The Fall of William
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs
A/N: Okay everyone this is the chapter where the plot kicks into gear and I explain a few things. Anyway thank you again for the reviews and I really enjoy them. Though about Xander I'm really not sure what's up with him at the moment. But I foresee a whole hell of a bunch of groveling at Anya's feet. Although I think money will be involved lol. Anyway enjoy and thanks for the reviews again.
~*~
Ch:13
Spike gave a slight smile as he heard Xander's heavy feet clomp down the stairs.
His eyes narrowed as he watched Xander storm into the room his face a mask of hurt and anger.
"Xan are you okay?" Willow asked as he stood stock still in the middle of the room, head low and jaw clenched.
"Don't bother Willow," Anya spoke up from her position on the floor money littered at her feet. "He's just feeling the sting of Buffy's rejection. Can't say it wasn't expected."
Gunn winced at Anya's blunt words and shook his head.
Turning slightly Oz glanced at Willow then at Xander and gave a small shrug as he made his way to Xander.
"Xander," he began but was cut off as Spike decided to speak up.
"What did you think she would give you the time of day whelp? Huh? Did you forget the fact that she's married to me?" Spike hissed as he made to move closer to Xander. Anger that had been smoldering suddenly boiling forth.
He hated the boy and it showed as he swept his contemptuous gaze down Xander's prone figure.
"What the hell is going on here? Gunn," Faith demanded as she came back into the livingroom from the kitchen. Her eyes swept the room and she couldn't help but be exasperated by it.
They certainly didn't have time for this type of male posturing shit.
"Yeah babe?" Gunn asked looking up from his slouched position in an armchair.
"Get up and do something," she snapped as she rested her hands of her hips and glared at him.
Gunn did as he was told and he stepped between Spike and Xander who had yet to speak at all.
"Cut it out! Xand you okay?" Gunn asked alternately looking between the two.
"I'm leaving," Xander muttered and moved to the door.
"Oh no you aren't," Anya exclaimed as she jumped up and got in his face.
"Move Anya," he grated out as he let his gaze flicker to hers and then moved guiltily away.
"No. We're gonna settle this Xander! And we're gonna do it-"
"Where are you going?" Willow's voice cut Anya off as she watched Spike begin to ascend the stairs.
"Gotta see a girl 'bout a git," Spike replied with a cheeky grin as he bounded up the stairs and disappeared.
"Shouldn't we stop him?" Oz asked as he glanced around.
Faith gave a small sigh.
How could things get so complicated in the short time she'd been away? She wondered.
"Yes, yes we should, I'll go up," Faith announced as strode to the stairs. As Buffy's rational mind as she had deemed herself years ago she knew she had to get up there before Buffy did something she would regret.
Cuz as much as she feared Spike being back it wasn't him she actually feared, it was Buffy and what Buffy was capable of when he was involved. She was at her most dangerous when he was around.
~*~
Buffy was in the process of tugging off her shirt when her door was thrown open and Spike stood in the doorway.
Her eyes narrowed slightly before she continued the process of lifting her shirt up and over her head.
"Saw the git. You give him the shove off?" Spike asked as his eyes lingered on Buffy's scantily clad form. Eyed the bruises that marred her shoulder and the paleness of her face.
"I'm not going to talk to you about Xander Spike," Buffy muttered as she sent him a glare. "Do you mind?" she hissed out.
Spike smirked and tucked his thumbs into the waistband of his trousers.
"What? You aren't exactly the blushing virgin now are you luv?" he asked mockingly.
Buffy smirked right back at him.
"I meant do you mind shutting the fucking door Mr. Bloody," she spat out acidly.
That gave him pause for a moment as he absorbed her words and her angry stance. Abruptly he stepped all the way into the room and shoved the door shut.
"What happened to you?" he asked then in the tense silence that had suddenly fallen.
"Not now," Buffy said with a shake of her head.
Spike felt his mouth thin as he watched her shuffle towards the walk in closet and begin to shove around hangers looking for a shirt.
She looked so small and fragile at that moment it made him do what he had wanted to since he'd seen her up and about.
"You shouldn't be up," he snapped as he moved. "Look you've got a fever and you're waverin' on your feet! Stop it," he growled as he swept her up and into his arms.
She didn't stop struggling as he carried her to the bed.
"Let go of me," Buffy yelled. "I have things to do!"
"For the moment you're going back to bed-"
"What the hell's wrong with you? Where's the killing huh? Last time we talked we agreed the next time we met the killing would-"
"Shut up," Spike muttered. "I will. I'm gonna!"
"'I will. I'm gonna!'" Buffy mocked with a wheeze as she glared up into his face.
"You mocking me now Slayer?" Spike asked carefully.
Buffy's response was an amused smile.
"Coulda killed you when you were sleepin'. Woulda too. Now here you go," Spike spoke as he unceremoniously dumped her on her bed and watched as she floundered at the suddenness of it.
He grinned, ignoring the stab of guilt that came, telling him she was hurt and he shouldn't have done that.
"Coulda, woulda, shoulda," she said breathlessly as she grimaced as pain radiated through her body.
"Shut up," he mumbled as he took a seat on the edge of the bed.
They were both silent as Spike stared at the wall and Buffy gave a sigh and tried to keep her eyes from straying to Spike.
"So what'd you go see Dru for?" he finally asked as he turned to look at her suddenly.
He watched as Buffy froze for a brief second and then relaxed. He found it odd and opened his mouth to comment on it.
"How'd you know I was with Dru?" she asked instead of answering.
Spike studied her as she ignored his gaze and stared off into a middle distance.
"The odd fella, redheaded bloke mentioned it. So?"
Buffy felt her heart begin to pick up speed, she really had no intention of discussing this with Spike. At least not now. Because then she would have to talk about Drusilla and that would mean telling Spike she was dead.
She wasn't going to do that.
"Answer me," his terse voice crashed through her thoughts and she looked at him, into his eyes and knew at her silence he'd sensed something.
Struggling with emotions she didn't want to have she shrugged.
"Well I had to talk to her," was all she said as she rolled over and let her feet dangle over the edge of the bed.
"That all?" he asked.
Buffy rose.
"Sit back down! How'd you end up in the ocean?" Spike demanded as he watched her wander back to her closet.
"That's none of your business Mr. Bloody," she said.
Spike couldn't help but flinch. This was the second time she'd called him that and he knew she only used it when she was utterly disgusted with him.
Back stiffening in indignation and anger he rose too and glared at her back.
"None of my business? Did you forget Mrs. Bloody your business is my business and when it regards Dru even more so. Answer my question."
She's dead.
