A/N: Sorry I took so long. Been busy, sick, gone, yadda yadda. I really hate it
when life takes up my computer time XD Anywho, short chapter, I'll try to spit
another out 'fore I go on vacation next week. Enjoy!
----------
"Oh lookie,
picture." Buffy stated, staring down at the book in her lap. Looking up,
she found Spike staring at her, eyebrows raised. Rolling her eyes, she set the
book on the table and slid it towards him. She watched as he picked it up,
studying it for a few moments. "It's just a picture, Spike. Doesn't really
provide us with any new info other than the fact that it looks kinda like a
Labrador."
"Do you know what this says?"
"Know what what says?" She asked, standing and walking around the
table. She peered over his shoulder as he ran his finger along a tiny line of
text located under the picture.
"It's in Tragian, an old demon language." He explained, his eyes
scanning over the words.
"Well, do you know what it says?"
"Yep."
She waited a moment for him to tell her. He didn't. "You plan on sharing?" She
asked impatiently.
The vampire scratched his head, sighing. "Well, basically it says that the
bugger has the 'bility t'make whoever -or whatever- summons it invisible."
"Like, see-through type invisible? Or like, can't be hurt invisible?"
"That would be invincible,
Slayer. We're talkin' see-through type invisible."
He stated, tossing the book back onto the table. "This is gonna be fun,
'ey luv?"
"Loads." She muttered, leaning back against a bookcase. "I miss being
invisible…"
"Do you now?" The vampire questioned, smirking.
"Yeah, I mean, it was fun, you know?"
He grinned. "Yeah, it was."
"Dammit, Spike. Is sex the only thing you think about?"
"You brought up how fun it was for you being invisible, not me." He said innocently.
"Yeah, well I wasn't talking about sex, thank you. I was talking about, like, playing tricks on people and stuff. Non sex type stuff."
"So invisible sex wasn't fun?"
She smirked as the phone rang. Walking over to the counter, she picked it up. "Hello?" Spike watched as she listened, her fingers playing with the phone cord. "Yeah, sounds good. Yep. See you in a bit."
"Who was it?" He asked as she hung up the receiver.
"Willow. There's a lot more books at the house than we thought so we're just gonna head back over there. She can't exactly carry 'em all here."
"So I suppose we get to carry the rest of these over to the house." He stated as he stood up, nodding at the unread books on the table.
"Sadly, yes." The Slayer mumbled, stacking some up and putting them under her arm.
"Shouldn't we wait for Nibblet and Hope t'get back?" He asked, grabbing the remaining books.
"Nah, Willow's gonna call Dawn's cell and let her know. They can just meet us at the house." Buffy explained, walking towards the door. She halted, frowning when she realized that she had no free hands that she could use to open the door.
"Problem luv?" Spike asked coyly, shifting the load in his arms over to one arm and using his free hand to pull the door open. Rolling her eyes, Buffy walked out past him, ignoring the smirk he gave her as she walked by.
----------
"Hey." Dawn greeted, holding the kitchen door open as Hope followed her in, two pizza boxes stacked in her arms. "We come bearing food."
"And blood." Hope added, setting the pizza on the counter and pulling a couple packets of blood from the large pocket on her sweatshirt. "Where's Spikey got to?"
"The couch. We were here all of ten minutes before he conked out, so me an' Wills moved the researched party in here." Buffy explained, grabbing a slice of pizza.
"Eh, can't blame the guy. He's been up for like, four days now." Hope said with a shrug. "You know, driving and all."
"So'd you guys find anything?" Dawn questioned, hopping up on the counter.
"I found a picture." Buffy stated, pointing to an open book at the end of the counter. Dawn picked it up, examining it.
"What's it say?"
"Spike said that it was in some old demon language. It says something about the demon having the ability to make whoever summoned it invisible." The elder Slayer explained.
"So, like, we can't find whatever called it now?" Hope asked, making a face.
"Not exactly." Willow began, grabbing another of the volumes that had been set to the side. "This one says that it has the ability, but it can only cloak whoever summoned it if they want to be cloaked."
"Well, why wouldn't they? I mean, hello, invisible. Not much you can't do." The teen stated, shifting her weight and pulling her legs up underneath her.
"Because maybe they don't want to be gone. Whatever the demon does to it's host is permanent. They wouldn't be able to reverse it, meaning no one would ever see them again." The red head explained.
"And most badies like credit for their evil plans, and they can't really get that if no one can see 'em." Dawn added with a nod.
"Right." Buffy agreed, stifling a yawn. "Ugh, I don't know about you guys, but I'm ready for bed."
Willow cast a glance at the clock on the wall. "Yeah, I guess it is pretty late, well, early."
"Why don't we call it a night. We can go through the rest of these tomorrow." The Slayer exclaimed, standing.
"Sounds like a plan." Dawn agreed, closing up the pizza boxes and walking over to the fridge.
"Uh, I'd give you the couch, but Spike's kinda already taken it." Buffy said, looking at Hope. "Want me to kick him off?"
"Nah. Floor's good." Hope stated. "Just hook me up with a pillow and a blanket and I'll survive."
"You sure? Cause I could always sleep in Willow's room. Big bed and all." Dawn offered. "You could take my room for the night."
"Floor's fine." She repeated, smirking. "Besides, I'm not all that tired, thought I'd watch TV for a bit."
"Fine, you get the floor." Buffy said reluctantly, walking towards the hallway. "I'll be back down with some blankets in a minute."
