Chapter 17 Underground

Buffy had to admit it, the girls could really get a job done fast when they put their minds to it. Right now they weren't in the mood. The girls stood around Buffy and Spike looking moody and disheveled. It was barely sunrise. The duplex was now completely cleaned out and looked much better than it did when Buffy and Giles had originally looked at it.

Now without the dead animals, the nasty carpeting, and the fact they had been working with the windows and doors open as wide as possible; it felt, and smelled, much more inviting. Buffy really was able to start thinking about it as her future home. Sure she had a flat in Rome with Dawn, Willow and Kennedy. But this was hers she actually co-owned the building with Giles. Soon it would be just her, Spike, and Dawn.

Buffy took in a deep breath and called the girls together, "Alright that's enough. Where are Ursula, Addison, Zari, and Wendy?" The four oldest girls came forward, "First of all, I want to thank all of you for the amazing work you've done in here over the last two days. You've blown me away with how much you've accomplished in such a short time and I can't thank you enough."

"I second that!" Spike interjected.

Buffy nodded at him and continued, "Those of you who were working in the basement on this side already know that one of the main reasons we picked it is that it has super convenient access to the underground tunnels. I have subterranean maps here, one for each group," she passed the maps out to each of the four oldest girls, "You'll notice the maps are not complete. That's where you come in. The other day I had Willow do some tech work for me, updating the tracking system we already had on your phones. We should be able to track you underground as well now," a couple of the girls made some derogatory sounds at that, "We've been over this, we're not big sister spying on you, this is for your safety. If you go missing or if you're in trouble, this is the best magicless— magic-lite… the easiest, way we have to find you. It's not perfect but it's better than microchipping all of you don't you think?"

Spike grunted, "Trust me, a phone is way better than a chip."

"Go on Buffy," Ursula said, casting a glare at the girls grumbling the loudest.

"Normally we would use these only in emergencies, tonight we are going to use the system to help fill in the blanks on the maps. I have pencils here you can use to make notes. The whole point of this is that we don't know what is down there; stick together. You get into trouble you can't handle, you call me. We'll start out together and split up into groups as the tunnels diverge. It will be daylight soon and a lot of things will be heading for shelter. We've talked about evil vs not so evil," she hitched a thumb at Spike.

"Hey!"

"You'd rather be evil again?" She asked, bringing a stake up.

Spike chuckled, "I'm good, being good. Much better perks," he grinned.

"That's what I thought. Point is, assess the situation. If it's attacking you, feeding off of humans or performing some ritual or something, it's probably a good bet it's evil. That said, these tunnels are extensive, take your time and don't get lost. Any time you see an access point to the surface, take a peek. Get your bearings and make a note of it on the map. Any questions?" There weren't, "Let's go."

Spike lead the way into the basement and opened the concealed door, "Adventure awaits children."

"I'm not going first," Cora, a level two girl interrupted.

"No you won't. That honor belongs to me and Buffy. We'll be taking the longest tunnel on the map there that should lead all the way into the heart of Edinburgh. You girls will follow behind and branch off where we tell you. Watch for structural damage and collapsed tunnels. You hit a dead end, mark it on the map, text Buffy and head back, take another route. If it starts getting late, head back to the castle. This is a day trip kids, Buffy and I don't plan on being back to the castle early, very probably nightfall. Hope you all brought snacks."

"We are just gathering intel, once we have maps drawn up we'll probably add the tunnels to the patrol lineup."

There was a general murmur of agreement. Spike turned to Buffy and extended his hand gallantly, "Shall we, Love?"

She placed her hand in his, "We shall," she smiled.

The tunnel went on as far as they could see, which wasn't very far because there was very little light. Buffy clicked on her flashlight, the beam penetrating the darkness several feet in front of them. They walked on for less than fifteen minutes before they came to the first intersection of tunnels. Two tunnels branched off to the right at acute angles. Buffy raked her flashlight along the walls and the high ceiling inspecting the bricks.

