Some Kind of Wonderful
By: Skyz
A/N: Hi all, hope you enjoyed my last story the prequel to this one Redefined. And to any new readers welcome and enjoy. I will start by saying any who have not read Redefined will be clueless as to what is going on. I will be referring to Redefined. Picks up right where I left off. Same characters minus two Wolfe and Grace but I have some new ones too. Different plot. This is a B/S story so any B/A people who don't like the thought of them together this may not be for you. Sorry. But to any B/S people there is an implied B/A relationship. There has to be, because in Redefined I left it wide open. I will say B/A will not be together in this story, so don't worry. I want to thank everyone who took the time to read Redefined and hope you find this as satisfactory as it. Enjoy. Skyz.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Btvs. It belongs to Joss Whedon and ME. I only own the characters I've created. Which are Delos, Mornay, and Rufus. Please don't sue, this is for entertainment only.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Prologue:
Her sleep was restless; her eyes flickered continuously under her eyelids. Her feet shot out, tumbling her covers to the floor in a heap.
Her fingers clawed at the sheets and she moaned deep down in her throat.
Buffy was dreaming.
She was in the dark, no sign of light, all it was, was inky blackness and it consumed her, overwhelmed. Desperately she searched for any sign of a way out. In her hurry, she tripped over her own feet and fell heavily onto her hands and knees.
She moaned as pain laced through her at her scraped knees and palms. That got her attention. She had not noticed until then that she was naked. A startled gasp escaped her.
Her initial reaction was to cover herself.
"Don't," his voice a darkened whisper stopped her cold.
Her head shot up and she scrambled to her feet looking around wildly, heart pounding. Fear blooming.
"Who's there? Where am I? Where the hell are my clothes?!" she demanded as she struck a fighting stance.
"Slayer.......I will ask the questions. You are here for my amusement. And might I add you look delicious?" the voice asked coldly repressed.
Revulsion filled her and she scowled into the darkness. She reminded herself his perversion wasn't her problem; she needed to know what was going on! Now!
"What do you want? Who are you? When I find you I'm gonna make yo---"
"I can see it. Vaguely feel it. The power you have. The way you're able to seduce the fiercest of demons. How you corrupted William," he cut her off silkily.
Buffy stiffened as she realized whom he was talking about.
"Ah..didn't you know? What did you think happened? The man inside loved you and the demon wanted your blood? Seduced by your light William appeared?" he asked with a booming laugh that held nothing but mocking amusement.
Buffy refused to answer him and stubbornly kept her mouth shut, even though her mind was whirling.
"No..Buffy they both love you. The man and demon, the demon loved you first..which brought out the man in our sweet William. Infatuated he is, by your blood, your smell. Disgusting really. Much like Angel."
"Angel? Who-what are you?! What does Angel have to do with this? I've done no---?"
"You've done everything," he yelled light suddenly appearing dimly outlining his shape to her straining eyes.
She took a faltering step back and terror crawled down her spine. No, she thought. God no! It couldn't be him. It couldn't.
"Angelus," she whispered.
"Well done," he announced sarcastically.
She'd never slept with him, how was this possible?!
"How-I mean we never-the curse-"she stammered incredulously.
"Come here," he ordered dismissing her questions with his words.
Her mind and heart told her not to, but he had some kind of control over her and her feet moved her body ever closer.
"Buffy."
She stopped, turned.
"Buffy," the two voices spoke then at the same time their voices over lapping and merging.
Two demons. Beings she was sworn to kill. Two she loved instead. Two shadows in the dark on the edge of her light.
"Save me Buffy," they cried.
Torn, right down the middle, she looked from one to the other in despair.
"Who are you?! Why are you doing this to me?!"
"It's me Angel."
"It's me Spike."
Closing her eyes, she gripped her head and shook it back and forth, to block out their desperate pleas. She had no defense for this. For them. She was naked and unprepared for the depth in which they affected her.
What was this?
She'd already chosen Angel. Spike had walked away. What-how was Angelus involved?
"Stop it, what is this?!" she screamed.
