Chapter 7: bruising truth

In two days, Angel has successfully bugged her cell phone and hired three new people to the team. Anya Jenkins, a professional and expert from an elite search and rescue team from Los Angeles, Charles Gunn and Alexander Harris, two of the best security men Angel had on his staff. Of coarse he was a frequent visitor at Buffy's house now, barely ever letting her out of his sight except to go to the office or his home to sleep. Buffy watched as the team slowly came together, watching as everyone did their best at making her feel safe with them. She did. Everyone she had met gave off welcoming warm vibes.

"Okay, everything seems to be set so far." Angel said as he sat next to Buffy at the kitchen counter. "Gunn will stay during the nighttime. He's stronger and Xander, who is shyer than the two will take the day. Both of them are good men. You'll be safe with them."

"I don't need bodyguards, Spike is here."

"The more protection there is, the more you stay safe. This person wants to establish an intimate connection with you and that tells me he is much more determined than most wacko's I've worked with."

"Thank you, that's really comforting." She chuckled as she silently thanked Anya as she handed her a cup of coffee.

"Im not comforting you Buffy, I'm informing you. This is what you need to know."

Buffy rolled her eyes as she got up and walked over to where spike was standing, wrapping an arm around him as she watched Gunn and Xander play with the bug for the house phone.

Suddenly everything went silent as the cell phone rang, quickly picking it up and bringing it to her ear.

"You're very determined aren't you?" The voice was unmistakable.

"You should've known that. Don't you know me better than I do?" she proclaimed, trying to press his buttons, ignoring Angels glare of disapproval.

"Yes, your right. I did know that. That's one of the reasons I chose you. I knew you wouldn't of given up easily. Not after your mother died."

He paused briefly.

"Just imagine...she would probably still be here if you had gotten there ten minutes earlier. You could've saved her life. Isn't that right?"

Buffy didn't answer. She couldn't. She could barely breathe.

"I apologize, I can tell I hurt you...it wasn't polite. Oh, How is your arm feeling? Is it any better?"

Her eyes were so wide she felt like they would pop out. Everyone around her questioned her silently on what he had said, Xander signaling her to keep talking so he can trace the signal, obviously having a hard time doing so.

"It's better. Thank you for asking." Sarcasm coating her voice.

"Well, put some ice on it, I need you well. Your going to do a search for me. You see, I've murdered a dozen people and I'm having trouble remembering where I hid the bodies...I'd like you to find them for me."

"Why?" Asking him, her curiosity getting the best of her. The phone was slippery with sweat and she had to keep switching the phone from ear to ear to keep her ears from getting hot. She was a nervous wreck but contained it as best she could.

"Why you ask? Well because I said so. Who has Dawn? Remember that."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Go down to the pond right outside Sunnydale. Its not a far drive, and tell the police that you have a lead on the three missing girls four years back."

Four years. She thought. She could only imagine how much damage he could've caused in four years, seeing as he is doing a pretty good job at destroying her.

"Tell the police to look under the mud, right on the edge where the water meets the land. There should be a circle of rocks...You will find them there."

"You marked where they were?" She asked, disgusted as how sadistic and psychotic this person really was.

"Have fun, Miss Summers." They Hung up.

"Damn it!" Xander shouted. "The number is protected. Its traced back to the same number at about a million other places. Different states, countries, even continents. Whoever this guy is, he knows what he's doing."

Spike, who was sitting with Xander, listening to the conversation, walked over to Buffy and held her in a sweet embrace, kissing her forehead. "You did good, luv. You stayed strong."

She smiled at him as she backed up. "I'm going tomorrow. Check out the site. See if what he says is true."

"No!" Angel growled. "Not alone."

"Yea, captain forehead is right for once, you aren't doing this alone." Spike added, giving Angel a sarcastic smile as he turned back to buffy.

"Neither of you have a choice in that. Deal with it." Buffy started walking out of the room.

"Buffy!" Spike shouted, making her stop dead in her tracks. "You don't tell me what to do. You don't make decisions for me. What gives you the right-"

"I took the right Spike. Someone had to make decisions for you and you let it be me."

"But at the same time you shut me out and kept me at a distance."

Neither of them caring they had an audience, the argument turned in another direction.

"I did. So maybe you should just accept it and mind your own damn business."

"No. Not this time. This time you are my business. I've let you use me before but not again. Never again will I let you take my always being here for granted. You're gonna have to stop being so bloody selfish and not walk away from this."

"I've never taken you for granted, you're my friend Spike-"

"And I'm bloody tired of it! Screw friendship! I...just..." Spike saw the pain in her eyes and couldn't continue. "We'll talk about this another time. Go on. Go run off and shut down." He stormed off, grabbing his jacket and slamming the door.

She stood there for a moment as she took in everything that had just been said. She glanced around the room and realized everyone's eyes were on her. She let the tears fall from her eyes before she turned and walked out.

Spike was right, she needed to shut down. Needed to escape from the pain. The hurt. Most of which, was caused by the man she was just yelling at. She was confused about what he meant with his words and had no clue on how to take them.

"And I'm bloody tired of it! Screw friendship..."

She thought up numerous meanings but one was as ridiculous as the next. He had to make things difficult at this point in time.

The kidnapper she could handle, she knew what to expect. But with Spike, it's a whole new experience, especially with the feelings she had for him, no matter if they were mad at each other or not. Like right now, feeling a slight tingle between her legs. She tried to pretend like it wasn't for him, but she was lying to herself, her whole body knew what it was craving for. But she promised herself not to have a relationship with anyone, especially Spike.