It was a little after 1 am when everyone decided to go home. Giles had long since went to bed, complaining of jet lag and not being as young as he used to be. As Buffy closed the door on the last of her departing friends, she wondered for the millionth time that night about Spike's whereabouts. He'd probably just gone out to patrol, she reasoned. But he should have been back hours ago. If he was just hiding out to avoid being with her friends, she was going to give him hell for it. Only one way to find out. She went to the living room and slipped on her shoes. She grabbed her coat as she opened the door. She jumped back in momentary horror at what was waiting for her on her steps.
"Hi. Um, we kind of met the other day. You threw an axe at my head?" The floppy-skinned demon smiled.
"Uh…..Clem, right?" Buffy looked puzzled.
Clem nodded vigorously, which was a rather unappealing sight to Buffy. "Yup, you got it in one!"
Buffy smiled vaguely. "Uh, right. Um, is there something I can do for you?"
Clem's face turned serious. "It's Spike."
Buffy went wide eyed. "Spike? What's wrong. Oh God, I knew he'd been gone to long. What happened, is he ok?"
Clem held up his hand. "No no, he's fine. Nothing to worry about. He, uh, he had to leave town on short notice. He asked me to bring Summer by to see if you'd watch her." He held up a duffel bag with Summer poking out the opening. "I'd watch her, but…..I have a gambling problem. And well, Oprah says it's always important to be honest with yourself…..Summer looks really yummy. And I know Spike would kill me good and slow if anything happened to her. So, probably best if you watch her. Oh, he asked me to give this to you too." Clem handed her a note, then the duffel bag. "There's a food and water dish in there, as well as some of he toys she likes."
Buffy looked puzzled. "Uh, ok. Thanks….." As Clem left, she closed the door, setting the bag down on the floor. Summer jumped out and proceeded to make herself comfortable on the couch.
Buffy opened the note.
--Buffy,
So sorry to leave so suddenly, but there is some business I need to attend to. I hope you don't mind watching Summer, she shouldn't be too much trouble. Whatever you do, don't leave her with Clem. (By the way, he doesn't know anything, so don't grill the poor bastard) I promise that I'll be back as soon as possible, I don't think I can go too long without my Buffy-lovin'. I would have said goodbye in person, but things just didn't work out that way. Don't be too mad at me, I'm bringing you back a present(yes, more than just my hot, tight little body!) I'll call you whenever I can, but I don't expect to be gone too long. I love you more than you can fathom. More than the sun loves the day. Please never forget that.
--Spike
Buffy frowned in confusion. Why did Spike need to leave so suddenly? How could he leave her? More importantly, when would he be back? Buffy suddenly felt very tired. She left out some food and water for Summer and, after locking up, trudged up the stairs absently thinking that she should get Summer a litter box tomorrow.
**
Buffy woke to yelling. "Out! OUT! Shoooo! Go on, now!" She threw on her robe and ran downstairs to find Giles wielding a broom.
"Giles, what's wrong?" Buffy looked around in panic.
"Vermin! You have vermin running around in this house." Giles gestured toward the living room.
Buffy laughed when she saw what Giles was indicating. Summer was perched on top of the couch, coolly licking her paws. "Uh, take it easy, Giles. It's just a cat."
"Just a cat? Why is there just a cat in this house? I'm certain you didn't own a cat when I went to bed."
"No, it's Spike's cat. He asked me to watch it for a while." Buffy's face clouded.
"Spike has a cat?" Giles frowned.
Buffy nodded. "Yup. Her name is Summer."
"Hmm…..and why isn't he capable of taking care of his own creatures?"
Buffy shrugged. "He had to…..go away for a little while. I don't really know. He just wrote me a note and had one of his friends bring her by. Not sure where he went or how long he'll be gone."
Giles noted Buffy's mood. "Yes, well…..perhaps we should invest in some type of waste management system?" He pointed at a spot in the carpet.
"Oh, yeah. I'll go by Spike's crypt and grab her litter box. I'll clean that up."
**
Buffy spent the rest of the day absently playing with Summer and waiting for the phone to ring. She chewed out two telemarketers and almost hung up on a Council member when she realized the British accent on the other line was not Spike's. As Giles got the final details on the financial transactions, Buffy paced back and forth. She was more nervous that Spike might be trying to call than she was about being financially sound. It was daytime, so he was probably holed up somewhere. Maybe there was a phone. Or maybe his trip was so short, he would be home again tonight. Buffy doubted that, but she didn't see a reason not to hope.
**
The night passed with no sign of Spike. The next night as well. Then a week passed. Buffy was worried, which affected her Slayer effectiveness. This worried her friends and Watcher. Buffy swore she was fine, but everyone could tell she was distracted. Giles silently cursed Spike for leaving, but more for having this kind of effect on Buffy.