"I love you," Angel's voice said then.
"He'll kill you," Spike warned.
She sank to the ground then, holding herself, forcing herself not to listen to them.
"I love you," Spike whispered.
"He'll kill you," Angelus growled.
The words from these two demons were interchangeable, but the meaning was the same no matter who said it.
They held her heart, her life.
Owned her soul.
"Save us," they screamed as the light disappeared and they were cast into the dark once more.
Buffy's eyes jerked open only to look into the yellow glow of Angelus's eyes.
Her hand automatically went to beneath her pillow searching for the stake she kept there.
In the blink of an eye, Angelus gripped her wandering wrist in a grip that threatened to break it.
"Angel," she pleaded searching his eyes for any sign of the man she loved.
"Angel," he mocked as he knelt over her; his face mere inches form her own. He inhaled sharply as his face nuzzled the side of her neck.
"His mistake was marking what was mine," he spoke softly, chillingly. His fangs scrapped Spike's mark, drawing blood. "His second was leaving you alone."
Buffy came out of her frozen state with a vengeance. Jerking up she kneed him in the groin, jerking her wrist from his grasp. But not fast, enough as Angelus howled his grip tightening on her wrist breaking it as she jerked free.
Buffy screamed as she rolled off the bed and landed painfully. Angelus cupped himself as he marched over to her intent on making her pay. She reacted to the sight of him by kicking out at his knees and sent him stumbling into the wall. The whole house shook with the force of it.
A wheezing laugh erupted as he rose.
"Who knew you liked it rough? You'll pay for this bitch," he hissed as slowly approached her.
"Angel...please not like this," she tried again to reach the man she loved. She just knew he was in there somewhere! She crouched down and with some difficulty snapped the leg off her desk chair.
"Don't you get it yet Buff? Angel is gone. It's Angelus now. And I'm gonna tear you apart," Angel said as he attacked.
Teeth gritted against the pain of her broken wrist she met him half way. A battle of fists and fangs waged.
"BUFFY!!!!!!!"
Her name being screamed made her pause and Angelus took full advantage of that pummeling her to the ground.
"Spike," Buffy yelled.
Crouched outside on the tree beside her window Spike sat his face a mask of rage. He reached out and shattered the window. Growling and snarling his yellow eyes glowed.
"Invite me in Buffy," he cried urgently as Angelus picked up the beaten Slayer by her hair, catching her into a chokehold.
Angelus turned so they both faced the window.
"Do it and I snap your neck Buff," Angelus threatened.
Spike growled.
He threw himself uselessly against the barrier in a rage.
"You bleedin' fucking bastard! I'll kill you. I'll rip you head of-"
"I've got the girl. I've got the invite. What've you got?" Angelus taunted as he lowered his head and eyes. Fangs bared.
"NO!"
Buffy's eyes met Spike's and as she felt the first sting of Angelus's fangs pierce her throat, she whispered the words.
"Come in Spike," she whispered as Angelus ripped her throat out. The last thing she heard was Spike's scream of anguish.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
~*~*~*~*~
Buffy woke screaming and flailing about. Her eyes popped open and she searched her room for any sign of Angelus.
"Please no," she whispered as she jumped out of bed and grabbed her stake from beneath her pillow.
Shaking, she walked to her window and looked out. Nothing moved in the silence of the night. Her Slayer senses were quiet.
Moving on pure instinct and fear, she started to dress. She left her room and barged into her mom's.
Joyce jerked awake with a startled scream as the lights flicked on and her door was thrown against the wall.
"B..Buffy? What are you doing?!" Joyce asked in surprise and irritation.
"Get up," Buffy ordered going into her mom's closet and grabbing a suitcase. She started throwing item after item into it.
"Buffy?!"
"Mom, I've got something to tell you. I'm the Slayer. Vampire Slayer that is..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy paced back and forth.
"Buffy, this is ridiculous," Giles finally exclaimed.
Buffy turned her cold gaze to Giles.
"You doubt me," she asked coolly.
Giles blinked at her deadly tone and whipped his glasses off to clean them.
