A guy, a little bit taller than her with short, curly brown hair and glasses, was attempting to set a table back up. Flyers were scattered all over the floor and the welcome sign with the balloons hung at an angle from the ceiling.
"I messed up your doilies and such," he said in a soft British accent. It seemed odd though, like she had heard his voice countless times and knew that he didn't sound like himself. But she had never seen this guy before. Yet, he looked vaguely familiar.
"That's O.K." She eyed the windows. Someone should be coming soon. Bursting through.
"Expecting someone love?" the guy walked up beside her. Buffy jumped, feeling too close to him, but somehow wanting to be closer.
"He's not coming you know."
"Who's not?" Buffy turned to look at him.
"The demon. He's not coming back. It's what you wanted isn't it? You said it often enough. You got your wish. He's gone." He turned to her, his gray eyes burning into hers. "That bastard will never touch you again, never try to force himself on you again. I took care of him."
"Spike? What did you do to Spike? Dust him? I should have, but I never could." But why did she feel sad that he was truly gone?
"I have a present for you Buffy." The man slipped something into her hand. She opened it slowly and saw a bloody piece of metal.
"The chip?"
"I ripped it from his head, love," the man's soft voice sounded wrong speaking of violence. "I reached inside the dead shell that housed that foul thing and I tore it out. I made him scream until he didn't have a voice left; yet he still continued. Silent screams of the damned. That's what he deserved." He caressed Buffy's cheek. "I did it all for you, my love. It's what you deserve. Bitch is going to get what she deserves!"
Buffy felt the tears slide down her face….
And when she woke, the tears were still there.
She tossed the sheets off of her. The tank top and pants she wore were soaked in sweat. Her mouth felt dry. She wiped the tears away and realized that she was shaking all over. She looked around her room; trying to orient her, take comfort in the surroundings. Her pictures of her friends, her mom and her sister; the butterflies on the wall; Mr. Gordo; Mr. Pointy on the dresser.
She shivered. A knock sounded on her door and Buffy jumped. "C-Come in."
Willow peeked in. "Hey. It's 9. You said to make sure you were up."
"Thanks."
"You O.K.? You look pale."
"Bad dream."
"Apocalypse premonition or naked in public bad?"
"Not sure. It was freaky though."
"Wanna talk about it?"
"Nah. Not that big of a deal. Besides, the fun that is the Doublemeat Palace awaits."
"Yeah. I've got a class. Wanna go to a movie or something fun tonight? Dawn wanted to go to Janice's, so it's just the adults. I'll call Zander."
"O.K. I get off work at 7. You guys pick me up at the Palace."
At work, as Buffy fried up the hamburgers, she thought of the dream. The more she thought about it, the more it freaked her out. The man in her dream was so familiar…
"BUFFY. You're burning those burgers," a nasal voice interrupted her reverie. She half-turned to see Lee, one of the employees, frowning at her.
Buffy flipped the burgers quickly. "No, they're O.K. See? No burnage."
He glared at her, his piggy eyes glaring at her through coke bottle glasses. "You should never skimp on quality."
"You should never skimp on the deodorant," Buffy mumbled.
Her day moved so slowly. Especially when Lee was following her every move, always behind her, always criticizing her.
She had never been so relieved to see Zander and Willow in her life. And that was including every near death experience.
"Hey Boogie Girl. Are you ready to get your groove on?" Zander asked as they walked up to the counter.
"Past ready." Buffy yanked off her hat. "Gina, I'm clocking out."
"Where do you think you're going Buffy?" Lee came up behind her.
"Anywhere that's not here." She glared at him. Who did he think he was?
"It's 6:50. Your shift's not up for another ten minutes."
"It's dead here. Gina can handle anything that comes along in the next ten minutes. I've cleaned up the lobby, restocked the front end and mopped the floor. The Doublemeat Palace won't miss me if I leave nine minutes early."
He frowned. "I just might have to speak to the manager."
"You do that Lee. Good night." Buffy turned to her friends. "I'm gonna change. I'll meet you outside."
"You look like a human again," Willow offered as Buffy met them outside wearing a gold silk shirt and a long tan skirt with a slit up the front past her knees.
"As opposed to a Doublemeat clone like Lee?"
"Yeah what's with him Buff?" Zander asked. "Is he the Doublemeat Gestapo?"
"Really." Buffy smiled at her friends. "Let's forget about the hell that is the Palace. I'm ready to dance."
As the three walked away, they didn't notice Lee come out of the building. Nor did they notice when he changed from annoying human to a red demon.
"Just you wait Slayer," Lee growled. "I'll make you dance. The dance of death! I'm the new evil in town…"
KRACK.
Demon Lee slumped to the ground as two hands reached behind him and snapped his neck clean.
"Like I've never heard that one before mate," Spike said as he lit a cigarette. "Very unoriginal. Still, no one threatens my girl."
Spike followed her to the Bronze. He watched her laugh with her friends, dance and smile. His heart ached with a new pain. Buffy. So beautiful. When she stood by a pillar, watching Willow and Zander dance, he seized the moment and snuck over to her. He stood on the other side of the pillar, so near to her that it physically hurt. He wanted to take her in his arms so bad, kiss her until she was gasping for air. The intensity of his feelings was so deep, and it frightened him. He shook his head. No. He could not let her see him yet. But he could help her.
Buffy felt funny, a nagging sensation filling her. She looked behind the pillar, but there was no one there. She shook her head. She was going crazy.