8. Reflections and Repercussions – Part 2 - Spike

Well, I couldn't very well sleep after that. I spent the rest of the night basically thinking too much, as per usual, only one thing was different, this time I was thinking about Spike. The emotions that vampire brought out in me were not pretty; burning fiery hate. Of everything and everyone he was the one thing I truly hated and wished dead and had wished myself dead over, hate and shame were both majors themes here and the sick joke was none of it had happened yet. It was so not gonna happen this time, this reality. But what the hell was he doing here now? This wasn't right. I had to speak to Giles.

'Morning Buffy, you're here early' Giles greeted me at 7.30am in the library.

'I know, but I need to talk to you,' Ah perhaps she's ready to tell me what has been bothering her? Giles wondered, but soon knew it wasn't as Buffy explained about her dream and Spike.

'But didn't you tell me that Spike and Drusilla were due to arrive sometime in September? What makes you think that this dream means they are here now? Might you not simply be projecting things as a result of your, err, vision.' I glared at him, what did he think I was, new at this?

'No, I know Spike is here now, I just know,' Giles frowned, obviously considering the implications, and not liking it much better than me. He looked up after a minute,

'Well, it isn't good but I don't see how this changes things really,'

'It changes everything Giles, this isn't what I remember! It's got to mean something right? Did something I do change something?'

'It's possible Buffy, of course, equally possible is that fact that this, or our reality rather, is different to the one you experienced, in which case we can't expect things to be the same,'

'This is so unfair,' Giles smiled slightly, it wasn't a happy look though,

'No, but life is such,' I held my hand up not wanting to hear anymore of that kinda vein of thought,

'I know Giles, I know!' Talk to the hand cos I don't wanna hear it.

Meanwhile, somewhere under Sunnydale in the ruins of an ancient church, the master was greeting a couple of new arrivals.

'Well well, Spike, what is it that brings you to my town? It's a long way from where I last saw you, rampaging through Europe if I recall?' The vampire shrugged and flicked his cigarette end into the shadows.

'Yeah, well, I, felt like a change, thought this place might be good for Dru, been hearin things too, some slayer making waves?'

'She will be taken care of.' The master spoke with a venom and disgust in his voice,

'Really, I heard that she already took out some of you're bestest buddies, Darla? Luke?' He looked almost pained at the memory, as if he felt at their deaths.

'She was my favourite, but she was careless, weak,'

'I'll be takin care of this slayer then,' Spike stated, sounding like he had already planned what particular kind of death he had in mind for her,

'No Spike, I have my own plans for her,' He considered the master for a second before shrugging,

'Whatever you say mate,' and with that he turned and guided Dru out of the cavernous darkness, 'doesn't mean I can't have a bit of fun of my own,' he muttered smirking.

This was bad, I wasn't sure just how bad yet but it didn't really matter. Spike meant trouble, I felt like I'd rather hide in a big hole o' crap than deal with him. Course this is stupid, I can deal, I'm the slayer; the rest is coming from a place of pain and despair that just doesn't exist, or it shouldn't. I guess the real world isn't ideal, hardly what with all those pesky demons running around, and for some reason I can't just dismiss Spike's part in my personal hell, vision or no vision.

It comes back down to the question of just what he is doing here, now. Was it because of me? Of course it's because if you, you silly idiot. Boy, Spike sure does bring out the best kind of self hatred. So there any unoccupied holes in the ground hereabouts that I could hide in? Actually, that's not a good question in a graveyard that has a way above average amount of risen vampires, and still counting, there's more vacant holes in the ground here than a dodgy construction site.

I just want to go home, curl up in my bed and pretend this isn't happening, but I'm not gonna do that. It just isn't in me to do that right now. I have to fight, to fight him and prove that he will never win, to get him out of town. I have enough to deal with.

I'm only hanging around here in the hope that he appears and I can get to the ass kicking. I have good instincts.

'Well, well, well,' drawled the voice, I sneered in disgust, you could hear the smirk and turning I see him, I was right, there he is, smirking at me, leaning against a monument, fag hanging out of one side of his mouth. 'Isn't this a pretty sight? Does your mommy know you are out this late?'

'Oh funny, spare me the pathetic dialogue Spike, I have better things to do,' He looked slightly taken aback before putting the conceited smirk back on his face and pretending like he wasn't the least bit unnerved. Huh, good, I hope he is; arrogant wanker.

'You know me do you? I don't believe I've had the pleasure slayer.' Yeah and you never will, arsehole.

I put on a slight air of boredom, casually waving my stake around, just to give him the message that this conversation wasn't gonna end without a fight. Sure it might not end with a big pile of dust or him running out of town with his tail between his legs but it was definitely somewhere to start.

'Awww no did I spoil your fun? Sounds like you do know me, wanker, so that gets the pleasantries out of the way,' His face didn't change but his stance did, which told me all I needed to know, he didn't like this one bit. Hah!

'Sure you got me right pet? I'm a lot worse than you think; I've killed 2 slayers and it's about time I made it a hat trick,'

'Oh yeah right 2 slayers, but you know what Spike, you don't scare me, I can take you, I've got more than enough in me to kill you, and I will kill you.'

Huh, I'd omitted the word hate there, hate in me. No need to give him the idea that he creates such hate in me. He was shaking his head,

'I don't think…'

'That's just it Spike, you don't think, you shouldn't have come here.'

'I know, you have better things to do, but I tell you what, as we're such great friends now, as a personal favour from me to you, I'll make it quick. It won't hurt a bit,' he drawled as his face morphing into his 'demonic visage'.

