Chapter Three.
'Hey, Travers,' one of chefs pulled him to one side. 'There's a chick out the back asking for ya.'
'Huh?'
'Yeah, she said it was important. Kinda hot, and British like you.'
'Fuck!' Spike knew it could only be one person. 'Ok, I'll be back in five.'
He walked towards the back of the restaurant, not noticing the small blonde slip out after him.
He lit a cigarette and looked around. 'Dru.where are you, luv?'
'Spike.' A thin, black shadow moved out of the darkness, and into the dim light that was spilling into the alleyway from the street.
'The wind carried a story to me. A tale of sadness and despair travelled to me over seas and was whispered to me as I slept. It told me I must come and see you.that I must lift the weight you carry.'
Spike looked at her outline and shivered as her hand caressed his cheek.
'You miss me, my Spike. You will not allow yourself to live. Mummy has come to make it better. It will all be better, my Spike.'
Spike looked at her, for a moment not daring to believe. Then he threw himself at the waiflike creature before him, hugging to him as if he would never let he go.
He pulled back and looked at her, gently brushing her cheek. Suddenly Drusilla drew back from him and slapped his hand.
'Naughty boy. He does not understand us. He twists our words until they are shaped for him alone. I am not here to come back to you. I am here to tell you it is over. Do not hold onto things that will never be. Some things are written in the stars.some things are meant to be. We are not one of them, Spike.
'You will find her.the heavens sing their happiness as you are drawn closer together, but I am not her. Move on, my Spike. It is over.
Spike jerked his head back, like she had slapped him. 'Dru.please Dru. Don't do this. Dru, I love you. I need you. Please, luv.'
'No my Spike. You don't need me. You will know, you will learn what need is. Good-bye my Spike.'
Looking at the space where she had been, Spike fell to his knees, his arms barely supporting him as he leaned forward and gasped for air. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't see, there was nothing in him except for the pain.
Suddenly he felt a tentative hand on his heaving shoulder, rubbing gently up and down his back.
'Breathe, you have to breathe.'
The black spots in front of his eyes began to lessen and fade away. He groggily turned his head to see a pair of large green eyes peering at him in concern.
'Wi - Spike? Are you gonna be ok?'
He stood suddenly and violently brushed the small girl away, sending her spinning into the wall. She looked up at him dazed.
'Wha- what was that for?'
'You fucking bitch! What is your problem? Did you think it would be fun to listen to some pathetic guy getting his heart broken? Do you get a kick outta making people suffer? You are one bloody sick bint, did you know that?'
The next thing he knew was a fist connecting with his nose and then one in his stomach. He fell back to the ground winded.
When he caught his breath he looked up to see the fiery blonde towering over him, her previously pouting lips curled in disgust and her eyes flashing is anger, 'What is my problem? What is my problem, you jerk?
'You are the one who turns into a crazy-psycho when someone tries to help you. I came out here to apologise to you, you pig. To say sorry for upsetting you earlier.
'I didn't come out to find you on the ground having trouble breathing and try to help you to be shoved into a wall. What is your malfunction? You hit a girl who is half your size, who was trying to help you. God, you are screwed up.'
Spike looked at Buffy, suddenly feeling ashamed. 'You.you mean you didn't 'ear me an' Dru.'
'Dru? What the hell is a Dru? I came out here to apologise. How many times do I have to say it? I found you on the ground and out of the kindness and, now apparent, stupidity of my heart and you fucking hit me. Not that it really matters, I could take you down any day. But what if it had been someone else? You could have really hurt them.'
'Er, sorry, luv. I thought.'
'You thought what? That I had come to eavesdrop on you and Dru.whatever that may be. Don't flatter yourself, you jerk.'
And with a parting blow to his jaw, she turned and walked back into the restaurant.
Spike sat on the ground, rubbing his jaw ruefully. 'Bleedin' hell. You could have a' least hit a chit who doesn't hit back.' He reached into his pocket for a lighter and lit a cigarette.
Suddenly a voice from behind him startled him out of his misery. 'Hey, Travers! What are you doing out here? What did I say not one hour ago? You work or you walk! I warned you, now get your things and get out.'
*************
Buffy smiled at the waiter who was placing a plate in front of her, while massaging her knuckles under the table. She would go and hit a guy after not having properly trained for six months. She made a mental note to buy a punching bag when she got her first pay check from Giles. She needed to get back into shape if she wanted to enter the kick-boxing tournament at the en of the year.
'.so what do you think, honey?'
Buffy struggled for a moment, deciding whether or not to ask her mum for about the third time in the past twenty minutes to repeat herself. Damn Spike! He even invaded her thoughts when he wasn't around. Stupid, annoying, bleached.
'Honey?'
'Oh, um, yep, it's a great idea.'
Joyce smiled, looking pleased. 'Well, I will then, one last shipment can't do any harm and we could double sales with that item and.Oh my.'
Buffy turned in the direction her mother was looking to see a temperamental looking man dragging an apron from around Spike's waist while pushing him in the direction of the exit. She didn't bother hiding her grin as Spike happened to glance her way, seething in embarrassment. She just laughed, causing him to scowl and storm out of the restaurant.
'Suddenly I feel a whole lot better.'
*************
Buffy looked up from her second cup of coffee as Giles entered the office.
'Oh, Buffy, I just wanted to tell you that we are staying open a little later tonight, there is one of those God-awful protests on, and whilst they will undoubtedly make a lot of unnecessary noise, they will hopefully buy coffee. Do you want to work the extra shift?'
'Sure, Giles. I've got nothing else to do.'
'Are you sure? I mean, you may want to go out with your friends.'
Buffy sighed. 'Nope, they are all spending a wonderful vacation at some retreat somewhere far far away, but I can't afford to go, so I'll take any extra shifts that you throw at me.'
'Oh, jolly good then. William.oh dear, I hope he didn't hear that, Spike, is also working. He needs the extra money. For some reason I was under the impression that he had another job, but apparently he doesn't.'
Buffy threw back her head and laughed. 'No, Giles. I can assure you that he doesn't have another job.'
Giles looked at her, bemused by her apparent humour at Spikes lack of a second job. He took off his glasses and polished then briefly as Buffy reached for the coffee pot for her third time.
'Buffy, that's the third cup you have had this morning and I realise that university often turns the most avid coffee detesters into addicts. but are you sure you aren't overdoing it?'
