Daydreams and Demons
A Buffy the Vampire Slayer story by Merrie
Disclaimer: They are mine, didn't you know? At least, that's what the little voice in my head tells me. I like that voice.
Summary: Spike is poisoned by a demon out for revenge. Can he convince Buffy to help him before it's too late?
Characters: Spike, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn and Maximillian Dominus a little OFC I have created.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed!! It truly makes my day and really does motivate me to write faster. Again, this story is completely AU after the episode the beginning of Lessons. Also, Willow is back from England earlier than on the show and living with Buffy and Dawn again.
Rating: This story is rated PG-13 for violence and language.
Chapter Four
"Um, I'm really sorry to just leave you alone like this, Max, but I've really got to get to work. I'm late already." Buffy said after a quick glance at her watch.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I completely lost track of time! I should have realized that you all had other things you needed done today." Max said, putting on a sorrowful face.
"Don't sweat it; I think making sure you're alright takes precedence over getting to work on time, don't you?" Xander asked him.
Max smiled, looking relieved that they weren't mad at him for making them late. In truth, he knew exactly what time it was and where they all had to be today. He had been watching them all for some time before he made his move. "Yeah, I suppose that's important too. But again, I'm really sorry to make you late. I'll just be going now." He got up, looking for all intents and purposes about to leave, when he heard the call.
"Wait, you don't have to leave right away, do you? I mean, we were in the middle of a conversation." Willow called to Max's back, not noticing the smug smirk on his face.
'This is almost too easy.' He thought. 'If I had known gaining entrance into the Slayer's little circle of friends would be this simple I would have tried it a long time ago.' Putting an unsure look on his face, he turned back to Willow. "Are you sure? I mean, I don't want to impose on anyone."
"Oh, you're not imposing on anyone, Max." Willow assured him. "Is he Buffy?" she turned to look at her best friend, hoping that she would agree.
"Of course not, Max. You're welcome to stay here for a while. Also, dinner's at 6 if you would like to come. I can't promise gourmet cuisine or anything, but the company's good. And maybe we can get to know each other a little better when we don't have the stress of the remembrance that we nearly killed you." Buffy said with a small smile.
"Of course, and I'd be delighted to join you for dinner. Thank you for the offer." Max smiled, playing the perfect gentleman.
Buffy smiled back at him and turned to Xander. "You're welcome too, of course. And.Anya." Buffy didn't know exactly what was happening between the two of them since the 'unwedding', and she didn't want to cause trouble for her best friend and his ex-fiancé. She also didn't want to dissuade Anya from being her friend just because Xander left her at the alter either. It was a difficult situation for everyone involved.
"Thanks, Buffy. I'm not one to turn down free food, I'll be here. As for Anya." He shrugged. "I guess I can ask her, but I'm not sure what her response will be."
"Thanks. Now, are we ready to go?" Xander nodded and she turned back to Willow and Max. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you like. Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine, really. You go on to work. I've made you late enough already. And if anything should change, I'm sure Willow will look after me."
Xander wanted to role his eyes at the sappy way in which Max said that, and the even sappier way Willow blushed the color of her hair. 'When did Willow start liking guys again anyway? I thought she was up with the gay, men are icky club? And Tara hadn't been.dead, very long now either. Was she really ready to start another relationship? Because that's certainly what this is starting to look like. If so, good for her. I'm glad, really. She deserves some happiness.'
He couldn't help feeling a little bit sorry for Max, though. 'Look at him, he's eating it all up. He seems smitten for Willow big time. But what if he's just rebound guy?' He hoped that wasn't the case. He had only known Max since he almost ran over him earlier, but it felt like they had been friends all his life. Annoyingly, thinking about Willow's past and possible future relationships only served to remind him of his own failures in that department. He had screwed up the only thing he had truly loved and wanted to keep in his miserable life. Sure, he had a good job and a nice apartment for the moment, but things like that don't last. They don't last like his relationship with Anya was supposed to. He wanted to blame his failure on probably the only demon in Sunnydale that hadn't been invited to the wedding, but part of him knew better. That part of him felt obliged to share the fact that he had had his doubts long before Anya was scheduled to walk down the aisle. Turning his attention back to the present, he addressed Max. "Alright then. Again, I'm sorry for almost killing you this morning, and I'll see you later. See ya, Willow." He turned and walked out the front door, Buffy following closely behind him, before Max could respond. For a moment however, he wondered if it was such a good idea to leave a relatively defenseless Willow without magic alone with a guy he had just met. Shrugging his worry off, he told himself he was being irrational. Some part of him assure him that Max would never do anything to harm Willow. After all, they were friends, right?
