Buffy, Willow and Xander entered The Bronze. It was alive with Friday
night revelers. Buffy sighed as she took in the almost solidly filled room.
This was going to take a while. She began passing out assignments for the
daunting search. "Xander, you head off over there" She pointed to the
left. "Willow check by the bar. I'm going upstairs. If you spot Faith or
find out something signal me up in the balcony. If you don't, then just ask
around. If she was here, somebody had to see her. She's not alone, so find out
who she was talking to, who she was with, anything."
"Gotcha" Xander replied as he headed off.
"Don't worry Buffy." Willow reassured her, "You've already
kicked her skanky butt once. You'll get her again."
"I hope so Will. I just wish Giles were here. And we could use some backup
from Sp." She stopped, realizing what she had almost said. "We will
find her. Let's go."
Buffy took a slow stroll around the ground level, but saw nothing out of the
ordinary. She passed under the stairs and stopped by the pole there. This is
where she had caught up with Spike on the night Giles left town. He had come to
comfort her and she had pushed him away again, until she had chased him down
and found herself snogging with him. She smiled. That was his terminology,
‘was’ being the operative word. She gave herself a mental scolding and
continued on with her mission, her eyes darting right and left, looking for
anything that resembled the darker slayer. She climbed the stairs, glancing
around the room as she ascended. Everything appeared normal. People were
dancing, playing pool, sitting at tables, and laughing. There was no sign of
Faith. As she reached the balcony and scanned the catwalk she glanced over to
where just a few weeks before she and Spike…
"I've got to stop this" Buffy muttered to herself. The search for
Faith was more important that reliving her past mistakes. She glanced down to
the ground level where a motion caught her eye. She turned her head toward the
bar where Willow was waving enthusiastically, motioning for her to come down.
Buffy managed to catch Xander's eye and pointed over to Willow and the bar.
Within seconds they had all converged there.
"What did you find out?" Buffy asked.
Willow was excited, "She was here earlier! The bartender said she left
over an hour ago."
Buffy nodded. "Was she with a man?"
"Yes, but get this. She left with Spike!"
"Spike?" Xander squeaked.
Buffy shook her head slightly "Are you sure? I don't even think she knows
Spike."
"It was Spike." Willow confirmed. "The bartender already knows
him, and it's not like he's real typical looking or anything."
"That does it." Xander smacked his palm with his fist. "Chip or
no chip, I'm killing him."
"Let's go." Buffy was already on her way out the door.
*****
Spike stood over the body of the dead Slayer. He was filled with an elation
that he hadn't felt in over two years, not since the chip had been implanted in
his brain. At first he had railed against the invasion, doing everything within
his power to have it removed. It made him broken, impotent. Eventually, he had
learned to accept his limitations and had reveled in the knowledge that it was
only harming humans that caused the debilitating pain. Once he had realized
that he couldn't feed on live humans anymore he had pushed the memories of
those experiences out of his mind. He had fooled himself into believing the
thrill of violence was all that he had missed from his former life -- the
thrill that was fed by allying himself with the Buffy and helping her kill demons.
Now after tasting the spoils of his kill, the euphoria came flooding back. He
felt strong, energized, invincible! The Slayer's power was coursing through his
veins, enhancing his already supernatural strength.
"Looks like you've just bagged number three, Spike old boy." The
words were proud but the tone was not. He felt no remorse. She was a nasty
little bint, and it was her destiny to die young. Still, he knew that when
Buffy discovered what he had done, his days were numbered. His elation dissipated
as the impact of what he had done flooded over him. Buffy no longer had a
reason to let him live. Now that he could feed his bloodlust he knew he
wouldn't stop. He might pick on the more unsavory members of society, but he
won't stop. It went against every aspect of his nature. His shoulders drooped
and he exhaled with resignation. His face returned to its human countenance,
and he raised his hand to wipe the Slayer's blood from his face.
As he studied at the blood covering his fingers he heard a whooshing sound
behind him. He didn't need to turn his head to know who was there. "Back
for another visit, are you Cecily? I'll say that your timing could be
better."
"I sensed some strong emotions. What's happened here William?"
Spike reluctantly turned to face her "I have finally reverted to form pet.
I have your gift to thank for it."
Halfrek was puzzled. "You were ecstatic a few moments ago, now you are
not. Why?"
He sighed. "In doing what I was made to do, I've sealed my fate."
"And what is your fate, except for what you choose it to be?"
"Buffy, the Slayer, will kill me now. And I won't stop her." His
voice reflected the resignation that filled him.
"That doesn't make sense William. You don't have to die at her hand."
"What else is there for me?"
She moved close to him. "You can come away with me. I have almost
unlimited power. I could grant you any wish."
He shook his head to stop her words, but she continued. "William, listen
to me." She turned his face with her hand and looked into his eyes.
"You loved me once when we were both pathetic mortals. Now we are both
immortal. Worlds can be ours for the taking."
"What is it with you bloody women tonight?" He shrugged away from
her. He found his chair and lit a cigarette. He inhaled deeply, and expelled the
smoke slowly. "Cecily, that pathetic ninny William had the hots for you.
I'm not him. I haven't been since the day I was turned. He's off writing his
silly musings while sitting on a cloud up in happy land. I am in love with the
one woman who will never love back because of what I am." He smirked at
the irony. "History does have a way of repeating itself, doesn't it,
love?"
"William, it doesn't have to be the same. I see you through different eyes
now."
"If you truly see me, then you know I will never be yours." He turned
his face away and glanced down at the crypt floor. "Shove off now. Don't
you have some bloody havoc to wreak?"
