BAD BLOOD

A Buffy the Vampire Slayer story.

P.J. Dickinson

Part Three: Hell

Twelve

The Hellmouth in Sunnydale opened with a surprising and brilliant flash. Four bodies were deposited on a hard floor and then the Hellmouth closed as suddenly as it had opened.

Mr. Coates the school janitor stopped dead in his tracks. A cigarette butt fell from his lips and into the pile of invisible dust he had been pushing around the halls of various High Schools for almost two decades. When the old Sunnydale High had burnt down he had never been happier. But then had come unemployment and no matter how weird some of the things he had seen within the old schools corridors nothing was as bad as having no job. When the new school had been built he had reluctantly applied for his old job and had opened his acceptance letter with mixed feelings. Everything had been going well until now.

"Jesus Christ," he said heading for the door. "Not this shit again. I didn't see nothing."

Giles grabbed Buffy to him and the two embraced for a long time. Eventually the Watcher peeled himself away as her grip threatened to break his back.

"Buffy. I...I..."

"I know Giles. Me too. You okay?"

"Some things happened."

"Want to talk later?"

"Yes."

"Me too. I have things to tell you too. Firstly though, give Anya a lend of your coat would you."

"What? Oh my! Oh my goodness."

Buffy looked at Spike. He looked back at her.

"Lost my bloody coat." He said.

Buffy hesitated. Physically she felt exhausted but mentally and spiritually she felt more alive than ever before since she had become the Slayer.

"Are you alright Spike?"

He shrugged and twisted one foot on the floor.

"I tried to find you." He said, "Nearly died. Wound up in Hell with one of your exs."

Buffy wanted to tell him that she wouldn't have risked the same for him but he probably already knew that.

"Thank for looking after Riley Spike"

The vampire threw back his head and laughed. There was a bitter twinge to the laughter.

"You're all heart Slayer."

With that he left on his own without waiting for the others. Without the usual dramatic sweep his coat would have given the exit Spike looked smaller, thinner and undeniably lonelier.

*** ***

Giles found a phone and rang Willow at Buffy's house. Exactly six minutes and forty-two seconds later Xander's work van screeched into the High Schools parking lot.

Xander and Willow bounded out.

"Oh God." Said Xander grabbing Giles in an enormous hug. "I'm so glad to see you. And you too Buffy. And you Willow. I'm so glad to see you too."

"Xander. I never left."

"Xander. Xander. What about me? Aren't you glad to see me too?"

"Anya baby I am so glad to see you safe and not hurt that it is going to take me quite a few days in bed to explain it to you fully. I'm just dealing with the unimportant people first."

"Oh Xaaanduurrr. I love you."

The two lovers linked bodies and kissed completely oblivious to all around them.

"Oh." Said Giles. "I have to say I think that's quite rude."

"I tell you." Said Willow, "She's definitely rubbing off on him."

Buffy couldn't help smiling as she watched the couple.

"Let it go Will," said Buffy in a gentle voice, "I think he's rubbing off on her too