Chapter 15

Following Thanksgiving, Joyce Summers kicked fully into Christmas overdrive. This included shopping, baking, cleaning, wrapping presents and driving Buffy absolutely nuts. On top of the hectic holiday planning, Buffy still had to patrol and study for finals. And there was Spike.

Buffy had talked to Giles regarding her relationship with Spike. He had let her know in no uncertain terms that he disapproved, that she was foolish and thoughtless to take yet another vampire into her bed, and that he thought that Spike should be put down.

Buffy had never come closer to hitting her Watcher in real anger.

Taking a deep breath, Buffy tried to explain her feelings to Giles. "It's not as if I'm in love with him Giles. This thing, whatever it is, it'll go away soon, you'll see. But for now, it's there and you'll just have to deal with it."

Continuing on, she tried to put it into perspective, "We have a much bigger problem to deal with than my love life. We need to concentrate on this Initiative organization."

"Yes Buffy. we do," Giles agreed. "And this *thing* as you put it that you have with Spike is interfering in the performance of your duties."

"No Giles, you're wrong," Buffy insisted. "Spike has done nothing but help me since he came back to Sunnydale. He's helped with tracking down information on The Initiative and he's helped me on patrol. Yes, we may take some private time for ourselves, but it is *not* interfering with my duties as Slayer."

Running her hands through her hair, she looked seriously at her Watcher. "Giles you just have to trust me on this. Spike doesn't have me under a thrall or anything like that. We're just together. Temporarily. We figure we'll tire of each other soon and then, well, we'll see what happens. Most likely he'll just live in his crypt and do whatever vampires who can't hurt people do, and I'll go back to being The Slayer with no life but killing things. Okay?"

Buffy knew she wasn't being completely honest with Giles. Spike had said he was in love with her, although he hadn't repeated it. Maybe it was just something men said in the heat of passion and not to be taken seriously. Buffy wasn't sure how she felt about that. It would be easier to believe that it was still just about sex. Trouble was, Buffy wasn't so sure it was.

Sometimes life was just too damned complicated.

***

Spike had moved into the crypt shortly after their raid on The Initiative facility. It seemed to ease the pressure on Buffy somewhat if Giles didn't have to see them together all the time. Of course that meant that Spike wasn't there to attend the Scooby meetings, but from what Buffy told him, things were left pending until Willow had completed breaking the encryption. And since she had finals to study for too, it was taking a little longer than hoped.

Buffy had decided against telling her mom about their relationship and in this instance Spike was glad. He really liked Joyce and enjoyed her company, but he was wise enough to know that she would never approve of him screwing her daughter. So as far as Joyce was concerned, Spike and Buffy just had a working relationship and casual, if unusual, friendship.

***

Buffy continued to date Riley even though she felt it was now a waste of time, time she could be spending with Spike. But there was always the chance that she could find out something important so she kept up the ruse of interest in him. And so it was that she learned that once again the holidays would allow them an opportunity to infiltrate the facility when most of the men were gone.

"Riley said that most of the guys from Lowell House would be gone from Thursday the 23rd until Monday the 27th. I think that probably Christmas Eve will be the best time to make another foray into the facility to see if we can discover exactly what they're doing there. So far Willow hasn't had much luck with the decryption, and I don't know how many more opportunities we'll have for infiltration."

She had brought Spike with her to Giles' that night. This was too important a meeting for him not to be there. Although she still wasn't happy with him coming with her into the compound, the fact was that his preternatural abilities could help them duck whatever personnel remained.

In the end, it was decided that Willow would work the spell that would hide them from the security system and then accompany Buffy and Spike into the facility. In all likelihood they would need her magically enhanced hacking abilities to get them into secure areas. Xander and Giles would stay behind. Xander wasn't happy to say the least but finally accepted Buffy's mandate. A few more details were discussed and then Buffy and Spike left for patrol.

***

One of Buffy's legs was hooked over the back of Spike's couch while the other was hooked over one of his shoulders. His head was buried between her thighs and Buffy moaned and writhed as he licked and sucked at her clit. They had returned to his crypt after finishing patrol ostensibly to watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" on television. But as usually happened when they were alone together in a private place, handholding had led to nuzzling which led to kissing which led to petting which led to what they were doing now.

As the pressure built and Buffy's hips moved faster and faster, Spike lifted his head and crawled up her body. Kissing him deeply, Buffy tasted herself on his mouth, and then he raised his head as he slid into her. Buffy was lost in the look of pure pleasure Spike had on his face as he moved within her. Her breath caught in her throat as he angled his hips in such a way as to hit an entirely new spot deep within her. Arching her back, she threw back her head which exposed the slim white column of her throat to him. Spike immediately took advantage of her vulnerability to lower his head and sink his fangs into her flesh.

Buffy cried out and dug her nails into his back, leaving scratches and half moon marks. Increasing the pace of his thrusts, Spike began to suckle at the flow of blood trickling from his bite. They had learned just how deeply he could bite her so that the wound was healed before she left him. They both knew that if anyone guessed that Spike could bite her while they made love, his life would be in even more danger from her well-meaning friends.

