Thirty Five: To Find A Way To You
"What?" Buffy said, coming instantly awake. "What do you mean he's gone?"
"I went to your room to check on him," Angel said. "And he's not there."
Buffy hurried off the stool and up the stairs, Angel right behind her. She entered her bedroom and stopped short at the sight. Angel had been right. Spike was gone.
"How did he get free?" Angel asked, looking at the empty handcuffs.
"I undid the cuffs," Buffy admitted, walking over to the bed.
"Why?" Angel asked. "Why did you untie him?"
"It was daylight," Buffy said, staring down at the bedside table. "I didn't think he would leave."
"Well the sun's gone down enough so that he could leave," Angel said. "Now he's out there somewhere…"
"And he's helpless," Buffy said. "He doesn't know about the chip. He thinks he can still bite people."
"He might come back," Angel said. "Once he realizes he's helpless. Didn't he come to you for help once before after he was first chipped?"
Buffy shook her head, "He took Charlotte's picture." He'd never leave that behind. "He's not coming back. So we have to find him before…" She didn't even want to think of what might happen.
"Okay," Angel said. "Willow and Tara took Dawn to the Bronze with them. I think Xander and Anya were going to join them. Let's find them and start a search party."
"Let's go then," Buffy said. She paused only to tell Cordelia to stay at the house in case of the slim chance that Spike might come back. She hurried out the door with Angel close behind.
It didn't take long for them to reach the Bronze. As Angel had predicted the Scoobys were sitting at a table.
"Hey," Willow said. "You finally woke up and decided to join us."
"Where's Spike?" Dawn asked. "Did you leave him by himself?"
"Spike's run off," Buffy said. "Angel went to check on him and found the room empty."
"How was he able to run off?" Dawn asked. "I thought you tied him up."
"Oh you do that," Anya said. "I've tried to get Xander to try that but won't let me."
"Honey," Xander said. He looked at Buffy, "Did you tie him up?"
"I untied him," Buffy admitted. "I didn't think he'd run away. I thought that he was too weak."
"Vampires heal fast," Angel pointed out. "He'll probably be back to full strength in the next few days."
"Obviously," Buffy said. "So now he's out there and we have to find him before he gets himself killed."
"No," Dawn said, panicking. "He can't. You have to find him."
"We're going to," Buffy assured her sister. She looked at her friends, "Willow, you and Tara take Dawn home.."
"No," Dawn protested. "I'm going to help look for Spike."
"No," Buffy said. "I need you to wait at the house with Cordelia in case Spike does come back." Dawn glared at her so Buffy said, "Do it, I can't afford to be worrying about you too."
"Fine," Dawn snapped.
Buffy turned back to Willow and Tara, "After you take Dawn home can you do a location spell? If you can find Spike bring him back to the house." She turned to Xander and Anya, "Check out the demon bars. Spike might be there, looking for something to eat. Angel and I will check out the warehouse and the cemeteries." She looked around at everyone, "Let's go. We need to find him before someone else does."
Buffy turned and hurried out the door, followed by Angel.
"I really think that you should wait at home," Angel said.
Buffy stopped and looked at him, "Are you telling me what to do?"
"No," Angel said. "But I know you haven't been patrolling in months and you're not training right now. You can't fight so why don't you stay where you're safe."
"Because," Buffy said, "If I was the one in danger than Spike would do whatever he could to save me. I owe him that. Now are you going to help me find him or not."
"Fine," Angel said. "Let's find him before he runs into the wrong demon and gets himself staked."
"Let's go to the warehouse first," Buffy said. "That's where Spike was tortured and the last place he remembers living. He probably went there first."
Angel nodded and they hurried as fast as they could towards the warehouse. They arrived there and the place looked deserted from the outside.
"Let's go in and look around," Buffy suggested.
"I'll go in," Angel said. "This place is about ready to fall down and I don't want you to get hurt."
"I'm fine," Buffy said. "I'll be careful." Then she brushed past Angel and into the warehouse. She looked around. It was obvious that someone had been here and had left in a hurry. There were papers everywhere, wires, and a blackboard and marker board.
"You're sure Dru was here?" Angel asked, looking around.
"Yeah," Buffy said. "Dawn saw her."
"This isn't her style," Angel said, picking up some papers. He handed some to Buffy and looked through the others. "Especially working with humans. If she wanted minions then why didn't she go out and turn some?"
Buffy stared at the papers she was holding, "I think that might have been part of the plan." She handed Angel the papers.
Angel read what was on them, "List of goals: Establish bases, defeat Slayer, kill Baby Slayer, kill Slayer, become vampires, open…." He looked up. "It ends there."
Buffy shook her head; "Those guys want to become vampires?"
