Disclaimer: There's no use, I don't own them and never will
"Hold on." Said Giles, as the vampires and humans made their way back to the helicopter. "You say nobody will be following you out of hell. Can you be more specific?"
"Not too much." Said Spike. "I don't fully understand it myself."
"It was his soul." Said Anya, nodding. "William. The one who went to heaven. He showed up, gave us a hand."
Buffy frowned. "You said that before—but I thought you just meant Spike." She pointed at the peroxide-blonde vampire, who tilted his head.
"No, not me, luv. I'm Spike. Willie...I went to hell, and he was somewhere else. Somewhere where he could lend us a helping hand getting out of hell."
Giles shook his head. "And you two wanted to get out of hell? Of your own free will?"
Spike spread his arms. "Insofar as soulless things have free will—yes."
Anya growled, then pressed a hand to her mouth, abashed. "Uh, sorry." She said. "I'm just really hungry."
"We keep some blood at the house—in case Angel drops in." Said Giles. "I'm sure we can get more in town."
As they climbed into the chopper Spike eyed the soldier. "One of Captain Cardboard's gang?" He asked.
"Yes." Said Buffy sharply. "We're working closely with Riley these days."
Spike shrugged unhappily. "Well, he did let them cut the chip out, so I guess I owe the git something." He said, his voice clearly not completely convinced.
Willow was watching the two vampires closely. "There are some spells I could use, Giles." She said quietly. "To check up on them, make sure they're really Spike and Anya."
Anya glared at her. "Oh, fine. Just don't go evil and flay us alive." She said.
"So, it was, what?" Asked Giles. "The love of a good woman that caused you to pull yourself out of the depths of hell?"
"Um, not me." Said Anya.
"No, not really." Said Spike. "Just couldn't find decent cigarettes in hell."
Giles stared at Spike, unconvinced. Spike's eyes narrowed. "Don't think I've forgotten you tried to off me after I got a soul, mate." Said Spike, angry. "Just—ah, sod it. So, where's the other Slayers?"
"Out Slaying." Said Buffy. "Actually, you're unlikely to see them. Faith formed a school. Faith's School for the Gifted, or something. Gifted at killing things, that is." She let out a quick giggle at the name, and Spike cocked an eyebrow.
"Gifted at killing things? Oh be still my beating heart. Well, actually, that's not a problem."
"So, you two are reformed vampires." Said Giles dubiously.
"Yes." Said Buffy.
They all became silent as the rotors began whirling, again silencing any conversation. Buffy's eyes were drawn to Spike's hand, which was resting on Anya's shoulder in a very intimate way.
She tore her eyes away. She wasn't jealous, not even a little. Not a bit. Unh-uh.
Willow watched them both, extremely fascinated.
"Anya's still a tad hungry." Said Spike. "Know any good local butchers? Or, failing that, any good local animals?"
"Sure." Said Giles. "As soon as we set down we can have a meal." He glanced at Buffy, frowning, then nodded.
The soldier in the front switched on the radio. "Agent Finn?" He said, his voice too low for anyone in the back to hear him. "Yessir. No, sorry sir. Yeah, you're gonna want to hear this. You remember Hostile 17, the one you authorized us to remove the chip from? The one that died? He's back. Yes sir. No, I don't think they do. Maybe. Uh, about twenty minutes. We'll beat you there. Yes sir. Over and out."
--
As the helicopter set down Giles headed out, ducking his head, and got in his car, a small red car.
Spike and Anya followed Buffy. "The whole telepathy thing is weird." Noted Anya.
"Telepathy?" Asked Buffy, turning back.
"She came back as my Childe. It's a thing." Said Spike.
"It's kind of nice to be alive. Except for the blood lust. That's just weird. Not mention sucky. . ."
"Probably not the best choice of words." Said Spike in a voice that was closer to a purr than a normal voice.
Buffy stalked inside, glancing around. "Wills?"
"Yes?" Said Willow.
"Now's a good time for those spells."
Willow nodded, heading up the stairs, and Buffy rubbed her face, looking at the two vampires.
