Chapter 11- Seeing things

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(Nightclub Balcony- continued)

"You don't look like the usual set of suits we get around here," the lady bartender said as she leaned down to pour Spike another drink. "The decoration alone…it's genius…so hot…all the red…sexy"

Spike looked up to her, tilting his head suggestively as a small smirk began to grow on his face. I remember this game he thought, as he pulled out a cigarette from the inside pocket of his newly purchased leather blazer. Wesley tried to get him into buying a suit but finally gave in to the black slacks, black shirt, and leather jacket Spike had insisted on.

"You're not suppose to smoke in here, but being that you're one of the 'big guns' I guess it'd be okay," she said- reaching over quickly to light the cig that he'd freed from his pack.

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(Nightclub- main floor)

The bartender was speaking to Buffy but she couldn't hear a word he was saying. She was struggling with the darkness, trying to make out the figure at the bar up on the mezzanine but was having a really hard time seeing past an arms length.

"MISS!"

"Oh…sorry…what was that?"

The Bartender looked slightly annoyed, "I said…You better go find a seat- they're getting ready to serve dinner.

"Oh..right…sorry. Me…zoning off again. Bad Bu..Betty. That's me A five star dinner sounds good about now anyway. I'm really in the mood for a steak."

The bartender looked down at the strange girl before him trying to smile. She was a weird one alright.

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Angel was wrapping up his speech and heading up to the mezzanine when Grace stopped him at the staircase.

"Mr. Angel…seems we have a small situation. I ran into an old friend of yours earlier."

Angel turned, slightly annoyed, slightly intrigued, "yes?"

"It seems that your friend Ms. Summers decided to pay a visit. Told me her name was Betty. I don't think she wants you to know she's here.

Angel looked over to where she was standing by the bar… "keep an eye on her then- until we can figure out what she's up to."

Grace smiled and hurried away from him before weaving through the crowd to catch up with her.

"Betty! Betty!"

Oh, that's me, Buffy thought, as she turned to smile at her new acquaintance. "Why don't you come sit with me? You look a little…lost."

"Are you sitting up there?" Buffy asked, pointing to the mezzanine.

Grace chuckled a bit, "not exactly my idea of fun…that's for the partners. I was invited of course, but…too stuffy. No...come with me…sit with the assistants, I'll introduce you around."

Buffy figured if she was going to get any dirt this might be a good place to start.

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(Mezzanine)

Spike was getting bored with his new friend rather quickly. Sure she had great a great rack, but that only got you so far. Besides, he knew there was someone out there for him. That perfect someone, waiting to be found- not only the girl of his dreams, but the girl in his dreams- and he was determined to find her. The flirting was fun, but he was disinterested.

He could hear his stomach beginning to make all kinds of gurgling sounds and licked his lips at the prospect of a nice steak. Sad…don't even know how long it's been since I shagged, but all I can think about is food.

"Nice talking to you pet, I'd love to stay and chat but my stomach's got other plans. I think I'd best join my party and sit to dinner. It was nice meeting you…um?,"

"Rachel"

"Rachel…it's been a pleasure. Don't go too far," and with that he gave her a suggestive wink, making her cheeks flush as he stood and headed back to the table.

Rachel was left intrigued…very intrigued indeed.

Back at the table Spike sat down to see Angel heading up the stairs.

"What's he doing here?" Angel asked, more than a little upset as he looked over to Wesley waiting for a response.

"No where else for him really, I had no other option."

Angel grabbed Wesley, pulling him away from the group so that he could speak to him privately.

"Keep him up here then. Buffy's down there…"

"What's she…"

"I don't know," Angel said- cutting Wesley off, "but I'm not ready for her to see him. Not until we know what brought him back and if he's up to anything."

"I see." Wesley said, finally having a little more understanding of Angel's rage towards Spike. "Is there something you're not saying here Angel, because it's obvious that you have a personal vendetta against Spike that has nothing to do with your hunting days. As far as I can tell there is nothing wrong with him except for the fact that he's alive and well. He really has no idea what he's doing here."

"Don't be so sure about that. I want him away from her until I say. Is that understood?"

"Perfectly. However, is it possible that she knows he's here…really, what other reason could she be hanging around…and not letting you in on the fact."

"I'm not sure, but I'm guessing this has nothing to do with cookies."

"What?"

"Never mind. Let's have dinner."

Back at the table Spike was anxious and ravenous. He'd already eaten the salad that was brought out and was waiting, rather impatiently, for his next course. As he sat down waiting for the food to be served he glanced down towards the crowd on the lower level.

He scanned the floor entirely. As the waitress came back and was setting appetizers on the table he was about to turn away when suddenly he caught a glimpse of her walking towards somewhere below where he was seated. It wasn't much, just a fraction of a second. He watched her blond hair bounce as she turned her head slightly- a small smile on her lips. She was another woman who Spike recognized as Angel's secretary. Just as quickly, however, she turned away again…her face no longer visible.

In that instant Spike closed his eyes and was hit with a montage of flashbacks.

He could see her…dancing, smiling, laughing- he was watching her- always watching her…watching her outside her bedroom window…watching her as she walked alone at night, watching her with her sister.

Then she was fighting him…hitting him fiercely and tossing him to the ground. Different fights…all the same. He hit her, she hit him back. He tossed her hard against a wall, she reached up and kicked him. It looked like a dance.

He was with her again, this time she was feeding him…something in a cup. Laughing…funny…the memory made him smile inside. Was he sick? What was in that cup?

He was with her again, this time inside of her…kissing her…loving her. He flashed back to holding her in his arms as she slept, looking down at her face and feeling the closeness that filled him entirely.

Then it was gone.

He opened his eyes again, but didn't see her anymore. He was left wondering if he had even really seen her at all, or had he imagined it?

"…Spike?" Freddy asked, as she looked over to where Wesley sat with an expression of concern on his face.

"Huh…I…um…"

"Are you okay?"

"Fine…I was just…a little faint is all. My stomach is growling, I can't seem to eat enough. I must be making up for old time is all…Did you tell them I wanted my steak rare?"

TBC