Part 4:

Rating: A PG-13 for now, but if you’re reading this at BSC…it’ll make it all the way up to an NC-17…and if you’re reading it at Fanfiction.net…you’ll get the watered down R version. *grins*

Disclaimer: See, the thing about Mr. Joss Whedon, that no one knows…is that he’s a poet at heart. I mean, sure he spent all this time creating TV shows like Buffy, and coming up with all of the characters that are used in this story, but when we’re alone *sigh*…he bears that wounded, tortured soul of his to me. Just the other night he read me one of his newest poems (all about yours truly of course). Entitled: Me and My Gangsta Bitch Dee. When a man can call you his number one Ho and manage to rhyme the phrase ‘bouncin’ quarters off that ass…’ then you know he’s a keeper. ;D

Author’s Note: That’s right…I’ve decided that I want to push this fic up to an NC17…for at least one scene, and for all of you ff.net-ers you can read that scene (when it comes..no pun intended) at Buffy/Spike Central if you so choose…and I will link it in due time. Seeing as how FF.net has a dutiful hall monitor and yours truly does not fancy getting in trouble again.. ;D

Once again, bits of dialog come from Season 5’s ‘No Place Like Home’…and do not belong to me, but the respected BtVS writer who penned it. ;D

********************************************

Damn dreams…

A frustrated sigh escaped her lips as Buffy threw the covers back, swinging her legs over the side of the bed. Despite the fact her mother was still in the hospital for more tests, and Dawn was out drooling over

Xander when Anya wasn’t looking, she still made Riley leave, coming up with every excuse in the book.

Not wanting to hurt his male pride, she told him he had simply worn her out, cause saying ‘my dreams were better than that fifteen minutes and thirty seconds’, was a little too harsh.

This had to stop! She had other things to focus on, the most important figuring out what spell was being used to make her mother sick and gleefully beating the shit out of who or whatever was doing it.

She yawned widely as she grabbed the brown paper bag off of the dresser, dumping its contents on the bed. This spell was too dire to wait another day to do, and since she was officially never sleeping again, now was as good a time to do this as any.

The incense was lit, the conjuring powder poured in a circle (counter-clockwise) as Buffy sat cross-legged in the center, her hands on her knees, her eyes slowly closing as she began meditating. A peaceful, calming silence surrounded her as she slipped further and further into the trance…

"What are you doing?"

That same peaceful, calming silence was quickly blown to hell by the sound of Dawn’s voice on the other side of the door and the loud knocking that accompanied it.

Buffy’s eyes opened reluctantly as she let out another frustrated sigh, rolling her eyes. "My boyfriend!"

"Liar!" Dawn called back. "You’re doing magick aren’t you? I can smell the stinky incense out in the hall…"

"No I’m not!" Buffy yelled, scrambling to her feet, searching the room for something to put under the crack of the door.

"Can I watch?"

"No you can’t!" Perfect! Buffy picked up a discarded towel from underneath her bed, tossing it down in front of the door to block the incense smell. "And what are you doing here, I thought you guys were doing the late movie thing?"

"We were." Dawn sighed. "But Anya got us kicked out of the theater cause the popcorn was ‘grotesquely overpriced’, and she wouldn’t shut up about it. So, can I watch you? Please, pretty, pretty, please…"

"No!"

****************************************

Her eyes snapped open as the trance deepened, and Buffy slowly climbed to her feet, leaving her room. This was it, if there was something in this house making her mom sick, she was about to find out.

She slightly shook her head, closing her eyes a moment to adjust to the grainy sepia-toned look the spell had given the reality around her. She eased open the door to Joyce’s bedroom, taking in the sight around her, studying everything carefully…

Nothing.

There’s nothing here, nothing remotely out of the ordinary or abnormal. With a heavy sigh, Buffy’s gaze fell upon the picture of Joyce, Dawn, and she that sat on the nightstand. A nice reminder of a lazy day spent at the beach, collecting shells, and letting Dawn do dives from her shoulders…

"What the…" Her voice trailed off as she inspected the picture closely. Dawns image seemed to flicker in and out of the photo like a television with bad reception.

It’s the spell, it’s just the spell playing strange tricks.

"Buffy? Buffy."

