Something New
Chapter 16
Something New
Chapter 16
�Piss off,� Spike complained, pulling out of Buffy�s grip. �I shouldn�t even be outside.�
�Mom won�t let me build you a kennel.� Buffy said jokingly. �Now stop being a baby, you�re setting a bad example for James.�
Spike rumbled, low in his throat, and James looked at him with big blue eyes, then curiously around, wondering if any vampires or demons were nearby.
Buffy folded her arms, then reached into her pocket and pulled out the blue collar, jingling the bell.
�You better not.�
�Just be good.� Buffy said. �You don�t have to talk to anyone.�
�Can I just go in the back way and sit in the cellar?�
�No.� Buffy refused, grabbing his arm again and dragging him through the doors, and he pulled away again to let James in and walk of his own volition, knowing that running now would only make him look like an even bigger idiot.
�Hiya!� Willow greeted. �Gosh, it�s been a while since all of you have been here.�
James flashed Spike a grin and went to Willow and Tara to absorb attention.
�Hey guys.� Buffy greeted. �Mom and Dawn are doing a crazy shopping thing. She needs new sneakers.�
�Ah,� Xander nodded.
Spike sighed, expressing his boredom and went to go look at a jar of rat�s eyes.
�No.� Buffy said firmly, tugging his collar again. �Don�t even touch anything.�
Spike stared at her, stunned. �I�m not six.�
�This is Giles� shop, so if you break anything, or tamper with anything, you will be spending the rest of your unlife in my basement, working off the debt you already have.�
Spike�s jaw fell open. �You�re enjoying this aren�t you?�
�More than you can imagine, Spike.� Buffy smiled sweetly. �Don�t forget, I have ace cards on you.�
Spike tightened his jaw, torn between amused and offended, and sulked to the back of the room.
�Looks like Spike�s grounded.� Xander chuckled.
�He isn�t.� Buffy said. �But I should�ve tried this years ago.�
�You little-�
�Now what we are here for is to actually discuss things. So please, children.� Giles gave a look to both of them.
Willow set out her map. �Okay. This is Sunnydale. I marked all of the places where the map glowed. Over here, it�s right above Claybourne, kind of. The rest of it extends into the woods. Sneaky, huh? I know that this must be where they have their facilities, because all of these demons are not in a demon shape.�
�What we mean is, demons can be territorial.� Tara explained. �All of these other demons were spread out, some in groups, but those ones would be a pack. But all of the demons here are in a straight line, with two rows. There�s another section here, too. They�re not attacking each other. They�re not doing much. And then, here. There�s this odd circle of demons, all evenly spaced and not moving at all. We think that they�re in holding cells.�
�I think you found our culprit, Wills.� Xander said. �Nice detective work, Tara.�
Buffy looked up at Spike, who suddenly tried not to be interested. �Anything you wanna add?�
�Yeah. Big circle�s not a holding cell.� Spike said. �All the demons there are dead. That�s where the doc�s exercise their scalpel hands. Either give out a nice little prototype chip, or they just cut it open and see what makes it tick. And when they�re not that curious, they just take what they want, and amputate limbs. Whatever makes the demon unique. They�re not trying to protect the world, they�re just dissecting every weird creature that comes their way and categorizing it.�
Giles had to wipe off his glasses, rubbing at imaginary dust. �That�s just� disturbing.�
�How did you know that?� Buffy asked Spike.
�Well, I �eard about it. �eard it from a vamp, who got to see it close up. Poor bloke.�
�Well I think that we need to set these guys straight about demon abuse.� Xander said. �And all kidding aside, how do we storm this thing?�
�I have no idea.� Buffy confessed.
�But I�ll find out.� Willow offered. �I�m mad with the hacking skills.�
�We�d better find this quick.� Buffy said. �But I don�t want to march in there and get shot. We need to tear this thing apart until it�s no longer secret. We need to figure out a plan, and a good one.�
�Then we�d better get to work.� Tara decided.
�Is this another part of the Initiative?� Xander asked, pointing to a part near the school.
�Um, it could be.� Willow gave. �Looks like another cellblock to me.�
�But there�s a lot of distance between there and the woods.� Buffy protested.
Xander inhaled, feeling the weight already. �I think we�re gonna need a bigger boat.�
�Or a bigger ax.� Buffy mumbled.
�Perhaps a spell.� Giles suggested, leaning over the map with the other four.
�Ouch.�
Spike looked at James, already smelling blood. The toddler had wandered off to admire a small weapons collection. The vampire went over to James, who was started to cry as he experienced pain.
�Pet,� Spike knelt.
�It hurts.� James complained.
�Well, yeah, that�s what happens when you cut your finger open.� Spike said, taking his small hand.
