Chapter 11 – Working the Problems

The conference room started to clear out about an hour later when the group broke for lunch. Spike followed Fred and Westley down the hall to where they promised some blood for the vampire. Angel and Gunn had a few cases to discuss so Buffy and Lorne were the last to leave the conference room.

"So that Spike is quite the character." Lorne had to blurt.

"That's one of the nicer ways to put it." Buffy laughed.

"Well, he's sure got a lot more heart than most sweetheart."

"Most vampires you mean?"

"No, most men, or anyone for that matter."

"He never sang, how can you tell that?"

"Most of my power lies in the song, but I'm good at reading people. He could barely take is eyes off you crumb cake." Buffy started to blush "Oh crud… Has he not told you how he feels? Did I just spoil it?"

"No, no Lorne, he's told me he loves me, multiple times. My sister actually figured it out before I ever noticed though."

"So where's the hold-up sweetie? You're over our Angel-cakes right?"

Buffy chuckled a little at the nickname then explained "Yeah I'm over Angel, but the big logical reason and pain of why we broke up is still relevant with Spike. Slayer's short brutal life doesn't exactly match an immortal vampire."

Lorne stopped them in the hall before they got too close to the lunch room. "You're always gonna find reasons it don't work when you get your brain involved sweet pea. That's why we gotta listen to our heart when it comes to love." Buffy was reserved to confess to Lorne the many more reasons why she hadn't let herself indulge that whim with Spike… "You got a favorite song hun?"

"What?"

"If you sing a few lines for me I can help you sort all this out, for better or worse."

"Oh, um, I don't know, like what?"

"That's up to you, part of what helps me read you."

She thought for a moment and looked up and down the hallway, everyone who was in the hall had already gone into the lunch room or elsewhere. She took a big gulp then quietly started, "I touch the fire and it freezes me, I look into it and it's black. Why can't I feel? My skin should crack and peel. I want the fire back." She pause for a moment and looked to Lorne who gestured her to continue "Now through the smoke she calls to me, to make my way across the flame. To save the day, or maybe melt away, I guess it's all the same. So I will walk through the fire, cause where else can I turn? I will walk through the fire, and let it burn."

"You write that yourself?"

"Um, no not really," She stammered, "You see we had an encounter with this musically inclined demon, Sweets, and we all started singing and dancing what we were feeling for a couple days. That was one of the songs I sang."

"Hmm, you were trying to reconnect to the world and not doing so hot?"

"More or less, I died and my friends brought me back and it took me a while to re-join the living, and that's kind of how Spike and I happened."

"Yeah, I sensed that you two had some history."

"So what am I supposed to do Lorne?" Buffy asked remembering why she sang in the first place. "Is Spike good for me or just gonna hurt me?"

"I can't see all that cream puff. But I can tell you, you care for him, a lot more than you're letting yourself. And you and him are gonna be a lot happier once you give in to that passion."

"But for how long, when does it all fall apart?"

"I didn't see an end, or anybody else in your world for that matter. I just saw a blissfully happy couple, you two complete each other, better than most I might add about that clichéd line."

"You're not as helpful as I was hoping." Buffy grumbled as she continued their walk to the lunch room

"You were hoping for more ammo to convince him it won't work?" he asked knowing the answer.

"Yup, it would make my life less confusing."

"Ehh, a confusing life is all there is hun bun." Lorne concluded as he opened the door for her.

Spike popped his head up when Buffy walked in. Good, was wondering when you'd show pet. Was startin to worry you were alone with your ex… After reassuring himself he jumped back into his conversation with Fred & Westley. "So you're saying it's not possible?"

"Well yes," Westley answered.

"No," Fred rebuked "Not not possible, just never been done before. We haven't exactly looked into it."

"You're telling me your boss hasn't bloody asked you about this before?"

"No, he's pretty accepting about his vampire champion status, especially after Buffy died and he realized he was, ya know, over her. But what you're asking may be workable, I mean like you said you managed to get your soul back on your own why not just become a superhuman while you're at it." Fred gigged at the cheery-ness of her comment, while Wes still sat unsure about the whole idea. "And we have a ton of science and magical resources here."

