Chapter 13 – Friday, Standard Reality

Next morning, Buffy was thinking. As was their habit, she and Spike had gone to bed together, but after she was asleep, he had gone out. He returned before sunrise and then slept the morning away. She had an idea of how to rescue the captive humans, but she knew Spike wouldn't like it. She also knew her idea would need a lot of work. From what she understood, the sun lamp used by this Dominic to torture errant minions, would be harmless to humans. Therefore they had to find a way to get lights like these into the warehouse – at the least into the area where the humans were being held. Then it would be possible to arrange their rescue. If it were done during daylight, the effect would be better, as there would be no escape. That would be the time to blow up the warehouse. She knew Spike wouldn't agree mainly because it would mean minimal involvement for him. He would take that hard. But the major obstacle to be overcome first was finding one of those lamps. They could steal one from the warehouse, but that sounded extremely difficult. The other possibility was that they could make their own. She decided to speak to the rest of her team and see if they had any ideas.

At their flat, Xander had been berating Anya with his thoughts about Buffy's relationship with Spike. He had always had a big problem with Spike – even when he was chipped and only admitted to the gang when he was needed. Now, he felt sick when he thought about how his friend had debased herself. Imagining her with Spike tore at his gut. It made him cringe and boil over at the same time. Whatever he did, he had to put an end to it, before she went back to her own reality.

Dominic had returned from his visit to the Hellmouth thoughtful. His first step was to capture the Slayer. He had heard rumours around the town. She was supposed to be strong. She was supposed to have countered numerous others before him. Believing all of that to be the rantings of the dregs of the vampire species, he planned to snatch her that night. The information he had, said that she patrolled most evenings – sometimes alone, sometimes with other humans and sometimes with a renegade vampire. He found that intriguing. He couldn't imagine why a vampire would ally himself with his sworn enemy. There were a number of theories around town as to why this was the case, some more fanciful than others. One said that he had a soul. Another said that he had been restrained in some way, and could no longer hurt humankind, and that the Slayer protected him in return for his help against his own kind.

To Dominic, these all seemed preposterous. It had to be said, that his knowledge of human culture was limited to his own human experience. Since he was turned, he had spent no time among humans except when feeding. He didn't have much idea when it came to the modern world, but relied on his minions. There were several among his clan who understood things well. They advised him to obtain expertise as necessary.

Buffy had outlined her plan to Willow who agreed that it had possibilities, but that it had a lot of holes in it at the moment. She suggested calling Giles in London to see if the Council could shed some light on the type of light needed to have the desired effect. Unfortunately, Giles was unable to help. He agreed to do some research, but didn't hold out much hope. The books available to him ranged from very old to ancient, and he doubted that they would have such information.

Buffy was right. When she told Spike what she wanted to do, he wasn't pleased. Had she suggested storming the warehouse during the night, he would have been right there, even if there were no chance of success. She knew that. What she had in mind gave him no role, and he wasn't about to accept that. "Look, love, it won't work. You'd never get in there to steal one of those lamps. If you were lucky, you'd end up part of the farm stock. How many times lately have I had a problem? When the Initiative was after me. But you were always there, we always got through together. We'll beat this the same way, but I won't let you leave me out. Even if you have got all these shiny new friends."

The reaction wasn't quite what she expected. She'd expected disapproval, maybe even anger, but there was something else here. It was as if he was suddenly unsure of his place in her life. Almost like jealousy. She looked at him closely, remembering their past. He had always had that arrogant, confident exterior. When she first met him, she hadn't liked him. Well, he had tried to kill her, so that was understandable. Then, she kept spotting him around. He never approached her, and she had left well alone.

After a while, he would try to talk to her. At first, she ignored him, but her own need for friendship gradually overcame her misgivings. He made her laugh. He made her angry. He made her feel. Then, when her mother was ill, she talked to him. She told him about her fears. He listened. He had never done anything to make her feel her safety was in doubt. Something in her told her she was being foolish, but she ignored it. It was about this time that she had met Riley. She went to school then, and he tried to take her under his wing'. He wanted to help with her coursework. Whenever she turned around, he was there.

Then her mother became ill. From what she'd understood about this reality, the illnesses her mom had had were different. In her own reality, Buffy's mom had had a cancer which killed her slowly. From the onset to its inevitable conclusion, it had taken over a year. When she realised what was in store for her mother, Buffy had given up school. Spike became a regular visitor to the house in the evenings. When Mom felt well enough to sit up, she enjoyed his company. When Mom was too ill to be anywhere other than in bed, Buffy poured out her heart to him. When her mom had already been sick for six months, they had the final verdict on her condition. That evening, her mom was still in hospital, recovering from the latest biopsy. She was unconscious, and unlikely to even recognise her daughter due to the cocktail of drugs she had been taking lately. The medical staff insisted Buffy go home.

