Buffy strode quickly ahead of him, refusing to make eye contact. "Wipe that stupid grin off your face Spike, or I'll do it for you. This is only until I get my own place, which I pray will be very, very soon."
"Oh? And what pray tell kind of work will you do? Your a vampire now. We don't work if we don't want to." Buffy stopped walking and faced him. "Look, I may be a vampire, but I'm not a lazy one. I intend to carry on my life as though you were NEVER a part of it!" "But I am part of it love, and you'll need Dru and I more than you know." She gives him a sneer look so he adds. "we've been vampires for a long time. You'll need new survival skills. You'll need us"
"Don't flatter yourself Spike. I need you like I need a hole in the head." She stormed into the crypt. "Where's the extra room?" She demanded. Drusilla popped out from the bedroom with a big smile on her face. "Spike, I see you've brought home our new pet. Is she house broken?" He watched as Buffy stood there in the middle of his living room, arms crossed and face twisted in anger. by God shes a vision He thought to himself. "yes Drusilla, shes house broken. Now be nice to our new guest, shes had a rough night." Dru giggles and Buffy growls in annoyance.
"Spike. Room. Now." "hmmm, I guess I didn't think abut having two females in the same house at one time. Don't you get all hormonal once a month?" He teased as he walked her back to the spare room. The only response from her was a snarl. Inside there was an old dresser, a single bed covered in some kind of lacy bed covers. They looked like they were from the 16th century. All pale and frail looking. "THis is it." He told her with open arms. "Make yourself at home"
"This isn't home. This will never be home." With that, she shut the door in his face. She gazed forlornly about the room, then slipped out of her clothes and under the blankets. She had to admit that the mattress was comfy. she curled up into a ball, hugging her knees to her chest. How had this happened? Why hadn't she kicked his ass when he'd done it? Why had he done this to her? she felt a tightness in her chest, a gripping sorrow. She'd failed everyone. She couldn't protect them anymore, not like this. It might even be that she would kill them. She gave a quiet sob at the thought. Not only that, but she felt odd. Her head was light and tingly, and she was thirsty. Not like she'd ever tell that to Spike. He might be able to explain what it was, but she promised herself right there and then that she would never go to him for anything, even if she was desperate. She'd never need him, and she'd never let him into her life. Or rather, unlife. But she couldn't go to her friends either. She was alone. The former Slayer buried her face in her pillow and cried.
Meanwhile, Dru sat with Spike in the TV room, stroking his hair. "Oh Spike, the little kitty won't play with us..." She looked at him with big eyes. Spike had been staring absently at Leno on the telly making cracks about President Bush. His thoughts were with Buffy and what his next move was. He'd been much more mean about it than he wanted to. It was just the pressure. The bloody pressure to be the man he was. What had he done to her. What kind of life was she going to have now? He sighed out loud. "She just needs time to adjust Dru. Give her time."
Dru pouted. "I don't want to wait, I want to play games now Spike." Shaking his head "No, Drusilla, just wait. She'll be hungry soon enough. She has to talk to us sooner or later."
When night fell again, Buffy had still not emerged. She lay curled in the bed, writhing from the painful hunger. Spike stood by her door, staring in through a crack. Watching her in pain. If he went to her now, he'd likly just get yelled at and possibly hit with something hard. Slowley he crept away from the door and headed out for the night. "Dru, I'll be back. Leave her sleep." Dru smiled shyly. "Yes daddy. I'll let the pretty new toy alone." Not believeng her, he still headed out the door.
He had barely gotten 100 yards away when he heard the sound of a very loud fight erupt from the crypt. When he dashed back in, he saw a fully vamped out Buffy slam a laughing Dru into the stone wall. Dru turned her head and looked at Spike. "Kitty's bein naughty Spike..."
Buffy glared at him. "Tell your ho to stay away from me. I still know how to use a stake you know." Spike glared at Drusilla. "Let her alone. I told you not to bother her."
