Title:  Reality Sucks   (and so does this title – LOL!)

Chapter 3  

Author:  Crunchberry

Email:  crunchberry327@hotmail.com

Rating:  R

Spoilers:  Set right after Normal Again (season 6)  Spike is the only one that can control Buffy till the antidote is remade.

Disclaimers:  Haven't been able to purchase the rights yet to BTVS from Joss, so he still owns all.  Greedy bstrd.

A/N   Taking a quick break from my season 2 Spike story - Chains of Darkness – (to refocus guys – will get back to it asap!) .

 Let me me know if you like!

We step through the door quietly.  No sense in making a grand entrance if Buffy is on the warpath.  Everything is quiet.  I start down the hallway, passing the steps.  Xander is right behind me.  No sign of the slayer or the witch.  Coming past the hallway we run into her.  Tara is standing facing the closed basement door with a very intent expression on her face.  Slayer must still be in the basement then, all cozy and warm with the dead demon.

"Tara! Got Willy Wanna Bite with me, as ordered.  How's Buffy doing?"   Sometimes he can really annoy the hell out of me with his lame names for me.

"Spike! Hi." Tara actually looks glad to see me.

"I don't know how she is.  She had me do a spell to keep her in the basement, but it's not going to hold for much longer.  It's been quiet for a while, but I just heard her calling out to her mom.  I think she might have gone back to that other reality you guys told me about."

"Oh, shit.  I've been trying to figure out why she would want to kill us."  

"I know why I would want to kill you!"  I say.  Hell, have wanted to shut him up for years.

" Shut up, Spike.  Maybe she thinks if we' are all dead, she can go back to her mom and dad somehow,." Xander says.  I just smirk at him.  Not even worth a comeback comment.

 "I don't know, Xander.  I still can't believe she would try to harm any of youDawn, let alone Dawnany of you.   Spike, I don't think this spell is going to hold much longer at all.  Will you be able to help?"  

Well, this is the part I really don't fancy.  No telling how far Buffy has gone into her delusions.   She might recognize me and then again she might just want to dust me on sight.  AOne determined slayer is going to be tough bird to restrain.

 I really don't want the Scoobiey's to find out about some of the things I can do, either.  They find out about some of my lesser- known talents and they'll would never trust me around them again.  Never take into consideration the fact that I could've of taken advantage of certain opportunities in all the time I' have known them, butand didn't.  Plus, I am a bit out of practice; it's been about sixty years since I have utilized the particular gift I think I'll need tonight.   I never have liked taking the pansy way out and only have used it before in dire emergencies.  Well, this qualifies as an emergency, and it' s not for my gratification – well, at least, not yet.   But I have to get in a position to keep her calm and not fighting me.  

 Xander is just staring at me; I can almost hear the thoughts going around in that noggin of his.   How in the hell is HE going to be able to tie up Buffy? or some such rot.?  Well, there are ways that he won' t like at all.  He will like the consequences though:, a very brassed off slayer when this is all said and done.   Don't think the slayer will appreciate I did it out of love, not a power trip or anything. 

 But my choices are not many.  I can walk out and let Buffy go on a soddin' killing spree.  The Scoobiey' s are right:, one single-minded slayer can wipe 'em all out.  Maybe not Red if she used her magic, but Buffy was able to tie her up and gag her once, she could do it again.  I also swore to protect Dawn 'till the end of the world.  Be it from monsters or her sister, I take my promises seriously.

"Yeah, I can help. I need you guys to clear out though.  It isn't going to be pretty and only come back when you have the medicine goop to give her".  

Xander looks at me like I have grown another head when I say this.   

"O.K.,k Evil Dead, what is your grand master plan?   I am all ears right now, 'cause the last time I knew, you were still Chips Ahoy man.  In case your ears were all clogged up down in the sewers, Buffy managed to tie us all up without breaking a sweat.  What can you possibly do to keep her under control that we can't?"    

"Well I LIKE being tied up and since Buffy won't do anything I like, that won't happen tonight mate.  Also your forgetting some things.  I am a Master Vampire. You have a lot to learn about what I am capable of.  Just because I have this bleedin' chip in my head does not mean I have lost all of my abilities.  I will be able to help her, and I have her best interests at heart.  Now, SOD OFF!"  

