Part 6 - Revelations
Buffy and Xander walked quietly back to the Magic Box. Xander,
no longer able to contain his curiosity, spoke.
"So, uh, Buff, if you don't mind my asking, why the sudden interest
in helping Spike? I mean, last I checked, you weren't exactly
president of the 'We Love Spike' fan club. So, what gives?"
Buffy couldn't look at him, "A lot has changed..."
Xander nodded, not sure how to respond. And all was quiet again.
For a short while.
"I mean, it's not like I *let* him weasel his way into my life,"
Buffy spoke, seemingly oblivious to Xander's presence. "I told
him countless times to leave me alone, to leave town. Get out of
my life. But he wouldn't listen. That vampire sure the hell is
persistent."
"Buffy, what are you talking about?"
"And he's supposed to be evil, you know? But, after I came back,
he was so sweet. I mean, he sent my head spinning, that's for sure.
But he was the only one who didn't expect things from me. He didn't
expect me to be happy to be back. He was the only one I told my
secret to. Told him not to tell anyone. I was surprised when he
actually kept his promise to not tell.
"And he loves me. I know that now. I see that. I believe him.
And he's given me his heart completely. And I'm just using it
shamelessly. God. And I call him the monster."
Xander stopped her, "Buffy, again I ask, what are you talking
about?"
She looked at him, "I slept with Spike."
Xander was shocked, "Buffy-"
But she wasn't finished, "And it was wrong. God, I know it was
wrong. But, Xander, how can something so wrong feel so right?
And why do I keep going to him? Why do I keep using him?" She
was near tears.
"And every time he tell me he loves and every time I want to tell
him I love him too, but I can't, because it's wrong!" She collapsed
against Xander, who held and supported her, the only thing he could
think to do.
"I love him. I love Spike. I love him so much," She wailed over
and over in Xander's shoulder.
He remained quiet throughout, not sure what do say. Or what to
do as he held the sobbing Slayer.
Spike was dreaming. In his dream he was far away from this place.
He was somewhere happy. He was with Buffy. And she loved him.
Accepted him. That's how he knew it was a dream. But that dream
was interrupted by a sharp pain in his back.
He eyes snapped open and he gasped. Lizzy had alerted him to her
return by running her nails across the burns and open wounds
scattered across the expanse of his back.
"I was beginning to wonder when you'd wake up."
"What do you want now?" he growled.
"Ooh, testy." Lizzy grinned. "I ran into that nasty little Slayer
of yours again." She looked at him, as if waiting for a reaction.
She didn't get one. Spike just continued to stare at her, eyes
void of any emotion.
Slightly disappointed, she continued, "I was kind enough to inform
her of your...current situation. Imagine my surprise when she
displayed her apparent lack of concern. I can't understand how you
can love someone who hates you so. Perhaps you should explain it to
me. Make me understand."
Spike continued to say nothing. What was there to say? He wasn't
at all surprised by Buffy's response. Why should she care? He was
just a monster after all. In her mind, it was just one less demon
in the world.
"Come on, William...brother. I want to help you. But you need to
talk to me.. Help me understand."
Spike looked at her. Where did that boatload of sisterly concern
come from? Unless he was mistaken, Lizzy was trying to punish him
from the past, not help him deal with his present situation.
"When did you find yourself in love with the Slayer?"
Spike found himself answering. He didn't know why. Maybe it was
because he wanted... scratch that, needed to talk to someone.
Anyone who'd listen. And right now, Lizzy was willing to listen.
"About a year ago."
Lizzy nodded, "And what did you do?"
"Nothing. I didn't want to believe it. And besides, it wasn't like
she could ever love a monster like me. I'm just an evil disgusting
thing."
"Is that something you told yourself or something she told you?"
"Does it matter? 'Cause either way, that's what I am."
"She's caused you great pain, hasn't she, brother?" she asked.
He was silent for a moment, thinking.
