Severed Ties
Chapter 13
Friends in Need
May 18th, 2002
11:31 p.m.
It was always quiet this time of night. The incessant chirp of insects and the periodic whine of a car in the distance were often the only sounds that were guaranteed to carry through the night. Every so often spring winds sailed through the streets as well, dancing with the leaves and bushes, skating along the grass. Although she rarely got to enjoy such peaceful nights, Buffy often found herself wishing for them nonetheless. It was a reminder that all things in this world were not bad, were not violent, ugly, and cruel. Sometimes, after a long night of slaying, she forgot that. Last year, between her mother's illness and Glory's quest for the Key, Buffy had forgotten what there was in the world to enjoy. As much as she loved Dawn, Buffy couldn't take comfort in that love, nor the love of her friends. The only times she had felt a semblance of peace were the stolen moments with Spike. As much as she denied it then she could admit it now. Even before he allowed Glory to torture him, Buffy had stopped seeing him as a killer and more of an ally. In fact, she remembered how he was there for her the night Dawn had found out that she was the Key and had fled into the night.
Her eyes frantically search the darkness for any sign that her little sister had been here. Tension fills her body with every step, with every second and she releases it the only way she knew how.
"Dawn!" She shouts into the night. "Dawn!"
"Yeah, that should do it," her blonde companion mutters.
"Shut up," she hisses, unable to formulate a half-decent retort.
She feels his eyes on her but continues to scan the darkness. "The nibblet scampered off to get away from you. She hears you bellowing, she's gonna pack it in the opposite direction." They stop and peer into the distance to no avail. "Can't say I blame her."
The truth of his words from earlier at the crypt slams into her brain and she bites back the sob clamoring to be heard. She stares at the ground as the tears slowly overwhelm her resolve. "You were right," she whispers. "This is my fault. I should have told her."
He sighs and she risks a glance towards him. Instead of a mocking smirk, she sees genuine concern. It throws her for a loop but not as much as his words do. "Look, she probably would have skipped off anyway, even if she never found out. She's not just a blob of energy; she's also a fourteen-year-old hormone bomb. Which one's screwin' her up more right now, spin the bloody wheel." He shrugs in disinterest but she knows he cares. "You'll find her, just in the nick of time. That's what you hero types do."
She stares at him, hesitant to believe his words but desperate for them to be true. He sees that and gazes at her with a confidence she has never seen before.
"You'll find her." Those three words obliterate the tears that were so close to falling. The gratitude that fills her heart at his kind words is staggering and she wants nothing more than for him to hold her. To whisper those same words in her ear as his hand strokes her back. She is tempted to go to him, to initiate the embrace but as soon as she does, another thought enters her mind, killing most of the confidence he had instilled with a few choice words.
"And then what?" She asks and cannot keep the hope from growing in her chest. The hope that he will know exactly what to say, like he always does.
"Buffy?" The sound of her name snapped the slayer from her thoughts and she glanced at the figure sitting next to her on the steps. Angel. She'd forgotten that he was here with her, awaiting her explanation of things. She sighed, glancing out into the night sky. God, she wished Spike was here, at her side, comforting her with his presence alone. Only he could tell her what she needed to hear without patronizing her. He could go from wanting to blow her brains out--literally--to patting her on the back, sitting in silence as she poured her fears out to him.
And you just pissed it away, didn't you? She thought and sighed heavily.
"Buffy?" Angel called again and turned his body towards her. "Are you all right?"
Buffy chuckled humorlessly at the question and ran her hands through her hair. "All right?" There were so many ways to answer that question. There was the truth, the not-so truth and the blatant lie. She was familiar with the latter two but the former--well she wasn't quite the expert on relaying her feelings to others unless it was in anger or frustration.
Well, whatta ya know? There's a bit of those two healthy emotions sprinkled in with my totally cocked up mind right about now, she thought blandly. Of course, she didn't think she could actually be that honest.
"I haven't been all right for a long time, Angel. My job title ensures me that I'm never all right. I don't even know if I have it in me to know when things are all right." She covered her face with her hands. Hands that had loved and spilt blood. Hands that had hit loved ones in anger yet also hands that had cared and caressed for those same loved ones. These hands had done so much, felt so much pain and too little joy, when would it end? When would things get to the point where she could answer with a welcome finality that she was truly all right?
