Chapter 3
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Disclaimer: The characters from Buffy the Vampire Slayer belong
to Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy. Same goes for any characters from Angel that
should appear. Any other characters are mine and may be used for other fanfic
(Just note that they’re mine if you use them.)
Content rating note: This fic is rated PG-13.
Continuity note: This story takes place after Chapt. 2. The whole story takes place after the Buffy
episode “Showtime” and diverges into AU from there. It’s also a rewrite of
post-Showtime season 7 and the prequel to Summer
Vacation. Some of the things that happened in post-Showtime season 7 may
happen to some extent (and with liberties taken), and others…not so much. I
used www.buffyworld.com as my resource
for any dialog and such that I kept from the episodes.
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1
Xander and Andrew huddled around the laptop in the dining room. A word processing program was open on the screen. “I’ve interviewed Mr. Giles and the Potentials, so now all we need is a super cool name and this issue is a wrap,” Andrew said.
“I must be really bored,” Xander said.
“Come on, we need a name. I want to get this out before Mr. Giles or Buffy makes any announcements. While I still have some scoops left,” Andrew said.
“Okay, okay…How about…” Xander snickered. “Andrew’s Rag?”
Andrew snickered in return. “You’re so bad,” he said. “I like it.” Andrew put the title at the top of the newsletter in big, bold, underlined font. Then he printed out enough copies for everyone, and he and Xander began handing them out. Among the headlines were: Mr. Giles’ Escape From Death, Spike Gets De-Chipped, Ritual a Success for Slayers-in-Training, and Willow Hexed.
“Am I mentioned?” Anya asked enthusiastically when she received her copy of the Rag. She scanned the article on Willow’s hexing, and subsequent de-hexing, and made a pleased noise. Across from her, Buffy and Willow read their copies.
“Lovers?! What kind of dream world is Andrew living in?! He refers to Spike and me as lovers in the De-Chipped piece!” Buffy exclaimed.
“So you aren’t then?” Anya asked.
“Not at the moment!” said Buffy.
Anya and Willow raised their eyebrows.
“I mean, not! Why does everyone think I’m still in love with Spike?” Buffy asked.
Anya and Willow continued to give Buffy a look.
Just then, Giles burst into the kitchen. “You took it out?!” he exclaimed, pointing to the story on Spike’s de-chipping.
“It was killing him!” replied Buffy.
“And now he could kill us all,” Giles said, huffing.
“What are you talking about? The trigger? The chip wasn’t working for that anyway,” said Buffy.
“It might have if you’d had it fixed,” Giles replied, practically seething.
“Whoa, whoa, now. What’s this I hear about the chip maybe working with the trigger if you’d fixed it?” Xander said, coming in from behind Giles. The rest of the household (except Spike) was hovering just outside the door, having heard a kerfluffle brewing.
“Might have and maybe are the key words here,” said Buffy. “Besides, it wasn’t right having him muzzled like that. He has a soul now and he’s a good man. I can feel it. That’s what’s going to stop him from hurting people.”
“Unless he’s triggered. And then it’s kill, kill, kill,” said Anya.
“Maybe we could call the Initiative again, and have ‘em cram the chip back in,” Xander suggested.
“We can’t do that~!” exclaimed Buffy. “On the way to the hospital, Graham said that the reason the chip failed was because it wasn’t meant to last this long. So if I’d had it fixed, then years later the same thing would happen. I couldn’t let that happen to him again.”
“What about what might happen to the rest of us?” asked Xander.
“You have a houseful of girls to protect. It’s crucial that we keep them safe. I can’t count the dangers- The First, the Bringers, random demons, and now Spike?” said Giles.
“Listen, Buffy, I was moderately down with this decision when I thought the chip was useless against the trigger, but now I’m having definite second thoughts,” Xander said.
“Me too,” said Anya.
“Well that’s too bad. The decision was mine. I made it. The chip is out. End of story,” Buffy said.
“Your feelings for him are obviously coloring your judgment. You’re gambling with a lot of lives,” said Giles, walking forward.
