Six: DISCOVERY
Buffy and Spike went by the cemetery that night to give it a good once over, dusting a few fledglings as they passed. Spike wanted to swing by his crypt to pick up some of the more sentimental things he'd left behind when he'd run off all those months ago.
Though now human, Spike seemed quiet capable of holding his own in a fight. While he lacked the brute strength of his vampire years, the skill he'd refined in that time shone through. He'd maintained his keen sense of timing and was quick on his feet --- when he was on his feet, that is. Seems he'd developed an affinity for leaping through the air, using the full force of his body and inertia to plough down vamps and other demons prior to doing them in.
Buffy realized she'd never really taken the time to appreciate the grace with which he moved until that night. Good thing too because just as she was taking note of it, a large determined-looking vamp struck her down.
"Why am I not surprised?" Buffy muttered. "Take a second to stop and smell the roses, end up with your face in the dirt." Pushing up on her arms then somersaulting her body forward, she sprang back to her feet poised to attack the hulking figure before her. "Didn't your mother ever tell you to pick on someone your own size?" She lunged at him, stake falling just short of its target.
Now it was Spike who was enjoying the show, the dance. He'd been her "partner" in that dance so many times before, both as her foe and as her... Friend? Confidant? Lover? Whipping boy? He couldn't decide on an appropriate term. In those days, he'd sensed the excitement in her blood as it coursed through her veins with an intensity he could almost taste. That sensation was gone now, but he could still imagine it --- and it still aroused him. Spike knew she needed to burn off a little pent up energy. He'd learned from experience that his lending a hand in these everyday fights was more often met with annoyance than appreciation, so he just kept an eye out for unwelcome guests as he took in the performance.
With a moan and a cloud of dust, the music stopped. The dance was over.
"I'll never tire of that," Spike said as he hopped off the large headstone on which he'd been perched.
Buffy responded with a questioning look as she brushed herself off and strolled towards him.
"Watching you," he explained. "You're breathtaking when you dance." He paused then added, "And now I can say that for a fact." He took a few exaggerated gulps of air. "Yep, breathtaking."
Buffy giggled. "Come on. Let's finish up. I could use a shower. Eech... and a toothbrush," she grimaced, noting the dirt in her mouth from the tumble she'd taken.
As they wandered together through the headstones surveying the land on the way to the crypt, Buffy stopped abruptly and held up a hand. "Shh."
Spike could tell she was listening, but to what he hadn't any idea.
"I'm afraid your trip to the crypt might not be as easy a homecoming as you expected. Sounds like there's quite a few of them in there," Buffy indicated.
Funny... I hadn't noticed, Spike thought woefully, having not yet adjusted to the deficiency of his now human hearing.
"Wait here," Buffy ordered as she stalked in to have a closer look.
An irritated expression overtook Spike's face. "Wait here?" he mumbled. "Bugger that." He followed. When he was close he sneered, "Guess you've forgotten, I'm not the waitin' type."
Annoyed he hadn't complied with her instruction, Buffy retorted, "You were big on the waiting this afternoon," alluding to the brakes put on during their passionate encounter earlier that day.
Spike halted. "Ouch." He clutched at his heart as if mortally wounded by the jibe. I suspected that hadn't gone over so well... Then an odd look of satisfaction came over his face. She wants me. He nodded contently.
As they approached the crypt, the voices became easier to make out. "Sounds like there are at least half a dozen of them," Buffy estimated. "Maybe more... and one of them is... shit. Harmony."
"So what's the trouble, Slayer. We can take 'em."
She backed off from the crypt before replying. "Don't you get it, Spike? Or don't you care?" Buffy asked. "Unless we can take the whole lot of them, word'll be on the street in no time that you're human now. You weren't exactly Mr. Safe-guy as a vampire --- practically every demon in town was gunning for you," she noted. "Hate to be the one to break this to you but you just aren't as strong as you used to be. You can't go running into every fight half-cocked." Poor choice of words, her eyes rolled up as she noted to herself.
"Come on, Slayer. I can still fight the good fight and all," Spike insisted as he stood tall, chest out, head high.
"Keep walking around like that and we might just as well slap a target on your chest," the Slayer said cynically. "We're just going to have to let this one go for now. We can come back in the morning. Check things out. If they're staying here, maybe we'll catch them asleep. I know it's not exactly playing fair. But hey. Better them than you... er... us. Better them than us."
------- o -------
Dawn was home when they arrived back from patrol. She was curled up on the couch eating popcorn and watching a TV.
