Title: The Dead and the Dying
Author: Vadim
Rating: R
Disclaimer: Nothing, but the ideas is mine, maybe some new characters, that's it. Everything belongs to Joss Whedon and all that other good stuff!
Summary- Couple months after gift. All seems peaceful in Sunnydale, Christmas is days away. New Year's. Everyone is in a pretty somber mood. What they don't know is that something "BIG" is brewing down south. Buffy brought back. But not by who you think!!
Outskirts of Houston, TX - December 22, 2001
The road was empty, except for a few field mice and mosquitoes. In the darkness the road seemed endless. Fields stocked with barley, wheat, and corn formed walls on both sides of the road. It was the countryside.
Off in the distance a light rumbling could be heard. The rumbling was growing louder and soon a truck began to take shape. The truck steadily made its way down the road, slowing its pace lightly. The moon glistened off the side of the truck, brightly illuminating it. The words on the side could easily be made out.
" UNITED STATES ARMY
SPECIAL OPS. "
The only house visible on the long stretch of road was part of a huge farm to which all these crops belonged to. It had a big red barn, a mill, a stable, all the works. This was the destination of the truck, as it slowly made its way down the side road which led up to the house. It wasn't as much a road, as it was a path covered with loose gravel and weeds. The well-lit house indicated that someone was indeed at home. The truck pulled up behind a beat-up Chevy Cavalier. The occupant of the house came to the door upon hearing the arrival of the truck. The driver opened the door and hopped down.
" What's up, Doc?"
" Mr. Finn, glad to see you have returned. Have you completed your assignment?"
" Yeah, the old guy is in the back with the rest of the team. They're getting acquainted."
" Good...good. They will pay for what they did. Every last one of them. Especially that damn vampire. He couldn't save one and he won't be able to protect the other."
From inside the house came the other occupant of the house.
" Oh Spiky will pay alright. Treat me like I'm his sex bitch and then throw me to the curb, will he? He'll curse the day he ever met me!"
" Harmony, oh how I've missed you, baby." Riley ran towards his sire, as they embraced in a deep kiss.
Finally they broke it.
" Oh Riley, I've missed you too. You know how lonely it can get when you're stuck on an abandoned farm, miles from civilization, with an..." Harmony subtly motioned to Doc. " ...old guy?"
" Well I'm here now, and that's all that matters."
Doc was walking towards the truck, while the two lovers talked. The rest of the commandos were getting out of the truck with Hank Summers by their side.
" Good work gentlemen. You will all be rewarded shortly." Doc informed them, as he examined the newly transformed Hank Summers. " How do you feel, Mr. Summers?"
" Like a new man. I've never felt this way in my life. I love it."
" You are aware that you're dead?"
Hank sighed. " Yes...everything comes with a price, doesn't it?"
" Yes, I suppose it does."
" But I've so many questions."
" As you should. But do not worry, everything will be answered shortly."
*****************************
Sunnydale - December 22, 2001
Spike had kept Ben's old Ford Taurus after Ben had been killed. With the quality of the police force in Sunnydale, Spike knew that he was safe driving it.
At the current moment, Spike was driving from work back to the Summers' house. He had made a quick pit-stop to pick up some booze and was now en route to visit his little niblit.
He was entranced on a thought as the street light had quickly changed from green to red.
He never saw her.
****************************
The young lady didn't know what to think. It was as if she had just been born, yet she was positive that she had been around for years. As she walked the mysterious streets, she took time to notice all the lights and sounds. Music was playing, people were talking, stores were shining. She made her way up and down the streets not knowing where she was headed. She remembered waking up, getting out of her bed, and going for a walk. A walk to where, she wasn't quite sure. Everything just felt so strange.
" The Magic Shop "
She saw the shop from across the street and something clicked in her mind. It sounded familiar. The shop stood in between two brightly lit stores, so she could not tell whether it was open or closed. She decided on taking a closer look since it was the only thing that was familiar to her. The signal had switched to "WALK" and she began to slowly cross the street. She never made it. She was walking with her head down, thinking. Something in her head had told her to look up. She quickly raised her head and looked left to see a pair of bright oncoming lights. She was too late and didn't stand a chance.
******************************
Spike was thinking of a present he could get his niblit as his eyes scanned the shops.
Something inside of him told him to look back at the road, but Spike being Spike, pushed that feeling down and continued on with his thinking. When he had finally decided to take a glance at the road, it was too late.
"Oh Fuck!!!"
He used every last bit of strength that he had in his body into slamming the brake pedal. He hit it with such force that it sent a rippling up his whole body.
It was no use.
The impact was quick and devastating. The young lady had been thrown upon the car, smashing the front window, then was flung off when the car came to a stop. She was thrown a good twenty feet and lay prone in the middle of the road.
" Oh God...oh God...oh God..." The door swung open and Spike scrambled out, falling to the ground. He quickly looked up to see her laying there. He jumped up and ran to her.
The impact was loud. Everyone on the street had heard it and were quickly approaching. Some were yelling, some were whispering in awe, some were just silent.
