Disclaimer: Don't own the characters. They belong to an evil genius named
Joss. Although I don't know if he's evil or not.
Distribution: Go ahead. Ask first
Spoilers: None
A/N: Hey everybody. Good on the return rate here. I just got the idea in my head and started to run with it. Hope you're happy with the update time. I'm not exactly sure it will stay this way, but it'll be a lot faster then the last time. Okay then on with the story. The switch!
Chapter 4:
The sound of an alarm clock woke Buffy from her restful sleep. Wait an alarm clock?
"What the bloody hell?" Buffy said looking around the room she was in.
It was something akin to Spike's, but girly. The structure was the same, but the furniture was totally different.
"Okay this is weird." Buffy said throwing off the warm blankets and placing her feet on the carpeted ground.
She looked down at her pajamas that were nothing like her regular attire. Of course her regular attire consisted of nothing when she slept, but this was nothing like her regular clothes. Gray tight fitting sweats and a yellow tank top.
A yellow shirt! She looked at her arms and noticed they were tan. Not the regular pale white color that they usually were, but almost Sunkist. Her blonde hair was tied in a ponytail and kind of curly, but it lacked in its usual presence.
Buffy walked over to one of the mirrors and so the pictures taped on it. Pictures of the Scoobies and her. The pictures portrayed her as friends with them. There were no pictures of Spike with the Scoobies. It was as if he wasn't even there friend and she was. Then she saw it.
Her reflection staring straight at her in the mirror. It had been a long time since she saw what she looked like and what she saw surprised her. She looked nothing like she pictured she would of course she couldn't really take this reflection for what it was worth considering she shouldn't be seeing her reflection.
She looked. . . human. Too human for her liking.
"What the hell is going on." Buffy whispered to herself.
Then she realized another startling revelation. Her accent was totally gone and in it's place was the voice of a twenty-one year old Southern Californian. Sort of like Spike's voice.
Buffy put her hand over her heart that for over a century went unbeating. Now it was beating steadily. The sound would have been music to her not so hypersensitive ears had she not been freaking out.
She burst through the door to the room and looked around frantically. Everything was exactly the same as the Summers residence. Nothing was out of place or missing. It was all the same only more girly.
"What the bloody hell is going on!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spike turned over in his bed. It was unbelievably cold. In fact everything was cold in this room. Spike slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was in Buffy's crypt.
"What the fuck. How did I get here?" Spike asked himself noticing that his voice was harsher then usual.
He looked around the bottom half of the crypt. It was different. Just slight changes like the fell of the room was more manly then usual.
The bar that usually held lots of alcoholic beverages such as vodka held harsher ones like whiskey and bourbon, drinks that Buffy tried to avoid, but used is she had to. Same bottle of Jack Daniels lay on the floor empty and totally disregarded. The bed held the same look to it, but everything else screamed that a man lived here.
"Oh shit!" Spike yelled realizing what a mistake that was when he felt the slight pierce in his head that screamed hangover.
That must be it. I got totally drunk last night and came back here. Where's Buffy.
Spike thought as he looked around the room. He still had clothes on, but once he looked down to see what they were he was puzzled even more. Black tight fitting jeans, a black undershirt and a red shirt that went over it.
How could he sleep like that? His pants felt plastered to him. It looked like some of the stuff he would wear in his misspent youth, but nowadays he tried to go for a more casual look.
"Okay when did I go all gothic." Spike said out loud.
"Most be the only clothes Buffy had that would fit me. Probably got alcohol all over mine, although I don't even remember drinking." Spike said getting up and walking over to the ladder.
He walked up the steps to the top half of the crypt and looked around. Again it looked like Buffy's crypt, but the décor was so different. The small television that sat in front of that ugly chair, both looking like they were from a Dumpster, was too small and old looking.
Everything looked like it was brought from a Dumpster, when Buffy had so elegantly five finger discounted all her things from various furniture stores. This looked manly as well.
Everything was worn and beaten and various beer bottles littered the ground. Buffy liked to keep things clean. The candles were the same and the fridge was the same, but everything else was different.
Spike felt he stomach rumble.
"She probably won't have a nice plate of bacon and eggs in that fridge." Spike said but felt himself walking towards it anyway.
Suddenly he felt a burning on his ear.
"Ow!" he said clutching his ear and walking off to the side.
He looked around to see if there was anything around that would burn his ear. Slayer strength would kick in soon. He saw the small window that had always concerned him. Buffy said it was part of the appeal.
"Yeah getting dusted with the morning paper. Very appealing." Spike muttered.
"Wait I don't get dusted so what am I afraid of." Spike said cautiously putting his hand in the direction of the window.
It took his hand five seconds to start sizzling and another four seconds for him to realize what was happening. He pulled his hand away for it was literally getting burned.
"What the hell?" Spike said puzzled.
His stomach growled again this time more furiously. He found his feet betraying him and walking, this time a safer route to the fridge. He opened it and saw various blood packets along with beer in it.
Without thinking or allowing his brain to think about how weird it was that this was animal blood instead of the human blood Buffy had from her deal with the hospital nurse he took a packet of blood, ripped it open with his teeth and drank from it.
The coppery liquid filled his mouth and he drank and drank until there was nothing left but a crumpled bag. After realizing what he had done he throw the bag on the floor like it had burned him this time not literally. He could feel his eyes go wide and suddenly could hear everything going on around him. His vision was better to.
Spike cautiously brought a hand up to his face. Bumps and ridges clear as day. Pointy teeth as well and he would bet his bottom dollar his eyes were yellow.
"Oh god! I've been turned into a vampire. Holy mother of fucking hell!" Spike screamed as he frantically searched for a blanket. He had to get home and tell the others what happened.
"Shit!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Buffy what's a matter." Dawn asked. Buffy's scream had made Willow and Dawn come out and stare at her with concern.
"What's the matter. Well let's see for starters my voice is different and more Southern Californian sounding. My hair is a ridiculous color. I'm wearing yellow. Oh yeah and I'm human." Buffy said with panic in her voice.
"Yeah you're human. You've been that way for quite some time now." Willow said worried that her friend had finally lost it.
