Chapter 6

"And you can't tell what condition she's in?" Spike demanded, his frustration evident as he paced the floor of the Summers' living room.

He'd sent Buffy from the basement after the news of Katerina and the slayer didn't know what he'd done down there for almost an hour. But every once in a while she'd heard a crash from below and turned up the volume on the TV so Rebecca wouldn't hear.

When Spike finally came back upstairs, he was eerily silent, his clothes and hair disheveled and a frightening look in his blue eyes. Buffy sent a protesting Rebecca upstairs with orders to go to bed and sat down to wait for the vampire to do or say something.

And now, after a great deal of pacing, he had. Buffy shook her head. "Tara said her aura was weak…but I don't really know what that means."

"It means she's hurt. That's what it means. She would've come for Rebecca if she could. She's obviously in trouble."

"So what are you gonna do? You can't just-"

"Spike! Spike!" Buffy was cut off by the shrill scream from upstairs. The vampire was up the steps in a second with Buffy close on his heels. When she got into Rebecca and Dawn's room, the little girl was sitting up in bed and Spike was standing a few feet from her with a horrified look on his face.

"What? What is it?" Then the slayer saw the girl's eyes. The pale baby blues she'd inherited from her father were now dark chocolate and pain was clearly readable in the brown orbs.

"Spike," an unfamiliar voice came from the child's body. It was refined, like Giles' accent or an older version of Rebecca's. The vampire fell to his knees beside the bed, staring up at his daughter. "I don't have much time. Or much strength."

"Kat?"

"Yes. Spike, listen to me, Rebecca is in danger. My coven is looking for her. They want to kill her. They're keeping me alive, hoping to learn what I've done with her, but they can't for much longer and soon they'll have to result to dark magic. Magic that will take the answer directly from my mind. You can't let them take her. Hide Rebecca. Send her somewhere, anywhere."

"Where are you? Are you hurt bad, love?"

"Keep Rebecca safe!" the voice ordered firmly. "Forget about me. Save her. I've got to go. He's coming."

"Who? Who's coming? Where are you? Damn it woman! Kateri-" Spike was cut off by Katerina's painful scream and then Rebecca's body slumped back into her pillows. Immediately Spike gathered the little girl into his arms, cradling her limp body to his. "Rebecca? Are you all right? Wake up," he commanded, gently patting her cheek. "Come on, munchkin."

The tiny eyes fluttered open and Buffy saw that they were once again their startlingly blue color. "I had a dream," Rebecca said.

"Yea, pet."

"Mummy…"

"Shh. Go back to sleep." Spike sighed with relief and lay the girl back onto her bed. She snuggled down in the covers, clutching tightly to her chest her vampire doll that Spike had bought for her at the mall.

Buffy and Spike slowly walked out of the room and wordlessly went downstairs. The slayer plopped down on the couch and watched Spike carefully, unsure of what to do or say. It was he who broke the silence.

"I want you to take her away."

"What?"

"Take Rebecca away from here. Go somewhere…anywhere. Go to LA and stay with the Peaches Brigade. Or go visit your da wherever he is this week. I don't care. Just take Rebecca away."

"What are you going to do?" Buffy asked, not sure she wanted to hear the answer after hearing his other plan.

He looked at her steadily. "I'm going to find Katerina."

*****

"Is he insane?" Dawn exclaimed.

"Shh, shh. Keep your voice down." Buffy glanced warily at the basement door. "He's not insane…he's just worried. And scared. His daughter's in danger and her mother's going to die if he doesn't do something."

Dawn was quiet for a moment. "Does he still love her?"

"I don't know." Then Buffy rethought the question. "Yea. He still loves her."

"Then…I guess he's doing what he has to do."

*****

Spike ignored the little figure sitting on the edge of the bed. Every once in a while he'd hear a sniffle and he knew she was crying. It broke his heart, but he remained silent as he mechanically placed the tiny clothes into the satchel.

"You want to take your doll?" he asked, picking the little cloth vampire up.

"Yes," was Rebecca's weak reply. It was accompanied by sniffles and hiccups as she wiped at her tear-streaked face.

She watched her father stuff the toy into the bag and zipper it shut. "All packed, then."

"Daddy…"

Spike felt his heart clench at her whimper. "Yes?"

"Are the bad people coming for you too?"

"What?"

"The bad people."

"What rot is this? What bad people?"

"Mummy sent me away because of the bad people…"

"Oh, puppet…" Spike knelt by his daughter, gathering her into his arms. "The bad people…well, they're doing bad things. Bad things to your mum. And I'm going to stop them. But in the meantime, I don't want them to hurt my little girl, so you're going with Buffy and Dawn to stay in Los Angeles for a bit. I'll come get you when I've kicked the bad people's asses, though, OK?" Spike wiped the drying tears from her cheeks.

"But I want to go with you!" she cried, throwing her little arms around his neck.

"Rebecca, listen to your da, eh? I've got to do this alone. But I will be back. You like Buffy and Dawn, don't you?"

"Yes."

"Well, just think, you'll have a nice trip with them and you'll get to meet the nice people- well, for the most part- in LA."

"Like who?"

"Well…there's the cheerleader, for one. And Peaches."

Rebecca giggled. "Peaches?"

"Yeah. Angel. I guess if you want to get technical, he's your great-granddad." Spike grinned deviously. "As a matter of fact, you can call him that too. I'm sure he'll love that. And he'll love it too, if you play with his hair products."

Rebecca scrunched up her nose in confusion. "He will?"

"Oh yea. He's a very generous guy. You know how I never let you play with my hydrogen peroxide or any of the stuff in my drawer? Well it's different with Angel. Feel free to experiment with all the cans and tubes he's got in his medicine cabinet- especially the gels. Those are the most fun."

"You are a sick, sick vampire," Dawn proclaimed from the doorway.

Spike laughed. "Hey, I'm chipped, I take whatever evil I can get."

The teenager rolled her eyes. "Whatever. Is she packed and ready?"

He nodded. "Yep, all set. Aren't you, munchkin?" Rebecca reluctantly nodded and took her father's hand as they went downstairs.

Buffy was standing anxiously by the door, the car keys in her hand. "Ready?"

"Yea," the vampire responded as he and Rebecca reached the bottom of the steps. He handed the girl's bag to Dawn, who took it out to the car to put with the other suitcases. Then he faced Buffy, looking at her uneasily. "Listen, slayer…thank you…for doing this."

"Well…anything to help. I've kind of gotten used to having the kid around." She smiled down at Rebecca. "Um…well…I'll leave you two to…yeah. I'll be in the car."

As the slayer made her hasty exit, Spike knelt down to eye level with his daughter. "Be good all right?"

"OK."

"Mind Buffy and Dawn. And all the gang in LA. Well, except Angel. Brush your teeth. Don't bite anyone. Well, except Angel. Have fun, puppet."

"I'll miss you."

"I'll miss you, too."

Rebecca threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. "I love you."

"Love you too, kiddo," Spike said, pushing the tears back. "Now go on, they're waiting for you."

She nodded and scurried out the door to the car where Buffy and Dawn were patiently waiting. Spike watched through the window as they pulled out of the drive and headed down the street. Then he turned purposefully towards the basement. He had his own packing to do.

TBC….

Sorry, I've been evil-no-update-girl. I've been working on another story. (shameless self-promotion in 5…4…3…2…) It's called "Closer"- the sequel to my story "Jade". Check 'em out if you haven't already. It's a different speed from this- not so fluffy and cute. But I think it's good. Also check out my website "A reason for Unliving" at www.geocities.com/saffire457 and please please please please review this story! Tell me what you think!