Chapter 9:
The bleached blonde figure was sitting in the chair behind his desk, the redish end of his burning cigarette the only source of light in his office. He didn't find the need to turn on any other lights. He liked it dark. He always did. It helped him think.
He was sitting here, in the same position for over 4 hours now, his brain working the loose ends of the Nelson/Summers puzzle. He went through everything he knew, everything he heard and come up empty handed. The only clue was the fact that Valerie saw Angel talking with some cop and being very unsatisfied. That could mean anything. It could be not related to the case at all, and of course there was the possibility of him and Val talking about two totally different persons. After all she didn't even know what the bloke looked like.
He sighed loudly and buried his head in his hands. He would have to work harder, talk to some more people, sniff around the mansion some more too. Maybe talk to Buffy again.
At the thought of her name her beautiful face appeared in his mind and he remembered how scared and bruised she looked earlier that day. Sudden wave of anger swept over him and he unconsciously clenched his fists into tight white balls, then a wide grin spread on his handsome face when he thought of the ways he could make Angel pay for his little act of violence.
He was jerked out of his gruesome thoughts of torture by the loud fumbling of the doorknob on the main doors to the agency.
As stealthy as he could, he walked out of his office and taking his ever present gun out of the holster and stood behind the doors, ready for anyone who attempted to get in.
The doorknob turned itself couple more times and then the doors were open. Spike held his breath as the person pushed the door wider covering him, and stepped inside the dark office, stopping after two steps to look around. He took it as his clue to show himself and lifting his gun he pressed it to the person's temple, the loud cocking of the weapon piercing the silence.
"I don't know who you are, but you must have a serious death wish. You have five seconds to explain yourself and I better believe it, or your brains will be all over this pretty wall." Spike said calmly to the intruder and waited for him to speak.
"...four... three... two..."
"Don't hurt me, please." He heard in almost a sob. Something about the voice screamed 'familiar' and he furrowed his brows. Reaching the light switch on the wall he flicked it on and swore to himself at the sight before him.
"Bloody hell, Buffy?" He lowered the weapon and put it away before grabbing her shoulders and turning her to face him. "Pet, what the hell are you doing here at this hour? You could have been dead by now, for fuck's sake."
A silent sob escaped her and she lowered her head in shame. It was true. What she did was stupid and risky but she had to get out of that house. She had to get away from him...
"I.. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, William." She broke this time and sobbed loudly, letting herself being pulled into his strong comforting arms.
He held her tightly, caressing her hair, whispering soothing words to her ear, rubbing lazy circles on her back. He was confused. Why would she risk Angel's wrath again by coming here? Why would she... He stopped suddenly and pushed her away from his arms.
"Pet? What happened? What did he do to you now?" His jaw was clenched and he was trying very hard not to explode. If that bastard touched her again he swore to himself he would kill him this time.
She wouldn't meet his eyes so he lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. She still wouldn't look at him, but he was now able to see her full face. Thank God, there wasn't anything new on it.
"Buffy, you gotta tell me what happened? Why did you come here?" He asked her again.
She sighed and stifled another sob that was threatening to come out, and met his eyes for the first time this evening.
"I.. I saw your car outside.. I thought you would be here... I had to see you.. to tell you.. what I heard..." She explained quietly.
He sighed and nodded lightly before leaning in and resting his forehead against hers. "It's going to be OK, pet." He murmured to her quietly. "Everything's going to be OK, I promise."
She barely nodded.
"Come on. Let's get into the office. We can talk there." He pulled her by the hand and closed the office door quietly behind them.
********************
"My life is such a circus. I feel like I'm living in some weirded out Venezuelan soap opera." She sighed as she flipped another card in the direction on the waste basket. In.
After two hours of talking they were now sitting on the floor, their backs propped against the glass doors of the office. A single metal trash can was standing in the middle of the dimly lit room, three decks of cards scattered around it. Some in the basket, some as far as the opposite wall.