"Listen Red let's not make this anymore confusing. Bit where's your brother and why is his room all girly looking?" Buffy asked.
"I have a brother?" Dawn said.
"Yes you have a sodding brother. Great I can't even say my usual words. They sound horrible with this voice." Buffy said.
"Willow I think she's lost it." Dawn whispered.
"What are you whispering about. It's not fair. I can't hear you anymore." Buffy whined.
"Damnit that sounded too whiney." Buffy then cursed herself.
"Buffy maybe you should lie down." Willow said.
"No, you have to get everyone here and do that stupid Scooby research. Call demon girl and Glenda, hell even the whelp and let's solve this thing."
"Buffy really you should rest." Dawn said.
"Look I know that Dawn is the only one that likes me, but you could at least try. I mean the Slayer's gotta be out there some where. Show some sadness." Buffy pleaded realizing that Spike wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Buffy you are the Slayer." Dawn said.
"What? That's really funny, Bit. Me the Slayer." Buffy said chuckling.
"You are." Willow said.
"That's virtually impossible. I'm a vampire. Remember evil vampire with a chip in my head. One that's killed two Slayers. Scourge of Europe. Elizabeth the Bloody. Sired by Angelus. Attacked you lot on that stupid parent teacher conference. Any of this ringing a bell." Buffy said realizing off of Dawn and Willow perplexed faces that it didn't ring a bell.
"Sounds like Spike's past. What with the Scourge of Europe thing. That's what they used to call him. Oh and Elizabeth the Bloody sounds like William the Bloody. What do thinks wrong with her Willow?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know." Willow said.
"I'll tell you what's wrong with me. I've been here in Sunnydale too long. Strange things always happen in this town. Bloody hell." Buffy said.
"Okay now she's starting to borrow some of Spike's more colorful language." Dawn said.
"Buffy maybe you encountered something on patrol. Something that's making you think all crazy like. We'll . . ." Willow was interrupted by a loud crash in the kitchen.
"What was that." Dawn said.
"I don't know let's go check it out." Willow said. Both girls made their way down the stairs. Buffy sighed and followed them down.
She walked into the kitchen to see a burning Spike closing all the shudders.
"Willow thank go you're okay. I woke up in a strange place wearing these strange clothes and I'm a vampire!" Spike said in a rather husky voice unknown too most.
"My voice is different and I don't know what they hells going on and I drank blood. Should have tasted totally icky, but you know why it didn't. Because I'm a vampire." Spike continued his mission to close all the shudders.
"You're a vampire." Buffy asked from behind Dawn and Willow. Spike turned to see her standing there.
"You! What did you do to me? Did you turn me so I would stay with you? Is that that what this is." Spike asked panicked although not really believing Buffy could do it no matter if the chip didn't work on him.
"No I was the one who was leaving. I was the one who called, who'd you put it, freak show, off. Not you. You were the one running out of the place like you ass was on fire." Buffy said.
"Yeah so then what happened. Some vamp turned me into this. God the Slayer as a vampire. What the hell are people going to think? Shit this is no good. Willow you have to do some sort of spell to return my soul or something." Spike said turning his stare to Willow. Willow stood there looking confused.
"Okay now I think that both of you just need to sit down and breath or well just sit in Spike's case. There's nothing wrong with this picture." Willow said.
"Yes there is." Both Buffy and Spike shouted.
"I'm a vampire." Spike said.
"Yeah and I'm human." Buffy said. "Wait your human!?" Spike said.
"Yeah I just woke up in what looked like your room only more girly and I found out I was human. Reflection and everything although I kind of wish there wasn't a reflection with what look like." Buffy said.
Spike took a good look at her.
"What's wrong with it?" Spike asked.
"Um I look like a Dawson's Creek reject. Too Southern Californian peppy. What's with this ridiculously short hair." Buffy said.
"I think it looks nice. Not something I'm used to on you." Spike said.
"Yeah well don't get used to it. As soon as I get back to being me I'm out of this town remember." Buffy said.
"Oh right. Wait maybe that's it. Maybe we are stuck in a different dimension. Maybe I'm not really a vampire. Is that possible?" Spike said looking at Willow with a pleading look on his face.
"I guess." Willow said.
"Good then you can get everyone on it." Spike said.
"Right forgot you were their all mighty leader." Buffy muttered.
"Really not making with the time to hear you complain." Spike said.
"Okay now I know there is definitely something wrong when Spike starts talking like Buffy and sans accent." Dawn said.
"I'm not talking like her. Talking like her would sound like this. Sodden bloody hell, you buggering chit." Spike said.
"You sound nothing like me." Buffy said.
"Oh that's right. I was talking about the Buffy that usually lives here. In this dimension." Dawn said.
"So in this dimension I'm the vampire." Spike asked. Willow and Dawn shook their heads.
"And everyone hates me." Spike asked quietly.
"We don't hate the other Spike." Willow said.
"Yeah me and Spike are like best friends." Dawn said.
"Wait so I'm the Slayer." Buffy spoke up.
"Yeah you are."
"And I'm the one with the crummy job with the stupid hat and all the bills to pay." Willow and Dawn hesitantly shook their heads.
"And I'm the one that came back from the dead all weepy and depressed. I'm the one that has to slay demons every night after coming home from a crummy job. I'm the human one." Willow and Dawn nodded.
"So that would make me your sister." Buffy said pointing to Dawn.
"Yeah." Dawn said.
Buffy looked thoughtful for a minute before letting a horrified look pass through the features of her face.
"I have responsibilities." Buffy stated.
"Yeah you act like it's a huge deal. This should be interesting. You've never had any responsibility as a vampire and now here's your chance. I get a break. Although now that I think about it it's hardly a break. I have to be a vampire. Do I have a chip in my head." Spike asked Willow and Dawn.
"Yeah the government planted it in there." Willow said.
"So I get protect myself from humans. I can still kick demon butt. The blood thing will be a little icky, but I can deal." Spike said.
"You'll have to unless you want to starve. Some how I think that the other Spike wouldn't like that very much." Buffy said.
