E-mail: brdf@sympatico.ca
Website: knightfic.8m.net
Archive: Anywhere, just let me know
Disclaimer: Joss et all owns em, I'm just borrowing em. They get the big bucks, I get a little fun.
Spoilers: Begins right after the BtVS episode Bring On The Night and the AtS episode Rain Of Fire. Things will drestically change from there ;) Everything up to those episodes to current is fair game.
Summary: Everything changes for Buffy when Angel turns up on her doorstep broken and bleeding.
Feedback: Always welcome.
Author's Notes: Thanks again to Asp for the beta. I'm not very happy with this chapter, but I need it to get where I want ;-)
***
We stand back-to-back, waiting for the attack. Vamps typically don't do the patience thing well.
"You armed?"
"Of course, though I wish I had my sword or axe."
I chuckle briefly. "Men, always wanting the big toys."
He glances down at me, humour lighting his eyes for a second.
The moment passes quickly as the Ubervamp jumps at me just as the others pull Angel into their frey. I hear Angel fighting, dusting vamps.
Ubie seems to want to toy with me. My bruises have not faded. He stares appreciatively at my black eye before swiping at me. I jump back feeling the wind across my face. He lunges again, like a cat playing with a mouse. He swipes, catching me in the chest. As I reel back, he grabs me by the neck with his other hand, pinning me against a tree. My body begins to struggle as he cuts off my air. I force myself to regroup as I look over it at Angel. Seeing that he's okay, that he's still fighting, I regain my focus. Kicking out I push him away from the tree, causing him to drop me. I roll, just avoiding being stomped on. I have to get behind him somehow.
I throw a stake at him, it doesn't distract him. Instead, I've allowed myself to get too close. He punches me, my head snaps back from the force before I hit the ground. I scramble to my feet as he comes after me, punching, kicking, not allowing me to get up. I can't get my bearings.
Then it stops. I look up to see it turn to dust, leaving one very pissed off Angel standing behind, covered in dust.
He lends me a hand up, and I know he's carefully looking me over for serious injuries. I can't say much, I'm doing the same to him.
"Thanks for distracting him," he quips. I just look at him strangely. He really has changed. His entire outlook is - well, it's kinda nice to hear him joking afterward. Not all dire and cryptic.
"Anytime. So was that a distraction to keep you busy, or a distraction to keep me busy?" I brush the grass off my jeans, wondering how bad I now look.
He steps close, pulling a twig out of my hair. "You look good, as always. Aside from the black eye."
How did he know?! "It saves me putting eye shadow on. It's a new look, you know." I can't help but flirt. He's standing so close.
"I think we need to get back to the house." Just as he says it, I get a sinking feeling. Sparing him a quick, worried glance I take off home.
It doesn't take long to jog back. Thankfully everything looks peaceful as we enter the house.
"Hello?" I call out.
"Ah, Buffy, just in time." Giles comes out of the living room. "Four more girls arrived while you were out."
Four! "Any problems?" I try to keep my voice professional. Angel gives me a sideways look.
"Thankfully no." Giles responds as he leads me back into the living room.
It's an odd feeling, the first time one of the Potentials looks at me. It's like hero-worship, tinged with fear. My friends have always looked to me to lead the fight, but never with awe in their eyes. Shock the first time they saw me in action - yes. I hate to let them know that I'm not a God - met a few of them, wasn't impressed.
Angel steps up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders. And I feel it again, the same thing Willow showed us. It's calming, it's comforting and it gives me confidence and strength. I take a deep breath, literally feeling my ribs creak, but I don't show any of it.
"How are we on sleeping arrangements?"
"All done," Willow cheerfully announces returning with blankets and such, setting them up across the room. I send her a look of relieved thanks. She just smiles at us. "And how was your night?"
I swear, everyone thinks that Angel and I just spent a few hours necking in the cemetery. I wish! "One dusted Ubervamp. And about ten dusted regular vamps in the process." I refused to acknowledge Will's tone.
"That's a relief." Giles sat slowly on the big couch.
"Then how come you don't sound relieved?"
"It was too easy."
I toss a startled look at Giles. Then I realise he's right. "I'm assuming the vamps were a distraction for Angel."
"I would also presume that." Giles sat on one of the end chairs.
"Was The First so sure of the Turok-Han?"
"It would make sense. It's underestimated us before."
I half turned to face Angel. "You're proof of that."
"You've faced this entity before?" One of the new girls spoke up. She was a slight of a girl, Asian in background I think. God knows I suck at names. Not that any have been offered yet.
"A little over three years ago." I nod at her.
