17. A familiar dance
 

Spike had been studiously avoiding her since their encounter in the kitchen, he had thrown a few unpleasant remarks her way that morning before she left for work, but that was the extent of it. But he had almost kissed her, at least she thought he had, maybe she was completely misreading him.

She sighed in frustration, glancing at the clock on her office wall, still hours to go before she could go home. Not that the thought of going home to watch Spike flirt with her sister was terribly appealing, plus she still hadn’t called Richard.

Richard. Funny how since Spike had come crashing back into her life she had been treating him more like an inconvenience than a fiancée. Spike, it all kept spinning round to him, every circle of thought her mind made returned inevitably to the vampire.

She sighed, he hated her, even without the memories of what an unbelievable bitch she was, he hated her. God forbid he ever get his memories back.

She sighed and picked up the phone, may as well check in with Dawn.

“Ahh, hey stop that” her sisters voice came distantly across the line, as if she had her face turned away from the receiver. “Sorry, Hello” she spoke more clearly before giggling girlishly. “Don’t touch it”

“Dawn?” Buffy asked confused

“Oh hey Buffy” her sister greet before letting out a squeal that had Buffy pulling the receiver away from her ear. “Spike stop it, ahhh” she squealed again before turning her attention back to her sister, still giggling. “Sorry Buffy, what did you want?”

“I, er, what’s going on?”

“Oh, nothing we’re just. Spike let go of me! Sorry we’re just dying Spike’s hair. Ahhh!” Buffy frowned as she listened to her sister laughing wildly.

“Sorry pet, but you asked for it” Spike rich baritone sounded in the background.

“It’s ok Dawn,” she told her sister, anxious to be off the phone. “I’ll see you later”

“’K Buffy, ack! Spike!” Buffy slammed the phone down, fighting back tears. God why did this hurt so much? She slumped back in her chair. Fine, if that’s what they wanted, she loved them both enough to let them be.

She rang her boss’ office to ask for the rest of the day off, she had to go make up with Richard.

……..

Richard hadn’t believe a word she said, Buffy was almost certain of it. Still he had accepted her explanation of Spike’s presence in her bedroom, she was of course bunking in with Dawn, as her sister had a larger bed, and Willow was in the spare room.

She playfully chastised him for being a “silly, jealous man” and kissed his nose, until he smiled at her. They’d made plans to go out the following evening, dinner and a movie.

It had been and exhausting pretence, and by the time the Slayer was walking up her street her body ached with tiredness and her head throbbed.

A hundred yards from her house a soft scuffle caught her attention, spinning round she caught sight of twin sulphur fires in the darkness. Instinctively her hand groped for the stake she no longer carried in her sleeve. “Shit!” she cursed, was gonna have to start carrying weapons again.

“Willow” she called in her mind, projecting her thoughts towards the house as the redhead had taught her. “I’m just down the street, I need weapons. There’s a couple of swords in the closet”

Hoping that her friend had heard her she turned to face her would be assailants. “Here I am,” she challenged. “Come and get me”

Eight pairs of glowing eyes appeared in the darkness “Slayer” she heard the moniker in her mind “My father pledged your death on our tribes honour. Now we come to fulfil that pledge”

“Oh yeah” the Slayer retorted. “Well I made Sushi out of your father, really think you can do better?”

She heard it’s enraged growl ring through her mind just before the creature attacked and then she was fighting, punches, turns and kicks keeping her attackers away. “Come on Willow” she pleaded in her mind “Where are those weapons?”

“Slayer, catch!” somehow she was unsurprised, he always showed up when she needed him, it was kinda his thing, she raised a hand above her head, attention still fixed on the demon in front of her, and felt the heavy handle of the sword fall into her palm.

Cut, slash, kick, spin. She found herself back to back with the vampire, instinctively falling into rhythm with his movements.

“You look better” she commented as they fought, not sparing him a glance.

“Yeah I feel pretty good. Must be that healing potion Red keeps slipping in my blood” Spike replied as he decapitated one of the demons.

“Yeah she’s good isn’t she? Duck” She threw her blade over the vampire’s ducked head watching in satisfaction as it skewered an advancing demon.

Spike cupped his hands in invitation. God, this felt so right, Buffy couldn’t remember anything ever being so utterly, effortlessly right. She placed her foot in his cupped hands and he flipped her outside the circle of attackers to reclaim her sword.

Spike marvelled at the understanding they shared, he may not remember fighting alongside her, but his body did. Every move was synchronised to hers, every thrust and parry calculated perfectly to complement her fighting style. He gave a joyful whoop of excitement and launched himself into the fray.

The last demon, gurgle and spat blood as it fell to the ground, one clawed hand grasping hopelessly at its slit throat. He turned to the Slayer, a triumphant grin splitting his face. His grin faded when he saw her, flushed from the exertion of the fight and breathing hard. He move closer, breathing in her scent, sweat, overlaid with jasmine.

She swallowed hard as he approached, frozen in place by the intensity of his gaze. “Hell of a fight Slayer” he commented. God could the man make any collection of word sound provocative?

“Uh huh” she affirmed ineloquently, he was in her personal space now and she was having trouble forming coherent thought.

She was beautiful like this, there was no denying it, adrenaline still pumping in her veins heart pounding loudly, a sudden need to touch her overtook him and he brought his hand up to gently wipe a splash of demon blood from her warm cheek.

“Seems you and me make quite the team” he tilted his head, and she almost whimpered at the familiarity of the gesture. “Surprised I could forget a dance like that”

She didn’t speak, couldn’t have formed words, even if she had something to say. Instead she nodded mutely moving closer, her own hand coming up to hover just inches from the black cotton covering his chest.

“Oh thank God” Willows voice had them both jumping guiltily away.

“Buffy, are you guys ok?” Dawn’s breathless question made Buffy look at the floor. Had she been about to get up close and personal with her baby sisters boyfriend?

“We’re fine little bit” Spike answered for her when the silence threaten to become awkward. “Nothing like a bit a rough ‘n’ tumble, hey Slayer?”

Buffy looked up at him, panic written on her face. She scowled at his amused smirk, God he was playing with her, asshole, right in front of Dawn.

“You’re hurt?” Dawn was inspecting the shallow cut on her left arm. “Come on lets get back to the house and clean you up”

She liked his hair she decided as they trudged back to the house, Dawn had done a good job, the long unruly curls had been tamed into shorter spikes, blond highlights making his natural colour look darker by contrast. It wasn’t quite the bleached bad boy look she was used to but it was closer too it.

Dawn walked ahead with Willow, leaving her trailing behind with Spike, the pair casting nervous glances at one another. He turned to her a couple of time as if to ask her something, before shaking his head and looking away.

………

“It’s called The Eye of Remeunatishka” Giles informed them later that evening. “It is the talisman on an ancient Ukrainian cult of demons that were wiped out in the twelve century. The eye disappeared with them had has not been heard of since”

“Until now.” Buffy sighed, leaning against the mantle, she was so tired, she felt old, maybe she was too old for this. Slayers are young for a reason, she figured, rotating her stiff shoulder. “So” she continued “do we now what this eye of rheumatism does?”

“Remeunatishka. Well no, not exactly.” Giles removed his glasses, polishing the lenses briskly, before replacing them and studying his notes. “Some texts describe the Eye as ‘the giver of power’ others as ‘the path of energy”

“Sound’s like that’s how he’s controlling his demons then” Spike affirmed, picking at his newly blackened nails. Another part of the Dawn make over Buffy thought ruefully.

“It would seem so yes” Giles agreed, “However there are many references to the Eye being ‘without power of it’s own’ or ‘dead in it’s solitude’ I’m afraid the language is very old, and some of my translations are not entirely clear.”

“Maybe it’s a conduit.” Willow offered earning bemused looks from all but Giles.

“A conduit to other power source. It has no power in itself, but it can be used to access power from another source” she explained.

“That’s a possibility,” Giles sounded excited “Marcus could be using the Eye to channel some greater power”

“Fantastic” Xander cut in rubbing his good eye in frustration “Which leads us right back to ‘we don’t know what he’s up to’”

“Not exactly” Willow corrected. “There are only a certain number of power sources that could be channelled by the eye, and only some of them could be used for mind control. We have something to work with now.”

“Yippee” Dawn chimed “Grab those ancient texts its research time” her enthusiasm earned sceptical looks from her sister and the vampire beside her. She smile sheepishly “it’s been a while since we hit the books, I kinda missed it”

Buffy raised her eyebrows and gave Dawn an amused look, then the amusement fell from her face. “But I’m not really research girl” she told Giles, desperate to avoid the dusty tomes Willow and Dawn were eagerly producing. “Maybe I should patrol, see if there are anymore of those assassin demons lurking about”

“Buffy” Giles sounded concerned “These demons seem to be here with the express purpose of harming you. I don’t think its wise to go out alone”

“I’ll go” Spike offered standing up. “Don’t fancy wading through one of those” he angled his head towards the table. “Maybe me and the Slayer can dig up some info from the demon world”

Buffy flushed awkwardly, glancing nervously at her sister who seemed extremely pleased with the suggestion. “Ooh good idea. You two go out and patrol together, it’ll be like the good old times” she grinned sheepishly at their twin looks of incredulity. “Except of course you wouldn’t remember, and times where not always good, but still” She gave them both and encouraging smile “off you go”

……

They had been strolling around town for nearly two hours, passing only the occasional comment. Well at least we’re not fighting Buffy thought, that’s something.

“Well Slayer” Spike’s bored voice drew her attention. “I think we can safely say you picked the most boring town in America. No demons to fight, not even a bloody fledgling to have a go at.”

“That was kinda the point Spike.” She explained. “I’m retired, I don’t want to find demons round every corner”

He stopped, turning to look at her, his head tilted to the side, eyes appraising. “Come on Slayer” he prodded. “You must be bored out of that tiny mind of yours. Playing at being a normal girl. Don’t tell me you don’t miss it, the hunt, the kill”

“I don’t” she replied firmly. “I have everything I ever wanted. A nice normal life away from fighting and demons and apocalypses, is that a word, can you have more than one apocalypse”

He smirked at her “Bollocks” he stated adamantly.

She met his challenging stare for a moment, before sighing and conceding, “Ok maybe a little, I used to come out some nights looking for something to stake. I keep trying to tell myself that life is good, but when I’m not fighting I just feel like I have no purpose. And why am I telling you this?”

“It’s because you’re a Slayer, a creature of darkness.” He told her “You’re just wired that way is all, you shouldn’t fight it. And if your sugar daddy can’t take it, well…” He stepped back spreading his arms a little “maybe you need a real man”

Shit was he flirting? His tone was certainly suggestive, drawing her in to their old dancing patterns. She couldn’t help it the retort was past her lips before she had time to think. “Maybe I do,” She purred moving closer “Spike?” she asked, just inches away from him, she saw his eyes darken and almost crowed with satisfaction. “If you see one let me know wont you?”

