THURSDAY NIGHT
The black Cadillac roared through the park, past the duck pond and bicycle trail. It crashed through the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign with authority before coming to a screeching halt.
The door opened, and out stepped Spike. His black jeans and t-shirt were ripped and torn. His long leather duster hung loosely from his rail thin body. Bruises marred his cheeks, and his eyes were reddened from tears. He placed a cigarette between his lips and lit it. He took a single long drag before tossing the cigarette, and the entire pack, to the ground.
"Home sweet home," he whispered.
**********
"Dawn! Clem! I'm home!" Buffy stepped through the front door and tossed her keys to a nearby table. Xander and Giles followed behind. Everyone was still in a state of shock at the current situation. It would be a long night of discussion they realized as they tried to figure out a course of action.
Dawn rushed from the living room, glad that her sister was home. It gave an excuse to get away from Clem for a moment. The demon was a decent guy, but Spike was a far better babysitter. At least the vampire knew games other than checkers and 'Go Fish'.
The floppy eared demon waddled in behind Dawn, and the pair awaited news. "So?" Dawn asked. "What happened? Where is Willow?"
"Willow is still at the police station," Buffy said softly.
"Why? She hasn't been arrested has she?" The trio looked about nervously, and Dawn had her answer. "Oh my God, Willow has been arrested. Why?"
"It seems to be rather complicated," Giles answered. "But, ah, Willow called in about a woman's death, and the police seem to think she is responsible. But don't worry. I'm fairly positive this ordeal will be cleared up." Giles thought he sounded convincing. Supportive looks from Buffy and Xander affirmed that he had.
"I'm sorry about Willow," Clem inserted. "Is there anything else I can do for you? Maybe watch Dawn for a bit longer so you three can discuss things?" Dawn shook her head lightly and mouth 'No'. Buffy took sympathy on her sister.
"No thanks, Clem. I appreciate you staying." Clem took the hint and said his farewells to the group. The demon slipped out the door, leaving the four alone. Buffy turned back to Dawn and asked, "Have you taken a shower yet?" Dawn shook her head. "Then hop to it."
Dawn huffed in annoyance and stomped up the stairs. "If you want me gone, just tell me," she muttered. Buffy waited until she heard pipes running before she spoke.
"What do you guys think?" Buffy led the group into the living room.
"Do I even need to say what I think?" Xander asked.
Giles sat in an armchair and let out a deep sigh. "I, like Xander, would like to give Willow the benefit of the doubt, but."
"You guys both think she had a relapse," Buffy stated flatly. "You think that for some reason she used magiks and killed a girl."
"I'd hate to say it Buffy," Giles said, "but it is a possible explanation. When a witch uses magiks after a substantial period of disuse, it can cause memory loss. And the detective spoke of a Ketamine-type substance found in the room. There are several magical substances that possess approximately the same make up and effects."
"So what do you think happened?" Xander asked. "I'm still wondering why the hell she was in a motel room with a strange woman."
"During my recent treatments of Willow, Tara weighed quite heavily on her mind," Giles spoke. "She seemed quite lonely on an intimate level. It's possible that she intended to sleep with this woman, only she didn't want the girl to remember. That is essentially the use of Ketamine. The detective said they found the substance in the girl's blood. I think it highly possible that Willow administered an overdose, quite possibly accidental, but enough to be fatal."
"Now let's make sure I understand this clearly," Xander said. Neither Buffy nor Giles had ever heard the young man sound quite so serious. "What you are saying is that Willow used this drug to possibly rape a girl, but gave her too much of the drug and killed her."
Giles sputtered for a few moments before offering a meek, "I didn't say rape. I just said that she had a void."
Buffy flopped back onto the couch. "I thought the sessions you were having with Willow were going well," she sighed. "How could this happen?"
"I don't know what we can do," Giles said. "I believe the matter to be out of our hands now. Willow is in the hands of the police and it is they that will deal out consequences."
The three leaned back in their seats and wondered what, if anything, they could do to help their friend.
*******
Clem leaned back in the beat up recliner and reached into his bag of pork rinds. The demon happily munched away as he watched a 'Highlander: The Series' marathon. He grabbed his Mountain Dew and sipped a large gulp through the straw as he watched Duncan slice the head off some immortal.
"The place is a mess," a voice said behind him. Clem jumped from the recliner, spilling his soda and pork rinds all over the floor. He took up what he hoped was an intimidating stance.
"Who's there?" he croaked.
From the shadows stepped the familiar form of Spike. But the vampire looked different, Clem thought. He looked thinner, as if he hadn't been eating. He also looked like he went twelve rounds with Ali.
"Bloke leaves his place to a sitter, he expects the place to be kept decent," Spike joked weakly. "But that is no matter I suppose." Spike tried to put on his usual cocky air, but it just wasn't evident in his walk. "Not like I plan on staying very long."
"Spike, buddy," Clem greeted happily. "Where have you been? You've missed some crazy stuff."
"Did I?" Spike tried to convey disinterest, but it was difficult to put any emotion in his voice. "Let me guess, there was some wacko trying to bring about an apocalypse. Said wacko, while trying to unleash said hell on earth, was foiled at the last instant by Buffy and her band of merry men. So, Clem, tell me. Did the Slayer die this time around, or was this her year to survive the big bad?"
Clem stared blankly at the vampire for a moment as Spike dug around in a closet and began scooping out clothes. "Well, actually, the big bad turned out to be Willow, and the actual hero seems to have been Xander."
