"Missed Showdown."
Part twenty-nine of the "What Am I?" series.
Rating: R. for the entire series.
Spoilers: I don't have the time or the
energy to go through and state exactly what spoilers are contained in my
fics just assume that anything that has aired in the US is fair game.
Disclaimers: Joss owns everything fun.
I only borrow it for a while.
Feedback: Let me know what you think. (ladyduvessa19@icqmail.com)
http://www.fanfiction.net/read.php?storyid=653358
"I understand." Giles said and then looked through his bag for another book.
"So what's the other way? How do I kill Aurora without killing Spike?" Buffy asked.
"I really don't think we need to worry about her. No ones even seen her." Spike said.
Giles glared at him. He tended to do that a lot. "We have to stop her. She's not dead. It isn't possible. A little fire wouldn't have killed her. And if these prophecy's are correct there's only a matter of days before she surfaces again. There have been 17 slayers in waiting who have been killed in the past couple of months. That's a record of deaths associated with the council. Now I don't know how many other girls there are left to eliminate, but my guess would be that she is getting fairly close to ridding the world of replacements for Buffy."
"Fine so just do it. If she's that dangerous to Buffy then kill me." Spike said.
"We are not going to kill you. There's another way." Buffy said looking at him like he was the most important thing to her.
"Yes well like I said before you're not going to like it." Giles said looking around the room at everyone.
"And like I said before I'm going to have to." Buffy replied.
"It turns out that there can only be one life dependant on another. The mystical forces required to keep two things connected in that way breakdown if there's too much interference." Giles explained.
"So we just create some interference between Aurora and Spike and it will be a nice pile of dust for our favorite girl." Buffy said.
"It's not that simple. You can't just create interference in these types of things. You have to bypass it. Right?" Willow said and everyone was kind of amazed by the fact that she actually knew this stuff.
"You're absolutely correct. The ties created cannot be destroyed. However they can be redirected." Giles said.
"Ok you guys really need to learn to speak the English because I'm sitting here thinking 'huh'" Xander said.
"We need to make someone else's life dependant on Spike's. That way Aurora's connection to him will be gone and we'll be able to kill her." Giles said.
"You were wrong I don't hate that plan." Buffy said.
"What?" Giles questioned.
"Use me. Take my life and make it dependant on his. It's simple." Buffy said and Spike couldn't believe that she would do something like that for him.
"No it's not. When Willow brought you back your life became connected to hers. You can't just trade Willow for Spike. One of you will die in the process." Giles said.
"Oh." Buffy said.
"I'll do it." Dawn said.
"You don't have to 'lil bit." Spike said.
"But I want to. The world almost ended once because of me. The only thing that stopped it was Buffy giving up her life. I want to do this I want to help." Dawn said.
"Thank you." Buffy said to her sister. "So how do we do this? How do we make it so that Dawn is the one and not Aurora? Is it some sort of spell or something?" she then asked Giles.
"As much as I don't want to say this and disappoint you all I really don't think that you're the right person." Giles said to Dawn.
"Why not? I'm not some little kid anymore. I want to do this. And Spike has always been there for me. Ever since I was created anyways. What difference does it make?" Dawn said.
"It's very noble what you're trying to do for everyone, but we don't know enough about how you were created. There could be things about you that we will never understand and will never need to understand. But the fact remains is we don't know exactly how you came to be and we can't go meddling around with your life. We could accidentally erase you forever." Giles said.
"I don't care. You guys take risks every day. Why can't I take just this one?" Dawn pleaded.
"No. I won't have you doing this. I'd kill myself first." Spike protested.
"Fine do you have someone else in mind?" Dawn asked.
The room fell silent. No one was offering. He couldn't exactly blame them. They had their reasons for hating him, but he had thought they had gotten over that long ago.
After a long time Buffy spoke. "There has to be someone out there who'd be willing to sell their soul. We can buy someone's life to…"
"Oh come on Buffy. You can't just pay someone to save your boyfriend." Xander said.
"Spike's your boyfriend?" Giles said. "I thought you just didn't want to kill him because of the chip."
"We don't have time to talk about this now." Buffy said. "We have to come up with a way to save him."
"Alright. Use me." Anya said.
"No. No way are you going to be connected to him. He's a demon." Xander said.
"Yeah and so was I. And you can't tell me what to do Xander. If I want to give my life to a pathetic evil soulless thing you can't stop me." Anya argued.
"Thanks for that." Spike said.
"No problem." Anya said smiling.
"I'm afraid we've hit another road block. Anya used to be human. Then she was demon. And now she's human again. It's too unstable for the spell to work. There's just been too much transition." Giles said.
"Well what can we do? Who can be used to block Aurora?" Buffy said.
"Well that's the thing. You're already connected to Willow. And to connect her to Spike on top of that could cause complications. Angel is a vampire with a soul and Spikes sire by way of Drusilla so it's unmentionable what could happen if we tried to use him. Cordelia is sent visions by the powers that be and to even think about messing with her life force could cause us a great deal of trouble with them." Giles said.
"So what that leaves you and me." Xander said.
