What Is To Be

-Sixteenth-

By Annie

2003-10-03

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤

Buffy reached over to grab another of the ten or so books placed out - all opened - on the research table of the conference room. As she did the movement she had to lean partially over Spike and his left arm slid around her waist as she was about to straighten herself up again, making her stop her movement half way with her lips dangerously close to his as she looked up at him. She smiled, he returned it. Then she moved her head forward and kissed him softly, ending it the same way before returning to her former position and looking at the book she had gotten.

"Wow," she said, flipping it shut and reading the title with a frown on before she turned her head to him, adding: "This makes absolutely no sense to me whatsoever."

He smirked at that, glancing at the title as well and then saying:

"It's in Latin."

"I KNOW it's in Latin," she huffed, putting the book down.

"You... speak Latin?" he inquired and she gave him a friendly glare at the skepticism in his voice, then replied:

"No. Well, unless you count 'Et tu, mon Bruté' and I only know THAT 'cause of my liking of English men," she finished with a coy smile and girlish flutter of her eyelashes at him, making his smirk widen before he cleared his throat and stated:

"Points for Shakespearian love, love, but actually that sentence is in French... So it doesn't count."

She stared at him for a moment as though she was about to offer an objection, and then she seemingly thought better of it and a pout settled on her lips instead.

"I'm useless," she muttered and he laughed.

"With a stake you're unstoppable," he said and she looked at him glumly, waiting for the good part and he smiled. "And with a dictionary and the right, subtle help to give you a few pointers I'm sure you'd be just as unstoppable in world-of-never-read-for-fun-books," he assured, grabbing the volume at one corner and waving it meaningfully before he rose to his feet and walked up to the shelf still terribly weighed with the Investigations' extensive collection of notes and leather-bands of information.

Buffy watched him for a moment before she rose as well, coming up to him and making him stop his hand from following the row of bonded book-backs as he searched for the right one. He met her gaze as her fingers locked with his and she said:

"I really hope YOU'RE that 'right, subtle help', 'cause I know I can use the pointers."

He smiled.

"I think you should start with reading between the lines," he mumbled as she stepped closer to him, her free hand sliding over his abs and to his side before traveling to his back.

"Between the lines?" she asked and he nodded, wetting his lips as hers drew closer.

"Many texts have well-hidden messages in them... you just need to spot them," he said and she cocked an eyebrow.

"Lesson the first?" she asked and he paused before he smiled at her input, making him remember.

"Here it endeth," he grumbled as her lips now brushed against his and they parted, ready to taste her when Angel stuck his head through the doorway, saying:

"Get a room."

Spike bit his jaws together in irritation.

"We're IN a room," he shot and Angel smirked.

"Another room, then," he replied, clearing his throat before he added: "Susannah's just woken up. She's in the kitchen... I just thought I should let you guys know... you know."

Buffy looked at her watch, and as it showed it was close to ten she was surprised at the realization that they'd actually been looking through the books for nearly two hours, searching for more information on the history of Satoch and Aatoch and its ties to the prophecy. So far they had managed to find a whole lot of differently and eloquently written versions of the exact same things they already knew.

With all the glances-pretending-not-to-be-glances and touches-pretending-to- be-innocent-casual-brush-ups that had been going on between them during that time, they really hadn't been able to clear that much reading. Exactly as they had both planned it. Well, they had gone through enough material to come to the conclusion that there wasn't enough for any of it to bring forth any original clues.

All Buffy wished right then, however, was to have a few more rows of facts to go over. Remembering the slight panic and real anxiety and very heavy jealousy she herself had felt at the very thought of Spike being in love with another woman... She didn't exactly feel up to facing Susannah in the midst of her own delirious love-buzz as she knew that HER heart was safe. Breaking the brunette's felt like something so completely out of the equation.

There was a history between the ex-vampire and his new found confidant of which the Slayer knew nothing. She merely got that they had become close, close enough for Susannah to develop feelings. And Spike, he cared for her a lot - Buffy could tell that easily. She supposed it might have been simpler to turn to a stranger for support, than to his former grandsire who would only remind him of what he used to be and what he was so heavy burdened by guilt from, or to people he knew would remind him of Sunnydale - and her - when he was trying to let that go...

Angel had already pulled his head out of the doorway, and Buffy realized she was under the scrutiny of Spike's probing gaze as he watched her face.

"Sorry," she said with a smile. "Guess I zoned out for a moment..."

He still didn't say anything and she rested her eyes in his as her expression began to grow questioning.

"I have to speak with her," he finally stated and she wasn't surprised by it in the least.

"Of course," she said, snaking her arms around his waist and stepping into him as he held her back. "Of course," she repeated and he smiled a little.

"This agreeing with me is pretty nice," he then smirked and her smile widened.

"This being near you agrees with ME," she mumbled, giving him a quick kiss on the lips as she stood on her toes, and then adding: "Now go. Talk. I just want her to know, to be okay... Think she'll be okay?"

Spike thought for a second before he answered:

"She said she'd be happy for me... I hope she meant it."

***

Susannah turned her head to him when he leaned against the frame of her door, five minutes later.

She had brought her breakfast with her upstairs, still feeling slightly queasy if she walked around for too long she thought it would be best to squander the morning in bed. Her limbs ached for motion after all the hours they had already spent in stillness, but her head began to let her feel a soft throb in each temple after only a few minutes on her feet and so she didn't want to push it.

