Something Unpredictable

Chapter 2: Comfort Before the Storm

By: Rogue-Slayer13

Disclaimer: The characters of Btvs and Ats belong to Joss Whedon, not myself.

Summary: I decided to rewrite this fic. It goes from Not Fade Away onwards and has a few changes that weren't on the show, mainly, Cordelia gets to stay, Lorne doesn't leave, and Wesley doesn't die fighting Vail.

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Fred was sitting in the lobby playing with the hem of her dress when Wesley came up to her.

"Fred?" Fred turned at the sound of her name.

"What?" asked the Texan.

"I'm glad you're back," said Wesley as he pulled Fred into a hug which she didn't return.

"Me too." Fred's reply was hollow, as if it were automatic or a recording.

"What's wrong?"

"How could you do it?"

"Pardon me?" Wesley gave Fred a puzzled look.

"I saw what you did to Gunn, and Knox, and that employee."

"You don't know what it was like."

"I don't know what it was like? Wesley, I was the one that got hollowed out by the god-king. I saw what it did to you guys, but I couldn't do anything to comfort you and there wasn't anyone there for me," Fred's eyes began to water. "I was trapped in my own body. I-I screamed, but n-no one could hear me. It was like yall forgot about me." Fred began to full out cry. "You couldn't see past Illyria to find me. I was just . . . gone. You may have lost me Wesley, but I lost everyone." Fred got up and turned to hurry upstairs.

"Fred wait!" Wesley reached out to touch Fred's arm, but she pushed him away with Illyria like strength.

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"What brought her back?" asked Angel.

"I'm not sure," replied Willow. "The only thing I can think of is that it was the spell."

"How would that do it?" asked Gunn.

"It was a banishing spell. It banishes anything that doesn't belong in this dimension back to where it came from," explained Willow. "But I didn't think it'd completely get rid of Illyria.

"It didn't," said Wesley as he walked into the office.

"What do you mean?" asked Lorne.

"She got upset while talking to me and I went to touch her and she nearly threw me across the room." Wesley sounded upset.

"Give her some time to calm down and then I want you to check her out," Angel addressed Willow.

"I'll see what I can do."

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"How is she?" asked Wesley as Willow came out of Fred's room.

"Heightened senses and strength, other then that, she's just plain old Fred," replied Willow.

"She hates me," said Wesley quietly as he looked at Fred's door.

"What?"

"She hates me," repeated Wesley.

"You don't know that," said Willow. "She's been through a lot. It'll take her a little bit to adjust."

"You didn't see the way she looked at me. She was repulsed by it."

Willow put a comforting hand on Wesley's shoulder.

"I know how you feel. I was in the same boat as you once, and I felt the exact same way, but it's not always what it seems. I was sure my friends would hate me for what I did, but they didn't. I'll admit, things are different now from how they were, but they're getting back to how it was before. It'll be the same with you and Fred."

Wesley watched as Willow walked back down the hall.

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"What do we know so far?" asked Angel.

"Besides a few heightened abilities, Fred's just herself," said Willow. "But I can't figure out why."

"We can start researching in the morning," said Angel. "But I think it would do us good to get some sleep."

"Smartest thing you've said since I got here," said Faith as she left the office.

"I'll show her to her room," said Gunn as he followed Faith upstairs.

Cordelia looked after Gunn with a bemused smile.

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Spike was lying on his bed fully dressed. He'd taken off his boots, but he hadn't even bothered to get under the covers. He didn't feel like sleeping, but his body felt differently. The hotel had been silent for some time when someone opened the door to his room and then quickly shut it behind them.

"Spike, are you awake?" whispered Fred.

"Yeah Luv." Spike looked over at the Texan.

Fred looked at him and then down at her hands.

"Can I sleep in here?" If Spike hadn't been a vampire, he wouldn't have even heard her.

Spike looked at how fragile and scared Fred looked standing at the foot of his bed.

"Sure Pet."

Fred came over and slipped under the covers, while Spike remained on top of them.

"Good night Spike."

"Night Pet."

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Fred woke up to find that Spike was already up and gone. She got up and went back to her room to change into some of the clothes Willow had gotten for her and brushed her teeth before heading downstairs.

"You look bright eyed and bushy tailed," commented Lorne.

"Thanks," replied Fred as she went over and sat on the opposite end of the couch as Spike.

Wesley eyed the two intently.

"Has anyone wondered why we haven't run into to any more demon hordes?" asked Xander.

