| Predicate By Kuzibah |
| Disclaimer: None of the characters are mine. They belong to Joss Whedon, Mutant Enemy, and Evil Fox. No copyright infringement is intended or implied. Rated R for language. Author's Note: Third in the series. The first part is "Future Imperfect" and the second part is �Past Tense.� It's four years later, Spike has moved in with Angel to work on his� umm�. You know, the �R� word. All else is made apparent in the course of the story. Everything in italics is a flashback. Incidentally, I am completely spoiler-free for Tuesday ("Intervention"), so if this contradicts in any way, I apologize. Archive- Please email request. Feedback- Absolutely. ******************* Predicate- 2.a. to assert to be a quality, attribute, or property. --- Webster�s New Collegiate Dictionary �Mr. Morton is the subject of the sentence, and what the predicate says, he does.�---Schoolhouse Rock �This is a little affected, don�t you think?� --- Kuzibah�s husband Angel entered the lobby of the Hyperion Hotel and felt his unbeating heart lift at the scene before him. Wesley sat calmly reading the paper, for once uninterested in Angel�s childe, Spike, who was sitting, almost reclining, actually, on the counter as he flirted with their part-time office assistant, Esperanza. That Wesley had gone from hatred and intense mistrust where Spike was concerned to a sort of indifferent tolerance in only two weeks was a great relief to Angel, although he and the ex-Watcher engaged in a portion of the ongoing �Spike discussion� at least twice a day. Wesley still saw the younger vampire as nothing more than a remorseless killer, but he was willing to admit that Spike was harmless, for now. Capable of good was another story, of course, but Angel was willing to take baby steps. Esperanza gave a light laugh as Spike whispered something to her in Spanish. The blond had nicknamed the girl �Hopey� within two minutes of his introduction to her, a joke only he seemed to get, but she liked it, and now Gunn and most of his boys called her that, as well. Wesley stubbornly insisted on �Esperanza.� Give it time, Angel reminded himself. �Any calls?� he asked. Hopey looked up, a little startled by his presence. �Oh, no, none,� she said. �Very quiet all day.� �Is Spike bothering you?� Angel teased. �I�m sure I could find something for him to do.� Hopey blushed and stared at her lap. �No, not at all,� she said. �Yeah, shove off, mate,� Spike said. �I�m working this side of the bar.� Furiously embarrassed now, Hopey grabbed a stack of papers and retreated to the filing cabinet. �See there,� Spike said to Angel, �you scared her off.� Angel, still teasing, turned to Hopey. �You know, as Spike�s Sire,� he said, �I must ask what your intentions are.� Hopey drew herself up, a little angry at the jokes at her expense. �I can assure you,� she said, �they are entirely professional.� �Spike, what is the matter with you? Did your mother drop you on your head? Can you not see how insane you are being?� �Of course I see it, Slayer. Do you think I like this? Do you think I want to feel this way?� �I�m not interested in your feelings.� �Just hear me out. I�ve accepted you�ll never feel the same way about me I feel about you. But I can�t stand being your enemy, either.� �Get to the point, Spike.� �I want a truce. I mean, as long as we�re both fighting monsters, we might as well fight the same ones. You know. Allies.� �A professional relationship?� �Completely professional.� Angel found Spike in his study, going systematically through his personal desk. �Spike, what are you..?� �Where is she?� Spike demanded. �You had pictures. I remember. Even at the factory you kept them.� Understanding dawned. �Sit down,� Angel said, and Spike collapsed into one of the mismatched easy chairs. �I�m sorry,� Spike said. �I keep thinking it will stop, and then�� �It never stops,� Angel said, closing the desk drawers and crossing to the cluttered bookshelves. He lifted down a sturdy metal lock-box, and sat in the chair beside Spike. He undid the lock before placing the box in the younger vampire�s lap. Spike opened the box carefully, reverently, and lifted out the small stack of photos on top. Some were burned on the edges, some had been crumpled or torn and repaired. Two were in small frames. Buffy standing on the beach. Buffy ice-skating. Buffy�s college graduation portrait, with her mortar-board perched jauntily atop a stylish French twist. Buffy and Angel at some kind of formal