Chapter 24 - Into the Midst of Temptation
They set off early the next morning. It was cold again, and rain threatened, the sky remaining dark for some time after the sun rose. There was little conversation between Buffy and Spike, except for the necessities of those travelling together. Margot had given them directions to the nearest training camp, and by her reckoning, they would reach it before dark.
They met no one all morning. By the time they stopped for a meal at noon, the rain started, and they felt lucky to find shelter against a large boulder. The wind had increased by then, too, and the rain was falling almost horizontally.
Their stop was, of necessity, short, and they were soon on their way again. Both were having second thoughts about the plan, especially insofar as they had to have a coherent story of how Buffy escaped, and exactly who Spike was. Buffy was first to broach her thoughts.
"So, are you going to keep pretending to be human?" she asked.
Spike turned to face her. He suspected this was some sort of test, but he didn't see that there was more than one answer he could give - at least in the short term.
"Well, yes. If I don't, I reckon I'll be dust in no time. So, I was planning on keeping up the pretence at first. Maybe, once I've had a chance to prove myself, gain some trust, I can go back to being myself."
This didn't elicit an answer from Buffy. In truth, she had half hoped he would be obviously a vampire from the start, as it lessened her sense of responsibility should something go wrong, but she could see his point of view. If he was obviously a vampire, it was almost guaranteed that someone would try to dust him, and her protection might not be enough to prevent it. There were enough people around who had a personal reason for dusting any available vampire without actually waiting for battle. And, the other side of that was the fact that, were he attacked, his promise not to hurt humans might have to be broken. And, once he started, would he be able to stop himself?
Spike had expected an answer. He thought she was hoping for the opposite response, but from his point of view, it would be better if she simply staked him now.
"Is that ok? I mean, did you want me to do it the other way?"
"No, it'll be ok. I know what you mean. But, like I said, you need to stay with me all the time."
That was the one prospect of the coming days that actually pleased Spike. Recent events had made it clear that Buffy was on his mind all the time. He found himself watching her when he thought she wasn't looking. He found himself dreaming about her. And that … whatever it was, the almost-kiss. And the taste of her blood. He could still remember it. Despite his fever at the time, every nuance of the flavour of her blood was crystal clear.
"So, what's our story going to be?"
"Well, let's keep it simple," Spike said. "I mean, the closer to the truth, the better."
"Ok, so, I was at the castle, and I managed to get away. Let's say the injections - well, maybe someone forgot an injection, and then, when they unchained me, I managed to overpower the guards, and got out. On the way, I came across you. Let's say you were taken as food, so I decided to take you with me?"
"That's really going to recommend me as someone worth having around, isn't it? Why don't we say you met me after the castle. I was on my way to a camp, and decided to go along."
"Ok," Buffy agreed. "But, we've got to have a reason for me not letting you out of my sight."
"Well, there is the obvious reason," Spike drawled.
"And what's that?"
"Well, just that you don't want any other woman to get their hands on me! Think you can pretend you're besotted with me, Pet?"
Buffy shook her head. That would be easier than he supposed, but she didn't want to let him know that.
"I suppose so. It'll take a bit of acting, but …"
"Yes, I know, I'll have to act too, but it's the only thing I can think of that'll work."
"Ok, we'll do that then," Buffy agreed.
By mid afternoon, there were more people around. For the most part, they were heading towards the camp too. Something about the two travellers discouraged company, though. It was something about the way they seemed complete in themselves, as if an addition would destroy the perfect symmetry that they represented. They were making a better job of appearing to be a couple than even they knew.
By late afternoon, they came into the camp and were directed towards someone who would see to billeting arrangements. Buffy seemed surprised at first. Then she remembered. She had expected to be recognised, but she hadn't been.
"You've still got me hidden, haven't you?" she asked Spike.
His face showed that he had forgotten too. They stopped for a few seconds while he muttered the words which would allow people around her to recognise her.
When they arrived at their destination, it was to surprised shouts of "It's the Slayer!" This was followed by them being hastened to the one of the tents to meet with those in charge of this training camp.
Buffy was welcomed profusely, and made to promise that the story of her escape would be told in detail later.
The leader of that camp was a Captain Jon Wentworth, and he arrived within minutes. He was a short, dark man, who had only recently been promoted. There had been some major changes in the army since Emily's plan had first been accepted. Prince David had showed himself remarkably astute, and as the plan grew in public popularity, the elected government had quickly decided to support it. As a result, Willis had been replaced as chief of the armed forces by someone more amenable to the cause, and significant changes had been made to the command structure, with those who tried to thwart the plan being moved out of the way.
This war was going to require some rather more basic skills than the army was generally prepared for. This gave the opportunity to some, who had been passed over for promotion in the past, to show their worth. Wentworth was one such.
