain every little notion that flitters through your head." Giles removed his glasses and began cleaning them feverishly.
"Don't you love how he always has to use big words to say little things?" Buffy said with a smirk.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I don't know, I kind of like it," Willow told the blonde slayer. "He always sounds so smart and uppity."
"I do NOT sound uppity!"
"Plus, I'm not the only one around here using big words anymore. I bet he even knows more words than I do. Hey, Giles, how many synonyms do you know for the word scared?"
"Willow, I really don't see the relevance of…Oh!" The watcher dismissed the question with a wave of his hands. "Buffy, I really don't think you understand the potential consequences of your actions. You allow these spur-of-the-moment notions to take your fancy and a moment later are ready to jump to the next new craze. I just think you need to be a bit more reasonable," he told her. "And the answer, Willow, is 53."
"Giles! Camping is hardly a new craze. I'm pretty sure it isn't even considered cool these days," Buffy told him. "This really isn't the travesty that you're making it out to be."
"Wow. I could only come up with 46," Willow said in awe, Buffy turned and gave her a confused look, not remembering what the redhead was talking about.
"And anyway," Buffy continued, looking back to her watcher, "it isn't like I'm all impulsive-girl. I'm an overly responsible college student who needs to go out and have a little fun with her friends every once in a while. You're completely exaggerating my `spur-of- the-moment notions,' Giles."
"Buffy, the other day you were going on about wanting to be the first female football player for the University," he reminded her.
"Well, I mean, come on. I could totally kick every butt on that team, and how cool would it be to see a girl beat all those macho, tough-guy jocks, huh?"
"And just last week, you wanted to be on the cheerleading squad."
"That was FOUR years ago, Giles, and anyone else remember the mean, old witch flaying the rest of the squad?" She said indignantly, raising her hand and looking toward Willow, who quickly raised her hand as well, nodding. "So I guess it's a good thing that I was there, huh?"
"The last thing you tried to plan was a Thanksgiving Day Feast, and not only did we find ourselves under siege, but we ended up with a neutered pet vampire as well."
"Hey!" Spike yelled from the bathroom. "I heard that!"
"This is not the time to go gallivanting off, what with the Initiative in operation and all. We still don't even know exactly what their agenda is, and until we do, I really don't think this is the time to be shirking your duties."
"I'm not shirking! I never shirk!" She shouted. Giles gave her a pointed look, and she turned toward Willow, seeking back up.
"Uh, well, you sometimes do, on occasion, shirk. But, uh, not in a, uh bad way, so much, but more of a needing a break from slayer life kinda way, and, um, I'm not helping, am I?"
"Not so much," Buffy replied.
"Sorry. I mean, Giles, come on! Its five days. What could possibly happen?"
"You've been living on the hell mouth for your entire life, Willow, and you are actually asking me what could possibly happen?" He asked.
"Well, it's just, you know, we all did okay, before Buffy was here. I'm sure one weekend won't kill anyone- er, poor choice of words, maybe, but I'm sure that if we're gone for a few days, the world want just stop spinning."
"Come on, Giles. I'm an adult now, you know. I don't need your permission to go away for a weekend," Buffy told him. "I'll just up and go, and you won't even know where I am."
"Ah, I see we've resorted to threats now. I think bribery comes next."
The three turned toward the front door, seeing Xander walk in. Willow scowled, noticing Anya walking beside him, holding his hand.
"Giles, man, come on. Every slayer needs a break now and again," he reasoned.
Giles let out a deep sigh, knowing that they would not let up until he gave in.
"I'm not your watcher anymore, Buffy. You may do as you like, and clearly you don't think you need to heed my advice."
"Aw, come on Giles, a weekend in the woods is good for anyone. Makes you all strong and more man-like, or woman-like, as the case may be," Xander stated.
"Think of it as a sort of spiritual retreat, Giles," Buffy tried to reason. "Out in the woods, one with nature and all that."
"Yeah," Willow added. "Camping in the great out doors, breath in the good air, out with the bad."
Giles began to smile at the thought and suddenly seemed to perk up. "Perhaps you're right. Camping may be just the thing. It may be just the little vacation I need."
Everyone's smile faded and they all looked away awkwardly, no one willing to tell him that he hadn't really been invited.
"Great," Anya said sarcastically. "Now our dorky little trip is complete."
~Part: 2~
"Got everything I need," Willow announced happily, as she tried to come into the dorm room, the extremely large pack on her back getting stuck in the door frame. After pushing and pulling back and forth several times, she finally burst through, nearly falling over and catching herself at the last minute.
"Willow, we are only going for five days, you know," Buffy told her, eyeing the large pack.
"I know, but you never know what you might need, out in the wilderness, combating the elements, fighting the very forces of nature, just you and the Earth."
"We're staying in a two story cabin," Buffy reminded her. "Yeah, I know, but still."
"Well, I'm glad to see you're getting excited about something," the blonde told her. "Seems like since Oz left, you haven't really been up for much fun having."
"Yeah, I think I'm finally starting to bounce back," Willow replied with a somewhat forced smile, her voice just a little too perky. Buffy stuffed the last item into her bag and zipped it shut. "All ready," she announced, slinging the bag over her shoulder.
"You know, I still can't believe that we have to take Spike camping with us," Willow told her. "I mean, who else but us would be hiking to their site at night? Plus, camping, not really a vampire activity."
"Yeah, well, I'm certainly not looking forward to bleach-boy coming along with us, believe me, but at least we have the cabin, so he has a place to be during the day. And, you know, if he accidentally happens to end up outside before the sunsets, well, not really my problem, now is it? But Giles refused to let Spike stay at his apartment unsupervised, and apparently is all super gung-ho about the trip."
"Well, he hasn't really had a whole lot to be gung-ho about lately," Willow reminded her.
"I know, but I was just hoping for a nice, fun filled, non-slayery weekend, you know? And now I've got the former watcher tagging along, and bringing his little pet vampire with him…"
"Plus, now we have to keep Riley from figuring out who Spike is. How are we going to explain his inability to go into sunlight? Riley's never going to believe that..."
"Believe what?" Riley asked, walking into the room. Both girls' eyes widened nervously.
"Uh, just that Willow doesn't actually have a kitchen sink in her pack," Buffy said, gesturing toward the large pack on the floor. "Wow, that's a lot of stuff you got there, Willow," Riley replied, eyeing the gear.
"Well, you know me. Always be prepared, that's my motto. I'm like a boy scout. Except I'm a girl, a-and not 12 years old, and much more with the demony research and killing, as opposed to collecting badges and singing songs by the fire," she told him.
Both Buffy and Riley gave her a strange look.
"Where's your stuff?" Buffy asked, only noticing a tiny little knapsack.
"This is it. This is all I need. Just me, my trusty knife, a change of clothes, and my girl in the woods. What else could I ask for?" He said, giving her a tight hug.
"Maybe a bar of soap or some toilet paper?" Buffy replied with a grin.
"Now, why again are we hiking at night? Wouldn't it have been easier to go in the daylight?"
"Uh, well," Willow began, "Giles, he, uh, has this whole thing about wanting to walk at night and being all spiritual, and.."
"It's a thing," Buffy summarized, giving him a bright smile and leading him toward the door.
~*~
"How much longer do we have to go?" Anya whined.
"We've been walking for less than a half hour," Buffy told her.
"I know, but my feet are killing me," the brunette retorted. "I mean, isn't this what cars and buses and trains are for? So that people don't have to walk anymore?"
"Well, An, hun, maybe you should have worn shoes with a little less heel. Sneakers, or hiking boots maybe," Xander told her.
