Part four:
Spike decided they should take the long way back to Giles' house because of the group of vamps they had run into earlier that night. Willow was in deep thought the whole walk back. The rain had let up, but Spike hadn't asked for his jacket back. She wrapped it around her and smiled as the familiar scent of cigarettes engulfed her. They had almost kissed. She was sure of it, and it was greatly disturbing her. Not because it was Spike who was trying to make with the kissage, but because the way her body had reacted to being so close to him. Her heart had beaten just a little faster and her stomach had felt just a little lighter. But now, he was avoiding looking at her. Instead of reaching into the jacket pocket like he did earlier to get a cigarette, he simply asked her for them. She was a bit disappointed. That bugged her, too. This was Spike, even if he was acting uncharacteristically nice to her…sweet even…complimenting her, protecting her, touching her gently. The chip didn't change anything, he was still evil.
"Are you okay?" the evil thing asked her.
"I'm a little cold," she replied in a voice that was barely above a whisper.
But he heard her. He could hear her every time she pulled in a breath, ever time her heart beat. He could hear the blood rushing though her veins if he concentrated enough. The perks of being a vampire. That and being able to talk to something that you should be eating. You could also fuck something that you should be eating. He wasn't entirely sure those were actually perks. He knew he couldn't do any of those things to Willow, except maybe the talking part. She was so pure. You don't fuck something pure. You love it. But he could never love a human. This chip was starting to make him sound like the bloody poof.
"Spike?" Willow's voice shattered though his thoughts, "Do vampires really feel love? I mean there was Angel and Buffy, you and...Dru..."
"You're bloody right we feel love," he said quickly, "probably more that you sun loving folk. We have eternities to perfect it and no sodden heart to get in the way."
"Love comes from you heart, Spike."
"No," He said pointing a finger at her, "love comes from your blood and your mind. Your heart's got nothing to do with it, Red."
She wasn't really sure what he was trying to say but she figured he was telling her that just because his heart didn't beat, doesn't mean he couldn't love. This conversation made her nervous so she was happy to see they had arrived at Giles' house. Spike swung open the door and Willow gasped in surprise to see Angel sitting on the couch with Cordelia and some guy she didn't know.
"What the bloody hell are you doing here?" Spike yelled at Angel.
"Hello to you too," Angel replied.
"Willow, run! Let's get out of here!" Spike said trying to push willow out the door.
"Down boy!" Cordelia laughed, "He's not the evil one."
"Oh right then...hello, peaches," he said obviously embarrassed about his out burst.
"Hi, you're new," Willow said staring at Doyle, "I don't believe we've met."
"Oh right!" Cordelia said suddenly, "Willow this is Doyle. He has visions from the powers that be."
Doyle reached out to take Willow's hand, "I've heard a lot about you."
They smiled at each other still grasping hands, Willow thinking his Irish accent was sexy and Doyle wondering how such a powerful witch fit into such a small package. Cordelia got an annoyed look in her eyes and loudly cleared her throat causing them to release each other's hands.
"Enough with the introductions," she snapped remembering all too well how Willow had made out with her last male interest.
"Jealous are we?" Spike commented.
"Angel," Willow smiled changing the subject, "you're all humany, it's cool."
"Not so much cool as warm," he asked standing and glaring at Spike. "So, Willow, Spike gets a chip in his head and suddenly Buffy thinks its okay to let him hang around you?"
Spike growled, "Bugger off, you stupid git! Red can take care of herself!"
"He's actually been kinda helpful during all this." Willow continued, trying to ward off a potential fight by placing herself in between the two warring men.
"I have not! Take that back!" Spike demanded.
Angel chuckled and Spike glared at him.
Willow rolled her eyes. "So, Angel, how are you feeling?"
"Well," he started, "as well as can be expected. I don't really know how to explain this to you guys but I've been human before."
"Yeah…" Doyle said.
"No recently," Angel insisted, "when Buffy visited me, there was this whole day that no one but me knows about. It's complicated, but I realized that I can't help anyone like this. I'm weak and everyone is in danger because of that. Including Buffy."
"But, Angel," Willow asked, "you can't want to be a vampire?"
"As much as I want to be human, I-" Angel faltered, "I love Buffy and I don't want any harm to come to her."
Spike scoffed, "You're a bloody woman, Angel. Being human turned you so soft you're rotten, but I wouldn't worry your poofy little head about it. Red's planning on sending that demon right back where it belongs. In your misery-loving ass," he finished uncaringly.
