"Something weird is going on. Isn't that our school motto?"

"Pretty much."

Xander/Buffy

Chapter 22

"It just keeps jabbering at us."

Jesse glanced up at his friend. Xander, Willow and Cordelia had returned to Giles house after their patrol, they'd been the last to return. So far the rest of them had found zip, zero and nada. There hadn't been so much as a peep of supernatural activity which was odd. They were, after all, on top of a Hellmouth. Jesse had been looking through some ancient book of vampires while Amy was searching into one of the older spell books, Jenny was still on the phone trying to find anyone who remembered how to re-create Angels curse while Giles skimmed through a mountain of books, Oz mimicked Giles except he was using a computer.

They hadn't been paying much attention until a strangely loud, albeit hissing, voice sounded from somewhere behind Xander, who had jumped and whirled on the Patnja before jabbing a finger in its direction in warning. The Patnja hadn't seemed impressed which was where they were now.

Everyone stopped what they were doing, except for Jenny who was now talking excitedly into the phone. Jesse frowned before he got up, his hand absently running down the length of Amys arm as he did so. He felt her gaze against his back, hers and everyones. He wasn't sure how it had happened, how he'd gotten to this point but he knew where it had started. It hadn't been unwittingly walking into a vampires attack, or even learning that he was suppose to have died and then turned into a vampire himself. It wasn't finding out that he would kill Xander, his brother in all but blood. It had been that moment when he'd seen the monster lurking in the dark, fangs glinting in the faintest of lights as it moved to attack the pretty blonde who had saved his life. It had been the look on her face when she had turned around, shock and joy and approval all rolled into one.

Buffy Summers was The Slayer, one of the last bastions against evil. That night he had fought at her side, had faced the monsters and had won. Just as he had every night after and every night she had shown a new facet of herself. When others would have dismissed all demons as evil she chose to listen and understand, weeding out only those who would cause harm. He'd had no doubt that if she had been forced to choose between the life of a corrupt human or that of an innocent demon she would chose the demon. She wasn't like the others Giles had described, she understood the grays in life. It made him admire her even more. In a way he was in love with her. It wasn't romantic, he loved her because he'd always dreamed of being part of something important and nothing was more important than helping Buffy. So he'd studied and he'd trained and he put his life, and allowed the woman he loved to be put her life, down night after night because it was right. They were the heroes, even if no one knew it.

It had changed him and he was damn glad for it. He crouched down, putting himself eye-level with the Patnja. It looked at him, one hand pointing behind it.

"Prajurit ratu dalam bahaya oleh dia yang pembuat kejahatan. Ayo."

Jesse frowned, tried to piece together the words. He had never asked Buffy how she communicated with the Patnja but he'd been around them long enough to learn a few things at least. Such as the words 'danger' and 'Warrior'.

"Buffys in trouble."

"Wakey wakey Spike."

Spike groaned, softly, and struggled to lift his eyelids. Didn't want to, felt like some had taken a war-hammer to his head half a dozen times but, at least, there was no blinding lights. It took a moment for his eyes to adjust, something he hadn't had to worry about once he'd become a vampire. Cold, damp walls and floor, shuttering lights, Angel, Dru, Buffy. BUFFY! Something inside him twisted, clenched tight. Images moving too fast to comprehend, voices and sounds echoing back on each other to a maddening degree, some thing constricting a heart that no longer beat. He was on a wave, lost at sea in a ferocious storm. The pain was unbearable but he held it back. Somehow he held it back.

Buffy was lying on the floor, her breathing ragged, and asleep. Defenseless. Whatever was happening would have to wait, must be made to wait. A girl screamed, begged him to leave her alone. She was so young, too young, What have I-NO! Buffy, concentrate It was the hardest thing he'd ever done. Harder even then killing mother...twice. Someone gripped his chin painfully and ripped his head forward. Angels face was a blur, instinct took over and Spike lunged forward. Or, rather, tried to. His upper body moved forward but his legs refused. Back's broken. He remembered the sharp pain, remembered the blackness, remembered...Ben? Angel chuckled.

"Look at you, so helpless. Just like old times isn't that right Spike my boy?"

"Oh sod off." The words popped out with his usual 'don't give a fuck' attitude. He forced his eyes to concentrate on Angels face and then move lower to the gaping wound in his shoulder.

