In the End

Chapter Nine

Willow explained that the disc was part of a ritual to end The Slayer line, a demon by the name of Nahum, he was a marquise of hell, and he governed forty infernal legions. "And… Oh" Willow trailed off

"What oh?" asked Buffy

"He can breathe fire" Willow whimpered

"So why does he want to end the Slayer line?" asked Xander

"That part is unclear… but from his history it seems that he wanted to move up the rankings of hell, maybe tipping the scales would get him noticed" said Willow

"Oh it will get him noticed alright" said Buffy "How do I kill him?"

"That's the tricky part… He is bound to his mate, Jaraslawa" said Willow

"What does that mean?" asked Xander

"You'll have to kill Jaraslawa too, their bound together one cannot exist without the other" Willow explained

"Poor Jaraslawa…" said Anya

"You know her?" asked Jessica

"Not really, we used to go to the same parties. She's a catch, very beautiful we all told her she shouldn't have married Nahum but she didn't listen" said Anya

"But she did, and now I have to kill her to get to him" said Buffy

"It's not going to be easy Buffy" said Giles "From just his description, he breathes fire"

"Then get some fire extinguishers" said Buffy "I'm not waiting around"'

"Buffy pause… we have to find out more about this Nahum before we steam roll in there and get all crispy" said Jessica

"Jess is right" said Xander "The whole point of this is that we stop you from dying"

"The last prophecy that related to me happened, Xander" Buffy reminded him

"Buffy, prophesy's are an idea of what's to come, it's not set in stone" said Giles

"I hope not, either way I need to get out there and do something" said Buffy

"Why don't you go home, get some rest and then patrol tonight?" said Giles

Buffy nodded and left.

"We need to find out all we can about Nahum and Jaraslawa" Giles told them

"Spike took me to Willie's the other night, maybe somebody knows something there?" Asked Jessica

"You and Spike are drinking buddies?" asked Tara

"He's fun" Jessica shrugged

"Yes, Jessica why don't you head out and see what you can find" said Giles

Jessica nodded and left

XXXXX

Buffy opened the door to Spike's crypt. He wasn't anywhere to be seen on the upper level. She climbed down the ladder and saw him lying in his bed, fast asleep. She smiled and approached the bed, taking off her shoes and jacket. She slipped into the sheets beside him. She cuddled up to him, laying her head on his chest.

He stirred a little and smiled wrapping his arms around her. "What are you doing here?" He asked

"I just wanted to be near you… but I can go" said Buffy moving away from him

He quickly grabbed hold of her and pulled her back into him. They both giggled. "You're not going anywhere"

She propped herself up on her elbow and looked at him. "I'm scared Spike"

"Hey… you don't need to be. Whatever happens we'll get through it together" he told her "I'm not gunna let anything happen to you, I promise"

She kissed him passionately, she rolled on top of him without parting their lips. Buffy eventually broke the kiss to take her T-shirt off. Spike looked up at her with such admiration in his eyes.

She smiled at him and leaned back in to kiss him. Spike grabbed her arms and stopped her.

"Buffy…" he said softly

"What?" She asked looking down at him

"It's not that I don't want to…" he started

"Shhh" said Buffy again leaning down to kiss him.

"Buffy" he dodged her kisses again.

"What is with you?" she asked

"I thought we weren't falling back into old habits? I'm here for you luv, but I'm not gunna be your cold comfort anymore" said Spike

Buffy climbed off him, she was hurt he rejected her advances. She got off the bed and picked up her T-shirt and put it back on.

"What are you doing?" He sighed

Buffy picked up her boots and sat on the edge of the bed to put them back on "It's fine, I should go home and make sure Dawn is okay"

Spike let out a frustrated growl "I didn't mean leave"

Buffy stood up and grabbed her jacket, slipping it back on "I came here to spend time with you"

"You came here to shag me Slayer" he told her

She ignored him; she came for a bit of cold comfort. It felt natural to her to go to him. She knew everything was different now, or at least so she thought… He was different, but she was the same old Buffy.

She didn't turn to face him and headed for the ladder. Spike went after her with lightning speed. He grabbed her shoulders, but she looked away.

"So it's the silent treatment then is it?" He asked "Fuck, Buffy what do I have to do to make you happy? Do I have you treat you like a child like Peaches did? Or bore you to death like Captain Cardboard? Or maybe just use and discard you like the college boy did?"

Buffy saw red and punched him in the nose, making a quick escape up the ladder.