"Yeah, right. I remember the days when I could just snap my fingers and poof, teleport to wherever I wanted to be," she said under her breath. "Besides, the boots didn't match any of my clothes."
"You could what?" Riley asked, not catching the last part.
"I-I said I could snap my fingers and-and then walk easily to where ever I wanted to be," she said more nervously. "You know, it's the American way."
Everyone gave her a confused look as she tried to act as "normal" around the commando as possible.
"Yeah, you know, us British, we just sprout wings and fly," Spike said sarcastically.
"I thought you said you were from the south," Riley said.
"Uh, right," Spike responded in a bad southern accent, his darting around nervously. "I was just, er, practicing for a play I'm in."
"Oh, what play?"
"Er, uh, Phantom of-"
Willow clamped her hand over Spike's mouth and smiled awkwardly at Riley. "My Fair Lady," she told him. "He's playing Professor Higgins."
"Aren't you a little young to play that part?" Riley asked suspiciously.
"I'm older than I look," Spike said, trying to remember to do the southern accent.
"We're in the middle of the woods, Anya. I don't think it matters if we see you in footwear that doesn't match," Buffy stated, trying to end the conversation between Spike and Riley.
"Well, obviously I don't care what YOU people think, but you never know if you're going to run into a ruggedly handsome ranger on the trail."
"Uh, hello! Boyfriend, walking right here," Xander reminded her.
"Oh, Xander, don't worry," Anya reassured him. "I still think that you are the sexiest. I'm just talking about looking at other men. I still want to have sex with only you though."
"Aww, now that's sweet," Riley said, not entirely sure if he himself was being sarcastic or not.
"Maybe we should stop for five minutes, and, uh, catch our breath," Giles interjected, breathing heavily.
"Fabulous idea," Anya chimed in. "Where's the nearest little girls room?" Everyone rolled their eyes and ignored her.
"Feeling a little winded, Rupert?" Spike asked with a smirk, not bothering with the fake accent anymore.
"Uh, no, not at all. I just thought that maybe the rest of you…" Giles struggled between gasps of breath.
"Seriously, guys, restroom?" Anya asked again. "Anyone?"
"Camp should only be another mile or so up," Xander told them, looking at the map and compass. "Half hour more, tops."
"Camp IS a big, log cabin with running water and electricity, right?" Anya asked. "I mean, I just want to be sure. Plus couches, room service and all that, right?"
"Anya, I told you, no running water and no electricity," Xander reminded her.
"I thought you were just kidding about that," she told him. "I was looking at some brochures for woodland getaways, and they had spas and stores and restaurants and room service. Are you telling me there isn't going to be any of those things?"
"Anya, we're going camping, not to a five star hotel," Xander told her, trying his best to be patient.
"Well that really bites," she muttered.
"Alright then. Let's keep going," Buffy responded.
"Hey! Anyone going to point me in the direction of the restrooms or not?" Anya demanded. Willow walked over and whispered something in her ear, and everyone else watched as the brunette paled. "No restrooms?! Whose idea was the stupid trip anyways?"
~Part: 3~
"Rooms are all set up in the cabin," Xander announced walking out the front door.
"Buffy and Riley in one room, me and Anya in another, Giles, you get to share with Spike, since you insisted on bringing him along, and Will, you get your very own room."
"Gee, great," Willow said quietly. "The only one without a bedmate."
"Well you can be sure I don't plan on being bedmates with old Rupert over there!" Spike said indignantly.
"Oh, believe me, Spike, I don't like the idea any better than you," Giles replied, looking out the screened window from inside the door.
"This all used to be tribal land, you know," Giles told them, walking out, a book in hand and an excited smile on his face. "It's very interesting, really, to see how they used to live."
"Giles, you brought books camping?" Buffy complained. "I refuse to do any research out here."
"Yes, well, it's just a little light reading, really. Anyway, it's very fascinating the way they lived off of the land, hunting and gathering, building shelter, creating fire…"
"Uh, we aren't going to have to do any of that, are we?" Anya asked? "Because, you know, they have stores and money for just such an occasion."
"Oh come on, that's half the fun," Riley told her.
"Right. Nothing I like better than building a fire with a few twigs and my bare hands," Spike said sarcastically.
"Oh! I know this spell that creates fire out of…" Willow stopped as she saw Giles glaring at her. "I-I mean, I heard that there was one, but I wouldn't know anything about that, or um…"
"No need to fear. I have my trusty box of matches, and a Zippo, just in case," Xander told them.
"It seems that this is also the sight of several witch trials in the seventeen hundreds," the former watcher explained. Willow shivered slightly at the thought. "Many of the accused women were buried in a nearby cemetery."
"Buried, huh? Guess they didn't make it through the trials then," Buffy observed.
"Actually, according to the watcher's accounts, many of them were actually practicing witches, but were unable to save themselves from the trials. No one has ever been able to explain why," Giles informed her.
"Well, great, just what I was hoping to find, a cemetery, because you know, I really don't spend enough time in them as it is," Buffy said sarcastically.
"It's rather a curious coincidence that we should end up so close to the burial grounds," Giles mused, more to himself than anyone else.
"A hellmouthy kinda coincidence, or just your plain, old garden variety coincidence?" Willow asked, looking around nervously.
"No, I'm sure it's perfectly safe. There isn't enough human life out here to sustain vampire existence, and I have never heard of this region being haunted, as it were."
"Oh, good, cause, you know, just for once, I'd like to avoid the whole fighting demons thing," Willow told him, slight relief on her face.
"Nope, you won't find any demons or ghosts in these woods." They all turned to see a good looking, middle-aged ranger walking up to them.
"Oh, hello there. I'm Rupert Giles," the watcher said, greeting him with a handshake.
The ranger didn't bother to shake his hand, but instead looked around at the rest of the group. "Taken all the kiddies on a little camping trip are you?" He asked snidely.
"Oh, well I…"
"We aren't really kids," Anya told him. "In fact, you'd be surprised how old some of us really are, Ranger -?"
"Name's Rogers," he told her gruffly, before turning back to the rest of the group.
"As I was saying, no ghosts in these parts. But then, ghosts stories are really just for telling around the camp fire, ain't they? Scares the little kids," he added, glaring at them. "No such thing, really though."
Willow and Buffy glanced at each other doubtfully, no one seeming to like the ranger too much.
"You're the ranger of this area?" Giles asked.
"You're good," the man said sarcastically. "You must be some sort of detective or somethin." No one but the ranger laughed. "Yep, I'm the one and only. Patrol the area, keep it safe, make sure no hooligans try to stir up any trouble," he told them, patting the revolver that hung by his waist.
"Neat," Buffy said with a slight, forced smile. "Well, I promise, you'll have no trouble from us."
"Yes, I'm sure a guy who looks like he's spent the last twenty years of his life in a library, and a bunch of kids like yourselves won't be causing any trouble at all," the ranger replied.
"Hey! What is that supposed to mean?" Willow shot back defensively. "You know, we could cause plenty of trouble if we wanted to."
"Yeah, right pet. You're a bloody menace to society," Spike mocked.
"I'm sure you could cause some real damage, princess," Ranger Rogers said.
"You have no idea," Xander muttered, remembering her my-will-be-done spell.
"There's already more'n enough trouble in these parts." Every turned, hearing another strange voice behind them. Looking back, they saw a scrawny looking old man, with a scraggly grey beard. He was wearing overalls, with no shirt, and his skin seemed to just hang off of his bones. His face was drawn and his eyes cloudy, a hint of insanity lurking underneath.