Murdered by your bestfriend, her husband who would have killed me had I not jumped out that window.
And oh yes, lest I forget Dru and Angel had known all along who I was, and in fact Angel had been working with my boss. Remember him? The one who-
"Things happened. Not now though Spike-"
"Did you hurt her? Is that why you're evading the question?" Spike lashed out. "God, I knew you never liked her but-"
"No," Buffy bit off as she grabbed a shirt from a hanger and yanked it off.
"She give it to you good then? I know she's daft as a duck but she's one gutsy lady. She's loyal unlike-well I don't need to point that out do I? In fact she's-"
"Dead," Buffy erupted swinging back to face him.
~*~
The words hung between them.
Quentin squinted and shook his head.
"Dead?" he echoed the word, not quite believing it as he spoke it.
Angel gave a small shrug and ran a distracted hand through his hair. He wasn't in the mood to repeat himself to Quentin.
"Yes. Your extraordinary Slayer is dead. Just like that," he snapped.
"How?" Quentin demanded as he glared at the younger man. He couldn't believe it, wouldn't until he had the proof.
"Well....I ran into her while visiting my wife and well....one thing led to another and I shot her and she fell out the window," Angel lied easily as he smirked to himself. He maybe exaggerating a little bit but he knew Buffy was dead. No one could survive a fall like that and end up alive. But Quint didn't have to know that.
"You shot her? And she fell out a window-where is her body? I want to see it."
Angel let out an exaggerated sigh as he looked at Quentin with narrowed eyes, he didn't want to get into this.
"No body. She fell into the ocean, she was bleeding and I'm sure she's shark bait right about now Quint. There's no lose. She got what she deserved remember? She's dead and so is Dru for that matter. Two bird's one bullet."
Quentin frowned.
"What? One bullet? Angel I know I am far superior than you in the brains department but tell me you didn't leave a mess so this can be traced back to you, thus leading to me," he asked coldly.
"Nah. I just had your men take care of it and now it's finished."
"And our plans shall come to bare fruit and we shall have all we have ever wanted. All that we have done shall have been for--."
Angel rolled his eyes. God save him from egotistical bastards like Quint, all about his big plans and his bigger head.
"Riiiight," Angel drawled. "Plans, blah, blah, blah. What now?" he snapped.
Quentin sighed.
"Well as you know we haven't spent all these years accumulating all these things in order to give up now. So as we now have control over William's territory it is time for us to announce ourselves formerly. Now that Buffy is dead, and she had better be dead or else. She can not stop us, no one can stop us-"
Angel strode to the door and opened it up and paused in the doorway.
"No more speeches okay Quint? Listen I'm glad she's dead and we can come out and let everyone know who Omega is and how we-you and I are-"
"I just said that," Quentin snapped. "I said now everyone woul-"
"Yeh but I made it sound better Quint. The fact is you've slowly accumulated access to almost all of Buffy's takedowns and their various operations and now with Spike out of the way soon we'll have all the power we could ever imagine. Wealth like none other. We'll be Gods! Gods Quint! What's next Brain?! Taking over the world Pinky! Ha, ha, see you," Angel called over his shoulder and strode out.
Quentin clasped his hands together as he pondered the shut door. He had no intention of sharing anything with that fool. He had been useful for a while.
But now he had out grown his usefulness. As soon as Angel took care of Spike he was going to get rid of Angel as well.
He wandered back to his desk and took his seat. Booting up his computer he typed quickly and found himself staring at the vast and all reaching power of his operation.
Having a person such as Buffy join his team had been truly a stroke of luck. At first he had been reluctant and downright mean in his attempts to dissuade her from perusing a career with his company. But that had all been before she'd worked on her first case. Before she took down Henrich Aurelius.
They called him The Master.
Smiling to himself, Quentin shook his head. He had been surprised and downright shocked when that had happened. But seeing an opportunity he'd taken it.
The Master had acquired a degree of power Quentin could only dream about, had wealth he could only imagine. So in taking him down Quentin had done the one thing he had vowed never to do. He had succumbed to the temptation of the lure of crime. Of power. He discretely took over The Master's territory and quietly controlled things in a manner that belied the fact that it was supposed to be shut down.
That was where his position as the head of The Council as he was fond of calling himself and his department came into the picture; he was trusted with the task of dismantling operations such as The Master's. No one had ever suspected his devious deeds.
Until Buffy that is.
It seemed only fitting that as she was the reason for his success with her brilliant takedowns, she be the one to find him out.
The Omega was a myth to most, a figment of the imagination to others in the criminal realms in which he lived his life. But in fact it was very real and he controlled it.
Buffy had been suspicious after taking down the notorious Ethan Rayne. She had been getting mysterious hints that all was not as it seemed within the company and duly informed he had taken action.
An action he now regretted, because in doing so he had created a threat far exceeding his imagination.
Buffy had fallen for William the Bloody, doing things he had never thought her capable of and in the end had created a man who, he was sure would die for her.
William was what scared Quentin.
He knew the man to be ruthless. To be unyielding in his views and if he ever found out Buffy had been merely a pawn in his game he would surely come after him.
And by the time he was finished with him, he had no doubt he would beg for a quick death.
Quentin shuddered as these thoughts raced through his head and he tried to placate himself by telling himself that Angel was involved for a reason. He knew William and William in his own way trusted Angel.
Quentin didn't know how that was possible but still they seemed to have a rapport that was startling considering Angel hated William's guts.
The nagging doubt in the back of his head had him picking up the phone and dialing quickly.
"Yeh?" Willy answered on the third ring, voice slurred with sleep.
"Ah, Willy I have an assignment for you," Quentin announced.
"No," Willy snapped all sleepiness gone from his voice. " I did all you asked and paid off my debt to you Travers! No more."
Quentin clucked his tongue.
"You've paid off your debt when I tell you you've paid it off Willy and not a minute more. Listen good do you hear?"
Willy mumbled and Quentin took that as a yes.
"I've been told the Slayer's dead and I want you to look into it for me do you understand?"
Willy felt his heart stop as Quentin's words registered.
Buffy couldn't be dead, he thought abruptly. She was---she couldn't be dead!
"Sure," he answered quickly as he realized his silence would be interpreted wrong. He would look into this, he would see whether Buffy was dead and then he decided, he would ask for her help in dealing with Quentin.
He didn't doubt that she would help him once he told her what he knew.
~*~
Spike stilled.
Blinked.
Buffy glared and watched him.
Regretted the words.
Faith shoved open the door and frowned as the harsh silence assaulted her as she stepped in.
"B you okay?" she asked as she glanced at Buffy's blank face and Spike's stunned one.