"Buffy," Angel said after several minutes had passed, "What's going on? With you and Spike." She turned to her former lover and saw that, despite the neutral tone of his words, there was a decidedly angry tint to his brown eyes. A part of Buffy froze at that look, terrified at the thought of Angel being so mad, so disappointed in her. The larger part of her, however, was angered that something inside of her would always seek his approval.
I can't live my life like this she thought morosely and studied the chipped paint of her fingernails. I have to move away from this for myself and for…Spike.
Buffy turned sideways on the steps and pulled her legs to her chest with her arms. She rested her chin atop her knees and stared at Angel.
"When Willow brought me back, everything was so hard. It was like I was in a daze, or in some sort of state of drunkenness I was so numb. It was like I was here but I wasn't, you know? Like I was watching myself go through the motions." Angel nodded and his eyes softened in remembrance. She assumed that he was thinking about their brief encounter after her resurrection. After the initial hug, the time had been spent breaking uncomfortable silences with awkward pauses and a hesitant brush of fingers together here and there. For Buffy it had been the final bit of proof that a part of her was missing. If she couldn't muster more than token affection for the once love of her life, then how could she function with anyone else? Afterwards, she had spent many nights pondering just that and it wasn't until that fateful night at the Bronze that she found out the answer to her question.
Spike.
"What about him?" The vampire asked and Buffy realized she had said the name aloud. She glared at Angel, angered by the contempt with which he had addressed Spike but she forced it down. There wasn't time for defensive Buffy. The only thing that managed to do was muck up her relationships--Like it did not twenty minutes ago, huh, Slayer? --And that was something she did not want to do.
She felt a frown forming on her face retreat as it reformed into a wistful smile. Yes, she knew exactly what she wanted all right but the vampire sitting in front of her didn't. It may not have been his business but the slayer still felt that he should know how important Spike was to her. And why.
"Well," she said and started rocking back and forth, "for starters, he saved me."
*&*
May 18th, 2002
11:39 p.m.
The agonizing screams sounded twice more before Spike bounded over the gates of Shady Groves. He stumbled before righting himself and streaking through the empty graveyard. It didn't take him long to find the source of the cries but he skidded to a halt when he saw the thing that held the man down.
The demon was like nothing he had ever seen before. It looked like one big muscle. One big, overgrown, pierced and overly pulsating muscle. Spike shook his head in disbelief as he focused on the victim sprawled on the ground. The demon held a single finger to the man's back and he struggled to loosen the demon's hold to no avail.
Spike was torn from his daze as another scream branded the air, jolting the vampire into action. He covered the distance in seconds, planted his foot on a tombstone, and vaulted into the air, morphing into game face halfway through the leap.
The gap between them closed instantly and Spike rammed the stake into the demon's shoulder while wrapping his free hand around its neck, ripping the beast off the spasming body. The vampire winced when metal spikes cut into his arm but he ignored it and twisted the demon's arm behind its back. Using all his supernatural strength, Spike rotated his hips, mindful of the body underneath him and the demon, and spun.
This bloody thing weighs a ton, Spike thought as he pulled the demon off its feet and hurled it through the air. He heard the satisfying crunch as it slammed through a large headstone and rolled several feet before coming to a stop. It lay still, arms sprawled out and flat on its face. Spike watched it for several minutes and when he was confident that it was out, turned his attention to the still victim.
Spike gingerly turned the man over and checked over the injured man's various wounds. A severe gash marred the dark flesh of his baldhead and his face was alit with several minor abrasions. Spike lifted the tattered black shirt and winced at the angry blotches that littered his ribcage. There was no doubt that several ribs were broken though, thankfully, no other bones seemed to be.
"You'll live," Spike whispered and whirled around when he heard a pained whimper from behind a tombstone. The vampire glanced at the demon and, satisfied that it was still out, stood and ventured towards the moan. He found the second man laying on his side. Spike noticed the labored movement and realized that the man was crawling towards a wicked blade several feet away.
"You all right, mate," Spike asked. The man momentarily stiffened before his body relaxed and he lowered his head to the ground. The vampire frowned before kneeling down towards the man. He held his hands away from his body in the case the man attacked. Spike tapped him on the shoulder and repeated his question.
