FOOLS FOR LIFE:
CHAPTER 29:
Spike swallowed deep as he stood in front of the Summers' house. He'd started walking out of the alley when it was still kind of dusky. Uncomfortable, but not damaging and he'd wasted enough time already. On the way he'd come along his crypt and quickly emptied a few blood bags. He really needed to feed, and he needed to be strong and useful. Especially since he'd done some thinking in the time he had sat in the alley, and had a few ideas.
He was scared to find out what had become of Buffy by now. For one thing, Anya's penis remarks had lingered!
He walked up to the door to knock but it already opened. Tara looked at him uncertainly as she let him in. "We saw you walk up," she said.
"Yeah. I take it Anya filled you in?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, we've been talking all day."
"How......how is she?" he asked with a small voice.
"Pissed off, that's how!!" a voice came from the stairs. Buffy's boots heels clicked on the steps as she walked down with a determined pace. He couldn't help but be relieved that at least she still looked like herself.
"Uh, hi Buffy......you doing better, after our.....little drinking spat an' all?" he tried.
"Save it, buster." she folded her arms. "Willow and Tara did a spell. I'm still cursed with .....well, YOU, but at least I know it now!"
Spike swallowed. Oops. That was unexpected. At least she didn't have a stake in her hands. Yet.
"Ah.....uh.....B-buffy, I'm....." he stammered.
"Let me guess: 'sorry'?" she finished. "Seems to be your new hobby lately, being sorry. What were you thinking!? You put a bleedin' curse on me!"
"No SHE cursed you. And I wasn't thinking because I was dead drunk. I don't even remember what I said." He countered.
Before Buffy could answer Willow came from the living room. "Come on guys, yelling is not going to solve anything. The pizza's done, let's eat first, then discuss our options."
Buffy was still looking at Spike like a stern teacher with her arms folded. Then she walked towards the living room after pointing a finger at him. "This talk is not over mister!"
Spike sighed. Willow looked at him. "Uh, I don't know if you want a slice too or something...."
Spike shook his head. "Don't think so Red. I think I better stay clear. I'll just go have a smoke on the porch."
"Uhm...." Willow hesitated.
"What? Not allowed that either?"
"No that's fine, it's just......we could all be together here for a while, we don't know what we're going to do but you'll probably be a part of it, right?"
"Of course," Spike said, slightly insulted. "Whatever it takes to cure Buffy, I'll do it."
"Right, well seeing how that's the case....uhm.....maybe you could...wash up a bit? No offense but you're a little....ripe." She blocked her nose with the back of her fingers.
"Ah....uh, really," Spike said. That was about the last thing he was expecting her to say. Of course, the last time he'd washed was before his drinking binge. And sitting among the trash of that alley hadn't exactly made him any cleaner.
"Right, if you think it's okay....." He said uncertainly.
"Well under different circumstances it would probably be a little too weird for you to use Buffy's shower, but I'm sure everyone would agree they'd prefer you not smelling like a garbage can," Willow said with a little smile.
"Right. Off to the showers then....." Spike shrugged and started to walk up the stairs.
"Oh," Willow called after him. "Oh, the shampoo for dyed hair is on the right side of the cabinet. And if you want the good conditioner, there's one that smells like Kiwi, and one that....."
Spike turned on the steps and gave her a look.
"..okay, fine, just trying to be helpful." Willow held up her hands. As Spike continued to mount the stairs, she added quietly, "Like monsters are too good to condition properly. And the undead could stand to smell a little fruitier you know. "
"I heard that," came his voice from upstairs.
As Spike stood under the shower he let his thoughts go. This wasn't a bad idea. He'd managed to get running water into the crypt with the help of a demon that was handy with metal pipes. But the hot water was not that reliable. This was actually a treat!
"Yeah now my dust will smell fruity when she stakes me," he wryly mumbled. Okay, maybe she wouldn't stake him. She was obviously mad, but she hadn't even hit him in the nose yet. Maybe she really believed it was an accident. Still far from out of trouble, but maybe not doomed to dusty death!
