Part IV - One Surprise After Another
Everyone was back at the Magic Box and going over what they had found out. Buffy, Riley and Giles were all rather disappointed by the fact that no one really seemed to be talking about the cult in any helpful manner. Though Riley thought that his lead might eventually pan out, afterall maybe his Initiative buddy would come up with something. Spike walked into the back room after finishing his cigarette outside.
"Did you find anything... Spike?" Buffy said in a snippy tone.
"As a matter of fact Slayer, I did. I know where their hideout is."
"And how'd you find that out?" She spat.
"Bashed in the head of a fledgling till he told me what he knew. No one's been going near that place ever since they arrived so it is a safe bet."
"Where is it?"
"Not yet Slayer. You're not getting the location until you figure out what you're going to do about them first. I'm not getting killed because you fuck up again." Spike said, his voice full of spite. Buffy rose and punched Spike in the nose.
"What the bloody hell did you do that for?" He yelped holding his nose.
"I felt like it, besides I don't like you remember."
"Right..."
"Buffy please, sit down. This isn't going to solve anything. Spike has a very key piece of information and as much as I hate to say this... I can't blame him for withholding it until we have a plan as for how we are to defeat them. He might not have chosen the best way to say things, but he provides a very valid point Buffy. What would you do if he told you where they were? Run out there without a plan and try to kill them? That wouldn't solve anything and all it would get us is a new Slayer more than likely. I think we should sit down and calmly - rationally try to come up with a solution to our cult problem." Giles said as he cleaned his glasses. Buffy glowered, he was defending Spike again! She couldn't believe it. And so what if she did go off to wherever they were, at least she'd be the only one in danger - Right. Wrong said a voice within. If Buffy died, no one would be there to protect her friends and family from the things that liked to plague humanity. She growled to herself.
"I'm going out to patrol. I'll be careful, in fact Riley will come with me." Buffy said as she got up and dragged Riley from the shop.
"That went well." Xander sighed.
"It could have been worse." Willow said.
"How."
"Mate, it can always be worse. If I've learned anything in my 150 years it's that." Spike said as he kicked his feet up onto the table.
"That makes me feel so much better." Xander said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.
"Well guys, I'd love to stay, but I have to finish that homework." Willow sighed.
"You shouldn't go out alone Willow."
"I won't Giles, Spike will walk me. They're evil right? He can hurt evil. I'll be fine." Giles and Xander both looked at Willow and then at Spike.
"You hurt her, I'll stake you myself." Xander and Giles both said in unison.
"Oh will you quit it with that rant. Bloody hell, I'm defanged remember? Besides, I have no reason to hurt Red." Spike said in disgust. He was tired of the Slayer and her Scoobies telling him not to hurt someone. Bloody hell if he hadn't by now he wasn't going to now was he? It wasn't like he hadn't had plenty of opportunities and it wasn't like he couldn't. Sure the chip would hurt him something fierce, but if he really, really wanted to he could still hurt them. Why couldn't they see that he didn't care about that anymore. Oh sure, he was still good ole Spike, but he wasn't about to try something that would only manage to kill him. He shook his head and walked out of the Shop, waiting outside for Red.
"Be careful Will." Xander said.
"Yes Willow be careful."
"I will, aren't I always." Willow sighed as she walked out.
"They never stop do they?"
"No, guess not. Oh well, let's go home. I need to finish my work." They walked in silence, the events at the Magic Shop wearing on the both of them. When they reached Willow's house, they were still silent. Willow went over to the answering machine to check the messages.
"Willow, honey. Your father and I got a call we have another conference to attend, so we won't be home for another six weeks. I'm so sorry, see you then." Her mother's voice said. Willow's posture slumped. Great instead of three more weeks it was six. Sure she liked being alone sometimes, but this was getting ridiculous. Spike had quietly walked up behind her and put a cold hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry luv."
"Yeah, so am I." She sighed as she turned and went up the steps and to her room. Even from the living room, Spike could hear the soft sobs. He closed his eyes and took a deep, unneeded breath and walked upstairs. He shouldn't do this, he could get himself into a world of trouble, but he'd be damned again before he sat there and listened to Red cry. He opened her door quietly and walked in.
**
Willow was lying on her stomach, her face buried in a pillow. Soft, muffled sobs rang out in Spike's ears. Spike walked over and sat next to her, and once again put a hand to her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. He had, afterall been human once, he knew what to do to comfort a girl... he also knew how to.... STOP THAT! He growled at himself in his mind.
"You want to talk about it?" Spike inquired. Willow slowly turned over and sat up, tears still streaming down her face.