Spike quickly reached the girl, who was laying face-down on the ground.
" Oh God...what did I do...no...no..." Spike slowly and carefully turned over the girl.
As he did so, the young lady, somehow, opened her eyes.
" Oh God...I'm so sorry...so sorry..." Spike had just realized she was breathing. " You're alive. You're alive!" Spike quickly turned to the crowd that had developed around them.
" She's alive! She's alive! Call 911, get help, she's alive!"
Suddenly Spike froze. He was looking up at the crowd, when something had occurred to him. It was the girl. It was something about the girl. Something inside told him not to look back down. He did.
" B...B...Bu...Buffy?" His eyes were focused in on the girl's face. Except for a bloody lip, it looked fine.
Suddenly the young lady spoke.
" W...what happened? Where am I?"
" B...Buffy, it's you..." Spike kneeled over the girl motionlessly.
" Who? Where am I?"
" You're Buffy...you're Buffy!" Spike was in tears.
The young lady sat up. Spike tried to help her, but she didn't need it. Then she stood up to the amazement of the crowd and of Spike.
" Did you see that? She just got hit by a car and she just stood up! That's crazy!" Shocked spectators yelled out in amazement.
Spike got to his feet to face the girl.
" I'm so sorry...oh God... I'm so sorry. Oh Buffy..."
" Why do you keep calling me Buffy? Who the hell are you? And what in the hell gives you the right to go around and hit people with cars?"
Spike was blown away.
" What do you mean you're not Buffy? You are Buffy. And I'm Spike. Oh God I'm sorry..."
" Listen...S...pike. I don't care what you're name is or who you are, just pay attention to the road next time and leave me the hell alone."
With that the young lady began to amazingly walk away. Spike gave chase.
" Wait! Buffy, please wait!"
He caught up to the girl and spun her around.
" I said leave me alone!" She yelled, giving Spike a roundhouse kick to the face, sending him flying onto his car. Then she left and soon disappeared from view.
Spike lay on the hood of his car, holding his face in pain.
" Buffy..." he whispered in the midst of the pain.
******************************
" So where's Spike?" Dawn anxiously paced around the living room.
" I already told you, Dawn. Spike had to stop at the store first. He's gonna be here."
Xander decided to keep the whole Spike at McDonalds thing a secret. It would probably save him a lot of hassle later.
" Dawn is right though, Spike should've been here an hour ago," Willow said, as she took a seat by Tara on the couch.
" Personally, I can't wait for Spike to get here 'cause of the booze, " Anya stated rather loudly.
" Because of the what? " A curious Dawn had turned her attention to Anya.
" Nothing, Dawn, " Xander said as he gave Anya a quick glance. " Don't pay attention to Anya."
" What?" Anya inquired, quite surprised. " Frankly, I haven't gotten hammered for a good three months now. I don't know how much longer I can hold out."
" Anya!" Everyone shouted in unison.
" Not everyone in this room, " Xander nodded at Dawn, " can you know what."
" Oh yeah, sorry...guess I forgot."
" Hey guys, " Dawn came forward, " don't let me ruin your fun. I don't like alcohol anyhow. It makes me all queasy. When I was little, I had some wine at a party, then...well...puked."
" Oh Dawny, it's not because of you." Tara spoke up. " It's just that we don't want to give you any bad influences."
" Don't worry about it. Now let's watch some T.V. till Spike gets here."
Soon everyone was huddled around the television, watching the Garfield Christmas Special.
***********************************
" Buffy..." Spike mumbled again before realizing what had happened and he quickly rolled off the car.
" I gotta get outta 'ere. Someone 'ad to call the cops. Gotta go...now! "
He hopped into the car, which was still running, and sped off. The crowd was too preoccupied with the whole scene to identify the car. Also who'd believe them. No victim. No assailant. No problem.
He sped up and down every street he could, but there was no sign of her. Anywhere. She had just disappeared. He decided to do the only thing he could do. Head to the house.
The lights were on when Spike pulled up to the house. He hopped out of the car, grabbed the beer, and went towards the house. He was welcome at the house, so he just flung the door open and walked in. He was still in shock.
" Spike!" Dawn cried. Everyone turned their attention from the T.V. to the visitor at the door.
" Yeah, it's me. " He sighed as he flung the bag full of beer onto an armchair.
" What's wrong?" Willow easily noticed that something wasn't right by the expression on his face.
Spike looked the group straight in their eyes and came out and said it.
" I saw 'er."
" Saw who?"
"B...Buffy."
" Run that by us one more time. " Xander couldn't believe what he had just heard.
" I said I saw Buffy."
Dawn's eyes widened in fear more than shock. She slowly started to back away.
" Is that some kind of sick joke?" Xander gleamed with anger.
" No Harris, it's no bloody joke! I said I saw 'er and that's the bloody truth!" Spike yelled.
" But Spike, Buffy's been dead for months now, you know that." Willow calmly said.