At the end of the first week, Spike finally called.
"Spike?!" Buffy squealed.
"Yeah, luv, it's me."
"Where are you? When are you coming back? What the hell is going on???"
Spike chuckled on the other line. "All in good time, pet. You miss me?"
"Yes, of course. Spike, won't you at least tell me where you are?"
"I'm about a week away from Sunnydale," Spike chuckled again.
"I don't see what's so funny. Here I am alone, missing you, and you're just laughing it up!"
"Hardly, luv. So, tell me, how do you miss me? What do you miss most?"
Buffy sighed. "I'm not playing this game with you. I'm really worried."
"You can hear that I'm fine, right? No need to worry. Don't want my girl worrying about anything."
"Well, I'm not going to stop worrying until I have you here in my arms."
"And what will you do with me once you have me?"
"Spike, I mean it. Get back here to me. This isn't funny."
"Ok, pet. I'm sorry that I've upset you. But I have to go now, ok?"
"What?! No! You just called!"
"I know, but I've got things to do, luv. Faster I get them done, the faster I'm back in your arms. I really just wanted to check in with you. Don't have a lot of time to talk. Now come on, indulge me. What part do you miss most?"
Buffy whispered. "Fine……I miss……everything. I miss your hands and your arms and your chest and your lips and your tongue and your bitable ears and your sexy hair when you wake up and your adam's apple when it bobs up and down when you're excited and your killer ass and your……you know……"
"Hmm…..'fraid I don't, luv. What else is there? My knees? Or maybe it's my cheekbones. Always thought I had striking cheekbones……"
Buffy sighed. "Spike……fine, it rhymes with 'rock'"
"Rock……lock? Frock? Sock? You miss my socks, luv?"
"Enough, you know what I mean and I'm not saying it because you don't deserve to hear it! You left me without it, so I'm not giving you anything….."
"Alright, luv. Fair enough. I'll be calling again when I can, ok? I love you, pet."
"Spike, I…..have something I want to tell you when you get back. So…..make it fast, ok? I miss you so much."
"Me too. I'll be back as quick as I can. Goodbye, Buffy."
Buffy started to cry a little. "Bye, Spike."
"Now, pet. Don't cry. I can't take it when you cry. I promise I'll be back as soon as vampiricly possible, ok? And I'll make up for all the lost time, you have my word."
"Ok…..be careful."
"Always, luv. Bye."
"Bye….."
Buffy hung up the phone wondering that if she had told him she loved him, would that have made him come home sooner?
**
TBC
"Hi. Um, we kind of met the other day. You threw an axe at my head?" The floppy-skinned demon smiled.
"Uh…..Clem, right?" Buffy looked puzzled.
Clem nodded vigorously, which was a rather unappealing sight to Buffy. "Yup, you got it in one!"
Buffy smiled vaguely. "Uh, right. Um, is there something I can do for you?"
Clem's face turned serious. "It's Spike."
Buffy went wide eyed. "Spike? What's wrong. Oh God, I knew he'd been gone to long. What happened, is he ok?"
Clem held up his hand. "No no, he's fine. Nothing to worry about. He, uh, he had to leave town on short notice. He asked me to bring Summer by to see if you'd watch her." He held up a duffel bag with Summer poking out the opening. "I'd watch her, but…..I have a gambling problem. And well, Oprah says it's always important to be honest with yourself…..Summer looks really yummy. And I know Spike would kill me good and slow if anything happened to her. So, probably best if you watch her. Oh, he asked me to give this to you too." Clem handed her a note, then the duffel bag. "There's a food and water dish in there, as well as some of he toys she likes."
Buffy looked puzzled. "Uh, ok. Thanks….." As Clem left, she closed the door, setting the bag down on the floor. Summer jumped out and proceeded to make herself comfortable on the couch.
Buffy opened the note.
--Buffy,
So sorry to leave so suddenly, but there is some business I need to attend to. I hope you don't mind watching Summer, she shouldn't be too much trouble. Whatever you do, don't leave her with Clem. (By the way, he doesn't know anything, so don't grill the poor bastard) I promise that I'll be back as soon as possible, I don't think I can go too long without my Buffy-lovin'. I would have said goodbye in person, but things just didn't work out that way. Don't be too mad at me, I'm bringing you back a present(yes, more than just my hot, tight little body!) I'll call you whenever I can, but I don't expect to be gone too long. I love you more than you can fathom. More than the sun loves the day. Please never forget that.