"Oh, quiet Wilber," the ranger barked at the man, rolling his eyes.
"I'm just sayin, there's trouble a brewin in these woods," the old man stated, his voice quiet and hoarse.
"Wilber, the only trouble around here is you," the ranger informed him, before looking again toward the now confused campers. "This here is Wilber Smith. A local, has a cabin `bout half a mile from here. Likes to scare the tourists, tellin all sorts of crazy stories about ghosts and demons."
"They ain't just stories," Wilber argued. The ranger simply rolled his eyes again. Wilber's eyes widened, as if a sudden sense of urgency over came him, and he reached out grabbing Willow's arm, yanking her closer so that he could speak into her ear.
"There are ghosts and spirits abound, Miss. Careful of your step. They'll be lookin for ya," he told her in a harsh whisper. Willow tried to pull away, but his grip was surprisingly strong. "They ain't gonna stop till they get what they's after," he warned.
Willow was becoming frantic, trying to pull away. Buffy was about to step forward, but stopped as Spike did so, grabbing the old man's shoulder and shoving him away from the slightly shaken redhead.
"Hands off, mate," Spike growled, his eyes flickering between blue and gold.
The man stared back at Spike, his own eyes suddenly appearing to be much more lucid.
"Heed my warning. They'll be coming." Leaning in, he spoke the last part again to Willow, though his eyes remained firmly set on Spike. "They'll be comin for what's rightly theirs."
At that, he stepped back and turned to walk away. Ranger Rogers simply shook his head. "Sorry bout that. Wilber, he ain't all there, if ya know what I mean."
"Yeah, I got that impression," Buffy replied sarcastically.
"Yeah, well, you all just be careful. Wouldn't want a bear to come along and eat the lot of you in your sleep, now would we?" He said with a chuckle, before turning and heading off.
"Bears?" Willow said nervously. "And here, all this time, I was worried about demons. I never even thought about bears."
"Don't worry, Will. Anything tries to attack, just leave it to the men-folk," Xander said, sticking out his chest. "Strong man, protect woman," he added in full caveman voice. Anya smiled seductively at him. "Man like woman, and I-iiiieeeeee!"
Just then, a raccoon scurried by, running right past Xander's feet and startling him. The young man jumped and let out a high pitched shriek, clinging onto to Anya, who was trying to push him off.
"Yep. Good thing Xander's here to protect us," Buffy stated with a grin.
~*~
"I really think that a triangular formation might be better. Stack it high."
"Gotta disagree with you there, Giles. I think the spread out method is definitely better."
"Actually, if you take every piece of wood and measure it, starting with the smallest, and then…" Riley paused, blushing slightly as Giles and Xander stared at him.
"Xander, please, I have much more experience at this than you do. Stack it high."
"Giles, I know what I'm talking about here, okay? Trust me. Spread out, covers more ground."
"Yes, and it wastes your resources. Stack it high and it will last longer."
"Again, really gotta disagree with you there."
"You know, in the army, they teach you how to start a fire with a piece of grass and…" Again, Riley paused as he was stared at.
"Oh, please, will you three stop playing your little macho-man contest and just start the fire already? I'm starving. What are we having, anyway?" Anya said.
"Whatever is in that little cooler over there that Buffy brought," Xander told her as he piled the wood up and lit it.
Anya walked over to the cooler and opened it up, peering inside. "Ewww," she yelled, before dropping the lid down and backing away.
Xander was at her side in an instant, followed by the rest of the group. "What? What is it? What's wrong?"
"Is that some kind of sick joke?" Any asked, grimacing. "Because really, REALLY not funny."
"Anya, what are you talking about?" Buffy asked.
"In the cooler!" The girl shouted in an exasperated tone. Buffy walked over and slowly opened the cooler lid, cautiously leaning over and looking inside before pulling a face and shutting the lid quickly.
"How the hell did that get in there?" She demanded.
"You tell me!" Anya shouted. "It's your cooler!"
"Well, I didn't put a severed hand in there!" Buffy yelled back.
"Oh, who cares about the hand?!" Anya shouted. "I'm talking about those hotdogs. Do you KNOW what they put in those?"
"Whoa, severed hand?" Xander asked.
"The-the kind that has been cut from an arm of-of a dead person?" Willow asked, not entirely sure that she wasn't going to be sick. "That would be the one," Buffy confirmed.
"How in the name of…Buffy, how did a severed hand end up in your cooler?" Giles questioned.
"Really good question, Giles. I mean, it's not like I was going `hmm, what will we eat while we're on our trip? I know! Finger foods!" Buffy glared at the watcher pointedly.
"Very funny," Giles retorted, rolling his eyes.
"You know, just one time…one time! I want to plan something and have it go off with out any demonic activity what so ever," Xander stated angrily.
"We don't even know if this is the work of a demon," Giles told them.
"Right, because humans are always sticking severed hands in your cooler. It's like a hallmark card," Willow said sarcastically.
"Well, granted, it is most likely due to a demon, but we still don't know that…"
"What about Ranger Rogers?" Xander said suddenly. Everyone gave him a questioning look. "Well, he was all big jerk guy, and bein all rude."
"Yes, and you know, rude people do so often leave their SEVERED HANDS in your cooler," Buffy replied. "Come on Xander, I mean, the guy was a jerk, but I don't think he was the killer type."
"Yeah, he was way too good looking to be a killer," Anya confirmed, not noticing Xander glaring at her. "Did you see those biceps?"
"You're not even slightly freaked out by the hand, are you?" Xander asked. Anya shrugged and looked around, wondering what all the fuss was about. "Ladies and gentlemen, the lady I love," he mumbled.
"What about that Wilber guy?" Willow asked, wrapping her arms around herself. It felt as though he was still touching her where he had grabbed her arm, as if the skin there was still tingling, and it made her feel extremely uneasy.
"Yeah, he was going on and on about demons and ghosts and spirits," Xander added. "And let's face it, the guy wasn't totally there."
"I don't know," Buffy replied, shaking her head slightly. "I didn't get homicidal killer feelings from him, so much as typical loony old man feelings."
"Well, what do we do now?" Willow asked. "Pack up and leave?"
"I think that under the circumstances, we should…" Giles began, before Buffy interrupted him.
"No. No way. I am not letting some…I don't know what, ruin my weekend. We are staying put," She stated firmly.
"Buffy I really think…"
"Giles. We. Are. Not. Going. Anywhere. We are going to stay here and have a good time, if it kills us," she stated, pausing and looking around at the worried faces. "Which I'm very certain it won't," she added with a forced smile.
"Sounds like fun," Xander replied, looking less than thrilled.
~*~
"Buffy, do you really think this is a good idea?" Willow asked, sitting on the bed next to Buffy, who was busy reading a magazine.
"What, this?" Buffy asked, pointing toward a picture. "Absolutely not. Whoever decided that those jeans were going to be in this year had serious issues."
"No, Buffy, not the magazine! Us, staying here in the place with the severed hand?" The last part was spoken in a hushed tone, as the redhead looked around suspiciously.
"Oh, that. Will, don't worry about it. We'll be perfectly fine."
"You aren't even the slightest bit worried after finding some hand in your cooler?" Willow asked, surprised that her friend wasn't more upset.
"No! Well, I mean, yeah, I'm a little wigged, but I mean, come on, it's like Giles said, there isn't enough people in this area for demons to stick around."
"What about ghosts?" Willow asked in a hushed tone.
"Come on, Willow. What are the chances of that?"
~Part: 4~
"Quiet down out there! A fella needs his beauty sleep you know!" Spike yelled from inside the cabin.
