FOOLS FOR LIFE:

CHAPTER 34: THE BIG FISH IN THE LITTLE POND

Buffy dreamed.

She was sitting in her crypt. Putting some burba weed into a cup of blood. She had warmed the blood up a bit first. It's so much better that way. And this wasn't pig's blood. No she had splurged on human blood, bought from Willie who had a few connections at the hospital. Can't do that all the time. Too expensive. But every now and then you need a little quality.....

She was excited. She could almost taste it in the air. He would come tonight. As he did last night. He'd told her the usual crap, how she disgusted him, how this was just a degrading bad habit. How he would never do it again. He had punched her in the nose again. Well, she hated that but it was still a thing between them. Almost nostalgic. And still passionate in its own way.

She looked up as his scent was brought in by the wind, through the windows. He was near, slaying the usual vamps. Now he was slowly approaching her door. She walked up to it and just as he was close she opened the it. Leaned against the door post in a seductive way and grinned.

He looked startled. He looked uncertain, even a little caught. Still not admitting anything. Not saying "Hi, can I come in? I was a little mean last night. I really want to do that thing we did again."

No. Of course not.

Never saying that.

And if she prodded and poked too much for something like it, he'd leave. Throw some insults around and leave in a huff. So she just smiled and looked in his eyes. Then she traced a finger over his chest, got a hold of his collar and pulled him inside.

And as long as he didn't have to say or acknowledge anything, he'd come in. And that's what it's about. If he's in, in her crypt, inside her, she can feel it, feel the passion and the heat and the desire, the desire to be near him, part of him....and she can think he feels it too. That maybe, any day now, he'll say it. Say "I love you"...sometimes it's in his eyes.

But more often the eyes just confuse. Can't read them. Full of emotion but which ones?

The sex is great, as always. It's hot and wild and down and dirty, and kinky and rough. There's nothing they haven't done, nothing they haven't explored, things even she never thought possible. His touch, his taste, his breathing, her moaning, her tearing his skin with her nails.

There is pain for both of them that is every bit as delicious as the pleasure. The crypt gets torn apart as usual.

But then there's the part she hates. When they're done, there's a few moments they're just lying there, trying to get their bearings. And it's all still fine. Then his eyes will go hard again, and cold. And he'll say something about leaving, having stayed too long. And she'll try to keep the seduction alive, grinning, teasing, reminding him of all the stuff they've just done. And he'll get mad again.

Then she'll get desperate, hardly able to stand him leaving again, and again leaving like that. Why can't he see it? How much she loves him, how much she suffered and changed for him. And that's when he'll really want to bolt out the door.

"I don't love you," he says. "I can't love you. Never will."

The words tear into her heart again, as they always do. His blue eyes colder than ever.

"You have no soul."

** **

Spike looked at Buffy as he had her in front of him on the motorcycle. Pressed close, because she was still cuffed and out cold. He drove as careful as he could, scared she'd fall off somehow.

The chloroform had worked like a charm, she was gone from the world. But not completely comatose. She'd stirred. Her eyebrows knitted together in a frown, she'd stirred. He could tell her eyes were rolling under her eyelids. She was dreaming.

"Hunh, wonder about what," he muttered to himself. "Hmm? What is it luv, what's going on inside that little head of yours?" Oh well, nothing he could concern himself with now. He'd gotten back to his crypt to get his bike. Time was of the essence and this would move a lot faster.

Of course he'd have to stop soon. There was no way he'd be able to sniff out an old weak trail of Halfrek's scent at this speed. No, as soon as he'd hit the area he figured had the biggest chance, he'd have to get off the bike and go on foot. That was the tricky part. Not a good area to walk around with an unconscious Slayer in his arms. Not as bad as the cemeteries but still....

Plus, he had no idea how long it would take. Or even IF he'd manage to find her. But there really was no other option.

** **

Her mind was swirling now.

His face had changed.......it was her face now that sad the cruel things. That was above her as her fists hit into her face. 'Disgusting'.... 'evil'..... 'dead thing'.....so much cruelty, so much pain..... Why was she doing this.....she was only trying to help her.....to protect her.....yet even this was taken in love, if this is what she needs to do, let her put it all on me....that's right luv, put it all on me.....

