Chapter 3.
Her first thought had been 'FREEZING' the minute she had stepped from the warm confinements of Giles' home. She had forgotten her Walkman and had been rather pissed off for about quarter of an hour. But as she rounded a corner she came to a woodland opening, the small path led down towards an arch and it was dark within, slowly approaching smelling the fresh dew in the air, all her worries began to disappear one by one. Buffy had always loved the dark, she could be herself in the shadows, but while the lights were on she had to play to everyone, be the Buffy they wanted her to be. Her mind thick with thoughts she continued to jog as the morning sun shone through the thick ceiling of leaves and branches, following manmade pathways.
Spike had been annoyed, never before had he noticed, but the machines that you only buy fags from when it's late (Or early depending on your point of view) not only over charged you by at least one pound fifty but they only gave you sixteen in a pack! So before walking he had taken the liberty to stop at a small corner shop before heading towards a part of Northampton he didn't know. As he walked the paths that led by houses and bungalows, he watched as local kids did their paper-rounds. Spike had never been one to work whilst young. When at school he stole from the geeks that did do paper-rounds so he could have a packet of cigarettes. He smoked since he was eleven, just kind of happened. His friend (who was older) had been sparking one up, Spike liked the smell, and that was it… hooked from the first drag. Bringing himself back to reality Spike coughed. Looking to his left he saw a large pylon surrounded by bushes and other such things, following the dirt path he sparked up one of his rip off fags.
Buffy hadn't seen a soul for a while now, she was quietly singing to herself, making up words as she went, laughing when she messed it up. Eventually she had given up and sat on a bench, she hadn't really noticed until now but she was sitting opposite a reservoir. Swans elegantly swam back and forth; their heads held high on long necks, she swung her legs underneath the seat. The lake was peaceful, the trees and woodland surrounding it making hushed sounds in the wind, and the occasional honk from the beauties swimming on the lake, small ducklings and their families floating around. It was evident to Buffy that the lake was in no way for swimming in, it wasn't clean or really sea blue, but the calming effect was taking over her.
A ruffle from behind startled her.
Spike had followed some sort of old railroad track. And was feeling a little lost. Not that he minded, he had nothing to do today, so if he spent it trying to find his way home, then so be it. Soon enough he saw an exit from the corridor of over grown trees and bushes. As he reached the exit he stopped, mapping out the land in front before stepping onto new territory. Staring out from his chamber of nature, he saw a wide dirt road which was obviously had been used by cars for fishermen, the lake to his right conformed his thoughts, to his left was a large field which led to a huge electrical station, but no noise could be heard, and the overgrown bush seemed to hide the building. Peeping around the tree almost like a doorframe, Spike looked to the opening that was directly to his right. His breath hitched up a notch and his heart skipped a beat. Pure lust fell upon him as he stared side on at a beauty, far more gorgeous than the lake and all it's creatures could dream of being, closing his eyes he leaned back.
There was no way he was going to even introduce himself. Not a chance. He wasn't having his heart trampled on by another skirt. Standing straight and breathing in the clean air, Spike took a step behind him, his foot balancing nicely on the log behind him, another step back and the log broke, all posture and grace left him as he fell backwards, trying to grab onto a branch or something from to save himself from completely falling, Spike grabbed a rotting branch his hand slid down the branch, little twigs and splinters puncturing his pale skin, digging deep into his hand. His head hit a wooden track of the old railroad and for a moment everything went black.
It was quarter to seven in the morning and Buffy was sitting stiffly on the wooden bench her head instantly turning to the left where she had heard the trees move, straight afterwards there was a log breaking and the trees moved violently. All her senses were going awhile, she was in an unusual place, and was rather scared. After no noise for almost two minutes Buffy begun to relax.
"A bunny, that's all it was Buffy, a bunny." She spoke to herself. She rubbed the back of her neck, but it wouldn't return to the scenic view in front of her, it still strained to the left.
"Bollocks" a deep husky voice came from the point she was looking at. Getting up she balled her hands into fists, and walked towards the opening.
Spike began to wake up, sitting up slightly he felt week and dizzy, putting his good hand to the back of his head he felt the warm feeling of blood. Closing his eyes he swore.
"Bollocks!" his word drawing a lot of energy from his weakened state. Looking up he saw her. Tracksuit covered up her flesh, her hair in a blonde ponytail, not a strand out of place. Her lips pouting, her tiny fists all balled up.
