Intrusion

It was all but a blur now. She could remember the soothing waves on the shore and Drusilla's elegant presence, but the words spoken were lost to her now. They seemed important, she wasn't sure. If only she could have that dream again.

The bang at the door was louder than before. A voice screeched behind it. "Drusilla!"

Spike glanced at her. His eyes glinted with worry and curiosity, catching Buffy in a musing stare. He walked towards the door.

"What are you doing?" Angel asked.

"Opening the door," Spike said. "If we're going to have ourselves a little scrum, I'd like my door to stay intact."

Spike wrapped his hand around the handle, gave Angel a nod and then pulled the door open. The dawn's light filled the entrance way like a silk curtain, and a not so pretty looking, spiky headed demon stepped through. His eyes locked on Angel and then swayed to Drusilla. He smiled showing long canine teeth and pointed a long-nailed, green finger at Buffy.

"You."

Buffy blinked.

"Your due is paid today." Leaving no time for a response, the demon leapt into the air at Buffy. Catching the thin body in mid air, Angel redirected the demon's momentum into a stone statue. He looked back at Buffy in the face of a vampire.

"Hide," he said.

Buffy knew he thought she was in no condition to fight, but she could feel her dark power strong inside her and it felt good. Another spiky demon came through the entrance way but his face was met with a swinging door that knocked him unconscious.

"Sorry mate, you weren't invited." Spike looked out from the door's shadow and saw three more standing behind their fallen comrade. One of them grinned widely at Spike.

"Get him!"

Spike slammed the door shut with his back against it. Fists pounded wildly behind him. "A little help over here!"

Angel went to grab the neck of the demon he just threw but a spiky hand swung upwards and connected with his jaw. He reeled backwards as searing pain and blood flooded his mouth. The demon tackled his body and they both fell to the floor, grunting and growling like dogs. A wave of unholy force took Buffy and she grabbed the demon by the neck, lifting him in the air. She looked at him and made a curled smile that revealed her glistening fangs. Spike's eyes widened as the frail looking woman effortlessly threw him across the room and to his feet. Only hesitating a second to see the bloody satisfaction on Drusilla's face, he stomped his foot on the demon's neck, breaking its spine. The pounding on the door behind Spike was weakening its hinges.

"There's three more ugly sisters back here and I really don't feel like fighting hand to hand if I'm gonna end up like that." Spike lifted his chin at Angel who was grasping his bloodied jaw.

Buffy slowly walked forward, stood firmly and placed a hand at her side. "Let them come."

Spike sighed, not knowing whether Buffy was at full strength or if she was crazy. He swiftly opened the door and three figures toppled face first to the ground.

"Gee," Buffy said, "you three should seriously think about getting your own act."

"Shut up," the closest one said. They got to their feet, managing to retain their dignity. Spike retreated to Buffy's side. The three vampires stood facing the demons as one, as a pack. The sight must have instilled fear into the lead demon because he stepped back. "You vampires disgust me."

"And you're disgusting." Buffy at the center, stepped forward. "So ... what. Are we just going to debate demon ethnic groups, or are we going to finish this?"

He showed his canine teeth and nodded. "We finish this." He rushed Buffy with a right hook but she blocked it with a stiff arm and made a roundhouse kick that connected with this head. Angel and Spike each took a demon. Bodies flew and stone objects shattered as the dank crypt filled with adrenaline and ferocity.

Buffy found herself pinned by the shoulders on the bed. "Never-" She punched the smooth part of the demon's face. "On-" Another punch. "The first-" She kneed him in the ribs. "Date!" A solid kick to the demon's chest sent him flying backwards and he landed in a thud. She jumped on his chest and grabbed him by the neck. Thorns scraped her hands but Buffy hardly felt the pain.

The demon gargled and gasped. "H-he will never ... stop until ... you're dead."

"He should do his dirty work himself." Buffy snapped his neck. She slowly stood up as Angel and Spike joined her side. They looked around at the bodies and disarray their battle had caused.

"Oh," Spike said with a moan. "Look at this place. You know how long it took me to get it looking proper?"

"Yeah, decorating a crypt fit for a vampire can be an arduous task," Buffy said.

Spike shook his head and kicked pieces of concrete that belonged to a statue. "Well you and kid sister always used to pop in here unannounced, so I thought it was rather decent of me to fix it up."

Buffy smiled sympathetically. "Don't worry Spike. I'll help you tidy things up. Angel can help too right?"

Angel grasped Buffy's hands. "Your hands are hurt."

"Oh." Buffy looked down at the blood. "Don't worry about me." She smiled at him. "I can hardly feel anything."

"Are you sure?"

"Hey, she's a tough girl. She doesn't need you babying her anymore," Spike said.

Angel glanced at Spike. "No. I guess not."

"Hey. I think this one's still alive." Spike kicked the leg of the demon that had fallen unconscious from being hit by the door. The demon's head turned slowly, and he moaned.

"OO, should I get the rope?" Buffy said.

"I'm gonna go. There's some people I know who might know more about the Hand."

Buffy grabbed Angel's arm as he turned to leave. She didn't want him to leave this soon, and she knew she could easily convince him to stay. "Angel," she whispered. He looked so handsome staring back at her contently. "Thank you." They exchanged farewell smiles.

"Here." Spike tossed him a shabby blanket.

There were many thoughts and emotions that went on between those stares and it bothered Spike that his relationship with Buffy could never hold as much weight. A part of herself always belonged to him, much like the way Drusilla was a part of Spike. And it was that very thing that shattered Spike into two whenever he laid eyes on Buffy. Was she the ten thousand mile distant star, or the one at arm's length willing to accept him.

The sun melted the chill in the air as the mortal and immortal quelled amongst themselves. Like pawns, they move and react to whatever they see before them, unknowing. Push and pull. Prod and run. A force rises to blanket everything with darkness, and so it begins.