Willow's Ripper

A Very Ordinary Evil Page 6

Part 20 Dancing in the Ruins
Two days later

Once again, everyone was gathered at Giles� shop to discuss new developments. It seemed to Giles that the only times they gathered together now were for �business�. With Spike and Willow involved; plus the typical behaviour of Anya and Xander, it left very little time for socialising.

He looked at the positive side, he had spent some evenings with Cordelia, still trying to track down the reasons for the unprecedented low in Hellmouth activity. He had been most pleasantly surprised. Although she couldn�t hack like Willow, she knew her way around a computer and was adept at getting very obscure information from legal on-line sources. She was also very efficient at the more mundane pen and paper research that was still the majority of the work that they did. Although not as gifted as Willow, Cordelia was, from Giles point of view, a better assistant. She was more focused and tended not to drift off into theoretical tangents or get involved with magical practices. He had not, as yet, personally experienced one of her visions, but he believed that, overall the visions would be beneficial to the group.

Giles cleared his throat and tried to get everyone�s attention. �Now, I�ve got some news for all of you, and it effects all of you directly, in one way or another. Firstly, Ethan has discovered the name of the new contact for the Order here in Sunnydale, but he hasn�t located her as yet.� Giles immediately stopped as the hubbub rose around him. �Please, can we just finish this, and then I�ll give you what answers I have.�

The agitation eased as Giles drew breath to continue. �Next,� he said, looking at his notes. �Willow and Spike, Doctor Michael McKeon, Buffy�s psychiatrist, would much rather speak to you in person. He did, however, say that any location and time that you chose would be acceptable. So I�m still unsure of his connection, if any, to the Initiative, and his personal agenda, if he has one, is still murky. Lastly, Cordelia. Angel called and said, very bluntly, that if you didn�t return to work, you wouldn�t have a job anymore.�

Into the stunned silence that followed Giles� last announcement came Cordelia�s voice, flat and ruthless. �Well, screw him and the horse he rode in on. He can take his damn job and ram it right up his undead ass!� So saying, she walked to the phone, took the handset and rang.

�Angel Investigations. We help the hopeless.� Angel�s voice came through the receiver.

�No, you don�t,� Cordelia snapped. �You help those you consider �worthy�. Angel, you can take your job and stick it where the moon doesn�t glow.� She hung up immediately.

Five sets of eyes looked at her. None of them had ever heard her speak so coldly, even during her tenure as Queen Bitch of Sunnydale High. Then Spike started to laugh. �Where the moon doesn�t glow? That�s a bloody gem!� Spike wheezed out between gasps of air. Cordelia smiled, even preened under the compliment.

�Can I suggest we all get something to drink before we go any further.� Willow suggested. She wanted a little time to absorb at that had happened.

�A very good idea, Willow,� Giles said as he encouraged everyone to follow Willow�s suggestion and relax. He went to make a pot of tea, and Willow decided to make coffee and also prepare blood for Spike. Anya fished out sodas for both Xander and her while Spike stepped outside to smoke.

Willow finished heating blood for Spike before he finished his cigarette. She had a mildly naughty thought and took the blood out to him. Aware that none of the others could see her, she walked toward Spike, hips swinging exaggeratedly. �Your drink, Sir,� Willow murmured, looking up at Spike, a wicked twinkle in her eyes.

Spike grinned and decided to play along. �Thank you, little one,� he murmured and as he did so, also pulled her into a deep and very dominating kiss. His tongue drove deep into her mouth, forcing its way past her lips and teeth. As he broke the kiss, Willow looked up, stunned. He grinned wickedly and said. �There�s more than one way to claim someone, pet.� Willow laughed as she reached up to hug her lover, the one person who was rapidly becoming the centre of her universe. They walked back inside, hand in hand.

�Right, now that we�re all together,� Giles tried to pick up from where he had left off earlier, �what we need to do is to discuss two issues, first and more importantly is meeting this Dr McKeon.�

�I�ve been thinking about that, Ripper. If he is in the Initiative, then there�s no safe way to meet, even a cell phone can be traced. If he isn�t, well, it doesn�t matter where we meet. So, what I�m thinking is � Willie�s place. On a Friday night, it�ll be packed and if the Initiative does break in, they�ll have their work cut out for them. Make it for eleven that night, and don�t call him with the details before seven.�

Xander looked over at Spike. �But isn�t Willie�s full of vampires and demons?�

Anya slapped Xander. �That�s the whole point Xander. If the initiative do raid Willie�s to get to Spike, they�ll have to go through the majority of Sunnydale�s remaining demons and vamps to get to him.� She looked at him and shook her head.

Willow also spoke up. �I would suggest that not all of us go, perhaps just Spike, Giles and myself. What I would like two things. First, Cordelia, you�re the fastest driver, can you be waiting in Giles� car as a getaway driver in case we need it? Also, I�d like to bug the conversation. Does anyone have any ideas?�

�Well, I can drive, but I don�t want to be in that car alone outside Willie�s.� Cordelia stated sensibly.

�The car�s too light.� Spike put in. �We need a van, something solid that can take a few hits if it needs to.�

�Does anyone have a van?� Giles asked. He shook his head at the chorus of negative responses. �Bugger it. What do we do then?� He asked, exasperated.

�Leave that for a moment.� Spike said. �Let�s look at the other part of Red�s idea. Bugging. If he�s in the Initiative, then he�ll be carrying all sorts of high tech equipment to jam bugs and things, so, lets go low tech instead and one of us can carry a pocket cassette recorder. I know that there�s a chance that the detectors will pick it up, but it�s a better bet than anything else.�

Willow looked at Spike, surprised. She had known, at least intellectually, that he was clever, cunning and mentally deft, but this surprised her. His approach was innovative and creative. She liked that. She did wish that they had actually got around to starting her fighting training, but the other parts of life were just so much fun.

�Watcher,� Spike began to speak again, �do you have a shooter?�

Giles looked at Spike, surprised. �What kind?�

�A handgun, something simple like a revolver.�

�Well,� Giles began dubiously, �there is my father�s old Webley, but it hasn�t been cleaned, let alone used, in years.�

Spike rolled his eyes, but also knew there was no chance of anything better, with California�s gun laws. �All right, ammo?�

�I think there�s a mostly full box of fifty around somewhere. I�ll find the gun and bullets later.�

Spike shook his head. Giles� disorder and clutter would get them all killed one day. �As long as it�s quick, mate. We�ve only got three days.�

�If we can move on?� Giles asked, almost plaintively. �We still have to talk about Ethan.� Giles waited a moment as they returned their attention to him. �How kind of you,� Giles voice dripped sarcasm as he continued, �now, Ethan has discovered that the current contact for the order is a woman, although he doesn�t yet know her name. Neither does he know if she�s human or demon. It�s slow but it�s a start. I�m afraid we will have to expect more attacks before we can get the necessary information.�

As if he had prophesied it, one of the shop windows shattered and a hand grenade bounced in. Spike sprinted towards it, using every last ounce of the preternatural speed he possessed. He bent down and, half diving, flicked it back towards the window. It exploded in mid air, just before passing the shattered pane of glass. Spike took the full force of the concussion, and was thrown back, like a rag doll, riddled with shrapnel. The last thought that went through his mind before passing out was (Thank god it didn�t slice my head off.)

* * * *

The rest of the group milled in confusion. Spike had got the grenade far enough away to prevent any of them being hurt, and the open nature of the shop had prevented temporary deafness, although they all had a dreadful ringing in their ears and were stunned by the amount of damage created. Adding to the confusion was Giles� fire and burglar alarms, both operating at full volume, and the sprinkler system had started operating to damp down the smouldering potential fires created by the detonation.

Into this confusion ran two men, both appeared human. One carried a four-foot long wooden spear, while the other was armed with a sub-machine gun. �Where is he, where�s Spike?� The spear-carrier demanded loudly.

Willow had been the most sheltered of the gang. She looked around, shook her head and yelled �What?� As she did so, she rummaged in one of her pockets and also shook her head, trying to clear the ringing in her ears.

The two men moved forward menacingly, remaining close together. �I said, WHERE�S SPIKE?�

Willow nodded in understanding. �The Fort Knox Bullion Vault,� Willow called as she lobbed a crystal at them. In a flash of light, both had disappeared.

The others all looked over at her. �What happened?� Cordelia was fastest off the mark, but Willow was already moving to Spike�s motionless form. She crouched over him, horrified by the wounds she could see. He was apparently comatose, and bleeding from a large number of shrapnel wounds. Willow began to shake, as she realised what was needed.

