Clem - March 2009
Chapter Thirty-Five
Dawn, Willow, Fred, and Anya were playing Monopoly when Clem started to bang on the doors of the hotel. Dawn quickly invited him in, wondering what the hell he was doing in LA of all places. The rest of the gang quickly emerged, wondering what the commotion was all about. Clem had an arrow stuck in his right leg, courtesy of one of Spike's hired men. He sat on the couch while Dawn nervously tended to it. Buffy finally came out of the study, curious to see what the hell was going on.
"Clem, what are you doing here? I thought you had some cracker tasting contest in Arizona to go to or something." Buffy asked.
"Slayer, I'm telling you right now that there is no place I would rather be than other than here. I figured I should come up here though, seeing how I probably messed up pretty bad."
"What did you do?" She asked worriedly.
"You see, well first, it's all your fault for not keeping me in the loop. I mean, how was I supposed to know that Spike was all super evil again. So please don't stake me or anything." Clem pleaded.
"Clem, just tell me what you did and then I'll consider on how lenient I should be." Buffy replied.
"Well, I was sitting at the crypt a couple days ago watching a Miami Vice marathon when the phone rings. And yes I got a cell phone before you all want to start making jabs at my expense. It was Spike, I thought that was kind of strange that he was calling me in the middle of the day. Usually he calls at night because I guess he got a job or something. So we start talking about, well actually I was talking about how kick ass I would look in one of those suits that Don Johnson wore. I'm telling you guys - the 80's are coming back."
"Clem, could you make the story any longer?" Buff asked impatiently.
"Hey, I just thought you would appreciate a good narrative. Then again Spike was always telling me how you got Chaucer mixed up with Shakespeare, so I'm guessing you really don't care about the narrative."
"Clem, for the last time - just tell me what you did before I really do stake you."
"Right then. So we were chatting, catching up and all that. Then he brings up Faith, which I thought was kind of strange. He had only met her once and she was in your body, Buffy. He knew that we were pen pals, well that was Angel's idea. He said something about how Faith needed to talk to someone that wasn't all wrapped up their own problems. I'm guessing out of all of you, I'm probably the least angst ridden choice. You guys are wound so tight that..." Clem began.
"Clem, finish the story." The group shouted in unison.
"You people really are pushy. Like I said, Spike was asking about Faith, which was weird, but I thought maybe he wanted to visit her or something. So I tell him what prison she's at, what her cell number is and all that. Then he asked what my clearance password was, and I told him he didn't need to know that. He was getting all huffy, and then he said I was lucky that my blood tasted like crap. Then he hung up. I didn't think anything of it, because I figure that he must have gotten into another fight with The Slayer. Because we all know how pissy these two get when they're in the same room. I mean, there was this one time when Buffy burst in while Spike and I were watching Passions.." Clem started.
"Clem, I am so close to pulling my hair out that it's not funny. Just finish telling the God Damn story." Buffy fumed.
"Fine, since none of you cretins appreciate what a masterful story teller I am, here it is. I have a cousin in the same cell block as Faith. She's in there because apparently it's illegal to have more than an ounce of burba weed on your person; I guess its intent to deal or something. But she called me this morning telling me there had been a break in. A bleach blonde guy with a long leather jacket busted in there and busted Faith out. He didn't seem too concerned with anyone else, just the Slayer. I guess you guys don't know, because the police are trying to keep the low down her disappearance - I guess they don't want certain British organizations to know that she turned up missing or something. Whatever that means."
"Wonderful, Spike has Faith. The only way things could possibly get any worse would be if Drusilla showed up with Spike." Buffy thought aloud.
"Great Buff, you know you just jinxed us." Xander quipped.
"What would Spike want with a hostage?" Fred asked.
"Simple, he wants to lure his prey out of hiding. Isn't that right, Buffy?" Angel imputed.
"Most likely. We have to find out where Spike is hiding now. We have to do something before he does something he might or might not regret later on." Buffy told the group.
"So, you need any help with anything?" Clem asked.
"Go help Xander make stakes. And Clem?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, Slayer?"
"I'm not mad at you. You're right, we should have clued you in. We just have to get Spike back now."
"We'll get him back Buffy. You just have to be willing to do what needs to be done." Clem told the Slayer before wondering off to help Xander.
Buffy thought Clem's choice of words was a little strange, but shrugged it off. She knew that the more she thought about it, the more that she knew she was willing to do whatever it took to get her Spike back.