Buffy tensed under him as her climax neared. God she loved the feel of him. The strength of his arms, the length of his cock as it stroked deeply within her, the sharp pain/pleasure of his bite. Someday this would all be over. Someday they would grow tired of each other. Someday the passion would burn to ashes.

But not today.

***

Buffy looked at the Christmas tree and all the decorations. She was dressed in a pretty holiday frock, her hair piled on top of her head with tiny bells tinkling in her earlobes. Joyce entered the room with a tray full of cookies and placed it on the coffee table. Sighing in contented pleasure she observed her lovely home and her lovely daughter and felt true joy. The doorbell rang and Buffy hurried over to greet her friends as they came for the annual Christmas Eve get together.

They were seated around the living room with drinks and snacks when the doorbell rang a second time. As Buffy went to answer it, Giles, Willow and Xander exchanged disapproving glances, but Joyce only smiled in pleasure as her vampire guest entered the room. Handing her a bottle of wine complete with bow, Spike leaned forward and kissed the woman on the cheek saying "Happy Christmas, Joyce".

"Merry Christmas Spike and thank you. You didn't have to bring anything you know."

Spike just shrugged in shy embarrassment and then nodded a greeting to the others. They coldly returned the greeting and then turned their heads from him. Spike heard Buffy's sigh and looked at her. She merely gave an apologetic shrug and then motioned him to have a seat. Going to the sideboard, she fixed him a drink and then sat on the hassock not far from his chair.

Christmas music played softly in the background and after an initial uncomfortable silence, Joyce was able to get the conversational ball rolling again. Presents were passed out and toasts to the season given. Buffy gave Spike a carton of cigarettes. He gave her a stake he had carved. But these were just presents that they were giving each other in public. She had something much more personal to give him later stashed up in her bedroom.

At last the evening came to an end and the guests left. Buffy had explained to Joyce that even though it was Christmas Eve she would still have to patrol, but it wouldn't be until later so she helped her mother clean up and then bid Joyce good night. Retreating to her bedroom she changed clothes and grabbed the present she had hidden in her closet. Leaving by the front door, she hurried to Spike's crypt. She wanted time before they picked up Willow to give Spike his real Christmas present.

Entering Spike's crypt Buffy caught her breath. Candle's burned all around and he had strung fairy lights along the walls. A tiny Christmas tree complete with decorations and twinkling lights sat on top of the television. Tearing her eyes from the sight she looked at Spike who was standing nervously to one side watching her. Breaking into a pleased smile she ran up to him and hugged him. "Spike it's beautiful," she assured him.

"Hoped you'd like it Buffy. I did it for you."

Buffy showed how much she liked it by giving him a deep kiss and then holding him in her arms. The package she had in her hand bumped against his back as she embraced him and Spike asked, "Here what's that then?"

Suddenly shy, Buffy handed it to him. "It's your real Christmas present. I hope you like it."

Taking her hand Spike led her over to the couch where they both sat down. For the longest time he merely sat and looked at the present sitting on his lap. "Aren't you going to open it Spike?" Buffy asked. Nodding his head, Spike swallowed and with slightly shaking hands began to undo the wrapping. He hadn't received a real present from anyone since he had been human. And never one from a woman he loved.

As the paper was removed, Spike realized that it was a picture in a frame. Turning it over, he gasped in amazement.

During the previous weeks, he and Buffy had spent some time at the mall doing her Christmas shopping. The mall management had set up one of those photo booths where people could have a string of pictures taken for a couple bucks. On a lark, Buffy and Spike entered one and had proceeded to make silly faces for the camera. However one picture hadn't been silly. They had pressed their heads together and gazed smilingly into the lens. The picture showed two people who seemed to be happy and in love.

Buffy had taken that picture and had one of the art students at the university render it into small painting and then had it framed. It was this he was now looking at.

Spike swallowed again, totally rendered speechless. Turning his head, he looked over at Buffy tears in his eyes. "Buffy love, it's..." Looking back down at it, Buffy watched as one tear slowly made it way down his cheek. Buffy felt her own tears fall.

And the final scale fell from her eyes.
 

Chapter 16

They walked over to Willow's house hand-in-hand, stopping occasionally to kiss. As it turned out Spike had a present for Buffy too and she was wearing it now; a delicate gold chain bearing a small filigreed heart. It was the most beautiful necklace Buffy had ever seen.

"I didn't steal it," Spike hastened to assure her as she gazed at it in wonder. At her questioning look he continued, "You know all that stuff that I scavenged and fixed up? Well I sold most of it and made enough money to buy that." Buffy smiled at him in pleased surprised.

"Knew you wouldn't want anything stolen. Beside wouldn't be right would it?"

Buffy leaned forward and pressed a soft, tender kiss to his mouth. Then turning around she asked, "Would you fasten it for me?" Spike took the necklace from her fingers, draped it around her neck and then dropped a kiss on her shoulder. "I give you my heart Buffy," he murmured into her hair.

Never had Buffy resented her duties as Slayer as much as she did tonight. She wanted nothing more than to join with this man in slow languorous lovemaking all night long. But she did have duties and so after exchanging another kiss, they rose from the couch and went to fetch Willow.

She was waiting for them on her darkened front porch and saw their entwined hands as they walked down the street towards her. Willow's worry for her friend increased as she sensed an even closer bond from just a few hours ago. She wasn't sure what had happened, but it was clear that Buffy's emotions were even more firmly entrenched than ever.