She immediately took her athame and slashed across her palm, letting the blood flow into the mouth of the unconscious vampire. As she did so, she screamed �Blood! Now!� Not caring who went to get it or where it came from, she started to pull the shrapnel from his broken and torn body, sobbing and muttering under her breath.

Giles came to her, three blood bags and a funnel in his hands. As he arrived, Cordelia pulled Willow away, murmuring to her �It�s all right, let Giles help.� The Watcher forced the funnel into Spike�s throat and opened the first bag. He began pouring as he called Anya and Xander over to help remove shrapnel. The three worked feverishly, wanting to make sure Spike survived. They were aware of the potential for him to die of blood loss, and none wanted to see that happen, if only for Willow�s sake.

Cordelia led Willow toward the kitchen, but part way there, the little redhead�s control vanished and she was suddenly wracked with grief, pain, and fear, she dissolved into hysterical crying. Cordelia tried to get her into the kitchen, but Willow�s loss of control made that impossible. Cordelia sighed, pulled her hand back and delivered a ringing slap across the cheek.

The flash of pain brought Willow to her senses almost immediately. The first thought that went through her head was thank the Goddess for the alarms, no-one heard it. That realisation made her start to giggle. Cordelia looked at her strangely and Willow said, �I�ll tell you in the kitchen.� Cordelia simply nodded as she led the little redhead into the kitchen to dress the wound on her palm.

�Well?� Cordelia asked as she started to wash Willow�s cut.

�Ummm �� Willow paused, working out how to phrase it. �I sort of thought � thank goodness no-one heard the slap. Fire alarms have lots of uses.�

Cordelia looked at her. �Wills, I love you. You have the most wonderful mind and, just occasionally, you come out with something incredibly dumb.� Cordelia hugged her tight for a moment to make it clear she really did care for the little redhead.

As they looked at the cut Willow made, Cordelia began to chatter and make small talk. Willow was aware that she was doing so as much to distract them both from the ugly gash in her palm as anything else, and the petite witch answered almost automatically. She suddenly looked up, aware that the brunette cleaning and dressing her wound had asked a serious question. �Sorry Cordy. What was that?�

�I said, you really cut deep. You�re going to need stitches.�

�Oh. After I know that Spike�s all right.�

Cordelia looked at Willow and smiled. �Oh girl, you have got it bad! Anyway, what did you do to those two? I heard them ask where Spike was, and then you said something and they disappeared. They went poof!�

�Who�s a bloody poof?� Spike�s unmistakable voice was weak but clear as it cut through Willow�s and Cordelia�s thoughts.

Willow laughed as she explained to the vampire behind her. �Cordy meant the two men, assassins I guess. I threw a spell crystal at them.�

�So, Wills, where did they go?� the curiosity and impatience in Cordelia�s voice palpable.

�The Fort Knox Bullion Vault.�

Giles started laughing, �Oh, Willow, that is � beautiful,� he gasped out between bouts of laughter.

Willow turned, to see Giles and Xander supporting a very battered and obviously weak, Spike. She started to tremble as she looked at her lover, he was cut all over his body, and a major bloodstain coated his right thigh. �God, Spike, I thought I�d lost you.� She started crying again, this time tears of relief and gratitude.

Giles cleared his throat, �It was touch and go there for a while, until Xander could get the shrapnel out of his thighit had cut the femoral artery somewhat.�

Willow�s eyes spoke volumes as she shakily walked over to Xander and embraced him. �Thank you.�

Spike looked up. �You�re bleeding pet.�

�She made herself bleed into your mouth before we could get the blood bags,� Cordelia said. �She�s going to need stitches.�

Spike took her hand and looked at it, raising it to his lips, he began licking gently over the wound. He looked up at Willow. �Pet, this tastes intoxicating. It�s � ambrosiac.� Willow blushed as Spike spoke. He then bit his lip, hard and let a couple of drops of his own blood drip onto the wound. �This will help it to heal faster, but you�re still going to need stitches.�

It was then that the first fire engines and police cars arrived.

Part 21 Still Dancing in the Ruins
Immediately following the previous part

Two firemen entered the shell of what had been the Magic Box. As a pair of policemen began to rope off the area, trying to make sure all the broken glass was included inside the perimeter. They moved cautiously and carefully through the rubble and debris, looking for people. They eventually heard voices coming from the rear of the shop, hardly discernable over the still ululating fire and burglar alarms. �Is everyone here all right?� One of then called out.

�Quick, Xander, Anya carry Spike out the back door. They mustn�t find him here,� Giles hissed at the young couple, urging them outside. �Take him home, keep him safe.� Nodding, the young couple helped Spike out the back door of the shop.

�Only one cutbroken glass.� Cordelia called back. �Come on through.�

Giles marvelled at the abilities that all of his �children� had shown under pressure. He had a brief surge of intense pride, and forced it down as the firemen came closer.

They were still looking around, and seeing a middle-aged man with two young womenone holding a still bloody handasked Giles what had happened. Giles had had enough time to think up an answer that he hoped would work. He turned, and appearing very angry, he said, �I�ll tell you what�s bloody happened. What�s happened is that we�ve been on the receiving end of the twenty-first century version of a bloody drive by. They aren�t content with fucking guns any more, the bastards are using grenades. Bloody stupid country!�

�Someone threw grenades in here?� The fireman was confused.

�No, they threw bloody marshmallows, what do you think!� Giles semblance of righteous anger and fear had become real, and was in full flow now. What he wanted, more than anything, was to tear the two idiots who had done this to pieces. That being impossible he was more than happy to vent at anyone within range.

The two firemen, used to distraught civilians, essentially ignored the diatribe and concentrated on looking after the three people who had survived whatever had happened. As they looked around, the level of devastation was impressive, to say the least. One of them moved towards Willow, taking her hand and examining it. �This is the only injury?�

�Yes,� Giles said, a lot more calmly, �we were very lucky.�

As the fireman examined Willow�s wound, another siren could be heard over the sounds of Giles� alarms. A policeman came into the building, weapon drawn and demanding to know what had happened. Giles turned to explain, and saw the pistol. All of his anger at the assassins rose again. He knew, intellectually that he couldn�t blame society for the behaviour of people like the Order, but emotionally he couldn�t control himself. It was the one aspect of American society that horrified him; the ease of access to firearms. �This is my shop and you�ll do me the courtesy of putting that � thing away, or leave.� Giles snapped as he gestured at the policeman�s weapon.

�What?� the policeman looked confused.

�Holster that � thing. Or leave the building. There are three victims and two firemen here. You don�t need your security blanket.�

The policeman blinked and thought a moment before he realised what Giles was saying. He did as Giles asked, looking strangely at the irate Englishman as he did so.

Willow leant over and whispered to Cordelia, �Principal Snyder was right about one thing. The police of Sunnydale are deeply stupid.� Catching her comment the fireman dressing Willow�s hand burst into laughter, as did Cordelia.

�Now,� the fireman explained, �you�ll need to get this stitched. I guess it was glass but it looks like a knife wound to me.�

Willow realised she had an opportunity to help Giles� cover story and grabbed it. �It is a knife wound. I was looking at an athame when the thing exploded and I cut myself then.�

The fireman looked at her and nodded, �That would explain it. You want to tell me what you remember?�

Willow gave him a wan little smile. �There�s not very much to tell, I heard the glass breaking and almost immediately after, that horrible explosion. Then the alarms and the water and � I must look a sight!�

"A lady as beautiful as you could never look bad.� The fireman said gallantly. �I�m Dave, by the way.�

�Sorry, possessive boyfriend, very possessive.� Willow answered, a contented and slightly dreamy smile coming over her.

�That�s okay,� he smiled, �I can take a hint.�

�That wasn�t a hint, that was a bludgeon.� Cordelia quipped as she grinned at her friend.

�Well, back to business,� said Dave, perhaps too cheerfully. �You�ll need to go to the hospital and get this stitched. It seems to be healing very quickly, but unless it�s stitched it�ll scar.�

Willow nodded. �I know, I hope the police don�t keep me here too long.�

�Let me speak to them,� Dave offered. �I should be able to convince them to take the names of you two girls and interview you tomorrow.� Willow and Cordelia exchanged glances, both worried about what else could happen. Cordelia having vivid memories of �bug-man� the assassin of many years ago. Dave�s helpfulness and interest seemed out of place to both girls.

