PART 2
“All right. That’s fine. Really, Giles, we’ll be fine. Have a good time and don’t worry about it.” Willow hung up the phone and turned to Spike. “That was Giles.”
“Figured that out all by myself, pet. What did he want?”
“Olivia’s flight has been delayed indefinitely because of weather somewhere. So he’s staying in L.A. until morning.”
“Really?” Spike’s eyes sparkled. “An entire night without that spoil-sport Watcher? Time for some fun, Red. You up for it?”
“It depends on what you mean.” Willow said carefully. She wasn’t keen on the idea of spending the entire night running around after Spike.
“Don’t worry, pet. It’s not like I can kill anybody. Well, at least not anybody human. I thought we could go out and have some fun. Out, as in out of this apartment. Aren’t you tired of being inside?”
“A little, I guess. But where would we go? I mean, I don’t think you would enjoy the Bronze and there’s not really anywhere else to go.”
“No where your little friends would go, no. But there are lots of things to do if your not picky about the quality of patrons. Trust me.”
Willow couldn’t stop the giggle from escaping her lips. “Trust you? Are you serious? You are the last person I’d trust.”
“Aw, now that hurts. I’ve been mostly good all day, haven’t I? Sure, I teased you a little, but I did help you study. I sat through three nature programs and missed half of one of my shows just so you could see the cute little bears on PBS. I earned a little fun.. Please Willow?”
She cocked her head and looked at him. ((He seems sincere. And what he said was all true. And I am bored. If I’m bored, he must be going out of his mind.)) “All right, Spike. But you have to promise me two things first.”
“What?” Spike was already halfway to the door.
“One: No trouble. That means nothing that will get us kicked out, arrested or me dead.”
“That’s easy. I promise. I just want to go somewhere and have a good time.”
“Well, I know what you consider a ‘good time’, so that’s why I said no trouble. The second thing is: You can’t tell anyone about this. Giles would flip if he knew you took me someone that you consider fun. And he did say on the phone to stay in the apartment. So you can’t tell anyone, not even to tease me or in jest or anything.”
“Fine, fine. I promise. It’s not like I talk to the others much, anyway. So, can we go?” He looked her up and down. “Are you going to wear that?”
“What’s wrong with….. “ She looked down at her old jeans and the pink t-shirt with bunnies on it. “Guess I’m not exactly dressed for much but being inside. We can stop by the dorm and I’ll change.” She chewed her lip. “But just in case Buffy is there, I need a reason to be changing.” She ran into the kitchen.
”What are you doing now?” Spike yelled.
“Giving myself reason to change.” Willow returned to the living room with a cranberry juice stain down her t-shirt and on to her jeans. “So now I have a reason to change.”
“Well aren’t you the sneaky one.” Spike grinned at her. “I never knew you had it in you, Red. Come on. It’s early yet, but I don’t want to miss out on a single minute of the night.”
After much argument, Spike and Willow finally decided on something for her to wear. Spike had wanted her to wear ‘something slutty’ from Buffy collection and Willow had wanted to wear something conservative and easy to run in. They compromised, combining a tight black pair of Buffy’s stretch pants (conservative and easy to run in, but kind of slutty, too) with a low-cut lavender stretch shirt of Willow’s and a pair of comfortable flats.
“How come you didn’t have to dress up?” Willow looked around at their surroundings nervously. Wherever they were going, she’d never been there before.
“Hey, I look good in anything.” Spike smirked. “Besides, chicks dress up not guys.”
“But Angel has some nice..”
“Don’t mention him! I want to have a good time, not talk about that bloody poof.”
“Sorry.” Willow made a mental note to bring up the Angel thing again. Spike was way too touchy on the subject and Willow wanted to know why. “So, where is this place?”
“Just around the corner. I haven’t been there before, but I heard it’s a fun place.”
“How did you hear about it? Is there like a vamp newsletter or something?”
”No.. I heard about it through the grapevine. Before….” He pointed at his head. “I didn’t have the chance before now to check it out. And since I’ve never been there before, maybe no one has heard about my little problem. “
“So this is some kind of vamp place?” Willow was having some serious second thoughts about the ‘go out and have a good time’ thing.
”Yeah.. mostly for vamps and demons just passing through town. I didn’t get the impression that it was anyone’s regular hang out. Don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”
“Oh, I feel sooo much better now.” The sarcasm was thick in Willow’s voice.
