A/N: So, so, so sorry for the lack in updates. I just sent out a major
batch today after all those long months. It's just life got in the way and
all that. I mean who knew starting a homepage would be so hard. And I'm not
even done with it yet. Oh well, ENJOY the chapter!
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters so far. Eventually there will be some of my own. Wish I had Spike, but that's a whole thing all together.
Distribution: If you actually think that it's good enough to go anywhere, but here, then by all means. Just ask first.
Spoilers: Some for season six's As You Were
Chapter 8:
"Buffy stop messing around. This is really important. A very volatile demon is loose on the Hellmouth. I need the Slayer's help on this one." Riley said looking at the very confused Buffy.
"Okay, one, please refrain from using the demon talk at my place of employment and two, you'll just have to wait until I get off of work and then we'll go meet the Scoobies and sort this all out." Buffy said glancing at her boss who was sending her wary looks.
"I don't have time for you to finish up at this... ... ... job. I need the Slayer now." Riley said.
"The Slayer talk needs to be kept to a minimum. I'm not a blo... ... ... freaking machine here. I do need to finish my job. Besides you don't want me to help you. I'd probably let you get killed just for the heck of it." Buffy said flippantly.
"Buffy, I'm sorry that I left you like that, but can we please just put that behind us and look for the demon." Riley said in an exasperated tone.
"Wanker, really think I care that you left. I'm not even sure who you are, but if you are who I think you are then as me I should be glad that you left." Buffy said snorting.
"Okay, I've been out of Sunnydale too long because I don't remember how to translate Sunnydale-speak and did you call me a wanker?" Riley said. Buffy let out a long sigh.
"Look I have about twenty minutes left on the job. Then we'll go to see the Slayer's minions and then you'll get the Slayer to help you out and I can lie down and sleep." Buffy said.
"Buffy are you okay?" Riley asked.
"No and no amount of Jack D is going to fix that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"This is beyond boring. This has entered the realm of torture." Xander complained.
"I have to agree, but I also have to say that if we don't keep researching something bad might happen to both Spike and Buffy. Let's just keep going." Willow said.
"Yeah well if things don't pick up soon I'm going to leave. No sense in pulling an all nighter." Anya said.
"I have this intense need to beat up something." Spike said out loud.
Everyone turned to look at him as though he had grown an extra head.
"Well I do. I don't know what it is, but it's centered on one thing. Don't know what that is though." Spike said burying his nose in the book.
"Well you could murder the books if you want to. They don't seem to be helping although I think Giles might not like that." Anya said.
"I'm not sure what it is, but it's pretty strong." Spike said.
"Maybe it's just that vampire instinct kicking in. Just another thing you'll have to get used to." Tara said.
"That's not fair. There's the blood and the bumpy face and the advanced hearing and the totally boring nothing to do all day. Now on top of that I feel like ripping someone to shreds and I don't even know who the hell that someone is. Being a vampire sucks ass." Spike said pouting slightly knowing it probably looked ridiculous. He really wanted his old body back.
"Ladies and gentleman witness the ever popular vampire mood swings."
Everyone turned around to see Buffy and, "Riley!" the group sans Spike yelped out.
"Hey guys." Riley said in a slightly shy voice.
"Who's that guy?" Spike asked.
"Just some guy that needs the Slayer's help. Thought I should bring him here to discuss things with the group and then I'm going to go to bed." Buffy said.
"Oh no you don't. If I have to deal with all this vampire crap you can do a simple demon hunt. Should be easy." Spike said.
"This from the guy that just said and I quote 'Being a Vampire Sucks Ass'. Looks like you don't want to be here as much as I don't want to be here. At least you're finally admitting it." Buffy said.
"Yes, I've learned the error of my ways and am currently reaping what I sow. At least I've been researching for a way to send us back." Spike said.
"Good, because I can't stand it here." Buffy said plopping down in a seat.
"Could someone please fill me in on at what the heck is going on here. Seriously I'd like to know." Riley said.
"It's slightly complicated." Tara said shyly.
"No it really isn't. Riley, that's your name right, well see here's the thing, the thing is, well it's a pretty big thing, but not that big, but large enough for me to start babbling incoherently." Spike said brows furrowing in confusion over the right words to say.
"What, Spikey is trying to say is that we aren't the Buffy and Spike you know. We're different people from a different dimension and have no idea who you are." Buffy said.
"Wow, is this true?" Riley asked the rest of the group.
"Yep, very true. They come from a dimension where Spike is the Slayer and Buffy is the vampire and they switched with the Spike and Buffy we know." Xander said.
"And all of us are here to research for a way to send them back." Anya said.
"Well then maybe I shouldn't be here. I mean you've already got enough on your plate as it is." Riley said.
Riley made a motion to leave, but before the non-existent little angel on Spike's shoulder could voice it's opinion Spike stood in front of Riley blocking him from leaving.
"You don't have to go. Obviously you wee friends with the group and it would be a shame to turn away a friend in a time of need." Spike said in an ultra-sweet voice that no one was prepared for.
