A Man's Worth
Chapter 6
A/N: Part Six of the series.
WARNING: This is not a happy fic. For those of you expecting something joyous, stay away from this story. You've been warned.
DISCLAIMER: You all know this belongs to Joss Whedon and the parties involved in airing this show.
FEEDBACK: As you wish
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Old EnemiesFunny 'ow 've always hated 'im.
Hated 'im 'cause 'e's got the things 've never 'ad.
Never will.
But then again, 'e's the one for 'er.
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Twelve days ago.
"Come on, cheers! We don' 'ave the whole bloody night!"
"Shut up." Cordelia snorted as she got up on the boat. Wesely awaited patiently for both the vampire and his friend to get up and settled on the boat.
"All settled?" He asked. Cordelia nodded and Spike smirked.
"Finally. For a higher being, she sure is slow."
Cordelia's eyes flashed white and she closed her hand into a fist.
"For God's sake! I don't know how Buffy has managed not to stake you!"
Spike's eyes flashed dangerously at the mention of the slayer, but he kept calm.
"Oh, I don' know, maybe it's my sex appeal."
"Please! Like anyone would ever want to be with you!"
Truth to be told, the words hit harder than Spike would ever admit, but he remaint in his position, only smirking some more.
"Oh, I've been known to turn some heads in my time. Literally."
Wesley couldn't help the grin that came to his face, while Cordelia made some gagging noises and shook her head.
"I don't know why I keep up with you stupid vampires."
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As time went by, the search was narrowed to a certain spot not too far from where they'd been searching before. Wesley's radar kept searching for a metallic object in the bottom, while Spike tried to see if he could feel his grand sire's presence. Cordelia had a certain knolwedge about where the souled vampire could be, but she had not been allowed to know the exact whereabouts of said vampire.
"I'm bored."
"Wow, to be bored you actually 'ave to think."
Cordelia slapped Spike's head and tried to growl at him. Wesley laughed some more.
"Like you'd know, with all that bleach in your hair, it's a wonder it hasn't made its way to your small brain."
"The chit 'as some balls, ey?" Spike asked Wesley, trying hard not to laugh.
"Sure has some." Wesley replied. Cordelia rolled her eyes and returned to watch the water.
Some minutes went by in complete silence, until Wesley broke it with a question.
"It's the slayer, isn't she?"
Spike didn't turn to acknowledge Wesley, just began smoking.
"Why d'you ask?"
"Saw it in you when we talk about her."
"Saw what? Don' 'ave a soul to peek in."
"Who said you need a soul to love?"
Spike snorted and now looked into Wesley's eyes.
"You lot. Watchers wrote that sometime ago."
"I am no longer a watcher. It is Buffy. I know."
Spike smiled and turned away.
"Well, you can think what you want."
Wesley was about to answer when Cordelia's voice reached their ears.
"Is it true, then?"
Both men turned to look at her.
"What?" Spike asked.
"There is indeed a vampire in love with the slayer."
Spike cleared his throat.
"Yes, an' we are actually tryin' to get 'im from under the sea. Get wit' the program."
Cordelia ignored him and kept talking.
"When I was... there, the rumor began. About a creature of the night in love with a warrior of the Powers."
"Once again, the poof."
Now Cordelia turned to look at Spike.
"A creature of the night, you sack of stupid. They do not refer to Angel as a creature of the night."
"Oh yeah? How do they call the poof, then?"
"He's a Champion."
"That is of no importance." Wesley interrupted. "Are you telling us that even in the higher plane of existence you were at, Spike's love for Buffy was an important event?"
"Not that it was earth shattering or something like that, but it wasn't usual."
"Interesting."
"Hey, it's my life you're discussin'!"
"No need for more lies, Spike. This is all about Buffy, right?"
Spike looked at both of them, and sighed as he threw his unfinished cigarette into the water.
"Yes."
Cordelia smiled, sure that she had caught Spike in the lie.
"But not for the reasons that you think."
"Uh?"
"I don' 'ave to explain anythin' to you." Spike turned away. Sudden knowledge dawned on Cordelia's eyes and she turned around to look at Wesley, who in turn just nodded.
"This is why you're helping us find Angel. That is why you want to take his place."
Spike sighed and shook his head.
"You don' understand. Stop tryin' to analyze whatever 'm doin'. There is no point to it."
The humans in the boat remained silent, but their minds raced and came with many different explanations.
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"Big and metallic. I think we found it. Spike?"
"The tinglin' is there. Think we jus' found the ol' grand sire."
"Well then, move!"
Cordelia's command movilized both men on the boat, who began making the proper adjustments for the metal object to be brought out of the water. After a few minutes, Spike realized that dawn was fastly approaching.
"We have to hurry. Both the poof an' I will be piles of dust if we don't hurry this bloody thing up."
"I know. But this machine is quite old. We'll have to come back tomorrow."
"We can't do that! There are things to be done!" Cordelia screamed. Spike whirled around and stared at her.
"Look. I already told you. He won't be doin' anythin'. We'll take 'im out 'cause that's what we 'ave to do. Whatever you may be thinkin', I already tol' you I will be doin' it. Is it clear?"
"No it is not. Even if you love Buffy, I can't let you do something that was meant for Angel to do."
"Do you really want 'im to go through that?"
"It's not a matter of what I want. It's a matter of what the Powers decided."
Spike smirked and flashed a bit of fangs.
"From what you said, they need a vampire. Nothin' else."
Cordelia's anger began escalating.
"This is Angel's job. It's what he has been expecting."
"Are you willin' to 'ave 'im pay the price?"
Cordelia looked away and a small shiver ran through her.
"Of course not."
"Then...?"
"You are not worthy of this!" Cordelia exploded. "You are a souless, evil creature, there is nothing good about you and I can't let you do this!!"
Her words hit Spike harder than she expected, mainly because he had heard them before, from another female.
"Yes, I am a souless, evil creature." He hissed, "More the reason for me to do it. I can pay the price."
"This is Angel's job." Cordelia insisted. Spike sighed. He walked towards her until he was almost nose to nose.
"I can see it in y'r eyes. I can smell the fear in you every time you say it is the poof's job. I can almost taste the anxiety that waves off you when you think about it. Tell me, why are you so keen on 'avin' the ol' bastard go through that?"
"I told you why." Cordelia whispered.
"No. That's what they tol' you. I want to know why you think this is his job."
"I..."
"No doubts, cheers. Tell me."
Cordelia closed her eyes, willing the tears not to come.
"I don't want him to."
Spike smiled and touched her arm lightly.
"Then listen to me. Know what I can do."
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Different thoughts and different emotions ran throught the beings on board of the boat. Cordelia felt happiness for having found Angel in time. Wesley felt a certain sense of peace for rescuing the vampire. A sense of completion.
Spike felt numb. When he had told Cordelia and Wesley his whole plan, both had remained silent and had agreed to help him. The higher being had been a bit unsupportive at first, but her concern for the older vampire won. Wesley understood without replying one word. Another nod and a handshake showed his affirmation.
So Spike had been allowed by these two beings to do what was meant for his old enemy.
And the bleached vampire felt hope die, for his plan had been a complete success.
End of Chapter