NIGHT THIRTY

The month was finally coming to an end—and the last week had felt the longest of them all. Jade had been so bloody silent, sometimes still for so long, Spike'd worry that she had slipped back. The only indication she was still there was when she was driving, and even then, she did it placidly, not talking—not even humming. She hunted with a dangerous efficiency, and wouldn't so much use her sense of smell if Spike didn't first tell her there were no humans around. She was a robot, moving and acting, but there was nothing else. It reminded Spike, of Buffy. She'd always be pushing everyone away, have a great big hole in her heart she wouldn't allow anyone to fill. But with Buffy, Spike knew her so well that he knew how she worked, what she was thinking. Spike had thought he had that same insight with Jade, but apparently not.

He had no idea what went through her head. He'd observe her at night, while she drove, waiting for some hint as to what was going into her mind. But nothing, nothing but that endless staring, blinking out to the front of the vehicle, her fingers twitching only to steer the wheel. Yet if he asked what was eating her, she'd blink, apologize, but wouldn't change a thing. He didn't get it, and she wouldn't bloody talk about it. He knew she felt guilt, but she shouldn't. She wouldn't make conversation, wouldn't ask Spike a damn thing, probably hoping he'd extend the same courtesy to her. But he'd prodded, as much as he felt obliged to, wasn't much for pushing for communication, but all his attempts had failed.

He'd never seen her like this. She was far from the Jade he had begun to know, the mostly-rational human being who was flawed, and open, and genuinely caring, but now she was competing for the title of brood-master—hoping to dethrone the reigning King, Angel, and Spike didn't like it one bit. But he couldn't break her from it, so they had lapsed in silence.

Then they had gotten to Ola, after ditching the truck a few miles before, Spike carried most of the weight for appearances rather than necessity, though their plan was to avoid humans completely. Couldn't take any more chances. Spike glanced at Jade's expressionless face, who didn't catch his gaze, merely waited. Right, because Spike had to be the bloody hunting dog. He realised in hindsight—quite a few things in hindsight, really, he really should think a bit further ahead than he did, he might have named a specific place in Ola, but the town wasn't all that big, and they needed to find a place the jet could land anyway. Thankfully, for then they could just skirt the boundaries of the town instead of going into it.

"Keep an eye out," Spike uttered an unnecessary order, but they had stewed in silence so long, he damn well felt like saying something. Jade looked at him and nodded, and it just aggravated him more, that his haphazard attempt to get a reaction out of her had failed again. Not that he had tried very hard, but he was running out of ideas.

Not like she was offering a bloody olive branch or anything.

The two vampires sped quickly around the town, glancing through the trees and construction to find a big enough clearing. It was late at night, they still had a couple of hours. Spike was just happy they had made it here in time, although he doubted Angel would make his jet leave exactly on time. And if it had—they could scrounge up a couple of quarters and phone it to come the hell back. Yeah, there were other options than the ones they had chosen, but Spike thought it might have helped, the travelling. Having somewhere to get to, on a very long path with as little people on it as possible. But when they got back to California, they'd have to sit in the cabin in the middle of the forest until Jade could control her urges. More of a bore, less of a purpose, but perhaps it'd be best. Maybe it'd be nice, staying in a place for a while.

Being able to watch some Telly. He was sorely behind on his shows.

"There," Jade said suddenly, though her voice was no more than a hoarse whisper, Spike looked to her and where her slender fingers pointed, catching the same sheen of a plane's hull that she had.

"And, jackpot," Spike replied drily, and they picked up their pace. They were further out from town now, an hour by human standards, just far enough to avoid notice. Spike knew that Angel had gotten some warlock to place a non-tracking spell on the jet that worked on non-allies—first and foremost so ignorant human eyes could stay ignorant, and secondly so that Wolfram & Hart and their peeved off, fractured circle of the dead bloody thorn wouldn't be able to track the plane either—it had come from one of their offices.

They crossed through the trees to the plane. It didn't look very welcoming, no walkway extended from the jet's door, which caused Spike to eye it warily. Dropping his bundle, Spike leaped up easily to the door, wrapping his pale fingers around it, rapping on it a few times. He dropped back to the ground, waiting, not patiently. If he had to tear the door open, he would, but he'd wait. Not for very long, so it was fortunate when he heard an exclamation from within the jet.

"I'm here. Coming!"

