Chapter Three.
Giles sighed and stood up, reaching for the bottle of whiskey he kept hidden in a drawer of his desk. Confirming his slayers death earlier had sent shockwaves through the core group of 'scoobies' and had left them all emotional and broken. Willow had gone back to her home with Xander, unable to keep their tears from falling and unfit to do any research, it was the best thing to do. Giles stared at the photograph on his desk of Buffy with Dawn and her friends, taken shortly after the fall of Sunnydale. They had arrived in Italy, as guests of the Immortal, and looked happy, tanned and refreshed after some well earned rest. At that point, Buffy had expressed a desire to retire from her duties and to take better care of Dawn. Giles had been against the idea and had spoken at length to her regarding her duty to the newly called slayers.
He shook his head and wished that he could turn back time and allow her that freedom.... Maybe then she might have lived longer.
Research had revealed that the spell that Willow had cast back in Sunnydale with the aid of the scythe had tied the slayers essence to her, thus making her aware of each slayer as they were called or died. In Buffy's case, as the original and strongest slayer, Willow had felt it with more intensity. It was as if the girl had felt a part of her die as well. Willow had panicked when she felt an ice cold spark burn within her being. Giles feared its meaning and had refused to believe it could be true. Xander had held Willow as she sobbed while Giles had merely sat back in his chair and closed his eyes, composing himself with dignity.
"Buffy has risen, she is no longer the slayer but the very thing that she was born to destroy. We have to find her and stop her. "
Xander could no longer hold back his anger, blaming Giles' relentless pushing and constant work load for what had happened. Maybe if he had let her retire, maybe if he had let her rest, if only he had let her take back up......
Regardless of their feelings and views on the subject, the damage was done. Now they had to focus on damage control. Willow dried her tears and stood, making her way to the bookcase and pulled out a small nondescript book from a high shelf. Giles and Xander could only stand aside and watch as she performed a spell that would find her.
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"What did I do... How could I? " Buffy asked as she stared at the drained body laying across the bed.
Not knowing how she would react, Spike took a tentitive step towards her. Dru hissed at him, baring her fangs threateningly. He spared her a glance but that was all. His attention was directed at only one girl, his girl.
"Sweetheart? " He took another cautious step. " Come with me Buffy, lets go somewhere safe before the police get here, yeah? Get you somewhere safe. "
She stood by the window, the pale moonlight filtered by the oyster organza curtain shone on her face and he swallowed hard. Her face was soaked with tears, her ridges and brow looked harsh in the half light. She spun to face the room as Angel moved towards her, the stake still clutched in his hand. Her eyes stayed locked on the weapon as she contemplated her fate.
"I'm evil, I killed ... Oh god... "
She fell silent and her expression frightened Spike into moving forward. He stood close enough to smell her fear. His demon swelled up from inside him, making him growl low in his chest, a warning that Angel should have taken note of.
"You aren't killing her, Angel. I won' let you. "
"You heard her, Spike. Now move aside. "
"You're not doing this. " Spike replied through gritted teeth, his eyes burning gold and furious. " Can't you sense it? She shows remorse, there is a chance.... "
Angel walked farther into the room, " She is scared, that's all. Now move aside Spike. "
Forgotten for now, Dru stood quietly in the darker corner of the room and smiled. The boys were going to fight and her William was protecting her new dolly. She bounced on her feet and clapped.
Angel, Buffy and Spike looked to where the abrupt noise was coming from. Dru stilled and moaned.
" I'm not going to ask again, move away from Buffy and let me do this. "
"No! "
" As your elder I am telling you to... "
Spike laughed and manouvered Buffy with one arm so that she was now stood at his back, not once taking his eyes away from the threat before him.
"You might be my elder Angel, but you don't carry the same authority now, not since you got that pesky soul. "
Angel gave a short burst of laughter, "Oh really? Are you challenging me, boy? "
Spike straightened his back, rolled his shoulders and bared his fangs. "M'not that person now, Peaches. " he sneered. "I've been on my own, been a master for too long for you to try and assert any authority on me. " Spike grinned. Finally he was getting the chance he had waited a century for. Oh he had tried before, when he had been younger and weaker. But he wasn't that same vamp and now he had years of fighting experience.
"S'pose I am. " His body prepared itself for the attack he knew would come. His stance altered and his muscles tensed. "Dru? Get Buffy out of here. Now! "
Angel narrowed his eyes at the posturing younger member of his clan and then at the females. "No, stay. Then you can watch as I remind him of his place. "Once Dru had Buffy in her arms and back in the farthest corner, Spike spoke. "I won't, I can't let you hurt her. "
"You won't be able to stop me, she's a threat, a danger Spike. I can't let her live. We need to put our feelings for her aside and do the right thing. "
Dru let out an inhumane wail and ran at Angel. Her nurturing side making her dangerous and more lethal than she usually was. Her nail bit into the soft skin of his face as she tried to sink her fangs into his neck. He was surprized at her strength, used to Dru being frail and weak. It gave her the advantage. Angel held her by her hips and pushed her away, Dru sliced at his shoulders and chest, shredding his coat and shirt with her razor like nails. The aroma of sires blood filled the air and turned Dru's attack wild and frenzied. Her demon roared at the scent and she latched onto one of the cuts, drinking deeply.
