Disclaimer: I don't own anything of BtVS/Angel and I don't own the rights to Staind or their song Warm Safe Place.
Author's Notes: Thank you to those of you who reviewed! I really appreciate it! But here's a chapter, it was interesting, I'm starting to pull things all together to lead up to this huge climax and well, it's just gonna keep building now.
Chapter 13
"What are you doing here?" Dawn's fear had subsided to anger as she stared at the figure with a hateful gaze. "Thought that you were gonna just go and never come back."
"Dawn... don't... I'm here to see..."
"Well she doesn't want to see you, so why don't you just go back to Los Angeles and get over this whole thing. You left her!" Dawn crossed her arms in front of her and went to walk around him.
"Dawn, Buffy's in trouble, isn't she? Something named Glorificus?" He moved closer to the young girl, his hand out, trying to reassure her.
"What about Glory? You can't do anything to help, you're just some vampire, Spike couldn't do anything..."
"Spike? He's here? He's helping? Where is he?"
"Whoa! Hold up! He left..." Her voice took a sad tone to it. "He left... and what's it to you Angel?!"
He finally stepped far enough into the light and closer to Dawn. "He's evil and soulless and he needs to be killed Dawn, he's an animal..."
She glared and pushed him as best her arms could. "You're the animal! He may not have a soul, but he's still a good man, he's my friend."
Angel ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "I need to see Buffy, I have to talk to her about this Glory. I have something that might be able to help her, involving the key."
"Fine, but she's not feeling good right now... far from it in fact... she's... she's just really sad lately... But come on, if you're coming, you better come with me... she uninvited you."
As they walked, Angel watched the young woman in front of him, so much like her sister, yet so different. She had her sister's will, that strong composure that come with Summers' women. What could be wrong with Buffy though? That she had been so sad lately... The reason he had left was so that she could be happy and live a normal life, something which he would never have been able to give her. And now, she was unhappy? The memory of his being human and being able to hold her was settling itself firmly into his mind at the moment and he sighed, this was going to be hard.
Spike drove through the darkness of the city, its lights only fireflies in the darkness at this late hour. So this was Los Angeles, this is what his sire had chosen over such a blonde goddess as Buffy. He was a moron. This would be his first stop on his trip to where he had no idea where he would finally end up. This was all about the journey to find something that might help him help his Slayer. Unfortunately, he was missing her terribly, just being gone from Sunnydale for one day. He pulled up in front of a building, more of a hotel. It was the place, Angel Investigations. How Angel would react to his being there was sure to be an interesting surprise.
He walked up the steps and inside of the building. Looking around he saw green tile and a spacious lobby. Three people were busy at work, a black man, one who looked like he'd walked out of Giles' club, whom he figured was Wesley, and Cordelia. Clearing his throat, he settled back for any attack that might come. "Hello Cordelia."
She turned and gasped when she saw the peroxide ridden vamp standing, right there in the middle of the lobby. "Spike!"
Gunn looked over at Fred and raised an eyebrow, "What's a Spike?"
Wesley stepped forward and in his crisp British accent said, "That's Spike, Angel's granchilde, Drusilla's very own. Also known as William the Bloody who's killed two Slayers in his little over 100 years as a vampire. And the last that I heard, a chip had been implanted into his brain, rendering him harmless to humans, and he now works alongside the same person whom he had lusted to kill, the Slayer. What brings you here Spike?" Wesley still gripped a stake in his right hand, ready to plunge it into Spike's heart, should the need arise.
"You don't have to hold that Wesley. It is Wesley, right? I'm here on business, I need to talk to Angel. And oh, you left out that I'm a master vampire, one of the few blood descendants left, just Angel, me, Drusilla, cause isn't Darla dead now? Yes, that's it, just the three of us now. But do be a good fellow and tell me where Angel is."
"He's not here Spike, he left some time ago, won't be back for awhile either, like a week or something." Cordelia walked forward a little, her t-shirt and jeans very much becoming her. "And he's not gonna wanna see you either. Last time you came here, you tried to kill him, and then threatened to kill me and Doyle."
"How is the bloke?"
