Buffy waited patiently for Spike's next call. Patiently for about a day.
As another week passed with no word from him, her friends were getting
worried about her. Though she tried to seem interested in their
conversations and stories, they all knew where her mind was. They tried to
remind her that it had taken Spike two weeks to get wherever he was at when
he called her, so it would be at least another two weeks before he would
return. This seemed to calm her a little. But not much.
Buffy knew her friends were concerned, but she couldn't shake her fear over Spike's well being. And just the utter confusion of the situation. His call hadn't given her any more answers than that he was safe at that moment. But if he had been hurt or killed the next moment, how would she ever know? It's not like he walked around wearing a sign that said "Property of Buffy Summers. If found, return to 1630 Revello Drive Sunnydale, CA." But she was seriously thinking about investing in just such a sign when she saw that platinum vamp again. If she saw him again. She tried to force herself to not think negatively, but there were so many questions swirling around. And her friends didn't make it much better, looking at her sadly one moment while trying to pick her up the next.
Buffy realized her friends were worried that she would get depressed like after she came back. But this was very different. She had no thought of harming herself. She wasn't even really depressed. Just concerned. Concerned to the point that it affected every single thing she did or said. But she knew Spike would come back to her, so she decided to stop moping around the house and freaking out every time the phone rang and just enjoy some time with her friends. She knew that Spike preferred time away from the Scoobies, and she was determined not to let her new romance with him interfere with her longstanding friendships.
At some point, Buffy couldn't exactly pinpoint it, she realized that her friends were having their own problems. She saw that maybe they should actually be focusing on their own lives instead of living around hers. She made an effort to notice her friends more than worrying about Spike. An effort that failed more than it succeeded, but she still managed a little more Scooby focus and a little less Spike obsession. That mostly came at night, when she patrolled and when she went to bed alone. But her friends had been with her for years, and she wasn't going to let them down. Obsessing over their lives might distract her from the fact that it had now been a month since Spike had left. Two weeks since his phone call. But she pushed that out of her mind for a while, convincing herself that he would be back in a matter of days, and he'd better have a really good surprise for her.
Unfortunately, Buffy's newfound focus on her friends made her notice things she would have rather not. Xander's occasional freaked-out face when Anya pulled out the wedding books. Anya's complete oblivion to this. Tara's disappointed scowls toward Willow when she talked about doing spells. Willow's reproached look after a Tara scowl. And Giles. Giles noticed it all and his poor glasses had probably suffered the brunt of his concern. He had found a furnished apartment, but agreed to stay with Buffy until Spike returned, unsure of what her reaction would be if he didn't come back soon.
But Buffy's best intentions about not letting Spike's leaving get to her were mostly in vain. She became so distracted that two months into his absence she'd gotten injured on patrol 3 times in one week. Her friends decided that it was intervention time again. As they all arrived somber- faced at her house, Buffy knew what was coming. She didn't try to stop them, instead she just sat down to let the barrage come. Before Willow could start her practiced speech, the phone rang. Buffy thought about letting it ring, but ever since Spike had left, that wasn't an option. They all knew it and Buffy mumbled an apology as she went to the kitchen to answer the phone. 'Let them all rehearse again,' she thought.
She sighed as she picked up the phone. "Hello," she said tiredly. No answer. "Hello?" she said, slightly louder.
She heard what she thought was humming on the other end of the line. Then, as she was about to hang up on whoever had the time and energy to prank her, she heard quietly, "Buffy? Buffy. Will you come? I need you. *We* need you. Him too. The other. He wails for you, poor fellow. And I thought *I* was the.......hmmm......Will you come? I, we, understand now. He explained it all. How you wanted it to be him. Now he wants it to be you."
"Spike?" Buffy's voice quivered.
"Spike," he said the name with disgust. "Yes, he's here. Will you come? Put the poor bastard, oh dear, do pardon my language. Shouldn't speak to a lady so. Do you forgive me, Buffy?"
Buffy remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to say and not completely certain she was talking to her Spike. "Yes," she finally said quietly.
"Good. Couldn't depart with that on my conscience. It just won't do to treat a woman such as you with disrespect. Mother taught me better. Father taught me better. Can't be blinded if I never could see, right? At least I think......"
"Depart? Where are you? You already left, aren't you coming back to me?"
He cleared his throat. "Well, we were hoping that you might join us here. He insists it be you. I fully concur. If you decline our request......we'll just have to do it ourselves. A rather unsavory prospect, but our only remaining option should you turn us down. Pain is pain. One pain as good as the next. Don't do well with pain, like chickens on the block-never did have enough sense."
Buffy frowned and close her eyes tight. "Spike, where are you?"
He gave a disgusted sigh. "*We* are in a rather shabby little inn. The walls crawl at times, but we know what it wants. It's what they all want. They want......oh god, no......no, no, no.....you can't......we were doing fine.....don't!" He let out a fierce growl and then there was silence for a long moment.
