CHAPTER 17
Buffy came up behind her mother. “What’s up Giles?” She tried to keep her voice light as she addressed her watcher, she knew he was here to nag her about Spike again and she just was NOT in the mood for this right now.
“Buffy, I wish to speak to you about Spike, I went by his crypt and he was not there. I assume you are aware of this?” Giles craned his neck to try to see into the house past the two Summer’s women who were effectively blocking the doorway.
Buffy affected a look of shock. “No, really, wow I guess he must have gone out hunting and is killing half the town right now…Giles we MUST put a stop to him! Bad evil vampire that he is!”
Giles let out a sigh of frustration, “yes, well I am glad to see you are taking this seriously!”
“Giles, chill ok, of course I know he is gone, what did you think he was going to get up and walk away by himself? Did you see his injuries? He is here, Mom and I brought him home.”
“Yes well surprisingly that was my first assumption, however I really must protest. Buffy have you given any thought to this, not only are you endangering yourself you are also putting your mother in considerable danger.”
“What, Spike is going to murder us in our beds? Is that what you are implying? Giles he isn’t even conscious yet, how much harm do you think he is going to do, also even once he does wake up, broken legs, smashed ribs, broken collar bone…yeah real dangerous scary vampire! But Giles, here’s the biggy, ok … even if he was all healed he still isn’t gonna hurt us ok. What can’t you get about this, Spike loves me, he is NOT gonna hurt me, he is not gonna hurt Mom, he likes my mom. He is NOT going to hurt anyone Giles. God, why can’t you just get that?”
“Why, probably because he is a vampire Buffy, vampires do not love, they do not have feelings, they are evil, they have no soul.”
“A soul, that’s what this is about? Gee Giles forgive me if I’m not on the whole the soul is everything bandwagon. Angel has a soul, did you see what he did, did you get a good look at Spike, or hear the things Angel was saying about me being his property? Last I checked Giles, Hitler had a soul, didn’t he? Or Charles Manson, or Jack the Ripper. Or hey what about John Doe who woke up one morning and decided he couldn’t take it any more so he shot his wife and kids and then himself! No Spike doesn’t have a soul but he is a good man and he does love me and he won’t hurt me and I’m sorry Giles but obviously everything you THINK you know about vampires is just a load of bull because vampires can love and they do feel!”
“Buffy, I can see the point you are making in regards to the soul, and yes, people with souls do do bad things, unforgivable things. Which only makes what I am saying more pertinent, if it is difficult enough to do the correct thing with the benefit of a soul for guidance it is indubitably more difficult if not impossible without such assistance.” Giles removed his glasses and subconsciously began to clean them, drawing a deep breath he continued on with what he hoped was the convincing argument he had been going over in his head for the last several hours.
“Furthermore as you have seen fit to bring up the subject of Spike’s injuries. I feel I must point out that his injuries are, what can only be described as, horrendous. The pain the creature must be undergoing would be colossal. It may take months maybe even years for his injuries to heal and even then I cannot imagine that he would regain full use of his limbs and would surely be left deformed and in constant torment. I feel I must point out that it is surely the most caring and humane thing possible to put the poor creature out of its misery….”
“WHAT?” Buffy was furious, how could he possibly be using emotional blackmail to try to get her to murder her boyfriend? “How dare you, how could you possibly….”
“Buffy.” Her mother interjected. “Calm down honey, it’s ok, no one is going to harm Spike.” She looked pointedly at Giles. “Mr Giles, while I am perfectly well aware that you are Buffy’s watcher, I am her mother and this is my home. Spike is guest in my home and Buffy and I will see to his care. You needn’t concern yourself for his welfare, I can assure you we will make every effort to assure his comfort. Now if you don’t mind , I am afraid I shall have to ask you to leave, we have things to do. Goodnight.” With that she closed the door on the astonished face of the usually unflappable watcher.
Once the door was safely closed Joyce turned and folded her daughter into her embrace. “It’s ok honey, we will take care of him.” She paused for a moment and then continued on, her voice a little less assured. “He will be alright, won’t he?”
“Yeah Mom, I think he will, I could hear his bones moving and his wounds and bruises are definitely mending. I don’t know how long it would have taken him to recover if he wasn’t getting my blood though, especially seeing he couldn’t even hunt they way he is.” Buffy allowed herself a small shudder at the thought of Spike hunting and then quickly dismissed the image. “He is definitely getting stronger, he fed properly last time, not just me dribbling blood in his mouth.” She gave her mom a hopeful smile. “I’m gonna go back down and check on him, why don’t you go on up to bed, I’ll probably stay down there and watch him.”
“All right Buffy, if you need any help or you want me to watch him for a while so you can get some sleep just let me know.” Joyce turned towards the stairs then stopped turning back to her daughter, ‘why don’t you pull out another one of the camp beds, they are in with the rest of the camping gear on the lower shelf near the dryer. I’ll bring you some blankets and a pillow, that way you can at least get some rest, but you will be able to hear if he wakes up.”
“Yeah that’s a good idea, thanks Mom, I’ll do that!”