"That must be where Drusilla comes in," Angel said. Angel studied the papers, "According to this they had a deal. Those guys and your midwife would kill you and your baby and in exchange Dru would turn them all into vampires. Then she'd leave Sunnydale with Spike and leave the town to them."
"Maybe she counted on this," Buffy said. "She might have planned out this whole thing, the torture, the poison and then that the only cure would cause him to lose his memory."
"It's possible," Angel conceded. "She might have had some kind of premonition. It wouldn't be the first time."
"Which means we're not the only ones looking for Spike," Buffy said. "Drusilla's probably out there too."
"And we'd better find him before she does," Angel said.
"Then let's go," Buffy said. She was not going to lose him to Drusilla.
"Where should we look?" Angel asked, as they left the factory and hurried out."
"You're asking me?" Buffy said. "Where do you think that either one of them would go. After all they're your creations." She instantly regretted what she had said when she saw the stricken look on Angel's face. "I'm sorry," Buffy apologized. "I didn't mean that."
"It's okay," Angel said. "I know what I did to both of them and I'll regret it for the rest of my existence."
"Then let's find them," Buffy said. "Before it can get any worse. Let's check out Spike's crypt. We might find something there."
They got to the cemetery as fast they could, pausing only to slay a few vampires that got in their way. They got to Spike's crypt and slowly opened the door. The TV was on but Buffy didn't see any sign on Spike.
"Hello," Buffy called. "Anyone home?"
"Hi," Said a voice. He stepped out into the light. It was Clem. He was holding a tabby cat in his arms.
"Clem," Buffy said, surprised. "What are you doing in Spike's crypt?"
"I've been staying here ever since he moved in with you," He explained. "And your sister wanted me to keep an eye on the cats."
"Cats?" Buffy asked. "What are Spike and Dawn doing with cats?"
"Long story," Angel said. "I'll tell you later." He looked at Clem, "Have you seen Spike?"
"No," Clem said, confused. "I thought he was still unconscious."
"No," Buffy said. "He's awake but he's forgotten the past few years and now he's running lose out there."
"He's not here," Clem said, now concerned.
"You're sure you haven't seen him," Angel asked, carefully.
"I'm sure," Clem said. "You're the only people to come through those doors today."
Angel shook his head, "I hear something." He looked at Buffy. "Is there another part to this place?"
"Yeah," Buffy said. She gestured to the trapdoor that was covered by a rug. Angel pulled the rug back and lifted the trapdoor. Angel crawled down and Buffy followed, after telling Clem to stay in the upper level in case Spike showed up.
Buffy and Angel looked around. Angel winced at the sight of the huge bed, which was still unmade from the last time Spike and Buffy had been in it. "Nice place," Was all Angel said.
"Thank you," Said a familiar British voice from a dark corner. Spike came out of the shadows, Drusilla holding onto his arm. "Slayer, Peaches, good of you to visit our new home. Dru put it all together while you two had me chained up."
Buffy exchanged a look with Angel. What had Drusilla told him? What other lies had she spun?
"Everyone is here now," Drusilla said, looking around. "And the party can begin."
Buffy rolled her eyes but Angel said, "What kind of party, Dru?"
"You'll see," Dru said. And then she lunged at Angel, attacking him, biting and clawing. Angel fought back but Drusilla had the benefit of rage on her side and soon had the upper hand.
"Guess it's just you and me, Slayer," Spike said, once he decided that Dru was holding her own.
Buffy slowly backed away from Spike, one hand protectively over her stomach, "You don't want to do this," She told him.
"Oh yes I do," Spike said, advancing on Buff. "You have no idea how long I've waited or how much I want to do this."
"Spike," Buffy said, in an effort to get through to him. "Listen to me,"
"No," Spike said, grabbing her wrist. "You listen to me. You help me prisoner, chained to your bed. Now it's your turn." Before Buffy could react he pulled her over to a familiar set of chains and chained her up.
Buffy glared at him, "I can't wait until you come to your senses and realize what you're doing." If they all got out of this alive she was so going to make him pay. He'd be lucky if she just banished him to the couch.
"I know what I'm doing," Spike said as he turned the key in the lock and stepped back.
"What your ho of an ex?" Buffy asked, gesturing with her head towards Angel and Drusilla. Angel had gotten the upper and was now tying Dru to the same pillar that she had been tied to the last time she had been in the crypt.
"Let her go," Spike growled at Angel.
"I'll let her go if you'll let her go," Angel said, gesturing to Buffy.
The two vampires just stood there staring at each other until Buffy, taking advantage of their distraction, used the chains as a brace, pulled her legs up as close as her increasing stomach would allow and kicked out, hitting Spike right in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.