That comment was more than enough to gain Spike's attention. The vampire turned and gave Clem a confused glance. "Willow? I'm sorry mate, but I thought you just said that sweet little redhead tried to bring about the end of the world."
"Yeah," Clem said as he reached down and grabbed the bag of pork rinds. "Tara was killed by these three losers."
"Wait," Spike interrupted. "Tara is dead?" If Clem didn't know any better, he would swear that information was sending Spike to the verge of tears. "Go on," Spike choked out.
"Well, battles ensued. Willow absorbed dark magiks and went out for revenge. She killed the guy that actually killed Tara. Buffy's Watcher came back from England to help stop her. It was finally Xander that evidently found the way. Like I said, you missed a lot." Clem shoved a few pork rinds into his mouth when he finished.
Spike, meanwhile, was stunned beyond belief. Maybe if he were here he could have done something. "What else?" he asked. "Willow, is she okay?"
"Not really. Seems that she's been arrested for killing a girl. Sounds like she may have fell off the magik wagon." Clem stared down at the spilled soda. "I'm really sorry about this. I'll get a mop." When he looked up, Spike had disappeared.
*******
Spike stepped into the Sunnydale Police Station with a look of confusion on his face. He didn't recall them constructing new walls when he was last in town. He decided that question could wait. Instead he walked up to the front desk where a pretty little brunette was working.
"Excuse me?" he asked with a politeness that surprised himself. "Would it be possible to visit someone who I believe to be here?" He tried to be as charming as he could, and it seemed to be working.
"We don't normally allow visitors this late," the officer answered as she checked him out.
"I understand that," Spike said, "but I would much appreciate it if you could make an exception. I've been out of town, and I just now got back in when I heard the news." He gave his most sincere smile, a smile he hadn't used in over 125 years, to the officer. "Please?"
It seemed that the smile worked. The officer grabbed some keys and shouted to a fellow officer to cover for her. "Follow me please," the officer said. Spike dutifully obeyed and followed the officer through a series of hallways. "Who is it that you wish to see?"
"Willow Rosenberg," Spike answered. The officer's eyes widened. "I understand that she is being accused of murder?"
"I can't state the specifics," the officer said, "but we are holding her in connection with the death of a young woman." The pair stopped at a room marked 'Visitation'. The officer opened the door. "If you would wait in here, I will bring Miss Rosenberg out momentarily." Spike slipped into the room to wait.
It was just like you saw on the telly, Spike realized. There were a dozen booths lined up in the center of the room. A fiberglass type of barrier divided the room in two to keep the nasties on the other side. Only a few months ago, Spike would have found that amusing. But not now. Not when he had a soul, and not when it was Willow being grouped in as a 'nasty'.
The vampire ran a hand through his hair and adjusted his coat. He didn't know why, but he wanted to look respectable for Willow. Only a few moments later, said witch was led into the opposite room.
Spike's mouth dropped open in shock as he took in the sight before him. Willow looked like a frightened child as she was brought in. Not long ago that vision would have aroused and excited him, but now, it made his heart break. The baggy orange jumpsuit hung off her body. Her normally bright and vibrant red hair hung limply and dully around her face. But the look of surprise on her face when she saw her visitor was what shocked him the most. Willow almost looked.pleased to see him.
Willow took a seat at a booth, and Spike sat down opposite her. Willow was the first to speak when they each grabbed a phone.
"Spike, what are you doing here?" Willow asked.
"I came because I was worried about you," Spike answered honestly. This damn soul was really messing with him. This whole caring thing was both wondrous and terrifying. At this moment, he had a whole knew respect for that grandsire of his, Angel.
"Why do you care?" Willow asked. She didn't mean to sound as harsh as she did. But still, it surprised her that Spike seemed to be hurt by her comment.
"I just do," he whispered. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" Willow said for the hundredth time. "All I know is I woke up next to a dead woman. I think I.well, I'm pretty sure I."
"You're sure you did what?" Spike asked.
"I slept with this woman." Spike raised his brows in surprise. Promiscuity certainly didn't sound like Willow. "I've been having flashed of us.together. Doing things that, well, you know."
"But you say you don't remember anything?" Willow nodded. "What is the last thing you do remember?"
"I remember the Magic Box," Willow recalled. "Giles has been helping cleanse the magik residue from me." Willow started to cry softly. "I thought I was doing good." She lifted her head and stared Spike in the eyes. "I was evil. I hurt people."
"That's not what I heard," Spike responded. Willow looked at him curiously through her tears. "I heard that you had something you loved very much taken away. You responded like anyone would. You wanted to see justice."
"It wasn't justice, Spike," Willow stated flatly. "It was vengeance, and it was wrong. I was evil." Willow looked away and stared her shoes. "I am evil."
"No, love, you're not. Look at me." Willow raised her eyes and was once again shocked by what she found. Caring. "You are not evil. This is a demon talking. I think I know evil when I see it. What I see is a girl who is frightened and scared and hurt because the woman that she loved more than life itself was taken from her. Something that is evil can't feel that. Who would know better about that than me?"
Willow continued to stare at Spike in disbelief. "What has happened to you?" she asked. "Why do you care?"
"Let's just say I had an epiphany."
"Isn't that a Catholic thing?" Willow joked lightly.
"I wouldn't know," Spike joked back. "As a human, I was Protestant." He was very happy that Willow smiled. Spike never noticed before, but Willow had a nice smile. He shook that thought away and returned to business. "And you remember nothing after the Magic Box?"
"No. But I do remember I was going somewhere."