“Just because Andrew has us down as lovers, doesn’t mean that we are,” said Buffy.
“Lovers?! Where does it say that?!” Xander asked, snatching away Giles’ copy of Andrew’s Rag and looking it over.
“We haven’t-” Buffy began. “Things have been different since he came back.”
“It doesn’t matter that you’re not physical with each other anymore. There’s a connection. You rely on him. He relies on you. That’s what’s affecting your judgment,” Giles said.
“Damn! This is what I get for not reading it before it goes to press,” Xander said still looking over the paper. Andrew sneaked away from listening with the Potentials and retreated to the dining room.
Giles snatched the paper from Xander’s hand. “We have more important things to worry about than some bloody homemade newsletter, you twit!”
“Right, the important thing is that Buffy isn’t sleeping with Spike,” Xander said. Giles put his hand to his forehead and Buffy gave Xander a sour look.
2
Spike was sleeping, chained up in the basement, unaware of the discussion upstairs. He dozed soundly, every now and then struggling with the chains to find a more comfortable position. When he awoke, the house was quiet. He sat up and stretched, rattling his chains. Then he looked down at his pillow and saw Andrew’s newsletter on it. He rubbed his eyes and read the title, arching an eyebrow.
Spike glanced at the so-called headlines, skimmed the article about Giles’ near miss with the Bringer’s ax, and then put the paper down. “Pffft,” he uttered. He reached for his latest book, a borrowed copy of “The Green Mile” courtesy of Willow, and began reading.
Later on, Buffy would come down and unchain him and they’d go on patrol with the group, but for now the only thing he had to kill was time.
3
The next day, when Buffy arrived home from school, she sought out Willow. She found her almost immediately, sitting on the couch and folding laundry. Buffy plopped down on the other end of the couch from Willow. “So a funny thing happened at the office today,” Buffy said.
“Oh?” queried Willow.
“Get this…The principal. Asked. Me. Out.”
“Well, he’s brave.”
“Hey!” Buffy exclaimed, frowning.
“No- I mean- because, you know…sexual harassment issues. Or, because if he’s evil and knows you’re The Slayer,” Willow said. “So, did you accept?”
“Of course. It’s the perfect opportunity to find out what he’s up to. Not that he’s acting all that suspicious. It’s just that- there he is. On the Hellmouth. All day, every day. That’s got to be like being showered with evil. Only from underneath.”
“Not really a shower,” Willow said, giving Buffy a bemused look.
“Okay. A bidet. Like a bidet of evil.”
“So…what if he isn’t evil?” Willow asked, folding and smoothing a shirt.
“Then I’ll slap him with a sexual harassment lawsuit so fast his head’ll spin!” Buffy said gleefully. Willow stared at her. “Just kidding. I’ll just tell him I’m not interested. Unless, he’s offering me a raise or a promotion or something. Then I’m interested in the raise. Or the promotion.”
Willow laughed. “Um, sure. Promotion. That could happen,” Willow said, with a weak smile. “You’re really not interested? If he’s not evil, that is? You don’t find him attractive?” she asked.
“No, he’s very attractive. I’m just not interested,” Buffy said.
“Any particular reason?” Willow asked, giving Buffy a knowing look.
“Nope. Just not interested. And you know, I am kinda busy training Potentials and dealing with the whole First Evil thing. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to get ready for my fake date,” Buffy said getting up off the couch. She made her way upstairs to pick out an outfit.
“Hmmmm,” Willow said. Then she shrugged and went back to her folding.
4
Buffy stood in front of the bathroom mirror, in a pair of black flared pants, a light pink camisole and a gold necklace. She cycled through a selection of shirts, holding each one up to her and looking it over. She was down to a short pink top, a white blouse, and a black sleeveless top. Finally she chose the black one, figuring it would be easiest to clean if it got dirty in a fight, but hoping that the all black ensemble didn’t make her look too vixen-ish. Now all it needed was a little ironing.
She walked out of the bathroom and down the hall, shirt in hand, and bumped right into Spike. “Oh,” she said.
