Chapter 6

Day 22

Buffy stood back and watched as Spike, Dawn and Tara worked around the Gallery to get it ready for the show tonight. It had been a long day already and the night had only just begun. Buffy was really hoping this went well tonight for them. Spike was doing everything he could to make money for Dawn and he was now going to be making decent money in the month with his singing gig, but most of that would go towards the debt left on the house. It was a lot to handle, but Spike seemed to be doing well with it all. The gallery looked great and with some luck they would be able to make decent sales tonight. If the gallery was a success it would help take some of the financial burden off of Spike's shoulders. It was a clear night tonight and Buffy was hoping that would mean more people will come by. She really had no idea how well this was going to go over, but she was hoping for them it would be alright.

It was just eight-thirty when they had finally gotten everything ready and set up.

"Ok, I think that is it." Tara said, as she looked around.

"Think so Pet." Spike agreed.

"This place looks great. Do you think it'll be busy?" Dawn asked.

"Not sure Bit. All we can do is see."

"It does look good though, I haven't seen this place before." Buffy said, as she took it all in.

She couldn't believe that she had never been here before. That she had never come down with her mom to help out or to even see where she worked. She should have been here more. She should have offered to help and tried to learn the business. But Buffy figured she would have more time with her mom. That she would have more time to think about what she wanted to do for a living. She was still going to college, she was supposed to have plenty of time with her mom to learn everything. She was happy though that Spike did understand all of this and he was showing Dawn. She would at least be ready for the world when she was done school and that helped to make Buffy feel better.

It was roughly an hour later when the gallery was packed with people and demons. The demons didn't stand out, but they seemed to know Spike so Buffy figured that meant they had to be demons. She still couldn't believe how different they were to the demons she had come up against in her life. You wouldn't even know they were demons by looking at them. They all ran businesses or had a job. They had a house and a family. They were so very human and that was a real slap to Buffy. She felt ripped off. She felt like she had been denied this whole other world because it wouldn't keep her slayer world black and white. She had the right to know about these types of demons. She had the right to know that she could have other friends or people in her life where she wouldn't have to battle feeling like a freak. A world where she wouldn't have to be either Buffy or the Slayer. A world where she could have just been herself and not deny one half of herself all the time. It seriously pissed her off and she was glad that Dawn would ghet to be a part of this world. That she would get to be around people that knew what she was and that her sister had been the slayer.

"This is going really well." Tara said to Spike as she had a moment.

Her and Dawn had been going around with drinks and food for everyone while Spike had been working the crowd to make some sales.

"It's going real well. Already sold five pieces and others have left their name down for something specific. If we can do this once a month, we could turn a decent profit and maybe expand so we can double our profits." Spike said.

"I don't really know how any of this works, but I am happy to help out." Tara said with a warm smile.

"The house all set for tomorrow afternoon?"

"We're almost there. Tomorrow we will take the beds apart and then go through and make sure we haven't forgotten anything."

"And Red and the Whelp will be there?" Spike asked, looking to confirm that they were not going to be the only ones moving everything.

"They said they would be. They should be there long before you get there with the truck."

"Good. And you and Red are still good with living with the Bit?"

"Of course we are. Once the house is empty too, then we can go back and clean it up and hopefully get it sold. I'm a bit worried it's been on the market and we haven't gotten a single bite yet. I know it's early days, but I was hoping we would get some type of interest."

Spike and Buffy were both worried about that too, but there was nothing either of them could do about it. The house would sell when it sold. They couldn't control that. It was the market and all they could do was hoping they got something soon and something decent so they could pay down a huge chunk of the mortgage.

"All we can do is wait Pet. See how long it takes to get an offer and hope it's a good one. The pipes being outdated is an issue. Not a lot of homeowners want the hassle of something like that. It might take a bit before someone takes an interest in it. It's out of our hands now Pet." Spike said with a small warm smile.

Tara just gave a nod before she went back on the floor to help Dawnie with the guests. Spike let out a sigh before she went over to another potential customer. Tonight was all about making money and he was hoping he would be able to get everything sold tonight. They needed the money and they needed the customers. Tomorrow they would be moving and he was really hoping it went smoothly before he would have to get to work.