Nervously stepping forward, she joined them. She looked pointedly at their clasped hands, but they ignored her. Turning around they walked back to Spike's crypt, going over the night's plans in low voices. All the time, Spike and Buffy remained handfast.

***

They had studied the diagram of the facility's layout and knew that the area of Room 314 was beyond the room where they had entered previously. They would enter a room as close to the area as they could and then make their way to the laboratory since there didn't seem to be any direct route from the crawlspace.

Finding an office that they figured was as close as they could get, Willow performed her silencing spell. Pain shot through Spike's head again as the spell took hold, and as before it was quickly gone. He'd really like to know what the hell it was about that spell that was setting the pain off.

Exactly as before they entered the room, but this time instead of staying where they were they moved out into the facility. Spike led the way, vampire senses extended to their fullest.

Following the blueprint Willow had provided, they moved cautiously through the halls of the facility, ducking back out of sight whenever Spike detected approaching footsteps. Buffy thanked The Powers That Be any number of times for enhanced vampire hearing as they evaded the few doctors, technicians and soldiers that remained on duty. Even with a skeleton staff, there were enough people around that the going was nerve-racking.

After what seemed an eternity, they finally found the room for which they searched, Room 314. Willow took over now. Using a dummy keycard attached to her laptop she chanted an incantation, typed a few symbols on her keyboard and grinned in triumph as the door slid open. With a small sigh of relief vampire and slayer entered the room followed closely by the witch.

They had no sooner entered than the door slid shut behind them followed by an ominous click. The room which had been totally dark lit up with bright overhead lights and the door on the opposite wall opened. Maggie Walsh, wearing a long white lab coat, stood there accompanied by a squad of soldiers that immediately surrounded them.

***

"Welcome, Miss Summers. I'm glad you accepted the invitation I extended to you by way of Agent Finn. I hope you found your way here without too much difficulty," the Psychology Professor commented. "I did everything in my power to facilitate your entry."

Buffy felt a rush of anger such as she have never known burn through her. A set-up! She and Spike, all of them, had been set up. She could only be grateful that she had insisted that Giles and Xander not accompany them tonight. However her relief was short-lived as the door behind her whooshed open again and a second squad of soldiers entered.

And right in the middle of them where Giles and Xander.

They looked as if they had been manhandled, the worst being Xander who sported a rapidly swelling black eye. Buffy was furious, and even more so when she saw who entered last.

"You bastard!" Buffy hissed.

Riley Finn looked momentarily uncomfortable, but then put on his good soldier's face. He was doing his duty, nothing more. He was sorry these civilians had interfered in something they didn't understand. And now they would suffer the consequences.

"Ah good, everyone's here now," Maggie said. Moving back a bit, she made a welcoming gesture with her hand. "Please Miss Summers, all of you, you wanted to see what we did here. Allow me to give you the Grand Tour." Gun barrels prodding them in the back, the group moved forward and into the next room.

What Buffy saw there made her sick.

Large cylindrical devices lined the walls of a huge room, 30 at least. Inside them, preserved in some kind of fluid, were...things. Demons, but not as God or whatever had made them. Heads were attached to bodies not their own, mismatched arms and legs, hand and feet. Buffy felt as if she were on the set of every bad horror movie ever made.

Professor Walsh saw the looks of sick revulsion on their faces, even, she noted with interest, the vampire, and smiled. "You are seeing here ladies and gentlemen...and thing," she addressed the last to Spike, "the beginnings of the army of the future. Soon we will have no need to send young men such as you see here into battle to spill their blood needlessly. We will send these creatures to wage our wars."

She stopped in front of a door at the end of the room. Placing a hand on it in an almost loving touch, she turned back to her audience. "Inside this room is Adam. In him we have merged the strongest attributes of various demons into one great being. A virtually unstoppable soldier. He is almost ready to be born.

"With an army of such as you see here we will no longer have to fear invasion or terrorist activities."

Buffy looked at Maggie Walsh with a look of contempt. "So this is all altruistic, huh? No plans for conquest or anything. National defense only, right?"

"I'm only making the soldiers, not dispatching them. That is up to the military. What they do with them doesn't concern me; I'm a scientist. Once I have achieved this goal, I am guaranteed unlimited funding to continue my experiments. This research facility will be the first of many."

"This isn't a research facility," Buffy snapped. "It's Frankenstein's Castle without the rustic charm. God, you're not even a Mad Scientist. You're a caricature of a Mad Scientist, and this is a travesty."

Professor Walsh glared at Buffy. "I should have known that you wouldn't see the beauty in my children. Few do. Luckily for me, your approval isn't necessary. And you, my dear, will make an interesting addition to my research; to all appearances a normal girl but with superhuman abilities of strength, speed and healing. It will be interesting to see just how extensive your healing abilities are."

Buffy felt a chill go all through her and was vaguely aware of loud protests being shouted by Giles, Xander and Willow. A low growl emitted from Spike's chest. She missed entirely the look of shock on Riley's face.

"You're friends however are of no interest to me," Maggie continued. "They, unfortunately, will have a tragic car accident in which all are killed. I, of course, will attend Ms. Rosenberg's funeral and extend condolences on behalf of the entire faculty of the University.

