The Fall of William
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs
A/N: Hi all. I want to thank all who have reviewed this story thus far it means a lot and I hope you all continue to enjoy this story. Thanks so much. Skyz.
~*~
Ch: 4
Buffy pulled her car into the nearly empty parking lot outside a run down motel near the interstate. Sliding out of her car, she slammed the door loud enough to wake the dead.
Narrowing her eyes, she let them scan the deserted street and settled on the small-depleted looking gas station across the street.
She counted four cars there. All run down and looking, as they would break down any minute. Two men loitered about them, sending curious looks her way even as she stared at them.
Glancing behind her she again counted the cars in the parking lot. With her car and two pickups that meant there were only three vehicles. Neither of the latter would be hers she mused.
Tugging her coat tighter she ducked her head against a sudden gust of wind and at the first smarting of raindrops, she hurried her steps. Until she reached room 213.
She lifted one hand and with the edge of her palm pounded on the door.
She could hear rustling and cursing coming from within and she felt a wave of relief crash through her as the door was thrown open wide.
"Fuck you'd think a girl could get some rest," Faith Connors grumbled as she glared at Buffy through blurry sleep filled eyes.
Buffy brushed past her and stepped inside.
Faith's eyes searched outside a moment before she slammed the door and turned to face Buffy hands on hips a dark scowl on her face.
Buffy gave a deep sigh as she took in the room. The threadbare blanket that covered the bed, the dingy walls, the clothes thrown haphazardly on every available piece of furniture.
Finally, she lifted her gaze to meet Faith's before she let her eyes wander over her.
Took in the state Faith was in.
Dressed in a skimpy pair of satin briefs and a bra she wasn't ashamed of her near nudity as others might have been were they in the same situation. She looked good and she knew it.
Buffy's eyes narrowed on their own accord as she felt a quick stirring of irritation at her friend.
"You like what you see B?" Faith drawled out as she spun in a quick circle.
"You always answer the door like that Faith? God! That's just an invitation to getting yourself in deep shit," Buffy snapped as she unbuttoned her coat and began to remove it.
Faith let out a deep laugh, shook her head as she plopped down on her bed, and stared up at Buffy her face thoughtful in the dimly lit room.
Buffy tossed her coat next to Faith and began to pace.
"Gotta be a reason you're here B. Not that I don't appreciate the visit mind you but you're a busy gal. What's up?"
Buffy paused and threw a glance at Faith.
"You know who's dead?" she finally asked.
Faith shrugged and ran a distracted hand through her dark tresses.
"Nah and don't really give a fu-"
"Riley," Buffy cut her off abruptly and watched the play of emotions flash across Faith's face.
Faith's first reaction was of anger. That little bastard was meant to be hers! Her second was a cold delightful triumphant that Riley had gotten what was coming to him. She only wished it had been her.
"Who?" was her only question.
"Spike," Buffy succulently replied.
Faith's quickly covered gasp was the only sound in the room except for the low hum of the heater.
The minutes stretched and finally Faith got off her bed and went in search for some clean clothes.
Slipping on some worn Levi's she tugged on a sweater and rousted some socks under a pile of newspapers.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she began to tug them on.
"Spike huh?" she finally broke the silence with a question that was obvious and one she knew Buffy would not get defensive about.
"Yep. Saw his picture. Watched the house burn down after he'd killed Riley," Buffy murmured as she stared sightlessly into space.
Faith frowned.
She wasn't quite sure how to go about this. The last time Buffy had seen Spike hadn't been pretty. In fact, Buffy had nearly died because of it. Then there was the little fact she was in love with the bastard.
Faith's mouth twisted at that. If she even thought to mention that to Buffy, she'd probably shoot her dead. Buffy liked to pretend that little chapter in her life was over but Faith knew better.
Spike, what a fucked up name, she thought shaking her head. Spike was always with her. In her heart and in her soul. Poetic shit like that, or so Willow had told her once when they'd spoken in depth about the never-ending circle that was Spike and Buffy's love.
Now she lifted her head from tying her shoes and grimaced.
"Spike killed Riley? Why? I didn't know he had any beef with that fucker. And why now? Huh? It has been over a year since uh-it's been a year since he was released. Why start with the killing?"
Buffy shrugged.
These had been questions she had been asking herself the entire drive here. She had no clue as to why Spike was out in the open again.
"I don't have a clue. I know he has a list of people who have done one thing or another to him and he'll be going after them."
"You too right? I mean B you are like number one on that list! What are you doin' here? This place isn't protected B! I'm on vacation here. I-"
"I know," Buffy snapped and immediately regretted it. Letting out a sigh, she shook her head.
Tried to get control of her tumultuous emotions. She had to be rational about this. Use her head. She couldn't let her feelings or lack of for Spike to interfere.
"Did you call Giles?" Faith asked as she rose.
"No," Buffy mumbled. "I came straight here."
"Why? B you know I'll help you any way I can. But I'm not connected any more. You being here is a liability. One you really don't need. I have an idea," Faith announced shrugging into her coat.
At Buffy's curious look she continued.
"Call Giles. Get his take and have him put you in a safe house."
"I can take care of myself! I don't need his help Faith. I don't work for him any longer. Why would I call him?" Buffy asked incredulously even as she pulled out her cell.
"Cuz he's one of the good guys B. And he's like your dad but not. Plus Jeeves is super smart. He'll know what to do."
Buffy punched in Giles's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Giles," he answered tersely.
Buffy shot a look at Faith who wandered over and hovered close to listen to her conversation.
"Giles. Hi, it's me Buffy," Buffy said quickly.
Giles was silent for a moment before he finally spoke.
"Oh. Hello darling," he said warmly.
"Darling?" Faith asked loudly and Buffy shushed her.
"Giles what's going on? Is some one in the room with you?"