"Spike what the hell are you doing?" Riley asked with a hint of annoyance and disgust that almost sent Spike into another touchy feely moment.
"Nothing I'm just saying that if you need the Slayer's help then what kind of person would the Slayer be to turn you away like that." Spike said in a no nonsense voice that dared anyone to argue with the logic.
"A person that wants to sleep. If you're so gung ho to help out then you go out. I'm. Tired." Buffy said rubbing her feet a little.
"Nonsense. A Slayer never gets tired. A Slayer stands up and fights the good fight." Spike said.
"You keep putting it that way and I may have to stake you." Buffy said.
"Well, like Tara said the only way to get out of this is to experience what the other is feeling. I do that kind of thing on a daily basis. It's the only sure fire method any of us know." Spike said.
Buffy glared at him with all the furry she could muster trying to mentally smack that smirk off of Spike's face and when did he get so good at that?
"He's right Buffy. We've concluded that that is what's going on here." Willow said in a hushed voice not wanting to incur the wrath of Buffy that was currently brewing in the small blonde Slayer's head.
She growled, really growled, at Spike and then let out a frustrated sigh.
"One day, when you least expected it, I'm gonna get you for this Slayer." Buffy said in the lowest tone her voice would go.
It didn't really convey much of a threat considering the voice was made for a preppy Southern California girl.
"Empty threats. You can't kill me. If you do we may never get back to our dimension. I don't think you wanna stay in that body although I gotta say even with the blinding pylon colors it is an improvement from the black Goth look you had going on." Spike said.
"You're not really one to talk. Look in a mirror lately. Oh that's right you can't cause you're a vampire." Buffy said.
"Anybody else find this conversation very disturbing." Xander asked.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say yeah." Riley said.
"Good just checking." Xander said.
"Buffy why don't you go with Riley. I mean Spike is right on this instance. Maybe experiencing what the other goes through will get you home sooner." Willow said.
"But I'm tired. I just worked a double shift at a place that smells worse then a Fyral demon and I'm tired." Buffy said.
"Well I'm always tired and I still slay. Just a part of the job." Spike said with a slight air of superiority.
"Yeah as if you can call what you do slaying. More like..." Spike whapped Buffy in the head before she could finish her sentence giving her a glare as he did so.
"OW!" Buffy said giving Spike a meaningful look.
It took two seconds before Spike caught on and followed up with, "Ow, that hurts. Stupid chip." Spike said not really feeling any pain, but trying his best to act like he did.
"That'll teach you not to hit people." Anya said.
"I forgot about the chip." Spike said.
"Serves you right." Buffy said.
"This coming from a hundred and something year-old vampire." Spike said.
"I don't know if I can take much more of this. Look if you aren't going to help me with the Suvolte demon then I have to go because it's out there attack innocent people." Riley said.
"Oh you can't handle a Suvolte demon by yourself. Those things are dangerous. I don't even know if I can handle that kind of demon. Even with my Slayer strength I might be powerless against it. I think Spike should go with us." Buffy said turning to Spike with an evil grin on her face.
"You're joking right. That's not my job. Not the Slayer... ... ... well anymore considering I'm in this body." Spike said.
"Well you're looking for redemption and being curled up in the house all day can't be good. You're probably going crazy just looking for something to kill." Buffy said.
"Yeah you if you don't shut up."
"Empty threats." Buffy said resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at him.
"She's right to Spike. If you're feeling the urge to kill something you should do it. Remember it's about going through what the other is going through." Tara said.
"Tara, I know you mean well, but as a trained professional I'm not allowed to team up with vampires." Riley said.
"Well then I can't go, because in a technical sense I'm a vampire." Buffy said sitting down in the nearest chair.
"And I'm a vampire in the literal sense." Spike said sitting down.
"You're going! That's finally! You'll do the being in the other's shoes thing and help Riley fight this demon! I don't want to hear anymore complaints. The rest of us will be here researching a way to send you back home." Willow said resolve face firmly intact and voice daring anyone to argue.
"Yeah, okay let's get weapons." Buffy said.
"Right behind you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The three people walked in silence with the occasional stare. Spike, despite his earlier protests, was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation for a fight.
"Could you quit that? It's distracting." Buffy hissed to him.
"I can't. I'm all juiced up to fight. I didn't even realize that I wanted to fight this much. Is this what it always feels like. Are you always this jumpy?" Spike asked.
"Most of the time. Usually more to do some damage to some unsuspecting innocent person, but you know the chip. And speaking of the chip, it has to go off whenever you hit me you do know that right?" Buffy said.
"Yeah I forgot. Clutch my head in pain whenever I hit something human." Spike said.
"And try not to hit me at all." Buffy said.
"Well I wouldn't have to if you weren't about to tell them... ... ... things that you shouldn't tell them." Spike said.
"Sorry, but I had to prove a point. You don't really slay as much as you," Buffy cut off her sentence when she saw Spike's hand raised in the air.
"Sorry I won't say anything. You already know what I mean." Buffy said.
