A/N Thanks for all those lovely reviews, you guys are great. Sorry the next
chapter took so long I had major computer problems. Thanks ICE BLUE ROSE,
for your offer of help it was appreciated! I have completed chapter 22 and
will hopefully have that up by tomorrow.
Chapter 21
"Vampire security, makes perfect sense, cheap too, blood & smokes and a dark hole to live in, and the odd hapless trespasser to snack on," said Spike
Faith gripped the stake firmly in her hand; she looked at Buffy and smiled.
"God I've missed this," said Faith.
Buffy smiled back.
"Me too in a funny kinda a way; let's hope after three months I'm not rusty," said Buffy.
"Shall we find out? Ladies first," said Spike
"Thanks Hun," Buffy said, giving him a quick kiss, as she and Faith advanced on the group of Vampires.
Giles, Wood and Spike followed their lead. Buffy looked at the group of vamps, she gave them her best smile, Buffy and Faith launched the attack on the vampires who were supremely confident, not knowing they were in the presence of two slayers and a semi-God. Buffy did a spin kick, hitting a vamp hard in the chest, the force of it sent several of the others behind him scattering like bowling pins. Faith dusted a vamp that had been stupid enough to try and grab her by the throat.
Wood, Spike and Giles advanced on their intended victims. Spike's hand held high, stake in hand, about to send a vamp to hell, when something rather un- expected happened to him, light shot from his hand, the stake fell to the floor, and the vampire in front of him, instantly turned to dust. He looked awed at his hand, for signs of burns or injury, but it was unharmed. He raised his hand again and light shot from his fingertips once more, he raised his hand and dusted all the remaining vamps, the other members of the group just stared at him. Buffy was the only one who looked truly horrified, it reminded her too much of their final moments in the hellmouth. Spike was becoming more powerful, and that could only mean one thing for them, time was running out.
Faith looked at Spike.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but all riled up and no one to dust, coulda saved me a couple, how'd you do it?" asked Faith, looking at her redundant stake.
"Yes, that's a neat trick Spike, how did you do it?" asked Giles.
"I don't know, I just thought that I wanted them to die and it happened," said Spike.
"Remind me not to piss you off any time soon," said Wood.
"C'mon lets get that amulet, and stop wasting time," said Buffy.
She wiped away a tear, thinking no one had noticed, but Spike saw, he walked over to her, taking her to one side.
"What is it love?" he asked.
Buffy sighed.
"Don't you get it? Every time you do something like that, it just hammers home the fact that you could be taken from me at any time," said Buffy.
"Sorry it wasn't planned," said Spike.
"You two just gonna whisper sweet nothing or are we going to get this job done?" asked Faith.
Buffy was glad of the gloom, which hid her blushing cheeks. She picked up a shovel and attacked the dirt wall, channelling all her anger into digging for the amulet.
"Not trying to bail out of the physical labour, but do you mind if I sit this one out, I am feeling a little weak, after my little light show," said Spike.
He sank to the floor, exhausted.
"You okay?" asked Buffy, going to his side.
He squeezed her hand.
"Fine really, lets just get that bleedin poofy trinket and get the hell out of here," said Spike.
Buffy turned back to help the others, reassuring herself for the moment that Spike was just fine. Giles, being the oldest of the group was finding the physical labour quite hard.
"That's what happens when you are a watcher, not a doer, you get all flabby," smirked Spike.
"I am doing this for your benefit, a little gratitude, might be in order," said Giles, breathlessly.
Robin and Faith laboured on, trying to ignore the dialogue between the two men. There was a metallic twanging and a couple of sparks as Wood's Spade hit something hard.
"Tone it down guys, I think Robin may have just struck the jackpot," said Faith as she addressed the glowering Giles and Spike.
Wood got on his hands and knees and clawed away at the loose earth, pulling out, one very dirt encrusted amulet. Faith grinned at her husband and looked at the others.
"See anything you like?" asked Faith.
Buffy rushed over to her, taking the amulet from Faith's grasp. She turned it over, examining it closely.
"I think it's it, Spike take a look, you had it longer than anyone else," said Buffy.
She took the amulet over to him; he instinctively shied away from it.
"Sorry, it just brought back bad memories, bet you weren't so fond of heights after you came back from the dead, and in answer to your question that's the sponsor of my recent fiery death," said Spike
"True," said Buffy understanding him.
"Let's get out of here then," said Giles.
"Right with you on that one," said Faith.
Spike got up off the floor and they turned to go, he stumbled slightly as he moved forward, Robin caught him and put a supporting arm around his shoulder. Spike looked, up into his face, stunned that his saviour was Wood.
