Chapter Twelve: Growing Older, Not Necessarily Wiser

Buffy sat at the table, as Giles dangled a pink crystal in front of her. Her hands fiddled with another. The table was covered in them and the slayer tried not to look to bored with the training exercise.

'This one?' Giles' voice brought her back to reality.

'Amethyst.'

'Used for?'

'Breath mints?' Buffy looked up at him hopefully and Giles let out an exasperated sigh.

'Charm bags, money spells and for cleansing one's aura.'

Buffy raised a finger, a confused look on her face. 'Okay, so how do you know if one's aura is dirty? Somebody come by with a finger and write "clean me" on it?'

Giles set down the crystal and took off his glasses. He propped his arm on the table, leaning toward Buffy. 'Buffy, I'm aware of your distaste for studying vibratory stones, but since it is part of your training, I would appreciate your glib-free attention.'

'Sorry. It's just with Faith on one of her unannounced walkabouts, I feel like somebody should be patrolling.' She looked a bit guilty.

'Well, Faith is not interested in proper training, so I must rely on you to keep up with yours.'

Buffy slumped in her chair, putting on a sulk. 'I hate being the good one.'

'And as for patrolling, well, you'll be there soon enough. Why so anxious?'

Buffy looked away. 'Guess I've just got energy to burn.'

Giles looked at her, unconvinced and Buffy knew he knew the reason she was going. 'Well, in due time, but, uh, for the present, if it's not entirely beyond your capabilities, try to concentrate.'

Buffy sighed and stared into the crystal.

The vampire rolled down the slide, unaware that Buffy had already moved round and was waiting for him at the bottom. She grinned widely.

'Wow that was really funny-looking! Could you do it again?'

The vamp snarled at her. 'I'll kill you for that.'

'For that? What were you trying to kill me for before?' She threw at him, as he swung for her. She ducked and came up behind him. He turned just in time to meet her foot as it connected with his shoulder and he raised his fist, trying to connect the blow this time. He missed again and Buffy threw he own punch, connecting with his face. She shoved him backwards and kicked him, sending him backwards. 'Okay, here's the deal.' She raised her stake and then stopped, feeling a dizziness take her over. She closed her eyes and stumbled back, as if in pain.

The vamp jumped up and took the opportunity, grabbing her by the jacket and swinging her round. She hit the picnic table with a thud and rolled to the ground. Her antagonist came over and straddled her, grabbing her wrist and twisting. She cried out and struggled to get away.

Her stake was aimed at her own chest and just as she thought she was a goner, she saw a blur of blonde fly over her and the weight was lifted. She rolled away, just in time to see the vampire hit the swing. Spike strode over to him, grabbing the vampire by the hair and wrapping the chain of the swing round his neck.

The vampire struggled until Spike yanked the chain and took his head off, snarling as he did so. He turned back to Buffy in full game face and she started a little.

Spike raised a hand, closing his eyes for a second before his human mask melted back into place.

'Sorry, pet.' He whispered, helping her up.

'It's okay. I'm just still getting used to it.' She smiled and then cried a little as she caught her wrist.

'What happened there?' he asked, looking her over in a concerned manner. 'You sick?'

'I don't get sick.' She frowned. 'I guess I'll talk to Giles. Maybe he could shed some light on it.'

'Want me to walk you home?' Buffy looked up at him and he raised his hands. 'Just making sure pet. Besides…don't see enough of each other.' He smiled and Buffy felt her insides warm as they began to walk towards her house.

Buffy walked into the library to find the crystals set up again. She groaned as Giles emerged from the office.

'Buffy…I was hoping we could do a little more training today if you're up to it.'

'Yeah, I guess so. Last night was a blast. Damn vampire almost had me.'

'Really? Anything specific?' Giles asked, placing a large blue crystal on the table with the others.

'No. Just got lucky. Spike was there…he pretty much took his head off.' Giles frowned as she sat down in front of the crystals again.

'Yes, I think we should start with the grounding crystal again.'