Spike stopped walking and grabbed Willow’s arm long enough to get her attention. “I’m serious, Willow. You are about the only one I like. And I know you are only doing this for me. I’m not a complete bastard, you know.”
Willow stared up at him in amazement. “That’s like the third time today that you’ve used my name. It’s like you only use it when you are serious about… oh.. uh.. never mind.” She turned and started walking again, remembering that morning and his little performance on the bed. “Are we almost there?”
”Wait up, pet.” Spike called after her. “This is not a real great part of town, it’s dangerous.”
When Spike caught up with her, Willow smirked at him. “You should know.”
“Cute. It’s just up ahead.”
Willow turned her head to look in the direction he indicated. “We aren’t going there, are we?” The building looked ready for demolition and deserted except for a tacky neon sign over a heavy wooden door that flashed on and off. “’THE DUNGEON’” She read. “You have to be kidding. You want me to go in there?”
“Oh, come on! It will be fun. Let your hair down for once. If it gets too rough, we’ll leave. I promise.”
Willow was still for moment and then nodded her head. “I just hope I don’t regret this.”
*******************
The bar was like any sleazy bar in any town in America. Smelly, dirty, sticky, smoky, loud. The only difference was that some of the patrons were vampires or demons. There were humans too, though. People that even Willie the Snitch wouldn’t let into his place. “Stick close to my side and follow my lead, okay?”
“Uh huh…” Willow unconsciously grabbed a hold of Spike hand and held on tight. She was fascinated and scared at the same time. “It’s like something out of a bad movie.” She yelled.
“Pipe down! It’s comments like that that will get us in trouble. Just relax a little and act like you’re my girlfriend and you’re happy to be here.” Spike had bent down to talk into her ear and so didn’t see the large demon come up behind him. When he saw Willow’s eyes widen, he straightened and turned around, putting Willow behind him. “Help you with something?” Spike spoke loud enough to be heard over the music but his belligerent tone was unmistakable. “No problems, buddy. Just wondering if you knew when the next sweep would be.” The demon lit a cigarette and held it gingerly between his talons.
“Sweep?” Spike had no idea what the guy was talking about, but some instinct made him play along. “No, I haven’t heard. When was the last one?”
“About three days ago from what I heard. You didn’t have any luggage, so I thought you were a local.” The demon scanned the bar.
“Not a local but I’ve been here a few weeks. I’ve heard of the sweeps but I haven’t had a problem. What have you heard?” Spike squeezed Willows hand in reassurance.
“Oh, you know, the usual. These military types comb the town periodically and snatch every demon and vampire they can get their hands on. None of them are ever heard from again. Except one. This vampire supposedly escaped, but I think it’s just a myth.” The demon let out a noise that Willow thought was supposed to be a laugh but was way too creepy to sound joyful. “There’s even been some talk of going to the Slayer for protection! The Slayer! Can you believe that? I guess they think that since she had a thing with Angelus, she’d be willing to help other demons.”
”Really?” Spike could keep his eyebrows from raising at this revelation. “The Slayer, huh? Why doesn’t everyone just steer clear of Sunnydale if they are so afraid?”
“You know how it is, with the Hellmouth being here and all. We just can’t stay away.” The demon looked uncomfortably around the bar again. “Maybe we should move around a bit. I have this feeling that we’re being watched.”
Spike swept the room with his eyes as the demon just had. “Yeah, mate, I know what you mean. How about that booth over there? I’ll buy you a drink and we can chat some more.”
“Sure.” The demon went to the booth and sat down, followed closely by Spike and Willow.
Once they were seated, Spike asked what the demon wanted to drink. “Name’s Norm, by the way. And a beer would really hit the spot, thanks.” Norm lit another cigarette and took a long drag.
“I’m Bill and this is Willow. So, a beer for Norm. And for you, luv?” Spike looked at Willow for the first time since he and Norm had started talking. Her eyes were wide and she was staring at Norm. Spike thought she had probably been looking at the demon like that the entire time. “Pet? What would you like to drink?” He grasped her chin and forced her head around to look at him. “He may be big, but he won’t hurt you. Trust me, Willow.” He held her gaze until some of the color returned to her cheeks and she nodded.