"Would Buffy or Giles know where?" Willow noticed that Spike cringed at the name of the slayer.
"I evidently didn't tell them."
Spike contemplated for a few moments. Willow didn't have much information for him. Well then, the vampire decided, he'd just have to find some on his own.
"Do you still live with Buffy?" Spike asked. Willow nodded that she did. "I need you to invite me in the house."
"Why?" Willow asked.
"Maybe there will be some clue as to where you went last night. Maybe I can find something that can set you free."
"Or maybe you just want open access to Buffy," she accused. The hurt look on Spike's face surprised Willow once more.
"I think it best that I don't get involved with Buffy right now," Spike said. "I'd also appreciate it if you made no mention of me being here, or that I am even in town." He hesitated a few moments before continuing. "I want you to know that I will do everything I can to prove you innocent." He smiled slightly. "And if that doesn't work, I'll bake a cake with a file it in for you."
Spike was extraordinarily pleased to see Willow smile again. "Thank you," she said. A guard opened the door on her side of the glass. Willow turned for a moment before giving her attention to Spike. "They say that time is up." Spike smiled at her. "And Spike? I invite you into the house."
"Thank you, Willow," he said. "And I promise, I will do everything I can for you." Before he even had a chance to say goodbye, the guard was leading Willow back to her cell. He gently replaced the phone back on the wall before standing to retrace his steps from the building. Already, a plan was forming in his head. And the first step looked to be the hardest.
*********
Spike stuffed a piece of winterfresh gum in his mouth as he studied the Summers house. He was seriously reconsidering not only this plan, but also his choice to give up smoking. This gum tasted like shit.
Peering at the windows, Spike could see four figures in the living room. As long as they all stayed in there, he had nothing to worry about. Spike quickly and quietly moved to the side of the house. He glanced around to make sure no one was looking before using his vampire agility to leap up and grab a window ledge. He lucked out when he found it to be opened. With a deft move, he leapt through the window and onto his feet.
"Oh damn," he muttered. As Spike looked around, he noticed a few dolls, some boy band posters, and other knickknacks for a teenage girl's room. "I'm in Dawn's bedroom," Spike realized. "That or Xander has moved in."
Spike used his natural vampire stealth to enter the hallway without making a sound. He shifted into demon face a moment and sniffed the air. He turned to his right to the door at the end of the hall. Willow's scent was strongest there. Spike gently pushed open the door.
"Bingo." He stepped into the room and immediately began his search. Spike crouched by the bed and opened the drawers of the small end table. He flipped through a few small notebooks and folders and found nothing. Spike stood up and looked about. He sighed heavily and reached into his pocket and retrieved his pack of chewing gum. He popped another piece in his mouth as he considered where else to look.
Spike finally stepped over to the bookcase. He noticed a copy of Brave New World was resting crooked on the shelf. He grabbed the novel and flipped through the pages. In the center, Spike noticed a folded up pink flyer. He pulled it out so he could read it.
"Battling addiction? On the road to recovery? Need someone to talk to? Better Tomorrow is there for you. Come see us today, so you can have a Better Tomorrow."
Spike raised his brows. "Catchy motto," he admitted. "Now where was this meeting?" Spike looked at the bottom of the flier and found his answer. "Craig Hall, UC-Sunnydale. So this is where you were, Willow. This will give me something to do tomorrow."
Spike's head shot up as an unmistakable sensation overtook his body. He quickly stuffed the flier in his jacket and tossed the book back on the shelf. With a burst of vampire speed, he rushed across the room, opened the window and leapt out. Only a few moments later Buffy poked her head into the room.
"Funny," she said. "I thought I closed that window." Buffy walked over and shut the window. A chill ran through her spine. Something was slightly off. "I'm just paranoid," Buffy muttered. She walked out of the room, intent on taking a shower and going to bed.
SUNNYDALE HOSPITAL LOWER LEVEL-MORGUE
A soon as Spike stepped off the elevator, a cold chill swept through his body. Death and corpses never bothered him before. Hell, he was a vampire. Why would it? Maybe what was spooking him was how sterile everything was. The smell of disinfectant hung in the air. Spike didn't like it.
The vampire peered around the hallway and found himself to be alone. He nervously fiddled with the cuffs of the white overcoat he swiped from a doctor dressing room. He located a sign directing him to the morgue and followed the arrows.
Spike passed a few gurneys that still had the fresh scent of death clinging to them. A janitor that was mopping the floor paid him no mind as he passed. Spike simply slipped through the swinging doors of the autopsy room to begin his search.
In the center of the room was a metal table. Spike paused for a moment as he gazed at the outline of a body beneath the plastic sheet covering it up. He really didn't like this place. Shaking off his discomfort, Spike peered around the room in hopes of finding something that could help him. On a counter on the opposite side of the room he found what he needed.
Spike found a tray that appeared to contain files pertaining to recent autopsies. Seven file folders were in the pile. He was able to quickly eliminate five of them since they were men. The two remaining were for an Amanda Richards and Josephine Tomlinson. The Tomlinson file was easily eliminated since it was a car accident victim.
"Hello Amanda," Spike whispered.
This one appeared to be the girl. He opened up the file and was greeted by a small picture of an attractive brunette smiling up at him. Spike gulped and looked at the cover page.
White female. Twenty-one years of age. Bone structure looked fine. Organs appeared to be healthy except for some tar buildup in the lungs. She was a smoker, Spike realized. He flipped the page. Amanda led a largely healthy life. Appendectomy at age fifteen. Tonsils removed at age nine.