Spike glanced up at the fuselage, startled. "Bloody hell," He called up. "Clem, is that you?"

The door opened to reveal a familiar loose-skinned demon.

And a very naked one at that.

"Buggering hell, Clem," Spike shouted. "Put on some sodding clothes, mate."

"Oh—oh! Right. Sorry. I forgot. S-slipped my mind. One moment. Sorry." Clem smiled apologetically, taking all of his numerous and evident sagging skin folds and disappearing once more from view.

Spike shook his head with an exasperated sigh, but despite the rather unfortunate showing, he was glad to see an old friend again. He doubted Angel had come up with that on his own, so it probably had been Buffy who convinced Angel to let Clem pilot the plane. Was good of her.

He glanced at Jade, contrite, and about to apologize. She had averted her gaze already, and her expression was detached. If she was still human, Spike knew enough of her to expect that her cheeks would be a vibrant red. As she was a vampire, the blush didn't happen, but she didn't even seem embarrassed, taking it as calmly as if she had seen Clem fully clothed. That wasn't like her, not one bit.

Most loose skinned demons like Clem were pretty harmless. No thirst for blood or eating eyeballs or anything like that, but they did like devouring emotions. Embarrassment was a big one, which was why loose-skinned demons like Clem loved walking around naked, so they could invoke a reaction. Spike wondered then, and would have to ask Clem if Jade hadn't felt any embarrassment or just hadn't shown it. Not a big difference on paper, but in reality, it bloody mattered.

"You can come on up!" The voice from inside the jet bade them, and Spike only hesitated a second, just in case Clem hadn't gotten dressed, and was trying to have more fun. The door of the jet was open, still no steps extended down, but they didn't need them. Jade moved first, springing with leonine grace into the belly of the plane, out of sight. He was a bit mesmerized by her, certainly not disliking the view from behind, but whereas he might have made a comment that would have rendered a "Pig" from Buffy, and perhaps a blush and a shaking of her head from Jade, but he didn't have a damn idea how she'd react now. So with a sigh of a breath he didn't need, he followed her easily into the hold, as it was a jump a human could probably make, if they weren't unfit or a fat-arse, but it did take a bit of agility to jump easily inside without touching anything. After he landed, he closed the door behind him, bolting it shut.

Jade was already sitting, having picked one of the chairs, her head turned towards the window, and she didn't so much as glance as Spike as he went by, one of their remaining jars of blood clenched in her fingers. That was right, it'd be a long flight. He picked up the remainder of their jars and put it into the small fridge—noting, with some ire, that there wasn't any alcohol in storage at all.

"Wanker," Spike muttered. As if Angel hadn't thought—and decided against it—of giving Spike booze to drink. He'd like to get pissed, particularly on a plane ride, still hadn't gotten used to them, and they were in for the long haul. And he had a feeling he could either sit in brooding silence in the back of the jet or get his ear chattered off in the front.

He decided on the latter—for now. They'd been out of touch for a whole month, be nice to get the low-down from Clem, or as much as the loose-skinned demon knew. And after little over a week of mostly silence from Jade, he needed a change.

He settled down in the cockpit as Clem started up the controls, a whirring, loud sound emitting from the engines.

"So, when did you learn how to fly a bloody plane?" Spike asked, crashing down next to him.

"Oh about a year or so ago."

Spike shot him a sharp look.

"It's not that hard!" Clem responded defensively, blinking his red eyes back apprehensively. "I mean, I took to it really well. And I've been practicing a bit before then. Hey, you're the one that asked for non-human, they had their hands a bit full."

"So we got the luck of the draw, yeah?" Spike said, looking more casual than he felt as he leaned back.

"Oh, sure, definitely. I probably won't crash us."

Spike raised an eyebrow, causing Clem to stammer, "Definitely—definitely won't crash us."

"I'm comforted," Spike said wryly, watching warily as the plane lifted off, maneuvering onto a long, wide and thankfully abandoned dirt road, and then they were off, climbing steadily into the air, and though it was relatively steady, Spike still growled at the numerous bumps and twinges, barking at Clem to keep himself steady.

And then they were up, the fields beneath them quickly disappearing into the big, dark ocean. He shuddered. At least they didn't have to swim the damn thing. He supposed he could get used to planes if he had to, at least they were quicker than boats.

