A/N Thanks for the reviews, in answer to a couple of them, I just wanted
to see if it would be okay to introduce Robin Wood to the story ( I was
just thinking about how a lot of people react when Riley is put in a story
LOL) I don't intend Angel to be central to this story, just the odd
reference where necessary.
Chapter 17
Spike, Buffy and Faith walked along the dark desert road, they had been walking for a while, but none of them had spoken. Spike finally broke the silence.
"So congratulations are in order, never had you down as a one man woman Faith," said Spike.
Faith laughed.
"Kinda surprised myself, but you know me, act first, worry later," said Faith.
Buffy still found it hard to believe Faith was married. She knew the other slayer's low opinion of men, but even harder for Buffy to believe was the idea of Faith in love; she had to know.
"Do you love him?" asked Buffy.
"Straight to the point as always B," smiled Faith.
"Well?" said Buffy.
"I'm not sure it's our business love," said Spike.
"No it's okay, I can understand Buffy asking that, considering my past record, and yes I really think I do love him," said Faith.
"Good, that's all I wanted to know," said Buffy firmly.
Buffy couldn't help being a little cautious of Faith, even after her help in defeating the first, maybe their history just ran too deep to be friends in the real sense of the word, as she had once long ago hoped.
"Can't say I love your choice of husband, but I hope it works out for you," said Spike.
Apart from the smack down between Spike and Faith, that time Spike had discovered that her friends had thrown Buffy out of her own home, he still liked the other slayer. She did a lot of what she wanted, not really caring what others thought of her, but she seemed to have developed some newfound maturity, considering her wild nature, it could only be of the good. Looking at her, Spike could tell she was far from tamed, husband or no husband. He smiled to himself, Wood wasn't in for a boring life with Faith.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They arrived back at the parked vehicles. Robin was leaning against the RV, talking to Giles. They stopped talking as Faith and the others approached.
"Whatcha doing? No ill conceived plans of revenge against Spike, I hope," said Buffy, only semi joking.
"No, no of course not," said Giles feeling his shirt collar, which suddenly felt too restrictive.
"She was only kidding with you mate, she knows you wouldn't be that stupid," said Spike.
"We were discussing a volume of Talbert's guide to demonology," said Wood.
Faith walked up to Robin, and wrapped her arms about his waist.
"I can think of better things to be doing than that," Faith said, kissing him in front of the others.
Giles turned his back on the couple.
"So what did you find out?" he asked.
"That we are gonna need wire cutters and some kinda a plan, if we even want to get anywhere near our former town," said Buffy.
"Yeah, there's ten foot fence around the place, it must stretch on for miles, according to some sign, it's the property of Wolfram and Hart," said Spike.
"The law firm?" asked Giles puzzled.
"One and the same, but how do you know about them?" asked Spike.
"Watchers council, it was their business to know about anyone who dabbled in the demon world, or at least it was until the Council was destroyed nearly a year ago," said Giles.
"Well there's something you might not be so aware of, Spike just shared the fact that, Angel is running their LA branch," said Buffy.
"Really, how did that happen?" asked Giles.
Buffy shrugged
"I need to talk to Willow, maybe she can fill in a few blanks, I know from her weekly emails, she was spending a lot of time with Angel's friends, I just assumed it was at that old hotel that he'd taken over," said Buffy.
Willow poked her head out of the van.
"Did someone say my name?" she smiled.
"We need to talk, but not out here," said Buffy to Willow.
Buffy shivered.
"You're cold," said Spike, taking off his leather jacket and putting it around Buffy's shoulders.
She melted into its warmness, his body heat and the scent of him still clung to it, and she breathed it in. Buffy looked at Robin and Faith. She took pity on them, it was their wedding night, Buffy knew how she would feel, or at least hoped she'd feel one day if it was her Honeymoon.
"If you guys wanna hit the sack, we can catch up in the morning," said Buffy.
"Really? If your sure," said Faith.
