Love
Episode 6
Unknown Hotel:
Jake was very happy. He was finally able to get some peace and quiet. He was so happy to finally be off that bus and away from the girls. He liked each of them, but it was so nice to finally be alone.
He lay on the double bed. He flipped through the channels, looking for something to watch. Although he was finally alone, he was still bored to death. At least the girls had given him something to do. That was one thing that they were good for, keeping him entertained.
Suddenly, there was a loud knock at his door. He wondered who it was as he climbed out of the bed. He unlatched the lock and opened the door.
"Hi," she said, smiling shyly.
Julia stood in his doorway. Even though he wanted to be alone, he was glad that it was her.
"Hey," he replied, smiling back.
"Can I come in?" she asked.
"Sure," he replied.
He moved out of the way. She walked in and turned to face him. He closed the door and then turned to face her.
"I'm sorry to bother you," she began, "But I had to get away from them. They were driving me crazy."
Jake chuckled quietly. He was amused. Now he knew that he wasn't the only one that the potentials annoyed and frustrated.
"I just needed to get away," she went on, "I was sitting there, trying to think, and they were all being way too loud. It's hard living in close quarters like this with two other girls, especially ones who can't stop talking."
Jake laughed silently once again. He was finally glad to have company. Although he had never admitted it before, he had a thing for Julia. He was indeed attracted to this potential slayer. One thing puzzled him though.
"Why am I always attracted to the slayers?" he asked in his head.
He stood there smiling, while listening to Julia babble on about how she didn't really like the other girls. From what he understood, she never really did and had always just wanted to get away. He wasn't really listening to what she was saying. He was too busy staring at her. She was gorgeous.
"Are you staring at me?" she questioned, interrupting her own babble.
"Huh? What?" Jake questioned.
Her question had broken him out of the trance that she had on him.
"No," he said, embarrassed.
"Oh, must've been my imagination," she replied.
"Would you like to sit down?" he asked.
"That would be nice," she accepted.
Jake walked back towards the double bed. Instead of sitting down on it, he went over to the small table and pulled out a chair. Julia came over and sat in it. Then he pulled out another and took a seat, himself.
Axel's Place:
Buffy lay in her small bed. She was somewhat satisfied with her new home. It wasn't the same as the one she had back in Sunnydale, but it worked. It was different though, very different.
She liked Axel, or she thought she did. But there was one thing blocking anyone from reaching her. She couldn't stop thinking about Spike. He still hadn't come back from the other night. He told her that he would.
Buffy loved Spike and she knew it in her heart. She couldn't believe that she had waited so long to tell him how she felt. She was still lucky though, lucky that she was able to spend time with him, in his arms. She enjoyed it so much and wished that it would happen soon.
Buffy climbed out of bed. She couldn't take it anymore. She was tired of waiting for him to come back. She had to find Spike now! She slipped on a pair of jeans and her leather coat. Lastly, she slid on her boots. She walked out the door and into the night.
Unknown Hotel:
Julia had finally decided to leave. Jake had guessed that she became bored and wanted to get back in some action. He wasn't really happy by himself now. He wanted her to come back, but didn't want to let her know yet.
He realized that he needed to go out for a walk, no matter how late it was. He needed to clear his head. Cindy's face kept appearing in his head, preventing him from fully falling for Julia. She was dead and he knew that he had to just move on. He slipped on his sneakers and left the hotel room.
As he walked through downtown Haynesville, he glanced around at the surroundings. They were so much different from Sunnydale's or his hometown, Erie. He kind of liked this place though. It was nice.
As he was walking by a store, he noticed someone staring into the front window. That wasn't what caught his eye, though. It was the young girl that caught his eye. He walked over.
"Hi," he said.
The girl turned around. His voice had startled her. She smiled.
"Cindy?" Jake questioned when he saw her face.
"Oh my god! Jake!" Cindy exclaimed, embracing him in a hug.
"Wait, you're supposed to be dead," he said, very confused.
"Oh?" she asked, "You heard about that little incident?"
"Yeah," he replied, "You were stabbed."
"Yes, I guess Faith told you about it?"