“Oh, uh…You look nice,” said Spike, trying to act casual.
“Um, thanks,” Buffy said. Then she looked down at her camisole. “Uh, traditionally one wears something over this.”
“Heard you got a date,” Spike said.
“It’s really more of an undercover mission. I figure I’m either getting a promotion or he’s evil.”
“Buffy, you don’t have to bend the truth. I’m fine,” he said. “Think I still dream of a crypt for two with a white picket fence? My eyes are clear.”
Buffy gave him a look. “Oh really?”
“Really,” he said, trying his best to give her a reassuring smile.
“Well, I appreciate the sentiment, but it’s still not a real date. And I don’t want you thinking it’s a real date when it isn’t. Not because I think you’d go berserk or anything. I just wouldn’t want you to think that. When it’s not true. Because it’s not. Does this outfit make me look too vixen-ish?” Buffy asked, holding the top up to herself.
Spike looked at her, puzzling over her rambling response more than her outfit.
“I want something that says ‘Hi, I’m on a date’ but that doesn’t set off any bells or whistles,” Buffy continued.
“It would be impossible for you to not set off any bells or whistles, luv,” Spike said. The words were out of his mouth before he could think better of them. “Uh,” he said blinking. “I’ll, uh, I’ll be downstairs,” he said, making a backwards motion with his thumb and turning to beat a hasty retreat.
“Spike, wait!” Buffy called, stopping him as he reached the stairs. She hesitated a moment. “Um, thanks for the compliment.”
Spike glanced back at her. “You’re welcome,” he said, and then fled downstairs all the way to the basement.
Buffy sighed. She could feel a slight flush in her face. Then she took a deep breath and continued to her bedroom to iron her shirt. Okay, focus, Buffy, she thought. There are possibly evil principals afoot.
5
“Knock, knock!” Xander said, opening the door to the Summers’ residence. “Guess who has a date?” he asked, coming into the living room to find Willow, Anya and Giles chatting on the couch.
“Ooh, I know! Buffy!” Anya said.
“Buffy has a date?!” Giles and Xander asked at the same time.
“Who were you talking about?” Willow asked.
“Me!” Xander said.
“Oh,” Anya said with a humph.
“Yay, go, Xander! Back out on the dating scene,” Willow said.
“Of course, with my luck she’ll probably be evil, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed,” said Xander. “What about Buffy’s beau?”
“He might be evil. We don’t know. It’s Principal Wood from school. She says it’s not a real date, just a ‘find out if he’s evil’ date,” Willow replied.
“Good Lord, she’s dating her boss? Has she gone mad?” Giles asked.
“Ah, but it’s not a real date,” said Xander, holding up his index finger. “Too bad. He’s kinda cute. Unless he turns out to be evil, and then it’s just as well.”
Willow, Anya and Giles gave Xander a look.
“What?” Xander asked.
“All right, who’s gonna chain me up?” Spike asked, coming into the room. “If Buffy’s going out, someone’s gotta chain me up.”
“Ooh, ooh! I volunteer!” Xander said raising his hand.
The others continued to give Xander a funny look.
“Ah, ah, ah,” Buffy said, coming into the room holding a jumbo tranquilizer gun. “I’ve got a better solution.”
“You’re going to tranquilize me!?” Spike exclaimed.
“Not unless you get triggered. I want you free to help protect the house and the girls if something happens while I’m gone. That means someone will have to keep the tranq gun with them at all times and be ready to shoot you with it if you’re triggered,” Buffy explained.
“I call it!” Xander said. “Dibs!”
“You can’t have it. You’re going on a date, remember,” said Anya.
“I think we’ll just give it to Giles,” Buffy said, strolling over to him and handing it over.
“Aw,” Xander said.
“You’ll have to shoot me with several rounds, Rupert,” Spike said.
“I can do that. Don’t you worry,” said Giles dryly.
“So, Xander…A date? Who with?” Buffy asked.
“Oh, this really cute girl I met at the hardware store. Her name is Lissa and she looks just like that singer Ashanti,” Xander said.