"Spike? Spike! Are you there? Tell me where you are!" Buffy was frantic, twisting the phone cord into knots. By now her friends heard her pleas and joined her in the kitchen, watching the emotions play on her face.
Then slowly, quietly, barely a whisper, "Buffy.......Buffy luv? Can you help? Can't take this. Please help.....so sorry.......I know sorry now.......please come......"
"Spike! Where are you? Tell me exactly where you are, I'm coming, ok?"
A sigh. "I knew you would. Told the ponce you would. I'm here, Buffy. Right here."
Buffy took a deep breath. "Ok, Spike, you have to tell me what motel you're at. What city? What state, for that matter."
"Hmmm.....how do I......can't figure it......"
"Ok, look at a table or a nightstand. Any papers there? Read what they say."
After a bit of grunting and rustling, he said, "Oh, this says Modesto Best Inn. I don't think it's the best, but I don't really remember picking."
"Modesto. California. What room number?"
"Um, don't know."
Buffy sighed. "Ok, open the door and tell me what the outside says."
"No! Can't do that. Not opening the door for anyone but you. I.....well, *he* is scared of them. Doesn't want them to find us."
Buffy shook her head, knowing it was no use to discuss whatever this was over the phone. "Ok, did you ride your motorcycle there? Is it out front?"
"Wait." After a bit of thumping around, he came back on the line. "Yeah, still out there. You fancy it, pet? You can have it.....after. If you want. Not sure a little girl like you could handle it, but if any bint can, it's probably you."
"Ok, Spike. Stay where you are. I'll be there in a couple of hours. Are you going to be ok?"
"We'll manage. Just......hurry, ok? Don't like this. Too much junk in my head."
"I'll be there as fast as I can, I promise. Spike, I..."
"I love you, Buffy," he said quickly before hanging up.
Buffy stared at the receiver for a long moment before coming out of it. She slammed down the hook with her hand and then let it up. She dialed information, trying to find the Modesto Best Inn.
Meanwhile, her friends just stood watching, wondering what had just happened. As if sensing their question, Buffy said, "It's Spike. I think he's in trouble. I'm going to get him. He's close." Before anyone could ask more, she was talking to someone on the other line and scribbling something on a notepad.
As she hung up the phone, Giles asked cautiously, "Would you like one of us to join you?"
Buffy shook her head. "I don't know what's going on, but I think it's best if I go alone."
Willow frowned. "But Buff, you don't even have a license."
Buffy grabbed her coat and keys and shouted over her shoulder on her way out the door, "I have a car, that's all I need right now." 'That, and Spike,' she thought.
Her friends were left wondering what Buffy was heading into, and sincerely hoping that Spike was worth it.
**
TBC
Buffy knew her friends were concerned, but she couldn't shake her fear over Spike's well being. And just the utter confusion of the situation. His call hadn't given her any more answers than that he was safe at that moment. But if he had been hurt or killed the next moment, how would she ever know? It's not like he walked around wearing a sign that said "Property of Buffy Summers. If found, return to 1630 Revello Drive Sunnydale, CA." But she was seriously thinking about investing in just such a sign when she saw that platinum vamp again. If she saw him again. She tried to force herself to not think negatively, but there were so many questions swirling around. And her friends didn't make it much better, looking at her sadly one moment while trying to pick her up the next.
Buffy realized her friends were worried that she would get depressed like after she came back. But this was very different. She had no thought of harming herself. She wasn't even really depressed. Just concerned. Concerned to the point that it affected every single thing she did or said. But she knew Spike would come back to her, so she decided to stop moping around the house and freaking out every time the phone rang and just enjoy some time with her friends. She knew that Spike preferred time away from the Scoobies, and she was determined not to let her new romance with him interfere with her longstanding friendships.
At some point, Buffy couldn't exactly pinpoint it, she realized that her friends were having their own problems. She saw that maybe they should actually be focusing on their own lives instead of living around hers. She made an effort to notice her friends more than worrying about Spike. An effort that failed more than it succeeded, but she still managed a little more Scooby focus and a little less Spike obsession. That mostly came at night, when she patrolled and when she went to bed alone. But her friends had been with her for years, and she wasn't going to let them down. Obsessing over their lives might distract her from the fact that it had now been a month since Spike had left. Two weeks since his phone call. But she pushed that out of her mind for a while, convincing herself that he would be back in a matter of days, and he'd better have a really good surprise for her.
Unfortunately, Buffy's newfound focus on her friends made her notice things she would have rather not. Xander's occasional freaked-out face when Anya pulled out the wedding books. Anya's complete oblivion to this. Tara's disappointed scowls toward Willow when she talked about doing spells. Willow's reproached look after a Tara scowl. And Giles. Giles noticed it all and his poor glasses had probably suffered the brunt of his concern. He had found a furnished apartment, but agreed to stay with Buffy until Spike returned, unsure of what her reaction would be if he didn't come back soon.
