Something New
Chapter 13
Something New
Chapter 13
�Mr. Gordo says �oink oink!�� Buffy said, bouncing the pig on James� knee.
�Oink!� Jamie repeated, snatching the pig and hugging it.
�You�re wasting your time, teaching him words that don�t even exist.� Dawn said. �If you�re gonna teach him to speak, you should at least make it intelligent, unless you want him to oink all day long.�
�That�s exactly what I said to mom about you.� Buffy recalled.
�Ugh!� Dawn spun and left with her soda, leaving the two to oink by themselves.
Joyce watched Dawn go, and frowned. �Where did Spike disappear to?�
�I had him go to the Magick Box to check up with the others and patrol.� Buffy replied. �He�s been doing it all this week.�
�Well that�s funny. Mr. Giles called a minute ago wondering if you or Spike were coming over.� Joyce frowned. �When did you send Spike?�
�Uh, two hours ago.� Buffy said. �It shouldn�t take him that long to get to the Magick Box. Maybe he skipped to patrol. He doesn�t really like Xander.�
�He probably did.� Joyce agreed. �Or he wished he had.�
�Right.� Buffy agreed with a smile. �He�s probably cursing them all right now. I bet he showed up just as Giles hung up the phone. That happens sometimes. He likes being worried about.�
�Daddy?�
Buffy pet James� hair. �He�s not here. He�s just to work, killin� big bad things and protecting the innocent. Like you.� She touched his nose and James giggled, then got up, leaving the pig and went into the kitchen.
Buffy frowned at this, then looked at her mother. �So, did you meet any hot guys?�
�What, at my latest meeting? No.� Joyce said. �Okay, just, like, one totally, like, adorable guy in my class.�
�Mother,� Buffy protested, offended that she was being mocked, but then laughing. �Really? Anyone good?�
�I do like someone.� Joyce said mysteriously. �But he�s taken.�
�Isn�t that a drag?� Buffy asked, deflated. �He�s cute?�
�Completely gorgeous.� Joyce assured.
�Anyone I know?�
�You might know him.�
�It�s not Spike, is it?�
Joyce laughed. �No, darling. Spike is a dashing young man, but I could never persuade him to date a granny like me.�
�You�re not a granny � err, well you�re not old anyway. You glow.� Buffy assured. �You�re radiant. I�m sure that whoever it is must like you back, too.�
�Maybe a little.� Joyce shrugged.
Buffy smiled and nudged her mother, happy for her. �Are you gonna tell me his name?�
�Hmm. Maybe when you�re older.�
�Aww, mom!�
*****
�Agent Gram.� Walsh looked Gram over, who was dressed in his off-duty clothes, as he didn�t think she�d appreciate him in the Initiative covered with human wastes and unknown slimes that live in the sewers. �What the hell happened?�
�I�m sorry ma�am.� Gram said, staring ahead. �I located a fallen K�fulir demon which had been killed and nested in.�
�Yes. Research took the body and categorized the larva. They were Naldruana larva, only a few days old. The demon finds rotting corpses, like a fly will, and nest in it. The corpse provides shelter and food for the rapid-growing larva. But our demon was killed by a sharp ax, the spinal cord severed, but the head is still intact. It was fed on by a number of things, both demon and non. And I�m interested to know why you�re no longer in your uniform, soldier.�
�Ma�am, I took it upon myself to clean up.� Gram replied, knowing that Riley and Forrest were giving him side-ways looks. �I located our fugitive, Hostile 17. Unfortunately, he lured me into the sewers, and I made the mistake of being under prepared. I hit him with a dart, but he still escaped, and I lost him.� Gram said sadly. �It�s no excuse, I understand. I was foolish.�
�Perhaps. But you are the only one who has even managed to locate Hostile 17 for the last week.� Walsh considered. �And I don�t suppose I�d want you to track sewer waste into the building. Did you manage to tag our escaped friend?�
�No, ma�am. Sorry, ma�am. The tranquilizers are supposed to take down much stronger demons.�
�Yes, well, we should all well know that a vampire can flee for quite a long ways before the drugs will react. Stunning them with electrical current is more effective.�
�I wasn�t in range to release an electrical blast in such an environment, ma�am. If I�d fired my weapon in knee-high water with pipes I�d be vampire food now. Ma�am.�
�True.� Walsh sighed. �How disappointing that he still eludes us. He must have friends, or he�s holed up somewhere like a rat. But we will find him. He is unable to harm any living being, and he will weaken and return to us once more. Unfortunately, the team sweeped the area and found nothing. I must congratulate you on your find of the K�fulir, solder.�
�Thank you, ma�am.� Gram said in relief.
�Thank you, soldiers.� Walsh looked at her boys. �You�ll be informed if we have any news. Until then, there�s no point to stick around here. You are dismissed.�
�Thank you, ma�am.� Riley said, and he and his friends left.
*****
�Giles, did, um, did Spike ever get to the Magick Box?� Buffy asked, calling in the next morning.
