12
Blasted cold! I'm just not supposed to finish this story anytime soon. Not that that makes me particularly sad or upset, I just dislike these constant interruptions! Well, only have the blasted cough left, so I guess I should count my blessings. :)
Warm thanks to Nessie (Very pleased you liked it! And nice that you enjoyed the 'lighter' part.) :), ReeseAnn (for both! Heheh, well, that's our girl, isn't it? I agree, though: Yeesh:) smirking Indeed, thy name is that!) :), shelly (Oh, goodness, on with the pressure! Just kidding. I'll try my best to make it as interesting as possible!) :), w1icked angel (Whoa! Have to say though, you make me smile. Love it when I get a reaction out of you!) ;), kim (lol "strangle your monitor". I know! I mean, what's up with the clothes going all invisible as well, right? Yes, they should do that, but that would change everything irreversibly and perhaps they can't take the chance of something going wonky, eh? Ooooh, Marsters goodness on the TV screen again? How absolutely fabulous!) :)
Scarlet Ibis (for both! Liked the poem thought. And no, no, no, she's not sleeping with Riley. A detail that important I would definitively have incorporated, if it was supposed to be there. And she is not, so it isn't. Mh, I wuv that look. And thanks:) It's official then, Buffy's clearly not in her right mind!) ;), Spikaholic101 (I'm glad you're enjoying, and how fun that the juice part cracked you up. :D) :), MaidenRo (for both! Aw, I couldn't have him leave! Thanks, girl, it means a lot when you say that! Hugz.) :), Xin (Ouch. You're right, you're right, I know you're right, but it's like Spike says in S7, no other woman could ever mean anything to him. So how can he move on?) ;), Brunettepet (So happy you thought so; and didn't mean to kill them, really!) ;)
Spikez-babe (Yes, poor Buffy, indeed!) ;), effulgentgirl (Oh, no, well, I guess your tears are probably dry by now, but... :) Oh, well, I guess he's a likable guy. Just too... bland. And don't dislike him now, that's not the intent! Muahahahahahha. Kidding. Happy you liked that, girl! The speech, I mean. Oh, and the juice, the juice. Heheh.) :), boeketiebloemen (alright, that's the strangest name I've ever seen. :) Where'd it come from? And lovely, lovely that you like! Makes me all happy happy! Do the snoopy dance and all that! Thanks you very much!) :)
To all, you're the best. Thank you for your patience! Hope you'll enjoy this.
A.M.L, Annie.
¤
In You I Trust
¤
Buffy looked at the alarm clock on her bedside table. She hated it. Especially since it did the very unoriginal thing of clicking itself into showing seven o'clock; and thus its disturbingly loud ring began proclaiming it was time to get her butt out of bed.
She pulled the covers over her head before reaching out a hand, smashing it down hard. There was a crack as the blow subsequently broke the contraption. It gave her an odd sense of completion. Like it was what she had been supposed to do.
"You know, you spend more money on alarm clocks than you do on shoes," Willow's voice sounded, and as the Slayer realized there lay some truth in those words, a burst of annoyance flew through her, making her throw her covers off with a huff.
"Who needs shoes?" she grumbled, getting off the bed.
Willow smiled a little, brushing her hair, already dressed.
Buffy rolled her eyes at her.
"Can't you, for once, cut class?" she then pleaded. "We can go get ice-cream. Sit in the sun."
Willow's smile widened.
"You forget one important fact."
"Please, don't say English Lit. exam!"
Willow put her brush down with a look, Buffy sighing.
"I hate college," she murmured, walking up to her closet.
Willow began to collect her books and Buffy quickly chose an outfit, glancing at her friend.
"I saw Spike last night," Buffy finally said, turning to face the other, who looked at her calmly.
"Then he must've said I went to see him, too," she merely stated, Buffy's eyebrows rising.
"He mentioned it."
Willow watched her for a few seconds, then shrugged.
"I just had to see what all the fuss was about," she said, making Buffy smile suddenly.
The Slayer couldn't help the light feeling around her heart. Willow had done that for her.
"And?" she then asked.
