Chapter 11
Wyatt was back in his playpen and staring at Cole again, once Wesley had drawn the proper amount of blood from him.
'You really think this will work?' Piper asked, clearly stressed out. Wyatt had been surprisingly quiet when he was stuck with the needle. Piper hoped that meant it hadn't hurt him.
'It's the only chance we've got.' Wesley murmured, holding the syringe very carefully, before heading over to the fallen Paige. Cole looked from Wyatt to Paige. She did look like hell!
Wesley sat down next to her and Piper held her right arm. Wesley looked at Piper.
'The blood has to be injected into the wound in order for it to work. I fear it will cause Paige more pain.'
'Just do it.' Paige whispered. Wesley injected Wyatt's blood into the wound. Paige was too weak to wince or even cry out. Cole watched the procedure. He silently cursed the fallen Raagon! Damn him to Infinity! If Dru died because of this, then he would never be able to turn her to his side! And worse yet, Phoebe and the others would blame him, even though he knew they had no solid proof.
Cole looked away and began pacing slightly. He could feel Wyatt's eyes on him, but tried to hide his annoyance. What the hell was the kid looking at?!
'I think she's beginning to look a little better!' Piper cried out. Cole turned and peered down at Paige. He couldn't tell. She had been pale and sweaty looking before, and still appeared to be now.
Wesley walked back over to Wyatt, and picked up another nearby syringe, full of Wyatt's blood.
'She looks the same to me!' Cole exclaimed.
'Shut up! Nobody asked you anything!' Piper snapped. She hated being dependent on Cole, and knew it was not smart to goad him like this. But she couldn't help it. He had something to do with this Dark Lighter business, she just knew it!
Paige suddenly began to sit up. Wesley tried to push her back against the pillows.
'Careful, my dear. You're still weak.' he said. But Paige shook her head.
'I'm getting stronger by the minute. Go to the others.' she said, nodding. Piper looked at Wesley.
'Get him to go to Leo.'
'Uh, I heard that!' Cole exclaimed. 'Dru is next, then Leo! And don't give me any lip about it or I'll tell Dru that you wanted to leave her to die!'
Now Paige was really feeling back to normal! She jumped up off of the couch!
'You evil sonofabitch!'
Cole rolled his eyes. Paige always said that to him, and as usual, he failed to see the insult! He looked at Wesley.
'Let's get going. The sooner we get to Dru, the sooner we can get to Leo.'
But Paige interrupted.
'I can orb now. I'll take Wesley to Leo.'
Cole snatched the syringe from Wesley and shimmered away! Piper screamed!
****
Cole shimmered into the crypt that Drusilla used to live in. What he saw almost made him drop the syringe!
'What the living hell!' he screeched. Spike and Drusilla were in the bed she used to sleep in, naked in one another's arms. Only Spike moved. He got up naked and walked over to him.
'What the bloody hell are you doing here?' Spike asked, eyeing the syringe.
'This is for Dru...what the hell did you do to her?! Jesus you sick vampire bastard...did you rape her while she was in this condition?!'
Spike rubbed his forehead wearily, before forming words that had a trace of civility.
'I should beat the hell out of you for even saying such a thing. But since Dru's sick and I'm a gentleman...'
Cole snorted!
'The hell you are! You only had one thing on your mind, and you decided to take advantage of Dru while she was dying!'
'What is that?!' Spike snapped, motioning towards the syringe. He didn't have time for this crap! Dru didn't have time for it either!
'It's the cure. Paige's four eyed boyfriend, figured out that Piper's baby boy's blood could cure everyone. I watched it work on Paige.'
'Then why didn't she bring it?' Spike asked, as Cole began to move towards Drusilla's form.
'I came because I caught Dru's 'sisters', trying to leave her out of the loop. They wanted to cure Leo before her. I wasn't having it.'
'So you know where to inject this cure?' Spike asked.
Cole just nodded, as he made his way to Drusilla. He gently touched her face with one hand.
'What the hell is this?! How did she get this bruise on her cheek?!'
But Spike had folded his arms.
'Inject her already and stop pissing around!' he snapped. He was more annoyed than ever! Belthazor didn't give a fig about Dru, and his pretending to be some jealous lover, annoyed him to no end!
Cole injected the blood sample into her wound. Drusilla cried out weakly, and Spike hurried to the other side of the bed. Cole withdrew the syringe and in only a matter of moments, Dru seemed to look better. Her eyes met Cole's.
'Cole?'
'I'm here.' he said softly, kissing her hand. 'I have to get to Leo to help him. I'll be back in a minute, okay?' Cole figured Paige and Wesley shimmered to Leo, but just in case...he couldn't take a chance of looking like a bastard to Phoebe. He would go back to Piper's first and see what happened.