"Could you leave us alone?" Buffy asked monotone.
"B....."
"Would you just bloody go?!" Spike muttered glaring at Faith.
"We need some time okay Faith? Please leave," Buffy ordered as she forced her body to move and she ushered Faith out shutting the door as best she could.
She waited for the violent reaction, the anger, and the harsh words.
None came though.
And that scared her more than she was willing to admit. She'd seen him every way imaginable but this silence she had come to realize was the worst.
"How?" he finally asked.
Buffy quickly slid the long sleeved t-shirt over her head and winced as her shoulder protested.
"Bullet to the chest," Buffy said shortly.
Spike sought out her eyes and staring into them felt a little spurt of relief spring to life as he realized it hadn't been Buffy who'd done it. He wouldn't have known what to do if it had been her who had killed Dru.
"Who?" he demanded then, ignoring his softer feelings for Buffy at that moment.
Buffy sniffed and pulled a pair of jeans from a dresser draw and spoke as she slipped them on.
"Angel."
She didn't have to watch his reaction to know what it would be.
His face paled, his eyes took on a wide incredulous look and the dawning understanding that filled his blue eyes wasn't something she had to see to know it was there. She had seen that look before.
In fact she'd been the cause of it.
A humorless smile graced her lips as she thought of that.
"Why?"
She wondered when he would start to branch off into full length sentences and then wondered why she cared. It was easier this way.
The flash of black hair streaming, Dru's pale face as she screamed to tell Spike she was sorry flashed before her eyes and she was back to that moment.
Engulfed.
Suffocating in its urgency.
"Pet?" Spike asked as he watched Buff's face flicker with varying emotions, her eyes glassy and sweat slowly beading on her forehead. Concern swept through him, thoughts of Dru left him briefly as he found himself moving, reaching out.
Buffy came back to herself as his fingers wrapped around her arm.
The shock of it had her heart pounding; the thrill of it had her jerking away as if he had burned her.
Her own hand rose then and she rubbed the spot where his had rested.
"Because he was trying to kill me," she spoke then, coldly and emotionlessly. "She saved my life."
Spike felt a fist slam into his heart and he sucked in gulps of air as he her statement took hold of him.
"She saved your life?" he whispered unable to picture it.
Dru had always hated Buffy. She'd made that clear on the occasions she had run into him and Buffy.
She'd been jealous and a small part of him back then had reveled in it. For once she could feel what he had felt every time he had seen her with Angel. The small jealous part of him had always sprung up whenever he'd seen them together that was until he'd met Buffy.
Then Dru and Angel had become distant memories and he'd forgotten.
Now he wondered how it had come to this.
Angel had been a friend, even a bestfriend for a time. For years. He had accepted that Angel wanted Dru, had married her and now this.
He had killed her.
While trying to kill your wife, a voice pointed out in his head.
Spike raised half hooded eyes to his wife and studied her.
She sat on the edge of her bed, pulling on her boots, her back to him and he didn't have to see her face to know the look she was wearing.
Buffy's face held a deep sadness, a resigned look of the inevitable in her green eyes as she zipped her boots.
She wasn't sad Dru was dead, no she didn't have it in her to feel for Dru, but what saddened her was the fact Spike was the only one in the entire world it seemed who held any affection for the crazy woman. Or had, now that she was dead, it was a thing to see that no one it seemed would give a damn.
And Buffy figured she should at least give a damn, cuz had it not been for her she would no doubt be dead now.
Angel had tried to kill Buffy, Spike thought abruptly pushing Dru aside and focusing on that one fact.
He had tried to kill his wife!
Tired to kill his wife.
"He tried to kill you? Why? Slayer I want the truth too," Spike said as coldly as he could.
Buffy flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling and blew out a breath.
"That was the truth," she replied.
Spike scowled and took a seat in an armchair, far enough away from her that he felt safe enough to be in control.
"No it's not. I can tell there's more to it-"
"Angel is a man who doesn't like loose ends okay Spike? I told you about him and do you remember what you said? You said he was a friend and although you and he didn't get along that well he would never screw you over. You trusted him."
Spike narrowed his eyes.
"And I shouldn't have," he muttered.
Buffy clapped her hands in bitter agreement.
"Finally the light dawns huh Spike? He's insane okay? He and-well never mind. It doesn't matter. Besides you probably wouldn't believe me if I did tell you," Buffy muttered as she slid a sidelong look Spike's way.
Watched him watch her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked belligerently.
"It means exactly what I said," she snapped back.
Spike slowly rose from his chair and strode toward her, his face hard and his eyes narrowed.
"Well half the things I've noticed that come out of your mouth are lies, so forgive me if I'm not more trusting Elizabeth," he slashed out bitterly.
"All's forgiven William," she responded with her own bit of bitterness.
She was surprised when she saw him move, and the next thing she knew he had her pinned to the bed, her hands held above her head and his body resting comfortable above hers.
"Now that I've your attention let's do this the easy way. Tell me why Angel was out to kill you. Tell me why Dru saved your life. Now."
"Well let's see.... remember when I mentioned Angel was branching off from you and making a mark for himself using you as his cover?"
At Spike's nod she continued.
"Well seems he had a partner. Guess who? Quentin, you know my boss the one who-"
"I know who the bloody prick is," Spike cut her off angrily.
"Then you shouldn't be surprised to know he set the whole thing up. Sent me after you so I'd take you down, remove you from the field and he and Angel would take over. To do as they pleased."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying Quentin and Angel set us up. 'Cept they didn't expect for me to fall for you much less you for me. That screwed their plans up. Precautions had to be taken."
Spike muttered under his breath before he spoke.
"They manipulated us! They made this happen-"he was ready to explode.
"No. They set it in motion. They didn't make our choices for us Spike," Buffy spoke quietly as she looked up into his eyes. She needed him to understand this. Accept it.
Quentin and Angel might have been an invisible force neither had been aware of but she had known exactly what she had been doing.
"I see," Spike bit out stiffly.
Buffy shook her head.
"Do you?" she questioned softly.
"Think I get it. You did what you did on your own. Got that. Clear as a bell luv. I might not be the smartest bloke but hell I get it. Finally."
He released her hands and levered himself up on his hands.
Buffy's hand shot out and she gripped his shirt front tightly.
"You think you do but you don't," she gritted. "You don't understand anything Spike. Because if you did-"
"If I did then what?! Would I be falling at your feet? Worshipping the grou-"
"Well it's not like you've stopped," Buffy found herself blurting out before she could think better of it.
Spike's eyes were slits now as he glared down at her.