When her eyes now met his, her first thought was that he was there to ask her how she felt, and whether or not she would be strong enough to attend the morning meeting. She knew Angel was eager to fill the others in on what she had told him and Spike last night, but she was also aware that he wouldn't disclose the information before she could sit amongst them, and she felt grateful for that.

But then the look on Spike's face made her suddenly understand exactly why he was there.

She swallowed and forced a smile, her heart beat slowing and her flesh feeling as though it was lifting off her bones as shivers of discomfort and undeniable disappointment rolled across it.

"I..." he began, but she shook her head and made him stop.

"Please, let's not," she grumbled with another half-hearted smile, fighting back the tears and wanting him to just leave. "So, she loves you then?"

He hesitated as he could see the pained expression in her eyes, but then he nodded.

"She does," he confirmed.

"All is finally right with the world," she said, trying to keep her voice from growing strained as she added: "Could you do me a favor and tell Angel I will be down for the meeting?"

"Sannah..." he tried, but she put one hand up, breaking eye-contact as she looked away from him and he took the hint, leaving her alone.

***

"I feel so bad..." Buffy grumbled, curled up on Spike's lap, one hand playing with a few bleached strands in his neck and her forehead leaned partially against his. "I wish there was something I could do," she added and Spike moved his head to look at her.

"There isn't," he said honestly. "And I'm not gonna spend my first day with you worrying about me wanting to be close to you upsetting someone else. I bloody refuse to."

She held his gaze for a few moments and then leaned forward to kiss him softly.

"I bloody refuse to, too," she agreed and he smirked.

"Okay," Angel's voice was heard as he walked through the foyer, "everybody in the conference room!"

Since this room was the one the Slayer and her mortal found themselves in they exchanged a look and then Buffy slid off his lap to sit on a chair next to him instead. They wouldn't hide their feelings, but they didn't have any reason to rub it in.

Angel entered through the doorway and as he took his seat the others began to trot in as well. Susannah followed Cordelia and Buffy met the formers gaze tentatively. Susannah didn't keep her eyes in the blonde's for long before she glanced at Spike. Then she focused her attention on Angel as she sat down as well, across the table from Gunn who was now sitting next to Buffy. Wesley was the last to join the ensemble and once he had chosen a chair for himself a hushed silence of anticipation fell over all of them.

"Last night," Angel spoke up, bringing forward a plastic folder and throwing it onto the table as he continued with: "Buffy and I were able to get these. Go ahead, look them over," he encouraged, finishing: "Wesley has already spent a good couple of hours with them. What do you think?"

Wesley looked thoughtful for a moment, and then he replied:

"I'm afraid to say it."

This sentence made him the center of focus straight away and Cordelia, who had opened the folder and was looking over the first three pictures which she had spread out before her on the table, looked up questioningly.

"I don't believe this is our prophecy," Wesley finally confessed and the silence this time grew thick with doubt. "In fact, I am quite certain it is not."

Buffy blinked, turning her head back to Angel who looked as taken aback by this as the rest of the assembly.

"But... it seemed to fit," Buffy then said, eyes back on Wesley who nodded.

"It did," he agreed. "But in comparison there are details which do not, and I'm afraid they are too large to overlook, or even bypass. The language is the same, but the text you two photographed is clearly written down later than our prophecy is; perhaps even a good century or so. It isn't the missing part. I'm sorry. For all our sake, I'm sorry."

"There's more, though," Angel now intercepted. "As all know last night something else happened. Susannah... Well, I'm not exactly sure how to put this... so, I won't. William?"

Spike gave a crooked smile, then nodded as he got to his feet. The hand holding one of Buffy's giving it a squeeze before he let it go, his eyes going to Susannah, who seemed reluctant in meeting them.

He wished he didn't have to hurt her. He wished love wasn't so much about pain, and causing it to other people unintentionally. But that was a side to life of which he had no control, and wishing it away wouldn't make it disappear. He had to let it go, it was out of his hands.

"'And on the fifth day a great echo shall roll across the plain and valley, reminding those who forgot,'" he said. "It's the third piece of the first part of our prophecy... The two previous pieces were clarified when Buffy arrived and when we got confirmation of 'the people' being a reference to the demon aspect of the world. And now the third... was brought into a more real light when it happened to Susannah last night."

Buffy frowned, looking at Susannah and having the thoughts of how she was dealing with everything being replaced by the push to know more of the details. To get to the depth with this whole thing once and for all. This prophecy's elusiveness had been bugging the Slayer long enough now; she was ready to discover something useful for a change. Therefore she asked:

"When you said you heard a voice... could you place it?"

Susannah turned her eyes in Buffy's and for the first time that morning she truly looked at her before she answered, saying:

"No, I couldn't. But I felt like I knew it..."

She trailed off, exchanging a look with Spike this time and he seemed as though quietly urging her on, making her draw a small breath before she addressed all of them as she picked the thread up again.

"It whispered the name of the forgotten god," she said. "It was the echo referred to in the text... It repeated 'Satoch' over and over and I..." She shook her head a little, clearly uncomfortable. "It grew louder and louder 'til finally I couldn't take it anymore and I... collapsed, as I guess you all noticed."

She looked around at them, and when she didn't seem apt to add anything more Buffy felt compelled to ask:

"What about the whole 'reminding those who forgot', then? Did you forget? What did you forget? The god? How could you have?"

"I don't know," Susannah cut in with a defeated look on her face. "I'm really sorry, okay? But I don't know."