Dru pouted. "You like her better." He let out a large sigh. "Somehow I should have known better. This is never going to work. Drusilla, do you want to come with me?"
Dru nodded happily and took his hand. Just then, something occured to Buffy. A small revenge she could get on Spike. <"Oh, by the way Spike. I did some thinking last night, and I won't be needing to stay here anymore. I'm going to call Angel." She waited for his reaction, knowing how much this would bug him. his eyes went wide. "Why would you call him? Hes got no time for you. our better off here, with us."
"He'll MAKE time for me. Besides, why should I stay with you? You murdered me." He stared back at her with a strange kind of fear in his eyes. "I bloody well did not, your standing here arent you? Most dead people I know, are buried 6ft under. You can still see your mum and brat kids sister."
She cast him a scalding glare. "It's not the same Spike. You took away my life. I'll never get to be normal girl. And I'll never stop hating you for that." She began to walk past him and out of the crypt. He yelled after her "You never were a normal girl Summers, remember? Slayer and all? A bugger it all!" He said to none. Dru pouted on the couch. "Daddy likes the new toy more. I think Ms. Edith should punish you"
"Oh shut up Dru. I don't want to hear your nonsense right now." He paced back and forth. "I can't believe she'd leave me for the Great Poofter." He growled. "She'll probably get herself killed along the way. She's not strong yet, and she has a lot of enemies..." He sighed. "Oh hell..." he went outside. "I bloody well have to go after her..."
Dru followed him out the door. her arm extended. "Spike, you can't leave me here, I'll be lonley"
He took her hand and led her behind him, like a child. "Alright, but keep up Dru..." He pulled her along at a good speed, searching for Buffy, and he found her. She was encircled by 6 other vamps. She stood with her fist up, ready to battle them all. The fire in her eyes was just not what it once was. Spike too immediate notice to it and frowned at the idea.
"Alright fellas, break it up. Nothing for you poofs here"
"I think there is" grinned the leader. "Nice little piece of former Slayer meat..." Spike broke into the circle and grabbed Buffy buy the arm, dragged her out. "theres nothing here for you!" he growled. The group stared at him.
"We'll see you next time girl..." they walk away. Buffy shook free of his grasp. "Hey, I just saved your life there Summers, a little thank you would be nicce." Buffy stared at him coldly "I can handle myself, I sure don't need you Spike. Now, get out of my way, I'm going to see Angel." Shoving past him she glared at him before turning her back to him. Drusilla stood nearby and smiled. "This is a fun game Spike, shes all confused and angry at you." Spike rolled his eyes at Dru and followed after Buffy. "You can't go alone. Look what just happened, you'll get killed. Well, dusted rather, and I don't want to see that happen." Buffy spun around to face him, her hair seemed to fly in slow motion. Why can't he just back the hell off? I was a slayer, I think I have the advantage here. He stood there, duster slightly moving from a breeze. It was a chilly one, like the kind just before a herendous thunderstorm. He looked diffrent to her. Strange, but he seemed softer at this moment then he did just an hour ago inside the crypt where he was yelling at her. She was not sure why Dru being there bothered her. Dru always got to her someway or another, it was diffrent this time. Meanacing and burning.
Buffy went nose to nose with Spike. I should be able to feel my own breath, but I can't, I have none she thought. His eyes gazed into hers and he moved not an inch. Why would she expect him to back down? Its just not in his character.
"Spike, I am dead you idiot." She spoke in a calm even tone of voice, never breaking eye contact with him. "Thats the point to being undead. Now, you have two choices, you can leave me the hell alone so I can get to Angel, or you can piss me off even more than you already have." She pauses to think about that and adds.."Although I don't see how I can be any more pissed off at you than I am right now. And then I can stake you. I have not lost my memory, I'm still a Slayer." They stood there. Staring. Wondering what each others next move would be. He smelled her fear. It made him a bit sorry for her. Damnit! NO! I gave her the gift if immortal life, she could at least say thank you! "you think now that you can go running off to nancy boy and he will accept you? Please, I'll be surprised if he doesn't stake you the moment he smells you walk in the door."