"I haven't?" he issued softly. "Stopped worshiping you?"
"Get off of me! I'm sick of this," Buffy muttered as she shoved at his shoulders.
He didn't budge.
"My aren't we egotistical," Spike began mockingly as his hand trailed a path down her cheek, until he cupped it.
Buffy arched a brow.
"My ego has nothing to do with this Spike. Simple facts....luv. Now before I seriously hurt you, you'd best get off me."
"I guess had better," he conceded as he smiled a little before his mouth crashed down over hers.
~*~
"So what are they doing up there Faith?" Gunn asked as he tossed down a card on the coffee table.
Oz glanced at his hand and then tossed in two cards and waited for Gunn to draw from the deck before he did.
Faith stood at the bottom of the stairs glaring up at them.
"Talking," she muttered.
Willow lifted her head from her laptop and slid a glance her way.
"Then why do you look so upset? He can't do anything to her. Not when we're right here. Relax," she urged.
Faith glared at her.
"Relax? Well Willow that's kind of hard to do considering I know exactly what Buffy and Spike are capable of doing. I shouldn't have left them alone!"
"They're probably having sex," Anya piped up as she turned from the t.v. she had been watching.
Everyone looked at her, including Xander for the first time that night.
"What?" Anya asked as she took in their shocked, disgusted, and mildly curious faces.
"They are not," Willow sniped out.
"Yeah, I mean she's kinda sick and delirious and in no way is she ready to ha-"
"She wouldn't have sex with him," Xander snapped rubbing a hand over his face.
Anya smirked.
"That's right Xand. In your eyes she's a virgin huh? Well she's married to him and from what I can see from Spike he's very virile and I'm sure he give-"
"Argh! Shut up about her sex life will you! Xander c'mon what the hell is your problem? You're acting like a jealous boyfriend! Hello you're involved with Anya," Faith snapped.
Xander's head reared up and he glared at Faith.
"Does no one care that she's up there with a murderer and he has control over her and in fact not too long ago he killed someone, murdered them. She's not safe. It's not the way I feel about her okay?!"
Anya sucked in a breath and tried to control her anger. She couldn't believe his blatant disregard for her feelings and his disrespect for their relationship.
"Xander you need to be honest with me," she started gravely.
His eyes, wide and startled glanced off hers to dart to the ground.
"I want you to tell me you exactly what you feel for me and how Buffy fits into this. And I want you to tell me now. Because it seems to me I've wasted five years on a man who is really a boy, lusting after something he can't have. And never will because, I'll only say this once she is never going to love you like that Xander. Never. Ever. Now explain!"
The silence was broken only by the sounds of their breathing as everyone superstitiously listened for Xander's answer.
Hopefully the right one, where he proclaimed that though he had strong feelings for Buffy he'd mixed them up and gotten confused. Anya was the only woman he would ever love.
But what came out was.....
"I don't know what to say Anya. I.....love you. I do. But then there's Buffy..... and no-"
He broke off; he didn't need to say anything more though.
Buffy exceeded everything and anyone in his opinion including Anya.
"Shit man you're pathetic," Gunn exploded as he looked over at Anya and gave her a grin. "If I weren't with Faith I'd give you a go Anya. I'd treat you right; give you all the money you could ever want."
Anya gave him a weak smile.
"Well that's very nice of you Gunn," she remarked quietly.
"He's like that. I can if need be loan him out just this once Anya if you know you wanna try him out," Faith grudgingly got out.
Anya's head shot up and her mouth dropped open in surprise. Faith was notorious for being possessive and with the non sharing of things especially boyfriends. This was truly a gift.
"Really?" she asked excitedly as her eyes rested on Gunn.
Faith shrugged.
"Why the hell not? It's not like we all haven't had a go at each other at some point in time," she mumbled under her breath.
"Oh! Okay, wow c'mere Gunn," Anya purred licking her lips.
Gunn grinned back at her and rose.
"Charles Gunn to the rescue," he announced with a leer.
Xander shook his head, and looked from one to the other.
Oz dropped his cards as he realized the game was ruined and settled back on the floor, hands behind his head as he contemplated the ceiling.
"Like can you not see me? I'm right here! Anya's mine dude! Get away from her," Xander angrily said as he rose.
Gunn paused and glared at Xander.
"I think we all know it's a little too late for you to be acting all possessive of her Xander after all we-"
"Shut up and get away from her," Xander continued angrily as he shoved Gunn.
"Fight," Anya exclaimed happily as she bounced in her seat. "A fight over me! Oh this is good. Beat him down Gunn!"
Xander shot her a hurt look, which she blatantly ignored.
Faith glanced back up the stairs and started to climb them.
Willow blinked once, then twice as her eyes took in the page that had been displayed on her screen.
"I did it," she mumbled. Then louder, "I cracked the code! I cracked it! Who's the best?!"
Oz rolled over and smiled up at her.
"You are," he answered with a wink.
"Good, I'll just go get Buffy," Faith announced as she jogged up the stairs.
She paused at the precariously positioned door and wondered what she would find once she opened it.
Taking in a deep breath she pushed open the door and stared.
Buffy was half sprawled on the bed, her legs hanging over the side, arms spread wide and her mouth was half open as she gasped for breath.
Spike wiggled on the ground a hand cupping his crotch as he moaned.
"Damn you Buffy," he spat viciously.
"I warned you," Buffy gasped out, wiping at her sweaty brow.
Faith shook her head, relieved she hadn't walked in on anything more.
"Willow's broken the code," she announced and the occupants in the room suddenly noticed her standing in the doorway.
Spike immediately stopped moaning and managed to gingerly regain his feet.
"Has she now?" he asked in a bad version of his normal voice.
Buffy wheezed as she rolled to her feet.
"What code?" she asked as she took a few steps forward.
Faith glanced at her then stepped into the hall waiting for them to follow.
"The one Spike took off Riley," she responded as she watched them take the lead.
Faith barley resisted the urge to reprimand Buffy as she watched the two slowly walk ahead of her.
It was a slow shuffle of feet, accompanied by groans and hacking coughs.
Buffy clung to Spike's arm for balance as she swayed and he walked with a bow legged gait that was funny looking.
Faith shook her head.
She knew now that it had begun and there would be nothing she could do to stop it. The train had stopped and picked up its favorite passengers for the next installment in the Spike and Buffy circle of love.
Next stop.....
Who the hell knew?
~*~
A/N: I know I didn't touch too much on Dru's death but at the moment it was irrelevant and Spike's main focus was Buffy. Thanks for reading. Skyz.