And he had another thing in his mind that had managed to keep him not all that unhappy in the alley today. He wasn't sure if she'd ever believe him if he told her he'd not done any naked tumbling with Halfrek, but.....she'd been jealous.
That much was clear. That's the whole reason she'd walked in there all fuming before she even touched his door. She'd seen Halfrek, and the thought had pissed her off so badly....Through the mess of it all, the thought practically made him giddy. Like no matter what happened now, what ever she'd say, he knew it. He knew it in his heart. Even more clear than after Anya, or just seeing him walk around with Halfrek. This was undeniably jealousy.
He turned off the shower, pulled the curtain aside and grabbed a towel. Just as he was drying off, the door opened and Buffy walked in.
"I told you this talk wasn't over," she said calmly.
Spike stood there, still in the bathtub, dripping, his towel in front of him. "Buffy!" he stammered. "Uhm, I know we got some things to talk about but....."
"But what?" she said looking him over. "Nothing I haven't seen before, and now that I got your personality stuff in my head, it bothers me even less. I should stake you, you know!"
"It was an accident. I didn't even know what was going on."
"You know that just shows you can be dangerous without even meaning to be, doesn't it?" She grinned, sill looking mad but almost playfully now. "Maybe I should definitely stake you!"
Spike sighed. "What you should, is either do it, or stop talking about it. I know it's still my fault. And I'll make it right."
"Really," she said skeptically. "More easily said than done Spike. I'm changing already! When I tried to go out in the sun today, it burned me!"
His eyes grew wide and noticed her sunburn now that she stood under the lights. "What? Oh, bugger.....Buffy, I'm so sor-"
"Yes, yes, I heard you. You didn't mean to and you're sorry. That all you got? That supposed to make me not mad anymore?" She looked at him like he was a little boy that broke a vase.
He just sighed. "No." She made an 'uh huh' sound and looked at him again with her arms still folded. He noticed her nails. A light pearly purple. "Got rid of the black, huh?" he remarked.
She looked at her nails. "Yeah, the 'Morticia' thing? Not for me. Well, it shouldn't be anyway."
"I dunno," Spike grinned a little. "I like this, but still, the black looked kinda sexy too."
Buffy looked angry again. "I know! Because I thought myself! Or part of me did. The part of me that's now YOU! And then there's the smoking!! I was smoking, Spike! In the bathroom! Today! And drinking booze!"
"If it would make you feel better to punch me in the nose....," he said with a weak smile. "That usually seemed to do the trick of cheering you up."
Her face changed and she started to grin mischievously. 'Uh oh' he thought, 'This is going to hurt.' And he braced himself for the blow.
But she just walked up to the edge of the bath he was still standing in. Involuntarily he pulled his towel a little closer to him as he wasn't sure what this meant. Then she said sweetly. "Interesting you should bring that up. Now, you agree this is still at least partially your fault right?"
"Uh, yeah, but......"
"And that I'm entitled to a little payback, right?"
"Uh.....well....I guess, but...."
"And I'm not responsible for my actions since I'm not quite myself, right?"
"Uh....." he just looked at her.
"Good!" she said. Then she yanked his towel away and reached down and grabbed him.
"Hey now!" he yelled, but she put a finger to his lips.
"No, no. You want me to forgive you right?"
He nodded with a worried look.
"Glad to hear it," she said with an evil grin as she looked him over, naked, still dripping and smelling a little like Kiwi. "Then you won't mind holding still!" and he saw her other hand reach out, like the night before. 'Oh bugger' he thought.
It hovered over her other hand that was still holding him tightly and had that anticipating twinkling of the fingers again, except the pearly purple of her nails caught the light a lot better than the black had. "Good thing I just filed them....." she said softly.
** **
Downstairs the Scoobies were done cleaning up, tossing out the paper plates and putting on some fresh coffee.
"So you're sure she's still in town?" Willow asked Anya.
"Oh yes, now that she's out of Rack's place I can sense her clearly. She's probably just waiting for D'Hoffryn to pop up and start with the lecture." She added with a sigh, "And those can be long."
"Alright, well, just in case we need her for something." Willow mused.
