CHAPTER ELEVEN - ALL THIS AND HEAVEN TOO
Riley skidded round a corner, then screeched to a halt.
He had been right.
Before him, Buffy and that vampire - Spike - were slowly making their way down the corridor. Deliberately, Riley raised his rifle and drew back the safety. At the noise, the two figures froze, then turned to face him.
There was silence in the corridor for a few minutes, then Buffy spoke, moving forward a couple of steps towards him.
"Riley. How *could* you?"
The sadness in her voice almost got to him. He forced the sudden surge of guilt away.
"It's for the best, Buffy. Surely you can see that. We didn't want to hurt you. But the most important thing is being able to stop the subterraneans."
"Sending Buffy mad is for the best?" Now Spike spoke up. "What kind of sick twisted world do you live in, mate?"
Riley chuckled humourlessly. "You can talk. Mate."
"I've never done anything like this," Spike defended. "My fights have always been fair. No messing with minds."
"You're a real saint," Riley told him, the faintest of sneers in his voice. He peered down the sights of his rifle, checking that the laser was at full power. "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to kill you now."
"Don't do this, Riley." Buffy moved forward, placing herself between Spike and Riley. "Please. You know that it's wrong."
"Buffy, step aside please." Riley's voice was devoid of emotion.
Gently, Spike reached out and took Buffy's hand, pulling her to one side. "I can handle this, pet," he said softly. He looked up at Riley, smirking, and his voice took on a taunting quality that Buffy hadn't heard in a long time. One that she had missed. "Do we really need weapons for this?"
Buffy almost smiled, hearing those familiar words. "It makes me feel all manly," she breathed, knowing that Spike had heard her when the corner of his mouth quirked up. He kept his eyes on Riley, though. Waiting for a response. Ready for an attack.
Riley considered him for a moment, then slowly lowered his gun. "I guess not. It'll be much more satisfying to kill you with my hands." He laid the gun on the floor then moved softly towards Spike.
Buffy began to draw on what was left of her strength, still feeling weak from her earlier efforts. Spike might be able to hold Riley off for a while, she told herself, but he wouldn't be able to hurt him. At some point, she would need to step in.
The two men were almost nose to nose.
"So, why don't you take your best shot," Riley taunted. "Might as well let you get one in, before I rip you apart."
"Thanks, mate," Spike said casually. He looked Riley up and down. "Let's see. How about ..."
With lightening speed, his arm shot forward, catching Riley in the stomach. His other fist connected with Riley's jaw, jerking the man backwards. Swiftly, he kicked out and swept Riley's legs out from under him. With a thud, Riley hit the floor, winded.
Spike breathed in deeply, unable to stop a grin spreading across his face. "That was fun." He noticed Buffy staring at him in astonishment. "Oh, didn't I mention, love? Red found a way to disable the chip. Good of her, wasn't it?"
At his words, Riley lunged out on his stomach to reach his gun, and Buffy quickly kicked it up and caught it, levelling it on Riley.
"Hold it there, soldier-boy," she said. "I don't want to have to hurt you." She considered her own words for a second, then flashed a tight smile. "Actually, I'd love to hurt you. But I was taught to know better, so I'll just settle for threatening you."
She gestured him back down the corridor, into the room she had been held prisoner. "Why don't you lie down and have a rest?" she suggested. He did as he was told, and Spike used the restraints to tie him to the bed.
As the final knot was finished, Buffy's knees suddenly sagged. Quickly, Spike caught her to him, stopping the gun from hitting the floor.
"Sorry," she mumbled, trying to laugh. "A bit too much excitement for one day, I think."
He smiled down at her, lifting her up into his arms. "Let's get you home then," he suggested, kicking the door closed and starting down the corridor.
"Yes please," Buffy sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. "Home."
****
"I'm so glad you're home, Buffy," Dawn said for the one hundredth time.
Buffy laughed and let her head rest against her sister's. Home, bathed, fed, and tucked up in bed, surrounded by her friends who had just finished filling her in on everything that had happened. Everyone was still on a high, excitedly interrupting each other to tell their part of the story. Dawn was snuggled in bed with Buffy, occasionally reaching out to touch her hand as though checking that she was real.
Willow had just finished telling them how she had found that some of the Initiative's records had been doctored before being sent through to the decision-makers, so that it seemed that the project was more successful than it was.
"That shouldn't be a problem any more, though," she said smugly. "I made sure that some of the more damning reports made their way to the right hands. The Initiative won't be initiating anything ever again!"
