Disclaimer: Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a product of Mutant Enemy. I am in no way affiliated with it, the show, or any of the characters.
The pair laid together until he fell asleep. Buffy slipped away from him sometime before sunlight, and he woke up alone. He knew it was still dark when she left because they were lying in front of the door and he wasn't ashes. Maybe she got scared, or maybe she had to go home to Little Bit. He remembered rolling over, only to find nothing but air. He remembered the night before, with his time warp and his new relationship with Buffy. But Spike didn't remember her leaving. He didn't remember a goodbye kiss. She didn't wake him up to tell him she was leaving. Last night was a joke. She tricked him.
Spike stretched out his limbs. He felt sore and horrible and pebbles and rocks dug into his skin. Ugh. He sat up and tried to wipe the stones that were on his back. He lit a cigarette and took long drags from it until it was gone. He probably would've had another one but he didn't want Buffy to think he was a chain smoker. And plus he was almost out.
He wondered if it was dark outside. Not like he had a window to look out of. And he definitely wasn't taking chances with the door. His only clock was downstairs and at first, he contemplated going down there and seeing what time it was, but then he remembered all of his stuff was in the explosion. Usually he had a sense of what was day and what was night. No such luck tonight. Or today. Whichever. Lately he'd been awake all night and day with little sleep. Sometimes it all felt the same.
The vampire almost jumped at a rustling outside his door. 'So I guess all my senses are dulled today, hmm?' He smiled at the thought of last night when he went on sensory overload. 'Last night was nice.' His attention turned to the door once again when it sounded like someone was trying to get in.
"Hey! Who's there?" Spike received no answer except for the rustling again. "Who's out there?"
The door burst open. The first thing Spike noticed was that it was night. And then he saw her. He briefly wondered how he could've seen outside before he acknowledged her presence. He didn't feel her there like he always did. What the bloody hell was wrong with him? It better not have been that time warp thing. "What are you doing here?"
"I just went home. Only for a little while. I had to tell Dawn I was okay, had to see if she was ok. And I showered." Then she held up the two bags she was carrying. "I brought you some stuff."
He looked at her surprised. "Did you?"
"Mm-hmm. This bag has some blood from the butcher and this bag has some Chinese food from that place a couple blocks down from the Bronze...or you know. Maybe the other way around. They both have something in it and you're going to open them anyway. I didn't know what you felt like eating. Your eating habits are kind of bizarre for a vamp." She noticed he looked kind of confused. "What?"
"You. You're here. And you...bought me food."
"Well yeah."
"Why?"
She smiled at him. "You know why."
He smiled back. "Humor me."
"I care about you." She walked over to his mini-fridge and put the bags inside, then made her way over to him. Buffy wrapped her arms around him and kissed him. "I was hoping you'd still be asleep when I came back. I wanted to surprise you."
"Well, I just woke up," he mumbled against her neck. His hands moved from her slim hips to her hands so he could hold them.
"I could tell. You don't have any clothes on."
"Maybe I walk around here naked. You don't know what I do when you're not here. And I was surprised." He swayed her around a little then held her still. "Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I like this. I like this sweet thing that we have. And I like being in love with you. I like you being nice to me. This is better than I ever dreamed."
"I love you," she whispered into his ear. He was nuzzling the tender skin on her neck. "I love you more than I ever thought I could."
"And I love you even more than that."
"Did you think that I left you?"
"Of course I didn't. I was barely awake." He let go of her hands and reached for his jeans that were on the ground.
"You're getting dressed?"
"You don't want me to?" He grinned.
She smiled back. They'd been doing a lot of that mutual smiling thing lately. It was nice. Soon she was back in his arms and kissing him. The kissing led to some groping and touching. In other words, a hot and heavy make-out session. Buffy started to unzip the fly of her jeans but Spike stopped her.
"What?" she asked him, perplexed and out of breath.
"You showered already. And you changed. I don't want to get your clothes dirty."
She smiled and tried to kiss him again. "That's why I'll take them off."
"Don't you have to work today?"
"No. I have the day off but everyone thinks I'm at work. I'm free to spend the day with you."
"What if they go there to see you?"
"They won't." She continued her attempts to touch him and kiss him but he kept backing away.
