Something New
Chapter 4
Something New
Chapter 4
Three hours and two bottles of scotch later a half passed out Spike was on the table, the empty bottle dangling out of his hand and Giles, Willow and Buffy trying to get the dart out of his back.
�Can�t you get it yet?� Buffy asked. �Just pull it out. Spike�ll heal.�
�This bullet it lodged in muscle.� Giles said, irritated. �If I just yank it out there�s a good chance that I could sever some of these crucial tendons.�
�As in Spike won�t be able to flip Xander off?� Buffy questioned. �Go for it.�
Giles gave her a look. �He wouldn�t be able to lift his arm, vampire healing or not, but it�s possible he�d still be able to flip Xander off.�
�Ah, well, we tried.� Buffy sighed. �What? I was just kidding. Don�t just yank it out, even if it did mean he wouldn�t be able to punch anything anymore.�
�Yes, well then, let me work.� Giles requested, going back to trying to dig out the dart, and Spike grunted under a scrape of the scalpel.
�I hope it�s not in the bone.� Willow cringed.
�It appears it might be.� Giles said, wiping his brow. �I�m not a surgeon, I�m a former librarian and current shop owner. I�m hardly qualified to perform surgery on an inebriated vampire.�
�What�s to know? Just take some tweezers and pull it out.� Buffy suggested.
�No, hold on, I think I know a spell.� Willow said.
�A spell?� Giles questioned. �Don�t you think that may be a bit drastic?�
�Not if Spike has a bullet lodged in his muscle and bone and any minute the Initiative could barge in and kill us all.� Willow replied. �I think a spell�s just right. Clean the area and I�ll set up.� She found a few candles and herbs and started sprinkling a circle on the floor.
�Alright, clean time.� Buffy said, finding a cloth and wiping off Spike�s back, causing the vampire to grunt again when she cleansed the wound.
�W-Willow, be sure to-�
�I got it.� Willow assured, sitting down in the circle and placing five candles around her. �Giles, light the candles.� She instructed, lighting up a stick of incense as the Watcher struck a match. �Okay, everyone be quiet, I don�t want to mess this up.� She started saying phrases in Latin and Giles stepped back, letting the Wiccan work her skills.
�Red�s shpeaking in tongues.� Spike mumbled, knowing he should be concerned.
�Shush or she might pull out your arm bone by mistake.� Buffy warned.
�Extermino haec odium lamina.� Willow said, her eyes dilating black for a split second, then receding to normal.
�Ew.� Buffy stepped back as Spike�s wound opened further by magickal force and the dart turned, twisting and coming out like a screw until it levitated above him, at least three inches long. Buffy took the dart from the air and the wound closed with a wet sound.
�Did it work?� Willow asked as another wound opened on Spike.
Buffy�s eyes went wide and she took the second piece of metal and the wound closed as before. The Slayer stood for a second, looking at the metal in each hand and the unconscious vampire.
�Buffy, did it work?� Willow repeated, blowing out candles and standing up. �Is Spike all right? The spell worked, didn�t it?�
Giles adjusted his glasses, looking at the objects Buffy held in her hands. �My lord.�
�What?� Willow frowned. �What is it?�
�Willow,� Buffy said in shock. �You just got rid of Spike�s chip.�
�What?� Willow squeaked, looking at the chip in Buffy�s hand.
�You got rid of Spike�s chip!� Buffy exclaimed.
�How?!� Willow cried. �I didn�t mean to!�
�The bullet came out and then the chip came out!� Buffy yelped. �You�ve just unleashed William the Bloody!�
�But� but� Spike�s not evil anymore.� Willow defended. �Maybe it won�t matter.�
�Of course it will!� Buffy persisted. �As soon as Spike finds out he can, he�ll be killing people again!�
�Buffy,� Giles reasoned, trying to calm his Slayer. �There�s no reason to tell Spike of this feat. If he still believes he has the chip all may be well.�
�But if he ever gets into a fight, he�ll know.� Buffy insisted, not quite confident that this would work.
