Somewhere I Belong

Chapter Two

Reckoning

The night was warm, she imagined, for no real warmth or cold disturbed her. She noticed it, but it didn't matter, it never had. Jamie wasn't a vampire, but being so closely related to Spike she often had moments where her senses were stronger than others, she could smell spilt blood blocks away, a disturbing, but sometimes helpful skill. She was sitting on the front steps of the apartment building she lived in, taking in the night air, mixed with glory and murder, L.A. was a dark, influential city, busy and yet when you were in a crowd you felt all alone, the demons brought that sense upon you, and you had to be very good at avoiding them.

She had never been a damsel in distress, she had been kidnaped numerous times and always inflicted pain upon her captors. She was afraid of virtually nothing maybe that's why she was the local 'slayer', though she was far below the title. Her mother was a slayer, and so was her aunt, that was it. She helped Angel destroy the local evil, and that basically was her everyday. Ever since she'd finished college she woke up, fought, occasionally had time to go talk to Wes or Angel, avoid Hamilton as she had been told to since her little days.

She stood and went in, sighing with her boredom, Angel and the others were having a meeting, and not being an official member of 'the team', she had had to stay home. She knew better than to go on the hunt without her weapons, locked up at Wolfram and Hart, it would be a fools errand that she would be killed on, although sometimes she wished that would happen, sometimes she had an immense hope that she would be taken off of the Earth, she lived in hell, there was no doubt, and for once she wanted heaven.

Just as she stepped into the small apartment the phone rang, and so she immediately ran over to it, carefully lifted it and spoke, trying to sound calm and collected. "Hello?"

"Jamie, it's Angel, could you come over?"

"Sure thing." She hung up without a word and hurried to get out and onto the sidewalk, she lived only three blocks away, so getting there would be the easy part.

Her way there was easier than she had thought it would be, usually she fought off at least a dozen vamps at night but tonight she only had to stake a handful of sick-os, they could smell her connection with the demonic world, and it attracted them to her.

She hurriedly got into Wolfram & Hart, shrugging out of her jacket, hanging it up and moving to the main desk. "Harmony, where's . . ."

"Go right in." The blonde vamp said without even looking up from her magazine. Jamie speed-walked past to the office and opened the door, surprised to see Angel, Spike, Gunn and Wes all together, waiting for her. Angel cleared his throat and Gunn and Wes left. "Jamie," he said softly. "Your Dad and I need to talk to you."

The fancy glass doors of Wolfram & Hart flew open and the slight figure of a young woman stormed out, she began to run down the huge L.A. street. Her long, thick brown hair was curled at the tip, preventing it from fanning out around her as she flew, rain poured over her jacket-less self, causing her clothing to cling to her body.

Jamie's tears mingled with the rain on her pale flesh, she didn't know where she was running to or even who she was, but she knew that copy cart had stalled William Crichton and Angel enough so she would have a good enough start. God, all this time she'd been living a lie, and who knew how much longer she'd be alive! For all she knew she could be in her fifties next week and eighties next month! And her father had kept it all from her. She'd lived a lie!

Her ribs began to feel on fire, and her lungs burned for air, so she stopped, looking back. She saw no one, which was just as well. She needed to be alone right now. But some deep, needy corner of herself wanted Spike, or William as he'd explained to find her right now and take her into his arms, beg for forgiveness and tell her he loved her, but he never did anything like that. William hadn't been ready to be a father, and he still wasn't.

She smiled softly as two arms slid around her waist and a chin rested on her shoulder, yes that was right. That's how she imagined it. He would inhale deeply and beg for her to forgive him, crying with her, telling her it was going to be ok. But suddenly she realized Spike wasn't there, but someone was embracing her. She fought to move but froze at the feeling of fangs against her throat.

"Mmm, that's a good girl. William the Bloody's daughter, eh?" It chuckled menacingly. "So fragile, so sweet. The daughter of a vampire and a slayer, your blood smells like honey, but it's you I want more than anything, yes indeed, you're a pretty sight that the boys will love."

She said nothing, just breathed as this might be her last moment to. Suddenly she felt eyes on her and she turned hers slightly to see her exhausted father and Angel, watching from a bush, planning an attack. She knew she'd at least get stabbed by those fangs if they came out suddenly. But they cooly stepped out and Angel said. "Hey you, fang boy."

The vamp turned with her still in front, she looked pleadingly at them and Spike winked at her. "Why don't you pick on someone your own type?" Spike said.

"Who are you to say she's not my type?" the vamp sneered.

"Her Dad." Spike said cooly, leaning against a post. "And I suggest if you don't want to be a pile of dust you better let her go nice and easy and unharmed."

"William the Bloody, my, my. It's my lucky night! And Angel, save any babies today?"

"Not today Jefferson, unless you count her as a baby."

"Well, she's my baby." Spike pointed out with the whole, 'Well, she's in the world so that should work out nicely' tone of voice, still cool.

"Mmmm but she smells so nice..." Jefferson said, licking her neck.

Jamie coughed. "Yeah? And you smell like a pile of trash!"

He tightened his grip and drew his fangs across her jugular. "Careful sugar blood., I'm the one holding the reins are your life now."

"Go tell someone who cares!" She hissed, thrashing against him.

"Jamie . . ." Angel said softly.

"Go to hell Angel!"

He sighed. "Been there, done that."

Suddenly the vamp went to dust to all three's amazement and once it settled the demon's vanquisher stepped forward, causing both Spike and Angel to nearly pass out. "Buffy!"

And at this, Jamie hit the ground, hand clasped to a wound left by the creature I her side, Angel lifted her and began to carry her back to Wolfram & Hart as Buffy and Spike walked silently, avoiding eye contact behind him.

Well, lemme know what you think

Ideas are warmly welcomed