Buffy checked the map, "Addison, if we're right, this one to the right here should take you right into town. See where it comes out and mark any tunnels that might intersect. Our theory is that this should be a complete underground road system."

"Very cool. Alright, let's go girls, you heard the lady," Addison shot Ursula a fleeting smile and the girls branched off from the group.

Buffy turned to see who was closer to her, "Ursula? You want to take the second tunnel?"

"Sure thing," she took a few steps into the tunnel, raising her hand and waving her group over.

Buffy and Spike proceeded down the main tunnel leading the other girls. Sometime later they came to what looked like a large domed room with two tunnels coming off of it. There were shafts of light coming down from the surface here. Buffy climbed a ladder connected to the wall to get a better look.

"What do you see up there, Pet?"

"Definitely a town. Looks like the Wallyford Post Office."

Spike smoothed the map out on the brick wall and made a note, "Come on down, Love. I think I know where we are."

"Wallyford?" She asked sarcastically, moving over to him.

Spike pointed to the right hand tunnel, "Smart ass. Look here. That's our route. It'll take us through Musselburgh and eventually into Edinburgh. That one over there should run into Dalkeith, eventually."

"Nice, I think that's where Sheena is from."

"Yeah, it is," Thea answered, "She goes to a Catholic school there during the year."

"Alright, Wendy, why don't you take Dalkeith?"

"Got it!" Wendy called

"That leaves Musselburgh for Zari's group and Edinburgh for us."

Meanwhile in Callum's apartment.

"God, Cal," Faith screamed breathlessly as he pushed her over the edge again. She gripped his shoulders while she rode out the intense wave of pleasure that consumed her, "Cal!" He continued on, building to a fever pitch until finally she felt his own release. Faith screamed in ecstasy again, as yet another wave crashed over them both.

Callum held her in place while they caught their breath. "Hold me, Cal."

"Aye Lass, I don't think I could let you go even if I wanted to," he said as he squeezed her gently.

Once again Faith felt the sting of tears but she pushed them away. Instead she buried her head in his chest. She was just getting herself under control when Callum let out a huff.

"What's the matter?" She asked.

"I just remembered I made dessert."

"Seriously?"

"Chocolate mousse with raspberries."

"Damn, Cal, that sounds really good right about now."

He kissed the top of her head as he murmured his agreement, "Do you feel like having some now, Lass?"

She grinned, "You had me at chocolate… ya know what, I just noticed something?"

"What's that?"

"You just let me call you 'Cal'."

"Yeah well, I kinda like the way you've been screaming it. Definitely not going to put a stop to that now, am I?" he grinned.

"I did not!"

"Oh aye, Lass, ya did. Over, and over, and over, again. It's definitely grown on me after that, Love," he kissed her shoulder, "I'll happily make you the exception. After tonight you can call me 'Cal' anytime you want. Well you and Spike apparently, bloke can't seem to take a hint."

"That's just Spike, he likes his nicknames. He also likes to aggravate people. Might actually stop if you tell him it's a turn-on."

Callum laughed, "Maybe I'll give that a try. Right now I think I'd rather just hear you scream it a little more."

"Nah ah, you said chocolate."

"Oh wow, that took an expected turn."

"Damn straight, amazing sex and chocolate, two of my favorite things."

Callum grinned, "I'll let you up on one condition."

"What's that?"

"Not a stitch," he said as he ran his index finger along her throat and down over the dagger and rose tattooed low on her sternum. The breath hitched in her throat as he did so. Callum continued, "Is it just me or does this sweet little dagger here look like it should be the focal point of a larger piece?"

"It was supposed to be. I wanted it to be the start of an underbust design but I just haven't got around to it. Been seriously busy."

"I'll talk to my friend, she can work with you on that if you like. She's brilliant, she'd give you whatever you want and then some."

"She did yours?"

"I had another artist do one once and it didn't turn out so great. I had Gemma do a coverup to fix it and I've only gone to her ever since. I think you'd like her. She gave me a hell of a time for not going to her in the first place. Never saw her so pissed."

