Chapter 1: Rocky Start

William the Bloody, Slayer of Slayers, Master Vampire, was bored. So bored that he was walking around SunnyDale at night, all by himself. Not prowling at night, not stalking at night, and not hunting in the night, but walking. He walked slowly through the town that had once been his. Where he and Drusilla would have reigned in blood and violence. But now all he had was his leather duster wrapped around him like protective skin and his cigarette, with the grey blue smoke floating around him like fog. The smoke from his cigarette curled around his head like a grey halo. How ironic. Spike thought. Something could be angelic on a creature destined for hell. But it was the simple things in Spike's life. He took delight from the calming effect of the smoke filling his lungs, and the tip burning brightly in the night. With a heavy weighted sigh, Spike then continued his track through the town. He made his way to the "bad" part of town which was conveniently close to the good part of town. Well it used to be convenient, when he could stop and grab a bite to eat before going to his lair. Spike chuckled internally at his bad pun. He walked through the abandoned alley usually buzzing with pushers and teenagers trying to act older then they were. Since the Bronze, the local club, the only club, is closed for repairs the only noise to accompany Spike was a plastic bag blowing in the California wind.

He was about to head home when he heard, what sounded like a street fight followed by a girl's scream in dark alley to Spike's left. "What the…?". He hesitated, why should Spike, master vampire, care if some little twit was too stupid to go out passed her bedtime? He heard another scream this one filled with pain and desperation. He still resisted, he had been fighting the "good fight" for a few months now. Just because of the government chip shoved in his brain by great blundering tin soldier, a.k.a, boy toy to the slayer, which kept him from killing humans, but to his surprising enjoyment he can still kill demons. Another reason he turned white hat was because of the slayer. Buffy bloody Summers. She gave him an ultimatum. Either fight with her, or be dust. Since he can't fight back, what other option did he have? When ever Spike thinks of the slayer, his blood boils and he wants to punch something, usually her little mouth that she doesn't seem to know how to close.

Another scream.

Bugger it he thought to himself as he ran into the alley. He probably wouldn't have to even hit the bloke, just show him a little bit of fang and have the wanker running with his tail between his legs. But what Spike saw before him actually made him want to retch. A young girl maybe 19 at the most was pinned up against the wall by some young bloke, probably a college kid, too drunk for his own good. He was trying to lift her skirt, and she was trying to resist. "Come on, just let me see you. You wanted me too back at the house" the man then pushed her harder into the brick. As Spike walked closer to the scene he heard her voice pleading.

"Please I just want to go home Sam. Please let me go, please, please." She was crying so hard, it sounded like she going to choke.

"I just want to go home. "

She finally resorted to whimpering for she had more strength to beg. Spike had no clue why he felt so compelled to help this girl, but he wanted to tare that pillock's head off. "Hey man why don't you give the lady some room to breath?"

Spike said as he sauntered over to the boy. "Hey dude back off. You don't know what you're dealing with." The man yelled as he stumbled a little.

Spike's mouth twitched into a little smile when he heard the idiot refer to the 100 plus year old vampire as "dude".

"There's where you're wrong mate. I do know, a lot better than you, and I suggest you toddle off before someone gets hurt." Spike stated calmly as he strutted the rest of the way to the man.

Sam sneered as Spike grew closer.

"Oh so you think you're so bad? why don't you come and get her from me then."

At that moment the man known as Sam grabbed the girl and turned her so she was facing Spike. Sam held one hand around her throat and the other he placed possessively on the girl's upper thigh. She simply whimpered on response. Having no strength to do anything else.

Spike's lips contorted into another smile, this time, one of cold, malicious enjoyment of being bad. He stood there fists clenched and ready for the pillock to make a move.

"Come on boy, if you really want her, come and get her." Sam roughly groped the young girl's breast and she started to cry. Spike's jaw clicked as he tried to hold some form of composure. He just needed the idiot to get away from her so she can run.

Spike stood his ground and said as mockingly as he could. "What's the matter Sammy? Can't let go of the twit; afraid you'll be without protection? Is this little girl your shield?"

Spike saw that this man was starting to grow angry. Just need to push a little further. "You're pathetic, not even worth my time. Its no wonder you had to force her, you git….you piece of…"

Sam pushed the girl out of the way and charged at Spike. He threw all of his weight into one punch. But Spike having over the coarse of over100 year toned his already inhuman reflexes quickly dodged the punch and delivered one of his own. He punched the man so hard his head reeled back and the rest of him followed. Spike smirked until the chip fired. Excruciating pain filled Spike's head and loud ringing erupted in his ears. Spots danced before his eyes and all he knew was that the pain was surrounding him. Wrapping him up in a tight bundle and not letting go any time soon. Spike held his head and screamed so many British obscenities they all started to run together. He was simply mumbling by the time the pain was done rocketing through his skull. It hurt so much he almost regretted helping the girl, who was simply standing there shaking.

Almost.

