Of course this is Sunnydale California. The only details that change are the steriotypical bar and it's patrons. Our man of the hour's posture is slouched over. He's leaning one arm on the bar for support as he talks to his furry companion. Oh and, he's a vampire. Goodbye typical.
"And so then she said no. So I left. Just left her there with Captin Carboard and came here." He took another swig of the bottle before he continued talking to the basket of sleeping kittens. One little brave kitten stared at him intently. He was black with one white paw. Spike liked this one the best. Not that he'd tell anyone that.
Spike continued his recount of Buffy and Reily to the little kitten. His speech was badly slurred. "So you know what I think? I think I'm going to tell her to sod off." The kitten meowed at him seemingly in agreement.
"I don't need her and her high and mighty attitude, her commercial hair and the way she looks at me when she thinks I'm not looking. I can do just fine without her and the Bit."
Spike took another mouthful of the bourbon, swallowed hard and glanced to the bar. A portly bartender approached him, wiping his hands on a dirty tee-towel. The man looked like he hadn't shaved in days, his tee shirt was probably white in the beginning of the week. At the moment it was a faded grey/brown mixture. Spike smirked thinking that the demons that supported the bar at least dressed better than the owner of the place.
"Spike you can't sit here all night. I've got other customers that need that bar stool. Plus you know the rules. No pets in the bar. Backroom only. So take your winnings and leave."
"You know what Harry? I don't give a bloody damn if your customers sit their asses on the floor. I paid for this bottle. That makes me a paying customer who's going to sit on this stool and drink it. So sod off mate." A threatening growl emenated from the vampire's throat. Harry refused to be rattled by it, and continued to press his luck with the brooding vampire.
"Sod off huh? Thats mighty big talk coming from a hum---" In one swift move, Spike lept across the counter and grabbed the man up by his dirty tee-shirt collar. Spike's eyes glinted yellow, his face took on it's demon visage while his grip continued to bring the man's feet off the floor. "Don't piss me off Harry. I'm not in the mood tonight."
Harry stared back at Spike with fear. Last time he knew Spike was human for some reason or another. No one knew, Spike would never say, and no one ever dared ask.
"My mistake Spike. I---I thought you were human. I didn't mean anything by it. You can sit here all night if you want."
Spike brought the man nose to nose with him. "I'm a vampire. I've always been a vampire, I'll always be a vampire." Spike's voice was cold and firm.
"You'd do well to remember it mate."
Spike let go of Harry as fast as he had grabbed him. The old bartender's feet made a thud on the floor as he faught to gain his balance. Harry stole a glance around the bar to see if anyone noticed. Spike was the only one he'd let rattle his cage and none of the other demons needed to see even that little display.
"Yea yea Spike. I'm sorry. My mistake." The frightened man stuttered on his words as he watched the vampire leave the bar, basket of kittens in one hand, bottle in the other. The duster billowed out behind him making the moody vampire seem all the more dangerous.
From the shadows a large figure watched unnoticed. He had orders to terminate Hostile 17 immediatly. After 10 hours of survealiance now was finally a good time to carry out his orders.
"Redbird to base. Hostile 17 is now on the move. No civilian's are in danger if I bring him down now. Permission to fire on?" "Permission granted Redbird. Fire when ready. Report to base when you are done. Over and out." Redbird took aim at Spike who was clibming in his Desoto. The young man was pulled suddenly and violently to the ground. "Hey what the...?"
"You must not do that. We need him. You are expendable."
Snap.
"The prophosy shall not be compromised."
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Dawn bounded downstairs with books in hand. A disgusted look and a grunt was shot at Buffy who was making coffee on auto piolet. "Don't look at me like that."
"Like what? Is he still here?"
Buffy took a seat on the barstool. "No. And he has a name. Its Reily."
"Does mom know yet?"
"Does mom know what yet Dawn?"
"How you treated Spike like shit last night. You know I'm so going to tell her if you don't."
Buffy poured the sugar in her coffee absently. "Dawn don't cuss. And I didn't do anything last night."
"Buffy you are so inmature! Spike has done nothing but good for you. Buffy he changed for you. Reily comes back and all that changes?"
Buffy started to speak but was cut off by Dawn's hand in the air. "I don't even want to hear what you have to say. Its most likly some excuse about poor Buffy and what you've been through. It's getting old already. I'm going to school."
Tears welled up behind Buffy's eyes. "Dawn its Saturday. You don't have school."
Dawn yanked open the backdoor and glanced back at Buffy coldly.
"I know."
Tears fell from the Slayers eyes as the door slammed.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
The Magic Shop was empty for a change. Saturday morning brought no early shoppers yet. Already the lack of sales was bringing Anya down. While she continued to whine occasionally throughout her morning chores the gang sulked around the table.
"I'm thinking that the doghnut hole is a substantial part of breakfast." Xander announced to the gang. Willow tilted her head to the side to look over at Xander who was examining the chocolate covered pastry intently.
"Alright I'm game. What makes you say that Xander? Its just the middle of the doughnut." Willow flopped her chin hin her hands, elbows propped up on the table.
Xander pointed at her excitedly. "Aha, there is where you are wrong Wil's. If it was just the middle of the doughnut and therefore insignificant why would they box em? Why not just throw them out?"
Dawn's face brightned with an idea for the first time of the morning. "Xander might have a point. You never see angel food cake holes. Or bunt cake holes. Or even Jello mold holes. They must throw them away."
