"Love is the burning point of life… The stronger the love, the more the pain"
Joseph Campbell and Bill Moyers (The Power of Myth)
Chapter 12 (A la Fox' s 24)
Summers residence 11:39 a.m.
She woke up peacefully this time and was grateful for the dreamless sleep. The sense of foreboding seemed to have vanished too. She guessed she owed that to Spike's tender ministrations.
With renewed spirits, the Slayer got ready to face the day. She hadn't been able to reach Giles, so she was going directly to his house. If she were lucky she'd get lunch off him too.
The late Sunnydale morning was bright and not too warm so she decided to leave the car and walk the few blocks to Giles'. She figured she could use the exercise since she hadn't trained after Willow grounded her a couple of days ago.
Buffy Summers' neighbors knew very well that she was the Slayer. For the most part they chose to ignore her celebrity and treated her politely. Some (especially the young) fawned over her status as living myth. They would take pictures and ask her to autograph the magazine articles with her on them. There were also a few who were truly bordering on stalking. Buffy was wary of this group especially since she knew she had something to hide.
Thankfully, her neighbors for the most part seemed to be occupied otherwise and she arrived at Giles without any incidents.
Her Watcher's Spanish style home looked warm and inviting as the man himself. Jenny Calendar's touch was obvious in the beautiful potted plants adorning the entrance. Buffy knocked lightly and heard Giles' distinct "Come in".
She opened the door and stepped inside. The scent of coffee and buttered toast greeted her.
"Late night?" she teased.
"Aren't they all?"
Buffy turned to face him and cringed inwardly at how terrible he looked. His tired looking eyes had deep shadows under them and the worry lines in between his had deepened. She knew that the anxiety was all for her. Giles cared.
She walked into his outstretched arms and let herself be his little girl for an instant. He held her tight but not too tight as to constraint her. It was symbolic of the type of relationship they had.
They pulled apart and both had to blink a few times. They smiled at each other's brief indulgence and took on the roles that they were born to play.
"Any news on the prophecy front?" she began.
"You know what I know. The threat is emulating from the line of Aurelius but doesn't specify which member but we can assume its one of the four"
"Well we can pretty much take Angel from that list, he is on our side. So, I guess its either Darla or Drusilla"
"Or Spike"
Buffy looked away "Him too"
He caught her reaction "Is there something I should know?"
Buffy swallowed nervously. "No, of course not. It's just that we haven't heard from him ever since he escaped from the labs. I don't think he would ever dare to come back as long as the Initiative base is here" she hoped that it sounded convincing.
"With vampires like William the Bloody you can't ever be certain. Its best to anticipate everything"
"Got you. Be prepared and all that but isn't this prophecy giving a specific date so that I just could stay home"
He removed his glasses and wiped them with a soft handkerchief. "I'm afraid not"
"Oh"
"But we mustn't be discouraged. Prophecies can sometimes be just guides and not chronicles of the future. There is also the question of a correct interpretation. I may have botched the translation which is sometimes the case when dealing with ancient text"
"Okay so nothing is certain and even if it is I can still avoid it. Well, that's good since I really have no intentions of dying. Especially now"
Giles looked at her questioningly but decided not to push the matter. The Slayer took that as a cue to change the subject.
"So is Jenny still asleep?"
He shook his head "No, she went to Los Angeles to pick up her uncle from the airport. His coming in for an unexpected visit"
"That's nice. I figured that she wasn't close to her family since she never mentioned anyone"
"He is a distant uncle but they seem pretty close. She's been on the phone with him frequently"
The toaster's beep indicated that breakfast was ready. Giles offered some and she accepted and settled on the kitchen table alongside her Watcher.
***
LA International 1:34 p.m.
The slim dark haired woman checked the computerized arrival list for the fiftieth time. Her uncle's plane had been delayed for a couple of hours and she'd grown impatient and anxious.
Her kin were not known for the spontaneity. They were immersed in tradition and custom for the recognized leader of the clan to board a plane with almost no advance notice indicated that something serious was going on.
Jenny was certain that it had something to do with the Pergamun Codex or rather its yet unrealized prophecy.
Every time that she thought of the prophecy and her mission, her soul grew heavier. She hated keeping what she knew from Giles and Buffy especially since it involved the latter's life. The truth was that she wasn't here to save Buffy but to advert what would happen before her death.
She'd never anticipated that she would grow so close to the Slayer and especially her Watcher.
Jenny glanced at the arrivals one more time. The plane hadn't made it yet but she really didn't need her uncle to tell her that something terrible was coming.
***
Harris / Jenkins residence 3:19 p.m.
The future Mrs. Harris looked at her soon to be groom and debated if waking him would be considered cruel or just mean.