party, the Slayer in an elegant gown, his Sire jammed into a tuxedo. Spike had to smile at that one. A few others, some candid shots, some with her friends. Then, in the box below, a stack of drawings and sketches. Spike recognized Angel�s style at once, the clean, simple lines romanticizing the subject; some portraits, a few figures. At one time, Spike had a few of Angel�s drawings he had kept for himself, but they were long gone now. He lifted out the last of the Buffy pictures only to spot a few photos of Cordelia and, oddly, a videotape. He returned his attention to the drawings. He slipped one out of the stack and examined it more carefully. Unlike the others, Buffy was in profile here, her fingers to her lips, her expression pensive. �I drew that the last time I was in Sunnydale,� Angel said softly. �Before *they* came,� Spike whispered. �You okay, Slayer? You�ve been quiet.� �I� sit down here with me.� ��Okay.� �This is� really bad, Spike.� �We�ll get them, Buffy.� �I don�t know that. I�m� I�m afraid they may be too much for me.� �Listen, Slayer, I�ve been around almost a hundred and fifty years, and there have been a lot of things tried to kill me. You�re the best of all of them, Buffy. If I were those demons, I�d be pissing myself.� �You really think so?� �I wouldn�t lie to you, Buffy.� ��Thanks.� �Anytime.� ��What are you doing, Spike?� �I�m trying to put a comforting arm around you. Just go with it, Slayer.� �Spike. I want you to promise me something. If, when this is over, I�m�� �You�ll be alive.� �But if I�m not. Don�t give up on yourself, Spike. You *are* changing, I can see that. But it shouldn�t be for me, do you understand? You should do good for its own sake.� �You�re not going to die, Buffy.� �Spike, tell me you understand. Promise me.� �Alright. I promise.� �Could I�� Spike hesitated, unsure how to continue. �Could I� have this one? Just to keep in my room. I don�t have any pictures of her anymore.� Angel took the picture back for a moment, studying it. �If you don�t want to�� �No,� Angel said. �It�s not that.� There was a long silence and Angel handed the picture back to Spike. �Did she know, do you think?� �Know what?� �Did she see it coming?� �Let me in, Watcher, for Christ�s sake.� �Oh my God. Is it..?� �It�s Buffy. I don�t know how long� you can do that CPR thing I saw on the telly�� �Give her to me.� �Giles� she doesn�t have a face.� �Red! You can do a spell. A resurrection�� �Spike, I don�t think there�s anything�� �Invite me in, Rupert.� �Willow, hand me the quilt from the couch.� �Oh, Giles, she�s�� �You can do something. Call 911� get your spell books� Invite me in! What are..? Don�t cover her. Don�t. She can�t die. Slayer! Fight this!� �Spike. I�m sorry.� No� I told her.� �She knew.� Angel didn�t answer that, only covered his eyes with his hand. Spike touched the portrait with his fingertips, tears coming into his eyes. �What made her different, do you think? Both of us, loving her, and not able to be with her.� A tear made its way down Angel�s cheek at that. �I could have been,� he said. Spike looked up, the question in his eyes. �We fought a Mohra demon together. Its blood restored me to life. We had a single day together.� �What?� Spike was astonished. �When did this happen? How did you become a vampire again?� �I went to the oracles� one of my connections to the Powers. When I knew we would both die if I didn�t have my strength and immortality. They turned back time, erased the day. I was the only one who remembered.� �God, I can�t believe you were so stupid,� Spike muttered. �I had a duty,� Angel said. �And then, right after that, Doyle died. Kind of put the whole thing into perspective.� �Always the bloody martyr,� Spike said. �You don�t understand,� Angel said. �I understand the two of you had the only thing you ever wanted,� Spike said angrily. �I can�� He broke off, his voice shaking with grief. �She must have been so happy,� he went on. �But you had your damned mission.� �What we wanted would have killed her all the sooner,� Angel snapped. �Don�t you get it? She had to be the slayer. I have to be what I am. And if you want to do right by her, as you claim, you�re going to make some hard choices, too.� Spike�s mouth snapped shut at that, as he took in the import of Angel�s words. �You can�t always get what you want,� Angel said. �Or so the poet says,� Spike answered. Willow gestured at the viewing portal she had opened. �Buffy actually killed most of them,� she said, �but there are still enough to complete the ritual that will re-new the Hellmouth.