Good Afternoon, All:)
Here is chapter twenty-four of Time. And it is, amazingly, on time. I'm really full of bad puns at the moment.
This is the chapter many of you have been waiting for. You wanted Riley to get what was coming to him? Draconius? Well, here goes:) Hope you approve.
There are two chapters left. On Monday, I will release the final chapter, Innocence Found and then the Epilogue on Thursday. If you like these stories, now's a good time to let me know. If I have someone who wants to read them, then I can come up with the stories to write. At least I think I can. The muse hasn't failed me yet.
Well, here we go. All action, all the time. Let me know what you think!
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Buffy, and a widdle Spike, and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Armour (Time - Chapter Twenty-Four)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (with, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Set immediately following Blood and Metal. The battle begins and the calvary arrives. But will it be enough? And what will be the consequences of Buffy's actions? Can they save Emma? And will Giles, Anya and Cyrus be able to help?
Armour
The cab pulled to a halt at the corner of Ninth and Cedar. Buffy jumped out before the car had stopped moving.
"Hey!" The cab driver screamed after her. "Where's my money?"
Buffy turned her head as she ran. "You need to go. I'll send it."
"You *can't* send it, lady," he whined, getting out of the car. Just as he began to chase her, a loud crash came from two houses up and the driver saw the glint of a metal as it flew from the window. "Alright," he conceded, jumping back in the car. "Why do I get all the winners," he mumbled to himself as he streaked from the curb.
Buffy followed the sidewalk, turning up the walkway to the house. She took the steps in twos, making it to the front door in seconds. She lifted her leg to kick it open, her belly screaming in agony, but noticed that the heavy wood stood ajar. Instead, she opened it quietly, stepping into the house.
*****
"Tara!" Willow screamed as she found her lover curled in a ball in the ICU waiting room. Xander paced around. He had told the doctors where to find him in case anything happened with Takina. But neither he nor Tara could bear to be alone and Tara had promised to stay near William. Besides, the ICU waiting room was quiet, unlike the frenzy of wounded, sick and unwashed in the emergency room.
Tara looked up, catching Willow's eyes. Before the redhead had made it to where they sat, Tara was on her feet, throwing her arms around the girl. "What's wrong, baby?" Willow asked, stroking her hair.
The good Witch looked up at her. "Everything. Takina. She... someone hurt her. Badly."
Dawn's face blanked. "Is.. is William OK?"
"It happened after that, Dawnie," Xander muttered. "She brought him down and we think that Draconius's little shape shifter thing beat her up and then came and stole Emma."
A pretty hand slapped over Dawn's mouth. "I gave them Emma?"
"Dawnie," Willow comforted. "You would have no way of knowing. A real shape shifter, a good one... not even a family member could tell the difference. They take on everything. Looks, smell, taste. You couldn't have known."
"I gave them Emma," Dawn gasped, plopping into a chair.
Willow turned, Tara still clinging to her. "How is Takina?"
"I don't know," Xander answered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "They haven't told me..."
Willow wrapped her free arm around him, cradling both Tara and Xander against her. She was silent, gathering strength. "Xander?"
"Yeah," he answered softly.
"I need to borrow Tara back for a little while," Willow began.
"What.. what is it?" Tara asked, catching her lover's gaze.
"Buffy. Giles told her about Draconius. She left and went after Spike and Emma."
"She what?" Xander yelled, backing away from the women.
"She took off. I can't find her and I don't think if we could, we could stop her," Willow continued. "Tara, we need to do something..."
Tara looked at her with exhausted eyes. "Willow, I don't have a whole lot left. Not after following William..."
"I'll do it," Willow said.
Xander looked at her shell-shocked. "Will, your powers. You ... Spike drained them when..."
Willow looked at him softly. "Power is not a limited resource. I've had it for a while. I just... I didn't... I was afraid that..."
"It's OK," Tara whispered, rubbing Willow's back. "I am proud of you for knowing that you weren't ready."
"I'm still not," Willow commented, smiling wearily. "But we need to do something."
Tara turned to look at Xander. "Will you be alright if...?"