Settling on 'just mean' she shook his bare shoulder.
Not even a stir.
She shook the bed. He murmured something and burrowed deeper into his pillow. Anya lost her patience.
"Xander Wake UP!" she yelled with her best vengeance demon tones.
Success. The Initiative soldier was instantly on his feet. She was glad to see that he'd removed his clothes before climbing into bed. Naked Xander always brightened her spirits.
"What happened? Did the Hellmouth reopen?"
"No silly, I have to go to the florist. You promised you'd come with me"
Xander ran a hand through his disarrayed hair and blinked. There was something else he had to do but he couldn't remember what. Suddenly it came back to him. Buffy. He had to tell her about Spike.
"Sorry Ahn, I'll have to take a rain check. I have to go see Buffy"
For a moment the ex-demon looked about ready to explode so he went on.
"Its really important life and death stuff otherwise I wouldn't break our date. I hope that you understand"
She gave him an assessing glance. He seemed sincere enough so she would let it pass. For now.
"Fine but you may want to put something on first" she said as she headed towards the kitchen.
Xander looked down and grinned in spite of himself. So that was the key when it came to appeasing Anya. He'd remember to leave his clothes off more often.
***
Sunnydale University 3:38 p.m.
Willow waited outside Stetson Hall for her girlfriend. Tara's professor was well known for his inability to finish a class on time. Thankfully, she only had him once a week.
Willow didn't mind waiting. The campus grounds were beautiful and it gave her time to think.
As usual her thoughts turned to Buffy … and Spike. As much as she had reassured her friend, she really couldn't see any good that could come out of that relationship.
The ever-optimistic Tara had disagreed. She believed that as long as there was love there was hope. It was one of the things that Willow adored about her.
"Miss me?" Tara's soft voice interrupted Willow's train of thought.
"Always baby. It looks like Professor Thorpe is not even attempting to stick to the schedule" the redheaded witch said with a smile.
"Uh huh, but his class is so interesting we don't mind. I wish you'd have taken it too but you were already taking fifteen credits this semester"
"Maybe next time. So are you free now?"
"As a bird. What did you have in mind?" Tara asked knowing already the answer.
"Nothing illegal, a little sexy, maybe racy but not illegal"
"Is this something we might do in public?"
Willow laughed "Not, if we don't want to get arrested. So are you game?"
"I'm always game. Always"
"Forever and ever?" she asked innocently.
"Forever under your spell"
***
Summers residence 4:20 p.m.
Xander pulled his 2001 Nissan Maxima behind Buffy's pricier model. It obviously paid to be the Slayer. He got out of the car and after taking a deep breath knocked on the door.
There was no answer so he tried the doorbell. He waited but after a moment he realized that the house was empty. That was strange, Buffy rarely went out without her car.
Glad for the momentary reprieve he settled on the porch to wait for his friend.
***
L.A. International Airport 4:40 p.m.
"Janna"
She was pulled form her reverie by a stern voice. "Uncle, you're finally here. I was just about to give up. What happened?"
"Nothing but undependable modern contractions. It doesn't matter. What have you learned"
Jenny shook her head. "Not much. The Slayer is aware of the prophecy but doesn't understand the implications"
"It's the implications that are our concern, Janna. The Slayer is the concern of the Watcher's Council" he almost spit out the last word.
"But she is an ally"
"Not ours, especially not now"
"What are you talking about"
"It is she who we have to be careful of"
***
Summers residence 5:01 p.m.
"Hey soldier boy, looking for me?"
Xander raised his head just as Buffy dropped in the cushioned chair next to him.
"Hey Buffy. Where were you?"
"Giles' . I made him order lunch and then waited for Jenny who never made it. You should have seen Giles deal with a Super Supreme. It was like he'd never had pizza before"
Xander gave her an obligatory grin. "I'll catch it next time. Buffy there is something I have to tell you but not here"
"Okay then. Let's go inside"
They sat side by side in the comfortable living room sofa. He didn't say anything and only gazed at his truly extraordinary friend who had been called to do the most demanding job in the world. But that wasn't what made Buffy Summers unique. No it was her ability to do the job without losing her ability to love or believe in the future. He hoped that the blow he was about to deliver wouldn't change that.
He took a deep breath as she looked at him expectantly.
"It's about Spike. He is Sunnydale"
The color left her face. "How did you know?"
"You knew already? And you didn't tell me?"
"He came so suddenly I really haven't had time to think. I know that I should have warned you especially since you got a lot to lose if they ever discover who was behind the deactivation of his chip. Who else knows that he is here?"