Drusilla just nodded and sat up, as Cole shimmered away. She sensed Spike's presence on the other side of the bed, but had not looked at him. When she finally did, she gasped!
'What the hell! Why are you naked?!'
'You're naked too, luv.' Spike said casually, watching Dru look down at herself. She gasped again and grabbed the rest of the blanket to cover herself! She then stood up. She could see her bloody sweatsuit on the floor of the crypt. Dru then looked around the crypt.
'Why am I here?' she asked, looking around.
'You really don't remember? You shoved me out of the way and took an arrow in the arm. I brought you here.' Spike said, moving towards her. Dru put a hand up.
'You stay back! I can't believe Cole left me here with you! What did you do to me?'
'I didn't ravish you, if that's what you're thinking, pet. You had a temperature and I thought my lack of body temperature might help cool it down. It did you know.'
Drusilla said nothing, as bits and pieces came back to her. She had been dancing like a Gypsy of something! Dru shook her head and walked back over to her clothes. She picked them up. She decided to say nothing about being the previous inhabitant of this crypt.
'I don't suppose you'll turn around while I get dressed?'
'Why? You don't have anything I haven't seen before.' Spike said, grinning.
'You turn around!' Dru snapped.
'Fine, fine.' Spike said and turned around. Drusilla hurriedly began to put on her underwear, but left off the bra. She stuffed it into her sweatpants pocket. Drusilla found her eyes straying to Spike to make sure he wasn't peeking...and to look at his body.
She sighed, her eyes looking him up and down, before she announced that she was dressed. Spike turned around, reached down for his own pants and pulled out cigarettes and a lighter. He then lay back down on the bed and began smoking.
'Spike, we really need to get back. So, I would put some clothes on.'
'I'm in no hurry, luv. And if Belthazor is going to see to Leo, that means he'll be near Phoebe. He won't be shimmering back here anytime soon.'
Drusilla rubbed her hands.
'You said that to hurt me, didn't you?'
Spike put the cigarette out with his bare foot, then stood up again.
'No, luv, I didn't. I'm just stating a fact is all. You know, I've never received a proper thank you for nursing you back to health.'
'Cole cured me, not you. Get your clothes on so we can go.' Drusilla repeated in a tight voice.
But Spike just stared at her, naked in the shadows. Dru rubbed her forehead.
'Fine, Spike. Thank you for being here. And I'm not being sarcastic...I could've died, and I wouldn't have wanted to alone.'
Spike smiled at her.
'I would've bitten you again before I let that happen.'
Dru raised a brow.
'That's comforting...I guess.' she said, sitting down on the bed and waiting for him to dress. But he just continued to stand there. Drusilla sensed he had more to get out of his system and just decided to listen.
Spike carefully sat down on the bed next to her. Drusilla did not move away.
'What is it going to take Dru? What is it going to take, to get you to give me another chance? I've never been good at begging, and not because I think I'm above it, but because it never seems to bloody work! Tell me what I have to do, Dru?'
This was the last thing Drusilla wanted to hear at this time. But, he looked so earnest and sincere sitting beside her in the semi-darkness, that she let her guard down a little.
'Spike, you have to understand that when I look at you, I see things. When I told you that I saw Phoebe surrounding Cole, that tells me he still loves her. I see Buffy around you...only she's fading. I guess that means you're getting over her or something...'
Spike reached out to touch one of her hands.
'Dru, I've made peace with the idea of never being with Buffy. I was halfway there when I got my soul back and realized that while she did care for me, she didn't love me.'
Drusilla pulled her hand away.
'Spike, when I look at Angel, Buffy is not there, Phoebe is. He has moved on, you have not, not really.' she said gently. She now understood that Spike wasn't playing games with her. Maybe he did love her in his own way. But until she could look at him and not see Buffy...she just couldn't imagine the two of them ever being together again.
It was almost as if Spike could read her mind.
'Dru, how do you expect us to get back to where we were, if you go out of your way to avoid me?'
Drusilla didn't answer him and stood up. Spike did as well.
'I'm going to make a proposal to you, luv. And it's one that I want you to give serious thought to.'
Drusilla stared at him expectantly.
'I want you to give me a week.'
Drusilla raised a brow.
'A week of what?'
'A week of your time and attention. I want you to move in with me.'
'No!' Drusilla said adamantly, before he could finish getting the last words out his mouth.
'Hear me out, pet: I have a special apartment, Wolfram & Hart style, with special tinted windows that lets sunlight in, but doesn't burn...so you wouldn't have to live in darkness. Separate bedrooms...Dru, we've been given a second chance here, and I just feel...no, I KNOW, that we should be living our lives together. You can do as you please...with the exception of seeing Belthazor. And, after one week, if you don't think that it will ever work out, I will never bother you again. I will move on with my life.' he sniffed for dramatic effect.