"Well," the man replied after a labored sigh, "I was all right until…" he turned over and Spike's eyes widened in surprise, "you showed up."
"Harris?" Spike asked in disbelief.
The brunette chuckled and was quickly reminded of his injuries. Spike put a hand on Xander's shoulder to steady the latter's body as he coughed painfully. After several coughs, Xander inhaled deeply.
"In the bruised, bloodied, and battered flesh, Captain Peroxide." Although surprise still coated his mind, Spike smirked at Xander's familiar banter. If he could joke, then he was well enough. Of course, the vampire thought, what the bloody 'ell is well enough for the whelp?
Shaking his head, the blonde pinned the brunette with a serious stare. "So," he said, "mind tellin' me what the soddin' 'ell is goin' on here?"
"Not much. Just did a bit of walking around and…" A sharp pain interrupted Xander and his body was again wracked with spasms. Spike watched the man's eyes for some sign as to how bad the other's injuries were when, for the second time in as many minutes, shock slammed into his gut.
"Xander," he said carefully after a full minute of thought, "I may not 'ave been the most attentive bloke when it came to you but I don't remember your eyes doin' that red glowy thing. Mind sharin' where you picked that up from?"
Xander eyed him mirthfully but when his eyes focused just over Spike's shoulder, the humor died instantly. "I, er, think there are more pressing matters at hand than how beautiful you think my eyes are."
Spike frowned at the man's reply until he saw that Xander was looking past him. "Bloody 'ell," he swore and jumped to his feet just in time to catch and boot to the ribs. The force of the blow pushed the vampire backwards and he tripped over a broken headstone. Ignoring the pain from the demon's kick, the vampire kipped up into a fighting stance in time to see the demon's large fist hurdling towards his face.
Bloody 'ell, the vampire thought. This is gonna…
*&*
May 18th, 2002
11:40 p.m.
Hurt.
She had always known her life had been filled with pain; her father abandoning her, her mother never there for her. She had taken to the streets early, leaving home for days at a time. It wasn't the brightest thing for a thirteen year-old to do and she found that out the hard way. The beatings she had received were something she'd grown accustomed to with her mother's boyfriends. But the other things, the other…violations were much worse than a fist to the face. Physical injuries were easily healed but the other ones, the psychological ones, had yet to close.
And as she recounted her dreams to Giles, a part of her broke reliving the things that had happened to her, things that felt so real that they had to be true. After she had finished her story, she noticed the pained look on his face before his fingers brushed away the tears she hadn't even known were there. The sympathetic touch had been too much and she had excused herself with some incoherent apology.
That was how she got here now; sitting on the back steps, unlit cigarette in one hand, hand full of hair in the other. The endless chatter of crickets was the only thing to interfere with the ambiance of the Sunnydale night. Despite the ache inside of her, Faith was happy here. Spending two years in a five-by-nine cell made one appreciate things more. So maybe she wasn't the most liked person here, maybe B hated her guts and Giles only pitied her, it was still better than her life of the past twenty years. She may not have been wanted but she was finally needed. Needed to fight the good fight, to stop whatever it was that was coming and, if necessary, give her life for the safety of those that would never know of her sacrifices.
Doesn't that sound all heroic? She smiled wryly at the thought and flicked the imaginary ash from the tip of the cigarette. She leaned back against the steps, elbows propping her up, and stared up into the night sky. It was a beautiful view, something she'd never gotten a chance to appreciate in prison. Hell, there were a lot of things she didn't get to appreciate locked up but, in ways, it was much better than her life.
Well, expect for the brief months she had spent in Sunnydale.
And that's what hurt Faith the most. She knew she could have made a life here had she only accepted Buffy's friendship instead of letting the pain from her past and jealousy drive her into the darkness. She could have been here, helped against all the demons that had made themselves known over the past few years, made a difference when it counted. But she had made her choices and now the only thing she could do was make amends for them. Of course, there were people that she could never make things right with.
A single tear escaped its prison as she thought about Joyce. The woman had, for a brief time, been like a second mother to her. She had taken Faith in when even Buffy had been uneasy around the brunette slayer. In fact, Faith thought that Joyce's kindness that made Buffy see the soft side of Faith hidden behind the bad ass exterior. No, she'd never get to as for the woman's forgiveness and Faith knew she would have to live with that for the rest of her life.