She narrowed her eyes. "Angel cares about me, unlike you. He has a soul, unlike you. He's someone who's company I enjoy, unlike you. He will accept me, becuase he'll understand me." The dizzy feeling she'd felt earlier was returning and her head swam. "And.... " She wavered a bit on her feet, then shook it off. "And he'll help me hunt you down like a dog for what you did..." She couldn't keep focus on him anymore. "Someones getting sleepy"Drusilla mused.
Her words hit him hard, but his face would never tell her that. He caught her just before she lost her balance. "Shut up Drusilla, shes got to eat" he barked. Spike carried her limp body back to his place. Drusilla followed behind singing a nursery rhyme. "all the kings horses and all the kings men, couldn't put Buffy together again..." She mocked as they walked.
Xander sat on the steps of Spike's crypt looking out at the dark night. He saw nothing in the way of Spike or Buffy. He was waiting though. Soon, the "calvary" would be here. And Spike would pay dearly for what he had done to his best friend. xander cracked his knuckles as he waited. Willow appeared out of the darkness walking slowly, sadly. "Is he here yet? Giles said he was on his way. He...he should be here by now." Xander stood up, shoved his hands in his jean pockets. "No, I haven't seen him yet. He'll be here. Just a little longer yet." They both stood there waiting, and worrying about Buffy. Where she was, if she was alright. No words were needed, they both knew there was nothing to say that had not already been said, or thought.
Suddenly, the three vampires materialized from out of the night,seeing Buffy passed out in Spike's arms. Xander leapt to his feet. "What did you do to her now you monster!!!" He cried, raising a crossbow. Willow glared at him angrily.
"It's not enough that you killed her, now you're adding to her suffering!" She held up a stake. Dru quickly hid behind Spike, "Shes got a stake my pretty Spike, don't let her hurt mummy." He continuied on carrying Buffy twards her friends, ignoring Dru's so called fear. "She'll be fine if you don't get all half cocked again. She needs to feed is all. Just like being human, dizzy spells and faintng ensue when you don't eat. Shes no diffrent in that respect."
Willow looked at him. "Don't you dare give her an human blood Spike. IT had better be pig's blood or something like that." "I'll give her what I have Red. And right now I happen to have human blood. Its out of your hands now."
"Do you know how angry and hurt and sickened she'll be by that? You never even thought of her feelings. She's just a fun new toy to you!" Spike turned back to Willow. His face twisted in anger. "Shes not a bloody toy you twit! I am thinking about her. Shes all I DO think about! For heavens sake, I love her!" Dru gasped, bringing her hand to her mouth. "Say your lying Spike, how can you love that..that pathetic excuse of a vampire? She won't even drink for you!"
Just then, Buffy's eyes slid open, and she looked at Spike blearily. "Wh.. what's going on?" Drusilla flew over to Buffy, "Whats happening? Spike is paying all the attention to you and not me. Which makes me very angry. I shall have to punish you!" "Stop it Dru, I'll not let you harm a head on her hair." Everyone looked at him like he had lost his mind,."Oh you know what the hell I mean!"
Buffy looked at him. "Put me down Spike." He looked a bit sad at her. "You passed out, you need to eat."
"I don't want to! put me down now!" He stared at her with stern eyes. "you have to eat Buffy, quit fighting what you have become."
"I never wanted this! YOU wanted this! It was pure selfishness on your part... selfishness and hate for me." "I don't hate you. Bloody hell, why do you all keep saying that? Well, I guess I can undertand why you may. Buffy look, you still have to eat." Spike cut his arm open with a tiny switchblade he had hidden in his pocket. "And untill you get on your feet about this all, I insist." He urgred her on with the blood that was welling up on his arm. Drusilla walked over and slapped Spike hard across the face. Buffy smirked.