But his sniff sounded phony. She had no doubts whatsoever, that if she even agreed to his ridiculous proposal, he would probably bother her for the rest of her life! Drusilla burst out laughing!
'You don't have to carry it that far! I'll...I'll think about it.'
Spike's eyes widened! Realistically, he had expected an out and out refusal. But for Dru to say that she would 'think about it', mean that his instincts about her feelings for him, were right on the money!
'Alright then! Then maybe we can seal this with a kiss?' Spike asked suggestively.
'We've made no deals yet. I said I would think about it.'
'Alright, then how about a 'thank-you' kiss? You know, for all I did here tonight?'
Drusilla rolled her eyes! What the hell was she thinking?! To even entertain the thought of living with Spike again....she would tell him no, once everyone was out of danger.
Drusilla leaned forward to kiss his cheek, but Spike reached out and turned her face, so that he could kiss her on the lips.
The shock of his lips being on hers again, caused her to moan. Spike reached around and pulled her into his arms roughly, his arms tightened around her so she could not escape.
Drusilla had had her eyes closed, but something made them open again, as Spike began to kiss her neck, and ease her back down onto the bed. It was then that she realized she could not let what was about to happen, take place.
'Spike...Spike, let go...we have to check on Leo...Cole will be coming back...'
But Spike ignored her, as he began to try and take off her blood soaked top. Drusilla was not so pliant and finally reached out and grabbed his face!
'Spike! We can't do this! We can't!'
But Spike gently removed her hands from his face. His mouth then swooped down on hers again, and it was at that moment that she realized she was going to let him make love to her in this crypt....
Suddenly, Drusilla ended up orbing both Spike and her, back to the very public offices of Wolfram &Hart! Back to the very public office of Angel. Back where Angel, Phoebe, Wesley, Paige, Cole, Piper, baby Wyatt and a newly cured Leo, were waiting. Piper put a hand over Wyatt's eyes!
Drusilla, sensing the change in their environment, opened her eyes, then gasped, shoving a still naked Spike away from her! Cole's eyes flashed!
'What the hell is this?' he snapped, not out of jealousy, but more out of embarrassment! He couldn't believe Dru was carrying on with that Billy Idol wannabee in front of everyone!
Then again, he didn't necessarily blame Dru. He had underestimated Spike. He knew the creep was putting the moves on Dru, but he had assumed that his own charm far surpassed Spike's anyday. Looks like he was wrong. Looks like he would have to re-think his game plan!
Angel glanced at Phoebe, who had a small smile on her lips. Angel reached down on a nearby couch and threw two pillows Spike's way, to cover up with.
Spike, for his part, looked at Dru, who was turning red. He decided they had had enough fun for one day. He took the pillows, covering his front and back and stood up.
'Well, everyone looks fit and healthy.' he noted.
Drusilla slowly stood up as well.
'Yes, I'm glad that Cole got here on time.' she said. Spike rolled his eyes.
'It wasn't Cole that saved Leo,' Piper huffed, 'it was Paige.'
'Wesley had a separate syringe of Wyatt's blood already prepared, so I orbed everyone here.' Paige spoke up, to break the tension.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Spike spoke again.
'Well, I'm going to just pop over to my office...I think I have a spare change of clothes...'
'I'm sure you do.' Phoebe muttered, looking over at Paige and shaking her head. Paige smiled back, then moved forward.
'Honey, you ruined your jumpsuit.'
Drusilla did not understand, until her eyes followed Paige's. She was looking at the bloodstain.
'Yes, I was hit there...do we know who sent the Dark Lighters?'
Angel looked at Cole.
'We have some idea, yes. Just no proof.'
'Why don't you just say it, Angel? You think I did this! You think I tried to kill Dru, don't you?'
Angel faced him.
'You had something to do with this. I will prove it.'
Cole looked from Angel to Phoebe. He moved closer to her. Angel moved to block his way.
'Yes, she thinks you had something to do with it too.' Angel said sarcastically.
Phoebe nodded.
'You don't fool me anymore, Cole. So don't pretend to be hurt.'
Drusilla could not believe this! After Cole saved her life and tried to get to Leo...
'Cole,' she began. But Cole walked over to her and put an arm around her. Spike moved closer to them as well.
'It's alright, Dru. Really. I'd get the blame if the sun didn't rise. What bothers me the most was how awful they were to you.'
'Cole, don't start that!' Piper snapped. Phoebe and Angel looked at one another, then at Piper. Leo looked confused as well, but Wesley and Paige looked uneasy.
'What are you talking about?' Drusilla asked. Spike moved in and pulled her away from Cole. He dropped the pillow he was using to cover his back.
'Dru, whatever he says, he's lying. He's just trying to cause a rift between your relations and yourself. You can't listen to him.'
But Cole pulled Drusilla away from Spike and back over to him.