"Where the hell's the toxicology?" Spike mumbled. He turned to page seven and there it was. "What do we got here?"
What he had was something he largely didn't understand. The doctor had evidently found a substance that resembled a drug called Ketamine. Spike had heard of it before. If he recalled correctly, Ketamine was the date rape drug. He was about to flip the page when he saw a notation at the bottom.
"Refer to file #JFB5183-Rosenburg, Willow Anne."
Spike frowned and put the Richards file back on the pile. He then looked around the lab and found a couple files placed in a container hanging by the door. He went over and found a file with Willow's name on it. Spike skipped past the vitals and went straight for the toxicology.
"Now that's weird," Spike observed.
"Finding everything you need?"
Spike jumped and nearly dropped the file. If he had a heart, Spike was sure it'd be in his throat at the moment. He turned and found an attractive looking woman glaring at him. She was obviously a doctor. Spike guessed her to be thirty-ish. She had long black hair tied back in a bun. Glasses adorned her face and she appeared to have a nice pair of legs. Quite a looker.
"Question is, should I call security?"
"I wish you wouldn't," Spike answered. Her heels clicked on the tile as she approached.
"What is your business here?"
"I'm looking into a death."
"Are you an investigator?"
"More or less."
"Where is your license?"
"That would be the less."
"I'm calling security." The doctor breezed past him and reached for a wall phone. "If you run really fast maybe you'll escape before they get here."
"Please, don't call," Spike pleaded. The doctor looked at him curiously for a moment. Spike breathed a sigh of relief when it appeared he'd get time to explain. "My friend is in jail for murder. I'm just trying to prove one way or another whether she did it. My name is William.Summers and I would appreciate your help, Doctor."
"Kelly. Melissa Kelly," she supplied. "And against my better judgment, I'm going to hear you out. So talk."
Spike actually breathed a sigh of relief before he launched into his speech. "Like I said, I'm looking into a death. Does the name Amanda Richards ring any bells?"
"Sure. Doctor Polanski did the autopsy. I don't know any specifics about it."
Spike crossed the room once more and grabbed the Richards file. He handed it over to Dr. Kelly and motioned for her to open it. "She was a young woman that was found dead in a motel room. My friend is being held in connection with her death."
Kelly flipped through the file and observed the cause of death. "Dr. Polanski ruled the cause to be a drug overdose due to a Ketamine derivative."
"Can you explain to me what Ketamine is?" Spike inquired.
"It's most commonly used to medicate animals. It possesses properties that are sometimes used to induce a memory loss. It began to gain popularity in the early nineties at the club scene. Often young men would slip it into a woman's drink to rape her. The next morning leaves little to no memory of the previous events."
Spike grabbed Willow's file and handed it over. "Look at the toxicology of the person being held. Can you explain to me why she would also show Ketamine in her blood? Does that make sense? When you say yourself that the drug has amnesiac effects, why would the person accused of a murder ingest the drug?"
"Because it isn't exactly Ketamine," Kelly explained. "How closely do you follow the news?"
"Not too well," Spike admitted. "I've been out of the country for a while."
"Well, to be honest, I'm surprised it's only now showing up in Sunnydale. The drug that is in Miss Richards blood and your friend is a synthesized Ketamine-Ecstasy hybrid. It first showed up in Mexico a couple years ago and moved up through San Diego, Los Angeles, and evidently here. On the streets it's called KX or Kicks."
Spike frowned in confusion. "Okay, this KX. How is it different than straight Ketamine?"
"It's different because of the drug Ecstasy, which is also a highly popular party drug. It's effects typically loosen a person's behavior. In essence, it makes the person friendlier. Users typically report feeling more sociable when on it."
Spike was stilled confused. "Okay, still a little slow on the uptake." He was grateful that the doctor didn't seem to be loosing her patience. In fact, she actually seemed to be warming up to him.
"The reason your friend might have it in her system is for a couple reasons. First, the ecstasy properties would make her more sociable. Give her courage to perhaps talk to this girl. Second, the mix between the two drugs seems to elicit a bliss-like state. Makes the user really happy. Then third, it does wipe the memory away. Maybe your friend used it for the purposes of plausible deniability. Can't confess to a crime that you don't remember."
"That last reason seems kinda thin," Spike observed.
"Yeah, but good things come in threes. I thought I needed one more reason."
"Right."
Spike considered the doctor's thoughts. When he thought about it more deeply, maybe she wasn't so far off with the reasoning. Perhaps the reason Willow would take such a drug was so that she wouldn't remember what had been done. But Spike thought there was more to it than that. Perhaps Willow figured she would have a guilty conscience, and therefore she took some of the drug herself.
Shit. He was talking like she actually was guilty. Despite what had evidently happened in May, Spike did not figure Willow to be some sort of violent criminal. Raping and killing a woman just did not fit into the profile he had long since established for her. There was another reason for this.
"I guess none of this really helps you."
Spike snapped his head up at the sound of Dr. Kelly's voice. "No. You helped me. Just not in the way I'd hoped. Thank you, Doctor, for the information."
"Call me, Melissa." Yup, she had definitely warmed to him. "This girl must be a good friend of yours."
"Actually, she and most of her crew barely tolerate my presence."
Melissa looked confused. "So why are you helping her?"
Good question. "Because I thinks it what I'm supposed to do. Anyway, thank you again. I'll just scurry along before you change your mind about calling security."
Melissa smiled as Spike stepped quickly to the door. "Good luck," she called after him. Spike nodded his thanks and disappeared.
