A.N. It took awhile but looky! a new chappy! Thanks, a million thanks to everyone who've reviewed. i love reviews. this a pretty long chapter, for the people who wanted them longer so there ya go. hope you like it :) plz keep reviewing, & i'll try to update soon, again. laterz...



Ch 12. Look-alike


The guys all go back in David's room and Buffy formally introduces them.

"David, this is Dawn..."

Dawn quickly looks at him.

"…This is Xander…"

"Hey man. How's it goin'?" says Xander, and shakes his hand.

"…And this is Anya." finishes Buffy.

"Hello." she says.

They all start out with small talk, and try their best to forget what just happened. Buffy sits down on a chair next to David's bed and holds his hand, while they're all talking. Xander actually seems to be getting along pretty well with David, and after awhile talking he appears to have forgotten he looks like Spike. While, Dawn stands in the corner not saying much.

"So Buffy tells me you work in construction?"

"Yeah, well unlike these kids who went to college, I stayed behind in my parents basement. I just took the job 'cause I needed money, but it's worked out pretty well for me. Not much brain use necessary." says Xander.

"But I assume a lot of body strength. You must really work your arms?" says David.

"Well, mostly my legs, you know how they say 'lift from you knees' Yeah, they come in handy?"

"Yeah…"

Buffy looks at him slightly. "David injured his right leg in the accident, and he can't move or feel it."

"Oh yeah I see." Xander gestures towards the cast.

"I can feel my toe." he says, optimistically.

"Is that right?"

"How can someone not feel their leg?" Anya interposes.

"I dunno… I just can't." he answers.

"So you can't feel your leg?" she says.

"Nope."

"But you can feel other parts of your body like your arms?"

"Yeah."

Anya pokes the heel of his foot, "But you can't feel that?"

"No."

She pokes his toe. "But you can feel that?"

"Yep."

"That's quite confusing." she says.

"Okay, Anya you can quit poking David now." says Buffy, as he lightly chuckles.

"Anyway it's time we better go." says Xander.

'Yeah, we should." Dawn says quickly.

"Oh, she speaks." David says, then smiles at her, but she looks away & doesn't answer. "Right then."

Buffy looks at Dawn & turns to Xander, "Why do ya'll go, and I'll stay awhile longer."

"Sure." he says. They all say goodbye, except for Dawn who still says nothing, and leave. Buffy watches them go and then directs her attention towards David. "So what ya think of them?" she asks.

"Uh, they seem like nice people. I really like them."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"Good." she says.

"Dawn's doesn't talk much, huh?"

"No it's just … she's being weird today."

"Are you sure? I uh… got the feeling she didn't like me."

"No, no. Of course she likes you."

His eyes doubt her. "Don't patronize me." he says.

"Really she does." Buffy insists.

He rolls his eyes up.

"Well she should. You're great guy."

David smiles faintly, but then looks down, "Is it because I look like that guy… Spike?

"What?"

"Spike, you know the guy you all confuse me with?"

"Spike?" she says, uneasily.

"Uh huh." he says.

"Um… what was the question again?"

"Nothin' I guess I was just wondering about him."

"About Spike?"

"Yeah, I mean… I obviously look like him. And you haven't ever told me about him."

"Uh…" she rubs her forehead, "…You wanna know about him?"

"Well kinda, I'm curious. I mean was he an ex-boyfriend or something?"

She grimaces. "Not…really."

"You don't have to tell me everything, just... y'know briefly fill me in?" he says.

Buffy still doesn't say anything. He watches her & sighs. "Nevermind, if you don't want to that's okay."

"No… I mean. Yeah okay, I'll tell you about him. With people mistaking you for him, you do deserve to know something about him, so here goes…" she takes a deep breath, "Spike was this guy, um… who I met a couple years back. And uh, he was sort of a 'bad boy' and we didn't exactly get along. Well we kind of hated each other, really. Then he left. And then he came back. And then they captured him. And then…"

"Wait they captured him? Who's 'they'." he interrupts.

"They would be… the police." she stammers. "Yeah um, Spike had a couple run-ins with the law, & with his… probation, he… couldn't do anything bad anymore. So he just started hanging out with us, because uh-
he was a loser who didn't have any other friends. Yeah. Anyway after awhile he kinda started to like me in this really weird, obsessive way. He even got this sex robot thingy that…" she realizes what she just said & stops.

David gives her a funny look. "Sex Robot?"

"I… didn't say that."

"You didn't? Well then what'd ya say?"

Buffy ignores him, "…Yeah, um anyway.. um then I left, for awhile and then I came back. And during that time when I came back I was really depressed and just apathetic. And me & him started fooling around a couple times. I guess, he thought it meant something, I dunno…" she rolls her eyes, "…he said that he loved me but, I knew that I didn't. What we had wasn't love it was… " she breaks it off. " Anyway, I ended up terminating it. Then later well um, let's just say he did something… bad."

David, who has been listening intently, leans back, "Bad?"

"Well you know more than just bad."

"What was it?"

She looks at him and softly shakes her head in a 'don't ask' manner.

"Okay." he says

"Then he left again & I haven't seen him since." she finishes.

"Well uh… I don't know what to say… uh thanks for telling me. It cleared some things up."

She nods, "Good." There's a moment of silence

"Ugh, the mood in here's gone murky. Gotta change that. Gotta make it light'n happy. Tell me something light'n happy." she says, breaking the silence.

"Uh, well I don't know if it's light'n happy, but uh tomorrow I have another session with Dr. Dillard. Maybe I get to feel other parts of my foot?"

"Sure, that light'n happy. That's great, actually."

"Yeah I always look forward to meeting with him. Unlike Dr. Tilberg & Dr. Blanco, whom I always dread meeting with."

"The people treating you for the amnesia?"

"God, they're irritated, probably as much as I do them."

"Have you remembered anything?"

"Not a damn thing."

"Aww poo."

"Yeah…"

"Well it'll come." she says.
He shrugs.

"Well, I should probably leave now, It's getting late & Dawn's at home waiting so…"

"I'll see ya around." he says.

She gives him a hug goodbye, "Get some sleep. Later."

"Bye."

`````````````

How could she do this to me? How could she be so cruel? So thoughtless?
She could have just said no, she didn't have to kick me when I'm down. But I'm a fool anyway… I should have seen it coming. I should have…

"And I wonder... what possible catastrophe came crashing down from heaven and brought this dashing stranger to tears?" he heard a voice behind him.

He turned around and saw a dark figure. A woman. "Nothing. I wish to be alone." He answered.

"Oh, I see you. A man surrounded by fools who cannot see his strength, his vision, his glory. That and burning baby fish swimming all around your head."

Who is this stranger? What does she want from me?, he thought to himself, while he backs away.
"That's quite close enough. I've heard tales of London pickpockets. You'll not be getting my purse, I tell you."

He sees a glare in the darkness, & catches her smiling mischievously.
"Don't need a purse." she said, she points to his heart and head in succession. "Your wealth lies here... and here. In the spirit and... imagination. You walk in worlds the others can't begin to imagine."

"Oh, yes!" he replied quickly then stops himself. " I mean, no. I mean... mother's expecting me."

The woman opens the collar of his shirt, and he is intrigued.
"I see what you want. Something glowing and glistening. Something... effulgent." She whispers in his ear.

"Effulgent?" He stuttered. This is something about this that fascinates him. This could change him forever.

"Do you want it?" she looked at him seductively.

Oh yes! God yes…
He lets himself be taken in.