Chapter/episode 14: Crush. I'm not sure that's really the right title in this version, but it should still be good. Drusilla makes an appearance, which is always entertaining.
Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Buffy and Angel, Willow and Tara, and Xander and Anya were at the Bronze, enjoying an evening without battling evil. Xander, Anya, Willow, and Tara were dancing. Angel and Buffy had been dancing earlier but now were sitting down with drinks and food, talking.
"I'll admit," Angel said, "It's kind of nice to have a relaxing night without worrying about…who know who." He finished, not wanting to say Glory's name and spoil the relaxing mood.
"And you didn't want to come." Buffy teased.
"I'm an idiot." Angel responded playfully. "You're very wise."
"I know." Buffy giggled. Angel smiled and kissed her.
"Check out the lust bunnies." A familiar voice behind them said. Angel closed his eyes in annoyance.
"What do you want, Spike?" he asked. Spike sat down next to him.
"It's a public club. I'm allowed here too." Spike said defensively. "And everybody else is having fun without me."
"Well you're not exactly one of our friends, so we didn't feel the need to invite you." Angel retorted.
Spike frowned. "You know, you don't have to be so hostile. We took on that Glory chick together, I was right there with you, fighting the fight-"
"Actually you were sleeping the sleep unconscious." Buffy pointed out.
"Well yeah. But points for intent." Spike said. "You'd think it'd be enough to cut me a sliver of slack, a little consideration, respect."
"Hey, Evil Dead, you're in my seat." Xander said as he and Anya approached from the dance floor.
Spike sighed and stood up. Angel smirked at him. "What were you saying about respect?" he asked.
"Oh, shut up." Spike snapped. "I'll see you later." He trudged off.
Willow and Tara came over and joined them. "That was fun." Willow sighed.
"Are you ok?" Angel asked.
"Yeah. I'm still kind of drained from teleportation spell I did on Glory." Willow admitted.
"Sweetie, in case you didn't hear me the first six thousand times, no more teleportations in the house." Tara said.
"Does anyone want drinks?" Xander asked. "I'm buying. I'm payday man."
"I could use a water." Willow said.
"Water poses no problem for payday man." Xander replied, and he went to get her water.
"What did Spike want?" Anya asked.
"Not sure." Angel sighed. "He just kind of showed up."
To Angel's surprise, Buffy smiled slyly. "I think I know why he keeps showing up."
"What do you mean?"
"Well isn't it obvious, Angel?" Buffy asked, grinning. "He's been following you around like a sheep. He wants your approval."
"Spike wants my approval." Angel repeated doubtfully.
"Yes! Come on, it makes sense. You're his grand-sire, and he's always talking about how he's transforming to our side…except he's still going out with Harmony." She added, causing everyone else to laugh. "But he wants you to think of him as someone you can trust, not someone that should be beaten senseless. He's waiting for you to approve of him."
"If you say so." Angel said. But he did wonder…could she be right?
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The Next Morning
Angel was still asleep. Buffy had snuck out of bed and gone downstairs, where she found her Mom and Dawn in the kitchen (it was Saturday, so Dawn didn't have school). "Good morning, Buffy." Joyce said.
"Morning Mom." Buffy replied. "Hey Dawnie."
"Hi Buffy." Dawn said. He finished filling her bowl with cereal, picked it up, and started for the living room. "Bye Buffy."
Buffy smiled and grabbed the box of cereal. "How do you feel, Mom?"
"I feel good." Joyce replied, smiling. "I've been feeling great the last couple of days. I think I'm going to be ok."
Buffy smiled back. "Good." She said.
"Buffy!" Dawn yelled suddenly. "I think you really, really need to see this!"
Buffy and Joyce glanced worriedly at each other and hurried into the living room. Dawn was sitting in a chair, watching the local news. The reporter was talking about a massacre on a train. "Oh my god." Joyce said, shocked.
"Do you think…?" Dawn began, trailing off and looking at Buffy.
"I'll wake up Angel." Buffy said, and ran upstairs. She opened the door to their room and promptly jumped on top of Angel, waking him with a start.
"You know what would be nice?" he asked, looking at her as she sat on top of him. "If maybe just once you could wake me up in a way that doesn't involve jumping on top of me."