"Oh, come on, luv. Think positive. If it all turned out the other way you would have never met me." He smirked at her and sent his card to the basket. In.
"Yeah... I'm real lucky to know you, Spike. Jeez... look at me hopping up and down from joy." She said sarcastically picking up another card. Missed.
"I love you too, princess." He bit back. Another card. In.
"I don't even like you." She stated tiling her head to the side a bit. Another card. Missed.
"You're lying." He turned his head to her.
A sigh. Another card. "I know." In.
"Yeah..." Grin. Another card. In.
Another card. In.
Another card. In.
Another card. In.
"Come on luv, it's almost 2AM. I better get you home before your psycho hubby decides to have another go at you." He smirked at her when she shot him a deadly glare, but let herself be lifted off the floor.
She straightened her clothes and waited patiently for him to turn off the lights and close the office door before they both headed outside.
When they reached the outside door, Spike opened it for her and swept his hand out for Buffy to go first. "After you 'mlady." And gave her a bashful grin.
"Why, thank you kind sir." She smiled back at him. Buffy began to walk out when she suddenly jumped back inside bumping into Spike in the process, causing him to grab hold around the front of her waist so she would not fall.
He couldn't help but rub his nose lightly on the top of her head and smell her hair. It smelled of strawberries. He lowered his head to where his mouth was near her neck and stopped. "What is it luv? Did you see someone outside?"
Buffy closed her eyes and sighed at his actions. "No..." She let out almost a squeak. Then a more powerful "No. It's just that it's raining out there." She turned to look at him. "When did it start raining?" She asked.
"I don't know." Spike stepped around Buffy and walked outside into the downpour.
"Um, William what are..."
"Spike. We've been over that already pet." He turned to her, his platinum hair plastered to his face.
She started again. "Spike, what are you doing? You're going to get sick. Come back in." Buffy stood at the door entrance worried expression on her face. She was worried? About Spike?
"What's the matter luv, you never played in the rain when you were little?" He walked to her and took hold of her tiny hand in his. "Come on, you know you want to." He looked at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
She looked behind him outside into the dark night. It was pouring. Like it never had before. She sucked her lower lip into her luscious mouth, then looked at him, smirking down at her, still holding her hand but not pulling her out. Just waiting for her permission.
Finally she gave him a slight nod and felt herself being pulled to him. A curtain of freezing cold shower enveloped her the second she stepped outside and she let out and involuntary squeak trying to duck her head before the merciful rain.
She ran into his arms and tried to wriggle herself into him as far as she could. He laughed at her childish behavior and purposively stepped out. Every time she tried to come closer to him to hide herself inside his warm duster he would step away from her. They ended up chasing each other all over the parking lot, the rain and their problems quickly forgotten, only their laughter echoing through the empty space.
Finally they reached her car and stopped in front of it. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the cold water on her face. She sighed deeply and opened them up again only to be met by Spike's blue orbs staring right into hers. She gulped suddenly and her heart started racing.
"What were you thinking about?" He finally asked.
"Nothing. Just thinking about how good this feels. To be able to be free, to do what ever you want and not care about anything in the world. God, I miss that." She answered him.
She looked so beautiful to him then, he couldn't help himself. He reached out and touched her cheek, caressing it slightly, running his thumb over her delicate skin. She sighed and leaned into his hand, nuzzling it.
That threw him for a loop. He expected her to hit him or possibly swat his hand away but not actually lean into his touch. He swallowed a lump that was forming in his throat.
"Pet..." He whispered quietly.
She lifted her head to look into his eyes and smiled reassuringly. Rising on her toes she brushed his lips with hers. Shocked, Spike pulled away trying to figure out her intentions. He saw her smile to him and then her lips were back on his, this time more daring. And when he felt her tongue trace his bottom lip he groaned and opened up for her. He closed his eyes as he slowly kissed her back, his skilled tongue playing lazily with hers, his hands entwined in her soaked hair. When her hand came to rest on his cheek he sighed. He felt it caressing him, the cold metal of her wedding band...