'Dru, they wanted to save you last, even though I think you were the first one hit. They were all so interested in saving Leo and Paige, that they didn't care that the poison was working faster on you than any of them! I had to snatch a vial of Wyatt's blood out of four eyes's hands over there, because they didn't want to go to you!'
'Who are you calling, 'four eyes'?!' Wesley huffed. Paige put an arm around him.
Angel locked eyes with Spike briefly, before moving to stand in front of Drusilla.
'That is not true. He's lying, Dru. Everyone here cares about you.'
Cole snorted!
'So Piper, you're just going to look into Dru's eyes here and tell her that you did not specifically tell four...'
'Watch it, Cole!' Paige snapped. 'I'm only going to let you call my boyfriend names so many times before I hurt you!'
'Oh I'm shaking, Paige!'
'I'm really your boyfriend?' Wesley asked, profoundly touched. Paige turned back to him and smiled. Their eyes lit up at the sight of one another. Spike rolled his own! Now was not the time for Wesley and his witch to be making goo goo eyes at one another!
Drusilla moved around Angel and walked up to Piper.
'You chose to save me last, didn't you?'
Piper looked down. Leo looked away. Phoebe stepped in, her tone gentler than it usually would be with Drusilla.
'Dru,' she interjected, 'Leo is Piper's husband. It was only natural that she'd want...'
Drusilla nodded quickly and turned away. She walked over to Cole and took his hand.
'I'm going home now. I'm not feeling a hundred percent yet. I'll see you in the morning.'
'Dru!' Spike yelled, as she and Belthazor orbed away. Spike dropped all of this pillows and faced the room naked.
'Spike, go and put some clothes on!' Angel yelled, annoyed. Phoebe looked away. Everyone else just pretended it didn't bother them. Baby Wyatt had now been put in a special playpen with a protective shield. It went up at the sight of Spike!
'Not until I bloody well tell you bints what I think of you!'
'Now is not the time for this! And I won't have you speaking to Phoebe or her sisters like that!' Angel yelled back.
'It's all about the witch over there, isn't it?! You've been neglecting Dru for that...'
'Spike, this is your last warning!' Angel said in a hiss. He pointed a finger at him. Spike took a deep breath.
'Tonight was your chance to come together as a family. None of you stood up and really explained to Dru, why she was last on the 'to save' list! And everytime you let that sodding bastard, Belthazor, define everything, he gets a further leg up! I'm beginning to wonder if you really want Dru as part of your family at all?!'
Having said that, Spike sauntered out of the office. Screams and squeals could be heard out in the hallway. Angel clenched his fists together in frustration. Phoebe moved over to him.
'Are you okay? I can feel how tense you are.'
Angel looked down at her, then around the room.
'Spike's right.' he said calmly. Phoebe backed away some. Piper tossed some hair.
'Angel, you can't believe that we purposely left Dru to hang! Cole was the one that snatched the vial and went off to save her! We would've gotten to her.'
'But we didn't. We let Belthazor get the upper hand. You know, this has been a bad day for Dru. She watched you all try to vanquish someone that she feels is in her corner.'
'He's not!' Paige yelled.
'I know that Paige. We all do, but Dru doesn't see it like that. We are going to lose her to him, if we don't start trying to make her feel included.'
Angel then looked down at Phoebe. He reached for her hands.
'It would go a long way if you could find some common ground with her. Your not forgiving her for Jason, is working in Belthazor's favor.'
Phoebe looked up at the brooding vampire. Tonight had been a wake up call. They needed one another. She nodded.
'I'll ask her to lunch or something tomorrow.' she said. Angel pulled her into his arms. Phoebe willingly stayed there. Being here, with Angel now, always lessened the pain of what happened to Jason, and gave her hope for the future...a future with Angel.
****
Cole closed Drusilla's bedroom door. There was a part of him, his human part, that felt sorry for Dru. She had looked so sad after his revelation tonight.
He walked into the kitchen to get a beer and relax. There was another crack in the Haliwell family. And he meant for it to get wider.
As he reached for the refrigerator door, Utha, the witch that practiced dark magic with Raagon, appeared before him. Cole gave her a look of annoyance.
'Are you crazy? You just don't come popping in here like that.'
'I need to know when you want me to start?' the witch asked. Cole looked behind him, to make sure Dru was still in her room. He then passed a hand over the witch. She now looked to be a professional, working woman. She had blonde hair, cut in a page boy hair do, and a black suit on. She also wore red rimmed glasses.
'I will take care of getting you the proper I.D. and qualifications. But tomorrow, you will start at Wolfram & Hart. You need to get close to Angel and offer your help with his 'curse'.'
'So your plan is to turn him back into Angelus?' Utha asked.
Cole grinned.
'Oh yes. And by turning him back into the demon he once was, I will forever keep him away from my Phoebe.'
