Some scenes and dialogue adapted from the episode As You Were. Not Riley friendly.

Chapter 18

The "In-box" on Buffy's desk had finally been cleared for the day when Ruth came into her office with another small stack of papers and an apologetic smile on her face. "How's it going?"

"Fine until about a second ago," Buffy pouted.

Ruth laughed, "Oh don't worry about those, they can wait until tomorrow. I don't know if I can say the same thing about the GI-Joe standing in the lobby asking for you."

"Seriously?"

"You're not on the run or anything are you?" Ruth chuckled.

Buffy shook her head, "No, but I'm pretty sure I know what this is about. Did he say his name?"

"Agent Riley Finn."

Buffy's stomach twisted. She had expected a call or maybe an appointment at some military hospital. She never expected he would show up like this. It took a moment for Buffy to realize she was gaping at Ruth and she closed her mouth with an effort.

"You know this guy I take it?" Ruth asked.

Buffy nodded numbly, "Old boyfriend."

Ruth grimaced, "Do you want me to send him on his way?"

"No, I kinda need to talk to him I guess. I don't know why he didn't just wait and come to the house," she grumbled.

"This isn't some kind of soap opera love triangle kind of thing is it? The twins aren't secretly his are they?" Ruth asked in a mock-serious tone.

Buffy laughed, it was nice working for someone who could joke around with her, "Ahh no, definitely not."

"Alrighty, I'll send him back," Ruth said with a little smirk, "oh, think Less said he had some paperwork for me downstairs so if you need me call on the intercom."

Buffy frowned, "It's not going to be the paperwork producing kind of paperwork is it?"

Ruth chuckled, "It better not be, he promised to take me out to dinner tonight. I'm pretty sure it's just stuff he needs copied. Nothing you have to worry about right now. I'll send in Mr. Flinn,"

"Enjoy your husband-time!" Buffy added as Ruth turned to step out of the office.

"Thanks! Good luck!" Ruth shot over her shoulder as she started down the hallway to the lobby.

Buffy started nervously tidying her desk. The ultrasound photo caught her attention and she froze for a moment, when she heard heavy boots treading on the floor outside her office. She adjusted herself behind her desk, leaving the photo right where it was. True, she wanted to keep the initial conversation away from her pregnancy and focus on Spike's chip removal but she wasn't ashamed about being pregnant. Not anymore.

Riley stood in the doorway dressed in a turtleneck, cargo pants, tactical belt, and boots, all in black. There was the new addition of a scar running from his brow bone, over his eye and ending high on his cheek. Buffy didn't move from her seat.

Riley took a few steps toward her desk, closing the door behind him, "Hey, I got your message."

She felt her eyebrows raise at the obscenely inadequate greeting, "Ahh yeah, I sort of figured that out. What are you doing here? Like specifically here, in my office," she hissed in a low tone.

"I called the house, Willow told me where I could find you," He took a step forward, dropping his voice, "I'm not here just because you called. I'm on an assignment, tracking a Suvolte demon. Rare, lethal... nearly extinct, but not nearly enough. We've been tearing through every jungle from Paraguay up, taking out nests. As soon as we put one Suvolte down, a dozen take its place. They're breeders, Buffy. One turns into ten, ten becomes a hundred. This gets out of hand and there's a war with humans and humans are gonna lose." He said gravely.

"So which is it?"

"Huhh?"

"Well either it's almost extinct or it's going to overtake the population. Which is it? And you haven't said anything about why I called you."

Riley cleared his throat, "Well I mean they're rare until they start breeding and—"

She planted her hands on the desk in front of her, "Okay, so is this actually something you need my help with? It kinda sounds like you have everything under control."

"It would be nice to have you on this, Buffy. We had it tagged with a tracker. It was in town yesterday. We caught up to it just outside of town and were forced to neutralize it." He said.

"Great. So problem solved. Now we can talk about Spike getting de-chipped," she said simply.

"You don't get it, it came to the Hellmouth to spawn. We think it already laid its eggs somewhere. The plan was to track it. Let the demon take us to its nest."

Buffy blinked, annoyed, "So what's the problem?"

"I— look this is your town Buffy, pulling you in is a courtesy. I wouldn't ask just anyone to risk their life for me."

Buffy raised an eyebrow at him.

"I— that didn't come out right. Just hear me out. We think the eggs are gonna be sold on the black market. There are some foreign military powers that would love to have their own Suvolte. You could never train it, but drop it on an urban population…" he explained briskly.

"And blood and mayhem abound... So now we're gonna have a bunch of baby demons running around?"