" I....I know...and that's what makes it so strange."
" You're sure you saw her. Maybe you were just imagining it or something."
" Trust me, Red. I know what I saw. I saw Buffy. There was no doubt about it."
Dawn swallowed hard at the statement.
" Wait a sec, " Xander calmed down. " Tell us what happened."
Spike sighed.
" Well...I...I was headin' 'ere from the store when I got caught up in a thought. And...well...I never saw the light change...poor girl."
" Oh my God! You hit a girl?!?!" Xander cried out as the others gasped.
" It...it was a young lady...'bout twenty...by the time I looked up it was too late. She got thrown on to the 'ood and then when I stopped she flew off. I was in shock. I jumped out the car and ran over to 'er. The whole street 'eard the hit and they 'ere all crowdin' 'round me and the girl."
" Did you kill her? " Willow gasped.
" I thought I did. Till she started movin'. I turned 'er over and realized it was...Buffy. I tried to help 'er, but poor love didn't need it. She 'opped up on 'er own and started on 'er way."
" And you're sure that it was Buffy?"
" The girl looked just like 'er."
Willow had a revelation.
" Wait a second. The Buffybot. I programmed her to go shopping for us. Could it have been her?"
Dawn's head flew up. She took a deep sigh of what seemed to be relief.
Spike's head also slowly rose up. He never thought about that. It could've been the Buffybot who he had hit.
Then he remembered.
" No...it wasn't 'er. She kept denying that her name was Buffy. Also she sure as 'ell didn't recognize me. She even attacked me after I went after her. This was no Buffybot."
Dawn backed up when she heard Spike say that it wasn't the bot.
" Then if what you're saying is true and it wasn't the Buffybot, then it was Buffy." Willow said.
" But how?" Xander still couldn't believe it.
" You're sure it was Buffy, " this time it was Tara.
" For the last time, " Spike was getting frustrated. " I was looking straight into the eyes of Buffy Anne Summers. No bloody doubt 'bout it!"
Shivers went up and down Dawn's spine. She began to cry.
" Oh Dawny, " Tara and the rest of the group quickly turned their attention to the girl, who's dead sister was the center of this blown-out discussion.
"This has to be terrible on you, " Anya quickly ran over and cradled Dawn in her arms.
Dawn wept into her arms.
Xander came over to them.
" Let's get her to bed. She doesn't have to hear this."
" But...I ...I want...to..." Dawn managed to get out in between sobs.
" Dawn, you're tired. You've been up all day. Tomorrow morning, we'll talk about everything.
" Nooooo..." she cried.
Spike stepped up.
" Listen to 'em pet. We don't even know what's going on right now. It's all very confusing. Please...just go to bed, Anya 'ere, will go with you, won't you, Anya?"
" Yes, of course."
Dawn nodded her head.
" Okay, but tomorrow you tell me everything. Everything."
" Swear? "
" I swear." Spike came up and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
" Goodnight, Spike." Dawn whispered as she gave him a tight hug.
" Goodnight, niblit."
" Goodnight everyone."
" 'Night, Dawn." Everyone as together.
With that, Dawn and Anya made their way upstairs.
When Dawn had finally fallen asleep, the group met in the living room.
" So if what you say is true, how is she back?" Xander was still skeptical.
" Well, the first thought that crossed my mind on my way 'ere after the 'ole ordeal was that Red 'ere did some hocus pocus, and, poof, she was back. "
" None of us did anything. I had thought about it. The day after she died I wanted to, but couldn't. I don't know why, I just couldn't."
" Let 'er bloody rest. She saved this damned world so many times, you coulda let 'er be. She did 'er job, now let 'er rest."
The room fell silent. tears had filled everyone's eyes.
Spike got up and grabbed another beer.
" Anyhow, you know how that magic stuff is...never does come out right."
"Yeah..." Willow sighed as she agreed with Spike.
From the top of the stairs came a thump.
" What was that?" Anya spun around.
" It was nothing, An'. " Xander calmed her.
" Maybe I should go check on Dawn,"
" Oh, just let the poor girl sleep." Spike said in between guzzles of his beer.
They did.
" Maybe we should get some rest ourselves, " Xander said. " We can figure out everything else in the morning."
" He's right, " Willow said, giving a loud yawn.
" Fine, " Spike agreed reluctantly. " Just make sure all the blinds are shut. We don't want fried Spike for breakfast, do we?"
" Sounds delicious, " Xander said with a smirk.
" Yeah, laugh it up, Harris. I'll come over there and shove this bloody bottle straight up your-"
" Boys, boys...stop the bickering and go to sleep."
" Yeah...right..." Spike eyed Xander as he took his place in the armchair.
" Goodnight, Spike."
" Goodnight, Harris."
But the poor girl who was supposed to be sleeping, wasn't. She was quietly listening in on them. The whole conversation. The thump that they had heard was Dawn sinking to the floor. Spike's words still ringing in her ears:
"...anyhow, you know how that magic stuff is...never does come out right..."
TBC...