"Yes, and speaking of need," Anya said, "I figured, since the dealing with Rack was basically for Buffy's benefit, isn't it fair that she pays me for that? I mean Spike said he would but......you know, like that's gonna happen!"
"An," Xander said. "Maybe this isn't a good time."
"Yeah," she said with a sigh as she fell back into her chair. "How did I know you were going to say THAT."
"We're just worried about Buffy now. If this curse thing goes on......"
"Where is she anyway?" Tara asked.
"She went upstairs to talk to Spike." Willow said. "She said she probably wouldn't kill him."
"Yes," Xander said with a sarcastic smile. "Let's all keep our fingers crossed there."
"I just think I'll go check on them," Willow said, ignoring Xander's remark.
She went up the stairs and even before she reached the top she heard strange sounds from the bathroom. She went close and listened, telling herself that it wasn't eavesdropping if you were worried. She could make out Buffy's voice "....and *this* is for my burnt nose!.........." then some muffled sounds she couldn't quite place. Willow pulled her head back. What was going on in there?
Suddenly the door opened and Willow took a quick jump back.
Buffy emerged with a satisfied smile. "Buffy, what....what was that? Did you do something to Spike?"
"Yep!" Buffy said with a chipper face as she walked past Willow. "I forgave him."
Willow watched her walk down the stairs with one eyebrow raised. "Well......that's good. I guess...." She turned and looked inside the bathroom.
Spike was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, a towel covering his lower half and under it, he had both his hands firmly pressed on himself. His face had an expression like he was severely....constipated.
"Uhm....you okay?" Willow asked uncertainly, trying not to notice him being mainly naked.
"S....sure....." Spike said. "Right as rain. Nothing bothering me. Be right down. Yep."
"Uh, okay." Willow said, not quite sure what had happened. She closed the door and left, still scratching her head.
"Nothing bothering me.." Spike repeated to himself while opening his hands and looking down. "Just some.....half circle marks."
He squinted and moaned. "A LOT of them....."
** **
TBC!
CHAPTER 29:
Spike swallowed deep as he stood in front of the Summers' house. He'd started walking out of the alley when it was still kind of dusky. Uncomfortable, but not damaging and he'd wasted enough time already. On the way he'd come along his crypt and quickly emptied a few blood bags. He really needed to feed, and he needed to be strong and useful. Especially since he'd done some thinking in the time he had sat in the alley, and had a few ideas.
He was scared to find out what had become of Buffy by now. For one thing, Anya's penis remarks had lingered!
He walked up to the door to knock but it already opened. Tara looked at him uncertainly as she let him in. "We saw you walk up," she said.
"Yeah. I take it Anya filled you in?" Spike asked.
"Yeah, we've been talking all day."
"How......how is she?" he asked with a small voice.
"Pissed off, that's how!!" a voice came from the stairs. Buffy's boots heels clicked on the steps as she walked down with a determined pace. He couldn't help but be relieved that at least she still looked like herself.
"Uh, hi Buffy......you doing better, after our.....little drinking spat an' all?" he tried.
"Save it, buster." she folded her arms. "Willow and Tara did a spell. I'm still cursed with .....well, YOU, but at least I know it now!"
Spike swallowed. Oops. That was unexpected. At least she didn't have a stake in her hands. Yet.
"Ah.....uh.....B-buffy, I'm....." he stammered.
"Let me guess: 'sorry'?" she finished. "Seems to be your new hobby lately, being sorry. What were you thinking!? You put a bleedin' curse on me!"
"No SHE cursed you. And I wasn't thinking because I was dead drunk. I don't even remember what I said." He countered.
Before Buffy could answer Willow came from the living room. "Come on guys, yelling is not going to solve anything. The pizza's done, let's eat first, then discuss our options."
Buffy was still looking at Spike like a stern teacher with her arms folded. Then she walked towards the living room after pointing a finger at him. "This talk is not over mister!"
Spike sighed. Willow looked at him. "Uh, I don't know if you want a slice too or something...."
Spike shook his head. "Don't think so Red. I think I better stay clear. I'll just go have a smoke on the porch."
