Disclaimer: I do not own anything; Characters belong to Joss Whedon & Mutant Enemy. However this story is my own.
A/N: Hey guys sorry I haven't updated for a while I've had a bit of writers block with this story but now the creative juices are flowing again it's time to pick up where we left off yay! Hope you guys enjoy it and please review!
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
'The Blame Game'
Spike got to the opening of the cave and ran inside as fast as his legs could carry him. He saw Buffy and Faith whaling on the 'Riley' demon.
Riley fought off the two slayers sending them stumbling back a few paces.
"Hey Spike" Faith greeted, going back to attack 'Riley'
"Are you okay love?" Spike asked holding Buffy in his arms
"I'm fine" she smiled, nuzzling into his hands that where either side of her head.
Spike grabbed her by the neck and pulled her towards him roughly "Faith let him go!" He bellowed
"What?" Asked Faith spinning around to find Buffy in his clutches "Spike what the hell?"
"Let him go or I pop princesses head like a zit" he told her
"Spike" Buffy choked
"You let him leave, I let her go" Spike told Faith
"No Faith" Buffy choked again as Spike squeezed her neck harder
Faith looked at Buffy then back at the Riley lookalike. Slowly she released Riley from her grip. He scrambled to his feet and ran out of the cave. With one swift movement Spike threw Buffy over to Faith sending them both crashing into the cave wall.
XXXXX
Faith helped Buffy through the door of Slayer Central. Her body ached that was some fight but still she had to get Buffy some help. She had been knocked out since Spike threw her at the wall.
"Guys little help here?" Faith yelled.
A few slayers scrambled to help Faith with Buffy.
"What happened?" Asked Vi
Buffy was loaded on to a gurney and was wheeled down to the infirmary, followed by Faith.
"Spike happened" Faith told her
"Spike?" Asked Willow joining the group walking down the hallway
"Yeah it seems he's not as squeaky clean as we thought" said Faith
"Spike" Buffy called out.
Willow and Faith looked at each other sadly as they reached the infirmary.
"What happened?" Asked Dawn removing herself from Mike's side.
"Spike he... Well he attacked Buffy" Willow told her
"What? He wouldn't..." Said Dawn in shock
"Well better believe it, brace yourself guys William The Bloody is back" said Faith walking out of the door.
XXXXX
Buffy stirred, she took a moment to adjust to her surroundings. "Dawn?" She called.
Dawn was sat beside her bed and woke immediately "I'm right here Buffy"
"How did I get here?" She asked
"Uh Faith brought you in, seems like you've got a bit of concussion" Dawn told her
"Right... The cave, Riley... Spike..." She said sadly
"Yeah... What happened Buffy?" Dawn asked
"I don't know one minute he was checking on me making sure I was okay the next he had me by the throat... He's been working for Ace this whole time hasn't he?"
"We're not sure, but it seems like that's what he was doing" Dawn said sadly.
"I'm so stupid I should've known..." Tears slid down Buffy's face
"How could you have known? He fooled us all" Dawn reassured her
"But you weren't close to him! You didn't!-"
"I didn't what?"
"Nothing... It doesn't matter" Buffy said sadly
"Did you? Was there? Uh did you have sex with Spike?" Asked Dawn
"Yes..." Buffy said with fresh tears spilling over her eyes "he probably got such a kick out of that, only thing better than killing a slayer is-"
"Buffy! Spike loves you. There's gotta be a reasonable explanation for all of this maybe he's under some sort of spell or something" Dawn pleaded with her sister "we'll figure this out I promise"
XXXXX
Spike stood outside the grandest hilltop mansion he'd ever seen. It was surrounded by 40ft rocks; it just screamed other worldly to him. A dim light was glowing from the house he knew it was now or never he walked up to the grand entrance and violently gave the door a shove.
He slipped into game face and swaggered through to the grand hall, a red carpet lead to two lavish golden thrones set up on an elaborate stage with steps, under a canopy.
"The man's got flare" Spike murmured to himself.
A man appeared on one of the thrones. Kitted out in what Spike would describe as over the top togs.
"Just what are you seeking vampire" he bellowed
"Could ask you the same question" Spike smirked
"You're him, one of the two" he grinned
"I am..."
"Iblis!" He hollered
"Yeah funny thing..." He smirked revealing the demon's severed head "looks like he's not going to be any use to you. Not like I'd be"
"Go on" Ace grinned
XXXXX
Buffy sat curled up in a chair in her room that she had commandeered at slayer central, her nose stuck in a book, Willow walked in and studied her friend, she looked fragile more fragile than she's ever seen her before. She looked tiny sat in the chair; the bruising around her neck had now turned purple.