"Welcome once more to the new Sunnydale High School, Miss Summers. Don't worry about being late, your sister Dawn informed us of your situation. Is the young man alright?" A kind looking old woman asked around her shoulder as she led Buffy to what was to be her new office.
Buffy let out a sigh of relief that she wouldn't be fired before she even began her job. 'Thank you, Dawn.' "He's fine. It looked worse than it actually was. In fact, he seemed pretty ok with it actually. He didn't even want to press charges. He claimed it was as much his fault as my friend's."
"Oh, that's good." The woman replied, clearly not caring any longer. 'She was probably hoping for some awful story of how Xander killed him so she could gossip about it to all her 'friends'.' Buffy thought, holding back a scowl. 'Whoa, bitter much Buffy? She seems like a nice enough lady. She's probably just busy. "Here's your office. I know it's not much, but I think you'll like working here. Principal Wood asked me to covey his regrets for not being able to greet you himself, but he has a meeting with the school board," she glanced at her watch, "right now."
"Oh, he needn't have bothered. Tell him thank you for me."
"I think you'll see him before I will. He's your boss too, you know?" the lady reminded her with a raised eyebrow.
"Right, of course. Well, thank you for your help finding my office anyway. I'm sure I'll enjoy working here." 'Yeah, just like I enjoyed the years of demon slaying before I blew the place up.' Buffy thought wryly. The woman nodded and walked back down the hall to where she had come from. Watching her leave, Buffy realized the woman hadn't even told her what her name was. 'Well, that was rude.' Buffy sighed. It was going to be a long first day.
Dawn couldn't believe it. She had gone through the entirety of her first day of high school, and not one thing not a part of the normal everyday hell that is your freshman year of high school had happened. Not one. No vampires, well admittedly it was still sunny outside, no demons, no blood rituals to raise giant monsters, no body switching, no invisible people, no nothing. She had never been more bored in her life. She had also never thought she'd be praying for something evil to attack the school so she could say at least something interesting happened today.
She sat dejectedly on the steps in front of the school, waiting for Xander to pick her up. He had already picked Buffy up and most likely took her home since her day ended before Dawn's own. 'And how is that even fair?' Dawn asked herself grumpily. 'She comes in late and gets to leave early? Why can't high school be over already?' She looked across the parking lot for Xander's car, but didn't see it. 'Man, Buffy so needs to learn how to drive. Or, maybe she'll let me? I'm almost old enough.' As soon as the thought went through her head, she knew it was hopeless. She was doomed to never ever drive like her sister, forever dependant on other people to take her places.
She sighed. 'I look like a doofus sitting out her waiting for my ride. Look at all the other people with their cars, driving away looking like they're having a grand old time. Why can't I have that? I want grand times. I want to be one of the cool people with their cars. Eh, maybe not that car.' She thought, her eyes catching on a station wagon that looked like it was held together by rust, duct tape and a few incantations, puttering out of the parking lot slowly. 'At least Xander's got a nice car. Who would have thought he'd be successful in life after high school?'
In all the years she had supposedly known Xander, supposedly since those years never really existed, he had only been interested in just getting by in life. Dawn was slowly learning that that attitude wouldn't get you anywhere. She was glad Xander had as well. She was happy for him and his success. She only hoped that someday she would enjoy the same kind of success as well. Although, right now she was only really concerned with one thing; getting through four years of high school on the Hellmouth without blowing up any of the buildings, and without becoming known as a total freak. The first of the two shouldn't be two hard, at least she hoped they wouldn't, but the second.with a well known troublemaker for a sister, the second one would probably cause some problems. 'God, sometimes I can't even believe we're related. Well, ok technically we aren't. But the monks did make me from her, didn't they? That doesn't mean we're really related, does it?' She sighed. Her spirits lifted, however when she saw Xander's car pull into the parking lot. 'Finally.' She thought, standing up from her position on the steps and pulling her backpack back onto her shoulders. 'Wait, why is Xander parking? Doesn't he notice me?' Confused, Dawn made her way over to Xander's car just as he was getting out.
"Hey Dawn. Now, I know you probably want to get out of here, but do you mind if I take a look around the school first? I mean, I've seen the plans, I was here when they were building it, but I'd kinda like to get a chance to see it full of students again, you know?"