"Uhm...." Willow hesitated.
"What? Not allowed that either?"
"No that's fine, it's just......we could all be together here for a while, we don't know what we're going to do but you'll probably be a part of it, right?"
"Of course," Spike said, slightly insulted. "Whatever it takes to cure Buffy, I'll do it."
"Right, well seeing how that's the case....uhm.....maybe you could...wash up a bit? No offense but you're a little....ripe." She blocked her nose with the back of her fingers.
"Ah....uh, really," Spike said. That was about the last thing he was expecting her to say. Of course, the last time he'd washed was before his drinking binge. And sitting among the trash of that alley hadn't exactly made him any cleaner.
"Right, if you think it's okay....." He said uncertainly.
"Well under different circumstances it would probably be a little too weird for you to use Buffy's shower, but I'm sure everyone would agree they'd prefer you not smelling like a garbage can," Willow said with a little smile.
"Right. Off to the showers then....." Spike shrugged and started to walk up the stairs.
"Oh," Willow called after him. "Oh, the shampoo for dyed hair is on the right side of the cabinet. And if you want the good conditioner, there's one that smells like Kiwi, and one that....."
Spike turned on the steps and gave her a look.
"..okay, fine, just trying to be helpful." Willow held up her hands. As Spike continued to mount the stairs, she added quietly, "Like monsters are too good to condition properly. And the undead could stand to smell a little fruitier you know. "
"I heard that," came his voice from upstairs.
As Spike stood under the shower he let his thoughts go. This wasn't a bad idea. He'd managed to get running water into the crypt with the help of a demon that was handy with metal pipes. But the hot water was not that reliable. This was actually a treat!
"Yeah now my dust will smell fruity when she stakes me," he wryly mumbled. Okay, maybe she wouldn't stake him. She was obviously mad, but she hadn't even hit him in the nose yet. Maybe she really believed it was an accident. Still far from out of trouble, but maybe not doomed to dusty death!
And he had another thing in his mind that had managed to keep him not all that unhappy in the alley today. He wasn't sure if she'd ever believe him if he told her he'd not done any naked tumbling with Halfrek, but.....she'd been jealous.
That much was clear. That's the whole reason she'd walked in there all fuming before she even touched his door. She'd seen Halfrek, and the thought had pissed her off so badly....Through the mess of it all, the thought practically made him giddy. Like no matter what happened now, what ever she'd say, he knew it. He knew it in his heart. Even more clear than after Anya, or just seeing him walk around with Halfrek. This was undeniably jealousy.
He turned off the shower, pulled the curtain aside and grabbed a towel. Just as he was drying off, the door opened and Buffy walked in.
"I told you this talk wasn't over," she said calmly.
Spike stood there, still in the bathtub, dripping, his towel in front of him. "Buffy!" he stammered. "Uhm, I know we got some things to talk about but....."
"But what?" she said looking him over. "Nothing I haven't seen before, and now that I got your personality stuff in my head, it bothers me even less. I should stake you, you know!"
"It was an accident. I didn't even know what was going on."
"You know that just shows you can be dangerous without even meaning to be, doesn't it?" She grinned, sill looking mad but almost playfully now. "Maybe I should definitely stake you!"
Spike sighed. "What you should, is either do it, or stop talking about it. I know it's still my fault. And I'll make it right."
"Really," she said skeptically. "More easily said than done Spike. I'm changing already! When I tried to go out in the sun today, it burned me!"
His eyes grew wide and noticed her sunburn now that she stood under the lights. "What? Oh, bugger.....Buffy, I'm so sor-"
"Yes, yes, I heard you. You didn't mean to and you're sorry. That all you got? That supposed to make me not mad anymore?" She looked at him like he was a little boy that broke a vase.
He just sighed. "No." She made an 'uh huh' sound and looked at him again with her arms still folded. He noticed her nails. A light pearly purple. "Got rid of the black, huh?" he remarked.
She looked at her nails. "Yeah, the 'Morticia' thing? Not for me. Well, it shouldn't be anyway."