Willow tried to look unimpressed, but it didn't really stick. Last night had been a novelty in many respects, but the deepest moving one was that she had really had no idea just how serious this whole situation was. She had thought they could move passed it, like they did everything else. Hell, if they could go through a few end-of-the-world scenarios, they should be able to shake this. But this wasn't the same. Emotions were invested that she had had no clue about. And it wasn't just the vampire she was thinking of. She remembered all the little things she had seen over the passed few weeks. How Buffy had changed, little by little, in her relationship to Spike. And Willow felt stupid now, that she hadn't acknowledged it sooner. Hadn't tried to understand sooner.
"You're just waiting for me to say you were right," Willow now muttered with fake-annoyance and Buffy smiled again.
Then its brightness faded a little and she turned away.
Willow frowned.
"He really loves you," she said quietly.
"I know," Buffy mumbled, buttoning up her shirt.
"But..."
"But nothing," Buffy interrupted, bringing her hair out from under the collar and putting her shoes on.
"Were you happy?" Willow asked, voice soft with a compassion Buffy didn't know if she could handle.
She met Willow's gaze.
"No," she then replied.
¤
"Is something the matter?" Riley asked.
It was close to six o'clock and he was walking to Giles' for a meeting, Buffy at his side. She had been quiet since he picked her up, and as she seemed to hesitate he tried not to acknowledge the ominous warning in the back of his head. Finally she looked up at him.
"I wish I could say no," she mumbled. "I'm... a little rattled. I'll be fine."
He made her stop.
"Buffy, you know you can tell me anything, right? Whatever's weighing you like this... Maybe it'll help if you talk about it."
She smiled ironically, then shook her head.
"No, honey," she said, "it won't help."
He moved one hand to her cheek, but she caught it on the way with one of hers, and halted it. He let it fall down and looked away from her. He had a gnawing feeling in the middle of his chest, and it hurt like hell. He didn't want to think it could be there for a reason. It had to be his own imagination. It couldn't have been brought on by...
"Is it Spike?" he asked.
She clenched her jaws together.
"It's not what you think."
"Then what is it?" he snapped, annoyance in his gaze.
"I'm sorry," she said gently. "I know this hasn't been easy on you. But it hasn't been easy on me either."
"Just... answer one thing," he murmured. "If he were human..."
"Riley," she interrupted, turning her head away and commencing their walk. "Don't," she added silently, as he followed.
"What do you want, Buffy?"
She smiled at him, and it felt real.
"I want what we have," she stated. "But if you're okay with it, I need some more time."
"If that's what you need," he nodded, slipping one hand in hers.
¤
"There seems to be even less activity..." Giles began, being interrupted by Riley, who shook his head.
"It doesn't add up. We're piling demons on top of each other at the Initiative."
It was nearing nine, and the Scoobies were all gathered. With a few additions, of course.
"So what does that mean, then?" Willow wondered. "Buffy's barely staked one vampire in almost a week."
"Well, if you don't count the fang gang I had to do away with the other night," Buffy put in. "But yeah. It's like they're gravitating toward the Initiative. Why? What we need is inside information on Adam. We have to know what it is he wants. I think the answer is in the Initiative, but Riley's being monitored too closely. I need to get in."
"You think they won't notice a Slayer sneaking through their plasma sensors and tazer defenses?" Xander remarked.
"We'll work around it. There's a way. There always is. The mountain won't come to me, I'll just have to come to it," she stated just as the door closed in the hall, and everyone turned their head to the vampire who was entering.
"Funny you should put it that way," he said, meeting the Slayer's gaze and holding it as he came to a stop.
"Care to explain yourself to those not clicking into understanding?" Riley asked, Spike glancing at him, a small smile fleetingly occurring on his mouth before he looked back at Buffy.
"The mountain. I know where it is. And it ain't in the Initiative."
Buffy furrowed her brow.
"Huh?"
"Mount Adam. Get your climbing gear; I know where all the good views are."
She stared at him, noticing the sweater he was wearing and keeping down a smile. It was dark purple and one of the better ones she had chosen, if she said so herself. Which she didn't, she reminded herself.
"You know where Adam's set up camp?" she asked.
"Why so disbelieving, love?" he smiled. "The sod thinks I'm playing on his side of the field, remember?"
"And he's passing you the ball?" she asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"In a manner of speaking, yeah," Spike nodded.