Giles discussions with the policeman were beginning to degenerate. Instead of answering the policeman�s questions, Giles had gone on another angry but rambling discourse on the issues surrounding the second amendment. Rather unfortunately, the policeman had taken the comments more seriously than Giles had intended. Dave�s interruption rather fortunately eased the situation as he spoke quietly to the policeman about the need for Cordelia and Willow to get to the hospital. As soon as the policeman had given his consent, he broke of from his argument with Giles and came over to get the names of both other witnesses. He took their names and addresses, then told them they could head to the hospital.

Giles, in the meantime, had realised that the policeman he had been dealing with was not seeing eye to eye with him about things. Aware that he had to calm down the increasingly irate member of Sunnydale�s finest, he began to explain, at length and with all of his natural gift for minutiae and pedantry, precisely what had happened that evening. (The mundane aspects at least.) He thought to himself. (If nothing else works, I�ll bore the bugger to death.)

* * * *

Spike was still not entirely capable of walking when he arrived at Xander and Anya�s apartment. They got Spike to a seat and Anya went for more blood. He was primarily interested in getting back to Willow, but neither the ex-demon or Xander would hear of it. Anya returned with a mug of microwaved blood and handed it to the vampire. Spike drank gratefully, so worn down he didn�t complain about it�s being pigs blood. As he continued to recover, he became aware of the condition of his clothing. �Xand, mate, can I borrow some gear, I think this lot�s had it.�

Xander nodded and went to get Spike some jeans and a tee shirt. He reasoned that Spike would wear the duster, even if all that was left was one sleeve and the collar. In fact, the duster had got off surprisingly lightly, one major rent near the bottom was the primary damage done to it. Xander returned with the jeans and a white tee shirt and handed them wordlessly to Spike. The blond vampire took them equally silently and moved to the bathroom to dress. Returning, he looked much less disreputable, and, as he retied his laces, asked �Can you give me a lift back to the shop, I�m worried about my Willow.�

Anya sighed. �Spike, why don�t you wait and recover. Willow�s fine. Giles and Cordy are there and we want to thank you, you literally saved our lives.�

Spike looked slightly uncomfortable before he said, �Yeah, perhaps. I was only worried about my girl though.�

Anya simply looked at him, her statement speaking volumes, while Xander responded to the comment in his usual style. �Well, Junior. Don�t forget we saved your sorry ass as well.�

Spike�s response was to look at Anya, �Is it really sorry luv?�

Anya looked openly at Spike�s behind giving it serious consideration. �Not too bad at all, I could imagine the muscles clenching when ��

�Anya!� Xander�s voice cut the ex-demon off in mid-sentence. �Please, Anya. I so don�t want to hear that.� She looked at Xander and shrugged, and then grinned to herself.

�So, can we get a bloody move on?� Spike�s impatience was rearing up as he began to worry more and more about Willow.

�Don�t have a coronary Junior, oh, that�s right, you can�t.� Xander snapped, still hurting from Spike�s earlier comment. Sighing, he grabbed the car keys as he and Anya escorted Spike out and into the car. The drive was a little tense, with Spike and Xander still bristling over their earlier exchange. Eventually, however, they reached the shop, to see the fire crews and police still mopping up.

Spike was out of the car before it had stopped moving completely and running toward the shop, crossing the crime scene tapes like a hurdler. As he ran inside, he was calling Willow�s name. As he did so, and got no reply, his voice got shriller and louder each time he called her, taking on an edge of panic. One of the policemen came over and said, �I�m sorry Sir, but you can�t come in here.�

Spike shouldered roughly past the policeman, still calling for Willow. Seeing Giles, he came to a halt. �Ripper! Where�s my Willow?�

Giles looked up at the partially rejuvenated Spike. �It�s all right, Spike, she�s just gone to the hospital with Cordelia, she needs some stitches in her hand.�

�Oh shit!� Even though Spike knew the extent of her injuries, thinking of them still hurt him severely. To him, it was a badge of shame, a failure of his promise to protect her. The circumstances were of no importance to him, it was failure.

�Great! Another Goddamn Limey!� Giles� policeman was obviously unhappy.

Spike looked at Giles. �Do rozzers count as human?�

�Unfortunately,� Giles replied, �yes. Only just, but yes.�

The officious policeman approached Spike. �What reason do you have for being here. Are you aware that you broke a police cordon?�

�I didn�t break it, I jumped over it. And I�m Willow�s Ma-partner.� Spike turned away and muttered, �bloody pillock.�

�So how did you hear about � this?�

�What? Oh go away, I need to get to the hospital.� Spike turned and began to walk away. The policeman�s call to stop received a two-finger gesture that baffled him and Spike was outside.

He briskly walked back to the car, where Anya and Xander were waiting for him. �She�s at the hospital, Sunnydale General I assume, getting her hand stitched.�

�Right, that�s where we go then.� Xander was equally determined to make sure Willow was all right. She was his best friend, he worried if she skinned her knee.

Part 22 General Hospital
12 minutes after Spike, Anya and Xander depart the ruins of the Magic Shop

As Xander pulled into the parking lot at Sunnydale General, Spike was out of the car and running towards the entrance. His worry and self-recrimination were peaking. The logical part of his brain told him that Willow was fine. He�d seen the wound, it was deeper than it should have been, but not severely so. This was simple anxiety arising from his feelings of failure. It in fact only briefly crossed his mindand he had already dismissed the ideathat he could get some human blood here.

He burst through the automatic opening doors to the Emergency Room. As he looked, he saw no-one waiting for treatment, and wondered what to do next. He thought a moment and then puzzled out that he needed to ask for her by name. Walking to the admissions counter, he remembered back to his days as a living man and used his best public school accent. �Excuse me,� Spike began, �but I�m wondering f you could help me. I�m looking for a Ms Willow Rosenberg. She was self admitted, and not very long ago.�

�What�s your relationship with this person Sir?�

Spike decided to play it as the dumb Briton abroad. �Isn�t that a rather � personal question?�

�I mean, Sir, why would you have any reason to know if we have a Willow Rosen � stein?�

Spike put on a look he hoped was reminiscent of Giles at his most confused. �Errr � because you�re at the reception and information desk?� He asked brightly. �And it�s Rosenberg.�

The receptionist fixed him with a glare. �I meant, sir, if we have such a patient, what relationship do you have with her?�

Spike glared back, becoming irritated. �I�m her lover, sweetie, her life partner, the light of her bleedin� life. And should you be asking such personal questions anyway?� {It�s times like this,} the thought went through his brain, {that I really hate this damn chip.} �Tell you what, luv, why don�t you see who she�s listed as her next of kin or contact.�

She looked distinctly unimpressed at Spike�s request, but sighed and complied. �Very well, sir.� She turned to the computer terminal and began typing with what Spike saw as maddening slowness. �What is your name, sir.�

�Blood.�

The receptionist looked up strangely at him. �Pardon.� The interrogatory came out is a very irritating nasal whine.

�My name is Blood, William Blood.�

She looked at the computer screen and raised an eyebrow. �I�m sorry sir, yes; you are listed as her next of kin, but you appear to have no legal status as that. I can�t permit you into the ER.�

Spike was beginning to seethe. {Yelling or terrorising won�t do any good.} He said to himself. {I have to be cleverer than that. I can do this. I�m just out of practice.} He fixed the gimlet-eyed receptionist with an equally steely stare. �Marriage offends my religious beliefs. Now, can I see my partner, or do I have to return with a writ from a legal company � say � Wolfram and Hart? The writ would, of course, charge you with religious discrimination and the compensation sought for such terrible behaviour appropriately astronomical. Then of course, there�s all the publicity; especially the publicity over your discrimination against a person with a disability. Me�

The receptionist looked at Spike, worry beginning to cloud her face. She decided to go on the offensive. �You don�t look disabled to me!�

Spike continued his line of attack. �I have a rare genetic condition called porphyria. Now pet, you just look that up while I see my Willow, okay?�

�I�ll need to refer this to my superiors sir. Please take a seat.� For her, it was an admission of defeat, and she decided she didn�t like the blond Englishman at all. {He may have won this round,} she thought, {but she would fix him in the end.} She made a telephone call, and Spike could heareven without his improved hearing occasional bursts of static shouting. Eventually, she hung up and looked daggers at Spike. �You can go through.� She ungraciously told him.

Spike nodded coldly as he walked through the now open electronic door. He looked left and right in the corridor he had entered, and saw the �Emergency� sign. He walked rapidly in that direction, flicking glances left and right as he passed rooms with open doors.