"By now everyone in the Initiative including Walsh but they haven't given any orders regarding him, yet. I figure that we will be sent to pick him up tonight or tomorrow but you have time to warn him, if you want to that is"
"Why wouldn't I?"
"Because he is back with Drusilla"
***
Shady Walk condominiums (bsmt level) 5:15 p.m.
Angel was trying to concentrate on the page in front of him but all his attention was drawn to the grandfather clock in front of him. It would be at least another hour before he could begin to think about going out. Sometimes the sun didn't even set until after 7:00 pm.
He sighed loudly and put the book down on a side table. In times like this he really hated being a vampire.
His mind often returned to the early days as a new member of the undead. He'd loved his new existance and taken pleasure from the carnage and destruction that it brought. Darla, Drusilla, Spike and him had set the Old Continent ablaze. Even other vampires were terrified of the powerful, ruthless line of Aurelius.
Then he had been cursed and his life had become an unending vortex of guilt and yearning. His restored soul mourned for his lost humanity. Then he discovered his way to redemption within the myth of the Slayer. He found the young Helen Marshall and supported her in her endless battle. When their tentative friendship began to evolve into something else he'd done his best to push her from him. He'd been relieved but miserable when she found someone else, someone better to love. Angel saw her get older, have children and reveal to the world what was going on under their noses. Years later he had to watch her die.
Then came Buffy with her youth and light. His experience had made him wary so he stayed away until she really needed him. But now all that would change. He had been self-sacrificing once but this time he would try to win her. After more than two hundred years he deserved to be happy.
***
Abandoned factory (Section 9) 5:16 p.m.
He parked his car a few paces way from the decrepit building. Xander did a quick assessment of the surroundings before opening his door.
He was outside before he noticed that she hadn't followed. Buffy sat frozen in passenger seat. Xander opened the door and crouched to her level.
"Hey Buff. Whenever you're ready"
She turned to him as if seeing him for the first time. They looked at each other in silence until she nodded.
Buffy rose from her seat slowly and without her natural grace. Her legs felt weak and shaky but she followed Xander's lead.
They advanced towards the nearest grimy window. Buffy knew that one look would destroy her but she went nevertheless. She had to.
Xander looked first and then motioned for her to do the same.
Buffy took a deep breath and looked.
Moments later as Xander drove both of them away from the scene, he could not help but feel unnerved by his friend's blank look. He had expected tears and maybe violence towards the vampires but not this… this nothingness.
It was as if she was no longer there.
They arrived at her house and Xander tried reaching her.
"Do you want me to stay? We can call Willow and Tara too"
She shook her head.
"I really don't think that you should be alone"
She didn't acknowledge that and simply walked towards her home.
"Buffy!"
She stopped and turned.
"What are you going to do?"
She shrugged "I don't know yet. I have to… I have to think for awhile"
He nodded "The Initiative will try to get him back"
The Slayer let that sink in before she answered.
"I don't want… him back there. I don't know what I am going to do but I couldn't let him be taken again"
"He deserves it"
"Maybe, but not on my watch. Let me know when you get the orders please"
And with that she entered the house and closed the door behind her.
***
Summers residence 6:10 p.m.
The sun had finally set and she looked at the darkening outside through her window. She felt numb. Had the pain been so bad that her mind had just chosen to shut down?
She didn't care because the numbness kept her from feeling the anguish, the shame of betrayal.
She'd been so stupid and blinded by emotion. She had lost to a vampire for the first time. Spike had bagged his second Slayer after all.
Oh God, how he must be laughing at her. He and Dru would have had a good chuckle at her expense.
Stupid, stupid Slayer. So naïve to believe in a demon's love.
A burning cauterized her wound and she welcomed it. The searing of hatred.
She would call Xander and tell him just to go ahead with his orders. The Initiative would get Spike and Drusilla. They would lock them in those tiny white cells and when they did she would visit and laugh.
For a brief second the image of Spike as she'd first seen him clouded her vision but she quickly pushed it away. She wouldn't feel pity again.
The ringing doorbell interrupted her thoughts. Spike?
She went downstairs and opened the front door.
Not Spike but another vampire. Angel.
The souled vampire took one look at her face and knew that something was very wrong.
"What happened?"
She shook her head and the burning traveled to her eyes. Angel extended his arms to her and she finally broke.
All the pain, all the crushed hopes and humiliation everything went into her soul-tearing sobs.
He held her as she cried.
***
And in the end it was just like that. The Slayer weakened from a lost love and the vampire from an unrequited one came together to heal their tortured souls. It was meant to be healing act. Unfortunately, by the time night was at its darkest one of them no longer had a soul.
Angelus was back.
TBC.
Author's note: I need a hug and lots of reviews or I swear I'll leave it as it is and work on my other fic.