"But you're linked to it," Buffy said, incredulous. "To the prophecy."

"Not necessarily," Angel chimed in. "Nothing's for certain yet."

"God, nothing ever is, is it?" Buffy asked, not sure why her emotions were suddenly getting the better of her, but unable to hold them down as she rose to her feet. "Excuse me," she said, sidestepping her way around her chair before exiting the room.

Four days left until what? What was going to thrash itself upon them this time? Why couldn't they get one tiny lead that actually made sense? Why was a part of her so eager to blame it all on that young woman in there? Why did she feel as though Susannah knew Spike better than she did?

She stopped halfway through the garden, out into which her legs had seemingly taken her on their own accord; putting her arms up and around herself as she closed her eyes.

She knew the answer to that last question, and she understood that it was the real reason for her upset.

She felt like that because Susannah, in a way, did know him better. Susannah had spent hours talking, getting to know William. Falling head over heels for him, naturally. Poor girl.

Buffy opened her eyes again and walked over to the stone bench on which she had sat that very first evening of revelation, sat next to him. Now she sat down on the spot she had been in then, and drew a breath.

She hadn't thought it would feel this weird, but every nuance of Spike's interaction with Susannah was a whipping reminder of how he had spent the past six months with this woman. Six months where Buffy had been in torment and loss... But she couldn't dwell on that! She had him back now, and he loved her. He loved her still!

And some things Susannah would never know; would never be forced to accept. The history which had spurred the birth of Buffy's love for him would be something Susannah would never even be able to imagine. He was a part of the Slayer now, of her whole youth and growth into who she was... Nothing could compromise that, or the significance of it. It had been a slow, painful, emotional ride, but without it they wouldn't have gotten to where they now were.

And she did know him. She just needed to learn more of him...

"Buffy?"

She looked up at the sound of Susannah's voice and beat back the need to mumble "Think of the devil" before she smiled a little as a welcome for the other to join her. Susannah did, though it was hesitant as she stepped through the glass doors and approached the Slayer.

"I just wanted to see if you were all right," the former said as she came to as stop by the bench.

"I am," Buffy assured. "Quite dandy, in fact... It's just all this trouble we've gone through so far. Spike getting hurt and then the whole 'sneaking' at the party giving us nothing and you... Sorry," she stopped herself, "didn't mean to treat you like some other scrabble piece."

"I understand," Susannah replied with a shrug. "I wanna see this resolved as much as you do, maybe even more. We've been on this since I came here, you know?" she reminded before pausing, then adding: "And... scrabble?"

Buffy smirked.

"Yeah - form a word, win the game... I've used up the supply of puzzle analogies handed out, I think," she answered and Susannah smiled as well.

"You must've seen this whole thing play out about a million times before though, right?" she then asked, slowly taking a seat on the other side of the bench. "The end-of-the-world concept, I mean."

"Not a million," Buffy shook her head. "Just six or seven."

"Oh," Susannah said.

They grew quiet and Buffy wondered what she should say. Or should not. Finally Susannah broke through the stillness as she stated:

"You're a really lucky woman."

Buffy swallowed, then nodded a little.

"I know."

"Do you?" Susannah asked, making the other turn her head and look at her. "Really? Because that man in there, there's nothing he wouldn't do for you. That sort of love is so rare... you have to take care of it. Promise me you will."

"I'll promise myself," Buffy replied simply. "Because I love him too."

"But for such a long time you didn't."

"That's true," Buffy said. "But for a long time he didn't give me good reason to. I can't possibly even begin to explain it to you, but trust me on this - he hasn't always been like you see him now. He used to be so hard... he seemed so untouchable back then. You know what they say - that the first impression lasts? I just couldn't believe him. For so many years I didn't believe in him. And now I'm ready to begin making up for the things I did... that harmed him. I think the past is what makes us who we are, and so I can't ever hold his past against him. I love him for everything he is, Susannah. And believe me, I know exactly how lucky I am to have him loving me back."

Susannah looked at her for a long minute and then she nodded.

"Fine then," she said, getting to her feet.

Buffy furrowed her brow slightly, wondering exactly what that meant as the other suddenly had seemed so drained of that force of life always so evident on her.

"I'm sorry if..." Buffy began, but Susannah huffed and thus cut her off mid- sentence.

"Spare me," she said, her eyes suddenly cold before they flashed back into an expression of pure kindness as a smile spread on her lips. "Sorry, I'm still tired. From last night, I mean. Just a bit on the having-a-bad-mood- day side, I guess. And there are other factors in play on that account, I suppose," she added with a sigh. "I'm going upstairs for a while, I think. Get some sleep before lunch. Be a doll and tell Angel for me, would you? I hate to make him worry."

Buffy nodded and watched the other walk out of the garden and back into the hotel.

There was a slight frown on the Slayer's face as she rose as well, heading back into the foyer and stopping in a moment's tentativeness before she proceeded up to the doorway of the conference room. Everybody else were still gathered, still discussing what they had so far and still turning it as they tried to view it from different angles.

"You okay?" Spike asked to her left and she turned her head to him with a smile before she came up to sit next to him.

"Yeah, I'm good. I was just wondering something," she then replied and he raised his eyebrows. "Well, how much do you know about Susannah, exactly?"

"How do you mean 'exactly'?" he asked back and she didn't know how to put this delicately enough for him not to get defensive and so she spoke slowly, hoping the words would come out of her mouth in an orderly fashion.

"Well... where was she born? Where is she from? What are her parent's names? How old is she?"

