Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews! This chapter's short, but just because the one following it has some rather long scenes that can't be cut down. :o Sorry if it disappoints, but I'll have the next soon (and I think it'll be pretty good).

Like a Man Possessed
Chapter 3

The shadows slowly descended around her as Buffy leaned against the wall of Spike's crypt. She had watched the sun set anxiously, counting down the moments until she could finally speak to him. What exactly she would say… that was another question. It was almost entirely dark, but she still had no idea what to tell him, not to mention the courage to walk through his door.

If Buffy was one thing, it wasn't a coward; she had faced adversaries with more power than herself without the slightest sign of panic… but until she could put words to what she intended to tell him, Buffy was stubbornly staying right where she was.

Anya stood behind the counter, watching Tara and Willow listen to Giles' recount of his "successful" meeting with Spike. Sighing, she lifted the money from the cash register and counted it for a third time that evening. She could barely stand to wait any longer for Xander and Buffy to arrive, so they could get the whole "Spike thing" (as she called it to herself) out of the way—it seemed wrong to her to meddle with people's business when they didn't wish for it to happen, but the others were certain they were doing what was best.

A moment later, the tinkling of a bell announced the arrival of their missing members. The four already present looked to the door, but were puzzled when Xander entered alone. "Giles," he said in a rush, "I think we've made a mistake."

Tara and Willow sat down in their usual seats, uneasy expressions on their faces. "What happened?" Giles asked, removing his glasses and furiously wiping away any smudges he found.

Xander sat at the table across from the witches, his elbows resting on the surface and his head in his hands. Anya came from behind the counter quickly and took a seat next to him, concerned at his obvious anxiety. "What happened?" she repeated softly, taking one of his hands in her own when he looked up.

"I think," he began, "that we made a mistake in keeping Spike away from Buffy."

"Where is she?" Giles asked, his voice suddenly full of urgency.

"Buffy left when I was talking to her. I-I think she went to see Spike." When Giles moved towards the door, Xander quickly called out, "Wait!"

The Watcher turned to face the younger man, realizing that there was more to what Xander had to say. "What else happened?"

Suddenly, the brunette seemed in a rush to finish. "I told Buffy that Spike had been following her. She said she already knew and that it didn't bother her." At this point, Willow tried to interrupt, but Xander quickly resumed talking. "I told her that it should and that we were here to help her, that she didn't need him when she had us, but… she brought something up that we never really took into account." Taking a deep breath, he finished. "None of us have really felt loss like Buffy has—except for Spike."

Giles stood completely still, Xander's perception making complete sense to him. He had been so focused on keeping the "bad things" away from Buffy that he hadn't realized they were already within her. A rush of guilt flooding through him, he turned to leave again.

"Where are you going?" Tara asked before he reached the door.

"To make up for my mistakes." He was reaching for the knob when an unforeseen hand touched his shoulder.

Turning, Giles was met with Anya's clear brown eyes. "Giles, listen to me. You don't need to do anything at all right now."

The Watcher let out a skeptical scoff, rolling his eyes. "Yes, you're quite right, Anya—threatening to take Spike's unlife if he helps Buffy is something that needs no remedy at all at the moment."

"You're exactly right," she unexpectedly answered, cocking her head to the side and smiling patronizingly at him. When all eyes were on her, Anya simply stated, "Nothing that any of us can do will keep two people apart if they truly wish to be with each other." At the amazed looks she received from the group, the blonde smiled and bobbed her head cheerfully. "Not that your fatherly influence is what it used to be, eh, Rupey?"

The Slayer was here.

He had been able to smell her for almost an hour, and he'd been nervously pacing since then, countless ideas flooding his mind as to what her presence might mean. It wasn't like he could just skip outside and ask why she was here—the sun was still high enough to prevent that particular exploit.

Spike was a pessimist by nature. Nearly a century-and-a-half of "life" could do that to someone, especially if they happened to be a creature of the darkness—optimists among vampires tended to reach their dusty ends sooner rather than later. Ever since Giles' visit, Spike had wondered whether the Scooby gang had told Buffy what had happened, and now he obviously knew. Unfortunately, the answer only opened up a new batch of questions.

How did she react upon learning that he was once again following her? Did she jump to the same conclusion as the Scooby group, or did she consider other possibilities? If she'd agreed with her friends, what would she do to him now? Why had she been waiting outside for so long? For some reason, Spike didn't think it customary for someone coming to commit murder to wait until polite calling hours. Of course, maybe she was out there plotting the best way to enact his demise. Ill thought out conclusions tumbled around in his head, and soon he was an irrational ball of nerves.

He wasn't supposed to be like this! He was a vampire, a sodding monster—and here he was, quaking in his boots at the thought of the little girl outside. The alcohol he'd earlier consumed sent forth a wave of anger, and in an impulsive move he strode to the door and threw it open.