"Will you two be quiet? I think I've tracked it. It should be over there somewhere." Riley said pointing to the woods.
"Of course you're a big demon lets hide out in the woods. Is there any special way to kill it that I should know about?" Spike asked.
"Big, blunt, objects should do the trick. Maybe some shiny, sharp, ones too." Buffy said.
"We aren't here to kill it." Riley said.
"WHAT!" Buffy and Spike said at the same time in a shocked almost outraged tone of voice.
"It laid eggs. We have to find those then we can kill it. If those eggs hatch we're going to have one hell of a problem. The multiple faster then bunnies." Riley said.
"So the plan is to risk our necks putting a tracking device on the momma bear and then tracking it to it's nest to kill it's babies and then possibly get said necks broke. I think I'll pass and just kill it now." Buffy said.
"Yeah I mean it's not like we can't go to Willy's for information as to where this nest is. Let's just kill it." Spike said.
"It's faster to just put the tracking device on the Suvolte that we find and follow it to the eggs." Riley said with irritation clearly in his voice.
"Faster innit always better." Buffy said. It was hard to tell whether it was an innuendo or not.
"Look this is the way we're going to do it. Can I count on you two to back me up?" Riley asked.
A minute or two passed where Buffy and Spike just looked back and forth at each other. Riley wasn't sure what was going on so he stood there, his hip jutted out just a little and his arms across his chest with his foot tapping a little. He was radiating a wave of impatience, but Buffy and Spike didn't really care. He was a stranger to them both.
"Sure, but I get to say I told you so if you get your neck broken." Buffy said walking into the woods.
"I don't remember her being like this." Riley said suddenly realizing how stupid that statement was.
"Well, duh, we're from an alternate dimension." Spike said walking behind her.
"I really don't know how much more of this I can take." Riley said.
"Oh cheer up. How bad can seeing your ex-girlfriend be?" Riley turned around to see a tall woman with dark brown hair and a slight Eastern European accent standing behind.
"Very hard, Sam. Turns out it's not my ex-girlfriend. It's a different person from a different dimension with the same name as her." Riley said.
"Riley was that English?" Sam asked.
"Apparently yes it was English. Let's go before Spike starts hacking up everything in sight."
Riley said pulling Sam along with him. They entered the woods to find Spike with his hands over his ears and Buffy sniffing around.
"What are you two doing?" Riley asked.
"It's very loud." Spike said.
"Who's that?" Buffy said pointing to Sam.
"Oh, well, Buffy this is Sam. Sam this is Buffy." Riley said.
"Nice to meet you Buffy." Sam said sticking out her hand politely to have Buffy shake it. Buffy stared at her weirdly before accepting the handshake.
"Okay so that answers what her name is, but who is she?" Buffy asked again.
"Well, Buffy Sam's sort of my wife." Riley said fidgeting nervously. Buffy stared at him for a second before bursting out in hysterical laughter.
"You know what that means right?" She yelled to Spike who was standing behind her.
"Yes, I know what that means." Spike said snidely.
"That's too funny." Buffy said between bursts of laughter.
"Shut up." Spike growled at her.
"I know I should, but... ... ... whoa." Buffy said as she fell backwards.
Spike caught her.
"What's wrong now?" Spike asked.
"Strange suffocating feeling. Not, heartbreak, but I don't know something different." Buffy said.
"You think you can stand?" Spike asked.
"Yeah just give me a sec." Buffy said.
"Buffy, we don't have a second. Suvolte demons at twelve o'clock." Riley screamed.
"What's twelve o'clock?" Spike asked.
"That means they're right behind us." Buffy replied.
"I thought so." Spike said lifting Buffy to her feet and turning around.
There, standing in front of them in all their ugly glory, were two of the ugliest looking demons Spike and Buffy had ever seen or faced. They were purple and looked remarkably like some alien they'd seen in some movie. Drool, or possibly saliva was coming out of what appeared to be their mouths.
"Oh this doesn't look good." Buffy said.
"No, not good at all. Still dizzy?" Spike asked.
"Um, if I say yeah will yeah hold me again." Buffy said.
"Not now." Spike said.
"I can fight." Buffy said as she straightened herself up before almost falling again.
"Maybe I should sit this one out." Buffy said heading for a good place to sit.
"I guess it's just you and me then, Spike." Riley said throwing himself into battle.
"Well, when you put it like that." Spike said throwing himself into the scrimmage as well.
Fists flew in the air and landed with easy on the big ugly demons. Kicks landed on their targets and Spike and Riley fought the demons. Riley tried his hardest to put a tracking device on one of them while Spike fought of the other.
Sam went to sit next to Buffy making sure that Buffy was okay and totally ignoring the heated glares Buffy was throwing her way. She was too caught up in watching the fight to really care how mad Buffy was at her.
The fighting seemed to go on for hours when in reality it was only a few minutes before Spike said, "Oh for crying out loud. This isn't going to work."
Spike ran over to where Riley was failing at keeping the Suvolte off of him for longer then five seconds. Spike grabbed the demon from behind and snapped its neck.
