Part 5
It was around six when they left the shop, and light out. It was still hard for Spike to step outside without instinctively flinching back from the sunlight after a century plus of avoiding the sun´s rays. At any moment he expected this miracle to wear off suddenly. He couldn´t yet accept that this was to be really permanent for the rest of his life. He looked suspiciously at the low hanging sun peeping over the buildings across the street before he cautiously he stepped out on the sidewalk in front of the shop. Dawn, and Giles, who hadn´t seen him in the light before, were in total awe as the ex vampire walked to the car with them fully bathed in the golden light with no harm whatsover. With each step he grew more confident that his turning human was not a dream, and it really had happened. Now that it had happened, he was not regretting this at all. Last year all he wanted was to be a bad assed vampire again. Now he wanted this precious gift, and he was determined to fully enjoy, and appreciate it. He had a chance to make up for all the horrible things he had done, and he fully intended to do so.
"Wow! It really is true! You are normal now!" Dawn said looking him over, and shaking her head. "I mean, yeah I saw you in the workout room, and all, but it was like still inside. And you were breathing, and sweating, but seeing you out here and no flames--. This is just so neat!" she added blushing because she knew she was going on, and on.
"Believe me, I understand," he grinned, letting her get in first before he climbed into the back seat of Giles´ car. "I am still having a hard time adjusting to all of this. Never in my wildest dreams could I imagine this bloody well happening—at least not to me. Everything has changed. I really am a new man," he said, watching in wonder as the sun rays played across his pale flesh. "One thing I really want to get is a tan, so that I´ll look normal, and I won´t be mistaken for a vampire any more," he added, leaning back against the seat of the open convertible, just enjoying letting the wind whip in his face, and feel his body finally feel every sensation in ways it hadn´t done in years.
"Yeah, you are pretty pale, maybe we can all go to the beach, or something," Dawn suggested.
"I plan on it. Now I can do things I couldn´t."
"In a lot of ways you´re lucky. I can´t remember when I became human, but it just has to be totally weird one minute you´re a vampire, and the next your human. I would have been wiggin´," she said.
He glanced over at her, and smiled, "ohh, I´m still doing my fair share of that, Nibblet. There are so many things I had forgotten what they really felt like," he said more to himself than to her, still trying to sort out the differences in sensations between what he had consider normal as a vampire, and what his now alive body was feeling.
As a vampire he had been strangely numb, yet hypersensitive to some things. His awareness of himself, and the world around him as a vampire had been greatly altered once he had been turned, so that he could be a successful predator. As a vampire all his senses, and instincts had been geared to the hunt, and for self indulgence. Part of his vampiric awareness levels were still there it seemed, but not as acutely as they had been. He had to concentrate, focus, and block other sensations out, but he could still hear the other´s heartbeats. It was surprising to him that he could still tell, and know they were human rather than demon like he had been able to do as a vampire. Even with Buffy he was still aware that she was more than human. He knew she was always aware when there were vampires, and demons near her. Were their senses now similar, or the same? He was really hoping they would be able to compare notes. Though at present he wasn´t holding out too much hope for that because she was still trying her best to ignore him, and treat him like she had always done.
"So any ideas where anyone wants to eat?" Giles asked, hoping someone had an idea and it didn´t cost an arm and leg like some meals he had taken Buffy out on.
"Pizza Palace?" Dawn asked hopefully from the back seat, and got groans from the others, including Spike.
"Denny´s" Buffy suggested, wanting cheap, fast, and non alcoholic if possible.
"How about Applebees," Giles suggested as a compromise as he did need a drink after this day. Dawn shrugged it was okay with her, and Buffy nodded, while Spike looked unsure. This was definitely unknown territory for him. The only food he was familiar with that wasn´t from the grocery store came from either the Bronze, or Willy´s. And even by human standards neither served that great of food. "Okay, Applebees it is," Giles told the group, and drove the car over to the Sunnydale Mall where the restaurant was.