As he reached the main nurses station, he could see lots of cubicles, separated by curtaining. He walked to the main desk. �Is Willow Rosenberg still here?�

The nurse-receptionist, this time a man in his mid thirties, looked up at Spike. He gave the blond vampire a very appraising look up and down, then sighed. �Yes sir, she�s in 4B.�

�Thanks mate,� Spike said gratefully as he headed onward in his quest.

Behind him, his hearing allowed him to just catch the whispered �All the cute ones are straight.� Spike smirked and strutted towards Willow.

He paused just outside the curtain and called out �Everyone decent in there?�

Willow, hearing his voice, laughingly called out �Yes, all decent and proper.�

�Damn!� was Spike�s response as he walked in, to see both Willow and Cordelia sitting, Willow on the bed and the brunette on one of the visitor chairs. He saw immediately that Willow�s hand had been stitched and rebandaged.

Willow looked up at Spike and marvelled at both his recuperative powers and the fact that he had got into see her so quickly. She immediately saw that he was in Xander�s clothes, and at least he looked less silly than the last time he was forced to wear Xander�s clothing.

�Hi there handsome. You�re looking as good as you can for an exploded corpse.� Willow chirped her greeting to him, almost giggling as she did so.

Cordelia grinned as she interjected �As good as you can for an exploded corpse having to suffer Xanderwear. Tragedy much?� All three looked at one another and burst into laughter.

Spike�s attempt at appearing offended was both feeble and short-lived. His relief at seeing Willowconfirming to himself that she was all rightwas palpable. It suddenly dawned on him that Willow had already had her hand stitched and that she and Cordy were sitting around chatting. �Shouldn�t we be going or something?� He asked.

�Sorry lover, I still have to get my tetanus booster first. It�s why we�re waiting.� Willow�s answer was flip, almost pert, and Spike wondered if she was all right.

�Ummm � pet, you seem rather � chipper considering the wound you caused yourself.� Willow blushed at the edge in Spike�s voice. She knew that �Sir� was speaking and she was in trouble. �Now, pet,� Spike used the term in it�s usual affectionate sense, but she again sensed the strange emphasis in his voice. �Why don�t you tell me everything that�s happened here.�

Willow began to look down before remembering his instruction of a few days ago. She looked him in the eyes as she began. �Well � they said that I-I had been cut deeply, almost to the tendons, and I needed painkillers for the stitches. Th-they also told me that I�d bled quite a bit b-because I nicked a vein, s-so they gave me a unit of blood.� She was alternately blushing and going pale under Spike�s steady stare.

Spike sighed as he embraced the little redhead. He could see the fear on her face, and read it like a book. She continued looking at him, even as she began to tremble, the anxiety of potential desertion welling up powerfully inside her. Looking at her, he kissed her forehead and then tightened the embrace significantly. He looked at her again, and recognised the look in her face, and he spoke gently. �Yes, pet, you know what you need when we get home, don�t you.�

Willow looked up, desire, embarrassment, fear and raw arousal all warring over her face. She nodded and blushed. �Yes, I do,� Willow murmured.

�Good.� Spike answered, smiling.

Cordelia had watched the interchange, getting rather confused as she did so. �I seem to be missing something here. What�s going on?�

Willow�s head shot around to look at Cordy, flushing a full beet-red as she did so. �W-what do you mean, C-cordy?�

Cordelia looked from Spike to Willow and back. �I know I�m not following half of what you�re saying. And for some reason, I�m not sure if I want to. What is going on?�

Spike looked startled, having genuinely forgotten Cordelia�s presence. �Well � ummmm � Willow and I have an agreement, and we�ll need to � talk about part of it.�

�Okay.� Cordelia�s mind immediately danced onto the next topic. It wasn�t that she was flighty or stupid, but rather that her brain continuously sped and she could never easily settle onto a topic unless it was of profound importance. �So, Willow, when are we shopping?�

Willow looked up, momentarily confused. �Shopping? For what?�

Cordelia sighed. �Remember when we were coming here, we agreed to take you clothes shopping in a day or two?�

�We did?�

�Willow, I know you�re smart, everyone knows you�re smart. How could you possibly forget something as important as this?�

Spike looked at Willow and shook his head, teasingly. He then looked over at Cordelia and grinned evilly. �Better take her to Victoria�s Secret then, the day she goes out with you, I�m throwing out all her non-thong panties.�

�Spike!� Willow squawked in shock, as Cordelia broke into peals of full-throated laughter.

Looking at the blond vampire, the brunette grinned. �I like your style, Mr Blood!�

Spike winked at Cordelia and then also at Willow. As she looked up at her lover, Willow knew she�d have to answer for her cutting of herself. She was terrified. Spike had promised to punish her if she harmed herself again. The circumstances would not matter to him. She surprised herself as she realised that they should not matter. The simple fact was that she had disobeyed an order.

At that moment, a doctor returned with a vial of tetanus innoculant, plus the necessary syringe and needle. He looked at Willow. �I�m sorry but this will hurt, I�m afraid.�

Willow merely extended her arm and continued speaking. �Spike! Do you really have to?�

�Yes pet, I really do. I want you wearing things that accentuate your beauty, not hide it.� Spike did not miss the momentary flash of arousal in Willow�s eyes as the needle penetrated her upper arm.

As soon as the doctor withdrew the needle and band-aided her arm, she let her sleeve drop and slid off the couch. �Can I go now?�

�Well, I see no reason why not, Ms Rosenberg,� the doctor mumbled, continuing to annotate the scanty additions to Willow�s medical notes.

�Good, let�s get started then. I�m tired and cranky as it is Doctor. Shall we?� She immediately slid off the patient couch and began to prepare to leave. She bent to pick her bagthe only thing she had carried in with herfrom under the couch and stood, flipping her hair back. �Is there anything I need to sign, Doctor?�

�Only these release forms, and then you can leave. We have all your insurance details, I assume?�

�Yes, all of them. I�m so glad I didn�t cut my writing hand.�

The doctor chuckled wryly. �Good,� he said, �because before you can leave, you will need to sign this release form. Oh, is your next of kin here?�

Willow nodded and smiled dreamily at Spike. �Oh yes.�

The doctor followed her gaze. �I may not be Sherlock Holmes, but I can deduce that you must be the next of kin, Mr � Blood. I suppose it�s too much to hope you�re a phlebotomist?�

Spike smiled wryly. �Well, I have been known to take blood, but no, I�m not a professional phlebotomist.�

A pity, never mind. These are for you, Mr blood, they describe the necessary aftercare of Ms Rosenberg�s wound.�

Spike took them, signing the acknowledgement form. �Okay, not a problem. Thanks, doc. I�ve had some experience dealing with wound cleaning �n�such.�

Willow looked at Cordelia and then Spike. �How did you get here lover? Xander?� Willow asked.

Spike nodded as he replied. �Yeah, him and yo-yo knickers drove me here pet. Why?�

�Well, who would you rather ride home with? Xander and Anya, or Cordy?�

Spike chuckled. �No contest, avoiding Chubs is one of my primary religious tenets.� Cordelia laughed, while Willow shot him a mock long-suffering look.

�Okay,� Willow sighed. �Let�s go out and tell Xander and Anya--and by the way Spike, I never want to hear that disgusting nickname for her again--that we�ll be riding with Cordy.� So saying, the three left the hospital, under the vicious glare of the admittance receptionist.

* * * *

As they saw Cordelia off from the driveway, Spike turned and looked at the little redhead. �Well, pet. You know what has to happen, don�t you.� His voice had slipped almost an octave and took on a tone that made Willow quiver.

She looked up and said, simply, �Yes Sir, you have to punish me. I�m ready.�

Part 23 The True Price of Disobedience
Immediately following part 22

As Spike and Willow walked inside and shut the door, Spike looked at his redheaded lover. Speaking firmly, deeply and controllingly, he almost barked �Strip, girl. NOW!�

Willow shuddered uncontrollably. In a matter of seconds she was naked, her clothes scattered around her in her desperation to comply with Spike�s order. �Good.� Spike almost purred his approval of her compliance. �Now girl, you told me what you need to feel when you�ve been bad, when you�ve been in trouble, didn�t you.�

�Yes Sir.�

�Tell me again, girl, now.�

�I need to feel pain, Sir, I need to hurt, to pay.�

�Why, girl?�

�B-because I have no knowledge of the real consequences of right and wrong, thanks to my parents.� Willow, even though feeling vulnerable, and more than a little apprehensive, spat the last word out with considerable venom.

Spike looked at her, his face a strange combination of compassion and sternness. �Follow me, girl. Three paces behind. Understand?�

�Yes, Sir.� Willow turned and walked, keeping pace carefully, somehow knowing that he would detect any slip on her part. She was confused as he led her into the hallway and then stopped.