"Of course not," he stammered.
"Good because this is how it is! Angelus is back. He's here and he'll be gunning for us all. This is how it's going to be, you all are leaving--- "
"Hey! I'm not going anywhere," Cordelia spoke up sharply.
"Shut up," Buffy spat. "You'll do as I say or you'll die! You fancy that? Cuz really I could care less about you. The fact you and Xander are involved is the only reason you are here. No other. Giles I need you to-I hate to ask this but..you need to get as much money you can get a hold of. I'll have my mom do the same. You all need to be gone in the morning. That's three hours til dawn and I want you all to stay here until then. But be out of town with only what you need-"
"Buffy! We're not leaving you," Xander snapped standing to glare at her.
"Yeh, we're the Scoobies," Willow piped up. "We stick together!"
"No. You're leaving. That's final. Giles?" She shot him a look that only had one meaning.
Shoving a hand through his hair he scowled looked away.
"We're going," he finally said.
The shouts of protest rang through the room as Giles bowed his head in defeat.
"Buffy.."
Joyce's voice quieted everyone. Everyone turned to look at Buffy's mom who seemed to have come out of her shell-shocked state. A state she'd been in when Buffy brought her over.
Buffy's gaze softened as she turned to face her mom.
"Yeh, mom?"
"You are coming with us right?"
Buffy looked away and shook her head.
"No. I'm not. I have to stay here. Protect the hell mouth, everyone here. I can't go!"
Another round of protests sounded.
"Enough," Buffy yelled. "Enough. I can't...fight Angelus if you are here. You know what he can do," she said pointedly looking at Giles, Xander and Willow in turn.
"What? What can he do?" Cordelia asked clueless.
"More reason you should come," Willow urged.
"More reason for me to stay. I need you to look for Spike," Buffy admitted.
"Spike?!" Cordelia and Xander cried in unison, shocked.
"Yes. He left last night. I need you to find him. I need him," she whispered brokenly.
Giles jerked his head curtly.
"Fine. Everyone, excuse us," Giles said as he led Buffy upstairs to his room. "Buffy how in God's name did this happen? You've had no time to..?" he asked leadingly.
"God no! There was no happiness between us. No kissage. The last time I saw Angel was last night in the cemetery. I ditched him when I sensed Spike---"
"You and Spike didn't..?"
"No....no, we just..kissed. Nothing more. I went home to bed. Had the Slayer dream and came here!"
Giles shook his head in confusion.
"Then how-"
"Who cares?! Leave Giles, take them. I want you to keep in touch by e- mail all right? Willow knows how. I'll be fine. Just bring me Spike and I will be fine."
"Why do you need Spike? Why is he important?"
Buffy glanced away frowning.
"I don't know," she muttered. She wasn't lying she told herself. She couldn't tell Giles she was in love with Spike. He wouldn't understand. She didn't even understand! She had once thought it was impossible to be in love with two people at the same time.
She'd seen it on soap operas and even read it in books, where the heroine was in love with two men at the same time. She had scoffed. Now she knew you could be. God now she knew.
"Just find him Giles," she said softly as she finally cracked.
Giles caught her as she fell and held his Slayer as she sobbed.
"I'll find him Buffy," he promised. "I'll find Spike."
Chapter: One
Three weeks later somewhere in the West...
"Hurry up," Xander hissed hunching forward, large drops of demon goop dripping from his head.
"I am," was the reply from a very irritated Giles as he shoved the key into the lock and opened the hotel door. Xander rudely shoved past him, and ignored the women who lounged around the room and stormed into the bathroom.
Giles slowly shut the door and leaned against it. He eyed the women who were silent looking anywhere but at each other. The vibes in the room screamed DON'T ASK. So Giles didn't, he merely focused his attention on Joyce.
"How are you Joyce?" he asked as he moved with tired steps into the room.
Joyce looked up, her face worn and drawn. Her eyes infinitely sad.
"How do you think Rupert?" she asked with an arched brow. "My daughter's all alone, while we're on the run! How do you think I feel?!"