"Nothing. I am in the middle of a meeting dear. Of course not! I wouldn't miss it for the world. You know how much I love that author."
"Huh?" Buffy couldn't help but emit as Giles continued on.
"Trace is such an odd fellow. Especially when he investigated that Devlin bloke. What was the name of that book? Ah! The Conceived. I must be going darling. It is only a matter of time before the next installment comes out right? I heard Trace was out to get-"
"Rupert," the loud voice of one Quentin Travers had Giles finally breaking off.
Buffy heard the distinct sounds of a hurried conversation going on.
"Giles what the hell is going on?! Are you okay? Why's Quentin there?" Buffy asked in a whisper. It was obvious Giles didn't want Quentin to know whom he was speaking to.
"Goodbye. Keep safe. I love you," Giles said before he hung up.
Buffy looked at her cell and then up at Faith who was as perplexed as she was. Closing the phone, she frowned.
"Why was he speaking in code?" Faith wondered aloud.
Buffy shoved her phone back into her pocket and shrugged.
"Quentin was with him. We both know how he despises him. Maybe he just wanted to keep his conversation private," Buffy, ventured not believing what she said.
It couldn't have only been that.
She slowly replayed his words to her.
Trace was relatively easy. Some one had a trace on someone.
"Isn't Devlin Spike's last name?" Faith piped up.
Buffy's eyes widened and she nodded numbly.
"So some one has a trace on Spike?" Faith asked.
Buffy felt a shudder pass through her at the thought of that. She wasn't sure what scared her more. The fact that the Company thought they could get away with that or that she was only one of a select few who knew more about William Devlin aka William the Bloody than any one else.
"But why? I mean I know sure he's out there killing people but a trace won't do much good. Unless he's on the phone 24/7 which I highly doubt. Giles spoke of an investigation. Trace was investigating Devlin."
Faith wandered to the window and glanced out.
"We can assume Trace is a person," Buffy was saying. "Quentin maybe as he was there. But why? They dug as deep as they could last time. There's nothing new to find."
"B," Faith said quickly never taking her gaze from the window.
"What?" Buffy asked still thinking about Giles's cryptic words. They weren't making sense.
"We've got company," Faith muttered as she turned from the window and raced to her bed.
Buffy eyes narrowed as she made her way to the window and looked out. Swore as she saw a black sedan parked next to her own car. Two men were currently in the process of letting out the air in her tires.
Two more were headed straight for this room.
"What the hell is this?" Buffy wondered aloud.
"Trouble. Why is it whenever we're together trouble always follows close behind?" Faith asked with a laugh as she began stuffing clothes into a bag and turned the safety off her Glock.
"You know what the weirdest thing is?" Buffy asked as she took out her own gun and lowered her hand until it was hidden behind her back.
The men would be there in only a few seconds.
"What?" Faith asked as she stood beside Buffy.
"They're some of our own," Buffy said right as the door to Faith's room was kicked in and the men came in gun's blazing.
Buffy wasn't opposed to killing when she had too.
And today was one of those times. These men were out to kill her and Faith and she really had no idea why.
Didn't matter though.
It was either kill or be killed.
How clichéd was that? She thought with a slight smile as she nailed one of the men in the shoulder.
Watched as Faith nailed the other one in the head.
He was down for the count.
The two who had been draining her tires of air were alerted by the gunshots and came racing forward.
Dropping down beside the wounded man, Buffy jerked him to face her.
Faith stepped over Buffy as she met the men head on.
"Who sent you?" Buffy asked.
"Never gonn-"
Buffy didn't waste any time as she shot him in his other shoulder and watched as he yelled in pain.
"Who?" she spat.
"Don't kill me," he gasped out in agony.
"WHO?" Buffy bit out.
She didn't have time for this, she thought as she came to her feet and turned sharply firing in rapid succession.
"Faith," she called out. "Take care of him," she ordered.
Buffy dived out the front door as she saw the parking lot was deserted. Rolled to her knees and let her eyes scan the ground. Spotted shoes and ankles beneath one of the pickups.
Gunfire came from behind it and Buffy ducked and with a well-aimed bullet caught the gas tank.
"Faith," she called again. "C'mon."
"Where's the other one?" Faith asked as she crawled out of the room dragging her bag along with her.
"You didn't get him?" Buffy asked as she jumped to her feet, grabbing Faith and began to run.
"Nah," Faith began just as the pickup exploded and sent them flying through the air.
They landed hard and gracelessly.
"Fuck," Faith complained as her head hit the pavement hard enough that she knew she'd have a concussion from it.
Buffy couldn't even manage a word as pain exploded in her shoulder. Lifting her head, she realized the blast had lifted them clear across the street.
Her eyes searched frantically for any sign of her gun. It must have been thrown from her grasp as she'd been thrown.
Faith rolled over and glanced at Buffy.
Felt a spurt of relief as she found her relatively unhurt except for one useless arm.
Lifting herself to her feet, she looked around briefly before she jerked Buffy to her feet a groan of pain came from the petite blond.
"Fuck B you dislocated your shoulder," Faith snapped as she settled Buffy on her feet and looked around wildly.
She spotted the two men Buffy had seen earlier hidden behind a pile of tires and dragged Buffy towards them.
"I can walk," Buffy complained as she tried to jerk from Faith's grasp.
Faith's hold only tightened and when she reached the men, she gave them both wide smiles.
"How ya doin'? See that car over there?" she asked indicating one of the hoopties Buffy had been observing earlier. "We're gonna need the keys to it and all the money you have in that cash register," Faith said.
"Faith," Buffy protested.
Faith ignored her as she waved her gun at the men and they scrambled to their feet ready and willing to do as she bade.
"Shut up B," Faith ordered glancing back at the motel with narrowed eyes. Where was the other one? She thought.
