Chapter 6: Enter Spike

Head…pain….throbbing…pain….pounding…pain…. Bloody Hell!

The car had slowed enough so William had just bounced off it's hood. But when he fell to the ground his head hit the concrete in in a sickening smack.

He slowly opened his eyes his head in incredible pain. The owner of the car was out looking down at him, "Man, I'm so sorry are you alright?!"

He forced himself to his feet his eyes narrowing on the driver. His hand shot out and grabbed the guy by his throat and pinned him to his car. "You almost bloody well killed me you stupid git!" he leaned in on the man tightening his grip on the man's throat, "I swear if I ever see your bloody face again I'll rip your soddin spine out threw yer bleedin nose hole ya got that?!" he then pulled the guy away from his car and threw him to the ground. The guy quickly scrambled away form him.

Rolling his shoulders and stretching his neck he walked in to the bar. He patted down his pockets, "Bloody hell…" he grumbled. And walked over to the cigarette machine. He bought a pack of Morley and then settled at the bar, "Ya don't happen to have some matches do ya mate?" he asked the bartender. Who dropped some in front of him. Lighting up a cigarette he took a deep drag. His lungs burned and constricted in protest. As he choked back the smoke commanding his lungs to cooperate. After a few more forced attempts his lungs seemed to give in and allow the smoke in although the burn remained. He's ordered a whiskey and was about to take a drink when a pair of hands glided around him.

"My knight returns… but his armor looks a bit tarnished…" He turned to look at the raven hair beauty.

He raised an eyebrow at the woman, "I ain't no bloody knight, luv. But I can guarantee you stick around me you'll need protection." his eyes flashed with double meaning.

She giggled, "Oh, William is a naughty boy!" she growled and made a biting motion in his direction.

"William? I aint no William, do look like a bleedin ponce to you? Names Spike Luv" he smirked at her. Woman was sack of hammers but damn she was sexy. He grabbed her around the waist and pulled her to him. Her arm circled around his waist as she made a noise that sounded almost like a purr as she nuzzled close.

Then he felt a heavy hand on his shoulder, he turned to see a large dark haired male frowning down at him. "Watch the leather mate…" Spike's voice filled with a warning undertone.

"I think you should be more concerned with the fact you have your arms around my girl" the tall brooding figure grounded out.

Spike lifted an eyebrow clearly unimpressed with the guy's threatening tones, "More Like your girl's got her arms around me, Peaches…" he flashed a taunting grin at the guy then made a show of turning away and nuzzling back on the girl in question.

Angelus frowned at being brushed off, he pulled Drusilla away from the bleached blond and turned to grab the guy as he slipped off the bar stool out of Angelus' reach. "Hey, don't take it out on me you can't keep your girl happy…" his voice taunting as he wore a anger inducing smirk.

Angelus let out a roar as he took a swing at Spike. Who easily dodged.

With each missed swing Angelus got madder and Spikes smirk got cockier. Angelus finally landed one that snapped Spikes head back but did not knock him down. His lip split. Tilting his head a bit, he poked the cut with his tongue. At the taste of his own blood what could only be described as an evil grin crossed his face, "My turn mate…"

He let loose with a furry of punches one busting Angelus' lip another his nose. Spike the gabbed him and hit him in the kidneys then the stomach. As he bent over Spike rammed his knee into Angelus' ribs.

With Angelus a pile of pain on the ground the Bartender took that opportunity to say something. "Uh, guys, Take that outside or I'm gonna have to call the cops…." he stopped talking as Spike gave him a deadly look. When Spike looked back Drusilla was bent over Angel making cooing noises. Trying to help him up. Spike rolled his eyes. He didn't need some crazed bint anyways…

He swaggered back to the bar and shot down his whisky. The burn felt good to him. He felt alive. And juiced up from the fight. He looked over at the door as Angelus and his crazed girl left. He smirked about to call out a biting comment to the departing couple when she walked in. The two woman's eyes met as they passed. Recognition etched on both their faces and quickly turned to frowns. After the brunette disappeared threw the door with The Great Forehead, the blond then looked about the bar with worry etched across her pretty face.

Her eyes glided over Spike but then she stopped frowned and her eyes swung back to him again. As recognition downed in her eyes, they got wide as her jaw dropped in surprise. Spike who had been watching her threw the mirror behind the bar frowned. Now what?

The blond ran up to him and as he turned to meet her she threw her arms around him. At first he was shocked but then thought 'what the hell? How many beautiful blonds just throw themselves in to your arms?' so he relaxed and was about to return the hug when she pulled away. Looking him over her eyes landing on his lip. "I knew it! I knew when I saw that slut leaving with that stupid jerk there was another fight!" she then looked a bit confused, "although I must admit I expected you to be in a slightly worse condition…."

