Title: Walking Wounded
Author: Primadonna (e-mail me at Primadonna141@hotmail.com)
Rating: As of now, G, will be R.
Summary: AU. Set after "As You Were", and this is three years later; that means Spike doesn't have a soul and he and Buffy still called it quits, Tara isn't dead, Willow never went psycho, Giles is still gone, and Xander and Anya are still together. But Buffy is a school counsellor, it's the job I always had in mind for her. Whew, got all that? Ok, now. The Scooby gang is still close, but have moved on. Buffy still lives at home, Dawn's away at university and everyone else has moved away. An apocalypse story.
Pairing: Buffy Spike, like ALL of my fiction.
Disclaimers: I do not own the show and characters.
She was halfway up the tree before she remembered she didn't have to sneak around anymore- even Dawn was gone now. Ah well, she thought to herself, I'll do it for old times sake. Times before her mom knew she was the slayer. When Dawn was a little brat, a sister instead of a dependant. Sometimes these moments were nice, she could pretend whatever she wanted. She needed these moments.
She dropped her bag of stakes on the floor of her room, and pulled herself through the window of her darkened bedroom. The shadows were still, and she could only feel like something was wrong. Before she was all the way in a familiar figure caught her eye.
"Richard? What are you doing here?" Her boyfriend turned on the lamp beside her bed. Sitting in her chair, he looked eerily like Ted.
"Hey, Buffy. Just came to see you, y'know, since we had to cancel our anniversary plans last night." He sounded slightly annoyed, the same tone of voice he had had when she'd called him up to tell him she couldn't make it. Buffy choked down her own irritation. It wasn't her fault a group of vampires had made their nest near the high school. Not like she could ever tell him, though.
"Yeah, sorry honey, I wasn't feeling too great, so I just stayed in bed. I'm better now though-"
He cut her off. "I know you weren't sick. I came by last night; chicken soup and all, to nurse you back to health. You weren't here."
Damn, Buffy, c'mon. You used to be so good at thinking on your feet.
She just stood there, though, and stared from her shoes to Mr. Gordo, her stuffed pig on her bed, to the bag at her feet. She quickly shoved it under her bed. She really was slipping, after years of not having to be secret identity gal.
When she didn't respond, Richard stood up. "Buffy, I just want to know what's going on. And you won't talk to me." Another pregnant pause. "Are you seeing someone else?"
"Do you mean to say, am I cheating on you?"
"Exactly, Buffy."
God, did he always repeat her name every other word? It was really starting to piss her off.
"Well, Richard, let me see. Last night I cancelled our 8-month anniversary plans so that I could go out. So yes, I guess I have been seeing other people."
Granted the 5 men she'd gone to seen hadn't been terribly happy to see her and had survived for only a couple of minutes, and hadn't been Buffy's idea of fun. But Richard didn't know that, and she really didn't care.
"Wow. All right. I guess it's over then." Richard walked to the door. "It is that simple, is it, Buffy?"
Buffy faked a wide-eyed look of dismay. "I'm sorry to say it is, Richard. You can let yourself out, right?"
All the poor boy could do was nod, as he left the room. He had been in her house just enough to know where her door was. Where did he get off coming into her house when she wasn't home? Sitting in her room in the dark, as if he had the right to reprimand her? Or, more importantly, how could she have spent eight months dating the guy steady, and not be even a little upset?
As Buffy pulled her hair from the clasp on top of her head, she hit the button on her answering machine when she saw the red messages light flashing.
"Buffy? It's Giles. Call me as soon as you can, it is of grave importance. My number is 01-648-555-3453. Pay no mind to the time, just call me as soon as you get in."
She reached for the phone.
"Buffy?" He answered the first ring, having it beside him amongst all the books that he was nearly lost in.
"Hey, Giles. Got your message. How are you?" She worried about him. After he'd left Sunnydale 3 years before he'd been sent from library to library by the council, almost as penance for being the watcher of a rogue slayer. The past few times she'd talked to him, which was quite often, he'd noticeably been under more strain.
"I've been better." He took a breath, unsure how to tell Buffy about the impending news. "I'm afraid we have something. emerging from the woodwork, you might say, and fairly soon."