� �How do we kill them, then,� Xander asked, his voice hard and emotionless. �Unfortunately,� Giles explained, �they�re practically invulnerable. Their only weak spot is their breastbone, which, if struck with sufficient force, will shatter, killing them.� �So what do we need,� Xander pressed. �Bring on the sledgehammers.� �It�s not that simple,� Giles said. �We simply aren�t strong enough to propel the blow necessary, and with the accuracy needed�� �I�ll do it,� Spike said from the shadows of Giles�s staircase. �Y-you will?� the Watcher said with disbelief. �Alone?� Willow said. �You lot figure out the best way,� Spike told them, his voice thick, �and then just point me where I need to go.� Spike descended the Hyperion�s main staircase to re-join Angel and Wesley in the lobby. �Where�s Hopey?� he asked, glancing around. �She�s gone for the day,� Angel said. �Why?� �I wanted to ask her to get me some of those cheese crisps,� Spike said. �I can ask her tomorrow, I suppose.� �Spike,� Angel said, �why don�t you just go yourself. There�s a 24-hour grocery about six blocks from here. If you need money�� Spike glanced in Wesley�s direction. �No, it�s not that�� Just then Gunn and a half-dozen of his boys, two leading dogs, burst through the hotel�s front door. Two were supporting the seer by his arms. �Vision,� one announced. �A big one.� Wesley guided them to a couch. �What was it?� he asked gently. �Giant spiders,� Gunn said. �In the caves at Griffith Park.� �I know where that is,� Angel said. �How big are they?� Wesley pressed. �Are they reddish, with sort of elongated pear-shaped eyes?� Gunn looked at Wesley with surprise. �Yeah,� he said. �Maybe the size of Volkswagens.� �Yiggcoth demons,� Wesley said. �Despite their appearance, highly sophisticated and intelligent. Not always necessarily violent, either. We should proceed cautiously.� �Great,� Angel said, then looked around the lobby. �Where�d Spike go?� Wesley rolled his eyes, but before he could comment, Angel added, �he speaks about a dozen demon languages, if we need to negotiate.� �He does?� Wesley was incredulous. Angel turned to his office door, now closed. One of the dogs was scratching along the bottom, snarling and whining. As Angel approached it, it turned and gave a low, menacing growl. The vampire answered with a growl of his own. �Luis,� Gunn said sharply. �Get your animal under control.� The boy gave a command in Spanish and gave a quick jerk on the leash. The dog retreated with a yelp. �Get the car,� Angel ordered, �I�ll round up Spike.� The group withdrew and Angel cautiously entered the dark office. In the far corner Spike stood with his fists and fangs ready, his eyes glowing yellow. �Spike?� Angel said softly. �Don�t let them in,� Spike told him, his voice rough and low. �It�s okay, Spike,� Angel said. �They�re friends of Gunn�s. They won�t hurt you.� Now Spike�s voice was a barely audible hiss. �The dogs, Angelus.� �The..?� �I can�t defend myself,� Spike said. �They�ll rip me apart.� Angel felt his stomach do a slow twist. Spike couldn�t even fight animals? What in Hell were those damned scientists trying to do? Suppressing the urge to protect his childe by ripping the dogs� heads off, Angel spoke calmly and slowly. �There are Yiggcoth demons,� he said. �We might need you to talk to them. Can you help us?� Spike gave a visible shudder. �I can�t speak it,� he said, �mainly because you need three mouths. But I understand it a bit, and the ones I�ve met generally understand whatever the local dialect is. Vicious sons of bitches, though.� �We have to go now,� Angel said as soothingly as he could, and Spike actually took a step back. Angel�s anger flared again. In the two weeks since he�d come to them, Spike had thrown himself into the fray against various demons without the least hesitation. Now he cowered in the dark from street mongrels. What had those bastards done to him? �I�ll send the dogs away,� Angel told him. �Can you meet us out front?� With effort, Spike forced his face to return to its human appearance and nodded. Angel nodded back and exited the office. Spike lay across the fresh grave, too new even for a gravestone. He wondered if it had been Dawn�s decision to bury Buffy so close to his crypt. He�d have to find out and thank the nibblet, now a young woman in college, herself. The cold ground against his stomach made the injuries still healing there ache, but he didn�t care. Short of burrowing into the soft earth, this was as close as he could get to her now. �The Hellmouth�s closed, Slayer,� he said. �I took out every last one of those bastards. It�s gone.