"Yeah, you've earned it," said Buffy grinning at them.
"Thanks Buffy, if you ever want a reference, for finding another job, just ask," said Robin.
"I'll hold you to it," said Buffy.
Buffy sighed as she watched Wood and Faith walk off to their the bus, she envied them in a way, their life was so much more simpler than her own current predicament.
"Come on, let's get inside where it's warm," said Spike.
Willow and Giles followed them all inside, where they shut the door against the cold night air.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So Angel has been in charge of Wolfram and Hart for several months?" asked Buffy.
"Yeah," said Willow.
"And you were gonna tell me when? Why does everyone operate on a need to know basis around here?" asked Buffy indignantly.
"Come on love, everyone knows Angel is a touchy subject around here," said Spike.
"But why didn't he tell me, when he gave me the amulet?" asked Buffy.
"Maybe because you were too busy locking lips at the time," said Spike, raising an eyebrow.
"There was kissage?" asked Xander.
"Really?" asked Dawn.
"It was nothing, thanks for sharing with everyone Spike, look guys that part of my life is so over," said Buffy.
"So Wolfram and Hart are the proud owners of a big hole in the ground?" asked Xander.
"But why, it's not like they can build on it or anything, it would be too creepy," said Dawn.
"I don't think that's their plan at all, it's my guess they are after the bloody amulet, and if they get their hands on it first then we will be really buggered," said Spike.
"Well we'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen," said Buffy.
"So what's the plan," said Andrew, coming out of his corner.
"Willow, do you have a cell phone number or something where I can contact Angel, I need to know how deep his involvement goes with this," said Buffy.
Willow rummaged around in her bag.
"I can go one better than that, I have his cell phone number as well as his office number," said Willow, handing Buffy her cell phone.
Buffy looked up the number on Willow's phone, it started ringing.
"I'm just gonna take this outside," said Buffy.
She got out of the van and closed the door, before anyone had a chance to protest or otherwise.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike watched her from inside the van, from the agitated way she paced about outside, they were definatley not exchanging sweet nothings. He trusted her anyway, after all what was a relationship without it. Buffy waved her arms about as she spoke. Finally ending the conversation, she looked up and met Spike's eyes looking at her. She could see the warmth in them, and she responded to it. Buffy got back in the van.
"Well?" asked Xander.
"Seems that Angel was totally unaware of Wolfram & Hart's latest purchase, he's only responsible for the LA branch, they have firms all over the country," said Buffy.
"Yeah, but buying up Sunnydale, that has to be big news, and from what you saw they are definitely not running a covert operation," said Xander
"Can we rely on him for assistance?" asked Giles.
"He said he would get his friend Gunn to look into it, see what he could come up with, he's gonna get back to us, apparently Wolfram and Hart gave him the amulet in the first place," said Buffy.
"The bastard never told me that, they must have been trying to off him, evil law firms don't just stop trading in evil over night, it must have been their plan all along that he would wear the pretty bauble, instead I stepped in, that must have pissed them off no end," said Spike.
"That's exactly what Angel thought," said Buffy.
"Let me see what I can dig up on my laptop," said Willow removing it from its bag.
"I'll help you with that," said Dawn.
"Xander, you can help me look in the books I brought with me, we might strike lucky and find something new," said Giles.
"Spike I need some air, wanna come with? We can't do anything else tonight, at least until Angel calls us back," said Buffy.
"As if I'd need asking twice," said Spike.
After three days in the tin can on wheels, he was eager for the wide-open spaces, he grabbed Buffy's sweater off the front seat and they went off into the night.
"I guess I'll just do the dishes then," said Andrew
"Some coffee wouldn't go amiss either," said Xander.
"Kiss my ass," said Andrew.
"What?" said Xander.
"All you have to do is ask," said Andrew.
He turned and walked into the cooking area.
"You know he just said Kiss my ass," said Dawn.