Buffy opened her mouth to reply, but another voice beat her to it. 'Leave 'er alone, Rupes. If the chit needs the caffeine then let `er `ave it and leave her in peace.'
Buffy turned to the newcomer, who was smiling slightly timidly at her.
'I don't need you to defend my rights to caffeine, Spike. I am quite capable of looking after myself. And speaking of looking after yourself, you should try it sometime.you have a terrible bruise on your chin, whatever happened?' She raised an eyebrow at him.
'I made a mistake, accused someone of doin somethin they hadn't, and picked a fight with the wrong person. Next time I think I'll bloody well wait and make sure I `ave the facts right before going for violence.'
'A wise move I should think.' Buffy glared at him. Stupid jerk, can't even apologise to me without making with the riddles.
Giles cleared his throat. 'You both have ten minutes before your shift starts. Try not to fight to much.'
Buffy turned to follow Giles, but was stopped by a hand on her arm.
'Buffy.'
'Save it, I really don't wanna be talking to you right now.'
Spike only gripped onto her arm tighter. 'Look, luv, I.'
'It's the Slayer! The Slayer is back in town.'
Buffy turned from Spike thankfully and greeted the new comer with a hug and a squeal. 'Oh My God, Devon. You are still here. I thought you would have left ages ago.
'You mean got sacked.nope, old Giles said as long as I don't serve customers and just wash up plates and stuff without breaking to much out the back I can stay.'
Buffy threw back her head and laughed, her teeth sparkling in the artificial lighting. Spike marvelled at how clean they stayed with the amount of coffee that she drank.
'So he lets you turn up to work stoned? That doesn't sound like Giles.'
'Yeah, man, I know. Still, I ain't complaining.so how's big school going, slayer?'
'How many times do I have to ask you not to call me that.or I'll remind you how I got that name. It's fine, a little intense at times, but I like it.'
'Woah. violence in the workplace, slay -'
'Devon.' Buffy's tone became warning and a glint, cautioning the other two to be careful, entered her eyes.
Devon took a step back, raising his hands in the air. 'Sorry, Buffy. Won't say it again.'
Spike raised his eyebrows at her. 'Slayer?'
Buffy glared at him. 'Don't you ever, ever use that name.'
'How'd you get it?'
Devon took a step forward, now that Buffy's attention was diverted. 'A judge gave it to her at the finals and I've never let her live it down.'
Spike looked confused. 'Judge?'
'Kick-boxing, man. Buff, here is a woman's state champion, in the top twenty in the whole US of A. She should give you demo sometime. It's wicked cool. I've seen her knock chicks three times her size to the floor.'
Buffy smirked as Spike tried to process this information. 'Don't worry, Devon. He doesn't need a demo. He's had one already.'
'Huh? I thought you gave it up for a few months until you got settled in. You in comps already?'
'Nope,' Buffy nodded to the light bruising on Spikes chin. 'He was being a pain in my ass, so I showed him why he should never do it again.'
Devon laughed, a slow stupid laugh that reminded Spike of Goofy.
'What'd ya say to her, man? Musta been bad.'
Buffy got in before Spike could open his mouth. 'He called me a dumb blonde.'
Devon looked at him in amazement. 'And you got away with just that bruise? She must like ya, man.'
Buffy glanced at the clock. 'Dammit, Spike come on, we're gotta go or Giles'll get pissed.'
'Right behind you, slayer.'
***************
It was eight o'clock that night and Buffy and Spike were still cleaning up the Magic Box, after sending an exhausted Giles home. Buffy was getting impatient at the cleaning process. She was tense and stressed from the busy day of work coupled with the many verbal sparring matches that she and Spike had had. She didn't understand what his problem was, but he made it absolute hell to work with him.
Feeling her only untensed muscles begin to seize up at the thought of him, Buffy pushed away her thoughts and bent to pick up the pieces of a plate that a drunken guy had decided to use as a Frisbee. She felt a prickling at the back of her neck and turned sharply to see Spike hastily glance away from her ass.
'What the hell is your problem?'
'What?' Spike tried his best to sound innocent.
'Don't you what me, Mr, or you'll get another bruise to match your first one.'
Spike looked at her, marvelling for what seemed like the millionth time that day how such a small, delicate looking girl could pack such a punch.
'So, you weren't kiddin when you said you could take me down any day.'
Buffy looked down at the floor. 'Well, maybe I exaggerated a little, I haven't trained properly for a few months. Can I ask a question?'
Spike nodded, 'Ask away.'
'Who is Dru?'
'Ah. Anything but that question.' Spikes face closed up, but Buffy didn't notice as she had resumed picking up the pieces of plate.
'Come on.I wanna know what I interrupted that got you so riled up.'
'I don't bleedin' wanna talk about it, Slayer.'
Buffy jerked her head away from him at the angry tone of his voice. 'Fine! Whatever, sorry for trying to make with the small talk. I won't do it again.'
She walked out the back and closed the office door with a bang behind her. Spike sighed, realising that his brief loss of temper meant that he would probably have to finish cleaning up by himself.
'Bloody Hell.' He growled as he up picked the full garbage bag and took it out the back. At least there wasn't that much left to do.
Half an hour later, Spike was lounging in one of the more comfortable chairs, sipping a coffee as he glanced through a magazine, not really reading it. His head was full of Buffy.
For the life of him, Spike couldn't understand what it was that got under his skin about the girl. She somehow managed to press buttons that even he didn't know her had. She could change his mood from ecstatic to furious within seconds.
There was just something about her.The way she spoke to him as if he meant nothing more to her than a piece of mud under her shoe. The way she wouldn't acknowledge him until he had spoken to her at least three times. Her witty come-backs that left him without a retort. The way she could act as if he wasn't even in the room by just moving around him like he was some piece of furniture in the way.
Wait a bleeding moment. Why the hell was he getting worked up that she wasn't noticing him? He hated her, and it was good that she could ignore him, so he could ignore her.
No, it mustn't be that she wasn't noticing him.it must be a physical attribute that annoyed him.
The way she tossed her sodding shampoo-commercial hair out of her eyes when she was taking orders. The way she swayed her hips as she walked across the room, like she knew he was watching and was taunting him. The way she bit her bottom lip when she was thinking, or pouted it when something went wrong. Just the thought of that full, pink lower lip was enough to make him begin shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He nearly groaned as he imagined that lip caught between his teeth as her hips ground against him and her hands.wait a bloody minute.