�Buffy, he�ll think of James.� Willow reminded. �I don�t think he�d hurt Jamie.�
�Sure, he�ll just teach his son how to sink his fangs into an innocent person�s neck.� Buffy said. �God, how could I be so stupid?�
�Stupid?� Willow frowned. �How were you stupid ever?�
�In trusting that Spike would always just be harmless.� Buffy sighed. �If he starts killing again I�ll have to stake him.�
�Buffy, what about James?� Willow cried. �You can�t stake Spike!�
�Will, I said �if�.� Buffy reminded. �Maybe, and it might be a stretch, but maybe he won�t. Suppose he can be halfway decent for Jamie. But if he can�t, then I�ll have to.�
Willow looked down and everyone was silent for a moment. �Maybe someone should wake Spike up.�
�Oh� probably.� Buffy agreed, shoving Spike�s shoulders, but asleep � or unconscious � Spike was not much more than a dead body. �Oh come on, get up.� She gripped his hair, knowing that Spike would yelp and curse, but she only lifted his head and it flopped back down. Not much more than a dead body. �Uh-oh.� Buffy said. �Spike�s really out. Maybe we should just� leave him here.�
�In my shop?� Giles questioned. �I should think not! I can�t just have a corpse sprawled across my table!�
Buffy looked at Willow hopefully.
�I-I can�t.� Willow stammered. �Tara? And I can�t keep a guy in my dorm room, even if there was enough room for him.�
�I don�t know if my mom will approve.� Buffy said. �I could kick Dawn out of her room but she might not like it. Course there�s always room on�� The shop bell rang. ��the couch.�
�Tara!� Willow quickly scurried over to her girlfriend. �Um I didn�t expect you-�
�I-I know.� Tara stammered. �We�re a little late. I think I either tired him out or bored him into a coma.�
Willow looked at James, whose eyelids were heavy and kept blinking sleepily. �He�s cute when he�s tired, too.� Willow smiled. �But I don�t think you bored him into a coma. You�re not boring and I don�t think there�s a standing-up and blinking coma.�
Tara laughed softly. �D-did you guys help Spike alright?�
�Oh.� Willow remembered. �Yeah, but he�s kind of out of it.�
�Oh.� Tara frowned. �I-Is Buffy gonna bring him back to his crypt?�
�No.� Willow said quickly. �Spike�s probably gonna have a headache in the morning and I think Buffy will want to keep an eye on him. Plus � Jamie. We can�t leave him alone with one cranky vampire unsupervised. And also, by accident, Spike�s kind of� unchipped.�
�Unchipped?� Tara echoed fearfully. �As in he can go all �grr�? L-like when he almost when all �grr� on you?�
�But he won�t.� Willow said quickly. �He doesn�t know. And he wouldn�t anyway, for Jamie�s sake.�
�I think I can carry him.� Buffy said to Giles.
�I-I hope your right.� Tara said. �And what are we going to do? A-about the munchkin?�
�Oh. Uh�� Willow glanced at Buffy. �You should probably take him over to Buffy�s house. Joyce can get him - maybe something not candy - and send him to bed.�
�Um, okay.� Tara agreed. �So, uh, we�re sure Spike�s not evil?�
�And to have a son as cute as Jamie?� Willow snorted. �No way. Besides, I�m sure Buffy would beat him to death with a two-by-four first.�
�Hey, young ears.� Tara held Jamie�s head. �I-I�d better go then, and get Jamie settled in. Are you staying? Th-there? At Buffy�s house, I mean?�
�I don�t think she needs me. Were you worried, sweetie?�
�N-no.� Tara smiled. �But I can be relieved.�
Willow kissed Tara and ruffled James� hair, and he managed a happy bounce and hugged her legs.
�Come on, sweetie.� Tara said.
�Mommy.� James objected, finally spotting Buffy.
�Hey, it�s okay, you�ll see her in a second.� Willow promised. �You must be sleepy.�
James looked at Willow with big eyes and pouty lips.
�I�ll take that as a yes.� Willow decided.
�I�ll get him settled in.� Tara smiled nervously. �By guys, and uh, g-good luck with Spike.�
Buffy looked up from where she was trying to lift the vampire, one limp arm over her shoulder. �Oh. Thanks, Tara. And, uh, hurry before Mr. Sleepy thinks that S-P-I-K-E is D-E-A-D.�
Tara�s eyes widen and she moved a little faster, quickly escorting Jamie out of the Magick Box. �Bye Willow.� Tara called quietly, and then left, guiding the tired six-year-old back to the Summer�s residence.
*****
�Where�s Jamie?� Buffy asked worriedly when she finally managed to get home.
�Fresh from a warm bath.� Joyce smiled, ruffling James� freshly washed hair.