"Good one, Will," Buffy murmured. "Hey, I've got a research project for you, too. You might want to get in touch with Giles . I think that the doctors were using the same drugs on me that the Council of Watchers likes to use on Slayers when they reach their eighteenth birthday. Only, something happened. It didn't work properly." She frowned, trying to explain how she felt. "It was almost like, when we did that spell to kill Adam. I could still feel the strength, the power. As though what makes me a Slayer has become so strong that those drugs couldn't affect it ..." She shook her head in frustration. "I can't explain it properly. But it could be worth finding out if any other Slayers experienced the same thing. Maybe, as I get older, my Slayerness gets - more slayer-ee."
"I'll contact Giles," Willow said. "Maybe there are other Slayers he can research. It would be good to know more."
Suddenly, a huge yawn almost cracked Buffy's face open, and Tara immediately stood up.
"I think we should leave Buffy to get some sleep," she said, herding everyone out the door. Dawn reluctantly got up too.
"Is there anything else you need, Buffy?" she asked.
Buffy shook her head, smiling. "I'm fine. Thank you, everybody."
Calling goodnights, the gang filed out the door. Spike, who had been quietly leaning against the wall by the window, almost forgotten by the others, lingered so that he was last. He approached the bed, squatting down by her side.
"Are you sure you're all right, Buffy?" he asked. Not contributing to the conversation, his eyes hadn't left Buffy's face since they got back, and he was sure that something was troubling her.
She released her breath on a sigh, summoning a smile. "I can't quite believe I'm home. I keep - waiting to wake up - and hoping desperately that I don't."
Without quite meaning to, he took her hand. "You are home. You won't be waking up to anything except your own bed, and your friends and your sister ..."
She squeezed his hand. "I know. I just feel ..." She shook her head in frustration. "I'm not very good at this. I don't find it very easy to tell people my feelings."
"You know you can tell me anything. Ask me anything. Just tell me, Buffy."
She struggled to find the words. "I just felt ... so alone. So scared, for a little while. Betrayed, by Riley. I kept telling myself that I would get out of there, but I think a little part of me never really believed it. And then, this strange power, the Slayer strength - I didn't really know what was happening. I couldn't tell anyone. I didn't know if I ever would be able to tell anyone. It was - lonely."
She took a deep breath, unable to meet his eyes, and forced herself to continue. "Could you - stay here tonight? I don't want to be alone again."
His response was immediate, instinctive. He stood and kicked off his boots, pulling his shirt over his head. Buffy snuggled down into her bed, making room for him, and watched as he flicked off the light. Then she felt the mattress sink as he slid into bed beside her. Without thinking, she moved into him, resting her head on his chest and feeling his arms wrap around her. Closing her eyes, she let the tension drain from her, and felt the first of the tears slide down her cheek.
Spike said nothing, just holding her close as she silently sobbed out the terror of the past few weeks. Eventually her shuddering stopped, her breathing slowed, and he knew that she was asleep. Finally, he let his own eyes close, and allowed himself to drift into slumber.
****
Buffy opened her eyes, the side of her face feeling numb. She took in her bearings and realised she was in bed, still enclosed in Spike's arms, and that it was morning. It seemed that they hadn't moved all night, her cheek still pressed into the hardness of his chest.
Gently, she moved away, trying not to disturb Spike, but his eyelashes fluttered at her movement, and then his eyes opened.
"Buffy," he said softly, looking at her with brilliant blue eyes that seemed strangely vulnerable. She realised that he was waiting for her to say something so he could pick up his cue, so he would know how she wanted him to behave now that the unthinkable had happened, that he had spent the night in her bed.
"Morning," she said with a slow smile, letting him know that he was welcome there. "How did you sleep?"
He seemed to relax, shifting in the bed to stretch slightly. "Like the dead," he deadpanned, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes to catch her reaction.
She chuckled. "Me too."
He grinned at her, delighted by her response, and her breath caught.
"Spike ..." She reached out and traced a shaking finger against his smile. "Thank you - thank you ... for saving me. The thought of you - kept me sane." Her fingers brushed against his brow, down his cheekbone. She swallowed. "Every night, Spike - every night you saved me ..."
His eyes darkened at her words and he caught her fingers, pressing her palm against his mouth, brushing his lips softly against her skin. "Thank you, Buffy." Their eyes caught and held, and Buffy felt a warmth fill her. A warmth that told her she was loved, adored, protected, safe. A smile of pure happiness spread across her face, and was answered by one on the face opposite her.