Day 23

It was just after sunset when Spike arrived at the old house to start helping with the move. Today he would be getting Tara and Dawn set up at the new house and then he would need to head to work. He was able to pick up a security gig tonight and then he had the rest of the week off until he would need to be at the bar for his singing gig. Spike did feel better knowing that he would be making decent money, but he wasn't going to stop working elsewhere. He had the debt on the house that he needed to pay off and he had to also put money into the gallery to try and get that profitable. Afterwards, there would then be a college fund for Dawn and he needed to get some savings going again. Spike also didn't know how long he would be able to be working at the bar, there was a good chance he pissed off the owner or the owner wanted new talent in there. Spike had to make sure he got as much as he could so he could try and get ahead just in case he lost the singing gig.

Spike headed inside and he was expecting to see Willow and Xander, only it was just Dawn and Tara here. Spike did his best to push down the annoyance and anger he felt towards them and focused on the task at hand.

"Where's Xander and Will?" Buffy asked, out loud.

"Hey Spike, so we've been bringing down the boxes and smaller things that we could so it would be easier to take em out to the truck." Tara started.

"Where's the boy and Red?"

"I don't know. I've called, but no answer. It looks like for now we are on our own." Tara said, as both Spike and Buffy could tell she was not happy about this.

"We'll be fine Pet. Let's get big things first on the truck and then we can do boxes and smaller things. You got the beds apart?"

"Yes, we did that this morning. I guess couches first or mattresses?"

"Mattresses than couches."

"Do you need help moving them?" Tara wasn't too sure how well she would be able to lift anything heavy, but she was willing to help.

"It's fine Pet. You keep workin' on gettin' the smaller stuff down, I'll do the heavy lot." Spike said with a warm smile of appreciation.

Tara gave a nod and Spike headed up to get started.

"This really sucks that I'm not here. I could at least help you with moving the furniture. Xander and Will should have been here, they should be helping you with all of this."

Buffy was really getting sick and tired of this. They weren't there for the first two weeks after her death for Dawn. They weren't there to help support Dawn when Spike had to work. They weren't there to help at the gallery last night and now they weren't here to help them move and Willow was going to be living there. Buffy had no choice, but to watch as Spike moved all of the furniture himself. It wasn't like he didn't have extra strength, it was the principle of the matter. So what if he didn't need to have someone help him lift it, it would have just made it easier on him to have an extra set of hands. It was easier to move a couch with someone else on the other end. It was easier to have someone else help you carry box after box down the stairs and onto a truck. Moving sucked, it was only worse when you didn't have enough people to help you.

It took close to three hours before they finally had the truck all loaded up and ready to go. They all loaded up and headed off for the new house. Buffy had to admit, she was really proud of Dawn. The whole time she helped and didn't complain once about having to help or about moving. She was being really good about this and Buffy couldn't have been prouder. She wasn't too sure Dawn would have been this happy if it had been her telling her they needed to move. By the time they arrived at the new house and got the big furniture off the truck and where it belonged, it was time for Spike to have to go to work.

"Spike, don't you need to head out?" Tara asked, she knew he had work tonight.

"I gotta be at work in bout thirty. I was hopin' to leave you in better shape."

"Everything is off the truck and the furniture is where it's supposed to be. There is nothing left but putting the beds together and going through the boxes. Me and Dawnie can get the beds together." Tara said.

"Ya Spike, we're good. We'll get the beds together and then just slowly work through stuff. Go to work." Dawn said with a warm smile.

Spike let out a sigh. "Alright, lock up behind me. It's supposed to rain tomorrow, I'll come by and help you get things sorted."

Tara gave a nod and Spike headed out. He let out a sigh as he made his way towards his car. Buffy got in as Spike slammed his hand against the steering wheel.

"Bloody wankers."

"I agree. Though, I do think British people have weird swear words. I don't get it, why is Will and Xander not being helpful? Giles leaving, ok I get it. He's a Watcher and he no longer has someone to watch, he could have still stayed to make sure Dawnie and everyone else was ok. But Will and Xander, they should be helping, not ignoring Dawnie or just not being there."

It was really bothering Buffy that Xander and Willow weren't there for Dawn. They were her best friends, the two people she had known the longest in this town. The two people who had fought beside her over and over again, getting hurt, and yet still being there to support her. They should have been the ones to take care of Dawn. They should be the ones trying to make it all work and yet they were nowhere to be found. It was really starting to make Buffy doubt their love and loyalty to her. She was really hoping that they would change and come around soon, because she honestly had no idea what to think about any of this if they didn't.