"Hey," she greeted as they stepped into the foyer.
"Hi Dawn."
"Nibblet."
"Oh. Buffy. Xander called."
Shit. Meant to call him today.
"Told him you were probably patrolling," Dawn said. "He said he needed to talk to you. I mean, he sounded pretty insistent. Didn't care how late you got in..."
"Thanks Dawn. I'll call him now." Buffy looked to Spike. "You'll be OK?"
He nodded then she ran upstairs to call from her room, closing the door behind her.
------- o -------
"Xander? It's Buffy." She paused as he acknowledged her. "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry I didn't call sooner. Things have been a little... crazy around here today," she explained quickly reflecting on the day's events.
"Buffy, I was worried. Are you OK?" her friend asked. "I mean... Spike... ah..."
"Yeah. I'm fine. It was a bit of a shock at first," Buffy remarked. "Sure you felt it too, huh? Seeing him again."
"Yeah, 'shocked': like I wired myself to an electrical box and flipped on the juice," he barked.
"Xan-der."
"But Buff. That jerk ticks me off," he grumbled. "It was bad enough before with his little obsession, but after I saw what he did to you---"
She interrupted, "I know Xander... and I appreciate your concern but things are fine now."
"So did you have it out? Tell him to get lost? Leave town?" A hopeful tone carried through the phone line.
Actually I bought him dinner, brought him home, and tucked him into Willow's bed, spent the afternoon ripping his clothes off, fondling him and just about- "Ah... he's downstairs with Dawn," she replied.
"What?!"
"Xander, believe me when I say 'he's changed'," she insisted. And in ways that will surprise even you!
"But-"
"Look, I was hoping you'd still come for dinner tomorrow," she began, changing the subject. "I don't know whether Spike will be here, but... he might. Either way we should try to keep everything else as normal as possible. Sunday dinner's family time, Xander," Buffy reminded fondly. "And I need to have my family with me."
"Sure Buffy. I'll be there."
Buffy was relieved. "Great, I'll tell Dawn. She loves to cook for you-"
"Because I love to eat," he finished.
"Oh, and Xander? We might have some new Vampire action brewing. I may need your help if anything comes of it," she said, partly because she hoped to bolster his esteem and shift his focus from Spike.
"Sure Buffy. Whenever you need me."
"OK then, we'll see you tomorrow. Bye... and thanks again for your concern." She hung up and sat down on her bed with a long slow exhale. "Now what?" Buffy wondered aloud. "Well, as Scarlet O'Hara says, 'I'll think about that tomorrow'... or something??? For now, I need a shower."
------- o -------
Downstairs, Spike was being brought up to date on the big events of that past spring's crisis. He listened to Dawn tell of how scared and distraught she was when she found Tara dead on the bedroom floor; how she was afraid to leave Tara alone, even though she knew that gentle soul wasn't really there anymore. It wrenched his insides when Dawn told him that Buffy had been shot, and he hadn't been there to help her.
She told him about Willow going crazy with the black magicks, bent on seeking her revenge on Warren and the other nerds.
It shocked him to hear that she'd actually killed a man and been willing to kill Giles and everyone else on Earth. Most of all he felt shame when she told him that Buffy had taken Dawn to his crypt so he could protect her from Willow during the crisis. Even after what I tried to do to her... she still trusted me with Dawn. How could I run away when they needed me?
"Yeah, and then we fell into this pit and these big freaky root things came out of the walls and started to attack us. They were everywhere, swinging and grabbing at us. The swords that Jonathan and that other guy had fell in down there with us, so Buffy grabbed them. Anyway... she couldn't handle all those creepy things so she gave me one of the swords and-" By this point Dawn was up on her feet demonstrating her sword fighting prowess. "-together we kicked some serious demon butt."
Seeing her pride and enthusiasm about those events made Spike feel better; the two women he loved had each other in their time of need. Neither of them had to be alone. They were able to draw strength from each other.
"So Bit, tell me, how did it all end? What finally stopped Willow?"
"Actually...that's the kinda funny part," Dawn replied thoughtfully. "It wasn't weapons or magic or anything. Well, I guess there was sort of something with the magic, but I don't exactly get that. Anyway. It was Xander."
"Xander?" Spike asked in disbelief. What could that wanker have done?
"Yeah. I guess it was just him telling Willow over and over that he loves her. I guess it eventually struck a cord."
"Goes to show that if you tell someone you love them often enough," Buffy's voice preceded her as she entered the room, "eventually they come to believe you." She stared deep into Spike's blue eyes, and smiled.