Author:  PSUbrat
Rating:  PG-13 Some language and violence
Disclaimer and spoiler warning:  All characters, except Geoffrey, Garrick and Bronwyn, belong to Joss Whedon and whomever else he sells them to...I'm just borrowing them for a while.  This story is based upon the alternate universe I created in Reset
Summary:  As Mother Nature lashes out, Spike weathers a storm of a different kind at Giles' place...
Timeframe:  Immediately following "Impending Storm"

Chapter 4 – HURRICANE RIPPER

The ride back to Giles' flat took a considerable amount of time due to the heavy volume of London traffic.  It was a normal every day occurrence to the rest of the city but for Spike it felt like a rat race with no end.  If this was what it was like to be among the living again, he would gladly trade it all to go back to the shadows of the night.  It was just too overwhelming.  He couldn't understand why Giles just didn't take the Tube into the city – would have been less hassle than hailing a taxi, and a lot less emotionally crushing for him.  However, in a way, he was grateful that it was a long trip.  It gave him the time to explain what had happened to him in Africa; not that he really understood it all himself, but he hoped that talking about it to someone who was well versed in demons would give him a better perspective.

"You mean to tell me that some demon just granted your request?  Just like that?"  Giles demanded, loudly at first, but then in more hushed tones as the taxi driver turned on the wiper blades.  The sky had started to cloud over when they left the shop, and now the rain was pouring down.

"Well, I didn't just walk into the cave and ask him to make me human if that's what you want to know," Spike snarked.  "I bloody well had to work for it, I did.  Fire and brimstone, a couple of Hollera demons to boot.  's not like I had much of a choice once things got started.  It was a kill-or-be-killed type scenario."

Giles turned his head to stare at the former blond vampire seated next to him.  He wondered what would ever make such a selfish, blood-thirsty fiend decide to shed his demon and return to the land of the living.  He had never heard of such a thing in all his time at the Council.  Ever.  It was most definitely unprecedented.  "Let me get this straight," he started, still trying to wrap his mind around everything that Spike was telling him, "You traveled to Africa to ask a demon to make you human?"

"Sorta, yeah."

 "But before he granted that request you had to fight to the death?"

"Correct."

"You survived the trials and as a result, you're now human?"

"It definitely wasn't as easy as you make it sound, but yeah, that about sums it up.  Oh, 'cept for one small thing..."

"And that is?"

"I didn't go there to ask him to make me human."

"What?  Spike you're not making any sense, not that you ever did before..."

Taking a deep breath, Spike let the words tumble quickly from his lips.  "I asked him to return my soul."

Giles frowned in response, not understanding what it was that Spike was telling him.  "I don't think I follow.  Did I miss something along the way?"

"No...Well, yeah.  I went to Africa to get my soul back, not to become human."

"Then, how?"  Giles asked incredulously, trying unsuccessfully to keep his voice an octave or two below yelling.  The last thing they needed was for the driver to think them insane and take a detour to the nearest asylum.  He sighed and lowered his voice before he continued.  "If you asked for your soul, how did you become human?"

"Funny story, that," Spike replied, turning his head to look out the window at the rain instead of at Giles.  His stomach began to churn, knowing that he would have to soon tell the Watcher everything.  "Seems I already had a soul."

Giles sat back in his seat, his mouth agape for the second time that day.  He was absolutely stunned.  "I-I don't know what to say to that, Spike.  How?"

"Dunno how exactly," Spike replied, giving Giles a sideways glance to see the man's reaction.  Yep, the Watcher was just as stunned as he had been when he'd found out the truth. So much for Giles having all the answers.  With a sigh he continued on.  "The elders couldn't or wouldn't explain it.  Said it would be revealed in time, not sure whose time they're referring to though."

Several moments of silence passed before either man spoke again.

"Well?"  Spike asked with a frown.  "What do you make of it?"

"Spike, you'll have to forgive me for being at a loss for words, again, but you must understand that this is highly unusual."

"You think?  I was under the impression that it was an everyday occurrence for vampires to go on a quest for their souls."  He couldn't help himself.  It was as if he and Giles had never left Sunnydale – he just felt like he had to be the snarky Big Bad again.  "I'm sorry.  I don't know why I said that.  I guess I'm tired...that I'm having a hard time figuring out who I am.  I'm not Spike anymore, haven't been really for a long while now, and I'm certainly not that poofter William.  I don't know who I am."

