Broken Circles

By Larilyn

Larilyn1@hotmail.com

www.geocities.com/larilyn1975

Rating: R

Disclaimer: Buffy and co belong to Joss. "Didn’t Know" belongs to Scarlet’s Web & Jersey Boy Music. "Broken Circles" written and performed by Aruna. No copyright infringement intended.

Summary: What if Angel had never been cursed with a soul? How would that change Spike?

This takes place during the fifth season of B:tVS around Fool For Love. Things in Sunnydale are very different without Angel & Spike’s interference. Answer to a challenge on Buffy/Spike diaries.

"Don't you get tired of fights you know you're gonna win?"

Spike to Angelus, Fool for Love

Chapter Two

"Hi ya."

Spike was startled by the intruder in his crypt. He double checked to make sure he had the right place by stepping out and examining the entrance again.

"Oh don’t worry, you’ve got the right place. I’m here to see you."

Spike scowled at his visitor and asked, "Who the hell are you?"

"Me?" Whistler asked, "I’m your Jeminy Cricket."

"My what?" Spike asked, annoyed.

"You know Pinnochio? Wants to be a real live boy? You really need to bone up on your pop culture references."

Spike leaned into the man and growled, "I’m tired, and hungry, and more than a little grumpy, so if I were you, I’d wisen up and get the hell out of my crypt, before I eat you."

"You won’t kill me. Its not your style."

"I’m a vampire, its exactly my style." But Spike backed away from the strange little man, plopped down on the cement tomb and lit up a cigarette. "Whaddya want?"

"Its about the Slayer. She’s going to need your help."

Spike scoffed, "Again…" Spike thumped his chest, "Vampire. I don’t make a habit of helping Slayers."

"Really?" Whistler laughed. "Anastasia would beg to differ. And Nikki."

At the mention of her name, Spike grew despondent. He growled, "I killed Nikki."

"You did what you had to." Whistler soothed.

Spike turned his back to the poorly dressed man. "Get out. Get out before I break your bloody neck."

"I’ll be around, kid. Remember what I said about the Slayer. She’s gonna need you."

Spike vamped out and bellowed, "Out!"

***

Darla stood dramatically in the middle of the mansion’s living room when Angelus came home. "Darling, did you have a good night?"

Angelus grabbed his mate and fiercely kissed her, "I missed you. You have a good time exploring?"

"Oh yes." She seductively whispered in his ear, "I have something for you."

"I’ll bet you do." Angelus reached under Darla’s shirt.

She giggled and twisted away from him. "Information, my boy. I did some asking around about your little Slayer."

Angelus urged her to go on with a look.

"She’s tough. But then every vamp has said that about every Slayer." She drew out Angelus’s anticipation. "Her boy toy…."

"Yes?"

"Has a thing for two bit vampire whores. Want the address?"

Angelus grabbed Darla and spun her around. They both giggled with glee.

***

"Ah. William the Bloody. Also known as Spike. Got his nickname by torturing his first victims with railroad spikes." Buffy half listened to Giles while she watched his wife tend to their small patio garden.

"That’s icky," Willow commented.

"Oh my. It seems he’s killed two Slayers. One in China during the Boxer rebellion. And another in New York."

Interested, Buffy took the book Giles was reading away from him and began to study it herself.

"What about Angel?" Willow asked, so Buffy wouldn’t have to.

"Angelus." Giles perused the second book before him. He snapped it shut and proclaimed. "Well he’s rather, um, unpleasant."

Buffy was mesmerized by the text before her. "It says here that ‘little is known about William the Bloody’s activities after the early 1900’s. Although it should be noted that he was known to be in California during the Zodiac killings, and in New York during the summer that the city was hunted by the Son of Sam.’ Giles?"

Giles took the book from Buffy and glanced over it himself. "I suppose one could infer that Spike was somehow involved…"

"But," Tara piped up, "Wouldn’t that mean that Angel was there at the same time? You said they traveled together."

"Yes," Giles responded, "I’m afraid we’re no closer to solving our little mystery. However, I do have some information from the Council about our friend Glory…"

"Oh," Willow chirped, "Speaking of evil hell bitches…. I got a letter from Xander."

"Not only have I been interrupted, I’m incredibly confused as well."

"Duh. Cordelia. Evil hell bitch."

"Oh yes. Thank you Willow." Giles absently wiped his glasses. "I get it."

Buffy asked, "So what’s the scoop?"

