Title:  Chains of Darkness

Chapter Four:  Reflections

Rating ––.  Ok – need some feedback on this  - should I raise it to an R yet?  My beta reader is ready to slap me for some of the language and innuendo so I  am wondering what is appropriate….

Summary – Set at end of Season 2 – Spike is wheelchair bound, Angelus has returned.

 In an abandoned steel foundry a rare species of demon have set up home.  Spike finally has his one good day with the slayer – but with repercussions that neither of them foresees.   I am a B/S shipper BUT I really love evil chip-less Spike instead of mushy klutzy Spike also love Angelus. He is much more fun than Angel.

Disclaimer – Joss has yet to sell me even an hour of Spikes time.  Heck at this point, I would even settle for ten minutes!  Ten minutes with Spike and I would be happy…  well – maybe dead too – but a happy dead. 

Previously:  Spike knows something about the demon.  Angelus knows something about Spike.  Buffy is clueless…but she looks good and that is what counts.

****

 Buffy was alone in the run down and deserted foundry.  Black sand covered the floors and above her, large metal cauldrons were suspended from hooks in overhead cranes.  Catwalks connected the overhead cranes but they looked almost rusted through and the thought of having to climb up there terrified her for some reason.  This place looked like it had been abandoned for centuries, not the fourteen months that it had actually been closed.  The foundries were one of the first industries to get hit hard with the recession and the imported castings from Taiwan flooding the market did not help matters any.  The Sunnydale Steel Foundry could only hold on for so long and it finally gave up the ghost a little over a year ago. 

The skylights in the roof were totally covered in grime and only let in a smidgen of sunlight.  When sunlight did enter the cavernous space, it actually made the place look even more decrepit.

A number of huge pits were scattered around the space Buffy was standing in.  Looking down one, she saw bars of jagged metal slanting upwards to meet anyone unlucky enough to fall.  Almost like a lion trap she thought.  Some of the pits she walked by were over 20 feet deep.  This place sure wouldn't pass an OSHA inspection right now; wonder if the creatures that inhabit this place now ever fall in? 

Continuing her journey toward the large apparatus in the center of the foundry, she could discern shadows following her progress.  Anytime she turned though, nothing would be there and she wondered if it was her imagination that was really following her.  She seemed to be called toward the large mechanical object in the center, which was still shrouded by darkness.  Only the outlines could she distinguish. 

Suddenly, a very large and molten looking creature appeared before her and started whistling very loudly.  She couldn't get it to stop.  Putting her hands over her ears, she hoped to dim the noise but the creature didn't stop.  Looking up she realized the creature was turning into something else.  The molten part of the creature seemed to slide together and solidify and in a moment it had turned into Spike in full game face.  Laughing at her, the Spike/creatures whistling seemed to intensify even more and she grabbed her pillow to cover her head.

Her pillow? 

"BUFFY!" her mom shouted from downstairs.  "Are you going to turn that alarm off or just sleep thru it?"

Shaking her head, she quickly turned her alarm off and yelled back down to her mom "I got it mom – Thanks!"

Wow, what a strange dream.  Never been in a steel foundry before but I really don't like to think that's a slayer dream cause the thought of the creature and Spike having something in common just wigs me out right now. 

Getting out of bed she staggered slightly.  Straightening up, she realized she had jumped on her bad ankle AGAIN but it hadn't hurt.  She knew she healed quickly, but the damage her ankle sustained the night before should take a couple days to heal, not just a couple hours. Sitting back down and looking it over, she realized she had done a pretty good job of bandaging it up but decided to check it again to be on the safe side.  Undoing the bandages, she had to look twice at her ankle. It was healed perfectly.  The jagged hole where the wood had gone straight through had not even left a mark. 

That's weird she thought.  Well I won't have to make up some excuse to tell mom at least.  I really wish Giles would let me tell my mom about my nocturnal activities.   I hate lying to her all the time. 

Getting off the bed and heading toward the shower, she felt a bit dizzy but shrugged it off.  After choosing the perfect outfit for Thursday's classes she rushed downstairs to see her mom leaving already through the back door.

"Bye honey, sorry I missed you last night.  Want pizza tonight?  We could invite Willow and Xander over if you want." Her mom said turning around.

"Thanks mom.  I'll ask them.  Have a good day!"

Going over to the cupboards she went in search of some cereal.

A couple hours later found her sitting in social studies class with Willow beside her.  Her thoughts kept going back to the night before.  Why hadn't Spike killed her?  Was he trying to turn her?  But the most disturbing thought she kept having was the feeling of his fangs sliding into her neck and her reaction to that.   The other part of what happened she didn't even want to contemplate.  It was just too gross.  Yeah right – keep telling yourself that Buffy! Have to talk to Giles soon.

****

Wheeling his way back into the factory, Spike passed some minions playing cards.  Deciding to join them since he was in such a good mood, he quickly won quite a few packs of smokes before heading to bed.  Thank blood for stupid minions he thought closing his bedroom door behind him.  He didn't even bother looking for Dru knowing she was probably sleeping with "Daddy".  For once it didn't bother him though.  Getting into bed, he closed his eyes and relished his memories of Buffy's blood coursing down his throat and then unbidden the thoughts of how she looked sucking his blood out of his wrist.  Falling into sleep, he wondered how the Slayer was feeling today and if she was missing him yet.