"Ok. Next time I'll bang pots and pans together." Buffy said. "Anyway, get up. We're watching the news downstairs and it's not pretty, you need to see this."
Angel nodded, pushed her off, and got out of bed. A few minutes later he and Buffy came hurrying downstairs. Dawn and Joyce were still watching the report on the massacre. The pictures were rather graphic. Angel watched grimly. "What do you think?" he asked Buffy.
"It's worth checking out." Buffy said.
"I agree." Angel said.
"I'll get ready to go." Buffy said. "We'll go to Giles."
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They ended up bringing Xander with them for extra help. Angel stopped to ask some workers as the station a few questions, and Buffy and Xander went up to the train. Buffy was looking around at what was left of the crime scene in puzzlement. "It's just not Glory's style." She said. "Glory doesn't usually kill the victims, she leaves them insane. So why are all these people dead?" she shook her head. "No. I don't think this is Glory. This has vampire written all over it."
Xander nodded. "I think you're right." He said. After another minute of looking, he said, "So you know that stuff you said last night about Spike? About how he wants to be friends with Angel and you?"
"Yeah. What about it?"
"Were you serious about that?"
"Yes. I think that's what's going on."
Xander looked at her for a moment, and then burst out laughing. Buffy gave him a look. "Xander, I'm not kidding." She said.
"Oh I hope not." Xander said, still laughing. "It's funnier if it's true. Poor Angel."
"I'm serious." Buffy said, annoyed. "Xander this is serious!"
"You're right, I'm sorry." Xander said, calming down. A moment later, though, he started laughing again.
"He's not so bad." Buffy said. "I mean, he's been helpful. It kind of sounds good to have him on our side."
Angel walked in. "Nobody seems to know anything." He said. "What have you guys found?"
"Buffy doesn't think it was Glory." Xander said.
"It looks more like a vampire attack." Buffy said.
Angel nodded. "Yeah, I was thinking about that." He started looking around the train. "Hey, there's still some stuff over here. Bags and stuff." He started looking through the pile. "Nothing special though, just…wait, what's this?" he reached into one bag and pulled out a doll. He looked closely at it.
"So some poor little girl had her doll on the train when she died." Xander said. "It's sad, yeah, but I don't see how this helps us."
Angel's eyes widened suddenly. He dropped the doll, and the porcelain head shattered. "No." he said, sounding close to panic. "No, no, no, no, no!"
"Angel?" Buffy asked.
Angel turned and ran from the train. Buffy and Xander exchanged nervous glances and followed. "Get in the car!" Angel shouted. They obeyed, and Angel drove off, fast.
"Angel, what the hell is going on?" Buffy asked. Angel didn't answer.
They kept driving all the way back through town to the cemetery. Angel got out of the car and started running again. Buffy and Xander followed. Angel ran through the graveyard until he reached Spike's crypt, and he burst inside. "Drusilla!" he shouted.
Spike, who had been sitting in a chair watching TV, looked up. "Um, no, I'm Spike, remember?"
"Dru's here." Angel said. "In Sunnydale."
"What?" Buffy asked. "Angel, are you saying the murders on the train were Drusilla? Are you sure?"
"Positive. I know Dru, and that was her. She's in Sunnydale."
Spike stood up. "Do you know where she is now?"
"She could be anywhere." Angel said. "She could cause a lot of damage."
"Why would she come back?" Buffy asked. "What's in Sunnydale that would be of any value to her?"
"Nothing…except…" Angel trailed off and looked at Spike. Buffy and Xander did the same, and they knew they were all thinking the same thing.
"Oh, god no." Spike said. "Never. She'd never come back for me."
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An hour later, Spike was going through some of the weapons he had stored. Buffy, Angel, and Xander had gone back to the Magic Box to discuss what to do about Drusilla.
"Hello, Spike."
Spike froze. He'd know that voice anywhere. "Hello Drusilla." He turned around and looked at the woman he used to be so in love with. "Long time no see."
"I knew you'd be here." Drusilla said, walking toward him. "I knew you'd go back to find the Slayer."
"Is that so?" Spike said. "And why did you come all this way to find me here?"