They parked and went in. The dinner crowd was just starting so they didn´t have too long a wait for a table this time. Buffy and Spike both stiffened as they felt the presence of demons in the crowd. All the customers looked seeming human, but Spike recognized a few ex crony´s faces over in the dark corners of the bar away from the windows that were still catching the last of the setting sun´s rays. The vampire´s looked up when he, and Buffy walked past them to get to their table. The demon´s eyes narrowing dangerously at first, then they became puzzled as if they couldn´t figure out what was wrong. The demons went into conference mode talking among themselves gesturing in the group´s direction.
They sat down at one of tables that had high stool like chairs. Spike sat with his back to the window with Dawn on one side, and Buffy on the other while Giles had his back to the room. The perky waitress left them all menus, and took their drink orders. At least Spike could figure out what to drink—that was fairly easy—a beer after he heard Giles order one. Yeah, he needed one too. But the soddin´ menu was almost beyond him as he squinted at it with one eye trying to focus on the blurry writing. He was going to have to wear glasses again, no way out of it this time. Then he had no clue what anything was, or might taste like outside of a few of the appetizers, but he didn´t want to ask anyone—he did have his pride still.
"Need help, Spike?" Dawn asked, watching him puzzle over what to get.
He looked at her gratefully, "yeah, I don´t know what half this stuff is. What are you getting?" he asked knowing that Buffy wasn´t going to be any help. Her attention was divided between what she was ordering, and keeping an eye on the vamps discussing them over in the far corner. Giles was also now aware of the other group too.
"A burger with Swiss, and some fries, nothing major," she said, trying to figure out what had all the grown ups distracted. Everyone looked okay to her, but then she didn´t have slayer senses either to tell the difference.
"That´s sounds like a deal. I think I can handle that. They didn´t have burgers when I was around before," he told her, glad to have figured out something to eat he sort of knew what to expect.
"No, burgers, really? That´s weird. I figured they had been around like forever," she said surprised.
"Nope, just something they came up with this century if I remember rightly. Now you can´t go anywhere without seeing some version of it," he replied to Dawn, then he turned to Buffy, "they still just sitting there?" he asked, getting her attention.
"Yeah, but they are really checking us out. Know them?" she asked in a low voice, as she took a sip of her water since the waitress hadn´t brought their drinks yet.
"Yeah, it´s Slim Mick, and Dire Hannah. Don´t know who the other three are. They used to run with Harmony´s rejects. They know who we are, but I´m confusing them no soddin´ end," Spike smirked, leaning over towards her as he kept his voice just as low.
"Is that what their problem is? I wondered. They wouldn´t be stupid enough to jump us, would they?" she asked hoping that their dinner would be peaceful, and she wouldn´t have to fight until later.
"Nah, they´re a bunch of pansies. Lots of talk, no real muscle, or brains. But I am getting increasing grateful to Giles for letting me crash with him. The word is going to be quicker out on the street than I expected. I had hoped I´d have a couple of days grace," Spike told her.
"So what´s you´re saying it that they are really going to be gunning for you," Giles asked, having heard most of the conversation.
"You might say that. I was in deep sh--," and looked over to Dawn, and decided to watch his language before Buffy made him. "As I was saying, I have been on everyone´s list since I got chipped and started associating with you lot. My being human now makes me in their mind fair game to turn, or kill. They are also going to be figuring that I won´t be able to fight any of them. If they can turn me, then I´ll be their minion, not vice versa. In any event, my master vamp status is all shot to bloody heck," he finished, and Buffy and Giles nodded in understanding. "Now if I fight anyone, and win then they´ll back off, and think real hard on the subject. It´s all a matter of power, and bloody respect."
"Yeah, unfortunately," Buffy grumbled understanding all too well what he was saying and hoped it wouldn´t come to battle in here. So far the vamps were just sitting there watching and probably either waiting for the sun to finally set so they could leave or waiting until they left or both. If their watchers had any sense they would live first so there wouldn´t be trouble. Neither Spike, or Buffy were betting this group had that kind of brains, or survival skills.
