Title: The Next Mission
Post-NFA(Follows the events of Dragons, Funerals, and Family one month later.)
Chapter two: To Grieve in L.A
A small town outside of Mexico City...
BAM! Spike gets thrown into the side of a near by building. As Spike slides down the wall he clearly starts to assess the situation. Before him are four hulking gray demons each about six foot five all wearing metal helmets. Apparently this particular demon has no top to its skull leaving its brain exposed. About twenty feet behind the demons are their leader, puny in comparison, almost skeleton like, and only five foot six. And he is about to complete a ritual that will cause every first-born child to die in its sleep. No matter what's marked on your house, no one will be passed over. 'Ok' Spike thought 'how would Peaches handle this?' Spike runs up to the nearest demon clocking him with a right hook, and then crushing his left knee with a swift kick. A second demon came up behind Spike, just to get a kick to the side of his head as Spike spins around from his first opponent. Knocking the helmet off the demon and in the process exposing its brain, Spike flips his wrist and out pops a railroad spike (ala Angel episode one except a spike instead of a stake, or like wolverine except his weapon is below his hand instead of top.) Raising his hand in the air Spike drives the spike into its brain, killing it instantly. Spike turns around just to have a brief conference with a gray fist and meeting with his old friend the wall. With another flick of his wrist the railroad spike goes back into his coat sleeve. Three demons remain, the one with the crushed knee is walking with no trouble and the death of their friend has only railed them up. 'OK, screw peaches way!' Spike pulls out a double shotgun and starts unloading into the demons. It wouldn't kill them the only way to kill them is to damage the brain, but your not going to walk around when a shotgun just blew off your leg. The leader raised a dagger, about the spill the blood of a newborn baby thus beginning the ritual. Spike pulls out a desert eagle and shot two rounds directly into the demons eyes. The demon screams in pain as he swipes the dagger randomly hoping to hit his target. Spike runs up to the demon and tackles him down to the ground.
The demons lets out a growl as it's asks, "Using mortal weapons VAMPIRE? Where's the honor?"
Spike shrugs forgetting the now blind demon couldn't see "Can't take chances." Spike says as he slowly takes off the demons helmet. "Too much rides on me winning." Spike smirks "Plus you being blind, kind of funny." Spike delivers the last word as he drives a dagger into the demons brain.
Spike walked into a smoked filled bar with the little baby cradled in his arms. The bell over the door got the attention of a male bartender.
"Oh thank the lord he did it!" The bartender whispered underneath his breath, his Spanish accent thick. "Rosa, Rosa! William's returned!"
A young pretty Spanish woman with almost jet black hair, and warm brown eyes, wearing a light pink t shirt and black jeans runs out of the back. She runs right to Spike and scoops the little baby into her arms. She looks at the little baby in her arms with a wide smile on her face, and tears in her eyes. She plants a big kiss right on Spikes lips, and then with her free arm gave him a big hug.
"Thank you for saving my baby, William." Rosa whispered in his ear before letting go.
Spike looks a bit stunned before replying in a hoarse voice "No problem, pet."
She gives him a bright smile before showing her rescued baby to all of her friends, who've been waiting nervously for the past four hours for Spikes return. Spike slips away from the crowd and sits himself down in the corner of the bar letting out a sigh of relief. Unlike Angel he didn't have a problem being around people and their heartbeats, his time with the chip had made him tolerant to rushing blood and pumping hearts. It was being treated as a hero that made him uncomfortable, he didn't mind the label or a hot Spanish girl giving him a kiss it's the treatment. So many years being feared then rejected and now it's a complete turnaround and he doesn't know how to deal with it. He lets another sigh and sinks into his chair 'Guess I'll get use to it eventually, although missing passions is a bloody bitch.'
"Huh? I thought you ate babies not saved them." A young man said as he sat in the chair across from Spike. Spike inspected the young man with interest; he had dark purple hair and curious blue eyes with a stoic face. Spike knew he looked familiar, but wasn't quite sure, so he leaned slightly over the table and took a big whiff. He smelled like Apples and strawberries a scent that Red used to have, but he also smells like grease and one last thing but what is it? He smells like a wolf? He's a werewolf!