"And as for your lover," Maggie moved over to stand before Spike, "well he'll be taken to one of our labs where the chip we implanted in him will receive its final programming. He escaped before we had the chance to complete it, you see."

Buffy took a step towards Maggie, but stopped as several guns pointed at her. "A chip?" she asked. "Is that what you did to him? Put a computer chip in his head?"

"Yes, Miss Summers. Quite an interesting piece of technology. Dr. Morrison's project actually," she added, indicating the timid little man who had originally had the misfortune to inform Dr. Walsh of Spike's escape. "Once we have completed the programming, his training will commence. Once that's concluded, he will be turned over to an agency with which we have close working ties. Vampires makes excellent assassins you see."

Spike merely looked at the woman with disdain in his eyes. "Bugger off, bitch. I won't be one of your trained puppies."

"You think not?" was Maggie's amused reply. "But you don't understand the beauty of how the chip works. You see, it works on the pleasure/pain principle. If you disobey us, you receive pain...a great deal of pain. However, if you obey us you receive pleasure as your reward. And from the number of times you've been between Miss Summers' thighs, I think we can safely assume that you are very fond of pleasure."

Buffy heard a gasp from Riley. She blushed slightly but then ignored him. She didn't care if he now knew that she had just been using him. She was more concerned with what Walsh was saying about Spike. "He can't hurt anyone," Buffy insisted. "Don't you know how your own chip works?"

"His chip right now is in default mode. It processes human DNA received through touch and smell and fires whenever he tries to harm any human being. The final level of programming we give the chip allows us to override the programming for a particular DNA sequence that we download into it.

"It's quite an ingenious program. Dr. Morrison should receive a Nobel Prize for it. Unfortunately our research is classified.

"But to continue, once the vampire assassin has received its programming, it is sent to eliminate the target. If it succeeds, it is rewarded. If it fails, it is terminated. And since vampires turn to dust upon termination, there are no bodies left behind. A win/win proposition.

"So you see Ms. Summers, what you have been interfering with is a government sanctioned research facility. And now you and your lover will be used to aid our work."

Turning to Riley, Maggie ordered, "Take these three away and arrange their "accident". Then return here. We have work to do." Without further comment, she left the room.
 

Chapter 17

Buffy watched helplessly as her friends were led away. Blinking back tears she glared her hatred at Riley. Never had she felt so impotent. The remaining squad of soldiers motioned for Buffy and Spike to leave. Exchanging last looks, they were separated; Spike being led down one corridor and Buffy another.

She was placed in one of the cells that Spike had described. Three white walls and a large glass "door". As soon as it was lowered and the solders left she threw herself against it in the hopes of breaking out. But again, Spike's report had been accurate. Electrical current flowed through her body knocking her back.

Buffy slid down the back wall, legs drawn up and head resting on knees. She had lost. She had faced how many apocalypses and won? But now, faced with the power of an insane scientist, she had failed.

She wasn't sure how long she was left in her cell, but at last she heard the glass being raised. Lifting her head she saw Riley Finn standing there, weapon pointed at her, cold look on his face.

"You're to come with me," he said without inflection.

Buffy raised herself to her feet and said, "What have you done with Willow and the others? Where are they? I swear Riley, if you've hurt them..."

Riley just stood stone-faced saying nothing.

"Riley," Buffy pleaded, "this is wrong. You know it is. You're a better man than this."

"I'm a soldier," he answered. "I obey orders. Now come on, there's no time to waste."

Motioning with his rifle, he stepped back to allow her to proceed him. Buffy thought of rushing him until she stepped out and realized that there were several more soldiers there. Even if she overpowered Riley, they would shoot her with one of their taser rifles before she could reach them and she would then be defenseless. No, wiser to wait for a better opportunity.

Surrounded by the soldiers, Buffy was led down still another corridor. The lead soldier inserted a keycard in a door and then stood aside allowing Buffy and Riley to enter.

"Wait here," Riley told the soldiers.

"But sir," one of them began.

"Wait here soldier," Riley barked.

Snapping a salute, the soldier backed up and out of the way. Buffy felt a slight push on her back and moved forward, only to come to a surprised halt. There were her friends, alive and well.

As the door whooshed closed behind them Buffy turned to Riley, a question on her lips. Before she could even voice it however he answered, "I'm a soldier Buffy, not a murderer. I'll help all of you escape and then try and contact someone I know at The Pentagon about Professor Walsh."

Buffy looked around and saw that the other soldiers in Riley's squad were bound and gagged. Turning back to Riley, Buffy asked, "Where's Spike?"

Riley's face darkened briefly. "I'm not risking my life to rescue a vampire. You and your friends leave now. I'll do whatever I can to keep you safe, but the vampire's lost." Riley started to turn away, but Buffy placed a hand on his arm stopping him. "I'm not leaving without Spike. Just tell me where he is and I'll get him myself. You needn't put yourself at any more risk."

Riley looked her directly in the eyes and asked, "He means that much to you?" Buffy could only nod her head. How could she explain to this decent man what Spike meant to her? She had only just realized it herself that night, and there was no way she was leaving without him. She had to save him. She had no choice in the matter.

