Chapter 4
"It's not a lie it's an Equivocation"
Buffy guided Giles to his seat at the dinner table, taking her place next to Spike. She gazed at Spike watching his long beautiful hands as they played about nervously with the napkin. Buffy caught one of his hands in her own to still the movement; smiling and unable to help herself she leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. Giles shuddered in the seat across from them.
"I heard that, please refrain from kissing at the table, it's not very good for my appetite," sighed Giles.
Joyce was the last to sit down; she served Giles his food and passed the plate to him.
"There you go Rupert," She said.
She turned her attention to Buffy who was helping herself from the serving dishes.
"How was your day honey?" She asked Buffy.
"Fine thanks mom, been doing at bit of research about some of those soldier types we've been seeing around here; the ones who took Spike," answered Buffy.
"Yes, they changed him for the better. As good as Spike can get that is," Said Giles sarcastically.
Everyone sitting at the table ignored Giles's comments. Joyce was glad of the pinging of the microwave, audible from the kitchen.
"Ah, that will be Spike's dinner," She said.
"I'll get it mum," said Spike, rising from his seat.
Giles choked on his broccoli. He opened his mouth to say something about Spike's calling Joyce mum, when Joyce placed a hand on Giles's sleeve.
"Don't Rupert, I don't mind really. He is Buffy's choice and I think it's kind of sweet; his calling me mum," said Joyce.
Joyce looked over at Buffy, and smiled. Buffy returned the gesture, trying to conceal her inner turmoil at the great deception that she and Spike were planning.
Spike seated himself back at the table with his mug of warmed blood.
"So did I miss anything?" He grinned.
"No, but I was about to tell everyone that you are coming on patrol with me tonight," Buffy replied.
"Why is he going with you? It's not as if he can help or anything, he can't even fight a puppy since he got chipped," said Giles.
"Maybe I want the company, it can get quite lonely on patrol sometimes. It's not as if I can ask any one else is it?" Buffy replied
"Point taken, but I think you will be distracted having him there," argued Giles.
Buffy smiled at her sightless mentor.
"Do you really think this is the first time he has ended up on patrol with me?" She asked.
"Well it's the first I have heard of it," Said Giles.
Spike winked at Buffy. He sipped at his mug of warm blood; his game face appeared as he drank the tepid liquid. Buffy touched his lumpy forehead and trailed a finger down his cheek.
"Well, we had better be off. It is dark enough out there," Said Buffy.
Buffy and Spike rose from the table in unison, Buffy bent over her mother, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"See ya later mom," she said
"But, Buffy you have hardly touched your dinner," said Joyce.
"Don't worry I will grab something later," She smiled.
Spike patted Giles on the shoulder "See you later old mate,"
Giles nodded vaguely and continued with his meal. The front door closed as Buffy and Spike exited the house.
Alone with Joyce, Giles voiced his concern.
"Those two are up to something, I know my slayer and I know for a fact that this is the first time Spike has accompanied her on patrol," He said.
Joyce sat there looking at Giles; she was starting to get the first pangs of indigestion.
"Well maybe it's nothing more than Buffy says it is. I know she has missed Willow and Xander dreadfully these past few months, even with Spike being here," Said Joyce.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike and Buffy entered one of the many graveyards that seemed to be so plentiful in Sunnydale. He spun Buffy round to face him.
"So when you told your mum that you were going to grab something later; did you have anything in mind?" He asked, running his tongue along his lower lip.
Buffy playfully thumped him on the arm.
"Ow, slayer that hurt," said Spike rubbing his arm.
"I meant it when I said I wasn't going to let you distract me from the job," She smiled, trying to take the sting out of her actions.
Spike pouted.
"Plenty of time for grabbing tomorrow night, after the wedding Spike; so you can keep your hands to your self until the wedding night," Buffy said, firmly.