Day 27

Spike pulled up to Der's house. He was beyond exhausted and starving. The past week had been a hard one on him. He had been able to get some extra work through Der and Damon's connections. He was happy about that, but between working and patrolling he was out all night. The other problem was, well one of two of them, every time he falls asleep there was this alarm that goes off and keeps him awake. It had been like that all week. Spike tried to find it in his crypt, but he didn't find anything. He tried to sleep in his car, same thing, even at Clem's. No matter where he was every time he fell asleep he was woken up by the alarm. The other problem, he hadn't been able to get any blood from any shop in Sunnydale or within the area. He hadn't eaten in two days and now he was starving. Spike was hoping that Der would have some with him that he could drink and hopefully he would be able to help figure out what the hell was going on.

Spike got out of his car and headed inside. His whole body was sore from the fights. There were more demons coming out to play and some of them were in packs that Spike had to handle. It had been a rough week and Spike was hoping it would get better soon. Spike walked in and saw that Jackson, Der and Damon were in the living room. He could see the instant concern on their faces at the sight of him. It was clear he hadn't been sleeping and without any blood he was paler than normal. Plus he had some bruising on his face to go along with it.

"What the hell happened to you?" Der demanded.

Spike answered as he slowly sat down in a chair. "Do you have any blood?"

Damon got up and headed off into the kitchen as Der spoke. "No I don't. What's going on?"

"I can't get blood anywhere. Not at the butchers or at Willy's. No one will sell it to me. I've gone to ten other towns around here and they all say the same thing, they can't serve me. Won't tell me why, just keep repeatin' the same thing over and over again."

"What? When was the last time you ate?" Jackson asked this time.

"Two days ago."

"Why did you not come here sooner?" Der demanded.

"I was workin' then it was sunlight. I kept tryin' different towns, but I'm strikin' out."

Damon came back into the living room with a mug and handed it over to Spike. Spike instantly knew it was blood based on the smell.

"Where did you get that?" Der asked, he knew he didn't have any blood.

Spike took a drink and was instantly hit with power. "Bloody hell this tastes amazin'. What kind of blood is this?"

"It's my blood." Damon answered, as he sat back down.

"Yours?" Der said, surprised.

"Vamps don't taste like this." Spike said.

"From the right family they do. You've never drank from your bloodline outside of being sired. My bloodline dates back to one of the original families and with me being older I am closer to purer blood making it more powerful. More powerful than a Slayer's blood. All of your injuries will be healed within the hour."

"Oh real quick, why can he go outside in the sunlight?" Buffy asked Jackson.

"Because of his age and bloodline. He is closer to the original families like he said, that closeness and purer blood allows him to be in sunlight during low heat hours. It's not sunlight that kills vamps, but the UV rays."

"But the Master couldn't."

"The Master was from Spike's bloodline and that original family was different from Damon's. Spike's bloodline is more demonic than Damon's, it's why the Master appeared more demon than a traditional vamp. It is also why those that he sired and have been sired by that bloodline are more violent. With the exception of Spike."

"So what makes Spike so different? I've never seen a vampire like him before, I've never heard of one. Why him?" Buffy seriously wanted to know. Spike was completely different to who he used to be and what he was supposed to be. She couldn't understand why.

"We don't know. Damon has informed us that he would like to know why. We're trying to determine what is going on. Damon is the oldest among us, he has lots of connections within demon communities all over the world. He'll find the answers."

"Where are the injuries from?" Der asked.

"Fights. Demons are comin' out in packs now. Swear it's like they are lookin' for me. Somethin' is going on, but I don't know what. Can't get blood from anyone, and they all say the exact same thing no matter what I ask. It's like they are compelled or somethin'. Plus since the showin', every time I fall asleep an alarm goes off."

"An alarm?" Jackson asked, confused.

"Some loud ear bleeding alarm that only I can hear. I've looked all over my place for it, couldn't find anythin'. It's happenin' when I sleep in my car, at Clem's. Every time I fall asleep no matter where I am it happens and no one hears it but me. I haven't slept all week."

"I can hear it though, does that help?" Buffy asked Jackson.

"It would have to be the connection that is keeping you tied to Spike."

"It must be a spell." Jackson said.

"Vamps can feel when magic is used on them." Der said back though.

"Except Red's." Spike said, as his mind clicked in.

"Red?" Damon asked.

"She wouldn't though, would she? I mean what would be the point of having you not sleeping?" Buffy said. It wasn't that she was defending Willow, after everything she had seen so far with Willow not helping with Dawn she wasn't putting anything past her. But it wouldn't make sense for Willow to make Spike tired.

"Willow, Buffy's mate." Spike answered.

"She any good?" Damon asked.