Drusilla smiled wickedly. "It's just not the same without you, Spike." She said. "Things are so…dull and uninteresting without my prince to lead the way." She took his hand and looked at it closely. Then she looked into his eyes. "Come with me, Spike. Come with me and we can rule like we used to."
"It's tempting, Dru." Spike said. "But I don't know if you heard, I can't hurt people anymore. I've got the bloody chip in my head."
"I don't believe in science." Drusilla said, touching his head where his chip would be. "All those little bits no one's ever seen. You can beat the bad chip."
"I don't know, Drusilla." Spike sighed, pulling away from her.
"I know what's really stopping you." Drusilla said. "It's not the chip."
"If you say the Slayer," Spike began, but Drusilla cut him off.
"Not the Slayer." She said. She leaned forward and whispered into his ear, "Angel."
Spike looked at her doubtfully. "Angel." He repeated. "You think Angel is keeping me from going with you."
"He's playing with your mind." Drusilla said. "Making you think you belong here. But you don't, Spike. You belong with me. I know what you have to do."
"And what is that?"
"Fix the problem. Pull the weeds. Kill Angel." She smiled. "I can help you."
Spike grinned at her. "You know what, Dru? I think you just made sense."
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That night, Spike went to Buffy's house and talked to Angel, saying he had found a lead on where to find Drusilla. He told him there was a vampire nest not far from where the train had been discovered, and he thought she might be there. Angel agreed to go with him to check it out. The two of them went to the nest.
"You're sure this is the place?" Angel asked as they approached.
"Yep." Spike replied.
"Then let's go." Angel vamped out and ripped the door open. He went inside, followed by Spike.
Two vampires were sitting on a couch inside. They both stood up when Angel and Spike walked in. "Angelus." One said. Then the both turned and ran out the back as fast as they could.
Spike watched, dumbstruck. "Well that was just…sad. Disgrace to our kind."
Angel looked around. "This nest has been he for months." He said. "Drusilla's only been here a day. This gets us nowhere." He turned to Spike. "Surely you knew it had been here so long?"
Spike grinned suddenly. "Yeah." He admitted. "I just needed a place out of the way."
"What are you-" Angel was cut off as he was hit in the back of the head. He fell to the ground, unconscious. Drusilla walked out from the shadows.
"Time for your nap." She said.
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When Angel opened his eyes, the first thing that he noticed was that he was that he was tied up, hanging from a ceiling. The second thing he noticed was that his head really hurt. The third thing he noticed was Spike and Drusilla watching him. Spike was holding a stake. "Spike." he said. "Why? I thought you'd changed."
Spike laughed. "You know, the sad thing is I almost thought that too. Until Drusilla here showed up and opened my eyes to what's really been going on. The problem's not me, Angel, it's you. You've been trying to control me. But it's going to end. Now."
"And to think Buffy and I were ready to trust you." Angel said.
"Well you were wrong, weren't you?" Spike cried. "I am evil, Angel! I don't have a soul, like you. This is what I do!"
"Face it, Angel." Drusilla said, stepping forward. "You lost."
"Hello, Dru." Angel said. "You haven't changed a bit, I see. Still evil, still insane, and still able to completely control Spike."
Drusilla smiled and hit Angel. It took all of Angel's willpower not to cry out in pain, she was strong. "I'm not controlling him. He wanted to do this. Spike is going to kill you, Angel, and nobody will hear you scream to save you. You walked right into the trap. No one is easier to trick then you, Angel."
"Well actually, Dru, darling, that's not entirely true." Spike said. Drusilla gave him an odd look. "There is one person easier to trick than Angel." Spike went on.
"Who?" Drusilla asked with a frown.
"That would be you." A voice from behind Drusilla said. Drusilla turned around and saw Buffy step toward forward, holding a crossbow. Buffy smiled. "Good work, boys."
Spike untied Angel and gave him an axe. Drusilla looked at him in horror. "Spike?"
"You fell for it, Dru." Spike said. "Angel and Buffy knew you'd come after me. I promised I'd lead them right to you. When you made the plan to kill Angel, I went and talked to both of them. I told them what you were planning. Angel came with me, pretending to fall for it, and Buffy came straight here and hid, waiting for us to come back."