Looking at Xander, Riley said, "Take the others and get out. There's an exit you can use down the corridor outside this door. We'll join you as quickly as we can." Gazing down at Buffy, he asked, "Is what Prof. Walsh said true? Are you some kind of supergirl?"

"I'm The Slayer, Riley," Buffy answered. At his blank look she said, "Long story. Let's just say, yes what she said is true."

Nodding, Riley motioned towards the door. "We'll have to take those guys out before anyone can leave, but I don't want anyone killed, okay?"

"I don't kill humans, Riley," was Buffy's answer.

Going over to where the squad's weapons were stacked, Riley handed taser rifles to Xander and Giles. Willow refused one and so did Buffy. "Look, I wouldn't know the first thing about using that," Buffy told him. "I just need my hands and feet."

Riley didn't look convinced, but put the weapon back down and headed towards the door. "I'll fire my taser. That should knock most of them out. Whoever it misses, you take out. We gotta be quick before they sound an alarm, okay?"

Nodding her understanding, Riley pushed the button that opened the door, fired his weapon and rushed out. Buffy followed, and after a quick skirmish the men were lying unconscious on the floor. Xander, Giles and Willow helped drag the men into the room and bind and gag them.

Riley led them out into the hallway. "You said that there should still be about an hour left to the spell that cloaks you from the security system?" he asked Willow.

Willow quickly checked her watch and then nodded agreement. "Okay, then follow this corridor to where I showed you on your map. You'll find an air vent down a small dead-end hallway. You'll have to climb it, but you should be able to get out that way. We'll join you as quickly as we can." Turning he led Buffy down the corridor in the opposite direction to track down the missing vampire.

***

After traveling a circuitous route turning right and left so many times that Buffy was completely lost, Riley stopped outside a laboratory door. Using his keycard and code, he opened the door and rushed in. Two soldiers stood guard inside, but he and Buffy quickly overpowered them. Spike was strapped down on an examining table, his head tightly clamped in place, a wire running from his head to a computer terminal. Dr. Morrison had been sitting at the computer but jumped up when Riley and Buffy burst in.

Buffy quickly jumped over the desk blocking her way, grabbed Morrison by the throat, shoved him against the wall and growled, "Whatever it is you're doing to Spike, you're going to undo right now. Do you understand?" To emphasize her threat she gave him a little shake.

Morrison's eyes almost bugged out of his head and he gave a little nod to indicate that he would obey. Releasing her hand from his throat Buffy let him go. Slumping against the wall and rubbing his injured neck, Morrison croaked out, "I haven't hurt him, honestly. I've just downloaded the second layer of programming."

"And what does it do?" Buffy wanted to know. "Is this the programming that makes him an assassin?"

Morrison shook his head. "None of my programming makes him an assassin," he answered. "It only allows or denies him the ability to inflict harm. This second level of programming installs the overrides for inflicting pain on humans. The third level installs the overrides for lethal force. The forth level then ties the two together to work with the specific DNA sequencing for the target victim."

Buffy took this all in and then asked, "Are you saying that Spike can hurt humans right now, but he can't kill them?"

Morrison nodded. "Yes. Until we download the fourth protocol the overrides are universal. If you want me to reset his chip to the default setting it will take approximately 53 minutes to download."

Riley spoke up at that point, "Buffy we don't have time for that."Buffy nodded her head and then told Morrison, "Get that wire out of his head, patch him up and release him. Do it in 5 minutes or I swear I'll make you very, very sorry."

Morrison took one look at The Slayer's face and didn't doubt it. Moving with alacrity he quickly did as she requested. Buffy was at Spike's side the instant he was released, giving him support as he wobbled slightly. But he recovered quickly and simply said, "Let's go Slayer."

After tying up and gagging Morrison and the two soldiers, they left the laboratory heading back down the way Buffy and Riley had just come. As Riley turned to lead them towards the direction he had pointed out to the others, Buffy stopped and looked in the direction of Room 314. Turning to Riley she said, "I have to destroy them."

"What?" Riley asked confused.

"Those things, the one she called Adam and those things in the cylinders. I have to destroy them. I can't let something like that continue to exist."

Riley looked at her as if she had lost her mind. "Are you crazy?" he asked incredulously. "We have to get out of here Buffy. Every second we're here we're liable to get caught. Now come on."

Buffy only shook her head, a stubborn expression on her face. Spike had to smile; he knew that look quite well. "Just give it up mate. We're going to have to destroy those things or the Slayer will never leave here."

A look of panic started to come over Riley's face. Jesus, all he had wanted to do was save this girl he had fallen in love with and her friends and now look where he was. A mutineer who had aided in the escape of prisoners and an HST and now she was expecting him to destroy the end product of years of research. Looking between Buffy's set face and Spike's amused one, he thought about sounding an alarm, falling on Maggie Walsh's mercy and forgetting he ever heard of Buffy Summers. But he was a good man, a decent man, who had been having qualms ever since he had heard Maggie Walsh plan murder and torture in Room 314. At last nodding his head in acquiescence, he started leading them in an entirely new direction.

"Where," Buffy began.

"We'll need explosives to destroy the lab. I'm taking you to one of the armories. We should be able to get what we need there."