He met the newcomers with enthusiasm, and not a little awe, at meeting a Slayer. He had seen the other Slayer, of course, but only from a distance. He made sure they had quarters that were as comfortable as could be provided, then sat down to tell them the state of affairs.
"We've seen movement in the last few days, and believe that the invaders plan to attack soon. As a result, all the training camps are being disbanded, and the troops are being gathered here." As he spoke, he pointed to an area on the map. Buffy nodded when she saw it. It was an ideal spot. It was a large plateau a few miles from the capital. It was more than big enough to give them room to manoeuvre, but it would also make it impossible for the invaders to approach the city itself without being spotted.
"Those left in the city are those deemed unsuited for the more strenuous fighting - the old, children and so on. Even so, they've been provided with bows and they intend to defend themselves with fiery arrows for as long as they're able. If the invaders go straight to the city, they'll find themselves caught between that and the army, as we fully intend to follow them there, and wipe them out."
Buffy was pleased with the plan. A glance at Spike showed he approved too.
"So, we head out tomorrow?" Buffy asked.
"Yes, we leave at dawn. We're only a half day's march from our destination. There we'll meet up with the others. Your sister Slayer will be there too, along with Prince David. He's taken a major role in setting this up, really shown his worth."
Wentworth was called away then, to deal with some of the necessities of getting the camp moving the following day. Buffy was relieved to be out of the rain, and immediately moved to her pack to find a change of clothes. She rigged up a makeshift screen and went behind it to change.
While he was alone, Spike spent the time becoming accustomed to his surroundings. He'd been surrounded by humans before, on other operations in the past. He was used to being assailed by the sensations of heartbeats and blood all around him, but in the past, he had known it was temporary. This was his life now. He found it hard to believe in some ways. He had given up everything familiar to him in order to live among humans. His motivation for doing it was really two-fold. It was certainly true that to go back among his own kind would be almost certain death. Even so, had it not been for Buffy, that's what he would have chosen. The part the Slayer played in the decision actually frightened him. The thought of never seeing her again, not being part of her life, seemed more daunting that anything else he could imagine.
He knew he had fallen in love with her. He didn't know exactly when it had happened, but it had. It was stupid, and he couldn't see how there was any future in it, but there was nothing he could do.
Buffy changed her clothes with her mind on what was going to happen. She hadn't realised she would meet the other Slayer so soon. She had hoped to have some time to allow Spike to prove his new allegiance before giving him the ultimate temptation of two Slayers in the same place. She felt a sense of dread growing in her stomach at the thought that she had let her own personal feelings get in the way of her good sense. Somewhere in the past few days, she had fallen in love with him. She knew it, but she also knew nothing would ever come of it. He was a vampire, and while he was different from any other vampire she'd met, he'd said he didn't see any point of falling in love with a human. They were talking about vampires taking human pets then, of course, but the rule still applied. He had made it clear that he wouldn't consider it. And, as a Slayer, she had an even shorter life-span to look forward to than most humans. The alternative, that he could change her, turn her into one like him - that frightened her too. She had no idea how she would turn out as a vampire, and the possibility that she'd become one of the ravening creatures she had been trained to kill, terrified her. That she could turn out like Spike, willing to listen, willing to live among humans, seemed impossible.
Yet, if she thought it was impossible for her, why was it possible for him? She peeked over the screen to see what he was doing. He was sitting, looking off to her left. She followed his gaze, but saw nothing of interest. He looked sad. Well, that made sense. Whatever he had in his life previously was lost to him. She didn't fully understand why he was doing it. It wasn't cowardice. She'd seen enough of him to know that wasn't his problem. At least it was sadness she saw. If it had been triumph, she would have suspected that he intended to double-cross her, and she'd have to do something, and quickly.
He turned then, and she ducked back down so he wouldn't know she had been looking. She finished dressing quickly, and went back out.
"Screen's free if you want to change."
He turned towards her, pulling himself out of his own thoughts. Without saying a word, he lifted his pack, and went behind the screens.
As of tomorrow, he knew he had the opportunity to fulfil his original mission. He'd noticed the tension in the air as soon as that information became apparent. He had no intention of reneging on his bargain with her. Apart from the fact that he'd given his word, he couldn't do it. He knew that, but she obviously didn't. He knew he was going to have to watch his step or he'd more than likely find himself on the end of a stake.
When he emerged, someone had brought hot food for them, and Buffy was devouring it ravenously. He smiled at the picture before him. She was completely oblivious to the scene she provided. He joined her, and picked at what was provided. It had to be said, he was starting to enjoy human food. He'd never made a habit of eating it before, but the time he'd spent with Buffy was giving him the inclination for it. It didn't compare with blood, of course, and he wasn't going to derive any nutrition from it, but that didn't matter. She found it pleasurable, and spending time with her when she was happy was a joy in itself.