Angel roared and after a desperate struggle, managed to tear Dru from his body and threw her to where Buffy stood. Anger built up inside him and now he was ready to face Spike.
Buffy bent to her knees to check on Dru, who although hurt, was laughing. Buffy switched her attention to the male vampires as they began to stalk each other.
Angel tossed the stake aside and flexed his fingers, getting them ready for the fight. Spike popped his neck and rounded his shoulders to loosen them up. As he came within touching distance of Buffy, he stopped. "We going to walk in circles all night or are you going to make a move? "
Angel paused and stilled for only a matter of seconds, but it was enough. Spike leaped through the air and took Angel down to the floor, punching him continuously. Angels head rocked back with the force. Maybe he had underestimated his grandchilde.
He roared with the effort it took to push Spike away and over his head. Angel spun to face Spike and delivered a hard kick to his chest, slamming the blond into the wall. Plaster and dust fell from the ceiling and showered the two warring vampires. Buffy noticed the stake out of the corner of her eye and reached for it. Now that she was armed with the weapon, she felt safer. She watched as Angel was punched hard and with enough force to knock him out of the bedroom and onto the hall outside. Spike took two strides to meet him and again punched his elder. This time Angel staggered, went over the balastrade and tumble head over fett down the stairs. One hand braced on the handrail, Spike leapt over it with graceful ease, landing at the foot of the stairs.
Buffy ran to the top of the stairs, desperate to know who would win and whether or not she would have to defend herself against Angel.
The fight took itself out onto the front lawn of the dead slayers home. Angel and Spike traded blow for blow until finally Spike had Angel pinned to the floor by his throat. Angel growled loudly, defiantly trying to force the last of his authority onto Spike. It only made him laugh.
"Even now you won't back down will you? You know that by rights I could drain you dry and leave you to dust at sunrise, and yet, you still keep pushing me. " Sike licked his fangs, they itched to bury themselves in his throat and take the prize, to lay his mark on his elder and become the head of the clan. Spike leaned in close to Angel neck and gave a snarl. " Just tell me that you won't harm one hair on Buffy and I'll let you go. "
Angel strained his eyes to the left, giving Spike a defiant glare. "Just bloody tell me and I won't shame you. "
Buffy and Dru both watched as the stretch of quiet continued. Spike sighed, resigned to the fact that Angel was going to force him into submission. As he lowered his head to inflict the bite Buffy stepped out of the house and towards them. She laid her hand on Spikes shoulder, halting him.
"Angel's right, I'm not safe, I need to be ... to die. " She held out the stake for him to take.
Spike glanced at the stake in her tiny hand and then into her eyes. Panic gripped him. "No Buffy. Don't you see, pet. I can't let you die and I bloody well won't do it. We'll find you a way to get your soul back, even if we have to go to the demon bloke I did. I'll stop you from hurting anyone, we'll make sure of it. " He looked back at Angel for confirmation. Angel gave a single nod and closed his eyes.
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Giles watched the map as Willow performed the incantation that would tell them of Buffy's location. A bright light lit up an area in L.A. Xander picked up his car keys and made his way to the door of the office. Giles held his hand out for Willow to take. As she rose from the floor , she tucked the crystal and spell ingredients back into a zip lock bag. They left the office behind Xander and got themselves mentally prepared for their task ahead. Each knew it would be hard and that there was always the element of risk. But it was Buffy. They needed her. The world needed her.
Xander took the freeway and watched as the sky began to lighten. Dawn would soon be upon them. Buffy would have to find shelter and that would make her easier to find.
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Spike wrapped his coat around her shoulders, leaving his arm draped around her too. He held her close, savouring the sensations of having her there again. How he had managed to go without this feeling for so long? It was euphoric. His demon recognized her but felt uneasy. Her aura, her signiture was similar and yet not. The difference in her unsettled his being and he could almost feel the his demons grief at the loss of its slayer. Yet there was joy at being with her again. His whole being sang with her closeness. There was no way he was going to allow Angel, or anyone else, take her from him again.
Buffy walked behind him, completely aware of everything around her. The slayers blood had made her super sensitive to anything living, their life forces flowing over and through her. It felt very similar to having a pulse. She was also still very sexually aroused, which made her squirm as she walked. She felt guilty for feeling that way and vaguely remembered that Spike had once told her that it had the same effect on him, that slayers blood was very potent and almost drug like to vamps. She only hoped that the effects wore off quickly.
Spike slowed as he got his car keys from his pocket and opened the central locking, calling over his shoulder for her to get in. Buffy complied.
"What about Dru and Angel? "
Spike looked out at where Angel still lay on the lawn. " I don't care about him right now. " He paused. " Dru isn't top of my bloody list of favorite people either. They'll flee someone safe, don't fret about them now. My main concern is you, love. Lets just get somewhere, clean you up and get you settled. "
He pulled away at speed as flashing blue lights reflected off the houses farther up the street.