**************************
The sun had set. Angel, Gunn, Giles, and Wesley were sitting on the balcony. They needed some privacy to talk about tactics what to do about Spike.
"How far are we willing to let him go?" Gunn asked worriedly.
"Honestly, I'm trying not to think about." Giles responded numbly.
"We have to take into consideration that Spike simply isn't Spike right now. His demon has to be filled with so much rage. I remember when I came back from hell, if Buffy hadn't gotten to me right away, I have no clue what I would have done." Angel admitted.
"I know it's obvious we have to detain him. Buffy doesn't want it any other way. I think it's up to her to decide how to deal with this after we capture him." Wes added.
"What do we do though? Chain him up? Try to talk some sense into him? Give him back his soul?" Gunn asked.
"I don't know, Gunn. Right now, I just want to keep him from killing anyone else. Spike, well William was always far more sensitive than I ever was, and we all know I can be the brood master. It's taken him so long to deal with what he's done, even though he understands what he did, and he knew there wasn't anything he could have done much differently." Angel said.
"Maybe if we did give him a soul, maybe that would help." Wesley added.
"I think the demon is too powerful right now. As strong as Spike's sense of humanity is, it seems like the demon is kicking William's arse right now." Giles replied.
"The only thing I am positive of right now is that if Spike kills Faith, then it's over. Buffy will kill him herself. She still blames herself for Jenny's death." Angel said guiltily.
Angel and Giles traded guilty glances. It had happened years ago, but the two men had never spoken of it, and now wasn't a good time to heal old wounds.
"It's absurd, but I have this nagging feeling that if William was here now, then he would know exactly what to do." Wesley said.
The men traded uneasy laughs, mostly because they knew what Wesley had said was the truth. Will had always kept a level head when it came to end of the world type things. They knew that things could never go back to the way that they once were, but they knew they had to figure out a way to make things better for Buffy.
Just as they were about to resume their conversations they heard a loud explosion. It sounds like a car explosion. They looked out the window and saw that both Gunn's truck and Xander's car were aflame. In the middle of the chaos was a bleach blonde vampire, wearing a long, worn, black duster. He appeared to be grinning, amused at the mess he had just caused.
Spike looked up and saw the four men staring at him. His smile broadened, this had been the most entertained he had been in days. For some reason, Nick had tried to convince him to stay at the warehouse, until the appropriate arrangements could be made. *Sod that* Spike thought to himself. He had never been one to be patient, and now definitely wasn't one of his patient times. He wanted the Slayer dead. He wanted her blood on his hands. He looked up again at the stunned group and waved.
"Hello Mates. Been talking about me, have you?" Spike asked with mock concern.
"Spike, let me guess, you got a little impatient and decided to shake things up." Angel responded.
"Yeah, well s'not my fault that you been hiding in that hotel of yours like a bunch of wankers. Just felt the need for a good fight." Spike responded.
"You want me to come down there and kick your ass again, just for old times sake then?" Angel replied with mock sweetness.
"No thanks poof. Got all the time in the world to kill you. Was wondering if Buffy could come out and play though. God I miss fighting with that girl, time to finish the job and all that rot." Spike retorted.
"And why do you think we would let her come outside?" Giles asked
"Well Rupes, why do you think I went through all the trouble of busting your other Slayer out of jail. Now don't get me wrong, she tastes delicious and she's a very attractive girl, but I always had a thing for the blond one. Now, you poofs send her out or I'll snap the girl's neck." Spike said, growing impatient.
With that, Drusilla came from behind the shadows, carrying the limp and beaten body of the second slayer. Angel just stared in horror at the girl. She was alive, but just barely. His fists curled up into tight balls, trying to keep his patience in check. He didn't want things to get anymore out of hand then they already were. He yelled down at Spike.
"That doesn't seem very fair Spike. I mean you want us to send Buffy out there all by herself, so the odds are like twenty to one?"
"Course not. I just want Buffy. I want to fight her like I used to. Might not even kill her yet. Who knows, I'm feeling a might generous this evening. You send her out and I'll leave the broken Slayer by the steps. You and Watcher boy can come out and get her - no one else. Anyone else leaves the hotel and Buffy will be dead before she leaves the sidewalk." Spike answered in a demanding tone.
Angel knew there was no reasoning with Spike when he got like this. They would have to pray that Buffy could hold him off long enough for them to get Faith into the hotel. He turned to find Buffy, only to find that she was already standing there. He assumed that she had heard everything.
"So, are we going to get this over with or what?" Was all Buffy could manage to say.