Spike furrowed his brow.

"You don't really think she has anything to do with all this, do you?" he then wondered and she shrugged.

"Can you give me straight answers for all those questions?" she inquired, squirming away from what he had wanted to know as she hadn't the proper reply yet.

"She's an orphan," he then said simply.

Buffy raised her eyebrows.

"That's it?" she asked. "That's the answer to all of them?"

"Well... she's twenty-one," he then stated and she gave him a look. "Buffy," he merely responded, almost with reprimand and she crossed her arms over her chest, beginning to feel a slight annoyance. "She's bloody HELPED us during the entire time she's been here!" he now said and as his voice had grown just one volume louder the rest of the conversation in the room came to a stop as everybody's heads turned their way. "I know her, Buffy, she couldn't hurt a fly!"

"And yet," Buffy retorted, "she managed to kill a Jade with her bare hands."

Spike had no comeback for that as he had to let the sentence get duly noted; realizing with a chill that Buffy was right.

"But that could have been caused by anything..." he grumbled, not even able to convince himself and as Buffy cocked an eyebrow he shook his head. "Adrenaline?" he tried and she smiled, condescendingly, though he could see the small warmth behind it and knew she meant nothing by it.

"Does anyone know anything about this girl?" she now asked, turning her gaze to Angel.

"Everything she told me panned out, Buffy," he replied. "You thought I didn't check her out before I opened my up my doors to her?"

"No," Buffy said. "I didn't. So, then - share."

"Her mother and father died when she was ten in a plane crash... She lived with her aunt for a year and then she stayed with a foster family for four years before she left. She wouldn't say why and I got the feeling they hadn't treated her in the best way... She's been on her own ever since."

Buffy got a thoughtful look on her face as she put the information in the appropriate placing in her head and then something clicked, making her eyes widen slightly.

"What about the bottle?" she asked and Angel looked questioning. "You told me that the night she got here she was mumbling about a bottle," she elaborated and Angel nodded.

"Yes, and we did some research on it while she was pretty out of it, but when she came to she had no idea why she had been talking about it and we had to let it go... since we had absolutely nothing else to go on. She said it was okay, though. Thought it couldn't have been important if she couldn't remember anything about it," he finished and Buffy frowned.

"Isn't that a bit odd?" she asked and Angel looked wondering.

"Why? She was a truly distraught being when she got here, confused for over a month of who she actually was and where she came from... She was in bad shape and we were up to our necks in the research of the prophecy..." he trailed off as he could see the Slayer wheels of Buffy's brain working feverishly. "What?" he asked and she put on an innocent look as she replied:

"I didn't say anything."

"We could all hear you thinking, love," Spike teased and she smiled a little at him before she lifted one shoulder in a dismissive gesture.

"There's a dog buried here," she merely stated.

"Should we dig it up?" Susannah's voice sounded from the doorway and Buffy sat herself up straight as she turned her head that way, rather surprised. "Or is it best to let sleeping dogs lie?" the former added as she stepped into the room.

Her face was pale and her skin glistened with a light coating of perspiration. She looked ill, her eyes glazed over, but her posture was composed and her impression full of strength. Buffy stared at her as the latter slowly walked passed her to continue around the table, once more speaking up.

"I believe I have a right to be part of this discussion; after all, it seems it largely concerns me, doesn't it?" Her eyes in Buffy's as the last two words were spoken, her gaze hard and Buffy felt every nerve in her suddenly put on alert. "I think it's actually bad manners to talk about someone behind their back," Susannah now added, having completed one lap around the table as she stopped before the Slayer, the expression in her eyes now baring a challenge Buffy wasn't sure she could decipher.

"I didn't mean for it to seem..." she began, but Susannah let out a flat laugh, shaking her head.

"It doesn't 'seem'," she then replied, the sarcasm in her voice difficult to miss. "It IS precisely that. Talking behind my back, spreading little lies... Thinking you know me, when you don't."

"No, I don't," Buffy agreed, her own eyes now meeting the challenge dead on and not faltering for one second. "That's the issue here, isn't it?" she added and Susannah smirked ironically.

"Well, I know all about you," she then stated, voice lowered. "I know how you thrive on misinterpreting others intentions, all the while covering up your own mistakes and cowardly inhibitions. How you love to stab others in the back..."

"Susannah," Spike cut in, his tone sharp and she turned her eyes at him with a look that said he should stay the hell out of it, before turning her gaze in Buffy's once more.

"You think you're better than me," Susannah said and Buffy narrowed her eyes before rising to her feet to face the other.

Susannah was nearly one head taller than the blonde, and yet Buffy's presence easily broke away to tower over the younger woman's.

"I do not," the Slayer disagreed and Susannah smiled gently.

"You think you're above me," she then stated with clear conviction.

"No, I..." Buffy began, but before she could react she was suddenly flying across the room, hitting the wall with such force that she lost her breath and slipped to the floor as she lost her sense of balance completely.

The hand of Susannah's which had preformed the deed was still outstretched before her until she slowly lowered her arm and let it rest along her side. Spike had risen to his feet and now he took a step towards her, but at the dark look still in her eyes he stopped himself.

"She isn't worthy," Susannah said.

And then Buffy's foot connected with her stomach and the brunette flew through the doorway, landing with a hard thud on the floor and rolling two times before she stopped, her eyes closed as Buffy came after her, but they opened before the Slayer reached her side and she moved onto her stomach, quickly getting to her feet to once again face the other.