"What?" Buffy said, coming instantly awake. "What do you mean he's gone?"
"I went to your room to check on him," Angel said. "And he's not there."
Buffy hurried off the stool and up the stairs, Angel right behind her. She entered her bedroom and stopped short at the sight. Angel had been right. Spike was gone.
"How did he get free?" Angel asked, looking at the empty handcuffs.
"I undid the cuffs," Buffy admitted, walking over to the bed.
"Why?" Angel asked. "Why did you untie him?"
"It was daylight," Buffy said, staring down at the bedside table. "I didn't think he would leave."
"Well the sun's gone down enough so that he could leave," Angel said. "Now he's out there somewhere…"
"And he's helpless," Buffy said. "He doesn't know about the chip. He thinks he can still bite people."
"He might come back," Angel said. "Once he realizes he's helpless. Didn't he come to you for help once before after he was first chipped?"
Buffy shook her head, "He took Charlotte's picture." He'd never leave that behind. "He's not coming back. So we have to find him before…" She didn't even want to think of what might happen.
"Okay," Angel said. "Willow and Tara took Dawn to the Bronze with them. I think Xander and Anya were going to join them. Let's find them and start a search party."
"Let's go then," Buffy said. She paused only to tell Cordelia to stay at the house in case of the slim chance that Spike might come back. She hurried out the door with Angel close behind.
It didn't take long for them to reach the Bronze. As Angel had predicted the Scoobys were sitting at a table.
"Hey," Willow said. "You finally woke up and decided to join us."
"Where's Spike?" Dawn asked. "Did you leave him by himself?"
"Spike's run off," Buffy said. "Angel went to check on him and found the room empty."
"How was he able to run off?" Dawn asked. "I thought you tied him up."
"Oh you do that," Anya said. "I've tried to get Xander to try that but won't let me."
"Honey," Xander said. He looked at Buffy, "Did you tie him up?"
"I untied him," Buffy admitted. "I didn't think he'd run away. I thought that he was too weak."
"Vampires heal fast," Angel pointed out. "He'll probably be back to full strength in the next few days."
"Obviously," Buffy said. "So now he's out there and we have to find him before he gets himself killed."
"No," Dawn said, panicking. "He can't. You have to find him."
"We're going to," Buffy assured her sister. She looked at her friends, "Willow, you and Tara take Dawn home.."
"No," Dawn protested. "I'm going to help look for Spike."
"No," Buffy said. "I need you to wait at the house with Cordelia in case Spike does come back." Dawn glared at her so Buffy said, "Do it, I can't afford to be worrying about you too."
"Fine," Dawn snapped.
Buffy turned back to Willow and Tara, "After you take Dawn home can you do a location spell? If you can find Spike bring him back to the house." She turned to Xander and Anya, "Check out the demon bars. Spike might be there, looking for something to eat. Angel and I will check out the warehouse and the cemeteries." She looked around at everyone, "Let's go. We need to find him before someone else does."
Buffy turned and hurried out the door, followed by Angel.
"I really think that you should wait at home," Angel said.
Buffy stopped and looked at him, "Are you telling me what to do?"
"No," Angel said. "But I know you haven't been patrolling in months and you're not training right now. You can't fight so why don't you stay where you're safe."
"Because," Buffy said, "If I was the one in danger than Spike would do whatever he could to save me. I owe him that. Now are you going to help me find him or not."
"Fine," Angel said. "Let's find him before he runs into the wrong demon and gets himself staked."
"Let's go to the warehouse first," Buffy said. "That's where Spike was tortured and the last place he remembers living. He probably went there first."
Angel nodded and they hurried as fast as they could towards the warehouse. They arrived there and the place looked deserted from the outside.
"Let's go in and look around," Buffy suggested.
"I'll go in," Angel said. "This place is about ready to fall down and I don't want you to get hurt."
"I'm fine," Buffy said. "I'll be careful." Then she brushed past Angel and into the warehouse. She looked around. It was obvious that someone had been here and had left in a hurry. There were papers everywhere, wires, and a blackboard and marker board.
"You're sure Dru was here?" Angel asked, looking around.
"Yeah," Buffy said. "Dawn saw her."
"This isn't her style," Angel said, picking up some papers. He handed some to Buffy and looked through the others. "Especially working with humans. If she wanted minions then why didn't she go out and turn some?"
Buffy stared at the papers she was holding, "I think that might have been part of the plan." She handed Angel the papers.
Angel read what was on them, "List of goals: Establish bases, defeat Slayer, kill Baby Slayer, kill Slayer, become vampires, open…." He looked up. "It ends there."
Buffy shook her head; "Those guys want to become vampires?"