--Spike
Buffy frowned in confusion. Why did Spike need to leave so suddenly? How could he leave her? More importantly, when would he be back? Buffy suddenly felt very tired. She left out some food and water for Summer and, after locking up, trudged up the stairs absently thinking that she should get Summer a litter box tomorrow.
**
Buffy woke to yelling. "Out! OUT! Shoooo! Go on, now!" She threw on her robe and ran downstairs to find Giles wielding a broom.
"Giles, what's wrong?" Buffy looked around in panic.
"Vermin! You have vermin running around in this house." Giles gestured toward the living room.
Buffy laughed when she saw what Giles was indicating. Summer was perched on top of the couch, coolly licking her paws. "Uh, take it easy, Giles. It's just a cat."
"Just a cat? Why is there just a cat in this house? I'm certain you didn't own a cat when I went to bed."
"No, it's Spike's cat. He asked me to watch it for a while." Buffy's face clouded.
"Spike has a cat?" Giles frowned.
Buffy nodded. "Yup. Her name is Summer."
"Hmm…..and why isn't he capable of taking care of his own creatures?"
Buffy shrugged. "He had to…..go away for a little while. I don't really know. He just wrote me a note and had one of his friends bring her by. Not sure where he went or how long he'll be gone."
Giles noted Buffy's mood. "Yes, well…..perhaps we should invest in some type of waste management system?" He pointed at a spot in the carpet.
"Oh, yeah. I'll go by Spike's crypt and grab her litter box. I'll clean that up."
**
Buffy spent the rest of the day absently playing with Summer and waiting for the phone to ring. She chewed out two telemarketers and almost hung up on a Council member when she realized the British accent on the other line was not Spike's. As Giles got the final details on the financial transactions, Buffy paced back and forth. She was more nervous that Spike might be trying to call than she was about being financially sound. It was daytime, so he was probably holed up somewhere. Maybe there was a phone. Or maybe his trip was so short, he would be home again tonight. Buffy doubted that, but she didn't see a reason not to hope.
**
The night passed with no sign of Spike. The next night as well. Then a week passed. Buffy was worried, which affected her Slayer effectiveness. This worried her friends and Watcher. Buffy swore she was fine, but everyone could tell she was distracted. Giles silently cursed Spike for leaving, but more for having this kind of effect on Buffy.
At the end of the first week, Spike finally called.
"Spike?!" Buffy squealed.
"Yeah, luv, it's me."
"Where are you? When are you coming back? What the hell is going on???"
Spike chuckled on the other line. "All in good time, pet. You miss me?"
"Yes, of course. Spike, won't you at least tell me where you are?"
"I'm about a week away from Sunnydale," Spike chuckled again.
"I don't see what's so funny. Here I am alone, missing you, and you're just laughing it up!"
"Hardly, luv. So, tell me, how do you miss me? What do you miss most?"
Buffy sighed. "I'm not playing this game with you. I'm really worried."
"You can hear that I'm fine, right? No need to worry. Don't want my girl worrying about anything."
"Well, I'm not going to stop worrying until I have you here in my arms."
"And what will you do with me once you have me?"
"Spike, I mean it. Get back here to me. This isn't funny."
"Ok, pet. I'm sorry that I've upset you. But I have to go now, ok?"
"What?! No! You just called!"
"I know, but I've got things to do, luv. Faster I get them done, the faster I'm back in your arms. I really just wanted to check in with you. Don't have a lot of time to talk. Now come on, indulge me. What part do you miss most?"
Buffy whispered. "Fine……I miss……everything. I miss your hands and your arms and your chest and your lips and your tongue and your bitable ears and your sexy hair when you wake up and your adam's apple when it bobs up and down when you're excited and your killer ass and your……you know……"
"Hmm…..'fraid I don't, luv. What else is there? My knees? Or maybe it's my cheekbones. Always thought I had striking cheekbones……"
Buffy sighed. "Spike……fine, it rhymes with 'rock'"
"Rock……lock? Frock? Sock? You miss my socks, luv?"
"Enough, you know what I mean and I'm not saying it because you don't deserve to hear it! You left me without it, so I'm not giving you anything….."
"Alright, luv. Fair enough. I'll be calling again when I can, ok? I love you, pet."
"Spike, I…..have something I want to tell you when you get back. So…..make it fast, ok? I miss you so much."
"Me too. I'll be back as quick as I can. Goodbye, Buffy."
Buffy started to cry a little. "Bye, Spike."
"Now, pet. Don't cry. I can't take it when you cry. I promise I'll be back as soon as vampiricly possible, ok? And I'll make up for all the lost time, you have my word."
"Ok…..be careful."
"Always, luv. Bye."
"Bye….."
Buffy hung up the phone wondering that if she had told him she loved him, would that have made him come home sooner?
**
TBC