"Thanks." The teen called after her as she hopped down from her seat. Grabbing the discarded blood packets from the table, she walked over to the fridge and tossed them in. Closing the door, she turned back to Dawn. "I'm gonna run out to the car real quick, grab some things."
"Knock yourself out." The brunette stated.
"I'll try." The teen replied as she walked out the door.
"Well, I guess it's off to Sleepville for the rest of us." Willow said, walking towards the hallway.
"Right behind you." Dawn exclaimed, trailing after her.
"Night guys." Buffy offered as she came down the stairs, walking past her best friend and sister, her arms full of blankets.
"Night Buff."
Sighing, the Slayer turned and walked into the living room, depositing the blankets and pillows she had gotten from the closet on a chair. Her eyes drifted over to the vampire. He was curled up with his back to her, his coat tossed absently on the floor beside him. Rolling her eyes, she grabbed one of the blankets from the chair and shook it open, draping it over his slumbering form. Her eyes shot up and she tensed as the front door open.
Hope walked in, a duffel bag slung over her shoulders. Her eyes fell to the poised Slayer and she smirked. "M'not gonna kill you, promise."
Buffy relaxed, dropping her hands to her sides. "Sorry."
"Don't worry 'bout it." The teen said, tossing the bag to the floor beside the chair.
"Uh, blankets and stuff are there, feel free to sleep wherever. Living room has plenty of floor."
"So I noticed." Hope said with a nod, looking around. "So, what's the plan for tomorrow?"
"Well, I'm pretty tired of books. We'll hit the local haunts, see if anything else comes up."
"Sounds fun."
"Oh yeah, loads." Buffy muttered, smirking as she turned and started to walk towards the steps. "Goodnight."
"Night." Hope said absently, grabbing the remote from the coffee table and flicking the television on. After flipping through channels, she settled on watching some old monster movie and tossed the remote back down.
"Don't worry, kitten, I'm not tryin' t'sleep or nothin'."
"That's good, 'cause I wouldn't want to wake you up or nothin'." She replied coyly, grabbing the remaining blanket from the chair and wrapping it around her shoulders. Scooping the pillow up, she walked back over to the couch. "But, y'know, with you being up and all, sharing the couch ain't a problem."
Snorting, the vampire sat up, glaring mockingly at the girl as she flopped down beside him. "Happy now?"
"Eh, I'm stuck next to you, how happy can I be?" She answered, making a face.
"Brat." He said simply, yawning as he slumped down and leaned back into the cushions.
"I know." She stated, grinning.
"If you're gonna be down 'ere all night can you at least turn the bloody TV down?" He asked, his eyes closed.
"Yes your majesty."
"Good girl."
"Aren't I always?"
"No."
She scowled. He smirked, not even opening his eyes. "Butthead." She muttered, putting her pillow on his shoulder and letting her head slump down onto it.
"Gee, pet, love you too." He muttered sarcastically. She remained quiet, eyes locked on the television. Deciding she wasn't going to say much else, he allowed himself to drift back towards sleep.
"Hey Spike?"
He sighed in annoyance. "Yeah?"
"Nothin', just seein' if you were still up." She replied, grinning.
"I hate you."
----------
"Decide to join us?" Buffy asked, looking up from the dining room table as the vampire walked into the room.
"We've only been up for, like, four hours now." Hope commented, watching as the still sleepy blonde ran a hand through his messy hair.
Spike looked between the four girls seated about the room, then dropped his gaze to the tabletop. The books were stacked neatly at one end, untouched, while Uno cards and Pop-Tarts wrappers littered the table in front of them. "And I see you've accomplished a lot in those fours hours." He muttered sarcastically, arcing an eyebrow.
"Books got boring." Dawn exclaimed, standing. "We were waiting for you to get up so we could split up and check around town, see what the other ooglie-booglies are saying."
"Love to, Nibblet, though I don't much feel like takin' a walk in the sun."
"You get to take the sewers, check the more sunless places like Willie's." Willow explained with a nod.
"Oh wonderful, send me after the snitch." He stated, rolling his eyes. "Bloody brilliant. And where exactly are you lot headed?"
"Couple other-worldly oracles owe us a favor, me and Dawn are going to see if they know anything." Willow said, grabbing her coat and heading towards the door.
"I'm going with them." Hope added, following after Dawn. "Buffy's goin' with you."
"What? No I'm not." The Slayer protested.
"'course you are." Hope said simply, grinning. "Can't let the poor guy go on his own, s'not safe with that nasty demon runnin' 'round."
"Then you go with him."
"Nope. I get enough of him at home, you can deal with him for a few hours." The teen stated firmly, slamming the door behind her, leaving a stunned Buffy alone with the vampire.
She scowled at him, crossing her arms over her chest. "Well?"
"Well what?"
"God you're an idiot." She exclaimed, throwing her hands in the air as she stomped out of the room.
Spike blinked, more than a bit confused. "Uh, right…." Shaking his head, he followed after her. He could hear her clomping around up stairs, so he rounded the corner and headed up after her. "Care to elaborate?" He asked, leaning against her doorframe.
"What?" She questioned, looking up from her seat on her bed as she pulled a boot on.
He snorted, turning and heading back towards the stairs. "And she says I'm the bloody idiot..."
"I'm not deaf, Spike." She called, pulling the second boot on and standing.
"I'm glad for you." He stated as he walked down the stairs.
"At least being deaf would give me a reprieve from your god awful rambling."
"Yeah, pet. I'm the one who rambles." He said, grabbing his coat off the floor.
"Remind me to kill them for sticking me with you." She stated coldly.
"Funny, 'cause I was thinkin' the same thing."
