Chapter 14

He hadn't gotten far before Buffy was beside him, grabbing his arm
and pulling him around.

"You're not leaving just yet, Spike."

"Yeah, actually.  I am.  I have something needs taking care of."

"What?" she asked suspiciously.  "Another meeting with Adam to let
him know his plan is working?"

Spike glared at her.  "I told you the truth, Buffy, so, no, I'm not
meeting Adam.  It's something personal I need to take care of."

"What?"

Instead of answering her, he grabbed her hand and placed it on his
erection, curling his hand over hers so that her hand encircled
it.  "I can't stand this any longer, Buffy," he said in a strained
voice.  "I've got to go take care of it."

He moved her hand up and down his length.  Buffy's eyes closed and
her breath sped up as she leaned into him.  He dropped his hand away
from hers, but her hand remained on him.

"Oh, god, love," he moaned as he pressed his forehead against hers,
his breath coming is panting gasps.  Buffy lifted her face and he
could see his need reflected in her eyes.  She hooked her arm around
his neck and pulled him in for a kiss as she continued stroking
him.  They stood only feet away from Giles's front door, but neither
was aware of anything but their renewed passion.

"Come with me to my crypt, Buffy, please," he begged.  Buffy shook
her head. Dropping her hand from his erection, she pulled away from
him and said in an agonized voice, "I don't want this, Spike."

"Yes you do, love."  He pulled her back into his arms.  She wrapped
her arms around him and laid her head on his chest.

"Why can't I get you out of my system?" she whispered raggedly.

"I ask myself that same question every day."

She tilted her head up and Spike kissed her.  He molded his hands
around her buttocks and pulled her hips tight up against him.  She
clung to him rubbing against his erection.  Spike feared he was
going to come right then and there.  "Buffy, my crypt, please," he
begged again.

"We can't go to your crypt," she said breathlessly.  "Adam might
show up there."

"Giles's car?"

"You gave him back the keys."

"I can rip off the door."

A choked laugh escaped from Buffy.  "You're not going to destroy his
car, Spike.  He'd kill you."

"Then where, Buffy?  You're not saying no again, are you?  I can't
take it, love."

"No."

He stiffened and started to pull away, but she held onto him.  "I
mean, no, I'm not saying no again.  I'm tired of fighting it,
Spike.  As long as I didn't see you, I told myself I didn't want
you.  But being near you, touching you, having you touch me..."  She
looked into his eyes.  "I want you."

He pulled her to him, crushing her against his body.  They kissed
again and then he looked around trying to find a dark, private
corner where they could go.

"Not here, Spike.  Willow's going to be tied up for a while.  We can
go to my dormitory."

He nodded, kissed her again and pulled away.  Together they ran
through the streets of Sunnydale.  The denim of his jeans chaffed
against his hardened cock, but the knowledge that he would soon be
making love to Buffy again spurred him on.

Buffy's hand was shaking as she fitted the key into her room's
lock.  The door finally opened and they spilled in.  Buffy shut and
locked the door and then grabbed Spike by the lapels of his duster
and shoved him up against the door pressing her body to him and
kissing him.  She pushed his coat off his shoulders and it fell to
lie in a puddle at his feet.  When she drew back for air he
smirked, "I like a woman who takes charge."

"Yeah?  Then you're going to love this." Grabbing him by the
shoulders, she tossed him across the room and onto her bed.  He
bounced and when he landed back on the mattress, Buffy leapt on top
of him.  She leaned forward, grabbed him by the hair, and kissed him
hard.  Leaning back she pushed at his shirt until it was over his
head.  She carelessly flung the shirt aside then ran her hands over
his torso, stopping to lightly rub her palms over his nipples and
then down to feather her fingers across his taut stomach.  Her warm
fingers felt like fire branding him and he arched his back.  She
leaned over to kiss his chest flicking her tongue over his nipples
before scooting down his body so that she could kiss her way down
his stomach to the area just above the waistband of his jeans.
Spike's head was thrown back on the pillow and his Adam's apple
bobbed as he swallowed, lost in the feel of her mouth on his skin.
He felt her hands on his belt buckle and lifted his head to watch
her unfasten his jeans and tug them past his hips and down his
legs.  He breathed a sigh of relief when he was finally released
from the tight confines of his jeans.

She stopped long enough to remove his boots and then pulled his
jeans the rest of the way off.  Spreading his legs, she nibbled her
way up his inner thighs until she reached the juncture of his legs.
She gathered his balls into her hand and squeezed gently, then ran
her finger along the skin between his scrotum and anus.  Spike
moaned loudly and bucked under her touch.  Locking her eyes with
his, she slid her tongue along the thick vein to the tip of his
cock.  She wrapped her hand around his length and then, taking just
the head into her mouth, she began to suck and stroke him until he
whimpered.  Pulling back the foreskin, she twirled her tongue around
the tip and dipped her tongue into the slit. Spike's head fell back
on the pillow, and he almost sobbed when she took him full into her
mouth.

He was rapidly losing control.  It'd been too long, and Buffy's hot,
sweet mouth and warm, strong hand were almost too much for him.
"I'm going to come," he warned as he thrust into her mouth.  She
lifted her head from him and he gasped when her thumb and forefinger
encircled the base of his cock and squeezed.  He looked at her with
wide eyes.  "I didn't teach you that."

She smiled smugly.  "Nope.  Heard a couple girls talking on the quad
at lunchtime one day."

Spike grinned.  "Gotta love a girl with a higher education."

"Is it working?"

"Yeah, but I want you to get your clothes off now."

Buffy twirled her tongue around the head of his cock and sucked one
more time, then rolled off the bed quickly pulling off her clothes.
She straddled him, but before she could position herself over him,
he grabbed her hips and pulled her up his body.

"Not yet, love," he murmured.  When he had positioned her over his
face, he spread her open and licked.  Buffy moaned and grabbed
tightly onto her headboard.  He pulled her clit into his mouth,
sucking and flicking his tongue over the swollen nub while Buffy
whimpered and writhed above him.  His fingers found their way inside
her and he stroked her in time with the flicks of his tongue.  She
was so wet, so hot.  Spike lapped at her greedily, reveling in the
taste of her sex, loving the music of her groans.