Going over to Spike’s bed just to check on him first before looking for the camping gear Buffy was delighted to see a pair of shining gold eyes staring at her. Dropping to the floor beside his head she reached out and gently stroked the soft curls away from his forehead. “Hey, I wondered when you were gonna wake up.” She lent over a placed a soft kiss on his still swollen lips.
“Heard you talking to the watcher pet.” His voice was so quiet she could barely hear him. “You an’ your mum. Thankyou luv, the things you said, the things your mum said….” His voice trailed away and he turned his face aside, embarrassed.
“Shh, don’t be silly.” She soothed him with her voice and gentle strokes. Looking up she asked, “so how come the bumpies?”
“Oh, it helps with the pain, I can get rid of them though.”
“No, no I didn’t mean it like that, Spike, I love you, bumps and all! I just wondered, you know, I thought maybe it was so you could see better or something.”
Spike laughed then coughed as the laugh jarred his healing ribs. “No luv, I can see just fine. It just raises my pain threshold is all.”
“How are your legs? I wasn’t sure if they needed splinting, but I could hear your ribs moving into place and I figured your legs would do the same thing? I can splint them though if it would help.”
“No luv, they’ll mend by themselves. Gonna have to ask you to put my shoulder back in though, but that can wait for a while, let some bones mend first. Legs are getting better, at this rate they should be mostly usable by the mornin’.”
“Well they’ll get better quicker if you feed, I am so glad you are awake the whole cutting my wrist open with scissors was getting so old!” Buffy rolled her eyes.
Spike couldn’t help the smile her antics brought, God he loved this girl! She held her left wrist to his mouth and played gently with the curls falling softly across his forehead with the other hand. As Spikes fangs gently pierced her flesh and he began to take gentle pulls of blood she let out a quiet moan, lowering her head to rest on her right arm as it lay across the bed she stared into the beautiful gold eyes of her lover and allowed all her love for him to show in her face and her eyes.
Joyce paused halfway down the stairs, blankets and pillow in her arms temporarily forgotten as she watched the fearsome being below feeding on the lifeblood of her only child. She knew she should be horrified, should reach for the nearest weapon and beat the creature away from her daughter, protect her offspring at all costs. However as she watched the proceedings all she could see was the gentleness, the love, the devotion the pair felt for each other. Shaking herself from her reverie she proceeded down the stairs, keeping her voice calm as if the event before her was normal and commonplace she announced, “I brought your blankets and pillow, I see our patient is awake, good to see you recovering Spike!”
Buffy turned with surprise at her mothers voice. Spike had noticed her on the stairs, seen her steel herself then continue on. Gently releasing Buffy’s wrist and licking the small wound closed he looked up at Buffy’s mum. “Yeah thanks to you ladies I am.”
“Well I’m off to bed, I’ll see you two in the morning, Buffy here are your things, would you like me to get that bed out for you?”
“Um, no, it’s ok Mom, I’ll get it, you go on up to bed.” Getting up she moved to her mom and gave her a grateful hug and a kiss goodnight. “Hopefully Spike will be moving about by the morning!”
Buffy went over to the shelf her mom had indicated earlier and got out another camp bed which she set up as close to Spikes as possible. As she set about making up her bed Spike watched her, a content smile on his now almost healed lips. He allowed his face to change back to his usual human features as Buffy’s blood worked it’s miracle on his body, healing him and easing the pain.
She lay down on her side on her bed and reached over entwining her fingers with Spikes where they lay resting against his abdomen. Looking in his eyes she smiled. He was healing quite noticeably now, the burns on his face all but gone, his mouth no longer swollen and split. The purple bruising that had covered his body had faded to a sickly yellow and his ribs no longer made the horrible grinding noises they had been making so she assumed they were back in their correct places now. He healed much faster than she did even with her slayer healing, mind you, she allowed herself a brief moment of smugness, it was her blood that was allowing him to heal so rapidly!
“So luv, I kinda missed the end of the show, what happened to the great poof?” He raised his scarred eyebrow in inquiry.
“I told him to get out of my town and never show his face again or I’d kill him, I think he got the message!”
“Have to admit, would have loved to hear you dusted the bastard, but runnin him outta town ‘s pretty damn good!” Spike attempted to stifle a yawn.
“You should get some sleep baby. If you wake up and I’m asleep, wake me up, ok!” Buffy gave him the ‘I’m serious’ look.
“Ok luv, I will…promise!” He raised their intertwined hands to his lips, kissing her fingers tenderly and nuzzling against her hand before allowing their hands to fall back to his side. “You get some sleep too sweetheart. I love you Buffy.” His eyes captured hers.
“I love you too Spike, I was so scared, when I realised what Angel was up to I was so terrified I wouldn’t get to you in time.”
“S’all right love, you did, knew you would…don’t know how, I just knew you’d come.” yawning again he again told her to get some sleep, closing his eyes he drifted off.
*********************
Their night was spent alternating between dozing for short periods and then Spike feeding some more. Each time he woke Buffy noticed the huge level of improvement in his injuries. By the time the sun was rising only the faintest shadows of bruises marred his lovely alabaster skin. His collarbone and ribs were completely healed, the breaks in his right leg had knitted but were still fragile, his left knee was healing but still quite painful. He had managed to sit up and pull the sweat pants on.
