Author: Amanda
E-mail: Amandab9@a...
Feedback: YES, please!
Timeline: "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered"
Disclaimer: I don't own them. The beginning actions and speech is actually from "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" but the feelings are mine.
Author's Note: I know, I know, I know. But this seriously isn't my fault! I had the end written a long time ago (I finished this story July 5) but my computer was broken. I couldn't type it up because it didn't work. Then we sent it in to be repaired. Three weeks we got a new computer. My summer job stopped me from typing it. Sorry.
Chapter 10:
Buffy gingerly dropped the phone back into its cradle. A thousand thoughts raced through her brain at a mile a minute but none were comforting. All seemed to point to something she just could not face.
"Who was that?" Giles asked.
"Willow."
"Oh?" his voice tried to sound casual but after their last conversation that was impossible. "And?"
"And," deep breath, "you were right."
Buffy couldn't stop the words from tumbling out at a fast pace. "I didn't want it to be true, but I don't see anything else that makes sense. Miss Calendar's warning, her death, Willow and Xander's strange disappearance, and now that call. It wasn't Willow on the phone. I know Willow, it just wasn't her. Or at least not the one I first met as a new girl."
"Buffy, you must calm down," Giles' stern voice broke Buffy's rumbling.
"Now, what exactly was said?"
"Willow said she had to talk to us about what was happening with her and Xander. But she said they would explain it tonight. To*night*! Not day, not over the phone, but here at night. And that's not all. She just didn't sound Willow-like. She spoke all coy and self assured. It just wasn't Willow," Buffy repeated firmly.
"I. I see. I wish there was more I could say. Unfortunately, there isn't. And we must deal with them attacking tonight. If they are vampires, you must fight them."
"No! I can't. I couldn't hurt Willow or Xander."
"They wouldn't *be* Willow or Xander though. You said it yourself. It would just be another demon wearing a friend's face."
"It wouldn't. It would be the only ones who gave me a chance when I first moved here. Well, other than Cordelia but she doesn't count."
"Cordelia," and Buffy almost jumped because she'd forgotten all about Oz's presence.
"Cordelia's missing," he stated.
"Yeah." Buffy began, not yet catching on. "WE know. Remember, Xander said Cordelia was captured by. oh. Xander said. Xander who is now probably a vamp."
"My point exactly. Now, I could be wrong but I'm thinking; vamp? Not the most reliable source."
"So poor Cordelia could be anywhere, and most likely I a lot of pain there," Giles concluded.
There was a moment's reflective silence.
"I can't do it. I can't pretend I'm fine with fighting - forget about killing - my best friends. Not after what happened with Angel."
"But Buffy, you have no choice. It will come down to you and all the good you can do in the future. Or them and all their possible future harm."
Buffy let out a resigned sigh.
"We'll see tonight," she answered, knowing it was just to appease Giles.
Giles just couldn't understand her position. Giles who, if what he said was right, and tonight it came down to her or them, would be the first to visit her grave.
The first thing Cordelia realized as she slowly began to awake was that she felt awful.
The second thought was how normal of a feeling that had already become. And then realized it wasn't as bad as she was getting used to. Not that that was really saying much.
Cordelia began to realize she was not on the hard floor she had started to become assumed to waking up on. She wasn't; however, in her huge bed at home either. In fact, she was actually - and this truly shocked her - moving!
It took a good five seconds for Cordelia to come to grasps with her new surrounds of a car. But when had she been moved to a car?
Suddenly memories of the previous day (day? night? All sense of time had been lost on her since her being captured, and the long nap certainly hadn't helped) flooded back to her.
Memories of Spike's reaction to her news. Memories of Spike stepping out of the wheel chair he was supposed to need. Memories of switching cars at a run down looking police station. The screams she heard from her spot in the new cop car with her eyes closed while in her tight, protective ball. The smell of tons of fresh blood as Spike came back into the car and the accompanying realization that there was no more screams or cries.
Then, finally, the tons of tears she cried while trying to ignore the looks of almost-worry and almost-guilt from Spike. Right up until she had exhausted herself out from crying. Cordelia had expected to be plagued by nightmares but had instead been subject to sleep so blessedly heavy there were no dreams at all.
Cordelia wanted to return there. Wanted to get out of this car that was speeding down an empty road at night. Wanted to get away from.
Billy Idol?
"Billy Idol?" Cordelia's dry mouth repeated her minds question.
Spike turned back to give her a smile, obviously not caring that it involved taking his eyes off the road for a dangerous ten seconds.
"He's a pretty good singer - for a human. 'Course the buggar stole my look. But at least it proves he's got good taste."
Cordelia propped herself up into an extremely painful sitting position as Billy Idol continued to sing on the radio. All her muscles and joints seemed to scream at her for shifting at all. She began to absent mindedly rub her wrists before freezing.
