Chapter Three

The moonlight reflected off the headstones, casting an eerie glow throughout the small cemetery. Quiet footsteps sounded as the young woman slowly made her way through the maze of headstones and mausoleums. Turning her head slightly to the left, she looked around as if searching for someone or something. As she walked around the corner of one of the large crypts, she stopped and stood still for several seconds before spinning quickly and kicking out with her left leg in an upward arc, connecting with the chest of the approaching individual.

As her left foot hit the ground, she reached behind her back and withdrew a sword from its scabbard under her sweatshirt. Bringing it around in front of her, she moved into a fighting stance, her left foot somewhat behind her with her body turned slightly, her sword grasped firmly in her hands and positioned to strike.

The long blade seemed to dance through the air in her small hands, but the fluid, graceful movements of the tall man across from her were able to easily block any advance she attempted. After about ten minutes of fighting, he bought his sword up, and then back down, directly towards her head. The woman saw the move coming and leaned to the side as the blade cut through the air, narrowly missing her arm. She had really begun to hate that sword.

Glaring up at the man's laughing face, she brought her sword up to block his before it reached its target. Spinning on her right foot, she swung her sword towards his midsection. Her opponent was able to dodge her blade, however, and turned, coming up from behind her. With a sweeping motion, he kicked her feet out from under her, causing her to land hard on her right hip and lose hold of her weapon in the process.

Adam saw his small friend hit the ground, and placing his blade into it's scabbard, made his way quickly to her side. Reaching out with his right hand, he pulled the redhead to her feet and watched as she gingerly brushed the dirt from her clothing. "Are you all right?"

"Yeah, I'm okay." A slight grunt of pain escaped her lips as she sheathed her own sword.

"How about I walk you home?" She nodded in agreement, and the two left the cemetery. They had covered several blocks when Adam stopped and looked suspiciously around the dark streets; sensing someone watching them.

"What is it?"

"I don't know, just a weird feeling." With one more glance, he took the young woman's hand and increased their pace. "Let's just get you home, shall we?" They reached the two-story home several minutes later.

Fishing her keys from the front pocket of her jeans, she unlocked the door and turned to her friend. "Thanks for walking me home." Smiling, she hugged him close. "G'night Trav. I'll talk with you Friday, around five, okay?"

Placing a light kiss on each of her cheeks, he hugged her back. Sleep tight my little Mys." With a small wave, the two separated, the redhead disappearing into the dark house, as Adam continued down the scantly lit suburban street.

The vampire exhaled a cloud of smoke as he turned the corner onto the quiet street. He stopped short in his tracks when a strange feeling overcame him. Stepping behind a tall tree, he looked up and down the street for the source of the feeling. He was surprised when he saw the two figures turn the corner in front of him. He recognized the shock of scarlet hair immediately, but the tall man at her side was unfamiliar to him. He was surprised when the man stopped and looked around him as if aware of the blonde's eyes on the pair. *Well, well, what do we have here?*

Following the two at a discreet distance and making sure to remain hidden, Spike watched as they approached the witch's residence. An unidentifiable feeling settled in the pit of his stomach as the dark-haired gentleman kissed the petite hacker. He wasn't sure what it was, but he knew he didn't like it. Spinning on his booted heel, he turned and stalked away from the small porch. *Things just got a bit more intriguing.*

End Chapter Three

Chapter Four

*Five-thirty in the afternoon and it's still hot as hell out.* The hacker shook her head in frustration. Waving her hand in front of her face in an attempt to cool herself, she wished, for the hundredth time that day that she didn't have to wear the long sleeves and pants that had become her daily attire. She had been about to start getting ready for her meeting with Adam when she had received a call from Giles, asking her to return a spell book she had borrowed the week before.

*He had to choose tonight to reorganize his bookshelves.* Knocking on the door, she hoped the peroxide blonde wouldn't be there, his questions at the research session three days before having made her a bit uneasy. Her hopes were dashed, however, when the watcher opened the door to reveal the vampire seated comfortably on the couch.

"Hey Giles, I brought the book," she greeted, tilting her head towards her book bag.