Spike returned her gaze steadfastly.
They stood in that uncomfortable silence till Giles returned with a brown paper bag. He took the blood out and approached Spike and Anya, who eyed him.
"We don't bit, Ripper." Said Spike. "Well, maybe we do. But not you."
Anya grabbed one bag of blood, switching to gameface, and tore into the bag, gulping at the blood. Buffy watched, disgusted, as Anya threw the bag away and grabbed the other, drinking deeply.
When she discarded it her mouth was bloody, and a thin line of blood ran down her chin. She tried to wipe it away with the back of her hand, switching back to human face. "Er, sorry." She said. "Mmm, that was good."
Spike swiped another bag of blood. "You have a microwave, right? Wheetabix?"
"Oh dear Lord." Muttered Giles as Spike retreated in the direction Buffy pointed. "It really is him."
Anya smiled. "Afraid so." She said cheerfully.
Willow came back down the stairs, unhappy. "Um, Giles, you remember that you-know-what we were talking about?"
"What?" He said.
"You know, the you-know-what that you-know-who was trying to buy you-know- where?" She said.
"For heaven's sake, spit it out!" Snapped Giles, already at the end of his tether.
Spike returned with a steaming mug of blood. "Spit what out?"
"The guy who was trying to buy the Amulet of Drakker online!" Snapped Willow.
Spike frowned. "Aren't those some kind of myth?" He asked.
"What?" Said Buffy.
"A very powerful weapon." Said Giles. "Capable of destroying anybody in a heartbeat."
Buffy paled, glancing to Willow. "And?"
"One just shipped to LA." Said Willow. "The bot I had watching the site just alerted me."
"LA? Angel." Said Giles, seething.
"No, a small dealer. It was marked urgent." Said Willow.
Spike drained the mug. "Drusilla's in LA." He said.
"What?" Said Giles, surprised.
"Drusilla's in LA." He shrugged. "She's still my Sire, mate. I can still feel here. And the way I can feel her and Angel, I know they're in the same place right now. How fast can we get to LA?"
"Very fast." Said Giles, pulling out a cell phone. "Hello? Er, this is, uh, Amadeus to Mozart. Prepare operation Eighteen Twelve Overture." He frowned as he said it. "You do realize that's NOT Mozart, right? Er, hello?"
"Soldier boys." Muttered Spike.
"Yeah." Said Buffy.
"Good for them. Anya, you stay here with Watcher-boy."
"No!" Said Anya.
"Yes." Said Spike. "You're still a fledging, with no idea of your powers and no control, and in much more danger from an experience vampire than any of us. You stay." He growled the last words, and Anya leaned back, surprised.
"Wow..." She said. "I don't know why, but when you say it like that it sends all kinds of shivers down my spine—and not the good kind I associate with Xander, either! More of the bad kind I associate with DYING!!"
Willow frowned uncertainly. "I-I should stay here. Watch Anya. With Buffy gone, I'm the only one who can stop her if she, uh, loses control. Because of the bloodlust, I mean."
"I wouldn't worry." Said Giles. "I can handle things."
Anya raised an eyebrow, glaring at Spike. "I don't want to hear a word out of you!" She warned.
"While we're here, there's another little matter we need to take care of." Said Giles grimly.
--
Xander paused, adjusting his pool cue, then took his shot. The eight ball sunk in the corner pocket with a satisfying clunking noise. He glanced at the door, then back to the demon he was playing. "That would be another win." He told the demon.
"Yeah." Growled the demon. "It would. That makes it five to four. Want to try your luck again?"
"Why not?" Asked Xander. "Rack them." While the demon did so Xander picked up his drink and took a swallow, making a face at the taste. "This stuff is horrible." He said.
The demon shrugged. "Well, hey, beer's not really my drink anyway."
"Blood more your thing?" Asked Xander.
"Yeah." Said the demon.
"Whatever." Said Xander, glancing at the door. The demon smiled, showing rows of sharp teeth.
"It's a woman, right?"
"You have no idea." Said Xander. "I've been waiting a long time for today, and I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to feel."
"Eh?" Said the demon.
