OF THINGS TO COME
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for the new ones that I created.
CHAPTER 21
Wesley awoke to the sensation of being drug along the ground. Summoning up what little strength that he had left Wesley slowly and cautiously opened one eye and began to look around. Through his blurred vision he looked around in a fit of panic before he saw Faith being drug beside him. "Thank God.," Wesley thought with an enormous sense of relief as he saw her chest slowly rise and fall. He next turned his attention to what was going on around him. He noticed that he was being drug by his feet by one demon and another demon was dragging Faith in an equal manner. "This is bad," Wesley thought with a worried look on his face before his attention was pulled elsewhere as he heard a soft moan escape from Faith's lips. "Faith.," he whispered harshly under his breath, hoping that only Faith would hear.
"Ah.shut up Wes.," Faith mumbled groggily as she lazily opened her eyes and looked over at Wesley.
"Faith wake up.this is no time.," Wesley whispered with a bit of anger in his voice as he reached over and lightly bumped Faith's arm, bringing her around to full consciousness as she glared at him.
"I said stop it.," Faith growled angrily before letting her voice trailed off, eliciting a toothy grin from one of the demons that was dragging them. "Wes.how did we," she asked with a pained look on her face before memories of the fight filtered back into her mind.
# # # # # # # #
Their charge had been doomed from the beginning, but charging headlong into battles that they had no hope of winning had kind of become a trademark for Wesley and Faith. Wesley had tried to put up a valiant fight but had been blindsided by one of the demons wings as it smashed into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. Faith had started to go to his aid when she was knocked off her feet by an explosion. By the time she had recovered the sight she saw made her blood run cold, for stooped over her gasping husband was The Mayor, smiling like a maniac, holding an oddly familiar knife to Wesley's throat.
"I wonder what color a bastard Watchers blood is.ah to bad.it's just plain old red," the Mayor said with a happy chuckle as he began to press the edge of the blade into Wesley's neck, drawing a thin line of blood, causing Faith's heart to skip a beat.
"Stop," Faith howled as she lunged towards the Mayor, intending on driving the mop handle straight through his heart. But she had only barely left the ground when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her backwards. Struggling against the demon's grip Faith could only stare in abject horror as the line of blood slowly began to grow ever larger. "Bastard," Faith screamed as she violently began to strain against the demons grip.
"Now Faith.that's not very nice.you know what my mother used to tell me.wait a minute.of course you don't you're just a child.ah well I'll tell you anyway.," the Mayor said with a very happy grin on his face, acting as if he was having the time of his life. "She said.son.if you don't have anything nice to say.then don't say anything at all," he said with a grin on his face as he began to creep closer and closer to Faith, bringing the now blood stained knife closer and closer to her own neck. "Remember this knife Faith.I gave it to you as a present a long time ago.fitting don't you think that I'm going to kill you with it," he said with a snicker before he placed the knife's edge mere centimeters from Faith's throat before jerking it away suddenly.
"Fuck you.," Faith growled through gritted teeth as she tried to glare a hole right through the Mayor, who just shook his head before she felt a sharp blow to the back of her head and her world went black.
"Ah yes.I love my job.," the Mayor said with an excited sigh before he turned away and started walking down the hall talking nonsense to himself.
# # # # # # # # #
"Wes.your neck.," Faith said with a lump in her throat as her eyes grew slightly wider and she began to stare at Wesley's neck, which now only showed a small cut with a patch of dried blood.
"I'm okay.he didn't cut deep enough to do anything but cosmetic damage," Wesley said with a small smile before he turned away and tried to get his bearings as to where they were in the school.
"Thank you," Faith said as a silent prayer before she continued, "Any idea where we.oh fuck," she started to say with a concerned look on her face before she felt the wooden floor of the gym beneath her.
"Not the best place to be," Wesley said with a sarcastic tone to his voice as he also noticed where they had been dragged to.
"You two remember this place don't you.," the Mayor said with a small laugh as he walked up to them and grinned down at them.
"Fuck you.," Faith growled angrily as the two demons that had been dragging them let go of their feet and turned around to bar them from the Mayor.