"We're makin too much noise for ya, Spike? Why don't you come on out and make us be quiet," Xander shouted back, laughing as he looked up at the sunny sky.
"Funny," Spike replied, sarcastically. "Just wait until it gets dark."
"And then what? Ya gonna talk me to death?"
"That guys sleeps a really lot, doesn't he?" Riley mused. "And he's getting really good at that accent. Sounds almost believable."
"Hey!" Spike yelled indignantly, hearing Riley's comment.
"Xander, are you going to make a play or what?" Buffy asked impatiently.
"Oh, yeah right. Sorry." He and Anya were playing touch football against Riley and Buffy. His team was down by 62 points, but he really felt that they were finally about to make a turn around.
"Alright, now Anya, when I throw you the ball, you catch it," he told his girlfriend.
"Okay, and then what?" She asked eagerly.
"That's it. Just catch it. Don't run, don't throw it, don't do anything. Just stand there and catch it."
"That's what you said last time," she complained. "And the time before that, and the time before that, and the time before that."
"Well, that's because you still haven't actually caught one," he explained.
"Well, it's not my fault that my hands are so small and dainty. Maybe I should throw to you."
"I'm the quarterback, Anya. I throw, you catch, in theory."
"Well, theory isn't working out so well, so how's about I throw the ball for a change."
Xander let out an exasperated sigh and rolled his eyes. "Alright, fine. You can throw the ball."
Anya eagerly grabbed the ball and ran to the end of the field. Everyone was set in their positions, and she got ready to throw.
"Ready! Set!" She yelled. "Hike!"
Buffy rushed toward Anya while Riley ran down to cover Xander.
"Throw the ball!" Xander yelled, seeing Buffy closing in on his girlfriend.
Anya panicked and turned to run away from the oncoming slayer.
"No!" Xander shouted. "That's the wrong way! Anya, THIS way!"
"She won't stop chasing me, Xander!" Anya yelled back, running away from the blond. "Make her stop!"
Buffy caught the former demon easily enough and tagged her, both hands on her back.
"Hey! Foul! Foul! She pushed me! Did anyone else see that? She pushed me!" Anya yelled, pointing accusingly at Buffy.
"I didn't push you!" Buffy yelled back.
"You touched me!" Anya said indignantly.
"That's because it's called TOUCH football!"
"Well, I don't like this game. It's stupid, and I'm not playing anymore," Anya told her, tossing the ball to the ground and stomping away.
"Anya! Wait!" Xander yelled.
"Will you all SHUT UP?!" Spike yelled from inside the house.
Willow and Giles, who had been sitting off to the side, reading, both looked at each other, rolling their eyes.
~*~
"How are ya enjoying the great outdoors, Willow?" Xander asked his best friend as she stood at the counter in the kitchen, making sandwiches.
"Well, it doesn't feel so much like great outdoorsy as much as kinda indoorsy, you know?"
"Yeah, maybe, but no electricity or running water? That's fun." Willow rolled her eyes. "Almost as much as was listening to Buffy and Anya fight over the battery operated blow dryer this morning."
"Ah, yes. Nothing like living off the land," Xander said with a smile.
"Oh, please. You wouldn't last one day as a pioneer," Spike told him, walking into the kitchen and reaching into a cooler for a bag of blood.
"Spike, be careful. You can't let Riley see the b-l-o-o-d," Willow said in a hushed tone.
"Oh, good thinking, pet," Spike replied sarcastically. "Spell out the big words, then they won't know what we're sayin."
Spike turned toward Xander. "Isn't that right, M-o-r-o-n?"
Willow rolled her eyes. Xander glanced up distractedly from the jelly jar he was struggling to open. "What? Yeah, sure. Whatever. Look, Will? I can't get this open." He handed the jar back to Willow, who looked down with a frown.
"Xander I told you that I could…"
"Oh, who's the big tough manly man now?" Spike taunted.
"If you're so great and mighty, why don't you open it," Xander shot back.
"Oh, right, because the real test of strength and courage is opening a jam jar, isn't it?"
"Saying you can't do it?"
"Oh, please. I see what you're doin. I'm not that stupid."
"Never mind, Will. There's no way he could get that jar open," Xander said with a slight grin.
"Well, all I have to do is…" Willow began.
"Oh, give it here!" Spike yelled, grabbing the far from her hand and attempting to twist the lid. Pulling with all of his strength, he quickly realized that the lid was not moving. Vamping out, he redoubled his efforts.
"Spike! Your face!" Willow yelled in alarm. "If Riley comes in…"
"Oh, let soldier boy come in here and kill me," he said through clenched teeth as he struggled with the jar. "Put me out of my misery once and for all." Finally, giving up, he slammed the jar down on the counter.
"This jar is faulty. It doesn't open, clearly," he told them.
Willow picked up the jar, grabbing a thick butter knife, and tapped the lid with the knife several times. Gripping the lid, she gave it an easy twist and it popped off. Xander and Spike looked at each other in surprise.
"You cheated!" Spike yelled. "You used magic, and you know what the watcher'll say to that."
"No, I didn't!" Willow yelled back. "No magic, I swear."
"Yeah, well, I loosened it for you," he replied, turning and walking away in a huff.
Xander finally closed his mouth and shook his head a little, before realizing what Spike had said. "Hey! No way! I was the one who loosened it!"
~Part: 5~
After dinner, the group congregated around the camp fire.
"We're going to need some more wood," Giles noted. "Of course, if we had set the fire up the way that I had wanted..."
"Giles, man, let it go," Xander interrupted, placing a marshmellow on a stick and holding it over the fire.
"Oh! I'll go. I could use a walk," Willow volunteered.
"Will, I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to wander out into the woods alone," Buffy told her.
"What, am I five years old?" Willow replied haughtily.
"No, of course not…" Buffy began, before being interrupted.
"I mean, first, I'm not supposed to do magic, cause I'm still all grievey, and now you're telling me that I can't walk alone? Big girl here, remember?"
"I think that Buffy is just concerned over the severed hand incident from yesterday, Willow," Giles explained gently.
"Oh, right. That," Willow said quietly, suddenly reminded of why she should be afraid.
"Well, um, Xander? Wanna take a walk with me?" She asked.
"He would, but he's busy roasting a marshmallow for me," Anya told her. Willow scowled in response, glancing over to see Buffy and Riley snuggling close to each other and laughing softly.
"Oh, never mind. I'll go alone," Willow mumbled. "I'll just stay nearby." In truth, the idea of going alone did appeal to her. Willow had been hoping to get a few minutes to try a spell or two out in the woods, but the idea of being alone with whoever, or whatever left the little gift in their cooler, was slightly unsettling.
"Spike, go with her," Giles commanded as the redhead stood up and started to stomp away.
"What?" Willow yelled, turning back in surprise.
"What? Hell no!" Spike shouted. "Why should I have to go with the little witch?"
"He really is getting good at that accent," Riley whispered to Buffy, who simply rolled her eyes. "How does he always remember to stay in character?"
"Because, Spike," Giles explained. "If you would like to continue to be fed, free of charge, you will have to do a few things to earn your keep."
"Oh, so now baby sitting Willow is one of Spike's chores?" Willow grumbled. "Thanks a lot, Giles."
"Willow, Giles only meant that you know, you need someone to go with you, and we're all kinda busy, and Spike's conveniently not, so…"
"No, it's fine. Whatever. Come on, Spike. Start walkin, or you won't get your gruel tomorrow," she said sarcastically, turning and again stomping away, followed after by Spike.