What the hell was he thinking about? What about Dru? The love of his life.his first love. The one who made his miserable life worth living.
*The one who dumped you last night for the second time* a cruel voice in the back of his mind reminded him.
No, he loved Dru. She would come around. After all, she had come all the way from merry old England to see him.
*To tell you to move on*
No! It didn't matter what she had said. It didn't matter that she had told him he was now drawing closer to his real love and on the day he had met Buffy.
Besides, this was Buffy, he reminded himself for the second time in two days. Horrible, annoying little chit who hassles your hair and says that you look like a vampire and hit you last night. You are not lusting after Buffy.
Spike took a mouthful of his now tepid coffee and moved his gaze back to the magazine, trying desperately to push all thoughts of Buffy aside. He glanced up as he heard the office door open and choked.
Buffy was standing in the doorway looking though her purse for something, unaware that she had an audience. She was wearing her favourite black leather pants that hung extremely low and hugged her hips and thighs a little to snugly for Spike's comfort. Her crimson shirt hung off one lightly bronzed shoulder and cropped about half an inch above her pants. He hair hung half-way down her back and as she looked up at Spike he took in her heavily black rimmed eyes and glossy cherry-coloured lips.
'Hello? Earth to Spike?' Buffy smiled to herself, pleased that she had made such a good impression - even if it was only Spike, changing in the badly lit office had been hell. But she gave no outward sign of her pleasure, just raised an eyebrow and looked bored.
'Are you gonna lock up, or shall I?'
Spike opened his mouth, closed it and the opened it again. 'Er, doesn't really matter.'
Buffy rolled her eyes. 'I'll do the back, you do the front.'
Spike nodded and caught the keys that she threw at him before retreating to lock the rear doors and windows.
When she was finished she returned to the front of the shop and gave the keys to Spike. 'Can you give these to Giles so he can open up tomorrow. I'm not working and I don't plan on missing a sleep in just to give him his keys.
'Sure.'
'Thanks,' Buffy nodded to him and began turning and walking off down the barely lit street.
'Hey, where are you going?'
'A club downtown. It's called the Bronze, have you heard of it?'
'Yeah, I heard it's a nice place.'
Buffy looked at him weirdly. 'Why do you care where I'm going?'
'I don't, it's just.how are you getting there?'
'Ummmm, what does it look like? I'm walking.'
'You bloody well are not.'
Buffy's eyebrows nearly shot to her hairline. 'What do you mean, I'm not? You can't tell me where I can and can not go.'
Spike shook his head and sighed. 'Look, luv.'
'Don't call me love, I'm not your love.'
'Fine, whatever. I'm just saying that you can't walk through this town late at night dressed like that. You never know what sort of Big Bad is out there waitin to prey on pretty young girls.'
Buffy took a step towards him. 'Look, Mister, you find me another way and I'll take it, but I don't drive and there are no buses. I walk home from here every night when I work, and I am quite capable of looking after myself.'
'Alright, I'm not saying you can't, but a single guy is one thing. A whole bloody gang is another.'
Buffy rolled her eyes again and walked away.
Now extremely worried, Spike grabbed her arm. 'Look, pet. I get that you can look after yourself, Girl Power and all that crap. But I just don't feel right about this. I'll tell you what. I'm not in the mood for an early night, why don't I drive you to the club. We'll swing by Rupes house first to give him the keys and I'll quickly change. Then I'll give you a ride home afterwards. I'll stay as long or as little as you want at The Bronze.'
As much as Buffy hated the idea of travelling with Spike, what he said did make sense and she didn't really want to have to walk a long way in those heels. Sighing resignedly she slid into the front passenger seat of Spikes car as he held the door open for her.
Spike ran around to the other side and hopped in the drivers seat, gunning the engine and taking off down the road.
Giles house was about 20 minutes from the Magic Box and Spike mentally groaned as the car's atmosphere became chilly. He glanced across at Buffy who was staring out the window, completely ignoring his presence.
Buffy could feel his eyes boring into her neck but refused to look at him. He was no doubt trying to catch her attention so he could annoy the crap out of her some more and she wasn't in the mood. Spike sighed and turned his eyes back to the road. A few minutes of chilly silence later he reached forward and clicked on the radio.
The volume was up pretty high and the mindless screaming of the heavy metal did nothing to ease tensions.
Buffy leaned forward and clicked off the radio.
'Hey!' Spike shot her a quick glare. 'Turn it back on!'
'No. It was giving me a headache.'
'It's my car, turn the music back on.'
'Listen, Mister! It's your own fault that I'm in the car, I didn't wanna be.but since you insisted I am. So don't you complain that I turn your music off.'
Spike raised his eyebrows and leaned forward to turn the music back on.
Less than five seconds later Buffy had turned it off.
Spike turned it on and, again, Buffy turned it off.
Growling in frustration, Spike turned it back on and held his hand over the knob so she couldn't get to it.
Buffy sighed, apparently conceding defeat, but when Spike returned both his hands to the wheel to turn a sharp corner, Buffy clicked the radio off again and with a sharp twist, pulled the knob from the radio giggling as she did so.
Spike didn't notice what she had done, and reached forward to turn the music back on. He groped around a bit, trying to find the little circle. Glancing down, he slammed his hand into the dashboard.
'Bloody hell, woman!'
**************
An hour later they had pulled up outside the Bronze.
Buffy clambered from the car, throwing the circular plastic at him. 'I could have gotten here myself ages ago. How long does I take you to change?'
Spike pretended not to hear her. The fact was, he was usually a lot quicker, but he had discovered that for some completely unknown reason that he was having trouble finding something to wear.
He felt that he should look extra good tonight, but he wasn't sure why. The thought that he was trying to impress Buffy had been quashed more quickly than it had appeared. He decided that he just felt like looking good tonight.but after that amazing revelation he realised that he still had absolutely no idea what to wear.
After nearly ten minutes of searching through his wardrobe he gave up and pulled on a pair of black leather pants, a black sleeveless shirt and a red button down shirt that he left unbuttoned. He left on the silver chain he already had around his neck and dampening his hands, he ran them through his hair until it was a messy mass of damp curls.
