A/N: This would have been up a lot sooner but my stupid internet thought it'd be cool to stop working....Stupid AT&T Broadband....
A/N #2: It may be a little while before I post again...I really need to get on college applications and scholarship stuff...
Chapter Three
It ain't me
That you feel
There's something moving
Around in here
That's blood
That's tears
This ain't a warning
~ "Everybody Out of the Water" by The Wallflowers
Buffy stepped aside, "Uh, come in."
"Thank you," Giles said as he and the five girls entered.
They followed Buffy into the living room.
"Giles?" Dawn asked, surprised.
"What are you doing here?" Willow asked.
The ex-Watcher took a deep breath, "There's a situation."
"With The First?" Xander asked.
Surprised, Giles asked, "How did you know?"
"We've, uh, already received a visit," Buffy said.
"Dear Lord. Is everyone okay? Nobody's hurt?"
"Just Spike," Anya said in her usual tactless manner.
"Thanks for your concern, pet," Spike quipped. "But it's not big deal. I'll heal."
Giles looked at Spike for the first time, "Dear Lord, what happened?"
Spike tried to lessen the seriousness of the situation, "Pissed him off."
Rupert just nodded as if he really wasn't all that surprised.
"So, who're the birds?" Spike asked, looking at the group of young girls.
"Of course. I was getting to that. Each girl is what you could call a Slayer-in-Training," he finished by introducing everyone.
"And what brings you to lovely Sunnydale?" Xander asked.
"These girls are in danger," Giles said simply.
"So you brought them here? To the Hellmouth?" Buffy asked.
"I brought them to you. To the Slayer."
Annabelle stepped forward, "Please, will you help us?"
"Of course," Buffy said.
"Thank you."
"So, are you going to tell him about that vampire thing we saw?" Dawn asked.
"What are you talking about?" Giles asked.
Buffy took a deep breath, "We have another problem aside from The First... there's this...new kind of vampire..."
"Vampires have kinds? Like species?" Molly asked, confused.
"No," Spike said. "This thing is a real vampire. It's the thing nightmares are made of. Even vampires' nightmares. Was thought to be a myth. My guess is that it has all the quirks of being a member of the walking undead but none of the weaknesses...like yours truly."
"You're a vampire?" Tracey asked, surprised.
He nodded.
"Then why haven't you been staked?" she asked.
Buffy answered for him, "It's a little...complicated...He, uh, he has a soul."
"Dear Lord. How is that even possible?" Giles asked.
Buffy and Spike shared a look. He shrugged. "It's...complicated," he said, repeating Buffy's earlier words. "Let's just say I had my reasons for doing it and leave it at that."
"Very well. I'll respect your wishes," Giles said, adding a mental 'for now' on the end.
"Thank you."
"Okay, now that's settled. Let's discuss this vampire thingie," Xander said.
"Well, what did it look like?" Kennedy asked.
"You know that vampire from that movie...Nosferatu?" Dawn asked.
Kennedy nodded.
"Like that," Xander finished.
"Only uglier," Anya said.
"Where did this thing come from?" Giles asked.
The Scoobies turned to Spike, giving him the go ahead to tell the awaiting party.
"There was a symbol on the ground in the school basement. The First used my blood on the symbol and up comes that sodding vampire. That's all I know."
"Interesting," Giles said.
"Yeah, guess so."
"Is there going to be research needed?" Willow asked.
"Yes," Giles said.
"I'll get right on it, then," Willow said, heading for her laptop in the dining room.
"I think I'm gonna turn in," Spike said. He tried to get off the couch by himself, but it hurt. Buffy, seeing his distress, stood and helped him. He mumbled his thanks, clearly embarrassed to be seen as so weak. She helped him to the basement.
Here, she had set up a cot so wouldn't have to sleep on the floor. She knew it wasn't exactly the best of accommodations, but there was really no other place.
He carefully eased himself onto the cot, hoping to avoid aggravating his injuries. No such luck thought when he let out a quiet gasp as the movement jostled a couple of broken ribs.
"Are you okay?" Buffy asked.
He nodded, "I'll be fine."
"Good." She hesitated. Should she ask him?
"What is it, love?" he asked, noticing her hesitation.