�But you did it, and you didn�t even say �ow�.� James protested.
�That�s because I�m bigger, and when you�re bigger it doesn�t hurt as much.� Spike said. �Remember our talk about touching sharp weapons?�
�But they�re pretty. I like them.� James said, still stealing a glance at the weapons.
�Well you can�t touch them, or next time it�ll be this but worse. Have you ever seen a bloke with four fingers?�
James looked down at the blood from his finger. �Is it gonna keep bleeding forever?�
�Naw, I don�t think so.� Spike said. �Here, let�s see.� He kissed the finger, licking away most of the blood to see a straight cut across James� fingertip, probably deep, unless James had only lightly touched it, and being six, that was unlikely. He watched the cut, but no more blood flowed out, and soon he could smell the blood clot solidifying. �Hmm. Now that�s interesting.�
�What?�
�It�s all healed. So quick that I�m almost jealous.�
James looked at his finger, poking the cut, but no blood oozed out. �Are you really?�
�Yes.� Spike said. �Now no more touching weapons?�
�I won�t touch them.� James sighed with promise.
�Good boy.� Spike said.
�You never get cut with them, though.� James protested, looking at Spike�s hands.
�Sure I do.� Spike replied. �I just spent one hundred years using them, so I�m used to avoiding the point. Do you realize how many times I cut my hands before I could master wielding a sword or an ax?�
�Um� a gazillion band-aids?
�Well, you wouldn�t be wrong.�
�Doesn�t that hurt?�
�Oh, every time, pet.� Spike assured. �I�m just used to it.�
�When will I get used to it?�
�When you�re one hundred and twelve.� Spike said.
�Oh. Do I get a band-aid until then?�
�Sure, luv.� Spike kissed James� forehead and stood up, picking up his son. �Mum,� Spike smiled at Buffy. �Does James get a treat for being good?�
�Good?� Buffy echoed, trying to see how Spike justified touching sharp weapons �good� behavior.
�Sheeyeah.� Spike said. �Brave boys gotta get something, right? No? Never mind, then. Jamie, start crying. Mummy doesn�t think you�re good.�
�Spike,� Buffy complained. �Fine. Just be careful.� she gave in, knowing that Spike hated being here, but not wanting him to get caught again.
�Yes ma�am.� Spike smirked, leaving the Magick Box.
Giles looked at Buffy and she shrugged. �He�s blissfully insane.�
�Go on with them.� Giles encouraged. �We�re not doing much more than guesswork.�
�Thanks guys. Clue me in if you get anything big. Someone has to supervise the brats.�
Willow looked at Giles after Buffy had left. �Spike is so sweet.�
�It�s almost sickening.� Xander agreed. �Now can we save fang boy�s life, here?�
*****
�Oh, no.� Buffy groaned back at their house, seeing what he was doing. �Spike, no.�
Spike lifted an eyebrow and continued.
�No. Really, don�t. Stop. Stop.� She tugged on his arm and shrieked as Spike picked her up. �Hey! Lemme down!�
�No tampering with the evidence! I�m sorry, miss, but you�ll have to come with me.�
�Put me down you Neanderthal.� Buffy laughed as Spike carried her into the living room and dumped her onto the couch to do away with her.
�Now, Buffy, don�t be so harsh.� Spike said. �There�s only enough room on this earth for one vampire with the grotesquely overhanging brow.�
�Wow, did you make it all the way to fourth grade to learn that word?� Buffy teased.
�Had to spell it twenty times.�
�The horror.�
�I hated English. But it was the only thing I didn�t nearly fail or nearly die trying to not fail.�
�Huh. Those British nuns, huh? Real crafty with the rulers. Except, maybe yardsticks in your time.�
�Actually I went to a public school.� Spike corrected. �Or as public as it could be, seeing how half of the community couldn�t afford it. They didn�t have nuns and rulers, they had canes.�
�Yeesh.� Buffy grimaced. �And I thought principle Snyder was bad. He tried to get me in trouble for nearly breaking this perv�s nose on his steering wheel when he tried to come onto me � forcefully! Then he basically called me a slut and said that I offered sex and attacked him.�
�Sunnydale, pet.� Spike said. �Hellmouth an� all.�
�Yeah.� Buffy agreed. �Well, he did turn out to be some dumb horny fish-man-monster thing. Steroids, long story short. Jocks are such morons.�
Spike slunk back to the kitchen.
�No, seriously!� Buffy protested. �Argh. You�re gonna deal with him when he gets all hyper.�
�Now why would he do that?� Spike asked innocently, topping off his sundae with chocolate syrup and licking his fingers.