Suddenly he pulled out and stepped away from her like he was burned. Her wedding band. She was married! He's been kissing a married woman!
She looked at him in confusion, her rosy lips bruised from the kiss, the rain pouring down on her, and she tilted her head to the side, waiting for his explanation.
"Buffy..." He started. God, she was so beautiful. He shook his head and ran a hand through his wet hair.
"Buffy, we shouldn't be doing this." He told her holding her by the shoulders. "You're... you're married for God's sake." He let her go and turned away from her. "Oh God, what am I doing?"
The tears in her eyes came fast now. She didn't expect that to happen.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. I just..." Sob. "I just thought..." Her words were stopped by Spikes finger, placed softly on her lips.
"It's ok luv, if things were different between you and me, If you weren't married." Spike told her once again.
She sighed and nodded. He opened the car doors for her and waited for her to get in. He prayed she do it fast, because anytime now he was going to lose the rest of his good manners and, married or not, he would take her right there and then.
"Yeah, if things were different." She said looking into his eyes for some kind of sign. Anything. When he looked away she understood. Lowering her head she sighed and got in. He shut the door after her and watched her drive away.
Slowly. Painfully slowly.
Then the car stopped. And so did his heart.
He watched her getting out and shutting the doors behind her. He took an involuntary step in her direction. So did she. Step after step they walked into each other until they were only inches apart. Two hearts were beating fast in their chests as they looked at one another for the longest time. Then, without as much as a single word their mouths crashed into each other kissing furiously like it was the end of the world, their tongues fighting for domination.
He wrapped his arms around her little waist and lifted her up to him, hungry for her, taking everything she was offering and giving the same. They continued their silent battle as the rain enveloped them, trying it's best to wash their fears and sorrows away.
TBC... More to come soon.. Really...
The bleached blonde figure was sitting in the chair behind his desk, the redish end of his burning cigarette the only source of light in his office. He didn't find the need to turn on any other lights. He liked it dark. He always did. It helped him think.
He was sitting here, in the same position for over 4 hours now, his brain working the loose ends of the Nelson/Summers puzzle. He went through everything he knew, everything he heard and come up empty handed. The only clue was the fact that Valerie saw Angel talking with some cop and being very unsatisfied. That could mean anything. It could be not related to the case at all, and of course there was the possibility of him and Val talking about two totally different persons. After all she didn't even know what the bloke looked like.
He sighed loudly and buried his head in his hands. He would have to work harder, talk to some more people, sniff around the mansion some more too. Maybe talk to Buffy again.
At the thought of her name her beautiful face appeared in his mind and he remembered how scared and bruised she looked earlier that day. Sudden wave of anger swept over him and he unconsciously clenched his fists into tight white balls, then a wide grin spread on his handsome face when he thought of the ways he could make Angel pay for his little act of violence.
He was jerked out of his gruesome thoughts of torture by the loud fumbling of the doorknob on the main doors to the agency.
As stealthy as he could, he walked out of his office and taking his ever present gun out of the holster and stood behind the doors, ready for anyone who attempted to get in.
The doorknob turned itself couple more times and then the doors were open. Spike held his breath as the person pushed the door wider covering him, and stepped inside the dark office, stopping after two steps to look around. He took it as his clue to show himself and lifting his gun he pressed it to the person's temple, the loud cocking of the weapon piercing the silence.
"I don't know who you are, but you must have a serious death wish. You have five seconds to explain yourself and I better believe it, or your brains will be all over this pretty wall." Spike said calmly to the intruder and waited for him to speak.
"...four... three... two..."
"Don't hurt me, please." He heard in almost a sob. Something about the voice screamed 'familiar' and he furrowed his brows. Reaching the light switch on the wall he flicked it on and swore to himself at the sight before him.