When he felt her begin to tense, he pushed her back down his body
until she hovered over his erection.  He guided himself to her
opening, and then grabbed her head, bringing her mouth to his.  As
they kissed, tongues entwining, teeth biting, Buffy slowly lowered
herself onto him.  When he was all the way in, she sat back, closed
her eyes, and began to move. He held onto her hips and took in the
view of her lovely nude body.  Her small breasts bounced in time
with her movements and sweat trickled down her breastbone.  Unable
to resist, he raised his hands to cup her breasts, pinching her
nipples and squeezing the small, firm globes gently.

Buffy hissed in pleasure and tightened around him, squeezing him
almost painfully.  The sight of her face tense with the pleasure she
was getting as she rode him and the feel of her slick, tight walls
grabbing him brought him close to climax again.  He moved his hands
back down to her hips and put his thumb on her clit, rubbing
lightly.  Buffy whimpered and leaned forward, gasping as she moved
faster until she cried out.  She rode out her climax and then
collapsed on top of him.  Spike wrapped his arms around her and
rolled her over onto her back.  He thrust deep and hard, twisting
his hips, hitting her in all the right places until he brought her
to climax again.  When he could no longer hold out, he cried out
with his own release.

He lay in a boneless heap on top of her until enough strength
returned to his limbs so that he could roll off her.  She rolled
onto her side and snuggled up against him, her head on his chest.
He closed his eyes and ran his hand through her long, silky hair.
The sex was even better than he'd remembered.  Making love to Buffy
the ordinary girl had been the most amazing thing he'd ever felt.
That is until he'd made love to Buffy the Slayer.  What that girl
could do with a set of muscles...

He couldn't help but start wondering where tonight was going to lead
them.  He knew he should wait before pressing the matter, but he was
an impatient sod.  He pressed a kiss into her hair and asked,
"What's going to happen now, Buffy?  Is this just a one-night stand?"

Buffy lifted her head to look at him.  "Way to dim the afterglow,
Spike," she said dryly.  "Do we have to talk about this already?"

"Are we going to talk about it?"

Buffy lay her head back down on his chest.  "The problems are the
same as they were before."

"Yeah, Slayer - vampire.  Helluva tag team if you ask me."

He could feel her lips curl briefly into a smile, but then she
sighed.  "Is this just sex?"

"No, pet, it's mind-blowing sex."

She glowered at him and he smiled.  "Teasing, love. It's more than
sex.  At least for me."

Buffy sighed again, laid her chin on the back of her hand, and
looked up at him.  "Us getting together would be the biggest
disaster ever, Spike.  You know that.  We're supposed to be mortal
enemies, not boyfriend-girlfriend."

"Do you feel like I'm your enemy now, Buffy?"

Buffy gave him a wry look, glanced down at their naked bodies
pressed together, and said, "Right at this moment?  Uh, no."

Spike smiled and ran his hand down her body.  She drew in a ragged
breath and pressed her hips into his leg.  He could feel her wet
curls dampening his thigh.  They started to kiss, and it was some
time later before they collapsed again in a sated heap.

When Buffy's breathing had calmed again, he said, "I know why you're
worried, love, but I'm not Angelus."  Buffy stiffened and pulled
away from him.  One hand lightly grasped her arm and she stilled.

"I don't want to talk about this, Spike."

"I know you don't, but we need to.  I don't want to lose you again,
and you don't want to lose me."

Buffy gave him a cold look.  "You sure about that?

For some reason, that infuriated him.  He fell back on the bed and
snapped, "Fine, Slayer.  Then leave."

"This is my dorm room, Spike.  You leave."

He glared at her, rolled out of the bed and picked up his jeans.
Tugging them on, he said, "You know what you're problem is, Slayer?
You're so afraid of feeling something for someone again because of
that sodding poof, you push everyone away."

Buffy knelt in the middle of the bed and snapped, "You don't know
what you're talking about, Spike.  You think because I don't want an
evil boyfriend that I push everyone away?"

Spike buttoned his jeans and yanked up the zip.  Turning around, he
searched for his T-shirt.  He glared at her as he snatched it from
Willow's headboard and pulled it over his head.  "What about your
little soldier boy, Slayer?  You tossed him out on his ear.  Was he
evil too?  Oh, wait, hold a mo, he worked for that Walsh bitch, so I
guess he was."

"Oh, he so was not!  I broke up with him because, well, because!"

Spike snorted and sat down on the bed to pull on his boots.  "Oh,
that's a good reason.  *Because*," he mimicked.  He went to pull on
his boot, but stopped.

"Are you going to let me leave, Buffy?" he asked softly, not looking
at her.

She was quiet for several seconds and then he felt the mattress
move.  Her arms encircled his neck and he felt her head on his
shoulder.  "This can't have a happy ending, Spike."

"Happy endings are for fairytales, love.  All we can hope for are
happy moments."

"Wow, you're really a cock-eyed optimist, aren't you?"

He twisted until he faced her again and ran his fingers gently down
her face.  "I know more about this world than I hope you ever find
out.  And I know that happiness, real happiness, is rare.  We have
that, love, and not just when we're in bed.  I want to give you
happiness, Buffy.  Let me."

Buffy swallowed and whispered, "You came back to Sunnydale to kill
me, Spike, and now you want to make me happy?"

"I came back to Sunnydale because I couldn't get you out of my
mind.  I thought it was because I hated you.  I was wrong.  I
learned that when that toad sent us to Oz.  I don't understand these
feelings I have for you, Buffy.  I just know they're there and
they're real."

Buffy sat back on her heels and looked down at her entwined
fingers.  "I have feelings for you too, Spike.  But I'm afraid.  I
can't make another mistake."

"I know, love.  But I promise you I'll be the best man I know how.
And when I'm not, I'll have you to set me straight."

"I don't want to have to set you straight, Spike.  I want a man who
already knows what's right."

"I know I'm starting off with a handicap, being evil and all, but I
can choose my own way, Buffy.  I'm more human than you think.  Even
that great blue git, The Judge, said so. I was evil because I didn't
have a reason not to be.  Now I do."

She looked at him, a myriad of emotions flashing across her face,
and he was afraid she was going to turn away from him again.  He
took her face gently between his hands and pressed his forehead to
hers.  "Buffy, please, love.  If you care about me at all, give us a
chance."

She pulled back and remained silent for an interminable time, but at
last she said, "The gang is going to have a collective cow when they
find out."