Buffy moved away from the car and into the club as he grabbed his duster from the back of the car and hurried after her.
Heads turned to stare at the striking blonde couple, unintentionally dressed alike in black and red. Spike noticed their stares right away and smirked as the crowd parted to let them through, jealous looks being thrown their way by most of the room.
The music was loud and he bent down so she could hear him, 'you want a drink, luv?' Buffy shook her head, and without saying a word moved toward the dance floor, not throwing a second glance.
Spike watched her as she swayed her hips to the beat of the music, raising her arms above her head, her eyes fluttering closed as she surrendered to the sway to the music.
She moved without conscious effort, her body twisting and swaying as though the music pulled her by invisible strings and she was helpless but to be caught in it. Her hands slid up and down her body in a ludicrously sensual way and Spike was taken aback by this sudden change in her temperament.
The people around her moved to away, to give her space, an unspoken respect and awe of her movements filtering through the room.
Looking at her face, Spike realised that she didn't actually have a clue what she was doing to the people around her. She probably didn't even know what she looked like as she gyrated to the quickening beat. Her hair fell about her shoulders, tousled and messy and her cheeks were becoming pink from her exertions.
Buffy suddenly snapped her eyes open and her movements faltered as she stared around the room, searching for something, Spike couldn't tell what. Her spine prickled, as she sensed. no it couldn't be.
The song had finished, and now a much slower one was playing, couples were moving together as the first strain of the lyrics drifted around the room. But Buffy's head was whipping this way and that, as she stood in the middle of the floor, oblivious to her surroundings.
Spike stood quickly, he wasn't sure what was going on with her, but the look on her face was enough to move him. She looked so lost.a combination of sadness, desperation and longing coupled with confusion - as though she didn't really believe whatever was going on in her head.
Spike pushed his way through the crowd to reach her, laying a hand gently on her arm. She jumped and spun around, relaxing when she saw who it was.
'Pet, are you ok?'
For once she didn't catch him on his pet names, but continued to look around the room, her eyes searching for something.
'Buffy, luv, is everything ok?'
Buffy started to nod, but tiredly shook her head. 'I thought.I.I could feel it.him, here - right now. But he isn't, I can't see him, but he is and I don't know what to.he shouldn't be, not yet, not now. I can't deal.I.he.it's to hard, to soon.but it shouldn't be.'
Spike placed a finger over her lips, silencing the tirade that he couldn't even begin to try to understand. 'Shhhhhh, don't worry. Come on, just dance the rest of this dance with me and then you can sit down until you feel better.'
Buffy looked about to protest, but a weariness had crept into her eyes and she nodded, leaning against him for support as he wrapped his arms comfortingly around her.
Spike felt like he had died and gone to heaven. What did Dru matter when he had this little blonde creature in his arms? Any other thoughts he might have had were fading as she sighed, relaxing a bit more into his arms.
Suddenly he felt her whole body tense and seize up and he stepped back, afraid that somehow he had overstepped his boundaries.the chit did hate him after all. She started shaking and he looked at her in concern.
Her face was white and her huge green eyes were filled with unshed tears. He followed her gaze to where a tall dark haired man was dancing with what looked like a cheerleader. He shuddered as he looked at the other man's hair.someone should take that poof's hair-gel away from him, before he does someone an injury.
The man suddenly straightened a bit and opened his eyes to look straight at Buffy, his eyes widening for a minute before taking on a haunted appearance. Buffy took an involuntary step towards him, but the man lowered his eyes, before taking the girl he was dancing with by the arm and leading her from the club.
Spike looked back to Buffy who stared after the pair, looking like a thoroughly kicked puppy. Her lips parted and he bent to catch the one whispered word that fell from her lips.
'Angel.'
Abruptly she turned and ran through the crown, her small frame disappearing quickly amongst the mass of bodies.
Spike uttered a curse and followed her, not really knowing why.
For nearly an hour he searched for her. He didn't know his way around the club, which added to the difficulty, but he kept looking for her, she couldn't have gone because her bag was still there next to his duster.
Bag.hang on, her purse was gone. 'Bugger.'
He ran outside, staring up and down the street, looking for signs of a taxi that may have taken her home. He asked a few of the couples around, but no one had seen her, and they had all been out there for some time.
'Bloody hell.' He kicked the door and moved back inside the Bronze, hoping that wherever she was, she was all right.
Grabbing his duster, he shrugged himself into it, and checking his pocket for change he moved to the bar to get a drink before he left. He plonked himself down on a stool and signalled the bartender.
'Scotch, straight, thanks mate.' He reached for the drink and knocked it back in one hit.
'Same again?'
'Nuh, thanks all the same, mate, but I'm drivin, need a clear head an' all that.'
The man nodded and moved away. Spike was about to stand when he heard something smash and glanced up the bar to see Buffy, surrounded by empty shot glasses, tears and black rivulets staining her cheeks, her eyes red as she reached for the half empty bottle of tequila next to her and took a long drink.
'Fucking sodding hell.'
The bartender looked over at him. 'You know her?'
'Yeah, I lost her, thought she went home. How long has she been here?'
'I'd say the best part of an hour. I don't usually serve kids without asking for ID, but she looked broken up over something so I made an exception.'
'Well that was bloody noble of you wasn't it.' Spike growled.
He moved over to where she was sitting and gently removed the bottle from her hand.
'Time to go, Buffy, luv.'
'Don'z wanna go ome. More drinkz. Burnz muh throat, makezz ze pain go 'way. All go 'way.'
Spike tried to set her on her feet, but she just sagged in his arms.
'Heehee,' she chuckled. 'cant feelz muh footz.'
'Bloody hell,' Spike cursed. 'How much did she have?'
The bartender looked at him warily. 'Well, that bottle was full when she started.'
Spike looked at the half empty bottle and back to the bartender. 'Has she paid you for this?'
'Not yet,'
Spike smirked. 'Well then, you forget about the bill, an' I'll forget about mentioning this to the authorities. And if I ever catch you selling any grog without checkin for ID first, I will report you.'
Buffy began whimpering in his arms. 'He left me, again. Always leave, always leave.'
Spike looked down at her, his furious expression softening as he wiped away the new tears spilling down her cheek.
'C'mon, luv lets get you home.'