"You can't win this," Buffy said and Susannah smiled again, though this time it was laced with a self-confident wickedness which Buffy had never witnessed on the latter before.

"But I can," she replied, her voice growing into one not even resembling her own as it became darker and she added: "And I will."

Buffy stared at her relentlessly, ready for the other to just move one muscle. Susannah held her gaze steadily for a stretch of two minutes wrapped in growing shock as the others stood cramped in the doorway bearing witness to the scene.

"The jealousy rips her in two," Susannah then spoke, still with the deep voice in her throat and her eyes flashed in fiery red as she moved forward, exclaiming: "Deep down she wishes you dead!"

Buffy blocked the punch, about to be delivered, with one arm and then moved the other to grab Susannah's throat. But Susannah was too fast, averting the movement with her own free hand and then delivering a skull-to-skull blow, making Buffy see stars as she stumbled backward. Susannah spun around and her foot hit its goal of the Slayer's chin, making the latter tumble heavily to the floor.

"I always knew I could take you," Susannah stated, not yet free of the other voice, before she smiled.

But Buffy kicked out one leg and swiped the others legs out from under her. Susannah gave a cry of surprise before the sound of the back of her head connecting harshly with the hard floor hit like a thunderclap against all their ears.

Unconscious she lay completely still and Buffy rolled onto her back with a huff.

"'I always knew I could take you'," she then mimicked, irritated. "Made you think twice, didn't I?" she added as she sat up and glared at the lifeless body of the other.

Then she turned her head to the assembled audience and raised her eyebrow meaningfully as she said:

"Something tells me we should definitely get some shovels - 'cause here's one dog in dire need of digging up."

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

What Is To Be

-Seventeenth-

By Annie

2003-10-09

¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤¤¤

"I can't believe it," Cordelia stated for about the hundredth time.

"You can't; I can't; none of us can," Spike replied with a sigh, glancing at Buffy who had a look cut in stone on her features.

He recognized it well and he knew exactly how attentive her instincts were at that very moment. Her acute sense of when to take precaution and when to let it rip was so clearly active that it had a small smirk occur on his lips. The Slayer was truly cleverly designed, her make-up tasteful in a way which made it near impossible for an outsider to spot it whenever she needed to apply it. But he was an insider, and he knew her.

Now she turned her head as Angel came down the stairs. He had carried Susannah up them and to her room as she had still been out cold five minutes after Buffy had knocked her to the floor; Gunn and Fred had followed.

"She come to yet?" Buffy asked as Angel joined her and the others in the middle of the foyer.

"No," he answered her. "Gunn's watching her," he added and Buffy nodded.

"Wonderful. I hope he's good and armed," she muttered, making Angel raise his eyebrows and she cracked her neck a little, massaging it with one hand with a meaningful expression on her face which seemed to be enough of a reply.

"What was going on with her eyes?" Cordelia now inquired. "And her voice?! It was like something out of 'The Exorcist' and frankly - I never enjoyed that movie."

"It's not exactly a movie you're meant to 'enjoy'," Spike pointed out and she gave him a look to stuff it before she turned her eyes on Angel for the anticipated explanation.

"Actually," Wesley was the one who offered it, "you might not be too far off... She acted quite possessed... wouldn't you agree?"

"Yes, yes, quite," Spike concurred with his best posh accent and Angel smirked before he grew serious again.

"This whole situation could easily spin out of control," he said.

"By George, I think he's got it," Buffy chimed in. "Trouble is it's already spinning - and picking up pace. Fast."

"Buffy," he began to try and protest, but she gave him a look which made him drop the attempt.

"She's strong," Buffy stated; her voice solemn and her face even more so. "Possessed or not... right now she's a threat. Somehow we need to restrain her until we can figure this whole thing out. Either how to exorcise her demons or how to... well, we'll get it straight somehow. And I wasn't kidding about arming ourselves, either. I hope Gunn and Fred are keeping their eye on the job," she finished and Angel gave her a reassuring nod that they most certainly were.

"What can we do then?" Cordelia asked. "I suppose the best option is to talk with Susie, right? I mean, at least that's what the priests did in the movie... Should we take some holy water with us to splash at her... just in case?"

"Do you always look to cinema for answers in cases like these?" Spike wondered sarcastically. "I mean, you do realize 'The Exorcist' was inspired by situations not even in comparison to some that you've lived through, right?"

She glared at him, then looked away from him as she replied in an exaggeratedly patient tone:

"Arming ourselves seem to implicate we're in need of protection - and as long as I've been 'living through situations' a bottle of holy water can get you real far. YOU should be an expert on this particular form of weapon, now shouldn't you? I'm sure you've taken a few stings during your whole big-bad themed years."

Spike smirked. Good comeback.

"Watch that tongue of yours, Cor," he said. "Soon holy water just might scorch it."

"I take that as a compliment," she smiled and he laughed.

Buffy had been listening to the exchange and she turned to Angel as part of the conversation had reminded her of something.

"The research of the bottle Susannah spoke of?" she asked and the vampire nodded.

"We barely started. And there are too many in the spell books alone. When Susannah couldn't give us anything specific to go on we had to let it go," he replied and Buffy frowned, crossing her arms over her chest as she grew thoughtful.

She had the strongest feeling that she should be connecting one dot to the picture herself, but she couldn't seem to be able to find it. And the more she looked for it, the more shrouded in shadows it became, of course.

Bottle. Bottle. Bottle...