Dawn stood behind her, arms crossed in a look of annoyance that mirrored her own. "I’m making a couple of sandwiches and if you’re done with the black arts, I figured you might want."

Buffy closed her eyes briefly, trying hard to make the image before her go away. Dawn who stood before her as plain as day, seemed to flicker in and out just like the picture…

"What are you?" Buffy asked, coming closer.

Dawn gave her a goofy grin, flipping her hair. "A pretty cheesed-off Master Chef. Do you want a sandwich or not? Peanut butter and jelly with a big honking glob of my spit maybe…"

"You’re not my sister."

Dawn pulled her lips tight, fighting back the tears that stung at the corners of her eyes. How could Buffy say something like that? Sure, she almost lived to get on her older sisters nerves, but she loved her dearly, and looked up to her more than anyone else in this world…not that she would ever tell her that.

"Good." Dawn sniffed. "See I-I had this theory ever since I was like three that mom and dad rescued you from a pack of vicious wolves…Ow!" The younger girl cried out as Buffy seized her by the arm.

"What are you?!" Buffy growled. "What are you doing to my mom?!"

"Let me go, Buffy, you’re hurting me! What’s wrong with you?! I’m so telling mom…"

"You stay away from my mother!" Buffy tightened her grip on the girl, her gaze never wavering. Dawn could only stare wide-eyed at her sister, trying hard to keep her trembling to a minimum. It had to be the spell making Buffy act like a psycho freak…

The shrill sound of the phone ringing broke the tension in the air. Buffy slowly released her hold, giving Dawn a warning of ‘don’t move’, as she made her way to the phone.

"What?" She asked in a harsh tone.

"Buffy? Oh, I’m glad I caught you." Giles said, breathing a sigh of relief. "We’ve uncovered more than expected about this orb…"

***********************************************

A small cry escaped his lips as he hit the ground, his breath came in short bursts, trying hard to fight off the pain that coursed through his body. The heels appeared in the corner of his eye, tapping impatiently, mockingly. She was surprised he had managed to survive a week of this, but she rapidly growing tired of this game.

"Monky, Monky…" She began, a devious smile curling her lips. "I must say I’m impressed, really, who would have pegged you to last this long?"

She sighed loudly as she paced, the sound of tiny grains in the concrete factory floor crunching softly under her shoes. "See, back home, I wouldn’t have put up with this. The second you refused to tell me what I wanted to hear, it would have been ‘off with his head’, you know what I’m saying?"

She grinned, drawing her finger across her neck for emphasis. "But that’s the thing, Holy Man, I need you. I need you to stop keeping secrets from me. I know you know where my key is so why don’t we make nice and tell each other everything."

He slowly lifted his head, the sight of her smiling form kneeling next to him making him sick. The desire to tell was strong, he couldn’t lie, but he would not jeopardize this world to save his own life.

"Whaddya say, Monky?" She began. "If you tell me where my key is, I’ll let you read my diary…"

He opened his mouth to speak, the words falling from his lips in sharp gasps. "I. Will. Tell. You. Nothing."

Glory frowned, her eyes narrowing into slits as she wrapped her hand around his neck.

"Not the answer I was looking for."

*************************************************

Buffy was half way across the lawn when she sensed it. That distinctive tingle in every fiber of her being, that always seemed to heighten only at his presence…

"Spike." She muttered, reaching behind the tree and yanking him out into the yard. She repressed the sudden twinge of excitement that sprung up at the sight of him, for one she really didn’t have time to dwell on that fact, and instead opted on giving him a glare.

"Slayer." He said with a glare of his own. "You can let go of the merchandise any time you know."

Buffy rolled her eyes, dropping her hand from his coat. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Just passing through." He grinned, lighting his cigarette. "Saw your light on and I just couldn’t resist the urge to stand outside of your window and plot your death using every letter of the alphabet. I was just on I…"

"I don’t have time for this." She sighed.

"Ooh, iron maiden! Give me one for J…"

"I need your help." Buffy stated simply, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Then I’m gonna need your money, pet."

"I am not going to pay you."

"Then what? I’m supposed to help you out of the blackness of my heart?" Spike snickered, taking a drag off of the cigarette. "I don’t bloody think so." He reached into the pocket of his duster, removing the fairly crumpled pack of Marlboro Reds. "I seem to be a little low on fags tonight. Tell you what, ducks, you buy me a brand new pack…"

"Deal." Buffy said in a clipped voice, turning on her heels, heading in the other direction.