The black Cadillac roared through the park, past the duck pond and bicycle trail. It crashed through the 'Welcome to Sunnydale' sign with authority before coming to a screeching halt.
The door opened, and out stepped Spike. His black jeans and t-shirt were ripped and torn. His long leather duster hung loosely from his rail thin body. Bruises marred his cheeks, and his eyes were reddened from tears. He placed a cigarette between his lips and lit it. He took a single long drag before tossing the cigarette, and the entire pack, to the ground.
"Home sweet home," he whispered.
**********
"Dawn! Clem! I'm home!" Buffy stepped through the front door and tossed her keys to a nearby table. Xander and Giles followed behind. Everyone was still in a state of shock at the current situation. It would be a long night of discussion they realized as they tried to figure out a course of action.
Dawn rushed from the living room, glad that her sister was home. It gave an excuse to get away from Clem for a moment. The demon was a decent guy, but Spike was a far better babysitter. At least the vampire knew games other than checkers and 'Go Fish'.
The floppy eared demon waddled in behind Dawn, and the pair awaited news. "So?" Dawn asked. "What happened? Where is Willow?"
"Willow is still at the police station," Buffy said softly.
"Why? She hasn't been arrested has she?" The trio looked about nervously, and Dawn had her answer. "Oh my God, Willow has been arrested. Why?"
"It seems to be rather complicated," Giles answered. "But, ah, Willow called in about a woman's death, and the police seem to think she is responsible. But don't worry. I'm fairly positive this ordeal will be cleared up." Giles thought he sounded convincing. Supportive looks from Buffy and Xander affirmed that he had.
"I'm sorry about Willow," Clem inserted. "Is there anything else I can do for you? Maybe watch Dawn for a bit longer so you three can discuss things?" Dawn shook her head lightly and mouth 'No'. Buffy took sympathy on her sister.
"No thanks, Clem. I appreciate you staying." Clem took the hint and said his farewells to the group. The demon slipped out the door, leaving the four alone. Buffy turned back to Dawn and asked, "Have you taken a shower yet?" Dawn shook her head. "Then hop to it."
Dawn huffed in annoyance and stomped up the stairs. "If you want me gone, just tell me," she muttered. Buffy waited until she heard pipes running before she spoke.
"What do you guys think?" Buffy led the group into the living room.
"Do I even need to say what I think?" Xander asked.
Giles sat in an armchair and let out a deep sigh. "I, like Xander, would like to give Willow the benefit of the doubt, but."
"You guys both think she had a relapse," Buffy stated flatly. "You think that for some reason she used magiks and killed a girl."
"I'd hate to say it Buffy," Giles said, "but it is a possible explanation. When a witch uses magiks after a substantial period of disuse, it can cause memory loss. And the detective spoke of a Ketamine-type substance found in the room. There are several magical substances that possess approximately the same make up and effects."
"So what do you think happened?" Xander asked. "I'm still wondering why the hell she was in a motel room with a strange woman."
"During my recent treatments of Willow, Tara weighed quite heavily on her mind," Giles spoke. "She seemed quite lonely on an intimate level. It's possible that she intended to sleep with this woman, only she didn't want the girl to remember. That is essentially the use of Ketamine. The detective said they found the substance in the girl's blood. I think it highly possible that Willow administered an overdose, quite possibly accidental, but enough to be fatal."
"Now let's make sure I understand this clearly," Xander said. Neither Buffy nor Giles had ever heard the young man sound quite so serious. "What you are saying is that Willow used this drug to possibly rape a girl, but gave her too much of the drug and killed her."
Giles sputtered for a few moments before offering a meek, "I didn't say rape. I just said that she had a void."
Buffy flopped back onto the couch. "I thought the sessions you were having with Willow were going well," she sighed. "How could this happen?"
"I don't know what we can do," Giles said. "I believe the matter to be out of our hands now. Willow is in the hands of the police and it is they that will deal out consequences."
The three leaned back in their seats and wondered what, if anything, they could do to help their friend.
*******
Clem leaned back in the beat up recliner and reached into his bag of pork rinds. The demon happily munched away as he watched a 'Highlander: The Series' marathon. He grabbed his Mountain Dew and sipped a large gulp through the straw as he watched Duncan slice the head off some immortal.
"The place is a mess," a voice said behind him. Clem jumped from the recliner, spilling his soda and pork rinds all over the floor. He took up what he hoped was an intimidating stance.
"Who's there?" he croaked.
From the shadows stepped the familiar form of Spike. But the vampire looked different, Clem thought. He looked thinner, as if he hadn't been eating. He also looked like he went twelve rounds with Ali.
"Bloke leaves his place to a sitter, he expects the place to be kept decent," Spike joked weakly. "But that is no matter I suppose." Spike tried to put on his usual cocky air, but it just wasn't evident in his walk. "Not like I plan on staying very long."
"Spike, buddy," Clem greeted happily. "Where have you been? You've missed some crazy stuff."
"Did I?" Spike tried to convey disinterest, but it was difficult to put any emotion in his voice. "Let me guess, there was some wacko trying to bring about an apocalypse. Said wacko, while trying to unleash said hell on earth, was foiled at the last instant by Buffy and her band of merry men. So, Clem, tell me. Did the Slayer die this time around, or was this her year to survive the big bad?"
Clem stared blankly at the vampire for a moment as Spike dug around in a closet and began scooping out clothes. "Well, actually, the big bad turned out to be Willow, and the actual hero seems to have been Xander."