“Ooh, nice,” said Willow.
“Is she evil?” Buffy asked.
“Well, you know my luck...But I’m optimistic,” Xander said, holding up crossed fingers.
6
Buffy and Wood walked down a dark alley supposedly towards a great restaurant. After ten minutes of dark, dank alley, Buffy thought to herself, Oh, yeah. He’s evil. Annnny minute now, he’ll turn into a nasty demon, or try and do an evil spell on me, or have me attacked. It was at that moment that a group of vampires sprang out from the darkness and attacked. Buffy kicked and punched and whipped out her stake. “Evil it is,” she said preparing to start a stakin’ when she noticed Wood fighting the vampires and staking some. “Or not,” she added with a perplexed look as she dispatched the nearest vamp.
After the fighting was over, and the vampire dust had cleared, Principal Wood slipped his stake back into its holster on his belt and motioned to the door. “The restaurant is through here,” he said. “And I guess I have some explaining to do.”
“Yeah,” Buffy said, slipping her stake back into her purse and following him in.
After they were seated and had ordered, Buffy asked, “So, what’s your deal? You a freelance vampire hunter?”
“Something like that,” Wood said.
“Do you know who I am?”
“You’re the Slayer.”
“Right. Okay, um, so…I’m guessing you don’t work fifteen feet above the Hellmouth because you enjoy educational administration?” Buffy asked, fiddling with her fork.
“Well, I actually do enjoy the work, but yeah. Yeah, you’re right. I maneuvered myself into that school, that office. Just like I maneuvered you there.”
“So, you mean you- you didn’t hire me for my counseling skills?” Buffy asked looking a little shocked.
Wood laughed and then, noticing Buffy’s hurt look, coughed and put on a straight face. “Uh, they’re valuable too,” he said.
“So why are you here and why all the maneuvering?”
“I wanted to meet The Slayer,” he said, looking at her intently.
“Okay…so then why didn’t you tell me about you?” she asked, giving him a look.
“I didn’t know if I was ready. But then I could feel it. Something going on with the Hellmouth. Something big. And I thought you could use my help.”
“So, you’re like a slayer groupie?” Buffy asked giving him another look.
“No, no,” he said, chuckling. “My mother was a slayer.”
“Your mother- Wow, I didn’t know any slayers had children,” Buffy said.
“Well, I don’t know of any others. She was killed when I was four. I still remember her, but it’s a little…fuzzy.”
“I’m sorry,” said Buffy softly. “So, um, something got her? A demon?”
“A vampire,” Wood answered. “Oh, man, I went through this whole ‘avenging son’ phase in my twenties, but I never found him. So, now I just dust as many of them as I can find. I figure, eventually I’ll get him. That’s probably why we got jumped outside. I’m not very popular with the bumpy-foreheaded crowd, and I bet you aren’t either.”
“No, not most of them,” Buffy said with an amused smile. “So, um, do you have any slayer powers?”
Wood chuckled. “No, I don’t have powers. No super-strength or mythic responsibilities. I’m just a guy with a few skills ‘cause her Watcher took me in and raised me.”
“Should I ask about your dad, or should I not pull at that thread?” Buffy asked.
“Let’s not pull on that thread,” Wood asked, managing a smile.
7
Spike, Anya, Dawn, Willow, Giles and a gaggle of Potentials sat in the living room watching an episode of I Dream of Jeannie on the TV. Spike fidgeted in his seat, hardly paying attention to the show. Finally, Giles couldn’t take it anymore. “Spike, would you please stop that,” Giles said, barely containing an impulse to shoot the antsy vampire with the tranquilizer gun.
“Can’t help it,” Spike said. “I’m worried about Buffy.”
The Scoobies all turned to look at him.
“Not because she’s on a date!” Spike said scowling. “Because that Principal Wood she’s out with might be evil. He could be attacking her now, for all we know.” Spike crossed his arms and slumped back in the chair. Now the Potentials turned to look at him with worried expressions. “Uh, not that she couldn’t handle herself, of course,” Spike added.
