Chapter Thirty-Three: More Confusion

"What happened…" Joy murmured softly as her eyelids twitched. She rolled over onto her side and pulled the blanket up under her chin. She squinted in the dim candle light. "Spike? Is that you?"

Spike sat up straighter in the chair. He had began to drift off to sleep but the second she stirred he had reawaken to give her his full attention. "Joy, luv, are you alright?"

She sat up and glanced around the dark cave room frowning. "Where am I?"

"I brought you home, to my crypt…" He explained slowly.

"I'm in your crypt?" Joy gasped at the realization. "Why? What am I doing here?" She was still half-asleep and a little drunk. "Why did you bring me here?" She seemed to suddenly realize that she was in his bed and panicked. "Why am I in your bed? Okay…umm…I know that I was drinking a little bit too much and I get that you're a vampire and all that, but I never thought that you'd take advantage of me!"

"Whoa, slow down there lil' slayer!" Spike stood and took a few steps back away from the bed. "I didn't…I wouldn't…"

"Calm down Spike," Joy sighed. "I know you would never touch me. I just enjoy messing with you." She coughed and squeezed her eyes shut. She moaned. "God, my head feels like it's on fire. Does it look like it's on fire?" She dropped her head in her hands and continued to moan.

"Are you alright Gidget?" Spike cautiously moved back to the bedside.

"Yea, I'm just a little confused. I don't really remember how I got here…" She glanced down at her clothes. "Okay, I sort of remember the Bronze…at least I hope I was at the Bronze, or else I really don't know why I'm wearing my club clothes."

"You honestly don't remember any of the night?" Spike questioned.

"Well," Joy scrunched up her forehead trying to remember something. "Oh, I remember sneaking out the window!" She sighed. "But that's sort of it."

"Do you remember the club? The guy?"

"Guy?" Joy shook her head and then stopped. "Oh. Yea, it's coming back to me now." She bit her lip, a little embarrassed. "Spike, I wasn't doing well last night, emotionally, and I went to the club for some release, and well, I really don't usually do stuff like that I mean with strange guys and all…"

Spike shushed her. "It's alright luv, I'm not going to judge your behavior." He reached out to touch her hand but pulled back before she noticed. "Are you okay, though?"

She shook her head slowly. "My head is a little achy. No big though."

"Do you remember anything about the fight, Joy?"

"The fight?" Joy thought for a minute and then shook her head.

"After the Bronze, I took you to the cemetery and you fought a vampire. You dusted him fine but then you collapsed…"

Joy's head exploded again with the memory of what she'd seen while staking the vampire. "Oh my god!" She moaned as the images once again vanished from her head. "Oh my god…" she continued to mutter horrified.

"What is it? What's wrong?"

"Oh my god…" She held her head in her hands and started to cry. "It can't be real! It's not real!"

Spike frowned with confusion. "Slayer, talk to me, I don't understand what's happening."

Joy looked up at him with watery eyes. "I saw…things…"

"What sort of thing?"

"Bad things! Horrible things!"

"Things that have happened in your past?" He asked.

She shook her head. "No, they haven't happened yet. But I have the worst feeling that they're going to, soon."

"Come on luv, tell me what you saw. We'll figure it out together." Spike encouraged.

"Dawn…" Joy barely whispered her friend's name before her voice cracked and she started trembling again. "It can't happen! It can't be real!"

"What?" Spike demanded.

"I saw Dawn…" Joy gasped as she forced the visions back into her mind. "She was being attacked…oh my god!" Joy's eyes glazed over as she stared at nothing in front of her. Spike could tell that she was seeing whatever she had seen before inside her head, again. "Oh god, oh god, no…"

"Does she get hurt, Joy?" Spike asked softly.

"She gets turned!" Joy replied in a hushed tone. "She's killed and turned." She blinked twice and closed her eyes again. "Why did I see that Spike? What's wrong with me?" Her body was still shaking uncontrollably.

"I knew this girl once, she was a bit crazy actually, but at times she had incredible power." Spike told the frightened young slayer. "She could see things, future things, it was like she could sense evil things that were going to happen. It was an amazing talent for her, she was a vampire after all, but I've never known anyone else who could see things before they happened…" He stopped talking, realizing that his story about Drusilla really had no importance. "Maybe you should talk to Giles. He always seems to know 'bout the strange and unusual."

"I don't want to tell Buffy what I saw." Joy decided quickly. "I don't want to worry her."

"Of course." Spike agreed. "We don't have to tell her. We don't have to tell anyone if you don't want to. But, Giles might know something."

"Yea," Joy gave in. "I'll talk to Giles." She clenched her fists, trying to stop the shaking.

"I could talk to him if you'd like pet?" Spike offered.