"Seen better, but she's improvin'. She's got power inside of her, can feel it, but it's dark power. She hasn't tapped into it yet, but we've all seen it. It's only a matter of time before she does somethin' stupid and gets addicted to the power trip. She's the first witch that I've never felt her magic when it's been used on me."

"So she put a spell on you to make it so you can't sleep. She probably is the one that put a spell on the butchers all around the region." Der said.

"Is she trying to kill you?" Jackson asked.

"Run him out. If he can't sleep, it's not a big deal but it will affect him after two weeks. Not getting blood will affect him right away with having to be on an animal diet. Between being exhausted and starving, she probably figured he would leave town. She could even be the reason why more demons are going out and in packs. She wants you gone." Damon explained.

"But why? He's the main caregiver for Dawnie, why get rid of him? How are they going to afford to pay for anything if he's not working?" Buffy asked, confused and slightly pissed off. Spike already had enough on his plate he didn't need this to deal with too.

"Why though? He's working, slaying, paying the bills and taking care of Dawn. Why try and get rid of him and leave that huge void that they would need to fill. That makes no sense." Der argued.

"Buffy's mates don't like me, never have. Though I have tried to kill em a few times. Still, the past couple of years have not changed that to them I'm the soulless monster. Red is supposed to be movin' into the house, but she hasn't yet. She said she would help with the move, but she didn't show, neither did Xander."

"Something I'm still pissed about." Buffy grumbled.

"It would appear your closest friends are not the people you expected them to be. It must be hard for you."

"Hard isn't even the word for it. I keep waiting for them to snap back into it. I keep telling myself they are grieving, but so are Dawnie and Spike and Tara. They are still doing what they should be. What excuse does Will and Xander have?"

"Unfortunately young Slayer most people don't show their true colors until someone is gone. Who they are with you is not always who they are with everyone else. They were dedicated to helping you, but with you no longer in their lives they seem to have no interest in protecting your legacy."

"But that's bullshit. I died so Dawn could live. That sacrifice alone should be enough to make them want to be in her life. To take care of her and make sure she is ok. She's fifteen, it's not like they have to take care of a baby or a toddler. She's going to be an adult in less than three years. I'm not asking them for much."

That is what was pissing Buffy off. She wasn't asking them to raise a toddler. Dawn was fifteen, she could take care of herself pretty good. She just needed someone to pay for the bills and be there at night so she wasn't alone. It wasn't like she was asking them to move the Earth for her.

"Something needs to be done to remove the spell she has placed on you. Do you have a trusted witch that you could use?" Damon asked Der.

"We have a witch within the family. I'll call her now and have her come down. She can also see about removing the spell that was placed on the butcher and Willy. However, if Willow put a condition within her spell, she might be the only one that can break it." Der said, as he stood and headed into the kitchen to make the call.

"Great." Spike said sarcastically. "Are we anywhere on freeing the dark slayer legally?"

"Der is still looking into it. Unfortunately she confessed and it wasn't provoked. She gave it up willingly and the doctor had confirmed that she was mentally sound after the coma. He's still trying though." Jackson answered.

"Is it bad out there?" Damon asked.

"It's getting there. More and more demons and vamps are starting to hear that the slayer is dead. It's an unguarded Hellmouth, it won't take long before more dangerous demons start to show up. I can fight anything, but if thirty demons decide they want to take me out, things get a bit hairy." Spike answered.

"We have to get her out. Having a slayer here is the only way to help keep the more dangerous demon clans away from the Hellmouth. I'll make sure the town knows I am here, that might help buy us some time." Damon said.

"Appreciate it." Spike said, as he sat back and let out a sigh. He was exhausted and he was really hoping that this spell could be removed so he could sleep a solid twenty hours.

"Ok, Kristal is on her way. She will remove the spell connected to you and then she will try and see if she can undo the spell on the others." Der said as he walked back into the room a few minutes later.

"I'll go and pick you up some blood." Jackso said, as he stood.

"Ta Mate." Spike said, and they could all hear the exhaustion in his voice.

Buffy was really hoping that this witch would be able to remove the spell that Willow placed on Spike. He desperately needed sleep. Buffy was pissed though, because she couldn't do anything to stop this or to help him. All she could do was walk around with him and watch it all play out. She hated it and she really wished that she could have done something to help him. Something to make him feel like he wasn't going through this all alone. But all she could was witness what Spike was going through and hope it would get better.

"This sucks." Buffy said with a deep sigh as she went and leaned against the door frame into the living room.