"Spike! We want theses things alive." Riley yelled.
"Yeah, well it wanted you dead." Spike yelled back.
"Go hold off that one while I see if this one is the female or not." Riley said.
Spike listened and went back over to where the demon was howling in pain over the death of its mate. More punches were thrown before Spike got it in what looked like the chocker hold.
"Hurry it up over there!" Spike yelled at Riley as the demon tried to wiggle free from Spike's grasp.
Riley sliced open the demons stomach to reveal that it was the female and definitely not carrying any eggs.
"Damn it! This is the female and she doesn't have any eggs. Shit! This is all your fault Spike." Riley screamed and began ranting.
Spike was barely listening as he fought to keep a hold of the demon in his arms. He was sorry that he had killed the demon, he really was, but Riley didn't have to be such an ass about it. Spike was sure that a talk with Willy would straighten out where the missing eggs were in a jiffy.
Then a truly evil though and possibly feeling washed over Spike. //Let go of the demon. Let it rip and tear through that asshole's flesh. Let it kill him. You don't like him anyway. He's part of the Initiative. The guys who put the chip in you head. Just let go of the demon.//
Spike fought to keep holding it, but the vengeance that was seeping through him made him let go of it and just stand there and watch as it ran towards Riley with the purpose of killing the other man. Spike felt the evil smirk curling on his face and tried hard to fight it, but the feeling that he was gaining vengeance on the man was too great and he just had to smirk.
"Spike, help him!" Buffy screamed as she watched the demon rip and tear at Riley.
Riley was screaming in excruciating pain at that point and he couldn't do anything to throw the demon off of him. Sam ran over to where the demon and Riley lay on the ground only to be thrown like a sack of potatoes against a tree.
"Crap." Buffy muttered as she got up and charged at the demon.
There was a slight fight before Buffy used the sword she brought along and stabbed the demon till the sword was coming out of the other side and puncturing the ground. Buffy yanked the sword out and ran over to Riley.
"Are you okay?" She asked. Riley didn't answer her.
He seemed to have passed out from pain and he was bleeding everywhere.
"Oh god, Riley!" Sam screamed running over to her husband and clutching him close to her. Buffy walked backwards and made her way to Spike. He was standing there with game face on and snarling like a maniac.
"Spike, are you okay?" Buffy asked.
Spike turned his head to look at her and an evil smile lit up his face. It was something, that if Buffy hadn't been Elizabeth the Bloody, would have made her quiver in fear.
"Does it matter if he's okay? Look at Riley. He's bleeding and he could be dead." Sam yelled.
"It wasn't him. Something possessed him to make him do this. The Spike I know would never do that. He just has to calm down." Buffy said petting Spike's arm lightly.
"He's a vampire, Buffy. Vampires aren't nice or friendly they're evil. They're evil." Sam yelled her voice quivering slightly.
Buffy decided it would be best to just ignore her.
"Spike, come on Spike you have to stop this." Buffy said.
Suddenly Spike was looking at her with guileless and worried eyes. The scent of bloody hit him hard.
"Oh god what happened?" Spike asked.
"You let Riley get mauled by a demon that's what happened!" Sam yelled.
"I what... ... ... no I would never do that. I wouldn't let someone die." Spike said with a frantic tone in his voice.
"Spike, it's okay. What feelings were you get at the time?" Buffy asked.
"I was feeling this strong feeling of trying to get revenge. I... ... ... I don't know why. I just was. Then all of a sudden I didn't have a hold of the demon anymore and... ... ... then I was standing here growling and you were yelling at me." Spike said. Buffy looked at Spike's eyes and knew that he was telling the truth.
"Oh God, he's not breathing. Buffy Riley's not breathing." Sam yelled. Buffy turned to see Sam holding Riley close.
"I can hear his heart. The beating's very slow." Spike said staring off into space.
"Spike I need you strong right now. I don't know what to do. I'm not good with taking care of humans." Buffy said.
"I... ... ... I ... ... ... I can't be here." Spike said wiggling out of Buffy's grasp and running farther into the woods.
"Spike! Get back here! I can't do this alone!" Buffy yelled hoping that Spike would come back.
"Buffy, we have to get Riley to a hospital." Sam said. Buffy was still staring at the path that Spike had taken when something clicked in her head and shook her out of her thoughts.
"Do you have a car?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah I do." Sam said.
"Okay let's get him in the car. I'll drive." Buffy said helping Sam pick up Riley.
They began to carry him off to the car. Buffy gave one last look to the path before walking off with Riley and Sam. She knew that Spike was physically strong, but his emotional state was shot at that moment. She just hoped that he didn't encounter any demons in his little run through the woods.
Or humans for that matter.
A/N: You knew this was going to happen. You knew I wanted to have Riley die/tortured/ or at least maimed a little. It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. Hope everyone enjoyed it. I really lie right gory/fight stuff. Does that make me insane? Oh who cares as long as I write stuff like that right? Anyway just send me a review if you want the next chapter. Should be a dozy.
Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters so far. Eventually there will be some of my own. Wish I had Spike, but that's a whole thing all together.
Distribution: If you actually think that it's good enough to go anywhere, but here, then by all means. Just ask first.
Spoilers: Some for season six's As You Were
Chapter 8:
"Buffy stop messing around. This is really important. A very volatile demon is loose on the Hellmouth. I need the Slayer's help on this one." Riley said looking at the very confused Buffy.
"Okay, one, please refrain from using the demon talk at my place of employment and two, you'll just have to wait until I get off of work and then we'll go meet the Scoobies and sort this all out." Buffy said glancing at her boss who was sending her wary looks.
"I don't have time for you to finish up at this... ... ... job. I need the Slayer now." Riley said.
"The Slayer talk needs to be kept to a minimum. I'm not a blo... ... ... freaking machine here. I do need to finish my job. Besides you don't want me to help you. I'd probably let you get killed just for the heck of it." Buffy said flippantly.
"Buffy, I'm sorry that I left you like that, but can we please just put that behind us and look for the demon." Riley said in an exasperated tone.
"Wanker, really think I care that you left. I'm not even sure who you are, but if you are who I think you are then as me I should be glad that you left." Buffy said snorting.
"Okay, I've been out of Sunnydale too long because I don't remember how to translate Sunnydale-speak and did you call me a wanker?" Riley said. Buffy let out a long sigh.
"Look I have about twenty minutes left on the job. Then we'll go to see the Slayer's minions and then you'll get the Slayer to help you out and I can lie down and sleep." Buffy said.
"Buffy are you okay?" Riley asked.
"No and no amount of Jack D is going to fix that."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
"This is beyond boring. This has entered the realm of torture." Xander complained.
"I have to agree, but I also have to say that if we don't keep researching something bad might happen to both Spike and Buffy. Let's just keep going." Willow said.
"Yeah well if things don't pick up soon I'm going to leave. No sense in pulling an all nighter." Anya said.
"I have this intense need to beat up something." Spike said out loud.
Everyone turned to look at him as though he had grown an extra head.
"Well I do. I don't know what it is, but it's centered on one thing. Don't know what that is though." Spike said burying his nose in the book.
"Well you could murder the books if you want to. They don't seem to be helping although I think Giles might not like that." Anya said.
"I'm not sure what it is, but it's pretty strong." Spike said.
"Maybe it's just that vampire instinct kicking in. Just another thing you'll have to get used to." Tara said.
"That's not fair. There's the blood and the bumpy face and the advanced hearing and the totally boring nothing to do all day. Now on top of that I feel like ripping someone to shreds and I don't even know who the hell that someone is. Being a vampire sucks ass." Spike said pouting slightly knowing it probably looked ridiculous. He really wanted his old body back.
"Ladies and gentleman witness the ever popular vampire mood swings."
Everyone turned around to see Buffy and, "Riley!" the group sans Spike yelped out.
"Hey guys." Riley said in a slightly shy voice.
"Who's that guy?" Spike asked.
"Just some guy that needs the Slayer's help. Thought I should bring him here to discuss things with the group and then I'm going to go to bed." Buffy said.
"Oh no you don't. If I have to deal with all this vampire crap you can do a simple demon hunt. Should be easy." Spike said.
"This from the guy that just said and I quote 'Being a Vampire Sucks Ass'. Looks like you don't want to be here as much as I don't want to be here. At least you're finally admitting it." Buffy said.
"Yes, I've learned the error of my ways and am currently reaping what I sow. At least I've been researching for a way to send us back." Spike said.
"Good, because I can't stand it here." Buffy said plopping down in a seat.
"Could someone please fill me in on at what the heck is going on here. Seriously I'd like to know." Riley said.
"It's slightly complicated." Tara said shyly.
"No it really isn't. Riley, that's your name right, well see here's the thing, the thing is, well it's a pretty big thing, but not that big, but large enough for me to start babbling incoherently." Spike said brows furrowing in confusion over the right words to say.
"What, Spikey is trying to say is that we aren't the Buffy and Spike you know. We're different people from a different dimension and have no idea who you are." Buffy said.
"Wow, is this true?" Riley asked the rest of the group.
"Yep, very true. They come from a dimension where Spike is the Slayer and Buffy is the vampire and they switched with the Spike and Buffy we know." Xander said.
"And all of us are here to research for a way to send them back." Anya said.
"Well then maybe I shouldn't be here. I mean you've already got enough on your plate as it is." Riley said.
Riley made a motion to leave, but before the non-existent little angel on Spike's shoulder could voice it's opinion Spike stood in front of Riley blocking him from leaving.
"You don't have to go. Obviously you wee friends with the group and it would be a shame to turn away a friend in a time of need." Spike said in an ultra-sweet voice that no one was prepared for.
"Spike what the hell are you doing?" Riley asked with a hint of annoyance and disgust that almost sent Spike into another touchy feely moment.
