Chapter Seventeen: Caged

Buffy and Spike burst into the library, finding their friends sitting around the table. Angel leaned against the banister, whilst Giles stood in the office doorway, his glasses in one hand and a handkerchief in the other. The two blondes skidded to a halt. The Slayer looked to her watcher and Giles shook his head.

'There's nothing we can do, Buffy.'

'What did she get arrested for?' Buffy asked, a frown marring her brow. Spike kept his distance as Angel trained his gaze on them. The poof seemed to be brooding more than usual, and he wasn't sure if rubbing it in his face was a wise idea. Whilst he loved winding Angel up, the elder vampire could probably still beat him to pulp.

'The Mayor's murder.' Xander said, standing up.

'Faith didn't do it. I did.' Buffy looked between Willow and Oz, Angel and Xander. Then she realised someone was missing. 'Xander, where's Cordy?'

The boy looked sheepish and a little guilty for a second before sitting down on a chair once more and hanging his head.

'We split up.' He murmured and Willow sent a glare in his direction. Buffy nodded in acknowledgement, making a mental note to dig on that one later, after the Faith dilemma was sorted. She looked to Giles.

'Can't the Council do anything?' Giles shook his head. Buffy bit her lip. 'Well, maybe we can bust her out.'

'Then she'd be on the run for the rest of her life.' Angel muttered and Buffy looked to him briefly.

'Why have they pinned this on her? I did it. It was me.' The Slayer looked at the floor, her shoulders slumped in defeat.

'There were no witnesses, luv. Just us four. We killed all the others.' Spike placed a hand on the small of her back in reassurance.

'She's likely to face a long time in prison. The murder of a leading politician is not looked upon kindly.' Giles replaced his glasses on the bridge of his nose. 'I'm making arrangements to go and visit her, make sure she is okay.'

'Where was she when they took her?' Buffy asked, moving away from Spike suddenly. Angel straightened up.

'She was with me. We were patrolling. Cops just came out of no where. I couldn't do anything. They took her, charged her. She told me not to worry.' The vampire looked at Buffy directly. 'I think she planned this.'

'They've been looking for his killers for two weeks. What evidence could they have that connects her and the Mayor?'

'We aren't sure, which is why I am going to see her tomorrow. She's probably pretty frightened.'

Buffy looked at Spike again, and then glanced at Willow. 'Can I come too?' She directed her question at Giles and he hesitated. 'I just wanna make sure she'd okay. I don't want her to take the fall for something I did. Even if he was an evil demon plotting on killing us all.'

Giles looked at her for a long hard minute. 'Very well. But I think we should approach with some caution. Prison isn't nice for anyone to experience. And Faith's emotional stability has been in question for some time; I would like to remind you.' Buffy nodded.

'That's why she needs us. We may not have seen eye to eye but she was doing well lately. With the not-being-so-psycho bit.' The Slayer pouted and looked down at the ground. The pout turned into a frown and she looked up again. 'Why do I feel like this is all a diversionary tactic? Cause David is still out there.'

Spike looked at Giles briefly before his eyes met Buffy's. The Watcher stood straight. 'You could be right, Buffy. But the only way we can be certain is to quiz Faith. All we know about David is the matter of his heritage and the fact that he wants Spike.'

'Which I'm not feeling too fluffy about Rupes.' Spike raised his hand. 'I would like to know exactly what this guy wants yours truly for. If it's to hanker down over a bottle of whiskey, I don't mind, but I'm not picturing a cosy tea party in the near future.'

The swing doors opening abruptly caused the slayer and vampire to turn, the rest following with their gazes. A prim gentlemen in a suit had entered the library, briefcase in hand and a smug look on his face.

'The vampire intends to summon the Valkyrie.' The crisp English accent that filtered out of his mouth caused Giles to groan and turn away in distaste. The glasses came off as the man approached Buffy, every inch of his posture giving her the stiff upper lip language. She looked taken aback as he offered his hand. 'Wesley Wyndam-Price. I'm your new Watcher.'

Buffy didn't take the hand and continued to stare at him in distaste. He gazed back before smiling again, falsely and straightening up.

'I'm assuming you must be Buffy. Where, perhaps, is Faith?' he looked around, his nose attempting to gain more height than the rest of his face. Spike scoffed at him.

'She just got arrested. For murder. Which she didn't do.' Willow piped up. The new Watcher looked at her, considering her for a moment before looking over at Giles, who was furiously cleaning his glasses in an attempt not to be noticed.

'Mr. Giles? Are you aware of this? Could you not keep a watch on the Slayers until I arrived?' The condescending tone he used caused Giles to replace his glasses on his face and frown at the newcomer. Buffy watched in mild fascination as the Scoobies and Angel made a hasty exit. They had all seen the nasty side of Giles with the chocolate incident, something none of them wanted to see again. Only Spike and herself remained, herself for the morbid curiosity of it and Spike most likely for the same reason.