"Here you are ma'am," one of the men said handing her the keys. The other one gathered all of the money and with shaking hands handed it to Buffy.
Her shoulder protested as she lifted her hands and reluctantly accepted the money.
"Sorry about this," Buffy felt compelled to say. "We'll pay you back," she added as Faith let out a loud snort and hurried away.
"Call the cops and we'll kill you," Faith called over her shoulder as she stuffed Buffy into the car and slipped in.
Starting the car, it took three attempts before it was roaring and ready to go. Faith screeched out of the gas station as if the hounds of hell were after her.
"What the hell was that about?" Buffy asked a little later on.
Faith shrugged as she pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car. Getting out she waited for Buffy to follow.
"Trouble B. We are in major shit ass trouble now! And guess what?"
Buffy didn't want to guess. She didn't even want to think about this, why they'd been attacked or how Spike fit into all of this.
Now all she wanted to do was pop her shoulder back in place and rest for a good two days.
She wished she'd never seen those pictures.
"What?" Buffy finally managed to snap out.
"Those boys were sent by the head honcho himself. What kinda shit you been doin' B? I was mindin' my own business and you come along an-"
"Wait! Quentin sent them?" Buffy couldn't wrap her mind around that.
"We gotta move," Faith said instead of answering.
Buffy nodded and leaving the car behind they made their way.
~*~
Anya nervously waited for the door to a secluded room in the Watcher Corporation to open.
When it did, she gave a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
The man who stared back at her lifted one red eyebrow and waited for her to speak.
"Hi Oz," Anya chirped loudly then grimaced and lowered her voice. "We've got problems."
His face was expressionless as he regarded her.
"Trouble for Buffy. Trouble for all of us," Anya continued as she realized he wasn't going to comment. "Remember Spike?" she asked then shook her head. "Of course you do! Well he's-forget about that. Buffy's been attacked."
This caught Oz's attention above all else.
"Where? Who?" he demanded.
"At Faith's. By Quentin," Anya answered in a rush.
Oz stepped out of his room and slowly shut the door behind him.
"Where are they?" was all he asked.
Anya threw a look at the closed door as Oz started to walk away.
"Don't you want-don't you wanna get some of those weapons Oz? I mean I know you are a trained professional but I for one would feel much safer if you had a weapon. My money," she said patting the bulging gym bag at her side. "Would feel much safer."
Oz glanced back at her with the smallest hint of a smile.
"I am the only weapon I'll need Anya. Your money's safe," he issued softly.
Anya's audible sigh of relief was the only sound heard as they made their way through the silent halls.
~*~
Xander Harris was used to finding one of his best friends at his door in the middle of the night.
But what he wasn't used to was being woken up in the middle of the night by a desperate, incoherent phone call from Willow telling him to get out of his house and go to the nearest safe house.
No explanations.
An order from their boss.
No one disobeyed Buffy. So in the middle of the night he pulled himself out of bed. Cast a wistful glance at his rumpled bed and dressed, grabbed his stash of weapons and his car keys and headed out.
He thought to call his girlfriend Anya as he drove out of his driveway and then decided against it. Willow had assured him Anya knew the drill. She was probably already at the safe house.
He wondered what had been so urgent that they all had to go to the safe house. Now that they no longer worked for the Company those days where they all converged to the safe house were long gone.
Something was up and he knew he wasn't going to like it one bit.
~*~
Buffy gingerly rotated her right shoulder and hissed as pain shot through her. She lifted wary green eyes to the group that had assembled on command and let a small smile appear.
"What's going on here Buffy?" Xander asked finally.
Buffy inhaled deeply and dropped her gaze. She knew what she was going to say now would not be highly received by Xander. Any of them.
"Spike's appeared," she announced.
She got the anticipated reaction from Xander as he exploded out of his chair and began to yell.
"What?! How the hell can you sit here calmly and say that Buffy?! He tried to kill you! He is after you again isn't he?! He'll kill us all this time!!"
"Xander honey. You're exaggerating," Anya felt the need to point out baldly. "Spike is only going to kill Buffy. He doesn't want us. Isn't that right Buffy?"
Buffy grinned a bitter twist of her lips and jerked her head in agreement.
"He's out. But right now...at this point he's the least of our problems," she muttered.
Faith spoke for the first time.
"That's not entirely true B. See that guy back at the motel he said with a little convincing....that this was something that should have happened years ago."
Buffy frowned.
"What me dying? Killing me and you?" Buffy asked confused.
Faith met Buffy's gaze and shook her head.
"No. I think he just meant you. You should have been dead long ago. That's what Travers said when he issued the order for your death."
The room was silent a long moment as everyone tried to grasp this new piece of information.
"Um...Buffy when I was trying to find out what they had on Riley Finn's case I noticed some one had been trying to hack into our hard drive," Willow mumbled.
Oz placed a comforting hand on her thigh and narrowed his eyes at Buffy waiting for her to speak.
She didn't.
"Uh well what'd they want?" Faith asked glancing at Buffy.
Buffy rose and made her way to the back of the house.
Everyone stared after her.
"I don't know. But this isn't the first time this has happened Faith," Willow blurted out.
"What?" Anya exclaimed. "You mean this has happened before and you didn't tell Buffy? She needs to know things like that! I need to know things like that!"
"I'm sorry! I thought it was a mistake. I mean why would I think Quentin or whoever was trying to break into our computer system?! It's nearly full proof!"
"Nearly isn't good enough," Xander muttered glaring at the spot Buffy had been a moment before. "What were they looking for?"
Willow wanted to shrink and fall into a deep black hole. She felt this whole thing was her fault. How she wasn't sure, but she knew if she's mentioned these discrepancies to Buffy beforehand she would have been prepared for what was to come.
"They were trying to get into Buffy's private computer system," Willow mumbled.
"And you kept that to yourself?" Oz found himself asking incredulously.