"She did," he replied, "What happened?"
"Well, I was stabbed by a Bringer," she began, "Faith was really upset and she tried to help. I really thought I was going to die. But I think I just passed out."
"I see," he said, hugging her again, "I'm glad you're back."
"Look, I have to get back my apartment," she informed, "I'll see you tomorrow?"
"Possibly," he replied, "Do you want to meet me here tomorrow night, same time?"
"Sounds good," she answered, "See you tomorrow."
"Bye," he said, as he watched her walk off into the night.
Cindy was back. Jake couldn't believe that she was still alive. Everyone thought she had been dead. He was so happy. But there was still that other thing, he had feelings for Julia.
Central Park:
Buffy figured that this is where Spike would be hiding. She checked under all the benches, but he wasn't there. She was worried. She stopped and remembered something he had told her.
"Hmm…" Buffy pondered, "Where do you stay during the day?"
"I wander around in the sewers," he answered.
"Why?" she asked.
"I'm not sure," he replied.
She had remembered him telling her that a few nights ago, when they took him in and fed him. She turned and ran out of the park. She headed towards a manhole covering in the street and pulled it off. She jumped down into the darkness.
Buffy landed with a thud. Unfortunately, she had fallen on her back. She slowly rose to her feet, making sure she wasn't injured badly. It would be a bruise soon, if not already.
She turned her flashlight on and began her walk. It was damp and cold down there. Luckily, it wasn't very wet, so her boots didn't get ruined.
After about an hour of searching, she wanted to give up. She was exhausted and her flashlight was dead. It was getting late anyway. She decided to walk into the next big area and then climb out. As she walked into the large part, she saw two people standing there, in the dark.
"Spike?" Buffy called, squinting to see who was there.
"Stay back, Buffy!" he called from the other side.
Buffy wondered what was going on. She didn't move forward though.
"No, let her come and play, Spike," a woman said.
The one figure turned and walked towards her. Buffy wasn't afraid at all. That's when she realized that she had forgotten a stake. She was in trouble now.
Suddenly, the area lit up with florescent lights. Buffy saw Spike standing on the other side. Then she saw who was walking towards her.
"Dani," Buffy said, "What are you doing here?"
"What the hell are you doing here?" the vampire questioned.
"Leave her out of this!" Spike snapped.
"Spike, what's going on?" Buffy called.
Dani turned and walked back to Spike. Buffy followed, obviously very confused.
"You're supposed to be dust," Dani told him.
"Your point, luv?" he asked.
"You died back in my palace," she went on, "That boy dusted you."
"Now see," Spike began, "I don't even know who the hell you are or what the hell you're talking about. You think you can just storm in here and shove me around. I don't think so."
"Hmm…you are telling the truth," Dani said, "I can tell. But it doesn't explain who Drusilla was hanging around back then."
"Drusilla?" he questioned.
Spike obviously had no clue what this vampire was talking about. He knew the name Drusilla sounded familiar, but he didn't know from where.
"Wait a second," Spike said, "She was the one that came to me in the sewers a few nights back. The bit said something about some powers sending me back with a price to pay."
Buffy was very confused now. She had no clue what the hell Spike was talking about with powers sending him back. Maybe it was something that happened to him.
"I loved Drusilla. I loved her before she dumped me for those demons," he babbled, "I traveled through Europe with her. She was my sire."
Buffy knew that Spike was getting back his memory. It was coming back slowly still.
"That slut Dru could have been with anyone," Spike said, angrily, "Now get the hell out of here bitch!"
"Calm down," Dani said, "You wouldn't want to start any trouble, now would you?"
Spike didn't answer. He swung his fist and it connected with her jaw. Dani stumbled backwards, dazed. She quickly regained her senses and punched him back, harder. He fell to the ground, blood seeping from his nose.
She kicked him in the chest. Buffy heard his ribs crack. Buffy knew he was weak and still confused with all that had happened to him. She couldn't let him get killed. She ran at Dani, tackling her to the ground. Spike slowly stood up and backed away.
Dani used her feet and kicked Buffy backwards. She landed on her butt with a thud.
