Summary: Spike spills the beans on everything that's happened since he closed the Hellmouth back in Sunnydale over a year ago.
Author's Note: I think it's about time Buffy found out the truth, don't you?
Chapter Four: Storyteller (Part One)
While Angel rested, half asleep-half unconscious on the couch, everyone else gathered in the dining room. Xander had brought back some blood from the butchers and Buffy had warmed it up in a mug for Spike. He'd thanked her and gladly taken it.
'So Spike, what exactly happened to you back in good-ol' Sunnydale?' Xander asked curiously, sparking the story that everyone was dying to hear.
Spike sat at the head of the dining table, with Buffy sitting just around from him, Willow on the other side and Dawn at the other end opposite Spike. Xander pulled up another chair and sat next to Willow.
'Well, it's a long story.' Spike said.
'We kinda figured.' Willow spoke up. Spike rolled his eyes.
'Well, where do you want me to begin?'
'Start with when you guys all headed down there to start the fight. All I know is that after my Slayer spell, there was a bright light shining through the floor. Care to explain?' Willow said.
'Okay, well we went down there and began fighting all those ugly demons, and you're spell really did some good Red.' Spike began. Willow shrugged in embarrassment, although, she already knew her spell had done the Slayers good. 'Anyway, we were battling these demons and suddenly the amulet began cooking me. I felt it burning into my chest, and I could tell it was about to do something.' He paused, hanging his head almost in shame.
'It's alright Spike, we know the sacrifice you made and we're grateful. Please, don't stop now. We want to know everything that's happened up til now.' Dawn said proudly. Buffy gave her a look.
Spike continued, 'Thanks Dawn.' He leant forward, his elbows supporting him as he relaxed his shoulders and went on. 'After it shone that bright light up above me, I thought for sure I was gonna die. I knew it would come eventually, and I didn't mind it happening as I was saving the world. But I can still remember the feelings, the sensations I felt as everything melted away. I felt my skin burning, as I was still alive; my organs cooking inside of me and my eyes frying like eggs at Maccas. Dear God, I hope I never have to feel that again.'
He stopped and took a sip of blood. 'I'm sorry you had to feel that Spike.' Buffy whispered. 'I never knew.'
'It's alright, it didn't last long cause just after you left, I burnt to a crisp and just disappeared. I was dead, gone and actually, still hurting. My soul, it just hung around. I never left the Hellmouth, until I came to L.A. So while I was still there, I felt everything that was me until I died. It was horrible.'
'Spike.' Willow murmured.
'Yeah love?'
'I'm so sorry you had to go through all that.' Willow apologised for things that were out of her control.
'It's alright love; you could do anything about it. It was my choice to die, and I don't regret it. Although, I do regret putting myself through all that pain.'
'So how did you get to L.A. then if you were all the way out in Sunnydale?' Dawn asked.
'Funny story that.' Spike chuckled, taking another sip of blood. 'See, and old enemy of Angel's from years ago decided to show up with some fancy tattoos and a plan to kill Angel. Said his name was Doyle, and I found out later that he wanted to use me to get at Angel. He was the one who had brought the Amulet to L.A. in the first place.'
'How did he do that?' Buffy asked. 'Last we knew it was lying at the bottom of a giant crater.'
'Well, he mailed it to Wolfram and Hart.' Spike explained. 'Angel opened some mail and it was inside, and in a few seconds of horrible pain and burning I was standing in an office at Wolfram and Hart.'
'Wow, that's some story.' Xander said.
'That's not all mate.' Spike continued. 'You see, when I came back I blamed Angel for everything. Until things were explained to me, I still believed it was his fault. But, when I tried to attack him I flew straight through him.'
'Like a ghost.' Willow finished.
'Not exactly.' Spike said. 'According to our dearly departed Fred, I wasn't a normal ghost. I found out soon enough when Angel, Fred, Gunn and Lorne couldn't see me what was really going on.'
'And what was that?' Buffy asked.
'A warlock named Pavayne was trying to drag my soul into Hell. Almost succeeded too, except that everyone was trying so hard to bring me back and I wasn't going to give up. I kept fighting, even when I got attacked by some lost soul of a woman with a blade stuck in her eye. God, that was a scary sight.'
Spike looked around at everyone's bewildered expressions.
'Yeah, sorry about that. Kinda scared me at first. Do you wanna hear the rest, or call it quits for the night of storytelling?'
'I think we should call it a night.' Buffy declared. 'We can pick this up tomorrow morning.' She led Dawn upstairs, and giving Spike a feeble smile Willow and Xander followed.
'Will you be okay down here?' Willow asked. Spike nodded. Once they'd disappeared, he finished the last of his blood and put the mug in the kitchen. He headed back into the living room where Angel was sleeping.
'Sleep tight Angel, I won't let anything get to you until you're better.' Spike cooed, not realising his touching comments to his grand-sire. Angel heard though, but thought little of it. He was just content having someone close.