Giles grimaced slightly as he took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Point taken. You are not the only one who is worried about Buffy I assure you. As her Watcher and friend I am in deep distress, but this is the only way."
Joyce didn't respond as she laid down on the only bed available and closed her eyes as if she could close off the situation, the mess their lives were.
"Giles what'd you find out?" Willow finally broke the uncomfortable silence.
Giles settled himself on the floor the only other furniture occupied by Cordelia.
"Not much. The demon world has very little news on Spike's whereabouts. The bars we went to only had information we've already checked out I'm afraid."
"Great! Wonderful! We're wandering around the country without a clue as to where we're going! Looking for Spike. Evil soulless Spike! Hello? Anyone else not see the reason in this?!" Cordelia erupted. "If Buffy hadn't done whatever she did we wouldn't be in th-"
"Don't you dare blame this on my daughter," Joyce spoke coldly. "She's out there now saving lives, risking her own. I know she's probably saved yours a time or too as well. Don't you dare speak as if you are better than she is. You aren't fit to be in her presence."
Cordelia opened her mouth a couple of times in shock.
"She's right. If you've nothing of value to say do be quiet," Giles agreed.
Xander strode back into the room then rubbing his now washed head furiously.
"Did Giles tell you what we found? Noting except for trouble. We ran into some slimy, demon-y thing with a thing for spitin' on people," he complained.
No one said anything to that and soon sleeping arrangements were made. The girls taking the king size bed and the men on the floor. Soon the lights were out.
Just another day on the road, Willow thought and another dead end. She was beginning to think they'd never find Spike. And if they didn't... She shuddered at the thought.
On the verge of sleep, the booming knock startled them awake. Xander and Giles motioned for the women to grab their belongings and headed cautiously towards the door.
Giles looked through the peek hole and his heart gave a giant leap as he saw who it was. A vampire they'd seen in one of the bars earlier that night.
He cursed silently, having been sure they had not been followed.
"Watcher," the vamp called out.
Giles frowned and stepped back from the door. Dread formed in the pit of his stomach and he turned to face the others.
"We have to get out of here. To the bathroom," he ordered. No one protested as they hurried to the bathroom.
Giles stood guard as one after the other went through the window of the bathroom. Finally, it was his turn and he shimmied through with a grunt and landed deftly on his feet as he hit the ground. Looking around he saw no one, the others having been taught the drill to disappear and meet at a certain place within the hour. Pulling his ball cap on he slipped into his over coat and head ducked, disappeared into the night.
A terrified desk clerk opened the door to the hotel room. He was instructed to invite the group of men in and he did so. They searched the room and found nothing, thoroughly upset they set about destroying it.
The lead vamp a large beer bellied Hispanic growled low in his throat as he pulled out a cell phone and dialed.
"Sir? They're gone," he said.
"Really?"
"Yeh, they was here but a minute ago, they took off through the bathroom window. What you want us to do?"
"Try blocking all exits next time! I want them found do you understand?! I won't have them ruining this," the man snapped.
"Yes Mr. Travers," the vampire said to a dial tone.
"C'mon, we gotta find them. Tonight," he ordered and after disposing of the clerk, they left the hotel to search fruitlessly for the Scoobies.
~*~*~*~*~
Rufus Travers clasped his hands together and stared at the picture of his dearly departed brother.
"Quentin..you never had the iron fist needed to run the Council. Rogue Slayers who do as they please. Dating vampires. Tsk, tsk. When you died, I had to take over and now I have to clean up your messes. Granted hiring those foolish vampires was a mistake but I shall rectify that. But soon..soon I will have all the power you could only imagine and I will survive them all!"
Laughing quietly to himself, he reached for his phone and punched in an extension.
"Yes this is Rufus. I have a task for Special Projects, it involves one Rupert Giles said Watcher of rogue Slayer Buffy Anne Summers..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I just wanted to add that I'll put up the 2nd chapter on Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest. Please review and tell me what you think good or bad. I can take it. I hope you enjoyed this.