"Never mind. You break."
They were midway through the game when Giles and Anya walked through the door. Xander looked up and saw them. Anya smiled and waved, and Giles nodded to him.
There wasn't even a trace of surprise on Xander's face, only a sudden flush of anger. Giles frowned uncertainly, surprised at the reaction.
Xander grinned, a tight, feral grin. "And, look who's here." He tossed the pool cue from his left hand to his right hand, pushing away his beer and catching it smoothly. "The living dead."
The demon frowned. "Don't start anything." He warned. "I run a clean establishment here."
"I'm not going to start anything." Muttered Xander.
"Xander. Hello." Said Giles awkwardly. "Er, Anya--" He trailed off awkwardly.
"Don't tell me, let me guess." Said Xander, adjusting Spike's duster on his shoulders. "Anya and Spike have come back to us. Big surprise." He flashed a grin at Giles. "And Anya has teeth now." He touched his chin. "You missed a spot."
Anya touched her chin in confusion. "What--what are you talking about, Xander?"
"I'm talking about a big, demony return to earth." Said Xander with a growl. "Emphasis on the demony.
"Xander," said Giles. "Um, it's Anya. She's back."
"Get her out of here." Said Xander loudly. The demon moved, standing behind Xander. He frowned at Anya. Xander moved, pressing the point of the pool cue against Anya's stomach, just below her rib cage. "She comes back into this joint, and she is dust. I mean it. Spike too. Either of them come in here, they're dead. Okay?"
"Er. . ." Giles stuttered, a bit surprised by the reaction.
Said Xander. He turned back to the pool table, leaning over it, and sunk a striped ball. "And, while I'm making threats, why don't you tell Angel if HE comes in here, I'll stake him too."
Giles glanced at Anya, whose mouth was open. Quickly he grabbed her. "Hey!" She said. "I want to talk to him!"
"No." Said Xander calmly. "No talking." He glanced over his shoulder, shooting daggers with his one eye. "You're a vampire, Anya. A vampire. A thing. A leech on humanity. A bloodsucking creature of the night That's not something I can overlook." He turned back to his game. "No matter how much I want to." He muttered under his breath.
"How did he know about Spike? And why wasn't he surprised to see me?" Asked Anya as Giles pulled her towards the door.
"That is a very good question." Said Giles. "One we should address right after the duster and all the other little problems."
Xander turned when they reached the door. "And you should kill Andrew. Not that you will, but you should!" He yelled across the room.
--
When Riley met them at the hangar with the jet waiting to get them to LA, Spike let out a snort of disgust. "Oh, just great." He said, glancing at Buffy and Willow.
"Buffy. Willow. Spike." Riley greeted them.
"How's the missus?" Asked Spike, walking past Riley angrily.
The others boarded quietly, and sat quietly through the takeoff.
"From LAX we'll take a chopper, avoid traffic." Said Riley. "It'll be close to dawn when we land."
Buffy nodded, glancing back to Spike, who was staring out the window at the darkness beyond, almost sullenly.
"Thanks for helping us get the chip out of Spike." Said Buffy loudly. Riley frowned. "It may just have saved the world!" She added quickly.
Willow, sitting behind Buffy, was watching Spike intently, ignoring the conversation between Riley and Buffy. "What does it feel like?" She finally asked. "To be without a soul, but good?"
"Awkward." Replied Spike. "In an odd way, it's like facing the ugly, ugly world alone, without any crutches. Only my own desire to do better, without any guide whatsoever on how to do better."
Buffy shrugged, glancing at Riley. "How interesting." She said mildly. "So, you're back. Now what?"
"Well, it's a whole new ball game for me." Drawled Spike lazily. "I've never been in the game just to save the world. That came as a side effect a couple of times. But this time is different. I'm here just to be a champion. To better myself." A grin flickered over his face. "The fact that I'll be defying conventional wisdom and rubbing Angel's face in his own fate—those are only side benefits."
"You know, it was quite an adjustment for me, learning that with a soul a vampire could be good." Said Riley. "I'm not sure I'm flexible enough to accept a vampire without a soul as good."
