Title: Standing On Your Own

Author: Hope

Rating: PG-13

Summary: When a demon kills everyone the slayer loves, she falls deep into depression: No will to live, no will to fight. Because her heart is no longer in slaying, the PTB send back a certain blonde vampire to help get her back on track.....

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Buffy frantically tried to flag down a taxi from the side of the street. They had about forty-five minutes before the sun would rise and she wasn't in the mood to carry Spike around in an ashtray. She groaned as another one sped by. "Damnit, Spike, this isn't working!" She stomped her foot in a very immature-fashion. She was in an all around bad mood and refused to listen when Spike had told her to sleep on the plane. She was regretting it now.

"That's 'cause you're doing it all wrong." He marched into the center of the street and stood there, hands shoved in the pockets of his duster. Buffy had insisted he take the jacket back and after arguing for most of the plane ride on the matter, he finally gave in. He didn't mind the arguing though, it had kept both their minds off of what they were about to do. He cocked his head to the side and grinned at the line of cars forming in front of him, most of them honking or with their drivers shouting strings of curses. Buffy shook her head and marched over to the nearest stopped cab and hopped in. Spike waved at the car in front of him before running to join Buffy in the cab.

"That was real smart, Eintein." Buffy remarked, smirking as he closed the door.

"What can I say? I got the brains, you got the looks." He paused, thinking this over. "No, I take that back. I think I got those too." He grinned as she punched him in the arm. "So, I take it we're heading to the nearest hotel?"

Buffy's smile faded and her features went back to being serious. "No." She shoved her hand into her pocket and produced a crumpled piece of paper and handed it to the driver. "We're going here." The driver gave them a disgruntled look before pealing away. Some way for a person to catch a cab…..

Spike raised an eyebrow at her. "We're going to the place Giles left me…" She said quietly, looking down. He nodded, taking her hand in his.

"Do you think she'll be okay?" He asked after a few moments, looking down at her.

"Who, Dawn?"

"No, I know she'll be fine. Me 'n you can kick some major watcher ass if need be, but we'll get 'er." He sighed, seeming a bit upset.

"Who?" Buffy asked curiously. She wished she was as confident about the whole 'saving Dawn' issue.

"We left my car with Faith……" Horrible images of how the girl could destroy his DeSoto ran through his mind. They had gotten the car from the factory he was storing it in and had driven it to the airport, only bringing Faith along so she could drive it home. Buffy smirked, letting her head fall onto his shoulder.

"I'm sure your car will be fine."

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"Wow…." Buffy stood gaping at the structure in front of her. She had always pictured Giles in a little old apartment, but this? Her eyes scanned the home, which seemed about five times as large as her house. It looked to be three stories, along with an attic and basement. The yard was small, and, ironically, was encased by a small white fence.

"Looks like you get your white picket fence after all, now if you don't mind, I'd prefer not to go all extra crispy." Spike remarked, quirking an eyebrow at her.

"Huh?" Buffy's eyes shot to look at the vampire and noticed the first rays of sunlight looming behind him. "Oh, geez!" She grabbed his arm and drug him to the door. Producing a key from her pocket, she shoved it in the lock and swung the door open.

The inside was just as beautiful as the outside.

The pair walked inside, their eyes studying the interior. Sure, it was more of an old fashioned setup, what with the mahogany furniture and gold lamps, but it was cozy. Walking into the living room, they found some deep red furniture, a large fireplace, and an old bookcase full of ancient texts. Buffy walked in, running her fingers over the table in the center of the room. "Why would he want to leave this and stay in Sunnydale?"

"You were there." Spike answered simply, setting their bags on the couch. "Looks like old Rupes had quite a bit of money." He looked around and his face fell, "Yet he couldn't bother to by a bloody TV for the livin' room. Now what the hell an I supposed to do?"

"I'm sure he was planning on having you stay here, really."

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Buffy watched from the couch as Spike tossed another book on the table. They had found heaps of weapons piled in three different rooms, along with an extensive library of dusty books in the attic. They had been rummaging through some of the volumes hoping to find some sort of floor plan for the Council's headquarters. Spike knew where it was, they just needed to know how to get around.

An elegant chime went off through the house. The doorbell. Buffy and Spike exchanged glances, hesitant to head to the front door. The bell chimed again and Buffy stood, heading to see who on earth it could be. She opened the door to find a short woman, probably in her early forties, smiling.

"May I help you?" Buffy asked, rather confused but pretty sure the woman had the wrong house. No one but Faith knew they were here.

"You wouldn't happen to be related to Mr. Rupert Giles, would you?" The woman asked softly.

"You knew Giles?" Buffy questioned, not answering.

The woman nodded. "My name is Katherine, I've lived next door to Rupert since we were young. And you are?" The woman was obviously relieved that the house hadn't been sold, merely passed on to someone Giles ad obviously cared about.

"Buffy Summers." She answered politely. The woman's face was one of complete shock.

"You're his slayer?" She questioned, looking Buffy over. My word was the girl small. Buffy's face fell. What was the point of keeping the fact that she was the slayer a secret? Everyone already knew, even complete strangers!! Katherine noticed the look on Buffy's face and smiled. "My apologies, Ms.Summers, but you see, I am a watcher. Rupert had told me a lot about you. He was very proud of you." The woman gave Buffy a strange look when she tensed. Wasn't informing her that she was a watcher supposed to relax her?

"You know, this is really a bad time…" Buffy feigned a smile and started to shut the door.

"Ms. Summers?" Katherine put her hand on the door, stopping her from closing it. "Are you alright?" Buffy swallowed, looking into the female watcher's eyes.

"Buffy!! I think I found a way into the Council!!" Spike came running up to the door, pointing to a page of the book he was holding. Buffy shot daggers at him with her eyes and Katherine looked at him, startled.

"You're trying to get into the headquarters?" She asked, looking back at Buffy.

The slayer smiled sheepishly. "No?"

Spike's brow furrowed. "Who are you?"

Katherine went to speak, but Buffy answered for her. "She's a watcher."

"May I ask why you are trying to get in there?" She asked curtly. Buffy and Spike exchanged glances, but neither spoke. Katherine nodded. "I understand, I'm sure you have your reasons and I wish you luck. It won't be easy to get in there, I assure you. Just take care of yourself, I'm sure Rupert wouldn't want you doing anything foolish. Don't get yourself hurt." She turned to leave and Buffy went to close the door, But Spike held it open. He stepped the closest he could without scorching himself with sunlight and called out to the woman.

"Could you help us?" He asked.

"I beg you pardon?" She replied, turning back to the blonde.

"You said you didn't want her to get hurt. Whether or not you help us is your choice, but we're going either way and I guarantee it will be a lot safer if you help us."

Katherine looked at him skeptically, scanning him from head to toe. She noticed how the toes of his boots stopped right in front of the line of sunlight. "You're a vampire?" It was more of a statement than a question. Spike nodded and Buffy seemed to slink back, ready for another scolding from a watcher who 'disapproved' of her actions. "Then why are you helping her?" She inquired, nodding to Buffy.

"Because I love her, and I love her sister and I'm not about to let the bloody Council keep her locked up."

"Oh dear, they have your sister? Dawn, is it?" Buffy nodded, slightly worried that the woman had known her sister's name. Had she helped bring her back? "Rupert told me about you two on his last visit, said he was proud of you girls. He wouldn't want anything to happen to either of you." She returned her focus to Spike. "Of course I'll help you."

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