"I'm sorry," Willow cried out tears forming.
Faith sniffed in disgust.
"Shit," she spat. "Shit! They were obviously looking for something. What?"
"They put a trace on my computer. Trying to find out how much I know about...Spike I'm guessing," Buffy's voice startled them all.
She'd reappeared dressed to kill in all leather.
A tight black leather jacket adorned over a loose but not too loose black leather halter. Red leather pants hugged her hips and black steel- toed boots finished off the outfit.
"Where're you going?" Faith demanded.
"Out," Buffy bit off glaring at Faith.
Silently telling her to keep her mouth shut.
Of course, Faith didn't listen.
"NO! Buffy you can't go out. You can't even use your shooting arm! You're hurt and upset and those are big non-mixy feelings for you. You get stupid when you feel this way."
Buffy smiled slightly and shook out her long hair.
"I'm not gonna do anything you wouldn't. I want to know what's going on and I will."
She turned.
"Wait Buff," Xander called as he rose and rummaged around in his bag and handed her two 9mm's and extra clips to go along with them.
She smirked as she looked at them.
Then down at her outfit.
"Where is she going to put those Xander?" Anya asked exasperated. She dug into his bag, pulled out two wicked looking knives, and gave them to Buffy.
"There you go. Don't get yourself killed Buffy. But if you do then that means we'll be safe to go home," Anya stated with a wide smile.
"I'll try not to," Buffy replied dryly. "Listen, guys this...this is something I never expected to happen. Certainly not by the hand of Quentin Travers. Now that it has I'm gonna put a stop to it. I need you Faith to take care of my mom and sister. Put them somewhere safe. We know what Quentin is capable of. Get them out of the way. You guys stay here. Safe. Understood?"
Mumbles and nods was the response she got. Satisfied she nodded once and looking around one last time headed out.
"Where's she going again?" Anya asked as she frowned.
Everyone glared at her.
"She's going-"Faith cut herself off. Buffy really hadn't explained where she was going.
She shared a confused and worried look with Xander.
"You don't think...?" She asked hesitantly.
"You bet your ass I do," he exclaimed hotly striding for the door.
"What?" Anya asked again.
Still confused.
"I can try and get into the computer system over at Travers' and see what's going on," Willow said as she pulled away from Oz.
"I'm going after her," Oz announced.
"Yeah you do that," Faith muttered. "I've gotta get to Joyce and Dawn. I'll be in touch."
Faith strode out of the room to the back of the house to the bedrooms.
"Xander you should stay here. Stay with Anya," Oz said glancing at Anya then back at Xander.
Xander stood undecided as he wrestled with himself. He wanted to go after Buffy so badly! There was no way he was letting her do this by herself.
No way!
"No," he growled. "No I'm comin' with. We'll do this together Oz."
Willow looked back and forth. A frown worked its way onto her brow and she felt the first stirrings of anger begin to form.
"Listen to yourself! We've done this before remember?" she yelled. "We wasted time then too and she almost died! Get your asses in gear. Xander if you want to go then go! But stop wasting time! Get out of here!"
Xander nodded.
"Right," he muttered and brushed past Oz as he left through the front door.
Oz gave Willow a quick kiss and murmured quietly to her before he followed Xander.
"Where are they going Willow?" Anya asked.
"After Buffy. Who went looking for Spike. Whom she is going to probably kill. After all he seems to be the cause of all of this."
Anya's face went pale and she hugged her bag of money closer to her. She sent a fearful look at the door. Thought of Xander.
"But the last time that happened..." She began and then shook her head. She didn't like thinking about that period in all their lives.
Willow blew out a breath.
"Last time that happened both Buffy and Spike nearly killed eachother. Let's hope it goes better this time around."
Anya stared at the door and although she wasn't a religious woman, a prayer sprang to her lips and she prayed for everyone's safety. Xander's, Buffy' and Oz's. However, most of all she prayed that her money would remain safe in her arms.
~*~
"Sir?"
Quentin Travers looked up from his computer screen to find one of his personal body guards standing there drenched in blood and covered in soot.
"Good Lord man," he was forced to exclaim as he gestured for the man to come forward.
He did so in staggering steps.
"Is she dead?" he asked.
"N....no sir she got away," the man gasped out.
Quentin frowned.
"How?" he asked his displeasure showing on his weathered face.
"She was with another girl. She was with-"
"She's alive," Quentin muttered coldly. "You've failed me. You have let her live and if she ruins my plans it will be your fault," he stated.
The man trembled in fear and pain as he watched Quentin lift his phone and punch in a number.
"Please," the man began.
"Take him away," Quentin spoke into the phone. His office door was opened and two heavily armed men stepped in. Taking an arm each they led the begging man out.
Quentin shifted in his seat and let out a sigh.
"With any luck they'll kill eachother. Saving us the trouble," a new voice spoke from the shadows and Quentin let out an irritated breath.
"The last time you said that what happened? They didn't! The last time we thought they were gone for good we grew lax and could have been destroyed had they been inclined to investigate. No. Them killing eachother is too much to hope for. They have had many a chance and always they remain alive. Both of them. I want you to do it."
Angel's laugh was full of amusement as he paused beside Quentin.
"Well Quint I think that's the smartest thing I've heard you say in our long association."
Quentin's look of distaste was obvious as well as his anger at being mocked as he rose and glared up at the taller man.
"I want them dead do you hear?! Dead! We haven't gone through this much trouble over the years to see them ruin this for us! If things had gone smoothly the first time around this wouldn't have happened! All you had to do was seduce her Angel. Yet you let William the Bloody have her and things worsened from then on. Now I'm looking for you to make things right. As they should have been five years ago."
Angel's humor left him abruptly.
"I will," he answered solemnly. "And I'll enjoy every minute of it."