"Dead."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Gunn cleared his throat. "Well this is all well and good that we're catching up and all, but you know what? This is starting to get annoying. Now, Spike, whatever it is, Angel isn't here, so why don't you get the hell outta here, cause obviously none of us want you here, from what I can tell at least. "
"Yeah, better that I did keep moving. But you will tell the dear sweet poofter that I stopped by, right?" He groaned and walked out, lighting a cigarette as he did.
As the door shut Cordelia looked over at Wesley. "It's a good thing we didn't tell him where Angel went, right?"
"I believe so, besides, this is Spike, he still doesn't have a soul, and he can kill demons... Angel still is demon, even with a soul. We couldn't trust him."
"But, he looked kinda pathetic... maybe we can still help him..."
"Yeah, maybe we could, help a brother out an all." Gunn chimed in.
"Oh! Wait! I know!" Cordelia ran out the front door of the office. "Spike!"
He stopped and turned around. "What is it luv?"
"I think I might be able to help you out. You see there's this Karaoke bar..."
Buffy stared up at her ceiling, the tears had stopped a few minutes ago and she felt that she no longer had any tears left to cry. That, and reasoning was starting to sink in. Maybe Spike was right to leave. What future would she have, could have had with him? He was an evil, soulless, chipped vampire who her friends would never have accepted. It was for the best... but why did she still feel like there was a part of her missing now?
She heard the front door open and Dawn's voice, "Come on in..." But she still did not get up from her place on her bed, the letter and papers still next to her.
"Buffy! Buffy! Angel's here to see you..." Dawn yelled the words up the stairs as Angel stood in the middle of the livingroom, looking like an outsider in this place where he had once been so welcome.
Buffy slowly got up, groaning that she should have to see Angel now, of all times, in fact, she hadn't thought of Angel now for days, she had been too focused on Spike. She pulled herself together and went downstairs, her hair a wreck and she still smelled slightly of sex, she had lacked the effort to get up and get a shower after coming in this morning after Spike had left.
Walking down the stairs she sighed as she saw him. Still the same Angel, the vampire with the angelic face. He was tall, and handsome and everything that she had ever dreamed of. He had been her prince, but that was when she still believed in fairy tales and happy endings, now, Spike was her partner, her lover, her savior from the darkness. She stopped in front of Angel and sighed. "Angel... what do you need?"
Dawn made her exit as quickly as possible and Angel let his hand caress Buffy's face. "I've missed you."
"Angel, I don't have time for this, what do you want?"
"It's about Glory, and the key."
"The key?" He knows, how did he figure it out? He couldn't have figured it out... he couldn't know that Dawn was the key.
"The key has powers... more than just for destroying the world... it has the power to restore life to a vampire, and leave him with his powers still. This could be the answer Buffy... Buffy, if we get that key first, we could be together... normal, no hiding in the darkness..."
"No, we won't, I'm gonna defeat Glory and then I'm going to get rid of this whole key nonsense once and for all. Angel there is no more us. You left, that's all there is to it. I've moved on, I've found someone new."
"You've? Riley, right?"
"No... Spike."
Spike walked inside of the bar, and of all places a Karaoke Bar... his status as a bad ass vampire was quickly declining. There was some green demon up on stage in some loud suit that was singing, wasn't half bad either. "Guess that he's the guy who owns this place and does all those readings..."
The song ended and low and behold, the green guy walked right up to Spike. "Well blow me over with a feather, we have the original Billy Idol right here. How are you doin doll cakes? Cordelia called and gave me a heads up that you were headin over, but she didn't tell me you were gonna be a cool drink of..."
"Look, I'm here to do the whole bloody singing thing and then you tell me what my path is whatever. You think you can do that mate?"
"Whoa, easy there big fella. You aren't the big bad in here. But, I can help out cause you're Angel's little grandson or whatever. He's done a lot for us out here."
"Yeah, well did he tell you about how he left the love of his life in Sunnyhell because he was too big of a poofter? Bleedin peaches, I oughta show him..."
"I'm sensing a lot of hostility here. Have you two ever considered family counseling?" The look that Spike shot him shut him up instantly. "Sorry, sometimes I tend to pry too far into things, it's a problem. Did you want anything to drink?" He snaps his fingers and the bartender works on pulling together a Sea Breeze and a tray of blood for Spike. "And where are my manners? Welcome to Caritas, I'm the Host here and well let's get you started up there on a song huh?"