The waitress finally came with their drinks, and took their orders. Spike immediately noticed that he couldn´t just slug down his drink as he normally would as the alcohol was hitting him hard on his empty stomach. After the first three swallows he slowed down, then stopped all together. If there was going to be trouble he wanted a clear head. When the waitress came by he ordered a coffee, and stayed with that, leaving the beer alone much to both Buffy and Dawn´s relief.
While they waited the talk revolved around school for both Buffy and Dawn. Buffy let them know she was going to be dropping out soon because she needed to work at the gallery, and be home more now that her mom was gone. Spike was sort of surprised about that.
"I thought you got a salary, being the Chosen One, and all from the WC," he asked, looking from her to Giles.
"I afraid not. The Council only pays Watcher´s, and the Watcher´s take care of their slayers out of that. They are just now reimbursing me for the last couple of years without pay, and out of that I am helping Buffy make ends meet. Joyce left a little, and the girls are still getting child support from their father, but it´s difficult. Without the shop it would be worse, I´m afraid," being totally candid with Spike.
Spike was shocked nevertheless, he had always assumed that Slayer got paid for slaying. "Sounds like the WC are bloody cheap so and so´s," he commented, taking a sip of coffee, and wishing he could smoke.
"They are. She has the most dangerous job, and yet, they don´t really provide for her all her needs. In the old days, medical care was not as expensive, now it´s bloody bad. Her mother, and I had to do some maneuvering to make sure she was covered in case she had any serious injuries because of slaying," Giles informed him.
Spike blanched, realizing for the first time what being a slayer meant from the other human side. All these years his goal as vampire had been to seriously hurt the slayer, and her friends, not seeing, or caring what the results would be medical wise, or recovery wise if she survived. Vampires went off and healed themselves. Humans, and slayers sometimes couldn´t without outside help. Being human, and gaining greater access to his soul, and formerly repressed feelings, Spike was understanding more, and more how really precious life was and the gift he had been given.
Turning to Buffy, he looked at her, and saw not the slayer, his enemy, but the very human young woman she really was. He felt grief, and sorrow at how his actions over the last years towards her, and her friends had hurt them. "I´m sorry, Buffy for all the bloody grief I gave you. I really didn´t know it was this tough on you. Damn, I know I´m sounding like my pounce of a sire, but I mean it. Yeah, a bleeding soul, and a warm body does kind of change your perspective on the world real fast," he told her, meaning every word.
Buffy raised an eyebrow, and looked back at him, shocked, still having a hard time believing him, but trying to at least give him the benefit of a doubt. "I hope so," she replied, and glad to see the waitress coming with their food so this conversation wouldn´t get any heavier. "Food´s up," she announced changing the subject on purpose. She was all so not ready to deal with this human Spike yet.
At least Spike knew how to eat a burger, and fries as he dove into it with no hesitation. He just wasn´t used to the differences in taste and texture he was now experiencing. He had been eating food off, and on for years, but somehow it all tasted different, richer, more real. Mindful that it was his first full meal in over a century he took it slow instead of wolfing it down which was his first instinct. He followed his companion´s lead to stopping, and taking a drink along with it. Though it began to dawn on him that there was a limit to how many fluids a body could hold before one had to get rid of them. Excusing himself he went back to the men´s restroom. He wasn´t totally lost of what his body was signaling though Giles did raise an eyebrow in inquiry in case he might need 'instructions´. Spike was sure he could handle this alone. Giles was very relieved. Retraining a vampire to use his human body was definitely not covered in the Watcher´s manuals.
Unfortunately, the men´s restroom was next to where the group of vampires was still sitting and watching them. Spike ignored them, and went on. They on the other hand did not ignore him. A minute or so after Spike had gone in Slim Mick, and a companion followed Spike in. Managing to take care of his business despite a very confused audience who only knew him as a vampire, Spike zipped up his pants, and faced the waiting vamps. "Find something interesting, gents?" he asked, daring them to try something.