Halfrek glared at him angrily for a moment, then with an elaborate wave of her
arms, she was gone. Spike stood and gazed at the empty spot where the vengeance
demon had been a second before, then shrugged his shoulders and turned to the
body of the dead girl on the floor. "Well sweetheart, I guess it's time I
find you a resting place." He picked up Faith's limp form and carried it
toward the door.
*****
Buffy, followed by Xander and Willow, strode into the cemetery. She was walking
purposefully toward Spike's crypt, and had not spoken since the three had left
the Bronze. Xander stopped, winded, and bent over with his hands on his knees.
"Hey Buffy... you wanna slow it down a little? Normal humans in your wake,
here."
Willow stopped beside him also out of breath, and nodded in agreement.
Buffy stopped and turned impatiently toward her best friends. "I just want
to get this over with."
Willow, between gasps, questioned her. "Do we have a plan? Like, what are
we going to do? Knock on the door and say, 'Excuse me Spike, but did you happen
to find a spare Slayer hanging around, and what are you doing with her anyway?'
I don't even know what he would want with Faith. It's not like he's been
interested in anybody since he decided he was in love with Buffy."
Buffy and Xander both glared at her.
Willow was confused by their reactions. "Or then again, maybe there is a
perfectly logical explanation for why a vampire who can't fight humans would go
to the Bronze and pick up a criminally insane super powered prison escapee who
kills vampires in her more lucid moments."
"Point taken," Xander turned to Buffy "Do we have a plan?"
"First of all, I should probably let you know something," Buffy took
a deep breath. "Spike can hurt humans again."
Xander was stunned. "What? When? How?"
Buffy glared at him pointedly. "Last night. Apparently a certain friend of
mine was overheard making a wish for his chip to be removed."
"Who would do something that stupid?"
Buffy rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Who do you think? Who was here
last night making wishes?"
"Me?" Understanding dawned on him. "I'm stupid." He closed
his eyes. "Halfrek. She must have been here in the cemetery last night!
Why would she be granting me a wish?"
"Well she spent the whole day with Anya." Willow interrupted.
"There's no telling what she was thinking."
Xander was dismayed. "Oh no! Now what are we going to do?"
Buffy was firm. "We are going to go over there and see if anybody is home.
We'll play the rest by ear."
Xander shrugged. Willow nodded. They all resumed walking toward the crypt.
As they approached the door it opened and Spike emerged with Faith's body dangling
from his arms. Traces of her blood were still visible on his face and his
hands. They all stopped dead in their tracks, completely horrified.
"No!" Buffy cried.
Willow began to ask "Is she...?"
"Dead." Xander stated. The realization sank in, "My god, she's
dead."
Buffy was completely bewildered. "What did you do?" Her eyes begged
Spike to deny the obvious.
Spike bent over to lay Faith's body down. As he did her head flopped over and
they could see her mangled neck. He straightened slowly and looked at Buffy.
"It's pretty clear what happened, Innit?"
"You killed her?" Buffy's eyes began to fill with tears. "You
drank her?"
"You were right all along love. I'm an evil bloodsucking fiend. It's what
I do."
"Why? Why did you do this?" Her tears were flowing freely now.
"For you, pet. She was going to try to kill you. I couldn't very well let
her do it, now could I?" Spike's voice was filled with quiet dignity and
resignation.
Xander interrupted their exchange. "Where is the guy?"
"What guy?" Spike had no idea what Xander was talking about.
"The boyfriend guy... She escaped from prison today and hooked up with a
man. His name is..." Xander tried to remember, but couldn't. "Willow,
what was the guy's name."
Willow lifted her hands. She couldn't remember either.
A voice came from above "Walter."
They looked up. There was a man standing on top of the crypt. He was large with
bushy dark hair and a pockmarked face. He was wearing a short leather jacket
and dark jeans over boots. The gun in his hand was aimed at Buffy's head.
"My name is Walter and your friend has just killed my woman. Now I'm going
to kill all of you." He pulled the trigger, but Buffy reflexes kicked in
and she was able to duck and roll out of the way. The bullets missed her,
thudding harmlessly into the earth. Walter continued to fire at the rapidly
moving slayer. Suddenly, he was knocked off his feet and the gun was ripped
from his hands. He barely had time to register Spike's presence on the roof of
the crypt before he was flung to the ground.
Xander ran over to the downed felon and rained blows to his head and face.
Willow added some kicks his legs. Spike jumped back down to the ground to help,
but Walter was already unconscious.
"We need something to hold him." Xander looked around, but found
nothing "What I wouldn't do for a pair of handcuffs."
Buffy and Spike exchanged a quick look. "I'll be right back." Spike
said, then stepped inside his crypt. Buffy and Willow walked over to look at
Walter lying a few feet away from Faith's body. Nobody could believe what had
happened.
"What are we going to do about Faith?" Willow wanted to know.
Xander had a different concern. "What are we going to do about
Spike?"
Buffy answered them both "I just don't know..."
Spike emerged holding his handcuffs. As he prepared to toss them to Xander, he
noticed a movement behind a tombstone. Two other men were there. One carried a
shotgun and the other had a crossbow. Both weapons were trained on Buffy's
back. In the split second before they were fired, a memory flashed through
Spike's mind:
"I want you to know I did save you. Not when it counted, of course. But
after that. Every night after that. I'd see it all again, do something
different. Faster or more clever, you know? Dozens of times, lots of different
ways... Every night I save you."
It seemed to happen in slow motion. Spike made a huge leap from the front of
the crypt. Buffy heard his voice yelling "Down!" as he sailed over
her head. She fell to the ground, pulling Xander and Willow down with her. She
looked up to see Spike's body jerking as the shotgun shells tore through him,
and she heard the dull thud as the bolt from the crossbow was buried in his
chest. Distantly she heard her own voice screaming "Nooooooooo..." as
his body fell to the earth and disintegrated into dust.