"I'm afraid not. I made a pact with the council when I took my oath. My life isn't up for bargaining." Giles said.
Everyone in the room turned to Xander. "You expect me to tie my life to a thing that, do I need to remind you, has tried to kill us all a number of times in the past."
"Xander he won't…" Buffy started.
"How do you know? All that's stopping him now is the chip. And who knows how long that is going to last. It's just wires and plastic. And granted plastic isn't the most biodegradable, but eventually it will stop working. And then it's just a matter of time before he decides that we're just a snack. What's going to happen then?" Xander yelled.
"Nothings going to happen then. He's not going to kill us." Buffy yelled right back.
"Don't waste your breath, luv. Xander's never going to think of me any different. And you know what I wouldn't want him to." Spike said and then turned to face Xander. "I know I did some horrible things to you lot, but I've paid my dues. At least I help Buffy rather than just get in her way. She wouldn't have to fight as hard if you weren't constantly there putting your life in danger."
"I put my life in danger to help Buffy. You might think you're some kind of savior to her, but hey, at least I can say that I never tried to kill her." Xander defended.
"Alright that's enough. The two of you are never really going to get along. I know that. But you'd think for me you'd at least attempt to be civil." Buffy said and Xander and Spike looked away from her feeling guilty. "I need to talk to you Xander. Training room. Now."
Buffy left the room and Xander soon followed. Spike didn't know what she was going to say to him, but it really didn't matter. He'd kill himself for her if he had to. So weather or not Xander would do this wasn't an issue. Buffy would be safe no matter what.
"So she can really do that Giles? I mean bring back the pure demons of the past. Because that's quite the trip. I wasn't even a pure demon in my days. They had been extinct long before my time. I wouldn't even know what to do if I saw a pure vengeance demon. Do you think that they'd be a lot like what I was? Maybe they'd have more power. Maybe they wouldn't even have to wait for someone to wish something. Maybe they could just take out vengeance whenever they felt like it." Anya said a little too excitedly.
"I do think that is the least of our problems. And as long as we stop this we won't have to worry about whether or not you fit in with pure vengeance demons." Giles answered.
"I don't care about fitting in. I was just curious. Although having that kind of power would be amazing." Anya said.
"I need a smoke." Spike said and went out the door in the back of the shop.
He lit the cigarette and took a drag and then just looked at it in his hand. He knew that Buffy didn't much like the smell of them, but he had already given up so much for her. He wasn't about to give up smoking. He wasn't that completely whipped. No he was still his own man. Except for the fact that he was a man who would do anything for her. If she asked him to quit smoking he was sure that he would.
He took another drag and then threw the thing to the ground. He hadn't noticed her standing there until she spoke. "Was it a bad cigarette?" Buffy said and he realized that he hadn't just thrown the thing he had whipped it.
"I heard this rumor that they can cause cancer." He said.
"And all of a sudden diseases rank up there on things that you worry about?" Buffy said.
"I meant it you know." Spike said.
"Meant what?" she asked.
"If it comes down to it I'll kill myself. For you. I would have done it back when you sacrificed yourself if I thought it would have helped. I'll do anything for you Buffy. I love you." Spike said.
"Don't talk like that. It's not the end of the world." Buffy said and then added "Well maybe it could be but I'm going to stop it. Xander changed his mind."
"He what? How'd you get him to do that?" he asked.
"I'll tell you later. Giles got a phone call. We know where Aurora is. I'm gonna go and see if I can do anything to stop her from killing anyone else." Buffy said.
"I'm going with you. You can't fight her alone." Spike insisted.
"You can't. You need to be here for the spell to work. You guys need to get this figured out so that when the time comes I can kill her." Buffy said.
"But you'll need backup." Spike said.
"Not if you get started right away. If I leave now hopefully by the time I reach her the spell will have worked and it'll go quick." Buffy said.
"And if it doesn't."
"I'll deal." She said and ushered him inside.
"So lets get this show on the road before I change my mind." Xander said.
"Right." Spike said.
"Giles you have to work fast. I know I can't hold her off forever. But I know I can kill her." Buffy said.
"We'll do our best." Giles replied.
Buffy then turned to Spike. "Promise me you won't die."
He looked in her eyes and knew that he had no choice. "Promise."
She leaned forward and gave him a quick kiss on the lips. "Wish me luck." She said and then went out the door.
"Are you sure she can handle this?" Spike asked.
"I sure hope so." Giles said.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You sure this is necessary?" Spike said. They had made him take of his shirt and Willow was painting something on his back.
"Yes." She answered.
"How come Xander doesn't need paintings all over his back?" Spike asked.
"Because you're the receiver now hold still." Willow commanded.
"Are you sure you just didn't want to see me with my shirt off? Cause if you did it wouldn't be wrong." Spike said.
"You're right Spike. I want you. I haven't had a man in… Well since the whole gay thing. But you, you make me straight again." Willow whispered in his ear.
"Whoever said you were sweet and innocent was wrong. You're very bad." Spike said.
"Thanks. I think." Willow said. "There all done." She stood up and put the paint brush back in the pain can.