Just then Willow’s cell phone rang. “Hm, it’s a text message,” Willow said, looking at her phone. “Oh! It’s from Xander. It’s one of our signals.”
“Signals?” asked Dawn.
“Yeah, the system we set up a while back. Like codes,” replied Willow. “Uh, this one’s either ‘I just got lucky, don’t call me for a while’ or ‘my date’s a demon who’s trying to kill me’.”
“You don’t remember which?” asked Dawn.
“It was a long time ago,” Willow said shrugging.
“Well, if we play the percentages…” began Dawn.
“Something’s eating Xander’s head,” finished Giles.
“Say, that’s gratifying,” Anya said, brightening.
“Better go get Buffy,” Spike said, moving out of his chair.
“Wait, we don’t even know where she went. And I can just call her,” Willow said, arching an eyebrow and giving Spike a look. Willow punched in Buffy’s number. A few seconds later, another cell phone rang in the background. Willow looked around and spied the ringing phone on the end table beside the couch. She picked it up and looked at it. It read “Willow calling” in its window. “That’s not good,” Willow said.
“I’ll go get Buffy. I can track her scent,” Spike said, grabbing Buffy’s phone. Then he grabbed his short leather jacket and headed out the door. When he got outside, he sniffed the air, inhaling deeply. He picked up her scent and headed off in that direction.
8
Spike entered the restaurant and found Buffy and Wood at a table, eating and chatting like a normal couple on a date. He made a sour face briefly and then walked up to their table. Buffy and Wood turned to him, expecting the waiter. “What are you doing here?” Buffy asked.
Wood looked at Spike. Leather jacket and platinum-dyed hair. He’s not the sort of fellow he pictured Buffy being associated with. “Is there a problem?” he asked Buffy.
“It’s Xander,” Spike said.
“Date’s a demon?” Buffy asked, taking the napkin from her lap and putting it on the table.
“Yep.”
“On the bright side, Principal Wood isn’t evil,” Buffy said getting up.
Spike struggled to keep a sour expression from his face.
“You thought I was evil?” Wood asked, turning back to Buffy.
“Well, you were obviously up to something. And now I know. Freelance demon hunter,” Buffy said.
“Oh, goody,” Spike said, letting a little snark creep into his voice. “Maybe he can help us save The Boy. If his demon date hasn’t eaten him alive already.”
“Do we know where Xander is?” Buffy asked.
“I can sniff him out,” said Spike.
Sniff him out? Wood wondered, raising an eyebrow and eyeing Spike suspiciously.
“I also have your cell phone so we can call Willow if I can’t. She could do a locator spell or something,” Spike added, handing Buffy her phone.
“Oops,” Buffy said, taking it. “Well, that would explain why you came down instead of calling.”
Wood left money for the check (along with a generous tip) and followed Buffy and Spike out the door and into the alley. He almost bumped into Buffy when she and Spike stopped. Spike sniffed the air for traces of Xander’s scent. “How did he know where to find us? And what is he doing? Who is that guy, Buffy?” Wood asked.
“That’s Spike and he’s…sniffing the air for Xander’s scent,” Buffy answered giving Wood a nervous smile.
“What is he? Part dog?” Wood asked.
“Uh, not exactly. It’s a long story. Maybe later,” Buffy said.
“Would you two stop that bloody yammering back there. I’m trying to concentrate,” Spike said. Spike took a deep breath to center himself and tried the air again. After another minute or so Spike said, “I’ve got it. Follow me,” and began walking in the direction of Xander with Buffy and Wood in tow.
9
Why do these things always happen to me? Why, Lord, why? Xander thought, as he was being strapped to a table. Is it too much to ask that I date a normal girl? Or at least one that won’t try to kill me? Is that really too much to ask?
“How are those ropes? Too tight?” Lissa asked.
“Yes, they are!” Xander replied.
“Good,” said Lissa, smiling, her cat-like demon eyes glinting in the light. Then Lissa grabbed a big knife from the wall. She turned her head and called out, “C’mon kids! Dinner!” Three demon kids (with sharp pointy teeth and cat-eyes) came into Lissa’s dinning room. They each grabbed dinner plates from a smaller table and held them up to be served.