"It's just that they're never home anymore. It all started when my mother found out that I was a witch. Sure, they don't say anything about it and when they're home nothing seems to be wrong, but I have to wonder - you know? First I lost Oz, then my parents started getting distant, now Tara is gone, and my friends - well my friends barely know I'm alive anymore." She sobbed. Spike tentatively put an arm around her shoulders. She jumped but then she leaned into his shoulder, crying.
"It'll be alright Red. It'll be all right." He said softly. He just sat there and let Willow cry. When her breathing softened and became more even, Spike gently laid her back and covered her up. He looked at her alarm and saw that it was set for the time that he had heard it go off this morning. He wasn't sure whether or not she had college so he just turned it on. He slowly walked from the room and back down stairs.
**
As Spike sat on the sofa in the basement, the scent of Willow's salty tears began to wear on him. The smell was almost bittersweet. Then there was the scent of Willow herself... that flowery, soft, feminine scent that accosted his senses whenever he was around her. His mind drifted to a scene of what it would be like if she didn't fear him, but instead returned his feelings... Cozying up to the little red head, drinking her scent in, caressing that petal soft skin... No, he had to stop thinking like that. Willow was the Slayer's best friend and was off limits. Besides, why would a delicate flower like her care about a weed like him? He tore at his shirt, taking it off and nearly taking it apart... he had to get away from that bittersweet smell of Red's sorrow. Taking the shirt off did not have the effect he had hoped for; the scent of Willow's tears had gone not just through his shirt, but through his skin as well. And they were threatening to go through his soul too if he didn't do something about it soon.
It was then that Spike decided he'd take a shower. He rose and ascended the stairs to go searching for the linen closet. With a little creative research, and very little mess he managed to find it. He was immediately accosted by the scent of Willow, well not the exact scent of Willow, but of the detergent that added to her scent. He grabbed a big fluffy towel - not that he had much choice that's all the Rosenburgs seemed to have was big fluffy towels. He threw it over his shoulder and walked downstairs. He figured it would be best to start his clothes in the washer before he went to shower. After all, once the thing was done filling he'd have more than enough time to clean himself. He'd be back down before the washer got to the rinse cycle. A thought danced around the edge's of his mind taunting him...
That's right Spike wash your clothes in her washer, with her detergent, that way you'll never escape her scent. She'll be all over you, in you...in your soul and she won't even have to touch you. It taunted. He growled, trying to ignore the voice. He set his focus on the washer. He turned the knobs to the proper settings, low load, cold wash and rinse, and normal speed. That was something he had learned during his brief stay at Xander's. He had shrunk his clothes and ended up in some of Xander's shorts and a loud shirt. Xander who was both amused and angered by this had promptly shown Spike what settings to use for the type of stuff he wore. After the washer was set, he stripped off his jeans and boxers after kicking off his socks and boots. He picked up his shirt, jeans and socks and threw them into the washer then pulled the little knob out to start the blasted contraption. He wrapped the towel around his waist just in case and went upstairs and into the bathroom...
**
The hot water felt delicious, the only problem was he didn't have his stuff. All he had was all of this organic stuff. At least it didn't smell all girly. He'd be darned if he was going to go around smelling like a woman. This stuff must have been for her father since it smelled kind of woodsy. He was really pleased when he stepped out of the shower and looked through the medicine cabinet to find a bottle of hid favorite cologne. It was dusty, but it was full - her father must not have liked it and didn't want to throw it out just in case. By the time he got back downstairs, the washer was just switching to the rinse cycle.
Spike turned on the telly and sat down on the sofa. Highlander, the movie was on... And it was at the part where the Queen song, 'Who Wants to Live Forever' came on, Spike restrained the urge to throw the remote at the telly and simply turned the channel, though it took a large effort on his part to refrain from breaking something. The washer buzzed signaling the end of the cycle and Spike got up and got his things out and put them into the dryer. He set the dryer on low heat and for an hour to make sure that his jeans got dry... nothing worse than wet jeans...except wet jeans that shrank - hence the low heat setting... another thing he had learned during his tenure at Xander's. He went back to the sofa and sat down. He didn't mind lounging about in next to nothing; hell him and Dru had done that on several occasions. It was rather freeing actually, to be away from the binds of material.
He just hoped that Red didn't rouse and decide to come and check on him... talk about your awkward moment, he didn't even want to think about how that would go. Hell Willow'd probably faint, and he didn't want that to happen.
