Chapter 34: The Scooby's
The day passed with no real result for the wannabe sleuths. After the discovery of Buffy's car, Spike and Oz struck out. They called the police who towed it to the station for "forensic evidence". This make Spike laugh. Wankers probably couldn't find their way to a doughnut shop.
Oz shared Spike's cynicism of the local law enforcement. They had yet to find any new evidence about the identity of Willow's shooter, or the person responsible for burning the club. With an overall feeling of dejection, the three headed to Willow's apartment.
Willow trudged to her couch and threw herself down. Oz gave her a sympathetic smile and sat down behind her. Spike took the chair next to them, and they heaved a collective breath. It was silent for a few minutes, until Willow suddenly jumped up.
"This is ridiculous," she stated.
Spike looked at her, askance. "What's that, Red?"
"My best friend is missing and I'm sitting on my ass. Well, no more. Put you're thinking caps on, guys, it's time to brainstorm," Willow declared.
Oz and Spike shared a look of surprise. Willow ran to her room and came back with a notebook. She sat on the floor between the two guys and pulled out a pen. "Okay, what do we know?"
They listed off all the information they could think of, and Willow carefully wrote all of it down. When they finished, Willow read the list back.
"So, we know that Buffy went to meet Angel in BFE. She didn't leave in her own car, and someone took the time to hide it. We also have an attacker who has been following her and leaving notes and flowers. Spike found a note and flower the day Buffy disappeared. It figures that whoever is leaving the notes may be the one who took Buffy yesterday. Spike, what did the person who attacked your house look like?" Willow asked.
Spike sighed. "Don't know Red. Was covered in black clothing and had a mask on."
Willow pondered this. "Well, how big? Like, man size or woman-size?"
Spike closed his eyes and tried to remember. "About the same height as me, I'd say. Maybe a little taller. Definitely a man's build."
Willow nodded. "Okay, so a man, probably."
Spike nodded. "Definitely a man. But, who's to say that it's the same person doing everything?"
Willow shrugged her shoulders. "Nothing, actually. But it stands to reason that it is the same person. None of this happened until Buffy received the first note."
Spike looked down in shame. His father, his family, his fault.
Willow reached out and touched Spike's shoulder. "Not your fault, Spike. Don't start thinking like that."
"You can read my mind now?" Spike asked sardonically.
Willow arched a brow. "Don't have to, it's written all over your pretty little face."
Spike looked at Oz who nodded in conformation. He sighed. "Sorry, Red. It's just too much, you know?"
"I know," Willow said softly, unconsciously tracing the bullet scar on her stomach.
Oz followed her hand. He reached out and covered her hand with his own. Willow smiled up and him, and leaned back against the couch.
Spike watched the couple. Suddenly, he felt out of place and awkward. Standing, he grabbed his coat. "Well, I see you guys later."
"Oh, Spike stay. We still have stuff to discuss,' Willow said.
Spike shook his head. "Nah, Red. Gotta go home. Well, actually, I can't go home. Gotta go to the Summers."
"Alright. I'll call you tomorrow," Willow said.
Spike nodded and headed out the door. Tomorrow, tomorrow we'll find Buffy. Hold on, luv, I'm coming.
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"You okay, baby?" Oz asked quietly.
After Spike left, they went to bed. Just wanting a cuddle, Willow snuggled next to Oz and sighed when he wrapped his arms around her. She felt kinda guilty, knowing that she was safe with Oz while Buffy was who knows where.
"I'm fine," she answered.
Oz tightened his grasp. He all too
vividly remembered Willow's
hospital stay, and he silently pledged to protect this beautiful woman, no
matter the cost.
Willow sighed again. Something was bothering her, something important. The feeling started last night when she was dreaming. She dreamed about the club and the shooting, but was unable to keep the details from slipping away when she awoke. Now, she was left with an uncomfortable feeling of forgetfulness. There was something there, something important, locked in her unconscious mind.
Pushing the troubling thought aside, Willow instead focused on Oz. Already asleep, his breathing was slow and even. Eventually, Willow fell asleep too, safe in the arms of her purple-haired lover.
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Spike finished his cigarette and walked into the apartment.
And caught his uncle Rupert and Joyce kissing on the couch.
"Bloody hell!" he yelled.
Giles and Joyce jumped apart.
"Spike, we didn't expect you back so soon," Joyce said, flustered.
Giles, meanwhile, pulled his glasses off and began to polish. "Yes, um, hello William."
Spike groaned and rubbed his eyes. "Bloody hell, I'm going to bed, and I'm going to pretend I didn't see that."
Turning, Spike walked into Buffy's room. Stripping off his clothes, he crawled into her bed.
He couldn't sleep.
Everything smelled like her. The pillows, the blankets, Mr. Gordo, everything was a painful Buffy reminder.
Muttering, Spike rolled over and threw his arms and legs out. No help.