Xander nodded. "I have Dawn to keep me company. Right?"
The girl nodded, tears rolling down her face. Guilt crashing around her in waves. "I'll stay."
Willow looked at Tara softly. "Let's go."
*****
Buffy turned the corner from the large entry hall to the great room on her right, following the sounds of metal striking metal and snarls and yelps. The house was mostly barren. Only furniture covered in dust cloths and darkened lamps dressed in spider webs. She glanced around for a weapon. Nothing.
Then she saw it. A suit of Armour in the corner. Complete with sword. Looks authentic, she thought as she loosed the blade from metallic hands with a clink.
A familiar shout brought her back to the urgency of the situation. "Buffy! No!"
Hunh, she thought to herself, padding over to the edge of the doorway and peering into the next room.
And there she was, lying on the floor, blood pouring from a wound in her shoulder. Spike was crouched over her, staring. Buffy tried to reach out to him. To make sure he knew that it was an illusion, but something was wrong. It was as if there was a haze between them. Some sort of enchantment. A spell. She couldn't find him. And it was probably why he was leaned over the other woman shaking. He had no way of knowing it wasn't her.
"Spike, look out!" Buffy shouted as Riley ran at him from behind, swinging a sword dangerously close to Spike's neck. Spike ducked as Buffy ran at Riley, launching herself and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Buffy?" Spike asked, his eyes flickering between the groaning figure on the floor and the tiny form in slate blue scrubs that had toppled mere feet from him. He grabbed the newer Buffy's wrist, pulling her towards him along the wooden floor. Riley sat stunned a moment, his head jammed against the corner of a table.
"Hi," Buffy whispered, looking at his hurt blue eyes. "I thought you needed some help."
His palm cupped her face. "Please tell me it's you."
Buffy leaned forward, her lips brushing his. "Me," she answered, groaning as she righted herself. "Bet the other one doesn't have this," she continued, placing her hand in his. His thumb roamed over the smooth coolness of the moonstone on her finger. He glanced at the bleeding woman on the floor. Her hands were bare.
Spike watched her closely. "Buffy, " he sighed. "Pet, you can't be here. You're.."
"The Slayer," she interrupted, forcing herself to her feet. "I heal. Now, let's kick some Evil ass."
*****
The rental car shuddered to a halt in front of the seemingly abandoned house. Even from the road, they could hear the clank of swords and the sounds of battle. All three of them spilled out of the car, running up the lawn.
"Wait," Giles called. "To the side. Let's see if we can see what is going on in there before we haphazardly go in."
"What if Spike is being killed?" Anya huffed, panic taking over.
"Well, we won't be of much assistance if we are dead as well," Giles reasoned, approaching the front window. Cyrus crept towards the back. Anya stood, hands on hips waiting impatiently.
"Oh, God," Giles and Cyrus said almost in unison.
They looked at each other for a moment in shock.
"Emma," Cyrus whispered, just loud enough for Rupert to hear. He pointed at the window.
"Buffy," Giles responded, his voice wavering and shocked, looking in a window towards the front of the house.
"Buffy?" Anya asked, peering in. "But she's.."
"Fighting," Giles sighed. He turned to Cyrus. "Can you get the child?"
Cyrus nodded, eyeing a portion of the window where the shattered glass was not jaggedly protruding from the edges of the frame.
"Wait until we get inside and... do .. something," Giles rambled. "Then get her out and to safety, alright?"
Again, Cyrus nodded. Giles turned to Anya. "Are you ready?"
Anya's face changed to that of her demon counterpart. Once, Giles would have frowned or backed away. But now, he laid his hand on her cheek. "Don't get hurt."
"I won't," she chirped, her human voice an odd counterpoint to the demon visage.
*****
"Goddess, please hear us," Willow chanted, hanging onto Tara's hands. They were back in the janitor's closet. At least this time he was gone for the day. And he would have been right to think things might be a little kinky between the two women
"Protect our friends. Guide them. Give them your strength. Your justice. Your mercy," Tara continued, as the white circle rose around them. Tara looked at Willow. She glowed an eerie white, unused power coursing from her in waves. The good Witch shuddered. Had to keep her on track. Have to keep her on the right hand path.