Relief spread through Spike's body.  "So I guess we just have to be
careful.  Keep our relationship quiet, yeah?"

She shook her head.  "I've learned the hard way that Buffy secrets
always seem to come out at the worst possible time.  If we're going
to do this, Spike, it has to be out in the open."

He grinned wickedly.  "Well, I don't mind public sex, Buffy, but I'm
surprised you're into it."

"Oh!" she said in mock outrage and punched him lightly on the arm.

He laughed and pulled her to him for a deep kiss.  "So, you and me,
yeah?" he asked when they broke apart.

"I think I must be out of my mind, but yeah."


Chapter 15

Spike wanted to make love again, but Buffy insisted that they return
to Giles's apartment.  "Willow may have decrypted those disks by now."

"We could call and if she hasn't, we can stay here a bit longer,"
Spike wheedled, pressing kisses along the back of her neck.  His
hands slipped around and cupped her breasts, pinching and teasing her
nipples.

Buffy allowed him to fondle her, but then pushed his hands away and
got off the bed.  "Later, Spike.  Rule number one of the hero biz:
kill the bad guy, then play."

Spike sighed and stood up.  "I can already see this hero stuff is
going to be a pain in the arse."

Buffy just grinned wickedly at him, grabbed her robe and wrapped it
around herself.  "I'm going to take a shower.  You should too.  I
don't think we need to go back to Giles's smelling like, um..."

"Smellin' like we just shagged ourselves raw?" Spike said with a
smirk.

Buffy blushed and handed him a towel and soap.  Gathering up her own
things, she exited the dorm room.  Pointing to the men's shower, she
entered the ladies bathroom and shut the door firmly in Spike's
face.  He grinned and made his way down the hall.

When they were ready, they left the dormitory.  As they walked down
the sidewalk Buffy said hesitantly, "Maybe we should wait until after
we take care of Adam before we tell everyone that we're dating."  Off
Spike's look, she explained, "I just don't want to get everyone all
upset right now.  We need to stay focused on the job."

"Whatever you want, Buffy, but I know at least one of your little
friends that'll probably be more open-minded than you might think."

"Huh?  Who?"

Spike grinned and said, "Our little Willow has her own secret."

"What're you talking about?  Are you saying Willow is dating someone
and not telling us?  Why would she do that?"

Spike shrugged. "Probably afraid you all would toss her out of the
Scooby Squad."

Buffy stopped, put her hands on her hips, and demanded, "Spike, just
tell me what you're talking about."

"Her little witch friend."

Buffy looked confused.  "Tara?  What does Tara have to-"  Her eyes
widened in sudden understanding.  "Oh.  Oh!  Oh, no, no, no.  You're
so wrong, Spike.  If Willow was... No, she'd tell me."

Spike shrugged again.  "I smelled it when we picked them up tonight."

"Smelled what?"

"Them.  All over each other.  Just like I can still smell us all over
each other."

Buffy's eyes widened again.  "You can smell us?"

"'Course I can.  Soap and water doesn't remove it that easily.
Humans can't smell it, but demons can."

"Oh my god.  You could smell it whenever I..."

Spike grinned wickedly and leaned into her.  "My favorite time to
smell you is when you're havin' your monthlies.  Like you were the
first time we fought."

Buffy covered her eyes with her hands and groaned, "Oh, god."

Spike opened his mouth to tease her some more when the bright beam of
headlights and the toot of a car horn drew their attention.  Spike
looked up to see Xander's car pull over to the curb.  The passenger
side window rolled down.

"Is that man bothering you, little lady," a voice called out from the
car's interior.

Buffy leaned down and said brightly, "Hi, Xander!" and then less
enthusiastically, "Hi, Anya."

"Buffy," came Anya's disinterested voice.

"Where're you going, Xander?"

"We're on our way to the Multiplex.  Wanna come?"

"We can't."

"Uh, wasn't actually including Spike in the invitation there, Buff."

"No, of course not," Buffy said quickly.  "I just meant that, uh,
none of us can.  Spike brought us information about Adam.  Willow's
at Giles's and that's where we were headed.  Want to join us?"

"Heck, yeah.  You don't mind, do you, Anya?"

Spike could hear Anya sigh.  "I guess not."

"Good.  Get in, Buffy."

Buffy straightened up and opened the back door.  "Come on, Spike."

"Do we have to include Fangless?" Xander whined.

Spike just smirked at Xander as he settled in beside Buffy.  Buffy
filled the couple in on Adam's visit to Spike and the disks Willow
was working on.

"So, you actually believe this story Spike's telling?" Xander asked
Buffy.  "Uh, no offense there, Spike."

"Offense taken," Spike growled back.

"Yeah, I do believe it," Buffy said, surreptitiously patting Spike's
knee as Xander pulled to a stop in front of Giles's apartment
complex.  Everyone in the apartment looked up as the door opened and
the quartet filed in.

"Buffy!  We were starting to get worried, you were gone so long."

"Yeah, sorry," Buffy said with no further explanation.  "How's the
decryption coming along?"

"Oh, pretty good.  As long as pretty good means no progress at all."
She sighed.  "Spike, are you sure Adam actually wanted us to read
these files."

Spike shrugged.  "I told you what he said."

Willow sighed again and returned to typing furiously on her keyboard,
mumbling words that made no sense to Spike.  He headed to reclaim his
seat on the barstool, but spotted a plate of cookies on the coffee
table.  Detouring, he snatched one up.  Anya took a seat on the sofa
and Xander sat on the coffee table so that he was facing into the
room and within easy reach of the cookies.  Buffy sat on a stool
beside Spike and said to Willow, "I really hoped you'd have made more
progress by now."

"Sorry, Buffy.  I told you this wasn't going to be easy.  I'm doing
the best I can."  The last was said in a bit of a plaintive wail.

"She's working really hard on it," Tara defended.  Buffy and Spike
exchanged glances.  He wiggled his eyebrows and Buffy looked back at
the two witches, a frown on her face.

Spike raised his cookie to his mouth and had just fastened his teeth
on it when it was suddenly snatched away.  He looked with a scowl at
Buffy who had grabbed it from him and was now chewing contentedly on
her ill-gotten gains.  A gurgling sound captured his attention and he
turned to see Xander staring wild-eyed at them.

"What?"

"B-buffy just took that cookie.  From your mouth.  And put it into
hers."