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The motel that they had chosen was, in Giles' opinion, only just habitable. He would have refused to shower and sleep in the bed had he not been so tired. He had said for them to sleep as soon as they had arrived in L.A so they could start the search for Buffy at midnight and keep it up through the night.
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"Home sweet Home, pet, " Spike said softly. Buffy looked at the building that they were now park outside of. She had sat staring at the passing scenery as he drove and had been silent. Truth was, she was scared to look at him, her mind, body and demon were all screaming at her to take him, to pull him to her body and satisfy her lusts. She hadn't spoken, she had remained silent as she came to terms with what she had become and what she had done.
"Its not much, but it keeps us safe and its comfy I guess. " Spike opened the door and ushered her in. "All that money that those lawyers had and did Angel pilfer any from them before the big fight? " He turned to look at her, frozen to the spot just inside the fron't door. "Guess you heard about that one? "
Buffy nodded.
"Yeah. Um... well... This is home for me now love, make yourself comfy. "
Buffy looked at the room, it was a large open plan foyer with a small desk off to one side. A retro circular couch sat in the middle of the room.
"There's bedrooms upstairs that have a bathroom upstairs, " he pointed out, "So if you want to get changed. "
"I don't have anything to change into. " Buffy replied, brushing down her dress.
"I'm sure there must be clothes left here from the cheerleader somewhere, I'll find some for you. Lets fine you a room and get you settled then love. No doubt the ponce and Dru'll be back soon. "
Buffy followed him up the large staircase and along the dark hall.
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Angel was glad that Spike had brought Buffy back to the Hyperion. Her scent filled the foyer and he could hear movement upstairs. Dru wandered the open space, muttering quietly to herself. His injuries would need fixing up and so, Angel went behind the desk and got out the first aid kit. It was times like this that he missed Cordy and Fred and the way they would take care of him. He grunted as he sat down. Spike had broken at least three of his ribs and if he had been human, no doubt he would have internal bleeding. He felt bruised inside and out. It would take him at least a week to heal from the beating he had taken. But his worst injury was the one to his pride. He had been beaten and had lost the right to call himself the alpha.
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The room was dark, not helped by the dark magenta colour of the walls, and the black out curtains at the windows. The bed looked as though it had seen better days, like back in the fifties better.....
But she was out of the soon to rise sun and at the moment she had space. Spike was getting cleaned up after the fight and there had been no sign of Angel or Dru. Sighing, Buffy slumped onto the bed and laid down. She could think more clearly now that she didn't have her new family trying to off her or tech how to kill or for that matter, shocking her by their surprize ressurection. Well actually Spike had come back to life a while ago, its just that nobody had felt it important enough to tell her that.
But why didn't he let her know? Sure she had travelled around a lot but Giles hadn't. Their office had been in the same building for the past year or so. Did she mean that little to him? Did he truly not believe her when she had told him she loved him before he died back in Sunnydale?
Buffy sighed again. Rest was going to be hard to get while her thoughts were racing like this. She felt Dru call to her. With a roll of her eyes and unable to resist, Buffy got up and went in search of her.
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Xander shuddered. "This place really is creepy with just one eye, dread to think what it looks like through two. "
Used to his quips regarding his lack of 20-20 vision, Giles and Willow took no notice. "It is rather eerie I have to admit. " Giles said.
"It looks like a war raged here. The hotel wasn't like this the last I was here. " Willow said as she held a door open. It creaked its protest at being open.
Once inside she walked up to the desk and peered over it. Giles took in the architecture and Xander stood in the doorway.
"Hello? " Willow called out. "Hello? Anyone here? "
Angel appeared at the top of the stairs, looking worse for wear and started his descent. "Willow? "
"Hi! " She gave him a nervous smile and waved.
" I assume you're here for Buffy? " He walked down the stairs slowly towards her. Her heart beat faster and her breathing became shallower. "She won't be leaving with you, I can't allow it. "
Giles stepped closer. " You can and you will. This is no place for her. She belongs with us, we can take care of her. "
"We're her family, " Xander added.
From out of the dark stepped Dru, shaking her head , "No.... not any more. We're her family now..... Dolly isn't yours anymore.... "
Angel put himself between Dru and Buffy's friends, hoping that Dru wouldn't attack them.
Giles held up a crossbow in each hand, one aimed at each vampire.
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Spike felt better now that he had showered and changed his clothes. His wounds were almost healed. He was tired but sleep could wait. All he wanted was to be with Buffy. Away from her, his demon grew restless and he still did not trust Angel. The great poof was not one to back down when he wanted something or wanted to do something. He felt the faint call from Dru, calling Buffy no doubt. He could also sense humans downstairs. Without pause, he left his room and headed downstairs.
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"She's coming, being a good girl when mummy calls, " Dru watched the stairs as Buffy came down them.
Her watcher and friends all turned to see her, shocked eyes and open mouthed as she came down the stairs. Buffy went to Dru's side. It was clear to them what she was saying without words. What Dru had said was true, Buffy was theirs now.