Joy forced a smile. "It's okay Spike. Thanks for offering but I can talk to him myself." She slowly climbed out of bed and straightened out her twisted clothing.

"Is your head all clear now?" Spike asked, standing with her and offering her a hand to keep her stable. "No more big bads running around inside of your mind, right?"

"Right, I'm okay for now." Joy sighed. "I've got to go. I'm sure everyone's worrying about where I ran off to."

"I'd drive you home but, well, you'd be driving with a pile of ashes." He led her up out of the bedroom. "I imagine you'll be safe in the daytime though."

"I'd be safe at night too." Joy reminded him.

"Of course you would luv, now run on home to the scoobies and figure out what's going on with your head." Spike ordered.

"Alright," Joy headed for the door of the crypt. "Thanks for taking care of me, Spike." She sighed. "I'm sorry about all the shit I've given you for the whole vampire thing…"

"I get that it still freaks you out…"

"Well yea, but I really have dealt with it. It doesn't bother me that much anymore. It's just easier to deal if I can give you a hard time about it." She shrugged. "I don't know why I choose to screw with you. I don't give Angel a hard time…"

"Well of course you don't. No one ever bothers Peaches." Spike rolled his eyes. "Whatever, it's fine. I get it. See you around, Gidget."

Joy nodded apologetically and left Spike alone in his dark crypt. She limped out to her car tiredly. The sun was bright but she could tell that it hadn't been up for too long yet that day. She wondered how long she was asleep, or unconscious, whichever was more appropriate. During the drive home she thought about what she had said to Spike.

Why do I give him such a hard time? She gripped the steering wheel tightly. She hated being confused, especially when she was still so tired. Sure, I'm still not entirely comfortable with the vampire thing, but with Spike and Angel, it doesn't really bother me either, I guess. Both of them have taken such good care of me…I don't know what I'd have done without Angel to train me and help me accept being a slayer, and Spike…well…he's always been there, whenever I need help. He's been great! Joy frowned and turned the radio up louder, letting the steady beat pound the frustrations out of her mind.

When she pulled into the driveway back at the Summers' house she realized that the lights were still off. She glanced at her car clock and smiled. 5:15. Everyone's probably still in bed. I can easily sneak back in without them waking up. She put the car in park and quietly made her way over to the front door. Realizing that she didn't have a key yet, Joy returned to her earlier escape route.

Climbing up the tree was not as easy as climbing down. Especially after the night she had had; first with the drinking and then with the fight and her vision. She again gripped her purse strap between her teeth and jumped up to reach the lowest branch. She skillfully scaled up the tree until she was close enough to leap onto the roof. Her stilettos skidded on the roof but she quickly steadied herself and dropped to her knees and crawled the rest of the way to the bedroom window.

I really hope that they're all heavy sleepers. Joy worried as she tossed her purse inside the still open window. She braced her hands on the window frame and hoisted her small body through the window. Unfortunately, Joy had misjudged her leaping skills and when she landed inside the bedroom, she landed with a 'thud' as she crashed into the dresser beside the window, consequently breaking a few fragile knick-knacks that fell to the floor. In minutes, her less-than-graceful entrance had woken most of the household and they were soon in the bedroom doorway gawking.

"Shit," Joy sighed as she noticed everyone at the door. "Sorry about the noise. I was trying to be quiet, but well, I guess I'm a little clumsy." She stood on wobbly legs and tried to stretch out her skimpy clothes to cover more skin. It was a useless attempt and so she gave up. "Umm, okay, some kind of acknowledgement would be appreciated…"

Buffy stepped forward with raised eyebrows. "Joy, where were you?"

"Out," Joy answered simply.

"You snuck out the window?" Willow frowned. "Why?"

"I needed to get out…" Joy shrugged. "I'm sorry that I had to be so sneaky, but honestly Buffy, I feet like you've been holding me under house arrest or something!"

"Well, I'm really sorry that I made you feel that way, but I wish you wouldn't sneak out of the house. Especially in your condition right now…" Buffy started to lecture.

"God not again with this 'condition' shit!" Joy started to clean up the mess she had made of the dresser-top. "Buffy, I'm not paralyzed! I am completely capable of taking care of myself! I know you were my age once, and you were a slayer at that time, you should be able to understand how I feel about all this! You can't keep me from going out, or fighting, patrolling, whatever I might want to do…" She stopped suddenly. "Where's Dawn?"

Buffy frowned at Joy's self-interruption. "Umm, I guess she's still in bed. She's a pretty heavy sleeper." Buffy didn't think the question was very relevant. "Look, I'm sorry that you feel trapped or whatever but…"

"But she's here right? She's home, in her room right now?" Joy asked anxiously.