** **

Alright, this was the area. Spike was walking through the backstreets with Buffy in his arms, sniffing the air, going near motels. Every now and then other figures in the night would notice him. He was sure to show his game face and snarl, and above all radiate absolute fearlessness. This wasn't prey they saw walking here. And they would discover that if they got too close.

Then he thought he smelled something. Well, he smelled plenty out here, but this smelled like what he was looking for. Her skin, her hair mixed with her perfume. Halfrek. It was faint. And old. But it was what he'd hoped for.

He started to speed up, Buffy's head on his chest, still dreaming. He hoped she'd be okay. He had no idea how much chloroform to use on a Slayer. Not enough would have been a disaster, but too much even more so.....

But she seemed alright. Her breathing was regular and apparently she was dreaming a lot. Her eyes were rolling and she mumbled every now and then as she stirred.

He walked into a small street with several cheap motels. One of these was a hotspot for the oldest profession in the world.....of the demon and dark magic variety. He'd heard there was also another 'Suck Palace' around here, like the one Captain Cardboard had enjoyed so much. He had to snicker. The look on the hayseed's face had been priceless when he saw Buffy with him. Of course what followed was less in his favor, but......these days he got his laughs in where he could.

Too bad about the eggs though. Keep them cold......he knew there was something he'd forgotten. Fortunately, Kraycek, who asked to hold them for him, hadn't mentioned it, so he was able to blame him instead of the other way around. He should have remembered himself, but Kraycek didn't need to know that.

He was wondering if ole' Vraak had his motor running again with Kraycek's merchandise. He briefly visualized him with that wife of his and shook the thought quickly.

There, at the end of the street. That was a little motel that had a lot of demons crash at, mostly while passing through town. It had some dealings going on there sometimes, in all kinds of weird business, but mostly everyone stuck to themselves. A perfect spot for her to be.....

"Were you going with that treat, pal?" a voice said.

A vampire stood in the middle of the street. Probably one from that Suck Palace that felt this was his turf.

"Never you mind where I'm going, you git!" Spike snarled. "Now bugger off before I rip your face off!"

"Hey now, just saying," the vamp continued as several others slowly emerged from the darkness from several sides of the street. "This is our neck of the woods. Vamps from other sides of town pay toll here." He snickered, obviously finding himself very amusing.

Trouble! He had no fear of taking them on, there were about 5 or 6 of them. He'd faced worse, but he couldn't fight with Buffy in his arms, and if he put her down, some might take off with her wile their buddies kept him occupied.

His eyes searched his surroundings, looking for options. Further down the street he spotted another vampire, leaning against a lamp post. That route was cut off then. Or was it? He looked again, and saw it: That guy wasn't part of this trashy group. Far better dressed, for one thing. The guy was clearly checking things out from a distance to see if it was something he should get involved in.

Or rather, if it was something his BOSS felt he should get involved in. Spike knew that bugger! And he knew who he worked for.

'Well this may be stupid, but....never been known for my wise decisions,' he thought to himself. He suddenly threw Buffy over one shoulder, freeing the opposite arm, and bolted. He ran through two vamps who blocked that part of the street, shoving one aside, and breaking the other's face in the same movement.

He sprinted on as fast as he could, bearing his load. (Which wasn't heavy in any sense of the word really) The vamp under the lamppost had tossed his cigarette and stood up straight, wondering if this was an attack.

Spike heard the annoying buggers behind his back chasing him down the street. He ran until he was in front of the vamp at the lamp post. He saw the building behind him and understood. This was one of his offices, wasn't it?

"Hey you! Bill, or Will or Swill, whatever the hell your name is! Get your boss out here!"

"What?" the vamp stammered. "Who are you?"

"Someone he won't wanna see die, okay?" Spike snarled. "GET HIM!"

The vamp seemed to recognize Spike and went inside the dark and run-down building. The vamps behind him had caught up, but knew apparently whose place this was. They stayed a certain distance, eager to jump him but smart enough to wait and see what the game was first.

"Not total idiots then," he muttered with a grin.