Why I even bother to explain to him is beyond me.  For some reason, I crave acceptance from the Scoobiey's, including this boy in front of me.  What a pathetic gitsod I' have become.

"Xander, look, why don't we just leave and let Spike handle Buffy right now?" 

"No way am I just leaving Spike alone with Buffy right now.  She is still Buffy and I don't want him using her mental state to further his sick, perverted fantasies!  Tara, he fantasizes about being Buffy's sex slave for God's sake!!"  The boy is definitely on a roll right now.  I clench my teeth at his comments.  

"Would you rather I fantasize about YOU being MY sex slave?" I raise my eyebrow at him and wink.  Figured that would shut him up if nothing else would.

Oh, my unbeating heart, the look on his face is priceless.   He tries to stutter something out but fails miserably.  Oh, a bloke could have fun with this, but there are other more pressing matters to get to.

The witch comes over and grabs his hand.  She starts tugging him to the door.

"Xander, there are some things you don't know right now.  But Buffy can trust Spike with her life, I know it for a fact!"  As she says this, she looks at me and I actually see compassion in those eyes, not the revulsion I have come to expect.   Now the cramp comments at Buffy' s birthday party make some sense.  When in the hell did Buffy come clean with the witch?   She picked a good one to unload to.  If it weren't for Buffy, I would love to take a taste of her.  She is so delicious- looking. 

"Look, as much as I would love to stand around and banter some more, we have a sick slayer cooped up in the basement with some mojo which is not going to last very long.  I suggest you both high tail it out of here while you still can."

Tara and Xander step out on the porch.  I can see Xander dragging his feet.  He really doesn' t want to leave me here with Buffy.  I need to speak to the witch before she leaves.  Try to make her understand what I have to do and the consequences that will probably come about.  I think I can trust her;, Buffy obviously does.

"Witch, would you stay for a second?  Need to tell you something,." I say.  Xander looks like he is ready to come back in, but Tara stops him and steps back in alone.  I close the door in Xander's face.  I should have slammed it.  

She looks up at me.  What a beautiful creature she is.  The most alluring part is that she has no idea of the power she could wield over others if she only tried.  She would make a wonderful vampire, but I think Red's revenge upon my soulless demon would be worse than even I could imagine if I even tried.  I wonder if she would be shocked by my thoughts?

"It's O.K.,ok Spike.  I know you won't hurt her, if that' is what you're worried about."

Oh, if she only knew the half of it. 

 "It's not that.  You know I will probably have to drain her a bit to keep her weak?  She can easily kick my ass across town otherwise.  Means biting her, which she is'nt goin to be happy 'bout.  The other thing is.. well… it' s just that slayers' blood eaffects vampires a certain way and Buffy is not going to be happy with that either.  I don't think I will be able to control that aspect when it happens or will even want to."  I don't mean to sigh but sometimes it's warranted.  

She looks at me in confusion.  "What way does it affect you?"

I look at her and raise my eyebrow.  "How do you think, pet?"  

"Oh,  oh …  Uh, well I am sure you will do what's best.  I will just take Xander and we will go over to Willow's."  Her stutter is adorable.  I could really fall for this one given time.  Seducing her would be such a pleasure, 'specially since she fancies women instead.  I love a challenge.    I do love Buffy more than unlife itself, but vVampires are an immoral bunch and we can take only so much rejection 'till we move on.  At least, I try to tell myself that.  Moving on from Buffy has seemed impossible for me.  So these thoughts, while entertaining, will most likely never come to pass.

I take off my duster and look at her again.  "When you return, I might need to take a trip out of Sunnydale for a while.  She won't trust me after this, and until I can prove that I have changed without the chip, there is little chance for us.  I just want someone to know that the only reason I am doing this is because I love her more than blood itself and can' t imagine a world without her in it.  When this is all over, let her know that, would you?"

 I look into her eyes.  She understands what is at stake.  After shocking me with a quick hug and a kiss on my cheek, she leaves.  She wouldn't have done that if she could've of read my mind a couple minutes ago.  Figures., I am finally getting accepted into this group just when I will most probably have to leave.  

TBC…..

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