"Dawn?" Buffy was still puzzled. "Yea, I don't know why she wouldn't be…"

"Weren't you sharing a room with her last night?" Joy started to panic.

Buffy shook her head. "I didn't sleep last night. I came home from patrol late and then stayed up with Riley…talking…"

"Okay we'll discuss how much I don't want to hear about your guys' sex lives, later, but right now I need to know, is Dawn here?" Joy pushed past the three standing in the doorway and headed down the hall towards Dawn's bedroom. "Dawn! Dawn?" She called loudly as she limped hurriedly.

Buffy rushed after her while Riley and Willow hung back courteously. "Joy stop yelling, you're going to wake her up!" She grabbed at Joy's arm to pull her back but Joy shook her off.

"Dawn, are you there?" Joy pushed open Dawn's bedroom door and fumbled to find the light switch on the wall. "God dammit Dawn, answer me!"

"Joy stop it!" Buffy watched from the doorway, confused and slightly frightened.

Joy found the light and snapped it on. "Dawn…" She gasped when she saw Dawn lazily roll over in bed and then moan and burry her head in her pillow.

"Oh, that's bright!" She whined. "Turn it off!"

"Dawn…are you okay?" Joy stood in the doorway and tears of relief started unconsciously forming in her eyes.

Dawn slowly uncovered her head and squinted up at Joy. "Yea, I'm fine. A little annoyed at being woken up, but I'm fine. Are you okay Joy?"

"Yea, I'm okay. I'm sorry." Joy shook her head, blushing with awkward embarrassment. "I'm sorry I woke you up." Joy started backing out of the room, avoiding eye contact with Buffy.

"Well, I'm awake now!" Dawn complained. Joy made it halfway back down the hallway and collapsed in a heap on the ground. She dropped her head in her hands and her body was once again taken over by the shaking that accompanied the terrifying visions in her head.

"Joy, what's wrong?" Buffy knelt by her side. "Joy, talk to me. What's going on? Where'd you go tonight? What's happening to you?"

Willow also knelt beside the trembling young slayer. "Joy, sweetie, is everything okay?"

"I need Rupert." Joy forced the sentence out as she continued to shake.

"Okay, we'll call Giles." Buffy assured her. "Please, calm down though. I don't understand what's wrong…"

"Get Rupert over here. Please." She started taking long shallow breaths.

"Willow, call Giles!" Buffy instructed. "Riley, help me take her to the bed."

Riley instantly picked the young slayer up off the ground and carried her back to Buffy's room, gently placing Joy on the bed. She was still shaking and her breathing was even more irregular. Buffy sat on the edge of the bed and took Joy's hand comfortingly.

"Sweetie, calm down, Giles will be here soon." Buffy spoke softly. Riley stood beside the bed, not quite sure what to do.

Dawn had wandered into the bedroom lazily, but when she saw Joy's condition she was instantly awake. "Buffy, what's wrong with her?"

"I'm not sure. Willow's calling Giles." Buffy told her sister. "He should be here soon."

"Okay," Dawn hesitated nervously. "She's going to be okay, right?"

"Well, I don't know what's wrong with her, so I can't really say…" Buffy almost jumped when Joy suddenly stopped shaking and sat up halfway, leaning on her elbows for support.

"Sorry if I freaked you out." Joy gasped, trying to catch her breath.

"Okay, what the hell just happened?" Buffy stood with her hands on her hips. Her attitude had snapped instantly from comforting to accusing.

"I need to talk to Giles." Joy insisted.

"He'll be here as soon as possible, but Joy, you're going to have to get used to talking to all of us. Giles isn't the only one that's a part of this group. We all work together." Buffy reminded the young slayer.

There's too many conditions with this new living arrangement. I don't like being told what to do! And I definitely don't like not having any options…She laid back down. "Okay, when Giles gets here I'll talk to all of you together."

"Good." Buffy seemed satisfied. "Now, maybe you'd like to tell me where you ran off to last night?"

Joy bit back a bitter retort and sighed. "I went to the Bronze, had a little too much fun with a guy, got picked up by Spike and spent the night in his crypt." A slight smile tweaked up the corners of her lips as she thought about how many different things Buffy could freak about in that simple sentence.

Buffy cleared her throat and took a deep breath, obviously trying to remain calm. "You spent the night with Spike? I was under the impression that you didn't like him very much."

"Well, things change." Joy stated. "Do you think you guys could give me some privacy for a minute, so I could change?" Riley left immediately, followed more slowly by Buffy and Dawn, who still weren't entirely convinced that Joy was alright.

"Giles will be here soon." Buffy whispered to Dawn in the hallway. "Then we'll figure out what's wrong with her."