"Bloody hell, Buffy?" He lowered the weapon and put it away before grabbing her shoulders and turning her to face him. "Pet, what the hell are you doing here at this hour? You could have been dead by now, for fuck's sake."
A silent sob escaped her and she lowered her head in shame. It was true. What she did was stupid and risky but she had to get out of that house. She had to get away from him...
"I.. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry, William." She broke this time and sobbed loudly, letting herself being pulled into his strong comforting arms.
He held her tightly, caressing her hair, whispering soothing words to her ear, rubbing lazy circles on her back. He was confused. Why would she risk Angel's wrath again by coming here? Why would she... He stopped suddenly and pushed her away from his arms.
"Pet? What happened? What did he do to you now?" His jaw was clenched and he was trying very hard not to explode. If that bastard touched her again he swore to himself he would kill him this time.
She wouldn't meet his eyes so he lifted her chin, forcing her to look at him. She still wouldn't look at him, but he was now able to see her full face. Thank God, there wasn't anything new on it.
"Buffy, you gotta tell me what happened? Why did you come here?" He asked her again.
She sighed and stifled another sob that was threatening to come out, and met his eyes for the first time this evening.
"I.. I saw your car outside.. I thought you would be here... I had to see you.. to tell you.. what I heard..." She explained quietly.
He sighed and nodded lightly before leaning in and resting his forehead against hers. "It's going to be OK, pet." He murmured to her quietly. "Everything's going to be OK, I promise."
She barely nodded.
"Come on. Let's get into the office. We can talk there." He pulled her by the hand and closed the office door quietly behind them.
********************
"My life is such a circus. I feel like I'm living in some weirded out Venezuelan soap opera." She sighed as she flipped another card in the direction on the waste basket. In.
After two hours of talking they were now sitting on the floor, their backs propped against the glass doors of the office. A single metal trash can was standing in the middle of the dimly lit room, three decks of cards scattered around it. Some in the basket, some as far as the opposite wall.
"Oh, come on, luv. Think positive. If it all turned out the other way you would have never met me." He smirked at her and sent his card to the basket. In.
"Yeah... I'm real lucky to know you, Spike. Jeez... look at me hopping up and down from joy." She said sarcastically picking up another card. Missed.
"I love you too, princess." He bit back. Another card. In.
"I don't even like you." She stated tiling her head to the side a bit. Another card. Missed.
"You're lying." He turned his head to her.
A sigh. Another card. "I know." In.
"Yeah..." Grin. Another card. In.
Another card. In.
Another card. In.
Another card. In.
"Come on luv, it's almost 2AM. I better get you home before your psycho hubby decides to have another go at you." He smirked at her when she shot him a deadly glare, but let herself be lifted off the floor.
She straightened her clothes and waited patiently for him to turn off the lights and close the office door before they both headed outside.
When they reached the outside door, Spike opened it for her and swept his hand out for Buffy to go first. "After you 'mlady." And gave her a bashful grin.
"Why, thank you kind sir." She smiled back at him. Buffy began to walk out when she suddenly jumped back inside bumping into Spike in the process, causing him to grab hold around the front of her waist so she would not fall.
He couldn't help but rub his nose lightly on the top of her head and smell her hair. It smelled of strawberries. He lowered his head to where his mouth was near her neck and stopped. "What is it luv? Did you see someone outside?"
Buffy closed her eyes and sighed at his actions. "No..." She let out almost a squeak. Then a more powerful "No. It's just that it's raining out there." She turned to look at him. "When did it start raining?" She asked.
"I don't know." Spike stepped around Buffy and walked outside into the downpour.
"Um, William what are..."
"Spike. We've been over that already pet." He turned to her, his platinum hair plastered to his face.
She started again. "Spike, what are you doing? You're going to get sick. Come back in." Buffy stood at the door entrance worried expression on her face. She was worried? About Spike?