****

Angelus woke before Dru in the early afternoon.  Deciding on letting her sleep he padded over to the converted bathroom to wash up and figure out what to do with his errant childe.  That Spike could walk and was obviously going around in his car at night didn't have him too surprised.  It was the fact that he played the cripple when they were all at home that had him wondering what game Spike was up to.  Well, two could play and he was the dominant vampire in this lair even though Spike tried to say he was only a guest.  William the Bloody was no match for Angelus even though he could give Angel a run for his money. 

Pulling on his leather pants and foregoing a shirt, he sauntered into the dining area of their lair.  Spike was in his wheelchair reading a paper and smoking.  When his childe looked up he noticed that the scars on his face were gone.  Wondered when they cleared up?  "Well if it isn't little handicapped Billie.  Want me to go wake up Dru for you so she can take you out for a stroll?  Oh that's right, I really tired her out last night, she will probably sleep all day after what I did to her, not that you would ever realize what she really needs."

Spike just clenched his jaw and instead of the smoldering anger he usually was able to get, just smirked at him.  "Yeah, you really know how to tucker out the ladies.  Hell, you weren't able to handle the slayer properly so why should I worry about what you and Dru are up to?" 

Going over and shoving the newspaper out of his hand, Angelus bared his fangs at Spike and growled.  "I don't know what games your playing Spike but be forewarned, I will not take kindly to any deceit from you.  Remember who your sire is and where your allegiance lays and I may just be nice to you".  Licking his tongue over Spikes throat, he heard the other man growl and tilt his head.   "Good, just remember your place Boy!" 

"Boys, boys, boys.  Are we behaving ourselves today? "  Dru glided over to them before Angelus could sink his teeth into his Childes neck.  Looking annoyed, he turned around and gave Dru one of his most charming smiles. 

"Just Spike and I talking about world affairs.  Nothing to worry yourself over.  I wouldn't dream of trying to break up our happy home with secrets.  Now would I Spike?"  Looking over to the wheelchair bound vampire, he just did his alpha male look and then went to Drusilla and started playfully nipping at her lips.

"So what are we going to do today Children?  I have some drawings I want to do before hunting tonight.  Dru, why don't you come and pose for me?  Nude of course.   Spike, you stay here and do whatever invalids do – oh – nothing!"  Laughing, he picked Dru up and took her back to his bedroom knowing what it would do to the younger vampire.

****

Wanker.  Bloody pillock.  Go ahead and take her.  She didn't even bother to say hello to me.  What do I care?  Well, I do, but I have some other things on my mind and having you busy with Dru really helps my situation.  Need to look up some information so I think a trip to the library is in order.  Maybe even run into my favorite slayer while I am knicking some books. 

****

"Oh my god – and he just withdrew his fangs and then left you there?"  Willow couldn't believe Buffy's story.  She was lucky to have gotten away from Spike.  She still shuddered any time she thought of the blonde vampire. 

"Well, he kind of drove me home actually.  Didn't really leave me there." Buffy looked down at the table where her food was as she absently picked at it.  She really wasn't hungry for some reason and her stomach got more upset with every bite of food.  Of course the guilt probably had lots to do with it.  She could only muster up the courage to tell Willow half the story.

"He DROVE you home!"  Willow exclaimed.  "Buffy, are you sure you just didn't have a dream or something cause this is Spike we are talking about right?  He would never just drive you home."

"Who drove Buffy home?  Did you actually have a date- a real date?  I can't believe it.  Sure it wasn't some monster in human form cause that is the only thing you manage to attract.  Look at Angel!"  Cordelia dropped her books on the table and looked around the cafeteria trying to spot the new quarterback she had her eye on.

"Buffy doesn't attract monsters!  Well, nice monsters, well, good monsters?"  Willow tried to interject. 

"No, I didn't have a date Cordelia.  Just telling Willow that Spike drove me home last night."

"What – are you serious?  You're going to date ANOTHER vampire?  You must be crazy Buffy.  You know you could attract regular guys if you tried.  But Spike?  Sure he has a great ass and cool cheekbones, but I would think that after what happened with Angel you would of learned that the only good thing to do with vampires is to slay them – not…you know… lay them!"

"I am NOT dating Spike!  He just drove me home since a fight with a demon basically pulverized my ankle.  As to why he helped me, I have no idea."

"Why didn't you stake him when he got you home then?  Oh that's right, for some reason you never go after him and finish the job.  Xander and I always wondered about that.  Well, I am not sitting here listening to you talk about your next vamp conquest.  I have conquests of my own to make, and mine just happen to be the new hunk of a quarterback!"  Cordelia got up and leaving her books on the table, sashayed her way over to the jocks table by the exit door. 

"Oh, don't pay her any mind, Buffy.  If it doesn't involve her in some way, she's not interested.  I just wish she would stop trying to pretend her thing with Xander doesn't exist.  Oh, that's the bell, gotta go.  We'll talk later, Ok Buffy?"  Willow scrambled to collect all her books and clean up her food tray at the same time.

"Ok Willow.  I have to go see Giles later and let him know of my latest run in with the bleached wonder and what type of a creature that could have been.  Bye!"