"Get back, bitch!" she shouted.
Buffy quickly stood up and gave the vampire a roundhouse kick. She heard her jawbone crack as the vampire fell to the ground. Dani rose to her feet and began dishing out punches. Buffy blocked most of them, but the last hit her across the face.
"Don't mess with me!" Dani shouted, "I can and will kick your ass!"
Buffy punched back and followed up with a front kick to the chest. Dani fell to the ground once again.
"Don't get ahead of yourself," Buffy warned.
Dani had had enough. She stood up and ran out of the area. She was scared. She hadn't realized that the slayer was that powerful. She wasn't about to face her again for a while.
Buffy caught her breath as she watched the vampire disappear. She walked over to Spike.
"Are you okay?" she asked him.
"I should be," he replied.
"Where have you been?" she asked.
"I'm sorry, Buffy," he answered, "I was scared. I didn't know what to do. I had to remember more. I had to be alone for a while."
Buffy didn't respond. She just smiled.
"As long as it helped you," she finally said.
She leaned in and kissed him. He kissed her back. She broke the kiss after a few moments.
"I love you, Spike," she told him.
"I love you too, Buffy," he replied.
Downtown Haynesville:
Jake and Cindy had met up a little while earlier. The two were walking along, talking. Little did they know that someone was following behind them. They kept walking though. Neither seemed to feel like they were being followed.
Just as they were about to cross the street, a figure stepped in front of them. Both Jake and Cindy were startled.
"So you found someone else?" Julia asked.
She stepped forward a little, into the light. Jake saw her face.
"I thought you cared for me, Jake," she went on, "But now I see you never really did."
"That's not true," he replied, "I do care for you."
"Then who's that?" she questioned, "Some hooker you got off the street?"
"No!" he yelled, "She's a friend."
"Sure, she is," she said.
"Listen Julia!" Jake shouted, "I thought she was dead. That's what I heard and that's what everyone believed. She stayed with us back in Sunnydale, remember? She left with Mr. Giles."
"As a matter of fact," Julia began, "I don't."
"Look, I think I should go," Cindy spoke up, "I'll let you two solve your problem. It's obvious that you have feelings for her."
She turned to go. She slowly began to walk down the street.
"No, don't go!" Jake called, "Cindy, I still love you."
Cindy didn't reply. She just kept walking.
"Look what you did!" Jake snapped, "Now I lost someone that I cared about."
"I love you, Jake," Julia said, "And I thought you loved me too."
"I do love you," he replied, "But I love her too. Look, it's all very complicated."
"I'm leaving," Julia said, turning to go.
That's when they heard someone scream. It was a terrifying scream, like someone was being attacked.
"Cindy!" Jake called, beginning to panic.
He took off in the direction of the scream. Julia followed. Even though she was angry, she was a potential slayer and wanted to help.
The two turned into an alley and Jake gasped in horror. Cindy was being help by the throat. She was slowly losing air. She was in the hands of a vampire, a very familiar vampire. A vampire that Jake had been very close to before she was turned.
"What the hell are you doing here?" Jake questioned.
"Don't look too happy to see me," Dani smirked.
"Leave her alone!" Jake shouted.
Julia stood behind him. She didn't know what to do.
"I heard your whole little speech back there," Dani began, "You know, about your little love triangle. You love this one?"
Jake stared in horror as Cindy gasped for air. Dani tossed Cindy aside. She hit the side of a building and tried to breathe. Dani walked forward. Suddenly, she was no longer in front of him. Jake turned to Julia. Dani was standing behind her. She had moved like lightning.
"Do you love this one too?" she questioned.
Jake hadn't answered either of her questions. He was somewhat frightened. He couldn't protect Cindy and Julia from her. She was way too powerful. Dani shoved Julia aside too. She came up real close to Jake.
"What do you want with them?" he questioned, angrily.
"I don't want them," she said, "I want to get rid of them. I want you back."
"No way in hell it's happening," Jake replied.
She leaned in and kissed him full on the lips. Jake shoved her back.
"What the hell do you think you're doing?" he shouted in anger.