Riley snorted derisively, "These things start to kill the minute they're hatched. And leave a real clear trail. As in villages with nothing in them but body parts."

"Any timetable on when they're gonna hatch?" She asked.

"Hatching's not the problem, not yet. Money's been exchanged. There's a dealer in town, calls himself The Doctor. I'm planning on checking out Willy's, and some crypts and a couple of spots in the tunnels that I know might attract the sort of thing we're dealing with. Are you going to help?"

"I don't know, are you going to help me? Not to get all third grade on you, but I asked first. Now you come into my place of work, without calling ahead, and start talking about black market demon eggs?" Buffy narrowed her eyes at him daring him to change the subject again.

Riley gave an impatient huff, "I've got a medical team enroute, they'll be setting up in the old med bay."

"Great, we're finally getting somewhere. Now if you'll excuse me," she reached forward without getting up, grabbing the stack of papers Ruth had brought in, "I really need to get this stuff done before someone gets put in the wrong grave. If your shake-down at Willy's or one of your other hunches pans out, call the house, either Will or my boyfriend should be home with Dawn. I should be done in about," she looked at her watch, "an hour and a half, maybe two."

Riley blinked, "I- hum, yeah. Great. Well… As you were then." He cleared his throat awkwardly, "I'll call you when I have something."

She shifted the papers in her hand, looking over them, "Great, maybe we can catch up later and you can ask me how things are on the Hellmouth and I can ask you about your nifty 'Lion King' scar."

"Yeah, sure. I have some, uh ... big stories to tell you. If we ever get half a second."

"Did you die?

"No."

"I'm gonna win."

Spike finished buckling his belt and sat on the side of the bed with his head cocked to the side watching Buffy shimmying into a pair of black jogging pants.

"I don't like it, pet."

"Jealous?"

"You'd have to try better than demon-egg hunting with the very personification of plain oatmeal to make me jealous. Especially since I'm the lucky fella that just got shagged good and proper," he waggled his eyebrows at her.

"What can I say, it turns out that I like coming home from work to find a sexy naked man in my bed." She grinned as she pulled on a fitted light gray top that highlighted her belly.

He watched her for a moment and sighed, "I'd just feel better if you'd let me come along for backup. If these things are as bad as the pillock says they are. I'm allowed to be a concerned father ain't I?"

Buffy smiled as she sat on the edge of the bed next to him, "I can still fight, I'm not exactly a weeble wobble yet. And that's also why you're going to be tailing me."

Spike raised an eyebrow, "Not exactly the same as being by your side," he gave a curt nod conceding the point, "can you at least promise me you'll be careful, this whole mysterious Doctor thing seems fishy to me."

"Yeah, I kinda feel like it's one of those things we would have heard about before now. Anyway, I'd better get going, Riley wants me to meet him outside of Restfield. Give me a head start, I know he's working with a partner but I don't know who it is."

"Right, like that's not fishy as hell," he bent down lacing up his boots.

"The fishiest."

The street light across the road from Restfeild illuminated the entrance as Buffy crossed the road. She had pulled on a black coat that did nothing to conceal her baby bump and Riley gaped at her as she drew near him.

"Buffy, you're pregnant!"

She looked down at herself in mock surprise, "Holy shit! Am I really? Wow, I guess that really explains a few things. Thanks Riley!"

Spike had to bite his tongue to keep a laugh from giving away his position behind a tree by the gate. Bloody imbecile…

He listened as Riley continued to stumble over his words a moment, "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Was I supposed to?" Buffy gestured for him to lead the way and they started walking through the familiar cemetery. "We haven't spoken since you flew off. You haven't asked about my mom or Dawn. My mom died by the way. My amazing boyfriend is helping me raise Dawn. I died saving the world and when Willow brought me back, I was pregnant. Good thing my boyfriend is excited about being a dad. How was your year?"

Laying it on a bit thick aren't you, Slayer? Spike thought as he kept out of sight but still within hearing distance.

Riley was stunned, "I— I ah— yeah, I guess you do win. I just got—"

"There you are, Ri!" A woman's voice called from ahead of them." She was dressed in the same black uniform as Riley and carried a gun with her.

"Married…" he finished a little lamely.

Buffy pursed her lips and set a hard gaze on him, "Big changes all around I see."

He cleared his throat, "Buffy, meet Sam. Sam, Buffy."

Sam gave her a genuine smile, extending her hand, "Pleasure."

"Ah yeah, totally."

"It's such an honor to meet the Slayer, I've heard so much about you!"

"Huhh, so hum… How long have you been married?" Buffy asked.