�Awww, hey cutie.� Buffy knelt and took his head, kissing him and smelling the familiar shampoo and baby powder. �Wow, you look so different when you�re clean! I almost didn�t recognize you so clean and cute.�
James giggled and hugged her. �I love you, mommy.�
�I love you, too, baby.� She touched the nape of his neck, noticing the fine, lighter, almost white hair and pale skin. She moved back and looked at the eager eyes, shining with infused blue and green. �Did grams take care of you?�
�Uh-huh.� James nodded. �Is Daddy home?�
Buffy faltered. �He needs a little rest, okay? Remember he promised you you�d have lots of fun together when he feels right again. You can sleep with me tonight and by morning maybe Daddy�ll be up for some play.�
�Okay,� James agreed stubbornly. �Will there be more hot chocolate?�
Buffy looked up at her mother and Joyce put on a guilty smile.
�Apparently this little guy is just like his dad.� Joyce said. �William is such a nice boy.�
�Sometimes.� Buffy agreed.
�Buffy, why is-�
�Dawn,� Buffy intercepted. �Go put James in my room and get him ready for bed. Please?�
�Why should I?� Dawn huffed. �Can�t you?�
�I could, but I want to talk to mom for a moment.� Buffy said. �I have some really important Slayer issues, okay? Just keep him company, at least. Read him a story or something, and I�ll be up in a few.�
�We don�t have Three Little Pigs laying around anywhere.� Dawn reminded.
�I�m paying you twenty bucks.� Buffy said. �Make something up.�
�Oh.� Dawn cheered up slightly. �Come on, Jamie. Wanna hear the story about the little boy and the Big Bad Wolf?�
�Dawn,� Buffy had a warning tone.
�I�m kidding, sheesh!� Dawn cried, leading James away. �I�ll go smother him with gooey sappy stories.�
Buffy rolled her eyes and turned back to her mother, who was giving her a look. �Whaaat?�
�Nothing.� Joyce smiled. �It�s just that you�ve grown so much just since yesterday! I hope everything is going okay with Jamie and you and Spike.�
�Actually, that�s why I came.� Buffy said nervously. �Spike is on the couch. He kind of got knocked out by a spell Willow did. He should be fine, but I wanted to keep an eye on him, so I had to bring him here. Is that okay?�
�Oh, sure!� Joyce nodded. �I just� well, I hope he�ll be okay with human food in the morning.�
�Yeah,� Buffy agreed. �He should. I mean, if he even wants to eat. He might have an, uh, a headache. When he wakes up, just lemme know, okay? And don�t let Dawn hound him, �cause he tends to be cranky in the morning. Something tells me he might be hurting when he wakes up.�
Joyce winced. �Is he okay? Is there something wrong?�
�No, no, no!� Buffy assured quickly. �Well, yeah, kind of. He got shot, or tagged, or whatever. Either way Willow had to use a spell to get the bullet out. I don�t know whether the spell was too much for him, or if was the scotch that did it, but Spike passed out. I just wanted to make sure he wouldn�t wake up to find Jamie gone and freak or something, and I had to be sure Jamie would be safe.�
�Of course.� Joyce nodded. �That�s very mature of you. But, will Spike be okay?�
�I� I don�t know.� Buffy admitted. �But when he does wake up, just kinda lay off if he�s seems irritated. We don�t want to� provoke him or anything. And seriously? Keep Dawn away from him. She doesn�t need to be bothering him.�
�But Spike has that� chip in his head, right?� Joyce recalled.
�Uh�� Buffy laughed nervously. �That has yet to be seen. Please don�t tell him, okay? If he doesn�t figure it out, fine, but I don�t want to risk letting William the Bloody take a killing spree. Err� not that he will. He says he�s changed, for Jamie, but if he even shows the slightest sign of evilness, I�ll chain him up, I swear! I think Willow might be able to re-chip him, or he might not know.�
�So Spike may be dangerous?� Joyce asked fearfully.
�Well - no! I�m sure he isn�t. I mean, he adores you. Just feed him lots of hot chocolate until I come home, and keep him occupied. Don�t really let him know anything�s wrong, but be aware. Be very aware.�
�Oh, honey� maybe it�s not the best idea to keep a potentially deadly vampire on the couch.� Joyce said worriedly. �Should I bring up a cot?�
�Mooom!�
�Okay, okay.� Joyce held up her hands. �I�ll be careful. But I�m bringing him a blanket. Vampire or no, cold is cold, and I don�t want to be rude to our guest.�
�He is not our guest.� Buffy refused. �He�s a dangerous criminal who�s only temporarily changed because of his new son.�
�Of course he is, sweetie.� Joyce patronized. �Why don�t you go see Jamie to bed.�
�Alright.� Buffy agreed reluctantly. �But be careful. I mean it.� She headed upstairs and Joyce wasted no time fetching a blanket to make the couch more hospitable for the vampire.
