Facing the Gang
Buffy froze for less than a millisecond before, with renewed energy, his name ripped from her throat and she was beside the fallen figure in an instant. Spike's closed his eyes and frowned, just as he thought he'd been doing all right! But no he had to have that little rest didn't he! And now the First had found him again and in no time he was going to have a mighty angry Slayer at his back, most likely with something exceedingly painful.
"You win alright? You don't have to gloat...you don't have to be her!"
Spike gritted out despairingly, his arm protectively obscuring his eyes.
"Spike? Spike what are you-"
"Stop it! Just stop it; you've got your bleeding message out... She ain't coming I know that! (Spike's voice broke suddenly as the realization began to fully hit him.) Fancy words was all, words I wanted hear, words I needed to hear. You! You've shown me she doesn't mean 'em and I know that! I've always known it, known she'll never love me, she's never believed in me. I know so you can stop being her! You can just stop..."
Buffy just sat there as Spike finally fell silent and laid still, but even in his silence, she could pick up so much emotion from him; his erratic breathing, and deep sighs that ached of bitter disappointment. She looked at him and tried to think of what to say, how to convince him that all he'd said wasn't true that she wasn't The First, and that she did believe in him, she really did! But it was no use, now that she actually thought about what she felt for him she felt the familiar confusion take hold.
She had been so sure back in the house, but now all she knew was that there was a connection; something that ran deep within them and pulled them towards each other with unimaginable force. It forcefully entwined their lives together, and she knew she was thankful for it. She knew she cared deeply for him, she knew that without him as the constant thing in her life she would break down. She needed him, needed him like she needed oxygen to breathe, but that didn't mean she loved him.
"Shouldn't your cronies be here by now? Awfully quiet?"
An edge of doubt entered Spike's voice, as he finished his query, he slowly he moved his arm away, immediately looking Buffy straight in the eyes. A look of painful confusion came upon Spike's face, and she could see through his eyes that he was searching her own desperately, trying to find something he obviously saw in her.
Gently, and watching his face pay attention to her every move, she gently placed her warm hand over his heart.
"It's me Spike."
She whispered tenderly, her eyes full of sincerity, as she smiled reassuringly at him. Spike let out a low chuckle, and winced as he pushed himself up into a sitting position. Faith's blood had healed his intestines, but the wound was still pretty deep, Buffy's eyes flickered over it, and she carefully pulled out a wooden splinter.
Eyes fresh with worried tears flickered back to his immediately, she looked spooked.
"A stake? It could have- "
Spike placed a hand over her hand that held the small splinter.
"But it didn't, I'm ok Buffy."
Buffy nodded, her teeth bit her bottom lip for a while, before she nodded again and pulled Spike to his feet. He sagged against her, and against her better nature, she laughed as Spike struggled to walk without support.
"You can lean on me you know, all that Slayer strength comes in handy."
Spike favoured her with a sad sort of smile, and draped a weary arm over her shoulders, Buffy felt an inner heat warm her at his touch, and she leant her head back into his arm, pleasure written all over her features.
During the walk there had been nothing but Spike to Buffy, but as she saw the Summers' house realization that there were Potential Slayers and the rest of the gang inside, made her wish Spike still had his crypt. Come to think about it...
"What ever happened to your crypt?"
Spike looked at her in confusion, his obvious fatigue weighing on him.
"My what?"
A shot of hope went through Buffy, and she hoped nothing drastic had happened, nothing more drastic than her and Riley blowing it up.
"Your crypt?"
To Buffy's bewilderment, a wounded look went through Spike's eyes, and his tone became colder and biting.
"Oh so that's how it is, all warm and cuddly whilst your injured and far from home but as soon as you-"
Buffy shook her head at Spike's rant.
"That's not what I meant! Look, only me, Dawn and Willow know you're back. The rest of the gang, as far as they're concerned you're lost in the Outer Hebrides! Giles is back, and Xander's going to be there! Both of them are crazy mad at you, and to top it all of Giles brought a bunch of Potential Slayers with him!"
Spike shook his head, as he sucked in his cheeks and eventually moved away from her.
"Crypt got taken, some little blighter caught the opportunity you see and decided to make a nest. Look, don't worry about it, it's only a little fledging, I'll help you slay it and get my crypt back in the process. Everyone's happy!"
But Spike's tone had a touch of hysteria in it as he said 'happy', and Buffy knew that they'd be anything but.
"Spike, stop. They're going to find out you're back whether you stay here or not. It's my house, I say who stays and who goes, and besides after everything, you pretty much live in Mom's bed."
Spike nodded, and with a united front they opened the door.
Several greetings came one after the other. Buffy stepped in first, and a warm chorus of greeting filled the living room, but as soon as Spike walked in, the atmosphere quickly changed. Xander and Giles quickly rose to their feet, their faces murderous. Anya, meanwhile, watched amused, not bothering to say one way or another how she felt about Spike's return. Willow however leapt from the sofa and gave him an impulsive hug. Spike emitted a low groan as he warmly returned the hug, but his groan made Willow pull back immediately. Her eyes were wide with concern.
"You're hurt?"
Spike waved his hand in an off-hand manner.
"Doesn't matter Red, I'd wager that's the least of my problems."
"You're bloody right it is!"
Giles growled out.
"It is beyond me how you can even be here! How you can even stand in Buffy's presence after knowing what you did! I have half a mind to finish you off myself!"
Buffy pushed Spike behind her as Giles approached them.
"Stop it Giles, that's not what either of us want."
The room froze, the Potential Slayers looked amongst themselves in obvious confusion, Dawn looked torn between tears and putting on a brave face, and Willow had joined Buffy in protecting Spike.
"He's a changed man Giles, Xander... XANDER!"
Xander lunged at Spike with a stake, and it was only Willow's impulsive magic that stopped Spike from becoming a pile of dust. Buffy punched Xander hard in the nose, feeling satisfied, as blood poured down his face.
"If you ever, if anyone ever, tries to stake Spike again I will stop you. I'll do whatever it takes. I'm not asking for you to forgive Spike, in fact I'm not asking anything, I'm telling you, that if you want to remain in this house then you have to accept him, 'cause I'll throw any if you out, anyone, even you guys."
She stated coldly to Xander and Giles who stood nearby anger still evident on their faces.
"OH MY GOD! It's you!"
A deeper but still definitely female, rich voice suddenly shouted, and a pale girl rose from the crowd of Potential Slayers, she was looking fixedly at Spike, who looked mystified and he cocked an eyebrow.
"How do you-"
" That looks nasty, "
she stated, before concentrating on the wound, muttering a few words incoherently, and in a flick of her right hand Spike's skin knotted it's self together again until it was flawless. Deadly silence descended upon the Summers' household, and now everyone was staring wide-eyed at the mysterious girl.
"You're a witch? A witch and a Potential Slayer?"
Willow breathed.
The girl shook her head, her long shiny black hair swung slightly at the ends, and she moved to Spike. She looked deep into his blue eyes and she knew immediately that he was the one. The one who had changed her life forever.
"Hello Sire."
Hey! I know there are tones of potential slayers, but I'm not including every single one so consider her as a replacement for one them. Hope you liked this chapter!
Lisi the slayer