Suddenly her face lit up as it hit her.

The image of a small bottle made of copper, carvings slithering their way around it in a complex pattern.

"Forte," she said and Angel raised his eyebrows questioningly. "I saw a bottle at the night of the ball..."

"It could've been anything," he tried but she shook her head.

"Trust me," she stated. "It wasn't. But, when Susannah wakes up we'll ask her more questions. Believe me, I'm up for getting some answers. And Cordelia," she added, making the other look at her. "The magical world of film is one of the best resources I had fighting vamps in the early years, I'd never underestimate it. You were right - we need to talk with her to find out what's going on. Hopefully her demon will be as big a blabber mouth as the Devil was."

***

Fred had closed the curtains of Susannah's bedroom and it lay in a dim light spread by the lamp of the bedside table. As Buffy stepped through the door and looked at Gunn he shook his head a little as a sign that there had been nothing eventful to talk about. Buffy gave a nod and turned her eyes on the young woman lying underneath blankets and sheets in the bed. Her face was almost grayish and her lips were dry.

Buffy swallowed.

Something was more than terribly wrong here.

"Would you give me a minute?" she then asked and Fred stared at her for a moment before she replied:

"She's still pretty out of it. I'm not sure..."

"Please," Buffy interrupted and Fred seemed to retract slightly before she nodded, having Gunn's hand slip into hers before they walked up to the door.

"Hey," Gunn said, pausing in the doorway and Buffy turned her head to him as he finished: "Be careful with her... Most of her might still be in there..."

He trailed off and Buffy gave another nod before she turned back toward the bed.

She heard the sound of the door sliding shut and she felt herself be put on alert as she took one step closer to the other's resting place.

"Susannah?" she tried. "Susannah...?"

Nothing.

Perhaps she shouldn't have been the one to take this upon herself. Perhaps she had been foolish in thinking it the safest way to go, since she had no real personal ties to the girl... The girl, after all, also had no personal ties to her and so getting her to wake, getting her to open, might be too large a task. William should have been the one to take a seat on the side of the bed... he could have made Susannah open her eyes faster than Buffy could say "supercalifragilisticexpialidocious".

The Slayer still had the foreign voice taking on Susannah's vocal cords ringing in her ears. The fury and disgust behind them had been what got to her the most.

'The jealousy rips her in two.'

'Deep down she wishes you dead.'

Buffy couldn't help but be saddened by that. She had come to respect Susannah for the obvious love she held for not only William, but for the rest of the gang as well. All were her friends, the closest ones she had, or so Buffy recalled her saying on the night of the Slayer's arrival.

"And what now?" Buffy murmured as she had reached the edge of the bed and tentatively took a seat. "What's the plan, Susie?"

"William?" Susannah whispered practically inaudibly and Buffy rose as her heart began to hammer in her chest. "Will?"

"Spike!" Buffy called, turning and running up to the door. "Spike, come here! Hurry!"

The sound of feet on the stairs and then how it shifted as they swiftly came down the hallway followed the Slayer's yell and Spike entered the room as Buffy once more sat down on the bedside, taking Susannah's hand in a firm grip.

"He's here," Buffy said. "Come on, open your eyes."

Spike stopped beside her, hesitating only a moment before he leaned forward and carefully stroked a few strands of sweat-soaked hair out of Susannah's forehead.

"Hey," he grumbled, ignoring the lump in his throat at how frail she looked. "Time to wake up," he added and her head moved slightly as she stirred and then her eyes struggled into slits, her gaze locking in his.

"What... happened?" she asked, voice cracking and she swallowed with effort. "What...?" she repeated, trailing off as she turned her eyes in Buffy's and her own slowly grew as she tried to pull herself up a little. "I dreamed about you," she said, voice lowered and the slight shock on her face made Buffy want to cringe with discomfort, still not at all sure what to trust and what not to. "We fought," Susannah now embellished her previous statement. "I..." she added, reaching up her hand to touch the back of her head and when her fingers graced the bump there she had a mask of pain on for a few seconds before she seemed to be hit by realization and she slowly finished: "I hit my head."

"Not before YOU hit MINE," Buffy then replied lightly, but Susannah's eyes now filled with tears as she turned them on Spike.

"Tell me... Oh, God, please, tell me I didn't," she begged, her fingers grasping Buffy's hand tightly and the Slayer had no defense against the wave of sympathy coursing through her in that moment.

Susannah truly looked heart-broken.

She kept an act up for six months, Buffy reminded herself. What's to say she isn't acting now?

"It's okay," Spike soothed, sinking down on his knees beside the bed, his arms on the bedside and one hand reaching up to gently touch Susannah's cheek. "It's all right."

She closed her eyes, her tears running over as she shook her head slowly.

"I told you," she then mumbled, opening her eyes again, her gaze filled with agony. "I told you I wasn't safe."

Spike clenched his jaws together, in complete disbelief that this harmless creature could have anything to do with anything horrible. He knew her!

"Tell me," he said, voice soft, "about what's going on. Sannah, you have to tell us everything."

"I'm scared," she whispered. "He might... wake up again."

"Who?" Buffy asked, her attention back in full.

"Him," Susannah merely replied, her gaze now so frightened that Spike signaled to Buffy not to push it any further.

"He won't," he then assured the other with a smile. "And even if he did, I wouldn't let him make even one single hair on your head crooked. You believe that, right?"