"Dollar for your thoughts."
The curious voice broke the slayer's descent into melancholy and she whirled around, catching the slight glow of emerald-cerulean eyes in the light of the moon. Her body relaxed at the sight of the other Faith, B's daughter. B has a daughter, the slayer thought and shook her head incredulously. The other slayer must have taken that as a sign and she quietly sat next to the brunette.
Faith welcomed the young woman's silent company as it prevented her from falling too far into the trap of guilt and self-loathing. She had thought often about the fact that aside from Angel, only Joyce had seen through her tough girl routine. She had thanked the vampire that had become her friend but would never get the chance to do the same with Joyce.
Another tear cascaded down her cheek at the thought of the strong woman that had raised a slayer. Tonight had been the first time she'd shed tears since that night behind the alley when Angel held her, ignoring her pleas for death. Even when the soulled vampire told her about Joyce the night Faith had arrived at the Hyperion, she had put it out of her mind. But now, surrounded by constant reminders of the woman, the memories got the better of her.
"You know," Faith Summers said, never taking her eye off the sky, "I've seen a lot of things in my life. A lot of bad, but even more good. I've been surrounded by love for most of my life but evil and hate have touched me as well. Saturated my mind, violated my body in ways--in ways that still haunt me." She craned her neck to look at the brunette. "It's not something I can be rid of or--or sweep up under the rug and forget about. It doesn't work that way. I know I will always have to deal with it up until the day I die. That's something I can't help. But what I can help is how I let it control me, or not control me, as the case may be. Sure there are moments when I'm back in his arms, watching helplessly as he cuts me or…" She sighed and gazed back up at the clear night.
"But I don't allow that to dictate how I live my life anymore. I can't afford that. Too many people are depending on me."
"That's where you've got me," the brunette whispered. "I doubt if anyone's really counting on me to do anything but screw up. Wouldn't be the first time."
"Who doesn't screw up, Faith?"
"Well, B for starters." As much as she wanted to sound sincere, she couldn't hide the bitterness that crept into her tone.
"Uh, yeah," the blonde replied, "that's why my Dad's no where to be found." When Faith glanced at her, the vampire's daughter chuckled humorlessly. "They had an argument about Angel. Mum sorta compared him to Spike and the "shit" she had to deal with by being with my Dad."
"Oh, come on, honey. That's just B stickin' her foot in her mouth. 'S not like she meant it."
"The point is that she said it, thus she screwed up royally." Faith met the dark brown eyes of the other slayer. "And she knew it right away."
"Well, there you have it. B screwed up, knows she did it and will do everything she can do to set things right."
"You can do the same." The sincerity in the young woman's tone startled Faith and she gaped at the daughter of the only woman who had tried to be her friend. The hope that filled her chest quickly died down however; doused by a cauldron of reality.
"No I can't," she said, shaking her head. "Spike loves B and, from what I saw, B loves him, too. I don't have that kind of support, sweetie pie. Never did," she added inaudibly.
"Yes you do," Faith said and took the brunette's hand, squeezing it firmly before she let it go. "You have Angel."
"Yeah, but…"
"And you have me."
The former rogue slayer stared at the young woman in disbelief. How could someone, whom she had never met, have so much respect for her? Give her so much support. Just as she was about to voice her questions, the other woman spoke.
"You know, I never met the people that I was named for."
"Huh?"
"They--they died before I was born. Joyce is my middle name, ya know, after my Grand Mum."
"You don't say?" Faith asked and smiled warmly. "Well, guess we can eliminate the confusion that's bound to happen with the two of us here, huh?" On Faith's look, the brunette laughed. "One too many Faiths runnin' around."
Faith Joyce smiled but pinned the other slayer with serious eyes. "You can never have too much faith," the young woman said and the double meaning sliced the brunette to the core. It took her a moment to regain her composure before she was able to reply.
"Still," she said, her voice shaky, "may be a mite confusing during battle if they tell you to zig and I hear it and need to zag…sure as hell wouldn't look to good, know what I mean?"
"So, what do you have in mind?"
"Well, Baby J sounds kinda nice." The blonde rolled her eyes affectionately and Faith laughed at the former's resemblance to Buffy.
