Chapter Two
Two weeks had passed since the fall of Sunnydale. The gang had settled upon Cleveland as their base for the time being. Buffy liked it, it was different to California. The weather was pretty much the same considering they were in the early months of summer. Being away from Cali and being in a new town had helped Buffy, although her grief was still at the forefront of her mind she could fake her way through her days it was the nights that hit her the hardest. She'd play Spike'd video tape over and over until she fell asleep. It hadn't gone unnoticed by the others just how much she was hurting.
A meeting had been called that day. All the key members of the group had been told to assemble at their new headquarters. A compound that Giles had acquired from the Watchers Council. It was huge, it was more than equipped to house them and to have several more of the newly called slayers come to be trained there.
Buffy entered the compound via the key coded door and headed for the boardroom dubbed 'the war room' by Andrew.
Most of the gang were already there sitting waiting for her arrival. They sat around a huge table chattering amongst themselves. Buffy sat herself down next to Xander.
Giles arrived shortly afterwards calling the meeting to order. "Everybody here?" He asked
Buffy still couldn't help but think of who was missing. Xander grabbed her hand and gave her a weak smile. Over the last week they'd bonded over their grief for their lost loves. Buffy gave his hand a gentle squeeze back.
"All accounted for" said Kennedy
"Right then. A few of you have come to me privately to discuss your prospects" Giles started "And I have to say, the ideas that you've thrown my way have been wonderful. So as one of the remaining Watchers left I suppose it falls to me to assign your posts"
"We're assigning posts now?" Asked Buffy
"A few of us have to branch out B" said Faith "Get to work on finding these Slayers we awakened"
"Quite right" said Giles "I, myself plan to return to England"
"You're leaving again?" Asked Dawn
"For a few weeks, I have some leads that need following up on and I need to tie up some loose ends from the explosion of the Councils headquarters" he explained
"I'm going with Mr Giles" said Andrew gleefully
"And uh… Kennedy and I are going to South America" said Willow "The coven have located a bunch of slayers down there"
Buffy stayed silent
"Rona is going to head up our Chicago branch of Slayers and Vi will be going to New York" said Giles
"I'm going to Africa" Xander blurted
"So everybody is leaving…" said Dawn
"Not everybody, Robin and I are staying put" said Faith
"Buffy?" Giles prompted
"You're wanting my approval?" Buffy asked "It seems you guys have pretty much figured everything out"
"Why is everybody leaving?" Asked Dawn tearfully "I thought we were all in this together"
"We are Dawnie, but we've got to find these Slayers and train them. Once we've gathered them we will be back together" said Willow
"Buffy, you can't seriously let this happen" said Dawn
"No it's fine Dawn let them go" said Buffy
"What?!" Dawn cried
"You guys all wanna leave? Go! I'm not stopping any of you" said Buffy
"I feel like you're taking this kinda personally" said Kennedy "it's just business"
"Business huh?" Buffy laughed "And what would you know about business? How long have you been a Slayer? Two weeks? You really think you're equipped enough to train these new girls?"
"At least I haven't gotten anybody killed" spat Kennedy
Buffy laughed harder "Again… you've been at this two weeks. Come to me in seven years when you've been through a few more apocalypses! Come to me when you've had to watch your friends even somebody you love die! You don't know what the hell you're doing little girl"
"Hey!" said Willow "That's not fair!"
"You know what isn't fair Willow? Trying your goddamn hardest, saving everybody's lives again and again to just be rewarded with everybody you care about walking out on you! So go! Leave! Enjoy your time in South America" said Buffy getting up and storming out of the room
"That went well" said Andrew shifting uncomfortably
XXXXX
Buffy got to her room and slammed the door behind her.
"Can you believe this Spike?" she muttered "You were right ungrateful! That's what they are! Can't wait to get rid of me!"
Buffy ranted as she paced her room. She still felt his presence around her, like he was still with her somehow. She had been talking to him, imagining their conversations. She wasn't crazy she knew he was gone but it gave her comfort just talking to him and somehow knowing what he'd say back.
She glanced down at the scar in the palm of her hand, the flames from holding Spike's hand had scorched her hand. It was the one scar she actually didn't mind having, it was a lasting reminder of him.
She stopped pacing when she heard a knock at the door "Go away!" She shouted
"It's me" said Xander "C'mon let me in"
Buffy sighed heavily and opened the door.
"A little harsh down there don't you think?" He asked
Buffy rolled her eyes "Little miss wanna slay had it coming"
"Maybe… but Willow" he reminded her
"I am so tired of treading on eggshells around her" said Buffy
"Woah what?" Xander was taken aback
"Oh c'mon… ever since her dark hair phase we've babied her. Plus we all know Kennedy is just a poor replacement for Tara" said Buffy
"Don't hold back" said Xander
"I'm sick of biting my tongue" Buffy shrugged
"Careful you're starting to sound like him" said Xander
"He was always right though, everything he said…okay not everything"
"No filter… like Anya" he smiled
"So… Africa huh?" She asked
"Yeah… just something I gotta do. I can't stay here, it all feels so wrong without her" he told Buffy
"I know what you mean" Buffy sighed
"So why don't you leave too? Get out there and see this big beautiful world" said Xander
Buffy thought for a moment "If I leave… he won't know where to find me" she said sheepishly
"Spike?" He asked
"I feel him all around me… if I leave he may not follow- and you think I'm crazy" said Buffy
"Not completely" Xander admitted "Okay this is going to pain me to say this but Spike loved you, he'd follow you anywhere… Y'know cuz he's a big stalker guy"
"Had to end with an insult" smirked Buffy
"I can't be nice about that guy" Xander shrugged "I know he means a lot to you, and I respect that… I don't like it but I respect it"
"Thank you… so when do you leave?" Asked Buffy
"Tomorrow"
"I'm gunna miss you" said Buffy
"I'll call everyday"
Buffy raised an eyebrow
"Okay I won't but I'll mean to and that's the main thing" he smiled "Do me a favour. You and Willow… make things right"
Buffy frowned for a moment
"I know you don't like Kennedy, and I agree she's no Tara. But that's who Willow has chosen, we have to respect that" he told her
"When did you get so insightful?" Asked Buffy
"When I lost the eye" he laughed
XXXXX
Buffy took a deep breath before knocking on the door.
"It's open" said Willow
"Hi" said Buffy peeking her head around the door
"Oh hi…" said Willow
"Can I come in?" Asked Buffy
"Sure" Willow shrugged
Buffy entered the room and closed the door behind her "Look, I just wanted to apologise for earlier. I guess I did take things a little too personally"
"It's okay… Kennedy was out of line" Willow told her
"Maybe… but it doesn't excuse the way I spoke to you. I didn't want you to go off to South America without saying sorry"
"Apology accepted… I get it Buffy. Everything has changed so much in such a short space of time" said Willow
"Too much has changed" said Buffy
"I know you're hurting… about Spike" said Willow
"It's a little better" she lied
"No it's not" said Willow "When Tara died, after all the black hair and veins. It took me a long time to process that she was really gone"
"I feel him with me" she told her
"You do?" Asked Willow
"Yeah not in like some ghost way but like… I can't explain it. He's just part of me somehow" Buffy shrugged
"I feel Tara too" Willow smiled
"I miss her" said Buffy
"I do too"