Xander smiled, "Yeah, I know,"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy and Spike stood outside the van for a moment, neither really sure what to say to each other. They both turned their heads in the direction of the school bus, as they heard strange noises, Buffy soon guessed what it was, her face flushed fiery red, she was grateful for the darkness which hid it. Spike grinned.
"All I can say is thank God they had the presence of mind to put up curtains," said Spike.
"Come on, let's get out of here," said Buffy taking his hand.
They walked for a while, coming to a rocky outcrop. Buffy climbed it, pulling Spike along with her. She put her arms around him and rested her head against his chest.
"Alone at last," she giggled against his t-shirt.
Spike stroked her hair, picked up a strand and kissed it. He loved the scent of her, the feel of her body pressed against his, his senses heightened by their shared warmth. He'd never experienced in their previous relationship, his coldness had always drawn the heat from her body, but now it mingled with his own. Buffy slipped his leather jacket from his shoulders and laid it on the ground. She looked up at him, the message in her eyes was clear, he took her hand and kissed it. He took the sweater, he'd taken from the van and balled it up into a pillow, and gently lowered Buffy to the ground, covering her body with his own.
"Sorry it couldn't be in a more romantic setting love," he sighed.
"We have the stars and each other, what could be more romantic than that?" asked Buffy.
She laced her fingers in his hair and pulled his head down to meet hers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They lay together on the rocky outcrop, wrapped in Spikes jacket to keep warm. Buffy was half asleep. Spike leaned over to kiss the tip of her nose.
"That tickles," she giggled sleepily.
"Hey, no going to sleep, besides a snake might bite your ass," said Spike.
Buffy's eyes opened at that.
"That got your attention," said Spike wickedly.
Buffy felt a vibration in Spikes jacket pocket, and the sound of the "Harry Potter" theme tune started to play.
"What the bloody hell is that?" asked Spike.
"At a guess, I'd say Willow's cell phone, should be that call we're expecting," said Buffy, as she removed it from it's pocket.
"The poof always did have bleeding awful timing," said Spike.
"Hello?" said Buffy into the receiver.
TBC
Chapter 17
Spike, Buffy and Faith walked along the dark desert road, they had been walking for a while, but none of them had spoken. Spike finally broke the silence.
"So congratulations are in order, never had you down as a one man woman Faith," said Spike.
Faith laughed.
"Kinda surprised myself, but you know me, act first, worry later," said Faith.
Buffy still found it hard to believe Faith was married. She knew the other slayer's low opinion of men, but even harder for Buffy to believe was the idea of Faith in love; she had to know.
"Do you love him?" asked Buffy.
"Straight to the point as always B," smiled Faith.
"Well?" said Buffy.
"I'm not sure it's our business love," said Spike.
"No it's okay, I can understand Buffy asking that, considering my past record, and yes I really think I do love him," said Faith.
"Good, that's all I wanted to know," said Buffy firmly.
Buffy couldn't help being a little cautious of Faith, even after her help in defeating the first, maybe their history just ran too deep to be friends in the real sense of the word, as she had once long ago hoped.
"Can't say I love your choice of husband, but I hope it works out for you," said Spike.
Apart from the smack down between Spike and Faith, that time Spike had discovered that her friends had thrown Buffy out of her own home, he still liked the other slayer. She did a lot of what she wanted, not really caring what others thought of her, but she seemed to have developed some newfound maturity, considering her wild nature, it could only be of the good. Looking at her, Spike could tell she was far from tamed, husband or no husband. He smiled to himself, Wood wasn't in for a boring life with Faith.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They arrived back at the parked vehicles. Robin was leaning against the RV, talking to Giles. They stopped talking as Faith and the others approached.
"Whatcha doing? No ill conceived plans of revenge against Spike, I hope," said Buffy, only semi joking.
"No, no of course not," said Giles feeling his shirt collar, which suddenly felt too restrictive.
"She was only kidding with you mate, she knows you wouldn't be that stupid," said Spike.