"Good. Looks like you get my lovely company for the evening."

******************************************

"What are we looking for exactly?"

"Who or whatever planted the Dagon Sphere…" Buffy said, clicking on her flashlight. They walked slowly through the musty corridors of the abandoned factory exploring the space around them.

"Right, just look for the bloke with the ‘I planted the Dagon Sphere, ask me why’ button." Spike rolled his eyes, shaking his head at her.

"Or the semi-conscious monk tied to the chair…"

"Or the what?!"

Buffy ran up ahead and through the remains of the blast door with Spike on her heels, kneeling down beside the ailing man, quickly working to free him from his restraints.

"It was you who planted the Dagon Sphere, right?" She asked as she worked on the ropes. "Don’t worry, I got it. Spike, quit standing there like a bleached lump and help me with these."

Spike snorted at her comment as he dropped to his knees, helping her untie the knots. "What nasty did this to you, mate?" He asked, becoming annoyed when he got no response. "Hello? Holy Man, I believe I asked you a bloody question here…"

Buffy shot Spike a look, quickly ripping the duct tape from the monk’s mouth, holding it up for the vampire to see.

"Oh." Spike smiled sheepishly.

The monk strained, his words coming out in a pained whisper. "The Beast."

"The Beast?"

"That’s my name." Glory smiled, seizing the Slayer by the back of the neck. She chuckled as she hurled Buffy across the room, sending her smacking into the cement wall. Spike scrambled to his feet, wincing briefly in Buffy’s direction.

"Sorry, forgot to give you the heads up!" He called to Buffy as he moved around to face Glory. "Alright, bitch, it’s time for you to get a good old fashioned…"

Glory sent him a withering glance, backhanding Spike, sending him flying against the opposite wall.

"Who the hell are you people and what do you think you’re doing with my monky?!" She strode towards Buffy, effectively pinning the Slayer against the wall as she climbed to her feet. "I don’t like crashers…"

"Spike!" Buffy yelled. "Get him out of here!" Buffy slammed her head into Glory’s face, sending her staggering back in pain.

Spike dashed for the dying man, scooping him up. He scanned the room franticly, sighing loudly as he realized what he had to do…

"You hit me?!" She cried out in shock, grabbing Buffy by the neck. "What the hell is wrong with you?! You can’t go around hitting people!" Glory turned catching a glimpse of Spike as he ran towards the window. "Hey! Hands off my Holy Man!"

She quickly let Buffy go, charging towards the window but it was too late; Spike and the monk crashed through, tumbling to the ground below. Glory stumbled to a halt, glowering down at the broken heel on her shoe.

"God damn it!" She muttered, slipping it off in frustration.

****************************************************

"Stop, please." The monk panted as he and Spike made their way across the parking lot. They stumbled across the lot, stopping at the chain-link fence that surrounded the property. Spike released his hold, letting him slump against it.

"Rest for a bit, mate, but I think we need to keep going…" Spike began, his voice trailing off at the sight of Buffy running up beside him. "Slayer, how’d you get out?"

"While she was pouting over a broken heel, I slipped out the door." She said giving him a look as she kneeled down beside the monk. "There was a door Mr. Big-Dramatic-Exit."

The monk gasped, struggling to speak. "My journey’s done, I think."

"No, don’t get metaphory on me. We’re going." She made an attempt to lift him, but he stopped her.

"You have to…protect the Key…"

"Fine, mate, we’ll all protect your key, but I think we should do the protecting far away from here…"

"More will die if you don’t…"

"How?" Buffy asked, sending a worried glance in Spike’s direction. "What the hell is this thing?"

"The Key is energy. It opens the door…for centuries it had no form at all. My brethren, its only keepers." He gasped, taking in sharp breaths. "Then the abomination found us. We had to hide the Key, gave it form, molded it flesh... made it human and sent it to you."

Buffy’s eyes widened as the realization hit her. No, it was impossible…

"What?" Spike asked. "What the hell is it?"

"Dawn." She muttered.