'Hey, Travers,' one of chefs pulled him to one side. 'There's a chick out the back asking for ya.'
'Huh?'
'Yeah, she said it was important. Kinda hot, and British like you.'
'Fuck!' Spike knew it could only be one person. 'Ok, I'll be back in five.'
He walked towards the back of the restaurant, not noticing the small blonde slip out after him.
He lit a cigarette and looked around. 'Dru.where are you, luv?'
'Spike.' A thin, black shadow moved out of the darkness, and into the dim light that was spilling into the alleyway from the street.
'The wind carried a story to me. A tale of sadness and despair travelled to me over seas and was whispered to me as I slept. It told me I must come and see you.that I must lift the weight you carry.'
Spike looked at her outline and shivered as her hand caressed his cheek.
'You miss me, my Spike. You will not allow yourself to live. Mummy has come to make it better. It will all be better, my Spike.'
Spike looked at her, for a moment not daring to believe. Then he threw himself at the waiflike creature before him, hugging to him as if he would never let he go.
He pulled back and looked at her, gently brushing her cheek. Suddenly Drusilla drew back from him and slapped his hand.
'Naughty boy. He does not understand us. He twists our words until they are shaped for him alone. I am not here to come back to you. I am here to tell you it is over. Do not hold onto things that will never be. Some things are written in the stars.some things are meant to be. We are not one of them, Spike.
'You will find her.the heavens sing their happiness as you are drawn closer together, but I am not her. Move on, my Spike. It is over.
Spike jerked his head back, like she had slapped him. 'Dru.please Dru. Don't do this. Dru, I love you. I need you. Please, luv.'
'No my Spike. You don't need me. You will know, you will learn what need is. Good-bye my Spike.'
Looking at the space where she had been, Spike fell to his knees, his arms barely supporting him as he leaned forward and gasped for air. He couldn't breathe, he couldn't see, there was nothing in him except for the pain.
Suddenly he felt a tentative hand on his heaving shoulder, rubbing gently up and down his back.
'Breathe, you have to breathe.'
The black spots in front of his eyes began to lessen and fade away. He groggily turned his head to see a pair of large green eyes peering at him in concern.
'Wi - Spike? Are you gonna be ok?'
He stood suddenly and violently brushed the small girl away, sending her spinning into the wall. She looked up at him dazed.
'Wha- what was that for?'
'You fucking bitch! What is your problem? Did you think it would be fun to listen to some pathetic guy getting his heart broken? Do you get a kick outta making people suffer? You are one bloody sick bint, did you know that?'
The next thing he knew was a fist connecting with his nose and then one in his stomach. He fell back to the ground winded.
When he caught his breath he looked up to see the fiery blonde towering over him, her previously pouting lips curled in disgust and her eyes flashing is anger, 'What is my problem? What is my problem, you jerk?
'You are the one who turns into a crazy-psycho when someone tries to help you. I came out here to apologise to you, you pig. To say sorry for upsetting you earlier.
'I didn't come out to find you on the ground having trouble breathing and try to help you to be shoved into a wall. What is your malfunction? You hit a girl who is half your size, who was trying to help you. God, you are screwed up.'
Spike looked at Buffy, suddenly feeling ashamed. 'You.you mean you didn't 'ear me an' Dru.'
'Dru? What the hell is a Dru? I came out here to apologise. How many times do I have to say it? I found you on the ground and out of the kindness and, now apparent, stupidity of my heart and you fucking hit me. Not that it really matters, I could take you down any day. But what if it had been someone else? You could have really hurt them.'
'Er, sorry, luv. I thought.'
'You thought what? That I had come to eavesdrop on you and Dru.whatever that may be. Don't flatter yourself, you jerk.'
And with a parting blow to his jaw, she turned and walked back into the restaurant.
Spike sat on the ground, rubbing his jaw ruefully. 'Bleedin' hell. You could have a' least hit a chit who doesn't hit back.' He reached into his pocket for a lighter and lit a cigarette.
Suddenly a voice from behind him startled him out of his misery. 'Hey, Travers! What are you doing out here? What did I say not one hour ago? You work or you walk! I warned you, now get your things and get out.'
*************
Buffy smiled at the waiter who was placing a plate in front of her, while massaging her knuckles under the table. She would go and hit a guy after not having properly trained for six months. She made a mental note to buy a punching bag when she got her first pay check from Giles. She needed to get back into shape if she wanted to enter the kick-boxing tournament at the en of the year.
'.so what do you think, honey?'
Buffy struggled for a moment, deciding whether or not to ask her mum for about the third time in the past twenty minutes to repeat herself. Damn Spike! He even invaded her thoughts when he wasn't around. Stupid, annoying, bleached.
'Honey?'
'Oh, um, yep, it's a great idea.'
Joyce smiled, looking pleased. 'Well, I will then, one last shipment can't do any harm and we could double sales with that item and.Oh my.'
Buffy turned in the direction her mother was looking to see a temperamental looking man dragging an apron from around Spike's waist while pushing him in the direction of the exit. She didn't bother hiding her grin as Spike happened to glance her way, seething in embarrassment. She just laughed, causing him to scowl and storm out of the restaurant.
'Suddenly I feel a whole lot better.'
*************
Buffy looked up from her second cup of coffee as Giles entered the office.
'Oh, Buffy, I just wanted to tell you that we are staying open a little later tonight, there is one of those God-awful protests on, and whilst they will undoubtedly make a lot of unnecessary noise, they will hopefully buy coffee. Do you want to work the extra shift?'
'Sure, Giles. I've got nothing else to do.'
'Are you sure? I mean, you may want to go out with your friends.'
Buffy sighed. 'Nope, they are all spending a wonderful vacation at some retreat somewhere far far away, but I can't afford to go, so I'll take any extra shifts that you throw at me.'
'Oh, jolly good then. William.oh dear, I hope he didn't hear that, Spike, is also working. He needs the extra money. For some reason I was under the impression that he had another job, but apparently he doesn't.'
Buffy threw back her head and laughed. 'No, Giles. I can assure you that he doesn't have another job.'
Giles looked at her, bemused by her apparent humour at Spikes lack of a second job. He took off his glasses and polished then briefly as Buffy reached for the coffee pot for her third time.
'Buffy, that's the third cup you have had this morning and I realise that university often turns the most avid coffee detesters into addicts. but are you sure you aren't overdoing it?'
