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And then there was Spike (Part 5)
By C.D. Hackett
Willow was fidgeting in her seat like a kid on Christmas morning. Waiting to be allowed to move, to release all that pent up energy. She looked over at Tara, who smiled shyly at her in encouragement.
"I'm so glad you trusted me to tell me what was going on," Tara whispered in the redhead's ear, "You are my best friend. In fact," the shy girl's voice dropped even lower, "you're my only friend since my Mom died. I'd do anything for you, you just need to ask."
With a kind smile, Willow squeezed Tara's hand, "Thanks. I really appreciate it. If we had more time before the planetary alignment, I'd get you to help me with a transformation. But I guess Amy will stay a rat a little longer."
Tara started to ask a question.
"You there. Are you distracting Rosenburg? Rosenburg, you're at the top of the class, don't disappoint me now."
"Of course not, sir. And her name is Tara and she's not distracting me."
The prof grumpily peered at the girls over his glasses, wondering if he'd misjudged the redhead. Maybe she was a troublemaker after all.
******
"Bloody fucking hell!" Spike swore. He held his hand to his throbbing temples and looked at his cell. The familiar cage. Some nights he woke up and remembered the anger and helplessness he had felt in this place. And now he was trapped again.
A person in a labcoat paused in front of Spike's cell, "Hostile 17. You were missing for quite some time. Now that we have you back, you will be the subject of a number of tests. And please, do not attempt to escape again, unless you wish to be put down."
"Put down! What the fuck do you think I am, a puppy that's been hit by a car? I have a name, you sheep-rogering git. I am Spike and I am your death."
Spike went to full gameface and his eyes gleamed gold. The young man took two steps back and hurried off.
"I've still got it," Spike grinned horrifically, "Now, how to get back to Red..."
******
When Buffy and Riley walked into the room she shared with Willow, the sounds of "Pictures of You" by The Cure greeted them. Willow was face down on the bed, snuffling like she'd been crying for hours. Tara looked up at them helplessly and then got to her feet.
"Willow," Tara tried not to stammer in front of Buffy, "I have to go now, but we've got two more days until the alignment. He'll be back for it. I promise."
That being said, she nodded to Buffy and Riley and left.
"Will," Buffy's hand rubbed her back, easing the tension and lending her warmth, "What happened? Are you Ok?"
Silence.
"Maybe I'll leave you two alone to talk, Buffy, I'll catch you later," Riley went to the door, "Whatever's wrong, Willow -- it'll be all right." Then he quietly slipped into the hallway, pulling the door gently shut behind him.
The fey redhead sat up and looked at Buffy, hardly able to speak, "It's Spike...I went to his place after class and he was gone. No sign of him. Not even a note. I know he wouldn't ditch me Buffy, so all I can think is what if something happened to him?"
"He's a vampire, Willow, and a scary one. Not many people besides a Slayer would mess with him and you know I didn't hurt him. Not that I might not like to, but you love him and I love you so he's like some annoying relative I just have to put up with."
"You're not helping, Buff. He's not annoying. He's charming and funny and so incredibly tender. And where the Hell is he?"
******
"Moxule, someone is disrupting my plans. The witch still loves him. He is supposed to betray her. Get on it. Now."
T'Hafreyn spoke softly, quietly. His minion, Moxule, fled in terror. The calmer his Master seemed, the more dangerous he was.
Once he was walking the earth, Moxule kicked an empty soda can around disgruntledly, "I have to find the vamp and I have to make sure the witch is broken and I have to do all the dirty work when he gets all the credit because I am only a lesser Demon... It's not fair."
The soda can scraped loudly on the asphalt and, suddenly, Moxule was fighting for his life. Not for long though, in mere seconds the lesser demon saw the hazy forms of men above him before he slipped into unconsciousness.
******
"Well done, Thomas," Walsh appraised him, Tall, muscular and damned intelligent. It seemed to run in the family, though Thomas was very dark compared to his younger brother, Riley.
"Thank you, sir," Thomas saluted and tried to hide the nervous feeling he got as Walsh stared at him. He felt like she was starved and he was the main course. He swallowed. Hard.
"I've never seen one of these. Get research here ASAP and then, you're dismissed for the night once you've written a full report."
He smiled, it seemed to light up the room and Walsh found herself thinking about, of all things, Lyle Waggoner. He'd had a gorgeous smile like Thomas'. Emily Walsh was glad the boys hadn't learned to read minds yet. If they knew she fantasized about the man who played "Steve Trevor" on "Wonder Woman" back in the 70s, she'd never be able to intimidate them again.
Now, it was time for Phase II with the recaptured Hostile 17. She went over her notes one more time and smiled. It wasn't pretty.
******
Riley was wandering campus, worried about Willow and wondering where his new relationship with Buffy was going. He was almost distracted enough to miss the fact that he was being followed. Riley ducked behind a tree and prepared to strike.