"We were discussing a volume of Talbert's guide to demonology," said Wood.
Faith walked up to Robin, and wrapped her arms about his waist.
"I can think of better things to be doing than that," Faith said, kissing him in front of the others.
Giles turned his back on the couple.
"So what did you find out?" he asked.
"That we are gonna need wire cutters and some kinda a plan, if we even want to get anywhere near our former town," said Buffy.
"Yeah, there's ten foot fence around the place, it must stretch on for miles, according to some sign, it's the property of Wolfram and Hart," said Spike.
"The law firm?" asked Giles puzzled.
"One and the same, but how do you know about them?" asked Spike.
"Watchers council, it was their business to know about anyone who dabbled in the demon world, or at least it was until the Council was destroyed nearly a year ago," said Giles.
"Well there's something you might not be so aware of, Spike just shared the fact that, Angel is running their LA branch," said Buffy.
"Really, how did that happen?" asked Giles.
Buffy shrugged
"I need to talk to Willow, maybe she can fill in a few blanks, I know from her weekly emails, she was spending a lot of time with Angel's friends, I just assumed it was at that old hotel that he'd taken over," said Buffy.
Willow poked her head out of the van.
"Did someone say my name?" she smiled.
"We need to talk, but not out here," said Buffy to Willow.
Buffy shivered.
"You're cold," said Spike, taking off his leather jacket and putting it around Buffy's shoulders.
She melted into its warmness, his body heat and the scent of him still clung to it, and she breathed it in. Buffy looked at Robin and Faith. She took pity on them, it was their wedding night, Buffy knew how she would feel, or at least hoped she'd feel one day if it was her Honeymoon.
"If you guys wanna hit the sack, we can catch up in the morning," said Buffy.
"Really? If your sure," said Faith.
"Yeah, you've earned it," said Buffy grinning at them.
"Thanks Buffy, if you ever want a reference, for finding another job, just ask," said Robin.
"I'll hold you to it," said Buffy.
Buffy sighed as she watched Wood and Faith walk off to their the bus, she envied them in a way, their life was so much more simpler than her own current predicament.
"Come on, let's get inside where it's warm," said Spike.
Willow and Giles followed them all inside, where they shut the door against the cold night air.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"So Angel has been in charge of Wolfram and Hart for several months?" asked Buffy.
"Yeah," said Willow.
"And you were gonna tell me when? Why does everyone operate on a need to know basis around here?" asked Buffy indignantly.
"Come on love, everyone knows Angel is a touchy subject around here," said Spike.
"But why didn't he tell me, when he gave me the amulet?" asked Buffy.
"Maybe because you were too busy locking lips at the time," said Spike, raising an eyebrow.
"There was kissage?" asked Xander.
"Really?" asked Dawn.
"It was nothing, thanks for sharing with everyone Spike, look guys that part of my life is so over," said Buffy.
"So Wolfram and Hart are the proud owners of a big hole in the ground?" asked Xander.
"But why, it's not like they can build on it or anything, it would be too creepy," said Dawn.
"I don't think that's their plan at all, it's my guess they are after the bloody amulet, and if they get their hands on it first then we will be really buggered," said Spike.
"Well we'll just have to make sure that doesn't happen," said Buffy.
"So what's the plan," said Andrew, coming out of his corner.
"Willow, do you have a cell phone number or something where I can contact Angel, I need to know how deep his involvement goes with this," said Buffy.
Willow rummaged around in her bag.
"I can go one better than that, I have his cell phone number as well as his office number," said Willow, handing Buffy her cell phone.
Buffy looked up the number on Willow's phone, it started ringing.
"I'm just gonna take this outside," said Buffy.
She got out of the van and closed the door, before anyone had a chance to protest or otherwise.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Spike watched her from inside the van, from the agitated way she paced about outside, they were definatley not exchanging sweet nothings. He trusted her anyway, after all what was a relationship without it. Buffy waved her arms about as she spoke. Finally ending the conversation, she looked up and met Spike's eyes looking at her. She could see the warmth in them, and she responded to it. Buffy got back in the van.