Spike bent to roll up a Persian runner carpet. When he had done so, Willow saw a recessed handle fitted into the floorboards. It was a trapdoor. Spike pulled on the ring and the trap hinged up silently. As he reached down, Willow could hear the click of a light being turned on. �Down the steps girl, I�ll be right behind you.� Spike�s tone left Willow no room for argument or debate.

As she descended, she felt as if she were moving into another world. She could see, courtesy of muted indirect lighting, walls covered in implements of pain and pleasure. As she reached the bottom of the stairwell, she looked around more fully and caught her breath. She could see things that she had read about in the books Spike had bought, but their reality was still shocking. Some she knew instantly; like the large wooden X shape bolted to the wall, with leather restraints at each apex; a Saint Andrew�s Cross. Others puzzled her, like the lengths of PVC tubing with leather cuffs at both ends and a large wing nut in the centre {At least the cuffs are padded,} was the thought that drifted, whimsically, through Willow�s mind. She continued turning and looked at the walls. There was a wide variety of sex toys, lingerie, paddles, crops, cats of nine tails, both leather and chainmail cuffs and collars, a stockwhip, and things that she did not even know the names for. She felt as if she had descended into a strange and exciting combination of heaven and hell.

Spike chuckled, startling her from her reverie and daydreams. �You like what you see girl?�

Willow jumped and turned. �I-I-I dear Goddess! How did all this get here?� Spike looked at her, his eyes hardening and one eyebrow raised. �Sorry. How did this get here Sir?� Willow corrected herself instantly.

Spike grinned at her. �Later, after your punishment. Understand?�

Willow�s back unconsciously straightened as she replied, �yes, Sir.�

Spike moved in close to Willow and taking her roughly by the hair, led her to the Saint Andrew�s Cross. He lifted first one arm to one of the points of the cross and by using the attached leather cuff, secured her arm there. He repeated the action and secured Willow�s other arm in the same manner. Kneeling, he pulled Willow�s left ankle to the restraint and cuffed her ankle securely to the cross. After making sure her whole foot was flat on the ground, he repeated the exercise with her other foot. He then checked each fastening to make sure it was secure on the cross as well as not cutting the redhead�s circulation, or so loose that a hand or foot could slip out. �Now girl, you know what I have to do, don�t you?� Spikes voice was pitched both deeper and harsher than usual.

�I have to be punished, Sir. For cutting myself. You have to punish me. I�m sorry, so sorry� Willow�s voice was small, and she felt herself trembling. What truly surprised her, however, was the fact that simply incurring Spike�s displeasure hurt more than any physical punishment possibly could. She could hear Spike�s boots clattering across the floor behind her, and the occasional sounds of things �whooshing� through the air behind her. Spike remained silent as he practiced or tested or tortured her.

She was uncertain which it was. Time seemed to both slow and stretch for her; she had no idea of how long she had been there. Finally, something touched her naked back. It felt like leather. Spike began to trail something down over her shoulders. As he did so, he began to speak in a low, penetrating almost hypnotic voice. �This is called a flogger, girl. It�s a light multi-tailed whip. It can be used to tease, like this, or lightly stimulate, or really hurt. Remember it. This time it�s too early for you to taste it.� Willow was unsure whether she should be grateful to him or not. She still had no idea what was to happen.

The hard, unexpected slap of Spike�s hand on her naked bottom caught Willow utterly unprepared. Unable to stop herself, she let out a cry. Then the rain of blows began in earnest. He struck hard and fast, accompanying every stroke was a repeated phrase that became almost a mantra. �You must not harm yourself!� Spike was chanting the phrase with each stroke of his hand. Willow began to lose control of her limbs and sank, supported only by the wrist cuffs. Pain, pleasure, desire and frantic arousal coursed through her simultaneously as the comforting sensation of subspace enveloped her. Spike�s onslaught continued remorselessly. He could see her cheeks first reddening and then almost welting as he administered what he saw as appropriate chastisement for her transgression. Willow had become incoherent, her moans of pleasure mixing with cries and gasps. Even before Spike stopped she had orgasmed, her body writhing and lashing back and forth within the cuffs.

At length, Spike stopped and gently, lovingly, uncuffed her ankles, and then supporting her as he did so, her wrists. As he shouldered her weight he was constantly murmuring reassurances in her ear. He carried her to the far side of the room, and lay her on the bed there. Immediately wrapping her in a blanket, he then opened the small bar fridge next to the bed, taking out chocolate and lemonade.

He then began talking to Willow, who was still incoherent. �You did fine, pet, punishment�s over now. I�m so very proud of you, little one.� He took one of the redhead�s small hands and gripped it firmly. �Pet, if you can hear me, squeeze hard.� Willow�s answering squeeze was all the response he needed. �It�s all right luv, I�m here. I�ll hold you, I won�t ignore you, I�ll be right here for as long as you want.� Spike�s murmuring litany continued, �I want you to open your mouth slightly pet. I�m going to place a piece of chocolate on it. Suck on it, pet. Let it dissolve. You need it. You�ve burned massive amounts of blood sugar. I�m going to pour a small glass of lemonade too pet. It�s just as good to rebalance your electrolytes as Gatorade and that stuff.�

Willow�s head rolled around to look at him. �Thanks,� she murmured. As she turned to take the glass, her bottom came into contact with the mattress for the first time. Her eyes bulged open and she gasped as the stinging hit her. �Jesus Spike, My bottom hurts!�

Spike chuckled, this time without menace. �Pet, I just punished you. What did you expect?�

�But it didn�t hurtI mean it hurt, but not like that. It hurt so good.� The last word was long and drawn out, lasting seconds. �It scared me, Spike. I came! I had an orgasm, without you ever touching me erotically. The pain made me cum! What does that say about me?�

�Nothing pet. You didn�t orgasm because of the pain. You came because I was punishing you.�

Willow looked at him, and Spike could actually watch her beginning to process that idea. She thought in silence for at least a half minute. �I think I understand,� she said, tentatively. �You�re saying that I orgasmed because �� Willow came to a halt as she reconsidered what she was about to say. �No, that wasn�t right. Wait a moment.� She was in full research mode now, and Spike was surprised at how quickly she had made the transition.

As the little redhead pondered and analysed, Spike thought back to what had happened. He was aware that, to hit subspace so fast, she had to have already been in an acute state of anxiety, coupled with unlimited trust in him. Anxious that he would desert her for her �transgression� and her trust in him to keep his word warring together. He smiled as he thought of her arousal levels and, just as he was drifting into a gratifying reverie, her voice interrupted. �I think I understand. You�re saying that I orgasmed because you kept your word, you showed me that you cared; cared enough to punish me when I was bad.�

�That�s part of it pet, but what else do you think there is?�

�Oh! I just realised, while you were doing it, you called me �girl�; never anything else. And you�ve not called me that before. Why was that?�

�It�s called a cue, pet. A way to tell you that you've displeased me ...� Spike stopped as Willow went a pasty white. �What�s wrong pet?� Spike�s voice was full of concern.

�Oh, sorry lover. I don�t quite know what happened. When you mentioned my displeasing you, I felt my tummy flip over and got nauseous.�

�Oh luv.� Spike beamed as she explained. �Let me explain. This is what power exchange is about. You�ve always been a very giving person, eager to please others. A power exchange, a D/s relationship allows you to express that openly, you don�t have to hide that desire behind symbols like birthdays, anniversaries and so on.�

Willow began to understand what Spike was saying. �This makes a lot of sense, Sir.� Willow looked surprised. �Why did I just fall back into calling you Sir then, Sir?�

Spike wrapped His arms around the little redhead once again, kissing her forehead. �Well luv,� he began, �I think that you realised that, since you don�t need the symbols to hide behind, doing this feels natural.�

Willow gave the idea some consideration before replying. Then, momentarily forgetting, she rolled back onto her bottom. �Ahhhhhhh! Blood---Dammit Spike. I won�t sit for days! And why am I talking like you? Do I look British? Goddess that hurts!� Willow ruefully rubbed her burning backside, wincing.