Rubbing her wrists, Cordelia could rub her wrists! For the first time in what had to be at least days, Cordelia had no restraints on.
"Yep, when I met him back before he was famous he hadn't even thought of bleach. Saw me, next thing you know he's completely copied my look. 'Ah well," Spike went on.
'Of course,' Cordelia reasoned with herself, 'there is still no way out.' And there wasn't.
Spike drove in the front while she was in the back. The back, designed for criminals, was locked from the inside. Spike would have to let her out if she were to leave. Cordelia couldn't try to do anything rash like grab the wheel or attack Spike because of the wire separating them. And of course, no one would stop a speeding police car with a beat up looking girl in the back.
Spike really did thing of everything. Damn it.
"Hungry?"
Cordelia's eyes snapped up. Was he joking? She couldn't even remember the last time she'd eaten was.
"Food's in a bag by your feet. Put it there while you were out."
Cordelia grabbed the bag that had previously gone unnoticed. Upon opening it she found an assortment of vending machine snacks. Tons of empty calories never looked so good.
Cordelia licked her lips and kept her eyes on the bag as she asked, "How do I know it isn't poison?"
Spike laughed and Cordelia found herself missing the unique sound as soon as he stopped. "If I'd want to kill you, there are a lot more fun ways. 'Sides, what have you got to lose?"
Not the most convincing argument granted, but a valid point. Shrugging, Cordelia opened a small bag of chips and took a bite.
"Has food always tasted this good?" Cordelia managed through a mouthful of chips as she opened another bag.
"Wouldn't know. Can't taste food."
Cordelia had almost finished all the food before he spoke again. When he did it was soft and she was sure she heard wrong.
"What?"
"I said, thank you."
Cordelia paused, or maybe she had heard right after all. "For what?"
Spike shrugged. "Saving me from the others."
Cordelia found herself wearing the first grin since she had been locked up.
"Thank you."
Again, so sorry it took so long. If it feels like this chapter was missing something, it is because I had an extra two pages of a scene with Dru, Angelus, Willow, and Xander but cut it out. Believe me, it is better without it.
Please leave feedback because (1) I need to know if anyone is still reading and (2) because I wasn't planning on writing anymore Cordelia and/or Spike but you guys seemed to enjoy it the most.
Only one chapter left so please leave feedback!
=(Amanda(=
E-mail: Amandab9@a...
Feedback: YES, please!
Timeline: "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered"
Disclaimer: I don't own them. The beginning actions and speech is actually from "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" but the feelings are mine.
Author's Note: I know, I know, I know. But this seriously isn't my fault! I had the end written a long time ago (I finished this story July 5) but my computer was broken. I couldn't type it up because it didn't work. Then we sent it in to be repaired. Three weeks we got a new computer. My summer job stopped me from typing it. Sorry.
Chapter 10:
Buffy gingerly dropped the phone back into its cradle. A thousand thoughts raced through her brain at a mile a minute but none were comforting. All seemed to point to something she just could not face.
"Who was that?" Giles asked.
"Willow."
"Oh?" his voice tried to sound casual but after their last conversation that was impossible. "And?"
"And," deep breath, "you were right."
Buffy couldn't stop the words from tumbling out at a fast pace. "I didn't want it to be true, but I don't see anything else that makes sense. Miss Calendar's warning, her death, Willow and Xander's strange disappearance, and now that call. It wasn't Willow on the phone. I know Willow, it just wasn't her. Or at least not the one I first met as a new girl."
"Buffy, you must calm down," Giles' stern voice broke Buffy's rumbling.
"Now, what exactly was said?"
"Willow said she had to talk to us about what was happening with her and Xander. But she said they would explain it tonight. To*night*! Not day, not over the phone, but here at night. And that's not all. She just didn't sound Willow-like. She spoke all coy and self assured. It just wasn't Willow," Buffy repeated firmly.
"I. I see. I wish there was more I could say. Unfortunately, there isn't. And we must deal with them attacking tonight. If they are vampires, you must fight them."
"No! I can't. I couldn't hurt Willow or Xander."
"They wouldn't *be* Willow or Xander though. You said it yourself. It would just be another demon wearing a friend's face."
"It wouldn't. It would be the only ones who gave me a chance when I first moved here. Well, other than Cordelia but she doesn't count."
"Cordelia," and Buffy almost jumped because she'd forgotten all about Oz's presence.
"Cordelia's missing," he stated.
"Yeah." Buffy began, not yet catching on. "WE know. Remember, Xander said Cordelia was captured by. oh. Xander said. Xander who is now probably a vamp."
"My point exactly. Now, I could be wrong but I'm thinking; vamp? Not the most reliable source."