"Stupid slayer and her stupid watcher," Willow mumbled to herself as she walked deeper and deeper into the woods, not thinking at all about finding firewood. "They all think they're so great. I'll show them."
"Just how far do we have to walk?" Spike called after her. "Looks like plenty of wood right here, don't it?"
"Spike, go away," she muttered.
"Can't do that," he said, quickening his steps to catch up to her, "and you know it. What's got your knickers all in a twist now?"
"My-my knickers are-are none of your business," Willow informed him. "Oh, like you care," she muttered.
"I don't," he admitted. "Couldn't care less, but I'm curious, and a little amused, so do tell."
Willow stopped walking and turned around to glare at Spike.
"You want to know what has me all upset, Spike? You really wanna know? First of all, my boyfriend left me for a skanky little she- wolf. Secondly, my friends don't care about my pain and they don't want to hear about it anymore, so now I have to pretend to be all happy, perky girl again. Thirdly, they don't trust me to do magic right now, so I'm supposed to be `laying off' for a while, until I'm `more stable,' as Giles put it."
Remembering the "my will be done" spell, Spike pulled a face. "Can't blame them too much about the magic stuff, pet."
"Yeah, well, that was a while ago, and I've gotten a lot better since then. I'm a lot more focused on what I'm doing. I wouldn't make a mistake like that again, but they won't even give me a chance."
"And you have to do everything the watcher says, right?" He asked, arching an eyebrow at her.
"Well, no, but…"
"But?"
"I just wish that they would trust me a little more, you know? I mean, hello! Survived the last 19 years on the hellmouth, most of those years, completely slayer free!"
Spike thought about that for a minute. It was true. The girl had to be a lot tougher than they all thought. He had seen it, on rare occasions. She had it in her to be something great and terrifying if she wanted to, but now she seemed to be only barely coming out of her shell. He couldn't wait to see what the slayer and watcher did when she really came into herself. Would be a good show at the very least. Spike wondered if he could help that along at all.
"Oh come on! You're one of the toughest of the bunch. Much better than the moron. You're right up there with the slayer herself, and without all that pesky super strength and bulgy muscle." He made a face, causing the redhead to laugh softly.
"Yeah right, Spike. I don't expect to ever be as good as Buffy. I just want them to let me be me. I just think that…"
Willow's voice trailed off as she looked up behind Spike, her eyes widening, before she suddenly let out a terrified scream. Spike spun around, startled to see a limp body hanging from a tree limb behind him. He took a step back, and moved to Willow, clamping his hand down over her mouth to stop her from screaming.
Willow was shaking in fear and grabbed onto Spike's arm, refusing to let go, cowering close to him.
"What is that?" She asked in a terrified whisper.
Spike released her and took a step closer, grabbing one of the boots hanging down, and spinning the body around, before jumping back again in surprise.
"It's a girl," Willow gasped, clutching at Spike again.
Instinctively, he wrapped his arms around her, rubbing her back soothingly as he took in the body. She looked to be about Willow's age, with long dark, curly hair. She was bloody and cut to pieces. She had been dead for a long time. A few days at least. Spike knew that, though he was surprised that he hadn't picked up on the scent of blood and death earlier. And there was one other important thing. Her right hand, or lack there of.
~*~
"Now can we go home?" Anya asked, holding onto Xander's arm tightly.
"Anya, we can't just leave. Something out there is killing people," Buffy told her.
"Well, maybe we should just mind our own business," Anya mumbled. "Did you see the body? It was horrible!" She told her boyfriend.
"Anya, you've seen far worse. Hell, you've CAUSED far worse," he told her quietly. "Why has this got you so upset?"
"Well, because," she told replied. "I wasn't human then. I was a demon, and it wasn't a big deal. But now I am human, and mortal, and so are you, and I don't want some crazy thing coming along, and slicing you up, and leaving your limbs in someone else's cooler!"
"Anya, calm down. It's going to be alright," he reassured her, wondering if it was true.
"Willow, did you see anything else strange at all while you were out there?" Buffy asked.
"No, but I was sorta busy screaming," Willow admitted quietly, sitting on a bench next to Spike. The vampire was rubbing her back soothingly, though everyone seemed too preoccupied with the other dead body to notice what he did with his.
"I need to go back there and look around," Buffy said decidedly.
"Don't you think that perhaps it might be better to wait until daylight, Buffy?" Giles asked.
"What if someone else gets hurt or killed in the mean time?" She asked.
"Alright, we'll split up into teams and search the area," he agreed. "Buffy and Riley, you go north. Xander and Anya, head south. I'll look around the parameter with Spike. Willow, you should probably stay here and try to…"
"I'm alright, Giles," she insisted.
"Hey! Why do I have to go and Willow gets to stay here? I'm the one that found the hand yesterday. I should get to stay too," Anya complained.
"Honey, be quiet." Anya turned and glared at her boyfriend.
"Willow, I really think that you ought to stay here and rest. You look a nervous wreck," Giles told her.
"Well, I think that I should go out and help you guys," she told him obstinately, sitting up a little more straight.
"Will, someone should stay here, watch over everything," Buffy told her.
"Fine," Willow grumbled, not feeling up to fighting it out.
"Shouldn't someone stay here with her? I mean, what if something happens?" Xander asked.
"Right," Giles agreed. "Um, alright, Spike, you stay with Willow…"
"Hey! Now he gets to stay? But he's a…"
Xander clamped his hand over Anya's mouth before she could say vampire. "He's a strong guy, but you know, the sun will be up in less than two hours, and you know how easily his pale skin can burn."
Riley gave him a funny look. Buffy and Giles both rolled their eyes.
"Yes, well, we should all head out then. Cover as much ground as we can for the next few hours and then reconvene back here."
At that, everyone went off their separate ways and Willow stomped into the house in a huff.
~Part: 6~
"Red, you alright?" Spike walked into the main room and sat down next to the still slightly shaken witch, handing her a glass of something she didn't recognize. Willow glanced up with a questioning look as she took the glass. He still had a second one in his other hand.
"Whiskey. Helps calm the nerves," he told her, his voice softer than she was used to.
"Uh, thanks," she said, sounding unsure as she lifted the glass up and quickly downed the contents. The glass hit the table hard as she gasped, feeling the liquid burn its way down her throat, and the blond couldn't help but smirk. Willow simply glared at him through watery eyes.
"Sorry, pet," Spike said, holding his hands up in mock defeat, not sounding the least bit apologetic. "Didn't mean nothin by it. Here, one more." He handed her the second glass and she stared at him doubtfully. He gave her a stern look, and Willow quickly downed the second double shot.
"Yeah, right," Willow grumbled, already feeling her head becoming lighter. "You probably just want to get me drunk so you can get me in bed."
Spike raised an eyebrow at her rambling. "What's that pet?"
Willow's eyes widened as she realized that she had actually spoken out loud. "Nothing," she squeaked. "I didn't say anything." Spike simply continued to smirk at her, giving her a knowing look.
As Willow's mind ran over the evenings events, her expression once again became clouded over and troubled.
"That girl," she said quietly, "she was…"
"Dead," he finished for her. The word sounded so simple coming off of his lips, as if death was a regular part of life, and the redhead figured that, in fact, it was.
"I felt a magic energy around her," Willow told him. "It-it was faint or, well, I wasn't picking up anything too strong anyway, but it was there. Maybe-maybe magic was used to kill her?" Spike shrugged at the suggestion. "What-what could do that?" She asked timidly, feeling her eyelids growing heavier thanks to the downed liquor.
"Lots of things," he told her, his tone serious. Seeing her face darken, Spike let out a sigh. "Look, don't worry. Slayer'll take care of it."