A/N: Hi all, hope you enjoyed my last story the prequel to this one Redefined. And to any new readers welcome and enjoy. I will start by saying any who have not read Redefined will be clueless as to what is going on. I will be referring to Redefined. Picks up right where I left off. Same characters minus two Wolfe and Grace but I have some new ones too. Different plot. This is a B/S story so any B/A people who don't like the thought of them together this may not be for you. Sorry. But to any B/S people there is an implied B/A relationship. There has to be, because in Redefined I left it wide open. I will say B/A will not be together in this story, so don't worry. I want to thank everyone who took the time to read Redefined and hope you find this as satisfactory as it. Enjoy. Skyz.
Disclaimer: I own nothing of Btvs. It belongs to Joss Whedon and ME. I only own the characters I've created. Which are Delos, Mornay, and Rufus. Please don't sue, this is for entertainment only.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Prologue:
Her sleep was restless; her eyes flickered continuously under her eyelids. Her feet shot out, tumbling her covers to the floor in a heap.
Her fingers clawed at the sheets and she moaned deep down in her throat.
Buffy was dreaming.
She was in the dark, no sign of light, all it was, was inky blackness and it consumed her, overwhelmed. Desperately she searched for any sign of a way out. In her hurry, she tripped over her own feet and fell heavily onto her hands and knees.
She moaned as pain laced through her at her scraped knees and palms. That got her attention. She had not noticed until then that she was naked. A startled gasp escaped her.
Her initial reaction was to cover herself.
"Don't," his voice a darkened whisper stopped her cold.
Her head shot up and she scrambled to her feet looking around wildly, heart pounding. Fear blooming.
"Who's there? Where am I? Where the hell are my clothes?!" she demanded as she struck a fighting stance.
"Slayer.......I will ask the questions. You are here for my amusement. And might I add you look delicious?" the voice asked coldly repressed.
Revulsion filled her and she scowled into the darkness. She reminded herself his perversion wasn't her problem; she needed to know what was going on! Now!
"What do you want? Who are you? When I find you I'm gonna make yo---"
"I can see it. Vaguely feel it. The power you have. The way you're able to seduce the fiercest of demons. How you corrupted William," he cut her off silkily.
Buffy stiffened as she realized whom he was talking about.
"Ah..didn't you know? What did you think happened? The man inside loved you and the demon wanted your blood? Seduced by your light William appeared?" he asked with a booming laugh that held nothing but mocking amusement.
Buffy refused to answer him and stubbornly kept her mouth shut, even though her mind was whirling.
"No..Buffy they both love you. The man and demon, the demon loved you first..which brought out the man in our sweet William. Infatuated he is, by your blood, your smell. Disgusting really. Much like Angel."
"Angel? Who-what are you?! What does Angel have to do with this? I've done no---?"
"You've done everything," he yelled light suddenly appearing dimly outlining his shape to her straining eyes.
She took a faltering step back and terror crawled down her spine. No, she thought. God no! It couldn't be him. It couldn't.
"Angelus," she whispered.
"Well done," he announced sarcastically.
She'd never slept with him, how was this possible?!
"How-I mean we never-the curse-"she stammered incredulously.
"Come here," he ordered dismissing her questions with his words.
Her mind and heart told her not to, but he had some kind of control over her and her feet moved her body ever closer.
"Buffy."
She stopped, turned.
"Buffy," the two voices spoke then at the same time their voices over lapping and merging.
Two demons. Beings she was sworn to kill. Two she loved instead. Two shadows in the dark on the edge of her light.
"Save me Buffy," they cried.
Torn, right down the middle, she looked from one to the other in despair.
"Who are you?! Why are you doing this to me?!"
"It's me Angel."
"It's me Spike."
Closing her eyes, she gripped her head and shook it back and forth, to block out their desperate pleas. She had no defense for this. For them. She was naked and unprepared for the depth in which they affected her.
What was this?
She'd already chosen Angel. Spike had walked away. What-how was Angelus involved?
"Stop it, what is this?!" she screamed.
"I love you," Angel's voice said then.
"He'll kill you," Spike warned.