"Such language.and from a woman in your condition.tsk.tsk.tsk.," the Mayor said with a smile before he turned to another group of demons and said, "Well we're ready to go.open the doors.always hated gym.." At his words two demons glided over and pulled open the double doors that led outside. One of the demons looked back at the Mayor with a look of fear in it's eyes. "What's the matter now.you act like.oh no.the sun.everybody out.," the Mayor yelled with a disappointed and angry look on his face before he turned back to Faith and Wesley just as all the demons in the gymnasium tore by him and out the door. Within seconds they had ripped the manhole cover off and had disappeared down into the sewers below. "Really.it's been fun playing with you two.but it's time for me to go.," the Mayor said with a merry smile before he ran out of the gymnasium and climbed down into the sewer before one of the demons pulled the manhole cover back into place.
"Oh no you don't you fucking.," Faith growled angrily as she took off out of the gym and arrived at the manhole cover mere minutes later, with Wesley close behind.
"Faith come on.we have to get out of here.," Wesley said with an impatient look on his face as he put a hand on Faith's shoulder.
"What.why.," Faith growled back as she angrily glared at Wesley before she began to hear the far off sound of police sirens. "The police are coming.and I know you don't want to be here when they arrive.they'll throw you back in jail without even looking at you.and I'm not about to let that happen," Wesley said with a sober but determined look on his face as he grabbed Faith's arm and slowly began to pull her away from the manhole and back towards their SUV.
"But.we had them.," Faith said defiantly, but she allowed Wesley to drag her back to their SUV and she didn't argue when he opened the passenger side door and motioned for her to get in.
"With the Mayor back I fear that our troubles are just beginning," Wesley said as he and Faith got in the SUV and shut their doors.
"B got him once.she can do it again.besides I'm on the right team this time.and I've got something.someone.to fight for.," Faith said with a surge of confidence and a smile on her face as Wesley started the engine and pulled out of the school's parking lot, mere seconds before the first police car came around the corner.
"Well let's just hope then that she can repeat the feat.," Wesley said with a small sigh of relief as he turned a corner and the high school passed out of sight.
* * * * * * *
"I'd better be getting home.my parents are supposed to get back from their trip today.and I can't come home this early and.," Billy said with a worried look on his face as he looked back and forth between Dawn, who was still trying to wake up as she had her head on his shoulder, and Buffy, who had after making sure that Spike had gotten some much needed medical attention had kept her distance from him.
"Okay but.," Buffy began to say through a yawn before a voice from the living room interrupted her and broke her train of thought.
"Buffy.get in here quick.," Willow yelled out with a worried and confused look on her face as she fearfully looked over at Xander, who along with Anya, returned the look.
"What is it.," Buffy said with an impatient look on her face as she walked into living room followed by a stumbling Dawn, who was getting help walking from an equally tired Billy. "You're not going to believe this.," Fred said with a slightly scared but confused look on her face as she looked up as Buffy entered the room.
"Oh my.," Buffy gasped as she brought a hand up to her face and covered her mouth as her knees began to shake, forcing her to sit down on the corner of the couch. From across the room Spike only watched on with a smirk on his face, but the smirk disappeared when Buffy turned his way.
"This is bad.," Angel said slowly shaking his head as he stared at the destruction on the television screen.
"Is that.the high school," Billy asked with a look of shock and unbelief on his face as he guided Dawn to one of the chairs.
"Guess you and Bit won't have school today.," Spike said with a smile and without looking away from the window.
"Not funny Spike.," Buffy said with a serious tone to her voice as she lightly glared over at Spike, much to Xander's delight.
"What happened.," Cordelia said with a concerned and worried look on her face as everyone in the room sat riveted to the events unfolding on the screen. Police and fire engines surrounded the school, with police and firefighters circling everywhere, desperately trying to put out the numerous fires and to make sure that there was no one inside the building. Buffy was about to say something when she was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening.
"Hey B.we're back.," Faith said with as chipper and innocent a voice as she could manage as she and Wesley walked into the living room, both completely covered in dirt, dust, and some blood.