"I dunno," Spike grinned a little. "I like this, but still, the black looked kinda sexy too."
Buffy looked angry again. "I know! Because I thought myself! Or part of me did. The part of me that's now YOU! And then there's the smoking!! I was smoking, Spike! In the bathroom! Today! And drinking booze!"
"If it would make you feel better to punch me in the nose....," he said with a weak smile. "That usually seemed to do the trick of cheering you up."
Her face changed and she started to grin mischievously. 'Uh oh' he thought, 'This is going to hurt.' And he braced himself for the blow.
But she just walked up to the edge of the bath he was still standing in. Involuntarily he pulled his towel a little closer to him as he wasn't sure what this meant. Then she said sweetly. "Interesting you should bring that up. Now, you agree this is still at least partially your fault right?"
"Uh, yeah, but......"
"And that I'm entitled to a little payback, right?"
"Uh.....well....I guess, but...."
"And I'm not responsible for my actions since I'm not quite myself, right?"
"Uh....." he just looked at her.
"Good!" she said. Then she yanked his towel away and reached down and grabbed him.
"Hey now!" he yelled, but she put a finger to his lips.
"No, no. You want me to forgive you right?"
He nodded with a worried look.
"Glad to hear it," she said with an evil grin as she looked him over, naked, still dripping and smelling a little like Kiwi. "Then you won't mind holding still!" and he saw her other hand reach out, like the night before. 'Oh bugger' he thought.
It hovered over her other hand that was still holding him tightly and had that anticipating twinkling of the fingers again, except the pearly purple of her nails caught the light a lot better than the black had. "Good thing I just filed them....." she said softly.
** **
Downstairs the Scoobies were done cleaning up, tossing out the paper plates and putting on some fresh coffee.
"So you're sure she's still in town?" Willow asked Anya.
"Oh yes, now that she's out of Rack's place I can sense her clearly. She's probably just waiting for D'Hoffryn to pop up and start with the lecture." She added with a sigh, "And those can be long."
"Alright, well, just in case we need her for something." Willow mused.
"Yes, and speaking of need," Anya said, "I figured, since the dealing with Rack was basically for Buffy's benefit, isn't it fair that she pays me for that? I mean Spike said he would but......you know, like that's gonna happen!"
"An," Xander said. "Maybe this isn't a good time."
"Yeah," she said with a sigh as she fell back into her chair. "How did I know you were going to say THAT."
"We're just worried about Buffy now. If this curse thing goes on......"
"Where is she anyway?" Tara asked.
"She went upstairs to talk to Spike." Willow said. "She said she probably wouldn't kill him."
"Yes," Xander said with a sarcastic smile. "Let's all keep our fingers crossed there."
"I just think I'll go check on them," Willow said, ignoring Xander's remark.
She went up the stairs and even before she reached the top she heard strange sounds from the bathroom. She went close and listened, telling herself that it wasn't eavesdropping if you were worried. She could make out Buffy's voice "....and *this* is for my burnt nose!.........." then some muffled sounds she couldn't quite place. Willow pulled her head back. What was going on in there?
Suddenly the door opened and Willow took a quick jump back.
Buffy emerged with a satisfied smile. "Buffy, what....what was that? Did you do something to Spike?"
"Yep!" Buffy said with a chipper face as she walked past Willow. "I forgave him."
Willow watched her walk down the stairs with one eyebrow raised. "Well......that's good. I guess...." She turned and looked inside the bathroom.
Spike was sitting on the edge of the bathtub, a towel covering his lower half and under it, he had both his hands firmly pressed on himself. His face had an expression like he was severely....constipated.
"Uhm....you okay?" Willow asked uncertainly, trying not to notice him being mainly naked.
"S....sure....." Spike said. "Right as rain. Nothing bothering me. Be right down. Yep."
"Uh, okay." Willow said, not quite sure what had happened. She closed the door and left, still scratching her head.
"Nothing bothering me.." Spike repeated to himself while opening his hands and looking down. "Just some.....half circle marks."
He squinted and moaned. "A LOT of them....."
** **
TBC!