"I'd definitely be interested in having this one finished, but right now, I just want chocolate."

He grinned as he let her up off the bed and followed her out to the kitchen. "Now there's a sight I could get used to in a hurry," he said as he watched her take a seat on one of the barstools.

"Back at ya stud," she winked at him as he pulled two parfait cups filled with pretty layers of mousse, raspberries and whipped cream out of the fridge.

"You got fancy."

"This?"

"Look, when I was a kid, dessert was a freaking ding-dong. This is amazing."

He set one down in front of her and went to get spoons from a drawer, "I'm going to laugh and just pretend I know a ding-dong is some sort of a sweet treat and not—" he gestured to his own naked body.

She bobbed her head, laughing, "It's a pretty versatile word, in this case, it's this little cake with cream filling and a waxy frosting on the outside that really makes it look like a hockey puck."

"Sounds appetizing," he said doubtfully as he handed her a spoon.

"Trust me, you're not missing out. This looks like something you'd pay for in a fancy restaurant."

"It's funny to hear you say that. This was a common dessert when I was growing up. My mum used to make this a lot, especially in summer, it's quick and easy. So what are the others up to tonight?"

"Nothing tonight, taking the girls out in the morning," she said, taking a bite, "Oh that's good!"

He smiled as he watched her from his seat next to her, "Glad you like it, Lass."

When they had finished, Callum cleared the dishes including the ones from dinner. "What next? Movie, sleep, another round?" He grinned.

Faith took his hand leading to the bedroom, "I could go for another round with the champ."

"Don't need to ask me twice", he said as he scooped her up into a fireman's carry.

She squealed as he deposited her on the bed and made a move to join her. As he did he caught sight of the clock on his nightstand, "Bloody hell, is that the time?"

Faith turned to look. "3:15? Sounds about right. Bet the kids are starting out on their field trip about now too."

Callum rolled over with a huff, grabbed the phone by the bed and began to dial.

Faith got up on her elbows, "Who the hell are you calling?"

"Leaving a message at the hardware store. I can't go anywhere with food poisoning, now can I?" he grinned.

Faith pulled herself up close to him, laying kisses along his back as she let her hands wander freely. She had to give him props for staying focused on his phone call. Grinning to herself, she kissed his neck just as he finished leaving his message. Callum hung up the phone and reached around to grab her by the waist, "Now where were we?"

Faith threw her leg around him, straddling him where he sat on the edge of the bed. "Does that mean I get you all to myself today?"

"Tomorrow too if you like."

"The love-birds can handle things. I'll call to check on Giles later, he was going to ask a 'friend' of his to come over."

"I'm not opposed to going back to your place later if you need to."

"Let's hope not. I'd hate to have to put clothes on. Makes it really hard to do this," she said as she positioned herself over him, and settled down. Slowly, she began rolling her hips.

"Oh aye, Lass, can't have that now can we?" He asked in a hushed tone.

He held her in place helping her glide up and down on top of him. Faith raised her arms above her head sensually and Callum moved his mouth to her breast, teasing her with his tongue. Faith let out a little gasp and brought her arms down around his neck as she increased her pace. Callum moved to kiss her neck roughly, "Hang on tight," he whispered in her ear.

"Cal!" Faith called out as she gripped him firmly. He flipped them over and further onto the bed. "Oh God, Cal!" Faith screamed as the first wave crashed over her a few moments later.

"That's it, Love," he said and kissed her again.

"Got something up here, Love," Spike said in a hushed tone.

"I see it too."

There were lights shining from the end of the tunnel Buffy and Spike were in. Not long after they had broken away from the last group of girls the tunnels began to change into something that more resembled a buried city. They had been on their own for about an hour and had only come across two vampires that gave them any trouble. Most of the other creatures they saw made it a point to get out of their way quickly. The closer they got to the city above ground the more the city underground took shape. Along the way they had passed several tunnel-like streets going in various directions.