With that she turned away from him, hips swinging as she went. “Bloody women” she heard him mutter as he trotted to catch her up. She smirked triumphantly at him. Waiting for the inevitable rejoinder when a shrill scream pierced the night air.

He was running before she was, reacting instinctively to the cry for help. She caught up with him on the far side of the park, she watched as he threw a young man across grass, advancing on him with smooth predatory strides. Behind him a girl of similar age pulled her tattered blouse closed and curling up into a defensive ball.

It took Buffy a moment to register that her attacker was human, and that Spike now had the helpless boy dangling by the throat. Oh God, Buffy realised, frozen to spot, he’s going to kill him.

Spike shifted into game face and growled at the boy, who whimpered pathetically in response. He was aware of the Slayer behind him, her eyes riveted to the scene. He could kill the boy before she got to them, snap his neck one handed, he thrilled at the thought, he hadn’t killed a human since his resurrection, and it was time to put that right. But she wouldn’t like it, he hesitated, in his mind he saw her face saddened with disappointment, luminous eyes filled with tears.

“Get out of here” he growled, throwing the youth to the floor.
 

18. A realisation
 

Spike was dreaming, in his dream she had come to him again, that faceless golden woman. They fought across the dreamscape of his mind, sometimes side by side, sometimes with each other. The dream changed, sounds of passion filling his subconscious mind, a breathy female voice chanting his name in ecstasy, his dream self open his eyes to look down at her, blond hair obscuring her face.

He leant forward burying his head in her neck and breathed her heady scent, sweat overlaid with vanilla, feminine and powerful. She flipped them over so she could ride him, powerful muscles contracting around him, bring them both to a shuddering climax. She slumped forward, her hair falling over his face, the scent of her filling his sex addled senses.

He took a deep satisfied breath, sweat overlaid with jasmine.

“Ahh!” he came awake with a startled cry, grasping the memory of his dream tightly. He shook his head, it couldn’t be. But the scent was the same, youthful vanilla replaced with sophisticated jasmine, but the scent beneath, the essence beneath the same.

The golden goddess of his dreams. Buffy.

He cursed his fractured mind, where did dreams and memories mesh? What was fantasy and what reality? Had they truly been lovers, it would explain a lot, the way she acted, the strange intense looks she gave him, when she thought he wasn’t watching her. The undeniable call of her body to his.

He lay back, breathing in the now familiar smell of her sheets. A glance at the clock told him it was just past four, sunset was hours away yet, but he was certain he wouldn’t sleep again that day.

Wandering barefoot through the house he found Dawn lying face down on the living room floor, her head propped up on her hands, an obviously ancient book opened in front of her. She looked up when he entered, greeting him with a friendly “Hi Spike”

He didn’t acknowledge her greeting, just stared at her until she became nervous, “Gee Spike. You’re kinda freaking me out. What’s up?”

“I want the truth Dawn” he told her, voice low and stern.

“Ummm, the truth about what?” she asked nervously, refusing to meet his eyes.

“You know about what,” he snapped impatiently “About everything, about Buffy”

“What?” she squeaked, before readjusting the tone of her voice “I mean, what makes you think there’s anything to tell?”

He looked at her, his… his friend he supposed, if she was to make him her confident, he would have to do the same for her. “I…” he began uncertainly. “I knew you from the start, knew I cared about you, would risk my life for you.”

He glanced at her before continuing, “but whatever I feel for you, it’s not enough to make me wanna change. Not enough to make me wanna be, I don’t know, better”

She nodded her understanding, his brotherly affection for her was not the life altering force his love for Buffy had been, it was gentler, easier, but also less intense.

He took a deep breath, “But just recently, I have wanted to” he saw her confusion and clarified “Wanted to be better, for…” he trailed off, this was bollocks, he was insane. Him and the Slayer, they’d laugh their arses of if they knew what he was thinking.

“For Buffy” she completed, not a question, just a soft confirmation.

He looked up sharply, suspicion evident on his face, “Yeah” he agreed, “So I figure there’s a hell of a lot more to the little tale you lot spun me, am I right?”

Dawn sighed, Buffy had been adamant that Spike should not be told about their relationship, but somehow it seem unjust to keep him in the dark, especially if he was beginning to suspect.

“Even if I knew the whole of it, it’s not my story to tell,” she told him gently, but firmly “You’ll have to talk to Buffy”

“But there is a story to tell?” he asked nervously. “Something about me and the Slayer, something that explains, what the hell I was doing saving the bloody world”

“Yes” Dawn answered simply. “You and Buffy, it was complicated, and I don’t even know the half of it, but yes, there’s a story”

…………….

“So, what do you think?” Richard asked, pouring her another glass of Merlot.

Buffy frowned, what had he been talking about, probably something to do with the wedding, damn, she should’ve been paying attention. He was suspicious enough already. “Oh definitely” she ventures hopefully.

He frowned. “Definitely red, or definitely blue?” he asked a strange tone of tired acceptance creeping into his voice.

“Blue!” she affirmed, her mind supplying an image of Spike’s cerulean eyes. “I like blue”

“Blue it is then.” He took a sip of wine and watched her face. “Buffy” he began, his voice sad and serious, “if there’s anything wrong, anything that’s bothering you, please tell me. Is it the wedding? If it’s too soon for you we can postpone. I don’t want you to feel pressured”

“What? No of course not. No pressure here. I am pressure free Buffy” God she was a terrible liar, he had always found it comforting, that she lied so badly, knowing she would never be able to hide anything from him. But now, it hurt, hurt to be lied to and not know why. Hurt to be played by the only woman who had ever really captured his heart.

“Buffy” he tried again. “Please, I want you to be happy, I love you”

She smiled a broad plastic smile that set his teeth on edge. “I know, and I am happy trust me”

He looked down ‘I know’, it was the best he had ever received from Buffy, of course he had always wanted to hear his sentiments returned, but before now it hadn’t hurt so God damn much.

He looked at her again, she was prattling about work, covering her deceit with mindless babble, did she really think he would be so easily fooled?

…………

He dropped her off at her house, leaning in for a kiss that caught her cheek rather then her lips as she turned her face away. “Night” she whispered softy before getting out of the car and walking towards the house. He watched her go sighing deeply as he pulled away from the curb.

“Well, well, well” his thickly accented voice sounded from the darkness to her left, causing her to jump, nervousness and anticipation sending her pounding heart into overdrive. “So how was your date Slayer? Nice posh dinner in some swanky restaurant with you loaded boyfriend?”

“What do you care Spike?” she spat. “I don’t have time for this, I’m tired and I’m going to bed” with that she turned back towards the house, only to cut off when the vampire positioned himself in her path.

“Ah, ah, ah! Not so fast” he purred, his voice flowing like honey through night air. “You and me are gonna have a little chat first.”

“Get out of my way Spike” She ordered straightening up.

“Don’t think so Slayer” he titled his head and let his voice drop to seductive rumble, “It seems that you haven’t been completely honest about the last few years. Had myself a little chat with the Nibblet, seems there’s a thing or two you shoulda told me”

“Dawn” she exclaimed angrily. “What did she say? I’ll kill her”

“Now now Slayer, Dawn didn’t have anything to say I wasn’t beginning to work out on my own. You think I don’t know what you’re thinking when I get close to you? You think I can’t feel it?”

She pursed her lips and tried to pass him. “Get out of my way” she told him again. He was mocking her, using her feelings for him to hurt her, she had to get away, she couldn’t stand it.

“Make me.” he challenged, his tongue stroking the back of his teeth, for a moment her eyes followed its progress, before she snapped out of it.

“Fine” she hit him hard in the nose sending him stumbling back towards the house.

He laughed, straightening up and fixing her with a knowing a stare. “Now is that anyway to treat and old.” He paused for effect, letting her stew “boyfriend?”

Her eyes met his sharply, denial pouring from her lips. “If Dawn told you that she’s crazy,” she retorted indignantly.

“Oh so I’m wrong?” he asked his voice excessively innocent. “You don’t want me, your heart doesn’t beat ten to the dozen whenever I get close to you. You weren’t feeling me up when I was in my weakened state”

“You’re a pig Spike” she spat, again trying to pass the vampire.

“Yeah!” he replied laughter in his voice. “But you still want me”

She punched him again, hard, tears spilling from her eyes, “what does it matter what I want?” she almost screamed, swinging wildly at him.

He caught her arm and pushed against the side of the house, her body trapped firmly under his. She went limp in his arms, anger seeping away “You don’t love me anymore”

He looked at her, her teary green eyes bright in the moonlight, expression still defiant. Her hot body burned him, where he pressed against her igniting his own desire. “No” He drawled, letting his lips brush her ear, delighting in the shiver of excitement the action provoked. “I don’t love you yet”

With that he was gone disappearing into the blackness. Leaving the Slayer propped against the wall, her eyes wide with shock, her breath coming in laboured gasps
 

19. A step back
 

“Ah ha” Giles exclaimed, waking the dozing Xander with a start

“What? I’m up” The young man bluffed blinking furiously.

Giles didn’t spare the outburst any attention, “I think I’ve found it” he informed him, “the power source that Marcus is channelling with the amulet”

“Great, what is it? Does this mean I can stop reading now?” he asked glancing down at the dusty tome that had moments ago been his pillow.

“Indeed” Giles replied dryly “call Buffy I’ll get the car”

“Okay, but it is three am, maybe we should take this to Buffy tomorrow” the young man suggested before giving the watcher a noisy yawn he didn’t bother to cover with his hand.

Giles frowned at him disapprovingly but agreed as if suddenly realising the time, “quite, er, maybe you should go and get some sleep too. We’ll meet with Buffy and the others tomorrow.”

“Okey dokey” Xander rose to leave, the call of his bed in the next room tugging at his tired body, but concern stopped him and he turned a questioning look on the watcher. “About Buffy” he began tentatively “How do you think she’s doing? With Spike being back and all.” He shook his head “She’s acting like it’s no big. I mean not that I want her falling into the evil un-dead's arms, but I don’t know, I thought she’d do something ya know?”

“She certainly seem to be taking his return very well” He polished his glasses. “I suppose she has Richard now and her life here. Perhaps with Spikes amnesia she sees this as an opportunity too put that part of her past behind her”

“Yeah, I guess.” Xander looked unconvinced. “I just keep thinking about what Dawn said, remember about her ‘owing’ it to Spike to live her normal life. I was kinda buying it, but now the guys back and she’s carrying on just the same. Seems kinda weird”

Giles felt the currents of truth in Xander's words and swam hard against them. “Well it’s entirely possible that Dawn was mistaken, she has always had something of a soft spot for Spike. You must also remember that the Spike that has returned to us is not the same creature that sacrificed himself in the Hellmouth.” He paused fixing Xander with a pointed look “He has no soul”

………………..

Buffy stared accusingly at her desk tidy, wondering if she really needed so many pencils. Her phone rang loudly in the quite office, causing her to jump, heart pounding furiously in her chest.

She gave the phone a suspicious look before answering it. “Buffy Summers” she greeted formally.