Spike frowned and opened his mouth about to protest; suddenly he was knocked to the ground by something attacking him from behind. He lay there for a second dazed, before seeing his aggressor launch it's self at Buffy. It was a large Zauber demon, all fangy and dripping copious amounts of mucus from its large muscular frame. Buffy made contact with the creature.
"Ewww! You ever heard of using a tissue when you have a cold?" She quipped.
Her irony was lost on the demon, as she didn't speak "Zauber". She landed a spin kick on his chest, but due to the slipperiness of her opponent, she ended up on the ground next to Spike. The Zauber jumped on Buffy keeping her pinned to the earth. She struggled trying to wrest him off her, but he was just too slimy. Claws extended from the demon's gnarled fingers trying to reach for her throat.
"Buffy!" said Spike anxiously, seeing her desperate struggle.
"The weapons bag!" She said.
Spike saw the bag resting against a tombstone; he quickly removed an axe from it. Buffy was still locked in her life and death struggle against the powerful demon; its hands had closed around her throat.
"Spike kill it," She wheezed.
"I can't pet, the chip!" he said desperately
"If you don't there will be no honeymoon in Vegas, bit hard without a bride," She choked.
Spike knew it was up to him. He brought the axe over his head closing his eyes against the intense pain, which was about to hit him. The axe bore down on the Zauber's neck slicing the head cleanly from its body. Spike dropped the axe, placing his hand against his forehead, waiting for the pain that never came. He opened his eyes in wonderment.
"No pain!" He exclaimed.
"Speak for yourself," said Buffy.
She pushed the demon's corpse off her and wiped her gooey hands on the grass.
"I can kill demons!" exclaimed Spike.
He reached out a hand and helped Buffy to her feet. "Buffy, I can still kill things," he said Jubilantly.
"Forgive me if I don't break out the party streamers, but what if your chip has stopped working?" She asked.
"Hadn't thought of that love," He said frowning.
"Punch Me," said Buffy
"What? I am not hitting you," whispered Spike in shock.
"You never used to have a problem with it before," said Buffy.
As quick as lightening Buffy punched Spike on the nose. Spike reeled from the pain, he grabbed his bleeding nose and let out a roar as his face morphed into it's demon visage. He lunged mindlessly at Buffy, wailing as white-hot pain seared across his forehead. Buffy ran to him, placing her arms around him, pulling his head down on her shoulder, holding him until the pain started to subside.
Spike lifted his head to look at her; his eyes were watering.
"Ok now?" She asked.
Spike nodded, noticing the red welts on her neck. He touched a finger to the bloody scratches.
"What about you?" He said.
"I have had worse they will heal," she said, looking at her blood on his finger.
"No tasting okay?" She said sternly.
"As if I would," Said Spike, trying to look hurt.
"Better put this away," said Spike leaning down to pick up the axe, he put the finger in his mouth.
"Spike!" She yelled.
"What?" He said, looking the epitome of innocence.
Buffy sighed, "Let's go home, I think there has been enough excitement for one evening,"
She slipped her still slightly slimy hand in his, and they left. The Zauber demon had already started to dissolve into a glutinous muck on the ground.
Riley came out of the bushes, pulling off his balaclava.
"So that's your game," he hissed.
He had hoped they were up to something a little more cunning than getting married. He was still sure his findings would be of interest to professor Walsh, especially the fact that hostile 17 was fully capable of fighting his own kind; demons.
He had almost given himself away when he had seen Buffy fighting for her life and had been about to assist her when "Spike" had taken charge. As much as he resented Buffy, he couldn't just stand by and see her hurt. One thing that puzzled him though, was the fact that she hadn't been that shocked when they were attacked. No girly histrionics or screaming, and hey that axe was hardly standard issue. She must have some demon knowledge, he reasoned, otherwise what was she doing with a vampire? There were questions he needed answering, it didn't look as if anything else was going to happen here tonight. He turned and headed back towards his dorm and the initiative.