"And if they do?"
She stopped and stood still. "Why are you making excuses? Don't you want to be with me?"
The innocence in her voice only made him want her more. Spike was crazy about her. He definitely wanted to be with her and do unmentionable things to her all day long. He just wasn't sure if he could. Yeah, his part to do said things was ready, but he wasn't really feeling well. He felt...weird and not like himself. He couldn't feel her when she was outside, his senses were dulled. Buffy said she loved him. Maybe something was going on.
"Spike."
"Hmm?"
"What's wrong? You don't want to sleep with me and you ignore me."
He took the few steps toward her that separated them and hugged her. "Sorry, love. I'm just..." he paused, searching for the right words. He could tell her he wasn't feeling like himself, or he could say it was nothing and he could shag her silly. Oh, such a tough decision.
~*~*~
He walked down the stairs into the empty lab. He checked his watch. 5:30 AM. Dawn was setting in. The creatures of the night would be going back to their hiding places, back to the darkness. They always go back to the dark. It wouldn't be different today.
"Agent Anderson, what do you have for me?" the man asked the agent.
"The subject vacated the nest at approximately 0300 hours - 3 AM - arrived at her home around 3:14, left at 4, and returned to the crypt with two bags containing unknown contents at 4:58."
"Where is she now?"
"She's...she's still there."
"With him?"
"With the vampire, yes."
"What else do you have for me?"
"There are photographs, but honestly, I don't think you want to see them sir."
"Show them to me."
Agent Anderson handed a manila envelope to his boss, who promptly opened it. The man sifted through them one by one, with emotion lacking in his face. They were harmless pictures, really. Buffy exiting Spike's crypt, Buffy looking both ways before crossing the street -always the advocator of safety, even in all hours of the night-, Buffy arriving to her home and unlocking the door. Then, not so harmless. Buffy under Spike, on top of him, completely naked, always with an expression of pleasure.
He shoved them back into the envelope. Too many pictures he didn't need to see. He handed the envelope back to the agent. "Good work."
"Thank you, sir."
"Dismissed." The agent left quickly.
The plan was going accordingly. Buffy was close to Spike, physically and emotionally. All he had to do was set up the rest.
The man looked down at his watch again. It wasn't ticking. He hated when this happened. He'd bought a special lithium battery for it, and it still didn't last long. Regardless of his broken watch, he knew what time it was. He knew the sun was about to rise. He knew he had seven more days to start his plan. All would be successful.
~*~*~
"Do you know where Buffy is? I went by the Doublemeat Palace today looking for her...she does have work today, right?"
"She's not at work? She left at like, four this morning. And she was gone all night. So I guess I don't know. Sorry, Riley," Dawn said.
"You think we should be worried? Baby Suvoltes are carnivorous. Maybe something went wrong at Spike's crypt."
"Nah, she seemed okay when she got home. She looked happier, I guess. Really smiley and dopey. Oh my God."
"What?"
"Maybe Buffy's on drugs. She was acting really weird, like she was high or something. You think she's on drugs?"
"Dawn."
"Sorry."
"I could go to Spike's and see if he knows where she is."
"Hey, yeah, that's a good plan. I mean she's not at work and she can't be fighting demons because it's 2 in the afternoon. Maybe Spike knows. But beware, he gets so grumpy when he gets woken up. And you know he's asleep, with the sleeping during the day thing."
"How do you know?" Riley asked.
"Well when Buffy...died and stuff, Spike took care of me. He watched over me and protected me, so he was around a lot. He fell asleep sometimes. I'd try to wake him up and he'd be upset for a few minutes until he fully woke up and then he'd apologize like he did something wrong." Then Dawn got quiet. "Sometimes he'd talk in his sleep. I'm not sure what about, I think he was dreaming...but he'd cry and say 'I failed you.' I think he was dreaming of Buffy. You know, anyone who thinks Spike is a monster or that he doesn't love Buffy is wrong and they don't know him. Sometimes you just kinda forget that he's William the Bloody. He's just Spike, a friend. Like Xander, but tougher. He's trustworthy, no matter what they say."
"Are he and Buffy...friends? Or do they just fight together?"