Willow simply nodded, feeling the edges of sleep taking over. Seeing that the witch was about to pass out on the couch, Spike stood up and grabbed a blanket, draping it over the girl as she lie down. Nothing else was said, and within minutes, Willow was sound asleep, unaware of the brooding blond vampire watching over her.
~*~
"You see what happens when I try to take a little vacation? It's nothing but death and carnage everywhere I go," Buffy complained.
"Well, I believe the words `I told you so' would fit in nicely here," Giles stated smugly.
"That's really not helpful, Giles," Buffy told him with a glare.
"Yes, but it does seem to make me feel somewhat better," he mumbled to himself.
"So, what now?" Willow asked. "We've searched the entire area. We spent the entire day looking for clues, but haven't found a single thing. What do you suggest next?"
"I guess we keep looking," Buffy told them.
"But it's getting dark. How are we supposed to look in the dark?" Anya asked, sounding annoyed.
"Well, this thing, whatever, or whoever it is, seems to be striking at night-" Buffy began, before being cut off.
"Actually, we have no idea what time that girl was killed. Spike said she'd been dead for days," Willow interjected.
"How does he know that?" Riley questioned out of curiosity. "Is he in forensics or something?"
"Um, yeah," Buffy responded quickly, before anyone else had a chance.
"I thought he was an actor," her boyfriend stated.
"Yeah, well, he's actually not very good, so, you know day job," Buffy told him, sounding very unconvincing.
"So, um, Buff," Xander interrupted, hoping to change the subject. "Where else do you think we should look?"
"Well, uh, I was thinking the rangers cabin, for one, and, um, maybe that Wilber guy's home," Buffy told them, sounding a little uncertain.
"Great, sounds like fun," Xander replied sarcastically.
"Okay, so, Giles, you should probably stay here and try to research as much as you can," Buffy told the former watcher, who simply nodded.
"Riley and I will go check out Wilber, and um, the rest of you guys should do a little recon at the ranger station, see what you can dig up."
"We're stuck with Spike?" Xander complained.
"Hey, watch it moron, or your hand will be the next one to show up in the cooler," Spike warned.
"Oh yeah, in your dreams pal," Xander retorted.
"Guys! Enough!" Buffy yelled, quickly taking control, and throwing a flashlight to Xander, before chucking another one at Spike and handing one to Willow. With a little more grumbling, the groups headed out.
~Part: 7~
"Xander, this has got to be just about the worst vacation ever," Anya complained as they walked through the dark forest. "I mean, this isn't relaxing at all."
"Well, I didn't plan it this way, Anya," Xander told her. "It's not like I came out here and planted a dead body. It doesn't really up the fun for me."
"You should have known better, really," she chided. "Every time Buffy goes anywhere or does anything, someone somewhere winds up dead."
"Hey! This isn't Buffy's fault," he argued. "She can't help it if strange, paranormal, demony things follow her around. She's just, hmm, she really does have bad luck when it comes to this stuff, doesn't she?"
"Yes, and you know, Willow's not much better, what with her spells going awry and all," Anya continued.
"Hey! I heard that!" Willow yelled from behind the couple, scowling at the back of the brunette's head.
"Don't listen to her, Red," Spike told her. Willow looked up at him in surprise. "I'm guessin sooner or later your magic'll come in handy."
Willow beamed at the vampire, shocked to have heard him give her a compliment.
"Just keep the mojo away from me," he added. Gotta keep his image up, after all.
The redhead scowled at him. "Why do you have to always do that?" She asked.
Spike quirked an eyebrow, "Do what, exactly?"
"That! That thing that you do, where you have to be mean, even when you are being all nice," she explained in exasperation. "It's so annoying."
"Oh, right, and you're bloody perfect, aren't you?" He retorted defensively.
"Me? What did I do?" She asked in outrage.
"Guys, keep it down," Xander hissed.
"You shush!" Willow hissed back.
"What did you do?" Spike responded, knowing he was stirring up trouble. "Nothing. Not a bloody thing. That's just my point, Red. The watcher and the slayer, they tell you to sit and be good, and you just do it, every time."
"Hey! That's not true!" Willow argued.
Spike snorted and rolled his eyes. "They tell you to hop on the computer and do a little research, and there you'll be. They tell you to perform a spell and you jump at the chance, but they tell you to lay off and you still do as they say."
"Spike, I know you're just trying to get a rise out of me," she reasoned.
"No, I'm not," he told her, looking her straight in the eye with a serious expression. "I'm trying to get it through to you that you don't have to be their little lap dog." Willow opened her mouth to respond, but he held up his hand and she stopped. "You want to do magic, do it. You want to research, do it. You want to go join the circus, do it. My point is, you don't have to be whatever they tell you to be." Again Willow opened her mouth to say something, and again Spike stopped her. "And you weren't defined by dog boy, trust me. You're better off without him."
"Hey! It's right up ahead," Xander yelled to them. Spike quickened his pace, smirking slightly at the shocked look on Willow's face as they headed toward the Ranger station.
~*~
"I'm just saying he's strange, is all."
"He's not strange, Riley. He's just, well, actually, he is strange, but-"
"And I think he might have a thing for Willow."
"A thing? For Willow? You think Spike has a thing for Willow?" Buffy snorted and started to laugh, nearly falling over at how humorous the idea seemed.
"What's so funny about that?" Riley questioned.
"It's just, it's Spike, and it's Willow, and Spike liking Willow. I just," Buffy said between gasps and chuckling. "That would NEVER happen. Never."
"Never say never, Buff," her boyfriend told her knowingly.
"Spike and Willow are way too different. He's not her type, trust me," Buffy replied. "Besides, Willow's always talking about how peculiar Spike's behavior is. She would never be interested in him."
Riley smiled at her, remembering when he had thought that someone was peculiar. Turned out he fell in love with her. Reaching out, he grabbed Buffy's arm and pulled her back to him. The slayer looked up in surprise, just before her boyfriend's lips descended upon her own. When he finally pulled away, Buffy looked up at him questioningly.
"What was that for?" She asked.
"For being peculiar," he told her, a mischievous glimmer in his eye.
Leaning in, the slayer initiated another kiss, this one deep and passionate, the mission they were on, temporarily forgotten.
~Part: 8~
"It doesn't look like anyone is here," Willow whispered as they all crouched by some bushes, looking through a window of the ranger station.
"Maybe Ranger Rogers is out makin some new friends," Xander mused sarcastically.
"No heartbeat," Spike stated. The other three turned to look at him questioningly. "No heartbeat inside the cabin," he explained, rolling his eyes.
"You can tell that from out here?" Willow asked. Spike simply nodded.
"Alright, kids, time for a little breaking and entering," Xander said as he stood up, the others following his lead. He stepped up to the back door of the cabin and pulled out a small wire, sliding it into the lock.
"Always bring lock picking equipment with you on vacation?" Spike asked. Xander pointedly ignored him, continuing to move the wire with in the lock.
"It's left over stuff from when he was a soldier," Willow explained. Spike was about to open his mouth, ready with what he considered to be a humorous comment. "Don't," Willow warned. Spike shut his mouth again, glaring at the witch.
"This is surprisingly typical of a Scooby vacation," Anya stated matter-of-factly.
"We aren't like normal kids," Willow mused, more to herself than to anyone else.
"Why don't we just break the damn door down?" Spike complained.
"Because, blondie," Xander replied, still working on the lock, "the idea of sneaking into the cabin is that the guy doesn't know that we were here. I'm thinking that a broken door would be a pretty good indication that someone had been around." Just as he finished his sentence, there with a click, and he turned the knob, smiling proudly as the door opened.