"Well?" asked Xander.
"Seems that Angel was totally unaware of Wolfram & Hart's latest purchase, he's only responsible for the LA branch, they have firms all over the country," said Buffy.
"Yeah, but buying up Sunnydale, that has to be big news, and from what you saw they are definitely not running a covert operation," said Xander
"Can we rely on him for assistance?" asked Giles.
"He said he would get his friend Gunn to look into it, see what he could come up with, he's gonna get back to us, apparently Wolfram and Hart gave him the amulet in the first place," said Buffy.
"The bastard never told me that, they must have been trying to off him, evil law firms don't just stop trading in evil over night, it must have been their plan all along that he would wear the pretty bauble, instead I stepped in, that must have pissed them off no end," said Spike.
"That's exactly what Angel thought," said Buffy.
"Let me see what I can dig up on my laptop," said Willow removing it from its bag.
"I'll help you with that," said Dawn.
"Xander, you can help me look in the books I brought with me, we might strike lucky and find something new," said Giles.
"Spike I need some air, wanna come with? We can't do anything else tonight, at least until Angel calls us back," said Buffy.
"As if I'd need asking twice," said Spike.
After three days in the tin can on wheels, he was eager for the wide-open spaces, he grabbed Buffy's sweater off the front seat and they went off into the night.
"I guess I'll just do the dishes then," said Andrew
"Some coffee wouldn't go amiss either," said Xander.
"Kiss my ass," said Andrew.
"What?" said Xander.
"All you have to do is ask," said Andrew.
He turned and walked into the cooking area.
"You know he just said Kiss my ass," said Dawn.
Xander smiled, "Yeah, I know,"
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Buffy and Spike stood outside the van for a moment, neither really sure what to say to each other. They both turned their heads in the direction of the school bus, as they heard strange noises, Buffy soon guessed what it was, her face flushed fiery red, she was grateful for the darkness which hid it. Spike grinned.
"All I can say is thank God they had the presence of mind to put up curtains," said Spike.
"Come on, let's get out of here," said Buffy taking his hand.
They walked for a while, coming to a rocky outcrop. Buffy climbed it, pulling Spike along with her. She put her arms around him and rested her head against his chest.
"Alone at last," she giggled against his t-shirt.
Spike stroked her hair, picked up a strand and kissed it. He loved the scent of her, the feel of her body pressed against his, his senses heightened by their shared warmth. He'd never experienced in their previous relationship, his coldness had always drawn the heat from her body, but now it mingled with his own. Buffy slipped his leather jacket from his shoulders and laid it on the ground. She looked up at him, the message in her eyes was clear, he took her hand and kissed it. He took the sweater, he'd taken from the van and balled it up into a pillow, and gently lowered Buffy to the ground, covering her body with his own.
"Sorry it couldn't be in a more romantic setting love," he sighed.
"We have the stars and each other, what could be more romantic than that?" asked Buffy.
She laced her fingers in his hair and pulled his head down to meet hers.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They lay together on the rocky outcrop, wrapped in Spikes jacket to keep warm. Buffy was half asleep. Spike leaned over to kiss the tip of her nose.
"That tickles," she giggled sleepily.
"Hey, no going to sleep, besides a snake might bite your ass," said Spike.
Buffy's eyes opened at that.
"That got your attention," said Spike wickedly.
Buffy felt a vibration in Spikes jacket pocket, and the sound of the "Harry Potter" theme tune started to play.
"What the bloody hell is that?" asked Spike.
"At a guess, I'd say Willow's cell phone, should be that call we're expecting," said Buffy, as she removed it from it's pocket.
"The poof always did have bleeding awful timing," said Spike.
"Hello?" said Buffy into the receiver.
TBC