"You can do that?" Doyle asked impressed.
"Yeah, but it's not that hard. Angel's the one who has to carry the whole thing out," She replied.
Angel looked questioningly at Willow. "Willow, why are you wearing Spike's jacket?" he inquired suspiciously.
"It was raining, nancy boy! Where's your sense of hospitality, man?" Spike answered before Willow could respond.
"Hospitality, Spike?" Angel countered, "May I remind you that your idea of hospitality was hiring that pedophile vampire to torture me?"
"Well you stole Dru from me!" Spike shot back.
"Oh, please Spike. You lost Dru all on your own!"
"You better watch it peaches! I'll shish-ka-bob you myself this time!" Spike yelled balling his hands into fists.
"Go ahead! I'd love to see this chip in action."
"Stop it! This isn't helping!" Willow shouted pushing the two away from each other. "Angel, Buffy needs us right now. Bickering with Spike is only going to get in the way."
"Speaking of Buffy, where is that fashion senseless girl anyway?" Cordelia quipped.
Willow shrugged and turned to Angel who suddenly looked really bad. He had his eyes tightly closed and the color had drained from his face. He tensed and groaned in pain, grasping his forehead. Willow ran forward to try and catch him as he swayed dangerously. She was barely able to hold him up so Cordelia and Doyle stepped forward and helped him sit on the couch.
"Bloody hell, now you're swooning like a woman, too," Spike mocked and was met with two sets of fiery eyes.
"What the hell was that all about, Angel?" Cordelia asked bluntly, turning her attention back to him and resting a hand on his forehead.
"I, I'm not sure." he said rubbing his eyes, "I think I just saw Buffy. It was really hazy."
"Now, you're having visions, Angel?" Doyle asked concerned, "Isn't that my area of expertise?"
Cordelia went to the bathroom and returned with a wet cloth. "Put this on your forehead," she said handing it to Angel. "You're burning up."
The girls helped him lie down on the couch. Willow put a pillow under his head while Cordelia slipped off his shoes.
"If I had known that's all it took to get two women all over me, I would of come up a bit dizzy myself a while ago." Spike commented as he opened up a bottle of brown liquor, sniffed it, and slumped into a nearby chair.
"Spike, Buffy said not to drink!" Willow chastised.
"She isn't here, now is she?" he replied taking a swig out of the decanter.
"Hey, you mind if I have a glass?" Doyle asked eyeing the liquor.
Cordelia rolled her eyes and looked at Willow, "Did I mention Doyle drinks like a fish? Apparently the powers that be aren't so picky about who gets a share in their power. They don't seem to care how badly their choices dress either."
Willow looked at her funny and turned back to Angel, "So did Buffy seem to be in any danger?"
"I'm not sure," he answered slowly becoming more lucid. "Like I said it was hazy."
"Where did you see Buffy last?" Doyle asked pouring himself a glass of liquor.
"Last we saw of her, she was leaving with Xander to go get weapons," Willow replied in a worry-riddled voice.
Cordelia's eye twitched at the mention of Xander's name.
"Don't worry; she's the slayer, right? She can definitely take care of herself," Doyle assured Willow with a smile.
Cordelia stifled a yawn and said, "Anyways, we're all really tired. It's like, what, four in the morning? What could we possible do to help her at this hour?"
"You're right. If they aren't back in the morning, we'll deal with it then," Willow sighed turning to Spike and Doyle, "Can you guys help me bring Angel upstairs?"
"I don't think so," Spike muttered sipping the liquor.
She widened her eyes in annoyance, "Now, Spike!"
"Fine, fine. Don't get your knickers in a twist."
Doyle gulped down the contents of his glass, slammed it on the table and went to help Willow. Willow had pulled Angel back into a standing position but he was too weak to walk. He mumbled something about not wanting to move but pretty much cooperated with her. Doyle and Spike moved forward to support him on their shoulders and walked slowly up the stairs followed closely by Willow.
"He's a heavy git, isn't he?" Spike grunted as they deposited Angel on Giles' bed.
Angel quickly drifted off into sleep. Cordelia walked in behind them and weakly smiled at Willow.
"Willow," Cordelia said, "I'm really sorry I got us into this mess."
"You really should be apologizing to Angel," Willow responded.
"I did," Cordelia sighed, "but he's too worried about Buffy to forgive me yet."
"Well, you guys have been traveling all night and you must be exhausted," Willow stated ignoring Cordelia's guised requested for comfort.