"I think he just helps her. Lately this year though, they've been spending more and more time together. She says she hates him, but she'll defend him. In battle and whenever someone says something bad about him."
Riley took some time to think about this. Sure, he was with Sam now, and he loved her very much. He didn't love Buffy the same way anymore but something was...off about the fact that Buffy even had a place for Spike in her life. To Riley, Spike was still Hostile 17. But then he never was supposed to be Hostile 17 in the first place, was he? Spike was never supposed to be chipped and now it was time to right some wrongs.
"I'll go to Spike's now. He'll probably know where Buffy is," he said finally.
"Ok. See you later."
The agent left the house bound for the crypt. Riley knew about Spike's feelings for Buffy. It was obvious. Spike fawned all over her, helped her slay, stole her clothes. But he always thought it was just some crush and now it turns out that Dawn thought Spike really loved Buffy. Love as in the emotion humans feel. Part of Riley thought it wasn't possible because Spike didn't have a soul, but another part thought it wasn't possible not to love Buffy.
He arrived at the crypt soon and hesitated to open the door. Instead, he knocked. It was an impulse. He heard movement, then a deep male voice. Followed by a female voice. Buffy's. There was more movement and more talking, and then Spike said to come in.
He hid in the darkness until the door was closed and then Riley could see him. He only wore his black jeans and Buffy was nowhere in sight. He knew he heard her voice when he was outside, but where was she now?
"What are you doing here?" Spike asked.
"I'm looking for Buffy."
"What, she wasn't at work? Poor kid needs the job. Hate to think her and the Little Bit would be running around homeless, all vulnerable to prey and such."
"So you haven't seen her?"
"Can't say that I have. Sorry, Finn. Haven't talked to her since...last night, I reckon. Slayer blew up my basement-oh, but you knew that." Spike smirked. "You told her to do it."
"I know."
"I'll bet you do."
"No. I know. Buffy was here after that." Riley looked defiantly into the vampire's eyes. "I know she's still here."
"Yeah? And how much do you think you know?"
"That's not the real question here, Spike. Did you hurt her? Is that why she's here?"
Spike scoffed. "I know your brain span is not nearly large enough to understand this, but Buffy, that incredible, strong, kind, and gentle woman, actua...never mind. Forget I said anything." The peroxide blonde took cigarettes out of his pocket and looked around for his lighter.
"Actually what?" The vampire ignored him and continued to search for his silver lighter. "Spike. Actually what?"
"I had it somewhere. Where did I put the damn thing..."
Riley shoved Spike into the wall. "Buffy actually what?"
"You better watch it, Soldier Boy. Things have changed around here since you fled, and I don't stand for being pushed around anymore," he said with contempt. It was bullshit, of course. The chip still worked in a really big way, but he had to keep Captain Cardboard off his back. "And I said never mind. So drop it. It's not important."
"I heard her voice when I stood outside, where is she?"
"You got a light?"
"Here," she said. Buffy came out of her hiding space holding Spike's lighter. She was fully dressed, and looked as presentable as one could after shagging and sleeping on a dirt floor then rushing to get dressed in a cramped space. She looked tired and she didn't get enough sleep, but luckily Riley knocked, and didn't just burst in or he would've seen her sleeping in Spike's arms.
Spike gave her a small quick smile that he was sure the agent missed. Riley may not have seen that, but he did observe the way she gave him his lighter. He expected her to toss it at Spike so that there would be no contact between them. Instead, he walked up to her and tried to take it, but she wouldn't let go. She tried not to smile, but Riley saw. Spike coaxed her hand open by pulling each finger off one by one. He tried not to smile back. Bizarre.
"Thanks, love." That wasn't as bizarre. Spike always called women 'love'. But it almost seemed to have an entirely new definition with Dawn's information and the teasing he just saw.
She approached her ex-boyfriend. "Hi."
"Hey," Riley replied. Spike rolled his eyes and lit his cigarette.
"So...you're looking for me?"
"I wanted to know how it went last night with the Suvoltes."
"Great. Not a one survived," Buffy said with a bit more cheer than she intended.
"I guess you and Spike make quite the team."
"Not really. Just...sometimes. When we slay. Right, Spike?"