She nodded again, returning his smile weakly before her eyes darted around the room and her breathing became a little bit faster. The hand of Buffy's still holding the other's registered how hard it was trembling and the Slayer understood that they didn't have much time before Susannah either went back into a state of unconsciousness or simply cracked right before their eyes.

"We need to know about the bottle," Buffy then said, keeping her tone as friendly and patient as she possibly could.

"The bottle..." Susannah repeated, then she nodded.

"Why did you want Angel to find it?" Buffy asked and Susannah swallowed hard, her grip tightening again and Buffy placed her other hand over the two already locked together. "Take it slow," she then encouraged. "Easy," she added.

"Find it," Susannah said; the words seemingly difficult to get out and her tears beginning to well up once more from the strain of it. "It's the only way."

"Only way to what?" Buffy inquired.

Susannah's eyes widened and the Slayer helplessly witnessed as the fear was beginning to take over completely.

"Do you know where it is?" Spike now asked and Susannah nodded twitchily. "Where?" he demanded.

"Behind... glass," she answered, voice now so strained with both held down sobs as well as the strengthening dread that it was more of a whisper. "With the... music."

"Susannah...?" Buffy tried, but the other seemed to fight for air and then she sunk back against her pillows.

Spike reached up and checked her pulse, then relaxed a little, turning his head to Buffy.

"She's asleep," he said.

Buffy moved her hands out of the hold of the other's and then she rose.

"You okay?" she asked as she could see how shaken he was.

"As long as we get that bottle," he grumbled and Buffy followed him as he headed for the door.

"It's at Forte's," she said as he closed the door behind them, and when they started down the hallway he looked at her questioningly.

"How can you be sure?" he asked.

"Because the bottle I saw there is behind glass," she replied simply, taking the lead down the stairs; he followed.

"With what? The enchanted harp and a set of maracas?" he wondered.

"Don't be stupid," she shot and he gave her a mock-shocked look which made her smile in spite of herself before she added: "'The music' is Forte."

"Didn't know you took so kindly to him," Spike muttered and she gave him a friendly push to stop with the pouting already before she clarified her statement with:

"You're an educated man, aren't you? You didn't take music? Don't you know what Forte means?"

He suddenly smirked.

"Now, that's my girl," he commended her quick brains and she smiled.

"Yeah, it is," she then agreed and his smirk widened as he put an arm around her waist and pulled her to him just as they reached the last steps of the stairs and looked out on the foyer.

The others seemed to have moved back into the conference room and Buffy exchanged a look with Spike, who nodded. Still close together they walked down the final set of steps and headed for said room.

***

"It's done," Angel said as he walked into the kitchen, having Spike and Buffy both turn their heads to him, stopping their conversation.

It was two hours later; lunch had come and gone and a thick blanket of growing impatience was stretching out over the Hyperion as all its inhabitants could do nothing but wait. Angel came up to the table at which his former kin and the Slayer was sitting, stopping by them as he looked down at the latter.

"Are you really sure about this?" he asked and she nodded. "Okay, fine. Into the lion's den we trot," he sighed, taking a seat next to Spike, opposite Buffy, on one of the high chairs.

For the past hour Angel had been on the phone, climbing the ladder of importance at Forte Incorporated; slowly but steadily he had been connected from one person to another as he tried to gain access to Forte's personal assistant. And for the last ten minutes of his work he had finally reached her. She had been forthcoming after a short wait on his part - during which he was convinced she had called her boss to ask of his approval - and she had set up a meeting for the vampire, Buffy and Spike the following morning.

"Something's bothering me," Angel now said. "I think Forte knows were coming."

"I know," Buffy immediately replied, as though she had just thought the very same thing and both men rested their eyes on her questioningly. "Getting the info last night was way too easy. What - you didn't feel it? The energy in that place wasn't all brought on by hormones dancing around thanks to large quantities of alcohol, you know."

"I did feel it," Angel nodded.

"Then we should assume, for some reason, we weren't unexpected. He must have known that what we found would be worthless to us. I've been thinking this over and over ever since Susannah said what she did... Forte knows more about this than we thought from the beginning. He must. So, what do we deduce? That nothing's unexpected anymore. We go in there prepared for anything. Forte is a demon, remember? I think - now that the phone's available - I'll go call Giles. Maybe he has some strings left to pull on this... Can't hurt us if he has the energy to ask a few more questions on our behalf."

Angel took a moment before he raised his eyebrows slightly and Buffy realized how tired he looked.

"Do that," he then said. "Please. Anything that's in our favor..." he added and she reached across the table to give his arm a squeeze before she rose, walking passed Spike and stopping to place a hand gently on his cheek as he looked up at her.

He smiled, turning his head to kiss her palm and she bent down to brush her lips against his before she left the room.

The two still in it sat quiet for a while. Spike looking at his thumbs, which he was twirling slowly around each other. Angel lost in thought.

"What do you think?" he finally asked, his words placing themselves in the air between them in wait for a reply.

"Is the world going to end?" Spike offered that reply as another question and Angel didn't respond, having that be a simple affirmative. "No," the former then stated simply.

"When you're in love everything seems possible," Angel muttered, though there was an ease behind his words which made Spike turn his head to him with the most overwhelming notion that the vampire wasn't merely referring to the bleached blonde. "Doesn't it?" Angel then added.

Spike suddenly smirked.

"Yeah," he agreed. "It does... So, have you finally found the guts to spell it out to the poor woman?" he added and Angel smirked as well.

"In due time, brother," he then replied as he got off the chair, giving one of Spike's shoulders a pat.