TBC…

Rating: A PG-13 overall but one at least one scene of naughty NC17 goodness you shall have (depending upon where you’re reading this… ;D)

Disclaimer: Joss and I sat surrounded by a beautiful picnic spread in Central Park, he munching on a sandwich while I lazily combed his hair. Little did he know of my devious plan to steal his characters for my own purposes, especially Spike. "So…I heard you work pretty closely with James Marsters." I said, brushing through his fiery mane. "Yeah, I guess so." "You guess…don’t you like it?" "Well…" He began sitting up, turning around to face me. "I do like it, but I get so nervous…I’ve never even been to first base with a guy before." I smiled gleefully, removing my sun hat. This was the perfect chance to put my plan into motion. When I get done with him, Joss Whedon will be the premiere tramp of Hollywood. "Haven’t you ever practiced on one of your girlfriends?" I asked. "Eww…no! That’s gross." "It’s not gross, silly, come on, wet your lips and let me stick my tongue down your throat."

Author’s Note: Hehehe, I gotta give Credit to VH1 for showing ‘Cruel Intentions’ all this week, thus inspiring that bit of sickness up top… ;D. Oh, and if I haven’t said this yet: THANK YOU! For all of the reviews, it means a lot…really, touches this little black heart of mine *wipes tear away*.

The Monitor: Funny, I thought by being honest and saying what I was doing I could avoid being turned in. *shrugs* Oh well, it’s a dead issue now, so I’m willing to drop the whole thing and forget if you are.

**************************************************

He hurried to her side, falling in step despite her brisk pace. Spike stole a glance at Buffy, taking in the steely, focused look of her features, the way her golden hair flowed behind her in the breeze as she walked…

He felt an overwhelming need to tell her everything would be okay, that he would never let anything happen to Dawn, but he quickly squashed that. Just the mere thought he might actually care what happened to the Slayer and anyone else in her lot caused a thick bile to form in his throat that could only be taken care of with a cigarette.

He deftly reached into his pocket, pulling out his back, removing the last one.

"If you tell anyone, I’ll kill you."

Her voice was harsh as it always seemed to be when speaking to him, but this time he could tell she was deathly serious. Spike stopped suddenly, taking the cigarette from his lips as he slowly looked to his right where Buffy stood.

He nodded, his eyes meeting hers in a seemingly burning glance.

"I know."

The sound of a lighter flicking filled in the heavy silence between the two, his gaze had never left hers for what seemed like an eternity, but what could have only been a minute. Buffy usually let herself be crushed under the intensity of a gaze like that, but this time she didn’t shy away from it or the massive feelings it stirred up inside her…

They weren’t stupid dreams. They hadn’t been meaningless or dumb, or the product of bad Mexican like the one about Giles and the strip club, they had been prophetic and telling.

The dreams had been right all along.

"You’ll save the day." Spike said, giving her a meek but reassuring smile. "It’s what you do."

*********************************************

"So it was the spell making you act like a bitch monster?"

Buffy’s eyes widened at her little sister’s choice of words. Okay, so maybe she had acted a tiny bit irrational and downright scary, but in no way was she ever a bitch monster and when did Dawn learn that word?!

"What?" Dawn began, giving her a look. "You were acting like a b…"

"I know." Buffy sighed, cutting her off. "Say it one more time and I’m scrubbing your mouth out with Ajax."

Dawn grinned sheepishly, mumbling an apology. "Well you were."

"I know, and I can’t tell you how sorry I am. Dawnie, if I had known what that spell would do…" Her voice trailed off quietly. A soft smile graced her lips as Buffy ran her fingers through the length of Dawn’s hair, the way she always had. "I love you. I know I don’t say it nearly enough but it’s important to me that you never forget that, no matter what happens."

Dawn gave her a soft smile of her own, moving into position to crawl under the covers. "I never thought you were raised by wolves, you know." She said as Buffy stood, preparing to leave.

"Is that so?"

"My original theory was spider monkeys."

***************************************************

It had to be the most adorable thing she’d ever seen.

Spike fidgeted on the living room couch, the remote in one hand. He seemed so uncomfortable, the Summers home had never exactly been a place for neutral territory in the past, and it seemed like he half expected Joyce come charging at him with an axe.

Buffy fought back a smile and the butterfly feelings rumbling in her stomach as she took a seat next to him.

"How’s the Bit?" He asked, turning off the television.