Buffy looked up at him. 'I know you're still wary about Spike but he's fine now. Perfectly able to be around us guys. And I know he misses the whole looking-through-musty-old-volumes thing.' Giles set a box aside, leaning on the table.

'Now, look very carefully for the tiny flaw at its core.'

'Maybe you should ask me to ask him to come research with you. I'm sure he's sick of Angel's company by now.'

'Hmm? Yes, but, Buffy, I think we should concentrate now. Now, look for the flaw at its centre.' He leant against the table. Buffy gave in and started to concentrate on the crystal. At the centre, a small stake shaped flaw cried out amongst clear blue crystal. Buffy stared for a few moments, her movement stopping. She became perfectly still, her eyes not leaving the one spot. Giles leant over, looking into her face.

'Buffy?' He pulled a small case from his briefcase, satisfied that she was under the trance. He then pulled out a hypodermic needle, along with a test tube pull of a clear yellow liquid. He kept an eye on Buffy as he cleaned a spot on her arm and then filled the syringe, tapping away air bubbles before squirting a small amount of its contents from the tip.

Giles took her arm, pushing up her sleeve gently and then injected her with the liquid. Buffy didn't stir and then he pulled the needle from her flesh, quickly replacing everything as it was. He then turned back to Buffy, waving his hand between her eyes and the crystal.

She rubbed her temples, looking up at Giles. 'Oh, I'm sorry. Did I zone out on you? It's just... I'm nursing that flu bug.'

Giles smiled fondly. 'It's best to take care of that. Perhaps we should, um...'

'...call it a night. Yeah, that's a good idea. Thanks.' She stood up, wobbling on her feet a bit. Giles watched her leave.

'Good night.'

Buffy limped along the street, her feet tired and her eyes barely open. She didn't even feel the presence behind her until its owner made himself known.

'Buffy?' Spike said from behind her. 'You okay pet?'

'Yeah, I'm just a bit…you know. Woozy.' She trailed off, continuing on her journey.

'Okay. I was just…doing an Angel I guess.'

Buffy smiled and stopped, turning to face him. 'It's okay. I prefer you doing the Angel than Angel actually doing the Angel.' She frowned. 'That sounded weird.'

'You know, Angel's under the impression that you've met someone else.' Spike said, his voice wavering a bit as he spoke. Buffy shook her head and regretted the action immediately as zigzags swam through her vision and she shut her eyes for a moment, pushing the nausea back to the bottom of her stomach.

'No…there isn't anyone…I mean…why do you ask?' She looked directly at him and he squirmed.

'Well…I was kind of hoping…maybe you'd be up for going to the Bronze this weekend.' He backtracked as she hesitated. 'Unless you have plans, which would be okay. I don't mind. Honestly.' He tried to look nonchalant but Buffy narrowed her eyes.

'Don't be silly. I'd…I'd like to go to the Bronze with you.' Spike's eyes lit up and she smiled. 'It'd be nice to relax for a while.' She turned and carried on walking towards her house. Spike followed, trailing behind for a moment before jogging to catch up.

'So you looking forward to your birthday? It's a big one.'

Buffy shrugged. 'I guess. I mean, my dad was supposed to be taking me to the ice show, but surprise, surprise, he cancelled.' She frowned. 'And I remember what happened on your birthday.'

Spike grinned. 'That was fun.'

'You actually remember?' She asked, looking at him sideways. He nodded.

'I remember most of it. Getting drunk…and waking up the next morning.' He smiled again. 'That was fun.' He repeated. Buffy sighed.

'Eighteen is a big deal I guess. I can vote. I can be drafted. Ooo, I can vote not to be drafted.' She smiled at Spike who smiled back before his face screwed up. She stopped, looking at him. He turned and looked back, sadness on his face. 'What's up?'

'Well, I guess…I just realised I'm never gonna have another birthday. Not gonna do the 21st thing or any of that.' He sighed. 'I'm never gonna get any older...' he stopped, his face becoming a mask of horror. 'I'm never going to be legally old enough to drink!'