“Buffy. It’s Giles” her watchers voice came across the line, clear and authoritative. “I have some news on the current situation. What time can we meet?”

Buffy ran a mental checklist over the group “I’m home by six, and Willow said she’d be over by half past.” She informed him “Spike’ll be there with Dawn, she seems to have given up on lectures all together, since he came back” bitterness tinged her voice making the words come out harsh and clipped even in her own ears.

“Quite” the watcher agreed concern over her out burst evident in his gentle voice. “I’ll see you all at half past six then. Goodbye”

“Bye Giles”

Buffy hung up the phone and returned to contemplating her desk tidy, if she got the angle right she could stake Spike with one of those pencils. That’d wipe the arrogant self-satisfied grin of his face. Teach him to mess with her head.

After their intense encounter last night he hadn’t said a word to her. He’d come back to the house an hour later, fresh pack of cigarettes in hand and brushed past her without even acknowledging her presences before settling down on the Sofa with Dawn under his arm to watch Late Night Poker.

She’d lingered in the kitchen listening to their easy banter over betting tactics and cheating, the counter had suffered further damage when her grip had tightened on it splintering the edging. Xander wouldn’t be able to fix it now, she’d have to buy a new one, and that was Spikes fault too, stupid infuriating vampire.

Maybe she should stake him, he was clearly messing with Dawn’s feelings too, all lovey dovey one minute, coming on to her the next. Maybe he thought it’d be funny, play the two of them off each other, until one of them broke. Stupid evil bastard.

…………………..

“She burns my eyes!” Beatrice spat angrily, gleaming golden eyes fixed angrily on her brother. “Too bright she is, burning my eyes to ashes in my head” she clawed maniacally at her face, long nails scratching the skin.

“Sshhhh” he crooned gently, pulling her hands away. “Your eyes are fine my love, beautiful as ever”

She calmed, looking at him with dark human eyes, filled with fear. “Turn off the light, it’s too bright. Turn off the light”

“I will my love” he assured her, hands rubbing comforting circles on the naked skin of her back “I will. You need to rest, shall I have Solomon bring a boy for you?” he asked

She looked at him coyly, her mood switching instantly to childlike excitement. “Ooh yes, a boy” she clapped her hands. “Young and soft and golden”

He gave her an indulgent smile. “I have just the thing” he told her stroking her glossy hair. He stood from the bed and dressed gracefully. “I’ll send him right away, and I’ll deal with the Slayer, you don’t have to worry about a thing my sweet”. He leant down to kiss her forehead, “you just stay here and, er, play, with your food” he chuckled at his own joke and walked to the door.

He looked back before leaving, she was lying naked on the bed, arms thrown wide, eyes closed, a look of contentment on her face. Such faith in him she had, his beautiful mysterious sister, and he would not fail her. The slayer would die, just as she wished it, and then he would gift her the world as a plaything.

………………….

“So” Buffy asked briskly as soon as they where all assembled in the living room. “Let’s get on with it, the sooner I kick Marcus’ butt the sooner I can get my life back.” She cast Spike a nasty look “We’re on a schedule guys I’m getting married in forty eight days”

“Chop chop then watcher, wouldn’t wanna keep the blushing bride waiting.” Spike exclaimed with faux brightness, he returned her look with an equally unpleasant sneer “Tell me Slayer, you getting married in white?”

She narrowed her eyes at him, anger boiling in her veins at the insinuation in his voice. “Don’t you even…” she began ready to unleash the full force of her pent up her anger on the vampire.

“Buffy please!” Giles interrupted her before she could continue, out of the corner of her eye she saw Dawn roll her eyes and give an exasperated sigh.

“As I was about to say” he spoke firmly giving both the Slayer and the vampire stern reproving looks. “I think I have discovered what power source Marcus is harnessing”

He took a deep breath and scanned the room as if to ensure he had everyone’s full attention. “I believe he his channelling the power of the ancient demon god know as Velmorick.” He glanced at their faces, excellent now he had their attention. “Velmorick was worshipped as a god of leadership or of battle. It was said that Velmorick himself commanded an army so great and powerful it laid waste to half the demon world.” He paused. “This was of course long before humans inhabited the earth”

Another pause with no interruptions, perhaps his surrogate children where finally developing something resembling an adult attention span. “It was believed that when Velmorick departed this dimension he left behind some of his power contained in and effigy of the god himself”

“Do we know where this effigy is?” Willow asked.

“Um yes, this is partly my reason for believing that it is indeed Velmorick’s power that Marcus is using.” He glanced at his notes. “There is said to be a shrine to the god housed in an underground temple in Cleveland. The exact location is not known, but given the information Spike has given us on Marcus’ location and the coincidence of the Hellmouth being so near…” He trailed off, no further explanation necessary.

“Great so what? Have Faith look for the temple?” Buffy asked keeping her eyes fixed firmly on Giles.

“Passing the buck are we Slayer?” Spike accented drawl drew her unwilling eyes to his face. “Gonna send a sidekick instead of facing the big bad, and here I thought you where a hero” his tone was mocking, holding a hint of challenge, she would not be drawn. She knew him too well to not realise when he was baiting her, looking for a reaction. She would not be drawn.

“And I thought you where helping” damn she wasn’t supposed to be drawn “So far though, more of a hindrance, what with all the saving you I’ve had to do ”

He gave her a sugar coated smile, “Now now Slayer, no need to for that. Everyone’ll understand if you don’t wanna upset your wedding plans, wouldn’t want to give your sugar daddy time to realise what a bitch you are and call the whole thing off”

“Guys” Dawn tried vainly to interrupt their squabble.

“Okay that’s it” Buffy spat, flicking her hair over her shoulder “Outside, I’m gonna do what I shoulda done the moment you showed up here” a stake appeared magically in her hand, she knew she was right to start carrying weapons again.

“Don’t flatter yourself Slayer, you wouldn’t stand a chance” Spike rose gracefully from chair. “But if you really wanna dance” he opened his arms in invitation, head gesturing to the door behind him.

“Buffy” Giles’ pedagogic reprimand went unheeded as Buffy barrelled headlong into Spike, sending the pair through the kitchen and out onto the back porch.

Willow rose as if to follow, but Dawn’s resigned voice stopped her. “I think we should let them work out their issues” she told the group with a defeated sigh “Besides for them, I think this is kinda like progress”
 

20. A little bit of history repeating
 

“You don’t think maybe we should go look for them?” Willow asked nervously glancing at the door, “I mean it’s been over an hour, what if they’ve killed each other”

“They won’t kill each other” Dawn assured her not looking up from the text she was studying “Besides you really don’t want to get in the middle of this”

“I guess not,” the redhead conceded.

“Not fair though” Xander whined, “they’re getting out of researching again. I’m beginning to think they’re in it together, like a conspiracy”

“I’m sure Buffy and Spike will be back shortly” Giles cut in “In the mean time we have plenty to do researching Velmorick"

With a collective sigh the group returned to the onerous task of trawling through the ancient tomes spread out on the living room floor.

…………………….

“The stars are shifting” Beatrice informed him in a conspiratorial whisper, “taking their partners for the dance”

“Not long now then?” he asked keeping his eyes on hers, as if by holding her gaze he could hold her clarity long enough to find out what he needed to know”

“Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset” she spun away from him arms outstretched, her voice singsong “sunrise, sunset, sunrise” she paused locking eyes with him across the room sanity, cold and ruthless settling over her. “Sunset”

“Three days?” he asked, looking for confirmation while her mind was focused.

“Three days” she confirmed certainly, before tilting her head to the side eyes locked somewhere in middle distance, “And the Slayer’s coming to the party, but will she bring a partner? Can’t dance without a partner”

“I have a group ready to take out the Slayer, Solomon will lead them himself” Marcus told her, his first lieutenant was almost ready to leave, no mistakes this time, he was sending his very best people to finish off this infuriating girl.

“She is coming to the party,” Beatrice told him haughtily, “She has a new dress and jewels on her shoes, no one will stop her coming”

Marcus thought for a moment, his gaze lingering on her all seeing eyes, “You” he barked startling the minions standing guard at his sisters door. “Go to Solomon, tell him the mission is cancelled. He is return to me for orders”

…………..

She wasn’t even tired, they had been fighting for over an hour, a cat and mouse battle that had covered a fair portion of the small town, eventually leading them to unsurprisingly enough, the cemetery. She wasn’t tired at all, her body thrummed with life, she felt exhilarated, free, this was what she had been created for, this violently beautiful dance.

A well-placed back kick sent him slamming face first into the wall of an ostentatious crypt, shattering the stone carvings that adorned it. “Come on Spikey” she taunted gleefully when he was slow to rise to his feet. “I thought we were gonna dance”

He pulled himself up and turned to face her, a chuckle coming out as a gurgle of blood in his mouth, he spat before turning an amused smirk on her. “Enjoying yourself Slayer?

She frowned, “I don’t know what you’re talking about” she denied hotly

“Yes you do” he insisted, his voice dropping to a provocative drawl as he moved closer

She straightened her back giving him a haughty look. “I’m not in the mood for games Spike.” She told him planting her hands on her slim hips. “If you wanna fight lets fight, just try and keep your mouth shut for more than ten seconds, give us both a break”

He smirked lashing out quickly, a hard jab that snapped her head back and sent her stumbling. “Come on Slayer, I know you feel it” he challenged “the thrill, the power, does it make you hot?”

“That may be your thing Spike, but it’s not mine” she told him cracking his ribs with a roundhouse kick.

“Really?” he asked before attacking with a barrage of punches that had her retreating, a series of clever blocks eventually giving her the upper hand and she sent him tumbling back with a powerful shove.

“Really” she affirmed, following him down, her hands pinning his above his head straddling his hips to keep him in place.

They stopped like that, suddenly both aware of the intimacy of the position. Buffy gasped, it was so familiar, the feel of him beneath her, the sound of their harsh breathing in the still night air, he was looking at her with confusion in his lust filled eyes. Say something Buffy, she ordered herself, or better still get off him. But she didn’t, couldn’t, she stayed frozen in place by the intensity of his azure eyes.

“Slayer” breathy and sensual, the moniker snapped her out off the her daze, Slayer, he always called her Slayer since he’d returned, never Buffy, not even pet or luv, all she was to him now was a Slayer, the enemy. This was all a game to him, bastard.

Fear and pain flashed across her face, she began to move off him, ready to retreat. He felt her move away and panic overtook him, no, she mustn’t get up and run, something told him that she had run from him too often, he had to make her stay.

The sudden speed of his movements caught her by surprise, his hands shot out to grip her arms as he flipped them over with a swift jerk of his hips. He had her trapped beneath the weight of his body, he had her, now, what to do with her?

Her eyes burned with defiance as she glared up at him. “Let me up Spike” she ordered, venom dripping from her ominously quite voice, he didn’t react and she let her anger rise, “Damn it Spike, let me up or I swear…”

He slammed his mouth down on to hers, silencing her with rough lips and teeth. There was no affection in it, just anger and confusion, lust and fear he kissed her as if he could break her growing hold on him by the ferocity of his kiss alone, he wanted to subdue her, to punish her spitfire soul for having the audacity to call to him.