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs
A/N: Hi all. I want to thank all who have reviewed this story thus far it means a lot and I hope you all continue to enjoy this story. Thanks so much. Skyz.
~*~
Ch: 4
Buffy pulled her car into the nearly empty parking lot outside a run down motel near the interstate. Sliding out of her car, she slammed the door loud enough to wake the dead.
Narrowing her eyes, she let them scan the deserted street and settled on the small-depleted looking gas station across the street.
She counted four cars there. All run down and looking, as they would break down any minute. Two men loitered about them, sending curious looks her way even as she stared at them.
Glancing behind her she again counted the cars in the parking lot. With her car and two pickups that meant there were only three vehicles. Neither of the latter would be hers she mused.
Tugging her coat tighter she ducked her head against a sudden gust of wind and at the first smarting of raindrops, she hurried her steps. Until she reached room 213.
She lifted one hand and with the edge of her palm pounded on the door.
She could hear rustling and cursing coming from within and she felt a wave of relief crash through her as the door was thrown open wide.
"Fuck you'd think a girl could get some rest," Faith Connors grumbled as she glared at Buffy through blurry sleep filled eyes.
Buffy brushed past her and stepped inside.
Faith's eyes searched outside a moment before she slammed the door and turned to face Buffy hands on hips a dark scowl on her face.
Buffy gave a deep sigh as she took in the room. The threadbare blanket that covered the bed, the dingy walls, the clothes thrown haphazardly on every available piece of furniture.
Finally, she lifted her gaze to meet Faith's before she let her eyes wander over her.
Took in the state Faith was in.
Dressed in a skimpy pair of satin briefs and a bra she wasn't ashamed of her near nudity as others might have been were they in the same situation. She looked good and she knew it.
Buffy's eyes narrowed on their own accord as she felt a quick stirring of irritation at her friend.
"You like what you see B?" Faith drawled out as she spun in a quick circle.
"You always answer the door like that Faith? God! That's just an invitation to getting yourself in deep shit," Buffy snapped as she unbuttoned her coat and began to remove it.
Faith let out a deep laugh, shook her head as she plopped down on her bed, and stared up at Buffy her face thoughtful in the dimly lit room.
Buffy tossed her coat next to Faith and began to pace.
"Gotta be a reason you're here B. Not that I don't appreciate the visit mind you but you're a busy gal. What's up?"
Buffy paused and threw a glance at Faith.
"You know who's dead?" she finally asked.
Faith shrugged and ran a distracted hand through her dark tresses.
"Nah and don't really give a fu-"
"Riley," Buffy cut her off abruptly and watched the play of emotions flash across Faith's face.
Faith's first reaction was of anger. That little bastard was meant to be hers! Her second was a cold delightful triumphant that Riley had gotten what was coming to him. She only wished it had been her.
"Who?" was her only question.
"Spike," Buffy succulently replied.
Faith's quickly covered gasp was the only sound in the room except for the low hum of the heater.
The minutes stretched and finally Faith got off her bed and went in search for some clean clothes.
Slipping on some worn Levi's she tugged on a sweater and rousted some socks under a pile of newspapers.
Sitting on the edge of her bed, she began to tug them on.
"Spike huh?" she finally broke the silence with a question that was obvious and one she knew Buffy would not get defensive about.
"Yep. Saw his picture. Watched the house burn down after he'd killed Riley," Buffy murmured as she stared sightlessly into space.
Faith frowned.
She wasn't quite sure how to go about this. The last time Buffy had seen Spike hadn't been pretty. In fact, Buffy had nearly died because of it. Then there was the little fact she was in love with the bastard.
Faith's mouth twisted at that. If she even thought to mention that to Buffy, she'd probably shoot her dead. Buffy liked to pretend that little chapter in her life was over but Faith knew better.
Spike, what a fucked up name, she thought shaking her head. Spike was always with her. In her heart and in her soul. Poetic shit like that, or so Willow had told her once when they'd spoken in depth about the never-ending circle that was Spike and Buffy's love.
Now she lifted her head from tying her shoes and grimaced.
"Spike killed Riley? Why? I didn't know he had any beef with that fucker. And why now? Huh? It has been over a year since uh-it's been a year since he was released. Why start with the killing?"
Buffy shrugged.
These had been questions she had been asking herself the entire drive here. She had no clue as to why Spike was out in the open again.
"I don't have a clue. I know he has a list of people who have done one thing or another to him and he'll be going after them."
"You too right? I mean B you are like number one on that list! What are you doin' here? This place isn't protected B! I'm on vacation here. I-"
"I know," Buffy snapped and immediately regretted it. Letting out a sigh, she shook her head.
Tried to get control of her tumultuous emotions. She had to be rational about this. Use her head. She couldn't let her feelings or lack of for Spike to interfere.
"Did you call Giles?" Faith asked as she rose.
"No," Buffy mumbled. "I came straight here."
"Why? B you know I'll help you any way I can. But I'm not connected any more. You being here is a liability. One you really don't need. I have an idea," Faith announced shrugging into her coat.
At Buffy's curious look she continued.
"Call Giles. Get his take and have him put you in a safe house."
"I can take care of myself! I don't need his help Faith. I don't work for him any longer. Why would I call him?" Buffy asked incredulously even as she pulled out her cell.
"Cuz he's one of the good guys B. And he's like your dad but not. Plus Jeeves is super smart. He'll know what to do."
Buffy punched in Giles's number and waited for him to pick up.
"Giles," he answered tersely.
Buffy shot a look at Faith who wandered over and hovered close to listen to her conversation.
"Giles. Hi, it's me Buffy," Buffy said quickly.
Giles was silent for a moment before he finally spoke.
"Oh. Hello darling," he said warmly.
"Darling?" Faith asked loudly and Buffy shushed her.
"Giles what's going on? Is some one in the room with you?"