"I'm taking you back," she replied, calmly, "I can turn you, make you immortal. We can be together forever."
Jake backed away slowly. He didn't know what to do. He had to get the girls out of here, away from this crazy vampire. But he was afraid. She used to be a slayer. She was a strong vampire. She was powerful enough to take over Sunnydale.
"So what do you need to tell Buffy?" he asked.
"That I know about the supposed three slayers who the Council created when a new slayer wasn't called," Faith informed, "The Council used magik to temporarily give the slayer powers to a girl."
"Who were these three slayers?" he questioned.
"One was turned into a vampire and made the queen until she was kicked out. The second was her friend and I met her briefly. The third was our traveling partner," Faith went on."
"Dani, Sarah, and Cindy?" he questioned.
He remembered it clearly now. Faith had told this to him back when he met her in Los Angeles last spring. Dani no longer had the powers that the Council bestowed upon her. She was just an ordinary vampire.
"I can turn you, make you my king. We can rule this town, this world, together. We'll be unstoppable," Dani went on.
"Hey bitch!" someone shouted from the entrance of the alley.
Dani and Jake turned to see who it was. Jake smiled and Dani smirked.
"Why don't you pick on someone your own size?" Faith questioned, coming into the alley.
"Stay away or you'll die like those two," Dani threatened, pointing to where Cindy and Julia lay.
"Hey, I remember you," Faith said, "You're that vampire bitch that took over Sunnydale. But then Buffy and the others put a stop to you. Oh yeah, aren't you also one of those girls that the Council bestowed temporary slayer powers to?"
"What?" Dani questioned.
"You are!" Faith exclaimed, "You're Dani, aren't you?"
"Stay back girl!" Dani yelled, "Or I'll kill you."
"You vampires aren't very smart," Faith replied, "When a vampire threatens a slayer, they always die."
"A slayer?" Dani asked.
"What'd you think I was?" she asked.
"But the master said there weren't any slayers in town," Dani said.
"The master?" Faith questioned.
"It said that they died when Sunnydale collapsed. It said they killed themselves in their attempts to stop it."
"It?" Faith questioned, "Stop it?"
Dani didn't say anything else. She turned and ran out of the alley. Faith let her. She was too busy thinking about what she had said. Jake rushed over and helped Cindy and Julia to their feet.
"You guys will be all right?" Faith questioned, oblivious to who was in the alley with Jake.
"Yeah," Jake replied, "Thanks."
"No problem," she replied, "I'll see you later."
Faith took off into the night.
"Look Cindy," Jake began, "I shouldn't have let you run off into the night by yourself."
"It's okay," she replied, "It's my fault."
"Cindy, I'm glad you're back," he went on, "But I've moved on. You were gone for so many months. I thought you were dead. I found someone else. I'm sorry."
Cindy was silent. She didn't know what to say. Of course she was upset, but he was right.
"I still love you, Cindy," he said, "And I always will. Just not the way I used to."
"You're right," Cindy said, speaking up, "I was gone. I shouldn't have expected that you would still be here waiting for me. Goodbye Jake."
With that, Cindy was gone. That was the last that Jake saw of her.
"Julia," Jake said, turning to face her, "I love you."
The two embraced in a passionate kiss.
"I love you too, Jake," she said, breaking the kiss.
They went back to their kiss.
Central Park:
Faith was walking alone in the park. She had just helped Jake and the two girls. But she let the vampire go. She was probably a very dangerous vampire at that. But that wasn't the problem. Something else was.
Her mind was stuck on what the vampire had said. She was very puzzled.
"But the master said there weren't any slayers in town," Dani said.
"The master?" Faith questioned.
"It said that they died when Sunnydale collapsed. It said they killed themselves in their attempts to stop it."
She wanted to know what the vampire was talking about. Whatever the vampire's master was, it knew Sunnydale had collapsed. She continued walking. That's when she realized what it was, who the vampire's master was.
The vampire had said that her master told her that she and Buffy had died when the town collapsed. And that it was when trying to stop her master. It could only be one thing. The town had collapsed, stopping it. But had they really stopped it.
"The First Evil," Faith said, aloud.