"Blissfully clueless." She sighed heavily. "Just the way I like it."

"You’re going to keep this from her?!"

"I have to, to keep her safe. She thinks she’s my kid sister, Spike, she’s never known any different and I’m not going to take that away from her." Buffy’s eyes met his for the second time that night, searching for the trust and reassurance she desperately needed from him.

"You’re secret’s safe with me, Slayer." He smiled, that foreign ‘uncomfortable’ look crossing his face again. "Did that sound as bloody stupid to you as it did to me?"

She laughed softly, nodding her head. "Yep. Wanna hear something else stupid?"

"Sure, luv."

"I believe you."

Spike gave her a look, joining her in quiet laughter. "Gotta be something in the sodding water…"

"Oh yeah."

*********************************************

Willow shivered, pulling her sweater tightly around her.

Hospital’s had never creeped her out or made her jittery, but today, it seemed like she couldn’t shake those feelings. Maybe it was all of the waiting they had been doing, they had been here all morning waiting until the doctors gave Joyce the ‘Ok’ to go home.

All morning spent staring at a clock to take her mind off her own fears for her best friend, and the woman who had become like a mother to her. A quiet constant presence that was always there…

She sighed, turning back around in her seat.

Stupid slow moving clock.

Tara gave Willow a warm smile, the comfort smile it seemed only she could do, taking her hand. "They’ve got blue icy’s in the cafeteria."

"You don’t mind?" Willow asked, a hopeful smile crossing her lips.

Tara gently kissed her, rising to her feet. "Not at all. Hey, Dawnie." She called. "Why don’t you come with me?"

Buffy nodded, giving the young girl the ‘okay’ to leave, letting out a long, tired sigh once she was gone. She’d probably had a good two hours sleep, and they had all been in the hospital waiting room since seven that morning. Xander, Anya, and Giles included, though their work duties had required them to leave. She’d had all the moral support and love the gang could provide, but something was deeply missing. She needed that look only he could give her, the one that said ‘everything’s gonna be fine’, she needed…

"Riley?!"

Though a bit startled, Buffy stood up to greet him, wincing a little as he pulled her into a tight hug.

"Why didn’t you tell me? I would have been here a lot sooner…"

"Things, things were hectic. Between rushing to get here and answering Dawn’s never-ending questions, I guess calling you slipped my mind."

He breathed in deeply, a thin smile masking the sting her statement had given him. ‘Slipped her mind’? How could she forget to tell him about something this important?! If there was ever a time Buffy needed him by her side it was now, and the thought of her seemingly forgetting he even existed in her life, hurt him deeply.

Riley planted a loving kiss on her forehead, tightening his arms around her.

"I’m here now, that’s what’s important."

TBC….

*********************************************

Buffy was terrified.

In nearly five years she had faced hundreds of unspeakable things; the Master, having to kill Angel, the SATs…but never was she more scared than at this very moment.

"Are you sure you’re okay mom? C-can I get you something, do you wanna lay down…?"

Joyce smiled warmly at her two daughters, gently easing herself out of their grasp. She understood their concern, and their fears, but she wouldn’t have them waiting on her hand and foot…well, only if it were absolutely necessary.

"I’m fine, sweetheart."

She sat down on the couch with a heavy sigh, propping her feet up. She was so happy to be back in her own home, on her own couch, and in her own clothes, she was sure she had flashed more than a few of the doctors in that paper-thin hospital gown they forced her to wear.

"Are you sure mom?" Dawn asked, forcing a cheerful smile on her face. "Cause this is like your ‘get out of jail free card’. All willing to wait on you hand and foot here."

"We both are." Buffy chimed in.

Joyce chuckled softly, bringing a hand to her head. Well….as long as they were willing…

"I could really use something to make the little man with the hammer stop pounding in my head." She said with a smile.

"No problem. Is the hospital pharmacy still open?"

"It-it should be."

"I’ll be back in fifteen minutes."

"Oh and Buffy!" Joyce called, stopping her daughter at the door. "I’ve had nothing but hospital food for a solid week, please come back with something fattening, cheesy, and burger like."

The Slayer smiled, a real smile for the first time that night, finally pushing away all of the images of her mother in that hospital bed. She was sounding like mom again, everything was going to be okay.