"What the fuck are you?" asked the nameless vampire, sniffing the air, and not comprehending Spike´s altered scent.
"You are Spike? Harmony´s old man aren´t you?" asked Slim Mick, uncertain now who, or what he was facing. The guy looked like the peroxide blonde vampire, talked like him, but he was giving off every indication he was human, and maybe a slayer on top of it all, and as far as he knew there weren´t any male slayers—ever. Something was definitely off here.
"Yeah, I´m Spike. But I was 'never´ that bint´s old man. I do think you have insulted me, mate," Spike sneered back, tensing up as he waited for them to try and jump him.
"But Spike´s a vampire—you´re a puny human!" the nameless one shot back, confused, but not unnerved enough to back away. Instead his not that great looking face was morphing into his even uglier game face.
"Things change, mate," Spike grinned, and before the two could jump him, he launched himself at them. He took them down easily, before they could react with uppercuts to their chins. They feel boneless to the tiled floor. Seeing a mop in the corner, he grabbed it, broke in half, and staked them into dust. Feeling very satisfied with himself, he left the restroom with a slight bounce to his step only to run into Buffy who was hovering worriedly outside.
Buffy looked embarrassed to be there, once she saw he was all right. "I..I thought you might need help. I saw them get up, and follow you," she quickly explained, to his amusement.
"I´m touched, really, Slayer. Everything´s all taken care of, no problem on either count. Just dust in the wind, and the plumbing works just fine," he added, enjoying the deep red blush creep up her face.
"Ohh," she said her mouth making a round circle, as she looked at him finally catching what he meant. Mortified, she turned on her heels, and fled into the ladies.
Spike debated whether to wait for her, but decided it would be safer for him to go back. He knew he shouldn´t had said it to her, but he hadn´t been able to resist. He knew she would pay him back somehow for that remark. The other vampires were still sitting at the table waiting for their friends to return. He stopped and leaned over so they could hear him. "Your friends are dust, and if you don´t wanna be, I would suggest that you all think about leaving soon," he told them sincerely, ignoring their glares.
"And why´s that, turncoat?" asked one of the males, eyeing him becoming as confused as the other ones had been about his scent, and vibes.
"Because if the Slayer doesn´t kick your ass, I will," he warned, his voice dripping with menace.
"Yeah, right. You? You´re human—aren´t you?" asked the remaining male, and an ex dope head by the look of him, lounging back in his chair unworried.
"Maybe…," Spike baited, itching for them to try him. He didn´t get a chance to push them further as he felt Buffy come up behind him, and put her hand on his shoulder, and squeeze it not so gently in warning to back off.
"Ahh guys, not that I wouldn´t mind a little action, but if you don´t want to join the dust busters club—leave—now," she emphasized with a sweet smile as she glared down at the remaining vampires.
They all got the hint finally, and hastily got up and left, scooting past Buffy and Spike who watched them go to make sure they left.
"Ah gee, and I was just thinking about having desert," he quirked, faking a pout at her.
She just glared back at him, and shook her head, "come on, Dawn and Giles are probably getting worried," she told him as she walked back to the table with him following.
"Everything okay?" Giles asked as they sat back down.
"Two down, the other three left, and are out of our hair for the moment," Buffy replied.
"That´s good. Spike, you seem like something´s on your mind. They didn´t give you any problems?" Giles asked, looking at the former vampire´s thoughtful expression.
"No, no problem. But whatever
has happened to me has them all as confused as us. I am coming across to
their senses just like Buffy. It was throwing the lot of them," he told
the watcher. "So it seems my earlier suspicions weren´t that bloody
far off. Anything in those books of yours on this? Not that I´m complaining
mind you. Being a bloody human was more than I expected, but being a slayer
—it´s beginning to weird me out more than I bloody am," he confessed
uncomfortably folding his arms across his chest.