"What is it? Another addition to Sunnydale's nasties?" She tried to sound nonchalant, although she knew by the way Giles was talking how serious it was.
"I really can't say over the phone, I've sent a courier. It should take a few days, even though I sent it express. I'm sort of tucked away in an out of the way corner of the world."
"You're not in Budapest anymore? I hate not being able to tell when you've moved somewhere new. Only downside to that cell phone I got you."
"Yes, well, I never have like the blasted contraption. Buffy, maybe you should call in everyone. Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, and. Spike. The Scoobies."
"Really that bad?"
"Yes, it is. I'll come too, as soon as I'm finished my research here. Be especially careful, make sure no one knows you're calling them in. The fewer who know, the better."
"Cryptic much, Giles?"
He gave a dry chuckle. "Yes, sorry to say I'm in. Call them in the morning, all right? I'll call you tomorrow evening."
"Bye, Giles."
She hung up, then reached for her address book. Of everyone, she knew one that would be up this late.
"Hello?" A large man grabbed the phone by the bar. "Yes, miss, one minute, I'll see if he's around." He looked around the crowded room, searching out a familiar blond head. " Boss! Phone!" He yelled to be heard over the band and the general noise of the crowd.
Spike's head shot up, nodded to the other man, then quickly made his way across the bar full of demons and people alike.
"Thanks, Marv. Hello?"
"Spike?" A voice said uncertainly.
"Hey, pet!" A genuine smile broke out on Spike's face, one of his few. "How are you? How's the bit?"
Must be her, Marvin thought to himself, shaking his head as he took orders at the bar. He liked seeing his boss happy, made him easier to work with. Maybe when he got off the phone he'd ask for next weekend off. Timing was everything, they said. With William the Bloody, that statement was 100 per cent true.
"We're both doing all right. How about you?"
"Holding up. The bar's doing great, you should see the crowd tonight. But, I know you wouldn't call now to chat, so what's up?" He knew her too well, and he cut to the chase. If she needed something, he'd sure as hell make sure she got it.
Buffy hesitated, now feeling bad for asking. "Giles says there's grave danger and all that. He was pretty cryptic, all he told me was to round up the Scooby gang. So, I just wanted to call you up, fill you in, but you seem pretty busy with the bar-"
"Nothing that can't be taken care of by my crew, with a few directions. I'll be there by tomorrow night, luv."
"Thanks, Spike. Knew I could count on you."
"Always, Buffy. See you in a few hours, get some sleep."
He hung up the phone, then turned to Marv. "You're in charge, for however long I'll be away. Call in extra staff, whatever you need, but I want you here, or at least on 24-hour call, all right?" When he saw the larger man's crestfallen face, Spike added, "You're my best, wouldn't trust it to anyone else. You'll even get a paid vacation at the end of this, all right? How's Tahiti for you and the missus sound?"
Spike didn't wait for a response, just hurried downstairs to his apartment to pack a bag. He could still get a few hours of driving in between San Diego and Sunnydale before the sun came up.
Thankful for the longer winter nights, Spike was able to reach the Summer's residence just as the sun's light peaked over the horizon. He silently slid his motorcycle into the driveway and hurried to the porch where Buffy was already waiting with the front door open.
"Hey," she mumbled groggily. "I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow."
"Good to see you too, luv," he grinned.
"It is good to see you," she answered a little quickly. "You didn't have to hurry though, the others won't get here until sometime tonight." Buffy yawned widely.
"You haven't slept yet, have you?" Five am, and she was still awake. Her eyes were dark and heavy, and her hair flew around her head like a halo. She was beautiful, as Spike always thought she was, but he truly wanted to kill the watcher for the first time in years for worrying her so badly. The Watcher was the only one who could do this to her.
"S'all right luv, just thought I may as well come a day early, didn't have anything better to do." He didn't exactly lie; he had had an appointment with a pretty big client, but the club wasn't his life, it was just something to really do for fun. His top priority was her, and if she needed help he was there. Like now.
TBC- the next chapter will take off right from this point.