Wyatt was back in his playpen and staring at Cole again, once Wesley had drawn the proper amount of blood from him.
'You really think this will work?' Piper asked, clearly stressed out. Wyatt had been surprisingly quiet when he was stuck with the needle. Piper hoped that meant it hadn't hurt him.
'It's the only chance we've got.' Wesley murmured, holding the syringe very carefully, before heading over to the fallen Paige. Cole looked from Wyatt to Paige. She did look like hell!
Wesley sat down next to her and Piper held her right arm. Wesley looked at Piper.
'The blood has to be injected into the wound in order for it to work. I fear it will cause Paige more pain.'
'Just do it.' Paige whispered. Wesley injected Wyatt's blood into the wound. Paige was too weak to wince or even cry out. Cole watched the procedure. He silently cursed the fallen Raagon! Damn him to Infinity! If Dru died because of this, then he would never be able to turn her to his side! And worse yet, Phoebe and the others would blame him, even though he knew they had no solid proof.
Cole looked away and began pacing slightly. He could feel Wyatt's eyes on him, but tried to hide his annoyance. What the hell was the kid looking at?!
'I think she's beginning to look a little better!' Piper cried out. Cole turned and peered down at Paige. He couldn't tell. She had been pale and sweaty looking before, and still appeared to be now.
Wesley walked back over to Wyatt, and picked up another nearby syringe, full of Wyatt's blood.
'She looks the same to me!' Cole exclaimed.
'Shut up! Nobody asked you anything!' Piper snapped. She hated being dependent on Cole, and knew it was not smart to goad him like this. But she couldn't help it. He had something to do with this Dark Lighter business, she just knew it!
Paige suddenly began to sit up. Wesley tried to push her back against the pillows.
'Careful, my dear. You're still weak.' he said. But Paige shook her head.
'I'm getting stronger by the minute. Go to the others.' she said, nodding. Piper looked at Wesley.
'Get him to go to Leo.'
'Uh, I heard that!' Cole exclaimed. 'Dru is next, then Leo! And don't give me any lip about it or I'll tell Dru that you wanted to leave her to die!'
Now Paige was really feeling back to normal! She jumped up off of the couch!
'You evil sonofabitch!'
Cole rolled his eyes. Paige always said that to him, and as usual, he failed to see the insult! He looked at Wesley.
'Let's get going. The sooner we get to Dru, the sooner we can get to Leo.'
But Paige interrupted.
'I can orb now. I'll take Wesley to Leo.'
Cole snatched the syringe from Wesley and shimmered away! Piper screamed!
****
Cole shimmered into the crypt that Drusilla used to live in. What he saw almost made him drop the syringe!
'What the living hell!' he screeched. Spike and Drusilla were in the bed she used to sleep in, naked in one another's arms. Only Spike moved. He got up naked and walked over to him.
'What the bloody hell are you doing here?' Spike asked, eyeing the syringe.
'This is for Dru...what the hell did you do to her?! Jesus you sick vampire bastard...did you rape her while she was in this condition?!'
Spike rubbed his forehead wearily, before forming words that had a trace of civility.
'I should beat the hell out of you for even saying such a thing. But since Dru's sick and I'm a gentleman...'
Cole snorted!
'The hell you are! You only had one thing on your mind, and you decided to take advantage of Dru while she was dying!'
'What is that?!' Spike snapped, motioning towards the syringe. He didn't have time for this crap! Dru didn't have time for it either!
'It's the cure. Paige's four eyed boyfriend, figured out that Piper's baby boy's blood could cure everyone. I watched it work on Paige.'
'Then why didn't she bring it?' Spike asked, as Cole began to move towards Drusilla's form.
'I came because I caught Dru's 'sisters', trying to leave her out of the loop. They wanted to cure Leo before her. I wasn't having it.'
'So you know where to inject this cure?' Spike asked.
Cole just nodded, as he made his way to Drusilla. He gently touched her face with one hand.
'What the hell is this?! How did she get this bruise on her cheek?!'
But Spike had folded his arms.
'Inject her already and stop pissing around!' he snapped. He was more annoyed than ever! Belthazor didn't give a fig about Dru, and his pretending to be some jealous lover, annoyed him to no end!
Cole injected the blood sample into her wound. Drusilla cried out weakly, and Spike hurried to the other side of the bed. Cole withdrew the syringe and in only a matter of moments, Dru seemed to look better. Her eyes met Cole's.
'Cole?'
'I'm here.' he said softly, kissing her hand. 'I have to get to Leo to help him. I'll be back in a minute, okay?' Cole figured Paige and Wesley shimmered to Leo, but just in case...he couldn't take a chance of looking like a bastard to Phoebe. He would go back to Piper's first and see what happened.
Drusilla just nodded and sat up, as Cole shimmered away. She sensed Spike's presence on the other side of the bed, but had not looked at him. When she finally did, she gasped!