"It hurts when she tells me I'm just an evil *thing* and that I can't
change. I mean, after everything I've done for her... for Dawn and
she still treats me like the scum of the universe. I know that I
haven't changed completely and that the demon still lives in me. I
know that. And I know that I can never be in the light. I'll always
be in the dark. But I can try, you know. If she'd just let me.
"I know I've screwed up... said and done some things that maybe I
shouldn't have. And I'm not asking for forgiveness for what I've
done. And I'm not asking her to love me. I'm just asking for her to
accept me for who I am. What I am. And I guess I'm just asking if
she'd realize that not everything is black and white."
Xander and Buffy entered the magic shop. Buffy's eyes were red and
puffy from her crying. Dawn noticed right away.
"Buffy, what's wrong?"
Buffy shook her head, "Nothing. Nothing's wrong." She cleared her
throat, "Um, we got what we needed."
"Really?" Will asked surprised they found an answer so quickly.
"Yup. She's holed up in some abandoned warehouse. Go figure. Why
can't vamps ever find some place more original?"
"So, do we go now or what?" Dawn asked, excited at the prospect of
rescuing her friend.
Anya slammed her book closed, "Finally, some action. These books
are *so* boring."
"So, what's the plan?" Will asked.
"You, Xander and I will hit the warehouse. I want you guys to get
Spike out and get out of there. Anya, I want you to stay here with
Dawn-"
"No, I wanna go with you, Buffy," Dawn argued.
Buffy sighed, "Dawn, we don't have time for this."
"Why can't I go?"
"It's too dangerous."
"So?"
"You could get hurt. Or worse."
"So. You were the same age I am now when you became the Slayer."
Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes. She wasn't surprised her sister
used that tactic. "You know what? Fine. I'm not going to argue with
you. We don't have time for that. You can come. I don't care. But
your job is the same as everyone else's. Understand? I'm not going
to take any chances."
Dawn nodded.
"Okay," Buffy said and waked to the training room. Inside, she grabbed
a few essential weapons: a couple of stakes, holy water, a few crosses
for the gang. For herself, she chose a beautiful katana. She went back
to the others and handed out the weapons.
"Okay, we all ready?"
Everyone nodded and together they left for the warehouse.
Spike was physically and emotionally spent. His shoulders and arms
were numb and every other inch of his body throbbed constantly.
Blindingly so. And he spent the last... he didn't know how long
talking to Lizzy about everything in his life. It felt good to be
about to talk to someone and have them listen without interruption,
argument, and telling him everything he's feeling isn't true and that
he can't feel anyway.
"William, if I may inquire, but, if you love this Slayer so much, why
not turn her? Make her yours forever with a kiss?"
Spike shook his head, "No-"
"And don't tell me you can't because of the chip. I know it doesn't
work on her."
"How?"
"I told you, I've been watching. I know everything. So, tell me,
why don't you turn her?"
"Because she wouldn't be the same person I fell in love with. All
that would be left would be a monster. Buffy would be gone."
Lizzy was taken aback, "Is that all you see when you look at me? A
monster?"
Spike couldn't look at her. She was right. All he saw was a monster.
He couldn't see... hadn't seen a trace of his Little Bit in her. But
he felt she *had* to be in there somewhere. Buried deep down inside.
He didn't just feel it, he knew it.
Buffy and the Scoobies approached the broken window of the warehouse.
Peering inside, they saw Spike chained to the ceiling. Before him
stood a seemingly devastated Lizzy. Tears were slowly making their
way down her face. Wordlessly, they watched the exchange.
"I'm sorry," Spike whispered.
Lizzy stepped away from her brother and moved toward the table.
She studied the various items on top of the counter, not looking at
him. "And I suppose you're a better monster that I."
Spike didn't respond. Lizzy took a hold of a nearby poker and turned
to face him. Slowly, she stalked toward him, tapping her free hand
with the end of the poker.
"I have a newsflash for you, dear brother," she seethed, "You're no
less of a monster than I. You say you want these humans of yours to
accept you. But they won't. And how could they? You're a killer.
An evil remorseless killer."
She stopped in front of him.
"You destroyed our family. Your death destroyed Mother and you let
me die!" Enraged, she drove the poker into his chest, into his heart.