Buffy opened her mouth to reply, but another voice beat her to it. 'Leave 'er alone, Rupes. If the chit needs the caffeine then let `er `ave it and leave her in peace.'
Buffy turned to the newcomer, who was smiling slightly timidly at her.
'I don't need you to defend my rights to caffeine, Spike. I am quite capable of looking after myself. And speaking of looking after yourself, you should try it sometime.you have a terrible bruise on your chin, whatever happened?' She raised an eyebrow at him.
'I made a mistake, accused someone of doin somethin they hadn't, and picked a fight with the wrong person. Next time I think I'll bloody well wait and make sure I `ave the facts right before going for violence.'
'A wise move I should think.' Buffy glared at him. Stupid jerk, can't even apologise to me without making with the riddles.
Giles cleared his throat. 'You both have ten minutes before your shift starts. Try not to fight to much.'
Buffy turned to follow Giles, but was stopped by a hand on her arm.
'Buffy.'
'Save it, I really don't wanna be talking to you right now.'
Spike only gripped onto her arm tighter. 'Look, luv, I.'
'It's the Slayer! The Slayer is back in town.'
Buffy turned from Spike thankfully and greeted the new comer with a hug and a squeal. 'Oh My God, Devon. You are still here. I thought you would have left ages ago.
'You mean got sacked.nope, old Giles said as long as I don't serve customers and just wash up plates and stuff without breaking to much out the back I can stay.'
Buffy threw back her head and laughed, her teeth sparkling in the artificial lighting. Spike marvelled at how clean they stayed with the amount of coffee that she drank.
'So he lets you turn up to work stoned? That doesn't sound like Giles.'
'Yeah, man, I know. Still, I ain't complaining.so how's big school going, slayer?'
'How many times do I have to ask you not to call me that.or I'll remind you how I got that name. It's fine, a little intense at times, but I like it.'
'Woah. violence in the workplace, slay -'
'Devon.' Buffy's tone became warning and a glint, cautioning the other two to be careful, entered her eyes.
Devon took a step back, raising his hands in the air. 'Sorry, Buffy. Won't say it again.'
Spike raised his eyebrows at her. 'Slayer?'
Buffy glared at him. 'Don't you ever, ever use that name.'
'How'd you get it?'
Devon took a step forward, now that Buffy's attention was diverted. 'A judge gave it to her at the finals and I've never let her live it down.'
Spike looked confused. 'Judge?'
'Kick-boxing, man. Buff, here is a woman's state champion, in the top twenty in the whole US of A. She should give you demo sometime. It's wicked cool. I've seen her knock chicks three times her size to the floor.'
Buffy smirked as Spike tried to process this information. 'Don't worry, Devon. He doesn't need a demo. He's had one already.'
'Huh? I thought you gave it up for a few months until you got settled in. You in comps already?'
'Nope,' Buffy nodded to the light bruising on Spikes chin. 'He was being a pain in my ass, so I showed him why he should never do it again.'
Devon laughed, a slow stupid laugh that reminded Spike of Goofy.
'What'd ya say to her, man? Musta been bad.'
Buffy got in before Spike could open his mouth. 'He called me a dumb blonde.'
Devon looked at him in amazement. 'And you got away with just that bruise? She must like ya, man.'
Buffy glanced at the clock. 'Dammit, Spike come on, we're gotta go or Giles'll get pissed.'
'Right behind you, slayer.'
***************
It was eight o'clock that night and Buffy and Spike were still cleaning up the Magic Box, after sending an exhausted Giles home. Buffy was getting impatient at the cleaning process. She was tense and stressed from the busy day of work coupled with the many verbal sparring matches that she and Spike had had. She didn't understand what his problem was, but he made it absolute hell to work with him.
Feeling her only untensed muscles begin to seize up at the thought of him, Buffy pushed away her thoughts and bent to pick up the pieces of a plate that a drunken guy had decided to use as a Frisbee. She felt a prickling at the back of her neck and turned sharply to see Spike hastily glance away from her ass.
'What the hell is your problem?'
'What?' Spike tried his best to sound innocent.
'Don't you what me, Mr, or you'll get another bruise to match your first one.'
Spike looked at her, marvelling for what seemed like the millionth time that day how such a small, delicate looking girl could pack such a punch.
'So, you weren't kiddin when you said you could take me down any day.'
Buffy looked down at the floor. 'Well, maybe I exaggerated a little, I haven't trained properly for a few months. Can I ask a question?'
Spike nodded, 'Ask away.'
'Who is Dru?'
'Ah. Anything but that question.' Spikes face closed up, but Buffy didn't notice as she had resumed picking up the pieces of plate.
'Come on.I wanna know what I interrupted that got you so riled up.'
'I don't bleedin' wanna talk about it, Slayer.'
Buffy jerked her head away from him at the angry tone of his voice. 'Fine! Whatever, sorry for trying to make with the small talk. I won't do it again.'
She walked out the back and closed the office door with a bang behind her. Spike sighed, realising that his brief loss of temper meant that he would probably have to finish cleaning up by himself.
'Bloody Hell.' He growled as he up picked the full garbage bag and took it out the back. At least there wasn't that much left to do.
Half an hour later, Spike was lounging in one of the more comfortable chairs, sipping a coffee as he glanced through a magazine, not really reading it. His head was full of Buffy.
For the life of him, Spike couldn't understand what it was that got under his skin about the girl. She somehow managed to press buttons that even he didn't know her had. She could change his mood from ecstatic to furious within seconds.
There was just something about her.The way she spoke to him as if he meant nothing more to her than a piece of mud under her shoe. The way she wouldn't acknowledge him until he had spoken to her at least three times. Her witty come-backs that left him without a retort. The way she could act as if he wasn't even in the room by just moving around him like he was some piece of furniture in the way.
Wait a bleeding moment. Why the hell was he getting worked up that she wasn't noticing him? He hated her, and it was good that she could ignore him, so he could ignore her.
No, it mustn't be that she wasn't noticing him.it must be a physical attribute that annoyed him.