Dawn sighed. "Xander, you realize that it won't be full of students because school's over, don't you?"
"Well yeah, but you know what I mean." Xander said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Yeah, alright. Do you mind if I wait in the car though? I've had enough school for one day."
"Aw, first day not go well?" Xander asked, feeling a bit sorry for her. He remembered his first day at the old Sunnydale High. He still had nightmares.
"I don't want to talk about it. Or at least I don't want to talk about it in the middle of the parking lot. I'm sure Buffy'll want to hear every detail so we can talk about it later, ok?"
"Oh, later, that reminds me. Buffy invited Max, Anya and me over for dinner tonight."
"Max? Who's Max?" Dawn asked, trying to remember if she had ever met a Max. He wasn't someone who had just shown up in her life like she had to Buffy's, was he?"
"My victim?" Xander provided.
"Oh, you mean the guy you almost turned into road kill this morning. Buffy invited him over for dinner? I kinda thought he'd be a little mad at us for all for you know, nearly killing him."
"I didn't nearly kill him, I merely bumped him a little. And for your information, he said it was probably his own fault anyway."
"Uh huh, sure Xander." Dawn said crossing her arms and smiling to let him know she was teasing him. "Anyway, I don't mind you going to check the school out. Just don't take too long, ok?"
"Thanks, Dawnster. I left the car unlocked if you want to wait there. I'll be back soon." Xander turned toward the school before he could see Dawn's grimace at the nickname.
'Huh, this all looks surprisingly.familiar.' Xander thought as he walked the halls of the new school. 'It's even got a similar smell. A unique bouquet of sweat, freshman fear and the janitor's cleaning solutions. Ahh, memories.' He continued to wander around, even bumping into a few teachers that he remembered from the old high school. At first, they all looked surprised to see he wasn't dead at the very least. He had to hide a satisfied smirk at their shock when he told them he managed a successful construction company. 'Yeah, that's right. I'm Alexander Harris and I made it out of my parent's basement and into the real world all by myself.' His chest puffed up and he held his head a little higher as he continued his self-guided tour. He passed by the empty principal's office, situated just where the library and consequently the Hellmouth was, and found himself feeling a little nostalgic. He missed the all-night research sessions, he missed falling asleep in the library with his head in a book.he missed almost all of. 'Well, everything except the whole facing the apocalypse every other week. That I could have done without.' But what he found himself missing most of all was his lost innocence. His and all of his friends'.
They had gone through some rough times the last couple of years, Buffy, Willow and Dawn especially, and it had changed them. Buffy in particular was more hardened and cold than she had ever been in high school. Now, granted she had good reasons; loosing her mom, giving her life to save the world, going to heaven, and the being pulled out of it when her friends decided that the would was too hard without her in it. 'Not to mention the fact that Angel left, Riley left, hell even Spike left her.' Not that he even remotely wanted to consider the aspects of the Buffy/Spike relationship. The mere thought of it still bewildered him. 'Buffy had loved a soulless demon, and look where it got her.' He hated to admit it to himself, and he certainly knew Buffy never would, but he knew Buffy too well to accept her lie that she had never loved Spike. She would have never done the things she did, shared things with him had she not loved him at least a little bit. That was no excuse for what he did though, and if ever came face to fang with him again, he would---his thoughts were interrupted by a strange noise coming from.somewhere.
'Oh crap, what the heck was that? I should have figured it would be a bad idea to come in here on my own.' He started as he heard the sound again, a bit louder this time. It was a voice, a man's voice, and it seemed to be coming from the other side of a door marked 'basement.' 'Wait a minute,' Xander thought, straining his ears toward the voice. 'that sounded almost like.Spike.' He shook his head, not believing his ears. 'You're hearing things now, Xander. And you've got Spike on the brain. That's gotta be the explanation. Still.' Praying that his actions once more wouldn't get him killed or worse, he opened the surprisingly unlocked door, and made his way down the stairs into the basement.
TBC
A/N: I know, no Spuffyness. Sorry for that, but this chapter was getting pretty darn long as it is. But hey, at least someone's looking for Spike now, right? Don't worry, the new chapter will be up soon, I promise. I've already got a few pages of it written. But you know, it'll help me write faster if you REVIEW..ok? Thanks.
A Buffy the Vampire Slayer story by Merrie
Disclaimer: They are mine, didn't you know? At least, that's what the little voice in my head tells me. I like that voice.