"Got it," he announced.
"Good job, honey," Anya beamed, grabbing her boyfriend and kissing him soundly. Willow and Spike both rolled their eyes at the sight.
After a moment, Willow realized that they weren't stopping any time soon. "Guys, that's great and all, but um, we do have a cabin to search." Neither Xander or Anya seemed to hear her, and finally the redhead let out an annoyed sigh, and headed into the cabin, followed closely by Spike.
"You don't like her, do you?" Spike asked, as he walked behind Willow.
She turned her head slightly and scowled. "Gee, am I that transparent?" She asked, a sarcastic tone to her voice as she shined the flashlight around the room.
"Shouldn't we turn on the lights?" Spike asked. "Might make the whole searching for clues thing a lot easier."
"I'm thinking that a bright cabin in the middle of the dark woods would be a pretty good way to draw attention to ourselves," Willow told him, still shining the flashlight around.
"Right, and I'm sure no one will think anything of the strange lights flickering out the windows of the dark cabin," Spike responded.
The redhead turned and glared at him. "Help me look, or go away."
"Didn't realize I had that option," he told her. Upon another angry glare, the vampire turned and started searching a nearby desk.
"What exactly are we looking for?" Xander asked as he and Anya finally entered the cabin, both looking slightly disheveled, and Anya looking disappointed at best.
"I have no idea," Willow admitted. "Anything that might link the ranger to that girl in the woods, I guess."
"Something like this maybe?" Spike asked, holding up an article that had been cut from the newspaper, about the girl they had found.
"That doesn't mean that he killed her," Xander told him.
"No, but he is clearly interested in her death," Spike retorted.
"Well, he is the ranger," Anya stated.
"Anything else?" Willow asked. Everyone shook their heads. There didn't seem to be anything odd or out of place in the cabin. "Then I guess we should…"
Willow was cut off as Spike reached out and clamped a hand over her mouth suddenly.
"Spike, what are you doing?" Xander questioned as Willow struggled to move away from the vampire.
"Shut up!" Spike hissed, listening intently to something no one else seemed to hear. "The ranger is coming back." Just then, everyone else picked up on the sound of someone whistling outside the cabin. Seeing the doorknob turn, everyone scattered for hiding places, knowing there wasn't enough time to make it outside.
~Part: 9~
The ranger sauntered into the station, kicking the door shut behind him as he pulled a small object out of his pocket. He grinned as he looked at it, carefully perusing the item. It was a small stone, hardly worth noticing to most, but he wasn't some hick bumbling through the woods, and he knew real value when he saw it. This was exactly what he had been looking for.
With a satisfied smile, the man placed the small object on the mantle over the fire, and headed toward the kitchen, unaware that anyone was watching him.
"You're stepping on my foot!"
"Anya, shush!"
"Well, these shoes are brand new, they cost a small fortune, and I don't want you scuffing them up."
"Anya, shut up," the redhead hissed at the oblivious former demon. Apparently Anya hadn't mastered the idea of stealthy hiding just yet.
"Don't tell me to shut up," Anya whispered harshly in reply. "I'll say anything I want. You just can't stand it when I say-"
"Anything at all," Willow finished the sentence, watching through the crack of the closet door as the ranger walked around. She was trying to get a better look at the object that he had placed on the mantle, but didn't have the best view.
"Hey!" Anya retorted, louder than she should have.
"Are you trying to get us caught?" Willow asked angrily, turning in their tiny space and glaring through the darkness at the brunette.
"Of course not!" Anya whispered in outrage.
"Well, ya could have fooled me," Willow told her, no longer keeping her own voice as low as it should have been.
"They're going to get caught," Xander whispered to Spike, hearing the faint voices of his girlfriend and best friend arguing on the other side of the cabin. He was crouched down behind the sofa, next to the vampire, and becoming increasingly worried. If he could hear the girls, surely the ranger would hear them too.
"Sounds like," Spike simply replied.
"Sounds like? That's the best response you can come up with?" Xander questioned.
Spike shrugged. "Put those two together, you're always going to get trouble," he told him.
Xander was about to argue the point, but decided Spike was right and simply nodded. Peaking his head up a bit, he saw the ranger coming out of the kitchen and pausing near the closet.
"You know, Anya," Willow continued her tirade, " I know that ya haven't been around all that long yet, but there's this whole tact and manners thing you should really try to get a grasp on, because I…"
Willow paused as the closet seemed to suddenly get brighter and Anya's eyes widened. Willow spun around and screamed, seeing the ranger standing in front of her, holding the door open. Grabbing the knob, she quickly yanked it closed again, shaking slightly.
Xander and Spike both shot up at the sound of Willow's scream, and saw the ranger fumbling with the door, trying to open it again.
"I know you damn kids are in there!" He shouted. "Now open up!"
Willow and Anya both held onto the door frantically, trying to keep it closed.
"Do something!" Anya hissed at the redhead.
"Me? Why don't you do something for a change?" Willow shot back.
"This is all your fault," the former demon accused. "If you hadn't been talking so loudly about my loud talking loudly, he wouldn't have heard you, and now he's going to kill us and leave pieces of us in the coolers of poor, unsuspecting campers! This would NEVER happen at a fancy hotel!"
Willow shook her head, trying to make sense of the brunette. "I didn't, I-just whatever," Willow muttered, knowing they wouldn't be able to hold the door shut much longer.
"Think of something!" Anya told her.
"Like what?" Willow asked. "You want me to just make us disappear? I can't just-oh! I could make us disappear!"
"Yes. That would be lovely. Now do it," Anya told her.
Willow closed her eyes, trying to remember the simply incantation as she struggled with the door, and quickly mumbled the words.
Glancing next to her, Willow saw that she was now alone. "Anya?" She whispered.
"Oh thank god, I thought you left and didn't take me with you," Anya told her, suddenly sounding dejected.
"No, we're just invisible," Willow told her. "Okay, let go of the door on the count of three. One. Two. Three."
Giving a final pull with all his strength, Ranger Rogers was suddenly propelled backwards as the door flew open, and he stumbled back a few feet, trying to keep himself from falling. Once he regained his footing, the ranger quickly ran up to the closet, not noticing the two men watching with great interest behind him, their expressions of complete shock at not seeing the girls on the other side of the door.
"Where did they go?" Xander questioned.
"Not a clue," Spike replied, sounding more worried than he would have liked to admit.
"What the hell?" The ranger mumbled, staring into the empty closet, clearly as confused as Spike and Xander. "I know that I saw two girls in here," he told himself, closing the door and opening it again, expecting to see something the second time.
"Xander," The young man jumped as he heard his girlfriend whisper behind him, and spun around, surprised to see no one there.
"Anya?" He whispered.
"Come on," she commanded, grabbing both Xander and Spike's arm, pulling them toward the door, "Hurry."
"Anya?" Xander questioned again as he and Spike were led out the back door.
"I'm right here," she told him once they got outside. Xander held his arms out in front of him, trying to feel for her. A moment later, he heard her giggle and make a little purring sound in his ear as he accidentally found the chest part of her.
"Oh, Xander," she whispered, "kinky. But really, now isn't the best time."
Xander's face turned red as he looked toward Spike. "I, uh, found her," he told the vampire, his hands still clearly on the girl's chest.
"Yeah, I see that," Spike replied with a smirk.
Moving one hand out to the side, Xander began to feel around again, "Will?"
"Don't bloody think about it!" Spike shouted, not wanting Xander to find the redhead the same way that he had found his own girlfriend.