"So," Faith said after a few moments of silence. "Who was the skank that stole my name? No doubt she wasn't near as sexy as me or…" On Baby J's curious look Faith rolled her eyes. "Come on, girlie. You know someone important had to come along for Buffy and Spike to name you after her. And it sure as hell wasn't me."
"You're right," the woman replied. "It was someone important. Actually, she was Mum's best friend for ten years. In some ways they got closer than even her and Willow had."
"Wow," Faith said, not bothering to hide her envy, "Girl was lucky. B's a damn good friend to have."
"Yeah," Baby J said, "you told her that a lot." Faith whirled again towards the girl and mouthed a response that refused to pass through her mouth. She couldn't mean…what she said, could she?
"Yes," Baby J assured, "it was you."
"But how? Why?" Faith was thunderstruck. Never would she have guessed that her and B would be anything more than enemies. Even if Faith hoped they could repair the bridges that had been torn down, she was a realist. Doing the things she did to B were things someone didn't just idly forget let alone forgive. It was impossible to even think that Buffy would name a daughter out of her most hated enemy.
"Faith, you've changed. I know that, you know that, hell even Mum knows that. In my time, you and Mum reconnected after you were released. You fought together for almost a decade. As much as she loved Daddy, Willow, Xander and the others, you were the only one that she could relate to about the calling. You two became sisters and not just in slaying. She depended on you, trusted you."
"Trusted me?"
"Yes, trusted you. But more than that--she loved you." The other woman's confession broke all reserves that Faith had and tears poured from her eyes. She didn't bother trying to speak since her throat constricted with emotion. Instead, she listened to Baby J speak.
"And you loved her, Faith. You loved her enough to sacrifice yourself for this world although you knew you would be trapped in a hell dimension forever. You didn't hesitate in giving yourself up to M'shi-Dar to save the world."
"I…I saved the world?" Faith asked herself, still unable to comprehend the fact that Buffy had come to love her like a sister.
"Yeah, you did. And before you were taken you know what you told her? You said 'Never be afraid to live your life, B. Embrace the time you get to be with those you love and don't hesitate to remind them how much you love them every chance you get.' Right before you disappeared you told Mum that you loved her and that you would always be there with her in spirit. When she realized she was pregnant a year or two later, she didn't hesitate to tell Daddy what she wanted to name me. And he agreed. So she did that. Named me after two of the most important people in her life."
Faith buried her face in her hands and gave up fighting the sobs that now shook her body. She felt Baby J's arms surround her as the young woman pulled her close. It took her a few minutes before her body relaxed in the other woman's embrace and, when she did, Faith heard the comforting words that would have made her cry even more were it not for the emotional drain.
"Mum named you my godmother, you know? She loved you that much. And I love you that much. Never forget that. Never forget that seeing you alive in there, meeting you for the first time—it's one of the greatest gifts I could have ever gotten."
As the sobs lessened, Faith smiled into the chest of this young woman that looked and felt so much like Buffy. Buffy. Faith had loved the slayer and envied her at the same time. She had done so many terrible things to Buffy and to find out that she was forgiven and loved by that very same woman was astounding. In truth, she wasn't sure if she would ever truly believe that she deserved it but the fact that Baby J told her was more than she could ask for. She wouldn't realize until later that those were the words she needed to hear to push away her self-hatred. To be trusted, to be loved was something Faith had always wanted but had never received.
And tonight, here on the porch with her apparent goddaughter, Faith knew that nothing would ever make her feel as wonderful as she did now.
*&*
May 19th, 2002
12:33 a.m.
Buffy leaned her head against the rail and closed her eyes. Sometime during the conversation, she had switched to sitting indian-style and now her hands rested comfortably in her lap. The weight that had been threatening to crush her for the past hour had been mercifully eased. She had told Angel everything--well, almost everything. She had explained to the soulled vampire what Spike had come to mean to her in the past few months after she had been ripped from heaven, how he had been her anchor to a world she was drifting away from. Although she skirted over the more intimate moments (something which see saw still pained Angel to know) she was not so brief over several of their more physical encounters.
She still remembered the shock on his face when she had told him how she had beaten Spike to a pulp. It had been a surprise to Angel that his Childe had not fought back. Even during the days of Angelus, Spike had never been one to take a beating without at least trying to give some of it back. But he had. He had sacrificed his body to alleviate Buffy of her pain and frustration. The reluctant admiration that gleamed in Angel's eyes was not lost on the slayer but she said nothing of it.