�Okay pet, let�s get back to the main line of the discussion, shall we? What we�re really talking about is trust and faith. You trust me to keep faith with you. It�s a two-way street luv. We both open ourselves more than in a vanilla relationship, and we�re both more vulnerable to the other hurting us, either by omission or commission. It means we have to talk about everything pet. No holding back, no secrets. In short, you orgasmed during that spanking for a variety of reasons. There was the fact, as you said, that it proved to you that I cared. There was also the fact that it showed each other our trust and faith. Lastly, and not unimportantly, when you were doing that self harm during puberty, you linked pleasure and pain together in your mind.�

Spike pulled the little redhead in close, embracing her fiercely. �Just remember pet, I love you. I always will. I won�t desert you, I won�t run from you.�

Willow looked at her blond lover, and suddenly a wave of pure emotion rolled over and through her with the force of a tsunami. Tears burst forth, a mixture of sheer amazement and growing unrelieved joy that anyone could care for her that deeply.

Spike looked totally bewildered. �Pet, Red, what on Earth�s wrong?�

�N-n-n-nothing,� Willow sobbed uncontrollably. �I-I-I j-just �� Willow�s tears returned full force as she blindly reached out for the comfort of the blond vampire�s arms. As she felt the muscles of his chest she burrowed blindly into him, getting as close as she possibly could. Her arms snaked around his chest and waist, her face buried into his torso just below the neck. The little witch gripped Spike so tightly that, if he had been human, he would have had some trouble breathing.

�Willow, luv. Talk to me. Why�re you crying?� The concern in his voice was palpable.

Willow sniffed and looked up at him, tears staining both cheeks. �You�re the most wonderful man I�ve ever met, Spike, but sometimes you really are a � a � man.�

Spike met her statement with a look of total bafflement. �Sorry luv. Can you explain that a bit for me.�

The little redhead made a sound part way between a giggle and a sigh. �I�ll try,� she whispered.

Chuckling somewhat ruefully, Willow sat up to explain the mysteries of women�s tears and winced as she did so. �I�m going to have to stand!� She moaned petulantly. �Sometimes, just sometimes, women, and occasionally men, cry for reasons other than sadness, dearest heart. Tears are a response to overwhelming emotion, it can be grief, or sadness, or joy, or relief, or anger or � lots of other things.� Willow had already slipped into what she thought of as �lecture mode� and was building a good head of steam. She continued, almost before she could draw breath. �Culturally, we�re conditioned to accept the image of women crying, but not men. This is the basis of patriarchal power structures endemic throughout the world. It denies men the ability to express their emotions, whilst enslaving women to theirs. This controlled manipulation of social � dear Goddess! I�m not just babbling, I�m raving.� Willow looked both astonished and slightly embarrassed by what she had just said.

Blinking while still trying to absorb Willow�s verbal onslaught, Spike decided the most enjoyable way to prevent her starting up again was to silence her. He simply reached out and pulled her, almost roughly, into his arms and kissed her. Searingly. His tongue forced it�s way into her mouth and explored every inch of it. It tasted her, felt the formation of her palate, teeth and cheeks. It entwined her tongue as if it was a separate living being. When he finally broke the kiss, the little witch�s face was as red as her behind. Willow slowly drew breath several times to regain her composure before she asked. �Are you going to stop me babbling like that every time?�

Spike laughed wickedly. �No pet, only on special occasions.�

The redheads response of �Oh.� Was filled with a combination of regret and winsome hopefulness.

Part 24 Not much of a stretch
The following day

Spike rolled out of bed just before sunset. He ached from the previous day�s exertions. He felt as if he had muscle knots where he didn�t even realise he had muscles. He groggily got to his feet and staggered into the kitchen. He blinked and looked around. The place was a mess. Then memories of the previous night, after the punishment session, began to appear. He had been unaware of all the uses to which a spatula could be put. Chuckling to himself, he wondered how his lover would cope when she woke.

He pottered around the kitchen, casually tidying and preparing some blood. In the back of his mind, the concept of the Big Bad pottering was vaguely disturbing, but he was too relaxed, too happy to really care. As the microwave chimed, he removed the cup and sipped, his mind wandering. He started the coffee machine so that Willow would not have to. After all, he reasoned, she was going to be decidedly sorer than he.

* * * *

Willow woke, and the first thing she noticed was that, unusually, she was alone in bed. Usually, she woke before Spike. The next thing she noticed, as she rolled languidly from her side to her back, was a vicious burning sensation all over her bottom. As she completed the roll, and her backside took her full weight, she shot straight up, shrieking. �Jesus fucking Christ!� In her pain, all thoughts of the goddess had gone from her head and she was digging into the curses that she had heard as a youngster at school. She walked toward the dressing mirror and began to try and look at her butt, certain that it must have been flayed.

Spike walked in to see Willow craning around and trying to work out what had actually happened to her previously tender buttocks. �Red, I love you dearly, but you look more than a little � silly like that. Can I take a polaroid?�

�If you even think about that again, Spike, all that beautiful blond hair will somehow fall out, overnight.�

Spike chuckled. �There�s my girl. Damn I love you pet. Hold on and relax, I�ll get a hand mirror for you love.� Spike grabbed the vanity mirror from Willow�s dresser and held it so that it reflected her naked bottom into the main mirror.

�Oh my!� was the little redhead�s first articulation at the sight of the redness and welting still present from the previous night�s spanking and the later, straightforwardly kinky, session. Spike had done things with kitchen implements that would have made Martha Stewart faint, has she known of it, Willow recalled. As she began softly tracing her fingers along some of the raised welts, she gasped. The gentle, tender touches she was applying had the opposite effect to that of her weight pressing down. Rather than simply burning and hurting, it felt � good, arousing. Spike�s fingers joined hers and, automatically, the witch pressed back into his hand, already beginning to moan softly.

Spike began to softly kiss her neck, one hand teasing her welts while the other ran over her flat, and surprisingly muscular, tummy. Moaning softly, his hands slid down, to the edge of the small auburn matt of curls. He had just begun tickling the curls when the telephone rang. �Bloody Hell!� Spike screamed. �If Bell wasn�t dead, I�d kill him!�

Willow laughed and moved to answer the phone. �Hello?�

She heard Giles� voice, tinny through the receiver. �Willow? Is that you?�

�No Giles, it�s Elizabeth Taylor. Who do you think?�

�You�ve been associating with that bloody vampire far too much. Anyway, it looks like Ethan has come through with the goods. He wants to meet tonight. Can you get here as soon as possible?�

�Sure! We need to try and get this mess resolved. I don�t like the idea that the Order will have yet another go at us. We�ll be there.�

She turned and looked at Spike. �We�re going to have to go to Giles�. Apparently Rayne has some information on the new contact for the Order.�

�Good. Now luv, how�re you going to handle sitting? Your bum�s still going to hurt.�

Willow blushed in response. �Th-they�ll all know, won�t they.�

Spike grinned, almost malevolently. �Most of �em pet. Ripper and the demon chick for sure.�

�Goddess! I can�t possibly go! What�ll they think of me?�

�Actually, pet, you will go. You entered this lifestyle voluntarily. Now, if you start to let it take over your whole life, the submissive aspects of your personality will eventually bind and limit you. You�ll hide from the world taking refuge in your submission. Are you more than your submission Willow?� The question came at her fast and unexpectedly.

�Of course I am!� Willow�s offended reaction spoke volumes as Spike sat back and waited for her to make the connection. Willow sighed, looked at Spike and poutily threw a cushion at him. She grinned wryly and walked towards him, her hips swinging sensually, seductively. Gracefully, she allowed herself to sink to her knees and she grinned again as she looked up at Spike. �It shall be as you instruct, O great and Glorious Leader,� she commented cheekily as she lowered her head to his feet. As her lips touched his toe, in what appeared until that moment to be a playful but genuine act of homage, she bit Spike�s little toe. Hard.

�Owwwwwwwww!� Spike jerked his foot back in reaction. �Bloody hell pet! What was that for?�

�You were beginning to look a little too smug about that spanking.� Willow was blushing as she looked up at him from her position, kneeling at his feet.

Spike also saw, heard and scented the sudden surge of her arousal. He could see the light flush in her cheeks, hear her increased respiration, see her lips, slightly parted and moist as her tongue licked occasionally over them. He was aware that Willow was trying to initiate play, in such a way as to keep them from the gathering. �Pet, you�re looking for some more punishment, aren�t you. Not severe but just enough, am I right?� The little redhead blushed uncontrollably. She both adored and hated the fact that Spike could see into her so well. She looked up in a mixture of open arousal and mild fear. �Pet, you�ve got your wish, I�ll punish you. I was going to suggest that you wore satin panties to Giles�, it�d have reduced the soreness a little, but now, no panties under your jeans. Understand?�

Willow looked at the blond vampire and nodded, her teeth biting her bottom lip in a strange mixture of chagrin, arousal and annoyance. �Yes Sir,� she muttered as Spike turned to go and dress.