� He flexed the remaining fingers on his right hand, still mildly surprised at the new shape of his fist. �You�d have been proud of me. At least, I hope you would have been. They never even touched the others. Took a couple bites out of me, but Rupert and the witches put me back together pretty good.� He paused, as though listening. �I don�t know, Buffy. All the creepy-crawlies are moving on out of town now that it doesn�t have that something special. I expect I might do the same. Spend some time with the family.� Another pause, then a chuckle. �Yeah, I wouldn�t have believed it, either.� Spike squeezed his eyes shut as tears began to fall onto the dirt. �I�ll always miss you, Slayer. You�ll never know how much.� Wesley swung his flashlight back and forth, trying to peer through the darkness. About twenty feet ahead, Angel and Spike moved assuredly over the uneven rock, stopping or coming back every few minutes to see that Gunn and Wesley were still with them. �How much further,� Spike asked the young seer. �About 75 yards,� Gunn answered, �then the passage opens up. I saw ten or twelve, but there might be more. Lots of giant webs and things wrapped up. Cocoons.� They started forward again, the flashlight beam only barely cutting through the gloom, when Wesley and Gunn were bumped by soft, furry bodies moving quickly past them in the passage. The two men recoiled. Ahead of them they heard Spike gagging with disgust. �Oh, dear God,� Wesley exclaimed. �Was that�� �Four little ones,� Angel said. �We must be getting close.� �They know we�re here. We should light the lantern,� Wesley said, and Spike struck his Zippo, igniting the Coleman lantern Gunn carried. They saw the opening a few yards away, and beyond, pairs of pear-shaped eyes reflected the flame. Steeling their nerve, the four approached the entrance to the Yiggcoth�s chamber. One of the demons, a creature the size of a pony balanced on eight broomstick-thin legs, stepped into their path. It let out a series of hisses and clicks, its three mouths moving rapidly. Spike moved to stand behind and slightly to the right of Angel. �It�s thanking us for coming here,� he translated. �They need our assistance?� Angel was surprised. �No, Sire,� Spike explained. �I think it�s sort of a threat.� Angel nodded. �Let us pass,� he said. More hisses, and Spike said, �it wants you to identify which of us is your link.� �My link?� A second, larger Yiggcoth joined the first and began chattering itself. �This one�s in charge,� Spike explained, �but it doesn�t understand English. It needs the smaller one to translate.� More hisses. �This one just wants us to go.� The smaller demon started again, and the two creatures appeared to be having a spirited discussion, waving their front legs in the air. Suddenly Spike inhaled sharply and moved closer to Angel�s ear. �Angelus,� he said, so low his mouth barely moved. �Don�t react to what I�m saying. I don�t think they�ve realized they let this slip. �Your girl is in that chamber.� �Who..?� �The cheerleader, Sire. They�re the ones that grabbed her.� Spike could hear the low growl starting in Angel�s chest. �Angelus, listen. She�s still alive.� Angel turned his eyes to his childe, betraying his disbelief. �I�m betting they cocooned her,� Spike opined. �We have to get in there. She�s the only one who�ll be alive. We should be able to tell which one by scent.� �We demand an audience with your Chief,� Angel shouted. �Queen,� Wesley corrected. �Yes, Queen,� Angel said. After a few more seconds of hissing, the Yiggcoths started moving. �They want us to follow them,� Spike said. The vampires and humans followed the demons into a large, vaulted chamber, and Angel�s heart sank. It was nearly filled with thick webs and at least a hundred human-sized cocoons. Human and animal bones littered the floor, and some of the cocoons were half-rotten, with the decomposing corpses visible inside. �Where is your Queen,� Angel demanded, gesturing and striding around the chamber, trying to determine which cocoon held Cordelia. He continued shouting and posturing while the demons watched with growing agitation. Spike retreated back to join Wes and Gunn. �What is he doing?� Wesley hissed. �Cordelia,� Spike whispered. �She�s wrapped in one of these silk body-bags.