Chapter Four

Spike was roaming the streets, looking for more vampires to dust as he searched for his girlfriend. It wasn't because he was worried about her. He knew she was perfectly capable of taking out one dumb vamp. He was walking through the park in the direction Buffy ran off. He noticed a familiar figure approaching him. "Buffy!" Spike exclaimed. She looked up and made a small smile appear as she continued her steady pace. "Hey," Spike said when he jogged up to her. They greeted each other with a short kiss. "How was your slay?"

"It was a trap. Girl was a vamp too, but the weird thing is that after I dusted them I heard this clapping. Then this brunette girl popped out from behind a gravestone. She said her name was Faith and, get this, a Slayer."

"How's that possible? I thought it was 'one chosen' and all that gibberish?"

"Me too. She could just be yanking my chain, but- oh and there was this guy who called himself 'the great Angelus' and I was like, whoah ego much-"

"Hold on. Did you just say Angelus?" Spike interrupted hastily.

"Yeah. Ya heard of him?"

"More than heard of him love. He's a bloody legend. Killed his family, tortured people 'til they couldn't show fear. Then he killed'em."

"Party animal," Buffy quipped in a not-so-thrilled tone.

Spike stopped. "You're telling me that Angelus is after you?"

"Apparently." Buffy saw his face covered in shock. "Don't make that face!"

"What face?"

"That boy-are-you-in–deep-shit-and-I-may-never-see-you-again face."

"How can you get that much from a face?" Spike inquired with a quizzical look.

"You think I'm gonna die. That's just great. I already had enough shit to worry about and now I got two tons of manure added to it!" Buffy was beginning to freak out. Her blood rushed quickly through her body, making her skin's temperature rise.

"Buffy you need to calm down."

"Calm down? Do you not understand this? I have a Slayer and a big honcho vampire after me and my friends."

Spike paused. "What'd he say?"

"He wanted to get to know them, but I'm guessing it's not in the hang out and play Monopoly kind of way." Spike kept his head down. "Oh my gosh."

"What?"

"Now you have the there-go-your-friends face."

"Are you making this stuff up as you go? There can't possibly be that much detail in a face."

"If I had a mirror you could… not see your face, but the expressions are there."

"I'll just stop bleedin' lookin' at ya. Then my face won't say anythin' else." They continued walking in silence. Spike looked over at Buffy and could tell that this new information was tearing away at her insides. He decided to break the silence. "You shouldn't worry too much Buffy. You'll make it through this."

"Don't," she said quietly.

"What?"

"Lie." She stopped at a bench and sat down. "You don't know that. Yes, I've made it to this point but what I do, it's dangerous. I'm a Slayer, which means I throw myself in the line of fire everyday and I have a life expectancy of thirty."

"Are you thirty?" Spike asked, trying to make a point.

"No, but I'm saying that we don't live long. They've died as early as nearly a year on the job. Any day could be the day I slip up for just a second and I'm done. I'm not immortal, so just stop saying I'm going to make it through because it really annoys me."

"What do you want me to say? Go die Buffy, I'm sure it'll be a bowl of bloody laughs."

"How about we don't even talk about this?"

"Then you'll be mad 'cause we're not talkin' about it 'cause I don't realize what's in jeopardy. Buffy, I don't know what it is ya want me to say."

Buffy just sat there, clutching the bench tighter. She bit her lower lip before shoving herself off the wooden surface. "I'm going to go see Giles. Tell him what happened. Will you still patrol?" Buffy asked, devoid of any feeling.

"Yea, of course." Spike stood up as well.

"Thanks." Buffy leaned in to him and gave him a quick kiss before heading to Giles's house.

Spike watched her walk away. Her figure grew smaller and smaller, the darkness enveloping her. "I love you!" he yelled to her. She walked away without a response.

Buffy lightly knocked on the wooden door of her watcher's home. There was no answer so she helped herself inside. "Giles?" There was still no response. Buffy's eyes skimmed the area. His jacket was still hung on the hook and his shoes were by the door. As she moved further into the house she saw papers scattered everywhere on the floor as if there was a struggle. Giles! "Giles!" Buffy ran up the stairs to see if he was in his bed. Strike one. "Giles!" she yelled desperately. Her feet slammed against the steps as she started to head towards the back room.