That comment was more than enough to gain Spike's attention. The vampire turned and gave Clem a confused glance. "Willow? I'm sorry mate, but I thought you just said that sweet little redhead tried to bring about the end of the world."
"Yeah," Clem said as he reached down and grabbed the bag of pork rinds. "Tara was killed by these three losers."
"Wait," Spike interrupted. "Tara is dead?" If Clem didn't know any better, he would swear that information was sending Spike to the verge of tears. "Go on," Spike choked out.
"Well, battles ensued. Willow absorbed dark magiks and went out for revenge. She killed the guy that actually killed Tara. Buffy's Watcher came back from England to help stop her. It was finally Xander that evidently found the way. Like I said, you missed a lot." Clem shoved a few pork rinds into his mouth when he finished.
Spike, meanwhile, was stunned beyond belief. Maybe if he were here he could have done something. "What else?" he asked. "Willow, is she okay?"
"Not really. Seems that she's been arrested for killing a girl. Sounds like she may have fell off the magik wagon." Clem stared down at the spilled soda. "I'm really sorry about this. I'll get a mop." When he looked up, Spike had disappeared.
*******
Spike stepped into the Sunnydale Police Station with a look of confusion on his face. He didn't recall them constructing new walls when he was last in town. He decided that question could wait. Instead he walked up to the front desk where a pretty little brunette was working.
"Excuse me?" he asked with a politeness that surprised himself. "Would it be possible to visit someone who I believe to be here?" He tried to be as charming as he could, and it seemed to be working.
"We don't normally allow visitors this late," the officer answered as she checked him out.
"I understand that," Spike said, "but I would much appreciate it if you could make an exception. I've been out of town, and I just now got back in when I heard the news." He gave his most sincere smile, a smile he hadn't used in over 125 years, to the officer. "Please?"
It seemed that the smile worked. The officer grabbed some keys and shouted to a fellow officer to cover for her. "Follow me please," the officer said. Spike dutifully obeyed and followed the officer through a series of hallways. "Who is it that you wish to see?"
"Willow Rosenberg," Spike answered. The officer's eyes widened. "I understand that she is being accused of murder?"
"I can't state the specifics," the officer said, "but we are holding her in connection with the death of a young woman." The pair stopped at a room marked 'Visitation'. The officer opened the door. "If you would wait in here, I will bring Miss Rosenberg out momentarily." Spike slipped into the room to wait.
It was just like you saw on the telly, Spike realized. There were a dozen booths lined up in the center of the room. A fiberglass type of barrier divided the room in two to keep the nasties on the other side. Only a few months ago, Spike would have found that amusing. But not now. Not when he had a soul, and not when it was Willow being grouped in as a 'nasty'.
The vampire ran a hand through his hair and adjusted his coat. He didn't know why, but he wanted to look respectable for Willow. Only a few moments later, said witch was led into the opposite room.
Spike's mouth dropped open in shock as he took in the sight before him. Willow looked like a frightened child as she was brought in. Not long ago that vision would have aroused and excited him, but now, it made his heart break. The baggy orange jumpsuit hung off her body. Her normally bright and vibrant red hair hung limply and dully around her face. But the look of surprise on her face when she saw her visitor was what shocked him the most. Willow almost looked.pleased to see him.
Willow took a seat at a booth, and Spike sat down opposite her. Willow was the first to speak when they each grabbed a phone.
"Spike, what are you doing here?" Willow asked.
"I came because I was worried about you," Spike answered honestly. This damn soul was really messing with him. This whole caring thing was both wondrous and terrifying. At this moment, he had a whole knew respect for that grandsire of his, Angel.
"Why do you care?" Willow asked. She didn't mean to sound as harsh as she did. But still, it surprised her that Spike seemed to be hurt by her comment.
"I just do," he whispered. "What happened?"
"I don't know!" Willow said for the hundredth time. "All I know is I woke up next to a dead woman. I think I.well, I'm pretty sure I."
"You're sure you did what?" Spike asked.
"I slept with this woman." Spike raised his brows in surprise. Promiscuity certainly didn't sound like Willow. "I've been having flashed of us.together. Doing things that, well, you know."
"But you say you don't remember anything?" Willow nodded. "What is the last thing you do remember?"
"I remember the Magic Box," Willow recalled. "Giles has been helping cleanse the magik residue from me." Willow started to cry softly. "I thought I was doing good." She lifted her head and stared Spike in the eyes. "I was evil. I hurt people."
"That's not what I heard," Spike responded. Willow looked at him curiously through her tears. "I heard that you had something you loved very much taken away. You responded like anyone would. You wanted to see justice."
"It wasn't justice, Spike," Willow stated flatly. "It was vengeance, and it was wrong. I was evil." Willow looked away and stared her shoes. "I am evil."
"No, love, you're not. Look at me." Willow raised her eyes and was once again shocked by what she found. Caring. "You are not evil. This is a demon talking. I think I know evil when I see it. What I see is a girl who is frightened and scared and hurt because the woman that she loved more than life itself was taken from her. Something that is evil can't feel that. Who would know better about that than me?"
Willow continued to stare at Spike in disbelief. "What has happened to you?" she asked. "Why do you care?"
"Let's just say I had an epiphany."
"Isn't that a Catholic thing?" Willow joked lightly.
"I wouldn't know," Spike joked back. "As a human, I was Protestant." He was very happy that Willow smiled. Spike never noticed before, but Willow had a nice smile. He shook that thought away and returned to business. "And you remember nothing after the Magic Box?"
"No. But I do remember I was going somewhere."