"Goddess, hear us," Willow commanded, her voice becoming stronger. "Serivitas. Protectus."
Wind blew through the small room, whipping the girls' hair around them as they chanted. Power building, spiraling from them into the air. Being blown along the wind. Following their voices to the target.
"Protectus."
*****
They stood back to back, circling. He could feel her brush against them as they moved. This was the way it had been for as long as he could remember. As glad as Spike was to have her by his side, he was starting to be able to sense her again. As if the damage to her doppelganger had broken the spell. Spike could feel Buffy's agony. Feel the swelling in her side. The hazy darkness trying to take over her mind and her will pushing it back. Like swallowing a bitter pill.
The shape shifter had returned to her original host, morphing back to Sam as she stood, the wound in her shoulder closing rapidly. Buffy faced her, wanting to tear that wholesome grin from her mouth. Spike faced the soldier. Riley smiled at him, a trickle of blood winding down his cheek.
"Shall we?" Buffy said, raising her sword. She could feel Spike's arm lift as he did the same.
"Ladies first, Pet," he answered. Buffy lunged forward, jabbing at Sam, feeling her power increase with her proximity to Spike. Sam parried, dueling her blow for blow. The woman slashed hard at Buffy, almost catching her in the gut, but Buffy jumped, landing on a chair and flipping back behind Sam. She could see Spike, his demon mask now on, grinning as he ran at Riley.
Good, Buffy thought. Totally deserves it.
Riley pushed forward with the sword, lunging at Spike. Spike caught the metal, kicking the sword from Riley's hand with one swift backwards kick. The metal clattered to the floor and Spike grinned, quirking an eyebrow at the soldier.
"Buffy?" Spike called over his shoulder.
"Yes," Buffy answered, catching Sam in the same spot on her shoulder with her blade. Sam reeled back and Buffy lunged at her again.
"Soldier Boy informed me that had he never left, you'd've never visited the likes of me. That true, Love?" Spike slashed at Riley's leg, nearly hamstringing him before Riley rolled out of the way. Spike dropped his own sword, kicking them both to the far wall. More fun to beat on him a bit, he thought.
"He did, did he?" Buffy asked, her own sword catching Sam's and sending it clattering to the floor.
"That he did, Pet," Spike responded.
"Dunno," she answered. Spike turned long enough to question her with his eyes. "If he hadn't left, I don't know what would have happened. But what I do know is that he could have never kept me happy. He couldn't... well... let's just say he doesn't have your talents," Buffy grinned, soothing Spike's ego as Spike swung at Riley, catching him in the chin.
"Didn't scratch your itch properly, Pet?" Spike asked, deflecting a blow and grabbing the boy's wrist, flipping him to the floor.
"Didn't scratch it at all," Buffy answered, spinning and elbowing Sam to the ground. "Not to mention he wasn't nearly as considerate."
"As much I thought," Spike quipped, "D'you know what we need to do to kill these monsters?"
Riley looked at him. "You can't kill me, Vampire. I am the.."
"Shut the bloody hell up," Spike interrupted, sending a fist into the boy's mouth and knocking plaster off the wall with the force of Riley's strike.
"No clue," Buffy answered, barely escaping a spin kick combination. She caught Sam's ankle, flipping her to the floor.
"I do," A voice spoke from the far end of the room. Buffy and Spike spun, hearing Giles' voice. "Cut off his head. She is nothing without him."
Riley laughed, taking the distraction as an opportunity to land a blow against Spike's eye and dive for the sword.
"Ah, ah, ah," Buffy tsk'd, getting to the sword first. "You know, I don't like it when ... things... hit my ... Spike..."
"Need some work on the comebacks, Love," Spike quipped, catching the sword as Buffy tossed it to him. She looked at Riley a moment, stretched on the floor. It hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Giles, he doesn't... he doesn't know, does he?"
Giles shook his head. "No," he answered. "Draconius took him over. It's not Riley at all."