"Buffy," Giles spoke, slightly startling her as he stepped into her path.

"Giles!" Buffy's arms embraced him tightly.

"Buffy," he could barely exert.

"Oh," she quickly let go. "Why didn't you answer when I called? You could've been unconscious or kidnapped or dead."

"Or in the bathroom."

"You have a sound proof bathroom now?"

"Is something wrong?" Giles asked, catching onto the obvious panic.

"There is a big something wrong." Giles moved passed her and sat down at his table giving her his full attention. "So I was out slaying and then I was lead into this graveyard. Okay, nothing out of the ordinary there. But then this girl comes out of nowhere and says her name is Faith and she's a Slayer."

Giles's attention somehow looked more in tune after those words. "I'm sorry?"

"A Slayer."

Giles hunched over and now put all his concentration on the floor. After a moment of silence his head rose, containing an idea. "Kendra." Buffy's face was still contorted. "Remember when you drowned and Xander brought you back?" She nodded. "The council called when they found out you were no longer dead to inform me a Slayer was summoned in your short term death."

"So then they put a want ad out for a psycho?" Buffy exclaimed.

"I'm not sure, but I received word five days ago about her death. A vampire drank from her."

"That's not good. Doesn't Slayer blood hold like, a lot of power?"

"Indeed. I'll have to call the council and ask them about this Faith person."

"While you're at it can you ask about Angelus?" Giles's face became tense and his head slowly turned to Buffy. "That's the same exact look that Spike gave me."

"You saw Angelus?"

"Yeah and I got to hear the whole 'I'm gonna kill you' thing too." Now he looked emotionless; his fear consumed him and his face became blank. "Who's Angelus?" Giles wasn't sure if he should tell her because it would only upset her more. "Giles! Who is Angelus?"

He removed his glasses and rubbed his forehead. Never a good sign. "He's the most ruthless vampire in the history of vampires. He tortures his victims mentally. Killing all those important to them and making them see the horrible display of their bodies. He's a monster."

Buffy's bottom lip was beginning to quiver. She quickly removed herself from her panic and then jumped into action. "I gotta go." Buffy ran out the door.

"Buffy! Where are you going?"

"Stay there, I'll be right back!" Buffy ran down the road and through town to Willow's house. She rapidly hit her fist against the door. "Hi Mrs. Rosenburg," she greeted when it was answered. "Is Willow home?"

"Yes, she's right upstairs."

"Thank you." Buffy swerved past her and ran up the stairs. "Willow!" she exclaimed as she opened the door. Her eyes immediately darted to the wall.

"Buffy!" Oz and Willow started to frantically put on their clothes. "What're you doing here?"

"Catching you and Oz in the act apparently."

After a couple more seconds of the sounds of zippers being zipped and buttons being clasped Willow said, "You can turn around." Buffy peeked over her shoulder as if they were tricking her. With a sigh of relief she fully turned around. "What's wrong?"

"You two have to get to Giles's house."

"Why?"

"He'll explain it all. Just get there." With that Buffy left and ran to Xander's. She pounded on the door, knowing they would ignore any wimpy knocking. Xander's dad answered. "Hi Mr. Harris." He looked at her with puzzlement. "I'm Buffy Summers. I'm a friend of Xander's." His face remained the same. "Is he here?" He pointed up the stairs with his big greasy thumb. "Thank you." This time Buffy knocked. "Xander?"

"Buffy?"

"Can I come in?" Buffy stood in the hall as she heard papers ruffling around.

"Yeah."

She turned the doorknob and revealed her friend lying on his bed watching tv. Buffy let out a sigh of relief, not that there was a big chance for a shock factor. "You have to get to Giles's house."

"Why?"

"Because."

"I don't' have a ride."

"Call Willow's and see if her and Oz left yet. I have to go get my mom. Just get there." Buffy shut the door and ran to her house.