She took a deep breath, "The First...did it look like me?"
Spike took a moment before nodding.
She nodded, accepting his answer, "Why?"
"Why did it take your form?"
She nodded, "Yeah. When The First tried to get Angel to join its side, it took Miss Calendar's form. She was one of his victims."
"I think it's a power thing. What form has the most power over you. Makes it easier to break you."
"I have that kind of power over you?"
He nodded slowly.
"Why do I have that power?"
"You know why."
She just looked at him blankly.
He resisted an eye roll, "Because I love you."
"Oh."
There was a moment of silence.
Then, "But you also said it took your form. You have power over yourself?"
He shook his head, "It's the demon. It's a powerful thing....I'm a vampire with a soul...an abomination, but I would prefer a man with a demon, if you don't mind... And it's a constant battle to keep that demon from rearing its ugly head. The First tapped into that, I guess, and used it."
She nodded, accepting his answer, "Well, I better let you go to sleep. I'll see you tomorrow."
"'Night," he said as he watched her ascend the stairs.
Alone, he managed to fall into a deep sleep, exhaustion taking over.
Tracey and Dawn both woke early, before everyone else in the house. And together, bother were in the kitchen.
"So, you're from Australia?" Dawn asked, smiling.
"Yep," Tracey said, her smile as big as Dawn's.
"I've always wanted to go there. Is it as beautiful as they say?"
"Very."
Dawn's face got a dreamy expression, as if she were envisioning her possible honeymoon to the country.
"What part are you from?" she asked.
"Brisbane."
"Neat."
"Yeah...I miss it."
Dawn looked at her sympathetically.
Then the basement door opened and Spike entered the kitchen. The conversation fell silent as the girls looked at him.
"Good morning, ladies," Spike said as he approached the refrigerator.
Dawn turned to Tracey, "I'm gonna go take a shower, 'kay?"
"Okay," Tracey said.
Spike watched silently as Dawn left the kitchen quickly. He doubted things would ever be the same between them. Not that he could really fault her for feeling that way. Sighing, he returned to his business of getting blood out of the fridge.
Tracey watched him with a mixture of curiosity, fear, and amazement. He slid his eyes to her, a little uneasy with her staring. He poured the red liquid in a mug and placed it in the microwave. Soon, he could no longer stand the feeling of Tracey's eyes burning holes in him.
"Is there something you want to ask me?" he asked, sighing.
The microwave went off. He retrieved his breakfast from it.
"S-sorry. Didn't mean to stare. It's just...I've never really seen a vampire act so...tamed...."
"Excuse me?"
"I mean...most vampires are more with the death and mayhem. You're like a little kitten."
"Hey," Spike exclaimed, insulted by the statement.
"Sorry.." She took a deep breath, "I don't mean it like that. I just mean...you're nice."
"Well, in that case...thanks." He took a sip of the blood. Tracey was proud of herself for not gagging at the sight of him drinking blood.
"So, uh, why'd you get a soul?"
"Look...Tracey, is it?"
She nodded.
"Tracey, I said last night that I had my reasons and I intend to keep it at that."
"I know...and I respect that. But...well, my watcher, Yuna, always told me vampires were evil and could never aspire to be good."
"Sounds just like a Watcher. And, I suppose that normally that might be the case. But here in Sunnydale, things are rarely normal."
She nodded, thinking about what he said. He took the chance to finish his blood during the resumed silence. Buffy, in the meantime, entered the kitchen.
"Oh, didn't realize anyone else was up," she said, looking between the potential Slayer and the injured vampire.
"Mornin'," Tracey said, smiling.
Buffy smiled as well, "Did you sleep good?"
"Yep."
She nodded and then turned to Spike, "Feeling any better?"
"Yeah," he replied, wincing while saying this.
Buffy approached him, "Take your shirt off."
He looked at her with surprise, "W-what?"
Buffy rolled her eyes, "Take your shirt off and let me see."
He complied, slowly pulling the shirt off. Tracey suddenly felt a little uncomfortable at the sight of Spike's exposed chest. Even with all those cuts and bruises adorning said chest, Tracey couldn't deny his attractiveness. Spike leaned against the counter, watching Buffy carefully. He barely contained a moan as her deft fingers fluttered across his chest. She pressed gently against his bruises, causing him to groan in pain.