Spike looked at Buffy for a moment. He hated the boy, but understood what she was getting at. Wasn't nice to go round killing blokes that had no idea what they'd done. "Sure there isn't another way, Watcher?"
Giles shook his head again. "The only way to banish him from his dimension is to kill the host."
Buffy looked at Spike, closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she looked sad, but resolved. She nodded at him.
"Buffy, look out!" Anya called. Buffy spun just in time to see Sam rushing at her, her face covered in blood, sword raised high in the air. Buffy dodged, trying to locate a weapon. Spike rushed towards her, leaving Riley on the floor. He couldn't get there in time. The sword blade came down towards Buffy in a streak of silver.
The room filled with white and everything seemed to stop. Buffy felt it around her like Armour. She ducked, reaching forward in almost slow motion and kicked, sending Sam flying towards the staircase at half speed. Anya ran at the woman, grabbing her sword and holding it at Sam's neck.
Riley was on his feet, dazed. Spike lunged at him, trying to corner the soldier against the wall, but Riley ducked, grabbing the second sword from the wood floor. A grin broke on the Captain's face as he moved at Spike. Spike returned it, fangs dipping over the corners of his mouth. They circled each other again, caught in this dance to the death. Buffy watched for a moment, looking at Spike. She felt the Armour around them both. She nodded backing a step away.
Riley lunged again, almost catching Spike's side, but Spike ducked under the blade. One of the various advantages to being slightly more compact in battle. Riley spun, but Spike had anticipated it and flipped, air whooshing under his shirt, and landed behind Riley. Before he could move again, Spike swung.
Buffy closed her eyes, hearing Giles's voice chanting, then the thudding sound of what she assumed was the Evil's head hitting the hard wood. The sound of a horrid banshee scream from the woman as the Evil emptied from her, banished to Hell with the rest of Draconius.
"Buffy?" His voice, strong and rich and perfect. "Pet, you alright?"
She was on her knees, almost afraid to look. But she opened her eyes.. "We need to find Emma," she whispered, pushing herself to her feet.
"Cyrus should have her," Anya answered, lowering the sword she had held on the wounded women's body. The woman was still now. Just Sam. But she'd never be the same.
"Where?" Buffy gasped, pressing her hand to the taped wound in her own belly.
"Outside."
Buffy stumbled forward, running through the house. Spike followed her, not wanting to get in her way, but feeling it. Knowing something was wrong.
Underneath the pale moonlight, Cyrus sat on the grass at the edge of the lawn, Emma clutched around his neck. Buffy ran at them, her eyes tearing. Exhausted and worn.
"Baby?" She called.
Emma looked up wide-eyed at her mother, squirming from the Watcher's embrace and running towards her. Buffy dropped to her knees in the grass as Emma threw herself at her mother.
"You're ok," Buffy whispered, clinging to the girl. She felt the darkness closing in again and she was loosing the will to fight it. "You're ok."
Buffy felt him behind her. Spike lowered himself next to Buffy, stroking Emma's back. "You OK, Mite?"
The little girl backed away from her mother just enough to look at her dad. "OK, daddy," she whispered.
He saw it, just as she moved back. Blood on her little white shirt. "Mite?" Spike asked, pulling the little girl towards him and inching her shirt up enough to look at her pretty pale skin. She hadn't a scratch on her.
Fear gripped him as he turned towards Buffy. She had rocked back on her heels, her eyes straight ahead, hand pressed over her belly. "Emma, go back to Cyrus," Spike whispered, turning the girl and starting her away. "Buffy?"
She turned her head towards him, her eyes glazing. Slowly, he reached down, moving her hand gently away. The scrubs were soaked through with blood.
"Oh, God," he whispered catching her against him as she fell back. "Oh, God No."
To be contd.
Here is chapter twenty-four of Time. And it is, amazingly, on time. I'm really full of bad puns at the moment.
This is the chapter many of you have been waiting for. You wanted Riley to get what was coming to him? Draconius? Well, here goes:) Hope you approve.