"You're Red's mutt right?" Spike asked as he lit a cigarette.
The young man raises an eyebrow "Red?"
Spike looks annoyed "Red! You know Willow! About so high, cute with gorgeous emerald eyes."
Oz gives a faint smile before replying "Yea I am...was her 'mutt'. Now back to the question when did you go saving kids?"
Spike smirks "Well it all started with a girl..." Spike goes on to tell pretty much all of the past events, skipping over the abuse part of his and Buffy's relationship, ending it with Angel's Death by the hands of the senior partners.
"So what your taking Angel's place as champion?"
"Something like that." Spike mumbled as he took a shot of tequila. "Look I would love to continue this conversation, but I gotta get back to my room I gotta phone call to make." And with that Spike got up and left for the door.
"Spike wait! Its daylight outside you'll burn to death!" OZ Whispered loudly his usual monotone voice had slight edge of panic in it.
Spike turns and looks at OZ "Look trust me, you'll either see a miracle or I'll go up flames. Either way it's going to be a good show." And with that Spike walked out the door. And their Spike stood with the sun shining on him with all it's glory, yet he did not burn.
"How?"
"Well mate that's an interesting question. Short version, miracle; come on mate I got a phone call to make. Follow me mutt and you'll get a better story then anything passions has to offer."
"Better then Angel turning into puppet?"
Spike stops walking and looks at OZ "Nothings better then Angel turning into a bloody puppet."
A few minutes later...Spike and Oz finally reached Spike's motel room when OZ asked "You're a Champion for God?!"
Spike shrugged "Weirder things have happened." Spike opened his door ushering Oz when they both stopped dead in their tracks. Standing in the middle of the room wearing a bright white gown was Tara.
"Tara?" Spike was in awe, his mother and himself have visited him but this is new.
Tara smiled "Hello Spike long time no see."
Spike wasn't sure what to do, he always liked Tara she was nice to him and even showed fear of him, something the rest of the Scooby's stopped showing ages ago. So Spike did the only thing he thought of he ran right up to Tara and hugged her.
Tara gave a soft laugh and returned his hug "Well it's nice seeing you again too."
"Why are you here? I've been a good boy saving lives, mingling with people and all that rot."
Tara smiled "Yes Spike you have been doing a good job, but for once we weren't sent for you I was sent to him." Tara looks at Oz.
"Me?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Spikes been doing great by himself, as most champions do. But the reasons why Angel and Buffy lasted as long as they did are because they had support and friends. Spikes destiny is a bit greater then theirs, a lot greater and in the end will be a little more challenging. I'd say a werewolf who has complete control over his wolf even during transformation, would make a great ally. You have a destiny, Oz and eventually you two would of crossed paths and joined forces, but doing it now just might mean the whole world."
Oz and Spike were extremely quite after Tara's speech each for their own reasons. Oz was thinking 'Could my destiny be so important?' while Spike was thinking 'Holy shit I've never heard Tara talk so much at one time!'
"I know it's a lot to think about, so I'll leave you to it."
Before she could disappear Oz grabbed her hand "I'm sorry you died." Oz said with sincerity.
Before Tara could reply Spike spoke up "Me too, pet. You were one of the good ones. Deserved to die when you were 90 in your sleep. Not shot by some stupid wanker." Spike's voice was soft, but you could hear the anger towards the end.
Tara smiled at both of them. "I'm not sorry, where I am now is peaceful and warm, my mothers there, and so is Joyce. And I've even become good friends with your mother Spike. Anne is very nice and Beautiful."
Spike smiled a genuine smile "That she is, luv."
"You two take care of your self's ok." And with that Tara faded away from sight.
Silence was all there was for a moment till Spike spoke up "So you coming back with me? Going to Join the Justice League Of Spike?"
Oz's eyes almost bulged out of his head when he heard the name.
"What like it's any worse then the Scooby Gang!"
"It's a lot worse then the Scooby Gang."
"Work on name later, you in or not?"
Oz looked at Spike for a minute not sure of what to do till he finally came to a decision. "I'm in."