�Ugh. You so have to give him a bath when that stuff gets all over him.�
�Sugar.� Spike chuckled, as if it made up for that. �Jealous, pet? You want some?�
�Not that chocolate, after you licked your fingers.� Buffy made a face. �But� maybe a little.�
Spike smirked to himself and atoned for that, taking a big scoop. �Where�s the munchkin?�
�Hmm, no doubt listening to Dawn blabber, or bugging her.� Buffy said.
�Might wanna let him have some.� Spike considered, sitting down and giving Buffy her ice cream.
�Except then Dawn will want some.� Buffy added.
�No harm in seeing if they come downstairs before we finish it all.� Spike said, happily taking a spoonful.
�I guess not.� Buffy agreed, eating her ice cream. �You have way too much chocolate on that thing.�
�Gonna arrest me, officer?� Spike asked. �If not, lemme eat this darn chocolate �fore all the ice cream melts. Chocolate is one of the two basic food groups.�
�For vampires.� Buffy scoffed. �If you don�t quit eating that stuff you�re gonna have to go to the dentist.�
Spike stilled and set down the bowl.
�What?� Buffy gave him a look. �What?�
�Don�t say �dentist� to a vampire.�
�You�re so sensitive.� Buffy shook her head. �If only I could slay vampires by taking them to the dentist. Rip our their fangs��
Spike covered his ears. �I�m not listening to you.�
�Dull their senses with the evil procaine�� Buffy grinned. �Oh, geesh, Spike. You�re not really scared of the dentist, are you?�
�Ha. I grew up in England. Dentist meant you�d be lucky if you had a tooth left and any feeling in your gums. But can you imagine a vampire without fangs?� He shuddered.
�Yeah, it�d suck, but you could still drink blood.� Buffy said. �You�d just have to wear fake teeth to bite a virgin. Possibly fake metal fangs. Can you say vampire envy?�
�Not really.� Spike said. �Not a wild vampire. They�d be mobbed on and killed for being weaker. A vampire without fangs is like a deaf, blind and dumb human with no arms and legs.�
�Well that would suck.� Buffy considered. �Why aren�t you this normal around my friends? You�re always uptight when we go there.�
�Gimme a break, huh, Slayer? Bad enough I�ve gotten all touchy feely over here, you�re gonna totally unwind my image. It won�t even be shattered, it�ll just be gone.�
�I think I�m already halfway there.� Buffy replied. �So you�re already screwed.�
�I guess so.�
�So why are you so good to me?�
Spike shrugged. �Can�t risk pissing you off, �cause you could kill me with a toothpick for one, and you pay for my blood, and �cause I can punch Xander and walk away, but you�re mother to my son so I figure I might as well try to get along, best to my abilities.�
�Thank you.� Buffy said. �But no punching Xander.�
�I�ll try to restrain my manly urges to beat the crap out of things. Save it for the demons and all.�
�Good. Now eat your ice cream before it melts.�
Spike smiled and picked up the cold treat, eating spoonfuls happily.
*****
�Hi Buffy.� Riley greeted, rocking on his toes as he met up with his girlfriend. �I was just wondering if maybe you could go to the Bronze.�
�Sure.� Buffy smiled. �I think can pencil you in. How�s April 14th?�
�Really far away.�
�I�m just kidding.� Buffy smiled. �Tomorrow night�s good for me. But latish. That way I can do my chores and � study.�
�Cool.� Riley agreed. �But I do like to sleep. How�s ten for you? Earlier, later?�
�No, I think that�s good.� Buffy agreed. �That gives me plenty of time. And, uh, your bedtime is�?�
�I�m gonna try for two this time.� Riley laughed. �My friends really like to party. I�ll pick you up, then. Maybe help you study beforehand?�
�Actually, I think I�ll just meet you there.� Buffy said. �A lady needs her time to fix herself up. I�ve been looking like crap lately.�
�I think you�re beautiful.�
Buffy blushed, ducking her head. �You�re such a kiss-up.�
�Buffy,� Willow interrupted urgently, grabbing her friend�s arm. �Giles, uh � we�re researching tonight. I�m sorry but I couldn�t find much. I�ll try again. Be sure to bring your brains, okay?�
�Okay, Wills.� Buffy nodded.
Willow looked at Riley. �Sorry. Go back to your conversation.� She looked sternly at her friend. �No kissing.�
�Yes, mother.� Buffy rolled her eyes and Willow scurried to class, always wanting to be early so she didn�t miss anything.
�What was that about?�
�Oh, nothing. Just a study group.� Buffy said. �You know how Willow is. She hyperventilates if she gets a B.�
�I see.� Riley furrowed his brow. �Well, I think it�s my turn to do that ditching thing. I have to go to gym. Something I never fail.�
�Me neither.� Buffy winked, and turned to go to her own class.