"Is it a baseball or a football?" Xander asked.
Everybody looked at him, questioningly.
"I just wanted to get in on the metaphor fun," he defended.
"It's in one of the eastern caves," Spike stated.
"That's close to campus," Willow said.
"Doesn't want to stray too far from home, I reckon," Spike remarked and Buffy nodded.
"Okay," she then said thoughtfully. "Okay... Then we know where to start."
"There's more," Spike said. "Can I talk to you?" he added with a slight motion to the front door.
Buffy could feel Riley stiffen beside her. She turned her eyes in his calmingly, but his facial expression was stale. When she made a motion to rise, one of his hands grasped her wrist and stopped her.
"Whatever it is, I'm sure we all want to know," he said, gaze in Spike's.
The vampire merely arched an eyebrow.
Buffy freed herself carefully.
"It'll only take a minute," she said.
"I don't trust him," he gritted out.
She touched his hand.
"But I do," she said softly, rising to her feet and walking passed Spike, giving him a glance to follow as she headed for the door.
They walked outside and she closed it behind them, turning to him. He was eyeing her.
He couldn't believe what she had just said in there. His head was spinning.
"Did you mean that?" he got word over tongue and she looked wondering. Then she seemed to realize what he was referring to and simply gave a slight shrug. "No, you don't get off that easy," he shook his head, catching her gaze and holding it as he repeated: "Did you mean it?"
She looked at him for a long moment.
"Yes," she then said. "I think I owe you that much, Spike."
"Don't do that. Don't turn it around to sound like some bloody obligation. You wouldn't trust me 'cause you felt you had to, and you know it."
"I trust you with the chip in your head. I don't know if I'd trust you without it."
He stared at her, taken aback.
"So... you would rather I took it out, is that what you're saying?"
"I don't know," she grumbled.
"Bloody hell!" he exclaimed. "Make up your mind!"
She took a step back, eyes in his before she glanced away.
"What do you want, Buffy?" he then inquired gently.
She looked back at him, feeling something warm spread inside beneath his probing gaze.
"I want things to be as they were before," she then answered, the warmth dispersing. "But they never can. So I'm going to accept your help, because frankly, I really need it. I'm gonna invite you inside, so you can be part in making the plans we have to make. I'm gonna let you in on all the secrets and tactics and pray my trust isn't misplaced."
"Don't say that," he gritted.
"Don't say what? The truth? The truth is: I don't know you. I don't know who you are. I don't know where you begin and where you end. I don't know anything at all. I've already made up my mind, Spike. And there's no room for you in it."
She was about to walk passed him and back inside when one of his hands slid into hers, halting her as he moved closer, slipping one hand to rest by her cheek as he made her meet his gaze.
"Don't say that," he mumbled; voice low.
"Spike, please," she said quietly, her heart beginning to pound at his touch.
At the look on her face he removed his hands and stepped back. She wanted to wipe out the abandoned feeling she suffered, wanted to get it out of her by fist and foot, wanted to stomp on it until it caved in and crumpled into a small heap of dust. But it was too strong, and merely mocked her futile attempts at the endeavor of killing it off once and for all.
"He wants me to break the Scoobies up," Spike now stated. "That's the mission. Break you up, weaken the chain, make you alone."
"Then what?"
"Guess I'll find out once it's done."
"What's in it for you?"
Spike smiled a little at the irony.
"He'll take the chip out."
She raised her eyebrows.
"Really?"
Spike shrugged and there was the trace of a smile on her mouth.
"So, are you coming inside?" she asked.
"Not this time," he replied. "Appreciate the offer, but..."
"Come inside," she encouraged.
He looked about to respond in the negative sense again, when Ath's voice stopped him.
"Buffy!" she called as she and Calor approached the two.
Spike turned his head to them in surprise. Buffy smiled, receiving Ath's and then Calor's peck on one cheek.
"Sorry we're late," Calor said.
"That's okay," Buffy assured. "Go right in, I'll be with you soon."
Spike watched Ath follow her brother inside and then said:
"Know what? I think I'll stick around for a while. Haven't heard Giles talk for a few days, after all."
