Disclaimer: I own nothing but this shiny pair of ballet slippers that I am waving around like a lunatic.
Karma: Hi! I'm back! Finally I know! Oh, this part follows a lot of the Harvest. If you know the basics of the Harvest you'll be fine.
Jesse was frantic. He really wasn't sure what happened the night before, but he many vague memories and none of them were very flattering. A brunette. A peroxide blonde. They had dated. She bit me. He was angry. She offered him a bite. They fought. Vampires. Red hair- Willow. Stake. Slayer. The blonde again. Spike. Good. Drusilla. Bad. Jesse's head hurt from thinking too much. All he knew was that he had to get out of this hospital and soon. He wasn't sure why Drusilla had chosen him, but he had a feeling that she would be back and soon. He ripped the IV out of his arm and literally jumped out of the bed. He began to frantically look around for his clothes.
"Looking for this, mate?"
The boy spun around to see Spike leaning in the door jam, a plastic hospital bag with Jesse's clothes in it, dangling from his finger. "You." Jesse managed to say.
"Me." Spike confirmed as he walked further into the room, closing the door behind him.
"What are you doing here?" Jesse asked as he unsuccessfully tried to take the bag of clothing away from Spike.
The vampire shrugged. "Came to break you out. As far as the nurses know, you're my nephew. Your parents are out of town and left me with a nice little note that leaves me responsible for all of your medical decisions."
Jesse simply stared at Spike, unable to believe that this man he was so convinced was a vampire would do this for him. "Why? What do you get out of this?"
"Nothing." Spike said unconvincingly.
The brunette raised an eyebrow.
"Okay, it helps get rid of all the guilt Dru caused, all right?" Spike said exasperated as he threw the bag of clothing at Jesse.
"So, you are a vampire! I knew it!" Jesse explained as he caught the bag.
"Well, yeah." Spike said shrugging. "But you can't tell Red, the whelp or her watcher. They'd stake me right on the spot." He hastily added.
"I have no idea what you just said."
Spike chuckled. "Don't worry, mate. I'll explain it all later, but first ya better change. The nurses may not mind looking at your arse, but I don't feel like having to bail ya outta jail, too."
Jesse shook his head and backed into the bathroom, locking it behind him.
Spike sighed as he waited when suddenly random flashes of Prague cut through his senses. Fire. Crowd. Buffy fighting. Angelus huddled in a corner covered in his own blood moaning. "Captain, come back to us. Daddy, I need you. Why won't you come back?" Buffy cradling the broken Angelus in her arms, whispering words of comfort into his ear. "Shh. Baby. I got you. Don't worry." Angelus throwing himself out of Buffy's arms. "Don't want you! Want my Captain. Where is my dear Captain? Want Captain! Want Daddy!"
Jesse came out of the bathroom to see Spike huddled on the floor mumbling to himself. "No. Not my childer. Not them. Not a real sire." He mumbled rocking back and forth. Jesse carefully laid a hand on Spike's shoulder, knocking the vampire out of his reverie.
Prague slipped away from Spike and he looked up at Jesse with amber eyes, growling softly. When he realized that it was only Jesse, he quickly slipped out of game face. "Sorry bout that, mate." He apologized hastily as he stood up, and led Jesse out of the room.
"That was so cool, dude! Can all vampires do that?" Jesse asked excitedly.
"Think enough people heard ya?" Spike softly growled.
"This is so cool! Are we going to leave through the sewers?"
Spike rolled his eyes. "Actually I was thinking of walking out the front doors. I heard that the human torch thing is in this year." He said as he led Jesse to the sewer entrance only the janitors knew about.
"Geez. Okay." Jesse said as he followed Spike into the sewers. "Dude, what did Drusilla mean when she said she was your sire? What's a sire?"
Willow nervously paced the length of the library. "So who ever is wearing that symbol is the vessel?"
"And that's who we kill, right?" Xander said getting a little too into the whole 'slayer thing'.
Willow stopped pacing and looked at Xander. "There is no we when it comes to the killing. You and Giles will get every one out and I'll kill it."
"What about us, pet?" Spike asked as he and Jesse walked into the library.
"Spike." Willow breathed.
Jesse coughed pointedly.
"Hi, Jesse." Willow said smiling as she pulled her childhood friend into a hug. "How are you I was so worried about you, wait... How'd you get out of the hospital?" She pulled away and looked at both Jesse and Spike in turn.
"Didn't you know Spike was my uncle?" Jesse said smiling.
Willow rolled her eyes. "You up for playing bait, then?"
"Um, excuse me?" Jesse asked nervously.
"Willow, I really do not think we need bait." Giles began as he polished his glasses and put them back on.
"Unless that vamp chick is going to be there." Xander grumbled still feeling somewhat jealous that Drusilla had picked Jesse. Sure Xander knew that she only picked Jesse to kill him, but that didn't stop him from feeling somewhat jealous.
"Her name's Drusilla." Spike softly corrected.
"How did you know that?" Giles asked curiously and suspiciously.