Spike just rolled his eyes and took a swig of blood from the bottle before the waiter even got a chance to serve it. "Yeah, I'd say so, I wanna get this over with as soon as possible."
"You and me both buddy, if you're anything like your granddaddy at singing... that man can not carry a note, it's a good thing he's so handsome..."
"I don't wanna talk about Angel, k? And I got a song."
"Good, well, let's get you up there then!" The Host smiled and Spike, grumbling made his way up towards the stage area.
"Ladies and Demons! We've got a real treat tonight, Master Vampire William the Bloody... Spike, is going to spike our punches tonight with his rendition of Warm Safe Place by Staind."
Spike walked out and sat down on the stool, glad that he had been able to find something that wasn't Patti LaBelle or something. A nice rock song was just what he needed. The music started and slowed, allowing him to let his silky baritone voice fall through into the words.
Another day
Inside my world
I'm married to
you and this road.
A road that never lets
me sleep .
So there's no way to escape the
demons I am forced to keep.
Spike closed his eyes, letting the melody and the words he was singing wash over him, as though Buffy were sitting right there in front of him and he were singing for her. He knew he had a good voice, he'd sang for Drusilla when it pleased her.
And then I find you here
Through your eyes
Everything's clear
And I'm home
Inside your arms,
But I'm alone for now.
He longed to be with Buffy again, but he had to remind himself that this was for her, that all that he was doing was for her benefit and that he should not worry about his own needs, because they came second to her, his golden angel.
I mean the best
with what I say.
It doesn't always
sound that way
I never learned to
Work things out cause
In my family all we
Ever seem to do is shout
The Host was literally stupefied as he stared at Spike, singing on stage. Cordelia walked up next to him and sat down with Wesley. They had left Gunn to watch the offices. "Well, what do you see?"
The Host looked over at Wesley and put a finger to his lips, motioning for Wesley to be silent. "And you say that he and Angel are related? Not with those vocal cords... And you know the rules, I can't tell you what his destiny is, that's for him, not you two."
Cordelia nodded dumbly, caught up by Spike's emotional performance. "Uh huh... God, he's amazing."
"That he is doll face. That he is."
But then I find you here
Through your eyes,
everything's clear
And I'm home
inside your arms,
but I'm alone for now.
And when I try to sleep-
the drugs I take
are killing me - I think of you
to ease my pain -
but you're so far-
Now it's time to say goodbye.
I love you baby
please don't cry -
'cause then I'll find you here -
Through your eyes everythings clear -
and I'm home inside your arms - but I'm alone for now.
A single tear ran down Spike's cheek as he poured his heart into the song. It fit so well with his emotions for Buffy, his love, his bliss was with her. She had his heart and for once in his undead life, he could sense it breaking, because if he didn't find something, he would never be able to be with her, and he needed her, more than anything, more than the blood that coursed through his body, more than the cigarettes he craved and more than he had EVER needed Dru.
But then I find you here
Through your eyes,
everything's clear
And I'm home
inside your arms,
but I'm alone for now.
As Spike finished the song, he stood up, receiving a large number of applause from the audience for his performance. He gave them a curt smile and walked offstage and over to the Host, who still sat with Cordelia and Wesley. "Beat it you lackeys, got a thing or two to talk about with the Host."
The Host nodded in agreement with the two and they walked off, talking amongst themselves.
Spike sat down and leaned back in the chair. "Well? Read me. What is it I'm supposed to do, what did you see? Work your mojo here."
"Baby, you've got some problems don't you? You've got your heart all twisted up in this one girl... And she has a thing for Angel? But you've been with her. You need to be something you're not, human, but still with the strength of a vampire. You want a soul. Hun, you're on the right path, you want to please her, but you're also on the wrong path. She needs you with her. From what I saw, there's gonna be a big battle coming up, right? She's gonna need you and I'll bet you anything that she doesn't care what you are. She just misses you. Oh, and by the way, I think she's over Angel."
"Why do you say that?"