“Ok luv, time to fix this arm.”
“What? Oh…um…you sure?”
“Gotta be put back in pet, won’t do that by itself. You can help me, or if it bothers you, go on up and have yourself some breakfast and I can use a doorframe to pop it back in.”
“No. It’s ok…just tell me what to do.” Buffy smiled bravely at him.
Spike walked her through putting his dislocated arm back into place, in the end it was a lot easier than she had thought it would be, easier for her that is. Spike on the other hand had firmly wedged a wooden stake lengthways in his mouth to bite down on and keep from screaming out and terrifying her mother. By the time his arm was safely back in it’s socket Buffy had one less usable stake as Spike’s teeth had bitten almost all the way through it.
Sitting down on the bed next to him and snuggling close Buffy soothed him with soft caresses and loving words. Turning in his embrace she sought out his lips, gentle at first then deeper and more passionate. Breaking away for much needed breath Buffy turned her head, exposing her neck as she drew his face gently towards her. Moaning with pleasure as his tongue lapped lovingly at her pulse. He nuzzled closer kissing and licking, sucking and nibbling, worrying gently at the racing pulse beneath his hungry mouth. Allowing his face to shift he slipped razor sharp fangs through soft tender skin. Waves of pleasure and love engulfed them both as he gently fed on the glorious nectar
that flooded his mouth and his senses. With a desperate groan of longing he withdrew and licked tenderly at the wound, closing and healing while at the same time prolonging the contact they both ached for. Wrapping his arms around her he drew her closer to his body as she seemed to melt into him, both of them craving as much contact as possible.
They clung to each other for an eternity before sounds of movement in the kitchen above drifted down to them. Reluctantly separating they tidied themselves up just as Joyce made an appearance in the doorway above.
*******************
Later that morning Buffy made her way into the school library, coat wrapped bundle in hand. The library was vacant apart from her tweed clad watcher. Marching up to his desk she unwrapped the bundle and carefully placed the sword on the desk in front of him.
“Here’s the sword Spike gave me, he has no idea what the runes mean, they were on the original that he got the guy to use as the pattern to make it from. You can look them up, work out what it means and when you are done I want my sword back, in the same condition it was given to you ok!”
She turned to leave the room, after a few steps she stopped, turning back to her watcher. “Oh and in case you were wondering, Spike is much better, thankyou. Almost completely healed in fact. Now I am going back home I will see you tomorrow.”
“Buffy.” Giles voice was hesitant as he called after her. As she stopped and looked at him he continued. “Thankyou Buffy, I will look into it if only for the fact that if Spike is unaware of the meaning of these runes it is quite possible they could be dangerous in some way, unlikely but possible and it is always best to be careful.” Removing his glasses and cleaning them, as he always did when nervous or agitated, he continued “I would like to apologise, I have given your words a great deal of thought and I can see that you were not completely wrong in your evaluation of the necessity of a soul. It is just that the concept of a vampire that chooses to be good, to not hunt or kill, well it was inconceivable to me. I am willing to accept that I may well have been wrong in everything I have up to now held to be true. I hope for both our sakes that you are correct in your assessment of Spike. Well…that’s all I wanted to say, I hope you can forgive me and understand that anything I have said or done was only done out of a wish to protect you.”
Without answering Buffy launched herself at her watcher, throwing herself into his arms. “Thankyou Giles, you have no idea what that means to me. You’ll see, he IS a good man Giles I know it and you will too, you just have to give him a chance. I better go before Principal Snyder sees me or no way is he gonna believe Mom’s call about me being sick.”
With that Buffy turned and rushed out of the library and home feeling happier than she could remember being in a long time.
CHAPTER18
Joyce had spent the day at the gallery thinking very deeply about recent events. Her daughters life was certainly not heading where she had expected it would be heading. You have such dreams, such plans for them as they are growing, but vampires and slaying and short violent lives are never really on the list of considerations.
She returned home that night, after a quick trip to the market, to find Spike and Buffy cuddled up on the lounge together watching the TV. “Your legs are working ok now, Spike?” She greeted the couple.
“Yeah they are all fixed up now, good as new!” Spike rose from where he was seated to help Joyce with the bags of groceries she was carrying. Buffy followed them into the kitchen and when Spike put the bags down on the counter she started putting the groceries away.
When they were finished Joyce turned to the two blondes, “I wanted to talk to you two, why don’t we go sit down?”
Once they were all seated she began, “Spike, I would like to make you an offer and I want you to understand that you are in no way obligated to accept, I will understand completely if you do not. What I am trying to say is if you would like to move in here, you are more than welcome. The basement is a mess at the moment but if you and Buffy wanted to sort it out, throw out the junk and store the rest in the attic I thought you could make quite a nice room for yourselves down there and it is sunlight proof. (And reasonably soundproof she added in her head.) Like I said I would understand completely if you wished to maintain your independence.”
Buffy’s eyes lit up and she held her breath hopefully. She also didn’t want to pressure Spike into anything he didn’t want to do, however the thought of Spike being there all the time was a dream come true!
Spike’s breath hitched in his throat a look of absolute wonder transformed his face, softening sharp angles to create an look of almost boylike innocence. “I … you would allow me to move in?” His voice was soft and hesitant, almost scared he had misheard.