Buffy furrowed her brow as he brushed passed her and went through the door in the wake of the goddess. The Slayer's frown deepened as she followed. She felt a stir of jealousy, but waved it away empathically. Walking up to the couch she had a seat next to Riley, before she casually watched Spike lean against the wall behind where Xander and Anya were seated. Now, the Slayer could've been wrong, but it really looked like the vampire was staring at Ath. Then he looked at Calor. Then back at Ath. Buffy frowned again. What was with him?
Ath smiled at Willow and then stretched a hand out to Giles, who looked, for once, flustered.
"Pleasure," she greeted and he took her hand hesitantly, smiling back.
"Indeed."
Spike huffed and Buffy turned her head to him, having him meet her gaze. She was quizzical and he raised his eyebrows.
¤
An hour later the conversation had once more drifted from the Gruesome Frankenlike to lighter topics of gum-drop flavors and the best vacation destination.
"I'd say Barbados. Sand, sun, sea," Xander stated.
"I like how you used 's' words," Anya smiled and he mirrored it. "I know a few too. Like sex. Would that be included, do you think?"
Calor choked on the chip he had been nibbling and Ath suppressed a smirk.
"We'll see," Xander murmured, shifting in his seat.
"So are you taking me?"
"Where?"
"To the sand and the sun and the sea."
"Don't forget the sex," Spike reminded and Buffy smirked over the brim of her mug.
"Oh, we can have that right here," Anya stated.
"No, not right here," Giles disagreed, removing his glasses.
"There's sand and sun and sea close by," Riley remarked.
"Yes, but not Barbados sand. And sun. And sea," Xander retorted.
"Hmh," Anya said. "Would the sex be different as well?"
"Honey," Xander murmured and she smiled, kissing him.
He relented to that and she hugged him.
"I'll love you forever if you take me home right now," she then whispered in his ear; something which didn't go by unnoticed by neither Slayer nor Vamp.
Before either really knew it they exchanged a glance, which was followed by a simultaneous smile.
Buffy grew self-conscious, clearing her throat and looking away again. Spike kept his eyes on her for a few more moments, tilting his head a little to one side.
"We're gonna head out," Xander said as he and Anya rose.
"Oh, so soon?" Buffy wondered innocently.
"Yeah, it's getting late."
"And if we're too tired when we get home, he'll fall asleep and..."
"So we're heading out," Xander stopped Anya, ushering her to the door.
Spike was still smiling when his eyes met Ath's. She was studying him and his smile faded into something very close to a threat. She got to her feet.
"Let me make some more tea," she said, walking into the kitchen.
Giles looked truly invigorated just by the simple offer.
"Why, that is most gracious of you," he commented and she flashed him a smile as she disappeared from clear view.
Buffy leaned over and asked Willow about homework, Riley began to talk with Giles, and Calor asked Tara what the bracelet she was wearing stood for. She smiled shyly, then said it was for good luck. Spike watched them all interact before he slipped the way Ath had gone.
"I thought you'd left," he said.
"Yes," she nodded.
He narrowed his eyes.
"What does that mean, 'yes'?"
"Spike, why can't we be friends? You seem convinced I'm part of some plot against Buffy, and this is only the second time we've met! I really don't want you glaring at me like that; it's enough to spoil an evening."
"What are you doing here? Answer that, and I'll stop glaring."
"I'm... not sure what I'm doing here, to be absolutely honest. And I feel each moment only makes it all the more confusing. I thought I came here to do good on a promise I seemed to have broken, but now..." She trailed off, meeting his gaze and smiling again. "Things aren't always what they appear."
"That's exactly what the problem is," he pointed out and she laughed.
"You're protectiveness of her speaks well of your character, but you can't walk through life in mistrust of everyone who comes near her. I swore to you – I care about her a great deal more than you could even comprehend."
She reached out her hands and carefully took his. He blinked at the sensation that poured through him at her touch. A calm. A centering within him that was unlike anything he had ever experienced... outside being with Buffy.
"I'll do her no harm," she said. "It's not why I'm here, that much I do know."
He was captured by her eyes, feeling like he was seeing the universe contained in the darkness of her pupils. A swirling vortex filled with stars and comets and infinity far greater than his could ever be.
"How's the tea coming?" Buffy asked from the doorway behind him and he was brought out of his state of mind, turning to face the Slayer; his hands leaving the goddess'.