"Yeah. Evil vampire." Said Buffy. "Got it."
Riley shook his head. "This is madness." He muttered.
"You're telling me, mate." Drawled Spike. "Madness is a very good word for it. Goes against everything I've learned, everything I know. That's kind of why I like it. I like the whole rebel thing." He glanced at Buffy. "Are we going to see Angel when we land?"
Buffy took a deep breath. "We'll go see Dawn." She said. "It is Angel's city...maybe he knows where Drusilla is with that wonderful new toy of hers."
Spike smiled. "You must be in some sort of hell of your own, pet. All your old lovers together in one room. Sounds a little hard to take, doesn't it?"
"A lot hard to take." Muttered Buffy. "Bring on Drusilla. Her I can handle."
Spike chuckled. "There's the Buffy we know and. . .and how much longer till we set down, mate?"
Riley growled and snarled something under his breath. "Hello." Said Spike. "Vampire hearing."
"I know." Said Riley. "This is just, just. . .okay, yeah, we're approaching LA. Only about fifty more miles left."
--
Andrew slowly drew back into the corner. "D-don't come in! I have a gun!" He said uncertainly.
Anya kicked the door in. Andrew squealed, firing. The bullet went wild, and Giles hit the floor, waiting for the next shot.
"Oh, it's just Anya, who's dead!" Said Andrew in relief. "Thank goodness! I was afraid it was Xander!"
Anya raised an eyebrow. "Hi, Andrew. I died, but now I'm back. And I'm a vampire who can kick through very solid doors. Aren't you going to yelp in fear or something?"
"Aren't you the First Evil? Didn't we kill him?" Asked Andrew suspiciously.
"I kicked in the door." Pointed out Anya.
"Ooh, good point. You're solid. Oh, oh, were you turned? So that after your death you came back a vampire?"
"No." Said Anya patiently. "You're not scared, eh?"
"Well, no. I mean, you could have been Xander. And that would have been very, very worse." Said Andrew. "I mean, do you have any idea how much worse that would be?"
"Hold on." Said Giles, as the vampires and humans made their way back to the helicopter. "You say nobody will be following you out of hell. Can you be more specific?"
"Not too much." Said Spike. "I don't fully understand it myself."
"It was his soul." Said Anya, nodding. "William. The one who went to heaven. He showed up, gave us a hand."
Buffy frowned. "You said that before—but I thought you just meant Spike." She pointed at the peroxide-blonde vampire, who tilted his head.
"No, not me, luv. I'm Spike. Willie...I went to hell, and he was somewhere else. Somewhere where he could lend us a helping hand getting out of hell."
Giles shook his head. "And you two wanted to get out of hell? Of your own free will?"
Spike spread his arms. "Insofar as soulless things have free will—yes."
Anya growled, then pressed a hand to her mouth, abashed. "Uh, sorry." She said. "I'm just really hungry."
"We keep some blood at the house—in case Angel drops in." Said Giles. "I'm sure we can get more in town."
As they climbed into the chopper Spike eyed the soldier. "One of Captain Cardboard's gang?" He asked.
"Yes." Said Buffy sharply. "We're working closely with Riley these days."
Spike shrugged unhappily. "Well, he did let them cut the chip out, so I guess I owe the git something." He said, his voice clearly not completely convinced.
Willow was watching the two vampires closely. "There are some spells I could use, Giles." She said quietly. "To check up on them, make sure they're really Spike and Anya."
Anya glared at her. "Oh, fine. Just don't go evil and flay us alive." She said.
"So, it was, what?" Asked Giles. "The love of a good woman that caused you to pull yourself out of the depths of hell?"
"Um, not me." Said Anya.
"No, not really." Said Spike. "Just couldn't find decent cigarettes in hell."
Giles stared at Spike, unconvinced. Spike's eyes narrowed. "Don't think I've forgotten you tried to off me after I got a soul, mate." Said Spike, angry. "Just—ah, sod it. So, where's the other Slayers?"