Author: Primadonna (e-mail me at Primadonna141@hotmail.com)
Rating: As of now, G, will be R.
Summary: AU. Set after "As You Were", and this is three years later; that means Spike doesn't have a soul and he and Buffy still called it quits, Tara isn't dead, Willow never went psycho, Giles is still gone, and Xander and Anya are still together. But Buffy is a school counsellor, it's the job I always had in mind for her. Whew, got all that? Ok, now. The Scooby gang is still close, but have moved on. Buffy still lives at home, Dawn's away at university and everyone else has moved away. An apocalypse story.
Pairing: Buffy Spike, like ALL of my fiction.
Disclaimers: I do not own the show and characters.
She was halfway up the tree before she remembered she didn't have to sneak around anymore- even Dawn was gone now. Ah well, she thought to herself, I'll do it for old times sake. Times before her mom knew she was the slayer. When Dawn was a little brat, a sister instead of a dependant. Sometimes these moments were nice, she could pretend whatever she wanted. She needed these moments.
She dropped her bag of stakes on the floor of her room, and pulled herself through the window of her darkened bedroom. The shadows were still, and she could only feel like something was wrong. Before she was all the way in a familiar figure caught her eye.
"Richard? What are you doing here?" Her boyfriend turned on the lamp beside her bed. Sitting in her chair, he looked eerily like Ted.
"Hey, Buffy. Just came to see you, y'know, since we had to cancel our anniversary plans last night." He sounded slightly annoyed, the same tone of voice he had had when she'd called him up to tell him she couldn't make it. Buffy choked down her own irritation. It wasn't her fault a group of vampires had made their nest near the high school. Not like she could ever tell him, though.
"Yeah, sorry honey, I wasn't feeling too great, so I just stayed in bed. I'm better now though-"
He cut her off. "I know you weren't sick. I came by last night; chicken soup and all, to nurse you back to health. You weren't here."
Damn, Buffy, c'mon. You used to be so good at thinking on your feet.
She just stood there, though, and stared from her shoes to Mr. Gordo, her stuffed pig on her bed, to the bag at her feet. She quickly shoved it under her bed. She really was slipping, after years of not having to be secret identity gal.
When she didn't respond, Richard stood up. "Buffy, I just want to know what's going on. And you won't talk to me." Another pregnant pause. "Are you seeing someone else?"
"Do you mean to say, am I cheating on you?"
"Exactly, Buffy."
God, did he always repeat her name every other word? It was really starting to piss her off.
"Well, Richard, let me see. Last night I cancelled our 8-month anniversary plans so that I could go out. So yes, I guess I have been seeing other people."
Granted the 5 men she'd gone to seen hadn't been terribly happy to see her and had survived for only a couple of minutes, and hadn't been Buffy's idea of fun. But Richard didn't know that, and she really didn't care.
"Wow. All right. I guess it's over then." Richard walked to the door. "It is that simple, is it, Buffy?"
Buffy faked a wide-eyed look of dismay. "I'm sorry to say it is, Richard. You can let yourself out, right?"
All the poor boy could do was nod, as he left the room. He had been in her house just enough to know where her door was. Where did he get off coming into her house when she wasn't home? Sitting in her room in the dark, as if he had the right to reprimand her? Or, more importantly, how could she have spent eight months dating the guy steady, and not be even a little upset?
As Buffy pulled her hair from the clasp on top of her head, she hit the button on her answering machine when she saw the red messages light flashing.
"Buffy? It's Giles. Call me as soon as you can, it is of grave importance. My number is 01-648-555-3453. Pay no mind to the time, just call me as soon as you get in."
She reached for the phone.
"Buffy?" He answered the first ring, having it beside him amongst all the books that he was nearly lost in.
"Hey, Giles. Got your message. How are you?" She worried about him. After he'd left Sunnydale 3 years before he'd been sent from library to library by the council, almost as penance for being the watcher of a rogue slayer. The past few times she'd talked to him, which was quite often, he'd noticeably been under more strain.
"I've been better." He took a breath, unsure how to tell Buffy about the impending news. "I'm afraid we have something. emerging from the woodwork, you might say, and fairly soon."