Buffy looked at him and then at Ath, crossing her arms over her chest. Ath held up the tea pot.
"It's coming," she said.
Spike was about to say something, but Buffy turned around and left the doorway. He smiled a crooked smile, shaking his head at her. Then he sighed. He felt Ath's gaze on his back as he went into the living room. Buffy and Riley were at the door and the vamp halted.
"We're going," Buffy said. "Come find me if anything else happens."
"And about the breaking-you-up?" he asked.
"Let's say you failed. Utterly and completely," she replied simply, walking with Riley out the door.
Spike turned to the ones left, Willow and Tara talking easily with Calor. Giles listening to their conversation. The vampire stood there, motionless, for another minute, and then headed for the door as well.
¤
Buffy was grateful for Riley's patience.
He really is too good to me, she thought, and a pang of guilt followed, which made her close her eyes and roll over on her back.
She loathed the nights when she had trouble falling asleep, and for some reason they had been quite a few recently. She wanted rest, but feared it was still looming somewhere in the distance. Perhaps she would never really reach it until the day she lay six feet under ground. She shook those musings off. She wasn't going to die. It wasn't her time yet. She still had things to do, to accomplish. And yet, death didn't scare her; maybe because she dealt with it everyday. She had gotten used to it, to the idea of her own demise. She knew she wasn't supposed to last forever. She knew every Slayer came with an expiration date on the package. She only hoped it wasn't soon. Not too soon.
She dreamed worried dreams that night, and woke up right before sunrise.
She stood in the window of her room and watched the sky be painted pink and gold, and let the first rays of the ascending orb illuminate her face as it trickled through the branches outside.
¤
The cave was dark as she entered it. It smelled of earth and silent age. She walked forward slowly, looking around and wondering how far she would have to go. It wasn't very far. It ended in a sharp angle, three-hundred feet from the entrance. To the trained eye it looked as though it formed a small room, but it was of no consequence since it was completely empty. Nothing but cave walls on all four sides. For just one second she wondered if Spike had set her up, if it was just another elaborate mind-game. Act the fool for love, when all the while he was stabbing her repeatedly in the back.
But no.
She knew he wouldn't. And she nearly felt ashamed that she had doubted that conviction, even if it was for only that one second.
She sighed and turned around, heading back for the entrance.
Maybe he'd gotten his bearings wrong. He'd said eastern, but perhaps the cavern actually was more to the west. Or south-east. There were a lot of them around here. Clusters of them, even. He could easily have gotten turned around.
But then she stopped short.
Stepping through the mouth of the cave was a creature she found herself suddenly unprepared to face.
"And so we meet," Adam said with a smile. "The Slayer. It is an honor. I've heard so much about you."
"Wish I could say the same," she replied. "Unfortunately for me, I've had to rely on what I've seen of you. Your handiwork. Quite the surgeon, aren't you?"
"Yes. Mother installed all the knowledge I might need of human medicine in my brain. She did not leave much to chance. She knew it would be of use to me."
"I'm sure she did. I'm sure she saw her creation would become a homicidal maniac who'd go around cutting things open just to see how they work," Buffy nodded. "She was a smart lady that way."
"I detect you say these things, but do not really mean them," he noted.
"Guess you're a smart monster that way."
"I'm not a monster," he smiled. "I am part of this world, just as you are. I was put here to bestow order where there has been only chaos. You must understand that the course of nature cannot be altered."
"You're talking about the course of nature?"
"Extinction of the weak. Evolution of the strong. A world where the fitted survive, and the unshapely pieces are scattered for the wind."
"Yeah? Well, I happen to like unshapely," she stated, pulling out the sword she had brought with her.
Adam looked at it, then at her. She took a step forward, raising the blade, but as she brought it down he grabbed it with one hand, while pushing her hard in the chest with the other. She felt herself flying through the air, hitting the wall with a force that knocked the wind out of her. She fell to the ground with a hard thump.
She felt sunshine on her cheek and realized she was right by the entrance. Scrambling to her feet she looked over at Adam, who was picking up the sword. She didn't need to stay and see more – she ran. She ran as fast as her legs could possibly carry her. She had gotten quite close to the outskirts of the woods when she tripped and tumbled down a bumpy hill, hitting her head and back against two larger rocks and getting knocked unconscious.