There are two chapters left. On Monday, I will release the final chapter, Innocence Found and then the Epilogue on Thursday. If you like these stories, now's a good time to let me know. If I have someone who wants to read them, then I can come up with the stories to write. At least I think I can. The muse hasn't failed me yet.
Well, here we go. All action, all the time. Let me know what you think!
*Cheery Vibes*, Nimue
"As sick as it sounds, in my little head, there's a little Sunnydale, and a widdle Buffy, and a widdle Spike, and Spike wubs Buffy." James Marsters 14 July 2002
Title: Armour (Time - Chapter Twenty-Four)
Author: Nimue
Rating: PG -13
Pairing Buffy/Spike. Most major characters included.
Feedback: Yes, please
For instant notification of fic releases, straight to your mailbox, please visit Always_Everyday@yahoogroups.com
Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, UPN, Fox... Just Borrowing. (with, of course, the exception of Emma and William, who belong to Buffy and Spike)
Summary: Set immediately following Blood and Metal. The battle begins and the calvary arrives. But will it be enough? And what will be the consequences of Buffy's actions? Can they save Emma? And will Giles, Anya and Cyrus be able to help?
Armour
The cab pulled to a halt at the corner of Ninth and Cedar. Buffy jumped out before the car had stopped moving.
"Hey!" The cab driver screamed after her. "Where's my money?"
Buffy turned her head as she ran. "You need to go. I'll send it."
"You *can't* send it, lady," he whined, getting out of the car. Just as he began to chase her, a loud crash came from two houses up and the driver saw the glint of a metal as it flew from the window. "Alright," he conceded, jumping back in the car. "Why do I get all the winners," he mumbled to himself as he streaked from the curb.
Buffy followed the sidewalk, turning up the walkway to the house. She took the steps in twos, making it to the front door in seconds. She lifted her leg to kick it open, her belly screaming in agony, but noticed that the heavy wood stood ajar. Instead, she opened it quietly, stepping into the house.
*****
"Tara!" Willow screamed as she found her lover curled in a ball in the ICU waiting room. Xander paced around. He had told the doctors where to find him in case anything happened with Takina. But neither he nor Tara could bear to be alone and Tara had promised to stay near William. Besides, the ICU waiting room was quiet, unlike the frenzy of wounded, sick and unwashed in the emergency room.
Tara looked up, catching Willow's eyes. Before the redhead had made it to where they sat, Tara was on her feet, throwing her arms around the girl. "What's wrong, baby?" Willow asked, stroking her hair.
The good Witch looked up at her. "Everything. Takina. She... someone hurt her. Badly."
Dawn's face blanked. "Is.. is William OK?"
"It happened after that, Dawnie," Xander muttered. "She brought him down and we think that Draconius's little shape shifter thing beat her up and then came and stole Emma."
A pretty hand slapped over Dawn's mouth. "I gave them Emma?"
"Dawnie," Willow comforted. "You would have no way of knowing. A real shape shifter, a good one... not even a family member could tell the difference. They take on everything. Looks, smell, taste. You couldn't have known."
"I gave them Emma," Dawn gasped, plopping into a chair.
Willow turned, Tara still clinging to her. "How is Takina?"
"I don't know," Xander answered, his eyes glistening with unshed tears. "They haven't told me..."
Willow wrapped her free arm around him, cradling both Tara and Xander against her. She was silent, gathering strength. "Xander?"
"Yeah," he answered softly.
"I need to borrow Tara back for a little while," Willow began.
"What.. what is it?" Tara asked, catching her lover's gaze.
"Buffy. Giles told her about Draconius. She left and went after Spike and Emma."
"She what?" Xander yelled, backing away from the women.
"She took off. I can't find her and I don't think if we could, we could stop her," Willow continued. "Tara, we need to do something..."
Tara looked at her with exhausted eyes. "Willow, I don't have a whole lot left. Not after following William..."
"I'll do it," Willow said.
Xander looked at her shell-shocked. "Will, your powers. You ... Spike drained them when..."
Willow looked at him softly. "Power is not a limited resource. I've had it for a while. I just... I didn't... I was afraid that..."