Joyce was in the kitchen drinking tea and reading the paper. Her door slammed open, making her jump. "Mom?" she heard.

"Buffy?"

Buffy ran into the kitchen. "We have to go."

"Go where?"

"To see Giles."

"Why?" Joyce questioned.

"Why does it matter, if I say we have to go then we have to go." She was becoming furious with every question that followed her demand.

"But Buffy-"

"What, you want to drink tea and read the paper? Take the paper and Giles has plenty of tea. He's British."

"Buffy I-"

"Mom, please. I'm begging you." She got down on the floor. "Look I'm on my knees. Just get in your car and go to Giles's house. He'll answer all your questions, just go. I have to go find Spike."

"All right."

"Thank you." Buffy kissed her mother's head. "I'll be there in a few."

Spike was more alert than ever. He paid attention to every rustle of the leaves and sway of a branch. He was not going to be caught off guard. He was going to be- "Spike!" He jumped slightly by Buffy's sudden appearance. So much for being stealth. "There you are. We gotta get to Giles's house. I told everyone to meet us there."

"All right."

As they ran Buffy hid a smile. He was the only person who didn't question her actions.

"Honey we're home," Spike proclaimed as they entered the librarian's household.

Everyone's eyes darted to the door. Buffy noticed that one person was missing. "Where's Xander?"

"We were hoping he was with you," Oz answered.

"No, he's very much not with me. You didn't get a call from him?"

"No," Willow said on the verge of tears.

"I gotta go find him."

"I'm coming too," Spike said.

"No. You have to stay here."

"I'm not letting you go out there with-" Buffy put her hand over his mouth and pulled him into the corner.

"You're the only one strong enough to protect them if something happens to me," she whispered.

"Buffy, it's more dangerous out there than you know."

"Spike." Her eyes were full of fear and sadness. "Please."

Begrudgingly he replied, "All right."

She pulled him in for a kiss, longer than the previous few they shared. "I love you." She kissed him one more time before leaving.

Meanwhile, in an abandoned mansion, Faith and Angelus were doing some remodeling. "I think the chains should go there. Seems more Feng Shui."

"I've been in this game longer than you have miss strait jacket."

"What the hell's that supposed to mean?"

"You're psychotic."

"Because you're really in a sane place."

"I've come to terms with my bad side. And I gotta say, I like it." He fastened the chain through the metal hook.

"I've made peace with my bad side too. Who's the one who nabbed the boy off the street?"

"I was busy feasting off two children, cupcake."

"Speaking of which." Faith walked off to the back room to where Xander was tied to a chair, his mouth gagged by a black shirt. "How we doin'?" Xander started to ramble on but none of it made sense. "I guess if I want to hear what you have to say I should take this gag off your mouth huh?" She untied it from the back, purposely placing her chest right in his eyesight. "Better?"

"I can't wait to see what's gonna happen to you."

"What, when miss perfect gets here? Buffy?" Xander was shocked at how she knew who he was talking about. If people knew you were a friend of a Slayer you think they would back off. "I'll let you in on a little secret. Me and B, we're sort of like ying and yang. Positive and negative. She's the good slayer, with all her perfect little friends and perfect little life. Me, I'm the bad slayer. I got the vamps, demons and damned trembling at my feet. I think I can handle whatever blondie's got to dish out. But, until she gets here, we're gonna play a little game." Faith walked over to a black box. She pulled out an intricate, jagged knife and walked back over to Xander. She hopped onto his lap, wrapping her legs around his body and the chair. "I'm gonna ask you a question. For every question you answer wrong, I'm gonna cut off a finger."

"Mine or yours?"

"Yours."

"Damn!"

Faith tilted her head and let her mouth form a smile. She delicately moved the knife through the air between their faces as she thought of her first question.

Author's Note: Wow, it has definitely been awhile since this story's been updated. I actually was checking my name and such and realized I had two unfinished and it made me think 'oh yea!'. So now while I work on my newer one, I'm gonna try and finish those two, starting with this one obviously.