"I knew I liked you Fred." Spike smiled, then he saw Buffy and Lorne start toward their table. "Listen, let's just keep this between us until there's something more solid ok?"

"I'm all done actually, and I've got a theory I wanna look into," Fred got up to leave "Come on down to the lab when you get a chance Spike." Fred waved at Buffy and Lorne on her way out, then the pair took her place at the table.

"What's her furry hurry?" Lorne asked Wes.

"She just got a new theory to work out, brain is all a buzz with thoughts on how to work the problem."

"Ah, that's our Fred-ikins."

Buffy was getting anxious after lunch and needed to work out some stress, Angel offered to spar with her in the training room, claiming it had been a while since he had a good fight. Spike wanted to go with to keep an eye on her, but if Fred had made any headway on making their dream dimension come true he had to know.

"I don't know why she got your hopes up," Westley commented as they entered the elevator.

"You really think it can't be done?" Spike asked, with a little worry in his voice.

"If it could, I'd imagine it'd be done by now." The elevator dinged open and Westley led them down the hall to Fred's lab.

"Oh perfect!" Fred exclaimed as she saw the pair enter "Spike! Buffy said this morning that the first slayer was made from the essence of a demon right?"

"Um, yeah that's what the shadow men showed her. They were prepared to give her a boost even."

"Westley do we have any account of those rituals?"

"We should, what are you getting at Fred?"

"What if we were to extract Spike's demon, making him human, then re-enfuse it as the shadow men did, we could essentially making him a slayer."

Westley was dumb founded thinking through it "Perhaps if we use the slayers blood as a catalyst for the spell, then we just might…" he trailed off in thought "I'll be right back I need to grab a few source books." With that he was off.

"You really think this could work luv?"

"I do." She said with a pretty wicked smile, for her "The thing is I don't know if we can get this together today. You may have to come back in a little while or we would need to come to you if we need to incorporate slayer's blood."

"Yeah, what was Wes on about with that? If it's gonna kill the slayer I'm not bloody doing this." Spike was getting worried. My only bloody chance better not involve the slayer's death, that'd defeat the sodding purpose of becoming mortal.

"Oh I doubt it'd need that much, It's just every spell needs a catalyst…"

"Yeah, pet know all about bloody catalysts."

"Okay, I just was thinking if we use a slayer's blood, or some other mystical object, than it's more likely you'll end up a slayer, and not a super-demon thing, or something…"

"Right then." Still not worry free.

"Don't worry Spike, I think Westley and I can work this. Wes is real great with all the magic and book stuff." Spike could swear he saw the girl blush at her last comment.

"Ya know, if I needed to breath, pretty sure I'd be passed out by now." Angel complemented as he sat down for a break from the sparing, Buffy joined him on the bench after grabbing her water.

"Thanks, but I think it may be more so that you're outta shape than I've gotten that much better."

"Na, probably both. You said Gile's has been away, so you just been training yourself?"

"Well I've been training all the potential slayers," she racked her brain for what else was different "And I've been sparring with Spike too since he's been helping, and more so when he got all soulful."

"That'd be the difference." Angel said bluntly "Spike is a good fighter, relentless, treats every fight like his last, pretty much why he isn't dead yet."

"I think that was almost a complement Angel, you feeling alright?"

"Well he may be a pain, but I can't say I'm against the idea that he's made you a stronger fighter."

"Oh." She acknowledged, then confessed "It's just, honestly, I think he's the reason I'm still here. Because he's helped me and fought by my side the last few years."

Angel looked worried "It's been that bad?" he asked "Maybe I never should have left."

"No, it was right for you to leave, I'm sure you've saved a ton of people here who'd be dead otherwise."

"Yeah, everyone working for me for one." Angel thought about it for a moment but knew he wanted to ask, "So, why did you bring little Willy with anyway? You know we don't get along even a teeny bit."