"That's nice Faith.have you.seen.Faith.Wesley.," Buffy started to say casually as she kept her eyes riveted to the screen but finally tore them off and her jaw dropped when she saw the pair in the entryway. Seconds later everyone in the room turned to at first glance and then stare at the pair.
"What the hell happened to you two.Wes.your neck," Gunn said with a confused look on his face as he looked first at Wesley and Faith and then back to Fred, who had an equally confused look on her face.
"Nothing.it's only a flesh wound.thankfully," Faith said with a slight smirk on her face as she stared at first the floor and then the ceiling to avoid their questioning eyes.
"Faith.did you do that.," Angel said dryly with an angry frown on his face as he pointed to the events unfolding on the television screen.
"Directly.no.but.we kinda.," Faith said with a frown on her face as she searched for the right words to say that wouldn't shift the blame squarely onto her.
"We went to the high school to investigate and we ran into a little bit of trouble.," Wesley said with a somber look on his face as he put a hand on Faith's shoulder.
"Looks like you found a shit load of trouble," Spike said with an angry scowl on his face as he glared at Wesley and Faith from across the room.
"Spike.watch your mouth.Wes.just tell us what happened," Buffy said glaring ruefully first at Spike before she turned her attention back to Faith, who stood with her usual blank look on her face, and then Wesley.
"And don't leave anything out.," Giles said with a frown on his face, speaking up for the first time after being silent and watching everyone's reactions to the events happening on the television screen and in the entryway.
"Alright.after taking care of Faith's cravings.," Wesley began to say with a small sigh as he pushed his glasses back into their proper place before he was interrupted by Faith.
"That reminds me.hey B.you got any spaghetti and ranch dressing.," Faith said with a hungry look on her face.
"Top shelf to the right of the sink and bottom shelf of the fridge," Buffy said with a hand out pointing to the kitchen.
"Thanks.go ahead honey continue.I'm hungry.," Faith said with a smile on her face as she patted Wesley on the back before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Honey.," Xander said with a joking smile on his face as he noticed the uncomfortable look on Wesley's face.
"Hormones.anyway we decided to check out the school.everything was going fine until we got to the gym.that's where the proverbial shit hit the fan," Wesley said with a weary frown on his face as he scratched his chin.
"So who was it.Dru.," Angel said with an ever growing sense of dread as he felt Cordelia slip her arm around his.
"I wish.when the lights turned on we received quite a shock.," Wesley started to say with a frown on his face before he shoved his hands in his pockets and turned away from looking at Angel to look over at Buffy and Giles before continuing. "I don't believe I'm saying this.but.it.," Wesley said with a sigh as he shook his head in almost shame.
"That bastard the Mayor," Faith said with a handful of dry spaghetti sticks in one hand and a small bowl of ranch dressing in the other. Her words hit most of the group like a ton of bricks; Buffy fell silent for a second before looking over at Giles with a helpless look on her face. Xander dropped his head and began to shake it as if in shame with Anya sitting beside him looking like her new puppy had just died. Angel and Cordelia shared a quick glance before she sighed heavily and hid slightly behind him. Willow seemed to shrivel up in her chair as if the living room walls were closing in on her. Spike meanwhile just gave a quick chuckle before he shook his head and took a few steps towards the center of the room.
"Are you sure.," Giles said with a pensive frown on his face after swallowing harder then he ever thought he could.
"Afraid so.he's the one that.," Wesley said uncomfortably with a frown on his face as he faintly gestured towards the blood on his throat.
"This is very troubling news.not only Drusilla.but now the Mayor as well.must have been resurrected somehow.but something tells me that the Mayor is not the ultimate evil that we are currently facing.he's merely a distraction.a decoy.of sorts," Giles said with a very serious look on his face as he stared straight ahead, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"Great.so when do we get some good news for a change huh," Xander said with a heavy sigh as he threw his hands up and shook his head in dismay.
"We're all still alive.that's good enough news for now.," Angel said with a frustrated frown on his face.