"Noogies!"
Angrily, Riley was caught in a headlock as his obnoxious older brother noogied him, "Tom, get the hell off of me. Now!"
"Jeez, Bucky. Do you know what Mom would do if she heard you talking like that?" Thomas released an extremely red-faced Riley.
"And don't even start with calling me Bucky. I'm not just your tag-along kid brother anymore and I won't have you undermining my position here."
"Christ, what's gotten into you? Is that pesky virginity thing still bugging you or did you finally give up your cherry to some hot young or, sorry, drunk sophomore?"
Riley glowered at Thomas. Rather effectively. His big brother took one step back and stared at Riley, "So what are they feeding you? When I last saw you, what was it... 3 years ago, you were a gawky, geeky twig. You been eating your Wheaties?"
"If you're here to be a pain. You've succeeded so you can leave now."
Thomas frowned, unhappy with the changes in Riley. And he decided to teach him a lesson. Surprisingly, Riley was much better at hand-to-hand combat since growing closer with Buffy and he managed to get his brother to the ground.
"Now say 'Uncle' and I'll let you get up," Riley smirked for a moment and then felt guilty and helped Thomas up, without making him admit defeat.
"I'm proud of you, Bucky." he slapped his brother on the back, hard.
Riley laughed and punched his brother in the arm. Hard. Then, companionably, they headed for the newly renovated on campus pub.
"So what you are telling me is that Spike has, ahem," Giles cleared his throat, "disappeared and you fear he has befallen foul play? Buffy, I have to ask, you haven't been consuming beer again have you?"
"Giles," Buffy protested, "No, I am aware of the dangers of alcohol. Or, as gibbon Buffy would say 'Beer Bad'. I'm here with Will and she's really torn up, just do your research thing and see if you can find out anything. I'm going out to see what I can find out."
"Well, be careful and be sure to let Willow know she's welcome to come here and assist with the research, if she feels up to it."
"Got it. On it. Bye."
The Slayer hugged her best friend, "Don't worry. I'll find him."
Willow sighed, "I'm going to try some location spells from here. Call me if you find him though. Thanks, Buffy."
Since both of the boys were off-duty, they tried to outdrink one another. Their sibling rivalry was strong. When a sexy blonde sauntered into the pub, Thomas whistled under his breath. She was just his type. Hot, blonde, petite and challenging.
He was unused to seeing girls that young being so confident. He smiled broadly as she beelined for their table. Thomas licked his lips and prepared to begin the delicate dance of flirting, hoping to move on to the lofty pleasures of sweet, glorious seduction.
"Riley, why are you drinking? We need to talk. Willow's boyfriend is missing. She's a wreck," Buffy turned and gave Thomas the evil eye, "Riley, c'mon. I need you to help me."
"Shhurre, Buffy... ina ina minned. Gotta finish my drink with my jerkoff brudder."
"Jerkoff, jerkoff," Tom's eyes misted, "I canna believe that my baby brudda could call me that. Bucky, you you cretin... take that back or else you're gonna be ssssorry. Oopps I think I sorta spit there. Sorry, angel."
Buffy blanched slightly and gave a quick look to the side and then realized he was referring to her.
"Sorry to break up this little family reunion, but 'Bucky' and I have plans. Bye now."
She hauled Riley up and tried to make it look like he was crushing her as she lead him from the pub.
Once outside, she slapped him. Hard.
Riley thought from the tiny coherent part of his mind that this was a theme today. He tried to speak, but couldn't manage it.
"Damn it, Riley. I need you and you act like you ate Sunnydale High band candy or something. Snap out of it. Now. Please."
She turned to face him, her lips nearing his, and she whispered, "Sometimes a kiss is just the thing to help the heroes along." Buffy wrapped her arms around him. Losing herself in the sensation, when her Slayer instincts sensed something and she released him.
Riley fell to his knees, vomiting up ale, cider, pretzels and bile. Lots of bile.
Buffy looked woozy, "Ew! Gross!" She looked around, not having the time to be setback like this. She spotted Thomas stumbling out of the pub. Realizing that he seemed pretty useless as well, she groaned.
"Hey Summers, what happened to Potato boy?" Forrest smiled at all-temperature-Buffy.
"Oh, hey," she smiled winningly, "His brother got him drunk and I can't handle them. Can you do this for me? Get them to their rooms and possibly sobered up?"
Forrest felt himself drowning in her eyes, "Sure. Anything I can do."
She beamed. "Great! I owe you one."
As she ran off, Forrest shook his head, "Damn, she's too pretty for Iowa boy. But she'd be a good match for someone as pretty as me."
Looking at Riley and then seeing the unmoving form of Thomas, Forrest sighed and radioed HQ for assistance.
TO BE CONTINUED