Dodging personnel with the aid of Spike's vampire senses, they quickly made their way to the armory. Once again using his keycard and code, Riley opened the door. The room was filled with ordnance and weapons. Riley pointed out the things they would need. He was amazed at the weight both Buffy and Spike were able to carry. Silently moving back to Room 314, the three arrived in short order. Riley entered first and then motioned the others in. The room was empty of people; no one had remained behind. Maggie Walsh was in her office and what personnel remained on duty had other tasks to perform.

Entering the cylinder room, Riley showed Buffy and Spike where and how to set up the explosives and the triggering devices. Working as quickly as possible they at last made their way to the end of the room and the doorway that led to Adam. Here they were stalled.

"My keycard doesn't work here," Riley said. "We'll have to leave this one."

"No," Buffy insisted. "Walsh said this one was almost ready to be "born". I want it dead."

"Buffy, I can't get into that room," Riley insisted.

"Then we'll blow the door off."

Riley drew breath to continue arguing when a female voice snapped, "Get away from that door!"
 

Chapter 18

Whipping around, they saw Maggie Walsh, Morrison and another squad of soldiers bearing down on them. "Get away from that door I told you!"

Stepping back slowly, Buffy kept an eye on the approaching group. Good, only eight soldiers. Easy pickings. Catching Spike's eye she flicked her eyes towards the soldiers. He answered her with a barely perceptible nod and they readied their attack.

The soldiers had faced vampires before, they had faced demons before, but they had never faced a Vampire Slayer/Vampire tag team. Buffy and Spike leapt into the squad disarming two soldiers before they were even aware they were under attack. Using the soldiers as shields, they blocked the taser shots and then threw the now unconscious men into their comrades. Spike grabbed the weapon from the soldier nearest him, twisted the butt of the rifle up to catch the solder in the head and then swung around to jab it into the stomach of another solder. Swinging it up again he clipped the soldier in the jaw and then turned to sweep his leg out to knock a fourth soldier to the ground. Falling on him, he punched him in the face knocking him out.

Meanwhile Buffy had sent a flying kick into the body of a soldier near her sending him flying into one of his comrades. Swinging around she backhanded the fourth soldier and then threw him into his two companions. Grabbing two of them by the head, she slammed their heads together knocking them out, and then lashed out with another kick to the side of the head and her fourth soldier went down.

In just under 30 seconds, Buffy and Spike had rendered the eight men hors de combat.

Maggie Walsh was almost hysterical in her rage. Grabbing one of the soldier's sidearms, she attempted to shoot Buffy in the back only to find herself being held up in the air by the throat by one very brassed-off vampire causing her to drop her weapon. "I wouldn't do that if I were you bitch," came the ice-cold comment.

Riley looked around at the carnage with wild eyes and then seeing Professor Walsh being manhandled by the vampire held up his own weapon and pointed it at Spike. "Let her go!" he ordered.

Spike just looked coldly at the young soldier and said, "Shoot me with that thing mate and I just might accidentally twist her head off."

"Let her down Spike," Buffy said, "but keep hold of her. Riley, lower your weapon."

Both men obeyed her orders. Buffy searched for and found Morrison. He had ducked out of harm's way as soon as the fighting had started. Pulling him to her she asked, "You have access to that room?"

Morrison nodded weakly and when Walsh started to protest, Spike tightened his grip on her throat until only a gurgle was heard. Pushing Morrison towards the door Buffy ordered, "Open it."

Spike tightened his grip once more when Walsh began another protest, and again she had no choice but to shut up. Morrison immediately opened the door and the five people entered.

Buffy had been sickened and disgusted by what was in the outer room, but this sent a shockwave through her. "It's human," she whispered. "It's part human."

The creature had a man's body and legs; one arm and half its face was also human. But it also had demon and what looked liked mechanical parts too. Buffy looked at Maggie Walsh in astonishment. "My God, you used a man for this thing?"

"Of course you stupid girl," Maggie snapped. "Those creatures out there are the foot soldiers. This is my general." The pride in her voice sent a shudder through Buffy.

Backing away, Buffy told Riley, "Place the explosives. Lots of explosives. I don't want an inch of this thing to survive."

"No!" Maggie screeched, but a gagging noise proved that Spike was still on the job.

When everything was set, Riley and Buffy with Morrison's reluctant assistance dragged the still unconscious soldiers from the room. Once the door to the laboratory was shut, Buffy punched out the locking panel permanently sealing the room. Making sure that everyone was a safe enough distance away, Buffy nodded to Riley.

The explosion was horrific. The door to the laboratory flew off and flame burst out into the hallway. Sirens and alarms sounded and water sprinklers went off. Personnel began running wildly about as equipment began to short from the water damage.

Walsh was screaming in anger and frustration, yelling threats to Buffy, Riley, Spike and even poor timid Morrison. The water started to revive some of the soldiers and Riley tugged at Buffy's arm insisting that they really needed to leave now. Before turning to leave, Buffy took the time to punch Walsh in the face, silencing her. It was surprisingly satisfying.

They finally reached the corridor that led to the airshaft. Buffy tried to get Riley and Spike to go first, but neither man would. Finally muttering about male egos, she scurried up the shaft to the outside where a very relieved trio greeted her. Riley soon appeared and then Buffy heard what could only have been a shot followed by a cry of pain.