The next few hours were spent by the teams that went out relating every detail of their patrols, from Conner and Angel's run-in with the giant creature to Buffy and Spike fighting the vampires in the cemetery and then discovering that Clem was in Las Vegas with his friends. Buffy had intentionally left out the part about her and Spike's aborted try and sex, and had used the excuse that she and Spike had verbally exchanged barbs that night to explain why the two weren't all cozy. Giles instantly suspected that there was another reason behind Spike and Buffy's estrangement but had kept his ideas and fears to himself until after Buffy was done telling her story and he could talk to her in private. But his plans had been hijacked when Cordelia and Willow had cornered her in the kitchen and ordered everyone else, including Dawn, to stay out and to not eavesdrop if they valued their lives.
"Okay Buffy.so what really happened between you and Spike.you're hiding something.," Cordelia said with an impatient look on her face as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
"I.I don't know what you're talking about Cordy.I told you.everything," Buffy said with a nervous smile on her face as she stared at her half full glass of milk in front of her on the table.
"Buffy.we're your friends.you can tell us.did Spike try something.did he.," Willow said with a very concerned and slightly scared look on her face as she laid a hand on Buffy's arm in solace.
"N-No.he didn't do anything wrong.it was me.we got to his old crypt and then I helped him with his shoulder.then things got all wiggy.one minute we're just talking.the next we're.uh.and then I just freaked out.," Buffy said with a very embarrassed and sad look on her face before she took a quick sip of milk as she looked to be on the verge of tearing up.
"What'd Spike do then.," Willow asked with a ever increasing frown on her face as she nervously looked back and forth between Buffy and Cordelia.
"He didn't argue.or yell at me.he just.held me.until we fell asleep.," Buffy said with a somber look on her face as first one then many tears began sliding down her cheeks.
"So what now.where do we go from here.," Cordelia said with a sad look on her face as she shook her head and looked over at Willow, who returned the look.
"I don't know.I just don't know.," Buffy said with a sad look on her face and tears sliding down her face as she shook her head.
END OF CHAPTER 21
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters except for the new ones that I created.
CHAPTER 21
Wesley awoke to the sensation of being drug along the ground. Summoning up what little strength that he had left Wesley slowly and cautiously opened one eye and began to look around. Through his blurred vision he looked around in a fit of panic before he saw Faith being drug beside him. "Thank God.," Wesley thought with an enormous sense of relief as he saw her chest slowly rise and fall. He next turned his attention to what was going on around him. He noticed that he was being drug by his feet by one demon and another demon was dragging Faith in an equal manner. "This is bad," Wesley thought with a worried look on his face before his attention was pulled elsewhere as he heard a soft moan escape from Faith's lips. "Faith.," he whispered harshly under his breath, hoping that only Faith would hear.
"Ah.shut up Wes.," Faith mumbled groggily as she lazily opened her eyes and looked over at Wesley.
"Faith wake up.this is no time.," Wesley whispered with a bit of anger in his voice as he reached over and lightly bumped Faith's arm, bringing her around to full consciousness as she glared at him.
"I said stop it.," Faith growled angrily before letting her voice trailed off, eliciting a toothy grin from one of the demons that was dragging them. "Wes.how did we," she asked with a pained look on her face before memories of the fight filtered back into her mind.
# # # # # # # #
Their charge had been doomed from the beginning, but charging headlong into battles that they had no hope of winning had kind of become a trademark for Wesley and Faith. Wesley had tried to put up a valiant fight but had been blindsided by one of the demons wings as it smashed into his stomach, knocking the air out of him. Faith had started to go to his aid when she was knocked off her feet by an explosion. By the time she had recovered the sight she saw made her blood run cold, for stooped over her gasping husband was The Mayor, smiling like a maniac, holding an oddly familiar knife to Wesley's throat.
"I wonder what color a bastard Watchers blood is.ah to bad.it's just plain old red," the Mayor said with a happy chuckle as he began to press the edge of the blade into Wesley's neck, drawing a thin line of blood, causing Faith's heart to skip a beat.