Summary: Spike is poisoned by a demon out for revenge. Can he convince Buffy to help him before it's too late?
Characters: Spike, Buffy, Willow, Xander, Anya, Dawn and Maximillian Dominus a little OFC I have created.
Author's Note: Thank you so much to those of you who reviewed!! It truly makes my day and really does motivate me to write faster. Again, this story is completely AU after the episode the beginning of Lessons. Also, Willow is back from England earlier than on the show and living with Buffy and Dawn again.
Rating: This story is rated PG-13 for violence and language.
Chapter Four
"Um, I'm really sorry to just leave you alone like this, Max, but I've really got to get to work. I'm late already." Buffy said after a quick glance at her watch.
"Oh! I'm so sorry! I completely lost track of time! I should have realized that you all had other things you needed done today." Max said, putting on a sorrowful face.
"Don't sweat it; I think making sure you're alright takes precedence over getting to work on time, don't you?" Xander asked him.
Max smiled, looking relieved that they weren't mad at him for making them late. In truth, he knew exactly what time it was and where they all had to be today. He had been watching them all for some time before he made his move. "Yeah, I suppose that's important too. But again, I'm really sorry to make you late. I'll just be going now." He got up, looking for all intents and purposes about to leave, when he heard the call.
"Wait, you don't have to leave right away, do you? I mean, we were in the middle of a conversation." Willow called to Max's back, not noticing the smug smirk on his face.
'This is almost too easy.' He thought. 'If I had known gaining entrance into the Slayer's little circle of friends would be this simple I would have tried it a long time ago.' Putting an unsure look on his face, he turned back to Willow. "Are you sure? I mean, I don't want to impose on anyone."
"Oh, you're not imposing on anyone, Max." Willow assured him. "Is he Buffy?" she turned to look at her best friend, hoping that she would agree.
"Of course not, Max. You're welcome to stay here for a while. Also, dinner's at 6 if you would like to come. I can't promise gourmet cuisine or anything, but the company's good. And maybe we can get to know each other a little better when we don't have the stress of the remembrance that we nearly killed you." Buffy said with a small smile.
"Of course, and I'd be delighted to join you for dinner. Thank you for the offer." Max smiled, playing the perfect gentleman.
Buffy smiled back at him and turned to Xander. "You're welcome too, of course. And.Anya." Buffy didn't know exactly what was happening between the two of them since the 'unwedding', and she didn't want to cause trouble for her best friend and his ex-fiancé. She also didn't want to dissuade Anya from being her friend just because Xander left her at the alter either. It was a difficult situation for everyone involved.
"Thanks, Buffy. I'm not one to turn down free food, I'll be here. As for Anya." He shrugged. "I guess I can ask her, but I'm not sure what her response will be."
"Thanks. Now, are we ready to go?" Xander nodded and she turned back to Willow and Max. "You're welcome to stay here as long as you like. Are you sure you're ok?"
"I'm fine, really. You go on to work. I've made you late enough already. And if anything should change, I'm sure Willow will look after me."
Xander wanted to role his eyes at the sappy way in which Max said that, and the even sappier way Willow blushed the color of her hair. 'When did Willow start liking guys again anyway? I thought she was up with the gay, men are icky club? And Tara hadn't been.dead, very long now either. Was she really ready to start another relationship? Because that's certainly what this is starting to look like. If so, good for her. I'm glad, really. She deserves some happiness.'
He couldn't help feeling a little bit sorry for Max, though. 'Look at him, he's eating it all up. He seems smitten for Willow big time. But what if he's just rebound guy?' He hoped that wasn't the case. He had only known Max since he almost ran over him earlier, but it felt like they had been friends all his life. Annoyingly, thinking about Willow's past and possible future relationships only served to remind him of his own failures in that department. He had screwed up the only thing he had truly loved and wanted to keep in his miserable life. Sure, he had a good job and a nice apartment for the moment, but things like that don't last. They don't last like his relationship with Anya was supposed to. He wanted to blame his failure on probably the only demon in Sunnydale that hadn't been invited to the wedding, but part of him knew better. That part of him felt obliged to share the fact that he had had his doubts long before Anya was scheduled to walk down the aisle. Turning his attention back to the present, he addressed Max. "Alright then. Again, I'm sorry for almost killing you this morning, and I'll see you later. See ya, Willow." He turned and walked out the front door, Buffy following closely behind him, before Max could respond. For a moment however, he wondered if it was such a good idea to leave a relatively defenseless Willow without magic alone with a guy he had just met. Shrugging his worry off, he told himself he was being irrational. Some part of him assure him that Max would never do anything to harm Willow. After all, they were friends, right?