"Nothing I'm just saying that if you need the Slayer's help then what kind of person would the Slayer be to turn you away like that." Spike said in a no nonsense voice that dared anyone to argue with the logic.
"A person that wants to sleep. If you're so gung ho to help out then you go out. I'm. Tired." Buffy said rubbing her feet a little.
"Nonsense. A Slayer never gets tired. A Slayer stands up and fights the good fight." Spike said.
"You keep putting it that way and I may have to stake you." Buffy said.
"Well, like Tara said the only way to get out of this is to experience what the other is feeling. I do that kind of thing on a daily basis. It's the only sure fire method any of us know." Spike said.
Buffy glared at him with all the furry she could muster trying to mentally smack that smirk off of Spike's face and when did he get so good at that?
"He's right Buffy. We've concluded that that is what's going on here." Willow said in a hushed voice not wanting to incur the wrath of Buffy that was currently brewing in the small blonde Slayer's head.
She growled, really growled, at Spike and then let out a frustrated sigh.
"One day, when you least expected it, I'm gonna get you for this Slayer." Buffy said in the lowest tone her voice would go.
It didn't really convey much of a threat considering the voice was made for a preppy Southern California girl.
"Empty threats. You can't kill me. If you do we may never get back to our dimension. I don't think you wanna stay in that body although I gotta say even with the blinding pylon colors it is an improvement from the black Goth look you had going on." Spike said.
"You're not really one to talk. Look in a mirror lately. Oh that's right you can't cause you're a vampire." Buffy said.
"Anybody else find this conversation very disturbing." Xander asked.
"I think I speak for everyone when I say yeah." Riley said.
"Good just checking." Xander said.
"Buffy why don't you go with Riley. I mean Spike is right on this instance. Maybe experiencing what the other goes through will get you home sooner." Willow said.
"But I'm tired. I just worked a double shift at a place that smells worse then a Fyral demon and I'm tired." Buffy said.
"Well I'm always tired and I still slay. Just a part of the job." Spike said with a slight air of superiority.
"Yeah as if you can call what you do slaying. More like..." Spike whapped Buffy in the head before she could finish her sentence giving her a glare as he did so.
"OW!" Buffy said giving Spike a meaningful look.
It took two seconds before Spike caught on and followed up with, "Ow, that hurts. Stupid chip." Spike said not really feeling any pain, but trying his best to act like he did.
"That'll teach you not to hit people." Anya said.
"I forgot about the chip." Spike said.
"Serves you right." Buffy said.
"This coming from a hundred and something year-old vampire." Spike said.
"I don't know if I can take much more of this. Look if you aren't going to help me with the Suvolte demon then I have to go because it's out there attack innocent people." Riley said.
"Oh you can't handle a Suvolte demon by yourself. Those things are dangerous. I don't even know if I can handle that kind of demon. Even with my Slayer strength I might be powerless against it. I think Spike should go with us." Buffy said turning to Spike with an evil grin on her face.
"You're joking right. That's not my job. Not the Slayer... ... ... well anymore considering I'm in this body." Spike said.
"Well you're looking for redemption and being curled up in the house all day can't be good. You're probably going crazy just looking for something to kill." Buffy said.
"Yeah you if you don't shut up."
"Empty threats." Buffy said resisting the urge to stick her tongue out at him.
"She's right to Spike. If you're feeling the urge to kill something you should do it. Remember it's about going through what the other is going through." Tara said.
"Tara, I know you mean well, but as a trained professional I'm not allowed to team up with vampires." Riley said.
"Well then I can't go, because in a technical sense I'm a vampire." Buffy said sitting down in the nearest chair.
"And I'm a vampire in the literal sense." Spike said sitting down.
"You're going! That's finally! You'll do the being in the other's shoes thing and help Riley fight this demon! I don't want to hear anymore complaints. The rest of us will be here researching a way to send you back home." Willow said resolve face firmly intact and voice daring anyone to argue.
"Yeah, okay let's get weapons." Buffy said.
"Right behind you."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The three people walked in silence with the occasional stare. Spike, despite his earlier protests, was practically bouncing on the balls of his feet in anticipation for a fight.
"Could you quit that? It's distracting." Buffy hissed to him.
"I can't. I'm all juiced up to fight. I didn't even realize that I wanted to fight this much. Is this what it always feels like. Are you always this jumpy?" Spike asked.
"Most of the time. Usually more to do some damage to some unsuspecting innocent person, but you know the chip. And speaking of the chip, it has to go off whenever you hit me you do know that right?" Buffy said.
"Yeah I forgot. Clutch my head in pain whenever I hit something human." Spike said.
"And try not to hit me at all." Buffy said.
"Well I wouldn't have to if you weren't about to tell them... ... ... things that you shouldn't tell them." Spike said.
"Sorry, but I had to prove a point. You don't really slay as much as you," Buffy cut off her sentence when she saw Spike's hand raised in the air.
"Sorry I won't say anything. You already know what I mean." Buffy said.
"Will you two be quiet? I think I've tracked it. It should be over there somewhere." Riley said pointing to the woods.
