A.N. I know this has been a long time coming, and for that I apologise. The problem was due to a computer that died, and while I didn't lose any data, I did lose my internet access for almost two weeks. I hoped I'd be able to do lots of writing in the interim, but it didn't work out that way. It seems I need the inspiration of reading all the other Spuffy fics out there to keep me going. So, short chapter this time, but hopefully a longer one to follow. As always, your feedback is welcome.

Chapter 28 - Back on the Team

It's taken me a while, but a couple of days ago, I was allowed back on active service. Because of my recent 'traumatic experiences', I've even managed to wangle an in to the Sunnydale group. Their base is another part of the old Initiative complex - one I didn't realise was still active, even while I was working on the artefacts that included the Orb of Fire. The entrance is an unassuming office block, but the base itself is underground. They want me to get involved with a project aimed at providing us with soldiers to help in the fight against demons by using demons. Of course, they will also potentially be useful against humans too, but no one's saying much about that.

The officer charged with showing me around seems pleasant, I even think I recognise her from somewhere, although it was a long time ago, on another mission, in what seems like another life. My first job is to get up to speed with what's going on, then I'll be providing supervision for the scientists who're actually pushing forward the project.

By the time my tour's finished, my mind's reeling from the implications of what's happening here. I'm left in my new office, with a pile of paperwork to read, and .. The things I heard from Giles, the things I picked up from the others.. they were right, but the scale of it is unimaginable.

They've set up a cloning factory. The original plan was just to breed certain types of demons, but that hit problems. The demons who'd be most useful to them are by definition strong and tend towards being aggressive. If there's one thing they learned from the problems the Initiative had, it's that keeping significant numbers of that type of demon around isn't a good idea. They looked at alternatives - transplanting embryos to less aggressive mothers, but they had no success. Then they had a stroke of luck. I told them that Spike was back, and they picked them up. The tests they did on him showed him to be unique, in their experience anyway. He was also ideal for what they had in mind.

He's strong, he heals quickly, he's intelligent, and best of all he looks human. As far as they're concerned he's the ideal subject, and add to that the fact that he's proved controllable in the past, and they're convinced that if they can get their hands on him from a young enough age, he'll be completely tractable.

Then there's the problem. They believe he's unique, so they can't breed more of them by normal means. So, they're cloning. I hadn't realised cloning had gone beyond sheep, but the technicalities of producing lots of embryonic Spike's seems to be considered a standard. The problem is finding a suitable surrogate mother.

Of course, I know something they don't. I know, or at least I've been told, that Spike's not the only one of his kind in existence. There's another one, and what's more, she has the potential to be an ideal surrogate mother. She also happens to be someone I care deeply about.

I already know that she's carrying his child. Somehow, that makes me feel uncomfortable. Not the fact that she's carrying his child, although I can't say that gives me warm fuzzies. No, what's giving me that creepy feeling inside is the idea that they would use Buffy that way. That they would consider her child to be something they could use for their experiments. I make a mental note to tell Giles that Buffy should keep the paternity of her child quiet. If these people find out, I mean, as far as they're concerned, Buffy's the Slayer, but she's human. If they ever find out otherwise ..

I go back to the file. The most recent comments deal with the fact that Spike's no longer being held. There aren't any details of how he escaped, or of where he was being held, but there is some irritation about the fact that it happened. The implication is that they have enough samples of him for it not to be an immediate problem.

Dawson's only been mentioned as the author of some reference papers on the behaviour control chips. From what I've seen here, they're a lot more sophisticated than the one we put in Spike. The details aren't in these files, and I make a note to ask for copies of the full specs of those new chips.

I've set up a contact system with Giles. I've got to assume that my phone will be bugged, and my computer system will be monitored. I also know that there was a system under development which can recognise demons and those who have contact with them using pheromones, so I can't have any direct contact either. The best we've come up with is the basement of the Magic Box. I can get in there using the tunnels, and I can either leave messages, or if it's important enough meet with Giles or one of the other humans there. I've heard Giles' summary of Spike's report on the time he was held, and my initial doubt has been diminished by reading what's in front of me.

I think again about Buffy. I know they think my loyalty to them is only because of their threat to re-infect me with that energy, but they're wrong. If the people I'm working for get any idea that Buffy's the same as Spike, she'll end up being treated exactly as they did him. And I'm not going to allow that to happen. It's difficult, I'm not saying it isn't. In the military, your loyalty is to the service. There's no other way. But, I've already defied orders because of Buffy, and I'm ready to do it again. Whatever she is, she seems exactly as she was before, except for the being pregnant bit. Even the liking for demons isn't new.

Then there's the other thing. There were more demons than humans in the group that set me free. They were helping me, and they weren't human, and they knew what I thought about demons. It feels like my world's been turned upside down, and I'm just holding onto one thing, one person. Buffy.

So, I carry on reading, finding out what I can. Dawson's going to have to wait though. She might be my priority, but I can't rush things. If I'm too keen to find out about her, it'll blow my cover completely. So, I'll take it one step at a time, and try to make sure that my true loyalties aren't discovered. It's not that I'm scared what'll happen to me. I've already lost everything that's important to me. No, what's important now is Buffy and the child she's carrying. Even if I'd gladly strangle the child's father, there's nothing else I can do.

The thing about Spike is that I started hating him because he was a demon. Simple. Then, I hated him even more because Buffy seemed to care about him in some way. It wasn't a lot, not at first, she just seemed to be determined that he didn't get dusted. Then I got to know him. And now? I reckon I'd hate him if he was human and had never met Buffy Summers. For a start, he's just .. not American. I mean, he doesn't respect the things I do. He's rude, and he doesn't care about following rules. He's exactly the sort of guy I've hated since I was in grade school. And the funny thing is, I think he hates me for the exact opposite reasons.