TBC
"It's not a lie it's an Equivocation"
Buffy guided Giles to his seat at the dinner table, taking her place next to Spike. She gazed at Spike watching his long beautiful hands as they played about nervously with the napkin. Buffy caught one of his hands in her own to still the movement; smiling and unable to help herself she leaned over and gave him a soft kiss. Giles shuddered in the seat across from them.
"I heard that, please refrain from kissing at the table, it's not very good for my appetite," sighed Giles.
Joyce was the last to sit down; she served Giles his food and passed the plate to him.
"There you go Rupert," She said.
She turned her attention to Buffy who was helping herself from the serving dishes.
"How was your day honey?" She asked Buffy.
"Fine thanks mom, been doing at bit of research about some of those soldier types we've been seeing around here; the ones who took Spike," answered Buffy.
"Yes, they changed him for the better. As good as Spike can get that is," Said Giles sarcastically.
Everyone sitting at the table ignored Giles's comments. Joyce was glad of the pinging of the microwave, audible from the kitchen.
"Ah, that will be Spike's dinner," She said.
"I'll get it mum," said Spike, rising from his seat.
Giles choked on his broccoli. He opened his mouth to say something about Spike's calling Joyce mum, when Joyce placed a hand on Giles's sleeve.
"Don't Rupert, I don't mind really. He is Buffy's choice and I think it's kind of sweet; his calling me mum," said Joyce.
Joyce looked over at Buffy, and smiled. Buffy returned the gesture, trying to conceal her inner turmoil at the great deception that she and Spike were planning.
Spike seated himself back at the table with his mug of warmed blood.
"So did I miss anything?" He grinned.
"No, but I was about to tell everyone that you are coming on patrol with me tonight," Buffy replied.
"Why is he going with you? It's not as if he can help or anything, he can't even fight a puppy since he got chipped," said Giles.
"Maybe I want the company, it can get quite lonely on patrol sometimes. It's not as if I can ask any one else is it?" Buffy replied
"Point taken, but I think you will be distracted having him there," argued Giles.
Buffy smiled at her sightless mentor.
"Do you really think this is the first time he has ended up on patrol with me?" She asked.
"Well it's the first I have heard of it," Said Giles.
Spike winked at Buffy. He sipped at his mug of warm blood; his game face appeared as he drank the tepid liquid. Buffy touched his lumpy forehead and trailed a finger down his cheek.
"Well, we had better be off. It is dark enough out there," Said Buffy.
Buffy and Spike rose from the table in unison, Buffy bent over her mother, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"See ya later mom," she said
"But, Buffy you have hardly touched your dinner," said Joyce.
"Don't worry I will grab something later," She smiled.
Spike patted Giles on the shoulder "See you later old mate,"
Giles nodded vaguely and continued with his meal. The front door closed as Buffy and Spike exited the house.
Alone with Joyce, Giles voiced his concern.
"Those two are up to something, I know my slayer and I know for a fact that this is the first time Spike has accompanied her on patrol," He said.
Joyce sat there looking at Giles; she was starting to get the first pangs of indigestion.
"Well maybe it's nothing more than Buffy says it is. I know she has missed Willow and Xander dreadfully these past few months, even with Spike being here," Said Joyce.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike and Buffy entered one of the many graveyards that seemed to be so plentiful in Sunnydale. He spun Buffy round to face him.
"So when you told your mum that you were going to grab something later; did you have anything in mind?" He asked, running his tongue along his lower lip.
Buffy playfully thumped him on the arm.
"Ow, slayer that hurt," said Spike rubbing his arm.
"I meant it when I said I wasn't going to let you distract me from the job," She smiled, trying to take the sting out of her actions.
Spike pouted.
"Plenty of time for grabbing tomorrow night, after the wedding Spike; so you can keep your hands to your self until the wedding night," Buffy said, firmly.