"Good, now I got to make the Phone call." Spike picked up the phone and began to dial a long distance Phone call to L.A.
"Hey Kathy!"
In L.AA blonde girl about the age of 12 was on the other end.
"Hey Uncle Spike! So did you save the baby?"
Spike Smiled "Yea, bit I saved the brat."
"Darn I was hoping you get there too late. It would have eliminated some of my problems."
Spike chuckles "And how is your brother?"
Kathy huffed "Good grades, Super powers, and he's mooching off his parents lives good for him."
Spike let's out a full blown laugh "Alright, Nibblet, maybe I'll fix up the hotel and get him out of your hair, but till then could you put him on?"
"No problem. CONNER PHONE!!!" Kathy screams.
Spike nearly flew against the wall "Bloody hell nibblet not so freaking loud!"
"Sorry, Spike anyways here he is." Kathy handed the phone to Conner and bounced off to her room.
Conner picked up the phone. "So you save the kid?"
"You're alive aren't you?"
Conner chuckled "Yea guess I am."
"Look nephew we'll be home soon, I was thinking when we get back we could fix up the hotel. It'd be a good base."
"We?"
"Yea we. Got a new recruit my boy, straight from Sunnyhell. Anyways see ya soon." And with that Spike hung up the phone.
Oz raised one eyebrow "Nephew?"
"Yea Angel's kid, Darla was his mom after she was brought back to life as human then resired by Drusilla making her my sister of sorts making him my nephew."
Oz's eyebrows just shot up his face still impassive, but his eyes reveal more then enough emotion. "Our lives are never normal are they?"
Spike smirks "Say's the werewolf to the vampire."
Three Days Later...Spike, Conner, and Oz are cleaning the inside of the Hyperion Hotel, getting it ready to be their new home and base of operations.
"So you see they put the onion in ice water for an hour..." "Hello!" a Texas accent interrupted Spike.
Oz, Spike, and Conner all turn to see a middle age couple standing in the door way. The man put on a big smile "Hi we're the Burkle's, and were looking for our daughter Fred. We went to Wolfram and Hart but the building was a mess. So we figure our Winifred would be here. Uh...unless something happened to her?"
The Woman standing next to him paled a bit "Oh is she all right? And where is Angel, Gunn, and that nice Wesley.
Oz and Conner looked at Spike who in returned just gulped. "Why don't you have a seat, theirs a few things we need to talk about."
The couple just looked at each other and then back to Spike and nodded slowly. They both sat down on the couch in the middle of room. Spike pulled a chair right in front of them and sat. 'Shit how I'm going to do this what am I going to say?'
Spike took an unnecessary breath "I'm sorry I have to tell you this, but Fred's dead, they're all dead." The remorse clear in his eyes. The woman let out a scream, which was muffled by her hand and started crying like she needed to refill a river. The husband just held her close, shock and sadness on his face. He tried to keep himself stern he had to know how.
The man looked right into Spike's eyes and asked, "How did my baby girl die?"
Spike thought hard about how to answer this, could he tell them that a demon destroyed her soul? That he and Angel tried, but couldn't save her? Could he tell them that? He decided that he couldn't, so he said the only thing he could think of "She saved the world." It was only a have truth Spike told himself, If Illyria was pulled from her body thousands if not millions of people would have died. So in a way she did save the world or at least a huge part of it.
The man sniffed and seemed to accept Spike's answer he only nodded.
"She has a grave here next to Angel, Gunn, Wesley, and Cordeila. I could show it to you if you'd like. The Burkle's only nodded.
"Oz could you get your van?" Oz nodded and went to get it. Spike turned to the Burkle's "Did you drive here?" Once again they only nodded. Spike closed his eyes not sure if he can handle this situation. "Ok you're going to follow me and oz out to the cemetery ok?" Spike looked over to Conner "Go home Nephew, we're done for tonight." Conner nodded and left, all this talk of her death was bringing back pain and he just needed some time.
The drive to the cemetery was quite Oz and Spike stayed in the van while The Burkle's went to pay their respects to their daughter.
Oz looked over at Spike "Are you ok man?"