This girl was getting more and more confusing with every word, she talked like they were friends but he couldn't for the life of him place her face. She looked a little too innocent compared to the kinda chicks he hung with. "You know that poofer?" he asked referring to the idiot he just wiped the floor with.

"Poofer?" she frowned the he nodded towards the door. And she finally understood, "That jerk? No, I just remember him and his skank from The Lime Light. When she hit on you the first time to make her boyfriend jealous."

Now it was his turn to be confused again, "First time? Lime Light?" He looked down at her , "I doubt we hang at the same places, pet…"

Buffy frowned. "What's going on William? What's with the accent? Your acting like you don't even know me…"

All the sudden he looked like he gained some understanding, "Sorry luv, my names Spike. I guess I must be a dead ringer for this William bloke, but he's not me, you got the wrong guy, pet." he ordered another whiskey like the conversation was over.

She seemed to sit there and considered the possibility that he could be someone else but decided definitely not, this was William, was he acting a part maybe. Well that was stupid and childish. "I don't know what kind of reaction your looking for but I'm not playing…"

As his whiskey arrived he looked over at her with a bored expression on his face, "Look luv, I don't bloody know who the hell you think I am. But I don't bloody well know you or this ponce William." he rested a hand on her hip as he slid a seductive smirk across his face, "Now if you'd like to get to know me…"

She wiggled out of his grip as she faced him stubbornly, "You know my name is Buffy!"

He cocked and eyebrow, as his smirk turned more condescending, "Figures, you look like a Buffy…" he knew his words would get a rise out of her, but he obviously didn't care.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean? I don't know what game your playing WILLIAM but I'm not playing WILLIAM!" she emphasized his name to drive her point home.

All at once the look on Spike's face went from amused to irritated, He gabbed her by her upper arms and held her firm as he looked her menacingly in the eyes, "Listen you silly bint! I'm not this Bloody William you think I am… Names, Spike, learn it, remember it, fear it!" he then released her and turned back to the bar, as he lit a cigarette.

Holding back the burning response of his lungs as he slowly exhaled, he refused to cough in front of her instead he threw back his whisky replacing one burn for another. He hated the hurt he saw in her eyes as he set her strait. Great… she's off her rocker and he feels guilty, when did he turn in to such a nancy-boy?

A cold feeling settled over her. William would never treat her like that, no matter how mad he was at her. She knew this much. Something was wrong. What happened to him? Maybe he hit his head in the fight with that stupid jerk. "Will…Spike?" she softly touched his upper arm. He turned just enough to look at her out the side of his eye keeping the majority of his face turned from her. "I don't know what happened…" how was she supposed to find out what happened. Questioning him further might just upset him more. And although she trusted William with her life, she didn't know what Spike was capable of.

Then she got an Idea, "Ok, I must have the wrong guy I mean I can't see how, but just for my own piece of mind can I at least see you driver's license? I mean then I'll know for sure I got the wrong guy." She hoped this worked and he didn't just blow her off. If this was William he was in need of medical attention.

Spike sighed, now what was this silly bint up to? He still felt a little guilty for loosing his cool on her otherwise he would have just blown her off. He got up off the bar stool and patted own his packets finding the tell tale lump in his front left pocket. He pulled out his wallet. Flipping it open his eyes landed on the driver's license, "What the bloody hell?!" he pulled out credit cards and staff ID all had the same name, William Pratt. He picked up the driver's license again the picture showed a guy who was the embodiment of the name William. He looked bookish and reserved and those bloody glasses.

His mind would not accept this, it had to be a trick, some how someone switched his wallet. He stuffed the cards back inside and shoved it at the blond next to him, "Funny joke, but I'm not bloody playin. So take your tricks and give me back my wallet then you can go sodd off…"

"No joke, I swear! When would I have time to slip you a wallet much less take yours?' he looked unsure so she pushed forward, "Think, did you hit your head in the fight?"

"Bloody hell no I didn't soddin hit my….." He paused as if remembering something, "Bloody hell…" he whispered. No, things like that just don't happen. Did they. He looked stricken then his eyes locked with hers as his face went unreadable, "Say I believe you, What do you plan on me doing about it?"

Her face went from worried to compassionate, "I know you feel freaked, I would too. But if what I think happened, happened well your going to need to see a doctor…"

He thought about that, a doctor would solve this little mystery, "Fine, but I choose the doctor." he slipped off the stool, as her face brightened in to a smile. It was worth a trip to the doctor to see that smile. She seemed to glow. Spike fought the urge to pull her close into a deep kiss. Figuring she might not appreciate the gesture, obviously this William guy and her were just friends, then remembering the picture he thought to himself, 'definitely no way that guy was anything more then a friend. Too bad…'