"Thanks mate," Spike mumbled as he leaned on the support Robin gave him,
They got back to the surface; and Giles drove them back to the starting point, Spike was still feeling a little weak Willow and Xander were waiting anxiously for their return.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn's legs were starting to cramp; they had been hiding behind said bush for nearly two hours.
"No I do not want to play another round of I-spy, what is there to spy Andrew, there's only bushes and a fence," said Dawn, complainingly.
Andrew looked hopeful as another idea struck him.
"How about a game of truth or dare?" Andrew suggested.
Dawn perked up.
"Ok you're on," she said a little warily.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You got it?" asked Willow.
"Hello, nice to see you too," said Faith
"Yeah we got the trinket, how about you?" asked Buffy.
"We got a few files, not much, most of it was on computer and encrypted, there just wasn't the time," said Willow
Buffy put her arm around Spike, taking over from Robin.
"Thanks," she said sincerely.
Robin nodded and took his place beside Faith.
"What's up with Spike?" asked Xander.
"Let's just say, he went all glowy and took out about 20 vamps," said Faith.
Willow nodded, looking at Spike understandingly.
"The glowy thingy will take it out of you every time, give him a couple of hours, he'll be just fine," said Willow.
"Hadn't we better check on Dawn?" asked Giles.
The group nodded in agreement and made their way over to the opening in the fence. They all scrambled out.
"Never been so keen to leave Sunnydale in my whole unlife," said Spike.
"Sssh! I hear something," hissed Faith.
She pointed to the clump of bushes; that they had left Dawn and Andrew behind. They listened to the raised voices.
"Show it to me now, I want to see how big it is," demanded Dawn.
"I am not!" said Andrew.
"But you promised you would let me see it," said Dawn in return
"Ok, but don't laugh," said Andrew.
"Here let me," said Dawn.
Buffy looked at Spike, wide eyed.
"Guess it runs in the family," said Spike.
Buffy broke out in a run. She hauled Andrew and Dawn up out of the bushes.
"Andrew Wells, don't you dare show my sister anything! Not unless you wanna feel the pointy end of a stake, works real good on humans too," said Buffy angrily.
"Looks like we got here just in time, thought I told you kids to behave yourself," said Faith.
Dawn looked confused for a moment, as realisation dawned on her face.
"You thought Andrew was gonna show me his..., Oh my God!" said Dawn.
"If you'd let us give you a chance to explain, we were playing truth or dare, you guys were gone like forever, we got bored," said Andrew defensively
"Well just what exactly were you going to show her Andrew?" asked Xander.
Andrew shifted about nervously.
"He has a heart shaped mole on his back, which he still hasn't shown me," supplied Dawn.
"C'mon Drew, show us it," said Faith.
"When hell freezes over," said Andrew.
He walked off toward the main road.
"Leave the boy alone, and lets just get back, I for one, am about ready to collapse here," said Spike.
"Spike's right, we need to put some distance between us and this place," said Buffy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They got back to the RV without incidence, Spike and Buffy were last in, and they had lagged behind a little, due to Spike's fatigue.
"Don't worry it's going to be okay love, I trust your friends to see me right," said Spike.
"I hope you are right," said Buffy.
"Hey I heard that," said Xander.
"She may have a point," said Giles.
"Don't give up hope, I may have some good news for you all, I have been talking to Celine from the coven while you were out earlier today, just didn't want to mention it before tonight's adventure, but we have the amulet now, " said Willow.
"Let's hear it then, I could do with some good news" said Buffy, tiredly.
"Not before some hot cocoa, do we have any mini marshmallows left?" asked Spike hopefully.
Dawn smiled sadly, she looked at Buffy, surprised to see the same expression on her sister's face, they were both thinking of their mom.
"Sure I'll get it," said Buffy.
"I'll have a piece of that," said Xander.
Buffy ended up making cocoa for everyone. Dawn helped with the trays. Buffy handed the mug of steaming coca to Spike, the rapidly melting marshmallows bobbing on its surface. Spike took a sip, leaving a frothy moustache around his lips. He had picked up on Buffy's sadness vibe. He pulled her onto his lap and put his arms around her.
"Every bit as good as Joyce's cocoa," he whispered in her ear.
Buffy turned to look at him, seeing the foamy moustache on his upper lip, she licked it from his lips. A discreet coughing noise brought her back to the present.
"You really oughta do something about that cough Rupert, sounds nasty," grinned Faith.