"Nothing. I am in the middle of a meeting dear. Of course not! I wouldn't miss it for the world. You know how much I love that author."
"Huh?" Buffy couldn't help but emit as Giles continued on.
"Trace is such an odd fellow. Especially when he investigated that Devlin bloke. What was the name of that book? Ah! The Conceived. I must be going darling. It is only a matter of time before the next installment comes out right? I heard Trace was out to get-"
"Rupert," the loud voice of one Quentin Travers had Giles finally breaking off.
Buffy heard the distinct sounds of a hurried conversation going on.
"Giles what the hell is going on?! Are you okay? Why's Quentin there?" Buffy asked in a whisper. It was obvious Giles didn't want Quentin to know whom he was speaking to.
"Goodbye. Keep safe. I love you," Giles said before he hung up.
Buffy looked at her cell and then up at Faith who was as perplexed as she was. Closing the phone, she frowned.
"Why was he speaking in code?" Faith wondered aloud.
Buffy shoved her phone back into her pocket and shrugged.
"Quentin was with him. We both know how he despises him. Maybe he just wanted to keep his conversation private," Buffy, ventured not believing what she said.
It couldn't have only been that.
She slowly replayed his words to her.
Trace was relatively easy. Some one had a trace on someone.
"Isn't Devlin Spike's last name?" Faith piped up.
Buffy's eyes widened and she nodded numbly.
"So some one has a trace on Spike?" Faith asked.
Buffy felt a shudder pass through her at the thought of that. She wasn't sure what scared her more. The fact that the Company thought they could get away with that or that she was only one of a select few who knew more about William Devlin aka William the Bloody than any one else.
"But why? I mean I know sure he's out there killing people but a trace won't do much good. Unless he's on the phone 24/7 which I highly doubt. Giles spoke of an investigation. Trace was investigating Devlin."
Faith wandered to the window and glanced out.
"We can assume Trace is a person," Buffy was saying. "Quentin maybe as he was there. But why? They dug as deep as they could last time. There's nothing new to find."
"B," Faith said quickly never taking her gaze from the window.
"What?" Buffy asked still thinking about Giles's cryptic words. They weren't making sense.
"We've got company," Faith muttered as she turned from the window and raced to her bed.
Buffy eyes narrowed as she made her way to the window and looked out. Swore as she saw a black sedan parked next to her own car. Two men were currently in the process of letting out the air in her tires.
Two more were headed straight for this room.
"What the hell is this?" Buffy wondered aloud.
"Trouble. Why is it whenever we're together trouble always follows close behind?" Faith asked with a laugh as she began stuffing clothes into a bag and turned the safety off her Glock.
"You know what the weirdest thing is?" Buffy asked as she took out her own gun and lowered her hand until it was hidden behind her back.
The men would be there in only a few seconds.
"What?" Faith asked as she stood beside Buffy.
"They're some of our own," Buffy said right as the door to Faith's room was kicked in and the men came in gun's blazing.
Buffy wasn't opposed to killing when she had too.
And today was one of those times. These men were out to kill her and Faith and she really had no idea why.
Didn't matter though.
It was either kill or be killed.
How clichéd was that? She thought with a slight smile as she nailed one of the men in the shoulder.
Watched as Faith nailed the other one in the head.
He was down for the count.
The two who had been draining her tires of air were alerted by the gunshots and came racing forward.
Dropping down beside the wounded man, Buffy jerked him to face her.
Faith stepped over Buffy as she met the men head on.
"Who sent you?" Buffy asked.
"Never gonn-"
Buffy didn't waste any time as she shot him in his other shoulder and watched as he yelled in pain.
"Who?" she spat.
"Don't kill me," he gasped out in agony.
"WHO?" Buffy bit out.
She didn't have time for this, she thought as she came to her feet and turned sharply firing in rapid succession.
"Faith," she called out. "Take care of him," she ordered.
Buffy dived out the front door as she saw the parking lot was deserted. Rolled to her knees and let her eyes scan the ground. Spotted shoes and ankles beneath one of the pickups.
Gunfire came from behind it and Buffy ducked and with a well-aimed bullet caught the gas tank.
"Faith," she called again. "C'mon."
"Where's the other one?" Faith asked as she crawled out of the room dragging her bag along with her.
"You didn't get him?" Buffy asked as she jumped to her feet, grabbing Faith and began to run.
"Nah," Faith began just as the pickup exploded and sent them flying through the air.
They landed hard and gracelessly.
"Fuck," Faith complained as her head hit the pavement hard enough that she knew she'd have a concussion from it.
Buffy couldn't even manage a word as pain exploded in her shoulder. Lifting her head, she realized the blast had lifted them clear across the street.
Her eyes searched frantically for any sign of her gun. It must have been thrown from her grasp as she'd been thrown.
Faith rolled over and glanced at Buffy.
Felt a spurt of relief as she found her relatively unhurt except for one useless arm.
Lifting herself to her feet, she looked around briefly before she jerked Buffy to her feet a groan of pain came from the petite blond.
"Fuck B you dislocated your shoulder," Faith snapped as she settled Buffy on her feet and looked around wildly.
She spotted the two men Buffy had seen earlier hidden behind a pile of tires and dragged Buffy towards them.
"I can walk," Buffy complained as she tried to jerk from Faith's grasp.
Faith's hold only tightened and when she reached the men, she gave them both wide smiles.
"How ya doin'? See that car over there?" she asked indicating one of the hoopties Buffy had been observing earlier. "We're gonna need the keys to it and all the money you have in that cash register," Faith said.
"Faith," Buffy protested.
Faith ignored her as she waved her gun at the men and they scrambled to their feet ready and willing to do as she bade.
"Shut up B," Faith ordered glancing back at the motel with narrowed eyes. Where was the other one? She thought.