Clambering to her feet a lot less gracefully than she had sunk to the floor, Willow walked off behind her lover, realising that once he had spoken, there was no way around the punishment. As she reached the bedroom, she recalled that she had meant to ask Spike about the � basement. Walking in to get her clothing for the meeting, she raised the subject. She opened the wardrobe to find a loose tee shirt and posed the question. �Spike, how did the � basement get there?�

The blond vampire looked at his lover and grinned. �I had it built when I bought this place luv. The basic layout was already here. I just had the mode of access altered and expanded it a bit. Oh, and full electrics of course.�

�You knew? Even back then?� Willow was shocked, and more than a little scared.

�Course I did luv. Right from the get-go. Even before you told me about your self-harm. I remember the combined fear and arousal you gave off when I kidnapped you. And when I tried to turn you, just after I was chipped, you were high with the thrill of not having control. Course, rationality reasserted itself later and you belted me with a lamp.� Spike smiled gently as he reminisced. The little redhead, watching the emotions play over his face, saw that he actually treasured those memories. That relaxed her and eased away some of the fear.

The striking vampire pulled Willow into a close embrace and looked at her. �Remember my lesson on Dominance? With the canes?� Willow nodded, allowing him to continue. �I am what I am. I�m a vampire, a predator. Ergo I need a relationship based on unequal power. In the long run, I can�t be attracted to anyone who can�t provide that. You, my dear heart, are the first person to be able to do that, properly, in the whole of my existence.�

�The first ever?� Willow squawked, shocked.

�Yes Red, the first ever.� Spike smiled, then grinned slightly maliciously. �Red at both ends now, aren�t we pet?� Willow lost the modicum of control she had gained over her blush reflex and instantly turned crimson. �Now, luv, get dressed. We don�t have a lot of time to waste.� Spike watched as the bright red redhead dressed, taking a small but definite delight in the gasp of discomfort she released when she drew her jeans over her hips.

* * * *

Spike opened the door to Giles apartment as he and Willow entered. They looked around the living room, to see Giles, Ethan Rayne and Cordelia already there. As they walked in, greeting everyone, Spike guided his lover to a seat. He flopped back into the vacant lounge and waited for the little redhead to sit beside him. He watched, inwardly amused as Willow sat gingerly, and thrilled at the nearly soundless gasp she emitted as her butt came into contact with the lounge cushion.

�So, just Anya and Chubs to come?� Spike was trying to fill the silences with small talk. In part to ease Willow�s worry that people would notice her soreness, and in part because he did not like the silence, it unnerved him. Not getting an answer, he continued, blithely. �You been okay Huntress? Have a good day?�

Cordelia took a moment to realise that Spike was talking to her. She looked up slowly. �Not too bad, a slow day at work. There were no customers of course and Giles is a bit upset about it being so messy. So am I. I got utterly filthy today.�

Spike nodded, it was hard, trying to keep this group animated. �Well, Ripper, what�s bothering you?� Spike�s inquiry was a little forced, as if he was becoming frustrated.

Giles looked up a little absently. �What? Oh, I�ve been doing some research. It has me a little disturbed. And before anyone asks, no, I�m not happy talking about my tentative conclusions yet.�

Spike�s eyes rolled. He was not getting close to starting a general conversation. He noticed Willow glaring at Ethan Rayne, her eyes harder then he�d ever seen them, other than the glamour spell she had worked a little under a week ago. This, however, was all Willow. It appeared that she was even able to overcome the distracting chafing of her jeans, she was that angry. �Giles,� Willow began in a deceptively mild tone of voice. �Do you remember when Spike first joined our little gang?�

�Of course, Willow, why?�

�Well, even though we knew he was harmless, we kept him tied to chairs and chained up in your bathroom. Remember?�

�Er � yes Willow, I do. I was living here, after all.�

�Well, I�m wondering � what gives? After all, your �old school tie� chum there is considerably more dangerous, even with his soul in a jar, than Spike was then. I really think we have some discrimination issues going on here.�

�Pet, it�s all right.� Spike was worried. He�d never seen this side of Willow so blatantly exposed before. He knew the fire, the steel, the passion and the sheer determination was there, as well as a core of ruthlessness that both thrilled and terrified him. At the moment, however, these aspects of her personality also threatened to put her at risk. {As far as I�m concerned, she can gut the tosser and bathe naked in his blood after he tells us what we need to know. Oh Gods! Calm down William. Don�t distract yourself}

The door opened, to reveal Xander and Anya, incidentally also breaking up a potentially explosive situation. �G-man, Junior, Wills, Cordy! Hi one and all.�

�Don�t worry about Xander,� interjected Anya. �He had a heavy day at work and is in Twinkie overload.�

Xander flopped on the remaining seat, bodily pulling Anya into his lap. �What? If Junior over there can do it, why can�t I?�

Anya gazed at her lover, and pointed out, with all her usual tact and discretion, �Spike has one kind of style, dear; and you have another. Spike can get away with the tough guy stuff. Just be you. If I wanted Spike, I�d have sex with Spike, now wouldn�t I?�

�Er � would I get any say in this?� Spike�s question was jolted out of him in sheer surprise. A level of surprise matched by Xander�s look of sheer astonishment.

Willow, however, looked daggers at Anya. The normally shy redhead growled, very credibly, at the former demon. �Don't even think about trying that for real.� She locked her hand around the blond vampire's arm in a fierce grip--one that said over my dead body.

Giles cleared his throat. �Children, children. It�s time to pay attention.� He looked oddly at the petite redhead for a moment, �Willow, stop fidgeting. You�re acting like a fourteen year old.�

�S-s-sorry Giles.� Willow flushed bright red as she stuttered her apology, and was concerned to see Anya looking curiously at her.

�Let�s just get on with it shall we? We�ll deal with Ethan first, and if we think he�s come through, we�ll release his soul, agreed?� Various words or nods signified the agreement of all the others, with the exception of Willow.

�Giles,� Willow shifted as she spoke. �I do not trust this man. I want to cast a Truth spell on him while he talks, and I also want to cast a spell afterwards. It won�t hurt him, I give you my word.�

�Just why do you hate me so much, little girl?� Ethan�s question earned him a vicious glare from Willow and a full-blooded growl from Spike.

�Because you made me dead! I despise you.�

�Er � All right Willow. Fine. Cast your spells.� In response to the look Ethan turned on him Giles simply asked, �Would you rather be a cockroach? In all seriousness, Ethan I�d suggest that you tell us all you know now, rather than annoy Willow any further.�

�I quite take your point, Ripper.� Ethan was beginning to look decidedly uneasy as Willow took two crystals from her bag. She lobbed both at Ethan, intoning two Latin phrases as she did so. There were two discrete subdued flashes of light as both crystals launched the spells stored inside.

�Ethan, what can you tell us about the contact?� Giles suddenly became all business.

Ethan sighed. �It�s like this, Ripper.� He looked at everyone in turn. �All of you know the contact. It�s some stupid bird you went to school with. Name of �� He paused and took out a notepad. Looking at each face in turn, wincing slightly under Willow's icy glare, he carefully checked his notes before gleefully adding, �Holly Charleston.�

He waited for the cries of disbelief and derision. They came immediately in an instant Tower of Babel. �That�s just not possible!� Cordelia�s voice sliced through the others. �That airheaded little hussy couldn�t organise a raffle in a bingo hall!�

Willow looked shocked, while Xander was simply bemused. Giles just looked over at Willow and asked �Are you sure the spells are working?� She nodded in reply, a little absently, and Giles realised that she was concentrating on the spells to check them.

�Yes, they�re working fine Giles. He�s either telling the truth or he�s running a counterspell.� Giles nodded in response.

�Anya,� Giles asked, �Do you still have the ability to see magic as it�s being worked?�

�I�ve never really tried to use it since I changed, Giles, but I�ll try if you want.�

�Thank you dear, that�s most kind. Would you?�

Anya nodded and let her eyes lose focus as she attempted to use perceptions that she had not bothered accessing since before she had become human. �I�m sorry Giles, but I can�t see anything, neither of Willow�s spells or if Ethan�s doing anything. I guess I can�t do any of this without spell casting.�

Giles smiled at the former demon. �I am sorry Anya. I know you were hoping something other than your memories remained.�

Anya smiled wanly back, and the group�s attention returned to Ethan. �As I was saying, before I was so coarsely interrupted, the contact is Holly Charleston. She�s an Asian girl, and she works out of a rather tacky nightclub called The Bronze. I don�t know if you need any kind of password or reference to speak with her, but I somehow rather doubt that will worry you. As for me getting anywhere near her. Well, she took one look at me and feigned nausea because of my age!�

Cordelia laughed. �Oh she hasn�t changed. All the tact of a rabid Rottweiler. So she�s gone from character assassin to real assassin huh. Not much of a stretch if you ask me. And I find her reaction to him,� she gestured contemptuously at Ethan, �totally convincing.�

�Willow, can you detect any dissembling or untruth?� Giles wanted to be as certain as he could be.

