Title:               Tainted Love

Summary:            A night at the Bronze that doesn't go quite as planned.

Spoilers:         Post "As You Were"; "Hell's Bells" and "Normal Again" didn't happen and won't.

Pairing:            Who do you think? J

Rating:            PG-13

Disclaimer:     You know the deal.  Even though I wish I owned Spike, I own nothing.  All belongs to Joss.  I just play.  "Tainted Love" lyrics by Soft Cell.

Spike was sick.  He was sick and tired of being treated like dirt.  He was pacing back and forth in his crypt, thoughts running through his head.  No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, nothing ever worked out.  Even though he fought with them, the Scoobies still treated him like an outsider and Buffy……  he didn't know what the hell was going on there.  First she comes storming into his crypt demanding him to tell her that he loved and wanted her and the next minute she's breaking things off.  She keeps playing hot and cold, insisting that she wants nothing to do with him in one second and in the next, barely able to keep her pants on.  She wants me to move on and leave her alone, he thought, I'll sodding move on.

2 Weeks Later…………

"Okay! Who's up for some dancin', " Xander asked.

The Scoobs were hanging out in a corner booth at the Bronze.  Food, drinks, candles and Tarot cards were strewn all over the table.

"You know I'm right there!"

"Sure, I can use some gettin' with the boogie."

"Buffy, can I?"

Buffy turned and smiled at Dawn.  "Sure, go ahead."  Instead of punishing her for the stealing and the wish thing a couple of weeks ago, she had decided to start including her with the group.  Willow and Tara helped her with her homework, Anya let her work in the shop, and Xander was reprising his "big brother" role.  If something was wrong, Buffy encouraged Dawn to tell her what was on her mind.  Things were almost the way they should be.  Almost.

"Thanks!" Dawn said with a huge grin.

"How about you guys?  Buffster? Tara?"

"We'll be on the floor in a few," Tara said picking up the cards that were lying on the table.  "Buffy just wanted a quick Tarot reading."

After Willow, Dawn, Anya, and Xander hit the dance floor, Buffy turned to Tara and said, "I asked for a reading?"

"No.  But we need to talk."

"Oh."  Buffy knew exactly what she wanted to talk about.  Spike.  She had confided in Tara about her relationship with him, but after the Riley situation, she didn't feel like talking about it.  She just wanted to be done with him, a clean break.  And avoid him and the subject of him as much as possible.  But he crept into her mind way too often.

"Buffy, you can talk to me.  What happened after Riley left?  Spike hasn't been around in weeks, and you've been kind of mopey lately."

"I'm not mopey.  And if I am, it's just because Riley's perfect life depressed me.  Not because I broke things off with Spike."

"You did?  So that's why he hasn't been around."

"Yes," she said, firmly.  "I told you, I was just using him. Now that I know I'm okay, I've thought things over.  I don't have any feelings for him.  End of story."

You keep telling yourself that, sweetie, Tara thought, drolly.  I can see it in your eyes.  The sooner you acknowledge it, the sooner you will finally feel alive again.  "How did he take it?" she asked out loud.

"He was hurt," Buffy admitted, "but he'll get over it eventually.  He got over Drusilla, he'll get over me."  She sighed.  "We'll probably have to deal with a drunk and depressed Spike for a while, but that's nothing new."

"Well," Tara said, looking over Buffy's shoulder onto the dance floor, " it looks like 2 weeks is sufficient time to get over Buffy."

"What??"

"He looks neither hurt nor depressed," she continued, stifling a giggle.

Buffy turned around to look at the dance floor.  Her eyes found what Tara was talking about.  Spike was dancing with a black haired girl near the edge of the dance floor.  If you could call it dancing.  It looked more like they were having sex with their clothes.  Both of her arms were around his neck and he had one leg between hers.  One of his arms was around her waist, and his other hand held a bottle of Jack Daniel's.  And he looked different.  His hair was spiked right up instead of slicked back.  Instead of his normal duster and two-shirt combo, he was wearing bootcut black jeans with a black t-shirt with the sleeves cut off that had a picture of a Union Jack on it.  She didn't know why, but she felt the sudden need to 'talk' to Spike.  Right now.

"Hey, when did he pierce his eyebrow and get a tattoo," Tara asked, after looking at the couple a little more closely.  "Uh, Buffy…. What-" she started to say as she saw the petite slayer rise from her chair and head for the dance floor. 

"Zip it, Tara."

"Zipped."