'What the hell! Why are you naked?!'
'You're naked too, luv.' Spike said casually, watching Dru look down at herself. She gasped again and grabbed the rest of the blanket to cover herself! She then stood up. She could see her bloody sweatsuit on the floor of the crypt. Dru then looked around the crypt.
'Why am I here?' she asked, looking around.
'You really don't remember? You shoved me out of the way and took an arrow in the arm. I brought you here.' Spike said, moving towards her. Dru put a hand up.
'You stay back! I can't believe Cole left me here with you! What did you do to me?'
'I didn't ravish you, if that's what you're thinking, pet. You had a temperature and I thought my lack of body temperature might help cool it down. It did you know.'
Drusilla said nothing, as bits and pieces came back to her. She had been dancing like a Gypsy of something! Dru shook her head and walked back over to her clothes. She picked them up. She decided to say nothing about being the previous inhabitant of this crypt.
'I don't suppose you'll turn around while I get dressed?'
'Why? You don't have anything I haven't seen before.' Spike said, grinning.
'You turn around!' Dru snapped.
'Fine, fine.' Spike said and turned around. Drusilla hurriedly began to put on her underwear, but left off the bra. She stuffed it into her sweatpants pocket. Drusilla found her eyes straying to Spike to make sure he wasn't peeking...and to look at his body.
She sighed, her eyes looking him up and down, before she announced that she was dressed. Spike turned around, reached down for his own pants and pulled out cigarettes and a lighter. He then lay back down on the bed and began smoking.
'Spike, we really need to get back. So, I would put some clothes on.'
'I'm in no hurry, luv. And if Belthazor is going to see to Leo, that means he'll be near Phoebe. He won't be shimmering back here anytime soon.'
Drusilla rubbed her hands.
'You said that to hurt me, didn't you?'
Spike put the cigarette out with his bare foot, then stood up again.
'No, luv, I didn't. I'm just stating a fact is all. You know, I've never received a proper thank you for nursing you back to health.'
'Cole cured me, not you. Get your clothes on so we can go.' Drusilla repeated in a tight voice.
But Spike just stared at her, naked in the shadows. Dru rubbed her forehead.
'Fine, Spike. Thank you for being here. And I'm not being sarcastic...I could've died, and I wouldn't have wanted to alone.'
Spike smiled at her.
'I would've bitten you again before I let that happen.'
Dru raised a brow.
'That's comforting...I guess.' she said, sitting down on the bed and waiting for him to dress. But he just continued to stand there. Drusilla sensed he had more to get out of his system and just decided to listen.
Spike carefully sat down on the bed next to her. Drusilla did not move away.
'What is it going to take Dru? What is it going to take, to get you to give me another chance? I've never been good at begging, and not because I think I'm above it, but because it never seems to bloody work! Tell me what I have to do, Dru?'
This was the last thing Drusilla wanted to hear at this time. But, he looked so earnest and sincere sitting beside her in the semi-darkness, that she let her guard down a little.
'Spike, you have to understand that when I look at you, I see things. When I told you that I saw Phoebe surrounding Cole, that tells me he still loves her. I see Buffy around you...only she's fading. I guess that means you're getting over her or something...'
Spike reached out to touch one of her hands.
'Dru, I've made peace with the idea of never being with Buffy. I was halfway there when I got my soul back and realized that while she did care for me, she didn't love me.'
Drusilla pulled her hand away.
'Spike, when I look at Angel, Buffy is not there, Phoebe is. He has moved on, you have not, not really.' she said gently. She now understood that Spike wasn't playing games with her. Maybe he did love her in his own way. But until she could look at him and not see Buffy...she just couldn't imagine the two of them ever being together again.
It was almost as if Spike could read her mind.
'Dru, how do you expect us to get back to where we were, if you go out of your way to avoid me?'
Drusilla didn't answer him and stood up. Spike did as well.
'I'm going to make a proposal to you, luv. And it's one that I want you to give serious thought to.'
Drusilla stared at him expectantly.
'I want you to give me a week.'
Drusilla raised a brow.
'A week of what?'
'A week of your time and attention. I want you to move in with me.'
'No!' Drusilla said adamantly, before he could finish getting the last words out his mouth.
'Hear me out, pet: I have a special apartment, Wolfram & Hart style, with special tinted windows that lets sunlight in, but doesn't burn...so you wouldn't have to live in darkness. Separate bedrooms...Dru, we've been given a second chance here, and I just feel...no, I KNOW, that we should be living our lives together. You can do as you please...with the exception of seeing Belthazor. And, after one week, if you don't think that it will ever work out, I will never bother you again. I will move on with my life.' he sniffed for dramatic effect.