"Now that you mention it, if you guys don't mind I'm gonna sleep in Giles' guest room." Cordi said in a slightly disappointed voice as she begins descending the stairs.
"Where am I gonna sleep?" Doyle asked.
Cordi paused and gestured to the bed Angel was occupying.
"No way!" he protested, "Angel and I don't even hug, princess, I'm not sharing a bed with him!"
"Ugh! Fine!" she cried exasperated, "you can sleep in the guest room."
"With you?" Doyle looked excited.
"On the floor!" she pointed at him warningly.
"Have it your way, you don't know what you're missing!" he said as they walked downstairs and towards the guest room, Doyle pausing to say good night to Willow with a smile.
"And hopefully I won't find out," Cordelia snapped.
"I guess that leaves you and me to share the living room," Willow said to Spike.
"Yeah, you wouldn't catch me dead sharing the bed with peaches, so I guess that's about right," Spike said walking down the stairs.
"You are dead," Willow replied following him.
"You still wouldn't catch me."
"Well, you're pretty sneaky."
"Yeah, I am. Wait a second... are you making fun of me?!"
"Don't worry about it Spike. I was just kidding." she smirked at him and took off his duster. She handed it to him and sat down on the couch. He looked at her for a minute and then hung it up near the door. He walked around the couch and turned on Giles' old TV. Fiddling with the knobs and the antenna, he finally settled on a station that came in somewhat decently. It was the home shopping channel. Willow laughed.
"What? It's the only thing on, Red!" he said defensively.
"Keep it down!" Cordelia shouted at them from the other room.
"Funny how even when she should be groveling for our forgiveness, she still manages to put Diana Ross to shame with her diva ante tics," Willow observed.
Spike shrugged and turned the sound down a little on the set. He sat next to Willow on the couch. They stared at the TV screen for a while, neither one knowing quite what to say to the other. Spike absently took out a cigarette and placed it in his mouth.
"Don't you dare." Willow warned.
"What are you gonna do about it?" he challenged her pulling out his Zippo.
She reached over and snatched the cigarette out of his mouth. She held it out to him with mock apology on her face. He raised an eyebrow at her and he reached out for it, missing it as she quickly moved it out of his reach. He growled and jumped at her, knocking them both off the couch. They tumbled on to the floor with Willow giggling. Willow gasped in surprise as she found herself on the floor under Spike with his arms on either side of her. He looked down into her eyes and furrowed his brows in consideration. Her heart beat faster as she felt his crisp blue eyes drinking her in. She looked so damned innocent. Her red hair was softly framing her elfin face, making her look like something out of an Irish folktale. He suddenly felt the urge to sink his teeth into her dainty little neck. The desire in his eyes started to scare Willow. She pushed him away from her and pulled herself up into a sitting position against the couch. He sat back without protest and stared at her like naughty child that had stolen the last cookie from the jar.
"Willow, I..." he whispered.
She nervously tucked a section of her hair behind her ear refusing to look at him. Spying the discarded cigarette on the floor, she leaned over to pick it up. She rolled it between her thumbs and fore fingers. Then to Spike's surprise she took the Zippo out of his hands and lit it. She pulled the smoke into her lungs and immediately started coughing. He chuckled and tried to take it from her but she jerked it away from him. He shrugged and lit his own.
"These taste like shit," she stated causing him to laugh again. "Why the hell do you smoke them?"
"I don't know; they taste like shit." he offered.
She looked at him and they both laughed. She took another drag and coughed again.
"Try not inhaling so much," he commented patting her on the back.
"Last warning!" Cordelia yelled from the guest room again.
She looked at the clock. It was close to four thirty. She got up and went to the kitchen to put the cigarette out in the sink. She returned to find Spike pulling down the shades.
"I'm really worried about them," she said sitting on the couch.
"I'm sure Cordelia can handle powers that be boy," Spike said.
"Not them! Buffy and Xander," Willow corrected with an amused smile playing on her lips.
"You heard the Irish bloke, she's the slayer. She's fine. And if she isn't you'll find a way to save her, I'm sure," Spike stated sitting on the far end of the couch.
"What makes you so sure?"
"She's your friend, your not going to let anything hurt her."
"I hope you're right." Willow sighed and lay down with her head on the pillow. Soon her breathing evened out and she drifted into some much needed sleep.
"That's right, love. Sleep. You're gonna need it." Spike whispered, eyeing her as she slept.