Riley took a few steps toward his wife, gazing at her fondly, "Four months almost."

Probably about the same time I found out I was pregnant… "Mazel tov. Any children?" She smirked, cupping her hands around her belly. "Well these eggs aren't going to find themselves."

Sam gave a sharp nod, "You're absolutely right. I've been checking some of the locations Ri wanted to hit. I located the eggs."

"Good work soldier," Riley said, smiling at his wife.

Sam led the way with Buffy and Riley following a few steps behind. Buffy caught the sense of a vampire nearby, hoping it was just Spike but adjusted her grip on her stake anyway.

Riley gave an apologetic little shrug, "Buffy, I meant to tell you. When the time was right. She caught up to us a hell of a lot faster than I would've guessed possible. She does that."

Spike rolled his eyes from where he was crouched behind a statue. This was getting tedious.

"So, you-you guys do this often, you know, the whole... husband-and-wife tag-team demon fighting thing?"

"Yeah, it's what brought us together. What about you and the baby's father?"

"Pretty much the same really."

"He ah— he lives with you?" Riley asked.

"Yeah, that's sort of new, but it's been really great. Willow and Tara are getting ready to move into their new place so we're going to be turning my bedroom into the babies' room."

"Wow, that's amazing…" he cleared his throat, "Are you going to tell me why you think Spike should have the implant removed?"

It's about damn time… Spike thought. They were only a few yards from the path that led to his crypt and Spike's suspicion of Riley was growing. He was busy contemplating and nearly missed Buffy's reply.

"Because he doesn't need it anymore. He's been helping me, he took care of Dawn when I was dead and has been working side by side with me. He's changed a lot. He's good."

"Good? Buffy, do you hear yourself? It's Spike, he's anything but 'good'. He's deadly, amoral, opportunistic. Or have you forgotten?"

"He's not amoral," she snapped waspishly as Sam turned heading straight for Spike's crypt. A rock dropped in the pit of her stomach as Sam stood inside the crypt's open door.

"They're in here, in the lower level, there's an open trap door in the floor with a ladder going down," Sam announced, clearly unaware that everyone there was familiar with the layout of the crypt.

I know I closed that… Buffy thought, growing even more suspicious and irritated.

Riley turned a stern look to Buffy, "Are you sure about that? I don't know what line he's fed you but the guy is evil. I have it on good authority that he's the Doctor."

Buffy crossed her arms over her chest glaring at him, "Spike didn't have anything to do with this and he sure as hell isn't the Doctor."

"No need to defend me, luv," Spike drawled as he came out into the open. "I'm fairly certain this wanker knows I'm not this bloody fictitious character, just as much as we do."

"Spike…" Riley glowered, "Fictitious? We'll see about that. Lead the way Sam."

Sam narrowed her eyes at her husband but nodded, "They're down here."

The four of them filed into the crypt, Spike bringing up the rear. He hesitated a moment before stepping in, he hadn't been inside since his ensoulment and it felt very strange for him somehow.

Buffy turned back toward him, "You alright?"

"M'fine—" he muttered before Riley gave a derisive grunt, cutting him off.

"He just knows he's guilty. Don't you, Doctor?"

Buffy held up a hand for silence, and strode over to the open entrance, pursing her lips thoughtfully. She threw Spike a serious look before descending the ladder. Riley followed her.

"See? I told you he was up to something and there's your proof!" He crowed, almost the moment his boots hit the ground. "There's no way I'm going to authorize the removal of his chip after this stunt."

Buffy stood in the nearly empty space. Empty except for the bed and a clutch of at least a dozen large grayish colored eggs. Anger boiled inside Buffy's mind, she rounded on Riley ready to scream at him but caught the determination on his face.

Riley yelled up the ladder, "We're gonna need more weapons down here, Sam! Spike screwed up, he didn't keep 'em frozen!"

"Shit!" Came Sam's voice from the top of the ladder.

"Sodding— I didn't have anything to do with this nonsense!" Spike, spat.

Sam came down the ladder halfway, handing her gun over to her husband.

"You better get outta here," Riley barked at Buffy as he stared at the eggs, aiming his gun at them.

Sam retreated up the ladder, "I'll get the C4 charges!" She shouted, running out the door past Spike.

Buffy made a move to follow her until one of the eggs started to burst open. A baby demon shot out, making a horrible screeching sound as the almost crab-like creature leaped.

"On second thought, stick around," Riley called as he tossed Buffy Sam's gun just as more baby demons started hatching out of the eggs. They both backed a few steps toward the ladder.

"Buffy! Get the hell out of there!" Spike's panicked voice came from above.