"Call it a hunch?"
TBC...
Author's Notes: Thank you to those of you who reviewed! I really appreciate it! But here's a chapter, it was interesting, I'm starting to pull things all together to lead up to this huge climax and well, it's just gonna keep building now.
Chapter 13
"What are you doing here?" Dawn's fear had subsided to anger as she stared at the figure with a hateful gaze. "Thought that you were gonna just go and never come back."
"Dawn... don't... I'm here to see..."
"Well she doesn't want to see you, so why don't you just go back to Los Angeles and get over this whole thing. You left her!" Dawn crossed her arms in front of her and went to walk around him.
"Dawn, Buffy's in trouble, isn't she? Something named Glorificus?" He moved closer to the young girl, his hand out, trying to reassure her.
"What about Glory? You can't do anything to help, you're just some vampire, Spike couldn't do anything..."
"Spike? He's here? He's helping? Where is he?"
"Whoa! Hold up! He left..." Her voice took a sad tone to it. "He left... and what's it to you Angel?!"
He finally stepped far enough into the light and closer to Dawn. "He's evil and soulless and he needs to be killed Dawn, he's an animal..."
She glared and pushed him as best her arms could. "You're the animal! He may not have a soul, but he's still a good man, he's my friend."
Angel ran a hand through his hair and shook his head. "I need to see Buffy, I have to talk to her about this Glory. I have something that might be able to help her, involving the key."
"Fine, but she's not feeling good right now... far from it in fact... she's... she's just really sad lately... But come on, if you're coming, you better come with me... she uninvited you."
As they walked, Angel watched the young woman in front of him, so much like her sister, yet so different. She had her sister's will, that strong composure that come with Summers' women. What could be wrong with Buffy though? That she had been so sad lately... The reason he had left was so that she could be happy and live a normal life, something which he would never have been able to give her. And now, she was unhappy? The memory of his being human and being able to hold her was settling itself firmly into his mind at the moment and he sighed, this was going to be hard.
Spike drove through the darkness of the city, its lights only fireflies in the darkness at this late hour. So this was Los Angeles, this is what his sire had chosen over such a blonde goddess as Buffy. He was a moron. This would be his first stop on his trip to where he had no idea where he would finally end up. This was all about the journey to find something that might help him help his Slayer. Unfortunately, he was missing her terribly, just being gone from Sunnydale for one day. He pulled up in front of a building, more of a hotel. It was the place, Angel Investigations. How Angel would react to his being there was sure to be an interesting surprise.
He walked up the steps and inside of the building. Looking around he saw green tile and a spacious lobby. Three people were busy at work, a black man, one who looked like he'd walked out of Giles' club, whom he figured was Wesley, and Cordelia. Clearing his throat, he settled back for any attack that might come. "Hello Cordelia."
She turned and gasped when she saw the peroxide ridden vamp standing, right there in the middle of the lobby. "Spike!"
Gunn looked over at Fred and raised an eyebrow, "What's a Spike?"
Wesley stepped forward and in his crisp British accent said, "That's Spike, Angel's granchilde, Drusilla's very own. Also known as William the Bloody who's killed two Slayers in his little over 100 years as a vampire. And the last that I heard, a chip had been implanted into his brain, rendering him harmless to humans, and he now works alongside the same person whom he had lusted to kill, the Slayer. What brings you here Spike?" Wesley still gripped a stake in his right hand, ready to plunge it into Spike's heart, should the need arise.
"You don't have to hold that Wesley. It is Wesley, right? I'm here on business, I need to talk to Angel. And oh, you left out that I'm a master vampire, one of the few blood descendants left, just Angel, me, Drusilla, cause isn't Darla dead now? Yes, that's it, just the three of us now. But do be a good fellow and tell me where Angel is."
"He's not here Spike, he left some time ago, won't be back for awhile either, like a week or something." Cordelia walked forward a little, her t-shirt and jeans very much becoming her. "And he's not gonna wanna see you either. Last time you came here, you tried to kill him, and then threatened to kill me and Doyle."
"How is the bloke?"
