Chapter 26
Meeting
Spike woke a few hours later, unrested and agitated from his dream filled slumber. He rubbed his eyes, pushed his fingers through his mussed hair and swung his legs around to the side of the bed. Murmuring profanities under his breath, he found his discarded clothes and began dressing. Deciding he'd feel better once he was out in the cool night air, he grabbed the room key from the dresser and headed out for what he hoped would be a fun-filled yet informative night.
*********************************
Buffy, Angel, Xander, Anya, Giles, Kennedy and Clem sat silently watching as Willow poured the white sand into the shape of a circle onto the living room floor. She sat the map of Sunnydale in front of her and took her place in the center.
"Do you have something of Spike's?"
Buffy nodded, pulled the lighter from her pocket and rubbed it between her fingers before handing it off. Willow took the object, giving a look of encouragement as she placed it in front of her on the map. Pulling open a small jar, she sprinkled the map with a light powder and waited. Almost immediately a glow emerged.
"He's somewhere near The Bronze." Willow stated, handing the lighter back to Buffy.
"Good. Should be easy to find then," she answered back, already putting on her jacket, preparing to leave.
Willow grabbed Kitara's sweater she'd taken from the girl's room in the Hyperion hotel and chucked it into the center of the circle. Again, she sprinkled the powder onto the map, waiting for the familiar glow. When no results came, she sprinkled a little more.
"What's the problem?" Buffy asked, a slight scowl taking over her features.
"I don't know," Willow answered, confused by the lack of the eminent glow. "She's not here."
"What do you mean?" Angel asked, stepping forward beside Buffy.
"I mean she's gone. Her essence. It's like she doesn't exist."
Slayer and vampire glanced at each other, not knowing what to think.
"It doesn't matter. We'll do it without her! Let's just find Spike," Buffy stated harshly, heading for the door. "Get some rope ready and find something in those books that can tell us how to get him back!"
She was already out the door with Angel on her heels before anyone could answer. Anxious and petrified, she lead the way toward The Bronze, knowing it wasn't 'her' Spike she was going to find there. 'Her Spike,' she repeated to herself as they walked in silence. When exactly had he become 'her' Spike? When he chained her up and confessed his undying love for her? When he'd withstood the torture inflicted by a hell god for her? When he'd become the only one of her friends she felt she could confide in? Friend. Not the word she ever thought she would use when referring to Spike. But that's what he was. Friend. Confident. Lover. 'Her' Spike.
"Let me go in first," she told Angel when they finally arrived outside the club. "He'll know something's up if he sees you. Wait here.I'll try to lure him out."
"Don't think you'll have to," came the reply from Angel, gesturing toward the alley. "He's there."
"Stay here!" she yelled, suddenly feeling the reality of the situation.
***************************
Spike held the sobbing girl against the wall, pushing her long, brown hair away to expose the tender skin beneath her ear.
"If you're a good girl, this won't hurt. Well.not much anyway," he added with a glint of humor in his eyes.
His face shifted, revealing the demon as he licked the flesh and allowed his fangs to brush against her neck.
"I'd get away from her."
Spike pulled back as his yellow eyes narrowed into a glare. His voice was deep and threatening. "Slayer."
He whirled around, letting go of the frightened girl to see Buffy standing at attention behind him, stake already in hand.
"Run!" she screamed realizing the woman was too paralyzed with fear to move. "Now!" she repeated frantically. The victim finally retreated, running down the alley, disappearing out of sight.
Spike let out a deep agitated sigh, rolling his eyes toward the sky. "Bloody hell, slayer. Should have known I could count on you."
"Wouldn't want to disappoint you, Spike."
"That mean you're offering to take her place?" His voice faded as his eyes trailed down her body.
"You wanna meet this up close and personal?" she threatened, holding the stake up in full view. He stepped back, allowing his human guise to re- emerge
Buffy was surprised how easy it was to resort back to the same old bickering they'd shared years ago. Years ago when he still wanted to kill her. This was 'her' Spike and he 'would' try to kill her if she wasn't careful.
"I didn't come here to fight." She spoke softly, letting the stake fall to rest at her side.
"Well that should make things easier for me," he replied, stepping closer again.
"You need to listen to me, Spike."
"I'd rather fight." His arms flew up, allowing the momentum for his leg to sweep around, catching her in the ribs.
She pushed him off, sending him flying backward into the wall. Not enough to stop him, he charged again only to be halted by Buffy's fist connecting with his nose.
"Bloody hell!" he screamed, reaching to wipe the trickling blood away. Always the nose.
"Shut up and listen!" she demanded, annoyed by his un-cooperation. "I'm calling a truce here! Time out!"