"Sorry," she said, immediately dropping her hands from his chest.
"It's okay," he said, quietly.
She looked up at him. "Everything looks better than yesterday. You should be one hundred percent in a couple of days," she said, just as quietly.
Their eyes met and suddenly, for Spike anyway, the rest of the room faded away and his tragic mistake of last year didn't happen. He wanted to touch, to kiss her, but he knew he wasn't allowed. For him, she was completely off limits.
The spell was broken when the doorbell rang.
Buffy sighed, "I thought we agreed last night to meet up at seven." She left the kitchen and stepped over the rousing Slayers-in-Training in the living room.
She opened the door and was completely surprised by who said on the other side.
"Mr. Travers?"
Behind him, stood the three watchers Buffy remembered from the last visit: Lydia, Nigel, and Phillip.
"Miss Summers."
"What are you doing here?"
"Good to see you, too, Miss Summers. But, in truth, we are here in Sunnydale to help you eliminate a new threat."
"The First?"
"Why, yes. How did you-"
"You're not the first person who has come here to help." She stepped aside, "Come on in."
The Watchers entered. Quentin looked at the now-awake girls, "I see you've already met the Slayers-in-Training."
"Yeah. They came here yesterday with Giles."
Travers nodded, regarding the five girls with almost cold detachment.
Spike walked into the living room, thankfully with his shirt back on. Seeing the Watchers, he stopped, "Well, this can't be good."
Buffy looked at him, "They're here for The First."
"Ah," he said, nodding. "I think I'll go back downstairs, if you don't mind." He left before Buffy could protest.
"William the Bloody lives here?" Lydia asked.
"Uh...just temporarily. Until he fully recovers from his injuries."
"Injuries?"
"The First didn't like his disobedience and decided to punish him, raising a new trouble at the same time," Buffy said.
"Spike disobeyed The First? He didn't wish to participate in evil? Why?" Nigel asked.
Buffy hesitated. Should she tell them? Would Spike appreciate her disclosing it?
"Yeah. He's changed."
"Changed? Changed how?"
"Look, it's really Spike's story to tell. Not mine."
"Very well."
"Good, now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go call Giles and the others."
The day seemed to have flown by rather slowly. Once everyone was assembled at the Summers residence, Quentin explained the Council's side of the story. Then it was decided that Buffy take the Slayers-in-Training out to show them Sunnydale. And to patrol.
The six entered the empty Christmas tree lot, quietly. Each carried a stake. Both cemeteries had been picked through with a fine-toothed comb. Any demons found were eliminated.
Tatiana looked at Buffy, "Why are we at a tree lot?" she asked, her Russian accent coming through.
The Slayer just shrugged, "Just thought we'd be thorough."
Tatiana nodded, understanding.
There was a rustle among the many trees.
"What was that?" Molly asked.
"Stay here," Buffy said.
Slowly, she approached the location the sound emitted from. Her senses kicked in and she knew she would be facing a vampire in seconds. She raised her stake. Peering behind a tree, Buffy saw a fledgling looking around dumbly. There was something fishy about it, but she decided the best way to get rid out the 'fishy' would be to get rid of the 'vampy.'
She stepped around the tree and into the vampire's line of vision.
"Slayer," it said.
"Yep, that's be me."
He looked her up and down and then ran at her . She lashed out a couple of punches. The vamp dodged them and tried to trip her with a low sweeping kick. She jumped to avoid it.
Suddenly there was a scream. Buffy glanced in the direction of the girls then back at the vamp. Without second though, she staked it and took off in the direction of the scream.
She skidded to a stop and the sight before her.
Nosferatu held Annabelle in its grasp. She struggled helplessly against it.
"Oh, God," Buffy said. She raced towards it and Annabelle, hoping against hope to get there before Nosferatu did something to Annabelle.
Annabelle had tears running down her cheeks as she realized she wouldn't see this through the end.
Nosferatu cradled her head in his hands and twisted.
"NO!" Buffy yelled at the sound of breaking bones.
End Chapter Three