"Buffy was the one that approached me with the deal—just some piloting for Angel from time to time. It's a job, and most of the time it doesn't get too hairy. Just drop them off and get out of dodge." Clem continued to chat happily as his fingers bunglingly gripped at the machinery.

"Every bit of cash helps," Spike answered, not at all condescending towards Clem for doing it for money rather than out of the goodness of his heart. Demons needed to make a living too. Cash bought a very few necessities in the world, whereas being a goody two shoes far from paid off. "Hey, why weren't you at the last mission then—to Bulgaria. Didn't see you piloting that plane."

"Heh, right. Slaypire hybrids, I'm staying far away from that," Clem laughed nervously. "They're crazy scary—no siree, wouldn't want to be anywhere near—"

Spike cleared his throat. "They also have good hearing," Spike added pointedly, and Clem paled visibly.

"Oh!" He cried. "Definitely didn't mean any disrespect to the lady on the plane. Slaypires can be quite nice, and lovely and—"

"Don't overdo it," Spike rolled his eyes. "She probably can't hear us. And if she can, she's not going to rip your throat out, so no need to bloody grovel 'bout it." He ran his fingers through his hair. Hadn't gelled it in a while, the white hair had fallen to softer curls. "And she won't care either way." At least not right now, Spike thought to himself a bit irately. And that was the problem. She wasn't caring about anything these days.

Least not in over a week. No complaints, no praise, nothing but silence.

"But she's quite nice. I mean I haven't talked to her or anything. I just saw her, but as Slaypires go—"

"Yeah, she's one of a bloody kind," Spike muttered. "And what you calling them? Slaypires? 'Zat the new nickname for them then?"

"Xander thought it up," Clem explained excitedly. "I quite like it. Not as much as a mouthful."

Better than Slampire, Spike admitted silently, although he was a bit peeved that the wanker Xander came up with a better moniker than Spike did. Spike and Xander were rife with the epithet game.

"So how's the vacation for two?" Clem asked slyly after a couple moments of silence. The flight had steadied out somewhat, and Clem leaned back a bit more casually, though Spike kept his fingers near the co-pilot controls just in case—taking no chances with Clem the bloody pilot.

"S'not a vacation," Spike answered gruffly. "She just turned. Needs a bit of a help learning to control her bloodlust an' all that. Made sense it'd be me."

"Oh sure, of course," Clem babbled in agreement. "Of course that's all it is. Nice to see you move on, Spike, I mean, I get how great Buffy is, but—"

"Not like that," Spike interrupted.

"Definitely no shame in it," Clem continued, unabated. "You deserve to be with someone, and as I said, she seems really—"

"I said it's not like that," Spike growled, and Clem cut off for good, abashed. "Just a friend."

"Of course, of course," Clem stammered a bit, not one to endure before Spike's anger, but stay back until it had passed.

"I do have a question for you," Spike asked, keeping his voice hushed as they flew a bit in question. "When you walked stark-naked into view—"

"Really sorry about that," Clem interrupted anxiously.

"Yeah, yeah," Spike said dismissively. "My point is, you feel anything—any emotion from her. Your favorite being embarrassment, isn't it?"

Clem looked thoughtful. "No, not a thing. You are vampires, though," He added, blinking his large red eyes at Spike's sober expression. "It's a bit different for you guys."

"Right," Spike responded, instrospective. He'd forgotten, for a moment. "Just curious."

He was tempted to take a peek behind them, into the belly of the ship. He couldn't hear much over the roar of the engines, and without a heartbeat or breath to listen to, Spike wasn't sure where she was, or if she could hear them. Not like he was incriminating himself or anything, he was just asking a question.

"So, what have I missed?" Spike asked after a while, dodging some of Clem's inane babble as he chattered happily while piloting. "No telly mind you, lack of a good paper I could read too."

"Hmm," Clem scratched at his saggy chin. "Well, let's see. Grudge 2 came out. Scary. Even I was scared. Last week, let's think, Marie Antoinette—"

"I meant a bit more 'mportant-like."

"Well, Jessica returned back to her prostitution, oh, before that, Jared wanted to make it work with Theresa, but of course she's still hung up on Ethan—"

"What?" Spike growled. "Not about bloody Passions! I meant the day to day, sodding news, damnit."

"You said important," Clem defended himself, contrite.

"I didn't want no spoilers. I'm behind on episodes," Spike explained indignantly.