Dawn, Willow, Fred, and Anya were playing Monopoly when Clem started to bang on the doors of the hotel. Dawn quickly invited him in, wondering what the hell he was doing in LA of all places. The rest of the gang quickly emerged, wondering what the commotion was all about. Clem had an arrow stuck in his right leg, courtesy of one of Spike's hired men. He sat on the couch while Dawn nervously tended to it. Buffy finally came out of the study, curious to see what the hell was going on.
"Clem, what are you doing here? I thought you had some cracker tasting contest in Arizona to go to or something." Buffy asked.
"Slayer, I'm telling you right now that there is no place I would rather be than other than here. I figured I should come up here though, seeing how I probably messed up pretty bad."
"What did you do?" She asked worriedly.
"You see, well first, it's all your fault for not keeping me in the loop. I mean, how was I supposed to know that Spike was all super evil again. So please don't stake me or anything." Clem pleaded.
"Clem, just tell me what you did and then I'll consider on how lenient I should be." Buffy replied.
"Well, I was sitting at the crypt a couple days ago watching a Miami Vice marathon when the phone rings. And yes I got a cell phone before you all want to start making jabs at my expense. It was Spike, I thought that was kind of strange that he was calling me in the middle of the day. Usually he calls at night because I guess he got a job or something. So we start talking about, well actually I was talking about how kick ass I would look in one of those suits that Don Johnson wore. I'm telling you guys - the 80's are coming back."
"Clem, could you make the story any longer?" Buff asked impatiently.
"Hey, I just thought you would appreciate a good narrative. Then again Spike was always telling me how you got Chaucer mixed up with Shakespeare, so I'm guessing you really don't care about the narrative."
"Clem, for the last time - just tell me what you did before I really do stake you."
"Right then. So we were chatting, catching up and all that. Then he brings up Faith, which I thought was kind of strange. He had only met her once and she was in your body, Buffy. He knew that we were pen pals, well that was Angel's idea. He said something about how Faith needed to talk to someone that wasn't all wrapped up their own problems. I'm guessing out of all of you, I'm probably the least angst ridden choice. You guys are wound so tight that..." Clem began.
"Clem, finish the story." The group shouted in unison.
"You people really are pushy. Like I said, Spike was asking about Faith, which was weird, but I thought maybe he wanted to visit her or something. So I tell him what prison she's at, what her cell number is and all that. Then he asked what my clearance password was, and I told him he didn't need to know that. He was getting all huffy, and then he said I was lucky that my blood tasted like crap. Then he hung up. I didn't think anything of it, because I figure that he must have gotten into another fight with The Slayer. Because we all know how pissy these two get when they're in the same room. I mean, there was this one time when Buffy burst in while Spike and I were watching Passions.." Clem started.
"Clem, I am so close to pulling my hair out that it's not funny. Just finish telling the God Damn story." Buffy fumed.
"Fine, since none of you cretins appreciate what a masterful story teller I am, here it is. I have a cousin in the same cell block as Faith. She's in there because apparently it's illegal to have more than an ounce of burba weed on your person; I guess its intent to deal or something. But she called me this morning telling me there had been a break in. A bleach blonde guy with a long leather jacket busted in there and busted Faith out. He didn't seem too concerned with anyone else, just the Slayer. I guess you guys don't know, because the police are trying to keep the low down her disappearance - I guess they don't want certain British organizations to know that she turned up missing or something. Whatever that means."
"Wonderful, Spike has Faith. The only way things could possibly get any worse would be if Drusilla showed up with Spike." Buffy thought aloud.
"Great Buff, you know you just jinxed us." Xander quipped.
"What would Spike want with a hostage?" Fred asked.
"Simple, he wants to lure his prey out of hiding. Isn't that right, Buffy?" Angel imputed.
"Most likely. We have to find out where Spike is hiding now. We have to do something before he does something he might or might not regret later on." Buffy told the group.
"So, you need any help with anything?" Clem asked.
"Go help Xander make stakes. And Clem?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah, Slayer?"
"I'm not mad at you. You're right, we should have clued you in. We just have to get Spike back now."
"We'll get him back Buffy. You just have to be willing to do what needs to be done." Clem told the Slayer before wondering off to help Xander.
Buffy thought Clem's choice of words was a little strange, but shrugged it off. She knew that the more she thought about it, the more that she knew she was willing to do whatever it took to get her Spike back.