"Here you are ma'am," one of the men said handing her the keys. The other one gathered all of the money and with shaking hands handed it to Buffy.
Her shoulder protested as she lifted her hands and reluctantly accepted the money.
"Sorry about this," Buffy felt compelled to say. "We'll pay you back," she added as Faith let out a loud snort and hurried away.
"Call the cops and we'll kill you," Faith called over her shoulder as she stuffed Buffy into the car and slipped in.
Starting the car, it took three attempts before it was roaring and ready to go. Faith screeched out of the gas station as if the hounds of hell were after her.
"What the hell was that about?" Buffy asked a little later on.
Faith shrugged as she pulled to the side of the road and stopped the car. Getting out she waited for Buffy to follow.
"Trouble B. We are in major shit ass trouble now! And guess what?"
Buffy didn't want to guess. She didn't even want to think about this, why they'd been attacked or how Spike fit into all of this.
Now all she wanted to do was pop her shoulder back in place and rest for a good two days.
She wished she'd never seen those pictures.
"What?" Buffy finally managed to snap out.
"Those boys were sent by the head honcho himself. What kinda shit you been doin' B? I was mindin' my own business and you come along an-"
"Wait! Quentin sent them?" Buffy couldn't wrap her mind around that.
"We gotta move," Faith said instead of answering.
Buffy nodded and leaving the car behind they made their way.
~*~
Anya nervously waited for the door to a secluded room in the Watcher Corporation to open.
When it did, she gave a small smile that didn't reach her eyes.
The man who stared back at her lifted one red eyebrow and waited for her to speak.
"Hi Oz," Anya chirped loudly then grimaced and lowered her voice. "We've got problems."
His face was expressionless as he regarded her.
"Trouble for Buffy. Trouble for all of us," Anya continued as she realized he wasn't going to comment. "Remember Spike?" she asked then shook her head. "Of course you do! Well he's-forget about that. Buffy's been attacked."
This caught Oz's attention above all else.
"Where? Who?" he demanded.
"At Faith's. By Quentin," Anya answered in a rush.
Oz stepped out of his room and slowly shut the door behind him.
"Where are they?" was all he asked.
Anya threw a look at the closed door as Oz started to walk away.
"Don't you want-don't you wanna get some of those weapons Oz? I mean I know you are a trained professional but I for one would feel much safer if you had a weapon. My money," she said patting the bulging gym bag at her side. "Would feel much safer."
Oz glanced back at her with the smallest hint of a smile.
"I am the only weapon I'll need Anya. Your money's safe," he issued softly.
Anya's audible sigh of relief was the only sound heard as they made their way through the silent halls.
~*~
Xander Harris was used to finding one of his best friends at his door in the middle of the night.
But what he wasn't used to was being woken up in the middle of the night by a desperate, incoherent phone call from Willow telling him to get out of his house and go to the nearest safe house.
No explanations.
An order from their boss.
No one disobeyed Buffy. So in the middle of the night he pulled himself out of bed. Cast a wistful glance at his rumpled bed and dressed, grabbed his stash of weapons and his car keys and headed out.
He thought to call his girlfriend Anya as he drove out of his driveway and then decided against it. Willow had assured him Anya knew the drill. She was probably already at the safe house.
He wondered what had been so urgent that they all had to go to the safe house. Now that they no longer worked for the Company those days where they all converged to the safe house were long gone.
Something was up and he knew he wasn't going to like it one bit.
~*~
Buffy gingerly rotated her right shoulder and hissed as pain shot through her. She lifted wary green eyes to the group that had assembled on command and let a small smile appear.
"What's going on here Buffy?" Xander asked finally.
Buffy inhaled deeply and dropped her gaze. She knew what she was going to say now would not be highly received by Xander. Any of them.
"Spike's appeared," she announced.
She got the anticipated reaction from Xander as he exploded out of his chair and began to yell.
"What?! How the hell can you sit here calmly and say that Buffy?! He tried to kill you! He is after you again isn't he?! He'll kill us all this time!!"
"Xander honey. You're exaggerating," Anya felt the need to point out baldly. "Spike is only going to kill Buffy. He doesn't want us. Isn't that right Buffy?"
Buffy grinned a bitter twist of her lips and jerked her head in agreement.
"He's out. But right now...at this point he's the least of our problems," she muttered.
Faith spoke for the first time.
"That's not entirely true B. See that guy back at the motel he said with a little convincing....that this was something that should have happened years ago."
Buffy frowned.
"What me dying? Killing me and you?" Buffy asked confused.
Faith met Buffy's gaze and shook her head.
"No. I think he just meant you. You should have been dead long ago. That's what Travers said when he issued the order for your death."
The room was silent a long moment as everyone tried to grasp this new piece of information.
"Um...Buffy when I was trying to find out what they had on Riley Finn's case I noticed some one had been trying to hack into our hard drive," Willow mumbled.
Oz placed a comforting hand on her thigh and narrowed his eyes at Buffy waiting for her to speak.
She didn't.
"Uh well what'd they want?" Faith asked glancing at Buffy.
Buffy rose and made her way to the back of the house.
Everyone stared after her.
"I don't know. But this isn't the first time this has happened Faith," Willow blurted out.
"What?" Anya exclaimed. "You mean this has happened before and you didn't tell Buffy? She needs to know things like that! I need to know things like that!"
"I'm sorry! I thought it was a mistake. I mean why would I think Quentin or whoever was trying to break into our computer system?! It's nearly full proof!"
"Nearly isn't good enough," Xander muttered glaring at the spot Buffy had been a moment before. "What were they looking for?"
Willow wanted to shrink and fall into a deep black hole. She felt this whole thing was her fault. How she wasn't sure, but she knew if she's mentioned these discrepancies to Buffy beforehand she would have been prepared for what was to come.
"They were trying to get into Buffy's private computer system," Willow mumbled.