"You know he has animal blood. Must not know how to get the good stuff." Spike said.
"Really. Well I guess Willies hates him here to. So what's the plan. You know calling up the rest of the little Scooby Gang and working this out." Buffy said.
"Right I'll call everyone and we can go to the Magic Box." Willow said.
"Dawn has to get to school." Spike said.
"I think this is bigger then school." Dawn said stubbornly.
"I don't care. You've been missing too many days as it is. You're going and that's finally." Spike said.
"Whoa that was weird. Spike rarely scolds me like that and even when he scolds me it's more like 'Grr I'm going to rip out your eyeballs and make a soup out of your brain.'" Dawn said.
"That's so lame. If I were him it would be I'm going to pop your little head like a zit." Buffy said.
"Right thanks for the imagery Buff." Dawn said.
"Sorry, Bit, the other you would know I'm just playing around." Buffy said.
"You've said that to my sister. I'm starting to think that maybe she's a sadist." Spike said.
"It's your genes."
"So that settles it. Dawn goes to school we go to the Magic Box." Willow said.
"Not to state the obvious that isn't that obvious yet, but how am I going to get there." Spike asked.
"Oh right you don't know the tunnel system. I wonder if everything's the same in the other Sunnydale. I mean this is huge news." Willow said.
"Don't' seem a little too gleeful, Red." Buffy said.
"Yeah Wills I know this is bounce worthy for you, but let's focus on the big picture." Spike said.
"Oh right sorry. Well I'll tell everyone to come here. I mean the only other people are Tara and Anya. Xander should be here any minute to pick Dawn up for school." Willow said. As if by magic the doorbell rang brining a happy Xander to the doorstep.
"I'll get it." Willow said walking over to the door. Dawn looked back at Buffy and Spike.
"So in the other dimension are you and me friends." Dawn asked pointing to Buffy.
"Yeah we are." Buffy said.
"So Spike died cause he's the Slayer saving my life and you watched me over the summer." Dawn said.
"That's right." Buffy said.
"So what's the big deal Wills." Xander said walking into the kitchen.
"And what's Captain Peroxide doing here." Xander said looking in Spike's direction. For a second Spike had a puzzled look on his face at Xander's anger filled voice.
"Who's he talking about?" Spike asked.
"You I'd wager. Your hair is a little, extreme to say the least." Buffy said.
"Really how bad. You know I don't have a reflection." Spike said.
"Think Billy Idol." Buffy said.
"You're kidding right. God what was he thinking. I mean sure my hair was like that for a while, but I changed the look. He probably can't see it, but really. Have some sense in style. Look at these clothes." Spike said.
"I don't see anything wrong with them. This Spike has very good taste. The hair's good to. Better then that two toned thing you've got going on." Buffy said plucking at his shirt.
"Says the queen of all that is gothic." Spike retorted.
"Okay what's going on with those two?" Xander asked puzzled.
"Well apparently the essence of our Spike and Buffy were shifted with the essence of another Spike and Buffy from another dimension." Willow said.
"There wouldn't happen to be a translation of that in English would there." Xander asked sarcastically.
"Basically there's another dimension where Buffy's sort of like the Spike from our dimension and a Spike that's sort of like the Buffy in our dimension. Total different like they switched lives in that dimension. Now that Spike and Buffy are here."
"Huh?"
"This is going to take awhile."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tara and Anya sat in chairs across from the sofa that Buffy and Spike were sitting quietly on.
"Well it is definitely a shift in essences. Although I'm sensing something else from our Buffy and Spike. I can't exactly clarify it yet, but give me time." Tara said.
"What's it like in the other dimension. Is everything exactly the exact same as here besides the obvious." Anya asked anxiously.
"It seems so. I mean we don't know everything yet. Some things could be very different and we just haven't figured it out yet." Spike said.
"It's weird hearing you talk without the accent." Anya said.
"Well it's weird to try and talk around it." Spike said.
"Yeah things are weird we've established that." Buffy said.
"It's different to hear Buffy talking all grumpy like too." Anya said.
"Well we'll just have to get used to it until we figure out how to change it back to the normal. That's going to take a lot of research though. This could be a spell or something much bigger. We have no idea what kind of magicks it's going to take to break this thing. It might just be Buffy and Spike have to figure out a way to fix this on their own." Willow said.
"So what are we waiting for. The sooner I get back to our Sunnyhell the sooner I can get away from it." Buffy said.
"Let's not involve them with our problems." Spike said.
"Right. They probably don't know. If everything's the same then that means everything's the same." Buffy said giving Spike a knowing look.
"Yes and if everything's the same then it really isn't our place to tell them this." Spike said knowing how he would feel if the secret got out.
This Buffy who was the Slayer and most likely going through the same thing didn't need the questions when they got back.
"Oh my god what if they're telling the others about. . ." Spike trailed off looking with fearful eyes at Buffy.
"If I was the other Spike I'd do it." Buffy said flippantly.
"Yeah but they aren't the same people. Oh god he's going to ruin my life isn't." Spike said.
"Probably not." Buffy said.
"But you just said. . ."
"I'd definitely think about it. Then I'd see the fear written on your face and stop myself." Buffy said.
"So you don't think he. . ."
"No he didn't." Buffy said.
"That's good." Spike said taking a sigh.
"Okay what was that all about." Anya said.
"Something to do with their dimension obviously. Let's not pry." Tara said knowing what this Spike was worried about.
"Okay well that's good so let's. . ."
"Okay let me just let it be known that I don't entirely believe this whole thing. Deadboy Jr. could have put a spell on Buffy to make her believe she was a vampire and then it backfired." Xander said from a far corner in the house. He had been eyeing Spike since he came back from dropping off Dawn.
"I would never. . . oh wait maybe he would, but not me. I swear, Xan, I'm from a different dimension. There were friends and I'm the Slayer and we met when I was fifteen after burning down my gym at Hemory and getting expelled." Spike said.
"A likely story." Xander said stubbornly.
"I swear. Ask me any question that this Spike wouldn't know about. You know about our past." Spike said. "Let's not play into the delusion." Xander said.