**************************
The sun had set. Angel, Gunn, Giles, and Wesley were sitting on the balcony. They needed some privacy to talk about tactics what to do about Spike.
"How far are we willing to let him go?" Gunn asked worriedly.
"Honestly, I'm trying not to think about." Giles responded numbly.
"We have to take into consideration that Spike simply isn't Spike right now. His demon has to be filled with so much rage. I remember when I came back from hell, if Buffy hadn't gotten to me right away, I have no clue what I would have done." Angel admitted.
"I know it's obvious we have to detain him. Buffy doesn't want it any other way. I think it's up to her to decide how to deal with this after we capture him." Wes added.
"What do we do though? Chain him up? Try to talk some sense into him? Give him back his soul?" Gunn asked.
"I don't know, Gunn. Right now, I just want to keep him from killing anyone else. Spike, well William was always far more sensitive than I ever was, and we all know I can be the brood master. It's taken him so long to deal with what he's done, even though he understands what he did, and he knew there wasn't anything he could have done much differently." Angel said.
"Maybe if we did give him a soul, maybe that would help." Wesley added.
"I think the demon is too powerful right now. As strong as Spike's sense of humanity is, it seems like the demon is kicking William's arse right now." Giles replied.
"The only thing I am positive of right now is that if Spike kills Faith, then it's over. Buffy will kill him herself. She still blames herself for Jenny's death." Angel said guiltily.
Angel and Giles traded guilty glances. It had happened years ago, but the two men had never spoken of it, and now wasn't a good time to heal old wounds.
"It's absurd, but I have this nagging feeling that if William was here now, then he would know exactly what to do." Wesley said.
The men traded uneasy laughs, mostly because they knew what Wesley had said was the truth. Will had always kept a level head when it came to end of the world type things. They knew that things could never go back to the way that they once were, but they knew they had to figure out a way to make things better for Buffy.
Just as they were about to resume their conversations they heard a loud explosion. It sounds like a car explosion. They looked out the window and saw that both Gunn's truck and Xander's car were aflame. In the middle of the chaos was a bleach blonde vampire, wearing a long, worn, black duster. He appeared to be grinning, amused at the mess he had just caused.
Spike looked up and saw the four men staring at him. His smile broadened, this had been the most entertained he had been in days. For some reason, Nick had tried to convince him to stay at the warehouse, until the appropriate arrangements could be made. *Sod that* Spike thought to himself. He had never been one to be patient, and now definitely wasn't one of his patient times. He wanted the Slayer dead. He wanted her blood on his hands. He looked up again at the stunned group and waved.
"Hello Mates. Been talking about me, have you?" Spike asked with mock concern.
"Spike, let me guess, you got a little impatient and decided to shake things up." Angel responded.
"Yeah, well s'not my fault that you been hiding in that hotel of yours like a bunch of wankers. Just felt the need for a good fight." Spike responded.
"You want me to come down there and kick your ass again, just for old times sake then?" Angel replied with mock sweetness.
"No thanks poof. Got all the time in the world to kill you. Was wondering if Buffy could come out and play though. God I miss fighting with that girl, time to finish the job and all that rot." Spike retorted.
"And why do you think we would let her come outside?" Giles asked
"Well Rupes, why do you think I went through all the trouble of busting your other Slayer out of jail. Now don't get me wrong, she tastes delicious and she's a very attractive girl, but I always had a thing for the blond one. Now, you poofs send her out or I'll snap the girl's neck." Spike said, growing impatient.
With that, Drusilla came from behind the shadows, carrying the limp and beaten body of the second slayer. Angel just stared in horror at the girl. She was alive, but just barely. His fists curled up into tight balls, trying to keep his patience in check. He didn't want things to get anymore out of hand then they already were. He yelled down at Spike.
"That doesn't seem very fair Spike. I mean you want us to send Buffy out there all by herself, so the odds are like twenty to one?"
"Course not. I just want Buffy. I want to fight her like I used to. Might not even kill her yet. Who knows, I'm feeling a might generous this evening. You send her out and I'll leave the broken Slayer by the steps. You and Watcher boy can come out and get her - no one else. Anyone else leaves the hotel and Buffy will be dead before she leaves the sidewalk." Spike answered in a demanding tone.
Angel knew there was no reasoning with Spike when he got like this. They would have to pray that Buffy could hold him off long enough for them to get Faith into the hotel. He turned to find Buffy, only to find that she was already standing there. He assumed that she had heard everything.
"So, are we going to get this over with or what?" Was all Buffy could manage to say.