He screamed in pain.
Buffy looked away form the window to her friends. "Okay. I think
it's time to move in. I'll go first. I want to you guys to stay
here until I distract her. Then get Spike and get out." She took
off for the door.
Lizzy yanked the poker out and threw it across the room. She reached
for the clasp on her locker. After undoing it, she threw it at him.
It hit him in the face then fell to his feet.
"Remember what you told me when you gave that to me? You told me that
whenever I felt lonely, to look at your picture and know you'll always
be there. But I've been looking at it for over a hundred years and have
been lonely. Not once were you there to ease the feeling."
They were interrupted by a bang. Lizzy stopped her emotional outburst
immediately and smiled. She turned around to face Buffy.
"So...how'd you find me so quickly?"
"What can I say? Your friends were easily convinced to give me your
location."
"Is that right? Well, then, I'm going to have to kill them. After
you, of course."
"Assuming, of course, you can," Buffy retorted as she held up her
katana.
Lizzy walked to the table and grabbed her sword, "Bring it on."
Buffy ran at her and their swords clashed together, sparks flying.
Lizzy, now distracted with Buffy, gave the gang the opportunity they
needed. They slipped in quietly and approached the barely conscious
vampire.
"Spike?"
He lifted his head and looked into the eyes of Buffy's sister.
"Niblet?"
She nodded.
"What are you doing here? You trying to upset your sister?"
"Okay, Evil Undead, let's get you out of here," Xander said and began
to unchain him.
"No," Spike protested weakly, watching Buffy and Lizzy swing their
swords at one another. Now, unrestrained, Spike collapsed, but
Xander caught him before he hit the ground. Behind him, Willow and
Anya gasped at the sight of Spike's wound covered back.
"Oh, my God," Willow exclaimed.
"What did she do to him?" Anya asked.
Meanwhile, Buffy was fighting for her life. Elizabeth had proven
herself to be quite familiar with the sword. Too familiar for Buffy's
liking. And she was getting exhausted. Extremely.
"Don't tell me you're getting tired, Slayer, a young thing like you,"
Lizzy taunted.
Buffy just smiled tightly and swung the sword at her. The vampiress
raised hers to meet with Buffy's. They came together with a familiar
clank and the tremendous force from Lizzy's caused Buffy lose her grip.
Her katana flew across the room, hitting the wall before landing on the
ground. Lizzy smiled and kicked Buffy in the face, making her stumble.
Buffy tasted blood in her mouth. She spit it out. Looking around, she
found her sword and made a mad dash for it.
Lizzy beat her to it. She held both swords at Buffy's throat. Slowly,
the Slayer stood up.
Xander and the others, being as gentle as possible, tried to help
Spike leave the building.
"No," Spike continued to protest. "Buffy."
"She's got everything under control. Right now, we need to get you
outta here," Xander told him.
"No. Can't do that," Spike said. "Have to go back." He saw a stake
protruding from Xander's back pocket. He grabbed it and pushed Xander
away.
"Spike!" Dawn called out as she watched him stumble back towards Buffy.
"Remember how I told you I would bring you great pain for hurting my
brother? Well, you ready for it?" Lizzy grinned.
Buffy closed her eyes, waiting for whatever may come. She didn't know
why she wasn't fighting back. She just didn't. She knew Lizzy was
going to kill her but she didn't plan to stop it.
Lizzy smiled as she lifted her sword, ready for the blow. This is it,
she thought. She swung the blade down...
And felt something pierce her back. She faltered and looked down. The
end of a wooden stake peeked out from her chest. Slowly, she turned
around. In front of her stood her brother, albeit barely.
"William?" she questioned, disbelieving.
"I'm sorry..."
She collapsed into a collection of ashes.
Spike dropped to his knees, both from exhaustion and sorrow. Everyone
watched helplessly as the grief-stricken vampire collapsed completely
next to his beloved sister's ashes, sobbing. "I'm so sorry..." he
whispered repeatedly between sobs.