'Of course I'm aware, you stupid git. I've been standing here the whole time. And for your information, whilst the Council has spent weeks sorting it's backside out and sending you over here, those two slayers have stopped numerous threats to the safety of humankind!'

Wesley didn't look taken aback. He sniffed a little and pushed his glasses further up the bridge of his nose. 'I would appreciate if you did not regard me in such a tone. I am the Watcher here, Mr. Giles. You are merely the librarian.'

Spike whistled as Giles raised his hands and then turned to retreat to the office, murmuring threats under his breath. Buffy smiled as Wesley turned his aggravatingly posh attitude on Spike, his eyes narrowing.

'Who are you?' He asked and Spike raised an eyebrow.

'Name's Spike.'

'Ah, the vampire. Or one of the vampires.' He looked at Buffy condescendingly and she squirmed under his gaze. Wesley straightened even more, if it was possible. 'Your presence is not required here, at this moment. You may leave.'

'Who do you think you are, mate? The bloody Queen?' Spike snarled, stepping forward. Wesley took an unconscious step back as Buffy's small hand splayed across Spike's chest, stopping his advance. Giles emerged from the office again, seemingly only to see Spike kill the new Watcher. The two shared a look as Buffy pleaded with the blonde to go and have a cigarette, assuring him she would join him for patrol in a moment. He pondered it for a moment, before shifting his gaze to the new Watcher, then turned on his heel and stormed out, cursing under his breath.

Wesley watched him leave and then turned to Buffy. 'You keep regular company with that creature? We shall have to watch him closely.'

'You don't need to watch Spike full stop. He's on our side.' Buffy folded her arms across her chest, narrowing her eyes at the Englishman.

'A vampire is a vampire, Miss. Summers.'

Buffy rolled her eyes. 'It's Buffy. And no, a vampire is not a vampire. He has a soul.'

'He is not the first vampire you have had close proximity with, is he, Miss Summers?' Giles coughed and stepped forward, just in time to stop Buffy ripping the man's head off.

'Is he the first you've had close proximity with?' The older man asked and Wesley puffed himself up proudly.

'I have staked two vampires myself. Under controlled circumstances, of course.'

'You're in no danger of finding those here.' Giles murmured and Wesley frowned.

'Vampires?' He asked and Giles rolled his eyes in a gesture mimicking Buffy's and one he felt he would be using more frequently now.

'Controlled circumstances.' Giles said, turning away once more. 'You said something about the Valkyrie?' The Watcher nodded, opening his briefcase and pulling out a folder of paperwork. He placed it on the desk.

'This is all the research referring to this David's quest. He aims to use the energy of the Hellmouth to release the Valkyrie and resurrect his clan. However, the notes make no mention of any sacrifice, so I'm not aware exactly what the vampire's concern with this is.'

Buffy frowned, looking down at the paperwork as Giles began to sift through it. 'How do you know he wants Spike?' She asked. Wesley turned to her, clasping his wrists behind his back and bending slightly.

'Not only has Mr. Giles been keeping us up to date on the situation, you were talking rather loudly when I entered the premises.' He smiled slightly. 'Does everyone in Sunnydale know of your secret identity, Miss Summers?'

'It's Buffy.' She stared at him, then looked to Giles. 'I'm gonna go on patrol. Check in tomorrow morning?' Giles nodded in her direction, though his eyes were still firmly fixed on the paperwork in front of him. Wesley cleared his throat.

'I would like to remind you I am the Watcher, Miss Summers. Mr. Giles, whilst his help is of valid use, is just the librarian. So, shall we say eight thirty tomorrow morning?' He smiled, almost sickeningly and Buffy held his gaze for a minute, before looking at Giles, who had looked up towards the two.

'See you tomorrow, Giles?' She replied sweetly, ignoring the stiff Watcher and Giles nodded again.

'Goodnight Buffy.' She turned on her heel and left the library, as Wesley looked sternly down at Giles. The elder man's eyes widened in feigned innocence. 'What?'

'You shouldn't encourage her.' Wesley said, sniffing haughtily and sitting down. Giles looked back down at his paperwork, wondering for a moment if the Valkyrie ate annoying teeny Watchers.

'So I'm curious. Are all Englishman that annoying before they come over here? Cause Giles was a little like that when he first showed up.' Buffy twirled the stake in her hand experimentally, not making eye contact with Spike.

'I'm starting to think it's a ingrown Watcher thing.' Spike snorted. 'He's stuck up his own arse.' Buffy looked at him.

'So were you?'