The way she tossed her sodding shampoo-commercial hair out of her eyes when she was taking orders. The way she swayed her hips as she walked across the room, like she knew he was watching and was taunting him. The way she bit her bottom lip when she was thinking, or pouted it when something went wrong. Just the thought of that full, pink lower lip was enough to make him begin shifting uncomfortably in his seat. He nearly groaned as he imagined that lip caught between his teeth as her hips ground against him and her hands.wait a bloody minute.
What the hell was he thinking about? What about Dru? The love of his life.his first love. The one who made his miserable life worth living.
*The one who dumped you last night for the second time* a cruel voice in the back of his mind reminded him.
No, he loved Dru. She would come around. After all, she had come all the way from merry old England to see him.
*To tell you to move on*
No! It didn't matter what she had said. It didn't matter that she had told him he was now drawing closer to his real love and on the day he had met Buffy.
Besides, this was Buffy, he reminded himself for the second time in two days. Horrible, annoying little chit who hassles your hair and says that you look like a vampire and hit you last night. You are not lusting after Buffy.
Spike took a mouthful of his now tepid coffee and moved his gaze back to the magazine, trying desperately to push all thoughts of Buffy aside. He glanced up as he heard the office door open and choked.
Buffy was standing in the doorway looking though her purse for something, unaware that she had an audience. She was wearing her favourite black leather pants that hung extremely low and hugged her hips and thighs a little to snugly for Spike's comfort. Her crimson shirt hung off one lightly bronzed shoulder and cropped about half an inch above her pants. He hair hung half-way down her back and as she looked up at Spike he took in her heavily black rimmed eyes and glossy cherry-coloured lips.
'Hello? Earth to Spike?' Buffy smiled to herself, pleased that she had made such a good impression - even if it was only Spike, changing in the badly lit office had been hell. But she gave no outward sign of her pleasure, just raised an eyebrow and looked bored.
'Are you gonna lock up, or shall I?'
Spike opened his mouth, closed it and the opened it again. 'Er, doesn't really matter.'
Buffy rolled her eyes. 'I'll do the back, you do the front.'
Spike nodded and caught the keys that she threw at him before retreating to lock the rear doors and windows.
When she was finished she returned to the front of the shop and gave the keys to Spike. 'Can you give these to Giles so he can open up tomorrow. I'm not working and I don't plan on missing a sleep in just to give him his keys.
'Sure.'
'Thanks,' Buffy nodded to him and began turning and walking off down the barely lit street.
'Hey, where are you going?'
'A club downtown. It's called the Bronze, have you heard of it?'
'Yeah, I heard it's a nice place.'
Buffy looked at him weirdly. 'Why do you care where I'm going?'
'I don't, it's just.how are you getting there?'
'Ummmm, what does it look like? I'm walking.'
'You bloody well are not.'
Buffy's eyebrows nearly shot to her hairline. 'What do you mean, I'm not? You can't tell me where I can and can not go.'
Spike shook his head and sighed. 'Look, luv.'
'Don't call me love, I'm not your love.'
'Fine, whatever. I'm just saying that you can't walk through this town late at night dressed like that. You never know what sort of Big Bad is out there waitin to prey on pretty young girls.'
Buffy took a step towards him. 'Look, Mister, you find me another way and I'll take it, but I don't drive and there are no buses. I walk home from here every night when I work, and I am quite capable of looking after myself.'
'Alright, I'm not saying you can't, but a single guy is one thing. A whole bloody gang is another.'
Buffy rolled her eyes again and walked away.
Now extremely worried, Spike grabbed her arm. 'Look, pet. I get that you can look after yourself, Girl Power and all that crap. But I just don't feel right about this. I'll tell you what. I'm not in the mood for an early night, why don't I drive you to the club. We'll swing by Rupes house first to give him the keys and I'll quickly change. Then I'll give you a ride home afterwards. I'll stay as long or as little as you want at The Bronze.'
As much as Buffy hated the idea of travelling with Spike, what he said did make sense and she didn't really want to have to walk a long way in those heels. Sighing resignedly she slid into the front passenger seat of Spikes car as he held the door open for her.
Spike ran around to the other side and hopped in the drivers seat, gunning the engine and taking off down the road.
Giles house was about 20 minutes from the Magic Box and Spike mentally groaned as the car's atmosphere became chilly. He glanced across at Buffy who was staring out the window, completely ignoring his presence.
Buffy could feel his eyes boring into her neck but refused to look at him. He was no doubt trying to catch her attention so he could annoy the crap out of her some more and she wasn't in the mood. Spike sighed and turned his eyes back to the road. A few minutes of chilly silence later he reached forward and clicked on the radio.
The volume was up pretty high and the mindless screaming of the heavy metal did nothing to ease tensions.
Buffy leaned forward and clicked off the radio.
'Hey!' Spike shot her a quick glare. 'Turn it back on!'
'No. It was giving me a headache.'
'It's my car, turn the music back on.'
'Listen, Mister! It's your own fault that I'm in the car, I didn't wanna be.but since you insisted I am. So don't you complain that I turn your music off.'
Spike raised his eyebrows and leaned forward to turn the music back on.
Less than five seconds later Buffy had turned it off.
Spike turned it on and, again, Buffy turned it off.
Growling in frustration, Spike turned it back on and held his hand over the knob so she couldn't get to it.
Buffy sighed, apparently conceding defeat, but when Spike returned both his hands to the wheel to turn a sharp corner, Buffy clicked the radio off again and with a sharp twist, pulled the knob from the radio giggling as she did so.
Spike didn't notice what she had done, and reached forward to turn the music back on. He groped around a bit, trying to find the little circle. Glancing down, he slammed his hand into the dashboard.
'Bloody hell, woman!'
**************
An hour later they had pulled up outside the Bronze.
Buffy clambered from the car, throwing the circular plastic at him. 'I could have gotten here myself ages ago. How long does I take you to change?'
Spike pretended not to hear her. The fact was, he was usually a lot quicker, but he had discovered that for some completely unknown reason that he was having trouble finding something to wear.
He felt that he should look extra good tonight, but he wasn't sure why. The thought that he was trying to impress Buffy had been quashed more quickly than it had appeared. He decided that he just felt like looking good tonight.but after that amazing revelation he realised that he still had absolutely no idea what to wear.
After nearly ten minutes of searching through his wardrobe he gave up and pulled on a pair of black leather pants, a black sleeveless shirt and a red button down shirt that he left unbuttoned. He left on the silver chain he already had around his neck and dampening his hands, he ran them through his hair until it was a messy mass of damp curls.