She sank to the ground then, holding herself, forcing herself not to listen to them.
"I love you," Spike whispered.
"He'll kill you," Angelus growled.
The words from these two demons were interchangeable, but the meaning was the same no matter who said it.
They held her heart, her life.
Owned her soul.
"Save us," they screamed as the light disappeared and they were cast into the dark once more.
Buffy's eyes jerked open only to look into the yellow glow of Angelus's eyes.
Her hand automatically went to beneath her pillow searching for the stake she kept there.
In the blink of an eye, Angelus gripped her wandering wrist in a grip that threatened to break it.
"Angel," she pleaded searching his eyes for any sign of the man she loved.
"Angel," he mocked as he knelt over her; his face mere inches form her own. He inhaled sharply as his face nuzzled the side of her neck.
"His mistake was marking what was mine," he spoke softly, chillingly. His fangs scrapped Spike's mark, drawing blood. "His second was leaving you alone."
Buffy came out of her frozen state with a vengeance. Jerking up she kneed him in the groin, jerking her wrist from his grasp. But not fast, enough as Angelus howled his grip tightening on her wrist breaking it as she jerked free.
Buffy screamed as she rolled off the bed and landed painfully. Angelus cupped himself as he marched over to her intent on making her pay. She reacted to the sight of him by kicking out at his knees and sent him stumbling into the wall. The whole house shook with the force of it.
A wheezing laugh erupted as he rose.
"Who knew you liked it rough? You'll pay for this bitch," he hissed as slowly approached her.
"Angel...please not like this," she tried again to reach the man she loved. She just knew he was in there somewhere! She crouched down and with some difficulty snapped the leg off her desk chair.
"Don't you get it yet Buff? Angel is gone. It's Angelus now. And I'm gonna tear you apart," Angel said as he attacked.
Teeth gritted against the pain of her broken wrist she met him half way. A battle of fists and fangs waged.
"BUFFY!!!!!!!"
Her name being screamed made her pause and Angelus took full advantage of that pummeling her to the ground.
"Spike," Buffy yelled.
Crouched outside on the tree beside her window Spike sat his face a mask of rage. He reached out and shattered the window. Growling and snarling his yellow eyes glowed.
"Invite me in Buffy," he cried urgently as Angelus picked up the beaten Slayer by her hair, catching her into a chokehold.
Angelus turned so they both faced the window.
"Do it and I snap your neck Buff," Angelus threatened.
Spike growled.
He threw himself uselessly against the barrier in a rage.
"You bleedin' fucking bastard! I'll kill you. I'll rip you head of-"
"I've got the girl. I've got the invite. What've you got?" Angelus taunted as he lowered his head and eyes. Fangs bared.
"NO!"
Buffy's eyes met Spike's and as she felt the first sting of Angelus's fangs pierce her throat, she whispered the words.
"Come in Spike," she whispered as Angelus ripped her throat out. The last thing she heard was Spike's scream of anguish.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"
~*~*~*~*~
Buffy woke screaming and flailing about. Her eyes popped open and she searched her room for any sign of Angelus.
"Please no," she whispered as she jumped out of bed and grabbed her stake from beneath her pillow.
Shaking, she walked to her window and looked out. Nothing moved in the silence of the night. Her Slayer senses were quiet.
Moving on pure instinct and fear, she started to dress. She left her room and barged into her mom's.
Joyce jerked awake with a startled scream as the lights flicked on and her door was thrown against the wall.
"B..Buffy? What are you doing?!" Joyce asked in surprise and irritation.
"Get up," Buffy ordered going into her mom's closet and grabbing a suitcase. She started throwing item after item into it.
"Buffy?!"
"Mom, I've got something to tell you. I'm the Slayer. Vampire Slayer that is..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Buffy paced back and forth.
"Buffy, this is ridiculous," Giles finally exclaimed.
Buffy turned her cold gaze to Giles.
"You doubt me," she asked coolly.
Giles blinked at her deadly tone and whipped his glasses off to clean them.
"Of course not," he stammered.