After an hour of mindless programming the dryer buzzed. Much to his relief Red had stayed asleep and his clothes were finally dry. He took them out of the dryer and dropped the towel to put them on. He put the towel over the back of one of the chairs so that it would dry. He put his stuff back on, leaving his boots where they were and laid down on the sofa. He clicked through the channels aimlessly, stopping here and there when something caught his eye. Finally after what seemed like a small eternity, it was close enough to dawn that he could go to sleep. He checked out everything in the basement, and used his vampire's hearing to check the rest of the house. Everything seemed to be all right so he stretched out and went to sleep.
**
The alarm went off at seven thirty a.m. Willow groaned and rolled over. Why was her alarm on? She didn't have class today. She tried to recall the events of the night before and it occurred to her that she had cried on Spike's shoulder. She must have cried herself to sleep and he must have turned on her alarm just in case. She turned off her alarm, rolled over and went back to sleep. Or at least she tried to. For some reason however, she couldn't seem to get Spike out of her mind. So she let her tired mind run with the thought in the hopes that it would get Spike out of her system and let her sleep. She saw Spike much as he was now, only not in the way that Buffy saw him. He wasn't the grrr, scary vampire Spike; he was a kinder, gentler one. They were walking along a moonlit beach - talking. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she saw her 'dream self' laughing. Spike wasn't dressed in all black; he had on black slacks, a white t-shirt and white silk shirt over it. His feet were bare and there was a slight breeze catching his over shirt causing it to flow back as if it were alive. He looked so different and yet the same... It was so confusing; it didn't make any sense. Then the dream Spike and Willow stopped on an outcropping of rocks and looked up at the moon. Dream Spike kissed dream Willow and there it faded.
"Goddess, what are you doing to me? Are you trying to drive me crazy? I hope that you know what you are doing, because I don't have a clue." Willow whispered to the window as she rolled over in another attempt to go to sleep. She finally made it this time and was out like a light in no time at all. However, Spike was still in the back of her mind. Still just below the surface. As she fell asleep she chided herself...Just stop thinking...about.... Spike... all.... better....morning....
Willow's mind took her back to the scene with her and Spike on the moonlit beach. Then it took her to other places with Spike as she slept. Every time it was so similar to the first - the moonlight, the feeling that Spike was not the soulless demon Buffy made him out to be, only the scenery changed. Spike was always fairly close to how he really was, but it was almost like he was Angel. It was almost like the infamous Spike had a soul. It was a thought that was both comforting and disturbing to her dreaming mind, but it was one that fueled her dreams for the rest of the night.
Everyone was back at the Magic Box and going over what they had found out. Buffy, Riley and Giles were all rather disappointed by the fact that no one really seemed to be talking about the cult in any helpful manner. Though Riley thought that his lead might eventually pan out, afterall maybe his Initiative buddy would come up with something. Spike walked into the back room after finishing his cigarette outside.
"Did you find anything... Spike?" Buffy said in a snippy tone.
"As a matter of fact Slayer, I did. I know where their hideout is."
"And how'd you find that out?" She spat.
"Bashed in the head of a fledgling till he told me what he knew. No one's been going near that place ever since they arrived so it is a safe bet."
"Where is it?"
"Not yet Slayer. You're not getting the location until you figure out what you're going to do about them first. I'm not getting killed because you fuck up again." Spike said, his voice full of spite. Buffy rose and punched Spike in the nose.
"What the bloody hell did you do that for?" He yelped holding his nose.
"I felt like it, besides I don't like you remember."
"Right..."
"Buffy please, sit down. This isn't going to solve anything. Spike has a very key piece of information and as much as I hate to say this... I can't blame him for withholding it until we have a plan as for how we are to defeat them. He might not have chosen the best way to say things, but he provides a very valid point Buffy. What would you do if he told you where they were? Run out there without a plan and try to kill them? That wouldn't solve anything and all it would get us is a new Slayer more than likely. I think we should sit down and calmly - rationally try to come up with a solution to our cult problem." Giles said as he cleaned his glasses. Buffy glowered, he was defending Spike again! She couldn't believe it. And so what if she did go off to wherever they were, at least she'd be the only one in danger - Right. Wrong said a voice within. If Buffy died, no one would be there to protect her friends and family from the things that liked to plague humanity. She growled to herself.
"I'm going out to patrol. I'll be careful, in fact Riley will come with me." Buffy said as she got up and dragged Riley from the shop.
"That went well." Xander sighed.
"It could have been worse." Willow said.
"How."
"Mate, it can always be worse. If I've learned anything in my 150 years it's that." Spike said as he kicked his feet up onto the table.
"That makes me feel so much better." Xander said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes.
"Well guys, I'd love to stay, but I have to finish that homework." Willow sighed.
"You shouldn't go out alone Willow."
"I won't Giles, Spike will walk me. They're evil right? He can hurt evil. I'll be fine." Giles and Xander both looked at Willow and then at Spike.