She told him how she had ended it when Riley had come--only to have Angel snort at the mention of her ex and she was pleased that the simple gesture had been able to draw a smile from her.
Skimming over Faith's arrival, she had told him about those painful seconds when she had thought Spike was dusted. Tears trickled down her cheeks at the memory of how close she had come to losing Spike. After seeing that he wasn't dust, Buffy had known that the decision to be with Spike had already been made but only then had she realized it. She told him of the conversation with Giles and the fight with Seth that had nearly cost Buffy her life. And she told him that she remembered hearing Spike's voice every night by her side while she lay in a coma.
That had been ten minutes ago and Angel had yet to reply. Any trace of emotion was hidden from view as he adorned his stoic visage. She knew he had been hurt by what she had told him but Buffy finally understood that she couldn't refrain from hurting everyone, even the ones she loved, like Spike.
Spike. Her gut twisted at the last time she'd seen him. It had been well over an hour ago and he had yet to return. She wasn't afraid, Spike could take care of himself but--but what if he was distracted? What if her words had caused him to get sloppy? What if he died tonight? It would because of her and if that happened…killing Angel had ripped Buffy apart but she had gradually healed. If something happened to Spike tonight because of her, Buffy had no doubts that it would destroy her.
"You love him." The cool words startled the slayer out of her punishing thoughts and she stared at the vampire beside her. His demeanor had not changed in the slightest and for a moment she thought she had imagined the words. Just as she was about to ask Angel if he had spoken, the vampire pinned her with his eyes.
"You love him," he repeated and Buffy noticed the coolness had melted from his eyes. Left in its place was a mixture of pain, disbelief, sadness and acceptance.
"Yes, I do," the slayer confessed when she found her voice. Angel chuckled humorlessly.
"Leave it to Spike to do that."
"Do what?" Buffy asked defensively.
"Spike is a soulless demon, Buffy. He has done things that you couldn't imagine--although he was never as bad as Darla, Dru or myself. He's killed two slayers and wanted you dead for years and yet…and yet you fall in love with him."
"Like you said," Buffy replied, oblivious of her rising anger, "he wasn't as bad as you and I was with you."
"I had a soul."
"So what."
Angel held his hands up when he saw the anger flaring in her eyes. "Easy, Buffy. I didn't mean it like that."
"You didn't?" She asked sarcastically. "You didn't mean to demean my love for Spike on the grounds that he has no soul? You didn't want to remind me of that fact?"
"That was my point, Buffy." He sighed. "Maybe I went about it the wrong way. Buffy, do you realize what you have in Spike? I mean do you truly understand what having his love means?"
Buffy opened her mouth to reply but as she thought about it, she wasn't completely sure if she actually did.
"What it means, Buffy, is that you have someone that will go to any lengths to keep you and yours safe. There is no one that he would not hurt or kill to save you, Dawn and the others. He doesn't have a soul, Buffy…"
"But the chip…"
"The chip will not stop him from tearing someone apart if they ever threaten you. Listen, as much as I dislike the idea of you and Spike together, as much as the thought of you and him having a…" Angel paused and Buffy noted the guilt that danced in his eyes. He shook it off and continued. "If Spike is one thing, it's loyal. He doesn't give it out much but when he does, he won't break it. Even with the things Dru did to him, he always wanted her back. I guess she left for good when he got the chip."
"No," Buffy said, "it was because of me. Dru came back to town a little over a year ago and Spike offered to kill her for me, if I would accept that he loves me."
"I'm guessing you didn't make it that easy, huh?" Angel asked, a tiny grin curling around the edges of his lips.
"You'd guess right. I didn't…I didn't think that a soulless being could love."
"Not many of them can. Not really. But Spike and Dru, Spike especially, were always different. They could love but, at the same time, their love was different than human love." He sat in thoughtful repose for several seconds before turning to Buffy. "The point is, Buffy, Spike will always be there for you. No matter how bad it gets between you two, he will never leave you. I saw that much in his eyes tonight."
Angel sighed deeply and Buffy knew that whatever he wanted to say was difficult to put to words. "Spike and I--we've had our differences."
"That's the biggest understatement in the history of the world."