Then the door opened and several more vamps came out, all of the body guard variety. In their midst a shorter figure appeared. His suit was the most expensive by far, and his black eyes or razor sharp teeth were not in line with his polite demeanor. Polite, but always with an underlying tone of threat. He saw Spike and spread out his hands, with fingers that were more like fins.

"Well now....this is a surprise. What are you doing here, disturbing my negotiations, Mr. Spike?"

Spike grinned at the voice. The Shark always reminded him of that one actor whose name he couldn't remember.

"Just bringing something to your attention, Shark," he said.

Shark slowly walked down the steps that led up to the building's entrance. He looked at Spike's face, then at Buffy's leather-clad butt that was right next to Spike's face as she was still slumped over his shoulder.

"And what would that be, that your lady friend there has a nice rump? Hate to insult you, but as tastes go, she could use a few fins in my book."

Spike sighed. "No mate, you know how I still owe you?"

"Of course. It's not a thing a man in my position is all that likely to forget, Mr. Spike."

"Well now you're not going to collect if I'm dead now are you?"

"I'm not so sure I'm going to collect if you're alive either."

"Hey, I paid you two tabbies and a Siamese last week!" Spike said, insulted.

"Yes, that you did. Of course you owe me nothing but Siamese so the quality of your payment wasn't quite up there..." The Shark said as he scratched his chin.

"Hey, now two tabbies are worth one Siamese, you know that as well as I do! Those rates are fixed"

"True, true, and I am not an unreasonable man, or an ungrateful one. I remember telling to you to forget it, when you had me at a ....disadvantage. And were wearing that rather striking suit. But you were a man of honor, Mr. Spike, you chose to fulfill your debt. Of course I'm not entirely convinced that you ever will completely, but yes, at least when you're around, there's a chance of it. Boys!" he snapped his fins and more vampires came out of the house, greater in number and larger in posture than the street gang still eyeing Spike from about 20 feet distance.

"Hey! N-no! We don't want to kill him," the gang leader said as the Shark's bodyguard approached them. "We just want the girl. This is our turf too, we're entitled to something!"

"Sounds fair," the Shark commented. "Do understand Mr. Spike, I have no taste for this unorganized, unkempt street riff-raff......they're not businessmen like you and I if you know what I mean. But we do share.....habitat if you will. Live and let live and all that. Can't start feuds by picking favorites and sides in unrelated quarrels, bad for business. And I AM a businessman. So why don't you just give up your lady friend there and we can all go about our way."

Spike grabbed him by his collar and pulled him close. The Shark's bodyguards reacted but Spike was too fast. His game face was up, although he didn't bite as they feared. He just hissed between fanged teeth. "Have a good look at the lady, Shark. I'm sure you recognize her as the Slayer! And now you think maybe if she's killed, that's not a bad thing for you. But it is."

The Shark signaled his boys to stay in place. "And how is that Mr. Spike?" He whispered back.

"Because Buffy is good for your business. She was tolerant of you and your going-ons, as long as humans were not generally in the mix. But she does thin the herd of many other demons, many competitors of you. Plus she keeps the vamp population down, which means punk gangs like these stay small....instead of growing big...and maybe start moving in on your piece of the pie." And with that, he let him go.

The Shark looked at Buffy....or rather, her butt over Spike's shoulder since that was still all he saw. Then he looked at the gang of street vampires and scratched his chin again. Then he adjusted his tie, and said "Well now....since you put it like that....if I can be of assistance, it would be rude of me to refuse."

"Hey, just keep an eye on her and let no one touch her, is all I ask." Spike said.

"A very reasonable request, Mr. Spike. Boys, look to the lady here, no one touches her and that includes you yourselves!"

Spike put Buffy down gently and brushed some hair out of her face. Then he stood up and looked at the Shark. "Thanks," he said, and his arm smashed to the side, shattering a wooden beam that was part of the railing of the porch they were standing by. He grabbed a sharp chunk of it and turned to the street gang who were uncertain if they should be happy or afraid at this turn of events.

"Well now kiddies," Spike growled with glee. "Who's first then?"

** **

TBC!!