"Check, one order of hammer man killing medicine, and a Doublemeat Medley with cheese coming right up."

********************************************

"Hi, welcome to the Doublemeat Palace, may I help you?"

Buffy’s gaze traveled from the menu to the dazed looking, pimply-faced kid staring at her from behind the cash register. She stifled a laugh as looked at the pylon colored uniforms these poor souls were forced to wear, along with the animal hybrid caps…the Doublemeat was obviously the forerunner in making their employees look like tools.

She’d rather toss herself in a pit full vamps than to ever work in a place like this.

The kid handed her the bag full of combo meal number five, and Buffy mouthed a quick ‘Thanks’ turning and heading out of the door.

"Doublemeat it’s double sweet…" She sang softly as she made her way down the restaurant’s back ally. It seemed like every time she set foot in that place, that annoying TV jingle popped into her head. Buffy stopped suddenly, gripping the bag tightly, there it was, that unmistakable tingle in every fiber of her being….

She sighed heavily, rolling her eyes as she set the bag down. "I don’t have time for this, show yourself."

He stepped out of the shadows, snarling, game face on and charged at her full speed, but was stopped cold by a swift backhand.

"Come on, you gotta try harder than that." She snickered as he scrambled to his feet. He made another attempt to lunge at her and was just as quickly sent flying against the hard brick wall. Buffy grinned as she whipped out her stake, preparing to strike the final blow…

"It’s like the forces of darkness aren’t even trying…Oh!" She called out as the vamp seized her arm, grabbing a hold of the stake. He deftly plunged it into her abdomen, relishing in the scream of pain she made.

Buffy staggered backwards, the sight of the stake in her gut combined with the blinding pain had left everything in a haze, and she didn’t noticed when her attacker was plowed to the ground.

"Slayer?! Slayer are you alright?"

Buffy squinted, barely able to make out his form as she collapsed into his arms.

"Slayer….Slayer, come on wake up!" Spike said, lightly slapping her face. He sighed deeply as he gently set her down against the wall. "Slay-Buffy. Wake up Buffy."

He smiled briefly as her eyes fluttered open, and wrapped his hands around the stake protruding from her body. "Take a deep breath, luv."

"Spike…ow!" Buffy cried out as he yanked out the stake. She clutched the wound, gasping lightly. "The vamp…?"

"Dust." He said simply, removing a stake from the inner pocket of his duster. "I’m not on the best of terms with other demons nowadays, can’t be too careful."

Buffy winced. "What are you doing here?"

"Once in a while, a bloke wants something other than O-neg for dinner. Spike grinned, holding up a bag from the Doublemeat. Now, let’s get you to a doctor…"

"No! No doctor…I’ve got to get that stuff to my mom…"

"Right then, I’ll just let you and your gaping stab wound walk home, I’m sure she’ll love that." He rolled his eyes, gently scooping her up in his arms. "If you don’t want a doctor, I’m taking you to my crypt. Can’t have you going home and bleeding all over Joyce’s plush carpets now can we?"

***********************************************

"You didn’t have to do this." Buffy smiled softly at Spike as he finished dressing the wound.

"Yeah I did, couldn’t just leave you there to die."

She gave him a look, cocking an eyebrow.

"Okay, I could have and not really feel that bad about it…"

"Gee, thanks…" She deadpanned, rolling her eyes.

"But when you go out, it shouldn’t be by the hands of a poncy little bugger like that…" Spike sighed, rolling the sweater down for her. "It was just the one poncy bugger, right…?"

"Yep." Buffy said in a clipped voice, narrowing her eyes at him.

"Just making sure, luv, no need to get testy."

Buffy watched as Spike begun to pack away the gauze and alcohol, a smile lightly playing on her lips. He was taking care of her. Spike, who had been the captain of the ‘Kill Buffy’ pep-squad had actually saved her life. The mere notion that he could have one iota of feeling for her sent bat-size butterflies fluttering in her stomach.

"I still think you should see a real doctor."

"That would put me in the real hospital which would get my real mom really freaked out." She smiled. I can’t do it. Thank the powers for accelerated Slayer healing…" Buffy dipped her head slightly as a blush crept over her features. " And unlikely hero vampires." She added.

Spike chuckled softly as he headed towards his ‘kitchen’. "Don’t be fooled, ducks, I still want you good and dead."