Joyce laughed at the vampire’s apprehension. “Yes Spike I would like and I am certain Buffy would like for you to move in here with us.” Becoming more serious she added, “under normal circumstances I would not even so much as consider allowing Buffy to have her boyfriend move in here, let alone allow her to move into the same room as him. However as you are well aware there is nothing normal about Buffy’s life and I want her to be as happy as she can possibly be and from what I have seen you want the same thing for her. I have seen firsthand how much you and my daughter care for each other and it is my belief that with you by her side there is a very real possibility that she could live a long and happy life, which is all any mother could wish for her child!”
Buffy couldn’t contain herself any longer she jumped up and gave her mom a huge hug. “You know you are the best don’t you Mom?”
*****************
Over the next few days Spike and Buffy sorted through everything that had been just dumped into the basement when her mother and her had moved to Sunnydale, things that didn’t have a home or a use in their lives had been left boxed or shelved in the basement. Much of what they sorted through found itself in the trash, the rest was repacked carefully and moved to the attic.
They then spent their evenings, after Buffy’s patrol, packing up what Spike wanted from his crypt and moving it into their room. Carrying the large brass bed, in pieces over a number of trips, the several blocks from the cemetery to the house late at night. The basement was now transformed. Buffy thought it looked amazing, with their own lounge area with rugs decorating the floor Spike’s TV and leather chairs. Their bedroom area they had separated from the rest by hanging a large curtain from the basement ceiling to the floor so they could open or close it. Spike’s small fridge sat next to the washing machine and dryer. It was a work in progress and Spike assured her that once he arranged an agent and sold some property he had invested in in New York about 20 years ago that they would fix the room up like a palace. He also secretly had every intention of finalising Joyce’s mortgage for her, but he wanted that to be a surprise and knew Buffy would be unable to keep that from her mother.
Buffy had been astonished to find he had investments and when she had voiced her amazement he had laughed. “Luv I have investments all over the place. You don’t live a hundred and twenty odd years without comin’ into a windfall every now an’ then. One thing I can promise you pet is you will never want for anything, I intend to lavish you an' your Mum with everything you could ever want.”
Reaching up to stroke his cheek Buffy replied, “ I already have everything I could ever want and he is right here!” She reinforced her statement with a kiss.
CHAPTER19
Entering the library, Buffy was confronted by her watcher’s concerned face.
“You look all doom and gloomy, what gives?”
“Ah Buffy, I’m glad you are here. Yes it appears we may have a problem. According to this morning’s paper there were several wild dog attacks last night. One eyewitness account states that the dog was 6 foot tall and ran in an almost upright manner.”
“Uh, huh?” Buffy looked at him blankly.
“Buffy, tonight is the full moon. Whilst it is accepted mythology that the werewolf makes it’s appearance on the night of the full moon, it is in actual fact the night of the full moon and the two nights surrounding it, consequently last night, tonight and tomorrow night. It would appear Buffy that we have a werewolf in town!”
“Oh goody, should have known werewolves were real too, stood to reason I guess. Tell me Giles are trolls and fairies real too?”
“Well as a matter of fact…”
“No, don’t! Forget I asked, I don’t want to know!”
“So what’s the deal? How do we kill this thing?”
“Well to kill a werewolf one would require a weapon made of silver to pierce the heart, a silver dagger, sword or more recently bullets. However you must consider Buffy that this creature is only a werewolf on the three nights of the full moon, the rest of the time it is a normal human being and may well be completely ignorant of its alter ego. I cannot in all conscience recommend killing it, however it must, for the sake of the general public, be contained.”
“Ok, so how do we catch this thing?”
“Yes that is a good question, I shall have to give the matter a great deal of thought. Now where did I leave my Stymmes compendium, I believe there was a rather extensive chapter in there on werewolves.” Giles headed for his office in search of the book, turning back to Buffy he added, “you best be getting to class, if you could meet me here after school this afternoon and we will formulate a plan.”
***************
The Scoobies convened that afternoon after school in the less than orderly Library. Books littered most surfaces, Giles had been furiously scribbling notes and cross referencing for the majority of the day.
“So, any luck finding the scoop on werewolf captury goodness?” Buffy flopped down into one of the chairs surrounding the large round table, crinkling her nose she pushed at one of the large musty books with one finger as if it would contaminate her. “You have enough of these old smelly books out, you must have found something out, right?”
“Yes, quite, once again your command of the English language astounds me Buffy!” Giles’ patience was sorely tried after a long day of research.
“Huh?”
“Never mind.” Giles sighed and seating himself on the edge of the table he began to detail what information he had come up with throughout the course of the day.
“I have been able to substantiate that werewolves generally tend to be solitary, to the extent that they will fight rather ferociously and often to the death with another of their kind, even another of the opposite sex, whenever they come across them. So we can be fairly sure that we are only dealing with the one animal. Now then, they are exceptionally strong in relation to their size, immune to the majority of tranquilizing agents and are not even remotely susceptible to magic. However I was able to discover one tranquilizer which has in the past prove to be most effective in the subjugation of werewolves and was able to procure a small amount through a contact of mine. I stress however that it was indeed a small amount I have enough for three darts, so we must be very certain of a clear shot.”