Drusilla looked from Spike and his stake to Angel with his axe and finally Buffy and her crossbow. She was trapped. "Spike, please." She pleaded. "I love you. You love me."
"Not anymore." Spike said shortly.
"Spike?" a voice behind them said. Everybody turned and looked.
"Harmony!" Spike hissed. "Go away!"
"Is that the Slayer?" Harmony asked shrilly. "And…oh my god, that's the Drusilla woman you always used to go on about!"
"Harm," Spike said slowly. "We're a little busy."
"Oh no, that's it." Harmony said. She grabbed a crossbow from Spike's pile of weapons. "I'm not going to take that anymore!"
"This was not part of the plan." Buffy said. Drusilla saw her opportunity and punched Angel.
"Angel and I can take Dru. Buffy, you deal with Harmony." Spike said.
"On it." Buffy said, and she ran for Harmony. Spike and Angel grabbed Drusilla and threw her against the wall. She vamped out and attacked Angel, but Spike got between them and she fell on top of him, pulling him to the ground with her. Angel grabbed her from behind. She twisted in his grip and smacked him in the face, sending him stumbling backwards and giving him the opportunity to pull away from him.
Spike stood up and looked at her. She smiled evilly at him. "You can't stop me, Spike." She said. Suddenly Harmony came flying across the room and crashed into Drusilla, sending them both into the wall. Spike blinked, surprised.
Buffy appeared next to him. "Wow, that was really funny looking!" she laughed. Harmony looked at her, almost said something, and then thought better of it. Instead she jumped up and ran out of the crypt. "I don't think you'll be seeing her again." Buffy said to Spike.
Spike picked up his stake again and pointed it at Drusilla as she stood up. "Are you going to kill me, Spike?" she asked, almost looking afraid.
"No, Drusilla." Spike answered. "I won't kill you." He dropped the stake and grabbed her by the shoulders. Looking into her eyes, he said very firmly, "But you have to promise to get out of this town and never come back."
Drusilla looked at him sadly. "Poor Spike." She said. Then she walked out.
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Buffy, Angel, Spike, Joyce, and Dawn were in the kitchen at the house. Buffy, Angel, and Spike were talking about what had happened with Drusilla. The three of them were laughing a lot.
"And then," Spike said, calming down, "Buffy walks out, pointing a crossbow at Dru, and she says, 'That would be you'."
"The look on Dru's face was priceless." Angel said, laughing again.
"And then," Buffy broke in, also laughing, "Harmony bursts in…oh man, she surprised all of us."
"So the fight breaks out." Spike continued for her. "Angel had been knocked down and I'm waiting for Dru to disembowel me, when suddenly Buffy picks up Harmony, and…" he broke off, laughing, "And she throws her across the room, knocking her into Dru." They all dissolved into laughter again. "It…it was one of the best things I've ever seen." Spike said, trying to control his laughter.
"You should have seen the look on your face." Buffy said.
"It was hilarious." Angel said. "Sorry about Harmony, Spike."
"Oh, don't be." Spike said dismissively. "To be honest, I'd kind of forgotten about her. She's really such an idiot."
"You didn't have to go to school with her." Buffy said. "Try being in chem. class with her. That'll kill you."
Spike laughed. Angel nodded. "Yeah, when she was trying to kill you, I had a hard time feeling threatened." He agreed. "Oh, by the way, Spike." He looked at Spike, who looked back, slightly confused. "Welcome to the team." He said.
Spike smiled a little. "Thanks, Peaches."
Joyce stood up. "Should we order something to eat? I'm starving."
"Yeah, I could eat." Buffy agreed.
"There's blood in the fridge if you're hungry, Spike." Angel said.
"Do you guys want to watch a movie?" Dawn asked.
"Good idea." Joyce said.
"Yeah, sounds good." Angel agreed.
"Sure." Buffy said. "Spike?"
Spike gave her a look. "What?"
"Do you want to stay for a movie?"
Spike was completely taken aback. "Um…ok, why not?"
Buffy smiled. "Great. Movie night. A perfect way to end a day of throwing enemies into other enemies." And they all burst out laughing again.
Yay! Spike's part of the team! I like my version better than the original. Please review!