"Wouldn’t have it any other way."

********************************************

Anya sighed loudly as she looked through the endless pile of receipts. Boring, boring, boring…

While she loved being apart of this giant capitalist rat race, she hated anything that didn’t deal with the money directly…

She grumbled again as she began looking through a new pile of the slips of paper. She had specifically told Giles to wave her of any task that didn’t require her to look at pictures of Washington, Lincoln, and Franklin.

Anya suddenly stopped cold, staring at a receipt. "Hey!" She shouted, a look of panic sweeping her face. "Hey!"

She frantically waved the receipt in Giles’ face, as the other’s rushed over to her side.

"What are you a moron?!" She shouted at Giles, continuing to shove the receipt at him.

"Allow me to answer that question with a firing…" He glared, removing his glasses.

Xander chuckled nervously, slowly easing her away from Giles. "Giles, she didn’t mean it…"

"I most certainly did!"

"Honey, we talked about this, remember? Employee-employer no-no’s, rule number five of which you are breaking…."

"You sold someone a Khul's amulet and a Sobekian bloodstone." Anya said, shoving the receipt in the older man’s hands.

"Yes, I believe I did."

"Giles, you should never sell those things together…" Tara began, taking the receipt out of his hands.

"Damn straight!" Anya chimed in.

"Don’t you know about the Sobekites?"

"Oh! I do." Willow piped up, smiling brightly "It was an ancient Egyptian cult, heavy into dark magic." Tara nodded, giving her girlfriend a brief loving smile." And the Khul's amulet, wasn't that a transmogrification conduit?"

Anya smiled and clapped her hands. "Bingo!"

"Wow." Will beamed, rocking back on the balls of her feet. "Do I get a cookie?"

"Be that as it may, I still see no reason for concern." Giles stated, sending a pointed look in the former demon’s direction, removing his glasses "I mean, the-the Sobekian transmogrification spells were lost thousands of years ago. And besides, the young woman to whom I sold them would have to have had enormous power…"

The Watcher’s voice trailed off as the realization of what he had done hit him. Oh god…

"Oh god…"

"A young woman?" Willow asked meekly. "You-you sold that stuff to a young woman?"

"Not a young woman!" Xander shouted, a panicked look sweeping across his face. "Wait…what? Why is that a bad thing again?"

Anya smiled at her boyfriend patronizingly, giving him a pat on the back. "The thing that kicked Buffy’s ass the other night was a young woman, only evil with super powers."

"Oh…" He nodded knowingly. "Oh god! Giles you moron!" Xander cowered away from Giles, chuckling nervously off the look he was getting. "And I meant that in the nicest possible way, G-man."

"Well where’s Buffy…"

"That’s a good question." Riley sighed as he shut the door to the Magic Box behind him, heading towards the others. "I’ve been looking for her all night."

****************************************

"A lifetime of no."

Buffy shook her head stoically, shoving away the shot of Jack Daniels Spike had not-so stealthily eased in her direction.

"It’ll dull the pain."

"Along with everything else…"

Spike grinned, downing his own shot. "There in lies the fun."

Buffy stared hard at the tiny glass, the dark liquor seemingly glistening. Hell, she had almost died tonight, what’s a little bit of drunkenness between mortal enemy’s…

She sent him a quick smile, knocking back the drink. Immediately she made a face, gagging at the horrible taste of it and the way it burned everything on the way down.

"One vamp…" She chuckled bitterly. "I’m in the best shape of my life and one pitiful ass vamp…"

"All it takes is one." Spike said, cutting her off. "Just one, and it would do you good to remember that."

Buffy shivered and made a face as she took another drink, quickly pouring her glass full again. "How’d you do it?"

"Do what, pet?"

"Kill them."

Spike laughed softly as he poured another drink. "It’s a long story…"

"I got time."

*********************************************

"She was only supposed to be gone for fifteen minutes!" Joyce said worriedly, as she paced back and forth. Xander placed a sympathetic hand on her shoulder, finally getting her to stop.

"Joyce, you should sit down, really, don’t get yourself worked up." He said, easing her down on the couch.