After an hour of tossing and turning, Spike gave up on sleep. Pulling on some pants, he headed for the kitchen.
And caught A.J on the couch kissing some girl.
"Jesus bleedin' Christ, what is it with you people!" he yelled.
The teenagers jumped apart with guilty expressions on their flushed faces.
"Cor, you people are like a bunch of bleedin' bunnies," Spike said.
Grabbing a glass of water, Spike walked back into Buffy's room.
A.J watched him go, and then turned back to Vanessa. "Sorry 'bout that. My sister's boyfriend."
Vanessa looked at him, amazed. "Your mom lets him stay here?"
A.J shrugged. "Well, his house did get blown up."
Vanessa's eyes widened. "Seriously?"
A.J shrugged negligently. "Yeah, he's pretty cool."
Just then, Joyce walked in from her room. "A.J, time for Vanessa to leave. Let me grab my keys and I'll drive her home."
The teens shared one last kiss before Joyce appeared keys in hand.
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The next morning, Spike was up early and out of the apartment, avoiding both Joyce and A.J. He didn't want to rehash any of last night's details just yet. Jumping into his car, he headed toward Willow's. Oz answered the door in his boxers and with wet hair.
"Hey," he said and moved to the side to let Spike in.
"Morning," Spike replied.
Willow walked into the living room, her vibrant red hair still wet from her shower. "Hi Spike. Sleep well?"
Spike shook his head. "Not really."
Willow gave him a small smile. "We'll find her."
Oz left to get dressed and Willow poured everyone some coffee. "So, shall we continue on?"
Spike nodded and Oz returned to the living room. Once again, the three friends brainstormed ideas and leads. After and hour, a break was called. Spike's cell phone rang.
"Hey, Spike, have you seen Buffy?" Xander asked.
Spike gave himself a mental head-slap. He had forgotten to tell Xander about Buffy. Quickly, Spike explained the events of the past few days.
Xander grew quiet. "Anya and I will be right over."
They disconnected and Spike walked back into the small living room. "Xander and Anya are coming over. Hope that's okay."
Willow nodded. "Sure, the more minds working on this, the better."
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Buffy awoke slowly. Layer by layer, she drifted up from the sea on unconsciousness into the world of reality. Once she was fully awake, Buffy took a minute to pray that yesterday had just been a bad dream. Once said, she opened her eyes.
She was still in the room.
Tears burned her eyes and a tsunami of desolation passed through her. Still here, still stuck. I'm trapped in a room with a fucking psycho lurking about. Why did I have to meet Angel?
Mentally berating herself, Buffy didn't hear the door open again. Then she heard the same mocking laugh from the night before. Gathering her courage and shreds of composure, Buffy turned to face her foe.
"What do you want?" she demanded.
Her kidnapper paused to think. "I want to be wanted."
Buffy furrowed her brow. "I don't understand. Why me?"
No answer was given. A tray was dropped onto the floor by Buffy's bed, and the attacker turned for the door.
Buffy lunged. The two of them grappled for a minute, both exchanging blows and rolling on the small wood floor. The kidnapper got the upper hand and bolted for the door. Buffy dove for the door, but was too late. The door slammed in her face, and Buffy heard the distinct sound of locks.
Buffy sat back on her heels. "Shit."
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"This is pointless," Spike growled.
For hours, the group of friends had pondered and discussed every single thought relating to Buffy and her disappearance. They had netted a big zero. The one highlight was when Willow christened the group "Scooby's" in honor of the inept cartoon detectives.
"Okay, when in doubt, go back to the beginning," Xander said.
Spike sighed. "Buffy left me a note…"
Xander cut him off. "That's not what I meant. I mean the very beginning. First time you met Buffy."
"When Dru dumped me and you dragged me to the club," Spike answered.
"Alright. After that," Xander said.
"Went to the club, met Buffy out in the parking lot….bloody hell!" Spike exclaimed.
"What?" everyone asked in unison.
Spike looked at the group of people. "How could I have been so bloody blind? Right in front of us the entire bleedin' time. Riley"
Everyone was quiet for a minute. Then Willow spoke up. "I think I speak for everyone when I say 'Huh?"
Spike jumped up and began to pace restlessly. "It's got to be. He works at the club, is infatuated with Buffy, and fits the size of the intruder in my house. Hell, he could have even been the one to take the shot at you, Red."
Spike continued to mumble and pace while Willow digested his words. A sick feeling began to grow in her stomach. She didn't want to believe what Spike was saying, but it was making a horrible kind of sense. Riley was pissed off when Buffy and Spike began dating, and he had the motive and opportunity at the club. Unbidden, the memory of her and Buffy discussing Riley over milkshakes at Al's came back to Willow and she shivered. What would have happened if Buffy had dated Riley?
"So now what?" Xander asked.
Spike considered the question. "Now, we go pay Riley a visit."
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A/N: Until next time my pretties.