"Stop," Faith howled as she lunged towards the Mayor, intending on driving the mop handle straight through his heart. But she had only barely left the ground when a strong arm wrapped around her waist and pulled her backwards. Struggling against the demon's grip Faith could only stare in abject horror as the line of blood slowly began to grow ever larger. "Bastard," Faith screamed as she violently began to strain against the demons grip.
"Now Faith.that's not very nice.you know what my mother used to tell me.wait a minute.of course you don't you're just a child.ah well I'll tell you anyway.," the Mayor said with a very happy grin on his face, acting as if he was having the time of his life. "She said.son.if you don't have anything nice to say.then don't say anything at all," he said with a grin on his face as he began to creep closer and closer to Faith, bringing the now blood stained knife closer and closer to her own neck. "Remember this knife Faith.I gave it to you as a present a long time ago.fitting don't you think that I'm going to kill you with it," he said with a snicker before he placed the knife's edge mere centimeters from Faith's throat before jerking it away suddenly.
"Fuck you.," Faith growled through gritted teeth as she tried to glare a hole right through the Mayor, who just shook his head before she felt a sharp blow to the back of her head and her world went black.
"Ah yes.I love my job.," the Mayor said with an excited sigh before he turned away and started walking down the hall talking nonsense to himself.
# # # # # # # # #
"Wes.your neck.," Faith said with a lump in her throat as her eyes grew slightly wider and she began to stare at Wesley's neck, which now only showed a small cut with a patch of dried blood.
"I'm okay.he didn't cut deep enough to do anything but cosmetic damage," Wesley said with a small smile before he turned away and tried to get his bearings as to where they were in the school.
"Thank you," Faith said as a silent prayer before she continued, "Any idea where we.oh fuck," she started to say with a concerned look on her face before she felt the wooden floor of the gym beneath her.
"Not the best place to be," Wesley said with a sarcastic tone to his voice as he also noticed where they had been dragged to.
"You two remember this place don't you.," the Mayor said with a small laugh as he walked up to them and grinned down at them.
"Fuck you.," Faith growled angrily as the two demons that had been dragging them let go of their feet and turned around to bar them from the Mayor.
"Such language.and from a woman in your condition.tsk.tsk.tsk.," the Mayor said with a smile before he turned to another group of demons and said, "Well we're ready to go.open the doors.always hated gym.." At his words two demons glided over and pulled open the double doors that led outside. One of the demons looked back at the Mayor with a look of fear in it's eyes. "What's the matter now.you act like.oh no.the sun.everybody out.," the Mayor yelled with a disappointed and angry look on his face before he turned back to Faith and Wesley just as all the demons in the gymnasium tore by him and out the door. Within seconds they had ripped the manhole cover off and had disappeared down into the sewers below. "Really.it's been fun playing with you two.but it's time for me to go.," the Mayor said with a merry smile before he ran out of the gymnasium and climbed down into the sewer before one of the demons pulled the manhole cover back into place.
"Oh no you don't you fucking.," Faith growled angrily as she took off out of the gym and arrived at the manhole cover mere minutes later, with Wesley close behind.
"Faith come on.we have to get out of here.," Wesley said with an impatient look on his face as he put a hand on Faith's shoulder.
"What.why.," Faith growled back as she angrily glared at Wesley before she began to hear the far off sound of police sirens. "The police are coming.and I know you don't want to be here when they arrive.they'll throw you back in jail without even looking at you.and I'm not about to let that happen," Wesley said with a sober but determined look on his face as he grabbed Faith's arm and slowly began to pull her away from the manhole and back towards their SUV.
"But.we had them.," Faith said defiantly, but she allowed Wesley to drag her back to their SUV and she didn't argue when he opened the passenger side door and motioned for her to get in.
"With the Mayor back I fear that our troubles are just beginning," Wesley said as he and Faith got in the SUV and shut their doors.
"B got him once.she can do it again.besides I'm on the right team this time.and I've got something.someone.to fight for.," Faith said with a surge of confidence and a smile on her face as Wesley started the engine and pulled out of the school's parking lot, mere seconds before the first police car came around the corner.
"Well let's just hope then that she can repeat the feat.," Wesley said with a small sigh of relief as he turned a corner and the high school passed out of sight.