Buffy's eyes widened and she looked at the cookie as if she'd never
seen it before, then she looked at Spike, then at the cookie again,
and then at Xander.

"Oops."

"Oops?" Xander's strangled voice asked.  "Oops?  What does 'oops'
mean?"

Giles, Willow, and Tara were all staring at them now, too.  Anya had
been leafing through a magazine she'd taken from her purse and looked
up in curiosity.

Buffy sighed, ate the last of the cookie, brushed her hands on her
slacks and said, "Look, guys, I was going to tell you after we'd
taken care of Adam."

"Tell us what?" Xander demanded.  Then, "No, don't tell us.  Do NOT
tell us what I think you're going to tell us because... because, just
no."

"I-I don't understand," Tara said.

"Buffy and Spike are having sex," Anya said.  "Spike is a vampire, in
case you didn't know," she informed Tara helpfully.

"That isn't at all what she said, Anya," Giles said in denial.

Buffy and Spike exchanged glances that left no one in doubt that Anya
had been exactly right.  Buffy looked desperately at her Watcher.  "I
know you're probably not happy about this, Giles, but..."

"Probably?!" Giles interrupted.  "Buffy, have you completely lost
your mind?"

"Of course not, Giles.  It's just..."

"Willow!" Xander exclaimed in a voice of understanding.  "Willow's
done another spell."

"No I haven't," Willow protested.  "Tara, tell them.  We've only been
trying to float stuff and little things like that.  Tell them, Tara.
I haven't done any wacky spells."

"She really hasn't," Tara assured everyone.

"This has nothing to do with Willow," Buffy insisted.  "It's just...
Look, I didn't tell you guys everything that happened when that toad
thing sent us to that other dimension.  Spike and I got to really
know each other, and well..."

"Know each other?" Xander choked.  "As in the biblical sense?"

Spike grinned, "What do you think?"

"Spike," Buffy warned.  "Let me do this."

Spike shrugged and leaned back comfortably on the stool.  He was
content it was out in the open.  He'd have gone along with keeping it
secret, for a while at least, but he liked the idea of everyone
knowing that Buffy belonged to him.

"Buffy, you really can't be serious about this," Willow said
imploringly.

"Spike thought you at least would be more open-minded about this,
Willow.  Guess he was wrong, huh?"

Willow paled slightly and glared at Spike.

"Why would Willow be more open-minded?" Xander demanded.  "None of us
are going to be open-minded about this, Buffy.  This is...is... bad."

"It's not that bad, Xander," Buffy insisted.  "Spike's on our side
now."

"Oh, please, Buffy, you cannot possibly believe that," Giles said in
exasperation.  "Whatever tale Spike's spun for you that he's good
now, I remind you he doesn't have a soul, and that chip is no
replacement for one."

"Well if you think I'm going to run out to the nearest gypsy and get
one shoved in me, you're seriously mistaken, Rupert," Spike said.

"See, Buffy," Xander said.  "He doesn't even want a soul."

"Why would I?  So I can be all tortured and broody and then lose it
the next time Buffy and I get together anyway?  Forget it."

"Spike's fine the way he is," Buffy insisted.  Spike turned to her,
captured her head in his hands and kissed her.

"Thank you, love."

Protests abounded throughout the room until Buffy stood up and
shouted, "Enough!"  When the room had quieted, she said, "Spike and I
are dating.  Deal with it.  Now, can we get on to more important
things, like how we're going to get rid of Adam?"

There was general grumbling, but conversation returned to the
impossible task of taking out a seemingly invincible monster.  Willow
returned to working at her computer and Buffy came over to her.
Willow tensed slightly when Buffy asked quietly, "When were you going
to tell me?"

Willow glanced uneasily at her.  "He told you, huh?"

"Yeah.  But he shouldn't have had to.  I'm your best friend, Willow.
You can tell me anything."

"Like you told me what really happened in that other dimension?"
Willow countered in a hurt voice.

Buffy sighed.  "I guess we've both been keeping secrets because we
were afraid of what everyone else would think."  She smiled at her
friend.  "I think now might be a good time to tell since nothing
could upset everyone more than what I'm doing."

Willow smiled at Buffy and then looked at Tara.  "What do you think,
baby?  Ready to come out of the closet?"

An hour later, everyone had come to grips with Willow's lifestyle
change.  Giles had gotten out the Scotch bottle and had made serious
headway through its contents when Buffy decided it was time to leave.

"We'll get a fresh start tomorrow," she decreed.  "Let's meet here at
three.  Xander, can you make it then?"

Xander agreed that he could.  He offered rides to the girls,
pointedly leaving Spike out of the invitation.  Spike didn't care.
He was of a mind to head to Willy's for a few drinks and a listen to
the gossip.  He never knew when a drunken demon would let slip
something profitable.  They walked out to the car and while everyone
else got in, Buffy and Spike stopped on the sidewalk and wrapped
their arms around each other.

"You can make it to the meeting tomorrow, right?"

"I'll be here, love.  Just make sure Giles has the door unlocked and
unspelled."

Buffy smiled.  "I will."  They were kissing goodbye, tongues
entwining, hands exploring, when the blat of Xander's car horn
intruded.  Buffy pulled out of his arms.  "Gotta go.  See you
tomorrow."

"All right, love.  Sleep tight."

He watched until the car had disappeared from sight then turned to
walk to Willy's.  He hadn't taken more than a half-dozen steps when a
creature stepped into his path.  Spike jumped back in surprise.  It
was obviously one of Adam's get, and, if Spike wasn't mistaken, based
on the creature's clothing had once been one of the Initiative
louts.  He wasn't looking too good right now, though.  The top of his
skull had been cut off and replaced with a mottled-skinned demon's
skull.  Electronic gadgets were stuck on either side of his head and
demon skin covered his chin and neck.  His left arm and hand were
human while the right had been replaced by a demon's arm ending in a
long-clawed hand.

"Adam sent me to find you."

"Yeah?  Well, you found me."

"Come."

It turned and walked away without another word, apparently confident
that Spike would obey his master's order.  Spike swallowed nervously,
but followed.  The creature led him into the hills surrounding
Sunnydale and into a large cave that Spike immediately recognized as
the one Adam had brought him to just that morning.  Tunnels opened
east and west.  The creature didn't hesitate, but led Spike to a
small cavern filled with banks of computers and a few pieces of moldy
furniture.  Adam was sitting at one of the computers.  A cable ran
from a port in the side of his head into the computer's hard drive.
He glanced up when the two entered the cave.