"Out Slaying." Said Buffy. "Actually, you're unlikely to see them. Faith formed a school. Faith's School for the Gifted, or something. Gifted at killing things, that is." She let out a quick giggle at the name, and Spike cocked an eyebrow.
"Gifted at killing things? Oh be still my beating heart. Well, actually, that's not a problem."
"So, you two are reformed vampires." Said Giles dubiously.
"Yes." Said Buffy.
They all became silent as the rotors began whirling, again silencing any conversation. Buffy's eyes were drawn to Spike's hand, which was resting on Anya's shoulder in a very intimate way.
She tore her eyes away. She wasn't jealous, not even a little. Not a bit. Unh-uh.
Willow watched them both, extremely fascinated.
"Anya's still a tad hungry." Said Spike. "Know any good local butchers? Or, failing that, any good local animals?"
"Sure." Said Giles. "As soon as we set down we can have a meal." He glanced at Buffy, frowning, then nodded.
The soldier in the front switched on the radio. "Agent Finn?" He said, his voice too low for anyone in the back to hear him. "Yessir. No, sorry sir. Yeah, you're gonna want to hear this. You remember Hostile 17, the one you authorized us to remove the chip from? The one that died? He's back. Yes sir. No, I don't think they do. Maybe. Uh, about twenty minutes. We'll beat you there. Yes sir. Over and out."
--
As the helicopter set down Giles headed out, ducking his head, and got in his car, a small red car.
Spike and Anya followed Buffy. "The whole telepathy thing is weird." Noted Anya.
"Telepathy?" Asked Buffy, turning back.
"She came back as my Childe. It's a thing." Said Spike.
"It's kind of nice to be alive. Except for the blood lust. That's just weird. Not mention sucky. . ."
"Probably not the best choice of words." Said Spike in a voice that was closer to a purr than a normal voice.
Buffy stalked inside, glancing around. "Wills?"
"Yes?" Said Willow.
"Now's a good time for those spells."
Willow nodded, heading up the stairs, and Buffy rubbed her face, looking at the two vampires.
Spike returned her gaze steadfastly.
They stood in that uncomfortable silence till Giles returned with a brown paper bag. He took the blood out and approached Spike and Anya, who eyed him.
"We don't bit, Ripper." Said Spike. "Well, maybe we do. But not you."
Anya grabbed one bag of blood, switching to gameface, and tore into the bag, gulping at the blood. Buffy watched, disgusted, as Anya threw the bag away and grabbed the other, drinking deeply.
When she discarded it her mouth was bloody, and a thin line of blood ran down her chin. She tried to wipe it away with the back of her hand, switching back to human face. "Er, sorry." She said. "Mmm, that was good."
Spike swiped another bag of blood. "You have a microwave, right? Wheetabix?"
"Oh dear Lord." Muttered Giles as Spike retreated in the direction Buffy pointed. "It really is him."
Anya smiled. "Afraid so." She said cheerfully.
Willow came back down the stairs, unhappy. "Um, Giles, you remember that you-know-what we were talking about?"
"What?" He said.
"You know, the you-know-what that you-know-who was trying to buy you-know- where?" She said.
"For heaven's sake, spit it out!" Snapped Giles, already at the end of his tether.
Spike returned with a steaming mug of blood. "Spit what out?"
"The guy who was trying to buy the Amulet of Drakker online!" Snapped Willow.
Spike frowned. "Aren't those some kind of myth?" He asked.
"What?" Said Buffy.
"A very powerful weapon." Said Giles. "Capable of destroying anybody in a heartbeat."
Buffy paled, glancing to Willow. "And?"
"One just shipped to LA." Said Willow. "The bot I had watching the site just alerted me."
"LA? Angel." Said Giles, seething.
"No, a small dealer. It was marked urgent." Said Willow.
Spike drained the mug. "Drusilla's in LA." He said.
"What?" Said Giles, surprised.
"Drusilla's in LA." He shrugged. "She's still my Sire, mate. I can still feel here. And the way I can feel her and Angel, I know they're in the same place right now. How fast can we get to LA?"