"Working on it, Honey!" She yelled as she used the butt of the gun to club a demon springing towards her. Buffy tossed the gun away looking around at the baby demons scurrying around.

"We have to pull out," Riley bellowed as he darted for the ladder.

Spike pulled Riley up, tossing him to the side to make way for Buffy. The act earned him only a slight firing from the chip and he recovered quickly, pulling himself back to help Buffy. When he didn't see her on the ladder Spike glared at Riley, his face changing. "You left her?!" He growled.

Riley started to scramble up as Spike grabbed at Riley's grenade belt, ripping it off of him.

Buffy appeared on the ladder and Spike rushed, still half blind with pain from the chip firing, to help her up. Buffy clutched at him as Spike pulled the pin on one of the grenades, dropping the entire belt down into the lower chamber and pulling her with him away from the hole.

"Get down!" Riley yelled needlessly as Buffy and Spike were already running for the door where Sam was returning from getting the explosives.

A fireball shot up through the hole and Spike pulled back from Buffy a few inches examining her for injuries, eyes wide and back to their usual clear blue. He cupped her jaw in one hand and her belly in the other, "God you gave me a fright, you daft girl." He kissed her soundly. "Are you sure you're alright? Babies okay?"

Buffy paused a moment catching her breath, "I think we're all good. They feel like they're trying to join in on the fight."

Spike grinned, "They come by that honestly enough."

Buffy returned the grin and then detached herself from Spike, her face hardening as she rounded onto Riley. "You! You, gun happy, misogynistic, lying, asshole!" She yelled, punching Riley in the face.

Riley clutched at his nose as blood started flowing freely. "What the hell was that for? He's the one who—"

Buffy was filled with rage, "Don't you start! I've known this entire time Spike didn't do this! He hasn't left my house without me for the past month! Ever since he ASKED Willow and Tara to restore his soul! Permanently! Dawn and I have been cleaning out his crypt. I guess you were too busy framing him to bother finding out if he still lived here. This is why I want the chip out! I told you he doesn't need it!"

"He— he's—" Riley stammered as Sam rushed to his side but stopped short, glaring at him.

"Yes, he's my boyfriend, the father of our babies, and he has a soul. He got it for the good of our family," Buffy explained coolly.

"I'm one of the good guys. Didn't see that one coming, did ya Soldier-boy?" Spike added, wrapping an arm around Buffy and placing a hand on her belly like he was posing for a photo. "Not only did I get the girl, I'm also going to be a daddy. Now if you would be a good little automaton and get this sodding thing outta my skull."

Buffy shifted her stance, glaring angrily at Riley and ready to hit him several more times, "It's why I called after all."

"You heard them, Finn, make the call. Make sure they know they'll be reporting to me. That's a direct order," Sam said acidly, glaring at Riley. "Then, I think we need to have a nice long talk."

"Yes, Ma'am," Riley said automatically in military fashion.

Buffy raised her eyebrows, "She's your boss?"

Sam turned to Buffy, "You bet I am. This is one infraction that's definitely not going to slide. I'll deal with it personally," she finished with another hard glare in his direction.

"I hope you know that had I known what he was doing, I wouldn't have let any of this happen," Sam said genuinely as they stood side-by-side in an observation room above the operating theater, where a medical team was currently working on Spike.

Buffy hadn't seen Riley since they left the crypt, and Sam had taken over to make sure things were handled in a safe, humane, and professional fashion. Buffy glanced at Sam without completely turning her head and gave a little nod. "Yeah I kind of got that. What are you gonna do?"

"Personally, or professionally?" Sam replied.

"Both," Buffy shrugged.

"Professionally I don't have a choice. I have to take disciplinary action against him and he knows it," she paused with a sigh. "Personally, I know the two of them have a history. Riley told me Spike had a thing for you before you guys broke-up."

"Did he also tell you how he stabbed Spike in the heart with a plastic stake? That was after Spike showed me that Riley was cheating on me in a vampire suck house. Riley did that knowing Spike couldn't defend himself against him because of the chip."

Sam went pale, "What?"

"And stupid me, I almost forgave him for it. I was running towards that damn helicopter screaming my head off. Sort of thankful he didn't look down now," Buffy said, with a hand on her abdomen, "I didn't find out about the stake until a lot later."

Sam swallowed painfully, "Your side of the story is a bit different than his."

Buffy snorted, "Oh, let me guess. I didn't need him enough, right? My mom was sick and I wasn't a helpless damsel in his arms so it was my fault."

"It looks like I have some thinking to do."

A/N: A big thanks to my Beta Geliot99 you rock!