But she was not subdued, she renewed their battle, opening her mouth so that her tongue and teeth could clash violently with his, shit but she was intoxicating, he could feel himself slipping under, losing himself in her.

He was no longer master of his own actions, if he had been he would not of reduced the pressure of his lips on hers to a firm caress, he would not have freed her hands so that his own could tangle in her golden hair. He would not have stroked her cheek so tenderly as he kissed her, or rolled them over so that she was above him.

If he had been commander of his body he would not have moaned so suppliantly into her mouth, his hands would have pushed her hot body away from his rather than pulling her closer. And certainly he would not have torn his lips away from hers to breath one word with such reverence “Buffy”

Oh god, oh go, oh god Buffy’s mind chanted over and over as she moved instinctively above him, he’s kissing me, he’s really kissing me. It had been so long, such a very long time since she felt this, felt him, shattering and rebuilding her over and over again with the movement of his lips on hers. Too long her heart told her since she had lost herself so completely in another. She heard him say her name, her real name, barely more than a breath tinged with sound but undeniably her name and she came undone, finding his lips again with a needy moan, she gripped his shoulders melding her body to his.

Her hands where moving now, mapping out the planes of his body, pushing aside the cotton of his shirt to explore the cool skin beneath, before moving lower to play around the waist band of his jeans.

She was lost and he knew it, knew that at this moment she was his for the taking, his own hands moved to caress the skin of her back, God how he wanted her, he could feel the need to have her eclipsing all else in his mind. Then he felt it, the cool metal of her ring, contrasting starkly with the heat of her fingers and he remembered, Buffy was engaged to be married.

It didn’t matter he told himself, he didn’t give a rats arse what promises she had made some wanker almost old enough to be her father, but Buffy did. If she did this now she would be sorry afterwards, she’d feel guilty, maybe even ashamed. Suddenly the thought of her being ashamed of this, of her hiding this from those around her choked him, sending a strange familiar pain though his heart.

Memories without form or detail told him that this was not enough that her body hot and willing above him was more curse then blessing. Instinctively he knew that it could not be like this for either of them.

He pulled away slightly. One look at her eyes, hazy with lust, almost broke his resolve, but the knowledge was too real, too painful to ignore. “Buffy” he tried to get her to focus on his words “luv we can’t do this”

What? Buffy’s mind protest, why not? But words wouldn’t come so she just shook her head slightly and tried to find his lips again. He firmly held her at bay a forlorn expression marring his face. “Buffy listen to me, we can’t, this cheating, it’ll hurt in the morning”

She let his words sink in ‘cheating?’ Oh God Dawn. She scrambled to her feet, her hand coming to her mouth as she looked down at him. He was resting on his elbows, clothes awry, hair tousled, he looked so enticing with his swollen lips and sad eyes that she almost went to him again. Dawn, her mind screamed, you can’t do this to Dawn.

So she ran, turned and ran as fast as her super human strength allowed. He watched her go and felt his heart crack with knowledge that a history he couldn’t remember sharing with her was repeating itself.

He could’ve cried, but it wasn’t his style so instead he turned to the overly elaborate mausoleum with it’s cracked carvings and punished the stone until his knuckles where broken and bloody and the wall of the tomb rubble beneath his feet.

21. A few things resolved
 

Buffy flew past the living room door and up the stairs faster that humanly possible, her footstep echoing through he suddenly silent house. The group exchanged worried glances “Should I…?” Willow trailed off angling her head towards the stairs.

“No” Dawn said standing. “I’ll go”

She disappeared up the stairs, the quite pad of her stoking feet contrasting with her sister’s earlier ascent.

“Buffy” she called softly through the closed door, “Buffy can I come in?”

Silence, Dawn waited a moment more before pushing the door open and peering in. Her sister sat on the bed in the poorly lit room, her hands wringing nervously in her lap.

“Buffy?” Dawn prompted again, moving closer. “Are you okay?”

When she met her sisters gaze, Buffy’s eyes where worried, he demeanour skittish. She glanced away quickly biting her lip, “I’m fine,” she answered softly.

“Buffy” the younger girls voice held a trace of gentle reprimand, “Tell me. Did something happen tonight, with Spike?”

Buffy’s head came up quickly, her eyes wide with shock and guilt, again she only held her sister’s gaze for a moment before dropping her head.

“Buffy” Dawn implored, “Please, whatever it is you can tell me, please”

“I’m sorry” Buffy choked out, her voice filled with tears, “I didn’t mean to, we where fighting and it just happened, I’m sorry”

Fear gripped her, no this couldn’t be real, Buffy couldn’t have really killed him, she just couldn’t have. “Buffy” she asked urgently “Buffy what happened?”

“I’m sorry” Buffy apologised again, tears streaming down her face as she avoided Dawns questioning gaze. “It wasn’t like I planned it, but he kissed me and I, I just couldn’t stop, I’m so sorry Dawn.” She raised her head and met her sister’s eyes determinedly “It won’t happen again Dawn, I promise. I never meant to hurt you”

“Eh?” the brunette’s ineloquent response seemed to provoke further apology from Buffy.

“I’m sorry Dawn, truly I am. I know how things are between you, I should never have… I’m so sorry”

“Eh?” okay Dawn, really need to find a new response, the brunette chided herself, but what the hell is she talking about, why does she keep apologising, surely she knows I love Spike.

“I’m a terrible sister, I really am. I know how you feel about him”

Oh, realisation hit Dawn like a sucker punch, causing her to sputter at her weeping sister, “Ewwwww!!!”

Buffy stopped in her track, self-flagellation temporarily forgotten in the wake of Dawn’s violent exclamation.

“Eh?” Buffy’s turn to try the monosyllabic

“Ewww” Dawn reiterated her earlier sentiment, face screwing up in an expression of disgust. “You thought me and Spike where, ewww Buffy. What the hell made you think that?”

“Eh?” Buffy shook herself “I mean what? You mean you’re not?”

“No” she shook her head, glossy brown hair flying. “Definitely not. That’s just ewww. Buffy how could you think? Spike’s like my brother”

“But” Buffy blinked and shook her head. “You two, doing your Siamese twin impression, with the giggling and the jokes, a-and the touching” She nodded her conviction that she was not mistaken.

“Buffy, he’s my friend, and he just came back from the dead” Dawn told her in a soft earnest voice, then she crossed her arms and gave a petulant toss of her head “It’s not like you where exactly welcoming him back with open arms”

“I” Buffy frowned at the accusation “I did what I could, he hated me remember?”

“My God are you blind” Dawn looked disbelievingly at her “Did you not notice the way he was looking at you, I mean right from the start, it was obviously just a matter of time”

The blonde sighed with relief, Spike and Dawn, just friends, completely wholesome relationship, but if that was the case…

“Then why did he stop?” she asked a perplexed Dawn. “He said that ‘cheating would hurt in the morning’ and he stopped. If he’s not with you, then where’s the cheating?”

Dawn gave her an incredulous look shaking her head, “Buffy. Richard”

………………..

“Oh dear lord” the familiar phrase caused the Scoobies to look suspiciously at their mentor.

“Well that doesn’t sound good” Xander commented, earning wry glances from his friends.

“What’s up Giles?” Buffy asked grateful for something to occupy her mind other than the absent vampire

“Something rather disturbing regarding Velmorick” the watcher told them, pensively polishing his glasses, “this text refers to an astral alignment that it is believed will enhance Velmorick’s power. This alignment happens roughly once every ten thousand years”

Buffy sighed running a hand through her hair “let me guess. This is the lucky year, fifty percent extra free on all demon power sources”

Giles gave her an un-amused glare. “Quite” he affirmed, “I’ll have to do some more work to give you and exact date but, yes, this is the year”

“Do we have any idea what this could mean?” Willow asked, “Marcus already has control of his demon horde, what else does he need”

“Uh oh” Dawn interrupted, frantically flicking through the pages of her own book, “I saw something about this in the legend”

Only the sound of rustling paper disturbed the tense silence as the group waited from Dawn to locate the information, Willow and Buffy shared a worried look.

“Here it is” at last she found the page, “my translations kinda sketchy but basically it says, ‘And Velmorick took the power of a thousand stars’ um then something I don’t understand, maybe ‘forged his armies swords’ or sharpened them I’m not sure. Then it says ‘nothing stood before them’”

“Forging swords, now he’s a blacksmith?” Xander asked his tone light, but unmistakable worry on his face.

“Probably a metaphor, I think we should all get some rest, I’ll attempt to find an exact date for the alignment, Dawn if you have time perhaps you could work on that translation, maybe decipher it’s meaning”

………………

Rest, hah that was a joke, it was nearly dawn, she would need to be up in an hour if she was going to get to work on time. She rolled over and buried down into her pillow, she had deliberately not changed the sheets after Spike had moved into the spare room, and his scent lingered in the fabric. Still sleep eluded her.

Why wasn’t he back yet, it was nearly sunrise, he should be back, unless he wasn’t coming back, maybe she’d scared him away. No, this was Spike, really not scared off that easily, he’d be back. Unless he’d been hurt, Marcus might’ve sent another demon assassination squad. She was half way out of bed, when she heard the back door open, she relaxed back into the bed, sighing her relief, he was home.

She lay still, barely breathing, senses reaching out through the quite house to track his movements, she heard him quietly ascend the stairs, must’ve taken his boots off. She listened to his footsteps on the landing, one two three, four, that would take him past the spare room, five six, shit he was coming to her room, he was nearly at the door, on God.

She wasn’t sure if she was relived or disappointed when she heard the bathroom door open. Letting out a shaky breath she closed her eyes, she had to see him before she went to work, she felt like she was going crazy.

Spike exited the bathroom just as she came into the hall, instinctively she ran her eyes over his body, checking that he was okay, her eyes rested on his damages hands and worry overtook her. Strange how even knowing that his vampiric power would heel the slight wounds before nightfall still she couldn’t help but fuss around him.

“Oh your hands, did you get in a fight?” she didn’t wait for an answer before stepping forward, taking one bloodied hand gently in hers, “Let me clean these up properly for you”

She led him back into the bathroom, leaving him momentarily to riffle through the cabinet in search of her first aid kit. “Come here” she ordered gently, as she ran warm water into the sink.

Spike knew he should get out, leave the bathroom, tell her he was fine and slink off to bed, but she was so worried and gentle as she touched him, he couldn’t resist basking in her concern.

“It’s alright” he told her half heartedly “you don’t have to”

“I want to” she responded firmly, dabbing at his knuckles. A moment’s silence before she spoke again. “Spike about earlier…”

“Don’t,” he commanded shakily, “you don’t have to say anything”

“Spike you don’t understand” she ran her hands up his arm, and locked her eyes with his, “I know what I’m doing”

“Buffy”

“Ssshhh” she whispered moving closer, standing on tiptoes she laid her lips gently over his.