"Xander met Michelle Pfieffer at the Academy Awards. He’s building her an armoire."

"Must be nice to be married to a celebrity." Tara commented.

"Hooray for Hollywood." Giles quipped. "Can we get back to Glory, please? Buffy have you considered telling…"

"No." Buffy asserted. "My family knows nothing. I’m keeping it that way. If I had it my way, Dawnie wouldn’t even know that I’m the Slayer."

"Its just that Dawn and your Mother may be better equipped to…"

"Giles! The answer is no. Discussion over."

***

"Patrolling?" Dawn asked her sister, loudly.

"Shhh. Mom will hear you." Buffy hissed. "No I’m not patrolling. I’m supposed to meet Riley at the Bronze."

"To make up for last night, huh?"

"And you, little sister, are going to stay in."

"Buffy…" Dawn whined.

"I mean it, Dawn."

Dawn crossed her arms over her chest. "You’re not the boss of me."

"Please. For me."

***

Buffy was nursing her second beer at the Bronze’s bar. She glanced at her watch and sighed. Riley was over an hour late. The blonde sitting next to her asked, "Stood up?"

"Looks like it." Buffy sighed.

She smiled at the girl sitting next to her who nodded, "Me too. Men suck, huh?"

Buffy conceded, "Sometimes."

The girl next to her started on a tirade, "Sometimes? I’ll tell you about sometimes. Sometimes I wish that every man on this planet would shrivel up and die."

"You know what I wish…?"

The blonde’s interest was piqued.

"I wish I could just meet ‘the one’. You know? That one true love that I was meant to be with."

Maybe it was Buffy’s imagination. Maybe it was the beer. But Buffy could’ve sworn that the pretty girl next to her turned into a monster when she said, "Done." But then her face was suddenly back to normal. The girl shrugged and said to Buffy with a pat on the arm, "You must’ve already met him."

Buffy watched in confusion as the girl walked away.

A low voice rumbled behind her, "It just doesn’t seem right."

Angel.

"What’s that?" Buffy asked without turning.

His strong arm reached toward her beer and pushed it away from her. "The most beautiful girl in the world. And she looks so sad."

Buffy snorted nervously. The group on stage began to play a unearthly melody. The vampire’s breath, however unnecessary, was on her neck when he asked, "How about a dance?"

She rose and allowed Angel to take her in his arms. Inwardly, she again blamed the beer.

In a moment, what was given was now taken back

At the old dilapidated mansion, Spike climbed in Drusilla’s window.

"My Spike." She breathed.

"Shhh," he scolded, not wanting to attract Darla’s attention. Spike wrapped his arm around Dru’s tiny waist and forcefully pulled her toward him. "Hello, luv," he growled as he pressed his lips to her cold ruby red mouth.

She tilted her head back, allowing him access to her neck. As he nibbled and kissed, he lowered her to her bed.

Spike teased his fingers down her body, all the way down to her ankles. He slid his hands under her dress and eased it up, exposing her milky white thighs.

He slid his fingers into the elastic of her black lace panties and dragged them down.

When his lips again met hers, Dru suddenly hurled him across the room.

With venom, she spat, "You taste like ashes!"

"Dru…" he sputtered, "I don’t know what…"

"You aren’t going to kill her. You aren’t even going to try!"

Spike climbed back out the window, stung. "What the hell do you want from me Dru?"

"Kill her."

He spun on his heel and muttered, "I can’t do this anymore."

She screamed to his back as he walked away, "I feel her! Inside you! Burning you!"

In an old abandoned building across town, Riley Finn lay intoxicated by the feelings this vampire was giving him.

He could feel his pulse. The blood racing in his ears.

It was hours before he remembered, "Buffy."

"Why are you doing this to me?" Buffy whispered to the man dancing with her.

"What do you mean?" Angel whispered back.

As if a fog was lifted, Buffy stepped out of his embrace.

"This is wrong. I think you should go."

Angel handed her a slip of paper with an address on it, "I think you need to check this out." Then he disappeared into the crowd.

As her senses came back to her, Buffy was able to see Riley come through the throng of dancers.

"Buffy I’m so sorry."

She looked him over. This was the man she loved? This was the one true love?

"No." she said simply. "I don’t want to hear it."

"Buffy…"

"Go home Riley."

He didn’t even put up a fight. He just shrugged and left her standing there. Alone.