"I'm serious. Oh okay let's see. We stopped the Harvest when I first moved here from Sunnydale. We went to save Jesse from the vampires under the school where the graveyard was. You had to stake him and got mad at me for a little while before forgiving me. Oh I wanted to get expelled from school and said maybe that excessive studying would get me kicked out. Willow wanted to blow somethin up." Spike said.
Xander looked like he wanted to believe that it was all true. That in some other dimension he and Spike got along. That Spike had taken the place of Buffy and Buffy had taken the place of Spike, but it was all too weird.
"I didn't have a crush on you did I." Xander asked hesitantly.
"No that was Willow." Spike said.
"Oh good. So I'm not gay in that dimension."
"Nope you and Anya are getting married on. . . wow it's already two weeks from now." Spike said.
"Okay this isn't the other Spike. No matter how many times I've told him when the wedding was he would forget." Xander said.
"It's really only two weeks away. Wow that's soon." Buffy said.
"So what are we going to do? I mean this is big. Another dimension with Buffy and Spike only in reverse." Willow said.
"Well some might say that your dimension is reverse." Buffy said. "Right which ever way you want to put it it's huge." Willow said.
"So are you gay in that dimension?" Anya asked blatantly looking in Spike's direction.
"What!? Where would you get any idea like that?" Spike asked.
"Well there had to be a reverse or something. I mean here Buffy and Angel were together and then there was Buffy and Riley." Anya said.
"Oh, you mean Angel wasn't Mister Psycho vamp?" Spike said.
"Watch your tongue." Buffy muttered.
Spike heard her, much to his wonderment.
"I thought you were over him. 'Oh Spike I'll stake him for you. It's all for you.'" Spike said imitating Buffy's voice and accent perfectly although the accent was already there.
"How did you. . . oh right you're a vampire. I keep forgetting that." Buffy said.
"So Angel was psycho in your reality?" Xander said.
"Cool, I never liked him."
Willow rolled her eyes at Xander.
"So who was the vampire with the soul in your dimension." Tara asked.
"Oh you mean Dru. She has a soul in our dimension." Spike said. He surprised himself by being able to say her name and not choke on it.
"Yeah Drusilla. Nancy chit Uncle Tom Drusilla." Buffy said.
"I'm guessing that the no love thing Spike and Angel have goes for Buffy and Drusilla." Willow said.
"So not only are Buffy and Spike reversed, but so are Angel and Drusilla. Okay I can take all this in." Xander said.
"It's not really that hard. So who's Riley in your reality?" Willow asked.
"Riley was part of The Initiative I'm guessing. Well then that be Cowgirl Rene." Buffy said.
"Hey I only dissed one of your ex's. That's two." Spike said.
"Well I only have one." Buffy said.
"What about that stupid jock friend of Cordelia's. Harvey." Spike said.
"That was all about sex." Buffy said.
"Buffy!" Xander said.
"What? Remember Harris I'm not the same little Slayer you're used to. Different all around remember." Buffy said.
"Oh yeah right. Must have slipped my mind for a second. So do we have a plan." Xander said.
"Not yet. I guess the plan is to just keep researching and hope something comes up. Meanwhile this Buffy will just have to keep up appearances. Got to work and patrol as usual." Tara said.
"Whoa, what are you talking about. I'm not going to work at that Doublemeat Hell. Have you seen the hats? No, no, no!" Buffy said getting up to pace around.
"Buffy you have to." Willow said.
"No the other Buffy had to and Spikey over there had to, but me, I don't have to. I figure this body isn't that flammable to sunlight so maybe I should just leave now." Buffy said.
"What you can't do that. That isn't your body." Xander said.
"Try and stop me, Harris. I'm not going to be the little Slayer." Buffy said.
"Buffy if you leave we may never get to go back." Spike said.
"What do I care. You live as a vampire and see how you like it especially around a group of people who hate your guts. Me I'm thinking Costa Rica." Buffy said.
"But Buffy you have responsibilities. You have to at least consider the other Buffy's feelings." Tara said.
"No I don't. I don't. . ."
Buffy stopped when she felt a strange twinge in her chest. It was something akin to guilt and a certain dedication to do good for her friends.
"Stop it! This isn't my fight. I have to get out of here." Buffy said running towards the door.
"Buffy stop." Spike said following after her. She opened the door and walked out. Spike scrambled away from the door holding his burnt arm.
"Ow, shit." Spike said hissing at his still sizzling arm.
Willow and Xander rushed over to him.
"She's gone. Is she going to come back?" Xander asked closing the door.
"I don't know. Tara get me some antiseptic. That's a pretty good burn." Willow said to Spike.
"Yeah I'm sort of not use to them yet. That's the third burn today." Spike said. "Will she be back." Xander asked Spike. Xander was looking at him with pleading eyes.
"I think so. If I know her she will, but it's hard to say. There are some things going on that might make her stay away. I could probably find her though. And I just said that I'd find Buffy. I really need to get home." Spike said.
"Yeah well we really need the Slayer. A sane Slayer." Xander said.
"You've got me. Don't know if that's much of a substitute considering Buffy's your friend, but if it's just a Slayer you need, I'm you guy." Spike said.
"We also need a sane Buffy." Xander said.
"She's sane. She's just a little scared. And something happened. Something rushed over her for a moment when she was saying that she didn't care about leaving. It's got to be the key to whatever's happening." Tara said holding out the antiseptic.
"Well whatever it was we have to wait for her to come back in order to question her about it. I have a feeling this is going to be a bumpy ride." Willow said taking the antiseptic.
"Yeah well whatever it takes, I'm getting back home. Even if that means knocking her over the head like a caveman." Spike hissed when the antiseptic made contact with his skin. He could feel a dull burning sensation on his arm and his ear was scabbing from the earlier burn.
"I hate being a vampire."
A/N: Okay watch you think? Pretty good or pretty bad. Review to keep this story alive. I've have lots of fun writing it, but my other two stories are getting neglected. I can't spend my time on a story people don't like so review telling me to keep it going. Next chapter will take place right after Buffy left and will see it through the real Spike's perspective. If you have know idea what I meant by that then just wait for the update and it will explain all.