"Good because this is how it is! Angelus is back. He's here and he'll be gunning for us all. This is how it's going to be, you all are leaving--- "
"Hey! I'm not going anywhere," Cordelia spoke up sharply.
"Shut up," Buffy spat. "You'll do as I say or you'll die! You fancy that? Cuz really I could care less about you. The fact you and Xander are involved is the only reason you are here. No other. Giles I need you to-I hate to ask this but..you need to get as much money you can get a hold of. I'll have my mom do the same. You all need to be gone in the morning. That's three hours til dawn and I want you all to stay here until then. But be out of town with only what you need-"
"Buffy! We're not leaving you," Xander snapped standing to glare at her.
"Yeh, we're the Scoobies," Willow piped up. "We stick together!"
"No. You're leaving. That's final. Giles?" She shot him a look that only had one meaning.
Shoving a hand through his hair he scowled looked away.
"We're going," he finally said.
The shouts of protest rang through the room as Giles bowed his head in defeat.
"Buffy.."
Joyce's voice quieted everyone. Everyone turned to look at Buffy's mom who seemed to have come out of her shell-shocked state. A state she'd been in when Buffy brought her over.
Buffy's gaze softened as she turned to face her mom.
"Yeh, mom?"
"You are coming with us right?"
Buffy looked away and shook her head.
"No. I'm not. I have to stay here. Protect the hell mouth, everyone here. I can't go!"
Another round of protests sounded.
"Enough," Buffy yelled. "Enough. I can't...fight Angelus if you are here. You know what he can do," she said pointedly looking at Giles, Xander and Willow in turn.
"What? What can he do?" Cordelia asked clueless.
"More reason you should come," Willow urged.
"More reason for me to stay. I need you to look for Spike," Buffy admitted.
"Spike?!" Cordelia and Xander cried in unison, shocked.
"Yes. He left last night. I need you to find him. I need him," she whispered brokenly.
Giles jerked his head curtly.
"Fine. Everyone, excuse us," Giles said as he led Buffy upstairs to his room. "Buffy how in God's name did this happen? You've had no time to..?" he asked leadingly.
"God no! There was no happiness between us. No kissage. The last time I saw Angel was last night in the cemetery. I ditched him when I sensed Spike---"
"You and Spike didn't..?"
"No....no, we just..kissed. Nothing more. I went home to bed. Had the Slayer dream and came here!"
Giles shook his head in confusion.
"Then how-"
"Who cares?! Leave Giles, take them. I want you to keep in touch by e- mail all right? Willow knows how. I'll be fine. Just bring me Spike and I will be fine."
"Why do you need Spike? Why is he important?"
Buffy glanced away frowning.
"I don't know," she muttered. She wasn't lying she told herself. She couldn't tell Giles she was in love with Spike. He wouldn't understand. She didn't even understand! She had once thought it was impossible to be in love with two people at the same time.
She'd seen it on soap operas and even read it in books, where the heroine was in love with two men at the same time. She had scoffed. Now she knew you could be. God now she knew.
"Just find him Giles," she said softly as she finally cracked.
Giles caught her as she fell and held his Slayer as she sobbed.
"I'll find him Buffy," he promised. "I'll find Spike."
Chapter: One
Three weeks later somewhere in the West...
"Hurry up," Xander hissed hunching forward, large drops of demon goop dripping from his head.
"I am," was the reply from a very irritated Giles as he shoved the key into the lock and opened the hotel door. Xander rudely shoved past him, and ignored the women who lounged around the room and stormed into the bathroom.
Giles slowly shut the door and leaned against it. He eyed the women who were silent looking anywhere but at each other. The vibes in the room screamed DON'T ASK. So Giles didn't, he merely focused his attention on Joyce.
"How are you Joyce?" he asked as he moved with tired steps into the room.
Joyce looked up, her face worn and drawn. Her eyes infinitely sad.
"How do you think Rupert?" she asked with an arched brow. "My daughter's all alone, while we're on the run! How do you think I feel?!"
Giles grimaced slightly as he took off his glasses and rubbed the bridge of his nose.