"Of course you're a big demon lets hide out in the woods. Is there any special way to kill it that I should know about?" Spike asked.
"Big, blunt, objects should do the trick. Maybe some shiny, sharp, ones too." Buffy said.
"We aren't here to kill it." Riley said.
"WHAT!" Buffy and Spike said at the same time in a shocked almost outraged tone of voice.
"It laid eggs. We have to find those then we can kill it. If those eggs hatch we're going to have one hell of a problem. The multiple faster then bunnies." Riley said.
"So the plan is to risk our necks putting a tracking device on the momma bear and then tracking it to it's nest to kill it's babies and then possibly get said necks broke. I think I'll pass and just kill it now." Buffy said.
"Yeah I mean it's not like we can't go to Willy's for information as to where this nest is. Let's just kill it." Spike said.
"It's faster to just put the tracking device on the Suvolte that we find and follow it to the eggs." Riley said with irritation clearly in his voice.
"Faster innit always better." Buffy said. It was hard to tell whether it was an innuendo or not.
"Look this is the way we're going to do it. Can I count on you two to back me up?" Riley asked.
A minute or two passed where Buffy and Spike just looked back and forth at each other. Riley wasn't sure what was going on so he stood there, his hip jutted out just a little and his arms across his chest with his foot tapping a little. He was radiating a wave of impatience, but Buffy and Spike didn't really care. He was a stranger to them both.
"Sure, but I get to say I told you so if you get your neck broken." Buffy said walking into the woods.
"I don't remember her being like this." Riley said suddenly realizing how stupid that statement was.
"Well, duh, we're from an alternate dimension." Spike said walking behind her.
"I really don't know how much more of this I can take." Riley said.
"Oh cheer up. How bad can seeing your ex-girlfriend be?" Riley turned around to see a tall woman with dark brown hair and a slight Eastern European accent standing behind.
"Very hard, Sam. Turns out it's not my ex-girlfriend. It's a different person from a different dimension with the same name as her." Riley said.
"Riley was that English?" Sam asked.
"Apparently yes it was English. Let's go before Spike starts hacking up everything in sight."
Riley said pulling Sam along with him. They entered the woods to find Spike with his hands over his ears and Buffy sniffing around.
"What are you two doing?" Riley asked.
"It's very loud." Spike said.
"Who's that?" Buffy said pointing to Sam.
"Oh, well, Buffy this is Sam. Sam this is Buffy." Riley said.
"Nice to meet you Buffy." Sam said sticking out her hand politely to have Buffy shake it. Buffy stared at her weirdly before accepting the handshake.
"Okay so that answers what her name is, but who is she?" Buffy asked again.
"Well, Buffy Sam's sort of my wife." Riley said fidgeting nervously. Buffy stared at him for a second before bursting out in hysterical laughter.
"You know what that means right?" She yelled to Spike who was standing behind her.
"Yes, I know what that means." Spike said snidely.
"That's too funny." Buffy said between bursts of laughter.
"Shut up." Spike growled at her.
"I know I should, but... ... ... whoa." Buffy said as she fell backwards.
Spike caught her.
"What's wrong now?" Spike asked.
"Strange suffocating feeling. Not, heartbreak, but I don't know something different." Buffy said.
"You think you can stand?" Spike asked.
"Yeah just give me a sec." Buffy said.
"Buffy, we don't have a second. Suvolte demons at twelve o'clock." Riley screamed.
"What's twelve o'clock?" Spike asked.
"That means they're right behind us." Buffy replied.
"I thought so." Spike said lifting Buffy to her feet and turning around.
There, standing in front of them in all their ugly glory, were two of the ugliest looking demons Spike and Buffy had ever seen or faced. They were purple and looked remarkably like some alien they'd seen in some movie. Drool, or possibly saliva was coming out of what appeared to be their mouths.
"Oh this doesn't look good." Buffy said.
"No, not good at all. Still dizzy?" Spike asked.
"Um, if I say yeah will yeah hold me again." Buffy said.
"Not now." Spike said.
"I can fight." Buffy said as she straightened herself up before almost falling again.
"Maybe I should sit this one out." Buffy said heading for a good place to sit.
"I guess it's just you and me then, Spike." Riley said throwing himself into battle.
"Well, when you put it like that." Spike said throwing himself into the scrimmage as well.
Fists flew in the air and landed with easy on the big ugly demons. Kicks landed on their targets and Spike and Riley fought the demons. Riley tried his hardest to put a tracking device on one of them while Spike fought of the other.
Sam went to sit next to Buffy making sure that Buffy was okay and totally ignoring the heated glares Buffy was throwing her way. She was too caught up in watching the fight to really care how mad Buffy was at her.
The fighting seemed to go on for hours when in reality it was only a few minutes before Spike said, "Oh for crying out loud. This isn't going to work."
Spike ran over to where Riley was failing at keeping the Suvolte off of him for longer then five seconds. Spike grabbed the demon from behind and snapped its neck.
"Spike! We want theses things alive." Riley yelled.