"Ah, Spike, good.  I see Forrest found you."

"He was with the Slayer."

"Right, I was," Spike interjected quickly.  "As per your orders."

"He was kissing her."

Adam looked at Spike curiously.  Spike shrugged, smirked, and threw
himself down comfortably on the ragged couch.  Slipping a cigarette
between his lips, he lit it, inhaled deeply, blew out a long column
of smoke, and then rested his arms along the back of the couch, the
picture of indolent ease.  "Yeah, let's just call that a little bonus
for me."

"Bonus?"

"For all the aggravation that bitch has given me over the past two
years.  I get to have a little fun with her," he ran his hand
suggestively over his crotch, "and she thinks I'm besotted with her
so she believes anything I tell her.  The girl's a bit dim, you
know.  Then, when you give the word, I lead her like a lamb to the
slaughter, and you take out this sodding chip."

He took another drag on his cigarette and exhaled.  "Now, can we call
this little meeting to order?  There's a drink with my name on it
waiting for me at Willy's."

Adam stared at him and then nodded.  "Very well.  I want to tell you
the next phase of my plan."


Chapter 16

By the time Spike left the cave, there were only a couple hours left
before dawn.  He walked down the hill away from Adam's lair to the
road that led into Sunnydale.  As soon he was sure that he couldn't
be seen from the cave's entrance, he began to run at top speed.  He
reached Stevenson Hall minutes later.  A quick twist of the outer
doorknob broke the lock and he entered the darkened lobby.  Taking
the stairs two at a time, he reached the second floor and ran down
the hall to Buffy's room.

His pounding stopped when the door was wrenched open by an angry
Buffy.  She blinked in surprise when she saw who was banging on her
door.

"Spike?  What are you doing here?"  She opened the door wider and
stepped back, allowing him entrance.  Willow sat up in bed, her face
anxious and her hair a tousled mess.

"Just came from another meeting with Adam, love.  I know what his
real intentions are."

***

The sun was well up and the gang was once again assembled in Giles's
living room.  The Watcher looked the worse for wear; his indulgence
of the night before was causing him grief this morning.

"Okay, Spike," Buffy ordered.  "Tell the others what you told Willow
and me."

Spike nodded.  "Adam sent one of his minions after me last night.  It
led me to a cave in the hills where Adam has his lair.  Adam isn't
just planning on annihilating the human race.  He plans on making an
army of things like himself.  A new life form, he called it.  Better,
faster and stronger than either humans or demons.  Most of his army
will just be drones mindlessly obeying orders, but a chosen few will
be leaders.  And the head of that group is going to be Buffy."

"What?!" Xander asked, shocked.

Giles looked as if he were going to be sick.  "How?"

Spike took a cigarette out of his pack and lit it.  His fingers were
trembling and no one protested as he inhaled a deep drag.  "The
Initiative's overflowing with demons right now.  Those prats have
taken in more than they can contain.  Adam plans to release them
tomorrow night at just the right time - the time I lead Buffy into
his trap.  Once Buffy's assured him of maximum carnage in the fight
between humans and demons, he's going to make sure Buffy's killed."
He took another deep drag on his cigarette, walked over to the
kitchen counter, and drank the last of the Scotch that remained in
the bottle.  Crushing his cigarette butt out in a teacup that sat
there, he turned back around.

"There's supposed to be a secret laboratory in The Initiative.  After
she's dead, he's going to sweep up a few choice demon parts and build
a better Buffy."  He looked at his girlfriend.  "Congratulations,
love.  You're going to get a new dad."

Giles ran his hand through his hair and looked intently at
Willow.  "Willow, you must crack that code on those disks.  There may
be something of use in them."

"I hope so, Giles," Buffy said.  "But regardless, I have to stop
Adam, and I need to do it today.  I can't allow him to start his war
so he can build his army."

"Yes, Buffy, I'm aware of that."

"No," Spike said emphatically.

"No?" Buffy said.

"You can't go up against him, Buffy.  He's too strong; he'll kill
you.  Unless you want to become The Terminatrix, you have to stay
away from him."

"I can't stay away from him, Spike.  I have to do my job."

"Oh, don't tell me about your *job*, Slayer.  I know all about your
*job*.  You've been trained to take on the monsters so a bunch of
self-satisfied gits can sit on their fat asses and pretend they're
the ones protecting the world.  One Slayer snuffs it and another
takes her place, right? You're just a renewable commodity to them,
Buffy."

"How dare you?" a cold voice said from behind him.

Spike turned to see a look of icy rage on Giles's face.

"What's your real plan, Spike?" Xander sneered.  "Keep Buffy away
from Adam so he can complete his plan?"

"My real plan is to keep Buffy alive," he snapped back.  "Unlike you
lot, I'm not willing to sacrifice her for the greater good."

"Hey!" Willow said angrily.  "You just watch yourself, buddy.  While
you were busy trying to kill her yourself, we were on the front lines
helping her."

"Then help her now, Willow.  Find a way for her to take out Adam
without getting killed herself."

"Do not presume to come in here and tell us to help Buffy," Giles
said coldly.  He took a step closer to Spike.  "Personally, I think
the best way to help her right now is to eliminate you."

"All right!" Buffy shouted.  "That's enough.  Everyone just calm
down."  She turned to Spike.  "I know you're just trying to protect
me, Spike, but I'm going to face Adam.  It's what I do.  My friends
will help me.  It's what they do."

"Buffy..."

"This discussion is over, Spike."  Looking at Willow, she said, "Get
to work on that code, Willow."

Willow nodded, opened her laptop and turned it on.  Buffy walked into
the kitchen and began to make coffee.  Spike followed her.

"Buffy, I'm sorry, love.  It's just..."

"Hand me the coffee out of the pantry."

He knew she was upset, both by what he'd told her about Adam's plans
and by the scene that had just played out.  He knew he'd gone about
it the wrong way, but these new feelings he had for her were
overwhelming what little good sense he had.  All he wanted to do was
keep her safe so he could have her with him for a long, long time.
He didn't care how many others died in her stead as long as she was
safe.

