Chapter 2. Short Circuits.

Back at Buffy's house, she quickly heads down to the basement and sees that her Spikebot is there waiting for her. He smiles at her because he is happy to see her.

"Buffy, I've missed you," says Spike. "It felt like you were bloody gone forever."

"I wasn't really," says Buffy. "Now thanks to Spike, my friends really think I'm crazy."

"What? I bloody don't understand what you're talking about, Slayer."

"Not you, Spike. This is insane." Buffy sighs and walks back and forth. "Spike wants me."

"Of course I want you."

"He made a robot that looks just like me and he's having sex with it."

"Are you jealous of this other Spike?"

Buffy looks at the Spikebot, who has a concerned look on his face. She had no idea that the robot could act so much like a human and react to her human feelings like jealousy.

"No, I'm not jealous. I'm not well." She throws her hands in the air, giving up on herself and whatever she is talking about. "I need to talk to him. Seriously." Buffy heads over to the stairs. "Stay here. I'll be back."

A couple minutes later, Spikebot heads up the stairs. He looks around as he arrives at the kitchen, then heads out the back door. Spikebot catches up to Buffy and follows her as she heads to Spike's crypt.

At Spike's crypt, Spike is leaning against a pillar, smoking a cigarette. His hair is messy. Rustling noises are heard. Spike looks toward the door as the Buffybot rises from the floor in front of him. They both look over at the noise.

"Who's that?" asks Buffybot.

Spike begins to fasten his pants and says, "Uh ... Down there." He points to the trap door leading down to the cavern. "And, uh, no matter what, don't come out till I get you, okay?"

"Okay." Buffybot nods her head. She walks over to the trap door and starts down.

Spike looks toward the door as it opens and Xander comes in.

"Oh, it's you," says Spike.

Xander closes the door and says, "I saw you ... in the cemetery, with Buffy."

"Yeah?" Spike says this with bravado. "Can't see how it's any business of yours."

"It is my business because Buffy's my friend ... and she's gone through some stuff lately that ... well, it's affected her, and you're taking advantage of her."

Spike sighs. "She's upset about her mum." He takes a drag on his cigarette. "And if she turns to me for comfort, well, I'm not gonna deny it to her. I'm not a monster."

"Yes. You are a monster. Vampires are monsters. They make monster movies about them."

Spike says sarcastically. "Well, yeah, you got me there."

Xander grabs Spike by the front of his shirt. "Spike, Buffy has lots of friends, and we love her very much, and we'll do whatever it takes to protect her. Now, if that means killing you, then, well, that's just a bonus."

The door opens and Jinx appears and says, "Gentlemen!" He begins to enter, followed by more demons. "I'm so sorry to intrude, but I wondered if I might beg a moment of your time."

Spike looks to Xander. "Friends of yours?" Jinx punches Xander in the stomach. "Guess not." Spike kicks Jinx. Xander struggles to his feet as the fight continues. Xander takes another kick to the chin and goes down again. Spike exchanges more blows, until two of the demons get him by the arms. He head-butts another of them.

"Tie his hands!" says Jinx. "Glory will want him restrained."

"Let me go!" Spike is struggling.

"Careful with him. She will want the key intact."

"Key? Who's a key? I'm not the-" The demons tie a kind of muzzle around his mouth.

As they are dragging Spike to the exit of the crypt, Buffy enters the crypt.

"The Slayer," says Jinx.

"What…" Buffy says as she blocks their way out. She then starts to fight them as the ones that have hold of Spike back up. "Let go of him. NOW!" The demons that she beat up run off and the demons that have a hold of Spike let him go and run out of the crypt. Spike tries to say something, but he still has the muzzle on his mouth. She turns him to look at her. "You made a robot out of me."

Spike's eyebrow rise, but it isn't for Buffy finding out that he made a robot of her. Buffy sees that he has a very confused look on his face. She turns around and sees Spikebot standing at the doorway.

"I don't know him," says Buffy trying to fake it.

"Buffy, are you alright?" asks Spikebot. "I saw some demons come out of here."

Buffy rolls her eyes and turns her head back to Spike. "This is so not what you think."

Spike gives her a grin, even though she can't see because of the muzzle.

"Wow, you're a handsome fellow;" says Spikebot. He looks at Buffy. "Are you going to help him?"

"Do I have to?" says Buffy. "I really don't want to hear what he has to say."

The Buffybot climbs out of the underground cavern. She looks around and sees the Spikebot first.

"Spike, I waited like you said, but I missed you." She runs over to him and kisses him.

Spike, muzzle and all, starts to struggle. He glares at Buffy, who is watching the display of the two bots making out. Buffy then decides to take the muzzle off and unties him.

"Hey, get your own girl," says Spike as the two bots pull apart.

"There are two of you," says Buffybot. She then sees Buffy walking over to them. "And there are two of me. We're very pretty."

"Thanks," says Buffy, still disturbed by the situation.

"You made a bot of me?" says Spike.

"I didn't. Warren did."

"Well, well, isn't this a moment. Where's my camera?"

Xander finally gets up from his conscious state. He sees Spike and Buffy looking at something. As soon as his vision clears up, he sees another Spike and Buffy right next to the others.

"I'm seeing double," says Xander.

"You're not mistaken, mate," says Spike to Xander.

"Huh?"

"Xander, don't overreact," says Buffy as she walks over to him.

"Buffy made a robot out of me," Spike blurts out.

Buffy glares at him, then she turns to Xander. His eyes widen and he finally realizes that what he is seeing is true.

"What?" says Xander.

"Spike made a robot out of me, too," says Buffy.

"Okay, you two are insane. Sorry, Buffy. What in your right mind made you want a Spikebot?"

"Companionship."

"You have friends for that. Buffy…"

"Give her a break," says Spikebot. "She's been through a lot."

"Hey, you," says Spike. "You don't know anything about her. So, stay out of this."

"I know her more than you."

"Stop it!" Buffy says. "I need space." Buffy walks out of the crypt, leaving them all.

"Look what you did." Spike sighs. "Don't even think about going after her."

The Spikebot is surprised that Spike knew he'd follow Buffy again.

Xander looks at the two Spikes', who both look concerned for Buffy running off. He scratches his head and tries to take in everything that has happened.

"This is very disturbing," says Xander. "You don't have to answer me why you made a Buffybot because I know. It's still a little psychotic, don't you think?"

"I guess," says Spike, looking down. "I should know psychotic being with Dru and all."

Xander shakes his head and heads over to the exit. He passes the two bots, then as he grabs the door handle, he stops.

"But I do understand why you did it." Xander exits the crypt.

"Spike, what's wrong," says Buffybot.

"I need a break," says Spike. "I need space." Spike heads down into the cavern, leaving both bots alone in the crypt.