As they came into an open area similar to a town square, Spike turned to her, "Welcome to Edinburgh Undertown, Pet. I think I have a general idea of where I am now. If memory serves, this is pretty close to the market. Think of it almost like a demonic flea market. They sell everything from the usual charms, spells and trinkets to exotic bloods and weaponry."

"We're not shopping."

"Nothing is open now anyway. Most of these folks sleep during the day. The ones who don't are probably on the surface."

"Hence the reason we're here now."

"Don't you 'hence' me, you little minx, I know the mission. I'm just trying to give a little context. Good bit of the folks you got down here are more like the demons at Xander and Anya's not-wedding. Not exactly the hardcore evil types. The real nasties are on the outskirts, not so much here. Dru and I lived in a place like this for a couple years, quite nice really, but it got boring. Needed some excitement, some carnage."

"Yeah what I'm seeing right now seems kinda tame, and weird…" Buffy said as they passed what looked like a daycare on one side of the street and a barbershop on the other.

"What were you expecting?"

"Definitely not this... I mean, a daycare? And look, that barbershop is advertising horn grinding."

"Oh yeah that's pretty common. A lot of Demons need to have them ground down either to fit in with folks on the surface or because they grow too fast. They cater to all sorts. Get a lot of vampires in these places."

"Really?"

"Absolutely, not easy to cut hair without a reflection. Got to do it all by feel. I've got pretty good at it over the years. Now I know this place is here, I'll probably be giving it a try."

"Seriously? How did I not know this was a thing?"

"Didn't you ever go into the one in Sunnydale?"

"Didn't know there was one… how is that even possible?"

"Sort of makes sense I guess. Remember Rack's place?"

"That guy," she said darkly.

"Yeah, well it was cloaked like that. Guess they didn't want the Slayer coming in while folks were getting spiffy. Never thought you didn't know about it though. Where did you think Angel and I got our hair done?"

"I just thought you guys did it yourself…"

"Can and have, a lot. It's just nice having someone else do it from time to time."

"Huhh… yup, still a little weird, I don't know."

The two of them made their way along the main street until they came to a corner pub. Inside it was very like many of the pubs in Edinburgh. There was a lot of stone and wood work. A gleaming bar was lined with a variety of demonic patrons.

The bartender, a human looking demon with large rams horns curling out of his head, looked up at the two of them skeptically. He was tall and thin with a pinched face and curly dark blonde hair , "What can I get for you?"

"Scotch on the rocks," Spike answered and turned to Buffy.

She looked at him with the barest hint of disapproval but didn't say anything. In truth a drink didn't sound like a bad idea, so instead she just shrugged and turned to the bartender, "We're new to the area, just checking things out."

The bartender looked at her even more critically, "New to the area? Right… well not much to see around here," he looked around the bar and leaned towards Buffy dropping his voice, "Look Slayer, we run things above board. Keep our noses out of other's business. Everyone around here is just trying to get by."

"If I had a dollar for every time I heard that. How do you know who I am?"

He grabbed a glass and a bottle of Scotch as he spoke, "I got a sense about these things. It's no secret that there's more than one slayer around and it hasn't been real great for business, I'll tell you that."

Spike accepted the glass of scotch and took a sip, "This your place?"

"It is."

"What's your name?"

"Steve."

"Right Steve. I'm Spike, this here is Buffy. Look, we're not here to stir up trouble."

"You bring a Slayer in here and you expect me to believe that?" the bartender said in a strained whisper, "What's she got on you anyway vampire? She promise not to stake you if you show her around?"

"Not exactly. You know, a lot of things can't pick her out of a lineup. It does pique my curiosity. Must come in handy as a bartender."

"What's it to you?"

Spike glanced at Buffy, "If you can read her, you can probably read me too…"

"Sure, vampi— wait a second—-" the bartender's face took on a look of confusion as he looked more closely at Spike, "What the— How—"

"I'll take that as a 'yes'—" he drained his drink and tapped the bar for another, "You know what's going on around here; you have your ear to the ground. Let's make a deal."