"It's OK," Tara whispered, rubbing Willow's back. "I am proud of you for knowing that you weren't ready."
"I'm still not," Willow commented, smiling wearily. "But we need to do something."
Tara turned to look at Xander. "Will you be alright if...?"
Xander nodded. "I have Dawn to keep me company. Right?"
The girl nodded, tears rolling down her face. Guilt crashing around her in waves. "I'll stay."
Willow looked at Tara softly. "Let's go."
*****
Buffy turned the corner from the large entry hall to the great room on her right, following the sounds of metal striking metal and snarls and yelps. The house was mostly barren. Only furniture covered in dust cloths and darkened lamps dressed in spider webs. She glanced around for a weapon. Nothing.
Then she saw it. A suit of Armour in the corner. Complete with sword. Looks authentic, she thought as she loosed the blade from metallic hands with a clink.
A familiar shout brought her back to the urgency of the situation. "Buffy! No!"
Hunh, she thought to herself, padding over to the edge of the doorway and peering into the next room.
And there she was, lying on the floor, blood pouring from a wound in her shoulder. Spike was crouched over her, staring. Buffy tried to reach out to him. To make sure he knew that it was an illusion, but something was wrong. It was as if there was a haze between them. Some sort of enchantment. A spell. She couldn't find him. And it was probably why he was leaned over the other woman shaking. He had no way of knowing it wasn't her.
"Spike, look out!" Buffy shouted as Riley ran at him from behind, swinging a sword dangerously close to Spike's neck. Spike ducked as Buffy ran at Riley, launching herself and sending him sprawling to the ground.
"Buffy?" Spike asked, his eyes flickering between the groaning figure on the floor and the tiny form in slate blue scrubs that had toppled mere feet from him. He grabbed the newer Buffy's wrist, pulling her towards him along the wooden floor. Riley sat stunned a moment, his head jammed against the corner of a table.
"Hi," Buffy whispered, looking at his hurt blue eyes. "I thought you needed some help."
His palm cupped her face. "Please tell me it's you."
Buffy leaned forward, her lips brushing his. "Me," she answered, groaning as she righted herself. "Bet the other one doesn't have this," she continued, placing her hand in his. His thumb roamed over the smooth coolness of the moonstone on her finger. He glanced at the bleeding woman on the floor. Her hands were bare.
Spike watched her closely. "Buffy, " he sighed. "Pet, you can't be here. You're.."
"The Slayer," she interrupted, forcing herself to her feet. "I heal. Now, let's kick some Evil ass."
*****
The rental car shuddered to a halt in front of the seemingly abandoned house. Even from the road, they could hear the clank of swords and the sounds of battle. All three of them spilled out of the car, running up the lawn.
"Wait," Giles called. "To the side. Let's see if we can see what is going on in there before we haphazardly go in."
"What if Spike is being killed?" Anya huffed, panic taking over.
"Well, we won't be of much assistance if we are dead as well," Giles reasoned, approaching the front window. Cyrus crept towards the back. Anya stood, hands on hips waiting impatiently.
"Oh, God," Giles and Cyrus said almost in unison.
They looked at each other for a moment in shock.
"Emma," Cyrus whispered, just loud enough for Rupert to hear. He pointed at the window.
"Buffy," Giles responded, his voice wavering and shocked, looking in a window towards the front of the house.
"Buffy?" Anya asked, peering in. "But she's.."
"Fighting," Giles sighed. He turned to Cyrus. "Can you get the child?"
Cyrus nodded, eyeing a portion of the window where the shattered glass was not jaggedly protruding from the edges of the frame.
"Wait until we get inside and... do .. something," Giles rambled. "Then get her out and to safety, alright?"
Again, Cyrus nodded. Giles turned to Anya. "Are you ready?"
Anya's face changed to that of her demon counterpart. Once, Giles would have frowned or backed away. But now, he laid his hand on her cheek. "Don't get hurt."
"I won't," she chirped, her human voice an odd counterpoint to the demon visage.