"You hurt her, I'll stake you myself." Xander and Giles both said in unison.
"Oh will you quit it with that rant. Bloody hell, I'm defanged remember? Besides, I have no reason to hurt Red." Spike said in disgust. He was tired of the Slayer and her Scoobies telling him not to hurt someone. Bloody hell if he hadn't by now he wasn't going to now was he? It wasn't like he hadn't had plenty of opportunities and it wasn't like he couldn't. Sure the chip would hurt him something fierce, but if he really, really wanted to he could still hurt them. Why couldn't they see that he didn't care about that anymore. Oh sure, he was still good ole Spike, but he wasn't about to try something that would only manage to kill him. He shook his head and walked out of the Shop, waiting outside for Red.
"Be careful Will." Xander said.
"Yes Willow be careful."
"I will, aren't I always." Willow sighed as she walked out.
"They never stop do they?"
"No, guess not. Oh well, let's go home. I need to finish my work." They walked in silence, the events at the Magic Shop wearing on the both of them. When they reached Willow's house, they were still silent. Willow went over to the answering machine to check the messages.
"Willow, honey. Your father and I got a call we have another conference to attend, so we won't be home for another six weeks. I'm so sorry, see you then." Her mother's voice said. Willow's posture slumped. Great instead of three more weeks it was six. Sure she liked being alone sometimes, but this was getting ridiculous. Spike had quietly walked up behind her and put a cold hand on her shoulder.
"Sorry luv."
"Yeah, so am I." She sighed as she turned and went up the steps and to her room. Even from the living room, Spike could hear the soft sobs. He closed his eyes and took a deep, unneeded breath and walked upstairs. He shouldn't do this, he could get himself into a world of trouble, but he'd be damned again before he sat there and listened to Red cry. He opened her door quietly and walked in.
**
Willow was lying on her stomach, her face buried in a pillow. Soft, muffled sobs rang out in Spike's ears. Spike walked over and sat next to her, and once again put a hand to her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. He had, afterall been human once, he knew what to do to comfort a girl... he also knew how to.... STOP THAT! He growled at himself in his mind.
"You want to talk about it?" Spike inquired. Willow slowly turned over and sat up, tears still streaming down her face.
"It's just that they're never home anymore. It all started when my mother found out that I was a witch. Sure, they don't say anything about it and when they're home nothing seems to be wrong, but I have to wonder - you know? First I lost Oz, then my parents started getting distant, now Tara is gone, and my friends - well my friends barely know I'm alive anymore." She sobbed. Spike tentatively put an arm around her shoulders. She jumped but then she leaned into his shoulder, crying.
"It'll be alright Red. It'll be all right." He said softly. He just sat there and let Willow cry. When her breathing softened and became more even, Spike gently laid her back and covered her up. He looked at her alarm and saw that it was set for the time that he had heard it go off this morning. He wasn't sure whether or not she had college so he just turned it on. He slowly walked from the room and back down stairs.
**
As Spike sat on the sofa in the basement, the scent of Willow's salty tears began to wear on him. The smell was almost bittersweet. Then there was the scent of Willow herself... that flowery, soft, feminine scent that accosted his senses whenever he was around her. His mind drifted to a scene of what it would be like if she didn't fear him, but instead returned his feelings... Cozying up to the little red head, drinking her scent in, caressing that petal soft skin... No, he had to stop thinking like that. Willow was the Slayer's best friend and was off limits. Besides, why would a delicate flower like her care about a weed like him? He tore at his shirt, taking it off and nearly taking it apart... he had to get away from that bittersweet smell of Red's sorrow. Taking the shirt off did not have the effect he had hoped for; the scent of Willow's tears had gone not just through his shirt, but through his skin as well. And they were threatening to go through his soul too if he didn't do something about it soon.
It was then that Spike decided he'd take a shower. He rose and ascended the stairs to go searching for the linen closet. With a little creative research, and very little mess he managed to find it. He was immediately accosted by the scent of Willow, well not the exact scent of Willow, but of the detergent that added to her scent. He grabbed a big fluffy towel - not that he had much choice that's all the Rosenburgs seemed to have was big fluffy towels. He threw it over his shoulder and walked downstairs. He figured it would be best to start his clothes in the washer before he went to shower. After all, once the thing was done filling he'd have more than enough time to clean himself. He'd be back down before the washer got to the rinse cycle. A thought danced around the edge's of his mind taunting him...