“Ok, so super strong, not big on the company and non magicy. But we can tranquilize it. Got it! Ok, so where do we start and when?”
“Yes well apparently they are attracted to certain scents, fear and lust being the strongest attractants. So I would suggest we start our search in and around the vicinity of the what I believe you would refer to as a ‘make out place’! Tonight, werewolves don’t change until the moon rises and it doesn’t rise until around 10pm tonight.”
“What I don’t get though G’man is how this guy can be running around town all night as the big bad wolf and you know, just go about life as normal the next day?”
Giles removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose between his thumb and forefinger. “Xander I would greatly appreciate it if you never referred to me in such a manner again. Your point however is surprisingly valid. Apparently it is usual for the person to be completely unaware of their night time activities. It is believed a type of amnesia takes place, possibly a part of the process or merely the person’s psyche finding a way to deal with the situation. As the animal will usually return to what it considers to be it’s lair the person merely wakes up in his or her own bed in the morning blessedly ignorant of the nights proceedings.”
“Ok so what we all meet back here tonight and then head off to ‘The Hill’ in search of lust filled teenagers, find the wolf, shoot it and then what?” Buffy looked to her watcher.
“I don’t feel it is advisable for us all to go, if Spike is willing to accompany you then Spike, yourself and I should be sufficient to perform the task. If we empty the Library cage of it’s contents I believe it should be a suitable place of confinement until the morning. Once we are aware of who we are dealing with we can help them learn to adapt to their situation without endangering anyone in the process.”
They all turned to file out of the library.
“Oh Buffy, one moment before you leave.” Giles called after her. Buffy turned back to her watcher to be presented with her sword. “ I researched the runes and to the best of my knowledge they are a blessing on the wielder. It is an incredibly fine weapon Buffy. You are very fortunate.”
Taking the proffered sword Buffy looked up at her watcher, “yeah, I know I am!”
*******************
Buffy returned to the library that night with Spike to find the watcher preparing the tranquilizer gun.
“Oh good you’re here. We should make a start, that way we can familiarise ourselves with the area before the moon rises and be in place to intercept the creature before it has the opportunity to harm anyone. I believe our best chances of success are if you two are able to distract it whilst I shoot it with the tranquilizer, but for God sake Buffy be careful not to allow it to bite or scratch you. Spike I am assuming you are immune to it’s bite?”
“I’d say so, be bloody interestin’ though if I’m not wouldn’t it!” Spike laughed as the watcher fixed him with an icy stare.
“Yes well I am glad you are able to find the humour in the situation Spike!”
“Oh lighten up will you, I’m just sayin’ a werewolf vampire hybrid … it’s like something from some bloody Hollywood blockbuster innit! Don’t fret Watcher, werewolves only affect the livin’ an’ last time I checked I no longer suffered from that particular affliction!”
*****************
As she wasn’t needed for tonight’s werewolf hunt Willow had met up with Oz at The Bronze. They had spent a quiet evening listening to the band and discussing pez. Walking back towards Willow’s house Oz was telling her how his band ‘The Dingoes ate my baby’ was going to be playing at The Bronze the following Friday night. Suddenly Oz bent over double clutching his stomach in agony and making tortured groaning and gurgling sounds.
“Oz, what’s wrong, Oz…” Willow grabbed his shoulders trying to lift his so she could see what was wrong. Oz lifted his head and his normal features were twisted and contorted. Before Willow’s horrified eyes he started to alter, his face lengthening and hair sprouting. Deep vicious growls escaped him. For a moment, while he writhed and twisted in obvious pain as his body transformed, Willow stood transfixed. Suddenly realizing her peril, the redhead turned and bolted, leaving a half transformed werewolf in her wake.
Tearing into the school and heading for the library Willow could only hope that Oz/wolf had not followed her. Have to get to Buffy and Giles, that was her one driving thought. As she entered the library she discovered it to be empty, they had obviously already left.
After arming herself with a baseball bat from Giles’ armoury and calming herself enough to think of what to do next she picked up the phone and dialled Cordelia’s number.
“Cordelia, Willow. Look I need you to do something for me.” She listened to the scathing response on the other end of the line before answering.
“Well because you are the only one I know who has a car!”
“Look Cordelia this is an emergency will you just listen!”
“I need you to drive over to Xander’s place and pick him up and bring him to the library, tell him Oz is the werewolf and we need to let Buffy and Giles know!”
“No he won’t contaminate your car, well alright if it will make you feel better put a towel on the seat first, just please hurry!”
Hanging up the phone she settled in to wait, crouching behind the desk, bat in hand.
**************
After the fourth unsuccessful circuit of the hill Giles’ mood darkened even further than it had been all night, his grumbling no longer even barely disguised. Buffy frowned at him. “You’re all bad and moody, what’s up?”
“Yes well Buffy, contrary to what you may believe I do have interests which do not involve the supernatural and I had to break very important plans for tonight which I had been looking forward to for quite some time. Instead, here I am traipsing around in the dark with a vampire looking for a werewolf so I can shoot it, drag it back to school and lock it in a cage. And the damn thing doesn’t even have the courtesy to show up!”