"It sure had me fooled." Angel leans a shoulder against the door frame, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Such a typical Angel stance.
"And now it has Spike." Angel just looked at me. "There are things about Spike you need to know."
"I heard he has a chip in his brain."
"That's old news." I wave a hand at him. "But I think this is for Spike to tell you."
"I wonder...." I look back at Angel. "Can you hold down the fort?"
He nods, "Of course. Why? What are you going to do?"
"Rescue Spike." I grab an extra stake, just in case.
"Are you sure that's wise?" Giles has followed me to the door.
"I figure The First is reeling from us dusting the Ubervamp. If my hunch is right, this will be the best chance to get him back."
Giles nods reluctantly.
*
I find Spike right where I figured the First would keep him. In the tunnel where I originally found the Bringers and spoke to The First while it was messing with Angel.
It obviously has little imagination.
Spike is tied to a far well, his body a maze of cuts, bloody symbols, and bruises. Frankly, he looks like shit. I cringe inwardly as I get closer. He mumbles something like 'You're not real, just a figment of my imagination' Whatever The First has been doing to his mind, it's obviously similar to what it did to Angel.
I cut the leather ties that are holding him hostage. Weakly, he falls against me, shocked. I try to smile reassuringly at him, catching his still startled blue eyes.
"I knew you'd come." He whispers, leaning heavily on me.
"You were right."
*
The trip home was not an easy one. I should have asked Angel to come - with his car. I've never seen Spike this weak. this broken. Though I can still see hope in his eyes. a hope that had sparked the moment he knew it was really me.
As soon as we entered the house, Willow was beside me, helping me get Spike downstairs - away from the other girls. They don't need their first view of a vamp being the Slayer dragging one through her house, then feeding him back to health.
"I take it he was right were you thought?" Will arranged the pillows on the chair downstairs, trying to make Spike comfortable. Which I'm not sure is possible with all his wounds.
"Predictable as usual." I slowly lower him down. "Where's Angel?"
"Restocking."
I should have known.
"Angel's here?!" There was a note of panic in Spike's voice as he tried to stand.
"Easy," I try to push him back down - which was fairly easy considering his condition. "Yes, Angel is here."
"Does he know?"
"Not yet. I thought you'd want to tell him."
I'm pretty sure the nod I got was an affirmative, and in appreciation.
Website: knightfic.8m.net
Archive: Anywhere, just let me know
Disclaimer: Joss et all owns em, I'm just borrowing em. They get the big bucks, I get a little fun.
Spoilers: Begins right after the BtVS episode Bring On The Night and the AtS episode Rain Of Fire. Things will drestically change from there ;) Everything up to those episodes to current is fair game.
Summary: Everything changes for Buffy when Angel turns up on her doorstep broken and bleeding.
Feedback: Always welcome.
Author's Notes: Thanks again to Asp for the beta. I'm not very happy with this chapter, but I need it to get where I want ;-)
***
We stand back-to-back, waiting for the attack. Vamps typically don't do the patience thing well.
"You armed?"
"Of course, though I wish I had my sword or axe."
I chuckle briefly. "Men, always wanting the big toys."
He glances down at me, humour lighting his eyes for a second.
The moment passes quickly as the Ubervamp jumps at me just as the others pull Angel into their frey. I hear Angel fighting, dusting vamps.
Ubie seems to want to toy with me. My bruises have not faded. He stares appreciatively at my black eye before swiping at me. I jump back feeling the wind across my face. He lunges again, like a cat playing with a mouse. He swipes, catching me in the chest. As I reel back, he grabs me by the neck with his other hand, pinning me against a tree. My body begins to struggle as he cuts off my air. I force myself to regroup as I look over it at Angel. Seeing that he's okay, that he's still fighting, I regain my focus. Kicking out I push him away from the tree, causing him to drop me. I roll, just avoiding being stomped on. I have to get behind him somehow.
I throw a stake at him, it doesn't distract him. Instead, I've allowed myself to get too close. He punches me, my head snaps back from the force before I hit the ground. I scramble to my feet as he comes after me, punching, kicking, not allowing me to get up. I can't get my bearings.
Then it stops. I look up to see it turn to dust, leaving one very pissed off Angel standing behind, covered in dust.
He lends me a hand up, and I know he's carefully looking me over for serious injuries. I can't say much, I'm doing the same to him.
"Thanks for distracting him," he quips. I just look at him strangely. He really has changed. His entire outlook is - well, it's kinda nice to hear him joking afterward. Not all dire and cryptic.
"Anytime. So was that a distraction to keep you busy, or a distraction to keep me busy?" I brush the grass off my jeans, wondering how bad I now look.