TBC
Riley skidded round a corner, then screeched to a halt.
He had been right.
Before him, Buffy and that vampire - Spike - were slowly making their way down the corridor. Deliberately, Riley raised his rifle and drew back the safety. At the noise, the two figures froze, then turned to face him.
There was silence in the corridor for a few minutes, then Buffy spoke, moving forward a couple of steps towards him.
"Riley. How *could* you?"
The sadness in her voice almost got to him. He forced the sudden surge of guilt away.
"It's for the best, Buffy. Surely you can see that. We didn't want to hurt you. But the most important thing is being able to stop the subterraneans."
"Sending Buffy mad is for the best?" Now Spike spoke up. "What kind of sick twisted world do you live in, mate?"
Riley chuckled humourlessly. "You can talk. Mate."
"I've never done anything like this," Spike defended. "My fights have always been fair. No messing with minds."
"You're a real saint," Riley told him, the faintest of sneers in his voice. He peered down the sights of his rifle, checking that the laser was at full power. "Unfortunately, I'm going to have to kill you now."
"Don't do this, Riley." Buffy moved forward, placing herself between Spike and Riley. "Please. You know that it's wrong."
"Buffy, step aside please." Riley's voice was devoid of emotion.
Gently, Spike reached out and took Buffy's hand, pulling her to one side. "I can handle this, pet," he said softly. He looked up at Riley, smirking, and his voice took on a taunting quality that Buffy hadn't heard in a long time. One that she had missed. "Do we really need weapons for this?"
Buffy almost smiled, hearing those familiar words. "It makes me feel all manly," she breathed, knowing that Spike had heard her when the corner of his mouth quirked up. He kept his eyes on Riley, though. Waiting for a response. Ready for an attack.
Riley considered him for a moment, then slowly lowered his gun. "I guess not. It'll be much more satisfying to kill you with my hands." He laid the gun on the floor then moved softly towards Spike.
Buffy began to draw on what was left of her strength, still feeling weak from her earlier efforts. Spike might be able to hold Riley off for a while, she told herself, but he wouldn't be able to hurt him. At some point, she would need to step in.
The two men were almost nose to nose.
"So, why don't you take your best shot," Riley taunted. "Might as well let you get one in, before I rip you apart."
"Thanks, mate," Spike said casually. He looked Riley up and down. "Let's see. How about ..."
With lightening speed, his arm shot forward, catching Riley in the stomach. His other fist connected with Riley's jaw, jerking the man backwards. Swiftly, he kicked out and swept Riley's legs out from under him. With a thud, Riley hit the floor, winded.
Spike breathed in deeply, unable to stop a grin spreading across his face. "That was fun." He noticed Buffy staring at him in astonishment. "Oh, didn't I mention, love? Red found a way to disable the chip. Good of her, wasn't it?"
At his words, Riley lunged out on his stomach to reach his gun, and Buffy quickly kicked it up and caught it, levelling it on Riley.
"Hold it there, soldier-boy," she said. "I don't want to have to hurt you." She considered her own words for a second, then flashed a tight smile. "Actually, I'd love to hurt you. But I was taught to know better, so I'll just settle for threatening you."
She gestured him back down the corridor, into the room she had been held prisoner. "Why don't you lie down and have a rest?" she suggested. He did as he was told, and Spike used the restraints to tie him to the bed.
As the final knot was finished, Buffy's knees suddenly sagged. Quickly, Spike caught her to him, stopping the gun from hitting the floor.
"Sorry," she mumbled, trying to laugh. "A bit too much excitement for one day, I think."
He smiled down at her, lifting her up into his arms. "Let's get you home then," he suggested, kicking the door closed and starting down the corridor.
"Yes please," Buffy sighed, resting her head against his shoulder. "Home."
****
"I'm so glad you're home, Buffy," Dawn said for the one hundredth time.
Buffy laughed and let her head rest against her sister's. Home, bathed, fed, and tucked up in bed, surrounded by her friends who had just finished filling her in on everything that had happened. Everyone was still on a high, excitedly interrupting each other to tell their part of the story. Dawn was snuggled in bed with Buffy, occasionally reaching out to touch her hand as though checking that she was real.
Willow had just finished telling them how she had found that some of the Initiative's records had been doctored before being sent through to the decision-makers, so that it seemed that the project was more successful than it was.
"That shouldn't be a problem any more, though," she said smugly. "I made sure that some of the more damning reports made their way to the right hands. The Initiative won't be initiating anything ever again!"