"That was hot," said Andrew, under his breath.
"Can I start now, are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin," said Willow.
TBC
Chapter 21
"Vampire security, makes perfect sense, cheap too, blood & smokes and a dark hole to live in, and the odd hapless trespasser to snack on," said Spike
Faith gripped the stake firmly in her hand; she looked at Buffy and smiled.
"God I've missed this," said Faith.
Buffy smiled back.
"Me too in a funny kinda a way; let's hope after three months I'm not rusty," said Buffy.
"Shall we find out? Ladies first," said Spike
"Thanks Hun," Buffy said, giving him a quick kiss, as she and Faith advanced on the group of Vampires.
Giles, Wood and Spike followed their lead. Buffy looked at the group of vamps, she gave them her best smile, Buffy and Faith launched the attack on the vampires who were supremely confident, not knowing they were in the presence of two slayers and a semi-God. Buffy did a spin kick, hitting a vamp hard in the chest, the force of it sent several of the others behind him scattering like bowling pins. Faith dusted a vamp that had been stupid enough to try and grab her by the throat.
Wood, Spike and Giles advanced on their intended victims. Spike's hand held high, stake in hand, about to send a vamp to hell, when something rather un- expected happened to him, light shot from his hand, the stake fell to the floor, and the vampire in front of him, instantly turned to dust. He looked awed at his hand, for signs of burns or injury, but it was unharmed. He raised his hand again and light shot from his fingertips once more, he raised his hand and dusted all the remaining vamps, the other members of the group just stared at him. Buffy was the only one who looked truly horrified, it reminded her too much of their final moments in the hellmouth. Spike was becoming more powerful, and that could only mean one thing for them, time was running out.
Faith looked at Spike.
"Not that I'm not grateful, but all riled up and no one to dust, coulda saved me a couple, how'd you do it?" asked Faith, looking at her redundant stake.
"Yes, that's a neat trick Spike, how did you do it?" asked Giles.
"I don't know, I just thought that I wanted them to die and it happened," said Spike.
"Remind me not to piss you off any time soon," said Wood.
"C'mon lets get that amulet, and stop wasting time," said Buffy.
She wiped away a tear, thinking no one had noticed, but Spike saw, he walked over to her, taking her to one side.
"What is it love?" he asked.
Buffy sighed.
"Don't you get it? Every time you do something like that, it just hammers home the fact that you could be taken from me at any time," said Buffy.
"Sorry it wasn't planned," said Spike.
"You two just gonna whisper sweet nothing or are we going to get this job done?" asked Faith.
Buffy was glad of the gloom, which hid her blushing cheeks. She picked up a shovel and attacked the dirt wall, channelling all her anger into digging for the amulet.
"Not trying to bail out of the physical labour, but do you mind if I sit this one out, I am feeling a little weak, after my little light show," said Spike.
He sank to the floor, exhausted.
"You okay?" asked Buffy, going to his side.
He squeezed her hand.
"Fine really, lets just get that bleedin poofy trinket and get the hell out of here," said Spike.
Buffy turned back to help the others, reassuring herself for the moment that Spike was just fine. Giles, being the oldest of the group was finding the physical labour quite hard.
"That's what happens when you are a watcher, not a doer, you get all flabby," smirked Spike.
"I am doing this for your benefit, a little gratitude, might be in order," said Giles, breathlessly.
Robin and Faith laboured on, trying to ignore the dialogue between the two men. There was a metallic twanging and a couple of sparks as Wood's Spade hit something hard.
"Tone it down guys, I think Robin may have just struck the jackpot," said Faith as she addressed the glowering Giles and Spike.
Wood got on his hands and knees and clawed away at the loose earth, pulling out, one very dirt encrusted amulet. Faith grinned at her husband and looked at the others.
"See anything you like?" asked Faith.
Buffy rushed over to her, taking the amulet from Faith's grasp. She turned it over, examining it closely.
"I think it's it, Spike take a look, you had it longer than anyone else," said Buffy.
She took the amulet over to him; he instinctively shied away from it.
"Sorry, it just brought back bad memories, bet you weren't so fond of heights after you came back from the dead, and in answer to your question that's the sponsor of my recent fiery death," said Spike
"True," said Buffy understanding him.
"Let's get out of here then," said Giles.
"Right with you on that one," said Faith.
Spike got up off the floor and they turned to go, he stumbled slightly as he moved forward, Robin caught him and put a supporting arm around his shoulder. Spike looked, up into his face, stunned that his saviour was Wood.