'Yeah, you will. You already get away with buying it. Just because you don't age physically doesn't mean that you aren't going to, you know, get old.'

'Because thinking of it like that is so much better. There is no escaping age.' He shrugged. 'I can see me getting really bored.'

'Spike, you were bored when you were alive.' Buffy punched him in the arm playfully. Spike frowned.

'I would say ow, but…not. You really are off your game. Even your playful punches usually hurt.'

Buffy shrugged. 'Guess its flu.' She stomped her foot in a sulk. 'I don't wanna be sick for my birthday!'

'I didn't think you slayer types got sick…apart from that one time. But that was monster flu. Evil flu. Or something.' He frowned. 'Why don't we test you out?'

Buffy narrowed her eyes. 'Are you being serious, or are you being dirty?'

Spike snorted unattractively. 'Please, when am I dirty?' He grinned. 'No, I'm being serious Buffy. Might be something wrong with you. I say we test those reflexes. If you can take me on, I'm sure you'll be feeling right as rain in the morning.'

The slayer eyed him, thinking about it. 'Okay you're on. We're pretty near to Restfield…unless you want to just have it out here in the street – where the police could be called?' Spike shook his head and Buffy smiled. 'Restfield it is.'

They took off in the direction of the cemetery, silence being the only sound between them for a few moments.

'So, speaking of Angel being all, well, Angel…where's he been lately? He hasn't popped up with any cryptic news as of late.'

Spike shrugged, not wanting to reveal the news that the big brooding one was leaving. It wasn't his news to tell and it would most likely ruin the time they were having. It annoyed him that she had to bring up Angel in the first place, but not so much that he couldn't overlook it.

'I'd think he's probably out digging things up on the mayor. Just trying to help you out. But like I said, he thinks you've got someone else.' Spike didn't look at her. 'I guess you should clear that up with him.'

Buffy shook her head. 'No…I don't think things between us are going to be the same. It's changed, but then…that was inevitable.' She looked over at the other blonde. 'There's no point telling him. I'll wait until he brings it ups.' Spike nodded, looking around, his eyes falling anywhere but her. Buffy noticed his distant attitude that seemed to have cropped up all of a sudden. She smiled, an idea popping into her mind. 'Bet you can't catch me.'

With that she took off. Spike took a second to realise what was going on and immediately jumped to the chase, weaving through headstones after the petite blonde. Her giggling filtered back to him and he grinned, taking a short cut. He threw himself upwards, landing on top of a crypt with ease and throwing himself down the other side, landing in front of her. She couldn't stop in time and ran straight into him, sending them both falling to the ground.

Buffy rolled off of him and climbed to her feet. She raised her fists as the vampire got up, grinning at her. Her eyebrows knitted together as she regarded him.

'Why don't you ever vamp out?'

Spike shrugged, bringing his own fists up. 'I guess…I don't know. Didn't think you'd wanna see me like that.'

Buffy shook her head. 'I don't mind. If it helps you fight better, don't worry about it.' She swung her fist forward and almost connected with him – right before she lost her balance and fell, landing in a messy heap on the floor. Spike stopped, dropping his fists and looking down at her. Buffy looked back up, confusion written across her face.

'That wasn't supposed to happen.' She said, as the vampire put his hand out for her to get up. She grinned wickedly as she grabbed it and attempted to throw him over her shoulder.

He wouldn't budge.

'What are you doing?' He said as she finally gave up and accepted his help, pulling herself to her feet and dusting herself down.

'I don't know. I was trying to flip you but…I feel like there's nothing in me to do it.' She frowned, flexing her wrist as she looked at him.

'That's strange.' Spike looked her over, seemingly checking for injuries. 'You should definitely talk to Giles about that tomorrow.' He sighed, looking up at the sky. 'Looks like rain.' Buffy followed his gaze and then smiled at him.

'Wanna walk me home?' Spike smiled and nodded, as Buffy held her hand out. He hesitated for a moment, clearing confused. Buffy tutted and grabbed his hand, smiling at him in reassurance.

He could do nothing but follow.