"Did you need something?" Asked Buffy looking over the top of her book
"I just wanted to see if you're okay?" Willow replied
"I'm fine" Buffy cast her eyes back down to her book
"Whatcha reading?" Willow asked
"It's nothing..." Said Buffy closing the book shut "I really am okay, these bruises will heal and-"
"But will your heart?" Willow asked
Buffy was taken aback "I've done this before remember? The whole boyfriends turning evil thing... It's no biggie" she shrugged
Willow sat on the edge of Buffy's bed and leaned toward Buffy and placed her hand on her knee "Buffy this is me, just let it out"
Buffy bit her lip "I just..." She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes "It has to be me right? I mean maybe Spike had some sort of catch when he got his soul, maybe not the one moment of true happiness catch but maybe something like it?"
Willow spied the book that Buffy was reading it was the book that contained Angel's curse and the book next to her was the Watchers Diary on William the Bloody "that's what you've been doing? Researching?" She asked
"It has to be me right? I'm the thing that makes their souls go kablooey?"
"Buffy it's not you, we're not even sure that Spike has lost his soul. I mean this could be a spell" Willow reasoned
"It has to be me there's no other reason! It happened with Angel and now it's happening to Spike!" Buffy cried
"Buffy... Spike loved you without a soul, you know that. This isn't him someone is playing with him and we're gunna find out who. I promise" cradling her in her arms.
XXXXX
The Scooby gang and Angel investigations along with a few of The Slayer's top researchers sat surrounded by books with forlorn faces. Angel had been pacing the room for the last half an hour with a book in hand he was barely reading the words, all that was going through his mind is how much of an ass kicking he was going to give Spike when he had the chance. He had believed the bleach blond vampire's feelings for his ex, he knew that only bad things would happen but still Angel had pushed aside his feelings for Buffy and let her make her own mind up about the other vampire. Dawn broke him from his reverie
"Angel for god sake can you stop pacing its damn right distracting!" she shrieked
"Sorry" he mumbled apologetically and sitting down across from her and his son Connor.
"He's just worried" Connor whispered to Dawn.
"Huh?" she asked not really listening getting more and more intrigued by the book that was in front of her.
"My dad… he's just worried about Uncle Spike"
"I doubt your dad is worried about Spike, he hates him. And god I do too if this is the kind of crap he's gunna pull especially when he's hurting my sister!" Dawn said harshly
Connor immediately turned back to his book and kept his mouth zipped.
"Sorry, just long long day is all" she sighed
"I know the feeling. Do you wanna go take a walk? Clear your head a little?" he asked
"Sure… it wouldn't hurt I guess and I'm sure the guys will be okay finding absolutely jack squat without us anyways" she smiled.
XXXXX
Buffy wandered down to the infirmary, she knew that Mike still hadn't left yet his injuries at the hands of Iblis were pretty severe for a human to deal with. He'd suffered two broken ribs and had a pretty awesome gash over his right eye; she looked at him through the door of the infirmary. He was sleeping peacefully 'How did I let him get dragged into this insane world?' she asked herself. She composed herself and opened the door and walked over to his bedside.
"I'm sorry" she whispered sitting down in the chair next to him and taking hold of his hand.
He began to stir; Buffy wiped her face of tears she'd just spilt.
"Buffy?" he asked "what are you doing here?"
"I came to see how you were" she said softly
"I'm okay" he managed a small smile
"I'm sorry you got messed up in all this"
"I always knew there was something about you Miss Summers, I just never knew what it was" he chuckled clutching his broken ribs. "You're special. I get that now"
"Dawn filled you in then?" she asked
"A little, its mostly been the doc here. It seems you're quite the legend"
"I guess" she blushed "I just never wanted any of this; you shouldn't have taken a beating because of who I was"
"I was just caught in the crossfire Buffy, I'm okay… really I am it's not great being banged up but at least now I know the real you" he smiled
"You don't wanna know the real me" she said sadly
"Why not?" he asked
"Because things like this happen. Innocent people that I care about get caught in the crossfire way too much, that's why I tried so hard to make a new life for myself without all the blood, horror and death" she told him
"You can't hide who you are Buffy. The Slayer she's apart of you, the slayer half of you is what makes you, you. And no matter how much you try and kid yourself you know deep down that's who you are"
Buffy smiled a little "You're too damn smart for your own good"
"Not to mention handsome and totally loaded" he laughed wincing again in pain from his ribs. "the truth always comes out in the end Buffy. You just have to be honest with yourself"
Buffy sighed heavily "If only you knew what I went through those seven years"
"You're right I don't know what happened but what I've been told is that you were the one who got the job done no matter what the cost, you were the one that saved the world time and time again. You were the best Slayer in history. You survived then you can survive now, maybe now is the right time for you to get back at what you do best" he smiled.