Chapter 25 - Declaration

The new camp was huge, but even so, it seemed overcrowded. The plateau on which it was situated had a softly inclining climb to the south and west, but to the north and east, it ended in cliffs which, while scalable, could not be climbed with any degree of stealth. The camp was being erected to the north-east of the plateau, with only room for a few lookouts in that direction. The main army would be amassed towards the softer slopes where they could attack quickly and with the advantage of height.

By the time Spike and Buffy got there, the camp was largely erected, and huge supplies of food and fuel had been amassed. The journey had taken place during the morning, and Buffy had had to bear the company of many of the senior members of the army who were travelling then too. Spike had stayed close throughout, despite the many comments from their companions that he should leave her to discuss the upcoming battle in peace.

He did the journey largely in silence, the only time he spoke being to insist that he would stay close to the Slayer. He was wary of the looks being put his way by the others. He felt vulnerable, and that wasn't something he was used to feeling. Knowing that any attempt to defend himself could be wrongly construed by the Slayer was going to cramp his style significantly, so he found himself on high alert throughout.

In truth, Buffy was no more relaxed. She sensed Spike's anxiety, and, although she didn't fully understand its source, she found it contagious.

Once at the main camp, they were allotted a small tent for their exclusive use, something few others had. They were allowed only a couple of moments to leave their belongings there before being hustled to the large tent which served as a headquarters.

There, senior army ranks and messengers were coming and going all the time. At the centre of the hub, however, were the two people largely responsible for the effort.

Emily and Prince David had become firm friends during the preparations. Despite the significant age difference, they found they shared a lot of interests, and had a similar outlook on the whole situation in which they found themselves.

They were discussing the latest report on enemy movements when Buffy was shown into the tent. Naturally, Spike was there too, but those around them did their best to ignore him, having no concept of why the Slayer insisted in having her current bed partner with her all the time.

Emily stood as Buffy approached. She had known Buffy was coming, and although they had never met, she recognised her instantly. She stood and ran towards Buffy, catching the smaller woman in a hug. Buffy instantly returned the embrace, knowing that the younger woman understood what it meant to be a Slayer.

When the introductions were complete, the four were left alone. Emily brought the newcomers up to speed on the plans, but her eyes kept slipping to Spike who had been introduced as a 'friend' with nothing else said.

When the situation was understood, Prince David persuaded Spike to accompany him to look at some further papers as a pretext to leave the two Slayers alone.

Although he was still visible, Buffy was uncomfortable to be separated from Spike. She was feeling unsure of her decision to allow Spike to come with her, and while she felt sure that two Slayers would be more than a match for him, her conscience was troubled.

Emily soon got to the matter on which she had wanted to get more information - Spike. She wanted all the details, of who he was, and what there was between them. Of course, Emily had some very definite ideas on the subject, and these were very much along the lines Buffy and Spike intended to portray, but she wanted details. She'd spent too much time lately closeted with military men, and Prince David. And, close as they were, there were some things she simply couldn't discuss with him.

Buffy gave the agreed story, and, although it covered the basics, it hadn't given enough details to satisfy Emily. Putting her curiosity to one side, Emily started to share her own story.

"I've got someone, someone special. His name's Alasdair, but he couldn't come with me when the invasion happened. It's been so long since I've seen him, and I miss him. I've been so lonely - you know how it is to lonely when you're surrounded by people? Then, a few days ago, I was training a bunch of new recruits. One of them, he was a natural. Everything I showed them, he could just do. Like that, no effort at all. When the session was over, I spoke to him, wanted to find out a bit about his background. Problem is, he took it as meaning I was interested, and he's been around ever since. David's calling him my shadow. He's ok, I mean, he's charming, and he makes me laugh, but I'm not interested in a relationship with him, and he won't take no for an answer."

"So," Buffy asked, getting into the spirit of a girlish sharing, "what does he look like? Are you tempted? Even a little?"

"I suppose he's good looking, if you like an overhanging brow. Tall, dark, muscled. I suppose he's ok, but he's not Alasdair. Maybe if I didn't have him, I'd want to see how it goes, but …."

"Yeah, I know." Buffy's voice showed her understanding. While it furthered the impression she and Spike had decided to give, she was being truthful, she really didn't think she could look at someone else right now. He was in her thoughts so much, and not just because she was scared he was going to start a massacre. "So, where is he now?"

Emily giggled. "I arranged for his group to be on sentry duty this afternoon, because I wanted time to meet you in peace. I know, I shouldn't have done it, but there has to be some compensation for all the rest of it."

"Yeah, being the Slayer's all responsibility," Buffy agreed.

Spike had, of course, overheard everything. It probably made him seem a little vacant to Prince David, since he was trying to follow two completely separate conversations at the same time, but the prince just didn't hold his interest like Buffy did. He was desperate for some hint that she actually cared for him, but all he got was the agreed story. There was nothing new added, and, while Buffy seemed remarkably good at putting forward the agreed story, he had nothing to reward his listening.

He mentally kicked himself. Why would he even think that she could care about him? He was nothing more that a creature she'd taken pity on. Maybe even this new man, the one who'd been wooing Emily, would interest her. And, he didn't know if he could take that. The thought that someone else could touch her, wake up beside her, was almost enough to cause his demon face to emerge. Only the utmost control prevented a premature end to their pretence.

