Chapter Eleven: Discovering The Enemies

Spike turned to Angel as they tracked through the sewers.

'Do you think she's alright?'

'She's probably fine Spike. Stop worrying.'

Spike grimaced and then sniffed the air. 'You could've told me that this extra sensitive smell thing, is almost as bad as the extra sensitive hearing.'

'Yeah well..' Angel stopped, looking around. 'Can you smell that?'

'Over the rotting garbage and filth? Sure.' Angel shot him a dirty look. Spike sighed. 'Can I smell what?'

'Humans.' Angel headed in a new direction and stopped short of a corner. He lurked behind a wall, jutting out into a opening. Crying came from inside and Spike began to move forward. Angel held him back, and the teen frowned.

'What's going on?' he leaned round and saw the scene set out before him.

A large chamber lay beyond the opening. The babies laid in a bassinet, covered by blankets as four vampires anointed them. Another vampire stood nearby with Mayor Wilkins, who pulled out his cell phone. He dialled a number as the other vampire rocked on his heels impatiently.

'Come on. They ain't getting any fresher.' The vampire grumbled. The Mayor smiled into his phone as he got an answer on the other end.

'Carol. Hi. Yeah. Call Dave on the public works committee tomorrow about sewer maintenance and repair. I have some concerns regarding exposed gas pipes, infrastructure, and ventilation. And, uh... cancel my 3:00.'

Angel motioned to Spike and the two vampires emerged from their hiding places as Buffy dropped from a manhole, quickly followed by Giles.

'Hi!' Buffy said chirpily. The vampires looked towards her, before she started her attack. The robed vampires fought back as the two souled vampires and the slayer jumped into the melee. Giles dropped from the ladder and grabbed the mayor holding him back against the wall. The mayor struggled and he looked to David for help. The vampire started towards him, only to be stopped by Spike.

'Bleached blonde, annoying smirk.' He sniffed. 'And a soul. You must be Spike.' David snarled.

Spike spun, kicking him in the face. Blood dripped from the vampire's face and he frowned. 'That wasn't very productive.' He threw a punch at the younger and they started brawling violently.

A deep rumbling began to spread through the cavern and Buffy almost lost her footing, spinning to stake her opponent. Angel twisted his vampire's neck, letting the dust fall. As Buffy turned, another vampire came for her and she kicked him into a vat of water in front of the babies, just as the rumbling started again.

Giles looked over from where he had the mayor against the wall. 'What the hell's that?'

The vampire crawled to his feet in the vat and looked around, just in time to see a huge lizard-snake thing emerge from the hole and engulfs him before he could scream. Buffy shrugged.

'Lurconis, I'm thinking.'

David punched Spike solidly, sending him flying into Angel. He stepped on up to Buffy, snarling at her. 'I usually have the minions do the wet work, but I gotta see what you got.'

Buffy smiled sweetly at him. 'Just tell me when it hurts.'

She started to advance on him when Spike pushed past her and threw a punch at the other vampire. David kicked out, sending Spike flying. Buffy yelled out at him and he landed in the vat. The rumbling began again, quicker this time and Buffy panicked. David ran, kicking Giles off of the Mayor, who made himself scarce.

Buffy looked around as the rumbling increased. She spied a gas pipe overhanging the tunnel and ran for it, jumping upwards. It broke under her weight. Angel saw what she was trying to do and throws a torch in the path of the gas, just as the demon emerges from the tunnel. Spike ducked, rolling off of the vat.

The demon reared back and roared in pain as the flames roasted it alive. After a few moments of screaming, it retreated, dying, back into its tunnel.

Buffy looked around and swore when she saw Giles laying on the floor. The mayor had escaped and at some point her mother had made an appearance and was helping the librarian to his feet.

She looked up to see David leering at her from the manhole. He pointed at her.

'You and me, girl. There's hard times ahead.'

Buffy frowned and sighed. 'They never just leave. Always gotta say something.'

Joyce moved over to her, Giles leaning on her. 'Can we go home now?'

'Yeah, we can go home. I've got the SATs tomorrow.' Buffy's frown deepened as Spike and Angel joined her.

Joyce waved a hand. 'Oh, blow them off. I'll write you a note.' She headed for the babies, looking over them. Buffy stood by her side.

'No. It's okay.'

'Poor babies. Come on...'

Giles limped over, scooping one of the babies into his arms. Buffy took another, whilst Joyce picked up the other two.

'Let's get out of here.'

Mayor Wilkins sat in his office, looking up at David, who was pacing.

'And your friend?'

'Paid him. The man did his job. No reason to burn that bridge.' David shrugged. The mayor grimaced.

'This didn't turn out the way I had planned.'

'Where's the downside? You just got yourself one less demon you have to pay tribute to. The way I see it, I did you a favour.'

Wilkins smiled at him. 'I guess you did.' He stood up and leant forward. 'In the future, I'd be very careful how many favours you do for me.'

Monday came with the promise of school and better behaved adults. Xander stood in the corridor and grinned as he saw Snyder approaching.

'Hey, Snyder. Heard you had some fun Friday night. Have you come down yet?' Cordelia smiled slyly behind him. Snyder looked Xander up and down, sneering at him.

'That's 'Principal Snyder'.'

'And that's a big 'yep'.'

Snyder eyed the group nastily and then puffed himself up. 'You look like four young people with too much time on your hands.'

Oz shrugged. 'Not really.'

Cordelia chimed in. 'Busy like a bee, actually.' She smiled broadly. 'Bee-like!''

'Good. It seems we had some vandalism Friday on school property, and I was just looking for some... volunteers to help clean it up.'