"Understandable under the circumstances," Giles replied as he sat further back in his seat, already stunned from the soul revelation, but now equally stunned that Spike had apologized for being rude.  This certainly wasn't the same being that he knew from the Watcher Journals or from their time spent together in Sunnydale.  Spike was right, this was someone else entirely.  How had he missed the tell-tale signs of Spike's transformation?  All one had to do was look into Spike's eyes and see the difference.  There was a spark there that hadn't been there before, except for maybe when he had looked at Buffy.

Spike held his face in his hands and took a deep breath; letting it out in a long, slow sigh and then ran his hands through his hair.  "I'm sure you have a million questions..."

"That I do.  Perhaps they would be better off asked in private," Giles stated in quiet tones as he gave the driver a sideways glance.

"Right.  We'll just chat about the weather then, shall we?"

"I could update you on how things are going in Sunnydale, and what Buffy's been..." Giles started, but then stopped when Spike visibly flinched at the mention of the Slayer's name.  "Is everything alright then?"

Spike frowned at the question.  "You mean aside from the fact that I now breathe and have a heartbeat?"  He'd done it again.  The snark.  "I guess that was a bit uncalled for as well.  I can't seem to help it though," he said with a wry grin.  "You must bring out the worst in me."

"Spike there's no need to apologize for who you are, although it is a bit disconcerting to say the least – the apologizing.  As for bringing out the worst in you, I think that you're just on your guard because of our past history together.  It's not that surprising.  Just try to relax.  I'm not going to stake you."  After a few seconds pause he added, "Yet."

"Right then," Spike replied with a smile to match that of the Watcher's.  "We'll pick this up when we get to the flat."

"Which is a bit closer than you think," Giles stated as the taxi came to a slow stop outside of his building.  After paying the driver, both he and Spike exited the car and ran to the foyer to avoid being drenched.


Once inside the building, Giles headed to the porter's desk to retrieve his messages and post, while Spike stood off to the side examining the architectural beauty of the lobby.  Slowly he ran his hands over the smooth woodwork that had been carved many years ago.  Dark mahogany wood accentuated the cream colored walls, while great staircases angled off to the left and right of the atrium.  It was absolutely stunning.  The craftsmanship reminded him of happier times.  Maybe after his talk with Giles and a good night's sleep, he would try to find the house he grew up in, if it still stood, and if he was still alive.  Perhaps that would allow him time to properly grieve for the life he once had.  He'd never been able to do that, not really, not with Drusilla and the other two around constantly.

"Spike?"

"Huh?"  He asked, turning around to meet Giles' gaze.

"Spike, I've been trying to get your attention for several minutes now.  Are you alright?"

"Uh, yeah.  Fine.  Taking a trip down memory lane.  Sorry."

Giles frowned.  Something was obviously troubling Spike, though he couldn't imagine what it might be since so much had happened to the man in the last few weeks.  "Shall we head to the flat?"

Before the two could move towards the lift the young woman that Spike had met earlier interrupted them.

"Excuse me, Mr. Giles, aren't you going to introduce me to your friend?"

Spike watched in amusement as Giles rolled his eyes and tried to maintain his composure.  It reminded him of the times back home whenever Anya would speak her mind or Buffy would do something completely against her Slayer training.  Back home.  It would never be home again.  Not in this lifetime or any thereafter.  And Her. Again.  He would never escape his thoughts of her.  She would torment him until the end of time.  From somewhere in the fog of his mind he heard Giles clear his throat.

"William?"

Slowly, as if swimming back to the surface of the ocean with leg weights, Spike returned his attention to the Watcher and the young woman with him.  "Sorry, what?"

"William, I was introducing you to Bronwyn.  Bronwyn, this is my friend William.  William this is Bronwyn Ashcroft – she works here part time while she's attending Academy."

"Please to meet you, William," Bronwyn said with a radiant smile.  "Will you be staying with Mr. Giles while you're in town?"

Spike looked from Bronwyn to Giles and raised his eyebrows silently asking the same question.

"William will be spending a few days with me, yes."

"Wonderful!" She exclaimed, enthusiastically.  "If there's anything you need while Mr. Giles is out please just let me know.  I would be more than happy to assist you."

"Yes, Bronwyn, I'm sure you would," Giles replied curtly, before Spike could answer.  "Isn't there some studying you need to attend to?  I believe that there's an upcoming exam in Professor Steele's class, is there not?"