"Dead."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
Gunn cleared his throat. "Well this is all well and good that we're catching up and all, but you know what? This is starting to get annoying. Now, Spike, whatever it is, Angel isn't here, so why don't you get the hell outta here, cause obviously none of us want you here, from what I can tell at least. "
"Yeah, better that I did keep moving. But you will tell the dear sweet poofter that I stopped by, right?" He groaned and walked out, lighting a cigarette as he did.
As the door shut Cordelia looked over at Wesley. "It's a good thing we didn't tell him where Angel went, right?"
"I believe so, besides, this is Spike, he still doesn't have a soul, and he can kill demons... Angel still is demon, even with a soul. We couldn't trust him."
"But, he looked kinda pathetic... maybe we can still help him..."
"Yeah, maybe we could, help a brother out an all." Gunn chimed in.
"Oh! Wait! I know!" Cordelia ran out the front door of the office. "Spike!"
He stopped and turned around. "What is it luv?"
"I think I might be able to help you out. You see there's this Karaoke bar..."
Buffy stared up at her ceiling, the tears had stopped a few minutes ago and she felt that she no longer had any tears left to cry. That, and reasoning was starting to sink in. Maybe Spike was right to leave. What future would she have, could have had with him? He was an evil, soulless, chipped vampire who her friends would never have accepted. It was for the best... but why did she still feel like there was a part of her missing now?
She heard the front door open and Dawn's voice, "Come on in..." But she still did not get up from her place on her bed, the letter and papers still next to her.
"Buffy! Buffy! Angel's here to see you..." Dawn yelled the words up the stairs as Angel stood in the middle of the livingroom, looking like an outsider in this place where he had once been so welcome.
Buffy slowly got up, groaning that she should have to see Angel now, of all times, in fact, she hadn't thought of Angel now for days, she had been too focused on Spike. She pulled herself together and went downstairs, her hair a wreck and she still smelled slightly of sex, she had lacked the effort to get up and get a shower after coming in this morning after Spike had left.
Walking down the stairs she sighed as she saw him. Still the same Angel, the vampire with the angelic face. He was tall, and handsome and everything that she had ever dreamed of. He had been her prince, but that was when she still believed in fairy tales and happy endings, now, Spike was her partner, her lover, her savior from the darkness. She stopped in front of Angel and sighed. "Angel... what do you need?"
Dawn made her exit as quickly as possible and Angel let his hand caress Buffy's face. "I've missed you."
"Angel, I don't have time for this, what do you want?"
"It's about Glory, and the key."
"The key?" He knows, how did he figure it out? He couldn't have figured it out... he couldn't know that Dawn was the key.
"The key has powers... more than just for destroying the world... it has the power to restore life to a vampire, and leave him with his powers still. This could be the answer Buffy... Buffy, if we get that key first, we could be together... normal, no hiding in the darkness..."
"No, we won't, I'm gonna defeat Glory and then I'm going to get rid of this whole key nonsense once and for all. Angel there is no more us. You left, that's all there is to it. I've moved on, I've found someone new."
"You've? Riley, right?"
"No... Spike."
Spike walked inside of the bar, and of all places a Karaoke Bar... his status as a bad ass vampire was quickly declining. There was some green demon up on stage in some loud suit that was singing, wasn't half bad either. "Guess that he's the guy who owns this place and does all those readings..."
The song ended and low and behold, the green guy walked right up to Spike. "Well blow me over with a feather, we have the original Billy Idol right here. How are you doin doll cakes? Cordelia called and gave me a heads up that you were headin over, but she didn't tell me you were gonna be a cool drink of..."
"Look, I'm here to do the whole bloody singing thing and then you tell me what my path is whatever. You think you can do that mate?"
"Whoa, easy there big fella. You aren't the big bad in here. But, I can help out cause you're Angel's little grandson or whatever. He's done a lot for us out here."
"Yeah, well did he tell you about how he left the love of his life in Sunnyhell because he was too big of a poofter? Bleedin peaches, I oughta show him..."
"I'm sensing a lot of hostility here. Have you two ever considered family counseling?" The look that Spike shot him shut him up instantly. "Sorry, sometimes I tend to pry too far into things, it's a problem. Did you want anything to drink?" He snaps his fingers and the bartender works on pulling together a Sea Breeze and a tray of blood for Spike. "And where are my manners? Welcome to Caritas, I'm the Host here and well let's get you started up there on a song huh?"