"Welcome once more to the new Sunnydale High School, Miss Summers. Don't worry about being late, your sister Dawn informed us of your situation. Is the young man alright?" A kind looking old woman asked around her shoulder as she led Buffy to what was to be her new office.
Buffy let out a sigh of relief that she wouldn't be fired before she even began her job. 'Thank you, Dawn.' "He's fine. It looked worse than it actually was. In fact, he seemed pretty ok with it actually. He didn't even want to press charges. He claimed it was as much his fault as my friend's."
"Oh, that's good." The woman replied, clearly not caring any longer. 'She was probably hoping for some awful story of how Xander killed him so she could gossip about it to all her 'friends'.' Buffy thought, holding back a scowl. 'Whoa, bitter much Buffy? She seems like a nice enough lady. She's probably just busy. "Here's your office. I know it's not much, but I think you'll like working here. Principal Wood asked me to covey his regrets for not being able to greet you himself, but he has a meeting with the school board," she glanced at her watch, "right now."
"Oh, he needn't have bothered. Tell him thank you for me."
"I think you'll see him before I will. He's your boss too, you know?" the lady reminded her with a raised eyebrow.
"Right, of course. Well, thank you for your help finding my office anyway. I'm sure I'll enjoy working here." 'Yeah, just like I enjoyed the years of demon slaying before I blew the place up.' Buffy thought wryly. The woman nodded and walked back down the hall to where she had come from. Watching her leave, Buffy realized the woman hadn't even told her what her name was. 'Well, that was rude.' Buffy sighed. It was going to be a long first day.
Dawn couldn't believe it. She had gone through the entirety of her first day of high school, and not one thing not a part of the normal everyday hell that is your freshman year of high school had happened. Not one. No vampires, well admittedly it was still sunny outside, no demons, no blood rituals to raise giant monsters, no body switching, no invisible people, no nothing. She had never been more bored in her life. She had also never thought she'd be praying for something evil to attack the school so she could say at least something interesting happened today.
She sat dejectedly on the steps in front of the school, waiting for Xander to pick her up. He had already picked Buffy up and most likely took her home since her day ended before Dawn's own. 'And how is that even fair?' Dawn asked herself grumpily. 'She comes in late and gets to leave early? Why can't high school be over already?' She looked across the parking lot for Xander's car, but didn't see it. 'Man, Buffy so needs to learn how to drive. Or, maybe she'll let me? I'm almost old enough.' As soon as the thought went through her head, she knew it was hopeless. She was doomed to never ever drive like her sister, forever dependant on other people to take her places.
She sighed. 'I look like a doofus sitting out her waiting for my ride. Look at all the other people with their cars, driving away looking like they're having a grand old time. Why can't I have that? I want grand times. I want to be one of the cool people with their cars. Eh, maybe not that car.' She thought, her eyes catching on a station wagon that looked like it was held together by rust, duct tape and a few incantations, puttering out of the parking lot slowly. 'At least Xander's got a nice car. Who would have thought he'd be successful in life after high school?'
In all the years she had supposedly known Xander, supposedly since those years never really existed, he had only been interested in just getting by in life. Dawn was slowly learning that that attitude wouldn't get you anywhere. She was glad Xander had as well. She was happy for him and his success. She only hoped that someday she would enjoy the same kind of success as well. Although, right now she was only really concerned with one thing; getting through four years of high school on the Hellmouth without blowing up any of the buildings, and without becoming known as a total freak. The first of the two shouldn't be two hard, at least she hoped they wouldn't, but the second.with a well known troublemaker for a sister, the second one would probably cause some problems. 'God, sometimes I can't even believe we're related. Well, ok technically we aren't. But the monks did make me from her, didn't they? That doesn't mean we're really related, does it?' She sighed. Her spirits lifted, however when she saw Xander's car pull into the parking lot. 'Finally.' She thought, standing up from her position on the steps and pulling her backpack back onto her shoulders. 'Wait, why is Xander parking? Doesn't he notice me?' Confused, Dawn made her way over to Xander's car just as he was getting out.