"Point taken. You are not the only one who is worried about Buffy I assure you. As her Watcher and friend I am in deep distress, but this is the only way."
Joyce didn't respond as she laid down on the only bed available and closed her eyes as if she could close off the situation, the mess their lives were.
"Giles what'd you find out?" Willow finally broke the uncomfortable silence.
Giles settled himself on the floor the only other furniture occupied by Cordelia.
"Not much. The demon world has very little news on Spike's whereabouts. The bars we went to only had information we've already checked out I'm afraid."
"Great! Wonderful! We're wandering around the country without a clue as to where we're going! Looking for Spike. Evil soulless Spike! Hello? Anyone else not see the reason in this?!" Cordelia erupted. "If Buffy hadn't done whatever she did we wouldn't be in th-"
"Don't you dare blame this on my daughter," Joyce spoke coldly. "She's out there now saving lives, risking her own. I know she's probably saved yours a time or too as well. Don't you dare speak as if you are better than she is. You aren't fit to be in her presence."
Cordelia opened her mouth a couple of times in shock.
"She's right. If you've nothing of value to say do be quiet," Giles agreed.
Xander strode back into the room then rubbing his now washed head furiously.
"Did Giles tell you what we found? Noting except for trouble. We ran into some slimy, demon-y thing with a thing for spitin' on people," he complained.
No one said anything to that and soon sleeping arrangements were made. The girls taking the king size bed and the men on the floor. Soon the lights were out.
Just another day on the road, Willow thought and another dead end. She was beginning to think they'd never find Spike. And if they didn't... She shuddered at the thought.
On the verge of sleep, the booming knock startled them awake. Xander and Giles motioned for the women to grab their belongings and headed cautiously towards the door.
Giles looked through the peek hole and his heart gave a giant leap as he saw who it was. A vampire they'd seen in one of the bars earlier that night.
He cursed silently, having been sure they had not been followed.
"Watcher," the vamp called out.
Giles frowned and stepped back from the door. Dread formed in the pit of his stomach and he turned to face the others.
"We have to get out of here. To the bathroom," he ordered. No one protested as they hurried to the bathroom.
Giles stood guard as one after the other went through the window of the bathroom. Finally, it was his turn and he shimmied through with a grunt and landed deftly on his feet as he hit the ground. Looking around he saw no one, the others having been taught the drill to disappear and meet at a certain place within the hour. Pulling his ball cap on he slipped into his over coat and head ducked, disappeared into the night.
A terrified desk clerk opened the door to the hotel room. He was instructed to invite the group of men in and he did so. They searched the room and found nothing, thoroughly upset they set about destroying it.
The lead vamp a large beer bellied Hispanic growled low in his throat as he pulled out a cell phone and dialed.
"Sir? They're gone," he said.
"Really?"
"Yeh, they was here but a minute ago, they took off through the bathroom window. What you want us to do?"
"Try blocking all exits next time! I want them found do you understand?! I won't have them ruining this," the man snapped.
"Yes Mr. Travers," the vampire said to a dial tone.
"C'mon, we gotta find them. Tonight," he ordered and after disposing of the clerk, they left the hotel to search fruitlessly for the Scoobies.
~*~*~*~*~
Rufus Travers clasped his hands together and stared at the picture of his dearly departed brother.
"Quentin..you never had the iron fist needed to run the Council. Rogue Slayers who do as they please. Dating vampires. Tsk, tsk. When you died, I had to take over and now I have to clean up your messes. Granted hiring those foolish vampires was a mistake but I shall rectify that. But soon..soon I will have all the power you could only imagine and I will survive them all!"
Laughing quietly to himself, he reached for his phone and punched in an extension.
"Yes this is Rufus. I have a task for Special Projects, it involves one Rupert Giles said Watcher of rogue Slayer Buffy Anne Summers..."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
A/N: I just wanted to add that I'll put up the 2nd chapter on Tuesday, Wednesday at the latest. Please review and tell me what you think good or bad. I can take it. I hope you enjoyed this.