�Dawn, you can go.� Buffy said, entering her bedroom where her sister had apparently given James Mr. Gordo.
�Where�s my money?� Dawn demanded, sitting on the bed with James.
�I�ll pay you later.� Buffy promised. �Tomorrow. Just go, please? Let me tuck James into bed.�
�Fine.� Dawn got up and went to the door. �But you�d better pay me or I�m telling mom.�
Buffy waited until Dawn had shut the door after her, then sighed and sat down next to Jamie, who was hugging the stuffed pig under his arm.
�Did Dawn tell you funny stories and play nice?�
�I guess.�
�I see you like Mr. Gordo.� Buffy commented.
�Uh-huh.� James nodded.
�You know, Mr. Gordo is a very special pig.� She continued. �He has super soft hugging powers and the ability to oink.�
James laughed and Buffy hugged him, then moved the pig with a tiny voice. �Oink! Oink!� She kissed his still-wet hair and watched in amusement as he clutched the pig. �Would you like to sleep with Mr. Gordo tonight?�
�Yea!� James nodded enthusiastically.
�Okay, better get under the covers.� Buffy said, and he scooted up, pulling the sheets down messily and shimmying up against the giant pillows that dwarfed him in comparison. Buffy fixed the sheets and pulled them up under his chin, tucking them in on the sides like her mother used to when she was a little girl. James huffed and freed an arm and Buffy placed Mr. Gordo next to him, which he quickly hugged. �There, good?�
�Yes, mommy.� James said, closing his eyes as he was kissed again. Super Jamie sure did get a lot of love!
�Good, then.� Buffy said, getting up to go plug in a small lamp, then went to the doorway. �Good night, Jamie.�
�Waaaiiit!� James shrieked as the room plunged into darkness. The lights came back on and Buffy looked down in confusion at the boy clinging to her legs. How could he be scared of the dark? He spent more than a week in a crypt with a vampire!
�Where are you going?� James demanded, tears shining. �Why were you leaving me?!�
�I wasn�t,� Buffy said quickly. �I�m sorry. I�ll stay, okay?� James was already crying piteously, and she had to guide him back into bed. �I�m not leaving.� She assured, quickly going to turn off the light, then joining James on the bed, sitting next to him. �Are you okay?�
James sniffled. �Noooo. You tried to leave me!�
�No, no, no, I-I would�ve been right downstairs.� Buffy assured. �I won�t leave you. Come on, I�ll stay here. Here, hold Mr. Gordo.�
James hugged the pig but showed no signs of letting Buffy go anytime soon. Finally he asked wearily and in a small voice that rightfully belonged to him, �Where�s Daddy? You said he was coming back.�
�I know, sweetie, he is.� Buffy promised. �He�s right downstairs, sleeping. He has to rest, okay, so it�s best if we don�t disturb him if he decides to sleep in tomorrow, okay?�
�Okay.� James agreed in a sigh. �Is Daddy okay?�
�Oh, he just got a little hurt. Like� a splinter. But he�s fine. He�s just tired, and he needs a nap.� Buffy moved up on her bed so Jamie would lie down next to her. �I think you need a nap, too. You�ve had a busy day. Why don�t you tell me all about what you did today with Tara?�
�We went an� saw a movie.� James replied tiredly.
�Ooh, which one?� Buffy asked.
�Nemo.� James said. �It was funny.�
�Who�s Nemo?� Buffy frowned.
�This lil� orange fishy.� James explained. �And he got losted, and there was a turdle��
�Oh, so it was an underwater movie?�
�I guess so.� James agreed. �We had fun, and she bought me popcorn.�
�That was nice.�
�Uh-huh. I think Tara likes me.�
�What�s not to like?� Buffy teased happily. �Willow and Tara adore you.�
�Cooties.� James shuddered, and Buffy laughed softly.
They continued talking for a few more minutes, but then James� boredom vanished and he was asleep instantly. But he wasn�t the only one who got tricked by the Sandman, because Buffy had certainly intended on going back downstairs�she just didn�t make it that far.