"Be careful, though," Spike advised. "Time has this nasty tendency to run out. One way or another."

***

"Okay. Miss you too. Take care. Bye."

Buffy hung up the phone and turned around to lean against the desk as Spike stopped in the doorway of the office, which she was currently in. He rested one shoulder casually against the doorpost and she smiled a little.

"Aren't we the sight for soar eyes?" she mumbled and he left his position for approaching her.

"How are you doing?" he asked and she sighed as he stepped into her, slipping his arms around her as she moved her hands up his chest.

"Not quite sure yet," she then replied, looking up at him with an expression in her eyes that had him smile before he leaned forward and kissed her softly.

As he pulled away she glanced up at him with a mock-coy look now on her features.

"Didn't help?" he asked and the corners of her mouth curled as she shook her head slowly.

As he once again joined their lips she parted hers and she had a twirl of flutters in her stomach as he pulled her tight against him, responding to the caresses of her tongue with his own. She wrapped her arms around his neck and felt the throb he always instilled in her start up as his hands slid down her back and to her hips, further to her buttocks, lifting her up to sit on the desk and her thighs parted so that he could fit himself between them.

He moved his mouth from hers and down the side of her neck, her deliberate breathing heavy in his left ear and he stopped his kisses for biting his lower lip as he buried his face against her throat.

"Tell me what you feel right now," he murmured and she felt another surge of desire at the husky sound of his voice.

"Hot..." she mumbled; taking his earlobe between her teeth and making him wince slightly as his grip on her hips grew tighter. "Wet," she added in a whisper and his intake of breath was all she needed to make a small smile occur on her mouth. "Needy," she grumbled as she pulled back and found his lips again. "Aching..." she got out in between newborn kisses and he merely nodded as he pulled her even closer to him. "Shaking..." she murmured, stopping the kiss as she leaned back and made him look at her, holding his gaze as she finished: "Complete."

He smiled at that and she returned it.

"Wanna...?" she then asked and he smirked as he nodded and she got to her feet, grabbing his hand as they headed out of the room and toward the stairs.

***

"I talked to Dawn," Buffy said an hour later, her head resting on Spike's chest and one hands fingertips leisurely drawing patterns across the smooth skin and muscles of his torso.

Spike had his eyes closed, the tingles Buffy's caresses kept sending through him having him in quiet rapture and he let himself get absorbed by the emotion. At her words he got himself to slowly reply, scared that words from his mouth might mess up the sensation of her. They didn't, however, and he relaxed even further.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"That I love her, and miss her... and that I'll see her soon," she answered and he cocked an eyebrow, eyes still closed.

"You didn't tell her?" he wondered and he could feel her cheek slide against his skin as she shook her head a little. "Why?"

"Because there's nothing to do about it... you know? If this time's it, then I won't get to see her again... I couldn't tell her that. Besides... I think she already knew, in a way. She didn't say anything either, and we tried not to sound like it might be one of the last times we ever spoke... but somewhere in the back were this feeling that she got how serious this is, and like she was saying that no matter what... she believes in me... No need to freak, you know?"

The arm of his that was around her shoulders gave a short squeeze before he replied:

"Yeah."

Buffy smiled a little, moving her head to look at him before she pulled herself up and had her face by his as she said:

"Let's not leave this room. Ever."

"What would we do in this room forever?" he asked as if he didn't already know the answer and she gave him a look to accommodate that.

He smirked, seemingly pleased with her reaction, and she pushed him gently in the side with one arm.

"I mean it," she then said. "I could stay here for the rest of my life and be pretty content with that," she added and his smirk broadened.

"Color me flattered," he murmured and she smiled as well, joining their lips in a deep kiss before she moved away enough to rest her forehead against his, her eyes closed.

"This feeling, right now, it's the best I've ever known," she said and he let her words wrap around him as he closed his eyes as well.

"Me too," he then agreed silently.

She opened her eyes again, pulled her head slightly back and as he opened his eyes as well she rested her gaze in his for a long time before she smiled a small smile, and he returned it.

"I've been thinking about something," she said and he raised his eyebrows slightly. "Well, your name... I think I should call you William. I just have to get used to it. I mean, it's always been there, I've always known that was your name, so it shouldn't be hard or anything."

He watched her face for a moment, then smiled widely and she looked wondering.

"It's just gonna be a little bit weird having you call me 'Will'..." he confessed and she smirked.

"William," she then said, observing him in the manner he just had her and then she nodded a little. "William... I love you."

He felt as though he would explode with sudden pride, drawing a breath before he pulled her closer, having her mouth by his again and proceeding with kissing her, this time with raw and real passion and her arms slid up to either side of his face as she retaliated with her tongue, moving so that she could straddle him.

***

Susannah opened her eyes slowly.

The room was shadowed and she blinked, trying to focus her disoriented mind but failing miserably. Everything went in grays and she couldn't make her thoughts out. And there was a presence within her which was impossible to ignore.

Suddenly the claw holding her heart in an iron grip once more tightened and she took in a mouthful of air before she clenched her jaws together against the pain.

"Please," she then whispered, her eyes darting around at her surroundings. "Don't hurt them..."

The voice which answered her slipped through her brain like a serpent and she knew, in that moment, that she was lost.

Unless...

As she began to grow dizzy and her eyes fluttered shut once more, she said a silent prayer for strength as she knew there was but one hope left, and toward it she turned with her entire soul as she drifted back into the blackness.

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