* * * * * * *
"I'd better be getting home.my parents are supposed to get back from their trip today.and I can't come home this early and.," Billy said with a worried look on his face as he looked back and forth between Dawn, who was still trying to wake up as she had her head on his shoulder, and Buffy, who had after making sure that Spike had gotten some much needed medical attention had kept her distance from him.
"Okay but.," Buffy began to say through a yawn before a voice from the living room interrupted her and broke her train of thought.
"Buffy.get in here quick.," Willow yelled out with a worried and confused look on her face as she fearfully looked over at Xander, who along with Anya, returned the look.
"What is it.," Buffy said with an impatient look on her face as she walked into living room followed by a stumbling Dawn, who was getting help walking from an equally tired Billy. "You're not going to believe this.," Fred said with a slightly scared but confused look on her face as she looked up as Buffy entered the room.
"Oh my.," Buffy gasped as she brought a hand up to her face and covered her mouth as her knees began to shake, forcing her to sit down on the corner of the couch. From across the room Spike only watched on with a smirk on his face, but the smirk disappeared when Buffy turned his way.
"This is bad.," Angel said slowly shaking his head as he stared at the destruction on the television screen.
"Is that.the high school," Billy asked with a look of shock and unbelief on his face as he guided Dawn to one of the chairs.
"Guess you and Bit won't have school today.," Spike said with a smile and without looking away from the window.
"Not funny Spike.," Buffy said with a serious tone to her voice as she lightly glared over at Spike, much to Xander's delight.
"What happened.," Cordelia said with a concerned and worried look on her face as everyone in the room sat riveted to the events unfolding on the screen. Police and fire engines surrounded the school, with police and firefighters circling everywhere, desperately trying to put out the numerous fires and to make sure that there was no one inside the building. Buffy was about to say something when she was interrupted by the sound of the front door opening.
"Hey B.we're back.," Faith said with as chipper and innocent a voice as she could manage as she and Wesley walked into the living room, both completely covered in dirt, dust, and some blood.
"That's nice Faith.have you.seen.Faith.Wesley.," Buffy started to say casually as she kept her eyes riveted to the screen but finally tore them off and her jaw dropped when she saw the pair in the entryway. Seconds later everyone in the room turned to at first glance and then stare at the pair.
"What the hell happened to you two.Wes.your neck," Gunn said with a confused look on his face as he looked first at Wesley and Faith and then back to Fred, who had an equally confused look on her face.
"Nothing.it's only a flesh wound.thankfully," Faith said with a slight smirk on her face as she stared at first the floor and then the ceiling to avoid their questioning eyes.
"Faith.did you do that.," Angel said dryly with an angry frown on his face as he pointed to the events unfolding on the television screen.
"Directly.no.but.we kinda.," Faith said with a frown on her face as she searched for the right words to say that wouldn't shift the blame squarely onto her.
"We went to the high school to investigate and we ran into a little bit of trouble.," Wesley said with a somber look on his face as he put a hand on Faith's shoulder.
"Looks like you found a shit load of trouble," Spike said with an angry scowl on his face as he glared at Wesley and Faith from across the room.
"Spike.watch your mouth.Wes.just tell us what happened," Buffy said glaring ruefully first at Spike before she turned her attention back to Faith, who stood with her usual blank look on her face, and then Wesley.
"And don't leave anything out.," Giles said with a frown on his face, speaking up for the first time after being silent and watching everyone's reactions to the events happening on the television screen and in the entryway.
"Alright.after taking care of Faith's cravings.," Wesley began to say with a small sigh as he pushed his glasses back into their proper place before he was interrupted by Faith.
"That reminds me.hey B.you got any spaghetti and ranch dressing.," Faith said with a hungry look on her face.
"Top shelf to the right of the sink and bottom shelf of the fridge," Buffy said with a hand out pointing to the kitchen.
"Thanks.go ahead honey continue.I'm hungry.," Faith said with a smile on her face as she patted Wesley on the back before disappearing into the kitchen.
"Honey.," Xander said with a joking smile on his face as he noticed the uncomfortable look on Wesley's face.