� A light went on over Gunn�s head. �My vision,� he said, then turned and pointed to a cocoon suspended about thirty feet up in the web. �It�s that one!� he shouted. Spike slapped his forehead in exasperation just as the nest of demons erupted. Angel, Wesley, and Gunn unsheathed their weapons as the Yiggcoths attacked, and Spike scrambled up into the webbing. Below him he heard the spider demons squealing and hissing, but the blond vampire kept going, counting himself lucky they were in the actual lair, where the webs weren�t sticky. He reached the cocoon Gunn had identified; it seemed intact. �I hope you�re okay in there,� he said, pulling his short sword from the scabbard alongside his thigh and carefully cutting loose the webs securing the cocoon. He had to do this carefully, he thought, so he could keep it from falling. On the other hand, there seemed to be dense, sheet-like webs throughout the chamber. Perhaps he could ease the cocoon onto one and slowly guide it to the floor. Spike�s musings were cut short when two Yiggcoths attacked from above. The vampire slashed with his sword, striking one in the underbelly. It scuttled backwards, its legs contracting as its thick, yellowish blood ran out in a murderous flood. The second advanced more cautiously, striking out with its forelegs instead of giving Spike a clear shot at its body. �Sorry, sweetheart,� he muttered to the cocoon, before wrapping one arm around it and cutting it loose. Vampire and cocoon fell together, their descent somewhat cushioned by the webs stretched beneath them. The final web gave out ten feet from the ground, and Spike hit the floor back first, the cocoon right on top of him. He heard Angel�s voice shout his name, and the weight of the cocoon was lifted from him. Concerned brown eyes looked into his. �Can you move?� Angel said. Spike struggled to his feet. �Nothing too seriously broken, I don�t think.� Shifting the cocoon onto one shoulder, the older vampire looped his other arm around Spike�s waist, supporting him. �Let�s go,� Angel said. �Torch these bastards,� Gunn shouted, heaving the lantern into the largest mass of webs. The material was surprisingly flammable, and yellow flames exploded in the confined area, chasing the four, and their burden, into the narrow escape passage. A few demons followed, but the necessity of attacking single file allowed them to be picked off quickly. Getting back to the surface was slow-going, as they were now in total darkness, except for the occasional flare of Spike�s lighter. Angel had wanted to unwrap Cordelia as soon as they were away from the Yiggcoth nest, but Wesley had convinced him she was safer bound up. At last they emerged into the relatively dazzling brightness of Griffith Park at night. Angel laid the cocoon down in the grass, and he and Spike tore at the tough demon-silk with claws and fangs. It pulled away from Cordelia�s face, almost colorless after so many months, and she gasped in a lungful of air. �Thank God,� Wesley said, dropping to his knees beside Angel. �Cordelia,� Angel said, brushing the backs of his fingers against her cheek. She took another shuddering breath, and her eyelids fluttered open. �Angel?� she whispered. �I can�t see you.� �It�s me,� he affirmed, shifting back to his human appearance even as he continued to pull the confining silk from her body. �They� they came in�� �Shh. Don�t try to talk,� Angel said gently, then to Wesley,� we should get her to a hospital.� �Yes, of course,� Wesley agreed, getting back to his feet. �I�ll get the car.� �Sire,� Spike said softly, and Angel looked down to see he was holding the foot of the cocoon. �I think you can just lift her out.� Angel did, swinging the dark-haired girl up into his arms. �She�s so thin,� he said, almost to himself. �Here�s the car,� Gunn said. They placed Cordy across the back seat, her head cushioned in Angel�s lap. Spike, strangely, crouched down on the floor beside her. Gunn climbed into the passenger side without comment. Cordelia was admitted into intensive care to be treated for dehydration, but appeared to be uninjured, otherwise. The mood among her friends in the waiting room was buoyant. Not long before dawn, Angel and Spike headed back to the hotel. Wesley said he would join them there once they�d received word Cordelia�s condition had been upgraded. Angel was laughing with joyful disbelief as they entered the Hyperion�s lobby. �I can�t believe it,� he repeated for what seemed like the hundredth time. �Come up to my apartment, my childe, and drink a toast with me.