"Would Buffy or Giles know where?" Willow noticed that Spike cringed at the name of the slayer.
"I evidently didn't tell them."
Spike contemplated for a few moments. Willow didn't have much information for him. Well then, the vampire decided, he'd just have to find some on his own.
"Do you still live with Buffy?" Spike asked. Willow nodded that she did. "I need you to invite me in the house."
"Why?" Willow asked.
"Maybe there will be some clue as to where you went last night. Maybe I can find something that can set you free."
"Or maybe you just want open access to Buffy," she accused. The hurt look on Spike's face surprised Willow once more.
"I think it best that I don't get involved with Buffy right now," Spike said. "I'd also appreciate it if you made no mention of me being here, or that I am even in town." He hesitated a few moments before continuing. "I want you to know that I will do everything I can to prove you innocent." He smiled slightly. "And if that doesn't work, I'll bake a cake with a file it in for you."
Spike was extraordinarily pleased to see Willow smile again. "Thank you," she said. A guard opened the door on her side of the glass. Willow turned for a moment before giving her attention to Spike. "They say that time is up." Spike smiled at her. "And Spike? I invite you into the house."
"Thank you, Willow," he said. "And I promise, I will do everything I can for you." Before he even had a chance to say goodbye, the guard was leading Willow back to her cell. He gently replaced the phone back on the wall before standing to retrace his steps from the building. Already, a plan was forming in his head. And the first step looked to be the hardest.
*********
Spike stuffed a piece of winterfresh gum in his mouth as he studied the Summers house. He was seriously reconsidering not only this plan, but also his choice to give up smoking. This gum tasted like shit.
Peering at the windows, Spike could see four figures in the living room. As long as they all stayed in there, he had nothing to worry about. Spike quickly and quietly moved to the side of the house. He glanced around to make sure no one was looking before using his vampire agility to leap up and grab a window ledge. He lucked out when he found it to be opened. With a deft move, he leapt through the window and onto his feet.
"Oh damn," he muttered. As Spike looked around, he noticed a few dolls, some boy band posters, and other knickknacks for a teenage girl's room. "I'm in Dawn's bedroom," Spike realized. "That or Xander has moved in."
Spike used his natural vampire stealth to enter the hallway without making a sound. He shifted into demon face a moment and sniffed the air. He turned to his right to the door at the end of the hall. Willow's scent was strongest there. Spike gently pushed open the door.
"Bingo." He stepped into the room and immediately began his search. Spike crouched by the bed and opened the drawers of the small end table. He flipped through a few small notebooks and folders and found nothing. Spike stood up and looked about. He sighed heavily and reached into his pocket and retrieved his pack of chewing gum. He popped another piece in his mouth as he considered where else to look.
Spike finally stepped over to the bookcase. He noticed a copy of Brave New World was resting crooked on the shelf. He grabbed the novel and flipped through the pages. In the center, Spike noticed a folded up pink flyer. He pulled it out so he could read it.
"Battling addiction? On the road to recovery? Need someone to talk to? Better Tomorrow is there for you. Come see us today, so you can have a Better Tomorrow."
Spike raised his brows. "Catchy motto," he admitted. "Now where was this meeting?" Spike looked at the bottom of the flier and found his answer. "Craig Hall, UC-Sunnydale. So this is where you were, Willow. This will give me something to do tomorrow."
Spike's head shot up as an unmistakable sensation overtook his body. He quickly stuffed the flier in his jacket and tossed the book back on the shelf. With a burst of vampire speed, he rushed across the room, opened the window and leapt out. Only a few moments later Buffy poked her head into the room.
"Funny," she said. "I thought I closed that window." Buffy walked over and shut the window. A chill ran through her spine. Something was slightly off. "I'm just paranoid," Buffy muttered. She walked out of the room, intent on taking a shower and going to bed.
SUNNYDALE HOSPITAL LOWER LEVEL-MORGUE
A soon as Spike stepped off the elevator, a cold chill swept through his body. Death and corpses never bothered him before. Hell, he was a vampire. Why would it? Maybe what was spooking him was how sterile everything was. The smell of disinfectant hung in the air. Spike didn't like it.
The vampire peered around the hallway and found himself to be alone. He nervously fiddled with the cuffs of the white overcoat he swiped from a doctor dressing room. He located a sign directing him to the morgue and followed the arrows.
Spike passed a few gurneys that still had the fresh scent of death clinging to them. A janitor that was mopping the floor paid him no mind as he passed. Spike simply slipped through the swinging doors of the autopsy room to begin his search.
In the center of the room was a metal table. Spike paused for a moment as he gazed at the outline of a body beneath the plastic sheet covering it up. He really didn't like this place. Shaking off his discomfort, Spike peered around the room in hopes of finding something that could help him. On a counter on the opposite side of the room he found what he needed.
Spike found a tray that appeared to contain files pertaining to recent autopsies. Seven file folders were in the pile. He was able to quickly eliminate five of them since they were men. The two remaining were for an Amanda Richards and Josephine Tomlinson. The Tomlinson file was easily eliminated since it was a car accident victim.
"Hello Amanda," Spike whispered.
This one appeared to be the girl. He opened up the file and was greeted by a small picture of an attractive brunette smiling up at him. Spike gulped and looked at the cover page.
White female. Twenty-one years of age. Bone structure looked fine. Organs appeared to be healthy except for some tar buildup in the lungs. She was a smoker, Spike realized. He flipped the page. Amanda led a largely healthy life. Appendectomy at age fifteen. Tonsils removed at age nine.