But his sniff sounded phony. She had no doubts whatsoever, that if she even agreed to his ridiculous proposal, he would probably bother her for the rest of her life! Drusilla burst out laughing!
'You don't have to carry it that far! I'll...I'll think about it.'
Spike's eyes widened! Realistically, he had expected an out and out refusal. But for Dru to say that she would 'think about it', mean that his instincts about her feelings for him, were right on the money!
'Alright then! Then maybe we can seal this with a kiss?' Spike asked suggestively.
'We've made no deals yet. I said I would think about it.'
'Alright, then how about a 'thank-you' kiss? You know, for all I did here tonight?'
Drusilla rolled her eyes! What the hell was she thinking?! To even entertain the thought of living with Spike again....she would tell him no, once everyone was out of danger.
Drusilla leaned forward to kiss his cheek, but Spike reached out and turned her face, so that he could kiss her on the lips.
The shock of his lips being on hers again, caused her to moan. Spike reached around and pulled her into his arms roughly, his arms tightened around her so she could not escape.
Drusilla had had her eyes closed, but something made them open again, as Spike began to kiss her neck, and ease her back down onto the bed. It was then that she realized she could not let what was about to happen, take place.
'Spike...Spike, let go...we have to check on Leo...Cole will be coming back...'
But Spike ignored her, as he began to try and take off her blood soaked top. Drusilla was not so pliant and finally reached out and grabbed his face!
'Spike! We can't do this! We can't!'
But Spike gently removed her hands from his face. His mouth then swooped down on hers again, and it was at that moment that she realized she was going to let him make love to her in this crypt....
Suddenly, Drusilla ended up orbing both Spike and her, back to the very public offices of Wolfram &Hart! Back to the very public office of Angel. Back where Angel, Phoebe, Wesley, Paige, Cole, Piper, baby Wyatt and a newly cured Leo, were waiting. Piper put a hand over Wyatt's eyes!
Drusilla, sensing the change in their environment, opened her eyes, then gasped, shoving a still naked Spike away from her! Cole's eyes flashed!
'What the hell is this?' he snapped, not out of jealousy, but more out of embarrassment! He couldn't believe Dru was carrying on with that Billy Idol wannabee in front of everyone!
Then again, he didn't necessarily blame Dru. He had underestimated Spike. He knew the creep was putting the moves on Dru, but he had assumed that his own charm far surpassed Spike's anyday. Looks like he was wrong. Looks like he would have to re-think his game plan!
Angel glanced at Phoebe, who had a small smile on her lips. Angel reached down on a nearby couch and threw two pillows Spike's way, to cover up with.
Spike, for his part, looked at Dru, who was turning red. He decided they had had enough fun for one day. He took the pillows, covering his front and back and stood up.
'Well, everyone looks fit and healthy.' he noted.
Drusilla slowly stood up as well.
'Yes, I'm glad that Cole got here on time.' she said. Spike rolled his eyes.
'It wasn't Cole that saved Leo,' Piper huffed, 'it was Paige.'
'Wesley had a separate syringe of Wyatt's blood already prepared, so I orbed everyone here.' Paige spoke up, to break the tension.
There was an uncomfortable silence. Spike spoke again.
'Well, I'm going to just pop over to my office...I think I have a spare change of clothes...'
'I'm sure you do.' Phoebe muttered, looking over at Paige and shaking her head. Paige smiled back, then moved forward.
'Honey, you ruined your jumpsuit.'
Drusilla did not understand, until her eyes followed Paige's. She was looking at the bloodstain.
'Yes, I was hit there...do we know who sent the Dark Lighters?'
Angel looked at Cole.
'We have some idea, yes. Just no proof.'
'Why don't you just say it, Angel? You think I did this! You think I tried to kill Dru, don't you?'
Angel faced him.
'You had something to do with this. I will prove it.'
Cole looked from Angel to Phoebe. He moved closer to her. Angel moved to block his way.
'Yes, she thinks you had something to do with it too.' Angel said sarcastically.
Phoebe nodded.
'You don't fool me anymore, Cole. So don't pretend to be hurt.'
Drusilla could not believe this! After Cole saved her life and tried to get to Leo...
'Cole,' she began. But Cole walked over to her and put an arm around her. Spike moved closer to them as well.
'It's alright, Dru. Really. I'd get the blame if the sun didn't rise. What bothers me the most was how awful they were to you.'
'Cole, don't start that!' Piper snapped. Phoebe and Angel looked at one another, then at Piper. Leo looked confused as well, but Wesley and Paige looked uneasy.
'What are you talking about?' Drusilla asked. Spike moved in and pulled her away from Cole. He dropped the pillow he was using to cover his back.
'Dru, whatever he says, he's lying. He's just trying to cause a rift between your relations and yourself. You can't listen to him.'
But Cole pulled Drusilla away from Spike and back over to him.