Disclaimer: Joss Whedon owns Btvs
A/N: Okay everyone this is the chapter where the plot kicks into gear and I explain a few things. Anyway thank you again for the reviews and I really enjoy them. Though about Xander I'm really not sure what's up with him at the moment. But I foresee a whole hell of a bunch of groveling at Anya's feet. Although I think money will be involved lol. Anyway enjoy and thanks for the reviews again.
~*~
Ch:13
Spike gave a slight smile as he heard Xander's heavy feet clomp down the stairs.
His eyes narrowed as he watched Xander storm into the room his face a mask of hurt and anger.
"Xan are you okay?" Willow asked as he stood stock still in the middle of the room, head low and jaw clenched.
"Don't bother Willow," Anya spoke up from her position on the floor money littered at her feet. "He's just feeling the sting of Buffy's rejection. Can't say it wasn't expected."
Gunn winced at Anya's blunt words and shook his head.
Turning slightly Oz glanced at Willow then at Xander and gave a small shrug as he made his way to Xander.
"Xander," he began but was cut off as Spike decided to speak up.
"What did you think she would give you the time of day whelp? Huh? Did you forget the fact that she's married to me?" Spike hissed as he made to move closer to Xander. Anger that had been smoldering suddenly boiling forth.
He hated the boy and it showed as he swept his contemptuous gaze down Xander's prone figure.
"What the hell is going on here? Gunn," Faith demanded as she came back into the livingroom from the kitchen. Her eyes swept the room and she couldn't help but be exasperated by it.
They certainly didn't have time for this type of male posturing shit.
"Yeah babe?" Gunn asked looking up from his slouched position in an armchair.
"Get up and do something," she snapped as she rested her hands of her hips and glared at him.
Gunn did as he was told and he stepped between Spike and Xander who had yet to speak at all.
"Cut it out! Xand you okay?" Gunn asked alternately looking between the two.
"I'm leaving," Xander muttered and moved to the door.
"Oh no you aren't," Anya exclaimed as she jumped up and got in his face.
"Move Anya," he grated out as he let his gaze flicker to hers and then moved guiltily away.
"No. We're gonna settle this Xander! And we're gonna do it-"
"Where are you going?" Willow's voice cut Anya off as she watched Spike begin to ascend the stairs.
"Gotta see a girl 'bout a git," Spike replied with a cheeky grin as he bounded up the stairs and disappeared.
"Shouldn't we stop him?" Oz asked as he glanced around.
Faith gave a small sigh.
How could things get so complicated in the short time she'd been away? She wondered.
"Yes, yes we should, I'll go up," Faith announced as strode to the stairs. As Buffy's rational mind as she had deemed herself years ago she knew she had to get up there before Buffy did something she would regret.
Cuz as much as she feared Spike being back it wasn't him she actually feared, it was Buffy and what Buffy was capable of when he was involved. She was at her most dangerous when he was around.
~*~
Buffy was in the process of tugging off her shirt when her door was thrown open and Spike stood in the doorway.
Her eyes narrowed slightly before she continued the process of lifting her shirt up and over her head.
"Saw the git. You give him the shove off?" Spike asked as his eyes lingered on Buffy's scantily clad form. Eyed the bruises that marred her shoulder and the paleness of her face.
"I'm not going to talk to you about Xander Spike," Buffy muttered as she sent him a glare. "Do you mind?" she hissed out.
Spike smirked and tucked his thumbs into the waistband of his trousers.
"What? You aren't exactly the blushing virgin now are you luv?" he asked mockingly.
Buffy smirked right back at him.
"I meant do you mind shutting the fucking door Mr. Bloody," she spat out acidly.
That gave him pause for a moment as he absorbed her words and her angry stance. Abruptly he stepped all the way into the room and shoved the door shut.
"What happened to you?" he asked then in the tense silence that had suddenly fallen.
"Not now," Buffy said with a shake of her head.
Spike felt his mouth thin as he watched her shuffle towards the walk in closet and begin to shove around hangers looking for a shirt.
She looked so small and fragile at that moment it made him do what he had wanted to since he'd seen her up and about.
"You shouldn't be up," he snapped as he moved. "Look you've got a fever and you're waverin' on your feet! Stop it," he growled as he swept her up and into his arms.
She didn't stop struggling as he carried her to the bed.
"Let go of me," Buffy yelled. "I have things to do!"
"For the moment you're going back to bed-"
"What the hell's wrong with you? Where's the killing huh? Last time we talked we agreed the next time we met the killing would-"
"Shut up," Spike muttered. "I will. I'm gonna!"
"'I will. I'm gonna!'" Buffy mocked with a wheeze as she glared up into his face.
"You mocking me now Slayer?" Spike asked carefully.
Buffy's response was an amused smile.
"Coulda killed you when you were sleepin'. Woulda too. Now here you go," Spike spoke as he unceremoniously dumped her on her bed and watched as she floundered at the suddenness of it.
He grinned, ignoring the stab of guilt that came, telling him she was hurt and he shouldn't have done that.
"Coulda, woulda, shoulda," she said breathlessly as she grimaced as pain radiated through her body.
"Shut up," he mumbled as he took a seat on the edge of the bed.
They were both silent as Spike stared at the wall and Buffy gave a sigh and tried to keep her eyes from straying to Spike.
"So what'd you go see Dru for?" he finally asked as he turned to look at her suddenly.
He watched as Buffy froze for a brief second and then relaxed. He found it odd and opened his mouth to comment on it.
"How'd you know I was with Dru?" she asked instead of answering.
Spike studied her as she ignored his gaze and stared off into a middle distance.
"The odd fella, redheaded bloke mentioned it. So?"
Buffy felt her heart begin to pick up speed, she really had no intention of discussing this with Spike. At least not now. Because then she would have to talk about Drusilla and that would mean telling Spike she was dead.
She wasn't going to do that.
"Answer me," his terse voice crashed through her thoughts and she looked at him, into his eyes and knew at her silence he'd sensed something.
Struggling with emotions she didn't want to have she shrugged.
"Well I had to talk to her," was all she said as she rolled over and let her feet dangle over the edge of the bed.
"That all?" he asked.
Buffy rose.
"Sit back down! How'd you end up in the ocean?" Spike demanded as he watched her wander back to her closet.
"That's none of your business Mr. Bloody," she said.
Spike couldn't help but flinch. This was the second time she'd called him that and he knew she only used it when she was utterly disgusted with him.
Back stiffening in indignation and anger he rose too and glared at her back.
"None of my business? Did you forget Mrs. Bloody your business is my business and when it regards Dru even more so. Answer my question."
She's dead.