Spike frowned and opened his mouth about to protest; suddenly he was knocked to the ground by something attacking him from behind. He lay there for a second dazed, before seeing his aggressor launch it's self at Buffy. It was a large Zauber demon, all fangy and dripping copious amounts of mucus from its large muscular frame. Buffy made contact with the creature.
"Ewww! You ever heard of using a tissue when you have a cold?" She quipped.
Her irony was lost on the demon, as she didn't speak "Zauber". She landed a spin kick on his chest, but due to the slipperiness of her opponent, she ended up on the ground next to Spike. The Zauber jumped on Buffy keeping her pinned to the earth. She struggled trying to wrest him off her, but he was just too slimy. Claws extended from the demon's gnarled fingers trying to reach for her throat.
"Buffy!" said Spike anxiously, seeing her desperate struggle.
"The weapons bag!" She said.
Spike saw the bag resting against a tombstone; he quickly removed an axe from it. Buffy was still locked in her life and death struggle against the powerful demon; its hands had closed around her throat.
"Spike kill it," She wheezed.
"I can't pet, the chip!" he said desperately
"If you don't there will be no honeymoon in Vegas, bit hard without a bride," She choked.
Spike knew it was up to him. He brought the axe over his head closing his eyes against the intense pain, which was about to hit him. The axe bore down on the Zauber's neck slicing the head cleanly from its body. Spike dropped the axe, placing his hand against his forehead, waiting for the pain that never came. He opened his eyes in wonderment.
"No pain!" He exclaimed.
"Speak for yourself," said Buffy.
She pushed the demon's corpse off her and wiped her gooey hands on the grass.
"I can kill demons!" exclaimed Spike.
He reached out a hand and helped Buffy to her feet. "Buffy, I can still kill things," he said Jubilantly.
"Forgive me if I don't break out the party streamers, but what if your chip has stopped working?" She asked.
"Hadn't thought of that love," He said frowning.
"Punch Me," said Buffy
"What? I am not hitting you," whispered Spike in shock.
"You never used to have a problem with it before," said Buffy.
As quick as lightening Buffy punched Spike on the nose. Spike reeled from the pain, he grabbed his bleeding nose and let out a roar as his face morphed into it's demon visage. He lunged mindlessly at Buffy, wailing as white-hot pain seared across his forehead. Buffy ran to him, placing her arms around him, pulling his head down on her shoulder, holding him until the pain started to subside.
Spike lifted his head to look at her; his eyes were watering.
"Ok now?" She asked.
Spike nodded, noticing the red welts on her neck. He touched a finger to the bloody scratches.
"What about you?" He said.
"I have had worse they will heal," she said, looking at her blood on his finger.
"No tasting okay?" She said sternly.
"As if I would," Said Spike, trying to look hurt.
"Better put this away," said Spike leaning down to pick up the axe, he put the finger in his mouth.
"Spike!" She yelled.
"What?" He said, looking the epitome of innocence.
Buffy sighed, "Let's go home, I think there has been enough excitement for one evening,"
She slipped her still slightly slimy hand in his, and they left. The Zauber demon had already started to dissolve into a glutinous muck on the ground.
Riley came out of the bushes, pulling off his balaclava.
"So that's your game," he hissed.
He had hoped they were up to something a little more cunning than getting married. He was still sure his findings would be of interest to professor Walsh, especially the fact that hostile 17 was fully capable of fighting his own kind; demons.
He had almost given himself away when he had seen Buffy fighting for her life and had been about to assist her when "Spike" had taken charge. As much as he resented Buffy, he couldn't just stand by and see her hurt. One thing that puzzled him though, was the fact that she hadn't been that shocked when they were attacked. No girly histrionics or screaming, and hey that axe was hardly standard issue. She must have some demon knowledge, he reasoned, otherwise what was she doing with a vampire? There were questions he needed answering, it didn't look as if anything else was going to happen here tonight. He turned and headed back towards his dorm and the initiative.
TBC