But Buffy's best intentions about not letting Spike's leaving get to her were mostly in vain. She became so distracted that two months into his absence she'd gotten injured on patrol 3 times in one week. Her friends decided that it was intervention time again. As they all arrived somber- faced at her house, Buffy knew what was coming. She didn't try to stop them, instead she just sat down to let the barrage come. Before Willow could start her practiced speech, the phone rang. Buffy thought about letting it ring, but ever since Spike had left, that wasn't an option. They all knew it and Buffy mumbled an apology as she went to the kitchen to answer the phone. 'Let them all rehearse again,' she thought.
She sighed as she picked up the phone. "Hello," she said tiredly. No answer. "Hello?" she said, slightly louder.
She heard what she thought was humming on the other end of the line. Then, as she was about to hang up on whoever had the time and energy to prank her, she heard quietly, "Buffy? Buffy. Will you come? I need you. *We* need you. Him too. The other. He wails for you, poor fellow. And I thought *I* was the.......hmmm......Will you come? I, we, understand now. He explained it all. How you wanted it to be him. Now he wants it to be you."
"Spike?" Buffy's voice quivered.
"Spike," he said the name with disgust. "Yes, he's here. Will you come? Put the poor bastard, oh dear, do pardon my language. Shouldn't speak to a lady so. Do you forgive me, Buffy?"
Buffy remained silent for a moment, unsure of what to say and not completely certain she was talking to her Spike. "Yes," she finally said quietly.
"Good. Couldn't depart with that on my conscience. It just won't do to treat a woman such as you with disrespect. Mother taught me better. Father taught me better. Can't be blinded if I never could see, right? At least I think......"
"Depart? Where are you? You already left, aren't you coming back to me?"
He cleared his throat. "Well, we were hoping that you might join us here. He insists it be you. I fully concur. If you decline our request......we'll just have to do it ourselves. A rather unsavory prospect, but our only remaining option should you turn us down. Pain is pain. One pain as good as the next. Don't do well with pain, like chickens on the block-never did have enough sense."
Buffy frowned and close her eyes tight. "Spike, where are you?"
He gave a disgusted sigh. "*We* are in a rather shabby little inn. The walls crawl at times, but we know what it wants. It's what they all want. They want......oh god, no......no, no, no.....you can't......we were doing fine.....don't!" He let out a fierce growl and then there was silence for a long moment.
"Spike? Spike! Are you there? Tell me where you are!" Buffy was frantic, twisting the phone cord into knots. By now her friends heard her pleas and joined her in the kitchen, watching the emotions play on her face.
Then slowly, quietly, barely a whisper, "Buffy.......Buffy luv? Can you help? Can't take this. Please help.....so sorry.......I know sorry now.......please come......"
"Spike! Where are you? Tell me exactly where you are, I'm coming, ok?"
A sigh. "I knew you would. Told the ponce you would. I'm here, Buffy. Right here."
Buffy took a deep breath. "Ok, Spike, you have to tell me what motel you're at. What city? What state, for that matter."
"Hmmm.....how do I......can't figure it......"
"Ok, look at a table or a nightstand. Any papers there? Read what they say."
After a bit of grunting and rustling, he said, "Oh, this says Modesto Best Inn. I don't think it's the best, but I don't really remember picking."
"Modesto. California. What room number?"
"Um, don't know."
Buffy sighed. "Ok, open the door and tell me what the outside says."
"No! Can't do that. Not opening the door for anyone but you. I.....well, *he* is scared of them. Doesn't want them to find us."
Buffy shook her head, knowing it was no use to discuss whatever this was over the phone. "Ok, did you ride your motorcycle there? Is it out front?"
"Wait." After a bit of thumping around, he came back on the line. "Yeah, still out there. You fancy it, pet? You can have it.....after. If you want. Not sure a little girl like you could handle it, but if any bint can, it's probably you."
"Ok, Spike. Stay where you are. I'll be there in a couple of hours. Are you going to be ok?"
"We'll manage. Just......hurry, ok? Don't like this. Too much junk in my head."
"I'll be there as fast as I can, I promise. Spike, I..."
"I love you, Buffy," he said quickly before hanging up.
Buffy stared at the receiver for a long moment before coming out of it. She slammed down the hook with her hand and then let it up. She dialed information, trying to find the Modesto Best Inn.
Meanwhile, her friends just stood watching, wondering what had just happened. As if sensing their question, Buffy said, "It's Spike. I think he's in trouble. I'm going to get him. He's close." Before anyone could ask more, she was talking to someone on the other line and scribbling something on a notepad.
As she hung up the phone, Giles asked cautiously, "Would you like one of us to join you?"
Buffy shook her head. "I don't know what's going on, but I think it's best if I go alone."
Willow frowned. "But Buff, you don't even have a license."
Buffy grabbed her coat and keys and shouted over her shoulder on her way out the door, "I have a car, that's all I need right now." 'That, and Spike,' she thought.
Her friends were left wondering what Buffy was heading into, and sincerely hoping that Spike was worth it.
**
TBC