“Don’t know what you’re complainin’ about watcher, I was watchin’ a good movie on TV, some little kid was the bloody antichrist, his father an’ this priest guy had to stop him. They were of to meet up with a guy named Bugenhagen to find out how! Now I’ll never find out how the bloody thing ends!”
Spike stopped in midstep, becoming as still and silent as only a vampire could. Silently scenting the air, he turned to the slayer. “Someone over that way luv, human, but with a strange scent to him, he’s movin’ pretty quietly too.”
Following Spike’s lead they headed off carefully in the direction he had indicated. They paused as a large dishevelled man entered the clearing ahead of them, gun in hand, and neck surrounded by a grisly necklace of teeth of some kind. Turing to Buffy Spike whispered in her ear that the teeth were from a werewolf, “that’s the strange scent I picked up earlier pet.”
Before either of the men could stop her Buffy stepped into the clearing, planting her hands on her hips and legs slightly splayed balancing her weight ready for a fight.
“Well well, what have we here?” The disgusting looking man leered at her making her skin crawl and causing a distinctive growl to erupt from the bushes behind her. Spinning her head quickly to pin her lover with a ‘stay where you are’ glare she then returned her attention to the hunter.
“Who are you and what do you think you are doing?” She challenged.
“I’m Kane. The big question is who are you little lady and what are you doing walking around the woods at night, don’t you know it isn’t safe for little girls to be out alone at night?” He allowed his gaze to travel suggestively from her eyes down her body and slowly back up again. This was too much for Spike and with a furious growl he erupted from the bushes to stand at the slayer’s side, followed closely by the equally affronted watcher.
“Well, I guess I know what you were doing don’t I love? Like them a little experienced do you?”
“Why you filthy minded…..”
“Giles, not now!” Buffy admonished him.
“I’ll ask you once more, who are you and what are you doing here. Also maybe you can explain to me why you have a necklace made from a werewolf’s teeth?”
The large man laughed. “A werewolf? I’m sorry gorgeous but I’m afraid you are mistaken, this necklace isn’t made from a werewolf. This necklace, petal, is made up of one tooth from every werewolf I ever killed, this next one will bring it up to an even dozen.”
“So you’re just gonna kill it?” Buffy didn’t even attempt to hide the disgust in her voice.
“Well, here’s the thing, their pelts fetch a pretty penny in Sri Lanka and it’s a little hard to skin them when they’re alive. Now if you will excuse me the moon will be up soon, and I have work to do.”
“It doesn’t bother you that a werewolf is a human twenty-eight days out of a month?” Her lip curled in a sneer.
“That’s why I only hunt them on the other three days.” He sneered back at her, his voice dripping with contempt.
“You are disgusting, you know that? You can just take your filthy trophies and get the hell out of my town!”
“Oh really, your town is it. And a sweet little thing like you is gonna, what? Tickle me into submission. Pout at me until I get scared and leave? Or maybe you think your two big tough men will do the job for you? Last I looked, I was the one with the gun!”
“Yeah well, look again.” With that Buffy spun, catching him in the jaw and grabbing the gun from his hands as she completed the spin. Waiting for him to recover from the kick she looked him in the eye and slowly bent the barrel of his gun around until it was shaped like a ‘U’. “Now as I said before… get the hell out of my town.”
Kane looked in disbelief at his rifle and the tiny girl who had just bent it double. He turned and without another word fled down the hill through the bushes.
*******************
Cordelia had picked Xander up from his house and true to her word she had indeed made him sit on a towel so he would not contaminate her seat. After she had relayed Willow’s message about Oz and them needing to get to the library Xander had actually even managed to refrain from pushing her buttons and having himself thrown out of the car along the way.
“I don’t see why I should have to come in.” Cordelia complained, “Willow only asked me to pick you up and bring you here, I’ve done my part!”
“I’ve already explained this once, we might need a car and as you have a car, as much as it disgusts me to have to say this, we might need you.”
“Well, really, if you are going to talk to me like that…..”
Their argument was interrupted as a large net fell across them pinning both to the bitumen of the school car park. The large man who had just hurled the net in their direction stepped out from behind a tree laughing. “Well, you two will make lovely bait, if the scent of your fear doesn’t attract him all that noise you make certainly will!” With that he clubbed each of them over the back of the head.
********************
They awoke in a large heavy steel cage in a clearing in the woods. The cage was suspended above the ground, a sturdy chain and padlock held the door firmly closed.
Cordelia yelled at the silent bushes surrounding them. “Oh, my head, someone is going to hear about this, you don’t get to just go around hitting people in the back of the head like that. When I tell my father….”
“Cordy, stop.” Xander cautioned her. “Remember, noise! We don’t really want to be calling wolfy to us now do we?”
With that Cordelia swallowed a sob and looked around, taking their situation in fully for the first time. “Oh my God, Xander, we are bait! We’re going to die, I know we are. Oh how can I be going to die in a cage with you! I will never live this down!” The frightened girl, burst into tears.
Xander reached out and tentatively patted her shoulder, “no, we aren’t going to die, Buffy will rescue us, you just have to calm down ok!”