“I wouldn’t know what to order, Sp.. uh.. Bill. Get me whatever you think I’ll like.”
On impulse, he leaned over and kissed her cheek. “I’ll be right back with the drinks. Just keep Norm company and everything will be fine.” Spike rose from his seat and headed for the bar.
Once Spike left, Willow returned to staring at ‘Norm’. ((Whoever heard of a demon named Norm? Demons who are at least seven feet tall, three hundred pounds, have gray scaly skin, no hair, teeth like a tiger and talons almost like a bird of prey, are not named Norm.))
“He’s right, you know.” Norm said when he caught Willow staring.
“Huh?”
“I won’t hurt you. I’m really a nice guy once you get to know me.” His smile was full of teeth but also full of genuine amusement. “I know I look scary, but I don’t go looking for trouble.”
Willow dropped her eyes. “Sorry, I know it’s rude to stare.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’m used to it.” He scanned the room again before turning back to Willow. “You do know that Bill is a vampire, don’t you? You act like you know him, but… well, you’re awful young and vamps are known to take advantage of the fact that they can look human.”
“Yes, I know what he is. But thanks for trying to look out for me.” She gave him a small smile, her fear of him diminished a little. “Is your name really Norm?” she blurted.
Norm laughed for real this time. “Sure. Same as Bill’s name is really Bill. Let’s just say that’s what I call myself when I travel.”
“You travel a lot?”
“Oh, once in a while. Right now I’m doing the tourist thing. You know, traveling around the world, seeing the sights. And, of course, Sunnydale is on the ‘Lowlights of the Demon World’ tour. ‘Lowlights’, pretty funny, huh?” Seeing that Willow was not laughing, Norm shook his head. “Sorry, demon humor, I guess.”
Spike returned with the drinks and set them on the table. “Here you go, Norm.” He slid the can of beer over to Norm and set a mixed drink in front of Willow. “Rum and coke. If you don’t like it, we can get you something else.” He slid into the booth next to Willow and sipped his double whiskey. “Everything okay?”
Both Willow and Norm nodded. “Everything is fine, Bill.” Willow took a sip of her drink and almost choked. “Not bad, I guess.” She took another, bigger drink and it went down a little easier.
Spike and Norm were soon conversing on a variety of topics and trading rumors about mutual acquaintances. Willow’s attention drifted after awhile since she didn’t know most of the people they were discussing. After her third drink, she was well beyond caring what anyone was discussing. She just wanted to go to sleep. Without planning it, she laid her head against Spike’s shoulder and closed her eyes. “Just for a minute.” she mumbled.
Spike shifted, leaning further back in the booth. He put his arm around Willow and pulled her head against his chest. He wanted to pull her into his lap so she would be more comfortable, but he didn’t like the idea of not being able to move quickly, if needed.
“Not used to the liquor, huh?” Norm chuckled. “She’s a sweet kid. What’s she doing with William the Bloody? Or should the question be; what are you doing with her?”
“You know who I am?” Spike was genuinely surprised. Norm had never once hinted that he knew who Spike was.
“I didn’t at first, but the longer we talked, the more sure I was. The people you know combined with the hair and eyes eventually gave you away. If you’re trying to hide, I’d definitely do something about the hair.”
“Do you really want my recent life’s story?”
“No, not really. Just tell me the truth about something and I’ll drop it. You aren’t going to hurt her, are you?”
“No. She’s one of the only friends I have right now. Strange, but true. I won’t hurt her.”
“I think you really mean that.” As he had for most of the evening, Norm scanned the bar again. “Well, it’s been nice talking to you, but I should probably go. The human crowd’s thinning out a bit and I like to be around plenty of humans. Those military fellows seem to tend to pick times for sweeps when there aren’t many humans around.” Norm scooted to the edge of the booth. “And one more thing. If I were you, I would get out of Sunnydale and even out of the country. I’ve been traveling for six months now, and I can tell you, there are no safe towns for demons anymore. Sunnydale isn’t the only place that has uniformed demonnappers. There’s just more of them here. Take your human and go back to Europe where it’s safer.” He stood and shook Spike’s hand. “Maybe we’ll meet again sometime.”