"Getting all pissy just cuz I took a stab at you. Boo fucking Hoo."

Angel snarled, he'd never been one for Spikes brand of humor. It was gratifying to know that, even though he was losing his mind, he could still piss off the Forehead.

"Oooooh scary." He rolled his eyes, carelessly and struggled to keep the wave of madness and anguish from drowning him. There were so many of them. How many in his long life? How many defenseless people had he killed? How many women? How many innocent lives lost for no reason. He'd gorged on blood, he'd taken until his body could accept no more without care or reason. He had tortured, mutilated, destroyed so many and if I let this take me now I'll destroy her too. It was so hard and getting harder by the second. He'd been quiet too long, forced a careless frown onto his face while allowing his body to relax, his hands reaching expertly into his pocket for a ciggy.

"Got a light?"

Whatever Angelus had planned to do in that moment of blind rage Spike never knew. Drusillas voice cut in like a hot knife slices through butter.

"King George is expecting crumpets but its not his birthday Daddy, it's not. We can get the sunbeams one by one until they dance with the stars. Tea time is near."

Sometimes, not often mind but sometimes, Drusilla confused the hell out of him. Like now. Dru sounded like her usual self but, she didn't. If he didn't have the voices of the damned trying to tear him asunder he might've been able to analyze that thought. Meanwhile Dru had moved to his side, caressing his face with gentle fingers.

"Naughty boy."

"And how will we punish him?" Angel reached down and pulled Drusilla up against him. She curled around his body like a snake, her lips catching his in a kiss that, once upon a time, had shattered Spike to watch. The feeling of hate and envy he usually felt at the sight was oddly hollow. Dru could take care of herself and Spike only had enough room in his mind for the Slayer and his own damnation.

"Let the cat catch the mice and make the rat watch as he kills them." Angel looked confused but Spike understood. He'd always understood her. Send him out to catch the Slayers friends, if he came back they would make him kill said friend in front of Buffy. She'd hate him, them, forever and Angel would break her right in front of Spike because that's just what Angelus was: An artist who painted masterpieces of torment and damnation. Angel seemed to have understood her meaning within seconds. The smile that light his face made the voices in Spikes head roar even louder but his eyes tracked Angelus slow movements towards the downed Slayer.

"Pretty girl. I wonder... You stabbed me for her. You haven't killed her and she seems awfully fond of you William." He bent down and caressed Buffys face gently and shot a look of pure malice back at Spike, " Bring me every one she cares about Spike, i'll give you two days. After that I'll bag my own Slayer."

Panic, fear and horror coiled in a knot in his stomach. The panic was rare, the fear pushed aside but the horror was new. He'd never experienced it, not in his unlife. The absolute disgust for everything he had ever done and everything he might have to do. Still he sneered, his control holding by a gossamer thread.

"And what's to keep you from going at her while i'm gone? You think i'm an idiot? I take one step out that door and you'll do your damnedest to destroy her."

"Oh no no no. Daddy won't, can't. Too much pain and the tea will go cold, the sun burns so bright. The crumpets taste like ashes."

Spike glanced between Dru and Angel. The look on Angels face was priceless, it was a shame he was in no position to enjoy it. What he could enjoy, however, was a victory of sorts.

"Means if you touch the girl before the two days are up she's gonna whip your ass mate." He shifted in place and glanced down at his legs, "But the problem with your master plan is simple: I can't go fetch if my legs won't move."

"Oh don't worry, we've already figured out an answer to that."

Spike did not like the look on his face.

Hey everyone, sorry for the late update and the short chapter. I had intended it to be a bit longer but my poor Ginar is suffering from some bad migranes so I decided to give her a break and just post what I had on hand so that she could have a few more days to recover (I've had migraines before...Not pretty). So be prepared for the upcoming chapter since it'll be longer than any of the others (lots of ground to cover before I can move on to the next stage of my Spuffy universe MWUHAHAHAHAHAHA). Also feel free to let me know if you're confused about something (i'll clear it up either in pm or in story) and if there's something you'd like to see more of or just something you've wanted to see that never happened let me know. Depending on my workload I may, or may not, be able to squeeze it in ^_^.

This story is as much for you as it is for me.

Until next time!