He was smoking his cigarette and not really paying attention to either of them. "Hmm? What did you say, pet?"
"And this is where I usually leave because Spike doesn't listen to me. He drinks, he smokes, he swears. Ain't he great?"
"Ah, bugger off, Slayer." Spike turned to face the wall so neither could see him smile. He hadn't smiled so much since...God, it felt like forever ago. And it was really nice. He was happy now.
"Well, uh, okay. I was just checking to see if you were all right. Your friends said you'd be working today so I checked the Doublemeat Palace, and they said you had the day off. Your friends weren't really worried exactly because they thought you'd be at work, but once I said you weren't there, they freaked a little. You should call them or something and let them know you're safe."
"Oh. Yeah. I'll do that," she said rapidly. That was bizarre too. Now it was time to start asking them some questions.
"Hey, Buffy?" Riley called to the blonde woman. She turned to him in response. "So what exactly are you doing here, hanging out in a dark dank crypt with a shady vampire who may be responsible for harvesting the Suvolte eggs?"
"Spike is not the Doctor." Uh, here comes number three. Bizarre. She just defended him.
"How do you know for sure? Because he told you? You know better than that Buffy. You can't trust him. He lies and he manipulates people and he's doing it to you."
"Hey, now. I may lie and manipulate, but I'm a creature of evil and it's my sacred duty to instill the forces of darkness and whatever." He dropped his cigarette to the floor. "Bloody hell, that wasn't the point. I'm not the Doctor. Buffy knows that. We're okay for now, yeah?" She nodded. "Okay. End of story, white bread, you and the missus go on back where you came from."
"Spike. Shut up," she said. Ah. Less bizarre. Reassuring even. "Okay, Riley, you made your point. You don't like Spike. And really, I don't either. But at least to me, he's tolerable. He's helpful with demony things and stuff. I was here discussing my plan for attack on a vampire gang, and he said he'd help me. I need his help. He's the only one of my friends that can actually fight and hurt a demon. Not that Spike's a friend or anything...you know what I mean."
Riley apologized-to Buffy, and not to Spike-and soon left. By this time, the vampire had lit another fag, his last one in the pack. He smoked a lot under high-stress situations. She gave him a pointed glance.
"It's my last one, love, I promise." The unusual pair were both silent until he finished his cigarette. "So, are you leaving now?"
"Do you want me to?"
"No. But don't you have to tell your friends you're okay?"
"Riley will probably tell them. They know I'm all right anyway." She yawned.
"You tired?"
"Heh. What can I say? You wear me out." The Slayer smiled coyly.
"Don't you want to sleep in your own bed? It's cold here and even I'm getting sore."
"I don't mind. Honestly, if there was any place that I could choose to sleep, I'd choose here. With you."
It was his turn to smile. He loved her so much and she loved him back. She chose to be with him instead of her warm safe home. He'd seen Buffy Summers in many different ways. He'd seen her in various states of undress, disgust, fight, happiness, sorrow, and pleasure. But he'd never seen this Buffy Summers. This was the Buffy who loved him and wanted him. She was nice to him. And it felt so good. Right now more than anything he wanted to pounce on her and ravage her, but she was tired and he was tired and slumber, at the moment, began to feel more powerful than his lust.
His duster was lying in a wrinkled pile in the corner. Spike brought it over to the middle of the floor and spread it out leather side down. She watched him from her place against the wall and realized he was trying to make her comfortable. When he asked he questions about going home earlier, it wasn't because he was trying to get rid of her. He wanted something better for her than the dirt. He wanted the best for her, and if he couldn't get that, he made due with what he had. She loved him for it. She loved him for a lot of things and it felt like now she could see through the haze that accompanied her from Heaven. Everything now seemed to make sense to her, like who she cared for in this world. All of a sudden, and not just because she was with him, she felt right again.
Spike held out stretched out on the duster and patted the space next to him. She came to him without hesitation and kneeled down next to him.
"I feel good." The words poured out of her mouth uncontrollably, but they were genuine. She laid down beside him and let him wrap his arms around her. She whispered words of affection into his ear while he held her tighter. Soon she slipped off to slumber and he smiled contently. What could go wrong?