"W— What kind of deal?" He stammered still looking at Spike aghast as he refilled his glass.

Buffy leaned in a little, "The kind where you feed us information and we don't wreck the place," she reached for Spike's drink and took a sip.

"Or your customers," Spike menaced.

"Look, I'm not joking. Most of the demons that come in here are just regular folks. Most of them barely ever even go to the surface."

"I'm not interested in little fish. I want you to tell us when something more unusual comes along. We're talking about the real nasty, big bad, kind of stuff," Buffy said.

Spike took another sip of his drink, "I'd take the deal. The lady doesn't work by halves. Gets cranky when she doesn't get to kill something for too long too."

The bartender studied the two of them nervously before answering, "How— how do I contact you?"

"Oh someone will be through fairly regularly. If it's not one of us, we'll send someone. You'll know. If you catch something big that's going down fast, you can call this number," she told him as she pulled out a simple business card. The card simply read, "Slayer Central", with a phone number Willow had rigged up as a party-line that rang in on Buffy, Faith and Willow's phones at once. It was the number they handed out to pretty much everyone outside of the Scoobies and the Slayerettes. The number was also untraceable by electronic or magical means.

The bartender locked eyes with Buffy as she handed him the card, "Alright, sure. Whatever you want. Just keep it civil alright?"

Spike offered Buffy his drink, "Cheers, Love."

She took a sip and handed it back to him. Spike tipped his glass towards the bartender, "Here's to ya Steve, to the start of a beautiful friendship," he said downing the last of his drink.

The two of them left the underground pub a few minutes later, after making a few adjustments to their map. They continued down the street looking into shop windows and up and down alleys just to get a feel of the place.

"At least now I know where demons get all their robes," Buffy said as they passed the third robe shop.

A large burly looking demon came out of what looked like another pub, coming their way. He didn't seem to notice them until they were a few feet away. The demon's head suddenly jerked up and he started sniffing the air, locking his eyes on Buffy.

"Is that a human I smell?" he growled, licking his scaly lips.

"Sure is!" she smiled sweetly.

"Stirring up trouble, mate?"

The demon glanced at Spike for the first time, "What do you care, vampire?"

Spike shrugged a shoulder, "Could say I'm protecting my interest," he said changing his face, preparing for a fight.

The demon staggered drunkenly as he tried for a fighting stance. Spike rolled his eyes and glanced at Buffy, "Talk about low hanging fruit," she said.

"Let's get out of here, Pet."

As they moved past him the large demon swung drunkenly at Spike, "This isn't any of your business, Vampire."

Spike dodged the punch easily, the big guy toppled and landed on his face. Spike eyed him in disgust. He sighed, "Help me with this idiot would you, Love?"

"You're kidding right?"

"I've played cards with plenty of these guys. He might be big but they're not exactly capital "B" bad. These guys are like the big biker guys that are secretly gardeners or knitters and whatnot. All the ones I met look like big bruisers on the outside but on the inside they're, well Clem."

Buffy looked at him doubtfully and sighed, "Sometimes you can be such a softy."

"Bite your tongue or I'll do it for you. Just help me with him, would you," he snapped as he hauled the demon up into a sitting position.

"The things we do for love," she sighed as she took the demon under one large arm and Spike took the other. "What do you want to do with him?"

Spike pointed to a little alcove next to a set of steps, "Over there's good, just so folks aren't tripping over the bloke," he grunted as they dragged him over the ground, "Where do you get off saying 'the things we do for love' anyway, Pet? Not that I'm keeping score or anything but seems to me like I'm the one making most of the sacrifices. Again, not keeping score. I'd do it all over again for you but still… that sort of hit a nerve."

They heaved the big demon over and made him as comfortable as possible on the hard ground. Buffy straightened up looking squarely at Spike. She had only meant it as a joke but he had a point. She had made sacrifices, sure; but when it specifically came to their relationship, he was right. She gaped at him, "Spike—"

A wave of pain shot through him and he knew it came from her. "Don't take it like that. I didn't mean— I don't have any regrets… well no, I got lots of regrets— but not any of the greater good stuff. Definitely a few of the more unsavory things I wouldn't mind scrubbing from the record."