“I’d like that. And thanks.” Spike watched Norm’s back until he was out of the bar before turning to Willow. “Wake up, pet. Time to go.” He shifted her off his chest and smiled as she woke up. “What?” Willow blinked up at Spike in confusion and wiped the drool from the side of her mouth. “Yuck! I have to pee. Can I pee before we go?” She giggled, still under the influence of her three drinks.
“Sure, pet. It’s just over there, I think. Come on.” He helped her slide out of the booth and put an arm around her when she wobbled. They made their way across the bar, towards the back hallway. As they passed the bar, Spike noticed that the blonde girl who had been sitting alone there when they had first arrived was now at a table on the other side of the room. By herself. With no drink in front of her. ((And she can’t even part her hair straight. No wonder she’s alone.))
They reached the back hallway and Spike pushed open the door to the ladies, propping Willow against the wall just inside the door. Once he was satisfied that there was no one hiding, he went back outside the door to stand guard. “Hurry up. I want to get out of here.”
While he waited for Willow, Spike leaned against the wall and looked for the girl he had spotted earlier. From his position in the hall, he could see that the girl had a real good view of the booth where he, Norm and Willow had been sitting. ((Huh… First she’s at the bar, by herself, then she moves to a table, leaving her drink behind. I wonder… Oh stop being paranoid. She’s just scooping out the guys, that’s all….. then why is your skin crawling like it does when trouble is about to arrive?))
The feeling intensified and Spike listened to the instincts he’d learned to trust years ago. He pushed open the ladies room door. “We’re leaving. NOW, Willow.”
“I feel sick, Spike.” Her voice drifted out of one of the stalls.
“Bloody Hell! No more drinking for you.” Spike pushed open the stall door and hauled Willow to her feet. “I’ll fix you something when we get back to the Watchers. We have to go right now.” He grabbed her arm and drug her out of the restroom.
He first turned towards the front door but quickly changed his mind. “We’ll go out the back.”
Willow just nodded miserably and let Spike pull her along down the hall and out the back door. The smell in the alley was enough to make her gag. “I’m going to be sick again.”
“Not now.” Spike kept looking behind them as he made his way back around the block towards Giles’ apartment. They rounded the corner and Spike stopped abruptly making Willow run into his back. “Bastards!”
“What? Why did we stop? I think I need to throw……”
“Shhh.. quiet, pet. There’s a little problem we are going to have to go around.” Spike watched as men dressed in cammo and armed to the teeth, gathered in front of the bar, preparing to go inside. And there, in one of the vehicles, was the blonde girl he’d seen in the bar.
EPILOUGE
“That was fun. Wasn’t it fun? I had fun. I want to go back and see Norm. Where did Norm go?” Willow babbled as they walked, feeling much better since she had stopped twice to empty her stomach.
“I’m glad you had fun, luv. But we won’t be going back there ever again. Norm went away to continue his trip.” Spike looked over at the wobbly redhead and smiled. “Did you see who was out front?”
“No. Was it a friend of yours? Someone mysterious from your past? “
“My past isn’t all that mysterious. If you want to know something, just ask. But no, it wasn’t a friend. I just thought I recognized someone, that’s all.” He was relieved that she hadn’t seen the commando’s going in. What she didn’t know, she couldn’t tell the Slayer or the Watcher. He was going to figure this out for himself and now he had a lead. The girl. If he could find out who she was….. She looked like she was a civilian but she was obviously working for the commando’s. Civilian meant easier to get to, easier to follow, easier to convince to tell him what he wanted to know. And if she was a demon as well… ((All the better to torture you, my dear.))
By the time they reached Giles’ apartment, Willow was once again sagging against Spike, moaning about her head and stomach. Spike took the key from her and opened the door, helping her to the couch. “Just sit right there and I’ll get you something. I’m sure the Watcher has all the ingredients for this kind of thing.”
Willow nodded weakly and leaned back on the couch. “Thanks, Spike. You can be nice when you want to. And just in case I forget or die from this, I wanted to tell you that I really did have a good time tonight. Maybe we can do it again….” She drifted off to sleep.
Spike returned the living room and watched the girl sleep. ((Now, how the hell am I going to explain to the Watcher why she has a hangover?)) He put down the glass of water and aspirin and sat down in the chair next to the couch. ((I’ll think of something when the time comes….)) He leaned his head back and closed his eyes, thinking of all the things he wanted to do once he got his head fixed.