He smugly laughed. "We're mortal enemies. We don't get time outs," he belted, throwing her own words from long ago back at her.
"Something happened to you, Spike," she answered ignoring his comment.
He settled back, dropping his stance, and pulled out his cigarette pack when he realized she was serious. He searched his pocket for a moment until Buffy realized what he was doing. She pulled out his lighter, tossing it toward him.
"Looking for this?," she asked coldly as he caught the silver object in his hand.
A coy smile appeared on his lips as he lit a cigarette and pushed the rest back into his pocket. Buffy watched while he inhaled deeply and allowed the excess smoke to linger away.
"Have you been noticing anything? Anything strange?"
Spike figured he'd play along, maybe getting the answers he needed. "Time going wonky? Memory a bit fuzzy? That the kind of strange you're talking about, slayer?"
"That would be it," she answered, glad he was at least being honest with her.
"Yeah? Well, it's been bloody annoying. Whatever you did, undo it so I can get the hell out of this sodding place." He paused, reflecting. "I'm thinking somewhere warm and tropical."
Buffy ignored the sarcastic joke. "Undo it? You think I did this to you?!"
"Been told as much. Couldn't quite figure it to be anyone else."
"It wasn't me, Spike. I wouldn't....." She stopped, realizing he wouldn't believe her even if she said it. "Who told you that?"
"No one important. Now are you gonna explain? Or are we gonna fight this out?" he asked, dropping his finished cigarette to the ground.
His attention was diverted and his eyes wandered cautiously around him. There was something familiar. His nostrils flared, catching the scent.
"Well, well." He glanced toward Buffy. "Where 'is' tall, dark and broody? You might as well come out....I know you're there!" he called to the dark alley.
"What are you talking about?" Buffy answered, trying to play at being confused.
"Don't think you can fool me, slayer. I'd know that scent anywhere..."
"Hello, Spike," Angel spat, appearing in front of the blonde vampire.
Spike looked nervously between his two enemies, ready to counter any sudden moves. "What is this?!"
"We just need to talk to you," Buffy answered trying to sound non- aggressive.
He glared at Angel with eyes that spoke a zillion words. "Surprised you're moving around so good. I'll have to remember to do better the next time I have you tortured. Maybe if I do it myself...."
Angel's expression hardened, realizing the truth of Spike's words. He recalled the hours of pain he'd endured as Spike stood back and gloated. "I'd like to see you try," he offered.
Buffy jabbed Angel in the side, reminding him of why they were there.
"That's enough! Are you both idiots?!! I can't believe either one of you managed to live past a century!"
Her outburst warranted a dumbfounded look from both men. "We're here to help you, Spike."
He looked pointedly at Angel. "Where's my sodding ring?!!" he demanded.
"The ring is gone. History."
"Stupid git! Like I'm supposed to believe that!"
"Believe whatever you want, Spike. You're in for a hell of a surprise." Angel answered.
Buffy could see the thought process in Spike's brain turning and took the moment to try to talk sensibly about the situation.
"What's the last thing you remember?" she asked.
Spike cleared his throat as images of a hot, naked slayer and candle wax came to mind. He closed his eyes, trying to shake it off.
"Um.nothing. Driving back from L.A. after that bloody wanker stole my ring!" he protested, glaring at Angel.
Angel growled under his breath but eased up when Buffy glanced his way.
"So that means you don't remember the Initiative? The chip?"
Spike's brow raised in confusion. "Wanna run that by me again, slayer?"
"Nothing. Nevermind," she answered, agitation in her voice. She turned her eyes to Angel. "We should get him back to the house."
"I'm not going anywhere!" Spike complained. "How thick do you think I am?!" He turned and began heading in the other direction away from them.
Buffy quickly grabbed his arm, pulling him back roughly. Spike followed his first reflex and brought his fist up to meet her temple.
"Knock it off! This is for your own good!" she screamed, reiterating with a punch of her own. "Angel....could use a little help here!"
"Sorry. Kind of enjoying this," he answered, amused as the sight of their brawling. Anything was better than the X-rated pictures he'd conjured up of Spike and Buffy in the past couple of days.
Buffy gave him a look of warning before sending another fist sprawling, knocking the blonde vampire down to the ground unconscious.
She turned toward Angel, rubbing her pained hand. "He's really gonna hate me when he wakes up."
"You knock me out like that, I'd hate you too," he joked, pulling Spike off the ground.
The remark was lost on Buffy as she thought about the disturbing sentence. "Spike's gonna hate me."
They walked in silence, carrying the burden and dead weight of a knocked unconscious vampire.
TBC
Sorry again this took so long! I'll try to do better! I promise!