Don’t do it mate, his half formed memories told him, she’ll hurt you, go running back to lover boy. But her lips where soft temptation and he succumbed returning the tentative kiss. It was Buffy who took the lead, angling her head and opening her mouth to deepen the kiss, small strong hands sliding up his arms to cling to his shoulders.

It was gentler this time, an almost lazy caress of lips and tongues. Buffy moaned into his mouth, letting herself sink deeply into the feel of him. Then he was pulling away, leaving her bereft, she reached for him but he batted her hands away. “Not really interested in being your dirty little secret Slayer”

His tone was bitter, eyes wary, maybe even hurt. Shame for the way she had treated him in the past despite everything he had given her overwhelmed her she dropped her eyes.

He clenched his fists, hurt and anger sending violent shudders through his body, there it was, guilt and shame written on her feature as clearly as if she had shouted it aloud.

“Spike” she looked up at him resolve replacing guilt. “Spike, I promise it won’t be that way.” She moved towards him and he stood his ground, letting her get close enough to touch. “I promise it’ll be okay, I wont…” now she did touch him, one warm hand sliding up his body to settle over his heart. She watched it’s progress as if hypnotised by her own movement, “Please believe me, it’ll be okay, I won’t hurt you again”

He didn’t question the ‘again’ knowledge that she had done so was already clear in his fragmented memories. He looked away eyes lifting to the ceiling, “Buffy, I…” he trailed off, when her hand reached up to angle his face back down to look at her

“Do you trust me?” she asked softly, her eyes telling him what is answer meant to her.

“Yes” he breathed, before his mind had even processed the question, he trusted her implicitly.

She quirked a smile at him, “there you go then.” She kissed him again, and this time he didn’t object, he yanked her body flush against his with one strong arm wrapped around her waist, revelling in how her shocked gasp mutated quickly into a needy moan.

Her hands wasted no time in reacquainting themselves with the contours of his body, gliding over his chest and back, reaching higher to tangle in his short hair. He responded in kind, hands slipping up beneath her baby t-shirt to caressing her breasts as he backed her up against the sink. A trail of kisses down her throat had her gasping his name and thrusting her hips towards him eagerly.

His self-satisfied chuckle, which should have been annoying in its arrogance, was in fact so familiar, so utterly him that it served only to fuel her desire. She dragged one leg up the outside of his thigh and he caught it beneath the knee, pulling her up so she could wrap her legs around his waist. “Buffy” he moaned into her skin

“Buffy” Dawns aggravated voice sounded through the locked door, “what are you doing in there? Come on it’s nearly time to leave and I need a shower”

Spike pulled back and set her on her feet, chuckling at the annoyed growl that emanated from the small slayer. “Okay Dawn, go put some coffee on I’ll be right out”

She turned to Spike as she heard her sister plod off down the stairs. “No fair” she pouted, her hands once again gliding over his forearms.

“Gotta go to work pet?” he asked, one hand toying with a strand of golden hair.

“Yeah” she sighed, “Actually I really do, my boss is kinda down on me for taking the other afternoon off” she pouted again, “Don’t wanna,” she stated petulantly “wanna stay here with you”

He chuckled at her childlike antics, “I’ll be here when you get back pet” he tried to placate her.

“You better be” she told him firmly, leaning up to kiss him briefly. “See you later then?” she asked almost shyly

“Count on it.” He affirmed, “Now off you go” he pushed her towards the door, only to pull her back just before she could reach for the handle. She giggled delightfully as she was jerked back into his arms, he couldn’t help but smile, god but she was adorable like this.

She kissed him on the nose, and he gave her a fake glare that made her laugh even more. He silenced her with a passionate kiss, trapping her between his body and the door hands running through her shiny hair.

“Hhhhhmmm” she voiced her approval when he finally let her breathe, “are you trying to convince me to go to work, ‘cos really not the way to do it”

“Sorry pet” he apologised insincerely, but you’re just to delicious no to grab another taste”

She blushed prettily and kissed him briefly before opening the door and heading off down the hall, she made it all of three strides before she turned back to the following vampire and kissed him again.

They broke apart and came together again so many times that they were both laughing breathlessly by the time they reached the top of the stairs. Suddenly he became serious, “See you later pet?” he sought one last confirmation.

“See you later” she affirmed in a whisper, satisfied he gave her a nod, and turned her towards the stairs, patting her ass playfully to send her on her way.

She glanced over her shoulder at when she reached the bottom to see him watching her, he gave her a cheeky wink and disappeared in to the spare room.

………

Dawn raised her eyebrows questioningly when Buffy came into the kitchen a dreamy smile on her face. “Shower’s free,” she told her smiling broadly.

“Uh huh” she paused “so did you and Spike make up?” she asked innocently.

“Um hmm” Buffy affirmed nodding enthusiastically, “much making up, and more promised for later”

Dawn couldn’t help but smile, it had been such a very long time since Buffy’s smile had been so genuine, perhaps now was not a good moment to bring up the small matter of the fiancée Buffy seemed to have completely forgotten.

An hour later as Buffy turned the car into the university car park a good moment was still yet to arrive, Buffy had been humming happily along to the radio for the entirety of the drive, occasional breaking off to comment on how much a she liked the songs.

“Buffy” Dawn ventured regretfully as Buffy brought the car to a halt, “what are you gonna do, about Richard?”

Dawn wished she’d kept her mouth shut as she watched her sister’s good mood deflate as if she had stuck a pin in it. “I mean if you and Spike, well you know, what about Richard.”

Buffy looked troubled for a moment before smiling again, “I don’t know, but I’ll figure it out. See you later”

……………….

Spike lay on his bed puffing on a pensively, on a cigarette he had been staring at the ceiling for the better part of an hour. Turning over the images his shattered memories had supplied after she had left for work.

He had closed his eyes, willing himself to conjure her face earlier, happy and carefree, but his mind had provided less appealing memories. He remembered rough sex and cruel words, he remembered lying in a filthy alley with the Slayer above him, pounding her deadly fists into his face, spitting venom and hatred at him as she battered him.

He remembered the pain of her insults ‘evil, disgusting, thing’ the words repeated in his mind over and over until he thought he would scream.

Again he reached for more recent memories ‘I won’t hurt you again’, she had promised him that everything would be okay and he had to believe her. She had asked him if he trusted her and he knew that he did. Mentally he compared the playful smiles she had given him that morning to the tortured pain that distorted her face in his memories and he believed her that things were different, that she was different, now.

He let images of a smiling Buffy fill his tired brain. What a bloody woman, he mused, could break a fella’s heart just by looking at him.

He glanced at the clock, she’d barely been gone an hour and already he was impatient for her return, he just wanted to touch her all the time, she was so god damn enchanting. Everything a man could want, fiery warrior, beautiful woman, and charming girl.

He stubbed out his cigarette an smiled up at the ceiling, best try and get some sleep, at least it’d pass the time till she got home. He closed his eyes, hoping that he’d dream of their earlier encounter in the bathroom.
 

22. A scene replayed
 

The day had passed in a blur, Buffy was certain some of her advice to the pupils that visited her had not been entirely valid. Her mind was most definitely elsewhere.

Elsewhere with Spike, waiting for her at home, all wit and passion, God how she loved him, and he was falling in love with her again, it was just too good, she could barely believe it. Richard, her mind reprimanded her, are you gonna cheat on him, because there is no way you aren’t sleeping with that sexy vampire tonight. The thought sent tingles through her body, she was going to have sex with Spike again tonight, and this time she was gonna get it right, gonna let him make love to her like he always wanted, let him hold her afterwards while she slept, the way she never allowed before. Richard her conscience reminded her again.

She sighed noticing it was almost time to go, just one thing to do before she could head home to Spike.

……..

“Buffy?” Richard asked confused as she entered his office, “what are you doing here, I though we where having lunch tomorrow”

“Richard” Buffy began, shit this was hard, she hadn’t done this before, well once, but that didn’t count, because that had been Spike and inside they had both known she hadn’t meant it.

“Oh baby, I was gonna call you I’ve had a thought about the seating plan, we’re going to need to make room for…”

“Richard” she cut him off, “I’m sorry, but I can’t marry you”

He gaped at her, taking her words in, “What? Why?” he asked pain making his voice ragged.

“I’m sorry, I…” she paused “There’s someone else, I’m sorry”

“Someone else” he exploded, anger rising suddenly “who? It’s him isn’t it, that arrogant son of a bitch at your house, Spike, it’s him”

Buffy tried to keep calm in the face of his anger, “I’m sorry, Richard, I never meant to hurt you, but yes, it’s him, he, we have a lot of history and…” she trailed off, there was no way to explain this that would make it any better. No words she could say that would dampen the raging hurt in his eyes.

Tears filled her own eyes as she tried desperately to lesson the blow, “I care about you Richard I really do, but Spike…. Truly I am…”

“Don’t tell me you’re sorry Buffy” he shouted hand slamming down on the desk with a loud crack, “You’re not sorry and we both know it.” He paused, regarding her through tear filled eyes. “You love this guy? Does he make you happy?”

“Yes, yes he does” she told him earnestly

He gave her a tight, tired smile, “then there’s nothing else to say, Goodbye Buffy”

“Goodbye” she whispered before slipping from the office.

He watched her leave, tears trickling unheeded down his face, nothing he had ever felt had prepared him for the pain of losing Buffy, she had illuminated his life with her bright light and now he had lost her. He sighed deeply, burying his face in his hands, no he wasn’t losing her, she had never been his, perhaps she had always belonged to this Spike.

…………………….

Spike dreamed, she was kissing him in the bathroom, reaching up to gently kiss his lips “wanna stay here with you” she pouted and he couldn’t help but smile.

“Buffy” he murmured reaching pulling aside her robe, “I know you felt it ... when I was inside you…” his voice suddenly desperate and demanding.

“No, ow, ow! Please, please, Spike, please...” he heard her pleading sob, but it didn’t matter, he couldn’t stop now, just had to make her understand, make her feel it.

“You'll feel it again, Buffy...” he told her, almost as if to reassure them both, just a little closer and he’d be inside her, she’d feel it then.

He felt her struggle become weaker “Please don't do this...” she begged trying to twist away from him

Don’t fight it my love he told her mentally its all gonna be okay, “I'm gonna make you feel it.”

He didn’t wake up screaming, or startle awake breathing hard with shock. He just opened his eyes and let the tears pour down his face to soak the pillow beneath.

……………………….

It was Buffy’s firm belief that the world was conspiring to keep her away from Spike as long as possible, the drive across town from Richards office seemed to be taking forever, traffic moved with obviously deliberate slowness, while spiteful pedestrians took the opportunity to delay her further by using every crossing on her route. By the time she entered her house she feeling edgy and frustrated, the sight of the Scooby gang waiting for her made her want to groan out loud.

“Buffy” Giles greeted “Excellent we where waiting for you, we have some disturbing news”

Buffy sighed, giving the stairs a rueful glance before resigning herself to this further delay. “What’s up?” she asked taking a seat.