Spike slowly shook his head "No I'm not ok. I don't know how to bloody do this, this was Angel's gig it was his thing to help people. I kill things that's all I'm good for." He closed his eyes for a second and sank into the seat. "I don't think I was the one that was supposed to of survived. It should have been Angel."
"But your alive, you're the one who lived so it's destiny. It's your destiny to be a champion now."
Spike snorted, "There's no such thing as fate and destiny you make your own destiny."
"Then you made yourself a champion."
Spike never thought of it like that before, he always thought that maybe it was a mix up and Angel was supposed to be the one here saving the world. Maybe he was wrong, maybe he was the one meant to be here. Maybe he wasn't second best, just this once maybe.
"Never thought of it like that before." Spike murmured quietly. "It's different for me, im not like Angel."
Oz chuckles "I've noticed."
A small smile appears on Spikes face. "That's not what I mean, my demon and my soul are one. I don't have two entities in me struggling for power. Their one being..." Spike stops and looks at Oz "I'm not a vampire with a soul, and I haven't been since Sunnyhell burned down. What ever that light was, that light that burned me it changed me. I don't know what I am, but I don't have a demon and a soul I have something else. Something new."
Oz looked at Spike for a very long time trying to understand what he was hearing. "Maybe that's why you're here now. Maybe that's why you're a champion, you're an anomaly."
"Maybe..." Spike trailed off as he saw The Burkle's getting back into their car. "Let's go home, Oz. I'm suddenly tired." Oz only nodded and started driving back to the Hyperion.
So they drove in silence all the way back to the hotel. As they were reaching the hotel they were passing by THE alley when Spike felt something.
"Oz stop the van." When the van stopped Spike got out of the car and turned to Oz. "I'll be there in a minute mate something's out here."
"Should I get Conner?"
Spike turned to look into the darkness of the alleyway, the alleyway was cold not in temperature it was just cold. No matter how long after the battle, death can be felt there, death and loss.
"No mate won't need Conner for this." Spike closed the door and turned back to Oz "Go home I'll be there soon ok?"
Oz nodded "Ok, be careful."
Spike flashed Oz a cocky grin "Careful? Where's the fun in that?"
Oz just shook his head in amusement and drove off.
Spike started walking into the alleyway a dark figure curled on the ground in the middle of the alley. As Spike approaches he sees her clear as day. She has beautiful raven hair and a blood red Victorian dress with black lace. She's crying and whimpering and talking to herself. She looks right up to Spike her eyes tormented, her lips trembling, and her cheeks being bombarded with tears.
Spike felt a pang in his head. Tears forming in his eyes as well when he finally croaked out "Dru." He still loves his sire and still feels a connection to her, he may not be IN love with her anymore but he knows. Drusilla's 'daddy' is dead and he needs to fix her.
"Spike, it's dark, Spike so dark. Everything is black and taste of ashes and whirl's and screams at me. Stars singing of his bravery and shadows whispering of how they're happy he's gone. Both gone GONE the Angel-beast and daddy blowing away and I reach and reach, but I can't get a hold of him. It's dark here, William it's dark because their gone. My daddy and grand mum all gone and nasty leaving poor princess alone with shadows that torment her so." She looks up to Spike with a clarity that he's never seen in her before, and that's a tear slips from his. "Everything I love is dead, everyone I love is dead, except you." She grabs Spike hand pulls him to the ground, and repositions her self into his lap. She places her head into the crook of his neck and has a tight grip around his torso. "You're alive all I have left, and I won't let you die. No can't let my Light knight, tarnished poet, dark prince fade away I've got to be a good mummy now take care of you." Drusilla places a kiss on Spike's Neck and smiles.
"I've got to take care of my Champion."
TCB......
A/N: So what do you think of Spike's crew? Conner, Oz, and Drusilla possibly more members to join later possibly not. As for the Immortal thing I plan to a have a mini arc inside my story that deals with him and a major ass kicking. Yes his ass will be kicked, no he's not the main villain in this story so it's not relevant if his ass gets kicked. Please give feedback I love it, unless it's bad feedback then I plan deaths. Good feedbacks involve cookies...for me.
P.S Who should Spike's love interest be? Give me some ideas and I'll see how it works out.