�As much as I can be Giles.� Breaking her concentration, Willow stood up and walked over to Ethan. Reaching out, she pulled a few of his hairs out, viciously. �I need these.� Returning to her seat, Willow began a slow, almost hypnotic incantation. Parts were barely audible while others rose to a strange ululating shriek. She was totally immersed in the spell.

Xander looked over to Giles. �What language is that, G-man?�

�It seems to be a mixture, I can hear some Sumerian, some Kadeshite, some Demotic Greek and at least three languages with which I�m unfamiliar. I have no idea what she�s doing.�

�Let�s just hope it works properly then.� Xander still had very little faith in Willow�s magical abilities, despite the growing evidence to the contrary.

Willow�s incantation finished in a malevolent hiss, her eyes appearing totally black as if carapaced like an insect�s. As she returned to a normal state of perception, the blackness flowed away, and she blinked once or twice. Looking at Ethan, she said, in a cold, emotionless voice, �Rayne, I just cursed you. The curse will take effect at sunrise. If you come within ten miles of the Sunnydale city boundaries, you will begin to get sick. After an hour, you�ll have severe stomach cramps, after two hours you will be vomiting, after six hours you�ll have bleeding ulcers and after twelve hours you�ll be dead, from apparently natural causes. Is that totally clear? Oh, by the way, the spell is anchored to the city itself, not me, so even if I die, the spell will continue.� Ethan looked profoundly shocked, as did Giles. Willow looked levelly at the Watcher. �I promised not to harm him. I haven�t. All I�ve done is to prevent him ever returning here.�

�If it�s all the same to you, Ripper, I�ll be off now. Just as soon as you release my soul back to me. And of course, there�s the issue of my fee.�

�Bloody Hell!� Giles was annoyed. �Stay there. I have to make a call.� The Watcher stalked out, snatching the cordless phone as he went. They could hear bits and pieces of the conversation, presumably with an airline. It wasn�t going well, Spike concluded, as he heard Giles slip into his North London street accent. When he returned to the living room, he looked very angry.

�Right, now listen, Ethan.� The North London accent was very much in evidence. �You fly out of Los Angeles tomorrow afternoon with British Airways, direct to Heathrow. How you get to Los Angeles airport I neither know nor care; now please leave my home and this town.�

Ethan Rayne looked shocked. He had never expected Ripper to be so cold towards him. Nodding slowly, he stood and walked out. No-one watched him go.

As the door shut, everyone began to speak simultaneously. The uproar was deafening. Giles simply unscrewed the lid of the soul jar as he bellowed above the din �QUIET!!!� He looked at the shocked faces all gazing at him and smiled inwardly. �Good,� he resumed in a normal voice, �now that I have your attention, we have two issues left to discuss. First, what to do about this Holly Charleston, and second tomorrow�s meeting with this Doctor McKeon. I propose we deal with meeting Doctor McKeon first.�

�Works for me, Ripper.� Spike spoke up quickly. �Did you find the Webley?�

�Yes, and I cleaned it too. I didn�t have a lot else I could do today.�

Spike smiled, almost apologetically. �I am sorry about the shop, mate. We�ll deal with this daft bint after we see McKeon. First things first though. You�ve got the Webley and I�ve got my sawn-off. That should do for armament, although I�m going to have to remember to take slugs not pellets for it.�

Cordelia and Willow both looked slightly shocked. Neither had heard such light talk about firearms previously. Xander had followed the discussion and volunteered, �I�ve still got that stash of weapons I requisitioned when I was soldier boy, would they help?�

Spike was shocked. �They let you have weapons! Dear god, how on earth did you did you help us win two world wars with policies like that?�

Xander took the bait immediately. �Whaddaya mean, helped?�

Spike grinned and replied maliciously, �Well, as I recall you were rather late arriving for both.�

Willow headed off the argument that was about to develop. �Xander you never paid attention in history anyway, so don�t worry about it. We have more important things to think about than that. And everyone knows the Russians won World War Two anyway.� She looked at Spike and Giles. �What else do we need? Last time you mentioned a tape recorder lover.�

�Yeah. Does anyone have a small dictaphone or something like that?�

�Giles does.� Xander offered. �He and Buffy used it when they saved me from the giant bug lady.�

�Yes! Yes! That�s right. I remember now.� Willow�s sudden excitement caused her to bounce slightly in excitement, and a small gasp of pain escaped her lips.

�Are you all right?� Giles� solicitous statement terrified Willow.

�F-f-fine. Just a little sore is all. I fell in the kitchen, you know how linoleum floors are. My feet just went out from under me, whoosh!� Willow�s babble began to dry up as she began to see that the inquiry was more one of courtesy than substance.

�Of course. That is still around here somewhere. It�ll need new batteries of course.� Giles began, rather ineffectually, to search his cupboards for the small recorder.

�Why don�t you let me do that,� offered Anya, �while the rest of you work out what you plan on doing.�

Giles face broke into one of his rare but dazzling genuine smiles. �Why, thank you Anya. That�ll be a great help.� Looking back to the others, he continued. �Now, what other precautions will we need?�

�A getaway vehicle, if it becomes necessary.� Cordelia spoke up. �Does anyone here have a decent car?�

�What classifies as �decent� Huntress?� Spike asked the question because he was afraid they would otherwise go around in circles all night.

�Something large, solid and preferably fast.�

�So it�s my DeSoto then, I assume. You feel up to handling her?�

�I�ll do what I have to.� Cordelia sounded utterly confident.

�Well, then, that should do it.� Spike sounded relaxed, even calm now that the basic arrangements were in place. �Just remember, Ripper, call him tomorrow around eight and tell him to be at Willie�s, alone, at eleven. You meet him at the door and walk him over. That way we don�t get hassles from drunken demon tossers wanting to pick a fight. So, that�s one of the problems, now for the other.�

�Ah, yes. Holly Charleston.� Giles removed his glasses and pinched at the bridge of his nose, already thinking.

�Why don�t we just grab her as she leaves the Bronze?� Willow asked, thinking that simplicity had merit in this case.

�I have a feeling that she would have bodyguards luv. And I don�t really fancy taking on up to, say, half a dozen armed men and demons. Messy and far too public.�

�Oh. No we don�t want that.�

�What we need,� Xander interjected, �is a way to get one person to talk to her. I�m thinking Cordy.�

Giles looked at Xander. �That has some possibilities.� He seemed vaguely surprised that Xander had come up with such a sensible kernel of an idea. Following his train of thought, he asked, �Cordelia, were you ever friends with this girl?�

�Not really, we would be polite to each other, that�s all.�

�So you had a passing acquaintance?�

�At most, Giles. She and I actually had very little in common, other than superficially.�

�Oh, well. Let�s just kick this around for a while then,� Giles suggested. �Anyone can make any suggestion without fear or favour. We can�t just jump on it, we have to explain why it wouldn�t work.�

�All right then,� Spike spoke up. �Just how do we do this? We need to isolate her from any guards she may have. How about we watch her and count noses. See if she is snatchable. Errrr � kidnappable. The more I think about it, the more sensible it�d be to do some quiet surveillance over a few days, see what her habits are.�

He looked over at Willow. �I know you�re eager to resolve this as quickly as you can, pet, but we�ll probably only get one chance. If the order thinks a contact has been compromised they�ll move to kill the contact.�

Willow looked shocked, and, as she began to think about it, saw the logic of what Spike was saying. She sighed. �I really don�t like either you, or us, being the target or targets of these people. It scares me, the very thought that I could lose you.�

The blond vampire wrapped both his arms around the scared little witch, and kissed her softly. �Luv, they haven�t got us yet, and each time they try, it becomes harder for them too. It�s harder to get another person to undertake the contract, we get more cautious and harder to target. I think we�ve probably got at least a week before there�s another attempt.�

Willow looked up at him, a little nervously. �I guess we better make the most of it then.�

�So,� asked Spike, �Surveillance?�

�Surveillance.� Giles concurred.

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