End Part 6
Buffy and Xander walked quietly back to the Magic Box. Xander,
no longer able to contain his curiosity, spoke.
"So, uh, Buff, if you don't mind my asking, why the sudden interest
in helping Spike? I mean, last I checked, you weren't exactly
president of the 'We Love Spike' fan club. So, what gives?"
Buffy couldn't look at him, "A lot has changed..."
Xander nodded, not sure how to respond. And all was quiet again.
For a short while.
"I mean, it's not like I *let* him weasel his way into my life,"
Buffy spoke, seemingly oblivious to Xander's presence. "I told
him countless times to leave me alone, to leave town. Get out of
my life. But he wouldn't listen. That vampire sure the hell is
persistent."
"Buffy, what are you talking about?"
"And he's supposed to be evil, you know? But, after I came back,
he was so sweet. I mean, he sent my head spinning, that's for sure.
But he was the only one who didn't expect things from me. He didn't
expect me to be happy to be back. He was the only one I told my
secret to. Told him not to tell anyone. I was surprised when he
actually kept his promise to not tell.
"And he loves me. I know that now. I see that. I believe him.
And he's given me his heart completely. And I'm just using it
shamelessly. God. And I call him the monster."
Xander stopped her, "Buffy, again I ask, what are you talking
about?"
She looked at him, "I slept with Spike."
Xander was shocked, "Buffy-"
But she wasn't finished, "And it was wrong. God, I know it was
wrong. But, Xander, how can something so wrong feel so right?
And why do I keep going to him? Why do I keep using him?" She
was near tears.
"And every time he tell me he loves and every time I want to tell
him I love him too, but I can't, because it's wrong!" She collapsed
against Xander, who held and supported her, the only thing he could
think to do.
"I love him. I love Spike. I love him so much," She wailed over
and over in Xander's shoulder.
He remained quiet throughout, not sure what do say. Or what to
do as he held the sobbing Slayer.
Spike was dreaming. In his dream he was far away from this place.
He was somewhere happy. He was with Buffy. And she loved him.
Accepted him. That's how he knew it was a dream. But that dream
was interrupted by a sharp pain in his back.
He eyes snapped open and he gasped. Lizzy had alerted him to her
return by running her nails across the burns and open wounds
scattered across the expanse of his back.
"I was beginning to wonder when you'd wake up."
"What do you want now?" he growled.
"Ooh, testy." Lizzy grinned. "I ran into that nasty little Slayer
of yours again." She looked at him, as if waiting for a reaction.
She didn't get one. Spike just continued to stare at her, eyes
void of any emotion.
Slightly disappointed, she continued, "I was kind enough to inform
her of your...current situation. Imagine my surprise when she
displayed her apparent lack of concern. I can't understand how you
can love someone who hates you so. Perhaps you should explain it to
me. Make me understand."
Spike continued to say nothing. What was there to say? He wasn't
at all surprised by Buffy's response. Why should she care? He was
just a monster after all. In her mind, it was just one less demon
in the world.
"Come on, William...brother. I want to help you. But you need to
talk to me.. Help me understand."
Spike looked at her. Where did that boatload of sisterly concern
come from? Unless he was mistaken, Lizzy was trying to punish him
from the past, not help him deal with his present situation.
"When did you find yourself in love with the Slayer?"
Spike found himself answering. He didn't know why. Maybe it was
because he wanted... scratch that, needed to talk to someone.
Anyone who'd listen. And right now, Lizzy was willing to listen.
"About a year ago."
Lizzy nodded, "And what did you do?"
"Nothing. I didn't want to believe it. And besides, it wasn't like
she could ever love a monster like me. I'm just an evil disgusting
thing."
"Is that something you told yourself or something she told you?"
"Does it matter? 'Cause either way, that's what I am."
"She's caused you great pain, hasn't she, brother?" she asked.
He was silent for a moment, thinking.
"It hurts when she tells me I'm just an evil *thing* and that I can't
change. I mean, after everything I've done for her... for Dawn and
she still treats me like the scum of the universe. I know that I
haven't changed completely and that the demon still lives in me. I
know that. And I know that I can never be in the light. I'll always
be in the dark. But I can try, you know. If she'd just let me.