"Good afternoon Willow. Please, come in. I was just making a fresh pot of tea; I'll be right with you." Waving the girl inside, he shut the door and returned to the kitchen as the teakettle whistled shrilly.

Spike heard her enter the apartment and watched as she slowly walked over to the small chair. He knew that if he hadn't been watching her so closely he would not have noticed that she walked with a slight limp, favoring her right leg. His careful observation also noted that her face screwed up in an almost imperceptible grimace as she set the bag on the ground and took a seat. Placing the remote on the couch next to him, he smirked over at the witch. "So, did you finish that paper the other day, pet?"

Cursing silently to herself, she turned to face the vampire. "Yeah, I did. Why?"

"No reason, just wondering." He gave a casual shrug, then changed the subject. "The slayer mentioned you stayed at your parent's house again. You've been doing that a lot lately haven't you?"

"It's none of your business where I stay, Spike." Her tone was a little more brisk than she had intended but she really didn't care.

"Touchy touchy. I was merely making small talk. It's not like I'm the only one that's been talking about it lately anyway. It seems to be a frequent topic of conversation amongst your friends the last few days." The group hadn't actually discussed it since that one day earlier that week, but he didn't have to tell her that.

"Of course, according to them, you've been sleeping elsewhere because you've got yourself a new, now how did demon girl put it? Ah, yes, a new orgasm friend." He watched her face carefully, looking for any sign that her friend's assumption was correct. It hadn't appeared that she had that type of relationship with the man he had seen her with, but he had been hiding behind a tree at the time too.

A light blush covered her cheeks and she stared at him wide-eyed. "Not that it's anyone's business other than my own, but I am not using my parent's house to secretly fuck somebody, Ok? I've been spending a lot of time at the library and bookstore lately and their house is closer than the dorms. So just mind your own damn business."

The sharp tone and rather blunt wording she had used surprised the blonde. *When the hell did she get an attitude?* Despite her explanation, he still didn't believe that she was sleeping at home because of her late night study sessions. She had been avoiding her friends and he knew it had something to do with the dark-haired man he had seen her with. *She may not be shaggin' the bloke but they sure seemed a hell of a lot closer than studybuddies.* Before he could continue his inquiry, the watcher entered the room holding a steaming cup of tea.

The redhead rose from her seat and retrieved the book from her bag, handing to the older man. "Here you go Giles."

"Thank you Willow, I'm sorry to have brought you all the way over here, I hope I didn't disturb your plans for the evening."

"It was no problem, and you didn't interrupt anything. Although I do have another paper to finish this weekend that's going to take me awhile. I should probably get home and work on it."

"Yes, of course, go right ahead. Thank you for the book."

"You're welcome. Call me if you need help researching or anything this weekend."

"I will. Good bye."

"Bye." The red-haired witch picked up her bag, flinching when it came in contact with her back and shoulder. She opened the door and waved to the former librarian as she left the apartment. Spike waited several minutes after she left before mumbling a 'later mate' to the watcher and making his way through the streets of Sunnydale to the hacker's home.

His vampiric speed enabled him to reach the house mere moments after she did. He had only been standing there five minutes when he noticed the same man he had seen with her before, approaching the Rosenberg residence. Stepping behind a large tree for the second time that week, he watched as the man knocked on the door.

Willow opened the door a moment later, giving the man a hug before the two headed down the street. He noticed that the girl had changed into a lose long sleeve white T-shirt and gray sweet pants as opposed to the long sleeved black shirt and green cargo pants she had been wearing at the watcher's. *A paper, huh? Why don't I believe that?*

Spike left his hiding place and followed about a block behind them, recalling how the man had somehow noticed his presence the last time. They had been walking for about fifteen minutes when they stopped and entered a large building. The vampire waited until they were inside before going around to the back of the building where he broke the lock on the service door and went inside.

Making his way through the back offices, he soon found himself in what appeared to be a gym. There was a wide range of exercise equipment with various people milling around using the different machinery. On the wall across from where he was standing there was a large sign reading, 'Sunnydale Health Club: Members Only.' *What are you up to, Red?*

End Chapter Four