Knowing that they needed to be up early the next morning, they both wanted to sleep early. Two bedrolls had been provided for them, and they had been placed at opposite sides of the tent. In truth, Buffy had been offered another tent for Spike, but she had declined. The officer who had made the suggestion smiled. Slayers were well known for their habits, and if she wanted to share her sleeping quarters with the stranger, he wasn't going to argue.
Buffy settled into her bed, resigned to spending it at the other side of the tent to Spike. She wasn't happy about it, but she couldn't see any way to suggest otherwise. He wasn't in danger of dusting during the night, and she couldn't think of another excuse. Unless …. Well, it was draughty on her side of the tent. The opening was just there, and the wind was cold. It was enough of an excuse for her. She got up, picked up her bedroll, and pulled it across the tent towards the bemused vampire. "
"Too cold over there," she muttered.
Spike didn't answer. He couldn't see how one part of the tent could actually be colder than the rest of it. It all seemed cold to him. Still, he wasn't going to complain. And he didn't, even when he woke during the night to find her spooned up against him, and his own arm around her protectively. All in all, he thought, it wasn't likely to get much better.
*-*-*
Giles left the hospital in a hurry. He'd just had a run-in with the doctor in charge of Alasdair, and wasn't happy with the result. When Alasdair had first been admitted, Giles had told the staff he was his father-in-law, claiming Emily as his wife, and himself as her father. Of course, none of that was true, but no attempts were made to check the details until recently.
The problem started when he was approached by another doctor who was putting together a list of likely candidates for a new treatment he was investigating. He had been having serious problems getting any next-of-kin to agree to allowing their family member to take part in the trial because of the risks involved. Giles had been told that the chance of recovery from Alasdair's current state was deemed slight. Of course, that was from a purely medical point of view. They had another option, or they would have if Emily ever returned to this world. Giles had checked with the Phoenix, who had agreed that Emily was Alasdair's only hope. If he became like her, the demon would have no difficulty providing the necessary healing.
When Giles made it clear that he wasn't happy about Alasdair being part of the experimental trial, the doctor in question had done a little digging, and come up with the fact that Alasdair wasn't married. This fact alone annulled Giles' rights in the matter. The result of the conversation that evening had been to the effect that the doctor in question had said he was going to request that Alasdair be made the responsibility of the courts, and the doctor in charge of Alasdair's treatment was supporting the move. The aim, no doubt was the hope that a judge would decide in favour of the experimental procedure.
Despite the lateness of the hour, when Giles arrived home, he headed straight for his office. There, he contacted The Phoenix. His request was simple. He wanted Alasdair removed, with all the paraphernalia necessary for his continued survival, to somewhere safe.
To Giles' surprise, Phoenix seemed to understand the problem instantly. He had had some significant difficulties getting the other creature to grasp the realities of the world. This time, there was no problem. He agreed that an appropriate set up could be put together in the basement, and with the help of some magic, Alasdair's condition could be maintained indefinitely. Giles expressed his concern with that, reminding the Phoenix that it was in the basement that Alasdair had been hurt in the first place. The phoenix apologised for that. He said that the basement was no longer open to such creatures, and there would be no further danger. A little extra planning ensured that Giles, Grianne, and Jenny were all clearly somewhere public at the time of the switch, and everything was agreed.
Alasdair was due to be moved at just after 3 o'clock the next afternoon. The Phoenix didn't elaborate on how it was going to be done, and Giles didn't ask. At that time, Jenny would be collecting Lizzie from school, and Giles and Grianne were due to meet a senior civil servant who was the Council of Watchers' link to the government - a link never before taken seriously by the Council. Giles had seen distinct advantages in keeping those running the country abreast of supernatural developments, as a tool to keep them from interfering too much. So far, it was working well.
It was partly due to this link, that the fates of the families who had run the Council for so long were finally sealed. As a result of a deal with the Government, it was agreed that the money owed by the families be paid as if it were unpaid taxes, allowing everything to appear above board. The fact that the Government took a significant cut of the total seemed to Giles to be a necessary evil. Even so, the coffers of the Council were now extremely healthy, and Giles was able to take steps to ensure that all future Slayers would be paid a comfortable salary, whether they were mortal, or vampire in nature.
The families were, of course, having to do some major rearranging of their finances in order to repay the money they owed, selling everything they could. The fact that they were allowed to do it gradually meant they avoided bankruptcy, but they would never again be in a position to wield power in the Council. While they bemoaned their fate, others recognised the necessity of freeing the Council to appoint those most able to do the job regardless of their birth.