Soul
Episode 12
Buffy's Room:
Buffy was in her room, lying on her bed, thinking. She was still confused over the events of the previous night. Spike had told her that he'd gotten his soul back. He was acting all crazy, but then again, what else would it be like having your soul restored after murdering so many people.
She still didn't want to believe that Spike was back. She wanted it all to be a dream. The last time she had seen him, he had tried to rape her. But then again, Angel had told her that Spike had been slain in the vampire palace the same day she was rescued. She had no idea if this was a dream.
Buffy also wondered if she still had feelings for Spike. She wasn't really close to Angel anymore. Angel had just been alone and by himself mainly, ever since the gang made him human again.
That's when it hit her! She had to find Spike again. She needed to ask him what was going on. Had Angel lied to her about Spike getting dusted? Or was the whole thing just a dream that she had? She had to know, even if it meant patrolling all night.
She got up and put on a jacket. Luckily, she had two. She used the other one to help that man that Spike supposedly stabbed last night. Last night had to be real, her jacket was gone. She exited the council headquarters and headed for town, without telling anyone. She needed to talk to someone.
Apartments, Outskirts of Sunnydale:
Buffy walked up to the front of an apartment complex. It had taken her an hour to walk here, since it was located on the other side of town. She went to the main building and questioned the guy if a certain person lived there. He gave her the information she needed. She left and walked up to the apartment that the guy had told her to go to. She knocked.
The door opened and a familiar face appeared.
"Buffy?" Giles said.
"Giles, I need to talk."
"Not about anything supernatural, I hope?"
"Well, it sorta isn't."
"Come in anyways."
He motioned for her to enter. They both walked in and sat on the couch. Buffy looked around. It was a pretty small apartment.
"Nice place."
"Thanks. It's not the best, but it'll do."
"I miss you, Giles."
"I miss you too, but there's nothing I can do to get my job back."
"I know."
"Now what was it you wanted to talk about?"
"Oh right! Last night, I was attacked by a giant slug demon. When I looked off to my right, I saw Spike."
"Spike? But he's dead."
"That's what I thought, but apparently not."
"Are you sure this wasn't a dream?"
"I'm positive."
"All right, go on with your story."
"Right when he was about to stab the slug demon, it turned into a human. After Spike stabbed it, he started going crazy."
"Crazy? What do you mean?"
"I followed him to a church. He was talking about random stuff, or that's what I thought. He started talking about how the spark was back and how Angel should have told him."
"Spark?"
"He has a soul now, Giles. It's making him crazy."
"His soul? That is not possible."
"He wouldn't tell me how. He started reciting something, and then laid on a big crucifix and let himself burn."
"Buffy, I believe you. I'm just not sure why."
"Giles, you have to help me find him. I have to know how he got his soul back. He needs help. We need to help him!"
Council Headquarters:
Buffy entered the building. She was going to need a stake or so just in case she came across anything while searching for Spike. She headed for her room. She couldn't risk breaking into the weapon closets. Luckily, she had a few weapons in her room.
She went to her room and gathered her crossbow and a few stakes. As she was leaving her room, she bumped into Angel.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"Oh! Angel!" she exclaimed, surprised.
Angel stared at her, wondering where she could be going.
"I'm going patrolling," she answered.
"Do you want me to come along and help?" he asked.
"Thanks for the suggestion," she said, "But I need some time to think."
"Oh," Angel said sounding a little hurt.
"Maybe tomorrow night," she added, smiling.
"Yeah, maybe," he said.
"Angel?" Buffy questioned, "Is Spike really dead?"
Angel didn't answer at first. He didn't know whether to tell her the truth or not.
"No," he replied.
"What?"
"I found him, while you, Giles, and Willow were away," Angel informed, "He was in a warehouse near the docks. He seemed like he was crazy."
"Oh," Buffy replied.
"Stay away from him, Buffy. Just let him suffer."
"I'll see you later," Buffy said as she turned and headed down the steps.
She headed for the exit. Luckily, she didn't run into any council operatives or her friends. She began walking towards Giles' apartment, so they could begin their search for Spike.
Docktown:
Giles and Buffy were walking through Docktown. It wasn't one of the best places to be, especially at night.
"Why did we come here, Buffy?" Giles asked.
"Angel said that they found Spike here while we were gone," Buffy told him.
"Does Angel know that Spike regained his soul?" Giles questioned.