"See, I told you Buffy was irresponsible!" Dawn piped up, flopping down next to her mom. "You should have let me go out for you mom, she’s probably half-way to Mexico by now in a fruit truck with some guy named Manuel…"

The other’s simultaneously shot her looks.

"Or not." Dawn mumbled.

Riley sighed heavily, wringing his hands. It just wasn’t like Buffy to disappear for so long, without a single word. Something had to have happened… "I’m thinking she ran into vamp trouble. Knowing Buffy, she probably decided the ally behind the Doublemeat was the best route for travel."

"After living in Sunnydale for so long you’d think she’d know better by now." Willow shook her head. "And yet…"

"Willow, Tara, and Xander, I want you guys to check the allies, I’ll do a sweep of the cemeteries just in case." Riley climbed to his feet, exhaustion and worry playing over his features. "We’ll find her, and god help whatever creature she’s with."

****************************************

"And you just let Dru suck the life right out of you…?!"

"Bloody right I did! She was offering me something far greater than I would have ever accomplished in my miserable, pathetic human existence." Spike smiled as he took a swig from the bottle, a faraway look forming in his eyes. "Delivered me from mediocrity, she did."

Buffy snickered, snatching the bottle out of his hands. She could never understand why such a raving, loony hoe-bag like Dru could be so important to him…

"What?" He asked, taking the bottle back.

"What, what?"

"What was with the little snort you just gave me? Disapprove of my decision, Slayer?"

"I just don’t understand how you could have such regard for a woman who never really appreciated you…." Buffy shrugged, mumbling "I dunno…" under her breath.

Spike cocked an eyebrow at her, letting out a snicker of his own. "I think you’re letting the Jack do the talking for you, luv."

"While hearing about your getting turned has been a big thrill, can we get back to the topic at hand. Two Slayers. Dead. Tell me how you did it."

Spike grinned lazily, taking out his pack of cigarettes. "There are no maps, luv. No fancy parlor tricks I can show you. Just had me a good day, is all." He climbed to his feet, tossing the pack aside. "Sod the smokes, come on, Slayer, on your feet."

"What?"

"You wanna lesson, right?" He said, stepping away from the coffin. "I’m giving it to you."

Buffy eased herself down to the floor, wincing slightly at a tiny jolt of pain. She squared off with Spike, though the Jack gave her a bit of a wobble.

"I’m hurt…and possibly drunk, are you sure you wanna do this now?"

"Yeah." He grinned. "I can’t touch you, you know that. You’ve got nothing to worry about." He slowly made his way towards her, each of his movements predator like despite the large amount of alcohol swimming in his system.

"Give it to me."

Spike lashed out at her, but Buffy managed to duck his blows, and wrapped her hand around his throat, pinning him to the crypt wall.

"You hold your alcohol very well." He laughed. "The question isn’t ‘how did I win’, it’s ‘why did they loose’."

"What’s the difference?"

"There’s a big difference, luv." Spike smiled breaking her hold. He lunged at her once more, but Buffy quickly grabbed a hold of him, flipping him to the ground. The Slayer landed on top of him, whipping out a stake.

"Where do you hide those things?" He quipped, seizing her hand before she could plunge it into his chest. "The first Slayer was all business, but the second…she had a touch of your style. She was cunning, resourceful…oh and did I mention? Hot. I could have danced all night with that one."

"You think we’re dancing?" Buffy asked, swallowing the giant sized lump that had formed in her throat. She briefly shut her eyes, trying hard to concentrate on anything besides the way it felt to have him beneath her…

"That’s all we’ve ever done." He smiled up at her. "The only reason you’ve lasted as long as you have is you’ve got ties to the world…your mum, your brat kid sister, the Scoobies. They all tie you here, but you’re just putting off the inevitable…" Spike propped himself up on his elbows, his eyes locking with hers. " But sooner or later, you’re gonna want it."

Buffy could feel her heart slamming painfully against her chest and her breath quicken with every intake. With each word he spoke, her passion arose just a little more…

"Want what?" She asked, nearly breathless.

"Death."

His eyes suddenly widened as his nostrils flared. No, it couldn’t be…his sense of smell must be playing tricks on him.

Buffy’s face grew red hot as she scrambled off of him. The knowing look in his eyes had told her he could smell her arousal clear as day.

Without another word, she rushed out of the door, letting it slam loudly in her wake.

TBC…

Next