'Dru, they wanted to save you last, even though I think you were the first one hit. They were all so interested in saving Leo and Paige, that they didn't care that the poison was working faster on you than any of them! I had to snatch a vial of Wyatt's blood out of four eyes's hands over there, because they didn't want to go to you!'
'Who are you calling, 'four eyes'?!' Wesley huffed. Paige put an arm around him.
Angel locked eyes with Spike briefly, before moving to stand in front of Drusilla.
'That is not true. He's lying, Dru. Everyone here cares about you.'
Cole snorted!
'So Piper, you're just going to look into Dru's eyes here and tell her that you did not specifically tell four...'
'Watch it, Cole!' Paige snapped. 'I'm only going to let you call my boyfriend names so many times before I hurt you!'
'Oh I'm shaking, Paige!'
'I'm really your boyfriend?' Wesley asked, profoundly touched. Paige turned back to him and smiled. Their eyes lit up at the sight of one another. Spike rolled his own! Now was not the time for Wesley and his witch to be making goo goo eyes at one another!
Drusilla moved around Angel and walked up to Piper.
'You chose to save me last, didn't you?'
Piper looked down. Leo looked away. Phoebe stepped in, her tone gentler than it usually would be with Drusilla.
'Dru,' she interjected, 'Leo is Piper's husband. It was only natural that she'd want...'
Drusilla nodded quickly and turned away. She walked over to Cole and took his hand.
'I'm going home now. I'm not feeling a hundred percent yet. I'll see you in the morning.'
'Dru!' Spike yelled, as she and Belthazor orbed away. Spike dropped all of this pillows and faced the room naked.
'Spike, go and put some clothes on!' Angel yelled, annoyed. Phoebe looked away. Everyone else just pretended it didn't bother them. Baby Wyatt had now been put in a special playpen with a protective shield. It went up at the sight of Spike!
'Not until I bloody well tell you bints what I think of you!'
'Now is not the time for this! And I won't have you speaking to Phoebe or her sisters like that!' Angel yelled back.
'It's all about the witch over there, isn't it?! You've been neglecting Dru for that...'
'Spike, this is your last warning!' Angel said in a hiss. He pointed a finger at him. Spike took a deep breath.
'Tonight was your chance to come together as a family. None of you stood up and really explained to Dru, why she was last on the 'to save' list! And everytime you let that sodding bastard, Belthazor, define everything, he gets a further leg up! I'm beginning to wonder if you really want Dru as part of your family at all?!'
Having said that, Spike sauntered out of the office. Screams and squeals could be heard out in the hallway. Angel clenched his fists together in frustration. Phoebe moved over to him.
'Are you okay? I can feel how tense you are.'
Angel looked down at her, then around the room.
'Spike's right.' he said calmly. Phoebe backed away some. Piper tossed some hair.
'Angel, you can't believe that we purposely left Dru to hang! Cole was the one that snatched the vial and went off to save her! We would've gotten to her.'
'But we didn't. We let Belthazor get the upper hand. You know, this has been a bad day for Dru. She watched you all try to vanquish someone that she feels is in her corner.'
'He's not!' Paige yelled.
'I know that Paige. We all do, but Dru doesn't see it like that. We are going to lose her to him, if we don't start trying to make her feel included.'
Angel then looked down at Phoebe. He reached for her hands.
'It would go a long way if you could find some common ground with her. Your not forgiving her for Jason, is working in Belthazor's favor.'
Phoebe looked up at the brooding vampire. Tonight had been a wake up call. They needed one another. She nodded.
'I'll ask her to lunch or something tomorrow.' she said. Angel pulled her into his arms. Phoebe willingly stayed there. Being here, with Angel now, always lessened the pain of what happened to Jason, and gave her hope for the future...a future with Angel.
****
Cole closed Drusilla's bedroom door. There was a part of him, his human part, that felt sorry for Dru. She had looked so sad after his revelation tonight.
He walked into the kitchen to get a beer and relax. There was another crack in the Haliwell family. And he meant for it to get wider.
As he reached for the refrigerator door, Utha, the witch that practiced dark magic with Raagon, appeared before him. Cole gave her a look of annoyance.
'Are you crazy? You just don't come popping in here like that.'
'I need to know when you want me to start?' the witch asked. Cole looked behind him, to make sure Dru was still in her room. He then passed a hand over the witch. She now looked to be a professional, working woman. She had blonde hair, cut in a page boy hair do, and a black suit on. She also wore red rimmed glasses.
'I will take care of getting you the proper I.D. and qualifications. But tomorrow, you will start at Wolfram & Hart. You need to get close to Angel and offer your help with his 'curse'.'
'So your plan is to turn him back into Angelus?' Utha asked.
Cole grinned.
'Oh yes. And by turning him back into the demon he once was, I will forever keep him away from my Phoebe.'