Murdered by your bestfriend, her husband who would have killed me had I not jumped out that window.
And oh yes, lest I forget Dru and Angel had known all along who I was, and in fact Angel had been working with my boss. Remember him? The one who-
"Things happened. Not now though Spike-"
"Did you hurt her? Is that why you're evading the question?" Spike lashed out. "God, I knew you never liked her but-"
"No," Buffy bit off as she grabbed a shirt from a hanger and yanked it off.
"She give it to you good then? I know she's daft as a duck but she's one gutsy lady. She's loyal unlike-well I don't need to point that out do I? In fact she's-"
"Dead," Buffy erupted swinging back to face him.
~*~
The words hung between them.
Quentin squinted and shook his head.
"Dead?" he echoed the word, not quite believing it as he spoke it.
Angel gave a small shrug and ran a distracted hand through his hair. He wasn't in the mood to repeat himself to Quentin.
"Yes. Your extraordinary Slayer is dead. Just like that," he snapped.
"How?" Quentin demanded as he glared at the younger man. He couldn't believe it, wouldn't until he had the proof.
"Well....I ran into her while visiting my wife and well....one thing led to another and I shot her and she fell out the window," Angel lied easily as he smirked to himself. He maybe exaggerating a little bit but he knew Buffy was dead. No one could survive a fall like that and end up alive. But Quint didn't have to know that.
"You shot her? And she fell out a window-where is her body? I want to see it."
Angel let out an exaggerated sigh as he looked at Quentin with narrowed eyes, he didn't want to get into this.
"No body. She fell into the ocean, she was bleeding and I'm sure she's shark bait right about now Quint. There's no lose. She got what she deserved remember? She's dead and so is Dru for that matter. Two bird's one bullet."
Quentin frowned.
"What? One bullet? Angel I know I am far superior than you in the brains department but tell me you didn't leave a mess so this can be traced back to you, thus leading to me," he asked coldly.
"Nah. I just had your men take care of it and now it's finished."
"And our plans shall come to bare fruit and we shall have all we have ever wanted. All that we have done shall have been for--."
Angel rolled his eyes. God save him from egotistical bastards like Quint, all about his big plans and his bigger head.
"Riiiight," Angel drawled. "Plans, blah, blah, blah. What now?" he snapped.
Quentin sighed.
"Well as you know we haven't spent all these years accumulating all these things in order to give up now. So as we now have control over William's territory it is time for us to announce ourselves formerly. Now that Buffy is dead, and she had better be dead or else. She can not stop us, no one can stop us-"
Angel strode to the door and opened it up and paused in the doorway.
"No more speeches okay Quint? Listen I'm glad she's dead and we can come out and let everyone know who Omega is and how we-you and I are-"
"I just said that," Quentin snapped. "I said now everyone woul-"
"Yeh but I made it sound better Quint. The fact is you've slowly accumulated access to almost all of Buffy's takedowns and their various operations and now with Spike out of the way soon we'll have all the power we could ever imagine. Wealth like none other. We'll be Gods! Gods Quint! What's next Brain?! Taking over the world Pinky! Ha, ha, see you," Angel called over his shoulder and strode out.
Quentin clasped his hands together as he pondered the shut door. He had no intention of sharing anything with that fool. He had been useful for a while.
But now he had out grown his usefulness. As soon as Angel took care of Spike he was going to get rid of Angel as well.
He wandered back to his desk and took his seat. Booting up his computer he typed quickly and found himself staring at the vast and all reaching power of his operation.
Having a person such as Buffy join his team had been truly a stroke of luck. At first he had been reluctant and downright mean in his attempts to dissuade her from perusing a career with his company. But that had all been before she'd worked on her first case. Before she took down Henrich Aurelius.
They called him The Master.
Smiling to himself, Quentin shook his head. He had been surprised and downright shocked when that had happened. But seeing an opportunity he'd taken it.
The Master had acquired a degree of power Quentin could only dream about, had wealth he could only imagine. So in taking him down Quentin had done the one thing he had vowed never to do. He had succumbed to the temptation of the lure of crime. Of power. He discretely took over The Master's territory and quietly controlled things in a manner that belied the fact that it was supposed to be shut down.
That was where his position as the head of The Council as he was fond of calling himself and his department came into the picture; he was trusted with the task of dismantling operations such as The Master's. No one had ever suspected his devious deeds.
Until Buffy that is.
It seemed only fitting that as she was the reason for his success with her brilliant takedowns, she be the one to find him out.
The Omega was a myth to most, a figment of the imagination to others in the criminal realms in which he lived his life. But in fact it was very real and he controlled it.
Buffy had been suspicious after taking down the notorious Ethan Rayne. She had been getting mysterious hints that all was not as it seemed within the company and duly informed he had taken action.
An action he now regretted, because in doing so he had created a threat far exceeding his imagination.
Buffy had fallen for William the Bloody, doing things he had never thought her capable of and in the end had created a man who, he was sure would die for her.
William was what scared Quentin.
He knew the man to be ruthless. To be unyielding in his views and if he ever found out Buffy had been merely a pawn in his game he would surely come after him.
And by the time he was finished with him, he had no doubt he would beg for a quick death.
Quentin shuddered as these thoughts raced through his head and he tried to placate himself by telling himself that Angel was involved for a reason. He knew William and William in his own way trusted Angel.
Quentin didn't know how that was possible but still they seemed to have a rapport that was startling considering Angel hated William's guts.
The nagging doubt in the back of his head had him picking up the phone and dialing quickly.
"Yeh?" Willy answered on the third ring, voice slurred with sleep.
"Ah, Willy I have an assignment for you," Quentin announced.
"No," Willy snapped all sleepiness gone from his voice. " I did all you asked and paid off my debt to you Travers! No more."
Quentin clucked his tongue.
"You've paid off your debt when I tell you you've paid it off Willy and not a minute more. Listen good do you hear?"
Willy mumbled and Quentin took that as a yes.
"I've been told the Slayer's dead and I want you to look into it for me do you understand?"
Willy felt his heart stop as Quentin's words registered.
Buffy couldn't be dead, he thought abruptly. She was---she couldn't be dead!
"Sure," he answered quickly as he realized his silence would be interpreted wrong. He would look into this, he would see whether Buffy was dead and then he decided, he would ask for her help in dealing with Quentin.
He didn't doubt that she would help him once he told her what he knew.
~*~
Spike stilled.
Blinked.
Buffy glared and watched him.
Regretted the words.
Faith shoved open the door and frowned as the harsh silence assaulted her as she stepped in.
"B you okay?" she asked as she glanced at Buffy's blank face and Spike's stunned one.