"Incase this was a trap from Angelus, then he'd have my back. If it wasn't then I figured you two could suck it up and get along for a day. For me anyway."

"Okay that's one reason," he agreed then started fishing for more "What's the other?"

"There is no other, I needed someone strong to have my back."

"It's just, his scent I remember it pretty well, it's all over you… you were all over each other. Have you been sleeping together?"

"Dang vampires, anybody ever tell you the whole smelling people thing is a little gross." Buffy clearly didn't want to continue the conversation, but Angel pressed on.

"And the way you were acting after he came in. Is he your boyfriend?" almost hurt as he asked.

"Is that really your business?"

"You in love with him?"

"I honestly don't know, Lorne says I am." Angel was a little confused "He convinced me to sing, said it would help me sort things out. Didn't work."

"Oh." was all Angel could say.

"What?"

"It's just, Lorne may be a bit extravagant, but he's usually right."

"No," Westley was aghast as he translated the slayer ritual used thousands of years ago "It can't be that simple."

"What is it Wes ol' boy?" Spike asked as he scooted his rolling chair from where Fred was to Wes.

"It's the slayer's creed. Into every generation a slayer is born, one girl in all the world, a chosen one. She alone will wield the strength and skill to fight the vampires, demons, and the forces of darkness; to stop the spread of evil and the swell of their number. She is the Slayer." He looked up to Spike and Fred "There's another phrase or two added in but the blunt of the spell is what we were taught at the watcher's academy."

"Well these shadow men became the first Watchers right?" Fred recalled from the meeting.

"Well yes, I just never imagined the creed held a magical purpose."

"Right, so we got the words down, now how do we get demon Spike out and make him in to demon concentrate?"

"Well we need some kind of container, like an Ethros or Shorshack box, we can store the demon in and preform the needed rituals, although getting him out will more or less be an exorcism." Wes supplied.

"Bloody hell? Are you serious?"

"How else do you get a demon out of a body?"

"But doesn't exorcism on a vampire, ya know, make um all dusty?" Fred asked.

"A typical one would, but we obviously need to alter it in this case." Westley pondered over his books "Why don't you take a walk Spike, you're looking more worried every time I open my mouth."

"Oh, that obvious huh? Yeah maybe a walk would be best, or uh, how do I get to your training center from here?"

"Oh that's not too hard, go back to the elevator, down 4 floors, the take a right out of the elevator then about half way down the hall take a left, then it'll be your first door on the right. It has a glass window in it and says training room right on there."

"Right, thanks pet."

"Look Angel, I didn't really want to share this before, but you know how we saw a ton of different dimensions when we did that spell?" Buffy felt she needed to be honest with Angel, especially if Lorne was right and she was truly in love with Spike.

"Yeah, where you and Spike were the stars."

"Well in most of them, we were together, to varying degrees."

"Oh… none where I sweep you off your feet and Spike dies tragically?"

"Not so much."

Angel knew exactly what she was getting at. "I'm always going to love you Buffy, for as long as I live."

"I know, and part of me will always be in love with you. God you were my first, everything, and nobody can take that from you." She leaned over and hugged the original vampire with a soul, he returned the gesture in kind. The old lovers held their embrace, until the door to the training room swung open and Spike strode in, not too pleased with either of them.

"See, this is why I bloody came, can't trust you two alone for a second!"

"Ha! I was right, I knew there was another reason he came." Angel boasted to Buffy.

Buffy rolled her eyes "Spike, calm down, Angel shut up."

"Fine," Spike started in a calm voice "Why are you and your ex snogging?"

"We weren't snogging you idiot, we were just hugging, and it was pretty much a goodbye hug anyway."

"Then why you both all sweaty?"

"Do you see where we are Spike? We were sparing, then we got tired, took a break talked for a bit then hugged."

"Then it was gonna turn to kissing, then shagging, then I'd have to kill the evil bastard and you'd just be mad at me forever for killing the fu…"

"Spike!" Buffy stopped him before he could finish and make her really mad, then she stood up and walked toward him, she stopped in front of him and said softly "You really think I'd cheat on you Spike?"