"And you kept that to yourself?" Oz found himself asking incredulously.
"I'm sorry," Willow cried out tears forming.
Faith sniffed in disgust.
"Shit," she spat. "Shit! They were obviously looking for something. What?"
"They put a trace on my computer. Trying to find out how much I know about...Spike I'm guessing," Buffy's voice startled them all.
She'd reappeared dressed to kill in all leather.
A tight black leather jacket adorned over a loose but not too loose black leather halter. Red leather pants hugged her hips and black steel- toed boots finished off the outfit.
"Where're you going?" Faith demanded.
"Out," Buffy bit off glaring at Faith.
Silently telling her to keep her mouth shut.
Of course, Faith didn't listen.
"NO! Buffy you can't go out. You can't even use your shooting arm! You're hurt and upset and those are big non-mixy feelings for you. You get stupid when you feel this way."
Buffy smiled slightly and shook out her long hair.
"I'm not gonna do anything you wouldn't. I want to know what's going on and I will."
She turned.
"Wait Buff," Xander called as he rose and rummaged around in his bag and handed her two 9mm's and extra clips to go along with them.
She smirked as she looked at them.
Then down at her outfit.
"Where is she going to put those Xander?" Anya asked exasperated. She dug into his bag, pulled out two wicked looking knives, and gave them to Buffy.
"There you go. Don't get yourself killed Buffy. But if you do then that means we'll be safe to go home," Anya stated with a wide smile.
"I'll try not to," Buffy replied dryly. "Listen, guys this...this is something I never expected to happen. Certainly not by the hand of Quentin Travers. Now that it has I'm gonna put a stop to it. I need you Faith to take care of my mom and sister. Put them somewhere safe. We know what Quentin is capable of. Get them out of the way. You guys stay here. Safe. Understood?"
Mumbles and nods was the response she got. Satisfied she nodded once and looking around one last time headed out.
"Where's she going again?" Anya asked as she frowned.
Everyone glared at her.
"She's going-"Faith cut herself off. Buffy really hadn't explained where she was going.
She shared a confused and worried look with Xander.
"You don't think...?" She asked hesitantly.
"You bet your ass I do," he exclaimed hotly striding for the door.
"What?" Anya asked again.
Still confused.
"I can try and get into the computer system over at Travers' and see what's going on," Willow said as she pulled away from Oz.
"I'm going after her," Oz announced.
"Yeah you do that," Faith muttered. "I've gotta get to Joyce and Dawn. I'll be in touch."
Faith strode out of the room to the back of the house to the bedrooms.
"Xander you should stay here. Stay with Anya," Oz said glancing at Anya then back at Xander.
Xander stood undecided as he wrestled with himself. He wanted to go after Buffy so badly! There was no way he was letting her do this by herself.
No way!
"No," he growled. "No I'm comin' with. We'll do this together Oz."
Willow looked back and forth. A frown worked its way onto her brow and she felt the first stirrings of anger begin to form.
"Listen to yourself! We've done this before remember?" she yelled. "We wasted time then too and she almost died! Get your asses in gear. Xander if you want to go then go! But stop wasting time! Get out of here!"
Xander nodded.
"Right," he muttered and brushed past Oz as he left through the front door.
Oz gave Willow a quick kiss and murmured quietly to her before he followed Xander.
"Where are they going Willow?" Anya asked.
"After Buffy. Who went looking for Spike. Whom she is going to probably kill. After all he seems to be the cause of all of this."
Anya's face went pale and she hugged her bag of money closer to her. She sent a fearful look at the door. Thought of Xander.
"But the last time that happened..." She began and then shook her head. She didn't like thinking about that period in all their lives.
Willow blew out a breath.
"Last time that happened both Buffy and Spike nearly killed eachother. Let's hope it goes better this time around."
Anya stared at the door and although she wasn't a religious woman, a prayer sprang to her lips and she prayed for everyone's safety. Xander's, Buffy' and Oz's. However, most of all she prayed that her money would remain safe in her arms.
~*~
"Sir?"
Quentin Travers looked up from his computer screen to find one of his personal body guards standing there drenched in blood and covered in soot.
"Good Lord man," he was forced to exclaim as he gestured for the man to come forward.
He did so in staggering steps.
"Is she dead?" he asked.
"N....no sir she got away," the man gasped out.
Quentin frowned.
"How?" he asked his displeasure showing on his weathered face.
"She was with another girl. She was with-"
"She's alive," Quentin muttered coldly. "You've failed me. You have let her live and if she ruins my plans it will be your fault," he stated.
The man trembled in fear and pain as he watched Quentin lift his phone and punch in a number.
"Please," the man began.
"Take him away," Quentin spoke into the phone. His office door was opened and two heavily armed men stepped in. Taking an arm each they led the begging man out.
Quentin shifted in his seat and let out a sigh.
"With any luck they'll kill eachother. Saving us the trouble," a new voice spoke from the shadows and Quentin let out an irritated breath.
"The last time you said that what happened? They didn't! The last time we thought they were gone for good we grew lax and could have been destroyed had they been inclined to investigate. No. Them killing eachother is too much to hope for. They have had many a chance and always they remain alive. Both of them. I want you to do it."
Angel's laugh was full of amusement as he paused beside Quentin.
"Well Quint I think that's the smartest thing I've heard you say in our long association."
Quentin's look of distaste was obvious as well as his anger at being mocked as he rose and glared up at the taller man.
"I want them dead do you hear?! Dead! We haven't gone through this much trouble over the years to see them ruin this for us! If things had gone smoothly the first time around this wouldn't have happened! All you had to do was seduce her Angel. Yet you let William the Bloody have her and things worsened from then on. Now I'm looking for you to make things right. As they should have been five years ago."
Angel's humor left him abruptly.
"I will," he answered solemnly. "And I'll enjoy every minute of it."