But he was beginning to understand that if he wanted the girl, he was
going to have to tamp down his own natural selfish tendencies.  Being
with Buffy meant accepting the whole Slayer package: stubbornness,
pride, self-sacrificing heroics and all.

Well, if she was going to take on Adam no matter what he said, he
needed to tell her everything.  He could at least take one weapon out
of Adam's hands.

He handed her the coffee tin and said, "Buffy, there's something else
you need to know."

She gripped the counter and said in a slightly shaky voice, "What?"

"When that Forrest creature..."

"Forrest?" Buffy exclaimed, paling visibly.

"Yeah.  He was one of those Initiative gits.  Did you know him?"

Buffy nodded her head.  "I didn't know he was dead."

"Sorry, love," he said though in truth he wasn't sorry for anything
that happened to any of the soldiers responsible for his
chip.  "Anyway, when he found me, he saw us kissing."

Buffy looked at Spike in surprise.  "Didn't he tell Adam?"

"Yeah, almost the first words out of his mouth when we walked into
Adam's lair.  Look, love, I had to cover up the truth, so I told Adam
I was just using you, getting some of my own back by having you on
yours."

Buffy swallowed and nodded.  "Okay."

He took her face in his hands.  "That's not how it is, Buffy.  I care
about you.  So much I've turned my back on everything I ever was.  I
just wanted you to know what I told him in case he says something to
you when you finally go up against him.  I don't want you doubting
me, doubting us.  All right?"

Buffy nodded, and he leaned in to kiss her.  At first she was stiff
in his arms, but then she relaxed and opened her mouth to him.  They
held each other tightly until Tara said, "You did it!"

They looked over to where Willow was staring in confusion at her
computer screen.  "I didn't," she protested.  "I haven't even
finished typing in the new code I was going to try."

Giles walked over and read over Willow's shoulder.  "Spike said that
Adam wanted us to have this information.  Apparently, it was
programmed to decrypt on its own."

"Well, poop!  I almost had it," Willow pouted.  Then looking up
sheepishly at Giles, she amended, "I mean, yippee!  We have the
information."

Giles smiled indulgently at her and continued to read.  "Well, this
confirms everything Spike just told us.  Except the part about you,
Buffy," he said glancing up at his Slayer.  "Apparently Maggie
Walsh's plan was indeed to build an army of cyber-demons.  Adam is
simply taking her plan and using it for his own ends."

"Does it give us any information we don't have?" Buffy asked as she
joined the others at the computer.

"Wait," Willow said, rapidly typing.  A schematic of a body came up
on the screen with information regarding it to the side.  "I think
this is the blueprint for Adam.  Oh, look!"  She pointed to something
on the screen.  "Here's something we didn't know.  His power source.
It's a uranium core imbedded in his chest.  There, see?"  She pointed
again, this time to an area on the body's schematic.  "It's by his
spine."

"Great," Xander said.  "We just ask him to lie down quietly while we
do some exploratory surgery."

"Maybe we could magic it out.  A super-duper uranium core extraction
spell," Willow offered.  Then she sighed, "I know.  I'm reaching."

Giles straightened up.  "Perhaps a paralyzing spell."  He went over
to his bookcase.  "I know of one that might work."

"Good," Buffy said.  "How long would the spell last?"

Giles found the text he was looking for and took it from the shelf.
Riffling through the pages he said, "I don't know, Buffy.  Against a
normal human, the spell lasts nearly an hour.  Against a creature
such as Adam?  Perhaps only seconds."

"Which kinda tosses out the exploratory surgery plan," Xander said.

"Yeah, but it would give me time to punch my way in and rip the core
out."

"That is if you could punch your way through his thick plating,
love.  I punched him and didn't make a dent."

"Yeah, well Buffy's stronger than you are," Xander said.

"Not by that much," he informed the boy.  "We've always been pretty
evenly matched in our fights."

"Yeah, right," Xander snorted.

Spike just rolled his eyes in disgust and returned his attention to
Buffy.  "Even if we both took him on at the same time, I don't think
we could punch through his tough hide."

"Too bad we can't give Buffy a power-up," Xander said.

Giles looked up at him from where he sat leafing through his book.

"Yeah, I know.  Shut up, Xander," he said apologetically.

"No, actually, that is a brilliant idea."

"It is?" everyone said in unison.

"Yes.  There's a spell that we can use to temporarily increase her
strength.  The only problem is, we need to drain someone else's
strength to give to her."

"Mine."

All eyes turned to Spike.

"If you use me," Spike said, "then you'll nearly double Buffy's
strength."

Buffy looked at her Watcher.  "Giles?"

Giles removed his glasses and stared at Spike thoughtfully.

"You'll be completely helpless while the spell is in effect," Giles
warned.

Spike just shrugged.

"You're willing to make yourself that vulnerable?"

"I just said so, didn't I?" Spike said in annoyance.

"Very well then, Spike.  I think that may just work."


Chapter 17

It took the rest of the day to get everything ready.  Giles, Willow,
Tara, and Anya worked out the adaptations to the spells that would
temporarily paralyze Adam and imbue Buffy with Spike's strength.
They also worked on the timing of the spell castings.  Since Giles
wasn't sure how long either spell would last, the power-up spell, as
Xander was calling it, needed to be cast first closely followed by
the paralyzing spell.  It was decided that Giles and Anya would cast
the paralyzing spell, and Willow and Tara would cast the power-up
spell.  To allow Buffy to have the maximum amount of time possible to
extract the power core, Buffy and Spike needed to be in close
proximity to Adam before the spells were cast.

Both Spike and Buffy had been antsy through most of the day.  They'd
tried to help research by going through the reference books that
Giles was using to adapt the spells, but they both quickly became
bored.  Xander at least had gotten to leave the apartment on several
occasions for doughnut, hamburger, and, not without a scowl, blood
runs, and had driven Anya and the two witches to the magic shop to
pick up needed supplies.

Spike did his best to hide his edginess.  He'd said that he was
willing to give Buffy his strength, and he'd meant it.  He just hoped
that whatever mucking about they were doing on the spell didn't
bollix things up.

***

Spike was standing at the window watching the light fade when Buffy
came up to stand beside him.

"They're almost ready."

Spike nodded.  "All right."

"You sure you want to do this?  Give me your strength?"

Spike turned to her and ran the back of his fingers down Buffy's
cheek.  "I'd give you my soul if I had one, Buffy."