"Hey Dawn. Now, I know you probably want to get out of here, but do you mind if I take a look around the school first? I mean, I've seen the plans, I was here when they were building it, but I'd kinda like to get a chance to see it full of students again, you know?"
Dawn sighed. "Xander, you realize that it won't be full of students because school's over, don't you?"
"Well yeah, but you know what I mean." Xander said, looking a little embarrassed.
"Yeah, alright. Do you mind if I wait in the car though? I've had enough school for one day."
"Aw, first day not go well?" Xander asked, feeling a bit sorry for her. He remembered his first day at the old Sunnydale High. He still had nightmares.
"I don't want to talk about it. Or at least I don't want to talk about it in the middle of the parking lot. I'm sure Buffy'll want to hear every detail so we can talk about it later, ok?"
"Oh, later, that reminds me. Buffy invited Max, Anya and me over for dinner tonight."
"Max? Who's Max?" Dawn asked, trying to remember if she had ever met a Max. He wasn't someone who had just shown up in her life like she had to Buffy's, was he?"
"My victim?" Xander provided.
"Oh, you mean the guy you almost turned into road kill this morning. Buffy invited him over for dinner? I kinda thought he'd be a little mad at us for all for you know, nearly killing him."
"I didn't nearly kill him, I merely bumped him a little. And for your information, he said it was probably his own fault anyway."
"Uh huh, sure Xander." Dawn said crossing her arms and smiling to let him know she was teasing him. "Anyway, I don't mind you going to check the school out. Just don't take too long, ok?"
"Thanks, Dawnster. I left the car unlocked if you want to wait there. I'll be back soon." Xander turned toward the school before he could see Dawn's grimace at the nickname.
'Huh, this all looks surprisingly.familiar.' Xander thought as he walked the halls of the new school. 'It's even got a similar smell. A unique bouquet of sweat, freshman fear and the janitor's cleaning solutions. Ahh, memories.' He continued to wander around, even bumping into a few teachers that he remembered from the old high school. At first, they all looked surprised to see he wasn't dead at the very least. He had to hide a satisfied smirk at their shock when he told them he managed a successful construction company. 'Yeah, that's right. I'm Alexander Harris and I made it out of my parent's basement and into the real world all by myself.' His chest puffed up and he held his head a little higher as he continued his self-guided tour. He passed by the empty principal's office, situated just where the library and consequently the Hellmouth was, and found himself feeling a little nostalgic. He missed the all-night research sessions, he missed falling asleep in the library with his head in a book.he missed almost all of. 'Well, everything except the whole facing the apocalypse every other week. That I could have done without.' But what he found himself missing most of all was his lost innocence. His and all of his friends'.
They had gone through some rough times the last couple of years, Buffy, Willow and Dawn especially, and it had changed them. Buffy in particular was more hardened and cold than she had ever been in high school. Now, granted she had good reasons; loosing her mom, giving her life to save the world, going to heaven, and the being pulled out of it when her friends decided that the would was too hard without her in it. 'Not to mention the fact that Angel left, Riley left, hell even Spike left her.' Not that he even remotely wanted to consider the aspects of the Buffy/Spike relationship. The mere thought of it still bewildered him. 'Buffy had loved a soulless demon, and look where it got her.' He hated to admit it to himself, and he certainly knew Buffy never would, but he knew Buffy too well to accept her lie that she had never loved Spike. She would have never done the things she did, shared things with him had she not loved him at least a little bit. That was no excuse for what he did though, and if ever came face to fang with him again, he would---his thoughts were interrupted by a strange noise coming from.somewhere.
'Oh crap, what the heck was that? I should have figured it would be a bad idea to come in here on my own.' He started as he heard the sound again, a bit louder this time. It was a voice, a man's voice, and it seemed to be coming from the other side of a door marked 'basement.' 'Wait a minute,' Xander thought, straining his ears toward the voice. 'that sounded almost like.Spike.' He shook his head, not believing his ears. 'You're hearing things now, Xander. And you've got Spike on the brain. That's gotta be the explanation. Still.' Praying that his actions once more wouldn't get him killed or worse, he opened the surprisingly unlocked door, and made his way down the stairs into the basement.
TBC
A/N: I know, no Spuffyness. Sorry for that, but this chapter was getting pretty darn long as it is. But hey, at least someone's looking for Spike now, right? Don't worry, the new chapter will be up soon, I promise. I've already got a few pages of it written. But you know, it'll help me write faster if you REVIEW..ok? Thanks.