"What is it? Another addition to Sunnydale's nasties?" She tried to sound nonchalant, although she knew by the way Giles was talking how serious it was.
"I really can't say over the phone, I've sent a courier. It should take a few days, even though I sent it express. I'm sort of tucked away in an out of the way corner of the world."
"You're not in Budapest anymore? I hate not being able to tell when you've moved somewhere new. Only downside to that cell phone I got you."
"Yes, well, I never have like the blasted contraption. Buffy, maybe you should call in everyone. Willow, Tara, Xander, Anya, and. Spike. The Scoobies."
"Really that bad?"
"Yes, it is. I'll come too, as soon as I'm finished my research here. Be especially careful, make sure no one knows you're calling them in. The fewer who know, the better."
"Cryptic much, Giles?"
He gave a dry chuckle. "Yes, sorry to say I'm in. Call them in the morning, all right? I'll call you tomorrow evening."
"Bye, Giles."
She hung up, then reached for her address book. Of everyone, she knew one that would be up this late.
"Hello?" A large man grabbed the phone by the bar. "Yes, miss, one minute, I'll see if he's around." He looked around the crowded room, searching out a familiar blond head. " Boss! Phone!" He yelled to be heard over the band and the general noise of the crowd.
Spike's head shot up, nodded to the other man, then quickly made his way across the bar full of demons and people alike.
"Thanks, Marv. Hello?"
"Spike?" A voice said uncertainly.
"Hey, pet!" A genuine smile broke out on Spike's face, one of his few. "How are you? How's the bit?"
Must be her, Marvin thought to himself, shaking his head as he took orders at the bar. He liked seeing his boss happy, made him easier to work with. Maybe when he got off the phone he'd ask for next weekend off. Timing was everything, they said. With William the Bloody, that statement was 100 per cent true.
"We're both doing all right. How about you?"
"Holding up. The bar's doing great, you should see the crowd tonight. But, I know you wouldn't call now to chat, so what's up?" He knew her too well, and he cut to the chase. If she needed something, he'd sure as hell make sure she got it.
Buffy hesitated, now feeling bad for asking. "Giles says there's grave danger and all that. He was pretty cryptic, all he told me was to round up the Scooby gang. So, I just wanted to call you up, fill you in, but you seem pretty busy with the bar-"
"Nothing that can't be taken care of by my crew, with a few directions. I'll be there by tomorrow night, luv."
"Thanks, Spike. Knew I could count on you."
"Always, Buffy. See you in a few hours, get some sleep."
He hung up the phone, then turned to Marv. "You're in charge, for however long I'll be away. Call in extra staff, whatever you need, but I want you here, or at least on 24-hour call, all right?" When he saw the larger man's crestfallen face, Spike added, "You're my best, wouldn't trust it to anyone else. You'll even get a paid vacation at the end of this, all right? How's Tahiti for you and the missus sound?"
Spike didn't wait for a response, just hurried downstairs to his apartment to pack a bag. He could still get a few hours of driving in between San Diego and Sunnydale before the sun came up.
Thankful for the longer winter nights, Spike was able to reach the Summer's residence just as the sun's light peaked over the horizon. He silently slid his motorcycle into the driveway and hurried to the porch where Buffy was already waiting with the front door open.
"Hey," she mumbled groggily. "I thought you weren't coming until tomorrow."
"Good to see you too, luv," he grinned.
"It is good to see you," she answered a little quickly. "You didn't have to hurry though, the others won't get here until sometime tonight." Buffy yawned widely.
"You haven't slept yet, have you?" Five am, and she was still awake. Her eyes were dark and heavy, and her hair flew around her head like a halo. She was beautiful, as Spike always thought she was, but he truly wanted to kill the watcher for the first time in years for worrying her so badly. The Watcher was the only one who could do this to her.
"S'all right luv, just thought I may as well come a day early, didn't have anything better to do." He didn't exactly lie; he had had an appointment with a pretty big client, but the club wasn't his life, it was just something to really do for fun. His top priority was her, and if she needed help he was there. Like now.
TBC- the next chapter will take off right from this point.