Meeting
Spike woke a few hours later, unrested and agitated from his dream filled slumber. He rubbed his eyes, pushed his fingers through his mussed hair and swung his legs around to the side of the bed. Murmuring profanities under his breath, he found his discarded clothes and began dressing. Deciding he'd feel better once he was out in the cool night air, he grabbed the room key from the dresser and headed out for what he hoped would be a fun-filled yet informative night.
*********************************
Buffy, Angel, Xander, Anya, Giles, Kennedy and Clem sat silently watching as Willow poured the white sand into the shape of a circle onto the living room floor. She sat the map of Sunnydale in front of her and took her place in the center.
"Do you have something of Spike's?"
Buffy nodded, pulled the lighter from her pocket and rubbed it between her fingers before handing it off. Willow took the object, giving a look of encouragement as she placed it in front of her on the map. Pulling open a small jar, she sprinkled the map with a light powder and waited. Almost immediately a glow emerged.
"He's somewhere near The Bronze." Willow stated, handing the lighter back to Buffy.
"Good. Should be easy to find then," she answered back, already putting on her jacket, preparing to leave.
Willow grabbed Kitara's sweater she'd taken from the girl's room in the Hyperion hotel and chucked it into the center of the circle. Again, she sprinkled the powder onto the map, waiting for the familiar glow. When no results came, she sprinkled a little more.
"What's the problem?" Buffy asked, a slight scowl taking over her features.
"I don't know," Willow answered, confused by the lack of the eminent glow. "She's not here."
"What do you mean?" Angel asked, stepping forward beside Buffy.
"I mean she's gone. Her essence. It's like she doesn't exist."
Slayer and vampire glanced at each other, not knowing what to think.
"It doesn't matter. We'll do it without her! Let's just find Spike," Buffy stated harshly, heading for the door. "Get some rope ready and find something in those books that can tell us how to get him back!"
She was already out the door with Angel on her heels before anyone could answer. Anxious and petrified, she lead the way toward The Bronze, knowing it wasn't 'her' Spike she was going to find there. 'Her Spike,' she repeated to herself as they walked in silence. When exactly had he become 'her' Spike? When he chained her up and confessed his undying love for her? When he'd withstood the torture inflicted by a hell god for her? When he'd become the only one of her friends she felt she could confide in? Friend. Not the word she ever thought she would use when referring to Spike. But that's what he was. Friend. Confident. Lover. 'Her' Spike.
"Let me go in first," she told Angel when they finally arrived outside the club. "He'll know something's up if he sees you. Wait here.I'll try to lure him out."
"Don't think you'll have to," came the reply from Angel, gesturing toward the alley. "He's there."
"Stay here!" she yelled, suddenly feeling the reality of the situation.
***************************
Spike held the sobbing girl against the wall, pushing her long, brown hair away to expose the tender skin beneath her ear.
"If you're a good girl, this won't hurt. Well.not much anyway," he added with a glint of humor in his eyes.
His face shifted, revealing the demon as he licked the flesh and allowed his fangs to brush against her neck.
"I'd get away from her."
Spike pulled back as his yellow eyes narrowed into a glare. His voice was deep and threatening. "Slayer."
He whirled around, letting go of the frightened girl to see Buffy standing at attention behind him, stake already in hand.
"Run!" she screamed realizing the woman was too paralyzed with fear to move. "Now!" she repeated frantically. The victim finally retreated, running down the alley, disappearing out of sight.
Spike let out a deep agitated sigh, rolling his eyes toward the sky. "Bloody hell, slayer. Should have known I could count on you."
"Wouldn't want to disappoint you, Spike."
"That mean you're offering to take her place?" His voice faded as his eyes trailed down her body.
"You wanna meet this up close and personal?" she threatened, holding the stake up in full view. He stepped back, allowing his human guise to re- emerge
Buffy was surprised how easy it was to resort back to the same old bickering they'd shared years ago. Years ago when he still wanted to kill her. This was 'her' Spike and he 'would' try to kill her if she wasn't careful.
"I didn't come here to fight." She spoke softly, letting the stake fall to rest at her side.
"Well that should make things easier for me," he replied, stepping closer again.
"You need to listen to me, Spike."
"I'd rather fight." His arms flew up, allowing the momentum for his leg to sweep around, catching her in the ribs.
She pushed him off, sending him flying backward into the wall. Not enough to stop him, he charged again only to be halted by Buffy's fist connecting with his nose.
"Bloody hell!" he screamed, reaching to wipe the trickling blood away. Always the nose.
"Shut up and listen!" she demanded, annoyed by his un-cooperation. "I'm calling a truce here! Time out!"