"She's still inside," Anya told them.
"What?" Spike growled, turning back toward the door.
"No! Stop!" Anya yelled, grabbing the vampire's arm to hold him back. "She'll be out in a minute. She just wanted to make sure that you both were out first."
"Yeah, by the way, An, how exactly did you become invisible?" Xander asked.
"Willow," she said with a proud smile that she knew he couldn't see. "She did a spell, and it worked. Well, unless of course I never become visible again. I guess then it wouldn't be so good, but on the plus side, think of all things I would be able to see without anyone knowing," Anya mused.
"Willow did a spell?" Xander asked in alarm. "Giles told her to lay off, and…"
"Leave the girl alone," Spike growled. "Just accept it. She knows what she's doing. You're all just afraid because of how powerful she's becoming. Red may have flubbed up a few spells, lord knows I don't want to be kissin the slayer again, but the bottom line is, when it matters, she gets the job done, and the girl's pretty amazing when you get to know her." Spike hadn't meant to say that last part out loud, and immediately regretted it as he saw the horrified look on Xander's face, and the grin on Anya's.
"You like her!" She exclaimed. "You like Willow!"
"What?" Xander asked, looking toward his girlfriend, not yet willing to admit it.
"What?" Spike shouted indignantly. "No, I don't. Well, maybe, but doesn't matter," he mumbled.
Just then, Willow spoke up. "I'm here guys," she said cheerily, happy that they couldn't see the wide grin on her face.
"Willow? Uh, how long you been there?" Spike asked, looking around uncomfortably, as if he would suddenly see the girl.
Willow whispered a few quick words, and the two men watched as she and Anya slowly materialized before them. Willow was smiling brightly and looking slightly flushed. "Just got here," she told him, trying to look as if she were a little out of breath, and noting the sigh of relief coming from the blond.
"What took you so long?" Spike asked gruffly, trying to disguise his embarrassment and concern for the girl as aggravation.
Willow's expression faltered slightly before she smiled brightly again.
"Got a closer look at that stone. I know I've seen it in one of Giles' books, but not sure exactly where. It's very old and very valuable though, I know that much," she told them.
"Just looked like an ordinary old rock to me," Spike said sullenly.
Willow shook her head. "It holds some importance, I'm sure. We'll have to check with Giles." They turned to head back to camp, Willow trailing slightly behind the blond vampire, a wide grin and warm glow to her face.
~Part: 10~
Buffy pulled away from her boyfriend, panting for air and feeling extremely overheated. Looking down at her watch, she jumped up.
"Not good," she mumbled.
"You know, that's really the very last thing a guy wants to hear at this moment," Riley told her, trying not to look offended as he stood up, grabbing his pants.
Buffy was pulling her jeans on and reaching for her shirt as she looked up at the commando. "I'm sorry," she told him with an apologetic smile. "It's just that we had this whole thing that we were supposed to do and we kind of lost track of that, what with the, um, whole other thing happening."
Riley stepped up to the blonde and pulled her into a tight embrace, kissing her lips softly. "I get it," he told her. "I didn't mean for our first time together to be like that."
"That," she stated, gesturing toward the ground were they had just laid, "was pretty great."
"It was, wasn't it?" He said with a smile, kissing her again.
~*~
"You think Buffy and Riley found anything out?" Willow asked as they trudged through the darkened forest.
"Probably just what color underwear the other wears," Xander replied with a roll of his eyes.
"Xander!" Willow exclaimed, her cheeks turning red.
"Oh, I wonder if Riley is a boxers or briefs man," Anya mused.
"What? I'm just saying, they've been all over each other. You've seen the way he looks at her, all seductive eyes and super army guy attitude," Xander told her.
"I-I don't think Riley is really like that," the redhead told him. "And anyway, like you're one to talk!"
"I bet he wears boxers," Anya thought out loud, Spike raising an eyebrow at her words.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Xander questioned.
"You! A-and Anya and you're whole public displays of affection EVERYWHERE we go!" Willow shouted, flailing her arms around.
"I bet they're silk," Anya stated.
"What?" Xander asked, turning and looking at his girlfriend in confusion, having no idea what she was talking about.
"She's just picture'n soldier boy half naked. Can't blame her really, if all she ever gets a peak at is your magnificent charms," Spike stated snidely.
"Hey!" Xander shouted. "And Willow! Anya and I are not overly affectionate with each other in public places."
"Right," Willow replied, rolling her eyes. "The minute you get around her, it's like you can't see anything else."
"That's not true!" The young man shouted. "I am always completely aware of my surroundings, eyes open, watching with every step I…"
Xander's voice was cut off as he suddenly found himself falling down into a deep, dark hole.
"Xander?" Anya shouted in alarm, looking at the space that her boyfriend had just been standing in. "Xander? Dear god!"
Looking down, Willow recognized the hole as an old well which hadn't been covered correctly.
Xander hit the hard ground with a thud, and shook his slightly dazed head. Stumbling to his feet, he shook some of the dirt off of himself and looked around. It was dark and he almost tripped over his flashlight, which had conveniently fallen with him. Clicking it on, he was hit with sudden and horrifying déjà vu. He was in a deep, dark cave, which was reminding him far too much of the Sunnydale Mission that he had fallen into a few months before.
"Why am I the one that's always falling into holes and getting the funny diseases?" He wondered to himself, looking around the dank cave. Suddenly a thought hit him. "I better not end up with syphilis from this," he grumbled, remembering Thanksgiving all too well.
"Xander? Are you alive?" He heard Anya yelling down and tried to peer up at her.
"I'm alright!" He shouted to her.
"Oh thank god!" She called down. "Well get you out as soon as Willow figures out how!"
"Me?" Willow questioned. "What do you think I'm going to do?"
"Can't you just float him up?" The brunette asked.
Willow shook her head. "I can't float something as big as Xander that far," she told the other girl.
"Told chubs to lay off the twinkies," Spike joked, receiving a stern look from the redhead.
"What are we going to do?" Anya asked, sounding increasingly frantic. "I mean, I didn't even want to come on this stupid trip! Hotels and spas don't have deep holes that you can fall into. Ever since we got here it's been nothing but trouble! First we run into creepy people, then find a severed hand, then a dead body, the slayer is too preoccupied with her flavor of the week to do any actual slaying, I got trapped in a closet by a scary ranger guy, my boyfriend has fallen down a well, and now I'm yelling! Anya is yelling! Are you happy? Anya is now yelling!" At that, the distraught brunette sat down on the ground dejectedly.
"Apparently she's also taken to referring to herself in the third person," Willow mused to Spike quietly, seeing him smirk at the comment. "Anya, we'll get him out. We just have to go get some help."
"Well, I'm not thinking the ranger is going to be too keen on helping us, pet," Spike reminded her.
"Yeah, I know," Willow nodded. "I was more thinking Giles and Buffy. A-and Riley should have experience in getting people out of, um, places like that," She told him, gesturing to the hole.
"Guys?" Xander called up, wondering what was happening.
"Xander!" Willow yelled back. "I'm going to go get some help. I'll be back soon."
"You're not going alone," Spike told her. Willow was about to argue the point, but the determined look on his face stopped her. "You and Anya go find the slayer. I"ll head back toward the ranger station, see if I can pinch a bit of rope."
"You think that's a good idea?" Willow asked.
"I AM a vampire," he stated indignantly. "I think I can manage to sneak in and steal a little rope. Fast moves, stealthy actions and all that." At those words, he turned gracefully to head off, tripping over a twig and falling flat on his face.