"I know I've screwed up... said and done some things that maybe I
shouldn't have. And I'm not asking for forgiveness for what I've
done. And I'm not asking her to love me. I'm just asking for her to
accept me for who I am. What I am. And I guess I'm just asking if
she'd realize that not everything is black and white."
Xander and Buffy entered the magic shop. Buffy's eyes were red and
puffy from her crying. Dawn noticed right away.
"Buffy, what's wrong?"
Buffy shook her head, "Nothing. Nothing's wrong." She cleared her
throat, "Um, we got what we needed."
"Really?" Will asked surprised they found an answer so quickly.
"Yup. She's holed up in some abandoned warehouse. Go figure. Why
can't vamps ever find some place more original?"
"So, do we go now or what?" Dawn asked, excited at the prospect of
rescuing her friend.
Anya slammed her book closed, "Finally, some action. These books
are *so* boring."
"So, what's the plan?" Will asked.
"You, Xander and I will hit the warehouse. I want you guys to get
Spike out and get out of there. Anya, I want you to stay here with
Dawn-"
"No, I wanna go with you, Buffy," Dawn argued.
Buffy sighed, "Dawn, we don't have time for this."
"Why can't I go?"
"It's too dangerous."
"So?"
"You could get hurt. Or worse."
"So. You were the same age I am now when you became the Slayer."
Buffy sighed and rolled her eyes. She wasn't surprised her sister
used that tactic. "You know what? Fine. I'm not going to argue with
you. We don't have time for that. You can come. I don't care. But
your job is the same as everyone else's. Understand? I'm not going
to take any chances."
Dawn nodded.
"Okay," Buffy said and waked to the training room. Inside, she grabbed
a few essential weapons: a couple of stakes, holy water, a few crosses
for the gang. For herself, she chose a beautiful katana. She went back
to the others and handed out the weapons.
"Okay, we all ready?"
Everyone nodded and together they left for the warehouse.
Spike was physically and emotionally spent. His shoulders and arms
were numb and every other inch of his body throbbed constantly.
Blindingly so. And he spent the last... he didn't know how long
talking to Lizzy about everything in his life. It felt good to be
about to talk to someone and have them listen without interruption,
argument, and telling him everything he's feeling isn't true and that
he can't feel anyway.
"William, if I may inquire, but, if you love this Slayer so much, why
not turn her? Make her yours forever with a kiss?"
Spike shook his head, "No-"
"And don't tell me you can't because of the chip. I know it doesn't
work on her."
"How?"
"I told you, I've been watching. I know everything. So, tell me,
why don't you turn her?"
"Because she wouldn't be the same person I fell in love with. All
that would be left would be a monster. Buffy would be gone."
Lizzy was taken aback, "Is that all you see when you look at me? A
monster?"
Spike couldn't look at her. She was right. All he saw was a monster.
He couldn't see... hadn't seen a trace of his Little Bit in her. But
he felt she *had* to be in there somewhere. Buried deep down inside.
He didn't just feel it, he knew it.
Buffy and the Scoobies approached the broken window of the warehouse.
Peering inside, they saw Spike chained to the ceiling. Before him
stood a seemingly devastated Lizzy. Tears were slowly making their
way down her face. Wordlessly, they watched the exchange.
"I'm sorry," Spike whispered.
Lizzy stepped away from her brother and moved toward the table.
She studied the various items on top of the counter, not looking at
him. "And I suppose you're a better monster that I."
Spike didn't respond. Lizzy took a hold of a nearby poker and turned
to face him. Slowly, she stalked toward him, tapping her free hand
with the end of the poker.
"I have a newsflash for you, dear brother," she seethed, "You're no
less of a monster than I. You say you want these humans of yours to
accept you. But they won't. And how could they? You're a killer.
An evil remorseless killer."
She stopped in front of him.
"You destroyed our family. Your death destroyed Mother and you let
me die!" Enraged, she drove the poker into his chest, into his heart.