"We've met before." Spike said before quickly looking away.
"That's putting it lightly." Jesse mumbled earning himself a glare from Spike.
"What was that, um..."
"Oh, Giles, this is Jesse. Jess, this is Giles, my watcher." Willow said.
"Willow, was that really necessary." Giles began.
"Oh, I already knew. Spike told me." Jesse said, but instantly wanted to slap himself when he heard Spike's soft growl.
Giles eyed Spike suspiciously. He knew he had seen Spike before, but he wasn't sure where. "And Spike, how did you-"
"Giles, behave." Willow scolded, as she looked between Spike and Giles. "So, you ready for the Harvest?"
Jesse gulped. "I still don't see why I have to be bait."
"Dru's gonna be there. Master's pet and all that." Spike said a little too loudly.
Giles' eyes widened as he realized exactly where he had seen Spike before.
"But where is there?" Willow asked. We know there's gonna be a Harvest, but we don't know where it's going to be."
A smile spread across Xander's face. "Okay, Wills, I know I haven't been doing this slaying thing as long as you have, but I think I know where the Harvest is gonna be."
Willow nodded, immediately trusting her best friend's judgment. "You coming Giles?"
He shook his head. "No, you children go on ahead, I still have more research to do on the Order of Aurelis." Briefly, Giles saw fear flash through Spike's eyes, but as soon as it appeared, it was gone again. The watcher sighed as the teenagers left with Spike. He knew he had seen Spike in one of his books, but he also knew that it wasn't under Spike that he had found the information the first time. As much as he knew he needed the information, he also knew how much it would hurt Willow if she found out what he was up to. Giles sighed again. "I couldn't get an easy charge. Bloody Council."
Drusilla smiled as she led the vampires down the street. Although she was smiling on the outside, on the inside she was screaming so loudly it hurt her ears. Luke was the vessel. Luke doesn't deserve to be the vessel! How many slayers has he killed? None! How many master vampires has he sired? Zero! How many wars has he started? None! I deserve to be the vessel and the Master knows it, he's just punishing me for William's disobedience. Well, you get what you ask for, Spikey.
Willow, Spike, Xander, and Jesse quickly ran to the front door of the Bronze. They looked around the area only to see it deserted. Willow began jiggling on the handle while Spike sniffed the air and realized with a dread that they were too late.
"We're late." Willow stated for him.
"Can you break the door?" Jesse asked.
Willow shook her head. "Not this thing. Spike, take the guys and try to get in through the back door. Willow looked up towards the roof. "I'll find my own way to get in."
Spike nodded and grabbed a made sure he still had his duffle bag of weapons. "Alright then, Red."
As the three guys began to walk away Willow yelled after them, "Remember, only get the people out. Don't try any stupid hero things."
The guys nodded and continued on their way.
Willow deftly climbed into the Bronze from the small window on the roof. She quietly landed up in the loft, and quickly hurried to the ledge to look down at the scene below. The music was off. There was screaming. And the ugliest vampire Willow had ever seen was center stage draining a burly bouncer.
"Okay, there's Mr. Vessel Guy. Now it's time to introduce him to Mr. Pointy." She pulled out her stake and jumped off of the balcony and onto the floor.
Spike quickly ushered Jesse and Xander into the club before handing Xander the duffle bag. "Remember what Red said, no playing hero. Get the people out before they become Happy Meals on legs."
Xander gave Spike a weird look for the Happy Meals on legs comment before nodding and trying to usher people out of the Bronze while avoiding the numerous vampires that appeared to Xander to have just appeared from no where.
"Go on, Jesse." Spike said when he realized that the teen wasn't moving.
"What are you gonna do, Spike? Help them kill us?" Jesse asked with a raised eye brow.
"Actually, I was gonna go distract Dru for you, but if you'd rather be the bait..."
"No, you can so be the bait, dude. Just be careful." Jesse said before moving to knock the vampire off of Xander's arm.
Spike sighed and began to look around the now panicked club. Suddenly a cold hand latched over his mouth. "Looking for me, lover?" A voice whispered into his ear. He pushed the body away from him and turned around to face Drusilla.
"Drusilla." Spike greeted with a fake loving smile.
She looked carefully at her childe. "You're happy to see me. Why?"
"You were right my dark princess, I have been the Slayer's lapdog."
Drusilla smiled at Spike, happy to see that he was finally agreeing with her. At the moment it didn't dawn on her how odd it was for Spike to be in agreement with her. She ran a nail across Spike's cheek, drawing blood. "You have been naughty, dear boy, but I can fix that." She leaned forward and licked the blood off of Spike's cheek.
"No! Ash!" She cried pushing Spike away from her. "You taste of ash. You love her, this slayer. You have just met her and already you love her." Disgusted, Drusilla grabbed Spike by the neck, her long nails digging into his flesh, drawing more blood, and stilling Spike's futile attempts to escape.