Hiccuping and trying with no luck to slow her tears, she looked at him. “Buffy has no idea where we are, how is she going to find us before that wolf thing does. Xander I am so scared, I don’t want to die, I am way to young to die!”
“No one’s going to die, its ok Cordy, I won’t let it hurt you ok.” He promised with considerably more conviction than he felt. Xander moved closer to the hysterical girl, wrapping an arm around her shoulder he pulled her against his chest and stroked her back in an attempt to soothe her.
*******************
Hours later a pissed off watcher, a tired and cranky slayer and a mildly amused vampire made their way back to the school library to return the tranquilizer gun. “We still have tomorrow night of course. We shall just have to try again then. One can only hope that no one has fallen victim to the creature tonight.”
“Isn’t that Cordelia’s car?” Buffy turned to her watcher.
“Yes I do believe it is.”
Hurrying into the library they discovered a sleeping Willow huddled in a ball behind the desk, clutching a baseball bat to her chest.
“Will, wake up.” Buffy gently shook the sleeping girl.
“Oh no you don’t mister, I…. oh Buffy it’s you! It’s Oz.”
“Lost me there Will?”
“The werewolf, it’s Oz, I saw him, he went all grrr-y and then all hairy and well …. it’s Oz! I came here looking for you, but you had already gone, and so I rang Cordelia to go get Xander so we could all look for you, because, well…Oz. And Cordelia said she would but then she didn’t show so I guess she didn’t and I have been here waiting and I guess I must have fallen asleep and well now you are here!” Willow gushed.
“Oh no!” Buffy’s turned to Spike with a look of horror. “That was Cordelia’s car outside, so she must have gone and gotten Xander and they came here, but where are they?”
“We’ll find them pet, don’t worry. Come on watcher, grab your gun, we aren’t done yet.”
They filed out of the Library, they had tried to leave Willow in the library insisting that she would be safer there but she had refused to be left behind. Once they reached the car Spike scented the air deeply to try to trace the missing teenagers. He followed it back towards the building only to stop as another scent joined them. “Damn, that sodding git from the woods was here. There’s blood too, not a lot but definitely fresh. I think the bastard has taken them, probably gonna use ‘em as bait!”
“Can you follow them?” Buffy was worried.
“I’ll do my best luv, he’s usin’ a vehicle of some sort but I think I can still track them.”
They followed Spike through the ever denser woods, he had lost the trail a few times and had to double back but was fairly confident he was heading the right way now.”
*********************
Cordelia’s sobs had eased, She was sitting in the bottom of the cage, Xander seated next to her, his hand stroking her back rhythmically as he spoke soothingly, chasing away her fears.
“Oh no, I must look a sight, all that crying, oh God, I won’t be able to show my face for a week!”
“Show me.” Xander turned her face towards him and gently brushed away her hair. “You look beautiful to me!” He murmured, oh god, where had that come from, he just told Cordelia Chase that she looked beautiful!! He looked at her face as she smiled gratefully at him. Well she did look beautiful! Moving slowly he reached in to place a gentle kiss on her lips. Their eyes widened in shock before both simultaneously reaching for another kiss, slowly their kisses deepened. The world around them disappeared until they were brought crashing back to reality by a ferocious growl from the woods.
*******************
Spike heard the growl and quickened his pace, the slayer and him rapidly leaving the struggling watcher and girl behind. Impatiently he turned back to Giles and wrenched the gun from his hands, passing it to the slayer he informed them, “we don’t have time to waste, the wolf is up ahead and so are your Scoobies.” Slayer and vampire took off at full speed towards their prey.
They burst into the clearing in time to see Kane raising yet another gun to his eye to take a shot at the massive wolf that was launching itself at the helpless teenagers clinging desperately to each other in the suspended cage. “You get the dickhead pet, I’ll grab the wolf.”
They took off each after their intended victim.
Buffy grabbed the gun and shoved it upwards just as the hunter took his shot, the bullet flying harmlessly into the canopy above. With a right hook to the nose followed by a spinning kick to the abdomen she quickly vanquished her quarry before turning to her assess her lover’s progress.
Spike had launched himself at the scrabbling wolf as it fought to get a purchase on the cage in order to break in to the luscious treat within. Grabbing it from behind he struggled to hang on to the creature as it whirled and bucked. Spinning it’s head to bite him while trying to shake him off.
“Arghhh, bloody hell, that hurt you git. Buffy unless you want this thing to be an appetiser I suggest you hurry up an’ shoot the bloody thing!” Spike called as he saw Buffy turning after dispatching the hunter.
Buffy took aim, waiting for a clear shot at the wolf that would not accidentally hit her boyfriend.
Eventually after much continued swearing from Spike and a few more bites to Spike’s arms from the wolf she got her chance. The werewolf collapsed almost immediately.
****************
They had freed the prisoners who strangely remained arm in arm on the walk back to the school. Buffy and Spike between them had carried the dead weight of the large sleeping wolf. Once back at the library they had looked him in the cage that had been prepared and Giles settled in for guard duty and to speak to the poor boy come morning.