At last, they were free to return to their tent. Emily had agreed to meet up with Buffy that evening, promising that, in all probability, her admirer would be there too. They went back, relieved to have a few moments to themselves before the formal planning meeting arranged for the late afternoon. They'd just got in, and Spike had delved into his supplies for blood. He drank it quickly, aware that Buffy might find the whole 'drinking blood' thing distasteful.

Buffy watched him while he drank. He felt her eyes on him, for the first time since becoming a vampire, wishing he didn't have to drink blood.

"I didn't think we'd meet Emily this soon," she told him.

"Frightened I wouldn't keep my word?"

"Well, a bit. It just seems so unlikely that you'd give up everything."

"I gave my word, and that's not something I do lightly. And, as to giving up everything, I don't see it that way."

"Why not? If you just did what you set out to do, you could go back, .."

Spike looked closely at her. His reasons were clear to him, but they weren't to her. "Buffy, look, I've got my reasons. Apart from what I said, which was true, there's another reason. I couldn't kill you. I mean it. If you came at me now with a stake, I'd defend myself, but I wouldn't kill you even if I got the chance."

"Why, Spike? I don't think I can go on with this if I don't understand. I'm scared that I've made the biggest mistake of my life letting you come with me. Why shouldn't I go and tell Emily, and let her stake you?"

"Why wouldn't you do it yourself?"

"I'm not sure I could, not unless I felt threatened by you."

He took a deep breath. He could feel the uncertainty coming off her. He knew it was going to affect everything she did, and some time soon, that meant fighting. The prospect that she might be killed because she was distracted worrying about what he was doing, .. Well, he didn't want to think about that. The alternative was to tell her the truth. That would more than likely come under the heading of making her feel threatened too.

She could see the various expressions flitting across his face as he tried to decide what to tell her. "So, Spike, why? Why would you give up your chance to do what you set out to do? Give me a reason to trust you."

"Well, Pet, I'm not sure it'll give you a reason to trust me, but I'll tell you the truth. I .. I love you. I didn't plan it that way, and I'm not going to take advantage of you, I mean, I had the opportunity already, and I didn't, so, please believe me. It's just .."

The words had come so quickly, but, just as quickly they dried up, leaving him floundering.

"I see," Buffy managed. Logic told her she shouldn't believe him. Her own feelings for the vampire were strange enough, how could she believe they were reciprocated? And yet, she instinctively felt truth in his words. It was the same instinct that told her she could trust him.

"I'm sorry, Pet. I didn't want to upset you. It's just, you're right. Everything you knew about me, about my motives just didn't add up to enough for me to do what I've done, what I've promised to do. So, you deserved the truth. I'm just sorry if the truth's painful. I just .."

Buffy crossed the short distance between them. There was no conscious thought in what she did, just the belief that it was the right thing to do. She put her hands on his shoulders, and kissed him. The kiss was gentle, and Spike took a few seconds to respond at all, so different was her reaction from what he had expected. Within seconds, all gentleness was gone, as they both explored one another with a ferocity born of being too close for too long without relief.

Despite everything, Spike pulled away after a few moments. "Buffy, what are you doing? You keep that up, and I'm not going to be able to stop, and I don't want to get staked right now."

"Spike, I'm probably crazy, I know that, but, the reason I suggested you come with me, was because, I've fallen for you too. I don't know when, and I really don't understand why. I need you to be near me. And, I want this."

As she spoke, she gestured to the fact that their bodies were close, arms around one another.

"How long have we got before that meeting?" she asked.

"Long enough," Spike replied before pulling her towards the bedding.

"What if someone comes in?" Buffy asked.

"Bit daft if they did. The whole charade we've been pulling was designed to make them think we'd be jumping one another every chance we get. I think they'll leave us alone."

And they did.

*-*-*

Alasdair seemed comfortable in the basement of the Council headquarters. There was some sort of shield around him, which was impenetrable, and which the Phoenix had assured Giles meant that his condition would be unaltered. He wouldn't need to be ventilated or nutritional drips while the spell lasted.

Of course, the hospital authorities had launched an investigation into what had happened to one of their patients. The ICU ward was an open-plan affair, and it was impossible to go in or out of it without passing the ward office which was normally manned. Despite that, the first indication that something had happened was the alarm which indicated a lack of heartbeat going off, yet when they arrived at the bed, it was empty.

Giles and Grianne were now spending a good deal of time looking at the various employees of the Council. Many, especially among the lower ranks, were loyal to the Council, and genuinely tried to do a good job. Some of these had been passed over for promotion in the past because of a lack of loyalty to the management structure, and Giles made a point of assessing these people carefully with a view to them taking up more senior positions when they became available.

A number of senior positions did become available quickly. Some Watchers simply decided they couldn't work with the new Master, and chose to take their skills elsewhere. Others tried to stay, apparently happy with the new structure, but secretly looking for ways to undermine it. Giles was interested to note that he was able to uncover a good deal of this, and the perpetrators were dealt with accordingly. He knew it would take some time, but Giles fully intended to put together a team of senior Watchers who could effectively run the Council without him taking an active routine part. Giles was more interested in getting out into the field and seeing for himself where the danger to humanity lay, rather than remaining behind a desk.