�Why? Isn�t he at your home?�
�No.� Buffy twisted the phone cord around her finger nervously. �He didn�t come home at all, and I checked downstairs this morning. He didn�t even pass out on the couch. He isn�t here.�
�Perhaps he got drunk and decided to stay out.� Giles suggested.
�No, he wouldn�t do that.� Buffy said. �He wouldn�t get drunk over coming home and seeing Jamie. I � we discussed this. I told him he couldn�t do that. At least, I think he knew I meant that.�
�Perhaps he simply had a late night of slaying and had to dodge the sun.� Giles theorized. �Wait until nightfall, and I�ll have Xander check some of the crypts near your home.�
�Xander?� Buffy echoed. �He doesn�t like Xander much.�
�Yes, very well, let�s send Willow to go kick in solid stone doors and search for a vampire.�
Buffy winced at Giles� sarcasm. �I�ll do it.�
�No, on the contrary, you have a child to attend to. I�m sure that if Spike did get drunk, you�d still have the opportunity to yell at him.�
�I guess, but I need to know where he is.� Buffy said. �He wasn�t even supposed to go on patrol.�
�Well I�ll send Xander to see.� Giles said. �You should be in school.�
�I don�t have to until class starts.� Buffy said stubbornly.
�I suggest you bring your cellphone, and we�ll contact you if he finds anything.� Giles said.
Buffy sighed. �How do I explain this to Jamie?�
Giles stopped, stumped by this dilemma. �Just� say that Spike will be back.�
�You want me to lie?�
�You don�t have to lie. Spike will return.� Giles said confidently. �I�m not particularly fond of Spike�s past, but I do trust his survival instinct. Do stop worrying and go about your day.�
�Okay.� Buffy sighed, not knowing what to think. �Spike is so gonna get his ass kicked.�
�I imagine he will.� Giles said. �Good day.�
�Later.� Buffy hung up and went to find her mother to inform her of the missing vampire.
*****
�I can�t believe I have to go look for some dumb bleached moron.� Xander muttered as he huffed, trying to keep a brisk pace going through the cemetery. �Oh, that�s right. He got sheared. Dumb shaved moron, then.�
He decided to bring a stake, even though it was daylight, as a sleeping vampire wouldn�t like being roused. He amused himself by considering if he could be blamed if he staked Spike and claimed he never found him. He couldn�t be linked to the dusting.
The first crypt showed nothing, and the second was empty as well, except for a few coffins and their skeletal treasures. He checked a few more, amazed by the number of them in the town. Why did they have to house the vampires? If everyone just got a regular grave then they wouldn�t have nests of the bloodsuckers.
He had to go to the next cemetery, his boots already muddy from the wet soil. He again checked, and halfway through his search he opened up a door that yielded to him. The brown-haired vampire was passed out on the floor, sleeping deeply, as still as the dead.
*****
�Buffy,� Riley greeted, bouncing on his toes as he saw her. �I�ve got some rumors that a hot band is coming to the Bronze tonight. I was thinking maybe you could do some research with me, find out if this rumour is fact or fiction.�
�Uh � I can�t.� Buffy said. �I�m sorry, but it�s just not been � good. And it�s not good now. See, my friend has some problems and they concern me and I need to work those out, and then I can do happy things, like going out with you, which I�d really like to do, but I have responsibilities. You know?�
�Yeah, I get it.� Riley said, disappointed. �Maybe you can let me know when all of this sorts out? Cause it�s been a long time, hasn�t it?�
�Yeah,� Buffy realized guiltily. �But it�s important. And I�m sorry.�
�Alright. Well do let me know when it is a good time for you.�
�Okay.� Buffy said, turning as he went to kiss her and walking away, oblivious to the attempt of affection.
�Man, she�s breaking up with you.� Forrest informed, stepping forward from where he�d been watching.�
�I suggest you keep your comments to yourself.�
�It�s just a warning, man.� Forrest said. �She hasn�t got the heart to dis you. She�s trying to gently nudge you away. It�s worse.�
�She�s just going through some rough patches.� Riley said, trying to convince himself and leaving to his own class.
�Buffy,� Willow said, jogging up to walk beside her friend. �I called you. Didn�t you hear me?�
�Oh. Sorry, Will. I�m spacious today.� Buffy winced. �Riley keeps wanting to go out, and I don�t know what to say to Spike, or Jamie.�
�Why should Spike care? He knows you�re not together, that it was just a spell that I am still deeply sorry for, you should be able to date Riley.�
�I don�t know. I just don�t feel like dating Riley much. There�s so much to do now. My life isn�t just about the next guy who�s gonna kiss me or the next big party to attend. I have to watch Jamie and there�s so much that I didn�t even know about Spike, and my sister is insane and apparently my mom is starting to like someone again.� Buffy said. �There�s just so much going on. And Spike didn�t come back last night.�
�What?� Willow frowned. �Spike left?�
�I wanted him to pick up some things at the store, and he didn�t come back at all, and he wasn�t at home this morning, either. I called Giles. Did you see him at all?�
�No,� Willow frowned. �I�ll talk to Tara. She�s much more in tune with the vibrations in the world than I am. Maybe she can sense him.�
�I�m just afraid that he�s hurt or that he went and got drunk or something stupid.� Buffy said. �I mean, not worried about him, but about Jamie. The whole reason why Spike moved in was so that Jamie could grow up with a dad. I thought I told Spike that he can�t drink, but it was more like a �you need to make a decision� kind of thing. Maybe he decided wrong.�
�Maybe.� Willow said. �But I don�t think that Spike would ever do that over being with his son.�
�I don�t know. I just don�t know that much about him.� Buffy said. �But we�re having another talk when I get home. I�d rather have Jamie have a step-dad than a dad who�s drunk every other day.�
�I think you need to sit down with him.� Willow agreed. �At least to determine things.�
�Yeah. Anyway, I can�t go out with Riley, because I have two extra people to consider. And I thought Dawn was enough of a handful.�
�Maybe he just needs firm discipline.�
�I accidentally punched him, maybe I can do it again.� Buffy considered.