Distribution: Go ahead. Ask first
Spoilers: None
A/N: Hey everybody. Good on the return rate here. I just got the idea in my head and started to run with it. Hope you're happy with the update time. I'm not exactly sure it will stay this way, but it'll be a lot faster then the last time. Okay then on with the story. The switch!
Chapter 4:
The sound of an alarm clock woke Buffy from her restful sleep. Wait an alarm clock?
"What the bloody hell?" Buffy said looking around the room she was in.
It was something akin to Spike's, but girly. The structure was the same, but the furniture was totally different.
"Okay this is weird." Buffy said throwing off the warm blankets and placing her feet on the carpeted ground.
She looked down at her pajamas that were nothing like her regular attire. Of course her regular attire consisted of nothing when she slept, but this was nothing like her regular clothes. Gray tight fitting sweats and a yellow tank top.
A yellow shirt! She looked at her arms and noticed they were tan. Not the regular pale white color that they usually were, but almost Sunkist. Her blonde hair was tied in a ponytail and kind of curly, but it lacked in its usual presence.
Buffy walked over to one of the mirrors and so the pictures taped on it. Pictures of the Scoobies and her. The pictures portrayed her as friends with them. There were no pictures of Spike with the Scoobies. It was as if he wasn't even there friend and she was. Then she saw it.
Her reflection staring straight at her in the mirror. It had been a long time since she saw what she looked like and what she saw surprised her. She looked nothing like she pictured she would of course she couldn't really take this reflection for what it was worth considering she shouldn't be seeing her reflection.
She looked. . . human. Too human for her liking.
"What the hell is going on." Buffy whispered to herself.
Then she realized another startling revelation. Her accent was totally gone and in it's place was the voice of a twenty-one year old Southern Californian. Sort of like Spike's voice.
Buffy put her hand over her heart that for over a century went unbeating. Now it was beating steadily. The sound would have been music to her not so hypersensitive ears had she not been freaking out.
She burst through the door to the room and looked around frantically. Everything was exactly the same as the Summers residence. Nothing was out of place or missing. It was all the same only more girly.
"What the bloody hell is going on!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spike turned over in his bed. It was unbelievably cold. In fact everything was cold in this room. Spike slowly opened his eyes and looked around. He was in Buffy's crypt.
"What the fuck. How did I get here?" Spike asked himself noticing that his voice was harsher then usual.
He looked around the bottom half of the crypt. It was different. Just slight changes like the fell of the room was more manly then usual.
The bar that usually held lots of alcoholic beverages such as vodka held harsher ones like whiskey and bourbon, drinks that Buffy tried to avoid, but used is she had to. Same bottle of Jack Daniels lay on the floor empty and totally disregarded. The bed held the same look to it, but everything else screamed that a man lived here.
"Oh shit!" Spike yelled realizing what a mistake that was when he felt the slight pierce in his head that screamed hangover.
That must be it. I got totally drunk last night and came back here. Where's Buffy.
Spike thought as he looked around the room. He still had clothes on, but once he looked down to see what they were he was puzzled even more. Black tight fitting jeans, a black undershirt and a red shirt that went over it.
How could he sleep like that? His pants felt plastered to him. It looked like some of the stuff he would wear in his misspent youth, but nowadays he tried to go for a more casual look.
"Okay when did I go all gothic." Spike said out loud.
"Most be the only clothes Buffy had that would fit me. Probably got alcohol all over mine, although I don't even remember drinking." Spike said getting up and walking over to the ladder.
He walked up the steps to the top half of the crypt and looked around. Again it looked like Buffy's crypt, but the décor was so different. The small television that sat in front of that ugly chair, both looking like they were from a Dumpster, was too small and old looking.
Everything looked like it was brought from a Dumpster, when Buffy had so elegantly five finger discounted all her things from various furniture stores. This looked manly as well.
Everything was worn and beaten and various beer bottles littered the ground. Buffy liked to keep things clean. The candles were the same and the fridge was the same, but everything else was different.
Spike felt he stomach rumble.
"She probably won't have a nice plate of bacon and eggs in that fridge." Spike said but felt himself walking towards it anyway.
Suddenly he felt a burning on his ear.
"Ow!" he said clutching his ear and walking off to the side.
He looked around to see if there was anything around that would burn his ear. Slayer strength would kick in soon. He saw the small window that had always concerned him. Buffy said it was part of the appeal.
"Yeah getting dusted with the morning paper. Very appealing." Spike muttered.
"Wait I don't get dusted so what am I afraid of." Spike said cautiously putting his hand in the direction of the window.
It took his hand five seconds to start sizzling and another four seconds for him to realize what was happening. He pulled his hand away for it was literally getting burned.
"What the hell?" Spike said puzzled.
His stomach growled again this time more furiously. He found his feet betraying him and walking, this time a safer route to the fridge. He opened it and saw various blood packets along with beer in it.
Without thinking or allowing his brain to think about how weird it was that this was animal blood instead of the human blood Buffy had from her deal with the hospital nurse he took a packet of blood, ripped it open with his teeth and drank from it.
The coppery liquid filled his mouth and he drank and drank until there was nothing left but a crumpled bag. After realizing what he had done he throw the bag on the floor like it had burned him this time not literally. He could feel his eyes go wide and suddenly could hear everything going on around him. His vision was better to.
Spike cautiously brought a hand up to his face. Bumps and ridges clear as day. Pointy teeth as well and he would bet his bottom dollar his eyes were yellow.
"Oh god! I've been turned into a vampire. Holy mother of fucking hell!" Spike screamed as he frantically searched for a blanket. He had to get home and tell the others what happened.
"Shit!"
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"Buffy what's a matter." Dawn asked. Buffy's scream had made Willow and Dawn come out and stare at her with concern.
"What's the matter. Well let's see for starters my voice is different and more Southern Californian sounding. My hair is a ridiculous color. I'm wearing yellow. Oh yeah and I'm human." Buffy said with panic in her voice.
"Yeah you're human. You've been that way for quite some time now." Willow said worried that her friend had finally lost it.