"Thanks mate," Spike mumbled as he leaned on the support Robin gave him,
They got back to the surface; and Giles drove them back to the starting point, Spike was still feeling a little weak Willow and Xander were waiting anxiously for their return.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Dawn's legs were starting to cramp; they had been hiding behind said bush for nearly two hours.
"No I do not want to play another round of I-spy, what is there to spy Andrew, there's only bushes and a fence," said Dawn, complainingly.
Andrew looked hopeful as another idea struck him.
"How about a game of truth or dare?" Andrew suggested.
Dawn perked up.
"Ok you're on," she said a little warily.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
"You got it?" asked Willow.
"Hello, nice to see you too," said Faith
"Yeah we got the trinket, how about you?" asked Buffy.
"We got a few files, not much, most of it was on computer and encrypted, there just wasn't the time," said Willow
Buffy put her arm around Spike, taking over from Robin.
"Thanks," she said sincerely.
Robin nodded and took his place beside Faith.
"What's up with Spike?" asked Xander.
"Let's just say, he went all glowy and took out about 20 vamps," said Faith.
Willow nodded, looking at Spike understandingly.
"The glowy thingy will take it out of you every time, give him a couple of hours, he'll be just fine," said Willow.
"Hadn't we better check on Dawn?" asked Giles.
The group nodded in agreement and made their way over to the opening in the fence. They all scrambled out.
"Never been so keen to leave Sunnydale in my whole unlife," said Spike.
"Sssh! I hear something," hissed Faith.
She pointed to the clump of bushes; that they had left Dawn and Andrew behind. They listened to the raised voices.
"Show it to me now, I want to see how big it is," demanded Dawn.
"I am not!" said Andrew.
"But you promised you would let me see it," said Dawn in return
"Ok, but don't laugh," said Andrew.
"Here let me," said Dawn.
Buffy looked at Spike, wide eyed.
"Guess it runs in the family," said Spike.
Buffy broke out in a run. She hauled Andrew and Dawn up out of the bushes.
"Andrew Wells, don't you dare show my sister anything! Not unless you wanna feel the pointy end of a stake, works real good on humans too," said Buffy angrily.
"Looks like we got here just in time, thought I told you kids to behave yourself," said Faith.
Dawn looked confused for a moment, as realisation dawned on her face.
"You thought Andrew was gonna show me his..., Oh my God!" said Dawn.
"If you'd let us give you a chance to explain, we were playing truth or dare, you guys were gone like forever, we got bored," said Andrew defensively
"Well just what exactly were you going to show her Andrew?" asked Xander.
Andrew shifted about nervously.
"He has a heart shaped mole on his back, which he still hasn't shown me," supplied Dawn.
"C'mon Drew, show us it," said Faith.
"When hell freezes over," said Andrew.
He walked off toward the main road.
"Leave the boy alone, and lets just get back, I for one, am about ready to collapse here," said Spike.
"Spike's right, we need to put some distance between us and this place," said Buffy.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
They got back to the RV without incidence, Spike and Buffy were last in, and they had lagged behind a little, due to Spike's fatigue.
"Don't worry it's going to be okay love, I trust your friends to see me right," said Spike.
"I hope you are right," said Buffy.
"Hey I heard that," said Xander.
"She may have a point," said Giles.
"Don't give up hope, I may have some good news for you all, I have been talking to Celine from the coven while you were out earlier today, just didn't want to mention it before tonight's adventure, but we have the amulet now, " said Willow.
"Let's hear it then, I could do with some good news" said Buffy, tiredly.
"Not before some hot cocoa, do we have any mini marshmallows left?" asked Spike hopefully.
Dawn smiled sadly, she looked at Buffy, surprised to see the same expression on her sister's face, they were both thinking of their mom.
"Sure I'll get it," said Buffy.
"I'll have a piece of that," said Xander.
Buffy ended up making cocoa for everyone. Dawn helped with the trays. Buffy handed the mug of steaming coca to Spike, the rapidly melting marshmallows bobbing on its surface. Spike took a sip, leaving a frothy moustache around his lips. He had picked up on Buffy's sadness vibe. He pulled her onto his lap and put his arms around her.
"Every bit as good as Joyce's cocoa," he whispered in her ear.
Buffy turned to look at him, seeing the foamy moustache on his upper lip, she licked it from his lips. A discreet coughing noise brought her back to the present.
"You really oughta do something about that cough Rupert, sounds nasty," grinned Faith.
"That was hot," said Andrew, under his breath.
"Can I start now, are you sitting comfortably? Then I'll begin," said Willow.
TBC