"Could you leave us alone?" Buffy asked monotone.
"B....."
"Would you just bloody go?!" Spike muttered glaring at Faith.
"We need some time okay Faith? Please leave," Buffy ordered as she forced her body to move and she ushered Faith out shutting the door as best she could.
She waited for the violent reaction, the anger, and the harsh words.
None came though.
And that scared her more than she was willing to admit. She'd seen him every way imaginable but this silence she had come to realize was the worst.
"How?" he finally asked.
Buffy quickly slid the long sleeved t-shirt over her head and winced as her shoulder protested.
"Bullet to the chest," Buffy said shortly.
Spike sought out her eyes and staring into them felt a little spurt of relief spring to life as he realized it hadn't been Buffy who'd done it. He wouldn't have known what to do if it had been her who had killed Dru.
"Who?" he demanded then, ignoring his softer feelings for Buffy at that moment.
Buffy sniffed and pulled a pair of jeans from a dresser draw and spoke as she slipped them on.
"Angel."
She didn't have to watch his reaction to know what it would be.
His face paled, his eyes took on a wide incredulous look and the dawning understanding that filled his blue eyes wasn't something she had to see to know it was there. She had seen that look before.
In fact she'd been the cause of it.
A humorless smile graced her lips as she thought of that.
"Why?"
She wondered when he would start to branch off into full length sentences and then wondered why she cared. It was easier this way.
The flash of black hair streaming, Dru's pale face as she screamed to tell Spike she was sorry flashed before her eyes and she was back to that moment.
Engulfed.
Suffocating in its urgency.
"Pet?" Spike asked as he watched Buff's face flicker with varying emotions, her eyes glassy and sweat slowly beading on her forehead. Concern swept through him, thoughts of Dru left him briefly as he found himself moving, reaching out.
Buffy came back to herself as his fingers wrapped around her arm.
The shock of it had her heart pounding; the thrill of it had her jerking away as if he had burned her.
Her own hand rose then and she rubbed the spot where his had rested.
"Because he was trying to kill me," she spoke then, coldly and emotionlessly. "She saved my life."
Spike felt a fist slam into his heart and he sucked in gulps of air as he her statement took hold of him.
"She saved your life?" he whispered unable to picture it.
Dru had always hated Buffy. She'd made that clear on the occasions she had run into him and Buffy.
She'd been jealous and a small part of him back then had reveled in it. For once she could feel what he had felt every time he had seen her with Angel. The small jealous part of him had always sprung up whenever he'd seen them together that was until he'd met Buffy.
Then Dru and Angel had become distant memories and he'd forgotten.
Now he wondered how it had come to this.
Angel had been a friend, even a bestfriend for a time. For years. He had accepted that Angel wanted Dru, had married her and now this.
He had killed her.
While trying to kill your wife, a voice pointed out in his head.
Spike raised half hooded eyes to his wife and studied her.
She sat on the edge of her bed, pulling on her boots, her back to him and he didn't have to see her face to know the look she was wearing.
Buffy's face held a deep sadness, a resigned look of the inevitable in her green eyes as she zipped her boots.
She wasn't sad Dru was dead, no she didn't have it in her to feel for Dru, but what saddened her was the fact Spike was the only one in the entire world it seemed who held any affection for the crazy woman. Or had, now that she was dead, it was a thing to see that no one it seemed would give a damn.
And Buffy figured she should at least give a damn, cuz had it not been for her she would no doubt be dead now.
Angel had tried to kill Buffy, Spike thought abruptly pushing Dru aside and focusing on that one fact.
He had tried to kill his wife!
Tired to kill his wife.
"He tried to kill you? Why? Slayer I want the truth too," Spike said as coldly as he could.
Buffy flopped back on the bed and stared up at the ceiling and blew out a breath.
"That was the truth," she replied.
Spike scowled and took a seat in an armchair, far enough away from her that he felt safe enough to be in control.
"No it's not. I can tell there's more to it-"
"Angel is a man who doesn't like loose ends okay Spike? I told you about him and do you remember what you said? You said he was a friend and although you and he didn't get along that well he would never screw you over. You trusted him."
Spike narrowed his eyes.
"And I shouldn't have," he muttered.
Buffy clapped her hands in bitter agreement.
"Finally the light dawns huh Spike? He's insane okay? He and-well never mind. It doesn't matter. Besides you probably wouldn't believe me if I did tell you," Buffy muttered as she slid a sidelong look Spike's way.
Watched him watch her.
"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked belligerently.
"It means exactly what I said," she snapped back.
Spike slowly rose from his chair and strode toward her, his face hard and his eyes narrowed.
"Well half the things I've noticed that come out of your mouth are lies, so forgive me if I'm not more trusting Elizabeth," he slashed out bitterly.
"All's forgiven William," she responded with her own bit of bitterness.
She was surprised when she saw him move, and the next thing she knew he had her pinned to the bed, her hands held above her head and his body resting comfortable above hers.
"Now that I've your attention let's do this the easy way. Tell me why Angel was out to kill you. Tell me why Dru saved your life. Now."
"Well let's see.... remember when I mentioned Angel was branching off from you and making a mark for himself using you as his cover?"
At Spike's nod she continued.
"Well seems he had a partner. Guess who? Quentin, you know my boss the one who-"
"I know who the bloody prick is," Spike cut her off angrily.
"Then you shouldn't be surprised to know he set the whole thing up. Sent me after you so I'd take you down, remove you from the field and he and Angel would take over. To do as they pleased."
"What are you saying?"
"I'm saying Quentin and Angel set us up. 'Cept they didn't expect for me to fall for you much less you for me. That screwed their plans up. Precautions had to be taken."
Spike muttered under his breath before he spoke.
"They manipulated us! They made this happen-"he was ready to explode.
"No. They set it in motion. They didn't make our choices for us Spike," Buffy spoke quietly as she looked up into his eyes. She needed him to understand this. Accept it.
Quentin and Angel might have been an invisible force neither had been aware of but she had known exactly what she had been doing.
"I see," Spike bit out stiffly.
Buffy shook her head.
"Do you?" she questioned softly.
"Think I get it. You did what you did on your own. Got that. Clear as a bell luv. I might not be the smartest bloke but hell I get it. Finally."
He released her hands and levered himself up on his hands.
Buffy's hand shot out and she gripped his shirt front tightly.
"You think you do but you don't," she gritted. "You don't understand anything Spike. Because if you did-"
"If I did then what?! Would I be falling at your feet? Worshipping the grou-"
"Well it's not like you've stopped," Buffy found herself blurting out before she could think better of it.