Spike just rolled his eyes and took a swig of blood from the bottle before the waiter even got a chance to serve it. "Yeah, I'd say so, I wanna get this over with as soon as possible."
"You and me both buddy, if you're anything like your granddaddy at singing... that man can not carry a note, it's a good thing he's so handsome..."
"I don't wanna talk about Angel, k? And I got a song."
"Good, well, let's get you up there then!" The Host smiled and Spike, grumbling made his way up towards the stage area.
"Ladies and Demons! We've got a real treat tonight, Master Vampire William the Bloody... Spike, is going to spike our punches tonight with his rendition of Warm Safe Place by Staind."
Spike walked out and sat down on the stool, glad that he had been able to find something that wasn't Patti LaBelle or something. A nice rock song was just what he needed. The music started and slowed, allowing him to let his silky baritone voice fall through into the words.
Another day
Inside my world
I'm married to
you and this road.
A road that never lets
me sleep .
So there's no way to escape the
demons I am forced to keep.
Spike closed his eyes, letting the melody and the words he was singing wash over him, as though Buffy were sitting right there in front of him and he were singing for her. He knew he had a good voice, he'd sang for Drusilla when it pleased her.
And then I find you here
Through your eyes
Everything's clear
And I'm home
Inside your arms,
But I'm alone for now.
He longed to be with Buffy again, but he had to remind himself that this was for her, that all that he was doing was for her benefit and that he should not worry about his own needs, because they came second to her, his golden angel.
I mean the best
with what I say.
It doesn't always
sound that way
I never learned to
Work things out cause
In my family all we
Ever seem to do is shout
The Host was literally stupefied as he stared at Spike, singing on stage. Cordelia walked up next to him and sat down with Wesley. They had left Gunn to watch the offices. "Well, what do you see?"
The Host looked over at Wesley and put a finger to his lips, motioning for Wesley to be silent. "And you say that he and Angel are related? Not with those vocal cords... And you know the rules, I can't tell you what his destiny is, that's for him, not you two."
Cordelia nodded dumbly, caught up by Spike's emotional performance. "Uh huh... God, he's amazing."
"That he is doll face. That he is."
But then I find you here
Through your eyes,
everything's clear
And I'm home
inside your arms,
but I'm alone for now.
And when I try to sleep-
the drugs I take
are killing me - I think of you
to ease my pain -
but you're so far-
Now it's time to say goodbye.
I love you baby
please don't cry -
'cause then I'll find you here -
Through your eyes everythings clear -
and I'm home inside your arms - but I'm alone for now.
A single tear ran down Spike's cheek as he poured his heart into the song. It fit so well with his emotions for Buffy, his love, his bliss was with her. She had his heart and for once in his undead life, he could sense it breaking, because if he didn't find something, he would never be able to be with her, and he needed her, more than anything, more than the blood that coursed through his body, more than the cigarettes he craved and more than he had EVER needed Dru.
But then I find you here
Through your eyes,
everything's clear
And I'm home
inside your arms,
but I'm alone for now.
As Spike finished the song, he stood up, receiving a large number of applause from the audience for his performance. He gave them a curt smile and walked offstage and over to the Host, who still sat with Cordelia and Wesley. "Beat it you lackeys, got a thing or two to talk about with the Host."
The Host nodded in agreement with the two and they walked off, talking amongst themselves.
Spike sat down and leaned back in the chair. "Well? Read me. What is it I'm supposed to do, what did you see? Work your mojo here."
"Baby, you've got some problems don't you? You've got your heart all twisted up in this one girl... And she has a thing for Angel? But you've been with her. You need to be something you're not, human, but still with the strength of a vampire. You want a soul. Hun, you're on the right path, you want to please her, but you're also on the wrong path. She needs you with her. From what I saw, there's gonna be a big battle coming up, right? She's gonna need you and I'll bet you anything that she doesn't care what you are. She just misses you. Oh, and by the way, I think she's over Angel."
"Why do you say that?"
"Call it a hunch?"
TBC...