"If my back says kick me I just might have to kill you." Spike said.
"I'd like to see you try." She said and walked across the room to Giles. "We're ready."
"Splendid." Giles said and turned the pages in his book.
"So do you need me to do anything?" Willow asked.
"No I think I can handle this. All I have to do is read. Although it is a language I'm unfamiliar with, but I'll manage." Giles said and saw the look of disappointment in the witch's face. "You can get Spike and Xander to sit inside this circle back to back."
"You heard him boys in the circle." Willow said.
"I hope you know I don't like this. And I'm not doing this for you." Xander said as they took a seat.
"Never thought you were mate." Spike said.
"So what else do we need to do?" Xander asked.
"Just sit there silently." Giles said and then began reading from his book. "Kiloge mighamte domus cinantreme. Questhtre docimiltue vui mecilnes."
Giles rambled on and on and none of it made any sense. He waved a branch of smokey herbs over their heads and continued to read some more. Spike didn't know what he was supposed to expect, but all of a sudden he felt something leave him and it felt painful. Like his insides had been cut up and were being pulled out his nose. Then he felt something crash into his eyeballs. And it was like there was a new whole created in the back of his head. The pain was searing and finally he couldn't bare it anymore and gave way to unconsciousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When Spike woke up he wasn't sure what had happened. He was at Buffy's house. In her bed. He sat up looking around for a sign of someone, but all he saw was the lack of his reflection in the mirror. He sat up and his head hurt. "Bloody hell." He said rubbing his neck.
"Hey you're awake." Dawns voice came from in the hall. She entered the room and he looked up at her.
"Yeah I've got quite the headache. How long was I out." Spike asked.
"Two days now. Giles said it was normal. Buffy's kind of been freaking. She hasn't left your side. Well except for now. She's attempting to cook. It's not pretty." Dawn said.
"I'd think not." Spike said smiling at the thought of her sitting by his bedside.
"You want me to get her?" Dawn asked.
"That'd be nice. I'd go down there myself, but I think that if I stand I might get nauseous." Spike said.
Dawn went out the door and yelled at the top of her lungs "BUFFY. SPIKE'S UP."
"Thanks bit. I coulda done that." Spike said, but Dawn didn't pay him any mind she just went to her room.
He decided to lie back down. His head hurt and he knew that Buffy would be coming so why bother getting up. And sure enough her footsteps could be heard coming up the stairs. She entered the room and didn't say a word. He looked up at her and was worried. He was going to ask, but she didn't give him the chance. She was in the bed with him kissing him. He couldn't decide what he wanted more to kiss her or to find out if she was alright. He brought his hand to her face and kissed her softly and then pushed her away. "What happened?" He asked. Her arm was in a sling, there was a bandage on her arm that was clearly covering a nasty wound, and her face was purple and swollen on the right side.
"This. This is nothing. You should see the competition." Buffy said.
"That is not nothing. You're hurt." He said.
"It'll heal." She insisted.
"So Aurora did this." He said.
"Yeah she did. She puts up a good fight. Well she did." Buffy said.
"So I take it she's dead." He said.
"Yep. We fought, she pissed me off, I won." She said.
"Pissed you off." He said inquisitively.
"She said bad things about you and then she kept calling me a demon. Then she was dust." Buffy said.
"What was she saying about me?" Spike asked.
"Do we have to talk about this? It's over she's gone." Buffy said.
"You still mad about being a demon?" He asked.
"I'm not a demon. I'm the slayer. It's important. The council could go about it better, but it's who I am and who the new slayers will be." Buffy said.
"So you won't go crazy like Aurora?" Spike asked.
"I don't plan on it. You want some pancakes?" She asked.
"You make them?" he asked and she nodded. "I think I'll pass. You sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine. Honestly." She said.
"Why'd I have to go and miss the big fight? I wanted to watch you kick her ass." He said.
"You're just going to have to live with the fact that I can take care of myself." She said. "Besides if you hadn't done the spell it could have ended with me dead and a world full of ancient demons."
"I guess I'll just have to be grateful that you didn't die and accept the fact that I missed the big showdown." Spike said.
"Good. I'll go get you some blood." She said.
"Wait. There's one more thing I want to know." He said.
"What's that?"
"How did you get Xander to do what he did?" he asked.
"He wanted to." She said and got off the bed.
"We both know that isn't true. The wanker hates me." He said.
"He does not hate you. And don't call my friends 'wankers'." She said.
"Come on you had to have done something." He said.
"Ok you got me. I promised him a lap dance." She said.
"You what??" he said.
"NO. I explained to him how I loved you and that if he was really a friend he would do this for me and he did. End of story." She said.
"I still don't buy it, but I guess I'll accept it. Now more about that lap dance." He said smiling at her.
She rolled her eyes. "I'll go get you some blood."
She walked out the door and he yelled after her. "I'm going to want a demonstration."
He closed his eyes. He was content. For
the first time in his whole life he felt at peace. She was his. They were
both alive. And he truly felt like they could some day be happy. Even if
she was the slayer and he was a vampire. They would overcome what they
are. They just would.
~THE END~