Spike's eyes were slits now as he glared down at her.
"I haven't?" he issued softly. "Stopped worshiping you?"
"Get off of me! I'm sick of this," Buffy muttered as she shoved at his shoulders.
He didn't budge.
"My aren't we egotistical," Spike began mockingly as his hand trailed a path down her cheek, until he cupped it.
Buffy arched a brow.
"My ego has nothing to do with this Spike. Simple facts....luv. Now before I seriously hurt you, you'd best get off me."
"I guess had better," he conceded as he smiled a little before his mouth crashed down over hers.
~*~
"So what are they doing up there Faith?" Gunn asked as he tossed down a card on the coffee table.
Oz glanced at his hand and then tossed in two cards and waited for Gunn to draw from the deck before he did.
Faith stood at the bottom of the stairs glaring up at them.
"Talking," she muttered.
Willow lifted her head from her laptop and slid a glance her way.
"Then why do you look so upset? He can't do anything to her. Not when we're right here. Relax," she urged.
Faith glared at her.
"Relax? Well Willow that's kind of hard to do considering I know exactly what Buffy and Spike are capable of doing. I shouldn't have left them alone!"
"They're probably having sex," Anya piped up as she turned from the t.v. she had been watching.
Everyone looked at her, including Xander for the first time that night.
"What?" Anya asked as she took in their shocked, disgusted, and mildly curious faces.
"They are not," Willow sniped out.
"Yeah, I mean she's kinda sick and delirious and in no way is she ready to ha-"
"She wouldn't have sex with him," Xander snapped rubbing a hand over his face.
Anya smirked.
"That's right Xand. In your eyes she's a virgin huh? Well she's married to him and from what I can see from Spike he's very virile and I'm sure he give-"
"Argh! Shut up about her sex life will you! Xander c'mon what the hell is your problem? You're acting like a jealous boyfriend! Hello you're involved with Anya," Faith snapped.
Xander's head reared up and he glared at Faith.
"Does no one care that she's up there with a murderer and he has control over her and in fact not too long ago he killed someone, murdered them. She's not safe. It's not the way I feel about her okay?!"
Anya sucked in a breath and tried to control her anger. She couldn't believe his blatant disregard for her feelings and his disrespect for their relationship.
"Xander you need to be honest with me," she started gravely.
His eyes, wide and startled glanced off hers to dart to the ground.
"I want you to tell me you exactly what you feel for me and how Buffy fits into this. And I want you to tell me now. Because it seems to me I've wasted five years on a man who is really a boy, lusting after something he can't have. And never will because, I'll only say this once she is never going to love you like that Xander. Never. Ever. Now explain!"
The silence was broken only by the sounds of their breathing as everyone superstitiously listened for Xander's answer.
Hopefully the right one, where he proclaimed that though he had strong feelings for Buffy he'd mixed them up and gotten confused. Anya was the only woman he would ever love.
But what came out was.....
"I don't know what to say Anya. I.....love you. I do. But then there's Buffy..... and no-"
He broke off; he didn't need to say anything more though.
Buffy exceeded everything and anyone in his opinion including Anya.
"Shit man you're pathetic," Gunn exploded as he looked over at Anya and gave her a grin. "If I weren't with Faith I'd give you a go Anya. I'd treat you right; give you all the money you could ever want."
Anya gave him a weak smile.
"Well that's very nice of you Gunn," she remarked quietly.
"He's like that. I can if need be loan him out just this once Anya if you know you wanna try him out," Faith grudgingly got out.
Anya's head shot up and her mouth dropped open in surprise. Faith was notorious for being possessive and with the non sharing of things especially boyfriends. This was truly a gift.
"Really?" she asked excitedly as her eyes rested on Gunn.
Faith shrugged.
"Why the hell not? It's not like we all haven't had a go at each other at some point in time," she mumbled under her breath.
"Oh! Okay, wow c'mere Gunn," Anya purred licking her lips.
Gunn grinned back at her and rose.
"Charles Gunn to the rescue," he announced with a leer.
Xander shook his head, and looked from one to the other.
Oz dropped his cards as he realized the game was ruined and settled back on the floor, hands behind his head as he contemplated the ceiling.
"Like can you not see me? I'm right here! Anya's mine dude! Get away from her," Xander angrily said as he rose.
Gunn paused and glared at Xander.
"I think we all know it's a little too late for you to be acting all possessive of her Xander after all we-"
"Shut up and get away from her," Xander continued angrily as he shoved Gunn.
"Fight," Anya exclaimed happily as she bounced in her seat. "A fight over me! Oh this is good. Beat him down Gunn!"
Xander shot her a hurt look, which she blatantly ignored.
Faith glanced back up the stairs and started to climb them.
Willow blinked once, then twice as her eyes took in the page that had been displayed on her screen.
"I did it," she mumbled. Then louder, "I cracked the code! I cracked it! Who's the best?!"
Oz rolled over and smiled up at her.
"You are," he answered with a wink.
"Good, I'll just go get Buffy," Faith announced as she jogged up the stairs.
She paused at the precariously positioned door and wondered what she would find once she opened it.
Taking in a deep breath she pushed open the door and stared.
Buffy was half sprawled on the bed, her legs hanging over the side, arms spread wide and her mouth was half open as she gasped for breath.
Spike wiggled on the ground a hand cupping his crotch as he moaned.
"Damn you Buffy," he spat viciously.
"I warned you," Buffy gasped out, wiping at her sweaty brow.
Faith shook her head, relieved she hadn't walked in on anything more.
"Willow's broken the code," she announced and the occupants in the room suddenly noticed her standing in the doorway.
Spike immediately stopped moaning and managed to gingerly regain his feet.
"Has she now?" he asked in a bad version of his normal voice.
Buffy wheezed as she rolled to her feet.
"What code?" she asked as she took a few steps forward.
Faith glanced at her then stepped into the hall waiting for them to follow.
"The one Spike took off Riley," she responded as she watched them take the lead.
Faith barley resisted the urge to reprimand Buffy as she watched the two slowly walk ahead of her.
It was a slow shuffle of feet, accompanied by groans and hacking coughs.
Buffy clung to Spike's arm for balance as she swayed and he walked with a bow legged gait that was funny looking.
Faith shook her head.
She knew now that it had begun and there would be nothing she could do to stop it. The train had stopped and picked up its favorite passengers for the next installment in the Spike and Buffy circle of love.
Next stop.....
Who the hell knew?
~*~
A/N: I know I didn't touch too much on Dru's death but at the moment it was irrelevant and Spike's main focus was Buffy. Thanks for reading. Skyz.