"Very fast." Said Giles, pulling out a cell phone. "Hello? Er, this is, uh, Amadeus to Mozart. Prepare operation Eighteen Twelve Overture." He frowned as he said it. "You do realize that's NOT Mozart, right? Er, hello?"
"Soldier boys." Muttered Spike.
"Yeah." Said Buffy.
"Good for them. Anya, you stay here with Watcher-boy."
"No!" Said Anya.
"Yes." Said Spike. "You're still a fledging, with no idea of your powers and no control, and in much more danger from an experience vampire than any of us. You stay." He growled the last words, and Anya leaned back, surprised.
"Wow..." She said. "I don't know why, but when you say it like that it sends all kinds of shivers down my spine—and not the good kind I associate with Xander, either! More of the bad kind I associate with DYING!!"
Willow frowned uncertainly. "I-I should stay here. Watch Anya. With Buffy gone, I'm the only one who can stop her if she, uh, loses control. Because of the bloodlust, I mean."
"I wouldn't worry." Said Giles. "I can handle things."
Anya raised an eyebrow, glaring at Spike. "I don't want to hear a word out of you!" She warned.
"While we're here, there's another little matter we need to take care of." Said Giles grimly.
--
Xander paused, adjusting his pool cue, then took his shot. The eight ball sunk in the corner pocket with a satisfying clunking noise. He glanced at the door, then back to the demon he was playing. "That would be another win." He told the demon.
"Yeah." Growled the demon. "It would. That makes it five to four. Want to try your luck again?"
"Why not?" Asked Xander. "Rack them." While the demon did so Xander picked up his drink and took a swallow, making a face at the taste. "This stuff is horrible." He said.
The demon shrugged. "Well, hey, beer's not really my drink anyway."
"Blood more your thing?" Asked Xander.
"Yeah." Said the demon.
"Whatever." Said Xander, glancing at the door. The demon smiled, showing rows of sharp teeth.
"It's a woman, right?"
"You have no idea." Said Xander. "I've been waiting a long time for today, and I'm still not sure how I'm supposed to feel."
"Eh?" Said the demon.
"Never mind. You break."
They were midway through the game when Giles and Anya walked through the door. Xander looked up and saw them. Anya smiled and waved, and Giles nodded to him.
There wasn't even a trace of surprise on Xander's face, only a sudden flush of anger. Giles frowned uncertainly, surprised at the reaction.
Xander grinned, a tight, feral grin. "And, look who's here." He tossed the pool cue from his left hand to his right hand, pushing away his beer and catching it smoothly. "The living dead."
The demon frowned. "Don't start anything." He warned. "I run a clean establishment here."
"I'm not going to start anything." Muttered Xander.
"Xander. Hello." Said Giles awkwardly. "Er, Anya--" He trailed off awkwardly.
"Don't tell me, let me guess." Said Xander, adjusting Spike's duster on his shoulders. "Anya and Spike have come back to us. Big surprise." He flashed a grin at Giles. "And Anya has teeth now." He touched his chin. "You missed a spot."
Anya touched her chin in confusion. "What--what are you talking about, Xander?"
"I'm talking about a big, demony return to earth." Said Xander with a growl. "Emphasis on the demony.
"Xander," said Giles. "Um, it's Anya. She's back."
"Get her out of here." Said Xander loudly. The demon moved, standing behind Xander. He frowned at Anya. Xander moved, pressing the point of the pool cue against Anya's stomach, just below her rib cage. "She comes back into this joint, and she is dust. I mean it. Spike too. Either of them come in here, they're dead. Okay?"
"Er. . ." Giles stuttered, a bit surprised by the reaction.
Said Xander. He turned back to the pool table, leaning over it, and sunk a striped ball. "And, while I'm making threats, why don't you tell Angel if HE comes in here, I'll stake him too."
Giles glanced at Anya, whose mouth was open. Quickly he grabbed her. "Hey!" She said. "I want to talk to him!"
"No." Said Xander calmly. "No talking." He glanced over his shoulder, shooting daggers with his one eye. "You're a vampire, Anya. A vampire. A thing. A leech on humanity. A bloodsucking creature of the night That's not something I can overlook." He turned back to his game. "No matter how much I want to." He muttered under his breath.