"So poor Cordelia could be anywhere, and most likely I a lot of pain there," Giles concluded.
There was a moment's reflective silence.
"I can't do it. I can't pretend I'm fine with fighting - forget about killing - my best friends. Not after what happened with Angel."
"But Buffy, you have no choice. It will come down to you and all the good you can do in the future. Or them and all their possible future harm."
Buffy let out a resigned sigh.
"We'll see tonight," she answered, knowing it was just to appease Giles.
Giles just couldn't understand her position. Giles who, if what he said was right, and tonight it came down to her or them, would be the first to visit her grave.
The first thing Cordelia realized as she slowly began to awake was that she felt awful.
The second thought was how normal of a feeling that had already become. And then realized it wasn't as bad as she was getting used to. Not that that was really saying much.
Cordelia began to realize she was not on the hard floor she had started to become assumed to waking up on. She wasn't; however, in her huge bed at home either. In fact, she was actually - and this truly shocked her - moving!
It took a good five seconds for Cordelia to come to grasps with her new surrounds of a car. But when had she been moved to a car?
Suddenly memories of the previous day (day? night? All sense of time had been lost on her since her being captured, and the long nap certainly hadn't helped) flooded back to her.
Memories of Spike's reaction to her news. Memories of Spike stepping out of the wheel chair he was supposed to need. Memories of switching cars at a run down looking police station. The screams she heard from her spot in the new cop car with her eyes closed while in her tight, protective ball. The smell of tons of fresh blood as Spike came back into the car and the accompanying realization that there was no more screams or cries.
Then, finally, the tons of tears she cried while trying to ignore the looks of almost-worry and almost-guilt from Spike. Right up until she had exhausted herself out from crying. Cordelia had expected to be plagued by nightmares but had instead been subject to sleep so blessedly heavy there were no dreams at all.
Cordelia wanted to return there. Wanted to get out of this car that was speeding down an empty road at night. Wanted to get away from.
Billy Idol?
"Billy Idol?" Cordelia's dry mouth repeated her minds question.
Spike turned back to give her a smile, obviously not caring that it involved taking his eyes off the road for a dangerous ten seconds.
"He's a pretty good singer - for a human. 'Course the buggar stole my look. But at least it proves he's got good taste."
Cordelia propped herself up into an extremely painful sitting position as Billy Idol continued to sing on the radio. All her muscles and joints seemed to scream at her for shifting at all. She began to absent mindedly rub her wrists before freezing.
Rubbing her wrists, Cordelia could rub her wrists! For the first time in what had to be at least days, Cordelia had no restraints on.
"Yep, when I met him back before he was famous he hadn't even thought of bleach. Saw me, next thing you know he's completely copied my look. 'Ah well," Spike went on.
'Of course,' Cordelia reasoned with herself, 'there is still no way out.' And there wasn't.
Spike drove in the front while she was in the back. The back, designed for criminals, was locked from the inside. Spike would have to let her out if she were to leave. Cordelia couldn't try to do anything rash like grab the wheel or attack Spike because of the wire separating them. And of course, no one would stop a speeding police car with a beat up looking girl in the back.
Spike really did thing of everything. Damn it.
"Hungry?"
Cordelia's eyes snapped up. Was he joking? She couldn't even remember the last time she'd eaten was.
"Food's in a bag by your feet. Put it there while you were out."
Cordelia grabbed the bag that had previously gone unnoticed. Upon opening it she found an assortment of vending machine snacks. Tons of empty calories never looked so good.
Cordelia licked her lips and kept her eyes on the bag as she asked, "How do I know it isn't poison?"
Spike laughed and Cordelia found herself missing the unique sound as soon as he stopped. "If I'd want to kill you, there are a lot more fun ways. 'Sides, what have you got to lose?"
Not the most convincing argument granted, but a valid point. Shrugging, Cordelia opened a small bag of chips and took a bite.
"Has food always tasted this good?" Cordelia managed through a mouthful of chips as she opened another bag.
"Wouldn't know. Can't taste food."
Cordelia had almost finished all the food before he spoke again. When he did it was soft and she was sure she heard wrong.
"What?"
"I said, thank you."
Cordelia paused, or maybe she had heard right after all. "For what?"
Spike shrugged. "Saving me from the others."
Cordelia found herself wearing the first grin since she had been locked up.
"Thank you."
Again, so sorry it took so long. If it feels like this chapter was missing something, it is because I had an extra two pages of a scene with Dru, Angelus, Willow, and Xander but cut it out. Believe me, it is better without it.
Please leave feedback because (1) I need to know if anyone is still reading and (2) because I wasn't planning on writing anymore Cordelia and/or Spike but you guys seemed to enjoy it the most.
Only one chapter left so please leave feedback!
=(Amanda(=