"Hormones.anyway we decided to check out the school.everything was going fine until we got to the gym.that's where the proverbial shit hit the fan," Wesley said with a weary frown on his face as he scratched his chin.
"So who was it.Dru.," Angel said with an ever growing sense of dread as he felt Cordelia slip her arm around his.
"I wish.when the lights turned on we received quite a shock.," Wesley started to say with a frown on his face before he shoved his hands in his pockets and turned away from looking at Angel to look over at Buffy and Giles before continuing. "I don't believe I'm saying this.but.it.," Wesley said with a sigh as he shook his head in almost shame.
"That bastard the Mayor," Faith said with a handful of dry spaghetti sticks in one hand and a small bowl of ranch dressing in the other. Her words hit most of the group like a ton of bricks; Buffy fell silent for a second before looking over at Giles with a helpless look on her face. Xander dropped his head and began to shake it as if in shame with Anya sitting beside him looking like her new puppy had just died. Angel and Cordelia shared a quick glance before she sighed heavily and hid slightly behind him. Willow seemed to shrivel up in her chair as if the living room walls were closing in on her. Spike meanwhile just gave a quick chuckle before he shook his head and took a few steps towards the center of the room.
"Are you sure.," Giles said with a pensive frown on his face after swallowing harder then he ever thought he could.
"Afraid so.he's the one that.," Wesley said uncomfortably with a frown on his face as he faintly gestured towards the blood on his throat.
"This is very troubling news.not only Drusilla.but now the Mayor as well.must have been resurrected somehow.but something tells me that the Mayor is not the ultimate evil that we are currently facing.he's merely a distraction.a decoy.of sorts," Giles said with a very serious look on his face as he stared straight ahead, avoiding everyone's eyes.
"Great.so when do we get some good news for a change huh," Xander said with a heavy sigh as he threw his hands up and shook his head in dismay.
"We're all still alive.that's good enough news for now.," Angel said with a frustrated frown on his face.
The next few hours were spent by the teams that went out relating every detail of their patrols, from Conner and Angel's run-in with the giant creature to Buffy and Spike fighting the vampires in the cemetery and then discovering that Clem was in Las Vegas with his friends. Buffy had intentionally left out the part about her and Spike's aborted try and sex, and had used the excuse that she and Spike had verbally exchanged barbs that night to explain why the two weren't all cozy. Giles instantly suspected that there was another reason behind Spike and Buffy's estrangement but had kept his ideas and fears to himself until after Buffy was done telling her story and he could talk to her in private. But his plans had been hijacked when Cordelia and Willow had cornered her in the kitchen and ordered everyone else, including Dawn, to stay out and to not eavesdrop if they valued their lives.
"Okay Buffy.so what really happened between you and Spike.you're hiding something.," Cordelia said with an impatient look on her face as she leaned back in her chair and crossed her arms.
"I.I don't know what you're talking about Cordy.I told you.everything," Buffy said with a nervous smile on her face as she stared at her half full glass of milk in front of her on the table.
"Buffy.we're your friends.you can tell us.did Spike try something.did he.," Willow said with a very concerned and slightly scared look on her face as she laid a hand on Buffy's arm in solace.
"N-No.he didn't do anything wrong.it was me.we got to his old crypt and then I helped him with his shoulder.then things got all wiggy.one minute we're just talking.the next we're.uh.and then I just freaked out.," Buffy said with a very embarrassed and sad look on her face before she took a quick sip of milk as she looked to be on the verge of tearing up.
"What'd Spike do then.," Willow asked with a ever increasing frown on her face as she nervously looked back and forth between Buffy and Cordelia.
"He didn't argue.or yell at me.he just.held me.until we fell asleep.," Buffy said with a somber look on her face as first one then many tears began sliding down her cheeks.
"So what now.where do we go from here.," Cordelia said with a sad look on her face as she shook her head and looked over at Willow, who returned the look.
"I don't know.I just don't know.," Buffy said with a sad look on her face and tears sliding down her face as she shook her head.
END OF CHAPTER 21