"Hi" Spike said his natural smirk playing on is lips.
He had spoke to her, it was only enough to bring Buffy out from her daydream. He was half sitting half lying; his long legs sprawled out from underneath him, his bleach blonde locks curly although gelled back. He was a picture of a God; he was absolutely breathtaking, way out of her league. She almost chuckled at the picture she was painting in her head; there was this bleached God, smiling at her, they hit it off immediately, and then he asked her out for dinner, she agreed got ready, then met with him, the were getting along just great until he asked her what she did for a living, she'd say 'I'm a lap dancer, and he'd laugh and excuse himself never to come back.
"Hi." She replied, unsure what to do, he was obviously hurt, and she couldn't just leave him here… No she had to stay and help, but she wouldn't allow any feelings to become of this encounter, he may be wonderfully good looking, but she couldn't allow herself to be hurt, she still had that thing to sort out with Angel, and see if she still had a job.
She hadn't noticed his hand, not until he coughed, once again bringing her out of her trance. Obliging she helped him up using his good hand. Standing up Spike noticed how petite she really was.
"Thanks." He said shyly.
"That's ok." She smiled sweetly, looking him up and down.
Spike noticed the blonde's raking eyes, and tried to stand a little taller, but the sudden change in altitude made him wince. Noting the pain shooting through the mans midnight blue eyes Buffy immediately went to action, taking his firm arm, and ignoring the tingles racing down her arm and throughout her body, she helped him to the bench she had been previously occupying. Sitting him down Buffy kneeled in front of him.
"Hey you look like you really hurt yourself." Buffy tried starting conversation that consisted in more than two words.
"Yea, really did a number on myself." He chuckled, wincing again.
" I'm Buffy by the way." She introduced herself.
"What?" Spike asked confused, she was in no way in the buff, he would know, he would be hallucinating about her for weeks if she had been… he lost his track of thoughts.
"I'm Buffy, Buffy Summers." She smiled again staring up at him from under hooded eyelids.
"Oh, you name." He sighed; she was still looking at him, 'OH SHIT!' Spike thought. 'Name she wants you name, puff.'
"I'm Will… Spike. Spike Smith." He smiled, at her face, she seemed to be thinking, and she looked adorable.
"Spike… interesting name."
"And Buffy's so much better."
"Hey Mister… My mother gave me the name." She pouted and looked him straight in his startling blue eyes. Spike instantly wanted to take the pink protruding pouting lip in-between his teeth.
"So your real name is Buffy?" Spike inquired.
"No, it's a pet name, and I suppose Spike is yours."
"Well, no." throughout the entire conversation Spike never noticed the blonde removing gravel and dirt from his swollen hand, well not until now.
"OW!" Spike yanked his hand away like a child who had just been smacked. Holding it above his shoulder.
"You big baby. Give it back!" Buffy demanded. Reluctantly he lowered it into her awaiting her hand. Both noticed the tingles. Both ignored them.
"So you were saying…" Spike continued, trying to blot out the pain of splinters and such being removed from his sore hand.
"What's your real name?" she looked back up and smiled.
"What's yours?" he answered back.
"Fine, I'll go first. Elizabeth." She looked back up from her work waiting from his response.
"That's nice." He smirked and started to stare back into space.
"Your name please Mr. Smith."
"Already told you. Spike." He smirked once again, immediately regretting it when he felt her squeeze tight on his injured hand.
"OW!" he shouted again.
"Bloody hell woman! Can't you see I'm hurt?" Buffy began to giggle quietly. "What you think it's funny hurting the innocent."
"No! Just your more fragile than you look."
"Hey I'm not fragile!" Buffy pulled another long thorn from his hand. "OW!" Ignoring his pleas Buffy pulled the last thorn she was able to get with her neat fingernails.
"Do you live near here?" Buffy asked
"Hey, look I really appreciate the help and all, but I'm kinda not looking for…" Spike stopped by Buffy's look.
"I'm not hitting on ya. This is going to get infected if you don't wash and sterilise it. So I was offering to help you clean it up properly. Plus it was kinda my fault." She said standing tall and putting her hands on her tiny waist.
"Oh well… hold on how is this you fault?" he asked kinda curious to how her mind track worked.
"Well, you see, if I hadn't have come to this part of the lakes while I was running, you would have never peeped on me." With a triumph smile and a shrug of her covered shoulders Buffy turned her back on Spike and began to walk to the dirt road. Spike was speechless for what he thought must have been the first time in his life, so without another word he followed the blonde haired vixen onto the dirt road and into the bushes, where he had got his injury. One that was becoming a blessing in disguise.