*****
�Joyce?� Giles asked, sitting down, and a smile crossed his face as he listened to the phone. �I was wondering if perhaps Spike has returned. Buffy called me early this morning and informed me that he had never returned.�
�Oh, no, he hasn�t.� Joyce said, frowning. �I was beginning to worry myself.�
�That�s odd. But I do believe that Spike is merely waiting out the sun.�
�Yes, he must be. Oh, I�d hate to think that William�s gotten hurt.�
�I�m quite confident in Will- erm, Spike�s ability to care for himself. I only worry that he may be back to his old tricks.�
�You mean��
�Yes, William the Bloody. Though I don�t believe that there was such a situation to do such a thing.�
�No, none at all.� Joyce said. �He�s perfectly happy with Jamie, and he wasn�t at all distressed. I�m certain we�re only creating fables in our heads.�
�Yes, I should wish to agree.� Giles nodded. �But I�ll be put at ease when Xander returns. I�ve sent him to search the cemeteries, incase our vampire was in fact caught at a deadly sunrise.�
�I certainly hope not.� Joyce inhaled worriedly. �He�s such a good man.�
Giles chuckled. �Unfortunately I haven�t had the luxury of seeing Spike in such a manner.�
�But he is.� Joyce said. �The first few days he�s cooked and babysat and completely changed his wardrobe. He�s even gotten Dawn to get along with him, and to be good to James. He�s amazing.�
Giles was vaguely amused by this fact. �The only glimpses we get of him involve him cursing our existence.�
�That doesn�t sound very much like William.�
�I�m informed that he has a weakness for you, Joyce.� Giles said.
Joyce blushed. �Really? Then I do suppose my theories on him are correct. Why, isn�t he nice to you as well?�
�I�m given the impression that he�s rather disgusted by our existence. Every time he ever graces us with his presence, lately it seems he�s more anxious to go on patrol and go home.�
Joyce smiled, adjusting the phone. �I think he enjoys James very much. My entire life changed the instant I was blessed with Buffy. The true miracle of childbirth most often is how quickly you have to change to take care of your child.�
�And he does? Take care of James?�
�Oh, yes.� Joyce said. �Very much. He does have to take care of the house while the Summers� ladies are at work. And I�m very sure that James isn�t always a perfect little angel.�
�I wouldn�t know.� Giles said. �A Watcher�s life doesn�t promise much hope in that area. Now I curse myself for wasting that time.�
�Oh, of course.� Joyce said. �But you have grown, and Buffy� well, she does consider you family.� She said. �You�re the most prominent male figure in her life. She does look up to you, for moral support, and for answers. Answers to questions that sometimes a mother just can�t answer. William is a marvelous example. He�s very curious to encounter. The first I saw of him, he was attacking us, but when I truly met him, he was upset about Drusilla. Now I see him, and he�s not annoying or angry or very impatient, like Buffy says � at least, not all the time. Once in a while I�ve seen him sit for hours with his son in his lap, just looking him over or talking with him about a toddler�s curious questions. It almost seems he�s still fascinated that James can even exist.�
�Yes, I believe a vampire with a child would be very�awed. But this is most puzzling. I�ve never heard Spike described as such. Sad, drunk, perhaps, but never just curious. It seems too human an emotion for a creature such as he.�
�Oh, William is very human.� Joyce said. �He loves my cooking, unless he�s being very terribly kind. He loves all sorts of foods, not just blood. He and Buffy still have the occasional spat of course, but it�s usually just a playful sort of thing. Though there was that time when Buffy was very concerned about the Initiative.�
�The Initiative.� Giles shook his head. �They are cruel bastards, aren�t they?�
�I can only agree, though I don�t like to pass judgment.� Joyce said bitterly. �They don�t have a right to cut up demons for their own research. This reminds me terribly of the Holocaust.�
�Not all demons are as innocent as he.� Giles reasoned. �At least, they don�t repent as well, or care to repent. Most eat their own young.�
�That�s terrible.� Joyce frowned. �But Spike repents.�
�It appears he does.� Giles agreed. �But he does not realize that path will be hard and misleading.