“Well for one thing I have a date for the alignment, midnight, two days from now,” he told her ominously.

“Two days!” Buffy exclaimed, “we’re not ready, we don’t even know, well anything”

“We know what happens at the alignment” Dawn interjected, “I finished off the translation this afternoon.”

“Let me guess, something not good” the Slayer ventured in a resigned voice.

“Really not” dawn confirmed, “During the alignment Marcus will be able to use the amulet to channel Velmorick’s power directly into his army. Enhancing the strength of every demon he commands”

“Great” Buffy let frustration make her voice harsh, “so Marcus already vastly superior force will be extra powerful and completely unbeatable”

“I’m afraid that’s about the short of it yes,” the watcher affirmed with a tired sigh. “We have to someway stop Marcus from channelling that power into his army”

“Perhaps if we could destroy the amulet?” Willow suggested

“Marcus isn’t gonna let us get near his precious amulet” Buffy countered, “how about the effigy, could we destroy that?”

“I could probably destroy it with magic, but there would be a residual effect, meaning Marcus could still control the demons long enough to really hurt the Slayers. Besides, we don’t know where it is”

“There was one door that Marcus had heavily guarded” Spike’s voice cut in from the doorway, causing Buffy to smile radiantly at him, he avoided her eyes and continued. “I’d bet me last farthing that the temples right under his digs”

Buffy frowned trying to catch the vampire’s eye again, “Hi Spike” she greeted, but he didn’t look up.

“If we could get to the effigy, maybe we could spike it some how?” Xander suggested, “like tag something along with its power that’d hurt them instead of making them stronger”

“Excellent idea Xander” Giles complimented, slight disbelief in his tone. “Willow?”

“I don’t think I could do that, but maybe once the transfer begins, we could latch on to it’s conduit, destroy the effigy and send our own…” she trailed off shaking her head. “It’s a really long shot and even if I could do it I’d need an energy source, I can channel the power, but I can’t create it”

“Well that’s that out, no way we’re gonna get an energy source at this notice, not now the scythe’s all used up” Buffy flopped despondently down in her chair, her thoughts half on the impossible task ahead and half on the silent vampire leaning heavily against the door frame.

“Umm, we have an energy source” Dawn replied tentatively.

Willows eyes went wide with understanding, “Dawn no, I don’t think…”

“If two drops of my blood could rip open all dimensional walls, I think there’s enough power here for you to deal with a few thousand demons” she crossed her arms and looked defiantly from one face to another. “We have an energy source, now we need a plan”

“No way!” Buffy was on her feet, “If the effigy is really in Marcus’ lair, it’s gonna be heavily guarded, it’s way too dangerous, you are not going anywhere near that shrine”

“Buffy it’s the only way. I’m not a child anymore, if my blood has the power to stop this thing, I’m going.” The two faced each other twin expressions of determination on their faces.

“Do we need Dawn?” Xander asked “Couldn’t we just take a little blood?”

Willow shook her head. “The blood would die outside the body.”

“Yes quite, we’d need a mystical vessel of some sort or the blood would lose its power” Giles agreed.

Xander looked nervously about the room in the silence that followed, before raising his hand like a nervous pupil seeking a teacher’s attention. “I have a really bad idea,” he told them

…………………….

“No bloody way” Spike exploded, the whelp was insane if he thought any of them would go along with this.

“It might work” Willow offered raising her hands as if to calm the irate vampire, “and it’d keep Dawn out of danger”

Spike paused his agitated pacing and narrowed his eyes at the witch, didn’t take this lot long to figure out a fella’s weak spots. “I think it’d bring her a lot closer to danger than she needs to get”

“It’s really a question of relatives” Giles tried to intercede, “while the plan is far from ideal, it would be far better for her to be bitten by you out of harms way then to go into Marcus’ stronghold”

“Spike” Dawn tried to convince him, “you’re the only mystical vessel we have, it’s either this or I have to go with Willow.” She smiled at him, “It’s okay, I trust you”

“You shouldn’t” he spat bitterly before turning and heading for the back door.

Buffy was up and following him before anyone could stop her, “Spike” she called running out into the back yard, eyes scanning desperately left and right as she searched for the vampire.

“Right here” she spun round at the sound of his voice, he was leaning on the railing of the back porch, cigarette hanging unlit from his lips.

“Spike” she breathed in relief, she moved towards him, hand coming up to touch his arm, “What’s up babe?”

She frowned when he flinched violently away from her touch, “Don’t,” he commanded harshly.

“Spike what’s wrong? I don’t understand” tears shone prettily in her eyes and he almost reached out to comfort her, before he remembered he had no right to offer her anything except an explanation.

“Had me a not so pleasant trip down memory lane today” he looked at her almost accusingly, “How can you even think that we could… after…”

Buffy’s eyes widened in shock, he remembered, remembered uber-bitch Buffy and now he didn’t want her. “Spike that was then this is now, it’s different.”

“Different?” he asked incredulously, “It’s different, forgive and forget then.” He shook his head “Unbelievable” he muttered.

“Spike look, I’m sorry, I know that things where messed up before, but this time it’ll be different. We can make it work I know we can” she knew she was begging, abandoning her pride before him and she didn’t care, she had to make him see. “I know there was a lot of bad, we hurt each other, but it’s in the past. It’s not us anymore”

He was looking at her like she was crazy, brow furrowed, she ploughed on “It’s different now, everything’s different, we’re diff…”

“I almost raped Dawn” his soft confession shocked her into silence. She shook her head, as if to deny his words.

“I almost raped Dawn,” he repeated more loudly. “I held her down, ripped her shirt and laughed when she begged me to stop” he held her shocked gaze for a moment, making sure she understood. “So you tell me that I’m different”

…………………….

23. A welcoming committee
 

“Buffy?” Dawn questioned when the Slayer finally returned to the group.

Buffy looked at her sister’s concerned face, her baby sister, poor Dawn, God how could he have…

“Buffy?” Another concerned voice, Willow’s, her gaze questioning but supportive.

“Spike” She paused, the name tasted like acid in her mouth, “He went back to the motel. He said he’d do what ever we needed, just go get him”

“Buffy, what happened are you okay?” Dawn’s question sent anger coursing through her, how can you ask me that you lying little…

“Giles” she ignored the question. “Can you book overnight flights, we need to get to the hellmouth”

………………….

“It’s just too damn quiet, I don’t like it” Faith commented, eyes scanning the cemetery.

“Calm before the storm?” Angel asked his voice soft, eyes following hers out over the landscape.

“I reckon. I wish B and the gang ‘d get here already” she sighed leaning back further on the tomb they where sitting on she let her gaze travel to the star covered sky.

“Never thought I’d hear those words from you Faith” he replied with a dry chuckle, “Thought you liked being the head honcho?”

“Oh yeah man, I mean it’s cool and all, making the decisions giving the orders.” She sighed and turned her head to catch his eye, “but this is bad shit man, I figure we’re gonna be needing the big guns on this one. Say is Red coming too?”

“Giles said she would, Xander too, and Dawn” he frowned running his earlier conversation with the Watcher over in his mind, “he said they had a few ideas, and some reinforcements, funny he was a bit cagy on the details”

“Well you know Giles, likes to build up the melodrama” she sighed again, feeling strangely old in the face of the inevitable battle, perhaps she was old, for a slayer anyway, if not for B and Willow she’d have been dead years ago, just like all the chosen ones before her.

“Lets head back to HQ” she said standing and brushing herself off, before her thoughts could turn maudlin. “We wanna make sure we’re in the welcoming committee”

……………………

The pencil moved over the cheap motel stationary as if by it’s own volition. There was little hope of sleep, no dream that would not inevitably lead back to that awful scene.

Images of Buffy where scattered all over the bed in some her face was hard as stone, hatred burning in the greys of her graphite eyes, in others she was hurt, tears on her cheeks, pain and confusion on her face. He sighed and studied his latest creation, fear and betrayal screamed back at him from the page.

He dropped his head into his hands, he had put that expression on her beautiful face, his rough demanding hands, his merciless lust. He wiped angrily at the tears that forced their way past his closed eyelids.

He remembered that morning, the gentle playfulness, the easy affection, how could she behave like that, after what he had done, how could she forgive him. She would not forgive him this, he had seen it in her eyes when he told her what he had done to Dawn, she may be able to forgive the wrongs he had done her, but she would not forgive the transgression against her sister.

He sighed, turned over a new leaf of paper, picked up his pencil again and drew.

………………..

“Buffy” Dawn came into her room without knocking, concern for her sister overriding any thought of politeness.

“Buffy what’s wrong?” she crouched down in front of her sister “Come on Buffy, you know you can tell me anything”

“Hah” the sound was harsh, almost unrecognisable as her own voice. “But you can’t tell me anything.”

She caught the younger girls eye and held it “How the hell could you not tell me Dawn?”

“What Buffy? I don’t understand” Dawn’s protestation fuelled the Slayer’s anger.

“About what happened with Spike, you didn’t think that maybe I had a right to know?”

Dawn rolled her eyes “Buffy, we’ve been over this, there is no me and Spike”

“In the motel” she said it like a challenge, daring her sister to deny the truth.

“Oh.” A long heavy pause “Buffy I didn’t tell you, because” she took a deep breath Buffy wasn’t going to like this “because it’s none of your business”

There was a brief moment of silence while Buffy gaped disbelievingly at her sister, then she exploded. “None of my business?” she shouted angrily. “How can it not be my business?” she was up and pacing now, anger radiating from every pore “My boyfriend tries to rape my sister and it’s not my business”

“No it’s not” Dawn tried to keep her voice calm and reasoning. “Spike wasn’t your boyfriend then. And he didn’t try, he almost, he stopped”

“Now you’re arguing over semantics,” Buffy hissed angrily.

“No I’m not,” she countered. “He couldn’t remember us, he was just doing what any vampire would do”

“So it’s okay?” her anger was diminishing into hurt and confusion. “How could you let him be anywhere near you after that?”

“You did” an undeniable truth, but not an accusation. “I didn’t understand back then, I couldn’t understand how you could forgive him, let him back into your life. I understand now”

“Well I sure as hell don’t” Buffy almost screamed, “Spike came back from Africa with a soul, he was different.”

“He’s different now” she insisted.

“How?” the blonde challenged, hands coming to rest on her hips. “What’s changed in the last week? You tell me because I don’t know. What’s changed?”

“You” Dawn let the answer sink in for a moment before pressing on. “You, he found you again, that’s what changed. Spike doesn’t need a soul Buffy, he never did, all he ever needed was you”

“Dawn” Buffy began but trailed off, brow creased with half formed understanding.

"Angel and Angelus where different creatures” Dawn pressed on, ageless wisdom guiding her words “I never understood how when Spike came back with his soul he was still just Spike

“I was so angry with him back the, I thought it was because he wasn’t really sorry, that he didn’t regret what he’d done to you.”