I'm not living like this Spike. I'm going to leave you. You can have your filthy little slayer." She stared at him as a mother scolding a child who has just destroyed a freshly layed Robin's egg. "And to think you were the best of our kind. It makes me sick to know we share the same family." Spike began a sentence but she put her long slim finger to his lips. "Hush my dear, theres nothing more to say." Spike stared after her as she walked out the door. Leaving him alone with Buffy and her two human friends.
Xander laughed. "You deserved it. Jackass."
Willow nodded in agreement. "See? No one likes you Spike. You're pathetic. You try to force someone who is disgusted by you to love you, and then you let the only person who could have loved you walk away."
Xander listended to Willow and then nodded. "She's right. You're a moron."
Spike snapped out of his shocked silence and glared at them. "If the two of you don't get the Hell out of here, you'll be very dead very soon." With that, he stormed into the crypt, slamming the heavy stone door shut. Neither Xander nor Willow could open it, so they had to wait. He was snarling angrily when he noticed something. Buffy had her mouth against the wound on his arm and was sipping weakly at the blood. She was nearly unconcious. Was not aware of her actions. This was purely her vampire instinct kicking in. It felt creepy to him. This flood of emotions that were threating him fast. He hated to think that Willow and Xander were right. Then again, what did he care. Dru had been around forever, and she was always leaving him, what was one more time? He glanced down at Buffy who was still feeding from him, she was getting steadily stronger from it. Part of him thought he should tear her away, that he could just give her cups of blood from the fridge.
And then the demon, the larger part of him made him think about it. Realize that this is what she now is and there was no stopping that. Were they right? Was he pathetic? If she had only listened to him about how he felt. Taken her serious, she'd still be alive. Wouldn't she? Would he have left her alone regardless? Buffy bit down harder on him, bringing him back to reality. Quickly then he drew his arm away from her. He should not have been shocked seeing all the blood, blood running down her lip, coating her new vampire teeth. "Thats enough." He told her blankly. "I'm going to bed. I need to be alone. You'd do yourself some good, get some rest. Not that you care what I think. Just giving my input is all." Buffy looked up at him with a new look in her eyes. An evil look. "Going to bed so early in the night?" She ask in a soft voice. Running one finger down his chest and smiling up at him seductivly. "I thought all vampires got the most out of the night. Theres still a few hours till its sunlight....Spike"
Golden eyes glittered up at him. This was her demon asserting itself. The demon that he's given to her. She was so beautiful... but she wasn't Buffy right now. She was... someone else. "I'm still hungry." She said, staring up at him. "Don't tell me William the Bloody isn't in the mood to get some dinner..." "I'm not" he told her dryly. "And you are not hungry, you need some rest too." He pointed twards her bedroom door. "In you go love"
The direct order seemed to snap her back to herself. "Hey! I'm not some minion you can order around!" The golden glow in her eyes vanished, replaced by the glare of a very annoyed Buffy. Then her eyes went wide. "I drank your blood?!?! Ew!!! .... EW!!!" The irritation in her voice amused him somewhat. "Yes you did, I saved your undead life, now get some sleep." Spike retired to his room. For a few minutes he paced inside the spacious room. Then the attention of a book he'd been trying to read, caught him as he paced. "I'll read a book, that always makes me sleep."
Inside Buffy's room, she lay there on her bed staring at the ceiling. Her room was decorated in a mis-matched set looking to be turn of the century furniture. "How could he do this to me? Why was I so off guard and let him do this to me? And why did I listen to him about going to bed? Well... because I'm tired..." She stifled a yawn.
Outside, Giles finally arrived, with Anya and Tara. Giles was carrying a cross bow in one hand and a tight fist in the other. "Where is the bastard?" Giles asked with venom. Xander pointed to the doors. "In there, he took her with him. Insists that he loves her. Deadboy has no clue what love is." Anya nodded and rested her head on his shoulder. Tara and Willow stood close to Giles, holding hands in worry. A silence fell over them all as they stood there and waited. Footsteps could be heard behind them. Yet they all stood rooted to their spots. There was a bit of anger in those steps as they came closer and faster. "Shes in there?" The visitor asked. Giles nodded. "Yes, can you save her?" Angel took the crossbow from Giles and loaded it. "I'll give it my best."