.
"I just think it´s
neat. Buffy won´t have to worry about you like Xander, or anyone
else. And you can really help her now," Dawn bubbled happily at him, ignoring
her big sister´s wanting to kill her looks.
"Yeah, I can—if she´ll let me," he replied to Dawn while looking back at Buffy hopefully, who was frowning at both of them still.
"We´ll see," was all Buffy could manage to say on the subject. She then switched gears to ask Giles, "Are we all about ready to go? Wasn´t there something about getting Spike´s stuff tonight? I still need to stop by the grocery store on the way home, and do patrolling later on.," she added tiredly.
"I can always get the stuff tomorrow, but knowing Hannah she´s going to go flapping her trap, and I wouldn´t be surprised if I get visitors at the old homestead to check out if the rumors are true. In that case there might not be that much to move once the lot of them get through," Spike told her, letting her know where he stood.
"Fine, we´ll get your junk first," she shot back, grumbling under her breath about ex vampires, and certain people being pains in the asses no matter what they were.
Giles just shook his head at both of them. He had hoped that Spike´s being human would have eased the seemingly on going tension, and bickering between the two blondes, but so far there had been little change. Things appeared to be edgier than usual between them. "Well, we´re paid for, so we might as well leave," he told them, they all got up out of their chairs more than ready to go. Buffy walked with Giles, while Dawn stayed with Spike as they went out to the car.
Before they left the parking lot, Giles put the convertible´s top up because it had cooled down as well as for safety purposes before they headed for the cemetery, and Spike´s crypt. Giles and Dawn waited in the car while Buffy reluctantly went with Spike to get his belongings he wanted to take to Giles´.
"We shouldn´t be too long, Giles," Spike reassured him as they were leaving the car.
"I hope not. I still have to stuff to do tonight," Buffy told her companion as she rapidly walked ahead.
Spike held his temper for as long as he could as he tried to keep up with her, and finally had to let it out. "You´re really in a mood, Slayer. You´ve been a real bitch all day. I would have thought that my being human would have improved your lovely disposition. What the hell is your bloody problem?" he asked point blank as they neared the door to his crypt.
"Just everything!" she shot back, purposely not answering his questions as she threw his door open with a huge bang.
"That´s no soddin´ answer!" he threw back at her, shaking his head. "What the Hell am I doing wrong this bloody time?" he asked, really wanting an answer.
"Nothing. Not a thing!" she replied, moving out of his way as he went past her, and slid the lid off the sarcophagus to the floor nosily with a loud bang. He reached in, and retrieved a large duffel bag he had stashed inside for safe keeping.
"Well something sure has your knickers in a knot." He glared back at her, then opened up the entrance to the underground chambers beneath his crypt. "So far this has been the best day of my life, and for some unknown reason you seem determined to be pissed at me. I´m not going to let you get to me, Summers. You want to be a bitch—fine do it. But I´m through playing games. I got a whole life before now, and I´m not going to blow it," he told her before he climbed down the ladder to relieve his clothes.
Buffy stood there a moment, shaking from the effects of his anger. Calmer, but not calm finally she went over, and flopped heavily in his worn chair ignoring the clouds of dusts that billowed up. She still didn't want to admit that his words had smarted, and hurt because they were true. She had tried to ignore him, and his words like she usually tried to do, but she somehow this time she just couldn´t. Yeah, she knew she was being terribly unfair to him, and was cutting him less slack than she normally did. Why? Even she wasn´t sure, except she was scared now. Scared of him. Not I'm in danger, he´s going to kill me scared, but scared he has a real chance of getting close to me scared. He had gotten under her skin bad enough as a vampire. Before she could have brushed him off with a thousand, and one excuses. Now it was not going to be that easy to keep him at bay. She knew he still loved her, and that hadn´t changed with his transformation if anything that made the danger to her heart and raging emotions even worse. He was her equal in all ways, and she was not handling it at all.
End part 5