Dawn paused searching her sister’s eyes for confirmation that the older girl was following her. “But I figured it out” She continued, suddenly impassioned. “The soul wasn’t a curse like Angel’s, it was a reward. He fought for it, and when he won it back it wasn't to torture him or suppress the demon it was to guide him. He wanted to be good before the soul all he needed was a moral compass. The soul and the demon weren't at war like Angel and Angelus, they had too much in common"

"Huh, what could his soul have in common with his demon?" Buffy’s anger seemed to have abated, genuine curiosity in Dawn’s reasoning taking its place

“Buffy” Dawn’s gentle voice held a hint of chiding, “You know what”

She looked down, face contorted in deep thought, finally she met her sister eyes “me”

………………………….

The day had been spent making arrangements, packing, peddling rusty excuses to bosses and tutors. Buffy had been grateful for the activity, anything to keep her mind off Spike.

Everything was ready, nothing needed doing or rechecking, Giles and Xander had not arrived and Willow and Dawn where making sandwiches for the journey, well it was better that airplane food.

So she was alone for a while, nothing to do but think. Was Dawn right? Was Spike a good guy just trying to find his way, relearning a centuries worth of forgotten morals. He had been a monster, she had always known that, he had never tried to hide it, never apologized for it. It was what he had been for a hundred years, was he different now, had love changed him. It seemed a foolishly romantic notion of course, but then this was Spike, the vampire that had earned a soul for love, even knowing what it would do to him.

She ran a shaky hand through her hair and plopped down on the bed. If he was truly willing too learn, could she teach him? Could she give him back right and wrong? It was a responsibility she wasn’t certain she could face. If she failed then innocent lives would be in her hands, but if she succeeded. Was Spike beyond redemption? True he was an unrepentant killer, a merciless demon, but he was also a compassionate man, driven by love to deny his very nature.

“Giles is here” Willow’s voice rescued her from her own circling thoughts

………….

“I’ll go” Buffy offered when they pulled up in the motel car park. She was out of the car and halfway to the door before anyone could acknowledge her.

One brief knock and she entered the unlocked room, “Spike” She greeted the vampire sitting cross legged on the bed, the bed where he had attacked Dawn, sketches of her own anguished face spread out before him. He tried to hide the images, hasty jerky movements, lacking his usual grace.

“Time to go Slayer?” he asked keeping his eyes averted.

“Yeah” she answered moving over to the shabby desk, covered with still more images, she recognised one as from their interlude in her bathroom the previous morning. Her own broad smile shone radiantly from the page and she returned the smile with a rueful quirk of her own lips. Had he really put that blissful expression on her face just a day ago?

She listened to him moving about behind her for a moment more before he spoke. “Ready” he informed her, the single word laden with guilt and regret.

“Okay” as she moved away some scribblings on the edge of an image of a smiling Dawn caught her eye, causing her to gasp audibly.

“You okay? He asked concern ringing in his hushed voice.

“Sure fine” she turned giving him a business like look, “lets go”

………………………….

Dawn had had enough, enough of watching Spike slink along behind the group like a whipped dog, enough of watching Buffy give the vampire alternately wary and sympathetic looks. Most of all she had had enough of the tension that hung heavy as molasses in the air.

With a determine toss of her hair she stood and strode over to where the vampire had positioned himself, leaning heavily on a mirrored pillar away from the rest of the group. “Giving yourself away there fang,” she told him, gesturing towards the empty mirror.

His sigh was so utterly desolate that she ached for him, “not much bothered what people think pet.” He told her keeping his eyes fixed on his steel toecaps. “You should head back over to your sister, no good you being anywhere near the likes of me”

Her irritated huff was obviously not what he expected, “Oh for Gods sake Spike stop being such a drama queen”

“Pardon?” he gave her a disbelieving, half offended look.

“You heard.” She told him sharply before her eyes softened and she reached for his arm, gripping it firmly when he tried to move away. “This is me Spike” she reassured him. “I know you’ve got Buffy worries right now, but this is me. Don’t shut me out, okay?”

“Pet you don’t understand…” he began only to be cut off by her unladylike snort

“Spike, I understand more than everyone gives me credit for. I’m like a billion years old.” Her attempt at lightening the mood was blessedly successful.

“Or ten” he countered with a wry chuckle.

“Children can be very perceptive” she let her mirth slip away, “I know you remembered. About what happened with Buffy”

“Yeah I remember” his voice was so low she almost didn’t hear him.

“But you don’t remember everything” she insisted firmly, “a lot happened before and after that you don’t remember.”

“Nothing that excuses what I did to her” he paused catching her silky hair in his fingers “or to you”

“Blah!” she exclaimed, “you keep your guilt trips for Buffy, me and you are okay, I know it wasn’t you”

“Then who the bloody hell was it?” his voice boomed in the near empty terminal causing Buffy to glance up sharply at them, he dropped his eyes where they met hers.

“There’s no one else Dawn, I’m no Angel”

“I know” she replied, “but you changed, for me, for Buffy, it wasn’t your fault you couldn’t remember”

He sighed shaking his head, “Dawn…”

“No” her voice was firm, “you can’t expect to get everything right right away, you’ll make mistakes, but you’re trying and that’s enough.”

“Not for Buffy”

“Oh I wouldn’t be so sure. Give her time” she slipped her arms around his waist and tucked her head under his chin, waiting patiently for his arms to come up hesitantly around her.

……………………………………….

“Flight 392 to Cleveland now boarding” Buffy watched as the announcement cause Dawn and Spike to pull out of their long embrace, Dawn scrubbing frantically at her face, while the vampire shook himself.

She was on the plane second, grabbing a window seat in front of Xander, Willow and Dawn came next, taking the two seats in front of her, already bickering over who was buying the in flight drinks.

He looked strangely comfortable in the modern confines of the plane, moving gracefully down the aisle, somehow she had expected the same awkwardness that Angel still exhibited when confronted with human technology. He glanced at the empty seat next to her and she found herself holding her breath, maybe he’d sit with her and they could talk.

He didn’t even catch her eye as he moved past her and flopped down next to Xander. “You mind mate?” he asked casually.

“A few hours sitting next to the evil dead, why should I mind?” Xander joked without malice.

“’Preciate it” Spike’s uncharacteristic politeness seemed to unsettle Xander.

“You alright man?” Xander asked with genuine concern. “You seem a little… off”

“Fan-bloody-tastic, say you gotta pencil and paper?”

“Er, not on me, but I bet the stewardess could get you one” He raised a hand. “Excuse me Miss”

…………………………

“They are on their way Sire” Solomon informed him, “They boarded a night plane just minutes ago”

“And the Slayers?” Marcus asked, running a hand over his chin thoughtfully.

“No movement, they appear to be waiting for the arrival. I suspect they will send an escort to take them back to their head quarter.”

“Undoubtedly.” He paused giving Solomon a hard look, “Make sure the welcoming committee is ready. I want her dead before she leaves the airport

“Yes Sire” the vaith gave a stiff bow before turning to leave.

“Solomon” Marcus eerily calm voice chilled the air in the room, stopping the demon at the door, “no mistakes this time. You understand?”

Solomon nodded without looking back and left the room, no mistakes.

He walked briskly to the where five men waited, mercenaries selling there automatic machine guns to the highest bidder, cruel blood thirsty men that would think nothing of murdering a pretty young girl for a few thousand pounds. No, no mistakes.

……………………..

Buffy wiped her sweaty palms against her denim-clad thighs, she was feeling antsy and unsettled. Giles who had settled down next to her had long since fallen asleep, as had the girls in front of her. Xander’s soft snoring was the only sound she could hear above the gentle hum of the planes engine, that and the never-ending scratch of graphite on paper.

She almost growled, from the moment Xander had acquired the materials Spike had been drawing. She understood why he did it, transferring his shattered memories to paper in and attempt to capture them. But the almost inaudible sound of pencil on paper was beginning to fray her already jangling nerves.

“No more fruit rollups mom” Xander mumbled, coming awake behind her with a start, “weird dream”. She heard him yawn and shift in his seat.

“Hey captain peroxide, what you drawing?” he asked quietly.

“Your girl” came the distracted reply, Buffy heard the rustle of paper as Spike handed the young man a selections of drawings.

Xander sighed as he studied the final picture, Anya’s expression was sad, her eyes spoke of a pain her strange innocence had not been able to understand, instinctively he knew what memories the vampire was sketching here, so it was no great surprise when Spike spoke.

“For what it’s worth, I’m sorry,” he offered, his eyes trained of the stewardess serving drinks at the front of the cabin. “If memory serves she was just drunk and lonely. Poor bint was just hurt is all, nothing more”

“You and her both” Xander replied his eyes still riveted on the image.

“You know” he began after a long pause, “it still eats me up that I put that expression on her face, that I did that to her. But you know what’s worse?”

He locked eyes with the vampire. “We wasted so much time, being scared and angry. Yeah it took her a long time to forgive me, but it took me even longer to let her. Coulda had more time if…” her trailed off before shaking himself.

“I wont ask if you want my advice” he told the vampire, “’cos I know you’d say no, so I’ll just give it. If you’re lucky enough to get a chance, you let her forgive you”

Buffy felt tears prick her eyes, dear Xander, impossibly perceptive Xander, how do you do it?

She closed her eyes, if she could, if she decided she could forgive him, would he let her?

………………………

“Flights on time” Faith informed them, walking back towards Angel and the small party of Slayers that where to act as escort, “I guess wonders’ll never cease”

“How long till they get in?” Angel asked eyeing the board warily.

“Ten minutes, then another ten with luggage collection. Should be back at Slayer central in an hour”

“Come on big guy” she took his arm, “let’s go get a coffee”

……………….

Technology was no match for the power of the old ways, cloaking spells made light work of airport security. The five stood in the centre of the arrivals lounge, armed with semi automatic machine guns and no one in the airport knew a thing about it.

“We kill them all” the leader informed them again, “But the girl first, no mistakes, we kill the blonde”

A grunt of understanding rippled through the group “Sir?” one asked warily “The vampire?”

“We stake him once the others are dead, it won’t be a problem” he assured “shhh!” A harsh whisper, bring there attention to the passengers getting off the plane. “Get in position”

………………..

Spike walked behind Buffy and Willow as they exited the plane, the others delayed by Dawn’s uncooperative hand luggage left slightly behind. Moving into the departure lounge he was aware of three familiar smells, one was Angelus’ unmistakable scent, the other a Slayer, but not Buffy, his mind flashed an image of feisty brunette, but it was gone too fast to decipher. The third smell was a strangely metallic, mechanical scent he couldn’t place, he reached back into his long history a saw the battlefields of the Second World War. There it was beneath the remembered scent of death and sulphur that same scent. His sensitive hearing picked up a quit click of metal. Gun oil!

With a shout of warning he pushed the two girls to the floor just as a shower of bullets flew overhead. Screams of pain and confusion sounded above them as the bullets found alternative targets. “Willow” he demanded, but she was already acting, mumbling magical words, and letting her power unravel the spell.

