Chapter 6

Though dumbfounded himself, Spike couldn't help but smirk. It wasn't that he had been pleased with Buffy getting popped in the jaw (except for his demon-which was doing back flips and spewing catcalls at the downed slayer) but the look on her face was priceless. Where's a soddin' Kodak when you need it? He thought mirthfully.

The hallway was eerily quiet as Buffy gaped at the girl in disbelief. The three women in the hall were frozen in place and Spike was the first of the four to react. His hand clasped firmly on the girl's shoulder and it was all he had not to jerk it back. She was warm! And it wasn't the supernatural heat that bled off her earlier. This was a human being-type 98.6 degrees warm. What was going on here? The warmth of her skin was only superseded by the tension radiating from her. He had to intervene before things really got hairy.

"Hey bit," he said amicably, "I know that Lil Miss Slayer over there…well, down there, isn't always the friendliest of bints. But do you really think that was necessary?" It took a second before his words registered with the girl. Her intensity evaporated and her shoulders slouched noticeably. As if realizing for the first time that she was naked, the girl crossed her arms over her breasts. Spike draped his duster over her shoulders and escorted her back into the room.

"Let's go luv," he said soothingly, "time to get you cleaned up." She didn't resist and Spike felt her body trembling as he walked her over to the bed. He glanced over his shoulder at Buffy with a mixture of relief and amusement before sitting the girl back onto the bed.

Buffy's mind was racing. What the hell is going on? She asked herself. Did I just get punched by myself? She had stared at the naked girl for what seemed like hours before Spike covered her up and led her back to the room. She would have given him points for decency when she caught his bemused smirk.

So this is funny to him, she thought, finally getting to her feet. I will show that bleach blonde vampire just how funny I think…

Her thoughts were cut off by the insistent grip of Willow on her arm.

"Buffy," the ex-Wicca warned. Willow knew how volatile her best friend could get and before Buffy went off to retaliate, she resorted to the infamous 'Willow resolve face'.

"Did you…" she half-shrieked before Willow hushed her with her finger.

"Did you see how he looked at me?" Buffy whispered her bewilderment. "He thinks this is funny."

"Buffy," Willow replied, rubbing circles on her friend's back, "I…I don't think Spike finds this funny."

Buffy wanted to disagree but couldn't. She knew he wasn't to blame but shouldering someone else with the responsibility made things…simpler. But that wouldn't solve anything. She had to deal with it straight up. But not just yet.

"Well," she groaned, changing the subject, "the only thing I know is that these clothes are getting a little too close for comfort." She plastered a mock smile on her face and Willow returned the favor. "I need to get some clothes in m…my room that seems to be inhabited by my twin who has a bad case of 'put your fist in Buffy's face'," she added dryly.

"Buffy," Willow pleaded, "come in my room and we can get some stuff, ok?"

"Much thanks, Will, but I don't too much fancy wearing someone else's…"

"Unmentionables?" was the sardonic reply. They both looked over at Spike. Willow rolled her eyes. Just Spike being, well, Spike. Buffy, on the other hand, saw through the 'innocence' of his statement. Damn vampire hearing. She flushed involuntarily as he watched her with that infuriating smugness. He still had his arm around the girl though his attention was on Buffy.

"I'm just…I think I'll change in Willow's room," she said, a little faster than she desired.

"C'mon, now, luv. The lil bit didn't scare the big bad slayer away now did she?"

"No, Spike," Buffy replied, putting on a thick air of bravado, "but I don't think she wants to watch me strip down…"

His eyebrows raised.

"Uhmm…ahh…"

"S'matter, luv? Cat got ya tongue?" He snickered. "I reckon he does. Fancy that. Hmm. Seems like my tongue is just fine," he said, and ran his tongue slowly across his lips.

Refusing to meet his eyes, Buffy grabbed a bra and panty set out of her drawer and all but dashed out the room past Willow. The red head, curious as to the discourse between slayer and vampire, moseyed out the door behind her.

"Works every time," he said to no one in particular. He cast thoughts of Buffy aside and looked down at the girl. Her head was at an odd angle against the inside of his arm and she was curiously still. He peaked into her face as best he could without disturbing her.

"Hmm. Would ya look at that. Out like a light." Removing his arm from around her shoulders, Spike deftly laid her onto the soft mattress. He knelt on the floor, marveling at how much she looked like Buffy. He studied the contours of her face in every detail. From this vantage, he noticed minute differences between her and Buffy. Her jaw line wasn't as rounded and had more of an angled flare to it. Her chin had the same rounded point as Buffy and her lips had a little more flesh to them. Her nose was slightly askew; no doubt it had been broken multiple times. And her arched eyebrows weren't quite as fine. Other than that, she was Buffy through and through. And the slayer attitude completed the package.

Speaking of which, what had Buffy done to spike this girl's temper like that? Though his back was turned to the door, Buffy wasn't the type of person to prov…scratch that; she was the Queen of provocation. But he knew Buffy was blameless. Just another piece missing from the puzzle.

His hand caressed her slight arm affectionately. Such power contained in such a frail, petite form, just like Buffy. He had felt the power within her when she had thrown him to the side to get at Buffy. It was more than vampire strength. He had fought enough slayers to educate him on the ins and outs of slayer strength. And this girl definitely had it in spades.

"I wonder how good you really are, pet," he whispered with wide eyes. He pushed a strand of hair away from her eye and traced the vicious cut that marred her otherwise flawless face.

"Guess we may find out soon enough." His features hardened, murder in his eyes. "But I'll promise you one thing. Who ever put this nasty on your pretty little face is gonna have to answer to the Big Bad."

He kissed her lightly on the forehead and slipped out of the room. He didn't want to leave her alone but the promise of the slayer in drenched undergarments, well…

It had been two weeks. A vampire had to get his jollies from somewhere.