"How did he know about Spike? And why wasn't he surprised to see me?" Asked Anya as Giles pulled her towards the door.
"That is a very good question." Said Giles. "One we should address right after the duster and all the other little problems."
Xander turned when they reached the door. "And you should kill Andrew. Not that you will, but you should!" He yelled across the room.
--
When Riley met them at the hangar with the jet waiting to get them to LA, Spike let out a snort of disgust. "Oh, just great." He said, glancing at Buffy and Willow.
"Buffy. Willow. Spike." Riley greeted them.
"How's the missus?" Asked Spike, walking past Riley angrily.
The others boarded quietly, and sat quietly through the takeoff.
"From LAX we'll take a chopper, avoid traffic." Said Riley. "It'll be close to dawn when we land."
Buffy nodded, glancing back to Spike, who was staring out the window at the darkness beyond, almost sullenly.
"Thanks for helping us get the chip out of Spike." Said Buffy loudly. Riley frowned. "It may just have saved the world!" She added quickly.
Willow, sitting behind Buffy, was watching Spike intently, ignoring the conversation between Riley and Buffy. "What does it feel like?" She finally asked. "To be without a soul, but good?"
"Awkward." Replied Spike. "In an odd way, it's like facing the ugly, ugly world alone, without any crutches. Only my own desire to do better, without any guide whatsoever on how to do better."
Buffy shrugged, glancing at Riley. "How interesting." She said mildly. "So, you're back. Now what?"
"Well, it's a whole new ball game for me." Drawled Spike lazily. "I've never been in the game just to save the world. That came as a side effect a couple of times. But this time is different. I'm here just to be a champion. To better myself." A grin flickered over his face. "The fact that I'll be defying conventional wisdom and rubbing Angel's face in his own fate—those are only side benefits."
"You know, it was quite an adjustment for me, learning that with a soul a vampire could be good." Said Riley. "I'm not sure I'm flexible enough to accept a vampire without a soul as good."
"Yeah. Evil vampire." Said Buffy. "Got it."
Riley shook his head. "This is madness." He muttered.
"You're telling me, mate." Drawled Spike. "Madness is a very good word for it. Goes against everything I've learned, everything I know. That's kind of why I like it. I like the whole rebel thing." He glanced at Buffy. "Are we going to see Angel when we land?"
Buffy took a deep breath. "We'll go see Dawn." She said. "It is Angel's city...maybe he knows where Drusilla is with that wonderful new toy of hers."
Spike smiled. "You must be in some sort of hell of your own, pet. All your old lovers together in one room. Sounds a little hard to take, doesn't it?"
"A lot hard to take." Muttered Buffy. "Bring on Drusilla. Her I can handle."
Spike chuckled. "There's the Buffy we know and. . .and how much longer till we set down, mate?"
Riley growled and snarled something under his breath. "Hello." Said Spike. "Vampire hearing."
"I know." Said Riley. "This is just, just. . .okay, yeah, we're approaching LA. Only about fifty more miles left."
--
Andrew slowly drew back into the corner. "D-don't come in! I have a gun!" He said uncertainly.
Anya kicked the door in. Andrew squealed, firing. The bullet went wild, and Giles hit the floor, waiting for the next shot.
"Oh, it's just Anya, who's dead!" Said Andrew in relief. "Thank goodness! I was afraid it was Xander!"
Anya raised an eyebrow. "Hi, Andrew. I died, but now I'm back. And I'm a vampire who can kick through very solid doors. Aren't you going to yelp in fear or something?"
"Aren't you the First Evil? Didn't we kill him?" Asked Andrew suspiciously.
"I kicked in the door." Pointed out Anya.
"Ooh, good point. You're solid. Oh, oh, were you turned? So that after your death you came back a vampire?"
"No." Said Anya patiently. "You're not scared, eh?"
"Well, no. I mean, you could have been Xander. And that would have been very, very worse." Said Andrew. "I mean, do you have any idea how much worse that would be?"