Angel kicked down the door to the crypt, crossbow ready to fire. "Spike, get youself out here now" Spike had dropped the book he had been reading and came into the living room. He held his hands up in defense. Whoa there mate, its not what you think." Angel closed the distance between the once two friends and raised the crossbow to Spikes chest. "You have 1 minute to tell me what it is you think I don't understand. Then I'm going to kill you and take Buffy far away from here." Spike shook his head. "Like hell you will, she belongs with me"
Just then, Buffy came into the room. "Angel?" She looked at him. "Angel!" She ran to him, hugging him tightly and stifling a sob." A pain surrounded Spike's heart watching her with him. Angel made sure to look up and rub it in too. What have I done to her anyhow? Destroyed her life is all. She'll never want me, always him. Bloody do gooder" Spike held his head high and nodded. "This is the way it is then Buffy, you choose him?"
"What did you think I'd do Spike? Stay with YOU? I hate you. You disgust me. You say you love me, but you're so selfish that you take away my life just to force me to be a part of yours." your right" he put on his duster "I was wrong. I'll just be leaving now." Angel stepped in front of him. "I don't think so" he mocked Spikes british accent "Mate"
Buffy looked at Angel. "You're really going to kill him? I just wanted to beat him up..." Angel never dropped the gaze from Spike. The two vampires were locked to each other, like a speechless dare to make the first move. Spike moved closer to Angel, making the arrows point, pinch his chest. "You've never scared me Angel, never have. You and I know I've always been the fighter. Your just the nancy boy who tried to dazzle the women with your good looks and goody goody rep." Spikes tone of voice got deeper, more meaningful. "You have more in commen with me than you care to admit. Both of you. When you realize it, let me know."
Buffy stared at him. "That's not true... it'll never be true... I'm not... I'm NOT like you. At least, I wasn't." Her voice trembled and she sank into a chair. "Why Spike? Why did you do this to me?" Spike slowed his pace twards the door and turned to look back at her. "I guess now you'll find out why, won't you peaches?" Spike left the crypt and started walking somewhere, anywhere but there with her. Angel came over and put his arm around her. "Come on Buffy, I'll take you to La with me. You'll be safe there." He kissed the top of her head and walked her out to his car.
She was sobbing hard. "he can't do that can he? Turn me, and then just walk away? What was the point of turning me? Why did he do it Angel?" He shrugged. "Some vamps are just that way Buffy. It'll be alright now." Angel got in his car and got them to the airport. They took the first flight out of Sunnydale.
Buffy stared miserably out the window. She was thrilled that Angel had come for her... and yet... it hurt that Spike had just given up on her. She didn't know why she cared, but she did.
"Angel?" He looked up from the magazine he was pretending to read. "What is it? Do you need something?"
She sighed. She couldn't tell him. "Nothing... I'm just... worn out." She leaned her head on his shoulder. It felt nice to be near him again. Her new vampire senses told her that he smelled like earth, rich and warm. It was some comfort to her.
"Angel, what will I do in LA? I don't know anyone but you and Cordy and Wes. I don't have a school to go to, or a job." "you won't need one Buffy. You can just hang with us." He told her. Being near her was making him nervous. He wondered just how long he could stand it. How would the gang take it?