"Where the hell's the toxicology?" Spike mumbled. He turned to page seven and there it was. "What do we got here?"
What he had was something he largely didn't understand. The doctor had evidently found a substance that resembled a drug called Ketamine. Spike had heard of it before. If he recalled correctly, Ketamine was the date rape drug. He was about to flip the page when he saw a notation at the bottom.
"Refer to file #JFB5183-Rosenburg, Willow Anne."
Spike frowned and put the Richards file back on the pile. He then looked around the lab and found a couple files placed in a container hanging by the door. He went over and found a file with Willow's name on it. Spike skipped past the vitals and went straight for the toxicology.
"Now that's weird," Spike observed.
"Finding everything you need?"
Spike jumped and nearly dropped the file. If he had a heart, Spike was sure it'd be in his throat at the moment. He turned and found an attractive looking woman glaring at him. She was obviously a doctor. Spike guessed her to be thirty-ish. She had long black hair tied back in a bun. Glasses adorned her face and she appeared to have a nice pair of legs. Quite a looker.
"Question is, should I call security?"
"I wish you wouldn't," Spike answered. Her heels clicked on the tile as she approached.
"What is your business here?"
"I'm looking into a death."
"Are you an investigator?"
"More or less."
"Where is your license?"
"That would be the less."
"I'm calling security." The doctor breezed past him and reached for a wall phone. "If you run really fast maybe you'll escape before they get here."
"Please, don't call," Spike pleaded. The doctor looked at him curiously for a moment. Spike breathed a sigh of relief when it appeared he'd get time to explain. "My friend is in jail for murder. I'm just trying to prove one way or another whether she did it. My name is William.Summers and I would appreciate your help, Doctor."
"Kelly. Melissa Kelly," she supplied. "And against my better judgment, I'm going to hear you out. So talk."
Spike actually breathed a sigh of relief before he launched into his speech. "Like I said, I'm looking into a death. Does the name Amanda Richards ring any bells?"
"Sure. Doctor Polanski did the autopsy. I don't know any specifics about it."
Spike crossed the room once more and grabbed the Richards file. He handed it over to Dr. Kelly and motioned for her to open it. "She was a young woman that was found dead in a motel room. My friend is being held in connection with her death."
Kelly flipped through the file and observed the cause of death. "Dr. Polanski ruled the cause to be a drug overdose due to a Ketamine derivative."
"Can you explain to me what Ketamine is?" Spike inquired.
"It's most commonly used to medicate animals. It possesses properties that are sometimes used to induce a memory loss. It began to gain popularity in the early nineties at the club scene. Often young men would slip it into a woman's drink to rape her. The next morning leaves little to no memory of the previous events."
Spike grabbed Willow's file and handed it over. "Look at the toxicology of the person being held. Can you explain to me why she would also show Ketamine in her blood? Does that make sense? When you say yourself that the drug has amnesiac effects, why would the person accused of a murder ingest the drug?"
"Because it isn't exactly Ketamine," Kelly explained. "How closely do you follow the news?"
"Not too well," Spike admitted. "I've been out of the country for a while."
"Well, to be honest, I'm surprised it's only now showing up in Sunnydale. The drug that is in Miss Richards blood and your friend is a synthesized Ketamine-Ecstasy hybrid. It first showed up in Mexico a couple years ago and moved up through San Diego, Los Angeles, and evidently here. On the streets it's called KX or Kicks."
Spike frowned in confusion. "Okay, this KX. How is it different than straight Ketamine?"
"It's different because of the drug Ecstasy, which is also a highly popular party drug. It's effects typically loosen a person's behavior. In essence, it makes the person friendlier. Users typically report feeling more sociable when on it."
Spike was stilled confused. "Okay, still a little slow on the uptake." He was grateful that the doctor didn't seem to be loosing her patience. In fact, she actually seemed to be warming up to him.
"The reason your friend might have it in her system is for a couple reasons. First, the ecstasy properties would make her more sociable. Give her courage to perhaps talk to this girl. Second, the mix between the two drugs seems to elicit a bliss-like state. Makes the user really happy. Then third, it does wipe the memory away. Maybe your friend used it for the purposes of plausible deniability. Can't confess to a crime that you don't remember."
"That last reason seems kinda thin," Spike observed.
"Yeah, but good things come in threes. I thought I needed one more reason."
"Right."
Spike considered the doctor's thoughts. When he thought about it more deeply, maybe she wasn't so far off with the reasoning. Perhaps the reason Willow would take such a drug was so that she wouldn't remember what had been done. But Spike thought there was more to it than that. Perhaps Willow figured she would have a guilty conscience, and therefore she took some of the drug herself.
Shit. He was talking like she actually was guilty. Despite what had evidently happened in May, Spike did not figure Willow to be some sort of violent criminal. Raping and killing a woman just did not fit into the profile he had long since established for her. There was another reason for this.
"I guess none of this really helps you."
Spike snapped his head up at the sound of Dr. Kelly's voice. "No. You helped me. Just not in the way I'd hoped. Thank you, Doctor, for the information."
"Call me, Melissa." Yup, she had definitely warmed to him. "This girl must be a good friend of yours."
"Actually, she and most of her crew barely tolerate my presence."
Melissa looked confused. "So why are you helping her?"
Good question. "Because I thinks it what I'm supposed to do. Anyway, thank you again. I'll just scurry along before you change your mind about calling security."
Melissa smiled as Spike stepped quickly to the door. "Good luck," she called after him. Spike nodded his thanks and disappeared.