"I'd almost forgotten in all the excitement.  Thank you for reminding me, Mr. Giles.  It was nice meeting you, William.  I'm sure we'll be seeing quite a bit of each other in the next few days."

"Uh, sure," Spike replied hesitantly, but then added with a slight smile, "It was nice meeting you too, Bronwyn."

The young woman walked backwards for a bit, smiling and waving, then turned abruptly when the phone began to ring.  As soon as she answered the call, she immediately snapped back into her business like manner.  Giles took this as their cue to continue to his flat.


Once the lift doors opened onto the third floor, Giles gestured for Spike to exit first.  Immediately, he took notice that Spike had grown pale and looked as if he were about to pass out.  Before he could take two steps forward Spike slumped to the floor unconscious.  Quickly, Giles hit the stop button on the lift and dropped to his knees beside Spike to look for a pulse.  Upon finding one, he breathed a sigh of relief.  He may not have liked the vampire much, but he certainly didn't wish the man ill.  Now there was just the matter of moving him to the flat.

Off to the left a door opened and a man stepped out.

"Robson!  Help me get him to my place."

"What happened?"  Robson asked, leaning down and lifting Spike's knees as Giles lifted the unconscious man's upper body.

"He passed out."

"I can see that.  Did you hit him?"

"No!"  Giles exclaimed, somewhat shocked by the question.  "Why would you think that?"

"Just a question, Rupert.  Don't get upset.  After all, you are known to possess a fiery temper."

"If I had hit him I certainly wouldn't be asking you to help me carry him to my flat, now would I?"

"No I suppose not," Robson replied with some thought.  "Did you try waking him up?"

"Several times, but he's out cold.  Set him down while I unlock the door."

Robson did as he was asked, waiting patiently for Giles to get the door to his flat open so that they could carry the blond inside.  There was something a bit familiar about the man but he couldn't quite put his finger on it.  The question would have to wait, however, while he helped Giles get him to the couch.

"Thank you, Robson.  I wasn't sure how I was going to get him inside."

"I'm sure you would have managed.  Friend of yours?"

Giles carefully thought out his reply so as to not arouse any suspicion on the other Watcher's part.  "An old acquaintance from my Sunnydale days."

"Really?  Interesting."

"Interesting?  How?" Giles asked, starting to become alarmed by the comment.

"Well, if you ask me, he looks an awful lot like that vampire, 'William the Bloody', that we've heard so much about.  Obviously it can't be though, it's still daylight and such.  Even if it's storming out."

"Yes, obviously," Giles replied as a bolt of lightening lit up the darkened room for a moment, followed closely by a loud clap of thunder.  Both men turned towards the window, watching the rain come down harder than before, if that was possible.

After a slight pause, Robson continued with his original thought.  "When you said you knew him from your time spent in Sunnydale, I just thought maybe..."

Giles forced a laugh as lightening briefly lit up the room again.  "Right.  I would just bring a blood-thirsty vampire into my home for the fun of it."

"Sorry, Rupert.  Didn't mean it that way.  You do have to admit, the man looks quite a bit like him."

"Indeed."

"Well, I must be going.  I have to pick up Nora at Lydia's place.  Lydia was training her on some new moves today."

"Right.  Thank you for your help," Giles replied as he maneuvered Robson to the door.

"Sure thing.  I hope your friend feels better.  Might want to get Doc to look at him though.  He looks a bit wan."

Giles ushered him into the hall before replying.  "Will do.  Thank you again."  With a wave he closed the door on the curious Watcher and locked it behind him.


Giles turned back to his guest on the couch who was showing signs of stirring.  Hurriedly he crossed the lounge room to his kitchen, where he grabbed a clean glass and filled it with chilled water from the refrigerator.  It seemed best to start with a cool liquid, wasn't that what his father had always taught him about someone who'd passed out?  Well, to hell with first aid at the moment, it was time he got answers.  Turning on the lamp by the couch, he looked down as Spike groaned and twitched.  Instead of trying to get Spike to sit up and drink the water, he threw it in his face.

"Bloody hell, Watcher!  What was that for?"  Spike sat up quickly, grabbing his head as he did so.  He felt dizzy and a bit nauseous.

"Spike, when was the last time you ate?"

"What?"

"Food, Spike.  When was the last time you ate a meal?"