“You’ve got kids!?” Xander asked. “And you’re going to feed me to them!? Alive!!?” Lissa smiled, revealing her own set of pointy teeth and began cutting into Xander’s side. Xander screamed and struggled. Then suddenly he heard the splintering of wood and shattering of glass. “Buffy!” he cried out. Spike, Buffy and Principal Wood entered the room. Lissa and her demon spawn snarled and attacked the group.
The demon kids went after Wood first, and he punched and kicked at them while slowly inching his way to the wall full of knives. It was a lot like the wall he had hidden in his office back at school and he wondered if it had been constructed by the same company.
Meanwhile, Lissa slashed at Buffy and Spike with the knife, missing them just barely with each swipe. Finally, Buffy grabbed Lissa’s arm and head-butted her, wrenching the knife from Lissa’s hand at the same time. Lissa snarled and kicked Buffy backward into an end table. Spike lunged at the demon woman, pushing her back like a linebacker. Unfortunately, she started whaling on Spike immediately after that.
Wood finally reached the wall and grabbed a large machete off of it. He dispatched the demon kids with a few well placed stabs just in time to look up and see Lissa attempting to strangle Spike. As Lissa dug her nails into Spike’s flesh, he vamped out. “He’s a vampire,” Wood said, staring in disbelief.
“A little help here!” Xander shouted at Wood, breaking his reverie.
Wood cut Xander free, while Buffy picked herself up and ran to the wall of knives. She grabbed one as big as a sword and leapt over the table, kicking Lissa away from Spike. Buffy swung the knife and lopped Lissa’s head off. “Spike, are you okay?” Buffy asked, kneeling down to where Spike had slid down against the wall. She touched his chest and held his hand. “Spike?” she asked. Spike rubbed his throat and nodded his head. Xander and Wood were staring at them. Buffy could feel their stare and turned her head. Then she quickly moved to Xander’s side and asked if he was all right.
“Thanks. I’m okay for almost having been eaten,” Xander said. “I could maybe use some bandages though.”
“He’s a vampire,” Wood said, pointing to Spike. “Did you two know he was a vampire?”
“Spike? Yes,” Xander said, shooting Spike an annoyed look.
“It’s okay. He’s one of the good guys. He has a soul,” Buffy said.
“A soul?? How did that happen?” Wood asked.
“I fought for it. I won it. End of story,” Spike said, picking himself up.
“You were a soulless vampire and went out to get a soul on purpose? Why would you do that?” asked Wood, eyeing Spike with a little suspicion and disbelief.
“None of your damn business,” Spike said, stalking towards the door. “I’m heading home,” he said.
“Wait! Help me get Xander home, won’t you,” Buffy said.
“Right. Fine,” Spike said. He walked back to the table and slung one of Xander’s arms over his shoulder and then hooked an arm under Xander’s leg. “You get the other side,” Spike told Buffy.
“Do you know for a fact he has a soul?” Wood asked Buffy.
“Yes,” she answered, slinging Xander’s other arm over her shoulder and hooking his other leg. “I have to get Xander home. Can you get back to your car okay?”
“I’ll be fine,” Wood answered.
“Okay. Goodnight,” Buffy said, lifting Xander up off the table with Spike.
“I’ll see you tomorrow at school, Buffy,” Wood called out as he watched Buffy and Spike cart Xander out the door.
“Right!” Buffy called back.
Wood stared after them for a moment before calling a cab to take him back to his car at the restaurant.
10
It was well past 2 AM when Buffy, Spike and Xander arrived home. “Guys, really, it’s okay. I think I can walk now,” Xander said, when they got up to the front door. Buffy and Spike set him down and then Buffy opened the door and ushered him in.
As soon as they heard the door open, Willow, Anya, Giles and Dawn hopped off the couch and ran to the door. “Xander!” Anya exclaimed upon seeing his bloody shirt wrapped around his midsection.