"Maybe we're just lucky like that," said Andrew hopefully.

"I think something's up," said Gunn. "What do you think Wes?"

Wesley looked away from Fred and looked at the others.

"That's a possibility," said Wesley.

"I'm going to star researching what's going on with Fred," said Willow. "Anybody want to help?"

"I'll give you a hand," said Faith.

"Me too," said Gunn. "Haven't hit the books in a while."

"If you don't mind, I'd rather not be here while yall research me," said Fred as she got up and left the office.

"I'll go with 'er," said Spike as he followed Fred out of the office.

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Spike found Fred standing in the lobby looking at nothing in particular.

"Whatcha doin' Pet?" asked Spike as he stopped behind Fred.

"Do you ever get the feeling you're on the edge of something really bad happening?" asked Fred.

"Only everyday I'm 'ere," replied Spike. "Why?"

"Ever since I got back, I've had this feeling of dread that I can't shake." Fred turned to look at Spike. "It's like this is just the calm before the storm and I'm terrified."

Spike couldn't help, but think back to when he was the one terrified of an unknown fear and Fred was the one comforting him.

"I won't let anything happen to you Fred." Spike looked her directly in the eyes. "I promise."

Fred gave a somewhat relieved smile.

"You always keep a promise to a lady?"

"Always."

A scream loud enough to make your ears bleed erupted from behind Spike causing him to spin around.

"Spike!"

"Nibblet?"

Dawn ran toward Spike and threw her arms around his neck with such force that the two nearly fell to the ground.

"Oh my God! I've missed you so much!"

"I've missed you too, Nibblet," said Spike as Dawn let go of him.

"And you didn't call why?"

Spike looked up to see Buffy standing by the door with her arms folded across her chest and a very pissed look on her face.

"It's a long story," said Spike.

This only seemed to outrage Buffy, who stormed across the lobby.

"I've got time."

"I'm gonna go upstairs," said Fred as she turned and hurried up the stairs.

"Fred wait!" called Spike as he turned to follow after her, but stopped as he heard a door slam upstairs.

"Who was that?" asked Buffy, not really caring about the answer.

Spike looked torn between going after Fred and staying and talking to Buffy and Dawn. Instead he let out a sigh and went off to have a smoke.

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"Buffy! What are you doing here?" asked Cordelia in surprise.

"Just trying to figure out why my friends up and disappeared," replied Buffy.

"We can explain," said Andrew quickly. "Well, Xander can explain."

Buffy turned her attention to Xander.

"Buffster, I know Angel isn't high on your list of trustables right now, but Wolfram Hart are trying to destroy the world."

"Why am I not surprised," replied Buffy dryly. "Besides, doesn't really look like we're in the middle of an apocalypse here."

No sooner had the words left Buffy's mouth, the ground began to shake and the sky darkened.

"I retract that last statement."

"Well, things were going smoothly," said Faith.

"We should've known that wouldn't have lasted very long," said Wesley.

"Spike!" called Angel as he got up and walked out into the lobby followed by the rest of the group.

Fred also came down stairs to see what was going on.

"Fred, have you seen Spike?" asked Angel as he steady himself by holding onto the front desk.

"No," replied Fred as she managed to walk half way toward Angel. "I went upstairs so they could talk." Fred nodded toward Buffy.

"Spike!" shouted Angel.

"No need to scream Peaches. I'm right 'ere," said Spike as he came into the lobby from having a smoke.

The building began to shake with more force and light fixtures began to fall off the walls. A bolt dropped by Spike's foot and he looked up to see it had come from the chandelier, which hung right above where Fred was standing. Without even thinking, Spike took off across the lobby and knocking Fred out of the way just as the chandelier fell. Fred was breathing heavily and other then being startled was fine. As Spike knocked her down, he'd turned so that he hit the floor and Fred landed on top of him. Fred looked down at Spike who had his hands firmly planted on her waist.

"Are you okay?" asked Spike as he let go of Fred and the two stood up.

"I'm fine. Are you?" asked Fred.

"Peachy keen."

Fred looked at the chandelier that lay smashed on the floor.

"That could've killed me," said Fred in awe.

"Could've, but I promised I wouldn't let anything 'appen to ya."

"I know you won't," replied Fred.

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To Be Continued . . .

This is Spike/Fred, but Wesley isn't going to be alone, I swear. You've just got to read and see.

Love it? Hate it? Tell me what you think!