"That must be where Drusilla comes in," Angel said. Angel studied the papers, "According to this they had a deal. Those guys and your midwife would kill you and your baby and in exchange Dru would turn them all into vampires. Then she'd leave Sunnydale with Spike and leave the town to them."
"Maybe she counted on this," Buffy said. "She might have planned out this whole thing, the torture, the poison and then that the only cure would cause him to lose his memory."
"It's possible," Angel conceded. "She might have had some kind of premonition. It wouldn't be the first time."
"Which means we're not the only ones looking for Spike," Buffy said. "Drusilla's probably out there too."
"And we'd better find him before she does," Angel said.
"Then let's go," Buffy said. She was not going to lose him to Drusilla.
"Where should we look?" Angel asked, as they left the factory and hurried out."
"You're asking me?" Buffy said. "Where do you think that either one of them would go. After all they're your creations." She instantly regretted what she had said when she saw the stricken look on Angel's face. "I'm sorry," Buffy apologized. "I didn't mean that."
"It's okay," Angel said. "I know what I did to both of them and I'll regret it for the rest of my existence."
"Then let's find them," Buffy said. "Before it can get any worse. Let's check out Spike's crypt. We might find something there."
They got to the cemetery as fast they could, pausing only to slay a few vampires that got in their way. They got to Spike's crypt and slowly opened the door. The TV was on but Buffy didn't see any sign on Spike.
"Hello," Buffy called. "Anyone home?"
"Hi," Said a voice. He stepped out into the light. It was Clem. He was holding a tabby cat in his arms.
"Clem," Buffy said, surprised. "What are you doing in Spike's crypt?"
"I've been staying here ever since he moved in with you," He explained. "And your sister wanted me to keep an eye on the cats."
"Cats?" Buffy asked. "What are Spike and Dawn doing with cats?"
"Long story," Angel said. "I'll tell you later." He looked at Clem, "Have you seen Spike?"
"No," Clem said, confused. "I thought he was still unconscious."
"No," Buffy said. "He's awake but he's forgotten the past few years and now he's running lose out there."
"He's not here," Clem said, now concerned.
"You're sure you haven't seen him," Angel asked, carefully.
"I'm sure," Clem said. "You're the only people to come through those doors today."
Angel shook his head, "I hear something." He looked at Buffy. "Is there another part to this place?"
"Yeah," Buffy said. She gestured to the trapdoor that was covered by a rug. Angel pulled the rug back and lifted the trapdoor. Angel crawled down and Buffy followed, after telling Clem to stay in the upper level in case Spike showed up.
Buffy and Angel looked around. Angel winced at the sight of the huge bed, which was still unmade from the last time Spike and Buffy had been in it. "Nice place," Was all Angel said.
"Thank you," Said a familiar British voice from a dark corner. Spike came out of the shadows, Drusilla holding onto his arm. "Slayer, Peaches, good of you to visit our new home. Dru put it all together while you two had me chained up."
Buffy exchanged a look with Angel. What had Drusilla told him? What other lies had she spun?
"Everyone is here now," Drusilla said, looking around. "And the party can begin."
Buffy rolled her eyes but Angel said, "What kind of party, Dru?"
"You'll see," Dru said. And then she lunged at Angel, attacking him, biting and clawing. Angel fought back but Drusilla had the benefit of rage on her side and soon had the upper hand.
"Guess it's just you and me, Slayer," Spike said, once he decided that Dru was holding her own.
Buffy slowly backed away from Spike, one hand protectively over her stomach, "You don't want to do this," She told him.
"Oh yes I do," Spike said, advancing on Buff. "You have no idea how long I've waited or how much I want to do this."
"Spike," Buffy said, in an effort to get through to him. "Listen to me,"
"No," Spike said, grabbing her wrist. "You listen to me. You help me prisoner, chained to your bed. Now it's your turn." Before Buffy could react he pulled her over to a familiar set of chains and chained her up.
Buffy glared at him, "I can't wait until you come to your senses and realize what you're doing." If they all got out of this alive she was so going to make him pay. He'd be lucky if she just banished him to the couch.
"I know what I'm doing," Spike said as he turned the key in the lock and stepped back.
"What your ho of an ex?" Buffy asked, gesturing with her head towards Angel and Drusilla. Angel had gotten the upper and was now tying Dru to the same pillar that she had been tied to the last time she had been in the crypt.
"Let her go," Spike growled at Angel.
"I'll let her go if you'll let her go," Angel said, gesturing to Buffy.
The two vampires just stood there staring at each other until Buffy, taking advantage of their distraction, used the chains as a brace, pulled her legs up as close as her increasing stomach would allow and kicked out, hitting Spike right in the back of the head, knocking him unconscious.