“I’ll get the first aid kit,” Giles said, scooting off to fetch it from the dining room cupboard.
“What happened?” Dawn asked.
“What else? Another demon woman was attracted to me. She tried to slice me up and serve me for dinner,” Xander said, moving into the living room and plopping down in an armchair.
Giles returned with the first aid kit and Willow intercepted him. “Here, I’ll take care of him,” she said. Giles handed the kit over and Willow knelt in front of Xander and rummaged through the kit for the necessary supplies.
“You know what I’ve decided, Wills? I’m going gay. I’ve decided I’m turning gay. Willow, gay me up. Come on, let’s gay,” Xander said. Willow stopped in mid-bandage and stared at him. The others joined in, giving him a funny look. “Come on. Just tell me what to do.”
“Uh…” said Willow, still taken aback.
“All right, I’m mentally undressing Scott Bakula right now. That’s a start isn’t it?”
“Um…”
“Come on, let’s get this gay show on the gay road. Help me out here,” he pled.
“I could give you some anal sex tips,” Spike offered, causing all heads to swivel in his direction. “What? You don’t have to be gay to enjoy it. Something a lot of gay men like to do though, so might be good to get some pointers.”
“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” said Anya. “Xander and I have done the anal sex quite a few times. Of course, I had to use a strap-on.”
Giles removed his glasses and pressed his hand to his forehead. He could feel a massive headache coming on.
“I’ll be going upstairs now,” Dawn said. She turned and fled up the stairs, going into her room and closing the door behind her.
“Oops. Forgot the Niblet was here,” Spike said, putting his hand behind his head and scratching his scalp nervously.
“I see many therapy bills in my future,” Buffy quipped.
Willow finished bandaging Xander and then crooked her eyebrow at him and asked, “What if you just start attracting male demons?”
“Ha! It would serve you right,” Anya said.
“My theory is that only female demons are attracted to me,” Xander said.
Giles held the tranq gun out to Buffy and said, “Shoot me. Shoot me now.” Buffy tried to suppress a giggle and was only halfway successful.
11
Later that night, Buffy sat on the couch trying to unwind with a cup of hot cocoa. Hot cocoa makes everything better, thought Buffy, taking a sip. Spike peeked into the room, unnoticed, and scanned the area for other people. When he was sure Buffy was alone, he went up to her.
“Hey, Buffy?” he asked.
“Hey, Spike,” she said, giving him a tired but sincere smile.
“Uh, I wanted to ask you something…” Spike said, sitting down on the couch with her.
“Sure. Shoot,” replied Buffy.
Spike sighed and looked down at his hands. “Since you’ve got another skilled demon fighter in the mix, I wonder if maybe I shouldn’t move out. Leave town before the First pulls my trigger. Be one less thing for you to worry ‘bout,” he said.
The smile drained right off Buffy’s face. “You can’t go,” she said, setting down her cocoa.
“Why? You don’t need me anymore, Buffy,” Spike said, turning his head to face her.
“How can you say that?” Buffy asked, welling up.
Spike blinked. He hadn’t expected crying. “But you don’t. I haven’t even been fighting all that well, lately. It would be safer and more convenient for everyone if I left,” he said.
“I do need you,” Buffy said, struggling to keep those welled up tears from falling.
“What for?” Spike asked, frowning.
“I just do, okay~,” Buffy said, grabbing his arm and sniffling. “I’d miss you. Don’t go.”
“That Principal Wood likes you, you know,” Spike said, determined not to jump to any conclusion that she wanted him to stay for any kind of romantic reason. He couldn’t afford let himself yearn hopelessly. And he was sure it would be hopeless.
“So? What does that have to do with anything?” Buffy asked.
“Well, I thought it had something to do with…something,” he replied, mentally flailing. Spike sighed. “Listen, I know you’ll never love me. I really know it now, as opposed to when I only thought I knew it.”
“Wow, really? You know that do you? Because I didn’t get that memo,” Buffy said, her voice taking on a sarcastic edge.