"If he does, he didn't let on," she answered.
The two headed for some warehouses. Most of the goods that were shipped to Sunnydale were placed in the warehouses for storage until they could be transported to other places.
They went down an alley between two warehouses. Giles noticed a back door leading into one, so he motioned towards Buffy. She tried the knob, even though she knew it was locked. Amazingly, it wasn't. She pushed the door open and walked in.
It was filled with boxes and crates. She motioned for Giles to enter. He stepped in.
"I'm surprised," Buffy said, "I thought this place would be crawling with vamps."
"Yes, me too," Giles said.
"I'm gonna check those closets over there," Buffy said and headed towards them.
She slowly opened the first one. It was empty except for some buckets and a mop. She moved to the next. She opened it and found it completely empty. She moved to the last one.
She opened it, hoping to find something. She found what she was looking for. Spike lay slouched in the back. He was asleep.
"Giles," Buffy called, "I found him."
Giles came walking over. He stood next to Buffy and looked in. Spike was tossing and turning in his sleep. Giles thought maybe it was because of the guilt he was feeling. He wore ragged clothing. Giles assumed that he had found it here in the warehouse.
"We have to find him a home," Buffy said, "He can't live here. Something could attack him."
"Do you have the slightest clue as to where we could put a vampire?" Giles questioned.
"Not really," she answered, "His old crypt would be long gone by now."
"You're right," he replied, "There is no way that the council will let you keep him at their building either."
"Wait!" Buffy exclaimed, "I've got it! He can stay with you."
"Me?" Giles replied, shocked, "You remember the last time he stayed with me!"
"Yeah, but now he has a soul," Buffy informed him, "He can't harm you."
"Alright," Giles said, giving in, "How are we going to get him there?"
"I guess I'll carry him," Buffy said, "It can't be that hard."
Buffy picked him up and threw Spike over her shoulder. Both Giles and Buffy left the warehouse. They walked back up the alley. Giles stopped.
"How are we going to get him through town," Giles began, "Someone may think we did something to him."
Buffy laid Spike down on the ground.
"I'll be right back," she said running back down the alley.
She reemerged a few minutes later. In her hands were a blanket and a long piece of wood.
"What are those for?" Giles asked, puzzled.
"We'll put Spike on it and cover him with the blanket. Then we'll carry him to your apartment," she told him.
"Sounds good," Giles replied.
Buffy rolled Spike onto the wood and then covered him with the blanket. She grabbed the front and Giles grabbed the back. They lifted it up and carried Spike into town.
Giles' Apartment:
It took them an hour to reach the apartment. Buffy lifted Spike off the board and laid him onto Giles' couch. She covered him up with the blanket. Giles went to the closet and grabbed a pillow. He lifted up Spike's head and slid them under.
"I still don't know why we couldn't have left him there," Giles told her.
"He was in danger out there, Giles," Buffy informed, "He was dinner for any demon that entered that warehouse."
"Buffy, he's insane!" Giles shouted.
"That's another reason why he couldn't stay out there," she replied.
"How long will he be staying here?" Giles asked.
"Until he gets it together," Buffy said.
"But that could take forever!" Giles exclaimed.
"Look, no one deserves to live like that, not even Spike," Buffy said, "You're doing him a big favor."
"I know, Buffy," Giles said, "I'm just a little worried of having a vampire living here. What happens when he wakes up?"
"I'm not leaving until he does!" she exclaimed, "We're both gonna have to explain everything to him."
"Well that's good," Giles said, smiling, "Changing the subject, how's the new slayer doing?"
"She's doing well," Buffy informed, "Only a few more weeks of training and she'll be ready for patrol."
"New watcher?" he asked.
"Yeah, some young, stuffy, British lady," Buffy said, "No offense!"
"None taken," Giles replied.
"She's just like Wesley was when he became my watcher for that short time," Buffy continued.
"So, I'm guessing everything is fine over at there?" he asked.
"Everything's just peachy," Buffy said, "I hope it stays that way for a while."
"I doubt it will," Giles informed.
"Glory is going to return soon, Giles. I can feel it," Buffy stated, "She's getting stronger. I know it!"
"Buffy, when the time comes, you will be able to fight Glory and win," Giles told her.
That's when Spike sat up. He rubbed his eyes and looked around. He realized that he was in a house somewhere.