'Stiff upper lip and all that?' Spike said, looking at her and stopping dead in his tracks. 'Don't think so, luv. I've always talked like this…I think. But then, my accent is kinda screwed, seeing as I've been living in the states for ten years. Dilutes it a bit.' Buffy giggled.

'I can't imagine you, all prim and proper. But your mom's accent was pretty crisp.'

'Whereas my little sister sounded like a bloody Texan,' Spike chuckled for a moment before sobering. He sighed, starting to walk again as Buffy watched him. 'I miss them.'

'I know.' She reached for his hand, giving it a squeeze. 'I know it isn't much of a consolation, seeing as it's pretty much my fault, but you have me.' He smiled, tugging on her arm and pulling her into an embrace.

'More of a consolation than you realise pet…and it isn't your fault.' He stared at her for a moment before capturing her lips in a kiss. It lasted a few seconds before Buffy pulled away, a little breathlessly. He smiled at her flushed expression and dropped the embrace, his hand still clasping hers as they resumed their patrol. 'Without you…I would've gone mad. I only pushed through it for you, love. Otherwise I would have given up.'

'Does it still get to you?' Buffy asked, looking at him.

'Sometimes. If I keep on top of it, feed regularly…the hunger isn't so bad. Angel says it's just my demon hankering for what its never had. Forbidden fruit and all that.' He looked at her, concern on his face. 'Don't ever think I'd hurt you, or one of the others. I've got this thing under control.' Buffy nodded, squeezing his hand again.

'I know you wouldn't. Hell, I let you come round to my mom's didn't I?' She smiled reassuringly. 'I trust you, Spike. Always have.' He smiled at that and squeezed her hand back as they fell into comfortable silence.

The rest of the night passed without much trouble. Spike walked Buffy home, even after her insistence that she'd be fine on her own. It turn out, it was an excuse to say hello to Joyce, who was still up cataloguing artefacts for the gallery. They chatted for a few moments, before Spike headed back to the mansion.

Angel wasn't there when he returned and he settled down on the sofa with a book, the fire roaring in front of him. It was nigh on four in the morning when Angel eventually returned, frowning at the younger vampire as he entered the premises.

'Spike.' He nodded his head in the other vampire's direction, but Spike didn't return the sentiment, ignoring the brunette as he read on. The older vampire shook his head, leaving the room for a moment, before returning with a container of blood. He drank it, his eyes not leaving the blonde on the sofa. 'How was patrol?' he asked after a few minutes and Spike looked up, staring at him for a few seconds before setting the book down.

'Uneventful.' He said, narrowing his eyes. 'Haven't seen you about much. What have you been up to?'

Angel shrugged. 'I just decided it would be better if I stayed out of the way.'

Spike nodded, his gaze not wavering. 'She doesn't mind you know. I guess this whole thing is a bit uncomfortable for you, but I know she still values your friendship, even if…well…you know.' He trailed off. Angel winced and stood up, placing the half empty glass on the small table beside the sofa.

'I know she doesn't love me, Spike. After last year…I can't blame her. There's too much risk involved.'

'I get that. But I think she will always love you in some way.' Spike admitted, standing up and returning the book he had been reading to the shelf across the room. 'First love and all that.'

Angel chuckled. 'You're probably over the moon you got one over on me.' He shook his head, picking up his glass again. Spike smirked.

'Well, yeah. I do hate you.' The two stayed in silence for a moment, both pondering how things had gotten so relaxed between them in the past few weeks. Spike couldn't deny everything that Angel had done for him, that he would probably be dust if the elder vampire hadn't found him and helped him to cope with the sudden onslaught of being dead. He still hated the other man on a molecular level, but wouldn't begrudge him the thanks he deserved. Especially since Spike had nicked his girl in the process. Angel on the other hand, knew the comfortable rapport they had built was most likely down to the blood bond they now shared and the fact that his presence calmed Spike's demon.

He just only hoped that his upcoming departure for LA wasn't going to harm the blonde's progress.

Angel stood up, draining his glass in one swig and looked over at Spike. 'Just laying cards on the table. I don't expect you to take up the offer, but if you want to come with me you can.'

'You're right I'm not interested.' Spike threw at him. Angel nodded and Spike suddenly felt a little guilty. As much as he hated the brooding poof, he knew he was only trying to help. 'But thanks. Maybe if I need a break from the others and their whining, I'll take you up for a little vacation.' It seemed to appease the situation and Angel smiled, something Spike had rarely seen him do.

'Okay.' The brunette turned and headed for the stairs. 'I'm going to bed. I assume you're patrolling with Buffy tomorrow night?'

'Among other things.' Came the muffled reply and Angel rolled his eyes as he climbed the stairs. Despite the civil atmosphere between them, Spike obviously still couldn't resist a dig…