He steps close, pulling a twig out of my hair. "You look good, as always. Aside from the black eye."
How did he know?! "It saves me putting eye shadow on. It's a new look, you know." I can't help but flirt. He's standing so close.
"I think we need to get back to the house." Just as he says it, I get a sinking feeling. Sparing him a quick, worried glance I take off home.
It doesn't take long to jog back. Thankfully everything looks peaceful as we enter the house.
"Hello?" I call out.
"Ah, Buffy, just in time." Giles comes out of the living room. "Four more girls arrived while you were out."
Four! "Any problems?" I try to keep my voice professional. Angel gives me a sideways look.
"Thankfully no." Giles responds as he leads me back into the living room.
It's an odd feeling, the first time one of the Potentials looks at me. It's like hero-worship, tinged with fear. My friends have always looked to me to lead the fight, but never with awe in their eyes. Shock the first time they saw me in action - yes. I hate to let them know that I'm not a God - met a few of them, wasn't impressed.
Angel steps up behind me, placing his hands on my shoulders. And I feel it again, the same thing Willow showed us. It's calming, it's comforting and it gives me confidence and strength. I take a deep breath, literally feeling my ribs creak, but I don't show any of it.
"How are we on sleeping arrangements?"
"All done," Willow cheerfully announces returning with blankets and such, setting them up across the room. I send her a look of relieved thanks. She just smiles at us. "And how was your night?"
I swear, everyone thinks that Angel and I just spent a few hours necking in the cemetery. I wish! "One dusted Ubervamp. And about ten dusted regular vamps in the process." I refused to acknowledge Will's tone.
"That's a relief." Giles sat slowly on the big couch.
"Then how come you don't sound relieved?"
"It was too easy."
I toss a startled look at Giles. Then I realise he's right. "I'm assuming the vamps were a distraction for Angel."
"I would also presume that." Giles sat on one of the end chairs.
"Was The First so sure of the Turok-Han?"
"It would make sense. It's underestimated us before."
I half turned to face Angel. "You're proof of that."
"You've faced this entity before?" One of the new girls spoke up. She was a slight of a girl, Asian in background I think. God knows I suck at names. Not that any have been offered yet.
"A little over three years ago." I nod at her.
"It sure had me fooled." Angel leans a shoulder against the door frame, crossing his arms in front of his chest. Such a typical Angel stance.
"And now it has Spike." Angel just looked at me. "There are things about Spike you need to know."
"I heard he has a chip in his brain."
"That's old news." I wave a hand at him. "But I think this is for Spike to tell you."
"I wonder...." I look back at Angel. "Can you hold down the fort?"
He nods, "Of course. Why? What are you going to do?"
"Rescue Spike." I grab an extra stake, just in case.
"Are you sure that's wise?" Giles has followed me to the door.
"I figure The First is reeling from us dusting the Ubervamp. If my hunch is right, this will be the best chance to get him back."
Giles nods reluctantly.
*
I find Spike right where I figured the First would keep him. In the tunnel where I originally found the Bringers and spoke to The First while it was messing with Angel.
It obviously has little imagination.
Spike is tied to a far well, his body a maze of cuts, bloody symbols, and bruises. Frankly, he looks like shit. I cringe inwardly as I get closer. He mumbles something like 'You're not real, just a figment of my imagination' Whatever The First has been doing to his mind, it's obviously similar to what it did to Angel.
I cut the leather ties that are holding him hostage. Weakly, he falls against me, shocked. I try to smile reassuringly at him, catching his still startled blue eyes.
"I knew you'd come." He whispers, leaning heavily on me.
"You were right."
*
The trip home was not an easy one. I should have asked Angel to come - with his car. I've never seen Spike this weak. this broken. Though I can still see hope in his eyes. a hope that had sparked the moment he knew it was really me.
As soon as we entered the house, Willow was beside me, helping me get Spike downstairs - away from the other girls. They don't need their first view of a vamp being the Slayer dragging one through her house, then feeding him back to health.
"I take it he was right were you thought?" Will arranged the pillows on the chair downstairs, trying to make Spike comfortable. Which I'm not sure is possible with all his wounds.
"Predictable as usual." I slowly lower him down. "Where's Angel?"
"Restocking."
I should have known.
"Angel's here?!" There was a note of panic in Spike's voice as he tried to stand.
"Easy," I try to push him back down - which was fairly easy considering his condition. "Yes, Angel is here."
"Does he know?"
"Not yet. I thought you'd want to tell him."
I'm pretty sure the nod I got was an affirmative, and in appreciation.