"Where the bloody hell am I?" Spike shouted.
Giles and Buffy both turned to face him. They were both a little shocked from his shouting.
"Spike," Buffy began, "We brought you to Giles's apartment. You need a safe place to live until you get better."
"No! I'm not living here with the Watcher!" Spike yelled, "Can't hurt another!"
"Spike!" Buffy shouted, "Calm down! I trust you, Giles trusts you."
"I…it hurts, Buffy!" Spike shouted, "I'm sorry for scaring you."
"It's okay," Buffy smiled, "I was just startled."
"The spark…guilt...," he said, "You…I hurt you…Buffy."
"Spike, it's ok," Buffy said, trying not to bring up the memory of what he attempted to do, "Just stay here for a few days. Let Giles care for you."
"You're leaving?" Giles questioned.
"I have to," she said, "Everyone may get suspicious if I turn up missing. I promise I'll be back."
She stood up and walked out of the apartment. Giles knew this was going to be one hell of a job, caring for an insane vampire. He didn't have the slightest clue of how to handle his guest. It wasn't like the usual guests that he got. Oh well. He'd have to get used to having the insane vampire around the house for a few weeks. Well that's how long he hoped it would take for Spike to become normal.
Council Headquarters:
"Where were you?" Angel questioned.
Buffy had returned to the council headquarters. It had taken her an hour to walk back, considering Giles' apartment was on the other side of town. Angel had caught her trying to get into her room. This was the second time today.
"You were out patrolling for a long time," he finished.
"I got attacked by a group of vampires. One escaped and locked me in a crypt. It took a few hours until I finally got out," she lied.
"How'd you escape?" Angel questioned.
"I found a drain and got out through the sewers. It took a little while to get back here."
"You're lucky," Angel said.
'Oh my god!" Buffy thought to herself, "He actually believes me! YES!"
"Well goodnight, Buffy," Angel said and headed off to his room.
"Goodnight, Angel," Buffy said.
She turned around and walked into her room. She closed the door behind her. She slipped off her clothes and put on a tank top and a pair of boxers, then slid into bed. She fell asleep right away.
Giles' Apartment; The Next Day:
Giles came into the living room. Spike was still asleep on the couch. He could tell Spike was having a nightmare because of all the tossing and turning that he was doing. Giles knew the nightmare had to do with something bad Spike had done in his past.
"No!' Spike yelled, "It hurts! Make it stop!"
Giles considered waking him up, but knew it might not snap him out of it.
"I…slayer's dead! I killed her!"
Giles knew he was feeling guilty for one of the slayers that he killed a long time ago.
"It was Angelus' fault! And Dru's!" Spike yelled, "She made...turned me into a bloody vampire!"
He shot up. His eyes were wide open and sweat was dripping down his forehead. If he was alive, his heart would have pounding and he would have been breathing heavily.
"Are you okay?" Giles asked.
"No…I'm fine! No! The guilt is too much!" he shouted.
Giles knew he could not put up with the insane vampire for more than a few days. He also knew that it was going to take a lot longer for Spike to return to his normal self. Giles went into the kitchen and poured some tea. He returned to the living room and handed Spike a cup.
"Tastes good…this tea," Spike said calmly.
Giles took a sip out of his own cup. At least Spike had calmed down. But who knew for how long.
Giles left Spike alone for most of the morning. Buffy arrived a little after lunch.
"Sorry Giles," Buffy said as she walked in the door, "I couldn't get here soon. I had to train with the new watcher."
"It's okay," Giles replied, "He wasn't that bad. He started shouting in his sleep, but then everything was fine."
Buffy went over to the couch and sat next to Spike.
"Are you all right, Spike?" she questioned.
"Buffy?" he started freaking out when he realized it was her, "I'm afraid! It's coming!"
"Spike, what are you talking about?" she questioned.
"It's coming! It will kill you!" he shouted.
"What is coming?" Buffy shouted, "What will kill me?"
"From beneath you, it devours," Spike said, then passed out.
"Spike! Spike!" she shouted nudging him, "Wake up!"
She slowly turned to face Giles.
"Giles, what was he talking about?" she asked.
"I haven't the slightest clue, Buffy," he replied, "Remember, he is insane."
"I know, Giles. But I have this feeling that what he just said is true," she informed, "And what happens if it is?"
"I'm not sure, Buffy. I'm not sure."