"Good one, Will," Buffy murmured. "Hey, I've got a research project for you, too. You might want to get in touch with Giles . I think that the doctors were using the same drugs on me that the Council of Watchers likes to use on Slayers when they reach their eighteenth birthday. Only, something happened. It didn't work properly." She frowned, trying to explain how she felt. "It was almost like, when we did that spell to kill Adam. I could still feel the strength, the power. As though what makes me a Slayer has become so strong that those drugs couldn't affect it ..." She shook her head in frustration. "I can't explain it properly. But it could be worth finding out if any other Slayers experienced the same thing. Maybe, as I get older, my Slayerness gets - more slayer-ee."
"I'll contact Giles," Willow said. "Maybe there are other Slayers he can research. It would be good to know more."
Suddenly, a huge yawn almost cracked Buffy's face open, and Tara immediately stood up.
"I think we should leave Buffy to get some sleep," she said, herding everyone out the door. Dawn reluctantly got up too.
"Is there anything else you need, Buffy?" she asked.
Buffy shook her head, smiling. "I'm fine. Thank you, everybody."
Calling goodnights, the gang filed out the door. Spike, who had been quietly leaning against the wall by the window, almost forgotten by the others, lingered so that he was last. He approached the bed, squatting down by her side.
"Are you sure you're all right, Buffy?" he asked. Not contributing to the conversation, his eyes hadn't left Buffy's face since they got back, and he was sure that something was troubling her.
She released her breath on a sigh, summoning a smile. "I can't quite believe I'm home. I keep - waiting to wake up - and hoping desperately that I don't."
Without quite meaning to, he took her hand. "You are home. You won't be waking up to anything except your own bed, and your friends and your sister ..."
She squeezed his hand. "I know. I just feel ..." She shook her head in frustration. "I'm not very good at this. I don't find it very easy to tell people my feelings."
"You know you can tell me anything. Ask me anything. Just tell me, Buffy."
She struggled to find the words. "I just felt ... so alone. So scared, for a little while. Betrayed, by Riley. I kept telling myself that I would get out of there, but I think a little part of me never really believed it. And then, this strange power, the Slayer strength - I didn't really know what was happening. I couldn't tell anyone. I didn't know if I ever would be able to tell anyone. It was - lonely."
She took a deep breath, unable to meet his eyes, and forced herself to continue. "Could you - stay here tonight? I don't want to be alone again."
His response was immediate, instinctive. He stood and kicked off his boots, pulling his shirt over his head. Buffy snuggled down into her bed, making room for him, and watched as he flicked off the light. Then she felt the mattress sink as he slid into bed beside her. Without thinking, she moved into him, resting her head on his chest and feeling his arms wrap around her. Closing her eyes, she let the tension drain from her, and felt the first of the tears slide down her cheek.
Spike said nothing, just holding her close as she silently sobbed out the terror of the past few weeks. Eventually her shuddering stopped, her breathing slowed, and he knew that she was asleep. Finally, he let his own eyes close, and allowed himself to drift into slumber.
****
Buffy opened her eyes, the side of her face feeling numb. She took in her bearings and realised she was in bed, still enclosed in Spike's arms, and that it was morning. It seemed that they hadn't moved all night, her cheek still pressed into the hardness of his chest.
Gently, she moved away, trying not to disturb Spike, but his eyelashes fluttered at her movement, and then his eyes opened.
"Buffy," he said softly, looking at her with brilliant blue eyes that seemed strangely vulnerable. She realised that he was waiting for her to say something so he could pick up his cue, so he would know how she wanted him to behave now that the unthinkable had happened, that he had spent the night in her bed.
"Morning," she said with a slow smile, letting him know that he was welcome there. "How did you sleep?"
He seemed to relax, shifting in the bed to stretch slightly. "Like the dead," he deadpanned, glancing at her from the corner of his eyes to catch her reaction.
She chuckled. "Me too."
He grinned at her, delighted by her response, and her breath caught.
"Spike ..." She reached out and traced a shaking finger against his smile. "Thank you - thank you ... for saving me. The thought of you - kept me sane." Her fingers brushed against his brow, down his cheekbone. She swallowed. "Every night, Spike - every night you saved me ..."
His eyes darkened at her words and he caught her fingers, pressing her palm against his mouth, brushing his lips softly against her skin. "Thank you, Buffy." Their eyes caught and held, and Buffy felt a warmth fill her. A warmth that told her she was loved, adored, protected, safe. A smile of pure happiness spread across her face, and was answered by one on the face opposite her.
TBC