That night, when Spike came round, she decided to take the risk. She couldn't do any more for her mother. She didn't have anyone else to live for. She needed something to ease the gnawing dread that filled her. That night, she had set aside the last of her reservations about Spike. It no longer mattered if he killed her. She invited him to spend the night with her.

Somehow he had instinctively known exactly what she needed. Their lovemaking was gentle and tender. That night she slept for the first time in months. She slept even half expecting that she'd never wake up. She remembered clearly her astonishment when she woke next morning to find that he had held her all night.

When her mother died, Riley had made his move. Somehow, once he knew she was ill, he had avoided her. As soon as her mother was buried, he was back on the scene, somehow expecting to fill the void that had been left. She'd tried to put him off every time he came round, tried to make it clear she wasn't interested in him, but he thought he only had to wait until she was ready.

She remembered clearly the night he and Spike met for the first time. Riley was already involved with the Initiative, but when they met, it didn't occur to him that Spike was anything but human. Even so, the dislike between the two men was obvious immediately. Both felt that the other was infringing on his territory, and initially, Buffy was angry with both of them. That changed when Riley escalated things. Spike had been throwing veiled insults at him, but Riley was more aggressive. He started by implying that Spike was probably in the country illegally. (True, but beside the point.) When Spike didn't back down, Riley threw the first punch. Of course, given that they were both fit, healthy humans, Riley's size and military training should have given him a huge advantage. The unknown factor, of course, was that Spike wasn't human. Riley came off worse in the ensuing scrap, although it was obvious to Buffy that Spike didn't give anything like as good as he could have done. Riley got away with a broken and bloody nose and a mild concussion. By then, Spike's true nature was apparent, and Riley had been revolted. Especially when Spike rubbed in the fact that he would be spending the night.

After that night, Riley disappeared for several months. When he returned, he was the commanding officer of the Initiative base in Sunnydale, and the whole demon persecution business started in earnest.

That night, they patrolled together. Spike still seemed somehow vulnerable. Buffy had tried to make him understand that she still loved him despite her new friends, but it was obvious he didn't quite believe her. They were quiet as they checked the local cemeteries. They first became aware of trouble as they left the last on their rounds. It was a narrow alleyway, just outside the cemetery. The other Buffy had often found fledglings here, lying in wait for some unsuspecting human, and the gang had passed this information on. Tonight, there were no fledglings. As they reached the middle of the alley, they spotted several vampires ahead. Deciding it looked too much like an ambush, they turned to go the other way, hoping to draw them into more open ground. Instead they found a similar group coming the other way. In total there were about a dozen. Spike squared his shoulders, grinning madly as he changed to demon face. "Come on, love, it'll be fun," he told her, jumping into the fray.

Fun wasn't exactly the word Buffy would have used, but in a perverse way, she did enjoy herself. This was exactly what she had avoided for so many years, yet she got a strange satisfaction from breaking bones and eventually staking the creatures who attacked. Even when it was obvious they didn't stand a chance, the vampires continued to attack, fear making their efforts more desperate and less effective.

During most of the fight, one had stood back. He seemed to have some seniority over the others, as he directed the fight. Although they didn't take much notice of him while they were fighting, they heard what he said and stored it for later use. This vampire ended up dust just like the rest, but from what he said, it was obvious that Buffy was to be taken alive and unharmed.

They walked home in silence. Spike seemed lost in his own thoughts, and Buffy was chilled by what she had heard. When they got in, Buffy immediately went to shower. The fact that he didn't join her proved to Buffy that he was disturbed by something. As she dressed for bed, he watched her. "He wants you, love. We know that now," he started.

Buffy shrugged. "He wants lots of people – preferably young and able to produce lots of children. I've still got to put an end to this."

Spike shook his head. "No, love, he wants you. He didn't send that many to get himself another brood mare. It's you he wants. This is something more than we know about. We know he came to Sunnydale for a reason. Maybe you're part of that reason. You can't go there. I won't let you give yourself to him."

"You can't stop me, Spike. I love you, and I promise I won't take any unnecessary risks, but I have to do something."

She was determined. She saw the look of hurt on his face, and she went over to him, sitting on his lap and kissing him. She intended to show him that nothing had changed between them. She wanted that vulnerable look off his face and replaced by his usual cocksure grin. Afterwards, Buffy realised that their lovemaking that night was different. There was a desperation about it that she only recognised when she really understood what had been in his mind.