"Yeah, well, what can I say?" They both chuckled, welcome for the slight release of tension. All too soon, Angel fixed Buffy with a serious gaze. "Buffy, I just want you to be happy, to make sure you know what you're getting into."
"I may not know how much love Spike can give," Buffy admitted, "but I know that I'm getting a rude, obnoxiously loud, soulless vampire who is also caring, affectionate, loving and will do anything for me and Dawn. And yes, Angel, I am happy. At least, when he gets back." The last part was whispered but Angel caught it.
"As long as he treats you right, as long as he gives you everything you need, I just want you to do one thing for me."
"What's that?"
"Be good to him, Buffy." Buffy's eyes widened at the sincerity behind Angel's words and she opened her mouth to speak but failed to find anything to say. Giving up that thought, she nodded dumbly and Angel chuckled at her response.
"Well," Buffy said after several minutes, "that wasn't exactly what I expected from you."
"If it's any consolation, I originally planned to call you crazy and threaten to stake him six ways to Sunday if you continued seeing each other. Of course, I knew you'd have told me where I can shove it and threatened me with a staking if I so much as looked at him wrong."
"You know me too well," Buffy giggled and Angel joined in with her. All too soon the laughter stopped and Angel's face became serious again.
"There is something else I want to talk with you about."
Buffy frowned at the rapid one-eighty of the vampire and she sat up straighter. "What is it?"
"I don't know how to tell you this and I'm…I'm pretty sure you're going to be pissed but…"
"Angel, spit it out," Buffy said and winced at the harshness of her tone. She couldn't help it. Angel's tiptoeing was making her nervous and a nervous Buffy equaled over-reactive Buffy.
"It's about--" he sighed. "It's about my s…" But the words caught in his throat and he shot to his feet and instinctively morphed into game face.
Buffy was not far behind and stood up, never taking her eyes off Angel as he looked to be sniffing the air.
"Angel, what is it?" She shook off any jitters at Angel's behavior and expanded her slayer senses. At first there was nothing but the gentle caress of wind against her skin but then there was the faintest prickle in her mind's eye. A familiar presence that…
"Blood," Angel growled. "Spike's blood." Angel leapt off the porch onto the lawn and Buffy did likewise. She was right on his heels as he sprinted down the street, taking his queue as to where they were headed. But it wasn't necessary when a lump of something stumbled around the corner. The moonlight shone off a familiar blonde head and Buffy sped up, pulling even with Angel.
"Spike!" Buffy screamed and pulled up just in front of him. She studied his face and winced at the lacerations and bruises that marred his alabaster skin. His duster was ripped in several places but that was secondary to the bundle hoisted over one shoulder and the young black man propped against his other side.
Spike glanced up at Buffy and she saw relief in the eye that wasn't swollen shut. He smiled and the pain in that one gesture was evident. He looked like he would collapse within seconds but the slayer's muscles refused to move.
He looked from Buffy to Angel and back again and Buffy saw the brief flicker of hurt cross his blue eye.
" 'Lo, luv," he said with a smirk plastered across his swollen lips. "Lookie who I found." And with that, he fell to the ground.
"Spike," Buffy yelled as she dropped to her knees. The slayer pulled the body that fell across Spike's back to the side while Angel helped the semi-conscious man that had been leaning at Spike's side.
"Don't do this to me, you stupid vampire," she growled and flipped Spike onto his back. "Don't you dare do this to me," she repeated and pulled his head into her lap. Her fingers traced his battered face and tears blurred her vision as she whispered his name repeatedly.
"Buffy." The slayer's heart hitched in her chest when she heard her name, thinking for an instant that it was Spike. But she had watched him the whole time and he lips had yet to move. Still, the voice was eerily familiar.
"Buffy," the voice called again and the slayer turned to where she had pushed the limp body off of Spike. Her breath caught in her chest when she saw the figure that stared back at her.
His face was not as she remembered it. It was harder, more chiseled and his jaw was lined with a beard. His eyes looked bloodshot and hard but when they adjusted to her the warmth that she had welcomed all these years pulled her in and Buffy reached her hand out towards the man as if he were an illusion.
He must have realized her internal struggle and reached his hand to hers, meeting it halfway. Warmth spread through Buffy at the touch, she squeezed his fingers, and only when she was convinced he wouldn't disappear did she say his name.
"Xander?"
TBC…