She captured his hand and pressed a kiss to it.

"Let's do this then."

***

There was some discussion as to which route to take to Adam's lair.
The tunnels from Spike's crypt offered more protection from early
detection, but the route through the hills was much shorter.  In the
end it was decided to go with speed over stealth, and so everyone
piled into the two cars for the trip to the hills by Kingman's Bluff.

Spike was a little concerned that they'd run into more of Adam's
soldiers, but to his relief, they managed to reach the cave without
interference.  Once they were inside the main cavern, Giles, Willow,
Tara, and Anya quietly went about getting everything ready for the
spells.  Spike and Buffy waited tensely for the nod from Giles that
would be their signal to enter Adam's lair.

When the signal came, Buffy put her hand on Xander's arm.  "I'm
counting on you to watch over everyone out here, Xander."

"Don't worry, Buff.  I'll take care of everything here.  You just go
and kick Frankenstein's ass."

Turning to her partner, Buffy said, "Come on, Spike.  It's showtime."

They burst into Adam's lair.  Adam was once again seated in front of
his computer console and looked up in surprise.

"Spike, what is this?"

"Little change of plans, mate.  Instead of me leading Buffy to her
death, I'm leading her to yours."

Adam calmly stood up.  "You surprise me, Spike.  I don't like
surprises.  Forrest, kill him."

"With pleasure."

The cyber-solder lumbered up to Spike and swung his fist while Adam
attacked Buffy.  Spike ducked out of his way, twisted around and
landed a hard kick on Forrest's stomach that sent him stumbling
backwards onto the ratty sofa.

Buffy jumped up onto a nearby ledge and caught Adam in the jaw with
the toe of her boot.  Adam's head snapped back, but it didn't faze
him, and he grabbed for Buffy.  While Forrest struggled to get up,
Spike turned to aid Buffy, kicking out and catching Adam on the
side.  It distracted Adam enough that Buffy was able to handspring
onto the floor and out of reach.

Finally back on his feet, Forrest came after Spike again.  Spike
threw a punch that caught him in the head.  Shaking out the pain in
his fist he grouched, "Goddammit, these things are tough."

"Yes, which is why we'll win.  Too bad you won't live to see it,"
Forrest boasted as he struck out.  His fist caught Spike in the
stomach, knocking the vampire against Adam's chair.  Spike stumbled
as the chair rolled away from him but quickly caught his balance.
Grabbing it, he threw the chair at Forrest, who batted it away and
came after Spike again.  Spike ducked out of the way of another punch
and swung around to find himself back-to-back with the Slayer as
their opponents closed in on them.

"How's it going, love?"

"Not bad," Buffy said as she weaved out of the way of a punch.  "You?"

"Duck!"

They threw themselves in opposite directions just as Forrest threw a
punch.  It landed solidly on Adam's solar plexus. Adam grunted and
backhanded his subordinate sending him flying across the room to
crash against the cave wall. A small rain of dust and rock cascaded
down onto the soldier.

"Good one!" Buffy called to Spike as she tumbled out of the way of
Adam's swinging fists.  Springing up behind Adam, she kicked him in
the back of the knee, causing the large cyborg to fall to his knees.
Snatching up one of the computer monitors and yanking it away from
its power cord, she crashed it down on Adam's head.

Spike grinned at her.  "That's my girl!"

"Thanks!"

Spike threw another punch as Forrest got to his feet, this time
aiming for Forrest's nose.  The sound and feel of crunching bone and
sinew made Spike laugh.

"Ooh, that's gotta hurt," he smirked.

Forrest bellowed in outrage and pain covering his injured nose with
his hands.  Spike jumped onto his back, locked an arm around his
thick neck and tightened it in a choking hold.

With another roar of outrage, Forrest reached up and grabbed Spike's
head.  Bending over, he threw Spike over his shoulder.  Spike sailed
over the sofa and landed in a heap behind it.

"Spike!  You all right?"

"I'm fine, love," Spike called out as he bounced back up.

Squatting down, Spike hooked his fingers under the couch and heaved
it at Forrest.  The heavy sofa hit Forrest on the chest, knocking him
to the ground and trapping him under it.

The demon arm flexed and Forrest tossed the sofa off him and out of
the way.  It landed upside down against the back wall of the cavern.
Spike took advantage of the extra room to build up speed for a flying
leap.  Just as Forrest got back on his feet, Spike's boots connected
with Forrest's face, knocking him back once again.  He banged into a
desk that held more computer monitors.  The monitors and Forrest
crashed to the ground with a horrendous sound of breaking glass and
fried electrical components.  The air was thick with the smell of
ozone.

Spike was aware that time was running out.  He needed to finish this
fight and soon.  Bouncing back to his feet, he glanced over to see
how Buffy was doing in her fight.  He was just in time to see Adam
grab Buffy and throw her against the wall of the cave.  She hit hard
with a grunt and landed in a heap on the floor.

"Buffy!"

He took two steps toward her, but she rolled instantly to her feet,
unhurt, and began to toss punches at Adam.  They had no effect, and
Adam was able to land another punch that sent Buffy flying into the
passage outside of the cavern.

In his concern for Buffy, Spike had ignored his own opponent for too
long.  His inattention allowed Forrest to come up behind him and lock
strong arms around his torso, trapping his arms to his sides.  Spike
struggled against Forrest's hold, but his feet left the floor as he
was lifted up.  With a heave, Forrest tossed him across the cavern.
He landed on his back across the upturned couch, and his head cracked
sharply against the wall.  Before he could gather his wits and
straighten up, Forrest was looming over him, his face a bloody mess.
He wrapped his demon hand around Spike's neck.

"I'm really going to enjoy pinching your ugly head off," the creature
sneered and tightened his hold.  Spike wrapped his hands around
Forrest's fingers and tried to pry them away.  Despite his efforts,
Forrest increased the pressure on his neck.

And then Spike felt his strength start to drain from him.

Oh, bugger, he thought.

"Oh, yeah!" Buffy yelled out and Spike could hear the sound of
punches connecting solidly and grunts of pain from Adam.

"That all you got?" Buffy taunted.

"No, I've got more," Adam answered calmly.

As Spike continued to weaken, he heard the snick of something
sliding - like a sword from a sheath, the sound of heavy footsteps, a
small grunt from Buffy, and then the sound of something snapping.