Buffy shook her head, "No, no, I get it," she said calmly as she made her way back towards the street the way they had come.

"Buffy…" he said catching up to her, "Buffy, oh come on, Love."

"No, you're right—"

He caught up to her spinning her around, "Buffy, that came out a lot worse than I meant."

"I know… and I know you don't ask for much because most of that stuff just doesn't matter to you and—- there's a lot you could complain about, but you don't. I mean, be honest, how do you feel about moving to Scotland permanently?" She asked as she pushed her awareness towards him trying to pick up on what he was feeling.

"You know how I feel about that, Pet. I like it here just fine. I'm good with living here, with you. It's not really about me, Pet. It's where you need to be and I just need to be with you."

Buffy looked up at him, a tone thrummed through her head like a literal note of truth striking just the right cord, "Thank you."

He took her hand in his own, "Don't mention it, Pet. You know how I feel about you."

"I just want you to know that if the circumstances were reversed, if it was your job we were moving for, I'd do it for you."

They walked on through the nearly deserted streets. There were a few signs of life but not many.

"I know you would, Love. Don't fret. You did a lot for me when the First was using my body as a knife sharpener and my brain as a piñata. That definitely counts for something. Something big. Not to mention that sodding chip."

"Yeah, I guess you're right. But it's not really the same."

"Hell it ain't. I'd been done for, a hundred times over if not for you, Pet. I think I can stand being the supporting boyfriend," he grinned.

"That simple huh?"

"Damn straight it is. At least for now. You know how it goes, Sweetheart. Something always comes up and we bat it down like sodding cosmic whack-a-mole."

"Now there's an image."

They walked on in a different direction. Buffy kept looking up at the ceiling of the great cavernous tunnel they were in. It was such an odd feeling being in an underground city. Sure Sunnydale had had a tunnel system, but this was huge. She squeezed Spike's hand as she looked around at the buildings. These were homes and businesses. The place was relatively quiet now but come nightfall it would be a buzzing hub of activity.

"You know what I don't get?" She said suddenly as they turned down a narrow alleyway.

"Why the majority of them sleep during the day even when they are underground?"

"Could you hear me thinking?"

"Not strong, had a pretty good idea what was going through your head though."

"Still, that's something. I wasn't even trying to push my thoughts towards you."

He lifted their intertwined fingers, "Minimal physical contact too. Might have to make it a point to work on this thing."

"I'd like that."

"You sure you want to go snooping around in my noggin? It's pretty messy."

She stopped turning towards him in the dimly lit alley, "If you can be the supportive boyfriend, I think I can handle this."

"What if we end up not just sharing surface thoughts? What if—"

"You're worried about me seeing your more ick-some memories too."

"Well, yeah. It's not particularly pleasant in here."

"Let's just take it one thing at a time alright? We can try a few meditation tricks Willow thought me and go from there. I want to do this for you. I want that deeper connection to you."

"You're sure?"

She tilted her head towards him, "I am."

Spike pressed his lips to hers pushing thoughts of love towards her filling her up like a cup. Suddenly he felt her pushing back, growing more desperate with each movement of their lips and tongues. Love and devotion pushed and pulled between them as they continued the kiss. Buffy reached for Spike's belt and was ready to take him right there in the alley just like they had in Paris; when Buffy got an incoming text. And another. And another.

"Bullocks, what the bloody hell is going on with that damn thing?" Spike grumbled as he relaxed his hold on her.

Buffy sighed as she looked down at her phone and grimaced, "Well, damn."

"What's up?"

She handed her phone over to him:

SOS!

Meet at castle

Messed up

Spike read it twice, "Bloody hell… Wendy… yeah alright, let's go, Slayer. But we're continuing this first chance we get."

"God yes."

"Feeling a little pent-up are you?"

To be continued... Please Read and Review!