"Angel, that's no way for me to live. I need a purpose. I need a goal. I can't just hang around and be buddy-buddy and useless." Angel sat there frustrated, at a loss for words. Right about now Cordy would be picking on him for it too. He put his hand on top of hers and squeezed gently. "We'll figure something out when we get there." Leaning over he kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry"
Back in Sunnydale Spike made his way to the Bronze, like he always did. Where else did he have to go? The car needed an altenator and he sure as hell had no idea how to fix that. And he damned sure had no money to pay anyone to fix it. The Bronze was full tonight, made it easier to sulk about what hed done. He would not look like the looser that he was so much as if the place were dead. Across the room he noticed a couple dancing. They were holding each other like tomorrow was never going to come. They stared into each others eyes as if they held all the answers to their lives inside. It ate away at his gut. He drank more, faster untill the man at the bar flagged him, which never happend latley.He had slowed it down to be alert if Buffy may by chance need him. Spike staggered out of the bar and attempted to make it home. Suddenly, pain crashed in his skull and every thing went dark.
Now in Angel's office, Buffy suddenly gasped. "Angel.... we have to go back!" Angel had been pageing through some files that Cordelia had left for him while they went and staked out a currant client. Being the middle of the day and all. Her sudden outburst had startled him and the papers went flittering to the floor.
"Angel, we have to go back. Something's not right... something's calling me back..." Angel crossed the room to where she sat. Her face was turning white and her blue eyes were filled with a pain that Angel was confused about. "Its probably just your mother, have you even called her yet?" His gaze was warm and caring and inside he begged her to ignore the vision. Buffy dropped the book she had been pretending to read, on the desk and stood up."No, its something else." Buffy came from the back of the desk and met him on the other side. "Brining me here like this was, it was great, but I don't belong here. I belong in Sunnydale, Slayer or not."
"Buffy... it's Spike. Your tie to him as your... Sire" he spat out the word "is calling you back to him." She tried to hide what she knew. She knew it was Spike, but how badly Angel would take it was what bothered her the most. The hurt look in his eyes was enough to make her want to cry. "He needs me Angel" She told him softly. Angel's look went from caring to annoyed. "He needs you? Why should you help him after what hes done to you?" Buffy was at a loss for words. After what Spike had done, she had no idea why she should help him. She just knew she had to. "I may not know why Angel, but I know he needs me. And thats what I do, I help people when they need me."
A bitter silence spanned the room while they stared at each other. Her look was just as challenging as his was. Angel finally broke the silence. "I cannot let you go back there. You have to stay here. Your safe here."
"It's not your decision to make Angel. I'm going and that's that." She looked at him with determination in her eyes. Angel paced back and forth, his duster following him like a loyal subject. "Hes.... hes no good Buffy you know that, use your head" He told her in a raised tone. Buffy's eyes changed from determined to realization."So thats the way it is?" She asked him softly. "You just can't handle him being around me is that it?" Angel looked down at his shoes. He was at a loss for words. She took his silence as her answer.
"So I'm going. And that's that."
"He MURDERED you Buffy. He made you into a demon. Now you want to go running to his side?"
Buffy had to admit that she hated the idea. "No, I don't WANT to. I just have to."
When the sun set, Buffy headed for the airport, with Angel on her tail.
"Buffy, don't do this. YOu'll regret it for the rest of your unlife. He'll have power over you forever if you give in now."
She purchased a ticket, and he did the same.
"You're going to follow me back to Sunnydale?"
"Yes. Someone has to try and keep you out of his hands."
Buffy rolled her eyes and stopped speaking with him. It was a very quiet ride back to the Hellmouth.
Spike looked around. He was in some sort of basement, and he was chained to a wall. That was never, ever a good thing. A female voice penetrated his thoughts.
"Hello William. I was begining to think you'd never wake up."
He turned his head to glare at the woman. "Darla..." She was wearing some tight little black number that normally would have had Spike whistling. With his head bleeding from the fall his vision was somewhat blurred anyhow. He spat blood from his mouth on the floor close to her feet. "Just what the hell do you think your doing woman?" Darla made a disgusted face at the spit that lay at her feet. She looked back up at him seductivly. "You'll see in time my pet. I'll just leave you hang there to wonder."
He frowned. With Darla, that was never, ever a good thing. He was in for a hell of a lot of trouble, and most likely a good dose of pain.