Spike stood up and he looked over at the girl still standing there. She hadn't moved since the bloke pushed her away. She was shivering and Spike realized that she must be scared and cold. She wasn't wearing much, she blouse ripped completely down the front and her skirt ripped up both sides. Spike walked over to her and she took a couple steps back all the while looking at the man laying in a broken heap. Spike stopped and cocked his head to one side. His eyes growing tender and reassuring. "It's alright now love, the bad man isn't going to hurt you anymore."

She looked up at him then. With a look of such immense gratitude, like he was her knight in shining armor, like he was her savior.

It made Spike feel self conscience and he looked away. "Right then, suppose I should get you home. Uh where do you live?" The girl still hadn't spoken, she just continued to look at him.

Spike didn't know what to do.

He had never saved anyone before. Had never cared to before. He was a killer, a monster. If he didn't have that blasted chip in his brain he would have killed the git and the girl without a second thought. But now it was different. He had to find a new outlet for his violence and it just so happened to coincide with doing something good. Being someone's hero. But Spike wasn't a hero. He didn't even have good intentions. He was either bored or frustrated and needed to hit something. It wasn't until tonight that he actually wanted to do good to anyone that didn't benefit him in some way. Spike again looked at the girl. She thought of him as a hero. A man who came along and rescued her out of the goodness of his heart because he cared for other's well being. She didn't know that he didn't have a heart. She didn't know he wasn't a man. And she didn't know that he didn't give two cents about anyone's well being. Well, until tonight.

"Look love, we have two choices alright? Either you tell me where you live, or we can wait here until Mr. Cop-a-feel wakes up. Which one do you want?"

The girl finally cleared her throat and looked down at her hands. "I….I…live on Revello Dr." She said barely above a whisper.

Good thing Spike had supernatural hearing. Spike's eyes grew wide. That's where the slayer lived, right on that street.

The weirdity passed when Spike's heard the girl's teeth chattering. He walked over to her and slipped out his precious leather duster and wrapped it around her shoulders. "There you go love. All nice and warm."

She flinched when he touched her and he mentally winced. Probably doesn't need a man touching her again, especially one with icy cold hands.

"Sorry, pet. We should get going though. Its almost dawn." Spike turned and started walking. The girl followed after him eager to get away and keep up.

They had been walking silently for a while now and as they reached the little park Spike finally decided to speak. "So what's you name pet?"

Spike looked over at the girl and she looked deep in thought. Like she was debating about something. It clicked. She probably doesn't trust anything that is male right now. So asking about personal information is not a good move. "Sorry love, never mind. You don't have to tell me your…"

"Hanna."

"What?" Spike asked surprised.

"My name. It's Hanna" Spike looked over at her and she smiled weakly. He smiled back. "I'm Spike."

Hanna gave a questioning look and then averted her eyes back to the ground. Spike caught it however. "What, were you expecting something more English?"

Hanna smiled again. "Kind of."

Spike chuckled. "Well, I'm not what you would expect."

Hanna looked over at him again, this time eyes large and soft. "I know, not many people would have stopped that guy from….from…would have stopped him."

The mood between them had grown dark, and then it proceeded to an awkward silence.

Finally it was Hanna this time that broke the silence. "Um, we're here."

Spike looked up and saw that her house was right next to the slayer's. "You live here?" Hanna nodded. They walked up to the front porch and stood in front of her door.

Spike thought that to any passer by it would look like a date. Like he was a normal young man walking his girl to her door and then kiss her good night. Woah there, calm down man. Spike shook his head a little to clear his thoughts and then looked at Hanna.

She was standing there awkwardly not really knowing what to say to the man that saved her life. "Um well, it was nice meeting you….I hope we don't have to meet again."

Spike raised his brow. "Well thanks love."

Hanna's eyes widened. "No,no, that's not what I meant. I just meant hopefully you wont have to save me again. That's all. You can see me again." Spike just kept looking at her. Hanna continued her babbling feeling completely idiotic. "What I meant was that if you happen to see me, I wouldn't mind, not that I did before, I mean I didn't even know you before,……uh…yeah…so….um." Hanna just stopped and lowered her head in defeat.

Spike smiled amusingly. "Its ok love, I understand what you mean." Hanna gave him a look of relief.

Spike looked up at the sky and saw that the dark blue was starting to fade. Which meant the sun was coming up, which meant that he had to get out of there quickly. "Well I should be off then. I'll let you get inside. Good night."

He turned to leave, and made it all the way down the porch steps before

"Spike!" Spike turned and looked at Hanna. She blushed at the desperation in her call and shyly looked at him. "Thank you…for what you did back there."

She then graced Spike with the most brilliant of smiles he had ever seen. It seemed to light up her entire face, and it made her look so innocent and angelic. Hanna then turned and walked inside of her house. Spike stood there for a moment, and then a smile of his own spread across his lips. If being a hero meant smiles like that, then Spike needed a serious career change. He turned on his heel and walked towards the sewers with that smile still placed firmly on his lips.