Oh boy.  She morphed into the green eyed monster right before my very eyes, Tara thought, as she watched Buffy depart.  But she won't admit it.  This should be interesting.

"You," Buffy said, storming up to Spike and rudely shoved the girl away without a second look.  She landed on the floor with a thud

"What do you want? Lemme guess, it's time for kick the Spike again, eh luv?  Did Captain Cardboard come back to help you harass me?  Well, I don't see his big head anywhere, so that's a no."

"Shut up, Spike.  What are you doing here?"

"It's a free country.  I can go wherever I want.  And since you feel the need for an explanation, I was dancing.  People normally do that in clubs, pet."

Before Buffy could answer, Spike's date grabbed her shoulder.  "Listen you bitch… Owww," she screeched, as Buffy snatched her hand away and twisted her wrist harshly.

"If you want to live to whore yourself another day, you had better make like a tree and leave."

She ran.

Spike realized what was going on.  "It looks like someone is jealous.  "What's wrong, luv?  Wish it was you dancin' with me?"  He paused to think for a second.  "Wait, you can't.  You're not invisible anymore."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"You know exactly what that means."

That was all she could take.  "You listen to me.  You are nothing.  I feel nothing but contempt for you.  I want you out of Sunnydale and out of my life!  I am disgusted with myself for even just kissing you!  You are beneath me."

"Yeah, I've been beneath you," he sneered.  "I've also been above you and behind you, all while you screamed my name---"

The slap caught him off guard.  It snapped his head to the side, leaving an imprint of her 5 fingers on his cheek.  He slowly turned his head back around to face Buffy, his eyes flashing yellow.  Her face was flushed and her breathing was unsteady.  He caught the anger – and a little hurt? — present in her expression.  Not saying a word, Spike just turned and started to walk away. 

"Fuck you, Spike," she said to his retreating back.

He stopped for a second and said bitterly over his shoulder, "Sorry, luv.  We've already played that game."  And he continued walking away.

Tara didn't even try to stop Buffy as she headed straight to the bar after her confrontation with Spike.  She just joined her for a drink or two.

A few minutes later, the rest of the Scoobs bustled up to the bar, taking a break from the dancing.

"Karaoke's gonna start soon," Dawn announced.  "That should be a kick!  Listening to people who can't carry a tune."

"I might give it a whirl," Anya said.  "After the whole singing demon thing, I realized my voice wasn't half bad."

Xander was looking around, taking in the scene.  "Uh, Buffy?  Beer bad remember?"

"Yeah.  Beer bad, but tequila very good."

"Did I miss something?"

"Chill.  I only did 2 shots.  I'm fine."

"Good.  No cavewoman Buffy," Willow laughed.

Loud screeches of feedback made the group cringe.  "Sounds like they're starting the sing a long," she commented.

"Sometimes I feel I've got to Run away I've got to

Get away

From the pain that you drive into the heart of me"

Buffy stiffened when she heard the singing.  Of course she'd recognize his singing voice; he has sung to her once before. 

"The love we share

Seems to go nowhere

And I've lost my light

For I toss and turn I can't sleep at night

Once I ran to you (I ran)

Now I'll run from you

This tainted love you've given

I give you all a boy could give you

Take my tears and that's not nearly all

Oh...tainted love

Tainted love"

"Dude, no way!  Oh this is going to be so much fun to rub in his face later," Xander exclaimed, as they all turned to watch Spike perform. 

"Now I know I've got to

Run away I've got to

Get away

You don't really want any more from me

To make things right

You need someone to hold you tight

And you think love is to play

But I'm sorry I don't play that way"

"He's not half bad," Willow whispered to Tara. 

"No, he really does sound great," she responded.  But I have a bad feeling about this.

"Once I ran to you (I ran)

Now I'll run from you

This tainted love you've given

I give you all a boy could give you

Take my tears and that's not nearly all

Oh...tainted love

Tainted love"

Buffy knew he was singing the song to her directly.  Why?  Did this song have some purpose?  What did he want from her?  And why did she have this heaviness in her chest? 

"Don't touch me please

I cannot stand the way you tease

I love you though you hurt me so

Now I'm going to pack my things and go

Tainted love, tainted love..."

He had his eyes on her the whole time.  He wondered if his point got across.  Oh well if it didn't.  That's it.   Time to move on. I'm through with these games.

"Guys, I don't feel so good," Buffy stated.  "Could we go home now?  Please?"

End Part I

TBC