¤
Spike woke with a jerk. He turned over on his back and his eyes landed on Buffy, who was just sitting down on the edge of the bed. He furrowed his brow and then sat up.
"Buffy?"
"It wasn't there," she said. "His lair, it wasn't there. ...'Lair'. Wonder who decided to call it that. Sounds too fancy, somehow. Don't you think?"
He reached out a hand and made her turn her head to him. His eyes widening as he saw the deep cut in her forehead. She waved his hand away and stood.
"The sun's almost set," she stated. "I want you to come with me."
"What happened?" he asked, getting the covers off and grabbing a pair of jeans, pulling them on as she simply continued talking.
"I want you to show me exactly where Adam's shacked up."
"I told you..."
"And I just told you – it wasn't there. I went to the eastern caves, to the largest one, like you said, and there was nothing there. Apart from Adam."
He pulled on his T-shirt with harsh movements.
"You went there alone!" he exclaimed.
"I'm alright."
"Yeah, you've got the head to show for it."
"At least it's still attached."
He didn't smile, merely glared at her.
"Adam means business, whatever that sodding business might be. You can't go gallivanting into his bloody territory like that, alone!"
"I wasn't gallivanting. I was far from gallivanting. You can't gallivant with a sword."
"Oh, you brought a sword, did you? How kind of you to bring a toothpick for him for when he's finished with you!"
"God! I know he's big and scary and... well, I guess I didn't know just how strong he was, but I do now and stop yelling at me! You're giving me a headache."
He seemed to calm down a little, taking a step closer.
"Let me take a look at that."
"It's nothing," she said impatiently. "Let's go."
"You're bleeding."
"It's a flesh wound."
"Every wound is a flesh wound."
"I can tell you for a fact that isn't true. Internal injuries are a concept with a completely different vocabulary." At that he finally smiled a small smile and she mirrored it. "Really, I'm okay," she added.
"Will you stop being your stubborn highness, and let me tend to that for you? After that, I'll go wherever you want. I promise."
She rested her gaze in his for another few seconds, then smiled a little again. Seemingly relenting, she turned and headed for the ladder. He followed. Upstairs she sat down in the armchair while he got what he needed. She leaned her head back and he came to stand at her side, looking down at her.
"I'm getting good at this," he said with a smirk. "All the training you're giving me."
"Mh. Ever thought of being a nurse?"
"Nurse Spike? Sounds bleeding kinky, don't you think?"
She giggled.
"Lie still," he demanded, beginning to clean off the blood.
"Ow," she muttered.
It didn't take long for him to finish and she moved her head to watch him bring the things back to their rightful place.
"If anyone had told me two months ago that this was where I'd be..." she mumbled, and he smiled, looking over at her and nodding.
"Mysterious ways, and that whole jig," he shrugged.
"I'll say," she agreed, sitting up and then rising.
She touched the soft bandage on her forehead, fastened with surgical tape. She knew she really didn't need it. Slayer healing would fix up an injury like that in less than a few hours. But it felt good, being taken care of. She looked at him where he walked into the kitchen area, and smiled a little to herself, for no apparent reason.
He grabbed his duster and pulled it on. Opening the door for her he let her walk through it and then followed, closing it behind them and bringing out his pack of smokes, putting one in the corner of his mouth and taking out his lighter. She glanced at it, having the sensation of his hand sliding over hers in order to retrieve it be so clear, that she almost checked to see if his hand wasn't performing the movement again. It wasn't.
"Thank you," she said. "For..."
She motioned to her forehead and he smiled.
"No need," he replied.
They were silent for a while, both lost in thought.
Buffy couldn't get over how it was true, and how suddenly it had hit her that it was the truth: she had faith in him. She had realized it when she verified it to him the night before, and now she felt as though she would put her life in his hands without a second thought. Why was that? What had he done to prove himself to her? What she had said to him had been every bit as much the truth: she didn't know him. And then she glanced at him, and wanted to ask herself how she could think she didn't. Because she did.
She knew he wouldn't hurt her, not anymore. She knew that he loved her, however quick the feeling had erupted in his chest. And she knew that he would be there, no matter what.
