CHAPTER SEVEN (The Chip)

CHAPTER SEVEN (The Chip)

It was 3 am when the unique family stumbled in the door to their home on Revello drive. Willow and Tara quickly excused themselves and headed upstairs to their bedroom, which had been Joyce's office just a few months earlier.

"Goodnight guys" Willow said as her and Tara climbed the stairs.

"Night" Giles, Spike and Dawn mumbled in unison as they headed towards the kitchen.

Once in the kitchen Spike went to the refrigerator to grab a bag of blood as he was doing so he said to Dawn "Shouldn't you be headed to bed as well, little bit?"

"But I'm not tired" Dawn said while unsuccessfully trying to stifle a yawn.

"Just the same, it's bedtime so scoot" Spike replied as he poured blood into his black "Bite Me" mug that Dawn had bought him last week.

"You're soooo mean" Dawn pouted looking towards Giles for support. Giles who was leaning against the counter just gave her a look that said he agreed with Spike.

"Did you expect less from the Big Bad? now, we have a big research day tomorrow and you need to rest" Spike explained calmly as he put his cup in the microwave and punched the start button.

"Fine, night Giles" Dawn said giving him a kiss on the cheek then turning to stick her tongue out at Spike on her way out the kitchen.

Spike just chuckled quietly at Dawn's retreating form "Isn't this ridiculous?, me Spike, William the Bloody, turned into a glorified nanny" Spike inquired of Giles.

"Well it certainly is an unexpected turn of events, but she does listen to you more than the rest of us" Giles agreed taking a seat at the kitchen table. "So are we ready to talk?"

Spike took an unneeded deep breath before retrieving his mug from the microwave and headed towards the table to take a seat across from Giles. "Ok, I wasn't planning on bringing this up for a while or ever but in my dream Buffy said that I should tell you, so . . . . . . " Spike hesitated.

"Spike don't worry, after everything we've all been through together I can't imagine you could tell me anything that would shock me" Giles reassured the nervous vamp.

Spike sat his mug on the table and hurriedly said "Thechipsbroke" looking and waiting for signs that the watcher was going to stake him.

"Chips broke, what chiii" realization then hit Giles as he stood up and backed away from the table knocking over the chair that he had been sitting on. "Oh that chip" Giles stuttered. "When, how, have you, are you" Giles started rambling nervously.

Spike interrupted "Rupert would you sit back down if I wanted you or anyone else dead you already would be." Giles nodded and righted his chair sitting in it cautiously "Now to answer some of your questions, I'm not sure of the exact time, sometime during or after the battle with the beast, I don't know if it was when I got hit in the head with the bricks or when I got tossed off the tower or what it was. I did get a lot of head injuries that week you know. No I haven't killed anyone or fed from anyone and no I don't plan to. Does that answer all your questions?" Spike waited for Giles to absorb all this new information.

"Well that answers some of my questions but, but, I just don't know what to say Spike, you know this information is going to change things" Giles said

"It doesn't have to, I'm still the same Spike I've been this entire time, the only difference is that puny humans won't be a danger to me anymore which is good since I have to protect Dawn. Buffy knew about my chip and she didn't care, in fact, she said the Powers up there" Spike said pointing to the ceiling "say that I'm special because I've choose the path of light of my own free will and I'm to be rewarded"

"Reward, what kind of reward" Giles inquired

"Being able to bring Buffy back is my reward" Spike said meekly

"A few more questions if you don't mind" Giles asked gentler this time.

"Shoot, maybe a bad choice of words considering the situation, but go ahead" Spike replied lightly feeling a little better that Giles had started to relax again.

"If you haven't hurt any humans how do you know the chip isn't working?"

"I said I haven't killed or fed from any humans" Spike replied.

"Would you care to explain please"

"It was the night after Buffy's funeral, you know the night Dawn ran off after she found out Hank had no memory of her. Well you know I found her at Buffy's grave, she was so upset and so was I frankly. Well if you remember I brought her back home and tucked her in and then I said I had to go out for awhile. Well I ended up at Willie's trying to drown my sorrows in a pint. Well I got slightly sloshed. Willie tried to kick me out because I was causing quite a scene I don't remember all the details but I was pretty much going on about my lost love and being a ponce for agreeing to take care of Dawn till the end of the world. Well I remember getting mad at Willie because he interrupted me while I was going on about my sorrowful unlife and I grabbed him by the throat and threw him over the bar. Well that sobered me up right quick, when I realized that the chip hadn't zapped me. I was just in shock and I walked out of the bar in the pouring rain to find another human to test my new found freedom on. It took longer to find a human walking since it was raining But soon I saw down the street it was a high school boy, jock type guy with the letterman's jacket and all walking alone. I just said excuse me do you mind if I hit you? He of course asked if I was crazy? I replied by punching him in the stomach. No zap, I was flippin ecstatic, I then helped the boy who was doubled over clutching his stomach stand up straight, thanked him for his help and sent him on his way. And the rest as they say is history"

"So that's it, no thoughts of killing and maiming, making the streets run red with the blood of the people who had tormented you this past year?" Giles inquired curiously

"Yeah, I thought about it. Are you batty? of course I thought about it, and I honestly can't tell you why the idea doesn't appeal to me anymore. Back when Buffy was alive I thought that if I got the chip out I would be good for her but with Buffy gone I don't know what it is maybe I've spent too much time with you bloody humans and it's turned me all poofy. Maybe it's because" Spike paused trying to put his thoughts into words "because, I've seen the pain death can cause and I don't want to be the cause of that pain to anyone, not anymore" Spike finished with his eyes tearing up.

"I believe you Spike. I don't know why I do, this goes against everything I have ever known, ever been taught. I just don't know what to say."

"Say that, I can stay. Say that we can keep patrolling and keep looking for a way to get Buffy back, say that I continue to be Dawn's protector." Spike said with a pleading look in his eyes.

"I can't believe I'm saying this, and I can't speak for the other's, but as far I'm concerned you've proved yourself to me and you are welcome to stay and continue" Giles said

"I appreciate that Rupert, should I tell them tomorrow?" Spikes asked

"Here's what we'll do, I'm planning to get up early and head to the shop. You stay here and let Dawn sleep in a little. I'll explain everything to the rest of the gang and you can come in later. That way we will avoid any arguments that Xander may start. I wouldn't want you to fall off the wagon by snapping his neck." Giles kidded.

"Ha ha Rupert, very funny" Spike said

"Well good night, Spike I'm heading off to bed" Giles said while heading upstairs to his room, he still can't believe that he is now living in this house and his room is Joyce's old room. "Only on the hellmouth" Giles mumbled quietly while shaking his head on the way up the stairs.

Spikes sharp hearing picked up the watcher's mumblings "Here's to that" Spike said to the empty room while raising his mug of blood in a mock cheers. He finished off the blood and rose to place the mug in the dishwasher and headed to his room in the basement pulling his shirt off on the way down the stairs, he was humming once again. Spike made his way to the bathroom in the very back of the basement wanting to get his shower over quickly so he could return to dreamland with hopes of meeting Buffy once again.

TBC . . .