� Spike beamed proudly. �I�d be honored, Sire,� he said. �But why don�t you come to my rooms, seeing as I�ll have to vacate them soon.� Angel laughed again. �That�s right,� he said. �Don�t worry, we�ll pick new rooms for you. Then you can do them up however you want.� Many toasts were drunk in Cordelia�s honor, and both vampires dropped into happy, exhausted sleep right where they sat. It was early afternoon when Angel awoke to the sound of the door being opened. �Wesley,� he said, pushing himself up in the overstuffed chair. �Sorry to wake you,� the ex-Watcher said quietly. �It�s okay,� Angel said. �How is Cordelia doing?� �Much better,� Wesley said. �She�s awake and eating. The loss of eyesight appears to have been only temporary. She�s still weak, but improving. We� haven�t told her how long she was missing. Or that she was presumed dead.� �Or that you�d moved into her apartment?� Angel said with a grin. Wesley blushed slightly. �Well, we can discuss all that when she�s stronger.� Spike rolled over and sat up from where he lay on the couch, watching through half-closed eyes. �I should thank you, as well,� Wesley told him. �See,� Spike said, smiling. �You had me wrong the whole time.� Wesley didn�t answer, only shifted uncomfortably, and the room grew suddenly tense. Spike�s smile turned to a frown. �I�m sorry,� Wesley said quietly. �I am grateful to you for saving Cordelia, but� I am not convinced it is indicative of a change in your nature.� �Wesley,� Angel said gently, �I know things have been rough between you, but�� �I regret causing you concern, Angel,� Wesley said. �But I can�t go against basic reason.� �What the Hell is that supposed to mean?� Spike demanded. All diplomatic tact left Wesley�s tone. �You are still without a soul, correct?� Spike snorted. �Of course.� �And soulless creatures are incapable of truly selfless acts,� Wesley went on. Spike scowled. �We can love.� �I�m sure it seems so to you�� �Now comes the condescension,� Spike said. �I should have expected�� �Stop it!� Angel shouted. �You�re in a unique position to comment on this,� Wesley said quickly. �I�ve often heard you say you weren�t capable of love without your soul.� �That�s not true,� Spike protested. �Spike,� Angel said, raising his hand to quiet his childe�s outburst. There was a moment of thoughtful silence before Angel admitted, �it�s true. Without my soul I wasn�t capable of love.� �No,� Spike said, his voice filled with pain. �You can�t tell me what you felt for� Darla� and us, wasn�t love.� �I�m sorry, Spike,� Angel said. �But I�m different than you,� Spike insisted. �I always was. You called it weakness, but maybe it�s a bit of humanity left in me�� His voice trailed off. �If that is the case,� Wesley said, �then that makes you worse than Angelus ever was.� Spike looked up, confused. �Why..?� �Because if you truly can choose to do good,� Wesley said, �that means for over a century you *chose* to be a brutal killer.� Angel�s eyes widened in understanding even as Spike�s clouded with confusion. �I didn�t�� the younger vampire began, then stopped, unable to counter the argument. �I�m sorry,� Wesley said again. �I truly am grateful to you for saving Cordelia, but I couldn�t hold back any longer.� He glanced back and forth between the two vampires, both of whom were too overwhelmed to speak. �I�ll see you in a few hours, then,� Wesley said, leaving them alone. �Sire,� Spike said when he had gone. �You understand, don�t you�� Angel�s face betrayed no emotion as he spoke. �Tell me, Spike, which is it?� The younger vampire shook his head. �I� I don�t know,� he said. There was another long moment, as Angel studied his childe in silence. �You can stay here,� He said at last, and Spike�s eyes narrowed with hurt. �I�ll continue to help you as long as you continue to demonstrate you want to change.� Spike bit down on his lower lip, anxious at Angel�s words. The older vampire took a deep breath, then went on. �But if you hurt any of them, I will kill you.� Spike lowered his head. �I can�t,� he said. �Wesley was right,� Angel said. �I do remember. All these years I can�t help but remember. So I�m not impressed that you can�t hurt people. I need to know that you wouldn�t.� Spike didn�t raise his head, nor did he answer. �Get some sleep,� Angel said. �We�ll work this out later.� And he left Spike alone. ~fin~ Go to part 4 - Indefinite Article Main Menu ~ Return to Graffiti Series Menu |