How strange.
How frightfully strange it was, looking at him now and seeing something so completely different than what she had always seen before. How completely different everything was.
Spike was trying to find something to talk about. The birds, the bees, the flowers, the trees. Anything would suffice, but everything seemed too feeble and stupid. Why had his tongue started to tie itself into knots? Maybe it was terrified of saying the wrong thing. It did have a tendency to do that, after all. But this silence was doing nothing for him either.
Buffy was the one who solved the conundrum by saying:
"So, you've finally decided to brighten up the wardrobe?"
He glanced at the sweater he had pulled over his T, and then smiled.
It was dark blue.
"Don't know if 'brightening up' is the right word," he remarked.
She returned his smile easily.
"Well, color up, then," she offered and this time he smirked.
"Advice given was considered and accepted," he replied, taking the final drag of his cigarette and tossing it aside.
"Thought you didn't want me to change you," she said, walking up to the cigarette and stepping on it before coming back to continue at his side.
He shook his head at her; then retorted:
"Bit late for afterthought, innit?"
She had to smile.
"Hope you don't hate me too much," she said, not able to get the satisfaction out of her voice. "But, in all honesty, the Big Bad label didn't exactly stick; did it?"
"Watch it, or I just might try another spot for it," he muttered.
"And where might that be, William?"
"Don't push me, Slayer."
But she merely smiled once more, and he returned it.
She stopped, and pointed.
"There it is," she said, and he turned his head to see the opening to the cave on the other side of the clearing, at which edge they were standing.
He nodded.
"Yeah," he agreed. "That's it."
She furrowed her brow.
"That's the one you meant?"
"That's the one I meant."
She looked over at the cave again, then crossed her arms over her chest. Her thoughts were running through her head, trying to add it all up. There had been no sign of a nest or the data Spike had spoken of. But... Her mind slowly grinded to a stop.
Aha.
"He knows," she stated.
Spike looked questioning, but soon his features smoothed in understanding.
"He may just be paranoid," he said. "Wanted to move to a different location."
"No," she said. "No, he knew I'd be there. He'd been waiting for me. He knows," she repeated.
"Guess we haven't exactly been careful, have we?" Spike murmured.
"Especially with the you-saving-my-life-repeatedly," she agreed. "So, your cover's blown. That sucks."
"Well... yeah," he agreed as they turned and started walking again. "But he doesn't know that we know that he knows," he added and she looked at him.
"Spike," she began, but he met her gaze steadily.
"Don't even bloody start," he said. "Haven't been noble for the passed century, but I think I still remember how it goes."
"Spike."
"Buffy, I'm not asking you to ask me. I'm telling you I'm doing this. So stop with the puppy eyes."
She checked herself, then looked away from him.
"I wasn't... with the puppy eyes," she said.
"Fine, you weren't."
There was a pause, and then she picked up with:
"But I've seen Adam filet the hell out of some of the most brutal demon's this town has to offer. I mean, he cut them open and strung them up like he was making his own personal art statement." Spike gave her a wondering look and she waved it away. "I'm just saying; it's an exhibition you don't want to see. Ever. And I really don't think you'd want to volunteer as one of the exhibitees."
"Exhibi- what now?"
"You know what I mean."
"Buffy, I'm tougher than I look."
"So am I, but he made me fly through the air like a paper airplane. I've fought you. I know your strength." She put a hand on his arm and made him stop, fastening her gaze in his. "But he's stronger than you are. Than I am. Than anything I've ever faced before. If you have to fight him, you'll lose, Spike."
"Guess I'll have to make sure it doesn't come to a fight," he simply replied.
"Damn it, if you're doing this for me, then..."
"Will this help you?" he stopped her. She hesitated, but the look on her face gave him his answer. "Then don't question it," he added. "It's not a sacrifice," he then smirked. "I'm not on a bloody altar here. Besides, what do you expect me to do? Sit nicely in my crypt while all the action's going down?" he added with a meaningful raise of one eyebrow.
He brought another cigarette out, stepping passed her and beginning to walk again.
She observed his back for the longest moment. There was a dread that rose and settled right next to the pulse thumping by the side of her throat. It was dark and deep and foreboding. But all she could do was follow him.