The group looked down the hall at the lockers, which had been spray painted with the slogan "Kiss Rocks".'

Willow frowned. ''Kiss rocks'? Why would anyone want to kiss...' Snyder shot her a look. 'Oh, wait. I get it.'

Snyder nodded and continued on. 'Let's get you some paint remover.'

The four of them reluctantly followed him, miserable looks on their faces.

'It was just too much to deal with. It was like nothing made sense anymore. The things that I thought I understood were gone. I just felt... so alone.' Buffy said, her shoulders slumped as she spoke to her watcher.

'Was that the math or the verbal?'

'Mostly the math.'

'Well, if you scored low, then you can take them again.' Giles offered. Buffy gave him a look of despair.

'More SATs? Is there really a point? I could die before I even apply to college.'

As they walked along, the squeal of brakes came from behind them and Joyce pulled up in the Jeep. Giles looked at Buffy.

'And then, you very possibly might not.'

'Well, let's just keep hope alive.' Buffy raised a fist as her mother climbed out of the car and smiled awkwardly at Giles. He smiled awkwardly back before greeting her.

'I say, your car seems to have had an adventure, doesn't it?' He motioned to the car and Buffy bit her lip.

'Uh, Buffy assures me that it happened battling evil, so I'm letting her pay for it on the instalment plan.'

'Uh, hey, the way things were going, be glad that's the worst that happened. At least I got to the two of you before you actually did something.'

Buffy walked around to the passenger side, not noticing the shared look of embarrassment.

'Right.' Joyce said, quietly.

'Indeed.' Giles said, pulling his glasses off to polish them.

Spike wandered along Main Street, occasionally looking into shop windows, his face screwing up. It was Buffy's eighteenth birthday in a few days and he had absolutely no idea what to get her. Last year had been the simple choice – a film she'd loved since childhood. This year, it was a landmark, so the present had to be perfect.

He sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets before walking back along the street. He saw a bunch of high-school students, most likely heading for the Bronze. A couple of them, he recognised and he slunk into the shadows, waiting for them to pass. He'd been having that trouble lately, with people recognising him. They all thought he was dead, so coming up with excuses was getting old.

At least now, he didn't have to worry about his mum or sister finding out. About two weeks previous, his family had left Sunnydale, packing up to move back to the mother country. He had read in the papers about the supposed "robbery", during which his mother had expressed all kinds of angst. He felt bad about it and regretted it, but knowing they were out of Sunnyhell, he felt better. He knew they were safe.

He sighed, looking in another window, this time a jewellers. He immediately shook his head, knowing that jewellery was not the way to go. Since the bad candy incidents a fortnight previous, nothing had happened between them. Yeah, she'd held his hand and all that but she'd let go as soon as the big brooding poofter had arrived on scene.

Although he knew she still loved him in her own little way, she hadn't been showing much affection to him recently. She had barely been to the mansion, frequently patrolling with Faith or himself. She seemed to be completely avoiding Angel. The more confusing issue was that Angel wasn't complaining. In fact, on more than one occasion, Tall Dark 'n 'Forehead had encouraged him to go patrol with his beloved.

Spike didn't have a clue what was going on. All he knew was that he had to get Buffy a good gift.

But right now, he was completely at a loss.

Angel appeared beside him and Spike jumped almost out of his skin. He looked at Angel menacingly.

'What the bleedin' hell did you do that for?'

Angel just grinned at him and then looked up at the shop Spike was standing outside.

'Don't get her jewellery.' The other vampire said.

Spike rolled his eyes. 'I know. Problem is, I don't know what to get her. And what the hell do you care?'

'I care.' Spike resumed walking and Angel followed, his shoulders hunched. 'You know I'm leaving right?'

Spike stopped. 'You're what?'

'I'm leaving. Going to LA. Once all this business with the mayor is sorted, I'm getting away from Sunnydale.' Angel waited for a reaction. He got none. 'You aren't annoyed?'

'You did what you said you would. I can cope now. LA isn't that far, if I have any other problems I'll just ring or something.' Spike kept his tone level, trying not to reveal the disappointment in his voice. He was loathe to admit that he was grateful to Angel, but then the guy had helped him be around his friends again, and taught him what he needed to know in order to survive.

'Right.' Angel narrowed his eyes. 'You are bothered.'

Spike had to think quick. He scowled at Angel. 'I'm more worried about Buffy. How she's gonna feel if you do the big up and gone on her. S'not really fair is it?'

Angel sighed. 'Let's face it, after last year I don't think Buffy and I are much of anything any more. I think she's into someone else.'

Spike looked at him. 'That Scott thing was nothing. But then I'm not there during the day anymore. Can't be. So I don't know if she's got a new honey. Would explain why she isn't coming by so much though.'

Angel rolled his eyes at how completely clueless he was, but decided not to push the subject. Spike obviously thought he didn't have a chance; Angel hoped eventually he'd realise the opposite. 'So, what are your ideas on a gift?'

'I was thinking something weapon like.' Spike said. 'It's useful…plus she likes the sharp and shiny things.'

'Then why are you looking around shops?' Angel narrowed his eyes. 'Were you going to steal something?'

'No.' Spike looked away with a guilty conscience. 'And I only just thought of the weapon thing.'

'In that case, there are some good ones at the mansion. Some of them need a bit of a clean, but I'm sure you'll find something she'll like.'

'It isn't new though is it?'

'Some of them are pretty valuable.' Angel shrugged. 'Besides, it's the thought that counts. And I won't say a word.'

Spike looked undecided for a moment before turning to his Sire and nodding. 'Okay then, it's a plan.'