“That’s not funny, Buffy. Don’t joke around about this. Don’t throw me little crumbs. Don’t give me hope when it’s hopeless,” Spike said, his voice straining and eyes starting to water.
“How do you know it’s hopeless? I don’t even know it’s hopeless!”
“Don’t do this to me, Buffy~!” Spike said, turning forward on the couch and putting his head in his hands. He bent over, resting his elbows on his knees, and fisted his fingers through his hair. “Don’t give me hope!”
“Fine, don’t hope…But please stay,” Buffy said, grabbing his arm again.
“It’s too late,” Spike said.
Buffy felt her stomach sink to the floor.
Then, he added, “You gave me a goddamn buggery motherfucking tiny little speck of hope.”
Buffy took a breath.
“Bitch,” Spike said.
Buffy smiled. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to,” she said.
“Ah, well then, that squelched it,” Spike said.
I didn’t mean to do that either, Buffy thought, but kept her mouth shut. “So you’ll stay?” she asked, looking at him hopefully.
Spike looked into her face and then sighed. I guess she values me as a friend. She believes in me…I know that. But does she really need me? Spike sighed again. Oh, does it really matter. She wants me to stay. How can I go when she wants me to stay? Can’t abandon her, Spike thought. “I’ll stay,” Spike said, trying to give her a little smile.
“Yay,” Buffy said, hugging him. Spike sat there unmoving and a little bit stunned. “You won’t abandon me. You’re the only one I can count on not to abandon me, Spike.” She hugged him for a second longer and then released him and added, “Unless it’s for a really good reason, like getting a soul. That was a worthy cause. And you came back.” She hugged him again and, after a moment, Spike tentatively hugged her back.
12
Wood stood at his bathroom sink, washing his face. It had been a strange and violent evening. A disturbing evening, too. A Slayer with a vampire ally? That just wasn’t natural. Soul or not, he thought. Wood rinsed his face, sighed, and rang out the washcloth. Then turned around to lean against the sink and came face to face with his late mother. Or the image of her, anyway.
“You look good,” said First-Nikki. She looked just as beautiful as the last day he saw her, if a little dated with her poofy afro.
“You’re not my mother,” Wood said, his face hardening.
“I give you a compliment, and you don’t say thank you? Did I raise you that way?” First-Nikki said, putting her hands on her hips and cocking her head to the side. Wood could see the devilish glint in her- its eyes. It was mocking him.
“You didn’t raise me at all,” he replied, keeping his voice even. He wouldn’t give it the satisfaction of getting to him.
“Well, I was dead,” First-Nikki said.
Wood walked through her, intending to go to bed and ignore the apparition, but when he got to the bathroom door, he turned. Curiosity got the better of him. “So you’re The First? Why are you here? Why now?” asked Wood.
“’Cause you been coming up in the world – Taking the demons out. It makes a mother proud.”
“Yeah?” Wood asked, folding his arms and stepping forward. “Well, think how pleased she’ll be when I help take you out. Until it’s time for that, I got no use for you.” Wood turns sharply and heads out the bathroom door.
“Would you like to know who killed me?”
Wood stopped in his tracks. Of course he wanted to know.
“I know you went looking for him.”
But it’s a trick. *It* doesn’t know anything, Wood thought. “You don’t know anything,” he said pivoting around.
“Is that right? Well, you can check it out after I tell you. Check the timing. Re-read what the witnesses said, and the people in the subway station-” continued First-Nikki.
She knows. She knows too much not to know. And why wouldn’t she. Supposed to be all knowing…of events anyway, Wood thought. It only took a second for the thought to rush through his head, and then he was asking, “Who is it?”
“You met him. You know him. You fought at his side.”
“Spike,” Wood said. He could remember now. The platinum-blonde punk-ass vampire that fought his mom in the park. Right in front of him. Threatening and swaggering and promising more of the same later. How could he forget such a creature!? How could he not remember until now?
The First-Nikki smiled. “Now what do you say?”
Wood looked down. “Thank you.”
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To be continued
Grrrr! Arg!
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