Special thanks to Sigma for beta this for me, you are absolutely the best of the best !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chapter 9
The Scoobies finished the meeting, and most of them decided to home. They were tired and upset, trying not to think about the future or how they would defeat Angelus.
Tara and Anya were staying behind, Anya wanting to count the money one last time and Tara looking for a spell. Willow and Spike got some supplies from the back, while Xander Buffy and Jonathan waited for them at the front
"So, um..." Jonathan spoke up nervously, "I think I should go home now. My mom is probably worried about me, and there is this episode of Xena were she and Calisto..."
"Would you just shut up!" Buffy snarled, glaring at him in a way that made him swallow hard and look nervous. "You're not going home, nerd."
"But my mom..." He wailed.
"Well, Jonathan, you should have thought about that before you did that scam of yours. Do you think I wanna baby-sit you?"
"No?" He offered hesitantly.
"Look," Xander interrupted, "Buff, why won't we let him go home? Hey, don't look at me like that! I don't think you should have to worry about taking care of him."
"Take care of me?" Jonathan frowned. "Why?"
Xander and Buffy sighed and gave each other knowing looks, then Xander turned back to the geek. "Yes, Jonathan, we need to take care of you. Someone will have to protect you from Angelus...you do know Angelus, the scourge of Europe, the most vicious vampire who ever walked the earth?"
He turned a sickly white. "You...you mean Angel, the masculine guy that Buffy used to date who turned evil and tried to kill her friends and family?"
"Yup, that will be him, and you know why you'll need protection?"
He gulped and shook his head slightly.
"Because he'll be pretty upset knowing that you tried to act as his Master and went after the slayer. After all, he's said before that he doesn't want anyone else but him to kill her. So you see, mommy won't be able to help you much!"
Jonathan seemed about to faint as Xander finished.
"Ok, Xand," Buffy tried not to smile, "I think he understands the danger now. Jonathan, you're coming home with us, and staying in the basement or something until we figure out what to do with you."
As she finished, Spike and Willow returned, and they left for their respective homes.
It was a quiet group who made their way toward Revello Drive, and Jonathan was continually trying to get as close to the slayer as possible.
"What's your problem, mate?" Spike snarled as the boy knocked into him.
Buffy giggled and whispered something to Spike which caused his expression to clear, and he smiled at her.
As they reached her house, Spike pulled her close and lightly caressed her cheek as his lips barely touched hers.
Buffy grinned at him, then noticed Willow's expression. "I think we should continue this inside."
"Yeah, pet, I have some great ideas as to what I can do to you..." He held her close as she playfully tried to escape.
Finally breaking his grip, she laughed as she ran toward her house, but stopped when she realized that the door was unlocked. Worried, she opened the door, and the smile froze on her face.
The house was a total mess, worse than after the fight she'd had with Faith. The coffee table in the leaving room was broken again, little wood pieces scattered everywhere, and a few windows were broken. The green vase that she loved so much was shattered, the purple-white flowers were thrown to the other side of the room. Furniture and pictures lay next to books and statues, and there was little undamaged.
She didn't see Dawn anywhere. "Dawn!!" She screamed with all her might.
Spike had run ahead of her into the kitchen, but he returned now, his face horrified.
"What?" She shouted. "Damn it, Spike! Tell me!"
He didn't answer, and his already deathy-pale face looked whiter than ever. Buffy tried to push him aside, but he grabbed her. She struggled, trying to get away. "Let go of me, Spike! I need to know. Let me see. Let go, damn you!"
"No, luv." His voice was broken. "You don't want to see that."
"Yes, I do!" She punched him in the face and ran past him to the kitchen, scared of what she would find.
She reached the kitchen and froze, tears gathering in her green eyes as her lips trembled. She forgot to breathe for a moment. She was sure she would faint...
To be continued
