Disclaimers: All the characters in this story belong to Joss Whedon.
Chapter 27: Testing times: Part one
They had no idea what the council had in store for them, since the head of the council, Quinton Travers didn't really give much information over the phone. Only that they knew there were two slayers in town and that they were coming to investigate. So the older Buffy took it upon herself to warn them about the last time the council 'Tested' her. None of them liked the sounds of it and then Giles proceeded to tell them that they would not only want to check Buffy's abilities but they need to check the ability of any civilian that is involved with Buffy. The vampire Spike asked the watcher what they would have in mind for him and he told him that he had no idea and that it was a possibility that they would take him, Buffy and Dawn back to England until they find a way to send them back. Well, the slayer was not happy. She even hit the vampire right in the nose because he continued to get under her skin. How the hell does he do it? Just one look or some snarky comment and he is able to make me blow my top? She thought.
The second rehearsal for Giles' boys and it was going ok, until Angel decided to make his thoughts known to his ex friend. The vampire wore a frown that clearly told everyone that he was not happy to see him, whilst Buffy was looking at him. Longingly.
"Hey Giles, I didn't know you had a brother," Angel nodded his head towards the vampire.
"Sod off, O'Connor," he spat
Spike walked around to where Oz was and started to help him set up. Angel found that Buffy was sort of smiling at him. He looked away and went back up to Spike.
"No need for the atmosphere and all that,"
The bleach blonde snorted and without warning he slammed down his guitar and abruptly turned to face his former best friend. Nostrils flared. Fist clenched.
"No need- no need for THIS atmosphere?!? what bloody planet are you from! Did you really think that I would just forget you taking Dru away from me? (shakes his head)..not a single chance!" Spike shouted
All eyes were on them now. Xander tossed a warning glance to Giles. Angel chuckled at his attempt to look the big man.
"Go ahead Spike, hit me...I know you want to, you know you want to so why don't you just...(pushes him) do it,"
Giles rushed to the stage and placed himself between the two rowing teens.
"Now that is quite enough! I suggest you both work on your acts and if you have nothing positive or nice to say to each other, then do not say anything at all,"
His son looked angrily at him while the other teen smirked.
"Taking orders from daddy now are we?"
That was it. Spike launched himself at Angel but Giles pushed him away and ordered him off the stage. He did the same to Angel, after he whispered a few words in his ear. He gulped and took his leave. While all this was going on, Buffy was looking at Angel and frowning to herself. This Angel was so different to her Angel. The way he acted, well what she had seen so far he was even more pig-headed and arrogant than Spike and that was hard to top in her book. Vampire Spike waltzed up to the teen, who was riffling through his bag.
"Stupid pillock is what he is, always thinks he the best an all...I know how much it hurts,"
Soft chuckle.
"But it's doesn't...not any more," Spike informed the vampire
The other Spike frowned and raised a brow to him.
"How so?" he asked, voice laced with curiosity.
His head snapped up.
"Up until a few days ago I thought that Dru was the only girl for me but...I've realised she was just my first love and that maybe there is,"
"You might have to go searchin' the whole world for her, live for an eternity" the vampire muttered as he looked at Buffy.
"Or maybe she is right in front of me...," the teen muttered
"What? Did you- are you? (hushes his voice down) do you feel the same way about Buffy as me?" he put forward.
Spike pulled away and frowned.
"No...at least I don't think I do...yet, look can we just drop the topic? Go on to something other than my bleeding love life?"
The vampire had gone quiet. He was scanning the crowd and staring, intensely at Angel. Spike narrowed his eyes as he tried to figure something out.
"Does peaches wear lifts?"
Meanwhile, in the rehearsal for the girls. Jenny had pulled all of the ones who were singing to one side. The reason for this was that she wanted to tell them what she wanted them to sing and the way she went about this was this. Ms Calender had written all the songs for the first round down on some paper, folded them all up and threw them into a hat. First into the hat was Harmony. She squealed with horror when she saw what was written on the piece of paper. Barbie girl by Aqua.
"Ohmygod! Are you totally kidding me?"
"I'm no joker Harmony...get practising," she shooed
After two more girls, Buffy and Cordelia were the only two left. The brunette smiled a truly wicked smile as she held her paper up for all to inspect.
"Just you watch these boot walk all over YOUR performance!...(begins to walk away) These boots are made for walking," she began to sing
The blonde gulped as she watched her nemesis walked away. There was no way she would top that. One song left in the bottom of the hat. The teacher put it under her nose. Closing her eyes, she reached inside the hat and pulled it out. But when she opened it she scrunched it back up quicker than you could say Mississippi.
"There is no way on this planet I am singing that," she stated, wide eyed
Jenny sighed and rolled her eyes. She scooted closer to the slayer.
"Look, it's not that bad, besides this gives you the perfect chance to be sexy, show everyone a different side of you,"
"Sexy?...oh no no no, I-I don't, I can't do sexy!... look at me, I'm a freak," she pointed to herself
"Buffy...just read it over, sing the words, then see how you feel, yeah?"
Admitting defeat, the blonde nodded her head.
"Good girl,"
"If there are any BAD repercussions, I'll hold you responsible,"
Shrug.