Cordelia and Xander had left in her car. Spike and Buffy had walked a very concerned Willow home after everyone had managed to explain to her that she would be no help to Oz throughout the night and would be of much more use to him rested and coherent in the morning. The injured vampire and his slayer then made their way home where his wounds were lovingly cleaned and cared for.
*******************
The following morning a very confused young man woke to find himself caged in the school library. Surprisingly he accepted the news that he was a werewolf rather stoically. The events of the previous evening were explained and the slayer and vampire’s status elicited merely a short, amazed “Mmm” and a nod in response.
CHAPTER20
A loud cheer erupted from the table closest to the stage as the band came on. 'The Dingo’s' bass guitarist beamed momentarily at the cute little redhead who was bouncing up and down and clapping her hands excitedly. Three of the other occupants of the table were also cheering loudly, if a little less giddily, the leggy brunette merely smiled impassively for a moment. The black clad blonde let out a piercing whistle. He was having fun. He had the most gorgeous girl in the building, nah … in the whole bloody country, on his arm, her friends and watcher were mostly accepting of him and he was living in a comfortable home with two amazing women who spoilt him rotten, most importantly he had his beautiful slayer in his bed every night. Life, or unlife if you will, was damn good right now!
The music started and hey they weren’t half bad after all, downing his drink he turned and asked Buffy if she would like to dance. Guiding his beautifully grinning goddess to the dance floor he could not help but reflect once again on just how bloody happy he was!
“Urgh” Xander looked at the two girls at the table with him. “Am I the only one who finds this deeply disturbing?”
Willow looked at him and pouted. “I think they are good, and Oz looks so cool, don’t you think, I mean with the hair and the…..”
“Not the band, Will! Them.” Xander indicated the blonde couple who were almost glued to each other on the dance floor. “Has everyone else forgotten that this guy is a vampire, that he tried to kill us, that he HAS killed like thousands of people not to mention two slayers. Why is it that I am the only one who sees the major bad in this?”
“Xander, Spike has changed, he loves Buffy, it’s so sweet. I mean look at them, they are just so gorgeous together, don’t you think they are gorgeous together?”
“No! No with the gorgeous and no with the together. I definitely try very hard not to think about the ‘together’ part because now THAT is just truly disturbing!” Xander gave a dramatic shudder to emphasise his point. “As for changed, Will, VAMPIRE, I mean ok at the moment he has this whole Buffy infatuation thing going, but how long will that last and then what…he kills us all in our beds?”
“Oh no, no Xander, I don’t think Spike would do that, I mean, we’re almost like family aren’t we, you know seeing how Buffy is kinda like a sister to us and he is kinda, well I mean they are, with the....you know!”
“ Again Will, with the so not wanting that image, can we please not go there again!”
“Oh my God, could you be any more pathetic!” Cordelia turned on her boyfriend, eyes flashing angrily.
“What?” Xander stared at her, incredulous.
“Xander the guy saved our lives, you - me - cage, ringing any bells? If it wasn’t for him we’d be puppy food about now!” She turned to look at the redhead for a moment. “Sorry Willow! Buffy is a big girl Xander, she doesn’t need you to make her decisions for her and last time I looked you aren’t her father or anything so just get over it already. Because I swear if I have to listen to one more round of Xander Harris and his ‘I hate the sexy evil undead monster who’s sleeping with my best friend’ crap, I’m going to scream! I mean can you consider someone other than yourself for once? I came here to talk to you about important stuff, like what NOT to say if we run into anyone I know, or what we are going to do about your wardrobe and what you are going to buy me for my birthday which is only 95 days away so you need to start saving, like a year ago.”
“I….uh…but….he, he’s still a vampire!”
“Yeah he is and Oz is still a werewolf.” Speaking very slowly, so he could take in every word she continued, “and they are our friends, ok! Now go and get me a drink.”
Xander sighed with resignation, he knew when he was outnumbered, outmanoeuvred and just plain outwitted. The women in his life, Willow, Buffy and now inexplicably Cordelia would always rule him, he was a sucker for their feminine wiles. When he thought about it he knew he was really only continuing his protest out of sheer male stubbornness. Yeah he had a problem with vamps, a huge problem in fact. But well, he actually didn’t mind Spike, he certainly liked him a hell of a lot more than he had ever like Angel, and the guy had saved his life and Buffy really was happy. So he let go of the last of his animosity and decided to just go with the flow.
And hey having another guy to hang around with just might be of the good. When he thought about it life was starting to look up, he was no longer destined to be the lone male fighting for survival in an all female jungle.
***************
Later that night after a pleasant evening at The Bronze during which he’d had several dances with his love, beat the whelp in numerous games of pool and soaked up the not unpleasant sensation of belonging, being a part of something other than just him, even if that something was a rather unusual group of American teenagers. Buffy and him had then gone on a rather quiet patrol before returning home late to the joyful pleasures of their bedroom. He lay now in tranquillity with his arms full of warm, sleeping, content slayer. As he brushed a stray lock of golden blonde hair from her peaceful face and watched her sleep.
She was his perfect mate, his lover, his friend, his realisation. Her strength and power; the warrior, called to his demon. Her spirit and compassion appealed to the poet. After a hundred and fifty years on this earth Spike was finally home.
THE END