"Spike!" Buffy ran back to the opening and was just about to dive back in when she knocked heads with a violently cursing vampire.

"Ouch, watch it Slayer. You trying to get me killed? Willow! Get the fuck over here and seal this damned thing up." Willow hurried over to perform the same spell that had sealed the door to the tunnels.

"Spike, what happened? I heard a shot," Buffy exclaimed. Pulling Spike the rest of the way out of the shaft, she smelled the scent of blood.

"Soddin' bastards shot me," Spike groused.

"Where?" Buffy cried attempting to pull his duster off him. Spike jerked away from her saying, "Leave off Slayer; I'll be alright. Just need someone to dig the bullet out is all."

"Giles!" Buffy called. Giles came over just in time to hear Spike say, "No! You can do it Slayer or I can go to a demon doctor." Buffy looked at him in amazement and said, "Spike, Giles knows how to do this kind of stuff. Just tell him where the bullet is and he'll dig it out."

"And I said I'll get a demon doctor to do it," Spike insisted.

All this time, Buffy had been trying to see where he had been shot but Spike kept backing away from her. Finally in frustration she shouted, "Damn it Spike, where did you get shot?!"

"In the ass, okay? I got shot in the ass! Now are you happy that everybody knows?"

Buffy looked at him in surprise and then collapsed in laughter, releasing some of the tension she had been under for the last few hours. Spike just gave her an offended look and limped away. Giles sighed and told Buffy, "I'll dig it out at my house, which I suggest we go to right away. The sooner we're away from here the better Buffy."

Buffy finally composed herself and nodded agreement and then turned to Riley. "Riley, thank you. I owe you our lives; I won't forget it."

"It's like I said Buffy, I'm a soldier not a murderer." Taking a deep breath he continued, "I don't know what's going to happen now Buffy. I'm going to call the person at The Pentagon who recruited me for this duty. I don't think it was ever his intention that civilians be put in jeopardy. I'm sure he didn't know about that Adam thing."

Looking intently at Buffy he added, "We need to have a pretty serious talk later Buffy. About everything." With that he looked over to where Spike was standing.

"Yeah," Buffy agreed. "I owe you an explanation. About everything."

With that Buffy walked away from him to join her friends. "Everyone okay here? Xander how's your eye?"

"Feels like I've gone a couple rounds with Iron Mike, but I'll live. See you managed to save Fang Boy. He all assassiny now?"

"No, we got to him before they could finish," Buffy hedged. She wasn't in the mood for the discussion she knew would come once they found out about the chip's reprogramming. "I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready to go."

Nodding in agreement the four humans and one limping vampire wearily wended their way home.
 

Chapter 19

Joyce was surprised when she came downstairs Christmas morning to see a vampire asleep on her living room sofa. Going back upstairs, she knocked on Buffy's door and entered when she heard the sleepy, "Come in."

"Buffy why is Spike asleep on the couch?" Joyce asked her tousled daughter. Buffy had known her mother would want to know why she had brought Spike home; she had just hoped she would let her sleep in first. Yawning deeply, Buffy moved over, patted the bed and proceeded to tell Joyce an edited version of what had happened last night.

"And so since he was hurt, I just felt better with having him here than in the crypt by himself," Buffy finished.

Joyce stared at her daughter taking in everything she had been told. "I have a feeling that you haven't told me everything Buffy," Joyce stated. But then giving her daughter a gentle pat she added, "And I have the feeling I don't really want to know." Buffy just grinned in agreement.

"Well get some more sleep. We can have Christmas breakfast when you get up." Buffy thanked her mother and then dropping back into her pillow immediately fell fast asleep.

***

Christmas Day 1999 was one of the best Buffy ever remembered. They had all eaten a late brunch (Joyce had taken to keeping a supply of fresh pig's blood on hand) and then proceeded to watch a never-ending marathon of Christmas movies. Spike had never seen "A Christmas Story" and laughed uproariously at the little boy's antics. He especially liked the part where Ralphie beat the snot out of Scut Farcus.

Joyce went out for a while to visit with some friends leaving vampire and Slayer alone, but for once the two behaved themselves only cuddling up on the couch together as they watched the movie. Spike's head and backside still hurt a bit, but he was improving as the day went on and figured he would be completely recovered by that evening.

The next day Buffy and Joyce joined the mob at the after-Christmas sales. When Spike learned what they had planned, he was glad he had the whole sun-allergy thing to fall back on. He would rather face a room full of crosses than Sunnydale Mall the day after Christmas. He knew his limitations.

Monday morning Joyce returned to work and Buffy headed over to Giles'. He had been extremely patient allowing Buffy both Saturday and Sunday before insisting that she fill them in on the Spike situation.

"Look Giles, it's just like I told Xander," Buffy said forcefully. "Spike is not a programmed killerbot for the CIA. Riley and I got to him before that crazy doctor was able to finish with the programming."

"So you're saying that Spike is still unable to hurt human beings Buffy?" Giles asked.

Taking a deep breath, Buffy said the words she had been dreading. But she knew that Giles and the others needed to know the truth. "Well yes and no."

"And that means?" Xander asked.

"It means that Spike *can* hurt humans, but he can't kill them."