*****
"Goddess, please hear us," Willow chanted, hanging onto Tara's hands. They were back in the janitor's closet. At least this time he was gone for the day. And he would have been right to think things might be a little kinky between the two women
"Protect our friends. Guide them. Give them your strength. Your justice. Your mercy," Tara continued, as the white circle rose around them. Tara looked at Willow. She glowed an eerie white, unused power coursing from her in waves. The good Witch shuddered. Had to keep her on track. Have to keep her on the right hand path.
"Goddess, hear us," Willow commanded, her voice becoming stronger. "Serivitas. Protectus."
Wind blew through the small room, whipping the girls' hair around them as they chanted. Power building, spiraling from them into the air. Being blown along the wind. Following their voices to the target.
"Protectus."
*****
They stood back to back, circling. He could feel her brush against them as they moved. This was the way it had been for as long as he could remember. As glad as Spike was to have her by his side, he was starting to be able to sense her again. As if the damage to her doppelganger had broken the spell. Spike could feel Buffy's agony. Feel the swelling in her side. The hazy darkness trying to take over her mind and her will pushing it back. Like swallowing a bitter pill.
The shape shifter had returned to her original host, morphing back to Sam as she stood, the wound in her shoulder closing rapidly. Buffy faced her, wanting to tear that wholesome grin from her mouth. Spike faced the soldier. Riley smiled at him, a trickle of blood winding down his cheek.
"Shall we?" Buffy said, raising her sword. She could feel Spike's arm lift as he did the same.
"Ladies first, Pet," he answered. Buffy lunged forward, jabbing at Sam, feeling her power increase with her proximity to Spike. Sam parried, dueling her blow for blow. The woman slashed hard at Buffy, almost catching her in the gut, but Buffy jumped, landing on a chair and flipping back behind Sam. She could see Spike, his demon mask now on, grinning as he ran at Riley.
Good, Buffy thought. Totally deserves it.
Riley pushed forward with the sword, lunging at Spike. Spike caught the metal, kicking the sword from Riley's hand with one swift backwards kick. The metal clattered to the floor and Spike grinned, quirking an eyebrow at the soldier.
"Buffy?" Spike called over his shoulder.
"Yes," Buffy answered, catching Sam in the same spot on her shoulder with her blade. Sam reeled back and Buffy lunged at her again.
"Soldier Boy informed me that had he never left, you'd've never visited the likes of me. That true, Love?" Spike slashed at Riley's leg, nearly hamstringing him before Riley rolled out of the way. Spike dropped his own sword, kicking them both to the far wall. More fun to beat on him a bit, he thought.
"He did, did he?" Buffy asked, her own sword catching Sam's and sending it clattering to the floor.
"That he did, Pet," Spike responded.
"Dunno," she answered. Spike turned long enough to question her with his eyes. "If he hadn't left, I don't know what would have happened. But what I do know is that he could have never kept me happy. He couldn't... well... let's just say he doesn't have your talents," Buffy grinned, soothing Spike's ego as Spike swung at Riley, catching him in the chin.
"Didn't scratch your itch properly, Pet?" Spike asked, deflecting a blow and grabbing the boy's wrist, flipping him to the floor.
"Didn't scratch it at all," Buffy answered, spinning and elbowing Sam to the ground. "Not to mention he wasn't nearly as considerate."
"As much I thought," Spike quipped, "D'you know what we need to do to kill these monsters?"
Riley looked at him. "You can't kill me, Vampire. I am the.."
"Shut the bloody hell up," Spike interrupted, sending a fist into the boy's mouth and knocking plaster off the wall with the force of Riley's strike.
"No clue," Buffy answered, barely escaping a spin kick combination. She caught Sam's ankle, flipping her to the floor.
"I do," A voice spoke from the far end of the room. Buffy and Spike spun, hearing Giles' voice. "Cut off his head. She is nothing without him."
Riley laughed, taking the distraction as an opportunity to land a blow against Spike's eye and dive for the sword.
"Ah, ah, ah," Buffy tsk'd, getting to the sword first. "You know, I don't like it when ... things... hit my ... Spike..."