"Yeah, well it wanted you dead." Spike yelled back.
"Go hold off that one while I see if this one is the female or not." Riley said.
Spike listened and went back over to where the demon was howling in pain over the death of its mate. More punches were thrown before Spike got it in what looked like the chocker hold.
"Hurry it up over there!" Spike yelled at Riley as the demon tried to wiggle free from Spike's grasp.
Riley sliced open the demons stomach to reveal that it was the female and definitely not carrying any eggs.
"Damn it! This is the female and she doesn't have any eggs. Shit! This is all your fault Spike." Riley screamed and began ranting.
Spike was barely listening as he fought to keep a hold of the demon in his arms. He was sorry that he had killed the demon, he really was, but Riley didn't have to be such an ass about it. Spike was sure that a talk with Willy would straighten out where the missing eggs were in a jiffy.
Then a truly evil though and possibly feeling washed over Spike. //Let go of the demon. Let it rip and tear through that asshole's flesh. Let it kill him. You don't like him anyway. He's part of the Initiative. The guys who put the chip in you head. Just let go of the demon.//
Spike fought to keep holding it, but the vengeance that was seeping through him made him let go of it and just stand there and watch as it ran towards Riley with the purpose of killing the other man. Spike felt the evil smirk curling on his face and tried hard to fight it, but the feeling that he was gaining vengeance on the man was too great and he just had to smirk.
"Spike, help him!" Buffy screamed as she watched the demon rip and tear at Riley.
Riley was screaming in excruciating pain at that point and he couldn't do anything to throw the demon off of him. Sam ran over to where the demon and Riley lay on the ground only to be thrown like a sack of potatoes against a tree.
"Crap." Buffy muttered as she got up and charged at the demon.
There was a slight fight before Buffy used the sword she brought along and stabbed the demon till the sword was coming out of the other side and puncturing the ground. Buffy yanked the sword out and ran over to Riley.
"Are you okay?" She asked. Riley didn't answer her.
He seemed to have passed out from pain and he was bleeding everywhere.
"Oh god, Riley!" Sam screamed running over to her husband and clutching him close to her. Buffy walked backwards and made her way to Spike. He was standing there with game face on and snarling like a maniac.
"Spike, are you okay?" Buffy asked.
Spike turned his head to look at her and an evil smile lit up his face. It was something, that if Buffy hadn't been Elizabeth the Bloody, would have made her quiver in fear.
"Does it matter if he's okay? Look at Riley. He's bleeding and he could be dead." Sam yelled.
"It wasn't him. Something possessed him to make him do this. The Spike I know would never do that. He just has to calm down." Buffy said petting Spike's arm lightly.
"He's a vampire, Buffy. Vampires aren't nice or friendly they're evil. They're evil." Sam yelled her voice quivering slightly.
Buffy decided it would be best to just ignore her.
"Spike, come on Spike you have to stop this." Buffy said.
Suddenly Spike was looking at her with guileless and worried eyes. The scent of bloody hit him hard.
"Oh god what happened?" Spike asked.
"You let Riley get mauled by a demon that's what happened!" Sam yelled.
"I what... ... ... no I would never do that. I wouldn't let someone die." Spike said with a frantic tone in his voice.
"Spike, it's okay. What feelings were you get at the time?" Buffy asked.
"I was feeling this strong feeling of trying to get revenge. I... ... ... I don't know why. I just was. Then all of a sudden I didn't have a hold of the demon anymore and... ... ... then I was standing here growling and you were yelling at me." Spike said. Buffy looked at Spike's eyes and knew that he was telling the truth.
"Oh God, he's not breathing. Buffy Riley's not breathing." Sam yelled. Buffy turned to see Sam holding Riley close.
"I can hear his heart. The beating's very slow." Spike said staring off into space.
"Spike I need you strong right now. I don't know what to do. I'm not good with taking care of humans." Buffy said.
"I... ... ... I ... ... ... I can't be here." Spike said wiggling out of Buffy's grasp and running farther into the woods.
"Spike! Get back here! I can't do this alone!" Buffy yelled hoping that Spike would come back.
"Buffy, we have to get Riley to a hospital." Sam said. Buffy was still staring at the path that Spike had taken when something clicked in her head and shook her out of her thoughts.
"Do you have a car?" Buffy asked.
"Yeah I do." Sam said.
"Okay let's get him in the car. I'll drive." Buffy said helping Sam pick up Riley.
They began to carry him off to the car. Buffy gave one last look to the path before walking off with Riley and Sam. She knew that Spike was physically strong, but his emotional state was shot at that moment. She just hoped that he didn't encounter any demons in his little run through the woods.
Or humans for that matter.
A/N: You knew this was going to happen. You knew I wanted to have Riley die/tortured/ or at least maimed a little. It was just too good of an opportunity to pass up. Hope everyone enjoyed it. I really lie right gory/fight stuff. Does that make me insane? Oh who cares as long as I write stuff like that right? Anyway just send me a review if you want the next chapter. Should be a dozy.