'No Spike, it's gonna hurt a lot.' He growled and lunged, anger making him sloppy. I ducked and evaded him easily. We exchanged a few blows and punches. I flipped over a gravestone and kicked him in the face on my way down. Landing with agility that never seems to transfer to my 'normal' life I was able to keep one step ahead of the blonde vampire, I punched his face and chest in such quick succession that I could feel his resolve weakening, particularly when I heard several ribs crack. He fell to the floor, I kicked him,

'Get up, piece of shit,' I shouted at him, kicking again. Suddenly I felt my legs pulled out from under me and I landed with a thud on the hard ground. Annoyed, I got up, quickly tripping him as he tried to rise.

'I don't think so,' I said feeling a grim and great satisfaction in knowing Spike was about to die, at my hands.

'Buffy!' Giles? I looked around for a split second, spotting Giles as he came out from behind a bush, as I turned my back I saw Spike in the corner of my eye, getting ready to elbow my face in. With a speed that surprised me I dodged it smacking down on his arm with such force I heard it break and catching the crossbow Giles had offered I aimed it at him as he tried to make a hasty retreat.

Aiming at his heart I fired it and watched it speed its way towards him, just as I assumed he was dust he turned round catching the arrow just before he got all dusty and snapping it. He gave me a fleeting smirk, though it definitely wasn't like the previous one it was there nonetheless and he carried on running. I started after him but Giles stopped me.

'There'll be another chance to kill him Buffy; you did a good job at letting him know that,' I turned to see him considering me, he so knew there was something more going on, why I wanted to kill Spike way more than any other vampire.

'I can't believe I let him go,' I said furious with myself and mildly annoyed at Giles too, I could have caught up with Spike; I can run pretty damn fast,

'Well, the bad news is that I'm sure he'll be back for you to finish the job,' He replied still fixing me with his questioning gaze. I could tell he really wasn't going to let this go, but how could I possibly tell him the real reason I hated Spike so much?

'Not a bad day's work I suppose,' I conceded, 'He won't forget me anyway,' Not sure if that's a good thing or not, but hopefully it'll keep him away for a while.

'There's something you aren't telling me,' Giles stated as we walked away, I glanced at him,

'Yeah,' I said, hoping he wasn't gonna push it, 'I can't, not yet anyway,' He nodded, as we reached his car,

'When you are ready to tell me I am here,' I smiled, getting in the passenger side, 'My mind is always open, it has to be in this job Buffy, I am your guide, I am here to help you, and, I do not judge.' Where did that come from? It's almost as if he's read my mind, like he knows or something but that's so not possible. He couldn't even begin to imagine the hell associated with that vampire.

The following morning found me going into the library with a little trepidation; it was slightly unnerving knowing that Giles knew something, but then, it was also reassuring too. He was the one thing in my life that would probably never change and I was grateful to have him. He would always be there. He greeted me with his usual smile.

'Morning Buffy,'

'Morning Giles,'

'Did you sleep well, after last nights', err, run in?' It was worded politely enough but I could tell her was asking more than what his words had said.

'Yeah, I'm good Giles, thanks, just hope he stays away.' Giles looked doubtful, 'Hey I can hope right?' I smiled; I would deal with him when I had too. That's what I do; I deal. I kick evils' butt, it's who I am.

I spotted Xander and Willow at the table.

'Hey what's all this stuff guys?' I asked, looking around at the numerous and messy piles of books covering table and floor. Giles did not look amused.

'Miss Calendar and some of her students are updating those dreaded machines library by, um scanning all these books.' He obviously saw this as an intrusion, though I could still see his looks at Miss Calendar who was over at the computer with Willow. 'But frankly I do not want to know what she is doing with my books, its sacrilege really.' He muttered, annoyed.

I glanced at Miss Calendar too, though for completely different reasons.

'Hey Buffy,'

'Hey,' I replied wondering what she was thinking, the two faced lying deceiving cow woman. Maybe that's too harsh; I just think it would have been so much better had she told us who she was in the first place, and then it might never have happened. I'm not sure what to think now I know who she is. I regarded Giles talking with Willow. I guess he deserves to know too, what he does with the info is up to him, I don't see any point letting her in on it right now.

I start to head out again when I spot an odd looking old chest among the masses of books. Oh, think I better do something about that before we are all sorry.

'Giles, come here a sec,' I point to the chest as I speak,

'I think we ought to deal with the book in there, because we really don't want that chaos demon unleashed on the internet.' He looked startled and then regained his composure. We opened it to check it was that book of Molochs', be just typical to dispose of the wrong one. I smiled in grim acceptance as I resealed the chest. One good thing here is that Willow won't have to find out the hard way that internet dating just isn't a good idea for her.

'We better get this somewhere it won't ever be found, since I suppose it can't be burned?'

'No, you're right, it won't burn, time for a boat trip,' Giles said, looking not in the least bit annoyed at the event. He really needed to get out more.

Looks like life is back to normal, I wonder, for how long? My guess is that Spike's early appearance won't be the last thing that's changed in my twisted little reality. I hope he won't be back for a while, who knows with him, I know one thing though, the next time I see him, I will kill him.

As I walked home, Giles' words echoed in my head, something he'd said when I'd first told him,

'When you change events, you can't expect that other things won't be affected.'

No matter how hard I try there will be bad things to fight, to stop, whether they are what I know, or different, better get used to it, I don't know why I ever thought knowing the future was gonna make things easier.

Tbc…

Hope you like it, please review.

Becca.