***30 Minutes Later***
Buffy looked up at the hotel, three United Kingdom flags were hanging above their heads, Spike by now was already stalking into the hotel and half way across the hotel lobby before Buffy even had time to register what was going on. She felt she wasn't clean enough to be entering the white lobby.
Spike noticed Buffy wasn't behind him, so turning around he slowly walked towards the object that tugged his heartstrings with every glance. Using his good hand he placed her tiny one in the strong confinement of his. Looking up at him, sunlight pouring over her tiny frame he gently led her through the lobby and to the lift.
Buffy had froze outside, wondering what she was getting herself into. She knew if she went inside the hotel with her new mysterious friend, then whatever she did in there was her fault. Spike was everything she had secretly longed for back in California. What she had had in California was Riley, tall, dark, handsome, and ordinary. Then when that went belly-up she had had to go with Cordelia to meet Angel. His name chilled her bones, he was why she had packed her bags and left for England. She had no idea how long she would be here for, so even if she did have Spike who seemed to be fighting with his emotions just as much as she was, she couldn't afford to get all loved up. Sure he was sexy, and he'd make a great one-nightstand, but she felt too much already for him.
When he had touched her, Buffy had nearly jumped a mile. The electricity that flew from his hand through to hers was incredible, she knew he had felt it and almost in a trance she followed him through the lobby and into the lift, once in there he dropped her hand like it was on fire, but smiled politely.
"So how's you hand feeling?" she asked trying to make a normal conversation.
Spike was really finding it hard not to press the emergency stop button and jump Buffy's bones; he wanted to make her scream his name in ecstasy. He wanted to watch her squirm beneath him as he drove into her hot core. Mentally he slapped himself. She was a small woman, a fragile woman, and he had no right thinking his evil thoughts. Looking down at his hand he nodded and smirked.
"Hurts like a barstard." He muttered, Buffy only just hearing.
"Do you always swear?" she asked, not meaning to sound like a patronising woman, but managing to all the same.
"Yep." Spike growled, his inner beast trying to get free, he wanted her so badly he could almost taste her, visualise all the things he would do to her, for her.
"Oh," Her fingernails became very interesting all of a sudden. The lift doors opened after several seconds of agonising silence. Following like a lamb, Buffy walked with Spike. As his door swung open Buffy noticed nothing that made him seem to have been here long, a small duffle bag sitting on a chair, the bed not made and a pair of boxers discarded near the bed.
Sitting down Spike sighed; maybe he shouldn't have brought her here. Perhaps his body was just begging him to have her just once. He didn't notice her walk into the toilet, until he heard rummaging and something being knocked down. Slowly he laid on the bed draping his arm over his eyes, trying to blot out the images of her upon him.
Buffy found what she was looking for; the first aid box was where it always was, in the bathroom in the cabinet above the sink. Walking back into the main room, Buffy noticed Spike lying on his injured head, nothing protecting it.
"Sit up Spike." She called as normally as she could, when he didn't seem to move she sat behind him, lifting his arm ever so gently,
"What?" he yawned.
"Sit up please." She smiled from above him, looking like an angel. Slowly he shifted into a sitting position, and she cleaned the wound, once she finished with that one she began to clean his hand.
***45 minutes later***
"Thanks Buffy." Spike smiled; know she had to leave before he ravished her for being the sweet soul that she was.
"No worries." She hadn't smiled so many times than around Spike. He made her laugh, he made her happy and made her feel needed and wanted. But he was yet to confirm that he did want her, he hadn't made a move on her all morning. In fact he hadn't said a thing concerning anything to do with them as an item.
"Spike I…" she couldn't ask him, it wasn't ladylike, and the English were all for ladylike. 'Anyway what happened to the can't let this become anything Buffy.' Buffy thought.
"Right well, I'll see you around, right." He smiled begging her with his eyes to ask for his number, or for a drink, but she didn't seem interested. Giving up he said goodbye, she turned and walked down the corridor that led to the lift, which would lead to the lobby, where she would call for a taxi. She didn't feel like running, or walking, especially now the sun was up. In the lift she sighed audible, that was Spike, back in that room back there. Spike the man that if she had met three years ago could have saved her.
Unknown to Buffy, Spike was thinking the same thing.