"I could kill you, Spikey, but luckily for you I have a better choice." She looked over to the stage where Luke was about to bite into Cordelia's neck. Then she looked to the dance floor where Willow fought a group of vamps. "Oh, Lukey." She called. "I have a better sacrifice then that."
Luke smiled when he saw whom Drusilla had in mind. He carelessly through Cordelia to the side of the stage.
"William the Bloody as I live and breathe." He smirked. "Family blood line. You're brilliant Dru."
This time she smiled. "I know. If he doesn't free the Master I don't know who will."
"Cordelia!" Jesse hissed at the girl who was still lying on the stage. "Come on!"
"Jesse?" Cordelia asked, still very shaken and confused.
"Yeah, it's me. Come on." He grabbed her hand and pulled Cordelia to her feet and off of the stage.
"I'll only listen to you this once." She mumbled unconvincingly as she allowed herself to be pulled out of the Bronze.
Meanwhile, Willow staked her last vamp and continued towards the stage oblivious to what was going on around her. Finally she looked up at the stage. She felt her breath catch in her throat as she saw exactly who the next sacrifice was, Spike.
"Why do they always go after the guys I like?" She mumbled to herself before staking an oncoming vamp.
"Hey Big Boy! You don't want him, come get me." She taunted as she stalked towards the stage.
"Big Boy?" Luke and Spike asked in unison.
Drusilla rolled her eyes. "Clever, Slayer," She said dryly. "But you can't tell us who we do or don't want to kill."
"Wanna bet?" Willow asked as she waved her stake around.
"Maybe I do." Drusilla said as she threw Spike to Luke and jumped off of the stage.
"You can't run away this time, Drusilla." Willow said testing out the name to make sure that she was exactly who she thought she was.
Drusilla's eyes darkened in anger and she glared back at Spike and Luke. As she looked she saw Luke lean in about to bit Spike. Smiling wickedly she turned back to face Willow. "I don't plan to, Slayer."
Suddenly, water began to shoot across the now empty club. Purely out of instinct, Spike butted his head into Luke's ducked, barely missing the water that hit Luke square in the face. Luke hissed in pain and pushed Spike away, as the water burnt his skin.
"Holy water. Very clever, Slayer." Luke mocked as he glared at Willow.
"Actually, it was my idea." Spike said as he pulled out his stake and jammed it into Luke's heart.
"That wasn't smart, Brother. They'll come for you." Luke managed to say before exploding into dust.
Meanwhile, Drusilla, who had also been hit by the holy water, fled the club knowing very well that the Harvest had been ruined by the Slayer and her childe.
Willow sighed knowing that they may have won the battle, but they were nowhere near close to winning the war. She turned and smiled at Jesse and Xander who were positioned at opposite ends of the club, holy water-filled super soakers.
"Okay, so maybe, Spike, was right about the water guns." Xander mumbled in defeat.
Willow laughed and then turned towards the stage where Spike still stood. "Spike?" Willow asked. "Are you okay?"
Spike didn't respond. He was looking down at his arm, which had been hit by holy water.
"Spike?" Willow tried again before walking over to him.
"What?" He snapped looking up.
"I was going to ask if you were okay." Willow said.
"I'm fine." Spike practically growled as he cradled his arm to see how bad the damage was.
"I'll be the judge of that." Willow said as she jumped up on the stage. "Did they hurt you?"
"Really, luv, I'm fine." Spike said as he took a step away from Willow.
"Um, Wills, let him be." Jesse spoke up suddenly realizing what was really wrong. "If he says he's fine, he's fine."
"Yeah, the only thing hurt is his ego I mean they did grab him." Xander said. "And why am I defending him?"
"Let me see your arm." Willow said before grabbing his arm. "Wait. Are those? No, because how would you get that... You're not..."
Spike looked at her. "You so sure, pet?"
Willow looked at him. "No, I mean you killed him and you didn't kill me."
"Yet." Spike said as he slipped into game face and grabbed Willow, biting into her neck.
"Wills!" Jesse and Xander yelled as they jumped onto the stage.
As Spike bit her, Willow didn't try to fight him off. For some odd reason she trusted him and knew that he was doing this more to scare her than to hurt her.
After a few seconds, Spike pulled away practically spitting out the blood. He furiously wiped at his mouth, completely oblivious of the tears that were falling. "Can't. Can't." He muttered, slipping back into his human mask.
Willow looked up at him, her hand firmly placed over the wound. "You can't kill me." She stated somewhat surprised despite herself.
"Won't." Spike said as he took another step backwards. "Not again. It burns. Try to cut it out." He muttered before running out of the club.
"I knew there was something off about him!" Xander exclaimed.
Prague
Buffy gently carried Angelus from their house to her car.
"Princess," Angelus moaned. "Everything is so dark."
"Shh, baby." She said as she placed him in the car.
"Daddy. Want Captain." He moaned.
"Yes, darling, that's where we're going." Buffy smiled wickedly as she closed his door and ran around to the driver's side and slid in.
"Daddy, your baby girl's coming home and she's bringing you a very large present."
TBC