"My point exactly Dawnie." Xander raised an eyebrow at Willow to indicate victory while the doughnut met it's fate in his stomach.
"Xander I don't know why you never became a chef." Willow stated. Dawn giggled. "Cause he'd eat everything before he got to serve it." Xander managed to muffle an, "I resent that." Anya's face brightened up as the door bell jingled. "Oh good. A customer. I need to make some money today."
Reily stepped inside the shop and was met with three curiously shocked gazes and one scowl. Willow whispered to Xander. "Now I know what Dawn has been upset about all morning. I bet that's why we haven't seen Spike yet either. Anya disregarded Reily and went back to her register.
"Well he's not going to buy anything."
Dawn grabbed her books and went for the door, brushing past Reily as she went. "Hey Dawnie, where you off to?" Dawn whirled around and glared at him. "None of your buisness. And don't call me Dawnie." Xander, Willow and Anya stared after the angry teen as the door slammed shut. "Whats eating her?" Xander asked outloud.
Reily took a seat beside Willow. "Hey gang."
"Reily. So good to see you. Its been so long. Are you on leave?" "Yea, I came to see Buffy. How are you guys doing though?"
Xander shrugged. "Same old demon wackiness around here."
Willow nodded. "Well, except for the Spike being human thing. That's actually kinda new."
Riley gave her an odd look. "What do you mean Spike being human? I had it out with with him last night he was definitely a vampire."
Willow shook her head uncertainly. "Um... no... I'm pretty sure he's human now. I mean, he walks out in the sun and everything. Plus the pulse..."
"Yea he saved Buffy's life a few months ago and this was his reward I guess. She didn't mention that part did she?" Xander stared at Reily who's face became more twisted with confusion by the moment.
"Uh no, I guess she kind of left that part out. Somethings never change." Reily said quietly. Anya glanced up from counting her money. "Maybe the powers that be got all pissy and made him a vampire again. I mean, if they were willing to let me stay a human, then they'll probably be willing to make Spike a demon again. Those guys are really such big stupid jerks sometimes."
Xander frowned. "Um, Ahn? Is it really such a good idea to go around bad-mouthing the powers that be?"
"But Xander, they really make me mad. And anyway, what are they going to do to me that's worse than making me human?" As soon as the words left her lips, there was a whooshing sound. Where Anya had once stood, there was only a white fluffy bunny. Xander blinked a couple of times in disbelief. "Well... apparently there ARE worse things they can do..."
The little bunny scurried across the floor to Xander, it's little bunny nose twitching madly. Willow stared in awe. There was an enviouis gleam in her eye.
"Now that was magic."
"Wil! Focus here. My girlfriend is now a rabbit. She hates rabbits."
"I know Xander it's just kind of funny from over here." Little Bunny Anya tried to look angry at Willow who was now petting little bunny Anya. "She's so cute. Here, does Anya like being pet behind her ears?"
Xander swated away Willow's hand. "Wil!" He protested. "I know. Focus. But seriously Xander, if the Powers did this how are little ol' us going to change it?"
A gusty wind swept through the Magic Box, Anya reappeared before them, her hands rapidly covering her body, making sure she was put back the same way she was.
"Ok Ok I'm sorry. I'll never say that again!" Anya flew into the arms of her lover, holding fast to him. Reily shook his head. "Like you said, same ol' wackiness. I better check out this whole Spike thing. If he is a vampire again he's a danger. The chip was not working last night or there would be no way he could have bruised my ribs like he did. Someone will have to stake him."
Xander shook his head. "Uh Reily it's not that Spike and I are best buds or anything, but he does come in handy sometimes. Buffy had her reasons for not staking him in the first place. Since she's the Slayer we kind of take our cues from her."
"Has a whole lot changed since I left? Now we don't kill vampires anymore?" Reily demanded. The look in his eye went from concern to anger in a flash. Tara remained quiet in her seat. She wanted to watch and learn as much as she could. Someone's vibe's were giving her the creeps. She had to figure out who.
"No we kill vampires. Not as good as Buffy. Still, we get an I for intent." Willow told him. She sat a little straighter in her seat.
Anya stepped out from behind the comfort of her counter holding a pile of papers. "Hey maybe we should go talk to Spike before we do anything rash."
Reily glared at them all. "Fine. You go do whatever it is you think you have to do. I'm going to do what I know I have to do."
"And that would be what Reily?" Xander called after him. The door shut angrily behind Reily. "Well I guess we should call Buffy?" Anya, Tara and Willow agreed by shooting up their hands quickly in the air. "Right, I'll call her." Xander jumped up and began to dial. Fast.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Spike lay on his old, dilapitated sofa, staring up at the ceiling of his crypt. It was made of cold stone. Like him. The heat that had pulsed through his veins only a short time before was long gone, leaving him no warmer than the four thick walls that surrounded him. Cold stone, cold flesh. It was all the same to him. He couldn't believe that he'd been stupid enought to believe that the Powers would really let him feel the warmth again. Feel HER warmth. Her love... He hurled the empty bottle he'd been holding across the room, and it shattered against the wall.
What the hell. Every single time he'd tried to do right, every time he'd let emotion over-rule instinct, he'd been brutally punished for it. For the most part, he'd been able to take it. The jeers of other demons, the cruelty from the scoobs. But this... this was... Well, maybe it was time for him to quit denying what he was at the core. The Powers wanted a vampire eh? Then they'd sure as hell get one. He got to his feet and marched out into the night. The hunt was on.