"I, I uh, don't remember.  Hasn't been all that important to me..."

"Spike, unlike a vampire a human cannot go days without eating.  Think.  When did you last eat?"

"I guess before I left to come here.  Maybe a day or two..."

Giles removed his glasses and pinched the bridge of his nose in frustration.  Seemingly, he'd have to teach the former Big Bad how to be human again.  "How you have survived the last three weeks is beyond me.  It's quite obvious that you cannot take care of yourself."

"I can take of myself just fine!"

"Really?  Then why are you passing out from starvation?  Honestly, Spike, you'd think someone of your age would be a bit more aware of your body's needs."

"I'm not a bleedin' tot if that's what you're saying!"

"No, Spike, a child would at least know when it was hungry."

Spike stood quickly, wobbled a little and then fell back to the couch.  "Bloody hell!"  He growled, bringing his hands up to cover his face as another flash of lightening illuminated the lounge room.  Thunder roared overhead a few seconds later.  "Sounds like the world is splitting apart.  Just like my head."

"Here," Giles prodded as he returned from the kitchen with a plate of crackers and some cheese.  "I want you to eat these and drink this water, slowly.  Once you've finished we'll see about getting you a proper dinner."

"You don't have to do this..."

"I know.  But I'll not sit by and watch you waste away to nothing before I can tell Buffy that you're human."

"You can never tell her," Spike hissed, standing up quickly and grabbing Giles' arm, crackers and cheese flying in several different directions.  "Ever.  Do you understand me?"

"I suggest you remove your hand from my arm and sit back down," Giles stated in his best menacing tone as he glared at Spike.  He relaxed a little as Spike did as was demanded and sat back down.  "Whatever your reasons for not wanting Buffy to know about this transformation..."

"She can just never be told, is all."

"And why is that, Spike?  What is it you're not telling me?"

Slowly, Spike stood back up and took a deep breath to steady himself.  This was it.  Judgment Day...  As much as he dreaded what was to come next, he knew that if he didn't come clean, tell Giles everything, it would come back to haunt him in the end.  That wasn't how he wanted to start his life over.  Not like that.

Giles watched closely as Spike weighed his options, the sickly pallor returning, draining away what color had returned to his cheeks.  "Spike, do sit back down.  You don't look well."

Spike shook his head in response.  "I can't do that.  What I have to say should be said standing up, looking you in the eyes."

"I'm sure whatever it is that's bothering you can be..."

"Stop.  Just stop, all right?  Listen to me.  What I'm about to tell you, you're going to want to rip my head off and pull out my spine, probably use it to beat me with after.  And I don't blame you one bit if you do, because I certainly deserve it."

"Spike..."

"I know, I know," he replied quickly, holding up his hands to stop any more interruptions that might come from the Watcher.  "Look, I've done something... something that I'm not proud of, something that if I had the chance to take back, I would in an instant.  But life's not like that, is it?  There aren't take backs.  I can't take back the life of every victim I killed, and I can't take back what I did...to her."  The last part came out almost in a whisper.

Giles frowned as something began to gnaw at his mind.  Something bad.  "Her who, Spike?"

The tears started to well in his eyes, creating the illusion of giant blue pools that were ready to spill over at any second.  Not now!  Not in the middle.  At the end, maybe, but not now.  Just a few more words, a couple of sentences to go and then he could let the tears flow, but not now.  Not yet.

"Spike," Giles growled, his fists clenching at his sides.  "What did you do?"

"Before...Before I left Sunnydale to get my soul back...I-I tried..." He choked.  The words didn't want to come out.  Looking at Giles pleadingly, he tried to explain.  "I just wanted her to love me back..."

Giles grabbed Spike's shoulders and began shaking him, his entire demeanor changing as Ripper came to the fore.  "You son of a bitch!!  What did you do?!?"

"I-I..."

"Spike, god damnit!  What did you do to Buffy?"

"I'm sorry.  I'm so sorry.  I-I tried to show her...but it didn't....  God help me, I tried to rape Buffy."  His words came out in a horrible sob as another clap of thunder roared overhead, shaking the windows and temporarily dimming the lights.  So, the truth was finally out.  He had said it.  He had finally admitted it to someone other than himself.  He felt Giles release him, and he slowly slumped to the floor, the tears flowing as the sobs came in fast and furious hitches.  It was over.  Finally.  But not before Giles' fist struck his jaw.