His eyes blinked in confusion "You feeling alright Slayer, cause I swear you just admitted we're a pair?"

"I've got some stuff I need to get to, the CEO has probably been away from his desk too long as it is." Angel snuck toward the door. "I'll leave you two be." And with that they were alone in the training room.

"What's gotten into you Slayer?" Spike asked, unsure if he wanted to hear the answer "You nearly admitted we were together in front of Angel."

"He already knows."

"You told him?"

"No, he knew this morning, I apparently kinda smelled like you and you very much so smelled like me. It was a smell-a-mentary conclusion as Dawn would say…"

"Oh, well I suppose I didn't shower before I came down, should have known better I guess."

"It's fine Spike, Angel and I were talking and he's more or less accepted it. Then I reminded him he'll always be my first and gave him one last good hug, that's when you barged in."

"Wait, I missed the bit on how he accepted it… Cause the ponce I know wouldn't do that in a million years."

"I sang for Lorne before lunch, and he more or less told me I'm in love with you and we'd both be better off if I just accept it. And from Angel's experience… Lorne knows best."

"Really?" smug grin washing away the doubt on his face "Sooo?"

"Sooo what?"

"What'd ya sing?" he taunted.

"I'm not saying a word."

"Oh, come on Slayer," he pulled her in close against him "Do I know it?"

"Not really."

"So your generations garble. Let's see… That 'Hit Me Baby' song by Brittany."

"No. it's not by anyone."

"How can you sing techno crap?"

"Not techno music."

"Common pet, give me a phrase or tune or clue or something?"

"You never heard it but probably knew I sang it."

"Ahh, one of the dittys Demon Sweets brought out in us?" he almost laughed.

"Yeah, the 'Walk through the Fire' song I sang as I headed to the Bronze."

"I remember that." He cleared his throat a moment then sang "The torch I bare it scorches me, Buffy's laughin I've no doubt. I hope she fries, I'm free if that bitch dies… I'd better help her out."

"Glad you did?" She smiled.

"Bloody right. If I hadn't saved you then I may not have you in my arms today." Buffy blushed at the notion, remembering she was in his strong embrace. She looked up at the vampire's deep blue eyes that were staring lovingly at her. Then she eased up on her tip toes and softly laid her lips on his. Taken back by the gesture but wanting the kiss to last Spike tightened his embrace, holding her up off the floor, as Buffy wrapped her arms around him in turn. Lips shifted but never parted, and a tongue even slipped past a time or two. Neither of them wanted this kiss to stop, but this was not the time or the place to get re-acquainted. Spike pressed into her lips one last time then broke free and set Buffy's feet back on the ground. Spike was shaking with excitement. "Now, the only reason I stopped is cause you're gonna assure me that won't be the only bleeding kiss I'll get."

Buffy giggled a little "I hope that's the first of many Spike."

"No, no, none of this 'hope' business. Are you my girl now?" He was very serious, staring her straight in the eye and still shaking a little. God Slayer, if you say anything but yes I'm gonna cry…

My lips are still warm from the exquisite kiss, my heart is pumping, and I'm not sure but is my underwear wet? Just admit it Buffy, it'll make the worry stop for a while and make him insanely happy... She took a breath kept one hand around his waist and placed the other on his cheek. "I love you Spike."

Spike wanted so badly to make love to her right there, but restrained himself and had to ask "You sure pet, don't be saying that yet if you're not sure."

"I'm sure Spike, and you were right I think I have been for a while now, but I was too scared to admit it to you or myself even."

His smile couldn't get any bigger "I love you Buffy." He started her down for a moment, reading a clear 'duh' look on her face, then explained. "I'm sorry I just wanted to know what that was like to say, without you wanting to prance off."

"Oh, better?"

"Bloody brilliant." He leaned down and kissed her, then picked her up and twirled her around "Buffy I love you," then he kissed her again "God I love you so much."