He glanced around as the magic crumbled, revealing five viscous looking gunmen, “Xander” Buffy’s panicked voice drew his attention to the young man bravely exiting the plane to come to his friends’ aid, “Oh God”

Xander had forgotten quite how strange an experience it was to look death in the face, he saw the armed men, heard Buffy’s cry strangely distorted in his unnaturally clear mind, in slow motion he watched one of the men aim towards him, and watched him slowly squeeze the trigger.

What he did not see was Spike, God had he really forgotten how fast those creatures could move, suddenly the vampire was in front of him, his body jerking violently as the automatic weapon peppered his body with bullets.

Time played catch up, hurtling uncontrollably towards the present, security where shouting orders uselessly, no help was coming from there, but help was coming. Twelve teenage girls, moving faster than any human should where amongst their attackers, high kicks and lightening fast hands knocking the weapons from the men’s’ grasps perfectly executed sleeper holds leaving them for human authorities to deal with.

Faiths voice sounded strongly from amongst them “Move” she ordered “Get out of here before the filth show up”

Spike turned to him, seeming obliviously to his own perforated chest, “You alright mate?” he asked blood bubbling up with the word to froth over his lips.

“Shit Spike” Xander was too slow too catch the falling vampire.

“I got him” Angel appeared, throwing the younger vampire over his shoulder in a fireman’s carry, “come on move”

24. A healing touch.
 

“Quick in the van” Faith ordered, mentally doing a head count, Xander, Willow, Dawn, Giles and Buffy, that’s the old gang, three, six, nine, eleven, twelve slayers, Angel, and Spike! Shit!

Damn B could given them some warning, Angel looked like he’d seen a ghost, he set his bloodied grandchild in the van and sat back on his heels, watching in confusion as Buffy clambered in next to the younger vampire.

She kept her eyes on the distraught Slayer as she took command of more pressing matters. “Anna” she barked at one of the girls, “you’re driving. Go!”

“Spike” Buffy was muttering the vampire’s name through desperate tears, her hands uselessly clutching at his chest to staunch the bleeding. “Oh God, please no”

They where moving now, being jostled around on the metal floor as Anna sped through the busy streets. “Katie” she got the attention of a stocky brunette with short-cropped hair, “Quit gawping and get me some first aid”

“Buffy” Dawn pulled her stricken sister away from Spike, giving Faith room to work. Her arms wrapping comfortingly around the older girl, “Let Faith patch him up okay? The blood loss won’t kill him, it’s gonna be okay”

“Spike” the blonde whispered reaching a hand to touch the vampires thigh, “Help him” half an order half a plea as she looked beseechingly at the dark slayer.

“I got it B” Faith went to work, she couldn’t believe how frail Buffy seemed, how girlish and feeble in the face of Spike’s condition, perhaps she had been pinning her hope too much on Buffy’s arrival, perhaps the once mighty Buffy Summers wouldn’t be able to save them after all.

……………………….

“How much longer?” Dawn demanded.

Faith peered out the vans small back window getting her bearings “Nearly an hour, Anna’s taking an alternative route, standard procedure in case we’re followed”

“Giles, can the blood loss kill him?” she asked the watcher. All eyes returned to the vampire on the floor, there was so much blood, Faith’s mobile first aid kit had been able to do little in the face of his injuries, blood lay thick and dark on the floor so that each of them had stained knees and hands where they crouched in it.

“In theory no” Giles assured her, “but I’ve never seen a vampire loose so much, he doesn’t seem to be healing, I don’t understand.”

“He’s only had butchers blood since he came back” Dawn remembered, “maybe he needs human blood to heal”

“Well that would certainly help, but where…” he trailed off as her intention became clear, she rolled up her sleeve moving her arm towards his lips.

“No Dawn” Buffy’s voice was strong and commanding, she looked up from the vampire who’s head she’d cradled in her lap.

“Don’t try and stop me Buffy” Dawn hissed angrily at her sister, “if I can help him I will”

Buffy grabbed her arm as it moved again towards the vampire’s mouth, “No Dawn, the plan”

Dawn frowned knowing her sister was right, Willow needed her precious blood to fight Velmorick’s power. “We can’t just do nothing” she insisted.

Buffy didn’t answer she merely rolled up her own sleeve and put out her hand for a blade.

Angel had been silent and immobile for the whole journey, Spike was back, back for a fiery death in the hellmouth. Spike who had saved the world was back and possibly bleeding to death in the back of a van in Cleveland. He saw Buffy roll up her sleeve to feed the vampire and revulsion rose in his stomach, no it wasn’t right. His golden perfect Buffy freely offering her blood to an evil disgusting thing like Spike.

“I’ll do it” he cut in causing Buffy to look at him in surprise, when she looked about to protest he continued. “You need your strength and sire’s blood will heel him faster than anything”

“Do it then” she snapped “quickly”

It occurred to Angel that Buffy had wanted to do it herself, that she had been glad to gift the vampire her blood, she must not know, must believe that he had returned from death with his soul intact. Still, there would be time for that revelation later, now he would have to heal his grandchild or Buffy certainly would.

He pierced his wrist with his own fangs, letting the blood drop over Spikes still lips in an action so reminiscent of siring that he felt a suffocating wave of regret wash over him. His blood had created this creature, this thing that had killed, maimed and tortured his way across the world for a century, he had created him, all that blood was on his hands.

Slowly the mystic power of his demonic blood roused the unconscious demon, his lips parted allowing the healing fluid to slip into his mouth in a steady trickle.

As Spike felt consciousness returning he was aware of only two things, firstly that he was in pain, a lot of pain, he felt as if his body had been put through a mincer. Secondly, that there was powerful vampiric blood running down his throat, familiar and comforting the life giving elixir that could only be his sires, or her sires.

Angel. His eyes shot open to fix on the dark vampire, who’s bleeding wrist hovered over his open mouth. Hatred for his grandsire rose in his weak body, for a moment he considered batting the offered wrist away, he needed nothing Angel could offer. But the blood, the inescapable pull of family called to him through the blood, he was a vampire and it had been a long time since he had shared blood with his closest kin.

Ignoring the pain his hand shot out to fasten on Angel’s thick forearm, holding it in position as he lifted his mouth to the small wound. His own fangs descended ripping the flesh so that the blood poured freely into his mouth.

Angel let his one time progeny drink until he felt blood loss weaken his own body, then he wrenched his wrist away from the others increasingly powerful grip, and moved away watching with interest as Buffy drew Spike’s attention.

“Spike” she whispered her hands stroking his face gently “Are you okay?”

“Slayer” his hoarse voice was barely more than a whisper, he looked slowly down at his own bloodied chest. “Bloody hell” he croaked before passing out again.

………………….

Slayer central was a well oiled machine, Buffy had to admit being extremely impressed, on their arrival there had been medical assistance for Spike and one of the girls who’s arm had been cut in the fight at the air port, a quick no nonsense debriefing and food and drink for the new arrivals.

Buffy sat with Xander in the large empty canteen, eating sandwiches and sipping on milk shake. “Nice set up they’ve got here” she commented. "Have you been here before?”

“I pop in and out, but mainly it’s field work for me. Helping out new Slayers.” He leant back in his chair and smiled at the anxious Slayer across from him, “how you doin’ Buff?”

She sighed heavily and scrubbed at her face, “I’m okay, I just wish someone would tell us what’s happening”

“Don’t worry” he reassured her confidently, “Slayer central has the best of everything, they’ll fix your boy up in no time”

“He’s not my boy” the response was automatic, a reflex denial that surprised them both. “I mean, he’s… It’s complicated”

“Ain’t it always?” Xander asked, a soft question that could have been mistaken for rhetorical had he not held her eyes so intently

“I was just so happy he was back you know, I thought we could have a new start.” She looked past him a rueful expression on her face “But then…” she sighed “Stuff happened and I felt like we where back on square one and, I don’t know, it was such a long hard road the first time, can I do it again?”

“Only you can answer that Buffy, but what I know is that if it’s really real, that scary no holds barred love I was so wrong in thinking you and Riley coulda had”

She laughed a little then and reached over to take his hand. “If it is” he continued “then you can, because you have a hell of a heart”

Closing her eyes she basked in his gentle, unconditional affection, “thank you” she told him sincerely.

…………………

“He’ll be fine B.” Faith insisted for the fourth time, “we’re pumping him full of A Pos, he’ll be all better by tomorrow afternoon. Now you” she physically turned her towards the stairs “room 340. Get. Some. Rest”

Buffy sighed giving in to the dark slayers insistence, “Okay I’m going, see you later”

The room was cheap but comfortable looking with a small double bed, but no shower, God she was exhausted, she stepped out of her shoes and trudged towards the bed.

A sharp knock on the door stopped her, “Buffy are you awake” Angel’s worried voice sounded through the hardboard.

“Yep, sure come on in” She sat on the bed rubbing her sore feet as he entered.

“Buffy” that gentle reverence that always accompanied her name on his lips, “I need to talk to you, there’s something you need to know, about Spike.”

Her head shot up, “Is he okay?” She asked already half way to her feet. He stopped her gently and sat them both down on the bed before continuing.

“He’s on the mend, but, Buffy, I’m sorry to tell you this, but…”

“Spit it out Angel” worry fuelled her annoyance making her harsh.

“His soul. He doesn’t have it anymore” he watched her reaction, the confused crease of her forehead and annoyed shake of her head, not what he’d expected.

“So?” she asked bluntly, her eyes fixed challengingly on his

“So?” he asked incredulously. “Buffy do you even know if he still has that chip?”

“Yes” she replied disinterestedly as she took her foot in her hands again.

“Well that’s something then, but even so Buffy we need to be careful, he could still…”

“I mean yes I know if he still has the chip” she interrupted him, not looking up “he doesn’t”

He watched her for a moment, processing her casual revelation that William the Bloody was loose in Slayer central without a muzzle. “Have you gone crazy?” he asked angrily jumping to his feet, “You brought him here! What where you thinking Buffy?”

She looked up at him narrowing her eyes, who the hell did he think he was? “I was thinking we can’t fight Marcus without him.” She told him haughtily “I was thinking we need him here, I need him here” her eyes shone with defiance, daring him to question her judgment or authority.

“Buffy” His voice was soft again, oh so gentle, oh so calm and reasoning, what the hell did Angel have against a nice shouting match, “I know that what he did for you, for all of us before he died, meant a lot to you. But you mustn’t let it cloud your judgment, he has no soul, he’s not the same person”

“Pfft” she waved her hand at him dismissively, “You don’t know him?”

“I created him” Angel countered, “I think I know him”

“Not anymore, he’s different now. He’s here to help Angel, it’s not up for discussion, we need him” her voice was firm, full of an authority, he opted for discretion over valour and changed track.

Looking down at her hands where they had resumed tending to her tired feet, he breathed a sigh of relief. “Well at least you haven’t done anything stupid?” he said, inclining his head towards her hand.

“Eh?” she questioned idiotically.

“You still have your engagement ring” he clarified, “I was worried for a moment that you where throwing everything away over this”
 

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