"So you're saying that Spike can feed on humans again just as long as he doesn't kill them?" Giles exclaimed.

"No! I mean no he wouldn't do that," Buffy insisted. "He knows I wouldn't allow him to feed on anyone, Giles. He won't do that."

Giles began to pace. "Buffy your belief in his ability to be good is misplaced at best. For God's sake, how many times does he have to try to kill you before you realize that he's a vicious, murderous monster?!"

"Giles he hasn't tired to kill me in two years! In fact he's saved my life more than once. Did you forget about the Gr'Racka demon he rescued me from? I'd have been tortured to death if it hadn't been for Spike!"

"Yes Buffy I remember that. I also remember that the next time you two met he almost drained all the blood from your body. Have you forgotten that?"

"He didn't almost... Damn it Giles, you don't understand. That was a lesson he was teaching me about being overconfident and careless. Do you think for one minute that if he had really wanted me dead he wouldn't have finished the job? He had plenty of opportunities last year, but that wasn't what he wanted from me." Oops. Buffy's hand clamped over her mouth as the words escaped.

Giles stiffened, his eyes narrowed and he said in a deadly calm voice, "And just what exactly did he want from you Buffy?"

Willow and Xander had been following the argument as if they were at a tennis match, heads turning from one to the other, but now they too stiffened as the implication of Buffy's words sunk in.

"Oh. My. God." Xander moaned. "Cordelia was right, wasn't she? He wanted to get in your pants last year too, didn't he Buff? Did he succeed?"

Buffy was aware of the disgust in Xander's voice, in her Watcher's face, the disappointment and worry in Willow's eyes. It was suddenly all too much for her. The past two days had been wonderful. She had spent Christmas with her boyfriend and mother and the day after shopping and laughing with her mother at the Sunnydale Mall and then laughing and loving with her boyfriend at his place. She had felt free and happy and relaxed, even when she had gone patrolling and fulfilled her duties as The Slayer.

And now her friends and her Watcher were looking at her as if she was some kind of slimy bug that had slithered into the house. She loved them and knew they were concerned for her and only wanted what they considered best for her, but Buffy finally realized that only she could decide what was best for her.

Standing up she said calmly, "What happened between me and Spike last year, what is happening between us now, is my business. I appreciate your concern, but I'd appreciate it more if you'd stop this interrogation now. Spike and I are together and you all will just have to deal with it. I don't know if this is the 'last till the end of time' kind of love, but for now he makes me happy.

"I'll talk to Spike about what the new programming to his chip means. I promise you that Spike will not feed from humans."

Picking up her jacket, she headed for the door. Stopping with her hand on the doorknob and turning her head slightly in their direction she added, "I suggest, by the way, that none of you try to take care of Spike yourselves. He can defend himself now." With that, she left with a quiet but firm closing of the door, her words echoing in the ears of her friends.

"Love?" Willow said weakly.

***

Spike was aware that Buffy was upset the minute she opened the door to his crypt. Putting down the glass of blood he had just filled, he went over to her, pulled her into his arms and gently rubbed his hand up and down her back in a soothing motion.

"What's wrong pet? What's happened?"

Buffy clung to him for a minute, taking comfort from him. At last she pulled back, looked up at Spike and said, "I had to tell Giles about your chip."

"And?" Spike asked. By the look on his face he clearly didn't understand what the problem was.

"I had to tell him you could hurt people now. I told him you couldn't kill anyone, but you could hurt them."

"And what?" Spike laughed. "Did that great ponce think I was going to come over to his house and punch him in the nose or something? Wouldn't do that even if I do think he sometimes deserves it."

Buffy realized that Spike didn't comprehend what Giles had immediately deduced. "Spike," Buffy said, "Giles is afraid that you'll start feeding on people again. You'll feed without killing them, but still you'll feed."

Spike looked at her in surprise and then scrunched his forehead up thoughtfully. "Huh," he said. "Hadn't considered that. Guess I could if I wanted to. Be a nice change from the pig's blood." Then looking down into Buffy's worried face, he smiled and traced one finger down the side of her face. "'Course my girl would be pretty pissed off at me if I went around biting anonymous people," he said, "so guess I'll just have to stick to the pig's blood and an occasional Buffy bite."

Spike watched as the joy appeared on Buffy's face. Throwing her arms around him, Buffy pulled his head down and kissed him. Touching her forehead to his she whispered, "Have I told you yet that I love you?"

Spike swallowed and shook his head. Buffy smiled, kissed him again and then looked at him with all the love she felt shining from her eyes. "I do you know," she said softly.

Spike felt a joy such as he had never known at her words. All he had wanted his entire existence was to love and be loved. He had thought that he had found it with Drusilla, but he knew now that what they had shared had been a shadow of love. Now here with this tiny human girl, this girl whose entire mission in life was to destroy the likes of him, he had found that for which he had longed.

He knew that Buffy was destined for a short, violent life. He knew that even if she lived as long as a normal human chances were that he would outlive her. But for today and maybe tomorrow and maybe the tomorrow after that, they had each other. Gathering her close into his arms once again he held her, silently promising his strength, his life, his loyalty, his love.

They would stand side-by-side facing all the monsters that the world could throw at them.

And he would never leave her.

The End