"Listen Red let's not make this anymore confusing. Bit where's your brother and why is his room all girly looking?" Buffy asked.
"I have a brother?" Dawn said.
"Yes you have a sodding brother. Great I can't even say my usual words. They sound horrible with this voice." Buffy said.
"Willow I think she's lost it." Dawn whispered.
"What are you whispering about. It's not fair. I can't hear you anymore." Buffy whined.
"Damnit that sounded too whiney." Buffy then cursed herself.
"Buffy maybe you should lie down." Willow said.
"No, you have to get everyone here and do that stupid Scooby research. Call demon girl and Glenda, hell even the whelp and let's solve this thing."
"Buffy really you should rest." Dawn said.
"Look I know that Dawn is the only one that likes me, but you could at least try. I mean the Slayer's gotta be out there some where. Show some sadness." Buffy pleaded realizing that Spike wasn't anywhere to be seen.
"Buffy you are the Slayer." Dawn said.
"What? That's really funny, Bit. Me the Slayer." Buffy said chuckling.
"You are." Willow said.
"That's virtually impossible. I'm a vampire. Remember evil vampire with a chip in my head. One that's killed two Slayers. Scourge of Europe. Elizabeth the Bloody. Sired by Angelus. Attacked you lot on that stupid parent teacher conference. Any of this ringing a bell." Buffy said realizing off of Dawn and Willow perplexed faces that it didn't ring a bell.
"Sounds like Spike's past. What with the Scourge of Europe thing. That's what they used to call him. Oh and Elizabeth the Bloody sounds like William the Bloody. What do thinks wrong with her Willow?" Dawn asked.
"I don't know." Willow said.
"I'll tell you what's wrong with me. I've been here in Sunnydale too long. Strange things always happen in this town. Bloody hell." Buffy said.
"Okay now she's starting to borrow some of Spike's more colorful language." Dawn said.
"Buffy maybe you encountered something on patrol. Something that's making you think all crazy like. We'll . . ." Willow was interrupted by a loud crash in the kitchen.
"What was that." Dawn said.
"I don't know let's go check it out." Willow said. Both girls made their way down the stairs. Buffy sighed and followed them down.
She walked into the kitchen to see a burning Spike closing all the shudders.
"Willow thank go you're okay. I woke up in a strange place wearing these strange clothes and I'm a vampire!" Spike said in a rather husky voice unknown too most.
"My voice is different and I don't know what they hells going on and I drank blood. Should have tasted totally icky, but you know why it didn't. Because I'm a vampire." Spike continued his mission to close all the shudders.
"You're a vampire." Buffy asked from behind Dawn and Willow. Spike turned to see her standing there.
"You! What did you do to me? Did you turn me so I would stay with you? Is that that what this is." Spike asked panicked although not really believing Buffy could do it no matter if the chip didn't work on him.
"No I was the one who was leaving. I was the one who called, who'd you put it, freak show, off. Not you. You were the one running out of the place like you ass was on fire." Buffy said.
"Yeah so then what happened. Some vamp turned me into this. God the Slayer as a vampire. What the hell are people going to think? Shit this is no good. Willow you have to do some sort of spell to return my soul or something." Spike said turning his stare to Willow. Willow stood there looking confused.
"Okay now I think that both of you just need to sit down and breath or well just sit in Spike's case. There's nothing wrong with this picture." Willow said.
"Yes there is." Both Buffy and Spike shouted.
"I'm a vampire." Spike said.
"Yeah and I'm human." Buffy said. "Wait your human!?" Spike said.
"Yeah I just woke up in what looked like your room only more girly and I found out I was human. Reflection and everything although I kind of wish there wasn't a reflection with what look like." Buffy said.
Spike took a good look at her.
"What's wrong with it?" Spike asked.
"Um I look like a Dawson's Creek reject. Too Southern Californian peppy. What's with this ridiculously short hair." Buffy said.
"I think it looks nice. Not something I'm used to on you." Spike said.
"Yeah well don't get used to it. As soon as I get back to being me I'm out of this town remember." Buffy said.
"Oh right. Wait maybe that's it. Maybe we are stuck in a different dimension. Maybe I'm not really a vampire. Is that possible?" Spike said looking at Willow with a pleading look on his face.
"I guess." Willow said.
"Good then you can get everyone on it." Spike said.
"Right forgot you were their all mighty leader." Buffy muttered.
"Really not making with the time to hear you complain." Spike said.
"Okay now I know there is definitely something wrong when Spike starts talking like Buffy and sans accent." Dawn said.
"I'm not talking like her. Talking like her would sound like this. Sodden bloody hell, you buggering chit." Spike said.
"You sound nothing like me." Buffy said.
"Oh that's right. I was talking about the Buffy that usually lives here. In this dimension." Dawn said.
"So in this dimension I'm the vampire." Spike asked. Willow and Dawn shook their heads.
"And everyone hates me." Spike asked quietly.
"We don't hate the other Spike." Willow said.
"Yeah me and Spike are like best friends." Dawn said.
"Wait so I'm the Slayer." Buffy spoke up.
"Yeah you are."
"And I'm the one with the crummy job with the stupid hat and all the bills to pay." Willow and Dawn hesitantly shook their heads.
"And I'm the one that came back from the dead all weepy and depressed. I'm the one that has to slay demons every night after coming home from a crummy job. I'm the human one." Willow and Dawn nodded.
"So that would make me your sister." Buffy said pointing to Dawn.
"Yeah." Dawn said.
Buffy looked thoughtful for a minute before letting a horrified look pass through the features of her face.
"I have responsibilities." Buffy stated.
"Yeah you act like it's a huge deal. This should be interesting. You've never had any responsibility as a vampire and now here's your chance. I get a break. Although now that I think about it it's hardly a break. I have to be a vampire. Do I have a chip in my head." Spike asked Willow and Dawn.
"Yeah the government planted it in there." Willow said.
"So I get protect myself from humans. I can still kick demon butt. The blood thing will be a little icky, but I can deal." Spike said.
"You'll have to unless you want to starve. Some how I think that the other Spike wouldn't like that very much." Buffy said.
"You know he has animal blood. Must not know how to get the good stuff." Spike said.