He smugly laughed. "We're mortal enemies. We don't get time outs," he belted, throwing her own words from long ago back at her.
"Something happened to you, Spike," she answered ignoring his comment.
He settled back, dropping his stance, and pulled out his cigarette pack when he realized she was serious. He searched his pocket for a moment until Buffy realized what he was doing. She pulled out his lighter, tossing it toward him.
"Looking for this?," she asked coldly as he caught the silver object in his hand.
A coy smile appeared on his lips as he lit a cigarette and pushed the rest back into his pocket. Buffy watched while he inhaled deeply and allowed the excess smoke to linger away.
"Have you been noticing anything? Anything strange?"
Spike figured he'd play along, maybe getting the answers he needed. "Time going wonky? Memory a bit fuzzy? That the kind of strange you're talking about, slayer?"
"That would be it," she answered, glad he was at least being honest with her.
"Yeah? Well, it's been bloody annoying. Whatever you did, undo it so I can get the hell out of this sodding place." He paused, reflecting. "I'm thinking somewhere warm and tropical."
Buffy ignored the sarcastic joke. "Undo it? You think I did this to you?!"
"Been told as much. Couldn't quite figure it to be anyone else."
"It wasn't me, Spike. I wouldn't....." She stopped, realizing he wouldn't believe her even if she said it. "Who told you that?"
"No one important. Now are you gonna explain? Or are we gonna fight this out?" he asked, dropping his finished cigarette to the ground.
His attention was diverted and his eyes wandered cautiously around him. There was something familiar. His nostrils flared, catching the scent.
"Well, well." He glanced toward Buffy. "Where 'is' tall, dark and broody? You might as well come out....I know you're there!" he called to the dark alley.
"What are you talking about?" Buffy answered, trying to play at being confused.
"Don't think you can fool me, slayer. I'd know that scent anywhere..."
"Hello, Spike," Angel spat, appearing in front of the blonde vampire.
Spike looked nervously between his two enemies, ready to counter any sudden moves. "What is this?!"
"We just need to talk to you," Buffy answered trying to sound non- aggressive.
He glared at Angel with eyes that spoke a zillion words. "Surprised you're moving around so good. I'll have to remember to do better the next time I have you tortured. Maybe if I do it myself...."
Angel's expression hardened, realizing the truth of Spike's words. He recalled the hours of pain he'd endured as Spike stood back and gloated. "I'd like to see you try," he offered.
Buffy jabbed Angel in the side, reminding him of why they were there.
"That's enough! Are you both idiots?!! I can't believe either one of you managed to live past a century!"
Her outburst warranted a dumbfounded look from both men. "We're here to help you, Spike."
He looked pointedly at Angel. "Where's my sodding ring?!!" he demanded.
"The ring is gone. History."
"Stupid git! Like I'm supposed to believe that!"
"Believe whatever you want, Spike. You're in for a hell of a surprise." Angel answered.
Buffy could see the thought process in Spike's brain turning and took the moment to try to talk sensibly about the situation.
"What's the last thing you remember?" she asked.
Spike cleared his throat as images of a hot, naked slayer and candle wax came to mind. He closed his eyes, trying to shake it off.
"Um.nothing. Driving back from L.A. after that bloody wanker stole my ring!" he protested, glaring at Angel.
Angel growled under his breath but eased up when Buffy glanced his way.
"So that means you don't remember the Initiative? The chip?"
Spike's brow raised in confusion. "Wanna run that by me again, slayer?"
"Nothing. Nevermind," she answered, agitation in her voice. She turned her eyes to Angel. "We should get him back to the house."
"I'm not going anywhere!" Spike complained. "How thick do you think I am?!" He turned and began heading in the other direction away from them.
Buffy quickly grabbed his arm, pulling him back roughly. Spike followed his first reflex and brought his fist up to meet her temple.
"Knock it off! This is for your own good!" she screamed, reiterating with a punch of her own. "Angel....could use a little help here!"
"Sorry. Kind of enjoying this," he answered, amused as the sight of their brawling. Anything was better than the X-rated pictures he'd conjured up of Spike and Buffy in the past couple of days.
Buffy gave him a look of warning before sending another fist sprawling, knocking the blonde vampire down to the ground unconscious.
She turned toward Angel, rubbing her pained hand. "He's really gonna hate me when he wakes up."
"You knock me out like that, I'd hate you too," he joked, pulling Spike off the ground.
The remark was lost on Buffy as she thought about the disturbing sentence. "Spike's gonna hate me."
They walked in silence, carrying the burden and dead weight of a knocked unconscious vampire.
TBC
Sorry again this took so long! I'll try to do better! I promise!