"Need some work on the comebacks, Love," Spike quipped, catching the sword as Buffy tossed it to him. She looked at Riley a moment, stretched on the floor. It hit her like a ton of bricks.
"Giles, he doesn't... he doesn't know, does he?"
Giles shook his head. "No," he answered. "Draconius took him over. It's not Riley at all."
Spike looked at Buffy for a moment. He hated the boy, but understood what she was getting at. Wasn't nice to go round killing blokes that had no idea what they'd done. "Sure there isn't another way, Watcher?"
Giles shook his head again. "The only way to banish him from his dimension is to kill the host."
Buffy looked at Spike, closing her eyes. When she opened them again, she looked sad, but resolved. She nodded at him.
"Buffy, look out!" Anya called. Buffy spun just in time to see Sam rushing at her, her face covered in blood, sword raised high in the air. Buffy dodged, trying to locate a weapon. Spike rushed towards her, leaving Riley on the floor. He couldn't get there in time. The sword blade came down towards Buffy in a streak of silver.
The room filled with white and everything seemed to stop. Buffy felt it around her like Armour. She ducked, reaching forward in almost slow motion and kicked, sending Sam flying towards the staircase at half speed. Anya ran at the woman, grabbing her sword and holding it at Sam's neck.
Riley was on his feet, dazed. Spike lunged at him, trying to corner the soldier against the wall, but Riley ducked, grabbing the second sword from the wood floor. A grin broke on the Captain's face as he moved at Spike. Spike returned it, fangs dipping over the corners of his mouth. They circled each other again, caught in this dance to the death. Buffy watched for a moment, looking at Spike. She felt the Armour around them both. She nodded backing a step away.
Riley lunged again, almost catching Spike's side, but Spike ducked under the blade. One of the various advantages to being slightly more compact in battle. Riley spun, but Spike had anticipated it and flipped, air whooshing under his shirt, and landed behind Riley. Before he could move again, Spike swung.
Buffy closed her eyes, hearing Giles's voice chanting, then the thudding sound of what she assumed was the Evil's head hitting the hard wood. The sound of a horrid banshee scream from the woman as the Evil emptied from her, banished to Hell with the rest of Draconius.
"Buffy?" His voice, strong and rich and perfect. "Pet, you alright?"
She was on her knees, almost afraid to look. But she opened her eyes.. "We need to find Emma," she whispered, pushing herself to her feet.
"Cyrus should have her," Anya answered, lowering the sword she had held on the wounded women's body. The woman was still now. Just Sam. But she'd never be the same.
"Where?" Buffy gasped, pressing her hand to the taped wound in her own belly.
"Outside."
Buffy stumbled forward, running through the house. Spike followed her, not wanting to get in her way, but feeling it. Knowing something was wrong.
Underneath the pale moonlight, Cyrus sat on the grass at the edge of the lawn, Emma clutched around his neck. Buffy ran at them, her eyes tearing. Exhausted and worn.
"Baby?" She called.
Emma looked up wide-eyed at her mother, squirming from the Watcher's embrace and running towards her. Buffy dropped to her knees in the grass as Emma threw herself at her mother.
"You're ok," Buffy whispered, clinging to the girl. She felt the darkness closing in again and she was loosing the will to fight it. "You're ok."
Buffy felt him behind her. Spike lowered himself next to Buffy, stroking Emma's back. "You OK, Mite?"
The little girl backed away from her mother just enough to look at her dad. "OK, daddy," she whispered.
He saw it, just as she moved back. Blood on her little white shirt. "Mite?" Spike asked, pulling the little girl towards him and inching her shirt up enough to look at her pretty pale skin. She hadn't a scratch on her.
Fear gripped him as he turned towards Buffy. She had rocked back on her heels, her eyes straight ahead, hand pressed over her belly. "Emma, go back to Cyrus," Spike whispered, turning the girl and starting her away. "Buffy?"
She turned her head towards him, her eyes glazing. Slowly, he reached down, moving her hand gently away. The scrubs were soaked through with blood.
"Oh, God," he whispered catching her against him as she fell back. "Oh, God No."
To be contd.