"Right, right. Sorry. Good episodes though. Let's see, let's see. Oh, that's right. Vampires, and Slayers too, have been revealed to the world, and your old girlfriend Harmony is in talks for her own vampire shows. Personally, I hope she calls it E-Bites."

Spike stared at him. "You might have led with that."

"I forgot you wouldn't know. Yeah, big thing. News and everything. Been everywhere, I'm surprised you didn't know."

"Don't exactly read Russian, now do I?"

"The world knows about Slayers and Vampires?" The voice was unexpected, quiet and inquisitive. She had been so silent and quick that Spike hadn't even heard her footsteps or felt the vibrations, but suddenly there was Jade, standing behind them. Her expression was unreadable, her eyes focused on Clem, who had jumped at the sudden appearance.

"Crap," Clem swore. "Forgot how quiet and quick you guys are," the plane had jerked a bit, but he steadied it quick enough to avoid Spike's anxious glare—bumpy rides weren't his forte. But Spike's focus had shifted to Jade, who was drawn out by this news.

"Sorry." Jade apologized, but Spike felt it was obligatory, rather than sincere. The vampire paused and then added after some thought, "I'm Jade, by the way. Thank you for flying us."

"My pleasure. No problem at all. Glad you help your kind. That is, uh, you. Glad to help you. And your kind, if there was such a—"

"Clem," Spike paired the stern tone with rolled eyes. "She doesn't need the whole Geneva Convention drill. Now, as you were saying."

"Yes, right. I was talking about, something, yes."

"Humans knowing about vampires," Jade prompted, no sense of impatience in her tone, but Spike knew she felt it, from how she held herself rigidly, her eyes focused on the loose-skinned demon, she was transfixed.

"Well, right. Yeah, so a bunch of vampires were caught on tape, almost killed a celebrity, now they're best friends. Then Harmony jumped on the bandwagon, that girl, bright like the sunshine she'll never see. Very gungho and all that. Insisting that vampires are your friends and all that, those Twilight books getting released are really in your favor—"

"And people are buying it?" Spike didn't know whether to be impressed, indifferent or worried. How would it change, if the everyday human knew about the dark corners? Be a lot less walking at dark, except for the fanatics, and he had seen his share. Been locked in a cellar with a lot of them, drunk them dry to get over being mad as hell from Buffy locking him in there in the first place. Those people had worshipped the vampires.

"Lot of people saying it's hoaxes. Bit of an internet battle. Government's trying not to agree one way or another, but proof keeps popping up, more and more people admitting it. Think there's no disappearing for you this time—out for good." He beamed at Spike, who wasn't sure how to respond.

"And Slayers?" Jade asked tentatively.

"Oh, right," Clem frowned. "Well the thing about everyone loving Harmony, she's painted a good vampire picture, as I said. And plus, they were the first one to come into light—er, metaphorically speaking, of course. So, they kind of put the Slayers in a negative shade, like they're too good for humans, keeping themselves all secret, and Buffy's kept any of her Slayers from responding—protecting their identities, probably, so it's just been the vampire's side so far."

"Right," Spike nodded. "Well not like Vampires are fun-loving bunnies. Can't be too hard to find something against them. If the Slayers want to regain their footing and all that. Or just stay anonymous, do as they've been doing."

Clem shrugged. "Harmony's pretty convincing," Clem admitted. "Even I think she's harmless."

"Well she's not," Spike snapped back. "No vampire is." He saw from the corner of his eye that Jade stiffened, her fingers absentmindedly playing with her short, shorn hair.

"Anything about Slaypires?" Jade asked listlessly, but her blue eyes were intense in their interest. Spike realised then that she used the moniker that Clem had provided, and figured she must have been listening the whole time. Made sense, since she had popped up like a ghost the moment Clem had mentioned something interesting.

"No, no," Clem assured her with a smile he thought was comforting, but Jade looked back at it stone-faced, aloof even. "Haven't heard a thing about them. But I mean, that's a good thing right. Plenty about you vampires anyway, but just general stuff."

"Right. Well, good." Jade said quietly, her expression unreadable, and Spike wasn't sure whether it was because she was relieved that there was no attention drawn to 'her kind', or she was afraid of being labeled as just as one of the vampires. Spike couldn't tell—not now, and he had little time to gauge her reaction, for she muttered a gratitude and disappeared as quickly as she could, back into the belly of the ship, back alone, into that shell of hers that she wouldn't let him crack.