"Really. Well I guess Willies hates him here to. So what's the plan. You know calling up the rest of the little Scooby Gang and working this out." Buffy said.
"Right I'll call everyone and we can go to the Magic Box." Willow said.
"Dawn has to get to school." Spike said.
"I think this is bigger then school." Dawn said stubbornly.
"I don't care. You've been missing too many days as it is. You're going and that's finally." Spike said.
"Whoa that was weird. Spike rarely scolds me like that and even when he scolds me it's more like 'Grr I'm going to rip out your eyeballs and make a soup out of your brain.'" Dawn said.
"That's so lame. If I were him it would be I'm going to pop your little head like a zit." Buffy said.
"Right thanks for the imagery Buff." Dawn said.
"Sorry, Bit, the other you would know I'm just playing around." Buffy said.
"You've said that to my sister. I'm starting to think that maybe she's a sadist." Spike said.
"It's your genes."
"So that settles it. Dawn goes to school we go to the Magic Box." Willow said.
"Not to state the obvious that isn't that obvious yet, but how am I going to get there." Spike asked.
"Oh right you don't know the tunnel system. I wonder if everything's the same in the other Sunnydale. I mean this is huge news." Willow said.
"Don't' seem a little too gleeful, Red." Buffy said.
"Yeah Wills I know this is bounce worthy for you, but let's focus on the big picture." Spike said.
"Oh right sorry. Well I'll tell everyone to come here. I mean the only other people are Tara and Anya. Xander should be here any minute to pick Dawn up for school." Willow said. As if by magic the doorbell rang brining a happy Xander to the doorstep.
"I'll get it." Willow said walking over to the door. Dawn looked back at Buffy and Spike.
"So in the other dimension are you and me friends." Dawn asked pointing to Buffy.
"Yeah we are." Buffy said.
"So Spike died cause he's the Slayer saving my life and you watched me over the summer." Dawn said.
"That's right." Buffy said.
"So what's the big deal Wills." Xander said walking into the kitchen.
"And what's Captain Peroxide doing here." Xander said looking in Spike's direction. For a second Spike had a puzzled look on his face at Xander's anger filled voice.
"Who's he talking about?" Spike asked.
"You I'd wager. Your hair is a little, extreme to say the least." Buffy said.
"Really how bad. You know I don't have a reflection." Spike said.
"Think Billy Idol." Buffy said.
"You're kidding right. God what was he thinking. I mean sure my hair was like that for a while, but I changed the look. He probably can't see it, but really. Have some sense in style. Look at these clothes." Spike said.
"I don't see anything wrong with them. This Spike has very good taste. The hair's good to. Better then that two toned thing you've got going on." Buffy said plucking at his shirt.
"Says the queen of all that is gothic." Spike retorted.
"Okay what's going on with those two?" Xander asked puzzled.
"Well apparently the essence of our Spike and Buffy were shifted with the essence of another Spike and Buffy from another dimension." Willow said.
"There wouldn't happen to be a translation of that in English would there." Xander asked sarcastically.
"Basically there's another dimension where Buffy's sort of like the Spike from our dimension and a Spike that's sort of like the Buffy in our dimension. Total different like they switched lives in that dimension. Now that Spike and Buffy are here."
"Huh?"
"This is going to take awhile."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Tara and Anya sat in chairs across from the sofa that Buffy and Spike were sitting quietly on.
"Well it is definitely a shift in essences. Although I'm sensing something else from our Buffy and Spike. I can't exactly clarify it yet, but give me time." Tara said.
"What's it like in the other dimension. Is everything exactly the exact same as here besides the obvious." Anya asked anxiously.
"It seems so. I mean we don't know everything yet. Some things could be very different and we just haven't figured it out yet." Spike said.
"It's weird hearing you talk without the accent." Anya said.
"Well it's weird to try and talk around it." Spike said.
"Yeah things are weird we've established that." Buffy said.
"It's different to hear Buffy talking all grumpy like too." Anya said.
"Well we'll just have to get used to it until we figure out how to change it back to the normal. That's going to take a lot of research though. This could be a spell or something much bigger. We have no idea what kind of magicks it's going to take to break this thing. It might just be Buffy and Spike have to figure out a way to fix this on their own." Willow said.
"So what are we waiting for. The sooner I get back to our Sunnyhell the sooner I can get away from it." Buffy said.
"Let's not involve them with our problems." Spike said.
"Right. They probably don't know. If everything's the same then that means everything's the same." Buffy said giving Spike a knowing look.
"Yes and if everything's the same then it really isn't our place to tell them this." Spike said knowing how he would feel if the secret got out.
This Buffy who was the Slayer and most likely going through the same thing didn't need the questions when they got back.
"Oh my god what if they're telling the others about. . ." Spike trailed off looking with fearful eyes at Buffy.
"If I was the other Spike I'd do it." Buffy said flippantly.
"Yeah but they aren't the same people. Oh god he's going to ruin my life isn't." Spike said.
"Probably not." Buffy said.
"But you just said. . ."
"I'd definitely think about it. Then I'd see the fear written on your face and stop myself." Buffy said.
"So you don't think he. . ."
"No he didn't." Buffy said.
"That's good." Spike said taking a sigh.
"Okay what was that all about." Anya said.
"Something to do with their dimension obviously. Let's not pry." Tara said knowing what this Spike was worried about.
"Okay well that's good so let's. . ."
"Okay let me just let it be known that I don't entirely believe this whole thing. Deadboy Jr. could have put a spell on Buffy to make her believe she was a vampire and then it backfired." Xander said from a far corner in the house. He had been eyeing Spike since he came back from dropping off Dawn.
"I would never. . . oh wait maybe he would, but not me. I swear, Xan, I'm from a different dimension. There were friends and I'm the Slayer and we met when I was fifteen after burning down my gym at Hemory and getting expelled." Spike said.
"A likely story." Xander said stubbornly.
"I swear. Ask me any question that this Spike wouldn't know about. You know about our past." Spike said. "Let's not play into the delusion." Xander said.