Buffy moved away from the car and into the club as he grabbed his duster from the back of the car and hurried after her.
Heads turned to stare at the striking blonde couple, unintentionally dressed alike in black and red. Spike noticed their stares right away and smirked as the crowd parted to let them through, jealous looks being thrown their way by most of the room.
The music was loud and he bent down so she could hear him, 'you want a drink, luv?' Buffy shook her head, and without saying a word moved toward the dance floor, not throwing a second glance.
Spike watched her as she swayed her hips to the beat of the music, raising her arms above her head, her eyes fluttering closed as she surrendered to the sway to the music.
She moved without conscious effort, her body twisting and swaying as though the music pulled her by invisible strings and she was helpless but to be caught in it. Her hands slid up and down her body in a ludicrously sensual way and Spike was taken aback by this sudden change in her temperament.
The people around her moved to away, to give her space, an unspoken respect and awe of her movements filtering through the room.
Looking at her face, Spike realised that she didn't actually have a clue what she was doing to the people around her. She probably didn't even know what she looked like as she gyrated to the quickening beat. Her hair fell about her shoulders, tousled and messy and her cheeks were becoming pink from her exertions.
Buffy suddenly snapped her eyes open and her movements faltered as she stared around the room, searching for something, Spike couldn't tell what. Her spine prickled, as she sensed. no it couldn't be.
The song had finished, and now a much slower one was playing, couples were moving together as the first strain of the lyrics drifted around the room. But Buffy's head was whipping this way and that, as she stood in the middle of the floor, oblivious to her surroundings.
Spike stood quickly, he wasn't sure what was going on with her, but the look on her face was enough to move him. She looked so lost.a combination of sadness, desperation and longing coupled with confusion - as though she didn't really believe whatever was going on in her head.
Spike pushed his way through the crowd to reach her, laying a hand gently on her arm. She jumped and spun around, relaxing when she saw who it was.
'Pet, are you ok?'
For once she didn't catch him on his pet names, but continued to look around the room, her eyes searching for something.
'Buffy, luv, is everything ok?'
Buffy started to nod, but tiredly shook her head. 'I thought.I.I could feel it.him, here - right now. But he isn't, I can't see him, but he is and I don't know what to.he shouldn't be, not yet, not now. I can't deal.I.he.it's to hard, to soon.but it shouldn't be.'
Spike placed a finger over her lips, silencing the tirade that he couldn't even begin to try to understand. 'Shhhhhh, don't worry. Come on, just dance the rest of this dance with me and then you can sit down until you feel better.'
Buffy looked about to protest, but a weariness had crept into her eyes and she nodded, leaning against him for support as he wrapped his arms comfortingly around her.
Spike felt like he had died and gone to heaven. What did Dru matter when he had this little blonde creature in his arms? Any other thoughts he might have had were fading as she sighed, relaxing a bit more into his arms.
Suddenly he felt her whole body tense and seize up and he stepped back, afraid that somehow he had overstepped his boundaries.the chit did hate him after all. She started shaking and he looked at her in concern.
Her face was white and her huge green eyes were filled with unshed tears. He followed her gaze to where a tall dark haired man was dancing with what looked like a cheerleader. He shuddered as he looked at the other man's hair.someone should take that poof's hair-gel away from him, before he does someone an injury.
The man suddenly straightened a bit and opened his eyes to look straight at Buffy, his eyes widening for a minute before taking on a haunted appearance. Buffy took an involuntary step towards him, but the man lowered his eyes, before taking the girl he was dancing with by the arm and leading her from the club.
Spike looked back to Buffy who stared after the pair, looking like a thoroughly kicked puppy. Her lips parted and he bent to catch the one whispered word that fell from her lips.
'Angel.'
Abruptly she turned and ran through the crown, her small frame disappearing quickly amongst the mass of bodies.
Spike uttered a curse and followed her, not really knowing why.
For nearly an hour he searched for her. He didn't know his way around the club, which added to the difficulty, but he kept looking for her, she couldn't have gone because her bag was still there next to his duster.
Bag.hang on, her purse was gone. 'Bugger.'
He ran outside, staring up and down the street, looking for signs of a taxi that may have taken her home. He asked a few of the couples around, but no one had seen her, and they had all been out there for some time.
'Bloody hell.' He kicked the door and moved back inside the Bronze, hoping that wherever she was, she was all right.
Grabbing his duster, he shrugged himself into it, and checking his pocket for change he moved to the bar to get a drink before he left. He plonked himself down on a stool and signalled the bartender.
'Scotch, straight, thanks mate.' He reached for the drink and knocked it back in one hit.
'Same again?'
'Nuh, thanks all the same, mate, but I'm drivin, need a clear head an' all that.'
The man nodded and moved away. Spike was about to stand when he heard something smash and glanced up the bar to see Buffy, surrounded by empty shot glasses, tears and black rivulets staining her cheeks, her eyes red as she reached for the half empty bottle of tequila next to her and took a long drink.
'Fucking sodding hell.'
The bartender looked over at him. 'You know her?'
'Yeah, I lost her, thought she went home. How long has she been here?'
'I'd say the best part of an hour. I don't usually serve kids without asking for ID, but she looked broken up over something so I made an exception.'
'Well that was bloody noble of you wasn't it.' Spike growled.
He moved over to where she was sitting and gently removed the bottle from her hand.
'Time to go, Buffy, luv.'
'Don'z wanna go ome. More drinkz. Burnz muh throat, makezz ze pain go 'way. All go 'way.'
Spike tried to set her on her feet, but she just sagged in his arms.
'Heehee,' she chuckled. 'cant feelz muh footz.'
'Bloody hell,' Spike cursed. 'How much did she have?'
The bartender looked at him warily. 'Well, that bottle was full when she started.'
Spike looked at the half empty bottle and back to the bartender. 'Has she paid you for this?'
'Not yet,'
Spike smirked. 'Well then, you forget about the bill, an' I'll forget about mentioning this to the authorities. And if I ever catch you selling any grog without checkin for ID first, I will report you.'
Buffy began whimpering in his arms. 'He left me, again. Always leave, always leave.'
Spike looked down at her, his furious expression softening as he wiped away the new tears spilling down her cheek.
'C'mon, luv lets get you home.'