"fairs fair,"
After rehearsals, Faith made a point out of finding out what Buffy was doing. In the end she caved and told her. This caused Faith to go into cupid mode. She tried to get her cousin to talk about Spike and she tried having a shot at finding out what happened the other day but she found herself falling flat on her face. Time for plan B. Operation scooby. Now that she knew what her next plan was all she had to do was set it in motion. Luckily for her, neither Spike or Buffy were anywhere to be seen at lunchtime. She dived straight in.
"So, what do you think about B and Spike?"
Buffy and Spike? Now she has definitely lost it.
"What do you mean, what do we think?" the red head questioned
"Yeah, come on Faith, what do you mean exactly?" Xander added
Roll of the eyes.
"Are you seriously telling me you haven't noticed the way those two act around each other? Like Romeo and Juliet (shudders) and come on! Somethin' went down the other day in the bathroom, are you blind or summat?"
Xander's mouth dropped open and made it look like he was catching flies.
"No and no! That is just too creepy and I know for a fact that Buffy wouldn't touch that creep with a barge poll," he stated in a matter-of-factly way
"Xander! He isn't a creep...just very troubled (pauses) and come to think about it there were acting all defensive, stealing glances,"
Faith threw her fork onto her tray.
"Exactly! There lye's my point, something happened and I wanna know what, don't you? And I wanna get them together, ok at first-"
"You what? Oh no!... okay raise your hand if you don't want to see that happen," Xander interrupted
He raised his hand and found that the girls hadn't done the same. He glared at Willow and she gulped.
"Will! Please don't tell me-you know what go ahead, screw Buffy's life up but don't expect me to help in the process," he grunted
The punk turned to Willow.
"Are you in or out?"
The red head gave her an apologetic look.
"Sorry, as much as I would like to I can't but go on ahead,"
In that she gave up and went to the last people she could think of.
End of school. The scoobies were all gathered up in the library. Awaiting the arrival of the council. Buffy and Human Spike were sat next to each other, glancing at each other. Everyone was nervous and the vampire picked up on that. For some reason Faith kept on looking at him and if she didn't say something soon he was sure going to say something but he found that wasn't the case. The brunette had ushered the other Buffy over to Spike and they stood a fair bit away from the rest of the group. The slayer frowned and found that Spike was doing the same.
"What are you doing?" she piped
Those green eyes examined her closely. She was really on edge because she was unsure if this Faith was like the one back at home. He remembered everything that the scoobies had said about the chit back when she had taken over Buffy's body. Personally, he didn't want to have a run in with her as it would result in a very dusty ending or well the last option wasn't even worth thinking about. Chew of gum.
"I need your help. Both of you,"
"You must be kidding if you think that I'm gonna help a nut case like you, think I've had my fair share of them,"
Faith chuckled. Buffy chewed her lip. She needed help.
"What do you need us for?"
"Glad ya asked, see I have this theory and no one, part from me and Willow has seemed to notice that (looks over to the other Buffy and Spike) those two have definitely got the hots for each other (Buffy tries to interrupt but fails) and I know something went down in that bathroom..."
"Get to the bloody point,"
"The point is I need your help to find out what happened and to get them together,"
Spike tilted his head as he considered the options. Buffy went to blow her top when Quinton walked in with a bunch of watchers. Faith put her thumbs up to the older Buffy and Spike. He nodded and she, shook her head in the negative. All eyes were on the watchers. Giles stood up.
"Quinton,"
"Rupert," he greeted
It was like follow the leader were the watcher's council was concerned. The youngest Buffy looked so nervous and human Spike tossed her a smile. She smiled back. Quinton made his way over to them.
"William, you have grown and Miss Summers it is a pleasure to finally meet you,"
"Uh, likewise I guess," she stuttered
The instant the other watchers spotted Spike they held the crosses up to him and he growled. Quinton turned his back from them and he was now facing the other Spike.
"Precautions, we cannot take any risks (turns to the older Buffy) I trust you understand?"
She really hated this guy and the whole council for that matter of fact. For some reason them holding the crosses to Spike like that made a nerve in her twitch. Stepping towards him he could see the clear look of determination on her face.
"He's impotent, couldn't harm a fly, no threat"
"Hey!" Spike groused
"Unable to hunt or kill?"
"I can't even think about killing any humans, the second I do the chip-"
"Chip?" one of the other watchers interrupted
Buffy glanced at the vampire for a second.
"Spike, don't say another word (turns back to Travers) that has nothing to do with you as we're not from your dimension so why don't you get on with why you're here,"
Nod of the head.
"Very well, these will be testing times, myself and the other council member, whom you see present will put you through a series of tests or trials as they were, also we have to test your friends, as William already knows, but I do stress that this is not the only reason why we are here, I will get to that once all of this is sorted, so Miss Summers, Shall we begin?"
So what do you guys think? Sorry it took me ages to do this i had some writers block so please review kindly:) as you have noticed this is in two parts and i will start the next part soon. What was your favourite bit? What do you want to see happen in Test times: part two? Please tell me in your reviews. Thank you for the reviews so far keep it up! I am really grateful to you all taking the time to read and review!