"I'm serious. Oh okay let's see. We stopped the Harvest when I first moved here from Sunnydale. We went to save Jesse from the vampires under the school where the graveyard was. You had to stake him and got mad at me for a little while before forgiving me. Oh I wanted to get expelled from school and said maybe that excessive studying would get me kicked out. Willow wanted to blow somethin up." Spike said.
Xander looked like he wanted to believe that it was all true. That in some other dimension he and Spike got along. That Spike had taken the place of Buffy and Buffy had taken the place of Spike, but it was all too weird.
"I didn't have a crush on you did I." Xander asked hesitantly.
"No that was Willow." Spike said.
"Oh good. So I'm not gay in that dimension."
"Nope you and Anya are getting married on. . . wow it's already two weeks from now." Spike said.
"Okay this isn't the other Spike. No matter how many times I've told him when the wedding was he would forget." Xander said.
"It's really only two weeks away. Wow that's soon." Buffy said.
"So what are we going to do? I mean this is big. Another dimension with Buffy and Spike only in reverse." Willow said.
"Well some might say that your dimension is reverse." Buffy said. "Right which ever way you want to put it it's huge." Willow said.
"So are you gay in that dimension?" Anya asked blatantly looking in Spike's direction.
"What!? Where would you get any idea like that?" Spike asked.
"Well there had to be a reverse or something. I mean here Buffy and Angel were together and then there was Buffy and Riley." Anya said.
"Oh, you mean Angel wasn't Mister Psycho vamp?" Spike said.
"Watch your tongue." Buffy muttered.
Spike heard her, much to his wonderment.
"I thought you were over him. 'Oh Spike I'll stake him for you. It's all for you.'" Spike said imitating Buffy's voice and accent perfectly although the accent was already there.
"How did you. . . oh right you're a vampire. I keep forgetting that." Buffy said.
"So Angel was psycho in your reality?" Xander said.
"Cool, I never liked him."
Willow rolled her eyes at Xander.
"So who was the vampire with the soul in your dimension." Tara asked.
"Oh you mean Dru. She has a soul in our dimension." Spike said. He surprised himself by being able to say her name and not choke on it.
"Yeah Drusilla. Nancy chit Uncle Tom Drusilla." Buffy said.
"I'm guessing that the no love thing Spike and Angel have goes for Buffy and Drusilla." Willow said.
"So not only are Buffy and Spike reversed, but so are Angel and Drusilla. Okay I can take all this in." Xander said.
"It's not really that hard. So who's Riley in your reality?" Willow asked.
"Riley was part of The Initiative I'm guessing. Well then that be Cowgirl Rene." Buffy said.
"Hey I only dissed one of your ex's. That's two." Spike said.
"Well I only have one." Buffy said.
"What about that stupid jock friend of Cordelia's. Harvey." Spike said.
"That was all about sex." Buffy said.
"Buffy!" Xander said.
"What? Remember Harris I'm not the same little Slayer you're used to. Different all around remember." Buffy said.
"Oh yeah right. Must have slipped my mind for a second. So do we have a plan." Xander said.
"Not yet. I guess the plan is to just keep researching and hope something comes up. Meanwhile this Buffy will just have to keep up appearances. Got to work and patrol as usual." Tara said.
"Whoa, what are you talking about. I'm not going to work at that Doublemeat Hell. Have you seen the hats? No, no, no!" Buffy said getting up to pace around.
"Buffy you have to." Willow said.
"No the other Buffy had to and Spikey over there had to, but me, I don't have to. I figure this body isn't that flammable to sunlight so maybe I should just leave now." Buffy said.
"What you can't do that. That isn't your body." Xander said.
"Try and stop me, Harris. I'm not going to be the little Slayer." Buffy said.
"Buffy if you leave we may never get to go back." Spike said.
"What do I care. You live as a vampire and see how you like it especially around a group of people who hate your guts. Me I'm thinking Costa Rica." Buffy said.
"But Buffy you have responsibilities. You have to at least consider the other Buffy's feelings." Tara said.
"No I don't. I don't. . ."
Buffy stopped when she felt a strange twinge in her chest. It was something akin to guilt and a certain dedication to do good for her friends.
"Stop it! This isn't my fight. I have to get out of here." Buffy said running towards the door.
"Buffy stop." Spike said following after her. She opened the door and walked out. Spike scrambled away from the door holding his burnt arm.
"Ow, shit." Spike said hissing at his still sizzling arm.
Willow and Xander rushed over to him.
"She's gone. Is she going to come back?" Xander asked closing the door.
"I don't know. Tara get me some antiseptic. That's a pretty good burn." Willow said to Spike.
"Yeah I'm sort of not use to them yet. That's the third burn today." Spike said. "Will she be back." Xander asked Spike. Xander was looking at him with pleading eyes.
"I think so. If I know her she will, but it's hard to say. There are some things going on that might make her stay away. I could probably find her though. And I just said that I'd find Buffy. I really need to get home." Spike said.
"Yeah well we really need the Slayer. A sane Slayer." Xander said.
"You've got me. Don't know if that's much of a substitute considering Buffy's your friend, but if it's just a Slayer you need, I'm you guy." Spike said.
"We also need a sane Buffy." Xander said.
"She's sane. She's just a little scared. And something happened. Something rushed over her for a moment when she was saying that she didn't care about leaving. It's got to be the key to whatever's happening." Tara said holding out the antiseptic.
"Well whatever it was we have to wait for her to come back in order to question her about it. I have a feeling this is going to be a bumpy ride." Willow said taking the antiseptic.
"Yeah well whatever it takes, I'm getting back home. Even if that means knocking her over the head like a caveman." Spike hissed when the antiseptic made contact with his skin. He could feel a dull burning sensation on his arm and his ear was scabbing from the earlier burn.
"I hate being a vampire."
A/N: Okay watch you think? Pretty good or pretty bad. Review to keep this story alive. I've have lots of fun writing it, but my other two stories are getting neglected. I can't spend my time on a story people don't like so review telling me to keep it going. Next chapter will take place right after Buffy left and will see it through the real Spike's perspective. If you have know idea what I meant by that then just wait for the update and it will explain all.