That's right Spike wash your clothes in her washer, with her detergent, that way you'll never escape her scent. She'll be all over you, in you...in your soul and she won't even have to touch you. It taunted. He growled, trying to ignore the voice. He set his focus on the washer. He turned the knobs to the proper settings, low load, cold wash and rinse, and normal speed. That was something he had learned during his brief stay at Xander's. He had shrunk his clothes and ended up in some of Xander's shorts and a loud shirt. Xander who was both amused and angered by this had promptly shown Spike what settings to use for the type of stuff he wore. After the washer was set, he stripped off his jeans and boxers after kicking off his socks and boots. He picked up his shirt, jeans and socks and threw them into the washer then pulled the little knob out to start the blasted contraption. He wrapped the towel around his waist just in case and went upstairs and into the bathroom...
**
The hot water felt delicious, the only problem was he didn't have his stuff. All he had was all of this organic stuff. At least it didn't smell all girly. He'd be darned if he was going to go around smelling like a woman. This stuff must have been for her father since it smelled kind of woodsy. He was really pleased when he stepped out of the shower and looked through the medicine cabinet to find a bottle of hid favorite cologne. It was dusty, but it was full - her father must not have liked it and didn't want to throw it out just in case. By the time he got back downstairs, the washer was just switching to the rinse cycle.
Spike turned on the telly and sat down on the sofa. Highlander, the movie was on... And it was at the part where the Queen song, 'Who Wants to Live Forever' came on, Spike restrained the urge to throw the remote at the telly and simply turned the channel, though it took a large effort on his part to refrain from breaking something. The washer buzzed signaling the end of the cycle and Spike got up and got his things out and put them into the dryer. He set the dryer on low heat and for an hour to make sure that his jeans got dry... nothing worse than wet jeans...except wet jeans that shrank - hence the low heat setting... another thing he had learned during his tenure at Xander's. He went back to the sofa and sat down. He didn't mind lounging about in next to nothing; hell him and Dru had done that on several occasions. It was rather freeing actually, to be away from the binds of material.
He just hoped that Red didn't rouse and decide to come and check on him... talk about your awkward moment, he didn't even want to think about how that would go. Hell Willow'd probably faint, and he didn't want that to happen.
After an hour of mindless programming the dryer buzzed. Much to his relief Red had stayed asleep and his clothes were finally dry. He took them out of the dryer and dropped the towel to put them on. He put the towel over the back of one of the chairs so that it would dry. He put his stuff back on, leaving his boots where they were and laid down on the sofa. He clicked through the channels aimlessly, stopping here and there when something caught his eye. Finally after what seemed like a small eternity, it was close enough to dawn that he could go to sleep. He checked out everything in the basement, and used his vampire's hearing to check the rest of the house. Everything seemed to be all right so he stretched out and went to sleep.
**
The alarm went off at seven thirty a.m. Willow groaned and rolled over. Why was her alarm on? She didn't have class today. She tried to recall the events of the night before and it occurred to her that she had cried on Spike's shoulder. She must have cried herself to sleep and he must have turned on her alarm just in case. She turned off her alarm, rolled over and went back to sleep. Or at least she tried to. For some reason however, she couldn't seem to get Spike out of her mind. So she let her tired mind run with the thought in the hopes that it would get Spike out of her system and let her sleep. She saw Spike much as he was now, only not in the way that Buffy saw him. He wasn't the grrr, scary vampire Spike; he was a kinder, gentler one. They were walking along a moonlit beach - talking. She couldn't hear what they were saying, but she saw her 'dream self' laughing. Spike wasn't dressed in all black; he had on black slacks, a white t-shirt and white silk shirt over it. His feet were bare and there was a slight breeze catching his over shirt causing it to flow back as if it were alive. He looked so different and yet the same... It was so confusing; it didn't make any sense. Then the dream Spike and Willow stopped on an outcropping of rocks and looked up at the moon. Dream Spike kissed dream Willow and there it faded.
"Goddess, what are you doing to me? Are you trying to drive me crazy? I hope that you know what you are doing, because I don't have a clue." Willow whispered to the window as she rolled over in another attempt to go to sleep. She finally made it this time and was out like a light in no time at all. However, Spike was still in the back of her mind. Still just below the surface. As she fell asleep she chided herself...Just stop thinking...about.... Spike... all.... better....morning....
Willow's mind took her back to the scene with her and Spike on the moonlit beach. Then it took her to other places with Spike as she slept. Every time it was so similar to the first - the moonlight, the feeling that Spike was not the soulless demon Buffy made him out to be, only the scenery changed. Spike was always fairly close to how he really was, but it was almost like he was Angel. It was almost like the infamous Spike had a soul. It was a thought that was both comforting and disturbing to her dreaming mind, but it was one that fueled her dreams for the rest of the night.