He screamed in pain.
Buffy looked away form the window to her friends. "Okay. I think
it's time to move in. I'll go first. I want to you guys to stay
here until I distract her. Then get Spike and get out." She took
off for the door.
Lizzy yanked the poker out and threw it across the room. She reached
for the clasp on her locker. After undoing it, she threw it at him.
It hit him in the face then fell to his feet.
"Remember what you told me when you gave that to me? You told me that
whenever I felt lonely, to look at your picture and know you'll always
be there. But I've been looking at it for over a hundred years and have
been lonely. Not once were you there to ease the feeling."
They were interrupted by a bang. Lizzy stopped her emotional outburst
immediately and smiled. She turned around to face Buffy.
"So...how'd you find me so quickly?"
"What can I say? Your friends were easily convinced to give me your
location."
"Is that right? Well, then, I'm going to have to kill them. After
you, of course."
"Assuming, of course, you can," Buffy retorted as she held up her
katana.
Lizzy walked to the table and grabbed her sword, "Bring it on."
Buffy ran at her and their swords clashed together, sparks flying.
Lizzy, now distracted with Buffy, gave the gang the opportunity they
needed. They slipped in quietly and approached the barely conscious
vampire.
"Spike?"
He lifted his head and looked into the eyes of Buffy's sister.
"Niblet?"
She nodded.
"What are you doing here? You trying to upset your sister?"
"Okay, Evil Undead, let's get you out of here," Xander said and began
to unchain him.
"No," Spike protested weakly, watching Buffy and Lizzy swing their
swords at one another. Now, unrestrained, Spike collapsed, but
Xander caught him before he hit the ground. Behind him, Willow and
Anya gasped at the sight of Spike's wound covered back.
"Oh, my God," Willow exclaimed.
"What did she do to him?" Anya asked.
Meanwhile, Buffy was fighting for her life. Elizabeth had proven
herself to be quite familiar with the sword. Too familiar for Buffy's
liking. And she was getting exhausted. Extremely.
"Don't tell me you're getting tired, Slayer, a young thing like you,"
Lizzy taunted.
Buffy just smiled tightly and swung the sword at her. The vampiress
raised hers to meet with Buffy's. They came together with a familiar
clank and the tremendous force from Lizzy's caused Buffy lose her grip.
Her katana flew across the room, hitting the wall before landing on the
ground. Lizzy smiled and kicked Buffy in the face, making her stumble.
Buffy tasted blood in her mouth. She spit it out. Looking around, she
found her sword and made a mad dash for it.
Lizzy beat her to it. She held both swords at Buffy's throat. Slowly,
the Slayer stood up.
Xander and the others, being as gentle as possible, tried to help
Spike leave the building.
"No," Spike continued to protest. "Buffy."
"She's got everything under control. Right now, we need to get you
outta here," Xander told him.
"No. Can't do that," Spike said. "Have to go back." He saw a stake
protruding from Xander's back pocket. He grabbed it and pushed Xander
away.
"Spike!" Dawn called out as she watched him stumble back towards Buffy.
"Remember how I told you I would bring you great pain for hurting my
brother? Well, you ready for it?" Lizzy grinned.
Buffy closed her eyes, waiting for whatever may come. She didn't know
why she wasn't fighting back. She just didn't. She knew Lizzy was
going to kill her but she didn't plan to stop it.
Lizzy smiled as she lifted her sword, ready for the blow. This is it,
she thought. She swung the blade down...
And felt something pierce her back. She faltered and looked down. The
end of a wooden stake peeked out from her chest. Slowly, she turned
around. In front of her stood her brother, albeit barely.
"William?" she questioned, disbelieving.
"I'm sorry..."
She collapsed into a collection of ashes.
Spike dropped to his knees, both from exhaustion and sorrow. Everyone
watched helplessly as the grief-stricken vampire collapsed completely
next to his beloved sister's ashes, sobbing. "I'm so sorry..." he
whispered repeatedly between sobs.
End Part 6