Buffy ordered another beer. She jumped when a slurred, accented voice commented dryly from a nearby bar stool, "Oh Goody, its the Slayer."

Buffy sat down at the stool next to his, "I’m pleased as punch to see you too, Spike."

He smiled at his nickname. "Did your research then? Oi have a drink." He signaled the bartender to bring him another.

Buffy downed it in one gulp. "Blech! What is this crap?"

"What did Angelus have to say?" he asked in a mocking tone

Buffy laughed and slurped down another drink. "Ugh. I think he wants to get into my pants."

"I think he wants to get into your neck." Spike chomped his teeth down several times for effect.

"I hardly know you and I already way dislike you."

"Feelings mutual Slayer. Cheers."

Buffy made another face as a third drink slid down her throat. "If he wanted me dead then why didn’t he just kill me?"

"What? Oh Angelus. He’s into the whole psychological torture thing. Makes the moony virgins want him and then …" He chomped his teeth again. "Yup, women love Angelus. Love em right up until he kills em." Spike hiccuped.

"I’m not a virgin." She informed him, not believing that that had come out of her mouth. She was feeling more than buzzed.

He scoffed, "Like I care. That your boyfriend? Mr. Upstanding Citizen?"

"You watching me?"

"As soon as I got here," he admitted with a grin.

"I think he’s cheating on me." She said earnestly.

Spike scoffed again.

With indignation she retorted, "Its not funny."

"Could be worse, Slayer. He could carry on like a little whore right in front of your face for the past hundred twenty seven years."

Buffy swayed on her stool. "We’re not talking about me anymore are we?"

"I’ve made up my mind, I have. No more women." For punctuation he slammed the shot glass down on the bar. Spilling some of its contents in the process.

Buffy wiped her fingers in the escaped liquid and sucked them dry. "I’ll drink to that."

"Slayer?" Spike asked. "I think you may be drunk."

She giggled, "I think you may be right…"

***

When Angelus returned to the mansion he saw Drusilla staring into the fireplace. Flames rippled and crackled before her. She looked completely entranced. Darla looked annoyed.

"Drusilla?" he ventured. "What are you doing?"

"Watching my Spike burn." She replied eerily.

"She’s been like that all night." Darla accused.

Angel wound his massive arms around his sire and quietly stated, "You didn’t join me tonight."

Darla pressed herself against him and explained, "This town has other high points than the Slayer."

He nuzzled her neck, "Have a nice meal?"

"Brought you a doggie bag." She gestured to a frightened young women, bound and gagged in the corner.

"You are too good to me," he laughed as he bounded toward his meal.

"How did things go tonight?" she asked as Angelus played with his food.

"Mmm," Angelus swallowed a mouthful of blood. " Its all coming together. If I can just keep Spike at bay…"

"Angelus," Darla nearly whined, "Why don’t you just kill the Slayer? Stake Spike? Our lives would be so much simpler."

"I like to mess with the boy." Angelus dropped the drained body of the woman on the floor. "Remember the Slayer in New York? How much fun we had with her?"

Darla smiled at the memory, "I almost felt sorry for Spike." With an evil grin she added, "Almost." Darla snuggled against her satiated lover.

Drusilla suddenly shrieked, "Spike will turn us to ashes! We’ll all burn."

Darla screamed back, "Drusilla, will you shut the hell up?"

***

"You can come out, Spike. I know you’re there."

Spike stepped out from behind the gravestone and shyly smiled at her.

With her hands on her hips, Buffy asked, "Following me?"

Spike shrugged.

"Creepy peroxided stalker vampire." She mumbled and turned away from him.

"Shouldn’t turn your back on a vampire, pet." Spike called out.

Buffy turned back to him and shot, "Please, you’re even drunker than me. I could so stake you."

"Threatening to dust me? That’s not a nice thing to do to a gentleman who was just trying to see you home."

"That’s sweet," Buffy drunkenly smiled. And then frowned, "Didn’t you read the vampire manual? You’re supposed to try to kill me. Not walk me home."

Spike smiled roguishly, "What can I say? I’m a rebel."

Buffy rolled her eyes. "Stop following me."

She started back towards home. After a few steps, she again heard his footsteps. She spun, "Knock it off!"

He slurred, "I’m not letting you walk home alone in your condition. Dangerous at night."

"Fine. Whatever. But walk beside me, huh? Because this creature of the night crap that you’re doing is way annoying."

End Chapter Two