"What's the matter luv, you never played in the rain when you were little?" He walked to her and took hold of her tiny hand in his. "Come on, you know you want to." He looked at her and wiggled his eyebrows.
She looked behind him outside into the dark night. It was pouring. Like it never had before. She sucked her lower lip into her luscious mouth, then looked at him, smirking down at her, still holding her hand but not pulling her out. Just waiting for her permission.
Finally she gave him a slight nod and felt herself being pulled to him. A curtain of freezing cold shower enveloped her the second she stepped outside and she let out and involuntary squeak trying to duck her head before the merciful rain.
She ran into his arms and tried to wriggle herself into him as far as she could. He laughed at her childish behavior and purposively stepped out. Every time she tried to come closer to him to hide herself inside his warm duster he would step away from her. They ended up chasing each other all over the parking lot, the rain and their problems quickly forgotten, only their laughter echoing through the empty space.
Finally they reached her car and stopped in front of it. She closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the cold water on her face. She sighed deeply and opened them up again only to be met by Spike's blue orbs staring right into hers. She gulped suddenly and her heart started racing.
"What were you thinking about?" He finally asked.
"Nothing. Just thinking about how good this feels. To be able to be free, to do what ever you want and not care about anything in the world. God, I miss that." She answered him.
She looked so beautiful to him then, he couldn't help himself. He reached out and touched her cheek, caressing it slightly, running his thumb over her delicate skin. She sighed and leaned into his hand, nuzzling it.
That threw him for a loop. He expected her to hit him or possibly swat his hand away but not actually lean into his touch. He swallowed a lump that was forming in his throat.
"Pet..." He whispered quietly.
She lifted her head to look into his eyes and smiled reassuringly. Rising on her toes she brushed his lips with hers. Shocked, Spike pulled away trying to figure out her intentions. He saw her smile to him and then her lips were back on his, this time more daring. And when he felt her tongue trace his bottom lip he groaned and opened up for her. He closed his eyes as he slowly kissed her back, his skilled tongue playing lazily with hers, his hands entwined in her soaked hair. When her hand came to rest on his cheek he sighed. He felt it caressing him, the cold metal of her wedding band...
Suddenly he pulled out and stepped away from her like he was burned. Her wedding band. She was married! He's been kissing a married woman!
She looked at him in confusion, her rosy lips bruised from the kiss, the rain pouring down on her, and she tilted her head to the side, waiting for his explanation.
"Buffy..." He started. God, she was so beautiful. He shook his head and ran a hand through his wet hair.
"Buffy, we shouldn't be doing this." He told her holding her by the shoulders. "You're... you're married for God's sake." He let her go and turned away from her. "Oh God, what am I doing?"
The tears in her eyes came fast now. She didn't expect that to happen.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to make you upset. I just..." Sob. "I just thought..." Her words were stopped by Spikes finger, placed softly on her lips.
"It's ok luv, if things were different between you and me, If you weren't married." Spike told her once again.
She sighed and nodded. He opened the car doors for her and waited for her to get in. He prayed she do it fast, because anytime now he was going to lose the rest of his good manners and, married or not, he would take her right there and then.
"Yeah, if things were different." She said looking into his eyes for some kind of sign. Anything. When he looked away she understood. Lowering her head she sighed and got in. He shut the door after her and watched her drive away.
Slowly. Painfully slowly.
Then the car stopped. And so did his heart.
He watched her getting out and shutting the doors behind her. He took an involuntary step in her direction. So did she. Step after step they walked into each other until they were only inches apart. Two hearts were beating fast in their chests as they looked at one another for the longest time. Then, without as much as a single word their mouths crashed into each other kissing furiously like it was the end of the world, their tongues fighting for domination.
He wrapped his arms around her little waist and lifted her up to him, hungry for her, taking everything she was offering and giving the same. They continued their silent battle as the rain enveloped them, trying it's best to wash their fears and sorrows away.
TBC... More to come soon.. Really...