"Broke your arm," Buffy gloated.

The sound of Buffy's triumphant voice was followed by more blows and
more grunts from Adam, and Spike knew that Buffy was taking advantage
of her increased strength.

His own strength was nearly completely gone now, and he could no
longer struggle in defense.  His hands fell limply to his sides, and
he knew that Forrest would have his head off in a matter of seconds.
He cursed the fate that had given him Buffy only to let him die
twenty-four hours later.  He could only hope that once he was dust,
Buffy would keep his strength.  It would be his last gift to her.

"Spike!"

A sound that could only be Adam being thrown against a wall and
another grunt from Adam immediately followed Buffy's cry of alarm.
Spike heard the sound of running footsteps, and then Forrest's eyes
suddenly went wide and he stiffened.  His hand slipped from Spike's
neck and he fell to the floor, dead.   The bone skewer that Buffy had
snapped from Adam's arm was firmly imbedded in the back of Forrest's
skull.

Spike's legs could no longer support him and he began to slide off
the couch.  Buffy grabbed him and carefully lowered him to the floor.

"Sorry, honey.  Gotta go," Buffy said with a brief caress of his
face, and then she was gone.

Spike was as limp as a rag doll, his strength completely gone. He
couldn't even turn his head to watch Buffy fight.  He could hear the
battle though, and by the sound of it, things were going well.  Buffy
was making quips and confused consternation came from Adam followed
by the sound of grunts of pain from rapid-fire blows as Buffy's
increased strength allowed her to dominate the fight.

Then it went quiet.

"What's the matter, Adam?" Spike heard Buffy say.  "You're looking a
little stiff."

There was the sound of flesh meeting flesh and then a sucking sound.

"Ooh, look," Buffy said.  "Pretty."

"How?" Adam gasped, and then there was a loud thud as he collapsed.

"Through the power of love," she said softly.

***

The two warriors sat side-by-side, resting against the wall of the
cavern.  The power-up spell had faded and both Spike and Buffy were
drained from the experience.  They watched quietly as the day's final
spell was performed.

"Are you sure this power core won't do any damage to the world we're
sending it to?" Willow asked.

"Positive," Anya said briskly.  "There's no life on this world, and
it has so much of its own radiation, this little bit won't even be
noticed."

"Sounds good, Will," Xander said.  "Dial 'er up."

Willow nodded and began chanting.  A small portal was opened and
Giles tossed the power core into it.  Willow stopped chanting and the
portal closed with a small popping sound.

Everyone gathered their belongings and headed for the exit.  Xander
slung his axe over his shoulder and said as he headed out of the
chamber, "I'm voting for Apocalypse Now and deep dish."

"Not again, Xander," Willow wailed as she followed him.  "I want
Bedknobs and Broomsticks and thin-crust.  And no anchovies."

"Well, I don't mind deep-dish," Giles's voice drifted back to Buffy
and Spike, "but I agree with Willow.  No anchovies.  And I think we
should watch Branagh's Henry V, this time."

"Guess it's time for the post averting of apocalypse ritual," Buffy
said as she and Spike wearily pushed themselves up from the floor.
Spike staggered a bit and Buffy caught him, wrapping an arm around
his waist.

"You all right?" she asked in concern.

"I'm fine, love," Spike said, warmed by her concern.  "Still just a
little wobbly on m'pins."

He laid an arm around her shoulder as they headed for the cave exit.

"So, what's this ritual you were talking about, love?  We go back to
my place and shag ourselves silly?  Because that sounds good to me."

She shook her head and said with a tired smile, "Nope, sorry.  Rule
number two of the hero biz: always have pizza and a movie after every
averted apocalypse."

"You're joking."

"Nope.  And besides, you don't seem to be up for a shag right now
anyway."

"Give me a half-hour and a couple pints of blood and you'll see just
how up for it I am."

Buffy grinned at him mischievously.  "Well in that case, after the
ritual, I may be able to talk Willow into spending the night at
Tara's."

Spike raised an eyebrow.  "Yeah?  And just why would you want to do
that?"

"Well, I thought maybe my boyfriend might want to come to my dorm and
spend the night."

"I think that's a brilliant idea," he said, pulling her into his arms
and crushing his mouth to hers.

When they came up for air, Spike said with a devilish twinkle in his
eyes, "If we're voting on movies to watch first, I'm voting for Deep
Throat."

"Ohh," Buffy said in mock anger, "I'll give you Deep Throat."

Spike grinned wickedly and pulled her tighter against him.

"That a promise, Slayer?"

Buffy blinked when she realized what she'd said, then smiled her own
wicked smile.  Sliding her hand down his body, she found what she was
searching for and gave him a squeeze.  At his groan, she whispered in
his ear, "Yes, Spike.  That's a promise."

They kissed again, but drew apart when they heard Xander yell for
them to come on.  Holding hands, they walked out of the cave and down
the hill to Giles's car.

Walking away from Adam's lair, Spike couldn't help but feel a pang of
regret that he'd walked away from his chance to get his chip
removed.  Still, he was confident that one day he would, and that
he'd be his own man again.

But even if he knew he'd never have another opportunity to get the
chip out, he wouldn't have done anything differently.  He longed to
be free of the chip, but if he had to choose between Buffy and the
chip, Buffy was always going to come out the winner.

It wasn't going to be easy for him, this hero biz.  He'd loved his
life as the Big Bad, and all his instincts led him in a direction
completely opposite from the path of a hero.  But it was the path
Buffy trod, and so he vowed to walk it too.

They were a team now.

Strange how the smallest decisions could completely change one's
life.  If he hadn't decided to take a shortcut through the park all
those weeks ago, if he hadn't gone to investigate the sound of
fighting, if he hadn't stuck around to watch the Slayer's pas de deux
with the little demon, things would have worked out very
differently.  He would have accepted Adam's offer and done his best
to betray Buffy and lead her to her death, just to get the chip
removed.

The very thought sickened him.

Buffy settled beside him in the back seat of Giles's car, and he
pulled her close up against him.  She smiled at him and laid her head
on his shoulder.  He remembered how he'd told Buffy that the most
anyone could expect out of life were a few rare moments of
happiness.  He closed his eyes, nearly overwhelmed by one of those
golden moments.

And he knew deep in his being that for him, those moments would no
longer be so rare.

The end